Cultural independence can be a good thing, except when the topic gets dicey. Exploring what was dead wrong about Satmar's explanation of why they endorsed Mamdani - and why Mishpacha giving them cover is completely incomprehensible.

Having been critiqued by us as a milquetoast, Rabbi Hersh responds, and dishes it out to us. Genteely, of course. Like a Brit. Also - an intro to our next series, on the place and impact of home-grown frum culture.

Perhaps Jews just ought to let go of the irritations of slurs, graffiti, etc. That's just part of living in galus. Or maybe mah yafis will just make things worse? Listen as the distance between proper English gentlemen and brash Americans opens wider than ever.

Many found the huge gathering inspiring. Others were less than enthusiastic about the political messages. What options do we have in reacting? More importantly - the answers are not simply theoretical.

Is it permissible - and in good taste - to reflect upon positive consequences of a pogrom that took 1500 lives, and a war that took another 916? Can we point to gains that were made - military, politically, socially and spiritually? Is there some kind of a pairing of Midas HaDin and Midas HaRachamim? Your two rabbis duke it out.

To read Rabbi Adlerstein's moving tribute to Rabbi Moshe Hauer z"l, click here.

The rabbis go at each other on whether the old-time image of a predetermination of the coming year is accuate, and useful. As well as some thoughts about Charlie Kirk's assassination as the Oct. 7th of serious Christians.

Does one's inner moral voice count, or are all moral questions adequately addressed in halachic sources? Especially since those sources already have plenty to say about going beyond the letter of the law? Does a Torah-honed conscience add to - or interfere with - Hashem's expectations of us?

So many groups couch their arguments in overheated exaggeration. It works wonders for the adoring base. When people begin believing their own rhetoric, they cease to become people who can win the sympathies of others... as in the recent meeting between two gedolei Yisrael and Mike Huckabee.