First Egg Hatching to Chicks Fledging - 21 days in 21 mins - BlueTit nest box camera highlights 2021
06 April 2026
From empty nest to first egg in less than 8 minutes! - BlueTit nest box live camera highlights 2021
Hashem Provides for all: we have Tits here in Yerushalayim. Once there was a Tit on my window, Peking away very vociferously. This went on all day. An ornithologist said “he” probably saw his reflection and was warning….. it was very entertaining.
Israeli Underwater Excavations Reveal Earliest Hoard of Iron Blooms From 600 B.C.E.
The earliest evidence of a grouping of iron blooms has been discovered in a shipwreck off the Carmel coast. A recent study announcing the discovery was published in NPJ Heritage. According to the researchers, the analysis of the ancient cargo “provides unique and unprecedented insight into early bloom production, handling and maritime transport during the Iron Age”—around 2,600 years ago, the time of the biblical King Josiah.
On today’s program, host Brent Nagtegaal interviews lead author Prof. Tsilla Eshel of the School of Archaeology and Maritime Cultures, University of Haifa, about the discovery.
what are "iron blooms"?
“
Iron blooms are
porous, solid masses of iron and slag produced by smelting iron ore in a furnace called a bloomery. Primarily used as a precursor to wrought iron, they are hammered while hot to expel slag and consolidate the metal, also known as "sponge iron".Usage Examples
- Wrought Iron Production: Hammering to remove slag and create forged, malleable iron billets for tools and weapons.
Also known as:
- Sponge Iron: Refers to the porous mixture of metallic iron and slag produced in the bloomery.
- Bloomery Iron: Iron directly produced from a bloomery.
Listen to this…..” like an older brother and a younger brother”
TRUMP ALSO THANKS ISRAEL - Trump: Israel helped rescue the navigator, the Israelis are very brave, they work with us well, we work together
“like an older brother and a younger brother”
Does this not sound like Eisav and Yaakov?
Source: https://www.mpaths.com/
05 April 2026
Ramchal's Secrets of the Redemption, Moshiach's Mission
Rabbi Moshe Chaim Luzzatto's Sefer Maamar HaGeulah, Secrets of the Redemption. What are the Missions of Moshiach ben Yosef and Moshiach ben David?
👑Thirsting for the Divine Abundance That Is Upon Him: Maran Posk Hador Rabbi Yitzhak Zilberstein ...
Torah Honor Ceremony: Ramat Elchanan gathered to welcome the Rishtavut Maran Grad Lando Shlit"a
Maran Posek Hador HaGari Zilberstein Shlit"a opened the ceremony with a prayer to strengthen the strength of the leader of the generation | A fascinating Responsorial Psalm with topical questions was also held with our Rabbeinu for the yeshiva students on the occasion of the days of the intervening years | Watch the recordings from the historical ceremony A magnificent ceremony in honor of the Torah was held last Thursday (Parashat Tzo) for the yeshiva students of the 'intervening years - those who are filled with joy' seminar in Ramat Elchanan, when the leader of the generation Rishtavut Maran Grad Lando Shlit"a arrived to deliver words of encouragement to the hundreds of students, and to strengthen them in the burden of the period leading up to the holiday of Passover. The ceremony, which was held in the hall of the Chassidim school, was graced by the rabbis of the neighborhood, led by Maran Posk Hador HaGari Zilberstein, Shlita, the great Rabbi Yehuda Silman Shlita and the rabbi of the Chassidim school in the neighborhood, the great Rabbi of the city, the great Rabbi Masoud ben Shimon Shlita and the rabbi of the Sephardic school in the neighborhood, and the great Rabbi Menachem Zvi Berlin Shlita, the son-in-law of Rabbi Chaim Ozer, and the Gaon Rabbi Dov Meir Tenenbaum Shlita (son-in-law of the Pohad, and the rabbi of Kiryat Melech), and hundreds of yeshivot in Ramat Elchanan. Our Master, Shlita, excitedly and respectfully welcomed his friend and fellow Master, Rosh Ha-Yeshiva, the Grattan Lando Shlita, with heartfelt words: "We welcome the light of our eyes, the beloved of our souls, we all thirst for his Torah, we all thirst for his fear, we all thirst for the divine abundance that is upon him, our Master, our valiant Rabbi Dov Lando Shlita, we all thirst to hear his words. We have gathered here, small and large, in the Ramat Elchanan neighborhood, wanting