Monday, September 30, 2024
The Hasid’s triumphant blow
There's an ancient Jewish custom of charity collectors coming to synagogue during the weekday morning prayers, and a slightly less ancient Ashkenazic Jewish tradition of blowing the shofar each day following those prayers in the month of Elul — the four weeks leading up to Rosh Hashanah.
Recently at one such service in Jerusalem, a stout reddish, grayish Hasidic schnorrer (donation collector) entered a nondescript synagogue basement sanctuary where about 30 men were in the middle of their morning prayers. Sometimes, schnorrers like this one will approach people mid-prayer, asking for a few shekels to help a poor family with many children or an ill parent. Other times, they will respectfully, yet impatiently wait until the end of davening in order to get everyone's attention at once, hopefully benefitting from their largesse, as well.
This particular Hasid generally fit into the second of those categories. As the end of prayers neared, seeing an unmanned shofar on the lectern in the middle of the room, this particular Hasid made an ambitiously instinctive decision: He would be the one to blow the shofar at the end of prayers.
It was as if God himself had placed the shofar there — A blessed opportunity to get everybody's attention all at once and collect a bounty for hungry children dependent on the generosity of the men in that room.
He began to wander over to it. As prayers concluded, the zaftig little man with twinkly optimism in his eyes triumphantly raised the ram's horn, tilted his head to the heavens, placed the shofar at his lips and began to blow.
The sound that came out was reminiscent of a moribund goat trying to blow a shofar with its last dying breath.
It was as if the Hasid had never even seen a shofar before, let alone tried to blow one.
In his defense, even experienced blowers sometimes experience a showing such as this – if, for example, they're not used to that particular horn, or forgot to ensure that the pipe was clear.
It seems, however, that this particular Hasid was not that type of shofar blower.
This particular Hasid, it seems, was just a really bad shofar blower.
God bless him, this particular Hasid kept trying.
Whether it was 30 seconds, a minute or two, he really gave it a shot.
Ultimately, the shot didn't work and someone else from the crowd came to salvage the blow.
The Hasid's tilted head fell downward. He dejectedly shook his shoulders and smiled a bit, accepting the fact that he had given it a shot and, for some reason, it hadn't worked out.
From me, and perhaps some others, that particular Hasidic's act elicited a kind of strange, curious respect.
It also raised a lot of questions.
Had he ever blown a shofar before?
Did he anticipate being able to deliver a true, triumphant blow?
Days later, still pondering the incident, I wondered if perhaps it had all been intentional in the first place. After all, a performance like that actually probably drew more attention than if his shofar blowing had been up to par.
Nonetheless, despite the bizarre absurdity of the event, I ultimately realized that — like many unexpected places in life — perhaps we all actually have a lot to learn from this particular Hasid, especially as we approach the New Year.
Maybe this particular Hasid had come to that particular synagogue that particular Elul morning to teach us about taking chances.
Embracing the potential to fail.
Not fearing embarrassment.
Getting over ourselves.
Aiming high, even if we know deep down that we have no clue how to actually get there.
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Friday, September 27, 2024
Argentina Judge Orders Dictionary To Delete Pejorative Definition Of 'Jewish'
An Argentine judge has ordered the publishers of a major Spanish dictionary to remove a pejorative definition of the word "Jewish" from its listing, local media reported late Thursday.
The fifth and last definition of the word "Jewish" in the Dictionary of the Spanish Language, which is published by the Royal Spanish Academy (RAE), is of a person said to be "greedy or usurious".
The dictionary cautions that this usage is "offensive or discriminatory".
The other four definitions are "Hebrew", a person "who professes Judaism," a "native of Judea, a country in Asia Minor" and "belonging or relating to Judea or the Jews."
Judge Ariel Lijo ordered the academy to "immediately remove the fifth definition of the word 'Jewish' for representing hate speech and incitement to discrimination on religious grounds," according to a ruling cited by the Infobae news portal.
He also ordered that the link to the word on the dictionary's website be blocked in Argentina until it complied with the request.
It was possible to still access it on Friday morning, however.
The ruling stemmed from a complaint filed on August 28 by the heads of the Latin American Jewish Congress and the Delegation of Argentine Israelite Associations against the RAE and its director, Santiago Munoz Machado, Infobae said.
