Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr. is leaving on a jet plane for Israel tomorrow to meet with Israeli and Palestinian leaders to learn more about foreign policy issues that affect the region today. more ›

Marvin Berkowitz, 64, a Chicago man who portrayed himself as a rabbi, stood before U.S. District Judge Virginia Kendall on Friday and pleaded guilty to organizing a tax fraud ring that used identities from dead people and federal inmates to file for millions of dollars in fake refunds. Specifically, Berkowitz's scheme was to steal $54 million by using 3,000 stolen identities and filing returns in 28 different states, according to the Chicago Tribune. more ›

Perhaps nowhere are the rifts between the conservative and progressive, Orthodox and atheist, gay and straight more evident than in Jerusalem, center to the world's three major religions. City of Borders, a new documentary playing tomorrow (Tuesday, Nov. 10) at the Landmark Theater at 9 p.m. as part of the Reeling Lesbian & Gay International Film Festival, takes a look at the rifts facing the Holy City's LGBT community. more ›

Rev. Jeremiah Wright Jr. and Bill Ayers paired up Sunday to lead community activists, clergy, and residents in Oak Park on an annual walk to rally for a solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The two drew over 400 people to a forum before the walk held at the First United Church of Oak Park and urged a new perspective on the Mideast conflict more in line with the President’s. According to the Tribune, The Committee for a Just Peace in Israel and Palestine, the organizers of the event, said Ayers and Wright were invited for their work on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, not their political notoriety. more ›

For the third time in just a little over a week, a Pro-Palestine protest/march was held in downtown Chicago. Yesterday's protest began at Daley Plaza and then the march proceeded to the Israeli consulate on Wacker Drive. The protest was to show opposition to Israeli military action in the Gaza Strip. A counter-protest, supporting Israeli action and claiming any military strikes are aimed at Hamas, was held earlier Friday at the Federal Plaza. more ›

After Friday's pro-Palestine protest, demonstrators moved farther north along Michigan Avenue to a tourist-heavy spot near Water Tower. This time, some pro-Israel demonstrators were thrown into the mix. Titled the "Emergency Protest for Gaza", people once again called for Israel to cease their current military actions against Hamas. more ›

As the Israel/Hamas conflict continues to escalate, a large number of people from 30 different groups (reports vary on the number of protesters, from hundreds to thousands) gathered yesterday at Pioneer Court along Michigan Avenue and ended in front of the Israeli consulate to protest Israel's recent military actions in the Gaza Strip. more ›