Adar is an amazing month for the
Jews when things turn on our enemies. Tucker Carlson wanted to declare to the
world how bad Israel was. However, he never left the airport that has conference
rooms and other lounges. He never entered Israel. He was treated so badly that
at least one worker had a selfie with him. It was Ambassador Mike Huckabee who
refuted Carlson’s libels. Security videos of him prove the truth.
I believe that the tide will also
turn this Adar on Iran. Haman wanted to over-throw the king and perhaps the
Shah will return.
https://rabbipauli.blogspot.com/
Parsha Terumah Part 1
I had to go deep in
thought to connect this Parsha with the last. Mishpatim in general deals with
the laws of man and mankind. This week we discuss the laws of donating to the
cause of building a Mishkan. The Mishkan is the structured/tent that housed the
Aron HaKodesh (Ark of the Covenant). At the very end of last week’s Parsha
before Moshe goes up the mountain for forty days and nights, the Sanhedrin
meets in the Ohel Moed (tent of meeting). The link is this is a Holy Tent and
the other tent was made Holy by the Sanhedrin.
25:1 And the LORD
spoke unto Moses, saying: 2 'Speak unto the children of Israel, that they take
for Me an offering; of every man whose heart makes him willing ye shall take My
offering. 3 And this is the offering which ye shall take of them: gold, and
silver, and brass;
Valuable and cost have
no consideration when it comes to honoring the CREATOR of gold, silver and
brass that were and are precious metals.
4 and blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine linen, and goats'
hair;
All these items are very
valuable.
5 and rams' skins dyed red, and giraffe
skins, and acacia-wood;
The dyes and skins were
not readily available. Acacia wood was
planted by Yacov Avinu on his way to Mitzrayim so that it could grow high
enough and wide enough for the future Mishkan.
6 oil for the light, spices for the anointing oil, and for the
sweet incense;
The oil used is what we
call “extra virgin olive oil” or the first drops that drip by themselves
without having to be pressed.
7 onyx stones, and stones to
be set, for the ephod, and for the breastplate.
Rare stones usually come
from quarries in the mountains or other area that are known but not particular
to the Sinai Desert.
8 And let them make Me a sanctuary, that I may dwell among them. 9
According to all that I show thee, the pattern of the tabernacle, and the
pattern of all the furniture thereof, even so shall ye make it.
Moshe would be shown the
design and patterns but it will take the prophecy of Betzalel and Ohaliav to
get things built.
10 And they shall make an ark of acacia-wood: two cubits and a half
shall be the length thereof, and a cubit and a half the breadth thereof, and a
cubit and a half the height thereof.
The ark is in our terms
112.5 cm x 67.5 cm x 67.5 cm or 45 inches x 27 in x 27 in. It will hold the
Sefer Torah or perhaps 5 scrolls, the two Luchos, the two broken Luchos, the
budded staff of Aharon and the jar holding Mann. Now unless the inside had a
space time dimension, these items were not especially large for the boards used
has thickness limiting the space further.
11 And thou shalt overlay it with pure gold, within and without
shalt thou overlay it, and shalt make upon it a crown of gold round about.
The overlaying of gold
need not be too think but more than foil. The crown or rim could be a few
centimeters high and thin. However, there would have to be an underneath
support structure. The side where the ring would be could use a support of E to
E or Shin to Shin shape for support with less gold in between the bars of the
E/ש. Otherwise the ring would have to be cast
gold piercing the wood and bolted in place. Maybe someday I will make it to
Machon HaMikdash (Temple Institute) and view the ark for myself.
12 And thou shalt cast four rings of gold for it, and put them in
the four feet thereof; and two rings shall be on the one side of it, and two
rings on the other side of it.
Here it gets a bit
harder for there is an encasement of the ark with legs and rings to hold the
ark on poles.
13 And thou shalt make staves of acacia-wood, and overlay them with
gold.
The final product can be
viewed here and I think this is only a model. https://templeinstitute.org/illustrated-tour-the-holy-of-holies/
14 And thou shalt put the staves into the rings on the sides of the
ark, wherewith to bear the ark. 15 The staves shall be in the rings of the ark;
they shall not be taken from it.
Once in place, the
staves shall never be removed.
16 And thou shalt put into the ark the testimony which I shall give
thee. 17 And thou shalt make an ark-cover of pure gold: two cubits and a half
shall be the length thereof, and a cubit and a half the breadth thereof.
The covering is also of
gold, but think enough so as not to be deformed from the heavy metal.
18 And thou shalt make two cherubim of gold; of beaten work shalt
thou make them, at the two ends of the ark-cover.
The Ceruvim appear to be
able to rotate so that if they face one another there is Shalom in Yisrael and
with G-D but if they rotate away from each other, it is a bad sign.
19 And make one cherub at the one end, and one cherub at the other
end; of one piece with the ark-cover shall ye make the cherubim of the two ends
thereof. 20 And the cherubim shall spread out their wings on high, screening
the ark-cover with their wings, with their faces one to another; toward the
ark-cover shall the faces of the cherubim be.
Unlike the Temple
Institute they had like an unshaped face of a developing human fetus to the
best of my understanding sort of round with a place for developing sockets for
eyes nose and mouth.
21 And thou shalt put the ark-cover above upon the ark; and in the
ark thou shalt put the testimony that I shall give thee. 22 And there I will
meet with thee, and I will speak with thee from above the ark-cover, from
between the two cherubim which are upon the ark of the testimony, of all things
which I will give thee in commandment unto the children of Israel.
I assume that the Cohain
Gadol or other Cohain near-by could hear messages on non-Yom Kippur days and on
the holy day from inside the curtains.
23 And thou shalt make a table of acacia-wood: two cubits shall be
the length thereof, and a cubit the breadth thereof, and a cubit and a half the
height thereof.
This time the dimension
of height would be 67 cm or 27 inches high
or below that of a man’s waist. The length would be 90cm or a yard long
and the width 45 cm or 18 inches.
24 And thou shalt overlay it with pure gold, and make thereto a
crown of gold round about. 25 And thou shalt make unto it a border of a
handbreadth round about, and thou shalt make a golden crown to the border
thereof round about.
So that things will not
fall off the Table.
26 And thou shalt make for it four rings of gold, and put the rings
in the four corners that are on the four feet thereof. 27 Close by the border
shall the rings be, for places for the staves to bear the table.
Here too there are poles
that bear the table.
28 And thou shalt make the staves of acacia-wood, and overlay them
with gold, that the table may be borne with them.
Also these staves are
overlaid with gold.
29 And thou shalt make the dishes thereof, and the pans thereof, and
the jars thereof, and the bowls thereof, wherewith to pour out; of pure gold
shalt thou make them. 30 And thou shalt set upon the table showbread before Me
alway.
The bowls and dishes
that snuff out the candles plus a tray of 12 Challos would be there.
31 And thou shalt make a candlestick of pure gold: of beaten work
shall the candlestick be made, even its base, and its shaft; its cups, its
knops, and its flowers, shall be of one piece with it. … We shall continue next week with more requirements for the
Mishkan.
