Fallsburg, NY - Burglares Arrested for Series of Break-Ins

Fallsburg, NY - The break-ins started right after Labor Day, right after the Orthodox Jewish summer people left their seasonal homes at Luxor Estates and Evergreen Estates, and within a few weeks, there had been about 20 burglaries.

Now, Fallsburg police have arrested local two teenagers and a local man in the case.
Hector Flores, 25, and Richard Postell, 18, of Loch Sheldrake were charged with second-degree burglary, a felony. They're being held at Sullivan County jail in lieu of $10,000 bail. A 15-year-old Loch Sheldrake boy was charged as a juvenile and released to his parents. His case will be heard in Family Court.

Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY - Miracle Synagogue Up in 14 Days

Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY - A new synagogue was erected in this section of Brooklyn in a whirlwind 14 days by more than 200 workers, many of them disciples of a fractious Satmar Hasidic group that up till now had been congregating under a tent.

Neither stop-work orders from the city nor the setting sun could keep followers of Rabbi Aaron Teitelbaum from building the stucco Temple Yetev Lev in Williamsburg, but the community could be fined for twice defying the city's orders to stop construction.
The faithful worked 18-hour days to open the house of worship in time for Rosh Hashanah. "It was done because it had to be done because the high holy days were coming up and [Teitelbaum] was on his way," said Satmar community leader Isaac Weinberger.

In the steel-framed Hooper St. synagogue, additional work still needs to be done, and the finishing touches are expected to be completed in time for Simchat Torah, the conclusion of this year's high holy days, in mid-October.
"It's a miracle," said Mark Sapozhnikov, the owner of a gas station next door who watched the synagogue rise. "I've never seen anything like it."

A feud among the Satmars has been simmering since the late 1990s, when late Grand Rebbe Moses Teitelbaum anointed his youngest son, Zalmen, as leader of the congregation. The decision infuriated supporters of Aaron Teitelbaum because he is the oldest son.
Zalmen's followers, who worship at a Rodney St. synagogue, which has been the scene of several fights, were happy about the new synagogue. "This way they leave us alone, they don't come and curse and shout at us," said Daniel Korzog, 55. "Everyone is happy."

Sharon, PA - Judge Strips Ex-Nazi of Citizenship

Sharon, PA - A former Nazi concentration camp guard who has lived in Western Pennsylvania for about 50 years was stripped of his citizenship by a federal judge.

Anton Geiser, 81, of Sharon, Mercer County, has two weeks to hand over his certificate of naturalization, passport and any other documents indicating he is an American citizen, U.S. District Judge David S. Cercone ruled. His lawyers said they will appeal Cercone's decision to the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Philadelphia.
Federal prosecutors sought to have Geiser stripped of his citizenship and deported because he lied on his visa application in 1956 about serving in an SS Death's Head battalion. Had he made that admission then, they said, he would have been ineligible to become a naturalized citizen under the Refugee Relief Act of 1953.

Geiser admitted to being a member of the SS but said he had no choice. He said he never bought into the Nazi ideology. "What they were saying, it didn't penetrate my heart," Geiser told federal authorities. He said he never hurt or killed anyone.
Cercone, however, ruled that Geiser's actions amounted to persecution, according to his 12-page opinion. "The court finds that he personally assisted in the persecution of people because of race, religion or national origin," Cercone wrote. He vacated a March 1962 order by the Mercer County Court of Common Pleas which granted Geiser citizenship.
Geiser worked for 31 years at Sharon Steel and has lived on Cedar Street since 1960.

About 10,000 Nazis are believed to have come to the United States after World War II. The U.S. Department of Justice has brought cases against nearly 100.

Montreal, Canada - Overpass Collapses Traps Cars

Montreal, Canada - A highway overpass in a suburb of Montreal collapsed today, trapping cars underneath and sending others crashing down from above.
Five people were pulled from the rubble and taken to hospital, Police Sergeant Daniel Guerin said. No deaths were reported, he said. "There were four or five vehicles including one motorcycle travelling over the top and a few underneath - we don't know how many underneath yet. Maybe two," he said.

The overpass on Boulevard de la Concorde in the suburb of Laval gave out, crashing down onto Highway 19, and rescue workers were still on the scene, Guerin said.


U/D: 10/01/06 09:10
provincial police say at least four people died in the two cars buried by rubble in overpass collapse near Montreal.

Brazil - Plane with 155 aboard crashes in Amazon

Brazil - A Brazilian jetliner crashed Friday deep in the Amazon jungle, apparently after clipping a smaller plane, and officials said they doubt any of the 155 people aboard survived. 
Rescue teams reached the crash zone hours after air force helicopter pilots found the Boeing 737-800's wreckage on Saturday, but "so far it is impossible to confirm the existence of survivors in the area," according to a joint statement by the airport authority, the air force and the Civil Aviation Agency. 

Gol Airlines Flight 1907 had vanished on Friday while flying from the jungle city of Manaus to Brasilia and Rio de Janeiro.  The president of Brazil's airport authority, Jose Carlos Pereira, said the jetliner and an executive jet may have collided before the crash, though that was still under investigation. 
Gol vice president David Barioni said both Brazilians and foreigners were aboard, but did not provide any breakdown.

New York, NY - Six Arrested for Fraud and Conspiracy

New York, NY - Six New York men were arrested and charged with fraud and conspiracy, accused of running a foreign exchange scam that cheated more than 230 investors out of as much as $7 million, government officials said.

The men, most of whom are U.S. citizens, are accused of operating a scheme from May 2002 to March 2003 where investors were cold-called with offers of out-sized returns on foreign currency investments, according to officials with the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It was a "classic fraud scheme," Special Agent-In-Charge Andy Arena said outside the FBI's New York headquarters.

The men were charged with 28 counts including wire fraud, mail fraud and conspiracy to commit fraud. 11 people were indicted. Four remain unaccounted for, 6 were arrested in New York, and one was arrested in Croatia, the FBI said.
The men who were arrested in New York early this morning were Adam Lichtenbaum, 25; Boris Tager, 34; Vincent Armato 24, Larry Shuster 24; Edward Sharov, 24; and David Lozovsky 30.

Israel - El Al Airlines to Testify in U.S. Court

Israel - El Al Israel Airlines said on it has been ordered to testify before a grand jury in a U.S. government investigation of possible price-fixing violations in air cargo transport.
In a statement to the Tel Aviv stock exchange, Israel's largest carrier said it had received a subpoena to appear before a grand jury in Washington on November 1 and to produce documents relating to the price-fixing suspicions.

According to El Al, the U.S. Justice Department has been carrying out a price-fixing investigation of the cargo operations of several other airlines over the past few months. The statement did not name the airlines.

Chicago - Some Synagogues Waiving Holiday Fees

Chicago - Some call it the seat tax, and not with affection. During the Jewish High Holy Days, the ticket fee to attend some synagogues can reach hundreds of dollars, Jackie Saltz realized. ''Couples would say, 'Look, it's not that we're poor, but we have expenses. Rent comes first,''' he said.

So as the 10 days that span Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur continue through Monday, Saltz leads one of several efforts to erase those fees, and more than 115 synagogues across the country are participating.

To someone outside Judaism, the holiday fees may be surprising. ''Why should I have to pay to pray?'' said Rabbi Jeffrey Wohlberg of the Adas Israel Congregation in Washington, D.C.

Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY +Construction Accident+

Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY +Construction Accident+ Hatzolah BLS and ALS responded Code-1 for a 35-year-old male that a pile of bricks fell on his head at the construction side on 204 Middleton Street. NYPD ESU also responding.

Aided has very serious injuries.

U/D: 11:31
Aided is alive and semi consious.

Borough Park, Brooklyn, NY +Pedestrian Struck+

Borough Park, Brooklyn, NY +Pedestrian Struck+ A motor vehicle accident on New Utrecht Avenue and 47th Street with a pedestrian that was struck, Hatzolah on the scene.

Wellington, FL - DCF Worker's Anti-Semitic Tirade Caught on Tape

Wellington, FL - A state child abuse investigator spat out a string of expletives about a Jewish family without realizing the family's voice mail was recording.

Daniella Arnold, a Department of Children and Families employee since 1989, was following up with a Wellington family after the father of two young children was charged with domestic battery. She left her cellphone number on the couple's home voice mail, and then seemed to think she had hung up. But the voice mail was still recording when Arnold said, "F——— Jew. That's what she is. She's a g—d—- Jew. Got to go to the g—d—- temple to see her g—d—- kid."

The father played Arnold's message for a DCF attorney and Arnold resigned after she was confronted with the department's concerns.
The children's mother who grew up in a heavily Jewish neighborhood in New York, said she had never met Arnold in person. She said Arnold may have been frustrated because they were having trouble finding a time when the investigator could interview the mother at home, she also said that she had never encountered such anti-Semitism and was shocked by the voice message.

