Igros Moshe (OC4:40:26) Question: Is it permissible for children to play basketball in a hall which is part of a church? Answer. It is certainly prohibited even if it doesn’t have images since we are to distance far from anything connected to idolatry. It is important to teach our children to stay away from such a disgusting place. Even if this is needed for a Jewish school even if it requires spending more money for another place
Monday, August 10, 2026
Trump Claim That Muslims Don't Assimilate Is 'False,' PolitiFact Finds
Hannity said that Muslims have different religious and cultural practices than many Americans. He asked Trump, “If you grow up (as a Muslim overseas) and you want to come to America, how do we vet somebody's heart and ascertain if they're coming here for freedom or if they want to proselytize, indoctrinate and bring their theocracy with them?”
Trump responded, “Assimilation has been very hard. It's almost — I won't say nonexistent, but it gets to be pretty close. And I'm talking about second and third generation. They come — they don't — for some reason, tWe concluded that the implication of what Trump said — that Muslims want to isolate themselves from the mainstream American culture — is flat wrong. However, we also learned that the question involves some important nuance. In particular, the task of “assimilation” facing post-1960s immigrants to America is more complicated than, and thus distinct from, what it was for white, Christian, European immigrants who came to the United States in prior generations.
We concluded that the implication of what Trump said — that Muslims want to isolate themselves from the mainstream American culture — is flat wrong. However, we also learned that the question involves some important nuance. In particular, the task of “assimilation” facing post-1960s immigrants to America is more complicated than, and thus distinct from, what it was for white, Christian, European immigrants who came to the United States in prior generations.
The data and the experts agree that Trump is wrong. Substantial evidence confirms that Muslim Americans want to have an American identity and think that doing so is achievable. In fact, their preferences for self-identification mirror those of Christian Americans.
The data and the experts agree that Trump is wrong. Substantial evidence confirms that Muslim Americans want to have an American identity and think that doing so is achievable. In fact, their preferences for self-identification mirror those of Christian Americans.
The immigrants you fear are just like your ancestors. Don’t fall for political scare tactics.
https://thehill.com/opinion/4882760-immigrant-assimilation-america/
Growing up in New Jersey as an Indian-American kid during the 1980s and 1990s, I dealt with bigotry and prejudice. But the person who understood most what I was going through was my 80-year-old Italian American piano teacher, Mrs. Baldino.
Talking to her, I realized that what I endured was remarkably similar to what she had gone through through growing up in the 1920s and 1930s. It was confusing to me, however, because some of the kids who gave me a hard time were Italian Americans. Mrs. Baldino explained to me, “They always forget what their grandparents went through.”
15 Myths About Immigration Debunked
https://carnegie.org/article/15-myths-about-immigration-debunked/
Garnel IronheartAugust 9, 2026 at 8:21 PM
But whereas 100 years ago people washed up on America's shores and said "I want to be American!", they now say "I want to change America into the hellhole I just left!"
MYTH #6: “Today’s immigrants don’t assimilate as immigrants from previous eras did.”
FACT: Immigrants to the United States — including Mexicans — are assimilating as well as or better than immigrant groups from Europe over a hundred years ago.
Netanyahu Rejects Trump’s 15-Point Peace Plan for Gaza
https://time.com/article/2026/08/09/netanyahu-says-israel-to-reject-trumps-plan-for-gaza/
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday that his country rejects U.S. President Donald Trump’s latest peace plan for Gaza.
The 15-point plan, issued by Trump’s Board of Peace, envisioned a phased peace process. Through it, Hamas would gradually cede its weapons and power to a new Palestinian administration, while Israel would withdraw its troops to the “yellow line” established in the ceasefire deal both sides signed in October 2025.
When it was released by the Board of Peace on July 31, Netanyahu remained silent for multiple days and then acknowledged that the Trump Administration had “sent us a draft.”
Sunday, August 9, 2026
Weak jobs report clouds economy as Trump barrels toward midterms
https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/6017947-trump-economy-jobs-report-inflation/
New clouds darkened the economic landscape on Friday, as the latest employment report showed the nation shedding 23,000 jobs in July.
The number came as an unpleasant surprise to most economists. The consensus prediction from experts canvassed by Dow Jones had been that more than 80,000 jobs would be created.
Democrats pounced on the number to reinforce their case that President Trump is mismanaging the economy.
Blanche set to lead a Justice Department shaped to serve Trump
https://edition.cnn.com/2026/08/08/politics/senate-todd-blanche-attorney-general
Since Trump re-entered the Oval Office, Blanche has been instrumental in reshaping the department in the president’s image, effectively switching from being the face of Trump’s defense to the face of his far-reaching retribution campaign.
Senate narrowly approves Todd Blanche as AG, capping tough confirmation fight
The Senate narrowly voted to confirm Todd Blanche as attorney general early Saturday morning, cementing President Donald Trump’s former criminal defense lawyer as the head of the Justice Department despite rare pushback from Republicans that had left his nomination in doubt.
Explaining his decision, Cassidy described it as a choice between Blanche — who before his time as Trump’s personal lawyer had spent years as a federal prosecutor and a partner at a prestigious Manhattan law firm — and the possibility that Trump might pick someone worse.
Since returning to the White House last year, the president has eroded the Justice Department’s long tradition of independence, demanding it pursue prosecutions of his political enemies and directing resources toward rewarding his allies.
Israel Is Making Plans for a Post-America Middle East
https://www.newsweek.com/israel-making-plans-for-post-america-middle-east-12294719
Asked what worries him most, Israeli Consul General in New York Ofir Akunis said it's not the uncertainty surrounding the war with Iran, nor the other bouts of turmoil and conflict ravaging the Middle East—it's a drift in American politics he warns could one day spell the end of a historic alliance.
