Tuesday, May 7, 2024

Money and spirituality

 Lekutei Moharan (01:68) The soul originates from the same supernal source from which money issues, devolves and comes into being. Money’s origin, from which it extends downward, is undoubtedly an aspect of holiness and a source of holy influx. But afterwards, in the process of devolving, this influx acquires corporeality and becomes money. Thus the reason the soul desires money is that the soul and money share the same source. 

Lekutei Moharan (01:68) It would be right for all Jews to have money. However, there is one trait that causes them to forfeit and lose it. This is a despicably evil trait, from which it is very difficult to be rescued. Even if a person wants to go free from it—in particular when his motivation is greed: so as not to lose money—this evil trait nevertheless overwhelms him in his youth and immaturity, and so he forfeits the money that he should have had. This evil trait is anger, because of which a person forfeits and loses the money he should rightfully have. For the root from which money devolves, from which it extends downward, is precisely the same as that of anger. 

Lekutei Moharan (01:68) At its origin, the root from which money devolves is the source of the soul, as in “for his soul depends on it” (Deuteronomy 24:15), which is said concerning the money of a day-worker. It is also written (Lamentations 5:9), “We get our bread at the peril of our souls.” This is why the soul hungers after and desires it, as explained above. But by getting angry a person loses his soul, as in “He tears apart his soul with his anger” (Job 18:4) ; as the Zohar brings (II, 182a) . 

I'm a White Man. I'm the Victim of Racism

 https://www.newsweek.com/racism-race-white-privilege-1819827

In my opinion, the political left are attempting to create a division based on race, in an attempt to drive more voters towards the Democratic Party. I believe this has led to what I call a war on White people.

There are various groups who would argue that White people cannot be the victims of racism—that only people of color can be—but I consider that to be a ridiculous argument.

Trump allies plot anti-racism protections — for white people

 https://www.axios.com/2024/04/01/trump-reverse-racism-civil-rights

If Donald Trump returns to the White House, close allies want to dramatically change the government's interpretation of Civil Rights-era laws to focus on "anti-white racism" rather than discrimination against people of color.

The Truth about Anti-White Discrimination

 https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-truth-about-anti-white-discrimination/

Many white Americans feel that discrimination against whites is on the rise. Experiments suggests otherwise

Monday, May 6, 2024

Trump’s deportation plan is modeled on ‘inhumane’ 1950s program, experts say

 https://www.washingtonpost.com/history/2024/02/26/trump-immigration-deportation-eisenhower-operation/

But when describing the operation on which Trump’s plan is built, experts commonly land on the same word: “inhumane.” The Eisenhower-era operation has been referred to as such by think tanks, scholars and historians, who also said the policy was not as successful as Swing and others claimed.

Wife should be pious

 Sefer Chasidim (1015) A pious person should pray that G-d provide him a pious wife and he should not be concerned with her wealth but only her piety. That is because wealth comes from good deeds. Therefore if he marries for wealth he will eventually lose it and only benefit from it in this World, while if he marries a good person he will become wealthy but the principal reward is in the future World

Kilmeade says Biden went ‘full Hitler’ attacking Trump during Valley Forge speech

 https://thehill.com/media/4395082-kilmeade-biden-full-hitler-trump-speech/

“What’s resonating is Trump is unelectable. He is not worthy of the seat. Hence the speech on Friday where the president went full Hitler that Trump is the worst thing ever, will destroy the country,” Kilmeade said Monday morning on “Fox and Friends.”

Trump admires Hitler, is infatuated with Putin, former staff claim in new book

 https://www.timesofisrael.com/trump-admires-hitler-is-infatuated-with-putin-former-staff-claim-in-new-book/

In an excerpt from his new book “The Return of Great Powers,” published  Tuesday, CNN anchor Jim Sciutto recounted speaking to multiple members of Trump’s former staff, all of whom corroborated that they frequently heard him commend the likes of North Korea’s Kim Jong Un, Russia’s Vladimir Putin, China’s Xi Jinping and, one more than one occasion, Nazi leader Adolf Hitler.

