Ramchal (Fundamentals Magic) Stars actually influence events. All the influences coming from above for the purpose of the lower ones pass through the stars. However their influence is only according to what is drawn from above. To all these spiritual beings, God gave permission to influence the lower worlds with actions that are not in accordance with the natural way, That which is closer beneath them is more influenced. When the lowest are influenced by the middle forces you should know that they were prepared and selected for this. However none have in them the power to act independently with its own volition to do everything they want. Everyone is limited and restrained as to what it can do. |In these things there are matters which are permitted and those that are forbidden .This is the subject of Sefer Yetzira and Kishuf.
Wednesday, November 26, 2025
Scouts ‘surprised and deeply saddened’ by Hegseth’s proposal to cut ties
https://thehill.com/policy/defense/5621952-scouting-america-us-military
Scouting America responded on Tuesday to a reported memo from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth seeking to cut ties with the organization, saying it was “surprised and disappointed” by the potential policy change, as the military has given its support to the Scouts since 1937.
Hegseth is reportedly upset with the group for promoting diversity, equity and inclusion. His memo, first reported by NPR, accuses Scouting America — formerly known as the Boy Scouts of America — of attacking boy-friendly spaces and for being “genderless.” The memo has yet to be sent to Congress.
Congress requires the Pentagon to support Scouting America’s Jamboree, lending trucks, ambulances and medical teams free of charge.
Do amulets and spells have any influence on human activities?
Or HaShem (4:5) Do amulets and spells have any influence on human activities?: There were in fact some wise men of our nations who took took an extreme position on this and held that the one who believes in them is a mistaken and gullible person. Nevertheless, we can not deny our senses and what was stated openly by the Sages in many places in the Talmud that attest to the validity of amulets and spells. , However we need to clarify this question and the appearance of the negation of this claim., and it is how the intended action will reach the action in amulets or spells, which is the question of how amulets and spells might work to influence human activities since they are clearly outside the natural reality? And this has already been explained in what is beyond nature, and that whatever brings out the potential in something into reality, can only produce that which exists in them. Therefore, amulets and spells do not act to do what is expected in them since they don’t possesss the necessary abilities. And thus they can not independently to produce the desired effects. We have already said that G-d also does not directly cause the activity. Thus the desired consequences which are attributed exclusively to the amulets and spells in fact requires G-d’s involvement. While at first thought this seems very disgusting and degrading especially sometimes what is desired is good and sometimes it is bad and harmful that G-d should assent to the evil in addition this seems to contradict free will of man. Thus it would seem that neither man or G-d is the actual agent in their influence. So what is the source of the power of amulets and spells? One possibility is that there is not a single explanation that applies equally to all amulets and spells. In other words perhaps some work by the power of the mazzel while others work because of G-d. Thus the amulets and spells serve merely as intermediaries. Thus some work through widom and fear of sin and are actualy holy activities and correct thought like prayer or Divine worship which we have established actually work. In other words some amulets and spells help establish proper thought. Others work primarily through mazzel and thus serve as tools to direct the power of mazzel down to our lowly world. While the philosophers claim they are useless and mere false fantasies unable to accomplish anything except by accident and chance. In fact we see that the Sun causes heat in the world while the Moon cools it off. How is this possible? It must be that the Sun somehow influences the natural heat and the Moon influences the natural coolness. Thus heavenly bodies clearly influence Nature
Rabbeinu Bachya (Devarim 18:11) “practicing divinations;” It is important to appreciate in the context of this whole subject matter that when G-d created the universe out of “nothing,” He made the celestial beings into leaders of the terrestrial creatures who were below them. He established a kind of hierarchy in which “lower” creatures were subjected to input by “higher” creatures. Eventually, at some point, even these higher creatures become subject to direct input by totally abstract beings, angels, which have been assigned certain tasks by G-d. These angels, when they represent the nations on earth, for instance, may be perceived as the “soul” of their terrestrial protegees. This system is permanent for the duration of the terrestrial universe and the commander-in chief of these angels who represent these nations is the Lord Himself. However, G’d allowed these “protective” angels of the nations to “reverse direction,” on occasion in order to head off certain dangers threatening their protegees as a result of planetary, horoscopic forces.
