The Rebbe clarified that:This is not to say, heaven forbid, that a mezuzah-less home or an unkosher mezuzah is a cause of harm. Heaven forbid saying such a thing! However, like a helmet at war, a mezuzah adds protection to the “bullets” of life. If someone who wasn’t wearing a helmet was hit by a bullet, G‑d forbid, it’s the bullet, not the lack of helmet that harmed him. It’s just that were he wearing the helmet, catastrophe could have been averted.5
Monday, April 15, 2024
Chapter 24: The Protective Power of Mitzvot
https://www.chabad.org/therebbe/article_cdo/aid/3244228/jewish/Chapter-24-The-Protective-Power-of-Mitzvot.htm
Mitzvos protect if danger is not common
Chullin (142a) Those engaged in the performance of a mitzva never come to harm. When returning from the performance of a precept it is different. But did not R. Eleazar say that those engaged in a mitzva never come to harm, either when going to perform it or when returning from the performance thereof? It must have been a broken ladder that was used, so that injury was likely; and where injury is likely it is different, as tt is written: And Samuel said: How can I go? If Saul hear it, he will kill me.
Kiddushin (39b) Those who are engaged on a precept are never harmed, either when going or returning and where injury is likely one must not rely on a miracle.
Orchos Tzadikim (10:15) If a rabbi and Pious Man is far from his city he should not hold himself back from going there to study because of his fear of the roads, as does the lazy man who excuses himself by saying "There is a lion without; I shall be slain in the streets" (Prov. 22:13). But a man should keep in mind that many people travel and are not injured. So he too should not restrain himself from the journey out of fear, for those who are sent to fulfill a command of the Torah are not injured.
Pesachim (8b) Those sent to perform a religious duty do not suffer harm? — Where the injury is probable it is different, for it is said, And Samuel said, How can I go? if Saul hear it, he will kill me. And the Lord said, Take a heifer with thee, etc.
Yoma (11a) Messengers engaged in a mizvah do not come to harm? — Where danger is to be expected, it is different, for it is written: And Samuel said: How can I go? If Saul hear it, he will kill me. And the Lord said: Take a heifer with thee, and say: I am come to sacrifice unto the Lord.
How the US shifted from rapping Israel over Gaza to defending it against Iran
While a majority of those launches were intercepted by the IDF, it was the US that tipped off Israel to the attack once it began. US forces were also responsible for shooting down 80 of the UAVs and at least six of the ballistic missiles, according to US CENTCOM. Dozens of other launches were also intercepted by the UK, France and Jordan, working under a regional defense umbrella recently established by Washington.
Ninety-nine percent of the launches were ultimately thwarted, and only one Israeli was injured as a result of shrapnel from an intercepted missile, while an IDF airbase incurred just minor damage.
Biden gets pushback over telling Israel to avoid counterattack on Iran
https://www.axios.com/2024/04/14/biden-israel-iran-congress-white-house-strikes
The big picture: The pushback — mostly spurred by Republicans — comes as Biden and his senior advisers are concerned that an Israeli response to Iran's recent attack would lead to a regional war with catastrophic consequences, Axios' Barak Ravid reports.
US army: We destroyed more than 80 drones during Iranian attack
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/388491
“On April 13 and the morning of April 14, US Central Command (CENTCOM) forces, supported by US European Command destroyers, successfully engaged and destroyed more than 80 one-way attack uncrewed aerial vehicles (OWA UAV) and at least six ballistic missiles intended to strike Israel from Iran and Yemen,” said the CENTCOM statement.
“This includes a ballistic missile on its launcher vehicle and seven UAVs destroyed on the ground in Iranian-backed Houthi controlled areas of Yemen prior to their launch,” it added.
“Iran's continued unprecedented, malign, and reckless behavior endangers regional stability and the safety of US and coalition forces.”
“CENTCOM remains postured to support Israel’s defense against these dangerous actions by Iran. We will continue to work with all our regional partners to increase regional security,” concluded the statement.
National Security Expert: Biden is a remarkably good president for Israel
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/388484
Dr. Freilich says that “Trump hasn't said a single good thing about Israel since the war began. He hasn't called to strengthen Israeli security. He hasn't said anything about what he would do in a second term, so he did some very good things for Israel in his first term, for which he certainly deserves credit, whether it's the Golan and Jerusalem. He also made the catastrophic decision to withdraw from the Iranian nuclear program and here the proof is in the pudding. All you have to do is look at where Iran was in 2015 and where it is today, where it is a threshold nuclear state. In effect it's just about a nuclear state and can cross that final threshold pretty easily, at a time of his choosing. So, I believe that Biden has both been a remarkably good president for Israel and, compared to the alternatives, he is certainly a better one.”
Once a tolerant haven, Holland sees antisemitism surge as Jews across Europe scent danger
A record number of hate crimes reflects a post-Oct. 7 reality that’s making the continent’s Jews question their futures, but they no longer see Israel as their ‘insurance policy’
Rabbi Cherki: I recited Hallel after Iran's attack
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/388501
Rabbi Cherki says that he recited the Hallel without the blessing. "I told that student, and that's what I did myself, I said the full Hallel without a blessing, because I didn't want to complicate matters. But reciting Hallel on the day on which Israel had salvation, there is certainly room to do so."
Adam Kinzinger Slams Donald Trump's 'Insane' Reaction to Iran Attack
https://www.newsweek.com/adam-kinzinger-slams-donald-trumps-insane-reaction-iran-attack-1890159
"This is insane. It did happen!" he wrote. "Iran struck and injured 100 Americans in Iraq and Trump responded with nothing but fear. He's a small man."
‘The Antisemitism Is Absolutely Disproportionate’
If it was any other group, we wouldn’t do it. We’re not seeing on college campuses, attacks and questioning every student of Russian heritage because we take issue with the Putin administration, and what they’ve done in Ukraine and other places around the world. We’re not seeing where we’re attacking every Muslim student, because we take issue with what Hamas did on Oct. 7. One can debate the space between anti-Zionism and antisemitism. But one would have to have serious blinders not to recognize that what’s happening on college campuses, UCs included, is a series of activities that are targeting Jewish students because of their identities, making them feel unsafe and apart from the rest of the community in a way that really should have no place in our society and no place on our college campuses.
Saturday, April 13, 2024
U.S. Moves Warships to Defend Israel in Case of Iranian Attack
The U.S. rushed warships into position to protect Israel and American forces in the region, hoping to head off a direct attack from Iran on Israel that could come as soon as this weekend.
The moves by the U.S. that are part of an effort to avoid a wider conflict in the Middle East came after a warning from a person familiar with the matter about the timing and location of the potential Iranian attack. A person briefed by the Iranian leadership, however, said that while plans to attack are being discussed, no final decision has been made.
Missing Jewish shepherd found dead
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/388411
On Saturday, the body of 14-year-old Binyamin Ahimeir was located in the area of Malachei Hashalom by the IDF, ISA, and Israel Police.
Binyamin Ahimeir went missing on Friday morning, and was murdered in a terrorist attack.
Tzuras is a disease only talmidei chachomim can get
The Netziv in his commentatary to Tazria raises a number of interesting points
He says based on the Zohar that the Adam mentioned in the parsha is the highest level human - a talmid chachom whose sinning is a chillul HaShem and thus requires exile from the camp - i.e. exile. An ordinary person doesn't get tzuras and that is why a cohen - not a sage decides if it is truly tzuras - by means of a form of prophecy. Thus tzuras is a spiritual disease found only with talmidei chachomim
Pro-Israel Conservatives Are Done With Tucker Carlson
Carlson then concluded: “If you wake up in the morning and decide that your Christian faith requires you to support a foreign government, blowing up churches and killing Christians. I think you’ve lost the thread.”
Needless to say, especially since right-wing media and GOP officials have relentlessly bashed progressives over their increasingly pro-Palestinian stance, Carlson’s screed went over like a lead balloon with a certain contingency of conservatives.
“Tucker is cultivating hatred of Israel and Jews based on lies and innuendos,” Israeli-American conservative journalist Caroline Glick tweeted in response to the interview.
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