Plague of locusts set to descend upon Middle East in time for Passover

A plague of locusts the likes of which have been unseen for over 30 years is about to hit Africa and the Middle East. Adding to the perfect biblical storm, the current coronavirus pandemic is affecting travel of international experts and in-country gatherings for training to combat the locust threat, said Rome-based Senior Locust Forecasting Officer Keith Cressman on Monday.

Cressman works at Locust Watch, a division of the United Nation’s Food and Agriculture Organization, which gives emergency assistance to countries facing desert locust invasions and constantly monitors the status of potential infestations. According to the organization’s most recent forecast report, there are new “extremely alarming” swarms forming in Horn of Africa.

Cressman, who has worked with the organization for over three decades, told The Times of Israel on Monday that the previous time the region has been in such danger was during the plague of 1987-1989.

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New York Times Celebrate Fall of Stock Market Because It Will Hurt Trump

Paul Krugman, the Nobel Prize-winning trade economist and New York Times columnist, celebrated the sharp decline of the stock market due to the coronavirus on the grounds that, in his opinion, it would hurt President Donald Trump.

“Economists, myself included, often make a point of saying that the stock market is not the economy, which it isn’t. It *is,” however, pretty much the Trump presidency,” Krugman tweeted. “Take away his magic talisman and there’s nothing left.”

Krugman was one of the most prominent economists to mistakenly predict that markets would collapse following the election of Donald Trump.

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Avi Schiffmann, a 17-year-old ,Created the Website Used by Millions to Learn About Coronavirus

An American teenager is at the helm of a website currently being accessed by millions of people across the world. It is updated every minute on the deadly COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic as it spreads.

Since it launched in late December, the website, ncov2019.live, has been visited by more than 12 million people.

Avi Schiffmann, a 17-year-old tech-savvy Seattle area resident, uses reliable data from around the world to include on his website. The website displays the latest, real-time statistics on the number of confirmed cases, serious cases, deaths, and recovered, including statistics both worldwide and in each country.

The website also serves as host to an interactive Google map, Twitter feed, preventative measures to stop the spread of the virus, information about the virus, travel tips, and preparation for quarantine.

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Quarantined? ..... Make "Babka Bites"

Adorable bite-size versions of the classic Jewish yeast cake. Makes 46- 48 bites

Type: Parve Prep Time: 140 minutes Level: Intermediate

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Rashi Wrote a cure for the Coronavirus over a 1,000 Years Ago

See Mishlei (Proverbs) Chaper 18, verse 14:
רוח איש יכלכל מחלהו ורוח נכאה מי ישאנה 
"A man's spirit will sustain him in sickness, but who can support a broken spirit?"

See Targum on the word מחלהו .... sickness
כרהניה ....... Corona

See Rashi:

רוח גבר שהוא איש גבור ואינו נותן דאגה בלבו , ומקבל כל הבא עליו בשמחה ובחבה .........אין כח סר מעליו

"Someone with a healthy attitude, that tries to lead a happy life , and he does not allow worries to effect him, no power, including illness [corona]  will be able to consume him"

The above was loosely translated

In other words.... those who have a great attitude even during these times .... will be able to survive 

See  also the Mezudat David ...and the Rabbeinu Yona

who basically explain that if a person strengthens himself with the knowledge that there is Godliness within him and that whatever God brings upon him is for good, his spiritual depression will be healed and yes even his physical health will improve!

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Police ask public to stop calling 911 over lack of toilet paper...

Police are trained to respond to all kinds of emergencies, but this is a new one.

One police department in Oregon posted a reminder on their Facebook page, asking the public to not call for an emergency if they run out of toilet paper due to the coronavirus outbreak.

The post then pointed out the different methods used throughout history before suggesting other items that could be used in lieu of "your favorite soft, ultra plush two-ply citrus scented tissue."

Among their suggestions: grocery store receipts, newspaper, cloth rags, magazine pages, cotton balls and even leaves.

"Be resourceful. Be patient. There is a TP shortage. This too shall pass. Just don’t call 9-1-1. We cannot bring you toilet paper," the post concluded.

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Wife of murdered rabbi attacks Gantz: 'You granted legitimacy to murderers'

Rabbi Raziel Shevach Hy"d (may God avenge his death) was murdered in a terror attack near Havat Gilad in Samaria in 2018. 