A Synagogue
with a Soul by Rabbi Yerachmiel Tilles
https://ascentofsafed.com/cgi-bin/ascent.cgi?Name=1471-22
As soon as
Rabbi Shalom of Belz began building his synagogue, a local gentile noble began
to build a place of worship directly opposite it, with a tall steeple. To make
his point clearer, he sent a message to the rebbe saying that he was a second
Haman. The rebbe replied that his end would resemble that of his Biblical
namesake.
On his way
to shul one day, R. Shalom was stopped by the son of that same graf (nobleman)
who held up a piece of pork and said: "Eat this, rabbi!"
No sooner
had he uttered these words than he began trembling convulsively. Panic spread
through the bystanders, and the young man's father came running to ask the
tzadik to forgive him and pray for his son - but he refused, and the young man
died. From that time on the graf was ten times more furious than before.
R. Shalom
built his shul in such a way that it should stand higher than the other edifice
over the road.[1] The graf thereupon made his steeple taller - but one day Reb
Shalom told him: "With the Almighty's help you will not be able to beat
me, nor will you ever complete your building."
In the
course of time it became known that the land on which that building stood
belonged to a family of orphans, and had been held by the noble unlawfully. One
thing led to another, until the courts advertised the block of land for public
sale. The noble promptly made it known that any Jew daring to buy it would be
killed at once by his sword, no matter what consequences he himself would later
have to face.
R. Shalom,
however, was on friendly terms with a Christian medical specialist in Vienna,
to whom he dispatched a courier with a message, asking him to come to Belz for
the auction, and buy the land for whatever price was named. This he did and in
due course buildings belonging to the Rav were constructed there.
The graf
now began to build his house of worship on a different street, but still
opposite the shul, and once again the two buildings were competing for
prominence. At this point the festival of Pesach was approaching, and the
noble, who was the lord of Belz and owned most of its property, decided to
issue a new decree forbidding the baking of matzos in the town, ostensibly for
fear of outbreaks of fire.
Reb Shalom
had been accustomed year by year to distribute his many students among the
householders of the surrounding towns and villages for the duration of the
festival. Though his own household could provide meals for them throughout the
year, the special needs of Pesach meant that the burden had to be shared out.
This year, however, he gave the order that they should all remain with him for
the festival, for he trusted the Almighty that there would be ample matzos for
all comers.
And so
there was. Only a few days after the decree was issued the noble was out riding
on his horse on a narrow track, where he encountered the graf of the nearby
town of Hubnov. An argument flared up as to which of them was going to make way
for the other, and in the course of the duel which followed, the graf of Belz
was killed - to the relief of the Jews of the town, who were now able to bake matzos
as in earlier years.
When R.
Shalom laid the foundation stone of the shul in Belz, he requested heaven that
the prayers of all persons entering it be heard On High.
One day he took up a
bucket of mortar, wanting to have a share personally in its construction. A
chasid who saw him hastened to help by taking the bucket from his hand, but his
pious rebbetzin urgently motioned to the chasid through the window that he
should not dare to touch it, for fear of confusing the rebbe in his inspired
concentration.
* * *
There is a tradition among the Belzer chasidim that this shul will continue
being built until the coming of the Mashiach, and that R. Shalom did not
complete it intentionally, in order that the worshipers of each succeeding
generation should add to it - and since 1843 until this day {at the time my
sourcebook was published many decades ago) the building is not quite finished,
though additions are made from time to time.[2] On one occasion the tzadik was
offered a large sum of money to enable him to complete its construction, but
the refused it, saying: "I would like all of Israel to have a share in
this synagogue."
It is told
of his rebbetzin, Malka, that for a thousand nights she stayed awake with her
husband, holding the candle for him as he studied in preparation for the
attainment of the lofty spiritual insights involved in the building of his
shul. If he fell asleep for more than half an hour he could depend on her to
wake him up. On the thousandth night he was overcome by a deep sleep, but the
rebbetzin did not let him succumb, for on that night he finally attained the
exalted level of spirituality to which he had for so long aspired and toiled.
When his devout and
devoted helpmate passed away, R. Shalom said, "Almighty G-D, You know that
it was the rebbetzin who made a Jew of me! If I were able to revive the dead I
would bring her back to life - but I cannot. But You, Master of the Universe,
are able to raise up the whole house of Israel. Why then do you not raise her
up?"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Editor's Postscript:
[For more information, see the photo and text at the article's end.]
Source:
Modified and supplemented by Yerachmiel Tilles from 'A treasury of Chasidic
Tales' (Artscroll), the translation by R. Uri Kaploun of the classic 'Sipurei
Chasidim' by one of the most prominent Talmudic and halachic authorities of the
20th Century, Rabbi Shlomo-Yosef Zevin.
Biographical note:
Rabbi Sar Sholom of Belz [1779-27 Elul 1855] was the first of the Belz
chassidic dynasty. He became the main rebbe of Galician Jewry, and had tens of
thousands of chassidim. His teachings are collected in Dover Shalom.
Why This Week?
The weekly Torah reading, Terumah, describes in much detail the specifications
and the construction of the Mishkan - the travelling sanctuary in the desert
and for the several hundred first years in the Holy Land.
Although destroyed by
the Nazis in 1939 (an interesting story in itself), the shul was replicated and
completed in Jerusalem and began functioning in 2002. it was rebuilt in
Jerusalem from 1987 - 2002, larger than the original in Belz, Europe, but in
the exact same proportions. Recently though (2025-26), the Belz community in
the capital managed to receive the necessary permits to expand it, despite it already
being by far the largest shul in the city (and in Israel, and perhaps in the
world).
The large interior of the synagogue can accommodate 2,589 worshippers in the
main sanctuary on the main level. A similar number fit in the men's and women's
galleries above, totaling nearly 8000. The ark pictured contains 70+ Torah
scrolls; it is 15 meters high and weighs 18 tons. It is so huge it has been
included in the Guinness Book of World Records.
Photo credit: CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=487119
See also https:// worldofbelz.org/tour-the-shul/ (bottom) for an impressive photo
overlay of the original 1843 shul in Europe onto the current one in Jerusalem
in 2005.
Footnotes:
1]Not only because it
was a church; Jewish law decrees that the synagogue should the highest building
in its area.
2]Actually, the shul
was replicated and completed in Jerusalem and began functioning in 2002. For
more information, see “Editor’s Postscript” after the story’s end
Milestone: Eric Dane, 53, https://www.timesofisrael.com/eric-dane-greys-anatomy-star-and-als-awareness-advocate-dies-at-53/
Milestone: Billy Steinberg, 75, https://www.timesofisrael.com/jewish-songwriter-billy-steinberg-who-penned-lyrics-for-like-a-virgin-dies-at-75/
Milestone: Gabriel Weisman, 98,
First IDF Chief Medical Officer and mental health. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/422584
Milestone: Frederick Wiseman, 96, https://www.timesofisrael.com/oscar-winning-documentarian-frederick-wiseman-shut-out-for-being-a-jew-dies-at-96/
Milestone: Rav Shimon Erblich, 89,
head of “Le Arnotaychem”.
