synagogue

2024-05-06

(New York Jewish Week) - Authorities are investigating a series of bomb threats at New York City synagogues and cultural institutions on Saturday. At least four synagogues and one museum received the emailed threats, which were deemed not credible by the . The Upper West Side’s Reform Congregation Rodeph Sholom was targeted, along with the LGBTQ-oriented Congregation Beit Simchat Torah on West 30th Street, Chabad of Midtown on Fifth Avenue and Brooklyn Heights Synagogue on Remsen Street. Police told CBS News that the threatened locations “all received emails stating that explosives were present in the buildings or nearby.” At least one of the ; in a message posted to its Facebook page, Congregation Rodeph Shalom wrote: “The NYPD 20th Precinct asked us to evacuate the building as a precaution. Following a thorough search, the building was deemed clear. We are grateful for the response from the NYPD, who, in partnership with our professional security team, completed a thorough investigation of the situation.” CBS News also reports that that the Brooklyn Museum received an email threatening to blow up the nearby Eastern Parkway/Brooklyn Museum subway station. The MTA said an “unusual package” was found outside the station, but subway service was not affected. On Twitter, Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine called the threats “a clear effort to sow fear in the Jewish community,” as well as a hate crime that’s “part of a growing trend of ‘swatting’ incidents .” The ''Neighbors'' ad depicts a church welcoming in a nearby synagogue after a bar mitzvah service was interrupted by a bomb threat. (credit: screenshot) Gov. Kathy Hocul also took to Twitter about the incidents, saying that New York “will not tolerate individuals sowing fear & antisemitism,” and “those responsible must be held accountable for their despicable actions.” We are actively monitoring a number of bomb threats at synagogues in New York. Threats have been determined not to be credible, but we will not tolerate individuals sowing fear & antisemitism. Those responsible must be held accountable for their despicable actions. Israel’s Holocaust Remembrance Day, begins Sunday evening. “This is not isolated from the bigger, hostile climate right now against Jewish people,” Treyger, who is the grandson of Holocaust survivors, added. Antisemitic incidents across NYC have spiked dramatically since the war between Israel and Hamas began on Oct. 7, 2023. According to the most recent figures released by the NYPD, since the start of October through March 2024, 253 antisemitic incidents have been reported to police - an increase of 85 % over the 137 anti-Jewish crimes reported during the same period last year. There were 43 antisemitic incidents in the five boroughs reported to police last month. The NYPD are continuing to investigate Saturday’s false threats. ...قراءة المزيد

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2024-05-05

In the venerable "Kupa" synagogue in Krakow, Smil Sacagiu, an 87-year-old Holocaust survivor, and his son Mendi participated in a poignant ceremony, marking both remembrance and resilience. This gathering, under the hallowed dome of a synagogue steeped in history, was Smil's first return to a site of Jewish memory since surviving the Holocaust, and his recent ordeal when a missile destroyed his Ashkelon home during . The ceremony saw the Sacagius inscribing a Sefer Torah, a ritual laden with emotion and significance. "Each letter we inscribed was a testament not just to survival, but to the unbreakable spirit of those who have endured," Mendi shared. This event was not just a commemoration but a reaffirmation of life itself. Mendi, torn between protecting his own family and his aging father, found himself in a harrowing position on October 7. As sirens wailed and chaos ensued, he faced a critical decision: ensure his father's safety or join the local protection force to defend his community. "The choice was agonizing; to protect the legacy my father carried, or to protect the future he fought for," Mendi reflected. Ultimately, he chose to secure his father, embodying the promise of 'Never Again' that he and his father both hold sacred. As dawn breaks on the solemn grounds of Auschwitz tomorrow, a poignant procession will commence. , living testaments to resilience and courage, will gather from all corners of the globe. Among them are those who bore witness to the horrors of October 7, their spirits undimmed by the passage of time. With unwavering determination, they will march in solidarity, their voices raised in a renewed cry of 'Never Again.' This March of the Living transcends borders and generations, weaving a tapestry of hope from the threads of remembrance. Haim Taieb, President of the Hostage Forum, who is accompanying the families whose loved ones are still , addressed the gathering earlier this evening. He emphasized the connection between historical tragedies and current challenges. "The promise of never again, was broken on October 7," he stated, highlighting the recent violence faced by the community. "We have Holocaust survivors here whose grandchildren are hostages in hell," he added, underscoring the ongoing threats to Jewish people. "The Jewish spirit is at the heart of the march tomorrow," Taieb declared, rallying the community. "We are all links in the chain of the generation of Jewish people, I and my future generations are committed to fight antisemitism and make Judaism stronger than ever, am Yisrael hai." The Sacagiu family's legacy, etched in both the pages of a sacred scroll and the annals of their personal history, continues to inspire those who hear their story, urging a world too often beset by violence to remember and, crucially, to act.  ...قراءة المزيد

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2024-05-01

According to reports, a bottle containing flammable liquids was thrown onto synagogue grounds in Warsaw on Wednesday during the night. Police said they had not yet established a motive for the attack. "We were about an incident involving a bottle containing a flammable liquid being thrown onto synagogue grounds," a police spokesperson said. A Molotov cocktail from the brawl between two rival families in Ramle, in which 69 locals were arrested by Israel Police, April 16, 2021. (credit: ISRAEL POLICE) Poland's chief rabbi, Michael Schudrich, told Reuters that nobody was hurt in the incident, which occurred around 1 am (2300 GMT on Tuesday.) Schudrich said the incident had left marks on the building, and further details would be made available during a meeting with local, national, and church officials later on Wednesday. Images on social media showed what appeared to be burn marks on an outer wall of the synagogue building, next to a window. Israel's ambassador to Poland, Yacov Livne, said the synagogue was the only one in Warsaw to have survived . A Molotov cocktail was thrown tonight at the Nożyk Synagogue - the only synagogue that survived in Warsaw after the Holocaust. Outrageous Antisemitic attacks such as this can not be tolerated today. The perpetrators must be found and punished. "Outrageous antisemitic attacks such as this cannot be tolerated today. The perpetrators must be found and punished," Livne wrote on X. Polish President Andrzej Duda called the attack "shameful". "There is no place for anti-Semitism in Poland! There is no place for hatred in Poland!" he said on X. Attacks against Jews and Jewish targets have risen worldwide since war erupted in Gaza last October following an attack on Israel by and Israel's subsequent military operation. ...قراءة المزيد

