Hebrew- Not Just Another Language

With the recent abundance of translations of Rabbinic literature into English, there is a clear decline in the study & knowledge of Hebrew in the Yeshiva and Jewish Day School systems in the last decade. The class deals with not only the problem of studying Torah from translations instead of the original, but in the ideal of learning and speaking Hebrew as an ideal in unto itself. It summarizes some of the central points in his sefer, "LeHarim et HaDegel" on the topic, including sources how the holiness of Lashon HaKodesh halachically elevates even secular topics (& kal vachomer Torah!) & instills Jewish Pride, Unity & Identity. This in addition to the mitzva involved, the kabbalistic, philosophic & scholarly ramifications (to be cont. in part 2)

How Can We, As Orthodox Jews Support & Celebrate a Non-Religious State?

The most basic quesion in religious-Zionism, is how can we religious Jews support & even selebrate on Yom HaAtzma'ut, a non-religious Jewish State? True, it's a lot closer than anything else around, and today, Israel is clearly the Torah Center of Judaism, and aside from the holiness and mitzva of Eretz Yisrael, what should our relationship be towards Medinat Yisrael? The Rambam already presents a precedent where we celebrate 200 years of sovereignty on Chanuka, even though admitting the Macccabean dynasy was problematic religiously (they were Kohanim & also for most of the 200 years not that religious, hellinists etc.). The she'ur concisely explains in 5 points, why a Jewish State is so important, even if it's not as religious as we like.

Prime Ministers are People Too!

Ein Aya Shabat Chapter B Paragraph 54

Public figures tend to forget that they are also private individuals and responsible for even the smallest of their actions.