Miracles are built into Nature

 Rabbeinu Bachya (Avos 05:08) What we learn from these medrashim is that everything – the past the present and the future has been decreed from the time of Creation and there is nothing new under the Sun. Thus what seems to be new is merely something built into Nature which is first manifesting itself at the appropriate time> Because if you want to say that G-d did not want something until it is seen and He is making something totally new and thus changing his Mind – Heaven Forfend! In fact there is no change or innovation in Nature after the original Creation and everything that seems to be a change was built into Nature. 

Moreh Nevuchim (02:29) God made an agreement with the sea that it should divide before the Israelites: thus it is said, “And the sea returned to its strength when the morning appeared”. R. Jeremiah, son of Elazar, said: Not only with the sea, but with all that has been created in the six days of the beginning was the agreement made: this is referred to in the words, “I, even my hands have stretched out the heavens, and all their host have I commanded”; i.e., I have commanded the sea to divide, the fire not to hurt Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, the lions not to harm Daniel, and the fish to spit out Jonah. The same is the case with the rest of the miracles. 

Avos (05:06) Ten things were created on the eve of the Sabbath at twilight, and these are they: [1] the mouth of the earth, [2] the mouth of the well, [3] the mouth of the donkey, [4] the rainbow, [5] the manna, [6] the staff [of Moses], [7] the shamir, [8] the letters, [9] the writing, [10] and the tablets. And some say: also the demons, the grave of Moses, and the ram of Abraham, our father. And some say: and also tongs, made with tongs.Avos D'Rabbi Nassan (36:5) These seven have no share in the World to Come: the scribe, the schoolteacher, the best doctors, the city judge, the magician, the sexton, and the butcher.

Moreh Nevuchim (02:29) Our Sages, however, said very strange things as regards miracles: they are found in Bereshis Rabba, and in Midrash Koheles, namely, that the miracles are to some extent also natural: for they say, when God created the Universe with its present physical properties, He made it part of these properties, that they should produce certain miracles at certain times, and the sign of a prophet consisted in the fact that God told him to declare when a certain thing will take place, but the thing itself was effected according to the fixed laws of Nature. If this is really the meaning of the passage referred to, it testifies to the greatness of the author, and shows that he held it to be impossible that there should be a change in the laws of Nature, or a change in the will of God as regards the physical properties of things after they have once been established. He therefore assumes, e.g., that God gave the waters the property of joining together, and of flowing in a downward direction, and of separating only at the time when the Egyptians were drowned, and only in a particular place. 

Rambam (Shemoneh Perakim 8) The sages said that all miracles which deviate from the natural course of events, whether they have already occured, or, according to promise, are to take place in the future, were fore-ordained by the Divine Will during the six days of creation, nature being then so constituted that those miracles which were to happen really did afterwards take place. Then, when such an occurence happened at its proper time, it may have been regarded as an absolute innovation, whereas in reality it was not. The Rabbis expatiate very much upon this subject in the Midrash Koheleth and in other writings, one of their statements in reference to this matter being, "Everything follows its natural course". In everything that they said, you will always find that the Rabbis avoided referring to the Divine Will as determining a particular event at a particular time. When, therefore, they said that man rises and sits down in accordance with the will of God, their meaning was that, when man was first created, his nature was so determined that rising up and sitting down were to be optional to him; but they as little meant that God wills at any special moment that man should or should not get up, as He determines at any given time that a certain stone should or should not fall to the ground. The sum and substance of the matter is, then, that thou shouldst believe that just as God willed that man should be upright in stature, broad-chested, and have fingers, likewise did He will that man should move or rest of his own accord, and that his actions should be such as his own free will dictates to him, without any outside influence or restraint, which fact God clearly states in the truthful Law, which elucidates this problem, when it says, "Behold, the man is become as one of us to know good and evil". The Targum, in paraphrasing this passage, explains the meaning of the words mimmenu lada'at ṭob wara'. Man has become the only being in the world who possesses a characteristic which no other being has in common with him. What is this characteristic? It is that by and of himself man can distinguish between good and evil, and do that which he pleases, with absolutely no restraint. Since, then, this is so, it would have even been possible for him to have stretched out his hand, and, taking of the tree of life, to have eaten of its fruit, and thus live forever. Since it is an essential characteristic of man's makeup that he should of his own free will act morally or immorally, doing just as he chooses, it becomes necessary to teach him the ways of righteousness, to command and exhort him, to punish and reward him according to his deserts. It behooves man also to accustom himself to the practice of good deeds, until he acquires the virtues corresponding to those good deeds; and, furthermore, to abstain from evil deeds so that he may eradicate the vices that may have taken root in him. Let him not suppose that his characteristics have reached such a state that they are no longer subject to change, for any one of them may be altered from the good to the bad, and vice versa; and, moreover, all in accordance with his own free will. To confirm this theory, we have mentioned all these facts concerning the observances and the transgressions of the Law.

