Thursday, December 23, 2021

The Genius and Limitations of Rabbi Joseph Ber Soloveitchik z”l

 https://www.cardozoacademy.org/thoughtstoponder/genius-limitations-rabbi-joseph-ber-soloveitchik-zl/

Rav Soloveitchik’s famous argument with Rabbi Emanuel Rackman—renowned Talmudic scholar and thinker, later to become Dean of Bar-Ilan University—is another example of the former’s sometimes extreme halachic conservatism. In several places, the Talmud introduces a rule that states: Tav Lemeitav tan du mi-lemeitav armeluIt is better to live as two than to live alone,[11] which refers to the fact that a woman would prefer to marry almost any man rather than remain alone.

Rav Soloveitchik sees this as a “permanent ontological principle,” which is beyond historical conditions, and that even in our day needs to be applied and cannot be changed. This principle operates under the assumption that even today’s women prefer to stay in a marriage, no matter how unfortunate the circumstances may be. To be alone is worse. This means that a woman cannot claim that had she known what kind of person her husband is, she never would have married him. If she could make this claim, her marriage would be a “mistaken marriage,” which would not even require a get (bill of divorce), since the marriage took place on a false premise and the woman would never have agreed to it had she known. In that case, she was never considered lawfully married and could leave her partner without receiving a get. Since this obviously has enormous repercussions for today’s society, it could help thousands of women.[12] Rav Soloveitchik was not prepared to take that approach and thus blocked the possibility for many of them to leave their partners without a get.

It seems to me that the above-mentioned rabbis were talmidei chachamim no less than Rav Soloveitchik was. Their disadvantages were that they didn’t occupy a central role in Modern Orthodox and Yeshiva University circles, and above all they didn’t belong to renowned Ashkenazic rabbinical families. Had they been called Soloveitchik, their Torah would have received far more attention and would probably have been much more effective.


"Four Dissenting Modern Orthodox Thinkers - Emmanuel Rackman"

Israelis living abroad riot at airport over travel restrictions

 https://www.ynetnews.com/article/r1ufsagsy

According to those who found themselves stranded in Ben Gurion Airport, the riot started after they were made aware that they must fill in and submit a brand new online form and then wait no less than 24 hours until it is processed - despite their flights being mere hours away.

The Public Security Ministry wants us to fill out an online form in Hebrew only and we are not given an answer,” said Dimitri Kiblansky, a resident of Canada who found himself unable to board his flight home.

Security guard who attacked MK revealed as Hamas terrorist

 https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/319137

One of the two security Arab guards who attacked MK Itamar Ben Gvir earlier this week has been revealed as a Hamas terrorist, Israel Hayom reported.

In the past, terrorist Mohammad Shaweeky wrote a post on social media praising Hamas terrorist Ali Shyouky, Israel Hayom added.

Shyouky is a Hamas terrorist from Silwan, who in October 2016 was eliminated after conducting a firebombing.

An ER nurse's message of compassion for the unvaccinated

 https://edition.cnn.com/2021/12/16/opinions/nurse-audrey-wendt-michigan-covid-message-goldynia/index.html

But, at the end of the day, if you choose not to get vaccinated, I am still going to take really good care of you and give you kindness and treat you with respect. I want anyone who needs care to know that they are welcome here, no matter what. I feel like Republicans and Democrats, and people of all backgrounds and all beliefs can come together knowing that we want the same thing: we want what's best for our family members so that they can live long, healthy lives.

Christian Missionaries Showing up in NY & Lakewood Yeshivos

 https://baltimorejewishlife.com/news/news-detail.php?SECTION_ID=1&ARTICLE_ID=150767

A Christian missionary was just in Shor Yoshuv going over to Bochurim and others in the Yeshiva. Nassau Police are currently on scene, escorting the man out. Unfortunately, many Yeshivos in Williamsburg and Lakewood have recently reported similar occurrences.

