“I don’t speak because I have the power to speak; I speak because I don’t have the power to remain silent.” Rav Kook z"l

Wednesday, November 7, 2018

Democrats ... face the fact that Trump had a good night

To hear the spin this morning, you’d think Democrats swept the map on Election Day.
But the reality is —  President Trump had a very good night. 
This midterm hardly provides a clear roadmap. Their superstar all-ins were roundly brushed back. Andrew Gillum in Florida, Beto O’Rourke in Texas, and more than likely Stacey Abrams in Georgia had the emotional adoration of their party, but not enough actual votes.
Losses in Ohio, where Republican Mike DeWine beat Richard Cordray for governor, in Missouri where Josh Hawley defeated Democrat incumbent Claire McCaskill in the Senate, and in Indiana where Mike Braun defeated Democrat incumbent Joe Donnelly in the Senate are just a few of the reasons for more agony than ecstasy for Democrats today.

Trump FIRES Jeff Sessions and replaces him as attorney general with ultra-loyalist who could now oversee Mueller probe


Attorney General Jeff Sessions has resigned as the country’s chief law enforcement officer.
President Donald Trump canned his attorney general less than two hours after he said he was happy with most of his Cabinet but refused to provide a vote of confidence to his Justice Department head.
Sessions was expected to quit or be fired soon after the election. However, Trump at his news conference declined to say whether he'd be getting the boot now or later.
Then came a tweet, announcing the appointment to acting attorney general Matthew Whitaker.
A letter from Sessions to the president makes clear that he did not vacate the position as the nation's top cop willingly.
Trump said a permanent replacement would be nominated later.  

First Shtreimel Guy In The New York Assembly

Simcha Eichenstein, 34,  a Chassidishe guy from Boro-Park, and who wears a Shtrimel on Shabbos will replace Dov Hikind as the Democrat Chareidie representative at the New York Assembly!


Eichenstein, is  married,and  the father of four, was born in 1984, to a prominent  Bobover  family and is proud of his yeshiva education.

He worked in various different capacities for the Mayor of New York Mayor DeBlasio. 

He announced his candidacy more than six months ago, a few days after Hikind had announced his resignation after serving 30 years in the assembly. 

Anti-Israel Democrats, Pro-Israel Republicans Win Key Races


The era of bipartisan support for Israel largely over. Support for Israel is now a Republican issue — and opposition to Israel a Democratic one.

That trend began when the far-left wrongly blamed Jews in the George W. Bush administration — the “Israel lobby” — for the Iraq War. It accelerated when President Barack Obama, who had long associated with anti-Israel figures, chose to create “distance” between the U.S. and Israel, including the Iran nuclear deal.

Iranian Jews Visit 1000-Year-Old Shul Every Year At Yurzeit of “Ohr Shraga”



A group of Iranian Jews made the difficult trip to the city of Yazd, located some 600km from Tehran and today, a recognized World Heritage Site by UNESCO. They make the trip annually, on the Yahrzeit of the Ohr Shraga ZT”L, visiting the 1000-year-old shul for the event.
The Ohr Shraga, who lived in Yadz some 200 years ago, was a noted Torah scholar and Kabbalist who occupies a unique place in Persian Jewish tradition.
One woman who comes explains it is difficult and expensive, as there are not enough bus and train tickets to be had. In addition, no one sponsors the cost and each person who participates has to cover costs out of pocket.
The Jewish population of Iran today has dwindled from 120,000 to 20,000 today, and some continue this annual event in the ancient shul, arriving from all over the country.
It is explained the Yazdim Shul in the Bucharim area of Yerushalayim has its roots from here too. This is the shul HaGaon HaRav Ovadia Yosef ZT”L used for many years, to deliver his motzei Shabbos drasha which was carried on radio in Israel as well a broadcast around the world.
Head of the kehilla, Humyoun Sami, tells them it is all from gifts received from Hassan Ruchani, the Iranian President, who he feels treats them well.

