French Press accuses Israel of "opening dams" to flood Gaza, but Israel has no dams in southern Israel!

Media watchdog CAMERA has blasted the Agence France Presse (AFP) news agency after it ran a story claiming that recent flooding in Gaza was caused by the opening of dams by Israeli authorities.

“In fact, Israel has no dams that can be opened in southern Israel,” the watchdog said.

The story, which AFP posted with an accompanying video entitled “Gaza village flooded as Israel opens dam gates” was also carried by media mouthpieces of Iran, Qatar, Russia, China and the Palestinian Authority as well as the UK‘s Daily Mail.

In a blog on its website, CAMERA cited a spokesman for the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) in Israel who said, “The claim is entirely false, and southern Israel does not have any dams. Due to the recent rain, streams were flooded throughout the region with no connection to actions taken by the State of Israel.”

The spokesman added: “Prior to the storm, the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories allowed the transfer of four water pumps belonging to the Palestinian Water Authority from Israel into Gaza to supplement the 13 pumps already in the Gaza Strip in dealing with any potential flooding throughout the area.”

CAMERA also spoke to Nechemia Shahaf, the head of the Drainage Authority for the Shakma-Besor Region, who confirmed to the group that there are no dams which can be opened and closed in southern Israel. Shahaf said, “There is a diverting dam one meter high which directs water to reservoirs. This is a low dam which cannot be opened or closed.” He also noted that the singular dam, which cannot be opened, is next to Kibbutz Gvulot, and approximately 20 kilometers away from Gaza.

The watchdog said that it has contacted AFP editors and that the French wire service is a repeat offender.

AFP “has trouble passing up on a juicy story, however unsubstantiated and flimsy, accusing Israel of wrongdoing. Three years ago, the influential news agency refused to clarify the unsubstantiated allegation that an Israeli soldier ran over a Palestinian worker with a construction vehicle,” CAMERA said. “Later that year, AFP editors failed to correct the false claim that an Israeli airstrike had killed 11-year-old Mahmoud Sadallah, though multiple other media outlets responsibly clarified that it was Hamas weaponry that killed the boy.”

“Two months ago, the French news outlet declined to clarify an article claiming that an Israeli arsonist was responsible for a fire in a West Bank mosque, though the Associated Press, New York Times, Los Angeles Times and Haaretz all commendably followed up with reports and/or corrections noting that an Israeli investigation determined that it was an electrical fire.”

IRAN GETS Nuclear BOMB IN 'PHASED' OBAMA NUKE DEAL... Iran Media: USA Desperate...

How are the ongoing nuclear negotiations between the U.S. and Iran playing out in the Iranian press? 

Well, the U.S. is being portrayed as desperate.

In an article by Press TV, an Iranian propaganda organ, the headline reads, "Obama ‘under pressure’ to reach nuclear agreement with Iran: Analyst."

US President Barack Obama is “under pressure” to reach an agreement with Iran over Tehran’s nuclear energy program, an American foreign policy analyst says.

“It’s quite obvious to everyone that Mr. Obama would like to have a deal with Iran,” said James George Jatras, a former US diplomat and adviser to the Senate Republican leadership.

“He’s under a lot of pressure to try to bring negotiations to a conclusion that he can defend domestically,” Jatras said Sunday during a phone interview with Press TV.

“I doubt very much that the United States would walk away from the negotiations because this is such a strong priority for Mr. Obama who otherwise has very little to show in the realm of foreign policy,” he added.

US Secretary of State John Kerry and Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif began a new round of talks in Geneva on Tehran’s nuclear program on Sunday.

Historic US terror verdict charges Palestinian Authority with $654m. in damages

Ending a saga dating back to the end of the Second Intifada in 2004, a US jury on Monday handed down a historic verdict against the Palestinian Authority for involvement in six terror attacks from that time period, charging them with $654 million in damages.

The wrongful death civil damages trial could have massive diplomatic and financial implications for the PA, as it teeters, according to some dangerously, near collapse and as it tries to rally international support for its push for the International Criminal Court to prosecute Israeli soldiers and officials for alleged war crimes related to the summer Gaza war.   

Closing statements in the case were delivered on Thursday before the US federal New York court and jury.

PA lawyer Mark Rochon rose first, and after presenting a sometimes understated trial persona, stood tall with some dramatic flair to defend his client from a possibly multibillion-dollar judgment and vast negative diplomatic implications.

Rochon, in a soft voice at times sounding weak and quivering, said, “I fear,” that this jury will find his client liable “because of who they are, not what they did or did not do."

