Radvaz (2:652): Question: We have an established principle that if an established prophet should command us to transgress one of the mitzvos of the Torah except for idolatry we are to listen to him. For example Eliyahu on Mt. Carmel transgressed on the command not to offer sacrifices outside of the Temple. He didn’t do this to nullify the mitzva but rather as an emergency measure to refute the prophets of Baal. Your question is whether such a prophet said to kill someone or destroy a particular city or to pillage a particular city as an emergency measure to protect the Torah – how can we obey such a command since no court would do such a thing even as an emergency measure? And even if it were commanded by G d – but we have the principle of “it is not in Heaven”? Since a person is not killed except with witnesses and with proper warning – how is it possible to listen to the prophet to transgress that which is stated in the Torah? Even if he gives an explanation for the need to do this – that would not be sufficient – but he says it is a mitzva to listen to him according to the Torah. Answer: Also in my eyes this is was puzzling until it occurred to me to say that this principle only applies to mitzvos between man and G d. But concerning mitzvos between men, there is no command to listen to him. However I saw in Sanhedrin: Concerning all sins if a prophet tells you to transgress the words of Torah you are to listen to him except for idolatry, because it is possible that he has the ability to stop the sun in the middle of the sky so don’t listen to him…. Thus this gemora clearly states that the only sin not to commit at the command of a prophet is idolatry
Wednesday, October 7, 2026
Curse G-d
Netziv (Shemos 22:27) Do not curse G-d Not cursing also includes a prohibition of not degrading or belittling One who is a leader is described as Elokim which is an aspect of Divinity. While it is the nature of Man to attribute faults and shortcomings to the actions of others and attempt to degrade them when it comes to G-d this is prohibited as well as actually cursing
Curse a Jew
Chinuch (Kedoshim # 231) To not curse a Jew, whether a man or a woman: To not curse an Israelite, whether a man or a woman; and even though he does not hear the curse, as it is stated, “You shall not curse the deaf” — and the explanation comes about this that it is one who does not hear your curse. And so did Onkelos translate it. And the language of Sifra, Kedoshim is “I only have a deaf person, from where do I include every man? Hence we learn to say, ‘among your people, you shall not maledict.’ If so, why does it state, ‘deaf?’ Just like a deaf person is unique that he is alive — to exclude the dead that is not alive.” Even though we do not have the power to know in which way a curse impacts upon the one cursed, and with what power within speech there is to bring that impact upon him, we know more generally that people are concerned about curses — whether Israel or other nations — and say that curses of people, and even curses of commoners, have an impact on the one cursed and attaches malediction and distress to him. And since we know this thing from the mouth of the creatures, we will say that it is from the roots of the commandment that God prevented us from injuring others with our mouths, just like He prevented us from injuring them with action.
Chinuch (Kedoshim # 231) To not curse a Jew Curses of people, and even curses of commoners, have an impact on the one cursed and attaches malediction and distress to him. And since we know this thing from the mouth of the creatures, we will say that it is from the roots of the commandment that God prevented us from injuring others with our mouths, just like He prevented us from injuring them with action. And similar to this did they say, “A covenant is made with the lips” — meaning to say that there is power in the words of a person’s mouth.
Chinuch (Kedoshim # 231) To not curse a Jew, whether a man or a woman: And Rambam said as the reason of the commandment that it is in order that the soul of the one that curses not be moved to vengeance and that he not become used to anger. And he wrote at further length about this in his book. And it appears to me from his words that, in his opinion, he does not see any injury to the one cursed from the curse, but rather that the Torah is distancing the matter from the perspective of the one that curses — that he not accustom himself to vengeance and anger and to lowly traits. And we shall accept all the words of our rabbis, though our hearts hold more of what we have written.
Curse a Leader
Chinuch (Mishpatim # 71) Not to Curse a leader. It is from the roots of the commandment that it is because it is impossible for the settlement of people without their making one of them head over the others, to do his command and fulfill his decrees. As the opinions of people are different and they will never all agree to one opinion — to do one thing from among the many things. And from this, the result will be idleness and a cessation of actions. And therefore they need to accept the opinion of one of them — whether it is good or whether it is bad — so that they will be successful and be involved in the business of the world, sometimes finding great benefit from his will and counsel and sometimes finding the opposite. And all of this is better than disagreement which causes complete idleness. And since the one appointed as head is the cause for the benefit that we said — whether he is big in leading us in the ways of religion or whether he is big in the kingdom to guard a man from his neighbor that is more powerful than he — the matter is fitting and proper that we not treat his honor lightly, and also that we not curse him. We should not do this even not in front of him, and all the more so not in front of witnesses; as a bad habit that a person accustoms himself to do by himself will in the end become his action in public. And we have already [talked about] the great loss that comes because of disagreement.
