The 'Seminary Girl' Whose Parents Are Antisemitic

 

“You’re making a huge mistake.”

These were the words Sarah heard over and over from her friends and family in Holland. They couldn’t understand why a girl from a good Christian family would choose to be an Orthodox Jew. And Sarah had stopped trying to explain. Her heart was set. And so she began the journey that would eventually lead to being disowned by her loved ones, all in the name of the pursuit of Truth.

When Sarah Zanderheiden came to Israel for a visit, she was blown away by how different it was from her native Holland. Her home country is one of the capitals of European Western values in the world. As a child she had always felt something was missing. As Sarah timidly stepped forward to the kotel for the first time, and saw the Jewish women around her deep in prayer, she felt an inexplicable urge to cry. This was the truth she had been looking for.

For two years, Sarah studied Torah and she recently became officially Jewish. Next he is set to tackle her greatest dream yet: Building her own Jewish family and home. Sarah is engaged to a young man who has also had his share of challenges: He is an orphan who spent his childhood being passed from foster family to foster family.

The couple have no family, no money, no security - and they could not be happier.

https://thechesedfund.com/vaad-ha-rabbanim/sarahskallahfund?aff=27

I want to thank DIN readers who up to this point contributed over $10,000.00 to this campaign... 

Two sisters and a friend save a life at a Beit Shemesh pool

 

On Tuesday afternoon, just after 3:00 p.m. a man in his fifties was swimming in the community pool in Beit Shemesh. The man began to feel faint and grabbed one of the ropes on the side of the swimming lane showing signs of distress. Another swimmer coming from the opposite direction in the lane saw the man in distress, got out of the pool, and pulled the man up out of the water and onto solid ground. The helpful swimmer called the lifeguard over and a defibrillator was attached as eye-witnesses called emergency services for help.

United Hatzalah volunteers who live and work in the vicinity received the emergency alert. Among them were two sisters Yocheved Bienenstock and Susan Ducker, who both made aliyah to Israel from Toronto, Canada, and a close friend of theirs Sara Zimbalist, who also immigrated to Israel from Teaneck, New Jersey.

The three women arrived in quick succession just moments after the emergency call was made. The trio rushed over to the collapsed man and checked his vital signs. Finding no pulse the team initiated CPR. Yocheved began compressions as Susan and Sara worked on inserting an airway, attaching oxygen, and administering assisted ventilation. They spent five minutes alternating between compressions and assisted breathing before an ambulance showed up. During that time other EMTs from United Hatzalah arrived and joined in the effort.

When the mobile intensive care unit arrived, the paramedics hooked the man up to a heart monitor and found that his pulse had returned, the CPR had been a success. The combined team prepared the man for transport, loaded him into the ambulance which rushed the man to the hospital.

“I don’t know what happened to the man afterward,” said Yocheved, formerly a Wohlgelernter, “but I know that we did everything we could to save his life including bringing his pulse back.”

Susan added, “It wasn’t quite clear what caused the man to suddenly feel ill. From what we were told by the man who pulled him from the water he had grabbed the rope, began to struggle to catch his breath, and then looked like he was going to drown. Based on the lack of a pulse it seems that this may have been a cardiac arrest. One thing we know for certain, we gave him a fighting chance at life and I’m thankful that I was able to be there and to help. Doing so with my sister made the feeling even greater. I feel that Yocheved always has my back so I am more confident responding to emergencies knowing she is with me.”

Sara spoke about how special it is to have the opportunity to save lives in Israel: “My family and I just celebrated our 16th Aliyah Anniversary last week. To be part of United Hatzalah and taking part in a successful CPR in Israel is not anything I would have imagined being part of when I made Aliyah. But being here and being able to help others is truly very special to me.”

Susan concluded by adding a similar sentiment and said, “When I was living in Toronto, I never thought I’d be responding to medical emergencies. Living in Israel builds a strong sense of social responsibility and a desire to contribute to the larger community as a whole. Canada is a beautiful place but Israel has my heart.”

What Jews in NY need to know about Kathy Hochul the New Governor

 

Kathy Hochul, who will succeed Andrew Cuomo as governor of New York, is no stranger to the New York Jewish community.

Cuomo resigned Tuesday, a week after a state investigation concluded that he sexually harassed 11 women. He had faced intense pressure to step aside, including from President Joe Biden, or face impeachment.

Cuomo enjoyed a warm working relationship Jews across the denominational spectrum. As Cuomo’s surrogate, Hochul has made it a point to keep up with the issues and concerns of Jews, local leaders say, visiting Jewish day schools, meeting regularly with Jewish community officials and touring Orthodox neighborhoods with local community leaders.

