Deadly Texas floods leave officials pointing fingers after warnings missed

 https://thehill.com/policy/equilibrium-sustainability/5388538-texas-floods-flash-flooding-camp-mystic-dhs-nws-warnings/

Local, state and federal officials are all pointing fingers in the wake of the deadly Texas flooding, but one thing is certain: The warnings weren’t heard by the people who needed them.

After the catastrophic Independence Day floods that killed at least 90 across central Texas, state and county officials told reporters that the storm had come without warning. But a wide array of meteorologists — and the Trump administration itself — has argued that those officials, as well as local residents, received a long train of advisories that a dangerous flood was gathering.

Some — like Sokich — argued that one possibility is that after rounds of staff reductions, NWS offices that may have had enough staff to issue accurate predictions didn’t have the personnel for potentially life-saving outreach. “If you don’t have the full staff, then you can’t do that,” he said. “People are just focusing on issuing the watches and warnings.” 

University of California, Los Angeles meteorologist Daniel Swain wrote on X that such outreach is “one of the first things to go away when offices are critically understaffed.”

Musk Leads MAGA Meltdown Over Trump Administration’s Epstein Review

 https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/musk-leads-maga-meltdown-over-trump-administration-s-epstein-review/ar-AA1I6Kkg?ocid=msedgntp&pc=NMTS&cvid=e65e9148c21d4014ee182428979a8fa2&ei=53

Elon Musk led a MAGA freak-out after the Justice Department and FBI shot down claims about a so-called “client list” belonging to late child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Conspiracy theories about Epstein have run wild for years, with many Trump supporters hoping explosive details, such as a list of high-profile names Epstein might have had incriminating dirt on, would surface now that Donald Trump is back in office. Two Trump loyalists at the FBI—Director Kash Patel and Deputy Director Dan Bongino—have previously pushed the unsubstantiated claim that Epstein didn’t kill himself in his Manhattan cell.

Musk, who previously claimed—and then apologized—for suggesting the reason the DOJ hadn’t released the Epstein files was because Trump featured in them, has lashed out at the agencies’ findings.

Conservative activist Robby Starbuck added: “Pam Bondi said the Epstein client list was on her desk to review for release to the public just a few months ago. Now the DOJ she leads claims that there’s no Epstein client list. Sorry but this is unacceptable.

“Was she lying then or is she lying now? We deserve answers.”

JD Vance’s old tweets show why the ‘Epstein client list’ is becoming such a problem for Trump

 https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/jd-vance-s-old-tweets-show-why-the-epstein-client-list-is-becoming-such-a-problem-for-trump/ar-AA1I9mTs?ocid=msedgntp&pc=NMTS&cvid=e65e9148c21d4014ee182428979a8fa2&ei=27

President Donald Trump’s team spent a good deal of energy on Monday in unfamiliar territory: on the wrong side of a losing battle against America’s extreme online conspiracy theorists.

Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt was the face of the effort at her daily news briefing. But if Leavitt is looking for who is fueling the speculation around the dead New York financier and sex criminal who appeared on camera yucking it up with her boss, she needs to remember: the call is coming from inside the (White) house.

Musk tweaks Trump with Jeffrey Epstein post

 https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/5387380-elon-musk-trump-jeffrey-epstein/

Trump’s feud with Musk came to a head last month, when the Tesla chief executive said it was time to drop “the really big bomb.”

“[Trump] is in the Epstein files. That is the real reason they have not been made public,” Musk wrote on X at the time.

“Mark this post for the future. The truth will come out,” he followed up minutes later.

Trump to Resume Sending Weapons to Ukraine - Trustworthy Friend

 https://www.wsj.com/politics/national-security/trump-told-zelensky-he-wasnt-responsible-for-weapons-holdup-f684444b?mod=hp_lead_pos1

The U.S. will send additional defensive arms because Moscow is hitting Kyiv ‘very hard,’ the president says

President Trump said Monday the U.S. would resume providing Ukraine with arms to help it withstand Russian attacks after months of trying without success to draw Moscow into negotiations on ending the war.

Q&A: Iranian War, Investments & Seminary (HaRav Yitzchak Breitowitz)

Eishet Yefat To’ar – Woman Captured in War

 https://aish.com/eishet-yefat-toar-woman-captured-in-war/

I’ll begin by writing that it’s not clear if your astonishment is warranted. The Torah never states that a soldier is permitted to rape a woman on the battlefield – only that if he desires her he may forcibly take her home to be his wife – after she undergoes a lengthy mourning period (and converts to Judaism). This is the simple reading of the Torah – and the explanation followed by a minority of the commentators (Jerusalem Talmud Makkos 2:6, Ramban Deut. 21:13, Da’as Zekainim (21:12)).

In truth, however, the Talmud (Kiddushin 22a, Sanhedrin 21a), Midrash (Sifri, Ki Taitzai 213), most commentators, and Maimonides (Melachim 8:2) all understand the Torah as you are familiar with. And you are right that following that opinion, this section of the Torah is strikingly inconsistent with virtually the entire rest of the Torah and norms of Jewish behavior. And the explanation behind it is a fascinating one.

Jesus & Shabsai Tzvi fell from high levels of holiness to sin - through pride and anger

Shivchei haBesht(#66) Rabbi Joel told me… that Shabbtai Zvi came to the Besht to ask for redemption. Rabbi Joel said in these words: “The tikkun is done through the connection of soul with soul, spirit with spirit and breath with breath” The Besht began to establish the connection moderately. He was afraid as Shabbtai Zvi was a terribly wicked man. Once the Besht was asleep and Shabbtai Zvi may his name be blotted out, came and attempted to tempt him again, G-d forbid. With a mighty thrust the Besht hurled him to the bottom of hell. The Besht peered down and saw that he landed on the same pallet with Yeshu. Rabbi Joel said that the Besht said that Shabbetai Tzevi had a spark of holiness in him but that Satan caught him in his snare, G‑d forbid. The Besht heard that his fall came through pride and anger. I was reluctant to write it down, but nevertheless I did so to show to what exent pride can be dangerous. [in Praise of Baal Shem page 86-87

Rav Tzadok (Machavos Charutz #1):...Therefore the Torah has to command us "Be Holy" You might mistakenly think that means as holy as G-d...[See Vayikra Rabba 24:9]. When a person has reached perfection in holiness until he is comparable to the angels through his free will - the Yetzer HaRah does not leave him alone ever and seduces him with the thought that he can be as holy as G-d literally (mamash). Because of this a person can fall from the greatest heights to the lowest depths c.v. This is in fact what happened to Jesus and Shabsai Tzvi - the name of the wicked should rot. Because of their excessive asceticism their imaginative faculty grew and they thought that they could compare themselves to G-d. This all came about because they saw themselves as holy people....

