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 כ"ג באלול תשע"ז / Thursday, Sep. 14 '17 Subscribe to this Daily Israel Report -http://www.israelnationalnews.com/Subscribe Headlines
1. North Korea: We will reduce America to 'ashes and darkness'by Arutz Sheva Staff A North Korean state agency on Thursday afternoon published a statement threatening to use nuclear weapons on the United States and Japan. The statement comes after the UN Security Council on Monday unanimously imposed new sanctions on North Korea. "The four islands of the archipelago should be sunken into the sea by the nuclear bomb of Juche. Japan is no longer needed to exist near us," the statement read. "Let us reduce the U.S. mainland into ashes and darkness. Let us vent our spite with mobilization of all retaliation means which have been prepared till now." The statement also calls for the disbandment of the United Nations, calling it a group "of unprincipled countries." "The group of pro-American traitors should be severely punished and wiped out with fire attack so that they could no longer survive," they said. "The United Nations Security Council is made up of those unprincipled countries and, accordingly, such a useless tool should be disbanded at once." In response, a senior Japanese government official said North Korea's threats were "extremely provocative and outrageous." On Wednesday, North Korea vowed to accelerate its weapons programs. Meanwhile, on Tuesday, US President Donald Trump said the latest UN sanctions on North Korea are only a very small step and “are nothing compared to what ultimately will have to happen.” He did not elaborate. 2. Religious Supreme Court Justice slams fellow judgesby Tzvi Lev Supreme Court Justice Noam Solhberg cast the only dissenting vote in Tuesday's 8-1 decision striking down the haredi draft law. In his minority dissenting opinion, he sharply criticized his fellow Justices for being disconnected from Israeli society. Solberg wrote that "the other Justices harsh criticism of the Draft Law - which they call "Swiss cheese," "masquerade," and "pretense" - is not only overly strict, but it ignores the true state of haredi society." "The fierce debate in Israeli society regarding the haredi draft, in essence, is not a legal debate. It reflects a conflict between different narratives. The same act of drafting, that some consider a moral obligation, there are those who view it as a decree which is preferable to die rather than transgress." Sohlberg wrote further that he would have refrained from striking down the law, instead letting the current trend of haredi Jews drafting at increasingly higher rates continue. Solhberg, a religious Jew from the Eztion Bloc town of Alon Shvut, stressed that he yearned for a time when the value of serving in the IDF would be seen as equal to Torah study among the haredi world. "As a member of the religious community, I too await for the day when the balance between Torah study and 'sharing the burden' will be found" he said. 3. Health club compensates Jewish woman for refusing to allow skirtby JTA An Orthodox Jewish woman has won the right to exercise in her skirt after being turned away by two women’s gyms in Brooklyn. Yosefa Jalal Wood-Isenberg, 27, sued the Lucille Roberts chain of health clubs in 2015 after she was removed and banned from two of its franchises for wearing a knee-length, fitted skirt in keeping with her traditional religious lifestyle. The lawsuit filed in Manhattan federal court accused the women’s-only fitness company of religious discrimination in violation of federal, state and city law, the New York Post reported. As part of the settlement reported last week, the company has reinstated her membership and paid her an undisclosed amount of money. Wood-Isenberg has since moved to Philadelphia. She told the Post that she has been relying on fitness videos to exercise since being banned from the gym. Wood-Isenberg joined the gym in 2011 and worked out in her skirt at various branches until she was told in 2013 and 2014 that she could not wear a skirt during workouts. In 2015, the manager of one of the branches accused her of “‘trespassing’ because she was not wearing appropriate attire,” according to the lawsuit. The fitness company then revoked her membership. In May, an Orthodox Jewish paramedic sued a New York hospital for discrimination for not allowing her to wear skirts. 