Igros Moshe (IV #36.14) Question: Those students who are not successful in their Torah study should they leave yeshiva and study secular subjects? Answer Are you claiming it is because of a lack of intelligence but they are intelligent for secular subjects? The fact is that concerning Torah anyone can improve with study even those who can’t study it in depth as long as they have a working memory. This is aslso considered growing in Torah and sometimes the ability of in depth study develops and it is possible to become great in Torah knowledge. It is not like medicine and other secular study where misunderstanding can result in harm. In fact the opposite is true. The ignorance in Torah can be harmful to his soul.
Wednesday, June 18, 2025
Unsuccessful in Torah Study - Leave yeshiva for parnossa?
Igros Moshe (IV #36.14) Question Is it permitted for unsuccessful students to leave yeshiva to study other subjects. You write that there are many yeshiva students who are afraid of sin and therefore they are not involved in the needs of daily life and they sit in yeshiva with an open sefer but they don’t actually learn anything and thus there learning is not successful. Answer It can’t be that they make such an error but their real motivation is that they are simply lazy. Even if they were actually learning according to their abilities but they were not going into depth but merely skimming the material this is being lazy and is considered serious bitul Torah . They need to be chastised and explained the error of their ways. If they don’t accept this from their peers they need to hear it from the rosh hayeshiva.
Moshe seeing not more real than hearing - Contradiction?
Igros Moshe (Y.D. I #223): You bring from Sefer HaIkkarim (4:15) that the reason that Moshe did not break the Tablets immediately when G‑d told him that the Jews had made the Golden Calf was because seeing is more powerfully real than knowledge. In my humble opinion, G‑d forbid to say that when Moshe heard about the Golden Calf that it was less significant to him than when he saw it himself - even in terms of emotional response. A possible explanation of why he broke the Tablets only after seeing the Golden Calf, because G‑d did not tell him about their enthusiastic dancing and therefore he thought it would be enough if they saw him - to completely repent immediately. However when he saw their enthusiastic dancing he realized that they would not so readily repent and therefore he broke the Tablets. You can also say that that he waited to break them so that the Jewish people could see him break the Tablets and realize the great loss they had caused because of the sin of the Golden Calf. This is stated explicitly in Devorim (9:14), “I broke the Tablets before their eyes.” This implies that he deliberately did it before their eyes. In addition it says later more explicitly in Devarim (34:12), “Before the eyes of all Israel.” Rashi explains this verse to mean that he intended to break the Tablets before their eyes. If so he had don possibility of breaking it when he first heard from G‑d about the Calf before he descended from the mountain. He was thus forced to wait until he descended so they could all see that he was breaking the Tablets. In contrast regarding hearing something from another person it is definitely true that seeing is more powerful in eliciting emotions and there is no need to bring a proof to something so obvious.
Igros Moshe (O.C. III #50): I replied to you many years ago and my reply was printed in my Igros Moshe (1:223) that G‑d forbid to say about Moshe that what he saw with his own eyes was much more real than what he heard from G‑d and that is the reason that he only broke the Tablets after he saw the Golden Calf with his own eyes. Now you write to me that the Akeidas Yitzchok also shares the view of the Sefer HaIkkarim. I in fact looked into the Sefer HaIkkarim and I saw that in fact he agrees with my view that there is no difference between hearing information from G‑d to seeing it oneself. He brings a medrash that the reason that Moshe didn’t break the Tablets previously was in order to inform the Jews that it is prohibited to act on knowledge – even absolutely certain knowledge until it is directly witnessed… The Akeidas Yitzchok himself wanted to say that Moshe wanted to break the Tablets in front of the Jews in order to magnify the message to increase their discomfort at sinning. This is a strong reason and I my explanation anticipates this as I wrote previously.
In contrast in Darash Moshe (Yisro 18:01) For everyone hearing about something is not the same as seeing. Even if what is heard is known to be true as what is seen it doesn’t get accepted in his mind and emotion and have the same impact as seeing. We see this even with Moshe who did not break the Tablets until he saw the Golden Calf even though he had heard about it from G-d.
