RABBI DEFENDS BURKA-WEARING

ONE OF Europe’s most senior rabbis has attacked the French government’s ban on Muslim women wearing the burka. In an article for the Rabbi Pinchas Goldschmidt, president of the Conference of European Rabbis, warned that religious communities in Europe were feeling “marginalised”. The rabbi’s views appeared to have struck a chord with many Jewish leaders. Sources close to him said most of the reactions were positive.