The couple said DCF opened its case two weeks ago when the father was charged with domestic battery. The arrest affidavit says the father put his hands around his wife's neck in front of their son.
Arnold wanted to see the children at home, but the mother was busy at work and asked if Arnold could visit them at school instead, and Arnold agreed to see him there.

Earlier this week, the Palm Beach County State Attorney's Office decided not to file charges in the misdemeanor domestic violence case. Arnold called the mother on her cellphone to say she still needed to finish her child safety investigation. She asked when she could visit the home.
The mother said she was driving home from work and needed to check her schedule. She asked Arnold to leave the information on her home phone. Arnold seemed irritable, saying she had her own children to take care of and a long commute home to Port St. Lucie.
A few minutes later, the mother arrived home and discovered Arnold's unintended message. It is scary, she said, that the insults came from a state employee with the power to take children from their parents. "I'd hate to think that this is the sort of person who would be making decisions in a child custody case," she said.

Lakeland, FL - Massive Manhunt Heats Up for Accused Cop Killer

Lakeland, FL - Hundreds of police were swarming "through every square inch" of thickly overgrown Florida woods this morning as the manhunt intensified for an accused cop killer.
"I want to say to his friends, that if you try to hide him or move him, we'll put you in jail," said Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd at a news conference in Lakeland. "We're watching associates, we're watching their movements, we're watching people who we have linked to him all over the state of Florida at this time," he said.

Police insist they will not rest until they capture the man, whom they suspect of killing a sheriff's deputy and wounding another during a routine traffic stop yesterday. They think he is involved in a narcotics ring.
Deputy Vernon Matthew "Matt" Williams, a 12-year veteran of the department, and his police dog "Diogi" were shot to death, Judd said.
Deputy Doug Speirs was shot in the leg and is expected to make a full recovery. He was treated and released at a hospital.

U/D: 10:01
Polk County and Florida authorities have shot and killed the man suspected of killing a police officer.

Brooklyn, NY +HazMat in Transit+

Brooklyn, NY +HazMat in Transit+ Fire Department on the scene using all hands in transit on Metropolitan Avenue and Lorimer Street and have stopped all trains coming into the Lorimer Street Station due to an unknown substance sprayed on the last car of a Queens bound train that's in the Lorimer Street station now.
Situation is D/W/H, both sides have been evacuated.
PD, FD and EMS are all on the scen.

U/D: 09:31
Some aided are coughing and vomiting.
The "L" Line has also been suspended from 8th Avenue in Manhattan to Broadway, due to the police activity.

Boston +Emergency Evacuation from Plane+

Boston - Some 45 passengers and crew were evacuated down emergency shoots when smoke started pouring into the cabin of a Delta Shuttle flight from NYC to Boston.

Delta flight 1908 from LaGuardia to Logan Airport, as it was taxiing off the runway and toward the gate, smoke was seen in the cabin and the captain ordered everyone off the plane via the emergency shoots, at this time at least two injuries have been reported but.

The flight carried 40 passengers and a crew of five.

West Bank +Palestinian Girl Who Might be Jewish Abducted+

West Bank - Police are investigating whether a girl abducted from Tulkarm and taken to Ashdod last night had an Israeli mother, and who is behind the kidnaping.

The girl's Palestinian father claimed som Israelis disguised as police officers had come to their house last night and abducted both him and his daughter, but afterwards, he was released, and his girl vanished.

Police say that they suspect that the Charedi anti-missionary organization Yad Le'achim, which also works to retrieve Jews - particularly Jewish women - from Palestinian homes, was behind the incident.

Flatbush, Brooklyn, NY +Woman Assaulted+

Flatbush, Brooklyn, NY +Woman Assaulted+ Early this morning a woman in the Flatbush section of Brooklyn, NY on East 13th Street and Avenue "M" was assaulted by a Mexican perp.

Hatzolah responded Code-1 treating the woman and requested back-up forthwith. They also requested PD and Shomrim to search for the perp a Mexican male 5'5" with an orange shirt.

This was the 2nd attempt in that area early this morning, NYPD for special crimes are doing the investigation, PD and Shomrim are still canvasing the area.

Israel +One Killed, Three Injured in Rishon Letzion Car Bomb+

Israel - Police and Fire Department are on the scene for a car bomb that exploded in Rishon Letzion with one person, the driver of the car that blew up, DOA in the blast and at least three others injured from the attack, sustaining moderate and slight injuries, the Magen David Adom rescue service is also on the scene. The casualties appeared to be passersby unconnected to the attack.

‪The blast took place on the corner of Herzl and Hacarmel streets, an intersection that is usually crowded on Friday afternoons before Shabbas.
Cars at the junction and buildings as far as 200 meters away were damaged. Police closed off the area and the Bomb Squad were on the scene.

Police at the scene are saying, that the blast appeared to be criminal motivated because the bomb was under the driver's seat and only the driver was killed in the attack. Suicide bombers traditionally carry out attacks aimed at causing the highest number of casualties.

The explosion took place as police were tightening security ahead of Yom Kippur holiday.

U/D: 13:08
Police no say that it was terror, and one terrorist was killed and 2 people are in moderate condition.
Also did they rais the nationwide terror alert in Israel.

New Jersey +Large Part of State Under Tornado Watch+

New Jersey - The National Weather Service has issued a tornado watch for 12 counties in New Jersey, including Monmouth, Ocean, Somerset, Hunterdon, Mercer and Middlesex counties.
The watch will be in effect until midnight.

Queens, NY Suspicious Package at JFK Airport+

Queens, NY Suspicious Package at JFK Airport+ PAPD, NYPD ESU Truck 9 and Bomb Squad are all on the scene at the parking lot near Terminal 2 at JFK International Airport for a suspicious package, Airport is being shut down in that area bus service to the area is being provided and Terminal 2 Exit to the Van Wyck and to JFK Expressway has been closed.

Additional PAPD Units from Laguardia Airport are also enroute to assist with the traffic condition.

Miami, FL - Lobbyist Jack Abramoff Wins 2nd Delay In Start Of Prison Sentence

Miami, FL - Lobbyist Jack Abramoff won a new delay in the start of his prison sentences for fraud convictions stemming from his purchase of a gambling fleet.

But U.S. District Judge Paul Huck rejected a joint request by federal prosecutors and defense lawyers for an additional 90 days delay. Instead, the judge reluctantly agreed to give Abramoff until Nov. 15 to remain free. "I don't feel good about this," Huck said. "My main concern is, there comes a time when people have to pay the piper, so to speak. I think that time has come."

Abramoff was sentenced to nearly six years in prison after he pleaded guilty to charges of concocting a fake wire transfer to close a deal in 2000 to buy SunCruz Casinos from businessman Konstantinos "Gus" Boulis, who was later killed in a gangland-style shooting.
Huck approved a first 90-day delay for Abramoff in June. He initially said he intended to leave Monday's prison date unchanged.
But prosecutors, including senior officials at the U.S. Justice Department, and defense attorneys insisted Abramoff must remain out of prison to continue cooperating in a Washington corruption investigation.
If he is imprisoned, "what we need from Mr. Abramoff will be impossible to get," said Ed Nucci, acting chief of the Justice Department's Public Integrity Section, in a telephone conference call with Huck. "There are so many areas that have to be explored and so many pockets."

Monsey, NY - Bike Bandits Indicted

Monsey, NY - Two 17-year-old Spring Valley youths have been indicted by a Rockland County grand jury on charges of second-degree robbery and attempted robbery in the second degree.

Vladimir Pierre and Delinois Alfred road their bicycles up to a man walking in Monsey and demanded his money late at night on September 13. One of the defendants had something in his sweatshirt sleeve that he pointed at the man when they threatened him. They then took personal property and fled on the bikes.
A short time later, a short distance away, the two rode up to another man walking in Spring Valley and again demanded money or they would kill him. The man grabbed his cell phone and called 911. They fled when the man made the call.

Spring Valley police later picked up both teens, who are being held in the Rockland County Jail on $25,000 bail each.

Tuxedo, NY +Major Traffic Delays on NYS Thruway+

Tuxedo, NY +Major Traffic Delays on NYS Thruway+ The two north bound left lanes of the New York State Thruway at M/M 35.8 has been closed by NY State Police for an overturned dump truck with spilled lumber on the roadway, driver was self extricated from the truck, EMS on the scene.

Major traffic delays through the area.

Cedarhurst, NY +Person Onto Tracks+

Nassau County, Cedarhurst, NY +Person Onto Tracks+ Hatzolah, FD and NCPD are on the scene on Central Avenue and Rockaway Tpke for an aided that fell onto the tracks between the train and the plaform at the Lawrence Station, aided isn't pinned.