Was the world's first printed Hebrew Book published by a woman?

 

As the High Holidays approach, the National Library of Israel is displaying a 550-year-old printed Selichot prayer book that is believed to have been printed by a woman in Italy.

The first printed Hebrew books, produced at the end of the 15^th century, were mostly study tests, but one daring printer decided to move forward and print prayer books, as well. His name was Rabbi Meshulam Kuzi, and he founded a small printing business in the Italian town Piove di Sacco.

Kuzi printed his texts in stunning "Ashkenazi letters" and intended to publish many books, but his business published only two – a book on Jewish law and commandments, and the Selichot prayers, in an Ashkenazi version.

According to the National Library of Israel, "This Selichot prayer book is effectively the first Hebrew prayer book ever printed, around 1475."

Another interesting aspect of the book is the role women played in its production. Curator of the National Library's Judaica collection. Dr. Yoel Finkelman, explains that Rabbi Meshulam's wife is believed to have been active in publishing the work.

"We know that Rabbi Meshulam passed away before it was published, and his widow, Devorah, completed the work," Finkelman notes.

"Because the precise date of the publication of the Selichot prayer is unclear, it's very possible that Devorah might have finished the work on it … It's clear that Devorah was familiar with the printing process, and it's likely that she helped her husband while he was alive," Finkelman says.

The pages of this copy of the book include evidence it was used by at least two other Ashkenazi women, who made notes about their husbands. On the first page appears a sentence signed "Mrs. Esther, daughter of Rabbi Asher," which was apparently written not long after the book was published.

"The owner of a book must write his name on it, so no one can come and make claim to it, saying 'It is mine," Mrs. Esther wrote.

Another woman wrote her name on one of the last pages, a few hundred years later.

"We know nothing about these two women, but it appears that saying Selichot before Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur was of particular importance to them. As we can see, the Christian censor worked to erase sentences that debated with Christianity or mocked it, but in the margins we can see the work of cantors and worshippers who added the missing words," Finkelman says.

Ukraine to allow Jewish worshippers to Uman on Rosh Hashanah

 

Ukraine's deputy health minister, Dr. Ihor Kuzin, said on Monday that his country would work to ease restrictions on the annual Rosh Hashanah (Jewish New Year) pilgrimage to the grave of Rabbi Nachman of Breslev in the city of Uman, Russian news agency Interfax reported.

According to Kuzin, a special directive allowing religious pilgrims to enter the country under certain pandemic-related restrictions has been approved and will also apply to Hassidic Jews visiting Uman.

"The directive consists of basic steps for the prevention of pandemics, such as the requirement to wear protective masks, checking body temperature, and oversight of the public transportation used by pilgrims. Additionally, border crossing protocols are well-defined now and the instructions are clear and unequivocal," said Kuzin.

Kuzin also said that informational pamphlets were ready for distribution at the country's airports and that volunteers from Ukraine and Israel have been recruited to facilitate expeditious testing of Hassidic visitors.

Ukraine's deputy health minister added that some 50,000 rapid coronavirus testing kits have been allocated by the ministry for those arriving in Uman from Israel and that around 190,000 protective masks and 19,000 hand sanitizer bottles have already been purchased to protect the attendees.

Israeli girl finds ancient coin at Talmud-era village of "Tzippori"

 

A scavenger hunt at a Talmud-era village in northern Israel took a surprising turn on Tuesday when an Israeli girl found a 1,500-year-old bronze coin.

The girl and her family were visiting the Korazim archeological park, near the Sea of Galilee, The Times of Israel reported.

During the game, the girl found the coin on the ground.

According to Korazim Park director Dekel Segev, the coin dates to the Talmudic period, between the fourth and fifth centuries CE. The park's website quotes Segev explaining that Korazim is a Jewish village some 2,000 years old, which reached its heights during the time of the Mishnah and Talmud.

According to Dekel, what makes Korazim special is not only its wealth of archaeological artifacts, but how intact it is. Korazim is one of the only sites in Israel that shows visitors an ancient Jewish farming community that boasts a synagogue, homes, a mikveh, olive oil presses, and a wine press.

In addition to refurbishing walking paths and creating the scavenger hunt activity, the park also offers curious visitors a chance to get their hands dirty by digging with a professional archaeologist in a program it calls "Digging Through Time."

Segev praised the girl for immediately handing the coin over to the park authorities.

"The young girl and her family showed good citizenship and brought us the coin because it is a national treasure," he said. "The piece will be forwarded to the Israel Antiquities Authority for further research and preservation."

