Missing Jew Found Dead in Uman

The body of missing 28-year-old Amir Shlomo Ohana, an Israeli husband and father of three from Holon, has been found in a lake in Uman, according to ZAKA. Ohana had gone to pray at the grave site of Rabbi Nachman of Uman in Ukraine, along with some 40,000 other Jewish pilgrims this year; including 30,000 from Israel.

ZAKA flew its personnel to Ukraine to help search for Ohana, who disappeared last week. He and his friend had separated in the forest, each to meditate, Rosh Hashana on Tuesday. When his friend could not find him, he reported him missing to local and Israeli police.

Volunteer searchers identified Ohana inside the lake. He was wearing Shabbat clothing, without shoes and socks. According to a report on the ZAKA website, it appeared that Ohana had been sitting on the pier, dipping his feet in the water, when he had what may have been a heart attack or epileptic seizure, and then fallen into the water.

Site where body of Amir Shlomo Ohana, z’l was located in Uman, Ukraine.

Specially trained dogs, a drone and almost one hundred volunteers from among the Breslov Chassidic group searched the area for Ohana, as well as divers who searched the lake, 15 Israeli police officers, additional Israeli diplomatic personnel and security officers.

Ohana’s wife has been notified, Israel’s Foreign Ministry confirmed. Israeli authorities are now working to bring Ohana’s body back to Israel for burial as quickly as possible.

Convicted Child "chazir"Sues Rabbi Yaakov Horowitz For Defamation

"fat" Weinberg

Convicted Charedi child molester Jason "Yona" Weinberg fled to Israel after a victim claimed Weinberg harassed and threatened him.

Israel doesn't notify neighbors when a molester from abroad comes to Israel and moves in next door, so fellow American expat locals in the heavily Charedi Har Nof neighborhood of Jerusalem started notifying other neighbors, but stopped after being threatened – as FailedMessiah.com and other sites previously reported.

Rabbi Yaakov Horowitz got involved and apparently continued those notifications.

In response, Yediot Achranot reports that Weinberg is suing Horowitz and, to the surprise of many, an Israeli court is allowing the defamation suit to proceed – despite Weinberg's US conviction.

Neturei Karta and Satmar March in Washington DC to Support the Iran Deal

Ann Coulter Tweets: GOP Candidates Pandering to 'f---ing Jews'

The "has-been" alteh katchke" "Irish Drunk" needs to sell some more books, I guess! 
She wasn't invited on Fox News to comment on the debates, so she stayed home "tweeting"! 

Right-wing commentator Ann Coulter has come under fire after posting a series of offensive tweets deemed by many to be anti-Semitic.

Coulter was reacting to Wednesday night's Republican debate at California's Ronald Reagan Library, during which she was apparently angered over candidates' outspoken support for the State of Israel.

She was particularly incensed by the answers given by GOP candidates Ted Cruz, Mike Huckabee, Marco Rubio and Chris Christie, for mentioning Israel when asked "What will AMERICA [emphasis hers] look like after you are president."

"How many f---ing Jews do these people think there are in the United States?" 

Coulter then asked, before musing that perhaps the candidates were trying "to suck up to the Evangelicals."

Coulter, who is a high-profile supporter of candidate Donald Trump, also sarcastically suggested Huckabee was "running for PM of Israel."

The tweets set off a firestorm of criticism, with countless people branding her anti-Semitic, while others alternately defended her and hurled rather more direct anti-Semitic abuse at her critics.

Some supporters began the hashtag #IStandWithAnn, which is currently trending on Twitter, with large numbers of primarily anti-Semitic comments by a variety of neo-Nazis and White Supremacists.

Coulter later sought to defend herself by saying she likes "the Jews," but refused to take back her earlier tweets.

It is not the first time Coulter has come under fire for offensive comments about Jews.

In a 2007 interview on CNBC, she told host Donny Deutsch, who is Jewish, that she wanted everyone in the US to become Christian, and that Jews needed to accept Christianity to be "perfected."

