Hungary Bans Gay Couples From Adopting 'the mother is a woman, the father is a man'

 

Hungary has written 'the mother is a woman, the father is a man' into its constitution as the country brings in a ban on gay couples adopting children.

The country's MPs approved new measures targeting the country's beleaguered LGBTQ community yesterday.

Prime Minister Viktor Orban's government explained the change by saying 'new ideological processes in the West' made it necessary to 'protect children against possible ideological or biological interference'.

The amendment defines children's sex as that assigned to them at birth and 'ensures the upbringing of children according to... [Hungary's] Christian culture'. 

MPs loyal to the nationalist Prime Minister also overwhelmingly voted in favour of a law effectively banning same-sex couple from adopting.

KINDLY SUPPORT OUR BLOG BY BROWSING THE ADS

THANKS SO MUCH, IT MEANS A LOT ESPECIALLY IN THESE DIFFICULT TIMES! 

Florida Is Open, New York Is Closed, And New York Has More COVID Deaths

 

Thus far in Florida, approximately 20,000 people have died of COVID-19. In Texas, the number stands around 24,000, and in New York, about 35,000.

New York is the smallest of the three, with 19.54 million residents. Then comes Florida, with 21.67 million, before Texas, with 28.7 million residents.

COVID numbers are difficult to trust. Cases are often counted more than once as patients go in and out of the hospital, and some deaths are attributed to COVID that are barely related, if at all.

KINDLY SUPPORT OUR BLOG BY BROWSING THE ADS

THANKS SO MUCH, IT MEANS A LOT ESPECIALLY IN THESE DIFFICULT TIMES! 

US Special Advisor to Middle East, Brian Hook: No more peace deals if Biden appeases Iran

'If the @JoeBiden administration pursues a policy of accommodating #Iran and alienating our partners in the region, there will be no more peace agreements,' #US Special Advisor for Middle East Peace Brian Hook tells #i24NEWS pic.twitter.com/GIv9Wj0Vc1

— i24NEWS English (@i24NEWS_EN) December 16, 2020

 In an interview with i24NEWS, Brian Hook, US Special Advisor on Middle East issues and former Iran envoy, says the Trump administration succeeded in brokering historic peace agreements between Israel and Gulf States Bahrain and the UAE by "countering the common threat that is the Islamic Republic of Iran."

Hook calls on Biden to continue this policy of deterrence, noting that, "It's very important ... to stand with your friends ... who have no daylight between them and the existential threat facing them..."

Hook also praises the current administration for "placing maximum economic pressure on Iran" and "restoring the military option as a deterrent," and says Biden will have a lot working for him once he takes office.

KINDLY SUPPORT OUR BLOG BY BROWSING THE ADS

THANKS SO MUCH, IT MEANS A LOT ESPECIALLY IN THESE DIFFICULT TIMES! 

Lab tests suggest Israeli-made face mask eliminates over 99% of coronavirus

 

The SonoMask displayed an ability to neutralize the novel coronavirus at an effectiveness of 99.34% within trials performed by the internationally accredited ATCC Testing laboratory, Ramat Gan-based Israeli fabric maker and developer Sonovia announced on Saturday.

Sonovia’s reusable anti-viral masks are coated in zinc oxide nanoparticles that destroy bacteria, fungi and viruses, which it says can help stop the spread of the coronavirus.

Results from the most recent round of testing showed that the mask has the ability to neutralize fallen traces of SARS-COV-2 within 30 minutes after making contact with the fabric. The SonoMask was also proven to maintain its protective properties throughout 55 wash cycles.

"Following this outstanding result – the product of several months of dedicated anti-viral sonochemistry formulation – we can now assure the public that our SonoMask is working continuously, permanently and rapidly to neutralize the spread of COVID-19," said Sonovia CEO Joshua Hershcovici. "We are proud of our latest accomplishment that will help people feel safe and protect their loved ones, all the while remaining the most ecologically sound option upon the PPE market."

Sonovia also participated in trials with Adler Plastic in Italy earlier this year, working toward creating a solution for carpets and other types of fabrics. The company boasted a 99.999% efficiency rate against bacteria during the pilot testing round.

Furthermore, the Israeli fabric maker has attracted the cooperation of top brands such as Gucci, Chanel and Adidas, working on the Fashion for Good Plug and Play accelerator project – and earning a $250,000 investment for their innovation.

