Black Shadow hackers leak medical records of 290,000 Israeli patients

 https://www.ynetnews.com/article/rye2poyvt

 The Iran-linked Black Shadow hacking group on Tuesday night leaked what claimed was the full database of Machon Mor medical institute, including medical records of some 290,000 patients.

The database includes information regarding medical tests and treatments, and the leak comes mere hours after the group also hacked the entire online database of popular LGBTQ dating site Atraf, which is hosted by the Israeli internet company Cyberserve.

Disposable plasticware prices soar as new tax introduced

 https://www.timesofisrael.com/disposable-plasticware-prices-soar-as-new-tax-introduced/

 In a bid to drive down Israel’s plastic waste, the government on Monday introduced a new tax on disposable plasticware aimed at doubling the price of plastic cutlery and crockery for Israeli consumers.

The Environmental Protection Ministry said that the new tax — an increase of 11 shekels per kilogram of single-use plastics — would “double the final price for the consumer and thus reduce the consumption of these polluting products.”

The tax will apply to plastic plates, bowls, cups, and straws.

This is exactly how dumb our politics have gotten

 https://edition.cnn.com/2021/11/02/politics/critical-race-theory-virginia-governor-youngkin-mcauliffe/index.html

 In the final days of the Virginia governor's race, Republican Glenn Youngkin did everything he could to suggest the contest was a referendum on what is being taught to the commonwealth's schoolchildren.

"There's no place for critical race theory in our school system, and why, on day one, I'm going to ban it," Youngkin told Fox News' Mark Levin over the weekend, adding that critical race theory "teaches children to see everything through a lens of race and then to divide them into buckets and have children [who] are called privileged and others [who] are victims."

Internal Haredi criticism against Yaakov Litzman

 https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/316184

MK Yaakov Litzman (United Torah Judaism) caused a stir in the political system last night when, prior to the opening of discussions on the state budget, he compared the coalition members to dogs.

"This is the first time I see dogs giving something to cats," Litzman said, referring to a section in the coalition funds that allocates NIS 12 million for neutering stray cats.

In the coalition, he was sharply criticized, but it turns out that his colleagues in the haredi parties did not like the "unsuccessful" wording to say the least.

Marathon Knesset debate begins ahead of critical budget votes

 https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/politics-and-diplomacy/marathon-knesset-budget-debate-begins-683788

 The Knesset began what is set to be a 33-hour debate on the 2021 and 2022 state budgets on Tuesday morning. 

On Wednesday night, the MKs will begin voting on some 600 items relating to the 2021 state budget, its accompanying economic arrangements bill and then the 2022 state budget. 

Former prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu repeatedly violated coalition agreements and refused to pass a budget, leaving Israel without a state budget for over three years.

Forest Hills Jewish Center, a fixture in Queens, NY, will sell its building and relocate

 https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/316152

 Congregants at the Forest Hills Jewish Center, a fixture in Queens since the late 1940s, approved the sale Thursday evening of their block-long building. They will now begin the process of finding a new home in the same area.

“The vote was overwhelmingly for the sale,” said Carl Koerner, chair of the building committee.

The 400-family unit Conservative congregation’s synagogue at 106-06 Queens Boulevard has been on the market for about a year. The asking price was $50 million, but Koerner said the terms of the sale to a developer would not be made public until it is approved by the state attorney general.

The 70-year-old building “doesn’t serve the needs of our congregation,” explained Rabbi Gerald Skolnik, the congregation’s spiritual leader since 1982.

Mansour Abbas: 'United Arab List needs haredim in the coalition'

 https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/316166

The chairman of the United Arab List declared his support for expanding the ruling coalition to include Israel’s two haredi parties, after making a last-minute request to include increased funding for the haredi sector before the state budget was brought to the Knesset Tuesday morning.

Just before the state spending plan was brought to the Knesset Tuesday, MK Mansour Abbas approached government officials and asked for an allocation of 100 million shekels from his party's coalition funds for the benefit of the haredi sector, Kan 11 News reported on Monday.

