In tears

Jewish Labour MP Ruth Smeeth leaves antisemitism event in tears after being accused of 'colluding' with media

'All she wanted was to be a dancer'

Parshas Shelach - Something to Cry About

Today's segulah

Parashat Shelah: Objectivity and Prejudice

On December 23rd, the Yeshiva World wrote, "YWN regrets to inform you of the Petira of Rav Reuven Biermacher HY”D, beloved Rebbe in the Aish HaTorah Spanish program, who has passed away from massive injuries in this mornings Palestinian terror attack." - See more at: http://www.theyeshivaworld.com/news/headlines-breaking-stories/372116/boruch-dayan-haemmes-terror-victim-rav-reuven-biermacher-hyd-rabbi-at-aish-hatorah-spanish-program.html#sthash.59zgESX0.dpuf

"מצמרר • הקדוש הי"ד הבטיח לבת: 'אופיע בחופתך - An article published at Chadrei Charedim relates that the daughter of the terror victim got married last night. She said that she dreamt two weeks ago about her father who promised that he would be there at her wedding.


EU-funded Ma'an calls murderer of 13-year old girl a "shahid"

Perek 8 - Megilat Esther

8.And you-write about the Jews as you see fit, in the name of the king, and seal [it] with the king's ring, for a writ that is written in the name of the king and sealed with the king's ring cannot be rescinded." 9.And the king's scribes were summoned at that time, in the third month-that is the month of Sivan-on the twenty-third day thereof, and it was written according to all that Mordecai commanded,...
http://www.chabad.org/library/bible_cdo/aid/16481/jewish/Chapter-8.htm

Yesterday I posted about a segulah for today, the 23rd of Sivan, being an auspicious day to cancel a verdict. Read more over here.

The 23rd of Sivan

Ritual slaughter ban would be unconstitutional, Belgian state body says

Today, the 23rd of Sivan was the day that is written in Megillas Esther that the “scribes wrote everything that Mordechai commanded” which coincided with the King stating to “write about the Jews all the good(ness) that you want!!”

Therefore, the sefarim explained that on this day will and an auspicious day to cancel a verdict from every person ...
Read more: https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/beermayimchaim/K-K5QQ6beuE

Torah Wellsprings - Shelach - Korach 5776

[23 Sivan] •Mordechai issued a royal decree calling upon the Jews of the kingdom to defend themselves against attack. (This is the oldest record of an organized Jewish self-defense in the Diaspora.)
https://www.ou.org/judaism-101/bh-yom-yom/sivan/

The last test

Op-Ed: The seeds of Jewish destruction

The last test before Moshiach

YouTube has a video titled Sen. Cruz: The Admin’s Refusal to Confront Radical Islamic Terrorism Has Made America Less Safe. - an incredible Presidential like speech. The comment which begins with "Zionist Neo-Con stooge" has not been removed.

שונות - כיצד נדע מיהו המשיח

Parshat Shelach

UK university to compensate Jewish student for anti-Semitism

The U.S. government funnels millions of taxpayer dollars into groups that promote anti-Israel and anti-Semitic views, according to a forthcoming report from a watchdog for non-governmental organizations.
Read more: http://freebeacon.com/national-security/ngo-bias-palestinians-endangers-israel/
Great story by Rabbi Alon Anava in the second video below.

Today I resolve not to click on _________ anymore.

The other day, I was reading "The Chofetz Chaim on Pirkei Avos -Values from Sinai" and I was struck by what the venerable sage had to say about wasting time which could have better been utilized in Torah study.

Newspapers and magazines have greatly proliferated in our times, together with the size of their readership. It has become almost impossible for a newspaper reader to spend only one hour each day reading them. Since others know that he is an avid reader, they will ask him to relate the current events to them. How much additional time will be wasted as he reports in great detail all of the day's world news! Many people are not satisfied with reading only one newspaper, and therefore read three to four newspapers of every genre, frittering away several hours each day. Over the course of the whole year, all this time will accumulate to hundreds of hours wasted on nonsense, offering no benefit to the body, let alone to the soul.
So far, I have only mentioned the time wasted. In addition, newspapers tend to contain irreverence and lashon hara, base gossip and controversy. If the papers had no readership, they would not be printed. Everyone seems to forget that they will be taken to task for this when they have to give an accounting before the Throne of Glory. (pg. 115)


This morning I  came across a Facebook post with a rare view of the Chofetz Chaim as well as a devar Torah regarding this week and last week's parshiyot about shemirat halashon. Click here to read it.

