Donald Trump’s Enduring Corruption of the Presidency

 https://newrepublic.com/article/142389/donald-trumps-enduring-corruption-presidency

Trump’s transformation of the presidency into a kleptocracy has unfolded at a dizzying and dismaying pace. “The Trump family and assorted cronies are using the highest office in the land to stuff their pockets,” Tim Egan wrote Friday in the Times. “The presidential sleaze involves everything from using public money to promote and enrich Trump properties to pay-to-play schemes that allow companies to buy influence at many levels.”

There are near-daily examples of such corruption: the use of his private resort, Mar-a-Lago, both as a presidential social club and insecure diplomatic compound (one that was promoted on a State Department website, no less, and which doubled its membership fee after Trump became president); the refusal to keep a log of who is visiting Mar-a-Lago; the nepotistic hiring of son-in-law Jared Kushner and daughter Ivanka Trump as White House employees; the hawking of Ivanka’s products by Trump aide Kellyanne Conway; the expansion of Trump’s brand (and Ivanka’s brand) into countries that he is also negotiating with; Kusher’s 400 million dollar partnership with the Anbang Insurance Group (described by Bloomberg as a firm whose “murky links to the Chinese power structure have raised national security concerns over its U.S. investments”); Trump’s failure to disentangle himself from his businesses, including the unannounced modification of the terms of Trump’s trust, allowing him to withdraw funds from his businesses without public disclosure; and the relentless financial secrecy, so that the public can’t even gauge conflicts of interest.

Corruption Unbound

 https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2024/01/trump-second-term-mafia-state/676128/

Donald Trump and his cronies left his first administration with a playbook for self-enrichment in a second term.

In the annals of government ethics, the year 2017 exists in a bygone era. That September, Donald Trump’s secretary of health and human services, Tom Price, resigned in disgrace. His unforgivable sin was chartering private jets funded by taxpayers, when he just as easily could have flown commercial. Compared with the abuses of power in the years that followed, the transgression was relatively picayune. But at that early moment, even Trump felt obliged to join the criticism of Price.

During Trump’s first months as president, it wasn’t yet clear how much concentrated corruption the nation, or his own party, would tolerate, which is why Trump was compelled to dispose of the occasional Cabinet secretary. Yet nearly everything about Trump’s history in real estate, where he greased palms and bullied officials, suggested that he regarded the government as a lucrative instrument for his own gain.

Chronicling Trump’s 10 worst abuses of power

 https://edition.cnn.com/2021/01/24/politics/trump-worst-abuses-of-power/index.html

 Former President Donald Trump flouted the limits of presidential power unlike any of his recent predecessors, leaving behind a legacy of unmatched abuses that range from violations of longstanding norms to potentially criminal behavior.

It was hard to keep track amid the daily deluge of controversial tweets and distractions that were a hallmark of the Trump presidency. And some of the most egregious abuses of power weren’t clear at the time but came into focus after exhaustive investigations.

To chronicle Trump’s most consequential abuses of power, CNN spoke with a politically diverse group of constitutional scholars, presidential historians and experts on democratic institutions.

While these 16 experts did not agree on everything, there was consensus that Trump’s pattern of abusing his powers for personal or political gain reached an alarming level that hasn’t been seen in modern history, and will have long-lasting consequences for the future of American democracy.

Trump Sends Don Jr.’s Fiancée Kimberly Guilfoyle Abroad After Split Rumors

 https://www.thedailybeast.com/trump-sends-don-jrs-fiancee-kimberly-guilfoyle-abroad-after-split-rumors/

The announcement hit conspicuously soon after Trump Jr., 46, was pictured cozying up with Palm Beach socialite Bettina Anderson, 38.

Trump Jr. and Guilfoyle, 55, have not officially split—though the eldest child of the president-elect has reportedly made it no secret in Florida circles. Guilfoyle was previously married to California Governor Gavin Newsom before moving onto Trump Jr. in 2018.

אחרי 11 שנים: סוף לפרשת הבעל המעגן שהסעירה את המגזר החסידי

 https://www.bhol.co.il/news/1680680

סאגת פרשת היתר מאה הרבנים מגיעה לסיומה הדרמטי: הגט סודר בארה"ב בשעת לילה מאוחרת בבית הדין בשכונת בורו פארק | הקרדיט לדיין מישראל ולבן האדמו"ר מארה"ב | הרב כץ מטאהש מונסי צפוי לשוב לביתו בקרוב לאחר שעוכב יציאה בארץ והאישה מותרת להינשא בשעה טובה

Penicillin was a gift from G-d

 In a recent article in Binah magazine an attempt was made to show that the discovery of Penicillin by Alexander Fleming in 1928 was a miraculous gift from G-d. However he neglects to mention that after Fleming discovered it  became a mere medical curiosity since  Fleming was more aligned with Homeopathy than real medicine. In addition it was deemed impossible to make large and therefore useful amounts of the substance. This changed through the efforts of two individuals  ten years later, Florey and Chain, who received the Nobel prize with Fleming.  So while it was a gift from G-d the path to being a useful tool was rather convoluted rather than the smooth obvious path depicted in the article. 

Watson, Peter. The Modern Mind: An Intellectual History of the 20th Century (p. 368). HarperCollins. Kindle Edition. 

