Elon Musk says he’s terminating $44B Twitter buyout deal ... Millions of Fake Accounts

 

Elon Musk’s tumultuous $44 billion bid to buy Twitter is on the verge of collapse — after the Tesla CEO sent a letter to Twitter’s board Friday saying he is terminating the acquisition. 

Twitter did not immediately respond to a message for comment. It is not entirely clear whether Twitter’s board will accept the $1 billion breakup fee or if there will be a court battle over the deal. 

The possible unraveling of the deal is just the latest twist in a saga between the world’s richest man and one of the most influential social media platforms. 

Much of the drama has played out on Twitter, with Musk — who has more than 95 million followers — lamenting that the company was failing to live up to its potential as a platform for free speech.

 On Friday, shares of Twitter fell 5% to $36.81, well below the $54.20 that Musk had offered to pay. Shares of Tesla, meanwhile, climbed 2.5% to $752.29.

 In a letter to the Securities and Exchange Commission, Musk said Twitter has “not complied with its contractual obligations” surrounding the deal, namely giving Musk enough information to “make an independent assessment of the prevalence of fake or spam accounts on Twitter’s platform.”

Podcast: Author Faye Kellerman talks books, crime and characters

Harvard University's campus is now a bastion of Jew Hatred

 

Harvard University provides its students with unparalleled knowledge, skills and experiences. Yet, as we Jewish students have witnessed, the routine vilification of the State of Israel — both inside and outside the classroom — indicates that something in Harvard’s contemporary education has gone seriously awry.

In the latest example of this trend, the editorial board of the Harvard Crimson endorsed the movement to boycott, divest, and sanction (BDS) the Jewish state in an April 29 editorial. BDS represents the economic arm of a global effort — spearheaded militarily by Hamas, Hezbollah, and Iran — to destroy the Jewish state.

China has helped spread four epidemics — and COVID’s not the last

 

Chinese researcher Dr. Shi Zhengli seen working in the Wuhan lab, which many researchers now believe was the origin of the coronavirus that swept the world in 2020.

By Steven W. Mosher

For more than two years we have lived through a pandemic that no one — no one who doesn’t fall for Communist Chinese propaganda anyway — doubts came from China.  

In fact, the consensus now is that COVID came from the Wuhan lab, something I wrote about in these pages at the outset of the outbreak. In recent months, many of those who had earlier parroted Beijing’s line about COVID coming from a bat cave, including China’s man at the World Health Organization, Dr. Tedros Ghebreyesus, have come over to my point of view.

At the same time, there is mounting evidence that the coronavirus was developed as part of China’s bioweapons program.

Israel grants residency visa to US Baruch Lanner convicted of sexually assaulting students

 

Baruch Lanner, the American rabbi who served nearly three years in prison for sexually assaulting students at a Jewish high school in New Jersey, has been granted a temporary residency visa that will allow him to stay in Israel while the country’s Interior Ministry reviews his request for citizenship.

Advocates for sexual abuse victims were aghast at the news, first reported by Haaretz on Thursday. While Israel’s Law of Return provides every Jew in the world the opportunity to apply for citizenship, Israel has withheld citizenship in the past from those with criminal records who are seen as posing a danger to the Israeli public.

Lanner and his second wife, who was granted citizenship, appeared in a video for the law firm that is handling the case, which alerted activists to his immigration status. In the video, in which Lanner and his wife’s faces are blurred, Lanner praises the attorney and declares, “I had some legal issues in the United States and I never thought I would be able to make aliyah,” Haaretz reported. The video has since been taken down.

In 2000, following reporting by the New York Jewish Week, Lanner’s former employer, the Orthodox Union, launched a probe indicating that Lanner was responsible for an array of sexual, physical and emotional abuse involving dozens of teenagers in his charge. He was convicted in 2002 of endangering the welfare of two girls during his time as principal of Hillel Yeshiva High School in Deal, New Jersey, in the 1990s.

Late last year, alleged victims filed a civil lawsuit against Lanner and his former employers under New Jersey law that allowed for a two-year “lookback” window during which sexual abuse victims could sue their abusers and their enablers.

