Smoking cigarettes

Igros Moshe (CM II #18) Question: Is it possible to prohibit smoking in yeshiva and synagogue where there are people who are very bothered by the smoke and it causes painful headaches and other pains and physical problems and health issues and possibly shortens their lives.? Answer It is well known that cigarette smoking is harmful to many people. It is clear and obvious that even without concern for actual danger and illness, the mere fact that it is irritating and disturbimg to some people is enough reason to prohibit smoking in yeshiva and synagogue and all places where there are people who are bothered by the smoke even if it causes bitul Torah for the smoker. . 

Igros Moshe (C M II #76) Question: Is cigarette smoking prohibited? Answer Even though there is a principle that G-d (Shomer Pesaim) guards the fools from harm when they do something dangerous. Nevertheless it is normally prohibited to rely on it Furthermore it is obvious that concerning an issue in which there are many people that it doesn’t harm their health at all such as types of food that many people enjoy such as fatty meat or sharp spices while for certain people it is harmful. Nevertheless we don’t prohibit the food for everyone. Everyone should avoid food that is not healthy for him.  While you work in a hospital and therefore you see many more people who are sick from cigarette smoking than an average person sees in the normal population, nevertheless the amount harmed by cigaretts is still a minority. In this situation we do apply the principle of Shomer pessaim. Nevertheless it is definitely best that everyone, especially Torah students – not to smoke since there is a factor of danger and no genuine benefit to those who are not habitual smokers. It is best not to become used to smoking especially a father should not let his son smoke even if he himself smokes.  Aside from the problem of addiction to cigarettes they should be avoided since a person should not seek after extra pleasures

Igros Moshe (YD II #49) Question :Is smoking cigarettes permitted? Answer Since there is concern that this makes you sick it is best not to smoke. However to say this is prohibited as dangerous is not possible since the danger is widely ignored and thus we say shomer pessaim. In particular since many gedolim in previous times smoked and the present generation smoke. Therefore even those who are strict because of danger, there is no prohibition of lifnai ivair to offer a light or match to the cigarette smoker

Igros Moshe (OC V #34) Question: Is it permitted to smoke on Yom Tov? Answer Many Poskim have discussed this at length. In reality it is a widespread practice and most smokers are lenient. In practice while there are many who don’t smoke because it is viewed as a harmful practice.  And thus it loses the status of being the same for everyone but it is difficult to rule against what is an accepted practice, whether because of danger or some other reason, since even in previous generations not everyone smoked. In additiom since there are 100s of million people who smoke and that makes the practice considered equal for everyone. Therefore even though it is definitely best for a baal nefesh to be strict and not smoke on Yom Tov. It is difficult to say it is prohibited

Trump grants ‘FULL and Unconditional’ pardon to ex-Virginia sheriff convicted of taking $75K in bribes in ‘cash-for-badges’ scheme

 https://nypost.com/2025/05/26/us-news/trump-grants-full-and-unconditional-pardon-to-ex-virginia-sheriff-convicted-of-taking-75k-in-bribes-in-cash-for-badges-scheme/

Federal prosecutors presented evidence at trial that Jenkins accepted cash bribes and campaign contributions from three co-defendants –  Rick Rahim, Fredric Gumbinner, and James Metcalf –  and at least five others, including two undercover FBI agents, in exchange for appointing them to a “sworn law-enforcement position.” 

Jenkins issued the bribe payors official Culpeper County Sheriff’s Office badges and credentials – without training or vetting – as part of the scheme, and none rendered “legitimate services to the Sheriff’s Office or the citizens of Culpeper County” after being appointed auxiliary deputy sheriffs, according to the Justice Department.  

“In addition, Jenkins pressured other local officials to approve a petition filed in Culpeper County Circuit Court by Rahim, a convicted felon, to restore his right to possess a firearm and which falsely stated that Rahim resided in Culpeper County,” federal prosecutors noted. 

In March, acting US Attorney for the Western District of Virginia Zachary Lee argued that Jenkins used his position of power “for unjust personal enrichment” and “violated his oath of office.”  

“Scott Jenkins violated his oath of office and the faith the citizens of Culpeper County placed in him when he engaged in a cash-for-badges scheme,” Lee said after Jenkins was sentenced. “We hold our elected law enforcement officials to a higher standard of conduct and this case proves that when those officials use their authority for unjust personal enrichment, the Department of Justice will hold them accountable.”

Trump Pardons MAGA Sheriff Convicted of Cash-For-Badge Scheme MAGA supports are immune to law

 https://www.thedailybeast.com/trump-pardons-maga-sheriff-convicted-of-cash-for-badge-scheme/

President Donald Trump pardoned a MAGA sheriff from Virginia who was convicted of accepting more than $75,000 in bribes.

Trump announced in a Truth Social post on Monday that he was issuing a “full and unconditional” pardon of Scott Jenkins, who was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison earlier this year following his December 2024 conviction of conspiracy, honest services fraud, and bribery.

“This Sheriff is a victim of an overzealous Biden Department of Justice, and doesn’t deserve to spend a single day in jail,” he wrote. “He is a wonderful person, who was persecuted by the Radical Left ‘monsters,’ and ‘left for dead.’”

McIver case presents stumbling blocks for Trump DOJ

 https://thehill.com/regulation/court-battles/5316437-lamonica-mciver-habba-doj-new-jersey/?tbref=hp

Alina Habba, a former personal attorney to President Trump now serving as interim U.S. attorney for New Jersey, has accused McIver of assaulting law enforcement with her forearms during a chaotic clash that ensued after U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers began to arrest Newark, N.J., Mayor Ras Baraka (D).

