Support for Beth Alexander

 https://www.facebook.com/beth.alexander.35110/posts/10104229247496280

openletterstodeutsch#helpbeth

This is the first time EVER that I have got involved in a campaign like this. I usually persuade myself that my contribution is marginal, others will be more influential, it will be resolved without me. But I was so completely shocked and distraught when I heard that Beth is still separated from her dear boys that I felt compelled to act, to do my best. I first heard about Beth's plight 10 years ago while we were in Cambridge and friends with her brother and sister in law. I was devastated for her then. But to think that this situation has been ongoing for a decade is unbearable. I call on whoever can to join the facebook group, show support, show that you care and that this issue will not be dropped. The court of public opinion seems to be the only avenue available at this point.

Dear Mr. Deutsch

I read with surprise and disappointment your letter to Rabbi Mirvis about Beth Alexander and your claimed inability to help a mother be reunited with her children in a meaningful way.

How can a communal leader in the 21st century stand aside and sincerely argue that abuse is an internal family affair? It's very clear in Jewish law that a recalcitrant man can be pressured by the community into giving a get, even with quite physical measures. How is this different? Whether or not it's Beth's ex-husband that needs to physically pick up the phone to initiate a change in custody arrangements, your community is in a unique position to influence his actions and therefore bears responsibility.

Responsibility for Beth's pain and anguish at not being able to nurture and love her sons and have a relationship with them

Responsibility for the gaping hole in the boys' lives that their mother and maternal grandparents and extended family could have had.

Responsibility for colluding with the corruption and injustice clearly meted out by the Austrian legal system in this case

Responsibility for the hillul hashem you bring upon your community with your acquiescence to this man's ongoing punishment of his ex wife and abuse of his children (all the luxuries in the world cannot compensate for a mother's love).

There are moments when leaders have the opportunity to really prove themselves. Perhaps for this moment you were placed in this position.

For the sake of two dear boys, of one mother; for the sake of justice and peace ; for the good name of the Vienna Jewish community, I beg you to intervene and apply appropriate pressure to ensure that Beth and her boys are reunited.

Enough excuses. Time for action

Ambassador Bridge protest: Truckers block vital Canada-US border crossing

 https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-60320874

Truck drivers are blocking a key border crossing between the US and Canada, sparking fears of economic disruption.

While limited US-bound traffic is being allowed to cross the Ambassador Bridge in Ontario, Canada-bound lanes from Detroit remain closed.

Business associations have called for the bridge to be immediately cleared to ensure the steady flow of goods.

The protests across Canada against vaccine rules and Covid restrictions are now two weeks old.

Anti-torture judge removed from Duma appeal

 https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/322019

The hearing on the appeal of Amiram Ben-Uliel, who was convicted in the "Duma arson case" and claims that his Shabak interrogators extracted a false confession from him through torture, was set by the Supreme Court for March 7.

At the same time, the court announced that Justice Neal Hendel, who is considered critical of the collection of confessions collected by improper means, was removed from the panel and will be replaced by Judge Yitzhak Amit. Therefore, the panel of judges who will hear the appeal will include Justices Yitzhak Amit, David Mintz and Yosef Elron.

‘Malicious poison’: GOP senator slams Biden's antisemitism envoy pick for criticizing his Jan. 6 rhetoric

 https://www.politico.com/news/2022/02/08/malicious-poison-ron-johnson-antisemitism-envoy-jan6-00006702

In a March tweet, Lipstadt charged Johnson with engaging in “white supremacy/nationalism. Pure and simple.” She was referring to Johnson telling a radio host last year that he would have been more fearful of Black Lives Matter protesters rioting at the Capitol than the supporters of former President Donald Trump who did so on Jan. 6, 2021.

Trump’s supporters “love this country … truly respect law enforcement, [and] would never do anything to break the law,” Johnson said. Scores of police officers were assaulted during the insurrection.

How the Right Learned to Love Saul Alinsky

 https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2022/02/08/right-saul-alinsky-canada-truckers-00006903

For conservatives of any stripe to suddenly embrace protesters who blockade roads and deface monuments marks a dramatic flip for a movement that waxed apoplectic about BLM and Antifa demonstrations but now cheer as their team has started working from the occupation script. Republicans and other conservatives once defended the nation’s institutions reflexively. But for some of them, that fealty has gone to vapor. Your rank-and-file GOP member may not be trying on his riot uniform of football helmet, camo gear, and rollerblade knee-and-elbow guards in front of his bedroom mirror, but it’s easy to imagine potential recruits to this nascent movement visualizing themselves in full, violent grievance mode.

