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United Torah Judaism chairman MK Yitzchak Goldknopf launched a blistering attack on Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and the right-wing coalition in an interview in Hebrew with Kikar HaShabbat, accusing the Prime Minister of abandoning the Chareidi public, breaking his promises, and allowing unprecedented sanctions and arrests against yeshiva students. Goldknopf also declared that any future coalition must pass a draft law protecting Torah learners without quotas or sanctions.

Speaking against the backdrop of High Court rulings, the arrests of yeshiva students, and the ongoing battle over the military draft, Goldknopf said the Chareidi parties made serious strategic mistakes and accused Netanyahu of failing to honor commitments made to the Chareidi parties.

He also sharply criticized police conduct during demonstrations and the treatment of detainees held in military prisons, declaring that, as far as he is concerned, the so-called right-wing bloc no longer exists. He insisted that his support for any future government would depend on legislation fully protecting the status of Torah learners without enlistment targets or penalties.

Addressing the High Court’s decision to freeze the arrests law, Goldknopf said, “I think everyone knew there would be petitions against this issue, especially since the legal experts told us this law was hanging by a thread. But as long as there was something more that could be done regarding these arrests, I joined that effort and supported it.”

Asked about criticism within Agudas Yisroel that Shas chairman Aryeh Deri knew in advance the law would ultimately be struck down, Goldknopf replied, “We did it because we couldn’t avoid asking them to do it, but did it bring ahavas chinam or sinas chinam? I don’t think it brought so much ahavas chinam.”

Reflecting on the current crisis facing the Chareidi community, including sanctions that did not exist since the establishment of the state and the arrest of Torah learners, Goldknopf said, “How did we get here? Because we didn’t know how to say what Ben Gvir said and did. If Netanyahu had heard from us that we were leaving—and everyone would have left—believe me, there would have been a draft law exactly as we wanted, without sanctions.”

He continued his criticism of the coalition’s conduct, saying, “As long as Netanyahu knew we were only talking and didn’t really intend to carry it out, he rode on us, and he rode on us very well, and he had a good government. He stood in America next to Trump—how? Because we gave him 64. Who were the seven MKs who supported him? United Torah Judaism. If we had been stronger, we would have passed the draft law and not a hair on the head of a yeshiva student would have been harmed.”

Asked directly whether Netanyahu bears responsibility for the current situation, Goldknopf answered, “What kind of question is that? Is there any doubt? Have you ever seen something Netanyahu wanted that he didn’t accomplish? He knows how to lead and how to achieve results. If they had wanted to—and decided that the draft law came before everything else—and he said that—they could have passed it before the government was formed and before the state budget. They dragged it out, threw sand in our eyes, and made promises to us.”

Speaking about his visits to military prisons, Goldknopf expressed outrage over the detention of yeshiva students.

“I meet detainees there for nothing. I ask them, ‘Who did you murder?’ ‘Who did you steal from?’ ‘Money laundering?’ ‘Why are you sitting in prison?’ And they answer because ‘they sat and learned Torah.’ So what? Because of that you arrest a person? There is no law to arrest them. Why arrest them? Straight to prison? What is this, a chicken? How do you put a person in prison? What’s going on here? Is this atonement?”

Goldknopf also condemned what he described as excessive police force during Chareidi demonstrations.

“They decided somewhere that the blood of the Chareidi public is ownerless. When you see a police officer or Border Police officer grabbing his brother and stripping off his clothes—where in the world has anyone heard of such a thing? How can anyone even imagine that a person could do that? And for what? He demonstrated. Couldn’t cars and ambulances pass in Kaplan too?”

Asked whether he still considers himself part of the right-wing bloc, Goldknopf dismissed the idea outright.

“‘Bloc’? What bloc? How can there be a bloc? A bloc exists when people trust one another. When one betrays another, is that called a bloc? Netanyahu only betrayed us? Didn’t he also hurt us? What am I supposed to tell the thousands of yeshiva students who never received the money they were promised?”

Looking ahead to the next government, Goldknopf said his condition for joining any coalition would be clear.

“The status of Torah learners must be regulated so they are lawful citizens in the State of Israel like everyone else. We will not agree to sanctions or quotas. How can you even say that word (sanctions)? If someone works at Tnuva or Strauss, are you going to impose sanctions on him? What happened here? Who invented this word?”

He concluded with another forceful attack on the sanctions imposed on Torah learners.

“After everything we’ve gone through here, every part of our body has been slaughtered and torn apart. Today we are covered in blood because you carried out such an attack against us that today a Chareidi Jew is humiliated. One is afraid to walk in the street, another can’t send his child to daycare, another can’t travel abroad, they can’t go on vacation like everyone else, they can’t get a driver’s license. What happened here? Is there another country that discriminates against so many of its own citizens?”

Goldknopf reiterated that his demand remains unchanged.

“To recognize all the citizens of Israel as respected citizens who receive all their rights. The demand is that what existed until now should continue—that anyone who learns Torah receives a one-year deferment. A law without sanctions and without quotas. What are sanctions?”

Thousands visit the kever of the Amora Rav Oshiya on Tu B’Av, when many observe the longstanding custom of circling the gravesite as a segulah. Just a five-minute walk downhill lies Ein Tiria, a tranquil spring nestled alongside Nachal Peki’in, offering visitors a peaceful setting with shaded seating, flowing water, and scenic surroundings.

Towering above the gravesite is a centuries-old oak tree that has long been revered by both Jews and local Druze residents. According to local tradition, the Druze never cut its branches for firewood or construction. They collected only the leaves that naturally fell to the ground, burning them as incense around the sick because they believed the sacred tree possessed healing powers.

Another local tradition tells of Ottoman soldiers who ignored the site’s sanctity and cut branches from the tree for firewood. According to the legend, none of them survived, a fate attributed to their desecration of the holy site.

Visitors who come to the kever often recite tefillos and perform the custom of walking in circles around the grave as a segulah. The site was once mistakenly identified as the burial place of Rav Yehoshua ben Chananyah, but that attribution has since been rejected. According to the Arizal, Rav Yehoshua is buried in Tzfas.

Although the exact date of Rav Oshiya’s passing is unknown, the accepted custom is to visit his kever on Tu B’Av.

Rav Oshiya of Tiria was a fourth-generation Amora who earned his livelihood as a launderer. Chazal relate that while washing clothes in a river, he found jewelry that had been lost by a Roman noblewoman while bathing. Even after she told him he could keep it, he insisted on returning the valuables, explaining that the Torah commands honesty and that its teachings must be upheld. Upon his passing, tradition relates that his bier was seen floating through the air, prompting his contemporaries to apply to him the verse, “If a man would give all the wealth of his house for love, it would utterly be despised.”