Battle to define ‘America First’ intensifies as Israel strikes Iran
The ideological battle over what “America First” means in the Trump era is intensifying in wake of Israel’s strikes on Iran, splitting the MAGA right and testing its relationships with the president.
On one side, noninterventionist doves insist the Trumpian tagline means the president must avoid U.S. troops, resources or dollars going toward the conflict, for fear of getting dragged into an endless war.
“Anyone slobbering for the U.S. to become fully involved in the Israel/Iran war is not America First/MAGA,” Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) posted Sunday on the social platform X.
But on the other end, foreign policy hawks and supporters of Israel are appealing to President Trump’s position that Iran should not have a nuclear weapon, and encouraging him to leave all options — including direct military intervention — on the table.
“How is it not AMERICA FIRST to congratulate those who just made sure Islamists who chant ‘DEATH TO AMERICA’ and who openly plotted to assassinate President @realDonaldTrump never have an opportunity to have a nuke?” right-wing provocateur Laura Loomer posted on X over the weekend.
Trump: ‘I don’t care’ that Tulsi Gabbard said Iran wasn’t close to having nuclear weapon
https://thehill.com/homenews/5354764-trump-gabbard-iran-intelligence-assessment/?tbref=hp
President Trump rejected his own director of national intelligence’s assessment of Iran’s nuclear capabilities in remarks as he returned from the Group of Seven summit in Alberta, Canada, a day early to weigh America’s response to escalating airstrikes between Israel and Iran.
Tulsi Gabbard testified before Congress in March that while Iran had an “unprecedented” stockpile of weapons-grade uranium, the country did not appear to be building a nuclear weapon.
“I don’t care what she said. I think they were very close to having one,” Trump told reporters on Air Force One in the wee hours of Tuesday morning in response to a direct question about Gabbard’s testimony.
CNN reported Tuesday that American intelligence assessments continued to say Iran was not actively pursuing a nuclear weapon and was up to three years out from being able to launch one. Israel has claimed Iran was approaching a crucial tipping point for developing nuclear capabilities as justification for its airstrikes.
Israel Built Its Case for War With Iran on New Intelligence. The U.S. Didn’t Buy It.
American spy agencies stand by their assessment that Iran hasn’t decided to build a nuclear weapon, but Trump now says Tehran is ‘very close.’
Before launching its attack on Iran last week, Israel provided the U.S. with intelligence it deemed alarming: Tehran was conducting renewed research useful for a nuclear weapon, including on an explosive triggering system.
But U.S. officials briefed by the Israelis weren’t convinced that the information pointed to a decision by Tehran to build a bomb, according to a senior intelligence official, another U.S. official and two congressional aides familiar with the discussions.
The gap between Israel’s assessment of Iran’s nuclear program and that of the U.S. helps explain why the two allies haven’t been aligned in recent days on dealing with Tehran.
הגר"ד לנדו: "יש לסגור את הישיבה, הבחורים ילמדו בבית"
https://www.emess.co.il/radio/1726011
בעקבות היעדר מיגון בישיבת 'תורה בתפארתה', הורה מרן הגר"ד לנדו לסגור את הישיבה: "אם אין מרחב מוגן – הבחורים ילמדו בבית". ראש הישיבה עדכן את התלמידים כי מדובר בפיקוח נפש והם נשלחו לבתיהם
Tuesday, June 17, 2025
Trump's most favorable pollster warns it could be "all over for MAGA"
https://www.newsweek.com/trump-pollster-warns-all-over-maga-iran-israel-2086637
President Donald Trump's most favorable pollster has warned that it could be "all over for MAGA" if the president gets the United States more deeply involved in the conflict between Iran and Israel.
"Kiss the Republican majority goodbye... For the next decade," Rich Baris, the director of Big Data Poll, wrote on X, formerly Twitter. "If he pulls the trigger, it's all over for MAGA."
A recent poll by the Ronald Reagan Institute, conducted before Israel launched its surprise attack on Iran's military and nuclear program on Friday, shows that a majority of Republicans support Israeli airstrikes on Iran's nuclear facilities.
