Thursday, November 30, 2023
Hateful trio attacks 3 Jewish victims – including boy, 15, in NYC spree
A hateful trio attacked three Jewish strangers – including a teen boy and a man heading home from a synagogue – in a spree that lasted less than an hour in Brooklyn last weekend, police said Thursday.
The violence began at around 3:25 p.m. Saturday when the three young-looking bigots came up to a 40-year-old man as he walked from his house of worship and pummeled him on East 15th Street and Avenue L in Midwood, cops said.
The suspects took off on a scooter and targeted their second victim, a 15-year-old boy, at around 4 p.m. as he walked at Avenue J and East 17th Street, according to police.
They punched and kicked the teen before running off, cops said.
Then a few minutes later, the trio randomly kicked a 27-year-old man who was walking at East 18th Street and Avenue L, before bolting again on foot, cops said.
All three victims suffered minor injuries and declined medical attention, cops said.
Police released surveillance photos late Wednesday of the suspects, who appear to be standing inside a bodega.
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Wednesday, November 29, 2023
The Best Chanukah Menorahs on the Internet
There are two banorahs — as in, banana menorahs — on this list, one in the budget section, and one in the way more expensive range. I would argue that the ultimate banorah costs less than a dollar and is made out of an actual banana. Either way, I love this yellow delight.
Aluminum Bird Menorah from Target: This menorah is quite lovely, as a symbol of hope and peace at quite an affordable price.
Go Menorah from Rite Lite: This isn't the most aesthetic of menorahs, but it's both affordable and a great electric option for those who want some light without fire.
Engraved Iron Menorah from Modern Tribe: Another stately budget option, this engraved menorah definitely has that "wow factor," as one reviewer wrote, while still being affordable. Overall, reviewers seem happy with this menorah, although one suggested lining the candle holders with foil to make cleaning easier.
Folding Travel Menorah from Modern Tribe: Going somewhere this Chanukah? This menorah is not only a great, compact travel companion, it also manages to be really pretty and inexpensive.
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Tuesday, November 28, 2023
Javier Milei, Argentina’s president-elect, visits revered rabbi’s grave during NYC trip
Argentina's new president Monday visited the Queens grave of one of the most revered rabbis in modern history, paying his respects as he met with Jewish leaders in the Big Apple.
Javier Milei — a firebrand libertarian and outspoken admirer of Israel who has been fostering a close relationship with New York's Hasidic community since well before his Oct. 22 election victory — stopped at the Ohel, the gravesite of the Chabad Lubavitcher Rebbe Menachem Mendel Schneerson.
Donning a yarmulke and flanked by Hasidic community leaders, Milei, who is Catholic, somberly toured the rebbe's final resting place, where he shared an embrace with others in his group.
Milei — who has openly bashed Pope Francis and mused about converting to Judaism — used the graveside visit to thank God for his election win, according to the Buenos Aires Herald.
The eccentric Argentinian leader is then headed to Washington, DC, to huddle with Biden administration officials over the South American country's economic issues.
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Tuesday, November 21, 2023
With more than 800 antisemitic acts since Oct. 7, Jewish student groups plead for Biden's help
Talia Dror grew up hearing about the blatant antisemitism her mother's family faced in Iran before immigrating to the United States. Her grandfather was stabbed for being a Jew, she said. Her mother was regularly called a dirty Jew.
Yet, Dror never expected antisemitism would follow the family to the country they fled to for refuge.
But the Cornell University junior said she was petrified last month when the school's Jewish students were threatened online. The posts called for the deaths of Jewish people and warned that the school's kosher dining hall would be shot up and a "Jewish house" bombed.
A 21-year-old student was arrested on federal charges a few days later. But not before Dror sat in her locked house, pondering her mortality.
"I knew that with my roommates and I being openly Jewish community leaders, our apartment would be one of the first targets for someone looked to actualize the threats, she testified at a recent congressional hearing.
As Jewish Americans increasingly worry about their personal safety amid an alarming rise in antisemitic incidents – particularly on college campuses – since the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel, they're pleading for help from the Biden administration.
Their calls for help have not been ignored. Officials have emphasized the progress made on a national strategy to counter antisemitism that was rolled out in May but has taken on new urgency. And they've put a particular focus on what's happening in schools as officials have visited campuses, met with Jewish community leaders and made clear the Education Department will investigate antisemitism complaints.
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Monday, November 20, 2023
Man jailed after 'deliberately' wearing anti-Semitic t-shirt in Jewish area
A man has been jailed after deliberately wearing a t-shirt with offensive wording relating to the conflict in the Middle East while visiting a Jewish area.