4. British PM hosts Rosh Hashana celebrationby Arutz Sheva Staff British PM Theresa May yesterday hosted a reception at the United Kingdom's government headquarters, celebrating Rosh Hashana (Jewish New Year) with leaders of the United Kingdom’s Jewish community. This year, Rosh Hashana begins on September 20 at sundown, and ends on September 22 after nightfall. In her speech, May reiterated her support for the Jewish community and thanked its members for their great contribution to the UK in all aspects of life. Regarding the Balfour Declaration, May said, "We look forward to [marking] the centenary of the Balfour Declaration in November. Born of that letter, the pen of Balfour, and of the efforts of so many people, is a remarkable country. Of course, there are great challenges in the region, and we will do everything we can to support efforts towards building a two-state solution and the lasting peace that we all want to see." "But as Prime Minister, I am proud to say that I support Israel. And it is absolutely right that we should mark the vital role that Britain played a century ago in helping to create a homeland for the Jewish people." The Balfour Declaration of 1917 led in part to the creation of Israel. In April, the British government responded to a petition filed with the British Parliament calling on the government to apologize for the statement and “lead attempts to reach a solution that ensures justice for the Palestinian people.” May also promised to help to fight anti-Semitism. "I want you to know that I will always do whatever it takes to keep our Jewish community safe," she said. "Through our new definition of anti-Semitism we will call out anyone guilty of any language or behavior that displays hatred towards Jews because they are Jews." "We will actively encourage the use of this definition by the police, the legal profession, universities and other public bodies. But the ultimate way of defeating anti-Semitism is to create an environment that prevents it happening in the first place. "That is one of the reasons why it is so important that we create a proper national memorial to the Holocaust, together with an accompanying educational center to teach future generations to fight hatred and prejudice in all its forms." 5. Yaalon refuses to apologizeby Tzvi Lev Former Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon refused to retract his statement that Israel was responsible for the murder of Chana and Eitam Henkin in 2015. In a video clip that surfaced earlier this week, Yaalon said that the Henkin family murder was a revenge attack for the arson in Duma that killed 3 members of the Dawabshe family. "We should not be surprised later when they cut down Arab olive trees or burn mosques and churches or even a family in Duma," Ya'alon had said. "The blood of the Dawabsha family in Duma and of the Henkin family who was murdered in a revenge attack is on our hands." Yaalon told Army Radio on Thursday that "my words were taken from my talk about the rule of law with the heads of Judea and Samaria local councils immediately after the murder of the Henkin couple. "Yesha Council leaders and ministers did not fulfill their responsibilities, whether by turning a blind eye to lawbreaking, or by humoring the law while ignoring the phenomenon of illegal construction, price tag attacks, or tree burnings." Ya'alon referred to the 2015 evacuation of Bet El's Dreynoff houses, claiming that security forces were attacked and 'price tag' attacks were carried out. "As soon as police and soldiers came, they attacked the soldiers and punctured police car tires. Public leaders were silent. "Afterwords there were 'price tag' attacks, such as burning trees, a church, a mosque and a family. In terms of this terrorist cell, you don't have to tell me that Hamas would have carried out attacks anyway, because in this case a specific cell went out to carry out an attack in retaliation for the murder of the Dawabsha family." 6. Joint Israeli-US project to 'bring NYC back to the future'by JTA A high-tech teaching and research center born of a collaboration between Cornell University and the Technion - Israel Institute of Technology inaugurated its newly built campus on Roosevelt Island. Over 500 people were present for the inauguration Wednesday morning of Cornell Tech and the Jacobs Technion-Cornell Institute, including New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Cornell University President Martha Pollack and Technion Institute President Peretz Lavie. “Today we take a bold step in the tech arena with the opening of this campus,” Cuomo said prior to the ribbon-cutting ceremony. “It’s ambitious — it was almost an audacious dream when we started.” De Blasio joked, addressing the Technion president, “In New York, Peretz, we would say this is a mitzvah (commandment from G-d).” Bloomberg, who conceived of the $2 billion project when he was mayor and donated $100 million to it, said Cornell Tech would help re-establish New York as a technological center. “In many ways, this project helps bring New York City back to the future,” he said, citing various technological features of the campus, such as the goal to make the main academic center one of the largest net-zero energy buildings in the world. In 2010, Bloomberg invited top universities to submit pitches to build the campus. The winners would receive both funding and land on Roosevelt Island, a two-mile long island on the East River. In 2011, the city declared Cornell and the Technion winners, and the project opened the following year, operating out of a temporary location in Manhattan’s Chelsea neighborhood. Former Mayor Michael Bloomberg speaking at the opening of Cornell Tech, a collaboration between Cornell University and the Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, on New York’s Roosevelt Island, Sep. 13, 2017. (Josefin Dolsten) Cornell Tech will offer master’s and doctoral programs in fields related to technology, computer science and engineering. De Blasio echoed Cuomo’s vision of the campus, which he said, “says to people that we will be forever a global center of technology and innovation.” Lavie recalled thinking the Israeli institute had a slim chance of winning the bid. “Since we have such a slim chance of winning — be wild,” he recalled telling Technion staff. “Use your imagination, think outside the box.” Lavie referenced Cornell University’s founder in showing how Israeli startup culture plays into Cornell Tech’s technology focus. “With this campus, Cornell and Technion are making a clear statement: practical knowledge, to paraphrase Ezra Cornell, is not inferior nor second to basic knowledge,” he said. “They are the two sides of the same coin. This concept is part of the Technion’s DNA and more broadly the State of Israel, which is known as startup nation.” 7. 'Full of sadness and joy'by Uzi Baruch [video:2032813] [youtube:2032821] Orit Mark, the daughter of Michael "Micki" Mark, who was murdered in a terrorist attack last years, married Daniel Ettinger Wednesday night. Orit, 19, was walked down the aisle by her mother Chavi, who was wounded in the same attack in which Michael was killed. Mossad chief Yossi Cohen, a cousin of Rabbi Michael Mark, said, "My hands and feet tremble here more than anywhere else, and when Daniel and Orit danced along the way to the wedding canopy, I felt that Daniel and Michael were standing on our right." Rabbi Mark, the head of the yeshiva in the town of Otniel, was driving with his family when terrorists opened fire at his car. His wife and two of his children were wounded, while Mark himself was murdered. Orit wrote on her Facebook page, "The evening before the exciting day of my life, the evening before the moment when I marry my beloved. It is a change in status, a change in norms, and the beginning of a new chapter in life. This night is so emotional! It is full of sadness and joy. Everything is very mixed ... Everyone is thrilled here, and my stomach is full of butterflies ... and again I am faced with the thought that my father will not accompany me along with my mother to the wedding canopy. I have had all of that feeling that my father was not with me through this entire process." "Again up and again down. Again tears and again smiles. It won't be an ordinary day. It will be a day full of light ... a day in which two souls finally unite. I feel more powerful than ever thanks to my marriage to Daniel. Exactly seven years ago, there was the attack in the neighboring settlement of Beit Haggai where Avishai and the Ames couple were murdered. This is a day of memorial for four very special people, who are sitting next to dad and shaking hands and congratulating him on my wedding ... and at the same time, their aching children are crying over their graves. חתונת אורית מרק צילום: באדיבות המשפחה "So it's clear that Daddy will be with us at the wedding. It will be hard without that radiant smile, those sparkling eyes, without the hug, the light, the loving look. It will all be missing! "There are some who say that Facebook friends are worthless, but in my opinion, during the year I share a lot, the pain, the joy, the sorrow, and the love. And now is the time to say a huge thank you ... to all the people who not only responded to very happy things. These people really helped me and gave endlessly, anything I needed ... You give me strength. Orit invited the people of Israel to her Sheva Brachot celebratrion this Sunday in Jerusalem: "Dear good and precious people, I unfortunately cannot really invite everyone to a wedding, so come and be happy with me .. But I do invite you all .. Thank you to everyone who helped me at this wedding, All the loved ones around me, the supporters, the embraces, the happy ones, who contribute without end of hours and work .. Thank you, thank you, thank you. Daniel Ettinger, I am waiting to see you. And I am also waiting to see you, my dear father." 8. Watch: IDF soldiers dance with haredi Jews at weddingby Tzvi Lev [video:2032831] A video making rounds on the internet shows the common if largely unpublicized sight of IDF soldiers dancing together with haredi Jews at a wedding in Bet Shemesh. The video, which was provided by Behadrei Hareidim, was taken at the wedding of an IDF officer serving in the Nahal Hareidi-Netzach Yehuda battalion. Friends and rabbis from his Yeshiva showed up and danced with the soldiers from his unit throughout the wedding. Nahal Haredi, also known as Netzach Yehuda, is a battalion in the Kfir Brigade that enables haredi soldiers to serve in the IDF. Woman are forbidden on base, and soldiers receive special food that conforms to a stringent halakhic standard of Jewish dietary laws. Subscribe to this Daily Israel Report - http://www.israelnationalnews.com/Subscribe | |
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