My daughter is "FlatbushGirl" and I couldn’t be prouder

 

Adina Miles Sash, a US Orthodox Jewish activist and social media influencer a.k.a FlatbushGirl who spreads the message #frumwomenhavefaces. (Courtesy)

As the mother of Adina Sash also known as FlatbushGirl, I am still taken by surprise when people stop me on the street to give their opinions of Adina. Sometimes the feedback on her viral Instagram campaign is encouraging and heartwarming as people share how she has entertained them and also inspired them to think more critically about community issues. I feel overwhelming pride that she has found a space in their hearts. Other times I am stopped by complete strangers who feel that Adina needs to calm down and be less controversial. And my heart still swells with pride because my daughter is at the forefront of change.

I raised Adina to be independent, to know her strengths, and to use her voice. At a young age she was already questioning some of the messages she was receiving in her Bais Yaakov school, like how a girl’s hair should be a short length and that a woman’s role is to support her husband in learning. She had an uncanny ability to know when she was being indoctrinated by the system, and when she sensed nonsense, she always called it out.

When Adina pursued a dual BA in psychology and English, I thought she’d follow in my footsteps as either a psychologist or college professor, with her ability to understand the human psyche and her incredible oratory skills proving that she could be either one. But she ultimately continued on with a Master’s degree in medieval literature, reading texts that most of us never knew existed. My daughter was clearly a nonconformist and freethinker, navigating a unique path.

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His usefulness over, the Dems will soon replace Joe Biden

 

If you think that Joe Biden's term as president will extend through a full four year term, there are a few used Dominion voting machines I'm offering to sell you at retail prices.

In fact, I'll make a prediction that his trusted staff of doctors, within a few weeks after the inauguration, if not sooner, will sadly come to the conclusion that Mr. Biden has developed some severe symptoms requiring him to resign his office and hand it over to his VP, Kamala Harris, who then assumes the Presidency.

Under the provisions of the 25th Amendment, enacted after President Kennedy's assassination, it appears that when Kamala assumes the role as President, she can nominate someone to replace her as VP. If you recall, back in 1974, after Nixon resigned and ford assumed the Presidency, Ford nominated Nelson Rockefeller to be his VP. More on this later.

Uneasy Democrats know that Biden must leave office as quickly as possible. He cannot face the simplest of questions from an exasperated media who covered for and helped catapult him into office. They're already pressing for some answers as to what Biden has planned to handle domestic and international problems. They can no longer ask him what his favorite flavors are or give him ready made questions about how he loves and believes in his son, Hunter.

They might even go so far as to press him on why his selection of cabinet and team of burned out advisors all seem to be retreads from the regimes of Obama and Clinton. Where are the new ideas to douse the fires of new situations?

Expect the snarling tigers at the gates, the leaders of Russia, China, North Korea and Iran to soon start testing him with military threats to our overseas allies to take advantage of an out-of-touch-with-reality, Biden. Our loyal friends in Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Israel, Egypt, Arabia and Eastern Europe are holding their breaths awaiting the onslaught from their enemies. It's coming.

Joe Biden, though, has already exhausted his usefulness to the party. His job is done. He was loyal and played out his role from his basement, letting the obviously criminal mail in ballots, bogus voting machines and the Chinese Virus slide him into office.

He can no longer hide from view. He appears unable, not only, to give an unrehearsed vision of his plans to re-unite a severely divided country but as well, to soothe the anxieties of a world being strangled by the deadly virus. He still hasn't unveiled his blueprint covering the continual search for, distribution of and monitoring the efficacy of the myriad of mind boggling cures and preventatives now pouring out of labs.

He seems to be mentally at a stand still but will, it seems, be sworn in. But t he Democrats have no honor. They have used Biden; he's no longer an asset; he's a tragedy (to them) ready to happen. He has to be replaced. His recently "broken foot" incident was the beginning. Most probably, his wife, Jill, will break the news of his recently diagnosed "illness" and with an emotional performance to the world, will announce his resignation from office.

