Feed aggregator

LISTEN:

A potentially dangerous incident unfolded Wednesday at 770 Eastern Parkway in Crown Heights, NY, when a man allegedly carrying both a knife and a baseball bat entered the famed Lubavitch headquarters before being confronted by bystanders, who forced him from the building and held him until police arrived.

Witnesses said the suspect walked into the shul armed with the two weapons, triggering an immediate response from those inside. Several individuals quickly confronted the man, chased him out of the building, and restrained him outside as they waited for law enforcement.

Officers from the NYPD responded to the scene and took the suspect into custody without any further confrontation.

The incident has once again raised concerns among members of the Crown Heights community over security at 770.

“Another day, another miracle in 770,” one witness said after the arrest. “The sad truth is, until someone is killed R”L in 770 by a deranged man or a terrorist, nothing will change.”

Authorities are continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident. No injuries were reported.

{Matzav.com}

Vice President JD Vance said Wednesday that recent U.S. military operations have pushed Iran’s nuclear program farther from producing a nuclear weapon than at any point in the past several decades, arguing that the strikes have dramatically strengthened the Trump administration’s position as negotiations with Tehran continue.

Addressing American service members at a naval air station, Vance pointed to U.S. intelligence assessments indicating that Iran’s nuclear ambitions have suffered a major setback as a result of the military campaign.

“If you look at what our own intelligence says about their nuclear program, they are further away from developing a nuclear bomb than they have ever been since basically the last 20 or 30 years,” said the Vice President.

Vance explained that the mission extended beyond disrupting Iran’s nuclear activities. He said the goal was to cripple the country’s defense manufacturing infrastructure so thoroughly that any future effort to rebuild its military or nuclear capabilities would pose little danger.

“What the president asks you to accomplish is to destroy the defense industrial base of that country, so that if they ever decided to rebuild their military, or if they ever decided to rebuild that nuclear program, they would be harmless to do it. You did that exactly as well,” Vance said to the assembled audience.

He also praised the military’s performance, saying it had provided President Donald Trump with substantial leverage in ongoing negotiations with Iran by demonstrating American strength.

According to Vance, Trump is now “negotiating from a position of strength because of you.”

The vice president added that the administration remains prepared to respond forcefully if Iran resumes nuclear development, threatens neighboring countries, or continues sponsoring terrorism.

“If the Iranians try to rebuild the nuclear program, the President’s got options. If the Iranians try to threaten their neighbors or fund terrorism, we’ve got options,” stressed Vance.

Vance also criticized those who have attacked the administration for pursuing negotiations with Iran, arguing that many of the same critics previously supported prolonged military campaigns that ultimately failed to achieve clear objectives.

“What I noticed about the people who are attacking the administration for negotiating is that they are the very same people who, for example, encouraged us to just go a little bit further and just drop a few more bombs in places like Afghanistan. If you go back to the mistakes that were made, those very same people refused to say what we were dropping bombs for.”

Even while emphasizing diplomacy, Vance said the administration will not hesitate to use military force when necessary to protect American interests and international commerce.

“We dropped some bombs a couple of days ago… Because the Iranians were shooting at commercial ships… We applied some leverage, and we’ve had free commercial transit for the last three days,” Vance claimed.

His remarks came as Washington and Tehran continue negotiations aimed at reaching a permanent agreement following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding.

Despite the ongoing diplomatic efforts, tensions flared over the weekend when U.S. forces twice struck Iranian targets in the Strait of Hormuz after officials said Iran violated the ceasefire agreement.

On Saturday night, President Trump warned that the United States could be compelled to “militarily complete the job” if Iran continued breaching the ceasefire.

Iran subsequently denied reports that its negotiators would meet with American officials in Qatar, stating that while a technical delegation would travel to Doha to discuss implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding, no direct U.S.-Iran meetings were scheduled.

President Trump contradicted that claim, telling reporters that meetings with Iranian representatives in Qatar were expected to take place and could be “perhaps important, perhaps not”.

Later reports indicated that U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff was traveling to Doha to participate in the anticipated talks with Iranian officials.

{Matzav.com}

New York City is heading into a prolonged stretch of dangerous heat, with forecasters warning that temperatures could climb to 100 degrees by the end of the week — a mark the city has not reached since 2012. Officials are urging residents to take precautions as oppressive heat and humidity grip the region.

The heat wave officially arrived Wednesday, when temperatures climbed into the mid-90s. Meteorologists say the sweltering conditions are expected to continue for at least four days, with Thursday – Shivah Assar B’Tammuz –  and Friday likely bringing the most intense heat.

According to AccuWeather, daytime highs on both Thursday and Friday could reach 100 degrees, creating hazardous conditions across the city.

AccuWeather senior meteorologist Carl Erickson noted that Central Park last recorded a temperature of 100 degrees on July 18, 2012, a reading that tied the hottest day the city has experienced since 1966.

Wednesday’s high reached 94 degrees, and forecasters warned that unstable weather could trigger thunderstorms later in the evening.

Erickson said Thursday’s combination of extreme heat and high humidity could make it feel as hot as 110 degrees, even if the actual temperature tops out around 100.

Those same oppressive conditions are expected to continue into Friday, with another round of possible evening thunderstorms fueled by the intense heat and moisture in the atmosphere.

“If you have to be out tomorrow and Friday, make sure to take breaks in the shade and drink plenty of water and electrolytes,” Erickson said. “Limit your time outside to before 10 a.m. and after 4 p.m., when the heat is expected to be at its worst.”