White House: Trump Gestapo comment echoes ‘appalling rhetoric of fascists’

 https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/4645186-white-house-trump-gestapo-comment-echoes-appalling-rhetoric-of-fascists/

“These people are running a Gestapo administration,” Trump said, according to audio obtained by The New York Times. “And it’s the only thing they have. And it’s the only way they’re going to win, in their opinion, and it’s actually killing them. But it doesn’t bother me.”

Sunday, May 5, 2024

Is Bari Weiss Embarrassed by the Intellectual Dark Web?

 https://www.thedailybeast.com/is-bari-weiss-embarrassed-by-the-intellectual-dark-web

If Weiss intends to build a new alternative media with the same commitment to credibility and speaking truth to power as the old institutions, it’s on her to call out the “cranks, grifters and bigots” who claim to be in the same anti-establishment trench as her. (The Daily Beast made multiple attempts to reach Weiss for comment, but received no response.)

Rav Yechiel Perr zt”l: The SIgnificance of the Loss

 https://www.theyeshivaworld.com/news/headlines-breaking-stories/2280986/rav-yechiel-perr-ztl-the-significance-of-the-loss.html

Aside from his deep mehalech haLimmud and his unique Musaar insights, Rav Perr cared deeply for Klal Yisroel, helping Agunos throughout his life, standing up for the downtrodden, the poor, Baalei teshuvah, Geirim, and he stood strongly for Kiruv. He stood for Yashrus in every aspect of it.  Whenever a danger to Klal Yisroel arose, he stood at the forefront to stop it.  Rav Perr was one of the first to stand strong against molesters in Jewish education.  He challenged others in yashrus – backing the nusach below when others did not.  We, the undersigned, affirm that any individual with firsthand knowledge or reasonable basis to suspect child abuse has a religious obligation to promptly notify the secular law enforcement of that information. These individuals have the experience, expertise and training to thoroughly and responsibly investigate the matter. Furthermore, those deemed “mandated reporters” under secular law must obey their State’s reporting requirements.

Saturday, May 4, 2024

‘The Republicans Are Being Total Hypocrites

 https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2024/05/04/jerry-nadler-antisemitism-bill-00156105

Well, there are three extant definitions. One is by IHRA. One is the Nexus definition and the other is the Jerusalem definition. They’re all equally valid. They all give different examples for perceptions of antisemitism, and none of them should be enshrined into law. The chief author of the IHRA definition, Kenneth Stern, said don’t codify this. Don’t make it part of any law because these are examples that may indicate antisemitism but don’t necessarily in every case, and to enshrine it into law — he thought and a lot of other people think — would be destructive of free speech. It could make criticism, under certain circumstances, of Israeli government policy antisemitic, which it clearly isn’t.

Friday, May 3, 2024

Joe Biden, Top Democrats Turn on Pro-Palestinian Protesters

 https://www.newsweek.com/joe-biden-palestinian-protests-israel-campuses-1896841

A number of leading Democratic figures are now regularly speaking out against the student pro-Palestinian protests across the country, including President Joe Biden decrying the "vandalism" and "violence" breaking out.

How an Ordinary Guy Took a $3,000 Case to the Supreme Court

 https://www.wsj.com/us-news/small-claims-case-goes-to-supreme-court-b24ac380?mod=wknd_pos1

The Department of Defense employee is waiting to find out whether a missed email spells an end to his 11-year quest to get $3,000 of pay (and interest) he says was wrongly withheld during 2013 budget cuts that briefly forced him out of work.

His case would feel right at home in small-claims court. But in March, the nine justices of the highest court in the land heard oral arguments about whether the government should let him continue his fight for six days of back pay.

Now Republicans Are Blaming George Soros for Campus Protests

 https://www.thedailybeast.com/now-republicans-are-blaming-george-soros-for-campus-protests

A number of Republicans are now suggesting—or in some cases, flat-out declaring—that George Soros, often the target of right-wing conspiracy theories, is funding the pro-Palestine protests on college campuses.

The dishonest — and ironic — push to blame campus protests on George Soros

 https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2024/04/26/dishonest-ironic-push-blame-campus-protests-george-soros/

But back to that “cash from Soros and his acolytes.” At no point does the Post article demonstrate how this purported cash has been critical, instead simply listing organizations that have been involved in the protests to some extent and tracing their funding back to OSF.

