http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/287442
Multiple members of White House staff test positive for coronavirus one day after signing of Abraham Accords.
Wednesday, September 16, 2020
A Key to Salvation
BS"D
Our Key to Salvation: Standing With Righteous Individuals Who Stand With HaShem - Against His Enemies
27 Ellul, 5780 °° Sept. 16, 20 °° Parshas Ha'azinu
By Binyomin Feinberg
As
we approach the Days of Awe, it's appropriate to reflect on the plight
of those righteous women languishing in Israeli military prison to avoid
conscription into the immoral, exploitative Army. Furthermore, we must
also consider the ongoing travails of all the many, many other girls and
women who regularly endure intimidation and threats from Israeli
military draft office, from the court system, and also suffer from the
systemic corruption enabling the wholesale abandonment of innocent girls
- in their stand against the military draft - for their Faith,
morality, and personal purity. But first, a general background review
is in order.
A. A Refresher:
1.
Ever since the early days of the State of Israel, the Israeli Army has
been - almost unbelievably -
2. Leading Rabbis from across the spectrum held and
hold that it's prohibited for any girl to enlist in the Army. How much
more so it it prohibited to FORCE girls (of any faith) to enlist, even
if they're totally non-religious.
3.
Moreover, the Brisker Rov ZT"L was quoted by Rav Aharon Soloveichik
ZT"L (in sefer "Yeled Sha'ashuim") to be opposed to the drafting of
non-religious girls even more strongly than he was opposed to drafting
religious ones, due of the escalated spiritual threats to the former
over the latter. Such spiritual dangers are endemic to the military
milieu, and have manifested in the Israeli Army in the form of ongoing
immorality, exploitation, and downright abuse.
4.
This is the same Brisker Rov who held that if, G-d forbid, we would
need to choose, it would be preferable to close down all the Yeshivos
rather than allow even one girl to be drafted at all.*
[* This insight from the Brisker Rov may inspire introspection among some more reflective individuals, especially
now, in the midst of the second Coronavirus shutdown in Israel.
(Perhaps community activists and fiefdoms prioritizing government
funding for their institutions - to the exclusion of leveraging
increased Orthodox political power to abolish the female draft - isn't
countenanced well in Heaven -- especially while dozens of girls are
languishing in "Jewish" military prisons - often in acutely oppressive
conditions.)]
5. In the
wake of international outcries by religious Jews across the spectrum -
in decades past - religious girls, the dominant antireligious elements
allowed concession provisions. This compromise mandated providing
automatic military service exemptions to religious girls. Thus, until recent years, religious girls had been routinely exempt.
6.
Tragically, the drafting of other girls had continued, in the state
describing itself as somehow associated with Judaism - to which drafting
girls or women is absolute anathema. It must be emphasized that the
drafting of girls - even only non-religious girls - was always seen as
an ongoing travesty. By no stretch of the imagination was it EVER
anything with which any Jew could possibly make peace.
7.
Many religious and traditional Israeli girls have, in recent years,
been subjected to increasing attempts to draft them into the Army.
8. In some cases, the Army even drafts such girls into mixed units and combat units.
9. Tragically, many traditional and even religious girls have fallen into the Army, recently.
10.
Generally, that's the result of the lack of effective outreach to such
girls, particularly sefardic girls, especially those coming from a
religiously weak background.
11. Many girls
have fallen into the Army because of illegal maneuvers and manipulation
by the Draft Offices, operating under "Meitav."
12.
Chomosaich is an organization providing assistance to any girl who
seeks to save herself from the draft, regardless of her religiosity or
background.
13. They provide information and
help coordinate legal assistance with Israeli attorneys competent in
saving these girls from the draft.
14. Chomosaich also provides girls in the exemption process with vital chizuk.
15.
Often, another vital need is public awareness. Why? Because
intelligent PR is often necessary, to exert pressure often instrumental
in rescuing these girls from government intimidation and threats, and
even incarceration in military prison.
