Popular language-learning app Duolingo launches Yiddish course

 

Duolingo, the world's most popular language-learning platform, launched a Yiddish course on Tuesday.

The site teaches Yiddish through game-like lessons that take five to seven minutes a day. Lessons and exercises are adapted to the user's learning style, and students are tempted to stay motivated by earning virtual coins, unlocking new levels and watching their "fluency score" rise as they master a new language.

According to Duolingo, some 10,000 students have already signed up to learn Yiddish – a language that originated during the 9th century in Central Europe.

Meena Viswanath, whose family includes a number of prominent Yiddish scholars, was the project's expert in blending academic Yiddish with the everyday vernacular spoken by Jews worldwide, primarily Chassidic Jews whose roots go back to Eastern Europe.

"We used mostly the spelling and grammar that's a little bit more formalized among the secular Yiddishists," she said, according to JTA. "But then when we recorded the audio, we used the pronunciation that is used in the vernacular among students, specifically in Borough Park in Brooklyn and so forth."

"So many people, especially Americans, are aware of Yiddish. But their awareness is often limited to stereotypes or a few phrases here and there that they heard their grandparents or neighbors say," she said. "I really hope that those people will open the course and start doing it and realize, 'Hey, Yiddish is a real language, it's got grammar, it has a vocabulary.'"

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Israel confirms striking IRAN linked spy ship in Red Sea

 Israel informed the United States it struck Saviz, an Iranian-flagged ship, in the Red Sea on Tuesday, Saudi news network Al Arabiya reported on Wednesday, citing a report in The New York Times. The attack reportedly came in retaliation for earlier Iranian strikes on Israeli vessels, as the maritime shadow war between the Jewish state and the Islamic republic has been slowly coming to light.

The Saviz, long known to the international intelligence community as a spy shio operated by Iran's powerful Revolutionary Guard Corps, was attacked in the Red Sea by limpet mines attached to the hull, Iranian media reported.

"The vessel Iran Saviz has been stationed in the Red Sea for the past few years to support Iranian commandos sent on commercial vessel (anti-piracy) escort missions," the Tasnim news agency said.

The New York Times cites an unnamed American official as saying Israel has informed the US that it had, indeed, struck Saviz.

"The Israelis had called the attack a retaliation for earlier Iranian strikes on Israeli vessels, and that the Saviz had been damaged below the waterline," the report noted.

According to Al Arabiya, the Saviz is officially listed as a general cargo vessel. However, the Combating Terrorism Center at the United States Military Academy described the 'Saviz' in a report as the "Iranian mother ship on station located in Eritrea's contiguous waters."

It said: "The ship has signals intelligence domes and antennae. It is visited by all Iranian ships moving through the Red Sea, nominally to coordinate anti-piracy measures. At least three speedboats are based on deck, which are used to ferry personnel to Yemen."

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14,264‬ Holocaust survivors died over the past year

 On the eve of Holocaust Martyrs' and Heroes' Remembrance Day there is currently just over 174,500 Holocaust survivors and victims of anti-Semitism during the Holocaust living in Israel, according to a report by Israel Hayom.

Since last year’s Holocaust Martyrs' and Heroes' Remembrance Day, 14,264 Holocaust survivors have passed away, with an average of 41 dying every day.

Of the 174,500 Holocaust survivors and victims of anti-Semitism during the Holocaust currently living in Israel, 83% of them are over the age of 80, according to the report. Roughly 18%, or approximately 31,000 people, are over the age of 90, and more than 900 are over the age of 100. Some 60% are women, or 105,000.

The average age of Holocaust survivors and victims of Holocaust-era anti-Semitism is 84.5.

Sixty-four percent were born in Europe, including 63,500 people, or 36% of the total, being born in the former Soviet Union, making it the largest group. The second largest group are the Romanian-born at roughly 20,500, or 12% of the total, followed by Polish-born with 9,600 (5.5%), Bulgarian-born with 2,500 (2.7%), and Hungarian-born (1.5%).

Thirty-six percent were born in Asia or North Africa, with 32% originating in Morocco or Algeria, where the French Vichy regime ruled as a Nazi puppet government during the Second World War.

Eleven percent, or roughly 19,200 people are immigrants from Iraq, where they suffered from anti-Semitism during the Second World War, most notably during the 1941 ‘Farhud’ pogrom.

A further seven percent, or 11,000 people, are Tunisian or Libyan-born, and suffered under the racial purity laws imposed during the war, with many being sent to forced labor camps.

Haifa is home to Israel’s largest population of survivors with 12,100 people listed, followed by Jerusalem with 10,800, Tel Aviv with 9,500, Ashdod with 8,700, Netanya with 8,500, Beer Sheva with 7,600, Petah Tikva with 7,000, and Rishon Letzion with 6,900.

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Quality of life plummets, taxes rocket — and New York City faces doom

 

“No man’s life, liberty or property are safe while the Legislature is in session.”

That’s how Gideon Tucker put it back in 1866, a New Yorker who knew Albany as a former legislator, secretary of state and judge.

His wisdom, as demonstrated repeatedly over the ages, is timeless.

Yet there is something different, and especially troubling, about this time. The possibility of permanent decline and the ultimate destruction of the New York we know is unmatched in modern memory.

With Republicans reduced to hecklers, Albany Democrats, oblivious or reckless or both, are marching toward the cliff in an Alfred E. Neuman, What, Me Worry? Way. The rising chorus of “Stop!” goes unheeded.

Washington is sending train loads of money to blue states to bail out their high tax, high spend habits. As longtime government guru Dick Ravitch writes in a Wall Street Journal op-ed, “Congress has been generous, allocating more than $12 billion to New York state, $6 billion to the city, $6 billion to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, and $9 billion to the state’s schools.”

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Rare Clip of Satmar Rebbe at a Wedding in 1947

 I personally think it was in 1957 .....either way it's a rare clip...

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Biden Admin Considers Restarting Border Wall Construction To ‘Plug Gaps’ Amid Biden’s Border Crisis

 

I really have to laugh ...on so many levels ...

Wasn't this the wall that they called "racist" "inhumane" etc?

The Biden administration is reportedly considering restarting construction of former President Donald Trump’s wall along the U.S.-Mexico border as the administration struggles to maintain control of the worsening border crisis.

Biden Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said during a conversation with ICE employees last week that the administration was considering finishing “gaps in the wall.”

“It’s not a single answer to a single question. There are different projects that the chief of the Border Patrol has presented and the acting commissioner of CBP presented to me,” Mayorkas said, according to notes of the ICE session reviewed by The Washington Times. “The president has communicated quite clearly his decision that the emergency that triggered the devotion of DOD funds to the construction of the border wall is ended. But that leaves room to make decisions as the administration, as part of the administration, in particular areas of the wall that need renovation, particular projects that need to be finished.”

The Times said that Mayorkas specifically mentioned those “particular projects” included “gaps,” “gates,” and areas “where the wall has been completed but the technology has not been implemented.”

The report noted that the new completed section of border wall is more than just a wall as it includes technology that allows authorities to detect incursions and features “high-speed roads” that allows for rapid response. The report also highlighted recent polling that showed that the majority of Americans, 53% overall, support construction of the border wall.

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Massive Garbage Thrown on Road Between Kiryat Yoel & Palm Tree Causes Huge Chillul Hashem

News 12 Staff

Apr 05, 2021, 6:09pm EDT

Updated on:Apr 05, 2021, 6:09pm EDT

 Two feuding towns in Orange County appear to be at odds once again – this time over tons of trash.

The garbage along Seven Springs Mountain Road goes on for hundreds of feet, roughly one-third of a mile on the border of Monroe and Kiryas Joel in the Town of Palm Tree. 

"Most of it is construction debris or old furniture," says Monroe Supervisor Tony Cardone.

"I have spoken to leaders in Kiryas Joel about the issue but it falls on deaf ears," says Cardone.