"We see our breakthrough technology transforming our everyday life, implemented in all textiles surrounding us: from the clothes we wear, to the textiles in our home, the textiles in our public spaces, in public transportation and of course as a protective measure in the workplaces & medical institutes – in a manner that ensures safer surroundings during these unusual times," said Sonovia's Chief Technology Officer Liat Goldhammer.

KINDLY SUPPORT OUR BLOG BY BROWSING THE ADS

THANKS SO MUCH, IT MEANS A LOT ESPECIALLY IN THESE DIFFICULT TIMES! 

245 Israelis returning from abroad test positive for coronavirus

 

The new “Check2Fly” coronavirus testing lab at Ben-Gurion Airport's Terminal 3,

Some 245 Israelis who returned from abroad tested positive for the coronavirus in the past two weeks, Ynet reported.

Of the 245, some 30 flew to Israel from the US, 16 from Turkey, 27 from Ukraine, 11 from Russia, 8 from Holland and four from England, according to the news site. Some 26 Israelis who tested positive for the coronavirus were retuning from the United Arab Emirates (UAE), as well, according to the report.

All the above countries apart from the UAE are listed as red by the Health Ministry, meaning that Israelis returning from these countries must enter quarantine upon their return.

Some 90 flights that took place over the past two weeks are listed on the Health Ministry site as locations where Israelis may have been exposed to the coronavirus due to the presence of a confirmed patient.

The 245 who tested positive for coronavirus are among the approximately 44,000 Israelis who have returned to Israel from abroad since the beginning of December.

On Sunday, the Health and Transportation ministries decided to update the country's coronavirus travel policies. Many of the new regulations are aimed at preventing the formation of crowds in the airport.  Included in these updates is a doubling of available check-in counters and earlier available check-in times for travelers. 

A team will also be formed to improve the computer interface in order to shorten waiting times during which travelers are grouped together in lines.

The Health Ministry said that it expects around 240 Israelis to return from visits to the UAE with positive COVID-19 diagnoses during the month of December, Haaretz reported Sunday.

Last week, the Foreign Ministry vetoed turning the United Arab Emirates into a “red country,” which would have meant that arrivals to Israel would have to enter quarantine.

The Health Ministry had decided to designate the UAE “red” earlier the same day, due to the large gatherings of Israelis in Dubai in recent weeks, but Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi asked Health Minister Yuli Edelstein to consult with the Foreign Ministry before any future decisions are made about the UAE.

Idan Zonshine and Lahav Harkov contributed to this report.

KINDLY SUPPORT OUR BLOG BY BROWSING THE ADS

THANKS SO MUCH, IT MEANS A LOT ESPECIALLY IN THESE DIFFICULT TIMES! 

Remembering the rabbi of Buchenwald

 

The date was April 11, 1945, and what Rabbi Schacter was about to 
experience would change his life forever.

On a sunny afternoon 75 years ago this spring, Chaplain Herschel Schacter was drinking coffee with several officers from his unit, the Eighth Corps of the Third US Army, on the outskirts of Weimar, Germany, when “a friendly Colonel, a nice man” approached. 

“You know, this may be of interest to you,” the colonel began. “We just got word that our troops penetrated a place called Buchenwald. It’s some kind of concentration camp, I think.” 

The date was April 11, 1945, and what Rabbi Schacter was about to experience would change his life forever. 

Schacter and his assistant, Private Hyman Schulman, drove five miles to the site. The German guards had fled as American forces arrived earlier that day. Trembling, Schacter stepped through the front gate. His eye “caught a glimpse of a tall chimney with billowing smoke still curling upward.” It was Buchenwald’s crematorium. 

“I scarcely could believe my eyes,” he later recalled. “There I stood, face to face with piles of dead bodies strewn around, waiting to be shoveled into the furnace that was still hot. It was just an incredible, harrowing sight. I stood there for a while in utter confusion and disbelief. I then began to really feel what this horror was all about.” 

A GI led the rabbi to a nearby prisoners’ barracks.

KINDLY SUPPORT OUR BLOG BY BROWSING THE ADS

THANKS SO MUCH, IT MEANS A LOT ESPECIALLY IN THESE DIFFICULT TIMES! 

