Zionism is a movement whose goal is to establish the Jewish People on a distinctly secular base whose essence is heresy and revolt against the Heavenly kingdom, and all of the national institutions are designed and built along this line.

There is no permission whatsoever to join with them or to hold any position at all by them or to vote in elections for such national institutions in any way or manner.

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Question: As of late, there has been a breach regarding our position to the academic world as witnessed to our dismay, the opening of a Bais Yaakov school incorporating an academic curriculum. There is a fear that many girls will enroll in it with the argument that in the present available subjects, there are not enough work places and there is a lack of income and proficiency for graduates without an academic degree. What can we say to these girls that all they want is to establish a Torah home and support a husband devoted to Torah study?

Answer: There was once a certain institution which asked the Rosh Yeshiva, author of Ayeles Hashachar, about various postgraduate studies for seminary students in various subjects. This referred to advanced academic studies. Upon completing such studies, the student would receive a degree enabling her to double and triple her income and support a Torah home comfortably. It was asked that if for the sake of a more lucrative salary, she would be permitted leniency to continue her studies in a separate educational academy.

In his vast wisdom and with a bit of humor, the Rosh Yeshiva replied: "It were better for her to become a thief!"

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"This was the situation with which the White House had to deal during the weeks and months after October 7th, 2023: a war against Israel with many fronts, and a demand from Iran and terrorist organizations throughout the area which it supported stipulating that the only way to stop the war was for Israel to accept all of Hamas' demands. Therefore, we, in the Biden government, reached the conclusion that the only realistic way to end the war was through solid support of Israel while working on a cease-fire agreement whereby the hostages would be released under conditions not dictated by Hamas, and an attempt to tone down the humanitarian implications of the war.

"While Hamas and its supporters claim that it received this framework at the beginning of July, this is not true! Hamas inserted new demands for a permanent cease-fire. And in such negotiations, they would never — ever — even if all the other clauses appeared as accepted, they would refuse to present a list of the hostages who would be released it the cease-fire was implemented. This was the situation throughout all of the negotiations in Cairo and Duha, Qatar, which I helped move during last summer.

"Hamas only seriously considered those subjects which interested them...

What was new and unique about HaRav Yisroel Salanter's approach? Ethical works had been authored generations earlier. Men who had perfected themselves and feared Hashem existed in every era. What did R' Yisroel propound? Did he put more stress on mitzvos bein adam lechavero, or did he merely wish to place these mitzvos on an equal footing with mitzvos bein adam laMakom? What can we learn from his letters and from the stories of his conduct that abound?

The gaon HaRav Chaim Shmuelevitz, zt'l, rosh yeshiva of Mir, stood before the shtender and said, "What was unique and innovative about the yeshivos of the Mussar movement? What did they invent? Does anybody know? They invented...the lunch room!

"Learning? Everyone learned, in all yeshivos, both prior and subsequent to the founding of the Mussar movement. However, when seder ends, everyone goes down to the lunch room. Five or six bochurim sit at a table, and the bowl of French fries arrives. Then, they are put to the test. Will everyone reach for the bowl in a mad frenzy, in an effort to grab the crispest, brownest, fries? Or will each person offer the bowl to his neighbor, offering him the best portion..."