Rabbeinu Bachya (Kad HaKemach Mezuza) This that there is a widespread practice not to marry except when the moon is full there is no prohibition in this custom since it is serves merely as a sign that the marriage should be good and successful. This is similar to our custom on the night of Rosh HaShanna. This is also like the custom of appointing kings next to a spring as a good sign that his kingdom be viable for a long time. Anyone who views the custom of marrying at the full moon as anything other than more than a sign of success for the marriage makes it into darchei Emori
Wednesday, December 31, 2025
Kennedy Center changed board rules months before vote to add Trump’s name
https://www.washingtonpost.com/style/2025/12/31/kennedy-center-board-trustees-bylaws/
The Kennedy Center adopted bylaws earlier this year that limited voting to presidentially appointed trustees, a move that preceded a unanimous decision this month by board members installed by President Donald Trump to add his name to the center.
The current bylaws, obtained by The Washington Post, were revised in May to specify that board members designated by Congress — known as ex officio members — could not vote or count toward a quorum. Legal experts say the move may conflict with the institution’s charter.
Trump took over the Kennedy Center in February, purging its board of members he had not appointed. The months that followed saw struggling ticket sales and programming changes that began to align the arts complex with the Trump administration’s broader cultural aims, culminating with the annual Kennedy Center Honors hosted by the president.
The Trump Economy: Three Years of Volatile Continuity
https://www.cato.org/regulation/summer-2020/trump-economy-three-years-volatile-continuity
During the first three years of Trump’s presidency, the economy expanded, unemployment and poverty fell, wages increased, taxes were cut, the stock market moved upward, and some reforms of federal regulation were introduced. So far so good.
The “Trump economy” is thus a misnomer. Like any other president, Donald Trump is only partly responsible for what has gone well and gone wrong during his years in office and in the years to come. A president can do more damage to an economy than help it. And three years is a short time to evaluate the consequences of complex policy packages. All these caveats must be kept in mind.
Overall, the poverty and unemployment picture improved slowly from 2009 to 2019, with no radical break when the occupant of the White House changed. The Obama economy and the Trump economy seem to be the same economy. This observation applies to many other measures of American prosperity.
Trump inherits a labor market at full employment. Can he keep it there?
Defying fears of a pandemic-driven Great Depression and bucking Federal Reserve interest rate hikes as well, the U.S. job market closed out the Biden era at the cusp of full employment, if not beyond it, with steady job gains, growing wages, and enough momentum to possibly rekindle fears of overheating.
Trump’s Bad Economy Is Even Worse Than It Looks
https://www.thebulwark.com/p/trumps-bad-economy-is-even-worse
But here’s the thing: As bad as the unemployment situation looks right now, last week the chairman of the Federal Reserve said that he thinks the real numbers are actually worse. . . .
Chofetz Chaim, Chazon Ish & Rav Kook
The Chofetz Chaim had a dream of making aliyah. He tried a number of times - but he wasn't successful. Toward the end of his life, there were again rumors that he was going to move to Israel. In fact someone came to the Chazon Ish and reported that he had inside information that the Chofetz Chaim would soon be landing in Yaffo. The Chazon Ish looked up from his gemora and said simply:
"It isn't true. The Chofetz Chaim will never come to Israel." He continued, "I don't say this because I am a navi with ruach hakodesh. It is simple logic. Everyone knows that there is a very close relationship between the Chofetz Chaim and Rav Kook. If the Chofetz Chaim came to Israel then they would visit each other. This would cause strong upset in certain circles. As a consequence of this backlash - the Mishna Berura would be abandoned and thrown in the trash. It is clear that G-d does not want this happen to the Mishna Berura. Consequently it is impossible that the Chofetz Chaim will be coming to Israel."====================
Regarding the Chofetz Chaim's attitude to Rav Kook. The following letter was written 3 years after the dedication of Hebrew University by the Chofetz Chaim's son-in law. It has been alleged that the Chofetz Chaim expressed contempt for Rav Kook as the result of the dedication. It is clear from this letter that the Chofetz Chaim had a very high opinion of Rav Kook even after the incident.
Rael Levinsohn suggested the following links to translations:
letter-from-the-son-in-law-of-the-Chofetz-Chaim-to-Rav-Kook-1928/
Rav-Kooks-relationship-with-giants-of-his-time/
the-view-of-the-Chazon-Ish-on-Rav-Kook-another-perspective/
The-relationship-between-Rav Kook-and-the-Chofetz-Chaim-part-2/
update-on-Rav Kook-letter/
history-of-the-Rav-Kook-Rav-Sonnenfeld-dispute-and-its-relevance-for-modern-times-part-1/
history-of-the-Rav-Kook-Rav-Sonnenfeld-dispute-and-its-relevance-for-modern-times-part-2/
Hamas still has 60,000 Kalashnikovs
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/420151
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu presented a new security assessment during a meeting with US President Donald Trump, according to which Hamas is holding approximately 60,000 Kalashnikov rifles in Gaza.
According to Channel 13 correspondent Moriah Asraf, Netanyahu conveyed a clear message to the American administration: without gathering the arms from the Gaza Strip, there is no room for considering the civil rehabilitation of the enclave.
The figure was gathered specifically ahead of the trip by IDF intelligence and the Shin Bet. “Without collecting these weapons, it is impossible to move on to the next stages,” was the central message conveyed to the Americans.
Idolatry Wisdom and Prophesy
Rav Tzadok (Poked Ikkarim page 51) When the Anshei Kenesses Hagadolah nullified the lust for idolatry it also ceased for the non-Jews. Thus our Sages stated that non Jews outside of Israel were not actual idolators but were simply keeping the customs of their ancestors and they also lost understanding and their wisdom was corrupted which was dependent on their desire and attatchment to idolatry. Similarly prophesy diminished. Correspondingly the Oral Torah developed and grew during the Greek rule.
IDF Reserve Officer: 'We're supporting an enemy army inside Israel'
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/420140
Following the extensive military exercise conducted by the PA, which included seizures of towns and the use of RPG launchers, Brig.-Gen. (res.) Amir Avivi warns that the PA will soon turn on Israel.
The Palestinian Authority (PA) recently concluded a three-day military exercise that has drawn renewed scrutiny in Israel. According to multiple reports, the drill included simulated raids, the takeover of towns by commando units, and the use of RPG launchers and advanced military equipment. The developments were discussed on Arutz Sheva-Israel National News with Brig. Gen. (res.) Amir Avivi, chairman of the Israel Defense and Security Forum, who warned that the exercise highlights a growing and dangerous trend.
Avivi cautioned that Israel is effectively fostering “an enemy army within the State of Israel,” calling the situation “very serious.” Recalling his own experience as a deputy brigade commander during violent clashes in the mid-1990s, shortly after the PA was established, Avivi said that weapons transferred to Palestinian forces were later used in heavy attacks in Judea and Samaria and Gaza. “We already saw the potential back in 1996,” he said, noting that Israeli casualties were sustained during those confrontations.
Tuesday, December 30, 2025
Contradicting Tanach
Radak (Shmuel 1 28:24) The act of necromancy is nonsense, lies, and ridiculous…the story of Samuel and Saul never was real, and Samuel never rose from his grave. The woman did it all through trickery…" This is the commentary of the gaon Rav Shmuel the son of Chofni, and he said this even though it can be implied from the words of the sages in the Gemara that the woman truly did revive Samuel. He did not accept what was written there, for there are those who use reason to deny it.”
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