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Maran Rav Dov Landau, rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Slabodka in Bnei Brak, has issued a directive to yeshiva bochurim advising them not to report to IDF conscription offices, emphasizing that they should not comply “not even after the initial summons.”

This instruction from Rav Landau was conveyed in a letter addressed to yeshiva students, which was published in Thursday’s edition of the Israeli Yated Ne’eman.

“We cannot depend on agreements and understandings with military leaders, as their actions are constrained by legal rulings, and any compliance with court decrees amounts to acquiescing in their battle against Hashem and His Torah,” wrote Rav Landau in the letter.

“For years, there has been an understanding with Israeli military authorities that yeshiva and kollel students would not be conscripted,” he added, “and thus, following the guidance of the great rabbonim of our generation, they cooperated with military authorities to arrange legal deferments, which included reporting to military offices to formalize their status as yeshiva students.

“Now, the situation has changed, with the courts waging war against the world of Torah,” continued Rav Landau, “initiating a new phase by directing the military to commence the actual conscription of yeshiva students.”

In his letter, Rav Landau emphasized that “the directive to yeshiva students is unequivocal: do not report to conscription offices at all, and disregard any summonses.”

Rav Landau’s letter comes in response to Defense Minister Yoav Gallant’s recent decision to endorse the IDF’s recommendation to issue the first recruitment orders to young chareidim starting next month, “in accordance with the IDF’s capacity for absorption and screening, following a thorough process of refining data on potential recruits.”

Additionally, Gallant approved an information campaign aimed at educating the haredi community about their options for military and national service.

{Matzav.com Israel}

Inflation in the United States cooled in June for a third straight month, a sign that the worst price spike in four decades is steadily fading and may soon usher in interest rate cuts by the Federal Reserve. In a better-than-expected report from the government, consumer prices declined 0.1% from May to June after having remained flat the previous month, the government reported Thursday. And measured from 12 months earlier, prices were up 3% in June, down from 3.3% in May. The latest inflation readings could help convince the Fed’s policymakers that inflation is returning to its 2% target. A brief pickup in inflation early this year had caused Fed officials to scale back their expectations for interest rate cuts. They responded by saying they would need to see several months of mild price increases to feel confident enough enough to cut their key rate from its 23-year high. The June inflation data will qualify as as another installment of the more good data the Fed’s policymakers have been seeking. Should inflation remain low through the summer, many economists expect the Fed to begin cutting its benchmark rate in September. Even as inflation slows, though, the costs of food, rent, health care and other necessities remain much higher than they were before the pandemic — a source of public discontent and a potential threat to President Joe Biden’s re-election bid. Excluding volatile food and energy costs, so-called core prices climbed just 0.1% from May to June, below the 0.2% increase in the previous month. Measured from a year ago, core prices rose 3.3% in June, down from 3.4% May. Core prices are thought to provide a particularly telling signal of where inflation is likely headed. The Fed has kept its key rate unchanged for nearly a year after having aggressively raised it in 2022 and 2023, leading to costlier mortgages, auto loans, credit cards and other forms of consumer and business borrowing. Inflation is now far below its peak of 9.1% in mid-2022. Other measures suggest that the economy is healthy, though slowing: Unemployment is still relatively low, hiring remains steady and many consumers continue to travel, eat out and spend on entertainment. In the second half of 2023, core inflation cooled steadily, raising expectations that the Fed would cut its key rate up to six times this year. But then fast-rising costs for auto insurance, apartment rents and other services kept inflation elevated in the first three months of this year, leading Fed officials to downgrade their forecasts for rate cuts in 2024 from three to just one. Wall Street traders expect two rate cuts this year and have put the likelihood of a first cut in September at roughly 75%, according to futures prices tracked by CME FedWatch. The national average gas price dropped about 18 cents a gallon, to $3.42 in mid-June, according to the Energy Information Administration. (It has since climbed about 6 cents.) In testimony Tuesday to Congress, Fed Chair Jerome Powell noted that the job market has “cooled considerably” and is “not a source of broad inflationary pressures.” That marked a notable shift from his past comments, which had suggested that rapid wage growth could perpetuate inflation because some companies would likely raise their prices to offset their higher labor costs. Instead, last week’s […]

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President Joe Biden will hold a news conference Thursday, the key event in a monumental week during which the Democratic incumbent is fending off calls for him to step aside as the party’s presumptive nominee following a shaky debate performance. It’s just the type of event that many political watchers have said Biden needs to pull off successfully to turn back demands — including from within his own party — that he withdraw from his reelection battle against presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump. Biden has argued that he had a singularly bad night in Atlanta and that it wasn’t representative of his mental acuity. A strong performance Thursday could convince members of his party that he still has the ability both to win in November and to serve a second term. A weak effort — or stumbles similar to his debate performances — could make the calls for him to withdraw grow much louder. Here are the details on what White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre has referenced as Biden’s “big boy” news conference: When is the news conference? Biden is scheduled to take questions from the White House press corps at 5:30 p.m. Thursday. Where is Biden speaking? Biden will be speaking from the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, a short distance from the White House, where many events of the ongoing NATO summit are being held. What channel is carrying it? The White House streams much of its live content. Given the attention on this event, television networks could also break away from programming to carry Biden’s remarks live once he starts speaking. Who will be watching? Probably a lot of people. CNN reported that 51 million people watched the Atlanta debate, which was in primetime, while more than 8 million people tuned in to watch Biden’s ABC interview live. If networks break into their daily coverage or cable channels carry it live, that will guarantee a significant number of eyes on Biden. Will Biden know the questions ahead of time? Aside from some apparent exceptions — like incidents in which two Black radio hosts said Biden’s campaign sent them planned questions ahead of time — it’s not standard practice for the president to know precisely what will come up during interviews or news conferences. His aides prepare him for a host of possibilities based off the headlines of the day, so they’re prepping him for the likelihood that journalists will want to ask about his fitness for office, the NATO summit or other topics. How many questions will he take? That’s not set in stone, and there’s not a ton of precedent. Biden hasn’t held very many news conferences that aren’t tied to a foreign leader’s visit or trips abroad. Typically, those are what’s known in the business as a “2+2,” meaning two reporters from the U.S. and two foreign reporters ask questions. What’s up next? Biden returns to the campaign trail with a trip to Michigan Friday. He will also do an interview with NBC on Monday. (AP)

