Just when you think it can't get any worse...

21 Marcheshvan 5773

I actually hope Obama wins today's US election. Israelis have no illusions about Obama being a "friend of Israel." If we go the Romney route, it will be taking a step backwards to the times when Israelis and Israeli politicians believed they had a "friend" in the White House to look to for help. At least with Obama, Jews will have to look more and more to HKB"H and less and less to America and that is a big positive for us as a people.

It doesn't matter who takes office, the policies remain the same, but at least with Obama there are no more illusions - the truth is out. Our salvation comes from HASHEM, not America!!

That said, you may be able to understand my consternation when reading the following article.  This is beyond sick, in my view. I find the whole idea utterly disgusting!

Kabbalists pray for 'Moses' Romney's victory

A quorum of kabbalists on Tuesday staged a secret prayer meant to land Mitt Romney win the White House.

The 10 ultra-religious men convened at Jerusalem's Ish Chayil yeshiva to open the Torah ark – a ritual saved for special occasions – and chant a series of invocations calling for divine intervention to "bring down" incumbent President Barack Obama.

For the sake of the exclusive ceremony, the Republican challenger, a Mormon, was dubbed "Moses Romney" with the suffix "Shlita," an honor usually granted to the most venerable of rabbis.

"This kind of prayer can turn worlds upside down," said Shmuel Ben-Atar, a haredi radio presenter who took part in the service. "We ask the people of Israel to pray that Obama – who doesn't like Israel – is brought down."

According to Ben-Attar, the formula that is certain to get Romney to win the presidency includes the repeated recitation of certain Psalms, a prayer for victory said over the open Torah ark – and giving a shekel to the needy.

"People called us from America and asked us to bring about heavenly mercy," he said. "People around the world will pray tonight for Moses Mitt Romney."

Just in case Tuesday's session isn't enough, a delegation of worshippers from the yeshiva is scheduled to travel to the Western Wall at midnight, where they will continue to read Psalms.

"Tonight we will pray profusely for an American leader who will hear our plight," Ben-Attar said.

Eretz Yisrael vs. Chutz La'Aretz

21 Marcheshvan 5773

This is what everything is about today - getting the Jews to come home.

Jewish Family Attacked in Marseille, France
The father of a Jewish family was badly beaten and the family home was completely trashed on Sunday by local youths in Marseille, France.

The father of a Jewish family was badly beaten and the family home was completely trashed on Sunday by local youths in Marseille, France. Residents in their Jewish neighborhood are stunned following the incident.

Marseilles is home to some 80,000 Jews – 10 percent of the general population but a small fraction compared to the 250,000 Muslims with whom they also live. It has been relatively quiet France's second-largest city this year, compared to other areas in the country where violent anti-Semitism has been on the rise.

Last month the SPCJ (Service de Protection de la Communaute Juive) security agency for French Jewry reported a 45 percent rise in anti-Semitic attacks since 2011, mostly by Muslims.

This incident began when two youths parked their car in a Jewish family's private garage.

When the family saw the unfamiliar vehicle they called police, and the car was towed. Upon finding their vehicle gone and learning it had been towed, the youths became angry.

They returned with a gang of friends to exact their revenge upon the hapless family. The gang broke into the home, severely beat up the father of the family and destroyed the rest of the house.

According to local sources, one of the youths reportedly attempted to murder the father. Neighbors heard the family's screams coming from the home and called police, who arrested the attackers. Upon leaving the scene, the attackers promised to “finish the job,” according to local media reports.

In May of this year, a 17-year-old Jewish youth wearing a kipa was also attacked by four male gang members who shouted “It's Shabbat for you, long live [Al Qaeda-linked French Algerian Muslim terrorist] Mohamed Merah! F*** the Jews.... Palestine will win!”

One of the gang members jumped on to his victim, punching him in the arm and kicking him in the leg. The victim punched him back. The attacker also punched the victim's brother-in-law, who tried to block the attack, according to Tel Aviv University's Kantor Center for the Study of Contemporary European Jewry.


Superstorm Sandy vs. Qassam rockets
Israeli mother of two living in Long Island escapes destructions of Superstorm Sandy; stays with family in Gaza vicinity area. 'At least we have running water and electricity,' she says

Amit Kastilio, a mother of two, arrived in Israel on Sunday after Superstorm Sandy destroyed her Long Island home.

Kastilio, who was born and raised in Kibbutz Nahal Oz, left Long Island with her two sons, Yoachim, 4, and Ily, 2, while her husband stayed at home, trying to repair the damages caused by the superstorm.

"Our house has been flooded… we managed to rescue only a few possessions and go up to our neighbors' house at the last minute. We had no water or electricity… houses were on fire, people were standing on roof tops," Kastilio told Yedioth Ahronoth. "It was a nightmare… at some point I decided enough was enough, we could not stay there with the kids. We managed to book flights to Israel with the help of our family."

However, that was not the end of their difficulties. Getting to the airport appeared to be a complicated task as well. "We waited in line for hours at the gas station. It was all a big mess; I can't imagine how much longer it will take to get life back on track," Kastilio added.

