A Passover Message to President Putin: Stop This Blood Libel bt Rav Shalom C. Spiras

       Shulchan Arukh Orach Chaim 472:11 declares that there is a mitzvah to prefer the use of red wine for the Seder.(*) However, Mishnah Berurah (§38) cautions that in a society afflicted with the canard of blood libels, white wine should be substituted.

      Unfortunately, it is Russian President Vladimir Putin who appears to be the exponent of a blood libel this Passover, continuing to attack Ukraine on the claim that he seeks to de-Nazify it. Alas, the actual Nazis are in the Hamas headquarters of Gaza [as explained at <https://daattorah.blogspot.com/2023/12/a-call-for-hamas-to-surrender-by-rabbi.html>] and not in Ukraine. To that effect, it is Putin himself who risks being branded as a Nazi, since his attack on Ukraine is potentially contrary to the Noahide Code, as argued at <https://daattorah.blogspot.com/2022/06/a-cri-de-coeur-for-russian-army-to_30.html>. Indeed, the manner in which Putin hijacked the democratic machinery of Russia to become its dictator seems reminiscent of Hitler's self-promotional technique in the Weimar Republic.

      The Mishnah, Pesachim 49a teaches us that if a Jew on Passover Eve is occupied with a mitzvah enterprise such as the Pesach sacrifice, circumcision or a betrothal meal, and he suddenly realizes that he forgot to liquidate chametz from his home, then [provided he has enough time to go home for chametz liquidation and then return to his mitzvah enterprise] he must go home. However, continues the Mishnah, if the same Jew is occupied with saving a human life from an attacking army, an overflowing river, bandits, a conflagration or an avalanche, then [even if he has enough time to go home for chametz liquidation and then return to his mitzvah enterprise] he is obligated to continue forward without first going home, and the prohibition against owning chametz will have to be meagerly satisfied by nullifying the chametz in his heart. [According to Torah law, mere nullification of chametz in the heart is sufficient, as per the Gemara, Pesachim 4b. There are certain exceptions to this principle, such as where the Jew accepted custodial responsibility for someone else's chametz, or where it is past the hour on Passover Eve when chametz becomes forbidden in benefit, beyond the scope of this essay. The requirement to actually liquidate the chametz is generally rabbinic in nature. The rabbis suspended the latter obligation when the Jew in question is embarked upon a piku'ach nefesh sortie.] Clearly, what this Mishnah underscores is that as important as the liquidation of chametz may be in the context of celebrating Passover, saving lives from an attacking army spiritually trumps that value. And so, President Putin should abort his invasion of Ukraine this Passover. 

      Furthermore, the Mishnah compares saving lives from an attacking army to saving lives from an avalanche. The latter fact pattern, detailed in a parallel Mishnah of Yoma 83a [and the ensuing Gemara, Yoma 85a with its attendant commentaries], yields the potential conclusion that there is a mitzvah to medically treat a brain dead patient. It is for this very reason that my father heroically gave his life in sanctification of the Name of Heaven by refusing a heart transplant, as I eulogized three months ago at <https://daattorah.blogspot.com/2025/01/a-eulogy-for-my-father-bt-av-shalom-c.html>. The heroism of my father ought to inspire President Putin: If my father was so concerned about one life being snuffed out by a cardiac harvest that he categorically refused the medical procedure, then how much more so should President Putin be concerned about the myriads of lives in Ukraine that are at stake.

      The above clarion call for President Putin to abort his invasion of Ukraine should be carefully distinguished from the absolute halakhic prohibition against intermarriage between a Jewish gentleman and a Noahide lady. As Rema to Shulchan Arukh Even ha-Ezer 16:2 rules, a Jewish gentleman must forfeit his life in sanctification of the Name of Heaven rather than marry a Noahide lady. Obviously, then, the personal behaviour of Volodymyr Zelensky is completely unacceptable. However, that problem can be resolved without necessarily killing the other human beings in Ukraine. [See also Chazon Ish, Yoreh De'ah 2:16, final paragraph, that heretics in the contemporary era should be brought to repentance in a diplomatic manner "as far as our hand reaches" (be-mah she-yadeinu maga'at).]

(*) = The preference of red wine over white wine also occurs in an entirely separate context which by remarkable coincidence was featured in the Daf Yomi this past Passover Eve. Namely, Tosafot to Makkot 4a, s.v. amar, observe that a sea-submerged barrel of white wine will wreak havoc with an immerser's attempt to purify himself there, since the white wine is visually indistinguishable from seawater. By contrast, continue Tosafot, red wine suffers from no such difficulty, since the presence of wine (that would interfere with valid immersion) optically announces itself. [And see the Haggadah of the Gra, s.v. Rabbi Eliezer omer, for a fascinating suggestion how to conceptually unite the Seder with the laws of sea immersion.]

      

Rabbi Spira works as the Editor of Manuscripts and Grants at the Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research, a Pavilion of the Jewish General Hospital in Montreal, Canada

Trump Flabbergasted That Judge Wants to Uphold Due Process

 https://www.thedailybeast.com/trump-flabbergasted-that-judge-wants-to-uphold-due-process/

Last month, the Department of Homeland Security informed about 532,000 migrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, Venezuela that they would lose their legal status on April 24, after which they would have to self-deport or face arrest. They were granted parole under the Biden administration’s CHNV program and allowed to work in the U.S. legally for two years.

But U.S. District Court Judge Indira Talwani ruled on Monday that the Trump administration can’t revoke the migrants’ parole without an individual review.

“The early termination, without any case-by-case justification, of legal status for noncitizens who have complied with DHS programs and entered the country lawfully undermines the rule of law,” she wrote.

Talwani said the government “offered no substantial reason or public interest that justifies forcing individuals who were granted parole into the United States for a specified duration to leave (or move into undocumented status) in advance of the original date their parole was set to expire.”

Judge Boasberg Warns Trump Officials of Criminal Contempt

 https://www.newsweek.com/judge-boasberg-warns-trump-officials-criminal-contempt-2060613

 A federal judge wrote Wednesday that he has found probable cause to hold the Trump administration in criminal contempt of court for disobeying his order to turn back planes carrying deportees to El Salvador. U.S. District Judge James E. Boasberg warned that unless the administration takes immediate steps to "purge" itself of the contempt finding, he will initiate formal hearings and may refer the matter for prosecution.

"The Court does not reach such conclusion lightly or hastily; indeed, it has given Defendants ample opportunity to rectify or explain their actions. None of their responses has been satisfactory," the judge wrote.

"The Constitution does not tolerate willful disobedience of judicial orders — especially by officials of a coordinate branch who have sworn an oath to uphold it," Boasberg continued.

Medicine Career typically for status and wealth

 Igros Moshe (YD IV #36.12) ) Question: What is typically the reason to become a doctor?  Answer  The reason that people want to become doctors in modern times and even in previous times more than two hundred years for the sake of parnossa is not because it is fitting for his nature. Rather it is typically for the high status that it is perceived by ordinary Jews and non Jews. Medicine is inherently not only parnossa but also high status.  Thus it has no connection to the view of Chovas Halevavos that everyone has an innate desire for a specific type of job or business. Therefore he says if a person is strongly attracted to a particular type of work and he can do it competently he should do it for the sake of parnossa. This rule only applies to a profession that a person is naturally attracted to do. and not for external reasons of great honor and wealth that it produces.  The reason it is not a natural profession because the world was not created with a need for it since people initially did not become sick. Even though death was decreed on the first day immediately after Adam ate from the HaDaas, nevertheless there was no sickness until Yakov prayed for weakness. And still there was no sickness until Elisha who prayed for a cure.  

Judge gives Trump admin two weeks to prove they aren't in contempt of court

 https://www.foxnews.com/politics/cancel-vacations-judge-gives-trump-admin-two-weeks-prove-arent-contempt-of-court

The U.S. judge gave Trump lawyers two weeks to outline what, if any steps it has taken to facilitate the release of Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia, the Maryland resident wrongfully deported to El Salvador last month

A federal judge told Trump lawyers they must expeditiously comply with her requests in the case of Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia, the Maryland resident wrongfully deported to El Salvador last month, as she weighs next steps in the politically charged case.

U.S. Judge Paula Xinis told Trump administration lawyers Tuesday that they will have two weeks to comply with discovery requests in the case of Abrego Garcia, the Maryland resident deported to El Salvador last month in what Trump officials have acknowledged was an "administrative error," demanding the government spend time detailing with what, if any, steps it is taking to facilitate his release and return to the U.S.

"Cancel vacations, cancel other appointments," Xinis told lawyers at the Tuesday evening hearing.

Trump and Judiciary in Escalating Standoff Over Wrongfully Deported Migrant

 https://www.wsj.com/us-news/law/trump-and-judiciary-in-escalating-standoff-over-wrongfully-deported-migrant-520e1baa?mod=hp_lead_pos10

Judge demands more answers from government about what it has done to facilitate migrant’s return

The Trump administration is setting up the biggest test yet of judges’ authority to rein in its actions, as it skirts court orders that it facilitate the return of a migrant deported in error to a Salvadoran maximum-security prison.

Tensions escalated Tuesday in a federal court hearing in Greenbelt, Md., where a federal judge expressed frustration at how little had been done to help bring back the migrant, Kilmar Abrego Garcia, despite a series of orders—including from the Supreme Court—to facilitate his return. 

Donald Trump Tries to Run Harvard

 https://www.wsj.com/opinion/donald-trump-harvard-funding-conditions-constitution-congress-c26040f8?mod=hp_opin_pos_1

Many of his demands on the school exceed his power under the Constitution.

The Trump Administration on Monday froze $2.2 billion in funds to Harvard after the university refused to surrender to its sweeping demands. Few Americans will shed tears for the Cambridge crowd, but there are good reasons to oppose this unprecedented attempt by government to micromanage a private university.

Stipulate that the feds have a duty to enforce civil-rights laws, and Harvard failed to protect Jewish students during anti-Israel protests. But the university agreed to strengthen protections for Jewish students in a legal settlement with Students Against Antisemitism, which praised it for “implementing effective long-term changes.”

The Trump Administration nonetheless demanded last week that Harvard accede to what is effectively a federal receivership under threat of losing $9 billion. Some of the demands are within the government’s civil-rights purview, such as requiring Harvard to discipline students who violate its discrimination policies. It also wants Harvard to “shutter all diversity, equity and inclusion” programs, under “whatever name,” that violate federal law.

But the Administration runs off the legal rails by ordering Harvard to reduce “governance bloat, duplication, or decentralization.” It also orders the school to review “all existing and prospective faculty . . . for plagiarism” and ensure “viewpoint diversity” in “each department, field, or teaching unit.”

The real stakes in Trump’s confrontation with Harvard

 https://edition.cnn.com/2025/04/13/politics/trump-universities-research-economy-nih-cuts/index.html

Supporters of university research see another threat: the administration’s repeated moves to deport foreign students, including several for political viewpoints they expressed about the Israel-Hamas war. “If you are a smart kid in India or China, you are going to ask: ‘Why am I going to go to the United States?’” Kenney said.

These pincer moves have divided academic administrators, with some schools conceding to the administration’s demands (such as Columbia) and others pledging to fight them (Princeton). But the implications of these cutbacks will reverberate far beyond campus walls.

Obama calls Trump's freeze of Harvard funding 'unlawful'

 https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cn0w2656x33o

President Donald Trump is freezing more than $2bn (£1.5bn) in federal funds for Harvard because it would not make changes to its hiring, admissions and teaching practices that his administration said were key to fighting antisemitism on campus.

Obama, a Harvard alum, described the freeze as "unlawful and ham-handed".

He called on other institutions to follow Harvard's lead in not conceding to Trump's demands.

"Harvard has set an example for other higher-ed institutions – rejecting an unlawful and ham-handed attempt to stifle academic freedom, while taking concrete steps to make sure all students at Harvard can benefit from an environment of intellectual inquiry, rigorous debate and mutual respect," Obama wrote on social media.

White House: Abrego Garcia deportation to El Salvador ‘always going to be end result’

 https://thehill.com/regulation/court-battles/5249835-abrego-garcia-deportation-el-salvador/

Press secretary Karoline Leavitt expressed exasperation over media coverage of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran national whom administration officials acknowledged in a court filing they mistakenly deported. Officials have since changed their tune on that matter, and the lawyer who wrote of the “administrative error” has since been put on leave.

Leavitt also indicated Abrego Garcia would simply be deported again if he was returned to the U.S.

Abrego Garcia’s family has asserted he is not a member of MS-13 like the government has claimed, but rather fled from El Salvador as a teen to escape gang violence. The government’s assertion is based on a tip from a confidential informant claiming he was involved with the gang in New York, though Abrego Garcia has never lived there. 

The Supreme Court last week determined the Trump administration must “facilitate” the return of Abrego Garcia. So far, there’s been no indication that the administration has taken any action that could help lead to his return.

Medical education Difference in time of Rishonim anf Modern Times

Igros Moshe (YD IV #36.12) Question: How can the study of medine be prohibited since a number of Rishonim were doctors? Answer You need to know that those Rishonim who were involved in medicine  did not go to medical school or college.  They were self educated from books or they served an apprenticeship with a renown doctor in his house. . In addition they studied only medicine and did not need to learn other subjects. As a consequence they lost very little time from Torah study. This approach is not relevant today since it requires attending medical school and studying subjects other than medicine. and that also has to be done at medical school. All of this requires interruption of Torah study and to remain there most of the day with people  who have no connection at with Torah. Consequently the study of medicine today is not relevant to most of those who want to be bnei Torah and also talmidei chachomim. Even if you can find individuals who are talmidei chachomim and also doctors in reality they have not achieved their full potential in Torah. In addition even in the field of medicine they have not accomplished their full potential unless medicine is their principal focus in which case eventually there will be a degradation of their Torah knowledge. Even though it is possible that there will be unique individuals who as doctors will also be genuine Torah scholars this is clearly not relevant for everyone and one should not assume automatically that he will be able to accomplish this level. . 

College and secular Studies

Igros Moshe (YD III #82) Question: What is the significance of secular studies for yeshiva students? Answer It is well known in the Torah world what I have stated on many occasions to bnei Torah  concerning secular studies. Not only bnei Torah but also to yeshiva students who are capable of growing in Torah and pure fear of G-d. Secular study even if it doesn’t have any heretical ideas or co-ed classes is prohibited since it means neglecting eternal life which that alone is prohibited even after growing in Torah to a very high level as is seen from the gemora in Tanis (21a) concerning Rav Yochanon and Ilfa.  However for yeshiva students and young kollel men who haven’t achieved sufficient mastery of Torah and nevertheless are involved in secular studies, it is not possible for them to develop properly in Torah studies in this generation since that requires exclusive devotion to Torah.to understand it properly and he is squandering his abilities on secular study. An addition problem is that eventually secular study becomes his main concern. That is inevitable since his yetzer advises him to increasingly ignore the study of Torah so he has more time to devote for secular studies which he needs for parnossa. Even if this doesn’t happen it is still impossible to grow properly in Torah or even be a partial Torah scholar and ben Torah if he is stealing time and effort from his Torah studies in order to study secular subjects.  Consequently instead of growing in Torah he is constanting diminishing. This is especially true after it is clear that those who go to college are more successful. This success causes people to go to schools in which there are all the  abominations in the world. People rationalize that it is only for a short time and that he won’t be corrupted there even though everyone knows the rationalizations are not true.  Irregardless anyone who is involved in secular studies can not even be a ben Torah and surely not a talmid chachom. Furthermore every ben Torah and yeshiva student needs to be aware of the great destruction of Torah by secular studies because of the great obligation for Torah study and growing to be a godol in Torah, halacha and fear of G-d. Consequently it is plainly and simply prohibited for bnei Torah and yeshiva students who are capable growing in Torah and instead they steal time and effort for secular studies, despite the silence and that this is not told to all Jews and not even to all religious Jews. Concerning parnossa, I have already said many times that this is the advice of the wicked that is mentioned at the beginning of Tehillim. This also results in great punishment. Those that listen and don’t desert Torah at all should be blessed with success in Torah according to their desires as well as all material things and all blessings. 

Lawrence on Trump attacking the rule of law: We are all Harvard. We are all Abrego Garcia

ICE Realize They Arrested Wrong Teen, Say 'Take Him Anyway'

 https://www.newsweek.com/merwil-gutierrez-ice-wrong-teen-el-salvador-2059783

Federal immigration authorities apprehended a 19-year-old in New York despite realizing he was not the intended target.

The young man, Merwil Gutiérrez, was later deported to El Salvador's notorious super prison, despite his family's insistence that he has no gang ties or criminal history.

Coed school

Igros Moshe (Y.D. I #137): Question: Is it permitted for young boys and girls to be taught together? Answer Coeducation, for even the youngest children, is surely some­thing that would not please our Sages. While small children experience neither temptation nor lewd thoughts, we must still train them to distance themselves from women. Yet when they study together, they become accustomed to closeness. They will remain accustomed to this when they grow up, as well, when they do face temptation, and the danger of lewd thought. Therefore, although there is no risk of breaking any prohibition now, our educational duty still stands." I am willing to be lenient in an emergency, where an all-girl school cannot be formed, and the alternative is public school." which teaches neither faith nor good deeds. Better that very young children, regarding whom the prohibition does not apply, should be educated in schools founded by the God-fearing, even if boys and girls study together. It is clear and simple that if there is any chance of founding an all-girl school, it must be done. Of course, slightly older children are legally forbidden'" to study either religious or secular subjects in such a school.

Igros Moshe (YD II #104) Question: Is it permitted for young boys and girls to be taught together? Answer  You obviously don’t need me to answer this question but merely to reinforce your view since you say there is a dispute even from some religious Jews who don’t realize that there are concerns. Therefore I am writing that my view is this is prohibited and I have previously ruled that this is from the age of six in some places  However there are those who claim that there is no problem because there is no lust for the opposite sex at this age. Nevertheless there is an obligation of chinuch which means to accustom them to behave now in staying away from the opposite sex because they will need to do it later. However when they learn together as children they become accustomed to be with the opposite sex so that this will continue even when they are older when they will have lust for the opposite sex. So even though there is no problem of prohibited sin now when they are little children but there is a an obligation of chinuch.  There in fact is a dispute about the nature of chinuch whether the behavior needs to be exactly the way it will be when they grow up or only similar. So those who are lenient say that since young children don’t have lust there is not even a mitzva of chinuch. However I hold that it is prohibited to teach boys and girls together even when very young. In America there is a question of what age is considered a child.  Some want to say this means even at the age of 9 or 10 they are still children. While it is clear that even young boys and girls should not be taught together, there are some places that I have agreed that they can be lenient and have coed classes . That is because it is impossible to have a separate school for boys and girls and that would result in the children going to public school. Therefore it is obviously better that they learn in a religious school even if the classes are coed for young children. 

Bar/bas mitzva Celebration

Igros Moshe (OC I #104) Question Can you celebrate a bas mitzva in the same way as a bar mitzva? Answer  Under no circumstance should a bas mitzva be celebrated n the synagogue even at night! That is because the celebration of a bas mitzva is not considered a mitzva.  It is especially problematic since the idea for this celebration is from the Reform and Conservatives. While if the father wants to make a celebration in his home it is appropriate but just understand this is not considered a mitzva at all but is no more than a birthday party. In fact if I had the power I would eliminate in America the celebration of a bar mitzva. Since as is well known this doesn’t bring anyone closer to Torah and mitzvos including the bar mitzva boy himself. In fact the opposite is true that many times it causes profaning Shabbos and other sins.  However since the bar mitzva celebration has become the standard practice and in addition it is associated with mitzva it is difficult to stop it. Nevertheless with regard to the bas mitzva celebration it has no associated mitzva at all. So it is best to refrain from even celebrating it in the house even though it is not prohibited. Surely it is prohibited to be done in the synagogue even at night when people are not praying. 

Igros Moshe (O.C. II #097): Question You asked why there is no meal for a bas Mitzvah who is 12 years old like is made for a bar mitzvah since she is now obligated to keep mitzvos? Answer Let me add and reinforce the question. Even though the girl does not give a speech and even if she did it means nothing since she is exempt from Torah Study nevertheless on the day of a bar mitzva the meal is a meal of mitzva even if the boy does not give a speech so it should also should be considered a meal of mitzvah on the day of Bas Mitzva? A possible answer is that it is not obvious with a girl that her status has changed and she is no longer a child.  With a boy he is now counted as part of a minyan and is counted as part of three that require Zimun. In general If it not obvious that a change has taken place we don’t make a festive occasion or meal. Since the boy can now also say Berachos and prayers as well as the Hagada for others it is obvious his status has changed and that justifies making a festive meal. In contrast with a girl it is not obvious that her status has changed and thus we don’t make a festive meal.

Igros Moshe (OC IV #36) Question What is the significance of the celebration of a bas mitzvah Answer The meal for a bas mitzva is not a seudas mitzva (meal of mitzva) but is merely a birthday celebration and therefore it should not be done in the synagogue. However to make a kiddush in shul is the common practice in America as is the practice for all joyous occasions. It is also appropriate to say things in honor of the Simcha. However the speeches should not be made from the bimah in the shul but at the table where the kiddush is served. If it was already decided otherwise to make a more elaborate celebration and changing it to a simple kiddush is regarded as insulting and will cause disputes, then the original plans should be followed. But in the future make only a simple kiddush that would be made for other simchas. There should be no celebration which causes degradation and profaning Shabbos and other problems even for a bar mitzva even if the intent is to bring people closer to Torah and mitzvos. Even if this might be true for a particular girl, but for  most girls it is best to avoid this new innovation of an elaborate bas mitzva but as I mentioned disputes need to be avoided

Rav has no portion in World to Come

  Making of a Godol (pages 670-671) Upon hearing of a certain man's plans to become a shohet, R' Laib told him, "A shohet? Are you unaware that  Avos de\Rabbi Nosson (36:5) lists a shohet among the seven who have no share in the World to Come'?!" The luckless fellow then said he would have to look for an alternate occupation. But R' Laib stopped him and said, "No, no, go ask the rav. Another of the seven is a rav, and he must have found some dispensation which may apply to you, too." [Another of my father's talmidim, present at the time, asked him what then was the heter for becoming a rav, and he replied, "When I took the job in Tzitevian,I thought to myself that if there were someone in the town better able to rule on halakhic problems than myself, I would resign, and if not, I was obliged to be the rav' ([My father meant to say that an obligation overrides the World to Come consideration.])

Avos de\Rabbi Nosson (36:5) שבעה אין להם חלק לעוה״ב ואלו הן לבלר וסופר וטוב שברופאין ודיין לעירו וקוסם חזן וטבח: 

Shabbos (139a) It was taught in a baraita that Rabbi Yosei ben Elisha says: If you see a generation that many troubles are befalling it, go and examine the judges of Israel. Perhaps their sins are the cause, as any calamity that comes to the world comes due to the judges of Israel acting corruptly, as it is stated: “Please hear this, heads of the house of Jacob, and officers of the house of Israel, who abhor justice and pervert all equity, who build up Zion with blood, and Jerusalem with iniquity. Their heads they judge for bribes, and their priests teach for hire, and their prophets divine for money; yet they lean upon the Lord, saying: Is not the Lord in our midst? No evil shall befall us” (Micah 3:9–11).

Autopsy – if Relatives permit?

Igros Moshe (Choshen Mishpat II #73.6) Question: Can an autopsy that is desired by the hospital be done with the permission of relatives? The concern is that if it isn’t done the doctor might lose his license to practice medicine Answer It is astounding that in America that a doctor can be forced to violate the laws of the Torah. Therefore if the hospital management  insists on having an autopsy  its threats should be ignored because obviously the religious doctor can  sue them in secular court because they are making unreasonable demands and thus it is not permitted to comply with their demands. However it is permitted to do an autopsy on non Jews who are more numerous than Jews even in a Jewish hospital. A religious Jewish doctor can request permission from the relatives of a non Jew and even try to persuade them and there is no problem that this leads to hatred of Jews since non Jews don’t view an autopsy as being prohibited and thus this isn’t a question of darchei shalom. There is also no requirement to tell the relatives to ignore the request for an autopsy. If the relatives ask the doctor what to do there is no obligation to give a definitive  answer. He should simply state that you as a doctor are not a rabbinic authority and they need to ask a rabbi who knows them whether an autopsy is permitted on their relative and thus the hospital management can not complain about the doctor and thus the doctor need not fear that they can cause problems. 

How is it possible that you have this job?': RFK Jr.'s incompetence becomes too glaring to overlook

Trump’s Exceptional Tariff Weekend

 https://www.wsj.com/opinion/trumps-exceptional-tariff-weekend-13d8f144?mod=hp_opin_pos_1

His Customs office announced tariff-rate exceptions on electronics on Friday that he renounced on Sunday.

President Trump is taking exception to the idea that his Administration is offering exceptions to his punishing tariffs. That’s the story after a confusing weekend that offers more lessons in the arbitrary nature of Trump trade policy.

Late Friday his own Customs and Border Protection (CBP) department issued a notice listing products that will be exempt from Mr. Trump’s so-called reciprocal tariffs that can run as high as 145% on goods from China. The exclusions apply to smartphones, laptop computers, hard drives, computer processors, servers, memory chips, semiconductor manufacturing equipment, and other electronics.

The CBP notice takes the tariff rate on these products down considerably. Barron’s calculates that the exceptions cover $385 billion in 2024 imports. That includes $100 billion from China, or 23% of U.S. imports from that country. The tariff rate falls to 20% on the newly exempted Chinese exports.

Artificial insemination from a non-Jewish donor

Igros Moshe (EH I #10) Question A women who has not given birth after 10 years of marriage and the doctors say the problem is with her husband and she really wants to have a child as all women do. She went to a doctor who inserted the sperm of another man in her uterus without her husband’s permission, is she now prohibited to her husband and what is the status of the resulting child? Answer It is clear that if there was no intercourse  with another man she is not prohibited to her husband. The sperm itself does not make her prohibited. Intercourse prohibits even without sperm. The gemora describes a case that a woman got impregnated from sperm in a bath and says this is not prohibited znus and she is not prohibited to her husband.  The child is not considered a mamzer since there was no intercourse and this is true even if the sperm was from a close relative such as a father or brother.  This is the story of Ben Sira. However if the sperm was from a Jew, then the child can not marry any of the donor’s children but if his identity is not known she child can marry anyone. Nevertheless since most sperm donations come from non Jews there is no concern with whom the chiold marries. Even if the doctor claims the donor was Jewish he is not believed. . The Maharsham and Emek Halacha are quoted as saying that this is permitted in cases of great need so obviously it is pewrmitted if already done. G-d forbid for the husband to separate from his wife because of this. An additional question is if the child is a girl whether she can marry a cohen? There are authorities that permit it and in actuality she is not disqualified from a cohen.  However if her husband does not want to support the child he exempt as well as paying for the expenses of the birth and other medical expenses since this was not done with his consent. 

Igros Moshe (EH I #71) Question Can the sperm of another man be added to that of the husband as a booster? Answer  This is simply deception to placate the husband that he might be the actual father. In reality it is insignificant since the pregnancy is the result of only one sperm either the husband’s or the other man’s.  However the Yerushalmi disagrees and says two men can be the actual father.  According  to the Yerushalmi the booster actually helps. |In fact it is permitted to do artificial insemination with the sperm of a non Jew at times of great need when the woman has a great desire for children.  It can be assumed in America that the sperm was donated by a non Jew.  Ideally she should get her husband’s assent

Igros Moshe. (EH II #11) I received your very long letter, which was full of criticism against me,. concerning my ruling which was published in Igros Moshe about artificial insemination which you believe will cause harm to the purity and holiness of the lineage of the Jewish People. It is also obvious from your letter that you think I will object to your criticism.  The reality is the opposite. I see from your letter only that there are elevated people who are not afraid or embarrassed to give criticism.  However the truth is that there is nothing in what I wrote in that ruling, the slightest possibility of destroying the purity and holiness of the Jewish People. It consists entirely of true Torah from the words of our teachers the Rishonim. Consequently your objections simply indicate that you have a different understanding which is based on non Torah sources which dismiss the words of gedolim in their understanding of G-d’s commandments and the holy Torah.  These external views turn prohibitions into permitted acts and that which is permitted becomes  prohibited. They are thus antithetical to Torah and halacha. This is true even for being strict as is know the tzadokim actually wanted to be stricter and consequently there were even rabbinic decrees made to go against these greater restrictions of the tzadokim. I am not Thank G-d  either from them or the masses. All my Jewish outlook is based entirely on my knowledge of Torah without the slightest mixtue of external knowledge. My rulings are true  whether for strictness or leniency. I not only am not influenced by non Torah views but I also don’t make up analysis based on emotion or personal bias even to be more strict than the halacha calls for or because I imagine it is a purer and holier path. Now let’s look at the nature of this halacha.  It is unquestionably clear that sexual sins require an act of sexual intercourse and have nothing to do with the sperm . Thus it is irrelevant for the sin whether the intercourse can result in children or not and thus applies to sterile people or whether it is natural or unnatural intercourse or even whether sperm is produced .Since the prohibition is entirely because of the act of intercourse  it is totally unrelated to the insertion of sperm into her body when there is no act of intercourse  no matter whether the sperm is a relative or someone else she with whom she is prohibited to have intercourse. Consequently she does not become prohibited to her husband nor does the resulting child become a mamzer by the insertion of sperm but only bt an act of prohibited intercourse. 

Igros Moshe (EH IV#32.5) Question: Artificial Insemination with sperm from husband or  non-Jew? Answer: This that I have stated previously regarding the permissibility of artificial insemination I have no regrets or retractions. However in practice I have not ruled that it should be done since this has nothing to do with the husband’s fulfilment of having children and the wife has no obligation at all to have children and the fact that this might cause the husband to be very jealous. Consequently this is not a good idea to actually do. If someone actually did it than the child is not a mamzer and is permitted to marry even to a cohen.  It is also permitted to use the sperm of the husband even if she is a Niddah if the doctors say that this is the best time. 

Competence questions pose risk to Trump’s political image

 https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2025/04/11/trump-competence-questions-second-term/

President Donald Trump regained the White House in large part by trumpeting his ability to get things done, accusing his opponents of ineptitude and senility and promising that on Day 1 he would restore basic competence to government.

But 2½ months in, agencies such as the Social Security Administration have struggled to provide basic services. Trump’s team issues edicts, then reverses them. A leaked Signal chat suggests top security officials were unfamiliar with the basics of protecting military secrets.

Crucial government workers have been fired, then rehired. A much-ballyhooed immigration detention center at Guantánamo Bay has faced logistical problems. Trump’s team told laid-off workers at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to contact a particular individual if they felt they were being discriminated against; she turned out to be dead.

These and other missteps are now being compounded in dramatic fashion by a roiling stock market and bond sell-off prompted by Trump’s tariff policies, raising fears of a collapsing economy. Trump’s formula for calculating the tariffs has been widely panned by economists. And on Wednesday, he paused many of the levies just hours after they took effect, even while leaving a 10 percent blanket tariff in place and further hiking duties on imports from China.

