Hamas kills Arab boy for approaching humanitarian aid

 

A Hamas police officer shot a Palestinian boy to stop him from approaching humanitarian aid in the area of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip on Sunday. The boy later died of his wounds.

Clashes later broke out between Hamas terrorists and the family of the boy, Ahmed Bracha, in the area of Tel al-Sultan north of Rafah.

Crowds set fire to the Hamas police station and the family vowed revenge for his death, threatening to kill the officer and his family, Channel 12 reported.

Hamas policemen were documented attacking residents in Khan Yunis as well over the distribution of humanitarian aid.

Video has emerged in recent weeks of Gazans raiding humanitarian aid trucks before they reach their destinations, the report said, noting in many cases it’s Hamas that gets its hands on the aid.

Earlier this month, an elderly Gazan woman told Al Jazeera that Hamas redirects humanitarian aid deliveries to its tunnels for use by members of the terrorist group.

“All aid goes down [into Hamas tunnels]. The aid does not reach the nation and entire people,” she said.

The journalist from the Qatari state-owned network then tried to convince her that only a small amount of aid is coming into the Strip and that it is all being properly distributed.

The woman wagged her finger at him and said, “Everything goes to [the terrorists’] houses. They take it. They will even shoot me and do whatever they want to me—Hamas.”

Despite the evidence that humanitarian aid is reaching Hamas, Israel has failed to hold to an earlier promise that aid would stop if it did so as it does not wish to resupply its enemy.

“Israel will not prevent humanitarian assistance from Egypt as long as it is only food, water and medicine for the civilian population located in the southern Gaza Strip or (those) evacuating to there, and as long as these supplies do not reach Hamas,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said.

Neither has the United States remained firm despite pledging to stop assistance if it ended up in the hands of the terror group.

“Let me be clear, if Hamas averts or steals the assistance, it will have demonstrated once again that they have no concern for the welfare of the Palestinian people and it will end,” U.S. President Joe Biden said on Oct. 18 during a solidarity trip to Israel.

“As a practical matter, it will—it will stop the international community from being able to provide this aid,” he said.

The United States has instead pressed Israel to increase the flow of humanitarian aid and Netanyahu now insists that humanitarian aid enables the war to continue, arguing at a Dec. 5 press conference:

“The war efforts are supported by the humanitarian effort…this is because we follow laws of war because we know that if there would be a collapse—diseases, pandemics and groundwater infections—it will stop the fighting.”

Mother Of Mistakenly Killed Hostage: “I Wasn’t Angry At The Soldiers For Even A Minute”

 

Iris Haim, the mother of hostage Yotam Haim who was tragically shot and killed by IDF troops in a case of mistaken identity in northern Gaza earlier this month, said she has no anger towards the military for the incident.

In a poignant interview with Channel 12, she shared her feelings of sorrow and shock, but not of anger.

“I was not angry for even a minute, neither was my husband. There was no anger at the IDF for even a moment. There was pain, sorrow, great pain… We were shocked,” Haim said.

Yotam Haim, along with Alon Shamriz and Samar Talalka, were mistakenly identified as threats and killed by IDF troops on December 15. The incident is currently under investigation by the IDF.

In a remarkable gesture of forgiveness, Haim recorded a message for the soldiers involved, expressing love and absolving them of blame. She recounted that she and her husband “cried together” with the soldiers during their shiva visit in the shiva. Haim described the soldiers as “sweet” young men who had thought they were confronting hostile figures, not realizing they were hostages.

The family has received numerous visits from military personnel and families of military members since the incident. Haim mentioned that she had learned about the low morale within the troops following the incident, which compelled her to release her message on December 20.

“Yotam was free, even if he did not return to Israel alive. He was free from Hamas’s captivity. In that way, he beat Hamas. It was important for me to say that to the soldiers,” she explained, highlighting a sense of victory in her son’s freedom from captivity.

“Hamas didn’t kill him — it gives us a sense of comfort.”

Last week, Mrs Haim released a public message to the soldiers.

