According to a report by the Saudi newspaper Asharq al-Awsat, the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) terror group is still holding seven Israeli hostages, who were abducted on October 7. This follows an earlier statement from PIJ leader Ziyad Nakhaleh, who announced on October 8 that the group had taken more than 30 of the 251 hostages abducted during the Hamas-led massacre in southern Israel a day prior. Some of the hostages the PIJ held were released during a temporary truce in November, and it remains unclear whether any of those still in PIJ custody have died. The report also highlights growing cooperation between Hamas and PIJ, particularly after the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran last month. This strengthened alliance is evident not only in Gaza but also in the West Bank, as demonstrated by the failed suicide bombing by a Nablus resident in Tel Aviv on Sunday, which both terror groups jointly claimed responsibility for.
A U.S. government report expected to stir debate concluded that fluoride in drinking water at twice the recommended limit is linked with lower IQ in children. The report, based on an analysis of previously published research, marks the first time a federal agency has determined — “with moderate confidence” — that there is a link between higher levels of fluoride exposure and lower IQ in kids. While the report was not designed to evaluate the health effects of fluoride in drinking water alone, it is a striking acknowledgment of a potential neurological risk from high levels of fluoride. Fluoride strengthens teeth and reduces cavities by replacing minerals lost during normal wear and tear, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The addition of low levels of fluoride to drinking water has long been considered one of the greatest public health achievements of the last century.
In his address at the Democratic National Convention last night, former President Bill Clinton spent a significant portion of his time ridiculing Donald Trump, taking aim at his self-centeredness, his age, and even his peculiar fixation on Hannibal Lecter.
“President Obama once gave me the great honor of saying I was explainer in chief. I’ve thought through it and I don’t know what to say,” Clinton remarked, reflecting on his role as a communicator.
Clinton, who delivered a speech at the 2012 Democratic National Convention—one that many believe played a key role in boosting Obama’s chances for reelection—returned to the stage, albeit with a voice that has grown softer with age, a change he himself acknowledged.
“Now let’s cut to the chase. I am too old to gild the lily. Two days ago I turned 78, the oldest man in my family for a generation. And the personal vanity I want to assert is I am still younger than Donald Trump,” Clinton quipped, bringing attention to his age while simultaneously pointing out that he is still younger than Trump.
Clinton’s remarks largely centered on Trump’s self-absorption, a theme that has resonated throughout the convention.
“He mostly talks about himself, so the next time you hear him, don’t count the lies, count the I’s,” said Clinton – not known for being a truth-teller himself, as evidenced by his shameful behavior when he was the occupant of the White House. “His vendettas, his vengeance, his complaints, his conspiracies.”
The convention paid tribute to Clinton’s 1992 presidential campaign while Clinton endorsed the idea that Hillary Clinton could carry on the legacy of the “man from hope,” suggesting she would be the “president of joy.”
However, Clinton also cautioned about the challenges that lie ahead.
“This is a brutal, tough business—I want you to be happy,” he warned. “One of the reasons Kamala Harris is doing so well is you are happy. But you should never underestimate your adversaries.”
Clinton emphasized the need for resilience, noting the importance of “meeting people where they are” and indicating that there are potential voters to reach in rural areas.
“Not a day goes by that I’m not grateful for the chance the American people gave me to be one of the 45 people who have held the job,” Clinton said. “Even on the bad days, you can still make something good happen. Kamala Harris is the only candidate in this race with the vision, the experience, the temperament, the will, and yes—the sheer joy—to do that on good and bad days. To be our voice.”
{Matzav.com}
Bullets have been found in the bodies of the hostages recovered by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) from Gaza last week. This discovery has led the IDF to assess that the hostages were likely murdered by Hamas while in captivity. While the reports do not specify which hostages were shot, the mother of Yagev Buchshtav confirmed to Kan radio that her son was among those found with bullet wounds. The recovered hostages, whose bodies were brought back from Khan Younis, include Buchshtav, 35, Alex Dancyg, 75, Chaim Peri, 79, Yoram Metzger, 80, Nadav Popplewell, 51, and Avraham Munder, 78.
