Recent interest on Israelis' Electric Car Plan

In the past week, there have been several more stories on the electric car innovations championed by Israeli Shai Agassi and Renault-Nissan, in partnership with the Israeli government and--now--the governments of Denmark, Hawaii, and the city of San Francisco.

SFGate.com: Israel backs Palo Alto man's electric car plan

Newshour with Jim Lehrer's in-depth coverage: As Oil Prices Rise, Car Companies Look to Electric Future

And, for more critical discussion of current electric vehicles:
Forbes.com: Electric Cars: They Need Gas

Interesting Blog Evaluating Claims in Kosher Meat Dispute

Currently, there is a major debate in the Jewish community about the kashrut (kosher status) of meat from Agriprocessors (which sells under the names David's and Rubashkin's). Several weeks ago, they were busted for major immigration violations for hiring illegal and undocumented immigrants. There have also been numerous, well-documented claims that Agriprocessors' workers were verbally (and perhaps physically) abused. I, and many other Rabbis, have decided not to purchase Agriprocessors' meats until the company has instituted reforms under transparent conditions, i.e. circumstances in which independent examiners are welcome to investigate both the slaughtering and business practices.

Many in the Orthodox community have been unwilling to criticize or vilify Agriprocessors, prompting an outcry from some more socially conscious rabbinical students and rabbis under the auspices of Uri L'Tzedek ("Awaken to Justice"); their comments have drawn criticism in turn from a spokesperson from Agudath Israel of America in a recent op-ed in the Jerusalem Post.

The debate is vitally important to those of us who want our meat to be kosher, AND slaughtered in a manner sensitive both to animals' suffering and the rights of workers. This is a growing trend in the Conservative/Masorti community both here and in Israel, and I look forward to continued progress toward publicizing and fulfilling this gap in kashrut practice.

The following link is a blog entry at MyJewishLearning.com by Daniel Septimus which evaluates some of the recent dialogue:
Mixed Multitudes » Blog Archive » Agriprocessors: Presumed Innocence

See Also:
http://www.goveg.com/pdfs/HumaneKosherSignatories.pdf
http://www.jewishexponent.com/article/16430/
http://www.rabbinicalassembly.org/press/docs/hekhsher2008.doc

Paris Jewish quarter struggles with change - CNN.com

Should a Parisian Jewish neighborhood maintain it's preservation of its historical past or move toward the future? This article presents an interesting dilemma regarding the Rue des Rosiers (in the Marais district), an increasingly upscale neighborhood that has been occupied densely by Jewish families since the Middle Ages. With the kosher establishments in declining condition and the rise in property values, many traditional businesses have closed... but many of the trendy new boutiques moving in are also owned by Jews and a Holocaust memorial library and museum may be on its way.

The article also gives travel hints for visitors.

Paris Jewish quarter struggles with change - CNN.com