Hashgacha Protis - Knowledge or Awareness?

 An important issue is whether Hasghacha Protis means G-d determines what happens to us or is merely aware of our actions and will eventually give reward or punishment

Avos (03:15) Everything is foreseen but the right of choice is granted, and the world is judged with goodness, and everything is in accordance with the preponderance of man's deeds.

Kli Yakar (Bereishis 41:01) And behold after two years Pharaoh dreamed that he was standing by the Nile. The Philosophers claim that G-d is too elevated and great to pay attention to the lowly world below the sphere of the moon. To nullify this pernicious view the verse says Talk no more so very proudly; let not arrogance come out of your mouth; for the Lord is a God of knowledge, and by Him actions are weighed.This means not to say that because G-d is so great  that he has no awareness  of our actions because He is all knowing and is  fact knows all of mans deeds

Koheles Rabbah (10:14) Never does a serpent bite unless it has been incited from Above, nor does a lion rend its prey unless it has been incited from Above, nor does a government interfere with men unless it has been incited from Above.

Rabbeinu Bachye (Kad HaKemach Emuna):From Heaven G-d observes all men ande from His palace He supervises the whole earth. The Creator fashioned all their hearts and therefore fully understands all their deeds  Dovid mentions in these three verses the subject of Divine Providence. Meaning that He influences all men in the lowly world either in general or a particular person. And He knows their thoughts and fully understands their actions

Ramban (Bereishis 18:19) The word yedativ literally means “knowing.” He is thus alluding that G-d’s knowledge, which is synonymous with His Providence in the lower world, is to guard the species, and even the children of men are subject despite it to the circumstantial evil occurrences until the time of their visitation comes. But in His piety, He directs His attention to know each one individually so that His watch constantly attaches to him, His knowledge and remembrance of him never departs, as it says: He withdraweth not His eyes from the righteous. There are many verses on this theme, as it is written, Behold, the eye of the Eternal is toward them that fear Him, and other verses besides. 

Shmuel (1 02:03-10) Talk no more so very proudly; let not arrogance come out of your mouth; for the Lord is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed.4. The bows of the mighty men are broken, and those who stumbled are girded with strength.5. Those who were full have hired out themselves for bread; and those who were hungry ceased to hunger; the barren has borne seven; and she who has many children has become wretched.6. The Lord kills, and returns to life; he brings down to Sheol, and brings up.7. The Lord makes poor, and makes rich; he brings low, and he lifts up.8. He raises up the poor from the dust, and lifts up the beggar from the dunghill, to set them among princes, and to make them inherit the throne of glory; for the pillars of the earth are the Lord’s, and he has set the world upon them.9. He will keep the feet of his pious ones, and the wicked shall be silent in darkness; for by strength shall no man prevail.10. The adversaries of the Lord shall be broken to pieces; from heaven shall he thunder upon them; the Lord shall judge the ends of the earth; and he shall give strength to his king, and exalt the horn of his anointed.

Tehilim (33:13-15) 13. The Lord looks down from heaven; he beholds all the sons of men.14. From the place of His habitation He looks upon all the inhabitants of the earth.15. He fashions their hearts alike; He considers all their deeds.

GOP senators grow uncomfortable with Trump rhetoric, endgame for Iran

 https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/5829511-senate-gop-trump-iran/

Senate Republicans facing worsening polls want President Trump to rein in his extreme rhetoric, which included an attack on Pope Leo XIV for being “WEAK on crime” and a threat to wipe out Iran’s civilization, and find a quick end to the conflict with Tehran.

GOP lawmakers returning to Washington from the two-week Easter recess aren’t comfortable with Trump’s incendiary rhetoric, which has put them again on the defensive, but they are more concerned about finding a quick way to end the conflict, which has caused fuel and fertilizer prices to soar.

Given growing concerns among GOP colleagues about how much longer the conflict may last, Senate Republican leaders have decided not to attempt to pass additional funding for the strikes against Iran in a budget reconciliation package they plan to bring to the floor as soon as next week.

