Breaking news Two Killed in Tel Aviv Shooting Attack, Manhunt Underway and last month IDF Clashes with Arab Mob as Hundreds of Jews Pray at Joseph’s Tomb By David Israel and Israel and Egypt Agree on Direct Flights from Tel Aviv to Sharm el-Sheikh By David Israel and 37 Nations, 865 Orgs Worldwide Adopt IHRA Working Definition of Anti-Semitism and The Megillah: How-To Manual on Defeating Anti-SemitesBy Rav Yehuda Hakohen
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.
Two Killed in Tel Aviv Shooting Attack, Manhunt Underway
Seven wounded in fourth deadly terror attack in Israel in two weeks as over 1,000 police search the city for the assailant who fled the scene
Two people were killed on Thursday after a gunman opened fire in central Tel Aviv, the latest in a string of deadly terror attacks across Israel.
The two men killed were in their 30s. Seven others are wounded. Four of them are in serious condition, including two men aged 38 and 20, and a 28-years-old woman. Three others are lightly wounded.
police officials said the assailant was on the run, and are moving house to house searching for him. More than a thousand police officers, including elite police and military units, have joined the operation.
Contrary to prior reports about several gunmen, police officials suspect the attack was carried out by a single shooter. He shot approximately 10 bullets.
The shooting took place along several spots on Dizengoff Street, one of Tel Aviv's busiest streets.
Israeli police and the Tel Aviv municipality called on residents to remain in their homes and stay away from their windows as the suspect is being hunted down.
"The assailant escaped the scene and wasn't caught, the assumption is that he is in the area, and therefore you see the large forces," Tel Aviv District police chief Ami Eshed said. "We have no idea where he came from or who he is," he added.
- Advertisment -
The assailant is said to be wearing a black t-shirt and black pants and is likely armed with a pistol.
Security footage from the shooting.
IDF forces, who were brought in as reinforcements following recent terror attacks, are currently spread out in different areas of the city, and checkpoints have been set up on the outskirts of the Tel Aviv metropolitan in case the assailant came from the West Bank and is looking to return home.
"I was sitting at the Tzina Bar," a man injured in the attack said. "Outside the bar the shooting started. I saw the window shatter and started running. Suddenly everyone started to run, and I felt that I was hit in my back. I didn't know what was going on, I simply ran and then saw a lot of blood.Email *Please enter a valid email address
"I ran to a smaller side street and my friend saw I was bleeding and laid me down, ordered an ambulance. The neighbors helped me stop the bleeding until the ambulance arrived."
A witness who was present at two of the shooting sites told Haaretz: "I was sitting at Ilka bar with another friend when we suddenly heard shots and glass shatter. There was a mess, I started running and a lot of people came after me. We went into the side streets and I told everyone to go there.
"I called my friend who I thought was running after me but he didn't pick up. I raised my head and saw someone standing in front of me, charging a gun. I immediately ran away and heard five shots. I didn't look back, and he didn't say anything."
Prime Minister Naftali Bennett was receiving updates on the situation at the Israeli military's headquarters in Tel Aviv. Also present at the headquarters were the police commissioner, the defense and public security ministers, as well as the army chief of staff, head of the Shin Bet Security Services and other defense officials.
At this point, more reinforcements have been ordered to make their way to Tel Aviv.
In statements, the Islamic Jihad and Hamas commended the attack and said it was a natural response to Israeli escalation against the Palestinian people and the damage being done to holy sites, particularly Al Aqsa Mosque.
U.S. Ambassador to Israel Tom Nides tweeted that he is "horrified to see another cowardly terror attack on innocent civilians, this time in Tel Aviv."
EU Ambassador to Israel Dimiter Tzantchev tweeted that he is "deeply worried about reports about another terror attack against Israeli civilians, this time in the heart of Tel Aviv."