The complaint cited a law banning the "justification or promotion of racial or religious discrimination in any form," a crime punishable by up to three years in prison.
Jewish groups and rights groups have asked the RAE twice to remove the definition, but Munoz Machado refused, while agreeing to add the stipulation that the fifth definition given for Jewish is "offensive of discriminatory", according to Infobae.
Lijo ruled that RAE's response was "unacceptable."
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Thursday, September 26, 2024
There's a 'tsunami' of antisemitism in Germany, officials say
In a piercing warning, Dr. Felix Klein, Germany's Federal Government Commissioner for Jewish Life in Germany and the Fight against Antisemitism, has sounded the alarm on the disturbing rise of antisemitism in Germany. In an interview with a French news agency, Klein described the current wave of antisemitic sentiment as a "tsunami," noting a surge in open and aggressive hostility toward Jews since October 7.
Klein asserted that the atrocities committed on October 7 shattered the already fragile barriers against antisemitism in German society. He cited a staggering 5,000 antisemitic crimes in Germany for 2023, more than half occurring after October 7. The absurdity of the situation deeply troubles him: "Hamas murdered more Jews than any event since the Holocaust," Klein remarked, "yet the German public has not shown the solidarity with the Jewish community that I would have expected. We are now witnessing antisemitism in Germany in its most severe form since 1945."
He noted the rise in antisemitism predates both Israel's response and the subsequent conflict in Gaza. However, he emphasized, "Antisemitism has nothing to do with Israel's actions or policies, nor with the Jewish community in Germany. Thus, German citizens must not contribute to the existing antisemitic pressures by blaming German Jews for events in the Middle East. Antisemitism, like any form of discrimination, is a poison for our social unity."
Although there hasn't been an increase in the number of Jews leaving Germany, and many still trust the country's ability to protect them, the rise in crimes against Jews has led many to conceal their identity and refrain from reporting attacks. Antisemitic crimes, primarily committed by men from Muslim countries, have increased since the refugee influx in 2015. Post-October 7, this has escalated into a tsunami, manifesting in demonstrations by the Muslim population in many major German cities.
According to Klein, "All taboos related to antisemitism were broken after October 7, making it entirely acceptable for parts of the population. The determination, nature, and dimensions of this antisemitism are truly dramatic. Due to political developments, people find fertile ground to openly express what they previously kept to themselves."
Klein warns that antisemitism has spread from the far-right to the far-left and radical Islam, and it now permeates the center of German society. "We are turning a blind eye to the fact that the Israeli conflict is against a terrorist organization that disregards democracy and international law."
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Wednesday, September 25, 2024
Breslov hasidim hit by mass cancellations of flights to Uman
Hundreds of Breslov hasidim planning to travel to Uman, Ukraine, ahead of the Rosh Hashanah (Jewish New Year) holiday on Monday night received notices that their flights had been canceled.
Many of these hasidim, who had relied on the low-cost Wizz Air airline, found themselves without plane tickets after the airline announced that it would cease flights to Israel following the recent escalation of tensions between Israel and the Hezbollah terror group.
Among the companies announcing cancellations are Wizz Air, British Airways, Iberia, and Azerbaijan Airlines.
Sources in the Breslov community have reported that the mass cancellations created significant pressure among the hasidim to find alternative flight options. The situation is made worse by the fact that most other flights to Uman for those dates are already filled to capacity.
"This creates a situation of great uncertainty," one of the hasidim told Arutz Sheva - Israel National News. "Many of us planned this trip months ahead of time, and now we are forced to seek solutions at the last minute."
Rosh Hashanah this year begins on the evening of Wednesday, October 2, and ends after nightfall on Friday, October 4.
Sources in the aviation industry noted that the high demand for flights to Uman during this period of the year makes it difficult to find immediate solutions.
Meanwhile, representatives of the Breslov community are working with the airlines and travel agents to find solutions for those hasidim whose flights were canceled.
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Monday, September 23, 2024
More than 1500 Hasidic pilgrims have already arrived in Uman Source: https://censor.net/en/n3511362
More than 1,500 Hasidic pilgrims have already arrived in Uman to celebrate Rosh Hashanah.
This was announced by the head of the Cherkasy Regional Administration Ihor Taburets, Censor.NET reports.
