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Le’Maanchem will be highlighted in torch lighting ceremony – The Jerusalem Post

Posted By on May 11, 2024

Next week, at Mount Herzl in Jerusalem, Rabbi Yossi Arbelich will be honored with one of Israel's highest awards, during the torch lighting ceremony, during the celebrations of Israel's 76th Independence Day. This prestigious award, presented by Minister Miri Regev, recognizes his exceptional contributions to healthcare through his humanitarian efforts with the organization 'Le'Maanchem'.

Rabbi Arbelich, the chairman and founder of 'Le'Maanchem', has significantly improved medical access and support throughout Israel, ensuring services are available to all, irrespective of background. Since its inception in 2017, 'Le'Maanchem' has been pivotal in providing free medical advice and guiding many through the complexities of the healthcare system, promoting both fairness and comprehensive care.

"Finest virtues of our nation"

During the announcement of the ceremony, Minister Regev praised Rabbi Arbelich's profound dedication, stating, "Rabbi Arbelich exemplifies the finest virtues of our nation, demonstrating immense dedication and empathy. His work transcends the realm of ordinary medical care, fostering a sense of unity and healing in our society."

Rabbi Arbelich began his venture into the medical field in 1996 after personal experiences with inadequate healthcare treatments provided to his uncle. This initiative has grown to involve a network of over 160 medical professionals, including hospital directors and renowned academics, who volunteer to tackle complex medical cases.

His organization was crucial during the 2021 coronavirus pandemic, particularly in leading vaccination drives within Israels Haredi community, which earned him recognition from the Ministry of Health. As the Russian invasion of Ukraine began, 'Le'Maanchem' quickly set up a support center for refugees needing medical aid. Rabbi Arbelich also founded 'Meshi - Le'Maanchem,' a rehabilitation school for Haredi children, highlighting his commitment to inclusive healthcare.

The forthcoming ceremony will also acknowledge other medical heroes, such as Nurse Anat Ben Dor, Paramedic Gaya Tzubari, Dr. Dan Schwartzfuchs, and Dr. Dekel Mitzliach, who have shown extraordinary bravery and dedication under challenging circumstances.

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Le'Maanchem will be highlighted in torch lighting ceremony - The Jerusalem Post

New Hackney walkway renamed in memory of Rabbi Avrohom Pinter – The Jewish Chronicle

Posted By on May 11, 2024

A new walkway was dedicated in Hackney on Sunday to the memory of one of the Strictly Orthodox communitys best known figures, Rabbi Avrohom Pinter.

The former Labour councillor and principal of the Yesodey Hatorah Senior Girls School, who for many years acted as the ambassador of Stamford Hill to the wider Jewish community and beyond, died in April 2020 in the first wave of the Covid pandemic.

The newly unveiled Rabbi Avrohom Pinter Path leads to the councils new Quartet/Tower Court development, a complex of 132 new homes which was designed to accommodate the needs of Charedi families.

The block includes Shabbat lifts, balconies staggered so that succot can be build beneath the open sky and bedrooms spacious enough to fit more than one bed.

Lord Levy cuts the ribbon for the new walkway

Foreign Secretary David Lammy, who is MP for local Tottenham, Lords Levy and Glasman, Hackney Mayor Caroline Woodley, Haringey Council leader Peray Ahmet and Rabbi Binyomin Stern, president of the Union of Orthodox Hebrew Congregations, were among those who attended the inauguration.

Lord Levy recalled Rabbi Pinter as one of the most outstanding Jewish leaders of his day.

Rabbi Pinters son, Rabbi Chaim, who has succeeded him as principal of Yesodey Hatorah, reflected on his fathers legacy of inclusion, wisdom and compassion. His fathers doors were open to everyone and at all times, he said.

Three benches and a sundial were dedicated along with the new path, as the verse from Proverbs was cited: "The ways of the Torah are ways of pleasantness, and all its paths are peace,"

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New Hackney walkway renamed in memory of Rabbi Avrohom Pinter - The Jewish Chronicle

‘Thou shalt not be judgmental’ – JNS.org – JNS.org

Posted By on May 11, 2024

(May 8, 2024 / JNS)

Some years ago,I heard Rabbi Manis Friedman tell a story about a man who overheard his friend telling his wife on the phone, Drop dead!

