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American Jews Thank Trump in Full Page New York Times Ad

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Praise for Trump efforts to combat Anti-Semitism, criticism for Dem support for anti-Israel causes

American Jewish leaders took out a full-page advertisement in the New York Times on Thursday to thank President Donald Trump for his efforts to combat anti-Semitism across the globe and criticize Democrats for their open embrace of causes advocating the destruction of Israel.

Click here to see the full ad

The advertisement, signed by more than 50 leading American Jewish voices, comes on the heels of Trump appointing Elan Carr as the new State Department Special Envoy to Combat Anti-Semitism, a post that has become increasingly important in recent years as anti-Semitism and violence against Jews flourishes across the globe, particularly in Europe.

“Thank you, President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, for the appointment of Mr. Elan Carr as Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Anti-Semitism,” states the ad, which was purchased by the Republican Jewish Coalition.

“Anti-Semitism must be confronted and defeated,” the advertisement declares. It also contains a direct quote from Trump in which he declares, “The scourge of anti-Semitism cannot be ignored, cannot be tolerated, and it cannot be allowed to continue.”

“We wish to congratulate and to thank President Donald Trump, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, and the entire Trump administration for the recent appointment of Mr. Elan S. Carr to the position of State Department Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Anti-Semitism. Anti-Semitism ranks among the oldest, most destructive forms of bigotry,” the advertisement says.

“It is a scourge that has plagued mankind. From the Nazi regime’s genocide of six million Jews to the October 27, 2018 Pittsburgh synagogue shooting that claimed the lives of eleven Shabbat worshipers, anti-Semitism is responsible for a multitude of history’s most heinous atrocities,” it continues.

“As United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres has observed, anti-Semitism ‘is on the rise in all parts of the world,'” the ad states. “Hatred of the Jewish people can be heard in the voices of those who call for boycotting, divesting from, and sanctioning the world’s only Jewish state.”

The leaders also criticize the Iranian regime for its anti-Semitic comments and calls out a new class of freshman Democrats who have advocated in favor of Israel boycotts.

“While the Iranian Majlis has long demonized Israel, anti-Semitic voices can now be heard in the halls of the British Parliament and even the U.S. Congress,” the ad states. “We thank President Trump for his courageous, clear eyed leadership in engaging in the fight to defeat anti-Semitism. We stand shoulder to shoulder with President Trump in saying, ‘Never Again,’ and we pledge our full commitment to helping his administration, including Special Envoy Carr, in the days, weeks, and months to come.” (Washington Free Beacon)

 

Netanyahu’s Likud Nudges Higher in Opinion Poll

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The prime minister would win 32 seats in the 120-seat Israeli parliament, according to a poll released by Kan public broadcasting.

A day after holding a primary election to determine the party’s list for the April 9th Knesset election, the Likud received positive news Wednesday night of a slightly better showing in a public opinion poll.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s party would win 32 seats in the 120-seat Israeli parliament, according to a poll released by Kan public broadcasting. A poll aired the same day by Channel 20 television showed the Likud gaining only 30 seats.

Poll results released over the previous week gave the Likud 29 to 31 seats.


The Likud’s closest challenger is the Israel Resilience party, headed by former military chief Benny Gantz. Both Kan and Channel 20 showed his party winning 22 seats. The Yesh Atid party of MK Yair Lapid, a former finance minister, would gain 11 or 12 seats. There have been reports of efforts to bring Lapid’s party into a joint list to run with Israel Resilience, which according to polling, could defeat the Likud.

However, Yesh Atid sources are now denying that Lapid would be drawn into a joint campaign, insisting that he represents the only alternative to replace Netanyahu as prime minister. Gantz will be heading a list that already includes a new party headed by another former military chief, Moshe Ya’alon.

The New Right party of current cabinet ministers Naftali Bennett and Ayelet Shaked has lost significant ground since they first announced on December 29th that they were bolting the Jewish Home party. In the immediate aftermath of their move, New Right was gaining support to earn as many as 14 seats, but Wednesday’s Kan poll showed the party with only seven seats.

If center-left lists join forces ahead of the Knesset election, there could be a similar move on the right, according to political observers.

Netanyahu said that he was “very, very” pleased with the results of his party’s primary on Tuesday, though bitter rival Gideon Sa’ar finished high on the party list despite Netanyahu’s call on Likud members not to vote for Sa’ar.

The prime minister reportedly has said that despite Sa’ar’s strong showing in the party election, he would not be appointed to a senior position in the next government if, in fact, Netanyahu is still at the helm. (WIN)

 

Historic Deal: US Agrees to Purchase Israel’s Iron Dome

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In its first-ever purchase of a complete weapons system from Israel, the U.S. inked a deal for the Iron Dome.

The U.S. Army announced on Wednesday that it has agreed to purchase Israel’s Iron Dome missile defense system.

The agreement is historic, marking the first time Israel has sold a standalone weapons system to the U.S., which typically fields weapons that are superior to other countries.

“The Iron Dome will be assessed and experimented as a system that is currently available to protect deployed U.S. military service members against a wide variety of indirect fire threats and aerial threats,” U.S. Army Col. Patrick Seiber said in a statement.

“While Iron Dome has been in operational use by the Israeli Air Force since 2011 and proven effective in combat, it should be noted that the U.S. Army will assess a variety of options for its long-term IFPC solution,” the statement read. IFPC stands for Indirect Fire Protection Capability.

“No decisions have been made regarding the fielding or experimentation of Iron Dome in specific theaters,” Seiber said.

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Israel’s ministry of defense in a statement on Wednesday said, “The Iron Dome system will be tested as a defense system for deployed U.S. military forces against a wide range of ballistic and airborne threats and will be tested in the long term as part of a range of possible responses by the U.S. military to defense against air threats.”

Prime Minister and Minister of Defense Benjamin Netanyahu said: “A great achievement for Israel, this is yet another expression of the strengthening of our strong alliance with the U.S. and an expression of Israel’s rising status in the world. Israel has an Iron Dome and an iron fist. Our systems know how to deal with any threat, both in defense and in attack. I would not recommend our enemies to try us.”

According to Inside Defense, the U.S. Army wants “two Iron Dome batteries to provide ground forces an interim capability by 2020 against unmanned air vehicles, mortars, rockets, artillery and cruise missiles.” (WIN)

Innovating for the Environment: The Israel Innovation Authority, the Israeli Ministry of Environmental Protection, and the Israeli Ministry of Economy and Industry will support the establishment of a new technological innovation lab specializing in environmental protection and sustainability with NIS 14 million

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Corporations are called upon to submit proposals in a competitive process for the establishment and operation of a technological innovation lab

 

Anya Eldan, VP of the Israel Innovation Authority and Head of the Startup Division: “Our vision is that the innovation lab will develop into an entire ecosystem of unique startups, investors, and Israeli and multinational companies that will help implement innovative technologies and impact the lab with their vast experience in the industry.”

