Rosh HaShanna (21b) Fifty gates of understanding were created in the world, and all were given to Moses save one, as it says, Yet thou hast made him but little lower than a God, Now, Koheles sought to find out words of delight. That is to say, Koheles sought to be like Moses, but a bath kol went forth and said to him, It is written uprightly even words of truth, There arose not a prophet again in Israel like Moses. The other said: Among the prophets there arose not, but among the kings there did arise.
Wednesday, June 24, 2026
New UN inquiry: Israel 'deliberately' killed Palestinian children, resulting in genocide
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-900287
The paper refers to the killing of Palestinian children as "deliberate" and also claims Israel uses "torture, inhumane and degrading treatment, including sexual and gender-based violence, against Palestinian children."
It is worth noting that the UN reports consider a ‘child’ to be “every human being below the age of 18 years."
A significant chunk of "children" killed have been Hamas fighters ages 16 and 17 years old, wielding arms and posing an equal danger to IDF troops as Hamas operatives over the age of 18.
"Genocide" does not apply when a military makes errors, only when it is proven that a military purposefully commits mass killings. Throughout the invasions of Gaza, the IDF always used several methods to try to evacuate (often successfully) the general civilian population from areas it was about to attack. These warnings often cost the IDF by allowing Hamas to escape in the masses of civilians who fled.
Trump keeps claiming Iran made concessions. Iran keeps denying them
https://edition.cnn.com/2026/06/23/politics/trump-iran-claims-nuclear-inspectors
Ever since releasing a memorandum of understanding last week that appeared heavily slanted toward Iran, the Trump administration has kept claiming Tehran agreed to other major concessions in ongoing negotiations.
The problem is that none of them appeared in the MOU — and Iran keeps denying them.
And given the Trump administration’s own demonstrated credibility problems, it’s not at all clear whom to trust.
The biggest example came Tuesday morning, when President Donald Trump made the massive claim that Iran has already agreed to major nuclear inspections in perpetuity.
But Iran has rejected the idea there had been any significant movement on this front.
Republican-majority US Senate votes to curb Trump's powers in Iran war
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/article-900316
The Senate voted 50-48 in favor of the concurrent resolution, which passed the House of Representatives earlier this month, reflecting growing concern about the unpopular conflict.
The Republican-majority US Senate backed legislation on Tuesday to halt US military action against Iran, but it was not immediately clear how it would affect the war as US President Donald Trump's administration negotiates a peace agreement with the Islamic Republic.
The Senate voted 50-48 in favor of the concurrent resolution, which passed the House of Representatives earlier this month, reflecting growing concern, even among some of Trump's Republicans, about the unpopular conflict that began on February 28.
The vote was nearly along party lines, with four Republicans joining all but one Democrat in favor. Two Republicans did not vote.
Only 25% of Americans Think US Won Iran War, New Poll Shows
https://www.newsweek.com/only-25-of-americans-think-us-won-iran-war-new-poll-shows-12111555
Only one-quarter of Americans believe the United States has won the war with Iran, according to a new national poll from The Economist/YouGov, underscoring the public's lingering skepticism over the conflict.
The survey found that just 25 percent of respondents said the U.S. won while most remain doubtful that it emerged victorious. The findings suggest that despite the memorandum of understanding and ongoing diplomatic efforts, many Americans remain unconvinced that the military campaign delivered a clear victory.
President Donald Trump, however, continues to argue that the conflict ended on favorable terms for the United States. Newsweek reached out to the White House via email on Tuesday evening about the poll.
Tuesday, June 23, 2026
Contradicting Trump and Vance, Iran says no plans for IAEA inspections, asserts sovereignty at Hormuz
Trump claims Iran okayed inspections ‘long into the future’; regime leaders hold talks with Oman on charging fees at waterway; in another pushback, envoy says Iran will be ‘only country’ to determine how to use its unfrozen assets, warns Lebanon clash poses risk to deal
Iran has neither held a meeting with International Atomic Energy Agency chief Rafael Grossi in Switzerland nor plans for the UN nuclear watchdog to inspect Iran’s damaged nuclear facilities, a foreign ministry spokesperson said Tuesday.
Esmaeil Baghaei said there was no protocol for such inspections, adding that Iran will continue its current obligations as a member of the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and under its safeguards agreement with the IAEA.
The comments contradicted a statement by US Vice President JD Vance, who said Monday that “the Iranians have agreed to invite IAEA inspectors back into their country.”
Garnel IronheartJune 23, 2026 at 2:59 PM
This is why the whole "Trump is turning on Israel!" is a mistake. He's not turning on Israel. He's turning on anyone standing behind him and getting out of Iran with a great peace deal, an amazing deal, best ever in a bigly way! That includes Israel because of Hezbollah but it also includes Iran.
Iran Researcher: 'Trump is simply insane'
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/429072
Beni Sabti, an Iran researcher at the Institute for National Security Studies (INSS), sharply criticized the U.S. administration and President Donald Trump during an interview with 103FM, arguing that Washington’s approach reflects weakness in dealing with Tehran.
Sabti accused the American leadership of sending mixed signals, saying: “All these games of give-and-take and delaying tactics create an ugly struggle that is difficult to resolve. There is a good cop and a bad cop; in Iran, suddenly there are more radicals and then fewer. The man is not sane. Trump is simply not sane."
During the interview, Sabti said that a regime change in Iran is unlikely in the near term and that Tehran’s leadership could actually strengthen once it receives additional funds. He cited remarks by Iran’s president that the country had managed in recent months to sell 36 million barrels of oil, with 20 million barrels transferred to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to help cover budget shortfalls.
Garnel IronheartJune 23, 2026 at 2:59 PM
This is why the whole "Trump is turning on Israel!" is a mistake. He's not turning on Israel. He's turning on anyone standing behind him and getting out of Iran with a great peace deal, an amazing deal, best ever in a bigly way! That includes Israel because of Hezbollah but it also includes Iran.
Strait of Hormuz Is Open Says Trump But Confusion Reigns
https://www.newsweek.com/strait-of-hormuz-is-open-says-trump-but-confusion-reigns-12108660
President Donald Trump said the Strait of Hormuz is open despite competing claims over access through the critical waterway, whose unblocking formed a key part of the deal to end the Iran war.
Trump's Truth Social post came a day after dozens of vessels had been tracked transiting the strait that had been closed by Tehran and prompted a retaliatory U.S. move to block Iranian ports. Maritime traffic has resumed through the waterway, although as of Tuesday it had not yet returned to pre-war levels.
Trump said Tuesday that Iran had agreed to long-term, high-level nuclear inspections, which addresses one reason for launching the war against the Islamic Republic on February 28.
Garnel IronheartJune 23, 2026 at 2:59 PM
This is why the whole "Trump is turning on Israel!" is a mistake. He's not turning on Israel. He's turning on anyone standing behind him and getting out of Iran with a great peace deal, an amazing deal, best ever in a bigly way! That includes Israel because of Hezbollah but it also includes Iran.
All Knowlege comes from the Torah
Avos (05:22) BEN BAG BAG SAID: Turn the Torah over and over for all is within her
Chasam Sofer (Orech Chaim 1:208): “Whoever says wisdom even if he not Jewish is called a wise man.” The obvious question is why shouldn’t he be called a wise man? Don’t we in fact even say a beracha on the wise men of the non Jews “who gives of His wisdom to human beings”? The answer is that without this gemora we would have mistakenly thought that Divinely inspired wisdom only comes to Jews while if a non Jew said something brilliant that seems to transcend his intellectual capabilities - we would have thought it was just blind chance. Thus divinely inspired wisdom comes also to non-Jews.
Maharal (Derech Chaim 6:10): In the time of the Rambam there were those who were attracted by philosophy i.e., the secular wisdom which was not illuminated by the light of Torah. If he had not explained the verses according to their philosophical understanding there was a danger of even greater loss. In fact, the essential understanding was never concealed to those with proper wisdom…
Maharal (Menachos 64b): Greek Wisdom is what we call the natural sciences. All the natural sciences are included in Greek Wisdom which is outside of the Torah. Even though it is a mitzva to calculate the seasons and astronomical movements…(Shabbos 75a) – it is prohibited to learn these except from the Torah. This is the desire of G d that everything be from the Torah and this is the way it should be done. However to learn them for their own sake without using the Torah – it is prohibited.
Meiras Einayim of R’ Yitzchok of Akko (Parshas Noach 9:12): The Ramban said that Greek Wisdom is not the natural sciences because our Sages knew more science than the Greeks and in fact this knowledge was obtained by the Greeks and other nations from the Jews. In fact the wisdom that our Sages warned against is a wisdom that the Greeks made up and those who find it attractive end up rejecting the Torah. This wisdom consists of knowledge of signs and hints that people communicate with each other which enable a person to understand the intent of the speaker. You should know that our Sages in fact studied the natural sciences and were experts in it, but this was only after they satiated themselves on wine and meat i.e., the Torah.