The heavy humidity is also expected to prevent temperatures from dropping much overnight, leaving residents with little opportunity to cool down. Erickson said the overnight conditions are likely to make for a “miserable time.”

The heat should ease somewhat on Shabbos, when highs are forecast to reach about 95 degrees. However, forecasters are also predicting strong afternoon thunderstorms, with rain chances around 55 percent, potentially disrupting Independence Day weekend plans.

By Sunday, temperatures are expected to top out around 90 degrees before a new round of storms moves through, bringing cooler, more typical summer weather by Monday.

In response to the dangerous conditions, Mayor Zohran Mamdani declared a heat emergency and announced expanded efforts to help residents stay safe. As part of the initiative, LINK NYC kiosks throughout the city will guide people to the nearest cooling centers.

“The single most important thing you can do in these temperatures is to stay indoors with air conditioning,” Mamdani said in a news conference.

“If you can avoid going outside during the hottest hours of the day, please do so,” the mayor added.

Meanwhile, the National Weather Service has placed New York City, the Lower Hudson Valley, Long Island, northern New Jersey, and western Connecticut under an extreme heat watch from noon Wednesday through 9 p.m. Friday.

Gov. Kathy Hochul said state officials are actively monitoring the situation, working with local governments to ensure cooling centers remain available while also keeping a close watch on the stability of the state’s electrical grid as energy demand rises.

{Matzav.com}

Extensive renovation work is underway at the Me’aras HaMachpeilah in Chevron, where construction has begun on a permanent roof over the central courtyard that serves as the primary tefillah area for Yidden. The long-awaited project will replace the temporary coverings that have been used for years and will also include air conditioning.

Because of the construction, access to the site is currently limited. Beginning Thursday, the Fast of the Seventeenth of Tammuz, visitors will be able to enter through the Hall of the Covenant (Ulam HaBrisos). Tefillah will also be permitted at the Seventh Step area and in the Me’aras HaMachpeilah gardens. Other sections of the complex will remain closed while roofing, renovation, and climate-control work continues.

The project marks a major improvement for the thousands who daven at the site. For years, while the Hall of Yitzchak—used for Muslim prayer—has been protected by a permanent stone roof, the main Jewish davening area in the central courtyard has remained under temporary coverings, leaving worshippers exposed to rain and cold during the winter and intense heat during the summer.

Plans to permanently roof the courtyard have been under discussion for more than two decades. Initial proposals were advanced during the tenure of former Chevron local council head Avraham Ben Yosef, working together with members of the Chevron Council. Portions of the project were later funded through a donation from philanthropist Yitzchak Recanati, but planning, bureaucratic, and political obstacles delayed construction for many years.

Approximately two years ago, local officials and the Me’aras HaMachpeilah administration attempted to install a simpler temporary roof during an overnight operation. That structure was removed shortly afterward following objections and political pressure, leading authorities to pursue a fully approved and regulated construction process instead.

The current project is being carried out in coordination with Israel’s security establishment, the Civil Administration, construction authorities, the Chevron Local Council, and the Me’aras HaMachpeilah administration. The goal is to transform the courtyard into a permanent, fully equipped prayer hall that will be roofed, illuminated, and air-conditioned.

Site administrators emphasized that construction is still ongoing and advised visitors to check in advance regarding which sections of the complex are open before traveling to the site.

Once completed, the renovated courtyard will become the permanent central prayer hall for Jewish worshippers at Me’aras HaMachpeilah, one of the holiest and most sensitive religious sites in Eretz Yisroel.

Nearly 500 families who won subsidized apartments through Israel’s “Dira B’Hanachah” housing lottery have been left facing an uncertain future after the Ministry of Construction and Housing canceled its agreement with the developer of the Keter Harama project in Ramat Beit Shemesh Daled.

The cancellation affects 492 winning families who have been waiting approximately four years to purchase homes through the government-backed program. According to Simi Spolter, a reporter for TheMarker, the legal rights of the lottery winners are far less secure than many assume.

Speaking on Kol Chai Radio’s “Bonim Atid” program, Spolter explained that the terms of the housing lottery make clear that winning a lottery does not guarantee ownership of an apartment.

“You always have to read the fine print,” he said. “There’s a clause stating that winning the lottery doesn’t actually guarantee anything. As long as a purchase contract hasn’t been signed, the state’s position is that the winner has no vested legal right.”

Spolter described the situation as highly unusual, noting that troubled housing developments have generally managed to move forward because of steadily rising real estate prices.

“Rising housing prices covered up many mistakes,” he said. In this case, however, the dispute between the government and construction company Shapir—which is suing the state for approximately 800 million shekels, claiming government actions rendered the project financially unviable—ultimately caused the agreement to collapse.

He added that the development differed from most government housing projects because the developer was given unusually broad responsibility not only for constructing the apartments but also for developing the surrounding neighborhood and infrastructure.

“That model didn’t prove itself, and it wasn’t continued,” Spolter said. He also noted that the apartments were offered at exceptionally low prices—around 10,000 shekels per square meter—which made the project’s financial viability even more challenging.

Despite the cancellation, Spolter said the Housing Ministry is allowing the affected families to continue participating in future housing lotteries without forfeiting any potential rights they may still have in the current project.

“This is a technical cancellation,” he said. “Their rights are being preserved, and the question each winner has to ask is whether to continue waiting or to try their luck in other projects.”

At the same time, he cautioned that the dispute could take years to resolve because of the expected legal proceedings.

“If I had won an apartment in this project, I wouldn’t give it up so quickly,” he said. “But obviously everyone has to weigh the risks and the amount of time that may pass.”

