HILCO REAL ESTATE ANNOUNCES TWO COMMERCIAL CONDOMINIUMS AVAILABLE THROUGH A BANKRUPTCY SALE IN GREENWICH VILLAGE
Hilco Real Estate, LLC, announces May 17, 2024 as the bid deadline for the Chapter 11 bankruptcy sale of two commercial condominiums in New York City’s historic Greenwich Village. These condominiums occupy the first and second floor of the building located at 350-354 Avenue of the Americas. With 176 feet of prime, wraparound frontage on the corner of 6th Avenue and Washington Place, these offerings promise high visibility and heavy foot traffic.
The ground-floor retail space, totaling over 7,850± square feet and zoned C1, boasts 15-foot ceilings, exceptional location and can accommodate single or multiple tenants. While currently not built out, the versatile layout can be retrofitted, taking advantage of three separate entry points, which present a unique opportunity for various uses.
The second-floor space, spanning 8,942± square feet and zoned C2, offers ample flexibility for community-oriented endeavors. Previously occupied by a daycare, the space retains its built-out infrastructure, providing a turnkey solution for a new operator. This setup can also offer potential investors the ability to combine both floors and potentially increase the value for a prospective tenant.
The condominiums sit just one block from Washington Square Park and four blocks from NYU, ideally positioned to take advantage of excellent foot traffic. Additionally, eight subway lines, including the A, C, E, B, D, F, M and 1, and the PATH train are within walking distance, ensuring easy accessibility for both employees and customers.
Greenwich Village, on the west side of Lower Manhattan, is known for its history of fostering art and creativity, with notable former residents including Edgar Allen Poe, Jackson Pollack and Bob Dylan. The neighborhood also features multiple attractions, including Washington Square Park, the Village Vanguard jazz club, the Comedy Cellar, the historic Jefferson Market Library and several historic districts dedicated to preserving the Village’s character and charm. In addition to being lauded for its creative culture, Greenwich Village is home to New York University (NYU), The New School and Cooper Union, with over 64,000 students in attendance between the three universities. Despite the pandemic, the neighborhood also saw a 1.85% population increase from 2020 to 2021 and a 4.29% increase in median household income.
The sale of 350-354 Avenue of the Americas is being conducted by Order of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court District of the Southern District of New York (Manhattan), Bankruptcy Petition No. 23-10068-JPM, In re: Nuovo Ciao-Di LLC. Bids must be received on or before the deadline of May 17 at 5 p.m. (ET) and must be submitted on the Purchase and Sale Agreement available for review and download from Hilco Real Estate’s website.
Interested buyers should review the requirements in order to participate in the bankruptcy sale process available on Hilco Real Estate’s website. For further information, please contact Jonathan Cuticelli at (203) 561-8737 or [email protected].
Co-Founder Sues Tzadik Management for $8M in Unpaid Proceeds from Multifamily Portfolio Sale
Edited by: TJVNews.com
In a significant legal battle within the real estate sector, Alex Arguelles, co-founder of Tzadik Management, has filed a lawsuit against the company and its CEO, Adam Hendry, alleging a breach of a settlement agreement involving millions of dollars. According to a recently published report on The Real Deal web site, the lawsuit, filed in March, claims that Arguelles has not received any payments from the sale of a vast multifamily property portfolio, despite contractual agreements stipulating his compensation.
Founded in 2007 in Hollywood, Tzadik Management grew under the leadership of Arguelles, Hendry, and David Runyon into a prominent investment firm specializing in multifamily units. The Real Deal reported that while Runyon, the former chief visionary officer, has since departed from the company and is not involved in the current legal dispute, the fallout between Arguelles and Hendry has escalated into the public and legal arenas.
The properties at the center of the lawsuit encompass nearly 7,000 units, valued at over $400 million. This expansive portfolio includes more than 3,600 apartments across Florida, over 1,000 units in South Dakota, and additional properties in Georgia, as was indicated in The Real Deal report. The size and value of the portfolio call attention to the substantial nature of the dispute and the significant financial stakes involved.
According to court documents, the disagreement between the former partners began to unravel in 2020 when Arguelles decided to divest his interest in the company. A settlement agreement was subsequently signed, where Arguelles transferred his ownership stakes in the multifamily portfolio to Hendry. The information in The Real Deal report indicated that in return, he was promised a $100,000 upfront payment and further disbursements following the sale of the apartment complexes. These payments were to include both lump sum amounts and percentages of the profits realized from the sales.
While Arguelles received the initial $100,000 payment as agreed, he claims that no further payments have been made post-sale, leading to the current lawsuit.
This award follows intense arbitration proceedings under the American Arbitration Association, highlighting deep-seated conflicts within the real estate firm over financial agreements related to the sale of a substantial multifamily property portfolio.
The arbitration, which took place in February, involved arbitrators Jerald Bagley, Manuel Farach, and Norman Gerstein, who collectively ruled in favor of Arguelles, granting him approximately $8 million in overdue payments from the property sales and an additional $937,204 to cover attorney fees and costs, as was noted in The Real Deal report.
Raul Morales, Arguelles’ attorney, stated, “Mr. Hendry has made millions of dollars” from the portfolio sale, The Real Deal report said. However, he added, “he has not paid a dollar to my client.”
Following the favorable arbitration outcome, Arguelles took legal action to enforce the arbitration court’s award, filing a lawsuit on March 15 in Miami-Dade Circuit Court against Hendry and 19 other entities associated with the ownership of the apartment complexes, as per the information provided in The Real Deal report.
During the arbitration, a key point of contention was the timing and method of disbursements due to Arguelles. Hendry contended that payments to Arguelles should be made only after covering various other costs from the sale proceeds, such as escrow holdbacks and liabilities. Indicated in The Real Deal report was that the arbitration panel, however, supported Arguelles’ position that he was entitled to payment within 10 days following the complete disbursement of all sale proceeds, aligning with the original settlement terms.
Furthermore, the panel revealed that after selling three property portfolios for a combined $299.3 million, Tzadik’s accounts were nearly depleted, holding only $5,000, far less than the $8 million owed to Arguelles, as was revealed in The Real Deal report.
An additional complication arose concerning a shared private jet. Arguelles had transferred his ownership stake in the aircraft to a Tzadik affiliate, retaining the right to use $50,000 worth of flight credits, the report on The Real Deal affirmed. However, following the sale of the jet, Tzadik is now obligated to compensate Arguelles the equivalent amount in cash, as per the panel’s decision.
During the arbitration proceedings, Hendry presented several counterclaims that complicated the case. Notably, the arbitration panel found in favor of one of Hendry’s claims, determining that Arguelles had been overpaid by $52,000 in salary, as was noted in The Real Deal report. This amount was subsequently deducted from the final arbitration award. However, the complexities of the arbitration did not end there.
Hendry also accused Arguelles of violating a settlement confidentiality agreement. This accusation was partially based on an incident where Arguelles allegedly disrupted a company gathering at Fuego by Mana, a restaurant in North Miami Beach. The Real Deal report also said that according to testimony from Tzadik staff members, Arguelles spoke openly about Hendry owing him money and expressed anger towards him. However, the arbitration panel found no evidence that Arguelles discussed the specifics of the settlement agreement at the event, leading to this particular claim being dismissed.
The dispute has now escalated back into the courts with Hendry challenging the arbitration outcome. His legal team argued that the arbitration was “plagued by significant procedural and other lapses.” Specifically, Hendry’s motion to vacate or modify the award points to the panel’s repeated recalculations of the monetary award—adjustments that shifted the total by approximately $2 million, The Real Deal report explained. This instability in the arbitration award calculations forms a central pillar of Hendry’s challenge.
Additionally, Hendry revisited the issue of confidentiality, alleging that Arguelles breached the settlement agreement by disclosing details to his wife. The report in the Real Deal said that Arguelles defended this action by stating the information was shared for tax purposes—a permissible disclosure under the terms of the settlement. Hendry’s attorneys counter that this explanation was a “last-minute defense” and asserted that Arguelles’ wife was not involved in handling the couple’s taxes.
Moreover, Hendry’s legal team alleged bias within the arbitration panel, criticizing the denial of their request for a second deposition of Arguelles’ wife and their unsuccessful push to postpone the final hearing. These aspects, Hendry argued, indicate a prejudiced approach against him and Tzadik affiliates during the arbitration process.
According to Hendry’s motion, the arbitration panel, which included highly respected jurists from Miami-Dade County, allegedly failed to conduct the arbitration with due diligence. Hendry’s attorneys argue that the awarded damages were inconsistent with the evidence presented during the arbitration and even deviated from the amounts initially sought by both parties. “The arbitrators were grossly negligent in how they conducted the arbitration,” Hendry’s motion stated, as was reported by The Real Deal.
This legal challenge has sparked a robust defense from Arguelles’ camp. Raul Morales, Arguelles’ attorney, expressed confidence in the integrity and capability of the arbitrators involved. He highlighted the reputations of the two arbitrators, describing them as “some of the most respected jurists in Miami-Dade County,” and criticized Hendry’s efforts to overturn the arbitration award as an attempt to undermine their judicial decision, according to the information in The Real Deal report. “Now they are trying to undo all of that,” Morales remarked, indicating the perceived injustice of Hendry’s legal maneuvers.
The disagreement touches on fundamental issues concerning arbitration in business disputes, particularly the extent to which arbitration decisions are final and binding.
Legal analysts and business leaders are closely monitoring the outcome of this dispute, as it could influence future arbitration practices and the approach of business executives toward resolving conflicts through arbitration. The resolution of this case will likely resonate beyond the parties involved, potentially affecting arbitration norms and practices in the competitive real estate investment sector and beyond.
People gather for “Solidarity Jummah” outside of Columbia University on Friday, April 26. Credit: AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura-
By Mark Tapson
In the February Deep Dive blog I wrote about the seemingly strange bedfellows of the red-green alliance – red for progressivism and green for Islam – whose values on many issues seem so diametrically opposed and yet they are united in their determination to dismantle the Western civilization they both see as the obstacle to erecting their differing visions of utopian societies.
This alliance was perhaps never in quite such alarming evidence as in the worldwide, vociferous, and even violent demonstrations of left-wing and Muslim support for the Palestinian people in the wake of Israel’s military retaliation against the terror group Hamas for its barbaric massacre of over 1200 innocents in Israel on October 7, 2023.
