R.I. firebombing under investigation
      PROVIDENCE, R.I. (JTA)- Three Jewish organizations, working in cooperation with this city's police department, are offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for the firebombing of an apartment where an Israeli emissary was living.
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Sen. Metzenbaum, Ohio Democrat, dies
      WASHINGTON (JTA)- Former Ohio Sen. Howard Metzenbaum died at the age of 90. Metzenbaum, Ohio's first Jewish U.S. senator, died at his home in Florida. He was appointed by then-Gov. John Gilligan to fill an unexpired term in late 1973, then won a seat three years later. Metzenbaum served three full terms, retiring in 1995.
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INTERMARRIAGE…
Study finds clergy matters
      SAN FRANCISCO (JTA)- Intermarried couples married by a rabbi or cantor have higher levels of Jewish involvement, a new study found. The National Center for Jewish Policy Studies, an affiliate of Hebrew College in Newton Centre, Mass., conducted a study of 149 intermarried couples in Boston, Atlanta, St. Louis and San Francisco.
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Shema amulet unearthed in Austria
      PRAGUE (JTA)- University of Vienna archeologists unearthed an amulet in a third century grave bearing the Shema prayer. The find in eastern Austria represents the earliest sign of Jewish inhabitants in present-day Austria, the university said in a news release.
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Dialogue alliance lobbies in D.C.
      WASHINGTON (JTA)- An alliance of Israeli-Arab dialogue groups lobbied Congress and the Bush administration for more funding. Past lobbying by the Alliance for Middle East Peace, a grouping of 55 organizations, led to a $9 million allocation for such groups in the 2008 budget. Dozens of alliance delegates met with lawmakers and officials in the State Department.
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