NY TIMES
last week John Kelly, the White House chief of staff, tried to defend President Trump against charges that he was grossly insensitive to the widow of a U.S. soldier killed in action. In the process, Kelly accused Frederica Wilson, the member of Congress and friend of the soldier’s family who reported what Trump had said, of having behaved badly previously during the dedication of an F.B.I. building.
Video of the dedication shows, however, that Kelly’s claim was false, and that Representative Wilson’s remarks at the ceremony were entirely appropriate. So Kelly, a former general and a man of honor, admitted his error and apologized profusely.
See? I made a joke!
In reality, of course, Kelly has neither admitted error nor apologized. Instead, the White House declared that it’s unpatriotic to criticize generals — which, aside from being a deeply un-American position, is ludicrous given the many times Donald Trump has done just that.
But we are living in the age of Trumpal infallibility: We are ruled by men who never admit error, never apologize and, crucially, never learn from their mistakes. Needless to say, men who think admitting error makes you look weak just keep making bigger mistakes; delusions of infallibility eventually lead to disaster, and one can only hope that the disasters ahead don’t bring catastrophe for all of us.
Which brings me to the subject of the Federal Reserve. What?
T
Tuesday, October 24, 2017
Monday, October 23, 2017
'Anti-draft protesters are reckless fools'
arutz7
Rabbi Chaim Kanievsky blasts Yerushalmi Faction over wave of anti-draft protests: 'They're empty, foolish people who insult great rabbis.'
One of the leading rabbinic authorities in the haredi community lambasted anti-draft demonstrators affiliated with the Yerushalmi Faction (Jerusalem Faction) movement, calling them “empty, foolish and reckless people” after a series of protests across the country following the arrest of two haredi draft dodgers.
After a series of smaller protests last week, the Yerushalmi Faction declared a “Day of Rage” last Thursday, leading hundreds of supporters to protest around the country.
Some 120 demonstrators were arrested for blocking roads and clashing with police officers.
Led by Rabbi Shmuel Auerbach, the Yerushalmi Faction has rejected the mainstream haredi approach of relying upon deferments provided by the army for full-time yeshiva students to avoid be drafted.
Rabbi Auerbach has called upon supporters not to cooperate with the IDF in any capacity, even to secure a draft deferment, instead encouraging young haredi men to ignore the draft board and if necessary be arrested.
Cops draw flack for marking ultra-Orthodox protesters arms with numbers
timesofisrael.com
Critics say police acted like Nazis branding concentration camp inmates; cops say detainees refused to identify themselves
The post Cops draw flack for marking ultra-Orthodox protesters arms with numbers appeared first on The Times of Israel.
VIOLATION OF SYRIAN CUSTOM AND TRADITION"
"C/O AHAVAT SHALOM
"
Dear: RABBI YAAKOV HILLEL
Rabbi I am respectfully writing to you out of a deep concern of you "violating & interfering" in our sacred Syrian customs that are held up for hundreds of years. It is well established in the Syrian community that if a son has a first born son he by "tradition and by Jewish law" names him after his biological living father.
I have made way over a dozen calls to you from Brooklyn to Israel so to speak "running after you" concerning this very delicate issue in order for you to "rescind and retract" this so called erroneous "Heter" that you issued without any "religious basis or any halachic grounds" to a son who was manipulated by Rabbi Murray Maslaton A"H to rebel & grossly disrespect his own father due to family issues. Rabbi you stated to me you "never met, knew, or heard" of my son David prior to him approaching you. You stated clearly that you didn't know the other side of the story & now that you were told the facts you agreed to have my son change the name to "Joseph" the correct and proper name for the sake of making peace between father & son. You clearly agreed to change the name back to its original state for the sake of peace after hearing the other side & getting up to speed on the truth of the matter. As of yet you have not followed through, executed or implemented what you said you would. You did not keep your word neither have you done what you said you would.
We both know you come to Brooklyn and Deal frequently to "collect & solicit" monies from this very illustrious & affluent Syrian community. If you believe & rely on the super large sums of monies you collect here in Brooklyn New York and in Deal, so too as well, you are required to "respect & honor" our "heritage & sacred traditions"
"MINHAG ABOTENU IS DIN"
Over 600 year tradition!
This is clearly our "Halabi Syrian Custom" There are no exceptions attached to this law!
Since you are not of Syrian Halabi descent you have no Rabbinical authority or right to override our Syrian Halabi customs and traditions!