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2024-04-26

An Utrecht rabbi is weighing an appeal against the decision of Dutch prosecutors to drop charges against an alleged antisemitic attacker who reportedly struck him on the head and cursed him, he told The Jerusalem Post on Sunday. Rabbi Aryeh Leib Heintz said that a 40-year-old suspect demanded "why are you dressed like a Jews" and hit him on the head at the Overvecht Shopping Center on March 29, but security cameras outside an Action supermarket weren't working properly. The alleged attacker claimed that he hadn't confronted the rabbi because he was Jewish, but because Heintz was looking askance at Moroccan women, which the rabbi said was "nonsense."  The suspect also reportedly told investigators that he had only hit the rabbi's hat. Heintz said that he had fled from his attacker into the supermarket, where he credited two women of Moroccan extraction for intervening and preventing further assault. The failure to prosecute antisemitic crimes was "Unfortunately quite normal in, my son had such a case a few years ago," said Heintz. In his son's case they filed an article 12 appeal, and ultimately the attacker received jail time and paid for Heintz's son's broken glasses.People wear kippas as they attend a demonstration in front of a Jewish synagogue, to denounce an anti-Semitic attack on a young man wearing a kippa in the capital earlier this month, in Berlin, Germany, April 25, 2018. (credit: FABRIZIO BENSCH / REUTERS) In the meantime, Heintz said that he has continued with his work preparing for Passover, but notes anxiety about the situation in "It's quite disheartening, and of course I go to the same shopping center," said Heintz. "But I am a little traumatized by this guy who wanted to attack a Jew." The rabbi has staken security measures at his home, and is in contact with the city in case there is another occurrence, but said that ," said Heitnz. While he has adjusted to the steady stream of abuse, he said that he was "very concerned about the Jews in the Netherlands in general." "It starts with propaganda, moves to cursing, and then to attacking," said Heintz. "This is not about a war against Hamas, it's a war against the Jewish people. It's not about territory -- Hamas declared on October 7 an attack against Jews across the world." ...قراءة المزيد

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2024-04-25

When we first made the arrangements for the brit milah, traveling to Europe from Israel didn’t seem so crazy. But in between booking the flights and the day of the event, things changed, significantly. Of course, Israel has been at war since . Rockets have been raining down multiple times a day for almost seven months. But when Iran fired over 300 projectiles at us, it was different. It seemed like the region could be heading toward World War III. People were posting on social media that at times like these, they needed to come home. It felt weird to be headed in the other direction. But as the date of my travel approached, and it seemed fine to go. The only question was: would I make it back before Israel retaliated? Due to the current situation, direct flights are hard to come by, so travel to my destination took an entire day in either direction. The morning after my arrival, I was able to catch Shacharit in the town’s 200-year-old synagogue. The structure was breathtaking. The building had many interesting facets, from intricate carvings in the walls and ceilings to backless benches for pews. I spent the day zipping around the city with the baby’s father. Unlike other trips I’ve done, this gave us ample time to connect. The father grew up in the small town and was able to give me insights and take me to locations that only the most seasoned local would know about.A child wearing a Kippah (credit: REUTERS) The truth is – although I haven’t spent much time with them – I’ve known the couple for a few years. The mother of the baby converted to Judaism with the Beit Din I sit on. Just after the conversion, I was blessed to marry them in the hills of Efrat. The two live an observant lifestyle and are deeply connected to the Jewish community. But that doesn’t mean everything is a bed of roses. The conversion the mother underwent is not recognized by their local rabbinic establishment. Needless to say, this has not been easy for the parents. Although the lay members of the community fully accept her as Jewish, the father is not even given an aliyah to the Torah because – to some views – he’s married out of the faith. And because of this, they would not allow the local mohel to perform the brit milah. But it didn’t end there. The family was not given permission to hold the simcha in the synagogue. They were relegated to a nearby social hall above a bowling alley. I’ve performed britot in many different places in Israel. In fact, one was even held in a bar. But it feels different when the event is in Israel. Here, Judaism is everywhere. All of the locations people choose to hold their events are part of the Jewish complex. The bar is where Jews go for their social hour. OUTSIDE OF Israel, however, this location felt like a banishment. The Jewish life of that community is enacted in the synagogue, a facility rich with so much history. Yet this family had to hear the crashing of bowling pins while their son was brought into the covenant. That’s not to say that it wasn’t a beautiful occasion. Their traditions are so unique to the community, it felt as if I’d never done a brit before. But it seemed wrong that they weren’t allowed to hold their son’s brit milah where his father’s had taken place many years prior. This unfortunate reality made me leave Europe with a bad taste in my mouth. I was honored to have helped their son become a full member of the Jewish community, but I worried for his future. Would he be able to go to the local Jewish school? How difficult would the rabbinic establishment make his life even though he is 100% halachically Jewish? It made me want to forsake Judaism outside of Israel. As I waited in the airport for my connecting flight home, I took out my tallit and tefillin to pray the morning service. This can be an uncomfortable situation at times. A man sat down across from me as I began to don the religious articles. It felt a bit awkward but I pressed on because time was tight. Out of the corner of my eye, I was shocked to see the man take out his own siddur and religious items for prayer. In all my years of travel, outside of an , this was the first time I had ever prayed with someone else in this way. It was as if God was telling me not to lose faith. That the Jews of the world will figure things out and find a way to pray together – someday, somehow. Within 12 hours of landing home, Israel struck back at Iran. It felt like I had dodged a bullet. I don’t think we could have planned the trip better. It’s an amazing thing that when tensions rise in the Middle East, Israelis – unlike tourists visiting the country – run towards the danger. It’s not as if we seek to be part of these tensions. It’s just that when your home is under attack, you need to be with your family. The same is true of the Jewish world as a whole. There are many among us who are suffering from Judaism’s internal strife. These Jews are being pushed away by those who should be welcoming them with open arms. We have to do whatever we can to help ease that pain and help them become full-fledged members of our nation – no matter the cost. The writer is a rabbi, a wedding officiant, and a mohel who performs britot (ritual circumcisions) and conversions in Israel and worldwide. Based in Efrat, he is the founder of Magen HaBrit, an organization protecting the practice of brit milah and the children who undergo it. ...قراءة المزيد

