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Could Former Yankees’ Star “A-Rod” Become Your Next NYC Landlord?

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One-time Yankees third baseman and all-star Alex Rodriquez says he has purchased a 21-unit rental tower in Manhattan’s East Village. Photo Credit: Shutterstock

One-time Yankees third baseman and all-star Alex Rodriquez says he has purchased a 21-unit rental tower in Manhattan’s East Village.

By: Devin Marcus

According to the New York Post, Rodriguez teamed up with New York City real estate developer Barbara Corcoran. She was one of the driving forces behind a major Manhattan brokerage. She is best known today for being part of Shark Tank on ABC.

“While this marks his first major real estate play in his adopted hometown, he’s been dabbling in the Miami market for some time,” the Post reported. “The celebrity duo plans to aggressively build up a portfolio of multifamily buildings across the city. They declined to share the address of their first joint buy, which has retail at its base, but say it is already generating “immediate returns.”

“Our first investment was a sweetheart deal, and we jumped at it,“ Corcoran told the newspaper. “It took almost six months to negotiate, but Alex is incredible with this stuff. I thought he just hit balls, but he runs numbers.”

“Rodriguez is a businessman through and through,” Corcoran told the Post. “He’s got a big ego. I thought I had and ego, but I look like a mini-me next to him in the ego department. So I let him decide whether it’s a good building, even though before I show it to him I already know it’s great. I let him decide it’s his decision.”

Not all of the publicity that A-Rod has been getting of late has been flattering. A minor stir occurred when a photograph of him sitting on the toilet in his Manhattan home surfaced on social media.

Inquisitr.com reported that Rodriguez’s representatives “believed at the time that the photo was taken by someone working for a hedge fund with offices in the building across the street- and the former ballplayer has also threatened to sue. The photo had made the rounds of media and finance circles in New York in early May, before eventually appearing on Twitter.”

Page Six had fun with the story, chuckling that Rodriguez was “caught with his pants down on the throne by a photographer who was privy to a clear view.”

The one-time slugger got some more positive PR recently when cheatsheet.com reported that he and pop star Jennifer Lopez “only started dating in 2017, but when you know, you know. The two have quickly become one of today’s biggest power couples, and in February 2019, Rodriguez proposed to the singer and actress. The two have taken their time wedding planning, but Rodriguez recently revealed that he thinks the fall would be the perfect time to tie the knot.”

Should Netanyahu Consider a Reshuffling of His Ministerial Cabinet Before the Next Elections?

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With a budget exceeding $16 million, we are in a quandary as to why Gilad Erdan has not made any significant headway in diminishing the deleterious impact that the BDS movement has done to Israel’s image. Photo Credit: Shutterstock

As a clearly frustrated and beleaguered Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel confronts the challenge of waging yet another campaign to solidify his political power in the sovereign State of Israel, he can now utilize this time to reflect on the shortcomings and failures of the last government while beginning to generate ideas for improvement.

Edited by: JV Staff

After a thorough review, it appears that a reshuffling of sorts of the Netanyahu cabinet is in order.

Let’s begin this critique by addressing the abysmal failure of the government of Israel to launch an effective campaign targeting the pernicious propaganda of the BDS movement. Currently, the person in charge of orchestrating an ostensibly well-researched agenda for confronting the odious Jew haters in the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement is Likud MK, Gilad Erdan. Mr. Erdan has been charged with the ministerial portfolio of “Public Security, Information and Strategic Affairs.” As minister of information, we can deduce that this position was created for the express purpose of countering the incessant waves of disinformation that is spewed forth by the international BDS movement on a daily basis.

With a budget exceeding $16 million, we are in a quandary as to why Mr. Erdan has not made any significant headway in diminishing the deleterious impact that the BDS movement has done to Israel’s image. We understand that Mr. Erdan is focused on public security issues in terms of maintaining the safety of Jews residing in Judea and Samaria, however, we must take Erdan to task for the feckless modalities that he has initiated to quash the BDS agenda.

To date, the BDS movement has picked up immeasurable steam and have spread their mendacious tentacles to the four corners of the earth. The exceptionally well-funded BDS movement has successfully silenced pro-Israel supporters on every major college and university across the country and throughout the world. Celebrity endorsers and proponents of BDS has seen major victory on the cultural and academic front, thus isolating Israel in important spheres around the globe.

If Mr. Erdan finds himself way too overwhelmed to burnish Israel’s image through a sleek and relatable way of dealing with the BDS movement, then it is our recommendation that a well-qualified replacement candidate be seriously considered.  

On Monday, June 3rd, it was reported in the Times of Israel that Netanyahu is pushing for Erdan to serve as Israel’s next ambassador to the United Nations. Erdan would replace the current Israeli UN ambassador to the US Danny Danon, whose term ends in a few weeks.

The Times of Israel reported that the UN posting is “often seen as a mission impossible job in a hostile environment, where Israel is constantly attacked diplomatically. The job has in the past been held by Netanyahu, who represented Israel at the world body from 1984 to 1988, before being elected to the Knesset that year and becoming prime minister in 1996.”

Speaking about UN Ambassador Danny Danon, while some have heaped praise on his efforts to protect Israel from constant condemnations at the UN and to establish a respect for Israel that none had previously shown in the tendentious climate of the UN, it appears that Danon as well has fallen way short of the mark in terms of what was expected of him. Danon has also been quite negligent in his obligations to reach out to the Jewish media in the New York City and beyond and trying to establish solid connections to effectuate excellent communications between the Israeli mission to the UN and to the media that broadcasts and amplifies his messages.

Danon’s predecessors at this panoply of nations included such historic diplomatic voices as the legendary Abba Eban and such diplomatic luminaries as Ron Prosor. Let’s face facts. Danon is not and never was cut out for this job. His heavily and almost indiscernible English accompanied by his heavy handed manner are distinct liabilities. Thankfully his term is reaching a conclusion.  

On to bigger fish to fry.              

As history has illustrated more than amply throughout the years, Israel has morphed into one of the most attractive tourist destinations in the world. Periodically, press releases are issued by Israel’s Ministry of Tourism in which they boast that the percentage of foreign tourists coming to the holy land has increased dramatically and that the tourism scene has virtually exploded with millions flocking to its shores. This all may ring true, however, Israel is nowhere in the vicinity of representing the tourist destination that they have the potential to be.

It is noteworthy to mention that Paris receives 50 million tourists a year while New York City attracts approximately 60 million tourists per annum. And the list goes on. Let’s take Europe for example. With 300 million people, surely there are innumerable ways to interest the vast majority of them to visit the ancient and holy city of Jerusalem as well as taking part in excursions that will introduce them to Israel’s more modern cities.

We sadly must conclude that current Minister of Tourism Yariv Levin does little to reach out to his greatest and most powerful allies; namely diaspora Jewish publications. In the case of the Jewish Voice, each week we run approximately two full pages dedicated to travel related matters. Predictably, we run articles about Israeli tourism such as guides to the best hotels, restaurants, bars, amusement parks, personalized tours, sporting and cultural events, etc. For both the religious and non-religious tourist, we offer articles that appeal to their specified needs.

We suggest that the prime minister consider his options and perhaps seek others who can and will make record breaking tourism statistics their main concern.    

One of the most important functions of the State of Israel is to promote aliya (immigration and absorption of new immigrants) in order to provide not only a safe haven for Jews from their countries of origin where they are persecuted, but to attract Jews the world over to make Israel their home. Since the inception of the State of Israel, the Jewish Agency has been assigned with the task of bringing Jews living under oppression back to their ancestral homeland.

