London – Hendon blast at shop owned by Jewish multi-millionaire ‘Suspicious’

Hendon Blast ‘Suspicious’

Three people have been treated for injuries following a “suspicious” explosion at a Hendon flat above a shop owned by Jewish multi-millionaire Leo Noe.

The blast occurred in the early hours of yesterday morning at a residence on Bell Lane, damaging a business owned by the philanthropist, who is listed on the Sunday Times Rich List as one of the UK’s wealthiest citizens.

Twenty firefighters were called to the scene at around 2.15am yesterday morning. A 39-year-old man inside the flat at the time was taken to hospital suffering from burns. A 26-year-old woman and 31-year-old man from a neighbouring area were treated for minor cuts, while an elderly woman was treated for shock.
Although Scotland Yard confirmed that the London Fire Brigade established the cause of the blaze as “a gas explosion”, a statement said the cause of the”suspicious explosion” was being investigated by Barnet CID.
DS Mark Tyrrell said it was “a miracle” more people weren’t injured, adding “enquiries will continue at the scene to establish exactly what has happened and I would ask anyone with information to call police”.

http://www.totallyjewish.com/news/national/c-12048/hendon-blast-suspicious/

Ashkelon, Israel – Fight in water park results in 50-person pileup

Two people injured, six arrested when fight breaks out between two groups of park-goers, one from east Jerusalem, other from Rahat. Eyewitnesses: Chairs and all kinds of other objects flew through the air

 

Things are heating up a little two much this summer at the Ashkeluna Water Park: Ashkelon District Police tried for a few long minutes on Friday to break up a fight between 50 young people at the water park. Two of those involved in the fight were evacuated to Barzilai Medical Center in Ashkelon. Six people were arrested.

 

The skirmish initiated between two groups of youngsters, one from east Jerusalem, the other Rahat, who were spending the day at the park. The police are still having trouble identifying what exactly made tempers flare in the first place. However, according to eye witnesses, it all started when one of the youths from Rahat took a romantic interest in a young woman from the east Jerusalem group.

 

After words were exchanged, the interchange escalated to pushing and shoving. A short time later, the two groups started throwing items at each other.

 

According to another version of the events that is being looked into, the tumult started as a result of an argument over using one of the park rides.

 

Park owners, Dan and Shoshana Balfour, provided yet another version of the events: “The group from east Jerusalem made comments to the Arab Bedouins from Rahat for serving in the IDF and beating up Palestinian Arabs. The group from Rahat did not take well to these comments and started arguing. From there, it quickly deteriorated into punches being thrown.”

 

A young woman who was there said, “Chairs and all kinds of objects flew through the air. Slowly, more and more people started coming. There was shouting. It was really scary.” The young woman hurried to call her father to come pick her up from the park.

 

‘Don’t want to be accused of racism’

Park security tried to quell the rumble until the police came. The police were able to take control after separating between the two groups. The park owners will be summoned to the police station for a hearing. The police may consider issuing a temporary order of closure to the park because of the event.

 

Two residents of east Jerusalem, aged 51 and 30, were evacuated to the hospital, suffering from injuries to their faces and bodies.

 

The park owners added, “We are obligated to grant entry to whoever comes here. If we don’t let in one group or another, we will be accused of racism, and we will be fined by the court.

 

“We are very sorry for what happened, but, unfortunately, the State must take care of violence everywhere in the country, from all groups from around the country, from north to south. We did not receive notice of an order of closure or a hearing, but if we are summoned, we will show up at the police.”

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3740842,00.html

NCSY associate regional director child’s death touches hearts in Kansas City

The week seemed set to be a happy one for Todd and Naomi Cohn, the start of a new beginning. Todd, the former director of the Kansas City chapter of the National Council of Synagogue Youth, had accepted a position in Boca Raton, Fla., as NCSY’s associate regional director for south Florida and southern NCSY. The Cohns were in Chicago for a wedding, planning to return to Kansas, finish packing and move to Florida.

Menashe Koppel Cohn

But instead, the Cohn family was plunged into crisis and tragedy. Todd and Naomi’s 14-month-old son, Menashe Koppel Cohn, had to be rushed to a hospital the morning of Monday, June 15, the day they had planned to come back to Kansas. Koppel was gravely ill.
A Facebook page was created especially for Koppel, giving updates on his condition and asking for prayers.

According to a June 21 Facebook posting by Naomi, doctors diagnosed Koppel with a rare virus that had spread to his blood and spinal fluid.
“It’s very, very rare and was not preventable,” Naomi wrote. “Unfortunately, though, it is not treatable at this point and took a big toll on his body and brain. …

“All the doctors agree that only a very big neis (miracle) can save Koppel’s life. His brain and body were too affected by the virus to ever recover back to the little guy that we remember. …”

Earlier in the week, a Facebook update on Koppel stated he had viral encephalitis.

Koppel died Wednesday evening, June 24.

In his eulogy to Koppel, Todd said, “Even on the first day that we arrived at the hospital, when we didn’t want to consider that Koppel might not recover, we were so thankful that we were there, not as a result of an unfortunate accident where one might place blame on another, or sit in regret forever, reliving every moment of ‘what ifs’ and ‘I should haves.’

“And even now as we realize that the outcome is so final and so shocking and so harsh, we’re even more thankful that we are God-fearing Jews with the guidelines and inspiration to cope with this astounding tragedy.”

An outpouring of support
The Cohns have postponed their move to Boca Raton. Rabbi Daniel Rockoff of Congregation BIAV said their belongings have been put in storage, and the Cohns and their other three children will likely spend the summer in Chicago with Naomi’s family before moving to Florida.

During Koppel’s illness, two friends from Chicago flew to Kansas City to coordinate last-minute packing and the move. There were so many volunteers who offered to help that some had to be turned away.

“From what I understand, it’s unbelievable how many people were affected and wanted to help them some way,” Kehilath Israel’s Rabbi Meir Wexler said. Rabbi Wexler is Todd and Naomi’s brother-in-law; his wife, Becca, is Todd’s sister.

The number of people who had joined Koppel’s Facebook page reached over 2,000 this week and was still growing, with nearly 400 wall postings. People all over the United States, Canada and Israel have sent their love and sympathy to the Cohns.

“The family felt a lot of support from their friends in Kansas and Chicago and around the country, knowing that everyone had their little boy in mind and had them in mind,” Rabbi Rockoff said. “They were very appreciative of the outpouring.”

Rabbi Wexler said he had never seen a reaction of similar magnitude.

“They’ve had people from all over the country and internationally. It’s been incredible, people coming together to pray, to learn Judaism, to do whatever they feel they can to connect,” he said. “It’s something that I feel has connected the Jewish people in a very strong way.

“It’s a tragic event, and, at the same time, it’s inspiring people and bringing people to further their growth in Judaism and in relationships with their family.”

In her Facebook posting, prior to Koppel’s death, Naomi said, “The tehillim (Psalms) being said all over the world is amazing! The facebook groups, challah making, machsom l’fi (not speaking badly about others), undertaking mitzvos (good deeds), giving tzedakah (charity), emails, phone calls, text messages — the list goes on…We are touched and honored that our little boy has brought so many tefillos (prayers) and mitzvos into this world. … We’ve been davening for a refuah (recovery) for our son, and now for a (miracle) and that might make all the people who’ve been doing all this davening wonder where all their tefillos are going. Well, they are going somewhere. It’s important to remember to ask Hashem to do things for our good and in the right time. If we ask for something specific, we might just get it, and it could turn out to be wrong for us. …”

Rabbi Wexler said he is certain that Todd and Naomi’s faith that has helped them and continues to help them through this tragedy.

“Their faith never once wavered. Their relationship with family and with God has been stronger than ever and has been a very powerful thing to watch,” he said.

Asking why?
People often ask “why.” Why do such terrible tragedies happen to such good people?

“We don’t always have all the answers and we just accept the good along with the bad and try to focus on what we can do in response to the crisis,” Rabbi Rockoff said. “How we can be helpful; do what’s upon us to do — prayer, charity or supporting the family — that’s what we focus on; not so much in trying to answer the question, because that’s not necessarily for us to answer.

“The main thing to tell the people of Kansas is that we just need to be there for (the Cohns), to support them any way we can…”Quoting again from Naomi’s Facebook post, she said, “It’s okay to ask ‘why’ or feel angry and sad. These are all appropriate reactions and help with the coping process. Accepting that we can’t possibly grasp G-d’s plan is the only way to answer ourselves.

At Koppel’s funeral service, Todd, too, spoke of “why.”

“There’s no possible explanation for the loss of a child. Death in general is very hard to understand and handle, but (for) a small child who never even walked to be taken away suddenly and seemingly without cause, it’s incomprehensible. We yearn for an answer, while understanding wholeheartedly that there is none that we can comprehend that will satisfy our need to know ‘why.’ There is a master plan; there must be a master plan, but we have to admit that it isn’t our plan — it is that of Hashem.”

To visit Koppel’s Facebook page, first log on to your own Facebook page and then search “Menashe + Cohn.” That  brings up a link to a page called “L’iluy Nishmas (in memory of) Menashe Koppel “Koppie” Cohn,” where, among other things, a recording of Todd Cohn’s eulogy can be found.

http://www.kcjc.com/200907038581/news/cohn-childs-death-touches-hearts-in-kansas-city.html

The fall of man! Elephants beat humans at Coney Island hotdog contest; 505 buns in 6 minutes

Heinz Kluetmeier

She came, she saw and she kicked humanity’s ass!

In what may have been humanity’s most humbling day since scientists taught a monkey to communicate by sign language, a trio of elephants from the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus defeated three legendary human athletes in a hot dog bun-eating contest in Coney Island this afternoon.

The final tally was as humiliating as it was shocking:

Elephants: 505 hot dogs buns in six minutes.

Humans: 147.

After the spectacle was over and the buns were swept away, it fell to International Federation of Competitive Eating President George Shea to put the event in perspective.

“Am I embarrassed for my species?” Shea asked. “Of course I am. This is as dark a day for humanity as the evening of the Hindenberg crash. But this time, my heart is screaming, ‘Oh, the pachydermity! Oh, the pachydermity.’”

Yet it started out so well for the human trio, Eric “Badlands” Booker, Gravy Brown and Juliet Lee. While the humans hurriedly consumed buns, the elephants appeared to be eating at a much more relaxed pace.

“They are eating with leisurely elan!” Shea screamed at the three-minute mark. “Clearly, they do not have the competitive spirit of their human betters!”

But Shea’s hubris quickly crashed down when the buns were added up. Despite a slow, methodical pace, the elephant team of Bunny, 42, Susie, 46, and Minnie, 48, walloped the competition.

Yes, the loss was hard to take, but for Shea, it was a dream come true.

“As you know, I have had two dreams in life,” he said. “One is to see two competitive eaters enter a convenience store and eat it to the ground, with one starting in the chips aisle and the other starting at the Slushies.

“That dream remains unfulfilled.

“But my other dream was to have a sanctioned eating competition between man and another species — and today that dream became a reality,” he said.

The event was a precursor to the Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest, at noon on July 4, at the corner of Stillwell and Surf avenues in Coney Island. That event — which features only humans, though all eating inhuman quantities of meat, sodium and starch — will feature a rematch between world champion Joey Chestnut and favorite Takeru Kobayashi of Japan.

http://www.brooklynpaper.com/stories/32/27/32_27_gk_elephants.html

Empire Kosher Poultry Expands Antibiotic Free and Organic Poultry Lines

Empire Kosher Poultry Expands Antibiotic Free and Organic Poultry Lines – Producer to Offer Traditional Kosher, Kosher ABF and Kosher Organic Poultry

Mifflintown, PA July 3, 2009 — Empire Kosher Poultry today announced the expansion of its line of Kosher chicken and turkey products to include Organic and Antibiotic Free (“ABF”) poultry, along with its regular offerings.

Empire’s production facility in Mifflintown, PA received USDA Organic certification last year and has been testing both ABF and Organic feeds and growing protocols for the past 18 months. With the completion of its extensive testing and test marketing, Empire is now rolling out these lines nationally.

Empire Kosher’s CEO Greg Rosenbaum stated, “As the nation’s largest producer of Kosher poultry, Empire wants to offer its customers greater choice. As we’ve seen demand for ABF and Organic products grow in the non-Kosher world, we decided to enter these markets with Kosher products. In this way, we provide a one-stop shop for supermarkets and Kosher butchers who need to provide their consumers with the wide range of poultry choices available today. As with all our products, these new products are being produced with consistently high standards of Kashrus, food safety, animal welfare, worker safety and great taste.”

Empire’s ABF products will be, in the parlance of the trade, “never, ever”, meaning the birds will be fed all vegetarian diets and will never be injected with antibiotics or hormones. Empire’s Organic chicken will be fed only certified, Organically grown vegetarian diets. All of Empire’s poultry products are raised on family owned farms within 75 miles of the Empire plant and are free roaming, allowing the birds to grow naturally.

Being the nation’s only fully integrated producer of Kosher chicken and turkey, Empire has the ability and flexibility to produce regular Kosher, Kosher ABF and Kosher Organic. Empire has its own breeder hens, hatches its own chicken eggs, grows turkeys from day-old poults and owns its own feed mill, thereby allowing it to vary feeds and growing conditions to meet the rigorous standards of regular Kosher and Kosher ABF designations. At the present time, Empire supplements its feeds with specially contracted Organic formulations to meet the standards of the Kosher Organic designation.

Empire has dedicated two growing houses, with a capacity of almost 60,000 chickens per week, to its ABF product line and another growing house, with a capacity of almost 30,000 chickens per week, to its Organic line. This volume accounts for between one third and one half of Empire’s current weekly production.

Empire is also dedicating two-thirds of its non-holiday turkey production to ABF turkeys, or approximately 20,000 per week. For major Jewish holidays and Thanksgiving, Empire will significantly ramp up its ABF turkey production to respond to customer needs.

Kosher consumers in some areas of the country will find Empire Organic poultry on their grocers’ shelves now, while the roll out of ABF product will start now and be complete by Rosh Hashanah. Consumers can let their grocers and butchers know if they want regular Kosher, Kosher Organic or Kosher ABF products.

About Empire Kosher Poultry, Inc.
Empire Kosher Poultry, Inc. is the largest Kosher poultry producer in the United States. With facilities in central Pennsylvania, Empire produces Kosher chickens and Kosher turkeys for the North American market through a fully integrated process, including breeder farms, egg hatcheries, feed mill, grow out houses and processing facilities. Through this fully vertically integrated approach Empire continues to deliver the highest quality poultry products available anywhere. Empire products have won numerous national and international poultry taste-test competitions, and are available in supermarkets, warehouse clubs and butcher shops. For more information visit www.empirekosher.com.

Hamodia: do not to let children travel London Tube alone, its can be dangerous to the soul

According to Hamodia, religious educators have warned parents not to let their children travel alone on the Piccadilly Line, as they might overhear unsuitable announcements over the loudspeaker system.

Apparently, Tube drivers have been given a book of quotes which they are being encouraged to read from over the intercom to break the monotony of their passengers’ journey.

(Apparently it’s ok to drive a train and read a book at the same time – although any car driver attempting the same would be arrested. This might also explain a lot about train delays.)

The quotes come from Shakespeare, Gandhi and Einstein, among others, but according to Hamodia, “may oppose Torah oppose Torah hashkafah [outlook] or even be divrei kefirah [heresy]“.

“I would advise parents not to let their children travel alone, so that if they hear anything contrary to daas Torah [the Torah view] the person accompanying the child would give the Torah’s view on the subject”, said a “leading mechanech” (educator).

Let’s leave aside the obvious impracticality of forbidding children to travel alone on the Tube – advice that will surely be ignored by the community; the assumption that the adults will be able to counter the “kefirah“; and the implication that a quote or two from Shakespeare might be enough to shake the worldview of a young Charedi child, and requires immediate intervention.

Has anyone heard any of these announcements? What quotes are they worried about?

http://www.thejc.com/blogpost/is-tube-dangerous-your-soul