Igros Moshe (OC I #112) Question: Is tooth paste permitted on Shabbos and Yom Tov? Answer It is clearly prohibited because of memachek (smoothing). Using the toothbrush without tooth paste is permitted but only cold water should be used but it should not be placed in water before use nor should it be rinsed afterwards
Tuesday, June 3, 2025
Secular studies
Igros Moshe (YD III #82) Question: Are secular studies permitted? Answer It is prohibited to nullify Torah study in order to study secular subjects. My views on this are well known in the Torah World. I have spoken many times to bnei Torah on this issue. of secular studies. I have repeatedly said that for bnei Torah and yeshiva students who are capable of growing in Totah and pure fear of G-d that secular studies even if it is does not involve heresy or mingling with women it is prohibited to desert eternal life. This is prohibited even after reaching a high level of Torah knowledge. Involvement with secular studies will prevent most yeshiva students who have not not learned enough, it is not likely that they will ever become a true Torah scholar. It is well known that to be a Torah scholar in this generation it requires total utilization of all of one’s G-d given abilities and not to waste them on secular studies. In addition when studying both, eventually the secular studies become the main study and Torah becomes secondary.because of the advice of the yetzer harah. This results in even more neglect of Torah study especially if he views it as required for parnossa. . It is simply impossible to become a genuine talmid chachom or ben Torah by stealing time and effort and intelligence from Torah study in order to study secular subjects. Instead of advancincing in Torah he becomes increasingly diminished. This is especially true when he views that those who go to college are more successful than those who don’t. As a consequence he will go to public school where there are are all the abominations of the world even though his yetzer harah will say this will be just for a short time so he won’t be harmed. It is not likely that he will end up even as a ben Torah and surely not a genuine Torah scholar. He needs to be aware that there has been a great destruction of Torah in the world and that he and every other yeshiva student therefore has a great obligation to strive to greatness in Torah, halacha and fear of G-d. He needs to view this as an obligation for the entire Jewish people. The bottom line it is obvious even though there are those who don’t say it out loud to the public or even to the religious community that it is prohibited for yeshiva students who are capable of growing in Torah to steal time and effort and thought from Torah study in order to study secular subjects. As regards parnossa, I have said many times that this is the advice of the wicked. One should not desert Torah study at all even for a short period.
Igros Moshe (YD IV #36.16) Question You ask about how to deal with those who are not capable of growing in Torah either because they lack the intelligence or because of laziness? Answer. Obviously it is not relevant to require them to learn as I wrote that the bnei Torah is required. It would be appropriate to teach them a skill that is most appropriate to their nature. Even if this largely interferes with their Torah learning to prepare them for this work. The Yavetz lists in his siddur those things that a person who can not learn a lot of Torah must be taught. If he is fit for learning engineering or medicine it is appropriate that he learn it as long as he can learn without being taught heresy and in classes without girls. It is best if the program is under rabbinical supervision.
Rav Yisroel Belsky told me that his success in dealing with kashrus processes - and his ability to deal with these issues better than other rabbis - was due to the fact that he took his secular studies seriously. It is obviously that if one wants to deal with metzius issues that one needs to have the basic background in physics, biology, and chemistry. A basic understanding of the scientific method of validation. Being able to read precisely and to be able to communicate accurately in writing as well as speech.
From Making of a Gadol () My father related that he was told by someone whose oldest son had just reached school age that he had decided not to send the child to a school with secular studies so that the boy would be able to devote all his time to learning Torah. My father protested, "But your son will be unable to read even the street signs to know where he is standing." When the unbending father replied, "R' Hayyim Soloveichik also did not read Russian," our protagonist, who felt that the child's development would be impeded altogether by the abnormal education his father was charting for him, argued, "Yes, but R' Hayyim had a shamosh who knew Russian and read the signs while escorting him through the streets. Do you expect your son to have a shamosh when he grows up?"
It is noteworthy that when asked as an octogenarian whether young students at a Monsey yeshiva may be permitted to read light English literature (which would pass faculty censorship), my father- with the caveat that he would be "considered a leftist" for the ruling - referred to this experience of his own to prove that such reading is not harmful. He mentioned that he read Russian translations of such classics as the science fantasies of Jules Verne and the Sherlock Holmes stories of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle :. He added that the licentiousness of present-day society and literature mandates that contemporary secular books be carefully screened before being put onto a permitted-reading list. The principal of the secular department in Mesivta Torah Vodaath, R' Moshe Lonner, reported d that my father suggested students study certain plays by Shakespeare "because in olden times there was less reference to topics to which yeshiva bahurim should not be exposed", and referred to his own reading of these classics in the Russian language. (He added at the time that we should not think that people of the Elizabethan and Victorian ages were better than those of latter times - "there was simply more , shame then".)
