5 things to know about tentative US-Iran ceasefire deal

 https://thehill.com/policy/international/5900355-us-iran-ceasefire-extension-deal/

A tentative agreement has been reached between the U.S. and Iran to extend a fragile ceasefire in the three-month conflict by 60 days, reopen the Strait of Hormuz and establish a framework for broader talks on Tehran’s nuclear program, according to U.S. sources.

If approved, the agreement would mark the biggest breakthrough on a permanent deal to end hostilities since the war began in late February. However, it falls well short of Trump’s stated goals in the war.

The proposed memorandum leaves some open questions about the fate of Tehran’s nuclear program and stockpiles, which has long been a sticking point in the negotiations.

Sources said the MOU would include a pledge from Tehran that it will not seek to develop a nuclear weapon, while opening a new round of talks to negotiate the matter further.

Demons are like Doves

 Netziv (Devarim 32:17) They will sacrifice to demons who are not God. All the idolatry of the first generations had a known power that God had allotted to them, and that was true also of the heavenly realm including the sun. But the demons have no power at all, and they are created from the foundation of the spirit, and their place is in the desolate wilderness, and they feed as other creations on what God, their Creator, has determined for them. They also have a food of desire, which is the spirit of animal blood. The demons also have an internal power to fly up and hear behind the veil what will be as is memtioned in Chagiga (16a). In fact they are like a dove which has an internal power to perform a mission as is mentioned in the story of Noah. However not all doves have this ability but only those specifically trained and this is rare and their owners get great benefit. This is also true of demons and they are rewarded by animal sacrifices. The Torah says they have no real power only the information which they hear, The sacrifices made to them motivates them to gather information and is sometimes done solely to anger G-d 

Trump looks for a way down from the Iran tree and a photo op, too

 https://www.ynetnews.com/opinions-analysis/article/hybjoy7lzg

U.S. President Donald Trump wants a deal with Iran. More than he wants a deal, he wants a victory photo. Trump is not only negotiating over the nuclear issue, Hormuz and sanctions. He is fighting a war over the narrative. Against the backdrop of growing criticism of the details of the emerging agreement, Trump needs to prove that the deal he brings, if he brings one, will be far better than Obama’s nuclear deal. For him, that is the heart of the problem.

That is why the issue of enriched material has become the central test, though here too there is uncertainty. Opening the Strait of Hormuz could provide Trump with an important achievement, but not a sufficient one. To claim he won the argument with Obama, he needs something tangible: the removal of enriched material from Iran, its destruction, or at least a credible inspection mechanism that would allow him to say the threat was not postponed but addressed. But it is unclear whether the gap between destruction, removal and dilution translates for him into a strategic diplomatic difference, not just a technical one. Diluting the material, an option the Iranians may be willing to discuss, is not the same as removing it from the equation.

But that is precisely where the danger of deterioration lies. The more Trump wants a deal, the more he may find himself on a path toward escalation. If he accepts a weak Iranian formula, he will be accused of bringing an agreement worse than Obama’s. If he rejects it, he will have to prove that American pressure still works. And if Iran continues to apply pressure on the ground, especially in Hormuz, he may be pushed into another military action to preserve his credibility. The U.S. strike overnight against Iranian vessels that Central Command said were trying to lay mines illustrates that the negotiations are not taking place alongside the military reality but inside it.

Reported terms of Trump’s Iran deal would confirm the war as an epochal failure

 https://www.timesofisrael.com/reported-terms-of-trumps-iran-deal-would-confirm-the-war-as-an-epochal-failure/

US president claims to have almost finalized a ‘Memorandum of Understanding pertaining to PEACE’ with Iran; he’s also mused that Iran might ‘perhaps’ join the Abraham Accords. Wishful thinking cannot mask an unfolding catastrophe for Iranians, the free world and Israel

On February 28, the US and Israel opened a military campaign against Iran’s murderously rapacious Islamic extremist regime, aiming to destroy its nuclear weapons program, crush its ballistic missiles industry, halt its support for proxy terrorist armies Hezbollah and Hamas, put an end to its decades of global terrorism, and create the conditions for the Iranian masses to oust it from power, once and for all.

