IDF spokesman Daniel Hagari on Monday morning gave a statement on the Sunday night rescue of two hostages, Fernando Simon Marman (60) and Louis Har (70), during an IDF operation in Rafah.
In his statement, Hagari said, "This was a complex rescue operation carried out under fire in the heart of Rafah, and based on quality intelligence. The ISA's operational unit, the police, Southern Command, Shayetet 13, and Brigade 7 of the Armored Corps carried out this professional and precise action. This is an operation which we prepared for over the course of some time - the necessary preparations were made and we waited for conditions which would allow it to be carried out."
"At 1:49a.m. the special forces broke into the building in Rafah. The hostages were on the second floor. From the ...
Rabbi Yonah Sklare is a Rosh Kollel in Baltimore, MD as well as Magid Shiur at Congregation Shomrei Emunah. His refreshingly creative approach to learning as well as his captivating presentation style, have attracted a diverse and beloved following. He lectures at numerous local institutions, including Women’s Institute of Torah Seminary, as well as out of town and online. Rabbi Sklare received semichah and his PhD in Talmudic Law from Ner Israel Rabbinical College. He can be reached at rabbisklare@gmail.com
The United Kingdom's Foreign Secretary on Monday announced sanctions against four Israeli citizens who reside in Judea and Samaria, accusing them of "human rights abuses" against Palestinian Arabs.
According to the UK Foreign Office, "There have been unprecedented levels of violence by extremist settlers in the West Bank over the past year. Some residents of illegal Israeli settlements and outposts have used harassment, intimidation, and violence to put pressure on Palestinian communities to leave their land."
Two of the individuals who will be sanctioned are Moshe Sharvit and Yinon Levy – who, according to the UK Foreign Office, "have in recent months used physical aggression, threatened families at gunpoint, and destroyed property as part of a targeted and calculated effort ...
President Isaac Herzog on Monday, published an opinion piece in the Wall Street Journal heavily criticizing the case brought by South Africa against Israel in the International Court of Justice at the Hague, and in particular noting how the case manipulated the President’s own words, and failed to recognise the true magnitude of the crimes against humanity perpetrated by Hamas.
In the piece, the President wrote that, “Reality and truth have begun to be ignored in the international legal system. Justice is unrecognizable, and noble ideals are perverted by terrorists and cynics.”
He added South Africa’s accusation against Israel was an “absurd claim and the abuse of an august international forum convened to weigh its merits remind us how far we&rsquo...
Sharon Negri, mother of Neriya Negri, who fell in battle on Simchat Torah, sent me the two pictures below and wrote as follows:“Several days ago, I attended a mosaic workshop. In order to create a mosaic, it is first necessary to shatter whole tiles into pieces with a hammer.I came to the workshop in a highly emotional state and released all my pain in breaking the tiles. And then, while shattering the tiles, and afterwards in gluing the pieces together, I felt how deeply significant and healing it was to have found a workshop like this following the loss of my Neriya.My reality was shattered and I am gathering up the pieces. But I am not just gathering them up; I am making a new creation out of them. I really and truly believe that this is what is demanded from me. It’s a divi...
The two hostages rescued from Hamas, Fernando Simon Marman (60) and Louis Har (70), reported that they had not received medical care while in captivity and had been starved by the terrorists.
Their families said that they suffered from malnutrition, unhygienic conditions, and lack of medical care.
The lack of medical care was particularly significant for Har, who requires medications to treat his blood pressure and diabetes.
Professor Hagai Levin told Maariv: "If these reports were true, and the hostages did not receive their medication, that constitutes a most concerning breach of the agreements."
"We are very concerned for the lives and welfare of the remaining hostages, who are being kept in inhumane conditions and need to be rescued and cared for."
Approximately a month ...
The Shin Bet, IDF and special police forces early morning on Monday rescued two hostages from Hamas in the heart of Rafah.
Around 1:00 a.m., the operation freeing two Argentinian hostages from Nir Yitzhak, Fernando Herman and Louis Norbeto, started with dozens of airstrikes against Hamas's Shvura battalion so they would not understand the true goal of rescuing the hostages, ages 61 and 70.
Two family members of the hostages were previously freed during the November 23-30 hostage exchange.
The operation had been planned for a while, but continuously cancelled
The operation had been considered several times recently, but called off, until the operation was finally approved on Monday morning.
The hostages had been held on the second floor of a building heavily guarded as well as by ...
The IDF Spokesperson's Unit said early Monday morning that the IDF conducted a series of strikes on terror targets in the area of Shaboura, located in the Rafah area in the southern Gaza Strip.
The strikes have concluded, the statement said. It provided no further details.
The Gaza “ministry of health”, which is controlled by Hamas, claimed that at least 52 people were killed in the Israeli strikes.
Palestinian Arab sources reported that the attacks targeted houses and mosques in the area.
On Sunday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke with US President Joe Biden in a phone conversation that lasted approximately 45 minutes.
The White House said following the conversation that Biden “reaffirmed his view that a military operation in Rafah should not ...
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, who was diagnosed with prostate cancer in December, was hospitalized again Sunday following symptoms pointing to an “emergent bladder issue,” the Pentagon said.
Austin was diagnosed with prostate cancer in December and continues to deal with complications from his treatment.
At about 2:20 p.m. Sunday, he was transported by his security detail to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center "to be seen for symptoms suggesting an emergent bladder issue," Pentagon Press Secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder said in a statement.