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2024-04-20

wrote to the UK Metropolitan Police on Saturday after officers threatened Campaign Against Antisemitism CEO Gideon Falter with arrest because his presence as a visible Jew could antagonize an anti-Israel march in London last Saturday. The Met also apologized to Falter on Friday, but only after criticizing him and CAA for provocation and undermining the Jewish public's sense of confidence in a now deleted response to the NGO's Thursday video in which they showed Falter's engagements with officers and argued that the weekly protests made Jews unsafe in London. Falter said that he and others were on a walk after attending synagogue when he was stopped by officers on Aldwych street and told that he could not go any further because of a pro-Palestinian march. The Jewish man was wearing a kippah and carrying a prayer shawl bag emblazoned with a Star of David. He said he and the group had no placards, signs, or any intention to be part of a protest. "You are quite openly Jewish, this is a , I'm not accusing you of anything, but I'm worried about the reaction to your precense," said an police sargeant. “You are quite openly Jewish. This is a pro-Palestinian march. I am not accusing you of anything, but I am worried about the reaction to your presence.”Enough is enough. It is time for a major change.On Saturday 27th April — the next anti-Israel march — we are asking you,… "I don't want anybody antagonizing anybody," said the sergeant. Police officers stand guard as National Health Service (NHS) workers protest outside Wellington House against the contract NHS has with Palantir Technologies UK, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, in London, Britain April 3, 2024. (credit: REUTERS/Maja Smiejkowska) Another officer threatened that he could be escorted away, but if chose to remain at the protest site "because you are causing a breach of peace with all these other people, you will be arrested." "Your presence here is antagonising a large group of people that we can't deal with all of them if they attack you," said the officer. Some of the protesters verbally accosted Falter. One man in a keffiyeh chanted at him "Scum!" and another person told him "you're a Nazi." "I'm watching your movement," said another man. "The police ain't gonna help you in this scenario because ain't broke no law." Falter contended in the video that despite assurances of the Met that it is safe for Jews in London despite all the protests, "that's not true in practice." He also explained to an officer the frustration of march route changes every week and having to cross paths with such large intimidating groups. " to be walking in the presence of these protests," said Falter. "Now the police have to keep Jews away." Falter said that many of the officers have been sympathetic to the situation that the Jews of Britain have found themselves in, and he likewise returned the sentiment. "I'm just trying to make sure that you're safe and that no one attacks you or your group," said a third Met officer. Falter said that he had not made a video to target individual Met officers, who had their faces blurred out, but wanted to highlight how the London protests were unsafe for British Jews. "I might disagree with some of their decisions, but these people, these officers, are being put in impossible positions week in, week out, they're being asked to police huge protests with very few officers where there's all sort of criminality in display from racism to glorification of terrorism and even violence," said Falter, adding that some officers had been subject to that violence. Falter said that while Met commissioner Sir Mark Rowley promised to enforce the law, many police policies are made up on the spot by officers trying to adapt to challenging situations. He called on Rowley and the Met to use their existing powers under the 1986 Public Order Act to curtail or ban the marches. He added that if Rowley refused to act, London Mayor Sadiq Khan or Cleverly should take action. "Just over six months ago there would have been nothing controversial about Jews walking around London on a Saturday," said Falter. "It has been six months now where every single weekend we have to witness the streets of London awash with people, many of whom seem to have no problem at all declaring their full-throated support for hamas, waving around antisemitic placards, calling for Jihad, showing swastikas, waving antisemitic flags -- It's enough!" Reuters reported on Saturday that Cleverly had contacted the Met about the incident, but had no details about the content of the communication. The Met responded to the CAA video on Friday, saying that they recognized the worry that it caused and would review the circumstances. We have decided to release additional footage. Imagine what it feels like to be Jewish and treated in this way by a crowd of police officers.It is the right of every Londoner, Jewish or not, to walk freely around the city. If police threaten Jews with arrest for doing so or… According to CAA, Assistant Commissioner Matt Twist blamed the NGO for putting a “dent in the confidence of many Jewish Londoners” and called the Thursday video provocative. The statement was later retracted, and later on Friday the Met apologized for both their response and the confrontation. "The use of the term 'openly Jewish' by one of our officers is hugely regrettable," said the Met. "We have reflected on the strength of the response to our previous statement. In an effort to make a point about the policing of protest we cause further offence. This was never our intention. We have removed that statement and we apologise. Being Jewish is not a provocation. Jewish Londoners must be able to feel safe in this city." Falter said that the Met had contacted him regarding his call for concerned citizens to walk with Jewish community members and wear Jewish skullcaps on April 27. The Met said that it was willing to meet with him and discuss anyone planning a protest ahead of the next Saturday. Falter said that this was "missing the point." "The Met has yet to say what it will actually do to protect Jews," said CAA, adding that they were concerned about public perception, and had engaged with little correspondence with Falter. Every Saturday the Palestinian Solidarity Campaign and other organizations have led large marches through London. On April 13, they claimed to have amassed 80,000 demonstrators. On April 27, they planned to meet at Parliament square and march to Hyde Park.  ...قراءة المزيد

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2024-04-20

E was already 26 when he enlisted in the IDF. Before that, he studied full time at the in Jerusalem’s Old City. He was married and a father, and he was ready to do his military service. He insisted on a combat unit. “I wanted to do something significant,” he said. He became a tank crewman. Many military pundits have declared tanks obsolete for modern warfare. They say that armored personnel carriers and drones are more effective instrument of war. Even in Israel, with our glorious history of Armored Corps successes, the number of tank regiments has been greatly reduced. E was happy to serve in a tank. There are four soldiers in an Israeli tank: the commander, the driver, the gunner, and the loader. E, who is slim and of average height, became a gunner. Israeli soldiers walk past Israeli tanks near Israel's border with the Gaza Strip, in southern Israel October 15, 2023. (credit: REUTERS/AMIR COHEN) The excellent performance of tank crews in Gaza challenges the obsolescence of the tank. Our Israeli Merkava Mark IV tank has active protective systems and other hi-tech features, with tiny radars and fast-firing grenade launchers that automatically detect incoming missiles and rockets and intercept them. The tanks have reportedly also been fitted with low-tech but effective metal covers that protect them from Hamas quadcopter drones. Even though tanks are considered better for distance than close-range fighting, the tank crews have been performing with success and valor in Gaza’s tight spaces. To write this column, as you may already have guessed, I’ve been watching tank videos and reading personal descriptions of life inside tanks. The diarists from different countries have similar complaints of chronic discomfort, ultimate lack of privacy, and a dearth of downtime. In spare moments, there is often something that needs fixing in the giant metal machine. The tankers recall the din, the sweat, and the shared odors. But they also hail the unmatched camaraderie that develops among the crew. No one whose story I read mentioned fear, although even the most sophisticated tanks are not impenetrable. On , reports of the attack in the South filtered into the synagogue where E went to pray. Like many of his bench mates, devout yeshiva student E ran home to retrieve his phone. He wasn’t surprised to be called up, but he was disappointed that his initial posting was on the northern border. After many requests, E was transferred to Gaza. Looking back, E’s wife, Ori – a young woman who can only be described as beautiful – said she was actually happy for him to get a place in a tank in Gaza because he was so miserable not serving at the front. She coped alone in their home in the Old City with their three children under age four, pregnant with their fourth. Nonetheless, when the Swords of Iron ceasefire was called to allow a hostage exchange, she had come close enough to the end of term that she asked to be induced so E could be home for the birth. With their newborn daughter curled up in her cradle, E returned to the battlefield. Now he would join a different tank crew. His previous tank was a command tank, and the constant flow of radio information made talking difficult. But in the new tank, there was time to talk. About everything. He soon learned that the loader, whose compartment abutted his own gunner’s space in the turret basket, was a yeshiva student like him. The commander was an opinionated far-leftist. The driver, who had grown up in a religious home, was now anti-religious. On December 11, their Merkava IV tank was dispatched from the line to rescue another tank that had slipped into one of the ubiquitous pits created by the airstrikes. After the crew members had completed their tasks, on the way back to the line a terrorist crawled out of a tunnel opening and at close range shot an anti-tank missile at them. Inside, E felt the enormous jolt. “The driver was going fast, which was good. The belly of a tank is its weak spot. The RPG hit the rear of the tank, and not the middle. Had it hit the middle, we would have been killed,” E said. The commander started to get out, but then realized he might be a target for a sniper. He fell off the fast-moving tank and managed to press himself to the earth as the giant wheels straddled him. The ammunition carried in their tank began to burn from the hit. The turret where E, the gunner, and the loader were sitting became excruciatingly hot and full of noxious smoke. The force of the blast knocked the loader to the rear exit of the tank (an unusual feature of the Merkava). The driver managed to get out. E was alone in the turret, unconscious. Help was nearby – no tank travels on its own. Four or five men tried to lift E out. Each one vomited and fainted before he could complete the task. Inside, E was literally burning. His lungs were filling with smoke. At last, a very tall soldier managed to lift E out while keeping his head outside the tank. “It was a miracle that I was alive,” E says today. “I lost consciousness so quickly, that I couldn’t even say ‘Shema Yisrael.’” The commander under the tank was moderately wounded. The driver managed to get out with light wounds. The loader was severely wounded and is now waiting for a lung transplant. E was burned over most of his body. WHEN I first saw E at Hadassah-University Medical Center, in Jerusalem’s Ein Kerem, he was having skin grafts and treatment for lung damage. The skin on his face was a mask of dark swirls and bubbles. He was startling to look at, at first, but he was always so welcoming and uncomplaining that I stopped noticing how he looked. He’s still in rehab. We often meet in Hadassah’s Gandel Rehabilitation Center, where he’s working hard to get back his lung capacity and is still healing from his burns. Mostly, we talk about the bonding within the tank: how two devout yeshiva students; one man hostile to religion; and the fourth indifferent to religion and espousing liberal political and societal views often an anathema to E could talk about everything. Inside the thick metal walls of the tank, with the enemy stalking them outside, they could argue and shout and laugh without the slightest risk of upsetting the cohesion of a single, determined fighting force or endangering their shared brotherly love and loyalty. And we wonder how we can make that camaraderie part of the healing process for our nation. Let’s start at our Passover Seder tables. The writer is the Israel director of public relations at Hadassah, the Women’s Zionist Organization of America. Her latest book is A Daughter of Many Mothers. ...قراءة المزيد