Assisted dying: British Medical Association drops opposition to euthanasia

 https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/assisted-dying-british-medical-association-drops-opposition-vqb7xsmvq

 The British Medical Association has dropped its opposition to assisted dying in a narrow vote at its annual representative meeting.

Doctors and medical students voted for the union to “move to a position of neutrality on assisted dying, including physician-assisted dying”.

The BMA, which represents 150,000 doctors, has opposed legalising assisted dying since 2006. However, a survey of its members in February last year found that the proportion in favour of a change in law now outnumbered those against.

 

Covid-19: Concern over 'do not resuscitate' decisions during pandemic

 https://www.bbc.com/news/health-56435428

 Individuals' human rights may have been breached in more than 500 cases where "do not resuscitate" decisions were made during the Covid pandemic, the care watchdog for England has said.

Some 508 'do not attempt resuscitation' (DNAR) decisions made since March 2020 were not agreed in discussion with the person or their family, a report found.

The Care Quality Commission is calling for improvements to care planning.

An NHS spokesman said decisions should be made in consultation with families.

The CQC has recommended that a ministerial oversight group be created to work with health and care providers, local government and the voluntary sector to deliver improvements.

It wants to see a consistent national approach to advance care planning, with staff training, accessible information for families and records of conversations and decisions agreed.

More than 500 people in UK were put on do-not-resuscitate orders without consent, watchdog says

 https://edition.cnn.com/2021/03/18/uk/uk-do-not-resuscitate-consent-pandemic-gbr-intl/index.html

 More than 500 people in the United Kingdom were put on do-not-resuscitate orders without their consent or their carers' consent during the coronavirus pandemic, according to a study released by England's care watchdog on Thursday.

"From the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, there were concerns that 'do not attempt cardiopulmonary resuscitation' (DNACPR) decisions were being made without involving people, or their families and/or carers if so wished, and were being applied to groups of people, rather than taking into account each person's individual circumstances," the Care Quality Commission (CQC) study said.

Out of 2,048 adult social care providers who responded to the CQC's information request, 5.2% (508 out of 9,679) of DNACPR decisions put in place since March 17, 2020 "had not been agreed in discussion with the person, their relative or carer," it said. In one care home, everyone over 80 with dementia had a DNACPR order applied, the report found.

NJ Gubernatorial Race

 BS"D

"Ain Dochin Nefesh..." 

Support of Either Major Candidate in NJ's Gubernatorial Race  Threatens to Proliferate Assisted Suicide Laws

27 Mar-Cheshvan, 5782 / November 1, '21

By Rabbi Noson Shmuel Leiter

The Targum Yonoson on "Lo Sirtzach" (Shmos 20:13) explains that not only are we prohibited from murder itself, but also from partnership and association with murderers.* Flaunting this Torah imperative results in the next generation continuing in that lethal path.

{* Cf. Makkos 10a on Hoshea 6}

The world just witnessed the barbaric murder of two-year old toddler Alta Fixsler HY"D. Alta, valiantly struggling with brain-damage from birth, was killed by the British healthcare system. Alta, not even a British citizen, was held hostage and murdered because a British judge deemed her life worthy of being ended, against the unrelenting efforts of her family and supporters around the world. This, in spite of alternative treatment options overseas that would have extended and possibly saved her life - and saved the U.K. money as well.  Thus, England's  legal vendetta against Alta, unlike some of their previous crusades, wasn't about Greed, but "Creed:" the redefinition of murder.

This movement of state-mandated murder didn't start with Alta, or with previous victims of systemic British barbarism, like Alfie Evans and Charlie Gard. It started years earlier and "progressed" to those murders of innocent children.  What's more frightening is that across the Pond, the U.S. is not far behind. And, as is the case with the overall moral collapse on a range of issues, much "Hakaras haTov" (gratitude) is owed to both major political parties for that, specifically in regard to the advance of "Assisted Suicide."