The anti-Israel protests have only gathered momentum since February as what David Horowitz calls the “unholy alliance” has intensified its pro-Hamas activism. On April 15th anti-Israel protesters shut down San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge, blocked the entrance to Chicago’s O’Hare Airport, blocked Manhattan-bound traffic on the Brooklyn Bridge, and blocked traffic on Oregon’s Interstate 5 and roads in Philadelphia on a day of coordinated protests and rallies.
Meanwhile, college campuses have become overrun with metastasizing encampments of anti-Israel radicals intent on forcing administrators to concede to demands ranging from university divestment from Israel to full scholarships for Palestinian students to dental dams for safe sex for the encamped protesters. These privileged militants – both students and faculty – bully Jewish students, clash with cops, vandalize school property, replace campus Stars-and-Stripes with Palestinian flags, and chant antisemitic slogans including the genocidal call for “Palestine” to be free “from the river to the sea.”
Anti-War Does Not Mean Anti-War
During the George Floyd-inspired rioting across America in 2020, the left-dominated news media coordinated to spread the narrative that the looting, burning, and vandalizing carried out by Black Lives Matter revolutionaries and their allies were “mostly peaceful.” Similarly, now the media are attempting to whitewash these Jew-hating, anti-colonialist revolutionaries waging campus intifadas across America as merely “anti-war.”
And not just the media, but government leaders as well. Democrat Congresspeople including “Squad” members Cori Bush, Rashida Tlaib and Ilhan Omar have also mislabeled the protestors as “antiwar.” But consider a few examples from recent mainstream media headlines:
From The Washington Post: “120 antiwar protesters arrested at NYU; Calif. students form barricade.”
From the taxpayer-funded PBS: “Anti-war protesters dig in on campuses across the U.S. as universities, police take action”
From CBS News: “College campus chaos continues amid anti-war protests”
From ABC News: “Campus anti-war protesters dig in from New York to California”
From the Associated Press: “College students, faculty demand amnesty for participating in anti-war protests”
And of course The View, the top-rated daytime chatfest aimed at progressive women (only 12.6 percent of its audience are Republicans and approximately three-quarters are female) is pushing this narrative as well. Discussing the ongoing protests with her co-hostesses on a recent episode, former comedienne Whoopi Goldberg took the side of the Hamas-supporting bullies calling for the eradication of Zionists, pontificating that “it is one of the great rights as an American to stand up and say something’s wrong” and that she is “thrilled” when “students get mad and say, ‘We want a change made.’” But she complained that the clickbait-seeking media is too focused on the radicals and not “the folks who are doing peaceful stuff.”
Co-hostess Sunny Hostin argued for identifying the protests as anti-war. “I think we need to shift the framing of these college protests back”:
I think college campuses have been the place for anti-war protests for as far as I can remember. I think recent protests haven’t even reached the scale of the major student protest that we saw in the late 1960s against the Vietnam War, or even the 1980s against South Africa’s practice of apartheid.
… and so I think these are anti-war protests, and I think it’s very distressing that we are framing these as pro-Palestinian protests or pro-Israeli protests.
“These are anti-war protests,” she insisted again, adding, “What we also don’t talk enough about is the fact that 35,000, mainly women and children, that are Palestinians, have been murdered” in the Israeli military response against Hamas.
This is not only a false number, but the term “murdered” is a grotesque anti-Israel smear. The inflated figure of 35,000 dead Palestinians came from the terrorist group Hamas itself and sympathetic mainstream media figures like Sunny Hostin simply ran with it unquestioningly. We’re talking about an organization that ruthlessly uses Palestinian women and children as human shields and conceals weapons caches beneath schools and hospitals in order to blame even more civilian casualties on Israel.
Meanwhile she had nothing to say about the more than 1200 innocents murdered in Israel on October 7th, which kicked off the military action by Israel’s IDF, the most civilian-sensitive military force in world history, against Hamas in the first place. She went on to slander the IDF as being guilty of war crimes – again with no mention of Hamas barbarism.
To her credit, former White House aide and token conservative co-hostess Alyssah Farah Griffin countered, “There’s a right to free speech and a right to assembly, but Jews also have a right to feel safe on college campuses”:
As a Lebanese American I’m disgusted at seeing Hezbollah flags, a terrorist organization, fly on American college campuses, and I understand that these young people are coming out protesting for peace, protesting for a ceasefire.
But I also want to say, there was a ceasefire before October 7th. Israel has proposed two since then, Hamas has rejected them, and Hamas’ own charter in Article 13 states that it rejects any peaceful solutions, any negotiated peace.
And beyond that, we have seen this language go into something that is far more radical, anti-Semitic, saying that Jews do not have a place on campus.
Her fellow panelists and the audience were not swayed.
Left-wing anti-war protesters in America are never actually anti-war; yes, there have been some who opposed the draft and genuinely wanted the government to “give peace a chance,” as John Lennon put it. But as a movement they are generally driven by anti-American, anti-capitalist, anti-imperialist, revolutionary sentiments. The campus protesters during the Vietnam War were not “anti-war” but pro-communist. If they had been truly anti-war, they would have protested both parties to the conflict or at the very least the side that instigated the conflict – in that case, North Vietnam. Instead, the ostensibly “anti-war” protesters turned all their subversive energies toward the capitalist United States.
Leftist organizations of the Vietnam era such as Students for a Democratic Society (SDS), arguably the most influential student “anti-war” group, actually openly supported the Viet Cong. Discover the Networks, the David Horowitz Freedom Center’s online encyclopedia of the left, details SDS’s true agenda:
As the Vietnam War dragged on, SDSers famously chanted, “Ho, Ho, Ho, Ho Chi Minh, the NLF is gonna win.” Ho was the Communist revolutionary who served as president of North Vietnam from 1945-69. The NLF was the National Liberation Front, formally National Front for the Liberation of the South, a Vietnamese political organization (established in 1960) whose aim was to overthrow the South Vietnamese government and reunify North and South Vietnam.
Bernadine Dohrn, partner in crime of Barack Obama mentor and Weather Underground terrorist Bill Ayers, wrote an infamous article with the slogan “Ho Ho Ho Chi Minh, the NLF is gonna win!” as the title. The antiwar left then, like today, largely used “anti-war” as a flag of convenience; they had a larger revolutionary agenda, and many embraced violence to advance it, committing acts of terrorism including arson and bombings against targets in the United States. The Weather Underground was one such organization:
Emerging in 1969 as the most militant wing of the SDS’s Revolutionary Youth Movement, the fledgling Weatherman issued a “manifesto” eschewing nonviolence and calling instead for armed opposition to U.S. policies; advocating the overthrow of capitalism; exhorting white radicals to trigger a worldwide revolution by fighting in the streets of the “mother country”; and proclaiming that the time had come to launch a race war against the “white” United States on behalf of the non-white Third World.
The left sees everything through the Marxist lens pitting the oppressor against the oppressed. In their view, downtrodden Palestinians are engaged not in a war, but in righteous resistance against a bellicose, genocidal Israel and its imperialist ally the United States. CBS Mornings co-host Gayle King, for example, recently called the conflict “the war on Gaza,” as if Israel is the aggressor.
But Israel and the Jews are the targets. Videos of university confrontations are circulating which show, for example, a Jewish student being blockaded from attending class, a Jewish man on campus being tasered by a female protester, a young Jewish woman sent to the ER with a concussion after being bludgeoned in the head by a pro-Hamas mob who stomped on her Israeli flag, another Jewish student being told to go back to the gas chambers, and an encampment leader declaring that “Zionists don’t deserve to live.” This is not anti-war; this is antisemitism.
And it is antisemitism in conjunction with the progressive (i.e., Communist) agenda to destroy capitalism and upend Western (i.e., white European) civilization. Journalist Cam Higby reported that at the University of California, Los Angeles encampment he saw Communist hammer-and-sickle symbolism everywhere. He also filmed an anti-Israel protester at UCLA waving a Palestinian flag and dismissing a counter-protester because he is white. “You’re just a white person; you’re a white person [so] get out — we don’t like white people,” she stated before chanting, “Free Palestine.”
In response to that video, media personality Anthony Koch tweeted, “‘Anti-whiteness’ is real, it’s corrosive, and it’s a major organizational rallying cry for the modern western left.”
Journalist Andy Ngo tweeted that at a far-left rally for Gaza at George Washington University, an extremist with a microphone said, “There’s only one solution, intifada revolution. We must have a revolution so we can have a socialist reconstruction of the United States of America.”
The Heritage Foundation’s Christian Julio Lasval reported from the same GWU rally that a speaker declared, “We want to smash the Democratic Party, we want to smash the Republican party, we want to smash this whole goddamn capitalist, imperialist empire!”
(As noted by Xi Van Fleet, a survivor of the Chinese Cultural Revolution of the 1960s and ‘70s, “smash” was the favorite word for Mao’s ruthless young Red Guards, who called for smashing the Four Olds (old ideas, old culture, old customs and old habits), smashing the old world, smashing the criminal justice system, and so on.)
After replacing GWU’s American flag with a Palestinian one, an anti-Israel protester from the “Gaza Solidarity Encampment” praised the crowd, “Each and every one of you believes in a world liberated from colonialism, imperialism, white supremacy, capitalism, and Zionism. We are here to create that world.”
Not a word about ending war. This movement is about ending the West, by any means necessary.
In an incident that highlights the undercurrent of violence and hatred for Israel and her supporters surging through the protesters, a prominent local Palestinian activist at a Bakersfield, California city council meeting accused the council of being “horrible human beings” because she claimed they did not care about “anything happening in Palestine or any other country where oppression occurs.” She concluded her first presentation at the podium by saying, “I hope one day somebody brings the guillotine and kills all of you motherfuckers.” After her second turn, her parting shot was, “We’ll see you at your house. We’ll murder you.”
Astroturfed, Not Anti-War
The campus protests are far from being a spontaneous, grass-roots flowering of anti-war sentiment. One tell is the identical tents springing up in the encampments dotting college campuses across the country. Further evidence abounds that this is an “Astroturfed” – highly and professionally organized – movement supported by subversive funding from the red-green alliance both within America and without.
Breitbart News, for example, reported that Iranian opposition activist Vahid Beheshti exposed a confidential letter from a high-ranking officer in Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), a U.S.-designated terror organization, to a “cultural and psychological operations” officer of the IRGC, which revealed that Iran has been secretly supporting anti-Israel rallies around the world, such as the April 15 wave of pro-Palestinian demonstrations mentioned above. The organizers described their action as an “economic blockade to free Palestine.”