In the nascent days of the State of Israel, the Jewish Agency may have been in the forefront of facilitating methods to bring Jews to Israel and in creating successful campaigns that would strongly encourage and promote aliya.

Tragically, that is no longer the case. For decades now, the Jewish Agency has been nothing short of moribund in its activity level. Under the leadership of former Soviet Jewish refusenik Natan Sharansky, the Jewish Agency not only did not play a role in extricating Jews from such perilous nations as Ukraine but they too fell way short of what is expected of a privately funded agency that is under the auspices of the government of Israel. Sharansky has since vacated that position.

Now, the former chairman of the Israeli Labor party, Isaac Herzog, is at the helm of the once formidable Jewish Agency. Since he took office in August of 2018, little has changed at the Jewish Agency in terms of Aliyah efforts and even programs to assist Jews in the diaspora who are being targeted because of their faith and their support of Israel.

Saving the day in the Aliyah department is none other than such practical, hands-on organizations as Nefesh B’Nefesh and the Birthright trips for young people. Let’s not forget the incredible contributions of the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews (IFCJ), who, under the guidance of Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein, zt’l promoted and funded Aliyah efforts around the globe.

At the end of May, the Times of Israel reported that Netanyahu named former transportation minister Israel Katz as permanent foreign minister, three months after making him the country’s acting top diplomat after a High Court petition challenged the number of ministerial portfolios held by the Israeli leader.

The appointment formalizes the February decision to put Katz in charge of the Foreign Ministry, which Netanyahu had held since the 2015 elections. The decision concerning this appointment came hours before the deadline for Netanyahu to form a new government.

Yes, a reshuffling of the proverbial deck of talent in Israel’s governmental body must become an urgent priority, lest the voters of Israel seek real change in government ethics and effectiveness.

 

Trump Gets Royal Treatment on Britain State Visit

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President Donald Trump is in Britain for a visit that includes meeting with the royal family, a state dinner and talks with outgoing Prime Minister Theresa May.

Edited by: JV Staff

The day full of pomp and circumstance began with Britain’s Queen Elizabeth greeting Trump and his wife Melania after they arrived at Buckingham Palace by helicopter Monday. After a welcoming ceremony that included a 41-gun salute, the Trumps had a private lunch with the queen and a tour of the palace art gallery.

The rest of the day included inspecting the Guard of Honor formed by the Grenadier Guards, a tour of historic Westminster Abbey, and tea with Prince Charles at his London home, Clarence House.

But the highlight of the day was the white-tie-and-tiaras state banquet at Buckingham Palace. Besides the queen and her husband Prince Philip, other royals in attendance included Prince Charles and his wife, Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, and Prince William and his wife, Kate, Duchess of Cambridge.

Also at the dinner were Trump’s four adult children — Donald Trump Jr.; Ivanka Trump and her husband, Jared Kushner; Eric Trump and his wife, Lara; and Tiffany Trump.

Trump said in this toast that the liberation of millions from tyranny in World War II “forever sealed” the bond between Britain and the United States.

In her toast, the queen said, “Tonight, we celebrate an alliance that has helped to ensure the safety and prosperity of both our peoples for decades, and which I believe will endure for many years to come.”

Noticeably absent from the Trumps’ day was Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, the American-born wife of Prince Harry who is on maternity leave after giving birth to a son last month. She had been critical of Trump during the 2016 presidential campaign.

Before leaving Washington, Trump said his trip would be “very interesting” and that he thinks the United States and Britain have an opportunity to work out a “very big trade deal” in the near future.

His visit comes as Britain is in the midst of political turmoil, as May is scheduled to resign on Friday after failing to complete Britain’s exit from the European Union.

That process will be inherited by her successor, with no clear path to a resolution among sharply divided parties.

Trump has publicly backed former Foreign Minister Boris Johnson, and told reporters late Sunday he may meet with Johnson and pro-Brexit politician Nigel Farage while he is in London. (VOA News)

NJ Suing Sackler Family Over Lethal Toll of Drugs Made by Purdue Pharma

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The lawsuit, filed last Thursday by Attorney General Gurbir Grewal in Superior Court in Essex County, NJ, says the Sackler family “built a multi-billion-dollar drug empire based on addiction. Despite knowing the harms that would result, the Sacklers drove Purdue to pursue deceitful sales campaigns for OxyContin and other highly addictive opioid painkillers.” Photo Credit: The Daily Caller

More tzooris for the Sacklers.

The state of New Jersey is taking eight family members to court because of the drugs manufactured by the family business, Purdue Pharma.

By: James McCooney

The lawsuit, filed last Thursday by Attorney General Gurbir Grewal in Superior Court in Essex County, NJ, says the Sackler family “built a multi-billion-dollar drug empire based on addiction. Despite knowing the harms that would result, the Sacklers drove Purdue to pursue deceitful sales campaigns for OxyContin and other highly addictive opioid painkillers.”

Sackler representative Nikki Ritchie told the press that the family called the lawsuit ‘baseless.” The four-county lawsuit names former Purdue CEO and President Richard Sackler, along with Jonathan D. Sackler; Dr. Kathe Sackler; Ilene Sackler Lefcourt; Mortimer D.A. Sackler; Beverly Sackler; Theresa Sackler; and David A. Sackler.

“Purdue sells the prescription painkiller OxyContin and is owned by members of the Sackler family, who have made at least $4 billion in the last decade from the drug company, according to court documents made public in Massachusetts earlier this year,” explained the Associated Press.

For those keeping count, New Jersey is one of a dozen states involved in lawsuits aimed at family members “over the toll of opioids, prompting Purdue Pharma to announce in March it was considering legal options including bankruptcy that could upend the ongoing lawsuits against the company. Several states have announced similar allegations against the Sackler family in the past month,” AP added. “About 2,000 state, local and tribal governments have sued Purdue or other drug makers and distributors over opioids. Most of those suits have been consolidated under one federal judge who is pushing for a settlement.”

Just weeks ago, as reported by The Jewish Voice, The Metropolitan Museum of Art said it would not rename its Sackler Wing — but instead would say no to any future donations made by the family, once again due to its connection to OxyContin.

The politically calculated decisions were a direct result of the popular fury concerning the family’s part in the ongoing opioid crisis. “The museum takes a position of gratitude and respect to those who support us, but on occasion, we feel it’s necessary to step away from gifts that are not in the public interest, or in our institution’s interest,” Daniel H. Weiss, the president of the Met, told the New York Times in an interview. “That is what we’re doing here.”

Not wanting to be left out, the state of Vermont is also suing the eight members of the Sackler family. The lawsuit makes the claim that family members violated the state’s Consumer Protection Act, were unjustly enriched, and created a public nuisance.

9/11 Memorial Glade Dedicated as New Area of World Trade Center Site

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A brand-new section of the Sept. 11 memorial at the World Trade Center in lower Manhattan was unveiled last week, this one honoring recovery workers who died after searching through the rubble searching for survivors. Photo Credit: https://www.911memorial.org

A brand-new section of the Sept. 11 memorial at the World Trade Center in lower Manhattan was unveiled last week, this one honoring recovery workers who died after searching through the rubble searching for survivors.

By: Carol Horshprung

Called the 9/11 Memorial Glade, it is a grassy clearing on the southwest corner of the 8-acre (3-hectare) plaza includes a path flanked with six huge, sloping stone structures made of granite slabs inlaid with steel recovered from the fallen trade center towers.