Trump pressed on “blasphemy” and anti-Christ in bruising debacle

Taking Too Much Vitamin D Can Backfire, Scientists Warn

 https://www.sciencealert.com/taking-too-much-vitamin-d-can-backfire-scientists-warn

The "sunshine vitamin" may come with a dark side. Just as a lack of vitamin D can lead to health dangers, so too can an excess.

For years now, scientists have warned that not everyone needs to take vitamin D supplements, and that, in rare cases, high-dose versions can be toxic, especially for young kids and older adults.

Too much vitamin D raises calcium absorption, which can lead to hypercalcemia, where calcium forms dangerous deposits in arteries or soft tissues. This can raise the risk of kidney stones, disrupt bone metabolism, and bring on a whole host of nasty symptoms, including nausea, vomiting, constipation, fatigue, muscle weakness, or bone pain.

Trump on AI Jesus image: ‘I thought it was me as a doctor’

 https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/5829046-trump-doctor-red-cross/

President Trump told reporters Monday that the AI image appearing to depict him as Jesus Christ was actually an image of Trump as a doctor healing people. 

“I did post it, and I thought it was me as a doctor, and had to do with the Red Cross, as a Red Cross worker there, which we support,” Trump told reporters outside of the Oval Office.

“Only the fake news could come up with that one,” he continued. “I just heard about it, and I said how did they come up with that? It’s supposed to be me as a doctor, making people better and I do make people better.” 

The image was removed from Trump’s Truth Social account earlier Monday following unusually fierce backlash from a number of the president’s supporters online, who appeared to interpret the image as Trump portraying Jesus. 

Trump post appearing to depict him as Jesus removed amid backlash

 https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2026/04/13/trump-jesus-religious-conservatives/

President Donald Trump’s posting of an image that appeared to depict him as Jesus drew rare criticism from the religious right, prompting allegations of blasphemy and calls for him to take down the post before it was deleted.

“I don’t know if the President thought he was being funny or if he is under the influence of some substance or what possible explanation he could have for this OUTRAGEOUS blasphemy,” wrote Megan Basham, a prominent conservative Protestant Christian writer and commentator. “But he needs to take this down immediately and ask for forgiveness from the American people and then from God.”

One administration official, speaking on the condition of anonymity to criticize the president’s post, predicted that conservative Christian outrage would dissipate in a matter of days as it often has. But the official said it was going too far for Trump to post such an image of himself, even though some of his most loyal MAGA supporters have cast him in quasi-messianic terms.

Trump takes down Truth Social post of AI image portraying him as Jesus

https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/5828915-trump-ai-jesus-image-removed/mlite/ 

The AI image posted by President Trump on his Truth Social platform depicting himself as Jesus Christ appears to have been removed from his account.

The link where the image previously was posted on Sunday, which was Orthodox Easter, now reads “This resource could not be found” on Monday afternoon.

The image, which showed Trump portrayed as Jesus Christ healing sick people, sparked backlash from some of his own conservative supporters.

In the hours before the post was taken down Monday morning, a number of some of Trump’s most vocal allies from the conservative Christian community called on him to remove the post. 

Conservative political commentator Michael Knowles weighed in saying, “I assume someone has already told him, but it behooves the President both spiritually and politically to delete the picture, no matter the intent.”

Former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) wrote on X that she was “praying against” the post.

“On Orthodox Easter, President Trump attacked the Pope because the Pope is rightly against Trump’s war in Iran and then he posted this picture of himself as if he is replacing Jesus,” she wrote. “This comes after last week’s post of his evil tirade on Easter and then threatening to kill an entire civilization. I completely denounce this and I’m praying against it!!!”

Most Jews do not have Hashgocha Protis

 Sforno (Vayikra 13:47) Most Jews except for a few exalted people are without a doubt are ruled by Nature and are influenced by the heavenly bodies like other animals who do not receive personal Divine intervention but only as a species. They receive attention only as being part of the Jewish people. 