A moderate earthquake with a magnitude of 3.5 struck off the coast of northern Israel, according to the Israel Geological Institute. The tremor was felt in the coastal cities of Haifa and Nahariya, located along the Mediterranean coast. The epicenter of the earthquake was approximately 37 kilometers (22 miles) offshore, with no reports of injuries or damage. The quake was felt by residents in the region, but did not cause any significant harm or disruption.
An Israeli negotiating team has departed for Cairo to engage in talks on a potential hostage deal. The team is led by Mossad Director David Barnea and includes Major General Eliezer Toledano, head of the IDF’s Strategy and Third-Circle Directorate. The US will be represented by CIA Director William Burns, who will lead the American team in the negotiations.
Tomiko Itooka, a Japanese woman, became the world’s oldest living person at age 116, following the death of 117-year-old Maria Branyas, according to the Guinness World Records. Her age and birthdate — May 23, 1908 — were confirmed by the Gerontology Research Group, which validates details of people thought to be 110 or older, and put her at the top of its World Supercentenarian Rankings List. Itooka lives in a nursing home in the city of Ashiya, a city in Hyogo Prefecture that also confirmed her birthdate. She assumed the title of world’s oldest person after Branyas’ family announced the 117-year-old’s death Tuesday. Guinness confirmed Itooka’s new status on Thursday.
The country is facing heightened threats from many corners at a time when law enforcement agencies are struggling, FBI Director Christopher Wray said in an exclusive interview, adding that he is “hard pressed to think of a time in my career where so many different kinds of threats are all elevated at once.” “I worry about the combination of that many threats being elevated at once, with the challenges facing the men and women in law enforcement more generally,” Wray said at the office in the suburb of Brooklyn Center. “And the one thing that I think helps bridge those two challenges is partnerships. That’s how we get through. It is by all working together.” “One of the things that we have been doubling down on with every passing day is, is on partnerships, because ultimately you’re talking about the ability to connect the dots, whether it’s against some kind of election influence threat or some other kind of threat,” Wray said. “You need to have partners sharing information with each other to put the two pieces together to see the bigger picture.”
Tomiko Itooka, a Japanese woman, became the world’s oldest living person at age 116, following the death of 117-year-old Maria Branyas, according to the Guinness World Records. Her age and birthdate — May 23, 1908 — were confirmed by the Gerontology Research Group, which validates details of people thought to be 110 or older, and put her at the top of its World Supercentenarian Rankings List. Itooka lives in a nursing home in the city of Ashiya, a city in Hyogo Prefecture that also confirmed her birthdate. She assumed the title of world’s oldest person after Branyas’ family announced the 117-year-old’s death Tuesday. Guinness confirmed Itooka’s new status on Thursday. When told about her becoming the oldest person, she replied, “Thank you,” a phrase she also relays often to the caretakers at her home. Itooka celebrated her birthday three months ago, receiving flowers, a cake and a card from the mayor. Every morning, she has a popular yogurt-flavored drink called Calpis. Her favorite food is bananas. Born in Osaka, Itooka was a volleyball player in high school. She married at 20, and had two daughters and two sons, according to Guinness. Itooka managed the office of her husband’s textile factory during World War II. She lived alone in Nara after her husband died in 1979, before entering the nursing home. She climbed the 3,067-meter (10,062-foot) Mount Ontake twice, and enjoyed long hikes even after she turned 100. (AP)
“We got 76 days. That’s nothing. There’ll be time to sleep when you’re dead,” Tim Walz said to cheers during his DNC speech last night. “We’re gonna leave it all on the field. That’s how we’ll keep moving forward.”