The Glade design was developed by the Memorial’s original architects, Michael Arad and Peter Walker, with the thoughtful support of 9/11 Memorial & Museum board member Jon Stewart, 9/11-health advocates and providers, 9/11 family members, first responders and lower Manhattan residents, according to the 9/11 Memorial and Museum.

The memorial’s design includes a pathway flanked by six large stone monoliths, ranging from 13 to 18 tons, that are inlaid with World Trade Center steel accompanied by an inscription at either end of the pathway.

The Glade’s inscription, according to the group, encapsulates its purpose:
“This Memorial Glade is dedicated
To those whose actions in our time of need
Led to their injury, sickness, and death
Responders and recovery workers
Survivors and community members
Suffering long after September 11, 2001
From exposure to hazards and toxins
That hung heavy in the air
Here and beyond this site known as Ground Zero
And at the Pentagon
And near Shanksville, Pennsylvania
In the aftermath of the terrorist attacks.
Here we honor the tens of thousands
From across America and around the world
Who came to help and to heal
Whose selflessness and resolve
Perseverance and courage
Renewed the spirit of a grieving city
Gave hope to the nation
And inspired the world.

The area’s six stone monoliths were installed on Saturday, April 6. This process required a 600-ton crane and an assist crane. Each monolith was lifted over the 30 to 35-foot-tall Swamp White Oak trees on the Memorial plaza and rigged inside the Glade construction site, the group said.

“The monoliths, which were shaped by two craftsmen in Barre, Vt., were driven six hours south on flatbed trucks through the Green Mountains and the rolling hills of New England to be placed on the site. Along the way, they were escorted by a team of eight personnel from the Vermont Division of Fire Safety. As the team assisted the trucks on their way to New York City, local first responders in communities along the way saluted the monoliths on the highway overpasses to recognize the importance and national significance of this project.”

When they arrived in lower Manhattan, the organization says, they met “a scene of workers waiting to guide them safely into their permanent home. As the focal point of the 9/11 Memorial Glade, the monoliths’ rough edges and large size were created to honor the challenges faced by those whom the Glade memorializes.”

NYC Throws Israel a Huge 55th Birthday Party in Annual 5th Ave Parade

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Volunteers on United Hatzalah motorcycles

The 55th annual Celebrate Israel Parade kicked off at 12 noon on Sunday, June 2nd on Manhattan’s fashionable 5th Avenue, thus turning the iconic NYC thoroughfare into a veritable sea of blue and white. This year’s grand marshall for the Celebrate Israel parade that is sponsored by the Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) was Edward A. Mermelstein. Joining him in leading the Parade as Honorary Grand Marshals were Ted Comet, Founder of the Celebrate Israel Parade; Siggy Flicker, Author and TV personality; Liel Leibovitz and Stephanie Butnick, Co-Hosts of the Unorthodox podcast, Sid Rosenberg, Co-Host of Bernie & Sid in the Morning.

Edward A. Mermelstein is an accomplished top-tier legal strategist, businessman, consultant, investor, and developer in NYC. He is founding partner of One & Only Holdings, LLC, which includes One & Only Realty, and former partner at Rheem Bell & Mermelstein, LLP.  As Chairman of COJECO, Edward helps facilitate the integration of Russian-speaking Jews into the greater American Jewish community while preserving their cultural heritage.

As President of Zaka Search and Rescue, Edward leads an UN-recognized NGO, with thousands of volunteers, on call to respond to man-made or natural disasters. Edward has served on the Boards of UJA-Federation of New York, RAJE, and other charitable organizations. Fluent in English and Russian, Edward emigrated to the U.S. in 1976. In addition to his work, he is involved in numerous charitable organizations supporting local as well as national causes rooted in culture, politics, education and the arts. Edward lives in NYC with his wife, Rose, a Broadway producer and five-time Tony award winner, and his two sons.

Jewish Voice publisher David Ben Hooren (left) and Jeff Wiesenfeld on the right

 

Float for the Birthright organization

According to a JPost report, a diplomatic delegation of UN ambassadors and diplomats from around the world took part in the festive proclamation of Israel’s pride which was led by Israel’s Ambassador to the UN Danny Danon.

“This is a demonstration of support of Israel by the international community and it is great to be here and see New York painted blue and white,” said German Ambassador to the United Nations Christoph Heusgen.

The delegation includes UN ambassadors from Australia, Germany, Ukraine, Norway, Nigeria and other countries.

Around 40,000 participants took part in the parade and there were hundreds of thousands of spectators all along the 5th Avenue route who joined the celebratory theme with enthusiastic cheering.

The parade marched down Fifth Avenue from 57th to 74th Streets and its theme celebrates “Rak B’Yisrael” – meaning “Only in Israel.”

“Only in Israel,” the event website reads, “where in order to be a realist, you must believe in miracles.

“Where ancient villages stand beside ultra-modern cities.

“Where a 2,000 year old language was resurrected for modern speech.

“Where exiles from the four corners of the world have come home.

“Where skill and chutzpah together make the impossible come true.

“Where barren deserts are transformed into flourishing fields.

“Where diverse cultures produce a fusion of global cuisine.

“Where pioneers build new frontiers in science and technology.

“Where water can be produced from thin air.

“Where those with incurable diseases are cured.

“Where if you will it, it is no dream.”

Anti-Semitic Message at Jewish Children’s Museum Probed as Hate Crime

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The Brooklyn Jewish Children’s Museum found a hateful message lying in wait. On Thursday night, at 8 P.M., an anti-Semitic threatening note was found at the Crown Heights museum, on a billboard display intended for visitors to leave positive messages. Photo Credit: INN

The Brooklyn Jewish Children’s Museum found a hateful message lying in wait.  On Thursday night, at 8 P.M., an anti-Semitic threatening note was found at the Crown Heights museum, on a billboard display intended for visitors to leave positive messages.  As reported by the NY Post, a green post-it note with “Hitler is Coming” scribbled on it, was found on the billboard entitled “Transform the World”. Visitors alerted the police of the vile note, who in turn notified the hate-crime task force. Police are currently investigating the incident as a hate crime.

By: Ilana Siyance

Chabad Rabbi Mordechai Lightstone, who is the social media editor at Chabad.org and the creator of exceptional experiences for Jews in tech and digital media, took to Twitter after seeing the hateful message.  “This is just awful,” Rabbi Lightstone tweeted. “An interactive sign in front of the Jewish Children’s Museum in Crown Heights asking people how they would transform the world was defaced with Antisemitic graffiti!”

Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo lost no time responding to the attack.  He ordered the New York State police to aid the NYPD in the investigation.  “I am disgusted by the anti-Semitic message scrawled in front of the Jewish Children’s Museum in Crown Heights, Brooklyn,” Cuomo wrote on his website.  “We have zero tolerance for anti-Semitism, discrimination or hate of any kind in New York, and no person should ever feel threatened because of their religious beliefs… In the wake of a rise in anti-Semitic and other hate crimes in our nation, it is more important than ever that we stand united to condemn these despicable acts of violence and root out hate in all its forms.” said Cuomo in a statement.

The Jewish Children’s Museum, opened in 2004, is the largest Jewish-themed children’s museum in the United States. Located on Brooklyn’s Museum Row, at the corner of Eastern Parkway and Kingston Avenue, it is a place “for children of all faiths and backgrounds to gain a positive perspective and awareness of the Jewish heritage, fostering tolerance and understanding”.  Designed primarily for elementary school-age children and their families, the –floor museum uses technology and a hands-on approach to inspire increased interest in Jewish culture.