"You can hate your president, you can love your president, you can ignore him, you can want to change the administration," Akunis told Newsweek. "All of this is within the frame of the democratic game. But to prefer your enemies rather than your political opponents, this is something new."
The West’s Demographic Math No Longer Adds Up
https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2026/08/08/europe-us-fertility-immigration-01029122
Modern welfare states rest on an intergenerational bargain. Today’s workers finance pensions and health care for older people, trusting that others will eventually do the same for them.
Low fertility is straining that bargain. Fewer young people are entering the workforce just as large generations approach retirement. Pension reform has already become one of Europe’s most politically difficult issues, and the viability of the Social Security system is a perennial concern in the United States. Those political pressures will continue to intensify as the population ages.
That has forced governments to confront an increasingly urgent question: Can they persuade people to have more children — and, if not, can immigration prevent the demographic arithmetic from breaking down?
In much of the rest of Europe, immigrants have been harder to absorb: Newcomers often arrive without the language, credentials or cultural familiarity that make it easier to find work and settle quickly. Migrants from Muslim-majority societies have also faced greater political and public pushback than Spain’s Latin America newcomers
Friday, August 7, 2026
LevinAt11-ReversePartisanism
בס"ד
ע"ש ראה, כד מנחם אב, תשפו
Below is linked this week's LevinAt11 08-06-2026 radio broadcast.
תכנית רב יהודה לעוין שליט"א, פרשת ראה, תשפו
Topics Covered Included:
1) The blight of Partisanism in the Orthodox community, discussed in recent programs, with emphasis tonight on its' flipside: blind rejection of all positions espoused by the opposition, even when rooted in the Torah; the phenomenon arises in both anti-Zionist and pro-Zionist camps, as well as among many of those ostensibly fighting against Jew-hatred.
2) How should a Torah-devoted Jew look at - and react - to escalating Jew-hatred? And how should we not be reacting? First, we need to focus on "Do no harm!"
(We just scratched the surface of both of these broad topics.)
3) In the context of accepting our tribulations as Divine Messages, see below, in Hebrew, excerpted from unpublished Review Notes on Mishnayos Negayim, on 11:9. (We didn't have time to cover this in the program, other than by a very brief reference.) A proper perspective on Divine Providence helps people avoid all types of irrational, emotional reactions, rooted in despair and desperation.
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Here's an important appeal:
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Our organization recently designed and sponsored a half-page running ad in the upcoming Jewish Upstate Business Directory (in the "Community Pages") for Chomosayich. As they're so overwhelmed with the immediate needs of saving neshomos - Chomosayich
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To donate directly to Chomosayich, call or text 347-661-0172.
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(* If you'd like to see a copy of the ad, or the latest summary/ update from Chomosayich, you may contact us directly at torahjewsfordecency@gmail.
That ad is not yet fully covered for - and we request immediate partnership in covering the remaining expenses involved, within the next week or so.
Additionally, we've fallen behind in our own ongoing work in saving girls from being drafted into the Israeli Army.
Please call / text us at 771.215.8892 to donate by credit card, and/or donate here:
TO DONATE TODAY:*
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For link*: https://secure.
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Specify "GB" (for our work saving girls from "Giyus Banos").
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"No salaries or commissions paid,
100% of donation goes to the needy."
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Previous Broadcasts:
3 weeks ago:
פרשת דברים:
Two weeks ago:
פרשת ואתחנן:
Last week:
פרשת עקב:
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היומי: excerpt discussed on the Parshas Eikev program:
חולין דף צ"ב ע"א:
... {הושע ג-ב} ואכרה לי בחמשה עשר כסף" א''ר יוחנן משום ר' שמעון בן יהוצדק אין כירה אלא לשון מכירה שנאמר {בראשית נ-ה} בקברי אשר כריתי לי בחמשה עשר זה ט''ו בניסן שבו נגאלו ישראל ממצרים כסף אלו צדיקים וכן הוא אומר {משלי ז-כ} צרור הכסף לקח בידו חומר שעורים ולתך שעורים אלו מ''ה צדיקים שהעולם מתקיים בהם ואיני יודע אם שלשים כאן וט''ו בארץ ישראל ואם שלשים בארץ ישראל וט''ו כאן כשהוא אומר {זכריה יא-יג} ואקחה שלשים הכסף ואשליך אותו בית ה' אל היוצר הוי אומר שלשים בארץ ישראל וט''ו כאן אמר אביי ורובייהו משתכחי בבי כנישתא דתותי אפתא והיינו דכתיב {זכריה יא-יב} ואומר אליהם אם טוב בעיניכם הבו שכרי ואם לא חדלו וישקלו את שכרי שלשים כסף רבי יהודה אומר אלו שלשים צדיקי אומות העולם שאומות העולם מתקיימים עליהם
עולא אמר אלו שלשים מצות שקבלו עליהם בני נח ואין מקיימין אלא שלשה אחת
{ חולין-דף צב - ב}
שאין כותבין כתובה לזכרים ואחת שאין שוקלין בשר המת במקולין ואחת שמכבדין את התורה:"
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Good Shabbos,
Rabbi Noson Shmuel Leiter,
Executive Director,
Help Rescue Our Children
Email: torahjewsfordecency@
845.642.1679
Direct: 771.215.8892
Israeli Helpline: 03.721.3337
Heard weekly on New Jersey's WSNR Radio 620AM, co-hosting the renowned Levin At Eleven program, every Thursday evening, 11pm to midnight (ET).
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News of interest:
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This is an excerpt of unedited review notes on Mishnayos Negayim, Chapter 11, mishna 9:
משנה ט:
"רבי שמעון אומר... אם היה רצוף מיטמא"
- אבל בלי זה, טהור.
...
