17 Kislev 5786
07 December 2025
"Sneak Attack"
17 Kislev 5786
Eighty-four years ago today, Sunday, December 7, 1941, it was also the 17th of Kislev. The United States suffered the most devastating enemy attack on its own territory until September 11, 2001.
05 December 2025
Eisav: "Meet Me Half-Way"
15 Kislev 5786
Erev Shabbat Kodesh
Parashat Vayishlach
The rabbinic identification of Rome [aka Christianity/Western Civilization] with the Biblical figure of Esau is basic to the traditional understanding of much of the relevant sections of Chumash Bereishis. Esau's faults and shortcomings as well as his complex and tortured relationship with his brother Yaakov was seen by the Rabbis through the prism of this identification, so much so that the conflict of these two brothers typifies the struggle for spiritual and moral supremacy between Rome and Jerusalem....The following midrash typifies the personalization of Rome and the West as Esau while not sparing his hypocrisy.In the future Esau will wrap himself in a tallis, sit down next to Yaakov and say to him, "You are my brother". ...Yaakov will say to him, "My brother, you will not be like me. "I will lead you to death, I will be the pestilence that leads you to Sheol (Hoshea 13,14). Had I upheld decrees that you promulgated against me, I would have been guilty at the eyes of Heaven. Had I violated them, you would have killed me? (Yalkut Shimoni, Yirmiahu 333)"That was Esau's intention when he told Yaakov, "Let us travel together and I will go before you (Genesis 33,12). He wanted them to join together in both this world and the world to come, to meet each other halfway, with each modifying his conduct until they were alike (Yalkut Shimoni, Genesis 133). Indeed, Esau will even adopt certain tenets of Judaism - such as monotheism, the Divinity of the Torah, and reward and punishment - but only if Israel will give up some of its heritage. Similarly, according to Tanna D'Bei Eliahu Zuta (19), Esau proposed: "Give up some of the mitzvos that divide us. You will thereby enjoy this world and still have half the world to come. Isn't that enough? (Bais Halevy, Vayishlach).
~ SHABBAT SHALOM ~
04 December 2025
The Anti-Torah Forces Are Running Scared
14 Kislev 5786
"...there is hope for your future, says the Lord, and the children shall return to their own border." (Yirmiyahu 31.16)
While reports increase of the growing antisemitism (and anti-Israelism) of Western youth, the trend within Israel is headed in the opposite direction.
“Tamid Ohev Oti” (“Hashem Always Loves Me”) was selected song of the year on Israel’s leading radio station, Galgalatz. TikTok is flooded with clips of young people wearing tzitzit proudly studying Torah. Entire battalions prayed together before entering Gaza. Are these just performative scenes, or signs of something deeper happening among Israeli youth?The Jewish People Policy Institute’s (JPPI) November Israeli Society Index, which included a dedicated survey of 18–24-year-olds, examined this question in depth: Have young Israelis drawn closer to religion as a result of the warThe short answer: yes. And if Israel wishes to remain both Jewish and liberal-democratic, the form of Judaism shaping the public sphere cannot be the ultra-Orthodox or extremist varieties, but rather a Judaism that is open, humane, and compatible with life in a modern, largely secular Western state.Israel, at its core, is a Western, secular country. But in recent years, and even more so since the war, Israel’s public sphere has taken an increasingly traditional tone. This is not a mass religious revival, nor an “Iranization” of Israeli society. Rather, it reflects cultural, linguistic, musical, and religious practices that more Israelis are choosing to embrace. The trend is visible across large swathes of the population, but because Israel is a young country, it is especially pronounced among young Israelis.A few basic facts about religiosity in Israel help frame the story. Israel’s Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) divides Israelis into five identity categories: secular (42.7%); traditional, not religious (21.5%); traditional, religious (12%); religious (12%); and ultra-Orthodox (haredi) (11.4%). Among young adults, the picture shifts. CBS data shows that in the 20-24 age group, the secular share drops to around 38%. Meanwhile, the more religious groups grow, and above all, the share of young haredim rises sharply to 18%. Of course, the new JPPI findings must be understood in the context of this broader demographic backdrop.A clear trend emerges from the new JPPI Israeli Society Index survey: young Israelis are “strengthening in faith.” Thirty-five percent say they now believe in God more than before (only 10% say they believe less). About a third report that they observe more traditional practices than in the past – 38% pray more; 27% read the