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Legendary Israeli Spy Eli Cohen’s Remains Might be Coming Home

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A cloud of rumors began swirling in Israel Sunday night over the possibility that the remains of Israeli spy Eli Cohen could be returning home. Photo Credit: Prime Minister’s Office

Rumors that Russia removed the body of Israel’s most famous spy cannot yet be substantiated. Israeli officials are neither confirming nor denying.

A cloud of rumors began swirling in Israel Sunday night over the possibility that the remains of Israeli spy Eli Cohen could be returning home.

“Cohen worked as a Mossad agent in Damascus, Syria under the alias of Kamal Amin Ta’abet from 1962 until his exposure and execution on May 18, 1965,” according to the “Help Bring Eli Home” website sponsored by his family.

“Cohen was able to supply considerable details on Syrian political and military matters because of his strong interpersonal skills and abilities to build close ties with business, military, and [ruling] Ba’ath Party leaders, and Syrian President Amin el Hafiz,” says the website, adding that Cohen was “hanged in Martyr’s Square with the television cameras rolling for the entire world to see.”

Cohen, an Egyptian-born Jew, had managed to climb the ranks of the Syrian Defense Ministry, becoming the top advisor to Syria’s Defense Minister.

The intelligence he gathered before his arrest is said to have been an important factor in Israel’s success in the Six-Day War.

A Wikipedia biographical report indicated that Cohen’s most famous achievement was the tour of the Golan Heights in which he collected intelligence on the Syrian fortifications there. Feigning sympathy for the soldiers exposed to the sun, Cohen had trees planted at every position. The trees were used as targeting markers by the Israeli military during the Six-Day War and enabled Israel to capture the Golan Heights in two days with relative ease. Cohen made repeated visits to the southern frontier zone, providing photographs and sketches of Syrian positions.

Cohen learned of a secret plan by Syria to create three successive lines of bunkers and mortars; the Israel Defense Forces would otherwise have expected to encounter only a single line.

According to the Wikipedia report, in 1957, Cohen was recruited by the Israel Defense Forces, and was placed in military intelligence, where he became a counterintelligence analyst. His work bored him, and he attempted to join the Mossad. Cohen was offended when the Mossad rejected him and resigned from military counterintelligence. For the next two years, he worked as a filing clerk in a Tel Aviv insurance office. In 1959, he married Nadia Majald, an Iraqi-Jewish immigrant and the sister of author Sami Michael. They had three children, Sophie, Irit and Shai, and the family settled in Bat Yam.

The Mossad recruited Cohen after Director-General Meir Amit, looking for a special agent to infiltrate the Syrian government, came across his name while looking through the agency’s files of rejected candidates, after none of the current candidates seemed suitable for the job. For two weeks he was put under surveillance, and was judged suitable for recruitment and training. Cohen was then informed that the Mossad had decided to recruit him, and underwent an intensive six-month course at the Mossad training school. His graduate report stated that he had all the qualities needed to become a katsa, or field agent.

He was then given a false identity as a Syrian businessman who was returning to the country after living in Argentina. To establish his cover, Cohen moved to Argentina in 1961

The source of the rumors appears to be websites linked to opposition groups in Syria. According to these reports, a Russian delegation recently left Syria with a coffin containing Cohen’s remains. Israel has neither confirmed nor denied the reports.

The Israeli military censor is allowing for the rumors to be reported, but it is unclear what the significance of that is.

Middle East specialist Yoni Ben Menachem quoted Syrian opposition sources as saying, “There are unconfirmed leaks from Damascus about a coffin that was passed along with the Russian delegation that left Syria–the leaks speak of the possibility that the coffin contains the body of Israeli spy Eli Cohen. Awaiting confirmation.”

Last year, Cohen’s wristwatch was brought to Israel in a secret operation of the Mossad, and after Eli Cohen was executed, the watch was held by an enemy state.

When the watch was returned to Israel, research and intelligence activities were carried out, at the end of which it was determined unequivocally that the watch was indeed Cohen’s.

It follows the return of the remains of Israeli soldier Zachary Baumel at the beginning of this month. Baumel had been missing since a battle in Lebanon in 1982. The reports of the possible return of Cohen’s remains fit the mold of the background to how Baumel was brought home: the involvement of Russia and one or more opposition groups in Syria, perhaps ISIS, though the exact details remain somewhat vague.

  (World Israel News)

The Danger of Ilhan Omar & Her Cronies

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The three evil witches elected to congress in 2016 seem to be leading their party in a direction that will cause grief not only to Israel, the free world and our Jewish citizens, but to the nation as a whole. These rookie congresswomen, Ilhan Omar (D-MN). Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), both radical Muslims joining with Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), appear to be the new policy makers of the Democrat Party. Whatever nonsense these women spout, however false and dangerous, is supported by their weak-kneed, cowardly colleagues who appear to be swept up in the tornado like force created by this trio of extremists.

Cortez, a 29-year-old former Boston College educated bartender without any apparent or visible knowledge of anything in particular, spouts her own lunatic theories of weather, economics and false Israel history. Although she has the likes of Nancy Pelosi and Bernie Sanders groveling at her feet, her presence is wearing thin with her constituents and she may not survive the next election. However, the two militant Islamists, Omar and Tlaib, are a different story. They are to be taken seriously. Their heavy Muslim districts guarantee them lifelong congressional stints no matter how much Jew and America hatred they espouse. In fact, the more the better for them. Tlaib’s office proudly displays a map with Israel renamed “Palestine” and she casts her vote against any aid and support of Israel. She supports the BDS Movement, the academic boycott of Israel and has as her hero, Louis Farrakhan. Yet the Jewish members on her side of the aisle embrace her. Stupidity.

Ilhan Omar, a Somali refugee who was once married to her brother (figure that one out) has recently blasphemed the Twin Tower, 9/11 terror attack with these words at a Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR) meeting: “Here’s the truth. for far too long we have lived with the discomfort of being a second-class citizen and frankly, I’m tired of it and every single Muslim in this country should be tired of it. (CAIR) was founded after 9/11 because they recognized that some people did something and that all of us were starting to lose access to our civil liberties.” “SOME PEOPLE DID SOMETHING???” These were Muslim terrorists who killed over 2,500 Americans of all races, creeds and religions. And every single Democrat now running for president wholeheartedly supported her when even the far left media hinted that she failed to tell the correct story of September 11, 2001. No matter your opinion of President Trump, we congratulate him for speaking out for all Americans by castigating Omar for her degrading this sorrowful day of infamy. We won’t hold our breaths waiting for those of her political party to do the same.

The Disaster that is DeBlasio

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Photo Credit: Shutterstock

We don’t have to worry about any carbon induced threat of the Atlantic’s rising waters to destroy NYC. It’s being done right before our very eyes by its Mayor, Bill deBlasio. He permitted the giant employer, Amazon, to seek its headquarters elsewhere, he’s destroyed our elite high schools, he’s trafficking business out of midtown and now his previous declaration of the city being a sanctuary one for illegals might be the final nail in our coffin. President Trump is taking advantage of this situation and is considering transporting hordes of these illegals into the Big Apple to take a bite out of guess who? We, the little people..