Meanwhile, Kastilio and her children are staying at her sister's home in Kibbutz Nahal Oz, where they are facing danger of a totally different kind: "Although we are under the Qassam rocket threat, at least we have running water and electricity," she said, "Things might not be prefect around here, but at least life goes on."


Mailbag: Far Rockaway Situation Something Out Of Movie…Except It’s Real

I am 23 years old, and while I may have lost no financial assets in the hurricane, it is still easy to relay the message of the damage that has occurred to fellow Jews.

A few guys went back home to Far Rockaway, to help victims, for the first time since before the storm. The situation is something out of a movie, except it is real – and there seems to be no end.

In the few short hours we were helping, we witnessed parents literally crying for warm food, and a recently bar mitzvah boy sobbing as we took away his recently destroyed collection of brand new seforim. This is nearly a week after the storm!!

People have no cars as they were destroyed during the hurricane. The houses are flooded from basement to first floor destroying everything and leaving a toxic smell in its path. I was in many people’s homes where sand clogged the pipes and septic water was swept throughout their homes. Half the people are staying home because they are scared of looting, and the other half are leaving because they are scared of the type of people looting. People are freezing, hungry, in despair, and it seems no one in surrounding communities has a clue.

The only factor affecting communities are the long gas lines and ensuring their workers can be at work each day. I have lost no assets but it was very disappointing for me to hear a rabbi this week on Shabbos make no mention of any suffering occurring at this time.

It is very inspiring as there are a tremendous amount of organizations and individuals offering homes, food, and clothes, but it is not even close to the amount of help that should and needs to be done.

People have no idea how bad the situation is.

Shul doors left open just hoping someone will clean it out. A trailer truck of shaimos came from less than 30 homes. From what I hear towns such a s Seagate and Bell Harbor are much worse off. This is not New Orleans; this is right in our backyard!

This poorly written letter is solely meant to spark your interest just enough to research a little into the catastrophe that has occurred in the Jewish community. I’m not sure if it will take a YouTube music video from someone famous or just community leaders in surrounding neighborhoods to help make this message more real.

Ask around how you can help on a financial level and definitely with the cleaning efforts, from the little we saw it was heart breaking.

What will it take?

16 Marcheshvan 5773

Almost every major Jewish community in America was affected in some way by this so-called "Superstorm."  Hashem threw everything but an earthquake and a volcano. (I guess those are reserved for the west coast.) So, what more is it going to take to get through to Diaspora Jews?

Don't let anyone mislead you. This is all about being uprooted from homes, either by evacuation or through destruction. It's well past time for Diaspora Jewry to understand that Eretz Yisrael is the Jewish homeland and that Hashem Yitbarach has no intention of allowing you to remain on foreign soil.

Please take heed. It's only going to get worse.

Agudah of Bayswater Destroyed By Hurricane Sandy – Help Them Rebuild!

Among the devastation caused by Hurricane Sandy, the Agudah in Bayswater was unfortunately destroyed. Sadly, the Shul had just last week completed renovations caused by last years Hurricane Irene when this calamity struck.

According to a source at the Shul, the shul was flooded by the storm surge coming from the bay, and the pumps placed in and around the shul couldn’t keep up with the floodwaters. The shul very quickly filled with 6 feet of water....

All the Seforim – except for the Sifrei Torah thankfully – tables, chairs, walls, Bimah, Aron Kodesh, and Shtenders were destroyed. It appears that the shul may have to condemn the building and restart again.

The situation is very dire, and as of now, the shul reaching out to anyone who can assist them in rebuilding. The shul is an enormous part of the Bayswater community. There are hundreds who use it on a daily basis and rely on it for their Torah and tefilla needs. (Yeshivas Zichron Aryeh is also housed in the shul). The Shul is reaching out to the broader community to help them rebuild this vital source of Torah and Tefilla and need as much financial assistance that they can get.

For more, see here: News Items on How Sandy Destroyed Jewish Lives, Property, and Electricity

"Sandy" Updates

15 Marcheshvan 5773

DEATH TOLL CLIMBS ABOVE 45...

Northeast airports, transit systems slowly start moving again...

Crippled NYC subways could hamper recovery...

WIRE: Could Sandy postpone election?

PHOTOS: SHOCK AND AWE... 

Problems at five nuclear plants in wake of Sandy

The U.S. death toll climbed to 38, many of the victims killed by falling trees.

...More than 8.2 million people across the East were without power. Airlines canceled more than 15,000 flights around the world, and it could be days before the mess is untangled and passengers can get where they're going.

The storm also disrupted the presidential campaign with just a week to go before Election Day.


14 Marcheshvan 5773

STATE-BY-STATE BREAKDOWN ON DAMAGE

Current headlines:

CON EDISON: 7-10 days to restore power... Huge fire in storm's wake destroys 80 NYC homes... LEVEE BREAKS IN NJ TOWN, HUNDREDS BEING EVACUATED... Three towns flooded...