"Uman. As of today, a special regime of entry/exit and movement around the city has been introduced. In fact, the control procedures are the same as last year. We have slightly strengthened our technical capabilities. Our security and defence forces are working in an enhanced mode. Despite the warnings, we have already received more than 1,500 pilgrims," he said. Source: https://censor.net/en/n3511362
Taburets stressed that the whole range of measures being implemented is for the safety of local residents and visitors.
"Despite the warnings, today we have more than 1,500 pilgrims," Taburets added.
To recap, the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry called on Hasidim to refuse to come to Uman, Cherkasy region, to celebrate the Jewish New Year, Rosh Hashanah, in 2024. Source: https://censor.net/en/n3511362
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Friday, September 20, 2024
In place of a proud emblem of Jewish immigration in NYC, million-dollar condos and a private garden
When the Bialystoker Center and Home for the Aged opened on Manhattan's Lower East Side on June 21, 1931, more than 25,000 Eastern European Jews came out to celebrate. The distinctive Art Deco tower that rose from the tenements of East Broadway was a glimmer of hope during the depths of the Great Depression. The dedication 25 years after a pogrom that claimed the lives of more than 80 Jews in the Polish city of Bialystok highlighted how far the immigrant community had come.
This October, the building, which closed its doors in 2011 and relocated its last senior residents, will reopen. The tower's landmarked two-toned tan facade designed by the architect Harry Hurwit has been restored. As has the faux-Hebrew inscription of "Bialystoker" surrounded by roundels of the 12 tribes of Israel above the entrance. Inside, the stained glass windows in what was the retirement home's synagogue glow anew.
But this time around, there will be no parades, no congratulatory telegrams from the governor's mansion, and no ceremonial golden mezuzah installation.
The building that for decades housed Jewish and other seniors and served as a center for the Bialystok Jewish diaspora has been gutted, refilled with loft-like apartments, a pool, gym and communal spaces. It's connected to a private park and a new 28-story tower in a 70 apartment project called 222 LES Tower + Lofts.
The community has resisted each step of the development since the nursing home closed. Organizers won landmark preservation for the building and blocked an attempt to build a second tall tower, but gentrification pressed on. Along with this publication's former headquarters, the Forward Building which became condos in 2006, and the nearby Jarmoulowsky Bank Building which opened in 2022 as a boutique hotel, it is another example of a working-class Jewish Lower East Side institution that served the public turning luxurious and exclusive.
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Thursday, September 19, 2024
Potential Trump visit to iconic Gottlieb’s deli has Hasidic world aflutter
When the U.S. Secret Service scoped out Gottlieb's deli, a kosher spot in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, this week, word spread through Hasidic Brooklyn faster than flanken falling off the bone.
"The excitement in Williamsburg is palpable," reported Matzav.com, an Orthodox news site. Hasidic WhatsApp is crackling with speculation.
The rumor mill was predicting that former President Donald Trump, who is making a rare campaign visit to the New York area Wednesday, might visit Gottlieb's on Thursday. Some reports said the protected visitor might be Sen. JD Vance of Ohio, the Republican nominee for vice president. Gottlieb's owner isn't sure, but talks as if it might be the guy at the top of the ticket.
And that he will likely nosh.
"Trump, I imagine, will order something to eat, will possibly eat here, meet and greet people, but I'm not sure how," the deli's owner, Menashe Gottlieb, told a reporter outside his restaurant Tuesday, speaking in Yiddish.
Gottlieb said the Secret Service had on Sunday and Monday visited the restaurant, which was founded 65 years ago by his grandfather, Zoltan Gottlieb, a Holocaust survivor.
Corned beef and cholent
Wood-paneled Gottlieb's evokes an earlier era of Yiddishkeit, with its retro sign and hot dogs rolling on the grill. "As old school as you can get," wrote one Facebook fan.
It's a particularly popular hangout for Jews of the Satmar sect, one of the most insulated of Hasidic groups.
But Gottlieb's, which seats about 50, welcomes outsiders, too. Yelp is full of reviews from tourists praising its heavy Ashkenazi specialties: pastrami sandwiches, cholent, fried onions, matzo ball soup and five kinds of kugel. Non-Hasidic tour guides regularly bring their clients for a meal at Gottlieb's, which is Glatt kosher, which literally means it uses a specific kind of kosher meat but is generally used to imply "strictly kosher."