Rabbeinu Bachya (Bereishis 18:19) The personalized supervision of mankind, operates in the following manner. 1) There is supervision in the sense that G’d is aware of all of man’s actions and thoughts; this extends both to Jews and to Gentiles alike. We know this from Psalms 33,15, “He who fashions the hearts of them all, who discerns all their doings.” The supervision becomes manifest in G’d protecting people against mishaps. This type of benevolent supervision does not extend to Gentiles and not even to all Israelites except the righteous among them. G’d saves the righteous from experiencing the kinds of disasters which non-deserving people are prone to experience. 

Trump’s FOX Interview on Iran Was a Total Mess

Trump posts image depicting himself as Jesus performing a miracle after bashing Pope Leo XIV

 https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/us/news/trumppope-clash-after-criticism-president-posts-ai-miracle-image/articleshow/130224745.cms

Trump Pope Leo: US President Donald Trump has sharply criticized Pope Leo XIV. The Pope had spoken out against US actions in Iran. Trump responded via social media, questioning the Pope's stance. Following this, Trump shared an AI-generated image depicting himself in a divine role. The Pope had previously called for an end to conflict and warned against aggressive rhetoric.

After talks fail, IDF planning for return to war, Trump mulls strikes on Iran

 https://www.timesofisrael.com/after-talks-fail-idf-planning-for-return-to-war-trump-mulls-strikes-on-iran-reports/

All three major Hebrew TV networks reported that the IDF is gearing up for renewed conflict with Iran as the ceasefire talks between the United States and the Islamic Republic collapsed, in what appeared to be a coordinated leak by defense officials on Sunday.

The reported preparations come less than a week after a two-week ceasefire brokered by Pakistan went into effect, and less than a day after negotiations in Islamabad between the US and Iran failed to produce a deal to permanently end the war in the Middle East.

In a clear sign that diplomatic efforts were at a dead end, the American military said on Sunday it will begin to enforce a naval blockade on Iran starting on Monday, following orders by US President Donald Trump.

G-d pays attention to Israel

 Shir HaShirim Rabbah (07:08) Just as the farmer pays no attention to the baskets of dung or of straw or of stubble or of chaff,because they are not worth anything, so \G-d pays no attention to the other nations,because they are not worth anything, as it says,  All the nations are as nothing before Him. To whom,then, does He pay attention? To Israel, as it says, When thou takest the sum of the children of Israel, etc., and again, Take ye the sum of all the congregation of the children of Israel. 

Did Trump Buy Ed McMahon’s Home To Save Him From Foreclosure -Compulsive Liar

 https://www.newsweek.com/fact-check-did-trump-buy-ed-mcmahon-home-foreclosure-11816985

President Donald Trump has shared a viral social media post claiming that he purchased Ed McMahon’s home in 2008, saving the television personality and comedian from losing it to foreclosure, and allowing him to live their rent-free for the remainder of his life.

The story shared by Trump is untrue, with no evidence that Trump bought McMahon’s property or leased it back to him free of charge. Contemporaneous reporting, as well as statements from McMahon’s representatives and family, contradict the claim.

Trump did publicly express an intention to help Ed McMahon during his foreclosure issues, but didn't buy the home or provide free lifetime housing as claimed in the post shared on Sunday. Additionally, the assertion that the media ignored Trump’s efforts is untrue, as his publicized offers were widely reported on at the time by outlets including CNBC and Reuters.

Hungary’s Viktor Orban, ally of Trump and Putin, concedes election defeat

 https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2026/04/12/hungary-election-viktor-orban-trump/

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban conceded defeat Sunday in a major election loss that will reverberate in Washington and Moscow and bring an end to the 16-year rule of a self-proclaimed champion of illiberal Christian democracy who is a darling of MAGA-aligned American conservatives, an ally of the Kremlin and a proud antagonist of European Union leaders in Brussels.

Orban, 62, who has governed Hungary with increasing authoritarianism since 2010, and his Fidesz party were ousted by Peter Magyar, 45, a center-right, socially conservative member of the European Parliament, and his Tisza Party — in what was arguably the country’s most consequential vote since the end of the communist era. Vice President JD Vance visited Hungary last week to campaign for Orban.