Bereaved Father Of IDF Soldier Killed By Friendly Fire: I Want To Hug Those That Shot My Son

 

The family of Master Sergeant (res.) Shay Termin from Rosh Pina, who tragically lost his life last Friday during a battle in Khan Yunis, received the heart-wrenching news today that their son was a victim of friendly fire. In an emotionally charged statement responding to the news, Shay’s father, Avi Termin, stood beside an Israeli flag and addressed the soldiers involved in the incident.

In a remarkable display of compassion, Avi said that he harbors no anger towards the soldiers responsible for the tragic event. He extended support from himself and his family, acknowledging the difficult circumstances under which the incident occurred.

He also extended an invitation to the soldiers involved, expressing his family’s wish to meet with them and hug them.

Last Night in Manhattan Satmar's Neturei Karta Branch the "Yamach Shemo'nics" Led the Pro-Hamas Protest

 

As I keep saying Satmar and Neturei Karta have the same exact ideology and are on the same page politically. The only difference is that Satmar will not meet with the Iranians! 

Though Satmar claims that they are against the NK, don't believe it for one moment. They have done absolutely nothing to distance themselves from them. Neturei Karta's children all study in Satmar Institutions, and they intermarry. Satmar Chassidim fund them !  

New York Times runs op-ed by Hamas mayor: ‘You have no shame or dignity’

 The New York Times ran an op-ed Sunday by Hamas’ handpicked Gaza City mayor — prompting outrage on social media from Israel supporters who slammed the Gray Lady for amplifying “Jew hate.”

The essay by Yahya R. Sarraj published on Christmas Eve comes amid fury over Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s social media post that denounced Israel as a violent occupying force and likened Jesus to Palestinians.

Sarraj’s op-ed — titled “I Am Gaza City’s Mayor. Our Lives and Culture Are in Rubble” — condemned Israel for “caus[ing] the deaths of more than 20,000 people” and for destroying or damaging “about half the buildings” in the Gaza Strip.

The Times’s decision to grant a platform to Sarraj, who was appointed mayor of Gaza City by Hamas in 2019 after a career in academia, sparked an immediate backlash from many on social media.

The ugly reasons this pro-Hamas NYC teacher still has a job

 Weeks after being flagged for her pro-Hamas agit-prop pushed on toddlers at PS 59 on Manhattan’s Upper East Side, Siriana Abboud remains on the payroll and unpunished — because it’s next to impossible to discipline, much less fire, misbehaving New York City teachers.

And also because she has friends in high place.

Last month, The Post’s Susan Edelman broke the news of Abboud pushing an anti-Israel agenda on pre-K tots and sharing tips on indoctrinating kids online: Her site’s Allusio Academy preschool program seems to have come directly from a Hamas pre-K curriculum guide.

Her Instagram page is chock-a-block with pro-Palestinian content: skewed teach-ins on the history of Palestine, Zionism, European colonialism, and “orientalism,” plus how to help your child advocate for Palestine.

Days after Hamas’ Oct. 7 atrocities, she wrote on Instagram: “we stand with those still tearing down border walls,” and “we show solidarity with those still fighting to free their stolen land.”

Parents have asked the city Department of Education to investigate this teacher’s hate, but so far all that’s happened is that she’s gone on indefinite “medical leave” — an obvious sign that the DOE is simply hoping to wait out the storm.

State law makes it near-impossible to fire a bad or even dangerous teacher who has tenure: The union-inspired arbitration rules can drag out the process for years.

In one infamous case, a city teacher accused of misconduct toward his students earned over $1.7 million in salary in the course of a 20-year “rubber room” stint.

But that’s not all that’s going on here.

Abboud’s issues go back at least a year: Jewish parents and teachers at the school complained back in October 2022 when she put a crude antisemitic poster on the bulletin board outside of her classroom.

Other than having her take it down, the only official response was a single “restorative justice” session, where her colleagues could express their feelings.

Within weeks of that, the city Department of Education honored Abboud with a 2023-24 Big Apple Award, applauding her work “as a liberation-inspired educator,” who “centers children’s agency and global consciousness,” raises the “societal expectations” of young children and other woke clap-trap.

In other words, she won official acclaim for the radicalism that now has her out of the classroom, but still getting paid.

Schools Chancellor David Banks plainly hasn’t cleaned house at DOE headquarters, if he’s even tried.