DeBlasio asked for it. Back in 2014 Big Bill welcomed these invaders into our city by signing into law a plan to hand out ID cards to residents regardless of their immigration status. “We cannot accept a city where some of our residents are forced to live fearfully in the shadows,” he claimed then. Last year he sweetened the incentive for them to flock here by offering them free health care. “Health care for all!” he declared. Add to this idiocy the NY State legislature ruling just last week to give illegals free college educations. Let’s see if we’ve got this straight: If you are not a citizen and can’t vote, you’ve broken immigration law and you may have a criminal background, you stand head and shoulders above the rest of us who have plodded and worked for and may not be eligible for benefits that you suddenly come along and grab…free of charge.

Let’s take our safety into consideration, as well, if Trump follows through with his plans to satisfy DeBlasio’s desire to “take care of” more illegals. A few years back, a report from the Immigration Reform Law Institute discovered that sanctuary cities harbor more than 10,000 illegals who hail from countries deemed “state sponsors of terrorism.” Of this group, 6,000 are Iranian nationals. U.S. intelligence officials told Congress in 2018 that Iranian “sleeper cells” live in the United States avoiding detection until they hear instructions to attack. Remember the terrorists responsible for 9/11 and how they lived among us?

Thomas Homan, former acting director of ICE, noted the real threat of terrorists already in the country. “My biggest concern isn’t how many terrorists have been arrested entering the country illegally, but how many got through? How many did Border Patrol not catch? That’s what Americans should be thinking bout,” he said. That’s where we come in….we are, and that’s what DeBlasio should be concerned with. His declaring NYC a Sanctuary City puts the bulls-eye on us for both illegals looking for a safe haven and also for President Trump looking to dump this problem into the hands of those municipalities who dangerously welcome them in. Unfortunately for those of us who live within these communities and states, wewill pay dearly for this foolishness.

Letters to the Editor

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Dems & the Reparations Issue

Dear Editor:

You can judge a person’s character by the legislation they support. The following Democratic Party 2020 Presidential Primary candidates attended or spoke at the Reverend Al Sharpton’s Annual National Action Network Conference. Each was asked by Sharpton if they supported legislation introduced by Texas Congress member Sheila Jackson Lee to have the federal government spend hard earned tax dollars to study if Washington should pay reparations to decedents of enslaved peoples.

The following “Politically correct” liberal Presidential wanna be’s looking for Sharpton’s blessing said they would support this proposal include Senators Corey Booker (New Jersey), Bernie Sanders (Vermont), Kamala Harris (California), Kirsten Gillibrand (New York), Amy Klobuchar (Minnesota), Congressmember Tulsi Gabbard (Hawaii) & Tim Ryan (Ohio), former Congressmember Beto O’Rourke (Texas), John Delaney (Maryland), Governor Jay Insle (Washington), former Governor John Hickenloop (Colorado), Mayor Pete Buttigieg (South Bend, Indiana), former San Antonio Mayor/Secretary of Housing and Urban Affairs Julian Castro and businessperson Andrew Yang.

Since passage of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, the private sector along with city, state and federal government at all levels, have spent trillions under various programs which benefited African American citizens. This included minority quotas for both employment hiring and admission to college, awarding of contracts to Disadvantaged Business Enterprises, minority business mentoring programs, work place mentoring programs for promotion to higher positions and others.

Every glass ceiling in both the workplace and government was broken years ago. The election of President Barack Obama in 2008 was the last barrier to be broken. It has been common for decades to find African American citizens holding senior management positions in government and business. There is now a large and growing African American middle class.

My Jewish ancestors did not own any plantations and did not poison any slaves on Hebrew National Salami. They were too busy running away from the Cossacks and the pogroms.

Several African American generations have benefited and grown over the past 45 years since passage of the 1964 Civil Rights Act. It is time to move on rather than go back over 154 years to re litigate the 1861-1865 Civil War. We have all grown to look beyond the color of a person’s skin, ethnic origin, religious beliefs, sexual orientation or age and accept each person for who they are today.

These potential Presidential Democratic Party nominees who continue pandering do not deserve either your vote or campaign contribution.

Sincerely,

Larry Penner
Great Neck


Holocaust Memory is Fading

Dear Editor:

For years I have been predicting that all the Holocaust education, museums, books and survivor testimonies will not save Holocaust memory. I remember saying this at a recent lecture I gave in New Jersey; a teacher challenged me telling me we had a great Holocaust Commission. Yes, I answered, I served on it for 9 years , was one of its original founders, and served as one of the editors of the Holocaust curriculum. At a commission meeting I challenged the group to show me proof that we have made a significant difference.

Remember, the New Jersey Holocaust Commission is one of the best in the country with dedicated members and outstanding teachers of Holocaust. But I warned the Commission that we are teaching Holocaust together with other genocides which occurred throughout history, and soon genocide will take over the importance of Holocaust education; the only memory which will remain will be that of genocides in general. I further have recommended we must have Holocaust liturgy in all religious services especially the High Holidays. See my PASSOVER HOLOCAUST HAGGADAH on AMAZON. I know I am correct and do not mind people challenging me . I hope I am challenged and that we discuss this fully. Holocaust memory is in jeopardy. When the last Holocaust survivor dies and we 2 g’s are dying off , you will see Holocaust memory vanish; the revisionists will take over and the Holocaust will only be a date in history. If I am wrong prove me so.

Sincerely

Rabbi Dr. Bernhard Rosenberg


Appreciating the Message of Passover

Dear Editor,

I just wanted to wish everyone a very warm and dear happy Passover from the bottom of my heart. I have enjoyed the newspaper’s coverage of all events from all corners of the globe and want to take this time to slow down, give my thanks, and say that I hope everyone has some downtime to enjoy some Seders with family members and others who are close to heart.

Passover is one of those holidays and traditions that are so deeply engraved into my memory, into my very being and existence. It is a nice annual holiday, and while I would like to be able to eat leavened bread, I like being reminded for about a week that I’m really lucky to have the things that I have. That is one of the takeaways I get from not eating bread. It makes me thankful to not be stranded in the desert, thankful to have food, and thankful to not have gluten sensitivities. I also feel good at the end knowing that I had the discipline to follow through with a plan.

Moreover, it is important to take the parts of Passover like eating matzah instead of leavened bread and remember the history of the Jews being persecuted and how special it is that I can come together with loved ones in the comfort of a home to enjoy a meal and a recounting of our ancestors’ struggles. What fortune to be in such a position.

Don’t take anything for granted this Passover, and make sure to hug those you love extra hard on this special occasion. Chag sameach, everyone, and if you are like me and are the first-born son and will not be at services on the first day, have a safe and easy fast!

Sincerely,

Michelle Berkeley


YUGE Yankees Fan!!

Dear Editor,

Start spreading the news! I was happy after reading your article “Yankees Ranked Most Valuable Franchise in MLB on Forbes List,” because, well, I am a big Yankees fan. I guess the Yankees won the MVF award, so to speak.

The Yankees Franchise bought back the YES Sports television Network, which broadcasts Forbes’ “SportsMoney” show, for $3.5 billion from Disney in March. The Yankees team is owned by Yankee Global Enterprises, an LLC controlled by the family of the late George Steinbrenner, a Cleveland-based shipbuilder, who bought the team in 1973 for $8.7 million.

It is no surprise that the world’s most successful sports franchise tops the MLB list for value, and it makes me proud to think of that value that is created right up in the Bronx. I think about how my late grandpa grew up in the shadows of Yankee Stadium and was a huge fan, having seen almost all of the greats walk out onto the field. It gives me some joy and comfort to think about how the franchise is still thriving and not going anywhere anytime soon. Here’s to hoping for more championships and more franchise success.

