As Iran war diverts attention from Gaza, Hamas police openly tighten grip on Strip

 https://www.timesofisrael.com/as-iran-war-diverts-attention-from-gaza-hamas-police-openly-tighten-grip-on-strip/

A few days ago, police working under Hamas who were patrolling a market in Gaza City came upon a vendor who was selling tomatoes for the wildly inflated price of NIS 25 per kilogram, or about $3.60 a pound.

The officers seized the produce, citing a law against price gouging meant to protect Gazans amid a reduction in goods entering the Strip since the outbreak of the war in Iran on February 28, according to Anas Arafat, a Gaza City resident who witnessed the incident.

With attention in Israel and the region largely on the war in Iran and fighting in Lebanon, Hamas security forces in Gaza have stepped up their visibility in Gaza over the last two weeks, according to locals who spoke with The Times of Israel and corroborated by footage circulating in the enclave.

Alongside Hamas’s increased presence have also been reports of rising violence against Gazans, as the terror group ostensibly holding the enclave seeks to reassert power.

GOP grapples with $200B Iran funding request from Trump, Hegseth

 https://thehill.com/homenews/house/5791945-pentagon-funding-iran-war-supplemental-republicans/

Republicans are grappling with how to handle an expected $200 billion request for supplemental funding for the war in Iran, weighing their desire to support the president with demands from fiscal hawks, questions about the scope of the funding and the challenge of a super-slim majority in the House.

Democrats are not expected to support such a Pentagon funding boost for a war they oppose, leading Republicans to eye fulfilling the request through the special budget reconciliation process, which bypasses the need for Democratic support to clear the 60-vote threshold in the Senate.

Adding $200 billion more to the military’s budget would represent a major expenditure of federal dollars, considering the entire military budget for fiscal 2026 was $1 trillion. The White House Office of Management and Budget still must make a formal request to Congress, meaning the figure could be reduced. 

LevinAt11 broadcast VaYikra-86

 This is a brief introduction to this week's LevinAt11 radio broadcast for Parshas VaYikra, of 2 Nissan 5786, which is linked to below.

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We extend our deepest sympathies and condolences to the family of Arthur Goldberg Z"L, of NJ, who just passed away this week.  May his mesiras nefesh in countering the LGBT mafia serve as an unrelenting inspiration to the next generation.

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Selected Topics:

First Half:

1. Arapoh Board, including Sholom Kamenetsky, along with Rephoel Szmerla, the banned [Co-]author of Alternative Medicine In Halacha, aka 

כי אני ד' רופאך.

The book was unofficially "co-authored" by Sholom Kamenetsky, as particularly evident from a preview version.

The book is a bunk-packed, New-Age missionary book. For two (of innumerable) examples, it "legitimizes" the Taoist principle of Q-i/ Ch-i, portraying it as fully compatible with Judaism, עפר לפיהם. It portrays even long- distance universal energy-work as natural, beneficial - and permitted according to Halacha.

