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A routine cash purchase of a vehicle in Israel took an unexpected turn after the sellers discovered handwritten messages on several of the banknotes they had received. The inscriptions, which referenced the controversy surrounding the military draft of bnei yeshivos, quickly drew widespread attention after the story was reported by Israeli media.

According to an N12 report, the buyers were a family from Bnei Brak. It was only after the sale had been completed and the sellers counted the cash that they noticed several bills bearing handwritten slogans. Among the messages were “We will die and not enlist” and “Through the merit of the Torah and those who study it, the world will be saved.”

The sellers said they were surprised by the discovery and described the inscriptions as unsettling.

However, it remains unclear who wrote the messages or when they were added to the bills. The banknotes may have circulated through numerous hands before reaching the family that purchased the vehicle, and there is no evidence that the buyers themselves were responsible for writing the slogans.

The incident comes as tensions continue to mount in Israel over the issue of drafting bnei yeshivos into the military.

{Matzav.com}

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By Jamie Geller

I did not expect to hear the word joy so many times while making a film about grief.

In 2025, twenty Jews were murdered in antisemitic attacks outside of Israel. More than 800 severe antisemitic incidents were documented around the world. It was the deadliest year for Jews living outside Israel this century, and so I started working on a film to document it. When I began, I assumed I already understood the shape of that year. I did not. It took sitting across from the people who lived through it to see the pattern that had been there all along. They did not come for us at random moments. They came for us on our holidays.

A terrorist attacked Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation in Manchester on Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the Jewish year, while worshippers prayed and fasted. Melvin Cravitz and Adrian Daulby were murdered that morning. Melvin was the first Jewish man killed in the United Kingdom for being Jewish in 80 years. Gunmen opened fire on a Hanukkah celebration at Bondi Beach in Sydney, killing fifteen people, among them a girl who had just turned ten, a Holocaust survivor, and a rabbi. And during the war between Israel and Iran, a ballistic missile struck a residential building in Haifa on the fourth day of Passover, killing four members of the Gershovitz family.

Yom Kippur. Hanukkah. Passover. While we were praying. While we were lighting candles. While we were celebrating. This has been something that has happened in Israel several times: the Yom Kippur War, October 7th, now it is spreading to the Diaspora.

As the person behind Aish’s Tisha B’Av documentary While We Were Celebrating, I traveled to three continents this year to sit with the people who lived through each of these attacks, and with the families they left behind. I went in bracing myself for grief. I have made enough films and sat with enough loss to know what to expect. What I found instead has not left me since.

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Karen Cravitz told me she was the one who encouraged her husband Melvin to leave for synagogue early that Yom Kippur morning, because that is simply what you do on the holiest day of the year. She has spent every day since turning that decision over in her head, a decision made entirely out of love and faith. Yoni Finlay was holding the synagogue doors shut to keep the terrorist out when a police bullet struck him in the chest and passed through his body into his friend Adrian, who was standing right behind him. And Rabbi Daniel Walker described his congregation to me as a reserved, quiet English crowd that does not usually dance on Friday nights. That next Friday, they danced.

In Sydney, Sheina Gutnik told me about her father, Reuven Morrison, who ran toward the gunmen at Bondi Beach and used his own body as a shield, saving dozens of lives before losing his.

Through the grief, through the funeral, through the memorial service that followed, Sheina lit Hanukkah candles. All eight nights. She told me she was not going to be the one to let the light go out. That message really moved me in ways I cannot explain.

Chavi Israel recounted how she threw herself over her baby, Meir, the moment the shooting started, trying to protect him and trying somehow not to suffocate him at the same time. She told me it was Reuven who saved both their lives. 

Yonatan Frank, a soldier who had come to Australia from Gaza days earlier, and wanted to go to the beach, found himself unarmed in the middle of a massacre and ran toward it anyway. Yonatan helped Chavi’s sister-in-law and her baby reach a waiting car that had arrived to rescue them. Eleven people ended up crammed into a car built for five. Chavi, Meir, Yonatan, and eight strangers who were suddenly not strangers at all. Once they were safe, they lit Hanukkah candles to keep the light alive.

