Raavad (Sefer Kabbalah): This book “Sefer Kabbalah” that I have written is to inform the students that all the words of our Sages – the rabbis of the Mishna & Talmud – were all transmitted from one great tzadik to another great tzadik, from rosh yeshiva and his supporters to another rosh yeshiva and his supporters all the way back to the Great Assembly which received it from the Prophets. The Sages of the Talmud and surely those of the Sages of the Mishna – even for a minor issue - never said anything original except for the decrees that they made with unanimous consent in order to make a protective fence around the Torah. If a person whispers and says, “Because the Sages had disputes over many issues there I am uncertain about the validity of their words,” you should sharply rebuke him and tell him that he has the legal status of a rebel. The fact is that our Sages never argued about the existence of a particular mitzva but rather the details. That is because they heard about the essential nature of the mitzva but did not ask about all the details of the mitzva because they did not serve their teachers properly. For example they didn’t argue whether there should be lights lit for Shabbos. They only argued as to the appropriate material to use for the wicks and what fuel should be used.
Monday, October 19, 2026
The Story of Philosophy: The Lives and Opinions of the Greater Philosophers" by Will Durant
2. THE EDUCATION OF SPINOZA
It was this Odyssey of the Jews that filled the background of Spinoza’s mind, and made him irrevocably, however excommunicate, a Jew. Though his father was a successful merchant, the youth had no leaning to such a career, and preferred to spend his time in and around the synagogue, absorbing the religion and the history of his people. He was a brilliant scholar, and the elders looked upon him as a future light of their community and their faith. Very soon he passed from the Bible itself to the exactingly subtle commentaries of the Talmud; and from these to the writings of Maimonides, Levi ben Gerson, Ibn Ezra, and Hasdai Crescas; and his promiscuous voracity extended even to the mystical philosophy of Ibn Gebirol and the Cabbalistic intricacies of Moses of Cordova. He was struck by the latter’s identification of God and the universe; he followed up the idea in Ben Gerson, who taught the eternity of the world; and in Hasdai Crescas, who believed the universe of matter to be the body of God. He read in Maimonides a half-favorable discussion of the doctrine of Averroës, that immortality is impersonal; but he found in the Guide to the Perplexed more perplexities than guidance. For the great Rabbi propounded more questions than he answered; and Spinoza found the contradictions and improbabilities of the Old Testament lingering in his thought long after the solutions of Maimonides had dissolved into forgetfulness. The cleverest defenders of a faith are its greatest enemies; for their subtleties engender doubt and stimulate the mind. And if this was so with the writings of Maimonides, so much the more was it the case with the commentaries of Ibn Ezra, where the problems of the old faith were more directly expressed, and sometimes abandoned as unanswerable. The more Spinoza read and pondered, the more his simple certainties melted away into wondering and doubt. His curiosity was aroused to inquire what the thinkers of the Christian world had written on those great questions of God and human destiny. He took up the study of Latin with a Dutch scholar, Van den Ende, and moved into a wider sphere of experience and knowledge. His new teacher was something of a heretic himself, a critic of creeds and governments, an adventurous fellow who stepped out of his library to join a conspiracy against the king of France, and adorned a scaffold in 1674. He had a pretty daughter who became the successful rival of Latin for the affections of Spinoza; even a modern collegian might be persuaded to study Latin by such inducements. But the young lady was not so much of an intellectual as to be blind to the main chance; and when another suitor came, bearing costly presents, she lost interest in Spinoza. No doubt it was at that moment that our hero became a philosopher."
Start reading this book for free: https://read.amazon.com/kp/
Avoda Zara
Sunday, October 18, 2026
Trump gives ‘warrior’ Netanyahu ‘complete and total endorsement’ for reelection
https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog-october-18-2026/
US President Donald Trump says he had long intended to endorse Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for reelection but deliberately waited until closer to next week’s vote, according to Axios.
“I was always going to do that. I just didn’t want to do it too soon,” Trump tells the publication in a brief phone interview following the endorsement today.
Trump stresses the “good relationship” he has with the premier, and says, “It is important that Israel has a person they can count on.”
Asked if he could work with an alternative Israeli leader, Trump replies: “Maybe I will, maybe I won’t. Who wants to take the chance?”
The endorsement came despite the fact that several of Trump’s close advisers had favored Netanyahu’s replacement, believing it would better serve US interests in the Middle East, according to Channel 12’s Barak Ravid, who also writes for Axios.
Sources in Netanyahu’s office tell Channel 12 that they were unaware of Trump’s planned endorsement. The Hebrew network adds that the two leaders spoke several times this month, possibly signaling coordination on the matter.
