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Jewish Leader Urges Hope Amid War: Rabbi Brad Hirschfield Gathers Supplies as Family Is Sent to War

by Jessica Easthope

To the naked eye Rabbi Brad Hirschfield is a world away from the turmoil in the Middle East, but the reality is, that’s the furthest thing from the truth.

Rabbi Hirschfield is the President of the National Jewish Center For Learning and Leadership and he and his family are joining the fight from where they are.

“There is nothing special about what I and my family are going through,” Rabbi Hirschfield said. “In fact, we’re lucky we haven’t buried anyone close to us. I can’t say that for some of my friends. I have a daughter, one of her friends fell in battle a few days ago, I have nephews at war but it is also happening to hundreds of thousands and millions of people in Israel.”

The Rabbi is coordinating supply shipments to displaced civilians and troops on the front lines.

“Yes, march yes, donate yes, try and rally political support, all that is important, I would even say sacred,” Rabbi Hirschfield said. “But what we saw, and what we continue to see, is a confrontation with evil.”

Rabbi Hirschfield said everyone has a part to play in this conflict; your position will determine the course of history. 

He said Hamas’ initial assault along the Israeli border was also an assault on a free Palestine.

“I do believe in Palestinian self-determination; how can I not?” Rabbi Hirschfield said. “I’m a proud Zionist but when people conflate support for Palestine with support for Hamas, a perverse combination of tactics and practices borrowed from Hitler’s SS and the Islamic State, that is not about self determination, that is about murder, that is about death. There is no “but” when it comes to shooting and burning babies.”

Last Saturday, into Sunday saw the most Jews murdered for being Jewish since the end of the Holocaust. Rabbi Hirschfield said having rage is understandable but it needs to come with a condition.

“Show me the person who with whatever they’re feeling on the negative side can still locate a place of hope and act in light of both of those. That is how everyone regardless of  politics can actually make a positive difference.”

In the coming days Rabbi Hirschfield will bring a group of American Jewish leaders to Israel to show them what the state is up against.

Protests for Palestine Cause Safety Concerns After Call for Jihad

Many pro-Palestinian groups held rallies around the world on Friday Oct. 13.  

Many are concerned about violence because the former leader of Hamas called for jihad, asking the Muslim world to join the fight against Israel. 

New York City Mayor Eric Adams and Governor Kathy Hochul have said there have been no credible threats of violence in the city, still, the NYPD is on high alert, with every officer on duty.

John Franchi, a former senior officer for the CIA, sat down with Currents News to share some inside information on how federal agencies are monitoring the situation here and abroad.

Catholic News Headlines for Friday 10/13/2023

 

With Israeli troops on the move near the Gaza border, the war with Hamas continues into its seventh day.

Many are turning to prayer to deal with their different feelings of grief and anger stemming from the war.

New York City and other cities across the U.S. have stepped up security today in anticipation of protests.

We’ll speak with a security expert about the potential for attacks in the U.S.

Prayers For Peace: Secretary of State Meets Victims, Reiterates U.S. Support

by Jessica Easthope

A prayer for peace began the day’s discussions at the Synod on Synodality in Rome.

Everyone’s thoughts were on the Holy Land as the war between Israel and Hamas rages on.

Israeli Defense Forces howitzers fired a barrage of artillery into Gaza on this sixth day of fighting.

Israel said the Gaza siege will not be lifted until the hostages taken by Hamas are returned home.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is in Israel. During a visit to a donation site, he had an emotional meeting with a 24-year-old survivor of the music festival massacre, where Hamas killed hundreds. 

“We were saved by a miracle,” the survivor said. “But there are friends that we love that weren’t.”

Blinken reiterated the U.S.’ support and likened Hamas’ crimes to those of ISIS. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also made the comparison.

“Hamas is ISIS,” Netanyahu said. “And just as ISIS was crushed, so too will Hamas be crushed.”

The U.S. is helping by supplying ammunition and other defense material to israel.

“What we’ve seen, I think will be very hard to erase from our minds and certainly our hearts,” Blinken said. “But I sense a fierce determination in Israel to prevail, and prevail Israel will.”

Catholic News Headlines for Thursday 10/12/2023

 

The death toll continues to mount in Israel and Gaza as the war rages on.

Tonight we’re diving into how Hispanics are able to pass their faith down, through their culture, to new generations.