How can you speak that way to your wife?! he demanded. The friend smiled and said, She just asked me if her new dress was gorgeous, and I answered, Yes, drop-dead.

Hearing only half a conversation and drawing conclusions can be dangerous. Ive lost count of how many times Ive heard stories about others that I didnt want to believe; and indeed, upon investigation, they turned out to be either significant distortions or complete fabrications. Im sure weve all had similar experiences.

In the portion of Kedoshim, we read the words,Betzedek tishpot amitecha,You shall judge your fellow with righteousness.

Rashi, the foremost Biblical commentator, provides the simple analysis: Judges must rule righteously, without being swayed by any other considerations. In fact, the full title of abeth din, a Jewish court, is not onlybeth din, a house of law, butbethdintzedek, a house ofjustlaw. The law must be just, fair and objective; otherwise, the court itself is not doing justice.

But thenRashiadds a second interpretation, relevant not only for the judiciary but for all of us: Another explanation is: Judge your fellow favorablyi.e., give the benefit of the doubt.

The moral imperative to judge people favorably by giving them the benefit of the doubt is discussed in theTalmud,Ethics of the Fathersand many other Jewish sources.

I wondered what the connection might be to Kedoshim, aTorahportion dealing with the overall directive to be holy. It occurred to me that perhaps it might be because all of us are holy; but too often, people are misjudged and condemned before we have all the facts at our disposal. There are so many stories expressing this theme that we could go on forever, but let me share a few.

My friend and colleague Rabbi Mendel Lipskar tells the story of his early days in Johannesburg in the 1970s. He was a young, new rabbi in a synagogue frequented mainly by older people who were rather set in their ways.

At some point during his firstYom Kippurthere, a young man walked into theshullooking very out of place. He was wearing jeans and sandals, sporting long, frizzy hairthe consummate hippie.

Rabbi Lipskar asked thegabbaito give the unexpected visitor the honor of opening the Holy Ark during the service. Thegabbaiwas horrified. Who was this young man who was dressed so inappropriately? To give him such an honor was, to his mind, unthinkable.

But the rabbi insisted and thegabbaiacceded, albeit most reluctantly. To make a long story short, that experience onYom Kippur was the beginning of a spiritual journey for the young visitor. Today, the former hippie is a respectedsofer(ritual scribe) in a large American city.

My son Michoel is theChabad shaliachin Kauai, the lushest of the Hawaiian Islands. Not infrequently, sunbathers come into theshulstraight off the beach and need to be given not only atallitbut robes or clothes as well. But the important thing is that they are always welcome.

I recently came across a letterfrom someone who complained to theRebbeabout a fellow who had been called intoshulas the 10th man to help make theminyan. The complainant was outraged that the man sat in the back of the sanctuary reading the newspaper throughout the service.

The Rebbe suggested that he should appreciate how special it is that even a Jew who obviously cannot read Hebrew or participate in the service still comes in and gives up his time to help make theminyan.

Its all about perspective and giving people the benefit of the doubt.

More than 200 years ago, RabbiLevi Yitzchak of Berditchevbecame famous for the lengths that he went to consider others favorably. Of the many stories that highlight his benevolent, non-judgmental attitude, one of my favorites is of his encounter with a young man outsideshulon the holiest day of Yom Kippur. This strapping young man was eating publicly, in brazen violation of the fast.

RabbiLeviYitzchaksaid, Im sorry to see that youre obviously not feeling well and you had to break your fast. I wish you better.

Im fine, rabbi. I couldnt be healthier, replied the young man.

Well then, perhaps you forgot that today is Yom Kippur?

Who doesnt know that today is Yom Kippur, rabbi?

And are you also aware that Yom Kippur is a fast day, and we are not permitted to eat today?

Of course, I know! Which Jew doesnt know that, rabbi?

Hearing this, RabbiLeviYitzchak looked heavenward and exclaimed, Master of the Universe, see how righteous are your people,Israel. I have given this young man so many opportunities, but he absolutely refuses to tell a lie!

All are innately holy, but how we judge them may make all the difference. I know its not easy, but if we look at others favorably, then we ourselves will be behaving in a holy way, and this will bring out that innate holiness inside them.

Moreover, our rabbis taught: One who judges his friend favorably will himself be judged byGodfavorably.

With acknowledgment to Chabad.org.

