Parnossa does not interfere with Torah Learning

 Ruach Chaim (5:05) One of the ten miracles that occurred in the Temple was that the rain did not put out the fire burning on the wood for the sacrifices... The claim of most people is that in our times it is not possible to be fully engaged in Torah study because of the concern and effort to earn a living. To this he is responding that this is absolutely wrong! Rather a person needs to have bitachon in G-d that he will be able to engage fully in Torah study. This that it says that the rains will not extinguish the fire is a a metaphor for parnossa, In other words there will be no loss by fully engaging in Torah study which is comparable to fire. 

Ruach Chaim (Avos 1:14) He used to say If I am not for myself who will be for me?  You should know that the yetzer harah blinds the eyes of a person by saying constantly to him “How can you be involved in Torah study since it is required to earn a living for the sake of your wife and children especially at the present time when the burden of earning a living is extremely heavy, While that in truth is the blinding advice of the evil inclination. In reality our Sages tell us that before the baby is formed it has already been decreed whether he will be rich or poor and this is typically for his entire life. Furthermore on each individual year it is decreed from Rosh Hashanna what wealth he will receive. Therefore all his efforts will not get for him more than has been decreed and in fact he will get his portion with minimal effort. In contrast his accomplishment in Torah is proportional to his effort. Thus the Mishna is saying regarding Torah If I am not for myself who will be for me? That is because It all depends on me. In contrast the Mishna continues that regarding this world if I rely totally on myself than what am I 

Rambam (Hilchos Shemitta 13:12–13): Why didn’t the tribe of Levi merit an inheritance in the land of Israel as well as the spoils of war like the other tribes? It is because they were given the responsibility to serve G d and to teach His righteous ways to the masses… Therefore they were separated from the ways of world and were not involved in war like the rest of Israel and they neither inherited nor obtained things by means of physical endeavors. They were G d’s army and G d provided for them. However, this way of life is not exclusively for the tribe of Levi but in fact any person in the world whose spirit moves him. He understands by himself to separate and stand before G d to serve Him in order to know G d. If he goes in the upright path, as G d desired then the yoke of constant worry characteristic of mankind will be taken from him. He will be sanctified, as holy of holies and G d will be his portion and inheritance forever. He will consequently obtain in this world that which he needs in the same way as the Cohanim and Leviim…

Astrology is harmful

 Rambam (Letter on Astrology). The reason that we lost our kingdom and the Temple was destroyed and we arrived at our present condition is the result of our ancestors sinning. This is because they found many astrology books which are essentially avoda zara…and they thought they were magnificent science which would be very helpful. Consequently they did not study warfare and military strategies but thought that astrology alone would save them. That is why the prophets described them as fools and idiots…

Supreme Court decision on Trump’s 14th Amendment case could come Monday

 https://thehill.com/regulation/court-battles/4505293-supreme-court-trump-14th-amendment-case/

The Supreme Court in an unusual announcement signaled it will release at least one opinion on Monday morning, a signal the justices could hand down a decision on former President Trump’s 14th Amendment case that kicked him off the Colorado ballot.

It’s Nuts That Trump Will Soon Have Classified National Security Intelligence Briefings Again

 https://www.thedailybeast.com/its-nuts-that-trump-will-have-classified-intelligence-briefings-again?ref=home?ref=home

In a normal world, this wouldn’t happen. No responsible party would nominate for president a person who had disclosed classified information in the past, is under credible suspicion of having stolen and concealed classified information in the present, and who is under immense pressure to sell classified information in the future.

Why Is Trump Getting Special Treatment From the Supreme Court?

 https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2024/02/29/trump-special-treatment-supreme-court-00144138

Start with the weakness of Trump’s argument. There is absolutely no constitutional text, no precedent and no authority in the original debates over the Constitution’s ratification to support the idea for a former president’s absolute immunity. The argument advanced by Trump’s counsel is patently absurd. The idea that senators could impeach a president who threatened them with deadly violence and so no criminal justice process is needed, is facetious. The District of Columbia Court of Appeals rightly ridiculed it — and issued a comprehensive, tightly reasoned and unanimous opinion that presented no good cause for further review.

IDF soldiers sentenced to 20 days in prison for making hot dogs on Shabbat

 https://www.jpost.com/omg/article-789809

Two soldiers have been sentenced to 20 days in military prison after being caught warming up hot dogs in a military kitchen on Shabbat, according to a KAN11 report on Friday.

The pair were caught by a third soldier who entered the kitchen and saw them committing the act.

They were summoned to trial, where they initially denied the charges but later confessed and were sentenced to at least 20 days in prison.

Can a ‘Kosher’ Phone Cure Your Tech Addiction?

 https://www.thedailybeast.com/can-kosher-phones-used-by-ultra-orthodox-jews-cure-tech-addiction?ref=home?ref=home

Today, smartphone addiction is widely acknowledged, and most people I know are actively seeking to minimize screen time and shield their children from the highly addictive nature of technology. However, across the world, ultra-orthodox Jews have consistently refrained from adopting smartphones as a community and maintain a cautious approach to internet usage.

Ultra-orthodox groups are relatively secluded and are characterized by their strict adherence to Jewish law, particularly those concentrated in Israel and America but also found in various countries such as Australia, Canada, and England. They have chosen to eschew the internet and smartphones, and perceive these technologies as excessively addictive and incongruent with their traditional way of life.

