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Keir Starmer, Prime Minister of Great Britain, and Emmanuel Macron, President of France, have distinguished themselves as being naïve leaders on the world scene. They have both announced their intention to recognize a Palestinian state. They both ignore the fact that such a move rewards Hamas for its terrorism and disincentivizes Hamas from seeking peace. Hamas has, indeed, suddenly stopped going to the negotiating table once these intentions were made known. Why should they? If they hold out any further, they will reap even greater rewards.

In truth, I knew nothing about Charlie Kirk. Yes, I had heard his name, but I thought he was just another influencer with not much to peddle. Then came that horrific moment when Charlie was assassinated. My kids reacted as though they had lost a personal friend, and so did countless others. I was immediately sent numerous clips of him engaging students in debates, with Charlie advocating conservative ideals. Afterwards, I saw Charlie fiercely debate in favor of Israel during the Gaza War.

The New York Times has become an unrelenting source of criticism of the State of Israel. Why? What did Israel do to The Times that it deserves such treatment?

Sometimes you wonder what Hashem makes of all this.

Monday morning’s terrorist attack in Yerushalayim was horrendous. A custodian in a yeshivah, a newly married oleh, a yeshivah bachur, and a middle-aged woman were among those killed. Thankfully, a yeshivah student with a gun and an off-duty soldier from the chareidi brigade were able to “neutralize” the terrorists.

Apparently, it is one of the most important mitzvos. There is no other mitzvah for which we have an absolute annual Torah-level obligation to hear directly from the Torah, and one of only six that we are required to think about at least once a day. But frankly, at least from the perspective of Jewish outreach, it is one of the most difficult for us to relate to. We are required to remember what Amaleik did to us as we left Egypt, and therefore never to forget to exterminate the nation of Amaleik from under the Heavens. No matter that according to most poskim the nation of Amaleik no longer exists as a discernible entity, after the extensive transfers of population by Sancheiriv; no matter that in virtually any practical case of meeting an actual Amalekite we would refrain from performing this mitzvah due to the enmity and anti-Semitism it would cause; no matter how difficult this would be for virtually any Jew to perform – the obligation to concentrate on this mitzvah remains in place.