Many Americans who disliked Trump’s bluster and bombast, polls suggest, voted for him in 2024 in the belief that at least he could get results. They saw him as a highly successful businessman, and they remembered a booming economy in Trump’s first term before the coronavirus pandemic.

Shapiro says ‘arsonist set fire’ to Pennsylvania governor’s house

 https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/5246802-shapiro-arsonist-set-fire-pennsylvania-governors-house/

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro (D) said an “arsonist set fire” to the governor’s residence early Sunday morning, prompting his family to evacuate.

The governor and his family were present in a separate part of the house, and they were “evacuated safely and were not injured,” according to a statement from the Pennsylvania State Police (PSP).

“Last night at about 2AM, my family and I woke up to bangs on the door from the Pennsylvania State Police after an arsonist set fire to the Governor’s Residence in Harrisburg,” Shapiro wrote in a post on the social platform X.

The Harrisburg Bureau of Fire “successfully extinguished” the fire, but “it caused a significant amount of damage to a portion of the residence,” the PSP said.

Republicans fear Trump’s trade war could lead to political wipeout

 https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/5245595-trump-trade-war-political-dangers/

Republican lawmakers say there’s a good chance that President Trump’s trade war will boomerang on Republicans politically in 2026, as rising prices and shrinking growth could offset other accomplishments by the GOP.

Republican senators are pointing to the 1932 and 1982 elections as historical examples of when trade wars and resulting price inflation hurt their party at the ballot box, and they are worried that history could repeat itself.

On Tariffs, It’s Good to Be Tim Cook

 https://www.wsj.com/opinion/on-tariffs-its-good-to-be-tim-cook-5b8f05ad?mod=hp_opin_pos_1

Trump’s exemptions for big companies expose the arbitrary political nature of his border taxes.

Tariffs are advertised in the name of helping American workers, but what do you know? They turn out to favor the powerful and politically connected. That’s the main message of President Trump’s decision to exempt smartphones and assorted electronic goods from his most onerous tariffs.

Trump makes false claims about China, Japan and the EU at Cabinet meeting

 https://edition.cnn.com/2025/04/10/politics/cabinet-meeting-trump-china-japan-eu/index.html

President Donald Trump made a series of false claims in televised remarks Thursday at a meeting of his Cabinet, including inaccurate assertions about US relations with China, Japan and the European Union.

Trump repeated his frequent false claim that because of the tariffs he imposed during his first term, China paid the US hundreds of billions of dollars. In fact, US importers, not foreign exporters like China, make the tariff payments to the US government, and study after study has found that Americans bore the overwhelming majority of the cost of Trump’s first-term tariffs on China. It’s easy to find specific examples of companies that passed along the cost of the tariffs to US consumers.

Israel fears Trump may cut 'mediocre' nuke deal, impede IDF's ability to strike Iran

 https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/article-849751

There is a real danger that US President Donald Trump could agree to a mediocre nuclear deal with Iran, multiple top Israeli sources have told The Jerusalem Post.

If Trump does agree to such a deal, some of the sources are deeply concerned that the president may circumscribe the IDF’s current unique opportunity to strike the Islamic Republic.

We Just Saw the Cracks in Trump’s Wall of Power

 https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2025/04/10/donald-trump-vulnerabilities-tariffs-budget-00283251

It was a striking one-two punch attacking the narrative that has surrounded Trump since November — that he is a political juggernaut able to run roughshod over his party and beyond to get his way on everything from economic policy to his choice for Cabinet secretaries. On Wednesday, Trump implicitly acknowledged there are, in fact, checks on his power: the markets and, if you squint, his own party.

Vocal supporter and hedge fund mogul Bill Ackman warned Trump of a “self-induced economic nuclear winter” and accused Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick of profiting from a bad economy. And the discontent even spread to the podcasting bros who helped connect Trump with a legion of young men during the 2024 campaign, including Barstool Sports’ David Portnoy, who claimed to have lost $20 million after Trump introduced his latest tariffs, with Daily Wire’s Ben Shapiro calling it “about as bad a rollout as you can do.”

“The idea that this is inherently good and makes the American economy strong is wrongheaded,” Shapiro told his viewers. “It’s untrue. The idea that it is going to result in massive re-shoring of manufacturing is also untrue.”

Does Trump Have a China Trade Strategy?

 https://www.wsj.com/opinion/china-tariffs-donald-trump-trade-markets-scott-bessent-tiktok-b30bce47?mod=hp_opin_pos_1

It’s all going according to plan, says the White House, and you almost have to smile at this spin in trying to sell President Trump’s partial tariff reversal this week as a triumph. The reality is that Mr. Trump is making it up as he goes, and it would help if he had an actual strategy to deal with China in particular.

Stocks staged a relief rally on Wednesday, but a day later fell again. What investors know is that the trade war is far from over and damage persists. Even with the 90-day pause, the tariffs that continue are the largest tax increase since 1982. They’re bigger than Bill Clinton’s 1993 tax increase and George H.W. Bush’s in 1990. Taxes are anti-growth.

Then there’s the trade-war escalation with China, the world’s second largest economy. The White House said Thursday that the U.S. tariff on all Chinese exports to the U.S. will now be 145%. In 2024 the U.S. imported $439 billion in goods from China, so apply 145% to that and you get a sense of the hit to U.S. consumers and businesses.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent says the U.S. trade goal all along has been to isolate China as a main offender. There’s good reason to treat China differently given its often predatory trade practices. These include cyber attacks on U.S. companies and government; intellectual property theft; unequal treatment of U.S. firms in China; and Covid lies.

U.S., China Are Going to Economic War, and Everyone Will Suffer

 https://www.wsj.com/economy/trade/us-china-tariffs-trade-war-6f143252?mod=WSJ_home_mediumtopper_pos_1

In jacking up his tariffs on China—and pausing steep duties on dozens of other nations—President Trump is pushing the world’s two biggest economic powers into a battle that will leave neither unscathed and risks tanking the global economy. 

A US-China trade war could be catastrophic. What is Trump’s endgame strategy?

 https://edition.cnn.com/2025/04/11/politics/trump-china-trade-war-tariffs-strategy/index.html

 The fast-worsening trade war between the United States and China – the planet’s premier geopolitical powers, whose economies are intricately entwined – threatens to wreak severe damage on both nations and will send shockwaves worldwide.

Since President Donald Trump launched this potential cataclysm, it’s fair to ask whether he’s got a strategy and how he sees the endgame.

As usual, Trump is improvising. His stunning escalation in tariffs on China this week didn’t follow any meaningful formula. He’s acting, as he always does, like a real estate shark, raising the stakes to intolerable levels to seek leverage. It’s the latest manifestation of the “madman theory,” by which Trump conjures the most extreme of circumstances to try to spook his opponents.

“We’re now in a huge (trade) war with China, and the tariffs that have been imposed on China are what I would call prohibitive,” former Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen told Zain Asher and Bianna Golodryga on CNN International Thursday. “They’re going to result in massive impacts on the United States and the global economy. No one knows where these policies are headed.”

If trade dies out between the US and China, the consequences will be painful. The price of goods that form a vital part of American life could shoot up. This could fuel inflation, worsening the quality of life for millions and hurting consumer confidence, which in turn could tip the US into a recession.

This means that a trade war between the US and China could become a grueling test of which populace can take the most economic pain.

Falseability is Basis of Science

 The ability to describe the conditions that a statement or belief can be said to be false is what distinguishes science from idolatry and magic. What are the circumstance that determine whether someone is a failed leader? This is not hair splitting philosophy. We have a president who has destroyed the economy destroyed the ability of government to provide basic services. And yet this is ascribed to genius not incompetence. He is a corrupt criminal vindictive individual  and yet he is described as G-d's messenger. Please let me know the parameters of competence other than saying if he supports Israel he can do no wrong

Adam Schiff Calls For Insider Trading Investigation into Trump Over Tariff Pause

 https://time.com/7276234/trump-tariff-insider-trading-schiff/

Senator Adam Schiff on Wednesday called on Congress to investigate whether President Donald Trump engaged in insider trading or market manipulation when he abruptly paused a sweeping set of tariffs, a move that sent stock prices skyrocketing.