Rabbeinu Yonah (Avos 5:22) Search in it, etc.: Review the words of Torah, as all the wisdom of the world is included in it.
Moreh Nevuchim (01:71): You should know that the many sciences which had existed in our community to validate these theological matters have been lost in the passage of time because of our being dominated by foolish nations and because these matters were not permitted to be divulged to all the people. In fact, the only thing that can be divulged to all people is the text of the books…
Ramban (Introduction to Torah Commentary) King Solomon whom G-d had given wisdom and knowledge, derived it all from the Torah, and from it he studied until he knew the secret of all things created, even of the forces and characteristics of plants, so that he wrote about them even a Book of Medicine, as it is written, And he spoke of trees, from the cedar that is in Lebanon even unto the hyssop that springeth out of the wall. And it is further said there: “It is G-d alone Who gives knowledge that contains no falsehood, enabling one to know how the world arose, the composition of the constellations, the beginning, the end and middle of the times, the angles of the ends of the constellations, and how the seasons are produced by the movement of heavens and the fixed positions of the stars, the benign nature of cattle and the fierceness of beasts, the power of the wind and the thoughts of man, the relationship of trees and the forces of roots; everything hidden and everything revealed I know.” All this Solomon knew from the Torah, and he found everything in it — in its simple meanings, in the subtleties of its expressions and its letters and its strokes, as I have mentioned.
Ramban (Introduction to Torah Commentary) And Solomon’s wisdom excelled the wisdom of all the children of the east. That is to say, he was better versed than they in divination and enchanting, for this was their wisdom, as it is said, For they are replenished from the east, and with soothsayers like the Philistines. (The Sages similarly said: “What was the wisdom of the children of the east? They knew and were crafty in the divination of birds.”) And all the wisdom of Egypt means that Solomon was better versed in sorcery, which is the wisdom of Egypt, and in the nature of growing things. As is known from the Book of Egyptian Agriculture, the Egyptians were very well versed in the matters of planting and grafting different species. Thus the Sages have said: “Solomon even planted peppers in the Land of Israel. How was he able to plant them? Solomon was a wise man, and he knew the essence of the foundation of the world. Why was this? It is written Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, G-d hath shined forth. Out of Zion the whole world was perfected. How is this known? Why was it called ‘the Foundation Stone?’ Because the world was founded from it. Now Solomon knew which of its arteries extends to Ethiopia, and upon it he planted peppers, and immediately it produced fruits, for so he says, And I planted trees in them of all kinds of fruit.
Rema (Toras HaOlah 1:11): In truth all the wisdom of philosophy and intellectual analysis originated from the Jews. All the secular wisdom is in fact contained within the Torah as the Rambam demonstrates in great detail. In Moreh Nevuchim he says that all philosophical wisdom is found in the medrash and agados of our Sages. You should know that I saw a very ancient document that described the development of all philosophy. It stated that Socrates was considered the first philosopher. It also says that he obtained this wisdom from Assaf and from Achitofel. It also says in the Paths of Faith, that the philosophy of Aristotle was stolen from the wisdom of Shlomo HaMelech. When Alexander the Great captured Jerusalem, he gave control of Shlomo HaMelech’s library to his teacher Aristotle. Whatever good things he found there he wrote his name on it and then added some of his own incorrect thoughts - such as the world had no beginning and the denial of Providence. This was done in order to conceal the fact that his material was in fact stolen from the wisdom of the Jews. Alternatively, it is possible that whatever he found that did not have clear cut proofs in the works of Shlomo he simply did not believe. We see however that the basis of all wisdom hangs from this vine. In truth, every Jew should believe in this system and not to give a pride and glory to strangers - the wise men of the gentiles. In fact, Shlomo was praised for being able to speak to the cedars of Lebanon and the hyssop growing on the wall. If it hadn’t been for the fact that the basis of this wisdom was stolen from him, there would be nothing praiseworthy in Aristotle and those that came after him…Therefore it is proper to believe in these things. What we have written is the way it happened.
Shalsheles Hakabbala (The Wisdom of Philosophy page 241): It is written in the sefer Shvili Emuna that when Alexander came to Jerusalem he gave Aristotle the book of the wisdom of Shlomo and what he copied from it is the philosophy that is known by his name. Moreh Nevuchim (1:71): “You should know that the secular wisdoms had originally been the possession of the Jews, but when we became dominated by the nations it became their possession.” Consequently when we learn something from them it appears that the origin is with them when in fact the opposite is true.