The U.S. Sank One of Iran’s Navies. The Other Still Controls Hormuz.

 https://www.wsj.com/world/middle-east/the-u-s-sank-one-of-irans-navies-the-other-still-controls-hormuz-98ea16ff?mod=WSJ_home_mediumtopper_pos_3

The U.S. has destroyed most of Iran’s navy. But not the one Tehran uses to control the Strait of Hormuz.

The regular navy operated Iran’s big battleships largely for prestige and occasional long-range deployments. The paramilitary Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, on the other hand, has its own extensive fleet of more nimble boats designed to control the crucial waterway with missiles, mines and harassment of commercial ships—and they are much harder to reach.

Trump declares US Navy will begin blockading Strait of Hormuz ‘effective immediately’

 https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog-april-12-2026/

More than 60% of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ naval fleet tasked with patrolling the Strait of Hormuz is still intact after six weeks of war with the US and Israel, The Wall Street Journal reports.

The report comes as US President Donald Trump has declared that the US Navy will impose a blockade on the strait following failed ceasefire talks in Pakistan yesterday.

But the largely intact fleet of small boats and attack craft should allow the IRGC to continue to control the Strait of Hormuz with ease, including by laying mines down throughout the narrow waterway, the Journal says, with the heavy damage inflicted to Iran’s traditional navy making “relatively little difference” in this area.

Trump says US will blockade Strait of Hormuz after Iran talks end without a deal

 https://edition.cnn.com/2026/04/12/world/live-news/iran-us-war-talks-trump

The US president predicted Iran will return to negotiations and renewed his threats against the country after peace talks ended in a stalemate.

• Blockade in the strait: President Donald Trump said the US Navy will start blocking passage through the Strait of Hormuz, risking an even greater spike to oil and gas prices as he seeks to maximize leverage over Iran. The US and other countries will sweep for mines in the vital waterway during the blockade, Trump said.

Trump’s ‘new, reasonable’ Iran is neither new nor reasonable, and he knows it

https://www.timesofisrael.com/trumps-new-reasonable-iran-is-neither-new-nor-reasonable-and-he-knows-it/

 There is a blatant contradiction between US President Donald Trump’s repeated insistence, on the one hand, that the war against Iran has achieved “regime change” and he is now negotiating with new, “much more reasonable leaders,” and his simultaneous acknowledgement, on the other, that any Iranian who dares to take to the streets faces an immediate death sentence.

The same goes for his simultaneous contention, also expounded at Monday’s press conference, that the purportedly new regime is “not as radicalized” as its predecessor, but that, nonetheless, “Israel will be gone, the Middle East will be gone,” if Iran gets the bomb.

“We won, okay,” the US president claimed on Monday night. But for all his contradictions, as Trump knows full well, the Iranian regime against which he went to war remains in power, and its nuclear ambitions are anything but dimmed.

Vance says no agreement with Iran after marathon talks in Pakistan

 https://edition.cnn.com/2026/04/12/world/live-news/iran-us-war-talks-trump

• No agreement: US Vice President JD Vance says no agreement was reached with Iran after marathon talks in Pakistan. Iran would not commit to forgoing a nuclear weapon, Vance said, adding that US negotiators gave their “final and best offer,” but Tehran refused to accept the US’ terms for a deal.

• No plans for further talks: Tehran currently has no plans for another round of negotiations, state media reported. In Iran, the failure of the talks is being blamed on “excessive” demands of the United States.

• Questions remain: The failure to yield a deal throws the ceasefire into doubt, and without Iran’s commitment to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, global energy supplies will continue to be throttled. Before the ceasefire, President Donald Trump had promised Iran’s “whole civilization will die.” Then, he said it “makes no difference to me” whether both sides make a deal.

Iran’s Nuclear Program Has Survived, Clouding Talks

 https://www.wsj.com/world/middle-east/iran-uranium-stockpile-strategy-333bcc1e?mod=WSJ_home_mediumtopper_pos_2

Iran has emerged from five weeks of punishing U.S. and Israeli bombing with most of the tools it needs to make a nuclear bomb intact, officials and experts say, giving its negotiators another lever for pressing Washington to make concessions.

While Iran has gained a powerful new point of economic leverage through its control of the Strait of Hormuz, the U.S. and Israel have long been focused on preventing Tehran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. U.S. Vice President JD Vance said Sunday in Islamabad that talks between the two sides broke down after Iran refused to commit to not seeking nuclear weapons in the future.

The real life or death matter: The struggle between religious and civil judiciaries

 https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-892513

This declaration of war is not over any concrete dispute. Its purpose is to undermine the legitimacy of a parallel state judicial institution – to challenge its composition, authority, and decisions. Imagine the storm that would be unleashed if Chief Justice Amit had determined that Israel’s chief rabbi was impudent, lawless, and an enemy of the State of Israel.

The chief rabbis’ outburst has deep roots. Their father, the late Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, along with many other rabbis, held that Israel’s courts are “gentile tribunals.” Decoded, this phrase implies that Jews may not turn to them. It echoes Maimonides and the Shulhan Aruch, “whoever comes before them for judgment is wicked.” This is, to put it mildly, a deeply problematic halachic-cultural position. The ban on litigating before gentile courts was, of course, formulated in exile.

US intel said to assess Iran can recover underground launchers, fire thousands of missiles

 https://www.timesofisrael.com/us-intel-said-to-assess-iran-can-recover-underground-launchers-fire-thousands-of-missiles/

US officials assess that Iran retains thousands of missiles it can fire by recovering launchers buried underground, and they are concerned Iran will work to rebuild its ballistic capabilities during the break in the fighting with the US and Israel, the Wall Street Journal reported Friday.

An Israeli official cited by the Kan public broadcaster also said Iran was deploying bulldozers to repair entrances to underground missile storage facilities that had been struck by the Israel Defense Forces.

The damage that the US and Israel have inflicted on Iran “is not irreparable, and in the absence of a significant agreement, the IDF will have to go back to [fight] Iran,” the unnamed Israeli official was quoted as saying.

Melania Trump put the Epstein files on the front burner

 https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/columnist/2026/04/11/melania-trump-epstein-files-statement/89552086007/

You remember the Epstein files, right? They were the subject of all the “notorious child sex trafficking” headlines President Trump tried to bomb out of existence by starting a war with Iran.

If I’m being honest, the war gambit kind of worked. News about the Epstein files and Trump’s connection therein had largely subsided, making way for news about Trump’s incalculably dumb idea to start a war in the Middle East.

The president used the cover of war to toss Pam Bondi into the attorney general waste bin, unhappy with how she failed to contain the Epstein scandal. He replaced her with his former personal attorney, a guy who once said partying with Epstein ‒ a convicted sex offender who died in prison awaiting a sex trafficking trial ‒ was no big deal.

The president reportedly didn’t know his wife was bringing up the Epstein files. And again, nobody was really talking about the files … until she brought them up, for reasons that remain unclear.

Melania says her piece about Epstein – doth the lady protest too much?

 https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/apr/09/melania-trump-epstein-lies

When Donald Trump launched a seemingly random war against Iran, there was a whiff of suspicion of a Wag the Dog ploy to divert attention from how badly the Jeffrey Epstein scandal was going.

So when Trump’s wife Melania made a mysterious appearance at the White House on Thursday to put Epstein front and centre again, was it an elaborate ruse to divert attention from how badly the Iran war is going?

The first lady emerged from the Blue Room and walked to a lectern flanked by US flags in the grand foyer, surrounded by chandeliers, marble pillars and shiny chequered floor.

As cameras clicked away, Melania, full of cold fury, said in her now familiar Slovenian accent: “The lies linking me with the disgraceful Jeffrey Epstein need to end today.”

To which America responded: “What lies? Maybe we read something somewhere a few months ago but we have more pressing concerns right now.”

What is Melania’s game? Is she a secret member of the resistance after all, driven to act now by Trump’s threat to wipe out Iranian civilisation and growing fears that he is descending into madness? Is there a smoking gun in the Epstein files that could yet bring him down? It would all make a great Amazon documentary.

Melania Trump denies connection to Epstein case, calls accusations ‘baseless lies’

 https://www.timesofisrael.com/melania-trump-denies-connection-to-epstein-case-calls-accusations-baseless-lies/

US first lady says Congress should hold a public hearing centered on survivors of Epstein’s crimes, claims statements about her are financially and politically motivated

First lady Melania Trump on Thursday denied ties to Jeffrey Epstein and knowledge of his sex crimes, saying that accusations she was somehow involved were an attempt to defame her, thrusting the affair back into the spotlight ​after her husband had sought to put it behind him.

The seemingly out-of-the-blue message came as her husband, US President Donald Trump, and his administration had finally seemed to move past more than a year of controversy surrounding Epstein, especially as the Iran war had become all-consuming in Washington.

Democrats, meanwhile, jumped on Melania Trump’s comments, saying they agreed with her call for a congressional hearing. In a social media post, Rep. Robert Garcia, the top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee that is investigating Epstein, called on the Republican chair of the committee, Rep. James Comer, to schedule a public hearing “immediately.”

Heart of King controlled by G-d

 Mishlei (21:1) Like channeled water is the mind of the king in the LORD’s hand;He directs it to whatever He wishes. 

Meshech Chochma (Devarim 17:15): … The Ralbag notes that the heart of the king is in G-d’s hand. Thus the king has no free will but what he does is determined by G d. Shmuel was thus afraid of Shaul at this point because Shaul was no longer king and thus had free will to harm him

Malbim (Mishlei 21:01) King’s heart is in God’s hand Even though a normal man has free will to do as he wishes this is not so for a king. That is because the welfare of the nation is dependent on him. If he choses a harmful action it will produce widespread harm to the nation. Therefore since his actions impact many he is constrained by G-d and has restricted free will 

Or HaChaim (Bereishis 44:18) king's heart is in G-d's hand." This means that the king is privileged to receive divine assistance before pronouncing judgment. 

Rabbeinu Bachya (Devarim 17:15) It would do well for us to study our history and to learn what happened to the Jewish people during the centuries when their political system was headed by a king of flesh and blood. Devarim Rabbah 5,11 sums it up in these words: the Jewish kings caused many of their people to fall in battle because of their faulty policies. Shaul caused many casualties at Gilboah  David caused a plague. Achav, King of Israel, became the cause of the three year famine. Tzidkiyah’s policies became the immediate cause for the destruction of the Temple . How was it that the entire people who had experienced a tremendous renaissance under the leadership of the prophet Samuel agreed to ask for a king? The Talmud Sanhedrin 20 dissects the wording in Samuel I 8, pointing out that the elders of the people were motivated by pure considerations asking that the purpose of the king be “to judge us,”. The common people were motivated by the desire for their king to be a general who would lead them in war, and their sin was in saying “like all the nations.” They spelled this out in greater detail in verse 20 of that chapter. The people were agreed that they wanted a king, but they differed regarding the tasks of that king.

Ralbag (Mishlei 21:01) Heart of a king – This means that the deeds and thoughts of a king are limited by G-d. Because if he had total free will it would pose a great danger to the nation he controlled

Divine Providence is dependent on spiritual level

 Meshech Chochma (Shemos 13:9): Providence is manifest for each Jew according to his spiritual level as the Rambam explains in Moreh Nevuchim (3:18): Providence is not equal for everyone but rather is proportional to spiritual level. Consequently, the Providence for the prophets is extremely powerful each according to their level of prophecy. The Providence for the pious and saintly is according to their level of perfection. In contrast, the fools and the rebels lacking spirituality are in essence in the same category as animals… This concept that Providence is proportional to spiritual level is one of foundations of Judaism… 

'Not buying it': Nearly half of Israelis say Israel and US did not win Iran war, poll finds

 https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-892495

A new Walla and Maariv poll found that many Israelis are unconvinced by claims of victory over Iran, with broad dissatisfaction over the war’s outcome and mixed views on political leadership.