Einstein's Genius Club: The True Story of a Group of Scientists Who Changed the World
"One other cause beckoned him: Zionism. Ironically, given his abhorrence of nationalism, Einstein embraced Zionism passionately, though not without reservation. Zionism soon mattered more to him than anything outside of science. It was a surprising turn of mind. Until he moved to Berlin in 1914, he had little interest in being Jewish. The Jews he met in Prague in 1911—Brod, Kafka, Hugo Bergmann—were committed Zionists, but they seem to have made little impression on him, at least in the short run: “I read the book [Brod's The Redemption of Tycho Brahe] with great interest,” he wrote to Hedwig Born in 1916. “Incidentally, I believe that I met him [Brod] in Prague. I think he belongs to a small circle there of philosophical and Zionist enthusiasts, which was loosely grouped around the university philosophers, a medieval-like band of unworldly people….”39 Einstein's Jewish colleagues in Berlin were another matter: Many had converted to Christianity to become as German as possible, often with an eye to career advancement. The proudly independent Einstein called this servile “mimicry.” After the war, Zionism must have seemed a logical alternative to assimilation: “Judaism owes a great debt of gratitude to Zionism,” he later said. “The Zionist movement has revived among Jews the sense of community.”40 He began to realize the utility of his fame as a scientist and as a Jew. Towards the end of the war, poor Jews fled Eastern Europe and poured into Berlin, crowding into an impoverished shantytown. To the dismay of assimilated, middle-class Jews, Einstein welcomed the refugees, but also urged them to look towards Palestine as the natural homeland of “free sons of the Jewish people.” He further riled assimilated Berlin Jews in 1920, when he castigated the Central Association of German Citizens of the Jewish Faith for the underlying message of its name, so suggestive of a “servile attitude” and so resistant to ethnic identity. “Not until we have the courage to see ourselves as a nation, not until we respect ourselves, can we acquire the respect of others.”41 In 1920, Chaim Weizmann, the driving force behind the Balfour Declaration of 1917 and its guarantee of a Jewish homeland in Palestine, became president of the World Zionist Organization. The following year, he set off on a trip to the United States to raise funds for a Hebrew University in Palestine. Einstein agreed to come along. “Naturally, I am needed not for my abilities but solely for my name, from whose publicity value a substantial effect is expected among the rich tribal companions in Dollaria.”42 For all his arch deprecation, he was proud to lend his name to the cause. Howls of outrage were hurled at him for taking such a public stand in favor of Zionism, and especially for setting foot on the soil of Germany's enemies (he stopped in England on the way home from the United States). Before setting out, Einstein heard from his colleague Fritz Haber: “If at this moment you demonstratively fraternize with the British and their friends, people in this country will see this as evidence of the disloyalty of the Jews.”43 Still, Einstein made the trip. He was greeted in the United States with such enthusiasm as would gratify a movie star. This was Einstein's first visit to the country, an exhausting, sometimes preposterous experience. The endless interviewing, hand-shaking, and touring, the crowds gaping to catch sight of him, reporters asking inane or sensationalizing questions, and he answering with “cheap jokes” taken seriously—Einstein said he felt like a “prize ox” being exhibited. In a spare moment, he made his first trip to Princeton as well, receiving an honorary degree from Princeton University and giving four lectures there on relativity (published as The Meaning of Relativity). Meanwhile, he dutifully worked for the Weimar Republic. He served on a committee to evaluate German war atrocities; he joined the League of Nations’ Commission on Intellectual Cooperation. He traveled widely, representing (despite his Swiss citizenship) German science and the democratic German government, in sometimes controversial efforts to overcome the animosities of the war. In the spring of 1922, the Collège de France asked him to lecture in Paris. After some hesitation, he accepted. He was the first German scientist to be invited, though many French scholars disapproved, and Einstein's German colleagues were equally unhappy.44 Increasingly certain of his commitment to internationalism, Einstein turned his fame into a pan-national passport."
Start reading this book for free: https://read.amazon.com/kp/
Saturday, October 17, 2026
Trump waives Russia-related sanctions before they even kick in as Ukraine ties worsen
https://edition.cnn.com/2026/10/16/europe/us-ukraine-russia-sanctions-intl-hnk
US President Donald Trump has waived a further slate of sanctions related to Russian fossil fuel sales, days before they were to take effect under a bill he signed into law last month.
The waiver announced in an executive order Friday comes as Trump increasingly feuds with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, and cracks appear in Washington’s support for Kyiv in its yearslong war against its invading neighbor, deepening alarm among European allies.
The White House has heaped pressure on Ukraine to halt strikes on Russian refineries as it seeks to ease oil prices ahead of midterm elections at home. Kyiv briefly acceded to the request, but has since resumed attacks — and Russia has continued to pound Ukraine’s energy infrastructure throughout the week.
Trump fires White House press secretary Katie Zacharia after just one week
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/434731
US President Donald Trump has dismissed White House Press Secretary Katie Zacharia after just one week in the position, according to presidential advisers cited by CNN, following intense scrutiny of her first press briefing and questions surrounding her professional credentials.
Although Trump defended Zacharia against what he described as unfair treatment by the media and praised her loyalty, he acknowledged that the responsibilities of the press secretary might not be appropriate for her.
