Name of Tzadik like G-d's

 Bamidbar Rabbah (02:12) When G-d created the world. Twenty generations came and went, but no good was found in them, neither did a single righteous man rise up among them. Beyond the twenty generations G-d espied Abraham, deposited in the land of Babylon, which is called distant; as it is said, They are come from a far country unto me, even from Babylon. G-d thought, ‘Can one be certain that he will have the power to stand?’ When he was cast into the fiery furnace and sanctified the name of G-d and thus stood his test, G-d immediately brought him to the Land of Israel where he built an inn for himself, gave food to wayfarers, and brought men beneath the wings of the Shechinah, making known the glory of G-d throughout the world, and causing his own name to bear a resemblance to the name G-d, like the angels. 

Old and Righteous - why commanded to respect?

 Shemos Rabbah (31:16) THOU SHALT NOT REVILE ELOHIM. R. Meir said: Above all did G-d exhort Israel concerning their judges who teach them justice and concerning their ruler, for it says, THOU SHALT NOT REVILE ELOHIM, NOR CURSE A RULER OF THY PEOPLE. You will thus find that Korah and his congregation were smitten only because they stretched out their hands against Moses and Aaron. The citizens of Jerusalem were also smitten because they despised the prophets, for it says, But they mocked the messengers of God, and it is written, They have made their faces harder than a rock; they have refused to return. It was for this reason that God cautioned Israel concerning the respect due to the old and the righteous, as it says, To understand a Proverb, and a figure; the words of the wise, and their dark sayings Why did He exhort us concerning them?--Because it is they who warn Israel against idolatry.

Epstein files reveal Trump called police chief after arrest, saying ‘everyone has known’

 https://www.ynetnews.com/article/skutzitw11l

A newly surfaced document from the Epstein investigation says Trump called the Palm Beach police chief after Epstein’s 2006 arrest, saying ‘Thank goodness you're stopping him, everyone has known he's been doing this,’ a quote the White House has neither confirmed nor denied and that challenges Trump’s claim he was unaware of Epstein’s crimes

A newly released document published as part of the disclosure of files from the Jeffrey Epstein pedophilia case raises questions about U.S. President Donald Trump’s claim that he knew nothing about Epstein’s sexual abuse of underage girls, despite a long friendship between the two that ended in the early 2000s.

While the document appears to show that Trump himself was not a participant in Epstein’s actions — and he was never suspected of doing so — the assertion that many others knew about Epstein’s conduct casts doubt on Trump’s version that he was unaware of Epstein’s crimes while they were friends. Trump has previously said he cut ties with Epstein and banned him from his Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach because he behaved like a ‘creep.’ He has also claimed Epstein ‘stole’ young women from the club’s spa, including Virginia Giuffre, the most prominent accuser of Epstein and Britain’s Prince Andrew, who died by suicide last year.

D.C. grand jury declines to indict six Democratic lawmakers

 https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2026/02/10/dc-grand-jury-kelly-slotkin-pirro/

A federal grand jury in D.C. refused the Justice Department’s attempts to indict six Democratic lawmakers over their comments to military service members — the latest rebuke of the Trump administration’s push to prosecute the president’s foes, according to two people familiar with the matter.

Federal prosecutors last year launched an investigation into the lawmakers — all of whom served in the military or with intelligence agencies — after they released a short video advising current military members to reject “illegal orders.”

The lawmakers include Sen. Mark Kelly, a retired Navy captain and astronaut from Arizona, and Sen. Elissa Slotkin, a former CIA analyst from Michigan, both of whom sit on the Senate Armed Services Committee. They have criticized the administration’s attempts to deploy the National Guard to cities run by Democratic officials and conduct strikes on alleged drug traffickers’ boats in the Caribbean Sea and Pacific Ocean.

