'Christian' missionary cult targets J'lem kids with party

 https://www.jpost.com/christianworld/article-725754

"Missionaries" from The Collegiate Association for the Research of Principles were seen handing out flyers to youths in Jerusalem inviting them to an event, according to a post on Facebook that attached the flyer.

The Collegiate Association for the Research of Principles, otherwise known as CARP, is an American organization founded by Sun Myung Moon who was a self-labeled "messiah" and founder of the Unification Church.

CARP is a US-based 501(c)(3) certified non-profit organization whose stated vision is "for every college student in America to live a Principled Life, as defined by our 3 Core Principles:

More than 80 Ohio children infected in measles outbreak, most unvaccinated

 https://thehill.com/homenews/3788623-more-than-80-ohio-children-infected-in-measles-outbreak-most-unvaccinated/

Health authorities have not reported any deaths associated with the outbreak, which began in November and started growing earlier this month into a major public health scare.

The outbreak appears to be spreading primarily among the unvaccinated. Seventy-six of the confirmed infections in Columbus were among unvaccinated children.

Physicians and local health officials have warned that misinformation and vaccine hesitancy, both of which intensified during the pandemic, have worsened the measles outbreak.

Columbus Health Commissioner Mysheika Roberts said in an interview this month the outbreak began when a small number of individuals returned from a measles-endemic area and came to the city, where the virus easily spread among unvaccinated children.

“The reason why so many of our young children have been impacted by this measles outbreak is because that’s the greatest majority of our population that’s unvaccinated,” she said.

George Santos Sparks Fury After Admitting to 'Embellishing Resume'

 https://www.newsweek.com/george-santos-gop-new-york-lying-work-1769696

CNN previously reported that multiple genealogists and documents suggested both of Santos' maternal grandparents were born in Brazil, and did not flee the Holocaust.

"I never claimed to be Jewish," Santos, who spoke at the Republican Jewish Coalition annual leadership meeting in November, told The Post. "I am Catholic. Because I learned my maternal family had a Jewish background I said I was 'Jew-ish.'"

The first openly gay non-incumbent Republican elected to the House also admitted that he was previously married to a woman. Santos said that while he dated women in the past, he told The Post that he is now "very much gay."

Police arrest suspect over blazing dumpster that injured mother during Haredi riot

 https://www.timesofisrael.com/police-arrest-suspect-over-blazing-dumpster-that-injured-mother-during-haredi-riot/

The suspect was taken in for questioning, police said, adding that they intend “to bring to justice all those involved in the incident.” The suspect’s identity was sealed under a court-issued gag order.

According to a Channel 12 report, Dzalovsky was still hospitalized in serious but stable condition, as of Sunday.

I said I was Jew-ish’: GOP Congressman-elect walks back biography ’embellishments’

 https://www.timesofisrael.com/i-said-i-was-jew-ish-gop-congressman-elect-walks-back-biography-embellishments/

Pressed on the matter, Santos told the Post. “I never claimed to be Jewish… I am Catholic. Because I learned my maternal family had a Jewish background I said I was ‘Jew-ish.’”

In a subsequent interview with the New York-based City & State media outlet, Santos added, “It just strikes me so odd that people are rushing to disinherit me from being Jewish or [from being allowed] to care for Israel and Judaism in a time and an era where antisemitism is at an all-time rise.”

Rep.-elect George Santos admits to lying about resume, says he’s ‘not a criminal’

 https://edition.cnn.com/2022/12/26/politics/george-santos-admits-embellishing-resume/index.html

GOP Rep.-elect George Santos of New York admitted in two separate interviews on Monday to lying about parts of his resume but claimed that he hasn’t committed any crimes and intends to serve in Congress.

Santos has faced scrutiny over discrepancies in his employment and education history, as well as other public claims he has made about his biography. In interviews with WABC radio and the New York Post – the first times Santos has spoken publicly about the controversy – he acknowledged that he had fabricated some facts.

Liar Rep.-elect George Santos admits fabricating key details of his bio

 Liar Rep.-elect George Santos admits fabricating key details of his bio

Long Island Rep.-elect George Santos came clean to The Post on Monday, admitting that he lied on the campaign trail about his education and work experience — but insisting that the controversy won’t deter him from serving out his two-year term in Congress.

“I am not a criminal,” Santos said at one point during his exclusive interview. “This [controversy] will not deter me from having good legislative success. I will be effective. I will be good.”

Sinning for the sake of good

Berachos (63a) Bar Kappara expounded: What short text is there upon which all the essential principles of the Torah depend? In all thy ways acknowledge Him and He will direct thy paths. Raba remarked: Even for a matter of transgression.

Nazir (23a) Rabbah b. Bar Hana, quoting R. Johanan, said: The verse, For the ways of the Lord are right, and the just do walk in them,’ but transgressors do stumble therein, may be illustrated by the following example. . Resh Lakish remarked Rather should it be illustrated by two men, each of whom had his wife and his sister staying with him. One chances upon his wife and the other chances upon his sister. To the one who chances upon his wife applies, ‘And the just do walk in them’, and to the one who chances upon his sister applies, ‘but transgressors do stumble therein’.