The age of antibiotics had taken a while to arrive. The word antibiotic itself first entered the English language at the turn of the century. Doctors were aware that bodies have their own defenses – up to a point – and since 1870 it had been known that some Penicillium molds acted against bacteria. But until the 1920s, most medical attempts to combat microbial infection had largely failed – quinine worked for malaria, and the ‘arsenicals’ worked for syphilis, but these apart, there was a general rule that ‘chemicals’ in therapy did as much damage to the patient as to the microbe. This is why the view took hold that the best way forward was some device to take advantage of the body’s own defences, the old principle of homeopathy. A leading centre of this approach was Saint Mary’s Hospital in Paddington, in London, where one of the doctors was Alexander Fleming. To begin with, Fleming worked on the Salvarsen trials in Britain (see chapter 6). However, he dropped into the lab in Paddington one day in the summer of 1928, having been away for a couple of weeks on holiday, and having left a number of cultures in the lab to grow in dishes.32 He noticed that one culture, Penicillium, appeared to have killed the bacteria in the surrounding region.33 Over the following weeks, various colleagues tried the mould on themselves – on their eye infections, for example – but Fleming failed to capitalise on this early success. Who knows what Fleming would or would not have done, but for a very different man?

The result was that penicillin became an American product (the pharmaceutical companies took Florey’s results but did their own clinical trials). For many, penicillin has always been an American invention.36 Without the help of the U.S. pharmaceutical companies, penicillin would no doubt not have had the impact it did (or have been so cheap so early), but the award of the Nobel Prize in 1945 to Fleming, Florey, and Chain showed that the intellectual achievement belonged to the British-Australians and the Russo-German Jew Chain.

comment by Rabbi Spira

שו"ת אגרות משה אורח חיים חלק ב סימן קיא

אף שצריך להאמין שהשי"ת יכול ליתן פרנסה מכל אומנות שהיא כדאר"מ שם /קידושין פ"ב/ שאין עניות מן האומנות ואין עשירות מן האומנות אלא הכל לפי זכותו, משום דאינו יודע שמא הוא אינו זוכה להרויח באומנות אחרת אלא בכזו שיותר ראויה להרוחה, אבל ידע שכל מה שירויח אחר כל הדברים והשתדלות שעושה הוא רק מהשי"ת הנותן כח לעשות חיל ותרגם אונקלוס שנותן לך עצה למקני נכסין וכן כל דבר שעושה ומרויח בזה. 

Disagree with Gadol Hador

Igros Moshe (O.C. 01:109): 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.

No lower Israel-US airfares on the horizon

 https://en.globes.co.il/en/article-no-lower-israel-us-airfares-on-the-horizon-1001496432

There seems to be a fading likelihood that El Al will face competition before April on its US routes, thus putting downward pressure on airfares. But even if Delta Airlines resumes Israel flights as planned in April 2025, many of its tickets are more expensive than the equivalent El Al tickets.

Massad Boulos, Trump’s new Middle East adviser, touts roadmap to Palestinian state

 https://www.jpost.com/international/article-832900

Massad Boulos, President-elect Donald Trump’s advisor on Middle Eastern and Arab affairs, said that the United States would have to discuss laying out a “roadmap” to Palestinian statehood if it hopes to establish relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia.

Saudi officials have long made it known that they would not establish ties with Israel absent progress toward a Palestinian state. But for Boulos — a Lebanese-American billionaire and the father-in-law of Trump’s daughter Tiffany — to emphasize the point is significant because other Trump appointees, in addition to Trump himself, are seen as close to the Israeli right, which rejects Palestinian statehood.

Kash Patel Doesn’t Belong at the FBI

 https://www.wsj.com/opinion/kash-patel-doesnt-belong-at-the-fbi-cabinet-nominee-5ef655eb?mod=opinion_trendingnow_article_pos1

These are but a few of many cases that touch directly on Mr. Patel’s character and his consistent approach of placing obedience to Mr. Trump above other, higher considerations—most important, loyalty to the Constitution. His conduct in Mr. Trump’s first term and thereafter indicates that as FBI director he would operate according to Lavrenty Beria’s reported comment to Joseph Stalin: “Show me the man, and I’ll show you the crime.”

Psak and Truth

 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.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.

Why Putin Is The Biggest Loser of Assad's Downfall in Syria

 https://www.newsweek.com/putin-russia-syria-assad-ouster-1997617

Russia's military assets in Syria are now under threat, such as its naval base in the port city of Tartus, which gave the Kremlin a presence near NATO's southern flank in the Mediterranean Sea.

"This was their foothold in the Mediterranean, and from there out into the Atlantic—it will be a big blow to lose that," Edward Lucas, senior fellow at the Center for European Policy Analysis (CPA) told Newsweek.

Without access to an air force base and a port that were linchpins for Moscow in the region, Murrett said: "Russia will not be in nearly as strong a position."

Also at risk are tactical outposts like Qamishli Airport in the northeast, while reports of thousands of stranded Russian personnel in Syria and equipment left abandoned point to the military cost for Putin. Russian troops have requested Ankara's help for for their safe exit, according to CNN Turk.

Cohen marry a giyores

 I was just informed of a major dispute in America concerning a person from an established family of cohanim who wants to marry a giyores.

There are major rabbis on both sides

Rav Moshe wrote a number of tsuvos on the matter 

E.H I # 11, E.H, IV #16, OH V  #3,EH I #25, EH IV 47, YD I #158

Why Can't a Convert Marry a Kohen?

 https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/4045946/jewish/Why-Cant-a-Convert-Marry-a-Kohen.htm

When the Torah forbids a marriage, it is never because one party is not good enough for the other. It is because the parties are not matched to each other. They are simply not soulmates. In the case of the Kohen and the convert, their soul dynamics clash, their spiritual energies contradict, and so they can't marry.