There are old mattresses, trash bags, couches and more. Cardone says the town has foot the bill to clean up three times, even though he says it's being illegally dumped by Kiryas Joel workers and residents in the Town of Palm Tree.

"It cost us somewhere in the neighborhood of $700," says Cardone.

Palm Tree officials say there's no way the trash is coming from residents, noting the town offers bulk pick-up. It claims no one in the insular community has TVs.

News 12 reached the property owner by phone who says he's also cleaned it up multiple times and has the license plate numbers of people dumping trash, but wasn't able to speak with a trooper when he tried reporting it to state police. 

State police in Monroe say they are looking into what's going on, but in the meantime, violations are now being issued - and Cardone says bottom line is that Monroe isn't going to foot the bill.

"It's a constant battle. Our feeling is Palm Tree is skirting their responsibility and trying to pass it on us," says Cardone.

Monroe officials say town cameras there were damaged and will not be replaced.

Kiryas Joel officials say the property owner should put up a fence.

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JetBlue Reminds Passengers to Count Sefirah

 

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‘Is this Iran?’: Gender-segregated Modiin Illit park stops dads taking daughters

 An amusement park in an ultra-Orthodox city told parents they could not accompany children of the opposite gender into the grounds due to gender segregation rules, despite directives from state officials forbidding such practices in public spaces, according to a report Thursday.

The amusement park in Modiin Illit had separate hours for boys and girls, but parents of the opposite gender were not allowed to enter to look after their young children, Channel 13 News reported.

“This is terrible, is this Iran? It has never been like this,” a father of four young girls told Channel 13 after he was denied entry.

According to the report, even boys younger than five were refused access during the “hours for girls,” forcing them to wait outside until later in the day.

The current law forbids gender-based discrimination, though it does allow separation under certain extraordinary conditions such as in the case of a group with specific religious needs.

However, such segregation has been forbidden by the attorney general’s office at state or municipal-sponsored events, or events held in public spaces.

The park in Modiin Illit was in a public space according to Channel 13.

“I saw fathers who arrived with eight girls, the eldest was maybe ten years old, so at first they stood on the side until they cried and went home,” another witness told the network.

“It is not a private area, it’s a municipal area that the city hall rents out to the amusement park operators. How can they choose entrants like this?” he added.

No clear answer was given from the park in response to the allegations, however a representative told Channel 13 that he “thinks if a girl is four years old, they would let her in,” but added, “I don’t know.”

Amid controversy in 2019 over a number of men-only concerts, Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit published guidelines for authorities saying that gender-segregation could be permissible if the separation were voluntary and desired by the target audience, men and women had equal conditions, and separation did not unduly impact those opposed to it.

However, the statement clarified that the target audience for a gender-segregated event should not be children and families.

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Reform Siddur Has a blessing for coming out of the closet

 

The new daily prayer book is an innovative combination of Jewish traditions with new liturgy. Its topics include modern issues including pluralism, democracy and women’s rights.

“Tefillat HaAdam” is a compilation of modern Israeli poetry (such as the Hannah Senesh poem that gave the book its title) and literature, alongside traditional blessings and new blessings altogether, such as a communal blessing for one coming out of the closet.

We’re speaking with its two editors, Rabbi Dr. Dalia Marx and Rabbi Dr. Alona Lisitsa. Both rabbis teach liturgy at Hebrew Union College in Jerusalem.

Rabbi Marx is a 10th-generation Jerusalemite, whereas Rabbi Lisitsa was born in Kyiv. She is also the first female rabbi in Israel to join a religious council, in Mevasseret Zion in 2012.

We speak about the prayer book and the status of Liberal Judaism in Israel today — even as former head of the Israeli Reform movement Rabbi Gilad Kariv enters the Knesset with the Labor party.

To close, each rabbi will offer up a gem to spice up our Passover Seders.

The Times of Israel podcasts are available for download on iTunes, TuneIn, Pocket Casts, Stitcher, PlayerFM or wherever you get your podcasts.