Also like my father, R' Aaron Kotler dabbled in secular studies at this time. He was more interested in literature than in the sciences which attracted my father's interest. My father stated to his son-in-law R' Yisrael Shurin that R' Aaron was proficient in all of classical Russian literature'L This was corroborated when, during a visit with a young, intellectual protoge of the Hazon-Ish who headed a yeshiva in Ramlah, R' Aaron blurted out, "This was expounded by Aleksander Pushkin" - as reported to this author by the yeshiva head '. The Ramlah Yeshiva was visited by R' Aaron Kotler, R' Shmuel Graineman and the Kopycznitzer Rebbe, R' Avrohm-Yehoshua' Heschel, in the summer of 5714 (1954). At the same time, Moshe Bar-Sela', director of the Labor and Social Affairs Ministry and a Pushkin buff, dropped by for a glass of tea and a chat - people were wont to stop off in Ramlah on the then long drive from Jerusalem to Tel Aviv. When Bar-Sela' quoted a line from the poem Yevgeni On'yegin without naming the author, R' Aaron reacted as reported. (Pushkin was a Russian author favored in Jewish intellectual circles. This author came across an interview of French Jewish philosopher Emmanuel Levinas by Francois Poiri in "Emmanuel Levinas, Qui etes-vous?? ''° which has the thinker relating, "A few years ago an Israeli born in Eastern Europe paid me a visit. Upon entering my home, he noticed that I had the complete works of Pushkin on the bookshelves. 'You can see right away,' he said, 'that this is a Jewish home.'"
Netziv(Devarim 32:2): ... an elevated person is nurtured through the study of talmud which is compared to rain. And by means of his understanding of Bible which comes through the study of agada which is compared to dew. He then can come to proper ethical sensibilities and knowledge of how to conduct himself in society and to elevate himself by means of knowledge of secular wisdom which is compared to the sun. This is expressed in Koheles where is says, “What is the benefit for a person who labors under the sun?” This indicates that knowledge of natural science and society brings honor to a person in the eyes of the nations of the world and thus serves to elevate the stature of Jews. However the critical issue is the order of the education. First comes rain (talmudic studies) and afterwards knowledge of agada which is compared to dew. It is only afterwards that it is appropriate to enhance ones abilities through secular knowledge which is comparable to the sun. However prior to talmudic studies, secular studies do not serve to elevate the honor of Jews at all. This is also true even if the secular studies are preceded by the in depth study of the Bible which is compared to dew. That is because without mastering talmudic studies the secular studies will serve to pervert and distort the understanding of the Bible.
Ramchal(Derech Chochma p116): A person who needs to mingle with the non‑Jewish scholars should learn that which causes them to respect him. Consequently G‑d will be sanctified through him.
Rashbatz (Magen Avos 2:19): Know how to reply to the heretic. This is the justification of our practice to learn secular knowledge in order that we can reply to them and tell them that they have no proofs that contradict the Torah and Prophets. This is not a violation of the prohibition of learning books not included in the Bible - that applies only to books like Ben Sira which are part of the ancient Wisdom Literature or books written by heretics which lack wisdom and are just a waste of time. Furthermore, the prohibition of learning Greek Wisdom… does not apply to wisdom which is learned through intellectual analysis but refers to a skill that existed in Talmudic times for communicating by hints and allusions… In fact, this skill is not inherently prohibited but was prohibited because of its role in a particular event in the Destruction of the Temple…. The apparently prohibition to keep your children away for higayon - but higayon is not logic or rhetoric. Rashi says it refers to idle chatter… In sum, those books which are based upon intellectual analysis are not prohibited and someone who reads them should accept that which is true and will learn to reply to their claims which are against the Torah. We find this with R’ Meir whose teacher was a heretic and would accept the truth and discard the falsehoods… Furthermore Chagiga (11b) states that one can investigate anything concerning this world but not which above or below it and not which is before and after it. Therefore, it is permitted to investigate scientifically anything connected with this world. We are only prohibited to read those books which don’t contain knowledge concerning reality.