The museum was originally founded as a dedication to 16-year-old Ari Halberstam, who was fatally shot in the head in 1994, by a Lebanese terrorist, while in a car driving across the Brooklyn Bridge.  This Post-it note is the third attack to date on the museum, as per Yahoo! Lifestyle News. “This act is the antithesis of what we stand for,” said Ari’s mother, Devorah Halberstam, who co-founded the Brooklyn Jewish Children’s Museum. “The perpetrator ran away because he knows what he did was deplorable…there’s nothing more vile than attacking an institution for children.”

Arabs Riot on Temple Mount to Protest Jews Ascending to Celebrate J’slm Day

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Arabs rioted on the Temple Mount Sunday morning in reaction to permission being given for Jewish visitors to enter on Jerusalem Day, which happens to fall during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, Kan Israel News reported. Photo Credit: Flash90/Yonatan Sindel

After police dispersed the demonstrators, hundreds of Jews ascended the Mount.

By: Batya Jerenberg

Arabs rioted on the Temple Mount Sunday morning in reaction to permission being given for Jewish visitors to enter on Jerusalem Day, which happens to fall during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, Kan Israel News reported.

A police spokesperson said that as a result of the disturbances, “the commander of the Jerusalem District Major Gen. Doron Yedid ordered police to enter the Temple Mount and deal with the rioters.”

Young Muslim men threw rocks and other objects. Tear gas was shot at them in response. In one video of the scene, women are heard screaming “Allahu Akhbar” (God is great), apparently at the security forces.

Only after the rioting was quelled, with one arrest reportedly being made, were the Jewish visitors allowed to ascend the Temple Mount, the report said.

Hundreds of Jews had gathered in the early morning hours to come to the Judaism’s holiest site in celebration of the 52nd anniversary of the liberation of the city during the Six Day War.

Jerusalem Day, as it’s known, coincides every so often with the end of the Muslims’ holy month of Ramadan, when the Temple Mount is usually closed to non-Muslims due to the crush of Arab worshipers at the site and the fear by Israeli authorities that the Muslims will turn to violence, as happened today.

Indeed, Israeli police at first had said that they would not allow Jewish visitors to mark the day on the Mount “for reasons of public safety and public order.”

It would have marked the first time since 1988 that Jerusalem Day would not have been celebrated on the Temple Mount. However, Jewish activists appealed to both the Supreme Court and the Likud politicians to allow their ascent.

The Supreme Court rejected the appeal and left it up to the security forces to assess the situation. The police decided to rescind their earlier ban.

Jerusalem Day is celebrated especially by young national-religious Jews who parade in the afternoon with Israeli flags, sing and dance through the streets of the city, ending their march at the Western Wall.

Many walk specifically through the Muslim Quarter of the Old City to make a point about Israel’s sovereignty. Clashes have ensued in the past in that area between the marchers and Arab residents, with both sides claiming that the other instigated the violence. (World Israel News)

Read more at: worldisraelnews.com

 

RAA Applauds Gov Cuomo for Taking Action Against Anti-Semitism

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Left to Right: Borough President James Oddo; Congressman Max Rose; COJO-SI CEO and Executive Vice-President Scott Maurer; District Attorney Michael McMahon; COJO-SI President Mendy Mirocznik; Councilman Joe Borelli; and Assemblyman Mike Reilly.

The Rabbinical Alliance of America – Igud HaRabbonim, with a membership of over 950 Orthodox Rabbis across the United States – extends its appreciation to New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo on condemning the anti-Semitic writing on the Jewish Children’s Museum located in the Crown Heights section of Brooklyn, New York. The statement, “Hitler is Coming,” was drawn on the museum’s large mural for good resolutions.

Edited by: JV Staff

Governor Cuomo stated, “I am disgusted by the anti-Semitic message scrawled in front of the Jewish Children’s Museum in Crown Heights, Brooklyn….We have zero tolerance for anti-Semitism, discrimination or hate of any kind in New York, and no person should ever feel threatened because of their religious beliefs.”

Cuomo added, “I have visited this great museum, built in honor of Ari Halberstam who was tragically killed in an anti-Semitic terror attack on the Brooklyn Bridge, after it received threats in the past. It’s all more distressing for this institution built to bring together children of all faiths and backgrounds to foster tolerance to be targeted.”

Cuomo emphasized that, “In the wake of a rise in anti-Semitic and other hate crimes in our nation, it is more important than ever that we stand united to condemn these despicable acts of violence and root out hate in all its forms…To ensure those responsible for this heinous act are held accountable to the fullest extent of the law, I am directing the State Police Hate Crimes Task Force to immediately provide the NYPD with any resources needed to assist in the investigation of this incident. Now and always, there is no place for hate in our state.”

Rabbi Mendy Mirocznik, executive vice-president of the Rabbinical Alliance of America stated, “On behalf of our member rabbis, we applaud Governor Andrew Cuomo’s condemnation of the anti-Semitic scrawling on the Jewish Children’s Museum large mural for good resolutions. It takes leadership, courage and a determination to do what is right to defeat the epidemic and scourge of anti-Semitism, hate and bigotry plaguing our nation. Governor Cuomo leads by example and has these three attributes. We applaud the Governor for taking a strong stand on combating anti-Semitism, hate and bigotry, and pray that the Almighty grant Governor Cuomo the ability to make this world a better place through the complete eradication of anti-Semitism, hate and bigotry.”

In a related development, less than a week after hate speech was written on a yeshiva wall in Meiers Corners, nearly 100 Staten Islanders, including religious and community leaders, gathered at a unity rally recently to denounce hate and encourage peace and kindness.

The unity rally was organized by Staten Island District Attorney Michael E. McMahon and his Hate Crimes Task Force which is Co-Chaired by Scott Maurer, the CEO and Executive Vice-President of the Staten Island Council of Jewish Organizations. The press-conference was held at the Chabad of Staten Island.

The graffiti was discovered on the side of the building on the eve of Lag B’Omer, a Jewish holiday celebrating unity and freedom from persecution.

The words, “Synagogue of Satan,” were written on the Chabad of Staten Island, while across the street, the letters “SOS” were written on the Yeshiva Zichron Paltiel of Staten Island, referencing the aforementioned phrase.

Residents and members of the Jewish community were joined by local elected officials, NYPD Assistant Chief Kenneth Corey, borough commander of Staten Island, and the Staten Island Hate Crimes Task Force.

Rabbi Moshe Katzman told the crowd that when he first learned of the graffiti on the Thursday morning of Lag B’Omer, he wanted to keep the vandalism quiet, and not make it a big deal. After people started to reach out to him, and photos of the hate speech began to appear on social media, he made the decision to use this hateful crime as a way to spread kindness.

“Every act of evil, we need to redouble our acts of kindness,” Rabbi Moshe Katzman said. “And this is the only way we can continue in life. “Rep. Max Rose, District Attorney Michael McMahon, Borough President James Oddo, Assemblymembers Michael Cusick, Nicole Malliotakis, and Michael Reilly, and Councilmembers Joseph Borelli and Steve Matteo, spoke at the unity rally as well as COJO CEO and Executive Vice-President Scott Maurer to encourage kindness and push back against hate.

