White House theories of escalation management don’t work against a regime that thinks a U.S. President fears escalation more than Iran does. U.S. restraint since the Oct. 7 massacre has encouraged Tehran to see how much more it can get away with.
Monday, April 15, 2024
Chapter 24: The Protective Power of Mitzvot
https://www.chabad.org/therebbe/article_cdo/aid/3244228/jewish/Chapter-24-The-Protective-Power-of-Mitzvot.htm
The Rebbe clarified that:This is not to say, heaven forbid, that a mezuzah-less home or an unkosher mezuzah is a cause of harm. Heaven forbid saying such a thing! However, like a helmet at war, a mezuzah adds protection to the “bullets” of life. If someone who wasn’t wearing a helmet was hit by a bullet, G‑d forbid, it’s the bullet, not the lack of helmet that harmed him. It’s just that were he wearing the helmet, catastrophe could have been averted.5
Mitzvos protect if danger is not common
Chullin (142a) Those engaged in the performance of a mitzva never come to harm. When returning from the performance of a precept it is different. But did not R. Eleazar say that those engaged in a mitzva never come to harm, either when going to perform it or when returning from the performance thereof? It must have been a broken ladder that was used, so that injury was likely; and where injury is likely it is different, as tt is written: And Samuel said: How can I go? If Saul hear it, he will kill me.
Kiddushin (39b) Those who are engaged on a precept are never harmed, either when going or returning and where injury is likely one must not rely on a miracle.
Orchos Tzadikim (10:15) If a rabbi and Pious Man is far from his city he should not hold himself back from going there to study because of his fear of the roads, as does the lazy man who excuses himself by saying "There is a lion without; I shall be slain in the streets" (Prov. 22:13). But a man should keep in mind that many people travel and are not injured. So he too should not restrain himself from the journey out of fear, for those who are sent to fulfill a command of the Torah are not injured.
Pesachim (8b) Those sent to perform a religious duty do not suffer harm? — Where the injury is probable it is different, for it is said, And Samuel said, How can I go? if Saul hear it, he will kill me. And the Lord said, Take a heifer with thee, etc.
Yoma (11a) Messengers engaged in a mizvah do not come to harm? — Where danger is to be expected, it is different, for it is written: And Samuel said: How can I go? If Saul hear it, he will kill me. And the Lord said: Take a heifer with thee, and say: I am come to sacrifice unto the Lord.
How the US shifted from rapping Israel over Gaza to defending it against Iran
While a majority of those launches were intercepted by the IDF, it was the US that tipped off Israel to the attack once it began. US forces were also responsible for shooting down 80 of the UAVs and at least six of the ballistic missiles, according to US CENTCOM. Dozens of other launches were also intercepted by the UK, France and Jordan, working under a regional defense umbrella recently established by Washington.
Ninety-nine percent of the launches were ultimately thwarted, and only one Israeli was injured as a result of shrapnel from an intercepted missile, while an IDF airbase incurred just minor damage.
Biden gets pushback over telling Israel to avoid counterattack on Iran
https://www.axios.com/2024/04/14/biden-israel-iran-congress-white-house-strikes
The big picture: The pushback — mostly spurred by Republicans — comes as Biden and his senior advisers are concerned that an Israeli response to Iran's recent attack would lead to a regional war with catastrophic consequences, Axios' Barak Ravid reports.
US army: We destroyed more than 80 drones during Iranian attack
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/388491
“On April 13 and the morning of April 14, US Central Command (CENTCOM) forces, supported by US European Command destroyers, successfully engaged and destroyed more than 80 one-way attack uncrewed aerial vehicles (OWA UAV) and at least six ballistic missiles intended to strike Israel from Iran and Yemen,” said the CENTCOM statement.
“This includes a ballistic missile on its launcher vehicle and seven UAVs destroyed on the ground in Iranian-backed Houthi controlled areas of Yemen prior to their launch,” it added.
