Colombia appoints allegedly fake anti-Zionist rabbi an antisemite as director of religious affairs

  The Colombian Jewish community is reeling after an anti-Zionist rabbi was tapped to be the country’s director of religious affairs.

Richard Gamboa Ben-Eleazar was appointed to the post in Colombia’s Ministry of the Interior by Colombian President Gustavo Petro, according to an announcement Gamboa made on X last Thursday.

He thanked Petro for “the opportunity to serve excluded and marginalized religious minorities from the Directorate of Religious Affairs, in the construction of a just and peaceful Colombia for all.”

But Colombia’s Jewish community does not recognize Gamboa as a rabbi, and Jewish groups have condemned him as an antisemite. He reportedly received his ordination from a Florida institution called the Esoteric Theological Seminary that advertises rabbinical degrees for $160. Gamboa’s LinkedIn displays an ordination certificate from the seminary.

Marcos Peckel, executive director of the Confederation of Jewish Communities of Colombia, expressed outrage over the appointment. Gamboa’s appointment comes after Petro severed diplomatic ties with Israel last May, accusing the country of commiting genocide in Gaza, an accusation Israel has denied.

“This man refers to Zionist Jews as heretics, apostates, and Nazis. That’s how he talks about us,” Peckel told The Media Line. “A person who speaks this way cannot be entrusted with the religious freedoms of Jewish citizens.”

Colombia’s Chief Rabbi Alfredo Goldschmidt also rejected the appointment of Gamboa, telling The Media Line, ““We’ve had very good experiences with past religious affairs directors, usually evangelical leaders who respected all faiths. Gamboa has no such support—not from Jews, evangelicals, nor Catholics. He’s had clashes with all.”

Gamboa has castigated Israel and Zionism online. In a post on X in February, he wrote that Israel is a “neo-Nazi state” and said that “Zionism is an anti-Jewish, idolatrous, and apostate heresy.”

The Anti-Defamation League joined the chorus of Jewish groups denouncing the appointment, posting on X that his appointment would “threaten religious freedom and the security of Colombia’s Jewish community.”

The ADL also accused Gamboa of having “ties to extremist groups.” The Simon Wiesenthal Center said in a release that he and the ambassador representing Iran, Israel’s chief adversary, have had a close relationship.

Gamboa defended himself in another post on X, writing, “In the last 48 hours, my human rights have been violated in Colombia: religious freedom, right to honor and a good name, freedom of conscience… they have done so publicly and in my capacity as a HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDER!”

The ADL also accused Gamboa of having “ties to extremist groups.” The Simon Wiesenthal Center said in a release that he and the ambassador representing Iran, Israel’s chief adversary, have had a close relationship.

Gamboa defended himself in another post on X, writing, “In the last 48 hours, my human rights have been violated in Colombia: religious freedom, right to honor and a good name, freedom of conscience… they have done so publicly and in my capacity as a HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDER!”

Yoel Zimmerman Who Trained His Children to Yell "Yemach Shmoi" on Gedoilim Dies at 45

 

Yoel Zimmerman, a Satmar Chusid who cursed everyone from the Lubavitcher Rebbe to Rav Shteinman has met his Maker! 

VOTE IN WZO ELECTIONS NOW ! Progressive Left-Wing groups push to take control of Israel’s national institutions

 

The battle over the World Zionist Organization is heating up, with progressive left-wing groups attempting to control national institutions in Israel. Yaakov Hagoel, one of the leaders of the World Likud–ZOA 15 coalition, says: "I call on the national camp to vote and help shape the future of the State of Israel and the Jewish people".

With elections for the World Zionist Congress set for the end of the year, a fight for control is heating up. Left-wing organizations—including the Reform Movement, Brothers in Arms, Meretz, and an affiliate of Yesh Atid—are pouring tens of millions of shekels into a campaign aimed at shifting control of Zionist institutions to the left.

One of the central institutions at stake is the Jewish National Fund (KKL-JNF), where the ongoing political struggle has pitted right-leaning and left-leaning representatives against each other. The left has tried to block KKL’s support of the settlements beyond the Green Line. One recent example: at the start of the war, left-wing groups attempted to prevent KKL from funding emergency defense units in Jewish communities across Judea and Samaria. That attempt was ultimately blocked thanks to the persistence of current KKL chair Ifat Ovadia-Luski, a Likud representative in the national institutions.

