If you cannot see this email properly, please click here | |
 י"ט באלול תשע"ז / Sunday, Sep. 10 '17 Subscribe to this Daily Israel Report -http://www.israelnationalnews.com/Subscribe Headlines
1. Government approves funds for Houston's Jewish communityby Tzvi Lev The Israeli government approved a $1 million donation to help repair the Jewish community in Houston that was devastated by Hurricane Harvey. The assistance will be used to rehabilitate the community's schools, synagogues and community centers, which are not funded or supported by the authorities. The Ministry of Diaspora Affairs is currently examining the fastest and most effective way to transfer funds to the community, The city's 60,000-strong Jewish community was devastated by Hurricane Harvey. Many of the schools and synagogues were out of use, and the community center (JCC) was flooded. Thousands of Jewish families also lost their homes. The grant was initiated by Diaspora Affairs Minister Naftali Bennett (Habayit Hayehudi). "The test of the Jewish State is when our brothers around the world are in a crisis," said Bennett." There is a clear statement of mutual responsibility here," Bennett added that "it's time for the Jewish state to help our Diaspora brethren in distress. Just like they have helped us in our moments of distress, it is our duty to help them." Houston resident Lawrence Katz said that he was impressed to see the State of Israel helping diaspora Jews."It's great that Israel is giving money to Jews around the world,and helping them" he told Arutz Sheva. "The symbolism is great. This is help the community can really use." 2. Vizhnitzer Rebbe: Law of Sabbath same as that of Yom Kippurby Mordechai Sones During the Seudah Shlishit third Shabbat meal, the Admur (Rebbe) of Vizhnitz, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Hager spoke about last Thursday's gathering of the Council of Torah Sages and asked his followers to strengthen their Sabbath observance in order to influence the general population. "Great is the pain in face of breaches in observing our holy Shabbos throughout the Holy Land. The living will take it to heart, to increase and intensify the awe of Shabbos among us. We must prepare for the seventh day, to bring in Shabbos early and observe Shabbos with soulful exaltation. And their hearts will awaken to the feeling of the sanctity of the Shabbos and the preservation of its boundaries," said the Admur. He argued that just as on Yom Kippur secular Jews do not desecrate the holiday, so should their awareness about the sanctity of the Sabbath increase. "The reality proves that the holy day of Yom Kippur is observed by all of the public strata; all the roads are desolate and the shops and businesses are shut down and the synagogues are full. This is the reason for the great awe in the face of the Day of Judgment. The fear permeates everyone's hearts and affects them, each according to their comprehension. This is not the case with Shabbos observance, which of course is observed properly, but the elements of fear, emotion, and magnificence are lacking." In the conversation with his followers, the Admur called upon those present to strengthen the sanctity of the Sabbath and thus to project it to the secular public: "We therefore accept upon ourselves to further sanctify the quality of our Shabbos observance, to take advantage of the hours and to create a day of rest and holiness. We will do our work for the sake of our brethren who are caught in the grip of their desires, to awaken their hearts to the magnificent gift that G-d gave to his sons the Nation close to Him," he said. 3. 1 out of 6 girls in IDF sexually harassedby Shlomo Pyuterkovsky An internal IDF survey found that one of six female soldiers declared that she was sexually harassed during her service. The vast majority of female soldiers who said they experienced sexual harassment reported that they had been harassed more than once. 6% of the soldiers said they were harassed two or three times during their military service, and 3% said they were harassed four times or more, which is the highest level reported since 2004. Particularly alarming was that over 60% of the respondents said that their unit has an atmosphere of sexual harassment, down from 65% in 2014. Female soldiers described an environment filled with crude jokes and sexual stories, offensive sexual comments, and spoke of commanders and soldiers that disseminated pornographic images. The survey was conducted by the Chief of Staff's Gender Advisor, through anonymous questionnaires sent to thousands of female soldiers and officers. The IDF Spokespersons Unit said that "the data relates to 2016. In the survey, questions are asked regarding cases of sexual harassment in the IDF as well as the awareness, reporting culture, and treatment provided to the victims, and the results of the survey do not indicate an increase in the number of female soldiers and officers who reported that the experienced sexual harassment." A long line of disturbing sexual-related crimes has occurred in the IDF recently. In August, a soldier from an infantry unit was indicted for rape and indecent behavior stemming from his actions against a female soldier serving in his battalion. The soldier admitted that he had had sexual relations with the female soldier, but denied raping her and insisted that there was consent on her part. One of the most explosive cases the IDF ever had to deal with was when Brigadier-General Ofek Buchris was accused of raping a subordinate. Buchris was the most senior IDF officer ever accused of sexual misconduct, and was a highly decorated soldier, having come back from severe injuries he suffered during 2003's Operation Defensive Shield to command the prestigious Golani Brigade. Buchris eventually admitted to the charges and was demoted to the rank of Colonel. 