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You would think it is a joke, but it isn’t

Former Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in an interview with @cnnturk said that Iran’s secret services had created a special unit to combat Mossad operating in Iran. However, turns out the head of this unit was himself a Mossad… pic.twitter.com/35fKhqEeTt

— Michael Elgort (@just_whatever) September 30, 2024

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I must say, he is supper scary and intimidating, especially while making these threats while hiding in a closet in his bunker that is so hot he has difficulty breathing and has to wipe away the sweat from his brow...

Unfortunately, and this is from both directions, they all feel the need to burn bridges. 

The people he has sat with against Netanyahu for the past 3 or so years have been attacking him for joining with Netanyahu now as if he is the devil, though until now he is fine and was even praised for opposing Bibi. And same from the other direction - Saar is throwing nasty shots at the people he just sat with for 3 years against Bibi while until now they were fine enough to work with now he is throwing pot shots.

This is the kind of behavior that needs to end. Even if it wont necessarily prevent anyone from working together int he future - Saar just joined with Netanyahu despite both having said nasty things about each other over the past few years, so in Israeli politics a burned bridge can still often be rebuilt, we still need better public discourse.

byachad nenatzeach - together we will win - is not just together with the people you [currently] agree with and like but it is, or should be, together with everyone, even the ones you disagree with.

Some Shia cleric from Iran, Mostafa Karami, was asked about how Israel got the information it had on Nasrallah's whereabouts to eb able to put on such an operation to take him out.

Karami said, "The information was leaked by invisible infidel demons (sheidim) who were employed and activated by Jewish Priests..the Jews were made aware of the demons being drafted tot he cause and the astrological issues back in the days of King Solomon. Considering the Zionists' history of subjugating genies, they carry out many of their missions through this means, and demons are their secret arm"...

Ok. Go argue with that. Is it so bad that they think we have these unnatural powers and the ability to control demons? I am not sure if this is greater or lesser than our ability to control the weather and space lasers...

As if important rabbis breaking deals and commitments while playing politics for a job isnt bad enough.

Yesterday, as the counting of the ballots concluded, a tie was officially declared between the candidates Rav Kalman Ber and Rav Micha Halevi, each with 40 votes tallied. Due to the tie, it was officially announced that the vote would go to a second round of voting. 

Shortly after the official declaration, an additional vote was discovered in the wrong ballot box - a vote for open of the ashkenazi rabbi candidates was found in the Sefardi rabbi ballot box (it had not been noticed there during the counting of the votes for the Sefardic Chief Rabbi). The candidate whose name is on that ballot declared victory saying it should be counted as that is the will of the voter even if a mistake was made, while the other candidate claimed the vote is invalid and cannot be counted.

They will decide whatever they decide as each side in the matter will make his case, and it will probably end up in the Supreme Court. Rabbis vying for the position of Chief Rabbi should really be above such suspicions and shenanigans. the only way to fix this and retain any level of respect for the office that might still be left would probably be to void the entire election and have a do-over. It might even make sense to invalidate the current candidates who for now have left a bad stain on an office that is meant to be one of morality and faith and not one of politics and underhandedness.  This wont happen though so somehow a decision will be made, likely by the Supreme Court, and someone will be declared Chief Rabbi, and the people will continue to have less and less respect for the Chief Rabbinate than what they already had based on the embarrassments of previous years. 

It is amazing how the Ministry of Religious Affairs and the connected politicians with all their "rosh katans" could do such a poor job running such a small election (just 140 votes maximum, of which 138 votes were submitted) and bring such shame to the office. It is almost as of they are trying to destroy the reputation of the Chief Rabbinate and get the last few people who still respect the office and listen to its decision to abandon it like everyone else. 

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The commander of the IAF team that took out Nasrallah hugged and congratulated everyone on the team after the pilots returned form their successful mission - from the pilots to the engineers to the technicians and everyone else involved

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Let's hope the cowards of Hamas in Gaza can actually see the news to know what is happening and decided to surrender and give back the hostages... they should be taking notes of what to expect if they let this continue for much longer...

JUST IN ⚡️@RotterNet reports that Iran has asked France and Lebanon to approach Israel for permission to send a plane to Lebanon to retrieve Nasrallah's body.

— Open Source Intel (@Osint613) September 29, 2024

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Behadrei has picked up the story...making me wonder, if the meshulachim out there collecting money see mezuzahs on the door and knock, how much solidarity will these people continue to show? And how quickly will the mezuzahs come down?

lol. just joking. it is a nice gesture, and some sofer or judaica shop connected to Heaton just hit it big..

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That is Minister of Housing Yitzchak Goldknopf visiting the site of a home hit by a Hezbollah rocket in Tzfat earlier today. Goldknopf called on the Prime Minister to not let up but to continue pounding Hezbollah until he will be vanquished.

