On Tuesday, Aug 20th, the Aish.com website, a website dedicated to spreading Jewish wisdom to English and Spanish audiences, was hit by a major DDOS cyber attack that started at 10:45 a.m. Israel time, and continued for 6 hours. The scope of this attack, which saw over 219 million requests in that span of time, is unprecedented in the history of the website or the Aish organization. Director of Technology and Computer Programming for Aish.com Shraga Botwinick said “I was immediately notified by our monitoring tools that we have in place with regard to the unusual activity. After investigating the issue I noticed a major DDoS attack. As a result of the attack, the website stopped responding for between 5-10 minutes when the attack was initiated, but following that pause our internal security systems kicked in and the site began functioning normally once more.” The organization reports that no information was lost or stolen in the attack and that the Israel National Cyber Directorate was contacted upon learning of the attack. In computing, a denial-of-service attack (DoS attack) is a cyber-attack in which the perpetrator seeks to make a machine or network resource unavailable to its intended users by temporarily or indefinitely disrupting the services of a host connected to a network. Denial of service is typically accomplished by flooding the targeted machine or resource with superfluous requests in an attempt to overload systems and prevent some or all legitimate requests from being fulfilled. The Aish.com website has previously been hit with similar but much smaller DDoS cyber attacks since the beginning of the October 7th war. In May 2024, following one such attack, the organization added a significant amount of extra security protection to prevent these attacks from affecting service on the site which is visited by more than 1 million users per month who are seeking to learn more about Judaism, Israel, and connect to their roots. Rabbi Steven Burg, the CEO of Aish, who is currently attending a Jewish Heritage mission in central Europe, expressed his thanks to the staff for their handling of the situation and said that he “is not surprised” by the incident. “Israel and the Jewish people are under attack on all fronts, both physically as well as in the cyber world. Aish is an a-political organization but because we are dedicated to strengthening the Jewish people by spreading Jewish wisdom and Jewish values, we too are under attack. I want to thank the excellent staff, especially Shraga Botwinick, for their expert handling of the situation. These attacks are part of the delegitimization tactics used by our enemies to harm any attempts at Jews standing up for themselves or strengthening one another. But Aish will continue to do just that, spread Jewish Wisdom, speak up for the Jewish people, and strengthen all Jews around the world, no matter who or where they are.”
Incredible nissim occurred on the yishuv of Katzrin on Wednesday morning amid the destruction caused by the heavy rocket barrage that Hezbollah fired directly at a civilian area in northern Israel on Wednesday morning. Hezbollah fired 40 rockets directly at the yishuv of Katzrin and several homes scored direct hits but only one man was injured. Shai Bettleman, a member of the Katzrin city council, said that many children, who are on summer vacation, were at home during the attack. Two of those children experienced an incredible neis. Daniel’s house [seen in the video below] sustained a direct hit while he, his wife and two young children were at home. The rocket hit the living room while they were in the hallway and they were Baruch Hashem unharmed, but they couldn’t leave the house from the front door as the living room was full of smoke and fire. He led his family out of the house from the back windows. Another neis occurred at a nearby camping site. In the photo below, Rabbi Yoel Rakel holds the fragments of an interceptor rocket that fell five meters from a tent full of children. (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)
Moscow came under one of the largest attacks by Ukrainian drones since the start of fighting in 2022, Russian authorities reported Wednesday, saying they destroyed all of those headed toward the capital. The drone attacks come as Ukrainian forces are continuing to push into Russia’s western Kursk region. In the past week, they have also struck three bridges, several airfields and an oil depot in a sign they are not letting up on their attacks. “This was one of the biggest attempts of all time to attack Moscow using drones,” Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said on his Telegram channel. He said strong defenses around the capital made it possible to shoot down all the drones before they could hit their intended targets. Russia said it downed 45 Ukrainian drones overnight, including 11 over the Moscow region. There was no independent information to verify those figures. Some Russian social media channels shared videos of drones apparently being destroyed by air defense systems, which then set off car alarms. Ukrainian drone strikes have brought the fight far from the front line into the heart of Russia, targeting the Russian capital and second city St. Petersburg, and an airport in Western Russia, according to Russian officials. Since the beginning of this year, Ukraine has stepped up aerial assaults on