Spolter believes the case could ultimately become a landmark legal test. A group of lottery winners is reportedly preparing a lawsuit against the state, arguing that they relied on their lottery victory, refrained from purchasing homes elsewhere for years, and have now suffered substantial financial losses because housing prices continued to climb.

“This is a legal question that has never been examined,” he said. “If the court determines that the state bears responsibility toward the winners, it will have broad implications for many other projects.”

He added that the outcome could also affect another unresolved issue—whether lottery winners who have not yet signed purchase agreements can later lose their eligibility under various circumstances.

“There is a gap here between common sense and the law,” Spolter concluded. “From a public standpoint, many people will feel they have been wronged. Legally, however, there is still no precedent defining exactly where the state’s responsibility begins and ends.”

{Matzav.com}

The Moetzet Chachmei HaTorah of Shas has issued a special public proclamation calling on Jews to add the tefillah of Avinu Malkeinu to both Shacharis and Minchah throughout Bein HaMetzarim, citing what it describes as growing persecution of Torah scholars and disrespect for the Torah world.

In their letter, the members of the Moetzet write that recent weeks have seen “harsh decrees” directed against those who devote themselves to Torah study. Quoting the words of Eichah, they lament that “The precious sons of Zion, comparable to fine gold, have come to be regarded as earthen vessels, the work of a potter’s hands.”

The rabbonim recalled a similar directive issued years ago by Maran Rav Ovadia Yosef zt”l after the Israeli Supreme Court struck down the Tal Law. They wrote that “It has happened before, when bnei Torah were persecuted and efforts were made to restrict them,” and noted that at the time Rav Ovadia “cried out with a great and bitter cry.”

The proclamation states that Rav Ovadia had instructed that during periods of hardship for the Jewish people—and especially during Bein HaMetzarim—Avinu Malkeinu should be added to both Shacharis and Minchah.

The members of the Moetzet now call upon the public to follow that directive once again. “Just as then, so too now, we call upon each and every individual to fulfill his holy words by adding the prayer of Avinu Malkeinu during these days of Bein HaMetzarim, beseeching our Father in Heaven to remove from us all harsh and evil decrees.”

The proclamation also designates the upcoming fast of the Seventeenth of Tammuz as a special day of tefillah and supplication on behalf of Klal Yisroel and the Torah world. The Moetzet urged communities to gather during Minchah on the fast day for public assemblies of prayer, calling for “great and bitter outcries over the humiliation of the Torah and the persecution of those who study it.”

The letter concludes with a heartfelt blessing from the members of the Moetzet Chachmei HaTorah: “May it be Hashem’s will that these days be transformed for the House of Israel into days of joy and gladness, and may we soon merit the complete redemption in the merit of the holy Torah and those who study it.”

{Matzav.com}23

Tempers flared in the Knesset on Wednesday as National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir defended the proposed Muezzin Law, with repeated interruptions from Arab lawmakers leading to shouting matches, the removal of several MKs from the plenum, and a fiery speech accusing the opposition of hypocrisy.

The confrontation began almost immediately after Ben-Gvir approached the podium. Arab party lawmakers, including MK Walid Alhwashla of Ra’am, repeatedly interrupted his remarks with loud heckling. Ben-Gvir responded by repeatedly shouting “Out! Out!” at the protesting lawmakers while the presiding officer attempted to restore order. After several minutes of disruptions, a number of opposition MKs were escorted from the chamber.

Once the hall quieted, Ben-Gvir launched into a forceful defense of the legislation, while sharply criticizing opposition lawmakers.

“I must protest the hypocrisy on the opposition benches,” he declared. “These are the same people who come to us and ask, ‘Why is there lawlessness in the Arab sector? Why? Why are there all kinds of criminal phenomena in Tayibe, Umm al-Fahm, and Sakhnin?'”

He argued that the very politicians demanding action against crime oppose government efforts to strengthen law enforcement in the Negev and Arab communities.

“Look at this astonishing thing,” Ben-Gvir said. “When we want governance, and we implement governance, suddenly it doesn’t suit them!”

Ben-Gvir insisted that the legislation targeting excessive noise from mosque loudspeakers is not directed against any particular religious or ethnic group but is intended to improve the quality of life for residents affected by excessive noise, including many Arab and Bedouin communities.

“We are acting not only for Danny, Moshe, Shlomo, and Chaim,” he said. “There are people, children, living in Rahat. Do you know how many complaints I receive from Rahat? Do you know how many come from the Bedouin communities?” He added that “We have no expectations from them because they encourage it.”

The minister also thanked those who helped advance the legislation, singling out National Security Committee Chairman MK Tzvika Foghel for promoting “law after law after law for the State of Israel.” He also praised Environmental Protection Minister Idit Silman for working with him over the past several years to move the initiative forward, and commended Coalition Chairman Ofir Katz for leading a coalition that has advanced legislation “that hasn’t been passed in 30 or 40 years.”

Ben-Gvir intensified his criticism by accusing opposition lawmakers of selectively championing civil rights while ignoring the problems faced by residents in the Arab sector.

“My problem is with the hypocrisy of these people,” he said. “The people who constantly preach about civil rights don’t care about a 10-year-old child in Rahat who wets the bed because he constantly hears the noise. Merav Cohen doesn’t care that women are taken… abused, used as slaves. We didn’t hear a word! Not one word! It doesn’t interest them.”

He argued that the legislation would improve the lives of residents throughout Israel, particularly children in Rahat, and claimed that if the bill’s opponents were not “two-faced,” they would have introduced it themselves.

