News at a Glance

Ben Stein

NEW YORK (JTA) -- Watchdog groups are condemning a new anti-evolution film that suggests Darwinism gave rise to Nazism and the Holocaust.

"Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed," a documentary hosted by Jewish television personality Ben Stein, opened in more than 1,000 theaters April 18 and grossed $5.3 million its first 10 days.

Produced by Premise Media, which is devoted to the family and faith markets, the film alleges that creationism and its supporters have been unfairly silenced by "Big Science."

The film shows Nazi footage of a German mental hospital that urged the elimination of "mental deficients" and mass graves at Dachau. The narration draws a parallel between these atrocities and Darwin's "survival of the fittest" theory.

The Anti-Defamation League blasted the film, saying in a statement that it "misappropriates the Holocaust and its imagery as part of its political effort to discredit the scientific community."

The ADL adds: "Hitler did not need Darwin to devise his heinous plan to exterminate the Jewish people."

ORT Name OK for Both Groups

JERUSALEM (JTA) -- An Israeli judge ruled that World ORT and ORT Israel can both use the ORT name.

The ORTs severed ties last year over fundraising differences.

The two groups have battled over the rights to use the ORT name in Israel for the last year.

The Haifa District Court judge ruled that while ORT Israel owns the name, World ORT could use the name in Israel.

ORT Israel, which runs a system of technical schools in Israel, had been a subsidiary of the London-based World ORT, which runs a worldwide system of Jewish vocational schools.

Israelis Make Splash on London 'Rich List'

NEW YORK (JTA) -- Five Israeli billionaires made the London Sunday Times "Rich List."

The annual list names the 2,000 richest people in Britain and Ireland.

It also includes British citizens and those with ties to the country or assets in it, Israel's business daily Globes reported.

Sammy Ofer and his son Eyal, who lives in London, are 15th with their $6.59 billion fortune made in shipping.

Real estate businessman and philanthropist Lev Leviev, the chairman of Africa-Israel, was 21st with $4.93 billion.

Poju Zabludowicz, a property entrepreneur, was No. 31 with $3.95 billion.

And 39th place went to diamond king Benny Steinmetz, who lives in Israel but owns a British home, with $3.55 billion.

Also appearing on the list -- at No. 2, as he did a year ago -- was Roman Abramovich, the Russian and Jewish owner of the Chelsea Football Club soccer team, with $23 billion.

Messianic Alert Threatens Bible Quiz

JERUSALEM (JTA) -- An Israeli anti-missionary group warned that a messianic Jew could win the international youth Bible quiz in Jerusalem.

Yad L'Ahim, a group of ultra-Orthodox Jews who combat missionaries in Israel, said that a 17-year-old Jerusalem girl who is among four contestants in next week's Independence Day quiz belongs to a secret Christian sect.

Yediot Achronot identified the girl, but Yad L'Ahim's claims about her religious affiliations could not immediately be confirmed.

Yad L'Ahim's Rabbi Shlomo Dov Lipschitz, called for religious Jews to boycott the quiz if the girl is not disqualified.

The Education Ministry, which oversees the quiz, said it had looked into the complaint about the contestant and decided not to act because she is considered Jewish.