The real stakes in Trump’s confrontation with Harvard

 https://edition.cnn.com/2025/04/13/politics/trump-universities-research-economy-nih-cuts/index.html

Supporters of university research see another threat: the administration’s repeated moves to deport foreign students, including several for political viewpoints they expressed about the Israel-Hamas war. “If you are a smart kid in India or China, you are going to ask: ‘Why am I going to go to the United States?’” Kenney said.

These pincer moves have divided academic administrators, with some schools conceding to the administration’s demands (such as Columbia) and others pledging to fight them (Princeton). But the implications of these cutbacks will reverberate far beyond campus walls.

Obama calls Trump's freeze of Harvard funding 'unlawful'

 https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cn0w2656x33o

President Donald Trump is freezing more than $2bn (£1.5bn) in federal funds for Harvard because it would not make changes to its hiring, admissions and teaching practices that his administration said were key to fighting antisemitism on campus.

Obama, a Harvard alum, described the freeze as "unlawful and ham-handed".

He called on other institutions to follow Harvard's lead in not conceding to Trump's demands.

"Harvard has set an example for other higher-ed institutions – rejecting an unlawful and ham-handed attempt to stifle academic freedom, while taking concrete steps to make sure all students at Harvard can benefit from an environment of intellectual inquiry, rigorous debate and mutual respect," Obama wrote on social media.

White House: Abrego Garcia deportation to El Salvador ‘always going to be end result’

 https://thehill.com/regulation/court-battles/5249835-abrego-garcia-deportation-el-salvador/

Press secretary Karoline Leavitt expressed exasperation over media coverage of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran national whom administration officials acknowledged in a court filing they mistakenly deported. Officials have since changed their tune on that matter, and the lawyer who wrote of the “administrative error” has since been put on leave.

Leavitt also indicated Abrego Garcia would simply be deported again if he was returned to the U.S.

Abrego Garcia’s family has asserted he is not a member of MS-13 like the government has claimed, but rather fled from El Salvador as a teen to escape gang violence. The government’s assertion is based on a tip from a confidential informant claiming he was involved with the gang in New York, though Abrego Garcia has never lived there. 

The Supreme Court last week determined the Trump administration must “facilitate” the return of Abrego Garcia. So far, there’s been no indication that the administration has taken any action that could help lead to his return.

Medical education Difference in time of Rishonim anf Modern Times

Igros Moshe (YD IV #36.12) Question: How can the study of medine be prohibited since a number of Rishonim were doctors? Answer You need to know that those Rishonim who were involved in medicine  did not go to medical school or college.  They were self educated from books or they served an apprenticeship with a renown doctor in his house. . In addition they studied only medicine and did not need to learn other subjects. As a consequence they lost very little time from Torah study. This approach is not relevant today since it requires attending medical school and studying subjects other than medicine. and that also has to be done at medical school. All of this requires interruption of Torah study and to remain there most of the day with people  who have no connection at with Torah. Consequently the study of medicine today is not relevant to most of those who want to be bnei Torah and also talmidei chachomim. Even if you can find individuals who are talmidei chachomim and also doctors in reality they have not achieved their full potential in Torah. In addition even in the field of medicine they have not accomplished their full potential unless medicine is their principal focus in which case eventually there will be a degradation of their Torah knowledge. Even though it is possible that there will be unique individuals who as doctors will also be genuine Torah scholars this is clearly not relevant for everyone and one should not assume automatically that he will be able to accomplish this level. . 