Sincerely,

Winona Muntz

Is Trump’s Proposal to Bus Illegals to Sanctuary Cities a Political Masterstroke?

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President Donald Trump’s proposal to ship immigration detainees to so-called sanctuary cities –which are Democrat strongholds— is a political masterstroke, if the Left’s wounded animal-like howling is any indication.

With this politically brilliant tactic, the likes of which would never have come from a President Jeb Bush or a President Mitt Romney, Trump continues to demonstrate that he is one of the few Republican presidents in modern American history who actually knows how to fight the Left. He is giving leftists a well-deserved taste of their own medicine.

And what better place to send illegal aliens than to sanctuary jurisdictions? They claim to welcome illegals and provide services for them. Their sanctuary policies, by which they harbor and shield illegals from U.S. Customs and Immigration Enforcement (ICE), are magnets for illegals, giving them incentives to sneak across the border or overstay visas.

The president’s plan only gives sanctuary cities more of what they claim to want.

“We’ll bring them to sanctuary city areas and let that particular area take care of it,” Trump said April 12 at the White House. “They say, ‘we have open arms,’ they’re always saying they have open arms, let’s see if they have open arms.”

The same day Trump tweeted: “Due to the fact that Democrats are unwilling to change our very dangerous immigration laws, we are indeed, as reported, giving strong considerations to placing Illegal Immigrants in Sanctuary Cities only….”

“Sanctuary cities that release known criminal aliens put all Americans at risk,” Trump told the National Association of Attorneys General on March 4.

“In the last two years, ICE officers made 266,000 arrests of aliens with criminal records, including those charged or convicted of approximately 100,000 assaults — and these are new numbers, hard to believe — 30,000 sex crimes, and 4,000 murders.”

California leftists loudly rejected Trump’s plan, which is not all that surprising because the Golden State gave birth to the sanctuary movement. Los Angeles became the first U.S. sanctuary city in 1979 when its police department issued Special Order 40, a document that forbids police officers from inquiring about the immigration status of individuals not suspected of crimes.

California’s new governor, Gavin Newsom (D), a former mayor of San Francisco, has pledged to make his home state “a sanctuary to all who seek it” in defiance of President Trump’s drive to secure the nation’s border with Mexico and enforce U.S. immigration laws. The state already has unprecedented sanctuary laws on its books that shelter its 2.4 million illegal aliens from ICE. Those dubious statutes are under attack in a lawsuit filed by the Trump administration.

Newsom was one step away from the funny farm Friday as he experienced an adjective-rich mental breakdown while describing his opposition to the plan to CBS News.

Newsom said Trump’s proposal was “unserious,” “illegal,” “immoral,” “asinine,” “sophomoric,” “ludicrous,” “petulant,” “un-American,” and “rather pathetic.”

“To use immigrants as pawns — to put them in difficult and trying circumstances as political theater shows how low a human being can go. And this human being happens to be sadly and tragically the president of the United States,” Newsom added.

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, another California Democrat whose home town of San Francisco is a sanctuary city, attacked the Trump administration for its “cynicism and cruelty” in “using human beings … as pawns in their warped game to perpetuate fear and demonize immigrants.”

San Francisco’s current mayor, London Breed, said the plan “is just another in a long line of scare tactics and half-baked ideas.”

Oakland, California Mayor Libby Schaaf, called the plan “an outrageous abuse of power — using human beings to settle political scores.”

Schaaf has tipped off illegal aliens about approaching ICE raids to applause from the mainstream media. Schaaf piously insists her actions have not endangered ICE officers. “How can it be dangerous and illegal simply to tell people what the law is, what their rights are, what their resources are?” she said disingenuously. “That’s all I did.”

Except that Newsom, Pelosi, Breed, Schaaf, and their fellow Democrats have been using immigrants, or more precisely, illegal aliens, as pawns for decades in an effort to import an electorate more to their liking in what stubbornly remains a more or less right-of-center country.

Former President Obama even went further, sending busloads of migrants to law-and-order conservative cities that did not want them, to punish those jurisdictions for not being sanctuary cities, as Monica Showalter notes at American Thinker.

President Trump has tried to crack down on sanctuary cities.

An Obama-appointed San Francisco judge, U.S. District Judge William H. Orrick III, issued a permanent nationwide injunction against President Trump’s Executive Order 13768, which would have withheld federal funding from sanctuary jurisdictions that refuse to cooperate with ICE. That injunction remains in force.

Congressional Republicans have serially betrayed conservatives and handed Democrats victories over President Trump by refusing to cut off funding for sanctuary cities.

The sanctuary movement gave illegal aliens permission to rob, rape, and murder Americans by, among other things, stigmatizing immigration enforcement. Some left-wingers call sanctuary jurisdictions “civil liberties safe zones” to blur the distinction between citizens and non-citizens by implying illegal aliens somehow possess a civil right to be present in the U.S. Leftists also like to refer to all migrants, including illegal aliens, simply as “immigrants” in order to further muddy the waters. This helps the Left portray conservatives, who are generally not anti-immigrant –they’re anti-illegal immigration— as xenophobic bigots.

Sanctuary cities should be called traitor cities because they are in open rebellion against the United States just as much as the Confederate Army was when it opened fire on Fort Sumter.

President Trump, unlike Democrats and many in his own party, understands how dangerous sanctuary policies are.

And the Left’s extended freak-out over Trump’s new proposal suggests the president is on to something.      (FrontPageMag)

Matthew Vadum, formerly senior vice president at the investigative think tank Capital Research Center, is an award-winning investigative reporter and author of the book, “Subversion Inc.: How Obama’s ACORN Red Shirts Are Still Terrorizing and Ripping Off American Taxpayers.”

The Implications of Netanyahu’s Re-Election for Israel & the World

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Benjamin Netanyahu has been declared the winner of an unprecedented fifth term as Israel’s prime minister, refusing to be beaten by the combined political force of three former IDF army chiefs; pending bribery and fraud allegations hanging over him; and the combined forces of a hostile broadcast, print, and digital news media who spent the latter part of the past three years hounding and tarnishing Netanyahu day and night. All have failed to end his political career. Netanyahu, a seasoned conservative politician and a brilliant political tactician, proved once again his ability to lead and overturn what seemed to be a foregone conclusion that he would be ousted.

Throughout the night, initial exit polls had shown that the Likud Party, led by Netanyahu, had lost to the Blue and White Party, led by Benny Gantz. Updated results accounting for the final hours of voting showed Likud leading 35 to 34. The actual number of Knesset mandates will likely change once all votes are tallied and the votes of parties that did not cross the threshold are redistributed. Irrespective of the tight race between the two major parties, the right-wing bloc has won a clear and undisputed majority in the 120-seat Knesset, being swept back into power and forming Israel’s new government in the coming days and weeks. Benjamin Netanyahu’s path to becoming once again Israel’s prime minister will withstand any last-minute surprises as the tallying of votes is completed.

Surprising casualties of the election results were two of the more popular and outspoken right-wing politicians: education minister Naftali Bennett and justice minister Ayelet Shaked, the joint heads of the New Right Party, who appear to have lost their bid to be in the 21st Knesset. At a gathering of his supporters in Bnei Brak, Bennett said he believed that once the soldiers’ votes were counted, the party would have enough support to enter the Knesset. “We have always taken care of the soldiers and now they will take care of us,” Bennett said. “The New Right will pass, and it will pass very nicely, we just need to be patient. We believe in our path and we will succeed.”