Wednesday, December 22, 2021

Rav berl wein describes rav chaim zimmerman

It Belongs to You Too

 https://mishpacha.com/it-belongs-to-you-too/

 Rav Potash’s foray into the world of innovative yeshivah leadership really begins in the Jerusalem apartment of his individualistic, forward-thinking grandfather, the illui Rav Chaim Zimmerman z”l. Rav Chaim, a child prodigy and nephew of Rav Baruch Ber Lebowitz of Kamenitz, came to the US at age 15, and it was soon clear that he was versant in the entire Talmud Bavli and Yerushalmi, as well as Rishonim and Acharonim. After receiving semichah from Rav Moshe Soloveitchik, he taught a Talmud class at REITS, and for many years was a rosh yeshivah at the Hebrew Theological College (Beis Medrash L’Torah) in Chicago, where he often entertained the bochurim with the “pin test” — they’d stick a pin in a random page of Gemara, and he would recite the page, and that very spot, verbatim.

Ghislaine Maxwell's 'Grooming' Behavior Explained by a Forensic Psychologist

 https://www.newsweek.com/ghislaine-maxwells-grooming-behavior-explained-forensic-psychologist-1662100

Turner characterizes grooming by three main elements. The first is isolating victims from their "normal social system" such as family and friends, in order to have them "enmeshed into the social system of the offender," a network that includes other victims, other offenders, and anyone who normalizes these sexual behaviors.

Shas chair reaches plea bargain deal, will resign from Knesset and pay 180,000 shekel fine

 https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/319095

Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit has reached a plea bargain agreement with Shas party chairman MK Aryeh Deri, Kan News reported..

According to the report, Deri will plead guilty to non-reporting of tax and will pay a fine of about NIS 180,000. In addition, he will resign from the Knesset. The arrangement is expected to be drafted and submitted soon.

As part of the plea bargain agreement between the State Attorney's Office and Deri, he is not expected to plead guilty to tax evasion offenses, but to offenses of reporting without criminal intent only. The investigation against Deri was opened five years ago, and also included a suspicion of bribery, the case on which was already closed at the stage of the police recommendations.

Colorado DA asks court to reconsider truck driver’s 110-year sentence in deadly fiery crash

 https://www.foxnews.com/us/colorado-truck-drivers-110-sentence-crash

A Colorado prosecutor is asking a court to reconsider the 110-year sentence recently imposed on a truck driver who killed four people and injured many others in a deadly pileup that has prompted outcry from the trucking community and a petition signed by at least four million people. 

First Judicial District Attorney Alexis King filed a motion Tuesday for a court to set a hearing to review the sentence of Rogel Lazaro Aguilera-Mederos.

"As Colorado law required the imposition of the sentence in this case, the law also permits the Court to reconsider its sentence in an exceptional case involving unusual and extenuating circumstances," the motion states. "This would allow for the conditions to be met for a modification of the defendant’s sentence as was discussed by the People in the initial sentencing hearing."

Rogel Aguilera-Mederos: Colorado lorry driver's sentence sparks uproar

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-59750154 

If I had the discretion, it would not be my sentence," the judge said after Rogel Aguilera-Mederos was convicted.

His lorry had ploughed into traffic on a mountain road in Colorado in April 2019, killing four people.

Convicted on 27 counts, the 26-year-old was handed a 110-year prison term the judge said he was forced to impose.

The sentence sparked uproar. Some 4.5 million have signed a petition on Change.org asking for clemency and Kim Kardashian weighed in on social media.

Young haredi Israelis 1.5x more likely to get diabetes than secular Jews - Health Ministry

 https://www.jpost.com/health-and-wellness/nutrition/article-689367

 A haredi (ultra-Orthodox) young person is 1.5 times more likely to develop Type II diabetes than a non-haredi young person, according to the Health Ministry.

The ministry originally reported that haredim aged 25-34 were 15 times more likely than the rest of the Jewish population to develop the disease, but then retracted and revised the report.
According to the full report, which was released on Tuesday evening, in most age groups, the likelihood of developing diabetes is higher among ultra-Orthodox.

