Yeshiva World News

A controversial sculpture of former Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon in a coma is to be exhibited in Tel Aviv.

The life-size sculpture is part of an installation by Israeli artist Noam Braslavsky that depicts Sharon in a hospital bed, with his eyes open, and breathing.

Sharon has been in a coma since he suffered a massive stroke in January 2006.

Braslavsky told CNN: “It’s a semi-mausoleum of Ariel Sharon, which allows people in Israel to mourn. Israelis didn’t have opportunity to mourn and it’s come to be a kind of taboo that nobody touches.”

“What I do with the installation is a kind of very morbid process of giving people a way to confront their feelings,” said Braslavsky. “Feelings are not only adoring, which is part of Israeli society, but also despising.

“The most important thing as an artist is the ability to give to the viewer the possibility to be in a personal moment with this figure that had so much impact in the life of every Israeli — and everybody who lives in this area.”

Braslavsky said the artwork has caused controversy in Israel, but added that his intention was to get people talking about Sharon.

Among those who disapprove of the installation is member of the Knesset, the Israeli parliament, Yoel Hasson. In a statement issued in Hebrew he described the work as “sickening voyeurism.”

The exhibition opens on October 21 at the Kishon Gallery in Tel Aviv.

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(Read More: CNN)

A senior official in Ottawa denied early Wednesday Dubai Police chief Dahi Khalfan Tamim’s claim that Canada had arrested a suspect in the assassination of senior Hamas terrorist Mahmoud al-Mabhouh.

According to The Globe and Mail daily, Canadian officials speculated that the claim was an attempt by Dubai to embarrass Canada amid an ongoing row over airport rights.

One senior Canadian official called Tamim’s claim “baseless,” the newspaper reported, but Canada has yet to issue an official statement on the matter.

Two senior sources at the Canadian Embassy in the UAE told The Globe they did not inform the Dubai police chief about any arrest. “We are trying to verify this information with our colleagues in Ottawa,” one of them told the newspaper. “Tamim said we gave this info to the Dubai police, and we didn’t.”

On Tuesday Tamim told Al Jazeera that the suspect was believed to be one of the men caught on the security cameras of the Al-Bustan Rotana Hotel wearing white clothes and holding a tennis racket, while entering the elevator on this way to Mabhouh’s room.

Tamim said he had been informed that Canada would send a representative to Dubai to provide further information, but did not know when a debriefing would take place.

Assassins killed al-Mabhouh in his Dubai hotel room in January, a hit widely blamed on Israeli intelligence agents. The large-scale operation involved a ring of suspects who wore disguises and held passports from countries including Britain, France, Germany, and Australia.

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(Source: Ynet)

An amended law goes into effect Wednesday that requires motorists to remove all ice and snow from their vehicles before traveling on the roads. Violators face tickets and fines.

Motorists previously faced tickets if property damage or injuries occurred as a result of failing to remove ice and snow.

Fines for violating the new law range from $25 to $75. The fines increase to $200 to $1,000 when injuries or property damage occur.

Commercial motor vehicle drivers face fines ranging from $500 to $1,500 for each offense.

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(Source: NJ Star Ledger)

The trial of Yoel Zev ben Mirel Risa Chava Goldstein, the third Chassidishe youngster imprisoned in Japan, is currently in session. Askonim are being cautiously optimistic. On the first day of questioning, Rav Levy, Mashgiach of Satmar Yeshiva in Bnei Brak, took the stand. He testified about the excellent character of the boys, and how they were considered among the top students in the Yeshiva. He also noted that the boys asked permission from the hanhallah before they traveled. Permission was granted, as everyone was under the impression that the boys were to be transporting Judaica antiques.

Yoel Zev was brought to the witness stand shortly afterwards. He seemed quite confident and self assured. At one point in the trial, the prosecution began questioning him about his knowledge of the secular world. He was asked about sports, celebrities, and athletes. It was apparent that he had no clue about what any of these were.

The judge himself joined in the questioning, asking Yoel Zev if he had ever heard of the Olympics. Yoel Zev answered that he did indeed hear of it, and that he thought it was a type of car. With that answer, the entire courtroom, including the judge, burst into laughter. It became obvious that Yoel Zev and his friends indeed lived sheltered lives and had no knowledge of even the most basic worldly matters. Certainly, they were completely innocent of any knowledge of illegal drug trafficking.