On Tuesday, Bennett said that Israel has thwarted over 15 terror attacks over the past two weeks, calling the wave of attacks that have killed 11 people "a wake-up call." Tensions have been high since the start of the holiday of Ramadan earlier this month.
In 2016, a shooting attack took place at a pub on Dizengoff Street, killing two and wounding several. The Israeli Arab suspected assailant was killed by police a few days later.
The Three Musketeers at the Kotel
The Three are Rabbi Yehuda Glick, famous temple mount activist, and former Israel Mk, and then Robert Weinger, the world's greatest shofar blower and seller of Shofars, and myself after we had gone to the 12 gates of the Temple Mount in 2020 to blow the shofar to ask G-d to heal the world from the Pandemic. It was a highlight to my experience in living in Israel and I put it on my blog each day to remember.
The articles that I include each day are those that I find interesting, so I feel you will find them interesting as well. I don't always agree with all the points of each article but found them interesting or important to share with you, my readers, and friends. It is cathartic for me to share my thoughts and frustrations with you about life in general and in Israel. As a Rabbi, I try to teach and share the Torah of the G-d of Israel as a modern Orthodox Rabbi. I never intend to offend anyone but sometimes people are offended and I apologize in advance for any mistakes. The most important psychological principle I have learned is that once someone's mind is made up, they don't want to be bothered with the facts, so, like Rabbi Akiva, I drip water (Torah is compared to water) on their made-up minds and hope that some of what I have share sinks in. Love Rabbi Yehuda Lave.
The Megillah: How-To Manual on Defeating Anti-Semites By Rav Yehuda Hakohen
Photo Credit: IDF Spokesperson/Flash90
IDF Paratroopers training to defend the Jewish people.
Throughout the entire Scroll of ESTHER, God's Name does not appear even once. Upon a casual reading, it would seem that Haman, Ahashverosh, Mordechai, and Esther are fully responsible for the events taking place within the narrative. Intrigue, human jealousies, and political machinations all account for the twists and turns within the Megillah as events of great significance to the Jewish Nation unfold.
After completing the story, however, it becomes clear that the juxtaposition of all the coincidences is nothing short of miraculous as God's Hand becomes visible through the thin veil of history. It is important to note that the events described in ESTHER took place over a period spanning roughly ten years. Ahashverosh's party took place in 3395, Haman drew the lots in 3404 and Israel won our victory in 3405 (dates according to Seder HaDorot). Living through that period, one would probably not have noticed anything extraordinary taking place as everything was unfolding according to the laws of nature. There was nothing especially supernatural about the process that we retroactively understand as having been miraculous.
Advertisement
Our Sages teach in the Jerusalem Talmud (Brachot 1:1) that we must look at the Purim story as a model to understand the final Redemption process. Through the epic story of mankind, HaShem weaves the Redemption of Israel. When making the effort to closely examine our own times, we can see God orchestrating the historic events – large and small – that have brought Israel back to our borders and are bringing the world ever closer to perfection.
We celebrate Purim today with great joy because we are familiar with the story's victorious ending. The Hebrews of ancient Persia, however, had clearly found themselves in a very frightening situation. Persia's Jews were faced with the threat of complete annihilation. And Mordechai – who Israel today praises as a national hero – may have been much less appreciated in his own generation. A superficial reading of ESTHER can even lead one to attribute Mordechai blame for placing his people in such a terrifying position.
"All the king's servants at the king's gate would bow down and prostrate themselves before Haman, for so had the king commanded concerning him. But Mordechai would not bow and would not prostrate himself." (ESTHER 3:2)
The rabbinic leadership of Shushan at the time strongly condemned Mordechai's refusal to bow before Haman. Comfortable with life outside of their homeland, they feared Mordechai might provoke Persian Jew-hatred and spoil their enjoyable Diaspora existence. But according to our commentators, Haman either engraved the image of an idol on his robes (Ibn Ezra) or attributed to himself the powers of a deity (Rashi). Because it is well known that the Torah commands one to die rather than bow before a false god, the condemnation of Mordechai seems somewhat unjustified.