The threat of the legalization of assisted suicide is such that over fifty Rabbis from across the Orthodox spectrum signed a statement against it. Therein, they state that it's prohibited to vote for a political candidate who either supports or previously supported assisted suicide, EVEN if already became law. If voters don't show politicians that previous acts have consequences, we can't expect to deter them - OR OTHERS - in the future.

Text of the statement:

"Regarding attempts to pass “Death with Dignity” legislation:

The chiyuv (Torah injunction) of “Lo sa'amod al dam re’echa”, obligates everyone to do what he or she can, to help prevent assisted suicide and/or euthanasia.

Allowing the legalization of “assisted suicide”, even if this particular law in practice would only result in assisting a suicide and not euthanasia, is to allow shefichas-domim (bloodshed). Furthermore even rendering such actions not being subject to prosecution, is allowing shefichas-domim (bloodshed), al achas kama ve'kama (how much more so), in cases of assisted suicide leading to euthanasia.

Voting on the basis of this issue.*

{technically, should be punctuated with a colon - NSL}

This obligation would include:

1) Thus*, when voting for any public official, this issue must be considered as top priority, certainly overriding financial considerations, government programs, etc. By voting for people who support these laws, we become accountable for their actions. This ruling would still apply even if these laws were to be passed, we would still be forbidden to vote for legislators who voted for these laws. This is the most important way to fulfill our obligation.

{* The word "thus" here clearly refers back to the first two paragraphs, as if the previous two single-line phrases are to be read, grammatically speaking, as headers. None of my grammatical comments here are to be taken to alter or detract from the imperative meaning of any of these phrases. NSL}

2) Urging one’s legislators to vote against these bills, if and when they arise[1]and to urge the governor to veto such bill, were it to pass the legislature.

3) Helping in efforts to repeal such laws, in areas[2] where such legislation was already passed. Even a few votes can make a major difference, both by legislators and the public—sometimes the vote of a single legislator can decide the fate of these laws—as is evidenced by the recent vote in the New Jersey State Assembly (in November 2014), where an assisted suicide bill was passed by just one vote. We have seen in several recent races in Jewish neighborhoods, that even a handful of votes can make the difference in the outcome of the election[3]
Furthermore, some legislators keep track of the calls that are made to their offices on particular controversial issues, and vote according to their results.

May the Creator of all life grace us with the merit to save innocent lives, fulfilling our role as an ohr legoyim (light unto the nations). In that merit, may we help usher in the Final Redemption by Moshiach Tzidkeinu."

Signatures of  Leading Roshei Yeshiva, Rabbonim, and Poskim: 

Mordechai Chaim Auerbach - Boruch Hirschfeld - Avrohom Reich - Eliyahu Ben-Haim - Zalman Leib Hollander - Dovid Ribiat - Haim Benoliel  - Shmuel Kamenetsky - Yosef Yitzchok Rosenfeld  -  Gad Bouskila - Yosef Meir Kantor - Chaim Schabes -  Yitzchok M. Braun -  Elya Nota Katz  - Dovid Schustal  - Shlomo Breslauer - Eliezer Langer - Yaakov Shulman -  Eliyahu Brog - Yeshaye Gedalye Kaufman -  Moshe Silberberg - Simcha Bunim Cohen - Amram Klein - Moshe Soloveitchik - Yitzchok Cohen -  Shloime Ben Zion Kokis - Yitzchok Sorotzkin  - Moshe Donnebaum -  Grainom Lazewnik -  Tzvi Steinberg -  Eytan Feiner  -  Moshe Tuvia Lieff - Elazar Mayer Teitz Menachem Fisher - Shmuel Miller - Elya Ber Wachtfogel - Noson Yermia Goldstein - Avrohom Yaakov Nelkenbaum -  Boruch Hersh Waldman - Avrohom Gordimer - Yechiel Perr -  Moshe Weissman Shmuel Gorelick -  Steven Pruzansky -  Benjamin Yudin -  Moshe Green -  Aaron Rakeffet-Rothkoff - Yeruchum Zeilberger -  Yisroel Dovid Harfenes -  Gavriel Zinner "