As a Minister, Goldknopf has as much right to weigh in as anybody else, but the Haredi politicians used to have a policy to not talk about military and defense issues, at least not publicly, due to the communities they represent refusal to partake in the military. Goldknopf (and others) have seemingly moved away from that old policy - maybe because now they take ministerial positions and they used to refuse those. Maybe as a Minister, he is as responsible as anyone else in government and must comment on all issues. 

Regardless of the reason, this comment lit up the trolls and responses. As you would expect, comments came in fast and furious about sending the Haredim to pound the enemy, how dare he make such a comment that other people's kids should continue to fight endlessly while his dont, maybe he means pound the enemy with prayers, etc.. my personal troll comment was referencing the earlier comment of Goldknopf about Netanyahu not traveling on Shabbos - continue pounding the enemy, but not on Shabbos!

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I find this curious. 

There has been mostly quiet between Lebanon and Israel for about two decades. We can easily go back to that if Hezbollah would just stop firing rockets at Israel. We dont need any fancy arrangement. The issues in Gaza are between Israel and Gaza, nothing to do with Lebanon. 

If Hezbollah feels they have to show solidarity with Hamas and shoot at Israel, what kind of ceasefire can we come to? 

And if this means they plan to get Hamas to be part of the ceasefire so that both borders will quiet down, good luck - Hamas has refused every ceasefire arrangement since March. And now Sinwar has been incommunicado for the past weeks...

This seems like an exercise in futility, but thanks for trying! Any attempt at peace and quiet and less killing and warfare is worth an effort.

When should the Prime Minister return from the United States of America back to Israel?

It sounds like a pretty benign question but it is actually far more heated than it probably should or needs to be.

As soon as Netanyahu started talking his travel schedule, some UTJ MKs and Ministers started talking up about how Netanyahu should stay in the USA for Shabbos and only return after as chilul shabbos would not be justified.

Other, including from the Religious Zionist party said just the opposite. We are in a situation of pikuach nefesh and the Prime Minister should return immediately, as soon as his work there is done, and travel even if it means traveling on Shabbos - it would be a mitzva to do so.

Let's not forget, the Prime Minister of Israel is currently in the middle of leading a war against Hamas in Gaza and against Hezbollah in Lebanon. at any moment this could expand to include other enemy countries, and it needs clear leadership to make operative decisions on military actions.

In my unimportant and insignificant opinion, if the Prime Minister thinks it is important to go to the United Nations, as waging the war also includes the diplomacy and the speeches from the floor of the United Nations and from other places and meeting with world leaders, then that is something he should when necessary find or make the time to do. And with the physical war still ongoing he needs to flip the switch and go from one to the other seamlessly, on a moments notice. 

I think the justification of MK Gafni and Minister Goldknopf (and others who might have weighed in and said not to travel back until after Shabbos) would go something like this:

If running the war is so critical, he doesn't have to go to the United Nations. If he can go to the UN, he can wait until after shabbos to return 

Interestingly, Bibi won't tell them sorry but I have to come back. His office announced the schedule that would include staying Shabbos there and flying back after Shabbos. They already made their public statement and can't walk it back now so if he comes back on Shabbos they have to create a coalition crisis, so running the war takes a back seat. Which in retrospect maybe, perhaps, also shows that his immediate return isn't quite as critical as we might think

حزب الله منتصر.

— الإمام الخامنئي (@ar_khamenei) September 25, 2024

This set off a firestorm of replies laughing at Iran and Hezbollah.

I couldnt find the actual tweet (only the screenshot of it), but the Assutta Hospital of Ashdod had a great response.

Assuta Hospital of Ashdod replied to Mr Khamenei saying we will be happy to arrange for you an eye exam. We are a public hospital open to all (and among the most advanced in Israel)

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Hezbollah published the following warning to Israelis..

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במזרח התיכון מבינים רק את שפת הכוח. ומה שלא הולך בכוח, ילך ביותר כוח. כל השאר, לא רלוונטי. בוקר טוב לשלום עכשיו על שלוחותיו השונות באליטות התקשורת והמשפט.

— יוסי אליטוב Yossi Elituv (@yoelituv) September 24, 2024

n the Middle East only the language of strength is understood. What doesn't go with strength, will go with more strength. All the rest, not relevant. Good morning to Peace Now and all its affiliates in the elitists of the media and justice systems...

I am not really sure why he added that last line about Peace Now - it doesnt really add anything to the tweet (unless I totally missed what he was trying to say). Elituv tweeted this about Israel's striking at senior Hezbollah officials. While he is repeating a common canard and is not necessarily wrong about it (some might think he is) - the tweet itself is strange. With this tweet Elituv opened himself to a firestorm of criticism and trolls. First, Elituv is a Haredi journalist and at least until this war most Haredi reps and journalists stayed away from military comments because they largely dont participate int he military and dont consider it appropriate to be seen getting involved in those issues. Elituv tweeted this and many Israelis tweeted back about how he is quick to send other peoples boys to hit Hezbollah hard with strength when he or his own kids wont be participating in the fighting. And second, he was attacked for saying people only understand strength here - so for the Haredi draft we have to also act strong and hit the haredim, take away their funding, forcefully draft them, etc as that is the only language people understand in the Middle East. 