“I’m going to do my best to find out,” Schiff, a California Democrat, tells TIME. “Family meme coins and all the rest of it are not beyond insider trading or enriching themselves. I hope to find out soon.”

Schiff’s comments regarding a formal inquiry, which has not been previously reported, came soon after the S&P 500 surged more than 9% Wednesday afternoon after Trump announced the tariff pause. “THIS IS A GREAT TIME TO BUY!!!” Trump posted on Truth Social minutes after the market opened on Wednesday, along with the letters “DJT,” which stands for both his initials and the ticker for his media company.

Stocks Plummet as China Trade War Sinks In

https://www.wsj.com/livecoverage/stock-market-trump-tariffs-trade-war-04-10-25?mod=WSJ_home_supertoppertop_pos_1

 Dow falls more than 1,700 points, Nasdaq sheds over 5%; White House says China tariff is 145%

Trump concedes there may be "transition problems" as markets plunge again following tariff pause

 https://edition.cnn.com/politics/live-news/trump-tariffs-cnn-town-hall-04-10-25/index.html

President Donald Trump offered a more sober assessment of the aftermath of his decision to pause some tariffs for 90 days, while convening his Cabinet to discuss next steps.

After taking a victory lap Wednesday, the president on Thursday acknowledged some “transition problems” could be expected – comments that come as the Dow is again tumbling after a historic rally.

“A big day yesterday. There will always be transition difficulty – but in history, it was the biggest day in history, the markets. So we’re very, very happy with the way the country is running. We’re trying to get the world to treat us fairly,” Trump said in the Cabinet Room.

He continued, “We think we’re in very good shape. We think we’re doing very well. Again, there’ll be a transition cost and transition problems, but in the end, it’s going to be a beautiful thing.”

The president praised his Cabinet, whom he has tasked with plans on how to proceed with trade deals and negotiation with China in what is becoming an intensifying trade war with Beijing.

Wall St Sell Off Resumes As Trump Fails To Soothe Market Turmoil

 https://www.newsweek.com/donald-trump-administration-tariffs-eu-china-pause-live-updates-2057911

The Dow plunged over 4.3% points Thursday; S&P 500 fell 5%; Nasdaq dropped 5.9%.

Trump's tariff on Chinese goods now sits at a minimum of 145%, up from the 125% announced Wednesday.

The 145% rate includes an earlier 20% levy tied to fentanyl-related sanctions.

U.S. inflation cooled in March, but economists warn new tariffs could soon reverse that trend.

The U.S. dollar index sank 2%, its lowest since early October.

The EU paused retaliatory tariffs on U.S. goods for 90 days, signaling a fragile easing in broader trade tensions.

Maddow blasts Trump's 'terrible, absolutely ridiculous way to run a government'

Fox News Reporter Bursts MAGA Bubble: Trump ‘Capitulated’

 https://www.thedailybeast.com/fox-news-reporter-bursts-maga-bubble-trump-capitulated/

A Fox News correspondent had to pump the breaks on the network’s attempts to frame Donald Trump’s sudden 90-day pause on his sweeping tariff plan as an example of his brilliant negotiating prowess.

“Let’s be clear about what happened, who capitulated here and why,” he said on Wednesday. “I don’t want to say this because I am a patriot, I am an American, but it is the White House who capitulated, based on everything I hear and all my sources.

RFK Jr. Has Stunning Response to Cuts to Vital Public Health

 https://www.thedailybeast.com/rfk-jr-has-stunning-response-to-cuts-to-vital-public-health/

CBS News chief medical correspondent Dr. Jon LaPook asked the secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) on Wednesday if he had personally approved the more than $11 billion proposed cuts to programs addressing mental health, infectious diseases, addiction, and childhood vaccination. Kennedy, however, alleged that he had no knowledge of them.

Bewildered GOP Had No Idea Trump Changed His Mind on Tariffs

 https://www.thedailybeast.com/bewildered-gop-had-no-idea-trump-changed-his-mind-on-tariffs/

The reactions from Donald Trump’s congressional allies proved how little they knew about his decision-making process.

Republican lawmakers may be expressing their relief at Trump’s U-turn on global tariffs—but it appears that none of them knew it was coming.

Trump’s congressional allies were publicly supporting Trump’s erratic tariff decisions as recently as 15 minutes before the president announced a 90-day “pause,” reducing the higher-rate “reciprocal” tariffs to 10 percent for almost all countries, except China.

“I still don’t know what his total strategy is. We know what his goal was... I don’t know what the end game is here,” Wisconsin Sen. Ron Johnson told CNN.

Trump Blinks on Tariffs, Again, for Now

https://www.wsj.com/opinion/donald-trump-tariffs-markets-investors-bonds-scott-bessent-trade-0d271750?mod=hp_opin_pos_1

 The President pauses on some tariffs amid a bond rout and recession fears.

President Trump says trade wars are easy to win. Investors think otherwise, and on Wednesday Mr. Trump decided maybe investors are right. After a flight from U.S. assets and a rout in the bond market, Mr. Trump announced a pause for 90 days on the worst of his “liberation” tariffs on most countries, China excepted.

Markets celebrated with a stock-market rally on hope that perhaps Mr. Trump isn’t entirely oblivious to the damage he’s causing. The rout in dollar assets reversed, at least somewhat, and the rise in the benchmark 10-year Treasury yield eased. It would be hard to find better evidence that markets believe the biggest threat to the world economy is Mr. Trump’s tariffs.

The bond rout was scary, with the 10-year yield hitting 4.47% at one point Wednesday, capping the steepest three-day yield climb since 2001. This was accompanied by a decline in the dollar against a basket of currencies. The fire sale on Treasurys and the dollar sent a warning about a loss of confidence in Washington. Investors are demanding higher yields to hold even safe Treasurys, which is the opposite of what usually happens in financial panics.

'Witch hunt': The global right-wing populist rallying cry threatening democracy

 https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-849474

This is a global movement – a slow-burning insurrection that seeks to replace the checks and balances of liberal democracy with elected autocracy.

The rule of law – meant to protect democracy from the excesses of power – is thus portrayed as a tool of tyranny. And today’s demagogues calculate that majorities will back them, ignorant of or indifferent to the possible abdication of their own basic rights.

Trump Cries Uncle on Tariff Crisis After Market Collapse

 https://www.thedailybeast.com/trump-puts-tariffs-on-hold-amid-market-meltdown/

The freeze comes despite the president’s insistence that he would not back down.

President Donald Trump is backing down on his tariffs and putting levies on most countries on a 90-day freeze amid the global market crisis, he said Wednesday.

But after announcing the astonishing about-face, the president also said he is raising the stakes in his trade war with Bejing by ramping up China’s tariffs to a whopping 125 percent.

Trump Authorizes 90-Day Pause on Reciprocal Tariffs, Stocks Skyrocket

 https://www.newsweek.com/trump-authorizes-90-day-pause-reciprocal-tariffs-stocks-skyrocket-2057589

Amid a global market meltdown, President Donald Trump abruptly reversed course by pausing most of his tariffs on U.S. trade partners for 90 days, while sharply increasing the tariff rate on Chinese imports to 125 percent.

"I have authorized a 90 day PAUSE," Trump said, after recognizing the more than 75 countries that he said have been negotiating on trade and had not retaliated against his latest increase in tariffs.

Speaking to reporters outside of the White House on Wednesday, the president said about this tariff pause, "I thought that people were jumping a little bit out of line. They were getting yippy, you know. They were getting a little bit yippy, a little bit afraid."

Republican Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky said about the tariff pause, "I hope there's a lesson learned. When you add a bunch of tariffs, you'll lose six trillion in the marketplace. When you get rid of the tariffs, guess what, it comes bounding back."