Robert Hughes, 69, was seen by numerous members of the Jewish community walking along Kings Road in Prestwich, on October 9 at around 11.30am, entering shops and speaking to people whilst wearing the offensive bright blue t-shirt.
Several witnesses reported the incident, and a Greater Manchester Police PCSO and a Community Security Trust (CST) officer approached Hughes, of Whitefield, Bury, in the street and persuaded him to cover the t-shirt with a coat.
In a police interview, Hughes admitted he had deliberately worn the t-shirt to provoke a reaction from the Jewish community but denied any intention to cause distress and claimed his actions were an expression of his freedom of speech.
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Friday, November 17, 2023
Hasidic rebbe to soldiers: 'The angels accompany you'
The Sadigura Rebbe in Jerusalem branch on Wednesday visited an IDF base near the Gaza border to bless and encourage the soldiers.
The Rebbe spoke with the soldiers and told them that "the angels accompany you." Later, the Rebbe blessed the soldiers. After the meeting, the Rebbe visited the burnt houses of Kfar Aza, where the October 7th massacre occurred.
In Kfar Aza, the Rebbe spoke with a group of rabbis from the US who were also visiting the village and with the Rabbi of Gush Etzion, Rabbi Yosef Zvi Rimon, who even invited the Rebbe to visit Gush Etzion.
The Israel Police Spokesman for the Religious Community, Shabtai Geberchik, described the international diplomacy efforts to the Rebbe.
Throughout the meeting, the Rebbe spoke about unity: "The Holy Presence is present when Jews stand together, and not when one is condescending to the other. The Clouds of Glory that protected our forefathers in the desert were created by the breath of the Jews, through the love between them, in the merit of Aaron the Priest.
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Thursday, November 16, 2023
Rachel Freier makes history as first Hasidic female judge to serve on NY Supreme Court
Elected officials and Freier's daughter were present for her induction, praising Frier's commitment to outreach in Brooklyn law and commitment to giving back.
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Wednesday, November 15, 2023
Wall Street banker fired over viral video of him telling a Jewish American man to ‘go back to your country’
A Wall Street analyst has been fired after he was filmed telling a Jewish American to "go back to your country" while he also covered hostage posters with signs accusing Israel of being an "apartheid state" committing "genocide."
Freepoint Commodities confirmed in a statement that the employee seen in a now-viral video "is no longer associated with" the company that "does not tolerate discrimination and hate speech directed against any group."
He was identified by journalist Andy Ngo as Kurush Mistry, which sources later also confirmed to the Financial Times. The woman with him — who called Israelis "rapists" — was his partner, Shailja Gupta, the reports said.
Ngo said the clip — which has already been viewed more than 6.5 million times — was filmed last Thursday at the intersection of 68th Street and Riverside Boulevard.
The man filming is heard asking the couple for their names and if they're "proud" of covering the posters of some of the more than 200 people still held hostage by Hamas terrorists.
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Tuesday, November 14, 2023
200,000 Gather for Rally of Jewish Unity in Washington, D.C.
With the Israel-Gaza war approaching its 40th day and antisemitism on the rise around the world, an estimated 200,000 people from all walks of Jewish life gathered at the National Mall in Washington, D.C., in a massive show of unity and support for the people of Israel, who have been under attack since Oct. 7. They likewise prayed and did mitzvahs, with countless Jewish men putting on tefillin at Chabad-Lubavitch's dozens of mitzvah booths spread throughout the Mall, in the merit of the Holy Land and her people.
The unity rally comes amid a huge surge in Jewish engagement in the wake of the Oct. 7th terror attacks and the subsequent war, a Jewish awakening that includes an increase in attendance at Jewish programs and services, a heightened sense of Jewish pride, connection to Israel, and stronger Jewish identity.
Zalman Watkin, 69, woke up before dawn in Roslyn on Long Island, N.Y., on Tuesday and boarded a chartered bus to attend the rally. Watkin, a son of Holocaust survivors, volunteered on a kibbutz in the Golan Heights during college and today is an active community member of Chabad-Lubavitch of Roslyn.
Watkin told Chabad.org that his and his community's connection to Judaism has only grown in the past 40 days. A self-described baal teshuvah who returned to Jewish observance 20 years ago, Watkin says he has been deeply impacted by the teachings of the Rebbe—Rabbi Menacham M. Schneerson, of righteous memory.
Watkin cites the Rebbe's teaching that giving strength to other Jews through positive action is central, especially now, in the aftermath of the brutal terror attack and difficult war in Israel, and amid rising antisemitism in the rest of the world. As president of his congregation, he devotes himself to encouraging the large Jewish population living in Roslyn to participate in Jewish events and activities, working closely with Chabad of Roslyn's co-directors, Rabbi Aaron and Chanie Konikov.