A pending case like that should be reason enough to reconsider Lanner’s request for residency, said Shana Aaronson, director of Magen, an Israeli organization that advocates for sexual abuse victims, especially in the Haredi Orthodox community.

“It’s more than disheartening, it’s infuriating that despite efforts by organizations like mine and by various government agencies, the government would make such a morally bankrupt decision like this,” Aaronson said.

Magen has compiled and shared with authorities lists of as many as 100 accused and convicted offenders who have applied for and succeeded in getting Israeli citizenship or residency visas, Aaronson said. She said that she had known about Lanner’s intentions to move to Israel since 2019.

“We were aware of his history and recommended strongly that he not be granted citizenship,” she said. While Lanner served his time in the 2002 case, granting him citizenship would erase the relevance of his presence on the US sex offender registry and allow an abuser like him to “disappear into general society,” said Aaronson.

If granted citizenship, “Baruch Lanner could tomorrow walk into any school and apply for a job and be given a certificate of good standing from Israel law enforcement and get a job working with kids,” she said.

According to Haaretz, Lanner and his wife arrived in Israel as tourists and submitted their request for citizenship after landing, thereby circumventing the Jewish Agency, which handles citizenship requests in the United States and tends to reject those with criminal records. Lanner had been living variously in New Jersey and Florida.

“The details [of the Lanner case] will be thoroughly examined,” an Interior Ministry spokeswoman told Haaretz.

Zera Shimshon Parshas Balak

 

The Reason Moshe Rabbeinu Was Punished because they made him into a G-d when he was only a Rebbi

 

In Chutz Le'aretz, Jews will be listening to the baal korah read from Parshas Chukas this Shabbos. They will hear that Hashem tells Moshe Rabbeinu:

קח את המטה והקהל את העדה אתה ואהרן אחיך ודברתם אל הסלע לעיניהם ונתן מימיו והוצאת להם מים מן הסלע 

"Take the staff and gather together the assembly, you and Aaron your brother, and speak to the rock before their eyes that it shall give its water"

But what did Moshe actually do?

It seems from the following verses that Moshe did not follow instructions and made some mistakes.

ויקהלו משה ואהרן את הקהל אל פני הסלע ויאמר להם שמעו נא המרים המין הסלע הזה נוציא לכם מים? וירם משה את ידו ויך את הסלע במטהו פעמים ויצאו מים רבים 

"Moshe and Aaron gathered the congregation before the rock and he said to them "Listen now, You rebels, shall we bring forth water for you from this rock?" Then Moshe raised his arm and struck the rock with his staff twice, and abundant water came forth"

a)  Hashem told him "gather the assembly" and he gathered the "congregation."

b) Hashem told him to speak to the rock, yet he decided to hit the rock.

c) Moshe called them "rebels" 

d) Moshe when saying to them "shall we bring forth water for you from this rock?" made it seem like he had the ability to bring water from the rock, and should have instead said "only Hashem can bring water from a rock" The Torah then states that Hashem told both Moshe and Aaron 

"יען לא האמנתם בי להקדישני לעיני בני ישראל לכן לא תביאו את הקהל הזה אל הארץ אשר נתתי להם"

"Because you didn't believe in Me to sanctify Me in the eyes of the Children of Israel, therefore you will not bring this congregation to the Land that I have given them."

It was after this incident that Hashem decreed that Moshe & Aaron would not enter Eretz Yisrael.

Much ink has been spilled trying to make sense of what actually happened and what it was exactly that triggered Hashem to deny Moshe & Aaron entry into Eretz Yisrael, since it is not explicit in the verses.

Why did Hashem ask Moshe to take the stick and speak to the rock, which could have confused anyone? 

In fact way back in Parshas Beshalach in the city of Refidim, when the Jews were complaining about lack of water, Hashem tells him to take his stick and hit the rock. Isn't  understandable that Moshe would be confused? 