ספר מחשבות חרוץ - אות א

ועל זה הוצרכה תורה להזהיר קדושים תהיו יכול כמוני תלמוד לומר וכו' (ויקרא רבה סוף פרשה כ"ד, ט') כי כשהוא בתכלית המדריגה מקדושה עד שידמה למלאכי השרת הוא בכח הבחירה שבו אין היצר הרע מניחו לעולם כלל ומסיתו שיוכל להתקדש כביכול כמוהו ממש, ומזה יוכל להפילו מאגרא רמה לבירא עמיקתא חס ושלום כמו שקרה להאיש ולשבתי צבי שם רשעים ירקב על ידי ריבוי פרישותם גבר כח הדמיון שבהם לחשוב שיוכלו לדמות לעליון ובא להם על ידי שחשבו עצמם תחילה קדושים, וזהו שורש הסתת הנחש שמתחיל במועט עד וכו' ותחילתו במחשבה ודמיון ובלבוש החיצוני של מחשבה אלא שנוגע לכל מדריגות שבמחשבה כדאיתא שם:

Golem of the Maharal - Fact or Fiction/Oral history

There is a fascinating article from Dei'ah veDibur regarding the historical reality of the Maharal's Golem. It deals with many of the issues connected to our previous discussion of the nature of the dispute between the Gra and the Chassidim as well as the issue of the Ger Tzedek. In particular it wrestles with the issue of the veracity of oral traditions which are unsupported by other sources. Below are some excerpts. I also included similar concerns expressed by Prof. Marc Shapiro.

The Golem of Prague — Fact or Fiction?

by Binyomin Y. Rabinowitz

The Maharal's Greatest Feat

HaRav Meir Arik zt'l was once asked whether the Maharal of Prague really made a golem. He replied that he didn't know the answer to the question but that the Maharal's having produced a talmid like the Tosafos Yom Tov was a far greater feat! (Zer Zahav, p. 40, Bilgoray 5693 (1933)

Whether or not the Maharal ever made a golem remains unclear. Doubt arises mainly from the failure of the principal historians of the times to mention a word about the subject. In his forthcoming book, Rabbi Yitzchok Nachman Eshkoli (author of Tzaar Baalei Chaim Behalochoh Uve'agoddoh) discusses the nature and laws governing creatures — such as a golem — created according to Sefer Yetziroh. His new book contains many fresh details about the golem story and this article presents his main conclusions about the episode.

In recent years, controversy has once again raged over the veracity of stories that have been published about the Maharal's creation of a golem. Irrespective of the accuracy of these particular tales, it is clear that many holy tzaddikim of previous generations did possess knowledge of the secrets governing the creation of men and animals, based on Sefer Yetziroh.[...]

Fact or Fiction?

It is unclear whether or not the Maharal ever made a golem. The main ground for doubt is the fact that none of the major historians of those times breathe a word on the subject. How, for example, could the famous historian HaRav Dovid Gans, author of Tzemach Dovid (Prague, 5352 [1592]) have entirely omitted to mention it or even to allude to it? He lived in Prague at the time and was in fact a talmid of the Maharal. (Reb Dovid was born in 5301 [1541] and was niftar in Prague on the fifth of Elul 5373 [1613], approximately four years after the Maharal's petiroh.)

How did the Chido zt'l, fail to document the episode in his sefer, Sheim Hagedolim, which recounts the praises of gedolei Yisroel throughout the generations? In the same sefer he doesn't omit to mention that Rav Eliyahu Baal Shem zt'l, the rov of Chelm, created a man using Sefer Yetziroh.

The dayan HaRav Meir Pereles of Prague was a relative of the Maharal's who recorded all his kinsman's biographical information in a Megillas Yuchsin (genealogical record), without mentioning a word about the golem. (Rav Meir wrote the Megillas Yuchsin approximately one hundred years after the Maharal's petiroh, "at the request of the elder Rav Yeshayohu Katz, brother of the great gaon HaRav Naftali Katz, author of Semichas Zekeinim" who were grandsons of the Maharal. Only the editor of the 5649 (1891) edition of Megillas Yuchsin mentions that the Maharal made a golem. Neither is there any mention of the golem on the Maharal's gravestone.

Neither Korei Hadoros (by Rabbi David Konforto zt'l) nor Seder Hadoros (by Rav Yechiel Halperin zt'l) contain the slightest hint of the Maharal's having created a golem.

Amazingly, the first written testimony to the episode only appears 230 or 240 years after the Maharal's petiroh. The first stories about the golem of Prague appeared in a book written in German in 5612 (1852). The story was briefly mentioned fifteen years earlier, in 5597 (1837), but that writer also expresses reservations about its veracity.[...]

Similar views were expressed in Prof. Marc Shapiro's critical review "Of Books and Bans" concerning the Making of a Godol published in the Edah Journal:

Another serious shortcoming is his use of sources–in particular, the hundreds of personal communications he records. While oral history can be valuable, it has to be used carefully and must yield when faced with documentary evidence to the contrary. The haredi culture is in many respects an oral culture, with stories of gedolim told and retold, and with this come distortions and falsehoods. Kamenetsky at times shows that he is aware of this, but only when the oral history is contradicted by another version of oral history or by a reliable written source. Otherwise, he chooses to rely on all sorts of tales. It is one thing when oral history focuses on an event or an oral exchange witnessed by a particular individual–and there are numerous such examples in the book— but often Kamenetsky will record a story he heard from X who heard from Y who heard from Z, sometimes about an event that happened 100 years ago!