In Haifa, Professor Lena Sagi told me about her neighbors, the Gershovitz family, who were found after an eighteen-hour search through what had been their home. Lena had lost everything but her life that night, the Gershovitz family weren’t as lucky. Lena told me that she later danced at her daughter’s bat mitzvah. Alex Gershovitz, Vladimir’s brother, still cannot speak about his family without his voice catching. In the same moment that he described himself to me as a secular Jew, he looked me in the eye and said that he believes God has a plan.

I sat with each of these people separately. Different continents, different languages, different circumstances. None of them knew what the others had said, yet every single one of them told me the same thing, completely unprompted.

They did not want to talk to me about their pain. They wanted to talk to me about joy. Not in spite of what happened to them, but because of it.

They chose to speak now, ahead of Tisha B’Av, because they understand what that day means to the Jewish world. It is our most reflective moment, the day we sit with our losses across history. None of these people are asking to be pitied. They are asking to be heard; they are asking us to understand our mission to live.  

This is nothing new for us. It runs through our history like a current, from the Inquisition to the pogroms to the Holocaust to October 7th, to Manchester, to Bondi, to Haifa. Our enemies have tried to extinguish our flame in every generation, and in every generation, the answer has been the same.

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Live more Jewishly. Live more joyously. Celebrate again. That will be the ultimate victory over our enemies.

This Tisha B’Av, as we sit on the floor and mourn what we have lost, I am sure that I will keep hearing Karen, Sheina, Chavi, and Lena in my head, asking this of me. I did not write their message. I am only carrying it, but now I am not making simple assumptions; I too am listening.

———————–

While We Were Celebrating, the Aish Original Tisha B’Av documentary film, premieres worldwide on July 22. It is free to watch. Register at aish.com/9av. To arrange a community screening, visit 9av.aish.com/groupscreening. For more information email 9avfilm@aish.com

A chance visit to a restaurant in northern Israel led to an emotional reunion for a Chabad emissary, who discovered that years after encouraging the owner to close on Shabbos and become kosher, the business had undergone a dramatic transformation. According to the franchise owner, the move not only brought financial success but was followed by what he described as a deeply personal miracle after more than a decade of waiting for another child.

Rabbi Bentzi Friedman, who today serves as a Chabad emissary working with youth in Beit Shean, recently returned to Rosh Pina for the first time in years. The unexpected visit brought back memories of his days as a yeshiva student in Tzfas, when every Friday he traveled through the Rosh Pina area participating in Chabad’s Mivtza Tefillin, visiting local businesses, helping Jewish men put on tefillin, and encouraging them to strengthen their observance of Torah and mitzvos.

For nearly three years, from the beginning of his yeshiva studies onward, Rabbi Friedman followed the same weekly route. One of the regular stops was a BBB restaurant that, at the time, was neither kosher nor closed on Shabbos. There he developed a warm relationship with Nissim, one of the franchise operators. Each Friday, the two would put on tefillin together and spend time discussing Yiddishkeit. During nearly every conversation, Rabbi Friedman urged him to consider closing the restaurant on Shabbos.

Looking back, Rabbi Friedman recalled that their conversations were always respectful and sincere.

“Every week I spoke to him about keeping Shabbos,” he said. “I told him, ‘Nissim, close the business on Shabbos. Hashem does not bring blessing through work on Shabbos.’”

Nissim never rejected the message. Instead, he explained that he wanted to stop operating on Shabbos but faced resistance from others connected to the business.

“I’m constantly pushing for it, but they won’t agree,” he would tell Rabbi Friedman. Despite hearing the same response week after week, the young yeshiva student continued returning every Friday, putting on tefillin with him and speaking about the importance of Shabbos, never knowing whether those conversations would ultimately make a difference.

Before leaving for a year of study at Chabad’s central yeshiva in New York, Rabbi Friedman witnessed an encouraging development elsewhere in Rosh Pina. Another dairy restaurant he regularly visited during his Friday outreach decided to become kosher and stop operating on Shabbos.

When he entered one Friday, a waiter approached him and said, “You know this happened because of you. Every week you came here and spoke with the management about keeping Shabbos.”

