News

Recession Briefing 9.30: Joblessness for Rabbis

What you need to know today to survive and thrive in the recession.

The recession has not spared the rabbinate. At a bleak and stressful time, when pastoral hand-holding may be more in demand than ever, full-time pulpit jobs in America’s liberal Jewish movements are in short supply. (Tablet)

It’s unclear whether the high unemployment rate for men comes just because men are more likely to be laid off, or if it’s also because men are finding new jobs more slowly than women are. (New York Times/Economix)

For many social-service charities across America, the recession has delivered a staggering one-two punch. Sharp drops in donations and investment income have been coupled by soaring demand for their services. (Associated Press)

Housing prices continued to climb but consumer confidence slipped, according to two reports released Tuesday, casting mixed signals about where the economy is headed. (Washington Post)

Congressional investigators on the Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission could learn from Fernando Pecora’s 1930s investigation of the stock market crash. (U.S. News & World Report)

Iceland’s birthrate rose after the recent economic meltdown, setting the press abuzz about a link. But data shows that prosperity better sets the mood for having children. (Wall Street Journal)

Despite the recession, banks are charging consumers record fees for checking account services. (USA Today)

Hiring new employees will be a top priority for U.S. companies after the economy improves, according to a survey. (Reuters)

The worst U.S. recession since the Great Depression eased in the second quarter and the economy is probably now in the early stages of recovery, economists said before reports today. (Bloomberg)

With banks failing faster than the government expected a few months ago, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation has called for a $45 billion cash infusion from the banking industry, seeking to raise additional funds needed to continue protecting deposits. (Washington Post)

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Tags: bank failure, birth rate, jobs, rabbis, recovery