A short five-minute descent from the kever brings visitors to Ein Tiria. Fed by natural springs and situated beside Nachal Peki’in, the area includes shaded picnic tables, small water channels, and a sealed well. A local Chassidic yeshiva has expressed interest in renovating the spring so it can be used as a mikvah, though local Druze residents have reportedly opposed the plan.

The site is easily accessible by entering “Kever Rabi Oshiya Ish Tiria” into Waze. Visitors will also find a small hospitality beis medrash near the entrance offering hot and cold drinks as well as restroom facilities, making it a convenient destination for those traveling during bein hazemanim.

{Matzav.com}

Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer publicly appealed to Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania to remain in the Democratic Party on Wednesday, praising him as a valued member of the caucus even as tensions continue to grow between Fetterman and the party’s progressive wing over Israel and other issues.

When asked whether he wants Fetterman to continue serving as a Democrat, Schumer replied, “Yes, and he is a very good member of Congress.”

Schumer also emphasized that the Democratic caucus embraces a broad range of viewpoints, saying, “People in our caucus very much like him and respect him and we’re a big-tent party. We can have a lot of different views in that party.”

His remarks came just days after Senate Majority Leader John Thune revealed that Republicans would gladly welcome Fetterman if he ever decided to leave the Democratic Party and join the GOP.

“Yes, we would welcome him,” Thune said, adding that he and other Republican senators have spoken with Fetterman about the difficulties he faces within his own party.

“I have had conversations with him in the past as have many of my colleagues about the challenges he faces in his caucus. And there are many of us who, I think, would welcome the opportunity to have him join the Republican conference but ultimately that’s a decision that’s up to him,” Thune told reporters.

Thune argued that Fetterman may ultimately find himself more politically aligned with Republicans, asserting that the Democratic Party is “moving further and further, more radically, to the more extreme left on a lot of issues.”

Earlier this month, Fetterman said at The Hill Nation Summit that unwavering support for Israel remains a defining principle for him and warned that he would leave the Democratic Party if it formally abandoned the Jewish state.

“If our party ever becomes — and just makes it official — the anti-Israel party, that’s when I would leave because that’s been a moral clarity for me,” he warned.

Fetterman said he struggles to understand why many within his party have become increasingly hostile toward Israel despite the two nations sharing many democratic values.

“My long-term concern has been with the Democratic Party, as I am a member of that, is that our party is going to back away and turn their back to Israel,” he said.

A Quinnipiac University survey conducted earlier this month among 895 registered Pennsylvania voters found that Fetterman continues to enjoy positive overall job approval, with 48 percent approving of his performance and 41 percent disapproving.

The poll also highlighted a striking partisan divide. While 77 percent of Republicans said they approve of the job Fetterman is doing, 69 percent of Democrats said they disapprove of his performance.

The survey further found that a majority of Democrats—52 percent—said they would like to see Fetterman leave the Democratic Party, underscoring the widening divide between the senator and many members of his own political base.

{Matzav.com}

[Videos below.] A man accused of stealing expensive electronics and other valuable merchandise from several Boro Park businesses was arrested Wednesday following a dramatic pursuit that stretched from Boro Park to Crown Heights, ending with the suspects in NYPD custody.

The chase began after NYPD officers and Boro Park Shomrim attempted to stop the suspects near 13th Avenue and 53rd Street. Although the vehicle was surrounded by multiple cars, the driver smashed into several of them to break free before racing down 13th Avenue, putting both pedestrians and other motorists in danger.

As the suspects fled, Boro Park Shomrim quickly obtained the vehicle’s license plate information and continued to track its movements while working in close coordination with the NYPD. Officers pursued from the ground as the NYPD Aviation Unit monitored the vehicle from above, relaying its location to responding units.

The pursuit ultimately ended in Crown Heights, where Crown Heights Shomrim located the suspects’ vehicle. NYPD officers then moved in and took the suspects into custody.

WATCH:

{Matzav.com}

The United States launched a series of airstrikes against targets inside Iran early Thursday, marking a significant escalation in the conflict after President Donald Trump vowed swift retaliation for Iran’s overnight attack on U.S. forces stationed in Jordan.

According to a senior U.S. official cited by Channel 12 News, American forces began striking targets across Iran during the early morning hours.

U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed the operation, stating, “US forces began launching strikes against Iran at 8 p.m. ET today. The strikes are a powerful response to yesterday’s attempted Iranian attacks on U.S. forces based in the Middle East.”

Iranian media reported explosions in several parts of the country, including Nurabad in Fars Province, the southern port city of Sirik, and the city of Ahvaz.

Additional reports from Iranian outlets later said that three blasts were heard on Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz, while another explosion was reported in Bushehr.

The military action came just hours after Trump declared that the United States would respond forcefully to Iran’s attack on American bases in Jordan the previous night.

“We are going to hit them very hard. I can say that because there is very little they can do about it,” he told reporters in the Oval Office.

“We’re going to be hitting them very hard, because it’s our turn to hit them. They know it’s coming, they’re asking us not to do it. They tried shooting last night…we had five rockets shot going 8,500 mph, and all five rockets were knocked down to the ground – but they nevertheless took a shot, so it’s our turn,” Trump stated.

Earlier, Trump told Fox News, “We are going to beat the ‎‎‎ing ‎‎‎ out of them.”

He added, “We’ll be hitting them hard. They are going to get a beating.”

Trump described Iran’s missile barrage as an unexpected assault, saying U.S. forces had only minutes to intercept the incoming projectiles before they reached their targets.

Just before the latest round of strikes began, The Wall Street Journal reported that Trump was weighing whether to expand the military campaign against Tehran. According to the report, U.S. military planners had prepared options for an intensive aerial operation lasting between 10 and 14 days, aimed primarily at destroying Iran’s missile capabilities.

A U.S. official told The Wall Street Journal that, as of Wednesday afternoon, Trump had not yet made a final determination regarding either the scale of the operation or the specific targets that could be struck.

The same official said Trump was “not surprised” by Tehran’s decision to restart hostilities and described the president as being “in an escalatory mood” while senior administration officials continued evaluating the next phase of the U.S. response.

{Matzav.com}

The Trump administration announced it will phase out a Biden-era Medicare subsidy program for prescription drug coverage, arguing the initiative primarily benefited insurance companies rather than seniors. The subsidies will expire at the end of this year and will not be renewed for 2027.

The decision means enhanced subsidies tied to Medicare Part D prescription drug plans will end after 2026. Medicare Part D, which is administered through private insurance companies, provides optional prescription drug coverage to help Medicare beneficiaries pay for both brand-name and generic medications. Enrollees can purchase it as a standalone plan alongside Original Medicare or receive it through a Medicare Advantage plan.