Watkin said he is looking forward to the widespread support he will experience at the rally. Speakers at the "March for Israel" include Israel's President Isaac Herzog, U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer and Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Mike Johnson.
Also on hand will be families of hostages being held in Gaza, who had flown from Tel Aviv to New York the day before to pray at the resting place of the Rebbe at the Ohel, in Queens, N.Y.
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Monday, November 13, 2023
'A terrible desecration of God's name' - Satmar Rebbe condemns anti-Israel protesters
The leader of the reclusive Satmar hasidic group, Rabbi Zalman Teitelbaum, known as the "Satmar Rebbe," has publicly denounced the Neturei Karta group for their recent conduct, particularly their involvement in protests alongside "enemies of Israel."
The rebbe's speech, shared on social media, included pointed remarks, stating, "It's a terrible desecration of God's name to support murderers in the name of the holy Torah and God's name." He lambasted the group for lacking traditional values and boundaries and acting without Torah guidance.
Last week, members of the extreme sect visited Jenin and met with Palestinian Islamic Jihad and Fatah leaders. According to a post on social media covering the visit, the representatives of Neturei Karta said: "We want to live in co-existence and in peace, our Jewish brothers want it too. We wish to live peacefully together with equal rights, on the basis that we all stand firm against occupation."
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Thursday, November 09, 2023
NYC woman who tore down hostage flyers ranted ‘I’ll kill you Jews’ before attack, victim says
The knife-wielding woman accused of ripping down posters of Israeli hostages and pepper-spraying a Jewish safety volunteer in Brooklyn last week seethed "I'll kill you Jews" before attacking, the victim told The Post.
Melissa Ugur, 20, was allegedly slicing up the flyers Saturday afternoon in Midwood when Shmira Public Safety volunteer Mark Pomerantz confronted her and asked why she was taking the posters down.
"Because it's not true, it never happened," Ugur replied about the approximately 240 hostages whom Hamas terrorists kidnapped in their surprise attack last month, according to Pomerantz.
The 52-year-old father of three told her he didn't want any trouble, but explained: "Nobody would hang up posters like that if it wasn't true."
Ugur then exploded in an antisemitism-fueled rage, Pomerantz told The Post.
"As she was cutting the papers, she said, 'Oh and you're a Jew?'" he recounted in a phone interview.
"She said, 'See how I'm slicing these papers? That's how I'll slice up all you Jews and kill you.'"
Pomerantz asked her if she was threatening him while she allegedly continued spewing antisemitic vitriol.
"She goes, 'I'll kill you Jews' and 'Dirty Jews.' She kept going on and on and stated 'Allahu Akbar' and Muhammad," he said, moments before she unleashed pepper spray in his face.
After blasting him, Ugur ran but was collared by police after a few Shmira members were called for backup and helped Pomerantz chase her down, he said.
"They're kidnapping and I pepper-sprayed him!" Ugur, of Brooklyn, bizarrely ranted as cops led her into the back of a police car, video obtained by The Post shows.
She was charged with assault, menacing, and criminal possession of a weapon.
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Wednesday, November 08, 2023
Jewish news outlets worldwide call to fight rising antisemitism
Two decades ago, Britain's former chief rabbi, Lord Jonathan Sacks, astutely likened antisemitism to a constantly evolving virus – one that, in the modern era, specifically targets the Jewish nation-state.
He aptly described this prejudice as a deeply ingrained malignancy, perpetually lingering beneath the surface of society. For many of us in the global Jewish community, the great man's words were not merely a statement of truth, but also a stark reminder. Until recently, the extent and intensity of this virulent strain of hatred were tragically underestimated.
While the need for stringent security measures at schools and synagogues has long been a familiar reality, the realization that such profound levels of hatred, and the indifference to the threat, which exists on a global scale, has been a devastating shock.
We dared to hope such malevolence had been relegated to the annals of history.
Today, in an unprecedented moment in Jewish history, we unite as Jewish news outlets spanning borders, continents, and religious affiliations to issue this open letter – something we never envisioned as necessary or even conceivable.
The events of recent weeks have surpassed even the somber portrayal offered by Rabbi Sacks all those years ago. Some of those who propagate hatred, concealing their prejudice under the veneer of being "anti-Israel," no longer find it necessary to obscure their malice.
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Monday, November 06, 2023
New York Tightens Special Education Rules, Aiming to Reduce Fraud
Over the last decade, New York City has faced a startling rise in requests to pay for special education services for private school students, a deluge that has cost billions of dollars and raised concerns about fraud.