The plaintiffs', represented by Shurat Hadin – Israel Law Center and Kent Yalowitz of Arnold & Porter, central points are that a large volume of PA employees, including numerous policemen and commanders, have been arrested and convicted by Israel as having organized, planned and perpetrated suicide bombings and shootings against Americans in Israel, including the six attacks from 2001-2004 in the case during the Second Intifada. In those attacks, 33 were killed. 

“So much sadness. So much sadness and death,” Rochon began. “All those souls extinguished.”

But “we’re not here to decide the Second Intifada,” to issue a judgment on that sadness, death, or the occupation, Rochon said, explaining that if the jury just focused on the six incidents at issue in the case, “the PA and the PLO are not liable.”

“Sometimes people who do terrible things work for the government.” But these are “things they did for their own reasons.”

A verdict against the defendants “would only damage the government and the PLO who do not deserve that.”

After his opening emotional appeal, Rochon slowly grew in indignation, doing his best to disconnect the dots that the plaintiffs had drawn together in their case. 

Rochon attacked the credibility of the plaintiffs’ expert witnesses: "The only people you can bring in are IDF intelligence officials who served during that time?" Rochon encouraged the jury to decide for themselves whether such witnesses were "Objective? Uninterested? Or biased?" 

"Who you gonna believe?" he said, adding “the IDF or a report from the USA that explicitly states: There is no conclusive evidence that the senior leadership of the PA or PLO were involved in planning or approving specific acts of violence."

Rochon was referring to a US State Department report known as PLOCCA from the Second Intafada period which covered to what extent the PA was complying with obligations to Israel and the US under various agreements.

Many statements in the periodic reports defended the PA from accusations of involvement in terror, but others did not, and those that did were sometimes hotly debated at the time. 

The plaintiffs "want you to infer that from the absence of evidence. And that's not how it works," Rochon said.

Noting the specific case of Abdel Karim Aweis, Rochon showed a document where Aweis said he was hiding information from a PA intelligence officer, something that showed the PA wasn't collaborating with his attack. "This is crazy town, ladies and gentlemen."

As his remarks drew to a close, Rochon's voice grew small and pleading once again. Leaving reporters cupping their hands to their ears to hear what he was saying. "What they did was despicable, selfish," Rochon said. "But it was not the PA."

But Rochon's spirited defense was not enough against the legal and emotional onslaught brought by plaintiffs.

Yalowitz rose to respond and burst forth with righteous indignation, declaring that the PA “didn’t have to pay terrorists if it didn’t want to.”

"This case is about 10 American families who were going about their daily lives," Yalowitz said, as he went on to describe how those families were victims of terror attacks and as family members each stood up in turn in the gallery.

He referred to the Anti-Terrorism Act which was the basis of the civil damages case as created to hit “those who send terrorists where it hurts most - the wallet."

Regarding the burden of proving the PA’s liability which the plaintiffs needed to carry to win, he said, "if the scale tips even a little bit," Yalowitz explained. "I will have carried my burden."

Yalowitz also addressed the PA claim that it and the PLO were separate entities who could not be held liable for each other’s actions.

"If you're a beat cop walking the streets" Yalowitz said, "You fairly represent the NYPD."

"If an NYPD cop" commits a murder in New Jersey and you say "'Good job. And we're going to keep you on payroll while you're in jail' that says something."


"You don't have to be senior to represent the entity."

Yalowitz continued, "If you have a policy that says: If you commit a terrorist act, you keep your job," get a promotion, and get paid while you're in jail, "that says something about who you are and what you believe in."

Regarding whether the PA’s alleged support for the six terror attacks met the legal definition of “material support,” Yalowitz said "the biggest support you can give is money and personnel and these guys gave both."

Shurat Hadin Director Nitsana Darshan-Leitner said, ”As both sides have rested and the case is handed over to the jury, the terror victim families are optimistic that the defendants will be found guilty of the violent attacks that they perpetrated during the Second Intifada and which have devastated their lives.”

Darshan-Leitner added, “While the plaintiffs presented numerous expert witnesses and a myriad of documentary evidence, the PLO and Palestinian Authority barely made an effort to rebut the allegations against them.” 

Rare Footage Of The Chofetz Chaim, At First Knessia Gedolah August 15, 1923

f

The Chofetz Chaim can be seen starting at 0:56 in the video. 

The First World Congress (Knessia Gedolah) of the World Agudath Israel the first major gathering of all the different sects of Klal Yisroel which took place in Vienna starting from 

Elul 3, 5683 / August 15, 1923 and which lasted for ten days. 