The book had been banned - due to kefirah related ideology - by over a dozen prominent Rabbonim, when it came out in 5777, as you've probably seen in our materials (see https://daattorah.blogspot.com/2025/02/ban-by-over-dozen-rabbonim-against-new.html and other related posts on Rav Doniel Eidensohn's site).  Note that they appropriately banned the deceptive author himself - the gavra - not just the cheftza. And ShMK has unfortunately certified both (e.g. see page xxxvii until the end, in 1st edition).

~~~

Second Half:

2. Simcha Felder voted for more LGBT legislation in the NYC Council;

3. Some reflections on the current war and the need for a restoration of morality.

Good Shabbos,

Rabbi Noson Shmuel Leiter,

Executive Director,

Help Rescue Our Children

845.642.1679

Direct: 771.215.8892

Israeli Helpline: 03.721.3337

torahjewsfordecency@gmail.com

Tomim Tih'yeh [countering "New-Age" infiltration]: 

Tomim1679@gmail.com

Presentations on New-Age dangers: 605-313-6831 ext. 2

Heard weekly on New Jersey's WSNR Radio 620AM, co-hosting the renowned Levin At Eleven program, every Thursday evening, 11pm to midnight (ET).

~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~ 

Additional Post of Interest:

https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/7309929059139673041/7415589111062155832

A new war revives a hateful old lie

 https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/a-new-war-revives-a-hateful-old-lie/

What do New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman, antisemitic podcaster Tucker Carlson, Progressive politician Bernie Sanders, and the lunatic influencers Candace Owens and Nick Fuentes all have in common? Each has accused Israel, Netanyahu, and the Jews of dragging the United States into yet another endless and unwinnable war in the Middle East. 

Not much nuance separates Friedman’s assertion that “Bibi is playing both President Trump and American Jews for fools. And if the US lets him get away with it, we are fools,” from Carlson’s claim “This is Israel’s war. This is not the United States’ war. The United States didn’t make the decision here. Benjamin Netanyahu did.” Sanders’s statement that “US cannot continue to be complicit in Netanyahu’s wars,” is virtually indistinguishable from Owens’s “Trump has betrayed America and expects you to die for Israel,” and “Trump launched a war on Zionist vibes.”

Of course, there is nothing new about the right-left alliance against Israel. The 1960s Weather Underground described Israel as “a Nazi state” and a “racist atrocity,” and Ku Klux Klan Grand Wizard David Duke accused the Zionists of controlling the US government, “lock, stock, and barrel.” Nor was the claim that Jews manipulate American leaders into going to war remotely original. Henry Ford blamed the outbreak of World War I on “German Jewish bankers,” and before America entered World War II, Charles Lindbergh singled out the Jews for “pressing this country toward war.”

Who Needs Teshuva More?

 Parshas VaYikra, Rosh Chodesh Nissan, 5786

As we enter Chodesh Nissan, we're reminded of the fact that this month is "mesugal for" (meaning, more likely to merit) the Final Redemption, the Ge'ulah (see Gemara Rosh HaShonah 11a, in the name of Rebbi Yehoshua).  However, the Geulah isn't ushered in by bombing - it's ushered in by belonging - to HaShem -- meaning Teshuvah.

We see a lot of focus on indicators - simonim - of Geulah.  These simonim can play a very positive role if they motivate us to introspect and repent.  However, they're close to worthless, and even worse, if we misuse them to distract ourselves - and fail to pursue the cause of Geulah - the sibas haGeulah, being Teshuva, repentance.

This year, Rosh Chodesh Nissan falls on Thursday, corresponding to the aliyah of Chamishi, which addresses the Korbonos brought when leadership errs in inadvertently sinning  These korbonos serve as part of the Teshuva process.  Being a leader doesn't mean being perfect; it means being responsible, including rectifying mistakes, and thereby showing the way for the rest of the tzibbur.

Perhaps the coinciding of the two (Rosh Chodesh Nissan and Chamishi) relates to a powerful lesson about the pivotal role leadership plays in restoring the Divine Presence, one primary function of the Geulah. This is a lesson that appears to be spectacularly revealed by a deep insight hidden in the Ba'al HaTurim of last week's kriyah. The Ba'al HaTurim on 35:26 (the 26th passuk of VaYakhel), on the word "Ossonah" ("them"), contrasting with the very same word in Yechezkel 34:21.  The Ba'al HaTurim explains that the Torah is alluding to the following contrast: Just as the righteous women spinning the wool for the Mishkon, on one hand, brought the Divine Presence to dwell amongst us -- on the other hand - faulty leadership - which the Novi Yechezkel excoriates - repel the Divine Presence, by causing the "sheep" to sin.