Police requesting power to be turned off at the train station.

U/D: 16:32
Aided removed from between the train and the platform, power is being turned back on.

New York - Price of Milk to Increase

New York - The price of milk is once again increasing. Normally, New York state price regulations control the cost of milk to within a few cents a gallon either way. Starting Sunday, however, the price range will be increasing by a quarter.

With transportation costs going up, increased demand and decreased supply, the state price regulators have agreed to increase the so-called threshold price of milk to increase by 25 cents a gallon as of October 1.
The current state threshold price, which is the highest price that retailers may charge under normal circumstances, is $2.69 a gallon. The maximum price soars to $2.94 a gallon under the new regulations.

Israel - Suicide Bombing Prevented

Israel - Security forces thwarted a planned Palestinian suicide bomb attack during a raid on the West Bank town of Nablus.
In an earlier morning operation, Israeli paratroopers surrounded the home of Palestinian terrorists believed to be planning an attack against Israeli civilians during the holiday season.

As many as five of the suspects were killed after they opened fire on and hurled grenades at the advancing Israelis. Two survivors of the gun battle led troops to a hiding place where they had stashed a 22-pound bomb belt, which was later destroyed in a controlled explosion.
A senior officer involved in the operation said, "There is no doubt that we thwarted a major terror attack."

There were no Israeli casualties.

New York - Kosher Establishments Ignore State Disclosure Laws

New York - Kosher establishments are largely ignoring the requirement of the New York State Kosher Law Protection Act of 2004 to post their kosher certification, leading an official of the New York State Department of Agriculture & Markets, Division of Kosher Law Enforcement to promise increased enforcement in the coming days.  

The law requires food establishments, restaurants and caterers that sell kosher food to file the information on their kosher certifier and to post a “Kosher Certification Form in their establishment in a location readily visible to consumers.” However, some spot checks of several such establishments revealed that the forms were not being posted and in one case the information was outdated as the certification had changed months ago.  

Rabbi Luzer Weiss, who heads the kosher law enforcement agency, promised stepped up enforcement, which could lead to stiff fines. Rabbi Weiss said that his inspectors would be instructed to issue fines for non-compliance.  
Rabbi Weiss and others are particularly sensitive to the non-compliance in the aftermath of the Monsey scandal where a prominent Orthodox butcher was found to sell non-kosher poultry. “The state law enables consumers to find out who the certifying rabbi is at point of purchase,” said Rabbi Weiss.

Israel +Military Intelligence Believes that Syrian Might Launch Military Action

Israel - Changing its long-time assessment regarding the Syrian threat, military intelligence now believes Damascus might launch a military action against Israel.

For the first time in many years, intelligence officials are signaling concern that President Bashar al-Assad’s administration may be contemplating a military offensive across Israel's northeastern border. Officials emphasize that though Syria has not taken any operational steps towards a military action, the situation cannot be ignored.

Connecticut - Senator Lieberman staying ahead of Lamont

Connecticut - Democrat Ned Lamont continues to struggle to find support among Republican and unaffiliated voters in his attempt to defeat three-term incumbent Sen. Joe Lieberman in November's Connecticut Senate election, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released Thursday.

Lieberman maintains a 10-point advantage among likely voters in the poll, leading Lamont 49 percent to 39 percent in a three-way race. Republican Alan Schlesinger trails with 5 percent.
The race has tightened slightly since an Aug. 17 poll that showed Lieberman leading 53 percent to 41 percent. "Ned Lamont has lost momentum. He's gained only two points in six weeks," poll director Douglas Schwartz said. "He's going to have to do something different in the next six weeks or Sen. Joseph Lieberman stays in for another six years."

Dallas, TX - 7-Eleven Drops Citgo As Gas Supplier

Dallas, TX - 7-Eleven Inc. dropped Venezuela-owned Citgo as its gasoline supplier after more than 20 years as part of a previously announced plan by the convenience store operator to launch its own brand of fuel.  7-Eleven officials said that the decision was partly motivated by politics. Citgo Petroleum Corp. is a Houston-based subsidiary of Venezuela's state-run oil company and 7-Eleven is worried that anti-American comments made by Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez might prompt motorists to fill-up elsewhere. 

Instead, 7-Eleven, which sells gasoline at 2,100 of its 5,300 U.S. stores, will now purchase fuel from several distributors, including Tower Energy Group of Torrance, Calif., Sinclair Oil of Salt Lake City, and Houston-based Frontier Oil Corp.

Brooklyn, NY +Fatal Train vs Pedestrian+

Brooklyn, NY +Fatal Train vs Pedestrian+ NYPD ESu on the scene with a person under the "N" Line train at 62nd Street and 8th Avenue with an aided DOA decapitated under the train., power has been shut off and PD are calling it a crime scene.
Level one mobilization has been set up for crowed control. Expect major train delays.

Freehold, NJ - Dwek Says, Signatures Not Forged

Freehold, NJ - Real estate investor Solomon Dwek says he didn't forge the signatures of his mentor or his wife on a $1.5 million mortgage on the couple's Deal summer home, according to Dwek's lawyer.
Dwek "had full authority" to act on behalf of the couple, Jack and Rachel Adjmi, according to Dwek's defense lawyer, Robert A. Weir Jr. Any actions by Dwek were "consistent with the usual and customary methods of business established" between the Adjmis and Dwek, Weir stated in court papers.

Last month, Rachel Adjmi sued Dwek, accusing him of forging her name and the name of her husband in 2000 on a $1.5 million loan that was secured by the couple's oceanfront summer home. She said she only learned about the mortgage in June. Jack Adjmi, Dwek's mentor in the real estate business, died in 2003 at age 75.
Rachel Adjmi's lawsuit accuses Dwek of forging the signatures to obtain the loan for Dwek's personal benefit.

London - Shul Makes Peace With Union on the Condition it Publicly Explains its Support for Neturei Karta

London - A north London synagogue has withdrawn its threat to secede from the Orthodox Union over revelations the organisation provided tens of thousands of pounds to the anti-zionist Neturei Karta group.

Members of Hendon Adath were furious when they discovered that the Orthodox Union, which covers more than 80 charedi shuls, had given nearly £60,000 to Neturei Karta over three years.
But after a letter was sent to the shul by the Orthodox Union just before Rosh HaShanah, it decided not to act on a vote to secede from the Union unless the Orthodox Union publicly explained its support for Neturei Karta.

In the letter, addressed to the shul’s board of management, Orthodox Union President David Frand said he was aware the community was upset “by the despicable antics of a handful of individuals”. He added that “the Union would not dream of providing support for these antics and this was certainly not the case”.

Boulder CO - Jewish Student Finds Swastika On His Locker

Boulder CO - A Jewish student at Manhattan Middle School of Arts and Academics found a hand-drawn swastika on his locker.

The principal of the school, Martha Gustafson, sent a letter home to parents calling it an isolated but very serious incident of ethnic and religious intimidation.
Gustafson said the student was deeply hurt and frightened by the appalling incident. Many parents and students also expressed their shock and pain from the incident.

The principal gave the students a writing assignment to reflect on how the incident has affected them, and the school is investigating the incident. They said they are not sure who is responsible.

Hasbrouck Heights, NJ - Mega Millions Lotto Worth $15 Million Sold in Bergen County

Hasbrouck Heights, NJ - The sole winning ticket in the Mega Millions lotto drawing was sold in Bergen County. 
The ticket, worth $15 million, was purchased at Minit Mart in Hasbrouck Heights.

Two $250,000 winners purchased tickets at One Stop Shoppe in West Deptford, and Super Foodtown in Bayville.'
The winning numbers are: 3, 6, 38, 42 and 45. The Mega Ball number is 30.

Israel - Rabbis Cry Fowl on Ritual Use of Chickens

Israel - In this few days before Yom Kippur many Jews will perform the Kapparos ritual and will wave a soon-to-be slaughtered chicken around their heads. This ancient Jewish custom, has been around for generations. Recently however it has encountered opposition by animal welfare groups and even some rabbis.

Objections to the ritual killing of chickens come from animal welfare societies. Dozens of “Anonymous for Animal Rights” activists demonstrated at the Carmel market in Tel Aviv against this abuse of chickens. “Save lives and not a life for a life” and “Don’t add another sin to your crimes” were just some of the placards waved at the demonstration.
The demonstrators received a frosty reception from the vendors who threw water on them and asked them to disperse. An additional demonstration took place in Jerusalem.

