1. Material Maidel witnessed a sad story on a train ride, with a surprising ending. Makes you wonder how prevalent it is...

2. Michael Sedley has an interesting question about benefiting today from Temple artifacts. I have wondered about this in the past as well, but more in the tune of if someone takes pieces of artifacts - stones from Temple Mount for example.

3. Free Thought discusses the increasing alienation Israelis are feeling by the Obama administration, and a possible outcome of it that could be good.

4. Cross-Currents has an interesting post about the greatness of the Chazon Ish, and whether the Jewish people and the world would have been better off had he become a doctor rather that sat and learned.