Tuesday, December 27, 2022

Trump Says He Has 'Total Immunity' Over Jan 6. and Did 'Nothing Wrong'

 https://www.newsweek.com/trump-immunity-jan6-prosecution-charges-1769713

"NUMBER ONE, as President, I have total Immunity. Number two, I did nothing wrong. Then the Committee members, mostly the same sleaze that pushed the Russia, Russia, Russia HOAX, started saying that 'Trump' did it. Even Shifty [Rep. Adam] Schiff got into the act again. SAD!!!"

George Santos Claims His Mom Was in World Trade Center on 9/11

 https://www.newsweek.com/george-santos-claims-his-mom-was-world-trade-center-9-11-1769298

On Thursday 12/22 Santos indicated he will comment on the allegations against him next week.

He tweeted: "To the people of #NY03 I have my story to tell and it will be told next week. I want to assure everyone that I will address your questions and that I remain committed to deliver the results I campaigned on; Public safety, Inflation, Education & more."

Kabbala - rejection is heresy

 Rav Tzadok (Sefer HaZichronos  #3 Yichud HaShem): It is already well established for all Jews the words of our Sages and all those who are sanctified with kabalistic wisdom, what the Kabbalistic matter of the Chariot refers to. Consequently there is no need to justify it against the words of our early scholars who understood it in terms of philosophy and science and metaphysics. The rejection of this early naturalistic view has already been done by the sages throughout the generations. They questioned this approach because if it were truly valid than that means that more had been revealed to the lowly of the nations of the world and to anyone who looked at their philosophy books than had been revealed to the greatest prophets by means of only allusions and riddles. There is no need to talk about this at length to right minded Jews now that the accepted views of Kabbalistic knowledge have become widespread. Whoever denies the Kabbalistic view is a heretic as is explained concerning the mitzva of lo sasur. The Bach (# 5) says that anyone who ridicules our Sages and rejects Kabbalah - which is the source and foundation of Torah and all fear of G d – there is no worse form of ridiculing the words of our great Sages and he is deserving of nidoi.

DeSantis’s request for COVID vaccine probe denounced by health experts

 https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/3786927-desantiss-request-for-covid-vaccine-probe-denounced-by-health-experts/

Brian Castrucci, president and CEO of public health group the de Beaumont Foundation, said DeSantis “appears to be focused on creating fear around vaccines that have been shown to be safe and effective,” rather than protecting the lives of Floridians.

“These vaccines have been tested and scrutinized more than any other vaccine, and they continue to save lives. Vaccine safety is not a partisan issue and attempting to make it one puts lives at risk,” Castrucci added.

Both Benjamin and Schaffner pushed back against DeSantis’s suggestion, stating that the risk of myocarditis was in fact higher in COVID-19 infections than in coronavirus immunizations. Schaffner referred to myocarditis following vaccination as a “transient phenomenon” from which the vast majority of patients fully recovered, which has also been observed by the CDC in surveys.


'Christian' missionary cult targets J'lem kids with party

 https://www.jpost.com/christianworld/article-725754

"Missionaries" from The Collegiate Association for the Research of Principles were seen handing out flyers to youths in Jerusalem inviting them to an event, according to a post on Facebook that attached the flyer.

The Collegiate Association for the Research of Principles, otherwise known as CARP, is an American organization founded by Sun Myung Moon who was a self-labeled "messiah" and founder of the Unification Church.

CARP is a US-based 501(c)(3) certified non-profit organization whose stated vision is "for every college student in America to live a Principled Life, as defined by our 3 Core Principles:

More than 80 Ohio children infected in measles outbreak, most unvaccinated

 https://thehill.com/homenews/3788623-more-than-80-ohio-children-infected-in-measles-outbreak-most-unvaccinated/

Health authorities have not reported any deaths associated with the outbreak, which began in November and started growing earlier this month into a major public health scare.

The outbreak appears to be spreading primarily among the unvaccinated. Seventy-six of the confirmed infections in Columbus were among unvaccinated children.

Physicians and local health officials have warned that misinformation and vaccine hesitancy, both of which intensified during the pandemic, have worsened the measles outbreak.

