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Bennett lives in his home in Ra’anana, claiming that the official Prime Minister’s Residence in Jerusalem requires renovation before his family can move there. Meanwhile, no renovations have been carried out in the ten months Bennett has been in office.

Bennett does not entertain or host official visits in Ra’anana; the food expenses for that residence are solely those of his family. Former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, meanwhile, was unable to separate his family’s food expenses from those of the official entertainments, given that he lived in the official residence.

The Channel 13 report also emphasized that the cost of renovating the Bennett home to function as his official residence – in violation of Israeli law – is also falling on the taxpayers’ shoulders.

Responding to this report, Bennett’s office insisted that his spending was much lower than that of the Netanyahu family and justified the takeout expenses by claiming that the Bennetts are saving taxpayer shekels by not hiring a full-time cook.

The statement added together the Netanyahus’ expenses at their private home in Caesarea and the official Jerusalem residence, and underlined that Bennett has not made use of much of his permitted budget.

“In the face of a machine of lies, I must present the truth,” Bennett wrote in a Facebook post criticized for focusing excessively on Netanyahu.

“There is an attempt to paint everyone as corrupt. But I am not Bibi [Netanyahu], Gilat is not Sara, my children are not Yair… The expenses of the prime ministerial residence have shrunk dramatically in my term,” he asserted. “The attempts to present me as a hedonist are laughable.”

The Likud party responded by noting that the money spent by Bennett is being spent on his private home and noted that “the law states that the official residence of the prime minister will be in Jerusalem, not Ra’anana.”

“Bennett should open his home to the public to let them see the new basement, carpentry, and redecorating that has been done with public money – something the Netanyahu family never did.”

Musk Buys Twitter for $44B

Yup. That’s billion with a B. On Monday, Twitter announced that it had agreed to be sold to billionaire Elon Musk for $44 billion.

The deal, which will take the company private, caps off a whirlwind period in which the Tesla and SpaceX CEO became one of Twitter’s largest shareholders, was offered and turned down a seat on its board, and bid to buy the company — all in less than a month.

Under the terms of the deal, shareholders will receive $54.20 in cash for each share of Twitter stock they own, matching Musk’s original offer and marking a 38% premium over the stock price the day before Musk revealed his stake in the company.

“Free speech is the bedrock of a functioning democracy, and Twitter is the digital town square where matters vital to the future of humanity are debated,” Musk said in a statement on Monday. “Twitter has tremendous potential — I look forward to working with the company and the community of users to unlock it.”

Musk has more than 83 million followers on Twitter.

Musk has repeatedly stressed in recent days that his goal is to bolster free speech on the platform and work to “unlock” Twitter’s “extraordinary potential.”

In his statement, Musk added that he wants to “make Twitter better than

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30 ever by enhancing the product with new features, making the algorithms open source to increase trust, defeating the The Jewish Home | APRIL 28, 2022 spam bots, and authenticating all humans.” Separately, he said in a tweet on Monday that he hopes “even my worst critics remain on Twitter, because that is what free speech means.” More Journalism, Less Advocacy?

Changes are a’coming. CNN this week abandoned a newly-launched streaming service, and The New York Times approached a Bostonian to lead it.

CNN+ will shut down on April 30, around one month after its $300M launch. During that month, around 100,000 users signed up. The new owner of the network, Warner Bros Discovery, decided that a subscription-based streaming was unfeasible.

CNN’s new chairman and chief executive, Chris Licht, said the decision was the result of a “uniquely bad” situation.

Last week, President and Chief Executive of CNN’s corporate parent David Zaslav reportedly said at an Oprah Winfrey-hosted company meeting that he wanted CNN to focus on facts and set itself apart from the “advocacy networks” in the industry.

“If we get that, we can have a civilized society. And without it, if it all becomes advocacy, we don’t have a civilized society,” Zaslav reportedly said.

In November, board member John Malone told CNBC, “I would like to see CNN evolve back to the kind of journalism that it started with and actually have journalists, which would be unique and refreshing.”

Meanwhile, at The New York Times, the controlling Sulzberger family tapped Joe Kahn, a former China correspondent, to be the new executive editor.

