Monday, August 24, 2020

How to vacation in Israel during the Coronavirus during August and Biden Said He Would Close Country to Control Coronavirus and Jon Voight Is a National Treasure and why I love Safed and Remains of 286 Jewish Holocaust victims uncovered in 2 basements in Ukraine and domestic Violence Skyrocketed During Coronavirus Lockdown and New Jersey Gym Owners Arrested After Defying COVID Order and the little known Ghetto Fighter's house museum

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Yehuda Lave is an author, journalist, psychologist, rabbi, spiritual teacher, and coach, with degrees in business, psychology and Jewish Law. He works with people from all walks of life and helps them in their search for greater happiness, meaning, business advice on saving money, and spiritual engagement. Now also a Blogger on the Times of Israel. Look for my column

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The Little known Ghetto Fighters House Museum the first Holocaust Museum

 The Little known Ghetto Fighters House Museum the first Holocaust Museum

On a trip to Rosh Hanikra, we noticed a little sign across the highway for the museum. I had never seen any advertising or heard of the museum. On a lark, we stopped by soon before it closed and discovered a five-story massive building with a tremendous exhibit.

The exhibit includes the original glass booth that was used in the Eichmann trial in Jerusalem in 1962. The museum focuses on the Warsaw Ghetto and the resistance. Having come back from Warsaw last year and having seen the $100,000,000 new Warsaw ghetto museum, that has worldwide fame, I was very impressed with this small museum right off the main road and easy to find. Just no one has heard of it until now.

The Ghetto Fighters' House – Itzhak Katzenelson Holocaust and Jewish Resistance Heritage Museum– known as the "House" – is not only the first Holocaust museum in the world but also the first of its kind to be founded by Holocaust survivors. Since its establishment On April 19, 1949, the sixth anniversary of the Warsaw Ghetto uprising, by young graduates of the Zionist youth movements who had survived the Holocaust, the museum tells the story of the Holocaust during World War II, emphasizing the bravery, spiritual triumph and the incredible ability of Holocaust survivors and the fighters of the revolt to rebuild their lives in a new country about which they had dreamed – the State of Israel.

The founders, who established the museum together with their home, Kibbutz Lohamei HaGhetaot, saw its primary role as a means to bequeath the history of the Holocaust to future generations and to cultivate their humanistic consciousness.

The Ghetto Fighters' House gives evidence to the founders' vision. Having to put behind them the grief and the horror, they chose to come to the Western Galilee in order to build a flourishing kibbutz – the Ghetto Fighters' Kibbutz – and the museum located within the community.

In light of this vision, the Ghetto Fighters' House provides its visitors, both from Israel and abroad, a unique experience, going beyond the grief and horror in order to make evident Antek Zukerman's declaration in the first National Gathering for Holocaust and Heroism Remembrance Day that took place on the Ghetto Fighters' Kibbutz: "We came here to build homes filled with life."

The museum was designed by the architect Shmuel Bickels. It's five levels hold thematic exhibitions offering varied perspectives of the Holocaust.

The museum rooftop offers an observation deck overlooking the Western Galilee, the Ottoman Aqueduct and the Mediterranean Sea.

My pictures from the trip:

Alongside the museum is the Center for Humanistic Education, whose goal is to instill knowledge and understanding of the events that took place during the Holocaust through dialogue and joint learning. The center strives to create multi-cultural gatherings in which intensive discussions can take place concerning the human and universal meaning of the Holocaust both within and beyond Israeli society.

In 1995, the Yad Layeled Children's Memorial Museum was established at the Ghetto Fighters' House in order to commemorate the memory of the Jewish children who perished during the Holocaust. The aim of the children's museum is to acquaint young visitors with the world of the children who lived during the Holocaust, providing an experiential venue through which they can explore the subject of the Holocaust in an age-appropriate manner.

Who's Right?

Moishe and Miriam, both a bit stubborn, were involved in a petty argument, both of them unwilling to admit they might be in error.

"I'll admit I'm wrong," Miriam told her husband in a conciliatory attempt, "if you'll admit I'm right."

Moishe agreed and, like a gentleman, insisted she go first.

"I'm wrong," Miriam said.

With a twinkle in his eye, Moishe responded, "You're right!"

.

How to vacation in Israel in August during the summer of coronavirus

But this year, with the coronavirus pandemic raging, Israelis are trapped.