Right or wrong, he opened himself up to it nicely.

  -- President of Iran Masoud Pezeshkian

so they were just big talkers all this time? surprise, surprise. Israel showed a little bit of ingenuity and strength and Iran sticks its tail between its legs..

but can they be trusted?

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I dont remember any of these shows talking critically about Hezbollahs attacks over the past 11 months. Only after Israel starts to take it seriously and goes on the offensive in return suddenly it becomes a topic of critical discussion

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Hezbollah is currently being run by everyone who last week Hezbollah thought wasn’t good enough to deserve a pager.

— Mark Wallace (@wallaceme) September 23, 2024

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Good riddance

But this title made me wonder...

If Karaki is, er...was, Commander of the Southern Front, that means Hezbollah must have a northern front, an eastern front, maybe not a western front as that is the sea... but if they have a southern front they probably have other fronts as well. Who are their enemies other than Israel that they have all these fronts?

That being said, I am not happy with Minister Betzalel Smotritch's decision to abandon the decision of the committee he set up to determine which candidate would be the official candidate of the Religious Zionism. The committee selected Rav Meir Kahane as the candidate. After a lot of waffling by other candidates and by some of the people on the committee, the whole thing went kabloeey, and now Smotritch is saying he is going to support Rav Michal Halevi.

I know it is a pipe dream, but the Chief Rabbinate should be clean from politics and from people backing out of their commitments (and Smotritch isnt the only one guilty of that in this case). While I understand the arguments (as to who they think will have the best chance to win), Smotritch had a support deal with MK Aryeh Deri for each to support the other's candidate and no matter who Smotritch would support, those two candidates should be able to garner the majority vote and victory. Smotritch backing out of his commitment for support based on the committee is dirty politics that should be kept out of the rabbinate. if Rav Micha Halevi wins, and he may very well win, it will be a nice victory for Smotritch if he does, it is dirty on both his part and Rav Halevi's part (who committed to adhere to the decision of the committee and not submit himself as a candidate above and then reneged) and not appropriate to be chosen as a rabbi, let alone a Chief Rabbi, after acting like a regular politician who doesnt necessarily keep his word. 

.

  -- PM Benjamin Netanyahu, about the recent/current strikes against Hezbollah in Lebanon

it is about time!

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People of Lebanon.

Hezbollah is bringing terrible disaster upon you. Save your beautiful country and rise-up against them.
Israel will destroy Hezbollah, and Lebanon will be brought back to the Stone Age. The clock is ticking. pic.twitter.com/yRAUThpQ9I

— אלמוג כהן Almog cohen (@almog_cohen08) September 21, 2024

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buh bye, live on air

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2nd half

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It seems that Satmar has applied for the "Chapter 46" designation as a certified organization for tax deductible donations.

The debate happening is whether to grant them that status or not. Some are opposing the status saying that Satmar is anti-Zionist and opposed to the State of Israel and should not be rewarded with such a benefit form the State. Others are saying that aside, legally they qualify and we have to grant them the status despite their positions regarding Israel. And, as the Supreme Court has required in other similar situations, discriminating against Satmar for their beliefs will not fly.

I think it should be granted. One need not always fight. And I always shake my head when people fight the fights of yesterday rather than today. 100 years ago, 80 years ago, maybe even 60 years ago, the fight around religious recognition of the State of Israel was a big thing. Today? Today talking about that is fighting the fight of 100 years ago. Today the State of Israel is an established fact, with no need for any specific group's recognition or acceptance. There is no need to punish them and there is no need to continue fights that were long ago resolved.

Satmar should not only be granted the status, just like any other qualifying organization, but it should be lauded as their finally coming to some level of acceptance of the fact and the reality of the State of Israel, the homeland of the Jewish People. They may still have a ways to go, but applying to the government for official status is really tacit acceptance, and a major change from their positions until now. Accept it with grace. Maybe this can be built upon for further integration over the coming decades.

Perhaps the government and the IDF should appoint the Customs Authorities to deal with the situation up North. Hezbollah seems to be able to send in drones regularly and the IDF cant seem to stop them. Maybe we'll have better luck wit the people at the Customs Authorities doing that work...

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The Satmar Community is devastated by the tragic murder of American citizen Hersh Goldberg-Polin OBM and 5 other Jewish hostages by terrorists. We all ache for the families affected by this horrific act. May Hashem comfort the families among the mourners of Zion. #PrayForPeace

— Satmar Headquarters (@HQSatmar) September 1, 2024

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