Cursing the Deaf
Ramban (Vayikra 19:14) THOU SHALT NOT CURSE THE DEAF. “From this verse I know only that one may not curse the deaf. Whence do I know that one may not curse anybody? From the words of Scripture: Of thy people thou shalt not curse. If so, why does it state here ‘the deaf’? It is to teach us that ‘the deaf’ has been singled out by Scripture here because although he is unable to hear and feel hurt, he has the characteristic of being alive, thus exluding from the scope of this prohibition the dead who, though they are like the deaf in their inability to hear and feel hurt, are unlike them in being no longer alive.” This is Rashi’s language, and so it is taught in the Torath Kohanim. But the interpretation of the Gemara is not so. Rather, Scripture first warned against cursing the dignitaries of the people, the judge or ruler, saying, Thou shalt not curse the judges nor curse a ruler of thy people. Then it gave another admonition here against cursing the unfortunate ones of the people, like the deaf, and from them i.e., from both classes of people, the distinguished and the unfortunate we learn by a general proposition that we must not curse anyone of the rest of the people, since from beginning to end from “the ruler” to “the deaf” they are all included in this prohibition.
Ramban (Vayikra 19:14) THOU SHALT NOT CURSE THE DEAF. According to the plain meaning of Scripture, the verse mentions cursing the deaf in order that we may deduce that if in the case of one who cannot hear and will not become incensed by the curse, the Torah nonetheless admonished against cursing him, how much more so is it prohibited to curse one who hears and feels the insult, and will become hot-tempered because of it! Moreover, Scripture always admonishes against doing that which is frequent, for a person is inclined to curse the deaf and put a stumbling-block before the blind since he does not fear them, because they know not, neither do they understand. Therefore it states here, and thou shalt fear thy G-d, Who sees the secret things. And He added another prohibition against cursing rulers, the prince and the judge, because it is usual for people to curse them in their bed-chamber when in judging him he lets him go forth condemned, and there are many harms that are caused by cursing a prince or a judge, for the masses of people in their foolishness will hate them and will thus be stirred to rise up against them, while in truth the prince and judge establish the land by their justice.
All I want to do is cry’: trauma of 7 October survivors three years after the attacks
Israeli communities shattered by Hamas massacres are torn between rebuilding their lives and remembering lost friends and relatives
Israel’s security forces were caught by surprise, and by the time they regained control of the area, 1,209 people had been killed, the majority of them civilians, including 36 children, according to records kept by the Israeli newspaper Haaretz.
In total, 47 people were killed and 76 taken to Gaza, including Shiri Bibas, her 10-month-old baby Kfir and four-year-old Ariel, who were killed in Gaza. The dead and hostages represented more than a quarter of the small community.
Israel marks three years since October 7 attack with memorials and protests
https://edition.cnn.com/2026/10/06/world/october-seven-attack-anniversary-israel-intl
Three years to the minute after the start of the deadliest single day in Israel’s history, the country marked the somber occasion with a series of ceremonies, memorials and protests at more than 400 locations.
At 6:29 in the morning on October 7, 2023, Hamas-led gunmen stormed Israeli communities along the border with the Gaza Strip, killing more than 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages to the enclave. Those slain included children, women, elderly people and complete families.
The commemoration began with a national moment of silence at the time the attack started. At noon, bereaved families and civil grassroot protest groups will hold a national minute of reflection, joined by various public hospitals, local municipalities, universities and private businesses.
Memorial events will also take place at the Nova festival site in the Re’im Forest, where over 370 people were murdered and 44 were abducted. Additional protest convoys and displays are expected throughout the country all day.
October 7, 2023: Israel pauses to remember 3 years later
Three years after the October 7 atrocities committed by Hamas at break of dawn, Israel is holding memorial and commemoration ceremonies nationwide Wednesday for those murdered. At 6:29 a.m., the exact minute Hamas opened fire in 2023, civilians shut down the Ayalon Highway (Tel Aviv's main freeway) in both directions, unfurling massive banners that read, "The nation shall remember its sons and daughters." At a ceremony in Kfar Aza (a hard-hit Gaza border community), the flag was lowered to half-staff at the same moment.
The protesters said in a statement, "This morning, we stand with the families of October 7. The memory of those murdered and abandoned cannot be erased, nor can the day of the massacre."
Tuesday, October 6, 2026
Trump gifted a lavishly encrusted ring from Belgian diamond group that won tariff relief
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/belgian-diamond-group-gifts-trump-ring/
Dozens of diamonds spell out two giant letter "T" next to the Stars and Stripes and "1776" and "2026." Dozens more frame the numbers 45 and 47 in the shape of Superman's logo. A diamond-winged eagle carries a ruby shield and clutches an olive branch of emeralds, below a radiant "250" and atop the phrase "250 YEARS USA" etched in 18-karat gold.
