Monday, March 30, 2026

Christian Nationalism and Modern Antisemitism

 https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/christian-nationalism-and-modern-antisemitism/

While we are often reminded to “Never forget,” many of us were never taught this history. Understanding the legacy of Christian nationalism and its role in shaping antisemitic attitudes is crucial in recognizing when the Church uses its power to harm marginalized groups—and in taking action. Addressing Christian nationalism’s ongoing influence can help foster genuine interfaith reconciliation and prevent history from repeating itself.

Throughout history, Christian antisemitism has fueled discrimination, violence, and exclusion, from early Church doctrine to the horrors of the Holocaust. Despite Vatican II and various Protestant reforms, antisemitic attitudes persisted in Christian societies long after World War II. Today, Christian nationalism has emerged as a significant force in the U.S. and beyond, often fueling conspiracy theories, political extremism, and religious intolerance. While many Christian institutions have distanced themselves from historical antisemitism, elements within Christian nationalist movements continue to promote antisemitic ideas, sometimes disguised as political rhetoric, theological resistance to reconciliation, or conspiracy theories.

Christian nationalism is a political ideology that merges religious identity with national identity, claiming that a nation must be governed by Christian values to fulfill its divine purpose. This ideology has gained increasing influence in the United States, Europe, and parts of Latin America and Eastern Europe, where it is often associated with far-right politics and hostility toward religious minorities, including Jews.

'Comic book tough guy':

Trump officials cite white supremacists in bid to end birthright citizenship

 https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2026/03/30/trump-birthright-citizenship-supreme-court-case/

The administration builds its arguments on an 1800s campaign, led in part by a Confederate officer, that scholars say was steeped in anti-Black and anti-Chinese racism.

The Trump administration argues the 14th Amendment does not apply to people in the country illegally or on temporary visas. If the high court agrees, and reverses the long-held interpretation, it could render hundreds of thousands of children born to immigrant parents stateless.

Trump administration attorneys cite Morse in their Supreme Court brief to argue the disputed idea that commentators in the 19th century widely agreed that the Constitution “exclude[s] the children of foreigners transiently within the United States” from qualifying for citizenship.

Salyer said the challenge of mounting a credible argument against birthright citizenship — which has long been accepted as legal bedrock — may explain why the administration relies so heavily on Morse, Wharton and Collins.

Sunday, March 29, 2026

Invoking faith in wartime, Pete Hegseth breaks norms and worries critics

 https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2026/03/29/pege-hegseth-christianity/

The defense secretary is upending decades-old norms, current and former leaders say, with some cautioning that his proselytizing violates the Constitution and undermines troop cohesion.

Every month at the Pentagon, Hegseth hosts evangelical worship services that legal experts say are unprecedented. His social media profile and public comments routinely espouse his understanding of Christianity, which is one that would dominate American life and cast those who disagree with him as God’s enemies. He has brought clergy from his small Christian denomination to preach at the Pentagon, including a prominent pastor who says women shouldn’t have the right to vote.

On Wednesday at the Pentagon, Hegseth prayed for U.S. troops to inflict “overwhelming violence of action against those who deserve no mercy … We ask these things with bold confidence in the mighty and powerful name of Jesus Christ.” Later that day, his department announced military chaplains would no longer wear their rank on their uniform and instead would wear religious insignia.

BBC interviews Chabad author as book becomes national bestseller

 https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/424752

“Letters for Life," exploring the Lubavitcher Rebbe’s guidance on emotional wellbeing, entered Argentina’s top 10 bestseller list, gaining traction in stores nationwide and drawing attention from global media, including a BBC interview with the author.

The book’s popularity follows the increased interest in the Lubavitcher Rebbe caused by Argentina’s philo-Semite president Javier Milei. Milei has visited the Lubavitcher Rebbe’s Ohel several times on his trips to New York and speaks of the impact the Lubavitcher Rebbe’s teachings have had on his life.

Seeing the book’s international success, BBC journalist Talat-Farooq Awan contacted the author, Levi Shmotkin, to discuss the reasons for the book’s wide appeal. The interview played on the BBC’s nationally syndicated Sunday morning radio program.

The Secret to a Successful Seder




Saturday, March 28, 2026

Trump ‘I like people that like to listen to my success’

 https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/5805705-trump-miami-saudi-investment-summit-joke/?tbref=hp

President Trump on Friday evening joked that he surrounds himself “with losers” because he “like[s] people who listen to my success” in public remarks at a Saudi-backed investment conference.

Trump was responding to a question at the Future Investment Initiative (FII) summit in Miami about leadership skills he believes are missing in the world. 

“Well, it’s winning, you’ve got to win,” the president told the crowd, before adding that there are “mostly losers, fortunately.”

“I always like to hang around losers actually because it makes me feel better,” he continued. “I hate guys that are very, very successful and you have to listen to their success stories. I like people that like to listen to my success.”

Trump added later that he was “only kidding, I want to say that — eh, sort of.”