Beheshti noted that Iran is keenly interested in causing “as much chaos and instability as possible” to “destroy the modern society and build a global Islamic state.” Under that caliphate, progressivism will be crushed, but until that stage is achieved Islamic fundamentalists are happy to fuel the revolution of progressive “useful idiots.”
(Speaking of which, reports from the University of Southern California reveal that “hundreds” of students have converted to Islam en masse to show solidarity with Palestine, and female students are now donning hijabs.)
Breitbart also reported that the Iranian foreign minister Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian praised the demonstrators and called for the “Israeli regime” to be held accountable for war crimes. Iranian state TV echoed the anti-Israel messaging, approvingly repeating statements from the protesters occupying Columbia University and Yale University
Writing at Tablet, Park MacDougald reveals that, just as in the BLM rioting of 2020, strategic and financial support is flowing to the demonstrators from “a vast web” of left-wing foundations, NGOs, and dark-money groups “backed by big-money donors aligned with the Democratic Party.”
Politico echoes this analysis, noting that donors to the demonstrators include some of the biggest names in Democrat philanthropy: David Rockefeller Jr., Hyatt Hotel heirs Susan and Nick Pritzker, and of course, the corrosive billionaire financier George Soros. The Rockefeller Brothers Fund “has given nearly $500,000 directly to Jewish Voice for Peace, which explicitly describes itself as anti-Zionist, over the past five years,” writes Politico. The Pritzkers are major donors to President Joe Biden, and Soros seeds the Tides Foundation, which promotes a multitude of leftist agendas and proclaims that it is “committed to advancing social justice.”
Again, these contributions are not designed to bring a peaceful solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, but to exploit and aggravate that conflict by empowering activists to advance a slate of left-wing causes.
Investigative journalist Daniel Greenfield wrote last month that Soros and his even more politically-minded son Alex have provided “an estimated $15 million to the pro-terrorist groups storming cities in support of Hamas, and an estimated $758,000 already to Biden.” Those “are only partial estimates of much larger spending by the family of radical billionaires which have simultaneously been funding the anti-Israel movement, trojan horse Jewish groups and the Democratic Party politicians whom they are busy pressuring.”
Greenfield goes on to detail some of the beneficiaries of Soros’ largesse, including
Linda Sarsour’s Arab American Association which took part in a rally celebrating the Oct 7 attacks where the pro-Hamas mob attacked police officers; Jewish Voice for Peace, a fake Jewish group which has blocked traffic to stop Israel from attacking the terrorists; J Street, which falsely claims to be “Pro-Israel” and “Pro-Peace” but has actually lobbied against Israel’s fight against terrorists; and Bend the Arc: Jewish Action, a vanity group co-founded by Alex Soros, which tries to provide Jewish cover for members of the antisemitic “Squad” while accusing their Jewish critics of “weaponizing antisemitism.”
He concludes that “Soros money funds Muslims, leftists and people of Jewish ancestry who support killing Jews under a variety of banners and names, but they share the traditional hateful Soros agenda.”
No Crime in Revolution
When it comes to weaponizing the purported suffering of Palestinians under purported occupation by Israel, the left will draw no moral boundaries. The Free Beacon noted, for example, that two residents of UCLA medical school’s psychiatry department hosted a talk this past April called “Depathologizing Resistance,” glorifying self-immolation as a form of “revolutionary suicide” in support of “indigenous Palestine.”
Referring to the suicide of Aaron Bushnell, a U.S. serviceman who set himself on fire outside the Israeli embassy in Washington D.C. in February to protest U.S. support for Israel, Drs. Ragda Izar and Afaf Moustafa argued that the mentally ill man could be considered a “martyr” responding rationally to a “genocide” thousands of miles away.
“Yes, he carried a lot of distress,” Izar said of Bushnell in audio of the talk. But shouldn’t you “be distressed when you’re seeing this level of carnage” in Gaza?
But Drs. Izar and Moustafa are not promoting self-immolation as anti-war protest, but as anti-colonialist resistance. They argued that our taboo against self-immolation serves to “discredit” resistance to “power structures” like “colonization,” “homophobia,” and “white supremacy,” framing legitimate acts of protest as signs of psychiatric dysfunction. Their presentation urged fellow psychiatrists to “embed your practice with an anti-colonial lens” and “recognize that mental health is intimately tied to liberation.”
At one point, Izar condemned statements made by the American Psychiatric Association and other medical bodies about Hamas’ October 7 rampage, complaining they had “centered the suffering of one group of people” – Jews – without discussing the “trauma” Palestinians had endured “at the hands of colonizing forces for 75 years.”
As I have written elsewhere,
For the left, the end justifies the means; whatever empowers the oppressed and deconstructs systemic oppression is just. It does not necessarily have anything to do with law and order or right and wrong; instead, it has everything to do with crushing opposition to the revolution, by any means necessary, to reverse the power dynamics of an unjust society. “There is no crime in revolution!” went the Maoist slogan of the Cultural Revolution – meaning, no act which furthers the overthrow of the “old” can be considered criminal.
A truly horrific example of this is in the left’s defense of the barbaric terrorism waged by Hamas in Israel four months ago. Decent souls everywhere were sickened by the shocking war crimes committed there on October 7th, but the Left have been untroubled – even celebratory – and defiant. “You don’t get to decide how we resist,” is their pro-Hamas slogan on placards – on which blood drips threateningly from the letters of the word “RESIST.” The perverse narrative behind this slogan is that Israel is an oppressor regime that must be overthrown, and therefore no crime committed by the purportedly oppressed Palestinians can be considered unjust. Gang rape, torture, murder, kidnapping, all of which were gleefully carried out by sadistic Hamas “freedom fighters,” are not seen by the left as crimes but as just “resistance.”
Permanent Revolution
Make no mistake: when every single protest about Gaza features a sea of Palestinian flags (and sometimes those of Hezbollah and even ISIS as well), chants of “Free Palestine,” and genocidal calls against Israel and the Jews; when harassment, sometimes violent, of Jewish and pro-Israel students is rampant at these events; and when these protests are driven by Soros’ money and equipped by American socialist and communist organizations proclaiming revolutionary “solidarity” with Palestine; it is undeniable that these protests are not anti-war but anti-Israel, antisemitic, anti-American, anti-capitalist, and even anti-white (the Left considers Jews to belong to the supposed white oppressor class).
Despite the concerted media effort to camouflage their true aims, these radicals (students, faculty, and outside agitators) seizing college campuses are not calling for an end to war in Gaza. They are calling for a state of permanent revolution until every status quo is eradicated, and a new, collectivist utopia (either Muslim or Communist) is established on the ruins of today’s West. They are calling for an end to Israel and America.
Mark Tapson is a writer, screenwriter, culture critic, and political commentator. The Shillman Fellow on Popular Culture for the David Horowitz Freedom Center, he has written nearly a thousand articles about the intersection of culture and politics for FrontPage Magazine, Breitbart News, PJ Media, National Review, The New Criterion, and elsewhere. Among the numerous films Mark has worked on are The Path to 9/11 and the award-winning documentary Jihad in America: The Grand Deception. Mark is also the host of The Right Take podcast and the author of a forthcoming book on the war on masculinity. Follow him at his Substack page, Culture Warrior.
Holocaust Cattle Car Exhibit Visits National Mall, Department of Agriculture, Department of Veteran Affairs
Coinciding with the week of Holocaust Remembrance Day, Hate Ends Now mobile exhibit welcomed elected officials and visitors from around the world
Edited by: TJVNews.com
A Holocaust cattle car was on the National Mall in Washington, DC, at the Department of Agriculture, and the Department of Veteran Affairs May 6-9, welcoming visitors for a powerful, immersive learning experience about the Holocaust and the dangers of antisemitism, intolerance, and racism. Elected and appointed officials were among the thousands of visitors.
Organized by the nonprofit Hate Ends Now, the traveling exhibit includes a 20 minute, 360-degree immersive presentation and a rare collection of original Holocaust artifacts. It is an exact replica of a WWII era cattle car used to transport Jews and other targeted groups to concentration and death camps. The opening of the exhibit on the Mall included an event with public officials and coincided with Holocaust Remembrance Day on May 6, which also marked the anniversary of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising,
“Placing the Hate Ends Now cattle car in the capital of the free world during a time of alarming increase in anti-Semitism globally sends a powerful message, reminding us of what happens when hate is allowed to go unchecked,” said Todd Cohn, CEO of Hate Ends Now. “People of all ages have a visceral reaction when they step foot in the Cattle Car and when it seemingly comes to life with the voices, pictures, and stories of this dark era.”
Trained docents greeted visitors outside of the cattle car, familiarizing them with the exhibit and providing critical context and framing the presentation. Accompanying the exhibit were 25 original artifacts from the Holocaust, which are rarely permitted outside of museum walls, and visitors got to see and hear firsthand accounts of survivors. The exhibit goes beyond a lesson in history and calls attention to the dangers of intolerance, anti-Semitism, and hate today.
The exhibit also coincides with the one year anniversary of the announcement and unveiling of the White House’s first-ever national strategy to counter anti-Semitism. President Biden called the strategy “a historic step forward” and the “most ambitious and comprehensive U.S. government-led effort to fight anti-Semitism in American history.”
“Amid sharp increases in anti-Semitism across the country, the need to bring the cattle car to more people is greater than ever before,” added Cohn. “Particularly for people who do not connect as much with a textbook or museum, or don’t otherwise have access to educational opportunities like this, the exhibit is especially important. It is the perfect learning experience.”
The National Mall cattle car exhibit was sponsored by the Biden-Harris administration through the U.S. Department of Agriculture, in partnership with the Federal Inter-Agency Holocaust Remembrance Committee. Other sponsors include the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs, Jewish Federations of North America, ADL, American Jewish Committee, Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Washington, Lillian and Albert Small Capital Jewish Museum, Edlavitch JCC, and 3GDC.
The Holocaust Cattle Car has had 60 public showings and been to 15 universities and 65 high schools, including the Texas State Capital, Florida State Capital, Harvard University, Times Square, and has been hosted by or sponsored by the Miami Heat, Philadelphia 76ers, and San Antonio Spurs.
Visitors can sign up to tour the National Mall exhibit here. For more information on how to bring this powerful exhibit to your community or campus contact Todd Cohn at 913-515-8154 or [email protected].
An anti-Israel encampment at NYU. (Twitter Screenshot)
New House Republican Bill Proposes Sending Convicted Campus Protestors to Gaza for Community Service
Edited by: Fern Sidman
In a bold legislative move that shines a spotlight on the deep political divisions in the United States regarding the Israel-Hamas conflict, Representative Randy Weber (R-Texas) has co-sponsored a bill with Representative Andy Ogles (R-Tenn.) and Representative Jeff Duncan (R-S.C.) that targets individuals on college campuses involved in unlawful activities linked to support for Hamas, as was reported on Wednesday in the New York Post. The bill proposes a radical approach: sending convicted individuals to Gaza to perform community service for a minimum of six months.
This bill comes in the wake of heightened anti-Israel demonstrations across U.S. college campuses, some of which have escalated into violent clashes with police and resulted in numerous arrests. According to the information provided in the Post report, while the bill does not explicitly mention Israel or anti-Israel groups, its timing and specifics clearly connect it to recent events following the surprise attack by Hamas terrorists on Israel on October 7, 2023, which resulted in the brutal and sadistic massacre of 1200 Israelis and others as well as the abduction of 250 people.
Under the terms of the proposed legislation, those convicted would be sent to Gaza, currently a focal point of intense military action by Israel against Hamas, to engage in community service. Indicated in the Post report was that this provision aims to address disruptions caused by student protests, which, according to Rep. Ogles, have included harassment of students and interference with campus activities, such as university commencements.
“Students have abandoned their classes to harass other students and disrupt campus-wide activities, including university commencement ceremonies nationwide. Enough is enough,” Ogles expressed in an interview with Fox News Digital, and reported on by the Post. He further explained the rationale for the bill, stating, “That’s why I introduced legislation to send any person convicted of unlawful activity on the campus of an American university since October 7th, 2023, to Gaza to complete a minimum of six months of community service.”
According to the information provided in the Post report, Rep. Weber articulated the sentiment behind the bill, stating, “If you support a terrorist organization, and you participate in unlawful activity on campuses, you should get a taste of your own medicine. I am going to bet that these pro-Hamas supporters wouldn’t last a day, but let’s give them the opportunity.” This statement reflects a punitive stance on activism that the sponsors view as crossing into support for terrorism, particularly in light of recent violent campus protests linked to the Israel-Hamas conflict.
The likelihood of this bill becoming law, however, remains uncertain. The House of Representatives, with only a one-seat Republican majority, presents a challenging environment for such a contentious piece of legislation, as was suggested in the Post report. Furthermore, the bill is expected to face significant opposition or dismissal in the Democrat-controlled Senate, highlighting the partisan split on issues related to Israel.
This legislative proposal emerges against a backdrop of heightened tensions in the U.S., not only over foreign policy concerning Israel and Hamas but also within the domestic political arena, where college campuses have become hotspots for political activism and controversy. As indicated in the Post report, the college protests have attracted bipartisan criticism for their intensity and the blatantly anti-Semitic rhetoric used, with most Republicans and a notable number of Democrats expressing disapproval. However, progressive factions within the Democratic Party have continued to support the student activists, reflecting the abandonment of Israel.
The national debate has also extended to Congress, where comments from Democratic Representatives Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) and Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) have ignited further controversy. The report in the Post also said that Rep. Omar’s comments referring to some Jewish students as “pro-genocide” prompted a GOP-led censure resolution by Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.), and Rep. Tlaib has faced similar censure for her remarks about Israel following the October 7th massacre.
President Joe Biden in Tel Aviv, Oct. 18, 2023. Photo by Miriam Alster/Flash90.
By Wendell Husebo (Breitbart)
The House must impeach President Joe Biden for withholding ammunition from Israel for political reasons, Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR) suggested Thursday.
Biden made a commitment on Wednesday to stop the shipment of offensive weapons to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) to prevent Israel from attacking Hamas in Rafah.
Biden’s decision to withhold bombs from Israel has political implications. Biden’s base wants him to defund Israel, while many moderate Democrats support Israel’s ability to defend itself against terrorists. Biden appears stuck in the middle during an election year as he trails in the polls.
Some Republicans and establishment media pundits immediately characterized the commitment as a “political decision.”
Democrats’ impeachment of former President Donald Trump was for allegedly withholding military aid from Ukraine for political reasons despite Congress authorizing it.
“The House has no choice but to impeach Biden based on the Trump-Ukraine precedent of withholding foreign aid to help with reelection,” Cotton posted on X. “Only with Biden, it’s true.”
CNN senior political commentator and former Obama adviser David Axelrod claimed Wednesday that Biden’s threat to withhold some weapons sales to Israel is different from when House Democrats impeached Trump over an issue related to Ukraine. “He’s been talking about this for months,” he said.
However, CNN senior political commentator Scott Jennings pushed back. “We impeached the president of the United States for withholding military aid authorized by Congress from Ukraine, $400 million,” Jennings said. “That was the basis of the impeachment. This is congressionally authorized military aid to our ally, and he [Biden] is withholding it for political reasons.”
Trump slammed Biden for withholding ammunition for political reasons. “What Biden is doing with respect to Israel is disgraceful,” Trump said before he entered a Manhattan courtroom for his criminal trial.
“He did it as a political decision,” Trump said. “You have to do the right decision, not the political decision.”
Wendell Husebo is a political reporter with Breitbart News and a former GOP War Room Analyst. He is the author of Politics of Slave Morality. Follow Wendell on “X” @WendellHusebø or on Truth Social @WendellHusebo.
Faculty at NYC’s New School Erect Anti-Israel Encampment in Effort to Support Student Protesters
Edited by: Fern Sidman
At the progressive bastion of The New School in Manhattan, a new chapter unfolded this Wednesday as faculty members launched their own protest, the first faculty-led anti-Israel demonstration on a U.S. campus, as per the organizers’ claim. According to a report in the New York Post, approximately half a dozen tents sprang up at the University Center, signaling solidarity with the student movement that demands the university divest from 13 companies allegedly supporting Israel’s actions in Gaza.
The New School faculty establish ‘solidarity encampment’, reportedly the first faculty camp amid series of ongoing pro Palestine student led protests at Universities around the country.
The newly established camp is a direct response to last week’s arrests of over 40 student… pic.twitter.com/3rBIIKixq2
The information provided in the Post report said that this encampment, dubbed the Refaat Alareer Faculty Solidarity Encampment—named in memory of a noted writer and professor killed in an Israeli airstrike last December—marks a significant escalation in the campus activism that saw over 40 students arrested and temporarily suspended following NYPD intervention last Friday. The arrests came as police dismantled a similar student-led protest.
The demands of these faculty protestors extend beyond divestment. They are calling for an end to the NYPD’s presence on campus and for the university to expunge the disciplinary charges levied against protesting students, as was reported by the Post. These faculty members, emboldened by the student activism, assert the necessity of their involvement to advance the cause started by their pupils.
“The movement started by our brave students must continue, and it is incumbent upon us as faculty to heed their calls and help finish what they started,” stated an anonymous faculty organizer in a release by New School’s Students for Justice in Palestine, the Post reported.
The narrative from the faculty’s camp paints a grim picture of the university administration’s response to the protests. Allegations of deception by the administration in the face of what they describe as “violent NYPD repression” and tactics that hinder students’ access to essential needs post-arrest have been voiced. The Post reported that according to one faculty member, “From the brazen lies spouted by administration in the face of violent NYPD repression to the suspension of students and tactics used to prevent students from accessing their essential needs after arrests, it is clear the President, Board members, and Administration have no interest in protecting students or listening to their demands, only in protecting themselves and their own profits.”
The New School interim President Donna Shalala stands accused by the Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) of deploying NYPD riot police against protesting students as they slept. Indicated in the Post report was that in a strongly worded statement released on Tuesday, the SJP announced a call for a general strike aimed at halting all school operations—a dramatic escalation in their ongoing campus activism.
The strike, supported by a considerable portion of the faculty and student body, seeks total cessation of both paid and unpaid labor at the university. The Post report revealed that in a bold move signaling deepening faculty involvement, educators have been urged to withhold final grades, a step that could disrupt the academic schedule significantly and underline the seriousness of their grievances.
The conflict between the university administration and its community intensified following the mass arrest of students during a previous protest. This led to a sweeping vote among 200 faculty members, with an overwhelming 94% expressing no confidence in both Shalala and the Board of Trustees, as per the information in the Post report. The vote reflects a profound distrust in the university leadership and a rallying cry for significant administrative changes.
Amid these internal upheavals, the faculty protesters are broadening their scope to national concerns, demanding that universities and municipalities across the country dismiss all charges and disciplinary actions against the more than 2,000 students who have been arrested or disciplined during related protests nationwide, as was pointed out in the Post report.
“We hope it will not be the last. We thank our students for showing us the way; for being our teachers,” the faculty stated, recognizing the student-led initiatives that sparked the current faculty involvement, as was stated in the Post report.
At Pratt Institute, a renowned Brooklyn-based arts college, a series of contentious votes recently unfolded within the faculty governing body. According to a report in the New York Post on Wednesday, the votes concerned proposals to boycott Israeli academic and cultural institutions—a part of the broader Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement that seeks to isolate Israel from the international community of nations and ultimately destroy the one and only Jewish state.
The voting process was steeped in controversy from the outset, initially scheduled on the first full day of Passover, a significant Jewish holiday. The information provided in the Post report indicated that this timing drew sharp criticism and allegations of discrimination from the Brandeis Legal Center for Human Rights Under Law, a Jewish legal civil-rights advocacy group. The center argued that holding the vote during Passover would prevent observant Jewish professors from participating, the Post report added. Responding to these concerns, Pratt’s Academic Senate rescheduled the vote, allowing for wider participation.
The resolutions put forward were highly divisive. One called for an academic and cultural boycott of Israel and was narrowly defeated with a vote of 14 to 12. In a terrifying revelation, the report in the Post said that a similar resolution proposed that Pratt should sever all official interactions with Israeli entities, including events, activities, agreements, or projects involving Israel, its lobby groups, or its cultural institutions. This too was rejected by the same margin. The Post also reported that another measure, which suggested suspending Pratt’s partnership with Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design in Israel, also failed, receiving only 11 favorable votes.
However, the faculty council did pass one significant resolution related to the controversy, with a vote of 20 to 6. This resolution called for Pratt to ensure “full transparency regarding institutional investments in Israeli companies or companies that profit from the Israeli occupation of Palestine” and to prepare for potential divestment from these holdings if deemed necessary, the Post report said.
