Editor’s E-Mail Box: September 17, 2018 (4 items)

Terrorist victim Ari Fuld mourned

The Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America had expressed its great sadness over the death of Ari Fuld zk”l, a U.S.-Israeli citizen who was killed over the weekend in Israel by a Palestinian terrorist.

Fuld, 45, was attacked Sunday morning by a terrorist wielding a knife outside a shopping mall near Kfar Etzion. Despite his injuries, Fuld chased after and fired at his assailant, even jumping over a fence in an attempt to stop him before succumbing to his wounds. He was later pronounced dead at Shaare Zedek Medical Center in Jerusalem. The terrorist was eventually stopped by a passerby who also shot him.

Fuld lived with his family in Efrat. He is survived by his wife, Miriam, and four children, Tamar, 22, Naomi, 21, Yakir, 17, and Natan 12; his brothers Moshe, Doni, Hillel and Eitan; and his parents, Rabbi Yonah and Mary (Kent).

The grandson of a Holocaust survivor, Fuld made Aliyah in 1991 and worked for an organization devoted to supporting Israeli soldiers on active duty. He was a sergeant in an elite paratroopers unit in the IDF reserves and served on the Efrat emergency squad. On Fridays, he used social media to broadcast his own Torah commentary to people around the world.

OU President Mark (Moishe) Bane and OU Executive Vice President Allen Fagin stated:

“We at the Orthodox Union are horrified by this terrible attack and deeply saddened over the loss of Ari Fuld, a proud Jew who was deeply committed to Torah and an impassioned advocate of Eretz Yisrael. We extend our heartfelt condolences to the Fuld family. May the family be comforted amongst the mourners of Zion and Yerushalayim.”

The StandWithUs organization also expressed condolences, in an e-mail notice.   “Ari was an Israeli-American, an active and avid lover and defender of Israel, and a personal friend to many at StandWithUs,” the organization said. “We mourn his loss together with all people of good will in Israel and across the world.  Ari’s murder is the latest reminder of the terrible consequences of incitement and support for terrorism by Palestinian leaders. Hamas, the Palestinian Authority (PA), and others continue to use their institutions to spread hate and promote violence against Israeli civilians. The PA rewards terrorists and their families with salaries, enabled by foreign aid. As we grieve for Ari and his family, we also demand that the international community prevent his killer from being rewarded for this cowardly and barbaric act of murder.”

Arthur Stark, Chairman and Malcolm Hoenlein, Executive Vice Chairman/CEO of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations issued the following statement:

— From Orthodox Union, StandWithUs and Confeence of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations

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Christians to pray Sept. 23 for the return from Gaza of the bodies of two Israelis

Ahead of the opening of the UN General Assembly in New York next week, an initiative across the Christian world was launched this week to join a prayer day dedicated to the families of Oron Shaul and Hadar Goldin in the hopes that their bodies will be returned.

Goldin and Shaul were killed and their bodies captured by Hamas on the Gaza-Israel border during Operation Protective Edge in 2014. Goldin was part of a group of soldiers ambushed by Hamas two hours after a UN humanitarian ceasefire was brokered.

The international initiative will see thousands of Christians all over the world pray on Sunday, September 23, for the return of the bodies of Goldin and Shaul.

Over the last weeks, with the consent of the Goldin family, a petition was sent to several Christian churches and organizations from various denominations around the world asking them to join an international initiative ahead of the United Nations General Assembly meeting in September.

In the appeal, the initiators – among them, Israeli-Christian relations consultant Amit Barak – said that the Sunday before the meeting, scheduled for September 25, will be a day dedicated to prayer for the family of the two soldiers and the return of their bodies. Barack said that to continue holding the bodies of the two soldiers is a violation of international humanitarian law.

Asked what led to the initiative, Barak explained that “the initiative was born out of the importance of the Christian world, as well as our of the recognition that their influence in several countries is increasing… [they] undoubtedly have an influence. Solidarity and human action has an important place in Christian theology, and the Christian world.”

