News Brief

The North American Rabbis for Human Rights joined its Israeli partner in calling for an end to the blockade of the Gaza Strip. “As rabbis in North America committed to supporting the security of Israel and the Jewish tradition of human rights, we join our Israeli colleagues of Rabbis for Human Rights in calling for an immediate cessation of the collective punishment through Israel’s blockade of Gaza and Palestinians’ firing of Kassam rockets into Israeli civilian areas,” a statement issued Tuesday said. “We join them in affirming that ‘Only a concerted effort aimed at getting all parties to honor God’s Image within every human being, as well as international law, can stop this unfolding desecration of all that we hold sacred.’ ” The Israeli Rabbis for Human Rights routinely targets what it calls the occupation, but commenting on Israeli events is unusual for the North American branch, which focuses on human rights in the United States. Israel is blockading Gaza in a bid to end a barrage of rocket attacks facilitated by Gaza’s Hamas rulers.

Ukraine’s Israeli Embassy reopened and dedicated a renovated Israel cultural center in Kiev.

Representatives of the Israeli Embassy, Nativ and the Jewish Agency joined with Ukrainian government officials at the Feb. 6 opening of the Itzhak Rabin Israel Cultural Center.

Ukrainian and Israeli officials spoke about the importance of strengthening Israeli-Ukrainian ties. They said the center’s programs will provide opportunities for Jews and non-Jews to learn more about Jewish Israeli culture, the Hebrew language and Jewish history.

Pictures of Ukrainian artists devoted to Judaism and Israel decorate the walls of the center.

Felix Mindel, the head of the Nativ aliyah agency in Ukraine, told JTA that the renovated center will provide information on making aliyah.