What happened to 'maximum pressure'? White House orders freeze on Iran sanctions
The Trump administration has ordered an indefinite halt to new sanctions on Iran, raising questions about the future of its "maximum pressure" campaign ahead of nuclear negotiations, according to a report in the Wall Street Journal.
The directive came last week from White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt, who instructed the National Security Council, the Treasury Department and the State Department to cease all new actions targeting Tehran. A source close to the White House said Trump's pressure campaign is now "stuck in place."
The order to freeze sanctions, issued without a specified end date, followed the last-minute blocking of routine Treasury Department sanctions. Since then, at least six additional sanctions packages have been delayed, and no new American sanctions against Iran have been announced since May 21.
US popularity collapses worldwide in wake of Trump’s return
https://www.politico.eu/article/usa-popularity-collapse-worldwide-trump-return/
The United States is becoming less popular globally in the aftermath of Donald Trump’s return to the White House, according to new data.
The 2025 Democracy Perception Index summarizes attitudes toward democracy, geopolitics and global power players, and canvassed more than 110,000 respondents across 100 countries.
A majority of people surveyed had an overall negative perception of the U.S., marking a steep decline from last year. America’s reputation took a particularly massive hit in EU countries — perhaps unsurprisingly, as U.S. President Donald Trump has called the bloc “horrible,” “pathetic” and “formed to screw the United States.”
Trump’s reputation is in line with that of his country. The survey showed he’s less popular worldwide than his Russian and Chinese counterparts, Putin and Xi Jinping.
Trump recorded the worst score among a range of political, cultural and spiritual leaders that includes X owner Elon Musk, Microsoft founder Bill Gates, the late Pope Francis, Taylor Swift and Kim Kardashian.
Monday, June 2, 2025
Beitar Jerusalem fans attack Arab bus drivers after team’s loss, no arrests so far
Victim says dozens of fans pounced on him upon realizing his ethnicity, police took 20 minutes to arrive; labor union says ‘every day brings us closer’ to murder of transit worker
The Beitar team and their fans, particularly the hardcore group of ultras known as “La Familia,” have a long reputation of racism, routinely chanting “death to Arabs” at games and refusing to integrate Arab or Muslim players into the team.
Jerusalem Mayor Moshe Lion condemned the attack on the bus drivers — the first time he has done so for an incident of this type, according to the Kan public broadcaster.
Inside the split between MAGA and the Federalist Society
https://www.politico.com/news/2025/05/30/trump-federalist-society-leonard-leo-maga-00378303
The Federalist Society was the force behind Trump’s third of the Supreme Court. Now, MAGA wants to see the group’s demise.
Late Thursday evening, Trump attacked the conservative legal giant and Federalist Society’s former executive vice president Leonard Leo — a key figure in his judicial selections during his first term — calling him a “real ‘sleazebag’” in a Truth Social post. “I am so disappointed in The Federalist Society because of the bad advice they gave me on numerous Judicial Nominations,” he wrote.
For Trump’s allies, the Federalist Society now represents the old guard that “hide[s] behind a philosophy” instead of supporting the Republican cause, said one conservative consultant, who was granted anonymity in order to speak freely about dynamics in the Republican legal world. They want more people like Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito and fewer people like Justice Amy Coney Barrett, the person said.
“They don’t want someone who’s just going to be like, ‘We’re going to follow the law and do the originalistic thing, and whatever the result is, so may be it,’” said the consultant. “They want someone [who] can figure out how to get the result that they want.”
Friendly Reminders
https://mishpacha.com/friendly-reminders/
I’ve been thinking I really need to daven more for Jared and Ivanka’s shalom bayis than for my own. Seriously.
Because while the fate of my children and grandchildren and great-grandchildren rests on my shalom bayis; the fate of the entire Jewish people rests on theirs. If something sours in that marriage and Ivanka gets hurt, I’m afraid Trump will turn against us.
When Trump was elected, I heard the collective sigh of relief. Finally, a president who loves the Jewish people! He even has Jewish grandchildren! Once he’s the sheriff, all the hostages will be home within a fortnight, we thought. Hamas would capitulate, the Houthis would capitulate, the Iranians would capitulate. I even heard from a source close to MK Simcha Rothman that Mr. Rothman requested that Bibi ask Trump for authorization to begin building the Third Beis Hamikdash, to which Bibi responded, “No, I won’t ask, I’m afraid he’ll say yes.”