Russian soil, targeting refineries and oil terminals to slow down the Kremlin’s assault. A fire at an oil depot targeted by Ukraine burned for the fourth day Wednesday in Rostov, a region in southwestern Russia that borders Ukraine. Priests from the Russian Orthodox Church held a prayer service for injured firefighters as dark plumes of smoke rose in the distance at the oil depot in Proletarsk, according to a photo shared on social media by the Volgodonsk diocese. Ukraine’s daring land incursion into Russia has raised morale in Ukraine with its surprising success and changed the dynamic of the fighting and raised the morale of Ukrainians. But it is also a risky move. Ukrainian forces were already badly stretched, with active hostilities taking place along more than 970 kilometers (600 miles). The gains in Kursk come as Ukraine continues to lose ground in its eastern industrial region of Donbas. The Russian state news agency Tass reported that 31 people had died since Ukraine’s attack on Russia began Aug. 6, figures which are impossible to verify. It said 143 people had suffered injuries, of whom 79 were hospitalized, including four children. A Ukrainian drone dropped an explosive device on a car in the Bolshesoldatsky area of the Kursk region, slightly northeast of the town of Sudzha, the acting governor Alexei Smirnov said. One woman was killed on the spot and two others were hospitalized, he said. Russia’s Central Electoral Commission announced that local elections in six districts and one city of the Kursk region scheduled for Sept. 8 will be postponed and rescheduled when voters’ safety can be guaranteed. Maria Zakharova, spokeswoman for the Russian Foreign Ministry, said Ukraine’s attack on Kursk has ended “any possibility” of peace negotiations. “Who will negotiate with them after this, after the atrocities, the terror that they are committing against peaceful residents, the civilian population, civilian infrastructure and peaceful facilities,” she said at a briefing Wednesday in Moscow. Ukraine said it was respecting the Geneva Conventions, the international humanitarian […]
Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, the wealthiest politician in office in the United States, made headlines at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago on Tuesday after boasting about his billionaire status—just moments after Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) decried the influence of the “billionaire class” in America. Pritzker, whose estimated net worth stands at $3.5 billion, took a direct shot at former President Donald Trump during his speech. “Donald Trump thinks that we should trust him on the economy because he claims to be very rich,” Pritzker remarked, before quipping, “But take it from an actual billionaire, Trump is rich in only one thing: stupidity!” The audience responded with cheers and applause. The timing of Pritzker’s remarks, however, sparked some irony as it followed Sanders’ fiery critique of the wealthiest Americans. In his speech, Sanders called out the economic disparity in the U.S., stating, “Too many of our fellow Americans are struggling every day to just get by, to put food on the table, to pay the rents, and to get the healthcare they need.” He continued his attack on the wealthy, saying, “We need an economy that works for all of us, not just the billionaire class!” Sanders took aim at the concentration of wealth among the top 1%, criticizing their influence over economic policy. “When 60% of our people live paycheck to paycheck, the top 1% have never ever had it so good, and these oligarchs tell us we shouldn’t tax the rich?” Sanders argued. CNN senior political commentator Scott Jennings noted the awkward contrast between Sanders’ anti-billionaire rhetoric and Pritzker’s subsequent speech. “They had Sanders out here trying to defenestrate all the billionaires, and it’s, ‘Ladies and gentlemen, here comes three-and-a-half billion dollars, J.B. Pritzker!’” Jennings remarked. In a desperate attempt to make the messaging make sense, CNN senior political analyst Van Jones defended Pritzker, saying he represented a different type of billionaire—one who understands the role of government in creating a fairer society. “This is a party that has room for you,” Jones said. “If you want government to be strong and good, if you want business to be strong and good, if you want the community to be strong and good, if you want strong and good, you’re welcome here.” (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
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New Jersey Democratic Rep. Bill Pascrell Jr., a 14-term incumbent and a fixture in his hometown of Paterson for more than four decades, died Wednesday. He was 87. Pascrell had been in and out of the hospital with an illness recently. He died Wednesday morning at Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center in Livingston, New Jersey, according to his long-time chief of staff, Ben Rich. “It is with deep sadness that we announce that Bill Pascrell Jr., our beloved husband, father, and grandfather, passed away this morning,” a statement posted on Pascrell’s X account said. “Bill fought to his last breath to return to the job he cherished and to the people he loved.” Pascrell was slated to run for a 15th term in the fall. Pascrell was a longtime advocate for emergency responders. He spearheaded the