Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, a 1967 graduate of Cheltenham High School, rejected calls for a ceasefire in the war against Hamas, which he called “a battle of civilization against barbarians,” according to The Philadelphia Jewish Exponent.
Despite “dismal poll numbers,” he said he would not resign and blamed the war’s mounting death toll on Hamas, the terror group that governs the Gaza Strip.
“I want to make clear Israel’s position regarding the ceasefire: Just as the United States would not agree to a ceasefire after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, or after the terrorist attack of 9-11, Israel will not agree to a cessation of hostilities with Hamas after the horrific attacks of October 7,” Netanyahu said at the press conference at the Israel Defense Forces’ headquarters in Tel Aviv. “Calls for a ceasefire are calls for Israel to surrender to Hamas, to surrender to terrorism.”
You can watch the press conference below:
In related news, The Inquirer reported that Raymond and Ruth Perelman Jewish Day School, a private K-5 school with campuses in Wynnewood and Elkins Park, has enrolled nine students from Israel, and anticipates up to 10 more arrivals in the coming weeks.
Mitchell Daar, the head of school at Perelman, said Perelman opened their doors as soon as they heard that Israeli children were landing in the region. Tuition is being temporarily waived for those students, Daar said, as it remains unclear how long they will remain enrolled.
“This is about the Jewish values that we espouse every day,” Daar said. “Part of our mission is global citizenship, being part of a global Jewish community, an enduring bond and a keen sense of responsibility for the state of Israel.”
In another article titled “Human Chains, Empty Shabbat Tables and Ambulance Fundraisers. How Local Jews Help Israel,” The Exponent reported that Rabbi Shai Cherry of Adath Jeshurun in Elkins Park sent out an email to his 300-plus member congregation asking congregants to donate money to buy an ambulance for Magen David Adom, Israel’s ambulance service.
According to the article, after the rabbi’s announcement, nearly 100 people contributed $115,000 by the synagogue’s Friday night service. The money will go to the American Friends of Magen David Adom, which will then work with an automaker to build the ambulance. The process takes about 10 months.
“We’re all in this together,” Cherry said. “It felt great to be able to make a contribution that is forward-looking.”
To donate to Magen David Adom, you can click here.
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