Idolators are not Stupid

 Derashos HaRan (04): For there is no question that those who were drawn after idol worship and who became its devotees, as we learn from Scripture and from the words of our sages— there is no question that they were not fools. Beyond a doubt, experience confirmed them in their expectation of benefit from their idolatrous acts, for if this were not the case, so many sound individuals would not have strayed into idolatry generation after generation. But it is as we have said. In the early times there were many acts which were known to result in great benefit. There was no error on this score but only in the conception of the means by which this benefit was derived. In reality, it derived solely from the nature of the thing acted upon; but the practitioners of these acts attributed the benefit to the will of the acting and protecting agency and compounded their sin by bringing offerings and sacrifices to the heavenly host. It follows from this that anything which is known to derive from the predisposition of the recipient is beneficial in truth and permitted by the Torah, and what is thought to derive from the will of the celestial agent is vain and empty and in the realm of idolatry. Therefore, every act which does not contain the intent of drawing-down the favor of a celestial agent and which is not distinctly idolatrous is not in the forbidden category of "the ways of the Emorites."

Trump struck dumb as realities of war make a mockery of his bluster

Iran’s ‘new’ regime looks much the same, only harsher

https://edition.cnn.com/2026/04/03/middleeast/trump-claims-iran-regime-change-intl 

US President Donald Trump said this week that Iran’s new leadership is “less radical and much more reasonable.” Trump and the Pentagon have repeatedly claimed that regime change has happened.

If anything, the war has given more power to the hardline military factions inside the complex system of Iranian governance, as well as bolstered anti-American sentiments.

“When President Trump says he has changed the regime in Iran, he’s right in one sense – he’s changed it to a much more radicalized regime,” said Ali Vaez, Iran Project Director at the International Crisis Group. “All of these individuals who are now in place – the new national security advisor, the new head of the IRGC, the speaker of the parliament, who himself was a former commander of Revolutionary Guards – they all have been involved in domestic repression extensively in their past lives.”

 Rav Menachem Schneerson Igros Kodesh #1:94): I. The view of the Baal Shem Tov: Providence applies to every event that affects man as well as inanimate matter, plants, and animals… As explained by our master, the Baal Shem Tov, not only are all the particular activities of that which has been created determined by providence but this providence is the life-energy of the created being and maintains its existence. Moreover, every particular movement of that which has been created has a connection to the intent of the creation as a whole…. The movement of one blade of grass is part of what G-d’s intent is for the creation as a whole…

US intelligence assesses Iran maintains significant missile launching capability

 https://edition.cnn.com/2026/04/02/politics/iran-missiles-us-military-strikes-trump

Roughly half of Iran’s missile launchers are still intact and thousands of one-way attack drones remain in Iran’s arsenal despite the daily pounding by US and Israeli strikes against military targets over the past five weeks, according to recent US intelligence assessments, three sources familiar with the intel told CNN.

Thousands of Iranian drones still exist — roughly 50% of the country’s drone capabilities — two of the sources said the intelligence indicated. The intelligence, compiled in recent days, also showed a large percentage of Iran’s coastal defense cruise missiles were intact, the sources said, consistent with the US not focusing its air campaign on coastal military assets though they have been hitting ships. Those missiles serve as a key capability allowing Iran to threaten shipping traffic in the Strait of Hormuz.

איזהו מקומן

Tefillah is associated with Korbanot. Tefillat Shacharit is divided into several sections. The first section involves reciting the daily Korbanot as an attempt to reenact what was, and for which we are praying, to be reinstated.[1] The power of this recital is directly related to our understanding.

This section concludes with a chapter of Mishnayot, Eizehu Mekoman. This unique chapter of Mishnayos from Masechet Zevachim presents a summary classification of  the Korbanot. This summary is cryptic and confusing for the uninitiated, anyone who hasn't invested in studying Kodshim.

