President Trump: A second Obama?

 https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/428223

For the Iranian regime, the purpose of negotiations is to force America to surrender.

In an article in Foreign Affairs, two pro-Islamic regime analysts, Narges Bajoghli and Vali Nasr, gloat over what they see as an Iranian victory over America. They write: “The war has given rise to a new Iran, one that will reshape the [Middle East] and influence the course of geopolitics for years to come."

No surprise there: the pattern has set in of Trump making bellicose statements, Iran dangling concessions, Trump backing off, Iran repackaging those concessions as further threats and demands, Iran renewing its attacks and America declaring that negotiations are resuming.

Trump could have used Israel as leverage to weaken Iran by crippling Hezbollah. Instead, by holding Israel back from delivering the decisive blow against Iran’s proxy army, he has enabled Iran to use Hezbollah as leverage against Israel.

Behind Trump’s strategic errors, however, lies a more profound-and profoundly worrying-issue. The Iran war is deeply unpopular with the American people. In part, that’s because Trump has never made the case to them that it’s being waged because Iran poses a mortal threat to America itself.

What started as the United States finally grasping that it had no option but to neutralize Iran, because it was getting perilously close to obtaining nuclear weapons to hit the “Great Satan," now threatens to turn into a repeat of the 2015 nuclear deal debacle.

Alzheimer’s patient gets back speech, bladder control and memory in groundbreaking drug trial

 https://nypost.com/2026/06/04/health/alzheimers-patient-recovers-speech-continence-and-memory-with-this-drug/

In this case study, published in Frontiers in Neuroscience, researchers focused on an 80-year-old Japanese-American woman with Alzheimer’s. Her condition had declined over the last decade and was reduced to urinary incontinence, speaking in single syllables and dependence on caregivers for mobility support.

She was then given a 5 g dose of magic mushrooms.

During the initial phase, she was agitated, sweated profusely and entered a prolonged sleep state that suggested unconsciousness. But around hour 19, she began speaking in full sentences, recalling life events she had been unable to articulate for years.

In the days and weeks that followed, more incredible changes emerged. She regained urinary continence, even in the evenings, and began dressing herself. She was able to make and maintain eye contact, remember social interactions, emotionally respond to others and hold lucid conversations.

Esther was considered a Godess

Megila (13a) She is called Hadassah and she is called Esther. It has been taught: Esther was her proper name. Why then was she called Hadassah?Hadassah was her name. Why then was she called Esther? All peoples called her so after Istahar.

Rashi notes she was named after a beautiful moon others say after Venus. She was clearly being called Esther or godess of Avoda Zara! Why is that being concealed?

LevinAt11: Schnall-Vote NO on A2218

 June 5, '26

Linked below is this week's LevinAt11 radio broadcast, of June 5, '26, Parshas Beha'aloscha.

מצורף: תכנית ראדיו רב יהודה לעוין, שליט"א, פרשת בהעלותך, תשפו

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Tefillah request, for expeditious recovery of:

• Rav Yehuda Ben Masha HaLevi (Levin);

• Shimon Ben Masha; and

• Lea Bas Freeda

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This week's LevinAt11 broadcast closed with a very brief update regarding the antireligious abortion/transgender-tyranny edict looming in NJ Assembly, S2260/ A2218. See our letter (edited) in this week's MonseyMevaser.com, page 12. Also see the very nicely-done alert ad in the Lakewood Vivaser. We thank the Coalition for Jewish Values as well, for including a post on the topic last Friday in their Rabbi's Roundup.

Please share this with anyone living in NJ, today.

