Shabbat Nachamu

Torah Wellsprings

Parshas VaEschanan /Shabbos Nachamu /Tu B'Av - The Business of the Torah

Tu B'Av

Tu B'Av and the Secret to Good Marriage

What Azoulay Meant About Reform Jews

Tu B'av Shiur by Rav Benny Lau: Break Down the Barriers and Be Yourself

The Ten Commandments

Atheists are vowing revenge after a judge dismissed a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of a Ten Commandments monument that’s stood in front of New Kensington’s high school for more than a half century.
Read more: http://eagnews.org/judge-dismisses-atheist-lawsuit-challenging-schools-ten-commandments-monument/


The Jeroboams of today – Va’et’channan

You will find

Video: Rav Ephraim Wachsman: Who Will Put Out the Fire?


"Uvekashtem Misham Es Hashem Elokehchah Umatzasa" "From there you will seek Hashem your G-d, and you will find him". The Vilna Gaon asks, why does the pasuk start in the plural - "Uvekashtem - you (plural) will seek", and end in the singular - "Umatzasah - you (singular) will find? He answers, based on the gemara in Rosh Hashanah that says, there can be 2 people who daven to Hashem. One's Tfilos will be answered while the other's will not. The difference being, that one had proper Kavanah while the second just went through the motions. This is what the pasuk is saying. "Uvekashtem" there will be many who pray to Hashem, but "Umatzasa" - only individuals will pray properly are answered.
 http://revach.net/tefilah/tefila/Parshas-VaEschanan-Vilna-Gaon-Which-Tefilos-Are-Answered/3966

Life and death

Choose Life: A Documentary about Leah Kaufman

HUCKABEE: OBAMA MARCHING ISRAELIS TO ‘DOOR OF OVEN’

Exposé: Malachi Rosenfeld's Murderer an American Citizen

"הגאון רבי ראובן אלבז: "להעריך את התורה ולהרבות באהבה

Shabos Chazon

Parshas Devarim/Chazon - 'How Are You Doing?'

Hakhel 5776

מרן הרב שטיינמן: "בין הזמנים הוא סכנה גדולה "לנשמה

Say it (especially with your children) at least once a day: Based on Chovos HaLevavos - Duties of the Heart

Sha'ar HaBitachon - the Gate of Trust
There are seven qualities that Hashem has that can strengthen our trust in Him:
Read more and download parsha sheets: https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/beermayimchaim/R6mgp0p6YbU

The Blaze reports on a a BuzzFeed editor's tweet after the Lafayette movie theater shooting, “Don’t pray. Push for gun control.”

An individual posted the following question with regard to the tweet. "Where is little Miss Buzzfeed when US citizens are murdered by illegals? Push for border control."
http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2015/07/23/as-lafayette-movie-theater-shooting-news-unfolded-buzzfeed-editor-tweeted-this/

Torah Wellsprings

The Jerusalem Post has an article titled Study: Diaspora Jews are growing increasingly critical of Israel which has generated many comments.

The article reminded me of an interview I recently watched in which an Israeli news reporter spoke to Americans active in Jewish Voice for Peace who were asked about the right of return for millions of Palestinians. The following is a dialogue that begins around the 4 minute mark of the video.

And after we make the right of return and all the things of the BDS, there will come peace- there will be peace in Israel?

I think it is the only way that there can ever be peace in Israel.

And if you're wrong?

How are we supposed to answer that? How are we supposed to answer these questions?

Cause it's my life.  I'm living there. You want me to gamble on my life.
http://www.mako.co.il/news-military/israel-q3_2015/Article-990df63642d9e41004.htm?sCh=31750a2610f26110&pId=2082585621

The secret message

Tisha B'av 5775 - The Prerequisite of Shalom-Harmony, To Usher In The One Who Is Shaleim-Perfect


Think You’re Having a Bad Day? Read This Poem…and Then Read the Secret Message Hidden In Plain Sight

The 36 commandments?

I will not link to the letter that some of you might have read from a young woman who wrote about her Hasidic insular community but I will correct her statement about the Lammed Tes Melachos - "the 36 commandments kept on Shabbat."
Actually, it's 39.

I was speaking to a friend this morning about individuals who wish to leave the tight-knit community and are embraced by individuals who get them to try a piece of bacon and tell them, "you see, nothing happens if you eat unkosher." My friend asked me why these individuals have to go to the other extreme. Can't those people who find their environment too stifling be given tools to find jobs and incorporate into the secular world, while still keeping kosher and Shabbat?

שני טון בשר טרף שהוברחו מהרשות הפלסטינית נתפסו בדרך לירושלים

A double Mazal Tov

תקדים עולמי: תאומות נישאו לתאומים וילדו בהפרש 20 דקות - All I can say is Mazal Tov, Mazal Tov.