Shuli Rand on marrying a second wife: I want to be free

 

The news that a Charedi celebrity, who has been in a dispute with his wife for many years, had received permission from a rabbinical court to marry a second wife, sparked outrage on the internet. It is now possible to reveal that the haredi in question is Shuli Rand.

Rand and his wife in Ushpiziin happier times

Rand, who is in a long-running dispute with his wife and the mother of his children, Michal Rand, began dating the television host and journalist Tzofit Grant in the past year.

On Thursday, Rand was interviewed by Hen Lieberman on Channel 13's "The Source," to tell his story. 

"The court still hasn't given me permission," Rand said on the show. "No one has given me permission. Michal came and publicized it beforehand with a loud shout. She calls it bigamy and so on and so forth."

Why can a man get a permit and women can't?

"Okay, it's true that there is no situation in Judaism to let a woman, as long as she is in the definition of being married, get married. There is no such thing. On the other hand, with a man there is such a thing, if it is discrimination it started somewhere our holy Torah was written. Okay, that's the way it is."

There are other ways and a man according to Jewish law can live with another wife.

"I want a permit, I want to be free."

Rand additionally spoke about his wife Michal and the special process he requested which includes the approval of 100 rabbis. "The court has made tremendous efforts including exorbitant proposals to resolve this matter financially, because it could have been ok if I was Bill Gates. I'm not sure, perhaps. But I, all that can be given to a person, that I was able to give, what I have and what I don't have..."

What is the amount that she (Michal) wanted?

"NIS five million, something like that, five million."

KINDLY SUPPORT OUR BLOG BY BROWSING THE ADS

THANKS SO MUCH, IT MEANS A LOT ESPECIALLY IN THESE DIFFICULT TIMES! 

Rabbi Fabian Shonefeld Passes On

 

KINDLY SUPPORT OUR BLOG BY BROWSING THE ADS

THANKS SO MUCH, IT MEANS A LOT ESPECIALLY IN THESE DIFFICULT TIMES! 

Robot Distributing Chanukah Donuts In Hospital

 

KINDLY SUPPORT OUR BLOG BY BROWSING THE ADS

THANKS SO MUCH, IT MEANS A LOT ESPECIALLY IN THESE DIFFICULT TIMES! 

A Premature Autopsy Report on Trump

Recently, there has been a plethora of autopsy reports on US President Trump, including a well-written one on Arutz Sheva, which I will address in friendly fashion below..

There is a famous quip "the operation was a success but the patient died." I reformulate that quip herewith. to say:

"Mr. Trump’s candidacy was successful, he prevailed, but Mr. Biden was elected.."

Though the Arutz Sheva autopsy report is well-done, Mr. Trump is not cooked. Patient/candidate Trump is still alive. Mr. Trump’s flaws, as presented by Dr. Chaim C. Cohen, a writer with much the same academic credentials as I have - PhD, years of college teaching, etc. - in explanation of Mr. Biden’s apparent success, do not explain Mr. Biden’s apparent victory. The evidence does not explain Mr. Trump’s failure to win the presidency, because, certainly, he did win the election in a popular vote and what should have been an electoral college landslide.

There are several indicators of Mr. Trump’s win. No incumbent president has ever lost re-election while his party gained seats in the House of Representatives. No incumbent president has lost a re-election bid while winning significantly more (10,000,000+/-) votes than in his previous election and significantly increasing his share of Black and Latino votes. There are about 55 counties, which, in election after election, are reliable predictors of a presidential outcome. Mr. Trump won about 50 of those counties.

If some statistically unsophisticated person would consider the above facts to be mere coincidences, he would probably consider the 2020 voting results in hypothetical State X: exactly 3,000,000 votes for Mr. Biden and Zero votes for Mr. Trump also to be a coincidence. After all, theoretically, it could happen that exactly 3,000,000 votes (not 2,999,999), constituting 100% of the votes cast, were cast for one of two candidates. Recall the actual 2016 voting results in two or three Philadelphia precincts in which more votes were cast than there were names on the voting rolls. I heard that in one previous presidential election there were some Philadelphia precincts in which there were no Republican votes cast at all! Might that have been a coincidence or anomaly?

KINDLY SUPPORT OUR BLOG BY BROWSING THE ADS

THANKS SO MUCH, IT MEANS A LOT ESPECIALLY IN THESE DIFFICULT TIMES!