WATCH:
The country is facing heightened threats from many corners at a time when law enforcement agencies are struggling, FBI Director Christopher Wray said in an exclusive interview, adding that he is “hard pressed to think of a time in my career where so many different kinds of threats are all elevated at once.” Wray spoke Wednesday with The Associated Press while visiting the Minneapolis field office to talk about partnerships between law enforcement agencies and also with other entities. His remarks come as the FBI confronts heightened concerns over terrorism, both domestic and international, as well as Chinese espionage and intellectual property theft and foreign election interference. “I worry about the combination of that many threats being elevated at once, with the challenges facing the men and women in law enforcement more generally,” Wray said at the office in the suburb of Brooklyn Center. “And the one thing that I think helps bridge those two challenges is partnerships. That’s how we get through. It is by all working together.” Wray’s assessment of an elevated threat landscape is consistent with alarm bells he has sounded for months. Soon after the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas in Israel, Wray began warning that the rampage could serve as an inspiration to militants, “the likes of which we haven’t seen since ISIS launched its so-called caliphate years ago.” The FBI has also scrambled to deal with security concerns related to the United States’ southern border, with officials revealing in June that eight people from Tajikistan with suspected ties to the Islamic State group were arrested and were being held on immigration violations. Officials are also dealing with the specter of foreign election interference. The FBI and other federal agencies announced Monday that Iran was responsible for a hack targeting the Trump campaign and for an attempted breach of the Biden-Harris campaign, part of what officials portrayed as a brazen and aggressive effort to interfere in American politics. Wray declined to talk about any specific investigation or threat but said investigations into cyberattacks, including against election infrastructure, candidates or campaigns, require help from the private sector. “One of the things that we have been doubling down on with every passing day is, is on partnerships, because ultimately you’re talking about the ability to connect the dots, whether it’s against some kind of election influence threat or some other kind of threat,” Wray said. “You need to have partners sharing information with each other to put the two pieces together to see the bigger picture.” Law enforcement officers are being killed in the line of duty at a rate of about one every five days, Wray said, noting that four first responders have died in Minnesota alone in 2024. They include a Minneapolis officer killed in May while trying to help someone, and two officers and a paramedic who died in Burnsville in February when a heavily armed man opened fire. Such violence “breaks my heart every single time,” the director said. The FBI has not been spared such attacks: Days after agents searched Donald Trump’s Florida estate, Mar-a-Lago, to recover classified documents, a gunman who called on social media for federal agents to be killed “on sight” died in a shootout after trying to get inside the FBI’s Cincinnati office. Wray said the FBI has […]
[COMMUNICATED]
Three kedoshei elyon had one common concept when it came to learning Torah – they were the Ohr Hachaim Hakadosh (Rabbi Chaim ibn Attar 1696-1743) when he came to Eretz Yisroel; the Ramchal (Rabbi Moshe Chaim Luzzatto 1707-1746) when he lived in Padua, Italy; and Hagaon, Harav Chaim Volozhiner, (1749-1821) the famous talmid of the Gaon of Vilna.
They each had a yeshiva with ‘around-the-clock’ Torah learning, 24-hours a day, so that there would be no minute when the sound of Torah learning would not be heard in this world. The 24-hour period would be divided into shifts, and as one ended the next would begin.
Torah-24
A “Torah-24” Center has been opened in Yerushalayim and the Nasi is Maran Sar Hatorah, Harav Chaim Kanievsky, zt”l.
Under ONE ROOF, from 6:00 am – 6:00 am, 10 kollelim fill successive learning shifts. Each kollel focuses on a specific area of in-depth Torah study. The “Torah-24” Kollelim include: Boker (Gemora), Yerushalmi, Bavli, Zeraim-Taharot, Dalet Chelkei Shulchan Aruch, Erev (Gemora), Chatzos- Zohar/Kabbolah, Erev Shabbos (Chumash / Medrash b’iyun).
Already there are 52 avreichim metzuyonim, and a large number of candidates are vying for the remaining slots in the kollelim. All the avreichim are required to take rigorous monthly tests.
Endorsements & Letters
Endorsements include Maranan Hagaonim shlit”a: Harav Gershon Edelstein, Harav Berel Povarsky, Harav Shimon Badani, Harav Dovid Cohen, Harav Boruch Mordechai Ezrachi, Harav Chaim Feinstein, Harav Shimon Galai, Harav Shraga Shteinman.
Letters of support-encouragement have been received from Maranan Hagaonim, shlit”a: Hamekubal Harav David Bazri, Hamashpia Hagadol Reb Elimelech Biderman, Hamekubal Harav Yaakov Meir Schechter, Harav Moishe Sternbuch, Harav Yitzchak Tuvia Weiss.