All told, 321 diamonds, 56 sapphires, 13 emeralds and six rubies encrust the watch-sized gold ring presented this week to Bill White, the U.S. ambassador to Belgium, to give to President Trump.
The gift comes months after Belgium's diamond industry won the removal of U.S. tariffs on diamond imports. In September, AWDC said it had "succeeded in securing a zero percent import tariff" on Antwerp's annual export of more than $2 billion of polished diamonds to the U.S. A spokesperson for the group said on Thursday that the AWDC provided "input" to the European Commission as it negotiated with Mr. Trump on a broad deal on tariffs in 2025, but did not itself lobby the administration.
Women were Cursed
Eruvin (100b) Eve was cursed with ten curses, since it is written: Unto the woman He said, and I will greatly multiply, which refers to the two drops of blood, one being that of menstruation and the other that of virginity, ‘thy pain’ refers to the pain of bringing up children, ‘and thy travail’ refers to the pain of conceptions ‘in pain thou shalt bring forth children’ is to be understood in its literal meaning, ‘and thy desire shall be to thy husband’ teaches that a woman yearns for her husband when he is about to set out on a journey, ‘and he shall rule over thee’ teaches that while the wife solicits with her heart the husband does so with his mouth, this being a fine trait of character among women? — What was meant is that she ingratiates herself with him. But are not these only seven? When R. Dimi came he explained: She is wrapped up like a mourner, banished from the company of all men and confined within a prison. What is meant by ‘banished from the company of all men’? If it be suggested: That she is forbidden to meet a man in privacy, is not the man also but could be retorted. forbidden to meet a woman in privacy? — The meaning rather is that she is forbidden to marry two men
Eruvin (100b) Eve was cursed with three additional curses are: She grows her hair long like Lilith, a demon; she sits and urinates, like an animal; and serves as a pillow for her husband during relations.
One year on, Trump's Gaza plan has not stopped Israeli fire or disarmed Hamas
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-910750
US President Donald Trump’s year-old plan to end the Gaza war has stalled, and Israel and Hamas have been battling in the Gaza Strip for almost three years.
The initial phase resulted in a ceasefire on October 10, 2025, and secured the release of the last remaining hostages seized in Hamas’s 2023 attacks on Israel, in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners and detainees held by Israel.
But other goals, including disarming Hamas, securing Israeli withdrawal - as the IDF currently controls about two-thirds of the strip - and rebuilding Gaza, appear far from reach.
California leaders slam Trump for saying Iran could ‘take out’ L.A. or San Diego
California officials have sharply criticized President Donald Trump after he appeared to suggest Iran could “take out” Los Angeles and San Diego in a speech in Nebraska on Monday.
Speaking at a Republican rally, Trump said Iran could not develop a nuclear weapon and described the war as a “small price to pay for keeping the world safe.”
He suggested Iran could “take out a city,” saying: “Let them take out Los Angeles, let them take out San Diego.” He added that the war would be over “very soon.”
In a social media post, White House communications director Steven Cheung said Trump “was clearly stating U.S. cities would have been threatened if a nuclear Iran hadn’t been stopped.”
Mamdani’s plan to tackle antisemitism faces backlash from Jewish New Yorkers
https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/6130352-zohran-mamdani-antisemitism-strategy-criticized/
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani (D) rolled out a first-of-its-kind municipal strategy to combat antisemitism last week, and it has drawn some criticism from Jewish leaders who say its omission of Israel and anti-Zionism overlooks a key factor behind the recent rise in hate crimes against Jewish New Yorkers.
A joint statement from the United Jewish Appeal (UJA)-Federation of New York, the Jewish Community Relations Council of New York, the American Jewish Committee, and the New York Board of Rabbis welcomed elements of the plan but said the city must also confront anti-Israel rhetoric — including Mamdani’s own — to effectively combat antisemitism.
“While the Mayor’s plan has a number of positive elements, including some increased security funding for Jewish institutions and expanding proven programs, it fails to address a central issue that the Mayor himself has perpetuated: rhetoric that demonizes and delegitimizes Israel inevitably leads to the targeting of Jewish New Yorkers,” the groups wrote in a statement.
Midterm Voters Live in Trump’s Two Economic Realities
https://www.newsweek.com/midterm-voters-live-in-trumps-two-economic-realities-12526758
Donald Trump’s administration has been stacking up some economic wins as of late as his Republican Party candidates prepare for the midterms.
That’s because the economy is doing well—for people like Donald Trump. Most Americans are not like Donald Trump, and his administration’s impressive growth statistics and booming corporate profits are not the kind of numbers most Americans encounter on a daily basis. Those are found on the sign outside the gas station and at the bottom of the grocery receipt.