While left-wing organizations have, even during wartime, staged protests abroad against the Prime Minister, lobbied the Biden administration to sanction Israeli citizens, and in some cases even supported protests against the war itself, the ZOA-15 coalition stands in stark contrast. Led by World Likud and represented by Yaakov Hagoel—currently serving as Chairman of the Executive of the World Zionist Organization—the ZOA-15 coalition has been rallying support in the U.S. for the State of Israel, the Israeli government, the IDF, and Jewish settlement in Judea and Samaria.

Recently, left-wing representatives also opposed the Israeli government’s request for help from the World Zionist Organization in supporting the Hostages and Missing Families Forum, which provides aid and support for released hostages and their families. Their opposition failed due to strong pushback from the right-wing coalition.

"These elections, taking place during a time of war, are critical for Israel and the Jewish people", Yaakov Hagoel says. "They will determine the direction we take, whether it’s the national path that I and my colleagues in World Likud–ZOA 15 champion, or the path of the progressive left".

He added: "Every Jew over 18 in the U.S. is eligible to vote. The process is entirely online. You fill out a form, pay five dollars—what we call the ‘Zionist shekel’—and confirm you’re a real person. You also sign a declaration that you believe in the principles of Zionism, didn’t vote in the last Israeli election, and are a Jew over 18. We’re asking voters to support party number 15, ZOA—a respected, long-standing, experienced, and ideological organization working on behalf of the Jewish people and the State of Israel".

Evil French President Emmanuel Macron reveals plans to recognize a Palestinian state within months

 

French President Emmanuel Macron announced on Wednesday that France intends to formally recognize a Palestinian state in the near future, with the decision potentially being made public during an upcoming international summit in New York.

Speaking to France 5 television following his visit to Egypt, Macron stated, “We must move towards recognition, and we will do so in the coming months.”

The French leader said his country is working with Saudi Arabia to co-host a conference in June focused on resolving the Israeli-Palestinian Arab conflict. Macron stated that the event could serve as the platform for “finalizing this movement of mutual recognition (of a Palestinian state) by several parties.”

Explaining his motivation, Macron said, “I will do it (...) because I believe that at some point it will be right and because I also want to participate in a collective dynamic – which must also allow all those who defend Palestine to recognize Israel in turn, which many of them do not do.”

Macron emphasized that recognizing a Palestinian state would also clarify France’s opposition to groups and governments that deny Israel’s legitimacy. “Such recognition would allow France to be clear in our fight against those who deny Israel's right to exist – which is the case with Iran – and to commit ourselves to collective security in the region,” he stated.

The announcement was met with approval from the Palestinian Authority (PA). Varsen Aghabekian Shahin, the PA “minister of state for foreign affairs”, told AFP the move “would be a step in the right direction in line with safeguarding the rights of the Palestinian people and the two-state solution.”

Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar criticized Macron’s announcement, saying, “A ‘unilateral recognition’ of a fictional Palestinian state, by any country, in the reality that we all know, will be a prize for terror and a boost for Hamas.”

“These kinds of actions will not bring peace, security and stability in our region closer - but the opposite: they only push them further away,” he added.

The PA has long urged countries to recognize “Palestine” as a means of bypassing direct talks with Israel.

While several countries have recognized “Palestine” in recent years, those moves were symbolic ones that have little, if any, actual diplomatic effect.

More recently, Spain, Ireland and Norway formally recognized a Palestinian state in May of 2024.

In June of that year, Slovenia officially recognized a Palestinian state, after its parliament voted overwhelmingly in favor of the move.

Former Hostage Liri Albag responds to attacks against her: Let’s fight our enemies, not each other

 Liri Albag, who was freed from captivity in Gaza, responded on Wednesday to the attacks against her online after she blamed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for the failure of October 7.

In a post she published, Albag wrote, "I read the comments, I read the threats I received, the curses. And I’m scared. I’m not scared of the comments themselves, I’m not scared to meet one of the people who wrote such things to me. I’m scared of what we’ve become."

She continued, "Wishing someone to be in captivity? I wouldn’t wish that on my enemies. Mocking my weight? It reminds me of those terrorists who laughed at me, who made sure to remind me every day that I’m fat. Promising me death and revenge? Wish that on Hamas and our enemies, not on me."

Albag stressed that her words were not politically motivated, "because I don’t understand politics!" but added, "Yes, the entire defense establishment, the Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency), the heads of the defense system, military intelligence – they’re all guilty – don’t worry, I told them that in our meetings too!"

Regarding Hamas’s responsibility, she stressed, "Of course, first and foremost, Hamas is to blame for the nightmare this country is going through. I never forget that terrorist organization for a moment, and I personally want to take revenge on it. Hamas is the enemy!"

