jackk

Here are Obama’s thoughts on the conflict. He clearly is not a sonei yisrael or hater of the State of Israel.

“It’s been 17 days since Hamas launched its horrific attack against Israel, killing over 1,400 Israeli citizens, including defenseless women, children and the elderly. In the aftermath of such unspeakable brutality, the U.S. government and the American people have shared in the grief of families, prayed for the return of loved ones, and rightly declared solidarity with the Israeli people.

As I stated in an earlier post, Israel has a right to defend its citizens against such wanton violence, and I fully support President Biden’s call for the United States to support our long-time ally in going after Hamas, dismantling its military capabilities, and facilitating the safe return of hundreds of hostages to their families.

But even as we support Israel, we should also be clear that how Israel prosecutes this fight against Hamas matters. In particular, it matters — as President Biden has repeatedly emphasized — that Israel’s military strategy abides by international law, including those laws that seek to avoid, to every extent possible, the death or suffering of civilian populations. Upholding these values is important for its own sake — because it is morally just and reflects our belief in the inherent value of every human life. Upholding these values is also vital for building alliances and shaping international opinion — all of which are critical for Israel’s long-term security.

This is an enormously difficult task. War is always tragic, and even the most carefully planned military operations often put civilians at risk. As President Biden noted during his recent visit to Israel, America itself has at times fallen short of our higher values when engaged in war, and in the aftermath of 9/11, the U.S. government wasn’t interested in heeding the advice of even our allies when it came to the steps we took to protect ourselves against Al Qaeda. Now, after the systematic massacre of Israeli citizens, a massacre that evokes some of the darkest memories of persecution against the Jewish people, it’s understandable that many Israelis have demanded that their government do whatever it takes to root out Hamas and make sure such attacks never happen again. Moreover, Hamas’ military operations are deeply embedded within Gaza — and its leadership seems to intentionally hide among civilians, thereby endangering the very people they claim to represent.

Still, the world is watching closely as events in the region unfold, and any Israeli military strategy that ignores the human costs could ultimately backfire. Already, thousands of Palestinians have been killed in the bombing of Gaza, many of them children. Hundreds of thousands have been forced from their homes. The Israeli government’s decision to cut off food, water and electricity to a captive civilian population threatens not only to worsen a growing humanitarian crisis; it could further harden Palestinian attitudes for generations, erode global support for Israel, play into the hands of Israel’s enemies, and undermine long term efforts to achieve peace and stability in the region.

It’s therefore important that those of us supporting Israel in its time of need encourage a strategy that can incapacitate Hamas while minimizing further civilian casualties. Israel’s recent shift to allow relief trucks into Gaza, prompted in part by the Biden administration’s behind-the-scenes diplomacy, is an encouraging step, but we need to continue to lead the international community in accelerating critical aid and supplies to an increasingly desperate Gaza population. And while the prospects of future peace may seem more distant than ever, we should call on all of the key actors in the region to engage with those Palestinian leaders and organizations that recognize Israel’s right to exist to begin articulating a viable pathway for Palestinians to achieve their legitimate aspirations for self-determination — because that is the best and perhaps only way to achieve the lasting peace and security most Israeli and Palestinian families yearn for.

Finally, in dealing with what is an extraordinarily complex situation where so many people are in pain and passions are understandably running high, all of us need to do our best to put our best values, rather than our worst fears, on display.

That means actively opposing anti-semitism in all its forms, everywhere. It means rejecting efforts to minimize the terrible tragedy that the Israeli people have just endured, as well as the morally-bankrupt suggestion that any cause can somehow justify the deliberate slaughter of innocent people.

It means rejecting anti-Muslim, anti-Arab or anti-Palestinian sentiment. It means refusing to lump all Palestinians with Hamas or other terrorist groups. It means guarding against dehumanizing language towards the people of Gaza, or downplaying Palestinian suffering — whether in Gaza or the West Bank — as irrelevant or illegitimate.

It means recognizing that Israel has every right to exist; that the Jewish people have claim to a secure homeland where they have ancient historical roots; and that there have been instances in which previous Israeli governments made meaningful efforts to resolve the dispute and provide a path for a two-state solution — efforts that were ultimately rebuffed by the other side.

It means acknowledging that Palestinians have also lived in disputed territories for generations; that many of them were not only displaced when Israel was formed but continue to be forcibly displaced by a settler movement that too often has received tacit or explicit support from the Israeli government; that Palestinian leaders who’ve been willing to make concessions for a two-state solution have too often had little to show for their efforts; and that it is possible for people of good will to champion Palestinian rights and oppose certain Israeli government policies in the West Bank and Gaza without being anti-semitic.

Perhaps most of all, it means we should choose not to always assume the worst in those with whom we disagree. In an age of constant rancor, trolling and misinformation on social media, at a time when so many politicians and attention seekers see an advantage in shedding heat rather than light, it may be unrealistic to expect respectful dialogue on any issue — much less on an issue with such high stakes and after so much blood has been spilled. But if we care about keeping open the possibility of peace, security and dignity for future generations of Israeli and Palestinian children — as well as for our own children — then it falls upon all of us to at least make the effort to model, in our own words and actions, the kind of world we want them to inherit.”

ujm,

That is exactly what Dershowitz would say. “I didn’t hear what Obama said but from what the Obama hater quoted him as saying , I condemn him.”

Maybe next time people should actually listen to what he said.

Agudath Israel has released a statement encouraging people to attend the pro-Israel rally in Washington this coming Tuesday:

Two Jewish organizations – the Jewish Federations of North America and the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations – are organizing a mass rally in Washington, D.C. next Tuesday November 14 to show solidarity with Israel and to urge the US government to stand firm in its support.

In light of the ongoing life-threatening danger confronting Israeli soldiers and all of our dear brothers and sisters in Eretz Yisroel, and with great concern about the extremely volatile political climate here in the United States, we feel it is important, midarchei ha’shtadlonus, that there be a large turnout at this event. Accordingly, and in consultation with our rabbinic leadership, we are circulating to our friends and constituents information about the rally. More information will be available here in the coming days.

In the merit of our Torah and tefillah, and carrying out our shtadlanus obligations, may HKB’H hear our cries and protect us from all dangers — Hashem hoshia ha’Melech ya’aneinu b’yom koreinu!

This whole discussion has been repeated in the CR multiple times.

The election of Avi Schnall opened my eyes to the fact that some people who have been claiming that they vote republicans because it is daas torah, when they are actually confronted with daas torah to vote for Avi Schnall as a Democrat , find themselves questioning Daas Torah.

Keith,

Did confiscating 650,000 guns in Australia reduce murders?

Keith,

Why are you deliberately confusing “abolishing guns” with a specific type of gun ?

I am pretty sure I was clear that I was differentiating the two, whereas the starter of this thread did not make such a difference and thought that democrats are opposed to owning all guns.

As I said before no democrat wants to ban all guns. All your quotes are about banning specific types of guns.

The following is what Biden and Democrats want to ban. I quote from your link.
“It is within our power to once again ban assault weapons and high-capacity magazines, to require safe storage of guns, to end gun manufacturers’ immunity from liability, and to enact universal background checks.”

There are millions of other types of guns that every American who feels he needs to protect himself can own.

Maybe we should all be allowed to own hand grenades also?

Meno,

I did read it now, although his post was not up when I posted.
He is talking about the AR-15 and other mass murder weapons . Where did he say we should ban all guns in American ?
And where in the constitution does it day that there can be no common sense gun laws? Where does the constitution say that American can’t do anything to protect against mass murderers killing hundreds of people at a party or kids in school?

I just read a teshuva from Rav Ezriel Auerbach where he quoted his brother-in-law Rav Zalman Nechemia Goldberg that owning a gun is comparable to locking your door at night. If you are permitted to lock your door , you are permitted to own a gun too.

University of California Board of Regents Chair Richard Leib and UC President Michael V. Drake, M.D., shared the following statement today, Monday, Oct. 9, 2023, in the wake of a violent weekend in the Middle East:

Our hearts are heavy in the face of the horrific attack on Israel over the weekend, which involved the loss of many innocent lives and the abduction of innocent hostages, including children and the elderly. This was an act of terrorism, launched on a major Jewish holiday. What should have been a quiet weekend of rest turned into days of unspeakable terror and shock. The violence is sickening and incomprehensible, and as of this moment we still do not know the fate of the hostages. This act deserves and requires our collective condemnation.

These are the Democrats.

A record numbers of American Jews are getting trained and purchasing firearms only means that more jews than usual are getting training and purchasing. Does not say how many owned before and how many now.

Owning a gun has nothing to do with being a republican, democrat or MAGA.

edited

Republican National Committee Chair Ronna McDaniel explained on Fox News Saturday how GOP presidential candidates could respond to Hamas militants’ unprecedented, surprise attack on Israel. “I think this is a great opportunity for our candidates… ” McDaniel said.

A Public Service Announcement.
If you ever think that you are ” allowed ” to do something illegal because of A,B or C, do not be surprised when the Government arrests you for doing A, B or C.
If you ever think that you are simply helping another person do something illegal, do not be surprised when the Government arrests you too.

There are nebach too many Yidden who were and are currently in jail because of the above 2 mistakes.

Who are the candidates?
Who gets to vote?

