"Thank You, Mr. Trump – A Note of Gratitude From a Jewish Never-Trumper

I never thought I’d say this, Mr. Trump — and please don’t let it go to your head — but today, I owe you thanks.

I didn’t vote for you. I protested you. I laughed at your spelling, cried at your cruelty, and screamed into the void when you “truth’d” about disinfectant cures. I watched you hug flags, butcher Bible verses and sell Trump bibles, and confuse Iran with Iraq with a map upside-down. I am, proudly, a card-carrying member of the “Never Trump” tribe — mezuzah on the door, and more than a dozen op-eds about why you were dangerous.

But today, I write with a rare and uncomfortable feeling: gratitude.

Because despite your vanity, your Twitter tantrums, your golf obsession, and your strange love letters to dictators — you bombed Iran.

And not for ratings (maybe). Not for oil (we hope). Not even because Mark Levin told you to (okay, maybe a little). But because, at the eleventh hour, with pressure from every direction, you did what needed to be done.

You saw a threat. You recognized the moment. You made the call.

You bombed the regime that funds terror from Damascus to Gaza, from Hezbollah tunnels to Houthi drones. You struck the architects of death who chant “Death to America” while building centrifuges and exporting explosives. You did what others only warned about. You sent a message — not in Hebrew, not in Arabic, but in the universal language of action: "Not on our watch."

And yes, I think about escalation. I fear what comes next. But for one surreal moment, I watched as the world’s most unpredictable man did the most predictable, necessary thing: he defended Israel, the West, and the principle that tyrants don’t get to act without consequence.

So thank you, Mr. Trump.

You’re still the man who cozied up to racists, sabotaged democracy, and made a mockery of decency. I still oppose almost everything you stand for. But even a bleached blonde broken clock — can be right once in a while.

And today, from one very stubborn Jewish never-Trumper: you were right.

Let the record show — in between the chaos and the narcissism — for one moment, you bombed the right bad guys.

Just… please don’t sing and do the ridiculous Trump dance about it at your next rally. Do me a personal favor (if you seek more praise from me), please make Tucker Carlson the US Ambassador to Tehran.

Thanks.

Paul Mendlowitz aka The Unorthodox, Orthodox Jew 

PS:
Now back to fighting you on everything else.

We have received your email.  Thank you for sharing your thoughts with President Donald J. Trump. The willingness of the American people to stay informed is essential to our enduring democracy.  Please know that President Trump will never stop fighting for the citizens of our great Nation! For additional information about President Trump’s policy initiatives or current events at the White House, please visit www.WhiteHouse.gov.

 

 

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FEATURED POST AT THE TIMES OF ISRAEL

 https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/a-note-of-gratitude-from-a-jewish-never-trumper/

Mazel Tov! Be Back Soon....

תּ֮וֹרַ֤ת יְהוָ֣ה תְּ֭מִימָה מְשִׁ֣יבַת נָ֑פֶשׁ עֵד֥וּת יְהוָ֥ה נֶ֝אֱמָנָ֗ה מַחְכִּ֥ימַת פֶּֽתִי: (תהלים פרק יט פסוק ח)

 אַחַת, שָׁאַלְתִּי מֵאֵת-יְהוָה--    אוֹתָהּ אֲבַקֵּשׁ
שִׁבְתִּי בְּבֵית-יְהוָה,    כָּל-יְמֵי חַיַּי;
לַחֲזוֹת בְּנֹעַם-יְהוָה,    וּלְבַקֵּר בְּהֵיכָלוֹ. 

 

Why Trump Is Delaying Joining the Iran-Israel War

Because This War, Like Everything Else, Has to Be About Him

In the combustible theater of Middle East politics, where allies demand loyalty and enemies rarely wait their turn, Donald Trump is—unsurprisingly—taking his time. The Iran-Israel war is escalating, rockets are flying, and the world is anxiously watching. But Trump, ever the narcissistic maestro of timing and optics, is hesitating. Not because he’s weighing strategy, nor out of some newfound humility in foreign policy. He’s stalling because he didn’t script the opening act—and that, in Trump’s world, is an unforgivable breach.

This isn’t about Iran. It’s not about Israel. It’s certainly not about preventing another regional catastrophe.

 This is about Trump. As always.

Trump lives in a universe where appearances reign supreme and history is written in gold-plated Sharpie. His hesitation to “join” the Iran-Israel war—whether symbolically, militarily, or rhetorically—stems from one inescapable fact: he wasn’t asked. Prime Minister Netanyahu, with his own bruised ego and cornered leadership, made a bold move by launching or escalating hostilities without seeking Trump’s blessing. For Trump, that’s the geopolitical equivalent of skipping his name in the credits. Unacceptable.

Worse, Bibi has committed the cardinal sin in Trump’s book: making a move that might succeed without giving Trump a starring role. So now, Trump must reposition himself. Not as a latecomer, not as a backup dancer—but as the savior, the rescuer of Israel, the greatest winner of all time. He must rewrite the narrative, with himself as the alpha and omega of any solution.

Trump is not interested in aiding Israel unless Israel becomes the distressed damsel, desperate for a knight in a red tie. That way, when he steps in—be it through a dramatic press conference, a unilateral “deal,” or a surgical airstrike—he is seen as the indispensable stable genius who ended the war, saved the Jews, and brought peace to the region. All without a hair out of place.

Every moment of hesitation isn’t indecision—it’s orchestration. He is waiting for Israel to cry uncle. For Bibi to admit he needs help. For the media to turn to Trump with pleading eyes: “What would you do, Mr. President?” Only then will he lower himself from his self-built pedestal and offer salvation. Not a minute sooner.

Let’s be clear: Trump’s calculus is never ideological. He doesn’t care who fired first, what red lines were crossed, or how many lives hang in the balance. What he cares about is how it looks—on Fox News, on Truth Social, in Mar-a-Lago dining halls. He cannot risk being seen as reactive. He must be proactive, prophetic even. The man who knew how to handle Iran, who would have stopped this, who can end it if begged.

And if Israel suffers in the meantime? Collateral damage. Just more material for the eventual monologue.