Ghislaine Maxwell Asks for Clemency in Exchange for Testimony That Will Prove Trump ‘Innocent’

 https://time.com/7375277/ghislaine-maxwell-epstein-trump-clinton-innocent-congress-testimony-clemency-pardon/

The late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein’s longtime close associate Ghislaine Maxwell, herself convicted and serving time for sex-trafficking and related charges, disappointed interrogators and observers when she pleaded the fifth in a deposition before the House Oversight Committee on Monday. But her attorneys say there is one thing that could make her talk: a pardon from President Donald Trump.

“Ms. Maxwell is prepared to speak fully and honestly if granted clemency by President Trump,” attorney David Oscar Markus said in a statement during the deposition, which he posted on X. “Only she can provide the complete account. Some may not like what they hear, but the truth matters. For example, both President Trump and President Clinton are innocent of any wrongdoing.”

Canadians Hit Back at Trump’s Bridge Threat: ‘It’s Insane’

 https://www.newsweek.com/canadians-hit-back-at-trumps-gordie-howe-bridge-threat-11494200

Trump wrote on Truth Social that he would block the opening of the Gordie Howe International Bridge spanning the Detroit River until the U.S. was "fully compensated," saying the construction had no U.S. content, such as steel.  

He said he would not allow the bridge to open until the U.S. was "compensated for everything we have given them," although it is unclear what compensation Trump planned to seek or what legal authority he had to block the bridge's opening. 

The bridge is jointly owned by Canada and the state of Michigan. The Canadian government has financed the $5.7 billion project and expects to recoup the cost through tolls. 

Despite Trump's claim, Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens told Canadian outlet CBC that American steel was used on the American side of the bridge and that he expected it to open. 

Trump's framing of the bridge as Canada taking advantage of the United States is the latest chapter in his spat with the U.S.'s northern neighbor, which includes tariff threats and his criticism of Ottawa's effort to deepen economic ties with China. 

Hasidism and the Rebbe/Tzaddik: The Power and Peril of Charismatic Leadership

 https://hakirah.org/Vol%207%20Schochet.pdf

For many decades, the Conservative Movement sought to define itself as an authentic halakhic movement by selectively citing more liberal teachings and teshuvot from traditional sources.

This phenomenon ought not come as a surprise. Even the spokesmen and the followers of Shabbetai Ẓevi put forth great effort to authenticate his messianic identity by appealing to traditional, eschatological sources.

In truth, quoting an ancient view and using it as a modern movement’s mantra is not all that difficult a task. Our tradition is a broad one and diverse views are articulated on many issues in traditional sources. Minority voices are faithfully recorded in our sacred texts, and many an esoteric comment has been preserved for subsequent generations to study.

Two great works on Jewish ethics, Ḥovot haLevavot and Mesillat Yesharim, stand in interesting contrast to one another—to a great degree because of the deep Kabbalistic motifs of the latter that are lacking in the former. Yet, each is undeniably “authentic” to our tradition in spite of differences in emphases.

Rav Sternbuch 100 years old

 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moshe_Sternbuch

Rav Moshe Sternbuch born 15 February 1926 one of nine children of Osher Sternbuch, an Orthodox Jewish merchant, and Devorah. His parents hosted numerous rabbis who came to London to raise money for their yeshivas, among them Elchonon Wasserman, who after learning with Sternbuch declared that he was a davar sheyeish bo mamash (a boy of substance). He was tested in learning every Shabbat by Yechezkel Abramsky, who predicted he would one day become a moreh hora'ah (posek).

Birthdays - significance?

 https://ohr.edu/explore_judaism/ask_the_rabbi/ask_the_rabbi/7740#:~:text=Rav%20Moshe%20Feinstein%20reportedly%20insisted,Orach%20Chaim%206:29).

Rav Moshe Feinstein reportedly insisted that each of his grandchildren call him on his birthday to wish him well. Ginzei Yosef (4) writes that it is a good custom to recite a she’hechiyanu over a new fruit or a new garment on all of one’s birthdays. Rav Ovadia Yosef also notes that on any of one’s birthdays it is appropriate to have a special meal accompanied by words of Torah, and that such a meal would be a seudat mitzvah (Yabia Omer, Orach Chaim 6:29).

Israel requires Human Efforts

 Vayikra Rabbah (25:5): The hen, when its chicks are tiny gathers them together under its wings to warm them and get food for them. But when they grow up if one of them wants to get close to her she pecks it on its heads and says: Go dig for food yourself. Thus it was for the Jews forty years in the Desert. The manna fell from Heaven, a well of water followed them, the quail were readily available, the clouds of glory encircled them, and the pillar of cloud led them. However once they entered into Israel, Moshe told them: Let everyone of you take his shovel and go plant trees…

Chasam Sofer (Sukkos 36a): I heard an insight from my teacher the Hafloah concerning the dispute between R’ Shimon bar Yochai and R’ Yishmael (Berachos 35b). R’ Shimon said that a person should only learn Torah and R’ Yishmael  said a person should also work. The gemora concludes that many did like R’ Shimon (and studied Torah full time) but were not successful. He noted that they merely imitated the actions of R’ Shimon but did not in fact do exactly as he did. In fact there is no doubt that a person who is truly motivated for the sake of G d, Who examines all hearts, will definitely be successful. … I, his insignificant student, want to expand his insight. It appears to me that R’ Yishmael did not apply the verse “you should gather your grain” - that one should work - except for those dwelling in Israel when the majority of Jews live there. In such a case farming itself is an expression of the mitzva of settling the land by bringing forth its holy fruit. For example Boaz was involved in winnowing grain because of this mitzva. Thus a person in Israel - who wants to exclusively learn Torah and doesn’t want to farm - is like one who says that he doesn’t want to put on Tefilin because he is studying Torah. It is possible that this is also true concerning all occupations which help develop society - that they are included in the mitzva of settling Israel. In contrast when we are scattered amongst the nations of the world. There to the degree that we develop society, we destroy our service of G d, then R’ Yishmael would agree with R’ Shimon that one should only learn Torah. Thus concerning those living outside of Israel, we rely on the view of R’ Nehorai that he ignored every trade in the world and only taught his son Torah. 

Mitzvah of Torah study - how to resolve contradiction pf Rashbi?

Berachos (35b) Our Rabbis taught: And thou shalt gather in thy corn.6 What is to be learnt from these words? Since it says, This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth,8 I might think that this injunction is to be taken literally. Therefore it says, ‘And thou shalt gather in thy corn’, which implies that you are to combine the study of them9 with a worldly occupation. This is the view of R. Ishmael. R. Simeon b. Yohai says: Is that possible? If a man ploughs in the ploughing season, and sows in the sowing season, and reaps in the reaping season, and threshes in the threshing season, and winnows in the season of wind, what is to become of the Torah? No; but when Israel perform the will of the Omnipresent, their work is performed by others, as it says. And strangers shall stand and feed your flocks. etc.,10 and when Israel do not perform the will of the Omnipresent their work is carried out by themselves, as it says, And thou shalt gather in thy corn.11 Nor is this all, but the work of others also is done by them, as it says. And thou shalt serve thine enemy etc.12 Said Abaye: Many have followed the advice of Ishmael, and it has worked well; others have followed R. Simeon b. Yohai and it has not been successful. Raba said to the Rabbis: I would ask you not to appear before me during Nisan and Tishri13 so that you may not be anxious about your food supply during the rest of the year. Menachos (99b)R. Johanan said in the name of R. Simeon b. Yohai, Even though a man but reads the Shema’23 morning and evening he has thereby fulfilled the precept of ‘[This book of the law] shall not depart’. It is forbidden, however, to say this in the presence of ‘amme ha-arez.24 But Raba said, It is a meritorious act to say it in the presence of amme ha-arez.25 Ben Damah the son of R. Ishmael's sister once asked R. Ishmael, May one such as I who have studied the whole of the Torah learn Greek wisdom?26 He thereupon read to him the following verse, This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth, but thou shalt meditate therein day and night.27 Go then and find a time that is neither day nor night and learn then Greek wisdom. his, however, is at variance with the view of R. Samuel b. Nahmani. For R. Samuel b. Nahmani said in the name of R. Jonathan, This verse is neither duty nor command but a blessing. For when the Holy One, blessed be He, saw that the words of the Torah were most precious to Joshua, as it is written, His minister Joshua, the son of Nun, a young man, departed not out of the tent,28 He said to him, ‘Joshua, since the words of the Torah are so precious to thee, [I assure thee,] ‘this book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth’!