The comment caught him completely by surprise. He had barely interacted with the restaurant’s owners and had no idea his conversations had made such an impression. Inspired by the news, he shared the story with Nissim, hoping it would encourage him.

“You see? That restaurant became kosher and started closing on Shabbos. You can do the same,” he told him.

Nissim again explained that the decision was not entirely his to make.

Not long afterward, Rabbi Friedman left for New York. In the years that followed, he married, established his family, and later accepted a Chabad shlichus in Beit Shean. His weekly visits to the BBB restaurant gradually became a distant memory from his yeshiva years.

Recently, while traveling through the Rosh Pina area with his family, Rabbi Friedman suggested stopping by to see some of the people he had met years earlier. As he approached the BBB location, he was stunned. The restaurant prominently displayed kosher certification, and its posted hours showed that it closed three hours before the start of Shabbos each Friday.

Filled with emotion, he entered the restaurant and asked employees whether Nissim was there. They directed him to the office.

“Nissim, do you remember me?” Rabbi Friedman asked as he walked in.

The owner recognized him immediately, and the two warmly embraced. Rabbi Friedman then asked the question that had been on his mind ever since seeing the new signs.

“What happened here? How did the restaurant become kosher and start closing on Shabbos?”

Rather than answer immediately, Nissim opened a business application on his phone and showed Rabbi Friedman the restaurant’s financial figures. Before the change, he explained, monthly revenue averaged between 300,000 and 350,000 shekels. After becoming kosher and closing on Shabbos, some months produced nearly double that amount.

Nissim explained that the transformation had not come easily.

“You have no idea what battles took place here,” he told Rabbi Friedman.

According to Nissim, the restaurant chain strongly opposed shutting down a successful location on Shabbos. About three months ago, after repeated unsuccessful attempts to persuade management, he decided to issue an ultimatum. He placed the restaurant keys on the table and told senior executives, “I’m leaving. I’m done working on Shabbos. If you’re not willing to close the business on Shabbos, take the keys and find someone else.”

Surprised by the determination of a successful franchise operator willing to walk away, company officials asked for two weeks to consider the matter. They eventually agreed to allow the restaurant to become kosher and close on Shabbos, provided it underwent an extensive renovation.

Nissim accepted the condition, investing approximately 700,000 shekels to bring the restaurant into compliance with kosher standards while hoping the business would remain financially stable.

But the financial success, he said, was only part of the story.

Nissim shared that he and his wife had one daughter and had spent 12 years hoping and praying for another child. During that time, they underwent lengthy and expensive fertility treatments, but nothing had succeeded.

Then, looking directly at Rabbi Friedman, he said, “The moment we started closing the business on Shabbos, my wife became pregnant.”

He once again reached for his phone, this time showing Rabbi Friedman a photograph of his five-month-old baby boy.

“This is because of you. You have no idea what you accomplished here,” he said emotionally.

Rabbi Friedman said he was left speechless by the revelation.

“I was just a simple yeshiva student who went out every Friday to do what needed to be done,” he recalled. “I put tefillin on with another Jew and spoke with him, never realizing what those conversations would eventually accomplish. Seven years later, I was privileged to see the results.”

According to Rabbi Friedman, the impact extended beyond a single restaurant. After the Rosh Pina location became the first in the chain to adopt kashrus and close on Shabbos, additional franchises followed suit. Today, he said, tens of thousands of customers dine at kosher, Shabbos-observant locations throughout the network. For the Chabad emissary, the unexpected reunion served as a powerful reminder that even the smallest act of outreach—a conversation, a pair of tefillin, or a few words about holiness—can bear fruit years later.

{Matzav.com}

A growing internal disagreement has surfaced within the Gerer chassidus over how aggressively to respond to the arrest of yeshiva students in the ongoing draft controversy, with reports indicating a widening divide between the movement’s political leadership and a group of activists pushing for more confrontational protests.

According to Hebrew media reports, the Gerer political leadership worked behind the scenes to prevent Monday night’s demonstration outside the Tel Aviv home of Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara. The protest came one day after thousands of Gerer chassidim gathered outside Military Prison 10 to demonstrate against the detention of a Gerer yeshiva student classified by the military as a draft evader.

