May their memory be blessed.
Thursday, June 5, 2025
Judy Weinstein-Hagi’s last call to a Magen David Adom
Dead Sea Scrolls much older than previously thought
Many of the Dead Sea Scrolls are much older than academics previously thought, with some dating back to the time of their ancient authorship, a new study claims.
Scientists from the University of Groningen in the Netherlands utilized artificial intelligence to examine the handwriting of the ancient fragments and claim they derived more accurate dates for some writings, including the Book of Daniel, according to a paper published in Plos One.
The aptly named AI program “Enoch” was fed a plethora of already dated ancient texts from modern-day Israel and the West Bank that also had radiocarbon dates — then used machine learning to study the handwriting progressions of 135 Dead Sea Scroll fragments.
The study claimed that the fragment of the Book of Daniel 8-11, which was thought to be dated to 160s BC, could be as old as 230 BC, which overlaps with the period in which the biblical book was authored.
“With the Enoch tool we have opened a new door into the ancient world, like a time machine, that allows us to study the hands that wrote the Bible,” the study’s authors wrote in a statement, Eureka Alert reported.
“Especially now that we have established, for the first time, that two biblical scroll fragments come from the time of their presumed authors,” the statement continued.
Researchers also claim that fragments written in Herodian Aramaic and Hasmonaean Hebrew — considered to have emerged in the First and Second centuries BC — are actually older than initially thought and provide a new lens for the presumed proliferation of writing during that era.
These new dating claims result in “a new chronology of the scrolls and the re-dating of ancient Jewish key texts that contribute to current debates on Jewish and Christian origins,” the study stated.
The Dead Sea Scrolls were first discovered in 1943 by two Bedouin shepherds who found them secreted in caves in the Qumran section of Israel near the Dead Sea and are the oldest known fragments of Jewish manuscripts written in Hebrew, Greek, Arabic and Aramaic dating back to the Third and Second century BC.
Scholars attribute the trove of religious manuscripts to the Essens, who were Jewish sectarians at the turn of the first millennium.
USA Today piece drums up sympathy for Boulder terrorist's daughter
USA Today is facing criticism for its recent feature on Habiba Soliman, the daughter of Mohamed Sabry Soliman, who has been charged with federal hate crimes and 16 counts of attempted murder following a violent attack on a pro-Israel demonstration in Boulder, Colorado. Twelve people were injured in the assault, including an 88-year-old Holocaust survivor. The incident is under investigation as a hate crime by federal authorities.
The article begins by highlighting Habiba Soliman’s personal aspirations, stating, "She moved to the United States with a dream of studying medicine to transform lives." It notes that she recently graduated from high school and was preparing for a medical career when her father's arrest disrupted her plans. USA Today reports that the Soliman family, originally from Egypt and living in the US after moving from Kuwait, now faces potential deportation.
According to a federal affidavit cited in the piece, Mohamed Soliman planned the attack for a year and deliberately waited until after his daughter’s graduation to carry it out. Despite this detail, the article extensively covers Habiba’s academic background, her scholarship from the Colorado Springs Gazette’s “Best and Brightest” program, and her volunteer work at a local hospital. She is quoted as writing in her scholarship essay: "Most importantly, I came to appreciate that family is the unchanging support."
The profile recounts how Habiba Soliman struggled after arriving in the US, learning English and adjusting to a new environment. It notes her efforts to establish an Arabic club at her school and describes her academic progress and community involvement.
The decision to focus on the daughter of the accused rather than the victims has been widely criticized. The White House posted on X: "Any blame for the illegal immigrant terrorist who lit Jewish Americans on fire? She is not the victim here."
The advocacy group Stop Antisemitism commented: "Why are you romanticizing the illegal daughter of a terrorist who tried to kill Jews on American soil?"
Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders wrote: "A dozen people, including a Holocaust survivor, were injured in this attack. But the mainstream media profiles the terrorist’s family. Despicable."
House Majority Whip Tom Emmer added: "Waiting for your profile piece on the victims of this heinous terrorist attack…oh wait, there is none. This is disgusting, USA Today. Do better."
USA Today’s article also details the family’s immigration status, noting that Mohamed Soliman entered the country on a tourist visa in late 2022 and later sought asylum. His wife and five children are now in custody and may be deported, according to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.
As public reaction continues to unfold, critics are questioning the media’s approach in covering individuals related to suspects of violent acts. The USA Today feature, intended to profile a scholarship recipient, has instead sparked a broader debate over editorial judgment and narrative focus.
Two victims of the Boulder attack remain hospitalized. Federal and local investigations into the incident are ongoing.
Going to Columbia? You Degree May Be Worthless!
The Trump administration has launched a significant effort to strip Columbia University of its accreditation, citing the institution's alleged failure to adequately protect Jewish students from harassment, The New York Daily News reported on Wednesday.
According to the report, the US Education Department formally notified the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, Columbia's accrediting body, that the university was in breach of federal anti-discrimination statutes and consequently did not meet the commission's standards. This finding was issued on May 22.
Education Secretary Linda McMahon emphasized the government's stance, stating, "Just as the Department of Education has an obligation to uphold federal anti-discrimination law, university accreditors have an obligation to ensure member institutions abide by their standards."
A representative for the accreditor confirmed receipt of the letter but declined further comment. Columbia University did not immediately respond to inquiries.
The threat to Columbia's accreditation carries severe implications, as most federal funding, including crucial financial aid, is contingent upon a school maintaining accredited status. While only accrediting entities can formally revoke a school's status, these entities themselves must be recognized by the Education Department.
The move comes two months after the Trump administration announced it would withhold $400 million in federal funding from Columbia following criticism of the university’s handling of anti-Israel student protests on campus.
Weeks after the Trump administration announced the funding cut to Columbia, the university announced a series of reforms, including placing the university’s Middle East studies department under new oversight, revising protest and student discipline policies, and adopting a new definition of antisemitism.
Columbia also pledged to promote “intellectual diversity” by expanding its Institute for Israel and Jewish Studies.
After the university rolled out the changes, McMahon said Columbia was “on the right track,” though she declined to commit to a timeline for restoring the federal funding.
Chareidim Leak Private Conversation to Channel 13 of Rav Hirsch and Netanyahu in an Effort to Bring Down the Government
DIN: Know that this was leaked by Charedie Askanim to bring down Netanyahu! They knew that this would upset even close allies of the PM, and they would abandon him! Remember that we are at war and Jewish children in uniform are dying, but as I keep saying, Charedim are disconnected from the rest of the Jewish people living in Israel and are not affected by the war at all! Chardeim will sit with Arabs if that Government would allow them not to serve and gives them benefits nevertheless!
זו תורה וזו שכרה
A leaked recording has exposed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu admitting he removed two of Israel’s most senior defense officials—former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and former IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi—because they stood in the way of a controversial bill granting draft exemptions to ultra-Orthodox (haredi) men.
In the recording, obtained and aired by Channel 13, Netanyahu is heard telling an unnamed senior rabbi in English that both Gallant and Halevi were “enormous obstacles” to pushing through legislation acceptable to the haredi factions in his governing coalition.
Wednesday, June 4, 2025
Charedie Leaders Issue "Fatwa" to Bring Down the Government
DIN: Notice below it's all about "Take, Take, Take, Take, Take' ...
This may actually be a good thing for Israel! They may now have a government without Charedie Parties just like the Satmar Rebbe always wanted!
This is happening while we are at war and Jewish Children are dying, but the Charedi leaders are disconnected from the war!
What is ironic is that it isn't the left that is bringing down the government but Charedim!
Lapid, Liberman and Bennett are already in talks to put together a coalition!
Why the Haredi Parties Want Elections:
Rabbi Dov Landau, leader of Degel HaTorah, has instructed his party to push for dissolving the government.
Main reasons:
1. Yeshiva stipends cut from ₪495 to ₪400 – a major blow to full-time Torah learners.
2. Daycare subsidies revoked for 10,000 Haredi children.
3. “Ofek Hadash” education program collapsed – over ₪1 billion cut from the Haredi school system.
4. Draft law failure led to legal sanctions and pressure on the yeshiva world.
Rabbi Dov Landau, a prominent leader of the Lithuanian haredi community, has instructed Members of Knesset from Degel HaTorah to back a bill calling for the dissolution of the Knesset. This move comes amid escalating tensions over the military draft law for yeshiva students.
The directive follows an unsuccessful meeting between Likud MK Yuli Edelstein, chairman of the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, and representatives from the haredi parties. Senior officials in United Torah Judaism described the meeting as a "complete failure," while Edelstein's office characterized it as "held in good spirits," with further discussions planned.
According to party insiders, MK Moshe Gafni has been instructed to withdraw from the coalition and advocate for its immediate dissolution.
The Degel HaTorah party's newspaper, Yated Ne'eman, reported that the haredi representatives continue to push for legislation exempting yeshiva students from military service. The publication emphasized that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's leadership is being tested on whether he will fulfill his commitments to regularize the status of Torah scholars. Meanwhile, sources close to Rabbi Meir Hirsch indicated that, following briefings from MKs about the meeting with Edelstein, there is a clear lack of progress on the draft issue. Consequently, Rabbi Hirsch is expected to instruct his followers to exit the coalition imminently.
In a related development, the opposition parties Yesh Atid and Yisrael Beyteinu plan to introduce a bill next week to dissolve the Knesset.
Queen Kariline Arrives In Israel
Ich freue mich so unendlich, dass @PreislerKa in Israel angekommen ist. Danke @Alon_David_ für die Organisation dieser so wichtigen Reise! Gemeinsam werden wir durch Israel reisen und ein Zeichen setzen - für Israel, die Geiseln, gegen den Hass und die Ignoranz. 🇮🇱🇩🇪❤️ pic.twitter.com/5gXqk0tnHZ
— Sarah Maria Sander (@SarahMSander) June 2, 2025
Musk explodes on ‘big, beautiful bill’ days after leaving Trump admin: ‘Disgusting abomination’
Tech mogul Elon Musk went on a tirade Tuesday against President Trump’s marquee One Big Beautiful Bill Act days after leaving the administration — ripping the legislation as an “abomination” and condemning lawmakers who supported it.
“I’m sorry, but I just can’t stand it anymore,” the Tesla and SpaceX CEO wrote on his X platform. “This massive, outrageous, pork-filled Congressional spending bill is a disgusting abomination.
“Shame on those who voted for it: you know you did wrong. You know it.”
The 53-year-old added in subsequent posts that the bill “will massively increase the already gigantic budget deficit to $2.5 trillion (!!!) and burden America [sic] citizens with crushingly unsustainable debt.” In a third post, Musk groused that “Congress is making America bankrupt.”
“In November next year, we fire all politicians who betrayed the American people,” he later fumed.
Sources familiar with Musk’s thinking told The Post Tuesday evening that his scorched-earth rant was largely motivated by four factors:
- House Republicans’ removal of electric vehicle tax credits that were part of the Biden-era Inflation Reduction Act and boosted Tesla
- White House officials’ refusal to allow him to remain a special government employee beyond the 130-day statutory limit
- The Federal Aviation Administration opting not to use his Starlink satellite system to help run the nation’s air traffic control
- Trump pulling his nomination of Musk ally Jared Isaacman to lead NASA over Isaacman’s “prior associations,” widely believed to refer to past donations to Democrats
Musk had previously dropped hints of his disdain for the megabill, politely telling “CBS Sunday Morning” in an interview that he was “disappointed” to see that the legislation increases the deficit and “undermines the work that the DOGE team is doing.”
“The president already knows where Elon Musk stood on this bill,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters in response to Musk’s tirade. “It doesn’t change his opinion.”
The South Africa-born billionaire marked his final day as a special government employee this past Friday, with Trump giving him a formal send-off in the Oval Office.
UK Jewish Community Slams Charedi Khat Smugglers: ‘Chilul Hashem And Harms Our Image’
The Jewish community in Britain is outraged over a growing recent phenomenon where dozens of young charedi men are regularly flying to various countries in Europe—particularly to the UK—some with Israeli passports and others with foreign passports, all working for khat smugglers.
These young charedi men fly from Israel with about 25 to 30 kilograms of khat in their suitcases. They carry little or no other luggage. Upon landing—usually in the UK—they pass through passport control and customs, meet their contact person, hand over the suitcase containing the khat, and receive 7,000 shekels in return.
The Israeli smuggler managing the entire operation from Israel pays for the young man’s flight and one-night hotel stay. As mentioned, he also gives him 7,000 shekels for smuggling the suitcase.
Usually, these young men are not caught and may spend only a few hours on the ground in the destination country. B’Chadrei Chareidim has learned, through conversations with members of the charedi community in London, that the phenomenon has been increasing in recent months, with dozens of young charedi men flying with suitcases full of khat. (Khat is not illegal in Israel when consumed in its natural state).
About ten days ago, two young charedi men were caught by customs in London with suitcases full of khat. Together, they attempted to smuggle 50 kilograms of khat. They were arrested before Shabbat and remained in custody. After Shabbat, they were deported back to Israel.
Members of the Jewish community in London say this is dangerous and causes a major chillul Hashem (desecration of God’s name). “From time to time, young charedi men are arrested with suitcases full of khat, and the punishment can be very severe. Sometimes, they’re lucky and the judge believes them when they claim it was their first time, that they didn’t know it was illegal, and that they thought it was allowed because khat is legal in Israel. But very often, these men end up spending a very long time in European prisons.”
Jewish communities in Britain are warning Israeli charedi youth not to be tempted into smuggling khat abroad: “It’s illegal and causes a massive Chillul Hashem. It also causes tremendous damage to the Jewish community in Britain and in other European countries,” they said.
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