Trump Urges Calm, Says 'Great Time to Buy' As Markets Convulse Over Tariffs

 https://www.newsweek.com/trump-urges-calm-says-great-time-buy-markets-convulse-over-tariffs-2057490

President Donald Trump urged calm and said it's a 'great time to buy' in Wednesday morning social media posts as markets continue to convulse over his tariffs.

The president posted on Truth Social, "THIS IS A GREAT TIME TO BUY!!! DJT." He also posted, "BE COOL! Everything is going to work out well. The USA will be bigger and better than ever before!"

The S&P 500 slipped 0.7 percent in midday trading Tuesday after a turbulent start to the session. The index, a key benchmark for many 401(k) retirement accounts, swung wildly in the first hour—plunging 0.5 percent at the open, surging to a 1.4 percent gain, and then tumbling back into the red, all within minutes.

Mulvaney says he ‘would have fired’ Navarro during first Trump term

 https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/5239921-mulvaney-says-he-would-have-fired-navarro-during-first-trump-term/

“I would have fired him when he got caught making up his academic sources with his Ron Vara imaginary friend,” Mulvaney said, pointing to Navarro’s 2019 scandal where he faked being one of his own academic sources. “But, I mean, that was Donald Trump’s call.”

“One of the things that makes him so difficult to work with is that he pretends to speak for the president when he does not,” he said. “Peter was notorious back during Trump 1.0 to walk out of a meeting when everybody would sort of assume we’ve got sort of a consensus about something and he would go on TV and say the exact opposite.”

“That has a tremendous demoralizing effect on the White House, and it does tend to mislead markets,” Mulvaney added.

Artificial insemination from a non-Jewish donor

Igros Moshe. (EH II #11) I received your very long letter, which was full of criticism against me,. concerning my ruling which was published in Igros Moshe about  artificial insemination which you believe will cause harm to the purity and holiness of the lineage of the Jewish People.  It is also obvious from your letter that you think I will object to your criticism.  The reality is the opposite. I see from your letter only that there are elevated people who are not afraid or embarrassed to give criticism.  However the truth is that there is nothing in what I wrote in that ruling, the slightest possibility of destroying the purity and holiness of the Jewish People.  It consists entirely of true Torah from the words of our teachers the Rishonim. Consequently your objections simply indicate that you have a different understanding which is based on non Torah sources which dismiss the words of gedolim in their understanding of G-d’s commandments and the holy Torah.  These external views turn prohibitions into permitted acts and that which is permitted becomes  prohibited. They are thus antithetical to Torah and halacha. This is true even for being strict as is know the tzadokim actually wanted to be stricter and consequently there were even rabbinic decrees made to go against these greater restrictions of the tzadokim. I am not Thank G-d  either from them or the masses. All my Jewish outlook is based entirely on my knowledge of Torah without the slightest mixtue of external knowledge. My rulings are true  whether for strictness or leniency. I not only am not influenced by non Torah views but I also don’t make up analysis based on emotion or personal bias even to be more strict than the halacha calls for or because I imagine it is a purer and holier path. Now let’s look at the nature of this halacha.  It is unquestionably clear that sexual sins require an act of sexual intercourse and have nothing to do with the sperm . Thus it is irrelevant for the sin whether the intercourse can result in children or not and thus applies to sterile people or whether it is natural or unnatural intercourse or even whether sperm is produced . Since the prohibition is entirely because of the act of intercourse  it is totally unrelated to the insertion of sperm into her body when there is no act of intercourse  no matter whether the sperm is a relative or someone else she with whom she is prohibited to have intercourse. Consequently she does not become prohibited to her husband nor does the resulting child become a mamzer by the insertion of sperm but only bt an act of prohibited intercourse. 

KA I am waiting for you to claim that Rav Moshe could not have wtitten this to someone who disagreed with his psak and it must have been written by Rav Shach!

Why Musk vs. Navarro Matters

 https://www.wsj.com/opinion/elon-musk-peter-navarro-tariffs-donald-trump-white-house-e65d2467?mod=hp_opin_pos_3#cxrecs_s

The fight reflects the competing factions in Trump’s coalition.

This isn’t exactly Lincoln’s team of rivals, and we hesitate to devote attention to squabbling West Wing personalities, except that this feud illustrates the competing factions advising President Trump and that make up big chunks of his political coalition. Which side prevails more often is likely to determine whether Mr. Trump’s economic policy succeeds.

Mr. Musk is an erratic political messenger, but he’s right about at least two big things, and he also appears willing to speak truths that Mr. Trump is better off hearing. Mr. Musk believes in trade, and he recently said he hopes that the U.S. and Europe move “to a zero-tariff situation.” He has also pointed out, correctly, that most federal spending is for entitlement programs, though Mr. Trump has promised not to touch such benefits.

Trump's friendship with Israel is a double-edged sword

 https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-849389

Had Obama or former president Joe Biden announced direct talks with Iran, Netanyahu and his allies would have slammed the move.

Both the announcement and the prime minister’s silence reveal how different the US-Israel relationship is today compared to the Obama years, the last time a US president directly engaged with the Iranians.

But that support comes with a cost. In this case, the price is a loss of some autonomy. Given everything Trump has done for Israel, it is now politically unthinkable for Jerusalem to say “no” to this president.

Had Obama or former president Joe Biden announced direct talks with Iran, Netanyahu and his allies would have slammed the move. But not with Trump – a reminder that even the warmest friendships come with strings attached. In this case, that string is an inability to object.

Elon Musk rips ‘moron’ Trump trade adviser Peter Navarro: ‘Dumber than a sack of bricks’

 https://nypost.com/2025/04/08/us-news/elon-musk-rips-moron-trump-trade-adviser-peter-navarro/

Billionaire Elon Musk escalated his attacks against White House trade adviser Peter Navarro on Tuesday, calling him a “moron” who’s “dumber than a sack of bricks.”

Musk responded Tuesday to the trade adviser’s suggestion on CNBC Monday that the Tesla boss was “not a car manufacturer” but “a car assembler.”

‘Historically awful’: Harry Enten on Trump’s net approval ratings

Donald Trump's Strong Disapproval Rating Surges

https://www.newsweek.com/donald-trump-approval-rating-2026-midterms-2056747 

Donald Trump is facing a sharp rise in disapproval ratings similar to that of November, 2018, when the Republicans lost control of the House of Representatives, according to new polling data.

According to CNN pollster Harry Enten, Trump's disapproval rating is currently at a similar level to November 2018, when the Republicans lost the House in the midterms and the Democrats gained 41 seats. At the time, 42 percent disapproved of Trump's job performance, according to Enten's analysis.

Harry Enten said: "The Democratic protest, the idea of protesting Donald Trump, if the resistance was a little bit lacking at the beginning of Trump's second term, it is very much alive now. The protests are out there, and the interest in protesting Donald Trump is definitely there now."

Billionaire GOP Megadonor Rips Trump’s ‘Huge’ Trade War Mistake

 https://www.thedailybeast.com/billionaire-gop-megadonor-rips-trumps-huge-trade-war-mistake/

Ken Griffin joins a growing list of Trump loyalists who have spoken out against the aggressive tariff program.

A billionaire GOP megadonor has ripped into President Donald Trump over his latest tariffs, calling them 

a “huge policy mistake.”

According to a report from Bloomberg, Ken Griffin said that families making $50,000 annually are being told “it’s going to cost you 20 percent, 30 percent, 40 percent more for your groceries, for your toaster, for a new vacuum cleaner, for a new car.

“Even if the dream of jobs coming back to America plays out, that’s a 20-year dream. It’s not 20 weeks. It’s not two years. It’s decades.”