Mendy Mirocznik, president of the Staten Island Council of Jewish Organization thanked District Attorney Michael McMahon for putting together this important press-conference. “In these trying times the key is communication and confidence building.” Mirocznik added, “We at COJO value the direct line of communication that we have with District Attorney McMahon, Chief Kenneth Corey and members of the broader Staten Island community. We at COJO appreciate that both District Attorney McMahon and Chief Corey are taking a strong vigilant stand against hate and anti-Semitism and these measures are giving the residents of Staten Island the fortitude and courage not to surrender to fear and hate. ”

He added: “May He who makes peace in Heaven make peace on earth. We pray that the world should no longer know of the evil of anti-Semitism, hate and bigotry.”

55th Annual “Celebrate Israel” Parade to Highlight the Rich & Vibrant Culture of the Jewish State

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More than 30 floats with musical performers, 15 world-class marching bands, and 40,000 marchers will march along Fifth Avenue, from 57th Street to 74th Street, and entertain hundreds of thousands of spectators. This year’s creative theme for marching groups and floats is “Only in Israel” from the renowned hebrew song Rak B'Yisrael.

The Jewish Community Relations Council of New York (JCRC-NY) announced recently that Edward A. Mermelstein will lead the 2019 Celebrate Israel Parade as its Grand Marshal up Fifth Avenue in Manhattan on Sunday, June 2 in front of hundreds of thousands of spectators.  The parade is scheduled to kick off at 12 noon. Joining him in leading the Parade as Honorary Grand Marshals will be Ted Comet, Founder of the Celebrate Israel Parade; Siggy Flicker, Author and TV personality; Liel Leibovitz and Stephanie Butnick, Co-Hosts of the Unorthodox podcast, Sid Rosenberg, Co-Host of Bernie & Sid in the Morning.

 Edited by: JV Staff

The Parade is the largest public event celebrating Israel in the world highlighting Israel’s rich heritage, vibrant culture, and the positive impact the Jewish and democratic state of Israel has on the lives of people around the world. 

More than 30 floats with musical performers, 15 world-class marching bands, and 40,000 marchers will march along Fifth Avenue, from 57th Street to 74th Street, and entertain hundreds of thousands of spectators. This year’s creative theme for marching groups and floats is “Only in Israel” from the renowned hebrew song Rak B’Yisrael.

A selection from the off-Broadway hit musical Fiddler on the Roof in Yiddish, will be performed live by cast members at this year’s Parade. Directed by Oscar and Tony Award-winner Joel Grey, the rich Yiddish translation of Fiddler on the Roof by Shraga Friedman, adds new depth and dimension to the most well-known Jewish musical in the world, telling the beloved story of a community and its struggle to balance traditions and desires in a changing world.

 Grand Marshal Edward A. Mermelstein – Edward A. Mermelstein is an accomplished top-tier legal strategist, businessman, consultant, investor, and developer in NYC. He is founding partner of One & Only Holdings, LLC, which includes One & Only Realty, and former partner at Rheem Bell & Mermelstein, LLP.  As Chairman of COJECO, Edward helps facilitate the integration of Russian-speaking Jews into the greater American Jewish community while preserving their cultural heritage. As President of Zaka Search and Rescue, Edward leads an UN-recognized NGO, with thousands of volunteers, on call to respond to man-made or natural disasters. Edward has served on the Boards of UJA-Federation of New York, RAJE, and other charitable organizations. Fluent in English and Russian, Edward emigrated to the U.S. in 1976. In addition to his work, he is involved in numerous charitable organizations supporting local as well as national causes rooted in culture, politics, education and the arts. Edward lives in NYC with his wife, Rose, a Broadway producer and five-time Tony award winner, and his two sons.

 Honorary Grand Marshal Ted Comet – Ted Comet is a Founder of the Celebrate Israel Parade and was Chairman of the Parade (1966-68).  Comet, a veteran Jewish community leader, was director of the American Zionist Youth Federation at the time the Parade was created in 1965 and was seeking ways to express support for the Jewish state. He was also a key official of the Council of Jewish Federations and the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee. 

 Honorary Grand Marshal Siggy Flicker – Sigalit “Siggy” Flicker is a relationship specialist, matchmaker, author, and former cast member on reality-TV show The Real Housewives of New Jersey. Flicker was born in Israel to Jewish parents and was named after the Hebrew word for “violet.”

 Honorary Grand Marshal Sid Rosenberg – Rosenberg is a radio personality and one of the most celebrated names in sports broadcasting.  He is currently co-host of Bernie and Sid in the Morning on 77 WABC Radio. He also hosts Sid Sports Sunday, on which he delivers sports news, reviews the games of the week, interviews big names from the sports industry, and provides the best picks for fantasy teams.

 Honorary Grand Marshal Stephanie Butnick – Stephanie Butnick is a deputy editor for Tablet Magazine and co-host of Unorthodox. She has a bachelor’s degree in religion from Duke and a master’s in religious studies from NYU. She lives in New York with her husband and their cat, Cat Stevens.

 Honorary Grand Marshal Liel Leibovitz – Liel Liebovitz is a senior writer for Tablet Magazine and co-host of Unorthodox, the world’s leading Jewish podcast. He is also the author or co-author of seven books, including, most recently, A Broken Hallelujah: Rock n’ Roll, Redemption, and the Life of Leonard Cohen. A native of Tel Aviv and a veteran of the Israel Defense Forces, Liel lives in Manhattan with his wife Lisa, a senior editor at Scholastic, and their two children.

 Among the many bands and entertainers joining the Parade this year, featured guests include:

 

∙         DJ Itay Galo – Dj Itay Galo is an electronic musician, DJ, and producer whose music has erupted in the Israeli market. For the past ten years, he has been known to be the number one DJ in Tel Aviv. Galo is the CEO and founder of Atisuto, which is one of the most recognized and well respected music production company’s in Israel. 

∙         The Moshav Band – Internationally acclaimed American/Israeli rock band The Moshav Band began when childhood friends Yehuda and Duvid made music together on Moshav Mevo Modiin in Israel. The group was initially discovered by a group of American students traveling in Israel who heard the band play and raised money to bring them to the states for a college tour in the late 1990s. Soon after, The Moshav Band relocated to Los Angeles where they continued to grow their fan base and began recording with some of the industry’s best.

 

∙         Young Gravy – Young Gravy’s African American, Jewish identity is a foundation to his music as a rapper. The music video for his hit, “Diaspora,” was filmed in Jerusalem in which he raps in Hebrew. Young Gravy has been heavily influenced by West Coast hip hop artists, but he has found inspirations in various other facets of rap including modern trap music. From old school West Coast tracks to contemporary rap, Young Gravy has been able to bring his own unique style to the diverse genre of hip hop.

 

∙         Omri Anghel – Anghel is a NYC-based Israeli DJ and producer. For the past two decades, Anghel has been releasing music for labels like Jellybean, Eightball, Twisted, Whoop, and Tommy Boy and working with artists including Celeda, RuPaul, Assaf Amdursky, Dana International, and Darrell Martin. He served as music producer, sound designer, and video editor at Interlude, New York tech and media company, creating interactive video experiences for clients including Coca Cola, Sony Music, Warner Music, NBA, MTV, and Nickelodeon. Anghel is also the creator of comedy shorts for Israel’s prime time show “Future TV” on the Reshet Network. Omri spends his time combining the worlds of sound and vision with works of art and entertainment for many clients and his own repertoire.

