Heritage Florida Jewish News - Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice

Israeli jailed in Madagascar for smuggling tortoises

(JNS) — A Madagascar court has sentenced an Israeli man to two years in prison for attempting to smuggle dozens of rare tortoises out of the country, local media reported on Monday.

The man, whose identity remains under gag order, was also fined $400.

The 39-year-old from Beitar Illit, south of Jerusalem, was arrested two months ago at the airport after 59 rare tortoises were found in his possession.

According to Ynet, the prosecution is seeking a sentence of 10 years in prison, with a fine of $100,000. 

The defendant claims that he was not aware he was doing anything illegal. He attempted to transport the radiated and spider tortoises to Israel via Bangkok, Thailand. The animals were found in his suitcase before he boarded an Ethiopian Airlines flight with a connection in Addis Ababa.

Israel’s Foreign Ministry has tried to intervene in his detention; he has told his attorney Mordechai Tzivin that he is being held in terrible conditions. He has been transferred four times.

“Save me, what’s happening here is unbelievable. I am constantly cornered, they took my clothes and I have nothing to eat. I won’t last here,” the man said in a recent phone call to Tzivin, according to Ynet.

“I sleep in a crowded room with 150 people, each of us having little space. It’s rough here; I feel threatened as anyone can harm me. Just last week someone tried to touch me, and when I protested, he hit me twice. The nights feel never-ending and I long for morning to come. I gave the jailer my food to get my tefillin, but then another person asked for money. When I refused, he punched me in the eye and took my tefillin away.”

The defendant pays $200 a week for kosher food but says that other inmates frequently steal it.

The defendant was expected to appeal the decision.

Anti-Israel activist breaks nose of Brazilian university rector

(JNS) — Andreas Lajst, director of the Brazil chapter of StandWithUs, was to deliver a talk on Aug. 10 at the Federal University of Amazonas about the capacity of Israeli technology to aid isolated Brazilian populations.

When the Arab-Palestinian Federation of Brazil got wind of the event, it wrote online that “the university cannot be a stage to defend an apartheid regime.”

The university’s student union also called Lajst—the grandson of Holocaust survivors—a Nazi.

The university did not cancel the event, and protests that began peacefully turned violent. One anti-Israel activist hit the university rector in the face, fracturing her nose. (This occurred despite the presence of security guards.)

“These days, you must be heroic to voice your opinion if pro-Israel,” wrote Roz Rothstein, founder and CEO of StandWithUs. “Shout-out to the police who helped!”

Mila Kunis, Ashton Kutcher put up guest house for free on Airbnb

(JNS) — The Torah repeatedly notes the importance of “welcoming the stranger.” That’s just what Jewish actress Mila Kunis and her Kabbalah-practicing actor-husband Ashton Kutcher plan to do.

Kutcher told his 5.2 million Instagram followers last week that he and Kunis were putting their guest house up for free rental on Airbnb on Aug. 19. He described the “really dumb idea” as “dumber than my mustache.”

The house, according to the listing, can accommodate four guests in two bedrooms. “Steps from the beach and with beautiful views of the Santa Ynez mountains, you’ll find no shortage of sights and plenty of activities to make for an unforgettable summer stay,” it states.

Kutcher and Kunis were to be on hand to greet the guests on arrival, providing meals and snacks. “We’ll capture some content together to commemorate your SoCal stay,” they added.

The two haven’t yet posted any photos or videos of their guests.

Hunter Biden prays for ‘just’ judges at nephew’s bar mitzvah

(JNS) — The son of U.S. President Joe Biden was “visibly unpracticed in his role” as he led part of the service for his nephew’s bar mitzvah on Aug. 12 at Congregation Etz Chaim in Marietta, Ga., the New York Post reported.

Hunter Biden’s performance was captured in a live stream of the “progressive, egalitarian, Conservative synagogue,” as Etz Chaim’s website describes it.

“Less than 24 hours after a special counsel was named to probe Hunter Biden’s alleged tax and gun crimes, and while GOP investigators continued to search his bank records for signs of influence-peddling, the first son was begging the Big Guy upstairs for justice,” the Post wrote.

Part of the prayer that he read states “Help them understand the rules of justice” and “Grant us the knowledge to judge justly.” Although the Post called it a “lengthy” blessing, the prayer for U.S. leaders, which many synagogues recite, is one of the shorter ones in the Shabbat service.

The bar mitzvah boy was Jayden Cohen, whose father, Davan, is the brother of Biden’s wife, Melissa.

Per the Post, Biden fidgeted with his yarmulke, forgot his prayer book when he went up to the bimah, wandered around the sanctuary after finishing his reading and was the only male relative without a necktie.

