Yeshiva World News

Kiev, Ukraine – The Jewish community of Ukraine is openly embracing the Ukrainian Government’s decision to transfer Sifrei Torah stored in government archives to Jewish communities. The ongoing dispute on this theme broke out about two years ago, when Zhitomir officials confiscated Torah scrolls and religious books from the local Jewish community, voicing absurd claims about its alleged neglect toward historically valuable property.

Since then, Chief Rabbi of Zhitomir Shlomo Wilhelm, along with other Chabad Lubavitch emissaries and Jewish community leaders, fought hard so that these Torah scrolls and religious books would be returned to their rightful and historic home – the local Jewish community.

As well, Rabbi Yehoshua Raskin of Khmelnitskiy and businessman Moshe Anapolsky repeatedly spoke before governmental committees, advocating for the repatriation of these holy Jewish items. They explained the Jewish community’s position that Jewish property should not be collecting dust on the shelves of state archives, but should instead be used to benefit those who observe the traditions of the Jewish people.

Thanks to the concerted and collective efforts of all these Jewish activists, their initiative has finally born fruit. The Government of Ukraine has, at last, adopted a logical solution with the decision to transfer these holy texts back to their respective Jewish communities. The Federation of Jewish Communities of the CIS congratulates Jews of Ukraine on this momentous resolution.

(Source: FJC)

A federal judge is ordering Iran to pay $25 million plus interest to the family of an Israeli soldier kidnapped and executed by Hamas in 1994.

Nachshon Wachsman was a 19-year-old U.S. citizen and corporal in the Israeli Defense Forces when he was taken by four members of Hamas. His abduction damaged Israeli-Palestinian peace negotiations at the time, as he pleaded on videotape for his life.

Wachsman’s mother and six brothers sued Iran and its ministry of information and security, saying Tehran was responsible for the death because it provided training and support to Hamas.

Iran has refused to respond to the lawsuit. U.S. District Judge Ricardo Urbina issued the ruling in favor of the family today.

U.S. District Judge Ricardo Urbina awarded $5 million to Wachsman’s mother and $2.5 million to each brother for their emotional distress, and $5 million to Wachsman’s estate for his potential lost earnings and the pain and suffering he endured for six days while he was held hostage before being executed. The court also ruled that Iran should pay 6 percent annual interest from the date of Wachsman’s murder nearly 15 years ago.

It’s unclear if the family will get any of the money, said Michael Jacobson, a former senior adviser in the Treasury Department’s office of terrorism and financial intelligence.

“It’s been historically pretty difficult to collect against those types of cases,” said Jacobson, now a senior fellow at The Washington Institute for Near East Policy. But he noted that the courts could seize any assets of Iranian entities in the United States to help pay a judgment.

Wachsman was abducted by four members of Hamas on October 9, 1994, as he waited on the side of a public street near the central Israeli city of Lod for a ride to visit a friend. The kidnappers wore black hats and yarmulkes as disguises that allowed them to lure Wachsman into their rented van, which had Israeli license plates.

The abductors blindfolded and bound Wachsman, then took him to a safe house in Bir Nabala, an Arab village just north of Jerusalem, where they videotaped him with his identification card and Israeli army-issued M-16 rifle. They demanded the release of the jailed Hamas leader and 200 other Muslim fundamentalist prisoners by Oct. 14, 1994, in exchange for Wachsman’s life.

On video, Wachsman urged Israel to meet the kidnappers’ demands. “If not, they will kill me,” he said. “I ask you to do all you can so I get out of here alive.”

The kidnapping increased tensions between Israel and Palestine, with Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin cutting off peace negotiations and telling Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat that he was holding him personally responsible for the soldier’s safe return.

Israeli security forces captured one of the abductors, who told them where Wachsman was being held. An Israeli commando unit raided the safe house shortly before the deadline on Oct. 14, and as they attempted to blow down heavily fortified doors with explosives, the kidnappers shot Wachsman. An Israeli soldier and all three remaining kidnappers were killed in an ensuing fire fight.

The court found that several of the Hamas members instrumental in Wachsman’s abduction and execution either received terrorist training by Iran’s Revolutionary Guard or were related to those who received the training.

“The financial support, tactical training and political direction that Iran provided to Hamas proximately caused the abduction and execution of Nachshon,” Urbina concluded.

Wachsman was born in Jerusalem, but was a citizen of the United States. His mother is a U.S. citizen who moved from New York City to Israel in the late 1960s, and his brothers are all dual citizens of the United States and Israel.

The court says it can issue a ruling against Iran from Washington for several reasons, including that this case involves a hostage taking of a U.S. citizen; that the plaintiffs are U.S. citizens; and that similar conduct by U.S. agents within the United States could be subject to a similar lawsuit.

The Wachsman family details in court filings how they have struggled with his violent and public death, with his mother diagnosed with post traumatic stress disorder and on medication and one brother having attempted suicide three times in his grief.

The family also presented evidence that Wachsman, six months out of high school at the time of his death, planned to become a doctor one day. That led to a $3 million judgment for his lost earnings alone.

