Yeshiva World News

Once again the chareidi tzibur is in the Israeli media, but this time, it is not the local population but chareidim in North America.

When over 60,000 Jews gather in a stadium to listen to the words of rabbis, this makes news, especially in Israel where the mainstream assimilated non-jewish media is limited in its ability and/or desire to understand Torah concepts. The reports on the CitiField Asifa appear in most newspapers and electronic media, but they do not speak about the value of rabbonim shlita and parents seeking to protect the next generation from the dangers by using filtered internet, but the reports inaccurately speak of the “chareidim against the internet”.

Not too many years ago, non-Jews would also have come out against the free and inhibited access to anything and everything that the internet offers, but rather than commending the community for seeking to set a filter in place, permitting one to benefit from the wealth of good while protecting against the unwanted dangerous content, the story bylines prefer to portray the chareidim as a primitive backwards tzibur. In short, if the chareidim are in favor of something, the Israeli media by its very nature is opposed.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)

The Knesset Law Committee on Tuesday approved a private bill that calls for uping the minimum marriageable age from 17 to 18. The bill includes a provision permitting the Family Court to permit younger persons to wed under unique circumstances.

MK Zahav Gal-On, who heads the left-wing Meretz Party, stated “there is a population group that marries off their children younger, but only registers the marriage later on. This results in more divorce, severe financial hardship and family violence. “I have heard of cases, testimony that some are compelled to wed and they are not left to decide for themselves”.

MK (Shas) Nissim Ze’ev called the bill “anti-religious and an outrage”.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)

The Taxi and Limousine Commission is planning hearings on whether to raise taxi fares by as much as 20 percent.

City officials announced Monday that a public hearing is scheduled for May 31 to consider raising fares by 16 percent to 20 percent.

Taxi owners and drivers have petitioned the commission to raise fares. Industry groups have cited high gasoline prices and the new livery fleet in the outer-boroughs.

TLC Commissioner David Yassky said the commission will consider their petitions over the next couple of months.

“The fare hasn’t changed since 2006, so it is reasonable for taxi drivers and fleet owners to put this on the table,” Yassky said.

Base fare is now $2.50 plus $2 a mile. According to the Daily News, an average trip of 2.76 miles costs a rider $11.82. That would go up to more than $14 with a 20 percent hike.

(Source: NBC New York)

A new era in space exploration dawned Tuesday as a slender rocket powered into the dark Florida sky before sunrise, carrying the first private spacecraft bound for the International Space Station.

“We’re now back on the brink of a new future, a future that embraces the innovation the private sector brings to the table,” NASA Administrator Charles Bolden said. “The significance of this day cannot be overstated.”

The unmanned SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket blasted off from Cape Canaveral, Florida at 3:44 a.m., carrying 1,300 pounds of food, clothing and scientific experiments on a demonstration mission to gauge the company’s ability to safely and efficiently deliver supplies to astronauts staffing the orbiting station.

If successful, the test could open the door to a wave of commercial exploitation of space.

Tuesday’s launch marks the culmination of six years of preparation to bring commercial flights to the space station following the retirement of NASA’s space shuttle fleet last year. It’s backed by entrepreneur Elon Musk, the founder of PayPal.

“Every bit of adrenaline in my body released at that moment,” Musk said of the launch in a statement released by NASA. “People were really giving it their all. For us, it was like winning the Super Bowl.”

The rocket launched without a hitch following a flawless countdown that came three days after a faulty valve on one of the rocket’s engines forced a last-second postponement.

At 180 feet tall and 12 feet around, the Falcon 9 rocket is tiny in comparison to the football-field long Saturn V rockets that carried Apollo spacecraft into orbit. It carries the company’s Dragon cargo capsule capable of carrying 13,228 pounds of supplies into orbit, the company said.

The capsule is scheduled to perform a series of maneuvers that should bring it within reach of the space station’s robotic arm on Friday. If NASA gives the go-ahead, the crew will use the arm to attach the capsule to the station and begin unloading supplies, according to SpaceX.

It will remain attached to the station for two weeks. It will then plummet back into the atmosphere and splash into the Pacific Ocean off the California coast, according to SpaceX.

The cargo manifest for the trip includes 674 pounds of food, clothing and miscellaneous supplies, 46 pounds of supplies for use in science experiments, 271 pounds of cargo bags for use in future flights and 22 pounds of computer equipment.

