Rabbi Rottenberg

 

Baltimore Beis Din

 

Omens

 Sefer Chasidim (59) For there was no enchantment in Jacob and we are not to look for omens. Due to our current sinful state,,there are many Jews that utilize charms and omens. For example they are mindful not to eat eggs Saturday night after Shabbos and not to take fire twice when there is a sick person in the house or a new mother within 9 days of giving birth.  They also are involved in divination. When they see fire and burning coals standing, they say we will have a guest, if you extinguish it with water, they say the the guest will fall into the water. They are violating a number of Torah commandments.  The only omens that are permitted is that which our Sages have permitted such as the signs on Rosh HaShanna. People say  not to start teaching a child or begin any mitzva until Rosh Chodesh. While this is not divination it is improper since no one knows whether he will die before Rosh Chodesh and thus miss doing the mitzva. The rule is always to do the mitzva as soon as it is available. 

The Night Democrats Finally Stopped Losing

 https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2025/11/05/democrats-election-night-of-winning-00637076

It wasn’t just that Democrats won every closely-watched election — it’s that their victories were so sweeping. An expected victory in the Virginia governor’s race became a 15-point landslide, a gubernatorial race thought to be closer in New Jersey became a 13-point thrashing of its own and that referendum to redraw California’s House lines to add more Democratic seats was winning by nearly 30 points.

If the message was in the margins, there was no mystery in the why. Voters are, again, unhappy with the political status quo and, again, fault a White House they see as unfocused on their priorities. And Trump isn’t just failing to address the cost of living — many voters see him as abusing his power.

And the deeper problem Republicans have is that Trump is a one-man turnout machine for Democrats. There’s no such similar force for Republicans when the president isn’t on the ballot, and every election for a decade that’s about Trump (rather than the Democrats) has turned out poorly for the GOP.

For now, Democrats were happily reminded that there’s no tonic for a demoralized party like success.

New York Post editorial board says Trump sounds like Biden on affordability

 https://thehill.com/homenews/media/5595698-trump-criticized-affordability-inflation/?tbref=hp

The editorial board of the New York Post is blasting President Trump, arguing the president sounds like former President Biden on issues of affordability and the cost of living.

“Americans didn’t appreciate being lied to by Biden and Democrats, and the party paid for it at the ballot box. But Americans also won’t appreciate being called liars for what their own eyes — and their own wallets — are telling them,” it concluded. “Don’t deny things are tough, Mr. President. Take another look at some of your economic policies and help make things better.”

The Waiting Game

 https://mishpacha.com/the-waiting-game-2

At the time of press, SNAP benefits (food stamps) have not gone out due to the US government shutdown and its future looks uncertain. This will affect many members of our frum communities.

No one goes into the chinuch field for the money, and it turns out that the administrator who encouraged me to apply for government benefits to supplement my meager salary wasn’t planning to cover the shortfall when the government decided to shut down. At least she seemed slightly embarrassed when she told me that I’m not the only one who approached her this week. I should feel angry, but instead it’s a comfort — at least I’m not the only one. This isn’t my failing.

Zionist?

 

Israel Importance

 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 G-d, but whoever lives outside the Land may be regarded as one who has no G-d. For it is said in Scripture, To give you the Land of Canaan, to be your G-d. Has he, then, who does not live in the Land, no G-d? But this is what the text intended to tell you, that whoever lives outside the Land may be regarded as one who worships idols. Similarly it was said in Scripture in the story of David, For they have driven me out this day that I should not cleave to the inheritance of the Lord, saying: Go, serve other gods. Now, whoever said to David, ‘Serve other gods’? But the text intended to tell you that whoever lives outside the Land may be regarded as one who worships idols.

Affordability is an urgent and burning issue, Mr. President — Americans want action - Even Trump supporters are complaining

 https://nypost.com/2025/11/06/opinion/affordability-is-an-urgent-and-burning-issue-mr-president-americans-want-action/

Trump’s Truth Social post on Thursday suggested that higher costs are all in our heads, that “the Democrats ‘affordability’ issue is DEAD! STOP LYING!!!”

Americans didn’t appreciate being lied to by Biden and Democrats, and the party paid for it at the ballot box. But Americans also won’t appreciate being called liars for what their own eyes — and their own wallets — are telling them.

Don’t deny things are tough, Mr. President. Take another look at some of your economic policies and help make things better.

Trump Really Was on the Ballot

 https://www.wsj.com/opinion/2025-elections-donald-trump-gop-democrats-mikie-sherrill-abigail-spanberger-f9729d9d?mod=hp_opin_pos_1

President Trump on Wednesday blamed Tuesday’s Republican election defeats on the government shutdown and the fact that he wasn’t on the ballot. If he really believes this, the GOP is heading for bigger problems in 2026.

Mr. Trump was on the ballot—not literally, but nonetheless as the main motivating force behind a dominating Democratic turnout. Winning Democratic candidates for Governor in New Jersey and Virginia linked their opponents to Mr. Trump, driving Democratic voters to the polls and erasing the GOP gains in 2024 among Hispanics, black men and independents.

Thanks to Trump’s overreach, Democrats won big

 https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2025/11/05/election-results-trump-exit-polls-democrats-virginia/

They voted blue, no matter who. Democrats swept the off-year elections, largely in response to President Donald Trump’s first nine months back in office. Yet the future of the Democratic Party remains up for grabs.

Most voters said in exit polls that their ballot was intended to send a message to Trump. Every county in Virginia and New Jersey voted more Democratic than in the previous governor’s race. Trump’s gains last year with minorities evaporated.

While being anti-Trump was enough to win this year, and might work again in the midterms, the exit polls reveal that the Democratic brand remains underwater. Spanberger won 20 percent among voters who hold an unfavorable view of her party, and Sherrill won 17 percent. In the New York mayor’s race, Zohran Mamdani won 33 percent.

Satan was the father of Caine

 Pirkei de Rabbi Eliezar (21:01). Sammael riding on the serpent came to her, and she conceived; afterwards Adam came to her, and she conceived Abel, as it is said, "And Adam knew Eve his wife". What is the meaning of "knew"? He knew that she had conceived. And she saw his likeness that it was not of the earthly beings, but of the heavenly beings, and she prophesied  and said: "I have gotten a man with the Lord". 

Trump wasn’t on the ballot on Tuesday — but still took a major loss

 https://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/news/trump-election-2025-loss-democrats-win-rcna242024

President Donald Trump’s name may not have been on the ballot Tuesday, but he suffered a resounding defeat anyway as voters rejected Republican candidates and registered their strong disapproval of how the president is doing his job.

From gubernatorial races in Virginia and New Jersey, to the mayoral race in Trump’s hometown, to a redistricting measure in California, Americans opposed Trump’s endorsed candidates and expressed deep dissatisfaction with the country's direction while signaling their dismay with the cost of living and their financial situations.

As the results became clear, the president took to social media to say the first election during his second term had nothing to do with him. "'TRUMP WASN’T ON THE BALLOT, AND SHUTDOWN, WERE THE TWO REASONS THAT REPUBLICANS LOST ELECTIONS TONIGHT,’ according to Pollsters,” Trump posted.

When did MAGA become Make Argentina Great Again?

 https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/when-did-maga-become-make-argentina-great-again

While farmers wind down the harvest season without their previously reliable customers, like China, lined up to buy their product, you’d think the administration might reignite its "Farmers First" agenda. Instead, President Trump is using his power to boost one of our top agricultural competitors and kick American farmers while they’re down. Enter: his $40 billion taxpayer-funded bailout to Argentina.

In fact, the only people who will benefit from this bailout are President Trump and his ally, Argentine President Javier Milei, whose corrupt politics have driven Argentina into an economic crisis. Well, and the Wall Street financiers who placed bad bets on his unstable economy.

If there is any semblance of truth to "Farmers First" – or "America First," for that matter – President Trump should end his affair with Argentina and focus on the Americans struggling here at home.