“Iran's continued unprecedented, malign, and reckless behavior endangers regional stability and the safety of US and coalition forces.”
“CENTCOM remains postured to support Israel’s defense against these dangerous actions by Iran. We will continue to work with all our regional partners to increase regional security,” concluded the statement.
National Security Expert: Biden is a remarkably good president for Israel
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/388484
Dr. Freilich says that “Trump hasn't said a single good thing about Israel since the war began. He hasn't called to strengthen Israeli security. He hasn't said anything about what he would do in a second term, so he did some very good things for Israel in his first term, for which he certainly deserves credit, whether it's the Golan and Jerusalem. He also made the catastrophic decision to withdraw from the Iranian nuclear program and here the proof is in the pudding. All you have to do is look at where Iran was in 2015 and where it is today, where it is a threshold nuclear state. In effect it's just about a nuclear state and can cross that final threshold pretty easily, at a time of his choosing. So, I believe that Biden has both been a remarkably good president for Israel and, compared to the alternatives, he is certainly a better one.”
Once a tolerant haven, Holland sees antisemitism surge as Jews across Europe scent danger
A record number of hate crimes reflects a post-Oct. 7 reality that’s making the continent’s Jews question their futures, but they no longer see Israel as their ‘insurance policy’
Rabbi Cherki: I recited Hallel after Iran's attack
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/388501
Rabbi Cherki says that he recited the Hallel without the blessing. "I told that student, and that's what I did myself, I said the full Hallel without a blessing, because I didn't want to complicate matters. But reciting Hallel on the day on which Israel had salvation, there is certainly room to do so."
Adam Kinzinger Slams Donald Trump's 'Insane' Reaction to Iran Attack
https://www.newsweek.com/adam-kinzinger-slams-donald-trumps-insane-reaction-iran-attack-1890159
"This is insane. It did happen!" he wrote. "Iran struck and injured 100 Americans in Iraq and Trump responded with nothing but fear. He's a small man."
‘The Antisemitism Is Absolutely Disproportionate’
If it was any other group, we wouldn’t do it. We’re not seeing on college campuses, attacks and questioning every student of Russian heritage because we take issue with the Putin administration, and what they’ve done in Ukraine and other places around the world. We’re not seeing where we’re attacking every Muslim student, because we take issue with what Hamas did on Oct. 7. One can debate the space between anti-Zionism and antisemitism. But one would have to have serious blinders not to recognize that what’s happening on college campuses, UCs included, is a series of activities that are targeting Jewish students because of their identities, making them feel unsafe and apart from the rest of the community in a way that really should have no place in our society and no place on our college campuses.
Saturday, April 13, 2024
U.S. Moves Warships to Defend Israel in Case of Iranian Attack
The U.S. rushed warships into position to protect Israel and American forces in the region, hoping to head off a direct attack from Iran on Israel that could come as soon as this weekend.
The moves by the U.S. that are part of an effort to avoid a wider conflict in the Middle East came after a warning from a person familiar with the matter about the timing and location of the potential Iranian attack. A person briefed by the Iranian leadership, however, said that while plans to attack are being discussed, no final decision has been made.
Missing Jewish shepherd found dead
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/388411
On Saturday, the body of 14-year-old Binyamin Ahimeir was located in the area of Malachei Hashalom by the IDF, ISA, and Israel Police.
Binyamin Ahimeir went missing on Friday morning, and was murdered in a terrorist attack.
Tzuras is a disease only talmidei chachomim can get
The Netziv in his commentatary to Tazria raises a number of interesting points
He says based on the Zohar that the Adam mentioned in the parsha is the highest level human - a talmid chachom whose sinning is a chillul HaShem and thus requires exile from the camp - i.e. exile. An ordinary person doesn't get tzuras and that is why a cohen - not a sage decides if it is truly tzuras - by means of a form of prophecy. Thus tzuras is a spiritual disease found only with talmidei chachomim
Pro-Israel Conservatives Are Done With Tucker Carlson
Carlson then concluded: “If you wake up in the morning and decide that your Christian faith requires you to support a foreign government, blowing up churches and killing Christians. I think you’ve lost the thread.”