Bible more. The pattern is strongest among young Israelis with any pre-existing degree of religious identity, from the traditional (non-religious) to the ultra-Orthodox. Among secular youth, the picture is more mixed: just 10% say they practice more tradition, while 15% say they practice less. Yet, when asked about their friends, young people across all groups overwhelmingly report that “many” – and among the traditionally affiliated, even “most” – have become more religious.The political shifts are no less dramatic. Young Israelis have moved decisively to the Right. Across every ideological cohort – from the hard Left to moderate Right – nearly half of respondents say they have shifted rightward since the war began. Only about 12% report shifting toward the Left.What does this mean for Israel’s future? The demographic reality is well established: the more religious the group, the higher its fertility rate. This is no longer a projection but a long-observed pattern – a steady decline in the proportion of secular Israelis, alongside a dramatic increase in the share of haredim and a more moderate rise in other religious groups. When these long-term demographic trajectories combine with new data showing increased traditionalism among young Israelis, the direction is quite clear: Israel is on track to become more religious and more right-wing.It is possible, of course, that some of these shifts may reflect a reaction to the trauma of war that may fade over time. But evidence from recent years suggests that the traditionalist turn is not a passing moment – it is becoming embedded in the body politic.For Israelis who value a Jewish yet liberal, Western Israel, the struggle ahead is not only over democratic norms, but also over the character of Judaism in the public sphere. Will it be inspired by a Judaism that is open, inclusive, and capable of sustaining a liberal, pluralistic society – one that allows every Jew to choose his or her own path?
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Other News of Note: US Senator pushes ban on dual citizenship, creating uncertainty for Israeli-Americans, olim
02 December 2025
The (Ir)Relevance of Diaspora Jewry
12 Kislev 5786
Can anyone explain to me why the rich and infuential Jewish Americans in the Diaspora who do not care to live in Eretz Yisrael still insist on having some say in its future - to the detriment! - of the Jews who do?
Diaspora Jews trying to stay relevant - Heaven help us!!
Former US Secretary of State and 2016 presidential candidate Hillary Clinton will participate in the first Israel Hayom summit in New York on Tuesday, December 2 at the Hilton Midtown hotel. The summit, the first of its kind, will be held with the participation of Israel Hayom publisher Dr. Miriam Adelson and will focus on US-Israel relations, planning for the day after the war, and the role of Diaspora Jewry in shaping Israel's future. (Source)US Ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz will headline the first Israel Hayom summit in New York on Tuesday, December 2, and he won't be alone. His appearance comes just a week after he spearheaded the UN resolution to adopt the Trump plan for the future of Gaza and ahead of his historic visit to Israel.Dozens of prominent figures are scheduled to attend the all-day event at the Hilton Midtown, bringing together the people behind the world's most dramatic news. The lineup includes current and former senior government officials, leading business executives, heads of major Jewish organizations, survivors of Hamas captivity, and families of the hostages.The conference is positioned as one of the year's most significant international events, focusing squarely on the central relationship between Israel and the US, as well as the unique and growing challenges faced by the world's largest Jewish community outside of Israel.Dr. Miriam Adelson is hosting the conference, which will feature former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Senator John Fetterman, Israel's Ambassador to the UN Danny Danon, former US Ambassador David Friedman, former Ambassador and Minister Gilad Erdan, Minister Amichai Chikli, Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon, and many other leading figures from the diplomatic sphere.Key leaders from the Jewish community, dedicated to reinforcing the bond between US Jews and Israel, will also be featured. These include Ron Lauder, Malcolm Hoenlein, Rabbi Ari Berman, Elan Carr, Sylvan Adams, and several others. (Source)
They don't know it yet, but these rich and influential "Diapora" Jews who are tightening the American noose around the necks of Israeli Jews are as relevant to the future of Eretz Yisrael as the four-fifths of the Jews who remained in Egypt. They are destined to share the same fate as well. And good riddance!!
30 November 2025
HASHEM'S RED LINE
11 Kislev 5786
Shavua Tov!
