The Jewish Community Relations Council of New York (JCRC-NY) celebrates its 2018 Gala Dinner on Wednesday, May 9, 2018, at The Pierre Hotel in New York City honoring Andrew Morse, Executive Vice President and General Manager, CNN Digital Worldwide; Tom Blumberg and his son Ben Blumberg; and Stuart Force, father of the late Taylor Force. Sander Gerber, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Investment officer, Hudson Bay Capital, will receive special recognition for his efforts to ensure the passage of The Taylor Force Act. Bill Weir, Anchor and Reporter, CNN, and Host and Executive Producer, “The Wonder List with Bill Weir” will serve as emcee.

Awards will be given to these outstanding community leaders: Andrew Morse will receive the Media Visionary Award in recognition of his continued commitment to serving communities through his tireless pursuit of knowledge and truth. Tom Blumberg and Ben Blumberg will receive the Generation to Generation Award in recognition of their deep and invaluable dedication to family, community and Jewish tradition.

Stuart Force will receive the Continuing Strength Recognition Award in memory of his late son Taylor and his extraordinary legacy that will impact generations to come. Sander Force will receive special recognition in tribute to his perseverance and determination to pass The Taylor Force Act, ensuring justice for generations to come. Taylor Force was a West Point graduate murdered in Tel Aviv by a Palestinian terrorist whose family subsequently received generous stipends from the Palestinian Authority.

The Taylor Force Act passed in Congress prevents U.S. tax dollars from being used to support the families of terrorists. Speakers at the Gala Dinner will include Ambassador Dani Dayan, Consul General of Israel in New York.

The Jewish Community Relations Council of New York (JCRC-NY) serves as the central coordinating body and resource organization for the Jewish Community in the metropolitan New York area and as an advocate for a strong and secure State of Israel. An active force in New York civic and communal life, JCRC-NY builds working relationships within the Jewish community, with other ethnic and faith communities, and with public officials and government agencies.

Sander Gerber

Sander   Gerber   is   Hudson   Bay   Capital’s   Chief   Executive   Officer   and   Chief Investment Officer. He is also a fellow at the Jerusalem Center of Public Affairs and a member of the Council of Foreign Relations and the New York Economic Club.

Sander served as a member of the AIPAC Board of Directors from 2004 to 2016. In June of 2005, Sander was sent by President Bush to represent the United States at the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Conference on Anti-Semitism and Other Intolerances in Cordoba, Spain. In February of 2006, the President appointed Sander to be a Trustee of the Woodrow Wilson International Center  for  Scholars  (a  public  policy  research  center  within  the  Smithsonian Institution)   where   he   served   as   Chairman   of   the   Investment   Management Committee and as a member of the Audit Committee.

Additionally, in December of 2008, the President appointed Sander to be Vice Chairman of the Wilson Center for a six-year term where he served up until 2016. In November 2017, Sander was awarded  the  2017  JINSA  Henry  M  Jackson  Distinguished  Service  Award  for championing the Taylor Force Act.

Sander graduated Cum Laude from the University of Pennsylvania, with a BSE in Finance  from  Wharton  and  a  BA  in  Humanistic  Philosophy  from  the  College. He resides in New York City with his wife and seven children.

STUART FORCE

IN MEMORY OF HIS LATE SON TAYLOR FORCE

On  March  8th,  2016,  Taylor  Force  –  a  West  Point  graduate,  who  served several U.S. Army tours of duty in Afghanistan and Iraq, and an MBA student at Vanderbilt University on a university tour in Israel – was stabbed to death in Tel Aviv by a Palestinian terrorist.

After his rampage, which injured 11 other innocent civilians, the terrorist’s relatives were provided with a generous monthly stipend by the Palestinian Authority. Such payments to terrorists and their families serve as incentives for Palestinians to further commit acts of violence and bloodshed.

After much hard work, Congress passed the Taylor Force Act, in his memory as well as all those murdered by terrorists. The new law halts U.S. funds that directly  benefit  the  Palestinian  Authority  until  it  ceases  these  payments which hinder a peaceful resolution to the conflict.

Tom & Ben Blumberg

Tom Blumberg is formerly a Group Vice President and  Principal of Leviton  Manufacturing Company, Inc., and he has been involved in a number of charitable pursuits and social causes.

He has been active in New York’s Jewish community for a quarter of a century.  A Member of JCRC-NY’s Board of Directors for more than  20 years,  Tom  served  as co-chair of  JCRC-NY’s Commission on Intergroup Relations and Community Concerns, now known as The Center for Community Leadership. He currently is a member of the Executive Committee, the Israel and International Affairs Committee, and the Marketing Committee, where he spearheaded the design of JCRC-NY’s current logo.

Tom began his communal service philanthropy at UJA-Federation of NY, where he has served on the Executive Committee and as Vice President of Human  Resources.   He is currently a Member of its Board of Directors.   Most recently, Tom was Chairman of Hillel International’s Board  of  Directors.    He  was  an  integral  leader  in  the  merging  of  Hillel  of  NY  with  Hillel International, and he chaired its rebranding campaign. He is also a member of the Boards of Directors of Limmud FSU and WellLife Network.

Tom has been married to Lanie for 60 years, and they have three children, Ben, Karen, and Betsy and seven grandchildren.

Ben  Blumberg  is  Executive  Vice  President  and  Partner  at  Stark  Office  Suites.    Prior  to assuming his position at Stark, Ben was the owner of Sales Works, a Co-Founding Partner at InSITE Services, and Marketing Manager at Leviton Manufacturing Company.  Ben received his B.A. in Psychology from Tufts University and attended Fordham University’s Graduate School of Business Administration.

Philanthropically,  Ben  serves  as  Co-Chair  of  UJA  Westchester’s  Business  and  Professional Division and a Board Member of the Westchester Jewish Council.  He also volunteers with the Westchester  Jewish  Community  Services  Compeer  Program,  which  matches  individuals  in one-to-one relationships with adults recovering from mental illness, and the Midnight Run, which  organizes  more  than  1,000  relief  missions  per  year.    The  Midnight  Run  organizes students and members of churches, synagogues, and other civic groups to distribute food, clothing and personal care items to the homeless poor on the streets of New York City.

Ben lives in Larchmont with his wife Sue and two children.

Andrew Morse

EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT AND GENERAL MANAGER CNN DIGITAL WORLDWIDE

Andrew Morse is Executive Vice President and General Manager of CNN Digital Worldwide. Andrew  is  responsible  for  CNN’s  global  digital  business,  including  editorial,  product, technology, emerging platforms, business development and partnerships. Andrew is also the co-founder of Great Big Story.

Previously, Andrew was Senior Vice President of Editorial for CNN US, responsible for the network’s domestic newsgathering organization, regional bureaus, as well as Washington coverage and programming.

Before joining CNN in 2013, Andrew served as Head of Bloomberg Television in the U.S., where   he   oversaw   editorial,   programming,   operations   and   development.   While   at Bloomberg, he launched a new programming slate, established the network’s technology coverage and San Francisco Bureau, and spearheaded the launch of the network’s digital video operation. Andrew also led the network’s coverage of the 2012 Presidential election.

Prior to Bloomberg, Andrew spent 15 years at ABC News in a number of executive and production   roles.   He   served   as   Executive   Producer   for   Innovation,   overseeing   the network’s digital portfolio. Andrew also served as Executive Producer of Good Morning America’s  Weekend  edition  and  as  a  senior  producer  for  World  News  Saturday  and Sunday. Earlier in his career, he was ABC’s Asia Bureau Chief and Producer and worked as a producer  and  assignment  editor  based  in  London.  During  his  time  overseas,  Andrew reported  and  produced  from  over  40  countries.  He  spent  significant  time  covering  the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq as well as the Israeli/Palestinian conflict. He also covered the USS Cole bombing in Yemen and the terror attack in Bali, Indonesia. He was one of the first reporters on the ground following the 2004 South Asian Tsunami, and he led ABC News’ on-the-ground coverage of the earthquakes in Haiti and Japan. Andrew’s travels at ABC also brought him to Mt. Everest Base Camp and on board a maxi-catamaran attempting to break the trans-Atlantic sailing record.

Andrew began his career as a Desk Assistant in ABC News’ Washington Bureau and was one of the initial staffers for ABCNews.com. He graduated from Cornell University, where he was Editor-In-Chief of the Cornell Daily Sun.  Andrew lives in New York City with his wife Ana and children

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Reigning champion Tom Dumoulin laid down a marker to main rival Chris Froome by winning the opening stage of the Giro d’Italia on Friday.

Dutchman Dumoulin edged out Australian Rohan Dennis by just two seconds in the 9.7-kilometer time-trial around Jerusalem as Chris  Froome struggled following his crash in morning training to finish 21st and lose 37 seconds.

Froome is the reigning Tour de France and Vuelta a España champion and one of the most successful riders in the history of the Tour, having won it four times – in 2013, 2015, 2016 and 2017

Israel geared up for arguably the biggest sporting event to be held in its history, with 176 cyclists from 22 different teams set to compete Friday and Saturday in the first leg of the 2018 Giro d’Italia in the unseasonably steamy Middle Eastern climate, i24 reported.  After the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia is the most prestigious cycling event in the world.

The 120 million shekel (34 million dollars, 27 million euros) investment in the Israeli leg was expected to attract thousands of tourists as spectators watch to see whether four-time Tour de France champion Chris Froome will aim to become just the third person to win the three Grand Tour titles in a row.

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When Facebook founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg addressed privacy concerns during a Senate hearing two weeks ago he launched into a staunch defense of his company’s purported values, despite controversies related to the 2016 presidential election.

According to a report in the Washington Free Beacon, in a joint hearing of the Senate Judiciary and Commerce Committees, Zuckerberg testified about the use of data by Cambridge Analytica, a firm employed by Trump’s presidential campaign. Zuckerberg said Facebook “failed” to protect users’ information in the case of Cambridge Analytica, which used millions of users’ data to target voters in the 2016 election.

Zuckerberg also spoke more broadly about his company’s aims to deal with other politically charged issues, such as fake news and hate speech. It has been alleged that Facebook staff who refused to eliminate fake news were terminated from their positions. Zuckerberg tried to battle down accusations that the social media powerhouse that he runs has a definite liberal bent. Substantive charges have been made that Facebook has essentially fire the first salvo in a punitive war on political conservatives.