The reaction to the votes was mixed. Rory Lancman, senior counsel at the Brandeis Center and a former New York City councilman, applauded the rejection of the resolutions aimed at boycotting Israel. According to the Post report, he praised the efforts of Pratt’s Jewish community, stating, “Pratt’s Jewish students, faculty, and staff, many of whom are members of the Brandeis Center, deserve all the credit for standing up for their rights, and for what’s right, period, in defeating this anti-Semitic BDS resolution.”
Lancman criticized the BDS movement, labeling such resolutions as “anti-Semitic” and argued that they likely violate various anti-discrimination laws and regulations, as was affirmed in the Post report. This sentiment underscores the legal and ethical complexities surrounding the BDS movement within academic institutions in the U.S.
Amidst this contentious backdrop, Pratt’s Academic Senate issued a statement emphasizing the institution’s commitment to academic freedom and the importance of engaging in difficult conversations. “The world is struggling to hold space for and have such conversations; we want you all to know that we strive to live by what we say our core values are – academic freedom. We don’t have to agree with one another, but we do have to sit together and talk. And for that, we thank each one of you,” the Senate expressed, as was noted in the Post report.
The issue of BDS at Pratt coincides with a period of heightened activism and unrest on other campuses across the country, including Columbia University, the Fashion Institute of Technology, and New York University. These institutions have seen a range of disruptive activities, from vandalism to the establishment of encampments, as students and faculty express their hatred towards Israel and the entire Jewish nation.
Councilwoman Inna Vernikov posted on X a photo of antisemitic graffiti at PS197
The missive — which read “F–k the Jews. Free Palestine” was written on a white wall at P.S. 197 – The Kings Highway Academy in Midwood, according to a photo posted on X Wednesday by local Councilwoman Inna Vernikov.
InnaVernikov/X
F–k the Jews! Free Palestine!” Scrawled in Blood Red Ink at Kings Highway Academy in Midwood
Edited by: Fern Sidman
In a troubling incident at P.S. 197 – The Kings Highway Academy in Midwood, Brooklyn, a piece of hateful anti-Semitic graffiti was discovered, starkly illustrating the growing concerns about anti-Semitism in educational settings amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict. According to a report on Wednesday in The New York Post, the graffiti, written in blood-red ink on a white wall near an outdoor chess table, bore the message: “F–k the Jews. Free Palestine.” This distressing statement was brought to public attention through a post on the social media platform X by local Councilwoman Inna Vernikov on Wednesday, the Post report said.
This graffiti at P.S. 197 is part of a troubling rise in anti-Semitic incidents in New York City, which has historically been home to one of the largest Jewish communities outside of Israel.
This incident did not stand alone in the broader context but came into the spotlight during a congressional hearing that same day, which questioned Schools Chancellor David Banks about his handling of escalating anti-Semitism in K-12 schools. Facing a panel of 14 lawmakers, Chancellor Banks defended his administration’s actions, asserting a proactive stance against all forms of hate within the school system. According to the information provided in the Post report, he said, “I can’t state that I can prevent every incident from ever happening, but … once it is brought to our attention … we respond in an appropriate fashion.” His testimony highlighted ongoing efforts to combat hate, claiming, “New York City public schools have been aggressive in fighting hate wherever it has reared its ugly head.”
Following her initial exposure of the graffiti, Brooklyn Councilwoman Vernikov updated her audience on X, crediting public pressure and media attention with spurring a swift response from authorities. As per the information in the Post report, she noted that the New York City Department of Education, in coordination with the NYPD, was actively investigating the incident to resolve the issue and prevent future occurrences.
In her communications, Vernikov expressed gratitude for the fast action but also emphasized the need for ongoing vigilance and accountability, reflecting a broader concern about the climate in educational institutions. “Let’s hope this also translates into swift action and accountability for students and teachers who violate DOE’s policies and code of conduct,” Vernikov noted, according to the report in the Post.
A spokesperson from the New York City Department of Education (DOE) reiterated the system’s stance against hate, stating, “Hate has no place at New York City Public Schools, and we condemn all acts of anti-Semitism and discrimination of any kind, which is why this disturbing incident was immediately reported, removed, and is currently under investigation,” the Post reported.
The significant uptick in anti-Semitic incidents in NYC schools follows the escalation of the Israel-Hamas conflict from October 7, which has seen a ripple effect in local communities. As was detailed in the Post report, among the notable events were a rampage by students at Hillcrest High School, which resulted in a Jewish teacher seeking refuge in a locked office for hours, and a citywide student walkout demanding a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. Additionally, the Post reported that severe allegations of virulent anti-Semitism at Brooklyn’s Origins High School have surfaced, marking a terrifying trend of hatred and intolerance infiltrating educational settings.
Schumer claims an Illinois-based gun manufacturer could be breaking the law for peddling a smaller and lighter version of an AR-15 aimed at an audience of children. (AP Photo/Mariam Zuhaib)
Schumer Backs Biden’s Controversial Decision to Block Arms to Israel Amidst Internal U.S. Political Strife
Edited by: TJVNews.com
In a significant political shift, Senator Chuck Schumer of New York, a long-time vocal supporter of Israel in Congress, has expressed his support for President Joe Biden’s contentious decision to potentially block weapons transfers to Israel, as was reported by Yeshiva World News. This development marks a notable pivot in Schumer’s stance, particularly given his historical advocacy for strong U.S.-Israel relations.
Speaking to the press, Schumer emphasized his trust in the Biden administration’s judgment regarding these international affairs. “I believe that Israel and America have an ironclad relationship, and I have faith in what the Biden administration is doing,” Schumer stated, according to the YWN report. His remarks come amid growing tensions within U.S. politics over how to handle the relationship with Israel, especially following recent developments that have put this alliance under scrutiny.
This stance is a stark contrast to Schumer’s previous positions, notably during a tumultuous period in Israeli politics when he was perceived as betraying Israel. YWN reported that Schumer had recently made headlines with his highly critical remarks about Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, calling for significant political changes in Israel’s leadership, which many saw as an indirect support for opposition forces within the Israeli political landscape.
The current controversy revolves around a shipment of munitions previously approved by Congress and officially signed into law by President Biden himself. The administration’s recent move to delay or block these shipments to Israel has sparked a legal and ethical debate, as it could potentially contravene existing laws that govern such military aid.
Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell has been vocal in criticizing the administration’s decision, highlighting it as a problematic gap between Congressional intent and executive action. “A few days ago, we saw reports that the president was delaying weapons shipments to Israel, creating daylight between America and a close ally,” McConnell said, as per the YWN report. He further criticized the lack of transparency with Congress, pointing out the dangers of what he views as a capitulation to the most radical elements of the Democratic Party. “The decision to pause these shipments was withheld from Congress — we still don’t know key facts,” McConnell elaborated, expressing concerns over the implications of such a move on U.S. foreign policy and security.
The debate over these weapon shipments is not just a matter of logistics but reflects deeper ideological and political rifts within the United States regarding its role on the global stage, particularly in how it manages its alliances with key partners like Israel. It also poses significant questions about the future trajectory of U.S.-Israel relations and how entrenched political figures like Schumer navigate these turbulent waters.
Biden’s CNN interview in which he announced the halt of shipment of munitions to Israel is just studded with gems of logic.
“Civilians have been killed in Gaza as a consequence of those bombs and other ways in which they go after population centers” as if 2,000-pound bombs kill no civilians when the US uses them. Tell it to Afghans Mr. Biden — and you will hear back that “The United States military in 2017 relaxed its rules of engagement for airstrikes in Afghanistan, which resulted in a massive increase in civilian casualties … About 243,000 people have been killed in the Afghanistan/Pakistan warzone since 2001. More than 70,000 of those killed have been civilians.” As to Iraq “No one knows with certainty how many people have been killed and wounded in Iraq since the 2003 United States invasion. However, we know that between 280,771-315,190 have died from direct war related violence caused by the U.S., its allies, the Iraqi military and police, and opposition forces from the time of the invasion through March 2023. The violent deaths of Iraqi civilians have occurred through aerial bombing, shelling, gunshots, suicide attacks, and fires started by bombing. … Because not all war-related deaths have been recorded accurately by the Iraqi government and the U.S.-led coalition, the numbers are likely much higher. Several estimates based on randomly selected household surveys place the total death count among Iraqis in the hundreds of thousands. Several times as many Iraqi civilians may have died as an indirect result of the war.”
Talk of the pot calling the kettle black!
And then, this: “We’re not walking away from Israel’s security [when US stops supplying Israel with munitions]. We’re walking away from Israel’s ability to wage war in those areas [i.e. Rafah]” — as if the two are not one and the same, as if destruction of Rafah battalions, of Rafah tunnels, and establishing a smuggling-tight buffer zone between Gaza and Egypt is unrelated to Israel’s security!
Or how about this: “I said to Bibi, ‘Don’t make the same mistake we made in America. We wanted to get bin Laden. We’ll help you get Sinwar. It made sense to get bin Laden; it made no sense to try and unify Afghanistan. It made no sense in my view to engage in thinking that in Iraq they had a nuclear weapon” — as if Gaza is separated from Israel by as many thousands of miles as US is from Afghanistan, as if Iraq did not build a nuclear reactor that Israel bombed, as if Suddam did not kill tens of thousands of Kurds with chemical weapons, as if “getting Sinwar,” rather than eradicating Hamas is all there is to the Gaza war, as if letting thousands of armed terrorists roam Gaza, and shell, rocket, and infiltrate Israel is a reasonable outcome.
But seriously. Afghanistan had the misfortune of being a country whose strategic value was worth far less than the American expenditure in occupying it, so US withdrew, allowing Taliban to rebound. Ariel Sharon’s calculus in withdrawing from Gaza in 2005 was exactly the same — as was Israel’s withdrawal, in 2000, from South Lebanon. Both were ostensibly sensible, cost-cutting decisions — and both came at a colossal cost of wars that followed, of Hezbullah taking over the Lebanon, of Hamas taking over Gaza, of both arming themselves to the teeth with the help from Iran. Talk of being penny-wise!
And this was exactly the outcome of American withdrawal from Iraq and Afghanistan. It did not turn Iraq into a friendly ground; on the contrary, Iraq is swarming with Iran-backed militias that hate the US with their guts and threaten what minimal presence American troops still have there. And Afghanistan, of course, reverted to the Taliban rule. Invariably, withdrawals result in anti-American, anti-Western forces filling the vacuum. Invariably, they were a failure — a failure Biden tries to tout as a success, and urges Israel to replicate in Gaza!