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2024-04-19

Campaign Against Antisemitism CEO Gideon Falter was threatened with arrest by the UK Metropolitan Police because his presence as a visible Jew could antagonize an anti-Israel march in London last Saturday, CAA revealed in a Thursday video in which they argued that the weekly protests made Jews unsafe in London. Falter said that he and others were on a walk after attending synagogue when he was stopped by officers on Aldwych Street and told that he could not go any further because of The Jewish man was wearing a kippah and carrying a prayer shawl bag emblazoned with . He said he and the group had no placards, signs, or any intention to be part of a protest. "You are quite openly Jewish; this is a pro-Palestinian march. I'm not accusing you of anything, but I'm worried about the reaction to your presence," said a police sergeant. “You are quite openly Jewish. This is . I am not accusing you of anything, but I am worried about the reaction to your presence.”Enough is enough. It is time for a major change.On Saturday 27th April — the next anti-Israel march — we are asking you,… When Falter told the sergeant that he simply wanted to cross to the other side of the street, the officer said that he would escort him when the crowd was gone. Gideon Falter (credit: Courtesy) "I don't want anybody antagonizing anybody," said the sergeant. Another officer threatened that he could be escorted away, but if he chose to remain at the protest site "because you are causing a breach of peace with all these other people, you will be arrested." "Your presence here is antagonizing a large group of people that we can't deal with all of them if they attack you," said the officer. Some of the protesters verbally accosted Falter. One man in a keffiyeh chanted at him, "Scum!" and another person told him, "You're a Nazi." "I'm watching your movement," said another man. "The police won't help you in this scenario because you won't have broken any law." Falter contended in the video that despite assurances of the Met that it is safe for Jews in London despite all the protests, "that's not true in practice." He also explained to an officer the frustration of march route changes every week and having to cross paths with such large, intimidating groups. "It's not safe for Jews to be walking in the presence of these protests," said Falter. "Now the police have to keep Jews away." Falter said that many of the officers were sympathetic to the situation that the Jews of Britain had found themselves in, and he likewise returned the sentiment. "I'm just trying to make sure that you're safe and that no one attacks you or your group," said a third Met officer. Falter said that he had not made a video to target individual Met officers, who had their faces blurred out but wanted to highlight how the London protests were unsafe for British Jews. "I might disagree with some of their decisions, but these people, these officers, are being put in impossible positions week in, week out, they're being asked to police huge protests with very few officers where there's all sort of criminality in display from racism to glorification of terrorism and even violence," said Falter, adding that some officers had been subject to that violence. Falter said that while Met commissioner Sir Mark Rowley promised to enforce the law, many police policies are made up on the spot by officers trying to adapt to challenging situations.  He called on Rowley and the Met to use their existing powers under the 1986 Public Order Act to curtail or ban the marches. He added that if Rowley refused to act, London Mayor Sadiq Khan or Home Secretary James Cleverly should take action. "Just over six months ago, there would have been nothing controversial about Jews walking around London on a Saturday," said Falter.  "It has been six months now where every single weekend we have to witness the streets of London awash with people, many of whom seem to have no problem at all declaring their full-throated support for Hamas, waving around antisemitic placards, calling for Jihad, showing swastikas, waving antisemitic flags -- It's enough!" The Met responded to the CAA video on Friday, saying that they recognized the worry that it caused and would review the circumstances. "We have always said that we recognize the conflict between Israel and Hamas continues to be an issue of concern for many Londoners, and this includes the regular protests and marches in central London," said the Met. "Everyone has the right to travel throughout the capital in safety." Falter called on all concerned citizens to walk with the Jewish community and wear Jewish skullcaps on April 27. The Met said that it was willing to meet and discuss anyone planning a protest ahead of the next Saturday. Every Saturday, the Palestinian Solidarity Campaign and other organizations led large marches through London.  On April 13, they claimed to have amassed 80,000 demonstrators. On April 27, they planned to meet at Parliament Square and march to Hyde Park. ...قراءة المزيد