 

An answer is found in the Igros Moshe שו"ת אגרות משה יורה דעה חלק ד סימן לו ה. אם חייב לצמצם בפרנסתו רק כפי ההכרח ולעסוק בתורה בכל הזמן שיכול ולא מצינו שאיכא מי שפטור מחיוב מצוות תלמוד תורה שאיכא ללמוד כל התורה כולה ולידע אותה כראוי ואסור לשוכחה, שמטעם זה הא כתב הרמב"ם שחייב ללמוד כל הימים עד יום מותו דאם לא כן הוא שוכח. ורק מחמת שמוכרחין כל אחד ואחד לאכילה ולשתיה ולבגדים ולדירה, איכא איזו שעות ביום שפטור מללמוד, וגם איזה זמן שאסור ללמוד. שהזמן שצריך לעבוד לאכילה ולשתיה ולדירה כפי ההכרח, לכדי חייו בעצמו, ולנשוי גם לצורך אשתו ובניו, אסור מללמוד. אבל רשאי לעבוד גם להרוויח כפי מה שדרך האינשי לאכול ולשתות גם מאכלים טובים לבריאותם כבשר ומיני חלב, וגם למעט תענוג שהוא ג"כ להרחיב ליבו של אדם, ולאשתו ובנים הקטנים לכל מה שצריכים ומתאווים כדרך הבינונים. אבל ליותר מזה הוא אסור, דהא הוא עובר על מצוות עשה דלימוד התורה. ולא היה שייך שיהא אדם עשיר בדרך הטבע, אלא בברכת ה' ליותר מדרך הטבע, שהיה נותן לעושי רצונו בהכרי קודם המדידה כדאיתא בב"מ דף מ"ב ע"א, ת"ר ההולך למוד את גורנו אומר יהי רצון וכו' שתשלח ברכה במעשה ידינו. התחיל למוד אומר ברוך השולח ברכה בכרי הזה. ואם היה לו איזה קרקע לא היה רשאי לעובדה אלא רק כפי הצריך לו לכדי חייו וחיי בני ביתו, כדעשו בדורו של חזקיהו המלך, כדאיתא בגמרא, ועל אותו הדור הוא אומר והיה ביום ההוא יחיה איש עגלת בקר ושתי צאן וגו', ואומר והיה ביום ההוא יהיה כל מקום אשר יהיה שם אלף גפן באלף כסף לשמיר ולשית יהיה, אף על פי שאלף גפן באלף כסף (שהן יקרים שאין להם רוב כרמים - רש"י) לשמיר ולשית יהיה (שמניחין אותן לאיבוד ומביירים אותן והיו עוסקין בתורה). ונמצא שדורו של חזקיהו עשו כחיוב התורה. אבל בכל הדורות אף היותר טובים כדורות של דוד ושלמה, לא קיימו כל ישראל חיוב לימוד התורה כדין, דהיו הרבה אלו שעסקו בהרווחת ממון. אבל בימי חזקיהו עסקו כל ישראל רק בתורה, כדאיתא בסנהדרין דף צ"ד ע"ב. ואין החידוש בדורו של חזקיהו אלא זה שעשו כל ישראל כחיוב התורה במצוות לימוד התורה, משום שכל הדורות אף בדורות שאר מלכים הצדיקים נמצאו אינשי שעסקו בהרווחת כסף וזהב, ובדורו של חזקיהו עסקו כל ישראל בתורה. אבל הא לא