Thursday, October 31, 2024

Pennsylvania Voter Fraud Allegations: Everything We Know

 https://www.newsweek.com/pennsylvania-voter-fraud-allegations-everything-we-know-1977920

While officials in both counties are yet to come to a conclusion over whether they received some fraudulent voter registration application forms, Trump launched several false claims earlier this week about the two counties engaging in widespread voter fraud.

Jesse Watters Says Wife Voting for Kamala Harris Is Like ‘Having an Affair’

 https://www.thedailybeast.com/jesse-watters-says-wife-voting-for-kamala-harris-is-like-having-an-affair/

“If I found out Emma was going to the voting booth and pulling the lever for Harris, that’s the same thing as having an affair,” he said.

“That violates the sanctity of our marriage. What else is she keeping from me? What is she lying about?” he continued. “Why would she do that and vote Harris? Why would she say she was voting… If I caught her and she said, ‘I lied to you for the last four years.’”

Trump’s Transition Chief Spews RFK Jr.’s Anti-Vax Lies and Says They’re ‘Fun’

 https://www.thedailybeast.com/trumps-transition-chief-howard-lutnick-spews-rfk-jrs-fun-anti-vax-lies/

Lutnick denied that Kennedy had any interest in a government position, instead claiming that all he wanted was more data on vaccines to investigate their efficacy.

“I think it’d be pretty cool to give me the data we’ll see what he comes up with,” Lutnick said. “It’s pretty fun.”

After being confronted about the dozens of leading scientific experts who have raised alarm bells about such an arrangement, Lutnick made a truly wild claim: that those scientists “were paid to say [RFK Jr.] pushes lies.”

He failed to offer any evidence to back the claim up.

Trump Team Co-Chair Questions Vaccines on CNN: 'They're Not Proven'

https://www.newsweek.com/trump-team-co-chair-questions-vaccines-cnn-theyre-not-proven-1977704 

Lutnick also claimed that both he and Collins "know so many more people" now that have autism versus when they were younger. Collins quickly asserted that "vaccines don't cause autism," pointing to Kennedy also peddling that falsehood, "which is why people are concerned that he could get a job like HHS."

Trump wants to compare now to four years ago. Here’s what it looks like

 https://www.reuters.com/world/us/does-trump-really-want-compare-now-four-years-ago-2024-10-30/

After adjusting for inflation the economy overall is 11.5% larger now than it was at the end of 2019, when output under Trump reached its peak. Growth rates were comparable: From the third quarter of 2023 to the third quarter of this year, inflation-adjusted output rose 2.66%; in the comparable pre-COVID quarters, comparing the third quarter of 2019 to the third quarter of 2018, the economy expanded 2.8%.

Trump sparks concern with claims of fraud in Pennsylvania

 https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/4962489-trump-casts-doubt-election-results-pennsylvania/

“They’ve already started cheating in Lancaster. They’ve cheated. We caught them with 2,600 votes. No, we caught them cold,” Trump said.

Officials in Lancaster County announced last week they were reviewing roughly 2,500 voter registration forms due to potential fraud. But there were no fraudulent ballots involved and no indication that the registration forms are a sign of wider fraud, according to The Philadelphia Inquirer.

RFK Jr. claims Trump pledged to give him ‘control’ of HHS, USDA

 https://www.politico.com/live-updates/2024/10/30/2024-elections-live-coverage-updates-analysis/robert-f-kennedy-jr-trump-administration-00186227

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said Monday that former President Donald Trump has promised him “control” of HHS and the Department of Agriculture, according to a video obtained by POLITICO.

Speaking at a virtual event, the former presidential candidate said “the key that President Trump has promised me is control of the public health agencies, which are HHS and its sub-agencies, CDC, FDA, NIH, and a few others … and then also the USDA.”

Puerto Rican Artist Nicky Jam Withdraws Trump Endorsement

 https://www.thedailybeast.com/puerto-rican-artist-nicky-jam-u-turns-on-donald-trump-support/

On Wednesday, however, Jam announced he no longer supported Trump in an Instagram video.

“Never in my life did I think that a month later a comedian would come to criticize my country and speak badly about my country,” he told his 43 million followers on the app. “And therefore, I withdraw any support for Donald Trump and step aside from any political situation. Puerto Rico deserves respect.”

Wednesday, October 30, 2024

That photo of people wearing ‘Nebraska Walz’s for Trump’ shirts? They’re distant cousins

 https://apnews.com/article/walz-family-nebraska-trump-elelction-2f2e29586b0e9ebe094ff2cf546e1ae4

A sister of Democratic vice presidential nominee Tim Walz says she doesn’t recognize the people wearing “Nebraska Walz’s for Trump” T-shirts in a photo that is making the rounds on social media. It turns out they are distant cousins.

Dershowitz says he could ‘enthusiastically’ vote for Biden over Trump

 https://thehill.com/homenews/media/448480-dershowitz-says-he-could-enthusiastically-vote-for-biden-over-trump/

“I’m a strong supporter of Joe Biden. I like Joe Biden. I’ve liked him for a long time, and I could enthusiastically support Joe Biden,” Dershowitz said during a radio interview with Dan Abrams on his Sirius XM radio show.

“Over Donald Trump?” Abrams asked.

“Over Donald Trump, yeah,” Dershowitz replied. 

Trump Rage-Posts Through Night After Harris’ Massive D.C. Rally

 https://www.thedailybeast.com/donald-trump-rage-posted-on-truth-social-in-the-middle-of-the-night-after-massive-kamala-harris-rally/

Trump has a tendency to lash out on Truth Social when he’s upset, and although he claims nobody draws crowds like he does, the size of Harris’ rallies has been a sore spot throughout the campaign. A Harvard analysis found that Harris rallies draw, on average, twice as many attendees as Trump’s. The D.C. Metropolitan Police Department expected about 20,000 people to show up to Harris’s D.C. rally—roughly the same number that packed Madison Square Garden for Trump on Sunday. In fact, the vice president’s event ballooned to more than 52,000 people, causing overflow on the Washington Mall, before ultimately reach 75,000, a campaign official said.

RFK Jr. and Aaron Rodgers: How con artists exploit male insecurity for political gain

 https://www.salon.com/2024/03/15/rfk-jr-and-aaron-rodgers-how-con-artists-exploit-male-insecurity/

But the sad truth is that just because Rodgers and Kennedy are villains doesn't make their victims innocent. Like most con artists, these two manipulate not the good intentions of their marks, but their ugliest instincts. Certainly, there's no shame in having feelings of insecurity, which most people feel at times. But young men are being told to combat that feeling with narcissism, laziness, and entitlement. To play the victim of poorly defined "elites" — a word that Kennedy loves to use — while worshipping actual elites like Kennedy or Rodgers. And to align themselves with these elites, whose main gripe is that their privileged existence doesn't stop others from criticizing the terrible and false things they say. 

In this, these two resemble Donald Trump, who still gets the lion's share of male voters who are largely mad that other people aren't kissing their asses hard enough. The Kennedy crowd does seem to veer younger, suggesting part of it is they don't want to be associated with the embarrassing fanny pack Boomer crowds that fill up Trump rallies. They also swoon at Kennedy's rhetoric about how he "defies the left-right division." That sort of empty rhetoric flatters the egos of people who want to feel like rebels without actually doing the hard work of resisting real injustice — especially if doing so means confronting your own prejudices. 

Arnold Schwarzenegger Says He Is Voting for Harris and Walz

 https://www.newsweek.com/election-2024-live-updates-kamala-harris-donald-trump-10-30-24-1977137


I guess he is not a real man

Former Republican governor of California Arnold Schwarzenegger announced in a lengthy X post that he will vote for Kamala Harris and Tim Walz this Election Day. The Terminator actor admitted that he does not "like either party right now" and said that Trump's comments about America being "like a garbage can for the world" are "so unpatriotic, it makes me furious." He added that he "will always be an American before I am a Republican," and that this is the reason why he will be voting for Harris and Walz. Schwarzenegger has openly criticized Trump in recent years. Following the January 6, 2021 rebellion, Schwarzenegger said that Trump would be recognized as the worst President in U.S. history.

Trump declares himself ‘father of IVF’ at town hall with all-female audience

https://edition.cnn.com/2024/10/16/politics/ivf-donald-trump-abortion/index.html 

 Donald Trump on Tuesday declared himself the “father of IVF,” a fertility treatment that has come under threat following the Supreme Court’s 2022 decision to overturn Roe v. Wade.

It’s unclear what precisely the former president meant when he made the comment at a Fox News town hall in battleground Georgia that was billed as focusing on women’s issues and had an all-female audience. But he has repeatedly returned to the issue – talking up his support for IVF – on the campaign trail, where he has given a long series of confusing or contradictory answers about his stance on abortion.

How Trump’s toxic masculinity threatens men’s health

 https://www.msnbc.com/the-reidout/reidout-blog/trump-masculinity-gun-violence-suicide-prevention-rcna173360

Trump has only leaned in to his hypermasculine anti-science agenda by promoting his “Make America Healthy Again” slogan with anti-vax conspiracy theorist Robert F. Kennedy Jr., an archetype for toxic masculinity in his own right, who has reportedly been promised a role in Trump’s administration if Trump wins the election and has promoted the idea of banning U.S. agencies from studying infectious diseases. 

Protean Masculinity, Hegemonic Masculinity

 https://www.jstor.org/stable/26567846#:~:text=Hegemonic%20masculinity%20in%20Nazi%20Germany,body%2C%20mind%2C%20and%20psyche.

Hegemonic masculinity in Nazi Germany, as well as in many militarized societies around the globe, meant physical, emotional, and moral “hardness.” The ideal man, embodied by the soldier, was tough and aggressive, in control of his body, mind, and psyche. He did not hesitate to sacrifice life and limb on behalf of the Fatherland, or to subordinate his individuality under the command of a conformist group of comrades. Whereas many scholars have already stressed these features of hegemonic masculinity, this article argues that the act of soldiering provided men with a male identity that was ultimately not defined by the repudiation, but rather integration, of what was (and is) often coded as feminine. In the social practice of male interaction, diversity and flexibility were needed, thus allowing for the display of femininely coded behavior like affection, tenderness, empathy, caring, and tolerance toward emotional breakdowns and moments of weakness in their midst. Thanks to its inclusive nature, such “protean” masculinity enabled different types of soldier-men to establish male identities; it also allowed them to switch among different emotional and moral states without losing their manliness. Yet, this was true only if the predominance of hardness was respected. Eventually, protean masculinity integrated diverse men and diverse emotional and moral conditions into a fighting unit, and, in the case of the Third Reich, into a genocidal society

Trump told Netanyahu he wants Gaza war over by time he enters office - Israel's friend?

 https://www.timesofisrael.com/trump-told-netanyahu-he-wants-gaza-war-over-by-time-he-enters-office-sources/

The message was first conveyed when the Republican presidential nominee hosted the Israeli premier at his Florida Mar-a-Lago resort in July, according to a former Trump administration official and an Israeli official.

While Trump has publicly confirmed having told Netanyahu that he wants Israel to win the war quickly, the sources speaking to The Times of Israel are the first to reveal that a timeline was attached to that request.

The former US official stressed that Trump wasn’t specific in his appeal to Netanyahu and could well back “residual” IDF activity in Gaza, so long as Jerusalem has officially ended the war.

Freud Did Not Discover the Unconscious

 https://scholars-stage.org/freud-did-not-discover-the-unconscious/

The discovery that a dramatic amount of mental processing occurs outside our awareness is generally credited to Sigmund Freud (1856– 1939). However, this is a myth, crafted in large part by Freud himself. As noted by the historian and philosopher Marcel Gauchet, “When Freud declares, in substance, that prior to psychoanalysis the mind was systematically identified with consciousness, we have to declare this statement rigorously false.” 


Crude talk and the NFL: Trump doubles down on his lead with male voters

 https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/elections/2024/10/21/trump-macho-man-appeal/75776773007/

Young men are particularly unreliable voters. In the 2020 election, 55% of women age 18-29 voted compared to 44% of men, according to an analysis by the Center for Information & Research on Civic Learning and Engagement at Tufts University.

Getting them to cast ballots in high enough numbers could be a challenge, and Trump's campaign is facing questions from political observers about the strength of its get-out-the-vote operation, much of which has been outsourced to third-party groups. A super PAC financed by entrepreneur Elon Musk is leading part of the effort.

US presidential election updates: Polls show historic gender split between Trump and Harris voters

 https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/oct/25/us-presidential-election-trump-harris-updates

Donald Trump has been working tirelessly to win over male voters and by some measures his efforts appear effective, but it may have come at the cost of female support. According to a USA Today/Suffolk University poll, Trump is besting Kamala Harris among men by 53% to 37%, while the Democratic candidate is winning among women 53% to 36%.

"G-d does miracles even for the irreligious" - Criticism of the views of the Satmar Rebbe

One of the major theological controversies in recent years has been the validity of the Satmar Rebbe's claim that the Six Day War victory was ma'aseh Satan and whether miracles only happen to frum people. [There is of course Rav Moshe's teshuva (Y.D. 4:8.2) regarding the miracle of Entebbe which clearly disagrees with the Satmar. ] But there is a little known or  remembered event that happened shortly after the Six Day War which clearly defined the basis of dispute. This is the version I heard from Rabbi Gavriel Beer - a life long Aguda askan - who was there.

As is well known by now, the mood leading up to the Six Days War was very gloomy. Many in Israeli and in the Diaspora were anticipating a war which would be very costly in life - both for the soldiers and civilian population. The more optimistic view was that Israel would take a harsh beating but would survive. There is no need to mention the pessimistic view.

But when the guns were silent after the incredibly short war in June 1967, Israelis discovered that not only had they survived but they had soundly thrashed the massive armies of the surrounding Arab countries and in addition had acquired the West Bank - which included the Old City of Jerusalem and the location of the Temple. Everyone seemed to say it was an open miracle. There was one major dissenting voice - the Satmar Rebbe - who insisted that it was not only not a miracle but the victory was in fact the work of Satan. He emphatically stated that miracles don't happen for the Zionist  - especially to support the theological crime known as the State of Israel.

Several months later at the annual Aguda Convention, this astounding event was the central topic of discussion  Speaker after speaker spoke on the topic and the gedolim were clearly divided on whether to agree or disagree with the Satmar position. One of those who publicly agreed with the Satmar view was Rav Yaakov Kaminetsky.

At the Melava Malka that weekend, the keynote speaker was Rav Itchie Meyer Levin - the Gerrer Rebbe's son-in-law. He of course spoke about the topic. After some introductory comments he made the following observation. "Not so long ago the Jewish people suffered the horrible loss of 6  million Jews in the Holocaust. When we went to the gedolim for an explanation we were told that we must be silent and accept this because it was G-d's will. Now we were just faced with another possible holocaust in the Land of Israel but the Jews were saved this time. We hear gedolim who say that these millions who were saved were saved by Satan. How is that when it comes to the death of Jews it is G-d's work but when it comes to rescuing them from death it is Satan? It can't be."

In response, Rav Yaakov Kaminetsky quickly wrote a note which he sent to be read from the podium. It said, "I want to publicly retract my previous statement supporting the view of the Satmar Rebbe and say that now I agree fully with what Rabbi Levin just stated." 

Rabbi Beer noted that this was Rav Yaakov's greatness. His only concern was truth and he wasn't afraid to publically admit that he had erred.

======================
Igros Moshe(Y.D. 4:8.2):Concerning the matter of the Jews who were hijacked in Uganda and then were saved by [Israeli] soldiers who went to Uganda. It is reasonable that this should be considered an open miracle. That is because in the normal course of events it would not be possible that such a thing be successful. Whatever is done in the world is only by the hand of G‑d – whether it is for the good or whether it is – G‑d forbid - ! the opposite. He causes the blow and the cure. He caused that these Jews be captured. But He also caused that they were rescued by means of giving these soldiers special courage and motivation so that they were able to save the captives. He also arranged circumstances so the soldiers in fact were successful. Nevertheless the reasons that G‑d did a miracle through sinners are hidden from us. Furthermore it is prohibited for any man to be “wise” and raise question against G‑d’s actions. Rather it is necessary for us to be innocent and accepting whatever G‑d does as it explicity says in the Torah (Devarim 18:13)

Yakov complained about Hard Life and was Punished

 Daas Zekeinim (Bereishis 47:08), “for how many years have you lived thus far?” Pharaoh was probably prompted to ask this unusual question of his guest as he looked as if he was exceedingly old. Yaakov, when replying, did not refer to his having “lived” at all, but described his sojourn on earth as something of a very temporary nature, , “the days of my being a stranger,” as opposed to , “the days of the years the life,” the way the Torah had described the life of his grandmother Sarah at her death, reported in Genesis 23,1. He indicated that as opposed to his forefathers, he had had a very troubled life thus far. This resulted in his features reflecting this. An explanation by the Midrash of this strange sounding conversation between the ruler of the civilized world at the time and Joseph’s father: As soon as Yaakov had uttered the words that his life compared unfavorably with that of his father and grandfather, G–d told him “I have saved you from Esau and Lavan, I restored your daughter Dinah to you, as well as your son Joseph, and you have the nerve to describe your life on earth in negative terms when speaking to Pharaoh? I am now forced to make sure that you did not tell a lie, by shortening your lifespan when compared to that of your father and grandfather. He therefore deducted a year for each of the words in this reply by Yaakov, i.e. 33 words, so that he died at 147 years, 33 years younger than the lifespan of his father who had lived for 180 years

What’s really behind America’s men v women election

 https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cjr430gry81o

With his almost intuitive grasp of people’s dissatisfactions, Trump has tapped into that male frustration, and in the final weeks of his campaign he has doubled down on masculinity. He reposted a warning on Truth Social claiming “Manhood is Under Attack.” Recently he joked about a famous golfer’s genitalia.

“This is a guy that was all man,” said Trump, referring to golfer Arnold Palmer. “When he took showers with the other pros, they came out of there – they said, ‘Oh my God. That’s unbelievable.’”

Trump took the locker room talk out of the locker room - and his audience loved it. Riffing about penis size at a political rally, it was the ultimate pushback against stifling political correctness.

Nikki Haley Says Trump’s Messaging Is Turning Off Women Voters

 https://www.forbes.com/sites/markjoyella/2024/10/29/nikki-haley-says-trumps-messaging-is-turning-off-women-voters/

Former Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley says Donald Trump’s campaign may be alienating women voters in the final days before Election Day. “They need to look at how they’re talking about women,” Haley told Fox News Tuesday night. “This bromance and this masculinity stuff, it borders on edgy to the point that it’s going to make women uncomfortable.”

Donald Trump Is a Clear and Present Danger to American Jews

 https://www.newsweek.com/donald-trump-clear-present-danger-american-jews-opinion-1976837

People have forgotten the immense rise in antisemitic acts under Trump's administration, the great emboldening of American antisemitism that began long before the student protests on quads across America. The desecration of gravestones around the country. The deaths of Jews trying to celebrate God in Pittsburgh on Oct. 27, 2018. If you're looking for a fuller list of Trump's antisemitic tropes, I recommend reading here.

Donald Trump may support Benjamin Netanyahu, but when the support of the worst of his supporters is on the line, he won't be there for you.

Donald Trump Could Be His Own 'October Surprise,' Analysts Warn

 https://www.newsweek.com/donald-trump-october-surprise-puerto-rico-joke-1976864

Gustavo Torres, the executive director of Latino advocacy group CASA, told Newsweek in a call with national Latino leaders on Tuesday that Trump's rally would not win him back any votes that he may have lost over the Puerto Rico remarks.

"He needs to apologize to the Puerto Rican community, to the Latino community, and he's not doing that," Torres said. "Even if he apologizes, I guarantee you that the Puerto Rican community, our members in Pennsylvania and in Georgia, are never going to forget."

"I believe that that was the October Surprise for the Latino community," he added. "That is the October Surprise for the Puerto Rican community. And we are going to communicate that every single day from now until November 5."

Tuesday, October 29, 2024

Abuse - Torah knowledge alone is not sufficient to safeguard society

Rashi(Bamidbar 10:31):And you [Yisro] will be our eyes - This is past tense according to the Targum. Others say it is future tense. Every matter that is concealed from our eyes you will illuminate our eyes.

Ohr HaChaim (Shemos 18:21): Why did Yisro deserved being the source of the information about forming the judicial system - especially when it implies - chas v'shalom - the ignorance of G-d's people prior to his suggestions? It seems that G-d wanted to teach the Jewish people a fundamental lesson for all generations. The lesson being that there are among the nations of the world men of great intelligence and understanding and these nations have awareness of important and valuable information. G-d's intent was to show through Yisro that the election of the Jews was not because their knowledge and insight was greater than other nations. They were not chosen because of their superior wisdom and knowledge. Their election was the result of G-d's supreme kindness and His love of the Patriarchs. This explanation is more appropriate according to the view that Yisro came prior to the Revelation at Sinai. Accordingly G‑d's message was that even though there are amongst the Nations greater wise men than amongst the Jews - the Jews were nevertheless chosen. We are those to praise Him for choosing us because of his Kindness. However, even according to the view that Yisro came after the Revelation at Sinai - a similar lesson can be learned by the fact that Yisro is mentioned in the sequence of events of the Torah prior to the giving of the Torah.

R. S. R. Hirsch (Shemos 18:24): Nothing is so instructive for us, as this information regarding the first legal institution of the Jewish State, coming immediately before the chapter of the law-giving. So little was Moshe in himself a legistlative genius, he had so little talent for organizing that he had to learn the very elements of state from his father-in-law. The man who tired himself out to utter exhaustion and to whom of himself did not occur to arrange this or some similar simple solution, equally beneficial to himself and his people, the man to who it was necessary to have a Jethro to suggest this obvious device,that man could never have given the People constitution and laws out of his own head, that man was only, and indeed just because of this the best and most faithful instrument of G-d.

Here are four campaign promises from Trump. What are their chances if he wins?

 https://www.jpost.com/us-elections/article-826170

During his third campaign, Trump promises tax cuts on Social Security, increased tariffs, mass deportations, and improved California water access, but faces significant challenges.

George W. Bush's Daughter Barbara Issues Shock Endorsement of Kamala Harris

 https://www.thedailybeast.com/george-w-bushs-daughter-barbara-issues-shock-endorsement-of-kamala-harris/

One of George W. Bush’s twin daughters issued a shock endorsement of Kamala Harris on Tuesday, exactly a week before Election Day.

Barbara Pierce Bush, 42, told People in a statement that it was “inspiring to join friends and meet voters with the Harris-Walz campaign in Pennsylvania” over the weekend, revealing that she’d gone as far as campaigning for the Democratic ticket.

It's Time to Stop Calling Donald Trump a Fascist

 https://www.newsweek.com/its-time-stop-calling-donald-trump-fascist-opinion-1975888

Recently, however, more and more observers have taken to painting the movement and especially its sundowning 78-year-old leader with a single, saucy epithet: Fascist.

So, when figures as varied in outlook, occupation, and political bent as former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark Milley, Charlamagne Tha God, and Yale historian Timothy Snyder characterize Trump and Trumpism as "fascist," attention must be paid.

With respect to Gen. Milley, Professor Snyder, and the rest, one could make the argument—oh, what the hell, let's just make it—that not only is Trump not a fascist. He's worse.

Rav Avigdor MiIler claims conservative candidates, police brutality, stern justice and capital punishment are indispensable for the welfare of society

Subject: Rav Avigdor Miller on Election Day 2016 - Halacha Li'maisah

Q-
     Is it a proper opportunity for the Rav to advise us on who to vote for in the upcoming election?

A-
     Is it advisable for me to recommend voting for one individual over another? Yes, absolutely. It's certainly advisable for Jews to back conservative candidates. Now, exactly which conservative candidate is the best choice is a matter that requires deliberation. But there's no question that the Jews have for too long carried on an affair with the liberals and it has caused them a great deal of suffering. And as long as the liberals will continue to have power we are going to have a continuation of the present disorder of society.

     All the theories of the liberals as to how to improve society are garbage. The plain truth is that forty years ago, without any of these theories, society was relatively stable. And it was based on one easy to understand principle - and that was that there has to be stern justice. And that's all! Now, the liberals will say, "No, that's nothing. It's not true. Capital punishment only increases crime." But that's baloney. It's sheker vi'kazav. There's one thing wrong with this country and that's it. Now, don't say that I'm oversimplifying things. Because they oversimplified in the olden days and we were able to walk in the streets. Everyone was afraid of the police. Until Mayor Lindsay came along and emasculated the police, everyone was afraid of a policeman. And that's what we need. We need more police brutality. And although innocent people might suffer sometimes, it pays. We need tough police who don't care what you say about them. We need police who have headquarters with bosses who disregard the complaints. In the olden days if you walked into headquarters and complained, the Police Captain would bark at you, "What do you want?!" That's what he said to you. He didn't listen to you polititely. "What do you want?!" he said. And you walked out with your head down.

     Capital punishment is the best rehabilitation for criminals. There used to be a Sing-Sing and it was a perfect educational institution for criminals. Anyone who went to Sing-Sing and worked on the [garbled] rock pile, when he got out  he had learned that crime doesn't pay. In [garbled] you didn't have television. All you had was an iron mallet and you stood in the sun in [garbled] and you banged and you banged and you cracked rocks and you sweated. And you were thinking all the time, "Why was I such a fool to get into this?"

     It's nothing but yir'as ha'onesh. And even tzadikim need it. The best people need it. And it would solve almost all crime. But instead they make a crime-study commission and they spend hundreds of thousands of dollars and they bring scientists together and the result is that there's more crime than ever. And you know why? Because it's the scientists who cause crime. Scientists are causing crime. They're the ones who say that we should do away with harsh punishment and that we should listen to the complaints of the criminals. So when the prisoners recently made an insurrection in the prison and they killed some guards and they demanded to be heard, what happened? So the Governor appoints a commission and the members of the commission come to the prison to listen to the complaints of the felons. Instead of taking them and putting them into solitary for ten years on bread and water. That's what they used to get in the good old days. That's what they got and that's why we didn't have crime. You didn't have crime! What kind of stories are they telling us that there was always crime?! There wasn't crime. I remember, I walked home from Mesivta Chaim Berlin every night, summer and winter, through black neighborhoods. Who ever heard of somebody snatching a woman's pocketbook in broad daylight. In the olden days - [At this point the tape ends vi'chaval al di'avdin]
                  
 TAPE 125
THE ABOVE QUESTION AND ANSWER  WAS RECORDED FORTY YEARS AGO - A FEW WEEKS BEFORE THE CARTER-FORD PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION OF 1976

Rav Shach - Dialectics and understanding Gedolim

Shloime just posted a long list of harsh comments by Rav Shach - "to let him speak for himself" So let me present some counter balancing stories. which create a more 3 dimensional understanding. In essence I will take the approach presented by Anonymous [I would really like some more creativity expressed - why does everyone chose the moniker "anonymous"?]. A leader is not the simple sum of a sample of stories told about him.

1) My son learned in Ponevich in Rav Schach's time and related the following story which circulated the Yeshiva when Rav Shach was niftar.

Rav Shach once asked a close friend of his to promise to attend his funeral. When the astonished friend questioned the necessity of such a strange promise, Rav Shach replied, "As a leader I know I have made many enemies over the years. I am afraid that there will not be a minyan at my levaya."

This is intimately connected with another story.

2) When the news of Rav Shach's petira broke, there was a massive movement of hundred's of thousands of Jews to Bnei Brak. The buses leaving Har Nof were packed. While I was standing by the bus stop wondering how to get to Bnei Berak a car pulled up and offered me a ride. I did a double take when I saw who the driver was. An acquaintance who is the most dyed in the wool fanatic religious Zionist I have ever met. As I gratefully settled in my seat, I asked him why he was going to honor a man who was such a strong opponent for everything he stood for. He replied, "I have much reason to be upset with Rav Shach - both in terms of what he said and what he did to us. But there was no question that G-d chose him to be one of the major Torah leaders of our generation. How can I not show kavod to him by going to his levayah."

3) Regarding his attitude to secular learning. As is well know there is a unique institution guided by Rav Zev Leff - Maarava - in which an elite student body learn both Torah secular studies on a very high level. Something which is obviously not done in the chareidi world. It is also well known that Rav Shach periodically denounced the school in very strong terms. As those who know Rav Leff will attest, he is a very loyal member of the chareidi establishment. Before he accepted the position at Maarava, he of course had consulted with Daas Torah i.e., Rav Shach as to whether to accept the job. When he heard Rav Shach's strong denunciations and read the many wall posters attacking the school - he hurried to consult with Rav Shach. Rav Shach replied, "I already told you that you should take the job with the school. Just as it is your obligation to provide guidance for the school it is my obligation to denounce it so that the cream of our yeshivos understand it is not a l'chatchila choice for them. But for those who need such a school it is important that you guide it."

4) The Bostoner Rebbe told me the following when I was trying to find a school in Yerushalayim for my kids that was comparable to Chaim Berlin where they had learned. He said, "It is obvious that Americans need a different type of education than Israelis and it is obvious that many American's don't make aliyah or go back to America because their kids don't fit it the Israeli yeshiva system. I once went to Rav Shach to explain to him the need for a different yeshiva for Americans. When I presented my views he told me, 'If you American's don't like the way we run things here go back to America.' "

At the time I thought it was incredibly insensitive. However as I have gotten older, I realize that not every problem is to be approached with American rachamim - sometimes Israeli din is needed also. American's fail because they are overly sensitive about somebody saying boo at them or saying, " I don't like you." If they want to live and thrive in Israel they need to be as tough as the natives.

5) This was once expressed to me very bluntly by Rabbi Eliyahu Essas - one of the heroes of the Russian refusenik era. I mentioned to him that I had a set of mishnayos translated into Russian -my grandmother got it as an engagement present. I told him perhaps he would be interested in reprinting it to aid the Russian baalei teshuva. He replied with an irritated tone. You Americans are always looking for the easy way to do things. Russians know that the only way to be a scholar is to master Hebrew and learn the original. American's rely too much on crutches and don't learn to walk on their own."

6) One final story. Rabbi Steinzaltz is one of the modern heroes of the Jewish people. But he has no mesora i.e., he never was part of a yeshiva. [The Chofetz Chaim had a similar criticism of the Meshech Chochma]. There are many Russian Jews whose tie to Yiddishkeit was almost entirely through the Steinzaltz gemora. There are many baalei teshuva who first learned gemora with the Steinzaltz. Over time his influence and accomplishments increased mightily. He was even described as the "Rashi of Our Era" by Time magazine. Nobody criticised him until he acquired superstar status. It was when people starting describe him a gadol - as someone to guide and make the meta decision for the Jewish people that he was attacked. [Similar to R' Slifkin] He produced a book describing how our Biblical ancestors were human beings with psychological issues and typical petty motivation. It was then that Rav Shach attacked.

Hopefully this answers Shloime's question - if not - perhaps it will be enlightening to another reader of this blog.

History - The Funeral Controversy



Jewish History No One Knows (But Should Know)
From articles written for the Yated Neeman (USA)

by Avraham Broide
(Jerusalem based translator and journalist.
phone: 02-5856133; email: broide2@netvision.net.il)

When is a corpse not a corpse? When it's still alive of course!

Determining the moment of death is a subject that has many doctors and rabbis at loggerheads. Doctors are anxious to push forward the moment of death in order to save lives with transplants, while rabbis argue that there is no point killing Peter in order to save Paul.

There was once a time when the rabbis fought a very different battle. During the 18th Century, many people thought it barbaric to bury a person too soon, as who knows, perhaps he was still alive. They preferred to wait for only certain determinant of death, physical decomposition, which generally begins after three days.

Rabbis, on the other hand, wanted to bury people before nightfall, due to the Torah's command regarding a criminal whose body was hanged up as a warning (Devarim 21:23), "Do not leave his body overnight on the gallows, for you shall certainly bury him on that day." As the Shulchan Aruch" (Yoreh Dei'ah 357:1) rules, "It is forbidden to leave the dead [unburied] overnight unless it was for his honor, to bring him a coffin and shrouds."

During 5532/1772 things came to a head when the Mecklenburg Province of Germany outlawed prompt burial and legislated that three days must pass beforehand. When German rabbis raised a protest, Moses Mendelssohn was called on to intercede and he promptly found sources that seemed to support the government measure.

For example, a mishnah in Masseches Semachos relates how someone recovered from a death like coma and lived for another 25 years. Because of this, the mishnah says, people buried their dead in catacombs, instead of burying them underground, so that they could visit them for several days afterwards and ascertain their death status. If the corpse yelled or tapped on the walls of his stone coffin, there was still a chance to yank him out. Practically speaking, Mendelssohn had a point, as it is not unheard of for people to suddenly wake up and find themselves in a morgue.

One example of such pseudo-death may be Alexander's passing in 3439/323 BCE, when his body reportedly remained fresh several days afterwards. Some medical men theorize that he may have been suffering from a paralyzing disease.

The Yaavetz rejected Mendelssohn's proofs. Regarding the fear that Jews who determine death as the moment a person ceases breathing might determine someone as dead when he is really alive, the Yaavetz insisted that Moshe Rabeinu received this criteria of death at Sinai or that it is revealed in the verse, Kol asher ruach chayim be'apo (Whatever has the breath of life in its nose), from where the rabbis derive that before digging someone out of a ruin on Shabbos, we check whether he is breathing or not.

As for Mendelssohn's proof from masseches Semachos, the Yaavetz writes that such things happen so rarely that we need not be concerned about them on a practical basis. It is as rare, he says, as the case of Choni Ha'eme'agel who slept for seventy years!

This controversy led to one of the first formal move of Jews away from Jewish custom and law.

When the Berlin Chevra Kaddisha refused to succumb to the Maskilim's demands, some Maskilim, including Mendolssohn's son, Josef, opened up their own burial organization called the "Gesellschaft der Freunde" ("Society of Friends") in Berlin, with branches in Breslau and Konigsberg, which delayed burying the dead and eventually adopted many other non-Jewish funeral customs as well.

A man was wheeled into surgery to harvest his organs. Weeks later, he left the hospital alive

 https://edition.cnn.com/2024/10/28/health/organ-donor-surgery-kentucky-investigation/index.html

The medical records Rhorer has for TJ say he was “declared brain-dead patient being maintained for harvesting of organs” on October 29. TJ underwent procedures to make sure his organs were fit for donation, and that afternoon, hospital workers came to the family and told them it was time.

They held what’s known as an honor walk, a tradition in many hospitals when someone donates organs. A video shot by Rhorer’s friend and posted on TikTok shows TJ in a bed being rolled down a corridor. Hospital staff stop what they are doing, line the halls and stand in silence in their blue scrubs and white coats. Some hold tissues and dab at their eyes.

Will Trump’s and Johnson’s ‘Little Secret’ Be Unveiled on January 6?

 https://nymag.com/intelligencer/article/trumpjohnson-secret-unveiled-january-6.html

As Politico Playbook noted, this remark could be interpreted as “a reference to the House settling a contested election.” It is universally understood that Johnson holds his gavel strictly at the sufferance of Trump. And it’s a plain fact that the then-obscure Louisianan was the 45th president’s congressional floor leader in seeking to overturn the confirmation of Joe Biden’s election on January 6, 2021. But it’s not just a matter of previous experience of an insurrectionary alliance between Trump and Johnson. Capitol Hill has been buzzing for a while (per a Politico report last month) about the Speaker’s potential role in another bid to overturn another election defeat, which Trump clearly intends to do if the opportunity arises:

Outcry over Trump’s hint at ‘little secret’ with House Republicans

 https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/oct/28/trump-mike-johnson-little-secret-election

Some observers and Democratic politicians believed the most telling remark of the night came from the Republican nominee himself after he introduced Mike Johnson, the Republican House speaker, on stage and alluded to a shared secret.

“We gotta get the congressmen elected and we gotta get the senators elected,” Trump told the crowd, referring to the congressional elections at stake next week.

“We can take the Senate pretty easily, and I think with our little secret we are gonna do really well with the House. Our little secret is having a big impact. He and I have a little secret – we will tell you what it is when the race is over.”

Green Party candidate Jill Stein’s running mate celebrated the Oct. 7 attack on Israel

 https://www.jpost.com/american-politics/article-826568

Stein has made opposition to Israel’s military campaign and US support for it a centerpiece of her campaign. Campaign videos show her wearing a keffiyeh or Palestinian scarf, and she recently shared a post by an account named “Kamala Harris is murdering Palestinian children.” On Monday, she posted, “A vote for Harris/Trump enables genocide. We can’t normalize the mass murder of children. As Gaza goes, we all go.”

Israel outlaws UNWRA, bucking international pressure

 https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-826525

The Knesset plenum approved final voting for two bills aimed at blocking the activity in areas under Israeli control of the UN Relief and Works Agency, which services Palestinian refugees in east Jerusalem, Gaza, and the West Bank.Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee chairman MK Yuli Edelstein presented both bills in the plenum. According to Edelstein, UNRWA’s operations “eternalized” the issue of Palestinian refugees.

In addition, Edelstein cited the fact that UNRWA employees had participated in, and even served as commanders, in the October 7 Hamas massacre. Edelstein also mentioned incitement in UNRWA school curriculums. According to Edelstein, the time had come to ban the agency from Israel.

Elon Musk is sharing some details about his immigration path. Experts say they still have questions

 https://edition.cnn.com/2024/10/28/us/elon-musk-immigration-washington-post-cec/index.html

Atlanta immigration attorney Charles Kuck says Musk stating that he had a J-1 visa makes it clear he worked illegally, given the restrictions that would have only allowed work in connection with his academic program.

“So clearly, he’s admitting now that in fact, he did work illegally and violate his status. The only question is at that point, what did he do to fix his status violation?” Kuck says.

Confederate anthem ‘Dixie’ played at Trump’s Madison Square Garden rally

 https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2024/10/28/trump-madison-square-garden-rally-dixie-song-controversy/

 Donald Trump’s rally at Madison Square Garden, meant to demonstrate broad-based and unifying support as he seeks a second term, was marked by racist barbs amid other demeaning insults.

It also featured a song that had little in common with the location: “Dixie,” the unofficial national anthem of the Confederate States of America.

Trump's New York Rally Was Moment That Ended His Campaign: Geraldo Rivera

 https://www.newsweek.com/geraldo-rivera-donald-trump-msg-rally-puerto-rico-1976328

"You know, Madison Square Garden is famous for a lot of things," he continued. "I think it will be famous for ending President Trump's meteoric campaign to be reelected. I think that the surveys, the polls will show that this was the time, this was the moment where things turned on Donald Trump."

Monday, October 28, 2024

Embracing racism, rabbis at pre-army yeshiva laud Hitler, urge enslaving Arabs

 https://www.timesofisrael.com/embracing-racism-rabbis-at-pre-army-yeshiva-laud-hitler-urge-enslaving-arabs/

In another clip from the Bnei David Yeshiva published by Channel 13, Rabbi Giora Redler can be heard praising Hilter’s ideology during a lesson about the Holocaust.

“Let’s just start with whether Hitler was right or not,” he told students. “He was the most correct person there ever was, and was correct in every word he said… he was just on the wrong side.”

Redler goes on to say that pluralism is the “real” genocide being perpetrated against the Jewish people, not Nazi Germany’s Final Solution.

The Jewish leadership in Germany and the Nazi threat in 1933


Defends the response of the German Jewish leadership to the first Nazi measures against the Jews in 1933 as having been based on concern for immediate Jewish interests. The official Nazi policy towards the Jews had not yet been formulated conservative forces in Germany feared foreign reactions to anti-Jewish violence, whereas Nazi followers demanded strong measures against the Jews. At that time, many German Jews assumed that they would find a way to cooperate with the regime, and they would continue to live in Germany with restricted rights and economic opportunities.

Jewish collaboration with Nazi Germany

 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jewish_collaboration_with_Nazi_Germany

Jewish Support for the Nazi Ascent to Power

During the Nazis' ascent to power, some Jewish organizations, such as the Association of German National Jews and The German Vanguard supported nazism until being outlawed in late 1935. Motivated by anticommunism, conservative nationalism, Zionism, and anti-liberalism, these groups had initially believed that Nazi antisemitism was merely rhetorical hyperbole or a tactic to "stir up the masses".[1][2][3]

Debunking 16 false claims Trump made at Madison Square Garden

 https://edition.cnn.com/2024/10/27/politics/fact-check-trump-false-claims-madison-square-garden/index.html

“Missing” migrant children: Trump repeated his regular false claim that, because of Harris, “325,000 children are missing, dead, sex slaves or slaves. They came through the open border and they’re gone. Their parents will most likely never see them again, almost any of them.”

Trump was wildly distorting federal statistics.

Philadelphia DA Sues Elon Musk Over Voter Sweepstakes: 'Illegal Lottery'

 https://www.newsweek.com/elon-musk-lawsuit-pennsylvania-voter-giveaway-election-trump-1975942

District Attorney of Philadelphia Larry Krasner called the daily giveaway plan from Musk's America PAC an "illegal lottery." The lawsuit follows a warning from the U.S. Department of Justice that the sweepstakes might violate federal election law.

Donald Trump’s Racist NYC Rally Was Vile. It Was Also Political Suicide

 https://www.thedailybeast.com/donald-trumps-racist-nyc-rally-was-vile-it-was-also-political-suicide/

In other words the entire event despite its marathon length and hodgepodge of z-list speakers, delivered over and over again a very focused message. The Trump campaign is about retribution and revenge. It is about the white supremacist desire to purge America of all their neighbors of different colors and beliefs. It is about Trump’s desire to seek out his enemies and punish them. And over the course of its Wagnerian length (and resonances) it single out group after group that would be deported or punished.

Sunday, October 27, 2024

Donald Trump Faces Legal Abyss if He Loses Election

https://www.newsweek.com/donald-trump-legal-cases-georgia-washington-florida-new-york-stormy-daniels-chutkan-cannon-1974406 

"If Trump loses the election, he is in serious jeopardy in the federal criminal cases, especially the documents case if Judge Cannon's dismissal under the appointments clause is reversed, or corrected by the Justice Department, following the appeal," Germain said.

If elected, Trump has a number of options to kill the federal cases, including appointing a favorable attorney general to drop the charges or simply pardoning himself.

Saturday, October 26, 2024

Was Chasam Sofer a Zionist?

 Rashi cites a statement of Rabbi Yitzchok as to why whv Torah starts with Bereishis . He notes concern that the goyim might accuse Jews of stealing  Israel. Nachshoni says this is not concern for goyim but is reflective of Jewish concerns for a military conquest.  

The Chasam Sofer (Derasha for Simchas Torah) notes that some would claim that Israel should be conquered miraculously. But in fact there is no difference between a miraculous or natural conquest

Pioneering genocide researcher Father Desbois denounces mass murder charges against Israel

 https://www.timesofisrael.com/pioneering-genocide-researcher-father-desbois-denounces-mass-murder-charges-against-israel/

French-Catholic priest behind ‘Holocaust by Bullets’ investigations visits Gaza border communities, decries anti-Israel ‘propaganda’ and pushes for trials for Hamas terrorists

Trump: ‘I Need the Kind of Generals That Hitler Had’

 https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2024/10/trump-military-generals-hitler/680327/

In the days after my original article was published, both the Associated Press and, notably, Fox News, confirmed the story, causing Trump to demand that Fox fire Jennifer Griffin, its experienced and well-regarded defense reporter. A statement issued by Alyssa Farah, a White House spokesperson, soon after publication read, “This report is false. President Trump holds the military in the highest regard.”

Friday, October 25, 2024

Trump alumni warn he could deploy troops against Americans

 https://www.washingtonpost.com/elections/2024/10/24/trump-military-president-election/

As president, Trump often sought to use military force in a bid to crack down on perceived problems. His advisers headed off many of those efforts, as they questioned the legality, common sense or political fallout of doing so, according to people with knowledge of the situation.

After clearing Lebanese village, IDF troops say weapons found in nearly every home

 https://www.timesofisrael.com/after-clearing-lebanese-village-idf-troops-say-weapons-found-in-nearly-every-home/

‘They were completely ready for another October 7. It’s not hard to imagine that they would have done it,’ says IDF reservist. ‘We also found Nazi flags and Hitler statues’

Thursday, October 24, 2024

FBI Announces Investigation Into Leak of Classified US Intel on Israel’s Planned Strike on Iran

 https://www.algemeiner.com/2024/10/22/fbi-announces-investigation-leak-classified-us-intel-israels-planned-strike-iran/

Thus far, the identity of the alleged leaker has yet to be publicly revealed. Some media outlets reported that a high-ranking Pentagon official’s security clearance was suspended after an investigation indicated she was the one who likely leaked the intelligence.

However, Fox News correspondent Jennifer Griffin emphatically denied the reports as “not true” on X/Twitter.

“This story is NOT TRUE,” Griffin wrote. “I have spoken with the person the reporter alleges was behind the leak of Israeli preparations and she is at work at the Pentagon today, has her security clearance and has NOT been contacted by … investigators.”

Senior Pentagon staffer leaked Israel's Iran strike plans

 https://www.ynetnews.com/article/rjmfxergjx

Fox News reported from their sources that the report is false and that the staffer was at work and retains her security clearance.  

Who Is Ariane Tabatabai? The Pentagon Official At The Center Of The Israel-Iran Document Leak Controversy

 https://www.oneindia.com/international/who-is-ariane-tabatabai-the-pentagon-official-at-the-center-of-the-israel-iran-document-leak-contro-3968879.html

Fox News Pentagon correspondent Jennifer Griffin has criticized the linking of Tabatabai's name to the alleged leak, describing it as "irresponsible reporting." Griffin reported that she had spoken directly with Tabatabai, who stated that she had not been contacted by investigators and affirmed that she still held her security clearance. Griffin emphasized that the claims against Tabatabai were unfounded, posting on X (formerly Twitter) that "this story is NOT TRUE."

You Can Now Treat Depression With an App

 https://time.com/7086622/depression-treatment-app-rejoyn/

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration cleared the first app-based treatment for major depressive disorder, which just became available for use this summer.

The app, called Rejoyn, is cleared as a supplement to currently approved therapies and works by using specifically designed tasks on a smartphone app to rewire neural signals. The idea is to tap into the brain’s circuits so depressive signals and pathways don’t spiral into the debilitating emotional episodes typical of clinical depression.

Former GOP Rep. Fred Upton Backs Harris: Trump Is ‘Just Totally Unhinged’

 https://www.thedailybeast.com/former-gop-rep-fred-upton-backs-kamala-harris-trump-is-just-totally-unhinged/

” “Watching Trump day after day, he’s ignored the advice of many senior, respected Republicans to stay on the issues,” the 71-year-old said. “Instead, he’s still talking about the election being stolen, trashing women left and right. He’s just totally unhinged. We don’t need this chaos. We need to move forward, and that’s why I’m where I am.” Upton said he’s already cast his ballot for Harris, marking the first time he’s ever voted to elect a Democrat president.

Pentagon denies employee of Iranian origin leaked Israel's strike intel

 https://www.jpost.com/breaking-news/article-825701

The Pentagon denied that Ariane Tabatabai, Chief of Staff of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations, is a subject of interest in the investigation for the alleged leak of classified documents pertaining to Israel's plans for a retaliatory attack against Iran. 

"To my knowledge, this official is not a subject of interest," said Press Secretary of the Air Force, Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder told reporters on Tuesday afternoon. 

Earlier Tuesday, Sky News Arabia cited a senior Pentagon official who reportedly named Tabatabai as the main suspect in the FBI's investigation into the leaks. 

Geraldo Rivera: ‘I wish I had bailed on the Trump train a lot sooner’

 https://thehill.com/homenews/media/4948868-geraldo-rivera-trump-harris-support/?tbref=hp

In retrospect, I wish I had bailed on the Trump train a lot sooner before he threatened the Constitution of the United States with its utter destruction,” Rivera told MSNBC’s Ari Melber on “The Beat.”

Rivera, once well-known as a Trump ally, said earlier this month that he is backing Vice President Harris over Trump in the 2024 election, calling the former president “a sore loser who cannot be trusted to honor the Constitution” in a post on social platform X.

“That is why I am voting for Kamala Harris to be our 47th President,” Rivera said in the post.

Fox News edited Trump’s rambling answers and false claims in barbershop interview

 https://edition.cnn.com/2024/10/24/media/fox-news-edit-trump-barbershop-interview/index.html

One of the most telling parts of the dialogue began when an audience member asked Trump about finding a way to eliminate federal taxes in the future. On Fox, Trump was shown immediately answering affirmatively: “There is a way.”

But that response from Trump actually came more than seven minutes later, after Trump (and Jones) brought up other topics, including inheritances, the Keystone Pipeline, Ronald Reagan, Russia, and transgender sports players. Trump had to be nudged back on track several times by the unnamed audience member, who kept circling back, apologetically, and said “I wasn’t able to finish my question.” After he repeated his tax inquiry yet again, Trump said “there is a way.”

Tuesday, October 22, 2024

Pentagon suspects employee of Iranian origin in Israeli strike plan leak - report

 https://www.jpost.com/breaking-news/article-825701

The Pentagon has reportedly named Chief of Staff of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations, Ariane Tabatabai, as the prime suspect for an alleged leak of classified documents, Sky News Arabia reported on Tuesday, citing a senior Pentagon official.

Kiruv for non-Jews who claim Jewish identity by Rabbi Shalom Chaim Spira

 A gut gebnsht yor and a gut mo'ed. Thank you for your post today describing the problem faced by kiruv organizations. You indicated that you would like to see source material on this problem, so here is my survey of the relevant halakhic literature:


R. Moshe Sternbuch, Teshuvot ve-Hanhagot, V, no. 296 rejects the conversion of the child of an intermarried family unless the mother converts together with the child [-including that the mother sincerely accepts all the mitzvot as being inherent to the conversion]. Rabbi Sternbuch explains that by the Beth Din attempting to convert the child without the mother, the Beth Din is essentially telling the Jewish [so-called] father to continue to commit the yehareg ve-al ya'avor transgression of remaining in the same home as the Noahide mother. Hence, the Torah will not recognize such a conversion, and the conversion attempt fails. 

In Ha-Pardes Vol. 61, no. 10 (Tammuz 5747), the Agudat Rabbanim is reported to reject the conversion of a child from an intermarried family unless the mother converts together with him [-including that the mother sincerely accepts all the mitzvot as being inherent to the conversion]. How can children be validly converted when the so-called Jewish father is obligated to commit suicide rather than remain in the home of the Noahide mother [as per Rema to Shulchan Arukh Even ha-Ezer 16:2]. Available online at 

https://hebrewbooks.org/pdfpager.aspx?req=12413&st=&pgnum=32&hilite=

To better explain the words of Rabbi Sternbuch and Agudat ha-Rabbanim, it seems to me that the prooftext is as follows. The Gemara states lo amrah Torah shale'ach le-takalah in three different contexts: Yoma 67b regarding the scapegoat, Kiddushin 57b regarding tzipporei metzora, and Chullin 115a  and 140a regarding shilu'ach ha-ken. Thus, by the same token, the Torah cannot recognize a conversion of a child of an intermarried family, because the worst takalah imaginable is that a Jewish gentleman thinks that he can establish a normal family with a Noahide lady, taking pride in the so-called "Jewish children" he has from this intermarriage. There is no way that the Torah would recognize such a conversion of the child [even according to Abaye (in Temurah 4b)  that kol milta de-amar Rachamana lo ta'avid im avid mahanei. Abayei is discussing a one-time transgression, which he is willing to tolerate post facto, but not a permanent takalah of nasui nokhrit which is yehareg ve-al ya'avor. And how much more so should this be true according to Rava, who opposes Abayei there in Temurah].