It will return with science experiments, hardware and used gear.

The launch is an important step for NASA and the United States, which currently has no means of independently reaching space. NASA relies on the Russian space agency to ferry U.S. astronauts to orbit.

READ MORE: CNN

Misaskim received much praise at the conclusion of the Asifa at Citi Field. The acclaim originated from individuals within the law-enforcement community who has been working hand-in-hand with Misaskim for months prior to the event.

One security official expressed his admiration to Misaskim regarding the politeness and respectful attitude of the audience. He remarked that, despite the fact that most of the participants don’t normally visit a ball park, “They navigated very skillfully and found their seats with no trouble at all.”

Citi Field maintains a diverse work force, including its Event Planning Staff. They did a superb job throughout the planning stages. Most of these individuals have had little or no previous exposure to the orthodox community. “Everyone came away with a very positive impression,” said one staff member.

Members of the more than 28 agencies and departments involved in planning and executing the event echoed similar praise. They were astounded by the respectful and dignified behavior displayed by the attendees. The orderliness was a true Kiddush Hashem. The police department created an inner circle on the field that was declared a non-trespassing zone. Not one person attempted to cross the line. Members of the FBI also remarked on the absolute quiet and derech eretz that was evident while rabbonim spoke.

Moving more than 42,000 people in and out of the arena was no small feat. NYPD Chief of Departments, Joseph Esposito, assigned hundreds of officers to coordinate an orderly flow. They worked in conjunction with Traffic Control, Highway Control, Intelligence, Crowd Control, Aviation and several other agencies. The authorities also had to arrange parking for thousands of cars and — according to an official count — 698 busses. Boruch Hashem the entire operation went smoothly, without any significant incidents.

Misaskim wishes to express its gratitude, appreciation, and admiration to all the officials working behind the scenes to ensure security at the Asifa. It is evident that the tireless efforts of Assistant Chief Diane Pizzuti of Patrol Borough Queens North and Captain Tom Conforti, Commanding Officer of Citi Field, were very effective. Mike Rodriguez of the USTA (United States Tennis Association) and Vice President of Security at Citi Field, Rob Kasden, also went out of their way to to ensure that every detail was addressed.

Kasden offered special accommodation for elderly rabbonim in the most respectful manner. He created a frozen zone so that they were able to easily and quickly enter and exit the arena, and he also reserved facilities specifically for them.

Toward the end of the Asifa, Chief Diana Pizzuti of Patrol Borough Queens North, who oversaw the security coordination, was so touched by the self-discipline and co-operation of the attendees that she walked into the arena at the time of maariv to personally witness the crowd singing and davening in unison.

It is apparent that all agencies involved in organizing the Asifa are pleased with the outcome. Misaskim will now draw on its Asifa experience to help plan another gathering – one that promises to be twice as large. The Siyum Hashas will IY”H take place in August, and Misaskim is already gearing up to assist Agudath Yisraek of America in planning this monumental and memorable event.

(YWN Desk – NYC)

The family that was killed in fatal crash R”L resided in Moshav Bar-Yochai in the north, near Kever Rashbi.

The niftarim are Rabbi Rafael Atias, 42, principal of a Tzfat yeshiva, his wife Yehudit, 42, Avia (female-17), a student in a Meron ulpana (high school), twins Elyashiv and Neria Shimon (16), Shira (11), Ta’ir (girl-8) and Noah (girl – 4). Levaya details have not yet been released.

Please continue being mispallel for the lone survivor of the family, Rachel Efrat bat Yehudit.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)

The 7-year-old girl who survived the accident in Tiveria during the night, 1 Sivan 5772, told rescue workers “I tried to wake abba and ima but they would not get up”.

As was reported earlier, she was the only survivor, her entire family killed in the crash R”L.

Area resident 52-year-old Eli Lankry told Walla News “I was in bed watching TV and at about 01:20 my wife and I heard screams and then an awful smashing noise. We did not understand what was taking place. When I got out of bed to look out the window I saw a vehicle in flames. I ran out without a shirt but the vehicle was engulfed in flames. I could not do a thing. It looked like a battlefield. The entire area was scorched.

“Suddenly, I saw a small girl running to me shouting ‘they are all dead! There’re all dead!’ She appeared quite confused. I gave her a hug and brought her to police that already arrived on the scene. I went back to the burning vehicle and began shouting at the people, but realized there did not hear me – it was too late, they were all dead. I began looking in the area of the vehicle for people who may have survived. Sadly, only the girl survived. It was horrific. It was total silence”.