For more “Torah-24” information click on: www.torah-24.com or call 718-766-5022
Kamala Harris may be the Democratic candidate, but it’s Nancy Pelosi who continues to wield significant influence over the party, a fact she underscored during her speech tonight at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago.
“I know that Vice President Harris is ready to take us to new heights,” declared the veteran Congresswoman representing California’s 11th district during her primetime speech at the packed United Center. “Politically, she is astute and strategic in winning difficult elections, quickly securing the nomination with dignity and grace and choosing Tim Walsh as our vice president,” Pelosi continued, offering her highest commendation to the political strategist.
Pelosi, now 84, is widely seen as the driving force behind the movement to usher 81-year-old Joe Biden off the political stage, particularly after his poor performance against Donald Trump during the CNN debate on June 27. A seasoned politician with deep roots in the Democratic Party, Pelosi has dismissed rumors of her involvement in Biden’s departure from the race.
Despite her denials, few believe the claims of innocence from the author of The Art of Power. This skepticism is likely why Pelosi began her speech with a lengthy “Thank you Joe!” in an attempt to smooth over any lingering resentment within the party.
For the time being, Pelosi even chose to downplay her own role in the legislative successes of the past three years, all of which she had a significant hand in pushing through Congress.
“On January 20, 2021, with the inauguration of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, we established one of the most successful presidencies of modern times,” Pelosi stated.
“And we quickly proved that Democrats deliver – millions of jobs, stronger infrastructure and rural broadband, a Biden Child Tax Credit, rescuing human pensions, honoring our veterans, bold climate action, lowering the cost of prescription drugs,” she enumerated. “All thanks to President Biden’s patriotic vision of a fair America doing so with liberty and justice for all.”
While Pelosi had high praise for one president, she did not hesitate to harshly criticize another.
“January 6 was a perilous moment for our democracy,” she said, referring to the former president she had long opposed, Donald Trump. “Never before had a president of the United States so brazenly assaulted the bedrock of our democracy, so lethally embraced political violence, so willfully betrayed his oath of office,” Pelosi told her fellow Democrats, recalling the attack on Congress, where many MAGA insurgents were specifically targeting her.
Pelosi seemed to rush through her speech, which lasted less than five minutes.
{Matzav.com}
Bullets have been found in the bodies of some hostages recovered by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) from Gaza last week. This discovery has led the IDF to assess that the hostages were likely murdered by Hamas while in captivity. While the reports do not specify which hostages were shot, the mother of Yagev Buchshtav confirmed to Kan radio that her son was among those found with bullet wounds. The recovered hostages, whose bodies were brought back from Khan Younis, include Buchshtav, 35, Alex Dancyg, 75, Chaim Peri, 79, Yoram Metzger, 80, Nadav Popplewell, 51, and Avraham Munder, 78. Chaim Peri, z’l, 79, was abducted from Kibbutz Nir Oz on October 7. He was a father of five and grandfather of 13. His wife survived the massacre. Yagev Buchshtav, z’l, 34, was abducted from Kibbutz Nirim on October 7, along with his wife, Rimon Kirsht Buchshtav, who was released in November. Nadav Popplewell, z’l, 51, was abducted from Kibbutz Nirim along with his mother Channah Peri, who was released in November. His brother Roi Popplewell, H’yd, 54, was murdered on October 7. Yoram Metzger, z’l, 80, was abducted from Kibbutz Nir Oz on October 7 along with his wife Tami, who was released in November. He was a father of three and grandfather of seven. Alex Dancyg, z’l, 75, a world-renowned historian and Holocaust educator, was abducted from Kibbutz Nir Oz on October 7. He was born in Warsaw to Holocaust survivors and made aliyah with his parents in 1957. He dedicated his life to Holocaust education, including leading trips to Poland and teaching Yad Vashem guides. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