Jesse Watters Calls Fauci a Clown As Calls For Fox News Host to Be Fired Grow

 https://www.newsweek.com/jesse-watters-anthony-fauci-fox-news-covid-vaccine-wuhan-1662029

 "After all, these are the same clowns who thought funding dangerous experiments on that coronavirus...at the Wuhan lab was a grand idea."

This reprised Watters' argument against Fauci at AmericaFest, pushed by some conservatives, is that the NIH funded research at the Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV) in the Chinese city where the virus was first detected which could have played a role in the pandemic.

 Fauci has said the NIH earmarked $600,000 to the WIV through the non-profit EcoHealth Alliance to study whether bat coronaviruses could be transmitted to humans. He denies money went toward so-called "gain of function" research, which involves enhancing a virus in a lab.

Israeli study: Booster increases COVID-19 antibodies by 40 times

 https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/319067

Assuta Hospital in Ashdod has published a new groundbreaking research showing that the booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccine increases by 40 times the number of antibodies found in immunocompromised patients.

Recent research from around the world has shown a drop in the number of antibodies starting a few months after the second dose, alongside an extreme and encouraging rise following the administration of a booster dose in the general population.

The Assuta research shows that this data holds true for those who are immunocompromised as well.

HaRav Mordechai Goldstein zt"l / הרב מרדכי גולדשטיין זצ״ל

Fauci says Fox News and RFK Jr. attacks 'accelerated' death threats

 https://news.yahoo.com/fauci-rfk-jr-fox-news-trump-death-threats-disturbed-194310637.html

Dr. Anthony Fauci says he and his family continue to receive death threats amid inflammatory statements made by critics including Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a prominent anti-vaxxer whose new book is filled with wild claims attacking the nation’s top infectious disease expert.

Can You Get a Flu Shot and a COVID Vaccine at the Same Time?

 https://www.verywellhealth.com/flu-shot-covid-shot-at-the-same-time-5199469

Key Takeaways

  • The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has released its annual influenza vaccine guidelines.
  • According to the CDC, it’s safe to get your flu shot and a dose of a COVID-19 vaccine on the same day. In fact, the CDC is advising that people get a COVID dose (or booster, if eligible) at the same time that they get their flu shot.
  • Many pharmacies and doctor’s offices will have both vaccines on hand throughout the fall and winter, and people will be able to schedule an appointment to get both shots on the same day.

Fauci calls for Fox News host to be fired 'on the spot' for 'kill shot' comments

 https://edition.cnn.com/2021/12/21/media/fauci-fox-jesse-watters/index.html

 Dr. Anthony Fauci on Tuesday said that Fox News host Jesse Watters should be fired for using violent language at a conservative conference to encourage attendees to conduct an ambush interview with him in hopes of creating a viral moment.

"I mean, that's crazy," Fauci added. "The guy should be fired on the spot."
Fox News defended Watters. A spokesperson said in a statement, "Based on watching the full clip and reading the entire transcript, it's more than clear that Jesse Watters was using a metaphor for asking hard-hitting questions to Dr. Fauci about gain-of-function research and his words have been twisted completely out of context."

Israel will now offer a fourth dose of the Covid-19 vaccine to vulnerable groups

 https://edition.cnn.com/world/live-news/omicron-variant-coronavirus-news-12-21-21-intl/h_403c95803a12405b1c6fb808de277356

 Israel will begin rolling out a fourth dose of the coronavirus vaccine with immediate effect. The additional dose will be given to people over 60 years-old, medical workers, and people with a suppressed immune system, the prime minister’s office announced, following a recommendation from the country’s panel of coronavirus experts.  