Moreover, on these pages, the Jewish Voice has on several previous occasions, voiced its outrage over the fact that its Facebook page has also been targeted by the liberal staff that oversees content at the social media platform.

David Ben Hooren, the publisher of the Jewish Voice recently said that the newspaper’s numbers in terms of “likes” and viewer participation has been significantly and purposely altered for the worse.

In order to illustrate his point, Ben Hooren said, “Throughout the months of February, March and April of this year, our “like” clicks went down by 250. We have lost 100 likes and we have seen no gain. It is very clear to me that our page is being manipulated and targeted by those at Facebook who do not want us to succeed as a legitimate news portal.

Ben Hooren added that, “back in January we had 1000 join our Facebook page. For quite some time we had 10,000 people per engagement on Facebook and now we have 1000. We know that there are outside forces who are attempting to place infringements on our constitutional right of free speech.”

In previously published article on Facebook in the Jewish Voice, it said that Breitbart news recently reported on how the engagement on Trump’s Facebook posts have dropped 45% in recent months. Since January, response to Trump’s posts have dropped from close to 5 million a post to under 3 million and Trump is not posting less.

In January, Facebook introduced a major change to its newsfeed algorithm. In a post, CEO Mark Zuckerberg claimed that the change aimed to give greater emphasis to posts from “friends, family and groups” and less to “businesses, brands and media.” The change was followed by a promise to promote what Facebook calls “broadly trusted” news sources on the platform, Breitbart reported.

The Jewish Voice article made a noteworthy observation: “What is most interesting about the recent Breitbart piece is that they determined the Facebook engagements of left leaning political figures like Bernie Sanders & Elizabeth Warren has remained the same. This surely gives credence to the notion that the social media giants are censoring conservatives. If they are using an algorithm to limit exposure of the president, I think it is safe to say they can do it to anyone, and they are.”

According to reports published in USA Today and other such publications, it appears that under intense scrutiny and pressure from free speech advocates, Conservatives and others, this week Facebook said it would task advisers with the job of investigating charges that Conservative voices are intentionally muted and routinely suppressed by the powers that be at the social media hub.

Although claims have been made for several years by a cornucopia of politically conservative organizations and individuals that the liberal and politically left leaning staff at Facebook have been doling out tendentious treatment, the growing list of grievances now seems to be granted a degree of gravitas. Reports indicate that Facebook has conceded that it committed errors in moderating the seemingly infinite amount of content that gets funneled through its platform.

“It’s clear now that we didn’t do enough to prevent these tools from being used for harm as well, and that goes for fake news, foreign interference in elections, and hate speech, as well as developers and data privacy,” Zuckerberg said. “We didn’t take a broad enough view of our responsibility, and that was a big mistake—and it was my mistake and I’m sorry.”

As was reported by USA Today, a joint statement this week from more than 60 conservatives, including former attorney general Edwin Meese and Family Research Council President Tony Perkins, demanded that Facebook and other tech giants “rectify their credibility with the conservative movement” by explaining why content is taken down and accounts deleted and by including more conservative groups on its list of advisers.

“Social media censorship and online restriction of conservatives and their organizations have reached a crisis level,” the statement read. “Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s hearings on Capitol Hill only served to draw attention to how widespread this problem has become.”

Facebook issued a statement saying that former Arizona Republican senator Jon Kyl and a team at the Washington law firm of Covington and Burling will solicit feedback from conservative groups.

The Heritage Foundation, one of the more influential Washington think tanks that focus on Conservative public policy has plans to meet with Facebook executives.

Klon Kitchen, the Heritage Foundation’s senior fellow for technology told USA Today that, “I think it’s wholly right that conservatives want to be treated fairly and enjoy the benefits of the service like anyone else.”

Kitchen added that “If Facebook is doing a reasonable job of that now, it’s up to Facebook to make that case. If there are systemic problems, they should deal with that, not only to do well as a company, but also for the sake of consumers to provide the best product possible.”

Last month, Facebook published internal guidelines used to decide what users can and cannot post on the social network and introduced an appeals process for Facebook users who believe their posts were removed in error.

Such prominent web sites as Breitbart have charged Facebook with manipulating algorithms in order to “disappear” conservative content on a number of issues including immigration.

Conservative groups ran ads: “Don’t get Zucked. End Facebook’s censorship of conservatives.”

“There are a great many Americans who I think are deeply concerned that Facebook and other tech companies are engaged in a pervasive pattern of bias and political censorship,” said Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas.

On Tuesday May 8, it was reported that “Diamond and Silk” – the pro-Trump YouTube stars with a large Facebook following are claiming they are being censored by Facebook for promoting the president and his agenda.

Lynette “Diamond” Hardaway and Rochelle “Silk” Richardson, two sisters from North Carolina believe that all people, irrespective of their political viewpoints, should have unfettered access to freely express themselves on Facebook. They are now calling for a personal meeting with Zuckerberg to discuss their grievances.

Referring to Zuckerberg, Hardaway told US Today by phone that, “We don’t want him to be afraid of two African-American women. We would like to sit down and talk to him. He needs to know from a conservative point of view: This is what’s working, this is what’s not working.”

The Jewish Voice has extensively covered Facebook and social media censorship, below is a list of links to other articles on this important topic:

Facebook, Censorship & Ideology in the Information Age

Is Facebook Intentionally Blocking Viewer Engagement on the Jewish Voice Page?

The Traps of Social Media: Is it Even Possible to “Unfriend” Facebook from Our Lives?

The Media’s Facebook Hysteria and Double Standards

Facebook’s Digital Reign of Terror

An Immediate Call for Congress to Step Up to the Plate and Monitor Facebook  

By: Ariella Haviv

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On Monday evening, April 30th, close to 100 people joyously gathered at the elegant UN Plaza Grill restaurant on Manhattan’s east side to celebrate the long awaited reunion of those who attended the iconic Camp Betar in upstate New York during the 1960s and 70s. Betar, (an acronym of Brit Trumpeldor of America) is a youth movement founded by the Revisionist Zionist leader, soldier, statesman, orator and visionary, Ze’ev Vladimir Jabotinsky, of blessed memory. The movement was founded in 1923 in Riga, Latvia, Russia.

As dozens of ebullient faces filled the luxurious room at the restaurant, they were greeted by reunion organizer and chief sponsor, Mr. Ronald Edelstein of Ron Properties, a prestigious real estate firm. “Besides serving the purpose of reuniting old friend from Camp Betar and the movement, this reunion has taken on new meaning as it is also a fundraiser for a very important project. Tonight, we are soliciting much needed funds to establish a synagogue and sports center in memory of Rabbi Itamar Ben-Gal, ztk’l of the Har Bracha settlement in the Shomron,” said Mr. Edelstein with palpable conviction reverberating in his voice.

In February of this year Rabbi Itamar Ben-Gal, 29, the father of four young children, was stabbed to death by an Arab terrorist while waiting at a hitchhiking post near the settlement of Ariel as he headed to a (brit milah) circumcision ceremony for his nephew. His suspected killer managed to flee the scene.

Rabbi Ben-Gal lived on the settlement of Har Bracha, a community of some 2,500 people on the outskirts of Schechem. Also residing for many years on Har Bracha in Samaria is Yonaton Behar, a longtime Camp Betar attendee during the 1970s. Mr. Behar embarked on a special trip to the United States for the express purpose of honoring Rabbi Ben-Gal’s memory through an informative speaking tour and an array of fundraising events.

“As Betarim, there is no doubt that tonight our collective memories are drawn to a small campsite on a top of a hill in the tiny hamlet of Neversink, New York in the Catskill mountains, “ said Mr. Behar. He added, “That is the place where we all met and connected in such powerful ways decades ago. Tonight, however, we rekindle our enduring friendships but our minds turn to the holy land of Israel and assisting in making it more secure. For it was indeed our Zionist education that we received in Camp Betar that helped forge a lifetime of genuine love, sacrifice and loyalty to the one and only Jewish state. And that love of Israel is our shared destiny which we cherish to this very day.”

Also taking a prominent role towards making this reunion a reality was Lawrence D. Chariton, of the Great American Jewelry store in Massapequa, New York. For weeks prior to the reunion, Mr. Chariton worked the phones incessantly and sent out scores of e-mails in the hopes of attracting as many Camp Betar alumni as possible.

“I was honored to help in organizing this reunion and serving as a catalyst in bringing old friends together. Camp Betar helped in defining not only our Jewish and Zionist identities during our childhood and adolescence but our fellow campers, our counselors and others became our second family, “ said Mr. Chariton.

Mr. Chariton added, “I want to make special mention of the man who served as our inspirational mentor at Camp Betar and that of course is Barry H. Liben, the former Rosh Hanhaga Artzit. Barry could not attend tonight but sends his warmest regards and love to everyone here.”

Leading off the fundraising for the synagogue in Har Bracha was Mr. Edelstein who delivered a moving address to the assemblage. Also speaking at the event was beloved director of Camp Betar and former Rosh Hanhaga Artzit, Mr. Fred S. Pierce. Mr. Pierce recalled political demonstrations and other acts of civil disobedience that members of the Betar movement held decades ago at the nearby United Nations building. “Yes, we were arrested for a cause that we believed in and that spirit of Hadar was role modeled for us by our madrichim at Camp Betar,” said Mr. Pierce.

Also recounting treasured memories of Camp Betar was Barry Albalah, originally of Fairlawn, New Jersey who attended the reunion with his younger brother David.

Mr. Gil Atzmon, currently residing in Texas, recalled his animated memories of his Camp Betar days and encouraged those present to give generously to this noble cause in the soon to be city of Har Bracha.

Regaling the crowd with his mellifluous rendition of Hatikva (the Israeli national anthem) was acclaimed cantor of the Hamptons Synagogue, Netanel Hershtik. Graciously singing the Betar anthem known as “Shir Betar” (written by Ze’ev Jabotinsky) was longtime Betaria, Professor Wilma Friedman, of Rutgers University. Professor Friedman was remembered not only for her warmth, her intellectual prowess, her superior athletic abilities but her outstanding operatic voice.