New York state lawyers urged an appeals court late Wednesday to uphold Donald Trump’s nearly $500 million civil fraud judgment, arguing there’s “overwhelming evidence” to support a judge’s finding that the former president lied for years about his wealth as he built his real estate empire. In paperwork filed ahead of oral arguments next month, New York Attorney General Letitia James’ office said the current Republican nominee’s appeal is awash in “meritless legal arguments” and ignores volumes of trial evidence showing that he and his co-defendants engaged in “fraud and illegality on an immense scale.” “On appeal, defendants tellingly ignore almost all their deceptions,” Assistant Solicitor General Daniel S. Magy wrote in a 168-page submission to the state’s mid-level appeals court known as the Appellate Division. Trump, his company and top executives including his sons Eric and Donald Trump Jr. “created and used financial statements rife with blatant misrepresentations and omissions to maintain loans worth more than half a billion dollars and to generate over $360 million in ill-gotten profits,” Magy wrote. The Appellate Division said Wednesday that it will hear the case on Sept. 26, about six weeks before Election Day and just after the start of early voting in some states. The court typically rules about a month after arguments, meaning a decision could come before the presidential race ends. If upheld, the judgment threatens to dent Trump’s personal wealth, disrupt his Trump Organization and damage his identity as a savvy businessman. As of Wednesday, the Trump defendants owe more than $485 million. That includes interest that continues to accrue even after Trump posted a $175 million bond in April to halt collection of the sum and prevent the state from seizing his assets while he appeals. Trump is asking the Appellate Division to overturn Manhattan Judge Arthur Engoron’s Feb. 16 finding that he lied to banks, insurers and others about his wealth on financial statements used to secure loans and make deals. He and his lawyers argue the verdict was “erroneous” and “egregious.” The Appellate Division could either uphold Engoron’s verdict, reduce or modify the penalty or overturn the decision entirely. If Trump is unsuccessful at the Appellate Division, he can ask the state’s highest court, the Court of Appeals, to consider taking his case. If he wins, he won’t have to pay the state anything and will get back his bond money. Trump and his lawyers contend the case should never have gone to trial, the statute of limitations barred some allegations, and the state shouldn’t be policing private business transactions. They also object to the legal mechanics of James’ lawsuit, arguing that the law she sued him under is a consumer-protection statute that’s normally used to rein in businesses that rip off customers. Trump denies wrongdoing and he and his lawyers say no one was harmed. He has decried the verdict as “election interference” and “weaponization against a political opponent,” complaining he was being punished for “having built a perfect company, great cash, great buildings, great everything.” James and Engoron are Democrats. In their response Wednesday, state lawyers said the statute of limitations was applied properly and that state law authorizes the state’s attorney general to take action against fraudulent or illegal business conduct, “regardless of whether it targets consumers, small businesses, large corporations, or […]
Jon Polin and Rachel Goldberg-Polin, whose son Hersh was abducted by Hamas and taken to Gaza on October 7, spoke at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago on Wednesday night.
The audience chanted “bring them home” as Hersh’s parents took the stage, causing Hersh’s mother to become emotional.
“At this moment, 109 precious human lives are being held hostage by Hamas in Gaza. They include Christians, Jews, Muslims, Hindus, and Buddhists. They come from 23 different countries. The youngest hostage is a one-year-old redheaded baby boy, and the oldest is an 86-year-old grandpa. Among the hostages are eight American citizens. One of those Americans is our only son. His name is Hersh. He’s 23 years old, and like Vice President Kamala Harris, Hersh was born in Oakland, California,” Rachel Goldberg-Polin began.
She portrayed Hersh as a “happy-go-lucky, laid back, good-humored, respectful, and curious individual,” describing him as a civilian with a passion for music and a lifelong fascination with geography and travel.
“On October 7, Hersh and his best friend Aner [Shapira] attended a music festival in southern Israel. The event was promoted as a celebration of peace, love, and unity. They were also there to celebrate Hersh’s 23rd birthday,” she continued.
She recounted how Hersh, Aner, and 27 others sought refuge in a bomb shelter when rockets began to fall on the festival.