Apparently over-confident after their 12-day war last June battered Iranian military targets, eliminated numerous key nuclear scientists, and bombed three key underground nuclear facilities, however, the US and Israel, it has become evident, underestimated the regime’s tenacity, and failed to carry out even basic strategic steps to ensure the success of the operation.

To state the blindingly obvious: wishful thinking, disconnected from reality, cannot replace coherent policymaking and strategic planning.

Antireligious Edict in NJ Senate

 BS"D 

May 27, '26/ Parshas Nosso, 5786

EMERGENCY: NJ Bill S2260/ A2218 Would Criminalize Lo Sa'amod, Endanger Children

S2260 criminalizes Torah-mandated efforts to save kids and others from "transforming" their "gender" - and from committing abortion.

We addressed a slightly earlier variant of this bill on our weekly radio broadcast before Shavuos, see https://daattorah.blogspot.com/2026/05/nj-amalekism-looming-levinat11.html.

Proponents also try to hide the true nature of this bill (https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/bill-search/2026/S2260/bill-text?f=S2500&n=2260_R1).  A reading of the Definitions clarifies that "Reproductive Health Care" is to include transgender "medical" procedures (" to support a person’s alignment with their gender identity or expression") - and abortion-on-demand.  However, if you miss the definition - you wouldn't know about the transgender component by reading other parts of the bill.   So, every time the bill uses the term "Reproductive Health Care" - it's actually including "transgender" as well.

Action Needed:

1) Urge Every NJ Senator to (a) VOTE NO against S2260/ A2218 - and (b) to EXPOSE this as an Antireligious Edict - similar to those evil Greek decrees against which the Maccabees fought to the death to defeat.

Please act NOW, before this THU., May 28.

2) Please share this immediately with anyone you know in NJ.

3) Help get the message out ASAP to every NJ Kehillah (by early next week) - contact us at torahjewsfordecency@gmail.com or call/text 845-642-1679.

~~~~~~~~  ~~~~~~~~  ~~~~~~~~  ~~~~~~~~  

Sample email to legislators to actively oppose  NJ's transgender/abortion-at-whim-tyranny Gezeira al-HaDas S2260/ A2218

Here's a medium-length sample email, for the NJ Senate vote tomorrow:

~~~~~~~~  ~~~~~~~~  ~~~~~~~~  ~~~~~~~~  

"BS"D

May 27, '26

Senator Bob Singer

732-987-5669

sensinger@njleg.org

Dear Senator Singer,

As a voter living in Lakewood, I urge you to please:

(a) VOTE NO against S2260/ A2218 - and 

(b) to EXPOSE this evil bill - which criminalizes Torah-mandated efforts to stop abusive and barbaric "transgender" procedures and abortion-at-whim - as an Antireligious Edict - similar to those evil Greek decrees against which the Maccabees fought to the death to defeat.

A Yeshiva Rebbe, Rov, Rosh Yeshiva, Principal, Teacher/Morah, Social Worker, mental health professional, therapist, chevrusa, mentor - perhaps even a parent - could potentially face massive fines - and hefty jail time - for merely:

• trying to verbally convince a girl or boy out of getting drugs or surgery to "become" (sic) that which they are not, or

• convince a young woman not to murder her preborn infant (and pursue adoption if need be), or even for just 

• saving her/him from remaining under the influence of evil parties (e.g. predatory therapists, "eductors," social workers, coaches, "medical" staff, mental health professionals, "friends") - grooming susceptible, often disadvantaged victims into their anti-Torah, heretical transgender/abortionism worldview.

Whether this evil decree passes or not, we cannot allow our representatives to remain on the sidelines in this governmental war being waged against our youth and against our Torah.

Thank you in advance for employing genuine leadership when truly needed."