The Israeli public is deeply divided over the question of victory in the war with Iran, according to a Walla and Maariv poll published on Thursday.

According to the poll, the public is not buying the “image of victory” when it comes to Iran. Despite the ceasefire, it appears that most Israelis do not feel a sense of victory in the direct campaign against Iran.

Forty-six percent of respondents believe that Israel and the United States did not win the war. Only 22% of the public believes that victory was achieved.

Sixty-three percent of all respondents said they were dissatisfied with the outcome of the war, compared with only 32% who expressed satisfaction.

Divine Providence

 Chullin (07b) No man bruises his finger here on earth unless it was so decreed against him in heaven, for it is written: It is of the Lord that a man's goings are established. How then can man look to his way?

Kesubos (30a) Everything is ‘by the hand of heaven’ except cold and heat, for it is said: ‘Cold and heat are in the way of the foward; he that keepeth his soul holdeth himself far from them? Further, are lions and thieves ‘by the hand of man? Did not R. Joseph say. and R. Hiyya teach: Since the day of the destruction of the Temple, although the Sanhedrin ceased, the four forms of capital punishment have not ceased? ‘They have not ceased,’ you say? Surely they have ceased! But sayLions and thieves are ‘by the hand of heaven’, and cold and heat are ‘by the hand of man’.

Idolatry

 Avoda Zara (54b) Philosophers asked the elders in Rome, If your God has no desire for idolatry, why does He not abolish it? They replied, If it was something of which the world has no need that was worshipped, He would abolish it; but people worship the sun, moon, stars and planets; should He destroy the Universe on account of fools! The world pursues its natural course, and as for the fools who act wrongly, they will have to render an account. Another illustration: Suppose a man stole a measure of wheat and went and sowed it in the ground; it is right that it should not grow, but the world pursues its natural course and as for the fools who act wrongly, they will have to render an account. Another illustration: Suppose a man has intercourse with his neighbour's wife; it is right that she should not conceive, but the world pursues its natural course and as for the fools who act wrongly, they will have to render an account. This is similar to what R. Simeon b. Lakish said: The Holy One, blessed be He, declared, Not enough that the wicked put My coinage to vulgar use, but they trouble Me and compel Me to set My seal thereon!

Avoda Zara (55a) An Israelite named Zunin said to R. Akiba: We both know in our heart that there is no reality in an idol; nevertheless we see men enter the shrine crippled and come out cured. What is the reason?’ He replied, I will give you a parable: To what is the matter like? To a trustworthy man in a city, and all his townsmen used to deposit their money in his charge without witnesses. One man, however, came and deposited his money in his charge with witnesses; but on one occasion he forgot and made his deposit without witnesses. The wife of the trustworthy man said to her husband, "Come, let us deny it." He answered her, "Because this fool acted in an unworthy manner, shall I destroy my reputation for trustworthiness!" It is similar with afflictions. At the time they are sent upon a man the oath is imposed upon them, "You shall not come upon him except on such and such a day, nor depart from him except on such and such a day, and at such an hour, and through the medium of so and so, and through such and such a remedy." When the time arrives for them to depart, the man chanced to go to an idolatrous shrine. The afflictions plead, "It is right that we should not leave him and depart; but because this fool acts in an unworthy way shall we break our oath!" This is similar to what R. Johanan said: What means that which is written, And sore and faithful sicknesses?  Sore in their mission and faithful to their oath.

Trump Allies, U.S. Officials Fear Iran Victory Lap Is Premature

 https://www.wsj.com/politics/national-security/trump-allies-u-s-officials-fear-iran-victory-lap-is-premature-96f8e810?mod=WSJ_home_mediumtopper_pos_1

President Trump’s declaration of “total victory” in Iran left some close allies and several senior aides worried Wednesday that he is overstating what is a fragile cease-fire with Tehran, which remains capable of blocking ships in the Strait of Hormuz and attacking U.S. forces in the region.

The president has been advised on the risks that could cause the cease-fire to crater and warned that Iran still retains dangerous military capabilities, according to multiple officials.

Ceasefire?!

Trump loses Power