Gravitas Plus | Explained: The Russia-Ukraine crisis

Stars are intelligent beings

 Mishna Torah (Yesodei hatorah 3:3) All of the stars and spheres are beings, endowed with a soul, intelligence and understanding; they continue a purposeful life and are conscious of the existence of Him Who spoke and the universe sprang forth. Each and every one, according to his greatness and degree, extol and glorify the Creator as do the angels; and to the extent that they recognize the Holy One, blessed is He! they also know their own selves and the angels above them. But the intelligence of the stars and spheres is lesser than the intelligence of the angels, but greater than the intelligence of man.

Moreh Nevuchim (2:5:1) SCRIPTURE supports the theory that the spheres are animate and intellectual, i.e., capable of comprehending things: that they are not, as ignorant persons believe, inanimate masses like fire and earth, but are, as the philosophers assert, endowed with life, and serve their Lord, whom they mightily praise and glorify; comp. "The heavens declare the glory of God," etc. (Ps. 19:2). It is a great error to think that this is a mere figure of speech: for the verbs "to declare" and "to relate," when joined together, are, in Hebrew, only used of intellectual beings. That the Psalmist really means to describe the heavens' own doing, in other words, what the spheres actually do, and not what man thinks of them, may be best inferred from the words, "There is no speech, nor language, their voice is not heard" (ver. 4). Here he clearly shows that he describes the heavens themselves as in reality praising God, and declaring His wonders without words of lip and tongue. When man praises God in words actually uttered, he only relates the ideas which he has conceived, but these ideas form the real praise. The reason why he gives expression to these ideas is to be found in his desire to communicate them to others, or to make himself sure that he has truly conceived them. Therefore it is said, "Commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still" (Ps. 4:5). Only ignorant or obstinate persons would refuse to admit this proof taken from Scripture. 

Moreh Nevuchim (2:5:2) As to the opinion of our Sages, I do not see any necessity for expounding or demonstrating it. Consider only the form they gave to the blessing recited on seeing the new moon, the ideas repeatedly occurring in the prayers and the remarks in the Midrash on the following and similar passages:--"And the host of heaven worshippeth thee" (Neh. 9:6); "When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy" (Job 38:7). In Bereshit Rabba, on the passage--"And the earth was empty and formless" (Gen. 1:2), our Sages remark as follows: "The words tohu and bohu mean mourning and crying; the earth mourned and cried on account of her evil lot, saying, 'I and the heavens were created together, and yet the beings above live for ever, and we are mortal.'" Our Sages, by this remark, indicate their belief that the spheres are animated beings, and not inanimate matter like the elements. 

Moreh Nevuchim (2:5:3) The opinion of Aristotle, that the spheres are capable of comprehension and conception, is in accordance with the words of our prophets and our theologians or Sages. The philosophers further agree that this world below is governed by influences emanating from the spheres, and that the latter comprehend and have knowledge of the things which they influence. This theory is also met with in Scripture: comp. [the stars and all the host of heaven] "which the Lord thy God hath divided unto all nations" (Deut. 4:19), that is to say, the stars, which God appointed to be the means of governing His creatures, and not the objects of man's worship. It has therefore been stated clearly: "And to rule over the day and over the night" (Gen. 1:18). The term "ruling" here refers to the power which the spheres possess of governing the earth, in addition to the property of giving light and darkness. The latter property is the direct cause of genesis and destruction; it is described in the words, "And to divide the light from the darkness (ibid.). It is impossible to assume that those who rule a thing are ignorant of that very thing which they rule, if we take "to rule" in its proper sense. We will add another chapter on this subject. 

Dancing with the Moon: innovations in the Kiddush Levana in light of the first moon landing

 https://opensiddur.org/prayers/lunisolar/roshei-hadashim/kiddush-levanah/dancing-with-the-moon-innovations-in-the-kiddush-levana-in-light-of-the-first-moon-landing/

 The day after humankind’s first landing on the Lunar surface July 20, 1969, the Jewish Telegraphic Agency reported on a poetic and topical innovation to the Kiddush Levana, the Blessing over the Moon, by Israeli Armed Forces’ Chief Chaplain General Shlomo Goren in the IDF Siddur.

Conspiracy theories related to the Trump–Ukraine scandal

 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conspiracy_theories_related_to_the_Trump–Ukraine_scandal

President Trump had long felt that the conclusion of the United States Intelligence Community and the Mueller Report – that the Russian government had interfered in the 2016 election to benefit him – might undermine the legitimacy of his election as president.[13][1] He and his allies – most notably his personal attorney Rudy Giuliani – promoted the alternative narrative that the Ukrainian government had interfered to benefit Hillary Clinton, in coordination with Democrats, the digital forensics company CrowdStrike and the FBI, alleging that the Russian government had been framed.[14] The New York Times reported in November 2019 that American intelligence determined Russia conducted a yearslong campaign to frame Ukraine for the 2016 election interference.[3] Contrary to Trump's allegations, it is the consensus judgment of the American intelligence community and the Senate Intelligence Committee that it was Russia, not Ukraine, that interfered in the 2016 elections.[15]

Trump Called Russia's Invasion Of Ukraine "So Smart" In 2014

 https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/christophermassie/trump-called-russias-invasion-of-ukraine-so-smart-in-2014

Donald Trump said in an April 2014 interview that Russia's invasion of Ukraine was "so smart."

Meanwhile, in another March 2014 speech to the Conservative Political Action Conference, Trump reiterated his praise for Putin's intervention in Ukraine, saying it was smart to do it right after the Olympics, which were held that year in Sochi.

"So he has the Olympics," Trump said that May. "The day after the Olympics, he starts with Ukraine. The day after. How smart? You know, he didn’t want to do it during the Olympics. Boom. The day after. So our athletes leave, we all leave, and the day after. And you know, when he goes in and takes Crimea, he’s taking the heart and soul because that’s where all the money is. I was surprised. I heard that the other day. They were saying, most of the wealth comes right from that area.”

"That's the area with the wealth," Trump continued. "So that means the rest of Ukraine will fall and it's predicted to fall fairly quickly. Because without the money, it's like this country. If we don't make this country great, it's gonna fall. It's gonna really fall. It's already falling. You go into our airports, you go look at our bridges, you look at our roadways, we're becoming a third-world country. So when you see what they're doing in Ukraine, it's just a question of time."

Jen Psaki hits back at Trump calling Putin's invasion plan of Ukraine 'GENIUS' and calls on GOP to stand up to former president's praise of Russian autocratic leade

 https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10540509/Jen-Psaki-hits-Trump-calling-Putins-invasion-plan-Ukraine-GENIUS.html

• Press secretary Jen Psaki hit back at former President Donald Trump for calling Russian President Vladimir Putin's invasion plan of Ukraine 'genius' and 'smart'
• She also said it was up to Republicans to ensure the issue doesn't become more politicized 
• ''As a matter of policy, we try not to take advice from anyone who praises President Putin and his military strategy,' she said at Tuesday's briefing 
• She pointed to comments Trump reportedly made to G7 leaders in 2018 when he said Crimea was a part of Russia because people there spoke Russian 
• And said that Trump had 'expressed an openness' to lifting sanctions on Russia for the 2014 invasion 
• She said Trump and Biden's different tactics were probably why Biden was able to 'rally the world' to take steps against 'Russian aggression' 
• When asked if there were concerns comments like Trump's could lead to support of Ukraine becoming a more partisan she pointed to members of the GOP 
• 'You know, I think that is up to members of the Republican Party to make the decision, to make the determination,' she told DailyMail.com 

Trump calls Putin's Ukraine strategy "very savvy"

 https://www.axios.com/ukraine-trump-putin-russia-444fd0a7-a9c9-49bd-8c18-b9e79e36b288.html

Former President Trump called Russian President Vladimir Putin "very savvy" after Putin recognized two breakaway "republics" in eastern Ukraine as independent.

Why it matters: Western leaders have denounced the declaration as a violation of international law and Ukrainian sovereignty. Russian forces have moved into Ukraine under the guise of peacekeeping.

Rav Ovadiah Disses The Chazon Ish

http://lifeinisrael.blogspot.com/2011/02/rav-ovadiah-disses-chazon-ish.html

Rav Ovadiah spent his most recent motzei shabbos shiur dissing the Chazon Ish regarding his use of larger sizes for measurements. I actually find it a bit amusing. Here is what he said, according to the Kikar Shabbos website:

Rav Ovadia said that the measurements in halacha are all based on the size of the coin called the Drahm. This coin, he says, was not found in the hands of the Chazon Ish, but was found by Rav Chaim Na'eh. Beyond that, after the argument about the proper sizes, all the ashkenazy rabbonim supported Rav Chaim Na'eh's position, though the Chazon Ish and the Steipler stuck to their guns supporting the larger size measurements.

