Contrary to circulating rumors, the esteemed linguist and political analyst Noam Chomsky is very much alive. This clarification comes directly from Chomsky's wife, Valeria Wasserman Chomsky, who categorically refuted reports of her husband's demise when contacted by The Associated Press (AP) news agency. "No, it is false," she stated.

Last week, the AP reported that the 95-year-old Chomsky was undergoing treatment in Brazil, where he has been recovering from a stroke suffered a year earlier. However, the Beneficencia Portuguesa hospital in Sao Paulo has now confirmed that Chomsky was discharged on Tuesday to continue his convalescence at home.

The unfounded rumors of Chomsky's passing gained significant traction on Tuesday, with his name becoming a trending topic on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter). Several publications, including Jacobin and The New Statesman, had initially published obituaries honoring Chomsky's life and legacy. While Jacobin later amended its headline to "Let's Celebrate Noam Chomsky," The New Statesman ultimately removed the piece by former Greek finance minister Yanis Varoufakis from their website. Brazilian news outlet Diario do Centro do Mundo also retracted its report on Chomsky's alleged death and issued a correction.

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The Civil Service Commission recently conducted an investigation against officials in the Chief Rabbinate for allegedly improperly adding foreign rabbinical courts to the list of recognized conversion bodies, putting the status of the converts in doubt.

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The Investigations Department of the Civil Service Commission investigated senior rabbinate officials on suspicion that they acted in their official capacity to benefit an associate of a member of the Chief Rabbinate Council. 

The suspicion is that a private rabbinical court abroad belonging to that associate was added to the list of recognized conversion courts illegally. Additionally, it was investigated whether the director general of the rabbinate defied the legal counsel of the Chief Rabbinate after it instructed that this court be removed from the list.

A senior prosecutor from the High Court of Justice Department in the State Attorney's Office testified in the commission's investigation, saying: "Political elements exerted pressure and tried to take advantage of me." 

It is unclear what will become of those who converted in those courts since the State of Israel effectively recognized their conversions before suspicions were raised that they were potentially acting without proper vetting. The affair was exposed following monitoring by the ITIM organization, which filed a petition to the High Court on the matter.

The State of Israel recognizes conversions performed by rabbinical courts abroad only if the court was approved by a committee in the Chief Rabbinate of Israel and meets extremely stringent measures. Converts turn to the state after converting abroad if they wish to immigrate to Israel under the Law of Return, or if they want the state to recognize their marriages.

Generally, converts prefer to turn to a court recognized by the State of Israel, and state recognition of rabbinical courts is considered a prestigious status symbol in Jewish communities abroad. State recognition also has financial implications for the court, which operates as a private business.

In 2021, the former Minister for Religious Services, Matan Kahana, appointed the Chief Rabbinate's legal advisor as acting director general, leaving the legal advisor position vacant. The legal advisor serves as the "gatekeeper" at the rabbinate, including on the committee responsible for recognizing rabbinical courts abroad.

Civil Service Commission said the following in a statement: "An investigation file was opened against the director general of the Chief Rabbinate of Israel, during which the Disciplinary Investigations Department conducted many investigative actions. This included taking testimony from relevant parties and questioning suspects in the case, including the director general. As is customary, at the end of the investigation, the case was transferred to for review."

The Chief Rabbinate of Israel said the following in a statement: "The actions of the Rabbinical Courts recognition committee were carried out lawfully and met all required standards. The petition filed lacks any factual basis, and its hollowness speaks for itself. The Sephardi Chief rabbi (Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef) is not a member of the committee, and has no special connection to the approved courts, except for a general acquaintance by virtue of his position."

Unlike the commission's response, the rabbinate stated that "The director general was not investigated, but rather summoned to testify."

Atty. Ela Sakat, Head of Itim's Legal Department: "It is frustrating and infuriating to see how the Chief Rabbinate exploits the power and authority granted to it by the State of Israel in order to provide benefits to associates, without having to meet any of the rules that the Rabbinate itself established. It seems rules only need to apply to those who are not close to the trough.

"It is not enough for the Rabbinate to conduct itself this way within the country's borders, but they are also working to export the same conduct to Jewish communities abroad and the rabbinical courts located there. The recently filed High Court petition seeks to put an end to this."

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A new Claims Conference demographic report on Holocaust survivors around the world shows that there are currently only about 245,000 Holocaust survivors alive. According to the first-of-its-kind report, they are dispersed into more than 90 countries around the world, with 49% residing in Israel.

The report, published ahead of International Holocaust Remembrance Day this coming Saturday and described by the organization as an 'unprecedented demographic report', breaks down the various locations they are in, as well as their countries of origin, needs, demographic data, and more.