--------

Selected Topic Highlights:

• Simcha Felder voted for increasingly dangerous ERA legislation;

• background on ERA;

• why it's so much more dangerous in today's transgender-tyranny environment;

• Da'as Torah on ERA:

https://agudah.org/wp-content/uploads/1988/02/JO1988-V21-N01.pdf

From HoRav Shimon Schwab O.B.M. (who, FYI, was not actually a member of the Rabbinic board of Agudath Israel)

"... Even in a Malchus shel

chessed we can face grave

dangers to our existence, in

the spiritual sense. When we face the

prospects of a Gay Rights Bill, or the

Equal Rights Amendment, it is a

matter of pikuach nefesh - spiritual survival. Such issues call for

vigorous action to protect our very

existence. As time goes on, new

areas of contention can arise,

wherein the Jaw of the land can

interfere with leading a Torah existence. ..."

• More on Distortion of Torah, masquerading as Psak Halacha, especially in cases of reputed "heterim" for individual politicians to vote for rebellion against G-d;

• from our listeners, in NYS:

https://restorechildhood.substack.com/p/breaking-theyre-erasing-mother-and

• More on the true, hidden agenda behind the Chareidi draft crisis; their ultimate goal is clearly not drafting all of the Chareidim, but something else...

• Partisanism, as we mentioned last week, begets blindness to critique of associates, and also impedes success in combating anti-Torah edicts. On this point, this week we read a selection of my paternal great- grandfather Rav Nosson Nota Leiter זצ"ל, HY"D, from his highly-acclaimed Kuntrus Divrei Chaim Ve'Emes, pg. 85.

57 min.:

• Update on S2260/A2218*: a virulent, antireligious abortion/transgender-tyranny edict looming in NJ Assembly, with Appropriations Committee** action scheduled for Monday June 8, prior to a full ("floor") vote.  The legislators must understand that we consider this wicked bill to be similar to the evil decrees of the Greeks - against which the Maccabees and their Torah-adherent followers fought to the death.  They know who the Maccabees were.

* addressed on last week's broadcast (Parshas Naso)

https://daattorah.blogspot.com/2026/05/abortiontransgender-tyranny-in-nj.html, and on our pre-Shavous broadcast: https://daattorah.blogspot.com/2026/05/nj-amalekism-looming-levinat11.html, and updated here prior to passage in the NJ Senate: https://daattorah.blogspot.com/2026/05/antireligious-edict-in-nj-senate.html.