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Redefining Consciousness Through Memory Fusion – Neuroscience News

Posted By on May 11, 2024

Summary: Researchers introduced a groundbreaking perspective on consciousness and memory in their latest paper. They propose a novel integration of the Global Neuronal Workspace (GNW) hypothesis with the Tripartite Mechanism of Memory, suggesting that consciousness is heavily influenced by emotional memories stored within neural networks.

This approach contrasts sharply with traditional views that liken neural memory to computer data. By illustrating how neural networks encode emotional states through complex biochemical processes, their research offers a new model for understanding the evolution and functionality of human consciousness.

Key Facts:

Source: Hebrew University of Jerusalem

In a recent paper published in the International Journal of Psychiatry Research, Dr. Gerard Marx from MX Biotech and Prof. Chaim Gilon from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem present an innovative integration of two notable neuroscience theories the Global Neuronal Network (GNW) hypothesis and the Tripartite Mechanism of Memory.

Titled Consciousness as a Fusion of the Global Neuronal Network (GNW) Hypothesis and the Tripartite Mechanism of Memory, the study provides fresh perspectives on the complex phenomena of consciousness and memory.

The research tackles a significant challenge in the study of consciousness that has long been considered insurmountable.

Dr. Marx and Prof. Gilon propose that memory plays a pivotal role in shaping consciousness, contrasting the idea that computer-based Information Theory provides a sufficient framework for understanding neural memory.

They contend that the emotional content stored within the neural network diverges from standard computer data, laying the foundation for neural memory and adding depth and significance to conscious experience.

The researchers suggest integrating the Global Neuronal Workspace (GNW) theory with the Tripartite Mechanism of Memory to better understand how the brain creates experiential memories.

In their model, they posit that the complex electro-chemical activities of individual neurons are unified by the structural units of the brain, creating a unified network that facilitates consciousness through emotional memory.

Key findings of the study include:

The proposed concept of a brain cloud highlights the interconnected flow of information throughout the brains anatomical regions, facilitated by the Global Neuronal Workspace (GNW).

A tripartite mechanism for neural memory has been identified, wherein neurons utilize trace metal cations and neurotransmitters to encode emotive states within the extracellular matrix.

The study also underscores the evolutionary importance of bacterial chemical signaling processes in the development of neural memory and consciousness in complex organisms.

Through a biochemical lens, the research elucidates how life transitions to consciousness via memory evolution. By mapping the progress of neural-net signaling from bacterial chemical communication to primate consciousness, the study provides a comprehensive framework for exploring the intricate interplay among memory, consciousness, and evolution.

Background:Our research on the Tripartite Mechanism of Memory delves into the collaborative roles of neurons, the neural extracellular matrix, trace metals, and neurotransmitters in memory formation, storage, and retrieval.

We discovered that certain metals binding within the matrix can alter its structure, forming complexes that serve as the fundamental units of memory. These metal complexes have the ability to interact with neurotransmitters, resulting in the formation of emotional memory units.

These memory units collectively create a framework for storing information in the brain. This proposed mechanism sheds light on how disturbances in metal levels could potentially impact memory functions.

Furthermore, we speculate that disorders such as Alzheimers and autism may be linked to dysregulation of metal handling by the body.

Understanding these intricate relationships provides insight into the processes of memory formation and retrieval, aiding in comprehension of conditions ranging from short-term memory loss to more severe memory impairments.

Gerard Marx comes from a background of blood coagulation and biotechnology. Chaim Gilon is a Emeritus Professor Active specializing in the development and synthesis of peptide based drugs.

Author: Danae Marx Source: Hebrew University of Jerusalem Contact: Danae Marx Hebrew University of Jerusalem Image: The image is credited to Neuroscience News

Original Research: Open access. Consciousness as a Fusion of the Global Neuronal Network (GNW) Hypothesis and the Tripartite Mechanism of Memory by Gerard Marx et al. International Journal of Psychiatry Research

Abstract

Consciousness as a Fusion of the Global Neuronal Network (GNW) Hypothesis and the Tripartite Mechanism of Memory

Many scholars consider that the gap in our understanding of consciousness to be unbridgeable. In our view, memory is the central phenomenon of consciousness. In that we havetechnical mastery of the memory of computers, many look to computers and its Information Theory as possible models for neural memory.