List of Gedoilim seen on film with Time Marker:

 “מי ומי ההולכים בצילום הנ”ל

 “הג”ר אברהם צבי פרלמוטר אב”ד ורשא ונציג אגו”י בסיים 0:27 

האדמו”ר ר’ ישראל פרידמן מצ’ורטקוב 0:47
רשכבה”ג נשיא הדורות החפץ חיים זי”ע 0:57 
מלווה בבנו מצד אחד ומצד שני נכדו הגר”א קפלן הי”ד 0:57 
האדמו”ר מסוקולוב ר’ יצחק זליג מורגנשטרן הי”ד 1:47 
הג”ר אשר מיכאל [דר. ארתור] כהן אב”ד באזל 1:57 
הג”ר יהודא ליב צירלסון אב”ד קישנב הי”ד 2:05
הג”ר אלחנן וסרמן הי”ד 2:22
ר’ אשר מנדלסון מראשי אגו”י בפולין ונציג בסיים 2:28
הג”ר פנחס דר. קאהן אב”ד אנסבך 2:56
הג”ר טוביה הורויץ אב”ד סנוק 3:02
מורנו רבי יעקב רוזנהיים נשיא אגו”י 3:16 
הג”ר אליהו [דר. ליאו] יונג רב ג’ואיש סנטר ניו יורק 3:55
הג”ר מאיר דר. הילדסהיימר מברלין 3:16
הרב שפיצר נציג אגו”י מהונגריה 3:58
הג”ר יחזקאל סרנא אח”כ ראש ישיבת חברון 4:13
רבי משה בלוי מירושלים 4:28
הג”ר טוביה דר. לוונשטיין אב”ד ציריך 4:34″ 

Satmar Rebbe Of Kiryas Yoel, Supports Tzippy Livini & the Iranians! Slams PM Netanyahu In Speech, Video

DIN Comments in RED

The Satmar Rebbe, (the one trying to kill his brother in Williamsburg,) has come out in a harsh message against the “Head of the Zionist Klipa (קליפה)”.

“How does he have the insolence and chutzpah to tell European Jews to make aliyah to Israel?”

DIN: 

Hey Rebbe .... why don't you ask that question to Moshe Rabbeinu? Ask how Moshe Rabbeinu had the "Insolence and Chutzpa" to ask Jews in the Midbar to make Aliyah?
Why don't you ask Ezrah Hasofer and Nechemyeh how they had the "Insolence and Chutzpa" to ask the Babylonian Jews to Make Aliyah?

The rebbe also attacked Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu’s upcoming address before the US Congress in March 2015. He condemns Mr. Netanyahu for getting in the White House’s face. “This is chutzpah. He is not a mentsch. He is lowly”.

DIN:

This fanatic who hates his own brother, condemns the Prime Minister of a State that is in danger of being annihilated and  who wants to inform the world of the danger (Iran) facing it's citizens,  and who was invited by the 3rd most powerful man in the United States to address Congress. 
The Iranian Ayetolla YM"SH promises to wipe the State of Israel off the Map Chas V'sholom, and the leader of Israel wants to come and present his case, and this lunatic says that he has "Chutzpa" to address Congress?
Is this who this little Romanian twerp from Orange County  is calling "lowly?" 

The rebbe made his comments during a motzei Shabbos Parshas Terumah seudas mitzvah in Antwerp, speaking in the New Satmar Beis Medrash. The rebbe reminded his audience how murderous Muslims around the world, particularly in Europe, have been killing Jews in cruel attacks and that we must daven that the “Shomer Yisrael” will continue to protect the “Sheiris Yisrael”.

The rebbe continued, addressing Israel’s call to European Jewry to come to Israel. He questioned after the murder of three talmidei yeshiva near Chevron if the “head of the Zionist klipos” called on all settlers to move from those areas?

DIN:

Why didn't the "Klipos" Rebbe ask Williamsburg Jews to move when Stark was murdered?
How about when the Jews were murdered in the Twin Towers? Why didn't you call for Jews to move?

