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10 Cheshvan 5760 - October 20, 1999 | Mordecai Plaut, director Published Weekly
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NEWS


Vandals Who Defaced Synagogues in Bnei Brak are Caught
by A. Cohen

On Monday night, detectives from the Dan Region arrested two youngsters, aged 15 and 16, suspected of having defaced the synagogues in Kiryat Herzog in Bnei Brak. Two mezuzas were brutally wrenched from their cases in the Ner LaMaor synagogue on Abarbanel Street, and swastikas and symbols of a Satanic cult and Nazi slogans were scrawled on its walls and on those of other synagogues in the area. The mezuzas were found at the site, defaced by cigarette burns.

Torah Institutions May be Eligible for Money from Switzerland -- Must Apply by Friday, October 22
by S. Fried

Yeshivos and kollelim, especially those which existed in Europe prior to the Second World War, are likely to be eligible for money from the Reparations Fund established by the Swiss Banks, according to the agreement made with them. The overall sum of the reparations amounts to over a billion and a quarter dollars. American Agudas Yisroel is currently organizing a campaign throughout the United States in order to apprise the Torah institutions about their rights, so that they will be able to register on time, by this Friday, the 22nd of October, 1999.

Bnei Brak Hatzoloh Volunteers Help Save the Life of Child in New York
by Yated Ne'eman Staff

Permission to perform an emergency operation for a child hospitalized in New York was secured on Yom Kippur, thanks to the dedication of the on-duty staff of Tel Aviv's Mogen David Adom and the resourcefulness of Bnei Brak's Hatzoloh volunteers.

Shameful Grave Desecration in Shoham
by A. Cohen

Right after Succos, on Tuesday, 25 Tishrei, Antiquities Authority archaeologists conducted a "savage, swift pillage" of an ancient Jewish burial cave from the Second Temple period. The grave was discovered while an area in the city of Shoham, near Lod, was being prepared for construction.

Yossi Sarid Encourages Heresy in the Schools
by Betzalel Kahn and Mordecai Plaut

Education Minister Yossi Sarid promised last week that in the forthcoming fiscal year, he will allocate NIS five million to groups which will, "in the spirit of the Shenhar Report," teach Judaism in the schools from a non-Orthodox point of view.

State Comptroller Gives UTJ a Good Report
by Betzalel Kahn

In the State Comptroller's report on his investigation of the activities of the political parties in the 1998 municipal elections, Degel HaTorah received high marks in respect to its expenses and income and in the overall management of the party. However, it received a negative report regarding the management of the local councils, due to the party's irregular expenses throughout the country, and was fined 30,000 shekel.

Eligible Young Couples: Apply for Rental Subsidies Before the End of October 1999
by Yated Ne'eman Staff

Last week, Yated Ne'eman published a detailed article about the Government's decision to cancel rental subsidies for avreichim as well as the special grants in Elad- Mazor.

Vaad LeInyonei Giyur Condemns Eretz Chemda Beis Din
by Yated Ne'eman Staff

Recently, the Eretz Chemda Institute, headed by the chairman of its executive board, Shalom Wasserteil, and by its kollel heads, Rabbi Moshe Ehrenreich and Rabbi Yosef Carmel, circulated a newsletter to the friends of the institute and to others regarding the appointment of Rabbi Daniel Man as coordinator of the founding of Eretz Chemda's beis din.

Prayer Rally in Jerusalem
by Betzalel Kahn

This past Monday (8 Cheshvan), a prayer and teshuva rally was held in Mea Shearim's main square and the nearby streets.

The rally was called in light of the many accidents and tragedies, Rachmono litzlan, which have recently occurred in the chareidi community. In only one month, nine large families were orphaned and bereft due to the petiros of their heads, among them the outstanding talmidei chachomim and marbitzei Torah.

Protest Increased Aliya of Non-Jews from the C.I.S
by Betzalel Kahn

Scores of activists from Shai, the Association for the Preservation of the Jewish Character of the State of Israel, demonstrated on Tuesday 11 Tishrei, in Paris Square which is near the Prime Minister's home in Jerusalem. They protested the continuation of the policy of encouraging immigration of non-Jews from the C.I.S. The demonstrators were joined by a number of Israelis from Jerusalem, and were guarded by a large contingent of police.

Tens of Thousands Expected At French Torah Day
by Arnon Yaffeh, Paris

Chief Rabbi of France, HaRav Yosef Sitrok, has called upon French Jewry to attend a rally for the purpose of fortifying the link between Jews, halocho and Torah study. Tens of thousands of Jews from all over France are expected to participate in this event, called "Torah Day," to take place at the end of the month at the old airport near Paris.

Minister Sharansky Signs Amendment Enabling Tel Aviv Shabbos Commerce
by A. Cohen

An additional, serious erosion in the religious status quo in the Israel has occurred in the State's largest city. Minister of the Interior Natan Sharansky, has signed an amendment to the Auxiliary Law of the Opening and Closing of Stores in Tel Aviv, enabling every Tel Aviv enterprise defined as "an entertainment establishment" to open on Shabbos.