If recent history is any guide, the proper paradigm is not withdrawal but occupation — on a straightforward logic that in the longer run the occupation, costly as it is, is much less expensive than a withdrawal. The paradigm should be that of 1945 — the occupation of Germany and Japan without which they would have reverted to the bad old ways. Allied troops prevented that, nipping the bad ideas in the bud, the rising generation looking at the Nazi past with disgust, rather than admiration. This should be the lesson learned from the October 7 horrible disaster, and the model for the future of Gaza.
It is hard to believe that Biden does not understand this — he surely does — but politicians do not like to think long-term; the next election fills their mental horizon. Accordingly, in his CNN interview Biden was not talking as a candid observer of the world scene — but as a candidate for office. And that kind of talk has its own logic; as some wit (reportedly, Alan Dershowitz) observed, Biden’s “two-state solution” is about the states of Michigan and Pennsylvania — two swing states in which many democrats hate Israel and which he needs to win — and hence, he needs to accommodate the Israel-haters by throwing Israel under the bus. Hence, his touching concern about American bombs killing civilians — as if he was born yesterday, and not lived through Vietnam, Afghanistan, and Iraq.
But, needless to say, Biden left this part unsaid in his CNN interview; he hopes that “masses are asses” and we won’t notice. And he is right that many won’t. Yet, many will — and won’t forget it come November.
BLM Global Network Foundation Sues Tides Foundation Over Alleged Mismanagement of $33M in Donations
Edited by: Fern Sidman
In a major legal battle that could have wide-reaching implications for nonprofit operations and donor relations, the Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation (BLMGNF) has filed a lawsuit against the Tides Foundation, a longstanding fiscal sponsor known for managing funds for various progressive causes, as was reported on Thursday in The New York Post. The lawsuit, filed in California Superior Court in Los Angeles County, accuses Tides of fraud and withholding over $33 million in donations intended for BLMGNF.
According to the detailed 285-page complaint submitted on Monday, the Tides Foundation, which has been operational since 1976, is alleged to have breached its fiduciary duties by diverting funds meant for BLMGNF to other groups, including a radical faction led by anti-police activist Melina Abdullah, as was noted in the Post report. Abdullah’s group, which previously engaged in a legal dispute with BLMGNF described as “frivolous” by BLMGNF’s attorney, reportedly received funding from the pool of donations under contentious circumstances.
Tides Foundation, with offices in Los Angeles and San Francisco, functions as a fiscal sponsor—a role that involves managing donations on behalf of organizations that may lack 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status. This model is common in the nonprofit sector to facilitate funding for smaller or emerging groups. However, the information provided in the Post report said the lawsuit claims that Tides has failed to operate within the bounds of this role responsibly, accusing it of “engaging in deceptive business practices” and operating in a “quasi-banking capacity” without the necessary regulatory oversight.
Further complicating the scenario is the involvement of high-profile donors like billionaire George Soros and his son Alex Soros, whose Open Society Foundations have reportedly channeled nearly $14 million to Tides. The report in the Post also affirmed that some of these funds were directed to activist groups such as the Adalah Justice Project, which has been actively involved in anti-Israel protests across the United States, highlighting the political and ideological complexities interwoven with the fiscal management allegations.
BLMGNF, established in 2017 and becoming a focal point for donations following the 2020 death of George Floyd, approached Tides Foundation during a period when it did not yet have IRS tax-exempt status. Indicated in the Post report was that Tides, a nonprofit that specializes in managing funds for various advocacy and charitable groups, was to act as a fiscal intermediary, handling the surge in contributions BLMGNF received amid widespread calls for social justice and police reform.
According to the lawsuit, Tides, which controls assets totaling more than $1.4 billion, operates by taking a percentage of the donations it manages—ranging from 3% to 9%. BLMGNF claims that it was verbally assured by Tides that the funds would be returned once BLMGNF secured its tax-exempt status, as was explained in the Post report. The funds were to be held in a “collective action fund” that ostensibly remained accessible to BLMGNF.
The relationship between BLMGNF and Tides Foundation soured and eventually ended in 2022. Despite the severance of ties, Tides has allegedly not complied with returning the remaining funds, which amount to some $33 million. The lawsuit highlights a specific incident where Tides reportedly misdirected funds: on June 9, 2022, Tides officials claimed they had transferred $7.4 million from the collective fund back to BLMGNF. However, the Post reported that BLMGNF has alleged that Tides instead sent $4.75 million to an unaffiliated BLM chapter in Oklahoma City, a move that BLMGNF claims was unauthorized and lacks transparency.
The lawsuit raises significant questions about the ethical management of nonprofit funds, particularly in how Tides has functioned akin to a bank but without adhering to the stringent regulations that govern financial institutions. This lack of regulatory oversight is central to BLMGNF’s allegations of “deceptive business practices” against Tides.
In response to these allegations, a spokeswoman for the Tides Foundation firmly dismissed the claims, characterizing them as “completely false.” The Post reported that according to Tides, the funds in question, collected under the Black Lives Matter collective action fund, were specifically intended for distribution to local Black Lives Matter chapters rather than to large, national entities like BLMGNF. “Resources in the Black Lives Matter [collective action fund] were never intended to be granted to large, well-funded national organizations like Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation, and were always intended to be granted to local Black Lives Matter chapters,” the Tides statement explained. They argue that BLMGNF’s legal action aims to redirect resources away from grassroots operations, which would counter the original intent of the donors.
On the other side of this legal battle, an attorney for BLMGNF, Byron McLain, stated that Tides overstepped its bounds by reallocating funds earmarked for BLMGNF to other groups or local chapters without proper authorization, as per the information provided in the Post report.
Further complicating the situation is the involvement of BLM Grassroots, a breakaway faction led by activist Melina Abdullah, who previously engaged in legal action against BLMGNF. The report in the Post also revealed that Tides disclosed that it had allocated $12.6 million from the Support Fund to various groups, including BLM Grassroots. Abdullah’s prior lawsuit against BLMGNF, which sought $10 million, was dismissed as “frivolous,” and she was subsequently ordered to cover more than $700,000 in legal fees and costs for BLMGNF.
This legal tangle is underscored by a June ruling from a Los Angeles Superior Court judge, which dismissed the claims of BLM Grassroots to any of BLMGNF’s donations. The Post reported that McLain emphasized that the ongoing lawsuit against Tides encompasses more than financial discrepancies; it is fundamentally about “the principle of rightful ownership and transparency that should govern partnerships in social justice funding.”
“There is an expectation for Black Lives Matter to challenge systems, break barriers and uphold the truth, no matter how uncomfortable,” BLMGNF stated. “Today, that extends into non-profit operations as we call out Tides Foundation and other so-called ‘fiscal sponsors’ who exploit their role.” The Post reported this accusation comes at a time when BLMGNF itself is under scrutiny over how it managed a significant influx of donations following the global response to racial injustice sparked by the death of George Floyd in 2020.
BLMGNF, which brought in an astounding $90 million in donations during 2020, has faced its share of internal financial controversies. Notably, co-founder Patrisse Cullors was implicated in a personal spending scandal involving the purchase of high-value properties. According to the Post report, these acquisitions included two homes in Los Angeles and a substantial property in the Atlanta suburbs, complete with an airplane hangar and runway. These revelations, first brought to light by The Post, have stirred significant public and media scrutiny.
Cullors has consistently denied using BLMGNF donations to fund these purchases. Nevertheless, the Post reported that the timing of these acquisitions, coupled with her resignation from BLMGNF in May 2021, fueled ongoing debates and suspicions about the financial integrity within the upper echelons of BLMGNF.
Further financial decisions by Cullors, such as signing off on a $6 million Los Angeles mansion intended as an office for BLMGNF, and an $8 million property in Toronto for the group’s Canadian chapter, have only added to the controversy. The Post pointed out that these expenditures raised questions about the appropriateness of spending and financial governance within BLMGNF, especially given the organization’s high-profile role in social justice movements.
Wiz’s Strategic Expansion: A Billion-Dollar Boost for the Cloud Security Innovator
Edited by: TJVNews.com
In an impressive financial move underscoring its rapid growth and robust market confidence, cloud security startup Wiz announced on Tuesday that it has raised $1 billion in a funding round, catapulting its valuation to an impressive $12 billion, as was reported in The Wall Street Journal. Wiz is a New York-based startup with additional offices across the United States and Israel.
This new valuation not only reflects Wiz’s explosive growth but also its strategic positioning within the tech industry, particularly in the cybersecurity sector.
The recent funding round, which swells Wiz’s total funding to $1.9 billion, was spearheaded by major venture capital firms such as Andreessen Horowitz, Lightspeed Venture Partners, and Thrive Capital. According to the WSJ report, the round also saw participation from Greylock Partners, Wellington Management, and other existing investors including Cyberstarts, Greenoaks, Index Ventures, Salesforce Ventures, and Sequoia Capital. Notably, Howard Schultz, former Starbucks CEO, has also invested in this round, adding a high-profile name to Wiz’s diverse list of backers, the WSJ report indicated.
Under the leadership of co-founder and CEO Assaf Rappaport, Wiz is positioning itself for a pivotal year in 2024, which Rappaport anticipates will be a period of consolidation in the cybersecurity industry. As per the information provided in the WSJ report, the company plans to use the newly acquired funds to pursue acquisitions that will strengthen its service offerings, as well as to enhance product development and expand its talent pool.
Wiz’s aggressive growth strategy is underscored by its recent acquisition activities, including the purchase of Gem Security, a company specializing in cloud detection and response. Additionally, the WSJ reported that Wiz is reevaluating its intentions to acquire cybersecurity startup Lacework after a period of due diligence, showcasing its cautious yet assertive approach to expansion.
Financially, Wiz has demonstrated remarkable success, achieving $100 million in annual recurring revenue (ARR) just 18 months after its inception. Indicated in the WSJ report was that by 2023, this figure soared to $350 million, illustrating rapid market penetration and a strong demand for its cloud security solutions. This robust financial performance positions Wiz favorably for a potential initial public offering (IPO), though Rappaport suggests that the company will not rush into going public, the WSJ report added. He indicated that Wiz would consider an IPO once it reaches $1 billion ARR, focusing for now on innovation and maximizing customer value.
The company’s reach extends globally, with hundreds of organizations and over 40 of the Fortune 100 companies utilizing its technology, the WSJ report affirmed. This widespread adoption is a testament to the effectiveness and essential nature of Wiz’s offerings in the increasingly crucial field of cloud security.