to hear words from our holy Master, may he live and be long-lived." And here our Master addressed the crowd that filled the courtroom, and said: "I have a request, since we want our Master to be healthier than he is now, the people of Israel need his health. I would now like to ask everyone to recite a chapter of Tehillim, and we would ask the Blessed One that our Rebbe, may he receive more health, and be able to influence the people of Israel more, and that we all be blessed by this, the stronghold of his might. I would like to recite a chapter of Tehillim, and we would ask the Holy One, blessed be He, to add days upon days of a king. We want to see his might, him and his family, and all the good things of his life. I will say, let him say verse, and everyone will say verse after verse. We ask God for long life for our Rabbi Shlita. After reciting the chapter 'Yoshav Besit' (a song of afflictions, as a prayer also for the situation), our Rabbi concluded by saying: "We ask God on behalf of all of us, we all want God to send complete healing and long life and I will see him in my salvation, we all want to see our Rabbi's greatness flourish and prosper and all good things come to pass." ** In the center of the gathering, we listened with reverence to the exalted message of the leader of the generation, Maran Rosh Ha-Yeshiva Shlita, on the duty of the period, and detailed guidance for the days between times: "By the permission of the Maro Da'tra Shlita and the rabbis of the neighborhood Shlita and the rabbis of the Ge'onim Shlita. It is very important and necessary that many yeshiva students and kollelim take advantage of the days between times to acquire additional Torah treasures. The story is known by the name of the Gaon Rabbi Raphael Shapira of Volazin, the son-in-law of the Netziv and the father-in-law of Rabbi Chaim Brisker, that the yeshiva students are happy that they can study whatever they want in between times, very happy, everyone can study whatever they want. "One must study deeply, analyze the subject, calculate the methods to understand well the words of the Rishonim. He who studies the subject and knows it well with all the details, is the happiest person in the world!!! He who is grounded in the Torah, grounded in the attainment of the Torah, grounded in the attachment to the Torah, in the love of the Torah, in the 'evening of the evening' of the Torah, is the happy one." "You have no free man, a true free man, but one who engages in the Torah. God has promised us that the Torah will not depart from our mouths and the mouths of our descendants. We are commanded to study day and night. Studying the Torah in any situation and at any time is an obligation and a privilege. In particular, yeshiva students and kollel students will not, God forbid, relax from their study in the meantime, because this is what protects and preserves us. All the miracles that we receive in general and in particular, protection here in the Jewish community in th...NYT: Smartphones Are Endlessly Distracting
Delivering a constant stream of messages, news, alerts and more
Now some young people are deciding to get rid of them
They want to know
Is There Life After Smartphones?
After a long rather NY style secular story omitted we get to the [ikkar] or punch line:
[…] and seemed to know everyone worth knowing. “And when I asked her for social info,” Keahna said, “she pulled out a business card and a flip phone.”
He recognized the technology from his childhood, but it had been years since he’d seen it in the wild, and certainly not in the hands of someone so demonstrably cool. Zavaglia “was my age,” Keahna said. “She had an active social life, an active work schedule, a creative career. And she was doing it all while being far more offline than me.”
The Pew Research Center, which put teenage smartphone access at 37 percent in 2012, had it at 95 percent in 2024
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2026/03/31/magazine/quit-smartphone-addiction-social-media.html
___________________
Comment: Our Rabbis knew this along time ago. When will the klal wake up? There is a smarter life without all that “smart stuff”!
IRAN ATTACKS BNEI BRAK ON PESACH?!?! ………Plus
Rebbi Akiva Enters the Orchard to Write Haggadah Shel Pesach. An Approach Based on the Rashbatz
IRAN ATTACKS BNEI BRAK ON PESACH?!?!