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2024-04-16

It wasn’t the way I hoped the weekend would end.  My son Danny, who is 28 and on the autism spectrum, was home, and we had a good time last Saturday, going to synagogue, visiting friends, listening to music, and watching a movie. I never turn on the news on television in front of him – it just stresses him out, and for what? -- but I was checking the headlines on my phone, as was everyone in Israel on April 13.  Still, although it was announced that Iran had launched an attack and various kinds of missiles were headed toward Israel, I maintained a resounding denial. I was confident or told myself I was sure, that we would go to sleep and wake up at the usual time on Sunday morning so we could head back to the village where Danny lives in time for him to eat breakfast with his friends and go to the carpentry workshop he loves.  After all, I told myself, we live in Jerusalem, and Jerusalem has been spared the worst onslaughts of missiles from Hamas because – according to conventional wisdom -- no Muslim-majority country or terror group wants to destroy the Al-Aqsa mosque.  Hannah Brown's son. (credit: HANNAH BROWN) I had so convinced myself that this was true that I dreamed for a few minutes in the early morning hours of April 14 that the children who live upstairs were dropping toys on the floor, something they do occasionally but never in the middle of the night.  I jolted awake, thinking next that they were dropping a piano repeatedly—these children are two and six—and only then understood that I was hearing the booms of missiles landing or being intercepted. For a moment, I tried to tell my groggy self again that it was the children because the sirens hadn’t started, and the Homefront Command app on my phone was silent.  Well, you know what happened next. The sirens blared, and the app bleated. In Jerusalem, we have 90 seconds to get to a shelter. I was already fully dressed, which is how I’ve been sleeping since October 7, and I ran to Danny’s room to get him up and into the shelter.  He cried, begging me to let him sleep and put the covers over his head. As a matter of fact, I told him that he needed to put on his sneakers and that we had to go to the shelter for a few minutes. I told him he could have a snack when we got home. I told him he would have fun talking to our neighbors.  All this continued as the sirens continued and the booms became more frequent. I know people in the south of Israel have suffered bombardments for years, but I had never heard anything like this. Neither had Danny. And like many people on the autism spectrum, loud noises upset him.  After a moment, he sat up.  “The booms can’t hurt you. They just make noise,” he said.  Ninety seconds . . . How many were left? “Put on your shoes,” I repeated. As he knew from previous wars, scorpions sometimes lived in the shelter.  “The noise can’t hurt me. Because I’m a tough guy,” he said, stepping into his sneakers, as I grabbed the key to the apartment and the key to the building’s bomb shelter.  Yes, even as Iranian missiles were confirmed to be on their way to Israeli skies, my neighbors were so concerned that the bikes, strollers, and old exercise machines that they store year-round in the shelter might get stolen or damaged that they insisted on keeping it padlocked.  Maybe if you understand that, you will truly grasp the essence of life in Israel these days. We were the first ones at the shelter door, and as Danny repeated his “The noise can’t hurt you” mantra, I struggled to open the shelter lock and eventually gave up as a more dexterous neighbor stepped in.  We sat in plastic chairs. The two children from upstairs climbed into their mother’s lap while their father stood by the door with a rifle.  “I’m tired,” said Danny.  “You can rest your head on me,” I said.  He did. “Is it 10 minutes from the beginning of the siren or the end of the siren?” someone asked, as someone always does.  I noticed a bag of books and toys I had put in the room on October 7, and handed it to Danny. He leafed through a Hebrew version of the Chicken Little story with pictures from the movie. Yes, the sky was falling in the book, too. And then it wasn’t. It calmed him down. He had always liked that story.  He asked the new neighbors their names. After they answered, he said, “Do you have any pets?” They didn’t, but they used to. He asked their late dog’s name. I don’t remember it, but Danny will. Every time he sees them for the rest of his life, he will mention their dog by name. We stood up when it was 10 minutes from the beginning of the siren or the end of it, and it was quiet outside. Back in our apartment, I answered texts from friends and family while Danny turned down a snack, unusual for him, and got back into bed. Eventually, he fell asleep.  I did, too, and I let us both sleep late, knowing it wasn’t worth trying to get him back at the usual time. In the morning, I made him matzah brei, his favorite breakfast at this time of year. While I cooked, he asked me to listen to Arik Einstein songs. The first one he picked was “Lilah Shel Cochavim” (Night of Stars), about looking up at the sky on a beautiful night.  The next was “Ani Ve Ata” (Me and You), about wanting to change the world with someone you love.  The third was “Pesek Zman” (Break), about taking some time out and not thinking. The opening lines are: “To take a break and not think/To sit by the sea and not to worry/To let your mind rest from the explosions/To let your heart rest from the pressures.” Einstein meant figurative explosions, I think, not literal ones. But it worked for us. When we got back to his village, I told the social worker about everything that had gone on during the night and how strong he had been. But he didn’t want to hear about it.  “Mom, can you go home?” he asked, and I went. The booms hadn’t hurt him; they just made noise.  ...قراءة المزيد

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2024-04-14

A Californian threatened that she and others demanding an Israel-Hamas War ceasefire resolution would murder the Bakersfield City Council over a motion to increase physical security at government buildings, according to the municipality's recordings of the Wednesday meeting. In response to the city council security resolution, which came after pro-Palestinian activists protested several meetings of the body for not introducing a , Activist Riddhi Patel said that "the increased criminalization for no need other than you don't like when people come and hold you guys accountable for introducing ceasefire resolutions - because the only escalation in violence has been by you all." Patel continued to level several grievances against the council members for not holding to past motivations and organizations, saying elected officials will "backstab you, they'll let you die, and for that reason - you guys want to criminalize us with metal detectors - we'll see you at your house. We'll murder you." As the activist turned to leave, Bakersfield Mayor Karen Goh had a police officer arrest Patel. "Miss Patel, that was a threat, what you said at the end, so the officers will escort you out and take care of that," said Goh. Pro-Palestinian activists rally against ZAKA speaking event outside synagogue in Teaneck, New Jersey. (credit: Courtesy of Bergen Country Jewish Action Committee) Patel had made violent statements earlier in the meeting as well when speaking on non-agenda items and calling for the adoption of a United Liberation Front draft ceasefire resolution. "I don't have faith that you'll do this, you guys are all horrible human beings and Jesus probably would have killed you himself," said Patel. "You guys don't care about anything in Palestine or any other country where oppression occurs because you don't care about the oppression occurring here" Patel referred to economic issues and eviction relief programs brought up by other speakers, and said that they were "horrible people" who preferred to give city funding to the police department, who she called murderers. "While you guys parade [Indian civil and national rights activist] Mahatma Ghandi around as a Hindu holiday called Chaitra Navratri starts off this week, I remind you that these holidays that we practice, that other people in the global south practice, believe in violent revolution against their oppressors and I hope one day somebody brings the guillotine and kills all of you motherf***ers," said Patel. While Patel was far from the only pro-Palestinian activist at the meeting, most of which were aggressive and hurled verbal abuse at the city council as they interwove the anti-Israel cause into other projects. An activist named Ashley Vegas said that the activists had attended the past six city meetings to push for a ceasefire resolution, and a person named Martin wearing a medical mask said that they and other Bakersfield residents had called for the resolution for 84 days. Vegas said that she was disturb that the council was quick to put security screening that she claimed to ostracize certain segments of the population and prevent them participating in city proceedings, but so slow to respond to a ceasefire resolution. Martin said that the council members were "disgusting cowards," for failing to "address the 186 day terrorist bombing campaign that the Israeli occupation forces have been escalating in Gaza with the full funding of billions in US taxpayers dollars." The activist also called ward two councilman Andrae Gonzales a "stupid evil snake" for allegedly saying that the municipality didn't have time for foreign policy matters. Protester Maria Kunis sarcastically thanked the council "for showing us was a deeply distorted white supremacist Islamophobic version of Christianity looks like, a leadership that uphold the evils of empire and self-promotion masked by Christianity." "In Gaza Jesus is being martyred again and again and again, 40,000 times," claimed Kunis. California State University Bakersfield biology student Alexandra Brown in contrast took a respectful tone with the council, urging programs for conservation of the Kern River and calling on the politicians to emulate a newly passed CSUB Associated Students resolution calling for a ceasefire and condemning human rights violations and war crimes. Fellow biology student Jose Juan Garcia also advocated for the river conservations and a ceasefire in Gaza. "We cannot have environmental justice without justice in all regards and this includes human right," said Garcia. "I absolutely detest these inhumane acts of violence with that my support extends to my Palestinian brothers and sisters who have been deeply impacted by the ongoing genocide. There needs to be an act of resolution that calls for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza that simultaneously condemns the human rights violations that have transpired." The ULF, which celebrated Eid with an Instagram image of parasailers landing in Jerusalem, on Thursday distanced itself in from the statements made by Patel. "United Liberation Front unequivocally condemns any statements that threaten public officials," said the Californian organization. "The comments in question made tonight by a speaker run counter to our values and do not represent United Liberation Front. It does not represent those of us in the community who continue to show up and exercise our civic duty by engaging directly with our elected representatives." ...قراءة المزيد