Chedva Vanderbrook, a board member of the Jerusalem Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals says, “Next to my house in Jerusalem there are chicken cages scattered around without water,’ she tells ‘The chickens are brought to the slaughter in cramped cages without water in the broiling sun. Half of them die on the way. No one thinks that these poor creatures deserve to live on the way to their death.
“Unfortunately I think that it will be very hard to eradicate this custom in the Ultra-Orthodox community” Vanderbrook pessimistically summarizes, “But I am appealing to traditional people who customarily perform Kapparot and am asking them to stop.

Chester, NY - Parolees to be Banned from Camp La Guardia Shelter

Chester, NY - The Camp La Guardia homeless shelter is no longer accepting parolees and plans to remove the ones already at the 1,001-bed men's shelter in the next 90 days.

The decision was announced at the quarterly meeting between the county, municipalities and New York City, which runs the shelter, according to officials who were at the meeting. "It had been something that we were looking for and pushing for," said Chester Supervisor Bill Tully.

Shelter critics and nearby residents have been demanding for years that parolees not be allowed in the shelter which straddles the towns of Chester, Blooming Grove and Monroe. The residents contend that the parolees are the source of most of their quality-of-life problems.
"That was a victory on our part," said Michele Murphy, who lives beside the shelter.

Mount Kisco, NY - More Than A Dozen Cars Looted

Mount Kisco, NY - More than a dozen cars were looted on the west side of the village.

Personal property was stolen from 14 locked and unlocked cars in the Captain Merritt's Hill area, Detective Lt. Patrick M. O'Reilly said.
The area runs parallel to the Saw Mill River Parkway, and the several entrances to the parkway afford a quick escape, he noted.

Cash, wallets, new clothing in shopping bags, iPods and one GPS unit were among the items stolen, Detective Joe Reitter said.
"Don't leave anything in your car you don't want stolen," he cautioned. Locked cars with nothing of value in plain sight were not broken into, O'Reilly said of the break-ins that were scattered around the neighborhoods.

Pembroke Pines, FL - Couple Finds Swastikas Painted On Their Garage

Pembroke Pines, FL - The Pembroke Pines police are investigating an act of vandalism in which swastikas were painted on a garage.

Alona Goltzman told police that when she came home at about midnight, everything looked normal at her house, which is located in the 10000 block of Northwest 18th Street. But when she got up she found the swastikas. Her husband, Steven Goltzman said, "I am An American. I have my American flag. My truck's all decked out in American. I am probably one of the most patriotic people you could ever meet. It takes pretty much a coward to come out and do something like this to somebody's home."

Police haven't gotten any leads in the case. If you know anything that would help investigators, you are asked to call Broward Crime Stoppers.
Police told the Goltzmans that they could remove the swastikas immediately.

Monsey, NY - Authorities Responded to Calls of Kaparos (Chickens) Being Mistreated

Monsey, NY - Reports that numerous chickens were being mistreated or killed at a park-and-ride lot in Monsey today proved to be inaccurate.
When authorities got to the county lot on Route 59, they found about 4,000 chickens under a large tent, apparently gathered there by the Orthodox Jewish community for a particular holiday ritual, said Ramapo Police Department Capt. James Quinn.

Also did the Monsey Fire Department respond to ensure the chickens had adequate water, and the county Health Department responded to ensure the birds were being properly cared for, Quinn said. He said police were initially called by concerned witnesses who saw some of the birds get loose.

The kaparos ritual, which is traditionally performed during Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur, involves waving a chicken over one's head while saying a prayer. The chicken is then sent to slaughter and given to the poor.

Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY +Mayor Leases Property for Jewish School That was Shut Down by His Commissioners+

Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY - New York City Mayor Michael Blumberg agreed to a lease of six months for a vacant property on Flushing Avenue corner Claton
Avenue in the Williamsburg section of Brooklyn, NY. for a new Jewish school that was just shut closed by the Department of Buildings.
The Building Dept. closed down the new boys school on Harrison Place duo to numerous building and zoning violations as was reported on VOS IZ NEIAS.

The mayor agreed to lease the site for one of the Satmar groups - followers of Rabbi Aaron Teitelbaum from Orange County, NY - where they will erect eight modular school facility's.
The mayor said I am doing this in the name of peace for the community.

Jerusalem, Israel - Court Sentences Samaria Jew To Life In Prison, Times 4 on Killings

Jerusalem, Israel - A court sentenced Asher Weisgan of Shvut Rachel to four consecutive life terms plus an additional 12 years of imprisonment for killing four Arabs last year near the community of Shiloh. He said he committed the act in order to incite an Arab retaliation that would prevent Israeli security forces from carrying out the expulsion of residents from Gaza and northern Samaria and the demolition of this communities.

The three-judge panel also ordered him to $236,000 in damages to the families of those killed and others who were injured.

Brooklyn, NY +Pedestrian Struck+

Brooklyn, NY +Pedestrian Struck+ A motor vehicle accident with a pedestrian that was struck on Ocean Parkway and Avenue "J" Hatzolah responding.

Shirley, NY - Two Arrested for Painting Swastikas on Home

Shirley, NY - Two juveniles have been arrested for spray painting swastikas on a home in Shirley, in Suffolk County, NY.

The youngsters, whom police did not name because of their ages, were arrested and charged with first-degree aggravated harassment as a hate crime, for spray painting swastikas on the house. In addition to the hate crime charge, the youngsters were charged with fourth-degree criminal mischief for allegedly throwing the rock.
After an investigation, police said the juveniles confessed.
The suspects were issued appearance tickets and released to the custody of their parents, police said. They will be tried in Family Court at a future, undetermined date.

"These reprehensible acts of hatred will not be tolerated in Suffolk County," said County Executive Steve Levy in a statement.

Brooklyn, NY - Fugitive CEO Sought, Was Captured In Africa

Brooklyn, NY - The fugitive former chief executive of leading voicemail software maker Comverse Technology Inc. has been captured in Africa following a two-month international manhunt.

Details of the arrest of Jacob "Kobi" Alexander in the Republic of Namibia were not immediately available. But in a statement, U.S. Attorney Roslynn Mauskopf credited local officials in the southwest African nation for assisting the FBI in the capture. "We are very grateful for the Namibians' swift action and commend them for their vigilance," she said.
Mauskopf said she would seek Alexander's swift extradition to face charges in federal court in Brooklyn.

The manhunt was launched in late July shortly before authorities unsealed a criminal complaint accusing Alexander and two other former top executives of secretly manipulating stock options for personal profit.
Before he disappeared, Alexander, 54, who has dual citizenship in the United States and Israel, transferred $57 million to Israel, fueling speculation he may have fled there.

Two other defendants, former finance chief David Kreinberg and former senior general counsel William Sorin, surrendered in August and were released on $1 million bond each.

New York - Candidate for Attorney General was Planning To Spy On Husband

New York - Republican New York attorney general candidate Jeanine Pirro, a former Westchester County district attorney, has been told she is under federal investigation for discussing to secretly record her lobbyist husband.

Bailey, Colorado +Hostage Situation in a High School+

Bailey, Colorado +Hostage Situation in a High School+ A gunman claiming to have a bomb at Platte Canyon High School with at least 5 students that are being held as hostages, one was shot.
Swat Team is on the scene.

U/D: 21:01
One girl that was wounded in the Bailey high school hostage situation has died.

Brooklyn, NY - Good Police Work Leads to Suspect in Borough Park Break-In Horror

Borough Park, Brooklyn, NY - Police are questioning a suspect believed to be one of the two masked burglars who broke into the Boro Park, Brooklyn home of a wealthy couple, tied them up and cleaned them out of more than $200,000 in cash and jewels.

The NYPD were trying to determine if the burglars may have known that real-estate investor Wolf Sicherman, 55, and wife Sarah kept money in a safe in the third-floor bedroom of their Borough Park home.

On Monday night the safe was stuffed with cash because Sicherman was going to purchase a building the following day.
The masked duo, clad in black jumpsuits and armed with boxcutters, entered through a rear window and cut the electricity.
"They were working with small flashlights," said a neighbor and friend of the victims.
Police sources said the burglars encountered Sicherman, owner of nearby Sicherman Management Corp., on the stairwell and ordered him to open the safe.
He was so nervous he couldn't remember the combination, so his wife opened the safe. The couple were then tied with duct tape to a chair in the living room.
Before fleeing, the robbers "thanked the wife for being so nice," said a police source.

A woman chatting with a neighbor on the sidewalk said, "I saw two hooded guys coming out of the house getting into a white car."
Her friend became suspicious and wrote down the license plate of the getaway SUV and called BP Shomrim Patrol the local neighborhood watch group.
A few minutes later, "He [Sicherman] got himself free. She [Sarah] was shaking like a fish," said the witness.