03 April 2026
Is Technology Part of the Coming of Moshiach? Plus
The Astounding Revelation of the Chofetz Chaim
well, didnt The Rebbe say we would read about Mashiach in the news?
Or was it The Geulah?
Better to Be A Tzadik or A Chocham? The Life-Altering Insight of the Chofetz Chaim on the Haggadah
Will We Witness The Resurrection? Watch…
A different and maybe applicable understanding of techias hameisim
Rabbi Invited to Muslim Country to Talk About God’s Miracles in This War
Unbelievable! Rabbi Rimon, one of Israel’s leading rabbis, was invited to a Muslim country to speak about God's miracles in this war. What he shared reveals that even beyond Israel, people are seeing something extraordinary unfolding.
Rebbetzen Tziporah: 10 Minutes to a Transformed Soul
Elevate Your Morning
10 Minutes to a Transformed Soul
Are you looking for a way to make this Sefirat HaOmer truly meaningful
without overhauling your entire schedule?
Join the world-renowned Rebbetzin Tziporah Heller Gottlieb
for a daily journey through the 7 Sefirot.
In just ten minutes a day, we will peel back the layers of
our character and prepare our hearts for Shavuot.
The Details
· When: Daily, starting the day after the first night
of Yom Tov through Shavuot.
· Time: 10:00 PM Israel Time
· New York: 3:00 PM
· UK : 8:00 PM
· Format: 10-minute "Power Learning" sessions via Zoom.
· The Erev Shabbos Special: A double class every Erev Shabbos to carry the inspiration through Shabbos.
· Missed the live? No problem! Recordings will be available for all registered participants.
Why Join?
Sefirat HaOmer is a season of growth. By dedicating just a sliver
of your evening to high-level Torah thought, you set the tone for your entire day.
"Small steps taken consistently lead to monumental change."
Incredible Value
Get the entire 49-day series for just $1.00 A day!!.
That’s less than the price of a cup of coffee for seven weeks
of life-changing wisdom.
Ready to climb the mountain?
Don't miss this opportunity to learn from one of the greatest teachers of our generation.
Click on the link to be part of something Big -
FEEL FREE TO SHARE WITH FRIENDS
Looking forward to seeing you there!
Devorah
02 April 2026
Moshiach will be raised…..
……
Footnote 26 of chapter nine in “The Last Slave” An Exodus Novel, by Y. Kormornick with extensive sources by Rabbi Moshe Kormornick, says
“Pharaoh loved Moshe. The Medrash notes the irony that not only did Basya kiss and hug Moshe lovingly as if he were her own son, but Pharaoh himself affectionately embraced him and loved him very much. Similarly, says the Medrash, such an occurrence not only happened to Moshe, but Moshiach, too, will be raised among the very nation whom he will redeem us from. Shemos Rabbah 1:26).”
Who is that nation?
Rabbi Glatstein said he will be groomed in a Palace in Arabia, quoting the Maharal. (And I would presume that he will be known as a Jew, just like Moshe)
Could that be?
What other nation might also be that nation?
And who would be that likely modern Pharaoh?
16 OBLIGATIONS OF SIMCHAS YOM TOV
How many of us here in Eretz Yisrael will enjoy this under the prevailing circumstances?
How many will try? But try we will!
There is a fascinating Zohar Chadash (Shir HaShirim 1a) that tells us of a special holy light that encompasses every Jewish Neshama on each of the six Yomim Tovim (and most Poskim include Rosh HaShana as well). This light, however, is unable to shine forth and impact the soul unless it is accompanied with Simcha. In other words, the key to unlock the special light is through Simcha. As we shall see, the Simcha of Yom Tov is not merely a mood or an attitude — it is a multifaceted halachic obligation with precise parameters, rooted in the deepest layers of Torah and Neshama.
THE PARAMETERS
The parameters of the obligation are explained by the Rambam (Hilchos Yom Tov 6:17,18). There are sixteen distinct obligations that emerge from the sources.