However, polling has also shown that Republican voters are worried about the U.S. being drawn into a military conflict in the Middle East. A Quinnipiac University poll last year found that 86 percent of Republican voters were concerned about it, with 52 percent saying they were "very concerned."
Meanwhile, MAGA figures in recent days have been split on the issue, with some advocating for a strong response and others arguing that Trump's supporters backed him because of his promise not to draw the U.S. into expensive foreign wars.
Avoid Kiddush Friday night at seventh hour
Rav's Shulchan Aruch (OC #271) There are some who are careful not to make kiddush the first hour of the night (the seventh hour from noon) but either before night or an hour after in the night. That is because at the seventh hour the celestial force of Mars is dominate which represents Sammel (the force of Evil) It has already been explained that it is always best to make kiddush immediately when returning home from the synagogue and this is typically while it is still day.
Magen Avraham (OC #271:1) It says in Tekunei Shabbos that one should make kiddush before it is night because at the beginning of Friday night the Mazel of Mars dominates and at the end of Friday Saturn dominates Therefore it is best to make Kiddush when Saturn dominates. The Maharil says the same thing. He also says that if the person doesn’t want to eat then, he can wait to say Kiddush since he already has said kiddush in the prayers at the synagogue. This is satisfactory since the requirement to have a meal with Kidush is a rabbinic requirement and thus he has fulfilled his Torah obligation with his prayers.
Aruch Ha Shulchan (271:11) I have seen someone (Magen Avraham) who wrote “that a person should be careful to always say kiddush before night since at the beginning of Shabbos night the mazzel of Mars is dominate while at the end of Friday Saturn is dominate. It is best to make kiddush under the mazzel of Saturn.” In my humble opinion this view is astounding because G-d forbid to say we are under the influence of mazzel. In fact the opposite is true! I saw that in fact the ancients of the non Jews used to sit in darkness in their homes on Shabbos and cry because of the bad mazzel of Shabbos and their fear of being harmed. In contrast G-d commanded us the opposite. We are to light a lot of candles to make light and we are to enjoy ourselves on Shabbos. This is to show that we transcend the force of mazzel and that we have been chosen by G-d to be uninfluenced by mazzel. So how can the Magen Avraham say this? This requires great study. One who trusts in G-d is surrounded by kindness.
Rav's Shulchan Aruch (O 271) יֵשׁ נִזְהָרִים שֶׁלֹּא לְקַדֵּשׁ בְּשָׁעָה רִאשׁוֹנָה שֶׁל הַלַּיְלָה (דְּהַיְנוּ שָׁעָה שְׁבִיעִית אַחַר חֲצוֹת הַיּוֹם, עַיֵּן סִמָּן תכ"ח), אֶלָּא אוֹ קֹדֶם הַלַּיְלָה, אוֹ לְאַחַר שָׁעָה תּוֹךְ הַלַּיְלָה, לְפִי שֶׁבְּשָׁעָה הָרִאשׁוֹנָה הוּא מַזָּל מַאְדִּים, וְסמא"ל מוֹשֵׁל עָלָיו.