We point out that the cognitive information of neurons is distinct from the binary information used in computers; the former represents emotive states that escape binary- formattedformulations. Emotive cognitive information is the basis of neural memory, without which consciousness has no meaning.

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New study from the Hebrew University unveils Isopod eating habits which affects the ecosystem – The Jerusalem Post

Posted By on May 11, 2024

Isopods (Hemilepistus reaumuri) are strange little creatures that look like lice or cockroaches and arent bugs at all but crustaceans. Common names for them include woodlice, roly-poly, pill bug, sea roach, and pill bug, but there are over 10,000 identified species of isopods around the world, with half of them living on land, 4,500 species found in sea beds and other marine environments, and the rest in fresh water.

They got the name isopod from iso, which means equal, and pod that stands for foot. What they have in common are segmented external skeletons, seven pairs of jointed limbs on the chest, two pairs of antennae, and five pairs of branching appendages on the abdomen that are used to breathe.

Now, a new study has been conducted under the guidance of Prof. Dror Hawlena from the Hebrew University and led by Dr. Moshe Zaguri (then a doctoral student and now at the Volcani Institute in Rishon Lezion,) in collaboration with Prof. David Raubenheimer from the University of Sidney.

The research sheds light on the intricate nutritional and functional dynamics shaping the dietary choices of desert isopods. It has just been published in the journal Ecology Letters entitled Dust you shall eat: complex considerations underlying a simple diet. The study presents the multifaceted considerations that influence food selection by these fascinating creatures.

Contrary to expectations, wild isopods showed a preference for macronutrient-poor biological soil crust (BSC) over plant litter, consuming three times more of the former.

These revolutionary findings may shed new light on how different animals and humans choose their diet by considering both the foods nutrients and the existence of digestive assisting agents.

Foods are complex mixtures of chemical compounds provided in various levels of digestibility that humans and animals ingest for nutritional support. Often, animals need to ingest several food types to fulfill their multidimensional nutritional needs and may suffer harm to their health by not eating the needed nutrients in specific quantities and ratio.

Understanding what factors influence dietary choices is, thus, a very important but extremely challenging question to study. The authors focused on the simple-but-mysterious diet of the desert isopods that eat dry leaves and large quantity of nutritionally poor biological soil crust (the upper lair of desert soils that harbor many microorganisms.)

They fed isopods with natural and artificial foods and found that when allowing a choice, isopods can strictly regulate their food consumption to meet a very specific ratio of proteins, sugars and calcium. Isopods received most of their proteins and sugars from dry leaves and eat soil crust to meet their very high calcium needs.

The exoskeleton of isopods is made of calcium carbonates that they must consume in large quantities to grow; when they could supplement leaf litter with artificial sources of calcium, they successfully met their exact calcium needs but suffered reduced growth.

The scientists used gamma-radiation to kill the microorganisms in the soil crust while maintaining its nutritional value and measured the isopods food assimilation efficiency and growth rate in comparison to isopods that ate untreated crust. They found that the crustaceans eat the crust to incorporate live microorganisms to their digestive system. Those microbes assisted to improve digestion of the fibrous plant litter.

The team concluded that isopods eat foods that allow them to meet their nutritional needs by providing the nutrients but also by helping them to digest. Humans do not eat soil crust but may think about the general insights of this interesting study during their next visit to the local grocery shop.

The research revealed that desert isopods rigorously regulate their intake of macronutrients and calcium, with phosphorus intake remaining unaffected. Moreover, the team observed that despite equivalent calcium ingestion, isopods thrived better when consuming BSC compared to artificial foods.

Notably, isopods consuming gamma-radiation-sterilized BSC exhibited increased consumption but slower growth rates compared to those consuming live BSC, suggesting the crucial role of ingested microorganisms in facilitating litter digestion.

Zaguri commented that our findings underscore the complexity of dietary decision-making among desert isopods and highlight the importance of considering multifaceted factors in understanding trophic [food chain] interactions.

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New study from the Hebrew University unveils Isopod eating habits which affects the ecosystem - The Jerusalem Post

Alarming trend in worldwide Holocaust discourse – The Jerusalem Post

Posted By on May 11, 2024

Troubling trends are brewing in online discussions surrounding the Holocaust.

