Latest news with #Edelstein
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Shas spiritual leader: Edelstein should have stayed in USSR
'His [Edelstein's] soul is an abomination, he was a Prisoner of Zion and came to the land [of Israel], it is too bad he came, he should have remained there," Yosef said. Former Prisoner of Zion and current Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee chairman MK Yuli Edelstein (Likud), who is responsible for the bill proposal to regulate haredi IDF service, should have 'stayed' in the USSR, Shas spiritual leader and former Chief Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef said at a conference in Beit Shemesh on Thursday morning. Yosef's comments, a recording of which was published by Kol Berama Radio, could not be independently verified by The Jerusalem Post. In the recording, Yosef is heard saying, 'His [Edelstein's] soul is an abomination, he was a Prisoner of Zion and came to the land [of Israel], it is too bad he came, he should have remained there. He is causing trouble for yeshiva students … Edelstein and Netanyahu, all this [political] right-wing is a lie. Evil villains!' The comments came hours before Edelstein was set to meet with former Shas minister Ariel Atias and Government Secretary Yossi Fuchs at the Prime Minister's Office in Jerusalem, to continue negotiating over the content of the bill. The three met a number of times this week in an attempt to find a solution that will end what appears to be a spiraling political crisis, following haredi threats to topple the government if the bill does not advance. Members of Shas, which has publicly taken a hardline stance and demanded that the bill exempt a majority of eligible men from service, have taken a more pragmatic approach in private. The prime minister is concentrating his efforts on reaching an agreement with Shas, since even if its Ashkenazi counterpart, United Torah Judaism's seven MKs, leave the coalition, the coalition will still enjoy a 61-59 majority in the Knesset. Shas's Council of Sages will meet at the beginning of next week to decide on the party's next steps. The equivalent of UTJ's Hassidic faction, Agudat Yisrael, will meet on Thursday night for the same purpose. Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch, spiritual leader of UTJ's Lithuanian faction Degel Hatorah, said on Wednesday that he was 'close' to ordering the faction's MKs to quit the government and support a bill proposal to disperse the Knesset. The FADC's legal team has been working on formulating the text of a new bill, which will reach the committee in the coming weeks. However, this may not leave enough time for the bill proposal to pass into law by the end of the Knesset summer session in late July, in which case the current law, which requires that all eligible haredi men serve in the IDF, will continue to apply as is at least until October. In any case, if the Knesset disperses, the bill cannot proceed. The bill proposal will likely include draft quotas from the haredi sector that will increase annually, eventually reaching 50% of each graduating class, as well as sanctions on individuals who ignore draft orders. Despite the fact that the previous legal exemption expired in June 2024, a vast majority of the approximately 24,000 draft orders to haredi men since then have been ignored. The IDF has already stated that it will not meet the goal it committed to in the High Court, of 4,800 haredi draftees in the 2024-2025 draft year, which will end on June 30. Supporters have argued that the bill will lead to an immediate increase in the number of draftees and bring thousands more haredim into the army. Critics, however, have countered that there is no guarantee that even with new sanctions, those who receive orders with the new law in place will actually respect them; and that there is no legal justification to enable 50% of haredim to continue being exempt from service, while secular and religious-Zionist Israelis do not enjoy the same privilege. A recording of a conversation between Netanyahu and Rabbi Hirsch from March, which was published by Channel 13's Lior Keinan on Wednesday, revealed that the prime minister had requested to receive more time in order to ensure that the bill's legislative process remains legally sound. The prime minister also told Hirsch that removing former defense minister Yoav Gallant and former Chief of Staff Herzi Halevy from their positions served as proof that he had acted to 'remove barriers' hindering the bill.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Ultra-orthodox ultimatum pressures Netanyahu over military draft crisis