Mr. Edelstein profusely thanked his daughter Samantha and son-in-law Abraham for their invaluable help in organizing the reunion. “I am so very proud of the amazing dedication of Samantha and Abraham in making tonight’s event come to fruition. And she managed to accomplish this, with G-d’s help, in such a short amount of time. For that and much more, I am very grateful.”

All contributions for the synagogue in memory of Rabbi Itamar Ben-Gal, ztk’l to be built in Har Bracha can be made payable to: Central Fund of Israel/Har Bracha, c/o Ronald Edelstein, 329 East 50th Street, New York, NY 10022.

By: Fern Sidman

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In an exemplary display of unity, volunteers, soldiers and ALEH participants honor each other on Israel’s Independence Day

On Thursday, April 19, residents, staff and volunteers from the Jerusalem facility of ALEH (www.ALEH.org), Israel’s network of care for children with severe complex disabilities, flocked to the Machane Ofer military base near Givat Ze’ev to host a special barbecue in celebration of Israel’s 70th Independence Day. But what was intended as an event to honor the dozens of IDF soldiers who volunteer at ALEH throughout the calendar year, turned into a two-way tribute, with the soldiers insisting on partaking in the festivity’s preparation to honor their friends from ALEH. In the end, a simple barbecue became the ideal of disability inclusion.

The festivities included celebratory songs and prayers, dancing, interactive games and delicious food straight from the grill. Instead of celebrating with their families, the ALEH residents and soldiers exemplified national unity by choosing to mark the day together, shattering societal boundaries in the true spirit of the day.

“There is no better way to celebrate than to spend time with the children of ALEH and its special volunteers. ALEH teaches us what it means to be truly happy and how to celebrate as one big and united Israeli family.”

The beautiful display of inclusion was further enhanced by the generosity of the Darkeinu shuttle service. After being turned down by multiple shuttle companies, the ALEH staff and volunteers began to worry that they would not be able to transport the ALEH residents, who are all reliant on wheelchairs and other support equipment, to the event at Machane Ofer. However, when the owner of the Darkeinu shuttle service heard about the nature of the event, he not only waved the holiday surcharge but offered the company’s services entirely free of charge.

After a fun-filled evening with their IDF friends, the ALEH residents, staff and volunteers headed back to Jerusalem in high spirits. All in attendance agreed that it was their favorite Yom Haatzmaut experience to date.

“While there are so many torches lit throughout the country for Independence Day, there are those who light their torches with the fire of unity and love, a fire that cannot be extinguished,” said Rachely Teller, Community Relations Coordinator at ALEH’s Jerusalem facility. “Only in Israel would an event like this result in both sides insisting on honoring the other. Only at ALEH can you see soldiers embracing individuals with complex disabilities, treating them like their own brothers and sisters, and going out of their way to make it the most enjoyable and inclusive experience possible.”

To learn more about ALEH, arrange a site visit in Israel, or donate, please visit www.ALEH.org.

ALEH (www.ALEH.org) is Israel’s foremost network of care for children with severe complex disabilities, providing over 750 children from around Israel with high-level medical and rehabilitative care in four residential facilities. ALEH is their home and their family – 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. ALEH’s goal is to enable each child, regardless of the severity of the disability, to realize his or her fullest potential and live a high quality and fulfilling life.

Over the last 35 years, ALEH has become a global community based on the principles of sensitivity, commitment and kindness, making a difference in the lives of Israel’s most vulnerable children and building a better, more caring world.

Edited by: JV Staff

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Netanyahu has crafted a reputation as an exceptionally clever and politically astute leader. Besides his impressive erudition, he has demonstrated on innumerable occasions over the years that he is both a savvy statesman and skilled diplomat.

Above all, Prime Minister Netanyahu is a bold, decisive and intrepid leader who shows no fear of Israel’s many enemies and displays the requisite fortitude in calling for the defense of Israel in all circumstances.
As it pertains to Israel’s arch nemesis, Iran, Netanyahu has consistently gone on the record with concrete and verifiable evidence that the 2015 nuclear deal “will not prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon but will lead them on the path to acquiring one.”

In the days prior to President Trump’s historic and courageous decision to withdraw from the ill-conceived Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), Prime Minister Netanyahu said that Israel’s enemies who threaten the state with destruction “should know that they will encounter an iron wall” and are “are putting themselves in grave danger,” while at an event commemorating the 70th anniversary of the establishment of the Israel Defense Forces.

“To our regret, from time to time we are called upon to pay a price on both the battlefield and the home front. The establishment of the state has not led to a cessation of the desire to attack us. What it has brought is the ability to make war against our enemies. Whoever hurts us, we will hurt them,” Netanyahu said.
“Our steel fist is clenched and ready but before everything it depends on spirit, the undaunted spirit of the men and women who serve in the IDF, in every unit, in every role,” Netanyahu continued.

Speaking at Latrun, West of Jerusalem, Netanyahu added: “We will continue to guard the State of Israel, a precious legacy that has been placed in our hands. Five hundred meters from here, on the nearby hill, in Emmaus, the army of Judah Maccabee fought with bravery and resourcefulness. The Maccabees did not stop until they had achieved victory.”

Victory, Netanyahu said, would be what Israel would achieve, should it be pushed into conflict. “This is your mission,” he told the audience that included the IDF’s top brass, “victory in battle, victory in war, victory over our enemies, if war is forced on us.
The Prime Minister ended his speech with a message of confidence in the IDF’s soldiers and commanders. “I have confidence in you, in the Chief-of-Staff, commanders and soldiers. The entire nation has confidence in you. The entire nation is proud of you and on behalf of the entire nation, I salute you.”

On Thursday, May 10th, in a stern warning directed especially at Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, Prime Minister Netanyahu stressed in a Hebrew-language video message that the IDF will respond powerfully to any attacks on Israeli territory.

Shortly after midnight Wednesday, IDF defense systems identified approximately 20 rockets that the Iranian Quds forces had launched at IDF forward posts on the Golan Heights. The majority of the rockets missed their mark and fell in Syria territory, while four were intercepted by the Iron Dome missile defense system.
Carried out from Iranian military bases in Syria, it was the first direct Iranian attack on Israel rather than through its proxies.

The assault prompted an extensive Israel Air Force attack on dozens of Iranian targets in Syria. Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman said that Israel’s forces struck “nearly all the Iranian infrastructure in Syria.”
In his first comments since the missile attack, Netanyahu, speaking at IDF headquarters in Tel Aviv, said that “Iran crossed a red line. We responded accordingly. The IDF carried out a very wide-ranging attack against Iranian targets in Syria.
“Thanks to a correct deployment of our forces both offensively and defensively, the Iranian action failed. No rocket landed in Israeli territory and our policy is clear: We will not allow Iran to establish a military presence in Syria,” he stated.

“Yesterday I delivered a clear message to the Assad regime: Our action is directed against Iranian targets in Syria; however, if the Syrian military acts against us, we will act against it. This is exactly what happened yesterday –

Syrian military batteries fired surface-to-air missiles against us and, therefore, we attacked them.
“The international community needs to prevent the Iranian Al-Quds force from establishing itself in Syria. We need to unite in order to cut off its spreading tentacles of evil there and everywhere,” the prime minister added.
“I repeat: Whoever hurts us – we will hurt them sevenfold, and whoever is preparing to hurt us – we will act to hit them first. This is what we have done and this is what we will continue to do,” he asserted.

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One shudders at the thought of museums one day conjuring up excuses for more recent presidents who likewise turned a blind eye to genocide or other atrocities around the world

A new exhibit at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum blames the Roosevelt administration’s failure to aid European Jewry on public opinion, Herbert Hoover, and a couple of bad guys in the State Department – but never on President Franklin D. Roosevelt.

Most Americans recall FDR as a strong, decisive leader, but in this exhibit, he has been transformed into the Incredible Disappearing President.

The exhibit begins by describing how some American Jews responded to the rise of Nazism by boycotting German goods and opposing US participation in the Berlin Olympic Games. There is no mention of Roosevelt’s opposition to the boycott, his support for taking part in the games, or his insistence on friendly diplomatic and economic relations with Nazi Germany in the 1930s.

The exhibit defends FDR’s refusal, from 1933 to 1938, to publicly criticize Hitler’s persecution of the Jews. A text panel claims that “the accepted rules of international diplomacy obliged them to respect Germany’s right to govern its own citizens and not intervene on behalf of those being targeted.”

Obliged to respect Hitler’s brutality? Presidents Van Buren, Buchanan, and Grant protested the mistreatment of Jews in Syria, Switzerland and Romania, respectively. Theodore Roosevelt protested the persecution of Jews in Romania. The US government, under President William Taft, canceled a Russo-American treaty to protest Russia’s oppression of Jews.

Woodrow Wilson inserted clauses protecting minorities in the Paris Peace Conference agreements.

There was ample precedent for Franklin D. Roosevelt to speak out; he chose not to.

The exhibit overflows with material concerning antisemitism, nativism and isolationism in America in the 1930s. The argument is that FDR could do little or nothing to aid the refugees in the face of such strong public sentiment.

Yet Roosevelt was not afraid to take on controversial issues that were important to him, even if they lacked wide public backing, such as his scheme to pack the Supreme Court.

He also carefully monitored public opinion and worked to reshape it on issues he cared about.

In any event, the president could have aided the Jews without provoking a public controversy, by quietly allowing the existing German quota to be filled. However, FDR permitted that quota to be fully utilized in only one of his 12 years in office, and in most of those years, it was less than 25% filled. More than 190,000 quota places from Germany and Axis-occupied countries were left unused from 1933 to 1945.

The exhibit does not mention that clergy (rabbis), professors and students could have been admitted without regard to number. Nor is there any mention of the proposals for admitting refugees temporarily to US territories such as Alaska or the Virgin Islands.

Acknowledging these options would have conflicted with the exhibits’ theme of a weak, hapless Roosevelt who had no choice but to follow public opinion – an FDR who was a prisoner of the immigration policies carried out by the Hoover administration.

The exhibit simply ignores the many extra requirements and burdens which the Roosevelt administration imposed upon visa applicants.

As the exhibit moves into the 1940s, it makes new excuses for FDR’s indifference. “With America at war, Jews seeking to emigrate had almost no chance to escape,” a panel declares.