Inyanay Diyoma
Feb. 14th
Day 862 since Oct. 7th start
of week 124
A
Dummkopf on Israeli TV asked if it costs the US so much money to
maintain the fleet in the Middle East why would Trump want it here? A bit
smarter Donald J. Trump said, “As long as we have to pay for the fleet whether
here or in the Middle East, it might as well be there.”
In addition victim 47 on Shabbos.
https://www.foxnews.com/world/iran-regime-accused-killing-19-christians-anti-regime-protests-persecution-continues-watchdog
https://www.timesofisrael.com/exiled-son-of-irans-last-shah-calls-on-trump-to-help-bury-the-islamic-republic/
US President Donald Trump was asked on Friday about a potential
regime change in Iran and said, “Seems like that could be the best thing that
could happen." https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/422390
US prepared for weeks long
operations in Iran. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/422401
https://www.timesofisrael.com/doctors-without-borders-suspends-activities-at-gaza-hospital-due-to-presence-of-gunmen/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/nyc-public-law-school-to-host-event-on-hamas-tunnels-as-resistance-to-colonization/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/severe-dust-storm-pushes-jerusalem-tel-aviv-to-top-of-global-pollution-index/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/men-jailed-in-uk-for-islamic-state-inspired-plot-to-kill-hundreds-of-jews/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/ex-hostage-reveals-she-tried-to-kill-herself-in-gaza-says-view-of-protests-saved-her/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/olympics-defends-selling-shirts-commemorating-hitlers-1936-berlin-games/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/rubio-says-un-has-no-role-in-solving-wars-like-gaza-as-he-seeks-to-reassure-europe-about-trump/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/inflammatory-tweets-by-nyc-political-staffers-point-to-growing-normalization-of-anti-zionism/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/lazar-berman-are-saudis-moving-away-from-israel-and-toward-islamists/
My wife read me an Op-Ed
in Hebrew how the Saudis are moving away from the Emirates away from the US to
Turkey and Qatar.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/unvaccinated-9-year-old-dies-of-measles-as-outbreak-mounts-in-haredi-communities/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/idf-says-hezbollah-operative-rebuilding-groups-infrastructure-killed-in-strike/
https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/rosie-odonnell-quietly-returns-us-after-abandoning-country-over-trumps-victory
https://www.algemeiner.com/2026/02/14/us-military-preparing-for-potentially-weeks-long-iran-operations/
https://www.algemeiner.com/2026/02/14/african-union-summit-clouded-by-saudi-uae-rivalry-in-horn-of-africa/
Friday, I brought down an unknown
newspaper about Netanyahu wanting to remove citizenship of Jews spying for
Iran. It turned out to be the Front Headline in Israel Hayom. https://www.israelhayom.com/2026/02/12/israel-to-revoke-citizenship-of-citizens-convicted-of-spying-for-iran/
https://www.israelhayom.com/2026/02/14/inside-roman-gofmans-ascent-to-israels-most-sensitive-post/
IDF Chief of Staff, LTG Eyal Zamir, conducted a situational
assessment and field tour in the Rafah area in the Gaza Strip on Friday,
together with the Commander of the Southern Command, MG Yaniv Asor; the
Commander of the Gaza Division, BG Barak Hiram; the Commander of the 188th
Brigade; the Commander of the 7th Brigade; the Commander of the Tzanchanim
Brigade; the Commander of the Southern Brigade; the Commander of the Yahalom
Unit; and additional commanders. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/422391
Arab Mafia? Israel Police on Saturday night announced that an
investigation has been launched into the circumstances surrounding the
discovery of human bone remains found near the Pisgat Ze'ev neighborhood in
Jerusalem. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/422402
Poll: https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/422372
Opposite Poll which might have asked
the correct questions. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/422364
A whistleblower complaint filed against Tulsi Gabbard, US Director
of National Intelligence, has ignited significant controversy surrounding the
handling of classified intelligence related to Jared Kushner, President Donald
Trump’s son-in-law and close adviser. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/422361
Abu Shabab militia leader Ghassan Al-Dheini, who operates in
coordination with Israeli security forces, on Friday revealed that his men are
working in Hamas tunnels in Rafah - a detail that had previously been withheld
from publication. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/422397
Head of the Board of Peace wants
dismantling of Hamas. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/422396
A New York City-based drone manufacturer supplying technology to
Israel was recently evicted from the Brooklyn Navy Yard, the New York Post
reported. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/422400
Earlier Saturday, IDF troops operating in the northern Gaza Strip
identified a terrorist who crossed the Yellow Line and approached the troops,
posing an imminent threat to their safety.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/422399
Some 250,000 people demonstrated against Iran's Islamic regime in
Munich's Theresienwiese on Saturday afternoon, according to local police. https://www.jpost.com/international/article-886632
Foreign Minister Gideon Saar will represent Israel at US President
Donald Trump's Board of Peace summit in Washington on Thursday, a source familiar
with the matter told The Jerusalem Post. https://www.jpost.com/international/article-886625
Feb. 15th
Day 863 since Oct. 7th
Thomas B. sent me this video. Back
in the Day (1987), Israel built the Lavi Aircraft that was basically a super
F-16. Ehud Barak and the Labor Party cancelled the project while PM Shamir
stayed neutral during the vote. The result was that the refurbished design was
given to the US to produce so that Israel could have submarines partially
subsidized from Germany. Now watch this film. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4HvQTSmqbIE
Victim 48 already! Either the George
Bush Carrier Group is in a secret place as it is not mentioned any more (aka
there is another armada on the way). The Gerald R. Ford Carrier Group is
resupplying in Northfork VA. It is on its way to Israel. General Jack Keane on
Iran. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wnVHT8TIrgg
https://www.timesofisrael.com/iran-willing-to-compromise-on-nuclear-deal-if-sanctions-relief-on-table-diplomat-says/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/idf-strikes-gunmen-who-approached-troops-in-north-gaza-after-emerging-from-tunnel/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/netanyahu-didnt-push-trump-to-slam-herzog-over-pardon-pms-office-claims/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/mansour-abbas-says-foreign-linked-actors-pressured-him-to-ally-with-netanyahu-in-2021/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/crew-headed-by-jewish-american-jessica-meir-arrives-at-international-space-station/
The past weekend, along the Egypt border, marked by harsh weather
conditions and thick haze, was exploited by smuggling networks to flood the
border with weapon-laden drones. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/422434
With this female dog, there will
never ever be a pardon for Netanyahu. Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara clarified
this morning (Sunday), amid the controversy surrounding Prime Minister Benjamin
Netanyahu’s pardon request, that she “has not yet reviewed the Prime Minister’s
pardon request, and it will be examined according to the standard working
procedures." https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/422437
The government approved today (Sunday) the proposal by Deputy Prime
Minister and Minister of Justice Yariv Levin, Finance Minister and Minister in
the Ministry of Defense Bezalel Smotrich, and Defense Minister Israel Katz, to
initiate the process of land registration in Judea and Samaria, marking the
first time since 1967. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/422443
A police unit rescued several IDF servicewomen in Bnei Brak on
Sunday afternoon after they were attacked by an angry mob. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/422446
Tephillin and Siddur burned in Bnei
Brak riot. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/422451
Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani said that the current
talks with Israel are focused on Israel’s withdrawal from territories it
occupied in southern Syria after the fall of the Assad regime, and not on the