This Story About a 21-Year-old Orphan Trying to Get Married Will Make you Cry

When Tisha B’Av Falls Out On Shabbat – The Wide Ranging Ramifications

Citizenship guidance

When 'Tevye' Came to the Rebbe

Breitbart reports on guidance for citizenship clarified by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

Under the clarified guidance from USCIS, certain immigrant candidates for citizenship do not need to declare that they will “bear arms on behalf of the United States” and “perform noncombatant service in the Armed Forces of the United States.”
http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2015/07/21/obama-admin-updates-eligibility-requirements-to-omit-portions-of-citizenship-oath/

Halacha for Postponed Tisha B'Av

SALT: Parashat Devarim

A YouTube video titled 60 Minutes: Sir Nicholas Winton "Saving the Children" contains a question asked by the interviewer to Nicholas Winton regarding the Czech Kindertransport.

Did you approach any other countries to take some of the children?

The Americans. but the Americans wouldn't take any. Which was a pity. We could have got a lot more out.

Winton had written President Roosevelt asking the US to take in more children. A minor official at the US Embassy in London wrote back, "The Unites States government was unable to help."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c0aoifNziKQ

Watch as ICE Director Is Forced to Tell Ted Cruz He’s ‘Absolutely Right’ After He Disputes Her Claim During Hearing

Spanning the decades

We have had plenty of talk over the years, but progress towards peace and an end to this senseless violence will not happen through talk but through actions. And the disengagement is genuine, positive action..
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2005/aug/02/comment

Isaac Herzog August 2005

“From a security standpoint, the disengagement was a mistake because it was done unilaterally,” http://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/gaza-disengagement-a-security-mistake-herzog-says/

Isaac Herzog July 2015

A majority of Israelis maintain they opposed the 2005 disengagement from the Gaza Strip, and over half believe Israel should resettle the territory, a poll published Monday said.
 ... “Since we known a majority of the public in 2005 supported the disengagement, it’s very clear that some of the respondents don’t feel comfortable with their past support for the disengagement and therefore testify today that they opposed it,” Inbar said.
http://www.timesofisrael.com/poll-most-israelis-opposed-gaza-pullout-support-return/

“We Don’t Know The Terrorist’s Motive”…

בשל חובות עתק: ישיבת לוצרן בשוויץ סוגרת את שעריה

In Scotland, a desperate bid to reclaim a long-unknown Jewish identity

Aleph, Lamed Hey

Sefer Devarim is Moshe's closing message to Bnei Yisrael where he gives the mussar for the aveiros they have done, reviews with them all the mitzvos, and warns them about the future. The Gemara says (Bava Basra 165a) that most people steal, a few enter illicit relationships, and everybody speaks Avak Lashon Hara.
The Vilna Gaon finds a Remez to this gemara in the opening words of the parsha. "Eileh Hadevarim Asher Diber Moshe El Kol Yisroel". Eileh (Aleph, Lamed, Hey) is for Avak Lashon Hara. That is why it says El Kol Yisrael, because we are all oveir on this.
http://revach.net/article.php?id=570

Jewish Man Killed in Hit-and-Run After Verbal Dispute Over Parking Spot

Why My Kids Are Going Back to Jewish Day School

Famous rabbi: Aborted-fetus face cream 'not kosher'

Bad coordination

Housing Illegal Aliens At Detention Centers Costs More Than Four Star Hotels

Pollard's attorney: Despite reports, no word yet on his release

A NATO airstrike hit two Afghan military checkpoints on Monday in a restive province east of the capital, Kabul, killing seven Afghan troops in what an Afghan official describes as an accident due to bad coordination.
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2015/07/20/coalition-airstrike-afghanistan/30402917/?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

No UN condemnation? No ICC trial? Just let Israel use the defense "an accident due to bad coordination" and see what happens.

How Could We Have Known: The Jews Who Voted For Obama

What is this guy doing on YouTube? Particularly worrying are the amount of likes he received and the hateful comments.

Beautiful Instagram

The NYPost reveals the names of the victims of the limo crash on Long Island.

Brittney Schulman, 23, and Lauren Baruch, 24, both of Smithtown, Amy Grabina, 23, of Commack and Stephanie Belli, 23, of Kings Park died in the crash near Vineyard 48 in Cutchogue, authorities said.
http://nypost.com/2015/07/19/drunk-driver-charged-in-crash-with-limo-that-killed-4/

An Instagram Amy composed for her father reveals what a special daughter she was..