Obligation #1: The General Obligation of Simcha
The Rambam (Hilchos Yom Tov 6:17) establishes the foundational obligation — one must be happy and cheer-hearted on Yom Tov. This is not merely a recommendation or a mood — it is a binding halachic obligation rooted in the Torah’s repeated command of “v’samachta b’chagecha.”
Obligation #2: Forbidding Eulogies
The Rambam (ibid) rules that delivering or attending a eulogy on Yom Tov is forbidden, as it is fundamentally incompatible with the Simcha obligation of the day.
Obligation #3: Forbidding Fasting
Similarly, fasting on Yom Tov is forbidden. Even a fast undertaken for personal piety or atonement is prohibited, as it directly undermines the Simcha of the day.
Obligation #4: Gladdening One’s Wife
The Rambam (ibid 6:18) rules explicitly that a man is obligated to bring joy to his wife on Yom Tov. The Biur Halacha (529:2) specifies that this includes purchasing her clothing and jewelry according to one’s means, and even shoes. An important question raised by the Minchas Chinuch (Mitzvah 488) is whether women bear an independent obligation in the Mitzvah of Simcha, or whether their Simcha is subsumed under the man’s obligation to bring joy to his household. The Rambam’s formulation suggests the latter, but the Minchas Chinuch indicates that women carry their own independent obligation as well. This has practical ramifications for how we understand the scope and application of the Mitzvah across the household.
Obligation #5: Gladdening One’s Children
Children must also be gladdened on Yom Tov. The Rambam specifies that children should be given nuts and nice foods — each according to their individual needs and what brings them joy. One must keep in mind that Simcha affects the body as well as the Neshama. Each person, small and big, was created b’Tzelem Elokim — in the Divine Image. There is a remarkable sefer entitled “B’aitzascha tenacheini” which states (Perek 30) that, generally speaking, for most people, their body and intellect develop as they age, but their Neshama does not. We should treat the Neshama of a child just as we would treat the Neshama of an adult — with the respect and kavod that the Neshama represents.
Obligation #6: Gladdening All Members of One’s Household
The obligation extends beyond wife and children to all members of one’s household. The method of Simcha is each according to their individualized needs — the obligation is personalized because each Neshama, each tzelem Elokim, has its own unique spiritual needs.
Sometimes we tend to cut down or insult others, when we really should be building them up. We want to be remembered as people who helped grow because of us and not despite us. One manner in which we can ensure that we help develop the Simcha of those around us is in how we interact with them. It should be genuine and not forced, and it should be an improvement that consistently remains with us. This includes: A] Expressing genuine admiration for their accomplishments and talents. We should think about what they are good at and great at and express that to them. B] Spending quality time with them without their feeling that you are rushed. Show interest in others and don’t interrupt them, or change the subject. If we use the words “Let’s_____” cheerfully, something special happens. C] We should genuinely thank others around us for what they have done. Offer kindness to others around us.
Obligation #7: Feeding the Convert, the Orphan, and the Widow
The Rambam (ibid 6:18) explains that part of this Mitzvah of Simcha is to feed the convert, the orphan, and the widow. The Ksav Sofer (Responsum OC #78) explains that this obligation stems from the Simcha obligation of Yom Tov and not the Mitzvah of Tzedakah — it is a qualitatively distinct obligation rooted in the joy of the day itself.
Obligation #8: Meat (or Its Equivalent)
Originally, the Mitzvah of Simcha was tied to the consumption of the Korban Shlamim and the eating of actual meat of a b’heima. The Rambam is of the opinion that this obligation stands today as well, even though there is no Korban Shlamim after the loss of the Beis HaMikdash. The Shaages Aryeh (Siman 65), on the other hand, holds that in our days the obligation of Simcha is not specifically with meat but one can fulfill the obligation even with other things that bring joy. The Mishna Brurah (529:11) writes that if a person cannot afford meat for Yom Tov then he may use fowl or chicken and this is sufficient, proving this from a Rambam in Hilchos Shabbos (30:10). The Chazon Ish (OC 124 p.71a) is unsure whether the meat obligation is for once a day or whether it includes the evening as well.