He added if when he decided to go to war this past summer and 70 soldiers and Jews were killed if he then called for Jews from run away from Israel? “From where does he have the brazenness and chutzpah to tell Jews in Europe to come to Israel? Does he have the ability to protect them” the rebbe added

DIN:
But your uncle Reb Yoilish z"l did have the opportunity to protect Hungarian Jews from the murderous Nazis and he refused, saying that the Nazis were never going to go to Hungary, and then he  and his family fled to Switzerland on the Zionist Kastner train. Jews held Visas to Palestine, but your Uncle told them to stay put in Europe only to have them all perish in the flames of Auschwitz,

The rebbe then turned to the prime minister’s planned address before the Senate and Congress in the US. “His actions defy the rules of accepted diplomatic rules of play. All previous Zionist prime ministers adhered to these rules. The State of Israel receives more than any other nation from the United States and what chutzpah he has to now defy the president of the United States. He is not a mentsch and he is not a diplomat. He is a lowly person”.

The rebbe added “Even among the Zionists they maintain he should not go and give the address. 

DIN:

The Romanian Satmar leader, the Reform movement, Tzippy Livni, the leftist self hating Jews and the Iranians are now on the same page!

How does he dare place the millions of Jews living in the United States under threat of renewed anti-Semitic attack which may result from his actions? Can he also protect all the Jews of the United States?”

“The main busha is that the chareidim support him and give full backing to his actions” the rebbe ended.

DIN:
This man has no confidence in the RBSH"O that gave us this land...he has confidence in Obama? How is this guy still backed by thousands?

First see the lunitic rant and then see the answer to his dumb speech!

Shas spiritual leader: 'Hatikva is a stupid song'

"Hatikvah is a stupid song?"

Rav Ovadia Yosef left, Rabbi Cohen right

My points after the article

The Shas movement spiritual leader, the frequently acerbic Rabbi Shalom Cohen renowned for his divisive and controversial comments, has once again caused consternation over his outspoken views.

Speaking at a Shas campaign rally in Netivot on Sunday, Cohen called the Israeli national anthem Hatikva "a stupid song" and disparaged those who sing it, while speaking of his long devotion to Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, the revered and legendary late rabbinic leader of Shas. 

Cohen was describing the anointment ceremony of former Sephardi Chief Yitzhak Nissim in 1955 which he attended along with Yosef. 

"At the end of the ceremony they began to sing "kol od be'leivav [the beginning words of the Israeli national anthem Hatikvah]." said the rabbi mockingly. "I thought to myself 'they're mad, I didn't stand, everyone stood up like it was the aleinu le'shabayach [prayer] but the rabbi [Yosef] also stood. "

"I asked the rabbi [Yosef] why did you stand up? He said 'I said the aleinu leshabayach prayer. Why did he say aleinu leshabayach? He didn't want this stupid song to influence us at all," said Cohen. 

Large parts of the haredi world have a long-held animus towards the Israeli national anthem. 

The words “to be a free nation in our land” are generally scorned by the haredi community, who see themselves as servants of God. It is commonly believed in the ultra-Orthodox community that the meaning behind the words “free nation” is free of the religious commandments of the Torah. 

“The haredi world is of the opinion that that it is intolerable that the national anthem of the Jewish state declares that the hope of the Jewish people is to be a free people,” said Shahar Ilan, the deputy director of the Hiddush religious freedom lobbying group in reference to their objection to the particular line “a free nation in our land. 

Cohen has a long record of vitriolic and antagonistic statements. In July last year during Operation Protective Edge, Cohen said at a prayer rally for IDF soldiers that the Jewish people do not need an army.

"Do you think the people of Israel need an army?” Cohen asked. “It is God almighty who fights for Israel.”

In response to Sunday’s outburst, Shas defended the rabbi and said “no-one can lecture Rabbi Shalom Cohen, who lived all his years in the walls of Jerusalem, what Zionism is and what the relationship is with the Land of Israel.”

“It is the right and obligation of Rabbi Shalom Cohen to think that the sources of the Torah of Israel which escorted the Jewish people across thousands of years and speaks of the yearning for, and the return to Zion are preferable ten times over to a song that was created in the last few decades,” an official Shas party response read, in reference to Hatikvah, although it was actually written down in its final form by Imber 138 years ago. 

Several points.


First is the world of difference between Maran and his successor. 

Why did Maran stand up during the singing of the Israeli National Anthem when he attached no real importance to it? 

Because he attached importance to the feelings and sensitivities of his fellow Jews who did attach importance to Israel's national anthem. So he stood up and said Aleinu to himself, thereby avoiding to hurt the feelings of his fellow Jews. And for the same reason, Maran did not publicly call Hatikvah stupid.


So why didn't HaRav Cohen stand up and why did he call Hatikvah stupid? 
Because while Maran was Maran, HaRav Cohen is HaRav Cohen. 


The second point -
that Charedim do not not like Hatikvah because it calls for the day that Jews to be free people in their land, and they consider this to be against G-d. 