The requests have disproportionately come from Orthodox Jewish neighborhoods, where private education companies have sometimes billed for services that were not needed, or even provided, The New York Times reported last year.
Now the city has a plan to step up oversight.
This week, officials announced that before agreeing to fulfill new requests, they will insist on proof that the student's family actually wants the aid and that the services will be provided by qualified professionals. They added they will no longer pay more than $125 an hour for the services, unless ordered to do so.
The changes represent a major shift. For years, officials have agreed to almost all requests, even when it meant paying exorbitant rates to inexperienced providers.
Liz Vladeck, general counsel for the New York City Department of Education, said in a letter to state officials, lawyers and special education organizations on Wednesday that the city was obligated to ensure that the requests for services were legitimate and, "most of all, that those services indeed provide children with what they need to succeed in school."
She described the new measures as "basic, low-bar controls."
The city declined to comment on the letter.
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Friday, November 03, 2023
NYC Democrat activist ripped for antisemitic remarks: ‘Jews are the most corrupt’
A Bronx political activist is being ripped by fellow Democrats for spewing antisemitic remarks on social media after he crossed party lines in a heated New York City Council race to endorse a GOP candidate.
The hateful remarks made by Efrain Gonzalez in old Facebook videos are being dredged up by Democrats after he switched party lines and endorse Republican Kristy Marmorato instead of incumbent Democrat Marjorie Velazquez in the Bronx's 13th District.
"Jews are the most corrupt real estate people in New York," Gonzalez said in one video, which had posted earlier this year on the social media site.
In another video, Gonzalez took aim at the Bronx Democratic Party – in particular Jewish powerhouse attorney, Stanley Schlein.
"It's going to take a long time to fight to get rid of those weeds in the Bronx Democratic Party. They're weeds, they're bad people. You can't grow a garden with those folks," he said, according to the video.
"And they're black and they're Latino and the hidden agenda there is the Jewish man who uses them to do his dirty work," Gonzalez continued, referring to the attorney.
Gonzalez, whose father is a former Democratic state senator who was convicted of public corruption, filmed himself in another clip calling New York Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie a "puppet."
"Even that puppet, Carl Heastie. I really feel bad because when you're a black man and you're being controlled by a Jew, in today's times, that's really scary," he said. "But that's what's happening, folks."
It wasn't immediately clear when all the videos in question were filmed, but at least one was from earlier this year as he referred to the deal where casino giant Bally's replaced the Trump Organization as the operator of the Ferry Point golf course.
Others obtained by The Post have since been deleted from his Facebook page.
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Thursday, November 02, 2023
Efforts To Establish Two New Hasidic Villages In Hudson Valley Meet Obstacles And Litigation
Two upstate Hasidic communities are each trying to form new villages in Sullivan and Orange counties but proposed legislation modifying the 150-year-old law that establishes the mechanism to create a village could derail these efforts. The bill, written by Senator James Skoufis, has passed both the Assembly and the Senate and is awaiting a trip to Governor Kathy Hochul's desk for signature.
The law, if signed, could have implications for the proposed villages of Seven Springs in the Town of Monroe in Orange County and the Village of Ateres in Sullivan County.
The bill would increase the minimum population requirement for village incorporation to 2,000 from 500 persons who are regular inhabitants, a number where it has stood for decades. Also, before a village can be established, a study must be conducted on the fiscal, service and taxation interests of the population to gauge if the maintenance of the village is fiscally viable. That study must be filed with the Department of State and posted on its website for a minimum of 90 days. The law would still require the votes of at least 20% of the residents "qualified to vote" for town officers to start the proceedings to become a village.
"The bill has not yet made it to the governor's desk but we have every reason to believe she'll sign it," said a Skoufis spokeswoman. Hochul has until the end of the year to sign the bill, or it lapses.
The Viznitz Hasidic community filed a petition in June to establish a village with its own local government and laws in Sullivan County. The proposed Village of Ateres straddles two towns but is mostly in Thompson and consists of the small Viznitz enclave — with an estimated 834 adults and children living in it — and hundreds of acres of surrounding land. It sits near Kiamesha Lake, not far from Resorts World Casino.
The towns held two public hearings in August for speakers to pose objections to the petition on technical and legal grounds. After weighing testimony and a flood of written comments, Thompson Supervisor Bill Rieber and Fallsburg Supervisor Kathy Rappaport in August voided 25 of the 99 signatures but upheld the petition.
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Wednesday, November 01, 2023
Vizhnitzer Hassidim come to dance with residents in Ashkelon
Dozens of Vizhnitzer followers came to Ashkelon to dance with residents suffering from rocket barrages.
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