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Without realizing that he was seated next to her, the rabbi turned to the woman on his left and asked, “Who’s Noa?”

By Adina Katz, World Israel News

Two prominent Israelis from wildly different walks of life connected during a chance encounter on a Tel Aviv-bound flight, snapping a picture together that quickly went viral on Hebrew-language social media.

Pop star Noa Kirel, 22, represented Israel in the international song contest Eurovision, securing the Jewish state a third-place win during the competition held last Saturday.

On a commercial flight back to Israel transporting Kirel and her crew, all the screens on the airplane displayed a message reading “Congratulations Noa. We’re proud of you.”

According to a post by Kirel about the incident, Yosef Zvi Rimon, who is the Chief Rabbi of the Gush Etzion Regional Council, was perplexed by the message.

Rimon, who does not keep up with pop culture, was curious as to what the woman had done to deserve the public praise. Without realizing that he was seated next to her, the rabbi turned to the woman on his left and asked, “Who’s Noa?”

Kirel promptly replied “That’s me!” Rimon asked her what she had accomplished, and she explained that she came in third place in Eurovision.

“She and her mother started telling me that her grandfather was a rabbi and a great scholar, and Noa said that at Eurovision, she recited the morning prayer and did not use her cell phone on Shabbat,” Rimon was quoted as saying by Ynet.

“She asked me what I do. I told her that I am the rabbi of Gush Etzion, and if she ever has a question, she can reach out. So she got excited and asked for my number. She took a selfie and sent me the picture.”

Kirel, who is one of the most popular singers in Israel, came under fire from critics for her Eurovision routine, which featured highly sexualized dance moves and a provocative outfit.

Radio commentator Shai Goldstein slammed Kirel’s performance after a video of the rehearsal was released, calling it “dancing that belongs in a dark strip club” and pushing back against the singer’s claim that the number was empowering for women.

“There’s no female empowerment here… just sexual exploitation of a young and confused girl, who sadly, people have been making money off of since she was a teenager.”

The post ‘Who are you?’ Israeli pop star connects with rabbi on plane appeared first on World Israel News.

Shooting of Jewish pilgrims at ancient synagogue not related to Jew-hatred, world should focus on the Palestinian national struggle instead, says Tunisia’s president.

By Lauren Marcus, World Israel News

Tunisian President Kais Saied claimed that a deadly attack targeting Jewish worshippers at a historic synagogue last week was not antisemitic in nature and suggested that people who believe the murders were motivated by Jew-hatred are part of a “conspiracy” to tarnish Tunisia’s international image.

Last week, two Jewish cousins – one from France and one from Israel – and three Tunisian national security guards were shot to death by an attacker, who began targeting at Jewish pilgrims attending an annual celebration at the ancient Ghriba synagogue in Djerba.

The perpetrator, who government ministers admitted had planned the attack in advance, laid in wait near the synagogue with his weapon for several minutes before shooting. He was shot by security forces less than five minutes after opening fire.

Saied insisted that the attack was in no way antisemitic. In a statement to local media quoted by The Jerusalem Post, he called people who acknowledged the attack was antisemitic as “the forgers of history bent on distorting history, falsifying facts and spreading untruths” and said they were attempting to “ spread conspiracies against the state and endanger social peace.”

Shortly after charging that antisemitism does not exist in Tunisia – a country which does not acknowledge Israel’s existence – Saied said that a focus on Jew-hatred is a smokescreen for covering up alleged human rights violations against Palestinians.

Western countries expressing concern over antisemitism in Tunisia “do not hesitate to make the false accusations of antisemitism while they turn a deaf ear when it comes to dealing with the plight of the Palestinians who are dying every day,” Saied charged.

“The Palestinian people will succeed against all odds to triumph and recover their despoiled land,” he added.

Saied concluded by explaining that antisemitism does not exist in the modern age.

“It is strange that in the 21st century some people still talk about antisemitism,” he said, saying that people who acknowledge Jew-hatred as a problem are simply wielding the concern as a political weapon.

“They want to preserve the seeds of division and benefit from this discourse,” he added.

The post Djerba synagogue murders not antisemitic – Tunisian president appeared first on World Israel News.

Israel, particularly the Golan region, holds historical significance as the birthplace of plant and mammal domestication.

By Pesach Benson, TPS

In a groundbreaking discovery, Israeli researchers have found evidence that living in close proximity to humans may be leading to the domestication of jackals.

Golden jackals, an overabundant species in urban habitats, have long been observed thriving near human populations. However, a Tel Aviv University study conducted in the Golan Heights suggests that the existing closeness between humans and jackals might be initiating the first stages of domestication, akin to the domestication of dogs from wolves.

The study conducted by Ayelet Barash, a PhD student from Tel Aviv University’s School of Zoology, was published in the peer-reviewed Scientific Reports in May, presenting findings that challenge the current understanding of jackal behavior.

Working in collaboration with Dr. Yaron Dekel from the Shamir Institute for Research and the University of Haifa, and Professor Tamar Dayan from the Steinhardt Museum of Natural History and Tel Aviv University, the researchers initially suspected that a jackal exhibiting traits of a domesticated animal was a hybrid of a jackal and a dog. However, through comprehensive genetic and morphological analyses, Barash’s team confirmed that the animal was a wild jackal and not a hybrid.