Nonsense. Hitler’s Europe was not hermetically sealed during the war. More than 26,000 European Jews reached Palestine during 1941-1944. Some 27,000 Jewish refugees escaped to Switzerland and were granted haven during the war years (and tens of thousands more reached the Swiss border but were turned back). More than 7,000 Danish Jews were smuggled out of Nazi-occupied Denmark to safety in Sweden in 1943. Thousands more fled to Spain and Italy.

One of the most egregious flaws in the exhibit concerns a proposal, in 1944, by a small government agency called the War Refugee Board. It tried to convince the president to grant temporary haven to hundreds of thousands of refugees for the duration of the war. An April 1944 Gallup poll – commissioned by the White House itself, to test the waters – found 70% of the public in favor.

KEEP IN mind that polls are a central part of the exhibit. They demonstrate the extent of the antisemitism and anti-immigration sentiment that the exhibit says tied FDR’s hands. Scattered through the exhibit, there are nine large, lit boxes, each featuring a poll question; the viewer turns the box around to see the results.

They all show strong opposition to immigration. Yet the aforementioned April 1944 poll showing a very different result is not shown.

Acknowledging the wartime shift of public opinion would upset the exhibits’ major theme.

Mention of the widespread public support for temporary havens would reflect poorly on President Roosevelt, who granted haven to just 982 refugees in 1944. Viewers would realize that the president’s hands were not completely tied, after all.

And so the US Holocaust Museum simply pretends there was no change. Here’s what chief curator Daniel Greene said, in an interview with the Jewish Telegraphic Agency, about public attitudes toward admitting refugees from 1933 to 1945: “Public opinion doesn’t move.” But the fact is that by the spring of 1944 – once the tide of the war had turned, and once Americans learned more about the mass killings – it did move.

Greene told The Washington Post he “hopes visitors will emerge with an understanding that even the US president faces constraints.” Visitors who are familiar with the events in question, however, are more likely to emerge disappointed that the US Holocaust Museum has distorted the historical record in order to make excuses for inexcusable policy decisions.

One shudders at the thought of museums one day conjuring up excuses for more recent presidents who likewise turned a blind eye to genocide or other atrocities around the world.

By: Dr. Rafael Medoff
(Originally published in The Jerusalem Post)

The author is the founding director of the David S. Wyman Institute for Holocaust Studies and the author of 19 books about Jewish history and the Holocaust.

The post Holocaust Museum’s Exhibit Makes Excuses for Ignoring Genocide appeared first on Jewish Voice.

Throughout my childhood, and well into my adulthood, my father, Rabbi Adin Even-Israel Steinsaltz, constantly reminded me of our family adage: “It is better to be a heretic (apikorus) than an ignoramus (am ha’aretz).” This guiding principle and core value was imparted to him by his own father in the hopes that he would question everything he encountered, remain fearless in his quest for knowledge, and ultimately find true security in his deeper understanding of Jewish spirituality, tradition, and law.

While on my own journey for meaning, I began to understand the import of these words. Faith, I realized, is ultimately faith-based, as we begin our spiritual lives woefully uninformed, relying solely on information passed down to us from previous generations. As time went on, I found that the only way to unlock the true wisdom and beauty of our Jewish heritage is to ask, argue and take nothing at face value.

But I also began to understand that it was crucial to ensure that everyone, regardless of their background or level of understanding, had these same opportunities to engage with the text and connect with the world of Jewish knowledge. It became clear that the very survival of our nation depended upon it.

Our history is replete with examples of Jewish communities that relentlessly “pursued the truth,” as well as those that blindly followed tradition. In every case, only the knowledge seekers flourished, grew and endured.

As the “People of the Book,” our longevity does not stem from our ability to pass down our core texts from generation to generation. There would be no meaning to our peoplehood if it merely entailed the passing of a baton. Rather, it is driven by our desire to debate, to dig deeper in our quest for knowledge. Stoked by the sparks of passionate discourse and deliberation, the flame of Jewish heritage and identity can burn in perpetuity.

What’s more, this same relentless pursuit for knowledge bridges our past, present and future. For generations, we have been engaged in the same discussion, and we will continue to be for generations to come. Again, the source of our vigor and fortitude is not just our texts but our ability to argue them.

As I see it, the study of Talmud is our lifeblood. Utilizing the chavruta system, a uniquely Jewish educational model whereby two people explore the texts together, we delve into numerous areas of study– from determining the correct time of day for the recitation of the Shema to deciding upon just compensation for damages inflicted upon private property to figuring out how many angels can fit on the head of a pin. We challenge each other to think outside the box, and in the process, we inform and strengthen our faith.

Even in our darkest times, the study of Talmud has been our light, giving us hope and empowering us to retain control of our minds, and in turn, our destinies.

It therefore troubles me that so many remain tethered to the notion that “Na’aseh V’nishma,” the action-centric declaration of a newly-forged nation, is still the ideal for Jewish living. Yes, we pronounced our loyalty to God, expressed our willingness to follow the Torah, and promised to be people of action. But after more than 3,000 years of following the rules, isn’t it time to understand why? Our pledge had two parts, yet we have been “doing” for so long that we have forgotten how to take the time to “listen” and understand the reasoning behind our actions.

In the hopes of creating new generations of knowledge seekers, my father penned original commentaries and translations for the entirety of the Jewish canon, including Tanakh (Torah, Prophets, and Writings), the Babylonian Talmud, the Mishna, the Mishneh Torah, and Tanya. He devoted his life to making sure that his children, and everyone else’s children, had the tools they needed to engage with the texts, study the foundations of faith in-depth, and join the identity-building discussion that has kept us alive through the millennia.

At Mount Sinai, we were all imbued with unique points of view, and it’s time that we wield them in pursuit of the truth. By challenging each other and supporting the development of tools that make the texts accessible to everyone, we will advance Jewish knowledge and ensure our survival. After all, only those who know can move forward, and only the seekers and keepers of knowledge will find true security in their deep understanding of Jewish spirituality, tradition, and law.

By: Meni Even-Israel

Rabbi Meni Even-Israel, is the Executive Director of the Steinsaltz Center (www.steinsaltz-center.org), a unique pedagogical accelerator that develops tools and programming that encourages creative engagement with the texts and makes the world of Jewish knowledge accessible to all. On Sunday, June 10, a Gala Dinner at the Orient Hotel in Jerusalem will honor Rabbi Steinsaltz, an intellectual luminary and trailblazing educator, and mark the culmination of his life’s work.

The post Knowledge: The Key to Jewish Survival appeared first on Jewish Voice.

Late detection of breast cancer in Ukrainian women accounts for high percentage of cancer cases

In April, LifeChanger FSU launched a series of breast cancer awareness seminars across the Ukraine aimed at providing the region’s Jewish women with the knowledge and tools necessary to take the preventative measures that can increase the chances of early cancer detection. The first seminar, titled “Breast Health: Happiness, Beauty and Responsibility,” was produced by the LifeChanger FSU coordinators in Kherson, Southern Ukraine, on Sunday, April 15.

LifeChanger FSU recently decided to champion the breast health movement in their areas of operation when it became apparent that the Ukrainian Jewish community was in dire need of breast health education.

“A mother’s health is key to the well-being and success of her entire family. In every one of the cities where LifeChanger FSU operates, there is a woman who has had to face breast cancer. Our goal is to give these women hope for the future, enable families to overcome crisis situations and prevent crises from arising in the first place,” said Irina Chernobryvets, Director of LifeChanger FSU.

“In the Ukraine, more than 16,000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer every year, and more than 20% discover their cancers in later stages, so programming that promotes breast health has become essential. With education, we can help bring about positive change and awareness, altering the reality for entire communities.”

The breast cancer awareness seminar in Kherson featured lectures by and consultations with leading medical professionals in Ukraine, including public health practitioners, surgeons and psychologists, breast exam simulations, and a charity auction to benefit Ukrainian breast cancer awareness causes. From May through October 20, Ukraine’s national Breast Cancer Awareness Day, LifeChanger FSU will be replicating the seminar in 12 more Ukrainian cities, including Odessa, Nikolayev, Mariupol, Kharkov, Zhytomir, Vinnitsa, Cherkassy, Chernovtsy, and Pervomaisk.

The “Breast Health: Happiness, Beauty and Responsibility” series is also supported by LifeChanger FSU partners IFCJ, The Kesher Project, The Kvitna Fund and local Jewish organizations in each host city.

LifeChanger FSU (www.LC-FSU.com) is a proactive human services organization that seeks out Jewish children living in the most economically repressed areas of the Ukraine who are grappling with extreme poverty, neglect, abuse, and overlooked physical and emotional disabilities, and changes their lives dramatically by providing frameworks for housing, education and healthcare and creating dynamic and comprehensive solutions to address their unique physical, mental and social needs and distance them from negative influences and the lure of drug addiction, alcoholism and crime.

Edited by: JV Staff

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The Israeli Embassy to the United States held a celebration for Israel’s 70th Birthday on May 14, 2018 with a reception beginning at 5:30 PM at the Mellon Auditorium in Washington DC. There was much to commemorate as Israel moved its embassy to Jerusalem on the same day with Senators and Congressmen heading to Israel for the monumental event. This was the only major celebration held in the US where over 600 people gathered in Washington to rejoice in the many miraculous happenings of the past week: namely President Trump’s decertification of the Iran deal, North Korea’s release of three prisoners, and the long awaited Embassy relocation.

Security was tight as Secret Service checked the soles of my sneakers and opened my overnight bag as I stood by helplessly watching my belongings spill out on the floor. The room was hot and coupled with hundreds of people the crowd was growing restless despite the generous helpings of food and beverages. There were many Colonels and Generals in attendance who showed up in uniform to pay homage to the President. While this event occurs each year, this was the most heavily attended with busloads of people arriving from New York, Israel and other states. The evening also honored 70 people who made a significant contribution in strengthening Israel and its alliance with America.

The honorees were an extremely diverse group many who could not attend either because they were no longer living: such as Leon Uris and Albert Einstein; or because their schedules did not permit-including Michael Bloomberg and George Schultz. Teamster leader Jimmy Hoffa and tainted lawyer Clark Clifford seemed like controversial choices until I learned that Hoffa used Teamster resources to help organize gunrunning and smuggling efforts to the yishuv throughout the 1940’s and Clifford convinced the U.S. to vote in favor of the partition plan.

