Houses of Worship Adapt to Swine Flu

New French film tells Holocaust story

(NEWSER) - A touching but little-known Holocaust story: Paris’ Grand Mosque rescued Jews from the Nazis by providing them with Muslim identities. It wasn’t a straightforward movement, the New York Times reports. Instead, Jews were helped case by case, and no one knows for sure how many were saved—figures range from dozens to 1,700. But a number of historical accounts confirm the story, and it’s the subject of a new French film. More»

Kathleen Parker apologizes to the 'Muslim World'

(NEWSER) - Kathleen Parker pens a letter to the “Muslim World” in the Washington Post , calling herself “an American citizen who is deeply embarrassed by current events in my country.” When it comes to “so-called pastor” Terry Jones , “please ignore” him. “What we hope you understand is that most Americans were appalled by Jones's proposal, too,” she writes, and then apologizes, “as a member of the news media,” for handing Jones “a megaphone.” More»

'Sign of peace,' prayer hand holding barred amid swine flu warnings

(NEWSER) - Churches nationwide are bracing for cases of swine flu, with one in Cincinnati banning peace handshakes during Mass, the Enquirer reports. The Catholic church passed out a flier telling parishioners not to shake with their neighbors during the “sign of peace” or clasp hands during the “Our Father” prayer. At least three other Cincinnati churches are considering similar measures, as are schools and churches across the US, notes the AP. More»

(NEWSER) - With the Muslim population in the US booming, the start of Ramadan this weekend will see many worshippers overflowing into borrowed space, from ballrooms to synagogues, the Washington Post reports. The DC area's mosques are bursting at the seams; with the Koran's injunction against borrowing money at interest slowing new construction, sharing space is more and more common. More»

Jewish new year coincides with Muslim month of Ramadan in city special to both

(NEWSER) - This year’s intersection of Jewish new-year holidays and the Muslim holy month of Ramadan—a rarity due to Islam’s changing calendar—is felt particularly keenly in Jerusalem, a sacred city for both religions, Ethan Bronner notes in the New York Times. Night has become “a kind of monotheistic traffic jam,” with devout Jews praying at the Western Wall while Muslims break their fast. More»