This was the first documented case of an animal possessing characteristics resembling domestication without recent hybridization.

One indicator of domestication is a change in fur color, Barash explained. During a camera survey in the Golan Heights, the researchers discovered five unusual jackals with long fur, white patches, and upright tails. One of these jackals, nicknamed “Jackie,” became the focal point of the study.

Genetic and skull examinations confirmed that Jackie was 100 percent jackal, ruling out any dog hybridization or known coat color mutations.

The discovery of Jackie raises the possibility that this might be an incipient stage of self-domestication, a phenomenon that has not been witnessed in thousands of years since the domestication of the last wild mammal. Israel, particularly the Golan region, holds historical significance as the birthplace of plant and mammal domestication.

The observation of Jackie’s domestication-like traits offers researchers a unique opportunity to explore this ongoing evolutionary process. Dr. Yaron Dekel described the findings as a scientific breakthrough, emphasizing the importance of ongoing research in genetics, evolution, and ecology to gain a deeper understanding of this remarkable phenomenon.

Prof. Dayan said the study highlighted significant insights into the evolution of human-animal interactions and the processes behind animal domestication. The study’s comparative research, using collections from the Natural History Museum, helped confirm the identity of “Jackie” as a wild jackal.

According to the researchers, the population of jackals in the Golan Heights continues to increase each year, mirroring the conditions during the early stages of dog domestication thousands of years ago. Similar to the past, the availability of food waste around human environments attracts jackals that are gradually becoming less fearful of humans. Over time, these individuals may undergo physical and behavioral changes, ultimately leading to self-domestication.

As researchers embark on this fascinating journey, further investigation will shed light on the evolutionary implications of jackal domestication and the potential for the emergence of a new domesticated species. The study not only enhances scientific knowledge but also emphasizes the importance of preserving natural history collections for future research endeavors.

With jackals becoming a regular sight in urban areas, it remains crucial for wildlife and municipal authorities to educate the public about the risks of approaching or feeding these animals.

The post Proximity to humans could lead to jackal domestication, Israeli study finds appeared first on World Israel News.

A concentration camp survivor cried as the looped clip played, including shouts of “Sieg Heil!”

By Batya Jerenberg, World Israel News

A looped clip of a Hitler speech broadcast on an Austrian train shocked and frightened passengers Sunday.

The recording of some 30 seconds of the German leader ranting and people shouting the Nazi salute “Sieg Heil!” several times started playing shortly before the train reached Vienna.

David Stoegmueller, a Green Party MP who was in one of the compartments, told the BBC that the same recording was played twice, with train operators unable to stop it or make announcements while it played.

He added that a fellow passenger emailed him that a concentration camp survivor cried when she heard the voices play loudly throughout the train.

Rabbi Schlomo Hofmeister, the chief rabbi of Vienna, was also on the train. He told CNN on Monday that initially there was “strange music, snippets of conversation and laughter which suddenly turned into a Hitler speech played louder and louder.” At first he thought it was an error, then a terrible joke, but then he “felt queasy” because the thought occurred to him that the train had been hijacked, he said.

Some people panicked while others laughed, he added.

What was mostly “disturbing,” he wrote on Twitter following the incident, was that those in charge on the train “didn’t provide any explanation or reassurance,” simply “ignoring” what had happened.

A third passenger, journalist Colette Schmidt, echoed the rabbi’s anger and fright, telling CNN that “no conductor, no one came, there was no one to see. We were alone with this madness. ‘Who is driving this train now?’ I asked myself…. It was very, very scary.”

“Quite apart from the fact that I and other Austrians were completely shocked: what does a guest from abroad think when Hitler speeches are played over loudspeakers in our trains? Supposedly it came from ‘the technology.’ What?!” Schmidt tweeted.

“We clearly distance ourselves from the content,” the train’s operator, Austrian Federal Railways (ÖBB), said in a statement sent to the BBC. “We can currently assume that the announcements were made by people directly on the train via intercoms. We have reported the matter to the police.”

The authorities later arrested two people, identified through the train’s surveillance cameras, for apparently opening the intercom with a duplicate key to play the recording.

“It is absolutely clear that any abuse should be punished, especially the illegal use of Nazi symbols is absolutely unacceptable,” an ÖBB spokesperson told CNN.

The National Socialism Prohibition Act of 1947 mandates prison sentences for those attempting to revive or glorify Nazism. Depending on the crime, a person could serve up to 20 years in prison.

The post Hitler speech broadcast on Austrian train shocks passengers appeared first on World Israel News.

Pro-US Kilicdaroglu is not expected to win the 2023 Turkish election.

Mayor Eric Adams offers strong support for yeshiva educations after left-wing media outlets repeatedly demonize religious Jewish schools.

By Lauren Marcus, World Israel News

New York City Mayor Eric Adams spoke out about the merits of yeshiva education at an event last Wednesday, pushing back after sustained criticism from media outlets arguing that the schools do not provide sufficient education for children.

