Yeshiva World News

Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano today traveled to Jerusalem where she met with Israeli President Shimon Peres and other Israeli officials to discuss security-related issues, and signed a Joint Statement on the implementation of the Global Entry trusted traveler program for Israeli citizens with Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman.

“This agreement is part of the United States’ strong and enduring partnership with Israel, dedicated to ensuring the safety and security of both our countries,” said Secretary Napolitano. “Global Entry will expedite the customs and security process for trusted Israeli air travelers arriving in the United States, while maintaining the highest standards of security.”

U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP) Global Entry program allows expedited clearance for pre-approved, low-risk international travelers arriving at U.S. airports, focusing resources on individuals whom we know the least about, while facilitating the flow of lawful people and goods entering the United States. Over the last three years, Global Entry kiosks have been deployed to 25 airports in the United States and seven Pre-Clearance locations in Canada. With nearly 330,000 trusted travelers enrolled directly into Global Entry and more than one million trusted travelers eligible for Global Entry benefits, travelers have used this expedited processing more than 2.3 million times. Travelers who participate in the Global Entry program experience reduced average wait times of 70 percent over travelers going through traditional passport inspection, and more than 75 percent of Global Entry members are processed in under five minutes.

While in Jerusalem, Secretary Napolitano also met with Minister of the Interior Eli Yishai, Minister of Public Security Yitzhak Aharonovich, Israel National Police Commissioner Yochanan Danino and Director of the National Cyber Bureau Dr. Eviatar Matania.

Secretary Napolitano will deliver remarks tomorrow on the Department’s collaboration with international partners to combat terrorism, and facilitate trade and travel at Israel’s International Institute for Counter-Terrorism, and meet with additional counterparts. Secretary Napolitano will then travel to Jordan on May 22-23 where she will deliver remarks on women in security at the Columbia University Middle East Research Center and meet with King Abdullah II, Prime Minister Fayez Tarawneh and additional Jordanian ministers.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

19:34 IL: Magen David Adom has declared a mass causality incident and ordered a major ambulance response following reports of a blaze in an apartment building in Meah Shearim. According to preliminary reports, there are many people trapped inside a burning structure.

19:38: The fire is on Salant Street in Meah Shearim. MDA is treating at least 10 people, apparently in light condition. The blaze appears to have erupted in a machsan (storage area). According to EMS personnel on the scene, there are many people trapped in the burning building.

19:43: The blaze is still out of control and it appears that there may be as many as 20 people trapped inside according to Ichud Hatzalah and other EMS personnel operating on the scene. MDA is treating people for smoke inhalation. Fire and rescue personnel are having a difficult time accessing the building due to the small streets and logistical realities as many vehicles and emergency personnel continue working to extricate trapped individuals.

19:45: The structure has a number of entrances. It is unclear if any or all of the entrances are blocked. Ladders are in place, apparently as firefighters work to extricate people trapped in the building. Zaka reports victims are being treated for smoke inhalation.

20:01: Update from Ichud Hatzalah: The fire erupted in a building on Salant Street opposite Yeshivas Slonim in Meah Shearim. Tens of people were in the building at the time, leading to MDA declaring a multi causality incident (MCI). B’chasdei Hashem, there were no serious injuries and emergency responders managed to get the people out of the building.

The cause of the fire, which began in a storeroom or bomb shelter is unknown at this time.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)

It is now permitted to report that in March 2012, a terror cell was actively working to abduct Israelis in Shomron. ISA (Israel Security Agency – Shin Bet) agents working with the IDF and Israel Police arrested the cell members operating in the Ramallah area after terrorists made numerous attempts to abduct Israelis. They were hoping to take hostages to use them as negotiating pawns towards obtaining the release of imprisoned terrorists.

According to the Shin Bet the cell included nine members. Some are in Shin Bet custody while others are in the custody of PA (Palestinian Authority) security forces. The cell members are identified with the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP). In preparation for their attacks in which they hoped to take hostages they purchased tasers, pepper spray, batons and non-functioning guns. Some were actively engaged in trying to take hostages while others acted as lookouts. They planned to hold their hostages in a cave of their Ramallah hideout. They were going to photograph the prisoner and upload it to the internet and then enter into negotiations towards the release of terrorists imprisoned in Israel. They made several unsuccessful attempts in March 2012, in the Binyamin Regional Council area of Shomron.