Clearly, this does not qualify as history. Again, if this were a book of hagiography, one would expect this type of thing. In that sort of book we would anticipate being told what R. Hayyim Soloveitchik said when he was on a train or how the Rogochover rebuked another gadol in the privacy of their hotel room. But Kamenetsky wants his book to be judged by the standards of historical scholarship, and in this respect it is sorely lacking.

This failure to recognize the unreliability of oral history leads Kamenetsky to take different versions of the same story and try to determine what actually occurred. While there is no doubt a kernel of truth in the basic story, a historian must acknowledge that at this late date it is simply impossible to come to any firm conclusions. Similarly, his detailed and tedious analysis of events, most notably the mission of Max Lilienthal in Russia (pp. 188-257), combine what is best about the book – a gathering together of widely scattered material – with the book's weakness, a reliance on stories and traditions, together with hypotheses, which, at the end of the day, have no basis

Gra criticized Rambam regarding the supernatural

 Gra (Commentary to Shulchan Aruch YD 179:13): Shulchan Aruch (Yoreh Deah 179) Uttering an incantation on the wound from a scorpion is permitted even on Shabbos even though this type of remedy is ineffective since the person is in mortal danger. This ruling of the Shulchan Aruch is view of the Rambam (Mishna Torah Avoda Zara 11:11). The Rambam expressed this view also in his comments on the Mishna (Avoda Zara 4:7) However, every rabbinic authority after the Rambam disagreed with him. This is because there are many gemoras describing use of Divine names and witchcraft. The Rambam had such a view because he was influenced by philosophy. Therefore he writes that witchcraft, use of Divine names, incantations, demons, and charms are all false. His view is completely erroneous since we see many descriptions in the gemora of these things. Even the Torah itself gives examples such as Moshe’s staff turning into a snake. The Zohar also describes these things. And there are too many cases to enumerate dealing with incantations. Philosophy has warped his understanding so that he describes all these gemoras as meaningless or interprets them not according to their plain meaning. I don’t accept the philosophers or their approach. To the contrary, all of these stories are to be taken literally. While they in fact have a deeper concealed meaning it is not the understanding of the philosophers which is merely a superficial understanding but rather that of the kabbalists. 

Novominkser Rebbe, shlita - don't bring up these long forgotten issues.

Below is the first page of the Novominsker Rebbe's strong denunciation of R' Eliach's three volume work on the Gra. R' Eliach's book has been banned by the Chassidim - and many stores will not carry it. Among other things it notes that most people are not aware of the issues so why bring them up and that since the Gra was seriously mistaken "maaseh satan" it is disrespectful of the Gra to mention his mistakes. He also asserts that R' Eliach does not present a balanced picture but only the nasty extreme statements said at the height of the controversy which later died out and everybody came to love and respect each other. The review goes on for another 10 pages. The violence of the attack on R' Eliach was such that one of the Novominsker's old friends Rav Katzenstein wrote and published a small volume of his correspondence with the Novominsker regarding this review.

Similar considerations prevented R' Betzalel Landau from publishing a chapter on the conflict in his work on the Gra. Ironically this was corrected when Artscroll published an English translation of the work and added the missing material with the aid of R' Jonathan Rosenblum. The Novominkser supported Artscroll in publishing this material in English.

[See also the opposing view of Rav Yaakov Kaminetsky, zt"l]

 

It is available from Hebrew Books Yeshurun vol 10 page 831

https://hebrewbooks.org/20399

Gra's meeting with the Baal HaTanya - Tradition of HaRav Yosef Soloveitchik zt"l

Regarding the failure of the Gra to meet with the Baal HaTanya. I just heard from Rav Shurkin that Rav Soloveitchik had a family mesora that there were strong theological disagreements between them. He claimed that the Gra was afraid that if he met the Baal HaTanya he would be so overwhelmed by him that he would stop disputing him.

He also said that Rav Soloveitchik was enthralled by the Baal HaTanya's profoundity. He related that Rav Solveitchik gave a daily 5 hour shiur in the summer after his wife was niftar. At the conclusion of this he insisted on giving a shiur in Tanya. He also has extensive writings on the Tanya.

A similar assertion regarding the meeting is reported in Wikipedia:

According to Chabad tradition, Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi and Rabbi Menachem Mendel Horodoker were sent to the Vilna Gaon by the Maggid of Mezeritch and the Gaon refused to meet with them. Rabbi Leibel Shapiro, the current Rosh Yeshiva of Tomchei Tmimim Miami, has said that at a Yud-Tes Kislev farbrengen in Boston, Rabbi Joseph Ber Soloveitchik described this event the way it was passed down through the Brisk dynasty (Rabbi Chaim Volozhin the scion of the Brisker dynasty was the prime student of the Vilna Gaon) and in this version, the Alter Rebbe was accompanied by Rabbi Levi Yitzchok of Berditchev. Rabbi Soloveitchik said that the Gaon's reason for not meeting with the Hassidic Rebbes was that he saw the holy features of the Alter Rebbe's face and realized that if he let him in "after two hours he would leave the room and join them in spreading chassidus".^[2]

However R' Eliach in his sefer on the Gra page 907-912 concerning the reason for not meeting with the Baal HaTanya does not mention such a view. There is also a story - which he rejects - that claims that the Gra's mother prevented her son from meeting with the Baal HaTanya. R' Eliach does cite the Brisker Rav [page 910 note 57] who stated that the Gra didn't meet with him because he thought it was a waste of time becaue they had irreconcilable views in hashkofa. There is in fact a letter from the Baal HaTanya to his chasdim in Vilna telling them to not waste time on debates because of the differences in hashkofa are irreconcilable.

It is also clear that the Gra considered them kofrim - and simply didn't want to argue with apikorsim. These views makes much more sense.