Rabbi, teen hitchhiker killed in terror shooting at West Bank gas station

 https://www.timesofisrael.com/two-killed-in-terror-shooting-at-gas-station-near-west-bank-settlement-of-eli/

Two Israelis were killed when a Palestinian terrorist opened fire at a gas station in the West Bank on Thursday afternoon before being shot and killed by the proprietor of a nearby business on leave from fighting in Gaza, the military and medics said.

The attack, the second deadly shooting at the spot outside the settlement of Eli since June, comes as security tensions around the West Bank have risen ahead of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, even as the military remains focused on fighting in Gaza and escalating skirmishes on the northern border.

Poll finds nearly 1 in 4 Americans hold antisemitic views, highest in 60 years

 https://www.timesofisrael.com/poll-finds-nearly-1-in-4-americans-hold-antisemitic-views-highest-in-60-years/

Nearly a quarter of Americans hold antisemitic beliefs, with a disturbing reversal in trends showing that younger generations are more likely to believe in antisemitic tropes than previous generations, the Anti-Defamation League found in a survey released Thursday.

The poll of more than 4,000 US adults asked respondents the extent to which they agree with statements such as “Jews have too much power in the business world,” “Jews have too much control and influence on Wall Street” and “Jews are more willing than others to use shady practices to get what they want.”

The results showed that 24 percent of Americans agreed with at least six of the statements, up from 20% in 2022, and the highest figure since the 11 statements were first polled in 1964, when 29% agreed. Only 9% to 11% agreed with the statements from 2014 to 2019 before spiking this decade.

US blocks Security Council motion blaming Israel for deadly Gaza aid convoy incident

 https://www.timesofisrael.com/us-blocks-security-council-motion-blaming-israel-for-deadly-gaza-aid-convoy-incident/

Amid American opposition, Arab nations failed Thursday overnight to get immediate support for a UN Security Council statement that would have blamed Israeli forces for the more than 100 reported deaths as Palestinians in northern Gaza swarmed an aid convoy.

Riyad Mansour, the Palestinian UN ambassador, told reporters after an emergency closed council meeting on the deaths, that 14 of the 15 council members supported the statement put forward by Algeria, the Arab representative on the body.

Algeria’s draft declaration expressed “deep concern,” and stated that the situation was “due to opening fire by Israel forces.”

The United States did not support the statement and US deputy ambassador Robert Wood told reporters: “The parties are working on some language to see if we can get to a statement.

“The problem is that we don’t have all the facts here,” he said, adding that he wanted the wording to reflect “the necessary due diligence with regards to culpability.”

Jim Jordan defends Kushner after Hunter Biden raises Saudi deals

 https://thehill.com/homenews/house/4498193-jim-jordan-defends-jared-kushner-hunter-biden/

“The idea that Jared Kushner did something wrong is ridiculous,” Jordan told Newsmax’s Eric Bolling during a Wednesday night appearance on “The Balance.” 

“I mean, the Trump family has been investigated more than any family on the planet, and what they’ve attempted to do to President Trump and been doing to President Trump over the last seven years is unbelievable,” Jordan said. 

Hunter Biden appeared for a closed-door deposition Wednesday, where he was grilled by Republicans about his foreign business deals. During the process, the president’s son flipped the question back on the GOP interrogators.

“He drew the distinction between what he has done in a business world with independent businessmen, versus foreign governments, which he did not do any business with — unlike Jared Kushner,” Rep. Dan Goldman (D-N.Y.) said Wednesday during a break in the testimony. 

First recorded case of pregnancy in liver shocks Israeli doctors

 https://www.ynetnews.com/health_science/article/b1emnd03a

“The danger in this situation is that if the pregnancy grows in an unprotected area and if a fetus is growing inside the liver, it may rupture it, which could lead to death. When an egg is released from the ovary and moves toward the uterus, this transition passes through an organ called the fallopian tube, which isn’t completely hermetic," he explained.

IDF Spokesman: 'IDF did not fire on Gaza aid convoy'

 https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/386044

Rejecting Hamas' accusations of a massacre of over 100 civilians, he said that “The Israel Defense Forces operates according to the rules of engagement and international law. No IDF strike was conducted toward the aid convoy. I want to repeat that: No IDF strike was conducted toward the aid convoy."

FBI Informant in Hunter Biden Case Left Trail of Broken Promises

 https://www.wsj.com/us-news/informant-charged-with-lying-about-bidens-flaunted-fbi-ties-for-financial-gain-fcf86af2?mod=hp_lead_pos8

Born in Soviet Ukraine, Smirnov spent years in Israel before moving to the U.S. in 2006, where he drew on his international contacts and bounced between business ventures as he fed information to the FBI, according to the Journal’s review. Prosecutors said that on several occasions, Smirnov was authorized by the FBI to engage in criminal activity as part of a continuing investigation.

A dual U.S.-Israeli citizen, Smirnov spent 16 years in Los Angeles before moving in recent years to Las Vegas, where his girlfriend in 2022 bought a high-rise apartment for $1.4 million—after he had wired her nearly twice that, prosecutors said.

Smirnov carved out a role for himself raising money for fledgling companies, connecting investors to founders in exchange for equity, former associates said. He was an officer of at least four businesses, the Journal’s review found. All of them have since closed.