Rosh Chodesh

 Why is the new moon significant in Judaism? 

It is a purely natural occurrence! 

Katie Britt Accused of 'Whopping Lie' in SOTU Response

 https://www.newsweek.com/katie-britt-accused-whopping-lie-sotu-response-1877591

On Friday, however, Talking Point Memo journalist Jonathan M. Katz posted a lengthy video to TikTok in which he cited evidence to suggest that Britt's portrayal of the woman's situation was inaccurate. According to information Katz found, including from her own past testimony before Congress, the woman that he believes the senator likely spoke to, Karla Jacinto Romero, was trafficked at a young age entirely within Mexico. This occurred during a time when Biden was not in the White House in any capacity, between 2004 and 2008.

"These events didn't happen in the United States," Katz said. "These crimes didn't take place in the United States. Or even near the border. They took place in Mexico."

Measles outbreak threatens US status of ‘eliminating’ virus

 https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/4517298-measles-outbreak-us-status-elimination/

The concentration of Florida’s cases in schools, as well as Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo’s response to the outbreak, have drawn heightened scrutiny. In a letter to parents, Ladapo recommended keeping unvaccinated children at home for three weeks, as the CDC advises, but did not mandate it.

New Square: Poorest, but Its Hasidim Do Not Live by Bread Alone

 https://www.nytimes.com/1975/07/18/archives/new-square-poorest-but-its-hasidim-do-not-live-by-bread-alone-new.html

“Two‐thirds of the village is receiving Medicaid and food stamps,” Mr. Weismandi said, “and a dozen families, perhaps are on welfare, although another 50 might be elegible for it.” The earned income, such as it is, comes from a variety of sources.

Stabbing victim recalls: I felt a blow to my back, I turned around and saw the knife

 https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/386342

Zvi Tal, 64, from Ramat Shlomo, who was moderately wounded in the stabbing attack in Neve Yaakov, a residential neighborhood in northern Jerusalem, recounted the incident from his bed at Hadassah Mount Scopus Hospital in the capital.

Working after Torah Study

 Rabbeinu Yonah (Sefer HaYira 133) After Torah Study  he should go to his business, for it is good to earn a living: no one can serve the Creator if he is busy begging for his meals. And thus said King David: "Happy is everyone who fears the LORD; who walks in his ways. For you shall eat the labor of your hands." (Tehillim  128:1-2).

Rabbeinu Yonah (Avos 02:03)Torah Study is good when combined with derech eretz. In this case it means working for a living. Sometimes derech Eretz is taken literally and sometimes it refers to working for a living it depends on context.

Rabbeinu Yonah (Avos 2:02) And all study of the Torah in the absence of a worldly occupation comes to nothing in the end: Like the matter that they said in our treatise (Avot 3 17), "If there is no flour, there is no Torah." The matter is like its simple understanding - when he neglects work, it brings him to poverty and it drags along several sins and its evil is great. As on account of it, he will 'love gifts and not live,' and flatter people even if they are evildoers, in order that they give to him. Also when the money from the gifts runs out, he will become a thief or a kidnapper (or gambler) and will bring 'home loot taken from the poor' so that he not die of hunger. And when a person reaches these traits, his spirit knows no restraint and he will not rest and not be still until he transgresses all of the commandments that are stated in the Torah, since 'one sin brings along another sin.' 

Wealth can be obtained by Torah study but not the reverse

 Netziv (Shemos 26:35) Bava Basra (25b) states that  he who wants to be wise should turn towards the south. One who wants to be rich  should turn north, and the lamp's purpose is to shine by the power of the Torah analysis, and it is known that earning a living successfully requires that he must precede it with intensive Torah study because it is impossible to be acquired without great effort. In contrast wealth can happen entirely from the merit of Torah study which he did previously, He can in fact  obtain wealth and honor from Torah study. This alluded to by this verse since it indicates that the table which has no unique purpose is to be placed at the north wall and that is for the purpose of parnossa. And then the menorah is placed in front of the table, that is, those who have a livelihood will influence the Torah workers who come to obtain the power of the menorah. And then they will have the second purpose of the table  which results from being placed on the north side, from where gold and royal honor come