The attached, a carefully planned and organized chart with concise notes was composed to help clarify the differering details in each Mishna, along with various unclear references, such as:

אלו ואלו נשרפין

שיירי הדם

שינה באכילתן

As mentioned in the notes, a chapter of Mishnayot was included so that we approach Tefillah after learning oral Torah. Besides relating to and providing an overview of Korbanot, this is the only chapter in the entire Shas Mishnayot without even one disagreement. 

This chart was created by a young avreich, Rav Nosson Neta Weiss Shlita, and repeatedly peer-reviewed until it reached the current state of superb clarity. It serves as an introduction to Korbanot as it renders the chapter readily accessible and meaningful with relatively minimal effort.

It is his sincere desire that these charts be distributed in durable form far and wide לזיכוי הרבים and to dramatically increase the power of כאילו הקריבו  recital considered as if these Korbanot were actually brought up.

May this learning help to focus our yearning for the rebuilding of the Beit Hamikdash speedily in our days ושם נעבדך ביראה כימי עולם וכשנים קדמוניות

 Rav Weiss lives in Bet Shemesh, and may be contacted by phone at 0533101314, email g0534158595@gmail.com. He is fluent in Hebrew and in Yiddish. For English, please contact 0533144111.

Important request:

A donation of 100 NIS covers printing 100 copies, enabling another 100 of our brothers to recite with clear understanding. With sufficient funds, costs drop, enabling greater distribution.

Please donate here to participate in distribution of Eizehu Mekoman Charts.https://nedar.im/dYqr

The donations are eligible for an Israeli charity tax deduction (Chapter 46).

 [1] אמר ריש לקיש: מאי דכתיב 'זאת התורה, לעולה, למנחה, ולחטאת, ולאשם'? כל העוסק בתורה - כאילו הקריב עולה, מנחה, חטאת, ואשם.

אמר רבא: האי 'לעולה, למנחה', "עולה ומנחה" מיבעי ליהW אלא אמר רבא: כל העוסק בתורה - אינו צריך לא עולה, (ולא חטאת) ולא מנחה, ולא אשם.

אמר רבי יצחק: מאי דכתיב 'זאת תורת החטאת', ו'זאת תורת האשם'? כל העוסק בתורת חטאת - כאילו הקריב חטאת. וכל העוסק בתורת אשם - כאילו הקריב אשם." (מנחות ק"י ע"א).

As Trump signals retreat from war, Israel may have to keep fighting Iranian threat

 https://www.timesofisrael.com/as-trump-signals-retreat-from-war-israel-may-have-to-keep-fighting-iranian-threat/

The US, for its part, seems uninterested in bringing the Islamic Republic down. Worryingly for Israel, Trump argues — in an entirely novel definition of the term — that regime change has already been secured since Iran’s senior leadership has been wiped out.

Israel’s goal of removing Iran’s ability to pose a threat likely cannot be achieved without regime change, Israel’s ambassador to Washington Yechiel Leiter said on the What the Hell is Going on? podcast Monday.

The purpose of the campaign, he said, “is to make sure that we don’t have a power, an entity in Tehran, which is developing nuclear weapons, is developing weapons of mass destruction in terms of these ballistic missiles, and is supporting proxies around the region. That’s what we’re focused on.”

“Now, if that can be done without regime change, okay. Probably can’t, though,” he added.

Israel, it seems, is making plans for the distinct possibility that Trump moves on from the war and the Iranian regime survives. It will then be facing a much-weakened Islamic Republic, but one that still commands massive resources to pour into rebuilding and still has armed proxies ready to do its bidding.

The military campaign, in that case, may then be over, but the war will be far from its end.

Pesach - The Holiday of Faith

 https://www.torahweb.org/torah/2007/moadim/rwil_pesach.html

Pesach, from its very inception, represented the antithesis of idolatry: "Draw your hands away from idols and take for yourselves a sheep of mitzvah" (Rashi, Shemos 12:6). "And the people believed" (4:31); belief in Hashem and His messengers, Moshe and Aharon, began the redemption process.

"This is the law of the Korban Pesach: any stranger may not eat from it" (Shemos 12:43). "Any stranger" includes one who knowingly rejects all, or even part, of the Torah (Rashi, Gur Aryeh). The opening law stated regarding the Korban Pesach emphasizes the indispensability of faith in Hashem and His Torah on Pesach. The wicked son is excluded from the Korban Pesach, even though he too left Egypt, because his lack of faith disqualifies him from the final geula.

The Beis Halevi (parshas Bo) comments that Pesach is linked to the ultimate redemption. Since denial of the validity of the Oral Torah led to the destruction of the second Beis Hamikdash, acceptance of this belief is a prerequisite for its rebuilding.