Happy Father's Day to the greatest father there is 💙❤️ I love you and appreciate you more than you could imagine. Thank you for everything you do for me and forever being my number one fan  

The remains

The remains of 86 Jewish people sent to Nazi gas chambers in 1943 have been discovered at a forensic medicine institute in eastern France.
Read more: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/remains-of-86-jewish-holocaust-victims-used-for-human-experiments-by-nazis-found-hidden-in-strasbourg-lab-10400263.html

TEHILLIM – HaRav Matisyahu Solomon Taken To Hospital

Seaweed that Tastes like Bacon Reminiscent of Talmudic Teaching

Anashim

Moshe Rabbeinu retells how he told Hashem that the burden of leading Bnei Yisrael alone was too much for him. Moshe then tells Klal Yisroel (Devarim 1:13), "Havu Lachem Anashim...", Provide yourselves men, wise and understanding and renowned to your tribes...

Rav Yaakov Kaminetzky points out that the plural for men is Anashim instead of the more logical "Ishim" which would be plural for the singular for of the word man "Ish". What is Anashim and what is the basis for this word that has no root in the singular? He answers that one individual man and a group of men are two non-related concepts. A group of men is not multiple individuals. It is a new concept that is totally unrelated. This is why the Torah uses a word that is not related to the singular form.

He also adds that we find this in other languages as well including Russian, German, and Lithuanian. http://revach.net/parshas-hashavua/quick-vort/Parshas-Devarim-Rav-Yaakov-Kaminetzky-The-Novelty-of-Many-Men/4645

The Queen has made her first appearance since footage showing her performing a Nazi salute as a young girl was published in The Sun. 
Read more:  http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3167103/Queen-breaks-cover-time-Nazi-salute-pictures-Sun.html

The salute

Buckingham Palace has launched a hunt to discover how leaked footage of the Queen being taught how to do a Nazi salute in 1933 ended up in the hands of The Sun.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3166631/Buckingham-palace-launches-hunt-source-leaked-Queen-Nazi-salute-footage-considers-legal-action-accusing-Sun-exploiting-Royal-family.html

The young people of Bnei Yisroel who were about to go into Eretz Yisroel. Moshe Rabbeinu in his last address to them retold the story of their parents' mistakes in the Midbar. When retelling the Cheit of the Meraglim, Moshe says that they were punished and routed by the Emori in their effort to go to Eretz Yisroel without permission. After this defeat they came back to the Machaneh and began to cry. The pasuk says (1:45) "V'Lo Shama Hashem B'Kolchem", Hashem did not listen to them. The next pasuk says that they stayed in Kadeish many years. Rashi says that they stayed there for 19 years without wandering around.

The Netziv says that we see from here that even when Hashem does not listen to our tefilos and does not grant our request, the tefila still helps. While their tefilos did not repeal the gezeira of staying in the Midbar for 40 years, it helped that they settled in one place did not need to wander for 19 years. We can't always get what we want but we always get something!
http://revach.net/tefila/article.php?id=3949

Following developments

Parshas Matos/Massei - Choosing Friends

Below are a few questions posed at the State Department briefing of July 16th.

QUESTION: Thank you. Two questions. One, as far as this Iranian nuclear deal is concerned, from the very beginning when this started, Israel was worried about that what – in the past, Iranian president said that Israel will be wiped off the world map. Are they going to turn back this and – this as far as this renouncing Israeli – Israel’s existence?

MR KIRBY: Are they – is who going to turn back what?

QUESTION: If they are going to denounce terrorism and also what they said in the past that Israel will be wipe --

MR KIRBY: Will Iran? Well, I think you’d have to – I mean, that’s a question for Iran’s leaders....

QUESTION: Do you have a reaction to reports that Israel may demolish part of a village called Susiya in the West Bank for expanding settlements?

MR KIRBY: I do. We’re closely following developments in the village of Susiya in the West Bank, and we strongly urge the Israeli authorities to refrain from carrying out any demolitions in the village.
http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/dpb/2015/07/244998.htm

Daily Emuna lesson


Source: Pollard May Be Released

Parshas Matos/Massei

Elder of Ziyon reports on the correction of the College Board AP Art History materials attribution for the Dome of the Rock from “Jerusalem, Palestine" to ”Jerusalem."

If you click here, you will see AP 2010 SCORING GUIDELINES which include, "A discussion of the religious significance of the building’s structure might include:
o The triumph of Islam: The location is also sacred to Jews and Christians, and so the dominant position of the Dome of the Rock implies Islam’s spiritual superiority."

The Yeshiva World reports on a Women’s Achdus Tefilla on Aaron HaKohen’s Yahrzeit.

Throughout the entire day of rosh chodesh, erev Shabbos, women and girls are urged to gather together at work, at home ,in camps, in one’s neighborhood and shuls, at children’s playgrounds, before during or after hafroshos challah and before shabbos candle lighting to commemorate the yahrzeit of Aharon HaKohen. Women are asked to recited Tehillim 119 in accordance to the letters א.ח.ד.ו.ת י.ש.ר.א.ל and Tehillim 133 sheves achim gam yachad. - See more at: http://www.theyeshivaworld.com/news/headlines-breaking-stories/326605/womens-achdus-tefilla-on-aaron-hakohens-yahrzeit.html#sthash.huCI3IOS.dpuf


Parshas Matos/Massei - A Minute Vort: Matos: The Danger of Anger / Masei: The Way to Pray stories/326605/womens-achdus-tefilla-on-aaron-hakohens-yahrzeit.html#sthash.huCI3IOS.dpuf


Parshas Matos/Massei - Acceptance: Key for Survival

Life and death

The excavation of a mass grave of Holocaust victims in Lithuania was halted following an appeal by the Jewish community and the country’s chief rabbi.
Read more: http://forward.com/news/breaking-news/312166/excavation-of-jewish-mass-grave-halted-in-lithuania/#ixzz3g5fCB27C


Zaidie Is Not Here (Part Four)

Because Jewish lives matter, too

Journeys

Parshas Matos/Massei - Life's Journeys

When an elderly man had a car accident, suffered a heart attack and nearly died on May 5, it was a police officer’s quick action that saved his life — a fact that hasn’t been lost on Paul McGarvey, the 88-year-old man who says that he’s more than thankful to be alive.

McGarvey, 88, went out of his way earlier this month to express gratitude toward Officer Duane Hostikka, a police officer in North Kansas City, Missouri, who arrived on the scene, couldn’t find a pulse and began administering CPR, WDAF-TV reported.
Read more: http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2015/07/15/elderly-man-who-nearly-died-while-driving-his-car-has-a-message-for-the-police-and-first-responders-who-saved-his-life-thats-worth-hearing/

Why is one sibling always left to care for elderly parents? And why, asks KATE MULVEY, did it have to be me...

Theans to UK Media Watch, an article at the Guardian about the Iran nuclear deal contains the following correction.

This article was amended on 15 July 2015. An earlier version said President Rouhani, in his statement welcoming the deal, referred to Israel by its name, rather than as “the Zionist entity”. In fact he did not refer to Israel by its name, but as “the Zionist usurper regime”. http://ukmediawatch.org/2015/07/16/uk-media-watch-prompts-correction-to-guardian-mistranslation-of-rouhani-speech/

Forgiveness

Jerry Springer Travels To UK For Holocaust-Refugee Archive Project

Washington Post changes headline about organ harvesting to ‘research,’ makes several edits

DEM JUDGE ORDERS PSYCH COUNSELING FOR D’SOUZA

Women’s Achdus Tefilla on Aaron HaKohen’s Yahrzeit

From Anger to Acceptance How to convert negative feelings through positive thinking.

Frustration to Forgiveness: Suppose you’re feeling frustrated because your husband came home late for dinner the second night in a row. Notice the frustration, accept it, and think forgiveness. Why is it okay to forgive? You may come up with some of the following thoughts: He works so hard to support our family. I’m not always on time either. Just because he’s late doesn’t mean that he doesn’t love me or care about our family dinner time. If you truly want to forgive others and the situation, you will find a reason to forgive. 
http://www.aish.com/sp/pg/From-Anger-to-Acceptance.html?s=feat

The following is an excerpt from an email I received from the Chofetz Chaim Heritage foundation.

At times, the willingness to overlook and forgive can cause a person’s life on this world to be extended, even after Heaven has decreed that his time has come. The Talmud relates (Rosh Hashanah 17a):

R’ Huna, the son of R’ Yehoshua, fell ill. R’ Pappa went to visit him. Upon seeing that he was unconscious, R’ Pappa told them [R’ Huna’s attendants], “Prepare provisions for him [i.e. ready his burial shrouds].’’ In the end, R’ Huna recovered. They [R’ Huna’s attendants] asked him [R’ Huna], “What did you see [while unconscious]?’’ He told them, “Indeed, that is how it was [that death had been decreed upon me]. But the Holy One, Blessed is He, instructed them, ‘Because he does not exact his measure, therefore, do not be exacting with him.’ As it is written, ‘He forgives transgressions and passes over sins’ (Michah 7:18) — whose sin does He forgive? One who passes over sins.’’

On Iran

An Important Note from Rabbi Hauer: Iran

A Jewish peer who fled occupied Austria as a child is funding the rescue of up to 2,000 Christians from Syria and Iraq as a way of showing his gratitude to the religion whose members saved him from the Nazis.
Read more: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/jewish-peer-who-fled-nazis-is-rescuing-christians-fleeing-isis-to-repay-debt-10388388.html



How To Think About the Iran Deal in One Photo

By age

One of the Chashuvim of Vilna once came crying to Rav Zemeleh Volozhin that he married off his son to the wise and kind daughter of a prominent family of Vilna, but to his surprise after the Chasuna they found out that the girl was 10 years older than the boy!

Rav Zemeleh cut him off mid-sentence and answered him light heartedly. At the end of Parshas Masei (36:10), the Torah mentions the names of the Bnos Tzelafchad in a different order than previous mentioned in Parshas Pinchos (27:1). Rashi comments that previously they were mentioned in order of their wisdom, while here they were mentioned in the order of their age. Why here did the Torah mention them by age?

Rav Zemeleh explained that the gemara Bava Basra (119) says that the youngest any of them married was at the age of 40. Surely the Torah would not want to reveal their ages before they married so it listed them in order of their wisdom. Only here when the Torah says that they married their cousins, does the Torah finally reveal their true ages. Apparently the Torah felt that after their marriage, no one worried if anyone would find out how old they really were. (Pninim Uparpara'os) http://revach.net/parshas-hashavua/story/Parshas-Masei-Rav-Zemele-Volozhin-Show-No-Sympathy-For-The-Boy-Who-Is-Tricked-Into-Marrying-An-Older-Girl/4643

ראש ישיבה סילק בחור שהתארס מוקדם, גדולי ישראל התערבו

Submit Your Shidduch Ideas Online

Parashat Matot-Masay: The Cities Of Refuge And The 6 Mitzvot That Will Save Your Life

UN's 61

The pasuk (Bamidbar 33:17) lists as one of Bnei Yisroel’s travels, “VaYis’u MiKivros HaTaava, VaYachanu BaChatzeiros”. The Chasam Sofer says that we see a Remez from these words that if you overcome your indulgence, you become more Kadosh and closer to Hashem. "VaYis’u MiKivros HaTaava", translates to, “they traveled from burying their desires.” VaYachanu BaChatzeiros, they encamped in the “courtyard”. The courtyard, he says, refers to Olam HaZeh. Like it says in Pirkei Avos (4:21), “Hasken Atzmicha B’Prosdor KDei SheDikaneis L’Traklin.” Once we bury our desires we then enter the courtyard to perform Mitzvos and Ma’asim Tovim to prepare ourselves for our entrance to the palace, Olam Habah. 
http://revach.net/parshas-hashavua/quick-vort/Parshas-Masei-Chasam-Sofer-Straight-From-the-Burial-To-The-Courtyard/2562 

After listening to a BBC interview (BBC HARDtalk - William Schabas - Head of UN HRCC of Inquiry into Events in Gaza in 2014 (7/7/15)) in which Stephen Sackur makes statements such as the ones below, all I can say is it looks like Mashiach is coming.

Let's just talk about the Human Rights council generally because because you know Israel accuses that council of being fundamentally biased against its interests. They point to one basic statistic that over the last 10 years there have been 61 different condemnations and resolutions directed against Israel. Only 55 against the rest of the world combined. 15 against Syria 8 against North Korea. That just seems fundamentally unfair.

Click here to listen to the interview and to read the comments posted below the video.

The UN weighs in on a historical baptism site over here.


President Barack Obama cut the prison sentences of 46 non-violent drug offenders on Monday, including 14 who were sentenced to life in prison, saying "their punishments didn't fit the crime." http://news.yahoo.com/obama-commutes-sentences-46-convicts-165111278.html

What about Jonathan Pollard?

A horse is a horse of course, of course

Harry Maryles has written an article titled Saying Kaddish for Open Orthodoxy.

They use the word Orthodoxy. But they are not Orthodox. If you are a camel and claim to be a horse, that doesn’t make you a horse. They may see themselves that way. But they cannot have their cake and eat it too. You cannot resign from an organization that represents Orthodox rabbis because they don’t accept your innovations as Orthodox – and then say that you are still Orthodox despite that.
Read more: http://www.jewishpress.com/blogs/haemtza/saying-kaddish-for-open-orthodoxy/2015/07/13/

A major media watchdog blasted C-SPAN on Friday for consistently broadcasting antisemitic and anti-Israel rants from callers without interruption or clarification on the network’s daily morning talk show, Washington Journal.
Read more: http://www.algemeiner.com/2015/07/12/watchdog-slams-c-span-for-allowing-uncontested-antisemitic-anti-israel-rants-by-callers/#

A rare piece of Toronto’s Jewish heritage appears to have been rescued at the last minute, after almost being destroyed by a bubble-tea franchise.
Read more: http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2015/07/12/yiddish-sign-survives-threat-to-last-vestige-of-jewish-enclave-on-baldwin.html

Jackie Mason Believes Trump Will Get GOP Nomination on Authenticity
As for me, I believe the other candidates and the media will combine to bring him down.

By Day Muslim British Government Counter-Terror Policing Expert, By Night, Preacher Of Extremism…

The 3 Weeks

His mother's footsteps

The Gemorah states that when Rav Yosef heard his mother’s footsteps he would rise because the Shechinah (his mother) was coming. From this story the poskim maintain that one is obligated to stand up for a parent.
Read more: http://www.shemayisrael.com/parsha/halacha/Volume_6_Issue_13.pdf

Schoolchildren should stand up when headteachers enter the room in a return to traditional discipline, the chief inspector of schools said. Sir Michael Wilshaw said he was dismayed by behaviour in some schools and called for 'grammar school ethos' in every comprehensive.
He said pupils should call their teachers 'Sir' or 'Miss' and teachers should stop referring to youngsters as their 'mate'.
...His call for pupils to stand echoes remarks made by David Cameron in 2012 when he praised schools with traditional discipline, including where 'children stand up when their parents or teacher walks in the room...
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3158029/Pupils-stand-teachers-enter-room-call-Sir-Miss-says-chief-inspector-schools.html#ixzz3fi5HBmsF

Addiction is not a disease — and we’re treating addicts incorrectly

Hilchos Shabbos Initiative

Hilchos Shabbos Initiative Started In Zechus of 18-Year-Old Girl In Coma

Infant deaths hit Jewish community hard

No response

Gov. Maggie Hassan of New Hampshire (D.) has refused to say whether she supports her church’s divestment from Israel as she weighs running for the Senate seat currently held by Kelly Ayotte. Read more: http://freebeacon.com/issues/new-hampshire-governor-silent-on-her-churchs-israel-boycott/

Has the Twilight Zone Episode “The Obsolete Man” (Almost) Come True?

One arrest has been made and a suspect detained by Paris police so far in the the gang beating of a 13-year-old Jewish boy last Monday (July 6) after he left the Colonel Fabien Jewish Day School. Read more: http://www.jewishpress.com/news/breaking-news/update-arrest-made-in-paris-gang-attack-on-13-yr-old-jewish-boy/2015/07/11/

Parshat Pinchas

Daily Emuna lesson


Be'er Mayim Chaim - Torah & Chassidus



Click here for a free download of two stories from Fingerprints From Heaven by Sara Yoheved Rigler.

I now pronounce you "spouse" and "spouse"

Rabbi Moshe Hauer - The Blessings of Freedom: Reflections on a Changing America

Joseph Rosenfeld, a 15-year-old Jewish math enthusiast from Virginia, has the media abuzz about the golden ratio, after questioning the accuracy of a display at the Museum of Science in Boston.
Read more: http://www.timesofisrael.com/jewish-whiz-kid-catches-math-mistake-at-boston-museum/

Breitbart has an article titled BBC ADMITS ‘JEWS’ ANTI-SEMITISM IN ISRAEL COVERAGE.

N.Y. Times keeps Cruz off bestseller list

Dems declare war on words 'husband,' 'wife'

The family of Etzbon

Parshas Pinchas: Hear no evil

בְּנֵי גָד, לְמִשְׁפְּחֹתָם לְאָזְנִי, מִשְׁפַּחַת הָאָזְנִי "The children of Gad were... for Azni the family of Azni" Rashi tells us that this was the family of Etzbon. Chasma Sofer quotes the Shlah who explains what the connection is between Azni and Etzbon. Chazal tell us that a person is created with fingers in order to place them in his ears so that he should not hear "Diburim Asurim" - words which he is prohibited to hear. Therefore says the Shlah, since the whole purpose of a finger is so that one should place it in his ear , we can understand why the family  Azni (ear) can be called Etzbon (a finger). http://revach.net/parshas-hashavua/quick-vort/Parshas-Pinchas-Hear-no-evil/2473

Redt-it.com submit a shidduch idea

Words and meanings

One click led to another and another this morning and I found myself reading an article about Rabbi Amram Vaknin.

When I started to peruse the comments under the article, I found them to be from a Christian perspective. I found a video on YouTube of the rabbi calling for teshuva and realized the dangers of incorrect translation of the Rabbi's words.

For instance, Rabbi Vaknin spoke about people having problems with making a living because they are focused on luxuries. The translation in the video reads. "People are having problems with income because they are focused on the Lexus...."

Incidentally, the person responsible for the translation can also change "recieved" to "received" - Do you remember the "i" before "e" except after "c" spelling rule?

Another video on YouTube has the caption that Rav Kanievsky promises that Mashiach is coming at the end of the Shemita cycle. Someone posted a comment under the video requesting that the caption be corrected. The person wrote that the Rav didn't issue a promise but rather quoted from the Gemara " מוצאי שביעית בן דוד בא"

בבלי סנהדרין דף צז


An article in the Daily Mail introduced me to a new word - Hikikomori.

A comment posted under the article reads, "It's "hikikomori". Please do better research and proofread your work."

As of now, the article contains the spelling, "Hikikomori" as well as "Hikikiomori."

Speaking of words, I had nothing better to do than peruse the U.S. Constitution to read about the requirements of running for office.

Article I Section II.

.
No Person shall be a Representative who shall not have attained to the Age of twenty five Years, and been seven Years a Citizen of the United States, and who shall not, when elected, be an Inhabitant of that State in which he shall be chosen.

Article I Section III.

No Person shall be a Senator who shall not have attained to the Age of thirty Years, and been nine Years a Citizen of the United States, and who shall not, when elected, be an Inhabitant of that State for which he shall be chosen.

Article II Section I.

The executive Power shall be vested in a President of the United States of America. He shall hold his Office during the Term of four Years, and, together with the Vice President, chosen for the same Term, be elected, as follows.

Would someone explain to me how women can run for office if the pronoun "he" is used? Or can a "he" become a "she" nowadays?


Rasmea Odeh Appeal – Government files devastating Brief

Hillary Claimed During Interview She Wasn’t Subpoenaed, Trey Gowdy Releases Copy Of Subpoena…

The newspaper which is associated with the line, "all the news that's fit to print" has an article titled Hillary Clinton and House Republican Clash Over a Subpoena.

Based upon the screenshots captured below which include a sentence that ends with "and that mis" as well as a paragraph which spells the word "subpoena" as "subpeona" I might coin a new motto such as "all the news that is fit to be truncated and misspelled."

No coincidence

Click here to read a beautiful story at Collive of Hashgacha pratis.

A man over the congregation – Pinchas

Opinion: Why the NYSE trading halt should alarm investors

Leaning on

FreeBeacon has posted White House Instructs Allies To Lean On ‘Jewish Community’ to Force Iran Deal Officials push polling from fringe left-wing J Street organization
http://freebeacon.com/national-security/white-house-instructs-allies-to-lean-on-jewish-community-to-force-iran-deal/

Charles Krauthammer writes about the Iran nuclear deal.

Inspections. They were to be anywhere, anytime, unimpeded. Now? Total cave. Unfettered access has become “managed access.” Inspectors will have to negotiate and receive Iranian approval for inspections. Which allows them denial and/or crucial delay for concealing clandestine activities. http://israel-commentary.org/?p=11529

The J Street org site points to a video regarding the facts of the Iran nuclear deal. It talks about the most intrusive inspections regime in history 24/7/365 monitoring.

Glad that J Street has got the facts right and I don't have to worry about that article in Al Jazeera titled Iran rejects military site inspections in nuclear deal.

FreeBeacon also reports, "Newly obtained documents from the conservative educational foundation Judicial Watch detail an official memo from October 2010 of a meeting between Lois Lerner and officials at the Department of Justice and the FBI to plan for the prosecution of targeted nonprofit organizations."
Read more: http://freebeacon.com/issues/judicial-watch-lois-lerner-doj-officials-and-fbi-met-to-plan-criminal-charges-for-obama-opponents/

פרק באהבת אדם מהרבי מסערט ויז'ניץ

Behaviors

The Jewish Left Loves Israel to Death

NYPD: Orthodox Jewish Man Attacked With Unknown Object in Williamsburg

The Secret to Happiness Is 10 Specific Behaviors

The Mitzvah and Science of Making Shidduchim

And, after making a shidduch, how about contributing to the "Bayit Chadash" Project?

No surprises

Israel losing Democrats, ‘can’t claim bipartisan US support,’ top pollster warns

After watching the video below, I asked myself why someone had to use a pollster to arrive at these finding.

Memphis professor behind racist tweets resurfaces at crosstown school

Why am I not surprised?

When Palestinians Die in Jail

He stopped talking

“This much I knew As soon as you feel comfortable that's when It's time to start over.” ― Jerry Weintraub, When I Stop Talking, You'll Know I'm Dead: Useful Stories from a Persuasive Man

Jerry Weintraub, a legendary American film producer who was proud of his Jewish heritage and a champion of Chabad causes, passed away on Monday, 19 Tammuz 5775.
Read more: http://www.collive.com/show_news.rtx?id=36205&alias=chabad-telethon-producer-dies

Daily emuna lesson

"Pinchas Ben Elazar Ben Aaron HaCohen Hayshiv Es Chamosi Mai'al Bnei Yisroel"; "Pinchas, son of Elazar, son of Aaron the Kohen, turned back my anger from upon the Bnei Yisroel" Instead of saying "Hayshiv"- "turned back" my anger - it should have said "Bateil"- "nullified"?

Dovid HaMelech says in Tehillim,"Pinchos arose and executed judgment and the plague stopped. It was counted to him "LiTzdakah"- as a righteous deed - for all generations forever." What does the act of Pinchas have to do with Tzdakah?

The Vilna Gaon answers, according to the Torah every Jew is obligated to give annually a Machatzis HaShekel - a half Shekel- for the purchase of Korbonos Tzibur - communal offerings. The word "Machatzis' consists of 5 letters, the middle one being a "Tzadi", the first letter of the word ‘Tzdakah". Immediately flanking the Tzadi are a "Ches " and a "Yud", which spell the word "Chai" - life - and at the outer ends are the letters "Mem" and "Tof", which spells the word "Mais" - death. This is an allusion to the adage "Utzedakah Tatzil MiMaves" - Tzedakah saves from death.

Pinchas through his zealousness removed the plague from the Bnei Yisroel, thus committing an act of Tzedakah whereby life prevailed and death was excluded.

In the word "Chamosi" - "my anger" - it is the reverse. The middle letters are "Mem" and "Tof", which spells "Mais" - "death" - and the outer letters "Ches " and a "Yud", which spell the word "Chai" - life. Hashem was saying that Pinchas "Hayshiv Es Chamosi" - inverted the word "Chamosi " - chasing death away and bringing life.
http://revach.net/parshas-hashavua/quick-vort/Parshas-Pinchas-Vilna-Gaon-Pinchas-Turns-Around-The-Word-Chamosi/489

Giving and receiving

A Sacramento rabbi has called on Amazon to ban the sale of books promoting Holocaust denial, CBS Sacramento reported on Friday.
Read more:http://www.algemeiner.com/2015/07/05/california-rabbi-calls-on-amazon-to-cease-selling-books-on-holocaust-denial/#

Does CNN Think the Messiah is Coming?

Fabulous blog post about giving and receiving titled On the New York City subway.

Shiva Asar B'Tamuz Program

The UNHRC vote

US House Committee on Foreign Affairs Chairman Slams UNHRC for Anti-Israel Resolution

India's abstention on UNHRC vote against Israel significant: Officials 

Today: The Fast of Shivah Assar B’Tammuz (Nidcheh)


Submitting to a Higher Will

Shivah Assar B’Tammuz

Neo-Nazis Protesting ‘Jewification of Britain’ Largely Outnumbered By Counter Protesters

Shivah Assar B’Tammuz Kinnus in Flatbush to Be Broadcast Live on Matzav.com

Hilchos Shabbos Initiative Started In Zechus of 18-Year-Old Girl In Coma

With joy

1 Minute Class: Conquering Jealousy

Emuna daily lesson

Torah and kindness

A friend told me about Torah Wellsprings, thoughts on the parsha by RABBI ELIMELECH BIDERMAN SHLITA. I found the PDF for this week's parsha and just read through it. I highly recommend reading it. You can sign up for an email over here and read the PDF over here.

I received an email today asking to spread the word about a "campaign we are doing to add a bridal gown section to the work that we do to assist orphan Chatanim and Kallot."

Please click here to learn more about the Chessed Ve'Emet activities.
The haftorah of Parshat Balak which we read this Shabbat ends with the verse, "He has told you, O man, what is good, and what the Lord demands of you; but to do justice, to love loving-kindness, and to walk discreetly with your God."
Why not do a kindness NOW by helping out the brides?

HYPOCRISY: Before They Vilify Trump, NBC & NYC Should Disassociate From Sharpton

Making seconds count

Study: Most Americans suffer from ‘Digital Amnesia’

I don't know about you but I can summarize the results of the above study in one word. Darn, what's the word? I forgot.

Op-Ed: Sir Nicholas Winton: One Daring Act of Kindness Can Change the World

Outrage Expressed After Kosher Bakery Endorses Court Decision on Same Sex Marriage - With Rainbow Cookies

The other day I posted a link to an article about gaining an extra second in the last minute of June, due to a leap second being added. I just came across the video below in which Rabbi Anchelle Perl delivers a timely message (along with a couple of timely jokes such as, "Why shouldn't you tell secrets when a clock is around? Because time will tell." - Stay tuned to the end of the video for a laugh."

An Island of Spirituality in Fashion Center

Malachi's message

National tipping point: As Oklahoma bans the Ten Commandments from the capitol, brace yourself for THIS next outrage

Emunah daily lesson

Parents of Terror Victim Give 'Malachi's Message'

Courts, judges and monitors

By a margin of 7-2, the Oklahoma Supreme Court ruled on Tuesday to remove the state Capitol’s Ten Commandments monument. The state Supreme Court ruled that the monument is “obviously religious in nature and … an integral part of the Jewish and Christian faiths,” and therefore defies separation of church and state.
Read more: http://dailysignal.com/2015/06/30/court-rules-to-remove-10-commandments-statue-at-oklahoma-state-capitol/

Devarim 16:18 commands, "You shall set up judges and law enforcement officials...."
Perhaps judges should be removed because they are spoken about in the Bible. Also, what about laws regarding homicide, theft, etc? Sounds suspiciously like the Ten Commandments.

Dennis Prager: Court Calls An End To Judeo-Christian America

The Lakewood Scoop posts Private Schools Will have Mixed-gender Busing Next Year to Save Money, School District State Monitor Says.

One comment posted - This is a blessing in disguise-it may solve the shidduch crisis!