בענין לשון רצוף, ע' שה"ש "תוכו רצוף אהבה" (ג:י); ויש במפרשים שם ב' פירושים, א' מסודר, כמו כאן, וא' רותח, מלשון ריצפת גחלת.
ולכאורה יש לשלב שני הפירושים יחד - מסודר ו"רותח" - שהרי תוקף אהבת הש"י לנו - לכאורה, שלא יםריד שום דבר בינינו - מופיע ע"י גילוי עוצם תוקף השגחתו עלינו, במה שכל דבר קטן שאירע לנו הוא מסודר בתכלית הסדר, כמבואר בפירוש הגר"א על הסידור, על מזמור קמ"ז, ע"ש, בפרט מה שמביא ממס' ברכות ל"ב: "בתי, י"ב מזלות בראתי... ואת אמרת עזבתני ושכחני!"*
* לשון הגמ' ברכות לב: - שמתחיל עם הפסוק שבראש הפטרת פרשת עקב:
{ישעיה מט-יד} "ותאמר ציון עזבני ה' וה' שכחני" היינו עזובה היינו שכוחה אמר ר''ל אמרה כנסת ישראל לפני הקב''ה רבש''ע אדם נושא אשה על אשתו ראשונה זוכר מעשה הראשונה אתה עזבתני ושכחתני
אמר לה הקב''ה בתי י''ב מזלות בראתי ברקיע ועל כל מזל ומזל בראתי לו
שלשים חיל
ועל כל חיל וחיל בראתי לו שלשים לגיון
ועל כל לגיון ולגיון בראתי לו שלשים רהטון ועל כל רהטון ורהטון בראתי לו שלשים קרטון ועל כל קרטון וקרטון בראתי לו שלשים גסטרא ועל כל גסטרא וגסטרא תליתי בו שלש מאות וששים וחמשה אלפי רבוא כוכבים כנגד ימות החמה וכולן לא בראתי אלא בשבילך ואת אמרת עזבתני ושכחתני ..."~~~~
ובענין הגמ' ברכות לב:, ע' בבעל-הטורים על פרשת עקב (ט:כד) "ממרים הייתם עם ד' מיום דעתי אתכם," ושמתחיל ומסיים עם מ"ם - להורות שכל מ' שנה היו ממרים, עכת"ד. וצ"ב, איך שייך לומר כך על הדור דיעה - שכל 40 שנה היו ממרים?
ע"ש מש"כ לפשרו על דרך פשט, שלא הכירו עוצם הפלגת אהבת ד' להם, לרצונו ית' להיטיב להם.
(ואולי לפי זה שייך לפרש "צרעת ממארת" (תזריע, יג: נא-נב; מצורע יד:מד), שהוא סימן של המראה כזו, שנשארה בנפש החוטא הזה, הכפוי טוב לבוראו.)
ולפי זה, הקשר שבין הפרשת עקב עם ההפטרה שלה, שמתחיל עם אותו פסוק הנדרש בשבת לב:, גם מתברר.
כאן, במשנתינו, נראה פשוט שהפירוש "רצוף" הוא "מסודר," ולא "רותח".
אמנם, אולי גם יש בחינה שבה יש לפרשו "רתיחות" - פירוש תוקף הקרובה - במה שעיקר החיסרון הוא הפירוד של החוטי ערב. ולכאורה זהו חידוש הת"ק, דאינינו מביטים על הפרדת החוטים, אלא - עם כל מה שיש מרחק שביניהם, וחסרון סדר - על כל פנים נחשבים בלתי נפרדים - שזה הפירוש האחר של רצוף - שכל מי ש"רצוף," שום דבר לא יפריד ביניהם. ולכן, היות שכל חוט הוא במקומו הראוי - לאותו מצב - זה סגי להת"ק שיהיו בגדר "רצוף!"
ועל זה חולק רבי שמעון, לומר דבעינן מסודר יחד לעין הרואה, ר"ל הפי' האחר של רצוף.
לפי זה, שניהם מודים דבעינן "רצוף," אלא שחולקין על הגדרה של חפצא זו של חוטים שבתוך מהלך יצירת הבגד.
ויש להאריך בה"נמשל," על דרך מוסר, בענין עוצם השגחת הש"י עלינו, ודי למבין.
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A timely letter:
BS"D
August 4, '26/ 21 Av 5786
A Truly Jewish Message for America at 250
Editor,
On occasion of the 250th anniversary of the complete signing of the Declaration of Independence (considered to have occurred on August 2), here is a message we as Jews ought to be sharing broadly, as an expression of communal gratitude towards what remains of the Constitutional Republic founded by those brave men:
Americans need to direct national attention to this prescient warning of the preeminent sage Rav Shamshon Rephoel Hirsch O.B.M.:
"... Woe to the time when sexes do not keep themselves holy! Countries and states in vain seek for the cause of their decline and do not see that they cease to be states as soon as their homes are ruined."
(-- Rav Shamshon Refoel Hirsch (Germany, 1808-1888 CE), "Horeb" (translated by Isidor Grunfeld, 1962, Soncino Press, Eleventh impression 2016), Section 4, "Chukim," Chapter 65, p.307, paragraph 1)
Just a few days ago, Jews around the world learned the folio in the Babylonian Talmud, tractate Chullin (92) that enumerates the three mitzvos traditionally adhered to by the Nations of the World, including refusing to stoop to recognition of Marriage De-Definition ("not writing marriage contracts between men").
Over twenty years ago, Rav Shmuel Faivelson ZT"L (talmid muvhak of Rav Ahron Kotler ZT"L) observed that from that Gemara we learn that the entire right to existence of the Nations of the World is predicated on their historical refusal to accept such "marriages" - and that, consequently, any attempt to deviate from that mitzvah literally poses an existential threat to society.