There were still a number of luminaries in attendance who were awarded medals including moguls: Haim Saban, Robert Kraft and Michael Steinhardt. The event began approximately two hours late with Israeli Ambassador Ron Dermer praising Donald Trump for his commitment to Israel and remarking that Truman’s recognition of Israel in 1948 and Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital were the two major events in Israel’s history. The question on everyone’s mind was how Dermer was able to participate in the Embassy opening in Jerusalem with Jared, Ivanka and Netanyahu in the morning and then arrive in Washington at 7:15 PM in the evening.

Dermer remarked that the alliance between Israel and the United States was stronger than ever with cooperation in security, intelligence and cyber making both countries safer. He acknowledged the varied group of honorees while declaring they had two things in common: they were all American; and they all made sacrifices to secure the future of Israel.

He introduced Vice President Mike Pence who said the President regretted he could not attend because Melania had undergone a medical procedure but assured the audience that the US and Israel were bound together and that they would never allow Iran to attain a nuclear weapon. Pence said for 70 years the world has marveled at all the accomplishments of Israel and commented on how “confounding Israel’s birth and survival is” as it continues to be a global economic powerhouse with its movement into high tech.

He said America stands with Israel because “her cause is our cause, her values are our values and her fight is our fight.” Pence then recited “Shehecheyanu, vkiy’manu , v’higyanu, lazman hazeh” in his Indiana accent; congratulating Israel on behalf of the President on this big day with a “Mazel Tov”. Pence concluded by remarking that the “US and Israel will meet our glorious future together.” We were then treated to a spectacular rendition of the “Star Spangled Banner” and “Hatikvah” by two phenomenal singers as a sign language interpreter continued to act out the song and speeches-I’m not sure if he actually knew sign language but it didn’t matter since the only people who could see him were the honorees none of whom were deaf. As the evening ended, guests hurried out into the rainy evening-perhaps an auspicious omen on this historic occasion.

By: Lieba Nesis

The post DC Embassy Holds Massive Celebration for Israel’s 70th Anniversary & US Embassy Move to Jerusalem appeared first on Jewish Voice.

A resolution voted unanimously by the City Council of Durham, NC, and the easy primary victory of a Democratic congressional nominee in Philadelphia are raising questions as to how much to much influence the radical BDS (Boycott, Divest, Sanctions) is having on local politics in the US.

The Democratic nominee for Congress in a key race in Philadelphia suburbs with a large Jewish population headed a charitable foundation that gave money to groups backing the boycott, divestment and sanctions movement targeting Israel, A7 news reported.

The Forward reported that Scott Wallace, who handily won the primary Tuesday, co-headed a fund that gave hundreds of thousands of dollars to organizations that support BDS in addition to their broader social justice agendas. But the Forward cites at least two instances — $50,000 for Jewish Voice for Peace in 2010-11 and $25,000 for a 2005 U.S. tour by British anti-Israel politician George Galloway — where the focus would appear to mostly be on pushing an anti-Israel line, A7 reported.

The Wallace campaign shifted by blame by saying the grants were “made by a member of the Wallace Global Fund’s leadership from a discretionary fund that other leadership did not exercise authority over”, according to A7 News.  The campaign also claims that Wallace is supporter of Israel.

Wallace is a “progressive” philanthropist who, with his wife, headed the Wallace Global Fund until he ran for election this year. Most of its millions of dollars in disbursements go to addressing climate change, African causes and voting rights.

In a unanimous 6-0 vote recently the city council of Durham, NC, voted to “oppose international exchanges with any country in which Durham officers receive military-style training since such exchanges do not support the kind of policing we want here in the City of Durham,” according to the Council’s official statement, JNS reported.

The resolution was adopted after a coalition of groups, dubbed “Demilitarize! Durham2Palestine Coalition,” which includes the anti-Israel Jewish Voice for Peace that supports the BDS movement, in addition to other Muslim, pro-Palestinian and civil-rights groups, urged its passage in order to prevent any partnership the city’s law enforcement might enter with Israel’s military or police.

“The Israeli Defense Forces and the Israel Police have a long history of violence and harm against Palestinian people and Jews of Color. They persist in using tactics of extrajudicial killing, excessive force, racial profiling, and repression of social justice movements,” a petition by the group said. “These tactics further militarize U.S. police forces that train in Israel, and this training helps the police terrorize Black and Brown communities here in the U.S.”

A group of far-left radicals influencing a major city’s policing is quite stunning, as it appears the fringe anti-Israel movement is having influence among law makers. The JVP (Jewish Voice For Peace) is essentially indistinguishable from the BDS movement itself and they have taken some of the most radical positions, that even some of the most Pro-Palestinian US activists are stunned by their ideology.  They are receiving support by elected officials and in Philadelphia indirectly receiving money thru   candidate’s philanthropic fund, and he is a favorite to win a major congressional seat in a major city. These developments are alarming.

The post In US Cities, BDS is Gaining Influence in Local Politics appeared first on Jewish Voice.

Historian Bernard Lewis, whose influential books shaped generations of Middle East scholars but whose views stirred fierce passions, died at an assisted living facility on Saturday, The Washington Post reported. He was 101.

The passing of Lewis, seen as a strongly pro-Israel Jew, was lamented both by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.

Lewis, who was born in London and was a longtime professor at Princeton University, was a Cold War hawk and influential among White House and Pentagon planners of the US-led 2003 invasion of Iraq.

His books included “The Arabs in History” (1950), “The Emergence of Modern Turkey” (1961), and “The Crisis of Islam” (2003).

Critics, however, derided what they said was his Eurocentric “clash of civilizations” view of the Middle East.

“For some, I’m the towering genius,” Lewis told the Chronicle of Higher Education in 2012, according to the Post. “For others, I’m the devil incarnate.”

One critic, the late Columbia University Middle East expert Edward Said, slammed Lewis as “active policy scientist, lobbyist and propagandist” in a 1982 reply to Lewis in the New York Review of Books.

Lewis in turn accused Said — author of the influential book “Orientalism” (1978) — of unleashing an “unsavory mixture of sneer and smear, bluster and innuendo.”

Israeli premier Netanyahu on Saturday lamented the death of someone he described as “one of the greatest scholars of Islam and the Middle East.”

“I was always impressed by his original and profound insights,” he said in a Facebook post.

Recently appointed as Washington’s top diplomat, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said that Lewis shaped his understanding of the Middle East.

“There is less knowledge and less wit with us today following his passing,” Pompeo said in a statement.

“I met him only once, but read much of what he wrote. I owe a great deal of my understanding of the Middle East to his work. Mr. Lewis was a hard-nosed defender of democracies around the world — including in the Middle East.”

By i24 News

The post Mideast Historian Bernard Lewis Dies at 101; Int’l Leaders Remember “ Great Scholar” appeared first on Jewish Voice.

The potential purchase of an outlet owned by a confidante of U.S. President Donald Trump comes amid Doha’s recruitment of high-profile Jewish visitors

The Qatari government is seeking to acquire a $90 million stake in the conservative media outlet Newsmax, which is owned by President Donald Trump’s close friend Chris Ruddy, according to Politico. The development brings to light a recent change in Newsmax’s coverage of Qatar.

Qatar is a leading funder of terrorist groups that target Israel, including Hamas. It has also forged close ties with Iran, the world’s leading state sponsor of terror and a country whose nuclear program is consistently identified by Israeli leaders as the most serious existential threat to the Jewish state.

Trump decried Qatar’s terror ties in the early months of his administration, tweeting in June 2017: “During my recent trip to the Middle East I stated that there can no longer be funding of Radical Ideology. Leaders pointed to Qatar – look!”

Last year, Newsmax headlines related to Qatar focused on the same message, including opinion pieces that attacked Qatar for its investments in terrorism and criticized U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson for his support of the Gulf nation.

Yet in recent months, Newsmax has regularly published more sympathetic news and opinion coverage on Qatar. A report from last month, “Qatar’s Emir Promises to Step Up Ties, Invest Up to $250 Billion in US,” describes “a widely praised week-long trip of the Qatar leader to the U.S.,” and states that such praise “reached all the way to media outlets in the Middle East.”

When approached for comment regarding Qatar’s reported interest in purchasing a stake in Newsmax, Ruddy told Politico, “This is all false.”

Working to buy influence

Qatar’s reported bid for Newsmax ownership aligns with the Gulf state’s longtime pattern of investing in and buying media outlets to advance its foreign-policy agenda. Experts say that Qatar has intensified this campaign amid its ongoing dispute with Sunni Arab states such as Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt, who have severed diplomatic ties with Doha due to its funding of terror and its close relations with the Shi’a power of Iran.

“Qatar’s reported effort to purchase a stake in Newsmax is not surprising given Doha’s persistent effort to gain political leverage through media outlets — an effort that began with al-Jazeera but has expanded to include a host of other websites and tv stations,” Jonathan Schanzer, senior vice president at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies told JNS. The effort to gain a stake in Newsmax is interesting because it is a U.S.-based site with apparent connections to the world of Trump. Whether or not Doha can translate this into direct politics influence remains to be seen.”

Qatar owns 38 sports TV channels in 36 countries, including in North America, France, Spain, Indonesia, Turkey, Thailand, Philippines, Malaysia and Hong Kong. Qatar’s beIN Media Group in 2016 inked a deal with Turner to give beIN exclusive broadcasting rights to channels in the Middle East and North Africa owned by American media mogul Ted Turner. Qatar Airways also sponsors a monthly travel series on CNN.

As JNS reported in January, Qatari influence-buying extends to American Jewry. As part of its current PR campaign in the United States, Qatar has contracted with Nick Muzin, former deputy chief of staff for Sen. Ted Cruz’s (R-Texas) presidential campaign, in an effort to bring Jewish conservatives and other Israel advocates on trips to Qatar.

As a result of this campaign, recent Jewish visitors to Qatar include famed attorney Alan Dershowitz, Zionist Organization of America President Morton Klein, CEO of the Orthodox Union Kosher Division Rabbi Menachem Genack, Conference of Presidents Executive Vice Chairman Malcolm Hoenlein and other leaders. In January, Dershowitz penned a Newsmax oped (“Why Is There Opposition to a Qatar Investigation?”) in which he responded to critics of his newly sympathetic stance on Qatar.

