Frum Pundits sour on Trump

https://mishpacha.com/no-permanent-friends/

In  his major speech in Riyadh on May 13, President Trump emphasized that he does not believe in permanent enemies. But the flip side of that statement, as Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu has surely deduced, is that he also does not believe in permanent friends. Thus, the assurance that Trump will always have Israel’s back is one upon which Israel cannot afford to rely.

https://mishpacha.com/divine-delusions/

One implication of Trump’s unique status is that Israel finds itself in a fragile position when he’s in office. He was an outstanding supporter when in office the first time around. This time, he’s kept the munitions tap open. But as Trump confirmed last week, he’s keeping Israel’s government on a short leash when it comes to Gaza and Iran.

And unlike the days of Obama and Biden, there’s nowhere to turn to challenge the president. Barring some honorable exceptions, the Democrats are more or less toxic on Israel. And the Republicans? Yes, they’re pro-Israel, but more than they are pro-Israel, they’re pro-Trump.

Donald Trump has become a value in and of himself to vast numbers of his supporters. He has become the arbiter of Republicanism. If he turns on Israel, so will they.

So, all the rumblings of Israeli right-wingers that Bibi needs to show some spine and defy Uncle Sam are wrong. Bibi has done the wise thing: kept quiet and tried to influence the administration behind the scenes. Openly opposing the White House worked to a degree under Biden, when there was a political bloc predisposed to be anti-Biden and pro-Israel.

But with a monarchical president, the number of American politicians currently minded to defy Trump in support of Israel is close to zero.

Don’t Let Your Glee Make You Forget Your Loathing

 https://www.thedailybeast.com/dont-let-your-glee-at-donald-trump-elon-musk-make-you-forget-your-loathing/

One is King Kong. One is Godzilla. Enjoy the fight but remember: They’re both true monsters.

Tracking Public Opinion on the State of U.S. Affairs

 https://pro.morningconsult.com/trackers/public-opinion-us-state-of-affairs

More than 2 in 5 Americans (44%) say the country is headed in the right direction. That number was as high as 48% last week following a reprieve in President Donald Trump's trade war with China, only slightly down from 49% in mid-March — the current high for optimism during his second presidency.

Direction of Country

 https://www.realclearpolling.com/polls/state-of-the-union/direction-of-country

			Right Direction	Wrong Track
			44.0	50.7

Bamidbar: Why did the divsion into groups only happen a year after they left Egypt?

 Emes L’Yakov (Bamidbar  1:11) Question Why was the division into different groups only done a year after they left Egypt In addition the banners served to divide the nation into unique groups and thus undermine unity?Answer  The counting was to arrange the tribes according to their banners.  However since they now had a common center – the Tabernacle there was no longer a danger of factionalism as there would have been when they first left Egypt.  This is like a person who in spite of having specialized parts such as ears and eyes remains a single entity. 

Concern in Israel over US administration shakeup of pro-Israel officials

 https://www.ynetnews.com/article/byduenimee

Dismissals of top pro-Israel officials in Washington spark Israeli concern as Trump’s 'America First' agenda sidelines allies; Netanyahu allies say figures like Donald Jr. and JD Vance now shape US policy, deepening rift over Iran and Gaza

Israeli officials are expressing growing concern over a series of unexpected personnel changes within the U.S. administration, particularly involving individuals widely seen as strongly supportive of Israel. 

Agudat Israel will submit a bill to dissolve the Knesset

 https://www.jpost.com/breaking-news/article-856767

Agudat Yisrael, the hassidic faction of the haredi United Torah Judaism (UTJ) party, announced on Thursday that it would submit a bill to dissolve the Knesset.

The Trump-Musk ‘War of the Roses’

 https://www.wsj.com/opinion/the-trump-musk-war-of-the-roses-543065a0?mod=hp_opin_pos_1

It certainly makes for entertaining political theater, at least for Democrats. First came Mr. Musk’s broadside against the One Big Beautiful Bill Act as an “abomination.” Mr. Trump replied that he was disappointed but that his buddy Elon knew what was in the bill all along.

Mr. Musk raised the bidding with a demand sent to his followers on X.com to “KILL the BILL.” The President suggested Mr. Musk suffered from “Trump derangement syndrome,” to which Mr. Musk replied that the President wouldn’t have won without him.

Since these guys only know how to escalate, Mr. Trump then posted on Truth Social that “The easiest way to save money in our Budget, Billions and Billions of Dollars, is to terminate Elon’s Governmental Subsidies and Contracts.” Tesla shares plunged. Defcon 2.

Elon Musk Says Donald Trump 'Is In Epstein Files'

 https://www.newsweek.com/elon-musk-says-donald-trump-epstein-files-2081653

Musk, in a post Thursday on X, wrote, "Time to drop the really big bomb: @realDonaldTrump is in the Epstein files. That is the real reason they have not been made public. Have a nice day, DJT!" He followed with, "Mark this post for the future. The truth will come out."

The most explosive charge in the feud came with Musk's claim that Trump is listed in Epstein-related files that have not yet been made public. While it is known that Trump and Epstein were acquainted and photographed together in the early 2000s, Trump has long denied any involvement in Epstein's criminal conduct.

GOP Rep. tells Elon Musk the Trump bill ‘is just the beginning’ amid concerns over the deficit

Musk urges lawmakers to ‘kill the bill’, but Republicans aren't walking away

Women guns

Igros Moshe (OC IV 75.3)  Question Can women carry guns in those Israeli settlments close to Arab who hate Jews or is it prohibited as being male items being used by women? Answer It would seem clearly appropriate in this life threatening situation to carry a pistol. However if the Arabs are afraid of Jews and it is not viewed as life threatening or it is possible to travel safely in Israeli controlled areas or it is possible to be accompanied by an armed escort perhaps not, Nevertheless since it is difficult for them to act differently then what is considered normal it can be permitted since it clearly serves a purpose other than decoration and it is not for going to war. 

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.