16. We
in the Diaspora have an distinctly pivotal capacity to impede such
Israeli policies, by simply speaking out, in an intelligent manner. The
Israeli government frequently tends to ignore domestic public opinion
on such matters, but remains sensitive to its much-cultivated image in
the outside world. Thus, properly raising public awareness in the
Diaspora is one of the most effective, and probably by far the most
efficient, practical means of saving these innocent girls and women from
indescribable travails.
B. Ofek Y. - an example of just one of the many girls currently being assisted:
1.
Ofek Y., a Ba'alas Teshuva, not yet 18, has been recently returning to
her religious roots, even studying in religious "Midrashiyah." She had
applied for her religious exemption.
2. The Army ordered her to appear at a Religiosity Interview (or interrogation), a Rayon Dat ("R.D.") on July 26, '20.
3.
In compliance with with the directive of Torah authorities, and those
familiar with draft hazards, to refuse any such appearances, she
declined. The monumental practical dangers, and the consequent
Halachic objections involved with the R.D. have been covered online
(search First Amendment Activist and Daat Torah blogs, for example).
4. Now, one needs to question: by what right did the Draft Office have to summon Miss Y. to a R.D.? Her religiosity has been established via the standard legal procedures. Once she submitted her religiosity certification, legally speaking, she's entitled to an automatic religious exemption, unless the Army has bona fide basis to suspect her religiosity. Apparently, they have none.
5. As
newly rediscovering her religious roots, her having studied in a
nonreligious school should not even register as a blip on the Army
radar. Thus, the only legal pretext for a R.D. is some indication of
fakery. If so, what is it? Letters from her original attorney have not
yet yielded either insight or cooperation from the Army Draft Office.
6.
This type of Army treatment pattern - apparently flaunting their own
laws or rules - fits a pattern to which we've been increasingly privy,
especially in recent months. In fact, this treatment profile actually
comports neatly with the Army human-trafficking profile.
7.
Alarmingly, ALL girls who have studied in non-religious schools, among
those we've been in contact with recently - have been summoned to a
Rayon Dat.
8. This policy shift requires girls to hire attorneys many of them can't afford.
9.
This creates pressure on the girls to fight the government, risking
arrest and often emotionally brutal treatment in Israeli military jail,
or else succumb to the draft.
10. According
to the Torah, there is no choice. Torah Sages, from the Chazon Ish and
Rav Pesach Frank, to the Steipler Gaon, and MANY others, all concur that
the female draft is Yai'horaig ve'Al Ya'avor, period.
11.
Miss Y. turns 18 in December, and her draft date R"L is scheduled for
Jan. 4, '21. After that point, without a formal legal exemption, she
would be deemed to be a draft-dodger, and R"L subject to arrest,
incarceration in Military Prison, and mistreatment by prison staff
frequently filled with animosity towards girls avoiding the draft.
12.
Imagine the merit each person reading this could gain by assuming an
obligation to assist such heroic individuals, as we approach the Yomim
Noraim. And imagine the Midah Keneged Midah recompense in store for
those who answer the call.
13. On the other hand, consider the alternative, as articulated in The Jewish Press (in an Op Ed against the Army drafting of girls), Jan. 11, '19, p. 9, end),
"We
must ensure that we are not recorded in Heaven amongst those who fail
to stand up for people who cannot defend themselves and cry out to us
for help. Hashem hears their cries and will, chas v’shalom, exact an
extremely heavy price if we abandon them."
14.
What a merit such mitzvah would provide us, to live to witness the
arrival of the Redemption, for helping save "noshim tzidkoniyos"
(righteous women), in whose merit the Final Redemption will come (Kav
HaYashar, 82, see also Gemara Sotah 11, Rus Rabbah 4:11).
There's still time.