Firefighter Investment and Response Enhancement Act, which delivers grant dollars directly to fire departments across the country. He was instrumental in getting the Great Falls recognized as a national historical park. The waterfall on the Passaic River in Paterson falls 77 feet and is an emblem of the city and its past as an industrial town. Pascrell used the waterfall on his office’s letterhead. Known for his candor and willingness to use New Jersey’s reputation for sharp-elbowed politics, he served on the influential House Ways and Means Committee, which handles tax-writing legislation. After Superstorm Sandy devastated the state’s shoreline in 2012, causing $65 billion in damage, and some lawmakers balked at approving aid, he took the House floor to chastise them. “I don’t think that this is time for a pedantic debate. It’s time to take the gloves off — Jersey style,” Pascrell said. The House passed the legislation two days later. A lifelong resident of Paterson, Pascrell served in the Army and Army Reserve after college and graduate school. He worked as a teacher in Paterson and served on the Board of Education there from 1979 to 1982 before going on to the state Legislature. He was Paterson’s mayor from 1990 to 1996, when he ran for Congress. A baseball fan and sometime player who coached the Democratic team in this year’s congressional baseball game, he said in an interview with Roll Call he had two tryouts with the Philadelphia Phillies “I was a catcher. I weighed 125 pounds in high school. I loved it. I used to eat a little dirt before every game to try to scare the other team. They’d say that guy is totally nuts,” he said. Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy remembered Pascrell for “an unwavering instinct for drawing strength from our state’s diversity” and said he was a “champion for our most vulnerable neighbors.” (AP)
Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. will speak Friday “about the present historical moment and his path forward,” his campaign announced Wednesday, fueling growing speculation that Kennedy could drop out and support Republican nominee Donald Trump. Kennedy’s running mate openly discussed the possibility on a podcast this week, saying the campaign was considering a move to “join forces” with Trump to limit the election chance of Kamala Harris, whose Democratic convention winds up Thursday night in Chicago. The move would have once seemed unthinkable for Kennedy, a Democrat for most of his life and — as the nephew of President John F. Kennedy and the son of Robert F. Kennedy — a member of a beloved Democratic dynasty. Last month, during the Republican National Convention, Kennedy’s son posted and then quickly deleted a video showing a phone call between Kennedy and Trump, in which the former president appeared to try to talk Kennedy into siding with him. Kennedy will give a speech in Phoenix, hours before Trump is scheduled to hold a rally in neighboring Glendale. A spokesperson for Kennedy, Stefanie Spear, declined to say whether he planned to drop out or why he chose Arizona for his speech. After leaving the Democratic primary to run as an independent, Kennedy built an unusually strong base of support for someone running without the backing of a major party. It was unclear exactly where his support was coming from, which worried Republicans and Democrats alike. But since President Joe Biden ended his re-election campaign and Democrats coalesced around Vice President Harris as their nominee, Kennedy’s rise has been stunted. It looks increasingly unlikely that he will be able to make the debate stage when Trump and Harris face off next month, a moment Kennedy counted on for momentum and legitimacy. His campaign finances have also been strained. The news comes a little over a week since a New York judge ruled that Kennedy should not appear on the ballot in the state because he listed a “sham” address on nominating petitions. Kennedy has appealed, but has faced several similar challenges around the country. On Wednesday, he was in a courtroom in a suburb of New York City, testifying in a trial for another ballot suit in the state, this one backed by the Democratic National Committee, that challenges the signatures collected by his campaign. During a break in the court proceedings, Kennedy declined to answer questions from reporters about whether he was dropping out. He’s also facing a likely legal challenge in Arizona, where last week he submitted signatures that may have been collected by a super PAC that supports him, which Kennedy’s critics say is illegal coordination between a candidate and an independent political group. (AP)
IDF troops are conducting ongoing, intelligence-driven operations in the Gaza Strip, targeting terrorist infrastructure and personnel. In the Tel al-Sultan area of Rafah, troops have eliminated dozens of armed terrorists, dismantled significant terrorist infrastructure, and seized large quantities of weaponry, including explosives, grenades, and AK-47s. In Khan Yunis, IDF troops have also eliminated dozens of terrorists, conducted targeted raids on terror targets, and located and dismantled military compounds. In cooperation with the Israeli Air Force (IAF), troops have identified and eliminated terrorists operating in areas from which rockets have been launched at southern Israeli communities. In central Gaza, IDF troops have struck military structures used by Hamas to conduct terror attacks against Israeli forces. Over the past day, the IAF has struck approximately 30 terror targets throughout the Gaza Strip, including military structures, armed terrorists, launch sites, tunnel shafts, and an observation post. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