His observation is amplified by the Midrash Rabbah on Achrei-Mos, 23:9, on VaYikra 18:3, declaring that the Generation of the Great Flood was not annihilated until they started writing marriage contracts for men marrying men -- and women marrying women. Thus, recognition of homogeneous "Marriage" triggered the annihilation of Civilization.
The Mahara"l, in his commentary on Chullin there, explains that while all of the forbidden acts listed at the end of Parshas Achrei-Mos (VaYikra 18) are categorized as "abominations" - in the very last several p'sukim - the act of sodomy is the only arayos transgression branded as an "abomination" in its' individual enumeration (VaYikra 22:18). This is to teach us that Sodomy is an abomination even amongst other abominations! And it's this Ultimate Abomination that is being celebrated as the substance of matrimony by To'aiva- Marriage proponents. This is an unfathomable rebellion against G-d.
Now, to discern the practical impact recognition of said fraudulent Marriage has already had on the West - one need not look far. The wholesale abuse of children exploited by homogeneous spousal imposters - under the cynical branding of "adoption" - stands out as an example of unforgivable state-mandated child-abuse - of Biblical proportions. The fact that one such person was appointed to the Cabinet - by a Republican president - renders the issue all the more incumbent on us as Jews to speak out against, especially as his name, photo, and exploits infiltrate our currency, our media, our institutions, and even our homes.
Additionally, with all of the grandstanding against the predatory crimes being enabled by the transgender advocates, precious little attention is given to identify its' cause: caving in on Marriage Redefinition - by the leadership of both political parties, and by our own communal leadership. By removing yet another obstacle to the pursuit of transgender-agenda, we ourselves advanced it, in a manner even more inexcusable than it was predictable.
While Biden (ostensibly) "signed" federal Mabul-Marriage enforcement in December'22 - Trump himself (not his auto-pen) celebrated it, days later, and, even worse, pledged that he's "fighting hard" for the gay community - after they ostensibly
The same types of failures that led to passage of To'aiva Matrimony in NY State in June 2011 - courtesy of Arm-Twister-in-Chief Andrew Cuomo - were operative in yet another communal disaster: our failure to stop Physician-Facilitated Prescription Poisoning (euphemized "Medical (sic) Aid In Dying" (sic)) this year. Included were the failure to prioritize these burning issues over procurement of government largesse, and to do so in a timely fashion, when we had the ability to defeat political candidates over these issues.
As the six month training period for Assisted "Suicide" ends this week, the lethal legislation is scheduled to go into effect on August 5th, R"L. Consequently, all qualified clientele - along with untold numbers of others - can now "benefit" from the best killing services NY State has to offer.
So, ensure your doctors and health care facilities shun collaboration in this Aktzion T4 rerun. The "health"care professional whose career involves prescription poisoning probably won't be serving you well as the shliach to save the lives of your loved ones.
Regarding both of these legislative and societal calamities, we need recognize our own communal culpability - as well as resolve to do whatever necessary to counter these anti-Torah policies, including shunning any cooperation with those policies.
In closing, we cannot omit this most timely imperative:
"...
The greater the difficulty, the more biting the ridicule and sarcasm, and the more numerous the opponent -- then the holier is the principle, and the more sacred is our duty to defend it.
In my opinion, the halachic dictum bishas gezeras ha-malchus afillu mitzvah kallah ke'gon le-shinuyei Arkesa de-mesana, ye'hareg ve'al Ya'avor ... applies not only to political and religious persecution originated by some pagan ruler, but also to situations in which a small number of G-d-fearing and Torah-loyal people is confronted with a hostile attitude on the part of the majority dominated by a false philosophy."*
* from Rabbi Joseph Dov Soloveitchik, O.B.M., reprinted in Baruch Litvin, The Sanctity of the Synagogue, p. 111, quoted by Rabbi Mayer Twersky, in "Judaism and Deviant Behavior," appearing in Dialogue, Fall 2013, #4, page 239-240.
To learn more, please email torahjewsfordecency@
Thank you,
Rabbi Noson Shmuel Leiter,
Executive Director,
Help Rescue Our Children
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Broadcasting weekly over: Davidzon Radio
Thursday, August 6, 2026
Israel, not Iran, is boxed in as Trump keeps chasing flimsy agreements
https://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-not-iran-is-boxed-in-as-trump-keeps-chasing-flimsy-agreements/
Tehran isn’t scared of endless US threats, and won’t make concessions. Gaza and Lebanon deals are somewhat more promising, but leave plenty of room for terror groups to survive
With Iran openly targeting US soldiers and asserting its right to control the Strait of Hormuz, many believed over the weekend that US President Donald Trump had — at long last — reached the end of his rope.
“US, Israel preparing to bombard energy-related targets in Iran,” CBS News declared on Saturday.
Israeli outlets reported that Jerusalem was on its “highest alert,” expecting Iran to respond to the looming massive strike by hitting the Jewish state for the first time in months.
Wednesday, August 5, 2026
What we’ve learned about Covid-19 since the pandemic
https://edition.cnn.com/2026/08/04/health/covid-19-what-we-know-now
Covid-19 has killed more than a million people in the United States, but in an interview with CNN’s Dana Bash on Sunday, US Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said that lockdowns were “the thing that did the most damage to our country.”
This assertion kicked off more than 20 minutes of contentious back-and-forth, in which Kennedy made a number of false and misleading statements about a range of topics including measles, autism and Lyme disease.
“It’s just fraught with misinformation. Lies,” said Dr. Jake Scott, an infectious disease physician at Stanford who has made it his personal mission to fight back against false claims about vaccines. “You could write a book about that whole interview.”