I watch as the families of hostages plead with Trump to help bring their loved ones home, watch those who were released thank Trump profusely, and I think of the poor innkeeper dancing in a bear costume before the poritz. We rely on Trump so much, we needed Mike Huckabee to reassure us, “Trump still loves you,” when he didn’t include Israel in his first tour of the Middle East.
Now we’re not so sure about Trump anymore. There’s talk of tension between him and Bibi; he signed a ceasefire with the Houthis behind Israel’s back; described a potential archenemy, Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa as, “an attractive, smart man;” and a bad nuclear deal is on the horizon
Terror in Colorado: Molotov cocktail attack targets pro-Israel walk
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/409327
Seven people, including children, injured in Boulder, Colorado, as Molotov cocktails thrown at a peaceful walk for Israeli hostages. Attacker reportedly yells "End Zionists" before being arrested. FBI investigating incident as a terrorist attack
Ukraine destroys 40 aircraft deep inside Russia ahead of peace talks in Istanbul
https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-sumy-region-18966d4b286ffb6f4e764b94a6afaf61
A Ukrainian drone attack has destroyed more than 40 Russian planes deep in Russia’s territory, Ukraine’s Security Service said on Sunday, while Moscow pounded Ukraine with missiles and drones just hours before a new round of direct peace talks in Istanbul.
A military official, who spoke with The Associated Press on condition of anonymity to disclose operational details, said the far-reaching attack took more than a year and a half to execute and was personally supervised by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
ICE Barbie’s List of ‘Sanctuary’ Cities Yanked After Furious Backlash
Kristi Noem’s Department of Homeland Security has taken down a list of dozens of “sanctuary” cities and counties accused of hampering the administration’s mass-deportation efforts after even a pro-Trump law enforcement group denounced the list.
In a statement Saturday, the National Sheriffs’ Association—whose leadership has typically supported Trump—called the list “arbitrary,” while doing its best to distance Trump from his own policy.
“DHS has done a terrible disservice to President Trump and the Sheriffs of this country. The President’s goals to reduce crime, secure the Borders, and make America safer have taken a step backward,” said the group’s president, Sheriff Kieran Donahue of Canyon County, Idaho. “The sheriffs of this country feel betrayed.”
The statement said the list was “created without any input, criteria for compliance, or mechanism for how to object to the designation,” meaning sheriffs had no way of knowing what they needed to do to avoid being tagged with the “arbitrary” label.
Trump says it’s Biden’s economy, but businesses and economists beg to differ
https://apnews.com/article/trump-economy-biden-tariffs-a268e2c155019a462eaa951aa20c7fcd
When the stock market was climbing in January 2024, Donald Trump knew exactly who deserved credit: He did.
Nearly a year before his return to the White House, he declared on his Truth Social platform that investors were celebrating his lead in the polls against President Joe Biden.
When the stock market fell Wednesday on news that the American economy had gone backward during the first three months of 2025, Trump knew exactly who to blame: Biden.
“This is Biden’s Stock Market, not Trump’s,’’ he posted, adding that Biden “left us with bad numbers, but when the boom begins, it will be like no other. BE PATIENT!!!’’
‘Incredibly ironic,’ Trump antisemitism effort may force out Harvard’s Israeli Jews
Trump's effort could force Harvard’s Jewish students from Israel — the very people the administration says it is aiming to protect — to leave the country.
The Trump administration has been attempting to weed out antisemitism at Harvard University by revoking a key certification that allows the university to enroll international students.
But that same effort could force Harvard’s Jewish students from Israel — the very people the administration says it is aiming to protect — to leave the country.
“I find it incredibly ironic that my visa is now under threat because I criticize my own government and that this is somehow presented as a measure to protect Jewish and Israeli students. I think anyone with some common sense can see that it’s a farce,” said Noga Marmor, a Jewish doctoral degree student at Harvard from Israel.
Sunday, June 1, 2025
Trump says the economy ‘went to hell’ under Biden. The opposite is true
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2025/mar/16/trump-biden-economy
By standard measures such as job and GDP growth and the stock market, the US economy was in excellent shape
Donald Trump keeps saying he inherited a terrible economy from Joe Biden and many Americans believe him, even though that’s not true. During his White House marketing event for Tesla on Tuesday, Trump said the US and its economy “went to hell” under Biden. Last week, in his national address to Congress, Trump said: “We inherited from the last administration an economic catastrophe and an inflation nightmare.”
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