Canada’s two major freight railroads could halt their trains Thursday if they can’t agree to renewed contracts with the union representing their engineers, conductors and dispatchers. Canada’s government is watching closely and may intervene to prevent widespread damage to the economy. Both Canadian National and CPKC have been gradually shutting down since last week ahead of the contract deadline of 12:01 a.m. Eastern Thursday and all traffic will stop before then if this isn’t resolved. Shipments of hazardous chemicals and perishable goods were the first to stop, so they wouldn’t be stranded somewhere on the tracks. As the Canadian contract talks were coming down to the wire, CSX broke with the U.S. freight rail industry’s longstanding practice of negotiating jointly for years with the unions. CSX reached a deal with three of its 13 unions ahead of the start of national bargaining later this year. The new five-year contract with the Transportation Communications Union, the Brotherhood of Railway Carmen and the Transport Workers Union will provide 17.5% raises, better benefits and vacation time for about 1,600 clerks and the carmen who inspect railcars. TCU President Artie Maratea said he’s proud that his union reached a deal “without years of unnecessary delay and stall tactics.” Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has been reluctant to force both sides into arbitration because he doesn’t want to offend the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference and other unions, but he urged both sides to reach a deal Wednesday because of the tremendous economic damage that would follow a full shutdown. “It is in the best interest of both sides to continue doing the hard work at the table,” Trudeau said to reporters in Gatineau, Quebec. “Millions of Canadians, workers, farmers, businesses, right across the country, are counting on both sides to do the work and get to a resolution.” Numerous business groups have been urging Trudeau to act. Trudeau said the labor minister met with both sides in the Canadian National talks in Montreal on Tuesday and would be on hand for the CPKC talks in Calgary, Alberta. The talks at both railroads were ongoing Wednesday. The negotiations are stuck on issues related to the way rail workers are scheduled and concerns about rules designed to prevent fatigue and provide adequate rest to train crews. Both railroads had proposed shifting away from the existing system, which pays workers based on the miles in a trip, to an hourly system they said would make it easier to provide predictable time off. The railroads said their contract offers have included raises consistent with recent deals in the industry. Engineers make about $150,000 a year on Canadian National while conductors earn $120,000, and CPKC says its wages are comparable. Nearly 10,000 workers are covered by these contracts. Similar quality-of-life concerns about demanding schedules and the lack of paid sick time nearly led to a U.S. rail strike two years ago until Congress and President Joe Biden intervened and forced the unions to accept a deal. Countless businesses that rely on railroads to deliver their raw materials and finished products would be hurt if the trains do stop. All rail traffic in Canada and all cross-border traffic with the U.S. would stop, although CN and CPKC’s American and Mexican operations would continue. Manufacturing companies may have to scale back or […]
President Joe Biden recently spoke with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to discuss ongoing efforts to secure a ceasefire and a hostage release agreement, according to the White House. Vice President Kamala Harris also participated in the call, which comes as Arab mediators informed The Times of Israel that the US will need to push Israel to retract new demands concerning the continued presence of IDF forces in the Philadelphi and Netzarim corridors to finalize a deal. Last week, the US submitted a bridging proposal that, according to Arab mediators, leaned too heavily in favor of Netanyahu’s demands for military deployment in and around Gaza. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
Shelly Avital, a 53-year-old mother of five from Aventura, Florida, tragically passed away after a hiking accident during a family outing in San Diego on Tuesday. Mrs. Avital z”l had been hiking with her husband and daughter when suddenly collapsed. Emergency services were immediately contacted, and a rescue team airlifted Mrs. Avital to a trauma center. Tragically, she went into cardiac arrest en route to the hospital and passed away shortly after arrival. Misaskim of Los Angeles are working closely with local authorities to ensure kavod hameis and expedite the release of her body so that the kevura can be held in Eretz Yisroel before Shabbos. Baruch Dayan Ha’Emes. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
TRUMP: “The Harris-Biden administration has been caught fraudulently manipulating job statistics to hide the true extent of the economic ruin they’ve inflicted on America.”
American Airlines is suspending flights to Israel through late March, extending a break in service that started in the early days of the war in Gaza. A spokesperson for the airline says that customers with tickets for flights to Tel Aviv can rebook at no extra charge or cancel their trip and get a refund. The airline says flights to Ben Gurion International Airport in Tel Aviv will be suspended through March 29. The airline updated a travel advisory on its website over the weekend. “We will continue to work closely with our partner airlines to assist customers traveling between Israel and European cities with service to the US,” the spokesperson says. (AP)
This morning (Wednesday, 21.08.24) Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant entered the Gaza Strip together with troops from the IDF’s Division 162, which are deployed to the Rafah area and the Philadelphi route. Minister Gallant held an operational situation assessment together with senior IDF officials. He was briefed on the operational activity that enabled the defeat of the [Hamas] Rafah division and the destruction of over 150 tunnels in the area. Minister Gallant instructed the forces to concentrate efforts in the coming period on completing the destruction of remaining tunnels. Excerpts from the Minister’s remarks: “[Referring to the troops] I came here first and foremost to express my appreciation. The Rafah brigade was defeated by the IDF’s Division 162.” “Out of the 150 tunnels that were destroyed, around 100 tunnels are in fact trenches dug using engineering tools above ground, and then covered with a meter or two of dirt.” “I gave an immediate directive to the IDF to destroy remaining tunnels. It is critical to remember the goals of the war and to achieve them – regarding Hamas, regarding the hostages [held by Hamas], and we also understand why we are looking toward the north.”
“The report on Channel 11 to the effect that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has agreed that Israel will withdraw from the Philadelphi Corridor – is incorrect. Israel will insist on the achievement of all of its objectives for the war, as they have been defined by the Security Cabinet, including that Gaza never again constitutes a security threat to Israel. This requires securing the southern border.”
The U.S. economy added 818,000 fewer jobs from April 2023 through March this year than were originally reported, the government said Wednesday. The revised total adds to evidence that the job market has been steadily slowing and likely reinforces the Federal Reserve’s plan to start cutting interest rates soon. The Labor Department estimated that job growth averaged 174,000 a month in the year that ended in March — a drop of 68,000 a month from the 242,000 that were initially reported. The revisions released Wednesday were preliminary, with final numbers to be issued in February next year. The downgraded estimate follows a jobs report for July that was much worse than expected, leading many economists to suggest that the Fed had waited too long to begin cutting interest rates to support the economy. The unemployment rate rose for the fourth straight month, to a still-low 4.3%, and employers added just 114,000 jobs. The Fed raised its benchmark rate 11 times in 2022 and 2023 to fight inflation, which hit a four-decade high more than two years ago. Year-over-year inflation has since plummeted — from 9.1% in June 2022 to 2.9%, clearing the way for the Fed to begin cutting rates when it next meets in mid-September. The revised hiring estimates released Wednesday are intended to better account for companies that are either being created or going out of business. “This doesn’t challenge the idea we’re still in an expansion, but it does signal we should expect monthly job growth to be more muted and put extra pressure on the Fed to cut rates,’’ said Robert Frick, economist at the Navy Federal Credit Union. In the revisions, new professional and business services jobs — a broad category that includes managers and technical workers — were reduced by 358,000 in the 12 months that ended in March. Leisure and hospitality employers — including hotels and restaurants — added 150,000 fewer than first reported. (AP)
Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi faced heated protests during a live taping of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert on Tuesday, where she discussed the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas. The special episode, filmed in Chicago during the Democratic National Convention, was interrupted by protesters who voiced opposition to U.S. support for Israel amid the conflict in Gaza. While Pelosi was speaking about the DNC and Vice President Kamala Harris, a protester from the audience shouted, “Free Palestine!” “As you can see from the continuing protests out here, that answer is unsatisfying to some people because they believe that the United States — hold on one second, would you like to respond to what they’re saying?” Colbert asked Pelosi, giving her the opportunity to address the critics. “They’re screaming, I can’t hear them,” Pelosi responded, before Colbert clarified, “They’ve said the United States should not have any role in supplying Israel arms to kill the people of Gaza. That’s what they’re saying.” This comment earned applause from parts of the audience. Pelosi reiterated her support for Israel’s right to self-defense while emphasizing her long-standing advocacy for a two-state solution. “Israel has a right to defend itself. And the hostages should be returned,” Pelosi asserted, “but… there must be a two-state solution. You cannot have peace unless you have two states. Israel, a secure, democratic, Jewish state in the region and the Palestinians having their own secure country there as well.” As the protests continued, Colbert made a final plea to the audience, urging them not to interrupt his guests. Pelosi wrapped up her appearance with applause, asking, “Isn’t it great to be in Chicago?!” (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday made an unscheduled trip to Chechnya, a mainly Muslim republic within the Russian Federation, his first visit in nearly 13 years, as Ukraine’s stunning cross-border incursion into western Russia entered its third week. Putin was greeted by Chechnya’s self-styled strongman leader Ramzan Kadyrov, before visiting a special forces academy bearing his own name and speaking with volunteer fighters who train there prior to being deployed in Ukraine. Putin praised the volunteers and said that as long as Russia has men like them, it will be “invincible,” according to reports by Russian state agencies. Kadyrov said in a post on his official Telegram channels that more than 47,000 fighters, including volunteers, have trained at the facility since Moscow began what it calls its “special military operation” in Ukraine. Fighters from Chechnya, whose bid for independence after the Soviet Union’s collapse led to years of war with Russian government forces, are participating on both sides of the conflict in Ukraine. Pro-Kyiv volunteers loyal to Dzhokhar Dudayev, the late Chechen pro-independence leader, are the sworn enemies of Chechen forces that back Putin and Kadyrov. The latter joined Russia in the months-long siege of Ukraine’s key port of Mariupol and other flashpoints in the country’s south and east. Also on Tuesday, Putin visited the grave of Kadyrov’s father, former Chechen leader Akhmat Kadyrov, a command post and a mosque in the local capital, Grozny. At the end of the day, he held talks with the Chechen leader, who announced the republic has “tens of thousands” of reservists ready to fight the Ukrainians, according to Russian state media reports. The reports did not specify whether any of these might be sent to repel Kyiv’s incursion into the Russian region of Kursk. The Kremlin has relied on Kadyrov to keep the North Caucasus stable following years of turmoil. International rights groups have accused Kadyrov’s security forces of extrajudicial killings, torture and abductions of dissenters, but Russian authorities have stonewalled repeated demands for investigations. The Kremlin scrambled fighters from Chechnya to help protect Moscow from an abortive mutiny launched by mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin last year, but some commentators warned that Kadyrov’s ambitions could also potentially pose a threat to federal authorities. As of Tuesday evening, neither the Kremlin nor Kadyrov shared any details about the purpose and timing of Putin’s unexpected visit, with Kadyrov saying only that “a busy schedule” awaited the Russian leader. Putin later held talks with Kadyrov at the Chechen leader’s residence in Grozny. Before his surprise visit to Chechnya, Putin was earlier on Tuesday in Beslan, a town in the Caucasus province of North Ossetia, where he had his first meeting in nearly two decades with mothers of children killed in the 2004 school attack by Islamic militants that left more than 330 dead. At the meeting, he slammed Kyiv’s incursion into Russia’s Kursk region, accusing the Ukrainians of “trying to destabilize” the country. “We will punish the criminals. There can be no doubt about that,” he said. (AP)
Hatzolah of Central Jersey welcomed Brigadier General Dror Avda, the Israel National Police & Ministry of Public Security Attaché and Liaison Officer to the United States and Canada, for discussions and an official tour of its headquarters on Thursday. The visit was led by Hatzolah CEO Meilich Esterzohn and Captain Aaron Mueller, with Ocean County Sheriff Michael Mastronardy accompanying the tour. The tour included an in-depth look at Hatzolah’s state-of-the-art dispatch room, ambulance bays, and the advanced technology that supports its life saving operations. With Hatzolah of Central Jersey on track to respond to over 25,000 emergency calls in 2024, Brig. Gen. Avda came away deeply impressed by the scope of Hatzolah’s operations and unwavering dedication to service. “I am truly amazed by what I have seen here at Hatzolah of Central Jersey,” said Brig. Gen. Avda. “The level of professionalism and the commitment to providing the best possible emergency medical care is extraordinary.” During the visit, discussions were held regarding potential collaborations between Hatzolah of Central Jersey and Israel National Police, particularly in the areas of mass casualty incident (MCI) training and other emergency preparedness initiatives. “We were honored to host Brig. Gen. Avda and to share with him the work that Hatzolah is doing in our community,” said Hatzolah CEO Meilech Esterzohn. “His visit opens the door for exciting opportunities to learn from each other and improve how we respond to critical incidents, ensuring that our communities remain as safe as possible.” Brig. Gen. Avda also took the time to commend Sheriff Mastronardy for his bravery and solidarity following the devastating terrorist attacks in Israel on October 7. “Sheriff Mastronardy was one of the first U.S. officials to visit Israel following the horrific terrorist attacks of October 7,” Avda noted. “While others hesitated out of fear, Sheriff Mastronardy stood resolute and made the journey to Israel, offering solidarity and support when it was needed most. His courage and dedication did not go unnoticed.” Additionally, Avda expressed deep appreciation for Hatzolah of Central Jersey’s direct contributions to Israel’s emergency services in the aftermath of the Hamas attacks. Three of Hatzolah’s paramedics were deployed to Israel just days after the incident to assist and complement Israeli emergency teams on the ground. HCJ Captain Aaron Mueller reflected on the visit, emphasizing the importance of Hatzolah’s international connections. “Our collaboration with Brig. Gen. Avda and other officials underscores how emergency response is a global mission,” said Mueller. “We’re always looking to improve and innovate, and working with international partners helps us learn from the best.” (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, today (Wednesday, 21 August 2024), visited the Ramat David Air Force Base in the north where he held a discussion with senior Air Force officers, including the Air Force Chief-of-Staff Brig.-Gen. Omer Tischler and Air Defense Array Commander Brig.-Gen. Gilad Biran. During the discussion, the Prime Minister received a comprehensive briefing on the readiness of the Air Force in all sectors, but especially the north. Prime Minister Netanyahu viewed an exhibition of combat systems at the base, including attack helicopter and jets. He was also shown the offensive capabilities of the various systems as well as their importance in carrying out the Air Force’s many defensive and offensive missions against both near and distant threats. The Prime Minister met with air crews, operators and technical crews, and with commanders. He commended their work and spoke with them about the importance of their roles in defending the country and in safeguarding Israel’s security superiority against its enemies. Prime Minister Netanyahu [translated from Hebrew]: “I am here at an air force base in order to closely monitor our preparations to meet threats from near and far. We are prepared for any scenario, both offensively and defensively. The Air Force is our iron fist which knows how to hit the soft underbelly of our enemies. The ground crews, pilots and commanders here are doing heroic work. They have proven this time and again and if we need to – we will prove it again even more vigorously.” The Prime Minister was accompanied by his Chief-of-Staff, Tzchi Braverman, his Military Secretary, Maj.-Gen. Roman Gofman and his spokesperson, Dr. Omer Dostri.