No apology from rapper Noname for antisemitism in new album

(JNS) — It’s difficult to keep the names straight, particularly because one of the rappers performs under the monicker “Noname.” That part can get confusing, though the antisemitism is clear.

The lyrics to the song “Balloons” by Fatimah Nyeema Warner (“Noname”) on the album “Sundial,” released on Aug. 11, praises Louis Farrakhan, the antisemitic Nation of Islam leader.

A guest performer in the song is the hip-hop musician Timothy Elpadaro Thedford, who once went by “Jaydolf Hitler” but is now known as Jay Electronica and Elpadaro F. Electronica Allah.

“If anybody asks, tell ’em Farrakhan sent me,” Electronica raps in the song. He adds that he “Saw the Roth family in half to get my clout back.” The latter is an apparent reference to the Rothschild family, which is at the center of many antisemitic conspiracy theories.

The rapper, who has long associated with Nation of Islam, also raps about the Russian attack on Ukraine being a “hoax.”

Meanwhile, Noname has not apologized for the lyrics.

“I am not antisemitic. I don’t hate groups of people,” she has stated. “I am against the white supremacy, which is a global system that privileges people who identify as white. I’ve been clear about this for years.”

Of Electronica’s contributions, Noname said: “I’m not going to apologize for including it on my album. If you feel like I’m wrong for including that’s fair. Don’t listen. Unfollow and support all the other amazing rappers putting out dope music. Your disappointment truly means absolutely nothing to me, and I say that with love.”

Despite sanctions, Iran reportedly producing 2 million barrels of oil daily

(JNS) — U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken referred during an Aug. 15 press conference to “continued implementation of sanctions against Iran.” That might be news to Tehran, which is seeing an oil production “surge,” now above 2 million barrels daily, Bloomberg reported. 

“When the Biden administration tells you that they’re enforcing sanctions, please laugh and ask them about the booming Iranian oil flow over 2 million barrels per day worth around $60 billion annually to the regime,” wrote Mark Dubowitz, CEO of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies. “None of this is restricted to humanitarian use.”

Omri Ceren, national security adviser to Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), wrote, “Periodic reminder the Biden admin allowed Iran to rebuild their economy through functionally unlimited sanctions-busting and become a nuclear threshold state. In the last few weeks they sent Iran a $16 billion ransom.”

The Bloomberg article cited the oil shipments monitor TankerTrackers.com, which has observed a notable recent increase in Iranian oil production. Many of the sales are to China, which does not adhere to the sanctions.

Tehran unveils drone with range to hit Israel

(JNS) — Iran on Tuesday put on public display an advanced domestic-manufactured drone capable of reaching Israel, state media reported.

The Mohajer-10 UAV has an operational radius of 2,000 kilometers (1,240 miles) and the ability to stay airborne for 24 hours at an altitude of around 23,000 feet (7,000 meters), according to the report. Tehran and Jerusalem are 969 miles (1,559 kilometers) apart as the crow flies.

Tehran’s clerical regime has repeatedly threatened the Jewish state and Iranian media displayed the drone along with other military hardware with the text “Prepare your shelters” in Hebrew and Persian, according to Reuters.

The drone was displayed publicly as part of Defense Industry Day in the presence of President Ebrahim Raisi.

According to the semi-official Mehr News Agency, the drone can carry a payload of 300 kilograms (661 pounds) and a maximum speed of some 210 kilometers per hour (130 miles per hour). It has “the ability to carry all kinds of ammunition and bombs and is equipped with electronic warfare and intelligence systems.”

The Arman-1 guided air-launched bomb was also unveiled at Tuesday’s event.

Reuters reported that on Monday an Iranian delegation landed in Moscow to discuss ground forces cooperation between the two militaries. Tehran has been accused of selling drones to Russia in its assault on Ukrainian territory, an accusation that Iran has denied.

Fiber-optic cable network installed in Hebron

(JNS) — Israel’s Communications Ministry announced on Tuesday the installment of a fiber-optic communications network in the ancient biblical city of Hebron. 

The project is part of a ministry plan to improve cellular reception throughout Judea and Samaria, at a time when over 80% of Israeli households nationwide have access to such networks.

“Today we can say that Hebron is also joining the communications revolution,” declared Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi at a ceremony in the city with telecommunication officials.

“During these very days, when our enemy is cruelly and wickedly trying to uproot us from here, the government is working and will continue to work to strengthen our hold and deepen our roots in this place, and sometimes in order to deepen roots you also need to install fiber optic cables,” said Settlement Affairs Minister Orit Struck.

The communications ceremony in the divided city came a day after an Israeli woman was killed nearby in a Palestinian terrorist attack in the second such lethal shooting within three days.

Eighty-three percent of Israeli households nationwide now have access to fiber-optic cables, with the ministry aiming to offer such accessibility to all homes by 2027.