In fact the Ramban says Moshe didn't get punished because he hit the rock instead of speaking to it as Rashi suggests, because hitting the rock and getting water was still a great miracle. According to the Ramban Moshe's hitting the rock did not diminish the miracle one iota? 

The Ramban adds that the fact that Hashem didn't allow Moshe to enter the Land couldn't be because Moshe called the Jews "rebels," and it couldn't be because of Moshe's statement  that it  made it seem like he had the ability to bring water from the rock, and should have instead said "only Hashem can bring water from a rock" The Ramban goes in a very lengthy pilpul trying to get to the bottom of what really happened? 

The Ohr Hachayim Hakodosh is perplexed as well and quotes 10 different reasons from a variety of Rishonim on what exactly occurred and  also goes into a very lengthy explanation.

I want to suggest that the answer of what went wrong is in Moshe's last words to the Bnei Yisrael in Parshas Ve'eschanen days before his petirah.

Moshe seems to complain and states:

ויתעבר ה' בי למענכם "But Hashem became angry with me because of you!" (Rashi's translation)

It seems from these four words, that the reason that Moshe couldn't enter Eretz Yisrael was because of something that the Bnei-Yisrael did and had nothing to do with what Moshe did or said at Mei Merivah.

But we know that Moshe was not a complainer and especially not to Klall Yisrael, so what changed here?

It could possibly be that Moshe was not complaining at all but stating a fact. He simply said that he couldn't be the one to bring Klall Yisrael into Eretz Yisrael because of who they were. (this is not how  Rashi learns this verse).

 Let me explain.

The incident at Mei Meriva where Moshe hit the rock instead of speaking to it took place in the 40th year, just months before they would enter Eretz Yisrael. The older generation had already died in the desert because of the sin of the meraglim, and Klall Yisrael now, was a brand new generation who lived entirely on miracles. 

They had  heard about how Moshe brought plagues on the Egyptians, Krias Yam Suf, they didn't actually experience it. To them Moshe was more than "rabbeinu," to them Moshe was like a G-d!  What they experienced in the here and  now in the desert was a total miraculous existence and all thanks to Moshe!

When they heard Moshe Rabbeinu at Mei Merivah stating:  "shall we bring forth water for you from this rock?" It basically confirmed to them that if Moshe only wished, he, Moshe, could bring water from a rock. When they saw that instead of gathering an "assembly" like Hashem instructed, Moshe instead invited the entire "congregation" to witness the miracle that was about to occur they were convinced that he could possibly also be a "deity."

  Study the words that Hashem used when telling Moshe that he would not enter Hashem says

 לכן לא תביאו את הקהל הזה אל הארץ  "therefore you will not bring this congregation to the Land" You gathered the "congregation" instead of the "assembly" as I instructed, so  now you won't bring the "congregation" into Eretz Yisrael. Moshe had an opportunity at Mei Meriva to set the record straight that all miracles are from the One Above, but he failed in his mission, that's why Hashem told him:

"יען לא האמנתם בי להקדישני לעיני בני ישראל לכן לא תביאו את הקהל הזה אל הארץ אשר נתתי להם"

That is why Moshe told them days before his demise ויתעבר ה' בי למענכם  "Hashem wouldn't allow me to enter because of you" Because if I would be the one to bring you into Eretz Yisrael, you would eventually make me into a deity, into a G-d, and therefore "Hashem won't even allow you to know where I am buried. "

There is only One G-D and He is the one that brings water from a rock, He is the One who smote the Egyptians and split the sea. The older generation that knew Moshe when he was growing up in the house of Paro would never have thought to make him into a G-D! They knew that even though Moshe was the greatest prophet that ever lived, he was still human.

This should be a lesson for all of us, no rebbe or Rosh Yeshiva are Gods, they are all human and make mistakes. All these civil wars in Ger, Satmar, Viznits, Bobov, Sadegera, Ponovitz, etc are all about the mighty shekel and as Oin Pen Peles's wife told Mr. Oin... "no matter who wins this machlokas, be it Moshe or be it Korach, you will still be Mr. Oin! This is a message to the followers of these mere humans. No matter who wins, you will still have to go and punch a clock the next day, to bring parnassa into your homes. 

