A bipartisan slate of nine members of the US House of Representatives urged Bolivian President Evo Morales to bring about the release of New York businessman Jacob Ostreicher, who has been jailed without charges for 18 months. A Bolivian appeals court this week refused to release Ostreicher, instead sending his case back to a lower court. "We are writing to request that you take whatever legal action is necessary to secure the unconditional and immediate release of" Ostreicher, said the letter, spearheaded by …More

Shimon Peres joins the urging for circumcision protection in Germany. [Haaretz] Video footage of the Toulouse gunman standoff is released for the first time. [Fox News] Jews face new dangers and old fears in Chile. [Jerusalem Post] The World Jewish Congress joins a call for Ban Ki-Moon to skip his visit to Iran next week. [US Politics] Israelis are angered by South Africa's new labeling practices for West Bank products. [Jewish Journal] "Jacob's Law" is named for a jailed Jewish businessman in Bolivia. …More

A New York Congressman led a hearing yesterday to demand answers for Jacob Ostreicher, an Orthodox man who is currently imprisoned in Bolivia. Congressman Jerrold Nadler, who represents the Borough Park neighborhood Ostreicher resides in, addressed a House Foreign Affairs hearing specifically designed to raise awareness about the imprisoned man’s case. “It is important for everyone to remember our goal – making sure Mr. Ostreicher is provided fair treatment and basic due process,” said …More

The plight of an Orthodox American imprisoned in Bolivia is garnering media attention following an online petition aimed at President Barack Obama. Jacob Ostreicher, 53, was jailed a year ago on suspicion of money laundering, a claim he staunchly denies. The Brooklyn native was in Bolivia investing in a rice farm at the time of his arrest. As per Bolivian law, Ostreicher is held without charge, which the legal system allows for up to 18 months. Poor living conditions in the prison have seen the father of five …More