Thus this assertion that the Gra was afraid of being influenced by the Baal HaTanya is not a tradition amongst the Chassidim, is not mentioned in the letter of the Baal HaTanya dealing with the failed meeting and was not mentioned by the Brisker Rav, and is apparently unknown in the extensive literature on the subject - including R' Eliach

Gra – Acceptance not complete even in Vilna

Igros Moshe (OC V #24.6) In situations where the Gra disagreed with the prevalent custom even when Ashkenazim agreed with the Sefardim, the poskim of his generation agreed that since he was much greater than the other poskim of his genersation even though they were also very great and he was also greater than the poskim even of many previous generations and therefore he had the right to disagree with them Furthermore all his students who were also gedolim in that generation agreed that the Gra could also be viewed as authoritative as a Rishon Since he was the latest posek the halacha should be according to his ruling  People started accepting the Gra’s rulings in all matters even against the accepted custom. A great man and genius like the Gra is able to make changes even for Sefardim even against the rulings of the Rambam, Rif and all other Sefardi Rishonim. However no other Gedolim of the Achronim are able to do this. Nonetheless the customs of the Gra were not accepted by everyone even in Vilna and they were not insistent that his customs be observed

Is love an obligation: Rambam vs Yevamos (62b)

updated 11/11/12 In the discussion about the nature of marriage - the prime question is the role or necessity for love between husband and wife. It is important to note there is an apparent contradiction between the language of the Talmud and the language of the Rambam and subsequent authorities. The Rambam clearly states that the obligation to love  one's wife as oneself is rabbinic. However if he is basing himself on Yevamos (62b) - which the commentaries state is his source - there is no assertion of a rabbinic obligation. It simply says that if one does love one's wife as oneself and a bunch of other things  - there will be peace in his tent. At most it is a wise suggestion. An additional problem is that the Rambam in his commentary to the Mishna (Kiddushin 2:1) clearly states that the obligation is from the Torah command to love your fellow as yourself. That is the language of the gemora Kiddushin 41a. So is the Rambam basing his  obligation of love on a Torah command or rabbinic? Is he basing himself on Yevamos 62b or Kiddushin 41a? Are there two obligations of love as Rav Zilberberg suggests below? Finally it seems from the following sources that love is refering to caring or not hating or not doing negative things to another person . It is not referring to the emotion that we call love.

Yevamos (62b): Our  Rabbis taught: If a man loves his wife as himself and honors her more than himself and guides his sons and daughters on the straight path and has them married close to the age of puberty - the verse (Job 5:24) is applied to him, And you shall know that your tent is in peace.

Rambam(Hilchos Ishus 3:19): Similarly a man should not marry of a child nor should he marry a woman until he has seen her and she is acceptable in his eyes. That is because if he doesn’t see her first it might turn out that she doesn’t find favor in his eyes when he does see her.

 Kiddushin (41a): Rav said that it is prohibited for a man to marry a woman until he has seen her because when he does see her he might notice something which disgusts him and the Torah (Vayikra 19:18) has commanded, “You shall love your fellow as yourself.”

Rambam (Hilchos Ishus 15:19): Our Sages have commanded that a man should honor his wife more then himself and love her as himself.

Rambam(Commentary Kiddushin 2:1): It is correct that each man marry directly rather than through an agent, since we have a general rule that a man should not marry a woman until he has seen her. That is because we are concerned that she won’t find favor in his eyes and yet he will remain married to her in spite of not loving her. Such a thing is prohibited since there is a rule, “You should love your fellow as yourself.” Therefore it is important that the man marries directly rather than through an agent.

Aruch L'Ner(Kerisus 28a): This that the Beis Shmuel says that a man should honor his wife – we do not find that this means an obligation. In fact in Yevamos (62a) and in Sanhedrin (76b) it says that if a man honors his wife more than himself... the verse You shall know that there is peace in your tent is applied. This language implies that it is only a act of piety (midos chasidus) to not be insistent on one’s honor against her. Nevertheless according to the straight law she in fact is obligated to honor him more than he honors her

Eliyahu Rabbah (#16): One who fulfills the wishes of his wife and directs his children properly and marries his son before puberty before he comes to sin – about him it says “you shall know that there is peace in your tent (Job 5:24).

Pele Yoetz (Love between husband and wife): The love between a husband and wife must be a passionate one. We will begin with the love of the husband to his wife for the declaration of our Sages (Yevamot 62b) is known, "That the husband is obligated to love his wife as himself and to honor her more than himself."

Pele Yoetz (Love between husband and wife): The primary love is the love of the soul. It is incumbent upon the husband to admonish his wife with pleasant words, to guide her in the ways of modesty, to distance her from slander, anger, cursing, the mention of G-d's name in vain, and similar things in the Orders of Nashim and Nezikin. He should caution her in regard to the details of mitzvot – especially in the areas of prayer, blessings of benefit from this world, the observance of Shabbat, etc. How good and how pleasant it would be for him to teach her ideas of ethical improvement and to share with her words of the Sages in all matters that are relevant to her and their severity.

Yad Rama (Sanhedrin 76b): The braissa says that if a man loves his wife as himself – that means that he should have mercy on her as he is merciful to himself but more than himself is not relevant. That is because love is something which is in the heart and a person is not able to love another more than he loves himself. However regarding honor that is something for which it is possible that he can honor her more than himself with clothing which is nicer than what he gets for himself.

Kiddushas Levi (Bereishis 224:67): And Yitzchok brought her into his mother’s tent and she became his wife and he loved her. What was the reason that the Torah tells us that Yitzchok loved Rivkah? A possible answer is based on the fact that there are two types of love a man has for a woman. The first type is the physical lust that a man has for a woman because he wants to satisfy his desires. Because this type of love is solely concerned with what he wants,  it is actually not love for the woman at all but entirely love of himself. The second type is the love which is not concerned with satisfying his physical lusts but rather is because she is an instrument that enables him to fulfill the commands of his Creator – thus he loves her just as he loves the other mitzvos. This is called love of his wife. That is the meaning of “And Yitzchok loved her.” He had no thoughts regarding physical lust but only loved her because she enabled him to fulfill the mitzvos of G‑d.