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CBS Sixty- Minutes Deliberately Excluded Florida Gov Interview on Publix Vaccine Distribution

 

WATCH: CBS and @60Minutes excluded context from Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis in which he explains the steps his government took to make the decision to partner with Publix on vaccine distribution.

The 60 Minutes version is first, followed by the full answer from DeSantis. pic.twitter.com/2KRQKPLOe7

— Daily Caller (@DailyCaller) April 5, 2021

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Jerusalem rabbi arrested, suspected of negligence in student’s drowning

 

A rabbi of a yeshiva in Jerusalem is arrested after a teenage student dies by drowning in the Shomron, apparently during a school trip.

The rabbi is suspected of negligence after the teenager’s death at Nahal Prat (Wadi Qelt).

No further info at this time.

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Shimon Peres' decision to reduce sentences of convicted terrorist murderers is the reason Moshe Tamam's murderer is out of prison

Moshe Tamam z"l

 Yesterday morning an Israeli Arab was released from prison and received a hero's welcome in the town of Baqa Al Gharbia near Hadera.

About thirty years ago our hero murdered a young Israeli soldier, Moshe Tamam. He was sentenced to life imprisonment.

After Shimon Peres left politics without ever attaining his dream accomplishment - being voted prime minister - he decided that president of Israel was a good second prize.

In order to become president, one needs a majority of Knesset members' votes.

In Israel, Arab MKs have the right to vote and influence the nature and direction of the Jewish state. Many Jews think this makes sense and is the apex of morality -in fact an example of Jewish morality.

In Israel, Arab MKs have determined the path of the Jewish state at some of its most vital junctures. The Oslo Accords and the expulsions of Gush Katif and Shomron residents were decided with Arab MK votes.

The same votes decide who will be Israel's president.

Aware that his ambition depended on Arab MKs, Peres did what was necessary and invoking humanitarianism, promised to reduce the sentences of Arab terrorists if elected president.

it worked. He was elected and promptly kept his side of the bargain.

Which brings us to yesterday morning.

The Israel/Jew hating murderer from the Israeli town of Baqa can thank Shimon Peres for his freedom and hero status.The family of the murdered Jewish soldier are reliving their nightmare and protesting. The Arab murderer's family are celebrating.

And at the same time, Israel is undergoing a transformation.For the first time in its history, the majority of its Jewish politicians openly court Arab parties for their political support and consent to govern the Jewish state. This was considered outside the pale by Ben Gurion and the vast majority of Israel's Jewish population..

A few still believe that if this last barrier is broken, there is no longer a moral argument to be made for a Jewish state. The National Religious party (six seats) led by Bezalel Smotrich and the much-villified Otzma Yehudit of Itamar Ben Gvir are among these few. Because they refuse to "change with the times" and accept the popular sell out to the anti-Israel Arab MKs, they are demonized by the rest.

These are indeed fascinating and critical times for the still Jewish state.

I am convinced that there is a happy ending to this drama. God did not perform so many miracles for His people for nothing.

Shalom Pollack is a veteran tour guide, who says: "I have the oppportunity to observe many sides of our beloved country. As a Jew who has come home, I am passionate about sharing my observations and thoughts." He can be reached shalompollack613@gmail.com

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Abbas Refuses Call From Blinken, Demands Direct Call From Biden

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas refused to accept the phone call of US Secretary of State Antony Blinken phone in mid-February, demanding that President Biden himself call him, Kan News reported on Thursday.

To date, Biden has still not called Abbas.

Instead, US and PA officials are currently in discussions regarding a phone call between Blinken and PA Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh or senior PA official Hussein al-Sheikh.

Despite the lack of direct contact between the president and Abbas, the Biden administration has been quietly increasing assistance to the Palestinians, allocating nearly $100 million for the Palestinians, only a small portion of which has been publicized.

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R’ Mordechai Anshel Lax 55, Longtime Boro Park Hatzolah Volunteer Dies Suddenly

 

 R’ Mordechai Anshel Lax Z”L, longtime Boro Park Hatzolah volunteer was nifter, He was 55.