נאמר ברמב"ם בלשון איסור, לכתוב אסור לעשות במלאכה אלא לכפי מה שצריך להוצאתו לעצמו ולאשתו ולבני ביתו כדרך הוצאת אנשים בינונים וכל המבטל זמנו מלימוד התורה יותר מזה עובר בעשין דלימוד התורה ובלאוין דשכחה. אלא נאמר בלשון חשיבות, בפ"ג מת"ת ה"ו, מי שנשאו ליבו לקיים מצווה זו כראוי ולהיות מוכתר בכתר תורה לא יסיח דעתו לדברים אחרים ולא ישים על ליבו שיקנה תורה עם העושר והכבוד כאחת. הרי הוא כמפורש שליכא חיוב זה על כל אחד ואחד מישראל, אלא דמי שנשאו ליבו לקיים מצווה זו דלימוד התורה כראוי ולהיות מוכתר בכתר תורה, עליו לידע דלא יסיח דעתו לדברים אחרים ולא ישים על ליבו שיקנה תורה עם העושר והכבוד כאחת. ואין זה ממילא דין וחיוב, אלא דהרמב"ם מורה הדרך למי שנשאו ליבו לקיים מצוות לימוד התורה כראוי, אבל אינו מחייב לכל אדם שינהגו כן. ונעשה גם ממילא חיוב למי שנשבע שיקיים מצוות לימוד התורה כראוי שיתנהג כן. ואם כן משמע שליכא איסור לאלו שעוסקין במלאכה ובפרגמטיא גם ליותר מכדי חיים של אינשי בינונים, אלא גם להתעשר, אף שלא מקיים מצווה זו דלימוד התורה כראוי. שלכן ניחא בפשיטות מה שהיו גם אלו שלא נתעסקו בתורה בדורות שאר מלכים הצדיקים. ואף שפרק אחד שחרית ופרק אחד ערבית הוא חיוב ודאי, לא שייך להעשות תלמיד חכם בזה. וחזקיהו המלך עשה שכל ישראל ילמדו התורה להיות תלמידי חכמים, שהוא לעבוד כל אחד מישראל רק מה שצריך לעצמו ולבני ביתו לפי דרך אנשים בינונים, אך לא יותר בשביל להתעשר, והיה זה יותר מהחיוב כדי שיקיימו כל ישראל מצווה זו הגדולה ביותר כראוי. וממילא מובן שגדולי התורה ויראי ה' ביותר לא עבדו לפרנסתם אלא לכדי חיים המוכרחים. וכן הוא דעת הטור והש"ע (יו"ד סי' רמ"ו סעיף כ"א) וכל הפוסקים. אבל מ"מ איתא ברמב"ם ובכל הפוסקים לשון חיוב, דבפ"א ה"ח כתב כל איש מישראל חייב בתלמוד תורה, ובה"י עד אימתי חייב ללמוד תורה עד יום מותו, ובהי"א וחייב לשלש את זמן למידתו, וכן הוא הלשון בטור וש"ע (סימן רמ"ו סעיפים א', ג', וד') שלכאורה תמוה. וצריך לומר דהוא משום דבעצם הוי חיוב לימוד התורה עליו חיוב קבוע בלא זמן וגבול. אבל חיובו הוא כזה שרשאי לילך לפרנסתו ולכל צרכיו, אפילו שהוא רק לתענוגים בעלמא, ולשכיבה ולישיבה לנוח בעלמא כשנהנה מזה, ואין בזה בטול המצווה.