He said that after the initial appeal was sent out, “we issued another appeal and every day [since] we have receive requests from churches and other organizations who have continued to join, as well as requests from individual Christians.”

Barak added that “more than 50 churches and Christian organizations have joined, including from America, Asia, Africa, Australia and Europe.  — From Amit Barak

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Conference of Presidents hails appointment of Kenneth Marcus to civil rights position

Arthur Stark, Chairman and Malcolm Hoenlein, Executive Vice Chairman/CEO of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations issued the following statement:

“The Conference of Presidents is encouraged by the appointment of the Kenneth Marcus, founder and former President of the Louis D. Brandeis Center for Human Rights Under Law, to the position of Assistant Secretary of Education for Civil Rights at the U.S. Department of Education. As the leader of the Brandeis Center, Marcus dedicated himself to defending Jewish students from anti-Semitic attacks on college campuses across the country, and he has continued this work within the U.S. government. By applying the State Department’s working definition of anti-Semitism, which received resounding bi-partisan support in the Senate, to the Department of Education, Assistant Secretary Marcus has provided the investigators in the Office of Civil Rights with a clearer understanding of what constitutes anti-Semitism and guidance as to how it should be addressed. His work to defend Jews, Muslims, and Sikhs from discrimination reflects a commitment on the part of the Department of Education to equal opportunity for all Americans, regardless of ethnic background.

“Furthermore, the Conference of Presidents supports Assistant Secretary Marcus’s decision to reopen the investigation into the allegations of bias and anti-Semitism arising from at the Zionist Organization of America’s complaint against Rutgers University, and we appreciate the Rutgers University administration’s cooperation with any review of this case by the Department of Education.”  — Preceding provided by the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations

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HIAS condemns Trump plan to lower refugee ceiling to 30,000 per year

HIAS on Monday strongly condemned the Trump Administration’s announcement of a proposed refugee resettlement ceiling of 30,000 for Fiscal Year 2019, the lowest number ever set by any president since the Refugee Act became law in 1980.

“President Trump has once again betrayed America’s history and global leadership in providing safe haven for innocent human beings fleeing violence and persecution” said Mark Hetfield, President and CEO of HIAS, the global Jewish nonprofit that protects refugees. “By setting the refugee number this low, this administration is betraying the commitments we made after World War II – followed by decades of bipartisan support – to ensure that the world never again turns its back on innocent people seeking safety. During a period of unprecedented crisis, America has signaled it is a nation in retreat, and as a result the outlook for refugees looks even more bleak.”

The announcement, known as the Presidential Determination, sets the ceiling on the maximum number of refugees that can be resettled in the coming year. Since 1980, the average annual ceiling has been set at 96,229 refugees. Last year, the Presidential Determination was set at 45,000 but only a total of 20,918 have actually been admitted so far this year.

While Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced the Administration’s intended final number, by law the Administration must consult with Congress before the number is official.

“Right now Jews are in the middle of the most reflective time of year and what this Administration has done to refugees and to our own country is shameful,” Hetfield said. “President Trump is depriving our country of thousands of new Americans who could have been productive members of our community, grateful to be living in safety and freedom. HIAS and our supporters in the American Jewish community will continue to help refugees and demonstrate that America remains a welcoming country.”

Stosh Cotler, CEO of Bend the Arc: Jewish Action, released the following statement: “The Trump administration’s announcement is an extraordinary act of policymaking, grounded only in cruelty and xenophobia. This is what happens when ideologues like Stephen Miller are given power in this White House and free reign to reshape our immigration policies in their vision of white nationalism. The failure of administration officials to consult Congress as legally required just further demonstrates their complete disregard for the rule of law. As a people who deeply understand the plight of the refugee and are sensitive to the dangers of authoritarianism, we condemn this Administration’s naked cruelty.”   — From the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society (HIAS) and Bend the Arc

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Preceding items culled from news releases.  Send yours to editor@sdjewishworld.com