MK Avigdor Lieberman thanks the USA for Supporting Israel at the Gateways Dinner at Sotheby's

Avigdar Lieberman on one of the screens that were all around the ballroom.
Photo Credit: A.Kiss

Avigdar Lieberman, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the State of Israel, attended the Gateways 14th Annual Dinner held at Sotheby's on February 8, 2012. Gateways was inaugurating the "Brownstone" project, a building dedicated to "strengthen Jewish identity and cultivate the next generation of Jewish leaders."  Lieberman reiterated "hakoras hatov" that the State of Israel has to the United States and its present administration. He noted that the State of Israel is especially grateful for imposing "stricter sanctions" on Iran. The dinner was well attended and had many Israeli dignitaries. Ms. Sonya Bekkerman, Senior VP of Sotheby's hosted.

Chassidishe Lady, Deborah Feldman, goes "off the derech" and writes her story in a book

After an uber-strict childhood and an arranged marriage at 17, Deborah Feldman decided she’d had enough

In her memoir, “Unorthodox: The Scandalous Rejection of My Hasidic Roots,” out Feb. 14, she chronicles her oppressive upbringing and arranged marriage.

At 23, emboldened by classes at Sarah Lawrence College, she left her husband and the community for good — taking her 3-year-old son with her.

Feldman recently discussed her experiences with The Post over (very nonkosher) crabcake sandwiches and Key lime tarts: “I think I love eating out more than most people,” she says, “because I was never allowed to do it. Women aren’t allowed to eat out.

She continues her interview and says:

My family started sending me hate mail, really bad. They want me to commit suicide. They’ve got my grave ready. [“R U ready to CROKE [sic]” reads one e-mail she shared with The Post. “We are most definitely going to rejoice in your misery,” another declares.]

So I’m very careful. My doorbell doesn’t have my name on it. But I think the book is a protection in this situation, because [my relatives] are terrified of having their actions become public. So it’s an insurance policy, in a way. There’s a reason why Hasidic people in New York get away with so much. There’s this sort of tacit arrangement: They don’t do anything the media can criticize.

Over the past 10 or 20 years [the Hasidic community] has gone from being extreme to being ultra-extreme. They’ve passed more laws from out of nowhere, limiting women — there’s a rule that women can’t be on the street after a certain hour. That was new when I was growing up. We hear all these stories about Muslim extremists; how is this any better? This is just another example of extreme fundamentalism.

Read more: http://www.nypost.com/p/entertainment/was_hasidic_jew_but_broke_free_IeRSVA4eX8ypg4Ne8cBdSK#ixzz1lhwnnqgX

Rav Elyashiv needs our prayers, condition very critical

Rav Shlomo Kook reports on Tuesday morning, 14 Shevat 5772 that Rav Elyashiv remains in critical/serious condition. According to combined reports, the posek hador’s condition has taken a turn for the worse.
Rabbi Kook stated “The rav is hanging between Heaven and earth” calling upon the tzibur to continue davening for Rav Yosef Sholom ben Chaya Musha b’soch kol cholei am yisrael.
MK Moshe Gafne emerged from Shaare Zedek Medical Center with a similar message, calling on the tzibur to continue davening. He explained there does not appear to be any improved.

Amsterdad Chief Rabbi apologises for calling homosexuality an illness

AS THE chief rabbi of Amsterdam apologised for signing a declaration which described homosexuality as an illness, a new row has broken out in the Netherlands over a therapy promoted by a Christian mental health group to help 

homosexuals “repress their sinful urges”.

Aryeh Ralbag, who is based in New York, was suspended last week by the city’s orthodox Jewish community after using his official title to sign with more than 180 other rabbis the Declaration on the Torah Approach to Homosexuality

The declaration caused outrage among liberal Jews on both sides of the Atlantic by not alone describing homosexuality as “an illness” which could be “modified and healed”, but by characterising it as “an unacceptable lifestyle choice”.

It emerged yesterday that Rabbi Ralbag had apologised to the city’s orthodox leaders for using his Amsterdam title when signing the controversial document, which he now accepted had been “wrong”. As a result he has been reinstated.

However, with his position still in doubt in the long term, he also said that with the benefit of hindsight he now believed that he should not, perhaps, have signed it at all because “it did not properly reflect my position”.