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"The largest number of survivors – 119,300, representing nearly half (49%) of all survivors worldwide – reside in Israel. This figure is less than the 147,199 reported by the State of Israel's Holocaust Survivors' Rights Authority on Holocaust Remembrance Day 2023,4 which included both Holocaust survivors as well as those whom Israel recognizes as victims of antisemitic persecutions during the war," the report notes. Some 44,200 are in North America (including 38,400 in the US) and about 2,500 in Australia.

In Western Europe, the report shows, there are 48,200 Holocaust survivors, including 21,900 in France and 14,200 in Germany. In Central European countries, there are some 6,100. In the former Soviet Union, there are  28,900 Holocaust survivors – 18,200 in Russia, 7,400 in Ukraine, and 2,100 in Belarus.

The report also shows the median age of Holocaust survivors today is 86, ranging between 77 to over 100 years old (the oldest was born in 1910). It also shows that 95%  were children during the Holocaust. Women make up the majority among Holocaust survivors (61%).

As a result of the Claims Conference's successful negotiations with the German government over the years, nearly 40% of survivors receive monthly payments while the rest are eligible for one-time or annual payments. Since 1951, the Claims Conference has secured over $90 billion in indemnification for Jewish survivors of the Holocaust for suffering and losses resulting from persecution by the Nazis, including through one-time payments and – for those most in need – life-sustaining services, such as home care, medicine, hot meals, and friendly support networks, the Claims Conference said. "The Claims Conference administers several compensation funds that provide direct payments to survivors globally and issues grants to over 300 social service agencies worldwide that provide welfare services and help address the needs of the aging, vulnerable population of survivors," it added.

About 20% of Holocaust survivors are over 90 years old and require social assistance. Some 40% of survivors are receiving or received in the past year social welfare services provided by over 300 agencies that receive grants administered by the Claims Conference.

According to the Claims Conference Executive Vice President Greg Schneider, The numbers in this report are interesting, but it is also important to look past the numbers to see the individuals they represent. These are Jews who were born into a world that wanted to see them murdered. They endured the atrocities of the Holocaust in their youth and were forced to rebuild an entire life out of the ashes of the camps and ghettos that ended their families and communities. The data forces us to accept the reality that Holocaust survivors won't be with us forever, indeed, we have already lost most survivors."

The president of the organization, Gideon Taylor added,  "The data we have amassed, not only tells us how many and where survivors are, it clearly indicates that most survivors are at a period of life where their need for care and services is growing. Now is the time to double down on our attention on this waning population. Now is when they need us the most."

Dani Dayan, the Chairman of Yad Vashem, the World Holocaust Remembrance Center, said, "I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to the Claims Conference for compiling this crucial report about Holocaust survivors today. This demographic study is a warning to me, highlighting the current demographic state of Holocaust survivors globally. It underlines the urgency of our work to continue gathering and researching the testimonies and names of these remarkable individuals before the survivor generation disappears. May their presence continue to strengthen our resolve to shape a better future."

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Elon Musk, who has been accused of allowing antisemitic messages on his social media platform, X, visited the site of the Auschwitz-Birkenau death camp on Monday, saying afterward that the tragedy of the Holocaust "hits you much more in the heart when you see it in person."

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Musk toured the most notorious extermination camp established by Nazi Germany during World War II before attending a conference on antisemitism organized by the European Jewish Association in the nearby Polish city of Krakow. He admitted to having been "naïve" about the extent of antisemitism until recently, saying that is because most of his friends are Jewish and he has had little contact with it in his own life.

"In the circles that I move, I see almost no antisemitism," Musk said at the conference in a discussion with conservative podcaster Ben Shapiro of the Daily Wire. "And, you know, there's this old joke 'I've got like this one Jewish friend.' No, I have like two-thirds of my friends are Jewish. I have twice as many Jewish friends as non-Jewish friends. I'm like Jewish by association, I'm aspirationally Jewish."

He defended his X platform as a place where freedom of speech flourishes, saying that a free exchange of ideas is something that ultimately helps to correct hatred, noting that the Nazis shut down freedom of press and information. "The overarching goal for the X platform is to be the best source of truth in the world," he said. The "relentless pursuit of the truth is the goal with X and allowing people to say what they want to say, even if it's controversial, provided that it does not break the law."

The billionaire has faced accusations from the Anti-Defamation League, a prominent Jewish civil rights organization, and others of tolerating antisemitic messages on the platform, formerly known as Twitter, since purchasing it in 2022. He sparked an outcry in November, including from the White House, when he responded on X to a user who accused Jews of hating white people and professing indifference to antisemitism by posting, "You have said the actual truth." He later apologized for the comment, calling it the "dumbest" post that he's ever done.

Video: Elon Musk lights candle during visit to Auschwitz-Birkenau / Credit: Reuters

Several big brands, including Disney and IBM, stopped advertising on the platform last year after liberal advocacy group Media Matters said that their ads were appearing alongside pro-Nazi content and white nationalist posts. X has since sued Media Matters, saying the Washington-based nonprofit manufactured the report to "drive advertisers from the platform and destroy X Corp."

Musk visited the Auschwitz-Birkenau site with his 3-year-old son and others, including Shapiro and the founder and head of the European Jewish Association, Rabbi Menachem Margolin. The site, near the town of Oswiecim in southern Poland, is fenced off with barbed wire. Wooden barracks for the prisoners and the ruins of gas chambers endure as evidence of Nazi crimes. There is also a monument to the victims where remembrance ceremonies are held yearly.

"It was incredibly moving and deeply sad and tragic that humans could do this to other humans," Musk said about the visit. "I'm a student of history, so I had seen the pictures, I'd seen the videos, but ... it hits you much more in the heart when you see it in person."

Musk had been expected to make the visit on Tuesday and take part in a memorial service, together with political figures attending the EJA conference in Krakow, but showed up at the Nazi death camp on Monday instead. "Due to schedule concerns, before Elon Musk's arrival to the European Jewish Association conference, he took part in a private visit to Auschwitz-Birkenau with EJA Chairman Rabbi Menachem Margolin, Ben Shapiro, and Holocaust survivor Gidon Lev. Musk laid a wreath at the wall of death and took part in a short memorial ceremony and service by the Birkenau memorial," the EJA said in an email.

Oliver Bradley, an EJA media adviser, said the organization "challenged" Musk to come to Auschwitz during a Zoom conference on antisemitism in social media several months ago.

"Musk shrugged his shoulders at the suggestion stating that he already knew the history of the Holocaust ... as if visiting might not be an impactful experience," Bradley said. But Margolin, the EJA chairman, "successfully convinced Musk of the necessity of experiencing a place of genocide in order to even begin to truly fathom the dimension of the Holocaust," Bradley said.

X, the social media platform that Musk bought when it was known as Twitter, didn't respond to a request for comment about his trip, sending an automated message saying, "Busy now, please check back later." SpaceX, Musk's rocket company, also didn't respond to email requests for comment.

The EJA conference on the rise of antisemitism was held in Krakow before International Holocaust Remembrance Day on Jan. 27. More than 1.1 million people were murdered by the Nazis and their henchmen at Auschwitz during World War II. Most who were killed were Jews, but the victims also included Poles, Roma, Soviet prisoners of war, and others. In all, about 6 million European Jews died during the Holocaust. When the Soviets liberated the camp, they found about 7,000 survivors.

Musk said that had there been social media at the time of World War II, the Holocaust "would have been impossible to hide" and lives could have been saved.

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For Israel's milestone anniversary, the Jewish women's movement is launching a social media campaign that spotlights women who have integrally shaped Israel over the last 75 years. Momentum, a global movement that inspires Jewish women to connect with Israel and their Jewish values, has launched a year-long campaign highlighting the accomplishments and contributions of eight intrepid Jewish women to celebrate Israel'smilestone 75th anniversary.

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The social media posts on Instagram and Facebook are showcasing highly stylized illustrations of these pioneering figures, including judoka Yael Arad, the first Israeli to win an Olympic medal; noted Israeli scholar and commentator who rekindled broad interest in Bible study, Nehama Leibowitz; Israel's first and only female head of government and the first woman to lead a government in the Middle East, Golda Meir; Zionist leader and founder of Hadassah and the Women's Zionist Organization of America, Henrietta Szold; activist and prominent public figure in the movement to free Soviet Jewry, Avital Sharansky, who fought for the release of her husband Natan Sharansky; Rita, one of Israel's most iconic singers; Alice Miller; who broke the glass ceiling for women serving in the IDF as pilots, and Dr. Miriam Adelson an influential and visionary philanthropist who is one of the world's best-known supporters of Jewish causes.

The campaign illustrates how these women have been integral in shaping Israel over the last 75 years. Israeli women have changed the face of Israel. From Avital Sharansky being a key figure responsible for liberating Jews stuck behind the Iron Curtain, to Rita singing moving songs in her native Farsi that have shown the world – and even Iran –the cultural diversity of Israel, to Dr. Miriam Adelson's inspiring broad support for Israel and the Jewish community through philanthropy, to Golda Meir blazing the trail for the female political leaders who have followed her, these women are not only examples of Israel's inclusivity but are responsible for helping shape the entire country and its global impact.

Momentum will share the campaign across its social media channels as well as integrate it into its immersive in-person experiences like the Momentum Fellowship and the Momentum Yearlong Journey. During the Momentum Yearlong Journey, which begins with an eight-day trip to Israel, participants are encouraged to walk in these figures' footsteps, learn from their accomplishments and understand how they, too, can be agents of change. The organization will post about a new figure every month, with the launch taking place on Yom Haatzmaut, Israel's Independence Day.

"Despite the many obstacles women have faced over the course of history, we've continued to be trailblazers in a myriad of disciplines," said Lori Palatnik, Momentum's Founding Director. "With this campaign, we hope women will be able to recognize aspects of themselves. Each one of us has the ability to lead, guide, and contribute. We sometimes just need a little inspiration. And what better way to get that, than through women who have lived their lives based on Jewish values? We believe that a world that empowers women is beneficial to all." Also taking place this month, Momentum will kick off its 2023 immersive trips to Israel, with about 600 women from 12 countries including France, Argentina, and Spain. And, coming in May is their first-of-its-kind exclusive French trip in partnership with the Jewish Agency for Israel.

The yearlong social media campaign builds on Momentum's growing foray into the digital world. Last year it launched Yomm, the first mobile app exclusively tailored for Jewish women, in an effort to create the world's largest social network. Israel's Ministry of Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism handpicked Momentum to establish Yomm, understanding that Momentum'ssubstantial reach and diverse network of more than 20,000 Jewish women from 35 countries make the organization the ideal partner for cultivating a global Jewish sisterhood. With its undisputed expertise in profound Jewish learning experiences, Momentum is uniquely situated to expand into the digital space. Founded in 2009, Momentum's four central goals are connecting to Jewish values, engaging with Israel, taking action, and fostering unity without uniformity.

Dr. Miriam Adelson is the publisher of Israel Hayom. The Adelson family owns the company that is the primary shareholder in Israel Hayom.

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Finland's leaders strongly condemned an assault on a Jewish lawmaker who was assaulted and punched in the face Saturday while campaigning for the country's April 2 general election.

President Sauli Niinisto tweeted that Saturday's physical attack on veteran conservative politician Ben Zyskowicz, 68, was "a cowardly act" that delivered a blow to Finnish democracy.

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Zyskowicz told Finnish media that a large man who appeared to be between the ages of 30 and 40 confronted him at a metro station in Helsinki, the capital city that he represents.

The man started yelling, blaming him for Finland's decision to join NATO and hurling antisemitic insults, Zyskowicz told Finnish newspaper Helsingin Sanomat, adding that the perpetrator also threatened to kill him and to push him onto the subway tracks.

The confrontation turned into a scuffle, and Zyskowicz reported he was hit in the face and fell on the ground, suffering bruises, scratches and other minor injuries. Police later apprehended a suspect.

Zyskowicz has served in Finland's parliament, the Eduskunta, for over 40 years, and is one of the most visible representatives of Finland's Jewish community.

The lawmaker told Helsingin Sanomat he thinks his assailant's motive was political. Zyskowicz is a member of the center-right National Coalition Party, which polls predict is in position to receive the most votes in the upcoming election.

The party has advocated for Finland to seek NATO membership for over 20 years.

"Under no circumstances must physically attacking candidates become part of Finnish society, not even as an entirely marginal phenomenon," Zyskowicz told the newspaper.

Political violence is extremely rare in Finland. a nation of 5.5 million where lawmakers and government ministers regularly move around cafes, markets and shopping centers without guards while campaigning, sometimes getting around on public transportation.

Only the Finnish head of state and the prime minister are known to have bodyguards. Prime Minister Sanna Marin condemned the attack on Zyskowicz as "shocking".

"Everyone must have the right to campaign in peace, without the threat of violence. An attack on a candidate is an attack on democracy." Marin said.

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Two former members of the board of the Taglit-Birthright have recently sent a letter to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warning that the government's inaction could jeopardize the initiative.

The two – Aviad Hacohen and Yonatan Bassi – said in the letter that the project – which brings young Jews from around the world on a 10-day trip to get to know Israel free of charge – might suffer a deadly blow without the government tapping a cabinet minister to oversee it and finalize the agreements between the state and its operators. They noted that the contract with the government agencies expired at the end of 2022, putting things in limbo.

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"One cannot overestimate the importance of the project, which has often been described as the flagship initiative of the Jewish world for having brought to Israel more than 800,000 (!) young Jews from all over the world," they wrote. "For the vast majority of them, such a first encounter with the state often results in bolstering their Jewish identity, their familiarity with the history of the Jewish people and its heritage, and their ties with the state and the Jewish community."

They noted that the government's role is no trivial matter since it funds a great share of the project, potentially making the difference between its survival and collapse. "In the current state of affairs, there is a real and immediate danger to the entire initiative," they wrote. "As we all know, creating such a project requires many years of hard work; the past 25 years could be destroyed in one fell swoop." They added that even "pausing the project for a short period would create irreparable harm, not to mention possible lawsuits from providers and an indelible damage to the project's reputation – and God forbid, to Israel." The two asked in the letter that Netanyahu get personally involved in the project. "With great pain and concern, we ask that you get fully engaged on this matter by immediately tapping a cabinet minister to oversee the project and renew the agreements with the state," they concluded."

The Adelson Family Foundation has been the largest donor to Birthright-Israel. Dr. Miriam Adelson is the publisher of Israel Hayom. 

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We met just a stone's throw away from the Jerusalem Theater, in an old, but recently renovated building, which was extremely warm and inviting in view of the biting cold Jerusalem winter air outside. The instructions I received on arriving at the nearby square were crystal clear: "For the Fund for Zionist Leadership in Israel turn right, for the Israel Democracy Institute (IDI) turn left." I turned right and entered the building. This is how I began the interview with the Diaspora Affairs and Social Equality Minister Amichai Chikli.

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One month after entering office, Chikli is contending with one of the greatest challenges in the current government – the need to explain to Diaspora Jewry the government's actions, above all the judicial reform and the desire to change the "grandchild clause" in the Law of Return. The very person who epitomized rebelliousness in the previous Knesset, who opposed every single act of the "government of change", is now precisely the one charged with explaining to the Jewish world what form the State of Israel will take on in the future.

"This gives me a sense of immense responsibility, a feeling that from now on, in any sphere relating to me, I can point an accusatory finger at only one person, and that is me, of course. These are topics that I had much to say about in the past, and now it's squarely in my court," says Chikli.

Following the formation of the government, many people within Diaspora Jewry voiced significant concern with regard to what steps it was about to take, mainly in view of statements on issues of religion and state, which for the moment have been somewhat overshadowed by the judicial reform and the desire to amend the Law of Return so that grandchildren and great-grandchildren of Jews will not be able to automatically make aliyah to Israel. Chikli tells of heated meetings he has held with senior figures in the Jewish world. "I came across concern, chiefly from people who are more identified with the liberal-progressive approach. I understand their concern, but I really think that it is mainly due to a considerable amount of disinformation. A political campaign of the opposition that has crossed a red line.

"I cannot remember a single situation in which the Opposition has ever recruited forces from Diaspora Jewry against the government. This is contemptuous. Instead of enlisting their help in the fight against Iran's nuclear program, they are recruiting them to take part in a political argument between the Right and the Left. Having said that, these senior figures are no fools and quickly identify that there is 'much ado about nothing' with numerous false alarms regarding the end of democracy and a regime coup – statements that could be no further from the truth."

Q: In the past, there have been people who warned of a potential rift with Diaspora Jewry. Do you feel that such a rift exists?

"I have met with a number of important figures within Diaspora Jewry and I don't feel that there is any such rift. Some sectors are worried, but I believe that we can solve the disputes. I look at US Jewry and fully understand that one of the most important tasks is to preserve the strong bond that keeps them all together. It is an extremely complex task to keep this people together."

Q: The anger expressed by many Jews results, among others, from the attitude of certain members of the government, your colleagues, pertaining to the Western Wall Outline. Don't Reform and Conservative Jews deserve a place too at the Western Wall?

"I don't look at it from the perspective of one faction or another, but from a much broader point of view. The Western Wall Plaza should remain unchanged. There is a partition, there is room for prayer, and this is how it should remain. At the same time, there is the Ezrat Israel plaza (the non-Orthodox prayer area designated for egalitarian prayer), and this should enable a couple visiting Jerusalem with their children to come and place a note in the Wall. It doesn't have to be considered a major incident. A family should not have to split up into two halves in order to place a note in the Wall. Currently, there is no access to the Wall in the Ezrat Israel [the egalitarian section south of the main plaza] and I am in favor of regulating this issue. As far as I am concerned, the arrangement reached is in the right direction and is most appropriate."

The Diaspora affairs minister is also working towards attaining broad consensus and dialogue on another issue, currently on the agenda, which is even more of a powder keg – the "grandchild clause". Israel Hayom recently published that over the course of the last year, a record was broken in the number of new immigrants coming to Israel who are not Jews. This adds to the figures based on data from Israel's CBS (Central Bureau of Statistics), according to which more than 70% of new immigrants making aliyah to Israel under the Law of Return are not halachic Jews.

"We are in need of urgent amendments", says Chikli in an attempt to clarify his position. "An individual who is not Jewish, and whose link to Israel is via his grandfather or even his great-grandfather, should not automatically be granted citizenship. This issue is currently completely wide-open, and the State of Israel is entitled to request that an individual, who does not adhere to a Jewish way of life in any form, to undergo an orderly process to make aliyah. We are currently facing a severe problem and many people who shouldn't be entering Israel are doing so. Forty percent of them leave after receiving the economic benefits associated with making Aliyah. It is clear that somebody who has strong Jewish roots enjoys a completely different status. The State of Israel has the right to examine whether a person seeking to come and live in Israel because his grandfather was Jewish, wants to be a part of the Jewish people, and perhaps even undergo a conversion process if he is coming to live here for good or for a shorter period. The figures require us to invest a serious effort in addressing this issue. This is not a game.

"I am looking to advance this issue based on consensus as it genuinely is a complex matter. I aspire to make the requisite amendments to the grandfather clause from a national perspective but also based on dialogue and consensus. As far as I am concerned, the idea put forward by the President to convene a committee to work on these amendments is most welcome, and we shall of course ensure that representatives of Diaspora Jewry are also included on such a committee. It is important to respect them and to listen to them. I believe that an orderly process needs to be set in motion, just as you receive a visa for a number of countries so that somebody who has no direct link to Israel can make aliyah."

"What are you on about?"

While Chikli is in favor of dialogue with the Diaspora on the grandchild clause he is categorically opposed to this when it comes to the judicial reform which he fervently supports. "In 24 out of the 38 member states of the OECD, it is the political leadership that appoints the highest legal instance, and in the US the president appoints the Supreme Court judges subject to a majority in the Senate – a conservative president appoints conservative judges and vice versa. We are simply taking a further step toward what happens in the US and this redressing of the balance is occurring as a result of the change of government.

"It is impossible to detach the court from political issues, such as Judea and Samaria, religion and state, refugees, etc.; therefore, the balance must emanate from the fact that different governments appoint different judges. When you look at the current composition of the Supreme Court in Israel – it represents a rather restricted range of views from Meretz to the Blue and White party, and even so it does not even fully take in all of the positions in this part of the political spectrum. I really do not think that the judicial reform is going too far on this issue. Of all the OECD member states, only in Turkey and Greece do the judges appoint themselves.

"I have had meetings with senior Diaspora Jewry figures who have expressed concern over the "overriding clause" but the issue of the overriding clause was implemented in the Basic Law: Freedom of Occupation, by none other than former President of the Supreme Court, Aharon Barak himself. At the state level in the US, the judges themselves are selected to serve based on elections. Israel is progressing towards adopting the US model, and this is a welcome step forward. If anybody has an objection to the idea of the overriding clause, they should address their reservations to Aharon Barak."

The Diaspora minister also claims that the method of appointing the attorney general also needs to be addressed and amended. "In western states, it is simply not acceptable that the power of the Attorney General supersedes that of the ministers. The perception of the courts as the gatekeepers of democracy developed here as a supplement to the judicial reform that occurred in Israel during the 1990s, and I am happy that I have the right to put an end to this bizarre anomaly. Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara is living proof of the need for such an amendment. When serving under a left-leaning government she was as quiet as a mouse. I don't remember her uttering a sound when the Pegasus spyware scandal erupted, during the Gilboa Prison guard pimping affair, or when, on the eve of the elections, former Supreme Court Justice Menachem "Menny" Mazuz, sought to become appointed as chair of the advisory committee for the appointment of senior officials. And what a surprise, suddenly, now, when a right-wing government is formed, she magically springs to life."

Q: Yet, it is still impossible to ignore the claim that if this was a political appointee, their word would be void of any value.

"I have no problem with the fact that this does not have to be a political appointee, but it should be crystal clear that they provide purely non-binding recommendations and that it should be possible to fire a legal counsel under special circumstances. It is unacceptable that a legal counsel is not prepared to represent the minister's position. This is a situation in which you need to remove that legal counsel from their position. You don't want to represent the minister's position? Fine, then go home."

Q: There are some extremely senior individuals voicing opposition to the judicial reform, referring to it in extremely harsh terms.

"All the hysteria and talk about a regime coup and the end of democracy as we know it is utterly baseless and completely irresponsible. In complete contrast to the outgoing government, which was formed under false pretenses and by stealing people's votes, this is a legitimate government with a majority of 64 MKs and mass popular support. This clearly might spook certain people. There is an entire section of the left wing that has become hysterical and is unable to act rationally. You hear people like former Prime Minister Ehud Barak who are beginning to stutter and speak nonsense about civil unrest. Excuse me, but what are you on about?"

"Even at the time of the Oslo Accords and Israel's unilateral evacuation of the Gush Katif settlements, the senior right-wing leadership never talked in these terms. Maybe on the radical fringes of the right, but not the senior leadership. Some of the leaders of the current protest have explicitly stated that the people might well have made their choice in the ballot box, but they are wrong. They don't regard their vote as being equal to that of Biton from Beit She'an or Segal from Ofra, they regard themselves as being the lords and masters of this land. These are people who come from very specific areas within the population. It is their right and their duty to express their opinion, but it is important to note that there is a considerable degree of patronage and a lack of willingness to accept the fact that there are other voices and communities of citizens with equal rights."

The method: shaming

In early February, Chikli presented a summary report on antisemitism for 2022 highlighting a significant rise in the scope of the new antisemitism, namely anti-Zionism and anti-Israelism.

"Hand in hand with a decline in the scope of antisemitism around the world, an increase in antisemitism in the US was recorded. This week there was an incident involving a petrol bomb being thrown at a synagogue in New Jersey, and antisemitic graffiti is appearing on campuses along with swastikas. There is cause for concern. We are currently facing a very dire situation entailing genuine danger to the security and safety of Israelis and Jews in the US. The Ruderman Foundation recently conducted a survey in which it emerged that 90% of American Jews are concerned with the sharp increase in antisemitism in the United States. More than 40% experienced an antisemitic incident.

"The situation on campus is most problematic. 65 percent of the lecturers in political science and Middle East studies faculties think that Israel is an apartheid state, and a quarter of the students believe this to be true. One of the most important issues here is the need to adopt a completely different approach.

"To date, the State of Israel has been dealing with hasbara or public diplomacy, but I believe that this is an extremely feeble term. No single country in the world has a Ministry of Public Diplomacy, we don't need to explain anything. These are 'brand awareness' statements to the effect that Israel has a right to defend itself. This is obvious. So far we have been playing on our half of the pitch, and the goal should be to shift the play to the other half of the pitch.

The Diaspora minister is referring here, among others, to the special report published recently by his ministry, containing information on the deadly terrorist attack in the northern Jerusalem neighborhood of Neve Ya'akov, which was disseminated to organizations dealing with this issue and to dozens of Israeli embassies worldwide. "As far as I am concerned this is batash – a Hebrew military acronym referring to routine security activity – and this is exactly how we are going to work. We intend to publish a rating of the most antisemitic campuses in the US. Shaming for those institutions that promote antisemitic stances, where Jewish students feel uncomfortable." Among others, this new report, that was first exposed in Israel Hayom, differentiates between the Arab world and the PA (Palestinian Authority), uncovering the severe incitement being led by the PA against Israel, alongside support by the EU for entities that in practice are involved in putting forward antisemitic viewpoints.

"The PA is the most antisemitic state entity in the entire world. Some 93% of the public there adhere to antisemitic viewpoints. This is an appalling statistic. The PA is the focal point for the dissemination of the new antisemitism, namely: denial of Israel's right to exist, demonization and comparing it to the Nazi regime, accusing it of ethnic cleansing, etc. The Fatah newspaper features caricatures that would not put Der Stürmer to shame. They lead virulent incitement against the State of Israel and the Jewish people. Only Iran, perhaps, compares with the PA in terms of the intensity of its anti-Jewish hatred.

"The European Union provides a clear contribution to promoting campaigns against the State of Israel. While the official declarations opposed defining Israel as an apartheid state and support its right to self-defense, there is a dramatic disparity between them and the actual activity adopted by it. The EU finances dozens of organizations, including those that refer to Israel as an apartheid state and call on the US to put an end to its military aid to Israel. We addressed the EU with a request to understand whether these actions are conducted with its awareness, whether the decision-makers are aware of the volume of funds that are transferred to organizations of this kind.

"As far as I am concerned, the watershed on this issue is the Oslo Accords, which represent the State of Israel's most severe strategic disaster, equivalent only in terms of its severity to the surprise attack that set in motion the Yom Kippur War back in 1973. Since then, the State of Israel's position has been seriously undermined, and there are more and more voices identifying the State of Israel with apartheid and other similar bizarre claims."

"Gaining a stronger grip"

Chikli thinks that the policymakers in Israel should change the state of mind pertaining to our relations with the Palestinians. "It is about time that we address the question of the long-term alternatives, and I am not sure that the Palestinian Authority, in its current format, is relevant to the future of the region. With sufficient imagination, boldness, and dedication it is possible to find alternative options, starting with Dr. Mordechai Kedar's proposed 'Palestinian Emirates Plan', and I wouldn't take the Jordanian option off the table either."

Q: So what is the solution for Judea and Samaria? Sovereignty?

"It is the Palestinian Authority that is currently imposing sovereignty on the ground, as part of a strategic partnership bankrolled by the EU with hundreds of millions of euros, operating in Area C as if it belonged to it while trampling Israel's sovereignty there underfoot and ignoring Israel's security and national interests, as well as the State of Israel's profound historical link to these areas of its homeland.

"It is happening at Tel Aroma, a Hasmonean fortress in Samaria on the remains of which a mosque was built in memory of the 'shahidim'; on Mount Ebal, which has already been damaged and on which an entire residential neighborhood has been planned; and in numerous other locations too. During the weekly government meeting, I recommended to the prime minister that he should announce a state of emergency on the damage to sites of global heritage and to annex those areas to Area C, in order to protect historic sites that have no substitute."

Q: Having said all that, do you support imposing sovereignty throughout Judea & Samaria?

"As I see it, declarations are less important. The really important issue here is gaining a stronger grip over the territory via the settlement enterprise and expansion of the settlement blocs, alongside an all-out war on the Palestinian efforts to take over Area C, by the methodical dumping of waste into the streams, the illegal quarries, burning refuse, and the charcoal kiln pollution. There is a genuine need for urgent action to be taken."

Chikli also serves as the minister for social equality, and as such is in charge of the planning and oversight in Israel's Arab population. According to him, the problems in Judea & Samaria are the root cause of the unequivocal radicalization among the Bedouins in the Negev.