Netanyahu Leads Israeli War Cabinet, as Gaza Power Plant Goes Dark Ahead of Israeli Ground Invasion

By Jessica Easthope

Almost all of Gaza was plunged into total darkness overnight as officials announced the area’s only power plant is out of fuel to provide electricity.

Civilians are faced with dwindling amounts of supplies, food, and water, and no internet access. 

The Israeli Defense Forces is assembling troops to prepare for a ground invasion of Gaza, all while continuing to attack the region by air in an effort to weaken Hamas’ control. 

In a rare government move, Israel has formed an emergency war cabinet. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will lead the group, which will include some opposition leaders. It was created to make swift and effective security and defense decisions. 

More than 360,000 reservists have been called up to join Israel’s fight against Hamas, one of the largest mobilizations of troops in its history. 

Hamas is still claiming to hold more than 150 hostages following Saturday’s surprise attack along the Gaza border, prompting Pope Francis to make an urgent appeal for peace.

“I pray for the families who have seen a day of celebration turned into a day of mourning and ask that the hostages be released immediately,” Pope Francis said.

Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin condemned Hamas’ terroristic tactics saying it only hurts the free Palestine cause.

“Unfortunately, terrorism, violence, barbarism and extremism undermine the legitimate aspirations of Palestinians and Israelis,” Parolin said. “I hope that the weapons will be silenced and reason will prevail and be used to pause and reflect on the right way to achieve peace in Israel and Palestine.”

Pope Francis asked Israel to show control in its military response, which he described as excessive.

Meanwhile, the first plane carrying U.S. weapons arrived in Israel Tuesday night.

The IDF thanked the United States for their support saying the ammunition will allow for “significant blows.”

But it’s not the only support the U.S. has sent. 

A carrier group is now in the Mediterranean Sea.

The White House said they hope this stops any other countries from escalating the war.

At the same time, an anonymous New Yorker is trying to help Israel get reinforcements.

The man purchased 250 plane tickets at JFK Airport Monday for anyone who showed him their Israeli Defense Forces call-up notice. 

But he’s not the only one. A spokesperson for El Al Airlines said many people have come to their counters attempting to buy tickets for soldiers. 

If you want to help the innocent victims on both sides of the violence you can donate to the international red cross at ICRC.ORG and click donate now.

Broken Church Made Whole: Our Lady of Peace Undergoes Renovations

A Gowanus church that was falling apart is now whole again.

The pastor of Our Lady of Peace, Father Orlando Ruiz, said the ceiling of the church was almost split in half.

The deep cracks were causing debris to fall down during Mass, so the parish saved up and after filling in the cracks and giving the walls a new coat of paint, they now have a church that feels brand new.

Father Ruiz said the new facelift fits the feeling of those parishioners in the pews. 

Growing Faith: Students Use Hydroponics Lab to Learn the Gift of Life

by Katie Vasquez

Students at St. Ephrem Catholic Academy get to see science in action. Getting their hands dirty but not with actual dirt.

“I didn’t think that was possible, I  always thought you had to put it in soil,” Amelia McKinney, a student at St. Ephrem said.

Hydroponics involves growing plants using water rather than soil.

“They put something in a little rock wool and then the next day they got food out of it,” Lynda Di Palma, the science teacher at the school said..

The Brooklyn school started the lab in September, after receiving a $20,000 grant. Principal Michael Phillips says they are one of only a few in the diocese to have this space.

“It really differentiates us in the grand scheme of things to show that we are thinking outside the box,” Phillips said.

The students are growing kidney beans, tomatoes, arugula, butter lettuce and blueberries.  Their hard work is finally producing some results.

“It’s been fun planting the seeds, putting all the plants, watering them. Finally seeing roots and all that,” Gianna Solitario, a student at St. Ephrem’s said. 

This lab is more than just plants, it’s learning about God’s most precious gift, life.

“I want to give them the opportunity to not only learn science but learn it in a hands-on approach but also with real life experiences,” Phillips said.

If their crop yields a hearty harvest, the school hopes to donate the food to the community or offer a farmer’s market for parents.

Catholic News Headlines for Wednesday 10/11/2023

 

Pope Francis is condemning the Hamas terrorist attacks on Israel.

A Brooklyn church that was falling apart was put back together again.

Some students in the Diocese of Brooklyn are learning how to plant their own food in a hydroponics lab.