Toward the end of his address, Ben-Gvir also directed unusually pointed criticism at United Torah Judaism chairman MK Moshe Gafni over what he described as political cooperation with Arab parties.

“In one word, my friend Moshe Gafni, I am so disappointed in you,” Ben-Gvir said. “This alliance, this deal with Ahmad Tibi, has never helped the chareidim. This alliance is taking you nowhere! Nowhere! Stop this, Moshe Gafni, stop. Rabbi Gafni, whom I respect and appreciate, but for Degel HaTorah to stand again and again behind their proposals, against everything they oppose? That is a great mistake, and it harms the State of Israel.”

Ben-Gvir concluded by urging lawmakers to support the bill, declaring, “You don’t care about civil rights—we do. We care about the children, the women, the people of Israel, and the State of Israel—and you can keep shouting.”

{Matzav.com}

Hundreds of avreichim from Vizhnitz Bnei Brak (Merkaz) gathered Wednesday evening outside the offices of Israel’s Attorney General in Yerushalayim for an unusual protest against the arrest of yeshivah bochurim, replacing the traditional demonstration with an hour of uninterrupted Torah study.

The event, titled “The Cry of Torah,” was held at the instruction of the Vizhnitzer Rebbe. Instead of marching or blocking roads, participants established a temporary bais medrash, bringing Gemaros and seforim and sitting down to learn together. Organizers said the message was that the proper response to attacks on the Torah world is to strengthen Torah learning.

Among those attending were MK Yitzchok Goldknopf and MK Meir Porush. Deputy Minister Yisroel Eichler and MK Yaakov Tessler, both members of Agudas Yisroel, did not participate. One of the evening’s notable moments came when Porush sat down to learn b’chavrusa with Vizhnitzer Rosh Yeshiva Rav Yukel Weiss alongside the hundreds of avreichim studying at the gathering.

Breaking with the chassidus’ usual practice of delivering public speeches in Yiddish, Rav Shraga Gestetner, one of the heads of the kollel network, addressed the crowd in Hebrew so his message would be understood by Israel’s legal authorities. He urged them to “Stop trampling the holy Torah and harming the very lifeblood of the chareidi community—the yeshivah bochurim. We hope this cry will fall upon attentive ears among our fellow Jews.”

At the conclusion of the learning session, participants davened Minchah and recited Kabbolas Ohl Malchus Shomayim. Just minutes later, the crowd quietly dispersed without confrontations, road closures, or any unusual incidents.

A former senior officer responsible for recruiting chareidim into the IDF says the arrest of yeshivah students over the draft is having the opposite effect of what policymakers intend, warning that the policy is discouraging enlistment rather than increasing it.

In an interview with Kikar HaShabbat, Sgt. Maj. (res.) Elchanan Wasserman, who previously served as head of recruitment for the IDF’s Chashmonaim Brigade and now directs the Derech Yoav preparatory academies, praised the continued growth of the chareidi military framework but cautioned that the arrest of bnei Torah is inflicting serious damage on recruitment efforts.

“The arrests are taking us on a 100-meter sprint—but in reverse,” Wasserman said. “They are not helping recruit chareidim; they are preventing chareidim from enlisting.”

According to Wasserman, the arrests create deep divisions within the chareidi community, weaken the morale of soldiers already serving, and discourage potential recruits from even reporting to recruitment offices. During the interview, he also discussed the population the Chashmonaim Brigade is intended to serve, outlined his preferred approach to a draft law without enlistment quotas, and sharply criticized opposition politicians for politicizing the issue.

Asked whether the Chashmonaim Brigade should be viewed as a success, Wasserman answered unequivocally that it has exceeded expectations.

“It is a tremendous success. It started as a success and continues to be a success, and we still have a long way to go,” he said. “There was never a specific target number of soldiers we had to reach. The very establishment of the brigade was a success, and with every recruitment cycle it continues to grow.”

Wasserman stressed that the brigade is not intended for full-time yeshivah students but for young chareidi men seeking a different path while remaining part of the chareidi community.

“Yeshivah students remain in yeshivah. We are talking about young men who feel they are part of the chareidi world but are not suited to spending three sedorim a day in the bais medrash.”

Addressing claims that the IDF showed little interest in recruiting chareidim before the outbreak of the current war, Wasserman said the military’s priorities have changed significantly.

“I don’t know if before that it didn’t want them. The army wasn’t recruiting based on one sector or another. Since the war, the army not only wants chareidim—it needs chareidim, and it is making major efforts to make that possible.”

Turning to the debate over proposed draft legislation, Wasserman said any solution should begin by recognizing the unique status of dedicated Torah scholars while expanding opportunities for other chareidim who wish to serve.

“Let’s begin with the premise that Torah scholars are outside the equation. We need to allow the preparatory academies and chareidi hesder yeshivos to grow. Let’s allow that solution to develop. I don’t want quotas for Torah learners because that will only generate opposition. But we need to ensure that yeshivah bochurim are truly yeshivah bochurim. There should not be quotas for yeshivah bochurim, but there should be close oversight.”

Drawing on his experience overseeing recruitment for the brigade, Wasserman reiterated that arresting yeshivah students is harming, not helping, the enlistment process.

“These arrests are taking us on a 100-meter sprint—but in reverse. They are not helping recruit chareidim; they are preventing chareidi recruitment,” he said. “Imagine a soldier in the brigade whose brother has been arrested. That creates an internal conflict. The arrests will not contribute to recruiting chareidim.”

He added that the consequences are already visible.

