Wednesday, September 30, 2015

Video: Rav Chaim Kanievsky shaking Lulav by naanuim of Hallel on Chol Hamoed Sukkos 5776

A impromptu Sukka at the airport

A Chabad Chasid sets up a Sukka at Moscow  Sheremetyevo Airport while in transit to New York.

Sunday, September 27, 2015

A message to frum Jews in the NYC metro area for Sukkos 5776

Last Chol Hamoed Pesach 5775 the Yeshiva world news posted an anonymous op-ed criticizing the behavior of frum Yiddin on the chol hamoed outings across the tri state area. The op ed was posted after the fact not before yom tov. In order to prevent this major chilul hashem in the eyes of the op ed writer we remind everyone to not look for or see fault in other Jews. To be loving and accepting of all types not only of those on the left but on the right too. Gut Tom Tov.

Hospital Sukkah guide


The number one selling sukkos decoration poster

Look out for the Chofetz Chaim to adorn the walls of many sukkos as the now famous video led to new pictures and artwork of the tzadik.

Over 3000 pages to read between major frum newspapers for Sukkos 5776 issues



Make sure you set some time to learn. The frum newspapers and magazines published their Sukkos issues. The competitive market has them all one upping each other in features and content. Between the Hamodia, Yated Neeman, Ami, Mishpacha, Zman and Bina magazines alone there is over 3000 pages to read over yom tov. The Yated added an insert called "The Peg" (yated in hebrew) with fiction stories. Mishpacha published a mega succos issue over 700 pages with an article about Rav Chaim Kanievsky. Ami magazine with a mega sukkos issue tackles the Parnassah crisis taking place in all communities across klal yisrael. Hamodia  published the Yom Tov issue and Zman magazine printed a expanded sukkos issue.

Oregon Court Scrutinizes Rebbetzin’s Role In Trailblazing Case

By Debbie Maimon Yated Neeman
In a case that sparked a nationwide uproar, a female county clerk in Texas last month defied a court order to issue a marriage license in circumstances that violated her religious beliefs. Her refusal to comply landed her in jail. A recent case in Portland, Oregon tested the moral courage of two kollel wives in a different conflict of conscience: Disclose confidential information sought in a divorce case? Or cite religious convictions against breaching confidences and slandering people — and risk the consequences?
Is a rebbetzin a religious leader? Or is the term an honorary title denoting nothing more than “wife of a rabbi?”
The question lay at the heart of an unprecedented court case in Portland, Oregon, in which Mrs. Esther Fischer and Mrs. Sarah Goldblatt, two kollel wives employed with their husbands by the Portland Community Kollel, were subpoenaed in a divorce trial. The women were asked to disclose personal and confidential information they had received from the wife in the divorce case, which might have bearing on child custody issues coming before the court.

Roots and Blossoms on Rechov Rashbam

It’s the conduit, the bridge that connects Rav Chaim and Klal Yisrael, the home of Rav Chaim’s oldest son. Rav Avraham Yeshaya Kanievsky is Rav Chaim’s third child, preceded by Rebbetzin Chana Steinman a”h, who passed away two years ago, and tblch”t Rebbetzin Rus Tzivyon. While for many years Rav Chaim refrained from calling his son by his given name out of respect for the Chazon Ish — Rav Avraham Yeshaya’s namesake — more recently Rav Chaim has begun referring to him as “Shaya.” As a child, Rav Avraham Yeshaya learned all of Shas with his father, in line with Rav Chaim’s view that a boy should learn Shas in its entirety before bar mitzvah. “Even if he doesn’t understand everything,” Rav Chaim would explain, “it’s still worthwhile, so that when he grows older and learns it, it will be the second time around.” Rav Avraham Yeshaya’s vast Torah knowledge isn’t relegated to writing, though. After the passing of his grandfather the Steipler Gaon, Rav Yaakov Yisrael Kanievsky, in 1985, Rav

Hapeles newspaper now sold in the US

The Israeli Hapeles newspaper which is published by the Eitz faction led by Rav Shmuel Auerbach  is now available in the US. Copies are currently distributed in major Frum markets such as Brooklyn and Lakewood. The paper was launched in response to the takeover id the Israeli Yated Ne'eman.

