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Yehuda Lave is an author, journalist, psychologist, rabbi, spiritual teacher, and coach, with degrees in business, psychology and Jewish Law. He works with people from all walks of life and helps them in their search for greater happiness, meaning, business advice on saving money, and spiritual engagement.

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The Video below is not about December 25 but the loss of our freedoms

The Three Musketeers at the Kotel

Vaccinated in Israel-Jews are saving the World Again!

How about a little Jewish Pride!

As COVID-19 continues to wreak havoc across the globe and overturn peoples' daily lives, world leaders are holding out for the one thing that could potentially get the world back on track - a vaccine. It's probably not a surprise - Jewish doctors are at the forefront.

I feel incredibly appreciative, and I'm daring to hope. I was vaccinated on December 24, 2020

A country has set up an unprecedented nationwide vaccination operation in an instant — computer databases whirring into logistical operation, vaccination centers fitted out, staff hired and trained, millions of precious vaccine doses purchased, imported, and distributed. And all for free to all its citizens.

The process was so spectacularly smooth that I know others' experiences cannot and will not all be so untroubled. But I also know that Israel will have vaccinated something like a tenth of the populace before the end of the week if current rates are maintained, and we only started the drive, with an initial limited focus on healthcare workers, 10 days ago.

Naturally, in a nation heading into its fourth election in two years, the race between virus and vaccine — as new cases of contagion spike amid the current lockdown — is being widely viewed through a political filter, too: Will Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's starring role as both vaccine-supply negotiator-in-chief and role model First Vaccinee immunize him from election defeat in March?

For now, I'd simply like to say a thank you — to the whole chain of wise and wonderful people abroad and at home who, inside a year, managed to find a counter to COVID-19 and have now started to deliver it. I'd like to recognize my privilege in being an early recipient and appreciate how Israel's core get-it-done capacity has triumphed over all obstacles thus far. I'd like to hope the rest of humanity can follow suit as quickly and safely as possible. I'd like to wish that world leaders henceforth prioritize treatment and, crucially, R&D and preventative measures to safeguard humanity and our planet — massively reallocating resources, now that science has demonstrated its awesome capabilities when properly funded and supported.

And now time for a little Jewish Pride. The two primary companies responsible for the vaccine, are both let by Jews.

Albert Bourla, DVM, Ph.D.

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Pfizer

As Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Albert Bourla leads Pfizer in its purpose: breakthroughs that change patients' lives, with a focus on driving the scientific and commercial innovation needed to have a transformational impact on human health.

During his more than 25 years at Pfizer, Albert has built a diverse and successful career, holding a number of senior global positions across a range of markets and disciplines. Prior to taking the reins as CEO in January 2019, Albert served as Pfizer's Chief Operating Officer (COO) beginning in January 2018, responsible for overseeing the Company's commercial strategy, manufacturing, and global product development functions.

Albert is a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine and holds a Ph.D. in the Biotechnology of Reproduction from the Veterinary School of Aristotle University. In 2020, he was ranked as America's top CEO in the Pharmaceuticals sector by Institutional Investor magazine. He is on the executive committee of The Partnership for New York City, a director on multiple boards – Pfizer, Inc., The Pfizer Foundation, PhRMA, and Catalyst – and a Trustee of the United States Council for International Business. In addition, Albert is a member of the Business Roundtable and the Business Council.

Alpert is also the son of Holocaust survivors, as his parents were among the few Jews from Thessaloniki, Greece to survive the horrors perpetrated by the Nazis.

Seventy-five years after the Nazis murdered millions, Dr. Bourla is today leading the race to save millions. Pfizer is the first corporation to develop a COVID-19 vaccine, which will be distributed to countries around the world, including Israel.

The chief scientist at Moderna vaccine lab is a former IDF medic

Moderna's chief medical officer is Dr. Tal Zaks

A former IDF medic now working as Moderna's chief scientist hailed the US drug company's progress in the race for a Covid-19 vaccine.

"The overall effectiveness has been remarkable," Dr. Zaks told the broadcaster. "It's a great day."

Dr. Zaks, who studied at the Ben Gurion University of the Negev, now lives in Massachusetts in the US.

He previously spoke about the "first-rate" training he received in Israel and referred to his experience in the IDF, according to Jewish-American news website The Algemeiner.

In addition, two lesser-known Jewish Doctors are also coming through!

The first is scientist is Dr. Alexander Gintsburg, head of Moscow's state-run Gamaleya Institute. In early September, The Lancet medical journal reported that Russia's "Sputnik-V" COVID-19 vaccine produced an antibody response in all participants in early-stage trials.

Russia licensed the two-shot jab for domestic use in August, the first country to do so. Currently, a Phase 3, 40,000-strong trial of the vaccine is underway. Israel's Hadassah Medical Center, which has a branch in Skolkovo near Moscow, is in negotiations to join the trial.

The second is scientist Prof. Shmuel Shapira, head of Israel's Institute for Biological Research (IIBR). While the Defense Ministry does not publicize regular updates about the vaccine, in August, the Defense Ministry announced that IIBR would begin testing its vaccine on humans by October, after the Jewish holiday season.