 

∙         Kosha Dillz – American rapper, Rami Matan Even-Esh, has toured and performed with a variety of artists, including Ghostface Killah, Snoop Dogg, Matisyahu, Cage the Elephant, C-Rayz Walz, Yak Ballz and Aesop Rock. He has become a mainstay in the Hip Hop World and beyond, playing at the Paid Dues Festival, BK Hip Hop Festival, SXSW, CMJ, Rock The Bells, and Vans Warped Tour. Kosha was honored as one of The Jewish Week’s 2013 36 Under 36.  

∙         SOULFARM – Founded in Israel by Grammy Award winner lead guitarist C Lanzbom and guitarist and lead singer Noah Solomon Chase, their sound has been dubbed as New American music, full melodic song writing and progressive modern arrangements. Together with drummer Ben Antelis and bassist Daniel Ori, their live shows are full of Mediterranean flavor with captivating guitar leads, dance rhythms and strong percussion breaks. SOULFARM serves as the Parade’s official House Band.

 

∙         Milk & Honeys – An Afro Hebrew NYC-based band that brings a unique and refreshing blend of Israeli music with a wide range of influences, such as Afro-beat, Ethiopian music, R&B and Funk.

 

∙         Barynya Entertainment – Barynya Entertainment is a world renowned group that enjoys exalting stature as the premier Russian folk ensemble outside of Russia. Barynya Entertainment agency was established in 1991 by owner Mikhail Smirnov. Performers include a wide-range of comedians, dancers, singers, and musicians of all kinds.

 

∙         Holocaust Survivor Band – Founded by Saul Dreier, 93-year-old Holocaust Survivor, this klezmer group was created to revive the songs Dreier grew up listening to while he was imprisoned in the Krakow-Plaszow and Mauthausen concentration camps. Their intention is to preserve and share Jewish music and culture and to spread the message for World Peace.

 The Parade will be televised live from 12-3pm on FOX affiliate, WWOR-TV My9 and for the first time on Jewish Broadcasting Service on cable TV. The Parade will also be streamed online at celebrateisraelny.org so that Israelis and Israel supporters throughout the world can tune in.  The Celebrate Israel Parade Broadcast is sponsored by Friends of Maimonides Medical Center.

 For the latest information, please visit the Parade website at celebrateisraelny.org, follow us on Twitter @celebrateisrael, visit our Facebook page: Celebrate Israel Parade and subscribe to our YouTube Channel:www.YouTube.com/CelebrateIsraelNY.

 About the Celebrate Israel Parade

The Celebrate Israel Parade highlights the vibrant and diverse State of Israel. The Parade features over 40,000 marchers from many organizations. Hundreds of thousands enthusiastic spectators watch American and Israeli community leaders and dignitaries, entertainers, artists, musicians, dancers, celebrities, floats and marching bands. Many more watch on the live broadcast via television or live-stream. The Parade is produced by the Jewish Community Relations Council of New York (JCRC-NY), in cooperation with UJA-Federation of New York and the State of Israel.

 

 

How Safe is the Ice Cream You are Eating This Summer?

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By: Fern Sidman

As Memorial Day weekend of 2019 fades into glorious memories of welcoming the official start of summer with traditional barb-b-ques, picnics and the compulsory trip to the beach, we often look forward to increasing our intake of America’s favorite summer treat. You guessed it folks!! We all scream for ice cream in practically every flavor the mind can conjure up, but now it appears that we may be screaming for reasons other than joy.

According to the findings of a recent Food & Drug Administration study of ice cream production facilities, the chances of contracting bacteria that can lead to food-borne illness is higher than we could possibly imagine. According to a Miami Herald report in April, the FDA study indicated that 21.3 percent of ice cream plants has listeria and 50.6 percent had “objectionable conditions or practices.”

The FDA was prompted to initiate this study, according to the Miami Herald report in the aftermath of  the recall of16 ice cream products from 2013 to 2016. According to the report, pathogens were discovered and three people lost their lives in the 2015 outbreak of listeria in Blue Bell Ice Cream. Subsequently, during the years of 2016 and 2017 the FDA sent out inspectors to take environmental samples from 89 ice cream production plants in 32 states, according to the Miami Herald report.

According to the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) approximately 1600 people are adversely affected by listeria each year and about 260 die of this food borne illness.

The CDC reports that people who are most vulnerable to the inherent dangers of listeria are those with already weakened immune systems. It was reported that listeria can cause stillbirths and miscarriages in pregnant women and can be harmful for babies and senior citizens. Symptoms include headaches, stiff necks, fever, muscle aches and convulsions. The symptoms usually emerge anywhere between one to four weeks after eating contaminated food.  

One particular ice cream production plant known as Working Cow Homemade in St. Petersburg had its registration as a food facility suspended by the FDA. According to the Miami Herald report, the company shuttered its doors but then reopened for ice cream storage and distribution purposes.

In a statement, the FDA said, “In selecting facilities for inclusion in the assignment, the agency sought to ensure representation from throughout the country and favored larger establishments whose product would be expected to reach greater numbers of consumers. They added that, “At the time the assignment was conducted, the 89 ice cream production facilities inspected accounted for about 16 percent of the domestic ice cream manufacturers in the FDA’s inventory.”  

On May 29, the Newark Advocate reported that according to a letter from FDA Division Director Steven Barber, federal inspectors found “serious violations” at Velvet Ice Cream’s manufacturing center in Utica, Ohio including the presence of Listeria.

In the letter, which was addressed to Velvet President Luconda Dager, Barber states that samples taken from the processing facility between Jan. 23 and Feb. 14 found the presence of Listeria monocytogenes.

Listeria monocytogenes is a disease-causing bacteria that can be found in moist environments, soil, water, decaying vegetation and animals, and can survive and even grow under refrigeration and other food preservation measures, according to the FDA.

According to a report on the Food Safety News web site, based on the FDA’s inspectional findings, and the analytical results for the environmental samples, the FDA determined that the ice cream manufactured in the firm’s facility is adulterated, in that it was prepared, packed or held under insanitary conditions whereby it may have been rendered injurious to health.

“It is essential to identify the areas of the food processing plant where this organism is able to survive and grow to take such corrective actions as necessary to eradicate the organism by rendering these areas unable to support the survival and growth of the organism and prevent the organism from being re-established in such sites,” said the FDA.

“You should take prompt action to correct the violations noted in this letter,” the FDA advised, “Failure to do so may result in regulatory action by the FDA without further notice, including, without limitation, seizure and injunction.”

Companies are allowed 15 working days to respond to FDA warning letters. Failure to promptly correct violations can result in legal action without further notice, including, without limitation, seizure and injunction.

According to the Newark Advocate report, Dager said she has no concerns about the safety of the company’s product and that steps were taken to ensure that none of the ice cream was contaminated.

“We have addressed all the issues,” she said on Wednesday. “We’re still continuing to make a very safe, quality product.”

Dager said the Listeria was found in some drains in the plant. Since that time the company has replaced numerous drains and much of the brick floor in the production area. She said the company regularly tests its ice cream for listeria, according to the report in the Newark Advocate.

“At no time has there been any food contact area with this listeria,” she said.

Consumers who are worried about bacterial contamination in their food are encouraged to contact the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) with any concerning issues they experience.”

You can also visit the Consumer Safety web site at: https://www.consumersafety.org/resources/report-unsafe-products/

Friedman Slams Obama’s Israel Policies in YU Graduation Speech

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Speaking at a Yeshiva University graduation event this week, U.S. Ambassador to Israel David Friedman blasted Barack Obama’s approach to Israel.