The Maharal of Prague clarifies the rabbinic position in Ohr Hadash by explaining that Mordechai went out of his way to appear before Haman in order to purposefully demonstrate that he would not bow, thus creating an otherwise avoidable confrontation. The Sages record how the Jews of Persia reacted.
"They said to Mordechai, `Know that you are putting us at the mercy of that evil man's sword!'" (Agadat Esther 3:2; Megillah 12:2, commentary of the Radvaz)
"So the king's servants who were at the king's gate said to Mordechai, `Why do you disobey the king's command?' Finally, when they said this to him day after day and he did not heed them, they told Haman, to see whether Mordechai's words would avail; for he had told them that he was a Jew." (ESTHER 3:3-4)
A close reading of the Megillah reveals that Mordechai's refusal to bow before Haman was not an isolated incident. Rather, he had gone out of his way several times in order to walk near the minister and publicly antagonize him. Because Mordechai could have easily avoided the situation but instead engaged in actions that were deliberately confrontational, Shushan's Jewish leaders seem justified in their condemnation.
Even when Mordechai saw that "Haman was filled with wrath" (ESTHER 3:5), he continued to intentionally provoke the viceroy. Based on his actions and the Talmud's teaching (Pesachim 64b) that a person is forbidden from relying on miracles, one could easily argue that Mordechai behaved irresponsibly with the lives of his people. The Maharal, however, defends Mordechai (in Ohr Hadsash), asserting that challenging Israel's enemies ultimately leads to the sanctification of God's Name.
The Midrash recounts that Mordechai explained to Haman that the reason he would not bow was that he was born of kings from the tribe of Binyamin. Haman countered, "But Yaakov, Binyamin's father, bowed before Esav, my ancestor." Mordechai answered him in turn, "Yes, but that was before Binyamin was born. He was born in Eretz Yisrael, and his soul, therefore, was an elevated soul. He would not bow down before others." (Esther Rabbah 7:9)
Rabbi Yaakov Moshe Harlop, a leading student of Chief Rabbi Avraham Yitzhak HaKohen Kook, explains in the sixth volume of Mei Marom (based on teachings from the Zohar) that subordination to gentile rulers is a form of idolatry. Israel must trust completely in HaShem who controls and directs all historic events. To fear foreign nations is to reject G-D's supremacy and a terrible desecration of His holy Name.
The Talmud (Brachot 7b) discusses whether appeasement or confrontation is the proper strategy when dealing with gentile antagonists. While Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai – who himself stood up to the Roman oppressors of his generation – teaches that it is acceptable to antagonize and provoke the wicked, the Talmud concludes that not everyone should follow this opinion. Only a person whose motivation is purely for the sake of heaven can allow himself to take such dangerous risks.
Mordechai refused to humble himself before Haman, arguing that Hebrews must stand strong in the face of gentile aggression. The rabbinic leadership of Shushan agreed with Mordechai in principle but felt that in order to display this ideal level of courage, the Jews had to first feel strong inside themselves. Mordechai rejected the notion that his people were weak and instead saw Israel's true national potential. He argued that even if Jews first need to feel inner strength before being able to stand up against oppressors like Haman, that strength will never come from getting down on their knees. In fact, bowing to tyrants is precisely what leads people to mistakenly believe they lack the power to assert their rights. Haman was already seeking an excuse to destroy Israel and demands for submission could easily lead to other humiliations. Appeasing evil, according to Mordechai's logic, can only succeed in inviting further trouble.
As HaShem's chosen people and national expression, Israel must realize our own inner strength. When the Persians came to destroy the Jews, Mordechai led our people into battle and prevailed over those who had sought our destruction. The actual decree to annihilate Israel had not been rescinded and the Jews were required to take up arms. At that point, Israel realized our true inner might by taking the initiative and killing 75,800 Persians without losing even a single Hebrew life. The message is clear for every generation. Israel must demonstrate confidence in ourselves and an iron determination to defy our antagonists. Mordechai teaches that it is not through appeasement that one achieves peace but rather through strength, self-assurance and unequivocally firm resistance to tyranny and injustice.