A foundational debate underlying much of this discussion is the machlokes between Beis Shammai and Beis Hillel (Beitzah 19a) regarding how Simcha was fulfilled in Temple times. Beis Shammai held that Simcha required specifically the bringing of Shlamim offerings, while Beis Hillel held it could be fulfilled through Olas Re’iyah as well. While this debate was formally resolved in favor of Beis Hillel, it sheds crucial light on why the Acharonim disagree so sharply about the contemporary obligation — those who follow the Rambam’s view that meat remains obligatory are in some sense continuing the spirit of Beis Shammai’s position, while those who follow the Shaages Aryeh’s more flexible approach align more naturally with Beis Hillel’s broader conception of Simcha.
Obligation #9: Wine (or Its Equivalent)
Meats and wine should be consumed, for there is no joy without meat and wine. According to the Rambam there is an obligation to drink wine specifically. According to the Shaages Aryeh one can fulfill the drink obligation with grape juice or with other drinks that he is not accustomed to drink throughout the year. The Shvus Yitzchok (10:2), however, cites Rav Elyashiv zt”l that one cannot fulfill the Simcha obligation of wine through other hard alcohols, though it does fulfill the notion of Simcha with other foods.
How much wine must one drink? Rav Elyashiv zt”l held that it should be a full revi’is. Rav Chaim Kanievsky zt”l and Rav Vosner zt”l held that one fulfills it with less than a revi’is as well. Clearly, however, if wine bothers the person there is no Mitzvah of Simcha in drinking it.
Rav Elyashiv zt”l explained that the Mitzvah of Simcha on Pesach night is fulfilled through drinking the wine, but is not independently fulfilled through each individual cup of the four cups — even though there is a Mitzvah of derech cheirus on each of the four cups. (Haaros Psachim 108b). Indeed, Pesach presents a unique convergence of obligations. On Leil HaSeder, the Simcha of Yom Tov, the Mitzvah of Sippur Yetzias Mitzrayim, and the Mitzvah of derech cheirus all intersect simultaneously. One may also ask: since we no longer bring the Korban Pesach or the Korban Chagigah, how does one fully satisfy the Simcha obligation on the Seder night? This returns us to the Rambam-Shaages Aryeh debate. According to the Rambam, meat at the Seder remains obligatory as a stand-in for the Shlamim; according to the Shaages Aryeh, any food or experience that brings genuine joy fulfills the obligation. In practice, the abundance of the Seder table — matzah, the four cups, the festive meal — is designed to address both dimensions simultaneously.
Obligation #10: Special Clothing (Better Than Shabbos)
Part of the Simcha obligation is to wear clothing that is very special — even more so than Shabbos clothing (See Ramah 529:1).
Obligation #11: Kavod Yom Tov — Honoring the Day
There is an obligation on Yom Tov to honor the day by virtue of the word “Kodesh” that appears in the Torah describing it. Honorable and nice clothing is an obligation of Kavod Yom Tov. It is on account of the Simcha element that it should be even better than Shabbos clothing.
Obligation #12: Oneg Yom Tov — Two Full Meals
There is also an obligation of Oneg Yom Tov — taking delight in Yom Tov. Part of this Mitzvah is to have two meals every Yom Tov, one at night and one during the day. The Oneg aspect requires one to have more than an egg’s volume of bread; the Simcha element mandates wine, meat, and delicious foods (or their equivalent).
Obligation #13: Simcha on Chol HaMoed
A question that often arises is whether the Simcha obligation applies on Chol HaMoed as well. The Rambam (Hilchos Yom Tov 7:1) states explicitly that it does — the days of Chol HaMoed carry their own obligation of Simcha, just as the Yom Tov days themselves do. This is further reflected in the halacha that Tachanun is omitted throughout the entire Yom Tov period, including Chol HaMoed, as a reflection of the pervasive character of Yom Tov joy. Similarly, Av HaRachamim — the solemn prayer recited on Shabbos Mevorchim — is omitted on Shabbos during Chol HaMoed precisely because the Simcha of the season does not permit such supplications. The lesson is that Simcha is not merely a feature of Yom Tov day itself, but colors the entire Yom Tov season.
