Israel can never repay its debt to the tatzpitaniyot

 

Amit Segal

There are many images burned into the Israeli consciousness from October 7. One of the most painful is the fate of the IDF surveillance soldiers—the tatzpitaniyot.

Mostly eighteen and nineteen years old, these young women were tasked with watching Hamas. They saw the preparations and warned their superiors—and were promptly ignored. When Hamas stormed their bases on October 7, they paid the price for the IDF’s failure. Fifteen were murdered. Seven were kidnapped. All were eventually returned to Israel alive—except one. Corporal Noa Marciano’s body was recovered by the IDF in November 2023. An autopsy determined that she had been wounded during an IDF strike on the apartment where she was being held. Her captor was killed in the strike, and Marciano was rushed to al-Shifa Hospital. There, she encountered Muhammad al-Habil—a doctor by day, and a Hamas commander by night. Faced with a wounded Israeli hostage, he made a choice to abandon humanity. Sensitive readers may wish to skip what happened next. According to Marciano’s father, there exists a video showing the medical professional at al-Shifa deliberately killing his wounded daughter—injecting air into her veins—while she begged for her life. I recount it for one reason: yesterday, the doctor of death, Muhammad al-Habil was eliminated by an IDF strike in response to repeated violations of the ceasefire. Israel can never repay its debt to the tatzpitaniyot—for what they warned, how they were ignored, and for how they were abandoned. But the elimination of those who tormented and murdered them is the least it can do.

Standing Up When It’s Not Easy - Mark Meyer Appel

 

Mamdani health officials’ ‘oppression’ obsession: Attack Israel and Jews

 

Andrea Peyser

This is Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s New York: Department of Health and Mental Hygiene workers are assembling on the taxpayer’s dime to attack the nation of Israel.

The grossly antisemitic “Global Oppression and Public Health Working Group,” which held its first meeting Tuesday, is an outrage that demands swift action from Mamdani — but will he?

Held in the middle of the workday at department headquarters in Long Island City, Queens, as well as remotely, the government-sponsored hate fest featured speakers who accused Israeli forces of committing “genocide’’ against Palestinians.

One presenter, Hunter College professor Weeam Hammoudeh, a committee member for the Palestine Global Mental Health Network, displayed not only vicious bias but willful ignorance of the Jewish state.

In this word salad captured on video, she proclaimed, “So Palestinian citizens of Israel are citizens but they’re not considered nationals of the state so they’re more restricted in terms of the areas that they can live in and then some jobs and other opportunities also require military service, and that creates another set of sort of disparities in outcomes.”

It’s a bald-faced lie.

Israel’s Muslim citizens not only enjoy the same civil rights, employment and wages as Jewish Israelis, they can vote and hold public office.

But speakers at this disgraceful conference neglected to mention not only these facts, they ignored the massacre of more than 1,200 Jews on Oct. 7, 2023. Not one mention was made during the more than hour-long conference of terrorists who murdered, raped, tortured and kidnapped Jews, sparking Israel’s self-defensive war in Gaza.

The name Hamas was not uttered at all.

And what does libeling another country have to do with the Health Department’s mandate to protect the health of New Yorkers from illness, from the flu to HIV?

Absolutely nothing.

Speakers, who seemed hand-picked for their hatred of Israel and contempt for the Jewish people were introduced by Sarah McKenney, a director of operations for the rapid response team at the DOHMH, and one of the organizers of the disgraceful event.

Mayor Mamdani is a longtime basher of Israel who’s surrounded himself with Jew haters and bandies about the term “genocide.’’ Lately, however, he’s vowed to protect Jewish New Yorkers from the often violent acts of antisemitism unleashed on streets, Jewish-owned businesses and synagogues throughout Gotham.

It’s time he put his money where his mouth is.

If Hizzoner wants to prove he represents all people of this city and cares if residents live or die, he’ll immediately disband this disgraceful working group and put its ringleaders on notice that their jobs are at risk if they refuse.