U/D: 11:31
The NYPD have arrested Joseph Fiel, 30, and he was charged with breaking into the Brooklyn home then attacking and robbing the couple who live there. Fiel has been charged with robbery and criminal possession of a weapon.
Police believe the suspects could have been tipped off by contractors who recently did work inside the home. Detectives have not ruled out the possibility the home was targeted because of its appearance.

Goshen, NY - Orange County Taxes Decrease for Third Year

Goshen, NY - Orange County government’s tax rate in 2007 will be reduced again – the third year in a row – and it will be the lowest rate since World War II.

County Executive Edward Diana released his proposed county spending plan of $629.9 million, up five percent from the 2006 budget of $543 million. This is the first year that he had to include that portion of the county sales tax that is shared with municipalities, adding another $59.6 million to the bottom line. 
The property tax, as proposed, would be $2.97 per thousand dollars of assessed valuation. That compares with $14 per thousand back in 1973.

Borough Park, Brooklyn, NY +Large Fuel Spill+

Borough Park, Brooklyn, NY +Large Fuel Spill+ Fire Department on the scene and HazMat was requested to Fort Hamilton Parkway and 39th Street for a large 30 gallon diesel fuel spill from a oil tanker onto the roadway, the remainder of fuel has to be offloaded from the truck, also requesting a sander.

Bnei Brak, Israel +Home Invasion+

Bnei Brak, Israel +Home Invasion+ A home invasion robbery in Bnei Brak on Yonah Hanuvi Street when two masked perps entered a house and shocked othe wner with a taser and locked him up in a room, and emptied out the house of lots of valuables.

Washington, DC +Suspicious Package at Federal Courthouse+

Washington, DC - The Federal Courthouse has been evacuated due to a suspicious package.
Law enforcement officials were surveying the area around the building's Constitution Avenue entrance.

Budapest, Hungary - Hungarian Jews Concerned After Violent Protests

Budapest, Hungary - Peace has been restored after violent anti-government protests tinged with anti-Semitism, but some Jews, particularly the elderly, worry about the impact of the turbulent political climate on Hungary’s Jewish community.

“Older Jews feel worried, even threatened. They saw some men wearing the old Hungarian Nazi uniform,” said Ferenc Olti, a banker and longtime Jewish activist.
The demonstrations in the capital were against Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsany broke out after a speech he gave to his Socialist Party.

Monsey, NY - Construction Halted at Synagogue Project

Monsey, NY - Ramapo halted construction this week outside of a home for adults, where a building permit was revoked more than a year ago.
The New Monsey Park Home for Adults was issued a building permit on April 12, 2005, to construct a synagogue in an area that had held an indoor swimming pool, but that was revoked on Aug. 30, 2005, according to town records.

Deputy Building Inspector Steve Conlee said the "stop work" order did not pertain to the synagogue, but rather to landscaping and paving that was being done around it.
Fencing was permitted to remain for safety reasons, he said, "and that was all they were supposed to do without a revised site plan and the owner's approval."
The owner of the property at 15 Monsey Blvd., Abraham Rubenfeld, wrote to the town on Aug. 29, 2005, to complain about the construction. "My permission, as owner, has not been given to Israel Orzel, who is merely leasing our property at (the) Monsey Park Hotel," Rubenfeld wrote. "He has no right to obtain a building permit. Please revoke the building permit immediately."
First Deputy Town Attorney Alan Berman said "It was brought to our attention that the owner hadn't given his approval," Conlee recalled. There was also no documentation in the town's file that Rubenfeld had ever given his permission for the construction work, although the town customarily requires an owner's approval before issuing a building permit.
Berman and Conlee thought the synagogue was not completed, and there was also no record, such as a certificate of occupancy, in the town's file. But a sign seen attached to the fence in front of the building appeared to direct passersby to a synagogue inside.

In letters to the former building inspector, Orzel wrote, that he saw no reason why a permit should not be issued. The pool area had been unused except for storage, Orzel wrote, and its new use as synagogue and meeting area "will improve our facility in a very positive fashion." He wrote that "we also hope to attract community involvement in the way of programs, lectures and religious activities."
Town Attorney Michael Klein said the adult home operator was prosecuted this year on charges of construction without a permit, inadequate fire sprinkler system maintenance, and the improper change of use of part of the facility to a synagogue. Justice Sam Colman dismissed the change-of-use charge; the sprinkler violation was corrected; and a $2,000 fine was paid for building without a permit, Klein said.

Israel +Government Frees Palestinian Deputy Prime Minister+

Israel - The government has freed the Palestinian deputy prime minister arrested last month in a crackdown on the group.

Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY - Splintering of Satmar Community Leads to a Miracle Synagogue

Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY -The synagogue is not the grandest, sturdiest, or largest in the city, but it certainly rose faster than any other. With around-the-clock crews of paid laborers and volunteers often working in violation of an accident-related stop-work order - pausing for the Sabbath and not for anything else - the newest synagogue in Williamsburg was erected in just more than two weeks.
"People over here call this a miracle," a developer and self-identified community leader of Satmar Jewry, Moishe Indig, said. "All in 14 working days from when we started to dig a foundation. Fourteen days later we prayed." Others estimate the time of construction to be about three weeks of work.

Plans for the synagogue, located on Kent Avenue and Hooper Street, were made, Mr. Indig said, after a state court decided it was beyond its authority to settle an internal Satmar dispute that had divided the community.
The followers of one rabbi, Aaron Teitelbaum, used to celebrating the High Holidays beneath a large tent, decided it was time to build a synagogue, and they did so. Work crews putting in 18 hours or more each day, although the city's Department of Buildings early on responded to two reports of unsafe working conditions, a stop-work order did not come until after a worker fell from a metal structure.
The worker, who was rushed to a hospital, fell from a height of about 20 feet, a source said. A spokeswoman for the Department of Buildings, Jennifer Givner, said she did not know the status of the worker and could not confirm whether he was alive or dead. The Department of Building's computerized records say the no-work order remains in effect.
But work did not end until midday last Friday. With the Rosh HaShanah holiday and the Shabbas soon to arrive, the workmen finished what they could and turned over the synagogue to its congregation, with out the final touches. The floor was concrete. Behind the spot where Rabbi Aaron was to stand, marble had been applied to only a section of the wall. Still, it was a synagogue.

After a weekend of services, a small work crew arrived Tuesday to lay down a wooden floor over the concrete, with Simchat Torah, less than a month away, the wooden floor would serve more than decorative purpose. "It would be very hard for the Rabbi Aaron to dance, for a couple of hours, on concrete," Mr. Indig said.

Fort Myers, FL - Memorial Service for Six-Year-Old Murder Victim

Fort Myers, FL - More than 100 friends and family members gathered to say a final goodbye at the memorial service of 6-year-old Coralrose Fullwood. Her body was found at a construction site near her North Port home, and police say she was murdered and no arrests have been made in the case yet.

Everyone tried to put the pain and drama of the past seven days behind them at the memorial service and remember the little girl.
Rabbi Yitchok Minkowicz presided over the service and says it's one of the toughest he has ever been a part of. "I don't think anyone can rationalize it. I don't think anyone can feel comfortable or good about it," said Rabbi Minkowicz.
This crime touched many in the community. In fact, one of the investigators from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement even came to pay his respects.
Rabbi Minkowicz says the family is still struggling to deal with Coralrose's death. "The family is taking it very hard." "If the world was more of a godly place, things like this wouldn't happen," said Rabbi Minkowicz.

The memorial service was closed to the public.
Coralrose was only partially buried Monday because of flooding issues at the Fort Myers City Cemetery. No date has been set yet for final burial.
Police say the investigation into who killed the 6-year-old continues around the clock.

Vestal, NY - Binghamton University Condemns Racist Graffiti

Vestal, NY - The president of Binghamton University says campus police are looking for suspects responsible for several incidents of "hateful messages" and graffiti.
Lois DeFleur issued a letter to students, calling the incidents "very serious."University police chief John Schwartz says his officers are collecting evidence and seeking witnesses in the incidents, which happened in a residence hall. The messages included swastikas and racially-offensive words.

A residential director says the graffiti incidents have caused some students to be fearful. She says the incidents may give the impression that the campus "isn't as welcoming" as some of the students had believed.

West Nyack, NY +NYS Thruway Closed+

West Nyack, NY +NYS Thruway Closed+ Due to a serious multiple vehicle accident with entrapment including two tractor trailers on the southbound of the New York State Thruway approaching Exit 12 at M/M 19.8, NY State Police have shut down all southbound lanes.

Aided in some vehicles are heavily trapped, and a large fuel spill is on the roadway, Fire Department requested on a rush, also requested are the Rockland County HazMat Team.

Expect major delays.