Golan Heights issue. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/422448
Left wing journalist indicates false
arrest and indictment as his brother is the head of the Shin-Bet and a
Netanyahu appointee. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/422447
Op-Ed Engelhard Four American
ingrates. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/422444
Old Miracle: The Jerusalem District Attorney's Office filed
a serious indictment this morning (Sunday) against Mahmoud Hamad, a 50-year-old
resident of Qalandiya, for attempting to carry out a ramming and stabbing
attack against soldiers at the Hizma checkpoint. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/422449
The target date for the start of Hamas' disarmament has been set
for March, Kan News reported. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/422410
An illegal resident attempted on Saturday night to break into the
vehicle of Innovation Minister and cabinet member Gila Gamliel of the Likud in
the underground parking garage of her residence in Tel Aviv. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/422417
140 Storks visit Israel in
migration. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/422435
In 2025, the IDF and Border Police apprehended 6,807 illegal
entrants along the seam line, but indictments were filed against only 405 of
them - about 6%. In 2024, 10,825 illegal entrants were caught, of whom just 334
were prosecuted, roughly 4%. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/422432
Israel’s shipping company ZIM Integrated Shipping Services will be
sold to Germany’s Hapag-Lloyd and Israel’s FIMI Opportunity Funds in a deal
estimated at approximately $3.7 billion. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/422433
European powers have issued a joint statement alleging that former
Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny was poisoned to death using a toxin
commonly known as “frog poison." https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/422411
Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani said on Saturday that
negotiations with Israel on a potential security arrangement are focused on
areas Israel has recently taken over and do not address the broader issue of
the Golan Heights. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/422423
https://www.foxnews.com/us/190000-lethal-doses-cocaine-seized-valentines-day-week-bust-southern-border
The IDF continued overnight Sunday to strike sites in Lebanon used for
storing weapons and operating launchers belonging to Hezbollah, as daily
attacks target what officials describe as the terrorist organization’s efforts to rebuild its capabilities. https://www.ynetnews.com/article/h1ledlk00wx
The government on Sunday approved the construction of two new airports, one in the
south at Tzellim and another in the north at Ramat David, following a heated
and at times angry debate that lasted two and a half hours. https://www.ynetnews.com/article/s1v00n81dwe
Actress: France gave up on me so I moved to Israel. https://www.ynetnews.com/culture/article/hjjt1ny00bx
The transfer of Islamic State detainees from
Syria to Iraq is a sign that
Washington doesn’t truly trust the Sharaa regime, experts told The Jerusalem
Post on Sunday after 5,700 suspected Islamic State prisoners were transferred
by the US Central Command (CENTCOM) over the weekend. https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-886701
Bnei Brak Police said 22 people were arrested during the unrest.
According to a statement, rioters threw stones at officers, overturned a patrol
car and set a police motorcycle on fire, along with tefillin that were on it.
Two officers were injured. Stun grenades were used to disperse the crowd, and a
helicopter was deployed to the area. https://www.ynetnews.com/article/h1ipbwyd11x#autoplay
The Nasser
Hospital in southern Gaza, which Doctors Without Borders has left, is not
just a weapons storage spot for terror, but a full-fledged Hamas
headquarters, the IDF said on Sunday. https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-886721
Feb. 16th
Day 864 since Oct. 7th
For a few weeks now, I
have gone to sleep with my phone on including Shabbos – just in case Iran gets
rambunctious so that my red alert app and homeland security app will warn us.
However, as soon as I heard that the Gerald R. Ford was being sent to the
Middle East, I immediately took this computer back upstairs. (I wanted to cut
out 18 steps to the top floor in case I had to get down the next 13 stairs to
the shelter. That is the disadvantage of living in a private house but beats
running down 6 flights during a Houthi Attack on the Dead Sea during my
vacation last year.) As of now, I am back in my office. I have a gut feeling
that the old fanatic cleric in Iran doesn’t have a clue of the might of the US
and over-estimates Iran’s strength. He will go along with 10 of his top
generals around Purim. This is also based on the Nuremberg Tribunal where there
was one suicide the day before and ten hangings on Purim. History tends to
repeat itself, especially if the wicked refuse to learn their lessons. The
first Gulf War ended the day before Purim. Of course this might just be wishful
thinking.
Amid high-tensions between the United States and Iran, the US Air
Force has awarded Boeing a sole-source contract to replenish its arsenal of GBU-57 Massive
Ordnance Penetrator (MOP) bunker buster bombs. The US dropped over a dozen MOPs on Iranian
nuclear facilities in June during Operation Midnight Hammer. https://www.jpost.com/defense-and-tech/article-886799
Murdered by the Arab Mafia reach 50
today.
Op-Ed Itamar Eichler: Netanyahu
faces a win-win. https://www.ynetnews.com/opinions-analysis/article/hjli2weu11l Sing along: Now deep in my State, I do believe, that we
shall over-come some day!
https://www.timesofisrael.com/new-anti-government-chants-reported-across-iran-after-major-rallies-abroad/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/cabinet-oks-new-west-bank-land-registration-process-critics-decry-de-facto-annexation/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/basketballer-deni-avdija-makes-history-as-first-israeli-to-play-as-nba-all-star/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/idf-strike-targets-islamic-jihad-operatives-in-lebanon-4-reported-killed/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/belgian-arms-factory-workers-strike-over-idf-attaches-visit-to-premises/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/despite-qatars-moderate-image-its-textbooks-are-filled-with-antisemitism-report/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/two-years-after-collapse-caesarea-aqueduct-to-be-restored-in-joint-project/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/israeli-man-said-arrested-in-uae-over-killing-of-alleged-crypto-fraudster/
On Sunday evening, MK Zvi Sukkot visited Bezalel Zini, the brother
of Shin Bet chief David Zini, at Shikma Prison. Zini is being held in
connection with an alleged cigarette smuggling operation into Gaza. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/422493
Several activists from the "Pioneers of Bashan" movement
crossed the security fence in central Golan Heights on Sunday night. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/422484
A large stone tool workshop from the Second Temple period, which
produced tools for Jews some 2,000 years ago, was uncovered in a cave on the
eastern slopes of Mount Scopus in Jerusalem. In the underground cave housing
this workshop were hundreds of stone vessel fragments, production waste, and
unfinished items. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/422486
A 51-year-old Israeli man from central Israel, who had traveled to
France for a vacation, was found dead in his Paris hotel room on Sunday night. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/422492
https://www.timesofisrael.com/award-winning-tehran-producer-found-dead-in-athens-hotel-room/
In a joint operation by the Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) and
the Israel Police, Fares Abu al-Hija, a resident of Kaukab Abu al-Hija in
northern Israel, was arrested for questioning in recent weeks. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/422491
Hillary is mocked by Czech Leader. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/422478
Police arrest Charedim to try to
calm down the situation but have nothing on them.
26 arrested let go immediately 2
house arrest. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/42250
Rabbis Landau and Hirsch say that
Charedi Youth should be in the Yeshiva learning Torah and not protesting. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/422462 Rabbi Pauli adds: “The way of Torah is pleasant and all
paths within are peace. Return us unto you HASHEM and renew our years as of
old.” – said upon returning the Sefer Torah to the Aron HaKodesh.
A suspicious envelope was received Monday morning at the Prime
Minister’s office in Jerusalem. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/422485
McDonald’s is testing the
launch of a line of lighter, protein-rich items at several restaurants across
the U.S., as soaring use of appetite-suppressing drugs reshapes how Americans
eat. https://www.ynetnews.com/health_science/article/rjy3slldbe
In Israel’s mortgage market, not every transaction fits a standard
template. Some involve income earned across multiple countries, assets held in
different jurisdictions or financial documentation that requires closer
interpretation. A tailored banking approach is designed to address exactly
those situations. At Bank of Jerusalem’s private banking branch, mortgage
activity is handled in a boutique-style environment that emphasizes hands-on
execution and continuity. https://www.ynetnews.com/real-estate/article/rjvgepspwx
Human remains found on Friday outside of Jerusalem may have
belonged to a missing Finnish tourist, Israeli news sources confirmed on
Monday. https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-886807
India seizes an illegal Iranian Tanker. https://www.jpost.com/international/article-886849
The Ministry for Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism
announced that Oxfam, the British-founded confederation of 21 independent NGOs,
will cease operations in Gaza effective February 28, 2026, pursuant to a
decision by the Ministry, which oversees the registration of humanitarian
organizations operating in Gaza and Judea and Samaria.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/422509
In response to the ceasefire violation that occurred yesterday
(Saturday), in which several armed terrorists took cover under debris east of
the Yellow Line and adjacent to IDF troops, likely after exiting underground
infrastructure in the area, over the past day, the IDF and ISA struck
terrorists in the northern Gaza Strip, Gaza City, and Khan Yunis. One strike
eliminated an Oct. 7th terrorist. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/422457
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/422496
Bennett on Charedim will not get him
too much but rather the opposite reaction. Newton’s Law: Every action has an
equal and opposite reaction. Meaning that you catch more flies with honey than
vinegar. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/422498
https://www.timesofisrael.com/syria-assumes-control-of-another-base-from-us-forces-the-second-within-days/
Feb. 17th
Day 865 since Oct. 7th
Islam against Judaism is nothing
new. It started with Mohammed in Medina and Mecca but has not stopped. The
Saudis after they were promised the F-35 are now closer to Turkey and Qatar.
But Islamic extremist don’t stop with the small population of Jews. In Iran it
is their own people and in Africa
it is Christians.
https://www.foxnews.com/world/100-us-troops-land-nigeria-islamic-militants-threaten-west-africa-regional-security
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/china-pledges-aid-ukraine-us-officials-warn-beijing-quietly-fueling-russias-war
By the time it appears in the news,
the death toll is 51. https://www.timesofisrael.com/father-and-son-shot-dead-while-driving-in-umm-al-fahm-no-suspects-arrested/
The IDF found a weapons cache belonging to
Hamas's Rafah
brigade during operational activity in the area of the Yellow Line in southern
Gaza on Monday, the IDF announced. https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/defense-news/article-886901
Arkia announces new routes. https://www.jpost.com/consumerism/article-886930
Another disturbed transsexual
shooting. A
shooting during a Rhode Island hockey game between the Coventry and Blackstone
Valley high schools left three people dead, including the shooter, and three
hospitalized in critical condition on Monday. https://www.jpost.com/international/article-886900 The murders in Canada was also transsexual.
IDF seizes a Hamas weapons cache. https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/defense-news/article-886901
https://www.timesofisrael.com/lapid-warns-liberal-bloc-may-lose-next-election-if-it-doesnt-unite-behind-him/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/levin-refuses-to-say-hed-obey-court-order-to-convene-judicial-selection-committee/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/top-netanyahu-aide-hamas-will-have-60-days-to-disarm-or-idf-will-complete-mission/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/bnei-brak-riot-shows-that-to-integrate-haredim-israel-should-expect-strife/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/trump-ally-to-toi-ayatollah-staying-in-power-would-be-strategic-victory-for-iran/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/rubio-to-hungarys-pm-orban-ahead-of-election-your-success-is-our-success/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/off-duty-cop-stabs-seriously-injures-daughters-ex-boyfriend-in-netanya/
https://www.algemeiner.com/2026/02/16/jewish-women-expelled-madrid-museum-antisemitic-harassment-sparking-outrage/
https://www.algemeiner.com/2026/02/16/new-york-city-health-staffer-under-fire-posts-calling-elimination-all-israelis/
https://www.algemeiner.com/2026/02/16/former-upenn-president-who-resigned-disgrace-antisemitism-crisis-hired-dean-georgetown-law/
https://www.algemeiner.com/2026/02/16/olympic-store-worker-fired-repeatedly-calling-out-free-palestine-israel-sports-fans/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/us-conducts-1st-air-transport-of-nuke-microreactor-in-bid-to-show-technologys-viability/
One thing is for sure that the sand
storms this year are earlier and lasting very long.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/climate-change-likely-to-bring-more-dust-storms-earlier-in-the-year-expert-says/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/british-museum-removes-some-references-to-palestine-after-accuracy-complaints/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/anti-zionist-groups-in-canada-target-jewish-childrens-summer-camps/
https://www.foxnews.com/world/zelenskyy-ally-arrested-trying-flee-ukraine-massive-corruption-probe-deepens
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/trump-blasts-newsoms-uk-pact-warns-foreign-leaders-2028-buzz-builds
https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/godfather-star-robert-duvall-dead-95
Jesse Jackson dead at 84 he wasn’t
particularly found of Jews. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/422549
https://www.timesofisrael.com/takamitsu-muraoka-japanese-pioneer-of-dead-sea-scrolls-hebrew-studies-dies-at-88/
250th Anniversary of the USA one big sewer. https://www.foxnews.com/politics/trump-slams-maryland-governor-launches-federal-effort-protect-potomac-after-historic-sewage-spill
The Northern District Prosecutor submitted an indictment against a
25-year-old man from the northern Arab town Daburiyya after he participated in
an assault on a man over a financial debt. He is being charged with abduction
for extortion, extortion through threats, injury under aggravated
circumstances, and false imprisonment. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/422539
US President Donald Trump, who has been escalating his rhetoric
against Iran, on Friday expressed his
belief
that regime change in Iran “would be the best thing that could happen." https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/422531
US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee addressed the Conference of
Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations on Monday evening in
Jerusalem, touching on his upcoming interview with Tucker Carlson, the recent
meeting between President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu,
and the Iranian threat. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/422521
Knesset member Ohad Tal (Religious Zionism), chairman of the
Religious Zionist faction in the Knesset, recently returned from a visit to the
US, where he met with Reza Pahlavi, the son of the Shah of Iran, during the
recent demonstrations against the Iranian regime. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/422519
My granddaughter-in-law had to walk around the demonstration. One
day after the violent incidents in his city, Bnei Brak Mayor Hanoch Zeibert
published a statement urging residents to keep their children home and away
from demonstrations. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/422523
Released hostage Segev Kalfon shared a powerful story that has
stayed with his family since his return in an exclusive interview with Arutz
Sheva - Israel National News. the Rabbi made a cryptic and chilling
statement his father heard from Rabbi David Abuhatzeira while Kalfon was still
in captivity. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/422265
At the Kerem Shalom crossing today (Monday), an unusual attempt to
smuggle hundreds of kilograms of tobacco hidden inside canned grape containers
was foiled. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/422524
The collapse of Kurdish self-rule in northeastern Syria did not
come through diplomacy or reconciliation. It arrived through force-by siege,
intimidation and calculated violence, followed by a coerced agreement that
formalized surrender. In a matter of weeks, a people who had governed
themselves for nearly a decade and served as the West’s most reliable partner
against ISIS were stripped of regional sovereignty and left exposed to a regime
and militias that had already demonstrated their intent. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/422541
Undercover Border Police officers, along with IDF soldiers,
operated last night (Monday) under the command of the Ephraim Brigade and the
direction of the Shin Bet, in the Qalqilya area, to arrest the terrorist Salem
Abu Hamada, suspected of involvement in terrorist activities. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/422518
The directorate of Israel's rabbinical courts published its 2025
activity summary report, which recorded a 3.9% decrease in Israel's divorce
rate. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/422547
The Lod Central District Court on Tuesday accepted a police appeal
and overturned a Magistrate’s Court ruling in the case of Tzachi Braverman, the
prime minister’s chief of staff and Israel’s ambassador-designate to the United
Kingdom. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/422546
Attack on Vizhnitz Chassidim. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/422544
Swiss sports commentator Stefan Renna launched a fierce attack at
the Israeli bobsleigh team and its captain, AJ (Adam) Edelman, during the RTS
broadcast of Monday’s two-man competition at the 2026 Winter Olympics. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/422543
Iran and the United States began a second round of indirect nuclear
talks in Geneva on Tuesday, with the two sides exchanging messages through Omani
mediators as President Donald Trump warned Tehran of consequences if no
agreement is reached. Threats to sink the Abraham Lincoln by Iran. Me thinks
man has Shachid wish. https://www.ynetnews.com/article/hyz9x3bd11l#autoplay
Op-Ed Dana Weiss: Is there a third
option for Trump. https://www.ynetnews.com/opinions-analysis/article/rj1pzaw00zg
Op-Ed Armine Ayoub: Europe ending
the double game with Turkey. https://www.ynetnews.com/opinions-analysis/article/h1iidezozx?tbref=hp
Op-Ed Itamar Eichler: Former Prime
Minister Naftali Bennett said Tuesday he does not intend to serve under Prime
Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a future government, declaring that Israel needs
new leadership after what he described as a national failure following the
October 7 attacks. Native Americans note that both he
and Netanyahu are known to speak with forked-tongues. https://www.ynetnews.com/article/hkr4bazo11x
https://www.timesofisrael.com/us-ambassador-to-belgium-urges-nation-to-drop-charges-over-illegal-circumcisions/
The IDF has been pounding Lebanon in
preparation for a new Iranian War. Hezballah must be taken out of action. https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/defense-news/article-886906
Feb. 18th
Day 866 since Oct. 7th
General Amos Yadlin said: “Last
weekend, I flew to Munich for a few days but would not do it this weekend.” The
Iranians think they can fool around with Trump and hold out for three more
years. Elsewhere, I heard that the number of US Aircraft already in the area is
than the IDF. Per Global Military net there are currently 351 combat aircraft,
146 helicopters, refueling tankers, electronic warfare aircraft, troop and
supply transports. The US number without the Gerald R. Ford is larger and
growing. https://www.timesofisrael.com/us-iran-war-could-be-imminent-and-take-weeks-sources-warn-after-latest-nuclear-talks/
The United States is closer to military conflict with Iran than
most Americans realize, and a massive weeks-long campaign could "begin
very soon," Axios reported on Wednesday. https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-887083
Trump is a year older than I and
at our age, we don’t put up with stalling and nonsense. When the Iranians say
that enrichment is off the table and no missile talks it seems obvious.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/vance-nuclear-talks-showed-some-progress-but-iran-wont-acknowledge-trumps-red-lines/
Three Palestinian Arab children
were playing with unexploded ordnance near an IDF live-fire zone in the Jordan
Valley. One of them was killed, and two others were severely injured. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/422557
A serious antisemitic incident
unfolded overnight (between Monday and Tuesday) on the Thai island of Ko Samui,
when three Israelis were assaulted, unprovoked, by men with Arabic accents. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/422553
Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah
Ali Khamenei published a series of threatening posts in English on social media
on Monday, coinciding with the second round of renewed negotiations between
Iran and the US. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/422555
An IDF soldier was killed overnight between Tuesday and
Wednesday in a friendly fire incident, the military said on Wednesday morning. St.-Sgt.
Ofri Yafe, 21 years old, served as a fighter in the Paratroopers Reconnaissance
Unit. https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/defense-news/article-887049
https://www.jpost.com/business-and-innovation/energy-and-infrastructure/article-886832
https://www.timesofisrael.com/reunifying-arab-parties-aim-for-more-power-but-may-wind-up-with-more-netanyahu/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/local-and-state-government-trade-blame-over-delays-upgrading-western-wall-egalitarian-plaza/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/settler-rabbis-warn-against-violence-of-any-sort-amid-attacks-on-palestinians/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/madrid-museum-ejects-3-elderly-israeli-tourists-who-displayed-israeli-flag-star-of-david/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/jubilant-israeli-team-celebrates-last-place-finish-in-olympic-2-man-bobsleigh-event/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/hezbollah-rejects-lebanese-governments-four-month-plan-for-phase-2-of-disarmament/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/bezalel-zini-said-to-deny-knowing-large-sums-of-cash-he-got-were-from-gaza-smuggling/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/backed-by-trumps-son-israeli-founded-ai-drone-startup-plans-to-go-public-on-nasdaq/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/state-report-finds-israel-unprepared-to-ensure-gas-keeps-flowing-during-emergencies/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/iranian-regime-holds-memorial-for-thousands-killed-in-protests-it-violently-quashed/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/russian-belarusian-athletes-allowed-to-compete-under-own-flags-at-2026-paralympics/
https://www.foxnews.com/us/canadian-officials-seize-nearly-600-pounds-suspected-methamphetamine-us-border
https://www.algemeiner.com/2026/02/17/look-inside-gaza-more-questions-than-answers-israel-remains-vigilant-hamas-refuses-give-up-weapons/
https://www.algemeiner.com/2026/02/17/hezbollah-rejects-disarmament-plan-governments-four-month-timeline/
https://www.algemeiner.com/2026/02/17/us-justice-department-launches-investigation-antisemitism-lincoln-memorial-university-medical-school/
https://www.algemeiner.com/2026/02/17/shabbos-kestenbaum-we-must-fight-antisemitism-and-anti-israel-hate-in-k-12-classrooms-not-just-colleges/
https://www.algemeiner.com/2026/02/17/iranian-regime-uses-hispantv-spread-antisemitic-propaganda-latin-america-adl-warns/
https://www.algemeiner.com/2026/02/17/andorra-carnival-sparks-outrage-effigy-israel-put-trial-burned/
First blame Israelis … but. Police launched
an investigation Tuesday morning after a blaze broke out at a sheepfold in the
Samu'a area near Hebron. Findings from the inquiry indicated that, despite
claims circulating in parts of the media, the incident was not a nationalist
attack by Israelis but the result of a technical malfunction. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/422552
Iranian “optimism” is not shared. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/422580
The Religious Zionist Party held an event Tuesday evening at the
Psagot Winery to mark the "Settlement Revolution." This initiative
includes the establishment of dozens of new communities, the promotion of farm
outposts, and the reinforcement of Jewish control over Judea and Samaria. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/422577
The Swiss broadcaster Radio Television Suisse (RTS) announced
that it has removed a bobsleigh commentary from its website after a reporter spent a
significant portion of the broadcast attacking an Israeli athlete, Reuters reported
Tuesday. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/422584
Nobel Prize Winner released from
Iranian Prison. https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/article-887015
A family court in Jerusalem has ordered a street beggar to pay his ex-wife about
666,000 shekels after ruling that funds in his private bank account were
subject to division under marital property law. https://www.ynetnews.com/business/article/syjctrgobl
Israel ranked 7th in
Broadband Speed. https://www.jpost.com/business-and-innovation/energy-and-infrastructure/article-886832
25,274 children have been recognized as victims of terrorist
attacks since October 7th, the National Insurance Institute's announced today
(Tuesday). More than 97% of them were recognized between October and December
2023. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/422556
In two separate operations conducted in the city of Jericho,
security forces arrested a terrorist cell affiliated with ISIS, suspected of
planning a terror attack. The operation was carried out by Mistaarvim soldiers
from the Jerusalem Border Police and IDF forces, with coordination from the
Shin Bet. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/422568
The defense establishment is in the midst of examining suspicions
of a new smuggling affair with sensitive diplomatic and security implications. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/422573
The news site Lebanon Debate reports the arrest of a
resident of the village of Ansar in southern Lebanon on suspicion of spying for
Israel. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/422570
Fire and Rescue teams from the Galil-Golan station rescued a man
and his dog on Tuesday afternoon after they became stranded on the banks of the
Hatzbani Stream (Snir) and were swept away by strong currents, due to
challenging terrain conditions. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/422563
Speaking about Turkey, Bennett warned that “a new Turkish threat is
emerging" and declared that “Turkey is the new Iran." He described
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan as “a sophisticated and dangerous
adversary who seeks to encircle Israel." https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/422561
Tehran is actively seeking to avoid direct military escalation with
Israel. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/422578
A US immigration judge has rejected the Trump
administration's efforts to deport Mohsen Mahdawi, a Columbia University
student who was arrested last year after participating in anti-Israel protests,
Reuters reported. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/422583
An 18-year-old man was arrested on Tuesday after he
began rushing toward the US Capitol while armed with a loaded shotgun, NBC
News reported, citing police reports. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/422581
WFAN radio host Craig Carton lashed out at filmmaker Spike
Lee, accusing him of crossing a line during the NBA All-Star Game. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/422585
Israel
Aerospace Industries CEO Boaz Levy on Tuesday signaled new progress with the Arrow 4
anti-missile defense system and possibly deploying it within the coming months.
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/defense-news/article-886977
Feb. 19th
Day 867 since Oct. 7th
After Israeli analysis
of the nuclear negotiations, the evaluation is more towards a war. I have this
feeling, my computer will be moving downstairs again soon. I am uncertain that
Trump has the patience for another round of pure B.S. with Iran.
Since my initial writing,
Home Front Command has gone one level less than full war alert see below. On
Saturday, the US forces will be locked and ready minus the Gerald R. Ford. The
USS Buckley and Roosevelt were supposed to go home but their stay is extended.
As for the Ford Carrier Group, they are expected on Saturday or Sunday to pass
Gibraltar. By midweek, they should be in the Middle East.
Marco Rubio is scheduled
to visit Israel next Shabbos. Last night, Channel 12 listed the aircraft that
arrived in the Middle East in the 48hours previously. I can’t remember all but
48 F16 something like 30 F35 and 20 F22 6 EC3 Electronic Warfare 1 AWACS and 40
refueling tankers. The numbers for the F35 and F22 I did not write down and are
approximate. In short twice the size of the IAF in total and combined with us,
Iran is up the creek without a paddle. This is the biggest build-up since the
2003 Iraq Invasion. https://nypost.com/2026/02/18/world-news/trump-ready-for-sustained-strikes-on-iran-with-massive-middle-east-buildup/
https://www.nbcnews.com/world/iran/us-military-pushes-weaponry-middle-east-possible-strikes-iran-rcna259632
https://www.timesofisrael.com/white-house-many-arguments-for-a-strike-on-iran-theyd-be-wise-to-make-a-deal/
Despite all the tension,
I have my regular schedule with my personal trainer on Tuesday and Thursday at
the gym. If Home Front Command issues an order, everybody stays home or can go
supermarket shopping. This time there will be a ferry from Cyprus to Israel
either by air or sea if a war breaks out.
I believe that before
the State Of The Union on Feb. 24th there will be no attack but we
are prepared.
Feb. 28th Rubio-Netanyahu
meeting. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/422631
https://www.theyeshivaworld.com/news/israel-news/2513964/satellite-images-show-iran-continuing-to-fortify-key-nuclear-sites-ahead-of-potential-military-strikes.html
The Knesset's Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee on Wednesday
heard a confidential briefing from Home Front Command Chief Major General Shai
Klapper. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/422603
55 https://www.timesofisrael.com/four-killed-in-separate-shootings-one-by-cops-as-deadly-crime-surges-in-arab-society/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/us-said-planning-to-withdraw-all-american-troops-from-syria-over-next-two-months/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/in-breakthrough-israeli-scientists-use-deep-brain-stimulation-to-counter-schizophrenia/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/trumps-board-of-peace-to-convene-for-1st-time-as-us-bullish-on-disarmament-prospects/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/jewish-worshipers-get-extended-visiting-hours-on-temple-mount-during-ramadan/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/in-first-idf-says-female-officer-to-command-navy-warship/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/iran-sentences-british-couple-to-10-years-in-prison-on-espionage-claims/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/letter-by-famed-jewish-mystic-sells-for-nearly-400000-at-auction/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/zuckerberg-grilled-over-accusations-social-media-geared-to-addict-and-harm-kids/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/expansion-of-west-bank-rule-appears-to-shift-creeping-annexation-into-higher-gear/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/vegetarian-and-vegan-babies-develop-at-same-rate-as-meat-eating-peers-israeli-study/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/state-budget-set-to-increase-spending-on-haredi-education-by-nis-1-billion/
https://www.algemeiner.com/2026/02/18/hamas-linked-nonprofit-launches-wikipedia-training-program-smear-israel/
https://www.algemeiner.com/2026/02/18/nearly-half-jewish-students-report-experiencing-antisemitism-us-college-campuses-survey-finds/
https://www.algemeiner.com/2026/02/18/holocaust-survivor-96-celebrates-aliyah-israel-five-generations-descendants/
https://www.algemeiner.com/2026/02/18/depaul-university-denounces-antisemitic-harassment-targeting-jewish-students/
The Trump administration is imposing new visa restrictions on
Iranian officials and telecommunications executives following the regime’s
violent crackdown on nationwide protests, the US State Department announced on
Wednesday. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/422639
Lufthansa Group announced today (Thursday) that it has extended its
exceptional night flight schedule to and from Tel Aviv, following increasing
tensions with Iran. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/422679
The Movement to Combat Antisemitism reported the discovery of a
public exhibit near an educational institution in Antalya, Turkey, uncovered
during its routine monitoring efforts. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/422665
In a ceremony held in Simferopol, Crimea, the local Jewish
community was returned the Talmud Torah building, which was constructed between
1913 and 1915 and served as a central educational hub at the beginning of the
20th century. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/422659
Terror widower Hananel Gez, whose wife Tzila was murdered in a
terror attack nine months ago, has announced his engagement to Maayan. https://www.ynetnews.com/article/ryhzivnubx
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, in an interview made public
on Wednesday, warned that any new US strike on the Islamic Republic of Iran
would lead to serious consequences. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/422637
Rare scale found. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/422658
Ben Gvir to the Attorney General –
we will not be blackmailed. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/422662
Final Version of Draft Law soon.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/422664
The leader of the Karlin-Stolin Hasidic sect responded Tuesday
night to Sunday's events in Bnei Brak, strongly condemning the riots and the
damage to property. … "We all heard with shock what happened two days ago
in Bnei Brak," the Karlin-Stoliner Rebbe told his Hasidim (followers).
"To our embarrassment, the riots have become something of a norm, and this
is a terrible thing." … Stressing that such behavior violates halakha
(Jewish law), he added, "Throughout all generations, we have gone through
hardships and difficult times, and we never found any justification to act
against clear halakha. It is forbidden to cause harm, it is forbidden to burn.
We have the Torah, and we have halakha before everything else. It is forbidden
to harm others or damage property - whether it’s trash cans or other items. How
did we deteriorate to this point? Who allowed this?" https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/422589
https://www.foxnews.com/us/eight-skiers-found-dead-one-missing-massive-lake-tahoe-avalanche
This was in the Israeli Press how
much the US really trusts Syria to stop ISIS.
https://www.foxnews.com/world/us-thwarted-near-catastrophic-prison-break-6000-isis-fighters-syria
https://www.foxnews.com/world/south-korean-court-rules-ex-president-yoon-suk-yeol-guilty-insurrection-trial
How to cause taxpayers to abandon
your city 101.
https://www.foxnews.com/media/socialist-nyc-mayor-mamdani-clashes-hochul-over-tax-hikes-some-critics-warn-catastrophe
https://nypost.com/2026/02/18/us-news/grandmas-fiery-defense-of-trump-steals-the-show-at-black-history-month-celebration/
https://nypost.com/2026/02/19/world-news/ex-prince-andrew-mountbatten-arrested-for-misconduct-in-public-office-over-his-links-to-jeffrey-epstein/
https://www.algemeiner.com/2026/02/18/tucker-carlson-did-not-leave-airport-quick-israel-visit-interview-mike-huckabee/
Bennett calls Carlson Chickensh**
over his B.S. about delay in leaving the country. I think it is a good riddance
to bad rubbish fact. https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-887217
Elbit sells $277M of turrets to
foreign country. https://www.ynetnews.com/business/article/hka117h4u11l#google_vignette
Shabbos times. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/shabat
Polish citizens in Iran should leave immediately, Prime Minister
Donald Tusk said on Thursday, warning that due to the potential for armed
conflict, evacuation may no longer be possible in a matter of hours. https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/article-887218
Feb. 20th
Day 868 since Oct. 7th end
of week 124
In my humble opinion,
President Trump will not strike Iran before the State of the Union Address but
Israel is watching via Satellite if Iran is about to make a pre-emptive attack.
https://www.foxnews.com/world/iran-rebuilding-nuclear-program-despite-trump-talks-opposition-figure-claims
Yeted Neeman called it “An Idol by
the Temple Mount”. https://www.timesofisrael.com/high-court-tells-state-to-advance-western-wall-egalitarian-plaza-upgrade-without-further-delays/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/iranians-grieve-defiantly-for-thousands-killed-in-january-crackdown/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/settler-activists-including-far-right-mk-illegally-cross-into-gaza/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/trump-announces-17-billion-in-pledges-for-gaza-at-board-of-peaces-inaugural-confab/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-ranks-1st-among-countries-targeted-by-geopolitical-cyberattacks-in-2025-report/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/israeli-researchers-find-humans-turtles-share-key-brain-function-going-back-320-million-years/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/forget-the-granny-flat-study-of-israelite-home-shows-elders-ruled-the-iron-age-roost/
https://www.algemeiner.com/2026/02/19/israeli-christian-leader-tucker-carlson-doesnt-want-truth-endangers-christians-elsewhere-lying-israel/
https://www.algemeiner.com/2026/02/19/israel-prepares-extreme-scenario-iran-warns-regime-face-unimaginable-response-tehran-strikes/
https://www.algemeiner.com/2026/02/19/two-men-spit-say-free-palestine-they-attempt-gain-access-jewish-center-dallas/
https://www.algemeiner.com/2026/02/19/green-party-congressional-candidate-vows-de-zionize-us-government/
https://www.algemeiner.com/2026/02/19/hamas-tightens-grip-gaza-trump-pushes-peace-plan/
https://www.algemeiner.com/2026/02/19/australian-bar-shut-down-displaying-posters-netanyahu-putin-trump-nazi-like-uniforms/
No panic in Israel supermarkets.
No run on canned goods, bottled water, or toilet paper. No noticeable hoarding
of batteries or baby formula. https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-887294
False narrative Rafah drew more 100
times more media attention than the Iranian slaughter. https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-887327
Soroka Medical
Center has
begun preparing for conflict with
Iran,
with hospital management and emergency teams updating procedures, checking
readiness, and running simulations for wartime scenarios. https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-887325
Egyptian copper drill found. https://www.jpost.com/archaeology/article-887333
US President Donald Trump announced Thursday that he is
directing the Pentagon and other government agencies to identify and release
files related to extraterrestrials, UFOs, and unidentified aerial phenomena
(UAPs) due to the “tremendous interest" in the topic, reports the Associated
Press. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/422709
While
the United States focuses its negotiations with Iran largely on the nuclear issue, Israeli defense
officials say the more immediate concern for Israel is Tehran’s accelerating ballistic missile program. https://www.ynetnews.com/article/rjjajurowx
Conflicting polls Arutz 14 vs. Arutz
12. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/422705
An annual festival in Andorra drew condemnation from the country’s
small Jewish community after an effigy bearing the Israeli flag was staged in a
mock trial and then hung and shot. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/422718
Senator John Fetterman (D-PA) spoke out against a deal with Iran,
referring to the Islamic Republic as a “cancer". https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/422712
https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/under-oath-metas-zuckerberg-showed-big-tech-cant-police-itself
https://www.timesofisrael.com/trump-says-hell-make-decision-on-iran-strike-in-10-to-15-days/
A healthy, happy and
peaceful Shabbos,
Rachamim Pauli