This will be highlighted by the Fighting Online Antisemitism (FOA) organization on Tuesday, when it presents its comprehensive annual report to the Knesset Committee for Immigration, Absorption and Diaspora Affairs.

This report, examining antisemitic social media content pertaining to the Holocaust collected by the FOA monitoring team from January 23 to April 7, presents numerous examples underscoring the urgent need for heightened awareness and proactive measures to combat antisemitism in digital spaces.

One of the most concerning aspects highlighted in the report is the growing phenomenon of Holocaust justification. Within the context of the conflict with Hamas in the Gaza Strip, there has been a notable surge in online content attempting to rationalize the Holocaust as a purported response to Israels defensive actions.

Such attempts not only distort historical facts but also run afoul of social media community guidelines, specifically falling under the category of glorification of violence.

Despite these guidelines, a significant amount of such content continues to persist due to inadequate content moderation on various online platforms. This lack of strict scrutiny allows such content to proliferate and poison public discourse.

Furthermore, the FOA report delves into the insidious practice of drawing parallels between Israeli policies and Nazism, known as Holocaust inversion. This reprehensible tactic not only seeks to malign Israel but also minimizes the magnitude of the atrocities committed during the Holocaust. By equating Israeli defense measures with Nazi actions, this distortion of history not only perpetuates misinformation but also undermines efforts to combat contemporary antisemitism.

The scourge of Holocaust denial continues to persist and has shown a troubling resurgence, particularly following recent events. Exploiting tragic circumstances, some individuals and groups seek to delegitimize the historical reality of the Holocaust, claiming it was fabricated by Jews for political gain.

This malicious narrative not only disrespects the memory of millions of Holocaust victims but also fuels dangerous conspiracy theories that can have real-world implications. Antisemitic groups leverage these falsehoods to advocate for the elimination of the Jewish state, further exacerbating tensions and sowing discord.

In addition to these distressing trends, the FOA report addresses the emergence of the Gaza Holocaust narrative in media outlets across the Arab world. This troubling rhetoric, likening Israeli defensive measures in Gaza to the Holocaust, not only distorts historical truths but perpetuates harmful stereotypes and fosters a climate of hostility. Such comparisons trivialize the immense suffering of Holocaust victims and survivors, detracting from genuine efforts toward regional peace and understanding.

The report serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing challenges posed by online antisemitism and the imperative for collective action. Policy-makers, online platforms, civil society organizations, and individuals must work collaboratively to combat hate speech, enforce community guidelines rigorously, and promote factual education about the Holocaust and its enduring lessons.

By fostering a culture of tolerance, empathy, and mutual respect, we can strive toward a future free from the scourge of antisemitism and all forms of hatred and discrimination.

IN THE wake of the tragic events surrounding Oct. 7, social media platforms have witnessed a concerning surge in content drawing parallels between Israel and Nazi Germany.

Such comparisons, often laden with antisemitic undertones, not only trivialize the atrocities of the Holocaust but also perpetuate harmful stereotypes and narratives.

The use of inflammatory language and imagery to equate the actions of the Israeli government or military with those of the Nazi regime is deeply offensive and undermines efforts to promote understanding and peace in the region.

This trend underscores the urgent need for heightened vigilance and proactive measures to counter antisemitism and hate speech on digital platforms.

Holocaust imagery is deliberately exploited to fuel hate speech. Those who harbor animosity toward Jews recognize that evoking the trauma of the Holocaust can intensify the impact of hateful content and incite further hostility toward Jewish people.

Curtailing online antisemitism is not just a matter of policy; its a moral imperative. In a digital age where information spreads rapidly, we must be vigilant in combating hate speech and misinformation.

Every effort to counter online antisemitism is a step toward preserving the dignity and rights of all individuals, regardless of their backgrounds or beliefs.

The writer is CEO of Fighting Online Antisemitism.

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Alarming trend in worldwide Holocaust discourse - The Jerusalem Post

ADL teams up with Jewish TikTok stars to fight Holocaust denial – St. Louis Jewish Light

Posted By on May 11, 2024

In an effort to combat the rising tide of Holocaust denial and misinformation, the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) launched a new campaign targeting Gen Zers on social media platforms, particularly TikTok. Launching on Holocaust Remembrance Day, the new initiative utilizes the influence of prominent Jewish TikTok creators to share survivor testimonials and educational content, shedding light on the realities of the Holocaust and countering false narratives.

