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March 27, 2023 at 3:42 pm
Monday, 27 March 2023 / 6 Nissan 5783
President Isaac Herzog:
"Stopping the legislation is the right thing. This is the time to begin a sincere, serious, and responsible dialogue that will urgently calm the waters and lower the flames.
I call on everyone to act responsibly. Protests and demonstrations, on whichever side - yes. Violence - absolutely not! If one side wins, the state will lose. We must remain one people and one state - Jewish and democratic.
For the sake of our unity and for the sake of our children's future, we must start talking, here and now. The President's Residence, the People's Home, is a space for dialogue and the formation of as broad agreements as possible, with the aim of extracting our beloved State of Israel from the deep crisis that we are in....
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March 27, 2023 at 3:42 pm
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, this evening (Monday, 27 March 2023), issued the following statement:
"Citizens of Israel,
Three thousand years ago, here in Jerusalem, the judgement of Solomon took place. Two women came before King Solomon. Each one claimed that she was the real mother of the infant. King Solomon commanded that a sword be brought and that the baby be cut in half. One woman was prepared to rend the baby in two while the other woman absolutely refused and insisted that the infant stay alive and whole.
Today as well, both sides in the national controversy claim to love the infant, to love our country. I am aware of the enormous tension that is building between the two sides, between two parts of the nation, and I am attentive to the desire of many citizens t...
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March 27, 2023 at 3:34 pm
Discussions of a potential ban on TikTok in the United States are expected to heat up this week after the CEO of the social media app was grilled by House members during a blockbuster hearing last week.
Congressional leaders from both chambers and parties have backed bills that could lead to the Chinese-owned app being banned, while Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) has explicitly said he would support a national ban on TikTok.
“The House will be moving forward with legislation to protect Americans from the technological tentacles of the Chinese Communist Party,” McCarthy said in a tweet on Sunday.
What that legislation will look like remains unclear, but will likely be a topic of conversation among lawmakers this week.
Also this week, House and Senate committees ...
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March 27, 2023 at 3:25 pm
Baltimore City's Employee Retirement system is short more than half-a-million dollars.
The revelations were made in a new Inspector General's report.
It stems from a labor contract agreement covering fiscal years 2022 and 2023.
The agreement required the City to pay more than 4,000 workers one lump sum in Cost of Living Adjustments, retroactive to July 1, 2021.
Those payments went through, but not without problems.
First, none of the checks included a five-percent deduction towards the City's pension system leaving the retirement system without $533,548.68
Second, about 279 of the 4,341 workers were overpaid nearly $4.4 million.
As result, the City had to scramble to recover the funds.
According to the Inspector General, City agencies debated whether to cover t...
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March 27, 2023 at 3:01 pm
The Histadrut Labor Federation, Israel's primary worker's union, announced on Monday evening that the planned strikes and closures were canceled in light of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's announcement that he would temporarily pause judicial reform legislation.
Israel's research universities and medical facilities also canceled their strikes, according to statements from the Israeli Medical Association and the heads of research universities.
This follows the announcement on Monday morning that the Histadrut would coordinate a far-reaching labor strike in order to prevent the government's judicial overhaul from being enacted. The Histadrut will be joined by the nation’s health care providers, according to the Medical Association.
All ...
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March 27, 2023 at 1:21 pm
Baltimore, MD – Mar. 27, 2023 - Last Tuesday night, a special Seder Limud took place in memory of HaBachur Chaim Moshe Cohen, Z'L, at the Agudah of Park Heights. This inspirational gathering brought together Rebbeim, Baal Habatim, Bochurim, and boys of all ages, creating a diverse and unified atmosphere of limud HaTorah and an increase in ruchniyus. Together, they learned hundreds of Perakim of Mishnayos l’zeicher nishmas Chaim Moshe, z'l.. The dedication and passion of those in attendance served as a testament to the impact Chaim Moshe, z'l, had on their lives and their commitment to perpetuating his legacy. A kol Torah filled the air, creating a powerful and uplifting energy that will surely be cherished by all who participated in this meaningful event.