Friday, October 16, 2026
LevinAt11 10-15-2026 broadcast
BS"D
תכנית ראדיו רב יהודה לעוין, שליט"א, ערב שבת פרשת נח, תשפ"ז~~~~ ~~~~ ~~~~ ~~~~Tefillah request, for refuah shelaima of:1. Rav Yehuda ben Masha HaLevi (Levin);2. Shimon ben Masha;3. Lea bas Freeda;4. Reuven ben Chava;5. Yechezkel ben Feiga Zlota;6. Neryah Dov ben Chana (Leiter).~~~~ ~~~~ ~~~~ ~~~~Topics Included:~~~~ ~~~~ ~~~~ ~~~~1. Lakewood Va'ad supports subversive Senator Cory Booker - a known ally of the anti-Jewish LGBTQ movement - and issues a carefully-worded letter - exposing how sold-out they actually are:
We yet again need to call out artificial Jewish leadership - not despite the need to respect authentic Torah authority -- but specifically because of it.
2. Objection to Prop 1 in NYC;
3. New Square Politburo urges their community to vote for [Stealth-Euthanasia proponent] incumbent Gov. Kathy Hochul, despite the NY elections being held in the wake of the (preventable) passage of Physician-Facilitated Murder.
• Again: If any candidates ask for your support - ask them what they've done to address the foundational moral threats we face (see letter below).
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To amend section 116 of title 18, United States Code, with respect to genital and bodily mutilation and chemical castration of minors.
The bill’s titles are written by its sponsor.
H.R. 3492: Protect Children’s Innocence Act
This was a vote to pass H.R. 3492 in the House.
| By Party | Selected Caucuses | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All Votes | Republicans | Democrats | Blue Dog Coalition | Republican Study Committee | Republican Governance Group | |||
| Yea | 51% | 216 | 213 | 3 | 2 | 147 | 23 | |
| Nay | 49% | 211 | 4 | 207 | 6 | 0 | 2 | |
| Not Voting | 6 | 3 | 3 | |||||
Statistically Notable Votes
| Vote | District | Party | Legislator |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nay | CO – 8 | R | Evans, Gabe |
| Nay | NY – 17 | R | Lawler, Michael |
| Yea | NC – 1 | D | Davis, Donald |
| Nay | PA – 1 | R | Fitzpatrick, Brian |
| Vote | District | Party | Legislator |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yea | TX – 28 | D | Cuellar, Henry |
| Yea | TX – 34 | D | Gonzalez, Vicente |
| Nay | UT – 3 | R | Kennedy, Mike |
Statistically notable votes are the votes that are most surprising, or least predictable, given how other members of each voter’s party voted and other factors.
The two Republicans who voted against Trump’s transgender troop ban
- An amendment proposed by Rep. Lauren Boebert to codify a ban on transgender people serving in the U.S. military according to their gender identity failed in the House by a vote of 212-217.
- Two Republican representatives, Mike Lawler of New York and Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania, notably opposed Boebert's amendment.
- Rep. Nancy Mace successfully passed an amendment prohibiting TRICARE, the military health insurance plan, from covering certain gender-related medical procedures and treatments.
- Mace's TRICARE amendment passed 219-208, with five Democratic representatives joining Republicans in its support.
- A second amendment by Rep. Mace, which bans transgender individuals assigned male at birth from participating in women’s K-12 sports at Department of Defense-run schools, also passed 221-203."
~~~~ ~~~~ ~~~~ ~~~~• Important News: How inexpensive it is to save girls from the Female IDF Draft (Giyus Banos)~~~~ ~~~~ ~~~~ ~~~~- From Chomosayich, an established volunteer women's organization in Israel, which has saved and assisted thousands of girls from the ongoing IDF escalationsagainst "easy-target" girls, over the years. Q) How far can your donation go in saving girls from falling into the Israeli Army?In other words, for how little can you save one neshomoh?A) FACT: For as little as TEN DOLLARS YOU CAN SAVE A TEENAGE GIRL FROM BEING DRAFTED INTO THE EXPLOITIVE ARMY!FACT: GIRLS LOCATED FURTHER AWAY FROM CHAREIDI CENTERS CAN BE SAVED FOR A MERE 15 DOLLARS.The cost of saving these neshomos is, in many cases, so low that it's scandalous that we're not seeing far more donations. Inexcusably, most of the tzibbur is simply being kept in the dark.
••• See the half-page ad in the new Upstate Jewish Business Directory. •••Call Today.~~~~ ~~~~
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A Good Shabbos to our supporters and partners, and wishes for a good, sweet, productive and uplifting year.
Rabbi Noson Shmuel Leiter,
Executive Director,
Help Rescue Our Children
Email: torahjewsfordecency@
gmail.com Direct: 771.215.8892
Israeli Helpline: 03.721.3337
Heard weekly on New Jersey's WSNR Radio 620AM, co-hosting the renowned Levin At Eleven program, every Thursday evening, 11pm to midnight (ET).
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ערב שבת, הושענא רבה, תשפ"ז
Preceding week's program:ערב סוכות:Writeup and supplemental material:~~~~ ~~~~ ~~~~ ~~~~Broadcast of preceding week, Shabbos Shuva: פרשת האזינוWrite-up:~~~ ~~~