She continued, "I didn’t think I’d get such responses from people in the nation of Israel. And you know what’s the hardest part? This division is worse than our enemies. This is not how we win! We have more important wars to fight, there are human lives at stake."

Albag sought to emphasize her support for the soldiers, writing, "You have no idea how much I appreciate the IDF soldiers and security forces. How much I admire the soldiers who have been wounded in body and soul! You have no idea how much it hurts me for every soldier or civilian who fell in this war for our country and for the hostages. I know quite a few of those who fell – they’re my friends!"

In conclusion, she wrote, "Spare yourselves. It’s a shame that this is what will be written for you on Judgment Day. It’s better to use your time for prayers and actions for the peace of the country, the peace of IDF soldiers and security forces, and the return of all the hostages. It’s better to direct this poison at Hamas, Iran, Hezbollah, and the many enemies we have. As the Jewish people, who have been attacked time and again, from Egypt until today, let’s fight our enemies and not each other."

"You’ll never understand what we went through there. And I don’t wish for you to understand! I wish us all health in body and soul, happy lives, and success. Am Yisrael Chai."

Later on Wednesday evening, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke with Liri and her parents, Shira and Eli.

“During the conversation, the Prime Minister encouraged Liri, expressing appreciation for her resilience and bravery during her captivity under Hamas,” said a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office.

“Liri thanked the Prime Minister for the moving conversation, for his courageous decision to secure her release and that of other hostages from captivity, and asked him to continue working to bring everyone back,” the statement said.

“The Prime Minister sought to strengthen her in the face of the attacks she has been experiencing through various media outlets in recent days. In addition, the Prime Minister told her that Mrs. Netanyahu and he had maintained continuous contact with her family, that he is working to return all the hostages, and that he would be happy to meet soon with her and her fellow lookout soldiers who returned from captivity,” it concluded.

135-year-old Mount Sinai Beth Israel in Manhattan closes for good

 According to an announcement, the hospital officially closed at 8 a.m. on Wednesday, calling the closure “part of our ongoing transformation downtown.”

Brendan Carr, Mount Sinai’s CEO, sent out a staff-wide letter on Tuesday night announcing the move, according to amNY, which stated the hospital’s emergency room — its only operational department — would finally close for good.

“To some, the closure of a building may seem like a natural part of doing business, but I know how much this building meant to so many of you,” the letter read.

The hospital system also announced the opening of a new urgent care center two blocks from the former Beth Israel.

Mount Sinai has sought to close the 700-bed hospital since 2019, saying a lack of patients has led to the facility hemorrhaging $150 million a year, and that there was no viable way to staunch the bleeding.

Following the first year of the pandemic, the plans were temporarily shelved, but were revived in 2023.

But the move faced stiff opposition from the community, which feared that yet another downtown hospital closure could imperil health outcomes for residents in the area. 

Downtown New Yorkers have seen two other major hospitals close their doors for good: Cabrini Medical Center in 2008, and St. Vincent’s in 2010.

Health policy advocate Lois Uttley said on social media that Mount Sinai was “leaving a huge swath of Lower Manhattan with no community hospital” — and called the hospital system’s suggestion that patients seek care elsewhere “unacceptable.”

It’s unclear what will happen to the building that once housed the hospital.

Assemblymember Harvey Epstein, who represents the east side of Manhattan in Albany, told NY1 that whatever replaces it needs to benefit the neighborhood, adding that “we have a lack of beds in Lower Manhattan.”

In 2023, when the hospital began diverting stroke patients to other facilities, the Democrat accused Mount Sinai of violating the law during its closure plan, claiming that the state health department never approved “a plan for closure or service reduction.”

“You’re closing a key component of the medical system in Manhattan. It will impact patient care. A stroke can’t be reversed,” Oren Barzilay, the head of the union that represents FDNY-EMS workers, said at the time.

In August, a group called the Community Coalition to Save Beth Israel Hospital filed a lawsuit against Mount Sinai, claiming that the real reason behind the closure was to claim billions in real estate value following the site’s sale.

“Once this hospital is closed,” the lawsuit read, “it will be impossible to reopen.”

An appeals court judge tossed the case in a Tuesday ruling, but the group plans to file a motion with the state’s highest court in another attempt to fight the closure, according to reports.

Daring! Israeli Businessman Saves Three US Citizens, Including A Jew, From Execution In Congo

 In a story more reminiscent of a spy movie than reality, three American citizens—one of them Jewish—who had been sentenced to death in Congo were released and returned to the U.S. this week, following a dramatic operation led by Israeli-American businessman Motty Kahana. Behind the scenes, there was intense and dangerous international activity that ended with an emotional landing at Andrews Air Force Base in Washington, D.C.