Reported Soros funding of anti-Israel encampments sparks antisemitic conspiracy theories

 https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/antisemitism/article-799583

In a post reaching almost 120,000 views, fringe conspiracy theorist David Icke similarly accused Soros of being “Israel’s man,” accusing “Ultra Zionist Sabbatian Cultists” of ‘funding both sides’ in an attempt to stir civil war in the US, all the while controlling both Biden and Trump, pointing at the ethno-religious background of high ranking members in the US administration.

Republicans Voting for Bill That Could Make 'Bible Illegal' Outrages MAGA

 https://www.newsweek.com/republicans-voting-antisemitism-bill-bible-illegal-1896543

The bill drew bipartisan criticism, with both Democrats and Republicans voting against it. Critics argue the bill, if signed into law, stifles free speech that is protected by the U.S. Constitution and is overly broad in its definition of antisemitism, pointing to the definition including "claiming that the existence of a State of Israel is a racist endeavor."

US says Hamas seized first aid shipment that entered Gaza via reopened Erez crossing

 https://www.timesofisrael.com/us-says-hamas-seized-first-aid-shipment-that-entered-gaza-via-reopened-erez-crossing/

His comments follow Israel’s long-standing contention that Hamas stockpiled supplies and kept them from increasingly desperate civilians. Footage from Gaza has shown gunmen, who were reportedly linked to the terror group, stealing trucks delivering humanitarian aid from Egypt.

In February, the US diplomat who was then involved in humanitarian assistance for Gaza denied allegations that Hamas stole aid and commercial shipments into the enclave, saying that no Israeli official had presented him or the Biden administration with “specific evidence of diversion or theft of assistance.”

Thursday, May 2, 2024

US House advances bill to codify contentious and popular antisemitism definition

 https://www.timesofisrael.com/us-house-advances-bill-to-codify-contentious-and-popular-antisemitism-definition/

“Speech that is critical of Israel alone does not constitute unlawful discrimination,” The Associated Press quoted Nadler as saying during a hearing Tuesday. “By encompassing purely political speech about Israel into Title VI’s ambit, the bill sweeps too broadly.”

House passes antisemitism bill over complaints from First Amendment advocates

 https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2024/05/01/antisemitism-awarness-act-campus-protests/

Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-N.Y.), a Jewish lawmaker who has co-sponsored other bills aimed at combating antisemitism and described himself Wednesday as a “deeply committed Zionist,” urged colleagues to reject Lawler’s bill, which he characterized as “misguided” because it “threatens to chill constitutionally protected speech.”

Lawler, Moskowitz slam Greene over antisemitism bill pushback

 https://thehill.com/homenews/house/4637197-lawler-moskowitz-slam-greene-over-antisemitism-bill-pushback/

Greene said she opposed the bill because it would define antisemitic behavior to include remarks about Jews killing Jesus, which she said went against the Bible.

Greene said she wasn’t voting for the bill because the new definition “could convict Christians of antisemitism for believing the Gospel that says Jesus was handed over to Herod to be crucified by the Jews.”

Wednesday, May 1, 2024

Sacred space

 Religious Jews are welll aware of the idea of holinesss regarding objects. But the idea also applies to space. For example the requirement to stand up when a rosh yeshiva or Torah is close by

We also know that certain areas belong to others and thus can not be violated. Prayer requires having restricted access to the area in front or behind someone praying. 

I am interested in the fact that in many situations frum people feel it their right or obligation to interfere with others so they have maximal space. It is not only those who dig out illegal and unsafe spaces under their apartment or neighbor's apartments

Today the sidewalk in front of the shul was blocked by a car parked up against the entrance because someone was late coming to minyan because his wife needed to get to hospital to give birth and since he would have missed the minyan if he looked for a normal parking space 

Also someone brought their child to minyan because his wife was tired and the child screamed all during tefila. 


