The Torah Im Derech Eretz Society
A community of practitioners of Torah Im Derech Eretz
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Friday, October 2, 2026
RAF pilot recounts destroying Dresden
Thursday, October 1, 2026
Tuesday, September 29, 2026
severe rodent infestation
Yes, there is currently a severe rodent infestation throughout the Gaza Strip, particularly affecting displacement camps and tent settlements. According to recent reports, over 80% of displacement sites surveyed in April 2026 experienced regular infestations of rats and pests.
The infestation has reached crisis levels, with rats and parasites spreading through tent camps, biting children and adults as they sleep, and gnawing through possessions. Health officials have reported that every day hospitals record cases of patients being admitted due to rodent-related incidents, particularly among children, the elderly, and the sick.
The World Health Organization has recorded more than 70,000 cases of ectoparasite infections and rodent-borne illnesses in Gaza since the beginning of 2026. According to the Gaza Ministry of Health, four displaced people have died from skin diseases directly linked to rodent infestations.
The crisis stems from the widespread destruction of infrastructure, including water and sewage networks, combined with the accumulation of rubble and waste, which has created favorable conditions for rodents to thrive. Aid efforts have included the transfer of about 90 tons of pest control materials and over 1,000 mousetraps into Gaza, but these measures have proven largely ineffective in the current environment.
The problem has now spread beyond Gaza's borders, with thousands of rats reportedly moving into Israeli settlements surrounding the Strip, causing significant agricultural damage.
Monday, September 28, 2026
magnificent language
“Profanity is the parlance of the fool. Why curse when there is such a magnificent language with which to discourse?"
-Theodore Roosevelt
Monday, September 21, 2026
My Lai
In 2004, Mike Wallace interviewed Larry Colburn and Hugh Thompson, members of an American helicopter crew who were credited with saving Vietnamese civilians during the 1968 My Lai massacre, which killed more than 500 unarmed civilians. In 1998, 60 Minutes first returned to Vietnam with Colburn and Thompson, where they met some of the people they rescued in My Lai.
The wise will understand.