Friday, September 25, 2015

Frum research astrophysicist at the NASA explains the blood moon on Sukkos

 We usher in Sukkot, will there be a blood moon rising?
John Hagee, the San Antonio pastor who wrote the book “Four Blood Moons: Something is About to Change,” would have us believe so.
Hagee predicts that because of a cycle of four lunar eclipses called a tetrad — two this year and next on Passover and Sukkot — that something big is about to happen, like the Rapture. The eclipse will be seen throughout much of the world on Oct. 7 and 8 — the latter the eve of Sukkot. It will be visible throughout much of the United States on Oct. 8, but only in New Zealand on the actual holiday. During a lunar eclipse, the moon moves directly behind the earth and into its shadow.  Seeing the first so-called “blood moon” following the first night’s seder this year — it looked more like watered-down kiddush wine — did fill me with wonder. Or maybe that was just the Four Cups talking.  So is some sort of cataclysm on its way? Should I even bother putting up my sukkah?
Jeremy Schnittman, a research astrophysicist at the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland and an observant Jew, is putting up his, so maybe we shouldn’t worry.

“The lunar tetrad event is perfectly normal,” Schnittman told JTA.

Monday, September 21, 2015

" אל חטא" Viduy al chet for the internet age

Inspired by the internet Asifa? did you follow up, if not here is the Viduy. For Frum Bloggers too!

Internet Viduy Al chet

Sunday, September 20, 2015

Erev Sukkos traffic near Philadelphia and surrounding areas

Jewish travelers should be aware of the papal visit in the tri state area.  Sunday Erev Sukkos the city of Philadelphia will come to a halt with one and a half million people expected. Authorities will be shutting down major roadways, and expect major delays at the airports. Plan ahead use alternate routes.

Where is the sympathy?

A abuse activist is asking for sympathy, he is being sued is an Israeli court. Where was the sympathy for all children, when fighting against a book teaching  about child safety. The book has b''h hit the stores and many are buying it, why did they try preventing it from being sold taking the author and publisher to a din torah? Where was the sympathy for the family of  Mr. Webermen when the one year anniversary of him sitting in jail was marked? Where was the sympathy for the boy who is deaf and was made fun of in class by the rebbe imitating the way he  speaks?? Where was the sympathy for the hard working  Rebbeim with the constant bashing of the frum chinuch curriculum? dont beg for sympathy when people are constantly bashed under the guise of standing up for victims of abuse.

Agudath Israel Advocacy Continues to Ease Way for Arbaah Minim

As in past years, Agudath Israel of America’s Washington Office has worked closely with agencies of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to help avoid potential problems for travelers carrying arbaah minim.

Both the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) have notified their respective field personnel about the upcoming Sukkos holiday and the increased level of travel by Jews, many of whom will be carrying arbaah minim.

The notifications, which have been sent out to federal officials at airports and border crossings, emphasize the religious significance of these items and outline the rules and procedures that would help allay possible security and health issues that are of concern to the federal government.

Friday, September 18, 2015

Shabbos Shuva 5776

Sign of shabbos shuva drashos 

A Powerful Story For Aseres Yemei Teshuva

Lz"n R. Yitzchok Amram Eliyahu ben R. Avrohom Ashi Zt"l
(who was a Holocaust Survivor*)Yahrzeit 2nd day Rosh Hashanah

A holocaust survivor asked R. Itzikel zt"l (Antwerp) . We say the Avinu Malkeinu "harugim al sheim kodshecha- t'vuchim al yichudecha.

Why two leshonos, sheim kodshecha and yichudecha.

R. Itzikel was stumped and had no answer.

The holocaust  survivor said "let me give the rebbe my answer".

When the nazis ym"s marched into the town, they assembled 100 men and lined them up in front of the river.

The nazi with a machine gun started shooting from the right side and moved his gun towards the left till he killed all the men.

When the  shooting began, all men started to say the shema together.

The people on the right died when they said hashem elokeinu.

They did not manage to finish the posuk(harugim al sheim kodshecha)

The people on the left managed to stay alive for the extra second to say hashem echod (yichudecha)

R. Itzikel zt"l couldn't stop crying after hearing this pshat.

Guide to chodosh 5776 released for those makpid on Yoshon

The prelimanary guide to chodosh for the year 5776/ 2015 has been released HERE
Latest Yoshon update as of September 10, 2015
The oats used in General Mills cereals has been Chodosh from most factories since the packaging date of Aug 3. (There is one factory that is later, Aug 15. We will issue a new bulletin when we find out the factory code for this factory.) This means that all Cheerios and other General Mills cereals that contain oats will have a Chodosh "Best if used by" date on the package of Aug 10 2016. This development took the staff the OU and General Mills by surprise since no one can remember having such an early Chodosh date from General Mills.