Can you imagine what the Chofetz Chaim would have to say about all the time wasted on the internet, not to mention the lashon hara involved? Today, I clicked on a site and was incensed by what is deemed as necessary news for the readers. I was disgusted by the bounds of privacy that were disrespected and I made a kabalah not to link to that site or click on that site again. Hopefully, I will add more sites to my starting list of one.
Will someone join me? Send me a comment, "Today I resolve not to click on ______ anymore. Leave the _______ blank. I don't wish to know which one you have chosen. And, with the time saved, why not open up a sefer or listen to a worthwhile shiur instead?

Only Remania

The War for Halachic Judaism

Twenty-five children were reportedly killed in air strikes that hit heavily crowded areas in a town in eastern Syria, the United Nations children's agency (UNICEF) has said.
Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-syria-unicef-idUSKCN0ZD0KN

Let's see how many news organizations pick up the story when it doesn't involve blaming Israel.

VIDEO – How UN Refugee agency teaches children to hate and attack Jews

EIGHT COUNTRIES Now Threaten to Leave EU Following Britain’s Lead - Someone posted a comment on Facebook the other day. "Brexit could be followed by Grexit, Departugal, Italeave, Czechout, Oustria (or Austria La Vista), Finish, Slovakout, Latervia, Byegium..Only Remania will stay."

Chesed in a big way

The Chesed in Lakewood Shines once again

Abbas Retracts Claim That Israeli Rabbis Called for Poisoning Water

DEM COUNCILWOMAN: HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL IS RACIST

Letter in the New York Jewish Week, June 24, 2016

A manuscript, a mezuzah

New Sefer Of The Ben Ish Chai Printed From Manuscript Found In Saddam Hussein’s Intelligence Offices

Arab vandals desecrate Tomb of Patriarchs mezuzah in Hevron

At the end of the Parsha we find the MiKoshes Eitzin being Michalel Shabbos and then immediately following this is the Parsha of Tzitzis. The Vilna Gaon offers an explanation for the connection.

On our Tzitzis we make five knots. In the four gaps between these knots we wrap one of the strings around the others. The number of times we wrap the other strings in these four gaps are 7,8,11,13 for a total of 39.

Similarly on Shabbos there are 39 Avos Melachos, which are categorized into four groups. The process of baking bread consists of 13 Melachos, making clothing 11, preparing parchment and writing 8, and the remaining Melachos 7.
http://revach.net/parshas-hashavua/numbers-letters/Parshas-Shelach-Vilna-Gaon-What-Is-The-Connection-Between-Tzitzis-and-Shabbos/2361

The Bradley Prize

ADL blasts Abbas for rekindling anti-Semitic stereotypes

Parshas Be'haaloscha - The Jewish People Complain About Provisions in the Midbar

Who Is a Jew? Maybe Not Woman Converted by Esteemed New York Rabbi

Winners

Fountain of Youth

Chabad Rabbi Wins Second in Food Network’s ‘Chopped’ Competition

LeBron James Emotional Postgame Interview | Cavaliers vs Warriors - Game 7 | 2016 NBA Final

So Here’s What This Guy Is Looking For In A Shidduch. Any Ideas For Him?

Parashat Behaalotecha: Remembering and Being Remembered

Relationships

‘Look after your brothers’

“Me Before You” Deserves the Backlash

Parshat Behaalotcha

Parashat Be’halot’cha: Traveling With Hashem

Kitty Werthmann speech: The USA is turning more like Nazi Germany of 1940 - a speech given a few years ago.

Clarke Signs on Harsh Israel Letter

Jewish singers

'Watch Out for Your Mothers' as missionaries become more bold

Police patrols increased as swastikas appear outside Stamford Hill playground for fifth time in a week

Below are two videos featuring Jewish singers. The first features an ad for Pepsi Max and someone commented, "Pepsi MAX Israel produced this brilliant commercial featuring Lipa Schmeltzer in an effort to target the charedi demographic ... who don't have access to TV or internet."
The second is a great interview with Avraham Fried who offers a nice devar Torah about Az Yashir.

Before you speak

T-H-I-N-K Before You Speak

Loretta Lynch Contradicts Herself On WHY ISIS References Will Be Redacted

A Maryland judge has upheld a two-day school suspension for a boy, then 7 years old, who chewed his breakfast pastry into the shape of a gun and pretended to shoot it.
Read more: http://www.abajournal.com/news/article/judge_upholds_school_suspension_of_boy_who_chewed_pastry_into_gun_shape

Oh well, he can always go to a Gazan school. - How Darling…So Precious…Gaza Kindergarten Graduation

If There Was a Pill For Self-Control

'Star Trek' actor Anton Yelchin dies in freak car accident

Yelchin was born March 11, 1989, in Leningrad, Soviet Union (now Saint Petersburg, Russia). His parents, Irina Korina and Viktor Yelchin, were pair figure skaters who were celebrities as stars of the Leningrad Ice Ballet for 15 years. His family is Jewish; in the USSR, they were subjected to religious and political oppression. Yelchin had said: "My grandparents suffered in ways I can’t even begin to understand under Stalin."
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anton_Yelchin

Brought by their carers

Hundreds of people came out to protest a Christian conversion ceremony in Rishon Leziyon on Saturday morning.
...During the course of the protest, Lehava activists managed to rescue six Jews who were expected to undergo a baptism and conversion. Two of the six were Holocaust survivors who had been brought by their carers, the group says.
Read more:  http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/213790#.V2Y5tfmLTIU

What to do about an Overweight Wife

The Rebbe Read Youngster's Mind

Op-Ed: Shame on the world’s anti-Semitic media

Grandmas and Grandpas

Chilling Reminder of Beloved Zaide

Presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton is a grandmother twice over.

Chelsea Clinton announced Saturday that she has given birth to her second child, son Aidan. http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2016/06/18/chelsea-clinton-gives-birth-to-second-child-son-aidan/

Check Out Hysterical Moment Queen Elizabeth Becomes No-Nonsense Grandma After Prince William’s Formality Lapse at Buckingham Palace

Parshat Naso

8th Grader Jack Aiello’s Presidential Candidates Graduation Speech

Parshas Naso - Source of All Blessing

Rabbi Shmuel Silber on Parshas Naso - Moving Forward While Looking Back

[podcast] Daniel Luria: Why Does the World Care When Jews Build Buildings?

The ring

Parshas Naso - Where is the Ring?!

What Is Unconditional Love?

1 dead, others injured following stabbing at Calgary medical centre - Will there be a call for a ban on knives?

Watch: Rav Michoel Lasry’s Inspiring Message Upon the Tragic Petirah of His Son, Shimon Yochai z”l

Parashat Naso: Ayin Tov

The counting of the Omer

The Orlando Massacre: A Hate Crime against Man and God - Rabbi Blech makes a connection beween the number of victims and the counting of the Omer which leads to the holiday of Shavuos. I read a comment somewhere in which an individual draws a connection with the counting of the Omer and the perpetrator's first name, Omar.

שוב: חרדית איבדה טבעת יהלום, עשרות מתנדבים נרתמו

Orphans of leading Kabbalist struggle to make ends meet

The Ambassador's statement

STATEMENT BY H.E.AMBASSADOR E. MANOR PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF THE STATE OF ISRAEL

It is illegal in the United States for foreign countries to try to influence the outcome of elections by funding candidates.
Read more: http://conservativeread.com/saudi-arabia-has-funded-20-of-hillarys-presidential-campaign-saudi-crown-prince-claims/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+conservativeread+%28Conservative+Read%29

The Mystery of Jewish and Asian-American Democratic Loyalty

The last words of Birchas Kohanim are "V'Yaseim Licha Sholom". The Medrash says, "Sholom B'Knisasech, Sholom B'Yitziasech, Sholom Im Kol Adam," peace in your coming, your going, and peace with every man.

The Iturei Torah brings the Ksav Sofer who explains this Medrash. The Gemara in Brachos (59) tells us the interpretation of many different dreams. Among these dreams, three of them tell of peace; the kettle, the river, and the bird. The Ksav Sofer says that these represent three different kinds of peace. The kettle represents peace in your home, where all the household members use the same kettle. The river means peace in your country, where all the citizens share the water and benefits of the country's river. The bird symbolizes world peace, like a bird who is not limited to any specific local and can fly wherever its wings take it.

When Hashem gives us a bracha of peace it is all encompassing. The Medrash says, "Sholom B'Knisasech," you will have peace in your coming, meaning within the confines of your home. "Sholom B'Yitziasech," peace when you go outside and interact with your countrymen. "Sholom Im Kol Adam," no matter where and no matter with whom, peace will reign supreme!
http://www.revach.net/parshas-hashavua/medrash/Medrash-Naso-Ksav-Sofer-Three-Dreams-Of-Peace/3828

The sacrifice

Bereaved father: 'It's like the sacrifice of Yitzchak'

Israel to UNHRC: ‘You’ve never cared for us, how do you expect us to take you seriously?'

The graduation ceremony

Dutch Chief Rabbi Binyomin Jacobs called on authorities to identify and punish high school pupils who during their graduation ceremony sang about burning Jews.
Read more: http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/213594#.V19UAPkrKUk

"שווימקלייד": שיחת מוסר או סטנדאפ ממש מוצלח"שווימקלייד": שיחת מוסר או סטנדאפ ממש מוצלח

Brazil regrets its vote negating Israel’s tie to Western Wall, Temple Mount

Not by chance

World Famous Scientist: God Created the Universe

CNN retracts mean headline on attack

Who is the Messiah? And how will we recognize him when he comes?

Modeh Ani

Modeh Ani – Thank You

NYPD: Crown Heights Yeshiva Student Beaten up In Anti-Semitic Attack

Shavuot: Matan Torah and Shabbat

צפו: הגאון רבי ברוך מרדכי אזרחי בשיחת הכנה לשבועות

Going to bat

Helen Mirren Goes To Bat For Survivors, Heirs On The Hill

An article that I read this evening referencing Hegelian dialectics brought back memories of my ninth grade history teacher who had a lisp and whose last name consisted of three esses. We couldn't wait for her to reach us all about, "thesis, synthesis and antithesis." Click here to read a good explanation about the topic.

Susan Rice Says ‘Foolish’ To Rule Out Backing UN Resolution on Israel

Shavuos 5776

Shavuos 5776 - Total Immersion

Jerusalem Student Devises System to Save Children Left in Cars

Dairy reasons

Why Dairy on Shavuot?

Census Questionnaires May Soon be Offered in Arabic — The Fastest Growing Language in U.S.

Their own flag

It was only after a year in the Midbar, that the Bnei Yisrael were counted in order to be set up under the Degalim, where each Shevet was given their own flag. Why did Hashem wait so long to give them this mitzva?

Rav Yaakov Kaminetzky (Emes L'Yaakov) says that in principal creating the Degalim was a dangerous move. By dividing up a group of people with each one having their own banner and motto, competition could evolve with feelings of nationalism. However, if all of the groups have the same goal, and each contribute to the cause in their own unique way, this danger doesn't exist. The eyes don't compete with the ears since their roles are different. This way various factions can work together towards their mutual goal.

The Mishkan was only put up in Nissan of the second year. Hashem wanted to wait for the Degalim until the Avodas HaMishkan become the focal point of life in the Midbar. Only then, was it safe to give a clear identity to each Shevet. That is why the pasuk says (Bamidbar 2:2), "Ish Al Diglo B'Osos L'Bais Avosam... Saviv L'Ohel Moed Yachanu," only when their lives revolved around the Mishkan did Hashem divide them up and give them each their own specific mission.
http://revach.net/parshas-hashavua/quick-vort/Parshas-Bamidbar-Rav-Yaakov-Kaminetzky-Degalim-In-The-Midbar-Dividing-Only-To-Conquer/3783

French Jews flee Paris suburbs over rising anti-Semitism

Dennis Prager's Award Speech

Erev Rosh Chodesh

Shirat Devorah reminds readers to recite Shelah HaKadosh - Parent's Prayer on erev Rosh Chodesh Sivan.

Rabbi falsely detained by Temple Mount police, judge rules

Countable

Rav Chaim Kanievsky’s Patience

Muslims Yes, Jews No: The Hypocrisy of the NY Times

That's enough

FLASHBACK: Muhammad Ali Endorsed Reagan — ‘He’s Keeping God In Schools And That’s Enough’

The name of the Nasi of Shevet Yisachar was Nisanel ben Tzuar. The Chesed L'Avrohom (Iturei Torah) explains the meaning of this name. Yisachar was the Shevet of Lomdei Torah and provided the Talmidei Chachomim for the Sanhedrin. How did they reach such heights? Th

e gemara (Eruvin 54) tells us the pasuk U'Mimdbar Matana teachs us that Torah is a Matana, a gift from Hashem. Whoever considers himself like the Midbar, dust of the desert floor that is stepped on by all and does not complain become the recipient of Hashems's precious gift, the Torah.

Tzuar is like the word Tza'ir, small. Yisachar was ben Tza'ir, they held themselves to be very small. Therefore Nesanel or Nosan Keil, Hashem gave them his Torah.
http://revach.net/article.php?id=5068

To the rescue

Rescuing Warsaw's overgrown Jewish graves

Jewesses Bathing in Public Pools? New York Times Editorial Writers Can’t Stand the Stench

Below is an excerpt from a NYT article about the Regent Park Aquatic Center in Toronto.

On Saturday evenings, mechanized screens shroud the center’s expansive glass walls to create a session that allows only women and girls to relax in the hot tub, swim laps or careen down the water slide, a rare bit of “me” time treasured by many of the neighborhood’s Muslim residents.

...The aquatic center reflects that ethos of inclusion. After the weekly women’s swim ends, the blinds stay down for a private session popular with transgender people who want to swim without feeling they are being stared at.
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/29/world/americas/in-toronto-a-neighborhood-in-despair-transforms-into-a-model-of-inclusion.html?_r=0

Self discovery

Singles And Self-Defeating Attitudes

Parshas Bechukosai - Discover Yours!

Gone to the Gorillas

Harvard Hires Iranian Regime Supporter Who Warned of ‘Jewish Threat’

‘It should OUTRAGE EVERY American!’ – Jake Tapper EXPOSES Obama Admin COVER UP on Iran Deal

Obama again proves why he’s the greatest orator of our time!

Worth nothing?

The other day Forbes published an article with a headline From $4.5 Billion To Nothing: Forbes Revises Estimated Net Worth Of Theranos Founder Elizabeth Holmes.
Those who published articles regarding the Forbes one chose a different headline. - Forbes: Former Richest Self-Made US Woman Now Worth Nothing

Yesterday I posted an a link to an article by Rabbi Benjamin Blech about the choice between a human life and an animal life.

The Bible teaches us that “He who sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed – because in the image of God He made man” (Genesis 9:6).
http://www.aish.com/ci/s/Killing-Harambe-The-Cincinnati-Zoo-Tragedy.html?s=show
Is the US woman really worth nothing?


Krauthammer OBLITERATES State Dept ‘transparency’ excuses with this BRILLIANT comparison

Revealed: Corbyn called Israeli politicians 'criminals'

Parashat Behukotai: The Misvot We Do Not Understand

American Jews Warn Israeli Leader of Possible 'Rupture'

Were Reform Jewish leaders concerned with rupture from fellow Jews when the Reform movement was first introduced?

Thumbing their nose

An article titled Plan to mark out Jewish 'eruv' in Camden with fishing wire inspired readers to post comments such as "They're no more advanced than people who used to burn women suspected of being a witch."

Killing Harambe: The Cincinnati Zoo Tragedy

The following is an excerpt from a State department brieifng of May 10, 2016.
...the report that the video of a briefing from a couple years back with Jen Psaki was edited to remove questions and her answers about when the Iran negotiations began. What’s going on here?

MS TRUDEAU: Yeah, so we saw that report. We actually spoke to Fox about this yesterday, so thanks for that question. I’d back up. The – this is a daily press briefing from 2013. The transcript of that daily press briefing and video was always available – transcript was on state.gov; the video was available on other sites. There was a glitch in the State Department video. When Fox flagged it for us, we actually replaced it with a video from DVIDS, which is the military repository where a lot of news media gets its video. The whole video was there, and we also annotated it on our YouTube channel.
http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/dpb/2016/05/257074.htm#DEPARTMENT

Below is an excerpt from the June 1 briefing.
..as many of you know, and as some of you have brought to our attention, a portion of the State Department’s December 2nd, 2013 press briefing was missing from the video that we posted on our YouTube account and on our website. That missing portion covered a series of questions about U.S. negotiations with Iran. When alerted to this, I immediately directed the video to be restored in its entirety with the full and complete copy that exists and had existed since the day of the briefing on the Defense Video and Imagery Distribution System website, otherwise known as DVIDS.

I also verified that the full transcript of the briefing, which we also post on our website, was intact and had been so since the date of the briefing. I asked the Office of the Legal Adviser to look at this, including a look at any rules that we had in place. In so doing, they learned that a specific request was made to excise that portion of the briefing. We do not know who made the request to edit the video or why it was made.
http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/dpb/2016/06/257880.htm

In the same briefing, journalist Said asked Mr. Kirby, "John, are you bothered by the fact that this is really like a pattern by the Israeli Government, or even government – preceding governments as well, where they keep thumbing their nose at the international community."

The journalist could have been gramatically correct, either by using the expression "thumbing their noses" or "thumbing its nose."

Hate speech

Facebook, Twitter Pledge to Take Down Hate Speech in 24 Hours or Less - One comment posted under the article - "Surrrre they will. Unless the hate speech is against Jews, Conservatives, Christians, Republicans, Americans......."
http://www.truthrevolt.org/news/facebook-twitter-pledge-take-down-hate-speech-24-hours-or-less

Baltimore Shomrim Sends Letter of Commendation to Baltimore Police Applauding the Service of Detective Melissa Warczyski Immensely Helpful in Yesterday's Mugging Mayhem

Picture of the Day: ‘And All the Nations of the Land Will See..’

Activist Meir Ettinger released 10 months later

I Was Kicked Out of My Class’ Facebook Page Because I’m Pro-Life