World news-roundup: US Jewish groups voice immigration crackdown concern
Your weekly snapshot of stories from around the Jewish world, this week including the USA, Argentina, Brazil and Italy
Country: United States
More than two dozen American Jewish organisations, including the Orthodox Union, signed an open letter opposing Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown on account of it separating children from their families at the US border. Trump’s wife Melania added her support this week, saying that she ‘hates to see it’.
Country: Argentina
The Israeli embassy in Buenos Aires posted a video message of support for the national team at the football World Cup, despite Argentina cancelling a match in Israel last month in support of the boycott campaign. Referring to star footballer Lionel Messi, the embassy said: ‘We are used to waiting for the Messi-ah.’
Country: Brazil
The mayor of Rio de Janeiro took to the stage to sing at a concert last week in order to raise money for a new Holocaust memorial. Marcello Crivella, an evangelical Christian who has visited Israel 40 times, sung to 4,000 concert-goers, with songs including ‘I Am Israel.’ The memorial’s cornerstone was laid last year.
Country: Italy
A Croat dressed as a rabbi who said he was a diplomat with the Israeli embassy has been accused by Italian police of masterminding an audacious art heist north of Milan last year. The 44-year old man, who is not Jewish, was arrested last month. Two paintings – a Rubens and a Renoir – were stolen.
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