Mashgiach for Kashrus woman

Igros Moshe (Y.D. II #44):Question Concerning the widow of a talmid chachom who had a position as masghiach of kashrus and with his death she is destitute and has no way of providing for herself or her children. She is a modest woman and truly G-d fearing as well as being smart, understanding and responsible. She can relied upon and in fact was working under her husband’s supervision and that was her parnossa until he died. You want to know my view as to whether she can now serve i as a mashgiach? Answer From the aspect of believability, a women is fully believed concerning prohibitions. The basic law is that a single witness is believed for prohibitions. However some sources indicate that women are only believed for Rabbinic prohibitions. Tosfos explains that tasks which require great effort or matters she can’t control she is not believed. But that is only for matters which are presumed prohibited. Therefore supervising kashrus means she prevents people from eating that which is prohibited from food which is not presumed to be forbidden she is to be believed even if the food is not in her control. It has been standard practice in every generation to hire women to cook and buy meat and other foods and rely on them that it is kosher. . In conclusuion from the aspect of believability there is no problem that this women can serve as mashgiach since she is established as good woman with solid knowledge and understanding as the job requires. Howver there is a problem from a different aspect.  The Rambam states clearly that all positions of authority in Judaism can only be males. I don’t know the source for the Rambam’s ruling. The Sifrei that is cited by the Kesef Mishna and others  only states that the ruler must be a male king and not a female queen but no mention is made that all positions of authority must be male. It must be that the Rambam decided that on his own. . It is reasonable to say that a kashrus supervisor is considered a position of authority as Rashi notes that a supervisor over weights and measures is considered an appointment of authority since both positions require opposition to deviations from standards. Consequently the Rambam would prohibit a woman being appointed as mashgiach. . However it seems to me that not everyone agrees with the Rambam. The Chinuch and Tosfos seem to disagree  as do Rashi and the Ran  Thus it is not clear what the halachic status of the Rambam’s view is. Consequently in the case of great need such as the livelihood of this widow and her children one can rely on those that disagree with the Rambam and appoint her as mashgiach to replace her husband. However there is a way to appoint her which doesn’t conflict with the Rambam.  If she is officially hired by a rabbi  and is thus while she is not the official boss but she does the actual work and therefore she has no actual authority which is totally given to her boss. 

Disagree with Rav Moshe

 Igros Moshe (O.C. I #109): This that you apologize for disagreeing with me in a halachic issue – this is totally unnecessary. That is because this is the way of Torah that it is necessary to establish the truth. Chas v’shalom to silence one who disagrees with you – whether he is being more lenient or more strict. [While there is a discussion about disagreeing in a formal court session Sanhedrin 36 where the court is deciding on the guilt or innocence…] it is not a problem to disagree with the gadol (greatest scholar) when he is saying something in the course of teaching the material or even if he is making a practical halachic ruling but he is not part of a formal court. We see this in many places in the gemora where students question their teacher’s view. … It is obvious in these cases the rulings were not part of a formal court session. Furthermore it is apparent that there is no one today who has the status of gadol for this law that no one can disagree with him… Therefore even if you consider me to be a gadol – it is permitted to disagree with me and consequently it is required that you express your opinion and there is no need to apologize. Nevertheless regarding the halachic question that was raised, my view -that I wrote that it is prohibited - is the correct one.

Igros Moshe (YD II #45): This that you apologize because you disagree with my reasoning and my position. I don’t know why you think you need to apologize. There is an absolute need for everyone to clarify the truth according to his own understanding whether that is a more lenient or strict  position and even if it disagrees with the views of his teacher (rav) and surely those who are not considered his teacher.  Look at what I wrote already in greater detail in Igros Moshe O.C. I #109): If you are perhaps apologizing because of possibly expressing yourself disrespectfully, but anyone who knows me knows that I am Thank G-d not concerned  with what anyone says against me and surely not the words of a Torah scholar. 

Donald Trump was once a registered Democrat and party donor. So why did he jump ship? - A man of principle- the power principle

 https://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/donald-trump-was-once-a-registered-democrat-and-party-donor-why-did-he-jump-ship/wj85mj5yq

The former Republican president was once a registered Democrat and even donated money to Kamala Harris. Here's a look back at how Donald Trump's political affiliations have changed over time, and why.

But before they were political rivals, Trump was actually one of Harris' financial donors.

State records show that Trump donated US$6,000 ($9,107) in total to the then-California attorney-general's campaign — US$5,000 ($7,589) in September 2011 after she was first elected, and another US$1,000 ($1,518) in 2013.

At the time of both donations to Harris' campaign, Trump was registered as a Republican.

The former president wasn't the only member of his family contributing money to Harris; his eldest daughter Ivanka donated US$2,000 ($3,036) in 2014 to her re-election campaign.

Trump first registered as a member of the Republican Party in 1987. But records show that since then he's changed his party affiliation five times.

In October 1999, he joined the Independence Party of New York.

Not long after, he declared himself a potential candidate for the Reform Party's presidential nomination for the 2000 election. The Independence Party of New York was at that time the state affiliate of the national Reform Party.

Then in 2001, Trump became a Democrat — and remained one for eight years.

In a 2004 interview with CNN, he said that "in many cases" he identified more as a Democrat than Republican.

"It just seems that the economy does better under the Democrats than the Republicans," he said.

Despite his praise for the Democrats, Trump returned to the Republican Party in 2012 and has remained a member since.

Trump has always been "ideologically inconsistent" on most issues, according to Emma Shortis, a senior researcher in international and security affairs at public policy think tank The Australia Institute.

"The through line is always his desire to access power and access elite circles," she said.

"He's always been pretty desperate to be validated by the American elite, as often as disdainful as he is of them, he wants access to that … so every time I think Trump has changed, you can explain that change by that desire for power, and elite access."

At the time of Trump's donations to Harris' campaign, he was facing a class action about whether Trump University had defrauded its students.

Voting Rav Moshe Feinstein

 

Letter (October 1984) On reaching the shores of the United States; Jews found a safe haven. The rights guaranteed by the United States Constitution and Bill of Rights have allowed us the freedom to practice our religion without interference and to live in this republic in safety. A fundamental principle of Judaism is hakaras hatov — recognizing benefits afforded us and giving expression to our appreciation. Therefore, it is incumbent upon each Jewish citizen to participate in the democratic system which safeguards the freedoms we enjoy. The most fundamental responsibility incumbent on each individual is to register and to vote. Therefore, I urge all members of the Jewish community to fulfill their obligations by registering as soon as possible and by voting. By this, we can express our appreciation and contribute to the continued security of our community.

AI is coming to skin cancer detection

 https://www.washingtonpost.com/wellness/2025/04/07/ai-is-coming-skin-cancer-detection/

A future where artificial intelligence will guide skin cancer detection is in sight, experts say, even as human care remains essential.

“The whole ecosystem has really matured and we are now past the hype and the big media headlines,” says Ivy Lee, a Los Angeles-based dermatologist who chairs the Augmented Intelligence Committee at the American Academy of Dermatology.

As of now the gold standard is to get an annual skin check with a dermatologist, Lee says. And if you notice any new or changing spots, you should see your dermatologist or physician.

Cracks appear among Trump’s cheerleaders amid market turmoil

 https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2025/04/07/trump-tariff-reaction/

As the world reels from President Donald Trump’s trade war, JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon is alerting shareholders that the tariffs will “slow down growth.” Podcaster Ben Shapiro is warning that the president’s vision of international trade is “mistaken.” And Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) is advising that the tariff strategy carries “enormous risk.”

Shapiro, who initially supported Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis in the Republican presidential primary before switching his support to Trump, spent much of his recent episodes highlighting the flaws in Trump’s tariff push to his audience.

“The president’s vision of international trade is, I’m sorry to say, mistaken,” he said this week on “The Ben Shapiro Show.” “So this is a massive tax increase on American consumers. That’s what it is. And it is designed to be so,” he said, adding that it is “probably unconstitutional … one of the biggest tax increases on consumers in history,” which he said was “predicated on a bad idea of how international trade works.”

'A little miracle': First baby born in UK to woman with transplanted womb

 https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c78jd517z87o

A "miracle" baby girl has become the first child in the UK to be born to a mother using a donated womb.

The baby's mum, Grace Davidson, 36, was born without a functioning uterus, and received her sister's womb in 2023 – in what was then the UK's only successful womb transplant.