“Instead of us focusing on, how do we duplicate the success of improving our children, we attack the yeshivas that are providing a quality education that is embracing our children,” said Adams during a speech at the Teach NYS Annual Dinner 2023, hosted by the Orthodox Union.

“We’re asking, ‘What are you doing in your schools?’ We need to ask, ‘What are we doing wrong in our schools?’ And learn what you are doing in the yeshivas to improve education,” he added.

Adams continued by stating that he does not “apologize for believing in God” and stressed that religious education is valuable.

“We are a country of faith and belief, and we should have it anywhere possible to educate and to help uplift our children in the process,” he said.

The mayor has enjoyed strong support from the Orthodox community, and acknowledged that in a speech last week.

“You were there for me when I ran for mayor,” Adams said. “I’m going to be there for you as your mayor.”

In recent months, the New York Times has devoted several feature-length articles to slamming yeshiva education, portraying a failed system that does not prepare children adequately for academic success, and even claiming that such environments are emotionally abusive.

“The New York Times confirms, for the 13th time in just three and a half months, its obsession with spreading misinformation and demonizing Orthodox and Hasidic Jews,” read a statement from the Agudath Israel umbrella Orthodox group in December 2022, on the heels of yet another article criticizing yeshiva education.

“At the same time, antisemitic attacks specifically targeting the visibly Jewish in New York City – the ones targeted by the New York Times – have risen exponentially,” the statement added.

Notably, mainstream Jewish advocacy groups including the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) have acknowledged that the Times articles were inherently biased and based on “the kind of antisemitism we know all too well.”

The post New York City mayor: Stop ‘attacking yeshivas’ – they provide ‘quality education’ appeared first on World Israel News.

The End Jew Hatred movement protested outside UN headquarters Monday night over its commemoration of the ‘Nakba’ – Arabic for ‘catastrophe,’ referring to the establishment of the modern Jewish state.

Where are all the other Jewish organizations?

The post WATCH: Who’s NOT protesting the UN ‘Nakba’ commemoration? appeared first on World Israel News.

This War Is the Big One: “The Objective Is to Destroy Russia and the Russian Empire”

By Irwin Jerome, May 15, 2023

Every uncompromised world politician and citizen of the world, who against great odds, have kept themselves informed …

The post Selected Articles: This War Is the Big One: “The Objective Is to Destroy Russia and the Russian Empire” appeared first on Global Research.

The acclaimed Oscar-winning actor, Jamie Foxx, has bounced back after recently experiencing a medical emergency. After being hospitalized for several weeks, Foxx entered a top-tier physical rehabilitation facility in the heart of Chicago to recuperate. His daughter Corinne Foxx never left his side and has since kept the public abreast of her father’s progress as he continues on the road to recovery.

Corinne clarified that Jamie had been released from the hospital several weeks prior and has continued to make great strides in a rehabilitation center.

The specific nature of Foxx’s medical emergency wasn’t specified, but the facility specializes in stroke recovery, traumatic brain injury rehab, spinal cord injury rehab, and cancer rehabilitation. Jamie recently addressed the health scare on Instagram, expressing his appreciation to everyone who had been with him through the ordeal.

In the wake of his recovery, Jamie Foxx and his daughter Corinne are set to host a unique game show, “We Are Family.” The show’s concept is that celebrities and their non-famous relatives will perform duets with one another while the celebrity’s identity is kept hidden. The show is set to debut sometime next year and is sure to bring excitement to audiences everywhere!

Jamie Foxx is now looking to the future – both with his rehabilitation and his new television game show venture. Working alongside his daughter Corinne, the two of them are sure to make their mark on the entertainment industry in the coming months.

The tranquil Texas town of Keene was marred by violence on Saturday night after a 32-year-old local restaurant employee was shot and killed in an argument with a customer. Reports say 20-year-old Angel Gomez, along with a 12-year-old minor, has been charged with murder for the death of Matthew Davis.

According to Keene Police Chief James Kidd, the incident occurred in the Sonic drive-in parking lot on Old Betsy Road when Davis confronted Gomez for public urination. Allegedly tensions rose, and the pre-teen involved reacted by pulling out an assault rifle and shooting Davis multiple times. Davis was airlifted to a nearby hospital but ultimately succumbed to his injuries.

After the shooting, Gomez attempted to escape but was later arrested back at the restaurant. Meanwhile, the juvenile was found down the road in Rio Vista. As the suspect is a minor, the local police have not released any further records of their identity.

The Sonic branch closed on Monday in tribute to the life lost, as locals gathered to leave flowers and cards beside the scene. Among them, Keene resident Jane Baggett expressed her shock to NBC 5 and her desire to support the Davis family: “It’s heartbreaking something like that has to happen, and it’s scary. I wanted to do something to show her family support and prepare them for the future.”

To help financially care for Davis’ 10-year-old son, a GoFundMe account has been set up to cover funeral costs. In response to the event, a spokesperson from the franchise released a statement articulating their sadness and dedication to cooperate with local investigators.

As the terrible news spread throughout the small town, the community joined arms together to support Matthew Davis’ family in their time of need.