Half of Yeshivas Under Investigation Denied Entry to Education Officials

Three years after the city launched an investigation into whether certain ultra-Orthodox Jewish schools [https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/06/nyregion/critics-say-city-has-not-investigated-yeshivas-breaking-pledge.html] were providing an adequate education in secular subjects, it revealed on Thursday that it had made little progress. 

In a letter to the state’s Education Department seeking guidance, Richard A. Carranza, New York City schools chancellor, acknowledged that investigators had managed to visit only half the schools involved.

Black Democratic legislator called Asian opponent 'ching-chong'

A Democratic legislator in Michigan running for the state senate is under fire for allegedly referring to her Asian election opponent as "ching-chang" and "ching-chong."

Rep. Bettie Cook Scott (D) is accused of making the remarks to voters outside polling stations during this week's primaries, according to the Detroit Metro Times.

She was allegedly referring to Rep. Stephanie Chang (D), who has denounced the remarks.

Scott is also accused of calling one of Chang's campaign volunteers an "immigrant" and saying that she wanted the person out of the country. 

Chemical In Some Breakfast Cereals Could Cause Cancer

Select oat cereals, granola and other food products may contain a pesticide that could cause cancer, according to a report released by the Environmental Working Group.

Glyphosate, an herbicide linked to cancer by scientists in California and the World Health Organization was found in 43 of 45 samples of oat products in an independent test commissioned by the organization.

According to the report, “Glyphosate is the active ingredient in Roundup, the Monsanto weed killer that is the most heavily used pesticide in the U.S. Last week, a California jury ordered Monsanto to pay $289 million in damages to a man dying of cancer, which he says was caused by his repeated exposure to large quantities of Roundup and other glyphosate-based weed killers while working as a school groundskeeper.”

In response, the EWG tested more than a dozen brands of oat-based products to determine if high levels of Glyphosate was present.

The EWG noted that each year, more than 250 million pounds of glyphosate are sprayed on American crops, primarily on “Roundup-ready” corn and soybeans genetically engineered to withstand the herbicide. But when it comes to the food we eat, the highest glyphosate levels are not found in products made with GMO corn.

Among the items tested include:

Crazed Frum Stores Cover Up Female Cartoon Character On Cereal Box!

Zionists will allow yeshiva students to fly to Uman Even though They Didn't Serve In The IDF

Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman decided to relax regulations requiring those possessing exemptions from military service to receive special permission to travel overseas in order to enable yeshiva students to visit Uman for the high holidays.

Under Israeli law, haredi yeshiva students who do not serve in the IDF are forbidden from flying overseas until they are 27 without obtaining approval first from the Defense Ministry. These regulations put a burden on haredim who wished to spend the Rosh Hashana holiday in Uman

.

According to Kikar Hashabbat, Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman acceded to Interior Minister Aryeh Deri's request for a rule change after the Shas leader made it clear that he was not seeking a sweeping change in the guidelines.

I will ask you to order the military authorities to permit exceptions to those who leave for Rosh Hashana prayers in Uman to leave the country for up to ten days without harming their status vis-a-vis the military authorities," wrote Deri.

"This request is for this individual purpose and should not be discarded as a broad projection of the sweeping change in procedures."

Rebbe Nachman of Breslov, founder of the Breslov Hassidic movement, was buried in the Ukrainian town of Uman 207 years ago.

Followers of Rebbe Nachman made regular pilgrimages to his tomb, though the annual tradition was largely abandoned during the Cold War.

The collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 and the end of the Cold War, however, led to a resurgence in the traditional Rosh Hashana visits to Uman, which by the early 2000s began to draw wider appeal even beyond the Breslov movement.

The Uman pilgrimage drew a record 40,000 participants this past September, up from some 30,000 in 2016.

Woman murdered in terror attack near Havat Gilad

 A woman in her 40s was murdered in a ramming terrorist attack that took place Thursday night near Havat Gilad in Samaria.

Magen David Adom paramedics attempted to resuscitate the victim, but were forced to declare her death.

IDF forces searched the area for the terrorist, who later surrendered himself to the authorities.

In January, Rabbi Raziel Shevach of Havat Gilad was murdered in a drive-by shooting attack.