Pro-Israel candidate Wesley Bell defeats Cori Bush in Missouri Democratic primary
https://www.jpost.com/american-politics/article-904615
Rep. Wesley Bell has defeated former House representative Cori Bush in Missouri’s Democratic primary for the state’s 1st Congressional District.
Bush had emerged as one of Congress’s most outspoken critics of Israel following the October 7 Hamas attack and the subsequent war in Gaza, while Bell campaigned on a more moderate platform and has consistently supported the US-Israel strategic alliance.
The result represents an important victory for the Democratic Party’s pro-Israel wing after AIPAC and its allies invested millions of dollars in the race.
Do voters hate Democrats more than Republicans?
https://www.washingtonpost.com/ripple/2026/07/21/republican-hate-election/
The GOP is staking its chances on the idea that Americans are more dissatisfied with the opposition party than with the one in power.
Saddled with a historically unpopular president, a fraying House majority, an unpopular and directionless war in Iran, an inflationary economic record, and a fracturing governing agenda, Republican strategists have seized the only viable strategy on offer for the 2026 midterms: Dial up the hate. “It’s going to be a hate election,” a consultant close to the Trump White House told Axios. “Voters have to hate the Dems more than they hate us. And we have material to work with.”
You can see why the leaders of the GOP’s campaign brain trust would embrace an all-demonization, all-the-time master narrative in seeking to retain the party’s imperiled majorities on Capitol Hill; it’s pretty much second nature to them. More than a century ago, Henry Adams coined the de facto slogan of the modern Republican Party when he observed that “politics is the organization of hatreds.” That apothegm became the mantra of Kevin Phillips, the architect of the infamous “Southern strategy” to weaponize white racial grievance for the 1968 Nixon campaign, and it’s secured big-ticket victories for GOP candidates ranging from Bush père and fils in 1988 and 2004 to the epochal win for the MAGA right in 2016.
Democrats Lead Republicans in Polls Three Months Ahead of Midterms
https://time.com/article/2026/08/04/midterm-elections-republicans-democrats-polls-economy-trump/
Results of a Reuters/Ipsos poll released Monday showed that 42% of registered voters would vote for a Democratic congressional candidate at present, compared to 37% for a Republican.
The same survey also found that, for the first time in nearly a decade of its polling series, voters perceive the Democratic Party as having a better plan for the economy than the Republican Party.
And it’s not the only poll illustrating the diminishing relative appeal of Republicans. As of Aug. 3, the polling average from election data organization Decision Desk HQ shows the Democratic Party holds a 6.7-point lead over the GOP on a generic congressional ballot.
Preflight sermon gets plane preacher kicked off Alaska Airlines flight
Lynn, 40, of Orlando, said she got up during a flight delay and delivered a message in just under a minute, telling fellow Alaska Airlines passengers that even if it was frustrating to wait, God’s timing was perfect “and maybe he’s sparing us from danger today.”
As she prepared to leave, she called the situation “spiritual warfare ... because demons don’t like the name of Jesus.”
“The passenger was asked to deplane the aircraft for safety reasons,” the airline said in a statement. “For the foreseeable future, the guest will not be permitted to travel on our flights.”
Israel Bombs Gaza, Casting Doubt on Trump Peace Plan
https://time.com/article/2026/08/04/israel-gaza-airstrikes-hamas-disarmament-trump-peace-plan/
The intensified bombings came days after President Donald Trump announced that Hamas and other militant groups in Gaza had agreed to disarm. The announcement paves the way to implement the remaining provisions of Trump’s 20-point peace plan, which Israel and Hamas signed in October 2025. But the broader framework also requires obligations from Israel, including a halt to its attacks and a phased withdrawal of its military from the enclave, that Israel appears not to have fully complied with since signing the agreement. The framework also outlines a possible pathway toward Palestinian statehood, which the Israeli government has repeatedly rejected.
On Friday, Trump said that Israel was “very happy” with the deal, which he called a “big step for the Middle East.”
Instead, Israel has appeared to buck Trump—not for the first time—by sharply intensifying its deadly attacks on Gaza. The weekend airstrikes are just the latest Israeli attacks since the October cease-fire, which was meant to halt fighting after the war killed more than 67,000 Palestinians. Since then, the Palestinian death toll has risen to 73,000, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, while five Israeli soldiers have been killed, including one in friendly fire, since the cease-fire, according to Israeli officials. The war began after the Palestinian militant group Hamas launched a terrorist attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing around 1,200 people.
Netanyahu says Israel ‘didn’t agree’ to Board of Peace’s plan to disarm Hamas
After extended silence, PM insists IDF won’t withdraw from ‘current lines’ until Hamas fully disarmed, in seeming opposition to US-backed plan for initial Israeli pullback within Gaza
In his first public comments on the matter, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Tuesday that Israel has not agreed to the Board of Peace’s disarmament plan, which was accepted by Hamas last week.
A senior US official briefing reporters last week said the disarmament proposal is an extension of Trump’s 20-point plan for ending the Gaza war, which Israel already accepted last fall. Accordingly, Israel is only being asked to maintain its adherence to the 20-point plan, the US official said, adding that Trump would be “very disappointed” in Jerusalem if it blocked the proposal’s advancement.
However, with Israel seemingly opposed to the proposal, the Board of Peace’s top envoys visited Jerusalem to meet with Netanyahu on Monday in a bid to bring him on board.
Tuesday, August 4, 2026
AI rabbis? Some NY Hasidic groups see new technology as a challenge, others as a tool
Artificial intelligence that can answer questions of Jewish law may threaten congregants’ relationships with religious leaders, but also serves as a powerful educational resource
With the rise of large language models (LLMs) such as ChatGPT, Hasidic communities are grappling with the intersection between AI and the need to preserve religious customs. Some see artificial intelligence’s instant answers — including for religious questions — as a challenge to faith and religious leadership. Others are embracing the new technology as a potential educational tool or a way to ensure their lifestyles.