The subsidy program was created during the Biden administration as part of broader changes to Medicare’s prescription drug benefit. Those reforms introduced a $2,000 annual ceiling on out-of-pocket prescription drug costs and also authorized Medicare to negotiate prices for certain high-cost medications covered under Part D.

Most participants receiving the subsidies are senior citizens or individuals with disabilities, many of whom are now waiting to learn what their monthly premiums will be once the program ends.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) said updated premium information is expected to be released sometime between mid-September and late September.

According to CMS, the national average monthly bid amount for Medicare Part D plans in 2027 will be $296.05, a figure used to determine the federal government’s direct subsidy payments to participating insurance plans.

The agency also announced that the standard Medicare Part D beneficiary premium for 2027 will be $41.33.

Reuters reported that approximately 25 million Americans are enrolled in standalone Medicare Part D prescription drug plans.

Defending the decision, CMS Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz wrote Tuesday on X: “We are stabilizing the market so this bailout is no longer needed. Premiums will go up by less than $10 for most Medicare recipients, with many even seeing LOWER premiums.”

Oz added, “Every Medicare beneficiary still has access to low-cost plans, and we will continue to lower prescription drug prices for every American patient, from more MFN deals to our policy giving seniors access to GLP-1s for $50 a month.”

President Donald Trump said Wednesday that he respects President Joe Biden’s decision to pardon Dr. Anthony Fauci, even after the longtime public health official repeatedly invoked the Fifth Amendment during a contentious Senate hearing examining the federal response to the COVID-19 pandemic. At the same time, Trump questioned whether Biden personally signed the pardon, raising concerns about the administration’s use of an autopen.

Speaking with reporters in the Oval Office, Trump emphasized the extraordinary authority vested in the presidency when it comes to granting clemency.

“The most powerful thing a president has, they say, is the power of pardon,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office. “So he was pardoned by Biden, and I respect that. I know how powerful it is. … They say it’s literally the most powerful thing a president has.”

Before leaving office, Biden issued Fauci a sweeping pardon covering any potential federal offenses committed between Jan. 1, 2014, and Jan. 19, 2025.

The pardon came about two years after Fauci retired from public service. He had spent 38 years leading the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and served both as Biden’s chief medical adviser and as one of the leading figures in the Trump administration’s response to the COVID-19 outbreak.

Trump said the only lingering question surrounding the pardon concerns whether Biden personally approved it or whether it was executed through an autopen. Trump and members of his administration have argued that pardons and executive actions signed by autopen could be legally questionable, despite the fact that previous presidents have also used the device.

“He probably didn’t sign this one,” Trump said Wednesday, referring to Biden’s pardon of Fauci. “So, I can’t tell you what the law is. I’ve heard that you have to have a lot of proof, you need to have letters, you need to have all sorts of things.”

Trump later added, “Maybe there’s something on the autopen. Other than that, the power of pardon is very powerful.”

Earlier Wednesday, Fauci appeared before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, where he invoked the Fifth Amendment 111 times during a hearing that lasted roughly three hours as Republican lawmakers sharply criticized his handling of the pandemic.

Before the hearing began, committee chairman Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) released thousands of pages from Fauci’s personal diary spanning 2019 through 2022, encompassing much of the pandemic period. In his opening remarks, Fauci accused Paul of being singularly focused on prosecuting him and said that concern drove his decision not to answer lawmakers’ questions.

“The only conclusion I can reach is that the sole reason he is calling me before this committee is to get me to say something, anything, that could vindicate his repeated public pledges that I end up, in his words, ‘behind bars,’” Fauci remarked.

Following the hearing, Paul announced that he intends to seek a committee vote next week to hold Fauci in contempt of Congress.

Trump also weighed in on Fauci’s repeated invocation of the Fifth Amendment, calling the move “terrible.”

He continued, “I inherited Fauci. He was here from the 1980s, so I had him for a period of time. I disagreed with him on a lot. I would’ve had to close down the whole country if I listened to him.”

{Matzav.com}

Iran is reportedly moving forward with a major purchase of hundreds of Chinese-made shoulder-fired air defense missiles, a development that could undermine Chinese President Xi Jinping’s reported assurances to President Donald Trump that Beijing would not arm the Islamic Republic. The reported deal also threatens to complicate renewed U.S. efforts to negotiate with Tehran over its nuclear program.

According to Reuters, which cited three sources familiar with the arrangement, Iran has agreed to purchase between 300 and 400 Chinese-made man-portable air defense systems, known as MANPADS, in an agreement worth between $60 million and $70 million.

If completed, the acquisition would represent one of Iran’s largest efforts to restore its battered air defense network after months of coordinated U.S. and Israeli strikes exposed serious weaknesses in its ability to shield military installations, missile sites, and other strategic assets, Reuters reported.

The reported transaction also presents a potential challenge for the Trump administration as it seeks to reopen diplomatic talks with Tehran.

Trump has repeatedly cautioned China against supplying military equipment to Iran and has publicly stated that Xi assured him Beijing was not providing weapons to the regime.

Should the missile transfer move ahead as reported, it would likely raise new doubts about whether China followed through on those commitments.

China’s Foreign Ministry dismissed the report outright.

“The relevant reports are completely groundless,” a ministry spokesperson said, according to Reuters, adding that China has consistently worked to promote peace and end the conflict.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry did not immediately respond when Reuters sought comment on the report.

Reuters said the agreement was reportedly brokered through Hong Kong-based Zhongqing Baoshang International Investment, which sources described as serving as an intermediary between Iran and the Chinese supplier.

The first shipment is expected to consist of Chinese QW-12 and FN-16 shoulder-fired missile systems, Reuters reported. The infrared-guided weapons are designed to target helicopters, drones, and other aircraft flying at low altitudes.

Sources familiar with the arrangement told Reuters the initial delivery could arrive within weeks, while emphasizing that both the timetable and the final number of missiles remain subject to change.

Reuters also reported that the shipment is expected to travel from western China through Pakistan before ultimately reaching Iran.

Pakistan’s military rejected claims that it would play any role in transporting the weapons.

Pakistan’s military public relations office called reports that it would assist in transporting the weapons “absolutely concocted and false,” Reuters reported.

Defense experts told Reuters that mobile shoulder-fired missile systems would strengthen Iran’s defenses because they can be easily relocated and hidden, making them much harder to eliminate than fixed air defense installations.

According to Reuters, the missiles are intended to protect critical military bases, nuclear facilities, and other strategic sites that sustained heavy damage during the recent conflict.

Iran has been engaged in a broad effort to rebuild its military capabilities after repeated U.S. and Israeli operations targeted its missile arsenal, drone infrastructure, and integrated air defense system.

Reuters reported that the planned missile purchase is one element of Iran’s wider campaign to restore military capabilities that were significantly degraded during the fighting.