Edited by: JV Staff

In a commencement speech on Thursday to Yeshiva University (YU)  graduating students, U.S. Ambassador to Israel David Friedman slammed the Obama administration’s treatment of Israel compared to that of the current one.

“Should Israel still negotiate with the Palestinians even though Israel did not steal their land? Of course, it should, precisely because we are not suggesting, as our predecessor did—that Israel return to the bargaining table as a thief returning to the scene of a crime,” he said. “Precisely for that reason, there is a basis for discussion.”

Friedman said “the overwhelming majority of Palestinians are not consumed by hatred nor are unwilling to live in peace. Many are well-educated, many of them want what everyone wants—peace, security, good schools, and a better and more dignified way of life. We need to help them get there—not by perpetual handouts that create a culture of dependency and corruption.”

The ambassador announced that he will be part of next month’s economic summit in Bahrain as part of the Trump administration’s rollout of the Mideast peace plan.

U.S. special envoy to the Middle East Jason Greenblatt is a YU alum.

As was previously reported by the Jewish Voice, the upcoming conference in Bahrain has received fierce pushback from the Palestinians with indications from leading spokesmen that they will not attend.

In a statement issued last Sunday by the White House announcing the upcoming economic workshop to be held in Manama in Bahrain on June 25th and 26th, the conference billed as “Peace to Prosperity” will serve as a “pivotal opportunity to convene government, civil society, and business leaders to share ideas, discuss strategies, and galvanize support for potential economic investments and initiatives that could be made possible by a peace agreement.”

According to the White House, the “Peace to Prosperity” forum will facilitate discussions on an ambitious, achievable vision and framework for a prosperous future for the Palestinian people and the region, including enhancements to economic governance, development of human capital, and facilitation of rapid private-sector growth. If implemented, this vision has the potential to radically transform lives and put the region on a path toward a brighter future.

“I look forward to these important discussions about a vision that will offer Palestinians exciting new opportunities to realize their full potential. This workshop will engage leaders from across the entire Middle East to promote economic growth and opportunity for the people in this important region,” said United States Secretary of the Treasury Steven T. Mnuchin.

Saeb Erekat, secretary general of the Palestine Liberation Organization said,.“We were not consulted by any party on the announced meeting to take place in Manama, Bahrain. We have not mandated any party to negotiate on our behalf.

He added that, “Attempts at promoting an economic normalization of the Israeli occupation of Palestine will be rejected.”

The Palestinians, who severed ties with the United States more than a year ago, have repeatedly expressed fears that the White House would try to buy them off with large sums of investment in exchange for freezing their demands for an independent state. They have also expressed concerns that Washington is trying to rally support from other Arab countries to pressure them into accepting a plan they see as unacceptable.

Al Jazeera reported that Social Development Minister Ahmed Majdalani, meanwhile, said Palestinian officials would not attend the June meeting.

“There will be no Palestinian participation in the Manama workshop,” Majdalani, who is also a member of the executive committee of the umbrella Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), told Reuters news agency.

“Any Palestinian who would take part would be nothing but a collaborator for the Americans and Israel.”

On that note, the Times of Israel has reported that Bashar Masri, a Palestinian industrialist with vast business holdings throughout Judea and Samaria, has said he had turned down an invitation to the conference.

“I will not participate in this conference, and none of the representatives of our companies will participate,” he wrote on Facebook. “We reaffirm our clear position: We will not deal with any event outside the Palestinian national consensus.”

 

 

Lawsuit Claims Elite Manhattan Prep School Smeared Its Student as Racist

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A Manhattan couple is suing their daughter’s elite all-girls prep school, claiming their daughter’s peers tricked the school’s administration into smearing her as thoughtless and racist.

By: David Rutz

Adam and Michelle Parker filed suit Thursday against Spence School in Manhattan Supreme Court, and the complaint alleges shocking behavior by their 16-year-old’s classmates and a clueless administration trying to cover its behind, the New York Post reports.

The story centers around what the Parkers say was a harmless, private Instagram post about Halloween costumes by their daughter, whom the lawsuit refers to  as “D.P.” In a post shared with two friends, D.P. joked about trios of costumes she didn’t want to dress up as: “Slaves, indigenous people, white settlers?” “Hitler, mussolini, stalin?” “Racism, sexism, anti-semitism?” “Sin, cos, tan?” and “American idealism, American intentions, the reality of America?”

According to the Post, “two daughters of two prominent, high-profile families lauded in the Spence community and beyond” confronted D.P. and “claimed they were offended.” In an effort to be sensitive, D.P. hugged them both and apologized for any offense given. However, the suit then charges that the two girls engaged in a cruel plan to smear her, telling a separate student about the post and attempting to get her reported to the school’s administration on false pretenses:

Three of those other students — none of whom had seen the post themselves — then reported D.P. to school administrators, saying she’d “made a post on Instagram that joked about dressing up as slaves and slaveholders, Jews and Hitler, and indigenous people” and that a black student had been offended by it, the suit charges.

Administrators then “ambushed” D.P. and “accused her of an act of racism and anti-Semitism,” ordering her to apologize to the offended student — who had herself admitted she hadn’t seen the post, but “just hearing about it was so hurtful and offensive.”

A bawling D.P. was ordered to apologize multiple times until she “racialized” her language in accordance with the school’s race an diversity training, finally saying “’as a white girl’ she was sorry that she undermined the oppression of black people and slavery,” the suit claims.

The school had an assembly about the post that falsely characterized her original post and ultimately suspended D.P. for a day, the suit said. When the Parkers confronted Head of Upper School Michèle Krauthamer about whether she’d seen the original post, she admitted she hadn’t and her punishment was shortened to a half-day of “in-home reflection.”

Head of School Ellanor Brizendine also told the parents the school didn’t have the actual post when it suspended D.P. The suit goes on to claim the school has refused to apologize for its handling of the situation or discipline any of her classmates, even those who operated an Instagram account called “ladymemers” that included “racist, homophobic, sexually explicit and other vulgar content.”

The Spence School criticized the lawsuit in a statement, saying it “destroys the community values we strive to embrace at the Spence School.”

Famous alumni of the school, which was founded in 1892, include Gwyneth Paltrow, Kerry Washington, and Emmy Rossum. (Washington Free Beacon)

Ahead of UK Trip, Trump Refers to American Royal Meghan Markle as “Nasty” in Tabloid Interview

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Queen Elizabeth II of England, the longest reigning monarch in the country’s history, is scheduled to host President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump this week in an official state visit. Due to a controversial comment Trump made to a British interviewer, however, media pundits have speculated that this could taint his trip.  

Edited by: JV Staff

CNN reported that during an interview with the London tabloid “The Sun,” Trump was asked about comments made by Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, (who is an American actress from Los Angeles) ahead of the 2016 election. Speaking on “The Nightly Show with Larry Wilmore” in 2016, Markle called Trump misogynistic and said his politics are divisive, saying she would move to Canada if he won the presidency.

Trump responded, “I didn’t know that she was nasty. I hope she is OK,” later adding, “I am sure she will go excellently (as a royal). She will be very good.” Buckingham Palace had no comment on Trump’s interview regarding Markle, according to the CNN report.

The Trumps previously met with the Queen at Windsor Castle last June, a more informal meeting over tea.

The trip comes amid a blitz of foreign travel for the President and will be the Trumps’ second state visit in less than two weeks. In May, they were Japanese Emperor Naruhito’s first state guests since he ascended to the Chrysanthemum Throne earlier that month.

