Everywhere and Nowhere - first shudduch crises

 https://mishpacha.com/everywhere-and-nowhere/

And then we can ask harder questions: What happened when the ghetto gates swung open? Which centrifugal forces splintered communities, and which held them together? Why was it that by the year 1900, only 15 percent of Jews in Central Europe were shomer Shabbos? What went wrong then? And what can hold us together today, when we fight assimilation not only of the Jewish People at large, but the drifting away that takes place within our neighborhoods, schools, communities, our very homes?

When equipped with a substantial dowry and trousseau, a young woman could expect to have her future — that is, her marriage — arranged for her. But what of those who were not so blessed? In 1895, an editorial in the Orthodox family weekly Die Laubhütte stated: “Dowries are getting higher every year…. Soon middle-class girls will no longer be able to buy men and poor girls already have no chance to get married.”

How To Ruin a Country's Image, Economy, and Global Standing in Six Easy Steps | Opinion

 https://www.newsweek.com/how-ruin-countrys-image-economy-global-standing-six-easy-steps-opinion-2080454

President Donald Trump's first four months in office have brought a whirlwind of unprecedented actions. There have been so many missteps, fumblings, cruel implementations, and pure folly, it would take an entire column to list them all.

While this column has often analyzed methodologically precise polling data, today I set out to synthesize, very unscientifically, what I've been hearing from business and legal colleagues, along with social contacts, about the Trump presidency's most consequential—and egregious—actions to date. The following list is by no means exhaustive of this administration's horrendous policies and ridiculous conduct. But these six items are perhaps the most destructive of our country's image, economy, and contributions to the rest of the world.

Drafting Women.

 Igros Moshe (YD IV #9) Question Drafting Women Answer  Drafting women – whether it is is for military service  or other types of service is against G-d’s Torah. Therefore if any government passes such a law it is prohibited for women to obey such a law. It is basically a decree against Judaism which can not be obeyed.  Therefore since it seems that there are those in America who want to pass such a law,it is obligatory to do all that is possible  to inform everyone that this is against the Torah , and that therefore all Jewish women are forbidden to comply with it.  I am certain that we will be heard  and such a law will never happen in this country that we love and thus we will remain faithful citizens as we have been. 

Obligation to learn and Know the Entire Torah

 Igros Moshe (YD IV #36.9) Question: Is it an obligation to learn the entire Torah? Answer It seems from the Rambam that there is a mitzva for everyone to learn the entire Torah. However this is just a superficial knowledge such as we find with daf Yomi.

Igros Moshe (YD IV #36.10) Question What is the mitzva of Torah study? Answer  There is also an obligation to know the entire Torah and be a genuine talmid chachom and to be able to decide halacha. This applies to all Jews so that every generation will have many great talmidei chachomim that know all of the Torah.and be able to poskim even for those things things which aren’t relevant today such as kodshim and taharos and new moon as well as sanhesdrin and kings.  . 

Prohibited to stop Torah study for secular studies?

Igros Moshe (YD IV #36.3) Question  Is it prohibited to stop Torah study in order to study secular subjects?  Answer  I have discussed this a number of times.  There are two obligations  in the mitzva of Torah study. 1) The obligation to learn and know all the Torah – both written and Oral. 2) There is a prohibition to forget Torah kearning. 3 ) Some say there is also the obligation to learn Torah everyday. 

Minimize parnossa in order to study Torah

Igros Moshe (YD IV #36.5) Question: Is a person obligated to minimimze his parnosa to the bare minimumum in order to study Torah? Answer I do not see a single source that anyone is exempt from the obligation to learn the entire Torah and know it properly and it is forbidden to forget it. In fact the Rambam states  because of this that a person is obligated to learn everyday his entire life.because otherwise he will forget it.  It is only because of the necessity to eat and drink and dress and have a home that he is exempt for a period of time  from study.  There is even time when it is prohibited from learning. That is because the need to work to obtain minimal food and drink and dwelling not only for himself but also for his wife and children. During that time it is prohibited to study. However it is permitted to work in addition to acquire  money that enables him to eat and drink above the absolute minimum  for pleasure or health if that is normal. Eating meat and other foods for example. However  he minimizes eating just to feel good.  This is also true for his wife and children. Raising the standard above what the average is prohibited since he has the obligation to study Torah. In addition he needs to be aware that being rich is not because of natural efforts but is only by G-d’s blessing. It is important to note that the Rambam doesn’t say that it is prohibited to work more than the minimum that is needed and that one who does work more nullifies  the mitzva of Torah study. It seems from other sources  that it isn’t an issue of prohibition but of an ideal that only a few are capable of reaching. Thus it is not prohibited to work even for the sake of wealth, it means however that the person is unlikely to become a talmid chachom or even achieve his potential in Torah study. 

Media blood libel over alleged Gaza aid shooting will have far-reaching repercussions

 https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-856462

"At least 31 Palestinians killed after Israeli forces open fire near Gaza aid distribution center, Palestinian officials say" screamed the tickers on CNN, and with minor variations, on BBC, Sky News, and most world media on Sunday.

The headlines folded into stories of a 'massacre' at one of the aid distribution sites opened by The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), citing the Palestinian Ministry of Health.