Emir’s brother behind bid

It has been reported that the architect of Qatar’s PR campaign in the Jewish community and throughout America is Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad, the younger brother of Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. Sheikh Mohammed is also overseeing Qatar’s talks to purchase a stake in Newsmax, according to Politico’s report.

Sheikh Mohammed is the managing director of the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy, the organization responsible for developing infrastructure and overseeing planning for the 2022 World Cup.

His longshot bid to secure Qatar’s hosting of the major international sporting event succeeded amid allegations of systematic bribery and graft, as well as international human-rights groups’ repeated expression of concern about the dangerous labor conditions facing Qatari construction workers on the project, which have already resulted in thousands of deaths.

By: Sean Savage
(JNS.org)

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By Now we have seen the wedding ceremony, seen the lovely pictures and perhaps watched it repeatedly, especially if you are a Europhile, but what about the claims that Meghan Markle being Jewish?

Is Meghan Markle, an American actress and wife of the British royal Prince Harry, a member of the tribe?

Stories in publications across the United States and United Kingdom have prompted the question. An article in the British tabloid Daily Express claims that Markle’s father is Jewish; Vanity Fair, Elle UK, Tablet and many others have cited the story, according to JTA.

Don’t start celebrating just yet, all these rumors are false. Markle, who is best known for her role on the USA Network drama “Suits,” was married to Jewish producer Trevor Engelson from 2011 to 2013. As Tominey notes, the pair had a Jewish wedding in Jamaica (complete with a “Jewish chair dance,” meaning the hora). In other words, her ex-husband was Jewish. This is how rumors are started.

Markle’s father is Irish and her mother is African-American. She wrote an essay for Elle magazine in 2015 about her identity (it was subsequently published in Elle UK, one of the publications that has misstated her Jewish identity). The essay did not mention any Jewish ancestry or hint at a past conversion to Judaism, according to JTA.

Even though she is not Jewish, it rather cool to have a Royal Family member once get married in a Jewish ceremony, albeit not a very religious one.

Another interesting connection the Prince’s new wife has to Judaism, when Markle’s best friend Lindsay Roth got married in 2016, her wedding was a blend of Jewish tradition and Church of England customs, Markle was her best woman, according to The Forward.

Markle and Roth became best friends when they met at Northwestern University in a Toni Morrison literature class in their first year of college. Roth is a television producer who has worked for Larry King and wrote a novel, “What Pretty Girls Are Made Of” in 2015.

By Austin Myers

The post Why Everyone Thinks that New Royal Meghan Markle is Jewish appeared first on Jewish Voice.

The Rabbinical Alliance of America/Igud HaRabbonim conducted a press conference at their monthly Rosh Chodesh (Sivan) Convocation and Conference held on May 15, 2018. Approximately 35 Rabbis convened at Congregation Beis Medrash Divrei Yisroel, located in the Flatbush Section of Brooklyn, where Igud Dayan, Rabbi Yesochor Berish Welz serves as Rabbi.

The following rabbis addressed the Conference, Rabbi Yehoshua S. Hecht, Presidium Chairman RAA/IGUD; Rabbi Yaakov Klass, Presidium Member RAA/IGUD and Torah Editor of the Jewish Press; Rabbi Gil Student, Director of RAA/IGUD Halacha Commission; Rabbi Aharon Ziegler, Rosh Kollel Agudath Achim; Rabbi Mark Meyer Appel, Chairman of the RAA/IGUD C.A.P.S. Project; Rabbi Chaim Komendant, Menahel of the IGUD/RAA Beth Din; Rabbi Yesochor Berish Welz, Igud Dayan and Rabbi of Congregation Beis Medrash Divrei Yisroel; and Rabbi Mendy Mirocznik, Executive Vice-President RAA/IGUD.

Rabbi Aharon Ziegler presented a Dvar Torah on the importance of the holiness of Eretz Yisrael and pointed out how many of the street names in Israel are holy because they are named after Torah sages, such as Ramban Avenue and Rambam Street.

Rabbi Chaim Komendant, Menahel of the RAA/IGUD Beth Din, spoke of the importance of Jews turning to a Beth Din when the time arises. Rabbi Komendant noted how unique and fair the RAA/IGUD Beth Din is and stated that the forms and rules and regulations of the Beth Din are available at the Beth Din’s website, BDIgud.org.

Rabbi Gil Student described the new monthly project of the Halacha Commission, which is the posing of a halachic inquiry to the 950-member rabbis of the RAA/IGUD seeking their halachic opinions. The goal is to record these opinions in a halachic journal.

Rabbi Welz presented a wonderful Dvar Halacha on “Essentials of Judgeship-Dayan Qualifications”.

Besides the learned Torah presented at the Conference, the RAA/IGUD addressed several current problems that the Jewish Community in the United States and in Israel are facing.

The first issue tackled at the press conference was the situation with NYU hospitals that have discontinued the Volunteer Visitation program. The RAA/IGUD urged the administration of NYU to restore access and to allow once again the Satmar Bikur Cholim volunteers to visit with patients in their hospital rooms. Leading the charge was Rabbi Mark Meyer Appel, Chairman of the C.A.P.S division of the RAA/IGUD. C.A.P.S., which stands for Community, Advocacy, Policy and Services, was founded in memory of Rabbi Gershon Tannenbaum, ZT’L, who served as the Executive Director of the RAA/IGUD until his passing two years ago.

Rabbi Appel made it clear that he will not rest until this travesty is rectified and the wonderful Satmar Bikur Cholim volunteers receive the access they need to serve patients at NYU hospitals. In furtherance of advocating for Bikur Cholim, a unanimous resolution was passed by the RAA/IGUD to take all appropriate necessary measures to assist Bikur Cholim and so they can discharge their holy duty as they have been doing for nearly 60 years.

Rabbi Yaakov Klass and Rabbi Mendy Mirocznik were joined by top NYPD brass concerning recent anti-Semitic attacks in New York City. Captain Tim Hollywood, Executive Officer of the Hate Crimes Task Force, and Lt. Robert Delaney, from the Hate Crimes Task Force, conveyed regards from NYPD Commissioner James P. O’Neill to the RAA/IGUD Rabbis in attendance. Both Captain Hollywood and Lt. Delaney made it abundantly clear that the NYPD maintains zero tolerance for anti-Semitic attacks, such as those that occurred this past month. They further asked the rabbis to relay to the Jewish community that the NYPD is taking every step available to protect the Jewish community and to apprehend the perpetrators of these anti-Semitic attacks.

Rabbi Yehoshua Hecht addressed the RAA/IGUD’s concern about those in the media who criticize Israel’s defensive actions against terrorists who attacked the Israeli border in Gaza. Rabbi Hecht advised that the RAA/IGUD would be forthcoming with a press statement, which they did the next morning.

Edited by: JV Staff

The post RAA/Igud Addresses Bikur Cholim Issue at NYU; Condemns Media Attacks on Israel appeared first on Jewish Voice.

On Sunday, June 3, 2018, Met Council on Jewish Poverty (Met Council) honored elected officials and community partners who champion Met Council’s core mission to aid, sustain, and empower vulnerable New Yorkers at The Yale Club. More than 350 elected officials, policymakers, Jewish community advocates, and leaders gathered to show their support for the 225,000 needy New Yorkers served by Met Council each year. For the first time, the annual breakfast was sold out and there was a standing room only crowd at The Yale Club.

The Master of Ceremonies for this year’s event was Errol Louis–award-winning anchor of “Inside City Hall” on NY1. This year’s breakfast was dedicated to the memory of Assemblyman Michael Simanowitz z”l who was a steadfast supporter of Met Council and Jews in need.

“Met Council’s Legislative Breakfast was a wonderful celebration of our partnership with government officials,” said David G. Greenfield, Met Council’s CEO. “This year’s honorees embody the most important qualities of government officials: they are dedicated defenders of our City’s most vulnerable, and creative problem solvers in addressing our city’s most pressing challenges. We honor them for service and support.”

Those honored included: NYPD Commissioner James P. O’Neill, The Honorable Laurie Cumbo (NY City Council), The Honorable Todd Kaminsky (NY State Senate), The Honorable Steven Cymbrowitz (NY State Assembly), The Honorable Barry Grodenchik (NY City Council), The Honorable Stephen Levin (NY City Council), The Honorable Donovan Richards (NY City Council), The Honorable Ritchie J. Torres (NY City Council), Jackie Ebron (Met Council), and Tomchei Shabbos of Queens.

“It was a great morning to be at the Met Council Legislative Breakfast honoring the work of Commissioner O’Neill and many others,” recalled Congresswoman Carolyn B. Maloney. “Thank you Met Council for your tireless work to help vulnerable populations of New York City, including the more than 565,000 poor and near-poor living in Jewish households in NYC.”

“I am honored to receive the ‘Champion of Affordable Housing Award’ from Met Council,” said New York City Councilman, Donovan Richards. “Proud of the work they do every day to address poverty in our communities.”

“This organization is vital to New York and to America” said Senator Charles Schumer, who is a long time supporter of Met Council’s work.

“The Annual Met Council Legislative Breakfast was bigger and better than ever,” said New York City Council Member, Mark D. Levine. “It was wonderful seeing elected leaders and many others coming together in support of the largest Jewish communal social safety net in America!”

About Met Council:

Met Council operates a network of over 30 Kosher Food pantries in New York City — the largest such network in the country. Met Council manages grants and deliveries for these agencies. Food deliveries come from a range of collaborators: New York City HRA Emergency Food Assistance Program, The Emergency Food Assistance Program from Food Bank for New York City, City Harvest, private donations, and wholesale purchases. In addition, Met Council receives funding from the NYS Department of Health’s Hunger Prevention and Nutrition Assistance Program, United Way Emergency Food and Shelter Program, UJA-Federation of New York, and other private funding sources. These deliveries are made to Met Council’s 11,000 square foot warehouse located in Canarsie, Brooklyn, from which deliveries are made on a monthly schedule to the constituent pantries, with ad hoc deliveries throughout the month. Beyond food assistance, Met Council also assists Network food pantries with compliance, food safety, benefits access, and general referrals.

