Yeshiva World News

A skinhead plot to assassinate Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama in Tennessee has been thwarted by the ATF.

In court records unsealed tonight, agents from the American Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) said they had also disrupted what are thought to be related plans to rob a gun store and target an unnamed but predominantly African-American high school in a murder spree.

The agency said the alleged attack also threatened to shoot or decapitate 102 black people in the state of Tennessee. 

The plot was apparently being planned by two neo-Nazi skinheads who have been detained by US police.

Brooklyn – The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) is encouraging New Yorkers to get a flu shot. For most people, the flu is a nuisance that means a week or more of headaches and coughs, but for some people it can be a serious illness. In 2006, the flu and pneumonia were associated with over 2,500 deaths in New York City; it is the third leading cause of death in New York City.

“Flu shots can significantly reduce the number of deaths and hospitalizations per year, and that is why I am happy to work with the Department of Health to make flu shots readily available to everyone in the city of New York,” Felder stated.

DOHMH recommends that people 50 and older, children ages 6 months to five years, people with chronic health conditions, pregnant women and health care workers get a flu shot every year.

DOHMH will offer flu shots citywide at clinics and health care facilities throughout the flu season. Next Monday, November 3rd from 9:30- 2:30, there will be flu shots available at Sephardic Bikur Holim at 425 Kings Highway. You must call them at 718-787-1800 for an appointment. In addition, there are flu outreach programs in many of our senior centers as well as a number of locations where you can walk in to get a flu shot. Call my district office at 718-853-2704 for more information.

(YWN Desk – NYC)

Today, the Federal Bureau of Investigation released statistics which indicated that 7,624 criminal incidents involving 9,006 offenses were reported in 2007 as a result of bias toward a particular race, religion, ethnicity/national origin, or physical or mental disability. Hate Crime Statistics, 2007, published by the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reporting Program, includes data from hate crime reports submitted by law enforcement agencies throughout the nation.

The 2007 statistics are down about 1 percent from last year. The decline was driven by decreases in the two largest categories of hate crimes – crimes against race and religion.

The data released today is consistent with previous years. Racial bias remained the most common motive, accounting for more than half of all reported hate crimes. Blacks, and Jews were the most frequent victims of hate crimes, the report found.

More than a third of all hate crime incidents were categorized as vandalism or property destruction. Intimidation was the second most common hate crime, followed by simple assault.

The report was based on data drawn from 13,241 law enforcement agencies nationwide, covering about 85 percent of the nation’s population. By comparison, the broader crime report the FBI puts out every year draws data from about 17,000 law enforcement agencies.

Hate Crime Statistics, 2007, includes the following information:

*Of the 7,621 single-bias incidents, 50.8 percent were motivated by a racial bias, 18.4 percent were motivated by a religious bias, 16.6 percent were motivated by bias, and 13.2 percent were motivated by an ethnicity/national origin bias. One percent involved a bias against a disability.

*There were 5,408 hate crime offenses classified as crimes against persons in 2007. Intimidation accounted for 47.4 percent of crimes against persons, simple assaults for 31.1 percent, and aggravated assaults for 20.6 percent. Nine murders were reported as hate crimes.

*There were 3,579 hate crime offenses classified as crimes against property; most of these (81.4 percent) were acts of destruction/damage/vandalism. The remaining 18.6 percent of crimes against property consisted of robbery, burglary, larceny theft, motor vehicle theft, arson, and other offenses.

*Of the 6,965 known offenders, 62.9 percent were white and 20.8 percent were black. The race was unknown for 9.8 percent, and other races accounted for the remaining known offenders.

*The largest percentage (30.5 percent) of hate crime incidents occurred in or near homes. Also, 18.9 percent took place on highways, roads, alleys, or streets; 11.3 percent happened at schools or colleges; 6.0 percent in parking lots or garages; and 4.1 percent in churches, synagogues, or temples. The remaining 29.3 percent of hate crime incidents took place at other specified locations, multiple locations, or other/unknown locations.