“Every recruitment cycle, we had additional candidates who simply did not report because of the arrests. Even when we speak with soldiers in the brigade, they ask, ‘Why?’ It creates a division between the chareidi soldier and the chareidi yeshivah student. We want everyone to remain chareidi. When you arrest a chareidi, other chareidim no longer feel comfortable.”

Wasserman concluded by accusing some opposition lawmakers of using the draft issue primarily as a political weapon rather than sincerely seeking greater chareidi enlistment.

“There is a way to recruit chareidim, and this is not it,” he said. “Many of them want to be right rather than wise. There is no real desire here to recruit chareidim into the army; there is a desire to use the issue as a political weapon because it is an incredible political tool.”

{Matzav.com}

Israel’s aviation industry took another major step toward recovery on Wednesday as several leading international airlines resumed service to Ben Gurion Airport, signaling renewed confidence in the Israeli market after two years of disruptions caused by the war.

Among the most significant developments was the return of Lufthansa, which has resumed flights between Frankfurt and Tel Aviv with 14 weekly services. The German carrier also announced that it will restore its Munich-Tel Aviv route beginning August 1, operating two daily flights.

Italy’s ITA Airways also resumed operations to Israel on Wednesday, restarting its Rome-Tel Aviv route as part of the growing wave of European airlines returning to the country. The airline will initially operate two daily departures from Tel Aviv to Rome, scheduled for 5:15 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.

Latvia’s AirBaltic also continued its renewed service to Israel. One of the airline’s aircraft landed at Ben Gurion Airport on Wednesday morning before departing again for Riga. During the initial phase of its return, AirBaltic will operate three weekly flights.

Additional airlines are scheduled to return later this month. Lufthansa subsidiary Eurowings will resume service on July 10 with four weekly flights to Hamburg, followed by the launch of four weekly flights to Düsseldorf beginning July 18.

Austrian Airlines, which resumed flights to Israel at the beginning of June, is also expanding its schedule. During July, the carrier plans to increase service between Vienna and Tel Aviv to a total of 11 weekly flights.

The recovery is expected to continue into August. Beginning August 1, SWISS will restart daily service between Zurich and Tel Aviv.

Brussels Airlines is also scheduled to resume flights during August, initially operating one weekly flight between Brussels and Tel Aviv.

The return of these carriers is being viewed as another strong indication that Europe’s major airlines are regaining confidence in flying to Israel. Their renewed service is expected to significantly increase flight availability to key European destinations during the busy summer travel season, a development that could also help ease airfare prices.

{Matzav.com}

The shocking murder of mekubal Rav Amos Guetta zt”l has prompted renewed discussion throughout the Torah world about a longstanding custom associated with the study of Maseches Chullin. In the wake of the tragedy, many have recalled the guidance of gedolei Yisroel over the generations concerning the beginning of the masechta, which deals extensively with the laws of shechitah.

In recent days, many have pointed to what they view as a striking historical pattern linking several heartbreaking tragedies to periods when the worldwide Daf Yomi cycle was studying Maseches Chullin. They say these events underscore the importance of the customs and practices that leading rabbonim encouraged at the start of the masechta.

The custom dates back centuries. Since Maseches Chullin focuses on the laws of shechitah, blood, and treifos, many communities traditionally observed a fast or increased their tefillos when beginning the tractate, out of concern for what was viewed as a spiritually sensitive time.

About two months ago, as the current Daf Yomi cycle began Maseches Chullin, the leaders of Sanz’s Torasam Mishtameres Torah program asked the Sanzer Rebbe whether thousands of participants should follow that ancient custom and fast on the day the tractate began.

The Rebbe ruled that such a fast was unnecessary under the current circumstances. He explained, “Since we are dealing with the public, when tens of thousands of Jews begin learning the tractate together, there is no need to fast.” He then offered his blessing to the participants, saying, “The holy Torah is the greatest blessing of all, and may it be Hashem’s will that all the blessings written in the Torah come upon those who study and are tested on it.”

The practice itself is commonly traced to the Chasam Sofer, who instituted a full-day fast in his yeshiva in Pressburg whenever the study of the laws of shechitah began.

In later generations, Rav Aharon Leib Shteinman zt”l also addressed the custom. Recalling the beginning of Maseches Chullin in the Ponevezh Kollel, he told his talmidim: “When they began learning Maseches Chullin in the Ponevezh Kollel, I said that those who are able should fast until midday. Although the Chasam Sofer fasted an entire day, for avreichim this could cause bitul Torah, so they should fast only until midday.” He added that those unable to fast could instead give tzedakah, saying, “Certainly this is also a good practice.”

Rav Chaim Kanievsky zt”l likewise encouraged an alternative to fasting. He ruled that “It is a good practice for the maggid shiur to give several coins to charity on behalf of those attending the shiur” at the beginning of the masechta, thereby redeeming the fast on behalf of the participants.

Those discussing the custom have also pointed to several tragedies that occurred while the worldwide Daf Yomi cycle was learning Maseches Chullin. Among the most widely remembered was the 2011 murder of Baba Elazar, Rav Elazar Abuchatzeira zt”l, who was stabbed to death in his yeshiva in Be’er Sheva. On the very day of the murder, Daf Yomi participants around the world were learning Chullin 32, which deals with the laws of shechitah.

Just days earlier during that same Daf Yomi cycle, eight-year-old Leiby Kletzky z”l was abducted and murdered in Brooklyn on his way home from camp. On that tragic day, Jews worldwide were studying Chullin 15.