Tnuva-Tel Aviv Machzikei Hadas Dairy Follows Guidelines of HaRav Yosef Sholom Eliashiv
by A. Cohen

The chareidi community is very pleased with recent halachic enhancements introduced into the Badatz Machzikei Hadas (Belz) production line at the Tnuva dairy in Tel Aviv. These improvements are in accordance with guidelines of the pillar of halocho, HaRav Yosef Sholom Eliashiv.

Turbine Transfer Turmoil
by Betzalel Kahn

The chareidi community is infuriated over the transfer of an additional -- the sixth and last -- Electric Company heavy Compound, known as the "turbine," on Friday night, the 29th of Tishrei. It left the Taas enterprise in Ramat Hasharon on its way to the power station in Ashkelon. Many Jews were involved in the various technical aspects of the transfer.

Are Austrians Jews Packing Their Suitcases?
by S. Fried

In interviews in Austrian as well as international media, president of the Jewish community of Austria, Dr. Ariel Muzinkt, said, "The Jews of Austria still haven't packed their suitcases, but there are some who are thinking in this direction."

Bird Migration Season Has Begun
by Yated Ne'eman Staff

The weather shows no signs of change, but fall has begun. How so? The fall bird migration has commenced. Over the next three months, more than 500 million birds will cross over Israel's skies.

Rabbi Porush: "A Defective Government that Scorns Sacred Jewish Values"
by Eliezer Rauchberger

"The path of the Government from the aspect of its Jewish and religious character is clear. This is a Government whose policies on religious and political issues are dictated by the spirit of Meretz. This is a Government that desecrates Shabbos in public and regards massive Shabbos desecration as a technical issue. This is a Government that scorns sacred Jewish values," according to Rabbi Meir Porush.

Bnei Brak Awards for Torah Literature
by A. Cohen

A gala ceremony at which the Bnei Brak Awards for Torah literature were distributed was recently held in Bnei Brak. The ceremony took place in memory of the founder of Bnei Brak, Rabbi Yitzchok Gerstenkorn, in honor of his 33rd yahrtzeit.

Kesser Torah and the Nezer Hahoro'oh Awardees of the Rabbi Avrohom Hacohen Fund are Honored
by Betzalel Kahn

Monday night, the 25th of Tishrei, a gala ceremony in honor of the Chosson Kesser Torah and the Chosson Nezer Hahoro'oh of the Rabbi Avrohom Hacohen Fund was held in the Ramat Tamir Hotel in Jerusalem.

New English-Speaking Hotline Reaches out to Parents and Teens in Crisis
by Yonina Hall

Independently or in teams, in yeshivas, in person, and over the phone, a handful of dedicated outreach workers are reaching out to a social group which is increasing by disturbing proportions: that of religion teens in crisis.

Lev L'Achim Jerusalem Offices Dedicated
by Betzalel Kahn

At a modest, yet stirring, ceremony, graced by gedolei haTorah and attended by communal leaders and the heads of Lev L'Achim, mezuzas were affixed in the new, spacious offices of the organization's Jerusalem branch.

Rabbi Ravitz: Government Must Make a Clear Decision to Respect Jewish Values
by Eliezer Rauchberger

"The Government must make a clear decision regarding the respecting of Jewish values and Shabbos, even if this incurs financial or other difficulties. We are obligated to go to great lengths in order to preserve our identify, so that our right to exist in our land will be justified," Rabbi Ravitz said at a meeting last week over a no confidence motion.

HaRav Osher Anshel Klein zt"l
by Betzalel Kahn

On Tuesday 2 Cheshvan, a large and deeply pained throng accompanied HaRav Osher Anshel Klein, zt"l, the rav of the Heichal Menachem beis medrash of the Wasserhali community and the head of the Maharam Shick kollel in Kiryat Mattersdorf, on his last earthly journey. HaRav Klein, who was only forty-eight at the time of his petirah, returned his pure soul to its Maker after having suffered a difficult illness and much pain.

Petition High Court to Cancel Large Families' Municipal Tax Reductions
by Betzalel Kahn

A petition was filed last week with the Supreme Court by Arnon Yekutieli, member of Jerusalem's City Council and of Am Chofshi. He demanded the cancellation of current criteria for reductions in the annual municipal property tax ("arnona") given to large families. The suit was filed against the Interior Minister, Natan Sharansky.

Low Wheat Yield Because of Water Shortages
by Yated Ne'eman Staff

Ninety-eight per cent of Israel's annual wheat yield has been lost because of last winter's drought, according to the chairman of the Economy Branch of the Agricultural Center. The announcement was made at an emergency meeting of the Agricultural Lobby in the Knesset and the heads of the country's various water federations.


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