Nazir (23a) Rather is it illustrated by Lot when his two daughters were with him. To the daughters, whose intention it was to do right, applies, ‘the just do walk in them’, whereas to Lot whose intention it was to commit the transgression applies, ‘but transgressors do stumble therein’.

Nazir (23b) R. Nahman b. Isaac said: A transgression performed with good intention is better than a precept performed with evil intention. Read then: A transgression performed with good intention is as good as a precept performed for an ulterior motive, as it is written, Blessed above women shall Jael be, the wife of Heber the Kenite. Above women in the tent shall she be blessed, and by ‘women in the tent’, Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel and Leah are meant.

Nazir (23b) ‘Ulla said: Both Tamar and Zimri committed adultery. Tamar committed adultery and gave birth to kings and prophets. Zimri committed adultery and on his account many tens of thousands of Israel perished.

Donald Trump Spends Christmas Raging on Truth Social

 https://www.newsweek.com/donald-trump-christmas-posts-truth-social-1769596

Trump ended his Christmas Day Truth Social posts by once more falsely suggesting that Pence, his former vice president, had the power to reject the electoral votes on January 6, 2021 and keep Trump in power despite his purely ceremonial role as president officer of the Senate.

"The Vice President did indeed have the power to send Electoral Votes back to State Legislatures for reapproval despite the constant drum from Democrats and RINOS that he 'ABSOLUTELY DID NOT,'" wrote Trump. "BUT, they just put CLARIFYING language in the disgraceful 'OMINOUS' BILL, making sure that A V.P. DOESN'T DO WHAT THEY ALL SAID COULD NOT BE DONE. So why the new language? Because it was just another political Con Job!"

Trump was referring to the House approving efforts to change the wording of the Electoral Count Act of 1887 to clarify that a vice president's role in certifying the election results is merely ceremonial, and that they do not have the power to determine who actually won an election.

Likud, RZP agree to not join int'l convention to fight violence against women

 https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/politics-and-diplomacy/article-725814

In April, Interior Minister Ayelet Shaked sent a letter to Sa'ar, detailing many reservations to the convention. Shaked claimed, among other things, that the clauses of the treaty concerning persecution based on gender-based violence open "a door for a population unprecedented in scope to be able to claim refugee status or, unfortunately, for protection against deportation."

Her letter stated, "With all due regret, granting political asylum is not intended and cannot be a solution to any type of difficulty or distress that exists in less developed countries of origin, certainly when it comes to cross-cultural phenomena. Such a reality is of course not desirable from a practical point of view as it is an opening to countless asylum requests on grounds that are difficult to almost impossible to refute, leading to the abuse of the Israeli asylum system."

Chanukah - The Rest of the Story

 https://www.chabad.org/holidays/chanukah/article_cdo/aid/455235/jewish/The-Rest-of-the-Story.htm

This, then, is the lesson which should be gleaned from Chanukah. No display of might can ever banish that spark of hope and courage from man's heart. Tanks and battleships cannot vanquish the fortitude and determination for one's convictions. Brutality and aggressiveness will not overcome the passion which an individual feels for his beliefs. In the face of terror and discrimination, the deepest wells of mankind's gallant capabilities are exposed, enabling a handful of resisters to repel those that harass them. It happened over two thousand years ago, has occurred since, and will continue to take place: because that inner reserve of resilience and valor has never been diminished.

Hanukkah, or Why We Celebrate a Civil War

 https://www.haaretz.com/haaretz-labels/laitman/2016-12-22/ty-article-labels/hanukkah-or-why-we-celebrate-a-civil-war/00000180-8db5-d5fa-a9c2-cdb7e8680000

For this reason, the Hasmoneans had no choice but to destroy those Jews who wished to prevent their brethren from fulfilling their task—to be a light unto nations and to show the way to unity. The victory we celebrate on Hanukkah is not over the land we reclaimed from the Seleucids. We celebrate our victory over those among us who wished to deny the world of a shot at unity, a shot at lasting happiness and peace

Four Contemporary Interpretations of Hanukkah Candles and Ethical Traits: Zionist, Classical Reform, Hassidic, and Jewish Renewal

 https://www.hartman.org.il/Fck_Uploads/file/Hanukkah.Noam.Zion.pdf

The Pluralist Manifesto of Hanukkah and its Mission

Rav Abraham HaKohen Kook

Everyone must know and understand that within burns a candle/lamp. There is no one's candle is like his/her fellow's and no one lacks their own candle. Everyone must know and understand that it is their task to work to reveal the light of that candle in the public realm. And to ignite it until it is a great flame, and to illuminate the whole world 

Doctors should be allowed to refuse care to LGBTQ+ people - RZP MK

 https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/politics-and-diplomacy/article-725759

Struck was commenting on the fact that both RZP and United Torah Judaism’s coalition agreements with the Likud included an amendment that would enable private businesses to refuse to provide a product or service due to religious belief if the same product or service could be obtained in near proximity at a similar price.