(Yehuda Drudgestein – YWN)

A metal menorah has been stolen by vandals from a memorial to Holocaust victims.

“The menorah was part of a commemorative memorial near which thousands of people gather each year on Victory Day to pay homage to the Holocaust victims,” the Federation of the Jewish Communities of the Commonwealth of Independent States said in a statement today.

The Jewish community of Pervomaisk reported the incident to police. An investigation has been launched but so far police have no leads.

Pervomaisk chief rabbi Levi-Yitshak Perelshtein said he is inclined to link the disappearance of the menorah to anti-Semitic activity which he said has somewhat intensified recently. Earlier, insulting inscriptions were painted on the fence of a local Jewish cemetery.

At the same time, the rabbi does not rule out that the menorah was stolen by metal hunters.

(Source: Interfax)

YWN has been informed that a vehicle belonging to a Flatbush Hatzolah volunteer was stolen this morning (Monday), from the area of Avenue M and East 26th Street. The vehicle is a black Infinity with NY License Plate # 238EMTP, and has life saving equipment inside. If seen, please contact Hatzolah at 718-230-1000, or 718-376-1900 immediately.

For 20 years, Barack Obama Did Not Right the Wrongs of the Reverend Wright’s Racist and anti-Israel Rants.  If Obama couldn’t stand up for what’s right, how is he going to be the president of the United States?

Assemblyman Dov Hikind (D-Brooklyn) today endorsed Senator John McCain for President of the United States, saying, “It’s about character, and Barack Obama can not look the American people in the eye and say that he did not know that his Reverend was an unrepentant racist – the man who consecrated his marriage, who baptized his children, who was his spiritual advisor and confidante. It’s not plausible, it’s disingenuous, and it disqualifies him from ably serving as the president of the United States.

“The Reverend Jeremiah Wright repeatedly lauded Louis Farrakhan, conferring upon him honorific titles, often sounding like a devoted disciple of Farrakhan’s. Farrakhan called Judaism the ‘synagogue of Satan.’ And Rev. Wright echoed the anti-Semitism, blaming Israel for 9/11. Wright said, ‘You don’t see the connection between 9-11-01 and the Israeli Palestinian?…..something wrong?….You wanna buy my glasses?’

Obama did nothing.  He said nothing.  Not for one year.  Not for five years…not even after 10 years.  For 20 years, Obama did not protest his pastor’s racist tantrums.  That is a catastrophic error in judgement and brings into question whether he has the integrity, the strength of character and the discerning judgment to lead our great country.

Obama issued a disclaimer on Reverend Wright, contending he had not heard the virulent anti-America and anti-Israel sermons. How can he disclaim two decades of Wright’s disgraceful diatribes when he not only said nothing but in fact supported Reverend Wright’s church in word and deed?  For this alone, Obama disqualified himself for the presidency.  Obama was wrong on Wright and he is wrong for President.

Obama’s view on world politics is frightening.  “I cannot support Obama’s willingness to sit down personally with Ahmadinejad, or other leaders who call for the destruction of Israel, without preconditions. Our country needs a President with a backbone and the strength to face our enemies.  If Barack Obama didn’t have the courage and wisdom to denounce his racist reverend in Chicago, how on earth will he deal with America’s enemies who want to destroy everything America stands for?”

“As a proud American and a proud Jew, I will cast my ballot for President for John McCain.  Barack Obama has not done anything to deserve my vote.”

(Click on images to ENLARGE) It used to be that yeshiva bochurim were not necessarily on the cutting edge when it came to Hilchos Shabbos.  Now, thanks to Mifaal Hilchos Shabbos program, a program partially sponsored by Tzeirei Agudas Yisroel, that is no longer the case.  This past Isru Chag, close to two hundred Yeshiva students gathered in the Ateres Chynka Simcha hall to take an extremely difficult exam in hilchos Shabbos – specifically the laws of Hatmana, Sheyiha, Chazara, and Afiah. The Yeshiva students came from throughout the greater metropolitan area and beyond.  They drove in from Monsey, Far Rockaway, Lakewood, Nassau County, and Queens to take a written examination on this complex area of halacha.  “From the start the idea was received very enthusiastically by the bochurim and the hanhalla of the Yeshivos,” said Rabbi Pinchas Pilchick the national director of the program.  The attendees prepared diligently for months, studying from the world renowned series on Hilchos Shabbos entitled “Klalim B’Hilchos Shabbos.”