Look to Bernie Sanders, to be selected by Harris, to fill the chair of VP. After all, we can't have another woman or black in the White House and Bernie will win the hearts of the necessary radical Left to support the Harris Presidency. The coming Four Years are nearly upon us. May we pray for G-d's help in wading through them.

Alan Bergstein, lecturer and columnist, is an editorial writer for The NY Jewish Voice and a retired NYC school principal A father of four, he is a Korean War veteran and Jewish activist who is President of the Judeo/Christian Republican Club of Palm Beach County, Florida.

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Simon Cowell to join Israeli X-Factor show

 

The king of the reality music show concept, Simon Cowell, will star as a judge on the Israeli version of “X-Factor.”

Cowell will feature in the fourth season of Israel’s “X-Factor,” produced by Reshet 13. The network said work on the new season, with Cowell, would be getting under way “in the next few days.”

It will be the first time that Cowell will judge on the show he created, outside of the UK and the US.

“Over the years The X-Factor format discovered amazing talents from all over the world, I can’t wait to see what Israel has to offer,” said Cowell.

The role is a bit of a comeback for Cowell, reported Deadline.com, given that the music impresario underwent extensive back surgery following an electric bike accident earlier in 2020.

According to Deadline, Cowell was looking for new opportunities, given that “X-Factor” UK ran its course after 16 years and ran for three seasons in the US, with Cowell as a judge.

Past judges on “X-Factor Israel” have included rapper Subliminal, pop star Ivri Lider, vocalist Shiri Maimon, singer Moshe Peretz and supermodel Bar Rafaeli as host

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Watch Trump Sing "I Will Survive"

 

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Federal Judge Blocks Trump Drug Pricing Rule ... Wants Higher Prices

 

A federal judge on Wednesday blocked a last-minute Trump administration rule aimed at curbing drug prices from taking effect on Jan. 1.

The rule, which would have tied Medicare reimbursements for certain drugs to prices paid by some other countries, was challenged by drug industry trade groups. 

U.S. District Judge Catherine Blake in Maryland ruled that the administration had rushed the rule without giving the public a chance to comment.

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Tribute to R' Yaakov Levitz ... a Friend of Din

by Rabbi Moshe Boylan

Klal Yisroel and the Olam HaTorah particularly were saddened by the petirah of Rav Yaakov Levitz zt”l, world renowned distributor of many Sifrei Kodesh. 

The niftar was a talmid of Rav Yisroel Zev Gustman zt”l, the famous Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshivas Netzach Yisroel. He was also very mekurav to lhbc”l Rav Feivel Cohen Shlita, the author of the Badei HaShulchan series on many parts of Shulchan Aruch. 

It was truly appropriate that the niftar’s name was Yaakov, as he represented many of the middos tovos of Yaakov Avinu. One example was in his chashivus haTorah, which related to the middah of Yaakov Avinu, who was an Ish tam yosheiv ohalim. Besides learning in Yeshivos when he was young, even in his later years he was known for his love for Torah. He was a true Talmid Chochom. 

Of course, a parnasah, distributing seforim is a zechus for a person, as he is spreading Torah. {It is even said that the heilige Chofetz Chaim zt”l, who also would sell seforim, sometimes used to say the words (not the beracha) “Laasok beDivrei Torah” when he was involved in selling and distributing his seforim.} 

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Hospitalized COVID Patient Murdered By Roommate For “Praying”

 

A coronavirus patient is accused of beating his 82-year-old hospital roommate to death with an oxygen tank in Lancaster, Calif., last week because he was upset with his Catholic prayers, according to authorities.

The victim shared a two-person room at Antelope Valley Hospital with the suspect, 37-year-old Jesse Martinez. They were both undergoing treatment for COVID-19, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

The two did not know each other, but the elderly victim’s praying upset Martinez on the morning of Dec. 17, authorities said. The suspect is accused of grabbing an oxygen tank and pummeling the victim.

Hospital workers detained Martinez at the scene until law enforcement arrived, the Los Angeles Times reported.

The 82-year-old was pronounced dead at 10:20 a.m. the next day. Authorities did not immediately release his name.