וּכְבָר נִתְבָּאֵר שֶׁלְּכַתְחִלָּה יֵשׁ לוֹ לְקַדֵּשׁ מִיָּד בְּבוֹאוֹ מִבֵּית הַכְּנֶסֶת מִבְּעוֹד יוֹם:
Magen Avraham (OC #271:1)לאכול מיד. היינו לקדש כדי שיזכור שבת בכניסתו ועסי' רע"ג ס"ג, וכתוב בתקוני שבת שיקדש קודם לילה כי בתחלת ליל שבת הוא מזל מאדים ובסוף יום ו' הוא מזל צדק לכן יקדש בצדק וכ"כ בתשובות מהרי"ל סי' קס"ג ומ"ע בתשוב' כתב שאם אינו תאב לאכול יכול להמתין שכבר זכר אותו בכניסתו בבה"כ ע"ש, ובירושלמי ריש ברכות אי' שדרך לאכול שעה או ב' בלילה וכ"מ ברש"י ריש דף ג', כ' הרמב"ם פכ"ט קידוש היום דאורייתא בלא יין ורבנן תקנו על היין וכ"כ התוס' בסוכה פ"ג דף ל"ח ונ"ל דמדאוריי' בקידוש שאמר בתפל' סגי דקרא כתיב זכור את יום השבת והרי זכר אותו וקידוש במקום סעוד' רבנן תקנוהו כמ"ש סי' רס"ט וכ"מ בתוס' שכתבו דלר"ת מי שאין לו יין לא יקדש כלל וק' וכי יעקור מ"ע דאורייתא אלא ע"כ דדי בתפלה ועוד דאמרי' בקדושה אף על גב דמקדש בצלותא וכו' ע' בברכות פ"ה וגם הבדלה י"א דאורייתא היא וכמ"ש המ"מ פכ"ט ואפ"ה אמרי' בגמ' דבתחלה קבעוהו בתפלה כו' ע"ש וכ"מ ל' הרמב"ם וכ"מ בתוס' פ' ע"פ בשם הירוש' ע"ש: ודע דהקידוש בי"ט הוא דרבנן כמ"ש המ"מ פכ"ט מ"מ יש לו כל דין קידוש של שבת ואם אין לו אלא כוס א' של שבת קודם:
Aruch Ha Shulchan (271:11) להמתין איזה שעות בלילה. (מ"ע בתשובות)וראיתי מי שכתב שיקדש דווקא קודם לילה, כי בתחלת ליל שבת הוא מזל מאדים, ובסוף יום ו' הוא מזל צדק - לכן יקדש בצדק. (מג"א שם) ולעניות דעתי הוא תמוה, דחס ושלום לומר שאנחנו תחת המזלות, ואדרבא ראיתי בקדמונים שהאומות הקדמונים היו יושבים בשבת בחשך ובוכים, מפני שהמזלות של שבת מורים לרעה. והקב"ה צוה אותנו להיפך, להדליק הרבה אור ולהתענג עצמינו, להראות שאנו למעלה מהמזלות. ואותנו לקח ד' להוציאנו ממערכת השמים, ואיך נאמר כזה וצע"ג, והבוטח בד' חסד יסובבנו. (המג"א שם הביא ירושלמי ריש ברכות שדרך לאכול שעה או שתים בלילה ע"ש, אמנם ע"ש בפירוש חרידים דשתים הוא שתי חלקי שעה, ומטעם דבתי כנסיות היו בשדות רחוק מהעיר, ועד שיבואו נמשך הזמן ממילא, ואדרבא מדתירץ שם באילין כופרנייא ע"ש - משמע דמצוה לאכול מקודם ודו"ק)
Merit for redemption: Jewish names in Egypt
From some sources it seems that the Jews were equivalent to the Egyptians at the Splitting of the Sea yet some medrashim list various unique merits that the Jews had.
Shemos Rabbah (21:7) When Israel departed from Egypt, the Angel Samael arose to accuse them, pleading before God: ' Lord of the Universe! Till now they have been worshipping idols, and now Thou dividest the sea for them?
Zohar (2:170b) When the Israelites stood on the shore of the Red Sea and G-d was about to divide its waters for them, Rahab, the angel-prince of Egypt, appeared, and demanded justice from G-d. He stood before Him and said: “Lord of the world, why dost thou desire to punish Egypt and to divide the Red Sea for Israel? Have not all sinned against Thee? Thy ways are according to justice and truth. Those are idolaters and so are these.
Bamidbar Rabbah (3:6)) By whose merit did Israel go forth out of Egypt? R. Halpai said: By the merit of Jacob. Our Rabbis say: They were redeemed because of the merit of the women, the pious mothers.It was on account of the merit of the pious among them that they came out.