"Had a taste for a corned beef sandwich," wrote one Gottlieb's customer, who gave it five stars. "The quintessential Brooklyn deli experience."
That quintessential-ness makes Gottlieb's an attractive spot for politicians trying to court the Jewish vote.
Though Trump is not popular among New Yorkers overall, and the majority of Jewish Americans did not vote for him in 2020 or 2016, he has the support of many Orthodox Jews.
Why would Trump go to Gottlieb's?, the Yiddish-speaking reporter asked its owner.
"Gottlieb's is Gottlieb's," said Gottlieb, who was told by the Secret Service to pay close attention to his phone in the coming days.
In the meantime, he said, "officially we're open for customers."
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Tuesday, September 17, 2024
Montgomery's Only Jewish Cop Claims He Was Passed Over For Promotions: Lawsuit
A cop, who says he is Montgomery's only Jewish police officer ever hired, has filed a lawsuit against the Township and a superior officer claiming he was passed over multiple times for promotions.
Jason Clifford, who has been serving as a Patrol Officer for the past 20 years, filed the lawsuit in Somerset County Superior Court last week.
The lawsuit alleges Clifford's professional and personal reputation was unspoiled, pristine, second-to-none, and virtually unblemished.
"In short, law enforcement officers do not come any better – Clifford was and remains the model and quintessential law enforcement officer," according to the lawsuit.
Despite, Clifford's professional record he claims he "was unlawfully bypassed for a promotion in 2014, 2017, and 2024."
Clifford also alleges that while at a BBQ on May 8, Sergeant Ryan Gray while chuckling, made ethnically improper, inappropriate, unwarranted, and bizarre comments to Clifford, such as "is that meat kosher" and "will you be drinking Manischewitz when you go home tonight?"
Gray's comments were made in front of other Montgomery Police officers, said Clifford.
"Gray's racist and prejudicial comments were made by him with the express intent to humiliate, denigrate, and belittle Clifford in the eyes of other officers," according to the lawsuit.
As a result, Clifford reported Gray's comments which prompted an investigation by Internal Affairs.
Around the time of the investigation, Clifford said he was a candidate for a newly announced Montgomery Police Sergeant promotional process.
However, the lawsuit alleges that because Clifford reported Gray's "racist and prejudicial comments, Clifford was once again wrongfully bypassed for the MPD Sergeant position – this being the third promotional bypass."
Clifford alleges that because of the retaliation taken against him, "Clifford was forced by Montgomery's misconduct to endure severe, continuous, and pervasive humiliation, embarrassment, harassment, and abuse such that a reasonable person in his circumstance would believe the conditions of employment had been altered and the environment was hostile and abusive, and which no such reasonable person could be expected to endure."
Montgomery Township did not immediately respond to Patch's request for comment.
The lawsuit claims Clifford was caused to suffer, and has continued to suffer, undue stress and injury as well as substantial economic and financial loss relating from his promotional bypasses.
As a result, Clifford is seeking a judgment in an amount to be determined at trial, including an award of compensatory and consequential damages, all remedies, punitive damages, and attorney fees.
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Monday, September 16, 2024
Jewish reggae star Matisyahu reflects on tumultuous year, says anti-Israel protesters attracted to ‘darkness’ of Hamas
After being thrown out of festivals, dropped by his manager and railed against by anti-Israel mobs, reggae star Matisyahu says the backlash over his support for the Jewish state hasn't slowed him down at all.
In fact, the 45-year-old Jewish performer says he's "busier than ever."
"The Jewish community has been really appreciative and I've felt inspired by it," the pop star, whose birth name is Matthew Miller, told The Post on the deck of his rustic upstate New York home overlooking the Hudson River.
Matisyahu admitted it hasn't been all peaches and cream — he's had concerts in Arizona, New Mexico and Chicago canceled after anti-Israel demonstrators threatened to picket the venues.
He was also dropped by his manager after he refused to change the lyrics to his song "Ascent," which contains phrases about dancing on Hamas terrorists' graves.
"We're living in a time where I have to make decisions, like 'do I need to bring security'. … It's a dangerous place but luckily for me it's been a smooth run," he said.
