https://www.politico.com/news/2023/12/11/stefanik-democrats-higher-education-00131193
But it is the movement against the university presidents from a chorus of Democrats that suggests a possible realignment of a traditional political alliance, one that could see bipartisan pushback against the elitism of the ivory tower.
Ramban (Bereishis 49:10) In my opinion, the kings from other tribes, who ruled over Israel after David, went against the wish of their father Jacob by diverting the inheritance of Judah to another tribe. Now they relied on the word of Achiyah the Shilonite, the prophet who anointed Jeroboam, who said, And I will for this afflict the seed of David, but not forever. But when [the ten tribes of] Israel continued to crown kings one after another of the rest of the tribes, and they did not revert to the kingdom of Judah, they transgressed the testament of the ancestor, and they were accordingly punished, just as Hosea said, They have set up kings, but not from Me.
https://thelehrhaus.com/timely-thoughts/the-hasmoneans-as-a-paradigm-for-modern-jewish-sovereignty/
In his commentary to Genesis 49:10, Ramban is particularly critical of the Hasmoneans. He indicts them for usurping the throne from the House of David as well as desecrating their priesthood, and sees their downfall as divine punishment.
"The story of Hanukkah and the story of the Jewish people has always been one of hope and resilience. In the Hanukkah story, the Jewish people were forced into hiding," he wrote. "No one thought they would survive or that the few drops of oil they had would last. But they survived and the oil kept burning."
"During those eight days in hiding, they recited their prayers and continued their traditions," Emhoff, who is Jewish and is working with the White House on combating antisemitism, continued in the now deleted post. "That’s why Hanukkah means dedication. It was during those dark nights that the Maccabees dedicated themselves to maintaining hope and faith in the oil, each other, and their Judaism."
By Thanksgiving, University of Pennsylvania trustees thought they had weathered the worst of an aggressive campaign mounted by rich alumni to fire President Liz Magill over concerns about antisemitism on campus. That hope died when Magill appeared before Congress last week.
Magill said context was needed to determine whether calling for the genocide of Jews would be considered bullying or harassment at Penn. The clip went viral. Pennsylvania’s governor called the comments “shameful.” The Penn president rushed out a video backtracking her remarks. But by the weekend, Magill and board chairman Scott Bok resigned.
At Penn, the university’s response to the Oct. 7 attacks in Israel was the final straw for a largely Jewish group of prominent alumni who felt the school wasn’t adequately protecting Jewish students. They campaigned both behind the scenes and publicly for the president and chairman to step down, threatening to withhold millions of dollars if the leadership stayed in place. They borrowed a playbook from the business world, approaching the typically genteel world of higher education like activist investors.
It worked.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shulchan_Aruch#cite_note-15
Following its initial appearance, many rabbis criticised the appearance of this latest code of Jewish law, echoing similar criticisms of previous codes of law.
Rabbi Judah Loew ben Bezalel (known as "Maharal", 1520–1609) wrote:
Zara pulled an advertising campaign featuring mannequins with missing limbs and statues wrapped in white from the front page of its website and app on Monday after it prompted calls by some pro-Palestine activists for a boycott of the fashion retailer.
Inditex (ITX.MC), which owns Zara, said the change was part of its normal procedure of refreshing content. It did not comment on the boycott calls, but said the "Atelier" collection was conceived in July and the photos were taken in September. The war between Israel and Hamas began after Oct. 7
One-fifth of US citizens between the ages of 18 and 29 believe that the Holocaust is a myth, according to a new poll from the Economist/YouGov.
The poll was conducted between December 2 and December 5, and among other issues, examined the beliefs held by US citizens on Israel, Jewish people and the Holocaust.
In response to the statement “The Holocaust is a myth,” 20 percent of participants between the ages of 18 and 29 said that they agreed with it, and an additional 30% said that they did not agree or disagree
When Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar was imprisoned in Israel more than a decade ago, he explained to an Israeli official a theory now central to the war in Gaza.
Sinwar said that what Israel considers its strength—that most Israelis serve in the army and soldiers hold a special status in society—is a weakness that can be exploited, said Yuval Bitton, who spent time with Sinwar as the former head of the Israel Prison Service’s intelligence division
A chassid once came to the Ruzhiner Rebbe and complained, “For years I have been having special kavannah during Kedushah of the Yamim Noraim, as this is said to be a segulah for wealth, but I am still as poor as ever.”
The Ruzhiner Rebbe answered the man, “This segulah is for one who has this kavannah only during Kedushah, while during the rest of the tefillah he doesn’t think about money. But you – the only thing you think about during the entire davening is money, money, money!”
Rav Tzadok says the main miracle was the war against the Greeks not the menorah
Why did the Chashmonoim not have bitachon that the Greeks would lose without war? Why did they assimilate and illegally become kings?(Ramban)
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-67655910
The founder and CEO of Stone Ridge Asset Management, Mr Stevens told the university that its "permissive approach" to those calling for violence against Jewish people "would violate any policies or rules that prohibit harassment and discrimination based on religion, including those of Stone Ridge"
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-67637679
Senators - including every single Republican - voted 51 to 49 against advancing the bill, with 60 votes needed. The vote throws uncertainty into the future of aid for Ukraine and sends lawmakers back to the negotiating table with just days to go until Congress has scheduled winter break.