Be careful what you say about Israel

G-d will tolerate many things from His servants. Becoming a prosecutor of Israel is not one of them.

 The Haftorah for Parshat Yitro (Isaiah 6:1-7:6 according to the Ashkenazi custom) is majestic and awe-inspiring yet also somewhat unsettling. Isaiah beholds a vision of G-d enthroned in glory, attended by Seraphim, a type of angel, who proclaim, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of Hosts; the entire world is filled with His glory" (6:3).

The foundations tremble. Smoke fills the Temple. Heaven itself seems to shake.

And then something unexpected happens.

Isaiah does not rejoice. He recoils.

“Woe is me, for I am undone," he cries, “for I am a man of impure lips, and I dwell among a people of impure lips" (6:5).

At that moment, one of the Seraphim flies toward him, holding a glowing coal taken from the altar, and touches Isaiah’s lips. The angel declares that his sin has been removed and his iniquity atoned for.

Why the lips? Why fire? And why this searing act at the very moment Isaiah is being called to prophesy?

Rashi (Rabbi Shlomo Yitzchaki, 1040-1105), cites the Midrash Tanchuma and says that Isaiah was punished for indicting the Jewish people. It was acceptable for Isaiah to say, “I am a man of impure lips." What crossed the line was adding, “I dwell among a people of impure lips." That judgment, Rashi explains, was not his to make. A prophet may rebuke Israel. He may warn, exhort and admonish. But he may not speak with contempt.

And so G-d responds. Not with words, but with fire.

Speech is the instrument of prophecy, and Isaiah’s speech required correction before it could be entrusted with Divine truth. The mouth that would soon carry G-d’s message to kings and nations had first to be purified of any hint of disdain for its own people.

Belzer Tzadik Elimelech Stern Sentenced to 3 Years in Prison for Spying for Iran

 The Jerusalem District Court on Thursday sentenced Elimelech Stern to three years in prison after he was convicted of maintaining contact with a foreign agent and conspiring to carry out threats.

The court's verdict presented evidence that Stern, operating under Iranian guidance, carried out various tasks within Israel, recruiting other citizens for national security missions in exchange for payment in digital currency.

Among the tasks Stern performed were printing security-related flyers, collecting mobile phones, and transferring money in public spaces.

Stern's initial suspicion about the identity of the agent he was working with grew more serious as the missions took on a more prominent security nature. However, he did not cooperate with the authorities and stalled legal proceedings throughout the process.

The Prosecutor's Office emphasized the severity of Stern's crimes, stressing that they posed a tangible threat to national security and disrupted civilian life.

Additionally, the Prosecutor's Office noted the broader phenomenon of foreign agents operating within Israel, under clear Iranian influence, and requested a harsh sentence to deter and prevent similar cases in the future.

The defense argued that Stern was not fully aware of the agent's intentions, but the court determined that a deterrent sentence was necessary to prevent similar actions in the future.

Satmar to set up a community in north Israel

 For the first time in the history of the Chasidic movement, a group of dozens yeshiva students from the Satmar Hasidic community is leaving Bnei Brak and establishing a community on Har Yona in Nof HaGalil.

The organized move, led by yeshiva head Rabbi Chaim Tzvi Meislish, marks a shift in the settlement policy of one of Israel’s largest Hasidic groups.

At a recent conference, Rabbi Meislish acknowledged the challenge of leaving long-established residential centers, while emphasizing the potential of the move. He said that despite the difficulty of physical distance, it offers opportunities for a more balanced lifestyle, stronger family life, and calmer family-building.

Rabbi Avraham Yehoshua Yozshef, CEO of the institutions, stressed that this is a planned initiative rather than a private effort. Planning for educational institutions is advanced, alongside work to establish a synagogue as a community hub.

Housing details presented included high-quality apartments with open views and an expected occupancy within about 14 months, offering a more accessible alternative to projects in Haredi urban centers.

Rabbi Eliezer Biller, the project’s entrepreneur, said the goal is to create a complete framework for community life, including education, spirituality, and family resilience.