On March 11th they tried abducting a driver between Rantis and Kiryat Sefer near Beit Aryeh. They blocked the road and tried to get the driver out of the vehicle but he managed to flee the scene. 24 hours later a female motorist was targeted on the approach road to Maale Levona located in the Gush Shilo area. Once again they blocked the road, compelling the vehicle to stop, pounding on the windshield with blunt objects. Baruch Hashem, here too the intended victim managed to drive off to safety.

On March 15th they targeted their next victim in the area of Givat Assaf. She was traveling with her 8-year-old daughter near Beit El. Here too, she succeeded in fleeing B’chasdei Hashem.

Criminal indictments were already been handed down against the cell commander, Mahmud Ramadan along with the other cell members in Israeli custody. Prosecution officials report the Gilad Shalit release and the prisoner hunger strike has given terrorists additional motivation to abduct Israelis.

Mrs. Yael Shachak spoke to Walla News, describing her ordeal.

“It was clear to me from the first moment that they wanted to murder us. We escaped with our lives through miracles. I already could see the end coming”, she explains as she was targeted by the cell as she drove with her eight-year-old daughter.

Now, today, she realizes the PFLP terrorists planned to take her and her daughter hostage. Mrs. Shachak, a resident of Beit El, explained that “Hearing of the cell and its capture I began shaking, aware of what could have been”.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)

As 60,000 Jews get ready to pack both CitiField and Arthur Ashe Stadiums in Queens, Misaskim is urging people to please keep in mind the following important items.

There are only approximately 3,500 parking spots at the stadiums, and parking is on a “first come, first serve” basis.

More than 750 buses are expected to be bringing people to the Asifa.

There are other events scheduled in the area during the day, and traffic is expected to be extremely heavy in the area of the stadiums.

People are encouraged to travel by mass transportation. The #7 Train has a stop in the parking lot at CitiField, and would be the best means of travel. People driving from other areas may want to consider parking their cars a few stops away, and then taking the subway for a few stops.

There will be zero tolerance by the NYPD for people parking illegally, and the NYPD will be dispatching many tow-trucks to the area to enforce parking laws. If you would like to find your car at the end of the program, please make sure to park legally – or you will be spending the next 12 hours trying to locate your car in an NYPD ‘tow-pound’, not to mention the towing costs that you will be hit with.

Leave yourself plenty of extra time to get into the stadium, as security is extremely tight. Everyone (no exceptions) will be thoroughly checked. The NYPD Bomb Squad has been checking every piece of equipment entering the stadium over the weekend, and will continue their diligent work to ensure the event proceeds without any security issues.

Please note that Misaskim was not involved in ANY of the event planning, ticket distribution, or buses. Misaskim was only involved in coordinating the security of the event with the numerous city, state, and federal agencies.

(Moshe Altusky – YWN)

Russia’s back-in-office President Vladimir Putin can be sure that he has a steadfast supporter in Rabbi Berel Lazar, the country’s Chief Rabbi and Head Shliach.

With continued criticism against the Kremlin’s growing control and Russian Jewish leadership which doubted “Putin’s commitment to protecting Russia’s Jews,” Lazar stands out.

“There wasn’t a single thing that he was asked to do to benefit Judaism or the Jewish communities that he did not respond to positively,” Rabbi Lazar said about Putin, who has been ruling the country since 1999.

As President and Prime Minister, Putin “constantly took interest in the situation of the Jews in the country, showed care for their needs and has done a lot to eradicate anti-Semitism and returning Jewish buildings that were nationalized,” Rabbi Lazar told the Israeli haredi ‘Hamevaser.’

“We are nearing completion on a Jewish museum which will be one of the largest in the world. President Putin has contributed alot for the advancement of its building and he himself donated one paycheck of his, which led many others to donate as well,” he added.

Putin was inaugurated in lavish ceremony in the Kremlin on 7 May 2012 in front of the inner circles of the Russian establishment. Among the religious leaders attending were Rabbi Lazar and Alexander Boroda, the Chairman of the Board for the Federation of Jewish Communities of Russia.

“I blessed him in the name of Russian Jewry and told him that the number three in Judaism symbolizes a ‘Chazakah’ (a Halachic term for permanence),” Rabbi Lazar said.

(Source: COLLive)

Tens of thousands are expected to gather at CitiField this evening to attend the internet Asifa organized by Ichud Hakahillos. While those gathered explore the negative impact technology may have on our youth, Misaskim, along with hundreds of security personnel, will have all their resources available to ensure the safety and security of all attendees.

Misaskim was tasked with coordinating the security detail for this event due to its extensive ties with members in the law-enforcement community. Days and weeks of planning were involved in this operation. Misaskim played a key role in communicating and updating law-enforcement personnel with the most recent updates.