The test included 46 multiple choice questions and fifteen essay questions across a very broad spectrum of Hilchos Shabbos.  Students prepared well for the exam.  Prior to the exam a Long Beach Yeshiva student was quizzed as to whether there was a prohibition of Hatmana regarding keeping ice cream cold.  “According to Rashi, yes, but we do not paskin like his opinion,” was the rapid response.

“Boruch Hashem, it has been three years since we have launched this program, and we have Bochurim from over forty Yeshivos who take off from their own time to study and be tested on this material.  It demonstartes that Bochurim see the importance of knowing Hilchos Shabbos,” said Rabbi Yosef Hirsch, the founder of the Mivchan HaShabbos program of the Mifaal. “It is a zchus to be a part of it.”

This year, for the first time, the multiple choice section of the exam was marked electronically by computer.  This allowed for students who wished to see how they performed on this section of their exam to examine it right after the test.  The technology will be furthered for the next round of examinations.

Anyone who received a perfect score on the exam will receive a $150 cash prize.  The next tier of scorers will receive a $100 cash prize. A Yeshiva of Far Rockaway mother expressed her pride in her son’s accomplishment saying, “He worked hard and he knows the material.” The next test will take place on Sunday after Isru Chag of Pesach. For more information call the Mivchan HaShabbos office at 732-363-0669.

(Exclusive to YWN by Yair Hoffman – Lezecher Nishmas his parents: Nassan Yosef Ben
Moshe and Sara Bas Eliyahu)

Talk about term limits!

Half a dozen top NYPD commanders will be forced to retire soon because of Gov. Paterson’s recent veto of a bill that would have allowed them to work past the mandatory retirement age, The Post has learned.

The Sept. 26 veto sank a bill that would have barred “the mandatory retirement or separation from service on the basis of age of police officers age 65 or less.”

Had the governor signed the bill, NYPD commanders would have been entitled to remain on the force for three more years, beyond the current mandatory retirement age of 62.

The law would have been applicable to all police agencies throughout the state – and that’s a key reason why Paterson balked at signing it.

The veto means the NYPD will lose a significant portion of its top hierarchy, including three of its nine so-called superchiefs, a position outranked only by the chief of department and the police commissioner himself, sources said.

Three other two-star assistant chiefs will be forced to pack it in, sources said.

Those who must soon retire include:

* Chief of Detectives George Brown.

* Chief of Transportation Michael Scagnelli.

* Assistant Chief Lowell Stahl, commanding officer of the Office of the Police Commissioner.

* Assistant Chief William Crawley, second-in-command of the Internal Affairs Bureau.

* Chief of Patrol Robert Giannelli.

* Assistant Chief Edwin Young, second-in-command of the Office of Chief of Department.

Public records and informed sources say Stahl will be the first to go, as he must retire sometime before early December, when he turns 63.

His departure will likely be followed by those of Scagnelli, Crawley, Young and Brown, all who must turn in their shields by next August.

Giannelli, the youngest member of the group, won’t have to retire until March 2010, when he turns 63, records indicate.

The legislation Paterson rejected was sponsored by two Brooklyn legislators, Assemblyman Alec Brook-Krasny and state Sen. Martin Golden, a former NYPD cop and chairman of the Senate Aging Committee.

Paterson claimed the bill was “significantly flawed,” insisting it “imposes a cookie-cutter approach on a host of state and local police forces” that now have different retirement rules.

(Source: NY Post)

New York – Is the kosher market recession proof?

This is a question many are asking in light of the continued expansion of many retail markets that cater to kosher as well as the new openings in recent weeks in many areas, particularly in the New York metro area. Even family-owned markets are into the upgrade mode with an increasing number of younger consumers preferring modernized and well laid out stores.