A Times insider told New York magazine, “There is a sense – and this makes a lot of people very happy – that [Kahn] is much less willing to indulge the complaining and the constant cries of activism and that he is somebody who has ex-

Arizona: Tunnel Fire Burns 21,000+ Acres

The Tunnel Fire burning across Coconino County in northern Arizona has now charred over 21,000 acres, the U.S. Forest Service reported.

The fire has been blazing for nearly a week.

According to the department, just 3% of the Tunnel Fire is considered contained.

In a Saturday news release, fire managers explained that strong winds and dry air currents from the north and northeast have made it difficult for firefighters to gain control of the fire. The crews are being repositioned.

The fire began last week on Sunday, just north of Flagstaff, Arizona. Officials have said that it destroyed at least two dozen buildings and forced the evacuation of hundreds of homes.

It is not yet clear what sparked the fire.

Meanwhile, Arizona Governor Doug Ducey on Thursday declared a state of emergency in Coconino County.

“As strong winds fuel fires across Arizona, we are doing everything we can to keep Arizonans safe,” he said, urging residents to “follow the guidance of fire officials, stay safe, and respond to any evacuation notices.”

He added, “We will continue to monitor the situation and deploy additional resources as necessary.”

On Wednesday, Patrice Horstman, chair of the Coconino County Board of Supervisors, said that 766 households and over 1,000 animals have been evacuated.

Wildfires are raging in other states as well. Half of New Mexico is facing issues relating to the 20 active wildfires burning in the state. And in Nebraska, over two dozen National Guard personnel have been activated to help fight wildfires, the Guard said.

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Court-Martial Leads to Conviction

A U.S. Air Force officer was found guilty in a military court of abusive contact. The case is the first-ever court-martial trial and conviction of a general officer in the military branch’s history, an Air Force statement said.

During the trial, Maj. Gen. William T. Cooley was found guilty of one of three specifications of assault connected to a 2018 incident in New Mexico.

Cooley had pleaded not guilty.

However, a senior military judge found him guilty of one of the counts. He was found not guilty of the two other specifications.

The victim’s attorney, Ryan Guilds,

Educators’ Fake Vax Cards

New York City’s Department of Education has placed dozens of school employees on unpaid leave for allegedly submitting falsified proof of a Covid-19 vaccine.

The employees were notified last Wednesday that their unpaid leave would begin on Monday.

A Department of Education spokesman said, “Fraudulent vaccination cards are not only illegal, they also undermine the best line of protection our schools have against Covid-19 — universal adult vaccination.

“We immediately moved to put these employees — fewer than 100 — on leave without pay.”

NYC reportedly took action following the receipt of a report from law enforcement that the employees had provided fraudulent proofs of vaccination.

But the United Federation of Teachers (UFT) claimed that the city had not done enough to verify that the proofs were actually fraudulent and that a number of members were wrongly accused of fraud.

Speaking to The New York Times, UFT lawyer Beth Norton said, “It is wholly improper for the DOE to unilaterally remove UFT members from the payroll based on mere conjecture that vaccination documentation is fraudulent.”

The city has not stated how long the unpaid leave will last. Meanwhile, investigations into the allegations are ongoing.

Thieves Target Postal Workers

Criminals across the country are increasingly targeting mail carriers.

Between 2018 and 2021, robberies of mail carriers more than tripled, and robberies involving a gun more than quadrupled, according to U.S. Postal Inspection Service data.

The number of letter carrier robberies across the country rose from 80 in 2018 to 261 in 2021. The number of armed robberies jumped from 36 in 2018 to 154 in 2021, according to the data. 2022 is set to see even higher numbers.

In a statement to NBC News, the inspection service said the surge in letter carrier robberies is likely fueled by several factors including the economic impact of the Covid crisis, the growth in USPS parcel volume amid the rise of e-commerce, and the mailing of government checks related to pandemic aid programs.

“The Postal Inspection Service is engaged on multiple fronts with various partners to combat robberies and prosecute these criminals,” the statement said.