College and secular Studies

Igros Moshe (YD III #82) Question: What is the significance of secular studies for yeshiva students? Answer It is well known in the Torah world what I have stated on many occasions to bnei Torah  concerning secular studies. Not only bnei Torah but also to yeshiva students who are capable of growing in Torah and pure fear of G-d. Secular study even if it doesn’t have any heretical ideas or co-ed classes is prohibited since it means neglecting eternal life which that alone is prohibited even after growing in Torah to a very high level as is seen from the gemora in Tanis (21a) concerning Rav Yochanon and Ilfa.  However for yeshiva students and young kollel men who haven’t achieved sufficient mastery of Torah and nevertheless are involved in secular studies, it is not possible for them to develop properly in Torah studies in this generation since that requires exclusive devotion to Torah.to understand it properly and he is squandering his abilities on secular study. An addition problem is that eventually secular study becomes his main concern. That is inevitable since his yetzer advises him to increasingly ignore the study of Torah so he has more time to devote for secular studies which he needs for parnossa. Even if this doesn’t happen it is still impossible to grow properly in Torah or even be a partial Torah scholar and ben Torah if he is stealing time and effort from his Torah studies in order to study secular subjects.  Consequently instead of growing in Torah he is constanting diminishing. This is especially true after it is clear that those who go to college are more successful. This success causes people to go to schools in which there are all the  abominations in the world. People rationalize that it is only for a short time and that he won’t be corrupted there even though everyone knows the rationalizations are not true.  Irregardless anyone who is involved in secular studies can not even be a ben Torah and surely not a talmid chachom. Furthermore every ben Torah and yeshiva student needs to be aware of the great destruction of Torah by secular studies because of the great obligation for Torah study and growing to be a godol in Torah, halacha and fear of G-d. Consequently it is plainly and simply prohibited for bnei Torah and yeshiva students who are capable growing in Torah and instead they steal time and effort for secular studies, despite the silence and that this is not told to all Jews and not even to all religious Jews. Concerning parnossa, I have already said many times that this is the advice of the wicked that is mentioned at the beginning of Tehillim. This also results in great punishment. Those that listen and don’t desert Torah at all should be blessed with success in Torah according to their desires as well as all material things and all blessings. 

Lawrence on Trump attacking the rule of law: We are all Harvard. We are all Abrego Garcia

ICE Realize They Arrested Wrong Teen, Say 'Take Him Anyway'

 https://www.newsweek.com/merwil-gutierrez-ice-wrong-teen-el-salvador-2059783

Federal immigration authorities apprehended a 19-year-old in New York despite realizing he was not the intended target.

The young man, Merwil Gutiérrez, was later deported to El Salvador's notorious super prison, despite his family's insistence that he has no gang ties or criminal history.

Coed school

Igros Moshe (Y.D. I #137): Question: Is it permitted for young boys and girls to be taught together? Answer Coeducation, for even the youngest children, is surely some­thing that would not please our Sages. While small children experience neither temptation nor lewd thoughts, we must still train them to distance themselves from women. Yet when they study together, they become accustomed to closeness. They will remain accustomed to this when they grow up, as well, when they do face temptation, and the danger of lewd thought. Therefore, although there is no risk of breaking any prohibition now, our educational duty still stands." I am willing to be lenient in an emergency, where an all-girl school cannot be formed, and the alternative is public school." which teaches neither faith nor good deeds. Better that very young children, regarding whom the prohibition does not apply, should be educated in schools founded by the God-fearing, even if boys and girls study together. It is clear and simple that if there is any chance of founding an all-girl school, it must be done. Of course, slightly older children are legally forbidden'" to study either religious or secular subjects in such a school.

Igros Moshe (YD II #104) Question: Is it permitted for young boys and girls to be taught together? Answer  You obviously don’t need me to answer this question but merely to reinforce your view since you say there is a dispute even from some religious Jews who don’t realize that there are concerns. Therefore I am writing that my view is this is prohibited and I have previously ruled that this is from the age of six in some places  However there are those who claim that there is no problem because there is no lust for the opposite sex at this age. Nevertheless there is an obligation of chinuch which means to accustom them to behave now in staying away from the opposite sex because they will need to do it later. However when they learn together as children they become accustomed to be with the opposite sex so that this will continue even when they are older when they will have lust for the opposite sex. So even though there is no problem of prohibited sin now when they are little children but there is a an obligation of chinuch.  There in fact is a dispute about the nature of chinuch whether the behavior needs to be exactly the way it will be when they grow up or only similar. So those who are lenient say that since young children don’t have lust there is not even a mitzva of chinuch. However I hold that it is prohibited to teach boys and girls together even when very young. In America there is a question of what age is considered a child.  Some want to say this means even at the age of 9 or 10 they are still children. While it is clear that even young boys and girls should not be taught together, there are some places that I have agreed that they can be lenient and have coed classes . That is because it is impossible to have a separate school for boys and girls and that would result in the children going to public school. Therefore it is obviously better that they learn in a religious school even if the classes are coed for young children. 

Bar/bas mitzva Celebration

Igros Moshe (OC I #104) Question Can you celebrate a bas mitzva in the same way as a bar mitzva? Answer  Under no circumstance should a bas mitzva be celebrated n the synagogue even at night! That is because the celebration of a bas mitzva is not considered a mitzva.  It is especially problematic since the idea for this celebration is from the Reform and Conservatives. While if the father wants to make a celebration in his home it is appropriate but just understand this is not considered a mitzva at all but is no more than a birthday party. In fact if I had the power I would eliminate in America the celebration of a bar mitzva. Since as is well known this doesn’t bring anyone closer to Torah and mitzvos including the bar mitzva boy himself. In fact the opposite is true that many times it causes profaning Shabbos and other sins.  However since the bar mitzva celebration has become the standard practice and in addition it is associated with mitzva it is difficult to stop it. Nevertheless with regard to the bas mitzva celebration it has no associated mitzva at all. So it is best to refrain from even celebrating it in the house even though it is not prohibited. Surely it is prohibited to be done in the synagogue even at night when people are not praying. 

Igros Moshe (O.C. II #097): Question You asked why there is no meal for a bas Mitzvah who is 12 years old like is made for a bar mitzvah since she is now obligated to keep mitzvos? Answer Let me add and reinforce the question. Even though the girl does not give a speech and even if she did it means nothing since she is exempt from Torah Study nevertheless on the day of a bar mitzva the meal is a meal of mitzva even if the boy does not give a speech so it should also should be considered a meal of mitzvah on the day of Bas Mitzva? A possible answer is that it is not obvious with a girl that her status has changed and she is no longer a child.  With a boy he is now counted as part of a minyan and is counted as part of three that require Zimun. In general If it not obvious that a change has taken place we don’t make a festive occasion or meal. Since the boy can now also say Berachos and prayers as well as the Hagada for others it is obvious his status has changed and that justifies making a festive meal. In contrast with a girl it is not obvious that her status has changed and thus we don’t make a festive meal.

Igros Moshe (OC IV #36) Question What is the significance of the celebration of a bas mitzvah Answer The meal for a bas mitzva is not a seudas mitzva (meal of mitzva) but is merely a birthday celebration and therefore it should not be done in the synagogue. However to make a kiddush in shul is the common practice in America as is the practice for all joyous occasions. It is also appropriate to say things in honor of the Simcha. However the speeches should not be made from the bimah in the shul but at the table where the kiddush is served. If it was already decided otherwise to make a more elaborate celebration and changing it to a simple kiddush is regarded as insulting and will cause disputes, then the original plans should be followed. But in the future make only a simple kiddush that would be made for other simchas. There should be no celebration which causes degradation and profaning Shabbos and other problems even for a bar mitzva even if the intent is to bring people closer to Torah and mitzvos. Even if this might be true for a particular girl, but for  most girls it is best to avoid this new innovation of an elaborate bas mitzva but as I mentioned disputes need to be avoided

Rav has no portion in World to Come

  Making of a Godol (pages 670-671) Upon hearing of a certain man's plans to become a shohet, R' Laib told him, "A shohet? Are you unaware that  Avos de\Rabbi Nosson (36:5) lists a shohet among the seven who have no share in the World to Come'?!" The luckless fellow then said he would have to look for an alternate occupation. But R' Laib stopped him and said, "No, no, go ask the rav. Another of the seven is a rav, and he must have found some dispensation which may apply to you, too." [Another of my father's talmidim, present at the time, asked him what then was the heter for becoming a rav, and he replied, "When I took the job in Tzitevian,I thought to myself that if there were someone in the town better able to rule on halakhic problems than myself, I would resign, and if not, I was obliged to be the rav' ([My father meant to say that an obligation overrides the World to Come consideration.])

Avos de\Rabbi Nosson (36:5) שבעה אין להם חלק לעוה״ב ואלו הן לבלר וסופר וטוב שברופאין ודיין לעירו וקוסם חזן וטבח: 

Shabbos (139a) It was taught in a baraita that Rabbi Yosei ben Elisha says: If you see a generation that many troubles are befalling it, go and examine the judges of Israel. Perhaps their sins are the cause, as any calamity that comes to the world comes due to the judges of Israel acting corruptly, as it is stated: “Please hear this, heads of the house of Jacob, and officers of the house of Israel, who abhor justice and pervert all equity, who build up Zion with blood, and Jerusalem with iniquity. Their heads they judge for bribes, and their priests teach for hire, and their prophets divine for money; yet they lean upon the Lord, saying: Is not the Lord in our midst? No evil shall befall us” (Micah 3:9–11).

Autopsy – if Relatives permit?

Igros Moshe (Choshen Mishpat II #73.6) Question: Can an autopsy that is desired by the hospital be done with the permission of relatives? The concern is that if it isn’t done the doctor might lose his license to practice medicine Answer It is astounding that in America that a doctor can be forced to violate the laws of the Torah. Therefore if the hospital management  insists on having an autopsy  its threats should be ignored because obviously the religious doctor can  sue them in secular court because they are making unreasonable demands and thus it is not permitted to comply with their demands. However it is permitted to do an autopsy on non Jews who are more numerous than Jews even in a Jewish hospital. A religious Jewish doctor can request permission from the relatives of a non Jew and even try to persuade them and there is no problem that this leads to hatred of Jews since non Jews don’t view an autopsy as being prohibited and thus this isn’t a question of darchei shalom. There is also no requirement to tell the relatives to ignore the request for an autopsy. If the relatives ask the doctor what to do there is no obligation to give a definitive  answer. He should simply state that you as a doctor are not a rabbinic authority and they need to ask a rabbi who knows them whether an autopsy is permitted on their relative and thus the hospital management can not complain about the doctor and thus the doctor need not fear that they can cause problems. 

How is it possible that you have this job?': RFK Jr.'s incompetence becomes too glaring to overlook

Trump’s Exceptional Tariff Weekend

 https://www.wsj.com/opinion/trumps-exceptional-tariff-weekend-13d8f144?mod=hp_opin_pos_1

His Customs office announced tariff-rate exceptions on electronics on Friday that he renounced on Sunday.

President Trump is taking exception to the idea that his Administration is offering exceptions to his punishing tariffs. That’s the story after a confusing weekend that offers more lessons in the arbitrary nature of Trump trade policy.

Late Friday his own Customs and Border Protection (CBP) department issued a notice listing products that will be exempt from Mr. Trump’s so-called reciprocal tariffs that can run as high as 145% on goods from China. The exclusions apply to smartphones, laptop computers, hard drives, computer processors, servers, memory chips, semiconductor manufacturing equipment, and other electronics.

The CBP notice takes the tariff rate on these products down considerably. Barron’s calculates that the exceptions cover $385 billion in 2024 imports. That includes $100 billion from China, or 23% of U.S. imports from that country. The tariff rate falls to 20% on the newly exempted Chinese exports.

Artificial insemination from a non-Jewish donor

Igros Moshe (EH I #10) Question A women who has not given birth after 10 years of marriage and the doctors say the problem is with her husband and she really wants to have a child as all women do. She went to a doctor who inserted the sperm of another man in her uterus without her husband’s permission, is she now prohibited to her husband and what is the status of the resulting child? Answer It is clear that if there was no intercourse  with another man she is not prohibited to her husband. The sperm itself does not make her prohibited. Intercourse prohibits even without sperm. The gemora describes a case that a woman got impregnated from sperm in a bath and says this is not prohibited znus and she is not prohibited to her husband.  The child is not considered a mamzer since there was no intercourse and this is true even if the sperm was from a close relative such as a father or brother.  This is the story of Ben Sira. However if the sperm was from a Jew, then the child can not marry any of the donor’s children but if his identity is not known she child can marry anyone. Nevertheless since most sperm donations come from non Jews there is no concern with whom the chiold marries. Even if the doctor claims the donor was Jewish he is not believed. . The Maharsham and Emek Halacha are quoted as saying that this is permitted in cases of great need so obviously it is pewrmitted if already done. G-d forbid for the husband to separate from his wife because of this. An additional question is if the child is a girl whether she can marry a cohen? There are authorities that permit it and in actuality she is not disqualified from a cohen.  However if her husband does not want to support the child he exempt as well as paying for the expenses of the birth and other medical expenses since this was not done with his consent. 

Igros Moshe (EH I #71) Question Can the sperm of another man be added to that of the husband as a booster? Answer  This is simply deception to placate the husband that he might be the actual father. In reality it is insignificant since the pregnancy is the result of only one sperm either the husband’s or the other man’s.  However the Yerushalmi disagrees and says two men can be the actual father.  According  to the Yerushalmi the booster actually helps. |In fact it is permitted to do artificial insemination with the sperm of a non Jew at times of great need when the woman has a great desire for children.  It can be assumed in America that the sperm was donated by a non Jew.  Ideally she should get her husband’s assent

Igros Moshe. (EH II #11) I received your very long letter, which was full of criticism against me,. concerning my ruling which was published in Igros Moshe about artificial insemination which you believe will cause harm to the purity and holiness of the lineage of the Jewish People. It is also obvious from your letter that you think I will object to your criticism.  The reality is the opposite. I see from your letter only that there are elevated people who are not afraid or embarrassed to give criticism.  However the truth is that there is nothing in what I wrote in that ruling, the slightest possibility of destroying the purity and holiness of the Jewish People. It consists entirely of true Torah from the words of our teachers the Rishonim. Consequently your objections simply indicate that you have a different understanding which is based on non Torah sources which dismiss the words of gedolim in their understanding of G-d’s commandments and the holy Torah.  These external views turn prohibitions into permitted acts and that which is permitted becomes  prohibited. They are thus antithetical to Torah and halacha. This is true even for being strict as is know the tzadokim actually wanted to be stricter and consequently there were even rabbinic decrees made to go against these greater restrictions of the tzadokim. I am not Thank G-d  either from them or the masses. All my Jewish outlook is based entirely on my knowledge of Torah without the slightest mixtue of external knowledge. My rulings are true  whether for strictness or leniency. I not only am not influenced by non Torah views but I also don’t make up analysis based on emotion or personal bias even to be more strict than the halacha calls for or because I imagine it is a purer and holier path. Now let’s look at the nature of this halacha.  It is unquestionably clear that sexual sins require an act of sexual intercourse and have nothing to do with the sperm . Thus it is irrelevant for the sin whether the intercourse can result in children or not and thus applies to sterile people or whether it is natural or unnatural intercourse or even whether sperm is produced .Since the prohibition is entirely because of the act of intercourse  it is totally unrelated to the insertion of sperm into her body when there is no act of intercourse  no matter whether the sperm is a relative or someone else she with whom she is prohibited to have intercourse. Consequently she does not become prohibited to her husband nor does the resulting child become a mamzer by the insertion of sperm but only bt an act of prohibited intercourse. 

Igros Moshe (EH IV#32.5) Question: Artificial Insemination with sperm from husband or  non-Jew? Answer: This that I have stated previously regarding the permissibility of artificial insemination I have no regrets or retractions. However in practice I have not ruled that it should be done since this has nothing to do with the husband’s fulfilment of having children and the wife has no obligation at all to have children and the fact that this might cause the husband to be very jealous. Consequently this is not a good idea to actually do. If someone actually did it than the child is not a mamzer and is permitted to marry even to a cohen.  It is also permitted to use the sperm of the husband even if she is a Niddah if the doctors say that this is the best time.