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DECEMBER 30, 2021 | The Jewish Home
Held at the conclusion of the traditional shivah week of mourning for the young yeshiva student, the march began in Dimentman’s hometown of Shavei Shomron and continued to the yeshiva where he studied. It followed the exact route he had traveled with two friends on the day he was murdered by Arab terrorists as he traveled home from yeshiva. A memorial service was held at the conclusion of the march, attended by mourners as well as Knesset members and other public figures. Yigal Dilmoni, the director of the Yesha Council, spoke at the march, saying, “For the past 15 years, since the Expulsion [from Gush Katif], the yeshiva students continued to learn here. This is the status quo of this place – yeshiva students arriving here to strengthen the site, to strengthen the settlement enterprise.” He emphasized, “The government must not award a prize to terrorism. The yeshiva must be legalized. “Route 60 that leads right here – a route that has historic significance to the Jewish People – must be secured in an organized manner. We will reinforce the yeshiva of Homesh, and we call on the government to regularize the status of the community.”
Deri to Resign
Israel’s Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit on Thursday announced that MK Aryeh Deri, who chairs the Knesset’s Shas party, has signed a plea bargain admitting to two tax-related crimes. As part of the plea bargain, Deri also agreed to pay a fine of 180,000 NIS ($58,015). Following the agreement, Deri will resign from the Knesset, to be replaced by Rabbi Yossi Taib, who served as MK during Deri’s time as Interior Minister. “I thank the Master of the World that these seven years of torturous investigations have come to a close. These years have been unbearably hard for my family and myself,” Deri said. “The investigation began with a great tumult and with grave suspi-
cions raised of terrible wrongdoings – and ended, in the words of the Attorney-General, Dr. Avichai Mandelblit, with ‘not even a little mouse out of this case.’” He continued, “With regard to the disputes over taxes, I have decided to take responsibility for mistakes that were made, without any criminal intent, in order to put this matter behind me and avoid the necessity of an entire legal process.” Deri concluded, “I wish to thank my attorney, Navot Tel Tzur, for his devoted work. I will continue to focus on my work for the public interest and will lead the Shas movement with all my strength and faith.”
A 4th Shot
Prof. Jacob Lavee became the first person in Israel to receive a fourth Covid vaccine when he was jabbed on Monday at the Sheba Medical Center. “I did this with a full, full heart for two reasons — first, to protect myself,” the Israeli heart surgeon said. “And no less important, my desire to avoid transmitting the disease to our patients.” Lavee was the first of some 150 health workers at the hospital outside Tel Aviv participating in the study to get the vaccine. “I am definitely the first in Israel,” he said but noted that some immuno-compromised people had already received a fourth shot in some countries and conceded it was possible that others have illegally obtained additional vaccines. The health workers who received the fourth dose had also been among the first people to receive the third dose and had a lower level of antibodies than their coworkers. He expressed, “Do not fear the vaccine. It’s effective, it’s for the benefit of our future. Go get vaccinated.” Sheba’s Prof. Gili Regev-Yochay, a lead researcher in the experiment, said the start of the process was “an exciting moment.” “This study is expected to shed light on the additional benefit of giving a fourth dose, and lead us to un-
derstand whether and to whom it is worth giving a fourth dose,” she added. “There are many questions so it’s important to conduct this in a serious manner. It could be that we’ve reached a maximum and a fourth shot will not give much. That’s what we’re checking. In a few more days we’ll know if it’s safe and effective.” The Sheba Medical Center said that under the study, 6,000 individuals will be given a fourth shot. The study, the first of its kind in the world, is being carried out in conjunction with the Health Ministry and has been approved by the government’s senior panel on human medical trials. Last Tuesday, the Health Ministry’s expert advisory panel had already signed off on distributing a fourth dose to those over the age of 60, along with others at risk. The program was delayed as authorities noticed that with the Omicron variant people are 50% to 70% less likely to need hospitalization than those with the Delta strain.
Congresswoman Carjacked
Democratic Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon of Pennsylvania was carjacked at gunpoint last Wednesday afternoon, in broad daylight as she was walking to her car. The carjacking occurred in south Philadelphia’s largest park, following a business meeting. Two armed men demanded Scanlon’s keys. One drove off in her car; the other followed in a dark colored vehicle. Scanlon’s spokesperson, Lauren Cox, noted, “Wednesday afternoon, at around 2:45 p.m., Congresswoman Scanlon was carjacked at gunpoint in FDR Park following a meeting at that location. The Congresswoman was physically unharmed.