Parnossa is Provide in Two Ways

 Netziv (Shemos 19:04) How I bore you on eagle’s wings - A person's livelihood is called carrying, and there are two ways. As long as the baby cannot walk at all, and when someone can walk but there is a threshold or a stone in the way, the person is held and raised, but not taken on his arms. This is how Israel is provided 1)when they walk by themselves and G-d only watches over the steps their world, and 2)when God provides without any efforts by man it is called carrying., like when they were in the Wilderness. On My wings - that the livelihood transcended nature

Bitachon requires training

 Netziv (Shemos 15:25) And there they were tested.  G-d wanted every generation to be accustomed to the activity of making a living. So that his heart would not become faint when he sees a lack in his home, and this is called a trial. And while that generation obviously did not need to be taught His providence, for they saw everything with their eyes. But the lesson was only for the later generations, who needed to be taught so  that their heart should always be steadfast, because at the last moment he will sense that G-d is giving him advice so he will not die of hunger and thirst

Parnossa requires Prayer

 Netziv (Bereishis 02:05) From the beginning of creation, the Almighty decreed that acquiring parnossa would be mixed with Divine providence and thus requires work, or sacrifices, or prayer, and that is why these are mostly called just avoda because they are primarily because of parnossa... and all the blessings of benefit come to bless such activity, and as "Anyone who benefits in this world without a blessing is stealing from G-d and Israel"

Americans’ view of both Israel and Palestinians worse amid Gaza war, poll finds

 https://www.timesofisrael.com/americans-view-of-both-israel-and-palestinians-worsens-during-gaza-war-poll-finds/

“This suggests that the recent actions by both sides have done little to shift US loyalties, even if overall opinions toward both sides are less positive,” Gallup wrote in a statement, referring to Israel’s ongoing war in the Gaza Strip, sparked by Hamas’s murderous October 7 rampage through southern Israel, when thousands of terrorists killed nearly 1,200 people and took over 250 hostages.

An Only-Child Boom Is Beginning. It Gets Complicated When Mom and Dad Age.

 https://www.wsj.com/lifestyle/relationships/only-child-parents-caregiving-91acc294?mod=hp_trending_now_article_pos5

The pool of family members available to take on caregiving roles is getting smaller. The ratio of potential family caregivers to those 80 and older is expected to drop to 4 to 1 in 2030, down from 7 to 1 in 2010, according to AARP. 

For an only child, the responsibility can mean dropping everything when a parent becomes sick. 

The Supreme Court Must Not Be the Final Word on Disqualifying Trump

 https://www.newsweek.com/if-supreme-court-wont-congress-must-disqualify-trump-opinion-1875820

As a former member of Congress, I, along with five fellow Republican and unaffiliated plaintiffs, sued to bar Trump from Colorado's ballot, guided by the oath I took to protect and defend the Constitution. In its decision, the Supreme Court crucially did not absolve Trump of violating his oath of office and engaging in insurrection, even though the former president asked them to do so. The fact that he engaged in insurrection remainsinsurrection remains, as determined by every decision-making body that has substantively examined the facts. We now have clarity on how to enforce Section 3 disqualification, and it lies with Congress.

Righteousness is sometimes forced by G-d

Or HaChaim (Bereishis (15:06) Another way of looking at Abraham's act of faith is based on the tradition that the world will not lack a minimum of 30 (or 36) righteous men by whose merit it continues to exist. Since G-d wants these 30 tzadikim, it stands to reason that He does influence these men to be pious. If so, they can certainly not claim their righteousness as their own merit as would otherwise be the case. Abraham may have been rewarded then for not making an issue of this, although some or all of these men may have been unduly influenced to live the lives of tzadikim.