Every year at Pesach, which celebrates our FREEDOM, I recite from the Haggadah: "This year we are here. Next year, may we be in Eretz Yisrael. Now we are slaves. Next year, may we be free men."  Clearly a theme taken from the Haggadah by the author of Hatikvah. 

Perhaps the Charedim should delete this offensive, anti-G-d phrase from the Haggadah, or perhaps at least say it in a whisper so no one hears it.

Regarding HaRav Cohen's denial of the need for an Israeli army. I cannot argue against the leader of the Council of Sages, but I can state an opposing shita. 

There is an idea that while G-d produces the results, we are not supposed to just sit back and wait for G-d. We must do our part. We are partners with G-d in creation and in running and correcting the world. And so, even though G-d took us out of Egypt, we needed to kill the pascal lamb and put its blood on the door lintel. 

And even though G-d split the sea, Nachshon ben Aminadav had to first enter up to his nose. 

And even though G-d brought us into the land and gave us victory over the enemies, we had to have an army that fought those enemies. 

In fact, the Torah demands and describes the very type of army that HaRav Coehn thinks is superfluous.


Finally, 
that Shas explains how long the Rav has lived in Jerusalem and explains his understanding of Eretz Yisrael, this is not the only understanding possible - there is an entirely different understanding from the National Religious Rabbonim. 

Maaseh Avos siman l'banim. In the days of Moshe, 10 Gedolei HaDor rejected the land and brought the people to reject the land.

 Only 2 Gedolim (Yehoshua and Calev) praised the land and said let's enter it and conquer it (Yehoshua headed up the army as well as the being the transmitter of Torah sheb' al Peh). 

In recent history, HaRav Kook and his son Rav Tzvi Yehuda were the Calev and Yehoshua of our time; the Haredi Gedolim are not.
Haredi Tzionim should vote for Eli Yisha/Boruch Marzel.

Rumsfeld Says Current Approach to Islamist Threat Brings to Mind US Inaction During Holocaust

Former Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld said Tuesday that the current US course of action aimed at dealing with the threat of Islamic State terrorism reminds him of the nation’s nonintervention during the Holocaust.

“I think back to the 1930s when the Holocaust was going on and the Nazis were killing Jews by the tens of thousands and the United States government turned away ships filled with Jews from our ports,” he said during an appearance on Greta Van Susteren’s On the Record.

“The antisemitism that’s rising in the world today - we read about Jewish cemeteries being desecrated, synagogues being attacked and it is important that we not have a leadership vacuum,” he added. “That we in fact take a problem, put it on the table, look at it, be honest about it and then develop a strategy to deal with it, which is hard, admittedly.”

Rumsfeld’s interview came after reports that Islamic State terrorists burned 45 people to death in Iraq in addition to the beheading of 21 Coptic Christians in Libya. Rumsfeld said much of the country seems to be “in a state of denial” about the threat of Islamic State terrorism.

“It brings back to mind the period before World War II where people said ‘I didn’t know’ or ‘I was just following orders’ or ‘it’s random,’” he explained. “But when you kill - systematically kill - Jews and kill Christians and say that’s what you’re doing, it’s not random, it’s purposeful.”

The Algemeiner

Van Susteren May Send Cameras to Watch Democrats Who Miss Netanyahu Speech

Van Susteren

If Democrats in Congress opt not to attend Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's speech to them next month, they'd better look busy.

Fox News Channel's Greta Van Susteren said Thursday she might send camera crews to follow House and Senate members who claim to have scheduling conflicts.

Netanyahu's planned address has attracted controversy since Republican House Speaker John Boehner issued the invitation without first consulting the White House. 

Some Democrats have said they will boycott the speech, but House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi refused to use that word in a press conference on Thursday. Instead, she suggested, some members might find they have scheduling conflicts. 

Reporters laughed at that suggestion.

"That's code for boycott," Van Susteren said. "If the Democrats take her direction and don't show up, they may want to find some place to hide, because you know what, I may just send out some cameras to see how busy the MIA Democrats really are that they are too busy to hear a world leader — an ally — in the United States Capitol discussing something so profoundly important as Iran and nuclear weapons."
Van Susteren said she hopes the Democrats don't get caught playing golf, lunching with lobbyists, or at their own fundraisers.

"And, by the way, I hope Catholics like Leader Pelosi can find a way to clear their busy calendars when another head of state, Pope Francis of the Vatican, comes to Washington this fall to likewise address Congress on Sept. 24."