Kosovo unveils statue to honor Albanians who rescued Jews during Holocaust

(JNS) — A statue honoring 23 Kosovo Albanians who rescued Jews during the Holocaust was inaugurated on Wednesday in Pristina, AP reported.

The “Wall of Honor” monument was unveiled in a park in the Kosovar capital in the presence of some of the rescuers’ descendants, political leaders and the U.S. and German ambassadors.

Some 500 Jews lived in Kosovo, then part of the former Yugoslavia, at the time of the Nazi genocide. Many were arrested and deported to nearby prisons or German-managed camps, and almost half of them were killed.

Local Albanians helped many Jews to escape, usually taking them to neighboring Albania, according to AP.

The statue shows that “the remembrance of those who risked their lives to save their fellow human beings is a tradition that commemorates a rare, bright light in one of the darkest periods of human history,” said Kosovar Prime Minister Albin Kurti on Wednesday.

Today, some 50 Jews live in the western Kosovar town of Prizren.

Kosovo, a landlocked country of 1.95 million north of Greece, declared independence on Feb. 17, 2008.

Kosovo is a former Serbian province and not recognized as a state by Belgrade and its major allies Russia and China. Kosovo and Serbia were locked in a bitter war between 1998 and 1999.

Kosovo is more than 90 percent ethnic Albanian, with a Sunni Muslim majority and Christian minority.

Israel established diplomatic relations with Pristina in 2020. With the initiation of relations, Kosovo became the first Muslim-majority country to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.

White House names Jewish lawyer as counsel

(JNS) — Edward (“Ed”) Siskel, a Jewish lawyer and nephew of the late Chicago Tribune film critic Gene Siskel, has been named the White House counsel. He is slated to start his new role in September.

“Ed has shown a deep commitment to public service and respect for the law,” stated U.S. President Joe Biden. “His experience will let him hit the ground running as a key leader on my team as we continue making progress for the American people every day.”

Siskel served for almost four years, including as deputy counsel, in the White House Counsel’s Office during the Obama administration.

He was corporation counsel under former Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, overseeing hundreds of attorneys and other staff. He was also chief legal officer at a Chicago investment firm and previously served as a federal prosecutor, as well as a clerk, for Associate Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens, according to a White House release.

The White House counsel does not represent the president in personal legal matters, like those the Biden family currently faces.

“Siskel’s attention will be focused on new initiatives Biden hopes to enact as well as staying on top of the president’s efforts to get more judges confirmed in the federal courts,” Politico reported.

Netanyahu talks artificial intelligence with visiting congressional delegation

(JNS) — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met in Jerusalem on Tuesday with a bipartisan congressional delegation.

Rep. Joe Wilson (R-S.C.), chair of the House Subcommittee on Middle East, North Africa and Central Asia, led the delegation, which included Rep. Dean Phillips (D-Minn.), ranking member of the subcommittee.

Rep. Victoria Spartz (R-Ind.), Israeli Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer, the Prime Minister’s Chief of Staff Tzachi Braverman, Foreign Policy Adviser Ophir Falk and U.S. Embassy Chargé d’Affaires Stephanie Hallett were also part of the meeting, per the prime minister’s office.

“The sides discussed opportunities for peace in the Middle East and cooperation between the U.S. and Israel in artificial intelligence,” Netanyahu’s office stated. “Prime Minister Netanyahu thanked the members of the delegation for their consistent support for Israel.”

Hundreds of IDF vets to become Holocaust educators abroad

By Yori Yalon

(JNS) — Hundreds of former IDF soldiers will soon become Holocaust educators as part of a World Zionist Organization program meant to keep the memory alive and spread awareness of antisemitism.

The future educators, volunteers of the Heroes for Life non-profit, will travel in delegations to over a dozen destinations to share the stories of Holocaust survivors and Righteous Among the Nations.

They will be trained by the Zikaron BaSalon (literally, “memory in the living room”) initiative, which specializes in Holocaust commemoration and encourages survivors to share their stories with small groups.

Several delegations are expected to set off in the coming weeks, with more to come throughout the year, including to Mexico, Guatemala, Panama, Costa Rica, India, Vietnam and Nepal.

“I am thrilled to take part in such a special project,” said one of the volunteers, who will be traveling to Brazil. “These stories are shocking and timeless and it’s important for them to be heard around the world.”

Sarit Handknopf, executive director of the WZO’s Department for Israel and Holocaust Commemoration Worldwide, said the cooperation was doubly special as “the IDF is one of the main symbols of our victory over the Nazi oppressor.”

“Our moral duty to the heroic Holocaust survivors who are dwindling is to preserve the memory of their heroism,” she said.

Originally published by Israel Hayom.