4. Dramatic Shabbat rescue on Carribean islandby Tzvi Lev ZAKA volunteers, together with representatives from Israel, New York and Holland, worked throughout Shabbat in a multi-national WhatsApp rescue operation. The mission – to arrange the rescue of the wife and children of the Chabad emissary, stranded in treacherous conditions on the Caribbean island of St. Martin. 5. Netanyahu says Shin Bet foiled 70 attacks in July-Augustby Tzvi Lev Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu praised Israel's Shin Bet internal security service, also known as the Israel Security Agency (ISA), telling a Cabinet meeting that the agency has foiled 70 terror attacks in the months of July and August alone. "In the last two months - July and August - the Shin Bet foiled more than 70 terrorist cells that were planning attacks against Israeli civilians and soldiers, " Netanyahu said. "I want to express my deep gratitude to the Shin Bet security service and to anyone who is involved in this important task - for the sake of Israel's security." Netanyahu also talked about his upcoming ground-breaking trip to South America. "Today I'm going to visit Latin America. This is the first time since the establishment of the State of Israel that an incumbent prime minister visits South and Central America," Netanyahu said. "This is a visit that will strengthen our economic, security and technological ties in Latin America and will be a further strengthen Israel's international standing, a process that we are leading systematically and successfully," he continued. "Mexico just experienced an earthquake this weekend. Israel understands that these are very difficult days ffor the Mexican people, and in my talks with the President of Mexico I will offer assistance to rebuild the ruins or any other help that I can give." Netanyahu's visit will be the fifth time in the past two years that he will tour a country never before visitied by a sitting Israeli Prime Minister. Accompanying Netanyahu is a delegation of Israeli business people from the fields of agriculture, water, communications and energy. Members of the delegation will hold commercial meetings with their local counterparts. Economic events will also be held in Argentina and Mexico, led by Netanyahu and the Argentine and Mexican heads of state. 6. The world in crisisby Walter Bingham Walter comments in depth on the Korean crisis. And: On how political correctness is destroying Germany. Plus: How it is 78 years since the start of World War II and why it happened, with the audio of Chamberlain's declaration of war. Also: The inauguration of a monument to the victims of the Munich Olympic Massacre in the presence of the presidents of Israel and Germany. Hear: More about the fallacy of the so-called "Palestinian nation". And: How he European Union keeps the peace between Israel and its neighbours (or not). [audio:2032620] 7. Couple saves autistic child running barefoot on Ayalon Freewayby Mordechai Sones A couple from Tel Aviv held an autistic child soon to become 8 years old by force after they spotted him walking barefoot among the busy lanes of the South Ayalon Highway, Israel Hayom reported this morning. Only a full 43 minutes later did a police car arrive to pick up the boy whose parents had reported his absence. The policeman told the couple, "Just this moment I received word of the incident." "I gave the child my phone to call, but he went into YouTube and listened to songs and calmed down a bit," Micky told Israel Hayom. "All this time, for 43 minutes, we called the police six times and begged them to send a patrol car. "The police asked me to be available because they wanted to question me, and I did receive three calls, each time with the same questions: 'Where exactly are you, what happened, what, is he really running into the road?' ... No, I just invented the story because we are just before Shabbat and I'm bored," the man sarcastically chided. "When we realized we would receive Shabbat with the child on the Ayalon freeway, we thought we would go to the police station ourselves," Micky said. "When a patrol car finally arrived after 43 minutes, the policeman said he had received the call just a minute ago. I really wonder, where are the police when you really need them?" 8. On the way to the Jewish community in Miamiby Uzi Baruch [youtube:2032627] A delegation of the Israelife Foundation left for Miami on Saturday night to help the local Jewish community and Israeli community in the wake of Hurricane Irma. The volunteers taking part in the mission will assist in providing an initial response to the natural disaster and will deal with its implications in terms of the community. "Our role as volunteers will be to assist the community and to handle the situation as best we can in the absence of American officials, until their arrival," explained delegation spokesman Moti Elmaliach. "We will lead groups of residents on missions that will arise following Hurricane Irma, which is said to be the most powerful storm ever recorded in the Atlantic Ocean," he added. The Israelife Foundation has extensive experience in dispatching delegations to disaster areas. In 2015, the Foundation sent an emergency delegation to earthquake victims in Nepal. Members of this delegation set up field hospitals, treated local victims and Israeli tourists and assisted in locating the body of Or Assraf, an Israeli who perished in that earthquake. Two weeks ago, the Foundation sent a delegation of psychiatrists and psychologists who volunteer at United Hatzalah to help the population in Texas in the wake of the floods caused by Hurricane Harvey. Subscribe to this Daily Israel Report - http://www.israelnationalnews.com/Subscribe | |
|