Wednesday, September 16, 2015

Kapporos ritual spared, Judge allows it in NYC

JTA- The Yom Kippur ritual of kapparos can proceed in New York, a state Supreme Court judge ruled.

Justice Debra James ruled Monday in Manhattan that there was not enough evidence to prove that the ritual is a public nuisance, the New York Post reported. The decision was in response to a lawsuit filed in July by The Alliance to End Chickens as Kaporos.

Kapparot involves swinging a live chicken over one’s head three times and reciting a prayer to cast sins to the bird. The chicken is then slaughtered and donated to the poor. In recent years, money has replaced the chicken in the rite for many Jewish groups.

The annual Heter to besmirch and publicize Lashon Hora on Klal Yisrael

What better time than during the Aseres yemei Teshuva the "Einei haeidah" the frum news websites and blogs who unilaterally declare themselves the watchdogs of klal yisrael, publish a heter from Rabbi Yair Hoffman justifying all the shmutz, lashon hora, rechilos machlokes and sinas chinom found in their respected sites. According to the 'heter' it is important to  publicize all the ills of our community which is letoels. Failed messiah website should be just as justified in its non stop bashing and disparaging of the frum community he can rely on this heter as well.

It was only six months ago on Chol Hamoed Pesach that the Yeshiva world news website published an op ed besmirching  klal yisrael and frum yidden for the behavior that was not appropriately according to the authors liking. The cowardly anonymous author who many claim is a respected rabbi that posts frequent articles in the aforementioned websites, was man enough to publicly be choshed beksheirim and shame frum jews to the masses, but he was not man enough to put his name on it. Perhaps the author relied on this psak as it is a toeles.

Sunday, September 13, 2015

Halachos laws and minhagim for Erev Rosh Hashana 5776

Laws for Erev Rosh Hashana- Motzei shmitta 5776

2. We  write a PRUZBUL at the end of  shmitta  download it HERE

3. Following selichos we say hataras nedorim on erev Rosh Hashana

4. Some have a minhag to purchase a new knife on Erev Rosh hashana as a segulah for parnassah.

5. The minhag is for men to fast on erev Rosh Hashana up to chatzos.

6. Some go to visit kivrei tzadikim on erev Rosh Hashana

7. Minhag is to go to the mikva on erev yom tov.

8. The beracha on candle lighting for Rosh Hashana is lihadlik ner shol yom tov, without mention of    Yom Hazikaron

Judge will decide on Kapporos lawsuit on Rosh hashana

A Manhattan Judge has postponed ruling  about using chickens for kapparos in NYC. The Judge will hear the case on Monday first day of Rosh hashana  and decide on it.

Friday, September 11, 2015

Too many Schnorr letters? priorities in giving Tzedaka

Its the time before Rosh hashana and yom kippur when many Mosdos, Yeshivos and organizations ask for donations as klal yisrael is in a giving mode of tzedaka during aseres yemai Teshuva. As in previous years,
we are bombarded by Tzedaka letters known as schnorr letters. Many of us have an Image of our father going through his pile of letters writing checks to each one putting the stamps on and mailing it out. Back then there were not that many letters as we are receiving today on a daily basis. Ezras Torah, Diskin orphanage, Telz yeshiva to name a few.  Today the organizations have gotten sophisticated by soliciting Tzedaka, yet the good old envelope stills finds its way into our mail box.

If one can afford to give to all that would be wonderful, however not everyone is capable of that. Secondly, many of us have no affiliation or know anything about the Organization soliciting. They buy mailing lists and someone in Brooklyn can receive a letter for a local tzedaka in Los Angeles. 
Whom am I to give?

According to Halacha there are priorities in who to give tzedaka to first. Please discuss this with your Local Rabbi as there are differences of opinions. 
.Category 1: Captives, prisoners and matters of life and death- pikuach nefesh
Category 2: Very close relatives
Category 3: Needy Torah scholars, support for dissemination of Torah learning, and other poor persons
Category 4: Communal needs
Category 5: To finance the cost of mitzvot

Thursday, September 10, 2015

Monsey vaad letter, before moving make sure kids have a school

A vaad in Monsey asks those planning on moving to Monsey should make sure they have a school that will take their children since there is a shortage of space in both boys and girls schools.