The new community joins other Hasidic groups already established in the city, including Toldos Aharon Yitzchak, reflecting a broader trend in Hasidic housing patterns in Israel.

Dr Oz Suggests NY’s Chasidic Jews Are Behind Health Care Fraud

 

The Anti‑Defamation League on Wednesday condemned comments by Dr. Mehmet Oz about Hasidic Jews, sharing excerpts from a two-week-old interview with Epoch Times’ “American Thought Leaders.” The ADL said the remarks “fuel harmful stereotypes and discrimination” and could contribute to rising antisemitism.

In the video clips, Oz Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, was discussing healthcare fraud investigations in Minnesota and sought to illustrate that the issue is not unique to one state. However, he referenced the Hasidic community in New York in a way the ADL said was prejudicial, portraying them as “foreign, criminal, or ‘not real Americans.’”

“Casting Hasidic Jews as foreign, criminal, or ‘not real Americans’ is straight out of the antisemitic playbook,” the ADL wrote on X. “This kind of rhetoric fuels harmful stereotypes and discrimination. Falsely blaming New York’s Hasidic population directly contributes to the climate in which the city just reported a 182 % year-over-year spike in antisemitic hate crimes in January. Words matter, and public officials must do better.”

Oz, a cardiothoracic surgeon, former Republican Senate nominee in Pennsylvania, and self-described secular Muslim, has increasingly engaged in political commentary. While attempting to compare fraud cases across states, his remarks singled out New York’s Hasidic community, prompting criticism from advocacy groups.

Civil rights leaders have emphasized that statements from public figures about minority communities can shape social climates and influence discrimination or violence. The ADL’s action underscores how even past remarks, once widely circulated or discovered, can be scrutinized amid rising antisemitic incidents nationwide.

Sanz-Klausenberger Rebbe Praises Lubavitcher Rebbe for his Rambam Initiatve but Yeshivishe News Sites Don't report on it!

 

The post below, I copied from VIN,  an article written by Joseph Feldman, you will notice that the article focuses on the fact that the Rebbe fainted during his address to the assembled crowd. The post is accompanied by a video of the Rebbe continuing his drasha after he recovered.

What VIN did, and I have to assume it's on purpose, because I never saw anything like this on any other VIN story, they put the part where the Rebbe praises and thanks the Lubavitcher Rebbe on double speed! And Feldman of VIN, on purpose, leaves out the part that this Rambam Yoimi was initiated by none other than the Lubavitcher Rebbe! I don't think that this will bring us any closer to the geulah!

A moment of concern occurred Wednesday evening at the 45th Worldwide Siyum HaRambam when the Sanz-Klausenberger Rebbe, Harav Shmuel Dovid Halberstam of Borough Park, fainted during his address to the assembled crowd.

The Rebbe, son of the late Sanz-Klausenberger leader Harav Yekusiel Yehudah Halberstam, was leading the official celebration marking the completion of the Rambam study cycle. Thousands of attendees filled the Crown Heights venue for the event, which featured multiple speakers and musical performances.

While speaking about the dedication of Jewish leaders to communities worldwide, the Rebbe became unwell and collapsed in front of the audience. Emergency responders from Hatzalah quickly assisted him, and he gradually recovered.

After stabilizing, the Rebbe returned to the stage, seated, and completed his remarks. He asked that the incident not overshadow the celebration and offered words of encouragement to those gathered.

His gabbai noted that the Rebbe rarely speaks publicly due to health concerns and that this appearance was a rare exception made in honor of the occasion. The last time he addressed a large audience was nearly a decade ago.

The Siyum HaRambam is a significant communal event, drawing participants from around the world to celebrate the completion of a cycle of Torah study.

Why would a popular Lakewood WhatsApp Group Encourage Chardeim in Israel to "protest" when 3 boys were already killed??