On the opposing side of the political map, a result of this election is that the Israeli public has chosen to end the historical role and political significance of the Israeli political left, for many of Israel’s voting public, “peace has become a dirty word”. The Likud led platform of Jewish solidarity and support of modern Jewish nationalism based on Israel as the national homeland of the Jewish people coupled with unprecedented economic prosperity, has convinced the Israeli public that the Left’s vision of peace, liberal social values, and socialist economic policies belong to the past and have been deemed either as unrealistic at best, or a denial of reality at worst. The never ending conflict with the Palestinians, based on the “land for peace” model is no longer a viable political process due to the unwillingness of the Palestinian leadership to accept Israel’s existence and the continuing terror raising its ugly head all too frequently.

“The Peace Process”, once the dividing line between left and right in Israeli politics has ceased to be an issue. As the realization that a solution with the Palestinians is unattainable in the near future, so too have the fortunes of left-wing parties leading to their apparent electoral demise. The Leftist version of Israeli society has been effectively ended with the re-election of Benjamin Netanyahu to a Fifth term.

An astute observation of the Israeli election results can also have wider implications for the American elections in 2020 and the re-election prospects of President Trump. The results of last week’s elections show that the Likud’s political strength actually rose despite Netanyahu’s widely media bias espousing politicized accusations and alleged transgressions. The veteran political commentator Yossi Klein has asked in the past “How is it possible that after all the investigations, the suspects, the cases and earthquakes, after everything is out in the open, the Likud gets more than two additional Knesset seats in the polls?”

His answer, “It’s been there since the ’50s. It’s no good, it says on the wall. You screwed us then and now we’re getting back at you. Who are ‘we’ and who are ‘you’? ‘We’ are what you once called ‘the second Israel’ and today the ‘periphery.’ ‘We’ are the children of those you threw into all kinds of holes. And who are ‘you’? You are Mapai, you are the police, you are the media, you are the state but we’re punishing you.” Both President Trump and Prime Minister Netanyahu share a loyal base, which feels cheated, deprived, ignored, swindled and oppressed. As a result, both political leaders have in the past and can in the future give so many disenfranchised voters hope and that their struggles are important and can no longer be ignored.

Only this past week, the month of Nisan has arrived and we celebrated Rosh Chodesh Nisan. Our sages teach us that “In Nisan we were redeemed and in Nisan we will be redeemed in the future.” Many in Israel have no doubt that the elections results have a much greater significance for Israel’s future than just another election.

The writer, a 25-year veteran of the I.D.F., served as a field mental health officer and Commander of the Central Psychiatric Military Clinic for Reserve Soldiers at Tel-Hashomer. Since retiring from active duty, he provides consultancy services to NGO’s implementing Psycho trauma and Psychoeducation programs to communities in the North and South of Israel. Ron is a former strategic advisor at the Office of the Chief Foreign Envoy of Judea and Samaria.

 

A Seat at the Table: Promoting Disability Inclusion at the Passover Seder

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When done right, the Passover Seder is the ultimate opportunity for experiential learning. Centered around our children, the Seder provides countless opportunities for the inclusion and engagement of children of all ages, abilities and backgrounds.

After many weeks of practice at school and at home, the stage is set for the youngest child at the Seder to sing Ma Nishtana, melodically musing “Why is tonight different from all other nights?” We encourage every child to contribute to the night’s discourse, to offer thoughts and insights at his or her own levels as to the reasoning behind the evening’s many unusual customs. And we sing tunes with inviting intonations so that everyone can join in and end on a high note with the nursery rhymes of Echad Mi Yodeah and Chad Gadya.

While there are so many ‘traditional’ avenues for education and engagement at the Seder, it’s the Haggadah’s description of the Four Sons that stands out to me as a crucial teachable moment.

Rabbi Yisrael Meir Lau, Former Chief Rabbi of Israel, explains that the word ‘echad’ (one) is used when introducing each of the Four Sons to show us that every single person around the table is equal to one. Every person, from the ‘wise son’ to the so-called ‘wicked son,’ are counted as peers. Every person, regardless of age, gender, background, education or abilities, are considered equal members of the family and the Jewish nation.

It’s this nod to disability inclusion, the notion that the child who does not know how to ask is also counted as one, that makes this segment of the Seder so meaningful to me. Working at ALEH, Israel’s network of care for children with severe complex disabilities, I have encountered hundreds of beautiful souls who, through no fault of their own, simply do not have the capacity to ask questions at the Seder like other children. It’s heartwarming to know that they, too, have an equal place at the table.

With these children, it is especially important to follow King Solomon’s brilliant pedagogical philosophy of “Educate each child according to their own way” (Proverbs 22:6). While this often means speaking to a child in his or her own language or providing age appropriate explanations and activities, for children with disabilities, it means planning ahead to make the Seder more accessible and focusing on the things they can do throughout the evening, rather than the things they can’t.

For starters, children with disabilities should be given a seat of distinction at the table, making it clear to all that they are equal participants in the Seder activities. When Urchatz, the first opportunity to wash our hands at the Seder, rolls around, children with disabilities should have their hands washed as well – a wonderful sensory experience that will make an impact on them. These young participants should also be assisted with the dipping of Karpas (the vegetable ‘appetizer’) in saltwater and taking drops of wine out of their goblets when counting the Ten Plagues.

There are also many puppets and props available for purchase that can be used to engage children with disabilities and tell the story of the Exodus from Egypt in a multisensory way. And children of all levels of ability should work together to hide and retrieve the Afikomen, a classic game of hide and seek that can be transformed into a wonderfully inclusive experience.

While the Haggadah speaks of Four Sons, many commentators highlight the existence of a ‘Fifth Son’: one who isn’t even at the Seder table. Through the generations, we have interpreted this as a directive to engage with those who feel detached or disillusioned and have decided to steer clear of the Seder. But it is important to realize that it can just as easily refer to those who cannot physically make it to the table themselves, and who may have been overlooked because they cannot participate in exactly the same ways.

In this and every generation, it is our obligation to “regard ourselves as if we had come out of Egypt.” It is likewise our responsibility to ensure that every person is given the opportunity to do the same by participating in the Seder. Our celebration of freedom can only be complete if there is a seat at the table for everyone, and we can only be truly free if we carry this message of inclusion over to every other day of the year.

Dov Hirth is the Coordinator of Marketing, Development and Special Projects for ALEH (www.ALEH.org), Israel’s network of care for individuals with severe complex disabilities and a global voice for disability inclusion and accessibility.

 

More Than 1,000 Mezuzahs Change Jewish Life in Brooklyn’s Sea Gate

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Historic Brooklyn neighborhood undergoing a Jewish renaissance

Having mezuzahs on her family’s doorposts has changed Anna Shur’s outlook on Judaism.

Those at a local daycare center point out the establishment’s first mezuzahs.

“It gives me a sense of who I am; it’s a reminder to be thankful to G d,” says Shur, who started lighting Shabbat candles regularly and enrolled her 7-year-old son and 6-year-old daughter in Hebrew school after mounting the parchment scrolls, which contain the Shema, the central tenet of Judaism, in plain sight.

The resident of Brooklyn, N.Y., put the mezuzahs up with the help of Rabbi Heshy Ceitlin, who moved to the area about four years ago as a Chabad-Lubavitch emissary with his wife, Rochel Chana, to join her parents, Rabbi Chaim and Rivkah Brikman, co-directors of Chabad by the Ocean. Shur and Rabbi Ceitlin met when she had Jewish questions she wanted answered after her grandmother died. The rabbi came by and introduced himself, and then mentioned a mezuzah project, which he has been running since the end of 2015. They set a date, made sure her children were home to see it and got started.