Columbus Health Commissioner Mysheika Roberts said in an interview this month the outbreak began when a small number of individuals returned from a measles-endemic area and came to the city, where the virus easily spread among unvaccinated children.

“The reason why so many of our young children have been impacted by this measles outbreak is because that’s the greatest majority of our population that’s unvaccinated,” she said.

George Santos Sparks Fury After Admitting to 'Embellishing Resume'

 https://www.newsweek.com/george-santos-gop-new-york-lying-work-1769696

CNN previously reported that multiple genealogists and documents suggested both of Santos' maternal grandparents were born in Brazil, and did not flee the Holocaust.

"I never claimed to be Jewish," Santos, who spoke at the Republican Jewish Coalition annual leadership meeting in November, told The Post. "I am Catholic. Because I learned my maternal family had a Jewish background I said I was 'Jew-ish.'"

The first openly gay non-incumbent Republican elected to the House also admitted that he was previously married to a woman. Santos said that while he dated women in the past, he told The Post that he is now "very much gay."

Police arrest suspect over blazing dumpster that injured mother during Haredi riot

 https://www.timesofisrael.com/police-arrest-suspect-over-blazing-dumpster-that-injured-mother-during-haredi-riot/

The suspect was taken in for questioning, police said, adding that they intend “to bring to justice all those involved in the incident.” The suspect’s identity was sealed under a court-issued gag order.

According to a Channel 12 report, Dzalovsky was still hospitalized in serious but stable condition, as of Sunday.

I said I was Jew-ish’: GOP Congressman-elect walks back biography ’embellishments’

 https://www.timesofisrael.com/i-said-i-was-jew-ish-gop-congressman-elect-walks-back-biography-embellishments/

Pressed on the matter, Santos told the Post. “I never claimed to be Jewish… I am Catholic. Because I learned my maternal family had a Jewish background I said I was ‘Jew-ish.’”

In a subsequent interview with the New York-based City & State media outlet, Santos added, “It just strikes me so odd that people are rushing to disinherit me from being Jewish or [from being allowed] to care for Israel and Judaism in a time and an era where antisemitism is at an all-time rise.”

Rep.-elect George Santos admits to lying about resume, says he’s ‘not a criminal’

 https://edition.cnn.com/2022/12/26/politics/george-santos-admits-embellishing-resume/index.html

GOP Rep.-elect George Santos of New York admitted in two separate interviews on Monday to lying about parts of his resume but claimed that he hasn’t committed any crimes and intends to serve in Congress.

Santos has faced scrutiny over discrepancies in his employment and education history, as well as other public claims he has made about his biography. In interviews with WABC radio and the New York Post – the first times Santos has spoken publicly about the controversy – he acknowledged that he had fabricated some facts.

Liar Rep.-elect George Santos admits fabricating key details of his bio

 Liar Rep.-elect George Santos admits fabricating key details of his bio

Long Island Rep.-elect George Santos came clean to The Post on Monday, admitting that he lied on the campaign trail about his education and work experience — but insisting that the controversy won’t deter him from serving out his two-year term in Congress.

“I am not a criminal,” Santos said at one point during his exclusive interview. “This [controversy] will not deter me from having good legislative success. I will be effective. I will be good.”

Monday, December 26, 2022

Living outside of Israel is considered idolatry

 Drashos Haran (04) That sin which is cause for apprehension on the Blessed One's part as potentially resulting in the destruction of the Jews is idol worship, to which the sin of the golden calf was similar in character. For the other transgressions do not arouse the Blessed One's wrath to such a great extent; idol worship is to be much more feared in this regard. And there is more reason for apprehension of this sin in the desert than in the land of Israel. For the Jews knew that the other lands were under the ordinance of stars and constellations, as our sages state (Kethuboth 110b): "All who live in the land of Israel, it is as if they have a G-d; all who live outside the land of Israel, it is as if they do not have a G-d." This is because the other, gentile lands are under the ordinance of heavenly plenipotentiaries, an ordinance which cannot be changed except through miraculous, Heavenly intervention (this being the intent of "for he will not forgive your sins"). Therefore, if one lives outside the land of Israel, because he is under the ordinance of a star or of a constellation, his prayer is not so readily accepted as it would be if he lived in the land of Israel, which is not under the dominion of a chief, an officer, or a ruler, but of the Blessed One Himself,

Kesubos (110b) One should always live in the Land of Israel, even in a town most of whose inhabitants are idolaters, but let no one live outside the Land, even in a town most of whose inhabitants are Israelites; for whoever lives in the Land of Israel may be considered to have a God, but whoever lives outside the Land may be regarded as one who has no Godץ Has he, then, who does not live in the Land, no God?56 But [this is what the text intended] to tell you, that whoever lives outside the Land may be regarded as one who worships idols.