Ramban(Bereishis 24:67): What was the reason that the Torah mentions that Yitzchok loved Rivkah and was comforted? This alludes to the fact that he was very distraught at the loss of his mother and could not be comforted until he was comforted by the love he had for her. Because otherwise what could possibly be the reason it would mention that a man loved his wife?

Rav Chaim Paltiel (Bereishis 24:67): And Yitzchok loved her This statement of the Torah is surprising – does that mean that originally he hated her? A possible answer is when he had the first sexual intercourse with her - he did not find signs of virginity. That was becasue she had fallen off the camel when she first saw him and this caused her to lose the signs of virginity and therefore she had the halachic status of one was lost the signs because of a physical blow (muchas eitz) – not because of intercourse. As a result of not finding the signs of virginity he hated her because he suspected that she had had relations with other men. She protested that she had done nothing wrong with any man. Eliezar also defended her innocence of wrong doing. She explained that when she fell of the camel, the force had caused her to lose the signs of virginity. She added, “Perhaps G-d will do a miracle and I will find the signs of virginity.” They went to the field where she had fallen and they found the signs of virginity on a stone and a dove was sitting on them in order to preserve them from the sun.

Rabbeinu Bachye (Kad HaKemach – Ahava): ... The attribute of love is great but the attribute of desire (cheshek) is even great than love. That is because love means loving the person in all his actions whether they are open or secret. However there are times when the love disappears and he forgets about her – such as when he is eating or drinking or sleeping. In contrast desire (cheshek) is when the person’s thoughts are constatnly attached in great and powerful love and there is no interruption at all in his desire. An example is Bereishis (34:3) where it says that Shechem soul clung to Dinah and Bereishis (34:3), Chamor said that his son Shechem’s soul desired (cheshek) Yaakov’s daughter. When someone has desire then he thinks of nothing else. Even when eating or drinking he doesn’t stop thinking about her. In fact sometimes he will lose his appetite and not eat at all. Even while sleeping that which he desires will appear to him dreams and will speak to him... Shir HaShirim is based on this attribute of desire (cheshek) which begins with (Shir HaShirim 1:2), Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth....

Rav S. R. Hirsch (Bereishis 24:67):... A man’s love for his wife grows with time. An example is the marriage of the son of the first Jew. This is the way it is with the majority of Jewish marriages. They are not built on the basis of lust (cheshek) but rather on careful deliberations. The parents and relatives make the decision as to whether these young people are compatible with each other. As a consequence of this objective compatibility, love grows with the marriage as the couple spends more time together. In contrast the majority of non-Jewish marriages in the world are based on what they call “love”. One has only to look around to have clear proof that there is a great chasm between the “love” prior to marriage and that which exists after the marriage. One sees how quickly things change after marriage and are so different than what people imagined they would be. This “love” is blind and false. In contrast the Jewish marriages are described by this verse, “And he took Rivkah and he married her and he came to love her.” The Jewish wedding is not the result of the flowering of love but is the cause of it.

Rav Yitzchok Zilberstein (Chashukei Chemed - Yoma 2a):  Question: It says in Yevamos 62b) that one who loves his lives as himself and honors her more than himself....will have peace in his tent. The Rambam (Hilchos Ishus 15:19) writes that the Sages commanded that a man should honor his wife more than himself and love her as much as himself. But this requires an explanation as to why they gave such a command since we already are commanded to love our fellow man and a person's wife is obviously included in this Torah command? Answer: I asked this question to my brother -in-law Rav Chaim Konievsky and he replied that it was because there are times when a person is not obligated to show love from the Torah command of "love your fellow as yourself." For example it says in Nida (16b), Rav Shimon bar Yochai said there are 4 things that Gd hates and I don't like. 1) A person who suddenly enters into his house and surely into the house of another person [because person they are involved in intimate matters - Rashi]. The Maharasha writes, "G-d hates them because these are matters of pritzus (immorality) but regarding himself Rav Shimon just says I don't love them. That is because it is possible that these things are not pritzus that would justify violating the prohibition of hating another." Consequently in such a case if the wife suddenly enters into the house then at that moment there is no obligation to love his wife from the aspect of the Torah law of "love your fellow as yourself." However in regard to the command that is derived from "you will have peace in  your tent"- there is still an obligation to love her. Furthermore there is a question regarding what the halachais when a wife sins. There is no longer an obligation to love her from "love your fellow" - in fact the opposite is true and there is an obligation to hate her. Is this rabbinic command "of peace in your tent" still applicable? It would seem that even  if there is  no mitzva to love her there is still a mitzva to honor her. That is because the obligation to honor her is because of gratitude because she raises the children and saves him from sin. This gratitude is still obligatory even if she sins. Therefore it is correct to honor her and to buy her appropriate clothing - even though she sins. Rav Shmuel Arvah gives an additional answer why there is a special verse to love his wife. It is based on the Maharsha (Shabbos 31a) which explains the answer of Hillel to the goy who wanted to learn the entire Torah while standing on one foot and  Hillel replied that what is hateful to you do do to your fellow. The question is why he worded in a negative way that he should be good to his fellow as he is to himself? He answers that the Maharsha says that the verse of "loving your fellow as yourself"  only applies to negative commands such as not taking revenge. However not to the positive commands of the Torah to do good to others.  That is because your life always comes first. Consequently we can say from the obligation of loving your fellow as yourself - there is no obligation to be good to your wife as to yourself. However from the obligation to honor your wife - there is an obligation to honor [sic] her as yourself.

American Pride Remains Near Record Low

 https://news.gallup.com/poll/646655/american-pride-remains-near-record-low.aspx

While the percentage of U.S. adults who say they are extremely proud to be American is near the lowest point on record, about two-thirds continue to be at least very proud. Republicans’ national pride, though near its lowest point, remains high compared with Democrats’ and independents’, although all party groups are significantly less proud than they were 20 years ago.