In a Facebook post, his widow Yael, who is now raising the couple's six children alone, expressed her anguish at recent developments on the political scene, specifically, the plan of the Blue & White party and its leader Benny Gantz to cooperate with the predominantly Arab Joint List in order to form a government.

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Watch As Yeshivos In Israel Stick their Thumbs in the Eyes of the Health Department and Continue defying Authorities ....

This video is from today ......Monday

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Reb Chaim Kanievsky Says that he "Never Heard of the Corona Virus"

This is crazy....

I'm not talking about the fact that Reb Chaim said that he "never heard of this deadly virus...."..looks like he didn't know ..it's not like he reads this stuff...

But what is crazy, is that right after the guy hears this from R' Chaim's own mouth, he says that 
"this is proof that "Corona" doesn't exist! "
Because if the Rav didn't hear about it .... how can it possibly exist?

How insane is this guy???
Who is he?

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In Ashdod ....Yeshivishe Couple Try to Circumvent Ban on Weddings .... so they make the Wedding 4:30 in the morning!

Mazal Tov! Nice way to start a Jewish home by violating regulations and infection the guests ..

Police raided a wedding taking place Sunday morning and dispersed the guests after new regulations took effect Saturday night prohibiting gatherings of over 10 people in one place. 

The wedding was set for 4:30 in the morning in an attempt to circumvent the new regulations and hold a large gathering. However police arrived at 8 A.M. and dispersed the guests.

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אלי שלזינגר Eli Shlezinger

✔@EliShlezinger

שוטרים הגיעו לחתונה, ולא לאחר השעה 23:00 בגלל המוזיקה, אלא בשעה 8:00 בבוקר כדי לפזר את החגיגה שהחלה כמה שעות קודם. אולמי האצולה באשדוד. צילום: משה פחימה

13

9:19 AM - Mar 15, 2020 

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R' Chaim Kanievsky Rules that Yeshivas remain open, but with students split into groups of 10

Ultra-Orthodox religious leaders on Sunday night said Haredi schools would remain open Monday, but said they would divide the students into groups of ten to avoid the spread of COVID-19.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with the chief rabbis and other ultra-Orthodox representatives on Sunday evening to convince segments of the Haredi community to shutter their schools, after they defied Health Ministry directives designed to contain the virus. All other schools in the country have been shut down by the state to stem the spread.

Following the meeting, Rabbis Chaim Kanievsky and Gershon Edelstein, prominent leaders venerated by hundreds of thousands of followers in the Lithuanian sect, agreed Sunday night to a proposal backed by Netanyahu that would see no more than 10 students learning in a single classroom. Kanievsky last week had ordered his followers to ignore the Health Ministry’s coronavirus restrictions by keeping schools open.

Israel on Saturday night limited all gatherings to 10 people.

It remained unclear whether the institutions, many of which suffer from overcrowding, would find sufficient space to split up the students. The agreement referred to Talmud Torahs, or elementary schools, yeshiva high schools, and yeshivas of post-high school learning.

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Could I be responsible for Israel's destruction?

by Alan Silverstein

After three deadlocked elections, it looks like Blue & White thinks it will take control of Israel.  Their policies are destructive to Jews living in Israel.  They jeopardize everything that Israel has built over the last century and potentially could destroy the state.   

I and many of my Jewish friends are frustrated that the Likud and Religious Zionist parties didn't get enough votes to form a governing coalition.  

We, who comfortably live outside Israel ask,  How could this happen?  Why did this happen?  After all that Netanyahu has done for Israel in trade, energy development, security, and international standing shouldn't it be a no-brainer that he easily get reelected? 

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Bereaved husband blasts Blue and White leaders: They're murdering us for a second time

Guy Yehezkel, husband of Kim Levengrond-Yehezkel who was murdered in the terrorist attack in the Barkan industrial area in 2018, on Sunday published a heartbreaking post on Facebook following Benny Gantz's intention to form a minority government backed by the Arab parties.

"My dear Kim, I want to apologize to you. You must be watching and crying. I feel ashamed and embarrassed at the sight of this despicable act. And I feel like we're being murdered for the second time," Guy wrote.