Bamidbar Rabbah (13:20) By virtue of three things they were redeemed 1)They did not change their names,2) they did not change their language, and 3) they fenced themselves off against unchastity
Bamidbar Rabbah (20:22) Israel were redeemed from Egypt by reason of the merit of four acts. They did not change their names, they did not change their language, they did not disclose their secrets
Devarim Rabba (2:23) Israel were redeemed from Egypt only because of the following five reasons: (1) Distress, (2) Repentance, (3) The Merits of the Fathers, (4) God's Mercy, (5) The Term of their slavery, which had come to an end.
Mechilta (Beshalach 6] Jews were only redeemed from Egypt because of their faith
Medrash Tehilim (114:4) The Jews were redeemed from Egypt on the merit of four things 1)They didn’t change their names 2) They didn’t change thei language 3(They didn’t reveal their secrets 4) They weren’t involved in sexual sins.
Shemos Rabbah (1:28) Israel was redeemed from Egypt on account of four things, one being because they did not change their names. 2) they were not suspected of adultery.
Shemos Rabbah (17:3) On account of two kinds of blood were Israel redeemed from Egypt-the blood of the Passover and the blood of circumcision,
Midrash Lekach Tov (Shemos 6:6) There were four merits the Jews had that correspond to the four terms of redemption in the Torah. 1) they did not change their language 2) they did not change their clothing 3) they did not reveal secrets 4) they did not stop mila
Shir HaShirim Rabbah (IV 12) In the merit of four things were the Jews redeemed from Egypt 1) They did not change their names 2) they did not change thei language 3) They did not speak lashon harah 4) No one was involved in sexual sins
Sotah (11b) In the merit of the righteous women that were in that generation, the Jewish people were redeemed from Egypt. At the time when these women would go to draw water, G-d would materialize for them small fish that would enter into their pitchers, and they would draw pitchers that were half filled with water and half filled with fish. And they would come and place two pots on the fire, one of hot water for washing their husbands and one of fish with which to feed them.
Tanchuma (25:1) The Jews were redeemed from Egypt on the meruit of four things 1)They didn’t change their names 2) They didn’t change thei language 3(They didn’t reveal their secrets 4) They weren’t involved in sexual sins.
Yalkut Shimoni (#657) The Jews were redeemed from Egypt on the merit of four things1)They didn’t change their names 2) They didn’t change thei language 3) They didn’t speak lashon harah 4) They weren’t involved in sexual sins.
Vayikra Rabbah (Emor 32:5) Israel were redeemed from Egypt on account of four things, viz. because they did not change their names, they did not change their language, they did not go tale-bearing, and none of them was found to have been immoral.
Yerushalmi (Tanis I 63a) Israel were redeemed from Egypt for five reasons. Because 1) the time of Exile was finished 2) suffering tribulation 3) because of their cries for help, 4)merit of the Fathers, 5) because of repentance.
‘Psyop’: How Far-Right Conspiracy Theories About the Minnesota Shooting Evolved to Protect MAGA
https://www.wired.com/story/psyop-far-right-conspiracy-theories-minnesota-shooting/
In the hours after Vance Boelter was named as the suspect in the fatal shooting of Melissa Hortman, a Democratic Minnesota state representative, and her husband Mark Hortman, far-right conspiracists and Republican influencers claimed he was a violent, leftist Democrat.
When the facts of the story emerged—that the alleged shooter had been registered in other states as a Republican, was said to have voted for President Donald Trump and, as WIRED reported, had participated in an evangelical ministry where he preached against abortion and demonized the LGTBQ community—the conspiracy theories didn’t stop. Instead, they just changed. Posters then claimed the incident was a false flag conducted by the shadowy deep state, while trying to distance the shooter from any connection to the president and the wider MAGA movement.
Monday, June 16, 2025
A Battered Iran Signals It Wants to De-Escalate Hostilities With Israel and Negotiate
Iran has been urgently signaling that it seeks an end to hostilities and resumption of talks over its nuclear programs, sending messages to Israel and the U.S. via Arab intermediaries, Middle Eastern and European officials said.
In the midst of a ferocious Israeli air campaign, Tehran has told Arab officials it would be open to returning to the negotiating table as long as the U.S. doesn’t join the attack, the officials said. Iran also passed messages to Israel saying it is in the interest of both sides to keep the violence contained.
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