 

Note: I do not want to bash this popular site, as it is a benefit for Frum Jewish people, and serves a great purpose, but lately, one of their administrators who hates Israel, keeps making outrageous comments on news stories about the State of Israel. I don't know where this guy learned but I'll bet he was brainwashed with propaganda and now thinks that he has a license to spread this garbage on this WhatsApp group!

A fellow calling himself “Mr. B,” apparently an administrator of this Lakewood‑based WhatsApp group, has been getting bolder—and more absurd—with each outrageous comment he posts.

From the comfort of Lakewood, nearly 6,000 miles away from Eretz Yisrael, Mr. B feels perfectly entitled to spew venom at the only Jewish state in the world, home to over 7.5 million Jews.

Distance hasn’t stopped him from pouring out hostility toward a country he doesn’t live in and whose dangers he doesn’t share.

Mr. B is now openly encouraging protests in Israel—despite the fact that three teenagers were killed as a direct result of those very protests.

In the January 28 issue of Ami magazine, Attorney Dror Schussheim—the lawyer who successfully petitioned Israel’s Supreme Court to block autopsies on the two babies who died in a Yerushalayim daycare—stated clearly:

“Protests don’t change a thing.”

The Satmar Rebbe of Kiryas Yoel echoed the same point, prohibiting his chassidim from attending further demonstrations because they “don’t accomplish anything” and are “dangerous.”

Mr. B, meanwhile, has no stake in any of this. He has no “dog in the race.” I wonder what he would say if, G‑d forbid, it were his child who was injured or killed. It’s easy to have a “B”ig mouth when you’re thousands of miles away, urging others to jump into the fire while your own family faces zero consequences.

I didn’t even see his post firsthand—my readers sent it to me, asking that I respond למען השם to his twisted remarks.

And what is his “proof” that “protests are the best way to get things done”?

He cites—of all people—the same Attorney General, Gali Baharav‑Miara, whose policies he otherwise despises. The irony would be comical if it weren’t so pathetic.

Recording of Israel's Attorney General: “There Is No Effective Protest Without Disrupting Public Order”*

Channel 12 News revealed a recording from a July 2023 government meeting. In the recording, Israel’s Attorney General, Gali Baharav-Miara,  appeared to justify disruptive actions during protests against the government’s proposed judicial reforms in 2023.🙈

In the recording, Baharav-Miara is heard saying that “there is no effective protest without disrupting public order,” a remark that has sparked criticism from political figures and public commentators.

Opponents accused the Attorney General of legitimizing disorder and crossing a professional line, while supporters argued that the comment reflects a broader discussion about the nature and impact of civil protest.

*Mr. B*- and that this is why the charedim protest, because everyone in Israel knows that this is one of the best ways, if not the best way to get things done around there...

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Activist launches campaign to move into Singer Billie Eilish’s LA mansion after ‘stolen land’ Grammys rant

An Australian man launched a crowdfunding campaign to fly to the US and move into Billie Eilish’s $3 million Los Angeles mansion following her “no one is illegal on stolen land” rant at the Grammy Awards.

Drew Pavlou, a 24-year-old political activist and influencer, called out Eilish’s alleged virtue signaling in her anti-ICE remarks after she won Song of the Year at the 68th annual award show.

“I am flying to the USA next Friday to attempt to move into Billie Eilish’s beachside Malibu mansion,” Pavlou wrote on X on Monday, sharing a link to the now-defunct GoFundMe. “No human being is illegal on stolen land. Support my travel and filming costs here

Pavlou shared that the crowdfunding platform deleted his original fundraiser after it raised $3,000 towards his journey.

“GOFUNDME DELETED MY BILLIE EILISH FUNDRAISER THIS IS DISGUSTING AND UNFAIR,” Pavlou exclaimed. “I will look at alternative fundraising platforms.”

The campaign was deleted because the company could not “verify your connection and plan to transfer the donations to the person you’re raising money for,” according to an email shared by Pavlou.

He switched his tactics and started a new fundraiser on the GiveSendGo website, asking for roughly $2840 so he could fly to California and buy the “Birds of a Feather” singer’s $6 million Malibu home.