No wonder alert middle- and working-class families are fleeing the DOE’s schools.

PALESTINIANS TERRORIZING MIDTOWN

 

They’re out to “cancel” Christmas.

Hundreds of pro-Palestinian protesters converged on Midtown Monday, lugging a blood-red mock Nativity scene and chanting “Christmas is canceled here.”

“Long live the intifada,” the crowd of about 500 demonstrators yelled, using the Arabic word for “rebellion” or “uprising,” as they mobbed the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree where revelers were enjoying the holiday.

“While Ur Shopping Bombs are Dropping,” read one of the signs carried by the protesters.

“No Joy In Genocide,” said another, written atop the faux Nativity scene, which was splattered in what appeared to be fake blood and which several of the demonstrators carried on their shoulders.

A few scuffles broke out in the crowd after nightfall, including outside St. Patrick’s Cathedral, which sent cops running through the mob.

IDF soldier ejected from Jewish seminar for calling Hamas Nazis in England

 Here is the link to the  video 

https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/382530?utm_source=webshare&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=share

An educational seminar arranged by a Jewish organization in England and held in Birmingham displayed a video from the leftist organization Breaking the Silence.

Natan Bar Noi, who returned a few days ago from his position as a division commander in a combat unit in Gaza, was present at the event at a representative of the Zionist Union, and decided to speak his mind.

He pushed his way onto the stage and began to tell the assembly his version of the events in the video.

"While Israel is fighting a Nazi enemy, and everyday we lose our best sons, because we are fighting for human rights, they are busy with lies instead of fighting,” he accused.

“Shame on you. You should see the video of what Hamas did, and what they are doing in Gaza. They are Nazis.”

After a few seconds, ushers at the event removed him from the room forcibly.

Yehonatan Lober fell in Gaza

The Beit El Council announced on Monday evening that Elisha Yehonatan Lober of Yitzhar, son of Hagay and Tehiya Lober, fell in battle in Gaza.

"Our hearts are with the dear Lober family upon learning of the bitter news. The council's staff stands by the family and will assist in all possible ways," the council said.

Lober is a cousin of Hillel and Yagel Yaniv, who were murdered in a terrorist attack in Huwara several months ago.

The bereaved father, actor and head of the Aspaklaria theater company Hagay Lober, wrote, "Out of the great power of the entire nation of Israel and from the understanding of the great hour in which the people of Israel are destroying pure evil from the world, along with deep personal sorrow and deep pain, we announce the fall of our dear and beloved son Yehonatan Lober."

"In the name of the entire nation of Israel, we are proud of him and thank him for being a part of wiping out evil in the world and destroying our enemies. We do not have anything in our hearts against the Holy One, blessed be He, we do not have anything in our hearts against the Israeli government, we do not have anything in our hearts against the IDF and the decisions of its commanders in the field. We embrace the entire people of Israel and ask the media and everyone in our nation, please, one day of unity for the upliftment of his soul. Please do not write or broadcast anything that sows discord. Please, speak well, highlight the good in the decision makers and in our wonderful people that Yehonatan would be proud to fight for."

"Please, one day of unity and of talking about good. Yehonatan will be so happy above. May we have a complete and swift victory and the return of our beloved hostages that Yehonatan so hoped and prayed would return," added the bereaved father.

Netanyahu demanded Hezbollah be moved from the border - but caved to the US

 

The US and France do not support Israel's need to push the Hezbollah terror group deeper into Lebanon, Kan Reshet Bet reported.

During recent discussions of the Knesset's Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, it became clear that in negotiations between Israel, France, and the US, the messages being sent are not in line with Israel's promise to push Hezbollah deeper into Lebanon, away from the Lebanese border with Israel.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told the members of the Committee that the goal is to create a buffer zone, until the Litani River, and that Hezbollah should be pushed to the other side of the river. Without this, residents of northern Israel will not be able to return to communities which are near the border.

According to the report, in a later discussion held by the Committee, a senior source in the Foreign Ministry admitted that although outwardly, Israel is talking about the Litani River, in negotiations with US and French negotiators Israel has said that it will accept a situation in which Hezbollah is only minimally distanced, by just a few kilometers, from the Lebanon-Israel border.