Seven weeks remain in the Knesset's summer session. Amid the crisis, the opposition plans to place bills to dissolve the Knesset on the plenary agenda for next Wednesday. The crisis surrounding the haredi (ultra-Orthodox) exemption from military service has deepened in recent days, following the expiration of the ultimatum set by haredi factions for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to advance legislation to regulate the exemption by the Shavuot holiday. Even before the holiday, United Torah Judaism chairman MinisterYitzhak Goldknopf threatened to push for early elections. After the holiday, Degel HaTorah rabbis and Shas chairman Arye Deri announced they would back a bill to dissolve the Knesset. Seven weeks remain in the Knesset's summer session. Amid the crisis, the opposition plans to place bills to dissolve the Knesset on the plenary agenda for next Wednesday. If the ultra-Orthodox threat materializes, these bills could pass their preliminary reading, setting the process in motion. That effectively gives Netanyahu one week to advance the legislation and try to defuse the ultra-Orthodox opposition. Coalition sources say the chances of bridging the wide gap between the ultra-Orthodox factions' demands for an exemption law and the demands from Likud and Religious Zionist MKs—led by Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee chairman Yuli Edelstein—are low. Nonetheless, Netanyahu met with Edelstein on Wednesday evening. After the meeting, the Prime Minister's Office released a statement saying, 'There is a way to bridge the gaps.' Netanyahu is expected to hold another meeting Thursday with Edelstein and representatives of the ultra-Orthodox factions to address the issue and try to resolve the crisis. One option reportedly being considered by Netanyahu's circle is to dismiss Edelstein, whom the ultra-Orthodox factions view as the main obstacle, and appoint another chairman of the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee. At best, this would buy time. Removing Edelstein might speed up the drafting of the bill in a way that favors the ultra-Orthodox, but it would not solve the challenge of securing a coalition majority to pass the bill in the committee or plenary. Likud and Religious Zionist MKs face pressure from reservist organizations and serving soldiers to pass a more robust draft law. It is worth recalling that last November, Netanyahu fired then-defense ministerYoav Gallant, partly at the request of the ultra-Orthodox factions, who believed Gallant was blocking the exemption law. However, replacing him with Israel Katz did not advance or resolve the crisis. If Netanyahu fails to resolve the issue by Wednesday, the bill to dissolve the Knesset will come up for a preliminary vote next week. If all the ultra-Orthodox factions support it, the opposition would have a majority. But like any bill, it would need to pass three additional readings, a process that could take days or weeks, and Netanyahu ultimately controls the pace. The legislative agenda is set by Likud via Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana and Knesset House Committee chairman Ofir Katz, allowing Netanyahu to delay or accelerate the process. If the bill passes all four readings by the end of the session, elections would be set for at least 90 days later, likely in late October. However, Netanyahu's associates say his goal is to stretch the seven weeks remaining in the summer session until the recess, giving the government nearly three more months of stability before the winter session begins at the end of October, only then dissolving the Knesset. That means that even if the bill to dissolve the Knesset passes its preliminary and first reading, Netanyahu could still strike a deal with the ultra-Orthodox factions, complete the legislation, and dissolve the Knesset at the start of the next session. In that scenario, elections would likely take place in early 2026. Coalition sources believe the next session will likely be the government's last, as the next budget must pass by March 2026. In an election year atmosphere, no one would want to approve a budget involving tax hikes and economic austerity. If the government fails to pass the budget on time, the Knesset would automatically dissolve, with elections taking place in the summer of 2026, months ahead of the scheduled date in October 2026.