{The footnotes on psak were not reproduced here for technical reasons. NSL}

                             
The above Psak was publicized in 2018 and was covered in The Hamodia in March, '18 ("Assembly Committee Advances Assisted Suicide Bill in NJ,
https://hamodia.com/2018/03/13/assembly-committee-advances-assisted-suicide-bill-nj-2/). It was also reproduced in The Jewish Press (around that same time period, shortly after Pesach).

~~~~~~~~

New Jersey:

Democratic NJ Governor Murphy signed Assisted Suicide into law, and it went into effect in '19. The bill, euphemistically marketed as "Aid In Dying," legalized the deliberate murder of "terminally ill" patients who ostensibly, at some point, expressed a desire to die.  Facilities ostensibly dedicated to healthcare are, under certain circumstances (conditions being broader than most people imagine), allowed to actively kill [poison] the qualifying victims, by "law."

As dominant and far-gone as the NJ Democratic Party is, they were unable to pass this assisted suicide on their own. Legalization required a few Republicans.  After repeated battles for about seven years, "Aid In Dying" did pass, but only by exactly one vote in each house of the NJ legislature; bipartisanship at it's worst.

Of course, it's not hard to understand that a vote for Governor Murphy, who signed the aforementioned legislation of state sanctioned murder, broadcasts a tolerance for such a stance. However, contrary to popular opinion, that fact does not translate into a rationale to support his Republican opponent, former Assemblyman Jack Ciattarelli. As Assemblyman, he twice voted for assisted suicide: for A2270 on Nov.13, '14; and for A2451 on Oct/20, '16. (He had left the legislature by the time it passed into law.

Ciattarelli also spoke out in defence of his position in 2014, which reported:

"...

Ciattarelli — who, along with Schepisi, also a yea vote, arguably took the greatest risk in voting against their caucus, given ongoing chatter about their future political prospects — argued that he thinks the issue’s “time has arrived.”*

{* Interestingly, "the time has come" is the same non-reason that Heck Commission of Sen. McCain provided for recommending that Selective Service be expanded to women, despite all of the evidence of the disastrous consequences thereof. - NSL)

“This is one of those votes where people are coming at it from different angles, and I don’t think anyone coming at it in their own way is wrong,*” Ciattarelli, who found his name in the mix for a U.S. Senate run earlier this year, said.  ..." (https://observer.com/2014/11/aid-in-dying-vote-deeply-personal-for-two-republicans-who-voted-against-party-line)

{* One wonders if the aforementioned British "different angle" would similarly pass his bar. NSL}

Autopilot NJ Republicans, and those who unrelentingly support the ostensibly "lesser" evil, may benefit by contrasting the laws of liberal N.Y., Maryland -- AND MASSACHUSETTS - which all prohibit assisted suicide - with the extremist postion of their GOP republican candidate for Governor, which is to the left of those leftist-dominated states. Think about that.

Nationwide Impact:

In light of the above, it is apparent that a vote for Ciattarelli will send a message to Republican politicians around the country that voting to legalize murder has no noteworthy downside. Why is that so dangerous -- right now? Because  there are states that are dominated by Democrats even more so than NJ, states where the Democrats similarly don't have the votes to pass assisted suicide.  If even just a few leftist Republicans see that  NJ elected a Republican (the assisted suicide Lobby will most definitely show them the numbers), those Republicans will assume that as long as they can convince the voters that they are better than their Democratic rival, they can vote for assisted suicide - and not only keep their jobs, but even get elected governor.

For example, Maryland is in currently in danger of falling to Assisted Suicide. How much more so if leftist Republicans there become inspired, from blindly pro-Republican voters in NJ, to get in touch with their "Inner Kevorkian" and provide assisted suicide the margin of victory it needs to pass. The Washington Post (https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/md-politics/maryland-aid-in-dying/2020/01/28/c8b980dc-413e-11ea-b503-2b077c436617_story.html ), in addressing assisted suicide legislation in that state, reported: 