While senior Gerer political figure Motty Babchik reportedly sought to calm tensions, the protest outside the attorney general’s residence was organized by an independent group of avreichim.

Channel 13 correspondent Yoeli Brim reported that the Gerer Rebbe himself instructed followers to intensify the demonstrations with the goal of “wearing down the police.”

The latest protest is said to reflect a broader internal struggle within the chassidus. According to the report, the Gerer political leadership has increasingly found itself at odds with large groups of avreichim who favor a far more forceful campaign and reject any discussion of compromise on the issue of the military draft for bnei yeshivos.

In a separate report, Kan News correspondent Daniel Groveis said the demonstration outside Baharav-Miara’s home took place despite the wishes of Gerer’s official leadership. According to the report, the protest was spearheaded by what was described as a “militant opposition” faction within the chassidus that is said to have ties to the Peleg Yerushalmi.

A Salvadoran illegal immigrant who entered the United States during the Biden administration and was later released into the country is now accused of gunning down a 71-year-old military veteran in what investigators believe was a random attack. Federal officials are also pointing to California’s sanctuary policies, arguing they prevented Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) from taking the suspect into custody before the deadly shooting.

ICE placed a detainer on Axel Eduardo Chavez-Marroquin, an illegal immigrant from El Salvador who crossed the southern border into California in 2021 and was released into the United States by the Biden administration.

“This illegal alien should’ve never been allowed on our streets, and James Witten should still be alive today,” Department of Homeland Security spokeswoman Lauren Bis said. “ICE is now asking officials in Utah to commit to not releasing this criminal from jail and to work with ICE so that we can remove him from our country. Reckless sanctuary policies in states like California are putting American lives at risk.”

Authorities in West Point, Utah, say the fatal shooting took place on May 30 as Randy Witten was decorating the porch of his home with his back turned toward the street. Investigators allege that Chavez-Marroquin drove up, exited his vehicle, and fired 10 shots at the unsuspecting veteran before fleeing the scene.

Police say Witten died from the gunfire. Investigators allege the suspect immediately drove to Las Vegas, Nevada, where he was ultimately arrested on June 16 and charged in connection with the killing.

Detectives say the entire shooting was captured by Witten’s doorbell camera. Despite the video evidence, investigators have not yet determined a motive and remain uncertain whether the victim was deliberately targeted.

Witten is survived by his wife, Maria, along with their children. According to his obituary, he devoted two decades to military service in the U.S. Air Force and served during the Vietnam War, Operation Desert Storm, and the invasion of Grenada.

“His Military decorations include; Meritorious Service Medal; AF Commendation Medal with one device; AF outstanding Unit Award with two devices; AF Organizational Excellence Award with one device; AF Good Conduct Medal with five devices; National Defense Service Medal with one device; NCO Professional Military Education Graduate Ribbon with two devices; Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon with one device; and AF Training Ribbon,” Witten’s obituary reads.

Chavez-Marroquin has been charged with murder with a dangerous weapon, discharge of a firearm causing serious injury, dangerous weapon conduct by a restricted person, and obstruction of justice. He remains jailed in Davis County, Utah, awaiting further legal proceedings.

Federal officials contend the suspect could have been deported before the killing if California authorities had cooperated with ICE. Chavez-Marroquin had previously been arrested in Santa Ana in 2024 on domestic violence allegations and again in Laguna Niguel in 2025 on another domestic violence charge.

Because of California’s sanctuary state policies, ICE says it was never notified after either of those arrests, preventing agents from taking him into immigration custody.

“This monster is charged with murdering a 71-year-old Army and Air Force veteran in Utah. California sanctuary politicians released this criminal from jail twice after arrests for domestic violence,” Bis said. “Following his release, he went on to commit this heinous murder.”

{Matzav.com}

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More than 70 speakers, 35 live programs, and multiple specialized channels will unite Jews around the world on July 22–23, 2026.

This Tisha B’Av, Jews across the globe will have an extraordinary opportunity to experience a full day of meaningful Torah, kinnos, inspiration, and reflection through TorahAnytime’s annual Tisha B’Av Live Streaming Event.