Tiveria Mayor Zohar Oved arrived at the scene too, simply stating the “sight was catastrophic”.

A neighbor of the family, Yigal Lugosi told Galei Tzahal (Army Radio) “The news arrived in our community during the early hours. The entire community is shocked and stunned. We simply cannot digest the magnitude of what occurred. Anywhere you walk you hear people crying and screams. It’s a tragedy. It was a wonderful family. The tragedy cannot be described. The community is simply torn apart”.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem – Photo Ichud Hatzalah)

The accident claimed eight lives. There was only one survivor from the passengers of the vehicle, a 7-year-old girl who escaped with relatively minor injuries, but her entire family is gone.

The call arrived at Ichud Hatzalah at 01:25, reports of a vehicular accident on Derech Menachem Begin near Ulpana Junction in Tiveria. It appears the driver of the minivan lost control of the vehicle. The survivor, the girl, was found in the bushes, thrown from the vehicle which was engulfed in flames. She was transported to Poriah Hospital in Tiveria, listed in moderate condition. She was moved to Rambam Medical Center in Haifa during the night.

Tiveria police received a call for a vehicle with brake failure, dispatching a unit. While they were on the phone the dispatcher heard screams from the vehicle and the arriving unit saw the minivan crash and flip over, then burst into flames.

Firefighters, EMS and rescue personnel were horrified as the site after the flames were extinguished. The magnitude of the tragedy quickly became apparent to all on the scene, as well as the reality that there was nothing to do but to address the issue of kovod ha’meis.

The victims appear to be from one family, chareidim from the north, parents in their early 40s and their six children, a 17-year-old daughter, 16-year-old twins, 11-year-old girl, 9-year-old girl, and a three-year-old girl z”l.

Gilad Chanun, who works with both Ichud Hatzalah and Zaka told the media that the sight was simply too painful to describe in words, adding that despite his experience and having seen much tragedy, this was simply too painful to attempt to describe.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem – Photo Ichud Hatzalah)

In March 2012 YWN-ISRAEL reported that five chareidim was questioned by police on suspicion of involvement in a fraud operation connected to the Chief Rabbinate of Israel smicha (rabbinical ordination) exam. The suspects allegedly took the exam on behalf of the real candidates who felt they were incapable of passing the test.

Since that time, over 10 avreichim have been questioned and are suspected of taking part in the fraudulent operation, impersonating candidates and taking the Chief Rabbinate ordination qualification exam. Some of the suspects were questioned by fraud division police for a number of hours on Sunday. Police believe there are others involved as well.

Attorney Tzvi Rosenthal, who represents some of the suspects, told the media he simply cannot respond to questions pertaining to the ongoing investigation because doing so may be viewed as interfering with an ongoing police investigation.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)

In what is being disputed as a matter of taste over a matter of law, the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles revoked a former U.S. Army sergeant’s choice of vanity license plate letters, saying that the seven-letter series “ICUHAJI” is an affront to American citizens of Arab descent.

The letters spell a derogatory phrase sometimes used by service members.

The sergeant, Sean Bujno, a veteran of two tours in Iraq who was honorably discharged in 2009, responded to the determination by pursuing legal action against the state, contending his right to free speech – and due process – was stampeded by the DMV, the Virginian-Pilot reports.

“The government can’t be charged with deciding what we can and cannot say,” Bujno’s lawyer, Andrew D. Meyer, told the Virginian-Pilot. “There are going to be people who don’t like a certain message, but that is why there is the First Amendment.”

Sean Bujno, of Chesapeake, could not be reached for comment. Meyer told the newspaper that Bujno intended the plate not to offend but as a message of solidarity to his fellow soldiers.

The letters, the DMV noted, can be read as “I see you Haji,” a derogatory phrase U.S. service members have been known to use in war zones abroad to describe Arab insurgents. The agency has declined to speak publicly about the specific case.

Bujno apparently got the plates four years ago and affixed them to his car, but it was only lately that the DMV determined they were of an offensive nature, according to the Virginian-Pilot.

However, the legal director for the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee said the DMV made the right call.

“What else could he mean? I mean, we aren’t hiding,” Abed Ayoub told the paper. “What if it was ICUJEW? Would we tolerate that? Absolutely not.”