When asked sarcastically if she meant Jews "should just throw Judaism away and we should all be Christians then?" Coulter responded "Yeah... we just want Jews to be perfected, as they say."

Munkatcher Rebbe's Father Prohibited the Munkatcher from going to the funeral and saying Kaddish for him!

The letter dated 1981, and signed by Rav Baruch Rabinovich, the father of the present Munkatcher, Dinover Rebbes, basically prohibits his children from going to his funeral, saying Kaddish, keeping his yurzeit, or ever visiting his grave.

The letter refers to a barrage of harassment  by Rav Baruch's children, bringing their father (Rav Baruch )  to court and ignoring Bais Din! 

Rav Baruch was the son-in-law of the Minchas Eluzer, the Munkatcher Rebbe pre WW2 . The Minchas Eluzer was a rabid fanatical anti-Zionist . His son-in-law, Reb Baruchel, as he was fondly called,  apparently veered off the anti-Zionist SHIT"ah, and embraced the Zionist idea once the State was established. 

His son from his first wife, the present Munkatcher Rebbe, was made Rebbe (after Rav Baruch rightfully refused to tow the fascist line ) on the condition, that he continue the anti-Zionist agenda!

Notice the letterhead, where Rabbi Rabinovich still refers to himself as the "Chief Rabbi of Munkach," that may very well be the reason ,... ... why his very own children disowned him and shlepped him kicking and screaming to secular court!

The children were embarrassed of their father, not because he G-D forbid  went off the derech, but because he became a Mizrachi Rav in Cholon, Israel, owned a dog, and wore with his Chassidishe Levush,........ cufflinks and a tie!
 Big avirois! 

So the children, the Rebbelich, decided to ignore the Holy Torah that explicitly states that even rebbilich have to honor their parents, and started a campaign to drive the old man nuts! 
They succeeded!

I do believe that there was some sort of a truce, because I remember that the Munkatcher came to hear his father speak at the Sfardishe Shul in Boro-Park .... but I don't remember the sequence of the dates... so it could be that the Sfardishe Shul event was post  the published letter, and they made up!

Let's hear from my readers.....

Rav Baruch was a  Talmud Chachim of note who was fluent in the entire Talmud with all commentaries and was an accomplished orator, often keeping his audience on the edge of their seats in a spell!

Yossele Rosenblatt .. Fascinating Video

Israeli Man Missing in Uman

Amir Ahona

 A young Israeli man has gone missing in Uman, and now a desperate search is underway to find him.

Amir Ahona, 28, a father of three, traveled to Uman before Rosh Hashanah, but has seemingly disappeared without a trace. His wife said she last spoke with her husband before the holiday and that he was going to perform hitbodidot (a type of meditation in the Breslov tradition) in the forest and would return after the holiday. She has not heard from him since.

It is believed that Amir may be in real danger, Israel’s Ch. 2 reports (http://bit.ly/1UW03ql), especially because he suffers from epilepsy. Because of his illness, his insurance company in Israel refused to insure him for his trip abroad and has therefore not sent a search team from Israel to help, his brother-in-law explained.

Early Tuesday morning, Ukrainian police in cooperation with Israeli authorities began searching for the missing man after being alerted by his group that he had not returned from his trip to the forest. His cell phone and other belongings were found in his room. “His friends on the trip noticed that he did not return and reported it to the authorities,” Amir’s wife said. “Initially, they didn’t want to tell me that he was missing so I wouldn’t be worried, but in the end, they didn’t have a choice. Now, I’m afraid I won’t find him alive.” His wife said.

 “Forces on the ground have rejected the possibility that Amir has drowned and they are continuing to search the area and the nearby forest,” a representative from the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry said.

A prayer rally was also held for the man’s safe return.

How NOT talking Loshon Harah Destroyed Jewish Nationality!

The following is a true record of events regarding an institution that is close to our hearts. The institution was located in a community where many of our children currently reside. It is a most unfortunate story.

