Kashrut

A rabbi who took shelter in a Turkish mosque during a massive snowstorm in Istanbul that ravaged the Turkish metropolis a few days ago has finally arrived in his native Israel.

Israel Elbom, a 62-year-old rabbi and kashrut supervisor who was on a work assignment in Istanbul, was brought to a mosque by security forces after being stranded on a highway for half a day.

An Israeli soldier who was jailed earlier this week for eating a non-kosher sandwich has been freed after the army agreed to release him following a wave of public pressure.
 
The soldier, who recently immigrated to Israel from America, was initially jailed for 11 days after eating a sandwich containing pork, which is forbidden by Jewish dietary law, public radio reported.

A U.S.-born Israeli soldier is deep in the mud after pigging out during training.

The military sentenced the soldier to 11 days in prison for eating a pork sandwich during a break in his commander's course. The punishment was replaced with confinement to base after relatives made a stink in the media, and a lawmaker wrote the defense minister on his behalf.

At least two people have been shot dead in a kosher supermarket in the south-east of Paris, AFP sources say.

Earlier, it was reported that a gunman was holding up to five hostages in the shop, demanding that the Charlie Hebdo attackers be released.

More to follow.