Trump is delaying not out of caution, but out of craving—for the applause, the headlines, the worship. He must emerge as the man who saved Israel despite Israel’s own missteps.

This war will not be real to Trump until it’s also his show. Until then, he will posture, tweet, hint, and hover. But he will not commit—because commitment requires risk, and Trump doesn’t risk without a guarantee that he’ll come out the winner.

As always, it’s not about the war.  It’s about the spotlight.

 

REPUBLISHED IN THE TIMES OF ISRAEL

https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/why-trump-is-delaying-joining-the-iran-israel-war/

Trump on the Israel-Iran War — “Nobody Knows Who Fired Who” -“It Was a Beautiful Bomb, Very Clean”

 

“Look, it’s a very complicated situation. Very, very complicated. Some say Iran fired first. Some say Israel. Some say it was a rogue cloud. Nobody really knows. But I know. Because I have the best instincts — maybe better than anyone. A lot of people are saying that.”

Yes, in true Trumpian fashion, the Israel-Iran war — a geopolitical crisis decades in the making — has become just another episode in the reality show of The Trump Presidency: International Edition. As missiles fly, cities burn, and world leaders panic, Trump is busy doing what he does best: declaring victory in a war he doesn’t understand.

Trump, of course, takes credit for everything and responsibility for nothing. When asked about the rising death toll and regional chaos, he responded:
“Frankly, if I were president in 2008 instead of Hussein Obama, there’d be no war. There’d be big, beautiful peace. I’d have Netanyahu and the Ayatollah playing golf together. I have great golf courses. The best. Iran wanted to build one, I said no — sanctions. Tremendous sanctions.”

Asked whether pulling out of the Iran deal helped lead to this conflict, Trump waved it off:
“The Iran Deal? Terrible. Worst deal. I tore it up. People said ‘Sir, don’t do it!’ But I did. And now look — everyone’s talking about me again. I brought attention back to the Middle East. It was being ignored before. You’re welcome.”

Reporters asked Trump who actually fired the first shot:
“Well, listen — people are saying it was Israel. Some say Iran. Some say Hamas. Frankly, some say it was Hunter Biden. Can’t rule it out. But when I was president, I never left in 2020, CNN is fake news, I kept everything very stable. There was peace — except for the small wars. Very tiny. Like snack-sized wars. No one even remembers them.”

He then added:
“If I were still in the White House, oops, I am in the White House, this never would’ve happened. Iran would’ve begged me for a deal. Begged. On their knees. I would’ve given them nothing. That’s the art of the deal, baby.”

Trump, the great “neutral negotiator,” claimed he was uniquely qualified to broker peace.

“I’ve got great relationships with everyone. I’m very close with Bibi — I call him that because we’re friends. He’s got a strong handshake, maybe too strong. Iran, on the other hand, not so friendly. But I once sold them steaks — true story. They loved it. Trump Steaks — they only glowed a little.”

He paused, looked thoughtful, then added:
“I might host a peace summit at Mar-a-Lago. Israel, Iran, and maybe Kanye. Just to keep it interesting.”

Ultimately, Trump’s take on the war — like everything else — boiled down to ratings.
“When I was president since 2017 --- uninterrupted --- until 2030, I have the best heart and the best body ever, the Middle East was always in the news — people couldn’t get enough of me.  And everyone’s talking about me again. So, in many ways, I’ve already won. The real war? It’s for the spotlight.”

While missiles rain down and the region braces for escalation, Trump remains focused on the important things: photo ops, imaginary peace deals, and who’s talking about him on Fox News. As he once said:
“War is confusing. Very confusing. Nobody knows who fired who. But I fired Comey. Remember that? Big moment.”

I think Alfred Bernhard Nobel was a Jew - Tell them I'm against antisemitism (most of the time), my daughter eats kosher, on Yom Kippur.

 

REPUBLISHED IN THE TIMES OF ISRAEL

 

https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/it-was-a-beautiful-bomb-very-clean/

Klal Yisroel eagerly looks forward to the arrival of this group of shnorrers in time of war at home, as Israel burns and people are being bombed to death!

DONATE TO UNITED HATZALAH:https://israelrescue.org/campaign/operation-rising-lion/?

 

“Our Torah learning protects the soldiers.” Yes, it’s the learning—not the tanks, not the air force, not the intelligence units—that keeps the rockets from falling. Someone tell Iron Dome to stop showing off."

די כעלמער חכמים 

בא לעיר

 

 

 DONATE TO UNITED HATZALAH:https://israelrescue.org/campaign/operation-rising-lion/?

 

 

Open letter from Israel: Jews of America, demand Trump enter the war Open letter from Israel: Jews of America, demand Trump enter the war

Demand from the President of the United States and from the forces of good which still remain in America to immediately enter into a state of war against the global evil of Iran and its allies.

 

 by Rabbi Yosef Mendelevich

Jews of the United States! Our brothers, Nation of Israel!

We are addressing you at a very historic moment.

We, a representative group of the people of Israel, active soldiers in the Israel Defense Forces, soldiers in the army reserves, and former soldiers and commanders, along with their families, have carried out an act of great heroism and courage, an act of great morality and justice led by the Government of Israel which we duly elected. We attacked the enemy of all humanity - Iran.

And we acted alone.

The small State of Israel is fighting against global evil — alone. Where is humanity and all life-loving people who aspire to justice and the triumph of good over evil? Where is the United States?

They say that President Trump gave us a “green light.” That isn’t enough. A superpower is sitting in a waiting position. Talking about a deal. Waiting for what? No one knows what surprises the evil regime of the Ayatollahs has prepared. And what about their allies — China, Russia?

In the meantime, we, our children, and our women are sitting in bomb shelters. I personally am writing this from a bomb shelter filled with 50 other people waiting for permission to exit and breathe fresh air. And you are sitting quietly in America, applauding our heroics and spirit of self-sacrifice for the future of the Jewish Nation and for the good of mankind.

True brotherhood demands more than this. I am afraid that your silence more closely resembles the abandonment of European Jewry during the Holocaust. And the equation I make with the Holocaust is not an exaggeration. Gigantic missiles with powerful warheads are being intercepted by our air force, but some have fallen on our cities.

Thank God we didn’t wait any longer to cripple Iran’s relentless goal of making nuclear bombs and destroying the Jewish State - a genocide which they proclaimed for all of the world to hear while the world reacted with silence and empty talk.

Jews of the United States, our brothers, Children of Israel — you are not permitted to sit silently any longer. There can be no negotiations and agreements with pure evil. We the Jewish People have learned that again and again.

We call upon you — arise, brothers! Demand from the President of the United States and from the forces of good which still remain in America to immediately enter into a STATE OF WAR against the global evil of Iran and its allies. Let the voice of bombs over Teheran, not talk of a deal, continue to speak out in our joint battle against evil.

Do not sit quietly. The blood of your brothers is being spilled.

Awaken, brothers.

Yosef Mendelevich, Former Prisoner of Zion

https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/410049

“Sacrifices of the Saints: A Tribute to Haredi Heroism in Wartime”

A MESSAGE FROM AGUDAS YISROEL OF AMERICA

Israel has launched a major military action against Iran, designed to disable the Iranian nuclear threat. Iranian retaliation is expected. Rachmana litzlan! As we all understand, these are extraordinary times. Let us gather together in our batei knesios, batei medrashos, and homes to pour out our hearts in fervent tefila to the Shomer Yisroel that He protect the yoshvei Eretz Yisroel and all of Klal Yisroel from the evil designs of our enemies. And, as the footsteps of Moshiach get louder and louder, let us recall our mandate to be metzapim lyshua, yearning for the ultimate redemption, may the Go'el Tzedek arrive speedily in our days!

Ah, the Haredim. Israel’s spiritual backbone. The true warriors in black and white. While the rest of the nation scrambles into bomb shelters, watches their children draft into combat, and wonders whether they’ll come home in one piece, the Haredi community is engaged in a far more harrowing battle: dodging national responsibility.

Let us take a moment to appreciate their courage—the courage to do absolutely nothing in a time of crisis. While soldiers sleep on rocky ground in Gaza, Haredi yeshiva students valiantly battle sleep over a gemara, in heated debates about the precise definition of pikuach nefesh (saving a life)—as long as it’s their own.

In times of war, the country is supposed to come together. But the Haredim know better. Why unify when you can spiritualize? While sirens wail, they heroically declare, “Our Torah learning protects the soldiers.” Yes, it’s the learning—not the tanks, not the air force, not the intelligence units—that keeps the rockets from falling. Someone tell Iron Dome to stop showing off.

Meanwhile, Israeli mothers cry as they send their sons to the front. Haredi rabbis cry too—as they craft yet another public letter reminding their followers to stay far, far away from any hint of national service. Their sacrifice? The unbearable agony of watching others risk their lives for the country that feeds, houses, and protects them.

And what about their contribution to the war effort? Excellent question. They contribute prayers—though only for themselves. And they contribute opinions—usually about how the secular government should be replaced by a Torah-based theocracy where, surprise surprise, they hold all the power and none of the draft cards.

But perhaps the real tragedy is how misunderstood they are. All they want is to be left alone, receive generous stipends, dodge taxes, get married at 18, and have ten children—all while never lifting a finger to defend the country they claim to love. Is that so wrong?

After all, in their eyes, war is punishment for Zionist arrogance. If only we were more like them—unemployed, unaccountable, and blissfully ignorant—God might finally bless us with peace.

So let us salute these brave heroes of the back benches. As missiles fall and soldiers bleed, they march boldly… to the nearest bakery. A cinnamon rugelach and a shir shel yom await—far more comforting than a helmet and rifle.

 

REPUBLISHED IN THE TIMES OF ISRAEL

 

https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/a-tribute-to-haredi-heroism-in-wartime/

 

 

I Miss This Guy!

For seven months, Haredi yeshiva students who served in "Gdud Tuvia" (Tuvia’s Battalion) proved that Torah study and IDF service could go hand in hand. Rare documents describe the profound reflections of those who viewed their military service as a sacred mission.

 

The Haredi Soldiers Who Served in Israel’s War of Independence

 

For seven months, Haredi yeshiva students who served in "Gdud Tuvia" (Tuvia’s Battalion) proved that Torah study and IDF service could go hand in hand. Rare documents describe the profound reflections of those who viewed their military service as a sacred mission.

History of IsraelIDFWar of Independence

A group of Haredi recruits during training. Photo: Fred Csasznik, IDF and Defense Establishment Archives

These were the enlistment numbers for Haredi Yeshiva students shortly after the establishment of the State of Israel. 270 received medical exemptions. 260 received exemptions on spiritual grounds. The rest, under directives given by leading rabbis, enlisted in the struggle to defend the fledgling state in its War of Independence. This enlistment was the result of an agreement between the yeshivas and the IDF enlistment offices: outstanding students would be exempted, and the conditions of enlistment would allow recruits from the yeshivas to continue studying Torah during their military service.

 

Agudat Yisrael (a Haredi political party) calls on Haredi men aged 17-25 to report to the IDF enlistment offices, December 1947, the Pevzner Collection, the National Library of Israel

It was Tuvia Bier, a former Haganah member, who gathered the young Haredi recruits and gave them a home – a new battalion for yeshiva students. Bier was so dedicated to these soldiers that the battalion was later named Gdud Tuvia (Tuvia’s Battalion) after him. For seven months, the yeshiva students worked on setting up and strengthening fortifications in bombarded Jerusalem, simply because there was no time to provide proper training in anything else. They weren’t sent to the front lines because they hadn’t learned to operate firearms and also because of concerns that the world of Torah study would be destroyed if they were to perish in battle.

They worked one-to-two days a week on fortifications and spent the rest of their time studying Torah. They did most of their work at night, both for security reasons and to avoid disrupting their study routines at yeshiva.

The battalion was active for seven months before being disbanded. Many praised it, but many others mocked the focus on fortification work, which they perceived as a means to avoid combat service. People commended the Haredi soldiers’ willingness to sacrifice their lives for the defense of their homeland. Still, some wondered whether the work carried out by the battalion truly justified the disruptions in Torah study.