Ancient Treasure Found at Sea: 2 shipwrecks discovered off Israel's coast near Caesarea

 https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/319062

 A number of fascinating artifacts from the wrecks of two ships that foundered off the coast of Caesarea in the Roman and Mamluk periods (some 1700 and 600 years ago) have been discovered in recent months near Caesarea, during an underwater survey conducted by the Marine Archaeology Unit of the Israel Antiquities Authority. The ships’ cargoes and the remains of their wrecked hulls were found scattered in shallow water at a depth of about 4 m, scattered on the sea floor.

According to Jacob Sharvit and Dror Planer of the Israel Antiquities Authority’s Marine Archaeology Unit, “The ships were probably anchored nearby and were wrecked by a storm. They may have been anchored offshore after getting into difficulty, or fearing stormy weather, because sailors know well that mooring in shallow, open water outside of a port is dangerous and prone to disaster.”

Parental Alienating Behaviours are Child Abuse and Family Violence

 https://www.change.org/p/petition-for-parental-alienating-behaviours-as-child-abuse-and-family-violence?recruiter=16372171&utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=facebook&utm_campaign=psf_combo_share_initial&recruited_by_id=8e9ce7d0-f6a5-012f-5d84-4040af38c10c&utm_content=fht-31004532-en-au%3A0

Parental alienating behaviours are family violence and a serious form of child abuse. Alienating parents use emotional manipulation, verbal abuse, physical violence and finan­cial abuse to maintain control over their children and the other parent. Alienating parents use coercive control to create a false world of confusion, fear and contradiction for the child and other parent. Over time, coercively controlling behaviour erodes the child’s and other parent’s sense of self and confidence. 

Tuesday, December 21, 2021

Angels - why created?


Rav Tzadok (Sichos Malachei HaShareish 3)

 ענין מציאות מלאכים רוחניים הוא דבר מבואר ומסופר בתנ"ך בהרבה מקומות אשר מהם ימצאון מבוארים. אף לכל מתעקש לפרש בהרבה מקומות על נביאים ושלוחים גשמיים מד' נגד דברי חז"ל. עם כל זה ימצא הרבה אשר אי אפשר להתעקש עוד בהם מלומר שעל מלאכים רוחניים כיון האומר. ואין רצוני להאריך בזה ולפרשם כי לא באנו להשיב לאותם המלעיגים על דברי חז"ל ובלתי מאמינים בחכמת החכמים ז"ל בשני התלמודים והמדרשות אשר קיימו וקבלו עליהם כל היהודים. כי אסור להשיב לאפיקורס ישראל דכ"ש דפקר טפי כמו שאמרו חז"ל שאנו מאמינים בדבריהם ומקיימים אזהרותיהם (בסנהדרין ל"ח ב') עי' שם ברש"י. כי לא יקובלו תשובתינו להם וכן הוא מבואר נגלה לעין. כי אין קץ לדברי רוח שלהם ויוכלו לעקם את הישרה הגמורה בדברי הבל ורוח. ואנחנו לא באנו אלא לפרש דעת חז"ל בעניינים שהיא דעת האמתות למאמינים בהם. ואין אנו אחראים לשוטים שקלקלו וכפרו בתורה שבעל פה שכבר אירע כן בימי בית שני בכת הצדוקים ועדיין מרקד בינינו ד' ישלח עזרו מקודש ויכלה קוצים מכרמו. ובדברי חז"ל כבר מפורש באר היטיב ממציאותם דברים הרבה מאוד אשר עליהם נוסד הקונטריס הזה והם פירשו לנו כל מקום שנאמר בכתוב על מלאך הרוחניי לא על נביא גשמיי וכיוצא:

אפס בזה ראיתי להשיב על מה ששאלו מה הוא ההכרח והצורך לדת בהאמנה הזאת וכי מה חסרון יש באמונה כאשר נאמין שהשי"ת בעצמו הוא העושה את הכל ומה צורך לבריאות מלאכים רוחניים. והגם כי גם זו שאלת הבל לעדת ישראל המאמינים בד' ובתורתו ובחכמיו. שמאחר שהדבר אמת כאשר העידה עליו התורה האמיתית וחכמי האמת א"כ על איזה צד יפול השאלה. אם על ההאמנה בזה הרי מי שאינו מאמין הוא כמי שאינו מאמין שיש ירושלים וארץ ישראל נמצא בעולם מפני שלא ראם שהמכחיש זה ומתווכח נחשבהו למשוגע ואויל וכן כל כיוצא בו. ואם השאלה על גוף הבריאה של השי"ת לאיזה צורך בראם הנה על זי די בתשובת החקר אלו"ק תמצא. והשב נא לי צורך בריאת כמה מיני שרצים ורמשים ומהם מזיקים ומסוכנים ומהם הקטנים ביותר אשר ילאה עין היותר חדה הראות מעיני בני אדם לראותה אם לא על ידי כלים המגדילים הראות וכן כמה מיני צמחים אשר לא לעזר ולא להועיל וכיוצא. אשר כבר חכמים הגידו עליהם (ברא"ר פרשה י' ובויק"ר וקהלת רבה על פסוק ויתרון ארץ בכל) שכולם לצורכו של עולם וכן אמרו בשבת (ע"ז ב') וברכות (ל"א ב'). ואנחנו לא נדע מדוע לא הי' די לעולם בלעדם וכבר הי' אפשר כפי הנראה לקוצר שכלינו שיהי' עולם קיים ומסתפק בכל צרכיו זולתם. אלא שהחוש המעיד לנו על בריאתם שאי אפשר להכחישם מכריחנו לסכל שכלינו ולעשותו לואה מהשיג חכמת האלו"ק בבריאתם ואע"פ שהם ברואים הנראים לעינינו. וכ"ש בריאת המלאכים שהם ברואים גדולים ומועילים ביותר וגם נעלמים מעינינו הגשמיים להשיגם אם אך נאמין לעדות התורה וחכמי האמת כלעדות חושינו כראוי לזרע אברהם יצחק ויעקב מאמינים בני מאמינים אין עוד מקום לשאול על צורך הבריאה. כ"ש שיש מקום למצוא צרכים שונים בהם על צד התשובה לשואל וההתוכחות [אם שגם הם אמיתים]. מצורף שגם הפילוסופים וחכמי האומות הראשונים הודו ממחקר שכלם במציאותם וכמו שכתוב בעקרים (מאמר ב' ר"פ י"ב):

אמנם אנחנו לא באנו לידי מדה זו להשיב בדרך ויכוח וראיות ניצוחיות שזה אסור כמו שכתבתי. וגם לא להסתפק בטעמי פילוספי הקדמונים שהם הבל ורעות רוח לבעלי התורה. ועוד שדעת התורה אינו כדעתם וכמו שכתב בעקרים שם. אבל רצונינו לברר למאמינים האמת כפי מה שהוא האמת כפי מה שיורו לנו מאמרי חז"ל חכמי האמת. ולפיכך ראינו לבאר גם תשובת שאלה זו על דעתינו. ונאמר שהגיעה שאלה זו להם מפני סכלותם בענין הבריאה ואין מאמינים אלא במה שעיניהם רואה ובבריאה שנוכח עיניהם. אמנם רז"ל פירשו בכמה מקומות מציאות עולמות שונים אשר הם ברורים וניכרים ועיני המבינים ולא לעיני בשר של הכסילים. והפליגו במספרם בכמה מקומות כמו מה שאיתא (ויק"ר פרשה י"ח ועי' שבת קנ"ב) על פסוק כי הולך אדם לבית עולמו כל צדיק יש לו עולם בפני עצמו. ויותר מופלגתן בשילהי עוקצין ובפרק חלק דעתיד להנחיל לכל צדיק וצדיק ש"י עולמות שנאמר להנחיל אוהבי יש. ואמרם (ע"ז ג' ב') בלילה רוכב על כרוב קל שלו ושט בי"ח אלף עולמות שנאמר רכב אלקים רבותים אלפי שנאן אל תקרי שנאן אלא שאינן. ועוד הרבה מאמרים אשר לבארם יארך כדי קונטריס שלם בפני עצמו ואין כאן מקומם. רק בדרך כלל ענין עולמות הללו כי מה שאנו קורין עול"ם הוא הבריאה הנראית לנו הכוללת השמים וכל צבאיו והארץ וכל אשר עלי' מדוממים צומחים וחיים ומדברים ומכל מיני כלים מכלים שונים כל הגופות שבה מכל מה שהפה יוכל לדבר ועין לראות קיבוץ כל זה הוא הנקרא עולם מלא.