More recently, many have noted that the murder of Rav Yishai Por zt”l inside the Chazon Ish Kollel in Bnei Brak occurred while the current Daf Yomi cycle was studying Maseches Chullin. Now, they say, the murder of Rav Amos Guetta zt”l has renewed attention to those longstanding traditions.

Speaking in the aftermath of the latest tragedy, several talmidei chachamim and maggidei shiur urged the public to strengthen themselves spiritually. One said, “This is something Heavenly, open and well known, that cannot be ignored. These occurrences prove beyond any doubt that the words and practices of the great sages and righteous leaders of previous generations were not said in vain. During the study of this tractate, the Satan prosecutes and seeks to strike specifically at pure souls, avreichim and mekubalim. It is our obligation to awaken ourselves, strengthen Torah study, increase charity, and cry out to Hashem to put an end to our suffering.”

Amid ongoing reports of internal tensions within the Shas movement, former Rishon LeTzion Rav Yitzchak Yosef has written an unusually warm and effusive dedication to Shas chairman Aryeh Deri, a public gesture widely expected to be viewed as a strong vote of confidence in the party leader.

The dedication was written in honor of Deri’s completion of Shas and contains exceptional praise for the longtime Shas chairman.

In the inscription, Rav Yitzchak Yosef describes Deri as “a friend of all of Israel,” “a tireless champion of Torah,” “a devoted communal leader,” and “the faithful steward of my revered father, Maran, of blessed memory.” He also refers to Deri as one who was “beloved and cherished by him like a son to a father,” calls him “the crown of glory,” and addresses him as “the chairman of our movement.”

Rav Yitzchak Yosef concludes by extending heartfelt congratulations on Deri’s completion of Shas, blessing him to merit completing the entire Beis Yosef and Yabia Omer as well. The dedication is signed simply, “With blessings, Yitzchak Yosef.”

The publication of the inscription comes at a significant time, as reports in recent weeks have pointed to disagreements within Shas over several issues, including the movement’s spiritual leadership, the draft law, and the party’s internal conduct.

In recent months, groups of bnei yeshivah have also protested against Deri. Following one such protest, Rav Yitzchak Yosef issued a public statement condemning the demonstrations and called on the public to show respect for the Shas chairman.

Given the timing, many are expected to interpret the personal and highly complimentary dedication as a clear message of support for Deri, particularly in light of recent public speculation about divisions within the party. The inscription’s repeated references to Deri as the trusted heir to Rav Ovadia Yosef’s legacy and as “the chairman of our movement” are likely to be viewed as especially significant.

{Matzav.com}

An unusual halachic question arising from Israel’s ongoing military draft crisis has prompted a ruling from the leading posek of Karlin-Stolin. The question centered on what should happen if a yungerman classified as a “draft evader”—who is legally barred from leaving Israel—wins the chassidus’ annual raffle for a flight to the kever of Rav Shlomo of Karlin in Ukraine.

The issue surfaced after the leadership of the Merkaz Stolin Karlin organization in Eretz Yisroel announced its annual raffle for supporters who contribute through recurring monthly donations. The grand prize was a plane ticket to visit the resting place of Rav Shlomo of Karlin in Ludmir, Ukraine, ahead of his yahrtzeit on the 22nd of Tammuz.

Once the raffle was announced, members of the chassidus raised a practical concern. What would happen if the winner turned out to be a yungerman whose military status classified him as a draft evader, preventing him from legally leaving the country and making it impossible for him to use the prize?

The question was submitted to the Karlin-Stolin posek, Rav Dovid Brizel, who responded with a detailed psak outlining the proper guidelines for the raffle. He emphasized that the rules governing any raffle must be established before the drawing takes place, not afterward, explaining that participants enter the raffle based on the terms set in advance.

Rav Brizel then proposed a solution designed to preserve the spiritual purpose of the prize while ensuring fairness to a winner who cannot travel because of legal restrictions.

In his letter to the organization’s leadership, Rav Brizel explained that the purpose of the raffle is for one donor to travel as the representative of all contributors and offer tefillos on their behalf at the kever. Therefore, if the winner is legally permitted to travel but chooses not to do so for personal reasons, he may transfer the prize to someone else who will make the trip as the emissary of all the donors.

However, Rav Brizel ruled differently if the winner is a yungerman who is legally unable to leave Israel because he is classified as a draft evader. In that case, the winner may choose one of two options: either retain the ticket and use it in a future year if his legal status changes and travel becomes possible, or immediately receive the cash value of the prize instead. The organization would then arrange for another representative to travel to the kever and daven on behalf of all its donors and supporters.

{Matzav.com}

A new national survey suggests that public skepticism surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic remains widespread, with nearly half of Americans saying they believe it is at least somewhat likely the virus was connected to a secret effort by global elites to reduce the world’s population.

The Rasmussen Reports poll was released Wednesday as renewed attention has focused on the origins of COVID-19 following the recent release of declassified documents by former Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard concerning Dr. Anthony Fauci’s actions during the pandemic.

According to the survey, 45% of American adults said they consider it at least somewhat likely that COVID-19 was part of a global population control agenda. Of that group, 24% described the theory as “very likely.” Another 45% rejected the idea, including 30% who said it was “not at all likely,” while 10% said they were unsure.

The poll also reflected continued divisions over the COVID-19 vaccines. Nearly half of respondents, 48%, said the vaccines were necessary and effective in slowing the spread of the virus. By contrast, 39% said they more closely agreed with the view that the vaccines were promoted primarily to enrich large pharmaceutical companies, while 13% remained undecided.