Wednesday, September 9, 2015

Live video: Thousands salute farmers who kept shmita

Thousands came out to greet the giborei koach the farmers who kept shmita for this year 5775. The parade took place in Bnei Brak Rav Chaim kanievsky came out to greet them.

Judge to decide fate of Kaporos Ritual in NYC

Tommorrow,  Debra James, a Manhattan Supreme Court justice said she’ll rule on weather or not yidden can practice the minhag of kapporos with a chicken. A group calling themselves the”Alliance to End Chickens as Kaporos  of filed a law suit aginst the minhag. They demanded that a Manhattan judge issue a cease and desist order against what they perceive as the “unsanitary” Jewish ritual of slaughtering chickens in the public domain prior to the holiday of Yom Kippur.  The annual ritual involves swinging a live chicken above one’s head to absolve sins from the past year and then having a kosher slaughterer kill the bird and give it to charity to help feed the poor. The group of plaintiffs calling themselves the”Alliance to End Chickens as Kaporos” are from the Borough Park and Crown Heights sections of Brooklyn where the practice is widespread. They claim that the shlugging of kaporos results in a public health hazard with “stench, litter, blood, feces and feathers” polluting the streets. David Jaroslawicz, the attorney representing Orthodox Jews who observe the ritual scrupulously said the protest group has their own agenda and called then a cadre of ‘vegetarians” and vegans” who were stoking the proverbial fires by manufacturing “hysteria” where it does not exist. He took note of the fact that not one single person has ever experiences health related problems from the slaughtered chickens.

NYC repeals Metzitzah B’Peh consent form regulation

JP New York City’s Board of Health on Wednesday voted to repeal the Metzitzah B’Peh consent form regulation, a few months after City Hall and the Orthodox Jewish community came to an agreement over the controversial matter imposed by former mayor Mike Bloomberg.

Nine board members voted in support of the repeal, including Dr. Mary Travis Bassett, commissioner of the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene and Chair of the Board of Health. Only one member voted against the proposal, while another one abstained.

Back in February, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced an historic deal reached with representatives of the Orthodox Jewish community that would eliminate the consent form requirement over the practice of Metzitzah B’peh, in exchange for testing the mohel if a baby tests positive for the herpes virus.

Tragic NY crash claims three lives R'L

NEW YORK - A horrific car crash sent shockwaves throughout the Jewish community, plunging even total  strangers into mourning. A family returning from the Catskills Monday afternoon was involved in a fatal car accident on Route 17, in which the parents and a future son-in-law were killed. Two sons and a daughter, the kallah, are hospitalized in stable condition.

The levayah of Yehuda Bayme, z”l.
Morris Faitelewicz, z”l, 58, a longtime Hatzolah member from the Lower East Side and a first responder to the 9/11 attacks, along with his wife Beth, a”h, 54, and Yehuda Bayme, z”l, 31, lost their lives.

The kallah, Shani, 27, as well as the couple’s two other sons, Yaakov, 29, and Avi, 23, were helicoptered to Orange Regional Medical Center near Monroe.

The levayah for Mr. and Mrs. Faitelewicz will be at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday at the Bialystoker shul on the Lower East Side. It was delayed so siblings could arrive from Israel. Kevurah will be at the New Montefiore Jewish Cemetery on Long Island.

Monday, September 7, 2015

Three Frum people Die in Tragic Crash on Rt. 17

Hamodia- A Jewish family returning from the Catskills Monday afternoon was involved in a horrific car accident on Rt. 17, leaving the parents and future son-in-law dead. Two sons and a daughter, the kallah, are hospitalized in stable condition. Names for Tehillim Yaakov Dov Ben Blima chana,
Shoshana Chaya Bas Blima Chana, Abraham Yosef Ben Blima Chana.

Morris Faitelewicz, z”l, a Hatzolah member from the Lower East Side, along with his wife Beth, a”h, and Yehuda Bayme, z”l, lost their lives. The kallah, Shani, as well as the couple’s two other sons Avi and Yaakov, were helicoptered to Orange Regional Medical Center near Monroe and are listed in stable condition.