Chief Diana Pizzuti of Patrol Borough Queens North has given her utmost in ensuring that all that is needed will indeed be available. Citi Field is under the jurisdiction of Patrol Borough Queens North. In addition, numerous other agencies from the NYPD participated in coordinating this security detail.

The following agencies participated during a final coordination meeting on Wednesday, May 9th: The Police Commissioner’s Office, The Chief of Departments, The Chief of Patrol, The Chief of Transportation, The Counterterrorism Unit (in charge of securing the perimeters around the stadium),The Transit Bureau (maintaining order on the subway and bus system), The Highway Patrol (in charge of managing the large volume of traffic before and during the event and to accommodate all vehicular special needs), Special Operations Divisions (in charge of all emergency services during the event),Task Force Unit, The Intelligence Division (in charge on monitoring intelligence before, during and after the event), Community Affairs, The Bomb Squad Unit, The Technical Assistance Response Unit (TARU), The Mounted Unit, The Aviation Unit, Disorder Control and Traffic Control.

In addition to the NYPD, other city agencies involved are; The Mayor’s Office, The Parks Department, The Department of Transportation, The FDNY, EMS/Hatzolah, The Office of Emergency Management, The MTA, The NYPD Legal, The Sanitation Department, The TBTA

And The Department of Environmental Protection (will assist in monitoring the air quality throughout the event).

Back up plans have also been put in place should the need arise. Special consideration is being given to the fact that many attendees are not familiar with Citi Field, or any stadium, and have probably never been there before. More than 750 buses are expected to arrive at the arena on Sunday transporting participants from across the tri-state region. Special parking arrangements have been arranged as the number of buses expected is an unusual occurrence at the arena.

Throughout the planning stages of the asifa, Misaskim worked hand-in-hand with its partners, Rabbi Abe Friedman, Rabbi Simcha Bernard and Rabbi Raphael Treitel. These individuals are thoroughly aware of all Misaskim’s interaction in the law-enforcement community. Mr. Ari Frankle of A&F Productions is in charge of all technical details in coordinating the event. Information about tickets and buses can be obtained by contacting Ichud Hakahillos. Misaskim is not involved and is not in a position to assist in any matters that are unrelated to security.

It is obvious that the city is taking every precaution and bringing forth all its resources. Misaskim and its partners would like to request that those who plan to attend should offer their full cooperation in order for the security to be successful. The following are several tips that can go a long way in accomplishing this goal.

Standard security procedures generally employed at the arena will be fully utilized during the asifa.

Make sure to arrive on time and allow additional time for all security screening procedures. All attendees must be searched with a metal-detector wand before entering and/or pat-downs will be carried out when necessary. No frozen fluids will be allowed at the event. Bottled liquids must be sealed. All bags will be screened at the security checkpoint. It’s advisable not to bring excess baggage. Be sure to follow the directives of the ushers who are trained to guide people during large-scale events. Law-enforcement is aware of the planned protests by various groups during the Asifa. They have emphasized that there will be zero tolerance for any disorderly conduct and offenders will be arrested and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

Citi Field security personnel will oversee the security during the event alongside the other agencies mentioned above. Hatzolah has had numerous meeting with members of Citi Field’s EMS team. There will be more than 80 Hatzolah members at the event working in coordination with Carona Ambulance services. It’s important to remember that although Misaskim and its partners spent weeks attending to every detail to ensure the public’s safety, our security ultimately depends on the rabono shel olam … “Im Hashem loy yishmar ir shav shakad shomer.”

(YWN Desk – NYC)

After speaking with HaRav Matisyahu Solomon Shlita, HaGaon HaRav Chaim Kanievsky Shlita has released a letter ahead of Sunday night’s asifa at CitiField, which will address the position of rabbonim shlita against unfiltered internet and other electronic devices which are viewed as a threat to the Jewish home.

Below is the text of the rav’s letter as it was released. In short, R’ Kanievsky expresses his opposition to unfiltered internet and the threat to any Jewish home it poses by offering uncensored to’eva and making this unacceptable content accessible to all.

The rav calls upon the tzibur to participate in the asifa in line with the call by gedolei torah in the United States, to save one and all from the yetzer hora.