In addition to teaching us that it is yehareg ve-al  ya'avor for a Jewish gentleman to marry a Noahide lady, Rema (Even ha-Ezer 16:2) also writes that such intermarriage has a hefsed which is not found in the other arayot, since the resulting child is gentile. Yet, why must the Rema bemoan such a hefsed; let him simply recommend converting the child after he is born by immersing the child in the mikveh  under the supervision of a Beth Din! Obviously, the answer must be that such a conversion will not take effect, and so Rema will not propose it as a "solution." 

Based on points 1-4 above, it is clear that R. Joshua Hirschorn, Teshuvot Mi-Ma'ayanei Yeshu'ah no. 57, p. 161, three paragraphs beginning s.v. ve-hineh [available online at

  https://hebrewbooks.org/pdfpager.aspx?req=1545&st=&pgnum=160 ]

and R. Yehudah Herzl Henkin, Teshuvot Bnei Vanim, II, no. 36, sec. 3 [available online at 

https://hebrewbooks.org/pdfpager.aspx?req=20022&st=&pgnum=139 

, are both completely wrong (be-mechilat Kevod Toratam) to claim that the child can be converted.


Thank you and chag same'ach,

Shalom C. Spira

What leaked US assessment of Israeli plans to strike Iran shows

 https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cz6w6p8x7p8o

What do they not tell us?

Glaringly absent from these documents is any mention of what targets Israel intends to hit in Iran, or when.

The US has made no secret of its opposition to the targeting of either Iran’s nuclear research facilities or its oil installations.

That leaves military bases, most likely those belonging to Iran’s Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) and its affiliated Basij militia as these two institutions are seen as the backbone of the Islamic Republic, projecting its military reach abroad and suppressing popular protest at home.

Monday, October 21, 2024

Igros Moshe: Can Yeshiva students take food without permission from the yeshiva kitchen?

It was brought to my attention that there are yeshiva bochrim who steal food from the yeshiva kitchen falsely claiming that this was permitted by a teshuva of Rav Moshe Feinstein. Therefore I am presenting my translation of the teshuva where it is obvious that Reb Moshe allowed no such practice. He did say where it is financially possible that the yeshiva should provide food "even in the middle of the night" but he clearly states it is the job of the administration to decide this and not for the bochrim to take the initiative.

Furthermore my brother-in-law told me that when he was in Lakewood that Rav Schneur Kotler had him install video cameras in the kitchen to catch some very agressive bochrim - who subsequently left Lakewood after they were caught and confronted by Rav Kotler.

==============================
Igros Moshe (Y.D. 4:39): Addressed to R Yitzchok Chevroni – Nasi of Yeshiva Chevron.

It is clear that this question is a general one that is relevant to all yeshiva including mine. After considerable thought I decided many years ago that the administrators of the yeshiva have the responsibility and the authority to distribute the money which is donated to the yeshiva   because it is reasonable to assume that this is the desire of the donors. Thus the money was donated to the yeshiva by the donors with the understanding that it would be administered by the staff of the yeshiva because the donors know that the administrators of the yeshiva are responsible people who will utilize the money in a proper manner.

On the other hand it is necessary that the administrators know that the purpose of the yeshiva is for the students. Thus they need to be aware that the money has been given for the students’ welfare and benefit. It is prohibited for the administrator to conduct the yeshiva in a manner that seems cruel and unmerciful. Thus the administration needs to utilize the money for the good of the students according to the financial capabilities of the yeshiva. For example it should provide sufficient food to all the students and even to provide extra portions to those who want it. The yeshiva should even to arrange for some food in the middle of the night to those who want to eat a snack. Of course there is a distinction between a wealthy yeshiva and a poor yeshiva. Therefore it is possible that the administration might have to place restrictions according to their understanding of the needs of the yeshiva. In this manner the administration needs to balance the resources of the yeshiva with the benefits to the students also concerning things such as the use of electricity and other matters.

Halacha and Truth

 Rav Moshe Feinstein(Igros Moshe O.H. 1 Introduction): It is correct and obligatory for the sages of the latter generations to decide halacha - even if they are not qualified according to the standards of the sages of the gemora. Therefore there is definitely a concern that their halachic determinations are not in accord with the view of Heaven. However in truth we are guided by the principle that Torah is not in Heaven. Rather it is determined according to what appears correct to the rabbi after proper study of the issue to clarify the halacha according to the Talmud, and the writings of poskim. He is to use his full abilities to seriously deliberate with fear of Heaven - in order to determine what appears to be the correct halacha. Such a psak is viewed as true and he is obligated to issue his conclusion. This obligation exists even if in fact his ruling is contrary to the halacha in Heaven. His ruling is also considered the “word of the living G‑d as long as he is convinced he is correct and it is internally consistent. He will receive reward for his rulings even if the truth is not in accord with his position. Proof for this is found in Shabbos (130a): A certain city in Israel that followed the halacha according to R’ Eliezer - even though this was not the accepted halacha - got great reward in terms of long life… Thus ruling which a rabbi is obligated to teach and receive reward for is that which he decides after studying the issue with his full ability. This obligation and receiving of reward exists even if the ruling is not in accord with the truth. This is the nature of all disputes of the rishonim and achronim concerning what is permitted and what if prohibited. As long as a universal ruling has not been determined - each rabbi can make decisions for his followers according to that which he thinks is correct - even though the objective halacha is only in accord with one of them. Both will also receive reward for their rulings. Because of this we find much dispute also in the most severe prohibitions - with variations between places that rule like the Rambam and Beis Yosef and those that rule like Tosfos and the Rema. Both of the opposing views are “the words of the living G‑d even though the actual truth as understood by Heaven is only like one of them.

 Rav Moshe Feinstein(Igros Moshe Y.D. 3:92): Our Sages describe the opposing views of halachic debate as both being “the words of the living G‑d.” This means that Torah study of the diverse views of Sages inherently does not contain something which is not true. Thus the opposing views of Beis Shammai and Beis Hillel are both true. This rule applies also to the disputes of R’ Eliezer and all the Tannaim and Amoraim. All of them were given from One Shepherd. Thus it was not untrue when the Heavenly Bas Kol announced that the Halacha was in accord with R’ Eliezer. His words were inherently true - even though in this world we decide practical Halacha on the basis of majority decision. Because of the inherent truth of all views of our sages, we say the blessing “Who gave to us the Torah of truth” even if we are only learning the views that have been rejected from practical Halacha such as Beis Shammai or minority opinions.

Rav Tzadok(Dover Tzedek 4): The expression eilu v’eilu refers to the fact that … all the aspects and parts are in fact a unity and they all are the words of the living G‑d. However, this concept is truly beyond rational comprehension. How is it possible that complete opposites are both true. We know that it is impossible that truth is anything other than one. How can diverse and conflicting things all be a unity? … Therefore, this concept of eilu v’eilu is beyond the material intellect of man. That is also, why there is no absolutely clear Halacha in the Oral Law that is beyond dispute - except for Halacha L’Moshe which is not disputed as the Rambam states…

R’ Yisroel Salanter(Ohr Yisroel #30): Perhaps the reason that the Bas Kol announced that both Beis Shammai and Beis Hillel were the “words of the living G‑d” was not that a rejected opinion is not Torah (because Torah is not in Heaven and they both obviously had a tradition from Moshe at Sinai and hadn’t forgotten it). But rather so the people should not despair after seeing them dispute for three years. They might have thought that perhaps the disputing sides had slipped slightly from total objectivity and that this slight bias removed the rejected view of Beis Shammai from being considered G‑d’s Torah. Therefore, the Bas Kol informed them that the view of Beis Shammai were totally acceptable to G‑d. The debate was prolonged because each side felt strongly that their view was superior to the other. Nevertheless, even the rejected views of Beis Shammai are the “words of the living G‑d” and one who studies them is studying G‑d’s Torah.