Donald Trump Grilled About NWS Cuts After Deadly Texas Floods

 https://www.newsweek.com/texas-floods-donald-trump-nws-cuts-2095292

The NWS, which issues forecasts and weather warnings, has lost approximately 560 workers earlier this year amid Trump's desire to streamline government services and save money. The flooding has raised questions about these cuts and the extent to which there is disaster preparedness in Texas and other states in the U.S.

Tom Fahy, the legislative director for the union representing NWS workers, the National Weather Service Employees Organization, told the New York Times on Saturday that the San Angelo office was missing a senior hydrologist, staff forecaster and meteorologist. The office is responsible for some areas that were hit by the flash flooding

Baalei Mishna vs Baalei Gemora

There are many places in the gemore where baalei Mishna are contrasted to Baali Gemorah. Why?

תלמוד בבלי מסכת בבא מציעא דף לג עמוד ב

דרש רבי יהודה ברבי אלעאי: מאי דכתיב שמעו דבר ה' החרדים אל דברו - אלו תלמידי חכמים, [אמרו] אחיכם - אלו בעלי מקרא, שונאיכם - אלו בעלי משנה, מנדיכם - אלו עמי הארץ. שמא תאמר פסק סברם ובטל סיכוים - תלמוד לומר ונראה בשמחתכם. שמא תאמר ישראל יבושו - תלמוד לומר והם יבשו - נכרים יבושו וישראל ישמחו. הדרן עלך אלו מציאות. 

רש"י מסכת בבא מציעא דף לג עמוד ב

אלו תלמידי חכמים - ששימשו חכמים הרבה ללמדם טעמי משנתם, זה בזו וזה בזו, שאין הכל בקיאין בשוין.

שנאיכם אלו בעלי משנה - ששונאין בעלי תלמוד, לפי שבעלי תלמוד אומרים על בעלי משנה שהן מבלי עולם, כדאמרינן במסכת סוטה (כב, א): התנאים מבלי עולם, שמורים הלכה מתוך משנתם.

מנדיכם אלו עמי הארץ - שתלמידי חכמים שנואין ומתועבין להן כנדה.

שמא תאמר אבד סברם - של אלו - שהרי כתיב למען שמי יכבד ה' דמשמע שהם אומרים, אבל אין הדבר כן.

תלמוד לומר ונראה בשמחתכם - ולא נאמר ואראה בשמחתכם, כך אמר הנביא: אני ואחיכם שונאיכם ומנדיכם - כולנו נראה בשמחתכם.

תלמוד בבלי מסכת בבא בתרא דף ח עמוד א

רבי פתח אוצרות בשני בצורת, אמר: יכנסו בעלי מקרא, בעלי משנה, בעלי גמרא, בעלי הלכה, בעלי הגדה, אבל עמי הארץ אל יכנסו.     

נמוקי יוסף מסכת בבא מציעא דף יח עמוד א

גרסינן בגמ' ת"ר העוסק במקרא בלבד מדה ואינה מדה במשנה מדה שנותנין עליה שכר בתלמוד אין לך מדה גדולה מזו. [דף לג ב] מאי דרוש כדדריש רבי יהודה בר' אלעי מאי דכתיב והגד לעמי פשעם ולבית יעקב חטאתם [הגד לעמי פשעם] אלו תלמידי חכמים שאפילו שגגות נעשו להם זדונות ולבית יעקב חטאתם אלו עמי הארץ שאפילו זדונות נעשות להם שגגות והיינו דתנן רבי יהודה אומר הוי זהיר בתלמוד ששגגת תלמוד עולה זדון דרש רבי יהודה בר' אלעאי מאי דכתיב שמעו דבר ה' החרדים אל דברו וכו' אלו תלמידי חכמים אחיכם אלו בעלי מקרא שונאיכם אלו בעלי משנה מנדיכם אלו עמי הארץ ושמא תאמר אבד סברם ובטל סיכויין ת"ל ונראה בשמחתכם והם יבושו עובדי כוכבים יבושו ולא ישראל יבושו אלא ישראל ישמחו. פירוש מדה ואינה מדה מדה היא קצת ואינה מדה שהמשנה והתלמוד יפין ממנה:

Sanhdrein (100b) Rabbi Zeira says that Rav says: What is the meaning of that which is written: “All the days of the poor are terrible, and for the good-hearted it is always a feast” (Proverbs 15:15)? “All the days of the poor are terrible”; these are masters of the Talmud, who invest constant effort in their study and encounter endless difficulties and questions. “And for the good-hearted it is always a feast”; these are masters of the Mishna, who study only halakhic conclusions and encounter no difficulties.

Bava Metzia (33b) It was during the era of Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi that the beginning of this baraita extolling the study of Talmud was taught. The result was that everyone abandoned study of the Mishna and pursued the study of the Talmud. It was then that Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi taught them: And always pursue study of the Mishna more than study of the Talmud, as without a firm basis in the fundamental halakhot of the Mishna, talmudic discourse is futile. On the basis of what homiletic interpretation did the tanna state that there is no virtue greater than the study of Talmud? It is just as Rabbi Yehuda, son of Rabbi Elai, interpreted homiletically: What is the meaning of that which is written: “Cry aloud, spare not, lift up your voice like a horn, and declare to My people their transgression and to the house of Jacob their sins” (Isaiah 58:1)?....Rabbi Yehuda, son of Rabbi Elai, interpreted a verse homiletically. What is the meaning of that which is written: “Hear the word of the Lord, you who tremble at His word: Your brothers that hate you, that ostracize you for My name’s sake, have said: Let the Lord be glorified, that we may gaze upon your joy, but they shall be ashamed” (Isaiah 66:5)? “Hear the word of the Lord, you who tremble at His word,” these are Torah scholars; “your brothers…have said,” these are masters of the Bible, who are aware of their shortcomings and treat the Torah scholars with deference; “that hate you,” these are masters of Mishna, who consider themselves the equals of Torah scholars and resent the fact that the Torah scholars do not treat them as equals; “that ostracize you,” these are ignoramuses, who distance themselves with their actions from the Torah scholars.