INITIALS ARE BEING USED

Initials and first names only have been used so as not to disclose the identities of the parties involved. The truth is, however, that perhaps their identities should be disclosed. If we do not disclose them, the lessons contained in this narrative will not be learned. Some may think that the disclosure of the names of the parties involved might constitute Lashon Harah. The 5TJT editorial staff believes otherwise, but if you feel differently, you will be warned with ample time.

THE PEOPLE INVOLVED

“Ben N.” is a well respected and reputable individual – well-liked both by the Rabbinic and Jewish political establishment, and especially by Rabbi G, the head of the institution involved.

“Yochanan” is someone that thinks differently. He has a very low regard for “Ben N” – suspecting him of very base motives. The atmosphere, however, in the community is one of strong appreciation and regard for the laws of Lashon Harah. It seems that anything Yochanan will say will be dismissed. He will be labeled as a “Baal Lashon Harah.”

Yochanan means well. He wishes to protect the institution. It seems, however, that one man’s protective intent is another man’s violation of Lashon Horah’s prohibitions. Yochanan approaches Rabbi G and gives him his information about Ben N. He hopes that Rabbi G will be reasonable and at least take some action to protect the institution.

RABBI G SAYS IT IS LASHON HARAH

Unfortunately, Yochanan’s worst fears are realized. Rabbi G refuses to listen to Yochanan – labeling what he says as pure, unadulterated Lashon Harah. Yochanan pleads:

“At least listen, then decide..”

“No. Chas V’Shalom.”

“I need you to stop this Lashon Harah immediately. Period. End of story.”

WARNING

5TJT EDITORS BELIEVE THAT THIS NEWS ARTICLE IS NOT LASHON HARAH. HOWEVER, IF YOU FEEL THAT THIS IS LASHON HORAH – DO NOT READ FURTHER AS MORE DETAILS WILL EMERGE REGARDING THE IDENTITIES OF THE INDIVIDUALS INVOLVED AS WELL AS THE INSTITUTION.

The end of the story is not pleasant. Ben N ultimately brought tragedy and shame to the institution. A tremendous Chilul Hashem ensued. Rabbi G’s actions were deplorable. He should have, at least, been concerned for what Yochanan was telling him. One might even place the blame of the tragic turn of events on Rabbi G himself.

Rabbi G should have listened to Yochanan about Ben N.

Unfortunately, he did not.

Tragedy ensued. Rabbi G died as a result of these events. More precisely, he died because of his excessive caution in regard to the laws of Lashon Harah.

For those who haven’t realized, these are the events that precipitated Tzom Gedaliah.

Rabbi G is Gedaliah Ben Achikam. Ben N is Yishmael Ben Nesinah and Yochanan is Yochanan Ben Karayach.

The point is that while it is important to carefully observe the laws of pure speech – there is a flip side that is all too often ignored. Warnings should both be issued and heeded. When we refuse to heed warnings, and tragedy ensues, the person who refused to take protective measures is actually to blame.

This is what lies behind Tzom Gedaliah. It is a fast day that commemorates a tragic time in our people’s history, one that the Gemorah (RH 18b) equates with the destruction of the Beis HaMikdash itself – a jarring thought.

And yet perhaps even more jarring, are the words of the Panim Meiros on the Yerushalmi in Horios (3:5). Gedaliah caused his own death. He was, himself to blame, not only for his death but for those of thousands of others.

When people erroneously forbid information from being disseminated on account of thinking that it is Lashon Harah and that it is absolutely forbidden to pass on the information, people cannot take protective measures. At times, this too can be quite devastating.

Gedaliah Ben Achikam was one of the Gedolei HaDor of his generation. It is a perhaps little known fact, but he was also a Navi. Indeed the Gemorah (Rosh HaShana 18b) explains that Hashem Himself (Zechariah 8:19) equates the death of this great Tzaddik with the destruction of the Bais HaMikdash! Rarely if ever do we find such testimony as to the stature of any individual. Hashem himself is his character witness.