Needless to say, especially since right-wing media and GOP officials have relentlessly bashed progressives over their increasingly pro-Palestinian stance, Carlson’s screed went over like a lead balloon with a certain contingency of conservatives.
“Tucker is cultivating hatred of Israel and Jews based on lies and innuendos,” Israeli-American conservative journalist Caroline Glick tweeted in response to the interview.
Thursday, April 11, 2024
Israeli academics face backlash signing letter accusing Israel of ‘plausible genocide’ in Gaza
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-796399
Regev Nathansohn, who teaches communications at Sapir College, is one of two dozen Israeli academics who have signed a petition calling for the United States to stop arming Israel in its war with Hamas. The petition, which more than 1,000 academics from around the world have signed, characterizes Israel’s conduct as a “plausible genocide.”
“President Biden, do not let the United States go down in history as the enabler of genocide,” said the petition, which has more than 1,000 signatories, from a group called Academics4Peace. “Respect the US’s obligation under international law and basic morality. The only way to stop the starvation of two million people, including 100+ Israeli hostages, is to end this war.”
GOP rages over FISA as deadline inches closer
https://thehill.com/homenews/house/4587023-gop-rages-fisa-702/
“The Rules Committee’s so broken right now, I think the only option [is to] put it on suspension,” said Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.), a member of the House Intelligence Committee. “And I think it would get two-thirds.”
Fitzpatrick, a former FBI agent, also took a shot at those Republicans who blocked the FISA bill, saying they’re simply “confused” about what the bill actually allows the government to do.
“The ideologically pure crowd doesn’t take well to facts,” he said.
Trump Blows Up Anti-Terror Surveillance
Donald Trump has a special talent for creating chaos that benefits no one except Donald Trump, and doesn’t even do that in the end. That’s the only way to understand his destructive intervention Wednesday on the reauthorization of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act in Congress. “Kill FISA,” he wrote on Truth Social, and the House Republican dunce caucus obliged.
Tucker Carlson says 'You've lost the thread' to US Christian leaders who support Israel
https://www.jpost.com/international/article-796479
Turning to Isaac for insight, Carlson sought a message directed at Christian leaders in the US, prompting Isaac to talk about the historical context of the conflict, stating, "It would be to remind them that when the state of Israel was created, it was not created on an empty land. It was created on a land that had millions of indigenous Palestinians, including Palestinian Christians."
Mila is dangerous?
Chazal state that wounding with iron is life threatening - so why is mila done with a metal knife?
Sanhedrin (76b) Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi says: It is revealed and known before He Who spoke and the world came into being that an iron instrument of any size kills. Therefore, the Torah did not provide a measure for it. The Gemara comments: And this statement applies only when the murderer stabbed him with the iron instrument. But in a case where the murderer struck another with an iron instrument, he is liable only if the instrument was at least a certain measure capable of causing death.
Wednesday, April 10, 2024
Concern that Goyim think we stole the land of Israel?