In addition, the Committee members were told that in such a case, Hezbollah's infrastructure would not be removed from the area - not even until the point where the terror group itself was removed to.

In such a case, Hezbollah's weapons storehouses, military posts, and other infrastructure will remain in place, including next to the border - something which the Prime Minister and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant have not mentioned in their statements about the future of northern Israel.

Fatsos Can Now get an entire Row for free on Southwest

 Southwest Airlines is being celebrated for its new policy giving those losing the battle of the bulge a full row of seats for the price of one.

Southwest says that passengers whose bodies “encroach” past the armrest of the seat they purchase are entitled to an additional seat, free of charge.

Southwest told Fox Business that passengers of the extra portly variety “have the option of purchasing just one seat and then discussing your seating needs with the Customer Service Agent at the departure gate. If it’s determined that a second (or third) seat is needed, you’ll be accommodated with a complimentary additional seat.”

The policy states, “Customers who encroach upon any part of the neighboring seat(s) may proactively purchase the needed number of seats prior to travel to ensure the additional seat(s) is available… The purchase of additional seats serves as a notification of a special seating need and allows us to adequately plan for the number of occupied seats onboard.”

Inside a Facility Where Oct. 7 Terrorists Are Imprisoned

From left: Sgt. 1st Class Zohar Elazari, Lt. Col. Shachar Kamisa, Sgt. 1st Class Oren Reuveni and Advanced Staff Sgt. Maj. Mowafaq Asakla.

Handcuffed and wearing blindfolds, dressed in brown overalls, the prisoners were brought into a side room. One by one they were sat down on a round chair in front of a camera and bright light and photographed against the backdrop of an Israeli flag. They were terrorists from Hamas’s Nukhba special forces unit and had been brought to the prison a month and a half earlier.

“When they arrived, one of them looked at me and started wailing,” Staff Sgt. Maj. Mowafaq Asakla, the commander of an Israel Prison Service (IPS) security team who oversees a prison facility whose location is classified, told Israel Hayom. “He cried, said he was just a construction worker who came to Israel to find work and that he had no money for food for his children. He kept saying, ‘I’m a worker, I’m a worker. I didn’t do anything.’

 

“He tried to get me to pity him. I didn’t reply and didn’t look in his direction. All that was going through my mind were the terrible videos [of atrocities committed on Oct. 7] that Hamas had uploaded on Telegram.

“The next day I found out who he was when I saw his personal belongings. He was not a worker, he was a murderer who had killed a young [Israeli] woman and her young son in cold blood, who had used a knife while they were alive and then shot them in the head. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg.

TikTok Refuses To Run Ads To Free Gaza Hostages, Claiming They’re ‘Too Political’

  Social media giant TikTok  is refusing to run a paid ad campaign in which family members of hostages held by Palestinian terrorists in Gaza appeal for the release of their loved ones, deeming the content to be “too political.”

While Meta platforms Facebook and Instagram have agreed to host the video clips, which place a spotlight on the 129 people still being held hostage in Gaza, Fox News reported Sunday that TikTok rejected the request to run the campaign on its platform, claiming that it didn’t meet its advertising policies.

Content creation manager for the Hostages and Missing Families Forum Yossi Lubaton said that he had first inquired about running the campaign on TikTok several weeks after the horrific October 7 Hamas onslaught, in which some 1,200 people were killed and more than 240 were seized as hostages, but was rejected after Tiktok claimed that the ads included “campaign slogans” or “depictions of war, weapons, hostages and violence” which are contrary to the platforms policies.

However Tiktok allegedly displayed a double standard on its policies, as it agreed to accept so-called “humanitarian” campaigns that serve Hamas’s narrative while fundraising for Gaza children.

Fox news claimed based on internal memos from Tiktok employees that the social media platform had adopted an unequal policy regarding Israel’s war with Hamas in Gaza. Despite rejecting the hostage ad on political grounds, Tiktok allowed content featuring graphic violence and incitement against Israelis to be featured.

Additionally, Jewish employees at Tiktok told Fox Business that their work environment had become increasingly toxic due to antisemitic sentiment expressed by colleagues, as well as the company’s failure to combat Jew-hating rhetoric on the video-sharing platform.