All those running to R' Shayele Krestirer or to the graves of other rabbis and spending huge amounts of money that go straight into the coffers of the grandchildren of the those who brutally murdered our grandparents should learn the message of Moshe Rabeinu Z'l ... He was human after all and we have no clue where he is buried!

The Gerer Rebbe is not G-d, R' Chaim Kanievsky wasn't G-d, and R' Yoel Teitelbaum wasn't a G-d! They are all prone to make mistakes and are not perfect. Once we realize and internalize this message we will be on our way to bring Mashiach speedily in our days. Amen!

Satmar Protesters in London Spark Outrage After Wearing Yellow Stars Against British Educational Directives

 

I wrote "satmar" because I recognize many of the protestors and they are all Satmar. Which is ironic, because both Satmar rabbis in New York endorsed Hochol for Governor and she has said many times that she supports LGBT education in the schools, yet her opponent Lee Zeldin opposes these mandates!

Bunch of hypocrites!

A demonstration by some 100 chareidim in London has sparked outrage after they wore yellow stars reminiscent of the Nazi period persecution of Jews. The chareidim were protesting British interference in chareidi education, with the new British laws requiring all educational systems to teach subjects which are taboo in chareidi circles. A number of chareidi schools which refused to teach these issues have been forced to close in the meantime.

The protesters, who are linked to the Rabbinical Committee of the Traditional Charedi Education, took part in the demonstration outside the International Ministerial Conference on Freedom of Religion in Westminster, at which Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis and Foreign Secretary Liz Truss were among 700 attendees.

Ukraine Says No Visitors Allowed in Uman for Rosh Hashana

 

Tens of thousands of Breslover chassidim are reeling Thursday following an announcement from the Ukrainian ambassador to Israel that dashed any hopes of chassidim being able to visit the kever of Rebbe Nachman in Uman for Rosh Hashana.

“Due to concerns for the lives and well-being of the visitors to Ukraine and in light of the blatant Russian war in our country, despite all efforts, we can not guarantee the security of pilgrims and do not currently allow tourists and visitors to enter Ukraine,” the country’s ambassador to Israel, Yevgen Korniychuk said in a statement.

“On this occasion, we address to you, because your prayers are important to us,” the statement continued. “Please pray that before Rosh Hashana the war in Ukraine, which broke out due to blatant and cruel Russian aggression, will come to an end, and pray for the victory of Ukraine.”

“We hope that the prayers will be fulfilled, and that Ukraine will once again be a country that generously receives visitors from Israel, and especially Jews who come to Ukraine to visit the graves of the righteous.”

The annual pilgrimage to the tziyon is a yearly highlight for an untold number of chassidim, whose davening during the Yomim Noraim is uplifted as they spend time near their revered Rebbe.

“It’s a devastating blow,” a Breslover chassid who routinely visits Uman. “We look forward to this literally every day of the year. And while we knew this was likely to happen, its confirmation is no less crushing.”

Israel Police: “Our Assumption Is That Moishe Is Alive”

 

Moishe’s parents and siblings went to Meron on Wednesday, 102 days after Moishe’s disappearance to daven at the kever of Reb Shimon Bar Yochai. Afterward, the Kleinermans met with the members of the Israel Dog Unit (IDU) team who are searching for Moishe.

The head of the Israel Dog Unit, Mike Ben-Yaakov, spoke to the Kleinermans about the ongoing search for their son.

Earlier on Wednesday, Police Commissioner Kobi Shabtai held a situational assessment on Moishe’s case at the Ma’ale Adumim precinct. “We won’t give up until we learn what happened to Moishe and where he is,” he said. “Israel Police, as in any case of a missing person, certainly one who is at risk, is investing much resources in trying to locate him.”

“This is a complex investigation. Despite the fact that he was last seen in the Meron area, we’re not ruling out any location throughout the country where he could be found. Our investigation is examining various angles and we’re working on the assumption that Moishe is alive.”