Obligation #14: Suppression of Aveilus on Yom Tov
One of the most poignant dimensions of the Simcha obligation is its application to a mourner. The Shulchan Aruch (Yoreh Deah 399) rules that when Yom Tov falls during shiva, the public expressions of aveilus are suppressed by the kedushah and Simcha of Yom Tov. The halacha is phrased memorably: “Regel mevatel shiva” — the regel cancels shiva. This reflects the remarkable halachic principle that communal Simcha takes precedence even over deeply personal grief. Private aveilus, however, continues in a subdued form, and a posek should be consulted in individual cases. This tension between personal sorrow and communal joy is one of the most human dimensions of the Yom Tov halachos, and understanding it helps us appreciate how seriously Chazal took the obligation of Simcha.
Obligation #15: Torah Study — Half the Day
The Talmud Yerushalmi (Shabbos 15:3) tells us that the Yomim Tovim were given to the Jewish people in order that they engage in Torah. The Gemorah in Beitzah 15b cites the opinion of Rabbi Yehoshuah that it is a Mitzvah to split the day — half to Hashem and half to yourselves. This opinion is codified in the Shulchan Aruch (OC 529:1). There seems to be a debate as to whether this is to be understood literally or figuratively. The language of the Rambam (Hilchos Yom Tov 6:19) indicates that it is literal — i.e. 50% — but the Maharshal in his Yam Shel Shlomo (Baitzah 2:5) does not read the Rambam in the literal sense. The Pri Magadim (Aishel Avrohom 242:1) states that everyone has the choice whether to spend the majority of the Yom Tov learning or partaking in Simcha.
Obligation #16: Studying the Topic of the Yom Tov on That Day
The Gemorah in Megillah 32a states that Moshe Rabbeinu enacted that the topic of the Yom Tov should be studied on the Yom Tov itself. There are opinions that this refers specifically to the halachos of that Yom Tov (see Shaar HaTziyun 529:5). This obligation — the takanas Moshe — ensures that the intellectual and spiritual content of each Yom Tov is internalized on the day itself, binding together the joy of the body with the growth of the Neshama.
THE SPECIAL LIGHT — REVISITED
We opened with the Zohar Chadash’s vision of a special holy light that descends upon every Jewish Neshama on each of the Yomim Tovim — a light that can only be unlocked through Simcha. After surveying all sixteen obligations — from the debates of Beis Shammai and Beis Hillel, through the Rambam and Shaages Aryeh, through the Seder night and Chol HaMoed and the mourner’s shiva — we can perhaps understand this Zohar more deeply. Simcha on Yom Tov is not incidental. It is the vessel through which the kedushah of the day enters the Neshama. Every cup of wine, every Yom Tov meal, every new piece of clothing, every moment spent bringing genuine joy to a spouse, a child, or a stranger — each one is an act of spiritual unlocking. May we all merit this Pesach to open ourselves fully to that light.
The author can be reached at yairhoffman2@gmail.com
Settler Violence”? Jewish Shepherds Are Constantly Attacked
It appears thst nothing has changed, so far. Maybe the Yanuka is correct?
01 April 2026
CHAG AVIV SAMAYEACH
A Kosher and Zissen Pesach
Chag Kasher V'Samayach
And remember to emphasize with a full voice
"L'Shana Haba'ah B'Yerushalayim"
"לשנה הבעה בירושלים"
אלא אם כן המשיח יבוא מוקדם יותר
Rabbi Weissman Seeks Answers From a Tzohar Rabbi
the responses from this rabbi seem basically "control" and "conformity" but not alpi HKB"H and real halacha. your replies/opinions requested.