Rep. Dan Goldman (D-N.Y.), a former federal prosecutor in the Southern District of New York, described the first document filed in the case as highly flawed. 

“It’s one of the most embarrassing publicly filed charging documents from a U.S. attorney’s office that I’ve ever seen,” Goldman told The Hill.“When you then compare the written allegations to the photos that are included, it’s clear the written allegations do not accurately reflect what the photos show. Then, when you look at the video, it’s even less accurate, and it is because it’s so weak and thin, it is so clear that it is a purely political charge.”

“It is so clear that there’s no intent to inflict any physical harm or do anything with the necessary criminal intent. She’s in a scrum and is just trying to protect herself. And even if she did use her forearm to push an agent as part of a scrum, it would never, ever be charged against an average bystander, and certainly not against an elected official who has a constitutional right to be there,” Goldman said.

New Pentagon chief spox. has history of antisemitic, pro-replacement theory comments - Antisemitism is only a problem for Democrats

 https://www.jpost.com/american-politics/article-855377

The US Defense Department has announced the promotion of its deputy press secretary, Kingsley Wilson, to chief press secretary, prompting ire from Jewish groups who raised concerns over her history of antisemitic comments.

However, Jewish groups and some Democrats have cited her social media history as evidence of unsuitability for the role.

In 2023, Wilson tweeted, “Leo Frank raped and murdered a 13-year-old girl. He also tried to frame a black man for his crime. The ADL is despicable.”

Wilson has also openly supported the German far-right party Alternative for Germany, tweeting in 2024, “Globalist elites hate AfD because they put Germans before foreign migrants and radical Islam. Ausländer raus! [Germany for Germans, foreigners out].”

Generation Alpha Is Causing Problems for Teachers

https://www.newsweek.com/generation-alpha-technology-education-teachers-2076269 

The demographic, born between the 2010s and the mid 2020s, is entering a world of education that is radically different than their Generation Z predecessors. Hit by the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic as young children, Generation Alpha is going through school at a time when technology is more ubiquitous in education than ever before.

Short attention spans, an overdependence on technology and a lack of interest in learning are all things that Generation Alpha has been accused of having.

Newsweek spoke with Elizabeth McPherson, who is known by her handle Ms Mac on TikTok. She told Newsweek by email: "There's been a noticeable shift in student engagement and accountability. Many students today appear apathetic and disconnected from their own learning, and it's not simply a matter of motivation—it's systemic.

Government to promote plan for integrating haredim into medical studies

 https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-855440

The goal is to develop a dedicated framework for training haredi doctors, with recommendations to be submitted to the health minister within 90 days.

A key aspect of the proposal is its emphasis on Jerusalem, reflecting a broader national strategy to address the shortage of physicians in Israel while strengthening medical services in the capital.

Rubio and Van Hollen get into testy exchange during Senate hearing

Understanding Criminal Due Process in the United States

‘Elections do not change the Constitution’: Judges pump brakes on Trump’s disregard for due process

Trump goes full swamp: Melber on crypto ‘scam,’ Tucker talks MAGA corruption

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Donald Trump Blasts Putin—'What the Hell Happened to Him?'

 https://www.newsweek.com/donald-trump-blasts-putin-hell-happened-him-2076929

Speaking to reporters on the tarmac at Morristown, New Jersey, before he boarded Air Force One to return to Washington, D.C., Trump spoke about a range of topics as he fielded questions ranging from tariffs to manufacturing goals to Russia and Ukraine peace talks.

"I'm not happy with what Putin is doing," the president said. "He's killing a lot of people, and I don't know what the hell happened to Putin. I've known him a long time. Always gotten along with him, but he's sending rockets into cities and killing people, and I don't like it at all."

"We're in the middle of talking, and he's shooting rockets into Kyiv and other cities. I don't like it at all," he added. "I don't like what Putin is doing, not even a little bit. He's killing people. Something happened to this guy, and I don't like it."

Senator John Kennedy, a Louisiana Republican, last month said: "I don't think it's going to get any better until we make it clear to Mr. Putin that we are willing to turn him and his country into fish food."

Senator Chuck Grassley, an Iowa Republican, said in a post last month on X: "IVE SEEN ENOUGH KILLING OF INNOCENT UKRAINIAN women + children. President Trump pls put the toughest of sanctions on Putin. U ought to c from clear evidence that he is playing America as a patsy."

Testy Trump Admin Whines That Due Process for Immigrants Is ‘Burdensome’

 https://www.thedailybeast.com/testy-trump-admin-whines-that-due-process-for-immigrants-is-burdensome/

Late Saturday night, the Department of Justice posted in its entirety their legal challenge to an order from M.A. District Judge Brian Murphy blocking the Trump administration from deporting immigrants to third countries.

In the motion, the DOJ argues that the requirement that the Department of Homeland Security provide detainees with the opportunity to challenge their deportations is “burdensome” because the DHS is required to “maintain custody and control” of the detainees and conduct interviews regarding any reasonable fears they may have about being deported to third countries in private at a time of the detainees’ choosing.

According to Rubio, court orders that prevent the Trump administration from deporting people to countries they have no ties to would cause damages such as harming humanitarian efforts in South Sudan. This, as Rolling Stone points out, is an argument that sounds particularly odd coming from the administration that single-handedly decimated USAID. The Trump administration has already deported at least two Asian immigrants to South Sudan in violation of court orders.