 

Galit Cohen, Senior VP of Planning, Policy and Strategy at the Ministry of Environmental Protection: “The Innovation Lab project is designed to promote early enterprises and is a significant and additional layer to the Ministry of Environmental Protection’s work in promoting Israeli environmental technologies and supporting commercial proofs of concept of mature projects. The lab will also give traditional industries access to innovative environmental technologies that can be implemented to improve Israel’s environmental performance.”

 

Oz Katz, Head of the Industries Administration at Ministry of Economy and Industry: “The Ministry of Economy and Industry promotes environmental and emerging industries through numerous assistance programs – this lab being one of them. Achieving environmental sustainability goals has massive economic potential, including higher rates of productivity and industrial innovation. The lab will promote more sustainable manufacturing processes and implement innovative methods that solve industry-based environmental requirements.”

 

February 7, 2019 – Jerusalem – The Israel Innovation Authority, the Israeli Ministry of Environmental Protection and the Israeli Ministry of Economy and Industry have embarked on a new initiative to support the establishment of a new technological innovation lab that will specialize in the fields of environmental protection and sustainability. The corporations that will establish the laboratory will receive funding to build out a unique technological infrastructure and ongoing lab operations, as well as financing for participating startups to create their “proof of concept.” The overall government investment in the program stands at NIS 14 million.

 

Israeli and foreign corporations interested in exploring open innovation in such an innovation lab, and that wish to bolster Israel’s unique tech ecosystem, are invited to submit proposals. The innovation laboratory will be established and operated by those corporations that win a competitive tender to run the lab for a three-year period. Under this model, the lab will scout for startups in the fields of environmental protection and sustainability and support their proof of concept projects. This involves providing startups with access to technological infrastructure, assisting them in determining their product’s commercial viability, supporting project execution, opening marketing channels, exposing them to know-how and expertise, and creating connections with investors, partners, and corporate clients.

 

The cooperation between the entrepreneurial community and industry will improve the competitive performance of these startups and the cleantech ecosystem in Israel. The lab will also serve as a broad platform for cooperation between industry and academia and serve as a source of growth and strategic development for participating companies.

 

Companies that win the tender to operate the labs will receive financial support of 33% of the cost of setting up technological infrastructure (50% if the lab is established in peripheral areas), at a maximum of NIS 4 million, as well as financial support of 50% of the costs of ongoing lab operations, at a maximum of NIS 500,000 per year over the course of three years – with no requirements for financial investment in the startups accepted to the lab.
Companies selected to participate in the lab will be eligible for financial support of up to 85% of the approved project’s budget up to a maximum of NIS 1 million and for up to a one-year operational term.

 

The new lab will be part of the Israel Innovation Authority’s existing innovation labs program, operating via incentive track number 29 – which, since its launch in 2017, has already established five technological innovation labs, all active today. Under the framework of this program, the Israel Innovation Authority is launching a competitive process to establish a new innovation lab for which the Israeli Ministry of Environmental Protection will provide data, information, and regulatory assistance to the new lab.

 

The current initiative is part of an Environmental Protection Ministry program started in 2018, when the ministry and the Israel Innovation Authority joined forces to create pilot programs to support Israeli environmental technologies ripe for commercial application on an industrial scale.

 

The Israeli Ministry of Economy and Industry seeks to leverage opportunities created by environmental regulations by developing new industrial technologies that improve productivity while reducing pollution, according to existing regulations. Priority will be given to a technological innovation lab in the field of environmental protection and sustainability that provides solutions for processing and manufacturing industries with high pollution rates and in proximity to population centers.

NEW YORK CITY COLLEGE OF TECHNOLOGY IS CUTTING THE RIBBON ON ITS NEW ACADEMIC COMPLEX!

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New York—Faculty, students and staff of the New York City College of Technology (City
Tech) will join friends and invited officials in cutting the ribbon on its new Academic Complex this
Valentine’s Day, February 14, 2019.
To honor the new home of its clinical healthcare and sciences programs, City Tech invites you to join in
on the ribbon-cutting festivities!
WHAT: City Tech New Academic Complex Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony
Followed by a Reception and Building Tours
WHEN: Thursday, February 14, 2019 at 12:30pm
WHERE: New Academic Complex, New York City College of Technology
285 Jay Street
Brooklyn, New York 11201
WHO: Faculty, staff, students, friends and invited officials including
President Russell K. Hotzler, City Tech
Hon. Eric L. Adams, Brooklyn Borough President
Interim Chancellor Vita Rabinowitz, CUNY
Hon. William C. Thompson, Chairperson, CUNY Board of Trustees
Hon. Inez Barron, Chair, City Council Committee on Higher Education
Hon. Joseph Lentol, NYS Assembly
City Tech’s Academic Complex is the newest addition to the borough’s ever-expanding Tech Triangle.
The eight-story, 365,000 square foot complex is the new home of the College’s clinical healthcare and
sciences programs, a 1,000-seat theater, an 800-seat gymnasium and a wellness center. Reflecting the
College’s high-tech identity and tradition of providing economic mobility to its diverse student
population, this multi-disciplinary facility will provide generations of students with even more
opportunities to attain professional success.

WJC President Lauder Addresses Special EU Conference: “Europe is at a Turning Point – we Must Work Together to Fight Antisemitism”

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A World Jewish Congress delegation led by WJC President Ronald S. Lauder, comprising CEO and Executive Vice President Robert Singer and senior WJC security officials, took part Thursday in a special conference at the European Parliament under the banner The Fight Against Antisemitism: A Common Approach to Better Protect Jewish Communities in Europe – from Policy to Action. The conference was hosted by Romanian Prime Minister Viorica Dancila, whose country holds the rotating presidency of the European Union and featured high-level remarks by WJC President Lauder and top EU officials.

Opening the conference, Romanian Prime Minister Dancila said: “Today Romania is a regional role model in fighting antisemitism and xenophobia. And a role model regarding education and measures taken to remember the Holocaust.”

In his address, WJC President Lauder said: “In an age when extremism seriously threatens civilization, when we face global unrest, to pick after Jews or to go after Jews is not just wrong – it is dangerous for all Europeans…. The reason we are here today is the resurgence of the age-old hatred of Jews here in Europe, once again. Is this just another cycle? Did Europe give the Jewish people a reprieve after the world was so horrified by those photographs of the skeletal bodies at Dachau and Bergen Belsen and Auschwitz? There are important lessons that we need to remember from the past, because I believe there are direct links to the growing antisemitism that we see today,” Lauder said.

The Holocaust, Lauder noted, was not just German – it was a European event. “Practically every single country on this continent, with just a few exceptions, helped the Germans round up their Jewish citizens, or conveniently looked the other way, and that is just as dangerous… All of you here in this room are leaders. We must lead by example… and we must never show indifference.” In the UN today, bias against the world’s only Jewish state runs rampant, Lauder said, and across Europe antisemites and neo-Nazis are gaining steam without repercussion.

“This is a turning point, right here and right now. Europe has a choice. You have a choice,” Lauder told the European leaders. “We are not your enemy, we never have been. We must work together, all religions, including Muslims, if our Judeo-Christian civilization is going to survive. Antisemitism eventually consumes everyone and everything. We need to form one solid line of defense against today’s evil. We must all work together to stop antisemitism. We must all work together to make Europe once again the center of human advancement. We must do this for our children’s sake. We must do this for the future of Europe. We must do this for the entire world.”