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has been conveying to donors in private that he’s open to the idea of a Democratic presidential ticket without President Biden at the helm, according to information obtained by Axios. Although Schumer publicly maintains his support for Biden, stating he is “for Joe,” his private conversations suggest otherwise.

In the past 12 days, Schumer has been actively engaging with donors, listening to their thoughts and suggestions on the future direction of the party, according to three sources with knowledge of these discussions. Schumer, along with other influential Democrats like former President Obama and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, has the clout to potentially persuade Biden to step aside. Despite this, Biden could still resist, as delegates are committed to him. After this story surfaced, Schumer reiterated in a statement, “As I have made clear repeatedly publicly and privately, I support President Biden and remain committed to ensuring Donald Trump is defeated in November.”

Leading up to and following the debate, Schumer’s famous flip phone was busy with calls from donors sharing their views. Schumer has been attentive to these conversations but has not suggested any specific alternative candidates to Biden. His main focus remains on defeating former President Trump and maintaining the Democratic majority in the Senate. Besides donors, Schumer is also gathering feedback from his fellow senators. Following Tuesday’s caucus lunch, he invited senior Biden campaign officials to brief members and address any concerns directly.

Biden’s directive to lawmakers to “end” discussions about replacing him has largely been ignored. Pelosi openly suggested today that Biden should rethink his decision to run. “It’s up to the president to decide if he is going to run,” Pelosi stated on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe.” “The time is running short.” This afternoon, Rep. Pat Ryan (D-N.Y.) became the eighth House Democrat to call for Biden to withdraw from the race.

Schumer’s private discussions are part of a larger debate within the Democratic Party, with prominent donors — including George Clooney — now urging Biden to step aside. Lawmakers and donors are waiting for more polling data, which has mostly been unfavorable for Biden, before making any decisive moves. They are also closely monitoring his public appearances, particularly his performance at a post-NATO press conference on Thursday.

During Tuesday’s Democratic caucus meeting, Schumer did not reveal his personal view on whether Biden should lead the ticket or if he could defeat Trump. However, Senators Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) and Jon Tester (D-Mont.) expressed their concerns about Biden’s chances in the election. Senator Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) also voiced his worries, later publicly stating on CNN, “I think that we could lose the whole thing.” Several Democratic senators informed Axios on Wednesday that Schumer is considering the concerns of the entire caucus regarding Biden’s future.

Despite the internal debate, Biden received public backing from several senators today, including Senator Gary Peters (D-Mich.), the chair of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee. “I believe President Biden can win,” Peters told the Detroit News. “And I believe that we’ll be able to hold the Senate majority.” When asked by reporters if he agreed with Bennet that Biden was at risk of losing, Senator Bob Casey (D-Pa.) responded, “No.” Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) added, “The president can win and I think he will win.”

Even before Biden’s poor performance, Schumer had been telling allies that the early debate date in late June — the earliest in modern presidential history — had two clear benefits: It would give Biden time to recover if he performed badly, or it would allow Democrats the option to find a new candidate if Biden’s campaign seemed untenable.

{Matzav.com}

A ceasefire-hostage deal brokered by the US seems within reach, the Washington Post reported on Wednesday evening. The report quoted a senior US official who said on Wednesday that “the framework is agreed” and the parties are now “negotiating details of how it will be implemented.” The agreement consists of a three-stage resolution, with the first state a six-week ceasefire, during which Hamas will release 33 Israeli hostages – all female and wounded hostages and men over 50 – in exchange for the release of hundreds of Palestinian terrorists and a withdrawal of IDF troops from densely populated areas toward the eastern border of Gaza. The report added that Israel and Hamas both agreed to an “interim governance” plan that would begin with Phase 2. Neither Israel or Hamas would rule Gaza and instead “security would be provided by a force trained by the United States and backed by moderate Arab allies, drawn from a core group of about 2,500 supporters of the Palestinian Authority in Gaza who have already been vetted by Israel.” If security is reached in postwar Gaza, a third phase would include a “multi-year reconstruction plan.” The report claims that Qatar pressured Hamas to accept the deal by telling its leaders that they cannot remain in Doha if they rejected it. Additionally, “Egypt provided last-minute help by accepting an innovative U.S. proposal to block any new tunnels across the border between Egypt and Gaza after Israel withdraws its troops.” The report noted that “officials caution that although the framework is in place, a final pact probably isn’t imminent, and the details are complex and will take time to work through.” (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)

