Satire Skit on Israel TV of Rabbi Kanievski Sparks Outrage

 

A popular satirical television show sparked outrage on Wednesday with its portrayal of a top ultra-Orthodox rabbi, with politicians and members of the public calling the skit disrespectful and offensive to the religious community.

However, the skit from the hit show “Eretz Nehederet” (A Wonderful Land) also won praise from many for its “courage” in tackling the issue at a time of increased tensions with the Haredi community over defiance by some of its members in the face of efforts to impose a coronavirus lockdown.

The past week has seen widespread rioting, clashes with police trying to enforce lockdowns, and open rebellion despite virus rates being significantly higher in ultra-Orthodox communities.

The “Eretz Nehederet” skit focused on Rabbi Chaim Kanievsky, widely acknowledged as the preeminent living Ashkenazi Haredi sage, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s relationship with him, which has been criticized as overly deferential.

The skit opened with anchor Eyal Kitzis welcoming the prime minister of Israel to his show, but instead of Netanyahu, an actor playing Kanievsky, 93, was wheeled out, accompanied by another actor portraying his grandson, Yaacov (Yanki), who acts as a spokesman and surrogate for the rabbi.

The portrayal had Kanievsky mumbling mostly incoherently into his beard in Yiddish, while his grandson asked him questions and interpreted the answers in an exaggerated Ashkenazi Hebrew accent.

A short while later Netanyahu shows up, begging the rabbi for permission to do almost everything: come on the show, sit down, or take a sip of water.

A brief attempt by Netanyahu to assert his authority was immediately shut down by Kanievsky suggesting that the ultra-Orthodox parties would support Netanyahu’s rival Gideon Sa’ar in the upcoming election, which quickly had Netanyahu promising that all they would hear about from him in the future was giving them money.

The skit was largely a parody of the situation where Netanyahu has had to repeatedly beg the ultra-Orthodox to abide by lockdown rules and keep schools closed, often with minimal effect. Critics have accused Netanyahu of avoiding cracking down on the Haredi public in order not to anger his ultra-Orthodox coalition partners.

Earlier this week, Netanyahu was asked about why he recently spoke with Kanievsky’s grandson about closing schools during the lockdown and not with the rabbi himself.

“Rabbi Kanievsky isn’t available. Everyone who speaks with him speaks with the grandson. I also spoke with the grandson. I don’t see this as an insult,” he said during a press conference.

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How They Organize "Hafgana's" In Yerushalyim....

 

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Trying to Destroy the "Abraham Peace Accords" Biden Halts Arm Sales, including F-35 sales to UAE

 US President Joe Biden has halted several arms sales negotiated by the Trump Administration, the Associated Press reported.

Among the sales which have been temporarily halted is the sale of F-35 stealth fighters to the United Arab Emirates as well as arms sales to Saudi Arabia.

The UAE had ordered 50 F-35s.

The State Department in a misleading statement called the suspension of the sales "a routine administrative action” which all new administrations implement upon taking office.

“The department is temporarily pausing the implementation of some pending US defense transfers and sales under Foreign Military Sales and Direct Commercial Sales to allow incoming leadership an opportunity to review,” the department said.

The Trump Administration agreed to sell the advanced aircraft to the UAE following the signing of the Abraham Accords, the normalization agreements between Israel, the UAE, Bahrain, Sudan, and Morocco.

The Israeli government has favored the sale of the F-35 aircraft to the UAE.

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Religious and Charedi Yeshiva Students Staying Together at Coronavirus Hotel in Jerusalem Hold a Musical Tu B’Shvat Kumzitz .

 

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Did Shabbsai Tvi Actually Start The "TU-BeShavt " Yom Tov?