The campaign, Spot Lies. Spread Facts, addresses the concerning lack of knowledge about the Holocaust among young people, as highlighted in a recent ADL report. With social media platforms struggling to moderate Holocaust denial content, the ADLs saw a critical need to provide accurate information and combat the spread of misinformation.

Leading figures in the TikTok community, including Ellie Zeiler, Eitan Bernath, Montana Tucker, Carly Weinstein and Tova and Aron Friedman, are lending their voices to the cause. Through a series of videos, these influencers will share personal accounts from survivors like Tova Friedman, who bravely recounts her experiences in Auschwitz, confronting the disturbing reality of denial in the face of undeniable evidence.

As Friedman implores in her TikTok video, the campaign is a call to action: to confront the spread of misinformation and honor the memory of the six million lives lost.

At a time when denial is rising and general knowledge about the events of the Holocaust is diminishing, particularly among young people, theres a need to reach this demographic with video testimonials and factual information about the murder of the six million, said Jonathan Greenblatt, ADL CEO. An important focus will be on misinformation: Our creators will help young people to learn how to spot the lies, spread facts, and not repeat or share things about the Holocaust that are false.

Locally, a cross-section of Missouri schools are using a new framework for Holocaust education. The pilot program of up to 25 school districts is the result of legislation signed into law by Governor Mike Parson in July 2022.

The Holocaust education bill was sponsored by Rep. Adam Schwadron, R-St. Charles, and Sen. Brian Williams, D-St. Louis County, with bipartisan support mandating Holocaust education in Missouri schools. The pilot program began last fall and will continue through the 2024-2025 school year. A full roll-out to all Missouri schools will begin in the 2025-2026 school year.

St. Louis area schools participating in the pilot program include educators from Affton, Riverview Gardens (Westview Middle School) and Hazelwood. They are using a curriculum framework for studying the Holocaust utilizing materials developed by the Missouri Holocaust Education and Awareness Commission, the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C., and the St. Louis Kaplan Feldman Holocaust Museum. The education framework will serve as a resource to help educators integrate Holocaust education into their existing curriculum to best meet the needs of their students.

The Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education(DESE) will obtain feedback from those school districts and other participants throughout the state on the teachers use of the new Holocaust education framework and its accompanying materials, according to DESE spokesperson Mallory McGowin.

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ADL teams up with Jewish TikTok stars to fight Holocaust denial - St. Louis Jewish Light

How Al-Jazeera has justified, denied Holocaust over the years – The Jerusalem Post

Posted By on May 11, 2024

The decision by the Israeli government to shut the offices of Al Jazeera in the country sparked heated debates both in the country and abroad, with some officials justifying the move on the backdrop of what they deemed homeland security issues, as well as a history of antisemitism propagated by the official Qatari mouthpiece.

According to a report by the Zachor Institute, the Qatari-owned media gargantuan has provided a platform for antisemitic discourse in many instances, including the broadcasting of sermons by Sheikh Yusuf Al-Qaradawi, Muslim Brotherhood leading cleric who endorsed suicide bombings, in which the latter claimed that Allah used Adolf Hitler to inflict the Holocaust upon the Jews as divine punishment, praising him for putting [Jews] in their place.

However, instances of justification and glorification of the Holocaust are not the only type of antisemitic discourse promoted on Al Jazeera, as outright holocaust denial has also been given a platform on its different outlets.

The most well-known affair regarding Holocaust denial by Al Jazeera, more specifically by its younger tributary AJ+, is a seven-minute documentary published in May 2019, which reportedly claimed that the Holocaust was different from how the Jews tell it, promoting it with a tweet reading Gas ovens killed millions of JewsSo the story says. How true is the #Holocaust and how did the Zionists benefit from it?

Instances of Holocaust denial can easily be found on Al Jazeeras website, left untouched for years and sometimes decades.

For instance, a 2002 article regarding the dismissal of a Syrian-born German minister following his likening of Israel to the Nazis, reported in a dry, allegedly objective tone, that Holocaust denial is the card that the Jews are still playing in Germany, which is still paying reparations to Israel for the alleged Holocaust.

