The Conservative movement chastised a leading Israeli rabbi for saying Hurricane Katrina was divine punishment for Israel’s Gaza Strip withdrawal. Rabbi Jerome Epstein, executive vice president and CEO of the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism, wrote to Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, spiritual head of the Shas Party and a former Israeli chief rabbi, that he was astounded by his commentary.
Power the news that matters to you. Before 2025 ends, help JTA's independent, award-winning newsroom document Jewish history in real-time.
JTA has documented Jewish history in real-time for over a century. Keep our journalism strong by joining us in supporting independent, award-winning reporting.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