By URIEL HEILMAN/JTA

There's nothing Israelis like to do better in August than leave the country. The summertime heat is oppressive, state-subsidized Israeli summer camps have closed by then and many companies encourage or even require employees to take off a certain number of days during the month.

But this year, with the coronavirus pandemic raging, Israelis are trapped. The European Union, the preferred summertime tourist destination for most Israelis, bars visitors from Israel because of the country's high COVID-19 infection rate. Airplane travel anywhere represents an elevated risk, given the impossibility of social distancing. And Israelis can't really leave their country by car. (Neighboring Egypt and Jordan, the only border countries with which Israel isn't in a perpetual state of war, are considered off-limits due to security risks and those countries' own coronavirus outbreaks.) More than ever, Israel feels like an island. Arab critics often deride Israel as living a fantasy that it's part of Europe rather than the Middle East. Israel's economy more closely resembles that of a Western European country than those of its Arab neighbors, Israel's sports teams play in the European leagues and, of course, Israel is a Western democracy, not a Middle Eastern autocracy. After Israel signed open-skies agreements with Europe several years ago, airfare to Europe became as affordable as the price of an Amtrak ticket from New York to Philadelphia, and Israelis now treat Europe as their own backyard. But this summer, the gates to Europe are closed.

Not to be deterred, however, Israelis are not giving up on their August vacations. It's just that all 9 million of them appear to be doing it in the same places. The country's beaches are jammed, popular hiking routes require advance registration to avoid overcrowding, and zoos, parks, and picnic areas are wall-to-wall people.

During a recent visit to Israel's only freshwater lake, the Kinneret, I encountered a field of camping tents packed together so closely that campers could barely exit their abode without tripping over their neighbors. In the water, keeping a safe distance of 2 meters (6 feet) was practically impossible. And that was in July, before peak vacation season. In August, anywhere you might want to go will be hot, crowded, and expensive. Imagine a state with the size and population density of New Jersey but hotels priced like Aspen. Israelis routinely plunk down $300 to $400 per night for accommodations that wouldn't merit a second look in most U.S. destinations. A quick browse on lodging websites like Airbnb, Booking.com, or Hotels.com makes this clear. Take this three-bedroom listing on Airbnb in the northern port city of Akko, where $352 per night will get you an apartment with a shower in a corner of the living room, a kitchenette in the bedroom and another bedroom with a toilet in the corner obscured only by a frosted-glass panel. Or you can go to Nahariya, a sleepy seaside city near the Lebanon border where a beachside tent will run you $203 for two nights. To be clear: You will be sleeping on the ground in a Coleman tent that retails on Amazon for $194, except here you'll just be renting the tent. Prices for a night in a tent in the more popular eastern Galilee or Golan, where the natural scenery is more dramatic, will run you roughly double: $400 for two nights. Want to sleep indoors? Be prepared to pony up, and don't have high expectations. Most hotels are fully booked and will run hundreds of dollars a night. Comparably priced vacation rentals might not even feature a queen-sized bed or a view. There are plenty of expensive US summertime destinations, too, but in America's vast expanse, vacationers have endless options and an array of price points, even with unusual competition for distancing-friendly vacation spots this summer. In Israel, this is all there is. The other option is a staycation. The positive side of Israel's tiny size is that if you're willing to drive, you can spend the day almost anywhere and still sleep at home. This summer, however, you have to be strategic about where you'll go. First, think about water. Because of the high temperatures here, outdoor activity during the heat of the day is extremely uncomfortable, so you'll want to go somewhere where you can splash around. That leaves beaches (beware the jellyfish!), municipal pools (oy, the crowds!), and popular natural waterfalls and rivers, like the Banias on the Golan Heights, the Jordan River, or Ein Gedi near the Dead Sea. But get to or register for those places early because they fill up fast (many Israeli nature reserves now require registration to limit overcrowding during the pandemic). Water parks remain closed because of the pandemic. You could venture indoors, but COVID-19 limits your options (Israel currently has among the world's highest per capita infection rates, with over 1,000 new cases and about a dozen new deaths per day). Some of Israel's best museums, like the Israel Museum, the Bloomfield Science Museum in Jerusalem, and even Yad Vashem, the Holocaust memorial and museum, have been closed for months due to the coronavirus. There are a few options underground, where the temperatures are cool all year, including spelunking at the Stalactite Cave Nature Reserve, wading through Hezekiah's water tunnel outside Jerusalem's Old City or stumbling through the Alona water tunnel near Caesarea. Or you could go nocturnal for the summer. Sleep in, nap during the afternoon, and schedule your adventures for evening or night, when temperatures and crowds drop (or dawn, before they rise). Night hiking in the desert can be a spiritual experience, with exquisite moonlit vistas and magical silence. Despite the pandemic, there are still nighttime crowds on the streets of Tel Aviv and Old Jaffa, and plenty of great places to grab a bite. If you're near the sea, the breeze off the water makes walking around quite pleasant. In Jerusalem, you can check out the street party near Balfour Street, otherwise known as the protest site to rid the Israeli government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Because tourists are not allowed into Israel right now, this summer might be a good time to hit the places usually mobbed by foreign tourists but less popular among Israelis: the historic churches in Jerusalem's Old City, Christian sites in the Galilee or the Western Wall. Due to the coronavirus, you should bring your own prayer book. Whether or not you want to offer the traditional prayer — Next year in Jerusalem! — is your call.