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2024-04-12

Thirteen men were arraigned on Wednesday for a fracas that broke out over an illegal excavation in January at the headquarters of the Chabad-Lubavitch movement in Brooklyn. The incident, which took place at the synagogue at 770 Eastern Parkway, drew global attention and exposed rifts in the Chabad movement over the status of the building, a symbol of the movement and its worldwide network of emissaries. Charges included criminal mischief, a felony, along with reckless endangerment and obstruction of governmental administration, which are both misdemeanors. Some defendants received multiple charges, court filings showed. The defendants, most of whom are in their early 20s, pleaded not guilty in Brooklyn’s Kings County Supreme Criminal Court. Four more defendants were not arraigned because they are in Israel. All but one of the defendants are Israeli, and all are rabbinical students. Those remaining in New York have continued their studies since the incident, the defendants’ lawyer, Levi Huebner, told the New York Jewish Week.Chabad-Lubavitch world headquarters, 770 Eastern Parkway. (credit: PUBLIC DOMAIN) The charges stem from a melee that broke out at the synagogue when workers attempted to fill in the illegal excavation with cement, and not from the excavation itself, Huebner said. Some students at the scene attempted to block the repair work, leading to scuffles with police. “I think students all over the country, sometimes they get a little bit naive,” he said. “I don’t really think there was any kind of criminal intent.” The defendants are set to next appear in court at the end of May. New York City investigators said the illicit underground passageway stretched for 60 feet. The tunnel was 8 feet wide, 5 feet tall and threatened the structural stability of two buildings, the city’s Department of Buildings said in January. Concerns about structural stability forced the closure of the synagogue for several days. The synagogue adjoins the Chabad headquarters, popularly known simply as “770,” a building that served as the office of the late Chabad spiritual leader Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson. It was previously the home of Schneerson’s father-in-law and predecessor, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn. A small, independent group from Chabad has been pushing to expand the Chabad headquarters, believing that Schneerson, who some Chabad Hasidim believe is the messiah, instructed them to do so. Students who were at the scene told the New York Jewish Week that the tunnel had been part of a wildcat effort to expand the complex. Huebner confirmed that that was the intent. “All they wanted to show is this is what could be done; 770 could be expanded. I’m not saying this is right,” Huebner said. Footage from the scene in January showed chaos in the interior of the synagogue. Video clips that circulated online showed a small group of young men inside a hole in the wall that appeared to lead to a cavernous space, as police kept crowds of others away. Other videos showed young men tearing wooden panels off walls, arguing with police, being handcuffed and being removed from the building. Spokespeople for Chabad pushed back against calling the passageway a tunnel, saying the term was misleading and carried connotations that maligned the community. The passageway was mostly formed by altering an existing, abandoned crawlspace adjacent to the synagogue, Huebner said. The incident gave rise to widespread and baseless antisemitic conspiracies online. This is not the first controversy to envelop the complex, which has been the subject of a years-long legal battle over ownership between rival Chabad institutions. Disputes over where the site should be expanded, and how it should be done, received renewed attention in the wake of the incident. Chabad spokespeople and witnesses to the incident described those responsible for the tunnel as a fringe group within the movement. Chabad leaders condemned the incident and expressed anguish over the synagogue’s closure. “We pray that they see the error of their ways and they make amends for the harm that they caused,” Chabad spokesperson Motti Seligson said after the arraignment. “Violence and destruction are anathema to everything the rebbe taught.” The tunnel was in the basement of a single-story building behind the Chabad headquarters’ main synagogue, where the fracas took place, the city investigation found. Those who dug the tunnel had created several openings in the basement walls of the single-story building. The tunnel had rudimentary supports in place and was constructed without approval or permits. City engineers said the excavation had undermined the building above it, as well as another building on Kingston Avenue, causing structural stability issues. The Department of Buildings issued partial vacate orders for both buildings due to safety concerns. ...قراءة المزيد

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2024-04-11

German authorities have announced a reward of 5,000 euros in their quest for information concerning an arson attack on a synagogue in the northern city of Oldenburg last week. The incident, which occurred recently, saw an unidentified individual hurl an explosive device at the synagogue, resulting in minor damages. Fortunately, no events were underway at the time, and no injuries were reported. The perpetrator swiftly fled the scene, leaving authorities grappling for clues. This post can't be displayed because social networks cookies have been deactivated. You can activate them by clicking manage preferences. In response to this alarming act of violence, the Oldenburg Police have launched a concerted effort to apprehend the culprit, urging members of the public to step forward with any potential leads.  The reward, amounting to approximately $5,364, is being offered in hopes of incentivizing individuals who may possess crucial information to come forward. Police authorities have emphasized the significance of community cooperation in solving this case. Andreas Sagehorn, Chief of Oldenburg Police, expressed his dismay over the incident and underscored the importance of solidarity with the Jewish community in the wake of such a despicable act. "The heinous act last Friday has caused nationwide bewilderment, but also great solidarity with the Jewish community," stated Sagehorn in a recent press release. "We are now relying on the cooperation of the public to help us solve the case." "Every hint counts," affirmed Sagehorn. "Anyone can be the person who makes a difference." ...قراءة المزيد