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Mental health crisis continues to grow, responders call for more resources
ALTOONA, Pa. (WTAJ) — Last May alone the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline exceeded a half million calls and texts. Monthly call volumes in every state have also increased over the past year. UPMC Altoona's mobile crisis unit responded to some of those calls locally but they said their resources may not be enough to address the growing mental health crisis in our communities. Rates of mental illness, substance use disorder and suicide attempts are all on the rise, nationwide and in Central Pennsylvania. Despite a growing need for mental health services, there's a rapid declining in the number of resources available to help, putting a strain on those that are left. 'A lot of agencies are overbooked. You know, they're filled so it's hard to get into places so that is definitely a struggle,' said Trisha Ruggiero, Program Manager at UPMC Western Behavioral Altoona Crisis Services. Ruggiero said Blair County is in substantial need of more agencies to help people before they ever find themselves in crisis. She said that many people in the area are on medical assistance and that many therapists will not take their insurance, creating additional need for therapists who will see patients with limited resources. 'Compassion and empathy,' St. Marys students create suicide prevention coin The decline in the number of treatment options means many people are being forced to suffer longer before getting help. 'Because the system is so strained, we definitely are seeing a lot more people engaging in the crisis system. We're kind of a stopgap,' said Michael Edelstein, Manager of Clinical Services at UPMC. 'So where people might have been, we had opportunities to engage with outpatient treatment or, you know, different residential programs, things like that, you know, we're seeing them at our doorsteps are getting those calls.' Edelstein said we're seeing the greatest lack of resources available for children and older Americans. But he also said there's a huge need for providers able to address substance use as drugs are a major contributor to growing mental health challenges. 'It was always a concern to run into someone with a substance challenge in our field. Now it's not uncommon for some of our teams to really be reviving people using that naloxone because the substance challenges are so pervasive,' Edelstein said. Rising rates of homelessness make both mental health concerns and substance abuse issues more difficult to address long–term, which is why Altoona Crisis Services has adapted to bring help to the patient through their 24/7 mobile team. Ruggiero said they are able to go out into the community and talk with someone in crisis where they are rather than bring them to the hospital, which can be intimidating or upsetting for some. The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is always available to call if you're in need of help. But Ruggiero said calling 911 is also an option as Altoona Crisis Services partners with EMS services and will respond to calls placed to 911 as well. Altoona Crisis can be reached directly by calling 814-889-2141. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
17-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
New spark for Jesse's Embers! Favorite Des Moines restaurant sells to young buyer
DES MOINES, Iowa — When Jesse's Embers started serving food in 1963, it was all about change. It had been a 'key club' in the days before it was legal to serve alcohol in a restaurant. Patrons brought in their own liquor, Embers sold them the tonic or soda mixer, and then the drink could be enjoyed inside. When the law changed, owner Jesse Roush jumped at the chance, and turned the Embers into a full-service restaurant. Customers loved his food, but they also loved the suddenly-mixer-free libations he could put on the menu. Among the favorites was the 'Silver Bullet.' 'Double shot of vodka, on the rocks, with a lemon twist,' Roush told WHO 13 in 2013, 'and I had seven bar stools and 15 tables in this restaurant and I had to have two bartenders at noon to keep up.' Sixty-two years later, the place is ready for more change. Owners Marty Scarpino and Deena Edelstein, who took over for Roush, have decided it's their time to step aside, too. The life of a restaurant owner is never easy, but the past five years have been especially tough, here. 'The pandemic was really rough,' Edelstein says. 'We lost our whole lunchtime staff.' While lunches still haven't returned, a far bigger blow came last December when beloved cook, Lanny Sharpe, died of a sudden heart attack at 58. Known to laugh and talk with diners as he worked, Sharpe enjoyed a sort of celebrity status in the restaurant. But it was Sharpe's ability to single-handedly work the Ember's iconic grill that made him invaluable to his bosses. 'He would have probably 20 steaks on that grill and he knew how every single one needed to be cooked,' Edelstein says. 'And he did it all by himself.' ISU students react to proposed tuition price hike 'He didn't want any help,' Scarpino adds. 'He knew what order went on what plate, and he always showed up for work.' Sharpe's loss took the wind out of place. 'He died on a Thursday and we just closed,' Scarpino says. 'We didn't open back up until the following Wednesday.' Scarpino and Edelstein agree that Sharpe's death made them realize it was time for a change. 'We're tired,' she says. 'Marty's tired, I'm tired. It's time for us to step away and enjoy life.' When they listed Jesse's Embers for sale in January, it sent shockwaves through the Des Moines restaurant scene. One of those waves reached 28-year-old Carter Annett. 