Baltimore, MD +Major Power Outage+

Baltimore, MD +Major Power Outage+ Numerous calls to 911 of power outages in the Upper Park Heights area of Baltimore, MD, on Fallstaff, Clarks and Park Heights Avenue, NWCP, BGE and Fire Department are all on the streets.

Nwcp is extending their patrols due to the outage.

Woodmere, NY +Serious MVA+

Nassau County, Woodmere, NY +Serious MVA+ A serious motor vehicle accident with injuries on Peninsula Blvd and Church Avenue, Hatzolah BLS on the scene requestin two ambulances and medics to respond in, some lanes are blocked off in the area.

Geneva - U.N. Says Gaza a Prison for Palestinians

Geneva - Israel has turned the Gaza Strip into a prison for Palestinians where life is "intolerable, appalling, tragic" and the Jewish state appears to have thrown away the key, a U.N. human rights envoy said.

U.N. special reporter on human rights in the occupied Palestinian territory John Dugard said that the suffering of the Palestinians was a test of the readiness of the international community to protect human rights.

London - Hitler Water Paintings To Be Sold At Auction

London - Watercolors and sketches attributed to Adolf Hitler are going up for sale, forcing a tiny auction house in southwest England to install multiple telephone lines to accommodate an expected crush of bidders from Canada to New Zealand.
The 21 watercolors and two sketches were found in a farmhouse in Belgium, not far from where Hitler -- then an aspiring artist -- was stationed in Flanders during World War I.

The anonymous owners of the works -- mostly landscapes -- had the paper tested to determine its age, confirmed the signature and matched landmarks in the paintings to sites where Hitler was posted, said Chris Walton, a spokesman for Jefferys Auctioneers at Lostwithiel in Cornwall.  
Still, it is impossible to say with certainty whether Hitler painted them. The experts who authenticated them in the 1980s are now dead. Even so, the works could sell for up to $8,000 apiece, Walton said.

Moscow, Russia - Lawyers for Synagogue Attacker Seeking Appeal on Jail-Term

Moscow, Russia - Lawyers acting for a Muscovite convicted of attempted racially-aggravated murder after a knife-wielding attack in a synagogue asked the Supreme Court to cut his sentence.

Earlier this month, the Moscow City Court sentenced Alexander Koptsev to 16 years in a high-security prison, and ordered he undergo compulsory psychiatric treatment after finding him guilty of stabbing nine people in January.
"We have lodged an appeal against the Moscow City Court's verdict, asking the higher court to reduce the prison sentence for our client." said Roza Saribzhanova, a member of Koptsev's defense team.
Koptsev, 20, rampaged through the synagogue on January 11, shouting anti-Semitic slurs and stabbing nine worshippers with a kitchen knife before he was wrestled to the ground. In his final statement before the court, he apologized to the victims and his families.

Members of Russia's Jewish community hailed the longer sentence for Koptsev as an indication the authorities were beginning to act on criticism from religious and rights groups, who claim the state has done little to tackle a surge in race-hate violence and xenophobia.

Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan +Passenger Jet Grazes U.S. Military Tanker Plane+

Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan - A Kyrgyz passenger jet grazed a U.S. military tanker plane while taking off from an airport near the Kyrgyz capital, setting the American aircraft ablaze. Nobody was injured.

Kyrgyz Airlines' Tu-154 passenger jet carrying 52 passengers and nine crew en route to the southern city of Osh, then to Moscow hit the U.S. aircraft standing on the tarmac of the Manas airport that also houses a U.S. military air base, said airport spokeswoman Ainura Tentieva.
The U.S. base said in a brief statement that the KC-135 tanker plane caught fire at Manas, but its crew of three got out safely and nobody was injured.

Kyrgyz authorities closed the airport for several hours, and an official investigation was under way.

Elizabeth, NJ +Dozens Decontaminated After Chemical Accident

Elizabeth, NJ - A worker dismantling a pressurized tank of an unknown chemical substance at 145 North Avenue, damaged the container, releasing a cloud of gas that sickened 90 people, all of them to be decontaminated and transpoted to area hospitals due to their exposure to the chemical explosion.
Major mobilization in place, port area closed and being evacuated.

Suffern, NY - Federal Government Sues Village for Denying Variance to Jewish Group

Suffern, NY - The federal government alleged Tuesday that the village of Suffern discriminated against a group of Orthodox Jews when it denied a zoning variance for a "Shabbos House" that made it easier to get to a hospital without violating a religious law against driving on Shabbas.

In a lawsuit filed in White Plains, the government said that in denying the variance, the Rockland County village was violating the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act of 2000. It requested an injunction against enforcement of any village laws that would burden the group's religious practice. "This lawsuit enforces Congress' determination that local zoning regulations must give way when they unlawfully burden religious exercise," U.S. Attorney Michael Garcia said.

Terry Rice, attorney for the village, said that while he had not yet seen the lawsuit, the group that requested the variance "did not claim it was a religious use." "The village had no choice but to deny" the variance, he said.
The lawsuit says that from 1988 to 2004, Bikur Cholim Inc. provided meals and lodging for Orthodox Jews on Shabbas and other holy days in a Shabbos House on the grounds of Good Samaritan Hospital in Suffern. That allowed the Jews to visit and transport patients, or be admitted or discharged themselves, without having to violate Shabbas laws against driving, using electricity and exchanging money, the lawsuit says.
In 2004, Bikur Cholim moved across the street from the hospital, into what Rice said was a newly built house in an area zoned for single-family homes. The village denied a building permit and a zoning variance that would have allowed use of the house by 14 people, the lawsuit says.

New York, NY - Housing Agency Sets Millions for Apartments

New York, NY - The New York City Housing Development Corp. approved $135 million in financing to build or preserve 11 buildings in Brooklyn, the Bronx and Queens, as part of a plan by Mayor Michael Bloomberg to boost affordable housing in the city.

Most of the $135 million will be used to renovate several apartment buildings that are either occupied, or completely abandoned.
The agency approved $20.6 million to renovate 263 apartments in three senior-citizens buildings in the Crown Heights and Williamsburg sections of Brooklyn. Another $11.2 million will be used to restore three vacant buildings, comprising 111 units, in the Morris Heights section of the Bronx.

Washington, DC - President Bush Considering November Tour of Middle East

Washington, DC - U.S. President George W. Bush is considering a tour of the Middle East.
If the president decides to visit, senior sources in Washington said it would be after mid-term elections in November.

The announcements come in the wake of concerns expressed by moderate Arab nations over the growing internal unrest in their countries, fueled in part by the rising popularity of Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
Bush has said he wants to push the Israeli-Palestinian peace process forward and that he is “serious” about supporting a diplomatic initiative to that end.

Moscow, Russia - Government Offers Iran Surface-to-Air Missiles to Protect Nuclear Facilities

Moscow, Russia - Moscow has been negotiating to sell Iran a range of anti-aircraft systems to protect its nuclear facilities, "Russia has already installed and manned SAM systems around [the] Bushehr [nuclear reactor]," a diplomatic source said. "The current talks regard an air defense umbrella that would protect all strategic sites in Iran."

In November 2005, Russia reached agreement for the sale of 29 TOR-M1 short-range anti-aircraft systems to Iran in a deal valued at more than $700 million.
Iran has also sought the strategic S-300PMU SAM system, capable of detecting and intercepting enemy aircraft at a distance of 300 km.

Oslo, Norway - Apology from Israeli Ambassador

Oslo, Norway - Israeli Ambassador Miryam Shomrat apologized for her criticism of the Royal Family,expressed on a news program.

The leader of the Jewish Community, Anne Sender had reacted strongly to the Ambassador's criticism of the Norwegian Royal Family, for failing to express solidarity with Norwegian Jews, following the shooting against the Jewish Synagogue in Oslo. "She realizes that she has gone too far. And I am very pleased for that," says Sender, who at first was furous, but is now just sorry. "The damage is done, and it is very unfortunate that the Ambassador has done what she has done. And it is certainly not on our behalf she has spoken, underlines Anne Sender."

Mexico City, Mexico +Suspicious Object Near Israeli Embassy+

Mexico City, Mexico - City police removed a "suspicious" object found near the Israeli Embassy, without providing further details.

A woman who answered the telephone at the embassy but would not identify herself said security personnel had informed her there was "a suspicious object near the embassy."
"Public Security officers dealt with it professionally and we thank them," she said.

Manhattan, NY +Pedestrian Struck+

Manhattan, NY +Pedestrian Struck+ A motor vehicle accident on Grand Street and Lewis Street with a pedestrian that was struck, Hatzolah on the scene.

Lebanon - Hizballah Moving Rockets Near Israeli Border

Lebanon - Hizballah has been transporting rockets and heavy weaponry to Palestinian camps in south Lebanon just a few miles from the Israeli border.