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Wednesday, September 11, 2024
Jewish education thriving in Florida thanks to school choice law
Jewish K-12 education is booming in Florida, and researchers credit the growth to the state's universal school choice.
Teach Coalition, an advocate for Jewish education, and Step Up For Students, a Florida-based education group, have released a new report detailing the promising enrollment trends in Jewish schools.
It found Florida's Jewish schools increased their enrollment by 58% between 2007 and 2023. Roughly four new schools have opened every year on average for the past decade.
The massive influx is credited both to the COVID pandemic that inspired increased migration to Florida – particularly from New York – and the fact that Florida now offers generous school choice scholarships to all students.
According to the report, 60% of Jewish school students received a scholarship in the 2022-23 academic year.
The universal school choice program currently serves 136,000 students statewide.
Notably, Jewish enrollment grew most at yeshiva schools (175%), which are Orthodox and gender-segregated, as opposed to coeducational Orthodox (65%) and Non-Orthodox (21%) schools.
Although some have criticized the yeshiva school model for de-emphasizing secular topics, proponents defend their academic rigor, saying the benefits of such schools are "extraordinary."
However, private school growth also comes with challenges.
"With Florida's existing Jewish schools at or near full capacity, more effort is needed to source suitably sized school buildings," said Danny Aqua, special projects director for Teach Coalition. "Without legislative and regulatory action to reduce the hurdles to opening new schools, the lack of school building space may throttle growth in Florida's Jewish day schools."
Meanwhile, the growth isn't confined to the Sunshine State.
Recent surveys conducted by Prizmah, another Jewish education group, found Jewish schools across North America were increasing enrollment after the Oct. 7 terrorist attacks on Israel. More than 90% of the surveyed schools reported receiving new enrollment inquiries, with 80% bringing in new students mid-year.
Parents of students who transferred from a public school said they wanted their children to be in a Jewish environment (73%) and they feared antisemitism in their prior school or community (68%).
Parents from independent schools similarly valued the Jewish environment (80%) and weren't satisfied with their prior school's response to the war (50%).
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Tuesday, September 10, 2024
Moldova has not allowed Hasidim to travel to Ukraine via Moldovan territory
After several months of negotiations, the Moldovan authorities did not allow Israeli pilgrims to travel to Ukraine via Moldova to celebrate the Jewish New Year Rosh Hashanah.
This was reported to the publication "Interfax-Ukraine" by Levi Yitzhak Gvirtz from the organization "Ihud Breslev" in Uman.
According to him, Chisinau's refusal will affect approximately 15 thousand passengers on charter flights, about half of the 30 thousand pilgrims who would like to go to Uman this year.
At the same time, Israeli travel companies have already begun procedures for refunding tickets for those who planned to fly to Chisinau and then go to Uman. However, it is still possible to organize trips to Ukraine through the airports of Romania and Poland.
Journalists recalled that at the end of August, Israeli media reported that Israel was ready to pay Moldova 700 thousand shekels ($191,300) to compensate for the costs of additional security measures and enhanced security at the Chisinau airport in connection with the arrival of pilgrims in 2023 and to obtain Chisinau's consent for the passage of pilgrims through its territory this year. At the same time, Israel failed to pay Moldova these expenses on time.
Every year, tens of thousands of Jews who profess Hasidism make a pilgrimage to Uman, where the grave of the founder of Bratslav Hasidism, Tzadik Nachman, is located. The pilgrimage is timed to coincide with the celebration of the Jewish New Year, Rosh Hashanah, which this year is celebrated from October 2 to 4.
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Monday, September 09, 2024
London launches bus line to reassure Orthodox Jews
Excited children ran to check the bus schedule. "It'll be here in 23 minutes," they told their mother in Yiddish. The family, part of the Hasidic Jewish community, eagerly awaited the new 310 bus. On September 1, Transport for London (TfL) introduced this line, fulfilling years of requests for a direct route between Stamford Hill and Golders Green.
Golders Green, along with Finchley and Hampstead, is home to a well-established, affluent Jewish community. In contrast, Stamford Hill, located in Hackney, is a poorer area known for its large Orthodox Hasidic population.