According to Michael Stoler, whose real estate report was a prominent feature in the now defunct New York Sun and on WINS 1010, “the credit crisis, recession and inflation is having only a limited effect on the opening of new gourmet groceries and food markets.” While the kosher market points to the opening of such super modern stores as the Pomegranate, Stoler lists the 69,000 square foot Whole Foods Market that opened in July at Greenwich and Warrent Street in the Tribeca section of Lower Manhattan. The store represents the fifth Whole Food Market in Manhattan that feature many kosher certified products. While some of the new stores were planned well before the recent economic downturn, Stoler and industry officials say that many new stores are being planned. Trader Joe’s is said to be planning a large store in the Williamsburg section of Brooklyn.

Some kosher sources are calling the increased tempo of modernizing and upgrading stores “a bug that cannot be stopped.” They say that even small mom & pop marts are now looking to offer shoppers a better and “more modern” shopping experience.

(Source: Kosher Today)

In an article for Newsweek, NYC Mayor Bloomberg said there’s nothing the next US president can’t achieve if he refuses to be bound by Washington’s rules and pursues a bold bipartisan agenda.

The magazine said with the economy dominating election season it asked Bloomberg to write a memo to the new president outlining the risks and opportunities ahead.

Bloomberg’s letter stated that leading the country out of a recession and laying the foundation for prosperity can’t be done in a few months or with regulatory reform alone.

He wrote reforming the structures that govern financial institutions likely will be the hot topic of the next Congress. But he said it’s critical John McCain or Barack Obama not allow Congress to confuse regulatory reform with an economic agenda.

Bloomberg offered advice on infrastructure investment, green energy and immigration reform.

Bloomberg also wrote that if the new president needs help — Mayor Mike is just a phone call away.

(Source: MyFoxNY)

Mining industry entrepreneur Joseph Gutnick will give the keynote address at the 3rd Annual Mining the Isa Conference at the Mount Isa Civic Centre on 17-18 November.

Gutnick, President and CEO of Legend International Holdings, will speak on the world’s new appetite for phosphate and its effect on the Mt Isa region.

Demand for phosphate, used primarily in agricultural fertilizers has escalated in recent months in response to world wide food shortages and higher food prices.

Legend International Holdings recently entered into a long term agreement to supply phosphate from its Lady Annie project in Queensland to Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative Limited (IFFCO), India’s largest fertilizer enterprise, a cooperative with over 50 million farmers associated with it.

The conference program includes presentations from established mining companies in the Mount Isa region, junior companies, and infrastructure stakeholders including water, energy and transport companies.

Among them are Steve de Kruijff, Chief Operating Officer, Xstrata Copper who will give an update on operations and Mark Lynch, Managing Director of Citgold Corporation, who will report on the Charters Towers goldfield development.

Betty Kiernan, the state Member for Mount Isa and Bob Katter, the Federal Member for Kennedy, will also address the conference.

It is also being reported that East Perth-based North Australian Diamonds has appointed former Joseph Gutnick as its executive chairman ahead of a planned $6 million capital raising for work on its Merlin diamond mine.

Mr Gutnick, who currently serves as chief executive of phosphate company Legend International, will also underwrite a planned capital raising through his company, Yahalom International Resources Corporation.

North Australian plans to raise $6 million through the placement of 750 million shares at 0.8 cents each in order to partially complete a detailed feasibility study on the project, located in the Northern Territory.

Current North Australian chair John Hopkins will continue to act as a non-executive of the company, while Tom Reddicliffe will retain his chief executive role but retire from his board seat.

Meanwhile, Shmais reported last week that during Hakofos on Simchas Torah day held in the Lubavitcher Rebbe’s room, the Gabbai made announcements of the many people who donated money to Lubavitch Mosdos – Merkos L’inyonei Chinuch & Machne Yisroel for the purchase of Ata Horaisa. Among those whose name was called out, was Yossel Gutnick, who donated a whopping $1,000,000.00.

(Yehuda Drusgestein – YWN)