This is pretty funny. Some guy wrote a book called "A History of the Palestinian People: From Ancient Times to the Modern Era".

The book, written by Assaf Voll, is 120 pages long in the original Hebrew, though the edition translated to English has 132 pages, and a translation o German is in the works. The pages of the book are completely blank.

The blurb from the book reads:

This book is the fruit of many years of research, during which thousands of sources have been meticulously reviewed in libraries and archives worldwide. It is no doubt the most comprehensive and extensive review of some 3,000 years of Palestinian history, with emphasis on the Palestinian people’s unique contribution to the world and to humanity.

The book is being sold on Amazon.

Voll gave an interview about the book to Srugim where he talks about the Palestinians not being an ancient people and the Arabs being experts at creating something from nothing. He says he sent a review copy to Haaretz but they have so far ignored it.

Voll also says a movie based on the books is in the works...

Funny

President Trump & Melania Visit Steve Scalise in the Hospital 6/14/17

it seems there are always religious Jews around when President Trump shows up...

why is this question only relevant for a baal teshuva?

Heck - if we can have kosher cellphones to counter the non kosher cellphones, and kosher internet to counter the non kosher internet, why not have kosher television to counter the non kosher television?

Kikar is reporting that Rav Bentzion Mutzafi has come out strongly criticizing the Hidabrut organization. Hidabrut is an organization that works on turning non-religious Jews into baalei teshuva.

It seems that Hidabrut has created some sort of Kosher Television that has access only to certain religious programming, aimed at helping people become religious.

Whatever Rav Mutzafi heard about it, and Hudabrut people say he was fed inaccurate misinformation, he had some very strong words to say against Hidabrut, and not only about the kosher televisions.

Hidabrut says these televisions are not for the Haredi community, but for people in the process of becoming religious who need chizuk and it helps them get rid of their regular televisions.

Kosher television. Soon people will have two, like they carry two cellphones - a kosher television they show everyone on which they can watch Rav Zamir and others, and a non-kosher television on which they can watch everything else without telling anyone. Schools will ask if you have a kosher television, and if you do not, they'll tell you to get one, even if just for show.

The funny thing is, Hidabrut is working to get people to throw out their televisions, as if that is still an issue. With everyone having Internet access, and that potentially being far "worse" than having a television, it is funny that the television still worries them.

Currently, according to the law, a City Rabbi officially appointed continues to serve until the age of 75, with an almost automatic extension given for an additional five years, until the age of 80. Until the rav reaches 75 years of age, there is no way to get rid of him - even if he just lays in bed all day or is corrupt or does nothing productive in his position. It is an appointment until he reaches 75, and there is no way around it.

The Ministry of Religious Affairs has pushed a law proposal that will allow a rav to be removed from his post if he is not fulfilling his duties and responsibilities. The authority to do so will be given to the Director of the Chief Rabbinate who will appoint a committee to investigate any such claims, in consultation with the Chief Rabbi or in consultation with the Rabbinic head of the region in which he serves.
source: Kipa

I think it is good to have such an option available for extreme cases (as I am sure most city rabbis work diligently in their positions). My one concern would be that such a law not be used as a way of removing rabbis someone in the Rabbanut disagrees with or disapproves of.

Haredim10 has an interesting divorce case that was settled in beis din.

The wife demanded a divorce claiming that her husband is having marital relations with another woman and even has children with her. She claimed the full value of her kesuba, both base and additions, to the tune of 1 million shekels!

the husband claimed he should not have to pay anything, because his wife is unable to have children, thus being defective merchandise, proof being that she has miscarried three times already!

Her advocate argued that miscarriage is not recognized as a valid reason to force a gett with no payment, and with his admission that he is living with another woman, he should be obligated to pay in full.

The beis din decided in favor of the woman, as miscarriage is not considered a defect, and they obligated him to pay the value of the kesuba at 300,000nis.

It does not explain why she claimed 1 million and they decided 300,000nis. The kesuba, if it isn't the general 200zuz, is very specific (generally by sefardim) - did it say 1 million or 300,000? Perhaps they awarded the base kesuba without the additions, or maybe there was some sort of compromise, as is also common in beis din..

from Yaakov Lederman:

I am just going to leave this here without comment...

interesting report..

I just posted about this the other day...