It seems that there were different views as to what was the best way to study Torah - memorizing everything and relying on Tradition for halacha versus relying on ones own reasoning of the texts. This is similar to the analysis of Rav Chaim Soloveitchik. However I can't find anyone directly saying this. Sources?

IDF to summon over 50,000 ultra-Orthodox Jews in massive push for haredi draft

 https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-860157

The army on Sunday started summoning all 54,000 remaining eligible haredim for IDF service in the largest ever coordinated mass pursuit of that sector, in a campaign that will continue through July.

These ultra-Orthodox will be called on to arrive for actual service by July 2026.

This comes after 24,000 haredim were already summoned in split-up rounds of the last year, with very small results in actual haredim coming in for their military service, but under pressure by the High Court of Justice and public opinion to broaden the draft against the backdrop of unprecedented numbers of soldiers from all sectors being killed, wounded, and performing longer reserve service.

Holy Rape

Ohr HaChaim (Devarim 21:11) And you see amongst the captives a beautiful woman. This seems to imply that this is talking only about a physically attractive woman but the Sifrei says even an ugly woman that you desire. So why does the verse specifically say beautiful when it could have said a women that you desire? To explain this verse we also need to ask why G-d is giving instruction that a Jew should defile himself with an idol worshipping woman? This is especially questionable since this is during war when G-d is doing miracles for us and therefore we should be acting in an even more pious manner. Why is He permitting us to do something disgusting and hated which distances us from G-d? Permitting unkosher food is understandable according to the explanation of the Rambam while our Saqges say that this is said only against the evil inclination. They don’t say that one should fight against lust and impure thoughts .This can be understood by the mystery that when Adam sinned that many precious souls were captured by the forces of Evil and these are the souls of converts. We see that many great people come from people born as non Jews such as Ruth, such as Shamaya and Avtalyon and Onkelos. There is another mystery that we find that a pure soul is bound with an impure soul and it is not able to influence it to do good. Eventually it is freed.  An example is the soul of Rav Chanina ben Tradyon that was attatched to the soul of Shechem ben Chamor. It was finally freed when it became attatched to Dina after he raped her.  Simarly we find holy souls mixed with evil and these are the souls of those that convert voluntarily from the Nations such as Ruth. I have said many times that by the means of doing a mitzva a person becomes clothed with the light of the Divine Presence which removes from him the bad part. While being involved in sin he becomes clothed with a spirit of impurity and perversion. After this introduction the mitzva of Yofas Toar becomes understandable. Thus when it sat “When a person goes to war” means he is going to do a mitzva. If he sees a captive while he is doing the mitzva and because he is doing a mitzva G-d reveals to him that this woman possesses a holy soul and that is why she is described as yofas toar. Thus the desire for this particular woman while doing a mitzva  is because of her holy soul It is not the physical woman that is attractive but rather her pure soul. Thus when a Jewish man takes this woman with the pure soul he is actually acquiring the holiness that is within her  just as Shechen acquired holiness when he took Dina. 

Social Security no taxes message on Trump bill raises eyebrows

 https://thehill.com/business/personal-finance/5386758-social-security-no-taxes-message-rump-bill/

However, policy experts are concerned that the bill does not include a provision to eliminate federal income taxes on Social Security benefits.

“There is no provision in the budget bill that directly ‘eliminates’ or even reduces taxes on Social Security benefits,” Howard Gleckman, senior fellow at the nonpartisan Tax Policy Center, told the Washington Post.

“The people who benefit by definition have to be richer, and people who benefit the most are the richest people,” Bobby Kogan, senior director of federal budget policy at the Center for American Progress, told CBS News.

Trump Is ‘Disappointed’ With Putin on Ukraine

 https://www.wsj.com/opinion/trump-is-disappointed-with-putin-russia-ukraine-war-d7e6b127?mod=hp_opin_pos_2

President Trump keeps beseeching Vladimir Putin to end his vicious assault on Ukraine, but the Russian keeps stringing the American along. Could Mr. Trump finally be losing enough patience to try a different strategy?

Three arrested in sexual offenses case in Bnei Brak

 https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/411221

The Israel Police announced that three additional suspects were arrested today (Sunday) as part of an ongoing investigation suspected of serious sexual offenses involving the chairman of the Shomrim organization in Bnei Brak, Haim Rotter.

The three, in their 20s and residents of the city, were transferred for interrogation at the Dan regional station and tomorrow will be brought to a hearing to extend their detention at the Tel Aviv Magistrate's Court.

Rotter, considered a prominent figure in the Haredi community in Bnei Brak, is at the center of a case that began with rumors spread on social networks. Subsequently, additional young individuals chose to file official complaints, leading to the initiation of the investigation

Texas floods: Officials blame Trump’s National Weather Service for failed forecast amid scant funding

 https://www.financialexpress.com/world-news/us-news/texas-floods-officials-blame-trumps-national-weather-service-for-failed-forecast-amid-scant-funding/3904470/

 Catastrophic floods in Texas have claimed at least 51 lives, while more than 25 girls remain missing, according to authorities. Rescue operations are underway across the state as emergency teams race against time. In a viral video circulating on X (formerly Twitter), officials have blamed the Trump administration’s National Weather Service (NWS) for the failed weather forecast, attributing it to cost cuts and halted funding by the DOGE, a department once headed by Elon Musk.

Trump falsely claims his highly unpopular big bill is the ‘single most popular bill ever signed’ - More Lies

 https://edition.cnn.com/2025/07/04/politics/fact-check-trump-bill-unpopular

On Friday, before signing his massive domestic policy bill, President Donald Trump proclaimed at the White House that “it’s the most popular bill ever signed in the history of our country,” adding for emphasis that “this is the single most popular bill ever signed.”

That is an up-is-down reversal of reality.