Cab driver Ahmed Mohammed. Taxi med: 6N76 Allegedly Harassing Jewish Passengers

The following story just posted on Facebook 
by Baila Sebrow


"I was picked up by a cab. As he started driving, he turns around and asks, "are you Jewish?" I responded, "yes."
He started screaming "all Jews must die." He then drove like crazy. I was terrified and began to scream. He then turned around and took me back where he picked me up from. Not to my destination.
I got out and he started following me, making shooting signals with his fingers and taking pictures of me. He then said, "pay me...."
I said, "for what?"


At that point I was in a safe place and called the police. It took a long time. They came.


This is the astonishing part:
The police were nasty. They claimed it was hearsay and told the driver to charge me while I was even waiting for the police! I objected. 


The officer said if I don't pay, she will arrest me!
PLEASE BE AWARE:
If in New York City please be aware: Taxi Med: 6N76
Middle Eastern Driver. His name is Ahmed Mohammed
Company Name:


JOE & MIKE TAXI INC.

Charedi Sicarii Gang Member gets his Peyos Cut Off, After Outburst At Rabbi Rabinowitz's Funeral

Finally! 
Why does a guy who disturbs a funeral need peyos?
Now, I'm not for cutting off peyos to anyone, the picture of Nazis cutting off the Beard & Peyos of innocent Jews always come to mind when I hear that a Jew cut off the peyos of another Jew! Satmar used to cut off the beard and Peyos of other Satmarer that converted to Chabad, years ago..
but something has to be done to stop this mafia!
  

During the funeral of Rabbi Levi Hacohen Rabinowitz, mechaber of  Ma’adanei Hashulkan, which was attended by  Gedoilim from across Yerushalyim, Dovid Noach Krausse – a leading member of the Sikrikim / Sicarri gang – interrupted  Rabbi Moshe Sternbuch, while he was giving the hespid, screaming and yelling at him..

So finally, having had enough of this Asra Kedisha lunatic, a bunch of Yeshiva Bochrim beat the hell out of him and cut off his peyos!

Krauss’ gang has been harassing Sternbuch and many other Charedi rabbis over a large Charedi housing construction project in Beit Shemesh. The gang and its close affiliate, the Edah Haredit-linked Asra Kadisha graves protection organization, believe ancient Jewish graves are being disturbed at the construction site, which is owned by a Charedi Jew. 

Asra Kadisha is backed by Edah Hacharedit’s top leader, Rabbi Yitzchok Tuvia Weiss. Under halacha it is forbidden to disturb or move graves if it is verified that there are Jewish bones underneath the site.
But the vast majority of Charedi Rabbonim, including Rav Sternbuch and few other members of the vehemently anti-Zionist Edah Hachredit, say there are no Jewish graves, ancient or otherwise, at that construction site to be disturbed or moved, and therefore these rabbis support the construction.

The opponents from Asra Kadisha and the Sikarii gang responded by launching a long campaign of threats, harassment and even violence against Rav Sternbuch and others. Rav Sternbuch’s own son has twice been attacked. The elderly Rabbi who is behind the construction was beaten in a home invasion allegedly carried out by the Sikrikim. Sikrikim have rioted alongside Asra Kadisha at the construction site, as well.

An exposé in the Israeli media previously documented Asra Kadisha extorting developers, construction companies and archaeologists and threatening them with death if they did not comply with Asra Kadisha’s demands – which most often have to do with construction companies and developers hiring Asra Kadisha rabbis as site mashgiachs (religious supervisors) to ensure no graves are disturbed and paying Asra Kadisha a supervision fee, just like Al Sharpton.

The Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) sends archaeologists to excavate most construction sites in the country, including the one in question here, before construction begins and then again during the construction process. 

The IAA cleared the site for construction several years ago.

In the "Holy of Holies" were the "Keruvim" one was the face of a man and the other of a women

Let's learn a "shtickel" gemarrah together, and then let's understand what the Yeshivah guys and the Chassidishe Oilim would say today if the RBSH"O would ask them to build an Aron!

The Gemarrah in Mesachtes Yoma 74a, discusses what the Keruvim represented. But by learning this Gemarrah, we have an idea what they actually looked like.

Rav Katina said: “When Klall Yisroel would come to the Bais Hamikdash for Yom Tov, the curtain would be pulled back for them and they would see the Keruvim  intertwined with each other. [The kohanim] would say to them: “Behold, the love of you before God is like the love of man and woman.”

Rav Katina  only explains the symbolism of the  wings of the Keruvim touching each other. He states that this represents love, and should call to mind the love of G-d to G-d’s people, Israel. 