Taking place on July 22–23, 2026, the completely free program will feature 25 hours of continuous content, with more than 70 renowned rabbanim, speakers, and educators participating in over 35 live events and specialized programs.

The event is designed to help every participant connect with the meaning of Tisha B’Av in a way that speaks personally to them.

Viewers and listeners will be able to select from a wide variety of simultaneous programming, including TorahAnytime’s main broadcast, JewishAnytime, TorahAnytime Español, Daily Dose, StoryAnytime, Chazak, Torah Connections, dedicated women’s programming, children’s programming, kinnos, and much more.

Something Meaningful for Everyone

Tisha B’Av can be a long and emotionally challenging day. TorahAnytime’s goal is to transform those hours into an opportunity for deeper understanding, spiritual growth, and connection to Klal Yisrael.

The diverse lineup enables participants to choose the speakers, styles, languages, and topics that resonate most with them.

The program includes leading rabbanim and speakers from across the Jewish world, representing a broad range of communities and audiences.

Among the many featured speakers are Rabbi YY Jacobson, Rabbi Paysach Krohn, Rabbi Yisroel Reisman, Rabbi Zev Leff, Rabbi Moshe Meiselman, Rabbi Yitzchak Breitowitz, Rabbi Daniel Glatstein, Rabbi Fischel Schachter, Rabbi David Ashear, Rabbi Ephraim Eliyahu Shapiro, Rabbi Joey Haber, Rabbi Benzion Klatzko, Mr. Charlie Harary, Rabbi Warren Goldstein, Rabbi Mordechai Becher, Rabbi Shlomo Farhi, Rabbi Chanan Gordon, Rabbi Yaakov Rahimi, Rabbi Pinchas Landis, Rabbi Don Jarashow, and many others.

A special live program featuring Rabbi Joey Haber is also scheduled for 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time.

Live Kinnos From Communities Around the World

In addition to inspirational lectures and presentations, TorahAnytime will offer access to live kinnos programs from prominent rabbanim, shuls, and communities.

Participants will be able to join kinnos led by speakers including Rabbi Daniel Glatstein, Rabbi Dovid Goldwasser, Rabbi Ephraim Eliyahu Shapiro, Rabbi Moshe Tuvia Lieff, Rabbi Yisroel Reisman, Rabbi Aharon Lopiansky, Rabbi Yosef Ginsberg, Rabbi Eliezer Abish, and others.

Programs will also connect listeners with communities in locations including Har Nof, Manchester, and additional Jewish communities around the world.

No Internet or Smartphone Required

One of the most important features of the event is its accessibility.

Those with internet access can watch or listen through:
TorahAnytime.com/TishaBav

Anyone without internet access or a smartphone can participate by calling the TorahAnytime Tisha B’Av hotline: 605-605-2220

Dedicated international dial-in numbers are also available for Israel, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Australia.

Callers can select the extension for the program they would like to hear, allowing families and individuals to participate even without a computer or smart device.

A Worldwide Tisha B’Av Experience

TorahAnytime’s Tisha B’Av programming has grown into a major global event, reaching participants in more than 130 cities and attracting more than 750,000 viewers and listeners.

Despite the many different programs, communities, and speakers, the event carries one central message:

On Tisha B’Av, Jews everywhere can come together to mourn, learn, reflect, and strengthen their connection to Hashem and to one another.

Whether someone is looking for an in-depth Torah lecture, a moving personal story, a family-friendly program, a presentation in Spanish, a women’s program, a children’s program, or live kinnos, TorahAnytime is creating an accessible entry point for every Jew.

Join From Anywhere — Completely Free

The entire 25-hour event is being offered 100% free of charge.

Speakers and program times may be updated as the event approaches.

The latest schedule, streaming links, and dial-in information will be available at:
TorahAnytime.com/TishaBav

On July 22–23, Jews around the world are invited to choose a program, invite family and friends, and become part of one of the largest shared Tisha B’Av learning experiences in the world.

A new Channel 13 News poll released Tuesday night shows Prime Minister Binyomin Netanyahu’s Likud party running even with Gadi Eisenkot’s newly formed Yashar! party, while the anti-Netanyahu camp would hold a parliamentary advantage if elections were held today.