(Source: Associated Press)

If a survey were to be conducted it would most likely not judge Egged too favorably. The nation’s main provider of bus service continues to disappoint according to most travelers, who are pleased as the long-standing monopoly steadily loses its grip over the nation’s roadways, with many routes being given to private firms.

For the many travelers who know what is like to wait for a bus which finally arrives, but passes without stopping, the following story will bring a sigh of relief and possibly even a smile.

Justice Avraham Tannenbaum feels enough is enough, and he fined Egged NIS 20,000 for not providing service, and even ordered Egged to pay a traveler who was left at a bus stop by a driver who decided not to stop NIS 500.

According to Jerusalem resident Harel Sharabi, he waited for a bus on November 1, 2006, but the driver did not stop. He took his case to court.

Egged maintained the route in question was a long one and by the time the bus arrived in the center of town, the vehicle was filled to capacity. The court however rejected the contention, explaining Egged is compelled to provide public transport, which means passengers may get on and off a bus at every stop. If the buses are overcrowded, then Egged must add additional vehicles to the route in question.

Justice Tannenbaum added if this trend of passing bus stops without stopping is not halted, “appropriate fines” would be levied against the bus cooperative.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)

With assistance by the US government and Jewish organizations in the US, 300 Jews living in Rada, Yemen are scheduled to emigrate by Pesach. Despite efforts by the Jewish Agency to persuade them to move to Israel, one-third have opted to immigrate to the US, which has caused considerable embarrassment to aliyah officials in Israel.

In recent years the Jews of Rada, a city located north of the capital city of Sanaa, have been subject to frequent physical harassment by their Muslim neighbors and the threat to their lives is real. Since last December’s murder of R’ Moshe Yaish- Nahari Hy”d, a prominent figure in the Jewish community, by a local Muslim who insisted he convert to Islam, the US State Department has been in contact with the Yemenite government to ameliorate the situation. The rescue operation has been organized by United Jewish Communities with assistance by organizations involved in resettlement of Jewish refugees.

The Satmar community in New York is also providing special assistance, maintaining constant contact with the kehilloh in Yemen based on the experience Satmar Chassidus has acquired in sheltering and integrating Jews from crisis situations in various countries. Thanks to their efforts, the US government has agreed to allow Jews to settle in Monsey, New York, which offers the chareidi milieu needed to accommodate their way of life.

The US Government is planning to pay flight costs and a fundraising drive by the Jewish Federation will cover housing and integration expenses. Hopefully the operation will be carried out by Pesach to allow them to celebrate in a state of cheirus. One hundred and thirteen Jews are slated to relocate to the US and have already been interviewed by the US Embassy in Sanaa. Between 130 and 150 Jews are expected to move to Eretz Yisroel.

Originally the operation was to remain secret based on fears among US officials that premature publicity could raise the ire of extremists in Yemen, but it was revealed to the media by Richard Wexler, chairman of the Jewish Agency’s North American Council, who attacked American Jewish leaders for cooperating with Satmar, which is considered anti-Zionist. Wexler claimed every effort should be made to have all the Jews settle in Israel. He said bringing Yemenite Jews to the US would be “a black chapter in history.”

Senior officials at the Jewish Agency expressed surprise and disappointment over the fundraising drive, especially the involvement of chairman Howard Riger, since it is the primary funding source for the Jewish Agency’s work to bring immigrants to Israel. “We adamantly oppose the immigration of Jews of any kind to the US, including the group of Jews from Yemen that will not be coming to the State of Israel. All Jews from all of the diaspora communities, including Yemenite Jews, belong in their homeland, Israel.”

In response UJC heads said Jews are being extricated from what can be described as a life-and-death situation. “We decided to assist with the immigration, resettlement and integration of Yemenite Jews whose lives are endangered due to the rise in the number of violent incidents against Jews in the country. We’re working closely with the Jewish Agency to encourage the Jews that remain in Yemen to immigrate to the State of Israel. However, we will work to guarantee the safety of those who chose to immigrate to the US.”

(By: Yated Ne’eman Israel Staff)

The following article appeared on the NBC NY website:

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey announced Thursday that the 1,776-foot edifice that was to replace the World Trade Center will no longer be called the “Freedom Tower.” Instead, it will have the less ornate appellation, “1 World Trade Center.”

Nice.

The timing couldn’t have been better. It follows on the heels of the Pentagon’s ending the War on Terror. You didn’t hear? You must have missed the memo. No, seriously. In a memo, following a request from the Office of Management and Budget, the Department of Defense declared that foreign military and strategic ventures associated with various Muslim-world nations will no longer be called the “War on Terror.” It is now Overseas Contingency Operation.”

Cool.

This, in turn follows Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano’s statement to a “Der Spiegel” journalist earlier this month that she prefers to call terrorism, “man-caused disasters.”

Wonderful.