Met Council is a proud partner of UJA-Federation of New York.

Edited by: JV Staff

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The Samuel Waxman Cancer Research Foundation (SWCRF) hosted its fifth annual “Collaborating for a Cure Luncheon” at the private Upper East Side residence of Susan Gutfreund in New York City. The event featured a fashion presentation from Fashion Icon Jason Wu, whose collection was showcased before a private audience, with all event proceeds benefiting the Samuel Waxman Cancer Research Foundation.

Event Chairs included Lauren Lawrence, Pamela Morgan, and Marion Waxman, and Co-Chair Erica Linden-Fineberg. The Event Committee included Chris Arlotta, Sharon Bush, Maria Elena Christiansen, Denise De Luca, Boo Grace, Susan Gutfreund, Yaz Hernandez, Patricia Kluge, Jeanne Lawrence, Lauren Day Roberts, Barbara Tober, Marcy Whitman, and Karen Amster-Young.

Notable attendees included Lauren Lawrence, Marion Waxman, Samuel Waxman M.D., Erica Linden-Fineberg, William T. Sullivan, Maria Fishel, Don Lemon, Pamela Morgan, Michelle Herbert, Jean Shafiroff, Vicky Tiel, Carolyne Roehm, Regina Kravitz, Susan Rose, Hyewon Miller, Barbara Regna, Diane Chudnoff, Chris Arlotta, Harriet Gayle Raisin, Gail Prop, Barbara Tober, Chris Arlotta, Caroline Lieberman, Gale Sitomer, Jeanne Lawrence, Ingeborg Rennert, Lauren Day Roberts, Maria Elena Christiansen, Dr. Penny Grant, Marjorie Baldinger, Marlene Brown, Marcia Levine, Randi Schatz, Roy Fischer, Valerie Lettan, Yaz Hernandez, Nicole Salmasi, Nadia Eshaghpour, Maribel Lieberman, Laury Franks, Patricia Kluge, and David Salvatore.

Over 125 guests attended this sold out and best attended event that was spearheaded by Chair Lauren Lawrence. Dr. Samuel Waxman pointed out events such as the Luncheon are directed to cancer research. The newest initiative for the Foundation is addressing the growing incidence of cancer among people as they age by launching a funding program that supports teams of researchers with expertise in aging and cancer.

The elegant luncheon was catered by CxRA an awe-inspiring restaurant group dedicated to transforming each meal into a cherished memory, sparking a crave to return. white wine and special gin cocktail were donated by Palm Bay International, finishing off with specialty cupcakes by renowned Magnolia Bakery.

Edited by: JV Staff

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On Sunday June 3, 2018 tens of thousands of marchers joined forces on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan to celebrate the 70th anniversary of Israel’s independence in the 54th annual “Celebrate Israel” parade. Sponsored by the Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC), the parade has been a highly anticipated annual event in New York City since its inception in 1964.

Both marchers and spectators began to assemble as early as 8:00AM for the 11:00AM parade start. The NYPD took every precaution to make sure that safety and security were in order for the parade. The lively festivities lasted until the final marcher crossed the finish line at the East 79th Street entrance to Central Park.

The parade began on schedule even though the city’s mayor was nowhere to be found in the borough of Manhattan. The mayor chose to roll out his new controversial education entrance plans for New York City specialty high schools. His announcement was presented at a school in Brooklyn, where he and the city’s new chancellor RIchard A. Carranza addressed students and parents to discuss the city’s new acceptance program for the specialty high schools.

Mayor DeBlasio arrived at the parade hours after the first marchers, including the NYPD Drum and Bugle Corp had made their way up Fifth Avenue. The spectators and parade marchers seem indifferent to the fact that the mayor had not taken a prominent role in leading the parade.

There were plenty of honorees representing Israel, like Israel’s Permanent Ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Danon, former Deputy Minister of Defense of Israel (2013-2014) and author of the book, “The Will to Prevail.”

Governor Andrew Cuomo received the largest cheers along with Israel and American Jewish leaders. Marching with the governor were Letitia James, New York City’s Public Advocate and now the Democratic Party’s choice for State Attorney General, a position that our governor once held. Also marching with Governor Cuomo were NY State Assemblyman David Weprin, former Assembly member Mark Weprin, both sons of former speaker of the New York State Assembly, Saul Weprin, who has a major street in Queens named after him. Also marching close to the governor were Jewish Community Relations Council President Charles S. Temel and the organization’s Vice President Michael Miller.

Prior to the kickoff of the parade, many elected officials and esteemed personalities in the pro-Israel camp assembled at the 42nd annual Met Council on Jewish Poverty’s legislative breakfast. The organization is one of the largest in the nation; helping people all over the Metropolitan area overcome homelessness, medical problems and poverty related issues. Last year the Met Council on Jewish Poverty served more than 225,000 New Yorkers in need. Under the current leadership of former New York City Council member David G. Greenfield, who has assumed the position of CEO, the Met Council helps the less fortunate, irrespective of race, religion or ethnicity. The Met Council operates the following programs:

1. Kosher Food Network hosts 30 regular food pantries serving 50,000 people every month and 100 more pantries during holidays. Brooklyn hosts the Central distribution warehouse for the Met Council. The organization has greeted the 21 Century with a new Digital Pantry where clients can order food needs online.
2. Holocaust Survivor Program- Provides Trauma-informed case assessment and management services. More than 3,000 Holocaust survivors received services last year.

3. Benefit Access- Aids clients in the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program(SNAP), also known as the Food Stamps program.

4. Volunteer Program-The Met Council currently has more than 1,400 volunteers who aid the staff to offer the many wonderful services provided by the Council.
5. Senior Services- Free social services aid to seniors living in public housing.
6. Crisis Intervention Services- Provides financial help for immediate, urgent problems such as eviction prevention, suspension of utilities and emergency food card program.
7. Family Violence Program- Provides Safety planning and case management and emergency financial help for survivors of domestic violence.
8. Project Metropair- provides home repairs free for low income seniors permitting them to live independently and age safely in their homes.
9. Housing- Met Council’s affiliates own and manage more than 1,200 units of affordable housing at 21 different residences throughout New York City for low-income and formerly homeless seniors.
10. Jewish Community Council Network- The Met Council is the Umbrella organization for 16 local JCC’s located in neighborhoods with high numbers of Jewish residents in need of services.

A veritable cornucopia of elected officials representing constituents throughout the state marched in the parade. The New York City Council was represented by many council members who marched behind a banner designating the council. The New York State legislature was represented by many members of the Assembly and the Senate. Washington was well represented by many members of the U.S. Congress and the U.S. Senate.

Among them were: Queens Borough President Melinda Katz; Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark; U.S. Representatives, Carolyn Maloney and Dan Donovan; Senators Joseph Addabbo, Phil Boyle, Leroy Comrie, Brad Hoylman, and Liz Krueger; Assembly Members Ed Braunstein, Steven Cymbrowitz, Jeffrey Dinowitz, Anthony D’Urso, Walter Mosley, Helene Weinstein, and David Weprin; Consul General of Israel in New York Amb. Dani Dayan; Minister of Culture and Sport of Israel Miri Regev (Likud); Minister of Science, Technology, and Space of Israel Ofir Akunis (Likuh); Israeli Knesset Members Shuli Mualem (Bait Yehudi), MK Oded Furer (Israel Beitenu), MK Yoel Hasson (Zion Camp), and MK Nurit Koren (Likud); Director General of the Ministry of Culture of Israel Yossi Sharabi; Adviser to the Director General of Knesset Vadim Braverman; and Knesset Staff Member Yuval Raz.

Grand Marshals Dina and Jonathan Leader and Honorary Grand Marshals, including actor, childhood icon and Birthright Israel alum Jonathan Lipnicki, TV personality Siggy Flicker, world-renowned and autodidact Chef Eyal Shani, singer and entertainer Lipa Schmeltzer, and host of the Unorthodox Podcast, Liel Leibovitz took prominent positions in the parade as well.

There were marchers from Jewish organizations representing all five boroughs as well as from surrounding Long Island, Westchester and Rockland Counties and surrounding states such as Connecticut and New Jersey.

Hebrew schools and Yeshivas were abundant in the parade with all boroughs and Long Island joined by New Jersey religious schools and Jewish congregations marching and sing favorite Jewish tunes along the parade route, assisted by portable public address systems magnifying the music and the lyrics to the songs sung. One group of Bucharian Jews from Forest Hills broke into song with familiar Russian and Hebrew tunes. When this writer asked if they knew Orche Chorna, the group from E108th Street in Forest Hills broke out in song.

Also from Queens, the Hillcrest Jewish Center’s Rabbi Manes Kogan led a group of more than 50 congregants and their family members to celebrate the 70th Birthday of the birth of the State of Israel.

Among the schools participating in this year’s parade were: HAFTR – Hebrew Academy of Five Towns & the Rockaways, HALB – Hebrew Academy of Long Beach, HANC – Hebrew Academy of Nassau County, Magen David Yeshiva of Brooklyn, Yeshiva of Flatbush, Magen David Yeshivah Joe and Celia Esses High School, Ma’ayanot Yeshiva HS for Girls, Manhattan Day School, Rabbi Arthur Schneier Park East Day School, Rabbi Pesach Raymon Yeshiva of NJ, Ramaz School MS/HS, Rambam Mesivta and Shalhevet Rosenbaum Yeshiva of North Jersey, among many others.

To say that the parade was success would be a gross understatement. Kudos to the NYPD and its police commissioner, James P. O’Neill for the high level of security.

By: Dan Miller, Ph.D. & Joyce Vetere Milowski

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Palestinians from the Gaza Strip once again launched burning kites at civilian communities on the Israeli side of the border Tuesday, setting alight hundreds of dunams of farmland adjacent to Kibbutz Nir Am, Sapir College and Netiv Ha’Asara, according to a TPS report.

Ofer Liberman, the general manager of Nir Am’s farming operation, said the kibbutz has sustained dozens of kite attacks over the past month, in addition to rocket and mortar attacks that have set fire to the kibbutz wheat fields in recent years. He said the attacks have cost the kibbutz more than NIS 1 million in economic damages but added that the challenge here is far greater than dollars and cents.