Kli Yakar (Bereishis 1:1) Rabbi Yitschak said, "It was not necessary to begin the Torah, etc. but rather so that the nations should not say, 'you are thieves, etc.'" And it is difficult; and what about it, if they will say, "you are thieves," and because of this, the order of the Torah should be changed? The answer to this is that this matter brings heresy to the world, since they will say, "there is no law and no Judge" in the world and 'whoever is strongest prevails;' since if the world had a Ruler, who sets up its matters - it comings and goings - why did He not protest against you when you took by force - by way of theft - the lands of the seven Canaanite nations? Since it is for this reason that the judgment of the generation of the flood was not sealed except on account of theft, as it is stated (Proverbs 28:24), "One who steals from his father and mother and says 'it is not a transgression' is the companion of a destructive person;" since the reason this sin is greater than others is not because of the sin itself, but rather because of the evil that comes out of it; as the sinner who steals does not place guilt upon himself and says, "there is no transgression, since there is no God that judges in the world;" and therefore he is the companion of a destructive person, which means to say, he is a companion of the generation of the flood, as it is stated about them (Genesis 6:12), "since all flesh destroyed its way," since they also denied a principle of faith and said (Job 21:15), "What is the Omnipotent, that we should serve Him, etc." And this is what [brought] them to practice extortion and theft in the world. And because the prevention of theft is fundamental to all of faith, therefore the Holy One, blessed be He, made it come early and warned about it in the first commandment of (Exodus 12:2), "This month will be for you;" as over there, it is stated (Exodus 12:21), "And bring close and acquire for yourselves sheep," meaning from yours, and not from stolen ones; so explained the Ba'al HaTurim. And so too, Yitschak, when he commanded two kid goats to be brought to him, to make from them a Pesach sacrifice, he said (Genesis 27:3), "And hunt for me venison;" Rashi explained, from what is unowned and not from what is stolen, but since Esav's heart was not like that, it appeared to him that he could rather "hunt venison to bring," even from what is stolen; hence G-d caused that he should not bring it, but rather that Ya'akov should do so, as he was careful about theft. So too, the ox that Adam sacrificed, the Sages say that it had one horn on its forehead; to show that Adam too was one 'horn' in the world - meaning to say that he was by himself in the world - and did not steal from any creature; therefore, his sacrifice was accepted. And all this is in order to push away theft and robbery which brings heresy and apostasy.
Parents of Michigan School Shooter Ethan Crumbley Sentenced to 10-15 Years in Prison
“These convictions were not about poor parenting,” said Judge Cheryl Matthews. “These convictions convey repeated acts or lack of acts that could have halted an oncoming runaway train.”
Biden's Criticism of Israel Ignites Backlash From Republicans
https://www.newsweek.com/bidens-criticism-israel-ignites-backlash-republicans-1888738
A handful of Republican lawmakers have denounced President Joe Biden for criticizing Israel's handling of the war in Gaza, as some Democrats continue pressing him to shift his own approach to the six-month conflict.
Unmasking Lead Lurking in Herbal Medicine
https://scitechdaily.com/natures-betrayal-unmasking-lead-lurking-in-herbal-medicine/
An article in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal) highlights a case of lead toxicity from Ayurvedic medicines in a young woman, and the complexity in diagnosing the rare condition.
Biden urges Israel ‘to just call for’ 6-8 week ceasefire, slams PM’s handling of Gaza war
The Univision interview was taped last Wednesday — two days after the IDF’s deadly strike on a World Central Kitchen convoy and a day before Biden held a call with Netanyahu during which he reportedly threatened to cease support of Israel during the war unless Jerusalem made major changes to address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
Biden: I think what Netanyahu is doing is a mistake
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/388226
Asked on Friday if he had threatened to stop the aid to Israel, the President would only reply, “I asked them to do what they’re doing.
Australia: Shocking details emerge of assault by pro-Palestinian activists
Two pro-Palestinian activists in Australia were charged on Tuesday with kidnapping and assaulting a victim for the perceived crime of being employed by a Jew.
Arizona bombshell tests Trump's abortion gamble
https://www.axios.com/2024/04/09/arizona-abortion-ban-trump
Why it matters: The swing-state ruling delivered a massive political gift to Democrats, who could not have asked for better timing to highlight the consequences of Trump's abortion position.
"This ruling is a result of the extreme agenda of Republican elected officials who are committed to ripping away women's freedom," President Biden said in a statement.
"This is what leaving it to the states looks like," tweeted Biden campaign spokesperson Ammar Moussa.
US woman who stole Ashley Biden's diary sentenced to a month in prison
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-68776262
Ashley Biden stored a diary and other items at a house that she had stayed at in Delray Beach, Florida, in 2020.