The blue wave falls short


Overall, the blue wave fell short well short of expectations on Tuesday.
Democrats took the House, but only gained about the 34 seats to be expected from the party opposing a president in his first midterm election. They gained governorships, but a fell short in swing states Ohio, New Hampshire and Florida.
And they lost ground in the Senate, as Dem incumbents who voted against confirming Brett Kavanaugh lost in North Dakota, Florida, Indiana and Missouri.
In the Empire State, Democrats did take down Reps. Dan DonovanJohn Faso and Claudia Tenney. These are good people, as are various Democrats who fell short across the nation. Partisan politics are tough — as the apparent victories of scandal-tarred Sen. Bob Menendez in New Jersey and Rep. Chris Collins in New York attest.
The big picture? American politics are still in transition, with both parties and the voters still digesting the issues exposed by the shocking Trump win in 2016, and grappling with challenges that don’t fit the old ideological boxes.
A Democratic House is sure to keep biting the president’s feet, with endless investigations. A more-Republican Senate will confirm his appointees, especially his judicial ones.
Tuesday brought no clear message because the nation is still figuring out what it thinks. In these challenging times, that’s probably about the right call.

Rashida Tlaib Muslim Wins Michigan Congressional Seat ..... 'Will Cut Off All US Funding For Israel"


Palestinian-American Rashida Tlaib has become the first Muslim woman elected to US Congress.
Tlaib took Michigan's 13th congressional district in a race in which she was the sole major party candidate.

Tlaib, 42, was born in Detroit to Palestinian immigrant parents.
She made history in 2008 by winning a seat on the Michigan Legislature, becoming the first Muslim woman to do so.
Her campaign platform included pledges to secure a $15 minimum wage, cutting off all funds to Israel. 

Six Black Savages Now Attack Chasidishe Boy


As reported by DIN, the NYPD is searching for a gang of six black teens who threw a metal pipe through the window of a Shul in Williamsburg on Shabbos afternoon.
New footage shows the same group of teens attacking a Hasidic boy moments before the attack on Franklin Ave, knocking his hat off his head as he innocently walked down the street.
Shockingly, the NYPD had not deemed the vandalism attack on the Volkan Shul a “hate crime”. This footage clearly shows the gang’s intention.
The NYPD has announced a $2500 award for information regarding the suspects.



Black Guy Attacks Jew on Avenue J in Broad Daylight



Police and Shomrim are looking for a man who assaulted a Jewish pedestrian on Tuesday afternoon.
 Around 3:30PM, a man walking down Avenue J between East 13 and East 14 was randomly punched in the face by an unidentified black man. He then kicked the victim as well, before calmly walking away
The victim has never seen the attacker before, nor were any words exchanged prior to the assault. Nothing anti-Jewish was said before this attack.
The NYPD and Flatbush Shomrim canvassed the area for close to two hours. He was last seen on Ocean Avenue and Avenue J.
The suspect is approximately 5 foot 8, 250 pounds, was wearing a black tee shirt with the words “STAGE CREW” in white lettering on the back, and had grey pants.
Police ay that they are taking this isolated incident very seriously, but stress that there has not been an assault of this kind in quite some time. Police advise the community to remain calm, but to be aware of their surroundings at all time, and to report anything suspicious immediately.
If you see this man, or have any information that can help police, please call 911 and then Flatbush Shomrim’s 24 hour emergency hotline at 718-338-9797.

Tuesday, November 6, 2018

Rabbi Shmuel Knopfler In Memorian

Rabbi Shmuel Knopfler, frequent Torah Contributor to this blog and others.

Rabbi Shmuel Knopfler, president of shul, lover of Zion and Jewish people, passes away at 68 On Shabbat morning 27th of Tishrei 5779 (October 6, 2018) Shmuel Zev Knopfler suddenly passed away in the manner of a Tzadik, while asleep in his bed. 

Shmuel was fondly known to many as “Sam Kay.” He was a proud Jew, with a unique love for Eretz Yisrael. He was born to Holocaust survivors in Nové Zámky, Czechoslovakia in 1950, in a time of darkness and despair. His father served as the town rabbi and shochet. For a short while, they resided in Prague. Living in the Soviet Bloc was especially challenging for people that were shomer Shabbat. Children had no choice but to attend school on Shabbat. However, his parents were moser nefesh and made arrangements with teachers so that their children would not have to write on Shabbat. 

Shmuel recalled a story of a young communist teacher that ridiculed him and his sister for refraining from writing on those days. His teacher told them that Yuri Gagarin had recently returned from space and did not see God, and that keeping Shabbat was therefore ridiculous. Young Shmuel did not relent and remained steadfast in his belief and tradition.