Tiktok hotly denied the allegations, claiming that “We invest heavily in training our moderators to apply these [advertisement] policies consistently.”

Israeli communications minister Shlomo Kari  called Tiktok and demanded that they allow the hostage ad to be published.

Just feet from the White House Palestinians Deface Statues

 

Chareidie Wedding in Monsey Singing Hatikvah Under the Chupa with the Chassan & Kallah Draped in Israeli Flag

 

When Rabbi Weinberger from Eish Koidesh Sat on Santa's Lap

 

Meanwhile in Teheran the "Yamach Shemoh'nickes" Meet with the Murderers

 

It will take years to correct the damage the generals wrought by reducing the size of the IDF and inducing its total dependence on the United States

 

Two underlying assumptions guided Israel’s security establishment for the past generation. The first asserted that with the end of the Cold War, the era of conventional wars had ended. In the present age, brains, rather than brawn, would rule the roost.

The primary author of the “small and smart IDF” doctrine was Ehud Barak, who served as Chief of General Staff of the Israel Defense Forces when the Berlin Wall crumbled. In later years, the slogan was finessed.

A generation of IDF Chiefs of General Staff organized around the vision of a “small, technological and lethal army.”

As Maj. Gen. Yitzhak Brick, (retired) who served as the IDF ombudsman for ten years, has documented, operating under the spell of Barak’s doctrine, the IDF shut down multiple reserve divisions. It cut its artillery forces by 50%. Armored brigades were shut down. The reserve force was reduced by 80% between 2003 and 2017. The non-commissioned officer corps was gutted. The bulk of the IDF budget and nearly all the U.S. military aid were diverted to the Air Force—the strategic arm of the “small, technological and lethal” IDF.

Rabbi Moshe Hillel Hirsch: Working Charedim will be viewed, treated, as Torah-learners, new yeshivas should be founded for them.

 

Rabbi Moshe Hillel Hirsch, a leading Lithuanian-haredi rabbi, has called for a "kollel" (yeshiva for married men) to be formed for haredim who work to earn a living.

Speaking at an event for employed Lithuanian-haredim at the International Conference Center in Jerusalem, Rabbi Hirsch urged that these men be given more respect in the haredi community.

"It is very important to treat them - and this is how they need to treat themselves - not as 'Baalei-Batim' who do not belong to the 'Torah learning' community," Rabbi Hirsch said. "The foundation needs to be that a person thinks, 'I am absolutely a Torah-learner, who has no choice and I need to work for a livelihood, but I am definitely a Torah-learner."

Later in the event, he clarified, "There need to be more kollels, for Torah-learners who work. Not 'Baalei Batim  kollels,' but 'kollels for Torah-learners who work,' and there, each person will learn according to his abilities."

"Through this, there will be a very great sanctification of G-d's name... May G-d give these kollel students the ability to handle the burden of a livelihood and remain true Torah-learners in all ways. And this will greatly sanctify Heaven," Rabbi Hirsch concluded.

Biden convinced Netanyahu not to launch pre-emptive strike on Hezbollah on Lebanon

 President Biden convinced Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the 11th hour to nix a planned strike against Hezbollah days after the Oct. 7 massacre over fears that it would trigger a region-wide war, a new report says.

Israel allegedly had warplanes waiting for orders to target the Lebanese terror group by striking its forces along the Lebanon border Oct. 11 when Biden spoke with Netanyahu about the consequences of such a preemptive attack, given American intelligence finding no evidence of an impending Hezbollah invasion, the Wall Street Journal reported Sunday.

Israeli officials were said to be on edge after Hamas’ slaughter of more than 1,200 people in Israel on Oct 7., with the nation’s own intelligence network suggesting a repeat of the attack was imminent from the Palestinian terrorists’ allies in Lebanon.

But Biden allegedly talked Netanyahu and his war cabinet into taking a more reserved approach rather than risking an all-out war in both Gaza and Lebanon, sources told the Journal.

IDF finds explosive belts made for kids, toy chests with warheads in Gaza

 

Israeli soldiers found Hamas explosive belts adapted for children and toy chests hiding warheads at a Gaza kindergarten, the army said over the weekend.