In early March, the Postal Inspection Service released an advisory on the “significant increase of armed robberies committed against U.S. Postal Service letter carriers.”

“The primary motive behind these robberies is illegal financial gains,” the advisory said. “In the present day, with the dark web and organized crime promoting these unlawful activities, robberies and mail theft are becoming increasingly more attractive to criminals.”

Reports of mail theft have risen sharply in recent years. According to the USPS Office of Inspector General, the Postal Inspection Service received more than 299,000 mail theft complaints from March 2020 through February 2021 — an increase of 184,500 complaints (161 percent) compared to the same period the previous year.

Sen. Orrin Hatch Dies at 88

Orrin G. Hatch, the longest-serving Republican senator in history, died on Saturday at age 88.

Hatch represented Utah for over four decades.

Hatch Foundation chairman A. Scott Anderson said of Hatch that “he exemplified a generation of lawmakers brought up on the principles of comity and compromise, and he embodied those principles better than anyone. In a nation divided, Orrin Hatch helped show us a better way by forging meaningful friendships on both sides of the aisle. Today, more than ever, we would do well to follow his example.”

Though Hatch was a conservative on most issues, he partnered with Democrats multiple times during his career on various issues, including stem cell research, children’s health insurance, and rights for those with disabilities.

In 2000, Hatch sought the Republican nomination for president, saying he had more experience in Washington than his opponents and that he could work with Democrats. Hatch acknowledged that winning would be a long shot. He withdrew from the race after only winning 1 percent of the vote in the Iowa caucuses and then endorsed George W. Bush.

Toward the end of his career, Hatch became an ally of Republican President

34 Donald Trump, using his role as chairman of the powerful Senate Finance Committee to get a major rewrite of the The Jewish Home | APRIL 28, 2022 US tax codes to the president’s desk. In return, Trump helped Hatch deliver on a key issue for Republicans in Utah by agreeing to drastically downsize two national monuments that had been declared by past presidents. When Hatch announced he would not seek re-election in 2018, he said that “every good fighter knows when to hang up the gloves.” He had learned to box growing up in Pittsburgh and needing to fend off the blows of stronger and bigger kids. medical helicopter landed near the Capitol for the medical emergency.

Two streets near the Supreme Court were closed for a short time due to the incident.

Kritee Kanko, a climate scientist at the Environmental Defense Fund and a Zen Buddhist priest in Boulder, said that she was a friend of Bruce and that the self-immolation was a planned act of protest.

“This act is not suicide,” Dr. Kritee wrote on Twitter early Sunday morning. “This is a deeply fearless act of compassion to bring attention to climate crisis.”

Man Sets Himself on Fire in DC

A Colorado man who set himself on fire in front of the U.S. Supreme Court last week has died.

The 50-year-old man, a resident of Boulder, Colorado, arrived at the plaza in front of the court building at approximately 6:30p.m. Friday evening. He then set himself on fire, DC Metropolitan Police said.

Wynn Bruce was airlifted to a hospital but died of his injuries.

According to the U.S. Capitol Police, a

Second Chance Month

This week, President Joe Biden marked “Second Chance Month” by commuting the sentences of 75 people serving time for nonviolent drug offenses, issuing full pardons for three individuals who the administration says have worked toward rehabilitation, and unveiling new actions aimed at easing the transition back to normal life for the formerly incarcerated.

“America is a nation of laws and second chances, redemption, and rehabilitation. Elected officials on both sides of the aisle, faith leaders, civil rights advocates, and law enforcement leaders agree that our criminal justice system can and should reflect these core values that enable safer and stronger communities,” Biden wrote in a statement.

“During Second Chance Month, I am using my authority under the Constitution to uphold those values by pardoning and commuting the sentences of fellow Americans,” he continued.

Among those Biden pardoned is Abraham W. Bolden Sr., an 86-year-old former Secret Service agent and the first African American to serve on a presidential detail. Bolden was convicted of charges related to attempting to sell a copy of a Secret Service file. Bolden maintains he ultimately “was targeted for prosecution in retaliation for exposing unprofessional and racist behavior within the U.S. Secret Service.”