For reasons unknown to the askonim who are involved in this case, a new judge was assigned to Yoel Zev’s trial just last week. The askonim are optimistic. The judge seems to be very interested in the facts and details of the case, and it is hoped that he will render a fair and honest judgement.

Meanwhile, klal yisroel is urged to continue davening on behalf of Yoel Zev. As today is the yahr-zeit of Rachel Imeinu, it is a day that is especially auspicious for our tefillos to be answered favorably. As this young man’s life literally hangs in the balance, it is incumbent on each of us to storm the Heavens on his behalf.

In regards to the sentences of the other Bochrim: The Japanese court sentenced Yosef Banda to 5 years imprisonment and a $40,000. He was transferred to Israel to complete his sentence in March of 2010. After calculating time served, he still has a bit over 13 months that will be completed in the Nitzan Prison in Israel.

Yakov Yosef ben Reizel was sentenced to 6 years with no drug charges, only for being negligent. His appeal trial is scheduled for November 1.

The tzibur is requested to continue including Yosef ben Ita Rivka, Yoel Zev ben Mirel Reesa Chava and Yaakov Yosef ben Raizel in tefillos.

IMPORTANT NOTE: CLICK HERE TO BE MEKAYEM PIDYON SHIVUYIM IN ASSISTING THE BOCHRIM STILL IN JAPAN PRISON!!

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(Yehuda Drudgestein – YWN)

A Bronx precinct commander is under investigation after subordinates complained he fixed parking tickets for favorites, sources said.

Internal Affairs Bureau investigators are questioning officers who handle parking tickets in the 52nd Precinct, which is run by Deputy Inspector John D’Adamo, sources said.

“The allegations were he fixed tickets for friends and family, but was a hard-ass for everyone else,” said a police source familiar with the probe.

IAB officials are interviewing lower-ranking officers in the Bedford Park-Norwood stationhouse first before working their way up the chain of command, sources said.

“Whether it is true, or just griping against a new boss who demands people actually work, that remains to be seen,” the source said.

D’Adamo, who has not been interviewed, could not be reached for comment. He assumed command of the precinct a year ago. The NYPD had no immediate comment.

In late September, the IAB began an audit of ticket activity in all 12 Bronx precincts, pulling all summonses going back to August 2009, sources said.

The audit was sparked by complaints in the 52nd Precinct and allegations of ticket-fixing by police union delegates in the 40th Precinct in Mott Haven, sources said.

The allegations in the 40th Precinct had surfaced during an unrelated, more serious investigation into reports of drug-dealing by a uniformed officer.

That officer, who was placed on modified duty, complained precinct cops were fixing one another’s tickets.

The IAB is also scrutinizing the 45th Precinct in Throgs Neck, because so many cops and firefighters live within its boundaries, sources said.

“That’s more of a fishing expedition,” another source said. “But woe be it if they find a lot of tickets that somehow ‘went missing’ along the way.”

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(Source: NY Daily News)

Canadian police have arrested a suspect in the assassination of a Hamas terrorist in Dubai but offered Dubai police no information on the matter, the Gulf emirate’s police chief said on Tuesday.

Assassins killed Mahmoud al-Mabhouh in his Dubai hotel room in January, a hit widely blamed on Israeli intelligence agents. The large-scale operation involved a ring of suspects who wore disguises and held passports from countries including Britain, France, Germany, and Australia.

Dubai police chief Dahi Khalfan Tamim said he was frustrated by the lack of any details or information from Canadian authorities regarding the arrest.

“We want clarity on this issue. We want the Canadian authorities to tell us exactly what the details are — the thing that is discomfiting is the lack of transparency on this,” he told Reuters.

Tamim said he had been informed that Canada would send a representative to Dubai to provide further information, but did not know when a debriefing would take place.

The Canadian arrest would be the second in the case. A suspected Israeli agent was detained in Poland in August and handed over to Germany, which freed him on bail. The man was suspected of fraudulently obtaining a German passport believed to have been used by a member of the hit squad.

Dubai police accused Israel in February of being behind the hit, a claim echoed by some other governments and which was followed by the expulsion of some Israeli diplomats in several countries. Israel, citing an “ambiguity” policy in intelligence activities, has refused to confirm or deny the allegations.

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(Source: Reuters)