IDF Clashes with Arab Mob as Hundreds of Jews Pray at Joseph's Tomb
The M-16 rifle that was seized from the terrorist in Balata, March 15, 2022.
Dozens of PA Arabs clashed Tuesday night with IDF forces at Joseph's Tomb outside Shechem in Samaria. As Jewish civilians began to enter the compound, accompanied by IDF forces, the Arab mob began throwing stones and Molotov cocktails at the soldiers, who responded using riot dispersing means.
According to military sources, earlier on Tuesday, the PA asked to postpone the entry of Jewish worshipers to the tomb complex amid threats to avenge the killing of a terrorist who fired at Israeli security forces in the Balata refugee camp early Tuesday morning. The request was denied.
Advertisement
According to the Oslo II Agreement of 1995, the Joseph's tomb complex is encapsulated under Israeli security control within Area A which is under full PA control, after the PA recognized the Jewish character of the tomb and its importance to Jews.
During the early morning hours Tuesday, Border Police undercover operatives raided the Balata refugee camp in Shechem, arrested a wanted terrorist, and seized a rifle. According to PA reports, two residents of the refugee camp were killed by security forces fire.
The undercover operatives carried out the Shin Bet order to arrest the man who is suspected of terrorist activity. The force arrived at the wanted man's home and arrested him, seizing an M-16 rifle that was in his possession. As the force was leaving the refugee camp, violent protests erupted that included throwing explosives and stones, as well as dumping various objects from rooftops at the officers. In response, the force employed riot dispersing means, including firing a Ruger 10/22 BB gun.
PA spokesman Nabil Abu Rudeineh told the official Voice of Palestine radio: "Our people will not accept the continuing occupation measures against them, and they have all options to act in any way and anywhere to preserve their rights and confront the occupation."
Israel and Egypt Agree on Direct Flights from Tel Aviv to Sharm el-Sheikh
Israel and Egypt agreed on Wednesday to expand direct flights between the two countries, adding a new route between Ben-Gurion International Airport and the Sharm el-Sheikh resort at the southern tip of the Sinai Peninsula.
The agreement was discussed at the meeting between Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi in Sharm el-Sheikh last September. It was formulated by Israel and Egypt over the past few days and finalized on Tuesday in Egypt by an Israeli delegation led by the Israeli Security Agency (ISA), following a long process carried out with the National Security Council and additional officials, together with the Egyptian government.
The new route from Ben-Gurion International Airport to Sharm el-Sheikh will open soon; flights are expected to begin during the intermediate days of Passover in April.
Prime Minister Bennett said: "This agreement will further warm the relations between Israel and Egypt. The cooperation between our two countries is expanding in many fields, and this is contributing to both peoples and to regional stability. Israel is opening up to the countries of the region and the basis for this long-standing recognition is the peace between Israel and Egypt. Therefore, on both sides, we need to invest in strengthening this connection – and that's what we are doing. I thank the Israeli Security Agency for taking the lead on formulating the security outline that will enable this route to open."
On July 23, 2005, a terrorist attack took place in Sharm el-Sheikh, which included two car bombs and an explosive suitcase. There were about 90 dead and 200 wounded, including Israeli tourists.
37 Nations, 865 Orgs Worldwide Adopt IHRA Working Definition of Anti-Semitism
Photo Credit: David Michael Cohen/TPS
A newly released study by the Combat Antisemitism Movement (CAM) and the Kantor Center for the Study of Contemporary European Jewry at Tel Aviv University, shows that 865 entities around the world have adopted the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) Working Definition of Antisemitism since 2016. The report is believed to be the world's most comprehensive list of IHRA working definition of antisemitism adoptions and endorsements.
