Arbitrator rules: The 'Terrorists' Faction must vacate the Ponevezh Yeshiva

 https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/418038?fbclid=IwY2xjawOSFuRleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFaY0hVN2pWR20yNUNwQTF0c3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHgruahLT0496lclJsAUwRceuPf3BpoMiZD3mxT_FIWa7xg1Q38gnwwK9FKt7_aem_sOdh7XI7PQ14yRbZP2ou2g

An arbitration ruling by retired judge David Cheshin obligates Rabbi Markowitz to vacate the buildings of the Ponevezh Yeshiva and determines that control remains in the hands of Rabbi Kahaneman.

Trump’s lawfare campaign hits its first snag

 https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2025/11/24/halligan-comey-bondi-judge-lawfare/

Judge Currie’s ruling ought to be a blessing in disguise. Lawfare does not bring down prices. It’s certainly not what voters want from Washington right now. Successfully growing the economy is a better way for Trump to get back at his haters than demanding more political prosecutions.

Shma and Demons

Maharal (Netivos Olam, Netiv Ha'Avodah 19:1) What is the connection between reciting Shma and protection from demons as is stated in Berachos (5b)?The answer is demons have their power from pairs as is known that demons can only have an effect through pairs and that is why pairs have been prohibited by our Sages as is stated in Pesachim (109b) One who clings to unity is protected from pairs

Evolution - Enosh

 Bereishis Rabbah (23:6) Four things changed in the days of Enosh: The mountains became barren rocks, the dead began to feel the worms, men's faces became ape-like, and they became vulnerable to demons. Said R. Isaac: They were themselves responsible for becoming vulnerable to demons, for they argued: What is the difference whether one  prostrates himself before an image or prostrates himself before man? Hence, Then man became degraded to call upon the name of the Lord.

Intermediaries and Golden Calf

 Netziv (Shemos 32:2) Aaron said to them, “You men, take off the gold.” The Jews had been commanded not to make gods of silver and gods of gold. Not to make a silver form to aid in G-d guiding them or when they prayed for their needs. Nor should they make a gold form for this purpose It is important to note this is not considered actual idolatry that they had been prohibited by the Ten Commandments. This is not making a god but only an intermediary to provide guidance while they still believed that G-d was all powerful but that He gave this form the role of intermediary as a guide or leader. Thus this constituted a new prohibition after Sinai that even as an intermediary it was prohibited and Aaron and the Jewish people were unaware of it. To have an intermediary was not a problem as they used angels as intermediaries.The problem was making a gold or silver intermediary. Thus they erred in making the Golden Calf

Israel and idolatry

 Netziv (Bamidbar 33:55) pricks in your eyes – that means the eye of the mind. That is because the nature of Israel is that it seduces to be involved in idolatry as is explained in the medrash to Shir HaShirim

Netziv (Devarim 7:6) For you are a holy people. There are two reasons for why the Torah was concerned that idolatry be destroyed in Israel. And why the non Jews  were not commanded to destroy the idolatry in their land, after all, they were also commanded not to worship idols and nevertheless they do not have to be concerned that idols exist in their country but only the Jews in Israel were warned about it to an extreme degree.. The Torah gave the reason that because the Jews are a holy people they are more likely to be influenced and more damaged by idolatry. This is characteristic of holiness that it is more suseptical to being damaged by impurity. The second reason the Torah gives is that the Jews were chosen by G-d and those He is more concerned with them and thus he warns them to remove idolatry which can cause trouble. 

Netziv (Shemos 23:24) Do not bow down to their gods – this is a special warning (after they conquered the 7 nations) against the gods of the seven nations of Israel because of the concern that because they have seemed to have sustained these people until now they might be uniquely valuable for parnossa in Israel. 

Samson and the Rabbis

 https://www.torahmusings.com/2012/09/samson-and-the-rabbis

I often struggle with the vast differences between the plain meaning of biblical narratives and the understandings of the Sages. Among the most severe cases is that of Shimshon. The book of Judges portrays him as an intermarrying sinner while the Sages see him as a holy judge (see Samson’s Struggle). Which of these incompatible views is correct?

The dilemma can appear to be a case of the rabbis telling us to trust them over the plain evidence available to all. On the other hand, every reading involves interpretation, both our own and that of the Sages. Perhaps we need to recognize that what we see as facts are colored by our own, often only implicit, interpretations.

The case of a felon who paid lobbyists nearly $1 million to seek a Trump pardon

 https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2025/11/23/joseph-schwartz-trump-pardon-fraud

Liz Oyer, a former U.S. pardon attorney who was fired by Trump in March, said the involvement of the lobbyists — and the huge payment — heightens concern that there is “a special tier of justice for people who can afford to pay.”

She said the Schwartz case is notable because the pardon went against a March recommendation by Trump’s Justice Department, which cited the seriousness of Schwartz’s crime in seeking a sentence of a year and a day. The judge rejected that recommendation and in April imposed a three-year sentence. Schwartz had served three months when he was pardoned, according to his attorney.

The Story | Israel Greenwald

 https://israelgreenwald.com/?page_id=

Israel Greenwald was the picture of devotion — a kind, hardworking Orthodox Jew, a loving husband, and a proud father of two little girls. In Far Rockaway, New York, he built an honest life through grit and determination, founding Blue River Inc., a jewelry business respected by everyone who knew him.

Israel Greenwald’s body was finally recovered. After 19 agonizing years, he was laid to rest in Israel.

Trump's DARK DEAL with SAUDIS CONFIRMED

MARJORIE TAYLOR GREENE ABRUPTLY RESIGNS

Bnei Brak officials take 'slide' trip

 https://www.israelnationalnews.com/flashes/670819

A municipal delegation from the city of Bnei Brak flew to Miami last week, allegedly to review models of new slides intended for installation in city playgrounds, Kan Moreshet journalist Eli Bitan reported.

The delegation included the mayor, his deputy, and senior city officials.

According to the report, the delegation traveled first class, without obtaining the required approval from the City Council, as is required in such cases.

Israeli woman jailed for refusing to accept Jewish divorce in rare rabbinical court ruling

 https://www.ynetnews.com/article/s1bakawewx?utm_source=taboola&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=internal

Tel Aviv Rabbinical Court imposed sentence after years of attempts to persuade the woman to accept the divorce, including efforts by police officers who brought the document to her home

Jewish boy, 12, brutally attacked by classmates in Vienna

 https://www.ynetnews.com/jewish-world/article/s1nkmoo0eg

Two students beat a Jewish classmate while shouting antisemitic threats; family accuses school of ignoring earlier harassment and files police complaint