Thursday, July 23, 2020
Gabi Barbash walks away from virus czar post; Ronni Gamzu takes job instead
https://www.timesofisrael.com/gabi-barbash-walks-away-from-virus-czar-post-ronni-gamzu-takes-job-instead/
Former senior health official Gabi Barbash, who was selected by the
government to lead Israel’s response to the coronavirus pandemic, on
Wednesday night said he was walking away from the job.
Prof. Ronni Gamzu, a former director general of
the Health Ministry who now heads the Ichilov Hospital in Tel Aviv, will
assume the position instead of Barbash, with the agreement of Prime
Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Health Minister Yuli Edelstein.
Wednesday, July 22, 2020
Federal agents retreat to Portland base as protesters control streets
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/jul/22/portland-federal-agents-protesters
But if the intent was to intimidate the protesters into abandoning
the few square blocks of downtown Portland under their control, it
backfired spectacularly.
Residents of a city with a long history of radical street protest
were outraged at the tactics which suddenly revitalized a protest
movement that was waning after more than 50 nights of demonstrations.
It is now the federal agents who appear under siege, reduced to
defending the courthouse from attempts to break in or set it on fire. In
a visible surrender of ground, the DHS taskforce has even abandoned
bothering to re-erect a fence around the federal building torn down on
Saturday night.
Neither Alternative, Medical or Halachic
BS"D
"Neither Alternative, Medical, or Halachic"
By Rabbi Noson Shmuel Leiter
1 Av, 5780 (July 22, '20)
Recently,
a book in Hebrew appeared in Israel, entitled "Ki Ani HaShem
Rof'echah," which is actually a second version of an English book,
initially published over three years ago, entitled "Alternative Medicine
in Halacha." Subsequently, the second English version appeared as well.
The
basic thesis of the book is to legitimize the notion of "Chi." The
author, originally from France, acknowledges that Ch-i is a Taoist
concept. In fact, a bit of independent research confirms that the idea
of Ch-i is actually foundational to both Taoist and "New-Age"
Avoda-Zorah/kefirah (heresy). In fact, a bit of additional
investigation establishes that the concept of Ch-i is a heretical
divinity notion, inasmuch as it essentially deifies created or imagined
forces. We explain this in detail in our 2008 Hebrew monograph,
"Mishmeres HaKodesh," part 3.
Unfortunately,
the author of "Alternative Medicine in Halacha" seeks (explicitly) to
incorporate the idea of Ch-i into Judaism, adapting the
kefirah/idolatrous concept to appear more marketable to
monotheistically-oriented people. In addition, he proceeds to "explain" a
host of mystical/paranormal practices based on this concept of Ch-i,
and related new-age ideas. Moreover, he attempts to argue that these
practices (e.g. "energy healing," Applied Kinesiology, Health
Kinesiology) are legitimate therapeutic and/or diagnostic techniques,
and even permitted by the Torah. He even goes to the bizarre extreme of
trying to legitimize and mattir "long- distance energy healing." That
itself should say more than enough.
It
was said about the "Holy Roman Empire," that it was neither holy, Roman,
nor an empire. It should be similarly observed about the aforementioned
book, entitled "Alternative Medicine in Halacha" that it
too is neither about "Alternative" systems, or Medicine. Rather it is an
promotional work advocating "New-Age" / "Universal-Energy-Healing"
approaches. Moreover, the book certainly cannot make any claim to be
Halachic. Even on the very face of it, the author acknowledges trying to
wed foundational Toaist notions with Judaism. That alone suffices to
render this and any other writings of this author out of bounds for the
Torah observant Jew.
Additionally, in this version of the book, the author opted to publish a letter, bitterly and inaccurately lashing out at critics of his book. The letter was ostensibly signed by several Rabbis. Included was a signature of R. Shmuel K. I was alerted to the letter by Rav Moshe Green ZT"L - about three eyears ago, in the summer of 5777. At the time, I called Rav K. Rav K. unequivocally responded that he didn't sign it, and he was clearly distraught over it then. At that time, he authorized me to publicize the fact (of the forgery).
May we merit the Final Redemption speedily in our days, in the merit of avoiding foreign theological influences.
Good Chodesh,
Rabbi Noson Shmuel Leiter,
Tomim Tih'yeh
Donald Trump’s Surprising Message for Ghislaine Maxwell: ‘I Wish Her Well’
https://www.vogue.com/article/donald-trump-ghislaine-maxwell-i-wish-her-well
Maxwell,
the longtime associate of late financier Jeffrey Epstein and his
alleged coconspirator, who Trump has been photographed with over the
years, along with Epstein himself. The reporter asked if Trump thought
that Maxwell was going to “turn in powerful men” following her recent
arrest on multiple charges related to the serial sexual abuse of girls
and young women by Epstein.