The reported agreement comes as the Trump administration attempts to revive negotiations with Tehran aimed at preventing Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon.

Trump has repeatedly warned that if diplomacy fails to produce an agreement blocking Iran’s path to a nuclear weapon, the United States is prepared to resume military action.

If the reported Chinese missile shipment is carried out, it could inject new tensions into those negotiations while intensifying concerns in Washington over Beijing’s role in helping Iran rebuild its military strength.

{Matzav.com}

Nearly two weeks after tax inspectors were attacked while conducting enforcement activities in Bnei Brak, the Israel Tax Authority announced Wednesday that it will resume operations in the city under enhanced security measures. The move will also restore the War Compensation Fund’s services for residents whose homes were damaged during the war with Iran.

In a letter sent by Israel Tax Authority Director Shay Aharonovich to State Employees Union chairman Adv. Ofir Elkalei, the authority said a new security framework had been finalized following discussions with Bnei Brak police. According to the letter, the plan incorporates all of the security requirements demanded by the union and Tax Authority employees.

Under the new procedures, Tax Authority personnel entering Bnei Brak and other communities deemed to present elevated security risks will do so only after advance coordination and with a police escort. The plan also includes enhanced technological security measures, expanded insurance coverage, and additional hazard pay for employees.

The dispute began about two weeks ago after Income Tax inspectors conducting operations in Bnei Brak were pelted with egg cartons by local residents and had to be rescued by police.

In the aftermath of the incident, Aharonovich ordered the suspension of all Tax Authority operations in the city, including the processing of compensation claims for residents whose property was damaged during the war, until the municipality publicly condemned the attack.

Following a meeting with Bnei Brak Mayor Chanoch Zeibert, the Tax Authority agreed in principle to resume operations. However, the State Employees Union insisted that workers would not return until adequate security arrangements were put in place.

With the new security plan now approved, the Tax Authority announced that its operations in Bnei Brak will resume immediately, with an emphasis on ensuring the personal safety of its employees.

{Matzav.com}

[COMMUNICATED]

by Rabbi Eliezer Sandler

The concept of the Yissachar-Zevulun Torah Learning Pact goes back well over 3,500 years, to the time of Yaakov Avinu and his sons. It is named for the Torah pact between two of his sons – Yissachar the scholar and Zevulun the merchant. Not only was it an equal pact but, Chazal explained, the deed of Zevulun/the Sponsor is considered even greater than that of Yissachar, because without the support of Zevulun, Yissachar would not have had the wherewithal to study Torah undisturbed.”

It is well-known that when it comes to learning Torah, people who sponsor the learning, often do so, not just as a donation. By financially supporting specific Torah scholars, they enter into a binding, written, signed and sealed learning partnership pact whereby the Sponsor (the Zevulun) is deemed by Halacha as if he personally studied the Torah completed by the Scholar (the Yissachar). (See below.) 

Thus, those who support the Talmidei Chachomim at Shas Yiden via a Yissachar-Zevulun Pact merit a portion in every daf of the entire Talmud Bavli and associated texts that they study, and complete the entire cycle in the space of ONE year. Some of the Sponsors opt to continue sponsoring repeat cycles of Shas which accrue to them.

Sar Hatorah, Maran Hagaon Harav Chaim Kanievsky, zt”l, Nasi Shas Yiden, emphasized: The most mehudar Yissachar-Zevulun pact to support in our times is that offered by Shas Yiden – it comprises the entire Shas, Rashi and Tosfos – all in just one year!

Rav Chaim explained why this pact with Shas Yiden is the most mehudar. Chazal say that the highest level of learning is when one understands what he is learning b’iyun u’ve’amkus. However, even higher than that is when one remembers b’al peh all what he has learned. I have farhered the Shas Yiden avreichim geonim many times and can attest ZEI KENNEN SHAS (they know Shas)!

YES! YOU CAN MAKE

The Yissachar-Zevulun Pact in Halacha

The Shulchan Aruch in Yoreh De’ah Chapter 246 regarding the efficacy of the Yissachar-Zevulun Sponsorship Pact for the Zevulun (the Sponsor) states clearly:  It is deemed as if he (the one sponsoring the learning) himself learned all the Torah studied under the pact. 

All the learning under the Shas Yiden Yissachar-Zevulun Pact is yours בעוה”ז ובעוה”ב (in both This World and the World to Come)! Concerning this, the Netziv of Volozhin comments that in Olam Habah, the Zevulun sponsor will sit together with the Gedolei Torah of the past and merit to participate in their discussions and pilpulim on all the Torah learned.

Achieve Almost 7 million Mitzvos in One Year

The Vilna Gaon in Shnos Eliyahu Pe’ah 41 states that one should hold precious every word of Torah that he learns because each word is considered a mitzvah of its own. 

Thus, since in Talmud Bavli, Rashi and Tosfos there are 6,608,891 words, that translates into almost 7 million mitzvos accruing through Yissachar-Zevulun at Shas Yiden. 

Official Shtar from Shas Yiden

Each Yissachar-Zevulun pact is confirmed by an official contract (shtar) from Shas Yiden specifying the learning of the entire Shas, and is witnessed by talmidei chachomim.

All who wish to enter into a Yissachar-Zevulun Pact for the entire Shas during ONE year should contact Shas Yiden to make arrangements: 718-702-1528.

The opportunity to complete the entire Shas has been a cherished way to honor family members and others as a prized achievement. It has also proven to be a source of comfort for mourners to obtain such a zechus for their dear ones during the year of mourning – a siyum of the entire Shas can be completed on the yahrzeit!

Yissachar-Zevulun Pact –

The legendary visionary and “Father of Yeshivos”, Reb Chaim of Volozhin, was the founder of the famous yeshiva in the town of Volozhin and the beloved talmid of the Vilna Gaon. 

Reb Chaim had an ongoing Yissachar-Zevulun pact with a local shoemaker – a man who was not learned but who dearly valued Torah learning. They had a ‘deal’ whereby the shoemaker would pay the monthly financial support needed for Reb Chaim and his family. For this financial support, the shoemaker would have an equal share in all Reb Chaim’s daily Torah study – both in the mitzvah of Torah study בעוה”ז and that the knowledge of the Torah learned would continue to be his בעוה”ב (in the World to Come).

One day the shoemaker passed away suddenly. During the shiva period, Reb Chaim was facing a perplexing halachic question and researched high and low for a solution. That night the shoemaker appeared to him in a dream and gave him the full solution that he sought. Reb Chaim was amazed and commented, “Azoi gich, Azoi Gich – So quickly, so quickly has he acquired the zchus and knowledge of the Torah that I have studied!”

In the words of Gedolei Torah:

Maran Hagaon Harav Chaim Kanievsky, zt”l, Nasi Shas Yiden:

“In just ONE year, through Yissachar-Zevulun at Shas Yiden, you can be zoche to the entire Shas forever – בעוה”ז ובעוה”ב (in olam hazeh and olam habah).

“Moreover, whoever supports Shas Yiden is zocheh to fulfill both Yissachar-Zevulun and support of aniyei (the poor of) Eretz Yisroel in the fullest sense of the word.

“Those who support Shas Yiden will be saved from chevlei (the travails of) Moshiach – spiritually and materially, and will be zoche to have ehrlicher bonim u’vanos yir’eishomayim ”

Maran Hagaon Harav Dov Lando, shlit”a, Rosh Yeshiva, Slabodka:

“Who compares to the Shas Yiden? Incredible talmidei chachomim geonim who raised the bar in limud Hashas b’iyun u’v’amkus. Blessed are those who enter a Yissachar-Zevulun pact with them.”

Hamashpia Hagadol Reb Meilech Biederman, shlit”a:

 “Yissachar-Zevulun at Shas Yiden – best possible deal, and in just 1 year! 100% partnership! 100% Shas x 5 times! 100% Shisha Sidrei Mishna – בעוה”ז ובעוה”ב”

Sanzer Rebbe, shlit”a:

“A first in 2000 years of Jewish history! Until Shas Yiden, never a Torah institution where ALL the avreichim metzuyonim v’geonim know the entire Shas by heart”

Harav Yaakov Hillel, shlit”a:

“Therefore, the great mitzvah to support the efforts [of the Talmidei Chachomim] with generous donations in order that they should continue diligently with their studies to enhance the greatness of the Torah and its glory. 

ShasYiden.com

Retired Brig. Gen. Raam Aminach selected the Belzer Rebbe as his “Person of the Week,” citing the Rebbe’s rare decision to personally attend the levayah of Reb Yaakov Aharon (Yanky) Farber z”l, a Belzer chossid and community activist who passed away at the age of 32.

Speaking during the Black Kippahs program, Aminach said the Rebbe’s attendance at the levayah was extraordinary because the Belzer Rebbe rarely leaves his home to attend levayos due to his health. He said that decision alone made the moment especially significant.

Explaining his choice, Aminach said, “My Person of the Week is the Belzer Rebbe—because he came to the funeral. He almost never attends funerals, and despite not being in good health, he came. In the picture of him leaving his home, there was a soldier standing there. No one moved him, and the Rebbe continued on to the funeral. That picture says everything.”

According to Aminach, the image carried a powerful message at a time of heightened tensions surrounding the Chareidi community and military service.

The Rebbe’s appearance took on additional significance because of the work of the late Reb Yanky Farber. A devoted Belzer chossid, Farber was widely known for his communal activism and for founding the Maalos Tzur initiative, a program designed to integrate Chareidim into essential roles on IDF bases while allowing participants to remain in civilian clothing and operate under rabbinic supervision.

Farber passed away at the age of 32, leaving behind his wife and six orphaned children.

{Matzav.com}

Chareidim who previously won the right to purchase discounted homes through Israel’s government-sponsored housing lottery were recently asked to sign declarations stating that they are not classified as draft evaders, even though the Housing Ministry has not decided whether that requirement applies retroactively. After the issue came to light, the ministry acknowledged the notices had been sent without authorization.

The issue affects individuals who won apartments through the government’s Dira B’Hanacha (“Apartment at a Discount”) program but have not yet exercised their right to purchase their homes. As part of the annual eligibility renewal process, they were unexpectedly asked to certify that they are not listed by the IDF as individuals obligated to serve who have failed to regularize their military status.

According to a report by Simi Spolter in TheMarker, the declaration was included alongside the standard renewal paperwork, which is intended to confirm that applicants still meet the program’s eligibility requirements. In addition to the routine documents, however, some recipients were instructed to submit a new declaration regarding their status with the military authorities.

The report noted that the notices were sent despite the fact that the Housing and Construction Ministry has not yet determined whether the new military-service eligibility requirement can legally be applied to individuals who won housing lotteries in previous years. Some of those affected secured their eligibility long before the policy was introduced. According to the report, the ministry’s legal advisers are reportedly inclined to oppose retroactively revoking eligibility, although no final decision has been made.

Beginning with the 11th Dira B’Hanacha lottery, held last month, Israel for the first time barred draft evaders and individuals who have not resolved their military status from participating in the program. As a result, approximately 2,600 households were disqualified from entering that lottery.

The current controversy, however, involves people who had already been declared eligible under the previous rules. Preventing them from completing the purchase of homes they had already won could have raised significant legal questions and potentially exposed the government to lawsuits.

In response, the Housing and Construction Ministry said, “This was a notice that was sent in error and without the approval of the Ministry of Housing and Construction. At this stage, there is no change in the eligibility of ‘Dira B’Hanacha’ winners, and anyone who held valid eligibility at the time of winning will be able to exercise that right as originally determined. The ministry will clarify its instructions to the companies handling eligibility requests in order to prevent similar incidents from recurring.”

Alonim, the company that administers the eligibility process on behalf of the ministry, also acknowledged that the notices had been sent in error and said it would correct the mistake in accordance with the ministry’s instructions.

{Matzav.com}

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Architect Liran Shukrun describes one of the most important moves in Givat Hashalvah with a kind of quiet simplicity: the cars went underground. On a mountain, that decision is anything but simple. Parking, access roads, and technical systems had to be buried into the hillside. It required engineering, cost, and persistence. But once that happened, the entire ground level changed meaning. It became available for families, movement, greenery, courtyards, and community life.

That is where the “spaces between” become the point. In many residential developments, the areas between buildings are leftover space. At Givat Hashalvah, they are part of the architecture. They are where children pass one another on the way home, where parents meet without scheduling it, where a walk to shul becomes part of the neighborhood rhythm, and where the project begins to feel familiar before anyone formally defines it as a kehilla.

The master plan is built around a sequence of courtyards connected from east to west, almost like walking through an old city. You move from one pod to the next, from home toward school, shul, park, daycare, or shared space, without needing the street to do the work. That matters because the community is not only created by those who live nearby. It is created by how often people naturally cross paths, how easy it is to walk, and how much the plan invites daily life to happen outside the front door.

In Liran’s view, this is the human work of urban planning. A neighborhood has to help people use their feet, see one another, and feel part of the place around them. Givat Hashalvah was planned with that belief at its center. The buildings matter, of course. But the life between the buildings may be what turns the project into a community.

Explore Givat Hashalvah → https://go.lyo.group/3LxM3tz

The Israeli business newspaper TheMarker is facing criticism over a headline claiming the government is “Taking from secular Israelis and giving to Chareidim,” after publishing a report on expanded public transportation service to Chareidi communities during the bein hazemanim vacation period.

The article focused on seasonal changes to Israel’s public transportation system, alleging that hundreds of bus trips across the country were canceled or reduced in order to reinforce routes serving Chareidi neighborhoods and popular vacation destinations, where demand traditionally surges during bein hazemanim. Among the examples cited were routes from Rosh HaAyin, Kafr Qasim, and Kiryat Ono to Tel Aviv that were operating less frequently during the summer break.

Critics argued that the headline went well beyond criticism of transportation policy, portraying improved service for Chareidim as something that came directly at the expense of secular Israelis. They said the wording implied that Chareidim were receiving preferential treatment rather than transportation services based on seasonal demand.

The article itself acknowledged that Israel faces a severe shortage of approximately 5,000 bus drivers, limiting the Transportation Ministry’s ability to add new routes without adjusting existing ones. It also quoted the ministry’s explanation that demand for commuter routes declines during the summer while travel to leisure destinations increases. Despite those factors, critics noted that the headline focused on the Chareidi public rather than the nationwide driver shortage or the seasonal changes in ridership.

TheMarker also linked the expanded bein hazemanim bus service to policies implemented during the tenure of MK Uri Maklev at the Transportation Ministry. During his time in office, roughly NIS 100 million was allocated to improve public transportation in Chareidi communities after years in which bus service had failed to keep pace with population growth and the community’s heavy reliance on public transit. The initiative included additional bus trips, reinforced routes, and expanded service during periods of peak demand.

The current article, however, presented those same policies alongside claims that transportation for the broader public had seen relatively little improvement, reinforcing what critics described as a recurring narrative that any gains for the Chareidi community necessarily come at someone else’s expense.

Observers also pointed to what they called a striking inconsistency in TheMarker‘s coverage. Just a few months ago, the newspaper praised the improvements in public transportation implemented under Maklev and even suggested that the secular public “deserves its own Maklev” to advocate just as effectively for its transportation needs.

Supporters of Maklev argue that it is entirely appropriate to scrutinize the Transportation Ministry over route reductions, the lack of advance notice to passengers, or the ongoing nationwide shortage of bus drivers. They contend, however, that framing the issue as “taking from secular Israelis and giving to Chareidim” shifts the focus away from transportation policy and instead casts the Chareidi public itself as the problem.

Political figures from the Chareidi parties echoed that criticism, saying, “Every time the Chareidi public receives services it is entitled to, there are those who rush to portray it as though something has been taken away from other citizens. When bus routes to Eilat or the Kinneret are reinforced, it’s called seasonal planning. When routes serving Chareidim are reinforced, it suddenly becomes ‘taking from secular Israelis.'”

They added, “The discussion about public transportation is legitimate and important, but portraying Chareidim as responsible for the nationwide shortage of buses and drivers is not professional criticism. It creates a sectoral conflict instead of addressing the real problem.”

{Matzav.com}

Zohran Mamdani’s latest move is pushing New York City’s business community closer to open political warfare, as prominent executives and civic leaders increasingly conclude that quiet diplomacy with the mayor is no longer enough. His decision to publicize the names of people affected by his proposed pied-à-terre tax has become a flashpoint, convincing many that a more aggressive response is necessary, the NY Post reports.

The controversy erupted after City Hall released the identities of taxpayers who would be subject to Mamdani’s proposed tax on non-primary residences valued at $5 million or more, putting thousands of affluent property owners squarely in the public spotlight.

Critics argue that the proposal is fundamentally misguided because many of these homeowners live outside New York for most of the year, make little use of city services, yet already contribute enormous sums in state and local taxes. Rather than paying even more, they warn, many could simply choose to invest in places like Boca Raton instead of maintaining homes in Manhattan.

Opponents also see something more troubling behind the policy than just another tax increase. They contend that by publicly identifying wealthy property owners, Mamdani is embracing a form of class warfare that seeks to shame successful people for political gain. In their view, the published list functions as an “enemies list,” targeting people the administration believes should be paying more, while energizing its progressive base through a campaign of public humiliation.

Several business leaders who spoke privately said their reaction to seeing the published names went beyond politics. The headlines immediately reminded them of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, whose murder at the hands of Luigi Mangione highlighted the dangers that can arise when high-profile executives become public targets.

Steve Fulop, who leads the Partnership for New York City, said he has grown increasingly frustrated by what he views as the mayor’s relentless attacks on businesses and high-income residents, whose tax dollars finance much of the city’s spending. Despite repeated attempts to maintain constructive dialogue with City Hall, the publication of the taxpayer list appears to have convinced him that cooperation alone will no longer be effective.

Instead of continuing to seek compromise, Fulop is now preparing a broader political response. While he has declined to publicly outline the strategy, those familiar with the effort say it will focus on building support for candidates willing to challenge the Democratic Socialists of America and their agenda at the ballot box.

Fulop also notes that one of the earliest and most visible targets of the mayor’s campaign, Citadel founder Ken Griffin, possesses the resources to maintain extensive personal security. Many of the other individuals whose names appeared on the list, however, are affluent but far from billionaires and lack the same ability to protect themselves.

“This is a mistake, and a dangerous precedent,” Fulop said. “Publishing names and addresses singles out people who have done nothing wrong, at a moment when the far left already treats success itself as something to be punished. Most of the people on that list aren’t billionaires by any stretch – they’re people that believed in NYC, worked hard and bought a second home. All this does is make people feel less safe in their own city, and less welcome in it”

A Democratic political strategist aligned with the party’s more moderate wing said many influential figures in New York’s business world are genuinely alarmed by the direction City Hall is taking. According to the adviser, their fears are far from exaggerated.

“(Mamdani) is paving the way for a future Luigi psychopath,” she told me.

For many critics, the publication of the list is only one example of what they see as a broader ideological agenda taking shape under Mamdani’s administration. They argue that City Hall has become consumed with left-wing activism and identity politics instead of concentrating on core municipal responsibilities such as public education, sanitation, and public safety.

They point to a series of recent controversies that have fueled those concerns. One day, the mayor refuses to distance himself from the slogan “Globalize the Intifada,” despite widespread criticism of its meaning. The next, he raises the possibility of arresting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over alleged war crimes, dismissing longstanding diplomatic norms, including diplomatic immunity, according to his critics.

Opponents also accuse Mamdani of pursuing an economic agenda rooted in government intervention. They argue that his proposal for city-run grocery stores will do little to change where affluent residents shop while placing neighborhood bodegas and small retailers at a severe competitive disadvantage. Meanwhile, they say, taxpayers in the middle and working classes will ultimately shoulder the cost of subsidizing the program.

Business leaders also warn that the city’s broader economic outlook is deteriorating. They point to rising taxes, companies relocating elsewhere, and declining demand for New York municipal bonds as evidence that investors are increasingly wary of financing the mayor’s agenda. At the same time, they argue that police funding has not kept pace with other spending priorities in Mamdani’s record-setting budget, even as the city continues expanding services for migrants.

Taken together, critics say these developments have left New York looking increasingly hostile to businesses and investors. They believe the city is becoming a less secure and less attractive place to live, work, and invest—and that many in the business community have reached the same conclusion.

{Matzav.com}

Saudi Arabia has signaled that normalization with Israel remains a viable goal despite the ongoing regional conflict, with a senior Saudi official saying the war and attacks by the Iran-backed Houthis have only underscored the need for a broader regional alliance. The official also stressed that Riyadh’s civilian nuclear ambitions do not conflict with the normalization process.

The latest indication comes as President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu continue coordinating their regional strategy, with Iran remaining the central focus of recent high-level discussions at the White House.

According to diplomatic sources, the significance of Trump’s summit with Netanyahu lay in aligning the two leaders on their long-term objectives in the Middle East. Those goals include intensifying economic pressure on Iran while maintaining a campaign of sustained military strikes, but—for now—avoiding a return to full-scale war.

During the White House meeting, which was attended by Vice President J.D. Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, the participants agreed on a common strategic objective: weakening Iran to the point where it no longer poses a threat to neighboring countries while increasing the likelihood of eventual regime change.

Diplomatic sources said the discussions included multiple scenarios and contingency plans, as well as some differences over how best to achieve those objectives and the appropriate timetable. While U.S. officials did not rule out a temporary arrangement that would reopen the Strait of Hormuz to commercial shipping, they concluded that Iran’s leadership remains unwilling to accept Washington’s baseline demands or compromise proposals advanced by Oman and Pakistan.

The military dimension of the conflict was also examined, with participants weighing the consequences of resuming an intensive military campaign versus continuing the current war of attrition. When the conversation turned to economic pressure, Netanyahu—backed by Rubio—focused on Iran’s deteriorating domestic situation and the conditions that could trigger a renewed wave of anti-regime protests.

Sources noted that the strategy closely mirrors discussions held during previous meetings at Mar-a-Lago in December and again in February, centering on a prolonged campaign of economic pressure designed to further weaken Iran from within.

Energy security also emerged as a key topic. Officials discussed Iran’s mounting difficulties refining crude oil and importing refined petroleum products because of international sanctions, as well as the impact of Israeli strikes on Iranian natural gas facilities, which have further strained the country’s electricity supply.

The issue of Iran’s nuclear program occupied a smaller portion of the talks, and no new Israeli intelligence was reportedly presented. Nevertheless, officials emphasized that there is no disagreement between Washington and Yerushalayim about the need to act if Iran moves closer to obtaining nuclear weapons. As a result, Mount Makosh and Iran’s other nuclear facilities will continue to be closely monitored to enable rapid operational decisions if necessary.

One official familiar with the discussions told Israel Hayom that the broad agreement reached at the White House far outweighed the relatively minor differences between the two governments. The source added that views within the Trump administration have also become more unified after Iran allegedly violated a previous memorandum of understanding.

The talks also addressed efforts to restore freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz. Participants criticized European nations for not doing more to assist the effort thus far, while expressing confidence that continued disruption would eventually compel them to become more actively involved.

Expanding the Abraham Accords was another major topic of discussion, with Trump reaffirming his commitment to bringing additional countries into the normalization framework, particularly Saudi Arabia. Diplomatic sources cautioned, however, that the timeline for such a breakthrough will depend heavily on developments in the confrontation with Iran.

One official said Iran’s use of the Houthis to disrupt shipping routes connecting Saudi Arabia to global markets has pushed Riyadh closer to recognizing the need for a genuine regional alliance against Iran and its proxy forces.

A senior Saudi diplomatic source told Yisroel Hayom, “The Israeli issue (regarding normalization and joining the Abraham Accords) has not been taken off the table during the war.”

Asked whether a proposed U.S.-Saudi civilian nuclear program could complicate normalization with Israel, the official replied, “There will be a Saudi civilian nuclear project, and it does not contradict the Israeli issue.”

{Matzav.com}

A new election poll points to a dramatic shift within Israel’s Chareidi political landscape, with United Torah Judaism overtaking Shas for the first time in months, while Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and Gadi Eisenkot remain deadlocked at the top. The survey also shows Naftali Bennett continuing to lose ground, while a new party led by Yoaz Hendel and Zvi Trooper crosses the electoral threshold for the first time.

According to a Channel 13 News poll, if elections were held today, both Netanyahu’s Likud and Eisenkot’s Yashar Party would win 23 Knesset seats each, with both gaining two seats compared to the previous survey. Bennett’s Together Party continues its downward trend, falling to 13 seats—its weakest showing to date.

Yisrael Beiteinu, led by Avigdor Lieberman, would secure 10 seats. The Democrats would drop two seats to 9, matching the total projected for United Torah Judaism. Itamar Ben Gvir’s Otzma Yehudit would receive 8 seats, while Shas would fall sharply to just 7. Ra’am, headed by Mansour Abbas, would earn 5 seats, as would the new Bayit Tzioni party led by Yoaz Hendel and Zvi Trooper, which enters the Knesset for the first time in the poll.

Hadash-Ta’al is projected to win 4 seats, while Bezalel Smotrich’s Religious Zionism Party also receives 4 seats after losing one mandate. Benny Gantz’s Blue and White Party and Balad both remain below the electoral threshold.

The bloc breakdown gives the opposition 55 seats, compared with 51 for the current coalition. The Arab parties collectively hold 9 seats, while Bayit Tzioni accounts for the remaining 5.

Respondents were also asked how confident they are in the political bloc they intend to support. The poll found that 49% are certain they will vote for the opposition bloc, 35% say they are firmly behind the coalition, 10% remain undecided, and 6% identify themselves as voters who could support either bloc.

When participants were asked who is better suited to serve as prime minister, Eisenkot led Netanyahu by a margin of 47% to 36% in a hypothetical head-to-head race. In a separate matchup, Bennett also outperformed Netanyahu, receiving 45% support compared with the Prime Minister’s 40%.

The survey also examined public perceptions of Netanyahu’s recent trip to the United States. Forty-three percent of respondents said they believe the primary reason for the visit was the upcoming election campaign, while 36% viewed it as a diplomatic and security mission. Another 14% said they believed the trip was mainly intended for the funeral of Sen. Lindsey Graham.

Participants were also asked whether Netanyahu’s visit to Washington improved Israel’s chances of achieving its objectives regarding Iran. A majority of 55% said the visit made no difference. Twenty-eight percent believed it improved Israel’s position, while only 4% felt it made the situation worse.

Meanwhile, a separate Channel 14 News poll paints a markedly different picture, showing the right-wing bloc maintaining a governing majority of 62 Knesset seats.

In the Channel 14 survey, Likud remains Israel’s largest party with 32 seats. The center-left bloc receives 47 seats, while the Arab parties collectively rise to 11.

Within the opposition, Gadi Eisenkot’s Yashar Party slips by one seat to 22 mandates, while Bennett’s Together Party remains at 7. The Democrats and Shas each receive 10 seats, United Torah Judaism and Yisrael Beiteinu each win 8, Otzma Yehudit earns 7, Hadash-Ta’al receives 6, and both the Religious Zionism Party and Ra’am finish with 5 seats apiece.

Asked who is best suited to serve as prime minister, respondents in the Channel 14 poll gave Netanyahu a commanding lead with 51% support. Eisenkot followed with 37%, while Bennett received 6%, Lieberman 5%, and Gantz just 1%.

Several parties remain below the electoral threshold in the Channel 14 survey. Hendel and Trooper’s Yesodot Yisrael Party received 2.1%, Balad also stood at 2.1%, Moshe Feiglin’s Zehut Party polled at 1.3%, and Blue and White garnered only 1.1%.

{Matzav.com}

Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier announced Wednesday that his office has opened a state investigation into Dr. Anthony Fauci, escalating Republican efforts to scrutinize the government’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic after Fauci invoked the Fifth Amendment during a heated Senate hearing.

Fauci, who served as President Donald Trump’s COVID-19 adviser during the pandemic, promoted measures such as mask mandates and social distancing that drew fierce opposition from many Republican lawmakers, especially in Florida under Gov. Ron DeSantis. Over the past several years, Fauci has repeatedly testified before congressional committees, where critics accused him of misleading lawmakers and the public.

During Wednesday’s Senate hearing, Fauci declined to answer questions, invoking his constitutional right against self-incrimination. Shortly after the hearing concluded, Uthmeier revealed that Florida would begin its own investigation.

“Fauci’s lack of candor to Congress is unbelievable,” Uthmeier wrote in a post on X. “It’s past time we get the truth of what happened during COVID.”

Since DeSantis appointed him attorney general in February 2025, Uthmeier has launched a series of high-profile investigations and legal actions, including challenges involving the state’s ban on transgender medical treatments for minors and litigation related to NFL hiring practices.

Responding to Fauci’s testimony, DeSantis argued Wednesday on X that the former White House medical adviser should not be able to rely on the Fifth Amendment because he had already received a preemptive pardon from President Joe Biden. DeSantis also said Fauci should be held in contempt of Congress for refusing to answer questions from Sen. Rand Paul about U.S. funding provided to a laboratory in the region of China where the first known COVID-19 cases emerged.

When another X user asked what legal options remained, DeSantis replied that any prosecution would have to come from state authorities despite the federal pardon.

“It would require either a state AG or local state attorney to bring a case, which would need to establish violations of state law as well as personal jurisdiction over the defendant,” DeSantis wrote.

Paul has already warned Fauci that invoking the Fifth Amendment would not end congressional scrutiny. The Kentucky senator said Fauci would face consequences for refusing to testify and has scheduled an Aug. 5 committee meeting to consider whether Congress should hold him in contempt.

DeSantis became one of the nation’s most prominent critics of the federal pandemic response, rejecting many of Washington’s public health recommendations during COVID-19. Florida became the first state to fully reopen its schools, and in 2021 DeSantis appointed Dr. Joseph Ladapo as state surgeon general after Ladapo gained national attention for questioning the effectiveness of policies such as mask mandates and social distancing.

Uthmeier also played a key role in Florida’s pandemic response, serving as DeSantis’ chief of staff before being selected to succeed current Sen. Ashley Moody as attorney general. About a month ago, he said he had been actively looking for a legal path to prosecute Fauci.

“And when I have a case ready, I’ll bring it,” Uthmeier said at the time.

{Matzav.com}

Thousands of Chareidim who avoid the army who had hoped to travel to Uman for Rosh Hashanah may now be unable to leave Israel after the Population and Immigration Authority implemented a new departure procedure that blocks anyone under an exit ban from completing the airline check-in process.

According to a report by Mordechai Halperin of Army Radio, the Population and Immigration Authority, which operates under the Interior Ministry headed by Shas, recently revised its departure procedures in coordination with the Attorney General’s office. The change is intended to prevent individuals subject to court-ordered travel bans from bypassing airport controls and leaving the country.

Until now, travelers were checked for exit restriction orders only when they reached passport control at the airport. According to the report, some Chareidi draft evaders were able to circumvent the automated checkpoint by closely following another traveler who was not subject to a travel ban, allowing them to pass through the gate after it opened for the other passenger.

Under the new system, anyone who is prohibited from leaving Israel will be prevented from checking in for a flight altogether. Airlines are now notified at the check-in stage that the traveler is subject to an exit restriction, effectively preventing that individual from proceeding through the airport and boarding a flight.

The report says organizations representing Chareidi draft evaders are outraged by the change. With preparations underway for the annual pilgrimage to Uman ahead of Rosh Hashanah, they believe thousands of draft evaders who had hoped to use the previous method to leave Israel will now be unable to make the trip.

Responding to the report, the Population and Immigration Authority said: “In recent months, the departure process from Israel has indeed been streamlined, and it was decided that anyone who has an exit restriction order against them will be informed of it at the beginning of the departure process from Israel rather than at the end, so that they can resolve the matter before beginning the process.”

{Matzav.com}

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As you may have heard, this week the OU Kosher-certified AgriStar facility in Postville, Iowa suffered a devastating fire. The damaged plant is responsible for a significant portion of kosher beef and chicken schechted and sold in the US. The loss is significant enough that we want to alert the tzibbur that they will likely feel the impact in the coming weeks, including reduced supermarket availability. We are working actively with AgriStar and other OU Kosher-certified shechita plants to ramp up production and minimize the impact on our community. 

We have also provided clear guidance to our mashgichim in the field on exercising extra zahirus at this time. Unfortunately, when supply is limited, it creates opportunity for unscrupulous individuals looking to profit at the expense of the ehrliche, kosher-observant public. This guidance includes: 

• Verifying that all incoming meat and poultry bear proper kashrus identification and required seals. 

• Carefully inspecting labels, packaging integrity, and hechsher markings before accepting deliveries. 

• Confirming that products are received only from approved suppliers and distributors. 

• Immediately reporting any discrepancies, or suspicious circumstances to their Rabbinic Coordinator before permitting the items to enter production or inventory.