דדד

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US Not Interested in Business as Usual with Palestinians, Proud to be Israel’s Ally

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Wikimedia Commons

U.S. official dismisses the importance of Washington serving as an ‘honest broker’ between Israel and the Palestinians

The Trump administration does not seem to shy away from being different in how it handles many issues and its policy on the Israeli-Palestinian dispute certainly proves that point.

Wikimedia Commons

The most recent example of this is a Times of Israel article, in which a senior U.S. official says that the current White House is not interested in being considered an ‘honest broker’ in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

“The U.S. is a strong ally of Israel. The administration, from the president on down, is not embarrassed to defend Israel where Israel needs to be defended, whether it’s on the Gaza border, on the Hezbollah tunnels, the Syrian border, wherever it is,” the senior official said.

He dismissed the concept of an honest broker as “a vestige of talking points from decades ago.”

The current U.S. leadership has already broken the mold of previous administrations by moving the American Embassy to Jerusalem. It used the changed geopolitical situation in the Middle East, an Arab world nervous about Iran, and took advantage of various circumstances last May to move the U.S. Embassy right after President Donald Trump announced that he was withdrawing from the Iran nuclear deal.

The result was a relative silence from the Arab world over U.S. recognition of Jerusalem as the Jewish state’s capital amid a predominant round of applause over Washington’s action against Tehran.

The Trump team’s read of the Arab states’ stance on the Palestinian situation is that they don’t consider it a priority, but instead as a messy situation that must be fixed.

Washington also sees Arab leaders as being less than enamored with the leadership of the Palestinian Authority (PA).

The lack of confidence in PA leaders partly explains the Trump administration’s view that it’s premature to speak of a full diplomatic solution and that emphasis should be placed instead on the economic plight of many of the people living in PA territory, and when dealing with the situation on the ground in those areas, talk to the people.

The U.S. view is represented in a quote from the unnamed senior American official cited in the Times of Israel who says that Washington holds regular contacts with “ordinary Palestinians” who “express deep frustration with their leadership.

“They believe that their leadership has eroded their standing in the world, not just in the U.S., but around the world,” added the American official. “They want to engage with us and they want to see what is in the plan. They want a better future, and they know the key to that involves the U.S.”

U.S. officials have said that they will announce their Israeli-Palestinian plan in the immediate aftermath of the April 9th Knesset election.

In making the December 2017 declaration on the status of Jerusalem, Trump tried to sugarcoat it for the Arab world by saying that “We are not taking a position… [on] the specific boundaries of the Israeli sovereignty in Jerusalem, or the resolution of contested borders. Those questions are up to the parties involved.”

In January 2018, the London-based Arabic newspaper Al Hayat reported that the PA had retained some contact with the Trump administration, despite vowing to cut off all contacts with the U.S. leadership to protest the recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.

In August 2018, Trump said Israel would pay “a higher price” in peace talks with the Palestinians due to his decision to recognize Jerusalem as the Jewish state’s capital. Trump said the Palestinians “will get something very good” in any future negotiations.

However, the current administration is saying again that it does not believe in the concept of serving as an honest broker.

It has been a catchphrase during the many years of Israeli-Palestinian peace efforts, with Palestinian officials sometimes questioning U.S. objectivity, accusing Washington of showing favoritism towards Israel, and the Israeli government at other times at loggerheads with the U.S., but still generally preferring the Americans over the Europeans and the U.N. (WIN)

Gaza Terrorists Launch Rocket into Israel, IDF Responds with Tank Strike

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Following the rocket attack, an Israeli tank fired on a Hamas post in the southern Gaza Strip, according to an IDF statement. photo: wikimedia

Residents of Gaza-belt communities were again sent running when terrorists in the Strip launched a rocket into Israel, which exploded in a field without injuring any civilians.

The calm in southern Israel was pierced again Wednesday evening when a rocket launched from Gaza streaked into the Sha’ar Hanegev region, landing in an empty field with a loud explosion.

While no one was injured, this rocket marked the second reported launch of the night, with the first missile failing to enter Israeli airspace, landing instead inside the coastal enclave, Times of Israel reported.

Following the rocket attack, an Israeli tank fired on a Hamas post in the southern Gaza Strip, according to an IDF statement. photo: wikimedia

The latest provocations from the Hamas-ruled territory arrive amid attempts by Egypt and Qatar to persuade the terror group to desist from antagonizing Israel. Qatar, for its part, has provided millions of dollars in cash to Hamas to incentivize calm, following a prolonged campaign of violent riots on the border, airborne arson terror, and rocket attacks.

There are a number of terror organizations that operate in Gaza, including Palestinian Islamic Jihad and ISIS affiliates, however, Hamas holds itself out as the enclave’s official government, and is thus held responsible by Israel for all attacks that originate in the territory.

In a somewhat related development, Arabs have seized control of an archaeological site and have begun to illegally pave a parking lot, according to Regavim, an Israeli nonprofit that specializes in land rights issues.

The Tomb of the Prophet Samuel is considered a holy site by all three major faiths. Hundreds of thousands visit the site each year, which offers a panoramic vista of Jerusalem.

The area was declared a national heritage site and the rich archaeological remains, dating back to the Second Temple era, as well as the ancient oak trees that cover the hilltop, are all protected by National Park status.

The archaeological finds at the site bear witness to Jewish settlement, from the First Temple period through the Hasmonean Era, up to modern times.

Recently, Arab residents of the nearby village Nabi Samwil broke into the archaeological garden and used heavy machinery to pave a large plot, apparently as the first stage in creating a parking lot, as a means of collecting parking fees from visitors to the site.

The area is under full Israeli jurisdiction, only a short walk from a northern Jerusalem neighborhood and the Har Shmuel and Givat Ze’ev communities.

“The Civil Administration and the Israeli government must do everything in their power to block the construction of the parking lot,” wrote Attorney Avi Segal in his letter to the Civil Administration. “The authorities’ negligence has caused a major blow to the archaeological finds as well as to the rule of law.”

“It is difficult to assess the extent of the damage to the archaeological site, or the potential damage to the still-unexplored, ancient sub-strata,” adds Yishai Hemo, Regavim’s Field Director for Judea and Samaria.

“We have seen damage to important sites throughout Judea and Samaria, caused by construction in areas of tremendous historic significance and destruction of antiquities, in complete disregard of the law. We have said it before: People who care about the Land of Israel don’t cause it harm. The government must stop the destruction.” (WIN)

 

Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein Dies at 67; Raised $1.4B for Charity & Built Bridges with Evangelicals

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Rabbi Eckstein, president of the International Fellowship of Jews and Christians, passes away suddenly on Wednesday at age 67.

Photo: International Fellowship of Christians and Jews

Rabbi Yechiel Zvi Eckstein, founder and president of the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews, passed away at the age of 67 on Wednesday in Jerusalem.
The fellowship under its chairmanship raises about half a billion shekels each year for the State of Israel and for various Jewish causes.