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2024-04-09

After an incendiary device was thrown at a German synagogue on Friday, at least 550 people rallied on Sunday in the city of Oldenburg to show support for the according to the municipality. An incendiary device was thrown at the Oldenburg synagogue's doors around noon by unknown individuals, but according to Oldenburg mayor Jürgen Krogmann the caretakers of a local cultural center intervened and prevented the fire from spreading. FireFighters extinguished the flame and no one was hurt. The mayor noted that anyone who threw the incendiary must have known that there could have been someone inside, and was "attempted murder" and "terrorism." Krogmann said that police would be increasing security measures until the nature of the crime was understood, and emphasized that he would fight against antisemitism and racism. “I condemn this act in the strongest possible terms. Attacks on synagogues are attacks on all of us. We will not accept that a Jewish institution in our city has become the target of an attack,” said Krogmann. An Israeli flag flutters next to a German and a EU flag, one day after Hamas' attacks on Israel, outside the Reichstag building in Berlin, Germany, October 8, 2023. (credit: REUTERS/Liesa Johannssen)Federal Interior Minister Nancy Faeser condemned the attack as "disgusting, inhumane" in a social media post on Friday. "My thoughts and my solidarity are with the Jewish community," said Faeser. "The perpetrators must be identified and held accountable." Central Council of Jews president Dr. Josef Schuster said in a Saturday statement on X that "We will not let ourselves be defeated. Jewish life is part of our country, of Germany." said on Saturday that many Jewish communities were concerned that the rhetoric against Israel had been translated into violent attacks on European Jews. The Oldenburg municipality said that around 300 people gathered for a vigil in front of the synagogue to demonstrate their solidarity with the Jewish community. Another several hundred gathered at the Julius Mosen Plaza on Sunday for a solidarity rally. The city said that the event was attended by Evangelical Lutheran Church Bishop Thomas Adomeit and Lower Saxony state parliament president Hanna Naber. “The protection of Jewish life is the obligation of all of us," said Krogmann. Oldenburg Jewish Community representative Claire Schaub-Moore reportedly thanked the residents for their support. “This strength is much greater than what happened in front of our synagogue," Schaub-Moore said according to the city. It is truly heartwarming to see such a powerful display of solidarity and friendship with Oldenburg's Jewish community ❤Hundreds took to the streets following an attack on a local synagogue earlier this week, standing united against the scourge of antisemitism. The EJC praised the event, saying on Monday that it was "truly heartwarming to see such a powerful display of solidarity and friendship with Oldenburg's Jewish community." ...قراءة المزيد

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2024-03-31

A rabbi was struck on the head in at the Overvecht Shopping Center in Utrecht on Friday, according to local authorities. Utrecht Police said that they were looking for witnesses into an incident in which a man attacked another after shouting discriminatory slurs. A Friday post shared on Rabbi Aryeh Leib Heintz's identified the Chabad emissary as the victim.  "Why are you dressed like a Jew," the attacker said, according to Whitney Sieverink-McNair's post. Heintz reportedly fled into an Action supermarket but was pursued. Sieverink-McNair said that when the rabbi attempted to take a picture of his assailant, he was ejected from the store because photography was against store policy.People wear kippas as they attend a demonstration in front of a Jewish synagogue, to denounce an anti-Semitic attack on a young man wearing a kippa in the capital earlier this month, in Berlin, Germany, April 25, 2018. (credit: FABRIZIO BENSCH / REUTERS) The BIJ1 political party claimed on Saturday that two women of Moroccan extraction intervened, adding that "only by fighting together against injustice can we create a just world free from injustice and all forms of oppression." The Utrecht City Council, in a Saturday statement, expressed "disgust and disapproval" of the antisemitic incident and wished the rabbi and his family well. "There is no place in Utrecht for hatred because of who someone is or what someone believes," said the city council. "Our city is a place of freedom, safety and respect." The Denk political party said Saturday that it was "disgusting to do violence to someone because of their religion," and that "There is no place for antisemitism, Muslim-hate or any form of discrimination in Utrecht." BIJ1 also said that it hoped "that everyone who speaks out against antisemitism will be equally vocal about instances of Islamophobia, queerphobia, racism and ableism." The said Saturday that the situation in Europe and around the world was growing ever more dire. "Our full solidarity with Rabbi Heintz," said EJC. "No one should ever have to live in fear because of their religion." Heintz, Utrecht Police, and the Action supermarket did not immediately respond to The Jerusalem Post's request for comment.  ...قراءة المزيد

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2024-03-27

A gang attempted to mug two on their way to synagogue to morning prayers on Tuesday, the Baltimore Shomrim said. Three to four cars reportedly pulled up alongside one of the victims, and muggers emerged to chase him. A victim identified by the watch organization as Eli Neuberger managed to warn his companion. "I was able to call 911, but I wasn't able to speak," Neuberger told . "These fellows ran across the street, tried taking my phone, and they just hit me on the head. Neuberger reportedly did not suffer any major injuries and was given shelter by a neighbor, where he was able to contact the police.Baltimore police (credit: PIXABAY) The victim was in good spirits on social media following the attack, joking about his 15 minutes of fame and that, "After such a harrowing incident this morning, I’m upset the perps didn’t even have the courtesy to offer me a 'free Palestine.'"  Since the October 7 massacre, the Anti-Defamation League has recorded a 315% increase in antisemitic incidents compared to the same time period the year earlier. The spike in antisemitism has “absolutely” impacted Baltimore, Howard Libit, executive director of the Baltimore Jewish Council, told the Baltimore Jewish Times. “We’re seeing it on our college campuses in the area,” Libit said. “We’re seeing it in some of the high schools. We’re seeing it on social media in particular. Everyone involved in social media, whether they’re here or anywhere in the world, is seeing a huge spike in antisemitism.” Jerusalem Post Staff contributed to this report.   ...قراءة المزيد

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2024-03-24

Rehoma Sluszny, an 84-year-old Holocaust survivor living in, told Sky News last week that Jewish people had begun packing their bags to flee amid Antwerp, which reports having the largest Hasidic population in Europe, received 90 reports of antisemitism in the first sick weeks following Hamas's October 7 terror attack, according to the report.  ", the Jews are much more visible with these black coats and big hats, and bunches of boys go by, and they just try to throw the hat on the floor, or when they drive with the bicycle, they try to push them from the bicycle," Sluszny said. "We really feel it - that it's much, much worse than it was before." Claiming that some people have already packed their bags in anticipation of needing to quickly flee the country, Sluszny said "People who had family who didn't come back from Auschwitz, they are very scared. They think it's going to start again." A Belgian paratrooper stands guard outside a Jewish school in Antwerp. (credit: YVES HERMAN / REUTERS) Rabbi Chaim Parnas, who supports some 700 families at his Antwerp-based synagogue, told the source that life had changed since the start of the Israel-Hamas war. "Since 7 October, there is a heightened police presence in this whole neighbourhood," he said. "It's something you feel as you walk around the streets. You actually see the police much more often." Parnas said that, fearing for their safety, some Jewish families had elected to remove the mezuzahs from their front doors. A mezuzah is a blessing placed on the door frames of Jewish homes. "I don't know why I have to be afraid to walk down the university corridor and someone's going to shout 'Dirty Jew,'" the rabbi said. "But for some reason that's legitimate as long as I'm Jewish. I became part of the conflict, and I am a target for those who are anti-Israel." A Jewish teenager, identified only as Daniel, told the source that he had been chased by a group of fellow youths who yelled at him "You want to die? We'll kill you!" "There's a lot more security in the school and there are always police outside in case something happens," Daniel said. "I don't think it's a normal thing that outside of school there should always be police and extra security for protection." The antisemitic incidents have reportedly extended beyond street harrassment, as Jewish graves in Charleroi cemetary were vandalized in November. ...قراءة المزيد