Biden Said He Would Close Country to Control Coronavirus

08/22/2020 0

Democratic presidential candidate former Vice President Joe Biden and his running mate Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif., arrive to speak at a news conference at Alexis Dupont High School in Wilmington, Del., Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2020. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

_ _ _

By Brian Trusdell (NEWSMAX)

Democratic nominee for president Joe Biden said Friday he would shut down the country to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus if it was recommended by medical experts.

"I would shut it down," Biden said on ABC's "World News Tonight" alongside his running mate, Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif., as they sat for their first joint interview since becoming the Democratic Party's ticket.

"I will be prepared to do whatever it takes to save lives because we cannot get the country moving until we control the virus."

Biden did not specify what defined "under control."

Yehuda Glick and Shofar so great blow the Shofar on the Mount of Olives

this did not come out on yesterday's email

    43:13 / 44:05

    Jon Voight Is a National Treasure | Ep. 38

    Academy Award-winning actor Jon Voight joins Senator Ted Cruz and Michael Knowles in the heart of Hollywood to discuss the state of Tinseltown, his tutelage and rise to fame under the Greatest Generation of actors, and the future of the Republic in 2020 and beyond. Also, who filibustered better—Ted Cruz or Jimmy Stewart?

    Why I Love Israel: Tzfat

    Through virtual time travel, teens will meet famous Jewish leaders who've lived in the promised land and discover their deep bond with the
    Land of Israel. Students will visit famous cities and ancient villages,
    and stand face-to-face with modern-day Israeli citizens in "virtual
    encounters" to learn about their lives and interests.

    Unlike any Jewish youth program out there, the Jewish Learning
    Institute's WHY I LOVE ISRAEL is built on a strong Jewish academic
    framework that will deepen your teen's appreciation for their homeland,
    national history and Jewish identity.

    For more information visit JLITeens.com



    Remains of 286 Jewish Holocaust victims uncovered in 2 basements in Ukraine

    The remains of 286 Jews who were murdered during the Holocaust were found in two basements in a town in southwest Ukraine.

    The remains, mostly women and children, will be buried in a mass grave in the ancient Jewish cemetery in Sataniv, Ynet reported.

    The town had an organized Jewish community for about 500 years before the Nazis captured it in 1941 and began systematically killing its Jews, according to the Yad Vashem website.

    On May 15, 1942, Nazi troops and Ukrainian military police locked the 286 Jews in the cellars and suffocated them.
    After World War II, the bodies were left in place in the cellars with a sign indicating that they were Nazi victims. The ruined house above them eventually covered the cellars with a heap of rubble and an outdoor market operated over the area for many years, according Ynet.

    Rabbi Alexander Feingold, of the Khmelnytsky and Ternopil districts in Ukraine, told Ynet that his community waged a six-year legal battle with the property owner to search the cellars. Though the community lost in the courts, it eventually reached an agreement with the landowner, according to the report. Some of the bodies were discovered in 2019, and the rest were found about two weeks ago.