In early 2025, Tsuria conducted a small, informal survey of around 40 Orthodox Jews from around the world about generative AI. Of that sample, 94% said they use AI at least once a week.
Idolatry has power?
Emes LiYakov (Devarim 04:19) And lest you lift up your eyes to the skies, and when you see the sun, and the moon, and the stars, all the host of the skies, should you be driven to worship them, and serve them, which the Lord your God has allotted to all nations under the whole sky Looking at the Torah commentaries you will see two approaches to explain this verse. One says it means that the sun and the moon were given to all people to provide them with illumination and the Torah is prohibiting worshipping them. In contrast the Ibn Ezra and Ramban explain it to mean that each nation has its own unique star and mazzel. Likewise there is a unique mazzel for every city which is the conduit for the good. This is also the view expressed by the Ramban in explaining Bereishis (01:18). It appears that this reflects a basic disagreement about the nature of idolatry. The view of Rambam which is expressed in a number of places is that Idolatry has no real power to influence or do anything so those who worship idols or pray to them not only are sinning but they are wasting their time. In contrast the view of Ramban is that G-d created in Nature that each people has a unique celestial conduit to provide benefit to that people as long as it is not relevant to Jews. since Jews are not influenced by mazzel. However there is still a Torah prohibition to pray to this source of bounty since ultimately G-d is the source of all bounty and therefore prayer and devotion can only be directed to G-d not to His servant. However if this source is worshipped and prayed to it can actually provide benefit. Thus the verse is saying that G-d gave each nation a unique source of bounty and guidance.
Emes LiYakov (Devarim 17:03) turning to the worship of other gods and bowing down to them, to the sun or the moon or any of the heavenly host, something I never commanded— Rashi explains “I never commanded to worship them” And that is also how the Rashbam Ibn Ezra explain a previous verse concerning the verse. And perhaps you will lift your eyes to the Heavens and you will see the sun and the Moon and the stars and all the Heavenly Host which G-d distributed to all the nations. The plain meaning of “which G-d distributed to all the nations.” is like what Rashi explains there that the Heavenly bodies were distributed to all the nations to provide light for them. However as I explained there that many Rishonim disagree with this and says it means that each nation has a special heavenly power. I explained that this dependent on the dispute of the Rishonim whether idolatry has any actual power
Trump says ‘don’t believe’ the polls, but Iran pullback suggests he might
Trump’s complaints come after his approval ratings dipped to match record lows or fell to new low points in polls from Quinnipiac University (32 percent), CNN (34 percent) and the Economist-YouGov (also 34 percent). While Trump fared better in other polls, national averages show him between 36 and 40 percent approval, down about one percentage point in recent weeks to match or set new record lows.
Trump wrote “don’t believe the Radical Left’s Fake Poll numbers,” but he has long followed public opinion polls, highlighting such findings he likes and dismissing those he dislikes. His moves over the weekend appeared aimed at winding down a war that polls show Americans increasingly oppose.
Iran used psychologists to navigate Trump's 'psychopathic' behaviour
Iran’s negotiators used the advisers to assess Trump’s mental state and shape messages passed to him through regional mediators as talks sought to end the war.
“We added two senior psychologists to the negotiations’ advisory circle so that we can shape messages intended for President Trump from the perspective of managing what we regard as psychopathic behavior pattern,” an Iranian official told Drop Site.
The official said the psychologists joined the process after the first round of bilateral talks in Islamabad in April, as both sides exchanged terms for a possible memorandum of understanding.
“[Trump’s] reactions have improved noticeably since we began incorporating the recommendations of these advisers into our messages and written communications,” the official said.
Monday, August 3, 2026
Rav Aharon Elazar Turner zt”l, Author of Seminal Works on the Ramchal’s Teachings,
His levayah was held Sunday evening in Bnei Brak, with burial in Elad.
Kabbala and Sefiros
Rivash (157) Rav Shimon Mekinon who was a great rabbi of his generation I remember him well, even though I did not see him with my own eyes. He used to say I pray to understand the kabbalists who pray sometimes to one sphere and at other times to a different sphere depending on the purpose of the prayer. They explain that this is in accord with the words of our Sages that a person who wants to be wise should direct himself to the South and if to be rich to direct to the |North. In other words during the Amidah to focus on different aspects or a particular sphere. I personally view this as very bizarre since I am not a Kabbalist as they are.and it appears as Shituf .I heard one involved in philosophy say criticizing Kabbalists, “The Christians believe in a Trinity while the Kabbalists have a belief in Ten Sefiros
Translation from Sefaria:It already happened to me when I was in Sakhseh, a wise elder named Don Yosef n' Shoshan, may his memory be a blessing, who I had already seen in Valencia. He was a scholar in Talmud, well-versed in philosophy, and he was initiated and a great righteous person. There was a great love and affinity between us. One time I asked him how the Kabbalists, in one blessing, direct their intention to a known Sefirah, and in another blessing, to a different Sefirah. Furthermore, there is divinity attributed to the Sefirot, and a person prays to them. He replied to me, "God forbid that prayer should be like that. Prayer is always directed to the blessed Creator, the ultimate source of all emanations. However, it is comparable to someone who has a dispute and asks the king for justice. He should request from the king to command the judge to adjudicate, not to command the treasurer, as the question might be misunderstood. Similarly, if he asks the king for a gift, he should