Under the guidance of Co-founder and Chief Technology Officer Ami Luttwak, Wiz is developing a platform that aims to secure the entire supply chain of cloud-based operations. The information contained in the WSJ report indicated that this includes protecting the code base of customers, their engineering departments, and other critical functions such as identity management, artificial intelligence, and data clouds. Luttwak’s vision is clear: to offer a security solution that encompasses the whole gamut of building and maintaining cloud infrastructures.
The goal of Wiz’s platform is to provide customers not only with tools to defend against threats but also with the contextual understanding necessary to identify and prioritize vulnerabilities, as was explained in the WSJ report. This approach allows organizations to be proactive rather than reactive, addressing potential security issues before they escalate into more significant problems.
From its inception, Wiz has been ambitious, aiming to become a major player in the cybersecurity field. CEO Assaf Rappaport has emphasized that achieving this goal involves a meticulous focus on maintaining high gross margins, optimizing sales efficiency, and leading the field in research and development, according to the WSJ report. Rappaport believes that these factors are essential for driving innovation and growth within the company.
Wiz’s commitment to excellence is evident in its operational strategy, which prioritizes expanding market share and venturing into new territories. The company recognizes the vast opportunities that lie ahead in the global market and is strategically positioning itself to seize these opportunities at the opportune moment.
The approach taken by Wiz represents a significant shift in how cybersecurity solutions are developed and deployed in cloud environments. By creating a platform that addresses the entire supply chain of cloud technology, Wiz is setting a new standard in the industry. This holistic approach not only enhances security but also improves the overall efficiency of cloud operations for their clients.
The implications of Wiz’s strategy extend beyond individual organizations, potentially influencing the broader cloud computing industry. As businesses increasingly rely on cloud services, the demand for comprehensive, integrated security solutions will continue to grow. Wiz’s platform aims to meet this demand by offering a scalable, efficient solution that can adapt to the diverse needs of its global clientele.
As Wiz continues to expand its footprint and refine its offerings, the company is well-positioned to play a pivotal role in shaping the future of cloud security. With a clear focus on innovation, customer needs, and market expansion, Wiz is not just responding to the current demands of the cybersecurity market but is actively anticipating future challenges and opportunities.
An Israeli private intelligence firm sold Spyware which has allegedly been used to hack the phones of dozens of Al Jazeera journalists. Photo Credit: YouTube
The media is accusing Israel of being anti-democratic for shutting down Al Jazeera, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. pic.twitter.com/op6PhbgN6n
FILE - Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis looks on during a hearing on the Georgia election interference case, March, 1, 2024, in Atlanta. A Georgia appeals court has agreed to review a lower court ruling allowing Fani Willis to continue to prosecute the election interference case she brought against Donald Trump. (AP Photo/Alex Slitz, Pool)
(AP) — A Georgia appeals court on Wednesday agreed to review a lower court ruling allowing Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis to continue to prosecute the election interference case she brought against former President Donald Trump.
Trump and some other defendants in the case had tried to get Willis and her office removed from the case, saying her romantic relationship with special prosecutor Nathan Wade created a conflict of interest. Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee in March found that no conflict of interest existed that should force Willis off the case, but he granted a request from Trump and the other defendants to seek an appeal of his ruling from the Georgia Court of Appeals.
That intermediate appeals court agreed on Wednesday to take up the case. Once it rules, the losing side could ask the Georgia Supreme Court to consider an appeal.
Trump’s lead attorney in Georgia, Steve Sadow, said in an email that the former president looks forward to presenting arguments to the appeals court as to why the case should be dismissed and why Willis “should be disqualified for her misconduct in this unjustified, unwarranted political persecution.”
A spokesperson for Willis declined to comment on the Court of Appeals decision to take up the matter.
The appeals court’s decision to consider the case seems likely to cause a delay in a case and further reduce the possibility that it will get to trial before the November general election, when Trump is expected to be the Republican nominee for president.
In his order, McAfee said he planned to continue to address other pretrial motions “regardless of whether the petition is granted … and even if any subsequent appeal is expedited by the appellate court.” But Trump and the others could ask the Court of Appeals to stay the case while the appeal is pending.
McAfee wrote in his order in March that the prosecution was “encumbered by an appearance of impropriety.” He said Willis could remain on the case only if Wade left, and the special prosecutor submitted his resignation hours later.
The allegations that Willis had improperly benefited from her romance with Wade resulted in a tumultuous couple of months in the case as intimate details of Willis and Wade’s personal lives were aired in court in mid-February. The serious charges in one of four criminal cases against the Republican former president were largely overshadowed by the love lives of the prosecutors.
Trump and 18 others were indicted in August, accused of participating in a wide-ranging scheme to illegally try to overturn his narrow 2020 presidential election loss to Democrat Joe Biden in Georgia.
All of the defendants were charged with violating Georgia’s Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations, or RICO, law, an expansive anti-racketeering statute. Four people charged in the case have pleaded guilty after reaching deals with prosecutors. Trump and the others have pleaded not guilty.
Trump and other defendants had argued in their appeal application that McAfee was wrong not to remove both Willis and Wade, writing that “providing DA Willis with the option to simply remove Wade confounds logic and is contrary to Georgia law.”
The allegations against Willis first surfaced in a motion filed in early January by Ashleigh Merchant, a lawyer for former Trump campaign staffer and onetime White House aide Michael Roman. The motion alleged that Willis and Wade were involved in an inappropriate romantic relationship and that Willis paid Wade large sums for his work and then benefitted when he paid for lavish vacations.
Willis and Wade acknowledged the relationship but said they didn’t begin dating until the spring of 2022, after Wade was hired in November 2021, and their romance ended last summer. They also testified that they split travel costs roughly evenly, with Willis often paying expenses or reimbursing Wade in cash.
What’s a Nice Orthodox Jewish Young Man Doing on the Gridiron in Texas? The Inspiring Story of Sam Salz
Edited by: TJVNews.com
Sam Salz, a diminutive figure standing at 5-foot-6 and weighing 160 pounds, is not your typical aspirant for a spot in the rough-and-tumble world of SEC football, particularly not at a powerhouse like Texas A&M, according to a recently published report in TheAthletic.com, a subscription-based sports news service that was acquired by the New York Times in 2022.
Yet, as the dusk settled over the Bright Football Complex in early February, he was there, ready to share an extraordinary tale of determination and unlikely ambition.
Born and raised in the tight-knit, devout environment of a Modern Orthodox Jewish family in Philadelphia, Salz attended Kohelet Yeshiva High School. This institution, while rigorous in its academic offerings and committed to the moral and spiritual development of its students, did not extend its activities to the football field, as was reported by The Athletic. It was here that Salz, amidst his religious and academic pursuits, nurtured a seemingly far-fetched dream: to play football at one of the most competitive levels in the nation.
With no formal training or experience in organized football, what Salz lacked in physical preparation he made up for with sheer willpower and a meticulously crafted plan. As per the report on TheAthletic.com web site, upon moving to Texas for college, he found himself on the periphery of the Texas A&M football program, a world away from the quiet hallways of Kohelet Yeshiva.
Sam Salz, a football player at Texas A&M, is believed to be the only Orthodox Jew currently playing college football. He wears a kippah under his helmet and does not participate in games on Shabbat.
— Humans of Judaism (@HumansOfJudaism) May 7, 2024
Each day, Salz arrived at the practice field an hour early and stayed an hour late, practicing drills he set up himself using old shoes and trash cans in place of the standard sports equipment. His makeshift training ground beside the practice field became a testament to his resolve. The information provided in the report on TheAthletic.com indicated that without cleats, without a designated position, and without the typical high school football pedigree, he nonetheless worked with the determination of a seasoned athlete.
Salz’s unconventional path to catching the eye of the Texas A&M football staff involved more than just physical preparation. He recognized the importance of making a personal impression. Thus, he made it a point to attend then-head coach Jimbo Fisher’s weekly radio show at Rudy’s Country Store and B-B-Q. TheAthletic.com also reported that it was here, amid the aroma of barbecue, that Salz took a bold step that defied conventional norms and team policies. He approached Coach Fisher directly, looking him in the eye, and declared his intention to walk onto the team, regardless of his non-traditional background in the sport.
This direct approach was emblematic of Salz’s determination not to let traditional barriers dictate his opportunities. Ignoring the team’s policy that required walk-ons to have varsity football experience, he presented himself as a candidate based solely on his dedication and hard work, as was noted in ThAthletic.com report.
At 21, Salz had set his sights on a goal that seemed almost unreachable: playing college football at one of the most competitive levels in the United States, despite having no prior organized football experience.
From his early days at Texas A&M, Salz embarked on a routine that few could sustain. Each day, he would position himself on a patch of land adjacent to the Aggies’ practice fields, separated only by a chain-link fence. This physical barrier did little to dissuade him; rather, it served as a daily reminder of his goal. “I told myself, ‘I’m on this team,’” Salz recounted, according to TheAthletic.com. He believed firmly that although he was physically on the other side of the fence, he was as much a part of the team as any of the players on the field. This belief fueled his rigorous, self-directed workouts, during which he would often be seen by the team—his consistent presence becoming a familiar sight.
Salz’s determination did not go unnoticed. The energy and dedication he brought to his solitary practice sessions began to draw attention not just from other players who saw his relentless commitment, but also from the coaches, as was explained in TheAthletic.com report. After practices, players and coaches alike would see Salz, donning his yarmulke, pushing himself to the limits. Many were inspired by his dedication, some offered encouragement, and a camaraderie began to form. “Guys would come out of practice and realize this guy in a yarmulke was working out every day, and they’d hype me up,” Salz noted to TheAthletic.com. His interactions with the team started to bridge the gap between him and the official roster.
Recognizing his genuine interest and commitment, Salz leveraged his consistent attendance at Coach Jimbo Fisher’s radio shows to make personal appeals to the coach. His persistence paid off when he asked Fisher if he could attend a practice to better understand the team’s dynamics and strategies, TheAthletic.com report said. Fisher, seeing Salz’s unwavering dedication, granted him access. Salz took meticulous notes and diligently incorporated what he learned into his workouts, further aligning his independent training with the team’s regimen.