A Kesiva ve'v'Chasima Tova,
BF
~~~~~
"... And if someone, like Pinchos, is one among a multitude, and every man is against him when he dares to speak out for truth and to fight for the Law -- the more lonely his stand, the greater the number of his adversaries, the more powerful is his word, the mightier his deed."
-- Rav Shamshon Raphael Hirsch OB"M (1808-1888), (in "Judaism Eternal," vol. 2, p. 293)
"... And if someone, like Pinchos, is one among a multitude, and every man is against him when he dares to speak out for truth and to fight for the Law -- the more lonely his stand, the greater the number of his adversaries, the more powerful is his word, the mightier his deed."
-- Rav Shamshon Raphael Hirsch OB"M (1808-1888), (in "Judaism Eternal," vol. 2, p. 293)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
regularly drafting girls - Jewish girls,
and even some non-Jewish ones.
Trump has always refused to see the difference between truth and lies
https://edition.cnn.com/2020/09/16/politics/borger-analysis-trump-truth-and-lies/index.html
In the world according to Donald Trump, the years bring little change.
Back in 1990, when he was an aspiring monarch in the Atlantic City gambling hierarchy, his Taj Mahal casino
was a mess -- plagued by slot machines that didn't work. The casino
control commission shut one-third of them down -- on opening night, no
less. A complete disaster.
But
Trump, ever the con man, had a tale in mind. When asked about it by
Larry King, he just lied. "The slots were so hot," he said "They blew
apart...they were virtually on fire."
At a certain point, as Woodward implies, Trump believes his own lies. And he lives his own lies. He wanted to talk with Woodward to impress him because he believes in his own ability to schmooze and succeed. So he spoke with him 18 times. And he did not succeed.
HHS says spokesman will take a two-month 'leave of absence' following apology for conspiracy-laden rant
https://edition.cnn.com/2020/09/16/politics/michael-caputo-hhs-cdc/index.html
Michael Caputo, the top spokesman at the Department of Health and Human
Services, is taking a two-month leave of absence from his post, the
department announced Wednesday, a day after he apologized for a conspiracy theory-laden rant he made against career government scientists in which he accused them of "sedition" and working to undermine President Donald Trump.
Does Cuomo Share Blame for 6,200 Virus Deaths in N.Y. Nursing Homes?
Using self-reported data from nursing homes, the report cited data that showed that the deaths in nursing homes peaked on April 8 — a week before nursing homes admitted most of their infected patients from hospitals.
The patients transferred to nursing homes following their hospital stay, the report said, were likely no longer contagious because health experts believe infected individuals likely stop being contagious nine days after showing symptoms.
New York Times accused of going soft on Cuomo over NY nursing home controversy
A report published on Wednesday in the Times posed the question "Does Cuomo Share Blame for 6,200 Virus Deaths in N.Y. Nursing Homes?" in its headline. However, just two paragraphs deep, the report suggests that any uproar towards Cuomo's weeks-long order for nursing homes to accept COVID-19 patients is partisan.
Conservative commentator Stephen Miller mocked the Times for using the "Republicans pounce" trope and called the paragraph "incredible."
"Thousands dead and The NY Times is still hedging for their dude," Miller tweeted.
Erdoğan’s Schoolboy Response to the Israel-UAE Deal
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: Turkey is protesting the UAE for establishing diplomatic relations with Israel—even though Ankara has had diplomatic relations with Israel for the past 71 years. If the UAE, as Ankara argues, has betrayed the “Palestinian cause” just by having diplomatic relations with Israel, then Turkey has been betraying the “Palestinian cause” since 1949.
Donald Trump's answer on how the Covid-19 pandemic will end is, um, not comforting
During a town hall on ABC Tuesday night, moderator George Stephanopoulos asked President Donald Trump why he said that he liked to "downplay" the threat posed by Covid-19 to the American public.
Here's the exchange that followed:
Trump:
I'm not looking to be dishonest. I don't want people to panic. And we
are going to be OK. We're going to be OK, and it is going away. And it's
probably going to go away now a lot faster because of the vaccines.