Rambam (Melachim 5:12) At all times, a person should dwell in Eretz Yisrael even in a city whose population is primarily gentile, rather than dwell in the Diaspora, even in a city whose population is primarily Jewish. This applies because whoever leaves Eretz Yisrael for the Diaspora is considered as if he worships idols as I Samuel 26:19 states 'They have driven me out today from dwelling in the heritage of God, saying 'Go, serve other gods.

Ramban (Bereishis 24:03) THE G-D OF THE HEAVEN, AND THE G-D OF THE LAND. The Holy One, blessed be He, is called the G-d of the Land of Israel, as it is written, They know not the manner of the G-d of the land. and it is further written, And they spoke of the G-d of Jerusalem, as of the gods of the people of the earth. So also the Rabbis have said:. “He who lives outside the land of Israel is as if he had no G-d, as it said, For they have driven me out this day that I should not cleave unto the inheritance of the Eternal, saying, Go, serve other gods

Sinning for the sake of good

Berachos (63a) Bar Kappara expounded: What short text is there upon which all the essential principles of the Torah depend? In all thy ways acknowledge Him and He will direct thy paths. Raba remarked: Even for a matter of transgression.

Nazir (23a) Rabbah b. Bar Hana, quoting R. Johanan, said: The verse, For the ways of the Lord are right, and the just do walk in them,’ but transgressors do stumble therein, may be illustrated by the following example. . Resh Lakish remarked Rather should it be illustrated by two men, each of whom had his wife and his sister staying with him. One chances upon his wife and the other chances upon his sister. To the one who chances upon his wife applies, ‘And the just do walk in them’, and to the one who chances upon his sister applies, ‘but transgressors do stumble therein’.

Nazir (23a) Rather is it illustrated by Lot when his two daughters were with him. To the daughters, whose intention it was to do right, applies, ‘the just do walk in them’, whereas to Lot whose intention it was to commit the transgression applies, ‘but transgressors do stumble therein’.

Nazir (23b) R. Nahman b. Isaac said: A transgression performed with good intention is better than a precept performed with evil intention. Read then: A transgression performed with good intention is as good as a precept performed for an ulterior motive, as it is written, Blessed above women shall Jael be, the wife of Heber the Kenite. Above women in the tent shall she be blessed, and by ‘women in the tent’, Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel and Leah are meant.

Nazir (23b) ‘Ulla said: Both Tamar and Zimri committed adultery. Tamar committed adultery and gave birth to kings and prophets. Zimri committed adultery and on his account many tens of thousands of Israel perished.

Donald Trump Spends Christmas Raging on Truth Social

 https://www.newsweek.com/donald-trump-christmas-posts-truth-social-1769596

Trump ended his Christmas Day Truth Social posts by once more falsely suggesting that Pence, his former vice president, had the power to reject the electoral votes on January 6, 2021 and keep Trump in power despite his purely ceremonial role as president officer of the Senate.

"The Vice President did indeed have the power to send Electoral Votes back to State Legislatures for reapproval despite the constant drum from Democrats and RINOS that he 'ABSOLUTELY DID NOT,'" wrote Trump. "BUT, they just put CLARIFYING language in the disgraceful 'OMINOUS' BILL, making sure that A V.P. DOESN'T DO WHAT THEY ALL SAID COULD NOT BE DONE. So why the new language? Because it was just another political Con Job!"

Trump was referring to the House approving efforts to change the wording of the Electoral Count Act of 1887 to clarify that a vice president's role in certifying the election results is merely ceremonial, and that they do not have the power to determine who actually won an election.