28
DECEMBER 2, 2021 | The Jewish Home
The researchers concluded that the reason for intrauterine death was damage caused by COVID-19 to the placenta, which impeded the transfer of oxygen and other vital matter to the fetus. Commenting on the results, Prof. Barzilay said, “Research has already suggested that a woman who is sick with coronavirus is twice as likely to deliver a stillborn baby than a woman who is not sick with COVID-19.” “In our study, we attempted to find the reason for this phenomenon. What we discovered is that the coronavirus can infect the fetus and the placenta, causing substantial damage to the fabric of the placenta. It appears that this is the cause of the higher intrauterine mortality rate.”
No Public Transportation for New Visitors Israel’s Transportation Ministry on Sunday evening announced that those landing at Ben Gurion International Airport will no longer be allowed to travel by public transpor-
tation, due to concerns over the new Omicron COVID-19 variant. The Ministry added that transportation from the airport will be by private vehicle only. At the same time, long-term parking at the airport will cost 50% less, the Ministry said.
So far, Israel has identified four cases of the variant, and 34 others are suspected of carrying it. The new rules began on midnight on Sunday, and include a three-day quarantine for the vaccinated, with a second PCR test on day three after arrival. The quarantine rules for the unvaccinated have not changed. In addition, those arriving in Israel from “red” countries – a list which includes all African countries other than Morocco and Egypt – must quarantine in a government-run hotel until a second PCR test performed days after their arrival comes out negative.
World’s Best Falafel
Turns out that if you want the world’s best falafel you have to travel to the Holy Land. According to a study conducted by 10Bis, Haifa’s falafels have been rated the best in the world, with a 9.07 rating. While only four percent of the city’s eateries serve falafel, those restaurants seem to offer the best falafel dishes. Following close behind, Tel Aviv nabbed the second-tastiest spot with a score of 8.7. The city boasts 13 falafel joints for every 100,000 people – more than Haifa. Outside of the Holy Land, Beirut was gifted third place, with a score of 7.92. 9.36% of Beirut’s restaurants serve the Middle Eastern fare. Amsterdam, Brussels, Athens, Berlin, Lisbon and Copenhagen rounded out the rest of the top findings. Pass the chummus, please.
already in Israel and were declared eligible to immigrant in 2015. They will be brought to Israel in “the near future.” In a statement, Immigration and Absorption Minister Pnina Tamano-Shata (Blue and White) praised the decision, saying, “Today, we are correcting an ongoing injustice done to those waiting for their immigration to be approved from as early as 2015, but not implemented in previous governments.” The Jewish Agency for Israel Acting Chairman of the Executive Yaakov Haogel said, “This government decision will put an end to the suffering of many families who will finally be reunited after years of waiting to make aliyah.” Jewish Federations of North America Chairman of the Board of Trustees Mark Wilf added, “Today’s announcement is an exciting and important step to reunite families and strengthen the Jewish people.”
Is U.S. Democracy “Backsliding”?
Thousands of Ethiopians OK-ed to Immigrate
The Israeli government on Sunday voted to allow thousands of Ethiopians, who claim to be Jewish, to immigrate to Israel. The decision comes as Ethiopia faces rising concerns of a civil war. Despite the green light, Detractors say that some of the Ethiopians brought over have no connection to Israel and no Jewish ancestry, and others have committed war crimes. All of those included in the current plan have first-degree relatives
A new report by Sweden’s International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IIDEA) has shown that the U.S. may be in a “reverse” trend to democratization. According to the report, the regression began in 2016 and is part of a “global retreat” in democracies’ health. Though there is a global cycle of “progress and regression,” the U.S. slide is the country’s first, the report added. Annika Silva-Leander, who authored the annual IIDEA report on the Global State of Democracy, noted, “There is a mimicking effect that also comes into play, which we saw from the mid-1970s onwards in the world, a third wave of democratiza-
