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FEBRUARY 7, 2019 | The Jewish Home
Around the Community
Rav Yerucham Olshin, Rosh Yeshivah of Bais Medrash Govoha, visited Mesivta Shaarei Pruzdor this week. He gave divrei bracha and davened Mincha with the boys.
Rambam Rallies Against Abbas
T
hree days before final exams were about to end and vacation was about to begin, Rambam received a call from a well-known Jewish activist, Sander Gerber, saying, “Abbas is going to speak and be feted at the UN in 72 hours.” Mahmoud Abbas, the president of a self-proclaimed Palestinian State, was invited by a group of 135 nonaligned countries which represent 80% of the world’s population. That group voted unanimously to name Abbas as the president of their group since they recognized him as the president of the State of Palestine. The plan was to confer legitimacy upon Abbas, hailing him as a leader these 135 countries, which would pave the way for Palestinian Statehood on the world stage. Palestinian media reported this as an important step towards eventual UN recognition of the Palestinian State. Mr. Gerber and Rambam recognized the need for immediate action in response to this turn of events. Arrangements were fast-tracked, and the final exam schedule was rearranged so that the Rambam talmidim could speak out against injustice. A rally was planned for Tuesday, January 15 at 1PM, to coincide with the exact time that Abbas was scheduled to announce being proclaimed as leader of this world organization. Students arrived by the busload and soon heard from Rabbi Friedman who introduced the program by thanking the NYPD and led the stu-
Stuart Force, Taylor Force’s father, is seen in the foreground
dents in the chant of “G-d Bless America.” When word that Abbas’ motorcade had arrived, chants quickly turned into “Kick him out,” “No more pay to slay,” “Your hands are drenched in blood,” and “Stop the lies stop the hate.” After brief remarks, Rabbi Friedman introduced Mr. Stuart Force, whose son, Taylor, was brutally slain by a Palestinian terrorist in 2016. Taylor graduated West Point and served a tour of duty in both Afghanistan and Iraq. Upon completion of his service he enrolled in a master’s program at Vanderbilt University and was visiting Israel on an educational program when he was stabbed to death. His killer was shot by police, but under the Abbas administration was accorded martyr status which entitled his family to a lifetime of bonus payments for
their son’s “work.” Mr. Sander Gerber contacted Stuart and his wife, offered his heartfelt condolences, and began to work on and implement a plan to reduce and even eliminate American funding of the Palestinian Authority. With nonstop commitment they were able to pass legislation aptly named “The Taylor Force Act,” effectively cutting back on funding of the PA. Stuart spoke passionately about his son and about the fact that terrorists are being rewarded and encouraged to kill by Abbas. Bassem Eid, a noted Palestinian human rights activist, spoke next. He openly criticized Abbas for misappropriating and diverting funds from building hospitals, schools, and infrastructure to payments of “Pay to Slay.” Erin King Sweeney, Councilwom-
an from the Town of Hempstead, talked about the unique U.S./Israel relationship and criticized Abbas and the UN. Councilman Bruce Blakeman closed the program by saying, “Taylor’s spirit continues to live on and saves American lives by the legislation passed in his memory.” He thanked and lauded Mr. Eid, a Palestinian Muslim, “for his courage and speaking out against the Abbas regime.” The rally concluded with the direct message to the participants upstairs who had invited Abbas. Students chanted, “You let terror win when you let Abbas in.” The rally attracted both local and national news outlets and emphasized the value of the Jewish obligation to speak out against anti-Semitism.