But what was going through the soldiers’ heads? How did they view their service? Did they believe in the righteousness of the path they had taken?

The Fortress

Like many other military units, the soldiers of Gdud Tuvia produced their own magazine. They called it Hamivtzar (“The Fortress”), since fortifications accounted for the majority of their work. In total, they managed to produce two issues, which were each copied and distributed among the battalion’s soldiers, providing them a platform where they could read, study, and even express themselves. The two issues of Hamivtzar are preserved in the IDF and Defense Establishment Archives, and they offer us insight into what the soldiers were thinking and feeling at the time.

The cover of Issue No. 2 of Hamivtzar (“The Fortress”), 1948. Courtesy of the IDF and Defense Establishment Archives.

The Dilemma

The soldiers from the yeshivas struggled with the question of their enlistment. It is as true today as it was back then. Was it right for them to serve in the army? Is it appropriate for yeshiva students to set aside the study of Torah for the sake of fortifying Jerusalem?

This question was asked in print in Hamivtzar, by a writer who identified himself as “M.S.”:

“Despite all the doubts, despite all the questions burning through every yeshiva student’s mind: Is this even my duty at all? Am I obligated to serve in any role in the war effort beyond my usual role as a yeshiva student, which is no less crucial than any other military role? Moreover, am I allowed to, even momentarily, leave the beit midrash, the spiritual fortress of the Torah of Israel that protects us in every generation?”

One page after this, the answer appears:

“This is the duty of every Jew in general, and our duty as yeshiva students in particular. We are the next link of the golden chain of the Torah of Israel, in action and deed. We are pulling the chariot of the people up a treacherous slope towards the pinnacle of the hoped-for redemption. We are the ones! This is our contemporary duty!”

A group of Haredi recruits during training. Photo: IDF and Defense Establishment Archives

How irreconcilable was this tension?

Throughout all the texts in Hamivtzar, the yeshiva students emphasize that despite the mission they have now undertaken, they will never for a moment forget their primary task – to study the Torah. This is reiterated in the editorial section of the first issue ofHamivtzar.

“Our role so far has been fortification works, and indeed it is not an easy task. We require significant activity and heightened dedication, and at times, even significant risk, to fulfill this duty… However, precisely because of the importance and value of this task, we must not forget the essence, that the task imposed upon us should never lead us to neglect our primary role, which is the study and observance of the commandments of the Torah.”

The answer to the dilemma is not definitive. Some of the writers viewed their military service as a mission, even a necessary step in the redemption of Israel. Others were content with doing what needed to be done under the circumstances. Some of them fulfilled their missions mainly because “the rabbis instructed it.”

We’ll conclude this chapter with some moving words written by a certain “Mordechai”, under the title Sh’ma Yisrael [“Hear Ye, O Israel”], who viewed IDF service not only as a temporary necessity but as a true mission.

“Students of Torah, dwellers of the beit midrash, oarsmen in the sea of Talmud, a tribe of priests whose generous spirit led them to take part in our liberation struggle, these are the anointed priests who must bring the word of God into the Israeli military camp. You are soldiers of Hashem, you must raise your voice on high, to restore the pure faith in the Eternal One of Israel who will not disappoint. For your eyes have seen what He has done for us when we stood few against many – many soldiers and many weapons – and we saw His greatness and wonders, it is upon you to illuminate with the light of your Torah the hearts of our soldiers who dedicate their lives for the sanctity of the nation and homeland.”

What Next?

On the surface, the pilot program of Gdud Tuvia seems to have been a failure. Ever since, those opposed to the enlistment of Haredi Jews in the IDF have had the upper hand. Even today, decades later, the debate over the enlistment of yeshiva students remains heated and volatile. Just as it was back then.

But did the project truly fail? To a large extent, the ideas of Gdud Tuvia have served as the foundation for the Hesder Yeshiva-military service programs and IDF units like Netzah Yehuda that are operational today. Perhaps the battalion’s principles can still be implemented in one form or another in future programs as well. “Dad didn’t grasp the enormity of the historical moment in real time; he simply did what he did because he thought it was the right thing to do,” recounts Kobi Bier, son of Tuvia, the commander of the yeshiva student battalion. “I think with a bit of goodwill, we can resolve the intense debate over the enlistment of Haredi Jews by using this model. We can set a certain percentage of outstanding Torah students, grant them exemptions, and we can find suitable solutions for the rest. I understand the concerns, but just as we saw with Gdud Tuvia, solutions can always be found. There’s no need to fear this.”

Tuvia Bier, commander of the yeshiva student battalion

Further Reading (Hebrew):https://www.inn.co.il/news/555721

 

https://blog.nli.org.il/en/haredi_soldiers/

Israel’s Haredi problem is not the Haredim themselves. It is the unwillingness of the state to demand that every citizen—secular, religious, or ultra-Orthodox—carry the yoke of nationhood together.

 You cannot run a First World country with Third World participation. 

The solution is not to abandon the Haredim or to marginalize them - This is political gangsterism hiding behind a black hat

Israel is being hollowed out from within—not by Hezbollah or Hamas, but by a growing faction of its own people: the Haredim. What began as a small community of Holocaust survivors clinging to their traditions has morphed into a politically powerful, economically dependent, and willfully irresponsible subculture that rejects the very idea of shared national responsibility. This is not an issue of religious freedom—it is a matter of national survival.

The Haredi population, currently about 13–15% of Israeli society, is growing rapidly due to high birth rates. Projections suggest they could constitute 25% or more of the population within a generation. Yet, most Haredi men do not serve in the IDF, do not participate meaningfully in the labor force, and depend disproportionately on state subsidies while refusing to teach basic subjects like math, English, and civics in their schools.

This creates a simple, unsustainable equation: fewer citizens carrying the burden of more dependents who do not share in national defense or economic productivity.

Haredi political parties wield disproportionate influence in Israel’s coalition system. They use this leverage to secure billions in funding for their institutions, protect draft exemptions, and block reforms to education and military service. Successive Israeli prime ministers—from Ben-Gurion to Netanyahu—have empowered these factions in exchange for political stability.

