'You think everything is fine?' Keilar grills GOP lawmaker on Covid-19

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.

 

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.”

Is Energy Healing A Form Of Avodah Zarah?

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.

Mika: ‘We Allow The Shock To Wear Off’ | Morning Joe | MSNBC

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.”

 

Fact check: At his first coronavirus briefing since April, Trump repeats a handful of classic false claims

https://edition.cnn.com/2020/07/21/politics/fact-check-trump-coronavirus-briefing-july-21/index.html

In his first coronavirus briefing since April, President Donald Trump got a little more accurate about the state of the pandemic in the US -- but also continued to make some of the same false claims and promote some of the same misleading narratives of his previous moments in the White House briefing room.

Trump, reading from prepared remarks, acknowledged a "concerning rise" in cases in the South (he had previously dismissed the sharp increase as mere evidence of how many people are being tested) and said the situation will get worse before it gets better (he had previously claimed, as late as June, that the virus was dying out).

But Trump's new tone, like previous Trump new tones, did not last long.

He continued to boast that the US has done many more tests than other countries, ignoring the fact that many peer nations did so much better controlling the virus that they haven't needed to keep conducting so many tests.

He continued to say that the virus "will disappear," declining to acknowledge the inaccuracy of his previous suggestions that it would disappear without much harm to the American public -- or the possibility that it will take years for the virus to be eradicated, if it goes away at all.

And Trump repeated some of the specific false claims we and others fact checked repeatedly in earlier stages of the crisis: his claim that he inherited "empty cupboards" of supplies and ventilators, that he shut US borders to China and Europe, and that governors do not need anything from the federal government.

 

Senate Republicans: No reason for Biden to 'sound the alarm' on Russia

https://www.politico.com/news/2020/07/21/senate-republicans-no-reason-for-biden-to-sound-the-alarm-on-russia-377030

Senior Senate Republicans are rejecting Joe Biden's amped-up public warnings about Russian interference in this year's presidential election, saying foreign adversaries' efforts to meddle in U.S. democracy are nothing new after the Kremlin's hacking operation four years ago.

Senate Homeland Security Chair Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) suggested that Russia has been interfering in Western elections “for decades.”

“Does it surprise me if China's probably doing the same thing? Not at all,” he told POLITICO.

The GOP comments came a day after Biden offered his starkest warnings to date against any interference by Russia or other foreign governments like China.

“I am putting the Kremlin and other foreign governments on notice,” the former vice president said Monday, three days after disclosing that he had begun to receive briefings from U.S. intelligence officials as the presumptive Democratic nominee. “If elected president, I will treat foreign interference in our election as an adversarial act that significantly affects the relationship between the United States and the interfering nation’s government.”