"Little Kai no longer calls for you at night. The remnants of the memories have faded away. And I'm going crazy! How will I explain to him, as he grows up, that his people worked hand in hand with his mother's murderers."

Guy added, "I see the sights and my heart refuses to believe. I want to wake up, like from a nightmare. You will be damned forever, generals who crossed the lines. And are now laughing with a murderer. Dear Kim, I want to apologize to you. Yours forever, Guy."

Natan Meir, whose wife Dafna was murdered in a stabbing attack in Otniel south of Hebron in 2016, wrote to MK Moshe Ya’alon on Facebook:

 "So far I have refrained from writing about politics...During your shift as Defense Minister, a terrorist infiltrated into my house and murdered our Dafna, and now you are asking for another shift with the support of those who praise the murderers. I'm ashamed that you came to our home to express your condolences."

MK Ya'alon placed the blame on the victim's family and in response,

 "Unfortunately, I know of and am in touch with many bereaved families. I have never made any political use of the constant contact I have with bereaved parents, and I regret to discover that the family chooses, once again, to cooperate with parties that cynically and politically take advantage of a subject as painful as bereavement.”

“I deeply sympathize with the family for the unbearable loss, but I ask here again - please respect the victims! They are not political tools!” he added.

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Belzer Rebbi Orders Girls to defy Government and Go to School BUT Not to Put on Uniform

 Rabbi Yissachar Dov Rokeach, the Belzer Rebbe, ordered Belz kindergartens, cheders and schools to ignore the health ministry’s instructions and continue their operations as usual throughout the country, according to a report on Rotters.

The Rebbe instructed his followers not to listen to the news broadcasts, and asked that girls come to school without their official school uniforms, to avoid criticism. 

Belz operates educational institutions in Jerusalem, Bnei Brak, Ashdod, Har Yona, Kiryat Gat and Givat Ze’ev. 

This past Shabbat, Belz shuls held public services, complete with a tish, which were attended by thousands of chassidim.

On Sunday morning, Jerusalem police shut down three Haredi schools (Talmud Torahs) after they ignored instructions by the Ministry of Health.

Rabbi Kanievsky and the Rosh Yeshiva of the Ponevezh Yeshiva in Bnei Brak, Rabbi Gershon Edelstein, will meet to discuss whether or not to keep Haredi learning institutions open in the coming days.

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The Arab Joint List Unanimously Recommend Gantz ..... May Form Government Tomorrow!

All 15 members of the Joint List at noon Sunday recommended Benny Gantz as their preferred candidate for forming the next government in their consultation with President Rivlin.

Chairman Ayman Odeh told the President

 "We had a tough argument. Balad had a opposing position on the recommendation. At the same time, Balad made a courageous decision which was essentially the unity of the Joint List and the adoption of the decision of the majority. "

Following the recommendation of the Joint List, Gantz is expected to win 61 recommendations and will thus receive the mandate to form the government already tomorrow or the day after.

In such a situation, Gantz will be able to act swiftly to replace the Knesset Speaker, and Blue and White will receive chairmanship of the arrangements committee, enabling it to regulate Knesset activities.

Knesset control is expected to give Gantz a significant advantage in any future negotiations for the establishment of a unity government.

But that's if Lieberman joins ... which is up in the air ... as of this posting!

A word from the Derby 

"Now it's announced that the Arab Joint List will support Ganz and form a leftist anti-Jewish State government. 

The Arabs will get posts and positions even in the security and intelligence departments. The frum crowd shares blame in this fiasco. So many chilonim were turned off by the wild demonstrations on the streets, destruction of property, interrupting peoples' lives and livelihood because of a sham draft protest. Few rabbonim protested this outrage publicly. Who knows how many supported this chillul Hashem privately . Some tacitly supported this gangsterism .. 

Are you listening, Lakewood & Chaim Berlin ??? 

The Israelis soured on the chareidim and voted Blue & White because of it. The chareidi parties offered nothing but negativity and stupidity in how to fight the battle of chillul Shabbat.. . 

What a disaster this could be... Hashem Yeracheim. 

Derby continues.......
I witnessed the following on Shabbat afternoon on Strauss St. Jerusalem a few summers ago: A group of chilonim with megaphones were gathered on a corner with posters demanding freedom from religious coercion. For the record, I'm strongly against this and stand in complete opposition. 