According to the survey, Likud and Yashar! would each capture 21 Knesset seats, placing the two parties in a statistical tie.

The Together party, headed by Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid, continues to lose ground and is projected to win 14 seats. The Democrats follow with 11 seats, while Yisrael Beytenu is forecast to receive 10. Shas and United Torah Judaism would each secure 8 seats.

The poll projects 7 seats for Otzma Yehudit, 6 for Hadash-Ta’al, and 5 apiece for the Religious Zionist Party and Ra’am. A joint list led by Chili Tropper and Yoaz Hendel would narrowly clear the electoral threshold with 4 seats.

Meanwhile, both Blue and White and Balad are projected to fall below the threshold required to enter the Knesset.

Based on the poll’s seat distribution, the right-wing bloc would control 49 seats, while parties opposed to Netanyahu would command 60 seats without relying on support from the Arab parties.

The survey also measured public preferences for prime minister. In a direct matchup, Gadi Eisenkot leads Netanyahu by a margin of 47% to 35%. When matched against Naftali Bennett, Netanyahu trails by a narrower margin, with Bennett receiving 43% support compared to Netanyahu’s 40%.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump announced that he is ending a decades-long prohibition on direct commercial flights between the United States and Lebanon, ordering his administration to allow American airlines to resume service following talks at the White House with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun.

Trump revealed the decision in a Truth Social post after meeting with Aoun, praising the Lebanese leader’s efforts to reshape his country and announcing that U.S. carriers will once again be permitted to fly directly to Lebanon.

“After meeting with the President of Lebanon, Joseph Aoun, who has done a remarkable job working to transform his Country, I am hereby directing my Administration to allow all U.S. airline carriers to fly directly to Lebanon so that Americans can easily visit this beautiful land,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.

The President also applauded Aoun for what he described as a “remarkable job” advancing reforms in Lebanon and urged other nations to reopen direct commercial air service to the country.

Direct flights between the United States and Lebanon have been suspended since 1985, when the U.S. halted commercial service in the aftermath of the hijacking of TWA Flight 847 and amid continuing security concerns during Lebanon’s civil war.

The decision followed discussions between Trump and Aoun centered on expanding cooperation between the two countries, maintaining American support for the Lebanese Armed Forces, and advancing implementation of a recently negotiated framework agreement between Lebanon and Israel that was brokered in Washington.

That agreement, however, is contingent on the complete disarmament of Hezbollah. The Iran-backed terrorist organization has rejected both the framework agreement and the broader peace negotiations between Lebanon and Israel.

{Matzav.com}

Iran’s military issued a stark warning Tuesday that any American strike on its nuclear facilities would trigger a powerful military response against U.S. forces and their allies across the region, following President Donald Trump’s pledge to destroy any Iranian nuclear site under development.

The warning came from Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, the operational command of the country’s armed forces, which cautioned Washington against carrying out attacks on Iran’s nuclear infrastructure.

“It is made clear that should the invading and terrorist forces of that nation take such a step, it will be regarded as an escalation of conflict across the region,” the headquarters said in a statement carried by Iran’s IRNA news agency.

“In that event, all US assets, along with those of its allies and backers, will be subject to a decisive strike by the Islamic Republic of Iran’s Armed Forces,” the statement added.

The Iranian threat followed remarks by President Trump at the White House, where he vowed that the United States would strike any location where Iran attempts to revive its nuclear program.

“How about these people? They’re in this because of nuclear weapons, and they’re trying to possibly reconstitute a site? We’ll hit that site. Any site where they’re even thinking about nuclear – we’ll be hitting it very, very powerfully,” Trump said during a meeting with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun.

Trump’s comments came after The Wall Street Journal reported that Israeli intelligence believes Iran secretly transferred thousands of uranium-enrichment centrifuges last autumn to a heavily fortified underground complex inside Pickaxe Mountain.

According to the report, Israel shared the intelligence assessment with the United States. The relocation is believed to have taken place after the June 2025 war, when Israeli and American forces carried out strikes against Iran’s three principal nuclear facilities.

{Matzav.com}

22The Dutch government will begin enforcing a ban on imports from Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria on September 22, according to a senior Dutch diplomat, making the Netherlands the latest European Union member state to adopt such restrictions.