Michael and Maureen Nelson get kosher mezuzahs on all doors in their home.

The mezuzah not only designates a home as Jewish, but is also a symbol of G d’s watchful care over the home. It gives her a sense of protection over their residence, says Shur, who didn’t have mezuzahs on her doors growing up.

“I never had the opportunity and wouldn’t have known how to go about it,” Shur tells Chabad.org, adding that being able to go to the store and buy a mezuzah isn’t the same for her as knowing how it’s supposed be affixed or the rules around it. “It’s great to have Rabbi Heshy and his wife because every time I have a question, I shoot them a text, and they always have answers,” she says.

The Ceitlins started a mezuzah campaign at a synagogue appreciation dinner in 2015. They gave out 200 cards for people in attendance to fill out, asking whether or not they had mezuzahs and when they were last checked. Fifty or sixty families signed up right away, and then there were more.

David Krainert with Rabbi Heshy Ceitlin and the newly affixed mezuzah on his Sea Gate home.

The rabbi went family to family, meeting people, checking and adding mezuzahs. Two years later, he had already put up more than 1,000, and his work continues, says Ceitlin. “Word gets around, and people just call me now instead of me reaching out to them,” he says. “But in the beginning, it started with cards they filled out and going family after family. I would go visit them and take care of their mezuzahs.”

The rabbi was there to put up mezuzahs for Igor Fridlin and his wife, Elaine, when the family—the couple, plus a 12-year-old and nine-year-old triplets—moved to a new house in October 2017. He came back just a few months ago to check that they were still kosher as, over time, letters can fade or the parchment can tear. “We’re all busy with our daily lives—work, kids, everything else—and this is an incredible convenience, to have someone literally at your arm’s reach who can do it, who can offer that to you,” says Fridlin.

Russian immigrant Riva Gitlin gets mezuzahs on all the doors of her home.

Living in the community has also encouraged Fridlin to have mezuzahs on his doorposts, he notes, adding that he grew up in the former Soviet Union, where he was not accustomed to such practices. “If I wouldn’t be in Sea Gate, I probably wouldn’t have mezuzahs, but the rabbi’s teachings, his encouragement … he drew everybody in, teaches us about Judaism,” he says. “Every time he tells a story, it’s just amazing.”

            (Chabad.org)

Will Congestion Pricing Make Manhattan a “Walker’s Paradise”?

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Manhattan could become a walker’s paradise thanks to congestion pricing, according to some. Photo Credit: Shutterstock

Manhattan could become a walker’s paradise thanks to congestion pricing, according to some.

“A coming fee on vehicles entering Manhattan’s most congested streets won’t just reduce traffic while funding improvements to the subway. It could also lead to wider sidewalks, expanded bus and bike lanes, and new pedestrian plazas,” reports the Wall Street Journal. “At least that is the vision that New York City’s transportation chief has for Manhattan if the fee significantly reduces congestion.

“It certainly would open up a lot of pretty transformative possibilities,” Polly Trottenberg, New York City’s transportation chief, told the newspaper in an interview.

Legislators said yes to congestion fees earlier this year as part of the state’s budget. According to the City, under the plan:

* Electronic tolling devices would be installed on the perimeter of the Central Business District (CBD) defined as streets south of 61st St. in Manhattan.

* The FDR Drive will not be included in the Central Business District.

* The electronic tolling system will account for tolls previously paid by drivers entering Manhattan from designated crossings.

* The system will be installed and operated pursuant to an MOU between the City of New York and the MTA for the purposes of ensuring the timely completion of the installation of congestion infrastructure in order to effectuate a congestion pricing plan, and recognizing the expertise of the TBTA for purposes of running and operating cashless tolling systems and City agencies for purposes of the use and impact of infrastructure installation on City streets.

* Tolls will be variable providing discounts for off-peak hour travel.

* Emergency vehicles will be exempt from congestion pricing tolls.

* Other exemptions or discounts will be provided to a limited group of vehicles entering the CBD including vehicles operated by or transporting people with disabilities and individuals who have an identifiable hardship or limited ability to access medical facilities in the CBD.

Congestion pricing tolls will be supplemented with State and City revenue from a fixed amount of the new internet sales tax derived from sales in New York City, with a growth factor, and a percentage of the State and City revenue from the cannabis excise tax.

“Congestion pricing revenue and these two taxes will be placed in a ‘lockbox’ to provide a funding source necessary to ensure the capital needs of the MTA can be met, with priority given to the subway system, new signaling, new subway cars, track and car repair, accessibility, buses and bus system improvements and further investments in expanding transit availability to areas in the outer boroughs that have limited mass transit options,” according to de Blasio’s office.

Tolls will be set once the electronic infrastructure is in place and a Capital Plan is finalized but will in no event be set later than December 2020.

Iconic LI Winery Hits the Market to the Tune of $17.9M

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Bedell Cellars, a vineyard located in Cutchogue, Long Island, has been put on the market to the tune of $17.9 million.

Bedell has operated for 35 years. It sits on 75 acres and grows 10 varieties of grapes. The other stats are just as impressive: its total 95 acres includes a main residence built in 1710; a 10,000-square-foot facility with a tasting room, wine lab, barrel room, fermentation cellar, bottling line and offices; a 4,000-square-foot annex for events; an agricultural barn for machines and case storage; a tasting room and events building located at Corey Creek; and an 18th-century main house.

“The traditional, two-story, cedar-shingled home sits on 2.6 acres. At 1,825 square feet, it comes with four bedrooms, three and a half bathrooms, a fireplace and the original stonewall basement,” reports the New York Post. “The outdoor space, by landscape architect Ed Hollander, includes a patio courtyard, a fountain, a 150-year-old maple tree and a working apple orchard.”

Bedell’s web site tells its story: “Kip & Susan Bedell planted their first grapevines here in 1980, with kip earning the moniker “Mr. Merlot” in Wine Spectator magazine. In 2000, Bedell cellars was sold to the Lynne family. Today, Bedell stands at the forefront of creativity and excellence in the modern American wine industry, and is widely regarded as the benchmark winery in the eastern US.”

Owner Michael Lynne passed away in 2019 after a lifetime of success in wine, food, theater, film, and art. After graduating from Columbia Law School in 1964 he founded an entertainment law firm, and in 1990 began a 28-year association with New Line Cinema, according to the web site. “He produced and distributed such films such as The Lord of the Rings Trilogy, Austin Powers, Magnolia, Hairspray, Sex and the City, and Nightmare on Elm Street. During Michael’s tenure as CEO, New Line became the most successful independent film company in the world. Michael was also an esteemed contemporary art collector and Trustee of New York’s Museum of Modern Art. His beloved wife Ninah continues his legacy as the current owner.”

Trent Preszler, who serves as CEO, has worked at Bedell since 2002, and under his leadership the business has established a preeminent role in the American wine industry. “Trent’s fingerprints are on every detail of Bedell’s success, from the vineyard and winery to sales, marketing and operations. Trent served for 11 years on the Board of the New York Wine & Grape Foundation, and is currently Chairman of Wine America,” according to the site. “Previously, he worked at The White House Office of Science & Technology Policy during the Clinton years, and was a Rotary Scholar at the Royal Botanic Gardens U.K. Trent graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Iowa State University and now proudly serves on their Board of Directors. He holds two advanced degrees from Cornell University: an M.S. in Agricultural Economics and a Ph.D. in Viticulture.”

