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Jewish Journal

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February 5, 2018

5 Things to Know About the Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza

Leave a Comment / Israel /

The impoverished Gaza Strip is said to be plagued by a burgeoning humanitarian crisis, causing speculation that Israel will have to intervene or that it could cause another armed conflict between Israel and Hamas. Do Israelis and Gazans need to worry about another conflict, or is this a smokescreen by Hamas and its enablers?

Here are five things to know about the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

1. Gazans are mired in poverty and suffer from a lack of proper infrastructure. Israeli Defense Force (IDF) Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot briefed ministers in the Israeli government that Gaza lacks “electricity, drinkable water, and food” and it’s only getting worse. The Independent reported in August that Gaza’s unemployment rate was 41%, 96% of the water unpotable and that each day Gazans only have around three hours of power.

2. Eisenkot is suggesting that Israel provide aid to Gazans. Eisenkot argued that Gaza’s deteriorating economic conditions could inflame Hamas into starting another armed conflict. Hamas is already telling its people that Israel is planning on striking Gaza when they start conducting joint military activities with the United States Army.

3. However, it doesn’t seem like Israel will be providing any aid to Gaza. Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman said in the Knesset that while things are “difficult” in Gaza, there was “no humanitarian crisis.”

“We will not spend a penny from the Israeli budget,” said Liberman. “I refuse to allow any penny of Israeli tax money to go to the Strip. There are enough wealthy Arab countries.”

Liberman added that Hamas first needs to return the bodies of captured Israeli soldiers before Israel spends any further money on Gaza and stated that the Jewish state has no plans to start another armed conflict with Hamas.

4. Hamas is scapegoating Israel and the Palestinian Authority (PA) for Gaza’s economic woes. The rationale blames Israel for their decade-long blockade of Gaza and for their prior strikes on Gaza. The PA is blamed for leveling economic sanctions against Gaza, as Fatah and Hamas have long been rivals and recent attempts at forming a unity government have been stalled.

However, the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) points out on their website that Israel already provides Gaza with “food, medicine and medical equipment, building materials and other assorted items” in addition to electricity, meaning that Hamas has no one to blame but themselves for the decrepit state of the Gazan economy.

“Its refusal to comply with international demands to recognize Israel’s right to exist and cease terrorist operations has led to the isolation of Gaza by the international community,” the ADL argues. “It deliberately puts ordinary Palestinians in harm’s way by misusing domestic items for military purposes, establishing its terrorist infrastructure – manufacturing, storage, training and strategic planning – within densely populated areas, in the midst of homes, schools, mosques and hospitals. It has cynically exploited the harsh conditions in Gaza for public relations purposes, while continuing to expand the hostile activities that created and exacerbated these conditions.”

Additionally, Liberman argued in the Knesset that Hamas isn’t interested in investing in the country’s infrastructure, as they spent $260 million on rockets and tunnels and their leadership has no issues with electricity.

5. Various reports are implying that the Trump administration’s decision to cut money from the United Nations for Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) will worsen the situation in Gaza. However, the UNRWA has been described by its critics as essentially being a Palestinian refugee welfare program and reportedly has teachers who post anti-Semitic material.

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Trump Attacks ‘Little Adam Schiff’ in Tweet. Here Are 5 Things to Know About Schiff.

Leave a Comment / United States /

President Trump took to Twitter on Monday to launch an attack against Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) as the House Democrats are preparing to release a memo in response to the Nunes memo:

Here was Schiff’s response:

Here are five things to know about Schiff.

1. Schiff’s district encompasses part of the Los Angeles area. According to a Journal cover story on Schiff in April 2017, Schiff’s district “extends from West Hollywood to the eastern edge of Pasadena and from Echo Park to the Angeles National Forest.” Schiff has served in Congress since 2001 and used to be a member of Glendale’s Temple Sinai.

2. Schiff is considered to be a moderate by some, others view him as a deeply partisan congressman. A 2006 profile of Schiff in The Hill described the congressman as “a moderate, a compromiser, a man who chose law school over med school because he thought it would give him greater opportunities to serve the public.” However, National Review columnist Jonah Goldberg tweeted, “I don’t think people appreciate Adam Schiff’s incredible talent to sound above the fray, non partisan and more in sorrow than in anger, while being hyper partisan. He’s better than Harry Reid was and is almost as good as Tom Daschle.”

Conservative Review has concluded that Schiff has voted with conservatives only 12% of the time during his House tenure.

3. Schiff has constantly hyped the narrative of collusion between the Trump campaign and the Russian government. For instance, Schiff told CNN in December, “The Russians offered help, the campaign accepted help. The Russians gave help and the president made full use of that help, and that is pretty damning, whether it is proof beyond a reasonable doubt of conspiracy or not.”