request that the king command the treasurer to provide it. And if he asks for wine, he should request the king to command the minister of beverages, and if he asks for bread, he should ask the king to command the minister of baking. It is not the reverse. The same applies to prayer, which is always directed towards the ultimate source, but the intention of the mind is to draw the influence toward the corresponding Sefirah that pertains to the desired matter. For example, in the blessing for the righteous, one should direct their intention to the Sefirah called Chesed (kindness), which is the attribute of mercy. And in the blessing for the wicked, one should direct their intention to the Sefirah called Gevurah (severity), which is the attribute of judgment. This is the explanation." It is clear to me, the humble and renowned Kabbalist, that this is very good. However, who leads us into all this goodness? Is it not good to pray simply for the sake of the blessed Creator, with intention, and He knows in which way to fulfill the request, as the verse says, "Roll your way upon the Lord, trust in Him, and He will act" (Psalms 37:5). This is what the great scholar Rabbi Shimson of Kinon, may his memory be a blessing, whom I mentioned earlier, said. And also, I conveyed to you what my teacher, the great Rabbi Nissim, may his memory be a blessing, said, that even more than sufficient, Rabbi Moses ben Nachman (Nachmanides), may his memory be a blessing, fully committed himself to believe in that matter of Kabbalah. I do not presume to involve myself in that wisdom after not receiving it from the mouth of an authoritative Kabbalist. Even though I have seen hints about the secrets of Rabbi Moses ben Nachman (Nachmanides), they are not revelations of the roots of that wisdom; they only reveal a span, and they cover several spans. They are close to being erroneous in some matters. Therefore, I have chosen not to involve myself in the hidden realms. Regarding your question about whether the Sefirot are below or above the level of the angels, there is no doubt that the Sefirot are above them. And they, the Sefirot, first emanated from the Emanator. According to the understanding of the Kabbalists, the angels emanated first. So it is explained by Rabbi Shem Tov ben Gaon, may his memory be a blessing, at the beginning of his commentary on the secrets of Rabbi Moses ben Nachman (Nachmanides). Rabbi Yehuda Halevi, may his memory be a blessing, also wrote in one of his poems that was recited in Barcelona when it was at peace. In it, he mentioned that when King David, peace be upon him, said, "Bless the Lord, you His angels," it refers to the higher world of angels. And when he said, "Bless the Lord, all His hosts," it refers to the intermediate world. And when he said, "Bless the Lord, all His works," it refers to the lower world. In the world of angels, he spoke in a similar manner, with many faces facing the awesome Divine Presence. The book you mentioned, attributed to the wise Rabbi Yitzhak ben Latif, is called "Tzurat Olam" and I have it with me. It consists of 27 chapters. There is also another book called "Tzror HaMor," which consists of 11 chapters. The content of this book is similar to the previous book. There is yet another smaller book called "Rav Pealim," consisting of 100 leaves, which is called so because it discusses various kinds. However, this book is not divided into chapters but into statements. And they, the Sefirot, consist of eighty statements. There is also a commentary on the book of Ecclesiastes, which is a beautiful commentary leaning towards rationality and natural wisdom. Another great and beneficial book in his collection is called "Sha'ar HaShamayim" (Gate of Heaven), resembling "Guide for the Perplexed" by Maimonides. It is divided into four gates: the first gate consists of 28 chapters, the second gate consists of 25 chapters, the third gate consists of 12 chapters, and the fourth gate consists of 16 chapters. This book is highly respected and discusses matters in a rational and philosophical manner, although it contradicts some of their ideas with our Torah. This wise scholar seems to have delved deeply into philosophy while maintaining his commitment to Torah and piety. He also wrote about the reasons for the commandments, and I did not find in that book any mention of the ten Sefirot, only the ten levels of angels as mentioned by Maimonides in his book "Sefer HaMada" However, this book expands on the explanations in all its aspects, except for a few elevated matters that are mentioned and discussed. However, in this son's book, all his words are cryptic and difficult to understand. Anyone who delves into this book called "Sefer Sha'ar HaShamayim" (Book of the Gate of Heaven) will gain additional understanding in this matter. In this hidden book, he mentions the ten Sefirot, but not in the same way as the accepted tradition of Ramban and those who follow his teachings. In this book, it appears that his perspective is that the levels of angels are included within the ten Sefirot, and he distinguishes three initial levels among the described angels: fire, water, and wind. He also mentioned that the first created being is called "burning fire," and the fourth form is the light of the sun, while the fifth is the sphere of intellect. And this, the encompassing sphere and the remaining four forms, are the four fundamental forms, as mentioned in chapter 80 of the book. However, this does not reflect the opinion of the wise Kabbalists, and it seems that these are his own ideas that stem from his heart and intellect without the influence of Kabbalah. He even mentions this explicitly in chapter 85 of the book, where he says that one should not trouble oneself to understand the new concepts that arise in his heart, as he conceals and covers them. Therefore, I said in my heart that they should remain his alone, and others should not follow him. The truth is explained in the "Sefer Netivot," following the accepted tradition that there are ten Sefirot and twenty-two letters, which constitute the foundation of the divine speech, and are hinted in the words that arise from the twenty-two verses. This is commendable, but as for the essence of the Sefirot, he speculates on his own, and therefore I say that one should not rely on such matters except based on the teachings of a wise and accepted Kabbalist —and perhaps not even then.
