B A LT I M O R E J E W I S H H O M E . C O M
THE BALTIMORE JEWISH HOME
SEPTEMBER 16, 2021
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The Week In News lead-up to the attacks. The 16-page document is the first investigative record to be shared since U.S. President Joe Biden ordered a declassification review last week. The document provides a summary of a 2015 FBI interview with a man who had regular contacts with Saudi nationals in the U.S. and who aided terrorists Nawaf al-Hazmi and Khalid al-Mihdhar. Last month, victims’ families issued a statement saying that Biden would only be welcome at memorial events if he declassified documents. Jim Kreindler, a lawyer for victims’ relatives, said, “The findings and conclusions in this FBI investigation validate the arguments we have made in the litigation regarding the Saudi government’s responsibility for the 9/11 attacks. “This document, together with the public evidence gathered to date, provides a blueprint for how al-Qaeda operated inside the U.S. with the active, knowing support of the Saudi government.” He added, “We look forward to more transparency and releases of information from the administration that finally provide the American people the truth they have long-deserved.” The Saudi Arabian Embassy in Washington praised the declassification as something which would “end the baseless allegations against the Kingdom once and for all” and slammed the “categorically false” assumptions that Saudi Arabia was complicit in the attacks.
Former U.S. Presidents Commemorate 9/11
U.S. President Joe Biden and former U.S. Presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton stood side-by-side on Saturday at the National September 11 Memorial in New York to mark the
twentieth anniversary of the nation’s worst terror attack. The three presidents shared a moment of silence, wearing blue ribbons and placing their hands over their hearts as a procession marched through the memorial. A jet flew above the memorial site before the event began. Afterwards, the names of the victims were read out. In addition to the New York memorial site, Biden visited the Pentagon on Saturday, as well as the field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, where the fourth hijacked plane crashed. Former U.S. President George W. Bush was also at the memorial in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. Bush 43 said, “So much of our politics have become a naked appeal to anger, fear and resentment. On America’s day of trial and grief, I saw millions of people instinctively grab for a neighbor’s hand, and rally for the cause of one another. That is the America I know.” U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris spoke at the Flight 93 National Memorial, saying, “In a time of outright terror, we turned toward each other. If we do the hard work of working together as Americans, if we remain united in purpose, we will be prepared for whatever comes next.” Biden noted, “No matter how much time has passed, these commemorations bring everything painfully back as if you just got the news a few seconds ago.” Former President Trump was notably not invited to any of the major memorial ceremonies.
Arizona Divests From Ben & Jerry’s Arizona Treasurer Kimberly Yee on Thursday announced that the state will divest all public funds from Ben & Jerry’s for violating Arizona law by boycotting Israel. “Arizona law states that public state entities may not invest moneys with an entity that boycotts Israel,” Yee’s office explained. “On August 3, 2021, the Arizona Treasurer’s Office informed Unilever PLC that it was actively boycotting Israel due to the actions of Ben & Jerry’s, a subsidiary
of Unilever, announcing that it will withdraw sales from Israel. These actions would be in direct violation of Arizona statutes.” She added, “I gave Unilever PLC, the parent company of Ben & Jerry’s, an ultimatum: reverse the action of Ben & Jerry’s or divest itself of Ben & Jerry’s to come into compliance with Arizona law or face the consequences. They chose the latter. “It does not matter how much investment Unilever PLC has in Israel. With Ben & Jerry’s decision to no longer sell its product in the West Bank, the companies are in violation of the law in Arizona. Arizona will not do business with companies that are attempting to undermine Israel’s economy and blatantly disregarding Arizona’s law.” The statement emphasized, “Israel is and will continue to be a major trade partner of Arizona. As Arizona’s Chief Banking and Investment Officer, I stand with Israel, and I will not allow taxpayer dollars to go towards anti-Semitic, discriminatory efforts against Israel.” The State of Arizona’s investments in Unilever were reduced from $143 million as of June 30, 2021, to $50 million on Thursday, and will be zero by September 21, 2021, after the last investment in Unilever matures. The State Treasurer’s office has been a longtime investor in Israel Bonds since 2013, investing more than $30 million including Treasurer Yee’s increase in the bond investments to $15 million in current holdings.
Wheel of Fortune Planning the world’s best chol hamoed trip? You may have to wait a few weeks. The world’s largest observation wheel is set to open in Dubai on October 21, 2021. When Ain Dubai opens its doors, the giant ferris wheel will be more than 250 meters – 82 meters higher than the world’s current tallest ferris wheel in operation, the High Roller in Las Vegas. It also
will be twice the size of the London Eye, which towers over England’s capital city at 135 meters. Dubai sets the bar high for itself. It is home to the world’s tallest tower (the Burj Khalifa), the highest restaurant in the world, the world’s highest infinity pool, the world’s largest fountain show, the world’s fastest roller coaster, and the world’s largest indoor theme park -- talk about being a high achiever. The Ain Dubai took more than eight years to complete.
The structure used 11,200 tons of steel to build, about 33% more than the amount used to construct the Eiffel Tower. The structure’s hub and spindle weighs 1,805 tons – equivalent to four A380 airplanes – while the combined weight of the rim and the 48 passenger cabins is 7,500 ton. If the 192 spokes that hold the wheel in place, which are each made of 107 separate 9mm-thick wires, were placed together end-on-end, they would stretch from Dubai to Cairo. Want to host the party of the century? Each of the 48 cabins are designed to fit 40 people, meaning up to 1,750 people can ride Ain Dubai at any given time. Lest you think that a ride on Ain Dubai is something to brag about, the standards can be pushed even higher. There are three types of experiences on the giant ferris wheel: observation cabins (the standard option), social cabins (these are the “VIP” option and have a bar in the center of the pod) and private cabins, which can be booked out for special occasions and include the option of a private threecourse dinner over two rotations of the wheel. A standard ride is 38 minutes long. And there’s nothing “standard” about it.