What Rav Katina does not explain is how the love of two creatures who are exactly the same should come to represent G-d and Israel. It must be that the two creatures weren't exactly the same......

This interpretation likely reflects a midrashic connection between the phrase “spreading wings (פרשי כנפים)” used in Parshas Terumah to describe the Keruvim and the identical phrase in Yechezkel. 16:8 and Rus 3:9 for a man spreading his cloak over a woman.

Rashi takes the  position of the Gemarrah that states that the Keruvim  had the face of  children.

But R. Bahya ben Asher (Rabbeinu Bechayeh) and R. Moshe Alshich (The Alshich Hakodosh), offer a modified version of Rav Katina’s statement, suggesting that one was male and one was female.

אלשיך: ” הם ילדים זכר ונקבה”, בחיי: ” זכר ונקבה היו, להודיע כמה ישראל חביבין לפני הקדוש ברוך הוא 

Now, If we were to take the position of the Alshich Hakodesh and the Rabbeinu Bechayeh, that learn pshat in the "memreh" of Rav Katina that the Keruvim had faces of a boy and a girl......

What would today's Rosh Yeshivas and Chassidishe Rebbes tell G-d?

"NO No !!!!!! No!!!! "A face of a lady in the Kodshei Hakodoshim???? No! We won't allow this!

If we don't have pictures in Ami Magazine, or any Chareidie Newspaper... of ladies, how could the RBSH"O command us to put a face of a girl on top of the Aron Hakodesh that was situated in the Kodesh Hakadoshim!?????

We are frumer then the RBSH"O  that's it! Yes! We are frumer then Hashem!

Nope.... we won't allow it...We won't build the Aron!!
Will just throw the Torah in a box ...in the Kodshi Hakodoshim.."

Or perhaps, Artscroll will tear out the Gemarrah in Yoma and throw both the Alshich and Rabbeinu Bachyeh in the trash.... then nobody will know what the RBSH"O really wanted.....

And what He really wanted according to the Alshich HaKodesh and Rabbeinu Bachyeh was for Moshei Rabbeinu  to put two , three dimensional statues in the Kodshi Hakodoshim, one with the face of a boy, and the other with a face of a girl.......... embracing! ....

Expert: Charedi IDF Service Now an Unstoppable Force

Despite continuing protests by groups of Charedi community members against IDF service, more members of the community are joining the army than ever before, Yonatan Bransky said. 

Branksy is the Chairman of the Netzah Yehuda organization, 

which consists of veterans of the IDF and rabbis in the Charedi community.

The protests, which have been going on for months, are the work of just a small, but loud, minority in the community, said Bransky. “I think most of the community just ignores them,” he said. “Everyone understands the importance of working together.”

Among other things, Netzach Yehuda arranges ceremonies for Charedi soldiers, such as their graduation from basic training to regular service units. The latest ceremony was held Thursday, and Bransky said that it went very well.

“Our soldiers bring a great deal of pride to the community and to their families. Our job is to enable these soldiers to serve without compromising their religious lifestyle, and we are able to work with the army on this fully.”

As head of an organization that advocates IDF service, Bransky said that the issue for Charedi Jews was not being “for” or “against” IDF service.

“No one will teach us lessons about the importance of full-time Torah studies, and we fully support those who choose to do this. No one is going to pull them out of their chairs in the House of Study. But there are thousands of 'students' who are not learning anything. These are the people we are seeking, and many of them do want serve in the IDF. 

We help them.”

The system works, he said. “Many of the soldiers we have worked with are now working and supporting families. They are our best ambassadors. We are here and ready to help any Charedi soldier who joins the army to learn Torah, to provide spiritual support, and to find the appropriate service framework,” he said.

Rabbi Moshe Meir Weiss bashes Ami Magazine that gave "irresponsible exposure" to those Meshigina Parents that refuse to vaccinate their children

I cannot believe that we are still discussing this issue... those crazy creeps that refuse to vaccinate their children should be thrown out of shul and their children barred from attending Yeshivah!

There, I said it.....

By Rabbi Moshe Meir Weiss

Last week, I had a verbal ‘tantrum’ about one of the major Torah publications giving irresponsible exposure to an uneducated opinion that can have grave consequences to its thousands of readers.   This week, I would like to study the flip side, the applause that these publishers have coming to them when they print important opinions of well-educated Roshei Yeshiva, rabboinim or lay-leaders.  The example I have chosen amongst the many that there are is a letter written by Dr. Indich, a well-known pediatrician in Lakewood for over three decades.  The letter was prompted by the measles outbreak in California.  Dr. Indich wrote to decry the parents who choose not to vaccinate their children because of the fear of a discredited linkage to autism.  Dr. Indich gives testimony in his passionate letter that during the thirty years of his practice with thousands of children and thousands of vaccinations, he has never seen any such linkage.