Rema (Toras HaOlah 3:4): … Kabbala is the foundation of faith and all other aspects of religion are built on it. So how can I talk about this subject based on my own analysis and not direct knowledge of the subject. However I decided that this in an emergency situation that requires that I ignore my own inadequacies. That is because this generation has sunk so low that I have not seen in my lifetime a cabbalist who understands the true Kabbalah clearly. In addition, many of the masses run to learn kabbalah with a tremendous desire. They are especially interested in the words of the later scholars who have revealed these matters in detail in their writings. This phenomenon is even more prevalent today since kabalistic books such as the Zohar, Recanti and Shaarei Orah are readily available through printed editions. The ready availability of these kabalistic texts and commentaries enable anyone who can read to think he understands kabbalah. However in spite of the apparent ease of understanding these books, they are not truly understood. That is because they are not learned the way kabbalah is supposed to be learned - directly from a teacher with the proper traditional understanding. It is bad enough that this problem exists amongst scholars but it is even worse since the masses are also attracted to these studies. They are people who exist in darkness and can’t differentiate between right and left. These ignorant people - who can’t even explain the Torah properly with Rash’s commentary - run to study kabbalah. This is the reason that we have an orphaned degenerate generation. Genuine knowledge is so rare that it is as noticeable like a stone in a pitcher (Bava Metzia 85b). Therefore, anyone who sees a glimpse of the glory of kabbalah gives public discourses on the matter. They will pay for this in the Future. However, the fact is that their lack of knowledge is actually useful for them in that they are totally unaware of how ignorant they are. In contrast, the scholars know very well the great damage caused by the inappropriate teaching of Kabbalah as the Ramban notes in his introduction to his commentary to the Torah. This concern is also found in the writings of the other early kabbalists…
Sunday, August 2, 2026
Soul and Sleep
Zohar (Bereishis 010b) At the beginning of the day, when a man rises in the morning, it is his duty to bless his Master as soon as he opens his eyes. The pious men of old used to have by them a cup of water, and when they awoke in the night they washed their hands and rose and occupied themselves in the study of the Torah, having first pronounced the appropriate blessing. When the cock crows it is precisely midnight, and at that moment the Holy One, blessed be He, is to be found in company with the righteous in the Garden of Eden. It is therefore proper then to pronounce the benediction and study the Torah; but one may not pronounce the benediction with unclean hands. So, too, at any time that one rises up from his sleep. For whilst a man is asleep his soul departs from him and an impure spirit comes forth and settles on his hands and defiles them: hence one may not pronounce a blessing without first washing them.
Limit to G-d's Testing
I finally found attempts to prove that there is a limit to G-d's test
The Ramban (Bereishis 22:01) notes that tests like the Akeida are done for the benefit of the testee
AND G-D TRIED ABRAHAM. The matter of “trial,” in my opinion, is as follows: Since a man’s deeds are at his absolute free command, to perform them or not to perform them at his will, on the part of one who is tried it is called “a trial.” But on the part of the One, blessed be He, who tries the person, it is a command that the one being tested should bring forth the matter from the potential into actuality so that he may be rewarded for a good deed, not for a good thought alone.
Know further that G-d trieth the righteous, for knowing that the righteous will do His will, He desires to make him even more upright, and so He commands him to undertake a test, but He does not try the wicked, who would not obey. Thus all trials in the Torah are for the good of the one who is being tried.
Similarly it is argued from the fact that chastisements are done as a father chastises his child that obviously the test is bearable.
Devarim (08:05) Bear in mind that the ETERNAL your God disciplines you just as a man disciplines his son.
Neither proves that a person will not be overwhelmed by the test
The gemora Berachos (32a) Moshe says to G-d that of course Jews sinned because G-d gave them too much gold.
What is the meaning of and Di Zahav? The Sages of the school of Rabbi Yannai said that Moses said the following before the Holy One, Blessed be He, to atone for Israel after the sin of the Golden Calf: Master of the Universe, because of the gold and silver that you lavished upon Israel during the exodus from Egypt until they said enough [dai]; it was this wealth that caused Israel to make the Golden Calf.
Rabbi Ḥiyya bar Abba said that Rabbi Yoḥanan said: This is comparable to a person who had a son; he bathed him and anointed him with oil, fed him and gave him drink, and hung a purse of money around his neck. Then, he brought his son to the entrance of a brothel. What could the son do to avoid sinning?
Silly me, I thought Hamas was finished
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/431089
Israel, the nation that beat Hamas to a pulp in response to the slaughter of Oct. 7, 2023, gets to play the part of the loser in Trump's peace plan. Opinion.
Now, it turns out, this was not the case. This defeated enemy gets to dictate terms. That is so under the “peace plan" imagined by the White House.
More than that, the Palestinian Arabs get to celebrate for themselves a brand new country.
Trump’s ‘historic’ deal to disarm Hamas faces uphill climb
https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/6002984-israel-hamas-roadmaps-skepticism/
President Trump’s announcement Thursday of a “historic” deal to disarm Hamas is drawing more skepticism than fanfare.
Hamas said it was prepared to abide by the terms, but only with the buy-in of Israel, which remains skeptical about the deal, according to a U.S official invited into the discussions.
The agreement would see Hamas hand over weapons in phases, with Israel ultimately withdrawing its military. However, with trust between the two sides at zero, countless hurdles remain to fulfilling Trump’s vision of a demilitarized and reconstructed Gaza.
Saturday, August 1, 2026
Trump claims Israel ‘very happy’ about Hamas disarmament deal, as Netanyahu indicates otherwise
US President Donald Trump on Friday claimed that Israel is “very happy” about the disarmament deal his Board of Peace inked a day earlier with Hamas, even as Israel has objected to the proposal and Hamas has said the deal’s implementation must begin with Israel complying.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has yet to comment on the agreement, which would see the IDF pull back from its positions in Gaza as Hamas lays down its weapons and transfers control of Gaza to a technocratic body. But a pair of statements attributed to a “senior Israeli official” have asserted that Israel does not accept the proposal and will not carry out any withdrawals from territory in Gaza as it requires.
One statement, issued by Netanyahu’s office on Thursday, said Israel demanded “the full disarmament of Hamas, including removal of the weaponry from Gaza and the complete demilitarization of the Strip as a condition for any process” of withdrawal. The statement added that the agreement does not include “a sufficient response to those demands.”
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