Exclusive Torah Study is not for everyone - Mishna Berurah

 Biur Halacha (156:1): Torah study without work becomes lost & causes sin -  The seforim write that this rule is addressed to the masses since not everyone is able to have the merit to exist on the high level to be involved exclusively with Torah study. However, there are always individuals who are in fact able to devote themselves totally to Torah study. [This is what is mentioned in Berachos 35b, “Many did like R’ Shimon Bar Yochai and they were not successful in Torah. That means that the masses were not successful in exclusive Torah study – but there were individuals who were]. And G d will surely provide them with a livelihood as the Rambam (Hilchos Shemitta chapter 13) wrote, “And not just the tribe of Levi alone…”  And it is obvious that if there already exist men who wish to support them in order that they devote themselves to Torah study that this directive to combine work and Torah study is not relevant. The proof for this is provided by the Yissachor-Zevulun relationship.

Torah Study & Working: Shulchan Aruch (156) vs Mishneh Berura

Shulchan Aruch  (O.H.#156): After a session of Torah study go to work. This is because all Torah which is not combined with a job will eventually come to nothing and will lead to sin… Nevertheless one should not make his work the chief focus of his life but rather secondary to his Torah and in this manner both with flourish…

Rambam (Hilchos Talmud Torah 3:10)Whoever decides that he will study Torah and not have a job and therefore will be financed from tzedaka – disgraces G‑d (chilulul HaShem), degrades the Torah and extinguishes the light of religion and causes evil to himself and removes his life from the World to Come. That is because it is prohibited to benefit from the words of Torah in this world. Our Sages said that whoever benefits from words of Torah takes his life from the world. Furthermore they commanded not to make Torah into a crown to be elevated in the eyes of others nor should Torah be used as a shovel to dig with. Furthermore they said to love work and to hate the rabbinate. They also said that all Torah which is not accompanied by a job will in the end be lost and will bring about sin and that in the end such a person will end up stealing from others.

Avos(2:2): It is wonderful to combine Torah study with a worldly occupation because the efforts invested in both cause sin to be forgotten. And all Torah study which is not combined with worldly occupation eventually comes to nothing and brings sin in its trail…

Biur Halacha(156:1):The seforim write that this is rule is addressed to the masses since not everyone is able to have the merit to exist on the high level to be involved exclusively with Torah study. However there are always individuals who are in fact able to devote themselves totally to Torah study. [This is what is mentioned in Berachos 35b, “Many did like R’ Shimon Bar Yochai and they were not successful in Torah. That means that the masses were not successful in exclusive Torah study – but there were individuals who were]. And G‑d will surely provide them with a livelihood as the Rambam (Hilchos Shmita chapter 13) wrote, “And not just the tribe of Levi alone…”And it is obvious that if there already exist men who wish to support them in order that they devote themselves to Torah study that this directive to combine work and Torah study is not relevant. The proof for this is provided by the Yissachor-Zevulun relationship.

Berachos(35b): R’ Yishmael said that Torah study should be combined with a job. R’ Shimon Bar Yochai said that is impossible. If one ploughs, sows, reaps, threshes and winnows in the appropriate season there is no time to master Torah. In fact if one is totally devoted to serving G‑d then all his work is done for him by others… Abaye said that many have followed the advice of R’ Yishmael and  have been successful while many who have followed the advice of R’ Shimon Bar Yochai have not been successful. Raba requested his students not to come to yeshiva during the months of Nissan (in order to plant) and Tishri (in order to harvest) so that they not need to worry about sustenance during the rest of the year

Thirty Righteous Goyim

 Chullin (92a) And a homer of barley and a half-homer of barley:’ these are the forty-five righteous men on account of whom the world continues to exist. But I know not whether thirty of them are here in Babylon and fifteen in the land of Israel, or thirty in the land of Israel and fifteen here in Babylon; but when the verse says. And I took the thirty pieces of silver and cast them into the treasury, in the house of the Lord, I know that thirty righteous men are in the land of Israel and fifteen here. Said Abaye: Most of them are to be found in the synagogue under the side chamber. And I said to them: If ye think good, give me my hire; and if not, forbear. So they weighed out for my hire thirty pieces of silver. Said Rab Judah: These are the thirty righteous non Jewish men among the nations of the world by whose virtue the nations of the world continue to exist. Ulla said: These are the thirty commandments which the sons of Noah took upon themselves but they observe three of them, namely, (i) they do not draw up a kethubah document for males,1 (ii) they do not weigh flesh of the dead in the market,2 and (iii) they respect the Torah.