Now, this is journalism at its best.  A young mother, perhaps seeing an autistic child, and fearing for the safety of her children, might be swayed by the hysteria.  So, the magazine reaches out to the masses and teaches them with one who has impeccable credentials to do so - that they should not be concerned.

As a Rav, this issue has crossed my desk more than once and I know one great Rosh Yeshiva who told one of his talmidim who was dating a girl from a family that did not vaccinate their children that the chosson should stipulate before getting married that they will vaccinate their children because in medical Halacha we go after the rov, the majority, and the overwhelming majority of medical opinion and the overwhelming majority of vaccinations save lives and do no harm.

I have strong personal feelings about this issue since I personally contracted the measles and the mumps having had the mumps three times; once on one side, once on the other side, and once on both sides.  I still remember, more than half a century later, the delirium I suffered from the measles.  To think that a parent would voluntarily risk her child getting this dreaded disease by opting not to vaccinate because of ignorance is frightening.  (When I was a young boy, they didn’t have these vaccinations.)  Even worse, I have people in my community who have had polio and have the telltale marks which remain with them throughout their lives.  How scary that a mother would opt not to safeguard her child from such a horrid disease.

But, before writing this, we are taught to consult with two mumchim, two experts.  So, to get another opinion, I called my dear talmid and friend Dr. Robert Adler, who has one of the largest pediatric practices in Boro Park, seeing tens of thousands of children and has also been practicing for over thirty years.  I asked him whether he thinks there is any linkage between vaccinations and autism and whether there is any validity to the concern about not vaccinating one’s child.  He vehemently informed me that there is no truth to those concerns and the ’studies’ that supported this theory have been completely disproven and discredited.  He even educated me that some parents with autistic children are distressed that so much funding has been wasted on the “Scandinavian”, and other studies in this area when the money could have been used for much better purposes.  He did tell me that in the area of autism, there are credible studies that exposure to certain pollutants have been linked to a heightened risk of autism.

Being also a Talmud chochom, he concluded that vaccination is one of the examples of how Hashem created the refuah before themakeh, the cure before the disease - and that everyone should make sure to avail themselves of these gifts from Hashem.

As a postscript to this essay, let me share with you the following.  I mentioned this view about vaccinations at my flagship lecture at Rabbi Landau’s (Tuesday night at 9:50 PM on Avenue l and East 9^th). After the lecture someone accosted me saying that there are two sides to this story about vaccinations. This prompted me to make yet another call to yet another expert. I called my ydid nefesh-very close friend, Rabbi Dr. Yitzchok Kurtzer who is a noted Internist for three decades and runs three busy offices in Scranton. I asked him for his opinion about vaccinations. He told me emphatically that it is criminal not to vaccinate our children. He went on to inform me that Scranton had a Mumps outbreak, and the probable cause was traced to a Mother who was afraid to give her child the Mumps vaccination!

This is but one example of journalism at its best.  And there are many examples:  Magazines and articles that educate people on how to safeguard their elderly parents’ homes, giving people resources to deal with severe allergies, educating people on mental health issues and the list goes on.

I’ll close with a final word of caution to all readers of print material:  just like the Gemora cautions us to choose our rabbi carefully, “Im yihyeh Rabbo domeh l’malach Elokim, yevakshu Torah mi’pihu - If your Rabbi has angelic qualities, then learn from him wisdom.”  So too, check the credentials of the writer whose piece you are reading before you rely upon it as if it is gospel.  May it be the will of Hashem that we always safeguard our children and in that merit may we be blessed with long life, good health andYiddishe nachas.

Sheldon Zeitlin takes dictation of, and edits, Rabbi Weiss’ articles.

Rabbi Weiss is currently stepping up his speaking engagements to have him in your community call now 718.916.3100 or emailRMMWSI@aol.com.

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Attend Rabbi Weiss’s weekly shiur at the Landau Shul, Avenue L and East 9^th in Flatbush, Tuesday nights at 9:30 p.m.

Rabbi Weiss’s Daf Yomi and Mishnah Yomis shiurim can be heard LIVE on Kol Haloshon at (718) 906-6400.  Write toKolHaloshon@gmail.com for details. They can now also be seen on TorahAnyTime.com.