** Passaic residents are urged to urge Assemblyman Schaer to expose this bill in the Appropriations Committee this Monday.

~~~~~~

We post this here for NJ residents to circulate:

BS"D

June 5, '26/ Parshas Beha'aloscha, 5786

Antireligious Abortion/Transgender-Enforcement edict S2260/ A2218 looming in NJ, threatening to Criminalize "Lo Sa'amod Al Dam Rai'echah"

Every NJ resident, especially in the environs of Lakewood and Bergen County, is urged to immediately call /email their own Assemblymen (both), and State Senator, to do two things:

 (1) Actively vote against any version of the gender-/ body-morphing-enforcement bill S2260/ A2218.

 (2) And expose the fact that it would criminalize Torah-mandated efforts to save youth - and others - from committing - or from collaboration with - transgender transgressions and self-harm, including the murder of preborn infants.

Fact: The bill prohibits not only physical force, but also "coercion," as liberally interpreted -- in favor of the abortion-at-whim/ transgender-tyranny advocates.  And that's before we get to the fact that these cases are likely to go in front of pro-transgender, pro-abortion, antireligious judges. A bad judge can ruin the best case, even against the best attorney.

Translation: A Rebbe, Rabbi, Rosh Yeshiva, Principal, Teacher/Morah, Mashgiach, doctor, nurse, EMT, Hatzolah volunteer, paralegal, counselor, Social Worker, mental health professional, therapist, sports coach, neighbor, chevrusa, mentor, community advocate - perhaps even a parent or grandparent - could potentially face massive fines - and hefty jail time - for merely trying to fulfill the mitzvah of saving others - "Lo Sa'amod Al Dam Rai'echah" - provided that a wicked judge would deem that "coercion," or intimidation - even if all that was done was merely verbally attempting to convince a girl or boy out of getting drugs or surgery to "become" (sic) that which they are not -- or even just saving her/him from remaining under the influence/ grooming of a transgender mentor-advocate.

A potent talking point - that legislative reps need to publicize - is that "this bill is an antireligious edict, not much different than that which the Maccabees fought to the death to defeat."

The focus needs to be on getting Assemblyman Avi Schnall to actively vote NO, (all the more so, since, if he refuses, then Assemblyman Schaer from Passaic may use that as a basis to do even worse).

From Anti-Biological To Anti-Torah:

In the Definitions of S2260, [the to-be-protected] "Reproductive Health Care Services" is defined to include abortion and "medication, to support a person’s alignment with their gender identity or expression."  Thus, all references to criminalizing efforts against people involved in "Reproductive Health Care Services" include that self-mutilating sin. Of course, though they don't want the average citizen to realize precisely what it is that they're criminalizing.  That's why its' proponents mask its true nature by restricting mention of the mutilation procedures to the definitions.

Action Needed Today:

Please call today, and about once a week thereafter, for as long as the session lasts:

Contact Info for Lakewood:

Call & email Assemblyman Avi Schnall today at: 848-245-9486 / Asmschnall@njleg.org.

Assemblyman Sean Kean:

732-974-0400/ asmkean@njleg.org.

[If the Assembly makes changes, it will return to the Senate. If so, call state Senator Bob Singer: 732-987-5669/ sensinger@njleg.org.]

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Passaic residents, and others, are asked to urge Assemblyman Gary Schaer to vote NO - and to use his influence to lead on this issue:

973-249-3665 / asmschaer@njleg.org,

As well as Assemblyman Clinton Calabrese:

201-943-0615.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

To identify or call your legislative reps: 

NJ Legislative Info For Senate & Assembly:

v: 609-847-3905 or (800) 792-8630 

e: LegInfo@NJLeg.org 

w: www.NJLeg.state.nj.us 

For more information, you may email torahjewsfordecency@gmail.com.

Please share this information immediately with any NJ residents receptive to it.

Even if the bill would pass regardless of what we do, our silence - and worse - provides it a degree of moral cover sought by advocates.

We need immediate and ongoing protest against this from the entire spectrum of Orthodox Jewry.  If legislators representing the Torah community vote for this, it implies that it's not that objectionable to the Torah community.  This mirage is precisely what advocates need to push it as "acceptable" legislation.

Rav Ahron Kotler ZT"L states that the gravest existential threat facing Klal Yisroel is not Jew-hatred, assimilation, or loss of Torah knowledge - but rather distortion of the Torah." (Mishnas Reb Ahron 1:2:3:6.)

We cannot afford to convey any ambiguity.

[Some legislators may be responsive to the fact that, in wake of Memorial Day - and approaching the 250th anniversary of what used to be a blessed nation that celebrated moral values - those who vote for this bill spit on the graves of those who fought and died for America.  Those heroes certainly didn't make the ultimate sacrifice to enable domestic abuse of children and infanticide in the name of the Law.]

~~~~~~   

An important item we didn't get to cover:

Parading Pederastic Perversion Pride Posts - Again: Rep. Mike Lawler (NY17/ Log-Cabin) is posting in celebration of LGBT Pride Month, when the LGBTQ mob outreaches to the public to gain acceptance of their disgusting, predatory, anti-child, anti-woman movement.

https://x.com/RepMikeLawler/status/2061555862032752755

https://www.threads.com/@repmikelawler/post/DZDs34hGly2/june-is-pride-month-a-time-to-celebrate-love-acceptance-and-the-freedom-to-be

https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=988642184088018&set=pb.100088267377581.-2207520000

https://www.instagram.com/p/DKmwWiuuTm_/

and from his official campaign account:

https://x.com/lawler4ny/status/2061555559170544062

What is Peace with Celestial Family?

 Berachos (16b) R. Safra on concluding his prayer added the following: May it be Thy will, O Lord our God, to establish peace among the celestial family, and among the earthly family, and among the disciples who occupy themselves with Thy Torah whether for its own sake or for other motives; and may it please Thee that all who do so for other motives may come to study it for its own sake!