Americans have little appetite for sending U.S. troops to Iran, polls show

 https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2026/04/01/iran-war-polls-ground-troops/

As the Iran war rolls into its second month and President Donald Trump weighs launching ground operations, polls show that Americans’ opposition to the conflict has hardened and few support sending U.S. ground troops into action beyond very limited circumstances.

The opposition cuts across partisan lines, as more Republicans oppose than support sending ground troops, by 37 to 30 percent in the YouGov survey. Support is even tepid within Trump’s base, with 41 percent of self-identified MAGA supporters favoring a ground operation and 27 percent opposing it. Sixty percent of non-MAGA Republicans oppose using ground troops.

That dynamic could pose a significant political problem for the president, as gas prices hit $4 a gallon and American allies show little interest in helping with the U.S. operation. Republicans face growing headwinds in the November midterms, whose outcome could be driven by each side’s enthusiasm and whose results may help determine the course of Trump’s final two years in office.

Aggressive brain cancer may respond to high-dose vitamin therapy, study suggests

 https://www.foxnews.com/health/aggressive-brain-cancer-may-respond-high-dose-vitamin-therapy-study-suggests

High-dose vitamin B3 (niacin) may enhance immune activity and improve short-term disease control in glioblastoma when added to standard therapy, according to early preclinical studies.

Six months after receiving niacin in addition to standard treatments (surgery, radiation and chemotherapy), 82% of the patients showed no disease progression, compared to the typical 54%, according to the study's press release.

The study’s small sample size, short follow-up and lack of a randomized control group also posed limitations, the researchers acknowledged.

Trump Tells Aides He’s Willing to End War Without Reopening Hormuz

 https://www.wsj.com/world/middle-east/trump-iran-war-strait-of-hormuz-ee950ad4

President Trump told aides he’s willing to end the U.S. military campaign against Iran even if the Strait of Hormuz remains largely closed, administration officials said, likely extending Tehran’s firm grip on the waterway and leaving a complex operation to reopen it for a later date.

In recent days, Trump and his aides assessed that a mission to pry open the chokepoint would push the conflict beyond his timeline of four to six weeks. He decided that the U.S. should achieve its main goals of hobbling Iran’s navy and its missile stocks and wind down current hostilities while pressuring Tehran diplomatically to resume the free flow of trade. If that fails, Washington would press allies in Europe and the Gulf to take the lead on reopening the strait, the officials said. 

Researchers tie vaping to mouth and lung cancers in new analysis

 https://www.jpost.com/science/article-891810

A new comprehensive scientific review concludes that vaping, including nicotine-containing products, is likely to cause oral and lung cancers. The authors identified early warning signs strongly linked to cancer risk, such as DNA damage, inflammation, and epigenetic changes associated with later lung cancer. They warned that delaying recognition of vaping’s dangers could have dire consequences, given cancer latency periods of 20 to 40 years and the roughly 15-year window of widespread e-cigarette availability.

Large-scale human data on vapers who develop cancer will take decades to accumulate. “The evidence was remarkably consistent across fields. It dictated an unequivocal finding now, though human studies that estimate the risk will take decades to accumulate,” Associate Professor of Epidemiology Freddy Sitas said. He noted it took 100 years for authorities to recognize smoking as a cause of lung cancer and urging regulators not to let vaping follow the same path, according to Bloomberg.

According to the review vaping may cause cancer independently, even in people who have never smoked conventional cigarettes. It cites case reports, including a 19-year-old with aggressive oral cancer, and dentists’ observations of mouth cancers in non-smoking patients attributed to vaping.

Trump: We will be leaving Iran very soon

 https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/424910

US President Donald Trump told reporters at the Oval Office on Tuesday that the US would leave Iran “very soon", estimating it could happen “within two or three weeks".

“I would say that within two weeks, maybe three. We're hitting them very hard. Last night, we knocked out tremendous amounts of missile-making facilities," he said.

“We're negotiating with them right now. We have had regime change," Trump stated, adding that “regime change was not one of the things I had as a goal. I had one goal. They will have no nuclear weapon. And that goal has been attained. They will not have nuclear weapons. But we're finishing the job. And I think within maybe two weeks, maybe a couple of days longer to do the job."

When asked about the Strait of Hormuz, Trump stated that he expects the shipping lane "automatically reopen" with the end of the war and that "the countries that are using the strait, let them go and open it."