More modern examples can also be found. For instance, a blog by writer Abdelkhaleq Mansour from March 2017, claims that There are many studies and writings that have refuted the claims of the leaders of the Zionist entity that Nazism killed millions of converts to the Jewish religion in Europe, and revealed the extent to which those who adopted the concept of Holocaust massacres exaggerated in narrating those events. He also added that a growing belief in the inaccuracy of these allegations, with the emergence of the concept of Holocaust revisionism, that is, research, writings, and people who believe that the actions of Nazism were not as horrific as those mentioned in the writings of the Jews. This passage includes both holocaust denial and a referral to the debunked, antisemitic Khazarian theory.

A similar entry by Moroccan blogger Adel Ayashi from August 2018, claimed that Although the conflict with the Jews reached its climax after the mission of the Messenger, there are turning points in history in which Arabs and Muslims demonstrated profound humanity towards the persecuted Jews throughout the world. Numerous testimonies and general facts indicate that Muslims have demonstrated - despite the plots of the Jews against them - about their great chivalry in their defense of the Jews persecuted by Nazism specifically during World War II, and whether the alleged Holocaust was fact or fiction. In this passage, the writer manages to both deny the Holocaust, highlight historical hostility toward the Jews, and paint the Jews as a collective - as plotting and being ungrateful.

Similarly, Palestinian journalist Nael Abdulatif wrote a piece in Al Jazeera in June 2018 in which he criticized Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas for apologizing on remarks he made regarding the alleged holocaust, thus inherently denying the holocaust and the need to preserve its memory.

Another more recent example is from early 2023, where a panel discussion hosted by the Qatari National Library featured Dr. Abaher Al-Saqa, who discussed in his speech the alleged Holocaust kept by the Zionist Jews... They have made a museum about the perishing or Holocaust which they claim [happened].

One final example is from December 2023, where a critical article made accusations that the Israeli film industry revolving around the Holocaust Ignores any reference to the complicit role of Zionism in the crimes, whether in the Nazi camps, or in the camps that the Allies established in Germany after the war, in which hundreds of thousands of Germans were killed, and some estimate the number in the millions. This accusation against Zionists - interchangeable with Jews - with imaginary wrongdoings is another form of antisemitic discourse salient on the Qatari-owned mouthpiece Al Jazeera.

Holocaust denial is not the only type of antisemitic discourse led by Qatar. Only last week, Qatari member of parliament Essa Al-Nassr expressed antisemitic and violent views, regarding Jews as killers of prophets and promising that the October 7th massacre was just a prelude, implying a supposed Godly promise to bring in Jews to the Holy Land so that Muslims can more easily defeat them.

Additionally, Qatar is perceived as a host nation of the Muslim Brotherhood axis, through sporting and promoting a wide array of religious institutions, political parties and even Western-based NGOs which promote what is known as political Islam or Islamism around the globe. The Muslim Brotherhood is regarded as key player in importing classical European antisemitic discourse into the Arab and Muslim spheres, with one of its main thinkers, founder of Salafi Jihadism, Syed Qutb, even writing a well-known pamphlet named Our Battle with the Jews.

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How Al-Jazeera has justified, denied Holocaust over the years - The Jerusalem Post

Holocaust survivors actively campaign against resurging denial – JNS.org – JNS.org

Posted By on May 11, 2024

(May 5, 2024 / JNS)

The New York-based Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany has launched #CancelHate, a digital initiative in which Holocaust survivors worldwide respond to antisemitic comments that proliferate on social media.

In stark videos, the survivors steel themselves to read slurs such as The Holocaust was a lieStop spreading misinformation and There were no gas chambers. I have the same goals as Hitler: Exile the Jews and keep their degeneracy out of society.

They then counter with testimony validating the veracity of the atrocities they endured and witnessed firsthand.

I survived the Holocaust, but 13 members of my immediate family were murdered because they were Jewish, states former Anti-Defamation League head Abe Foxman, a U.S. survivor participating in #CancelHate. Holocaust denial on social media isnt just another post. Posts that deny the Holocaust are hateful and deny the suffering of millions.

The potency of the campaign lies in its undeniable truth emanating from the last remaining survivors.

Hedi Argent, a British citizen, recounts, My family was turned out of our home because we were Jews. Seventeen members were murdered. The Holocaust did happen.

Their voices take on profound urgency amid studies showing Holocaust knowledge waning perilously among younger generations, leaving them vulnerable to distortions. Nearly half of U.S. millennials and Gen Z report seeing denial rhetoric online, mirroring trends in other countries such as the United Kingdom.

