By Rabbi Yair Hoffman The breathtaking complexity and intellectual rigor of the field of Kashrus often goes unappreciated, even by those well-versed in Jewish law. Deep within this vast ocean of knowledge lies an absolutely riveting debate that captures the essence of how nuanced this field truly is: Does a particular ligament count among the crucial 16 tendons that render a chicken treif? This fascinating controversy pits two towering giants of halachic scholarship against each other – the brilliant Rav Shmuel Vosner zt”l (pictured on the right) and the masterful Rav Meir Brandsdorfer zt”l (on the left). What follows is nothing short of a intellectual feast – a careful translation of their remarkable responsa, each one a masterpiece of logical reasoning and deep analysis.

Federal authorities have deported a Jordanian national caught attempting to cross the U.S.-Canada border earlier this month, citing concerns over his potential ties to terrorism. Mohammad Hasan Abdellatif Albana, 41, was apprehended by Border Patrol agents in Lynden, Washington, near the northern border. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials confirmed Wednesday that Albana was expelled from the United States on November 15. ICE has not disclosed the exact timeline or details of how or when Albana entered the country but stated that his removal was part of an ongoing effort to protect national security. “ERO Seattle is committed to the removal of noncitizens who pose a risk to the national security of the U.S.,” said Drew H. Bostock, ICE Seattle Field Office Director.

Dean Sweetland casts his gaze over a forlorn street in the Israeli community of Kibbutz Malkiya. Perched on a hill overlooking the border with Lebanon, the town stands mostly empty after being abandoned a year ago. The daycare is closed. The homes are unkempt. Parts of the landscape are ashen from fires sparked by fallen Hezbollah rockets. Even after a tenuous Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire designed to let Israelis return to the north, the mood here is far from celebratory. “The ceasefire is rubbish,” said Sweetland, a gardener and member of the kibbutz’s civilian security squad.

Iran will begin enriching uranium with thousands of advanced centrifuges at its two main nuclear facilities at Fordo and Natanz, the United Nations’ nuclear watchdog said Friday, further raising tensions over Tehran’s program as it enriches at near weapons-grade levels. The notice from the International Atomic Energy Agency only mentioned Iran enriching uranium with new centrifuges to 5% purity, far lower than the 60% it currently does — likely signaling that it still wants to negotiate with the West and the incoming administration of President-elect Donald Trump.

Israel’s National Security Council (NSC) on Motzei Shabbos issued a warning about the escalating threat of terrorism against Israelis and Jews in Southeast Asian countries, especially Thailand. The NSC stated that “intelligence indicates that the ‘terrorist infrastructure’ responsible for the murder of Rabbi Tzvi Kogan, H’yd in Dubai on November 21, is planning additional terrorist activities, according to assessments from all relevant security officials in the Southeast Asian arena, particularly in Thailand.” “In light of the increasing threat, the National Security Council recommends that all Israelis staying in Southeast Asian countries adhere to the following recommendations: 1. Avoid going to places associated with Israel/Jews. 2.

Israel’s Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer informed U.S. President-elect Donald Trump last month that 60 of the 101 hostages held by Hamas in Gaza are thought to be alive, according to a report by Yisrael Hayom. The updated figure is higher than the earlier estimate of 51 hostages, which Israeli intelligence provided in early November. Officially, 76 of the 101 hostages are classified as alive. Of the captives, 97 were kidnapped during Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack on southern Israel. During a November 10 meeting at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate, Dermer reportedly delivered messages from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and discussed Israel’s strategies regarding Lebanon, Gaza, Iran, and Israeli-Saudi normalization. Ruby Chen, the father of Staff Sgt.

The IDF struck over 12,500 Hezbollah targets in Lebanon during its nearly 14-month conflict that erupted after the Iranian-backed group opened fire on Israel, following the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led massacre that killed approximately 1,200 Israelis. Among the targets destroyed were 1,600 command and control centers and 1,000 weapons storage facilities. The IDF confirmed the deaths of around 2,500 Hezbollah terrorists, though military estimates place the number closer to 3,500.

Iran views the recently established ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah as an opportunity to rebuild the Lebanon-based terror organization, according to sources close to Hezbollah quoted by The Washington Post. The four-day-old truce reportedly allows Iran to reassess its strategies for its strongest regional proxy, restore its strength, and bolster its deterrence capabilities. Sources cited by The Washington Post revealed that Hezbollah was disappointed with the lack of support from Iran’s other proxies in the region during Israel’s recent military campaign in Lebanon. “Lebanon was at its most vulnerable during heavy bombings, yet support from other members of the resistance axis, including Yemen and Iraq, was minimal at best,” a source close to Hezbollah said.

By Rabbi Yair Hoffman A Historical Parallel The thoughts expressed in this article are likely to ellicit emotional reactions on all sides.  But let’s try to use reason and logic to understand the underlying points.  True, there is a difference between the parallel and the current situation, which will be addressed in Part II with a discussion of the fifth chapter of the Rambam in Hichos Melachim..  Let’s first read Part I, however.  Please try not to comment, until you have readboth Part I and  Part II.  In the interest of brevity, this article has been kept to less than 4900 words.

Rabbi Tzvi Kogan, H’YD, left his home on the morning of November 21, got in his car and drove to Rimon, the kosher grocery store he managed, the Wall Street Journal reported. Then he disappeared. When he failed to show up for a dental appointment that afternoon, his wife Rivky contacted Chabad, who contacted the police. By then, his murderers had abducted him and were driving him toward the neighboring country of Oman, a person familiar with the investigation said. Something “disrupted that plan” and Emirati police later found Rabbi Kogan’s body and car inside the UAE near the border. Kogan’s friends and family told WSJ that it was a bloody end, though the exact circumstances around his death remain unclear. According to the report, Rabbi Kogan never felt unsafe living in the UAE.