“Look at this field,” he told TPS while surveying the damage from the latest attack. “They burned about 50 dunams – that’s about NIS 25,000 shekels in economic losses. But that can be made up with one shipment of wheat from Europe or the United States.

“The far more serious issue is the notion of Israel’s sovereignty here. That’s why the most important thing I do every morning is to raise the Israeli flag onto the tractors. I want the Palestinians to know and understand that we aren’t going anywhere.”

Despite the community’s steadfast commitment to developing the area – Nir Am is currently building 45 new housing units, and Liberman said the new homes have been completely taken by young families seeking membership in the kibbutz, meaning they see a long-term future here, according to a TPS report.

Still, the threat posed by the burning kites is unlike the challenge that border communities have faced from cross-border missiles since the year 2000, for the simple fact that they appear to be undetectable until it is too late to stop them: Standing in the community’s garage, just 500 meters from the wheat field, there was no indication of an attack until Liberman looked over the road and saw plume of black smoke rising. When we arrived less than five minutes later, the field was half-burned; 10 minutes later the thriving wheat crop had turned to ash.

On Tuesday morning, TPS reported that Minister of Public Security Gilad Erdan said Israel should carry out targeted killings of Hamas leaders and Gazan terrorists launching flammable kites over the border to set alight farmlands and woodlands at the dedication of a new police station in Sderot.

“Given the fact that Hamas is allowing the kites to be launched, we must return to targeted killings, Erdan said in the wake of ongoing arson attacks that have burned some 2,200 acres of farmland and forests in the Gaza Belt region. “Today, the threats are of different kinds: tunnels, rockets; every time they find a new tool to hurt us. Our enemies are trying to erode our civil strength because they understand that they cannot harm the IDF, but they will not succeed in doing that either.”

“There will be a severe response to any attack,” Erdan said “Kite terrorism is severe, and whoever sends them should fear for his life.”

INN reported on Tuesday that the Keren Kayemet Le’Israel-Jewish National Fund (KKL-JNF) announced that it will sue Hamas in international legal court for the severe environmental damage caused to KKL-JNF land in the area surrounding Gaza by firing of rockets and mortar shells, and from the incendiary kites sent to Israel.

To do so, KKL-JNF intends to recruit the help of international law attorneys whose expertise are lawsuits of this kind.

KKL-JNF World Chairman, Daniel Atar, who toured the towns surrounding the Gaza Strip today with KKL-JNF Management, said, “It is inconceivable that the international community would allow Hamas not to be held accountable and pay for its criminal acts; not only against the citizens of the state of Israel, but also against nature and the environment which have been severely hurt by this criminal environmental terrorism. Hamas has proved that they have no humanity; not just toward human beings, but also toward animals and natural resources.”

Atar continued: “We are going on a planting campaign with the children from the towns surrounding Gaza: Hamas burns forests – we plant them. We will prove that our lives here are founded on strength and growth.”

Since the outbreak of these events, 265 fires have been recorded, in which 2820 dunam (approximately 697 acres) of KKL-JNF forests have burned.

In yet another development, Israeli President Reuven Rivlin and Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas engaged in a phone conversation Monday afternoon to speak out and take action to do against a growing torrent of arson attacks perpetrated against communities along the Gaza border in recent weeks with flammable kites and balloons and against a spate of attempted violations of the border.

As firefighters in the Gaza Belt area battled blazes in several locations, Rivlin, in a call placed for the Muslim Ramadan festival, wished Abbas a speedy recovery following his recent hospitalization.

“The terror coming out of Gaza is a problem for both sides, and we need hear your voice on this issue,” Rivlin said, “We have to see how we can stop the arsons and the infiltrations,” he added.

Earlier Monday, TPS reported that Treasury Minister Moshe Kahlon addressed the issue of compensation for farmers whose fields were damaged by the fires, announcing an immediate compensation to the tune of 50% of the estimated damages, with the remainder to follow as soon as possible.

“Our farmers are strong people who have gone through hard times, and they will not be broken by the kite terror,” said Kahlon, “We view agriculture and the tending to the lands of Israel with the highest regard, and see it as an important economic sector,” he added.

Israel will settle accounts with Hamas and Islamic Jihad at a time of its choosing and will not accept a continuation of recent events along the Gaza border, Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman said on Monday, according to a TPS report.

“I would like to address the situation down south,” Liberman said at the commencement of the Yisrael Beiteinu weekly faction meeting, “First of all, it needs to be clear that we will not accept the routine of [molotov] kites, or riots on the border, or attempts to break through the fence and to damage [infrastructure] or violate Israeli sovereignty.”

“We will respond accordingly, I just want to emphasize that we will act in accordance with the Israeli interest, at a time that is convenient for us,” Liberman continued, adding that “I don’t usually keep an open account, and we will settle all accounts with Hamas, with the Islamic Jihad, and with the rest of the terrorists acting against us from within the Gaza strip.”

According to Liberman, over 600 flammable kites have been sent into Israel from Gaza since the beginning of the riots on the border at the beginning of April, 400 of which were successfully intercepted by defense forces. The 200 kites which did manage to reach fields, have set ablaze over 2,200 acres of farmland and forests.

Also on Monday, Tourism Minister Yariv Levin said that Prime Minister Netanyahu is correct to use tax money collected for the Palestinian Authority to fund damages caused by flammable kites to the farmers of the Gaza Belt region, despite the fact that Israel holds Hamas, as the governing power in Gaza, responsible for the arson attacks.

“There is no reason for this damage to fall on the Israeli economy,” Levin told Army Radio.

“It makes no sense that we continue to give money to the Palestinians. Not only has the Palestinian Authority and Abu Mazen not helped to resolve the conflict for a long time, but they are the heart of the problem. They take the money and give it to the families of the terrorists that sit in our prisons,” Levin said.

Netanyahu’s instruction Sunday to withhold tax monies from the PA in order to offset damages caused by the burning kites followed weeks of cross-border arson attacks that have also included firebombs attached to kites and kites doused in petrol, set alight and then launched over the border, which has set thousands of acres of mostly wheat crops on fire and caused millions of shekels in damages.

The farmers evaluate the damage to be more than NIS 5.5 million, including the burning of the crops and the damage to their working tools.

Asked about taking money from the PA to offset damages attributed to Hamas, Eshkol Regional Council head Gadi Yarkoni said it makes no difference where the government takes the money from to compensate the farmers.

“The farmers need to get the money as soon as possible. The kites are a real terror; this should not be taken lightly,” Yarkoni told Army Radio.

Gaza Belt farmers also said they would ask the International Criminal Court in The Hague to indict Hamas Gaza leaders Yahya Sinwar and Ismail Haniyeh for the attacks. Shurat HaDin, The Israel Law Center, an NGO that aims to fight terrorism through legal means and combat boycotts of Israel, is expected to represent the farmers at the ICC.

In a related development, it was reported that Prime Minister Netanyahu said on Tuesday evening that the biggest threat to the world today is nuclear weapons in the hands of a radical Islamic regime like Iran after meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris. The two discussed Tehran’s nuclear program as well as challenges posed to Israel by Tehran’s military presence in Syria.

In a press briefing following the meeting, Netanyahu told reporters that “now is the time to apply maximum pressure on Iran to make sure its nuclear program does not go anywhere,” but clarified that he had not asked Macron that France back out of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action nuclear deal.

“I want to make it clear that I did not ask President Macron to leave the deal. I think that economic realities are going to decide this matter. So that’s not what we focused on. What I focused on is to stop Iranian aggression in the region,” Netanyahu said.

“Israel’s goal, which I think should be shared by all those who seek peace, prosperity and stability in the Middle East is a reconstructed Syria and the precursor to that is that Iran leaves Syria. All of Syria. it has no business being there,” he added

Netanyahu then turned to Gaza, countering the French president’s criticism of the move of the United States Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem in May, which he said had “caused loss of life” and did “not help the peace process.”

Netanyahu said events on the Gaza border were not “peaceful protests, but violent riots” organized and paid for by Hamas.

By: Andrew Friedman
(TPS & INN)

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Thinking of Winston Churchill walking around Britain provides visitors with plenty of history to follow in its footsteps. A recent fortunate find beneath a store is tailor-made for this history.

About an inflation-adjusted $2.5 million of bank notes that date all the way back to World War II were discovered at Cotswold Outdoor store in Brighton, which was formerly Bradley Gowns, a branch of a well-known London-based tailor shop at which Churchill and his wife shopped, Fox News reports. While the notes aren’t in great condition, they are identifiable, but why the notes were buried and by whom remain mysteries.

The money was found under the floorboards of Cotswold Outdoor store when construction workers were tearing up carpet and tiles. Russ Davis, owner of the store, didn’t realize what he discovered at first because everything was so old and stuck together.

“I just thought it was a block of wood, so I snapped it in half and then found a £1 note,” Davis said, according to an interview with the BBC. “Some of them were really bad, where you could see the metal water marks that run through the notes,” he added.

AOL reports that 30 bundles of £1 and £5 bank notes totaling £30,000 make up the $2.5 million, adjusted for inflation. The New York Post said that Sussex police now possess the notes.

The blue notes indicate the era of the notes, printed in a time when the fate and order of the world were very much in question. Today’s British notes are green, and the £1 ceased circulation in the late 1980s.

Nobody knew why the money was buried, but Davis speculated that it could have been money robbers were hiding while they waited for the stolen money to cool off. The New York Post also reported that another suggestion was that the money was meant to help Jews flee if the Nazis came to town. “We are English back to I don’t know when, but I know there is Jewish blood in the family,” Bradley Gowns, heir to the old family business, said in comments obtained by the Post. “They might have worried they’d have to buy their way out of England. Maybe it was part of a getaway plan,” Bradley said.

The find comes on the heels of two other recent and similar discoveries. A rare nickel from 1913, the Eliasberg 1913 Liberty Head Nickel and one of only five ever produced, will be auctioned by Stack’s Bowers Galleries in August. It is expected to sell for an estimated price between $3 million and $5 million, according to Fox News. A New England man last April had a gold $5 Gold Rush-era coin from the San Francisco Mint that was certified as real and worth millions of dollars now.

Only time will tell if and when more of these rarities are unearthed and give us more windows into the past.

By: Amy Linwood

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