However, he doesn't explain the significance of the term "Ossonah" in Yechezkel referring not to the corresponding misleading "shepherds" - but rather to the weak sheep - victimized by the former - described as "nachlos" (see Rashi 34:4).

Therein, I humbly suggest, lies a powerful and very relevant lesson.  Those very same weak sheep, who acutely need chizuk [and who even endure Galus under the influence of faulty leadership (see meforshim in Yechezkel)] - those same "shvacheh Yidden" - when provided the chizuk and direction they need - by replacing their misleaders with proper leadership - can grow and thrive, and become the ultimate of noshim tzidkoniyos - akin to the righteous women, exemplified in VaYakhel (see Rav Shamshon R. Hirsch ZY"A there).*

(*  It's been suggested that the Torah juxtaposes the "weak sheep" to righteous women in particular because women often tend to be more trusting, thus more susceptible to the influences of leadership.)

This is a powerful rebuke of the attitude of abandoning spiritually weak and disadvantaged Jews to be victimized - be it by derelict leaders, or via other harmful influences and dangers.

Those who have worked on saving neshomos from less/ non-observant backgrounds extricate themselves from the ravages of the broader culture - or who've been involved in work like that of the "Chomosaich" organization, saving "periphery" girls from the headhunting crusaders of the Israeli Army Draft Office - can see the truth of this in high relief.

Furthermore, this also holds a powerful message for each one of us. In our weaker moments, we tend to abandon ourselves to yi'ush, giving up.  In reality, it is precisely in such times that being mechazek ourselves is so much more potent in actualizing the latent greatness hidden in every soul.

Perhaps this year's coinciding of Rosh Chodesh Nissan with the aliyah of Chamishi is to alert us, individually and communally, to focus on saving potential tzaddikim - and tzidkoniyos - in who's merit the future Geulah is to come (Sefer Kav HaYashar, ch. 82) - from derelict leadership -- by providing them the authentic leadership they so desperately need -- if we truly wish to merit to witness the Geulah, for which this month is so mesugal.

In this context, we need mention the following insight by Rav Eliezer Simcha Lieff שליט"א, Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshiva Gedola of South Monsey.

The term "Ba'al Teshuva" is generally a misnomer.  It applies to those who actively left Torah observance - and then returned. Most of those who are described as ba'alei teshuva simply never had a Chinuch opportunity.  In other words, "their school bus just came 15 years late."  They just had a late start.  However, often they're unfairly penalized for that which wasn't their fault.

I would humbly observe that with all the talk about the important role of Achdus in meriting the Geulah, many lose sight of what it really requires.  Authentic Achdus is not about feel-good virtue-signalling. It's about taking responsibility for those who need our help, particularly those so often ignored or sidelined - be it due to their non-observant background, being otherwise disadvantaged, or other factors.  And when we, as a community, tolerate the institutionalization of relegation of such neshomos to those who have wicked designs for them, we ought not be surprised when HaShem sends us continuous, sometimes seemingly unbearable wake-up calls.

Perhaps the ones who need to do Teshuva the most are not those who never had a proper chance - but those of us who did.

If you would like to do your part in participating in such work, with respect to saving the next generation of Jewish mothers from abandonment to the Israeli military draft, please contact us, today.  We're no more obligated to over-extend ourselves than most of you reading this.

May we merit the Geulah in the zechus of performance of that which helps bring it, including authentic Teshuva, on both an individual and communal level. 

Good Shabbos,

Rabbi Noson Shmuel Leiter,

Executive Director,

Help Rescue Our Children

845.642.1679

Direct: 771.215.8892

Israeli Helpline: 03.721.3337

torahjewsfordecency@gmail.com

Tomim Tih'yeh [countering "New-Age" infiltration]: 

Tomim1679@gmail.com

Presentations on New-Age dangers: 605-313-6831 ext. 2

Heard weekly on New Jersey's WSNR Radio 620AM, co-hosting the renowned Levin At Eleven program, every Thursday evening, 11pm to midnight (ET).