The Israel Defense Forces said a sweep of a Hamas-operated area near schools, a mosque and a medical facility turned up a weapons compound filled with countless explosives.

In the compound, the IDF found explosive belts specifically modified for children to wear, along with dozens of mortar shells, hundreds of grenades and several intelligence documents, it said Sunday.

The raid on the compound was carried out after Israeli troops took out seven Hamas terrorists in the building.

A similar raid occurred at a Gaza school that was serving as a shelter for Palestinian refugees, the IDF said.

Iran’s nuclear breakout: ’Twas the night before Armageddon

 It remains far too quiet at the White House this Christmas. Iran alarmingly is on the cusp of building a nuclear bomb and the Biden administration appears oblivious that we are now on the eve of Armageddon in the Middle East. 

Yuletide gifts for Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in the form of more economic-sanction relief won’t stop the ayatollah from achieving his military goal of turning Iran into a nuclear power as a counterweight to Israel’s nuclear arsenal.

Creatures are stirring in Iran, and dangerously so in the full light of day. 

Tehran is only days from a nuclear breakout, not weeks or months. Iran already possesses sufficient mass of 60% highly enriched uranium to assemble nuclear bombs, and readily has the centrifuge capacity needed to reach 90% enrichment — the level required to sustain a nuclear chain reaction.

MK Moshe Feiglin: 'There was no humanitarian path for the babies of Hiroshima' "Victory is to conquer the land, evacuate all the People from Gaza"

 

Moshe Feiglin, Israeli politician and activist, spoke to Israel National News – Arutz Sheva about his decision to leave the Likud, the current IDF achievements, and the sacrifice of our soldiers.

“What we see is the spirit and heroism of this generation of soldiers. We have never seen this in the past. We have seen tremendous heroism during all the wars since 1948, but what we are seeing now, we have never seen before. Personally, it gives me tremendous hope for this country. I know that we are going to win. There's no doubt about it. The problem we have is with the political leadership and with the top political leadership of the army,” Feiglin opens.

He explains, “Winning, and what is winning, is the key question because when they [the leadership] decided to eliminate Hamas, that's ridiculous. That's not a victory. The definition of victory is to conquer the land, evacuate all the people from Gaza, and rebuild the whole Gaza Strip as the new greater Tel Aviv; Gaza should be a big city like Tel Aviv. Of course, Gush Katif must be built again. We should have an airport over there. We should have hotels. This should be the new Israeli Riviera. That should be the vision; nothing less than that. That's a victory. When you talk about sacrificing our heroes, our children, in Gaza and then giving it back to the Gaza people, they are the enemy.”

Outrage in Chabad: Tunnel discovered under Chabad Headquarters

A tunnel has been discovered under the Hasidic World Center 770 Eastern Parkway in Crown Heights, New York.

The tunnel had been dug for several months at least, as Chabad suspects that several men are responsible for the digging that began during the Covid-19 pandemic, in order to enter a building that was locked.

Others in Chabad claim that the tunnel was dug during the last year by a number of Mexican workers.

Due to the danger to the foundations of the building, it was decided to close the women's section above the tunnel. The diggers hid the dirt and debris in a mikvah that had not been used for years.

 

Israel has to completely defeat Hamas but at the same time find religion and reconnect to G-d.

The October 7th massacre of innocent Jews has shaken the world. The depth and breadth of the killing, rape, torture and mutilation is unparalleled in the history of mankind according to archeologists who have made it their life’s work to study such things. Jews have united the world over in ways unimaginable prior. Even the Left in Israel has had a change of heart.

A poll by Israel’s Channel 12 found that at least one third of Israelis characterized themselves as “moving to the Right”. A Tel Aviv University poll found that the vast majority of Israelis were against a two state solution and the numbers opposed had grown since October 7th. As it stands today only 28.6% of Jewish Israelis support a two state solution.

The number declines every day. The number of Israelis who support peace negotiations with the PA has dropped to an all time low of 24.5%. The main explanation for this is that most Israelis distrust the PA especially since they initially failed to condemn the slaughter and have been to ready to justify it.