You stated that you "reside" in Israel if that's the case why are you involving yourself & making a ruling that clearly contradicts our Syrian tradition & is out of your jurisdiction?
You state you cannot force my son to change his son's name back to its original state. Then what business did you have in permitting him to do so in the first place without any fact finding, documentation "due diligence" or any deliberate thought whatsoever?
For the record "Joseph Mochon" has never violated or transgressed Jewish Marital law. In fact, followed everything according to Jewish Orthodox law and a decision has been rendered in favor of the father and husband through a competent Bet Din Process signed by and accepted by both parties with a binding decision. case is closed, game is over and a verdict has been rendered!
My son David told you he was "traumatized" by the name Joseph & subsequently you decided based on that "word" to give him a ruling that overrides what our Syrian community custom which is considered "Din." others have spoken with my son, & the son deceptively changed his tune by stating that "if his father would give a Get to his mother" then he would "consider" the changing of the name of Mordechai (which was name of Rabbi Murray Maslaton who brainwashed the young man and turned him against his own father and who was the original cause of this) Back to "Joseph" the proper name of his own father. based on this alone my son lied to you, as a Rabbi you never even tried to verify whether his statement was true or false & based on this alone you allowed him to dishonor, disgrace & disrespect his own father. You have created a major distraction & disruption to my whole family. All you accomplished was to provoke & promote additional familial conflict.
At the Brit my wife David's mother was surprised & disturbed, as well as my son's In-laws. Everyone within immediate family is extremely upset about this surprise name announcement.
You cannot see it in yourself to acknowledge & to admit that this was an oversight & miscalculation and an error on your behalf. Instead you insist & hide that you did nothing wrong. It's an unacceptable behavior & it cannot be tolerated. It won't be swept under the rug as you would like it to be.
Rabbi Murray Maslaton father's name was Joseph
Rabbi David Ozeiry Father's name was Joseph
David Mochon Father's name is Joseph
Why is the law and tradition any different by this case sounds like a rabbinical double standard!
These 2 Rabbis followed tradition and named their first born sons Joseph why are they hypocritically allowing another man's son to violate his own father and Syrian tradition especially when the father is adamantly protesting against this violation and disgraceful act!
Yet Rabbi David Ozeiry encouraged and influenced my son David to do differently thinking let's use this as a BLACKMAIL tool against the father and let's send him to Rabbi Hillel in Israel to push it through in order for Rabbi David Ozeiry to get something wrongly accomplished without attaching his name to it. Rabbi David Ozeiry is a pro when it comes to Rabbinical manipulation and deception!
He knows very well how to deflect his name from the equation but to accomplish his hidden agenda and put someone else in the front line. When Rabbi David Ozeiry gives his own wife a GET then and only then can he instruct or manipulate anyone else in the Syrian community to do the same!
As the famous Rabbinical saying goes:
"Do as I say not as I do"
"practice for yourself what you preach to others"
Rabbi Yaakov Hillel if you only "respect & cherish" the large quantity of monies & funds you collect in this Syrian community but do not respect & honor our sacred Halabi long established customs, then it should be vastly publicized to the community at large through a mass email mailing to inform all Syrian community members of your actions and true intentions. Violating our established Minhag & disrespecting our Syrian community tradition!
Bottom line is Rabbi Hillel all you do or care about is to come here multiple times a year to fool people with your talk and collect monies and leave. You couldn't care less about this Syrian community. Your main goal and selfish agenda is to get money from community period!
Rabbi Hillel you are "Iraqi" you own this act that was done against our heritage and tradition & personally towards myself, to my children & to my family. You are the only cure, you are responsible for this. Rabbi David Ozeiry used you using his famous playbook, which In essence what he got you to do was cunningly and deceptively to issue a phony Heter without his name being attached to it so the Aviera will be on your head not his and the responsibility will be on your head not his. Nothing like a "slick Yemenite" to do something underhanded behind the scenes like Rabbi Ozeiry can.
If subsequently my son chooses to disobey this DIN it will be on his conscience. You are thus required, obligated and responsible according to our "treasured Mesora" to at least draw up a letter to "rescind and retract" this incorrect verbal Heter that you issued very carelessly that is a very serious violation of our Syrian Orthodox Halabi long established tradition and release yourself from this rabbinical abuse of authority that you implemented!