Is It ‘Seditious’ or ‘Illegal’ to Urge the Military to Refuse Unlawful Orders? Legal Experts Weigh In
https://time.com/7336802/trump-military-orders-mark-kelly-democratic-lawmakers-video
President Donald Trump and members of his Administration have suggested that six Democratic politicians violated the law by urging members of the military and the intelligence community to refuse unlawful orders. But legal experts tell TIME that there was nothing illegal about the politicians’ message.
But legal experts say that nothing in the video was “seditious” or “illegal,” and that there is no basis for the Pentagon to investigate Kelly for participating in the video.
In an interview the following day, Trump said he was “not threatening” the lawmakers. “But,” he added, “I think they’re in serious trouble. In the old days, they would have [been] dead.”
Putin says authorities must galvanize Russian identity in Ukraine
https://www.jpost.com/international/internationalrussia-ukraine-war/article-875221
Long links between Russia and Ukraine, from even before the Soviet era, mean that some Ukrainians have traditionally been sympathetic to Russia, and most speak both languages. But since the invasion, any such sympathy has vanished, and surveys show that the use of Russian has declined sharply.
Putin has long cast doubt on Ukraine's historical identity as distinct from Russia.
Russia alleges that neo-Nazi ideology has permeated Ukrainian public life since a 2014 public uprising forced the Russia-friendly president of the time to flee the country.
Russia Blasts Leaked Call Between Trump Envoy, Putin Aide on Ukraine
https://www.newsweek.com/russia-ukraine-war-news-call-leak-trump-putin-witkoff-11110359
Yuri Ushakov, the top foreign policy adviser to Russian President Vladimir Putin, said the leak of a call between him and U.S. President Donald Trump's envoy Steve Witkoff was intended to meddle with the building of Moscow-Washington relations, as a potential peace deal to end the war in Ukraine takes shape.
In the call, reported by Bloomberg, Witkoff privately coached senior Kremlin advisers, including Ushakov, on how to pitch a Ukraine peace deal to Trump. The initial 28-point draft plan that emerged after Witkoff's conversations with Russian officials was criticized by Ukraine and its European allies as tantamount to capitulation to Moscow.
Top Trump aide Steve Witkoff coached Russians how to win over US president with flattery during Ukraine peace talks: report
On the five-minute call, Witkoff advised Ushakov to instruct Putin to congratulate Trump and open the conversation with some complimentary remarks.
The Russia-friendly plan, which called for Ukraine to give up the entire Donbas region, shrink its army by a third, and abandon its NATO ambition, was eventually slimmed down to a 19-point plan by senior Washington and Kyiv delegations.
The new plan would nix one of the most controversial provisions that Ukraine would have to give up territory in the Donbas that Russia has been unable to conquer in more than 11 years of war there.
Trump Reacts to Report That Steve Witkoff Advised Russia on Ukraine Deal
https://www.newsweek.com/trump-reacts-to-witkoff-advising-russia-11109901
President Donald Trump has dismissed concerns about special envoy Steve Witkoff advising Russian officials on how to pitch a Ukraine peace plan, telling reporters aboard Air Force One that the conversations sounded like “standard negotiation.”
In his first direct response to a Bloomberg report that Witkoff privately coached senior Kremlin advisers on appealing to Trump, the president said the dealmaker was doing what was required to move both sides toward agreement.
Bloomberg reported that Witkoff was recorded coaching senior Putin advisers on how to frame a proposal to Trump, and urging them to emphasize their willingness to make a deal. In one conversation reviewed by the outlet, Witkoff described having drafted a 20-point peace plan and suggested Russia echo that language in a future call with Trump.