'My dad was at a Drake basketball game when he heard the news,' says Annett, who's worked in the restaurant business since his youth. 'I couldn't believe it. It's been a long time since a place like this has been for sale. It just felt stupid not to jump at the chance.' Despite his age, Annett appealed to Scarpino and Edelstein. 'We wanted someone young who wanted to be here every day,' says Edelstein. 'We didn't want someone who was going to just hire a manager. We liked Carter right away.' 'I told him if he wanted to run this place, he needed to wear a tie,' Scarpino adds with a wink. 'He said 'I've never worn a tie at work.' And I told him 'Well, you want to work down here, you need to wear a tie.' So he's gonna wear a tie and greet people.' Edelstein says they also wanted the new owner to preserve the menu and décor. Once again, Annett said all the right things. 'As far as the menu goes, nothing's changing,' he says, 'I'm not changing any of the vendors, either. The food stays the same. I don't want to make people who've been coming here for 40 years mad. It'd be a sin.' Outside the food, there will be a few changes. 'Internet is coming,' Annett laughs. 'And we're going to add an operating system so it'll be like computers and terminals and two or three hand-helds. Just easier for the customer to do, easier for my people here.' Annett says he also plans to bring back lunch service at some point soon. Metro News: 'Hope cannot be forgotten': Iowa inmates to get cold case playing cards with 52 unsolved cases New spark for Jesse's Embers! Favorite Des Moines restaurant sells to young buyer Grimes switching to on-demand transportation with HIRTA Thousands of Iowa students learn about skilled trades careers Dino-mite experience coming to Blank Park Zoo Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
18-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Appeals court blocks Ohio's ban on gender-affirming care for minors
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Ohio's ban on gender-affirming care for minors is unconstitutional and must be permanently blocked from being enforced, a three-judge panel of appellate judges ruled Tuesday. The law also banned trans women and girls from participating in female sports. The state attorney general vowed an immediate appeal. The 10th District Court of Appeals reversed the decision last summer to allow the law to go into effect after a judge found it 'reasonably limits parents' rights.' The law bans counseling, gender-affirming surgery and hormone therapy for minors, unless they are already receiving such therapies and a doctor deems it risky to stop. The litigation was filed by the American Civil Liberties Union, ACLU of Ohio and the global law firm Goodwin, who argued the law not only denies health care to transgender children and teens, but specifically discriminates against them accessing it. Edelstein agreed and cited a number of flaws in the lower court's reasoning. She said that the Ohio law does not outlaw identical drugs when they're used for other reasons, only when they're used for gender transitioning, which makes it discriminatory. She also said that a prescription ban is not a reasonable exercise of the state's police power when it is weighed against the rights of parents to care for their children. Addressing proponents' arguments that minors are not in a position to understand the long-term impacts such procedures could have on their lives, the judge said that, while they may not be, their parents are. 'Thus, in considering whether the H.B. 68 ban is reasonable, it is necessary to keep in mind that the law recognizes the maturity, experience, and capacity of parents to make difficult judgments and act in their children's best interest,' she wrote. The ACLU called the ruling 'historic.' "This win restores the right of trans youth in Ohio to choose vitally important health care, with the support of their families and physicians," Freda Levenson, legal director of the ACLU of Ohio, said in a statement. 'We are gratified by the Court's decision, which soundly rejects this interference of politicians with Ohioans' bodily autonomy.' Tuesday's ruling marked the second blow for the legislation. Republican Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine vetoed the law in December 2023, after touring the state to visit children's hospitals and talking to families of children with gender dysphoria. He cast his action as thoughtful, limited and 'pro-life' — citing the suicide risks associated with minors who don't get proper treatment for gender dysphoria. DeWine simultaneously announced plans to move to administratively ban gender-affirming surgeries until a person is 18, and to position the state to better regulate and track gender-affirming treatments in both children and adults. He hoped the move would allay concerns of fellow Republicans at the Ohio Statehouse, but the administration swiftly backed off that plan after transgender adults raised serious concerns about how state regulations could impact their lives and health. Ohio lawmakers stood their ground on the bill, easily overriding his veto — making Ohio the 23rd state to ban gender-affirming health care for trans youth. Republican Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost, a candidate to succeed DeWine next year, quickly released a statement saying that he will appeal Tuesday's ruling. 'This is a no-brainer – we are appealing that decision and will seek an immediate stay," he said. 'There is no way I'll stop fighting to protect these unprotected children.' Levenson acknowledged Tuesday that it's likely not the end of the legal dispute, but said her organization remained 'fervently committed' to preventing the bill from ever taking effect again.