Name,

Town,

Email Address

~~~~~~~~  ~~~~~~~~  ~~~~~~~~  ~~~~~~~~  

Contact Info for Lakewood:

Call & email Assemblyman Avi Schnall today at:

848-245-9486 / Asmschnall@njleg.org.

Email Assemblyman Sean Kean:

asmkean@njleg.org.

State Senator Bob Singer: 

732-987-5669 / sensinger@njleg.org

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Passaic residents, and others, are asked to urge Assemblyman Gary Schaer to vote NO - and to use his influence to lead on this issue:

973-249-3665 / asmschaer@njleg.org

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

To identify, or get contact info on your rep:

 

NJ Legislative Info For Senate & Assembly:

v: 609-847-3905 or (800) 792-8630 

e: LegInfo@NJLeg.org 

w: www.NJLeg.state.nj.us 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Even if the bill would pass regardless of what we do, our silence - and worse - provides it the moral cover needed to pass as an acceptable form of legislation.

In the merit of such a communal Kiddush HaShem, may we merit to be saved from unrelenting tzoros.

Rabbi Noson Shmuel Leiter,

Executive Director,

Help Rescue Our Children

For more information:

Direct: 771.215.8892

torahjewsfordecency@gmail.com

Trump risks losing Senate as 'Colbert Dem' surges

Antisemitic House Democratic candidate loses Texas race

 https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/427659

Texas Democrat Johnny Garcia wins primary runoff, defeating rival Maureen Galindo who threatened to jail Zionists.

A highly volatile intra-party conflict concluded in Texas on Tuesday, with mainstream Democrats successfully blocking an extremist congressional hopeful who sparked national outrage with overt antisemitic threats.

The rejection of Galindo's candidacy resonated across the full spectrum of the Democratic Party, uniting both establishment figures and prominent left-wing progressives in disgust.

Did Donald Trump Just Hand Texas to Democrats?

 https://www.newsweek.com/donald-trump-ken-paxton-john-cornyn-democrats-james-talarico-11994199

President Donald Trump got another endorsement win under his belt when Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton defeated incumbent Senator John Cornyn in the state's U.S. Senate primary on Tuesday, but it could deliver a defeat Republicans haven’t seen in over 30 years.

Trump wants allies in the Senate, and he’s used his platform and power to persuade voters to kick Cornyn out of office for being “very disloyal.” But Cornyn voted with Trump over 99 percent of the time, according to his campaign, and now, Trump risks losing a Republican in the Senate—however disappointed he may be with them—because an open seat is much easier for Democrats to flip than ousting an incumbent.

But Republicans are nervous about the upcoming election.

"I think the chances of the Democrats winning in Texas are better now than they've been in 25 years," Republican strategist Mike Madrid previously told Newsweek. "You have to have a favorable political environment for the Democrats. You have to have a remarkable Democratic candidate with crossover appeal, and they have that. And the third is you have to have a remarkably damaged Republican candidate, and they have that."

Trump demand for Gulf countries to recognise Israel reportedly met with stunned silence | ABC NEWS

A ruse, a brave gamble or a fantasy? Why Trump’s most puzzling Iran move yet is unlikely to work

 https://edition.cnn.com/2026/05/26/politics/trump-iran-war-peace-deal-analysis

If Donald Trump’s search for a way out of the Iran war was not difficult enough, he’s added a new goal that threatens to vastly complicate the Middle East’s already splintered politics.

The president said Monday he’d asked Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Pakistan, Turkey, Egypt and Jordan to join his first-term legacy deal, known as the Abraham Accords, which is designed to forge historic ties with Israel.

Trump envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner have longed grasped for huge goals in the Middle East and Ukraine and have so far fallen short, leading critics to question the wisdom of sending two business tycoons to unpick knotty diplomatic problems. Their relative lack of success has undermined the central conceit of Trump’s presidency: that he’s a masterful negotiator and historic dealmaker who can nail breakthroughs that would have been beyond past presidents.

“It’s not entirely clear what President Trump himself has to show for, by way of his track record in running or managing this war, that he feels able to impose such a demand on, on regional countries,” Alhasan said.

Blessing G-d