The bill is wildly unpopular, poll after poll has found. While polls can be off, this bill wouldn’t be popular – let alone the most popular US bill ever signed – even with a massive and widespread polling error.

In a Fox News poll in mid-June, 59% of registered voters said they opposed the bill and 38% said they favored it, with another 3% saying they didn’t know. In a Quinnipiac University poll in late June, 55% of registered voters said they opposed the bill and 29% said they supported it, with another 16% not weighing in. In a Pew Research Center poll in early June, 49% of adults said they were opposed and 29% said they were in favor, with 21% unsure.

Reviewing these numbers and the similar findings of two other polls about the bill, CNN chief data analyst Harry Enten said on air on Monday: “You just never see numbers this poor. I have been trying to look through the history books to find if there was another piece of legislation that was on the verge of passing that was as unpopular as this one, and…I cannot find one.”

Trump says the Republican mega bill will eliminate taxes on Social Security. It does not

 https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/trump-says-the-republican-mega-bill-will-eliminate-taxes-on-social-security-it-does-not

 President Donald Trump keeps saying that Republicans’ mega tax and spending cut legislation will eliminate taxes on federal Social Security benefits.

It does not.

At best, Trump’s “no tax on Social Security” claim exaggerates the benefits to seniors if either the House or Senate-passed proposals is signed into law.

Trump said on a recent appearance on Fox News’ “Sunday Morning Futures” that the bill includes “no tax on tips, no tax on Social Security, no tax on overtime.”

But instead of eliminating the tax, the Senate and House have each passed their own versions of a temporary tax deduction for seniors aged 65 and over, which applies to all income — not just Social Security.

‘Blatant misinformation’: Social Security Administration email praising Trump’s tax bill blasted as a ‘lie’

 https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/jul/05/social-security-administration-email-trump-tax-bill

Frank Bisignano, the commissioner of the agency, said in a statement that nearly 90% of social security beneficiaries will no longer pay federal income taxes on their benefits.

However, the spending bill does not actually eliminate federal taxes on social security due to the rule constraints of passing a bill this way – through the reconciliation process, to avoid a Democratic filibuster.

Instead, the legislation provides a temporary tax deduction of up to $6,000 for people aged 65 and older, and $12,000 for married seniors. These benefits will start to phase out for those with incomes of more than $75,000 and married couples of more than $150,000 a year.

The New Jersey representative Frank Pallone, the top Democrat on the House’s energy and commerce committee, wrote on X that “every word” of the SSA’s email on Thursday “is a lie”.

Social Security Administration praises Trump’s agenda bill in widely sent out statement - More lies

 https://edition.cnn.com/2025/07/04/politics/social-security-administration-trump-bill-email

The Social Security Administration this week sent out an email to many Americans celebrating the passage of President Donald Trump’s domestic policy bill, and touting the measure’s tax relief for seniors, in a move that analysts said strayed from the agency’s typically apolitical nature.

Although Trump campaigned last year on eliminating taxes on Social Security benefits, congressional Republicans were not able to fulfill that promise in the “One Big Beautiful Bill” because of the rules surrounding reconciliation, the process Senate Republicans used to approve the package without Democratic support.

Trump, GOP lawmakers and administration officials have repeatedly claimed the package eliminates taxes on Social Security benefits. But that is not in the legislation, and the enhanced deduction would not be available to everyone who receives monthly payments from the agency — like people who elect to start receiving benefits at 62 but who are not yet 65.

Elon Musk Announces Plan To Make 'America Party'

 https://www.newsweek.com/elon-musk-announces-plan-make-america-party-2095031

Billionaire business owner Elon Musk said he is starting a new political party, which he dubbed the 'America Party' in a post on X Saturday.

"Today, the America Party is formed to give you back your freedom," the post said, citing a poll he had previously posted on the platform.

Kollel life and Trump's Bill

 Have not found any comments about how Trump's new Bill will impact Kollel life?

ANNULMENT OF MARRIAGE WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF CANCELLATION OF THE GET

https://www.jstor.org/stable/23258497?read-now=1&oauth_data=eyJlbWFpbCI6InlhZG1vc2hlQGdtYWlsLmNvbSIsImluc3RpdHV0aW9uSWRzIjpbXSwicHJvdmlkZXIiOiJnb29nbGUifQ&seq=9#page_scan_tab_contents

 Rabbi Auerbach undertook to analyze the topic and express his "humble opinion." He concluded that this legal device could not be accepted in practice

How a tax opposed by Shas sparked climate backlash in the ultra-Orthodox community

 https://www.jpost.com/environment-and-climate-change/article-860073

A newly published Hebrew University of Jerusalem (HUJI) study found that the well-meaning environmental tax turned into a cultural flashpoint. The 2021 tax on disposable plastics – widely used by haredim with large families and in many family celebrations, made easier by throw-away utensils, plates, and the like – caused a sharp and lasting decline in climate support among the ultra-Orthodox community. It was driven by a deep sense of political victimization – not a financial burden – as many saw the tax as an attack on their way of life. Even years after the tax was repealed, the damage to environmental trust still lingers, the researchers declared.

Russia launches record number of drones at Ukraine after latest Trump-Putin phone call

 https://edition.cnn.com/2025/07/03/europe/kyiv-ukraine-strikes-trump-putin-talks-intl-hnk

The massive aerial assault stuck multiple buildings and residential areas in the capital in what has been described by Ukrainian officials as one of the worst attacks of the three-year conflict.

Trump says US has given Ukraine too many weapons in first public comments on pause in shipments

 https://thehill.com/homenews/ap/ap-international/ap-putin-and-trump-discuss-iran-and-ukraine-in-phone-call-kremlin-official-says/?tbref=hp

 President Donald Trump complained Thursday that the United States provided too many weapons to Ukraine under the previous administration, his first public comments on the pause in some shipments as Russia escalates its latest offensive.

Speaking to reporters before boarding Air Force One for a flight to Iowa, Trump said former President Joe Biden “emptied out our whole country giving them weapons, and we have to make sure that we have enough for ourselves.”