Rashi (Berachos 17b) In the heavenly entourage — in the cohort of the minister angels of the nations. For when the supernal ministers have a conflict amongst them, there is immediately a dispute amongst the nations, as it is written, but now I must go back to fight the minister angel of Persia.

Sanhedrin (98b) And what is the meaning of ‘and all faces are turned into paleness? R. Johanan said: This refers to God's heavenly family i..e., the angels and his earthly family i.e., Israel, when God says, Tthe Gentiles are my handiwork, and so are the Jews; how shall I destroy the former on account of the latter? R. Papa said: Thus men say, When the ox runs and falls, the horse is put into his stall.

Killing Angels

 Nedarim (32a) When Moses was lax in the performance of circumcision, Af and Hemah came and swallowed him up, leaving nought but his legs. Thereupon immediately Zipporah ‘took a sharp stone and cut off the foreskin of her son’; straightway he let him alone. In that moment Moses desired to slay them, as it is written, Cease from Af and forsake Hemah. Some say that he did slay Hemah, as it is written, I have not Hemah. But is it not written, for I was afraid of Af and Hemah? There were two angels named Hemah. An alternative answer is this: he slew the troop commanded by Hemah, but not Hemah himself.

Majority of Israelis say Trump should not determine the nature of IDF operations

 https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/politics-and-diplomacy/article-898468

A majority of Israelis (62%) think that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu should not allow US President Donald Trump to dictate the nature of Israel's military actions, a poll published by Maariv on Friday found.

The breakdown shows that there is general agreement on the issue across the political aisle, with 66% of coalition voters and 62% opposition voters holding the view that Netanyahu should not agree to Trump's demands to halt planned IDF attacks on Hezbollah in Lebanon.

Meanwhile, 25% think that Netanyahu has no choice but to concede to Trump's demands, while 13% say they do not know.

Israel and Hezbollah Trade Fresh Strikes as Militant Group Rejects Cease-Fire Plan

 https://time.com/article/2026/06/04/hezbollah-rejects-israel-lebanon-ceasefire-agreement-strikes/

The Lebanese militant group Hezbollah on Thursday rejected the cease-fire proposal agreed upon by Israel and Lebanon after U.S.-led negotiations. 

The cease-fire was contingent on Hezbollah halting all fire and withdrawing its fighters from parts of southern Lebanon, but Qassem in a written statement read on TV rejected the proposed action as fulfilling “the enemy’s objectives.”

Hezbollah’s staunch rejection of the agreement comes amid reports of continued strikes being traded by the militant group and Israeli forces Thursday morning, just hours after the cease-fire was announced. 

Rabbinical court to sanction alienating parents

 https://www.israelnationalnews.com/flashes/686969

New protocol for rabbinical courts requires urgent handling of cases involving children’s safety and parental alienation, including rapid hearings, court oversight, and sanctions against alienating parents.

* Considering transfer of custody: The protocol states that alienation occurs under the custody and responsibility of the parent with whom the child resides, and that this failure constitutes a substantive deficiency in that parent’s fitness to have custody of the child. Accordingly, solutions will be considered, including immediate transfer of the child to the alienated parent, or temporary placement with a third party or therapeutic center for the purpose of preparing the child and renewing the relationship.

"These proposals are intended to eradicate or reduce the harm to the tender souls of children who, sadly, experience parental alienation, and the severe future consequences this has for those children, who have no rescuer and who turn their eyes to us," Rabbi David Yosef said.

World’s Most Advanced AI Rabbi

 https://rebbe.io

Get instant Torah insights, Halacha answers, and Jewish guidance — anytime, anywhere.

Rebbe.io uses the latest advancements in Artificial Intelligence to provide immediate answers rooted in Torah, Halacha, and Jewish tradition. Our mission is to make Jewish learning accessible anytime, anywhere.