In addition are the tzadikim who insist on praying in the aisle or entrance so they have enough space for three steps before and after. My son told me he witnessed at Ponovich, that one rosh yeshiva's way to the bathroom was blocked by a tzadik saying a very long Amida in the isle. The gabbayim simply lifted him and stood him on a nearby bench while he continued talking with G-d. Some people seem to think' if they need something they  should take it. 

Trump’s apologists say it doesn’t matter if he’s guilty of insurrection. That’s not true

 https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2024/mar/05/trump-supreme-court-insurrection-ruling-election

Proponents of law and order – who, for decades, railed against judicial decisions that freed from criminal sanction suspected and convicted criminals based on due process rights that are unconnected to guilt or innocence – now celebrate the possibility that a contemporary Benedict Arnold may hold the highest office of the land. They rejoice that the supreme court kept the former president on the ballot in all 50 states by relying on alleged constitutional rules that do not require Trump to defend himself against treason allegations.

Trump and His Apologists

 https://www.wsj.com/articles/trump-and-his-apologists-1437345060

July 19, 2015

The summer Trump polling spurt has nonetheless been instructive in exposing a growing problem on the political right. All too many conservatives, including some magazine editors, have been willing to overlook his hucksterism as he’s risen in the polls. They pretend that he deserves respect because he’s giving voice to some deep disquiet or anger in the American electorate.

Tuesday, April 30, 2024

Fox News Quietly Deletes Hunter Biden ‘Mock Trial’ Series

 https://www.thedailybeast.com/fox-news-quietly-deletes-hunter-biden-mock-trial-special-following-lawsuit-threat?ref=home?ref=home

Fox News appears to be taking Hunter Biden’s lawsuit threat quite seriously.

The network has quietly pulled down its six-part “mock trial” series from its digital streaming service Fox Nation after lawyers for the presidential scion warned the network of their intention to sue for defamation.

Besides quietly taking down The Trial of Hunter Biden from its streamer, the network also deleted a promotional video promising Fox News viewers an “inside look” at the “mock trial,” which was presided over by former reality-TV star Judge Joe Brown.

The scrubbing of the series, which debuted in October 2022, directly complies with the demand from Biden’s legal team—powerhouse celebrity law firm Geragos & Geragos—to delete the content immediately.

Why Are Prominent Republicans Who Despise Trump Voting for Him Anyway

 https://www.thedailybeast.com/why-are-republicans-who-despise-trump-voting-for-him-anyway?ref=home?ref=home

If you want to understand why Donald Trump could win in 2024, look no further than Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, former Attorney General Bill Barr, and New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu. These three top Republican voices who previously condemned Trump now say they plan to vote for him again this November.

G-d's partnership with tzadikim

 Da'as Tevunos (336) Partnership between tzadikim and G-d in the perfecting of the world. G-d effects the world only to the degree it is prepared. Therefore the tzadikim go about making small corrections in the darkness of this world, since according to their preparation G-d provides new influence and benefits to the world.

Tzadikim are like G-d!

 Bereishis Rabbah (77:01) AND JACOB WAS LEFT ALONE, etc.. It is written, There is none like unto G-d, O Jeshurun. There is none like G-d; yet who is like G-d? Jeshurun, which means the noblest and best among you. You will find that G-d anticipated in this world through the agency of the righteous everything that He will do in the Hereafter. Thus G-d will resurrect the dead, and Elijah resurrected the dead; G-d shuts up the rain, and Elijah shut up the rain; G-d will bless the little [in quantity], and Elijah blessed the little [in quantity]. God resurrects the dead and Elisha resurrects the dead; G-d remembered childless women, and Elisha remembered childless women. G-d blessed the little and Elisha blessed the little; G-d sweetened the bitter and Elisha sweetened the bitter; G-d sweetened the bitter through the agency of bitter, and Elisha sweetened the bitter through the agency of bitter.

