Idolatry defined

 Rambam (Avoda Zara 2:1) The primary warning concerning worship of stars is, not to reverence any among all creatures, no angel, no planet, no star, none of the four elements nor any of their offspring, though the worshiper be conscious that the Lord is God and, he be worshiping a given being as at the inception of the worship of Enosh and the people of his generation, behold him, he worships idolatry.

Rambam (Avoda Zara 2:4) The precept concerning idolatry balances all other commandments, for it is said: "And when ye shall err, and not observe all these commandments, which the Lord hath spoken unto Moses" (Num. 15.22), which was traditionally instructed that the Verse speaks of idolatry. Herefrom you deduct that whosoever admits idolatry denies the whole Torah, all of the prophets, and all in that which the prophets were instructed since Adam even till the end of time, as it is said: But whosoever denies idolatry admits the whole Torah, all of the prophets, and all in that which the prophets were instructed since Adam even till the end of time. Thus it is the outstanding commandment of them all.

In the US, some fading Reform and Conservative synagogues go Orthodox to stay afloat

 https://www.timesofisrael.com/in-the-us-some-fading-reform-and-conservative-synagogues-go-orthodox-to-stay-afloat/

The story isn’t unique to Howard Beach. As Reform and Conservative synagogue memberships decline nationwide, some synagogue boards are reaching out to Orthodox congregations, primarily those affiliated with the Chabad movement.

I watched Fox News every day for 44 months – here's what I learned

 https://www.theguardian.com/media/2019/oct/25/fox-news-watching-what-i-learned

Since July 2018, I’ve been one among a lucky few live-tweeting the show along with the president. And after consuming thousands of hours of Rupert Murdoch’s finest drivel, I’ve learned a few things about how America’s No 1 news network is dragging the United States into ruin.

Why mental health is an halachic issue

 https://www.thejc.com/judaism/all/why-mental-health-is-an-halachic-issue-3wZrZWQSiJjyGR21r3UgrG

 I suffer from both anxiety and depression, and sometimes have suicidal thoughts as well. I find that writing in a journal quiets those thoughts, and helps me deal with my depression and anxiety, but on Shabbat I have a problem, as it is prohibited to write. Is there anything I can do?

Texas GOP Declares Biden Illegitimate, Demands End to Abortion

 https://www.newsweek.com/texas-gop-declares-biden-illegitimate-demands-end-abortion-1717167

Texas Republicans acted on multiple resolutions and platform changes at their state convention this weekend—including declaring that President Joe Biden was "not legitimately elected" and demanding an end to abortion.

Texas GOP Convention Sparks Intraparty Feud on Treatment of Gay Republicans

https://www.newsweek.com/texas-gop-convention-sparks-intraparty-feud-treatment-gay-republicans-1717159 

The Texas GOP denied the Log Cabin Republicans, which is an organization that represents LGBTQ Republicans, earlier this month from having a booth at their state convention, sparking a debate online about the treatment of gay conservatives.

Woman freed after being ‘chained’ in her marriage for 22 years

 https://www.timesofisrael.com/woman-freed-after-being-chained-in-her-marriage-for-22-years/

Tamar is a pseudonym as the woman asked to maintain a degree of privacy while sharing her story. Though she provided an account of her ordeal through the organization, Tamar would not speak directly to The Times of Israel.

New report shows Jewish young adults crave Shabbat dinner experience

 https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/354933

Shabbat dinners can lead to more Jewish engagement. OneTable leads some participants to seek out new Jewish organizations and communities. About 1 in 4 participants say that they’ve adopted new Jewish rituals or practices since their first dinner, and nearly 1 in 3 have sought out new Jewish organizations or communities.

Herschel Walker Mocked Over False Claim He Was FBI Agent: 'Humiliating Lie'

 https://www.newsweek.com/herschel-walker-fbi-agent-police-false-claim-lie-1715498

The former football star reportedly told an audience in 2019: "I spent time at Quantico at the FBI training school. Y'all didn't know I was an agent?"

In the past, Walker has falsely claimed to have graduated from the University of Georgia as well as wrongly saying he was high school valedictorian and that he had founded a charity for veterans.

Russia Implores Ukraine to 'Stop Senseless Resistance' in Severodonetsk - In other words don't make us kill you"!

 https://www.newsweek.com/russia-implores-ukraine-stop-senseless-resistance-severodonetsk-1716332

"Once again we urge the authorities in (Kyiv) to display prudence, to give the appropriate instructions to the militants to end senseless resistance and leave the territory of the Azot plant," Mizintsev said.

Herschel Walker, Critic of Absentee Dads, Admits to Yet ANOTHER Secret Son - Trump endorsed

 https://www.thedailybeast.com/herschel-walker-critic-of-absentee-dads-admits-to-yet-another-secret-son?ref=scroll

Walker was also reportedly involved with two other women around the same time—Julie Blanchard, the woman who would later become his second wife, and Myka Dean, who alleged a 20-year on-and-off affair, which ended in 2012 when Walker allegedly told her he would “blow your head off” in a dispute, according to previous reporting from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

The pattern belies a deep hypocrisy. As The Daily Beast reported, Walker has made a point over the years to criticize absentee fathers, beseeching parents in multiple addresses to “hug your child.”

Gazan aid worker convicted of embezzling millions for Hamas

 https://www.timesofisrael.com/gazan-aid-worker-convicted-of-embezzling-millions-for-hamas/

An Israeli court on Wednesday convicted Mohammad el-Halabi, a Gazan aid worker, of transferring millions in funds to the Hamas terror group, on all but one of the counts against him.

Israeli forces arrested Halabi, who worked at World Vision — a highly respected Christian humanitarian organization that operates around the world — in 2016 and charged him with transferring millions of the nonprofit’s funds to Hamas. Since then, he has been held under arrest.

They set out to produce an ‘accessible’ Mishnah. The price tag: $645

 They set out to produce an ‘accessible’ Mishnah. The price tag: $645

Nevertheless, the study of classical Jewish texts is not just for specialists, and is central to the practice of many observant Jews, both clergy and laypeople. And building a Jewish library is an investment: While the Oxford Mishnah doesn’t have a direct competitor, other editions of the Mishnah can cost nearly $300. A full set of the Babylonian Talmud, which includes both the Mishnah and the expansive commentary known as Gemara, can cost upwards of $2,000. The Jewish Publication Society’s five-volume commentary on the Five Books of Moses sells for $360, or $75 per volume.

Synagogue Sues Florida Over Abortion Ban for Violating Religious Freedoms

 https://www.newsweek.com/synagogue-sues-florida-over-abortion-ban-violating-religious-freedoms-1715835

 But Congregation L'Dor Va-Dor [Reform] in Boynton Beach, Florida, has claimed in a lawsuit that Florida's 15-week abortion ban violates the religious freedom rights of Jews.