 

• 
  Tanker run aground by superstorm
  A nearly 170-foot water tanker runs aground in Staten Island, N.Y., in Hurricane Sandy.
• Captain missing after HMS Bounty sinks in storm
• Hospital forced to evacuate patients, including 20 babies
• Nuclear plant shuts down unit as storm hits coast

At least 16 deaths, 6.2 million without power in Superstorm Sandy's wake - Superstorm Sandy slammed into the New Jersey coastline with 80 mph winds Monday night and hurled an UNPRECEDENTED 13-FOOT SURGE OF SEAWATER at New York City, flooding its tunnels, subway stations and the electrical system that powers Wall Street. 

Sandy kills 1 in Canada - Officials reported one woman dead in Canada, killed by an airborne sign in a car park . 

"Sandy" Quotes

14 Marcheshvan 5773

"This is the most catastrophic event that we have faced and been able to plan for in any of our lifetimes," Connecticut Gov. Dan Malloy warned. An expected storm surge at midnight could raise water levels to 11 feet above normal high tide, bringing "the potential to cause unprecedented damage."

"It could be bad," said U.S. Coast Guard Rear Adm. Steven Rattior, "or it could be devastation."

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie put it most bluntly: "Don't be stupid. Get out!"

"This is not a typical storm. It could very well be historic in nature and in scope and in magnitude because of the widespread anticipated power outages, flooding and potential major wind damage," Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett said, speaking of his state but just as well about many others in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast.
"Essentially, this is a hurricane wrapped in a nor'easter."
(Sandy could bring 'catastrophe,' impact 60 million)

Officials in Ocean City, NJ "the ocean has met the bay, we have never seen anything like this".
(Twitter)

********

Latest update (6pm IT): Monster storm system packs maximum sustained winds of about 90 mph. The hurricane's wind speed has increased 15 mph over the past 12 hours. power already out to 10,000 in NYC, Long Island.

New York: The 'City That Never Sleeps' goes quiet

Water breaches promenade at Manhattan’s Battery Park

********

NATURAL DISASTERS FLASHBACK
The last 'Frankenstorm': Video of the 1938 nor'easter that ravaged New England
Historic footage of a deadly storm offers clues about what to expect from Hurricane Sandy

Frum NY being evacuated

13 Marcheshvan 5773

Yeshiva World News is providing constant updates:

Hurricane Sandy: Urgent Updates For Far Rockaway / Bayswater / 5 Towns Communities

The following was sent to YWN by the Achiezer Organization:

SINCE THE TIME OF OUR LAST UPDATE SENT SHORTLY BEFORE 4 PM YESTERDAY, THOUSANDS OF FAMILIES HAVE EVACUATED THE NEIGHBORHOOD. IN ADDITION, MORE THAN A DOZEN HANDICAPPED RESIDENTS HAVE SAFELY BEEN RELOCATED.

HOWEVER THOUSANDS OF INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES HAVE REMAINED AND NOT LEFT THEIR HOMES.
IN RESPONSE TO NUMEROUS CALLS RECEIVED, WE HAVE BEEN ADVISED BY THE OFFICE OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT WITHIN THE LAST HOUR, THAT THE EVACUATION ORDER IS STILL ACTIVE. THIS IS NOT MEANT TO PANICK ANYONE, YET IT MEANS THAT YOU IF YOU DO PLAN ON LEAVING FLOOD ZONE AREAS, WHICH INCLUDE ALL OF THE ROCKAWAYS AND FIVE TOWNS, THEN YOU SHOULD DO SO RIGHT NOW.

Double or nothing?

13 Marcheshvan 5773

I didn't make the "date" connection. Hat tips to Arie and Dov.

7 Year Storm Cycle: Katrina, Isaac, Hurricane Sandy And The Perfect Storm

Earlier this year Hurricane Isaac hit New Orleans exactly 7 years to the day that Hurricane Katrina devastated the gulf coast in 2005. Now Hurricane Sandy will slam the east coast of the US 21 years (three cycles of seven years) to the day of the anniversary of the Perfect Storm back in 1991. Is that two major coincidences in one year? What are the chances that two major storms land exactly on the anniversary of two prior epic storms,and disrupt US politics in a presidential election year?

Isaac as you may recall, disrupted the GOP National Convention in Tampa, FL. Now Sandy could potentially disrupt the US Presidential election on November 6th after starting to intensify on the date of the last presidential debate.

One thing is for sure, Hurricane Sandy is a force to be reckoned with. A 100 year storm that in meteorological terms is characteristically called a “bomb.” With so much “coincidence” and disruption in a presidential election year, perhaps this won’t turn out to be a normal election year cycle for the stock market either, but rather an eventful year capped by a Black Swan named Sandy....

OMG! Another aspect of "Sandy"

13 Marcheshvan 5773

New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Connecticut Nuclear Plants In Path of Storm

Preface: We hope and expect that the severity of the hurricane is being overblown, and that the nuclear plants in the Northeast will ride out the storm without any incident.

We noted Friday that more than a dozen nuclear plants are near Hurricane Sandy’s path.

Nuclear expert Arnie Gundersen says that there are actually 26 nuclear plants in the path of the hurricane, and that the spent fuel pools in the plants don’t have backup pumps (summary via EneNews):

Read the rest at Washington Blog.