@sam_salz is an inspiration for his love of the game, his love of Aggieland, and the love he has for his faith. As someone of Jewish heritage, and when it is clearly a hard time in the nation being Jewish, stories like Sam matters. Here’s hoping Week 1 is a night game! https://t.co/u6SR6Kv57P
Salz’s story draws inevitable comparisons to the iconic underdog tale of “Rudy,” the Notre Dame fan who overcame numerous obstacles to make the football team. Ironically, Salz admitted to never having seen the film, though his real-life journey mirrors the cinematic tale’s spirit. Noted in TheAthletic.com report was that unlike Rudy, whose story was propelled by a single-minded quest to play for Notre Dame, Salz’s motivation is less about emulating a cinematic hero and more about fulfilling a personal ambition that is uniquely his own, driven by a passion for the game and a deep desire to prove himself.
For Salz the path was not just about pursuing a passion for sports but also about navigating the complexities of maintaining his religious commitments while integrating into a predominantly secular, high-energy college environment known for its deep-rooted traditions and football culture.
Growing up, Salz’s Saturdays—Shabbat in Jewish tradition—were spent in spiritual observance rather than recreational activities. From sundown on Friday to sundown on Saturday, Shabbat is a time dedicated to rest and spiritual enrichment. Activities common to many American households over the weekend, such as watching or participating in sports, using electricity, driving, cooking, or engaging in any form of work, are prohibited, as was indicated in TheAthletic.com report. This observance naturally limited his exposure to live sports, including college football, which predominantly takes place on Saturdays.
Despite these restrictions, Salz’s interest in football and Texas A&M burgeoned during his high school years. His curiosity wasn’t sparked by televised games or live sports events, but rather through a modern conduit of sports culture: the internet phenomenon known as Dude Perfect, as was reported by TheAthletic.com. This group of Texas A&M alumni gained fame through their viral trick shots and sports-themed entertainment videos. Their connection to Texas A&M and the captivating content they produced drew Salz’s attention and admiration, leading him to delve deeper into what the university represents.
Texas A&M University is not merely an academic institution; it is a community rich with traditions, from the Midnight Yell to game-day festivities, embodying a spirit of camaraderie and tradition. Despite its large student body of over 70,000, the university hosts a relatively small Jewish community, comprising less than 1% of the population. However, TheAthletic.com reported that the presence of a strong and accessible Jewish community, represented by entities such as the University’s Hillel and the Chabad under Rabbi Yossi Lazaroff, reassured Salz of the viability of maintaining his religious life while immersing himself in the broader university culture.
Reaching out to Rabbi Lazaroff, Salz was able to gain insights into the Jewish community’s dynamics at College Station, ultimately affirming his decision that Texas A&M was the right place for him. It was here that Salz saw an opportunity to align his personal and religious identities with his unconventional athletic ambitions.
Salz’s drive and resourcefulness were evident long before he set his sights on college football. As a child, during a school fundraiser that involved selling cookie dough, Indicated in TheAthletic.com report was that Salz showed early signs of his enterprising spirit. The incentive was a flat-screen television for the student who sold the most. Not content to simply go door to door, Salz enlisted the help of a family friend who was an accountant to devise a winning sales strategy. His approach was successful, and he won the competition. This early experience was a precursor to the methodical and determined approach that would later define his pursuit of college football.
His mother, Marianna Salz, recalls the episode as characteristic of her son’s nature. TheAthletic.com reported that she wasn’t surprised when he later declared his intention to play college football, despite never having played the game in an organized manner before. To her, it was just “his next thing.”
Upon arriving at College Station in 2021, Salz’s first step was to integrate himself into the Texas A&M community as he took online classes at a Texas A&M system school. His physical presence near the team, however, was limited by his status as an online student, preventing him from trying out for the football team until he transferred to the main campus as a full-time student, according to the information contained in TheAthletic.com report. Even then, a twist of fate in the form of a crowded roster prevented the team from holding walk-on tryouts before the 2022 season, further delaying his plans.
Despite these setbacks, Salz’s resolve did not wane. He spent countless hours training independently on a patch of land visible from the Kyle Field office where Coach Jimbo Fisher worked. Unbeknownst to Salz, his dedication did not go unnoticed. As was detailed in TheAthletic.com report, Mark Robinson, then the associate athletic director, noted that Fisher could see Salz from the balcony that overlooks the field. Fisher himself was impressed by the persistent presence of the young man who not only showed up at his radio shows but also dedicated himself tirelessly to training on his own. “He’s always working out, and I love his drive,” Fisher remarked to TheAthletic.com.
During the tumultuous 2022 season, which saw Texas A&M football experience a disheartening six-game losing streak, Head Coach Jimbo Fisher was in search of a catalyst, a new spirit to invigorate his team. Amidst this search, Fisher set his sights on a figure whose dedication had already made a silent yet significant impact around the campus—Sam Salz, a student who had relentlessly pursued the dream of making the team against remarkable odds.
The pivotal moment came midway through the season when Salz received a text from Robinson, asking him to come by the football offices. The message was straightforward, yet it sparked an outpouring of emotion from Salz, who knew this could be the turning point he had been working towards, as was pointed out in TheAthletic.com report. His response was visceral—screaming, jumping, and fist-pumping, the culmination of months, if not years, of hard work and sheer determination.
When Salz met with Fisher and Robinson, they extended an invitation for him to join the team. This decision was symbolic; Salz was not the typical SEC football player. Lacking both the physical size and the extensive playing experience of his teammates, his inclusion was a testament to his undeniable spirit and work ethic. Fisher, recognizing the value of such determination and the influence it could have within the locker room, decided that Salz’s unique qualities were precisely what the team needed.
Salz’s journey to the team was not just about sports; it was deeply intertwined with his identity as an observant Orthodox Jew. He never compromised his faith for football, proudly wearing his yarmulke and tzitzit during workouts. These garments, significant to his religious practice, symbolize the commandments of the Torah and serve as a constant reminder of his faith, theAthletic.com reported. Salz, however, harbored concerns about how the team management would react to the practical implications of his observance—strict adherence to the Sabbath, dietary restrictions to maintain a kosher diet, and other religious obligations.
Despite these concerns, the coaching staff’s invitation to join the team was a clear sign of acceptance and understanding. It highlighted an essential aspect of sports at this level—the ability to unify individuals from diverse backgrounds toward a common goal, transcending personal differences, as was noted in TheAthletic.com report.
When Salz joined the team, Texas A&M promptly addressed the unique challenges posed by his observance of Jewish customs and laws. Recognizing the importance of inclusivity, the team made special arrangements to ensure that Salz could adhere to his religious commitments without compromising his participation in the football program. Notably, Salz is exempt from participating in team activities on Jewish holidays, which was highlighted by his absence from practice on Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar, just after he was invited to join the team, according to TheAthletic.com report.
The team’s nutritionist, Tiffany Ilten, has played a crucial role in ensuring that Salz’s dietary needs are met by providing access to kosher meals sourced from a distributor in Cherry Hill, New Jersey. The report also added that the team facility even designated a microwave specifically for kosher food, calling attention to the program’s dedication to accommodating diverse dietary requirements.
Salz’s journey at Texas A&M has been facilitated by the presence of individuals like Mark Robinson who shares his Jewish heritage. Their connection is deepened through the practice of wrapping tefillin—a set of small black leather boxes containing scrolls of parchment inscribed with verses from the Torah, which are worn during weekday morning prayers, TheAthletic.com report said. This ritual symbolically binds them to their faith and has helped forge a strong bond between them, providing Salz with a sense of community and belonging within the athletic program.
On the field, Salz’s transition into college football has been a journey of continuous learning and adaptation. Initially brought on as a running back, it became clear that his lack of foundational football knowledge and the physical demands of the position required a strategic reassessment, the report on TheAthletic.com site indicated. Consequently, Salz transitioned to the receiver position, where the team needed depth, and where his smaller stature could be less of a disadvantage.
Despite his physical limitations relative to other players, Salz has demonstrated remarkable tenacity and commitment. A clip he proudly shares of him running a drag route and making a significant catch in practice exemplifies his growing competence and confidence on the field. TheAthletic.com said that his relentless work ethic and determination have not only earned him a spot on the scout team, where he can make meaningful contributions, but have also garnered respect and support from his teammates and coaches.
Texas A&M strength coach Tommy Moffitt highlighted Salz’s relentless effort, noting, “He goes hard all the time,” TheAthletic.com report said.
Salz’s story has captured the imagination and admiration of his team, including prominent figures like former A&M wide receiver Ainias Smith, recently drafted by the Eagles. Smith highlighted the motivational aspect Salz brings to the team, noting that Salz’s relentless pursuit of his goals serves as a reminder to all that simply making it to college football isn’t the pinnacle but just the beginning, as was mentioned in TheAthletic.com report. His presence and journey encourage his teammates to continuously strive for excellence and maintain their drive.
For Salz, even attending night games requires a rigorous routine that adheres to his religious principles. Living over a mile away from Kyle Field, he walks to the stadium, an act that itself is permissible under Jewish law. His entry into the stadium is facilitated by workers who recognize his need to avoid electronic scanners. Once inside, he observes the remainder of the Sabbath by studying Torah and eating a pre-prepared meal until sundown. TheAthletic.com report indicated that only after the Sabbath ends, typically by the middle of the third quarter, does he don his No. 39 jersey, along with his yarmulke and tzitzit, and join his teammates on the field.
This extraordinary routine is light-heartedly acknowledged by his teammates and even humorously suggested for inclusion in the NCAA video game, where they joke his player rating should be a 99 overall but only available in the fourth quarter of night games.
Despite his dedication and the accommodations made for him, Salz faces the reality of limited participation. His religious observance conflicted with Texas A&M’s all-walk-on kickoff team event against Abilene Christian, which took place during the day, preventing his involvement, TheAthletic.com reported.
When asked why he perseveres in face of such challenges, Salz’s response is touching and profound. His commitment extends beyond personal ambition; he sees himself as a role model for the Jewish community, inspiring others by demonstrating that it is possible to balance religious observance with pursuing one’s dreams, even in a field as demanding as college football.
Sam Salz’s story is not just about football; it’s about the strength of faith, the pursuit of dreams, and the power of representing one’s community in every field and arena. His journey at Texas A&M is a powerful narrative that will undoubtedly inspire many, showcasing the possibilities when one remains true to their beliefs while striving to achieve their goals.
And then, this: “We’re not walking away from Israel’s security [when US stops supplying Israel with munitions]. We’re walking away from Israel’s ability to wage war in those areas [i.e. Rafah]” — as if the two are not one and the same, as if destruction of Rafah battalions, of Rafah tunnels, and establishing a smuggling-tight buffer zone between Gaza and Egypt is unrelated to Israel’s security!
