News

This week, I will take the liberty of sharing my Yom Kippur message with my readers. The message was delivered in shul on Kol Nidrei night to a limited audience davening in the tent on our shul lawn at the Young Israel of Kew Gardens Hills. But I do believe the message has to go to the broader audience during these times.

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.

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.

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?

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.