Since October 7th there have been a growing number of terrorist threats from Jenin and Tulkarem against the people living within the Sharon communities. This has forced the Lev HaSharon Regional Council to take action, thereby not waiting for the State’s help to expand its rapid response teams, and to provide them with all the necessary equipment to protect the residents and their families. The American nonprofit, Israel Friends, which was established immediately after the terrorist attack by Hamas on Simchat Torah, mobilized to help the Council. Their goal is to assist in the donation of equipment and supplies for soldiers, civilian guards, and rescue teams nationwide, thereby strengthening the Israeli homefront and saving as many Israeli lives as possible. The organization has donated roughly 500 tons of equipment since the beginning of the war, with a total value of over 26 million dollars. Today, the organization continues to help the State of Israel and works in strategic partnership with many of the most significant nonprofit organizations, including with the World Zionist Organization and its CEO Yaakov Hagoel. Israel Friends has also proudly partnered with nonprofit Civil Squads of Israel. Civil Squads of Israel (CSI) was founded by Nir Alon in the wake of that horrific Saturday morning when he was forced to protect his family from Hamas terrorists in the Gaza envelope. CSI works diligently throughout the country to provide critical assistance to civilian guards and emergency response teams, from protective equipment to training. A festive ceremony was held at the assembly hall in Moshav Nitzani Oz. Located 400 meters from Tulkarem, the hall has endured massive gunfire. At the ceremony, the organizations presented over 200 ceramic protective vests to the members of the emergency rapid response units in the Council’s communities. These vests meet the strictest standards and will be put into operational use this week. Israel Friends is continuing their efforts to provide much-needed support. In the near future, they intend to equip the rapid response units in the area with additional accessories that will help maintain the security of the residents. “After the terrible massacre that Israel’s citizens experienced last Simchat Torah, we feel fully committed to the safety of the residents. On Simchat Torah it was proven that the rapid response units are the protective first line of defense against terrorism and we will do everything to help them guard their communities,” says the Israel Friends organization. Israel Friends CEO Kyle Blank: “The State of Israel is today in greater danger than in all its 76 years of existence. The Israel Friends organization is fully committed to ensuring the existence of the State and the security of its citizens. In light of this, we are assisting in a wide range of initiatives designed to protect citizens and ensure that the brutal massacre that took place on October 7 doesn’t happen again. Strengthening the rapid response units in communities close to the border fence is a top priority. We witnessed the heroism of the members of the rapid response units in the villages surrounding Gaza who saved many lives. I thank the World Zionist Organization and the Civil Squads of Israel organization for partnering with us.” Chairman of the World Zionist Organization, Yaakov Hagoel: “One of the lessons we learned from the Iron Swords War is […]

The interim replacement for the Nasi of the Moetzet HaRabbanut HaReishis, HaRav Yaakov Roja, resigned from his position on Wednesday evening due to the unrelenting battle of Attorney-General Gali Baharav-Miara and the Supreme Court to force its liberal agenda on every aspect of life in Israel, especially matters of religion. Only about a week after he entered his position, HaRav Roja sent a letter to the Attorney-General’s office that as he already informed the office, he cannot comply with the Supreme Court’s ruling to consider appointing women as Rabbaniot. Since the Attorney-General is demanding that he comply with the ruling, he is resigning from his position. HaRav Roja, who is an expert posek on the halachic identification of battlefield remains and was responsible for identifying all civilian victims of the October 7th massacre, added that “as a sidenote, although it is not a sidenote in its importance, and on a personal note, I will express some of the feelings of my heart.” “Since October 7th, 2023, my days and nights have been devoted to finding a balm for the families of those murdered on that terrible day and the fallen of the Iron Swords War, identifying those fallen and being matir agunos, being menachem avel, and encouraging broken hearts of families who did not even merit to bring their loved ones to kever Yisrael.” “In my position in decades of reserve service, I have never experienced such tragedies and difficult cases like what I unfortunately had to deal with during these months.” “At the same time, the entire Am Yisrael united and the calls to end the divisive discourse that preceded the assault were heeded by many Israeli citizens. On this background, I feel that I cannot fulfill the roles you assign to me, which necessitate a polarizing decision that does not contribute to unity.” “As our Rabbanim already stated in the Gemara, ‘לא חרבה ירושלים אלא על שהעמידו דיניהם על הדין’ – this is not the place or time to exact din.” “My appeal is also to you [Baharav-Miara] and the court – אל נא אחי תרעו – withdraw your hands – there will be times to exact din – there are other and worthy alternatives to the solution of the challenge before us, with the agreement of all concerned, without harming the mesorah of Yisrael.” HaRav Roja is expected to be replaced by HaRav Dr. Ratzon Arusi, a leading Yemenite Rav and the Chief Rabbi of Kiryat Ono. (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)

House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., gives his take on concerns over President Biden’s cognitive acuity on ‘The Ingraham Angle.’

WATCH:

In their most serious rebuke against Beijing, NATO allies on Wednesday called China a “decisive enabler” of Russia’s war against Ukraine and expressed concerns over Beijing’s nuclear arsenal and its capabilities in space. The sternly worded final communiqué, approved by the 32 NATO members at their summit in Washington, makes clear that China is becoming a focus of the military alliance. The European and North American members and their partners in the Indo-Pacific increasingly see shared security concerns coming from Russia and its Asian supporters, especially China. Beijing insists that it does not provide direct military aid to Russia but has maintained strong trade ties with its northern neighbor throughout the conflict. In the communiqué, NATO member countries said China has become a war enabler through its “no-limits partnership” with Russia and its large-scale support for Russia’s defense industrial base. “This increases the threat Russia poses to its neighbors and to Euro-Atlantic security. We call on the PRC, as a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council with a particular responsibility to uphold the purposes and principles of the U.N. Charter, to cease all material and political support to Russia’s war effort,” read the communiqué, which referred to China by the abbreviation of its official name, the People’s Republic of China. “The PRC cannot enable the largest war in Europe in recent history without this negatively impacting its interests and reputation,” the document says. Beijing has expressed displeasure at NATO’s growing interest in Asia and has demanded the alliance stay out of the Asia-Pacific region and not incite confrontation. “NATO should not use China to justify its insertion into the Asia-Pacific and attempt to disrupt regional dynamics,” Lin Jian, a spokesman for the Chinese foreign ministry, said Tuesday. “China is a force for world peace, a contributor to global development and a defender of international order.” Danny Russel, a former assistant secretary of state for Asia, called the new wording by NATO “an extraordinary step,” particularly because it was coupled with the warning that Beijing continues to pose “systemic challenges” to European interests and security. “It is a mark of how badly Beijing’s attempt to straddle Russia and Western Europe has failed and how hollow its claim of neutrality rings,” said Russel, who is vice president for international security and diplomacy at the Asia Society Policy Institute. “China’s attempts at divide-and-conquer have instead produced remarkable solidarity between key nations of the Euro-Atlantic and the Asia-Pacific regions.” Max Bergmann, director of the Europe, Russia, and Eurasia Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said the statement is “highly significant” because it signals to China that Europe, just like the U.S., also condemns support to Russia. “The U.S. believes that Europe has influence in Beijing, and that while China will not pay any attention to U.S. condemnation, they will pay attention to European condemnation because just because Europe trades with China, China also trades with Europe,” Bergmann said. In this year’s final declaration, NATO member countries reiterated their concerns that China poses “systemic challenges” to Euro-Atlantic security. It was first raised in 2021. The alliance said China has been behind sustained, malicious cyber and hybrid activities, including disinformation and expressed concerns over China’s space capabilities and activities. It also raised alarms that China is rapidly expanding and diversifying its […]

Far-right political commentator and talk-show host Candace Owens, who was let go from The Daily Wire in March over anti-Jewish rhetoric, dipped her toe into antisemitic waters once again.

She called the torturous “experiments” on Jewish and other prisoners held by Nazi Germans and undertaken by Dr. Josef Mengele during World War II and the Holocaust “bizarre propaganda.”

Owens said this week that “some of the stories, by the way, sound completely absurd.”

Mentioning an account of humans cut in half, Owens asked: “Why would you do that?” She then quipped: “Literally, even if you’re the most evil person in the world, that’s a tremendous waste of time and supplies.”

She asserted that “just sounds like bizarre propaganda.”

Social-media users pushed back, including Arsen Ostrovsky, CEO of the International Legal Forum, who wrote that Owens “has totally lost the plot and gone full-blown neo-Nazi.”

The Combat Antisemitism Movement called her statements “utterly repugnant.”

In response, Owens explained the broader context and purpose of her statements, claiming that Zionists “have polluted American minds to believe that we must defend Israel out of morality and the evils of the Holocaust.”

Further explaining her intent, she wrote that “learning about how many people who committed holocausts and mass murders were protected by Israel is disruptive to that narrative.”

The StopAntisemitism watchdog group asked, “Her senile remarks echo the dangerous rhetoric of her friend, Kanye West, raising the question: Is she vying for the title of ‘Antisemite of the Year?’” JNS

{Matzav.com}

A disturbing incident of antisemitic violence occurred on Wednesday morning outside the Foggy Bottom Metro Station in Washington, D.C., when an Orthodox Jewish man was physically assaulted and subjected to antisemitic rhetoric by an assailant. The victim, Ariel Golfeyz, is a member of Kesher Israel Synagogue, located less than a mile away from the attack, and was wearing a yarmulke when he was attacked. The assailant punched him repeatedly, knocking off his headphones, and grabbed his neck from behind. The altercation continued on the ground and in nearby bushes until the victim bit the assailant’s leg, at which point a Metro Transit Police Department Special Police Officer to intervene and apprehend the assailant. During the attack, the assailant spouted anti-Semitic conspiracies, including claims that Jews have controlled the world’s money and banks for the past 100 years and are responsible for a genocide in Gaza. Golfeyz sustained multiple bruises and scratches and is currently undergoing medical assessment, testing, and follow-up due to biting the assailant in self-defense. The MPD has charged the attacker, identified as Walter James, with Assault with Hate/Bias. James had been previously arrested in July for a trio of crimes, including assaulting a police officer. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

At Wednesday’s House Judiciary Committee hearing, Rep. Eric Swalwell (R-CA) questioned Ben Shapiro about Project 2025.

WATCH:

Conservative commentator Ben Shapiro mocked Democrats for their emphasis on the Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025 during his testimony before the House Judiciary Committee.

While speaking to the committee about the Global Alliance for Responsible Media’s alleged targeting of his company, the Daily Wire, Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA) shifted the discussion to Project 2025. Highlighting the renewed attention on the project, Swalwell asked Shapiro if he supported its recommendations.

“Like President Trump, I haven’t looked all that deeply at Project 2025, but it seems that Democrats on this committee are sort of like Peter Pan and Tinker Bell,” Shapiro responded. “If they say Project 2025 enough, their presidential candidate becomes alive again.”

The audience laughed, and Swalwell briefly smiled.

Swalwell then inquired about specific aspects of Project 2025, mentioning his support for reducing bureaucracy and enhancing government efficiency.

“Congrats on becoming a Republican,” Shapiro quipped.

“My parents would be proud,” Swalwell replied with a chuckle.