Respectfully yours
Joseph Mochon
Friday, October 20, 2017
When 20,000 American Nazis Descended Upon New York City
atlantic
https://www.theatlantic.com/video/index/542499/marshall-curry-nazi-rally-madison-square-garden-1939/
https://www.theatlantic.com/video/index/542499/marshall-curry-nazi-rally-madison-square-garden-1939/
In 1939, the German American Bund organized a rally of 20,000 Nazi supporters at Madison Square Garden in New York City. When Academy Award-nominated documentarian Marshall Curry stumbled upon footage of the event in historical archives, he was flabbergasted. Together with Field of Vision, he decided to present the footage as a cautionary tale to Americans. The short film, A Night at the Garden, premieres on The Atlantic today.
Tuesday, October 17, 2017
LIBERAL ORTHODOX ARE FAKE JEWS, A THREAT TO ALL OF ISRAEL'
BY YAIR ETTINGER
OCTOBER 17, 2017 00:38
Shlomo Yehuda Rechnitz, a leading ultra-Orthodox donor, lashed at out the Liberal Orthodox movement, claiming that the group is a "new religion" jeopardizing Judaism.
3 minute read.
Monday, October 16, 2017
Choosing to be Jewish—and How
TABLET
This is the second installment in a series chronicling the author’s fiancé’s conversion to Judaism. You can find the first installment here.
Just like that, another round of High Holidays has come and gone. This year was a bit different, though. My sister Gabbie, who goes to Colorado College, surprised me with a New Year’s visit. Since she was only in town for a few days and not feeling the idea of spending them in temple, we decided to skip services. This was the first time in my adult life that I haven’t gone to High Holidays services and let me tell you: It was exhilarating. We had a festive meal with some friends at Jack’s Wife Freda, which has always been my favorite part of the holiday anyway.
ISRAEL
https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/h/d3bk5lptgat4/?view=att&th=14b74d2329f95484&attid=0.1&disp=attd&realattid=f_i5zm9ul60&safe=1&zw
I really think it is time for your readership to understand what is happening in Israel now!
It must be stopped!
Please print the attached article.
Thank you!
Sunday, October 15, 2017
religion of gedolim
Where are Reb Shmuels defenders who will state that a gadol is more important
than Chazal or truth or even g-d
that is the clear basis of his defense!
than Chazal or truth or even g-d
that is the clear basis of his defense!
Stupid Trump Tricks
nytimes
This week Donald Trump failed to stand at attention during a military ceremony. He just sat around talking and telling jokes. My question for today is: Do we need to dwell on this?
Stop jumping up and down and cheering.
Policy-wise, this has been a particularly dreadful week in Washington. The president trashed the health care act and washed his hands of the nuclear agreement with Iran.
Attention must be paid. But there has also been a bumper crop of Ridiculous Events. And it seems only fair to mention a few of them, given that the president himself doesn’t have enough stable thoughts for a serious policy debate. He never did understand the Affordable Care Act. During one top-level discussion with his foreign affairs advisers, he reportedly compared the United States’ strategy in Afghanistan to the remodeling of the 21 Club in Manhattan.
Good story, huh? I’m afraid I’m sinking to his level.
Let’s get back to the flag. Trump was doing an interview with Sean Hannity on Fox News, sitting in a hangar used by the Pennsylvania Air National Guard. A bugle began playing “Retreat,” music marking the end of the day and, often, the lowering of the flag. The military tradition is that when you hear it, you rise and put your hand on your heart. Or salute. Trump kept sitting and talking. He joked to the crowd that the bugle was in honor of Hannity’s ratings.
Well, maybe he had no idea what “Retreat” was. And to be fair, only people outdoors are really obliged to stand for the ceremony. But if you’re a president who went to a military high school, sitting in a military facility, near people who suddenly get to their feet, there ought to be an inkling that some attention should be paid.
Continue reading the main story
Gail Collins
American politics and culture.
The Trumps, the Poodle, the Sex Scandal
OCT 12
Dogs, Saints and Columbus Day
OCT 6
Out of Control on Contraception
OCT 6
Sex, Sanctimony and Congress
OCT 5
A Very Taxing President
SEP 29
See More »
RECENT COMMENTS
PJ Maybruck 18 hours ago
Thank you Gail for today’s article. You are blessed with having a wonderful writing skill filled with knowledge, integrity and humor.My...
