Raviv Trial Tribulations

Posted on: December 7th, 2001

For the eighth time since his April, 1999 indictment for failing to notify the authorities of Yigal Amir's intention to assassinate Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, the trial of Avishai Raviv has been postponed, this time for six months. According to a report in The Jerusalem Post, the trial court ordered the postponement of the scheduled November 11 trial date pending a higher court decision on the defense's request to view highly classified prosecution materials.

They're Laughing At Us

Posted on: December 7th, 2001

As we and others have opined, the inclusion of Arab states that continue to harbor terrorist cells in the anti-terrorism coalition is seriously undermining the effort by signalling a political business as usual modus operandi. We have been equally critical of signs that the Bush Administration is agreeing to certain demands of Arab states in general in order to keep them in the coalition. Primary among the concessions was the recent public support expressed by President Bush for the establishment of a Palestinian state. Plainly, the Arab states think they are finally onto something in their effort to have the United States cut Israel loose. But the snickering that this has doubtless engendered seems about to turn into outright mockery if it hasn't already done so.

Tenafly, New Jersey Eruv Controversy

Posted on: December 7th, 2001

In a brief filed with the United States Court of Appeals in the crucial case involving an eruv in Tenafly, New Jersey, Nathan Lewin, Orthodox Jewry's foremost constitutional litigation lawyer, presented an important argument that will, if successful, insulate all eruvim in the United States against similar constitutional attack. The Tenafly Council ordered Cablevision to remove 183 plastic strips that the Eruv Association had attached to utility poles to be used as "lechis," which are necessary to complete an eruv. Many reportedly had reason to believe, from the debate that had preceded the order of removal, that Tenafly was simply trying to keep Orthodox Jews out of the town. But all the Council members swore that they had no anti-Orthodox bias ? which would have meant that their action against the eruv was a violation of the Constitution ? and the federal judge believed them.

November 14 Filing Deadline For Romanian Restitution

Posted on: December 7th, 2001

As we report elsewhere this week, the Prime Minister of Romania has announced that the deadline for filing claims for restitution payments for those who once held property in pre-war Romania is November 14, 2001.

Green For Mayor

Posted on: November 30th, 2001

The Jewish Press endorses Mark Green for Mayor of the City of New York. Of the two candidates, Mr. Green is clearly the one to lead our rebuilding efforts in the aftermath of the devastating events of September 11. He is also unquestionably the one to heal the terrible racial tension unleashed by the very sad Democratic primary.

Additional Endorsements

Posted on: November 30th, 2001

The Jewish Press also endorses the following candidates:

As Simple As A-B-C

Posted on: November 30th, 2001

Prime Minister Sharon has come in for much criticism both here and in Israel by those who fault him for withdrawing the IDF from Palestinian controlled areas it entered in response to shootings emanating from there. They argue that remaining in those areas for an extended period of time is in Israel's best interests, but Mr. Sharon is nevertheless bowing to pressure from the Bush administration.

Rudy To Washington

Posted on: November 30th, 2001

The word circulating around usually well-informed parts of town is that President Bush will be appointing Mayor Giuliani to a very prominent position connected with the war against terrorism. Director of the CIA and Director of Homeland Security are the two posts most often mentioned. Because the Bush Administration is fast losing points in the polls and the confidence of the American public seems to be waning, we don't regard this as mere speculation.

Endorsements

Posted on: November 23rd, 2001

Next week we will be sharing with our readers a full list of our recommended candidates for the November 6 elections. In that connection, we interviewed Mayoral candidates Mark Green and Michael Bloomberg. Both came across as intelligent and committed and each offered a vision for New York City. Details of the Green/Bloomberg interviews and our conclusions next week.

Muslim Population Myth

Posted on: November 23rd, 2001

A startling population report has just been published by the American Jewish Committee debunking the myth of potent Muslim voting power.

Need For Vigilance

Posted on: November 23rd, 2001

The Jewish Press continues to receive disturbing reports of non-Jewish Middle Eastern-looking people buying taleisim, taking pictures of Yeshivas and even of having tried to purchase seats during the High Holy Days.

Separate Military And Political Objectives

Posted on: November 23rd, 2001

The relentless military crackdown on the Taliban and Osama bin Laden's camps in Afghanistan stands in sharp contrast to the tentativeness of the State Department regarding terror cells elsewhere and those directing their attention towards Israel. Apparently in the interests of coalition building, there is a downplaying of the significance of the roles of Syria, Iran, Saudi Arabia and other states hosting or sympathetic to terrorists.

Evil Does Exist

Posted on: November 23rd, 2001

The other day, in a piece entitled, "For Some Jewish Leaders, Partnership With Muslims Is A Casualty of Sept. 11 Attacks," the New York Times reported on a rude awakening in the "interfaith dialogue" crowd in the aftermath of September 11:

Bravo, Mr. Mayor

Posted on: November 16th, 2001

Once again, Rudy Giuliani has demonstrated why his tenure as Mayor of New York these past years marked a transformation of our city. There are those who say that he should have accepted the $10 million for the World Trade Center victims fund from that Saudi prince who accompanied his check with the advice that the United States "should re-examine its policies in the Middle East and adopt a more balanced stance toward the Palestinian cause. Our Palestinian brethren continue to be slaughtered at the hands of the Israelis while the world turns the other cheek." They said the Mayor should just have issued a disclaimer.

On Being Prudent

Posted on: November 16th, 2001

With each day bringing fresh evidence of the reality of the terrorist cloud under which we must now perforce live, prudence dictates that while we go about our lives, we be mindful of the special precautions that are now required.

The President And A Palestinian State: In Any Event,The Timing Was Wrong

Posted on: November 16th, 2001

In principle, we disagree with the notion of U.S. public support for a Palestinian state. The record is clear that, whatever Yasir Arafat and his crowd may claim to the Bush Administration, the Palestinians have no present intention of living as a peaceful neighbor with Israel.

Ritholtz And Ruditzky Nominated For NYS Supreme Court Posts

Posted on: November 16th, 2001

We note with much pride that two prominent members of the Orthodox Jewish community have been nominated by the Democratic Party Judicial Convention to the New York State Supreme Court. They will be running in the November 6 election.

Spinning History

Posted on: November 16th, 2001

"Big Town Chronicles/The Daily News History of Modern New York" is a regular feature in the New York Daily News and often provides interesting, nostalgic glimpses back into New York City's recent past. A wide variety of topics have found their way into the column, usually with little attendant controversy. So we were shocked by what appeared on Monday October 8, 2001 under the title, Hasidim. December 1978-February 1979. Not only was there nothing at all of the rich Hasidic life in New York, but the article was downright nasty. With our emphasis, here are some excerpts:

The Two Lists

Posted on: November 10th, 2001

The folks over at the American Jewish Congress say that the State Department's inclusion of Palestinian groups on its list of "Foreign Terrorist Organizations" should reassure Israel. They are dead wrong! Those organizations are not on the other, more important list the State Department issued last week. To be sure, U.S. citizens are prohibited from financially supporting groups on the Foreign Terrorist Organizations list and all U.S. financial institutions are required to freeze the assets under their control.

Rav Aharon Soloveichik, zt''l

Posted on: November 10th, 2001

The Jewish Press joins Klal Yisrael in mourning the death of Rav Aharon Soloveichick, one of the preeminent Talmudic scholars and Halachic authorities of our time.