There was even a suggestion last night that Rabbi Ralbag flew to Amsterdam at the end of last week to meet Jewish elders – just days after insisting that he and his wife believed their lives would be “in danger” if they visited the country to discuss the issue.

Meanwhile, in a new row, MPs and gay rights groups have demanded details of a therapy promoted by the Christian mental health organisation Different – which claims to teach homosexuals how to ignore their sexual feelings – because it is available on State-subsidised health insurance lists.

The therapy has become an embarrassment for health minister Edith Schippers, who at first said it should be taken off insurance lists because “health insurance is to pay for treatment or to prevent illness – and homosexuality is not an illness”. Later, she too was forced to make a U-turn, saying the therapy did not attempt to “cure” homosexuality, rather it aimed to help homosexuals decide whether or not they could accept their sexual feelings.

From the Irish Times

Black Preacher gets wrapped in a Torah while talking about JC

Beit Shemesh Gangster who advocates forcing women to dress like Chareidim speaks out on video

The interview is in hebrew!

Cancer can be prevented! Says the Israel Cancer Association

It is possible to prevent 60 percent of cancer deaths by lifestyle changes, early diagnoses and proven medical interventions, according to the Israel Cancer Association.

To avoid a wide variety of cancers, maintain normal weight over the years, without yo-yo dieting. Exercise regularly and minimize the number of fattening foods you eat. Youth should exercise daily, if possible, but at least three times a week. Cut the number of hours you spent sitting or lying down and watching TV.

Minimize the amount of high-calorie, salty and sugary foods you eat and prefer vegetables, fiber and fruit. Poultry and fish are much preferable to red and fatty meat. Prefer baking and cooking to grilling and frying meat. Whole wheat products are much more healthful that those made from while flour.

Eating garlic reduces the risk of colorectal cancer, according to recent research. There is no evidence, the experts say, that artificial sweeteners used in normal quantities raise the cancer risk, and they are preferable to sugar.

There is no agreement among scientists that eating organic foods are more effective in reducing cancer risks than ordinary food, the ICA said. Wash produce with water (and soap if possible). Avoid trans fats that are produced from turning vegetable oil to solid fat such as margarine.

Read more Jerusalem Post

No....He's not Jewish ... that's Cardinal Dolan of New York

Scientists: "Forget Global Warming" "Mini Ice-age Coming!"

The supposed ‘consensus’ on man-made global warming is facing an inconvenient challenge after the release of new temperature data showing the planet has not warmed for the past 15 years.
The figures suggest that we could even be heading for a mini ice age to rival the 70-year temperature drop that saw frost fairs held on the Thames in the 17th Century.

A painting, dated 1684, by Abraham Hondius depicts one of many frost fairs on the River Thames during the mini ice age

Based on readings from more than 30,000 measuring stations, the data was issued last week without fanfare by the Met Office and the University of East Anglia Climatic Research Unit. It confirms that the rising trend in world temperatures ended in 1997.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2093264/Forget-global-warming--Cycle-25-need-worry-NASA-scientists-right-Thames-freezing-again.html#ixzz1ktIqVUd

Noah Foxman struck twice, killed in Hit and Run in Flatbush...Video

Police say the 58 year-old, Noach foxman was knocked to the ground by a grey van, which remained on the scene. As he lay in the crosswalk, the man was struck again by a sedan that did not stop.

The tragic accident unfolded at around 10:30PM, when R’ Noach was crossing Coney Island Avenue and Avenue K, when he was struck by a vehicle. He was conscious and alert, and told bystanders to call for an ambulance. Then, as he lay in the crosswalk in the rain, a speeding vehicle struck him very hard, and took off without stopping.
Flatbush Hatzolah raced to the scene, and did everything they could to try and save his life. He was rushed to Coney Island Hospital, but was R”L pronounced dead a few minutes after arriving at the hospital.
Police were combing the streets late at night looking for the second vehicle, reported to be a dark colored small-sized SUV.
Reb Noach Z”L was a fixture at the Bais Medrash of HaRav Hillel David Shlita, where he Davened for many years.
Shocked friends and neighbors gathered at the scene until past midnight, and awaited the Levaya details.
As of this posting, the Levaya will take place in Midwood Chapels on Coney Island Avenue and Avenue M on Friday (exact time to be published when available).