Schiff’s hyping of Trump-Russia collusion combined with his status as the ranking Democrat on the House Intelligence committee has caused him to become a frequent guest on cable news networks, particularly CNN and MSNBC, but his critics argue that Schiff has been unable to provide sufficient evidence of Trump-Russia collusion.

4. Schiff has constantly railed against the Nunes memo. Schiff argued vociferously against the memo being released, arguing that it would harm national security, although there is nothing in the memo to suggest that. Over the weekend, Schiff argued that the memo being released could result in more Oklahoma City bombings.

5. Schiff’s critics have accused him of leaking false information to the media and being a partisan hypocrite. Mollie Hemingway listed numerous examples of this at The Federalist, including an anonymously sourced Daily Beast story falsely claiming that Rep. Devin Nunes (R-CA) snuck into the White House in the dead of night to obtain documents showing evidence of surveillance by the Obama administration – the same way Schiff had described it. Schiff has denied accusations of being a leaker.

Additionally, in 2013 Schiff argued for Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) reforms on Russian television, causing some to accuse him of hypocrisy for repeating a Kremlin talking point then, yet is now quick to hype Trump-Russia collusion. Others have noted that Schiff doesn’t appear to be interested in verifying the Steele dossier that is alleged to have been the basis of a FISA warrant against former Trump campaign staffer Carter Page.

Trump Attacks ‘Little Adam Schiff’ in Tweet. Here Are 5 Things to Know About Schiff. Read More »

Rabbi Grossman Killed in Accident

Leave a Comment / Obituaries /

Rabbi David Grossman, one of the Los Angeles Jewish community’s best-known and longest-serving Torah teachers, was killed in an auto accident Monday morning in Staten Island in New York City.

According to preliminary information from New York police investigators, the crash was reported about 4 a.m. Rabbi Grossman was driving northbound on the West Shore Expressway near Victory Boulevard when he stopped in the roadway for reasons still unknown. His car was rear ended by another vehicle that remained on the scene. He was transported to Richmond University Medical Center where he was pronounced dead.

With a career spanning more than 40 years in Los Angeles, Rabbi Grossman was leading a variety of classes at LINK, in the Pico-Robertson neighborhood, at the time of his death.

His funeral was scheduled for Monday evening in Lakewood, NJ.

A founding member of the Lakewood Kollel branch in Los Angeles in 1975, under the late Rabbi Chaim Fasman, Rabbi Grossman helped start Yeshiva Gedolah in LaBrea in 1981. He served as the 12th grade lecturer in advanced Talmudic studies until 2008.

Concurrently, he opened a Torah program for working young adults and college students, independent of the yeshiva.

Rabbi Grossman recently opened up a morning yeshiva for young men who are working or going to college part-time. He recorded thousands of tapes and CDs on every page of the oral Torah and many areas of Torah.

Recently, he started teaching the second half of Rabbi Asher Brander’s late Thursday night class on the Torah portion of the week.

A LINK spokesperson said that in his classes, Rabbi Grossman “exuded his customary warmth and love for every talmid (student). The loss to his family and to our community is incalculable.”

While learning in Israel in his earlier years, the rabbi met his wife, Rachel. She was the principal of Valley Torah High School’s girls division in Valley Village for many years.

Rabbi Grossman’s survivors include his children, Mrs. Sara Fisher, Mrs. Tzippy Rokowsky, Mrs. Efrat Privalsky, Meir, Avi, Binyomin, Moshe and Chaim.

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In defense of Congressman Adam Schiff against the Insulting Tweet of President Trump

Leave a Comment / Blogs /

I sent this letter to the White House this morning (February 5)

​Dear Mr President:

Your tweet about my Congressman is deeply offensive to me as the Senior Rabbi of Temple Israel of Hollywood, one of Los Angeles’ historic congregations.

Permit me to spell out why I am so offended by what you tweeted most recently:

1. Your designation of my Congressman should be “Congressman Schiff” not “Little Adam” – he is a distinguished Representative in the House of Representatives and he has worked long and hard serving not only his district but the nation in various capacities;

2. You have no idea if Congressman Schiff has aspirations for higher office because he has never said anything of the kind and for you to dismiss him on the basis of ambition speaks more about you than him;

3. You call him a “liar.” I have known Congressman Schiff for many years and he is the opposite of how you characterize him. I suspect you don’t know him at all. He is measured in speech and thought and only speaks specifically when he has the objective facts.

4. You demean not only my Congressman in the way you have tweeted about him but the office of the Presidency when you attack other distinguished leaders for your own personal purposes. I ask you to stop and be the President this country deserves.