Devarim Rabbah 10:3) The G-d of Israel said, The Rock of Israel spoke to me: Ruler over men shall be the righteous, even he that ruleth in the fear of G-d And what means, ' The righteous, even he that ruleth in the fear of G-d’? The righteous have power over the same things as G-d, if one may say so. In which way? Everything that G-d does, the righteous do.3 How is this illustrated? G-d remembers barren women; Elisha, too, remembered the Shunammite woman. G-d quickens the dead; and Elisha, too, brought back to life the son of the Shunammite woman. G-d parts the seas, Elijah and Elisha, too, parted seas. G-d heals without emollients, and Elisha healed Naaman without emollients. G-d sweetens the bitter waters, and Elisha sweetened the bitter waters G-d withholds the rain, and Elijah withheld the rain.G-d causes rain to fall, and Samuel caused rain to fall,. G-d sends down fire, and Elijah brought down fire from heaven., 

Zohar (1:9b - 10a): R’ Shimon told his son that once a non-Jewish philosopher challenged him by saying: You claim that G d rules over the height of heaven and that all the angels cannot approach Him and don’t know His place. If so Yermiyahu (10:7): “Amongst all the sages in the world none can compare to You G d” does not constitute high praise since He is just being compared to mortal man? … Can I infer from this verse that only among the sages of the non Jews is there no one like G d but amongst the Jews there are those like G d? If that inference is correct that the Jewish sages are like G d - doesn’t that mean that G d is not omnipotent? If you look carefully at the verse you will see that my inference is in fact correct! R’ Shimon replied: Your deduction that some Jewish sages are comparable to G d is in fact true. Only G d can resurrect the dead - yet we find that Eliyahu and Elisha resurrected the dead. Only G d can make it rain - yet Eliyahu controlled the rain through his prayer. G d made heaven and earth - yet they were firmly established for the sake of Avraham. G d determines the course of the sun - yet Yehoshua made it stand still. G d makes decrees but so did Moshe and they were fulfilled. Furthermore G d makes decrees which are nullified by the tzadikim as we learn from Shmuel 2 23:3). In addition G d commanded them to literally follow in His ways and to be like Him in every way. The philosopher went and converted to Judaism at K’far Shekalim and he was given the name of Yossi Kattina. He studied Torah very diligently until he became one the leading sages and righteous people of that location.


Kollel required deserting family for years

 The original Kollel system in Europe required the scholar leave his family for years so he would not be disturbed in his learning. according to the biography of Rav Moshe Landynski who became rosh yeshiva in Radin before being replaced with Rav Naftoli Trop.  

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

The first kollel – in the modern sense of the term – in the Jewish diaspora was the Kovno Kollel ("Kolel Perushim"[2]) founded in Kovno (Kaunas, Lithuania) in 1877.[3][4] It was founded by Rabbi Yisrael Salanter[5] and directed by Rabbi Isaac Blaser. The ten students enrolled were required to separate from their families, except for the Sabbath, and devote themselves to studying for the Rabbinate. There was a four-year limit on one's membership in the kollel.


The question is why the mitzva of marriage and family were displaced?

The Chofetz Chaim and the Eclipse

 https://torah.org/interest/chofetz-chaim-eclipse/

And the Chofetz Chaim taps again with his right hand on the table with an expression of victory, and smiling he adds, “They should come to see. It is a mitzvah to see the sun eclipsed, to actually see that a creation was actually formed [by the Creator] … And he taps lightly again with his right hand, a quiet smile …

Monday, April 29, 2024

Hunter Biden Threatens Fox News With Defamation Suit

 https://www.thedailybeast.com/hunter-biden-threatens-fox-news-with-defamation-suit?ref=home?ref=home

The notice demands that Fox News—whose obsessive coverage has mentioned Hunter Biden more than 13,000 times in the last four months alone—take immediate steps to remedy scads of coverage over the last five years that Biden’s attorneys say has falsely maligned him.

Star Scientist’s Claim of ‘Reverse Aging’ Draws Hail of Criticism

 https://www.wsj.com/health/wellness/david-sinclair-longevity-aging-criticism-645fddc5?mod=hp_trending_now_article_pos4

Dr. Nir Barzilai, the new president of the Academy for Health and Lifespan Research and the director of the Institute for Aging Research at Albert Einstein College of Medicine, said Sinclair’s comment about the dog research and his commercial interest in Animal Biosciences crossed a line. “The data is not good, you’re calling it the wrong thing, and then you’re selling it,” he said. “The selling is a step too far.”