Disclaimer: Rebbe.io is an AI-based educational tool. It does not replace consultation with a qualified Halachic authority or Rabbi. For all Halachic decisions and life guidance, please consult a competent Rav.

America’s 250th birthday celebration increasingly centers on Trump

 https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2026/06/03/americas-250th-birthday-celebration-increasingly-centers-trump/

Trump’s face will be stamped on a celebratory gold coin marking the semiquincentennial. His stern visage will peer from commemorative passports. Administration officials are pushing for a $250 bill featuring the president’s portrait. On Trump’s 80th birthday, June 14, the White House lawn will transform into a ring for a “Freedom 250” UFC fight.

Historians, political leaders and others worry that America’s 250th birthday, which might have been an opportunity to pull a divided country together, is becoming so much about Trump that it will instead be just one more polarizing event on the national landscape.

Trump is not the first president who has attempted to align a national commemoration with his political agenda. As he sought reelection in 1972, President Richard M. Nixon renamed his election campaign “The road to 1976” and was accused of trying to “steal” the bicentennial celebration.

Researchers Suspected Brain Inflammation in Long COVID but Found Something Else

 https://scitechdaily.com/researchers-suspected-brain-inflammation-in-long-covid-but-found-something-else/

Scientists in Finland used advanced imaging techniques to examine the brains of people experiencing long-lasting symptoms after COVID-19 infection. While long COVID has often been linked to lingering inflammation in the brain, the researchers found no evidence of widespread neuroinflammation when comparing patients with long COVID to healthy individuals.

“We did not observe evidence of widespread brain inflammation in patients with long COVID when compared to healthy controls,” says Professor of Neuroimmunology and InFLAMES Research Flagship group leader Laura Airas, who led the study.

According to Airas, the findings indicate that inflammation may be more prominent during the earlier stages of the disease and gradually decline over time.

The researchers say the results add to a growing understanding of long COVID and challenge the idea that persistent brain inflammation is the main cause of prolonged symptoms in all patients.

In a first, House votes to block Trump from ordering more strikes on Iran

 https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7309929059139673041/979928964203745378

The 215-208 vote marked the first time such a measure has cleared the House or the Senate on a final vote since the start of the conflict more than three months ago. The Senate advanced a similar resolution last month on a procedural vote, reflecting growing impatience with a war Congress hasn’t authorized.

In the House, four Republicans — Reps. Thomas Massie (Kentucky), Tom Barrett (Michigan), Warren Davidson (Ohio) and Brian Fitzpatrick (Pennsylvania) — joined Democrats in voting to force Trump to end the war.

“We are trapped in a war that won’t end because an incompetent president launched it thinking of only his own ego while failing to prepare for the consequences,” Rep. Gregory W. Meeks (New York), the top Democrat on the Foreign Affairs Committee, said during debate on the House floor. “Diplomacy is the only exit from this, not more bombing, not more bluster.”

Is Bill Pulte Trump’s least-experienced Cabinet pick? He’s got lots of competition

 https://edition.cnn.com/2026/06/03/politics/bill-pulte-trump-cabinet-picks-experience

President Donald Trump appears to have chosen one of his diciest Cabinet picks yet, with the elevation of 38-year-old Federal Housing Finance Agency director Bill Pulte to the job of acting director of national intelligence.

Even many Republicans have questioned or criticized the selection, often pointing to his lack of any discernible intelligence experience.

Sen. John Cornyn of Texas said he had “no evidence” that Pulte was qualified. Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska said she was perplexed by Pulte’s selection. Sen. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana cited Pulte’s “absence of apparent qualifications.” Senate Majority Leader John Thune more subtly cited how, in the role of DNI, “we need professionals there.” And both Thune and Senate Intelligence Committee Chair Tom Cotton on Tuesday declined to vouch for Pulte’s level of experience.

Before joining the Trump administration last year, Pulte spent a career in the finance sector and various other pursuits, including an air conditioning company and a nonprofit that cleared abandoned homes.