Thank You
First of all, Mazal Tov Spain! 1
It's easy to focus on what you're missing. I, for example, am in Semporna, within 40 minutes of the last remaining “Sea Gypsies”, who have lived in boats, without going to land, for nearly a thousand years, and I’ve been unable to get to them and to see and share what they are like because it would cost about $200 to hire the experienced boatman, boat and fuel to get there, which I lack.
But public facing about what one lacks is not just silly because it amplifies one’s internal focus on it, but also wrong, because it misdiagnoses Life, God, Oneself, and Human Beings in general.
Many of the ways in which I am fortunate are probably obvious and besides, talking about them would feel like bragging - something I don't mind doing at the appropriate times, but right now I’d like to focus on a different facet of my fortunateness.
I do have friends who like and support me.
And it's my honor and privilege to praise and thank them publicly.
If you’ve spent even a single hour with me or my material you already know this, but for the sake of the public record I want to say that of course their friendship and support doesn't mean that they necessarily would have written and said everything that I’ve written and said. Obviously, I myself only write and speak the moment that I’m doing so. It's unfortunate that words have permanence - plainly not Nature or God’s preference - but once they do, I’m glad to supply a record, as while of course everything I ever think or say is tentative and subject to change, I don't regret and I’m not ashamed of anything I have thought, said, written, or done, as they were all genuine and publicly transparent at the time.
Three of the following people are actively involved in daily pro-Israel activities. Another person is overwhelmed with mercy for the Palestinians.
Some of these people are Orthodox Jews who publicly state their belief in a young Earth, others are Christian, Jewish, Agnostic, or have other beliefs that are less easy to categorize.
What they all definitely have in common is an opposition to leaving me exposed to hunger and the elements. What I’m pretty sure they all have in common is a desire to ensure that my own personal uniqueness remains active, known, and an opportunity for mankind to consider ideas beyond those that have billions of dollars worth of special interest behind them. My own tragic lack of guile and salesmanship is humanity’s gain. In a world where a single more-or-less democratically elected individual can set the rules for how entire nations run, even at the cost of countless lives, it's good to sustain those rare birds incapable of succumbing to following the leader. 2
Of course they also like me, as I like them. Kindness and admiration are cool, but friendship is divine.
I’m honored that you are reading me, whoever you are. But everything that you have read, watched or listened to is thanks entirely to the following people to whom we all owe our appreciation, friendship, and love.
As of now, these are they:
Foundational Supporters
Andrew Hanke — A working-class scientist of Christian persuasion in Iowa who, among other gifts - not least of which being our close personal friendship - sponsored both my Jubilee Month (which resulted in stopping a murder in Cairo that would have resulted in a tribal war of multi-generational standing) as well as my travels in the far eastern, primate ridden regions of Borneo. Click the links for relevant videos.
Mendel Levy — A Jewish Israeli friend of long standing, active and profligate in both Israel and the United States, with whom I shared some time in Aish HaTorah over 25 years ago, and who sponsored my ability to rent a vehicle and travel into the smallest towns in Western Borneo to meet people who had never only not met any Jews or Americans, but who had never even met any orang putih - white people. 3
Core Pillars
Rabbi Tzadok Cable - An eminent rabbi, author and friend whose book “CONSTANTS: 6 Mitzvos You Can Always Do”, is the standard on the subject, and can be purchased by clicking the title. 4
Dr. Jack Walfish - A prominent doctor in New York City who is renowned as a man of genuine kindness and virtue by everybody who has ever met him.
Leah Ganz Weisshaar - A wonderful friend of over 25 years who is one of the most intelligent and intellectually honest people I know. She’s long been a source of courage for me to the point that she's frustrated with me for not assuming the title of Jewry’s leader. I hope she understands my discomfort with doing so, but her support is more meaningful than I can say.
Steven Kraman - A friend of over 20 years since he was a congregant of mine in the Kehillat HaMidbar Synagogue in Palm Springs, California. He videoed every single one of my classes and lectures that year (other than those on Shabbat and Yom Tov of course), and he’s been one of my closest friends ever since. His admiration for me is absolutely surpassed by my admiration for him. 5
Rabbi Mordechai Machlis - I once wrote a full page article for The Jewish Press (published January 1, 2010) about Rabbi Mordechai Machlis and his late wife Henny, but literally nothing I, or anyone else, could ever write or say about him would suffice. He is sui generis. The levels of Torah knowledge and Torah practice that he lives by are not, to my knowledge, matched in the world. Since the very first Shabbat of his marriage, Rabbi and Rebbetzin Machlis have hosted guests. Every single Shabbat and holiday since (and nearly every weekday as well) his home has been filled with guests. He is known as a paragon of kindness - because that can not be hidden - but, because he can hide it, few know that there is likely nobody alive today who knows more Torah than he does. If you visit Israel, I cannot recommend strongly enough that you get to know him. Feeding the physically and spiritually hungry of the world is expensive, and Rabbi Machlis does not chase personal wealth and comfort, so if you want to be a part of the undertakings of perhaps the most exceptional human being there is, please consider contributing to the tax-deductible charity machlis.org 6
Golden Subscribers
Rabbi Emmanuel Natanov - a fellow native of Queens, New York who I got to know through my father, upon my return to New York from Spain 6 years ago. A genuine, wise, kind, and caring friend, Rabbi Natanov is an independent thinker and activist from whom the world will hopefully soon hear much more. Of necessity.
Rabbi Yisroel Kogan - Raised in an unfriendly cult in upstate New York, he escaped as soon as he reached adulthood, and has gone on to become a brilliant mathematician, programmer, father, and great friend and intellectual companion since we met over 15 years ago. He sponsored this video, overlooking the coast of Borneo, and regarding matters few people discuss openly. His strength and independence of mind and spirit is absolutely unique.
Father Charles Norman - An extremely dear and close confidant, supporter, and friend.
Shumy Reichmann - A dear friend from my boyhood days, ever since we were 9 years old.
Harvey Goldblatt - Professor of Medieval Slavic Literature, and Master of Pierson College, both at Yale University.
Rabbi Yossy Gordon - CEO of Chabad on Campus International.
Rabbi Aaron Mitnick - Rabbi, lawyer, juicer extraordinaire, Canadian(!), and friend since our days in rabbinical school in Jerusalem, during which time he accompanied me on dozens of visits to the dying, abandoned residents of The French Hospice.
Rabbi Chaim Burg - Aish HaTorah Rabbinical College mate with whom I’ve been close and who I’ve admired for nearly 30 years. He is the Founder and Director of Israel 2.0.
Zalman Einhorn - A brilliant thinker and writer whose works I would love to share but, as an independent thinker with a family to consider, all of his writings are anonymous. Truly an exceptional mind and man.
Steve Martin - I assume I would know if I met one of The Three Amigos and I don't think I have. Someone named Steve Martin donated to the Prime Moderator campaign but I’m not certain which Steve Martin it is, and I don't have an email to contact. I know that many world famous actors, including Meryl Streep, Paul Giamatti, and Natalie Portman are subscribed so it's definitely possible. If you happen to know the actor and this is actually him, please thank him on my behalf and invite him to get in touch! (moshejrudner@gmail.com)
Stephen Lief - A brilliant teacher, initiative-taker, and incredibly kind fellow in Pennsylvania.
Rabbi Kfir Rani - A paragon of virtue, charity and wisdom who is the heart and body of Judaism in Canarsie, New York.
Marilyn Matt - Last but not least, I know nothing about her save her intellectual honesty and deep concern for all of the suffering people in the world. We met on Reddit where she was shrieking about the horrors of the wars in Gaza and we wrote - extensively - back and forth for a full day, during which time she came to understand that it wasn't wanton cruelty that drove Israel, but the necessity of “playing the game” by the horrible rules that our present world demands. I was speaking truth on all sides of Reddit, to the effect that I was kicked off the platform. Literally everybody but her was playing for the cruelty of one side against the other. Only she was genuinely desirous of a better outcome for everybody which is why, after I was already off the platform, she sent me a serious donation in the hope that I may yet be able to change the game.
And with your help, we will.
Thank you all. May your numbers increase for you are truly uniquely great.
Moshe
I mentioned in the past that I was rooting for the impossible outcome of Egypt winning the World Cup because I have so many football-fan friends who are Egyptian. I didn't love however that after their win against Australia, one of their coaches ran around with the Palestinian flag. I absolutely get it. To people not in the know (which is the whole point of genuine Hasbara) Israel looks absolutely monstrous and indefensible. And, of course, other than from yours truly, Egyptians were not being enlightened about the facts. But, nonetheless, with both sides being in the absolute wrong, I didn't enjoy watching that coach do what he did.
For that reason I only watched a few minutes of the next game they played - against Argentina - at around the 20 minute mark, when the score was 1-0 in Egypt’s favor. I mentioned to fellow Malaysian watchers that Egypt ought to win this one but that the refs won't let Argentina get knocked out by Egypt. After I learned the final score a few hours later (Argentina 3 - Egypt 2) and zero other facts about the game, I asked Google: “Are there any serious people saying that the referees cheated for Argentina?”
Look it up. Yes, there are serious people saying so. (That's an understated joke, it's not the kind of thing that anyone can deny.)
So, though Egypt had done wrong Argentina certainly had as well, and recompense was necessary (Genesis 15:14 & Mishna Avot 2:6). And Argentina was going to be up against Spain! Not being a soccer fiend, I hadn't even known that Spain was in serious consideration for the win. But I know that they took soccer seriously…
I lived in Spain for nearly 3 years, and thanks to the friendship and hospitality of Pedro and Paulina in the coastal town of Cabo de Gata I spent many an evening watching them hoot and holler as we all enjoyed Moroccan hashish and watched this or that local Spanish team. In fact, I probably watched more Spaniards play football, on tv and live, than people of any other nationality. So I’m glad that my many friends, chief among them Pedro and Paulina, are celebrating tonight!
If you visit Spain, I highly recommend staying with them. Cabo de Gata is an amazing place, home to the most beautiful variety of beach stones I’ve ever seen.
This applies to nearly all leaders on Earth, for the simple fact that The System never allows genuine opposition. You may have thought I was talking about Trump, and of course I count him too, but it's not like if Kamala won, the desires of the average American would come to pass either. I’ve spoken about and to the leaders of Great Britain, who are literally complicit in the mass rape and murder of their own citizenry, but the UK has gone through governments both Liberal and Conservative without any change - precisely as America has been run by The Epstein Cabal across multiple successive administrations.
I’ve lived in enough countries to know that the same is true everywhere. But the fellow I specifically have in mind is Vladimir Putin. He is indeed, “more or less democratically elected”, and for his own reasons he has plunged his citizenry into a war that literally none of them wanted — a war that has thus far cost the lives of 450,000 Russians, the limbs of a million Russians, and the sanity of 8 million Russians.
His neck is no thicker than mine or yours, so how is he still alive when any three women can literally beat him to death? He’s alive and in power because everyone but me (and presumably some other individuals in gulags somewhere) is capable of spiritually and mentally surrendering to Power. As Mark Twain, HL Mencken and Ben Hecht have pointed out, humans are the most herdish of species. Every statistician can point to major stats about the benefit of belonging to a herd. My own tragic incapacity to do so is something that wise individuals recognize is worth preserving.
The complete - utterly fascinating - interview with the fellow who witnessed the killing of the last Dusun Pagan Warrior remains behind the paywall for paid supporters, but the video whence came the titular photo, while still unlisted in YouTube, is now within the Mendel Levy playlist and viewable at the link in his description above.
They are:
Know that there is a single God
Be in awe of God
Don’t stray after the desires of your imagination or external senses
His dear mother, who I knew well and loved, passed away just a few days ago. Here's Steve with his lovely daughter Yael, delivering the eulogy which I watched from Borneo via livestream.
In honor of the 10th anniversary of the passing of Rabbi Machlis’s incredible wife Henny I studied the complete book of Isaiah over a few days and delivered this video of a few findings from that study, in Henny’s memory and honor.
Of perhaps greater relevance is this video regarding the biblical chapter - Isaiah 58 - read every Yom Kippur, regarding which I have published multiple videos, but within this one I explicitly talk about the great Machlis family who, more than perhaps anyone, exemplify what it means to live by Isaiah 58.