Hamas murdered many of Israel’s well-known “peace activists” including Vivian Silver the founder of “Women Wage Peace”. This has caused a shift in many of the Israelis who had aligned themselves with Peace Now and other such groups. One resident of Kibbutz Nir Oz who had participated in rallies in support of the expulsion of Jews from the 22 Jewish Villages in Gaza in 2005 has begun to question his beliefs.

It is not only that a transformation is occurring in Israelis’ political views and positions but in their spiritual quest. At a Chanukah Torah Scroll dedication I organized; an unaffiliated Israeli cardiologist made sure to attend because he wanted to “learn about his Heritage”. He is seeking answers and understanding. He attributed his newfound curiosity to the events that took place to his people on October 7th.

There has been an awakening. It has stirred his heart. A Rabbi called me soon after October 7th and told me that this is a “Kiruv Moment”(to come back to Judaism and return to one’s roots). I am beginning to see the wisdom of those words. Many are returning to the fold.

Israel has to completely defeat Hamas but at the same time find religion and reconnect to G-d.

 

HOT ON HIS HEELS: Nikki Haley Within Just Four Points Of Donald Trump In New Hampshire

 

Former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley is trailing closely behind her former boss, ex-President Donald Trump, in New Hampshire, with a new poll by the American Research Group showing Haley lagging Trump by just four points.

The poll reveals Trump leading with 33% of voters’ support, while Haley is hot on his heels at 29%. Other contenders, including former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie at 13%, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis at 6%, and Vivek Ramaswamy at 5%, lag behind the front-runners.

Trump’s lead over Haley widens slightly among Republican voters (39%-27%), but Haley takes the lead among independent voters with 33%, followed by Trump at 24% and Christie closely behind at 23%.

Haley’s rise in New Hampshire reflects a broader trend in her campaign, as she has been gaining momentum in the Republican primary race over the past few months. This surge comes as DeSantis’s poll numbers have seen a decline. Some commentators have suggested that Christie should consider dropping out and endorsing Haley to enhance her chances against Trump, although Christie has not indicated any intention to withdraw, despite his low polling numbers outside New Hampshire.

A recent CBS News poll mirrored these findings, placing Haley at 29% support in New Hampshire, though Trump maintained a more substantial lead in that survey, holding 44% of voter support.

Haley’s supporters argue that her momentum and ability to attract voters make her the most potent challenger to Trump. However, DeSantis supporters question her strength with the party’s base to succeed in a head-to-head matchup with Trump.

Chief Rabbi Lau Calls Out Pope Frank'instein For “Outrageous Statement”

Chief Rabbi of Israel Rav Dovid Lau on Sunday published a letter to Pope Francis calling him out on a comment he made last month during a conversation with President Isaac Herzog that seemed to equate Israel’s actions in Gaza to Hamas’s atrocities.

Pope Francis said that it is “forbidden to respond to terror with terror.”

 “The State of Israel embarked on a just war in the face of attacks from Gaza, Lebanon, Syria and Yemen that threatened the very existence of the State,” Rav Lau wrote. “Islamic terrorism, which crosses almost all international borders, has reached our home. The murder, rape, vandalism and abuse suffered by civilians, the incessant calls for the destruction of Israel and the abduction of hundreds of innocents into captivity, including children, women, men, and the elderly, forced upon us a war for our existence. A war for our survival. Our life. Our desire to grow our crops in peace and live with our neighbors in dignity.”

“As a person who is knowledgeable of the world’s history, you are surely aware of the suffering of the Jewish people throughout the ages. The people who introduced the concept of one God and the values of the Torah: compassion, kindness and mercy, were forced to stand up for themselves. An unfortunate mistake did indeed take place, a mistake that sadly resulted in the accidental death of the two women in the churchyard in Gaza. This, however, does not turn us into terrorists. It was not us who initiated the attacks with the stated purpose of murdering, pillaging, humiliating and killing civilians. On the contrary, we are doing everything possible to prevent and reduce harm to civilians.

“I apologize for feeling an inner obligation to respond to your words, but I am concerned that one of the innumerable followers of the Head of the Catholic Church, who eagerly absorb your observations, may perhaps misinterpret your words. Therefore, based on our acquaintance and past meetings, I respectfully request you to change your definition of the events. I pray that peace, calm and serenity prevail in our world.”