I could never have imagined Holocaust survivors confronting such a tremendous wave of denial and distortion, but sadly, that day is here, laments Greg Schneider of the Claims Conference. We saw what unchecked hatred led towords of hate and antisemitism sparked deportations, gas chambers, crematoria.

In a world where social platforms enable hatred to spread unabated, this campaign harnesses survivors firsthand experiences as a barrier against those seeking to rewrite the past.

Words matter, affirms German survivor Herbert Rubinstein. Six million were murdered. I am fighting Holocaust denial with all my might and strength.

For 30 days, #CancelHates videos will tell survivors truths to those propagating revisionism and hate under the virtual cloak of anonymity. Their words serve as a defiant rallying cry for a world still susceptible to the dangerous consequences of allowing hate speech to go unchecked.

Originally published by Israel Hayom.

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Hamas says it’s preparing to respond to Israel’s latest Gaza cease-fire proposal – NPR

Posted By on April 29, 2024

People inspect damage and remove items from their homes following Israeli airstrikes on April 7, in Khan Yunis, Gaza. Ahmad Hasaballah/Getty Images hide caption

People inspect damage and remove items from their homes following Israeli airstrikes on April 7, in Khan Yunis, Gaza.

Hamas says it's examining the latest Israeli suggestions for a cease-fire in Gaza, seven months into the conflict that has claimed tens of thousands of lives and that Israeli leaders have said could soon intensify further if a deal between the two sides is not reached.

International efforts are continuing to try to firm up areas of agreement, with mediators led by Egypt at the heart of efforts to encourage both sides to end the violence.

A senior Hamas official told NPR that the militant group would respond to Israel's latest proposed conditions once it had examined them in full, but was "still studying" them and there was "no scheduled timing" for their response.

He did not offer specifics about Israel's proposals, but said it followed conditions Hamas had laid down earlier this month, which focused on an exchange involving Israeli captives held in Gaza for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners in Israel, as well as a six-week cessation of hostilities.

An Egyptian delegation left Israel on Friday, an official told AP, after holding discussions over the possibility of a multi-phase and lengthy Gaza cease-fire. The plan would allow civilians currently in the south of the territory to return to their homes further north, and might eventually lead to a more permanent agreement that ends the fighting altogether.

A major U.S. concern shared by its international partners is that the Israeli military will launch a full-scale assault on Gaza's southernmost city, Rafah, where more than a million Palestinians have sought shelter after fleeing the widespread fighting elsewhere in the Gaza Strip.

Israel has argued that further ground-based military action in Rafah is necessary for it to destroy remaining groups of Hamas fighters. But several countries including neighboring Egypt have said that any such offensive by the Israelis would have even more severe consequences for civilians, and could further destabilize the broader region.

Nonetheless Israeli forces have massed around the city, where airstrikes continue to take place daily. On Saturday one airstrike in the city killed four children, according to local health officials. Hamas has repeatedly said it will not enter into a new agreement unless it contains a provision for a permanent truce.

Meanwhile, the U.S. military has begun construction of an offshore loading platform to help deliver more aid to Gaza, with plans for trucks to be ferried from that platform to a temporary pier on the Gaza coastline as part of a large-scale operation that could begin within weeks.

An official from the World Economic Forum said senior leaders, including Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, will meet in the Saudi Arabian capital of Riyadh next week. The prime minister of Qatar, another nation at the center of Gaza cease-fire negotiations will attend, alongside the foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia and Egypt, as well as U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken. He will travel there after an expected Tuesday visit to Israel as the State Department is reviewing whether to suspend aid for an Israel military unit that it found had committed serious human rights violations against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank.

Meanwhile China will also host senior leaders from Abbas' Fatah party and Hamas next week for further talks, designed to help heal a long-running political dispute between the two factions that had until Oct. 7 ruled respectively over Gaza and the West Bank. The U.S. government does not publicly support any such reconciliation, given that it considers Hamas a terrorist group but recognizes the legitimacy of Fatah and its leadership of the Palestinian Authority that exercises limited self-rule in the occupied West Bank.

Read more from the original source:

Hamas says it's preparing to respond to Israel's latest Gaza cease-fire proposal - NPR


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