    Feingold said a park will be established in memory of the victims near the site of the massacre. [JTA]

    Domestic Violence Skyrocketed During Coronavirus Lockdown

    07/28/2020 0

    _ _ _

    By TJV News

    Data has revealed that New York's coronavirus shutdown set the stage for increased exploitation. Families were forced to stay home together continually, and sadly, this led to an exponential rise in domestic violence throughout the five boroughs. When the outbreak first hit, experts expected that the mandatory lockdowns and bolstering unemployment would lead to an increase in household abuse. As reported by the NY Post, now, the data is available to prove they were right. Some agencies are revealing that reports of domestic-violence doubled or even tripled over the last several months. "We've never been busier,'' said Nechama Bakst, senior director of the Met Council's family-violence program. "We have seen people who never experienced violence starting to experience violence, and people who have experienced violence experience worse violence.''

    In an average month, the non-profit usually sees roughly 70 new cases. In April, however, the program struggled to help 135 new cases. Again in May, there were 145 more cases, and then146 more in June, as per the organization. "We see more choking, more sexual violence, kind of much more intense and serious acts of crime,'' the director lamented to The Post.

    Sanctuary for Families, another organization which works with survivors, similarly reported a jump in calls to its helpline. The group, which has its headquarters in Manhattan and operates five shelters throughout the five boroughs, said that it received 206 calls in May, compared to 102 last year in the same time frame. In June, their calls more than tripled, with 259 calls compared to 73 in June of 2019.

    "Domestic violence is fundamentally about power and control," said Dorchen Leidholdt, director of SFF's Legal Center. "The coronavirus pandemic gave abusers a powerful tool of control because their victims were in much closer proximity to them, 24/7 in many cases, and had less access to sources of support and assistance.''

    Some abusers would withhold personal protective equipment from their victims, to keep them from leaving the home at all, advocates said. In other cases, if an abuser ended up infected with the coronavirus, they would blame their partner and become physically violent. Some would also refuse to follow safety protocols such as social distancing and washing hands, and would "taunt" their victims making them "feel unsafe," Bakst said. Coronavirus also made the hardest part of an abusive relationship harder—fleeing. Victims did not have a break where they felt they weren't being watched, increasing their feeling of entrapment.

    The lockdown also made it harder for victims to even place a call for help, for fear that their perpetrator would hear them. Many of the calls were made late at night while the abusers slept, with the victims whispering from inside their bathrooms, which was as far as they could get, said David Greenfield, CEO of the Met Council. To combat this problem, both the Met Council and the SFF created a text-based helpline for victims, offering a safer way to cry out for help.

    Sed ut perspiciatis unde omnis iste natus error sit voluptatem accusantium doloremque laudantium, totam rem aperiam, eaque ipsa quae ab illo inventore veritatis et quasi architecto.

    New Jersey Gym Owners Arrested After Defying COVID Order

    Jake Dima (DCNF)

    The co-owners of Atilis Gym in Bellmawr, New Jersey were arrested Monday after numerous instances of the business defying a state order that mandated the gym's closure.

    Frank Trumbetti, 51, and Ian Smith, 33, were each charged with contempt, obstruction and violating a disaster control act, according to ABC 6. The pair, which has since been released from jail, was notorious for defying Democratic New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy's order to close fitness facilities amid the coronavirus pandemic.

    A judge ruled Friday that Atilis was to be closed, but Smith, on the same day as the ruling, said the gym will remain open. He also insisted he will "not back down under any circumstances" in a Facebook post, according to the local outlet.

    "[We are] disappointed that this motion for contempt was granted, however we do respect the judge's decision and will be taking all necessary steps to see if there is an issue of appeal here," the duo's lawyer Christopher Arzberger told ABC 6. Trumbetti and Smith's battle with the state has been ongoing since May 20 when the gym received a citation for remaining open.

    "I will not close my doors again unless I'm behind bars," Trumbetti yelled to supporters in May, according to a previous ABC 6 report. "And I guarantee you this door will be open every single day."

    Police arrived at the gym on May 18 to notify the owners that they were in violation of the governor's order, but merely issued a warning and said "have a nice day."

    New Jersey gyms may only operate if they convert their operations to outdoors, according to the state's official webpage. Trumbetti and Smith instituted capacity policies, took the temperatures of clients and mandated masks in their facility, but an arrest came nonetheless, as the pair was still operating indoors, according to ABC 6.

    Content created by The Daily Caller News Foundation is available without charge to any eligible news publisher that can provide a large audience. For licensing opportunities of our original content, please contact licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org.

    See you tomorrow bli neder

    We need Moshiach now

    Love Yehuda Lave

    Yehuda Lave, Spirtiual Advisor and Counselor

    Jerusalem, Jerusalem
     Israel

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