HOWEVER: 
Diagonally across the street on the other corner, were yeshiva boys with the big hats and flowing tzitzis screaming back " SHABBOS !! "and some other choice words.. Most other frum people, men and women, to their credit just observed the scene out of curiosity and said nothing. 
I ask you : What on earth are Bnei Torah doing on a street corner shouting and screaming on a Shabbos afternoon and wasting time? Why weren't they in Beis Hamidrash learning or saying Perek on a summer Shabbos? Who allowed them to be mevazeh Shabbos in public? A well thought out response would have pushed for a weekday display. Figure it out, ye talmidei chachamim. So here I am , a frum ordinary zhlub, who's actually on their side but now totally turned off. What hangs in my mind is this one behatted and betzitzitted screamer with a flaming orange beard bellowing at the top of his lungs..... for the 20 minutes I was there… and possibly for hours. the Derby
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Chassidim Don't Care About Coronavirus Make Wedding Defying Government Rules in Bet Shemesh Alef

Despite government regulations; not to have any gatherings of over 10 people and to keep 2 to 3 meters away from each other .... 

these chassidim don't care if they contaminate the entire Israeli population .... 

This took place in Ramat Bet Shemesh Alef ....where the majority is Anglo...

They wouldn't do it where they live ... they came to spread this deadly disease on Nachal Hamoer....

Chillul Hashem..

משבר הקורונה | למרות ההנחיות: הבוקר התקיימה חופה בהשתתפות עשרות אורחים

למרות ההנחיות החדשות שפורסמו אמש, ביניהן איסור התקהלות מעל 10 אנשים, הבוקר התקיימה ברמת בית שמש חופה בה השתתפו עשרות אורחים

Boro-Park Couple Test Positive For Coronavirus .... have 6 Kids in Satmar

New York Doctor Questions Torah Umesorah’s Directive To Keep Schools Open

Following Torah Umesorah’s directive that Jewish schools should remain open in the face of the Coronavirus pandemic, Dr. Stuart H. Ditchek of New York shares his perspective.

A statement written by Dr. Ditchek reads as follows:

As most of you are aware I called for a community wide meeting and invited all of the major school representatives and leaders. The meeting which I moderated was well attended both in person as well as through a video conference. I specifically invited the Torah U’Mesorah leadership, who did not attend but listened in by phone. I felt that it was imperative to include that group as they have policy capability to a large number of orthodox yeshivas.

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Rabbi Wein Goes to a cantorial concert

Several weeks ago, in spite of all of the dire warnings regarding the corona virus (but much before the new rules for containing its spread), I attended a concert of great cantors here in Jerusalem. 

It was a beautiful concert and all the performers were in excellent voice. They were accompanied by the Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra and by a choir of many dozens of fine tenor, baritone, and bass voices.

I don't often go to concerts - in fact, this is the first concert I've been to, I imagine, in four or five years - but I do enjoy hearing religious cantorial music, and when a friend of mine called me and said that he had an extra ticket, I agreed to go. I do not want this to imply that I only go to concerts when I don't have to pay for the ticket.

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Volunteers with beards can't help coronavirus patients

Magen David Adom (MDA) Director-General Eli Bin on Saturday night told Channel 12 about the tension between his organization and the United Hatzalah first response organization as a result of the coronavirus crisis, and the possibility of integrating United Hatzalah volunteers in the coronavirus response.

"It's time to put things on the table," Bin said. "Anyone who wants to come and volunteer as part of and according to the procedures of Magen David Adom and according to the guidelines of Magen David Adom, is invited to do so. There are dozens of haredi first response organizations operating under MDA."

However, Bin clarified that, "We do not allow those with beards to aid any coronavirus patient, or anyone suspected of being a coronavirus patient, and that's the first thing. The protective equipment which our organization has, and which there is in the world at large, does not protect people who have beards."

"We called on our workers to remove their beards. We turned to the chief rabbis to tell those who serve in Magen David Adom to remove their beards, the Defense Ministry can force its soldiers to remove their beards, but MDA cannot."

Many religious Jews do not shave or cut their beards, due to religious beliefs.

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