"... Pendergrass said there are 53 sponsors in the 141-member House this year and 17 sponsors in the 47-member Senate. Gov. Larry Hogan (R) said this month that he is “willing to look at both sides of that issue....”

That alarming report appeared just before Corona hit the U.S. in early 2020 C.E. Corona delayed or slowed the passage of such legislation. However, we are now forewarned that Maryland is precipitously close to passing assisted suicide. Governor Hogan, a leftwing Republican, vice-signaled his inclination towards "considering" assisted suicide. He will be encouraged to sign such a law - IF he sees that, in states in which assisted suicide passed with GOP support, such Republicans need only the "lesser evil" narrative to win thereafter.

Votes for Ciattarelli, particularly from religious communities, will provide people like Gov. Hogan that desired comfort level to encourage him to push assisted suicide into law.

BOTTOM LINE: A vote for Jack Ciattarelli shows that a vote for state-mandated murder doesn't have harmful political consequences. NJ will thus progress to increasingly more lethal legislation, and spread assisted suicide legislation to other states, endangering the entire country.

 
As Jews, we also must recognize that a vote for either Murphy or Ciattarelli projects the erroneous image that Jews support or tolerate murder; worse - state mandated murder.   

Another palatable option does exist: a write-in vote. The selection of a name to write in may be made with an eye towards (a) demonstrating to the Democrats that one opposes their particular mutation of the anti-G-d agenda, and towards (b) messaging the Republicans that they cannot continue nominating candidates who expect us to vote for them regardless of how lethal their legislative profile is.  A write-in vote is not just the moral choice, but the most politically beneficial. (Another option, less effective of course, is to leave that column on the ballot blank.)

In the merit of alerting others who  seek the truth, may we ourselves always find it.

Missionary family outed in haredi neighborhood in Jerusalem

 https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/316162

 A special investigation carried out by the anti-assimilation group Yad L'Achim in recent months has culminated in the exposure of a non-Jewish Messianic family living for the past year in the Ramat Shlomo neighborhood in Jerusalem.

The story began, according to information provided by an organization that is active against missionaries in Spanish-speaking countries, some time ago when a Christian youth by the name of Goncalo Cabral, who lived in Argentina, decided to move to Israel.

He made contact with an elderly Jewish woman in his country, and told her of how he had been abandoned by his parents and was helpless. She took pity on him, brought him into her home and raised him like a son.

FDA authorizes first Covid vaccine for kids ages 5-11

 https://www.politico.com/news/2021/10/29/fda-authorizes-first-covid-vaccine-for-kids-ages-5-11-517679

 In its announcement, the agency noted that the vaccine — given to 5-11-year-olds as two shots, each one-third the size of each adult shot — provoked an immune response comparable to that seen in young adults. FDA added that "no serious side effects" had been observed in Pfizer and BioNTech's ongoing clinical trial in younger children.

FDA said Friday that about 8,300 children between 5-11 years old have been hospitalized with Covid-19, and as of Oct. 17, 146 deaths from Covid-19 had been reported in that age group.

Top ultra-Orthodox MK brands coalition leaders ‘dogs,’ drawing fury

 https://www.timesofisrael.com/top-ultra-orthodox-mk-brands-coalition-leaders-dogs-drawing-fury/

 United Torah Judaism party leader Yaakov Litzman drew outrage on Monday after apparently branding the coalition’s leaders “dogs” during a Knesset speech.

Litzman addressed the parliament during a no-confidence motion in the government, ahead of marathon budget votes. The no-confidence vote was unusual, as Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and other senior coalition figures were out of the country to attend UN climate talks in Scotland.

“I don’t know much about cats,” said Litzman, an opposition MK and a former health minister. “But this is the first time I’ve seen dogs give something to cats.”