Shapiro’s testimony followed a committee report indicating that GARM may have unlawfully conspired to suppress conservative voices and media outlets.

Project 2025 has garnered a near-mythic status among Democrats, with concerns over its policy proposals becoming central to President Joe Biden’s 2024 campaign. The intense criticism of the Heritage Foundation’s project prompted former President Donald Trump to publicly distance himself from it last week.

On Tuesday, the group clarified its proposals, countering claims that it was suggesting anything extreme.

{Matzav.com}

A group of state election officials is urging the nation’s cybersecurity agency to revise a draft rule that would require election offices to disclose suspected cyberattacks to the federal government, casting the mandate as too burdensome on overworked local officials. The new rule is the result of a 2022 federal law that directed the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency to develop regulations that require certain entities to report potential cybersecurity breaches or ransomware attacks to the agency. Election offices fall under the requirement because their systems are considered critical infrastructure, along with the nation’s banks, nuclear power plants and dams. In a letter, the executive board of the National Association of Secretaries of State asked CISA to consider making the rule voluntary, limit the types of information requested and more clearly define what types of cyber incidents would trigger a report. The proposed rule says state and local election offices must report suspected breaches within 72 hours. The association is holding its summer conference this week in Puerto Rico, and some state election officials have been discussing their concerns directly with CISA Director Jen Easterly, who is attending. Easterly said in an interview Wednesday that she has been reviewing the group’s letter along with comments submitted individually by state election officials. She said her agency would consider the feedback and adjust as necessary. The rule is not expected to be finalized until sometime next year. “CISA was stood up to largely be a voluntary agency, and it’s our magic. It is how we’ve been able to build success,” Easterly said, noting the agency held multiple sessions to gather feedback. “We’re taking all the comments on board. We will integrate them into the final rule.” Utah Lt Gov. Deidre Henderson, who oversees elections in the state, said she was concerned about federal intrusion into state responsibilities. She said states must operate independently of the federal government on administering elections. “It’s one thing to regulate the regulators. We are operators,” she said. “We actually have to perform these functions. And that rule is an overreach.” West Virginia Secretary of State Mac Warner agreed, saying CISA had gone too far in drafting the rule. “Let’s work together in solving this, but don’t come out with edicts and say you must do this, you must report,” Warner said. Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon said he would encourage agency officials to take a measured approach, saying he understood why it was important for CISA to collect the information. “But I just think they need to be careful about the scope and extent of the request,” Simon said. “This can’t be too prescriptive, too granular, and it can’t impose too great a burden. Otherwise, they’re unlikely to get the compliance that they want.” Kentucky Secretary of State Michael Adams said the proposal was too broad and would create a burden on local election offices that already are overworked and underfunded. “If they really push this point, they will undo all the good they’ve done with their relationship building. And I think they’ll contribute to the argument that’s already out there that the federal government’s coming to take over our elections,” Adams said. He said his relationship with CISA has been positive and expressed appreciation of the agency’s work to help local election officials in […]

By Rabbi Pinchos Lipschutz

The United States is currently facing something it has never previously faced. Its presidential elections are several months away, and its president, who is also his party’s candidate for president, is senile. No, he didn’t just now become senile. He has been slipping for several years, likely even prior to his election to his current term. The more astute citizens were able to perceive that Joe Biden, the candidate in 2020 and president since 2021, is not operating at full capacity.

The media and his fellow politicians have been hiding the president’s condition from the American people. His administration governed following a leftist agenda, embedding it deeply into American governance, culture, and society. Expressing the truth about the president and his abilities risked the return of Donald Trump and his traditionalism and America First agenda.

Journalism today is less about objective reporting and more about framing occurrences to advance agendas and objectives. So, when there were clips of the president demonstrably weakened, saying silly things, or speaking gibberish and displaying that he was in decline, the right-wing media reported on them while the prevailing mainstream media, whose objective is to advance social progressivism, ignored them.

Biden was kept hidden from the general population. Sometimes they would trot him out to read speeches or comments from cards or a teleprompter, but he would rarely interface with people for long and didn’t engage in small talk. Invariably, when he did, he would say something foolish, wrong, or incomprehensible.

He would meet with leaders and dignitaries and read his comments from cards. It was poor form for foreign leaders to tell anyone that the president wasn’t with it. At summits, everyone would play along and cover for the American president. Liberalism was enabled to govern and lead the country and the world.

Generally, the gambit worked, and when the media and Democrat politicians were unable to ignore the instances, they blamed them on the right and said that the right-wing media was dishonestly editing clips to portray a healthy, sharp, vigorous president as incoherent and weak.

But the campaign messed up. They believed their own narratives about Donald Trump and assumed that, in an early debate, he would expose himself to the world for the madman they told everyone he is. The country would see that he is insane and wants to be a dictator. They would be rid of him once and for all.

But the tables were turned, and even after a full week of rest and preparation, their candidate could not perform. He spoke in incomplete sentences, was unclear and unfocused, and at times made absolutely no sense at all. There was no way to sugarcoat what 50 million people saw with their own eyes in real time. So instead of Trump being exposed, Biden was. And the jig was up.

Once they realized that, everyone who had been covering for Biden ran for cover. Then they made it seem as if they were surprised. They knew that if permitted to run for reelection as their candidate, Biden would lose, and the liberal enterprise they had going would implode. With little choice, they began sacrificing their man and playing up the incompetent woman he had chosen to serve as his vice president, hoping that they would be able to do for her what they did for him and convince the low-information voters to vote for her and then carry her over the finish line.