Questions for a Tzohar rabbi, and astounding answers
A written summary and the unedited 18-minute conversation
I don’t think Tzohar’s hotline is getting many phone calls in response to their Seder “guidelines”. It seems the faithful sheep just follow orders, and the more seriously religious people are ignoring them altogether. That leaves yours truly as perhaps the only person to call them with critical questions and report back. The things I do for you.
I had to call them several times, with the same unfortunate woman being routed the call by their system each time, but finally I got to speak with Rabbi Yehoshua Grunstein. We spoke for 18 minutes!
I will start by giving credit where credit is due:
1) He was very forthcoming, generous with his time, affable, and seems to genuinely believe in his ideology, as opposed to other rabbis who are sold-out creeps. I think people like him are some of the best of the Religious Zionist community, who are intelligent and learned, and naturally achieve positions in their organizations. It’s a shame their gifts and potential are wasted on perpetuating this false ideology.
2) He said at the end that he researched fundraisers for IDF soldiers, indicated that some of them are scams, and said one should be very careful before giving them money. I was not expecting that!
Here are some of the questions I asked, with his answers paraphrased:
Q: How do we reconcile celebrating our holiday of freedom from slavery by running to bomb shelters and cutting out most of the Haggadah?
A: Unlike our ancestors, we have the zechus [merit] to have safe rooms (!!), and our freedom is expressed by the ability to make choices.
Q: What should elderly people do if they are guests at a Seder, and will not be able to make it to a safe room in time? Are they exempt from the Seder?
A: He recommends they conduct the entire Seder in a safe room and cut out most of Maggid, just do the essentials.
Q: What about the danger involved in running to safe rooms? Maybe they should just stay in safe rooms altogether?
A: They should do what they normally do. If they are normally up and about, they should continue to do that. (I don’t understand how that fits with his general understanding of pikuach nefesh and safek pikuach nefesh, but I didn’t push.)
Q: What should you do if a siren sounds while you are saying a bracha?
A: He gets into the details of general halacha, but it’s all predicated on the requirement to stop immediately and run to the shelter.
Q: If a siren sounded while a bakery was making matzah, and the workers didn’t stop to run for shelter, can one eat the matzah, or is it a mitzvah haba’ah b’aveira?
A: (He loved the question. Someone recommended it, and I loved it too!) The matzah can be eaten, but the workers did a sin.
Q: What if someone is in the shower and a siren sounds? What if it’s an elderly person or someone who otherwise won’t be able to get dressed in time, and they must go to a public shelter?
A: Pikuach nefesh! Sometimes one has to go naked, and they shouldn’t worry about how they look. You do what you need to do. (O...M...G.)
Q: Is it just me, or has the definition of pikuach nefesh drastically changed or greatly expanded from what it used to be?
A: There is a difference between pikuach nefesh for the individual and for the public. (Cited an array of sources that do not really connect to the matters at hand, but, like running naked to a public shelter, sometimes you do what you need to do to justify what you need to justify.)
Q: Why don’t we say that a person can work on Shabbos to raise money to buy an ambulance, since that will save a life?
A: An individual can’t do that, but if the government decided they needed more money for ambulances, and the only way was for the public to do this, this question would need to be seriously considered. (Wow.)
I asked him at the end if I can share his responses, since others are interested, and he enthusiastically agreed. So I encourage you to listen for yourself, to ask critical questions as well, and make informed, educated decisions accordingly.
After all, isn’t that what the Seder is all about? (At least if we’re not abbreviating it...)
A regime that cannot permit Jews to safely go to the Kotel, Har Habayis, and other holy sites on Pesach, or travel freely, or gather, has lost the right to call itself Jewish or Zionist, and should get out of the way. I don’t understand how religious Jews with an ounce of self-respect can think otherwise, let alone be so passionately devoted to them, even if they believe the official narrative at face value.
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From empty nest to first egg in less than 8 minutes! - BlueTit nest box live camera highlights 2021
Hashem Provides for all: we have Tits here in Yerushalayim. Once there was a Tit on my window, Peking away very vociferously. This went on...