The authors at Just Security consolidated the seven-part conspiracy the House select committee set out into three essential prongs. They explained the first prong: “Trump knew he lost the election but did not want to give up power, so he worked with his lawyers on a wide variety of schemes to change the outcome. Those schemes included creating fraudulent electoral certificates that were submitted to Congress, implicating statutes such as 18 U.S.C. § 371, which prohibits conspiracies to defraud the United States” and 18 U.S.C. §1001, which prohibits false statements to the government. Second, after the phony elector scheme failed, Trump tried to pressure Vice President Mike Pence to obstruct the joint session in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1512. And third, when that too failed, “Trump went to his last resort: triggering an insurrection in the hope that it would throw Congress off course, delaying the transfer of power for the first time in American history. This implicated statutes such as 18 U.S.C. § 2383, which prohibits inciting an insurrection and giving aid or comfort to insurrectionists.”

When Trump gets indicted by Special Counsel Jack Smith remember this easy summary of why he belongs in jail and nowhere near any elected office.

This is all separate from his other court cases that he will lose and send him to jail.

Yechiell,
I will add that she is 12 to 12 1/2 and also married with Kiddushin but no Nisuin yet.
And she is making Vows at this age.

How did you let this one through?
GadolHadofi June 21, 2023 9:56 am at 9:56 am

Edited.

I don’t see where this post is. The CR moderators can’t moderate on the main page.

“רבונו של עולם, תורה שאתה נותן לי מה כתיב בה?
אנכי ה’ אלהיך אשר הוצאתיך מארץ מצרים.
אמר להן: למצרים ירדתם? לפרעה השתעבדתם? תורה למה תהא לכם”

Aaq,
Again, I agree with you about the process and lying on FISA.

The FBI admitted that they did things that were improper.

My point is that to conclude that the whole investigation was politically motivated with zero basis and not acknowledging that there were very serious reasons to investigate because of Trump’s campaign members behavior is wrong in my mind.

Russia helping Trump get elected is not a hoax and the FBI was warranted to suspect that Trump’s campaign was involved in getting their help. Michael Flynn was a member of the campaign and he was not an innocent figure.

AAQ,

You are making a good point that there might be good questions in the report and of course I did not read a single page of the 300 page report. But the whole report does not make any sense to me or to any other lay person.

Does the FBI have a computer program or lawbook that needs to input exact factors and information before it will legally allow them to start an investigation? That is ridiculous.

Or does the FBI have a computer program or lawbook that you needs exact factors and information before it will legally allow them to warn social media of a possible Russian influence on our election? That is ridiculous.

The FBI should be able to start investigations and warn social media based on many factors that lead them to believe that an investigation is worthwhile.
These factors might simply be based on the past history of known evil countries and their leaders. Or members of a campaign who are working for foreign governments and want to become rich after working in the military for 25 years.

So I don’t care really care about every single factor why the FBI started it’s investigation.
If Trump’s campaign was doing nothing illegal , then they had nothing to worry about.

Or you could look at the Durham investigation and see that bill barr and the rest of the Republicans wasted 6 million in a worthless investigation because they are afraid of Trump.

If you’re looking for a job in Florida, you might want to consider some red-hot new career opportunities picking vegetables, tarring roofs or cleaning hotel toilets.

Thanks to the imperatives of campaign messaging, Florida is about to make life harder for the hundreds of thousands of undocumented immigrants working in the state.

We’re going to be spending millions of tax dollars to fly them to other states or to scare them away by implementing a law that fines some of their employers $1,000 per day for giving them jobs.

You might think that chasing undocumented residents from the farm fields, construction sites and janitorial closets where they’ve been working is an exercise in political bottom-feeding.

But it’s best to think of it as great news for those of you who have felt stung by being unfairly left out of those pre-dawn bus rides to the crops, summer afternoons on the construction site and late nights in filthy office bathrooms. You have an opportunity now to reclaim these “stolen” jobs.

If you read the 43 tweets that Trump sent out on October 3, 2019, you will be able to figure out how many turned out to be complete lies and deserving of impeachment.

It’s Nakba.
He didn’t cancel it. He blocked it by reserving the spot she was going to use.
Tlaib could still reschedule the event for a later date.

Is it possible that the main YWN website has changed since you posted and that has caused the CR to also change?
It is clear that YWN now has only a small percentage of news that is relevant to the Yeshiva World.

Gadol Hadofi,

Regarding Biden , I don’t understand where you are coming from. The right wing media enjoys laughing at Biden’s expense and there is even a whole section of the right wing media dedicated to catching Biden in slips and taking videos completely out of context, but it is all a lie.
They know it is a lie. They know that he is functioning with complete competence 24 hours a day as President.

It is the fox news and other right wing media rule of “We do not report the truth. We report what our viewers want to hear.”

You did the exact same thing with Harris’s 20 minute speech and about 2525 words. You took one paragraph out of context and tried to make believe it doesn’t build confidence.
The quote is gold. It is wordy, but so what. She was making a speech.
Listen to her whole speech.
You can disagree with it. As frum Jews we definitely have issues with it, since it was remarks by Vice President Harris at a Political Event on Reproductive Rights.

By the way, I can destroy Trump’s way of speaking every time he opens his mouth at a rally.
Bottom line, not a reason to be afraid of her as a President.