The three—Marcel Malenga (21), Tyler Thompson Jr. (21), and Benjamin Reuven Zalman-Polun (36)—were arrested for their involvement in a failed attempt to overthrow the government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s president, Félix Antoine Tshisekedi, last year. While awaiting execution, Kahana—who has previously conducted rescue operations in Afghanistan, Ukraine, and Syria—worked tirelessly to change their fate.

In March, Kahana arrived in the Congolese capital, Kinshasa, together with two former U.S. State Department businessmen and members of CIA special units. The goal of the visit: to negotiate the prisoners’ release. Kahana described the trip as “three of the scariest days of my life,” after signs became clear that the Congolese hosts weren’t planning to play by the rules.

Despite what initially seemed like a warm welcome—including a meeting with Congo’s National Security Advisor—things quickly took a turn when their passports were repeatedly requested. Kahana suspected a trap, and indeed, American embassy representatives warned: “The Congolese are looking for an excuse to arrest you.” Their escape—nothing short of a thriller—happened at the last moment, as military forces attempted to stop their plane on the runway.

Although Kahana didn’t meet directly with the Congolese president, his mission wasn’t in vain. A friend of his had visited Kinshasa beforehand and delivered the message Kahana had planned to convey. Last week, the three Americans were notified: their death sentences had been commuted to life imprisonment, and they would be transferred to serve their sentences in an American prison.

Trump Honors The Lubavitcher Rebbe on Education and Sharing Day

 In a heartfelt tribute, the White House and President Donald Trump have proclaimed Education and Sharing Day USA, celebrating the enduring legacy of Rabbi Menachem Schneerson, the revered leader of the Chabad-Lubavitch movement. The proclamation, shared via White House and POTUS, highlights the Rebbe’s profound influence on education, compassion, and moral clarity, while also reflecting on the President’s personal visit to the Rebbe’s Ohel—the resting place of Rabbi Schneerson—on October 7, 2024, marking the first anniversary of the devastating Hamas attacks in 2023.

In his statement, President Trump recounted the emotional and spiritual significance of his visit to the Ohel, where he sought guidance from the Rebbe’s timeless teachings.

 “On the first anniversary of the brutal October 7, 2023, attacks, I visited the Ohel of Rabbi Schneerson and drew spiritual guidance and replenishment from his voice and message,” he said. Joined by family members of American hostage Edan Alexander and Auschwitz survivor Jerry Wartski, the President described the experience as a poignant reminder of the persistent threat of antisemitism. “There, praying with the family members of American hostage Edan Alexander and Auschwitz survivor Jerry Wartski, I was personally reminded of the horrors of antisemitism. My commitment to combating it is unwavering,” he affirmed.

The President also emphasized his administration’s efforts to address the aftermath of the October 7, 2023, attacks, which he described as “murderous and criminal” acts perpetrated by Hamas. “My Administration has made great strides in bringing home all hostages captured during the murderous and criminal Hamas attacks of October 7, 2023, and to securing peace and stability for the Jewish people in their homeland and around the world,” Trump stated, underscoring his dedication to both the safe return of hostages and broader regional stability.

The proclamation concluded with a call for national reflection on Rabbi Schneerson’s teachings, with President Trump and the First Lady encouraging Americans to embrace the Rebbe’s values. “The First Lady and I encourage all Americans to reflect upon the Rebbe’s teachings. His inestimable dedication and unwavering example have become woven into the very fabric of our Nation and its character,” he said. “His memory remains a blessing to the world.”

This tribute not only honors the Rebbe’s contributions to education and community-building but also reaffirms the administration’s resolve to confront antisemitism and support the Jewish people, drawing inspiration from a leader whose legacy continues to resonate globally.

Kevin O'Leary calls for 400% tariffs on China

 

"Xi can only stay the Supreme Leader if people are employed."

"America is the #1 economy on earth with all the cards. We will not have that forever. It's time to squeeze Chinese heads into the wall."

Kevin O'Leary calls for 400% tariffs on China. pic.twitter.com/8bDrttjsBw

— Thomas Hern (@ThomasMHern) April 9, 2025

Douglas Murray eloquently breaks down the absurdity of anyone defending Mahmoud Khalil.

 

Douglas Murray eloquently breaks down the absurdity of anyone defending Mahmoud Khalil. pic.twitter.com/loqNf8Dy7i

— Eyal Yakoby (@EYakoby) April 8, 2025