The future of Klal Yisroel was in the hands of this great Tzaddik and Gadol. His decisions were of paramount importance. Notwithstanding his greatness and piety and the fact that he was a prophet of Hashem, Chazal tell us that he made a crucial error in halacha and in its application. Gedaliah refused to take protective measures against Yishmael, when he was warned by Yochanan Ben Korayach of Yishmael Ben Nesanya’s malevolent intent (Yirmiyahu 40:16). The consequences were quite grave indeed. Gedaliah and all his men were brutally murdered (Yirmiyahu 41:2).

The Gemorah tells us (Niddah 61a) that Gedaliah Ben Achikam misused the halachic concept of Lashon HaRah and applied it erroneously. It was a tragic error that resulted not only in his death, the scattering of the nation, but also in the loss of Klal Yisroel’s independence as a nation. Indeed, the repercussions of his error are still felt to this day.

The repercussions are felt in two ways.

 Firstly, they are felt in exact ramifications of his miscalculation – that the nation of Israel ceased to be an independent nation. 

But secondly, we still have not learned from his example. To this day, there are many well-meaning people who misapply the notion of Lashon HaRah in ways that can cause Klal Yisroel to err and err again.

The results of Gedaliah’s inaction were so grave that the Mesilas Yesharim (chapter twenty) notes that the Gemorah (Niddah 61a) considers it as if Gedaliah himself had killed all of his people! This is a remarkably thought- provoking notion.

At times, the sin of incorrectly “sounding the Lashon Horah warning” and ignoring the information is so grave that one who does so is considered the actual perpetrator of the repercussions that have transpired on account of the silence, whether it be theft, molestation or even murder.

The conclusions from this are quite clear.

Firstly, there is a fine line between protecting Klal Yisroel and violating lashon Horah, and, unfortunately, great people can err in this regard. There are times that it is crucial and imperative that information be given to ward off potential harm to others.

At the same time, there are situations where it is forbidden for people to believe the information, even though they may act upon it to protect themselves. There are also times when the information should not disseminated. No matter what, however, the decision should be made in consultation with Talmidei Chachomim who are attuned both to the need to protect others and to the law of Lashon Harah.

Incorrectly sounding the “lashon horah bells and warnings” when disseminating the information is the right thing to do – is a very serious offense. In Gedaliah ben Achikam’s case – it is akin to murder itself.

The unfortunate reality is that history repeats itself. In the past Jewish media sources, have responsibly reported information to warn others. The information ranged from warning about financial charlatans who prey on people in our community, and about other dangers to members of the community that can and have resulted in Chilul Hashem.

Today, is a day instituted by Chazal about avoiding the tragic error of ignoring warnings and of shooting the messenger. The errors of ignoring warnings were made by none other than the Gadol HaDor –a navi – Gedaliah Ben Achikam. Certainly, there is a profound lesson for all of us to be learned from here.

Chazal place the blame of the tragedy on Gedaliah himself. Yochanan Ben Karayach’s warning about Yishmael Ben Nesanyah should have been heeded. If Gedaliah Ben Achikam would have done so, the narrative in the beginning of this article never would have transpired. 

The author can be reached at yairhoffman2@gmail.com

Shana Tova to all Jews!

Frum Songwriter writes jingles for McDonalds

You may have never heard of singer-songwriter Cathy Heller, but chances are you’ve heard her music.

At the moment, McDonald’s is featuring her songs in two commercials — one for frappes, the other for the $2.50 double cheeseburger-and-fries combo. They are the latest in a string of high-profile gigs for Heller, an active member of West Los Angeles’ Pico-Robertson Jewish community, one of the city’s epicenters of Jewish life. In addition to the decidedly unkosher fast food chain, Walmart has licensed Heller’s music for one of its summer commercials, and her songs have appeared in commercials for American Airlines, Hasbro, Lifetime, MTV, Nickelodeon, Special K, the Disney Channel and Disneyland.

Some Gen-Xers may scoff at the idea as “selling out,” but in a business that’s been in decline since the dawn of the Internet, it’s a concept that’s irrelevant today.