They say that their campaign is all about democracy, yet here they go and seek to upend the results of a primary in which Democrat voters across this country voted that Mr. Biden should be the Democrat nominee for president. However, because they fear that he will lose, they are now preparing to do something that was never done before and simply disgorge the democratically chosen candidate for president. Then they tell us that they are the ones fighting for democracy and Trump is the dictator. The media is gleefully formulating and driving this instead of simply reporting what others are saying and doing.

The process is now playing out, and it is an eis tzorah l’Yaakov. The left has now gained power in England and France. Should there be elections anytime soon in Israel, al pi derech hateva, the left will win. Should the left somehow be able to hang on to power here, expect the world to seriously tip to leftist positions and the cultural slide will continue at a faster pace. Western support for Israel can seriously decline, as that country goes through an anti-religious crusade.

Where does that leave us? How are we to live our lives in a period such as the one we now face? Should we engage in outreach, attempting to explain the Torah to those who mock and vilify us? Should we demonstrate the truths that have been guiding us ever since we stood at Har Sinai? After all, we are in the 21st century now. Perhaps we should be using modern tools to explain to the world how wrong they are about us. Maybe they hate us because we have a marketing problem.

This week’s parsha opens with the high ideal we are to live with: “Zos chukas haTorah adam ki yomus ba’ohel.” This is the way of the Torah: If you wish to be a student of the Torah, you need to be consumed by it, without giving consideration to physical desires. To grow in Torah and kedusha, it is essential to avoid activities that do not contribute to spiritual growth.

The first Rashi of the parsha quotes the Medrash Tanchuma, which states that the Soton and nations of the world mock us and ask for the rationale of this mitzvah. Therefore, says Rashi, the Torah spells out that Parah Adumah is a chok, a gezeirah min haShomayim, and we do not ask questions about it.

The nations of the world, and those who mock us and attempt to steer us from the path of our forefathers, question us and our practices. They say that the mitzvos are backward and without reason. We don’t answer them. We don’t try to explain it to them. We reinforce to ourselves that we are following the word of Hashem, which is a chok. This way, we are able to succeed and flourish in a world of sheker.

A lion once encountered a chicken and began to choke it. “Why are you trying to kill me?” the chicken called out to the lion. “I never hurt you. You don’t know me. Why are you doing this to me?”

The lion looked at the poor little chicken it held in its grasp and responded, “Do you know why I am doing this? Because I can!”

For thousands of years, that was how the nations of the world treated us. They tortured and tormented us. They questioned our loyalty and intelligence. They asked us many questions. The Torah tells us not to bother answering and not to engage in debates. They are not interested in our answers and explanations; we gain nothing by engaging them.

Besides, the ways of the Torah do not lend themselves to mortal explanation. We accept its teachings, chukim as well as mishpotim, because we acknowledge that we are bound to the bond of Torah living, which goes beyond what the world considers reason and logic. The Torah was presented to us by the Creator of the heavens and the earth, the world and all the constellations. He gave it to us and we promised to study and observe it.

We have been dedicating our lives to following its teachings for thousands of years and have been spending our spare time delving into it and working to know and understand its teachings. The Torah and the life it instructs do not lend themselves to simple, one-sided explanations, for it is only those who are sworn to its allegiance and subscribe to what has been handed down for dozens of generations who can excel in it and gain differing levels of comprehension.

Torah is more than a compendium of laws that can be memorized and followed.

A community was facing a crisis, and a group of well-intentioned people held several long meetings to discuss the issues involved and formulate a solution to the problem. After spending much time on this, they believed that they had arrived at a resolution. They met with local rabbonim for their approval. The proposed solution was impressive and sensible, and the rabbis went along with it. However, since this took place in the time of Rav Elazar Menachem Man Shach, one of them suggested that he would present the idea to Rav Shach for his final blessing.

Surprisingly, upon hearing the plan, Rav Shach immediately shot it down. He said, “I saw from the Chofetz Chaim that this solution is improper.”

The group who had worked so hard to solve the communal crisis was convinced that they had thoroughly analyzed the issue and arrived at a perfect solution. They were convinced that the reason Rav Shach didn’t go for it was because it wasn’t properly presented to him, so they arranged to go themselves and explain the problem and why their solution was most appropriate.

They were taken aback when Rav Shach told them that he could not agree with them. He explained that he would not get into a discussion with them about their ideas. It may be that your proposal is logical, but Klal Yisroel is not guided by the logical conclusions and thoughts of smart people; Klal Yisroel is led by mesorah, tradition.

“If the mesorah from the Chofetz Chaim is that we don’t pursue that avenue,” he explained, “then we don’t do it, no matter how smart it seems.”

He added that he had spent time with the Chofetz Chaim and discussed many issues with him, and this idea was not something the Chofetz Chaim would have supported. Therefore, despite its brilliance, it should not be implemented.

We face many problems and an uncertain future, but as we seek solutions, we must know that our people are not led by what is referred to as logic. We are led by the Torah, by the logic of the Torah as handed down through what we refer to as the mesorah.

No one, as smart as he thinks he is and as pressing as the issues are, has the ability to formulate plans that differ from our mesorah. Doing so fails to solve the problem and leads to more difficulties. Though the logic may be compelling, it is wrong.

So, when it appears that the kochos of tumah that the left promotes are gaining, the way we fight back is by increasing kedusha in the world. We are seriously impacted by what takes place around us. The leftists talk about climate change and preach that it threatens the world’s existence. Tumah is much more real than climate change and affects us significantly. It affects the underpinnings of the western world and country in which we live in many spiritual ways, and it also trickles down to us in our cloistered world. We are not immune to anything unless we immunize ourselves.