Eckstein was on the Board of Governors of the Joint Distribution Committee, Keren Hayesod and the Jewish Agency. He wrote seven books, mainly on Christian-Jewish relations.
Rabbi Eckstein was active in efforts promoting Jewish immigration from Ukraine and other countries.

He was born in Canada, and as a teenager studied at the MTA, the yeshiva High School of Yeshiva University. He then studied at the Kerem B’Yavneh yeshiva and then returned to Yeshiva University, where he was ordained by Rabbi Yosef Dov Soloveitchik and completed his bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees. He served as a lecturer at Columbia University.

The International Fellowship of Christians and Jews established by Rabbi Eckstein raises funds mainly from Evangelical Christians who support Zionism in the United States and around the world, and some from donations from Jews around the world and Israelis. Since its establishment, the fellowship has raised more than 1.3 billion shekels for a variety of social projects in Israel.
The Tzohar Rabbinical Organization expressed its sadness over the untimely passing of Rabbi Eckstein.

“Rabbi Eckstein was a visionary whose leadership enabled tremendous support for the state and people of Israel and his actions bettered the lives of countless people all over the country. Throughout his life, he worked to bring pride to Jewish practice and Zionism while acting as an ambassador for Judaism throughout the world. May his memory always serve as a source of blessing to his family and the entire Jewish people.”
Dr. Jürgen Bühler, president of the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem, said, “The International Christian Embassy Jerusalem mourns the sudden passing of Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein and pays tribute to this unique pioneer and visionary of closer Jewish-Christian relations.”

“Rabbi Eckstein foresaw, like few other Jewish leaders did, the strategic importance to Israel and the Jewish people of forging ties with the global Evangelical community. The generous aid that he gathered from Christians around the world brought vital assistance and great blessings to countless Israelis.

“The ICEJ extend its most sincere condolences to the Eckstein family. His daughter, Yael, and the Fellowship he founded can be proud of the legacy he has now left in their hands.”
Isaac Herzog, Chairman of the Jewish Agency for Israel, said, “The Jewish People have lost Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein, a leader who worked tirelessly on their behalf. I worked with Rabbi Eckstein on social welfare, diaspora and Aliyah.”

“My deep condolences to his family and the entire International Fellowship of Christians and Jews.”

US Ambassador to Israel David Friedman said, “So sad to learn of the passing of my friend Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein, founder of the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews. A prodigious philanthropist and an inspirational leader who did so much to unite Christians and Jews around common values. May his memory be blessed.”

Friends of the Israel Defense Forces (FIDF) National Director and CEO Maj. Gen. (Res.) Meir Klifi-Amir said of Rabbi Eckstein’s passing, “Today we lost a friend, a partner, and a great supporter. Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein z”l was an ardent Zionist who devoted his life to the State of Israel, a highly respected visionary and leader who built bridges between Jewish and Christian communities and across great divides, making the world a better place for us all. He leaves behind a tremendous legacy for us to continue his crucial work, bringing together Jews and non-Jews in support of Israel and her guardians – the men and women of the IDF. The FIDF family extends its most heartfelt sympathies to his loved ones.”

The International Fellowship of Christians and Jews (issued the following statement on the sudden passing of its founder and president, Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein, z”l.

“We are in shock and mourning the loss of our visionary leader, rabbi, friend and colleague. Rabbi Eckstein was a giant in the Jewish and Christian communities, a man who devoted his every moment to helping Israel and the Jewish people. Yechiel forged unbreakable bonds of Christian-Jewish friendship and unity around a shared love for Israel that will stand as his timeless legacy.
Since his ordination to the Rabbinate by Rabbi Dov Soloveitchik, Rabbi Eckstein devoted his life to strengthening the State of Israel and the Jewish people. Since founding The Fellowship in 1983, Rabbi Eckstein raised more than $1.6 billion to help hundreds of thousands of low-income Israelis, ailing and poor Holocaust survivors in Israel and in the former Soviet Union, and low-income Israeli minorities, including Arabs, Bedouin and Druze.

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Rabbi Eckstein helped bring and resettle hundreds of thousands of immigrants to Israel, and in the past four years directly helped more than 17,000 new immigrants escape economic hardship, persecution, and terror in 31 countries, while protecting Jews worldwide with increased security funding. Rabbi Eckstein also was in the process of fulfilling one of his greatest goals – the building of a new worldwide center for Christians in Jerusalem, near the new U.S. Embassy.”

Israel’s leadership did not hesitate to pay tribute to Rabbi Eckstein. President Reuven Rivlin called him “A great man, a great Jew and a great Zionist”, and former Knesset member Rabbi Dov Lipman commented “A heart that gave and gave and gave stopped working.”

Long-time friend and partner, Pat Robertson of the Christian Broadcasting Network, also offered parting words: “Yechiel has been a pioneer and champion of Christian/Jewish relations for decades”. Likewise, John Hagee of Christians United for Israel remarked, “His impact on the state of Israel and on bringing Jews and Christians together will be felt for generations.”

And among the American Jewish community, Rabbi Shmuley Boteach declared “Rabbi Eckstein’s dedication and love for his people never ceased to amaze”, and Jonathan Greenblatt of the Anti-Defamation League noted “He was a tireless worker for the Jewish people and for Israel.”

George Mamo, Global Chief Operating Officer of The Fellowship, reflected on Rabbi Eckstein’s accomplishments but spoke optimistically about the future, “We know the best way to honor Rabbi Eckstein is to carry on his vision and build bridges of love between Christians and Jews. We have every confidence that Rabbi’s daughter, Yael, is the person to continue Rabbi’s life work.”

The Fellowship’s staff, its acquaintances and dignitaries bow their heads in sadness and pledge to continue Rabbi Eckstein’s lifelong mission on behalf of the Jewish people and Israel. We send our condolences and love to his wife Joelle, his daughters, his mother and grandchildren. May they be comforted among the mourners of Zion and Jerusalem.

FEB 11- NYC’S KOSHER FOOD & WINE EXPERIENCE TO SERVE UP GOURMET FARE FROM MORE THAN 30 TOP EATERIES, CATERERS & FOOD COMPANIES

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This month at Chelsea Piers in NYC, the Royal Wine Corp will host its 13th annual Kosher Food & Wine Experience (KFWE) with hundreds of new wines and spirits from every corner of the globe. Throughout the evening oenophiles will enjoy tasting many award-winning wines, exceptional new kosher runs, French champagne and a line of wines from NBA all-star Amare Stoudemire, produced in Israel to his specifications, along with so much more.

As with every KFWE event, the evening’s festivities will also offer visitors a chance to sample mouthwatering fare from today’s top-trending kosher restaurants, chefs, caterers and food companies.

More than 30 purveyors will be on hand to serve up delicious fare including sushi, kosher poke, bison, organic beef and BBQ, smoked meats, and elegant desserts from chocolates and parve ice cream to cakes, cupcakes, and more.