Biden also pardoned Betty Jo Bogans, 51, of Houston, and Dexter Eugene Jackson, 52, of Athens, Georgia, for nonviolent drug offenses.

“The President believes that there (are) too many people serving unduly long sentences for nonviolent drug crimes, a disproportionate number of whom are Black and brown,” an official said on Monday. “The President is also committed to using his clemency power to provide relief to individuals who are serving long sentences that they could no longer receive today, because of changes in the law, including the First Step Act, which reduced mandatory minimum sentences for certain nonviolent drug offenses.”

President Donald Trump had been the first U.S. president to observe Second Chance Month in 2018, following a bipartisan resolution from Congress. A proclamation from Trump stated that during the month of April, the United States would emphasize the need “to provide opportunities for people with criminal records to earn an honest second chance.”

The First Step Act, which marked a rare bipartisan accomplishment under Trump, allowed for early release for nonviolent offenders, eased mandatory minimum sentencing, and offered judges flexibility in sentencing.

A Texas Army National Guard soldier died when he attempted to help save drowning migrants. The body of Specialist Bishop Evans was only recovered days after he went missing during the rescue on Friday.

“SPC. Evans will forever be remembered for the bravery and compassion he showed while saving lives in the Rio Grande,” Representative Tony Gonzales wrote in a tweet. “We will make sure this young soldier’s sacrifice will never be forgotten.”

Evans was 22 years old.

He first joined the Texas National Guard in 2019, eventually serving as a field artilleryman in Arlington, serving tours in Iraq and Kuwait as part of Operation Spartan Shield. He was later assigned to border patrol in Eagle Pass in late 2020 as part of Governor Greg Abbott’s comprehensive Operation Lone Star initiative.

“We are heartbroken to learn of the death of SPC Bishop E. Evans who was reported missing in Eagle Pass on Friday,” Abbott said in a statement about Evans’ passing. “Our National Guard soldiers risk their lives every day to serve and protect others and we are eternally grateful for the way SPC Evans heroically served his state and country.”

Evans removed his body armor before jumping into the river at approximately 9:45 a.m. on Friday. Despite that precaution, he did not resurface. The effort to locate him began shortly afterward. The two migrants he was attempting to help survived and were taken into U.S. Customs and Border Protection custody.

The effort to find Evans involved search parties combing the river using boats and helicopters. The search was postponed briefly on Saturday due to river conditions, but resumed on Sunday.

The Jewish Home | APRIL 28, 2022 Flying Fail

A mid-air stunt went awry last week, resulting in a pilot parachuting to the ground and his plane drifting back to Earth.

The Red Bull stunt involved a pair of pilots attempting to skydive into each other’s aircraft mid-flight. What could go wrong? Well, apparently a lot could go wrong if you try to skydive into another plane 12,000 feet in the air above the Arizona desert.

Pilot Andy Farrington, 42, and his cousin, Luke Aikins, 48, were each piloting a Cessna prop plane in what was billed as the first midair “plane swap,” which was being livestreamed on Hulu.

One of the planes went into a flat spin after the pilots sky-dived in an attempt to jump into each other’s planes. Farrington deployed his parachute while falling 140 miles an hour; Aikins remarkably made it to Farrington’s plane and took over the controls.

The other plane that had spun out of control deployed a tail chute and drifted to the ground. Amazingly, both pilots made it back to the ground unscathed.

But the story doesn’t end there. The stunt made national news, which garnered the attention of the Federal Aviation Administration which said it is launching a full investigation into the stunt.

Supposedly, the FAA had denied Red Bull’s request for “an exemption from federal regulations that cover the safe operation of an aircraft.”

Sounds like sparks will fly.

Bear Scare

A family in California will be sleeping a little easier this week after a family of bears was evacuated from under their home.

Throughout the winter, the family had heard rumbling, snoring sounds from under their floors. Their neighbors thought they were imagining things. But as spring came, there was no denying it: bears had taken up residence under their home.