“Because the margins are so small on selling a record on iTunes, and people aren’t paying $12 for an album to get the single they want, you don’t make money selling albums any more or touring anymore unless you already have a following,” she tells JTA. “The reason you know of the artists Ingrid Michaelson, American Authors, Imagine Dragons and Snow Patrol is because they license their music.”

Licensing her heartfelt music to film, television and commercials forms the core of Heller’s strategy to define success in the music world on her own terms. You won’t find her hustling for a record deal or waiting around for single-digit paychecks from streaming services. Operating with a do-it-yourself model, Heller writes and publishes her own music under her own business, Catch the Moon Music — and, perhaps most important, she nets all the proceeds when she secures a licensing deal.

“I’m the only artist, as far as I know, who has pitched my own work and gotten this far,” she says.

It may be lucrative but her work, Heller says, is also a conscious effort to bring something positive into the world.

“This is why I write songs called ‘Let Your Colors Shine,’ which is all about how each of us has a spark and it’s so important to share it,” she says. “I write songs like ‘This Is It,’ which is all about knowing each moment is all we really have and living it to the fullest. I write songs called ‘Spread a Little Love’ , all about coming together and spreading the love along. All my songs aspire to [express] a message of hope and remind people how special they are and that they’re not alone.”

A native Floridan, Heller, 36, moved to Los Angeles 12 years ago as an aspiring singer-songwriter after spending two years in Israel studying Torah. That experience, which cemented her spiritual connection to Jewish tradition, never left her.

Heller’s Jewish identity and her spiritual practice, which includes observing Shabbat, provide the chorus to her work week.

“It keeps me grounded and I always know where my North Star is,” she says. “I don’t get caught up in the superficial part of the business, which allows me to really just enjoy making music. It reminds me of who I am and what I’m really here to do. It helps give me clarity and purpose, and it impacts every song I write and every interaction I have.”

The married mom sends her two girls, ages 2 and 3 1/2, to a Conservative synagogue preschool to help infuse them with their own sense of spirituality.

“I feel very connected to Hashem and I want so much for my kids to have that connection to God, to know the source of all life and wisdom, and to know the source of their soul,” she says. “I want them to know they carry an infinite spark and they have amazing potential and great responsibility to be a light.”

Being a “light”onto others is something she takes seriously.

“I love being able to use the contacts I’ve built to help other artists launch their careers,” says Heller, who conducts workshops (in person and via Skype) to assist other singer-songwriters in navigating the shifting music industry. She also represents other artists seeking to license their work.

Heller says she began singing as far back as she can remember, with the dream of one day landing her compositions in films and television. She studied piano and voice as a child and performed musical theater before graduating from Florida State University.

Early in her career, Heller received critical advice to maintain a “polite persistence,” and that’s something she estimates accounts for 90 percent of her working strategy.

“You can’t take rejection personally and must just keep going,” she says. “So much happens for the people who keep showing up — and it doesn’t hurt when your motives are really to spread a little goodness.”

Heller’s first licensing deal was with Kodak in 2007. Another big break came in 2009, when NBC licensed her single “Turn the Sunshine On” for a promotional campaign for its comedies, including “The Office.”

“That was pretty fantastic and gave me lots of exposure,” she says.

Over the years, Heller’s music has been part of the soundtrack for poignant and sweet moments on TV programs, including ABC Family’s “Pretty Little Liars” and “Switched at Birth,” and The WB’s  “One Tree Hill.”

“Usually, fans find my music because they’ll hear a song in a show or in an ad and then they’ll come to find the rest of the songs on iTunes,” says Heller, who also performs at local venues around Los Angeles.

Looking forward, Heller aspires to continue writing, licensing and spreading her optimism to a wider audience.

“I want to inspire more and more people and touch more souls to know they have a deep, intrinsic goodness,” she says. “Songwriting and performing give me so much fulfillment. I feel so expressed and I get to lift other people, so it’s such a a win-win.”

Read more at http://www.thejewishweek.com/arts/music/meet-jewish-singer-whose-music-you-already-know-mcdonalds-mtv-ads#Eb78iSjowOb483YK.99