Former Finance Ministry accountant-general Prof. Yaron Zelekha announced on Wednesday night that he is forming a new political party focused on economic issues called “The Economic Party” and is joining the race for the next Knesset. Zelekha slammed the current government’s management of the coronavirus crisis, saying that the repeated lockdowns have led to economic devastation for hundreds of thousands of Israelis. “My goal is to save Israel from economic destruction,” Zelekha said, adding that his intention is to be appointed as the Finance Minister in the next government and make efforts to lower the cost of living and break up monopolies.

The NY Post once again revealed their glaring animus and double standard in reporting about the Orthodox Jewish community of NYC. As YWN reported, the funeral of Hagaon HaRav David Feinstein was held today in Manhattan’s Lower East Side. Approximately 5,000 people attended, while well over 25,000 watched on live streams and thousands more on phone hookups. Without a doubt, tens of thousands of mourners honored the family’s request not to attend personally and stayed away. That the family requested that all attendees wear masks, and as photos show – nearly every single attendee wore masks, was of course completely ignored in the NY Post article. Rest assured, we would have heard about the ‘sacred’ masks if it would have been an issue. It wasn’t.

By Rabbi Yair Hoffman for 5tjt.com On the one hand, he is perceived by many asboth lovable and adorable.  His speech patterns, his angelic and child-like facial countenance, remind us all of that cutey-pie roly-poly little boy who was cutely defiant of the teacher and principal back in fifth or sixth grade – a defiance that always exacerbated both of them.  It is just that that cutey-pie little boy is now 58 years old. On the other hand, his antics and statements have inspired hundreds to openly defy authority.  The first time that most Jews outside of Boro Park really heard about him was when he went around with bolt-cutters in hand, opening parks that the city had bolted shut.  There were cheers, praises, and ovations.

I was originally hesitant to write this letter however I decided that I can’t watch what’s currently taking place in religious neighborhoods and remain silent. If for no other reason at all, I’ll be able to say ”Yadai loi shufach es hadam hazeh”. The Coronavirus is child’s play when compared to the potential devastation that is silently growing and metastasizing by the day. This new catastrophe cannot be cured by Remdesivir or any other legend drug. Furthermore the antidote would not be social distancing as from what I understand from 70+ years ago, there was no social distancing or masks in the gas chambers! It is irrelevant that President Trump moved the American embassy to Jerusalem and helped Jews in other ways, we Yidden are putting ourselves in a bigger Makom Sakana every day.

The following is an op-ed co-written by rabbi Chaim David Zwiebel and Avi Schick in the NY Daily News: Yesterday, Jews across the world observed Yom Kippur. It was a day filled with prayer, introspection and commitment to improve. On more than a half-dozen occasions, we asked God to suppress plague and disease . . .  Anyone who ministers to a congregation knows that too often there is a disconnect between what we pray for and our behavior. We sincerely seek the end of the virus, but we are not yet doing all that we can to make that happen. Dr. Anthony Fauci and other public health experts have pointed to wearing a mask as the single most important step one can take to prevent the spread of the virus.

El Al is offering vouchers worth 125% of missed flights.to customers whose flights were canceled in the past six months due to the coronavirus pandemic, Globes reported. One passenger told Globes he accepted a $2,262 voucher for the $1,810 ticket he purchased that can be used until the end of 2021 on flights until November 2022. If he doesn’t use the voucher by then, he will still be entitled to a 100% refund of the original flight. The vouchers can also be used for Sub D’Or flight upgrades and extra baggage. Clients who paid for a group booking of over 10 people are not eligible for a voucher but will receive a 100% refund of their payments. El Al owes about NIS 1 billion to customers for canceled flights, which under normal circumstances must be refunded in full within 21 days.

We are living in difficult times. There’s been much consternation within our community, and rightfully so, about the apparent double standard currently being leveled at us. We endured the challenges of lockdowns and sheltering in place, but now as the restrictions are being lifted, our playgrounds, our schools and our businesses are still closed. Most recently, our sleep-away camps are prohibited from opening. We can point fingers and beat our chests, our blood pressure can boil in frustration, but here’s the bottom line. For those who are frustrated and don’t understand why our community is not being heard, I have a simple solution. Start voting. Yes, elected officials have power, but only to the extent that we empower them. What do I mean?

In 36 years of hosting “Jewish Moments in the Morning” (JM in the AM) I’ve had a general policy of not providing guests with questions in advance of our conversations. This policy safeguards the spontaneity, curiosity and enthusiasm of on-air discussions. In response to Governor Cuomo’s recent announcement regarding the closure of summer camps, I have extended an invitation to have him join me on the air, to no avail. As a result, in order to establish the respectful and straight forward intent of my invitation, I am providing Governor Cuomo with my questions in advance, in good faith and in hopes of him accepting my offer: 1. Throughout the pandemic, you have left many decisions and enforcement to local governments. Why did you decide to make this one on your own? 2.

NYC Mayor Deblasio is a total failure and a pathetic joke. He has allowed the city to descended into total chaos. Half of the most expensive Manhattan storefronts are boarded up with plywood. The looters were released from jail in 3 hours with zero bail thanks to Albany’s wonderful “bail reform” laws. We have NYPD heroes being shot, stabbed, beaten to a pulp, run over by vehicles. He singled out the entire Jewish community with a tweet sent to his millions of followers over social distancing, but wouldn’t dare do the same to the other communities – specifically those rioting. His Sheriff Department is running around Boro Park and Williamsburg handing out summonses to businesses that are opened in defiance of the Governor’s Executive Order.

When watching this toddler in a Meah She’arim toy store, we are taken aback. We think, “No. It cannot be. Is this really his reaction? He is not yet two years old! Is this what he says when he sees the toy police car in the box?” We replay it, once again – hoping, praying – that it is not so. But it is. The young child’s reaction brings us to a sad and frightening conclusion. These children, who will comprise the future residents of Meah She’arim in two decades, are brought up with both a warped sense of history, and a firm hatred. They do not know who the Nazis really were. They are clueless as to the enormous evil of what it means to gas and burn millions of Jews.