KFWE Gourmet Fare:

ALENbi Kitchen, Bison & Bourbon, Chop Chop, Buffalo2go, Graze Smokehouse, Great Falls Bistro, Factory 220, Judd’s Memphis Kitchen, Le Marais, R & Z Kosher Smoked Meats, T Fusion Steakhouse, Sushi Tokyo, Teaneck Doghouse, UN Plaza Grill and Sushi, West Wing, Tirat Zvi Grill and Sandwich Bar, Chani Greenbaum Events, Elegant Desserts NY, Grow & Behold, Jack’s Gourmet, Kosher Poke, A Taste of The Mediterranean by Ta’amti, Marani, Pelleh Farms, Silverleaf Caterers, Sushi Tokyo, Taam Eden Bakery, The Kosher.com Experience, The Nuttery, Urban Pops and gourmet coffees and teas compliments of Elite and Wissotzky.

“Today’s Kosher consumers want to experience and taste all that’s new in kosher.  That includes the newest products, ingredients and cookbooks, delicious restaurants and dining, as well as take-out and convenience foods,” says Chanie Nayman, editor of Kosher.com, a Jewish lifestyle website offering thousands of kosher recipes and cooking videos. “Like never before, new kosher eateries are popping up all over the country, and novice and professional chefs alike seek new recipes that go beyond what our grandmothers used to serve,” she adds.

 

 

Adding to the KFWE festivities is a celebration marking the 70th Anniversary of the Royal Wine Corp. Today, Royal Wine, also known as Kedem, has become synonymous with the highest standards in wines, spirits, and foods – not just in the kosher community but across the epicurean world. The brand’s innovative portfolio continues to break ground in new categories.    

    

Gabriel Geller, VP of Public Relations for Royal Wine Corp., attributes the proliferation of fine wines which just happen to be kosher to the Herzog family’s 200-year winemaking legacy. “The family travels the world to discover and import new varieties of premier kosher wines from Israel, France, Chile, Australia, California and many more terroirs around the globe. Their longtime vision and commitment to excellence has opened kosher consumers’ eyes to the finest vintages from Bordeaux, Burgundy and beyond.”

Today, Royal sources its wines from more than 15 regions and countries. But according to David Herzog, the company’s Chairman of the Board, “We’re not in the wine business, but in the simcha (joy) business. Kedem prides itself in providing the wines that people share with their families and friends over the most joyous moments of life: holidays, bar/bat mitzvahs, engagements, birthdays, anniversaries, weddings, etc.”

The 13th annual Kosher Food & Wine Experience (KFWE), New York edition (http://thekfwe.com), welcomes visitors Monday, February 11, 2019 at Pier 60, Chelsea Piers (23rdSt. and West Side Highway, NYC).

 

KFWE Exclusive Trade & Press hours:  12:00 noon – 4:00 pm

KFWE-Open to Public/Press: 6:30 pm – 9:30 pm; Tickets athttp://thekfwe.com

 

About Royal Wine/Kedem

Since 1948, Royal Wine Corp., also known as Kedem, has been owned and operated in the United States by the Herzog family, whose winemaking roots date back eight generations to 19th century Czechoslovakia.

Today Royal Wine’s portfolio of domestic and international wines range from traditional wine producing regions of France, Italy and Spain, as well as Israel, New Zealand and Argentina. Additionally, Royal Wine Corp.’s spirit and liqueur portfolio offer some of the most sought-after scotches, bourbons, tequilas and vodkas as well as hard to find specialty items such as flavored brandies and liqueurs.

The company owns and operates the Kedem Winery in upstate New York, as well as Herzog Wine Cellars in Oxnard, California, a state-of-the-art-facility featuring guided wine tours, a fully staffed modern tasting room, gift shop and catering facilities. Additionally, the winery houses the award-winning restaurant Tierra Sur, serving the finest Mediterranean inspired contemporary Californian Cuisine. Follow Royal Wine on Face Book.com/RoyalWineCorp/, and instagram.com/royalwinecorp/, andtwitter.com/royalwinecorp

14th Street Y Hosts Annual Purim Gala in NYC

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 The 14th Street Y will host its 2019 PURIM Gala on Thursday, March 14, 2019 at 6pm at Cipriani 25 Broadway. The 14th Street Y will honor the Union Square Partnership and its Executive Director, Jennifer Falk, as the recipient of the 14th Street Y Community Builder Award.

The 14th Street Y is a vibrant community center grounded in the belief that contemporary Jewish sensibilities can be a source of inspiration, connection, and learning for the individuals and families we serve throughout New York City’s East Village and beyond.

The 14th Street Y’s Community Builder Award recognizes champions who go above and beyond to cultivate and strengthen their communities, and in turn inspire others—individuals, organizations, and local businesses—to do the same. The 14th Street Y could not think of a better recipient for its first Community Builder Award than the Union Square Partnership and its Executive Director Jennifer Falk.

 

“We are thrilled to recognize the Union Square Partnership and Executive Director Jennifer Falk as leaders and partners in serving this diverse community,” said Rabbi Shira Koch Epstein, Executive Director of The 14th Street Y. “The organization’s tireless efforts in community building and neighborhood improvement initiatives provide vital service to our vibrant district.”

 

“It is truly an honor to accept the 14th Street Y’s inaugural ‘Community Builder Award’ on behalf of my incredible team and the Union Square Partnership’s devoted board of directors,” said Jennifer E. Falk, Executive Director of the Union Square Partnership. “The 14th Street Y is a key partner in our work to build community and improve our shared neighborhood. They have been vital to the district’s growth and we look forward to working with them closely as they continue to make plans for their new facility. We are truly humbled to be acknowledged in this way and look forward to a festive and joyous celebration on Thursday, March 14.”

 

The community is invited for a decadent evening in celebration of all things Purim. Masks and revelry will abound from the moment guests enter the Gala and are greeted with a champagne toast served from above by a cirque-style aerial artist. A cocktail hour with scintillating music and a photo booth where guests can don many disguises will be followed by a sumptuous dinner and a proper Purim spiel hosted by Artist Fellows from the 14th Street Y’s flagship artistic program, LABA: A Laboratory for Jewish Culture. Groggers will spin and wine will pour as attendees are reminded this holiday celebrates community, giving back to our neighbors and of course…feasting.

 

The Gala will be held at Cipriani 25 Broadway with cocktails at 6pm and dinner & entertainment at 7pm. Festive attire and masks are encouraged. To learn more about the night’s events, get tickets, or to make a donation, please visit https://www.14streety.org/gala/.

Purim is one of the most joyous and fun holidays on the Jewish calendar. Celebrated with feasts, drink and revelry, it celebrates standing up for what you believe in and calls us to honor others through giving gifts and charity.

 

In keeping with the time-honored Purim tradition of masquerade, guests are invited to indulge in wearing Purim-inspired masks and accessories. Try on a bit of whimsy, drama or intrigue and be transformed instantly… go on, we dare you!

The 14th Street Y 2019 Purim Gala will feature one-of-a kind live art and performances, including:

 

Ari Brand, an actor, musician, writer, teacher and lifelong New Yorker. His current projects include developing a play based on the life of his father, an Israeli-American pianist who died of AIDS in 1990. He lives in Manhattan with his wife and two-year-old son.

