Alshech (Devarim 23:21) you can charge interest to non-Jews This verse reveals the reason for the prohibition of charging interest since it says G-d permitted charging idol worshippers interest. Our Sages strongly emphasize the seriousness of the prohibition of interest - even saying he denies the G-d of Israel as well as the redemption from Egypt. It is appropriate to try and understand this since it seems to be simply an example of hyperbole. However you must realize that the foundation upon the who Torah rests is the belief in Divine Providence. The Remption from Egypt is a clear example that was witnessed by the entire Jewish people as well as the whole world and reinforced the idea that G-d created the universe and that is why miracles occurred all over the world and were done for the sake of the Jews as was seen with the plagues. Clearly mazel was overcome. When a person engages in farming he has trust in G-d that that which he planted will grow and he will receive blessing. Similarly a person engaged in business has trust that G-d will send His blessings and such are considered Jews since they recognize the G-d of Israel just as they did at the redemption from Egypt. In contrast one who says I will profit from my money he is indicating that wealth is totally natural and not from G-d or mazel or other forces and thus the concept of beracha is limited. The reason one can charge interest to a nonJew is because they are controlled by natural processes so correspondingly you can utilize natural orocesses with him. In contrast a believing Jew who is dependendent on Divine Providence can not be charged interest.
Monday, March 11, 2024
New Research Aims To Help Ultra-Orthodox Mothers Of ADHD Kids
https://nocamels.com/2024/03/new-research-aims-to-help-ultra-orthodox-mothers-of-adhd-kids/
Researchers at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem have created an intervention mapping protocol for ultra-Orthodox mothers of children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), in order to promote healthy behavioral changes.
Sunday, March 10, 2024
Fox News Confronts Katie Britt on Falsely Connecting Biden to Sex-Trafficking Story
https://www.thedailybeast.com/fox-news-confronts-katie-britt-on-misleading-border-story
Fox News Sunday moderator Shannon Bream pressed Britt on the widespread criticism of her speech, much of which has revolved around the story Britt shared of a woman who’d been sex-trafficked and raped by the cartel since age 12—the clear implication being that this was due to Biden immigration policies. The senator appeared to be referencing the story of Karla Jacinto Romero, who testified before Congress in 2015 that she was trafficked and assaulted in Mexico, nowhere near the U.S. border, between the years 2004 and 2008, when George W. Bush was president. Romero shared her experience with Britt early last year.
Katie Britt offers explanation for sex trafficking story … kind of
https://www.politico.com/news/2024/03/10/katie-britt-explanation-sex-trafficking-story-00146160
Details of a graphic story Sen. Katie Britt (R-Ala.) told during her response to President Joe Biden’s State of the Union on Thursday left viewers puzzled, as it emerged that the lurid tale of sex trafficking and rape she used to highlight Biden’s immigration policies occurred in Mexico during President George W. Bush’s administration.
Saturday, March 9, 2024
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."
Friday, March 8, 2024
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
“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.
Wednesday, March 6, 2024
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"