The property's owner later allowed Harris to stay at the house. She found Ms Biden's items and, along with a co-defendant, Robert Kurlander, attempted to sell the diary to Donald Trump's presidential campaign.
When the Trump campaign didn't bite, the pair approached Project Veritas.
Kurlander has also pleaded guilty and will be sentenced at a later date.
As part of its investigation into the charges, FBI agents searched the homes of Project Veritas founder James O'Keefe and two employees. Mr O'Keefe and Project Veritas have not been charged in the case, and Mr O'Keefe later left the organisation.
Democrats Play Into Hamas’s Hands
https://www.wsj.com/articles/democrats-play-into-hamass-hands-israel-war-weapons-c079fb94
The latest sunshine ally is Nancy Pelosi. The former House Speaker joined a letter signed by 40 House Democrats urging President Biden to stop transferring weapons to Israel. In the wake of the mistaken bombing on a relief convoy, the Members write, “we strongly urge you to reconsider your recent decision to authorize the transfer of a new arms package to Israel, and to withhold this and any future offensive arms transfers until a full investigation into the airstrike is completed.”
You’d think the U.S. never made a mistake that killed civilians in wartime. They ignore the Hellfire missile attack that killed seven children as the U.S. sought to avenge the deaths of 13 Americans in Kabul as Mr. Biden pulled U.S. forces from Afghanistan in 2021.
Who tried to steal the election?
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2024/04/09/settlement-new-york-robocalls-black-voters/
Jacob Wohl and Jack Burkman, who have a history of concocting conspiracy theories to try to smear Democrats, were found liable last March of orchestrating a robocall campaign that reached about 5,500 predominantly Black New Yorkers in the summer of 2020. Targeted voters received automated calls — purportedly from a “civil rights organization” founded by Wohl and Burkman called “Project 1599” — that sought to dissuade them from mail-in voting.
Wohl and Burkman have also been charged in other states for launching similar robocall schemes targeting Black voters in 2020. In 2022, an Ohio judge ordered the pair to each pay a $2,500 fine and to work 500 hours registering voters in Washington. Wohl and Burkman have also been charged with felonies in Michigan for targeting predominantly Black voters in Detroit with the same robocalls.
Donald Trump Faces Backlash for Comments on Black and Jewish Voters
https://www.newsweek.com/donald-trump-faces-backlash-comments-black-jewish-voters-1888693
Former President Donald Trump is facing backlash after offering his opinions on why Jewish and Black voters largely favor Democratic political candidates.
During an interview with right-wing radio host Wayne Allyn Root on Monday, Trump argued that "any Jewish person" who votes for President Joe Biden "does not love Israel" and "should be spoken to." He then suggested that most Black and Jewish voters choose Biden and other Democratic candidates because they have "a bad habit."
"Any Jewish person who votes for Biden does not love Israel and frankly should be spoken to," Trump told Root, who once described himself as a Jewish convert to evangelical Christianity. "He is totally on the side of the Palestinians and frankly it's incredible that, historically, Jewish people vote for Democrats."
"Maybe its just a bad habit when you vote for a Democrat," he added. "A lot of its habit. Jewish people, by habit, they vote for the Democrats. And Black people, by habit, vote for the Democrats."
Tuesday, April 9, 2024
Do Arab American and Muslim voters really want to elect Trump in November?
The Oct. 7 attack and the Israel-Hamas War has been so personal, so emotionally wounding for anyone with a stake in it, as to leave no space to consider “the lesser of two evils.” Of course, that is the only choice that the Middle East ever offers. Unless Biden abandons Israel, which is not going to happen, the Abandon Biden Arab and Muslim Americans may simply be emotionally unable to support him. If they write in “uncommitted” or stay home in November, and the Michigan presidential race is tight, they could hand the presidency back to Trump.
Before the Abandon Biden groups punish Biden, they should think long and hard about who will really suffer if that happens.
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