Tuesday, November 25, 2025
Pentagon Threatening Mark Kelly Fuels Conservative Backlash: ‘Amateur Hour’
Republican Representative Don Bacon, who retired from the Air Force as a brigadier general in 2014, wrote on X: "Amateur hour once again at the Department of Dense. I thought the video by six Dems was unnecessary and foolish. But the threats of sedition charges and courts martial in response are also crazy. Let's show some common sense and restraint."
He added in a comment: "They [the Democrats in the video] said don't follow illegal orders. That is the law by the way. It was dumb and unnecessary video, but good luck prosecuting someone who is quoting the law. The Administration should have just pointed out how dumb it was. The threats looked dumber."
Mazzel determines Success in Material and Spiritual issues?
Or HaShem (4:4) Do the movements of the heavenly bodies have an actual influence on human affairs? |It has been claimed that it is inherent in nature that the heavenly bodies move the elements and influence their combinations as well as influence their characteristics. As a result of these beliefs there are some people who claim that they determine the bounty we get from G-d. They claim that wealth or poverty as well as success is the direct result of the influence of the stars and planets. |In addition success in romance or even whether he is a tzadik or evil person is attributed to the stars The view that the stars are influential has been stated in the Talmud.as well as the view that denies that they are determinative or at least are only a partial factor. There is an additional religious issue for those who claim that the stars are determinative as to the issue of free will as well as reward and punishment. In addition this belief serves to weaken faith in G-d as well as to weaken their efforts to keep mitzvos which is obviously foolish. |In fact a person needs to think he is fully responsible to keep mitzvos and avoid sin.Our Sages emphasize the importance of this view in many places in the \Talmud saying that G-d is in control and is determinative and not the stars.
Magic is nonsense unless you have a strong imagination
Menoras HaMeor (Ner 2 Klall 10 section 2 chapter 1-2) The words of sorcerers lead people to remove their confidence in God, the Blessed One, who decrees and fulfills, and instead to engage in vain things, including the words of demons and unclean spirits, and the bones of dead animals whose names are known, and sometimes with slight of hand tricks. Therefore, our Holy Torah warned that all these things are vanities and wind and empty deceptive words. Actually while they neither benefit or cause harm,, but they can cause damage in someone who has a naturally strong imagination who believes that they actually work.
Republicans dumbfounded by Trump’s calls for harsh retribution against Democratic lawmakers
https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/5621041-trump-democratic-lawmakers-gop-senators/
President Trump’s heated rhetorical attacks on Democratic lawmakers, whom he called out as “traitors” who deserve to be jailed, have left his Republican allies in Washington dumbfounded and skeptical about any bipartisan dealmaking at the end of 2025.
Republican lawmakers and strategists fear Trump is undermining his own credibility and ability to get anything done before the midterm election.
Two weeks after the conclusion of the longest government shutdown in American history, Trump and Democratic lawmakers are tearing at each other again, dimming the prospects of reaching a deal on expiring health insurance premium subsidies or legislation to fund the government past Jan. 30.
Pentagon move against war hero Kelly shows Trump’s quest for vengeance is endless
https://edition.cnn.com/2025/11/25/politics/mark-kelly-letitia-james-comey-trump-analysis
“This is crossing the Rubicon,” Rieckhoff told CNN’s John Berman on “Anderson Cooper 360.” “The idea you can drive (Kelly) back onto active duty and threaten a court martial … is breaking glass that has never been broken before in the modern military.”
The politics of the showdown may also backfire on the president. After all, a commander in chief who never served in the military is now using his power in pursuit of a hero who flew combat jets off a US carrier over Iraq in the 1991 Gulf War and who showed the right stuff by blasting into space on shuttle missions.
The lawmakers in the video did not directly encourage US military personnel to ignore the orders of their commanders. This argument would only work if the commanders issued an unlawful order. The video pointed out that military members can or must refuse illegal orders or those that violate the Constitution.