Trump praises Putin's 'genius' as GOP fissures grow on Ukraine crisis

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/trump-praises-putins-genius-gop-fissures-grow-ukraine-crisis-rcna17259

As congressional Republican leaders push President Joe Biden to act more forcefully to punish Vladimir Putin for sending troops into Ukraine, former GOP President Donald Trump and some of his prominent allies have been praising the Russian leader’s style of power.

The fissures point to a growing divide in the Republican Party, between traditional foreign policy hawks who have advocated for a more confrontational U.S. posture to the Russian strongman and a Trump-aligned “MAGA” faction that has expressed some sympathy for Putin's tactics or described them as effective.

“I went in yesterday and there was a television screen, and I said, ‘This is genius.’ Putin declares a big portion of Ukraine — Putin declares it as independent. Oh, that’s wonderful,” Trump told a conservative podcaster in an interview published Tuesday.

הרבנים הראשיים בהוראה חריגה: להוציא מיסיונרית שהתחזתה ליהודייה מהקבר

 https://www.israelhayom.co.il/judaism/judaism-news/article/8413749

שנים לאחר שאישה חרדית נפטרה ממחלה ונקברה בבית עלמין בירושלים – התגלה כי כל משפחתה הייתה מיסיונרית מתחזה • אנשי חברה קדישא פנו לרבנים הראשיים בשאלה כיצד לנהוג – וקיבלו תשובה חריגה בחומרתה

Cheney: Trump's 'adulation' of Putin 'aids our enemies'

 https://thehill.com/policy/international/595425-cheney-trumps-adulation-of-putin-aids-our-enemies

Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) said Tuesday night that former President Trump was working against American interests after he offered praise for Russian President Vladimir Putin during a Tuesday interview on "The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show."

"Former President Trump’s adulation of Putin today - including calling him a 'genius' - aids our enemies," Cheney tweeted. "Trump’s interests don’t seem to align with the interests of the United States of America."

Trump sides with Putin as Biden tries to stop a war

 https://edition.cnn.com/2022/02/23/politics/donald-trump-vladimir-putin-joe-biden/index.html

It took only 24 hours for Donald Trump to hail Russian President Vladimir Putin's dismembering of independent, democratic, sovereign Ukraine as an act of "genius."

The former President often accuses his enemies falsely of treason, but his own giddy rush to side with a foreign leader who is proving to be an enemy of the United States and the West is shocking even by Trump's self-serving standards.

As President Joe Biden reprises the fabled presidential role of leading the free world, the predecessor who wants to succeed him is showing Putin that impunity, dictator-coddling and hero worship will return if he wins back the White House. Trump's remarks on a conservative radio show on Tuesday will not only find a warm welcome in the Kremlin. They also will concern allies standing alongside the US against Russia who fear for NATO's future if Trump returns.

In MAGA World, Contempt for Biden Is Matched by Respect for Putin

 https://www.newsweek.com/maga-world-contempt-biden-matched-respect-putin-1681624

Amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine, right-wing politicians and media figures loyal to former President Donald Trump have alternately slammed Democratic President Joe Biden for getting the U.S. involved, while praising Russian President Vladimir Putin as a strong and capable leader.

Most notably, Trump praised Putin's invasion into Russia as "genius" and "wonderful" in Tuesday's broadcast of the conservative talk radio program The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show. Trump also referred to Putin as "tough" and patriotic.

"I went in yesterday, and there was a television screen, and I said, 'This is genius.' Putin declares a big portion of the Ukraine...as independent," Trump said. "Oh, that's wonderful. I said, 'How smart is that?' And he's going to go in and be a peacekeeper."

"I mean, you know, he's a tough cookie, got a lot of the great charm and a lot of pride. But the way he—and he loves his country, you know? He loves his country," Trump continued.

Russia suspends its mission at NATO, shuts alliance’s office

KA claims "NATO enmity towards Russia will only hurt the West in the end". Criticizing them for spying clearly shows a lack of love and respect.

 https://apnews.com/article/europe-russia-moscow-sergey-lavrov-f03d2f2f8e3086b0490d4f9e95cdf655

Russia on Monday suspended its mission at NATO and ordered the closure of the alliance’s office in Moscow in retaliation for NATO’s expulsion of Russian diplomats.

Earlier this month, NATO withdrew the accreditation of eight Russian officials to its Brussels headquarters, saying it believes they have been secretly working as Russian intelligence officers. NATO also halved the size of Moscow’s team at its headquarters from 20 to 10.

Moscow has dismissed the accusations as baseless. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov delivered Moscow’s response Monday, announcing the suspension of Russia’s mission at NATO and the closure of the alliance’s military liaison and information offices in the Russian capital.