Hundreds of years ago, the Kotzker Rebbe closeted himself in his room. He famously commented to a chossid who opened the window to the room, “Der velt shtinked. Farmach dem fenster. Close the window and don’t allow the stench of the world into this room.”

How can we effectively close the windows to our homes, rooms, and offices?

How do we protect ourselves from the anti-Semitic and anti-Israel onslaught?

How do we protect ourselves from the anti-Torah forces in Eretz Yisroel?

For as long as people alive today can remember, gedolim such as the Chazon Ish and Rav Shach have been saying that the proper response to such situations is to add more yeshivos, more Bais Yaakovs, more elementary schools, and more kollelim. The way to respond to those who curse our existence, to those who seek to stem our growth and to the various festering issues, is by ignoring their calls and dedicating ourselves to increase our own study of Torah and to increase the study of Torah in general.

In our personal lives as well, when we are acting properly and people mock us and seek to harm us, our reputations, and things that we have worked hard to build up, our response shouldn’t be to get in the gutter with them. We should instead take the higher road and do our best to continue living our lives according to the Torah, halacha and darkei mussar.

We shouldn’t let detractors get us down and lead us to curtail our good actions. We should seek out seforim based on the Torah and mesorah to strengthen ourselves and give ourselves chizuk.

Life is tough enough without us stopping to engage with detractors of all types and fretting over the future.

Zos chukas haTorah: If we stick to the chukim of the Torah, follow the Torah no matter how difficult it is, and are honest, caring, and loving as the Torah tells us to be; if we act correctly according to the Torah, remain strong in our emunah and bitachon, and rely on the chochmas haTorah instead of our logic, then we are guaranteed that Hashem will protect us and do the best for us.

May we all merit to go in the ways of the Torah and mesorah, without falling prey to the many vices of the yeitzer hora to divert us from the proper path, which should lead us to Moshiach bekarov.

CBS News President Ingrid Ciprian-Matthews said Wednesday she’s resigning after less than a year in her role, and CNN announced that it was eliminating approximately 100 jobs in continued signs of upheaval for the media business. Ciprian-Matthews will continue to work as an adviser through the presidential election before exiting CBS News. She was named CBS News president last August. Her resignation came a few days after CBS parent Paramount Global announced it was selling control of the company to the entertainment firm Skydance, which is expected to make job cuts at CBS. Ciprian-Matthews alluded to coming changes in a memo she sent to staff members. “We all know our industry and company are going through a transformation and a number of short- and long-term decisions need to be made,” she wrote. “I do not want to be disingenuous with any of you about who should drive these decisions.” Once one of the most powerful jobs in journalism, the broadcast network news president job is evolving into a secondary role under a corporate-appointed manager. In the case of CBS, Ciprian-Matthews has reported to Wendy McMahon, president and CEO of CBS News and Stations. CNN said it plans to debut its first digital subscriptions before the end of the year as the news network leans into reshaping its business. The network’s plans were outlined in a memo sent to staff on Wednesday by CNN CEO Mark Thompson. Thompson said that the 100 jobs come out of a total workforce of around 3,500 people. He said that open roles were closed wherever possible in order to minimize the total layoffs. Media organizations including CNN have struggled to grow audiences and revenue, and have sought to diversify what they’re offering to customers. Thompson said that CNN’s digital strategy must be “ambitious enough to deliver the audiences and the revenue we need to maintain our unique journalistic firepower and succeed as a business.” The executive said CNN will create subscription-ready products that offer news, analysis and context in new formats. He emphasized that there will be an effort to keep users on CNN.com’s website longer and finding ways to get them to return more. While CNN’s digital products have primarily focused on text articles, Thompson said there will be a shift to more video content being provided. “In the future our digital products need to do a far better job of reflecting CNN’s massive strength in video and anchoring/reporting talent,” Thompson said. The organization is also going to develop more “news you can use” for its audience, with lifestyles and features content. Thompson said these products will provide the company with various monetization opportunities, including sponsorships, new advertising and direct-to-consumer subscription. CNN will also be pushing more into artificial intelligence, Thompson said, and will look at how it can safely use the technology to serve its audience. Thompson, a former chief executive of the BBC and The New York Times, was named as the head of CNN in August 2023 and took over the role in October. He replaced Chris Licht, who was fired in June of that year. Thompson was credited with helping the Times transition to a digital-first organization more dependent on paid subscribers than the collapsing advertising market that has doomed many newspapers. In January Thompson outlined a strategy to his […]

Israel’s Courts Administration approved private representation for the Nukhba terrorists who massacred and tortured over 1,000 Israelis on October 7th and approved funding their defense attorneys from taxpayers’ money, Kan News reported on Tuesday evening. According to the report, the Courts Administration approved private representation for the Nukhba terrorists and demanded that the Justice Ministry provide the funds for the defense attorneys. Israel’s Public Defender’s Office has refused to represent the Nukhba terrorists, saying that the appropriate solution is to find foreign lawyers to represent them, as was done in the Eichmann trial. Attorney-General Gali Baharav-Miara opposed a bill proposed in January by the chairman of the Knesset’s Law Committee, MK Simcha Rothman, to withhold public legal representation from the Nukhba terrorists. Channel 13 News reported two months ago that hundreds of Nukhba terrorists met with Israeli lawyers for legal advice. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich responded to the report, stating: “The Finance Ministry will not allocate even one shekel to this severe move.” Smotrich also wrote an urgent letter, forbidding his ministry officials from providing any funding for this purpose. “This is about a loss of values. The citizens of Israel will not finance legal defense for such despicable enemies,” he wrote, adding that such a move is especially outrageous at a time when Israel is struggling to finance the needs of its citizens during wartime. Justice Minister Yariv Levin’s response was: “Enough! I stand by the decision which was made at the start of the war, the Justice Ministry will not finance this, the Public Defender’s Office will not represent the Nukhba terrorists.” In the wake of the public’s outrage, the Courts Administration responded that Israeli law requires suspects to have legal representation in order to appear in court and the funds must come from the state treasury. (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)