Yochai Greenfeld, dancer, actor and singer, was born and raised in Israel, where his artistic passion evolved among the books and the scrolls at YeshViat Maale Gilboa. He believes in art as a form of multi-layered communication, and aspires to create meaningful, amusing and inspiring conversations in his work.

Marques Hollie, jewsician, is an operatic tenor and facilitator of creative Jewish ritual whose work focuses on creating Jew-of-color-centered ritual experiences. Marques was named one of New York Jewish Week’s 36 Under 36 (2018) and a Fellow in the Union for Reform Judaism’s JewV’Nation Fellowship, a visionary leadership development program.

Returning this year, the Gala will also feature Rachel Pegram, comedian, actor, and writer living in New York City.  Onscreen, Rachel can be seen in the Adam Sandler Netflix movie The Week Of, as well as Don’t Think Twice, The Chris Gethard Show on TruTv, Full Frontal with Samantha Bee, The Late Show, Comedy Central, MTV, College Humor, Amazon, BET and more. In 2018 she was chosen by Comedy Central as an “Up Next” comedian and performed at Clusterfest in San Francisco. Rachel performs regularly at Union Hall, both as a writer/performer with the sketch group Lo-Fi NYC and as co-host of That Shit Ray, a monthly late night-esque variety show. She also regularly performs improv with Too Damn Much and Asssscat at UCB Hells Kitchen.

DINNER CO-CHAIRS

Barbara Benerofe and Harvey Schulweis, Lynne P. Brown, Lori Buchbinder, Susan Buchbinder and William Abramson, Susan Etess and Howard Zimmerman, Cristian Goodhart, Joseph Persky, Sally Wasserman and Henry Hecht

2019 GALA HOST COMMITTEE

Darcy Bradbury and Eric Seiler, Laura and Mark Doman, Sydney Frazier and John Gallagher, Dr. Carola Garson and Ryan Garson, Rosesara and Jonathan Greenspun, Sara Gubins and Michaël Bijaoui, Bradley Korn, Hildy Kuryk and Jarrod Bernstein, Allison Leff and Daniel Macklowitz, Lauren Lowman and Eric Rattner, Ronit Muszkatblit and Yonatan Israel, Anne F. Pollack, Andrew Rasiej, Lisa Schein and David Stone, Alissa Dicker Schrieber, Keri and Scott Schundler, Janna and Michael Stern, Harron Zimmerman

 

THE 14TH STREET Y BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Joseph Persky, Chair; Harvey Schulweis, Chair Emeritus; Shira Koch Epstein, Executive Director

Peter Bernstein, Renée Brodie, Alex Dergun*, Ryan Garson*, Ilana Goldman, Cristian Goodhart, Sara Gubins, Rafael Hines, Brooke Carleton Paduano, Eric Perlmutter, Eric Rattner*, Jacques Raphael, Janna Fishman Stern, Sally Wasserman, Pauline Weinstein, Howard Zimmerman

Statement From Agudath Israel Following President Trump’s State of the Union Address

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Agudath Israel of America notes with appreciation that in his State of the Union address President Trump pointed to the anti-Semitic dangers the Jewish people have faced and the reality that even today our people live under a shadow that threatens our security and well-being.

 

The President spoke of the horrors of the Holocaust death camps and their liberation by American troops. He also spoke of the genocidal intent of Iran’s leaders against the State of Israel and America’s commitment to not let those evil designs be realized. And, he commemorated the recent horrific anti-Semitic murder and mayhem in Pittsburgh and the heroism of the city’s first responders.

 

In each of these instances of anti-Semitism — the more distant and the more recent, at home and abroad — the President not only pointed to the horror of hatred but he also highlighted our nation’s resolve to fight against it.

 

In this way, the President used this important pulpit to convey a clear and meaningful message to our nation, and to the nations of the world, that anti-Semitic hatred and violence is antithetical to American ideals and must be – indeed, will be — aggressively fought in thought, speech, and deed.

WJC Report Exposes Antisemitic face of neo-Nazi Lukov March supporters

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The World Jewish Congress has released a detailed report exposing the undeniably antisemitic language used on social media by the ultra-nationalist promoters and participants of the Lukov March in Bulgaria, a torch-lit demonstration that draws neo-Nazis from across Europe to the capital Sofia each February in honor of General Hristo Lukov, a Nazi collaborator whose movement sent 11,300 Jews to their deaths in the Nazi death camp of Treblinka. The organizers of the march claim not to be antisemitic, but the comments left on its official Facebook page indicate a clear proliferation of Jew-hatred among its supporters against the Bulgarian Jewish community and the Jewish world at large.

One such Facebook post by the organizers, reacting to the WJC efforts in 2018 to stop the march, targeted CEO Executive Vice President Robert Singer, using age-old antisemitic tropes:“No mister, with a name of a brand of sewing machines, the problem of Bulgaria is not Lukovmarch. The problem is that there are people with too long noses like you, who are burning with desire, snooping where they do not belong. But be sure that whatever you do, General. Lukov will receive a worthy honor from the Bulgarian youth!” read the post.

More than 50 publicly accessible comments were written on the post by the followers of the page, many objectively antisemitic in nature and tone, including: “Jews are the ones who sow hate in the world! Crafty and cheeky!” and “These Jews want to be everywhere, they are so busybody. And then they wonder why everyone hates them.”

Trump in SOTU: Tells Congress to “Choose Greatness” in Theme of Unity for the American People

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After two years of bitter partisanship and acrimonious attacks against him and his policies, President Trump has called for unity and cross-party cooperation in Washington during Tuesday night’s State of the Union address. Pundits have said that this harmonious message will likely ring hollow with Democrats determined to block his push for a border wall. That morose prognostication, however, did not see any manifestations in the Congressional chamber.

Democratic party women leaders dressed in white as a protest of Trump’s attitude toward women, however, they too, stood up and offered the President thunderous applause when he addressed the economic opportunities and advancements that women have seen under his administration.

President Trump’s theme was healing the bipartisan divide and gridlock in Congress for the sake of unifying our nation.

“The agenda I will lay out this evening is not a Republican agenda or Democrat agenda, it is the agenda of the American people. Many of us have campaigned on the same core promises, to defend American jobs and demand fair trade for American workers, to rebuild and revitalize our nation’s infrastructure, to reduce the price of health care and prescription drugs, to create an immigration system that is safe, lawful, modern and secure, and to pursue a foreign policy that puts America’s interests first. There is a new opportunity in American politics, if only we have the courage together to seize it, “ he declared with a resoluteness in his voice.

The commander in chief then hearkened back to the days of World War II to address the point of American sacrifice for the cherished concept of freedom.

“On D-Day, June 6, 1944, 15,000 young American men jumped from the skies, and 60,000 more stormed in from the sea to save our civilization from tyranny. Here with us tonight are three of those incredible heroes. Private first class Joseph Riley, staff Sergeant Erving Walker — and Sergeant Herman Zeitcheck. Gentlemen, we salute you,” said President Trump.

He then lauded the bravery of Apollo 11 astronaut Buzz Aldrin, who was also a guest in the Congressional chamber.

