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The news is reporting that Malka Leifer, the school principal that was accused of abusing some of her students, has been convicted of 18 charges of sexual abuse (and has been acquitted of 9 other charges) and has now been sentenced to 15 years in jail.

Normally I would say it is sad, and maybe it still is, even though necessary, but Leifer was really a monster, hiding behind fabricated medical issues, using political connections and big money to hide out, repeatedly delay and postpone hearings, and avoid facing charges. 

Good riddance!

It isnt easy to get convictions for abuse, especially when the victims were kids, and even more so when facing a powerful abuser with strong connections and big money. The Ehrlich sisters did a fabulous job working through the system, persisting, and got the results. Good job. And they showed Joe Louis to be right when he said "he can run, but he cant hide"...

  -- Eliezer Berland

10 Elul is next week. Get ready.

I dont know how he knows. I dont think a criminal rapist thug like Berland would merit prophecy, but maybe I am wrong. Regardless, this is not the first time Berland is predicting the date of the coming of Mashiach, and he has always been wrong before. Also, is Mashiach a candyman? Is that a prerequisite or will he become one when he announces himself as Mashiach?

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 According to Ynetnews, an organization of Conservative Rabbis, the Rabbinical Assembly, has approved a decision to allow members to drive electric cars on Shabbos. It must have been a heated debate as it came down to a 10-6 vote in favor with 5 abstentions.

While the idea is to use this for purposes related to Shabbat observance, such as going to shul, they recognize some might use it for unrelated travel and they warn against that. Using an electric vehicle for purposes other than enhanced Shabbat observance will violate the spirit of the day, even if it might not actually involve violating any prohibitions.

In the past what held up such a decision was it being pre-ev days when cars used combustion, possible need to perform repairs, along with the concern that drivers might drive drive beyond the boundaries of the eruv.

As part of this new decision they encourage drivers to only use the electric vehicle for purposes that enhance shabbat and that drivers should stay within the eruv.

I do wonder if "enhancing shabbat" is subjective or objective. Someone might say going for a ride in the countryside or relaxing on the beach enhances their Shabbat. Does that count or only driving to synagogue and back home or to friends homes for shared Shabbat meals? And what about if one wants to go to services in a farther away synagogue, maybe outside the boundaries of the eruv - is that ok because it enhances their Shabbat or are they limited to the nearby synagogue because of the eruv? And, are they building their own eruvs or are they relying on the Orthodox eruvs built in many cities with Orthodox communities, but in a place without this becomes irrelevant as no driving can be done with no eruv?

this picture, taken by someone named Aida Rosen (sp?), made the rounds today. It was posted online and went viral. The accompanying text described that this Haredi fellow was sitting on the train and a lady got on and sat beside him. She asked permission to take a picture of the two of them sitting beside each other. People help each other. She saw another young girl get up to give her seat to an older gentleman. Life outside is beautiful, just get off of Facebook.

So this is POTD because two people sat next to each other and nothing happened. 

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Rav Zilbershtein, rav of Ramat Elchonon neighborhood of Bnei Braq, was asked despite already having paskened years ago about a similar situation that it is public property and they do not have the pwoer via their chilul shabbos (or any other way) to cause property that is not theirs to become prohibited and therefore it is ok, but at the time Rav Zilbershtein had also suggested that is not necessary one shouldnt use it. So what about the Tel Aviv light rail - it was built on Shabbos with actual chilul shabbos. But there are many women, wives of avreichim, who work in the area and getting to work by bus can take up to an hour and a half in traffic while using the light rail would get them there in ten minutes. Is it appropriate to use the light rail or should they avoid it?

Rav Zilbershtein responded that it is allowed because it is a kiddush hashem because the government said it would not operate onS habbos. The government is giving respect to Shabbos, they are closing the line. The fact that they built it on Shabbos is not a strong factor as they cant prohibit what is not theirs, what is public property. Because they are saying it will be closed on Shabbos, so it can be used.

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They are not being forced to do this but are doing it of their own initiative, so I bless them and wish them success. I personally think more education is a good thing and this move will hopefully give their children more opportunities when they get older.

I do wonder though, what changed?

Before the last elections they were already in the final stages of adding core curriculum studies and it nearly blew apart UTJ. Eventually they were promised additional funding if they would stay and not add the core curriculum studies, and they agreed and things calmed down. One of the compromises, which at the time did not go through, was to join the Bnei Yosef umbrella rather than just going  straight to the government. At the time it did not happen, but now it seems to be in its final stages.

My question is, did they not get the money that was promised to them? What changed? Why after a loud public agreement to stop that movement to secular studies are they raising this issue again now? I think it is a good thing and I felt bad when it was then thwarted, but I am wondering what changed.

I have also seen a lot of criticism that some sort of scam is involved, they arent really going to study the full curriculum, they will claim they are with less supervision just to get the additional full funding. I dont know if any of that is true, and I am willing to give them the benefit of the doubt. I think proving that they are involved in a scam will be on other people to prove. I wish Belz luck and success in their new approach to education in Israel.

 

honestly, when I first saw the title I thought someone had posted something about the much-talked about Musk vs Zuckerberg fight..

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