Sunday, September 6, 2015

Frum websites portray the other Selichos

Many wonder, is nothing sacred anymore? Selichos which for centuries had klal yisrael approach it with fear and trepidation as the preperation for the yemei hadin has now turned into full blown concerts and kumzits style events. The Piyut says זוחלים ורועדים we tremble and shiver as we beg Hashem to forgive us.  The frum Jewish websites made sure to broadcast and post videos of these new selichos concerts. As if they were trying to one up each other by who could post the crazier newer hip selichos prayer. They couldnt portray what selichos looks like in a regular normal shul the way it always was.
 Perhaps these concerts is the only way people feel they can connect and feel close to hashem as it says לשמוע אל הרינה ואל התפילה. Not until the emergence of the Carlebach style selichos has there ever been this phenomenon in previous generations. Truth many shuls had chazonim who would lead the service but it was not in the form of a musical happy concert. It was a soul stirring prayer in a serious atmosphere. Maybe this is what the dor needs but defenitely not the norm.

Video: Selichos at the Woodbourne shul 5775

Friday, September 4, 2015

The Selichos concerts

Selichos 5775 more and more shuls are offering inspiring selichos concerts The Carlebach style minyan continues to grow and influence others. Would people not go to shul if not for an entertaining selichos? good question but, it is growing in popularity
   

Chasidisha pilot risked serious injury to save lives

Yaakov Yosef Rosenberg a hasidic pilot from Monsey risked his life to save lives. "He did a heck of a job putting it down there, he saved people. He saved lives."
CRESSKILL, N.J. (WABC) -- A small plane with the U.S. Coast Coast Guard crash landed in Bergen County, New Jersey, injuring the two people on board. It happened just before 5 p.m. Thursday at Regan Field right behind the Cresskill Community Center at 100 3rd Street. Investigators spent all night crawling over the wreckage of the doomed Cessna 172. "All of a sudden it was terror," a resident said. Hours after onlookers at the Cresskill Community Center watched in shock as the crippled prop plane crashed to the ground. "It just barely cleared the tree line right above the pool," a resident said. "You could see the propeller, it was not moving," a neighbor said. "I guess he was looking for a place to land," another said. "There was absolutely no sound," a resident said. The U.S. Coast Guard said this plane was an Auxiliary Aircraft flown by USCG volunteers.

Day of Jewish unity



Now that it seems like the Iran Nuclear Agreement is a done deal, Day of Jewish Unity hopes that a day of prayer is the only way to stop it.

An estimated 500,000 Jews around the world will be taking part in this “Day of Jewish Unity” on Tuesday, September 8, when they will pray for the safety and well-being of the Jewish nation.
If the Iran deal is approved as is, it seems that the Jewish people would be put in danger and a grave threat would be facing democracies worldwide. As a result, Jews from all walks of life will participate by reciting Chapters 20 and 130 of Psalms anytime between the hours of 7am and 12pm EST on September 8.

To learn more visithttp://dayofjewishunity.com/

Thursday, September 3, 2015

Selichos - Lishmoa El Harina V'el HaTefilla לשמוע אל הרנה ואל התפלה

Shiur from Rabbi Yaacov Haber Listen HERE
Selichos - Lishmoa El Harina V'el HaTefilla לשמוע אל הרנה ואל התפלה
Rabbi Yaacov Haber  

Speaker: Rabbi Yaacov Haber Given On: Thursday September 03, 2015
An explanation of the Pizmon - BeMotzai Menucha
Download

Agudah- YESHIVOS TO RECEIVE 80 MILLION OF DOLLARS IN NEXT TWO YEARS

NYS EDUCATION DEPARTMENT BEGINS DISTRIBUTION OF $250 MILLION IN REIMBURSEMENT TO NONPUBLIC SCHOOLS
YESHIVOS TO RECEIVE 80 MILLION OF DOLLARS IN NEXT TWO YEARS

Earlier this summer, the New York State Education Department announced that over the next two years it would be distributing $250 million in mandated services/CAP reimbursement to nonpublic schools across the state with $125 million to be paid out in each of the two years.