The potential Israeli vaccine is based on a well-known method of vaccination, the institute said in a report released to the public. But what is new is the use of VSV – a type of virus that does not cause disease in humans. Through genetic engineering, proteins are attached to the vesicular stomatitis virus to form coronavirus "crowns" that are identified by the body as COVID-19. As a result, the body produces antibodies against it.

These four men are for now humanity's hope. If they succeed, the world will be a healthier place.

Members of the Tribe win Nobel Prizes far and above their expected percentages. First the facts. The voluminous Wikipedia entry, List of Jewish Nobel laureates, states that "as of 2017, Nobel Prizes have been awarded to 902 individuals, of whom 203 or 22.5% were Jews, although the total Jewish population comprises less than 0.2% of the world's population. This means the percentage of Jewish Nobel laureates is at least 112.5 times or 11,250% above average."

It does look like G-d decided that the Jew will have a special place in this world.

Lipstadt and Eisen sign on to roster of those who minimize the Holocaust

"Democracy denial," declare two well-known members of the American Jewish community, is equivalent to Holocaust denial.

The acrimony between never-Trumpers and pro-Trumpers has generated some fiery accusations from both sides. As a Jew who admires what President Donald Trump has done in the interest of the United States to promote peace in the Middle East and to bring security to Israel, but who is appalled by his extravagant narcissism and capriciousness, I tolerate what many regard as extreme abuse hurled in print at Trump and his supporters. Hardened by years of courtroom battles, and the charges and counter-charges made during hotly contested litigation, I calmly read aggressively expressed opinions with which I disagree. Proof is that I even continue to subscribe to The Washington Post.

But the Post published on Dec. 23 a reprehensible and revolting opinion piece that exceeds even my high tolerance level. It is called "Denying the Holocaust Threatens Democracy. So Does Denying the Election Results" by Deborah Lipstadt and Norman Eisen.

Both are names well-known to American Jewry. Lipstadt is a professor of Holocaust studies who first made a reputation more than 20 years ago when she was sued in England by a notorious Holocaust denier. After an internationally publicized trial in which, to her credit, she stood fast and presented evidence proving that he had distorted history, Lipstadt was vindicated in a 349-page decision by the British judge.

Eisen is a Harvard-trained lawyer whose expertise includes legal ethics. His mother is an Auschwitz survivor. He was a law-school classmate of former President Barack Obama, who appointed him in 2011 to be U.S. Ambassador to the Czech Republic. Eisen proudly arranged a kosher kitchen in the ambassadorial residence in Prague and is a member of an Orthodox synagogue in downtown Washington.

Touting their Jewish credentials and Holocaust expertise and experience, Lipstadt and Eisen opine that contesting the results of the presidential election parallels Holocaust denial. They graciously acknowledge that Trump is not Adolf Hitler, but claim that the comparison is correct because both Hitler and Trump "adopted the propaganda technique of the big lie" and "serve antidemocratic political ends."

"Democracy denial," they declare, is equivalent to Holocaust denial.

To say that this cheapens the memory of the 6 million who were exterminated in the Holocaust is a gross understatement. Comparing the Nazis' genocide to some criticized contemporary conduct is a sophisticated form of Holocaust denial. Milder comparisons than the Lipstadt-Eisen analogy have met universal condemnation. Even Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) had to provide an implausible gloss for an extreme statement she made in June 2019 comparing American detention camps at the Mexican border to concentration camps. I would be surprised if Lipstadt and Eisen disagreed with the criticism of a Jewish Community Relations Council that Ocasio-Cortez's statement "diminishes the evil intent of the Nazis to eradicate the Jewish people."

Does contesting a presidential election in a democratic society by resorting to the courts, to elected legislators, to the media and to the public amount to a crime against humanity on the scale of the Holocaust? As one who fled from Poland (as a 3-year-old carried by my parents) and who lost three grandparents in the Holocaust, I would not have believed that any rational human being—much less a collaboration of two distinguished Jews, one of whom has exploited her study of the Holocaust to gain international renown—could stoop so low. By publishing this rant with a blatant political bias, two otherwise renown American Jews have engaged in shameful Holocaust denial.

Nathan Lewin is a criminal-defense attorney with a Supreme Court practice who has taught at Georgetown, Harvard, University of Chicago, George Washington and Columbia law schools.

Caption: American historian Deborah Lipstadt.
Credit: YouTube.

En Efek and Nahariya two of two 121320

In the middle of our winter in December we take a Chanukah trip to the far north of Israel. Nahariya and En Efek and the Northern river of Israel Nahal Kziv

Quality of Life Index: Kfar Saba leads, Jerusalem ranked worst

Kfar Saba, Ramat Gan and Rehovot led the quality of life index of large cities, while Jerusalem, Bat Yam and Ashdod were the lowest ranked large cities.

Kfar Saba, Ramat Gan and Rehovot have the highest quality of life among large cities in Israel and the Tel Aviv district has the highest quality of life compared to other districts, according to the 2019 Quality of Life Index released by the Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) on Tuesday.

Large cities are defined as cities with populations of over 100,000 people.