Brooklyn Health Co Raises $65M for Technology to Help Low Income Patients

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Cityblock calls itself a “tech-driven provider for communities with complex needs.” Photo Credit: Fierce Healthcare

The Brooklyn-based health company whose stated mission is to use technology on behalf of low-income patients with complex medical conditions, was founded in 2017. Its initial location was in Crown Heights, and partnered with EmblemHealth’s AdvantageCare Physicians.

Cityblock calls itself a “tech-driven provider for communities with complex needs.” The startup “partners with community health organizations to deliver primary care, behavioral health and social services to Medicaid and low-income Medicare recipients,” notes impactalpha.com. “The backbone of its model is a software platform called Commons that links Cityblocks’ partners and care providers.”

The company is also doing business now in Waterbury, Conn., working in concert with EmblemHealth’s ConnectiCare. Executives plan to expand into North Carolina by the end of 2019 by working with Blue Cross and Blue Shield.

“The startup uses its technology platform, Commons, to facilitate communication among health team members who provide medical, behavioral and social services to Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries in underserved neighborhoods,” reported Crain’s New York Business. “Patients’ care teams are made up of doctors, nurses, mental health providers and community health workers trained in coaching and managing chronic diseases, such as diabetes and hypertension.”

In an announcement made on the web site medium.com Iyah Romm, CEO and co-founder explained that he launched Cityblock a year and a half ago “with the aim of building the first tech-driven provider for communities with complex needs. Today we bring radically better care to neighborhoods where the healthcare system has let people down — delivering care for medical and behavioral health needs, and the social challenges people face day-to-day. We believed we could achieve this by bridging technology with trusting, person-to-person relationships, in a manner designed to support providers and empower people to have a role in their own care.”

“Existing care delivery models simply don’t work for many in lower-income communities. As a result, many people in these communities get stuck in a cycle of emergency room visits and hospital stays,” said Elliot Geidt of Redpoint, who is a member of the company’s Board of Directors about the decision to invest in Cityblock. “Iyah, Toyin, Bay, and the Cityblock team are building an entirely new way of providing care for this large and previously underserved population.”

Cityblock now has about 180 employees, including health care providers, engineers and data scientists, and said it serves thousands of members, Crain’s reports. “It was spun out of Sidewalk Labs, the urban-focused innovation arm of Google’s parent company Alphabet that is led by former Deputy Mayor Daniel Doctoroff. Sidewalk Labs participated in the Series B round along with existing investors Joshua Kushner’s Thrive Capital, Maverick Ventures, Town Hall Ventures and EmblemHealth.”

 

Axelrod Arts Center Brings a Touch of Broadway to Asbury’s Iconic Paramount Theater

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Partnership Leads Arts Resurgence at the Jersey Shore

A new partnership between Madison Marquette’s historic Paramount Theatre and the Axelrod Performing Arts Center [APAC] is set to bring two professionally-produced musical concerts–featuring Broadway stars–to the Asbury Park Boardwalk this summer.

Hosted at the Paramount Theatre and produced by the Axelrod, Judy Garland at Carnegie Hall is scheduled for June 23 at 7 PM, followed by the Doo Wop Project on June 27 at 8 PM. Tickets can be purchased at The Stone Pony, Blackbird Presents, and Axelrod Theatre box offices and on Ticketmaster.com. For additional information on the upcoming shows, please visit: http://apboardwalk.com/happenings/.

Judy Garland at Carnegie Hall, held on the fiftieth anniversary of Garland’s death, is the first recreation of the legendary singer’s live, recorded concert at Carnegie Hall in New York on the night of Sunday April 23, 1961, which has been hailed as “the greatest night in show business history”.

Hosted by Judy Garland’s daughter Lorna Luft, the concert will feature an orchestra conducted by Liza Minnelli’s former musical director Michael Berkowitz. The concert is being done in collaboration with the Judy Garland Heirs Trust and Garden State Equality and coincides with Asbury Park’s official kickoff for World Pride Week.

Grammy- and Emmy-nominated recording artist and America’s most distinguished archivist of the Great American Songbook, Michael Feinstein is thrilled about Asbury Park’s tribute to the great Judy Garland: “This is a watershed event in the history of Judy Garland’s musical legacy and is the first time the Garland concert will be performed with meticulous research and preparation, giving listeners a true sense of what the orchestra really sounded like in 1961. It’s a remarkable achievement, and the presence of Judy Garland’s daughter Lorna Luft will add a first-hand family member to help guide the audience through the experience. How wonderful that this ground-breaking event is finally happening!”

In addition to Luft, the concert will feature four Broadway stars: Tony winner Debbie Gravitte (Broadway’s Jerome Robbins Broadway, Les Misérables, They’re Playing Our Song); Karen Mason (Broadway’s Sunset Boulevard, Mamma Mia!); Joan Ellison (national tour The Boy from Oz and a Judy Garland specialist), and Gabrielle Stravelli (Bistro and Broadway World awards winner).

Garland’s live performances were a tremendous success, and the double album ultimately became a huge hit, winning a Grammy Award for Album of the Year and making Garland the first woman to win the award.

Next up, the Axelrod brings the wildly popular Doo Wop Project to the Paramount. The Doo Wop Project traces the evolution of doo-wop from the classic sound of five guys singing tight harmonies on a street corner to the biggest hits of today.

In their epic shows, The Doo Wop Project takes audiences on a journey from foundational tunes of groups like the Crests, Belmonts, and Flamingos through the influential sounds of Smokey Robinson, The Temptations, and The Four Seasons, all the way to songs from modern musicians like Michael Jackson, Jason Mraz and Maroon 5.

Featuring stars from Broadway’s Jersey Boys and Motown: The Musical, The Doo Wop Project brings an unparalleled authenticity of sound and vocal excellence to recreate and reimagine some of the greatest music in American pop and rock history.

“Asbury Park is known for its dynamic music and arts scene, and we are thrilled to welcome the Axelrod Performing Arts Center and their Broadway-quality productions to the Paramount Theatre,” said Pasqualina DeBoer, Marketing Director, Madison Marquette. “This partnership expands the range of entertainment available to visitors and local residents of Asbury Park just in time for the summer season.”

 

About Madison Marquette:

Madison Marquette—the developer behind the resurgence of Asbury Park— brings top tier talent to nationally recognized entertainment venues on the Asbury Park waterfront including Paramount Theatre, Convention Hall, Wonder Bar, and the world-famous Stone Pony. A truly thriving musical community, this storied city by the sea enjoys unparalleled historic architecture and a rich history as one of the most famous and entertaining resort destinations of the 20th century.

 

About the Paramount Theatre:

Paramount Theatre, along with the adjacent Convention Hall and the Grand Arcade connecting the two, is one of the most majestic landmarks in New Jersey. Over the years, this historic entertainment venue has hosted legendary performances by Tony Bennett, Elvis Costello, and Bruce Springsteen, just to name a few. With a seating capacity of approximately 1,600 guests, the legendary Paramount Theatre offers superior acoustics and stage visibility as well as a unique atmosphere that has been described as being simultaneously grand and intimate. Tickets can be purchased on ticketmaster.com or the Stone Pony box office. For more information about Paramount Theatre, visit apboardwalk.com.