~~~~~~~   ~~~~~~~  

The GOP is dismissing Joe Kent. They might come to regret it.

 https://www.politico.com/news/2026/03/19/the-gop-is-dismissing-joe-kent-they-might-come-to-regret-it-00836746

And the White House was doing what it has done since the war began — insisting that the critics amount to little more than a loud, online fringe with no real purchase in Trump’s MAGA party.

But there is a clear risk in dismissing Kent. Carlson and Owens, whose average viewership rivals CNN’s primetime lineup, have both suggested, or hosted people who have suggested, that Israel is behind a range of ills — from leading the U.S. into a war with Iran to the murder of Charlie Kirk. Kent’s resignation letter, which he shared on X, said intelligence showed Iran posed no imminent threat despite Trump’s assertions and that Israel pushed the U.S. into war.

“The president does not make these incredibly important national security decisions based on fluid opinion polls or podcast hosts, but on the best interest of the American people,” said White House spokesperson Davis Ingle.

Ingle described Kent’s letter as “self-aggrandizing” and “riddled with lies,” disputing the assertion that Israel forced the U.S. to strike Iran and insisting that Iran did in fact pose an “imminent threat” and was “preparing to strike Americans first.”

Whether this proves the start of something larger remains to be seen. When Biden administration staffers began resigning over the U.S.’s support for Israel’ s war in Gaza, the White House dismissed them as fringe voices out of step with the American mainstream.

Frustrated Trump struggles against perception that he’s losing control of Iran war

 https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/5792686-iran-war-trump-oil-prices/

A tide of political danger is rising around President Trump as criticism grows that he may be losing control of the war in Iran.

Grant Reeher, a professor of political science at Syracuse University’s Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, said that although much of the reaction to the conflict so far has been bifurcated along partisan lines, “I do think it’s a particular moment of danger [for Trump]. Up to now, there has been this drip-drip-drip erosion in the president’s support. This one, to me, has more of a potential to open up a floodgate.”

An Economist/YouGov poll earlier this week asked whether people approved or disapproved of how Trump was handling the situation in Iran.

Only 36 percent of respondents approved. Fifty-six percent disapproved.

That’s bad news for the White House by any measure.

How the Trump administration could be hurting Israel’s already damaged brand

 https://edition.cnn.com/2026/03/19/politics/israel-trump-administration-iran-war

President Donald Trump joined with Israel to launch the Iran war at an inauspicious time for the US-Israeli relationship.

Just a day before the first strikes, Gallup polling had shown Americans’ views of Israel hitting a 21st century low; most strikingly, Americans for the first time didn’t sympathize more with Israelis than Palestinians.

Making matters even more fraught, the right has in recent months become riven over how to deal with what many regard as a troubling rise in antisemitism in its base and influencer class. Some of the biggest names in conservative thought have increasingly — and often conspiratorially — linked Israel to all manner of American maladies.

On two major occasions now, the administration has gestured at Israel being mostly responsible for major inflection points in the war — even though the evidence on both counts isn’t totally clear

Obama Didn’t Give Iran ‘150 Billion in Cash’

 https://www.factcheck.org/2019/03/obama-didnt-give-iran-150-billion-in-cash/

A viral meme distorts the facts about the Iran nuclear agreement. The deal, approved by six countries and the European Union, gave Iran access to its own frozen assets.

As a candidate during the 2016 campaign, President Donald Trump criticized the international agreement to curb Iran’s nuclear weapons’ program — formally called the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action — that had been adopted the year before. He suggested that the U.S. had returned $150 billion to Iran as part of the deal.

That’s not true. We’ve written about this issue before. PolitiFact and the Washington Post have, too.

But Trump has repeated the claim as recently as December, when he tweeted: “The Democrats and President Obama gave Iran 150 Billion Dollars and got nothing, but they can’t give 5 Billion Dollars for National Security and a Wall?”

The meme, which has been shared 149,000 times on Facebook, mentions the recent lawsuit brought against the Trump administration by 16 states to block the national emergency. The meme says: “So, when Obama bypassed the Congress while giving Iran 150 billion in cash, how many States had sued him?”

The nuclear agreement included China, France, Germany, Russia, the United Kingdom, the United States and the European Union, so Obama didn’t carry out any part of it on his own. The deal did lift some sanctions, which lifted a freeze on Iran’s assets that were held largely in foreign, not U.S., banks. And, to be clear, the money that was unfrozen belonged to Iran. It had only been made inaccessible by sanctions aimed at crippling the country’s nuclear program.

