Jewish conversion fears

Thousands of converts to Judaism are concerned that a recent rabbinic court ruling in Israel means their conversions may be revoked. The supreme rabbinical court of Jersualem h as approved the annulment of the conversion of a woman 15 years ago to Judaism because she is no longer observing Jewish purity laws. “Our phone has been ringing off the hook with people who have gone through conversions who are deeply concerned about their status” said Rabbi Seth Farber of the Jewish Life Information Center in Israel.

www.jta.org

Muslim protests in Turin

Muslim writers and artists have staged a two-day protest in Turin against the city's book fair which opens today. They object to its plans to honour the 60th anniversary of the birth of Israel. The Muslim writer Tariq Ramadan has also criticised the decision of Giorgio Napolitano, president of Italy, to attend, saying Napolitano's presence will convert the fair into "a political and not a cultural event."

http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5hz_lwEMQijuZgOus1JnjqPxsV1FQ

Time Magazine votes for the Patriarch

Time Magazine has listed the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, Batholomeos I, as one of the 100 most influential people in the world. The magazine quotes Dr Rowan Williams, the Archbishop of Canterbury praising the patriarch for his ecological commitment. He says “He has insisted that ecological questions are essentially spiritual ones. Probably more than any other religious leader from any faith, Patriarch Bartholomeos, has kept open this spiritual dimension of environmentalism.” The “Time 100” list also highlights the influence of the Dalai Lama.

www.time.com/time/specials/2007/completelist/0,,1733748,00.html

Gaelic Gospels

The Gospels have been translated into Scots Gaelic for the first time. The recording has been put on CD.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/7389393.stm

The Queen of Sheba's Palace

A team of German archaeologists believe they have located the palace of the Queen of Sheba, the bride of King Solomon, as recorded in the Old Testament. The University of Hamburg archeaologists say they discovered the remains of a palace dating from the 10th century BC beneath that of a Christian King in Axum-Dungur, Ethiopia. They also discovered an altar which they believe once housed the Ark of the Covenant.

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601100&sid=aHkn1LT4dQcU