“Terrorists began hurling grenades into the shelter. Aner stood in the doorway and managed to block seven of those grenades before the eighth one killed him. In total, 367 young music enthusiasts lost their lives at the Nova Music Festival. This was just one of many attacks on neighborhoods and communities in southern Israel on that tragic day. Altogether, 1,200 people were killed, including 45 Americans. Hersh’s left forearm, his dominant arm, was blown off before he was forced onto a pickup truck and taken away from his life, and from Jon and me, into Gaza. That was 320 days ago. Anyone…can try to imagine the torment and suffering that Jon, I, and all the hostage families are going through.”
Jon Polin then spoke, saying, “This is a political convention, but the need to bring home our only son and all the beloved hostages is not a political issue. It is a humanitarian issue.”
He emphasized that the families of the eight American hostages “are encouraged by the bipartisan support shown by both Democratic and Republican leaders for the release of our hostages” and mentioned that both President Biden and Vice President Harris are “working tirelessly for a hostage and ceasefire deal that will bring our precious children, mothers, fathers, spouses, grandparents, and grandchildren home and will end the suffering in Gaza.”
“In our Jewish tradition, we say that ‘every person is an entire universe.’ We must save all these universes,” Jon Polin added, stressing that now is the time to reach an agreement.
Rachel concluded by addressing her son directly, saying, “Hersh, if you can hear us, we love you. Stay strong. Survive.”
{Matzav.com}
Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, known as the orchestrator of the October 7 attacks, once declared that dying in combat against Israel would be an honor. However, a recent report indicates that he now prioritizes his own survival as a condition for any ceasefire in Gaza.
Sinwar has reportedly stressed that his safety must be guaranteed and that Israel must refrain from targeting him, according to a senior Egyptian official who spoke to Ynet.
“Sinwar insists on a guarantee that his safety and security are assured,” the official stated.
After ascending to Hamas leadership following the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh last month, Sinwar allegedly indicated that if Israel met his demands, a ceasefire could be negotiated.
This shift follows months of Sinwar’s interference in ceasefire and hostage exchange negotiations, during which he urged Hamas to continue its assault until Israel was completely defeated.
In June, leaked communications obtained by the Wall Street Journal exposed Sinwar’s ruthless mindset, describing the thousands of lives lost in Gaza as “necessary sacrifices.”
“We have the Israelis right where we want them,” Sinwar reportedly told mediators while pushing Hamas to reject a ceasefire agreement earlier this year.
He also expressed similar sentiments regarding his sons who were killed, asserting that their deaths would “infuse life into the veins of this nation, prompting it to rise to its glory and honor,” as reported by the WSJ.
Since assuming leadership after Haniyeh’s death, Sinwar, who remains out of reach of Israeli forces, appears to have altered his stance.
Just five days after taking on his new role, sources involved in the ceasefire discussions told CNN that Sinwar was seeking assistance from Egyptian and Qatari mediators to end the conflict.
However, U.S. and Israeli officials maintain that Hamas has consistently hindered the progress of negotiations, with President Joe Biden accusing the group of abruptly “backing off.”
Hamas criticized Biden, accusing him of siding with Israel after the Jewish state allegedly introduced new demands that had not been part of earlier agreements.
Among the new conditions was Israel’s request to maintain a presence along the Gaza-Egypt border, an area where extensive terror tunnel networks have recently been uncovered.
Hamas rejected this demand, pointing out that prior ceasefire agreements required a complete withdrawal of the IDF from the Gaza Strip.