“In 2019, we also celebrate 50 years since brave young pilots flew 1 million miles through space to plant the American flag on the face of the moon. Half a century later, we are joined by one of the Apollo 11 astronauts who planted that flag, Buzz Aldrin. Thank you, Buzz. This year, American astronauts will go back to space in American rockets, “ said President Trump.

Speaking of the future in this 21st century, President Trump said, “Now, we must step boldly and bravely into the next chapter of this great American adventure. We must create a new standard of living for the 21st century. An amazing quality of life for all of our citizens is within reach. We can make our communities safer, our families stronger, our culture richer, our faith deeper, and our middle class bigger and more prosperous than ever before.”

He added that, “Together we can break decades of political stalemate. We can bridge all divisions, heal old wounds, build new coalitions, forge new solutions, and unlock the extraordinary promise of America’s future. The decision is ours to make. We must choose between greatness or gridlock, results or resistance, vision or vengeance, incredible progress or pointless destruction. Tonight, I ask you to choose greatness.”

In terms of heralding the extraordinary economic growth that this nation has seen in many decades, the President struck a sanguine note when he declared, “Over the last two years, my administration has moved with an urgency and historic speed to confront problems neglected by leaders of both parties over many decades. In just over two years since the election, we have launched an unprecedented economic boom, a boom that has rarely been seen before. There has been nothing like it. We have created 5.3 million new jobs, and importantly, added 600,000 new manufacturing jobs, something which almost everyone said was impossible to do, but the fact is, we are just getting started.”

He added that “Wages are rising at the fastest pace in decades, and growing for blue-collar workers, who I promise to fight for. They are growing faster than anyone else. Nearly 5 million Americans have been lifted off food stamps. The U.S. economy is growing almost twice as fast today as when I took office, and we are considered far and away the hottest economy anywhere in the world. Not even close. Unemployment has reached the lowest rate in over half a century. African-American, Hispanic American, and Asian-American unemployment have all reached their lowest levels ever recorded.”

Addressing the thorny issue of incessant investigations driven by political expediency into his administration, the President said that these types of divisions only diminish from the explosion of job growth and other remarkable societal advances.

“Friday it was announced we added another 304,000 jobs last month alone, almost double the number expected. An economic miracle is taking place in the United States, and the only thing that can stop it are foolish wars, politics, or ridiculous, partisan investigations. If there is going to be peace in legislation, there cannot be war and investigation. It just does not work that way,” he said.

Illustrating his point that Congress has the ability to overcome policy differences and work in tandem for the betterment of the American people, the President spoke of the progress that has been made in terms of reforming the criminal justice system.

He then introduced a woman named Alice Johnson. “Last year, I heard through friends, the story of Alice Johnson. I was deeply moved. In 1997, Alice was sentenced to life in prison as a first time, nonviolent drug offender. Over the next 22 years, she became a prison minister, inspiring others to choose a better path.

“Alice Johnson’s story underscores the disparities and unfairness that can exist in criminal sentencing, and the need to remedy this total injustice. She served almost that 22 years, and had expected to be in prison for the remainder of her life. In June, I commuted Alice’s sentence. When I saw Alice’s beautiful family greet her at the prison gates, hugging and kissing and crying and laughing, I knew I did something right. Alice is with us tonight, and she is a terrific woman,” the president said. Photo Credit: The White House

She had a big impact on that prison population and far beyond. Alice’s story underscores the disparities and unfairness that can exist in criminal sentencing, and the need to remedy this total injustice. She served almost that 22 years, and had expected to be in prison for the remainder of her life. In June, I commuted Alice’s sentence. When I saw Alice’s beautiful family greet her at the prison gates, hugging and kissing and crying and laughing, I knew I did something right. Alice is with us tonight, and she is a terrific woman,” the president said.

He then introduced the First Step Act to the American people.

“Inspired by stories like Alice’s, my administration worked closely with members of both parties to sign the first step act into law. This legislation reformed sentencing laws that have wrongly and disproportionately harmed the African-American community.

The First Step Act gives nonviolent offenders the chance to reenter society as productive, law-abiding citizens. Now, states across the country are following our lead. America is a nation that believes in redemption.”

“We are also joined tonight by Matthew Charles from Tennessee. In 1996, at the age of 30, Matthew was sentenced to 35 years for selling drugs and related offenses. Over the next two decades, he completed more than 30 Bible studies, became a law clerk, and mentored many of his fellow inmates. Now, Matthew was the very first person to be released from prison under the First Step Act.”

Approaching the contentious issue of building a wall on America’s southern border with Mexico, the President confronted the issue with a straightforward fashion and with a palpable alacrity.

“Republicans and Democrats must join forces again to confront an urgent national crisis. Congress has 10 days left to pass a bill that will fund our government, protect our homeland, and secure are very dangerous southern border. Now is the time for Congress to show the world that America is committed to ending illegal immigration and putting the ruthless coyotes, cartels, drug dealers, and human traffickers out of business,” President Trump said.

“As we speak, large, organized caravans are on the March to the United States. We have just heard that Mexican cities, in order to remove the illegal immigrants from their communities, are getting trucks and buses to bring them up to our country in areas where there is little border protection. I have ordered another 3750 troops to our southern border to prepare for this tremendous onslaught. This is a moral issue. The lawless state of our southern border is a threat to the safety, security, and financial well-being of all Americans. We have a moral duty to create an immigration system that protects the lives and jobs of our citizens.”

He added that, “In the past, most of the people in this room voted for a wall — but the proper wall never got built. I’ll get it built. This is a smart, strategic, see-through steel barrier — not just a simple concrete wall. It will be deployed in the areas identified by border agents as having the greatest need, and as these agents will tell you, where walls go up, illegal crossings go way down.”

He asked that Congress “work together, compromise, and reach a deal that will truly make America safe.”

Trump then scored some unexpected support from the women in the Democratic party who were dressed in white as a reference to the first suffragettes and the genesis of the women’s rights movement.

He said to wild applause and chants of USA, USA! “No one has benefitted more from our thriving economy than women, who have filled 58% of the new jobs created in the last year.

All Americans can be proud that we have more women in the workforce than ever before.

And exactly one century after the Congress passed the constitutional amendment giving women the right to vote, we also have more women serving in the Congress than ever before.”

The President then spoke of the historic blunder known as NAFTA. Our new US-Mexico-Canada Agreement — or USMCA — will replace NAFTA and deliver for American workers like they have not had delivered to for a long time.”

He then appealed to Congress to “pass the USMCA into law so we can bring back our manufacturing jobs in greater numbers, expand American agriculture, protect intellectual property, and ensure that more cars are proudly stamped with four beautiful words — made in the U.S.A.”

Trump also took on “Big Pharma” when he addressed the critical issue of soaring prices for prescription drugs. “In 2018 drug prices experienced their single largest decline in 46 years. But we must do more. It is unacceptable that Americans pay vastly more than people in other countries for the exact same drugs, often made in the exact same place. This is wrong, unfair, and together we can stop it. And we will stop it fast.”