“לכבוד אחינו כל בית ישראל די בכל אתר ואתר יהי נועם ה’ אליכם

מכשיר האינטרנט הוא יצרא דע”ז וגילוי עריות בדורנו והוא חורבן גדול בישראל ורבים חללים הפילה עד שאול תחתית רח”ל ואין בית אשר יש בו את המכשיר הנ”ל ולא נכשלו בו בעבירות חמורות מאוד וכבר משפחות שלימות ובתים מלאים כל טוב נהרסו מזה רח”ל

וחייבים כולם לטכס עצות להתאסף יחד איך לשחוט את היצר הרע הזה, ולכן יפה עשו גדולי רבני אמריקא שליט”א שסדרו אסיפה גדולה שישתתפו בה בעזה”י עשרות אלפי יראים ושלמים לטכס עצות לתקן המעוות הזה, ובוודאי כל המשתתפים והעוסקים בדבר הקדוש הזה יזכו לנחת מכל יוצאי חלציהם ויזכו להנצל מן יצר הרע ומכל מרעין בישין,

והנה דבר ברור ופשוט שלהשתמש במכשיר הנ”ל בלי שום חסימות והכשרים לית דין ולית דיין שאין שום היתר לא היתר צורך פרנסה ולא שום היתר אחר כי המכשיר הזה כבר הפיל אלפי בני תורה רח”ל לבאר שחת,

אמנם להשתמש באינטרנט כשר לזה צריך הוראת חכם וגדרים. [ובעזה"י יסדרו במשך הזמן אינטרנט כשר אם ישתדלו בזה הרבה ויהיק סייעתא דשמיא, וחובה להשתמש בזה]

הכו”ח לכבוד המצוה הגדולה, חיים קנייבסקי”.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)

Abdelbaset al-Megrahi, the only person convicted over the 1988 Lockerbie bombing above Scotland which killed 270 people, has died at home in Libya, his brother has told news agencies.

Megrahi, 59, was convicted by a special court in the Netherlands in 2001.

He was released from prison in Scotland in 2009 on compassionate grounds. He was suffering from cancer and was said to have only months to live.

When he returned to the Libyan capital, he received a hero’s welcome.

Shortly before being freed, Megrahi dropped his second appeal against his conviction.

His release sparked the fury of many of the relatives of the victims of the Lockerbie disaster.

His brother Abdulhakim said on Sunday that Megrahi’s health had deteriorated quickly and he died at home in Tripoli.

He told the AFP news agency that Megrahi died at 13:00 local time (11:00 GMT).

Last month, Megrahi’s son said his father had been taken to hospital for blood transfusions.

Megrahi, a Libyan intelligence officer, always denied any responsibility for the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 in December 1988.

It remains the deadliest terrorist incident ever to have taken place on British soil.

Investigators tracing the origins of scraps of clothes wrapped around the bomb followed a trail to a shop in Malta which led them, eventually, to Megrahi.

Last August after the fall of Libyan leader Col Muammar Gaddafi, Megrahi was reported to be “in and out of a coma” at his home in Tripoli.

There have been calls for him to be returned to jail in the UK or tried in the US.

But shortly after they toppled Colonel Gaddafi, Libyan rebel leaders said they would not extradite Megrahi or any other Libyan.

(Source: BBC)

Even before rabbonim shlita in the United States decided on the internet kenos being held in CitiField on Sunday night, Rabbonim and mashpi’im in Chabad decided to hold an internet kinnos this week in the 770 building in Ramat Shlomo in Yerushalayim.

The impetus behind the kinnos is Rabbi Dovid Weiss, the director of Merkaz Ohr Chinuch, the daily HaMevaser reports.

The event is expected to last for five hours and rabbonim who will address the kinnos include (in order of their scheduled appearance at the kenos) HaRav Yitzchak Yehuda Yeruslavsky (Secretary of Chabad Beis Din), Rav Yosef Yitzchak Vilshansky (Rosh Yeshivas Chabad Tzfat), HaRav B. Zilberstrum, Rav Dovid Meir Druckman (Mora D’asra Kiryat Motzkin), special guest from the USA Rav Zalman Leib Markowitz, and Rabbi Shmuel Ashkenazi (Mora D’asra Kfar Chabad and member of Beis Din). Many others will be speaking as well.

The kinnos will be closed by HaGaon HaRav Zalman Nechemia Goldberg. The kinnos is scheduled to take place on Thursday, 3 Sivan 5772.

HaMevaser reports it has learned that following the event, rabbonim shlita are expected to release well-defined guidelines regarding internet and electronic devices.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)

If you want to take advantage of the Wall Street Journal’s subscription offer you may, from any countries around the world. Interestingly, in the Mideast one has the option of “Israel” or “Palestine”. One must wonder which areas of Eretz Yisrael are viewed as Palestine by the WSJ.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)

HaRav Yosef Yechiel Bamberger of Haifa last week informed avreichim of the Nachlas HaLevi’im Kollel in the N’vei Sha’anan neighborhood of the city, which he heads, that anyone with internet in their home or using a non-kosher cellular telephone may no longer be eligible for kollel funds.