While Austin initially intended to retain the "functions and duties of his office,” at about 5 p.m. Sunday he transferred those authorities to Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks. As of Sunday evening, he remained hos...
Baltimore, MD - Feb. 11, 2024 - As lawmakers debate over juvenile crime laws during this legislative session, juvenile crime continues to run rampant on the streets.
In less than an hour, two robberies involving juveniles took place in Baltimore City and Baltimore County.
In Pigtown, around 7:30 Saturday night, a man was inside a market in the 800 block of Washington Blvd, when he was approached by at least eight juveniles.
Baltimore Police arrested three teens, a 13-year-old and two 16-year-olds.
The youngest suspect in that robbery was just 10 years old according to Baltimore Police.
About an hour later, just after 8:30, a woman was robbed just outside the Towson Town Center.
Baltimore Police confirmed to Fox45 that the suspects were four juveniles.
Fox45 spoke with Liz, who...
The rising costs of prescription drugs is something most people are facing. Everything from the treatment of chronic conditions to one-time prescriptions are getting more expensive.
“One of the leading causes for bankruptcy in any household is health care costs when you’re trying to debate about $600 for medication or maybe $600 for maybe your utilities, a mortgage or rent or anything else like that,” said Jessica Gorski, a resident who struggles with prescription prices.
Gorski knows the struggle all too well and testified Thursday at a Senate Finance Committee hearing.
“My eldest daughter and my husband both have chronic illnesses that they’ll both have for the rest of their lives,” Gorski said. “Those illnesses and the cost of that care compl...
Baltimore, MD - Feb. 11, 2024 - HAPPENING NOW! Fathers and Sons at Shomrei Emunah Making Tzitzis for our Chayalim
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the ministers of the Government of Israel, today (Sunday, 11 February 2024), visited base of the IDF Yahalom Unitwhere they received a security briefing on the war from IDF Chief-of-Staff Lt.-Gen. Herzi Halevi and additional commanders.
The Chief-of-Staff briefed the ministers about the combat in the Gaza Strip and discussed both the impressive military achievements to date and the plans for the continuation of the fighting. 162nd Division Commander Brig.-Gen. Itzik Cohen and Palmachim Air Base Commander Brig.-Gen. Omri Dor briefed the ministers about the combined air-ground incursion being carried out by the IDF in the Gaza Strip in a way that is without parallel in the world.
Prime Minister Netanyahu at the conclusion of the security briefing [tran...
New Data Report Highlights the Rising Numbers
Bet El, Feb 6, 2024: The latest findings from WestBankJewishPopulationStats.com reveal a notable surge in the Jewish population residing in West Bank towns over the past five years. Based on data from the Population Registry of Israel’s Interior Ministry, the report underscores a growth rate approximately double that of the general Jewish population in Israel.
As of January 1, 2024, the West Bank Jewish population stands at 517,407, marking an increase of 67,899 individuals since 2019. This population segment, which constitutes 7.2% of Israel's Jewish population, holds a significant presence in Israeli society. (If one includes Jews residing in eastern neighborhoods of Jerusalem, technically part of the “West Bank,” the...
IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi during Sunday's general cabinet meeting discussed the continuation of the war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
"The military is following the objectives of the war and is advancing much better than we thought at the beginning of the war. There is still a big distance between us and fulfilling the war's objectives, and there is no doubt that we will reach those goals that we have set for ourselves. But we need to know that there's still a distance and it will take more time."
Halevi added: "I do not doubt that we would never manage to free 100 hostages without the progression of the military maneuver in Gaza and if we stop the maneuver now Hamas will go into a mindset of 'there's time.' Hamas at the moment can not function as i...
Baltimore County Public Schools (BCPS) is the latest district in Maryland to join a nationwide class action lawsuit against social media companies.
The growing list already includes Anne Arundel, Charles, Harford, Howard, Frederick, Montgomery, Prince George's, St. Mary's and Wicomico County Public Schools.
They claim social media is a "primary contributor to escalating mental health issues among students."
Specifically the lawsuit names Instagram, YouTube, Snapchat and TikTok.
Schools argue those platforms "intentionally designed their platforms to target children without providing adequate warnings to users and parents about the potential dangers of social media leading to increased rates of eating disorders, depression, anxiety, and even suicidal thoughts."
...
Jerusalem, Israel - Feb. 11, 2024 - MDA Spokesperson: At 9:05 p.m. a report was received at MDA's 101 center in the Jerusalem region, about an attempted stabbing attack in the Old City of Jerusalem near the Hospice intersection. MDA EMTs and paramedics report a terrorist neutralized and one person slightly injured in the leg as a result of a shrapnel.
As we saw in the last piece, Pirkei Avot explains that the world was created for the glory of G-d. Though the whole universe proclaims this notion, man is uniquely able to appreciate and express it.
After the failures and challenges of humanity’s first generations, Avraham Avinu emerged as the one who recognized this calling. His recognition is the backdrop to the purpose and unique mission of his descendants — the Jewish people.
Our Purpose and Importance
The Midrash[1] learns from a pasuk in Sefer Yeshayahu[2] (that appears in the same perek as the pasuk quoted by Avot) that the Jewish people were created in order to sing Hashem's praises.[3] The Midrash takes this further by asserting that the Jewish people themselves embody G-d’s glory and that one of the pu...
