These people talked about bosses and colleagues who repeatedly ridiculed them with anti-Semitic “jokes,” friends who turned on them when they mentioned a son’s bar mitzvah or a trip to Israel, romantic partners who openly mocked their traditions, classmates who defaced their dorm rooms and pilloried them online, teachers and neighbors who parroted conspiratorial lies. I was surprised to learn how many people were getting pennies thrown at them in 21st-century America, an anti-Semitic taunt that I thought had died around 1952. These casual stories sickened me in their volume and their similarity, a catalog of small degradations. At a time when many people in other minority groups have become bold in publicizing the tiniest of slights, these American Jews instead expressed deep shame in sharing these stories with me, feeling that they had no right to complain. After all, as many of them told me, it wasn’t the Holocaust.
Wednesday, April 5, 2023
As Karaites undergo a resurgence, why is their Passover different from all others?
On Passover, many Karaites drink beer, which is strongly prohibited in Orthodox Judaism because it interprets the fermentation of barley as the equivalent of leavened bread, which the Torah bans on the holiday. On this issue and others, Karaites stick to the letter of the Torah, which says nothing about drinking beer. They also eat pasta, arguing it is as unleavened as matzah.
Tuesday, April 4, 2023
Majority of Americans approve of Trump indictment
https://edition.cnn.com/2023/04/03/politics/cnn-poll-trump-indictment/index.html
Sixty percent of Americans approve of the indictment of former President Donald Trump, according to a new CNN Poll conducted by SSRS following the news that a New York grand jury voted to charge him in connection with hush money payments made to adult film actress Stormy Daniels. About three-quarters of Americans say politics played at least some role in the decision to indict Trump, including 52% who said it played a major role.
Monday, April 3, 2023
Kuzari
Kuzari (01:08). The human mind cannot believe that God has intercourse with man, except by a miracle which changes the nature of things. He then recognizes that to do so He alone is capable who created them from nought. It must also have taken place in the presence of great multitudes, who saw it distinctly, and did not learn it from reports and traditions. Even then they must examine the matter carefully and repeatedly, so that no suspicion of imagination or magic can enter their minds. Then it is possible that the mind may grasp this extraordinary matter, that the Creator of this world and the next, of the heavens and lights, should hold intercourse with this contemptible piece of clay, I mean man, speak to him, and fulfill his wishes and desires.
Trump ‘extremely angry,’ family ‘rattled’ following indictment
https://news.yahoo.com/haberman-trump-extremely-angry-family-200152449.html
Former President Trump and his team were caught off guard by the indictment of the former president that was announced last week, leaving him “extremely angry” and his family “rattled,” according to New York Times reporter and longtime Trump scribe Maggie Haberman.
Malka Leifer, former ultra-Orthodox Jewish principal, found guilty of indecent assault and rape
Jurors convicted her of 18 offences relating to offending against Erlich and Sapper. She was acquitted of nine charges, including the five that related to Meyer and several charges involving Erlich.
Leifer, who sat with her head tilted watching the jury, did not react as the verdicts were read.
Malka Leifer found guilty of rape, indecent assault
https://www.jpost.com/breaking-news/article-736231
“Today’s guilty verdict is a great day for justice and vindication of the courageous survivors, Nicole, Dassi and Elly, whose perseverance and dignity have been a hallmark of their long and extraordinary fight for justice,” said Manny Waks VoiCSA CEO. “We hope that today’s verdict provides them with some peace of mind and contributes to their long-term healing and well-being,” he said.
Australian court finds Malka Leifer guilty of rape, sexual abuse
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/369571
Malka Leifer, the former principal of the Adass Israel School in Melbourne, Australia was found guilty of rape and sexual abuse of children Monday.
After six weeks of hearings, a jury in the County Court of Victoria found the 56-year-old Leifer guilty on 18 of 27 counts of rape, indecent assault, child abuse, and other sex crimes, while dismissing 9 of the counts. Earlier, Leifer was acquitted of two other charges.
Sunday, April 2, 2023
Israeli doctors make history with gene therapy treatment to brain
The procedure, which involved injecting the gene directly into the brain of the patient – 4-year-old Adiroop Kumar from India – lasted seven hours, and with the cost of 10 million shekels ($2.7 million) per vial was the single most expensive single surgery ever performed in Israel.
Biden's reelection campaign
For all you naïve political readers I will explain the true significance of the Trump indictment
It is not a Republican party purge as Tucker Carlson claimed. It is part of the new Democratic campaign strategy.
The idea is very simple - get the Republicans to choose their weakest candidate so the Democrats will win in the general elections. This has already been noted by Wall Street Journal and others.
It worked well in the mid term elections
In summary, Trump is clearly the weakest and most disliked candidate with a clear history of losing in the general elections so it is important to try to get him to be the Republican choice, The indictment is a major step to that goal
These Common Medications May be Silently Damage Your Kidneys
https://www.healthline.com/health-news/common-medications-can-damage-kidneys
Everyday medications stashed in your cabinet could be harming your kidneys.
These include common medications like antibiotics, blood pressure drugs, and even some supplements.
Some people are at higher risk of kidney damage from these medications including those who are over 60 years of age or who are living with chronic conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure, and lupis nephritis.
Nazi monument at Swiss cemetery sparks controversy
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-65099516
Throughout the war, Germans in Switzerland continued to be active in the Nazi party, and continued to display their Nazi sympathies. And the Swiss, hoping as usual to stay out of the fighting, made compromises with Berlin, banking Nazi gold, and turning away Jewish refugees.
Trump Raises $4M in His Indictment 'Persecution' Pity Party
https://www.newsweek.com/trump-raises-4m-his-indictment-persecution-pity-party-1791951
Multiple fundraising emails describe Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg as "bought-and-paid-for" by George Soros, a Jewish billionaire and Democratic mega-donor who frequently features in right-wing conspiracy theories.
The emails warn that "these truly are dark times for our country" and claim that Trump was indicted for "committing no crime" at the direction of "the radical Left, the Deep State, the Open-Borders Lobby, and Soros' globalist cabal."