Trump's 'unhinged' phone call to foreign leader leaves critics stunned: 'Brazenly illegal'
https://www.rawstory.com/trump-phone-call-2677071112/
President Donald Trump's account of a phone call he says he had with Iranian officials, in which he reportedly threatened to wipe out their country, take over the Strait of Hormuz, and more, has set off a wave of disbelief, ridicule, and alarm across the political spectrum.
The threats were relayed by Fox News correspondent Trey Yingst, who said he spoke with Trump for more than 20 minutes and came away with what he called "new insight" into the president's posture as nuclear talks opened in Switzerland. According to Yingst, Trump described what he told the Iranians about the strait in blunt terms. "You close it and you won't have a country," Trump said he warned them. "You won't even make it back to your f------ country." Yingst added that Trump said, "We may take over the Strait, if we have to."
The threats were also amplified, approvingly, by right-wing accounts. Commentator Nick Sortor, whose post was boosted by conservative legal activist Mike Davis, framed the same language as a triumph. "HOLY CRAP! President Trump issued a DIRECT THREAT to Iranian negotiators in Switzerland," Sortor wrote, presenting "You close [the Strait] and you won't have a country" as evidence of strength rather than instability.
Italy’s prime minister says Trump made up a story about her supposedly begging him for something. She wouldn’t be the first
https://edition.cnn.com/2026/06/19/politics/trump-italy-prime-minister-begged
After an Italian media outlet reported that President Donald Trump said Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni had “begged” him for a photo at the G7 summit this week, Meloni quickly posted a response on social media. Trump, she said, had “completely fabricated” the story, and she was “shocked.”
One prominent case: the controversial one-on-one dinner Trump had with then-FBI director James Comey in January 2017. After firing Comey in May 2017, Trump said, “I think he asked for the dinner. And he wanted to stay on as the FBI head.” But Comey testified to Congress that Trump had invited him to the dinner, forcing him to cancel a planned date with his wife, and that Trump had brought up Comey’s future in the director job and demanded “loyalty.”
Who was right? Comey, according to evidence from Trump’s own White House. Special counsel Robert Mueller found that “substantial evidence corroborates Comey’s account of the dinner invitation and the request for loyalty” – and noted that the “President’s Daily Diary confirms that the President ‘extend[ed] a dinner invitation’ to Comey.”
'We don't serve genocide enablers': Brooklyn cafe cancels Jewish lawmaker’s order
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/429043
Brooklyn coffee shop facing allegations of antisemitism and civil rights violations after refusing service and refunding the order of Rep. Dan Goldman.
A Brooklyn coffee house has targeted pro-Israel Representative Dan Goldman (D-NY) by canceling his recent transaction, returning his money, and declaring that the business refuses to accommodate "genocide enablers", reports The New York Post.
“See, here at Poetica, we don’t serve racists, fascists, homophobes, genocide enablers, or anyone in between. Too bad we didn’t recognize you right away, or we would have turned you away. We issued you a refund - we don’t need your money (it’s probably coming from AIPAC anyways). Enjoy your loss on Tuesday. Don’t ever come to Poetica."
CNN was right about the war, and I was wrong
https://thehill.com/national-security/5930898-iran-strait-hormuz-us-surrender/
Conservative media often direct a lot of ire at the “mainstream press” for getting it wrong — and they are often right. But it is only fair to acknowledge that conservative media get it wrong, too.
And when it comes to President Trump’s disastrous attempt this year at playing war chief, a whole lot of conservatives got it wrong, this author included.
Following the president’s signing last week of his “Memorandum of Understanding” with Iran — an agreement good for 60 days until Washington and Tehran strike a “final deal” — there’s nothing left except to concede that the U.S. was done in by a few mines. Iran actually forced a desperate White House to the negotiating table simply by flexing what muscles it has left over the Strait of Hormuz.
At least three dead in Montreal shooting near Jewish sites, one in critical condition
https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/antisemitism/article-900180
Michael Moshe Mizrahi, a Jewish local and member of the local Chabad center, was declared dead at the hospital after emergency surgery.
A Montreal Police officer (SPVM) was killed, and others were wounded in a shooting attack in the Côte-des-Neiges neighborhood of Montreal, Canada, on Monday.
Initial reports also stated that a civilian, identified as Michael Moshe Mizrahi, a Jewish local and member of the local Chabad center, had been killed, possibly by crossfire during a shootout between police officers and the attacker.
Conflicting reports emerged later on Monday regarding Mizrahi’s status, with ZAKA saying claims he had died were incorrect and that he was undergoing emergency surgery, and a Chabad source confirmed ZAKA’s claims to The Jerusalem Post.
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