The rav’s kollel is the largest in the city, Chadrei Chareidim reports, and payment for avreichim is better than in most kollelim. The rav explained that any avreich accepting kollel funds and does not comply with the conditions is simply stealing money.

Immediately after announcing his conditions, 60 avreichim signed forms committing to abide by the takanah of the kollel. One who does not agree to sign will be compelled to leave the kollel.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)

In an interview with Walla News, Deputy Prime Minister/Minister of the Interior (Shas) Eli Yishai stated the Tal Law was not implemented because the government did not do enough, adding the Plesner Law intended to replace the Tal Law will also not work for the same reason.

Yishai added that he fully supports sending those who are not learning to an appropriate national service, the police or fire department.

“We all understand the paramount importance of learning torah, and without it we simply cannot exist. The army however does not want a lot of chareidim. Officials do not want to see a chareidi majority in the IDF. They are afraid because the chareidi tzibur continues to grow and even if they only take some of the chareidim the religious will become a majority in the military”.

When asked if he believes the IDF fears drafting too many chareidim, Yishai added “The IDF chief of staff has stated he will not change the character of the military and when the number of chareidim in the IDF begins to impact the character of the service additional chareidim will not be accepted. The IDF does not want a lot of chareidim. This is no secret” Yishai concluded.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)

12:29 IL: An Arab terrorist tried to stab and IDF soldier at Gush Etzion Junction. The soldier managed to overcome the attacker an Arab male in his 40s, who was seriously injured by the knife and/or IDF gunfire. The attacker’s condition is serious and he is being treated at this time by IDF medical personnel.

12:36 IL: Terrorist listed in serious condition. He is being transported to the trauma unit of Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)

Brooklyn remains the city’s bloodiest borough — accounting for about 38% of last year’s murders, NYPD statistics released Friday show.

In delivering an analysis of last year’s homicides, the NYPD revealed that there have been 136 murders this year — a reduction of 20% from the same period last year. But shootings are up 6% this year.

Of the 515 homicides last year, about 196 occurred in Brooklyn, mostly in a cluster of neighborhoods that include Bedford-Stuyvesant, Crown Heights and East New York.

The borough’s numbers are down slightly from 2010, when Brooklyn topped the charts with 42% of the city’s 536 murders.

Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly said Thursday that a host of tactics — including a partnership with local clergy to host gun buyback programs — has been used to combat crime in the borough.

“Due in part to this relationship, murders in Brooklyn North fell by 13% last year, more than three times the citywide rate of decline,” Kelly said.

The Bronx logged about 29% of last year’s murders — slightly less than Manhattan and Queens combined, the report shows. Only 3% of the slayings were committed on Staten Island.

The report also shows a significant racial disparity in the killings.

About 62% of all victims were black, although that demographic makes up about 23% of the city’s population, the report shows.

About 38% of murder victims were black men between 16 and 37 years old, the stats show.

The records also show that nearly 75% of all victims had prior arrests and about 11% were confirmed gang members.

One in five homicide victims were women, 54% of them killed in domestic violence incidents, stats show.

(Source: NY Daily News)

An airline pilot is accused of trying to board a flight at Buffalo for New York City with a loaded revolver in his bag, and authorities believe he’d been flying with it for two days.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office charged 52-year-old Brett Dieter of Barboursville, Va., with possessing a concealed firearm. A screener spotted the .357 Magnum before Dieter boarded Friday at Buffalo Niagara International Airport.

Dieter was to pilot a Piedmont Airlines flight to LaGuardia International Airport.

Investigators believe Dieter had been flying with the gun since Wednesday, when he flew from Charlottesville, Va., to New York City without having his bag X-rayed. He’d made seven flights since.

Dieter appeared without a lawyer in court. He’s due back May 23. He couldn’t be reached by phone Friday.

A Transportation Security Administration spokeswoman said pilots cannot carry weapons on board aircraft unless they are members of a federal Flight Deck Officer Program. She said Dieter is not a member of the program, and TSA is investigating what routes he took to board planes he previously piloted. She said that in many airports, pilots can reach the aircraft through “access points” other than checkpoints.

US Airways spokesman William McGlashen said he didn’t know how long Dieter had been with Piedmont, a subsidiary of US Airways. He said an internal investigation was under way.

(Source: Huffington Post)