The payment process for reimbursable costs incurred by the nonpublic schools during the 2006-07 through 2009-10 school years began this week and will be completed by the end of September. The balance of the first $125 million is scheduled to be paid by March 31, 2016. It is anticipated that the second $125 million will be paid out in a similar timetable during the 2016-17 school year.

Video: 5 American yeshiva Bochurim attacked in Chevron on way to Mearas hamachpeila

Five American yeshiva students were attacked with rocks and firebombs, setting their car on fire after accidentally entering Hebron Thursday night. Two of the students were lightly to moderately wounded in the incident.
Reports said a local resident sheltered the five in his home until they were evacuated by IDF troops who arrived in the area.  The five were said to be on the way to visit the tomb of the Patriarchs when they accidentally entered Hebron. Their car was torched.









Wednesday, September 2, 2015

Gedolim issue Letter on seminary takeover


Entry denied to Rav Meir
Seminar Meir, a girls seminary in Bnei Brak was until recently under the direction  and leadership of Rav Shmuel Meir. Rav Meir recently suffered health problems and others took advantage of his absence in an attempt to take over the school. Rav Meir recently appointed someone to take charge in his stead. The mayor of Bnei Brak intervened  as the city has some control over the school  and awarded control to those who tookover against the will of Rav Meir. Rav Aaron Shechter Senior member of the moetzes gedolei haTorah of Agudas Yisrael of America, and Rav Yisrael kalmanowitz from Eretz Yisrael issued a very strong letter to the mayor of Bnei Brak against the takeover and called for control to resort back to Rav Meir. They called on anyone with influence to do all within their power to prevent these takeovers from happening. Rav Meir was denied entry to his school when he was brought there by his son.






Reb Shiya Hollander, z”l

Hamodia - Reb Shiya Hollander, a dedicated askan and highly respected member of the Boro Park community, passed away Motzoei Shabbos following a year-long struggle with illness. He was 68 years old.

 Credit Hamodia
The niftar was remembered as a magnanimous baal chessed who worked tirelessly on behalf of the klal and individuals in need.

“He was a gentleman and a person who made time for everybody that came to him, being mechabed each one of them,” said Rabbi Yitzchok Gottdiener, executive director of Yeshiva Torah Vodaath. “He shouldered a lot of responsibility and was willing to take on projects and see them through. He made great changes in the yeshivah in a way that were accepted by everyone.”

Reb Shiya was born in 1947 to Avrohom Moshe, z”l, and, tbl”c, Yenta Hollander, and together with his brothers attended Torah Vodaath, America’s flagship yeshivah of the time. There he studied with great diligence, becoming a dedicated and life-long talmid of Harav Avohom Pam, zt”l. During his years in Torah Vodaath he also received semichah from Harav Gedaliah Schorr, zt”l, and Harav Dovber Rivkin, zt”l.

Rhode Island passes law to protect the Mezuzah

Who is protecting whom?
STATE HOUSE – A new law passed by the General Assembly protects the right of tenants and condominium dwellers to hang religious artifacts in their doorways without interference from condo associations or landlords.

The law, which was the result of legislation (2015-S 348A, 2015-H 5986A) sponsored by Sen. Joshua Miller and Rep. Aaron Regunberg and which Gov. Gina Raimondo ceremonially signed today, is aimed primarily at preventing condo associations and landlords from prohibiting Jewish tenants or condo owners from hanging a mezuzah on their doorways.

A mezuzah is a piece of parchment inscribed with the Jewish prayer “Shema Yisrael” in Hebrew, usually rolled up and contained in a small decorative case. The Torah instructs all Jewish people to affix a mezuzah on their doorposts, outside their door on the inside part of the doorframe.

“For observant Jews, hanging a mezuzah on the doorway is a requirement, not an option. For a condo association or a landlord to prohibit them is tantamount to housing discrimination,

Tuesday, September 1, 2015

Why Hillary Clinton sent a bizarre email about Gefilte fish

One day back in March 2010, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton sent a simple email to Richard Verma, then the assistant secretary of state for legislative affairs, and aide Jake Sullivan.
The subject line: "Gefilte fish."

The body of the email: "Where are we on this?"

Turns out they were somewhere.

Yair Rosenberg, a writer at Tablet Magazine, detailed the backstory. Michael Oren, the former Israeli ambassador to the United States, wrote in his memoir that Clinton was trying to get Israel to sign off on a blocked shipment of Asian carp from the US.
Oren wrote: