(Worthy Insights) – A replica of the Ark of the Covenant, painstakingly constructed, its creators say, to the Torah specifications of the sacred vessel that was the First Temple’s central fixture, was displayed in Jerusalem on Sunday evening, during the intermediate days of the Sukkot holiday.

The ark described in the Torah, which housed the Ten Commandments tablets among other holy objects, was hidden after the destruction of the First Temple, per rabbinic tradition. At Jerusalem’s King David Hotel, the replica shown in the hotel’s sukkah contained a refurbished Torah scroll, which survived the Holocaust, from Thessaloniki, Greece.

Several members of the Knesset and Israeli activists were on hand at the hotel for an event and festive meal—a stop on the replica’s journey retracing the steps of the biblical prototype. [ Source (Read More…) ]

(Worthy Insights) – Linda McKnight of Webb City has already made up her mind that she is voting “no” on the upcoming initiative that, if passed, would lift Missouri’s abortion ban.

“I was really surprised—I guess I should not have been—but I was very surprised and very disappointed we are going down that road again,” said McKnight.

Since the Supreme Court’s 2022 decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, nearly two dozen states have implemented bans or restrictions on abortion. Missouri is now one of ten states where voters will decide whether to reverse course. [ Source (Read More…) ]

(Worthy Insights) – A Jewish man was shot multiple times over the weekend while he was on his way to synagogue in Chicago.

The gunman also opened fire on first responders and reportedly screamed “Allahu akbar” when confronted by police. A suspect in the shooting has been identified as 22-year-old Sidi Mohammed Abdullahi.

Abdullahi is charged with 14 felony courts and was expected to make a court appearance Tuesday despite being shot multiple times. [ Source (Read More…) ]

(Worthy Insights) – Hezbollah’s new Secretary-General, Naim Qassem, delivered his first speech in his new position today (Wednesday), but his remarks were cut off mid-speech.

At the same time, a cyber attack was reported in Lebanon. Later, Hezbollah managed to restore the broadcast of the speech.

“The question that is being asked is – what is the leader’s plan of action?” Qassem said. “My plan is the continuation of Nasrallah’s plan in all respects – political, cultural, and jihad. We will continue to carry out the war plan that we decided on together with the organization’s leadership, we will stay on the war path – while dealing with the political challenges and we will respond to developments at this stage.” [ Source (Read More…) ]

(Worthy Insights) – An internal espionage scandal is rocking Italy after a private investigation firm made up of current and former senior members of the security services was alleged to have stolen personal information on politicians, including Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and public figures, to be used for extortion.

Israel’s Mossad was alleged to have been involved in deals with the Milan-based investigative firm.

At least four people are under arrest and dozens more under investigation. Cyber security experts and hackers may have breached the servers of Italy’s interior ministry, investigators said. [ Source (Read More…) ]

(Worthy Insights) – Former President Trump reportedly asked Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to wrap up the Israel-Hamas war by the time he gets inaugurated, if he is elected, according to the Times of Israel.

The Israeli outlet was told about the exchange by an anonymous source familiar with the situation. Either Trump or Vice President Kamala Harris will be inaugurated on Jan. 20, depending on how voters cast their ballots on Nov. 5.

The Times of Israel’s source said that Trump initially gave the message to Netanyahu when the Israeli leader visited him at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida, this past July. [ Source (Read More…) ]

(Worthy Insights) – President Joe Biden sparked anger Tuesday when he used the term “garbage” to describe Donald Trump supporters.

Biden’s remark came in response to a comedian at a recent Trump rally in Madison Square Garden who compared Puerto Rico to an “island of garbage.” The Trump campaign said that comment does not reflect Mr. Trump’s views.

But in a call with a Latino advocacy group, President Biden had this to say: “Well let me tell you something I don’t know the Puerto Rico that I know, or Puerto Rico where I’m, in my home state of Delaware, they’re good, decent, honorable people. The only garbage I see floating out there is his supporters. His demonization is unconscionable.” [ Source (Read More…) ]

(Worthy Insights) – Israel is pursuing a “long-term strategy” focused on neutralizing Iran’s nuclear program and proxies, despite claims to the contrary, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Monday.

Speaking at the opening of the Knesset’s winter session, Netanyahu pushed back against recent claims that Israel’s war effort lacked focus.

“After each of our achievements, I hear the former officials in the television studios say: ‘Well, we understand the immediate war goals, but what’s the strategy?’” he said. “So if it’s not clear by now, I will lay it out in simple terms: Our long-term strategy, which I hope will be achieved shortly, is to dismantle the evil axis, sever its tentacles in the north and south, exact a heavy toll from Iran and its proxies and prevent it from obtaining nuclear arms.” [ Source (Read More…) ]

(Worthy Insights) – Former President Donald Trump and former independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s recent vow to tackle public health issues together could signal a major shift in Republican priorities if the Trump campaign prevails on Election Day.

Trump has called for the creation of an independent commission with Kennedy’s input and pledged to address various Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) issues the former independent candidate has brought to the forefront, including improving the public’s intake of nutritious foods and addressing the rising trend of obesity in adults. These concerns, in addition to other MAHA priorities that have not historically found much support in the GOP such as calling for more stringent environmental regulations, indicate that a potential Trump administration may take a different approach on health, agricultural and environmental issues than during his first term in office. [ Source (Read More…) ]

(Worthy Insights) – Hundreds of ballots were destroyed in a ballot box fire in Vancouver early Monday morning, and another ballot box fire in Portland destroyed three ballots. The fires happened about a week away from the Nov. 5 general election. Law enforcement officials believe the two incidents — and a similar Vancouver incident three weeks ago — are all linked.

Vancouver police officers responded around 4 a.m. Monday to a reported arson at a ballot box on Southeast 164th Avenue, near the Fisher’s Landing Transit Depot. The officers found a “suspicious device” next to the ballot box, which was smoking and on fire, according to Vancouver police. A KGW crew saw flames and smoke coming from the ballot box around 6:30 a.m. The Metro Explosive Disposal Unit retrieved the device and the fire was extinguished, Vancouver police said. [ Source (Read More…) ]

(Worthy Insights) – The IDF on Thursday published further documents captured in Gaza that it said indicated close cooperation between Hamas and Al Jazeera, including papers in which the terror group advised the Qatari network not to criticize it, and in which the sides coordinated on concealing incidents of failed rocket launches.

The release came a day after the army publicized documents uncovered in the Gaza Strip that it said showed that six active Al Jazeera reporters are operatives in Palestinian terror groups.

The IDF said the latest documents proved direct communication and cooperation between the Qatari network and Hamas. [ Source (Read More…) ]

(Worthy Insights) – On Sunday, a full-dress reenactment of the water libation, as it was performed in the Temple, was held in Jerusalem with several hundred participants led by Kohanim in priestly garb, accompanied by Levites playing musical instruments.

The event began at Shaar Hashpot (the dung gate) in Jerusalem’s Old City where participants joined Kohanim (priests) in Biblically mandated vestments and Levites with musical instruments, also wearing special vestments. The musically gifted Levites led the ceremony with joyous music on drums, violin, guitar, and clarinet, winding down ancient walkways into the valley below the Temple Mount. The crowd sang and danced as they passed from the archaeological remains of the ancient City of David, through an Arab village, to the Shiloach (Siloam) Spring, which was used in Temple times. The procession was punctuated by stops during which four-foot-long pure silver trumpets were sounded. [ Source: Israel365 (Read More…) ]