On the political and diplomatic front, President Trump and Britain’s Theresa May will want a strife-free, three-day state visit to London starting Monday, their aides say.

VOA News reported that to reduce the possibility of mishaps, with protesters getting too close to Trump,, the traditional ride in a horse-drawn carriage down the tree-lined Mall to Buckingham Palace for visiting heads of state has been axed — although Trump’s predecessor, Barack Obama, also dropped the jaunt because of “security concerns.”

A huge London police operation is being planned to try to ensure the state visit goes off without a hitch.

But aside from protests, there will be other risks on this presidential trip that British officials are keen to contain as they press the U.S. leader for more details on a possible post-Brexit trade deal, and as they seek to ease strains in what British politicians especially like to dub the “special relationship” between Britain and the U.S.

London and Washington are at odds on a range of global issues, including climate change, policy toward Iran and Britain’s trade dealings with China.

The differences haven’t been helped by the lack of personal chemistry between the two leaders; Trump once complained May was too “politically correct,” triggering a transatlantic spat, and his aides have confided in the past that her “school mistress” manner makes the U.S. leader bristle. The two leaders have clashed publicly over several of Trump’s tweets, and in 2018 the U.S. President declined to have a one-on-one meeting with her at the G7 summit.

The U.S. leader’s free-wheeling style contrasts with May’s cautious, risk-averse and detail-oriented approach. (VOA)

Pelosi Attacks Facebook As ‘Willing Enabler’ of Russia, Still Owns Up to $1M In Company Stock

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Pelosi family has owned Facebook stock since 2012, increased investment in 2018

By: Brent Scher

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D., Calif.) has up to $1 million in Facebook, a company she said on Wednesday was a “willing enabler of Russian interference” in the 2016 election.

Pelosi’s sharp criticism of the social media giant was a direct response to its decision to flag an altered video of her as false rather than remove it altogether. She told a local California radio station the decision calls into question whether they “wittingly” conspired with Russians to interfere in the 2016 election.

“We have said all along, poor Facebook, they were unwittingly exploited by the Russians,” Pelosi said. “I think wittingly, because right now they are putting up something that they know is false.”

“I think they have proven—by not taking down something they know is false—that they were willing enablers of the Russian interference in our election,” Pelosi said.

Pelosi has been an investor in Facebook since shortly after its initial public offering on May 23, 2012, when her husband purchased between $100,001 and $250,000 worth of stock, according to financial disclosures.

It has been a good investment for Pelosi. The closing share price of Facebook stock on the date of the initial purchase was $32, a fraction of the $183.50 opening share price Wednesday when Pelosi attacked it as a “willing enabler” of Russia.

In her most recent annual disclosure, covering 2017, the investment in Facebook was valued between $500,001 and $1,000,000.

Though Pelosi is yet to file her disclosure for 2018, required periodic transaction reports show her husband significantly increased his Facebook investment last year.

Reports show two purchases of long-term call options on Facebook stock—the first one valued between $50,001 and $100,000 on July 27, 2018, and then a larger $100,001 to $250,000 purchase on October 9, 2018. Both options expire on January 17, 2020, according to the disclosures.

Advertising information now available on Facebook shows that Pelosi has also been an active user of the social media platform, spending nearly $100,000 to run Facebook ads through her campaign and official office.

Pelosi’s office did not respond to an inquiry into whether her husband plans to divest from Facebook.

NetChoice, an association of internet companies including Facebook, objected to Pelosi’s “false and over-the-top” accusation.

“Speaker Pelosi’s accusation that Facebook is a ‘willing enabler’ of Russian interference in our elections is completely false and appears to be an attempt to use an important national discussion for her own political gamesmanship,” said Carl Szabo, the group’s vice president.

Szabo also said Pelosi’s true aim appeared to be “to frighten platforms into removing any content she feels is unflattering.”

Facebook has thus far stood firm on its decision not to remove the video of Pelosi, despite objections from both the Democratic leader and two-time failed presidential candidate Hillary Clinton. (Washington Free Beacon)

 

‘Deal of the Century’ in Question as Kushner Meets with Israel’s Prime Minister With Israel facing new elections, the success of the “Deal of the Century” is in question.

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(from left to right: Brian Hook, Jared Kushner, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Jason Greenblatt and Ron Dermer. Credit for photo is: Kobi Gideon (GPO)

Jared Kushner, President Trump’s senior adviser and son-in-law, met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday afternoon. Kushner is in Israel to build momentum toward next month’s “economic workshop” in Bahrain.

By: WIN Staff

Also attending the meeting were U.S. Special Representative for Iran Brian Hook and Israeli Ambassador to the U.S. Ron Dermer.

Trump negotiator Jason Greenblatt is part of the delegation, which arrived in Israel on Wednesday.

“It’s always a great pleasure to welcome Jared Kushner and Jason Greenblatt to Israel, to Jerusalem, and to discuss our common efforts for prosperity, security and peace,” Netanyahu said. “I’m tremendously encouraged by how the United States, under President Trump, is working to bring allies together in this region against common challenges, but also to seize common opportunities.”

The Bahrain conference is expected to focus on economic aspects of the “Deal of the Century.” It will run from June 25-26.

However, with Netanyahu unable to form a governing coalition, the future of the Trump plan is in question. Ironically, the Trump administration waited to present its peace plan until after Israel had a new government in place.

Israel will return to the voting booth in September.

Israel is the third and final stop for the team working to garner support for a Middle East peace plan. The envoys first stopped in Morocco, where they met with King Mohammed VI, Crown Prince Moulay Hassan and Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita. They then went to Jordan to meet with King Abdullah II.

Following his meeting with King Abdullah II, Greenblatt tweeted: “Constructive meeting with @KingAbdullahII in Jordan today including a good conversation about regional dynamics and our administration’s efforts to help Israel and the Palestinians achieve a brighter future.”

Though Moroccan officials have declined commenting on the visit, the official Petra news agency reported that the Jordanian visit involved discussing, “regional developments, especially efforts to resolve the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.”

The King also “stressed the need to step up all efforts to achieve comprehensive and lasting peace on the basis of the two-state solution, guaranteeing the establishment of an independent Palestinian state on the 4 June 1967 lines, with east Jerusalem as its capital, living side by side with solidarity with the Palestinians.

The Bahrain conference will discuss economic incentives to bring peace between Israel and the Palestinians. However, it has been made clear that Palestinian statehood is not on the agenda. Therefore, Palestinian political leaders as well as representatives from China and Russia will boycott the event.

Kushner has signaled that the White House may be pulling back from America’s previous support for a two-state solution.

Earlier this month, he said “If you say ‘two-state,’ it means one thing to the Israelis, it means one thing to the Palestinians. We said, ‘you know, let’s just not say it. Let’s just say, let’s work on the details of what this means.’”

However, he has billed the economic workshop as “a pivotal opportunity… to share ideas, discuss strategies and galvanize support for potential economic investments and initiatives that could be made possible by a peace agreement.”

After meeting the prime minister, Kushner affirmed Trump’s commitment to Israel’s security. “The security of Israel is something that’s critical to the relations between America and Israel, and also very important to the President, and we appreciate all your efforts to strengthen the relationship between our two countries.

“It’s never been stronger, and we’re very excited about all the potential that lies ahead for Israel, for the relationship, and for the future.” (World Israel News)

Read more at: worldisraelnews.com

 

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