Of course, any discerning reader would know that "Palestinian officials," "Palestinian Ministry of Health"  – or any of the other euphemisms that the international media uses, like the Gaza Health Ministry, local officials in Gaza, or our favorite - Gaza’s Civil Defense  - is doublespeak for… Hamas.

The combination of once respected organizations like CNN, NBC, and the BBC taking what Hamas says at face value, and Israel’s inability to relay the truth in real time creates a recipe in which Israel is demonized again and again.

The media’s irresponsibility in taking the word of a terror organization in order to create a sensational headline and boost their online clicks isn’t just unprofessional, it’s dangerous.

US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee tied the inaccurate stories and ones like it that have regularly appeared since the IDF invasion of Gaza to the rise in antisemitism.

Health Ministry suspends for 6 months license of top doctor accused of sexual assault

 https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/health-ministry-suspends-for-6-months-license-of-top-doctor-accused-of-sexual-assault/

The Health Ministry announces that the license of Prof. Arie Levine, 67, a pediatric gastroenterologist accused of multiple sexual offenses, including the rape of a girl under the age of 14, will be suspended for six months, the maximum period allowed by law.

Levine served as the director of the Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition Unit at Holon’s Wolfson Medical Center until recently. He also practices at a private clinic.

At the time of his arrest in 2021, he denied wrongdoing, and the defense argued that his actions were necessary for the medical treatment he was giving.

Rockets fired from Syria for first time in a year; Israel says Sharaa responsible

 https://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-says-it-will-hold-sharaa-accountable-after-1st-rocket-fire-from-syria-in-a-year/

Defense Minister Israel Katz said Jerusalem would mount a “full response” against the regime of Syrian leader Ahmed al-Sharaa after two rockets were fired from Syria at the Golan Heights for the first time in over a year, minutes before a Houthi missile triggered sirens across central Israel.

No injuries were reported from either attack. The IDF said it had responded to the attack from Syria with artillery fire on the source of the rockets, some 12 kilometers (7.5 miles) from the border with Israel.

The IDF also carried out a series of airstrikes throughout southern Syria that it said targeted weapons belonging to the regime.

Khat smuggling by haredi youth sparks outcry across Europe’s Jewish communities

 https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/409361

A disturbing trend has emerged involving young haredi men being recruited to smuggle the stimulant plant khat (gat) to the UK and other countries.

According to a report by Behadrei Haredim, dozens of young individuals are being offered up to 7,000 shekels per trip to travel abroad with suitcases containing 25-30 kilograms of khat. The plant is known for its stimulant properties, causing increased sociability, euphoria, and appetite suppression and is widespread in Yemen and Ethiopia. It was brought to Israel by Yemenite Jews and is legal in the country, although khat is classified as an illegal narcotic in much of the Western world.

The phenomenon, which was depicted earlier this year in the Israeli television series Shababnikim, came to light in a real-world incident last week when two young haredi men were arrested at customs in London with 50 kilograms of khat in their possession.

Trump’s Brag About ‘BOOMING’ Economy Immediately Gets a Humiliating Reality Check

 https://www.thedailybeast.com/donald-trumps-brag-about-booming-economy-immediately-gets-a-humiliating-reality-check/

President Donald Trump’s trade policies are triggering a global economic downturn, but the president apparently hasn’t gotten the memo.

“Because of Tariffs, our Economy is BOOMING!” Trump boasted in a Truth Social post early Tuesday. Within hours, a damning economic forecast came to the opposite conclusion.

Eruv to save people from violating Shabbos?

Igros Moshe (OC V #28.22) Question Should an eruv be built to save people from violating Shabbos? Answer This is a dispute amongst Tanaaim? |It seems that there is no obligation to do it or even a mitzva to do it for them. Perhaps there is for those who were raised as irreligious. However since they were aware that there are religious Jews and that there are people who know more than their parents and nevertheless the didn’t change  that cancels out the fact that they were raised as irreligious. 

Kadish for 12 months after death of father who violated Shabbos?

Igros Moshe (YD IV #61.6)  Question: Kadish for father who violated Shabbos or was a heretic? Answer Even though it is clearly better to say kadish for 12 months but the Rema ruled that the normal practice is only for 11 nonths so as to not view his father as evil. Obviously he is referring to the typical situation where the father was an observant Jew. However if the son knows his father violated Shabbos even only  for the sake of parnossa the son should say kadish for 12 months. However if he was a heretic, there is no mourning for him, and therefore it makes no sense to obligate him to say kadish for 12 months if he died peacefully in his bed. However if he were killed than kadish is said. However if he wants to say kadish for his father who died peacefully it would seem that it is appropriate and beneficial.  However he has no priority over other mourners. 

Tinok Shenishba today?

Igros Moshe (EH IV #32.7) Question Is a tinok Sheniba invalid to be a witness? Answer This that I wrote that the children of heretics (Igros Moshe (EH I #82.11) are considered as tinok sheniba even though they are not considered as non Jews they are still invalid as witnesses that is obvious since they on not observant Jews. And they also reject the Torah even though this is beyond their control since this is the way they were raised. They therefore are not aware of the prohibition to lie and that there is a heavenly punishment for lying.  Even if you tell them they won’t believe it.