The office of Lebanese Prime Minister Faud Siniora sent a letter to Abbas Zakir, the PA's most senior representative in Lebanon, outlining the Hizballah weapons transfers into Palestinian camps.
A senior Lebanese official said Hizballah started building a new set of bunker systems, this time in Palestinian camps. "The Lebanese Army doesn't have the authority to patrol inside the camps," said the official. "Hizballah knows it is safe there to rebuild their war bunkers, and they began doing so with Iranian help."

Albany, NY - Hatzolah of Rockland County Applaud by Department of Emergency Medicine

Albany, NY - The Department of Emergency Medicine Albany Medical Center Hospital, has send out a letter thanking emergency respond units from the state, who helped on August 31, 2006, in the Town of Pomfret, New York when NY State Trooper Joseph Longobardo and Trooper Donald H. Baker, Jr. were shot with a high-powered rifle while conducting surveillance in connection with the investigation of the escape of Ralph “Bucky” Phillips from the Erie County Jail on April 2, 2006. 

Among the ones that were specifically thanked by the department, were Hatzolah ambulance from Rockland County, stating that "The public should feel confident that when they attend a large public gathering, whether it is indoors or outdoors, EMS professionals are present to assist with their medical needs in the same way that the dedicated law enforcement community protects us every day."

Freehold, NJ - Dwek Defense Claims He Was Under Duress

Freehold, NJ - In a twist to Solomon Dwek's real estate empire meltdown, Dwek said he will use his own "fear" as a defense to PNC Bank's claim that he defrauded it of more than $21 million - and gave millions in assets to an uncle.

In a civil court filing made public, Dwek claimed in a cryptic sentence that he did not commit fraud because he was under duress, "including duress from fear and duress produced by a moral compulsion sufficient to overcome one's will." 
The legal papers provided no elaboration. Dwek's attorney, Robert A. Weir Jr. of Red Bank, could not be reached for comment.

"It's kind of like saying the devil made me do it," said Dennis T. Kearney, PNC's attorney in the case.

Jericho , NY - Rosh Hashanah Prayers Interrupted as Worshipers Rush Out of Synagogue to Save Cars From Tow Truck

Jericho , NY - The prayers of hundreds gathered yesterday in a Jericho synagogue to observe the Rosh Hashanah holiday were interrupted by a most earthly concern - a threatening tow truck.

At the Rosh Hashanah service at the Jericho Jewish Center, Rabbi Marvin Richardson stopped the service to warn celebrants that a tow truck was at work in a shopping center lot across the street where many of their cars were parked. "There was like a gasp from everyone there," said Malka Bernstein, 47, a stockbroker from Jericho. "It was almost like a panic with so many people trying to get out to move their cars."
Bernstein and others estimated that between 100 and 200 people left the service to move their cars.

It turned out that the car towed during the service had broken down and was taken at the owner's request, said Jim Dolon, a security guard at the synagogue. "It was apparently a misunderstanding that got blown way out of proportion," he said.

The tow truck might not have caused such a stir except that the night before, three synagogue visitors who Dolon said walked home in observance of Jewish law returned yesterday morning to find their cars towed. "There should have been a certain amount of respect for people worshiping, and apparently there wasn't," he said.

Monsey, NY - State Takes Action Against Rockland Accountant

Monsey, NY - An accountant was among 77 other people throughout New York who faced disciplinary action by the state Department of Education.
Accountant Martin Goldstein was fined $5,000 and sentenced to two years of professional probation after he admitted committing professional misconduct, after he pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York to two felony counts of income tax evasion, in a case that was related to a scandal involving former Rockland Democratic Chairman Paul Adler.

Goldstein was sentenced in federal court to one year's probation, including four months of home confinement and a prohibition against working in the field of accounting or tax preparation. Goldstein agreed to the $5,000 fine and probation.

Manhattan, NY +FDR Drive Traffic Alert+

Manhattan, NY +FDR Drive Traffic Alert+ Early this morning a taxi cab going northbound on the FDR fatally struck a pedestrian, there are big delays for those headed northbound. There's bumper to bumper volume building on up the 120s down pass Gracie Mansion (in the 80s).

NYPD Highway Units for the A.I. Job.

Brooklyn, NY +Hit-and-Run Caught+

Brooklyn, NY +Hit-and-Run Caught+ PD got there man they were looking for in a hit-&-run accident in Bath Beach.

Rafael Sogomonian, 35, from Kensington, Brooklyn was busted by the NYPD after he left the scene of an accident where he crashed his vehicle in front of 1925 Bath Avenue into another vehicle injuring that other driver.
Sogomonian was caught by the cops and is being charged with obstructing government administration.

Boro Park, Brooklyn, NY +Owner Tied Up in Home Invasion+

Boro Park, Brooklyn, NY +Owner Tied Up in Home Invasion+ NYPD of 66th Pct, BP Shomrim Patrol and Hatzolah are all on the scene at 1609 54th Street and 16th Avenue for a home invasion, after a neighbor witnessed two perps wearing masks walk out of the house with large bags, he got in and found the owner tied up to a bed saying that this white perps with knifes got in from a back window and robbed him and a large amount of valuables, jewelry, and cash were taken.

Perps fled in a white Yukon NY REG# CPF 2030, after being inside the home over one hour, ESU responding, crime scene set up.

U/D: 22:21
NYPD calling for a level one mobilization.


U/D/ 09/26/06
NYPD located the vehicle unoccupied on 20th Avenue and 85th Street in Brooklyn, NY.

Queens, NY +B.Q.E. Closed+

Queens, NY +B.Q.E. Closed+ Due to a car fire at the eastbound of the Brooklyn Queens Expressway at the Long Island Expressway, all lanes are blocked.

Crown Heights, Brooklyn, NY +MVA+

Crown Heights, Brooklyn, NY +MVA+ A motor vehicle accident in the Crown Heights section of Brooklyn, NY on Rogers and Lefferts, Hatzolah responding.

Shirley, NY +Bias Crime+

Shirley, NY - Swastikas have been spray-painted on a house on Parkwood Drive in Shirley, NY, Suffolk police are investigating. Also on the scene, are the county's Hate Crime Unit.

Police received a call notifying them about the swastikas. Details were sketchy, as police could not provide any immediate details about the incident.

Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY +Child Struck+

Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY +Child Struck+ A motor vehicle accident on Lorimer Street between Lee Avenue and Marcy Avenue, Hatzolah ALS on the scene reqesting additional BLS units to respond.

U/D:
Child is conscious.

Brooklyn, NY +Trench Collapse+

Brooklyn, NY +Trench Collapse+ NYPD ESU, Hatzolah, FDNY and K-9 units are all on the scene for two workers that were trapped in a trench after a wall collapse at a construction site at 1674 East 22nd Street and Avenue "P" one aided was removed the others legs are still trapped in the rocks, with life threatening injuries.

U/D: 15:18
Both workers have been removed and are conscious.
Department of Buildings has been notified.

U.S. - Liquid Ban on Airlines being Partailly Lifted

The government is partially lifting its ban against carrying liquids and gels onto airliners, instituted after a plot to bomb jets flying into the United States was foiled.

"We now know enough to say that a total ban is no longer needed from a security point of view,'' said Kip Hawley, head of the Transportation Security Administration, at a news conference at Reagan National Airport.
He said that most liquids and gels that air travelers purchase in secure areas of airports will now be allowed on planes. He called the new procedures a "common sense'' approach that would maintain a high level of security at airports but ease conditions for passengers.

That means that after passengers go through airport security checkpoints, they can purchase liquids at airport stores and take them onto their planes. The new procedures go into effect on Tuesday, Hawley said.

Sydney, Australia - Jews Call for Hands-Free Pedestrian Traffic Lights

Sydney, Australia - Orthodox Jews in the eastern suburbs want traffic lights in their area reprogrammed so they do not have to press a button to activate the walk signal.

After gaining backing for the idea from Waverley Council the community last night won the endorsement of Woollahra Municipal Council. The councils will ask the Roads and Traffic Authority to make the change at two intersections on Old South Head Road at Bondi and Bellevue Hill.

Orthodox Jews are prohibited from using electronic means to activate the pedestrian light on the Sabbas. They are also prevented from asking others to press the buttons.
The community wants an automatic walk signal during each traffic cycle.

Jerusalem, Israel - Jews in Mea Shearim Aginst New Yshiva in Their Neighborhood

Jerusalem, The ultra-Orthodox neighborhood of Mea Shearim in Jerusalem, which protects itself from worldly, outside influences, is now protesting the opening of an Orthodox yeshiva in its midst.