Saving Neshamos in Eretz Yisroel & Kimcha DePischa:

 Saving Neshamos in Eretz Yisroel & Kimcha DePischa


This is a crucial pre-Pesach appeal (similar to what was just posted here on Thursday: https://daattorah.blogspot.com/2026/03/callousness-towards-bloodshed.html ).

We have massive opportunities - presented by our extremely successful expansion of הצלה work in Eretz Yisroel - rescuing many girls from falling into the exploitative Army milieu, including many girls who literally have no one else to help save them.

At the same time, we're not yet out of the debts recently incurred in serving in the forefront (without exaggeration) of efforts to combat Physician-Assisted murder - aka Assisted-"Suicide" - in NY State.  [This work is far from over, requiring initiatives on multiple fronts to maximize lifesaving damage-control, both in and out of NY State.]

We're not more obligated than the rest of the tzibbur. It's well past time for others to carry more or their own responsibilities on these burning matters.

More Good News:

For the next few days, we're able to offer an opportunity to fulfill the mitzvah of Kimcha DePischa as well, in synchronization with our hatzolah work saving girls in Israel.

Anyone able to perform their fair share of this exciting, diverse work for hatzolas nefashos - both spiritual and physical - is asked to reach out:
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TO DONATE TODAY:*
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Cong. Zichron Miriam Necha,
TAX ID: 921830214




For CC* toll-free master number: 833-434-3354 or 844-422-7356,  PIN #026153

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Specify "GB" (for "Giyus Banos") to support our work rescuing girls from the Israeli military daft.

To designate your donation towards the synchronized Kimcha DePischa project, please write in "KP."
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Reb Aryeh Sussman 
c/t: 917.662.2574
3 Ruth Ct.
Monsey, NY 10952

"No salaries or commissions paid,
100% of donation goes to the needy."

* Credit card donations are not as easily or rapidly processed as Zelle/online donations.
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Thank you all.

Good Shabbos,

Rabbi Noson Shmuel Leiter,

Executive Director,

Help Rescue Our Children

845.642.1679

Direct: 771.215.8892

Israeli Helpline: 03.721.3337

torahjewsfordecency@gmail.com

Tomim Tih'yeh [countering "New-Age" infiltration]: 

Tomim1679@gmail.com

Presentations on New-Age dangers: 605-313-6831 ext. 2

Heard weekly on New Jersey's WSNR Radio 620AM, co-hosting the renowned Levin At Eleven program, every Thursday evening, 11pm to midnight (ET).

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G-d weakens Nature to Make Miracles

 Rabbeinu Bachya (Shemos 17:13) “Joshua weakened, etc.” The word “he weakened,” is testimony that G’d does not totally destroy and make ineffective the forces of the horoscope, and that He does not force nature not to pursue its assigned tasks unless there is an overwhelming and urgent need for this. The reason that He does not destroy the system is simply that he Himself created it. Why should G’d uproot His own handiwork? Nonetheless, G’d from time to time “outwits” the system in order to save someone whom He wants to save; He continues to operate His system of reward and punishment without destroying the system of the laws of nature in the process.

Even Fox News poll shows Trump’s Iran war is unpopular

Pathetic

Trump Floats Renaming the Strait of Hormuz After Himself

 https://www.wsj.com/livecoverage/iran-war-middle-east-news-updates/card/trump-floats-renaming-the-strait-of-hormuz-after-himself-OhOnPqHivr5rXNfMKFt9

President Trump renamed the Gulf of Mexico and applauded efforts to add his name to the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Could a Middle East waterway be next?

During a speech here Friday, the president said Iranian leaders “have to open up the Strait of Trump,” a reference to the partially closed Strait of Hormuz.

“Excuse me, I’m so sorry. Such a terrible mistake,” he added, jokingly. The media, he said, would report the comment as a verbal slip. “There’s no accidents with me,” he said.

Trump suggests renaming Hormuz - 'Strait of Trump' during speech confirming negotiations with Iran

 https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/article-891446

US President Donald Trump on Friday said that the US is negotiating with Iran over the situation in the Strait of Hormuz.

During a speech at the FII Priority Summit in Miami, Trump said that the US is "negotiating now, and it would be great if we could do something, but they have to open it up."

He then proceeded to joke about renaming the waterway "Strait of Trump" as a condition to end the war.

Israel Is Rationing Its Best Interceptors—and Iran’s Missiles Are Getting Through

 https://www.wsj.com/world/israel-is-rationing-its-best-interceptorsand-irans-missiles-are-getting-through-130cf14d?mod=WSJ_home_mediumtopper_pos_2

Israel has begun rationing its use of high-end missile interceptors, hoping to preserve stocks of its most capable defensive weapons in the face of daily Iranian barrages that haven’t let up through four weeks of war.

A pair of Iranian ballistic missiles recently scored direct hits on the towns of Dimona and Arad after Israel tried and failed to intercept them with modified versions of less advanced munitions.