Historical accuracy- Chazal vs Yosefus

 Rav Tzadok (Ohr Zaruah)

וזו היא הסיבה לדעת בהשינויים הרבים בספורי החורבן שיראה הרואה ממה שנזכרו בגמרא ומדרשי חז"ל עם מה שנראה בספר יוסף הכהן בן גוריון. אם בכלל במה שרז"ל קראוהו טיטוס הרשע והפליגו מרשעותו והוא עשאו לצדיק וישר ואם בפרטי מעשים רבים. אבל הוא דבר ההבדל אשר אמרנו כי יוסף הכהן סופר היה לא נביא או בעל רוח הקודש וכתב מה שכתב כפי מה שידע וראה ושמע וכפי מה שהיה בלבו ודעתו ונרכו אשר לפיכך אי אפשר לדעת האמת הברור לסבות האמורות. אבל רז"ל אשר אמנם היו כולם בעלי רוח הקודש כמודעת וידעו כל הדברים שבלב והספורים אשר לא נתפרסמו ולא נטו לאחד מן הצדדים אבל זכרו האמת אשר הוא לפיכך באו השנויים האלה. וכ"ש שנמצאו השנויים מספרי חז"ל בהרבה ספורים אל סופרי דברי הימים של מלכי העמים לעלות האמורות. 

 ולפיכך לי מה יקרו ספורי הספר הנבואיי הזה אשר הוא במעלה עליונה מידיעת הנעלמות שהיא מעלת הנבואה ומתבאר יקרת צורת הספר. ומהר"י אברבנאל ז"ל בהקדמה גדר תחת שם חומר זה שהוא ספור העניינים הנזכרים וצורה אמר שהוא הצורה הנבואיית במה שהוא נבואיי מכלל הנביאים ולא מכלל הכתובים הנאמרים ברוח הקודש עיין שם. ואין דעתינו נוחה בזה כי במה השתנות צורת הספור אלינו במה שהוא נבואיי מספורי דברי הימים וזולתם הנאמרים ברוח הקודש לבד. אבל השינוי ביניהם בפועל לבד ולכן שמנוהו תחת ביאור הפועל כמו שנזכיר להלן. ושמנו גדרי חומר וצורה מה שאמרנו שכן ראוי שיוגדרו לפי עניינם:

Too Holy To Print’: The Forbidden Books of Jewish Magic

 https://www.tabletmag.com/sections/arts-letters/articles/forbidden-jewish-magic-books

 The very publishing of a magical book could be fraught with dangers of its own. The German bibliographer Johann Christoph Wolf, in his Bibliotheca Hebraea of 1715 took note of inflamed opposition to the publication of Raziel in certain rabbinic circles. In his description of the book, he notes, “Judaei illius editionem adeo non probarunt, ut de eo comburendo & prohibendo quosdam cogitasse audiverim. [The Jews did not approve of its publication to such an extent that I have heard some thought about burning and suppressing it.]” Such secondary dangers—in the sense that they stem not from the threat posed by the magical material but by the reception of the book in the contemporary social context—must have contributed to many a publisher’s decision to do so anonymously. R. Leon Modena provides an early example of this practice. Modena lists “Selling books of arcane remedies [segulot]” as well as “teaching arcane remedies and amulets” at the end of his autobiographical ethical will, Hayyei Yehudah, as among “the many endeavors I have tried in order to earn my living, trying without success.” Modena also mentioned a certain Beretin who “died in jail during inquisitorial proceedings for copying books of arcane remedies. Also a tailor was fined … in connection with proscribed arcane remedies.”