The 310 bus is not exclusive to the Jewish community, but London Mayor Sadiq Khan acknowledged that the line was created with them in mind. The mayor, of Pakistani Muslim origin, shared that he was deeply impacted by conversations with Jewish families who expressed fear over the surge in antisemitic incidents since October 7, 2023, when Hamas attacks reignited tensions.
Antisemitic crimes in London skyrocketed following the October 7 massacres carried out by Hamas. Between October and December 2023, Scotland Yard reported 1,156 incidents, a staggering 1,000% increase compared to the same period in 2022. Though the number has since slowed, 998 incidents were recorded between January and August 2024, compared to 424 during the same months in 2023.
Further reading: Rabbis urge European leaders to halt new wave of antisemitism
Mayor Khan noted that some Jewish families shared their fear of verbal abuse while transferring between buses at Finsbury Park, an area with a large Muslim population. Finsbury Park, once associated with radical Islamist preaching, has since undergone significant reform, with authorities praising its efforts to engage with other local communities.
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Thursday, September 05, 2024
Jewish CUNY students berated by masked anti-Israel protesters who blocked entrance of kosher deli, hurled racist remarks at them
A group of Jewish students from CUNY's City College were berated and told to "go back to Brooklyn" by anti-Israel protesters outside a kosher deli in Midtown South.
Moti Zilber, the owner of the Mr. Broadway Deli on West 38th Street, said the Jewish students were enjoying their meal Tuesday morning when the protesters descended upon the restaurant, blocking the entrance and shouting vulgarities at them.
"It was very scary," Zilber told The Post. "It feels like we're in Germany over here."
Clips of the protest, uploaded by the Safe Campus Jewish advocacy group, show the masked demonstrators marching up and down in front of the restaurant as they chanted antisemitic slogans at the students.
"Back to Brooklyn, out the Middle East," the protesters could be heard yelling, stereotyping the students while referencing the war in Gaza.
Zilber said the protesters also shouted other antisemitic phrases at the students, including "From the river to the sea."
"They yelled all kinds of racist things at the students," Zilber said. "These were young, violent kids who you can't even talk to."
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Wednesday, September 04, 2024
Businessman loses a quarter billion Dollars at Rebbe's request
Last Friday the Satmar Hasidic sect celebrated 45 years since the passing of the Grand Rebbe, Rabbi Yoel Teitelbaum.
As part of the anniversary ceremony held by the Satmar Rebbe, with the participation of thousands of Hasidim, the Rebbe spoke about the difficult problem of housing prices in the local community.
In recent years Kiryas Joel, home to many Hasidic in New York, has seen a drastic increase in apartment prices. The price per square meter jumped from $1,800 five years ago to $6,000 today – an increase of about 400 percent
In response, the Rebbe established a special committee in collaboration with the city mayors. About two months ago, a new municipal law was passed limiting apartment prices in new projects to $3,000 per square meter.
However, realizing that the implementation of the law would take time, the Rebbe contacted Hasidic businessman, Akiva Hersh Klein, who is building a new neighborhood of about 2,000 apartments in the city and asked Klein to initiate a process of lowering prices.
In a dramatic announcement, the Rebbe declared that Klein agreed to the request and put 1,000 apartments on the market at a price equal to half the normal market price.
According to estimates, this project may cause Klein a loss of about a quarter of a billion Dollars.
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Tuesday, September 03, 2024
NYC straphanger spews antisemitic rant at Jewish student
A man berated a Jewish student wearing a yarmulke on a New York City subway car, calling him a "rapist" and a "genocider" responsible for the deaths in Gaza, new video shows.
The harrowing encounter, uploaded by the Combat Antisemitism Movement (CAM) group on Tuesday, shows the bearded man wearing a black cap and orange long-sleeve shirt yelling across the subway car at the student during a trip on the 1 train near 96th Street.
"He likes to kill Palestinian semites. He probably likes to rape Palestinian semites as well," the man, who has yet to be identified, shouts.
"This is a genocider who loves to kill babies."
The man continues to call the student a "Zionist," a "fake f–king Jew" and the "United States' bully boy," all while a crowd of uninterested commuters watch.
The man could also be heard trying to get the crowd on his side by claiming that the US and Israel want an upheaval in the Gaza Strip, but the commuters ignore him.
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