Views on the pandemic’s origins closely tracked opinions about the vaccines. Among respondents who said it was “very likely” that COVID-19 was part of a global population control effort, 66% also believed the vaccines were promoted mainly to benefit major drug manufacturers.

Political affiliation played a significant role in how respondents answered the survey. Among Republicans, 59% said they believe it is at least somewhat likely the pandemic was tied to a secret global population control plan. That compared with 44% of independents and 34% of Democrats.

The partisan divide was equally evident on the vaccine question. Sixty-five percent of Democrats said the vaccines were necessary and effective, compared with 42% of independents and 35% of Republicans. Meanwhile, 54% of Republicans, 40% of independents, and 26% of Democrats said they believe the vaccines were promoted to generate profits for pharmaceutical companies.

Age also appeared to influence attitudes. Rasmussen found that a majority of Americans under 40 believe it is at least somewhat likely the pandemic was connected to a population control scheme, including nearly two-thirds of men under 40. Respondents aged 65 and older were the most likely to view the vaccines as necessary and effective.

The survey also found differences among demographic groups. Fifty-six percent of Black respondents, 51% of respondents identifying with other minority groups, 47% of white respondents, and 41% of Hispanic respondents said the vaccines were necessary and effective.

At the same time, Rasmussen reported that Black and Hispanic respondents were the most likely demographic groups to believe the pandemic was part of a secret global population control effort.

Educational attainment and income also appeared to influence responses. Americans with college degrees and those earning more than $50,000 per year were less likely than other respondents to believe COVID-19 was intentionally orchestrated as part of a population control agenda.

The poll was conducted on June 24-25 and June 28 among 1,259 U.S. adults. Rasmussen Reports said the survey has a margin of sampling error of plus or minus three percentage points.

{Matzav.com}

Iran’s Ministry of Education has authorized a special arrangement allowing observant Jewish students to take the country’s mandatory matriculation examinations on Shabbos without personally writing their answers, providing a rare accommodation for the nation’s Jewish community.

Under the approved policy, designated school secretaries will record students’ responses during the examinations, enabling religiously observant students to avoid violating Shabbos while still completing the required tests.

The announcement was confirmed by the Tehran Jewish Committee, which credited months of advocacy with Iranian education officials. In a public statement, the committee said: “With efforts and monitoring by the head of the committee’s Science and Education Council, Ilan Mishalian, with the Ministry of Education, all Jewish students in all cities of our homeland Iran, may receive assistance from a secretary during exams on Shabbos.”

The committee explained that the nationwide examination schedule cannot be changed because of logistical constraints affecting the country’s education system. It noted that the accommodation is not new and has been available in previous years. The statement also emphasized that the service will be provided free of charge and that students do not need authorization from the Ministry of Social Affairs. Instead, they are only required to notify their school administration in advance.

Iran’s parliament speaker declared Wednesday that international nuclear inspectors will not be allowed to enter the country’s bombed nuclear facilities under any circumstances, directly contradicting recent statements by President Donald Trump that Iran had agreed to permit inspections as part of its understanding with the United States.

Speaking after leading the Iranian delegation in negotiations, Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf dismissed reports that inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) would be granted access to sites damaged in strikes carried out by the United States and Israel.

“Claims regarding inspector access to bombed sites are false,” Ghalibaf said, according to Iranian media.

He emphasized that Iranian law explicitly prohibits such inspections, stating, “We ourselves passed a law in parliament, the Supreme National Security Council passed it too; we made it law that under no circumstances do we allow access to sites that have been bombarded and damaged.”

Trump has previously stated that Iran agreed to allow IAEA inspectors to examine its nuclear facilities as part of the agreement reached between Washington and Tehran. His special envoy, Steve Witkoff, has likewise told members of Congress that inspections would be included in the arrangement.

Despite those statements, Iran has continued to withhold information from the IAEA regarding the location and condition of its nuclear materials. Tehran has also refused to allow inspectors to assess the facilities that were struck during the recent military campaign.

Efforts to restore international monitoring have also broken down. An agreement reached last September between Iran and the IAEA to resume inspections and verify uranium inventories was later abandoned after Tehran declared it void in response to Britain, France, and Germany initiating the reimposition of United Nations sanctions that had previously been lifted under the 2015 nuclear agreement.

IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi recently said that he believes most of Iran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium remains at the Isfahan nuclear complex, despite that facility having been targeted in last month’s strikes.

Grossi also said the agency continues to seek access to the nuclear facilities at Natanz and Fordow, where additional nuclear material is believed to be located.

{Matzav.com}

An advance contingent of Israel’s humanitarian aid mission arrived in Venezuela on Wednesday, launching the country’s emergency response to the devastating earthquake and beginning coordination with local officials ahead of full-scale recovery operations.

The initial delegation was dispatched from Israel and includes representatives from both the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the IDF. The civilian effort is headed by Israel’s Ambassador-designate to Mexico, Yoed Magen, while Brigadier General Elad Edri, Chief of Staff of the Home Front Command, is leading the military component of the mission.

Soon after touching down, members of the advance team met with Venezuelan government officials, emergency responders, and other key partners to evaluate the disaster’s impact. The meetings focused on assessing conditions on the ground, determining the most urgent needs, coordinating joint operations, and finalizing logistical preparations before field activities begin.

Additional members of the Israeli delegation are expected to arrive over the coming days, expanding the mission as recovery efforts intensify.

After the planning phase is completed, Israeli specialists will work side by side with local authorities, providing professional expertise drawn from Israel’s extensive experience responding to earthquakes, natural disasters, and humanitarian emergencies around the world.

{Matzav.com}

A surprising phone call from an inmate at Shikma Prison has intensified the debate over incitement in Israel’s Arab education system after the prisoner, a Bedouin Arab convicted of murdering a family member, told Knesset Education Committee Chairman MK Tzvi Sukkot that anti-Jewish indoctrination in school laid the foundation for both violent crime and nationalist extremism.

According to Sukkot, the inmate reached out to commend the lawmaker for visiting Arab schools and examining what is being taught there in an effort to combat violence and incitement. During the conversation, the prisoner told Sukkot, “You are saving the education in the Arab sector.”

The inmate said he attended a Ministry of Education-recognized school in Kuseife, where he claims students were repeatedly exposed to anti-Jewish messages and encouraged to view violence against Jews favorably. Describing what he experienced, he said, “Crime starts with criminal acts, but the motive starts with nationalism and develops later. Just like during Operation Guardian of the Walls, everyone who participated (in the riots) had a criminal background.”

He went on to describe an educational environment in which Jews were portrayed as enemies who had stolen Arab land. “I grew up in a way where if I would commit a crime against an Arab, I was hated, and if I would do something against a Jew, I would be admired. That’s how I was educated in the Israeli education system in Kuseife.”

The prisoner further argued that organized crime within the Arab sector is driven not only by financial motives but also by ideological ones. “Even the criminal [acts] are nationalist. The reason the criminal organizations do protection rackets is that it all starts with education that the Jew is an infidel.”

He also claimed that his teachers instilled hatred toward Jews from an early age. “The teachers from the north and the territories would teach us to hate the country, that the Jews came to take our land. It all comes from the teacher’s conduct, and it reflects on society. When you don’t recognize the state’s authority and are educated that crime against Jews is acceptable, you grow up to be a criminal like me.”

Near the conclusion of the conversation, the inmate expressed concern that the cycle would continue unless the education system changes, telling Sukkot, “Our DNA is infected. Even if I were released from prison, my children would do the same thing if they were not educated differently.”

Following the conversation, Sukkot said the prisoner’s account highlights what he believes is a critical national security issue. “This testimony must set off a red light for anyone who cares about the State of Israel’s future. We got clear proof that you can not fight crime and terrorism without dealing with the root – the education system. When children are educated on hate, incitement, and delegitimization of Jews and the State of Israel, the results will be violence, crime, and terrorism. Whoever thinks it’s possible to fight crime using only the police and enforcement lives in a misconception and should wake up before it’s too late.”

Sukkot pledged to continue investigating educational materials used in Arab schools and said the committee would press for significant changes. “The Education Committee, led by me, will continue to expose these materials and ensure that the education system educates on coexistence, respect for the law, and allegiance to the state, and not on incitement and violence, and whoever’s not interested won’t get a shekel from the state.”

{Matzav.com}

The Knesset gave preliminary approval on Wednesday to legislation that would significantly tighten regulation and enforcement of loudspeaker systems used at mosques, marking a major step forward for a proposal championed by National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Knesset National Security Committee Chairman MK Tzvika Foghel.

The bill passed its preliminary reading by a vote of 50-36. Despite recent threats to withhold support over the ongoing dispute surrounding the conscription law and Basic Law: Torah Study, Shas backed the measure. The opposition also contributed votes, with Yisrael Beytenu supporting the proposal.

Under the legislation, no public address system could be installed or operated without first obtaining an official permit. Authorities would evaluate permit applications based on several factors, including the system’s volume, available noise-reduction measures, the mosque’s location, its distance from nearby homes, and the expected impact on local residents.

The proposal also grants police expanded enforcement authority. Officers would be empowered to order the immediate cessation of unauthorized or non-compliant broadcasts, and if those orders are ignored, they could confiscate the loudspeaker equipment.

Violators would face substantial financial penalties. Installing or operating a public address system without the required permit could result in fines of up to 50,000 shekels, while operating a system in violation of permit conditions would carry fines of up to 10,000 shekels.

Unlike previous attempts to regulate mosque loudspeakers—which primarily sought to restrict the hours during which they could be used and contained broad exemptions with relatively weak enforcement—the current proposal establishes a comprehensive licensing system, assigns direct responsibility to the operator, significantly expands enforcement powers, and strengthens penalties. It also creates a mechanism directing revenue collected from fines toward public projects.

According to the bill’s explanatory notes, “Noise is a public health hazard, and although enforcement campaigns have been conducted in the past, there is currently no law that provides sufficient tools to address the phenomenon. Therefore, a clear regulatory framework is proposed, including a default prohibition, an explicit permit mechanism, the appointment of a person responsible for operation, and significant fines. The bill seeks to restore peace and quiet and improve residents’ quality of life through effective and clear enforcement.”

Ben-Gvir welcomed the bill’s advancement, saying, “In many places, the muezzin’s call constitutes unreasonable noise that harms residents’ quality of life and health. This is a phenomenon that cannot be accepted. During my tenure, the Israel Police began addressing this intolerable problem for the first time, and now we are providing it with additional dramatic tools to eradicate the phenomenon. I thank Minister Idit Silman for her cooperation, Coalition Chairman Ofir Katz, and the members of Otzma Yehudit, who remain faithful to our election promises and are working hard to fulfill them one by one.”

Foghel also defended the legislation, arguing that its purpose is not to interfere with religious practice but to address excessive noise affecting nearby communities. “The muezzin broadcast at excessive volume is not a religious issue; it is a matter of harm to public health and quality of life. It is unacceptable for residents to continue suffering from systematic violations of the law. That is why I submitted this bill—to enable firm, clear, and decisive action against this phenomenon.”