Any rational person—and certainly any
rational politician running for reelection—would clearly have dismissed
the question as being irrelevant to the topic at hand and briskly turned
to another reporter to change the subject. Not Donald Trump.
He paused for a second, seeming to give the question serious consideration, and then said,
“I haven’t really been following it too much. I just wish her well,
frankly. I’ve met her numerous times over the years, especially since I
lived in Palm Beach and I guess they lived in Palm Beach.” Then he
added, again, “But I wish her well.”
the Shitah of Chi is a foundational "god" concept of Eastern religion (BOC p.91;191,2)
BS"D
1 Av, 5780 (July '20)
Esteemed Readers,
The
attached documents present some basic information regarding the actual
nature of the foundational Taoist divinity notion of "Ch-i," which
Rephoel Szmerla unfortunately seeks to incorporate into Judaism, in his
book inaccurately titled "Alternative (sic) Medicine (sic) in Halacha"
(sic). It was said about the "Holy Roman Empire," it was neither holy,
Roman, nor an empire. The aforementioned book is neither about
"Alternative" systems, or Medicine, rather avdocating for New-Age Energy
Healing approaches. Moreover, the book certainly cannot make any claim
to be based on Halacha, e.g. even just for the simple reason that -
even on the face of it - he acknowledges trying to wed foundational
Toaist notions with Judaism.
His book, initially published three years ago, was recently published in Hebrew, with a similar (second ) English version.
In
this version, Szmerla opted to publish a letter, bitterly and
inaccurately lashing out at critics of his book, with a signature of R.
Shmuel Kamenetsky. Rav Kamenetsky clearly informed me, at the time I was
alerted to the letter - by Rav Moshe Green ZT"L - about 27 Tammuz, 5777
[Erev Shabbos] - that he didn't sign it; and he was clearly distraught
over it then. At that time, he authorized me to publicize the fact (of
the forgery). (At that time, he declined to sign a letter to that
effect, however.)
Good Chodesh,
Rabbi Noson Shmuel Leiter,
Tomim Tih'yeh,
GOP congressman: Trump’s Ghislaine Maxwell comments were ‘unacceptably obtuse’
https://www.politico.com/news/2020/07/22/gop-congressman-trumps-ghislaine-maxwell-377855
Rep. Chip Roy on Wednesday blasted
President Donald Trump’s well-wishes for alleged Jeffrey Epstein
co-conspirator Ghislaine Maxwell as "unacceptably obtuse."
Trump was asked about Maxwell’s case at his Tuesday evening news conference and said "I wish her well, whatever it is.”
The comment quickly sparked outrage on social media and inside the Department of Justice.
Roy (R-Texas), among the most conservative members of the GOP, slammed
the president's kid-gloves treatment of a woman charged with grooming
young girls into a circle of sexual abuse.
“This is unacceptably obtuse for a woman accused of the most morally depraved of crimes, @realDonaldTrump,” Roy wrote on Twitter. “She needs to be severely punished... and justice must be served for the girls she abused. For ALL involved.”
Here’s Every Time Donald Trump And Ghislaine Maxwell Have Been Photographed Together
https://www.forbes.com/sites/lisettevoytko/2020/07/21/heres-every-time-donald-trump-and-ghislaine-maxwell-have-been-photographed-together/#53655f77183d
Topline: During a Tuesday coronavirus briefing,
President Trump offered well-wishes to Ghislaine Maxwell, Jeffrey
Epstein’s longtime confidante who now faces multiple federal charges
related to Epstein’s alleged sex ring. In the 1990s and early 2000s, all
three traveled in the same social circles, and Maxwell was photographed
with the future commander-in-chief multiple times. Here’s every photo
of them we could find:
Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt tests positive for coronavirus
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2020/07/15/oklahoma-gov-stitt-tests-positive-covid-weeks-after-trump-rally/3287401001/
Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt announced Wednesday he tested positive for the coronavirus weeks after attending President Donald Trump's rally in Tulsa.
Trump Just Wishes This Monster Well
https://www.thecut.com/2020/07/donald-trump-on-ghislaine-maxwell-i-wish-her-well.html#_ga=2.92903261.1113001022.1595421481-1291269160.1584289974
President Donald Trump took a moment out of today’s coronavirus briefing (his first in months) to send well wishes to an old party pal: Ghislaine Maxwell. As in, the British socialite recently arrested and charged
for her alleged role procuring underage girls for Trump’s former
friend, Jeffrey Epstein. As in, the Epstein associate who could potentially name some pretty big names in her conversations with federal authorities. Asked
on Tuesday if he thinks Maxwell will “turn in powerful men,” the
president told a reporter that he “hasn’t been following it too much,”
really. But when it comes to Maxwell, he said, “I just wish her well,
frankly.”
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