{Matzav.com}
A U.S. government report expected to stir debate concluded that fluoride in drinking water at twice the recommended limit is linked with lower IQ in children. The report, based on an analysis of previously published research, marks the first time a federal agency has determined — “with moderate confidence” — that there is a link between higher levels of fluoride exposure and lower IQ in kids. While the report was not designed to evaluate the health effects of fluoride in drinking water alone, it is a striking acknowledgment of a potential neurological risk from high levels of fluoride. Fluoride strengthens teeth and reduces cavities by replacing minerals lost during normal wear and tear, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The addition of low levels of fluoride to drinking water has long been considered one of the greatest public health achievements of the last century. “I think this (report) is crucial in our understanding” of this risk, said Ashley Malin, a University of Florida researcher who has studied the affect of higher fluoride levels in pregnant women on their children. She called it the most rigorously conducted report of its kind. The long-awaited report released Wednesday comes from the National Toxicology Program, part of the Department of Health and Human Services. It summarizes a review of studies, conducted in Canada, China, India, Iran, Pakistan, and Mexico, that concludes that drinking water containing more than 1.5 milligrams of fluoride per liter is consistently associated with lower IQs in kids. The report did not try to quantify exactly how many IQ points might be lost at different levels of fluoride exposure. But some of the studies reviewed in the report suggested IQ was 2 to 5 points lower in children who’d had higher exposures. Since 2015, federal health officials have recommended a fluoridation level of 0.7 milligrams per liter of water, and for five decades before the recommended upper range was 1.2. The World Health Organization has set a safe limit for fluoride in drinking water of 1.5. The report said that about 0.6% of the U.S. population — about 1.9 million people — are on water systems with naturally occurring fluoride levels of 1.5 milligrams or higher. “The findings from this report raise the questions about how these people can be protected and what makes the most sense,” Malin said. The 324-page report did not reach a conclusion about the risks of lower levels of fluoride, saying more study is needed. It also did not answer what high levels of fluoride might do to adults. The American Dental Association, which champions water fluoridation, had been critical of earlier versions of the new analysis and Malin’s research. Asked for comment, a spokeswoman late Wednesday afternoon emailed that the organization’s experts were still reviewing the report. Fluoride is a mineral that exists naturally in water and soil. About 80 years ago, scientists discovered that people whose supplies naturally had more fluoride also had fewer cavities, triggering a push to get more Americans to use fluoride for better dental health. In 1945, Grand Rapids, Michigan became the first U.S. city to start adding fluoride to tap water. In 1950, federal officials endorsed water fluoridation to prevent tooth decay, and continued to promote it even after fluoride toothpaste brands hit the market […]
Three kedoshei elyon had one common concept when it came to learning Torah – they were the Ohr Hachaim Hakadosh (Rabbi Chaim ibn Attar 1696-1743) when he came to Eretz Yisroel; the Ramchal (Rabbi Moshe Chaim Luzzatto 1707-1746) when he lived in Padua, Italy; and Hagaon, Harav Chaim Volozhiner, (1749-1821) the famous talmid of the Gaon of Vilna. They each had a yeshiva with ‘around-the-clock’ Torah learning, 24-hours a day, so that there would be no minute when the sound of Torah learning would not be heard in this world. The 24-hour period would be divided into shifts, and as one ended the next would begin. Torah-24 A “Torah-24” Center has been opened in Yerushalayim and the Nasi is Maran Sar Hatorah, Harav Chaim Kanievsky, zt”l. Under ONE ROOF, from 6:00 am – 6:00 am, 10 kollelim fill successive learning shifts. Each kollel focuses on a specific area of in-depth Torah study. The “Torah-24” Kollelim include: Boker (Gemora), Yerushalmi, Bavli, Zeraim-Taharot, Dalet Chelkei Shulchan Aruch, Erev (Gemora), Chatzos- Zohar/Kabbolah, Erev Shabbos (Chumash / Medrash b’iyun). Already there are 52 avreichim metzuyonim, and a large number of candidates are vying for the remaining slots in the kollelim. All the avreichim are required to take rigorous monthly tests. Endorsements & Letters Endorsements include Maranan Hagaonim shlit”a: Harav Gershon Edelstein, Harav Berel Povarsky, Harav Shimon Badani, Harav Dovid Cohen, Harav Boruch Mordechai Ezrachi, Harav Chaim Feinstein, Harav Shimon Galai, Harav Shraga Shteinman. Letters of support-encouragement have been received from Maranan Hagaonim, shlit”a: Hamekubal Harav David Bazri, Hamashpia Hagadol Reb Elimelech Biderman, Hamekubal Harav Yaakov Meir Schechter, Harav Moishe Sternbuch, Harav Yitzchak Tuvia Weiss. For more “Torah-24” information click on: www.torah-24.com or call 718-766-5022
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