The GOP-led House Oversight Committee has subpoenaed three senior White House aides, demanding they participate in depositions concerning President Biden’s health. The subpoenas, revealed in letters obtained by Axios, target Anthony Bernal, aide to First Lady Jill Biden, deputy chief of staff Annie Tomasini, and senior adviser Ashley Williams. The subpoenas highlight Republican efforts to investigate whether President Biden’s aides have concealed the true condition of the 81-year-old president. This inquiry could extend into the election season, with potential implications for the upcoming November 5th election. Oversight Chair James Comer issued the subpoenas, setting a deadline of July 17 for the aides to respond and scheduling closed-door interviews later this month. Comer’s letters reference a recent Axios report that Bernal and Tomasini had access to the first family’s residence, a privilege typically not granted to political staffers. Comer expressed concern in his letters that the officials might be running the country while the President is incapacitated. Specifically, he questioned Bernal’s influence over the President and his awareness of Biden’s ability to fulfill his duties. White House spokesperson Ian Sams criticized the subpoenas, calling them “a baseless political stunt intended for media attention rather than legitimate oversight.” Sams added, “Comer’s partisan attacks on the president have been discredited, and now he continues to weaponize subpoenas to get headlines instead of seeking information through the proper constitutional process.” This is not the first time Comer has sought to interview Bernal, Tomasini, and Williams. During an earlier investigation into Biden’s handling of classified documents, Comer attempted to secure their testimonies. The aides had visited an office where classified documents were discovered, a matter also investigated by the Justice Department and special counsel Robert Hur, who ultimately did not press charges. At that time, the White House did not make the aides available for questioning. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of Rebbetzin Sarah Schlesinger a”h. She was the wife of Rav Shmuel Akiva Schlesinger of Strasbourg, France.

She was a daughter of Rav Chaim Tzvi Kruger zt”l, who led the Agudas Harabbonim in the United States and Canada and had previously served as a rov in Europe.

The Rebbetzin was the mother of Rav Yisroel Dovid Schlesinger, rov of Khal Shaarei Tefillah of Monsey, and Rav Shea Schlesinger, rov of Kehilas Bais Avrohom of Monsey.

The levayah was held Wednesday afternoon in Yerushalayim, with kevurah on Har Hamenuchos.

Yehi zichra boruch.

{Matzav.com}

Colorado health officials have confirmed a human case of the plague, the rare bacterial infection infamously known for killing tens of millions in 14th century Europe. Today, it’s easily treated with antibiotics. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates there are seven human cases of plague per year in the U.S., and in February, Oregon officials reported it in a person who likely got it from their sick cat. Surprised to hear the plague is still around? Here’s what to know. What is the plague? The bubonic plague is the most common form of the bacterial infection, which spreads naturally among rodents like prairie dogs and rats. There are two other forms of the plague: septicemic plague (which spreads through the whole body) and pneumonic plague (which infects the lungs). Bubonic plague causes painfully swollen lymph nodes that are most commonly found in the groin, armpit and neck, called buboes. It will often advance and turn into the other two forms of plague if untreated. Other symptoms of the plague include sudden high fever and chills, headaches, and pain in the abdomen, legs and arms, according to the Cleveland Clinic. How can you get the plague? The bacteria is transmitted through the bites of infected fleas, which spread it between rodents, pets and humans. People can also get plague through touching infected bodily fluids, so health experts recommend taking extra care when handling dead or sick animals. The plague can also spread through the respiratory droplets of a patient who has pneumonic plague. Pneumonic plague is the most deadly and easiest to spread, with a nearly 100% fatality rate untreated, said Lisa Morici, a microbiologist and immunologist at the Tulane University School of Medicine. Where does the plague exist? In the U.S., most cases happen in rural areas of northern New Mexico, northern Arizona, southern Colorado, California, southern Oregon and far western Nevada, according to the CDC. Worldwide, plague is found the most in Congo, Madagascar and Peru, according to the World Health Organization. How do you treat the plague? The plague was never eradicated, but we’ve gotten better at preventing its spread and treating it in humans. When treated early with antibiotics, the plague can be cured. The key is to get to a doctor fast — otherwise the plague can be deadly. And, as the old adage goes, prevention is better than a cure. Keeping areas around the home clear of debris and other things that can attract rodents can lower the risk of infection, as can making sure pets are up to date on flea treatments. When hunting, camping or otherwise spending time outdoors, the CDC recommends using a bug spray with DEET to keep fleas and other disease-spreading pests away. Is there a vaccine? Yes, but the WHO only recommends it for people who are at high risk of infection, like laboratory and health care workers. There’s no plague vaccine available in the U.S. Morici said there is need for more research, because while the vaccines used in other parts of the world work against bubonic plague, there isn’t strong evidence to show they protect against the pneumonic form of plague. Testing a plague vaccine would be ethically and logistically difficult, she said. “Because the bubonic form is quite treatable with antibiotics and also quite rare — you don’t see […]