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2024-03-15

The people of turned out in force on Friday afternoon to honor one of their own - fallen soldier Sgt. , 19, 77th Battalion of the 7th Armored Brigade.   Earlier in the week, the IDF announced that Itay had been killed by Hamas terrorists on the morning of October 7 and his body taken into Gaza, where it remains.  Until the announcement, Itay’s family never gave up hope of seeing their son and brother alive, having been notified that he was “missing in action” two days after his disappearance. His parents, Ruby and Chagit, did everything in their power to ensure his safe return, including meeting with , who was reportedly devastated by the tragic news of his death: “Today… we join Itay’s parents, brothers, and family in grieving this tragic loss…” he said, before reaffirming his pledge to the families of the remaining hostages with the words: “We will never stop working to bring your loved ones home.”  Despite the family’s decision not to sit shiva until their son’s body is returned, they, along with the community, wanted to mark this young local hero’s memory in a meaningful way with a flag march followed by a unique ceremony at their synagogue on Friday afternoon. Holding their flags aloft, young and old alike met outside the family’s home to begin their march along the streets of Poleg under the banner “The journey is not over yet,” echoing the words of Ruby, Itay’s father, who, upon learning of his son’s death declared: “Our family has decided that our journey is not over… We decided that we are not sitting shiva until Itay is returned home. We will continue our battle, with all the other [hostage] families, to bring a deal now.” Itay’s parents speak at the ceremony, March 15, 2024. (credit: ANDREA SAMUELS) Some walked with their dogs, as did Itay’s mother, Chagit, whose little furry friend led the procession alongside Itay’s father, who held a large poster bearing his son’s face with the words “Bring Him Home Now.” As the march proceeded toward the synagogue where the ceremony in Itay’s honor was to be held, many more joined. Before long, the roads became a sea of blue and white as thousands marched with their flags behind Itay’s family, silently supporting them on their agonizing journey.  Once there, everyone gathered around the steps leading to the entrance of the synagogue above which a huge banner with the familiar face of Itay smiling down onto the crowd hung.  One by one, family members got up to speak about their beloved Itay, breaking down in tears as they did so. The crowd, many of whom themselves were unable to hold back the tears, listened in silence as Itay’s heartbroken parents, siblings, uncle and girlfriend spoke of their devastating loss.  The ceremony ended with a stirring rendition of Eyal Golan’s “Skiot Adomot,” meaning Red Sunsets, at which point people of all ages wept openly.  The ceremony ended with “Hatikvah,” before everyone slowly made their way out of the grounds of the synagogue as the grieving family was left to welcome in their first Shabbat in the knowledge that Itay, their darling son and brother, was no longer with them. ...قراءة المزيد

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2024-03-10

A man in Sunny Isles Beach, Florida, is under investigation for what authorities are calling , as reported by Local 10 News. Mohamed Al Saccal, 39, has been accused of using a , described by some victims as a dagger, to threaten Orthodox Jews in the community. According to Sgt. Brain Schnell, this incident is part of a disturbing trend of members of the Jewish community over the past three days. Al Saccal allegedly chased a couple on their way to a synagogue along Collins Avenue, yelling antisemitic sentiments and threatening their lives. According to the report, Al Saccal, a resident of Sunny Isles Beach born in Jordan, is currently in custody, facing charges of aggravated assault.People waving Nazi swastika flags argue with conservatives during a protest outside the Tampa Convention Center, where Turning Point USA's (TPUSA) Student Action Summit (SAS) is being held, in Tampa, Florida, US July 23, 2022 (credit: REUTERS/MARCO BELLO) Authorities are considering upgrading these charges to hate crimes in light of the nature of his actions. This incident comes amidst heightened tensions following the Israel-Hamas war that began approximately four months ago. Sgt. Schnell emphasized that hate crimes would not be tolerated, regardless of global or political contexts. Sunny Isles Beach, a city within Miami-Dade County, is grappling with these allegations as the local and federal law enforcement intensifies their scrutiny of hate crimes amid escalating geopolitical strife.  ...قراءة المزيد

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2024-03-07

's Federal Security Service (FSB) said on Thursday it prevented an attack on a synagogue in Moscow that was plotted by an Islamic State cell, Russian state news agencies reported. FSB said that the members of the organization had been planning "to commit a terrorist act against one of the Jewish religious institutions in Moscow," the RIA news agency quoted the report as saying. "During further operational investigative activities, it was established that militants of an international terrorist organization are preparing an attack on synagogue parishioners using firearms,” the FSB noted. “During the arrest, the terrorists offered armed resistance to the Russian FSB officers and, as a result, were neutralized by return fire,” the CSO reported. A teenager who had pledged allegiance to in Switzerland on Saturday. “You have seen what the Jews and crusaders have done to the Muslims in their homelands and also how they installed proxies from the apostates and [Shi’ites],” MEMRI quoted the terrorist as saying. “Take up knives that cut, gunshots that split, bombs that burn, and rammings with buses and trucks. Go after the Jews and Christians, and their allies from the Rafidites and apostates. They have no mercy on our brothers, like they have no mercy. A rabbi walks in the courtyard of a synagogue in the ancient city of Debent on the Caspian Sea coast in Russia's Caucasus region of Dagestan August 17, 2007 (credit: REUTERS/THOMAS PETER/FILE PHOTO) In October, in the Russian Republic of, Jewish travelers were forced into hiding as an antisemitic mob stormed the local airport. Eyewitness videos from the airport depict demonstrators, primarily young men, waving Palestinian flags, destroying glass barriers, and echoing the chant “Allahu Akbar.” Some were seen attempting to overturn a patrol vehicle. Local authorities confirmed that 20 people were wounded before the situation could be contained. Representatives speaking for the Jewish community in said that the local synagogue had also been attacked and that the community was facing a massive increase of antisemitism. Zvika Klein contributed to this report. ...قراءة المزيد

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2024-03-05

France is witnessing the rise of "a new Nazism," Marco, last week, told BFMTV earlier this week.  The victim, aged 62, recounted the incident on the French news outlet. According to him, after he had exited a synagogue in the 20th arrondissement in the French capital, he sat on the pavement in the street. The victim noted a person passing next to him, "looking at him fixedly," and seeming "excited." Three minutes later, the assailant returned, asking him, “Are you killing the people ?” Marco responded, “I don’t kill anyone,” after which the assailant punched and headbutted him. Marco says he then lost consciousness.  According to BFMTV, the assailant fled the scene on foot.   A French police officer stands guard at the Republic Square in Paris, France on November 14, 2015. (credit: Laurence Geai/Flash90) The victim said he sustained injuries, with his face heavily bruised, stitches in various places, and his nose broken.   Marco recounted that the street was empty, and no help was at hand. He further stated that following the incident, he felt “humiliated” for being unable to defend himself.  Regarding , Marco said, “I’m fed up,” adding, “I don’t feel that I’m in France.” “With antisemitism exploding, everyone allows themselves to insult” people, he stated. “There are protests in which we hear ‘down with the Jews,’ it makes me think of Word War II; it's a return of Nazism, a new Nazism. I fear this won’t end well,” he said.  When asked why he accepted to speak of the incident, Marco replied, “To show what happens in our times when we are Jewish…when we wear a Kippah.” “I could have died for nothing,” he said. “It’s wickedness.” “When you are Jewish, you are affected in your soul. You can’t imagine how much we [the Jews in France] are affected,” he concluded.  Earlier this week, Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin stated all measures were being taken to ensure the assailant was found.  Michael Starr contributed to this article.  ...قراءة المزيد

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