Mea Shearim’s residents say the yeshiva is too close to three ultra-Orthodox schools for young women and they fear the presence of modern Orthodox Jews threatens their own traditional lifestyle. The conservative neighborhood frowns on the proximity of the students even if they are not attending the same school.
“We will not be silent until these yeshiva students leave our neighborhood,” said Rabbi Shai Stern, head of one of the girls’ schools. “We will keep on protesting against the yeshiva students with posters and banners since they are not part of our community.”

Ultra-Orthodox Jews adhere to stricte rules than the Orthodox who already maintain more stringent standards than other branches of Judaism.

Jerusalem, Israel - Man Blowing Shofar at Western Wall on Rosh HaShanah was Arrested

Jerusalem, Israel - At around 7:30 Rosh HaShanah morning, at the northern-most section of the accessible Western Wall  in an area called the Kotel HaKatan, a group of some 10 men and two women under the leadership of Eliyahu K, 20, gathered at the site, as they have done for several years on Rosh HaShanah, for early-morning prayers. and the blowing of the shofar.

Towards the second time of blowing the shofer, in the midst of the silent prayer. Policemen came in and began trying to pull away Eliyahu. However, Eliyahu was in the midst of reciting the Shmonah Esrei and he therefore did not move.
The policemen informed their supervisors by radio that he was praying and refused to move, reinforcements were soon sent - no fewer than 20 policemen. They started dragging him out, the other members of the prayer group came out and tried to prevent the policemen from taking Eliyahu away. At this point, the policemen started swinging their clubs violently; no one was hospitalized, but "it was a big brawl," with many people being dragged around and beaten while wearing their prayer-shawls and Sabbas suits.

Eliyahu was taken by foot, all the way around the Old City, past Mt. Zion and through Jaffa Gate, to the Kishle police station inside Jaffa Gate. At this point, there was no longer any violence, and Eliyahu was released after being charged with attacking a policeman, disturbing a policeman in the line of duty, and disturbing the public order.

One of the worshipers said that the police had apparently been called by an Arab woman who said the sound of the ram's horn disturbed her children.

Brooklyn, NY +Pedestrian Struck+

Brooklyn, NY +Pedestrian Struck+ A motor vehicle accident on Church Avenue and 37th Street with a pedestrian that was struck, Hatzolah responding.

Russia - Many Russians Convinced Jews Are Using Christian Childrens Blood for Ritual Purposes

Russia - On April 16,  2005, just a week before the beginning the past Jewish Passover on April 23, five children, Muslim and Christian, "disappeared" in the Russian Siberian city of Krasnoyarsk. Four weeks later  their burnt bodies were found in a sewage pit.
Now a popular Russian daily newspaper, Komsomolskaya Pravda, writes today that many Russians in the city are convinced that the children were ritually murdered by local Jews who later burnt their bodies to conceal the crime and prevent experts to find in the bodies the lack of blood which is used by Hasidic Jews for ritual purposes on Passover.
Few people in the city believe that the Jewish murderers ever come to trial and that the murders would be properly clarified by police investigaters in present-day new democratic Russia.

Vladimir Salamatov, the lawyer representing the interests  of the parents of the murdered children told the paper that 5 independent expertises confirmed the lack of red substance in human blood in all burnt bodies. "I am sure that it was a ritual murder with exsanguination", he said. 
Evgeny Kazantsev, the Head of Untraditional Religious Groups Monitoring Center, also agrees that it was a ritual murder.

A Moscow independent researcher and journalist,  Mikhail Nazarov, stresses that there is a large Jewish community in Krasnoyarsk and that the authorities do their best to conceal this ritual murder committed by the Jews. A witness reported seeing the bodies of the children thrown intact in the pit as proscribed by the Jewish ritual and then somebody burnt then to conceal ritual wounds in specific places of the bodies made for the exsanguination, Mr nazarov said.
The researcher reminded of a well-known case of the ritual murder of a 10-year-old Christian child, Andyusha Yushchinsky in Kiev in 1913. A local Jewish community activist, Beilis, was arrested and accused of the murder and later released by a court because of insufficient evidence, with a minor overweight among the jury. He says, "the murder of Andryusha Yushchinsky also took place few day before the Jewish Passover, his body was also exsanguinated and thrown off without burial",  Mr Nazarov said. "And Beilis belonged to the same Lubavichi Hasidic branch of Judaism as the present Chief Rabbi of Russia Berl Lazar,"  Mr. Nazarov added.

New City, NY - Dozens Cast Off Sins at Tashlich Ceremony

New City, NY - Camelot Lake was dotted with bits of bread and some rather contented geese yesterday afternoon as dozens gathered on its banks to observe the ancient Jewish tradition of "tashlich."

Yesterday's service was organized by Steve Gold, 52, and led by Norman Levine, 52, both of New City. Nearly 100 people attended the event. Gold's father, Auschwitz survivor Emanuel Gold, encouraged him to establish the Camelot Lake event, which is now in its eighth year, Gold said. His father believed that it was important to pass on traditions like tashlich to children to "keep that Jewishness alive," Gold said. Emanuel Gold died in 2002, but Steve Gold's mother, Ruth, 82, and aunt Gussie Rados, 90, both survivors of Auschwitz, were in attendance yesterday.
"You see that?" Gold asked, pointing to a group of youngsters standing along the lake. "All the kids — that was my father's dream."
"The people that sacrificed — in Auschwitz, in the Holocaust — they would want us to keep the tradition on," said Jared Kash, 13, Peter Kash's son.

Not all of the children at the ceremony fully understood the symbolism behind throwing the bread. "We're not getting very far with them yet," Stacey Solomon, said of her daughters, Hayley, 8, and Jayden, 5. "But it's something maybe they'll remember."

Yesterday's ceremony included a prayer read by a group of about 10 teenagers who recently celebrated their bar and bat mitzvahs, a Jewish ritual in which adolescents are ushered into adulthood.
The reading was organized by Gold's son, Griffin, 13. Griffin said he gathered the group for the prayer because "they're now adults and they're taking responsibility too."

Borough Park, Brooklyn, NY +Bicyclist Struck+

Borough Park, Brooklyn, NY +Bicyclist Struck+ A motor vehicle accident with a bicyclist that was struck on 53rd Street and 18th Avenue in the Boro Park section of Brooklyn, NY. Hatzolah on the scene.

Texas - NAACP Seeks Apology From Gubernatorial Candidate Kinky Friedman

Texas - The Texas NAACP asked independent gubernatorial candidate Kinky Friedman to apologize for using a racial slur during a 1980 act in Houston.
NAACP President Gary Bledsoe said in a letter that Friedman's remarks "invoke the worst racial stereotypes about people of color."
Friedman's campaign did not immediately return a call seeking comment. But on Thursday, Friedman said that the criticism was orchestrated by his political opponents.

Earlier this month, Friedman referred to Hurricane Katrina evacuees in Houston, most of whom are black, as "crackheads and thugs." He later criticized ethnic politicking by saying, "I don't eat tamales in the barrio, I don't eat fried chicken in the ghetto and I don't eat bagels with the Jews."
Then a interview from a year ago resurfaced in which Friedman was asked what to do about child predators. He said: "Throw them in prison and throw away the key and make them listen to a Negro talking to himself."
On Thursday, a left-leaning political Web site posted an audio clip of Friedman telling a joke at a nightclub in 1980 in which he used the n-word.
On Friday, the same Web site posted two more audio clips of Friedman telling race-related jokes, one of which included the n-word.

In the November election, Friedman is competing with Republican Gov. Rick Perry, Democrat Chris Bell, independent Carole Keeton Strayhorn and Libertarian James Werner.

Orlando, FL - Swastikas Hung Over Highways

Orlando, FL - Swastika flags were found hanging from several overpasses on the first day of Rosh Hashanah. All the flags were removed quickly.

The Orange County Sheriff's Office is trying to determine who hung the flags and if any laws were violated.
"We hope this is the aberrant acts of hatred and intolerance of really just a few," Elaine Silver of the Jewish Community Center said. "And this is something that is not acceptable to our community as a whole."
The flags were about 4 feet long and placed at locations around Orange County.

Iran - President Says: Rabbis More Critical of Zionist Regime Than Us

Iran - President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said to reporters after his 10-day visit to Senegal, Cuba, Venezuela and the UN General Assembly in New York, that he held a lengthy meeting with Jewish clerics in the US and the rabbis are criticising the Zionist regime more than the Islamic Republic of Iran, "they expressed their concerns to us over the behaviour of the Zionists," he added.

He also said that a meeting scheduled to be held in the University of Colombia was cancelled because security officials said the condition did not allow them to convene it.

Brooklyn, NY +Pipe Bomb+

Brooklyn, NY +Pipe Bomb+ NYPD of the 60th Pct are calling a level one mobilization for two possible pipe bombs that have been found on West 25th Street and Mermaid Avenus, ESU requested to the scene.