Hegseth on $200B Iran war funding request: ‘It takes money to kill bad guys’

 https://thehill.com/policy/defense/5791278-heggeth-defends-pentagon-budget/

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth defended the Pentagon’s $200 billion funding request, which was sent to the White House for the ongoing war against Iran, saying it “takes money to kill bad guys.” 

“I think that number could move. Obviously, it takes money to kill bad guys,” Hegseth told reporters during a Thursday morning briefing at the Pentagon. 

“So we’re going back to Congress and our folks there to ensure that we’re properly funded for what’s been done, for what we may have to do in the future, ensure that our ammunition ––everything’s refilled, and not just refilled, but above and beyond,” Hegseth said when asked about the request from the Pentagon, which was first reported by The Washington Post. 

Hegseth on seeking $200 billion for Iran war: "That number could move"

 https://www.axios.com/2026/03/19/200-billion-iran-war-hegseth-penntagon

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed the Pentagon would ask Congress for more money to wage war in Iran, though he said the reported $200 billion figure "could move."

Sen. Roger Marshall (R-Kan.) called the $200 billion figure "a little tall" in a Fox Business interview. "They do need to come to … Capitol Hill and tell us what that money is going to be spent on. I think we give the Pentagon a trillion dollars a year, you would think that would be enough, but we're going to have to do something."

$200 billion is more than the annual defense spending of every country on Earth except the U.S. and China, and many times more than even some of the world's largest militaries spend.

Pentagon seeks more than $200 billion in budget request for Iran war

 https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2026/03/18/iran-cost-budget-pentagon/

The Pentagon has asked the White House to approve a more than $200 billion request to Congress to fund the war in Iran, according to a senior administration official, in an enormous new ask that is almost certain to run into resistance from lawmakers opposed to the conflict.

That number would far surpass the costs of the administration’s massive airstrike campaign to date and instead seek to urgently increase production of critical weaponry expended as U.S. and Israeli forces have struck thousands of targets over the past three weeks, according to three other people familiar with the matter, who confirmed that the Defense Department is seeking packages of that size.

President Donald Trump campaigned on ending American adventurism abroad and frequently hammered the Biden administration for the amount of money approved to finance the war in Ukraine. By December, Congress had approved roughly $188 billion in spending for the war in Ukraine, according to the U.S. special inspector general for Operation Atlantic Resolve.

Gabbard Says Iran Did Not Rebuild Nuclear Program After 2025 Strikes, Contradicting Trump

 https://time.com/article/2026/03/18/tulsi-gabbard-iran-nuclear-trump/

Iran did not rebuild its uranium enrichment capability following joint U.S.-Israeli strikes against its nuclear program last year, U.S. Director of National Intelligence (DNI) Tulsi Gabbard told a Senate Intelligence Committee hearing on Wednesday.

"As a result of Operation Midnight Hammer, Iran’s nuclear enrichment program was obliterated. There has been no efforts since then to try to rebuild their enrichment capability. The entrances to the underground facilities that were bombed have been buried and shuttered with cement," Gabard wrote in an opening statement ahead of the hearing. 

Gabbard's testimony, which is a representation of the intelligence community’s assessment of the threats facing U.S. citizens, appeared to directly contradict one of President Donald Trump's central justifications for launching a new war against Iran on Feb 28—namely that Iran was two weeks away from acquiring a nuclear weapon.

Drones over base where Rubio, Hegseth live raise security concerns

 https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2026/03/18/hegseth-rubio-drone-targeting-iran/

U.S. officials detected unidentified drones above the Washington Army base where Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth live, according to three people briefed on the situation. Officials have not determined where they came from, two of the people said.

The military is monitoring potential threats more closely because of the heightened alert level as the United States and Israel strike Iran, according to a senior administration official who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive security matters. Multiple drones were spotted over Fort Lesley J. McNair on a single night in the last 10 days, the official said, prompting increased security measures and a meeting at the White House to discuss how to respond.