Martinez faces murder charges, with hate crime and elder abuse enhancements, according to investigators.

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ARRESTED: Terrorist Suspect In Murder Of Esther Horgan, H’YD

  It has been cleared for publication that a terrorist suspected of murdering Esther Horgan has been arrested following a joint operation of the Shin Bet, Israel Police, and the IDF.

The suspect, a Palestinian Arab who lives near Jenin, is being questioned by the Shin Bet. All other details of the investigation are under gag order.

Horgan, a 52-year-old mother of six, a resident of Tal Menashe in the Shomron, was found dead in the Reichan forest with signs of severe violence on her body overnight Sunday.

She had left her home on Sunday at 1 p.m. to go for a run in the nature reserve in the Reichan forest, next to Tel Menashe, and never returned. When her husband failed to reach her on her phone, he contacted the police and a search began.

Horgan left behind her husband Binyamin and six children, the youngest of whom is 13, and celebrated his Bar Mitzva only three months ago.

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7 Thoughts About The New COVID Vaccine

 

By Rabbi Yair Hoffman for 5tjt.com

As many people know, I was recently hospitalized with COVID. One of the downsides of serious breathing problems is the inability to think, to learn, or to have a sense of clarity. I want to share some thoughts about the vaccine, and I hope that what I write will help influence the behavior of others. But first, I would like to thank those who have been davening for me. Along the way, I have met some fascinating people whose chesed is extraordinary. Aside from my family members, I want to thank the staff at Mt. Sinai Hospital, Mrs. Sima Bachrach at Chesed 24/7, Mrs. Breindy Sporn, Hatzalah, Mark Gross, Estie Hoffman, Rabbi Dr. Aaron Glatt, Larry Gordon, Mr. Wasserman, Reb Yechiel Eckstein, and a few others, too.

1. Torah to Klal Yisrael is like oxygen. We cannot live without it. The mashal is much more real and tangible now, for me personally, after this COVID experience. When someone is gasping for every breath, rachmana litzlan, he cannot learn Torah. Believe me, I tried.  Why place yourself at risk not to be able to breathe?  Take the vaccine.
2. This vaccine had no special dispensation. Notwithstanding what one Rabbi in an Israeli hospital is saying, it was required to go through the same process as every other pharmaceutical: (1) pre-clinical trials on animal testing. (2) FDA approval on clinical trials; four phases of clinical trials in humans. The first phase has 20 to 100 volunteers; the second is hundreds of people to see if it truly prevents infections in a meaningful way. The third phase involved 30,000 people to see if it works in diverse populations and to look for rarer side effects. We are in phase four now. But phase four allows for the vaccines.  Those that have a known allergic reaction to things should not take it.
3. The vaccines work. Without the vaccines, some people will get a mild version of it, like my family members did. Others, like I did, could get a more serious version where their breathing is very seriously affected. My treatment included Remdesivir, antibodies through blood plasma, some serious steroids, anti-clotting drugs, etc.
4. Gedolim in Eretz Yisrael said to take the vaccine (I verified this with the gabbaim myself this week.) Rav Hershel Schachter said to take it for two reasons—to save yourself and to save others. Rav Shmuel Kamenetsky (who is not always the biggest advocate of vaccines) said that if your doctor recommended that you take it, of course you must take it.
5. It is this author’s thought that, just based upon the bitul Torah aspect alone, aside from any pikuach nefesh issues, there is not a heter in the world to avoid the vaccine.There is even an Ohr HaChaim HaKodesh (Sh’mos 27:20) which says that Moshe Rabbeinu would not desire to redeem a people who are batlanim from Torah. The Gra in the Even Shleimah (7:6) lists all of the things that bring to bitul Torah. [This COVID is the emperor of bitul Torah maladies.]
6. There is a serious concern that COVID can affect reproduction. One should take the vaccine to avoid any questions in this matter, too.
7. There is also the matter of pikuach nefesh for other people, which involves five separate mitzvas

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Santa Claus With Tefilin

 

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