But stability built on appeasement has a cost: it weakens national unity, undermines rule of law, and alienates the secular and national-religious majority.

The claim that Torah study protects Israel like the army does is nonsense article of faith in the Haredi world. But faith alone cannot staff a hospital, defend a border, or build an economy.

No God-fearing Jew should believe that prayer exempts responsibility for action. Rambam (Maimonides) clearly stated that Torah scholars must not shirk civic duty or demand that the public support them unless they are truly exceptional. The blanket exemption of tens of thousands of able-bodied men is not supported by halakhic sources—it is a modern political fiction.

Israel’s high-tech economy thrives on education, innovation, and global integration. The Haredi community largely rejects all three. With low employment rates among men, a refusal to teach core curriculum, and a mindset of isolation from the broader world, the community is locking itself—and the country—into a dangerous future of poverty, dependence, and resentment.

The solution is not to abandon the Haredim or to marginalize them. It is to demand reform—real, enforceable, and fair. Mandatory National or Civil Service for all, including Haredi men.Core Curriculum Requirements in all schools receiving state funds.Gradual Reduction of Subsidies to encourage workforce participation. Inclusion, Not Isolation—creating pathways for Haredim to enter society without sacrificing faith.

Israel must ask itself: can it afford to have a growing minority that refuses the responsibilities of citizenship while enjoying its privileges? Can it remain a democracy if one group is allowed to operate outside its civic framework?This is not about hating religion or disrespecting Torah. This is about building a sustainable, ethical, and united Jewish state.The time has come to say: enough. Not with anger, but with clarity. The burden of sacrifice must be shared. The future of Israel depends on it.

The Haredi man who studies Talmud all day while his secular brother patrols the Gaza border is not a holy martyr—he is a draft-dodger cloaked in sanctimony. The yeshiva student who refuses to work, collect job skills, or pay taxes is not preserving Judaism—he is leeching off of it. Let’s be clear: the Haredi leadership is not interested in “coexistence.” It is interested in control.

Through decades of backroom coalition deals, Haredi parties have siphoned billions into their institutions while demanding ever more exemptions and special treatment. This is not religious accommodation—it is extortion.They hold the government hostage, threaten to bring it down if anyone dares suggest their sons should wear a uniform or learn algebra, and shout “persecution” anytime accountability is demanded. This is not Judaism. It is political gangsterism hiding behind a black hat. Haredim are the fastest-growing demographic in Israel. 

They marry young, have large families, and are trained to reject the modern world. Within two generations, they could become a quarter or more of Israel’s population. If today’s trends continue, Israel will be a state where a secular, overtaxed, overburdened minority works, serves, and dies to support a fundamentalist majority that sees them as spiritually inferior.You cannot run a First World country with Third World participation. 

You cannot win wars when a third of your men won’t fight. You cannot maintain democracy when a rising population doesn’t even believe in it.The claim that “Torah protects” is spiritual gaslighting. Nowhere in the Torah does it say you are exempt from defending your people. Rambam warned explicitly that anyone who avoids labor and lives off charity under the guise of piety “profanes the name of God.” The generation that fought in 1948 built the State of Israel with their hands and guns—while also learning Torah. 

Today's Haredi leaders insult those heroes by teaching their students that personal holiness outweighs national duty. That is not Torah. It is cowardice in religious garb.

Israel must stop begging the Haredim to join the nation and start demanding it. No more blanket draft exemptions .No more public money for schools that refuse to teach math, science, and civics. No more subsidies for men who refuse to work.

 No more fear of rabbinic blackmail.This is not religious persecution. It is national preservation.

* 

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REPUBLISHED IN THE TIMES OF ISRAEL

 

 

https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/first-world-country-with-third-world-people/

What Goes On in The The Ultra-Orthodox Community (Haredi-Tremblers) - When A Child Is Raped And The Rabbis Are Asked To Help - Support The Brave Ms. Fletcher - Buy Her Book And Know!

Where The Police Are Forbidden & Rabbis Must Be Contacted!

Ten years ago, her evidence brought a paedophile to justice - now she's telling her story.

She called a rabbi, who is now dead, so we can name him, Rabbi Salomon, who was the mashgiach [spiritual supervisor] at Beth Medrash Govoha [yeshiva in New Jersey] – so one of the most senior rabbis of his generation. He very much "blamed me for tempting him, but no-one was surprised.” 

 

Jewish scholar Todros Grynhaus abused Yehudis Fletcher when she was a teenager living under his roof in Prestwich. In her new memoir Chutzpah, she explores her faith, sexuality, and her decision to stay in the Orthodox Jewish community

 

Matisyahu Salomon

Mashgiach ruchani of Beth Medrash Govoha - Covered Up Every Sex Abuse Crime He Could - From The Agudah Convention in 2006 "The Bloggers Should Be Beaten"  until the day he died!

https://www.amazon.com/Chutzpah-memoir-faith-sexuality-daring/dp/0857529951/ref=sr_1_1?

https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/ten-years-ago-evidence-brought-31702505#

An Open Letter to Philanthropists Supporting Yeshiva Students Who Do Not Serve in the IDF

 

May 29, 2025

Dear Esteemed Supporters of Torah Learning,

We write to you as concerned members of the broader Jewish community—grateful for your commitment to supporting Torah study, but deeply troubled by a growing imbalance that undermines both our moral fabric and national unity.

For decades, you have extended extraordinary generosity to yeshivas in Israel, empowering thousands of young men to immerse themselves in sacred learning. This is a noble and time-honored cause. However, it is now imperative to recognize that unwavering support without accountability has fostered a system that exempts an entire population from the shared responsibility of national service.

The burden of defending the State of Israel—physically, emotionally, and spiritually—falls disproportionately on those who serve in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and other national service roles. This includes not only secular Israelis but also many religious Zionists, women, and immigrants, all of whom contribute to the collective good while risking their lives.

Meanwhile, a substantial segment of the Haredi community remains exempt from this burden. This is not sustainable, nor is it just.

We respectfully urge you: Do not host or support rabbinic delegations visiting the United States in June 2025 unless their institutions commit to a new standard. Specifically:

At least 50% of eligible yeshiva students should engage in some form of national service—be it military, civilian, medical, educational, or social service—by the end of the 2025-2026 academic year.

This is not a call to weaken Torah. On the contrary—it is a call to strengthen it by reestablishing a Judaism that balances study with sacrifice, rights with responsibilities. A Torah that inspires collective duty will be stronger and more respected by the next generation.

Philanthropy is a powerful force. Your influence can encourage a model of Jewish life that honors both spiritual devotion and civic duty. Let us move together toward a future where Torah scholars are also national contributors, where the yeshiva world is not isolated from the fate of the country, but an integral and respected part of it.

In love for Torah, people, and land,

Paul Mendlowitz

אייר תשפ"ה / מאי 2025

לכבוד תומכי התורה היקרים,

אנו פונים אליכם מתוך הערכה עמוקה למחויבותכם ללימוד תורה ולחיזוק עולם הישיבות בישראל, אך גם מתוך דאגה כנה לחוסר איזון הולך וגובר המאיים על אחדות עמנו ועל ערכיו הבסיסיים.

במשך עשורים רבים, נדבתם בנדיבות רבה למוסדות תורה בארץ, ואפשרתם לאלפי תלמידים להקדיש את חייהם ללימוד. זהו מעשה נשגב וראוי לשבח. אולם כיום עלינו להכיר באמת כואבת: תמיכה ללא תנאים יצרה מערכת שלמה המאפשרת לחלק גדול מן הציבור להשתמט מהחובה הלאומית המוטלת על כולנו — שירות למען הכלל.

הנטל של הגנה על מדינת ישראל — בנפש, בגוף וברוח — מונח כמעט כולו על כתפיהם של המשרתים בצה"ל ובשירות לאומי, מכל המגזרים: חילוניים, דתיים-לאומיים, עולים חדשים, נשים. הם נושאים בעול — תרתי משמע — תוך סכנת חיים. לעומתם, חלקים רחבים בציבור החרדי ממשיכים להשתמט.

ומה אומר הרמב"ם?

במשנה תורה, הלכות מלכים ומלחמות (פרק ז, הלכה ד), כותב הרמב"ם:

"במלחמת מצוה... הכל יוצאין, אפילו חתן מחדרו וכלה מחופתה."

הרמב"ם אינו משאיר מקום לספק — במצב של סכנה לקיום האומה, אין פטור. לא לתלמידי חכמים, לא לעוסקים בתורה, לא לאיש ולא לאישה. מדינת ישראל, המוקפת אויבים ונלחמת על קיומה, נמצאת במצב של מלחמת מצוה מתמדת.

אמנם במקום אחר (הלכות שמיטה ויובל, פרק יג, הלכה יג), הרמב"ם משבח את מי שמקדיש עצמו לעבודת ה' בלבד, אך הוא אינו קובע שזו סיבה להשתמט מהגנה על העם בשעת סכנה. קדושה אמיתית כוללת גם אחריות ציבורית.

קריאה למעשׂה

מתוך אהבה לתורה ומתוך דאגה לעתיד העם והארץ, אנו פונים אליכם בקריאה ברורה:

אל תתמכו באירוח של משלחות רבנים מחו"ל ביוני 2025 אלא אם כן ישיבותיהם מתחייבות כי לפחות 50% מהתלמידים ייטלו חלק כלשהו בשירות לאומי או אזרחי — עד סוף שנת הלימודים תשפ"ו.

אין זו קריאה להחלשת התורה — אלא לחיזוקה. אנו מאמינים בתורה המחברת בין לימוד למסירות נפש, בין זכויות לחובות, בין קדושה לערבות הדדית. תורה כזו תעמוד איתן בפני אתגרי הדור ותהיה למגדלור מוסרי לעם כולו.

לתמיכתכם יש השפעה עצומה. בידיכם הכוח להוביל שינוי — לעצב דור של תלמידי חכמים שאינם רק לומדים, אלא גם משרתים, מגינים ותורמים. הגיע הזמן לשוב לאיזון הראוי בין רוח לחומר, בין קודש לחול, בין תורה לאחריות לאומית.

בברכה ובאהבה לתורה, לעם ולארץ

שרגא פייוועל מענדלאוויטץ

 *

 VISITING RABBIS & ITINERARY

• HaGaon Rav Dov Landau shlit”a, Rosh Yeshivas Slabodka

• HaGaon Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch shlit”a, Rosh Yeshivas Slabodka

• HaGaon Rav Yaakov Hillel shlit”a, Rosh Yeshivas Ahavas Shalom

• The Sanzer Rebbe shlit”a

• HaGaon Rav Avraham Nissim Salim shlit”a, Rosh Yeshivas Me’or HaTalmud

• The Rachmastrivker Rebbe shlit”a

• HaGaon Rav Dovid Cohen shlit”a, Rosh Yeshivas Chevron

• HaGaon Rav Shimon Galai shlit”a

Tentative Itinerary

Sunday, June 15: Baltimore

Sunday night, June 15: Monsey

Monday, June 16: Los Angeles

Tuesday/Wednesday, June 17–18: Lakewood

Thursday, June 19: Brooklyn

Friday/Shabbos June 20–21: Monsey

Sunday, June 22: Deal, NJ

Monday, June 23: Toronto

Tuesday, June 24: Five Towns

 

 PUBLISHED IN THE TIMES OF ISRAEL: 

 

 

https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/to-all-philanthropists-supporting-yeshiva-students-who-do-not-serve-in-the-idf/

https://trinitymedia.ai/player/share/ddff51ce84054100a0246a78e2fb16f9bb77

Delusional Trump is Playing With Fire At The Expense of Israel's Security & Existence.

 

Trump speaks with Netanyahu, stresses US wants Iran deal ‘so there’s no destruction and death’

 

Further nuclear negotiations planned for next weekend as Tehran drafts counter-offer; PM said to tell Haredi MKs that ‘we’re in a dramatic period’ as he works to keep coalition together

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and United States President Donald Trump held a 40-minute phone call on Monday evening, shortly after Iran announced that it would soon respond to Washington’s latest proposal for a nuclear deal.

Following the call, Netanyahu held a a high-level security consultation focused on Iran.

In a sparse readout of the conversation, the Prime Minister’s Office said the two leaders discussed Washington’s ongoing nuclear talks with Tehran.

“President Trump told the Prime Minister that the United States has presented a reasonable proposal to Iran and is expected to receive its response in the coming days,” said the statement from Netanyahu’s office.

It added that Trump informed Netanyahu “that he plans to hold another round of talks with Iran over the weekend.”

The statement did not provide any details about what Netanyahu said during the call.

For his part, Trump told reporters at the White House that the conversation went “very well” and covered a variety of issues, including the ongoing nuclear talks, adding that US has a meeting with Iran on Thursday.

Iran’s foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei later said the “next round of Iran–US indirect negotiations was being planned for next Sunday in Muscat,” according to a statement cited by Reuters.

Netanyahu stopped testifying earlier than scheduled in his corruption trial to hold the call with Trump, which came as Jerusalem and Washington wait for Hamas’s answer to a Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal, and as his ultra-Orthodox coalition partners are threatening to topple the government if a Haredi enlistment exemption bill is not passed.

PM said to tell top aides to meet with Witkoff

Netanyahu’s meeting after speaking with Trump included senior security officials, National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, Defense Minister Israel Katz, Shas leader Aryeh Deri and Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer, according to Hebrew media.

Channel 13 later reported that Netanyahu instructed Dermer and Mossad chief David Barnea to meet US special envoy Steve Witkoff before the next round of US-Iran nuclear talks.

At the White House, Trump told reporters that the US “is trying to make a deal [with Iran] so that there’s no destruction and death,” adding that the Iranians are “tough negotiators.” Asked what’s blocking a deal, Trump said, “They’re just asking for things that you can’t do,” pointing to Tehran’s insistence on retaining its uranium-enrichment capability—something Trump said he won’t permit, even though the latest US proposal reportedly allows limited, low-level enrichment inside Iran for a time.

“They have given us their thoughts on the deal, and I said it’s just not acceptable,” he added, without specifying whether Iran has submitted its response to the US nuclear deal proposal.

On Friday, Trump asserted that Iran would not be permitted to enrich uranium as part of an agreement. “They won’t be enriching. If they enrich, then we’re going to have to do it the other way,” he said, hinting at a military option if a deal does not pan out, while reiterating that he prefers a diplomatic solution.

Asked about the stalled hostage talks between Israel and Hamas, Trump said on Monday they were continuing “and Iran actually is involved,” without elaborating as to what he meant. Iran, a chief sponsor of Hamas and other anti-Israel terror groups in the region, to date has not been known to be a party to the talks.

“We’ll see what’s going to happen with Gaza. We want to get the hostages back,” Trump added.

“A historic window of opportunity”

The call with Trump came as Netanyahu has been meeting in recent days with Haredi members of his ruling coalition and other senior coalition figures, linking the current “opportunities and challenges” in Israel’s security situation with the intense political turmoil he faces, Channel 12 reported Monday evening.

“We are in a dramatic period. There are extraordinary challenges on the table. This is a historic window of opportunity that will not return, and therefore, under no circumstances should the foundations of the government be shaken,” the network quoted the premier as telling some of the Knesset members during the meetings.

The report added that opposition figures are aware of the conversations, saying Opposition Leader Yair Lapid learned about them from MKs he met with to discuss the draft exemption law, and that other lawmakers reported hearing similar messages. The Prime Minister’s Office declined to comment on the report, the network said.

Channel 13 separately reported that US Ambassador Mike Huckabee has been meeting Haredi politicians in an effort to calm the coalition crisis, stressing that “government stability is important for addressing the Iranian issue.”

Netanyahu’s circle is aware of the effort, and Huckabee’s office said only that he is meeting “various figures” and that “the content of those conversations remains private,” the report said.

“Since I have no doubt that Ambassador Huckabee respects Israel’s independence and its democracy, I hope and believe that the report that he is interfering in Israel’s internal politics and trying to help Netanyahu [deal with] the ultra-Orthodox in the military draft law crisis are not true. Israel is not a protectorate,” Lapid tweeted in response to the TV report.

Netanyahu has called for Iran’s enrichment capabilities and nuclear facilities to be fully dismantled, but assured the White House that Israel won’t launch an attack on the Islamic Republic’s nuclear sites unless Trump signals that the ongoing negotiations with Tehran have failed, Axios reported last week, citing two Israeli officials familiar with the matter.

In a reportedly stormy phone call between the two leaders late last month, Trump told Netanyahu not to strike Iran’s nuclear facilities due to fear that it would blow up Washington’s ongoing talks with Tehran.

Iran’s nuclear program ‘runs wide and deep’

In an interview aired by i24News Monday evening, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Rafael Grossi, said that Iran has told him that Israeli strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities may cause it to pursue nuclear weapons or abandon the Non-Proliferation Treaty.

Grossi said that such a strike by Israel “might have an amalgamating effect which would make a determination in the part of Iran to go to a nuclear weapon or to abandon the treaty on non-proliferation. I’m telling you this because they have told me.”

The IAEA chief commented on the challenges he believes Israel would face in striking the Islamic Republic’s nuclear sites: “Certainly this program runs wide and deep. And when I say deep, I know what I’m saying. So many of these facilities are extremely well protected. This would require a very, very devastating force to affect it.”

https://www.timesofisrael.com/trump-speaks-with-netanyahu-stresses-us-wants-iran-deal-so-theres-no-destruction-and-death/?

 

Netanyahu’s Gaza War Mistakes— Why He Should Tell Trump to Go to Hell - Destroy Iran's Nuclear Facilities Today! Israel at War Day 611 - Eight Boys Killed The Last 2 days!

The Americans didn’t wait for Hitler to become a nuclear power. Israel must not wait for the ayatollahs.

When history looks back on the Gaza War, it won’t only judge Hamas or the IDF—it will judge leadership. And Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, “Mr. Security,” will not be seen as a man of vision or clarity. Instead, he’ll be remembered for miscalculating the war, misreading the global moment, and tragically, misplacing his loyalty—to Donald Trump and to the dangerous politics of appeasement.

Netanyahu approached the war in Gaza with a political mindset rather than a military one. From the beginning, it was clear that he was not prepared to sacrifice his political base or coalition for a decisive victory. He empowered extremists, silenced generals, and prioritized survival over strategy. Instead of uniting the country and pursuing a clear military objective—destroy Hamas, rescue the hostages, and restore deterrence—he played games: delaying operations, undermining war cabinet unity, and avoiding decisions that might anger his ultra-Orthodox or far-right allies.

Bibi wanted a slow war, a grinding war, a war that would keep his political career on life support. But Israel doesn’t have the luxury of dragging things out. Every day of indecision was a day Hamas could regroup, Israel’s global legitimacy could weaken, and hostages could be lost forever. The IDF was ready for a knockout blow; Netanyahu wanted a photo op.

By prolonging the conflict and failing to present a viable plan for “the day after,” Netanyahu inadvertently gave Hamas a propaganda victory. Instead of isolating Hamas, Israel became the target of global outrage. College campuses turned hostile. European parliaments threatened sanctions. Even America’s support began to wobble.

Rather than lead with boldness, Netanyahu hesitated—letting Hamas survive politically, if not physically, and allowing a vacuum to grow in Gaza that Iran, Qatar, and other bad actors are eager to fill.

In the background of all this is Donald Trump— who praised Hezbollah as “very smart,” who attacked Israel’s intelligence services, and who openly said that Netanyahu “let him down” for congratulating Biden. This is the man who demanded loyalty from Israel, but offered none in return.

And yet, Netanyahu has tried to stay in Trump’s good graces. Why? Because he sees Trump-style politics as his model. But here’s the truth: Trump doesn’t care about Israel. He cares about Trump.

Any Israeli leader who panders to Trump at this point is betraying the country’s long-term security. The future of Israel depends on bipartisan American support, democratic allies, and a united Jewish people—not on the favor of a man who would throw Netanyahu (and Israel) under the bus for a hotel in Saudi Arabia and a golf course in Quatar.

Great leaders don’t cling to power—they risk it for their people. Netanyahu has failed that test. His refusal to conduct the Gaza war with clarity and resolve, and his ongoing obsession with pleasing Trump and his base, has made Israel weaker, not stronger.

History is watching. And unless something changes fast, Netanyahu will be remembered not as the man who protected Israel, but as the man who prolonged its agony to protect himself.

And Trump? Israel owes him nothing. Not loyalty, not silence, not respect. Tell him to go to hell.

The clock is ticking. Iran’s nuclear program is accelerating, its rhetoric is increasingly belligerent, and its proxies are more emboldened than ever. While diplomacy, sanctions, and cyberwarfare have slowed Iran’s progress in the past, today the Islamic Republic stands on the brink of deployable nuclear weapons capability. For Israel—a nation born in the shadow of genocide and surrounded by hostile actors—a nuclear Iran is not just a threat. It is an existential emergency.

Here is the case for why Israel may be justified, and even obligated, to bomb Iran’s nuclear facilities now.

Reports from the IAEA and intelligence services suggest Iran has enriched uranium to near-weapons-grade purity and amassed enough fissile material for several bombs. The regime is no longer bothering to hide its intentions. The "breakout" time—the period required to construct a nuclear bomb after acquiring enough enriched uranium—is now measured in weeks, not months.

Waiting means waking up to a nuclear Iran, which would change the balance of power in the Middle East forever. Israel’s window to act militarily is closing fast.

If Iran obtains a nuclear weapon, it will:

• Shield its regional proxies (Hezbollah, Houthis, Iraqi militias) under a nuclear umbrella.

• Spark a nuclear arms race, forcing Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Egypt to seek their own nukes.

• Embolden aggression against Israel, the Gulf states, and American interests.

A nuclear Iran wouldn't be just a defensive deterrent—it would be a tool for blackmail. The regime already supports terror worldwide. Give them nuclear weapons, and that support will escalate without fear of retribution.

The 2015 JCPOA was flawed but slowed Iran's nuclear ambitions. Trump’s withdrawal, followed by Biden’s tepid re-engagement, created a vacuum filled by Iranian lies and foot-dragging. Talks have yielded nothing but more time for centrifuges to spin. Sanctions are leaky and enforcement is weak, with China and Russia still offering economic lifelines to Iran.

Israel cannot afford to be patient while diplomats sip tea in Vienna.

Israel has done this before—successfully. In 1981, Israel bombed Iraq’s Osirak nuclear reactor. In 2007, it destroyed Syria’s secret nuclear facility. In both cases, the world condemned Israel—at first—but later history vindicated those decisions.

Iran is far more complex, more fortified, and more decentralized. But that’s not a reason for inaction—it’s a reason to strike before their program becomes fully invulnerable.

Gulf Arab states, while not publicly supportive, quietly favor an Israeli strike. They know a nuclear Iran threatens them too. The U.S., while hesitant to act, has likely game-planned and war-gamed every Israeli strike scenario—and would prefer Israel act so America doesn’t have to.

If Israel waits for the world’s permission, it will be waiting at its own funeral.

Israel’s founding doctrine—never again—is not a slogan. It is a survival imperative. The Islamic Republic has repeatedly threatened to wipe Israel off the map. Holocaust denial is official state policy. It funds terror from Gaza to Argentina. No sovereign nation can tolerate such threats—let alone one as vulnerable as Israel.

The burden of stopping Iran will fall to Israel whether it wants it or not. The Jewish state must act before it wakes up to a nuclear-armed genocidal enemy on its doorstep.

A preemptive strike will carry risks—retaliation from Hezbollah, global condemnation, economic fallout. But the price of inaction is far greater. Iran with nuclear weapons is not containment. It is surrender.

The Americans didn’t wait for Hitler to become a nuclear power. Israel must not wait for the ayatollahs.

The time to act is not tomorrow, not after the next U.N. session, not when America gives a green light. The time to strike is today.

 

 Republished in The Times of Israel:

 

 

https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/netanyahus-gaza-war-mistakes/