“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
Tuesday, February 1, 2022
Hamas commander accused of spying for Israel escapes from Gaza prison
A former Hamas military commander who was accused of spying for Israel has escaped from a maximum-security prison in the Gaza Strip.
The fugitive, Abed al-Karim Abu Odeh, 35, was arrested by Hamas in 2019 on suspicion of mapping underground tunnels with a tracking device he allegedly received from his Israeli handlers.
It was not clear how Abu Odeh, who was being held in the Ansar Prison in the Gaza Strip, managed to escape.
The rare escape is seen by many Palestinians as a severe embarrassment for Hamas.
Hamas has arrested a number of suspects on suspicion of helping Abu Odeh, according to a Palestinian journalist in the Gaza Strip.
Hamas officials described Abu Odeh as an “extremely dangerous security prisoner” and offered a reward for information leading to his capture.
The officials said they did not rule out the possibility that Abu Odeh, who was a top commander of the Izzadin al-Qassam Brigades, the “military” wing of Hamas, would try to cross the border into Israel.
Hamas set up checkpoints and deployed dozens of security officers in several parts of the Gaza Strip, especially near the border with Israel, in an attempt to prevent Abu Odeh from leaving the coastal enclave.
Monday, January 31, 2022
"Chaim Walder's Best Friend Was the Chafetz Chayim" His Victim in a Powerful Statement!
Without question the most powerful testimony to emerge regarding `#ChaimWalder saga. Very painful reading, but it's worth reading every last word.
A Walder Survivor Speaks Out
Rena Salomon is the pseudonym of a woman repeatedly raped as a child by Chaim Walder. Her letter was first circulated in the weekly vort email of Rav Ron Yitzchok Eisenman (Congregation Ahavas Israel, Passaic) who translated it from Hebrew.
When Weeping Is Not Enough
by Rena Salomon
Dear Rabbi Eisenman,
My name is Rena Salomon, and I am a victim of cw.
ADL Hires Self-Hating Jew Who Embraces Ilhan Omar and calls her fellow Jews "Racists"
“Jews have to be ok with Palestinians explaining why some turn to terrorism.”
After the Hamas, kidnapping and murder of three Israeli Jewish teens, resulting in Israeli forces aggressively pursuing the Islamic terrorist group over the horrifying atrocity, Tema Smith retweeted and praised an article titled, « There Are No Good Guys In The Gaza-Israel Conflict ».
The article, among other things, claimed that, « Hamas — and the Palestinians as a whole — have desperately real and legitimate grievances against Israel. »
She also retweeted another piece urging Jews to, “repent for Gaza’s dead.”
“Here’s the thing: Jews *have* to be ok with Palestinians *explaining* why some turn to terrorism,” Tema Smith insisted two years ago.
Snow Plow Driver Suspended After Dumping Snow On Lakewood Jews
Two Lakewood men were the target of an anti-semitic attack while minding their own business and walking to Shul on Shabbos.
Video footage shows men driving a snow plow on a Lakewood street, while two Jewish men are walking ahead of them on the street. As the drivers pass by the men, they intentionally lower the plow, causing the men to be accosted with a storm of snow and ice.
The men then laugh diabolically and drive away.
The men in the vehicle were allegedly Donny Klarmann and Brandon Ebbs. The footage was originally uploaded to Facebook by Klarmann himself. Klarmann’s facebook page identifies him as an employee of Waste Management, which would be the reason for him driving a snow plow. Ebbs’ employment status is unknown.
UPDATE: Waste Management has released a statement condemning the behavior, and also revealed that the driver has been suspended from his job.
The full statement reads as follows:
“We are aware of an incident that was posted by an off-duty WM employee to his personal social media account. The hateful conduct depicted in this video is unacceptable and does not reflect the values of inclusion and diversity we hold as a company.”
“The employee is suspended while we investigate the incident, but we can confirm this behavior will not be tolerated from any WM employee and we will not employ those who act in this way.”
Esther Pollard, Passes Away
Esther Pollard, z’l, the wife of Jonathan Pollard who worked tirelessly for decades to secure his release, has passed away at the age of 68, a statement issued by the family on Monday morning stated.
The levaya is scheduled to take place on Monday at Har Hamenuchos in Jerusalem.
Esther, z’l, who had been battling cancer for years, contracted COVID about two weeks ago and was rushed to the hospital on Shabbos after suffering a severe deterioration in her condition. At the hospital she was found to be suffering from septic shock.
Jonathan Pollard spoke to Arutz Sheva after Esther’s petirah, saying: “In my worst nightmares I never thought I would lose Esther. After decades of her fighting for my release, I felt so helpless that I couldn’t help her in her battle for life.”
Jonathan’s lawyer, Nitsana Darshan-Leitner of the Shuras HaDin organization, said: “Esther Pollard, a’h, a lioness and a woman of great stature who fought for her husband and led the struggle for his release for 30 years, passed away this morning. She acted fearlessly out of a genuine belief in the tzidkut of the way.”
“She was by his side every day, in every prison and every crisis, and didn’t lose sight of the goal until they finally landed in Eretz Yisrael to begin their free life. It’s so painful to hear this morning that she only enjoyed their shared freedom for one year. I send my deepest consolations to Yonatan and the entire family. Yehi Zichra Baruch.”
Esther, a’h, and Jonathan made aliyah in December 2020 and settled in the Rechavia neighborhood of Jerusalem
Saturday, January 29, 2022
Was Rav Lipa Margulies a Tzaddik? Or Was He Hiding a Dark Secret
"Rav Lipa was strongly opposed to bachurim attending college classes while they were a part of Yeshiva Torah Temimah. One time, the hanhala found out that a bachur was taking a college class at night, and Rav Lipa presented him with an ultimatum: Quit collage or leave the yeshiva. Someone objected and mentioned that this boy's parents were among the yeshivah's biggest donors. "If they want, they can get back all the money they have donated," Rav Lipa said. He never compromised on his principles"
Governor Justice tells Bette Midler to 'kiss' his dog's 'hiney'
Omg.
— Alex Thompson (@AlexThomp) January 28, 2022
WV Governor Jim Justice during his state of the state address lifts up his his dog and turns her but to the camera while saying:
“They told every bad joke in the world about us…so from that standpoint, Babydog tells Bette Middlet and all those out there, kiss her hiney” pic.twitter.com/bdJlOXhtez
Republican West Virginia Governor Jim Justice told actress Bette Midler to "kiss" his dog, Babydog’s "hiney."
Justice’s jab at Midler came at the end of his State of the State address, where he touted West Virginia’s wins and recently announced economic developments.
"Absolutely too many people doubted us. They never believed in West Virginia," Justice said in his remarks. "They never believed in West Virginia — that we could do it."
"They told every bad joke in the world about us," Justice continued. "And so from that standpoint, Babydog tells Bette Midler and all those out there: kiss her hiney!"