Category: Articles

The horror cannot be diminished!

In a move to make it illegal to attribute Poland’s complicity in the Holocaust, the Polish government announced legislation to make it a criminal offense if the phrase Polish Death Camps is used.

Sculpture at Auschwitz Honoring Families Torn Apart

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said at Sunday’s cabinet meeting that Israel has zero tolerance for “distorting the truth, rewriting history or denying the Holocaust.” Netanyahu said that Israel’s Ambassador to Poland Anna Azaria made Israel’s firm position known to Poland’s Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki at a memorial ceremony at Auschwitz marking International Holocaust Remembrance Day on Saturday night.

PM’s Netanyahu and Morawiecki agreed to open dialogue on this devastating legislation.
Poland’s President Andrzej Duda said he would review the bill signaling a possible way out of the mini diplomatic crisis that developed over the last three days.

There is no other phrase to call it and it and should be left as is. To re-write this phrase is to not only deny it for what is was, but it diminishes the horrific aspect of the Holocaust.

For more, read the Jerusalem Post article

David Jacobs, a crusader for justice in Israel, is calling attention to the case of Ben Deri, a young man whose story was well known in Israel four years ago but has now been largely forgotten. Here are some of the details:

In the October 4, 2011 Shalit exchange, 1127 Arab terrorists were released from Israeli prisons. On July 28, 2013, in the John Kerry deal, the Israeli Cabinet agreed to release 104 Arab terrorists from prison to restart the “peace” negotiations with Abbas. The terrorists would be released in four groups of 26 each over a period of nine months.

On April 14, 2014, Baruch Mizrahi, an Israeli policeman and a father of five from Modiin, was murdered by a terrorist released by the Netanyahu government in the Gilad Shalit prisoner swap. In response, the Netanyahu government decided not to release the final group of 26 prisoners. The first 78 had already been released. The Arabs began rioting on May 14, 2014, their Naqba day, outside Ofer prison.

Fifteen Border Police were surrounded by thousands of Arab rioters, and an Arab was shot. Ben Deri, the commander of the Border Policemen, was charged with shooting a live bullet, rather than the rubber bullets the police were using. This finding was based solely on the report by the Abu Dis Institute of Forensic Medicine.

Ben spent three months in jail and in January 2015 was released to house arrest which he has been under until very recently. He is now allowed out during the day for work in his father’s factory. The prosecution has asked for a 27-month jail term with no time
consideration for time already served. Sentencing will be this April.

It is necessary to shine the light on the Ben Deri case. This young man represents all the police and soldiers who serve their country and then end up becoming victims of an unjust justice system. This young man’s life must be saved.

For additional information contact:
Honenu.org.il@gmail.com or amchazak1836@gmail.com

AFSI mourns the passing of our devoted friend Toby Willig, z”l.

Toby was a warrior who fought for the people of Israel, the Land of Israel, and the Torah of Israel until the very end. Her passionate love for the people and the land of Israel knew no bounds.

Her family may be contacted by email.

May the family be comforted among all the mourners of Zion and Jerusalem. May they know no more sorrow.

Arutz Sheva’s story on VP Pence’s visit to Israel follows him to the Kotel where he placed a note then said a brief prayer.

At the end of his visit, Pence signed the Western Wall guest book. “It is my great honor to pray here at this sacred place. God bless the Jewish people and God bless the state of Israel always.”

Responding to questions by reporters, the Vice President said the visit to the holy site was “very inspiring.”

“We stand with Israel because your cause is our cause, your values are our values, and your fight is our fight.”

VP Mike Pence’s visit to Israel was highlighted by his speech given at the Knesset on January 22, 2018. This is an historic moment as Pence was also afforded the privilege of being the first US Vice President to address the Knesset.

AFIS has listened carefully to every word of his speech. We feel confident that the declaration of support, friendship and commitment that United States has shown Israel is real and sincere. May this renewed relationship between the US and Israel go from strength to strength.

Excerpts from Pence’s speech:

“America stands with Israel.”

“By finally recognizing Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, the United States has chosen fact over fiction.”

“The Iran nuclear deal is a disaster, and the United States of America will no longer certify this ill-conceived agreement.”

“The miracle of Israel is an inspiration to the world. And the United States of America is proud to stand with Israel and her people, as allies and cherished friends.”

Full transcript of Pence’s speech here and video below courtesy of the Jerusalem Post.

Helen Freedman paid a visit to Yael Shevach, the widow of Rabbi Raziel Shevach, who was killed on the road outside Havat Gilad just a week ago. Yael is an amazing woman, filled with beauty and courage. In addition to raising her six children, she is also a teacher at an Ulpana.

This trip also included a meeting with Ilana Shimoni, the spokeswoman for the Havat Gilad community. Along with Yael, Ilana, is a driving force for the mikveh which is desperately needed by the women of the community.

Anyone interested in helping should write to Ilana.

President Donald Trump said Palestinians disrespected Vice President Mike Pence when they snubbed him this week and threatened to cut off assistance to the Palestinians unless they returned to the negotiating table.

“When they disrespected us a week ago by not allowing our great vice president to see them and we give them hundreds of millions of dollars in aid and support,…” full JTA story HERE

The deaths in the Shavei Shomron Junction of Samaria of Ori and Roi Lipnik at the hands of wild Arab drivers is unbearable. AFSI extends its condolences to the Lipnik family. May they be comforted among all the mourners for Zion and Jerusalem. May they know no more sorrow.

We condemn the Arab road Jihad which threatens the lives of all Israelis.

Arutz Sheva coverage HERE

This week, an honest Jerusalem Post article by Isi Leibler, spells out the challenges of finding the perfect leader in today’s world with and overly obsessed and frenzied media.

Do past indiscretions and scandals – even if they relate to family from years past – need to be taken into account when assessing the performance of a leader? Or should we stop nit-picking at every little bit of minutiea and concentrate on the reason the leader was elected and judge him or her by their performance and accomplishments?

AFSI prefers the latter. What about you?

Mazel tov to Helen Freedman upon accepting the Aishes Chayil Award at the upcoming National Council of Young Israel Dinner to be held March 15 at Terrace on the Park in Flushing Meadows Park, NY. Details to be announced.