 Berachos (07a) I once entered into the innermost part [of the Sanctuary] to offer incense and saw Akathriel Jah, the Lord of Hosts, seated upon a high and exalted throne. He said to me: Ishmael, My son, bless Me! l replied: May it be Thy will that Thy mercy may suppress Thy anger and Thy mercy may prevail over Thy other attributes, so that Thou mayest deal with Thy children according to the attribute of mercy and mayest, on their behalf, stop short of the limit of strict justice! And He nodded to me with His head. Here we learn incidentally that the blessing of an ordinary man must not be considered lightly in your eyes.

After four years: Famous personality who refused divorce, gives in to ultimatum

 https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/427574

The Tel Aviv Rabbinic Court has ordered a get (divorce document) to be given to S. after a long struggle with her husband, a famous personality, who refused to divorce her for four years.

The decision came after the court posed an ultimatum to the husband, that if he did not grant the get, harsh legal and financial sanctions would be considered. Among the sanctions on the table were the termination of his employment with his employer and the publication of his name in public.

Attorney and rabbinic advocate Tehila Cohen, who represents the woman in the process, asked the court to apply direct pressure on the get refuser.

She asked that his place of work fire him and that his identity be cleared for publication to end his refusal. Later in the hearings, the husband's employer appeared before the court to consider the possible steps.

The judge, Rabbi Shlomo Shtessman, notified the husband that he was to issue the get by April 30th. The judge made clear that if he did not do so, he would consider the attorney's request for sanctions positively.

Following uproar: Amshinov hassidic court clarifies Temple Mount ruling

 https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/427582

An official statement published by the Rebbe's son, Rabbi Moshe Milikowsky, stressed that the interpretation given to the halachic words spoken in the Rebbe's house was totally distorted.

According to Rabbi Milikowsky, "We were amazed by how the Rebbe's words about the Temple Mount were taken out of context. The Rebbe did not, G-d forbid, allow the ascention to the Temple Mount in opposition to the opinions of all the halachic scholars. They took an internal halachic discussion held at the Rebbe's home a year ago, which was published in an internal publication of the hassidic court, and was meant for those who understand the Rebbe's style of answers, and dishonestly published it as if the Rebbe permits or instructs to visit the Temple Mount in practice, something that would never cross his mind."

The Rebbe's son further clarified that the Rebbe's position is in line with that of all halachic scholars, that it is currently forbidden to enter the Temple Mount in practice, an action that, according to the statement, could easily lead to sins bearing the punishment of "Kareth."

The uproar follows statements first published on Arutz Sheva, which included quotes from the Amshinov court's newspaper, Yirah Vesimcha

Trump says ‘mandatory’ for Muslim nations involved in Iran deal to join Abraham Accords

 https://www.timesofisrael.com/trump-says-mandatory-for-muslim-nations-involved-in-iran-deal-to-join-abraham-accords/

US President Donald Trump insisted on Monday that six Muslim-majority countries join the Abraham Accords normalization agreements with Israel ahead of any deal between the US and Iran to end the war, negotiations on which he said were “proceeding nicely.”

“It may be possible that one or two have a reason for not doing so, and that will be accepted, but most should be ready, willing, and able to make this Settlement with Iran a far more Historic Event than it would, otherwise, be,” he added.

If countries do not sign, he said, they should not be involved in any deal with Iran as “it shows bad intention.”

Trump’s post suggested that he was seeking to offer Israel an upside in the nascent deal to end the war with Iran, whose reported terms have set off alarm bells in Jerusalem. Channel 12 reported on Sunday that senior Israeli officials have warned that, “As it seems, [the agreement] does not serve Israel’s interest.” Other officials have been quoted as calling it a bad deal and highly problematic for Israel.

Israeli officials are concerned that the deal, which would reportedly begin with a 60-day extension of the ceasefire, does not address Tehran’s nuclear and ballistic missile programs or its support for regional proxies, delaying negotiations on these and other key war goals. According to the report, officials fear the deal would grant Iran time for economic and military recovery, after which “it will be hard for the Americans and us to go back and fight.”