And the Lord said, "Lo! they are one people, and they all have one language, and this is what they have commenced to do. Now, will it not be withheld from them, all that they have planned to do? (Bereishit 11.6)
The rapid proliferation of services powered by artificial intelligence, ranging from the genuinely useful to the frivolous to the unnecessary, has a common element: the need for vast amounts of electricity and water for the data centers that make them possible.In the last two years, hundreds of so-called hyperscale data centers have been built across the U.S., straining the ability of utilities to provide them with the power they need to run and water to keep them cool. In New Carlisle, Indiana, for instance, an Amazon-owned complex of data centers operated by Anthropic already needs at least 500 megawatts of electricity, enough to power hundreds of thousands of individual homes, according to The Atlantic. When completed, the sprawling facility will use as much power as two Atlantas, the story estimates. Until recently, such facilities, typically in rural areas or small towns, were generally well received, seen as a sign of local progress despite the fact that they create relatively few jobs or economic benefits.But amid spiking household electricity rates–up nearly 10% this year, largely due to data centers–things are starting to change. More communities are realizing how much they strain existing infrastructure, and across the U.S., including in Arizona, Virginia and Ohio, there’s local pressure to slow or halt new data centers. A survey of New Jersey voters finds that a majority want the facilities to pay higher energy rates, while a Wisconsin poll finds most voters don’t think data centers provide sufficient benefits to offset their cost.That challenge is further complicated by the Trump administration’s bewildering reversal of federal incentives for large-scale renewable power projects, including solar and wind farms with battery storage. Such facilities that are already in the pipeline will be built through at least next year, but the policy shift means the outlook for cheap new sources of electricity will taper off later in the decade. That’s a problem because they are faster to build and cheaper to operate than natural gas or coal plants. Promising geothermal power projects, which still have federal support, could be integrated into data centers but are mainly in the early planning stage. Next-generation small nuclear reactors or even clean fusion power could be carbon-free energy gamechangers, but neither is likely to be in widespread commercial use for years.A survey by Sunrun, the top U.S. installer of residential solar and battery systems, underscored the growing concern Americans have over rising power prices and data centers. Of the 1,000 people interviewed, 80% are worried that data centers will keep driving up residential power prices.
28 November 2025
GOING HOME
8 Kislev 5786
Erev Shabbat Kodesh
Parashat Vayeitzei
Then [Jacob] heard the words of Laban's sons, saying, "Jacob has taken all that belonged to our father, and from that which belonged to our father he amassed all this wealth." Jacob also noticed Laban's disposition that, behold, it was not toward him as in earlier days.And Hashem said to Jacob, "Return to the land of your fathers and to your native land, and I will be with you." (Bereishit 31.1-3)
Commentary: And I will be with you. When you return home, I will be with you, but as long as you remain here with the unclean Laban, My Presence will not rest on you (Rashi). This removal of God's protection, as evidenced by the displeasure of Laban and his sons, was designed to provoke Jacob to leave Charan and return to Eretz Yisrael (Malbim).
There really is no place like home, and nothing makes you feel the truth of that statement quite like overstaying your welcome in someone else's home. Even when the someone is family and they love you and you love them, there comes a point when you just have to be under your own vine and fig tree.
It's to our father Ya'aqov's great credit that he was sensitive to the hints and wasted no time getting out of what was fast becoming an untenable situation. He didn't need to be told twice.
Soon, we will once again follow the course of our father Ya'aqov's life after returning home to Eretz Yisrael, and we will see, once again, that coming home did not mean an end to his troubles. He just traded one set of troubles for another. But, in Eretz Yisrael, Hashem would be right there with him through the troubles.
From this we can learn that we don't come home to Eretz Yisrael in order to avoid problems, or in order to rest on our laurels and enjoy life. We come home because Hashem, our Abba, is calling us. He's telling each one of us, "Come home, son/daughter, and we'll spend time together - I'll be with you." Who could ever pass that up? Who could be so cold as to turn their back on such an offer?
Our father Ya'aqov was just watching and listening and waiting for that call. He was hoping for it and praying for it - that signal to come home. That's why when it came, he wasted no time. He was more than ready to go.
He knew, like we do, that everything up until our arrival back home in Eretz Yisrael has just been practice. Now, the real work begins. Only in Eretz Yisrael can our destiny be realized and our mission be fulfilled.
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