 

By Dan Rabinowitz and Eliezer Brodt

Some claim that the origins of the custom to celebrate Tu-beShevat as a holiday that includes eating fruits and other rituals, is Sabbatean. In the main, this assertion is based upon identifying  the work Hemdat Yamim as the source for Tu-beShevat as a holiday and eating fruit and other rituals.  Thus, an article in Ha’aretz trumpets, “The New Year for the Trees, Isn’t it for Sabbatai Zvi.” And the National Library of Israel’s blog includes a post “The Holiday of Tu-beShevat is an Auspicious Time to Pray for the Only (?!) Jewish False Messiah.”  They even include the above  photoshopped image.

However, a closer look at the history reveals, that although some of the customs on Tu-beShevat can be traced to Hemdat Yamim the actual celebration dates much earlier. Contrary to the popular song, Tu-beShevat hegihu hag ha-ilannot, the 15th of Shevat was not a “chag” of the trees.  Instead, the earliest discussions regarding Tu-beShevat do not mention any holiday associated with the day.  The first Mishna in Rosh Hashana, identifies the 15th of Shevat as the new year for trees.  This designation merely defines how to calculate annualized tithes and is otherwise silent as to the significance of the date.  One can’t tithe fruits from one year using a different year’s fruits. Thus the 15th of Shevat is the cut-off point. [For other contemporaneous examples see Safrai, Mishnat Erets Yisrael, Mesekhet Rosh HaShana (Jerusalem:  Mehlelet Lifshitz, 2011), 305-06]. It was not until R. Gershom’s time that there were any of the traditional holiday markers, but only that fasting is prohibited.

The first mention of the custom to eat fruit and other holiday rituals appears in 16th century Machzor, published between 1548 and 1550. 

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You Think You Have It Bad... People Born in 1900 Lived Thru Over 100 million Dead

 

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Biden Crazy Talking Press Conference

 

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Leanne, you are a hero!

Heroes in Israel wear green.

This is Corporal Leanne Harush of the Israel Defense Forces. 

Corporal Harush is a lone soldier from London, England. LH managed to hold the a Palestinian terrorist back as he tried to stab her 3 times. The commander of her unit shot the attacker dead in coordination with LH.

She is seen calling her family moments after the attack near Ariel.

Leanne you are our hero.

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Apple warns to keep iPhones at least 6 inches away from pacemakers

 Radio waves emanating from Apple devices may disrupt the workings of implanted pacemakers and defibrillators, the company warns. 

In a recent update, Apple said iPhones have magnets, components and radios that release electromagnetic fields, which can potentially interfere with sensors on the medical devices when brought in close contact.

Pacemakers and defibrillators are life-saving devices designed to regulate the heartbeat, with the latter sending off a more powerful shock to the heart if it detects a dangerous rhythm.

Apple said that all iPhone models pose about the same risk of interference, despite the latest iPhone 12 containing more magnets. Apple also warned of radios and magnets in MagSafe accessories, which offer wireless charging capabilities.

Apple did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

“To avoid any potential interactions with these devices, keep your iPhone and MagSafe accessories a safe distance away from your device (more than 6 inches / 15 cm apart or more than 12 inches / 30 cm apart if wirelessly charging),” reads the update, issued on Saturday. “But consult with your physician and your device manufacturer for specific guidelines.”

Stop using iPhones or MagSafe accessories after any suspected interference with medical devices, Apple advised.

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John Roberts’ refusal to sit for Trump impeachment sparks constitutional concerns

Chief Justice John Roberts’ refusal to preside over former President Donald Trump’s second impeachment trial is raising questions about whether he views the first-of-its-kind proceedings as constitutional.

The Supreme Court has been declining to comment when reached by The Post, as well as other outlets, on why its top jurist will not take part in the historic trial.

Speaking to MSNBC’s “The Rachel Maddow Show” on Monday evening, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) revealed that Roberts “did not want” to take part in the trial.

“The Constitution says the chief justice presides for a sitting president,” the top-ranking senator said. “So it was up to John Roberts whether he wanted to preside with a president who is no longer sitting, Trump, and he doesn’t want to do it.”

Roberts has not offered any comment on his role in a second impeachment trial since the House of Representatives voted in favor of taking the matter to trial in the Senate earlier this month.

That silence has been noted by those opposed to impeaching a former president.

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