It would go away without the vaccine, George, but it's going to go away a lot faster with it.
Stephanopoulos: It would go away without the vaccine?
If Trump was referring to herd immunity
when it comes to the number of people getting the virus, well, then he
was talking about a massive loss of human life -- well in excess of the 400,000+ American deaths that one oft-cited model is projecting by January 1, 2021.
Almost 6 million deaths. And 60% of the population getting Covid is the low
end of what experts estimate is necessary for her immunity to be
achieved. The Mayo Clinic, for example, estimated that 70% of Americans
would have to contract and then recover from Covid-19 in order for herd
immunity to be achieved. That would mean 229 million cases and, with the
death rate at 2.96%, about 6.8 million Americans dead from Covid-19
before herd immunity was achieved. That's more than 10 times the number of Americans killed in the Civil War.
Fact check: Trump made at least 20 false or misleading claims at ABC town hall
https://edition.cnn.com/2020/09/16/politics/fact-check-trump-abc-town-hall/index.html
President Donald Trump got a rare grilling at an ABC News town hall in Philadelphia on Tuesday.
He
responded to a series of tough questions from Pennsylvania voters, and
some more from moderator George Stephanopoulos, much like he responds to
easy questions from his favorite conservative television hosts -- with a
barrage of dishonesty.
Trump made at least 20 false or misleading claims over the hour-and-a-half event, according to our preliminary count.
U.S. Officials Buried Intel, Could Face War Crimes Charges Over Obama-Trump Support for Yemen War
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) has waged an unrelenting and brutal war against the civilian population of Yemen since the spring of 2015 with full-throated diplomatic and material support from the United States. Spanning the administrations of both Barack Obama and President Donald Trump, the U.S. role in that war is increasingly fraught with legal liability due to American knowledge of the extreme casualties that have resulted from airstrikes.
“The United Nations estimates that from March 2015 to November 2018 there were 17,640 combat-related civilian casualties in Yemen, including 10,852 caused by Coalition airstrikes,” a recent report by the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) for the U.S. Department of State notes. “High-profile incidents include a March 2016 strike on a market that killed 97 civilians, an October 2016 attack on a funeral hall that killed 140, and an August 2018 strike on a school bus that killed 51, including 40 children.”
That same report implicated “U.S. defense firms” as the likely source of the weapons used “in each of these airstrikes” and noted that such arms sales would have legally been subject to an “arms transfer review process” that was effectively short-circuited by an executive branch emergency certification in May of last year.
The emergency certification was previously described as “phony” by House Foreign Affairs Committee Chair Eliot Engel (D-N.Y.) in a statement regarding the surprise ouster of former State Department inspector general Steve Linick earlier this year.
Yemen war: Trump vetoes bill to end US support for Saudi-led coalition
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-47958014
US President Donald Trump has vetoed a bill passed by Congress to end support for the Saudi-led war in Yemen.
Mr Trump described the resolution as an "unnecessary" and "dangerous" attempt to weaken his constitutional powers.
It is only the second time Mr Trump has used his presidential veto since he took office in 2017.
Opposition in Congress to his policy on Yemen grew last year after Saudi agents killed the journalist Jamal Khashoggi at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul.
The resolution passed the House of Representatives in April and the Senate in March, the first time both chambers had supported a War Powers resolution, which limits the president's ability to send troops into action.
UN: US, allies may be complicit in Yemen war crimes
https://thehill.com/policy/defense/459679-un-us-allies-may-be-complicit-in-yemen-war-crimes
The U.S., the U.K. and France are among the nations accused of being complicit in possible war crimes in Yemen over their supplying of arms to the region, based on a report released by the United Nations Tuesday.
The
report, based on interviews with more than 600 victims and witnesses,
accuses the coalition led by Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates
of killing civilians in airstrikes and denying them food, Reuters reports.
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