Fear of the Jew - Trachtenburg

 The striking feature of the Christian apprehension of Jewish sorcery is that it adhered not to certain specific Jews, who had aroused it by their actions, but rather to the entire people, en masse. Consequently every innocent Jewish act which by its strangeness laid itself open to suspicion was considered a diabolical device for working magic against Christians. The custom of throwing a clod of earth behind one after a funeral brought a charge of sorcery in Paris, in the early years of the thirteenth century, which might have had dire consequences if a certain Rabbi Moses b. Yeḥiel had not succeeded in persuading the king of its utterly harmless character. The practice of washing the hands on returning from the cemetery aroused the same suspicions of sorcery and provoked some bloody scenes.

 So onerous did these recurrent accusations become that the rabbis of the Middle Ages found it necessary—forced to this step, no doubt, by Jewish public opinion—to suspend some of these customs. In the case of the clod-throwing, though "many were obliged to disregard the usage for fear that the Gentiles would accuse them of sorcery," custom was proof against fear. But in other instances fear triumphed. The mourning rites of "binding the head" and "overturning the bed" lapsed during the Middle Ages for this reason. In Talmudic times fear of the same accusation had led Jewish authorities to excuse the head of the household from the rite of "searching out the leaven" on the eve of the Passover in places owned in common with a non-Jew; during the Middle Ages there was a strong but unsuccessful agitation to suspend this rite altogether, even indoors, "because we have Gentile serving-girls in our homes" who might spread the alarm. In Provence, however, the ritual cleansing of the public oven in preparation for Passover baking was neglected "because of the Gentiles’ suspicion of sorcery." When a fire broke out in a Jewish house its owner dared expect little mercy from the mob, for he was a sorcerer seeking to destroy Christendom, and his punishment was commonly simultaneous with his crime. The rabbis of the time were therefore unusually tolerant about violations of the prohibition to put out fires on the Sabbath and on the Day of Atonement. At the slightest danger they set this prohibition aside, "for this is a matter of life and death, since they accuse us and persecute us." We read of a lamb, slaughtered in fulfillment of a ritual obligation, which was cut up and buried secretly in sections, "so that the matter may not become known and they say, 'it was done for magical ends.'" To such measures were Jews driven by fear of arousing the suspicions of their neighbors.

The False Narrative of False Reporting

 https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/the-false-narrative-of-false-reporting/

 Speaking from personal experience – I’ve been sued or involved in lawsuits more than once and it’s one of the less pleasant experiences I’ve had. Bearing in mind that I am a well-connected (in this area) professional with an organization and a team of professionals and a board of directors and insurance and several lawyers… And it has still been incredibly unpleasant, time-consuming and stressful. If you’re a traumatized victim of sexual abuse with little financial resources, just working up the courage to tell your story – and you’re slapped with a lawsuit… you’re terrified.  

In all of the years that I’ve been working in this field and all the hundreds (thousands??) of victims I’ve spoken to, I have been privy to exactly three instances of cases that may have been false reports. 

In all three cases, no one’s life was ruined by the false report. In the worst case scenario, the whole situation amounted to a very awkward

Orthodox rabbis call on US universities to suspend diversity programs

 https://www.foxnews.com/us/rabbis-us-universities-suspend-diversity

A coalition that represents more than 2,000 Orthodox rabbis on American public policy issues is demanding that American universities abandon their "diversity, equity and inclusion" (DEI) efforts in the wake of a report showing that DEI leaders often promote antisemitism.

"With antisemitic incidents rising at an alarming rate, using Israel as a convenient facade, universities must ensure their diversity efforts include protection of Jewish students," Rabbi Yaakov Menken, managing director of the Coalition for Jewish Values (CJV), told Fox News. "Instead they have appointed foxes to guard the proverbial hen house."