 

About the Axelrod Performing Arts Center:

The Axelrod Performing Arts Center is New Jersey’s newest professional theater, producing main-stage musicals with casts and production teams from New York City and beyond, as well as original ballets, concerts and film festivals throughout the year. The Axelrod fosters artistic excellence by showcasing varied and distinct cultural programs that enrich the imaginative, intellectual, and creative soul, while cultivating an appreciation of diverse communities through the pursuit of the arts. For more information, please visit www.axelrodartscenter.com.

 

About the Asbury Park Boardwalk:

Asbury Park Boardwalk, which sits 50 minutes from New York’s Lincoln Tunnel and an hour from Philadelphia by car, is a city on the rise. It has been the recipient of an avalanche of media including being named ‘Coolest Small Town in America’ by Budget Travel Magazine and ’Best Boardwalk in America’ from Bella Magazine. Eater states, “Asbury Park has become the hottest dining destination”, one of the ‘Best Place to Travel Worldwide” by Travel + Leisure, “16 Places everyone will be talking about in 2017, by Yahoo, and ’Best Weekend Getaway’ by Timeout, just to name a few.

The Asbury Park Boardwalk offers unique full-scale restaurants and lounges, numerous specialty food concepts, and innovative boutiques. Madison Marquette brings top tier talent to nationally-recognized entertainment venues on the Asbury Park Waterfront including Convention Hall, Paramount Theatre, Wonder Bar, and the world-famous Stone Pony. A truly thriving musical community, this storied city by the sea enjoys unparalleled historic architecture and a rich history as one of the most famous resort destinations of the 20th century. For more information or to explore the Asbury Park Boardwalk at apboardwalk.com

 

10 Things You Didn’t Know About Passover

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Jewish worshippers on Passover in front of the Western Wall in Jerusalem’s Old City. Photo by Hadas Parush/Flash90

From traffic jams and chocolate-spread matzah to the largest Seder night in the world, check out these fun facts about Passover Israel-style

Loosen your trouser belts, everyone. The Jewish festival of Passover is upon us, meaning endless matzah, countless family meals and weirdly delicious peanut cookies are about to be consumed all across the world.

It’s no different in Israel, of course, where the week-long holiday is going to be celebrated in full vigor. However, there are some unique aspects to the holiday in the Holy Land, some more bizarre than others.

Here are 10 fun facts that make Passover in Israel so special.

  1. In Israel, an Arab citizen buys all of the country’s chametz

Jews aren’t meant to have any chametz, or leavened foods, in their homes during the holiday, and the home of the Jewish people is no different. The State of Israel does exactly like many of its Jewish citizens and sells all its leavened products to a non-Jewish acquaintance. It’s not only flour we’re talking about, but whole factories, bakeries, kitchens and storerooms.

For the past 20-odd years the lucky buyer has been Hussein Jaber, an Arab Israeli who buys everything off Israel’s finance minister and chief rabbis for an enormous sum, only to annul the deal a week later, when the holiday is over. Talk about (not) making some money.

  1. Passover is ultimate hiking season

If you’re planning on touring Israel during Passover, take a long, deep breath. The week-long holiday is prime travel time in the country. Not only are kids out of school and many parents off work, but the weather is absolutely perfect for hiking, kayaking, cycling and all other kinds of outdoor activities. But don’t let the crowds put you off – pack a matzah sandwich and enjoy the not-yet-scorching-hot weather together with everyone else.

  1. Israelis only celebrate one Seder night

Many Jews outside of Israel get to sit down to Seder night for two evenings in a row. Aside from helping avoid arguments about which side of the family to celebrate with, this custom is meant to ensure that the Seder is definitely being done on the right night.

In ancient times, authorities in Jerusalem determined the beginning of each Jewish month anew every time, and spread the word to diaspora communities via messenger. A concern arose that news traveling too slowly would mean that people outside of Israel would celebrate festivals on the wrong day. To solve this, it was decreed that each Yom Tov (festival) should be celebrated for two days, just in case.

Centuries later, this decree is still greatly upheld by Jewish communities worldwide. But in Israel, like in the past, one day is still considered enough. So don’t be surprised when Israelis gawk at the thought of having two such huge family occasions one day after the other.

  1. Seder-night traffic jams

Speaking of Seder night, there’s nothing like Seder-night traffic jams to make you wish you were celebrating the holiday on a remote, ideally empty, island instead of at your mother-in-law’s.

Since everyone plans on sitting down to dinner at about the exact same time, the roads are absolutely jam-packed in the two to three hours before sundown. Make sure to leave ages ahead of time (at least a good few hours) and consider spending the night at your host in order not to join the thousands of others making the late-night journey back home.

  1. Seder night is always unexplainably cold

One last fun fact about Seder night that’s not based on any particular research but only on years of recurring disappointment: Passover is officially the beginning of spring, but it sure doesn’t feel so when you freeze in your new and slightly flimsy holiday clothes that you were silly enough to think would perfectly fit the occasion. Bring a sweater or shawl with you to dinner, especially if you’re celebrating in hilly Jerusalem.

  1. What Israelis eat on Passover depends on where their family comes from

The general rule for Passover is not to eat any leavened grains. But for many Jews, particularly of European background, restrictions don’t only apply to leavened grain, but also to rice, legumes and even peanuts. The reason? Historic concern that people might mix up flour made from forbidden grains and from similar-looking foods.

Israel is a hotpot of many cultures and heritage and dietary customs greatly differ from family to family – so make sure to ask whether it’s okay to bring that quinoa salad.

  1. Matzah with chocolate spread is a national treasure

Do like every Israeli and enjoy the most festive Passover breakfast possible: a matzah (or two) slathered in chocolate spread. Yes, it is enormously fattening. But it is also incredibly delicious. And don’t worry if you abstain from legumes on Passover – the local Israeli chocolate spread brand is kosher for Passover for all. Go on, treat yourselves.

  1. Supermarket aisles get all freaky

Even though the state itself sells its chametz before Passover (see #1), that doesn’t actually mean that all leavened products are shipped far away and kept behind lock and barrel.

In many supermarkets, for example, the offending items are simply covered in wrapping and kept off-limits for the week, rather than being schlepped away and back. This does make for a strange sight, leaving whole aisles draped in cloth or paper and the odd chametz item peeping from behind. Just don’t be tempted to reach out for it – it won’t be sold and might make others uncomfortable.

  1. Thousands of people gather for a priestly blessing in Jerusalem

Thousands of people praying in unison at the Western Wall in Jerusalem is a truly magnificent sight. It happens twice a year, during the intermediate days of Sukkot and Passover, when throngs of worshippers gather to receive the priestly blessing.

If you want to attend, do so by foot or public transportation, get there early and bring a hat and plenty of water. And most importantly – enjoy the empowering moment.

  1. The largest Seder night in the world hosts Israelis, but not in Israel

Guess where the largest Seder night in the world takes place. Hint: It’s not in Israel. Or New York, Miami, London or Paris. It’s in Kathmandu, Nepal. Yes, you read right.

Nepal is one of the most popular after-army trip destinations for young Israelis, and the prime travel season there coincides with Passover. This means that every year many thousands (!) of Israelis celebrate the festival there, albeit in rather less traditional surroundings.

For the past 30 years, Jewish outreach organization Chabad has been organizing mass Seders for backpackers in the Kathmandu area, reaching guest lists of 2,000 people. Participants come from all walks of life – secular, traditional, ultra-Orthodox – making the Nepalese Seder an inspiring festive event.