A diverse array of international organizations, national governments, municipalities, NGOs, universities, athletic clubs, corporations, and other groups have adopted the IHRA Working Definition of Antisemitism as the guiding framework for their policies against antisemitism, and the definition's impact and influence are rooted in the mainstream consensus that has formed around it. The non-legally binding definition, along with its 11 explanatory examples, was adopted unanimously by IHRA's 31 member states in May 2016.
Advertisement
"It is clear that with the marked increase in antisemitism, especially in recent years, there is a need for a universally accepted definition of antisemitism," said Sacha Roytman Dratwa, CEO of CAM. "We need to clearly delineate the borders of hate and incitement against Jews, because for too long it is the antisemites themselves who have defined them, and no other community would accept such a disturbing situation."
"I urge those who oppose this definition to study this list and learn how governments, business, civil society and faith communities of all backgrounds around the world have united in using the IHRA's definition as a barometer for measuring and ultimately combating contemporary forms of antisemitism. At the same time, I urge allies of the Jewish community, institutional and at the grassroots level, to join this esteemed list by adopting the definition too."
"We see those who have already adopted the IHRA working definition of antisemitism as allies and insist that Jews should be allowed to define hatred against us, as other communities do. This is the only definition endorsed by the overwhelming majority of Jews and Jewish communities worldwide."
In 2021 alone, 200 entities adopted or endorsed the definition worldwide, nearly 1/4 (23.1%) of the total since the definition's inception. So far in 2022, 20 entities have adopted the definition as well.
"The spate of adoptions in 2021 demonstrates clearly that there is already a steady consensus building around the IHRA working definition of antisemitism, created by academics, experts and activists, so we hope more and more countries and entities will join this year," said Professor Dina Porat, Founding Head of the Kantor Center and Academic advisor of Yad Vashem. "Without a universally accepted definition of antisemitism, the struggle against antisemitism is liable to be much more difficult to carry on".
"As the adoption of the Working Definition of Antisemitism progresses, it becomes a value-based statememt, an affirmation of standind by those who combat antisemitism and other injustices. The definition provides assistance in various areas, such as identifying instances of antisemitism, instructing police, serving as supportive material in court and encouraging discussions on fundamental issues in parliaments and universities before adoption takes place, which make it a coercive tool, without being grounded in law".
Overall, 37 countries, including most Western democracies, have adopted the definition — 28 IHRA member states, four IHRA observer states, and five nations unaffiliated with the IHRA. Following nations such as the United States, Canada, Germany, United Kingdom, and France, among other previous adoptees, the newest additions to this group in 2021 were Australia, Estonia, Guatemala, Poland, South Korea, and Switzerland, followed by the Philippines in 2022.
320 non-federal government entities (including regional, provincial, state, county, and municipal bodies) have adopted the definition, with 39 doing so in 2021, and 13 so far in 2022. In Europe, this has included major national capitals, such as London, Paris, Berlin, Madrid, and Vienna.
This analysis by CAM and the Kantor Center shows that when a country takes the step of adopting the IHRA Working Definition of Antisemitism at the national level, local authorities, organizations, and educational institutions follow suit. For example, the United Kingdom was the first country to officially adopt the definition in December 2016, and, as of the end of 2021, most institutions of higher education and local authorities in the country had endorsed it as well. This past October, Australia adopted the definition, and since then, numerous Australian towns, states, political parties, and NGOs have done the same.
The IHRA Working Definition of Antisemitism is increasingly a key pillar in government strategies in the struggle against all forms of contemporary antisemitism. The growing pace of adoptions across all sectors and layers of society is expected to continue in the years ahead, elevating the definition's status as the most widely accepted definition of Jew-hatred, with more and more entities turning to it as they seek to combat the global resurgence of the world's "oldest hatred" in a meaningful and effective manner.