Sen. McConnell's 'Clear And Unambiguous' Rebuke Of January 6

Video of Mitch McConnell Calling Jan. 6 'Violent Insurrection' Viewed Over 2 Million Times

 https://www.newsweek.com/mitch-mcconnell-jan6-violent-insurrection-mccarthy-1677447

A clip of Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell describing the January 6 attack as a "violent insurrection" and criticizing the Republican National Committee for censuring Reps. Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger has gone viral.

Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, McConnell dismissed the RNC's description of January 6 as "legitimate political discourse," which appeared in the resolution to censure the only two Republican lawmakers on the House Select Committee investigating the Capitol attack.

The Kentucky senator also suggested it was "not the job" of the RNC to decide which lawmakers should be supported in the GOP.

Two 'missing' girls were not kidnapped, their sister says

 https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/322009

Two girls from a Gerrer hasidic family recently disappeared, reappeared, and then disappeared again - and police say that contrary to rumors, they have not been kidnapped.

According to Kikar Hashabbat, the two girls, daughters of the Sandik family of Bnei Brak, were claimed to be missing after their parents decided to leave the hasidic sect and join a different community. The site also cited a different rumor, which said that there was an attempt to take out a protective order for the girls, due to "violence" perpetrated against them by their father, but that a judge had denied the request.

Feds Arrest Capitol Rioter Who Allegedly Shouted ‘Let’s Go!’ While Fighting ‘the Commies’

 https://www.thedailybeast.com/capitol-rioter-eric-gerwatowski-who-rallied-other-rioters-arrested-on-civil-disorder-charges

The Justice Department announced the arrest of the latest Capitol rioter Tuesday: Eric Gerwatowski, 31, of New Hyde Park, New York. He’s been charged with civil disorder, disorderly conduct, entering and remaining on restricted grounds, and a host of other charges for his alleged participation in the riot. According to court documents, Gerwatowski pushed open doors that Capitol Police had forced closed and rallied other rioters to enter the building. “Let’s go,” he allegedly shouted, according to the criminal complaint. He also appeared in multiple videos outside of the Capitol building, allegedly telling one interviewer that he entered the Capitol because “the commies are trying to steal the country.” Gerwatowski is one of more than 725 people arrested for their role in the attack.

Trump Spokeswoman Says 2020 Fraud Claims Won't Stop 'Until Correct Result'

 https://www.newsweek.com/trump-spokeswoman-says-2020-fraud-claims-wont-stop-until-correct-result-1677411

A spokeswoman for former President Donald Trump has vowed that 2020 presidential election fraud claims will continue until Trump achieves "the correct result."

Trump lost the election to President Joe Biden by the relatively unambiguous margin of 7 million national popular votes and 74 votes in the Electoral College. Regardless, the former president has continued to maintain without evidence that the presidency was "stolen" from him more than a year after Biden took office.

Minister: Blood shortage will end in coming days, despite ‘foolish’ Orthodox boycott

 https://www.timesofisrael.com/minister-blood-shortage-to-end-in-coming-days-despite-foolish-orthodox-boycott/

Health Minister Nitzan Horowitz said Tuesday that the recent countrywide blood shortage would likely end in the coming days, adding that “foolish” calls by anti-LGBT religious groups not to donate — over Magen David Adom forms asking donors to identify “parent 1” and “parent 2” — were not the cause of the crisis.

Horowitz said at a Knesset Health Committee session that the “temporary” blood shortage was caused by the Omicron wave of the pandemic, as those infected are barred from donating for several months, adding “it’s not related to any other matter.”

He noted that such shortages are taking place around the world as well, and impacted Israel in previous waves of the pandemic too. “It’s the worst blood shortage in 40 years, according to the World Health Organization,” Horowitz said.

Cure for long COVID? Antihistamines shown to provide huge relief

 https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/321970

Prof. Pinto told Newswise that, “Most patients tell us that providers have not recommended anything that has helped. If patients wish to try OTC antihistamines, I urge them to do so under medical supervision. And because providers may not know about new potential treatments, I would encourage patients to be active in their care and consider taking research and case reports like ours to appointments with providers so they can help create a regimen that will work. The next steps for this research into antihistamine treatment are to conduct broad-based trials in order to evaluate efficacy and to develop dosage schedules for clinical practice guidelines.”

Dr. Brett Giroir on study on JHU study about COVID lockdowns

Johns Hopkins Study SLAMS Lockdowns As A DISASTER