...
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March 27, 2023 at 1:20 pm
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has agreed to postpone the judicial reform legislation to the summer, Otzma Yehudit announced in a statement released on Monday.
The government will approve at its next meeting a decision to form a National Guard and subjugate it to National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, in exchange for Ben-Gvir's party, Otzma Yehudit, promising not to leave the government over Netanyahu's intention to postpone the legislation of the first judicial reform bill.
"The reform will pass," tweeted Ben-Gvir on Monday night. "The National Guard will be established. The budget I requested for the National Security Ministry will be passed in its entirety."
Ben-Gvir on Monday reportedly threatened to quit the government if Netanyahu decided to freeze the legis...
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March 27, 2023 at 1:11 pm
All deposits and loans will be sold to American family-owned bank, First Citizens
An announcement was made that First Citizens will acquire Silicon Valley Bank (SVB), late Sunday, after the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp (FDIC) had to step in to avoid larger financial ‘contagion’ from the SVB collapse.
The downfall of the start-up-centered bank resulted in the worst banking crisis since the 2008 global financial crisis. SVB’s long-dated bonds strategy left the bank vulnerable, and open to a bank run when customers rushed to withdraw funds. This deal signals the first weekend in several weeks that didn’t offer fresh banking woes, since the crisis began in March.
All deposits and loans of SVB will be sold to First Citizens, assets amounting to $110 billion,...
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March 27, 2023 at 1:05 pm
First responders in Tennessee are on the scene of a school shooting at a Nashville elementary school.
Three students were killed in the attack, according to Vanderbilt Medical Center. Policeolice say officers engaged with and killed the shooter. Covenant School is a private Christian institution for students up to 6th grade, according to its website.
"We are responding to an active aggressor at 33 Burton Hills Blvd Covenant School. We can confirm we have multiple patients," the Nashville Fire Department said Monday."Parents coming to the school should go to 20 Burton Hills at this time, this is an active scene," the statement continued.
The Metro Nashville PD confirmed the shooter's death in a statement, adding that the school was already working on reunifying...
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March 27, 2023 at 12:39 pm
Baltimore, MD - Mar. 27, 2023 – 12:38PM - Police activity on Smith Avenue, between Labyrinth and Slade, has reduced traffic to a single lane.
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March 27, 2023 at 12:30 pm
Jerusalem, Israel - Mar. 27, 2023 - The State of Israel’s Ministry of Education announced on March 22, 2023, that Prof. Amnon Shashua, Mobileye founder, president, and CEO, was this year's recipient of the Israel Prize for Lifetime Achievement, the nation’s highest civilian honor.
In 1999, Shashua co-founded Mobileye, the company that developed computer algorithms for autonomous driving technology used today in new automobiles. The company was acquired by Intel in 2017.
Shashua has gone on to found and actively lead four companies using applied AI in various fields besides automotive, and they include AI21 Labs, "One Zero," the first digital bank in Israel, and OrCam.
OrCam, the Israeli company launched in 2010, with co-founder Ziv Aviram, ...
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March 27, 2023 at 11:24 am
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir have reached an agreement that the judicial reform legislation will be frozen for the time being and brought up again during the Knesset's summer session to allow for negotiations on the reforms, the Otzma Yehudit party announced Monday evening.
At the same time, the two agreed that as a step to keep the peace in Israeli cities, the establishment of s National Guard under the auspices of the National Security Ministry will be approved at the next cabinet meeting.
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March 27, 2023 at 10:39 am
17 senior Religious Zionist rabbis called on the government not to freeze or drop its judicial reform legislation following reports that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is seeking to freeze the legislation for several weeks.
"By the grace of G-d, the people of Israel have elected a Jewish and national government that will work for the Torah of Israel, the people of Israel and the Land of Israel. It is unthinkable that the minority will impose its opinion with violence and by creating anarchy in the streets. We are brothers, we will continue to love each other completely, but our love for our brother will not weaken our hand or make us refrain from working to improve the nation for the sake of the people and its inheritance," the rabbis wrote.