Sincerely,

Rabbi John Rosove
Senior Rabbi
Temple Israel of Hollywood, Los Angeles

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Episode 75 – 5 Years in a Cuban Prison: The Story of Alan Gross

Leave a Comment / Two Nice Jewish Boys /

In the fall of 2016 something truly bizarre happened in the United States embassy in Havana, Cuba. According to reports, 22 embassy staffers were suffering from mild brain damage, concussions and permanent hearing loss. Scientists and researchers are still debating the causes of these events but many suspected covert sonic attacks. In response, the US expelled two Cuban diplomats and warned US citizens not to travel to Cuba.

These peculiar events took place just one year after the US embassy was reinstated in Havana and only a few months after President Obama became the first US president to visit Cuba since 1928, as part of what became known as the Cuban Thaw. The thaw marked a warming in the relations between Cuba and the US – a move which was heavily criticized by many.

In the midst of all this was one American Jew from Long Island.

Alan Gross was a US government contractor and social entrepreneur who traveled to developing countries to bring modern communication technology like satellites, phones and internet to the locals. His journeys led him to Cuba in 2009, where he provided local Jewish communities with various technological equipment. However, during his fifth visit to Cuba, something unexpected happened. The 60 year-old Gross was arrested by the Cuban Police.

About the events that unfolded next, we will hear from the man himself. Today we are deeply honored to be joined by Alan Gross.
(Photo by the White House)

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Top 6 Things You Don’t Know About LADY BIRD

Leave a Comment / Blogs /

“Lady Bird” has garnered a lot of attention as a well-made coming of age story set in 2002.  Written and directed by Greta Gerwig, it captures the mother-daughter relationship without a singe misstep.

The movie stars Saoirse Ronan, Laurie Metcalf, Beanie Feldstein, Lucas Hedges and Timothee Chalamet.

A lot has been written about this multiple Oscar nominated film, but here are 6 things you don’t know about “Lady Bird”:

 

http://youtu.be/ZLpVmFgzzCc

–>Keep in touch with the author on Twitter and Instagram @realZoeHewitt.  Looking for the direct link to the video?  Click here.

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Crucial Things You Must Do Before Visiting Strange Countries

Leave a Comment / Travel /

Jewish people know a thing or two about how hard it is to visit certain countries. Try traveling around the Middle East with an Israeli passport stamp and see how far you get. It’s definitely not easy to visit every country on the planet.

If you intend on traveling to strange places you’ll need to sort a few things out before you go. Some will be absolutely necessary, whereas other will just keep you safe. Here are a few of the top tips you’ll need to keep in mind.

Ensure You’ll Actually Be Allowed In

 

Even if you sneak onto an airplane it doesn’t mean you’ll be allowed into a country. You might need to obtain a valid visa before you leave. The ESTA application helps the US and various countries have similar systems in place.

Obtaining the correct visa beforehand is vital, but there are little things you need to remember too. For example, if your passport doesn’t have enough blank pages or it’s running out you’ll be in trouble.

Paying a Visit to Your Local Doctor

 

When you visit your local doctor tell them exactly where you’re going. They will look on their computer and tell you the vaccinations you will need. Before you know it you’ll have needles sticking out of your arms.

Keep in mind, needles are a lot more pleasant than being sick in some countries. You’ll need to talk about your prescription medication too. You will get in trouble visiting a few countries if you don’t have a note from the doctor.

Be Careful When You’re Packing Clothes

 

The weather is completely unpredictable, so it’s important to know what to expect. This will be a problem in places off the beaten track if you don’t pack correctly. You should be able to handle any situation.

You don’t want to visit Vietnam expecting sun only to find out it’s freezing cold. What will you do if you can’t find warmer clothes? Even though they’ll be available they’ll be too small for you.

Pick up the Correct Travel Insurance

 

There are many types of travel insurance you’ll need to read about in-depth. If you aren’t covered you might end up with large hospital bills to pay. I’d like to talk specifically about medical evacuations.

A lot of countries around the world don’t have quality facilities. In fact, there is a chance they won’t be able to help you. If your insurance includes medical evacuations you’ll be taken where you need to go.

Check for Emergency Travel Warnings

 

You’ll know how safe a country is before you book your trip. I’m assuming you’re smart enough to stay out of war zones. You still need to check for emergency travel warnings before you get on the plane.

Unfortunately, various places around the globe are a mess right now. Some are beginning to reach boiling point. You don’t want to take your family to a country where they’ll have a target on their back.

Carrying Enough Money to Last You

 

In most western countries, you’ll find an ATM on every street corner. The same thing applies to most developing countries too. Still, you don’t want to end up somewhere with no access to money.

You’ll need to carry enough on your person until reaching a more modern town. I would think about buying products that will help you hide it. Lots of travelers will recommend you wear a money belt.

Just Wait Until You Finally Get There

 

Preparing for trips is sometimes the most difficult part. Don’t let it stop you from getting excited about your adventure. When you get there you’ll have the greatest time of your life.

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