(Israel 21C)

Actress Lori Loughlin Panics about Potential Prison Time for College Admissions Scandal

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Actress Lori Loughlin and her husband are among the 16 parents who face charges for conspiracy in the infamous college admissions scandal. On Tuesday, the couple was indicted on charges of mail fraud and money laundering. If convicted, the pair will face up to 40 years in prison. Photo Credit: Shutterstock

Actress Lori Loughlin and her husband are among the 16 parents who face charges for conspiracy in the infamous college admissions scandal. On Tuesday, the couple was indicted on charges of mail fraud and money laundering. If convicted, the pair will face up to 40 years in prison.

As reported by Fox News, the indication of potential prison time is finally sinking in for Loughlin, and panic is setting in. The Queens-born 54-year-old star from “Full House”, “Fuller House” and “When Calls the Heart” was downplaying the consequences of the whole ordeal, but now is terrified of the possibility of spending time behind bars. “She has been in complete denial and thought maybe she could skate by,” a source told E! News. “She refused to accept any jail time and thought the DA was bluffing. She was adamant she wouldn’t do any jail time.” Critics, including the sketch artist at the court, have said that Loughlin appeared “arrogant” during the court hearing. “Lori is finally realizing just how serious this is,” the source continued. “She is seeing the light that she will do jail time and is freaking out.”

Loughlin and her husband, fashion designer Mossimo Giannulli, were arrested last month for allegedly bribing their daughters’ ways into the University of Southern California (USC) for $500,000 each. The posh couple allegedly mad payments to the ‘charity’ of scam mastermind, William “Rick” Singer, to get their daughters Isabella and Olivia Jade recruited to the USC crew team, even though neither of the girls is a rower. Isabella and Olivia’s statuses at USC are on hold while the school’s investigations into the individual cases is ongoing. Olivia has become a YouTube and Instagram celebrity, but has lost several of her main endorsements in the aftermath of the scandal.

Some of the other parents indicted in the scandal, including Felicity Huffman, the actress from “Desperate Housewives”, have accepted a plea deal earlier this week, and plead guilty to charges. Loughlin and Giannulli rejected the plea deal. “They are not ready to make a plea like Felicity (Huffman) and go down that road. They are hoping to just let this play out in the judicial system. They are innocent until proven guilty,” a source close to Loughlin told CNN. “They wish the media would just leave them alone. They feel like there is no story and don’t understand why the press keep hounding them and following Lori to yoga.”

“Their lives will never be the same,” an insider said of Loughlin’s family. “They are scared and they don’t know what’s coming next. It all feels like a terrible nightmare.”

Madonna to Perform at Eurovision in Tel Aviv Despite Pressure from BDS Movement

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Madonna will headline next month’s Eurovision singing contest in Tel Aviv and will sing two different songs, according to The Jerusalem Post.

Jewish Voice for Peace launched a lengthy campaign aimed at getting Madonna to cancel her performance, saying “there’s no neutrality in situations of injustice.”

Various public figures in the United Kingdom such as Julie Christie and Ken Loach signed a formal letter urging BBC to lobby for the event to be relocated, citing Israel’s “violation of Palestinian human rights.”

Despite the BDS campaign and various antisemitic politicians both in the United States and abroad, such as Rep. Ilhan Omar, Democrat from Minnesota, and Jeremy Corbin, who leads Britain’s labour party, the State of Israel is still the only thriving democracy in the Middle East.

Omar Barghouti, who is one of the founders of the BDS movement, previously said that he opposes “a Jewish state in any part of Palestine.”

Mr. Barghouti was banned from entering the United States on Thursday. Airline employees told him that he was unable to fly to the United States, the Arab American Institute said, according to NPR.

“Barghouti was not provided an explanation for his denial of entry beyond ‘immigration matter,” they told NPR in a statement.

“Visa records are confidential under U.S. law; therefore, we cannot discuss the details of individual visa cases,” a spokesperson with the State Department told NPR.

“Omar Barghouti is a leading Palestinian voice on human rights. Omar’s denial of entry into the U.S. is the latest example of the Trump Administration’s disregard for those rights,” James Zogby, the President of the Arab-American Institute, said in a statement.

“Having spent considerable time here as a student and while on speaking tours, Omar visiting America was never an issue before,” he continued. “It is clear this arbitrary political decision is motivated by this administration’s effort to silence Palestinian voices.”

“At a time when some members of Congress are advocating for regressive anti-BDS bills and resolutions, when states have passed legislation targeting the non-violent boycott movement in violation of our protected First Amendment rights, it is disturbing that policy makers and the American people will not have the opportunity to hear from Omar directly about his views,” he added. “The voices of advocates for Palestinian human rights, whether through political targeting or regressive, discriminatory laws, are silenced when discussions or debates are denied.”

Amnesty International said in February that Israel should “end the arbitrary travel ban on human rights defender Omar Barghouti,” according to the Arab-American Institute.

Yankees Ranked Most Valuable Franchise in MLB on Forbes List

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Photo Credit: Shutterstock

On Wednesday, April 10th, Forbes’ released its Baseball Franchise Value list. In it, the New York Yankees got a boost for their egos. The Yankees was named Major League Baseball’s most valuable franchise. The team’s value is now estimated to be $4.6 billion, an increase of 15 percent over last year’s figure. The Yankees made $668 million in revenue, and $29 million in income.

The Yankees Franchise bought back the YES Sports television Network, which broadcasts Forbes’ “SportsMoney” show, for $3.5 billion from Disney in March. The Yankees team is owned by Yankee Global Enterprises, an LLC controlled by the family of the late George Steinbrenner, a Cleveland-based shipbuilder, who bought the team in 1973 for $8.7 million. The Yankees have been members in the American League since 1901, and in the East Division since 1969. The Yankees team has won 40 AL pennants, and 27 World Series championships.

As per Wikipedia, the team won more titles than any other franchise in the four major North American sports leagues. Forty-four Yankees players and eleven Yankees managers were inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame, including legends Babe Ruth, Joe DiMaggio, Mickey Mantle, and Yogi Berra. That’s probably thanks to the hefty payroll that the team has used historically to attract talent. The team was originated in Baltimore and moved to New York in 1903. The Bronx-based team was first named the Highlanders, and officially renamed the Yankees in 1913.

In the Forbes most valued “Business of Baseball List”, the Los Angeles Dodgers are ranked second, worth about $3.3 billion. The Dodgers made $549 million in revenue and an impressive $95 million in income. Third place on the list belongs to the World Series champions, the Boston Red Sox, at $3.2 billion, up 14 percent for the year. Next are the Chicago Cubs valued at $3.1 billion, followed by the San Francisco Giants at $3 billion. The New York Mets are ranked in 6th place, with an approximate value of $2.3 billion, up 10 percent in wealth since last year.

Forbes’ franchise value list estimates that the Miami Marlins is the least valuable team, or #30, at $1 billion, one step behind Tampa Bay Rays, which is valued at $1.01 billion.

Last year, on Forbes’ list of Most Valuable Sports Teams, the Yankees were the second highest valued sports franchise in the U.S. and the fifth in the world, with an estimated value of approximately $4 billion. In that 2018 list, the Dallas Cowboys football team, was the top valued sports team, worth an estimated $4.8 billion, up 14% for the year. The Cowboys had actually retained the title of most valuable sports franchise in the world for three consecutive years.