Travelers returning to Israel from the US now required to quarantine

 

Starting Wednesday morning, Israeli travelers returning home from the US will be required to remain in isolation at home, after the US was added to Israel’s travel warning list.

All travelers entering Israel from the US as of Wednesday, regardless of age or vaccination status or prior infection, will now be obligated to self-quarantine for one week.

Seventeen other countries were also added to the updated list of countries on the travel warning list Wednesday, requiring Israelis returning from any country on the list to remain in one-week isolation. The countries added to the list Wednesday include Ukraine, Italy, Iceland, Estonia, Botswana, Bulgaria, Germany, the Netherlands, Tanzania, Greece, Malawi, Egypt, the Czech Republic, France, Cuba, Rwanda, or Tunisia.

Travel remains restricted to the following countries: UAE, Guatemala, Honduras, Zimbabwe, Mongolia, Myanmar, Namibia, Fiji, Colombia, and Cambodia.

Earlier this week, Israel’s Health Ministry presented a new model for determining flight advisory statuses, greatly expanding the number of countries on the high-risk or moderate risk lists. Travelers returning from moderate risk countries require one day in isolation if vaccinated, seven days if not.

The new system is set to go into effect next Monday.

Elderly Couple May Divorce Over Vaccine Booster Shot

 

A wealthy couple in their 80s in central Israel may be heading toward divorce after almost 50 years of marriage due to a conflict over the third coronavirus vaccine.

The husband, 83, informed his wife, 81, that he has no intention of getting vaccinated with the third COVID vaccine. His wife informed him that his decision is unacceptable to her since he’s putting her and other family members at risk. The couple has been married for 47 years and have four children.

Their dispute began about a week and a half ago when Prime Minister Naftali Bennett called to the older population to be vaccinated with the third vaccine. The wife hurried to her Kupat Cholim on the first day the booster shots were available but her husband held fast to his refusal to get the booster shot, saying that he doesn’t believe in it and is even afraid it could be harmful.

His perturbed wife threatened to leave home but when that failed to convince him of the error of his ways, she contacted an attorney’s office that specializes in family law. She requested to take out a restraining order against her husband so that if he doesn’t get the booster shot, she can evict him from their home and possibly file for divorce.

“The wife, who is in a high-risk group due to her advanced age and background illnesses, told us that she’s extremely afraid of contracting the coronavirus due to her husband’s refusal to receive the third vaccine,” the attorney’s office said.

“The husband’s refusal to receive the booster shot definitely endangers his wife’s life and is grounds for the issuance of a protective or restraining order, including his removal from their shared home. It’s sad that conflicting messages, a lack of trust in the medical system, and fake online news are causing conflicts among families.”

CNN's fake news story that helped to raise $230,000 for 'single mom of three facing homelessness .. was actually just a BABYSITTER

 

CNN and 'Squad' member congresswoman Cori Bush highlighted the struggle of a single mom of three, facing homelessness, who turned out to be the children's babysitter. 

Dasha Kelly, 32, of Las Vegas, was featured in a segment last week with CNN Reporter Nick Watt, who took a tour of Kelly's home.

It promoted a GoFundMe she set up to collect rent which has since raised more than $230,000 thanks to CNN's report, and repeatedly referred to her as the mother of Sharron, 8, Kia, 6, and Imani, 5. But it turns out Kelly was just their babysitter.

Kelly appeared on the network - and was subsequently hailed by Missouri US Representative Bush - after claiming she faced homelessness when the federal eviction moratorium designed to stop people being left homeless by COVID ends. 

But before making the clarification, CNN even brought Kelly back with the children for a follow-up interview with Democratic Congresswoman Cori Bush amid the Biden administrations announcement that the eviction moratorium would extend until October 3. 

Stay-At-Home Mom Sued By Nation’s Largest Teachers’ Union After Asking What they Were Teaching Her Kids

 

The largest teachers’ union in the country has filed a lawsuit against a Rhode Island mom to block her numerous requests for public records regarding her school district and Critical Race Theory, prompting her to fire back, “I just got served with a lawsuit from the teacher union NEARI. Throwing down the gauntlet, are we? Game on.”

Nicole Salas, who started her odyssey in challenging the school district back in April, continued by writing, “Today the teacher union NEA filed ANOTHER lawsuit against me —this time a Temporary Restraining Order and Preliminary Injunction. Will teacher unions bullying moms be an everyday thing now?”

The Goldwater Institute’s In Defense of Liberty blog explained: