בס׳ד

"Where does it say that you have a contract with G-d to have an easy life?"

the Lubavitcher Rebbe



"Failure is not the enemy of success; it is its prerequisite."

Rabbi Nosson Scherman



26 Aug 2017

The after 8 demonstration

The High Court of Justice ruled Thursday that demonstrations near the Petah Tikva home of Attorney General Avichai Mendelblit will be limited to 500 participants over the next two weeks, until it makes a final decision on the matter. The justices also ruled that demonstrators cannot step into the street or use more than two megaphones. Further conditions stipulate that the demonstrations cannot start before 8 P.M.
 Read more: http://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-1.808925 

Below is a screenshot of an article at Mako regarding tonight's demonstration posted at 7:32 P.M. Funny how I never realized that 7:32 P.M. comes after 8 P.M.
UPDATE: The Mako headline has now been changed to reflect that the protesters numbered  a lot more than 500,




A CNN reporter asks a question "What do you think about the fact that White supremacists support Trump?" He gets totally unprepared for responses over here including someone asking the reporter "Do Black Panthers support Obama?"

הזוג החרדי שנלחם בנטישת תינוקות עם תסמונת דאון

24 Aug 2017

No right to enjoy quiet

Why Millennial Women Are Failing and How to Fix It

Meet the $759 million Powerball winner
The Chicopee gas station store where Wanczyk bought ticket will get $50,000 for selling the winning ticket.

Bob Bolduc, 73, the owner of the chain of Pride stores, said he will be donating all of the money to charity.
http://nypost.com/2017/08/24/meet-the-759-million-powerball-winner/

Parshas Shof'tim - Is Everybody Happy?

Rabbi Zecharia Wallerstein - The Solar Eclipse

CUNY Awards Top Faculty Honors to Proponent of BDS Movement

High Court okays limited protests outside attorney general’s home

During the hearing, Judge Yoram Danziger addressed complaints that the protests were a nuisance to residents of the Kfar Ganim neighborhood, saying the right to protest took precedence.

“The residents’ right to enjoy quiet is not a legal right that even approaches the level of a legal right such as the right to protests and freedom of expression,” he said.

The court also ruled the demonstrations cannot begin until after 8 p.m., around the time that Shabbat ends, and that protesters may not enter the street or disturb traffic.
http://www.timesofisrael.com/high-court-okays-limited-protests-outside-attorney-generals-home/

Unbelievable that the residents' right to quiet wasn't taken into consideration nor the chilul Shabbat of the police who have to arrive hours before Shabbat ends to enforce the law.

Now is the time

How the Mainstream Media Operate

To understand America's crises today, one must first understand what has happened to two institutions: the university and the news media. They do not regard their mission as educating and informing but indoctrinating.
https://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2017/08/23/how_the_mainstream_media_operate_134811.html

Elul: The Time is Now

Two years later:
Court will decide whether arson suspect was tortured

23 Aug 2017

Crossing red lines

Barcelona Attack Mastermind Was Supposed to Be Deported – But Judges Blocked It

Ukraine Jewish Cemetery Desecrated

Emergency Chassan & Kallah Fund : PLEASE HELP US!!

Harav Rabinowitz: Women of the Wall Have ‘Crossed All Red Lines’

Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz Explains Why She Kept Imran Awan On Salary(VIDEO)!!

Three Jewish movements opt out of High Holy Days call with Trump, citing ‘xenophobia’

Three guesses which three movements...

Getting rid of the chametz

Shia Imam in Southern California Restates Belief That Israel ‘Finances, Arms, Trains’ ISIS Terrorists

While some obsessive women begin worrying about Chametz around Chanukah time, pleading with their children not take chametz out of the kitchen because Pesach is coming, the Shulchan Aruch paskens that 30 days before Pesach starts the Chiyuv of getting rid of the chametz. During this time we frantically employ every device available to clean chametz out of any place it may linger; walls, electric sockets, etc.

So too says the Seder HaYom with regard to the chametz in our hearts and our "chametz stained" deeds. Starting Rosh Chodesh Elul, 30 days before Rosh HaShanah, we must begin to clean ourselves to rid ourselves of every drop of chametz, otherwise known as aveiros, to purify ourselves for the Yom HaDin on Rosh Hashanah. Every creative method should be employed to slowly but surely during the course of the month find and destroy every crumb of Aveira hiding in the deep and not so deep recesses of our character. Some obsessive people start earlier. The letters of Chodesh "Av" they say are roshei teivos for Elul (Aleph) Ba (Bais). This goal that is no less important than cleaning for chametz on Pesach. Unfortunately on Rosh HaShanah there are no hotels in Florida that do the work for you.
http://www.revach.net/moadim/elultishrei/Elul-Time-To-Take-Out-The-Chametz/815

The Best Segulah


22 Aug 2017

Thirteen references

Religious girls’ schools leading in Israeli education

It is customary to recite chapter 27 of Tehillim, “L’david Hashem Ori”, twice daily from Rosh Chodesh Elul until Shemini Atzeret. ...The custom of reciting L’david throughout Elul originates in the Midrash which teaches that this chapter of Tehillim specifically refers to the High Holiday season.[4] For example, the word “Ori” refers to Rosh Hashana, “Yishi” to Yom Kippur, and “Ki Yitzpeneni B’sukko” to Sukkot. It is also noted that the Psalm contains thirteen references to God’s name which is said to protect us from any evil decrees when we are judged over the High Holiday season. These thirteen references to God are also said to correspond to the “Thirteen Attributes” which are recited as part of the Selichot in Elul and Tishrei.
http://www.torahmusings.com/2010/08/elul-ldavid/

Holocaust survivor: This is not the America I came to

Trump and the Jews

UN EQUATES STABBING A JEWISH FAMILY TO DEATH WITH DEFENDING AGAINST PALESTINIAN RIOTS

Fabulous lyrics in the second video below. Kol Hakavod.



The month of Elul

How to Really Grow During the Month of Elul

Most moms aren't putting babies to sleep safely, study says

HEARTBREAKING VIDEO: Cleveland Mom Of Children Critically Injured In Crash Gives Update; Ask For People To Continue Davening

"מצמרר: הכלה שהתחשמלה כתבה לפני פטירתה: "יש מי שמנהל את העולם

U.S. urges UN not to publish anti-Israel blacklist

The Times of Israel has a headline Jewish senator calls on Trump’s Jewish Cabinet members to resign.

This is the same senator whom Daniel Greenfield wrote about here while WND wrote about him here.

21 Aug 2017

I get it

WATCH: Australian BDS ‘Activists’ Hit New Low With Antisemitic Bullying Of School Children

As Av Becomes Elul

Trump and Israel haters get religion

Milbank, no rabbi so far as I know, suddenly finds the Good Book, and suddenly gets Religion.

From Hebrew Scriptures he finds a dozen texts to rebuke his three “court Jews.”

Has Milbank and the rest of the news media EVER used Biblical references to prove Jewish G-d-given rights to the Land of Israel? For that, never.

...But to use the Hebrew Bible against the Jews for cheap political expedience, this is too terrible.

This I forbid.
http://www.israelnationalnews.com/Articles/Article.aspx/20905

Spot on, Jack Engelhard.

20 Aug 2017

On the eclipse

TIMELY – Fascinating Article From 1940 About The Chofetz Chaim & The Solar Eclipse Translated Into English

Listen: Another Shiur From R Heber On The Eclipse

The Solar Eclipse: A Jewish Message

The Rebbe On A Solar Eclipse

The Washington Post has an article titled The Trump administration’s most prominent Jews disgrace themselves. I did not enjoy reading it and wasn't going to call attention to the piece except I would like to know why the URL is https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/the-trump-administrations-three-court-jews-disgrace-themselves/2017/08/18/929a68b4-840c-11e7-ab27-1a21a8e006ab_story.html?utm_term=.7898d806ecd8.

Was the headline switched from three court Jews to most prominent Jews?

Judaism and the solar eclipse

Here’s What Different Religions Have To Say About The Solar Eclipse

Is There a Bracha For Solar Eclipse

What Blessing Does One Make on a Solar Eclipse?

Missouri State Senator Shares Holocaust-Themed Tweet in Reference to Jewish Gov. Greitens

CNN SCRUBS HEADLINE CALLING ANTIFA VIOLENT

We read Parshas Shoftim in the beginning of Elul because the first step to Tshuva is to put guards at our hotspots. "Shoftim V'Shotrim Tetein Lecha B'Chol She'arecha"; place judges and policemen at all your gates. These gates allude to the gates of your body; your eyes, ears, mouth, etc., says the Bnei Yisaschar. The gemara says the eyes see and the heart desires. This is the mechanics of Aveira. We need to watch both what goes into our mouth and what comes out of it. Once we have honest judges guarding these flashpoints from evil we are on the road to tshuvah.

If we do stumble we must have a mechanism for punishing ourselves whether it is in the form of promising to give money to tzedoka or withholding something that we enjoy for every time we slip. This effective idea was popular among the Talmidim of Rav Moshe Kordevero says the Bnei Yisaschar.
http://revach.net/moadim/elultishrei/ElulParshas-Shoftim-Bnei-Yisaschar-Shoftim-And-Personal-Bodyguards/822

19 Aug 2017

The will and the choice

What did the terrorist write in his will?

The Palestinian News Agency, did not cite the words about the Jews quoted in the INN article, when reporting on the will.

Bret Stephens has written a reprehensible op-ed against President Trump in the NYT.

"Last year we were given a choice between moral judgment and political opportunity."

Last year, Mr. Stephens was asked by Hugh Hewitt, "But Bret, if the choice is Clinton versus Trump, who is Bret Stephens going to vote for?"

Mr. Stephen's response was, "Probably none of the above. I will never vote for Donald Trump. I have a very, very hard time voting for Mrs. Clinton. I have been, I have been writing about Hillary Clinton, I just actually looked this up, since 1998 when she was busy standing by when Suha Arafat was launching anti-Semitic tirades against Israel and the Jews. And Hillary Clinton’s record in office is dreadful. Her ideas are dreadful. They will make us less safe. So, but there is no way I’m going to vote for a guy who is just totally uninformed, un-presidential as Donald Trump is."
http://www.hughhewitt.com/talking-clinton-v-trump-bret-stephens/

16 Aug 2017

The new statement

The March for Racial Justice organizers have issued a new statement regarding the scheduling of the event on Yom Kippur.

Choosing this date, we now know, was a grave and hurtful oversight on our part. It was unintentional and we are sorry for this pain as well as for the time it has taken for us to respond.

Yesterday I read a comment from someone who wanted to participate in the march and asked if someone could organize to have Torahs, prayer books and shofars at the march. As the march is scheduled from 10AM through 1PM and the shofar is only blown at the end of the Yom Kippur fast at nightfall, I fail to understand why shofars were needed. I also thought to myself, that if Saturday, September 30th had not been Yom Kippur, many would have attended the march with blatant disregard for Shabbat.

Black, Jewish Goldman Sachs executive sues firm for discrimination, claiming bias killed her chance to land Allergan CEO as client

The date of the march

1/ Me and the Neo-Nazis: A Tale

UNRWA Seals Terror Tunnel Found Under Schools, Blasts Hamas for Putting Students at Risk

Mayim Bialik calls out March for Racial Justice over Yom Kippur date

March for Racial Justice Statement Regarding Yom Kippur

14 Aug 2017

The singular Re'eh

"Re'eh Anochi Nosein Lifneichem HaYom Bracha UKlala; Look, I place before you today, a blessing and a curse." (Re'eh 11:26). Hashem gives us the choice to choose good or evil and tells us that we will be paid back in kind. Rav Aharon Kotler asks, "Why is the word Re'eh singular, while the word lifneichem is plural?"

He answers that this teaches us that Hashem gave the Torah to all of Klal Yisrael, even if the masses reject Torah and mitzvos, it is still incumbent on every single individual to make the right choice. It is not acceptable to follow the majority if they go down the wrong path. Re'eh mean to look with your own eyes and see for yourself the right path to follow.

In the Navi Yeshaya it says, "Habitu El Avrohom Avichem... Ki Echad Karasiv; Your forefather Avrohom HaIvri was the man from the other side. He followed the righteous path even though he stood alone against a cold and cruel world." .
http://revach.net/parshas-hashavua/life-lessons/Parshas-Reeh-Rav-Aharon-Kotler-Even-If-You-Stand-Alone/3992

My Guru, Dr. Jacobs

Right-Wing Rabbis Condemn Forward For Calling Mort Klein ‘Threat’

The trip

Why I Went to Auschwitz
h/t INN

Marriage Tips For Men - Part 4

Overdue Book Returned To Nyc Library 38 Years Late

"ניצל ממחבלת ומשחזר: "חשבתי שזו זקנה שמחבקת אותי

13 Aug 2017

The reward of a mitzvah

Chazal tell us (Kidushin 39b), "Schar Mitzva B'Hai Alma Leka", there is no reward for Mitzvos in this world, only in the next. The pasuk by Tzedaka (Re'eh 15:10) seems to contradict this as it says נָתוֹן תִּתֵּן לוֹ, וְלֹא-יֵרַע לְבָבְךָ בְּתִתְּךָ לוֹ כִּי בִּגְלַל הַדָּבָר הַזֶּה, יְבָרֶכְךָ יְ-הוָ-ה אֱלֹהֶיךָ, בְּכָל-מַעֲשֶׂךָ. If we give Tzedaka Hashem will give a bracha to all our work. Is there reward in this world or not?

The Ksav Sofer answers that for the mitzva itself there is no reward in this world. However for the Simcha, the joy with which you do the Mitzva, there is a reward in this world. If we look carefully at the pasuk we see that the pasuk clearly says this. נָתוֹן תִּתֵּן לוֹ, give tzedaka. וְלֹא-יֵרַע לְבָבְךָ בְּתִתְּךָ לוֹ, there should be no ill will in your heart when you give it, only joy in doing Hashem's mitzva. כִּי בִּגְלַל הַדָּבָר הַזֶּה, יְבָרֶכְךָ יְ-הוָ-ה אֱלֹהֶיךָ, בְּכָל-מַעֲשֶׂךָ, because of this aspect of the mitzva Hashem, the simcha you had, you will be rewarded in this world.
http://revach.net/parshas-hashavua/quick-vort/Parshas-Reeh-Ksav-Sofer-Why-Are-We-Rewarded-For-Giving-Tzedaka/4696

"האברך שניצל סיפר: "הרב אמר לי שמלאכים מלווים אותי

Zichron Ephraim Shimon Fund: Aims to assist new parents; Launched in memory of Monsey child struck and killed by vehicle

Al-Aqsa preacher: Muslims have 'exclusive right' to Jerusalem

11 Aug 2017

Messages from the parsha

Parshas Eikev - Wealth

Nesivos Shalom Shiur from Yerushalayim: To Fear and Love Hashem

CEO Susan Wojcicki Responds to the Google Anti-Diversity Memo by answering a question posed by her daughter.

“Mom, is it true that there are biological reasons why there are fewer women in tech and leadership?” ...“No, it’s not true.”
http://fortune.com/2017/08/09/google-diversity-memo-wojcicki/

This is the same executive who wrote a WSJ article titled Paid Maternity Leave Is Good for Business
Are there biological reasons why she did not address paternity leave?

A number of days ago, I wrote a post titled Eicha which focused on weekly demonstrations taking place in Petah Tikva. Kikar Hashabat has an article about how a Supreme Court Justice  rejected a request for an interim injunction that would prevent the demonstrations from being held and asked the police to respond to the petition by Wednesday. The attorney who filed the petition cited a number of factors for banning the demonstration. He spoke about the religious residents of the neighborhood who are hurt seeing the Sabbath desecration that takes place.
This week's parsha is full of messages about what happens if we keep the mitzvot and the consequences of not adhering to them. For a full reading of the text of the parsha in Hebrew, as well as English, click here.

The Real Story Of That Lynch-Clinton Tarmac Meeting Gets Even Stranger

8 Aug 2017

Anti-anti

Elizabeth Warren Comes Out Against Anti-BDS Bill

One click led to another and I chanced upon a presentation by Al Jazeera on YouTube about what triggered the Al-Aqsa Mosque violence. The presenter begins, "On Friday three Israeli Palestinians and two Israeli police officers died in a gun battle."

Mohammed Nuseibeh was one of the interviewees and he said, "What the Israeli authorities are doing, closing the Mosque, is, first of all, illegal and contrary to all human rights conditions. A holy place is a place should be open to all those who want to go and pray there."

At 15:17 the presenter says, "In May this year 100s of Israeli Jewish hardliners stormed the Al Aqsa Mosque."

Other YouTube videos show the importance of the Mosque including this one in which the Imam speaks about what should be done to the people blocking access to the holy site at the 22 minute mark of the video.

V'Haya Eikeiv Tishmi'um

Palestinian Propaganda Is Infiltrating US Public Schools

The Gemara (Avoda Zara 9a) says that the world is for six thousand years. The first two thousand were empty before the Torah was given, the second two thousand are for Torah, and the last two thousand are for Moshiach. The Gemara then says that Moshiach should have come then, but we are wasting time because of our aveiros.

When did these two thousand years begin? They began 172 years after the Churban Bais HaMikdash. Rav Chaim Kanievsky says that we see a remez for this in Parshas Eikev. "V'Haya Eikeiv Tishmi'um." Eikev is the letters of 172. The Torah tells us that if we listen to the Torah and do the mitzvos, all of Hashem's goodness will be bestowed upon us 172 years after the Churban.
http://www.revach.net/parshas-hashavua/numbers-amp-letters/Parshas-Eikev-Rav-Chaim-Kanievsky-When-Should-Moshiach-Come/3980

What are the FBI and DoJ hiding?

Understanding the McMaster NSC purge

WATCH: Why Is The News Fake?

6 Aug 2017

5 minutes a day

"LiDaber Bam BiShivticha BiVaysacha UvLechticha VaDerech..."

"You must learn Torah at all times - when you are sitting in your home or traveling on the road etc.

"A person once came to Rabbi Yisroel Salanter and asked him, "Rebbi, I only have 5 minutes a day to study Torah, what topic should I study during that time?" R' Yisroel answered, "Study Mussar during those 5 minutes, you will then see that you really have a lot more time than 5 minutes a day to learn Torah.
http://revach.net/parshas-hashavua/quick-vort/Parshas-Eikev-No-Time-To-Learn/710

A one-year-old Israeli child was injured Sunday when Arab stone-throwers attacked a passenger bus driving through Judea, south of Jerusalem.
Read more: http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/233510

AS CONGRESS TRIES TO CRIMINALIZE BDS, THE DEMOCRATIC SOCIALISTS OF AMERICA ENDORSE IT

As reported by the JTA, the statement of action mandated by the DSA resolution begins with the following words:

Democratic Socialists of America declares itself in solidarity with Palestinian civil society's nonviolent struggle against ...
Read more: https://www.jta.org/2017/08/06/news-opinion/united-states/democratic-socialists-of-america-passes-bds-motion-against-israel-at-convention 

How did a baby get hurt by the nonviolent civil society?

Far-Left Activist Jackie Walker Gets Standing Ovation for Antisemitic Play

The Irish journalist fired for writing what critics called an anti-Semitic newspaper column apologized and acknowledged that he deserved to be sacked.
https://www.jta.org/2017/08/04/news-opinion/world/irish-writer-says-he-deserved-to-be-sacked-for-anti-semitic-column

What about Imams who preach anti-Semitic sermons?

Family Becomes Religious After Public Tragedy

In harmony

The State Department's Report on Terrorism Should Be Discredited

Time to Come Home

MAJOR GERMAN UNIVERSITY STUDENTS SAY BDS CONTINUES NAZI BOYCOTT

The Harmony in the Music

5 Aug 2017

Handing over the keys

America’s Jews have supported Muslims in the aftermath of hateful attacks. When a mosque in Texas burned down, for example, the local Jewish community handed the keys of their synagogue to enable Muslims to pray.

It is time for America’s Muslims to demonstrate that they appreciate being woven into the fabric of America’s diversity. Allowing Imams to get away with hateful comments against Jews from the pulpit will do little to demonstrate the American Muslim community’s commitment to universal values of tolerance and religious freedom.
Read more: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/muslims-must-ostracize-anti-semitic-imams_us_5985e9e2e4b0f2c7d93f562b

Terrorist Rasmea Odeh To Be Honored at Farewell Event in Chicago Ahead of Deportation

Which Palestinian do we believe? Aisha Odeh - see here and here- or Rasmea Odeh - see here?



3 Aug 2017

Talking points

Caroline Glick: General McMaster MUST GO!

Watch: You Won’t Believe How Many Orthodox Jews Donate Their Kidneys to Strangers

"ימים טובים לישראל" - תיעוד מיוחד לקראת ט"ו באב: יום המסוגל לזיווגים במחיצת הגר"י אדלשטיין זצוק"ל

DOJ releases Obama admin talking points on shady Clinton/Lynch tarmac meeting (just 1 problem)

Nahamu Nahamu

Parashat VaEtchanan: Nahamu Nahamu

מדהים: הילד שנבחן על הש"ס אצל מרן הגר"ח קנייבסקי

Brandeis Prof Pascal Menoret

NYT Staff editor Bari Weiss writes her opinion about Linda Sarsour and other irganiwers of the Women' March in a piece titled When Progressives Embrace Hate. In the article she cites various tweets posted by Linda Sarsour as well as statements made by Louis Farrakhan over the years.

In response, Max Fisher tweeted, " The latest attempt to tear down appears to turn on the fact that she once made a joke about shariah and usury

If you read the article, you can see that there are other tweets which Mr. Fisher didn't allude to.

Harold Brackman has written an excellent article regarding his opinion of Imam Shahin's  apology over here.

If Louis Farrakhan can make his statements without any consequences, then Imam Shahin can get away with what he said.




Refuge

Parshas VaEschanan/Nachamu - Refuge

Why We Went to Chamblee, GA

First was Ilan Halimi, then came Sarah Halimi, then came Michal Halimi

2 Aug 2017

Religious faith

Family of Kansas Jewish site shootings settles gun lawsuit

One of the many troublesome trends existing in our societies is the elevation of issues that are basically political and even monetary, to the level of religious faith and practice.
Read more: http://www.israelnationalnews.com/Articles/Article.aspx/20822

1 Aug 2017

Not pray

The New York Times reports:
Israeli police said hundreds of Jews ascended a contested Jerusalem holy site on Tuesday to mark Tisha B'av, the Jewish day of mourning over the destruction of the biblical temples.

... Muslims administer the compound, home to the Al Aqsa Mosque and Dome of the Rock, while Jews can visit but not pray there.
https://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2017/08/01/world/middleeast/ap-ml-israel-palestinians.html


Did the police really use the word contested?
If the New York Times reports that Jews can pray there, why does it quote the director of the Waqf who says this must be stopped?

For the Imam whose comments about Jews in his sermons of July 14th and July 21 were taken out of context and mistranslated, I just wanted to notify the center which has a number of his sermons online, that the link to a sermon from 2014 doesn't seem to be working.

Plot thickens in probe of House IT contractors - reported by FoxNews in March.

Imran Awan coverage betrays media bias