Mark Long 18 hours ago
Why is Trump treating California and Porto Rico quite differently than Texas and Florida? Two reasons... One... Number of electoral vote...
TJ Michaelson 18 hours ago
Speaking of the bugle incident, Trump attended the NY Military Academy. He should still be familiar with the appropriate response to...
SEE ALL COMMENTS
Trump was in Pennsylvania, by the way, to promote his tax plan. In recent days he was also in North Carolina for a dinner with the Republican National Committee. He played golf with Lindsey Graham and met with the Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins. Do we have any right to ask why he hasn’t dropped into California to check up on the wildfire disaster? He couldn’t do anything to help, and most Californians wouldn’t vote for him if he showed up wielding a hose and rescuing trapped bunnies. But it would still be a nice, leaderlike gesture.
Have you noticed how much of our discussion about the president is just a list of symbolic failures and punch lines? Are we just aping his fecklessness? Nah.
This week Donald Trump failed to stand at attention during a military ceremony. He just sat around talking and telling jokes. My question for today is: Do we need to dwell on this?
Stop jumping up and down and cheering.
Policy-wise, this has been a particularly dreadful week in Washington. The president trashed the health care act and washed his hands of the nuclear agreement with Iran.
Attention must be paid. But there has also been a bumper crop of Ridiculous Events. And it seems only fair to mention a few of them, given that the president himself doesn’t have enough stable thoughts for a serious policy debate. He never did understand the Affordable Care Act. During one top-level discussion with his foreign affairs advisers, he reportedly compared the United States’ strategy in Afghanistan to the remodeling of the 21 Club in Manhattan.
Good story, huh? I’m afraid I’m sinking to his level.
Let’s get back to the flag. Trump was doing an interview with Sean Hannity on Fox News, sitting in a hangar used by the Pennsylvania Air National Guard. A bugle began playing “Retreat,” music marking the end of the day and, often, the lowering of the flag. The military tradition is that when you hear it, you rise and put your hand on your heart. Or salute. Trump kept sitting and talking. He joked to the crowd that the bugle was in honor of Hannity’s ratings.
Well, maybe he had no idea what “Retreat” was. And to be fair, only people outdoors are really obliged to stand for the ceremony. But if you’re a president who went to a military high school, sitting in a military facility, near people who suddenly get to their feet, there ought to be an inkling that some attention should be paid.
Continue reading the main story
Gail Collins
American politics and culture.
The Trumps, the Poodle, the Sex Scandal
OCT 12
Dogs, Saints and Columbus Day
OCT 6
Out of Control on Contraception
OCT 6
Sex, Sanctimony and Congress
OCT 5
A Very Taxing President
SEP 29
See More »
RECENT COMMENTS
PJ Maybruck 18 hours ago
Thank you Gail for today’s article. You are blessed with having a wonderful writing skill filled with knowledge, integrity and humor.My...
Mark Long 18 hours ago
Why is Trump treating California and Porto Rico quite differently than Texas and Florida? Two reasons... One... Number of electoral vote...
TJ Michaelson 18 hours ago
Speaking of the bugle incident, Trump attended the NY Military Academy. He should still be familiar with the appropriate response to...
SEE ALL COMMENTS
Trump was in Pennsylvania, by the way, to promote his tax plan. In recent days he was also in North Carolina for a dinner with the Republican National Committee. He played golf with Lindsey Graham and met with the Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins. Do we have any right to ask why he hasn’t dropped into California to check up on the wildfire disaster? He couldn’t do anything to help, and most Californians wouldn’t vote for him if he showed up wielding a hose and rescuing trapped bunnies. But it would still be a nice, leaderlike gesture.
Have you noticed how much of our discussion about the president is just a list of symbolic failures and punch lines? Are we just aping his fecklessness? Nah.
Has the Israeli taboo on criticizing Trump finally been lifted?
jpost
Israel's Likud government showed a tactful fondness for the US president so far, but it seems that the floodgates have been opened and Israel's patience with Trump is running out.
Thursday, October 12, 2017
DEFENSE BY KILLING MESSENGER
SAM WHAM WROTE:
I'M JUST WONDERING WHY YOU LIKE TALKING ABOUT RAPE ALL. DAY.
IT IS STRANGE YOU CANT NOTICE THE OTHER THINGS I WRITE ABOUT LIKE R KAMINETSKY
Subscribe to:
Posts
(
Atom
)