They called on the government to continue t...
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March 27, 2023 at 10:37 am
Scenes of disruption periodically descending into chaos can be found across the country on Monday, in the aftermath of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's decision to dismiss Defense Minister Yoav Gallant from his position, due to what Netanyahu described as his "weak and ineffectual" response to the growing phenomenon of refusal to report for military service - Netanyahu's move was nonetheless widely perceived as prompted by Gallant's outspoken call for the judicial reform program to be halted.
Tens of thousands have taken to the streets from Haifa in the north to Beer Sheva in the south, with counter-protesters also expected to turn out in force to demand that the government not back down. According to Channel 12 News, police are "monitoring the activities of extreme...
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March 27, 2023 at 10:32 am
A survey conducted by the "Direct Polls" institute and published today found that two thirds of the religious population of Israel wants the government to continue to push for the passage of its planned judicial reforms and not to freeze the legislation as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
66% of the 1,300 participants in the survey stated that the legislation should be "continued", 32% said to "stop the legislation" and 2% answered, "I have no position on the issue."
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, chairman of the Religious Zionism party, issued a call to right-wing voters: "Comrades, under no circumstances should the reform to fix the justice system and strengthen Israeli democracy be stopped. We are the majority. We cannot submit to violence, anarchy, refusals [to serve in the IDF...
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March 27, 2023 at 10:32 am
Gov. Wes Moore's nominee for Maryland State Police superintendent will face what legislative leaders called a tough confirmation hearing on Monday.
Retired Lt. Col. Roland Butler would become the first Black superintendent of the Maryland State Police. He rose through the ranks of the agency, one that's currently the target of a federal discrimination probe.
The governor and Butler are mounting a full-court press for the nomination. On Friday, Moore held a private meeting with the Coalition of Black Maryland State Troopers and invited Butler to join them.
"This will not be easy," Butler said.
A legislative committee will decide whether to endorse Butler and advance his appointment for a full Senate vote.
"I think Monday is a very, very important day for the superin...
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March 27, 2023 at 9:01 am
Baltimore, MD – Mar. 27, 2023 - BJL wishes a hearty Mazel Tov to Zev (Kippy) Fisher (Chicago) & Layla Gardyn (Baltimore) on their engagement.Mazel tov to parents Eric Fisher and Sarah Leah Fisher and Mordy & Elana Gardyn and Dovid & Ariella Markovits and grandparents Shimmy & Devora Gardyn and Mr. Abe (Laurie, a'h) Gutman
יה"ר שיזכו לבנות בית נאמן בישראל. אמן!
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March 27, 2023 at 8:13 am
MK Avi Maoz, head of the Noam party, has expressed his staunch opposition to any plan to halt the judicial reform program. In a Knesset speech on Monday morning, he described how backing down would hand victory to the elites and turn voting into an utterly futile exercise.
"What we are about to see here is the completion of the coup d'etat whose aim is to turn democratic rule in the State of Israel, based on government by elected officials, into a dictatorship of the elites, which in a cynical use of words designed to mislead and conceal calls what it is doing 'fundamentally democratic,'" he said. "It no longer matters who you vote for, because what prevails is only what serves the liberal-radical leftist agenda which opposes the Jewish and Zionist identity of the state.
"...
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March 27, 2023 at 8:10 am
Following a press conference given by Histadrut chairman Arnon Bar-David earlier on Monday, announcing a general strike in protest against the government's judicial reform program, all flights due to take off from Ben Gurion International Airport have been grounded until further notice.
Israel Airport Authority Committee chairman Pinchas Idan announced the strike on behalf of the workers' union, adding that with regard to incoming flights, only those that are already making their way to Israel will be permitted to land.
Meanwhile, passengers are continuing to check in without knowing whether they will actually be able to fly. The airport flight board is still displaying flights due to depart later on Thursday, but they could yet be canceled.
A member of the workers' union...