Parshat Shoftim ...

by Rabbi Shmuel Knopfler

Parshat Shoftim delves into the need to establish a judicial system in every town and village, for every tribe. The Torah adamantly requires us to maintain an incorruptible judicial system, forbids taking bribes, and so on. Our sages emphasize the severity of taking bribes, and describe how judges kept away from anything that had the . remote semblance of a conflict of interest. The Talmud tell us that a judge would never entertain the thought of hearing the case of a friend who had “greeted him nicely” a few days earlier.

The Torah also commands us to establish a certain hierarchy in our judicial system, so that when the need arises, substantial issues will be deliberated at the high court, which was seated in Jerusalem.
Anyone who refused to abide by the court’s rulings would be considered a “zaken mamreh” – a “rebellious elder” – and severely punished.

Oldest hippopotamus in captivity dies at Jerusalem zoo

Tami, believed to be the oldest hippopotamus in captivity, died on Thursday at the age of 59 in her sleep at Jerusalem's Biblical Zoo, the zoo announced.

She was found dead in the lake of the African-themed area where she lived in the zoo run by Israeli authorities in Jerusalem, a statement said.

She was "the oldest hippopotamus living in a zoo," it said.

"She died at an advanced age, surrounded by lots of love and respect."

She was the last hippo at the zoo after the death of Mati, a male, some 10 years ago.

Tami had quickly established herself as dominant among the giraffes, zebras and rhinos in the African area, it said.

"It is a difficult day for us," zoo employee Gilad Moshe told the Yisrael Hayom newspaper. "A little like losing a friend."

In July 2017, Bertha, believed at the time to be the world's oldest hippopotamus in captivity, died aged 65 at Manila Zoo in the Philippines.

Prior to that, Donna, who died in 2012 at the age of 62 at the US Mesker Park Zoo and Botanic Garden in Evansville, Indiana, was said to be the world's oldest hippo, according to media reports at the time.

Hippos tend to live for between 40 and 50 years. The mostly herbivorous and semiaquatic animals are found in central and southern Africa.

Jerusalem's Biblical Zoo was founded in 1939 and contains some 250 species, most of which are named in the Bible.

Hamas Agree With Satmar Policy : Western Wall belongs to Muslims

The Hamas terror organization has decried any religious or historical connection between the Jewish People and the Land of Israel.

Hamas' Falestine newspaper on Saturday will publish a special edition dealing with the Western Wall, which is called Kotel Al-Buraq in Arabic.

It will discuss the Wall's geography, which according to Falestine is "the first line of defense for Al-Aqsa Mosque.

Another section, the paper will discuss the laws and agreements which make the Wall Islamic, and claim that any harm to it is a war crime. The paper will also discuss "crimes" against the Western Wall and Israel's attempt to legitimize its rule over the site.

In 1967, Israel conquered Jerusalem's Old City, as well as Judea and Samaria, from Jordan.

The Western Wall is the last remnant of the retaining wall around the Temple Mount's base. It was built during the Second Temple Period (530 BCE-70 CE) by Herod the Great and is considered to be Judaism's holiest site.

Islam was founded in the seventh century CE. Al-Aqsa Mosque was built on the Temple Mount in 705 CE.

Julius Reich Sentenced For Savagely Butchering His Wife

Julius Reich in court (center)

Dr. Robin Goldman a"h

A Scarsdale man was sentenced to 20 years behind bars on Wednesday for the savage slabbing death of his physician wife in 2016.

Julius Reich, a former financial services executive, stabbed Dr. Robin Goldman, a prominent pediatrician, 22 times with an 8-inch kitchen knife as she took a shower.

They were getting a divorce but still living together in their Scarsdale home when Reich killed her.

Reich, 64, pleaded guilty to manslaughter in May.

The DA said the couple’s adult children had a “strong desire” to “avoid the trauma of a trial.”

“I shall bear the guilt forever,” Reich told the court, according to the Journal News.

The couple’s three adult children were not in court on Wednesday.

Reich fought back tears and acknowledged the damage he’s inflicted to all his loved ones. Goldman was 58.

“I hope and pray that they stay strong,” he said, “to continue their lives and careers with the love and devotion their mother exemplified.”

Westchester County Court Judge Barry Warhit signed off on the plea bargain and reminded Reich he’ll always be known as a cold-blooded killer.

“What you did was unforgivable,” Warhit told him. “Your legacy for all time will be what you’ve done. You’ll always be known for that.”

After Reich stabbed his wife to death on Jan. 20, 2016, he walked downstairs, and smoked a cigarette before calling cops to report the slaying.

He’s been in jail, held without bail, ever since that day.

Photos from the Levayeh Jan 2016