"There are more than 300,000 Bedouin living in the Negev, of which 25,000 families live in villages of unauthorized building, with no connection to the most basic infrastructure. Polygamy is rife among this population too and this often involves the spread of Palestinian nationalism as a result of Palestinian women originating from villages in Judea and Samaria marrying into Bedouin society. The majority of violent incidents that have included elements of terrorism have been carried out by the sons of women who have come into Bedouin society from the PA. Sons of Palestinian mothers tend to be involved four times more in terrorist activity than the rest of the local Bedouin population, and so the problematic issue of polygamy is at the top of the agenda.

"We need to effect a change in the financial benefits so that they are granted according to the father and not the mother, as currently importing women from the PA is a real business, as they receive national insurance, allowances, and even plots of land. There is also a phenomenon of forging divorce papers in order to define the mother as a one-parent family and thus gain relevant benefits. We need to put a stop to this, and to do so quickly."

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As Israel and the Jewish world welcome Passover this week, many are not quite sure about the precise rules governing the holiday both in terms of dietary restrictions, times of observance, and the degree to which one has to keep kosher. 

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While each person has their own way to celebrate, we at Israel Hayom would like to provide you with the latest information we have gathered, including input from Rabbi Yitzhak Dvir from the organization Kosharot, which seeks to inform people on various matters pertaining to Jewish law and kashrut.

Q: When can you start eating chametz (leavened goods) again? 

In Israel, the holiday will end on April 22, after the stars come out. This year it ends on Friday evening, meaning that no baking would be allowed if you keep Shabbat, but eating of chametz that had been sold to a non-Jew would be permitted from that point onwards. Ashkenazi Jews can also resume eating legumes. Here are the exact times: Jerusalem 7:50 p.m.; Tel Aviv: 7:52 p.m.; Haifa 7:53 p.m.; Beersheba 7:51 p.m.

Q: Can I take my medicine during the holiday?

Any drug that you are instructed to take by your doctor and any medication that is necessary to prevent danger to your health, including antibiotics or substances necessary to prepare for an important surgery are allowed. You might want to ask your doctor if there is an equivalent drug that is kosher-for-Passover and meets your condition. 

Q: If I am not sick and don't have orders from my doctor, can I still take vitamins, supplements and other forms of medication? 

If you are otherwise healthy and have no instruction to take them, then you should check whether they are kosher for Passover. 

Q: Do I need to use kosher-for-Passover cleaning detergents and disposable tableware?

The only clearing substance that you should ensure that it is indeed kosher-for-Passover is your dishwashing liquid because sometimes residues get left on the dishes.  Disposable tableware from plastic and aluminum is generally considered kosher-for-Passover, as is baking sheets, cling wrap, aluminum foil, plastic bags and paper towels. However, if you are using tablecloths and gloves, you should be aware that sometimes those that are made of nylon also contain various forms of starch powders, which in many cases is considered chametz. Likewise, tableware from cardboard could also contain chametz in rare instances. 

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American Jewish Committee (AJC) CEO David Harris will step down from his position in May 2022, after over 30 years as  head of the organization, Harris announced Thursday.

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"I was given the honor of a lifetime when AJC invited me to become the CEO in 1990, having first joined the staff in 1979. Since then, I have been blessed with the best job imaginable, including the invaluable support of so many dedicated lay leaders and talented staff colleagues. Every single day, I have been grateful beyond words for the opportunity to pursue my lifelong mission – to assist Jews in danger worldwide, support Israel's quest for peace and security, combat antisemitism, and defend democratic values against the radical right and the totalitarian left," Harris said.

"Now, after more than three decades, I believe it's time to pass the baton to a successor, as our Jewish story, I've always thought, is a kind of relay race. That will happen in May 2022, at the next AJC Global Forum in Washington, DC."

"When the successor is selected, s/he will have my full support and cooperation to ensure AJC continues to be the preeminent global Jewish advocacy organization. To that end, I will be readily available for the following year as a consultant on the transition. In these unsettling times for the Jewish people, AJC's 115 years of front-line experience, record of tangible success, unparalleled access to the halls of power, and strict nonpartisanship are as vital as ever. And for the next nearly one year, I will be devoting every ounce of intellectual, emotional, and physical energy to AJC's programmatic and institutional priorities, as I have tried to do since that first moment in 1990. What an extraordinary journey it's been!"

In a letter to AJC's leadership, AJC President Harriet P. Schleifer wrote, "For the past 31 years as CEO, David has built AJC into the leading global Jewish advocacy organization it is today. A tireless visionary and a passionate advocate for world Jewry, the State of Israel, and democratic values, David's leadership has been a gift to AJC and to the Jewish people."

Building upon Harris's extraordinary tenure, AJC's Succession Committee, led by Schleifer and AJC Honorary President John Shapiro, in conjunction with AJC's Executive Council, and supported by international executive search firm Heidrick & Struggles, is seeking a visionary leader who will set the course for the next era of Jewish advocacy.

Harris will continue to lead AJC through May 2022, following which he will stay on as consultant to the transition through June 2023.

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