And, lets not forget that the Obama administration no longer refers to opponents in the Conflict-Formerly-Known-As-The-War-On-Terror as “enemy combatants.” Haven’t quite figured out a proper replacement on that one.

Neat.

Now, this is real change — a seismic cultural shift that not too many people might have expected.

The cumulative effect is clear:The symbolic, rhetorical and strategic signifiers of America’s post 9/11 world are being airbrushed away.

“Freedom Tower?” Gone.

“War on Terror?” Gone.

“Enemy combatants?” Gone.

“Terrorism?” Gone.

Three-thousand Americans? Gone?

Oh, right.

Well, at least they got the memo early.

(Source: NBC New York)

Can you use some extra cash these days? Cash that may already belong to you? New York State might owe you some serious money.

New Yorkers and others can find out Thursday if they are indeed owed money from the state’s $9 billion in unclaimed funds, State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli said.

What type of unclaimed funds? It can be money from old bank accounts never closed to state tax refund checks.

Visit www.osc.state.ny.us. You can also call (800) 221-9311.

Live in New Jersey or Connecticut?

New Jersey Residents can visit the New Jersey Residents Database: http://www.state.nj.us/treasury/taxation/updiscl.shtml

Connecticut residents can search the Connecticut Residents Database: http://www.ctbiglist.com/

(Meir Lewittes – YWN)

Bernard Madoff’s U.K. operations “played a significant role in the operation” of the New York financier’s massive Ponzi scheme, according to a report in The Wall Street Journal.

U.K. authorities investigating the investment swindle believe criminal offences have been committed by people other than Madoff, and they expect to start filing charges within months, according to the newspaper report.

The U.K.’s Serious Fraud Office, which opened a criminal investigation into Madoff’s British business earlier this year, also said his wife Ruth received $2 million in payments from Madoff’s U.K. business in late November, just weeks before he was arrested, the Journal reported.

British investigators are focusing on significant amounts of money that went back and forth between Madoff’s trading operations in the United States and his U.K. operation, called Madoff Securities International Ltd., the paper said.

(Source: MSNBC)

New York City landmarks will go dark for an hour as part of a global “lights out” action for climate change.

The World Wildlife Fund says the many participants in Saturday night’s event include Times Square billboards, and the Chrysler and Empire State buildings. Many Broadway marquee signs also will go off, as well as the decorative “necklaces” on East River bridges.

Residents also are urged to embrace the darkness. Earth Hour begins at 8:30 p.m. Saturday.

Lighting related to public safety will remain on.

(Source: WCBSTV)

Having recently opened a mothers’ rest home they built with a succession of grants totaling $10.5 million, Kiryas Joel officials are now seeking another $2.25 million for the building, this time through the federal stimulus package.

The grant request for the 55-bed center, known as Aishes Chayil D’Kiryas Joel, was included on a list of thousands of projects submitted to the state to claim a piece of the $787 billion package enacted in February.

There is no guarantee Kiryas Joel’s project is even eligible for funding through one of the stimulus programs. The list on which it appears is merely an unedited collection of requests the state has fielded.

A short description provided to the state indicates that Kiryas Joel wants to add 18 beds to Aishes Chayil, a three-story center where Orthodox Jewish mothers pay up to $185 a night to recuperate with their newborns before returning to their homes.

The proposal also calls for construction of a nursery and a “medical arts area.” The 50,000-square-foot building already has a nursery, but the village has yet to build the doctors’ offices that were in their plans from the outset.

Village Administrator Gedalye Szegedin, who is also the executive director of Aishes Chayil, didn’t return a call for comment.

Village officials estimated the project would cost $3.5 million when they began seeking grants in 2001. But the expense gradually ballooned to $11.4 million as the village secured one grant after another from allies in Albany and Washington to pay for the work.

Then-Gov. George Pataki and Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver were the project’s chief benefactors.

(Source: Times Herald Record)

Bronx, NY – An appeals court says a person can be guilty of a hate crime even if they direct violence at a building, rather than a person.

The state Appellate Division made that ruling in the case of a man convicted of trying to bomb a Bronx synagogue in 2000.

Mazin Assi, 29, who is doing five to 15 years in prison, also unsuccessfully argued that the hate crime measure was not yet in effect because it had just been enacted hours earlier.

Congregation Adath Israel was empty except for a caretaker on Oct. 8, 2000, when Assi and three Arab-American friends bought bottles of Devil’s Spring vodka to make Molotov cocktails.

The four men tossed the firebombs vodka bottles and rocks through the glass door of the synagogue on the eve of Yom Kippur.

The homemade bombs did not ignite.

“There is no question that [Assi] chose the synagogue because of the religion or religious practices it represents.” the judges’ 18-page decision read.

After his arrest, Assi who is of Palestinian descent told police he wanted to make a statement about Middle East violence, saying he did it because “the Jews in Riverdale send money” to Israel.

He also railed against Israeli soldiers who, he said, had shot a Palestinian infant.

“The Jews in Riverdale send money over there, and they buy guns and they are killing people,” he reportedly said.

(Source: NY Daily News)