The family called in The BEAR League, a nonprofit organization that helps people live “in harmony” with bears. Members of the league came in to “un-invite” the bear from the home, only to find that they were dealing with a family of cuddly animals: a mother and four cubs. Supposedly the furry group had found a hole in the crawl space and settled in for the winter months ago.

Thankfully, The BEAR League managed to convince and Mama and her cubs to vacate the home.

Elliott Tanner is about to graduate college. But he will not be driving himself to graduation. You see, Elliott is only 13 years old, and he is set to graduate with a bachelor’s degree from the University of Minnesota in May.

Elliott has majored in physics with a minor in math. But he’s not stopping there. He has his sights set on the school’s doctoral physics program.

Elliott’s mother, Michelle, said he taught himself to read at an age when most kids are still figuring out how to tie their shoes.

“He had started reading when he was maybe 2, just 3. We said, ‘Oh, well, that’s interesting. You’re reading. We didn’t teach you to read,’” she told KSTP-TV.

Tanner started reading college-level textbooks at the age of 9, and two years

later he graduated from Normandale Community College with an associate of science degree.

“It’s amazing. It’s sort of been a crazy ride getting here, but it’s just been such a nice experience,” Elliott said.

He said he is hoping to earn his doctorate and give back to the university.

“I’m hoping to become a professor at the University of Minnesota in order to also spread this joy and passion for physics with other people,” the 13-year-old boy said.

And I’m still struggling with getting to the bus on time each morning.

Clear Cut

Would you pay for a piece of invisible art? Well, what would you pay for the receipt for a piece of invisible art? We’re guessing it’s not millions.

But this week, a receipt for a piece of “invisible art” by French artist Yves Klein surpassed expectations by selling for nearly $1.2 million at an auction.

Sotheby’s said the receipt, part of Klein’s imaginary art series Zones of Immaterial Pictorial Sensibility, had been expected to fetch up to $551,000, but surpassed expectations by fetching a top bid of $1,151,467.40.

The receipt was dated December 7, 1959, just a few years before the artist’s death in 1963.

The receipts for Klein’s artwork are rare today because Klein invited buyers to participate in a ritual that involved burning the receipt and throwing half of the gold into the Seine River in order to make the buyer the “definitive owner” of the conceptual artwork.

The receipt was originally issued to antiques dealer Jacques Kugel.

Talk about a blank canvas.

1 Million Steaks

We got no beef with Gayle Dudley, who has earned the distinction of grilling one million steaks during the 20 years she has worked at the LongHorn Steakhouse in Columbus, Georgia.

Gayle was surprised at work

LongHorn Steakhouse, which operates more than 540 restaurants nationwide, said Dudley is one of a small handful of employees to be dubbed a Grill Master Legend after cooking 1 million steaks.

The designation previously was bestowed upon Simeona “Simi” Tamaseu, a cook at the LongHorn Steakhouse in Jacksonville, Florida, in 2018.

Holy smokes!

A Feline Family

In an effort to never be separated from her pet cat, Deborah Hodge has married it.

Yup, Deborah says that it took months of emails for her current landlord to allow her to keep her cat, India, on premises. But Deborah now lost her job and may be evicted. Her future landlord may not allow pets on the property.

Finally, Deborah – who has two children – came up with an idea: if she marries India, then her future landlord will realize how important India is to the family.

And so, it went. Deborah, who is 49, married India at a civil ceremony presided over by her friend in a park in London.

Deborah wore a tux; the five-year-old cat was draped in gold lamé for the big day.

“She is fundamentally the most important thing in my life after my children,” Deborah said about her new family.

She wants to be with India together furr-ever.

The Journey to your

Ultimate Self

Expand your spiritual and intellectual horizons with this accessible and inspiring gateway into deeper Jewish wisdom.

RABBI SHMUEL REICHMAN

is an author, educator, and speaker who has lectured internationally on topics of Torah thought, Jewish medical ethics, psychology, and leadership.

He received semichah from Yeshiva University’s RIETS and is currently pursuing a PhD at the University of Chicago.

Haskamos and praise from Rabbi Asher Weiss, Rabbi Michael Rosensweig, Rabbi Zev Leff, and Rabbi Akiva Tatz.