At 9 years old, Grace Eline was diagnosed with Germinoma, a germ-cell brain tumor, and in May 2018, Grace started cancer treatment. Throughout the rest of the year, Grace stayed positive and strong, making the rounds in the hospital, cheering up other patients, and always having a smile for the many caring medical professionals who treated her. Grace recently finished chemotherapy and today shows no evidence of the disease. She is determined to help other children who are fighting cancer. Photo Credit: The White House

President Trump also addressed the issues of finding a cure for childhood cancer and introduced 10-year old Grace Eline.

“Last year, Grace was diagnosed with brain cancer. Immediately, she began radiation treatment. At the same time, she rallied her community and raised more than $40,000 for the fight against cancer. When Grace completed treatment last fall, her doctors and nurses cheered — they love to her, they still love her. With tears in their eyes as she hung up a poster that read, “last day of chemo.”

Taking a shot at New York’s Governor Andrew Cuomo, President Trump lambasted the legislation passed in New York State that would legalize third trimester abortions and abortions immediately before birth. He even confronted embattled Virginia Governor Ralph Northam who had previously stated that he would stated “he would execute a baby after birth.”

Trump also cogently addressed the issues of American Military build up, bringing troops home from Syria and Afghanistan and said that the US was even in negotiations with the Taliban for a peaceful resolution of this ongoing and bloody conflict in the Middle East.

He spoke of eliminating ISIS forces and restoring civility to a place that had not known such a concept,

Speaking of his upcoming meeting at the end of February with North Korean leader Kim Jung Un, Trump expressed optimism and spoke of the accomplishments that have already been made in terms of nuclear de-escalation.

Throwing his support behind the new interim president of Venezuela Juan Guaido, President Trump said, “ We stand with the Venezuelan people in their noble quest for freedom — and we condemn the brutality of the Maduro regime, whose Socialist policies have turned that nation from being the wealthiest in South America into a state of abject poverty and despair.”

Addressing the issue of the alarming escalation of egregious forms of anti-Semitism in America, President Trump referenced the synagogue massacre in Pittsburgh on October 27th.

Judah Samet is a member of the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh. In October 2018, he survived the horrific shooting that killed 11 members of his community. Judah is also a survivor of the Holocaust. Judah immigrated to Israel after the war and was present for the declaration of the Israeli State in 1948. He served as a paratrooper and radio man in the Israeli Defense Forces and moved to the United States in the 1960s. Photo Credit: The White House

“Just months ago, 11 Jewish-Americans were viciously murdered in an anti-semitic attack on the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh. SWAT Officer Timothy Matson raced into the gunfire and was shot seven times chasing down the killer. Timothy has just had his 12th surgery — but he made the trip to be here with us tonight.”

“Tonight, we are also joined by Pittsburgh survivor Judah Samet. He arrived at the synagogue as the massacre began. But not only did Judah narrowly escape death last fall — more than seven decades ago, he narrowly survived the Nazi concentration camps. Today is Judah’s 81st birthday. Judah says he can still remember the exact moment, nearly 75 years ago, after 10 months in a concentration camp, when he and his family were put on a train, and told they were going to another camp. Suddenly the train screeched to a halt. A soldier appeared. Judah’s family braced for the worst. Then, his father cried out with joy: “It’s the Americans.”

Joshua Kaufman endured the horrors of Auschwitz and survived the Dachau Concentration Camp, where he was saved by American soldiers. By the end of the war, Joshua had lost most of his family. He left Europe for Israel in 1949 and joined the Israel Defense Forces, fighting in several wars. Photo Credit: The White House

“A second Holocaust survivor who is here tonight, Joshua Kaufman, was a prisoner at Dachau Concentration Camp. He remembers watching through a hole in the wall of a cattle car as American soldiers rolled in with tanks. “To me,” Joshua recalls, “the American soldiers were proof that God exists, and they came down from the sky.”

President Trump concluded his address with soaring rhetoric that brought his theme of cooperation, harmony and unity for the sake of the people of the United States into the hearts and minds of those listening.

“I ask the men and women of this Congress: Look at the opportunities before us! Our most thrilling achievements are still ahead. Our most exciting journeys still await. Our biggest victories are still to come. We have not yet begun to dream. We must choose whether we are defined by our differences — or whether we dare to transcend them.”

“We must choose whether we will squander our inheritance — or whether we will proudly declare that we are Americans. We do the incredible. We defy the impossible. We conquer the unknown.”

Elan Carr, Former LA Prosecutor, Appointed by WH as Special Envoy to Combat Anti-Semitism

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Elan Carr, a former prosecutor in the Los Angeles district attorney’s office, was appointed as the State Department’s Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Anti-Semitism, according to the Jewish Insider web site and several other sources. This position, established by the Global Anti-Semitism Review Act of 2004, has been vacant since January 20, 2017.

According to the Jewish Insider report, last September, the House of Representatives first passed the “Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Anti-Semitism Act of 2018,” which requires the president to appoint an official to the post within 90 days of its passage, and within 120 days of the position’s vacancy.

From 2012 to 2014, Carr served as Alpha Epsilon Pi’s ‘Supreme Master’ on the fraternity’s ‘Supreme Board of Governors.’

Jewish Insider reported that Carr is a veteran of the United States Army and served as a judge in the Judge Advocate General’s (JAG) Corp. He was also a Deputy District Attorney in Los Angeles County. In 2014, Carr ran against Rep. Ted Lieu in an unsuccessful bid for a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. Sheldon Adelson has been a significant donor to Carr’s recent political campaigns, donating $100,000 in support of Carr’s bid for Los Angeles County supervisor in 2016.

In a statement sent to the media the Agudath Israel of America, (the nation’s largest Orthodox Jewish organization) said that they “welcome President Trump’s selection of Mr. Elan Carr to the position of State Department Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Anti-Semitism. Mr. Carr is an experienced and distinguished public servant and a prominent leader in the Jewish community of Los Angeles.”

The Agudath added that, “Mr. Carr’s commitment and his unique skills make him an excellent choice to effectively lead the United States’ fight against global anti-Semitism. Agudath Israel California activist Stanley Treitel reacted to the news by observing that, “I know Elan for many years as fighter for Jewish causes and against anti-Semitism in a variety of contexts. I congratulate his appointment as the State Department’s Special Envoy on Anti-Semitism.”

“The recent horrific synagogue shooting in Pittsburgh compels us to recognize that anti-Semitism is not just a Jewish problem, it is a problem that threatens the core values of American society: democracy, free speech, and freedom of religion.,” said IAC (Israeli American Council) Chairman of the Board Adam Milstein. “Elan Carr brings a depth of experience and insights as a prosecutor, military officer, and devoted leader in the Israeli-American and Jewish communities. We believe there is nobody more qualified to combat anti-Semitism head-on across the globe.”

“We offer our heartfelt congratulations to Elan Carr, a close friend of the IAC, as he steps into his crucial role,” said IAC CEO Shoham Nicolet. “We thank the Secretary of State for making it a priority in the face of rising anti-Semitic hate movements in American and beyond. This appointment is an important milestone for our community, and we stand behind Elan in his role defending not only the Jewish people, but also the values of America and the free world.”