SHABBAT READING
An Inner-Biblical Elaboration of the Decalogue: Prof. Edward L. Greenstein, TheTorah.com, May 11, 2016 — In the late Second Temple period, the Ten Commandments, or Decalogue, was as central to Jewish worship as the Shema (Deut 6:4-9) and preceded it in the morning prayers of the priests, prior to their making the daily (Tamid) sacrifice in the Temple (Mishnah Tamid 5:1). We find the canonical sequence of Decalogue-Shema in the Book of Deuteronomy (chapters 5-6), and in an ancient page of papyrus from around 150 B.C.E.[1] Experts agree that this papyrus records a part of the daily Jewish liturgy. The Decalogue was, then, an integral part of Jewish worship.
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MOVING FORWARD
Netanyahu Hits Back at Biden Aid Threat: ‘If Necessary, We Will Fight with Our Nails’: Zach Kessel, National Review, May 9, 2024 — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Thursday that his country is ready to “stand alone” in its fight against Hamas terrorists, responding to President Joe Biden’s announcement that the United States will cut off ammunition supplies to Jerusalem if the Israel Defense Forces launch a large-scale invasion of Rafah, the last remaining Hamas stronghold in Gaza.
“Israel has not been abandoned by America. It has been abandoned and betrayed by the Biden administration. Sen. Lindsay Graham’s questioning of Def. Secretary Lloyd Austin should be heard by the American people so they can see what is being done to the Jews in their name.”: Caroline Glick@CarolineGlick
WATCH: Lindsey Graham Presses Lloyd Austin on Halted Weapons to Israel, Asks If He Would Have Dropped Atomic Bombs on Japan: Phillip Nieto, MSN, May 9, 2024 — Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) grilled Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin over if he would have dropped atomic bombs on Japan during World War II after the Biden administration announced it had halted shipments of weapons to Israel.
WATCH: Israel Invades Rafah as Biden Holds Back Weapons: Caroline B. Glick, JNS, May 7, 2024 — After failed hostage negotiations with Hamas, Israel finally begins its operation in Rafah in the southernmost part of the Gaza Strip at the same time that the Biden administration seems to halt ammunition transfers illegally.
Sinister Hamas Terms Would Let It Keep Most Hostages, Win the War, Inflame the West Bank: David Horovitz, Times of Israel, May 8, 2024
Hamas’s (Supposed) Consent to the Hostage Deal and the Operation in Rafah: Insights and Recommendations: Tamir Hayman, INSS, May 7, 2024
Inside the White House Scramble to Broker a Deal in Gaza: Peter Baker, NY Times, May 7, 2024
Rafah or Riyadh?: Walter E. Block, Israel Hayom, May 1, 2024
For Further Reference:
Israelis Frustrated With U.S. Handling of Hostage Talks: Barak Ravid, Axios, May 6, 2024 — Israeli officials claim the Biden administration knew about the latest hostage and ceasefire deal proposal Egypt and Qatar negotiated with Hamas but didn’t brief Israel before Hamas announced it accepted it on Monday. A senior U.S. official pushed back saying “American diplomats have been engaged with Israeli counterparts. There have been no surprises.”
Israel Reportedly Deeply Frustrated with US Halting Arm Shipment: Erez Linn, Israel Hayom, May 8, 2024 — The United States’ decision to temporarily halt a large shipment of offensive weapons to Israel has drawn deep frustration from Israeli officials, according to an Israeli official who spoke to NBC News. This comes as the Biden administration raises concerns over a potential Israeli military offensive on Rafah and pushes for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas terrorists.
Israel’s Newest Security Threat – Is the US Next?: Robert Williams, Gatestone Institute, May 8, 2024 — The Iranian-orchestrated Hamas attack on Israel on October 7 — which resulted in mass rapes, the murders of 1,200 men, women, children and infants; taking more than 250 hostages and firing thousands of rockets at Israeli towns and cities — has shown that China, which Israel might have thought was an ally, turned out to be, sadly, more of an enemy.
Hamas Kingpin Holed Up Deep Below Gaza, Surrounded by Hostages Used as Human Shields, Says Expert: Benjamin Weinthal, Fox News, May 5, 2024 — The terrorist mastermind behind Hamas’ massacre of nearly 1,200 people, including over 30 Americans, is believed to be using hostages as human shields to hold off Israeli soldiers seeking to capture him in a tunnel deep below Gaza.