(Source: Fox News)

Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman released a statement in response to a South Africa policy decision to ban imports originating in communities throughout Yehuda and Shomron, unwilling to permit them to be labeled “Made in Israel”.

The foreign minister pointed out the shift in S. African police vis-à-vis Israel over recent years, the shift to the anti-Israel position, adding “I am saddened that the country that suffered for years from racism is not adopting a racist policy against Israel”.

The foreign minister, who is known to speak his mind, added it is no coincidence that the racist Durban Conference was hosted in South Africa as well.

Walla News adds South African Ambassador to Israel Ismail Coovadia simply stopped responding to phone calls and was not available for inquiries from the Foreign Ministry. Ministry officials said the ambassador will be summoned to a reprimand meeting in the coming days following the decision of the marking products from settlements.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)

Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman has signed an agreement with US Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano by which Israel has joined the Global Entry program.

The program facilitates entry for citizens of either country into the other, intended for frequent flyers such as diplomats, businesspeople, or one who simply visits frequently.

Lieberman stated that this is yet another sign of the unique and unshakable bond between the two countries.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)

The Knesset Ministerial Legislation Committee on Sunday, approved a bill banning bikers from wearing headphones.

The bill contains additional safety regulations to protect bike riders, including the need to wear a reflective vest or the like at night, compelling motorists to maintain a minimum distance of 1.5 meters from a bike, and compelling police to designate a bike lane in certain areas.

The bill was prompted by a sharp increase in the number of cyclists that have been struck by vehicles.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)

It’s been ranked as the worst major airport in the entire country, but LaGuardia Airport is in for a $3.6 billion face lift.

The central terminal will be torn down piece by piece and rebuilt, CBS 2’s Marcia Kramer reported Monday.

It’s cramped, it’s crowded and it’s dark. It handles 11.5 million passengers a year in a space designed for 8 million, and its gates are too small to handle many big planes.

“Some of the access ways especially ‘D’ are very, very narrow and when you compare it to other airports in the United States it’s pretty dingy,” Woodmere resident Michael Zuckerman said.

“It is dark and it needs renovation for sure,” added passenger Jack Harouni of Sacramento, Calif.

“I avoid this airport as much as I possibly can. I’d rather take transfers when possible rather than fly out of here,” Medford’s Scott Nudelman added.

LaGuardia Airport is definitely the place travelers love to hate, even though it’s the closest to the city. So, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey has heard the complaints and is planning on doing the massive rebuild.

“The central terminal building was a fine facility when it was built in its day. It, today, services millions more people than it was designed to accommodate,” Port Authority Executive Director Pat Foy told CBS 2’s Kramer.

The Port Authority is seeking a private company to foot the lion’s share of the bill, and it’s such a good deal 15 firms have expressed interest, Kramer reported.

“Using private dollars for airport terminals is new to the United States. It is most certainly not new around the world,” Port Authority Deputy Executive Director Bill Baroni said.

The new terminal will also have wider gates so bigger planes that can carry more passengers can land at LaGuardia, officials said.

“The airspace in the region is constrained. One of the ways we can increase capacity here in the New York/New Jersey region, in particular, is to allow larger aircraft to access the central terminal building,” Foy said.

Construction is expected to begin in 2014 and could take as long as eight years because airport officials want to minimize passenger inconvenience.

The LaGuardia overhaul will also include a new parking garage and road improvements.

(Source: WCBSTV)

Subway crime has increased by almost 20 percent this year, fueled by big spikes in robberies and grand larcenies, according to the latest NYPD data.

In the first four months of 2012, crime has risen by 18 percent, as compared with the same period of 2011.

In the first four months of 2011, there were a total of 741 major crimes — rapes, murders, robberies, assaults, burglaries and grand larcenies — reported in the subways. For the first four months of 2012, there have been 876 instances of those crimes — an increase of 18 percent.

The spike is being driven by sharp increases in robberies and grand larcenies, according to NYPD statistics.

Robberies are up from 231 instances in the first four months of 2011 to 294 in the first four months of 2012 — an increase of 27 percent. Grand larcenies increased from 438 in the first four months of last year to 518 in the first four months of 2012. That’s an increase of 18 percent.

There were no murders reported in the same time period for both years. But reported rapes are up in the first four months of this year. In 2011, one rape was reported in the first four months of the year. This year there have been three reported in that period.

(Source: NBC New York)