His passing was a shock to his family and friends. He returned from Florida on Monday morning and was taken to the hospital where his condition turned critical. He was Niftar on Monday night.

He was known in Hatzolah by his unit number “B36”.

Hatzolah members described his devotion and dedication to Hatzolah. They described how he would personally make sure that every new member who joined Boro Park Hatzolah had their equipment in prefect top-notch condition, and spent time explaining everything to the new younger members who were just starting out.

He is survived by his wife and children.

His passing is a triple blow to Boro Park Hatzolah, as he is the third member that was Niftar in just the past month: R’ Moshe Dovid Kish Z”L (B-219), and R’ Aharon Yochanan Fleishman Z”L (B-34).

The Levaya will take place on Tuesday morning at 10:00Am at the Vishnitzer Bais HaMedrash on New Utrecht Avenue and 53rd Street, where the Niftar davened for years.

The Kevura will be in the Vishnitzer Bais Hakvaros in Monsey.

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Rabbi Dr. Zecharia H. Senter 84 Founder of Kof-K Niftar

 

Rabbi Dr. Zecharia H. Senter, CEO and founder of Kof-K Kosher Supervision Services, passed away on the last day of Pesach at the age of 84.

Rabbi Senter was a musmach of Yeshivas Rabbeinu Yitzchok Elchonon and a close talmid to Rav Yosef Dov Soloveitchik zt “l. He was also a Rav in North Bergen , N.J. and then in Teaneck where he lived for the past 50 years.

Rabbi Senter maintained a close relationship with many esteemed Rabbanim including Rav Moshe Aaron Poleyeff, his wife’s grandfather, Rav Ahron Soloveitchik , whom he also considered to be his Rebbe, Rav Aaron Felder, Rav Shlomo Gissinger and many others.

Rabbi Senter built the Kof-K into the internationally recognized hechsher that it is today. The Kof-K is now run by two of his sons, Rabbi Daniel and Rabbi Ari Senter.

Rabbi Senter is survived by his wife Chana, his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren – bnei Torah, involved in chessed, chinuch and harbatzas Torah in their communities and beyond.

The Levayah is took place, Monday, April 5, at RYNJ, located at 666 Kinderkamack Road in River Edge, NJ, at 10:15 a.m. The aron was flown to Eretz Yisroel for kevurah on Har Hamenuchos in Yerushalayim.

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My Son, the Orthodox Jew

 

by JUDITH COLP RUBIN

About seven years ago, two Orthodox Jewish men carted off the contents of my kitchen. I watched as they took boxes filled with items that for them were tainted, but for me carried precious family memories: the dinner plates my recently deceased husband had lugged back from a store in Rome’s Piazza di Spagna; the ceramic cake pan purchased in a small Alsatian village that I used to bake my children’s birthday cakes; the delicate hand-painted tea mugs for which I’d bargained after we toured the Forbidden City in Beijing.

Within a few hours, the men brought the items, now damp and smelling of chlorine, back from the mikvah. I bristled when I heard that one of the irreplaceable Roman plates had broken. The flatware looked tarnished. I washed the rest and put it away in my newly configured kosher kitchen, which I needed a roadmap to navigate. Now I’d be doing all the cooking on a tightrope, in service of a belief I didn’t even hold. Then my youngest child affixed his blue eyes upon mine.

“I really appreciate this, Mom,” Daniel said.

I had done it for him. At age 14, Daniel had become a religious Jew, or baal teshuva, a phrase that in the beginning stuck in my throat. In the early days, when he was a teenager, it was easier to focus on the small changes. He was keeping kosher, and the prospect of his refusing to eat my meatloaf or mushroom tart was painful. But making my kitchen kosher felt important during a time when I needed to keep my family together. Taking a stand for the right to cook how I wanted didn’t seem a battle worth fighting. So I did it all: the cleansing of my cabinets and refrigerators of any item not marked kosher, the purchase of a Shabbat hot plate, the cessation of cooking Friday at sundown, the running of my dishwasher on empty between the meat and milk cycles.

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Pesach at the Kotel in the Year 1913

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