The official told Haaretz on Tuesday that the new policy is intended to bring the Netherlands’ trade practices into line with international legal positions that view Israel’s presence in Judea and Samaria as unlawful.

Under the new rules, businesses and individuals will be prohibited from importing, buying, or selling products manufactured in Israeli communities throughout Judea and Samaria. The regulations also outlaw brokerage and intermediary services related to those goods and impose penalties on anyone attempting to evade the restrictions.

The diplomat said the measure was officially published Tuesday in the Dutch government’s official gazette. Israel’s embassy was informed of the decision before it was publicly announced. Additional diplomatic meetings are expected to take place in The Hague to discuss implementation and could pave the way for broader international sanctions.

The Netherlands now joins Spain and Belgium as the third European Union country to impose an import ban on products originating from Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria.

According to Haaretz, Luxembourg is also expected to adopt similar restrictions in the near future. Because the country relies on the Port of Rotterdam for maritime shipping, its trade policy is closely linked to that of the Netherlands and Belgium.

Ireland has approved similar legislation as well, although it has not yet taken effect because it still requires formal approval from President Catherine Connolly.

The issue was recently discussed by the European Union’s foreign ministers, who considered imposing a bloc-wide ban on goods produced in Israeli communities in Judea and Samaria. However, the ministers were unable to reach a consensus on implementing such a measure.

Last year, nine EU member states urged the European Commission to draft proposals that would end trade between the European Union and Israeli communities located in Judea and Samaria.

That request was outlined in a letter sent to European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas and signed by the foreign ministers of Belgium, Finland, Ireland, Luxembourg, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, and Sweden.

In their letter, the ministers cited a July 2024 advisory opinion issued by the International Court of Justice, which declared “Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territories and the settlements within them as illegal”. The opinion also said that countries should take steps to prevent trade and investment activities that help sustain that situation.

{Matzav.com}

A bipartisan group of Brooklyn elected officials is demanding that the New York City Department of Transportation immediately halt the implementation of a controversial bike network expansion in Brooklyn Community Board 14, arguing that the project was advanced without the legally required notice and public process.

In a sharply worded letter dated July 21, Councilmember Simcha Felder, Assemblymembers Simcha Eichenstein and Kalman Yeger, and Councilmember Inna Vernikov called on DOT Commissioner Mike Flynn to “cease and desist” from moving forward with the project south of Avenue H.

The lawmakers contend that the bike lane expansion is being carried out despite widespread opposition from residents and local officials and accuse the department of implementing the project “in the dead of night” without proper notification.

“We write as a group of bipartisan, duly elected New York City and New York State elected officials to demand that the Department of Transportation cease and desist the implementation of the Bike Network expansion within Brooklyn Community Board 14 (CB14), south of Avenue H,” the letter states.

The officials acknowledge that the proposal had previously received approval under two earlier mayoral administrations but argue that the current implementation violates Section 19-101.2 of the New York City Administrative Code because required notifications were not provided.

“Despite our and our constituents’ overwhelming opposition to this project, opposition assented to by two prior Mayoral administrations, we believe the Department’s implementation of this project in the dead of night—without proper notification—violates section 19-101.2 of the New York City Administrative Code,” they wrote.

According to the letter, none of the elected officials’ offices received advance notice before work on the project began. They also allege that the DOT failed to honor Community Board 14’s request to meet with the community within the timeframe required by law.

“Failure to follow the requirements of this section include but are not limited to the notification requirements to City & State elected officials. To the best of our knowledge our respective offices did not receive notification in advance of the implementation of this project. Additionally, upon information and belief, there was a Departmental failure to honor CB14’s request to meet with the community within the time prescribed by the Administrative Code,” the letter states.

The lawmakers argue that bypassing the required procedures undermines both the authority of local elected officials and the community board.

“Lawlessness is not how an agency is intended to operate. Continuing this project would be an attempt to usurp the rights of the Community Board, City Councilmembers, and State representatives that the Administrative Code establishes,” they wrote.

The letter concludes by urging the DOT to stop the project immediately, characterizing the agency’s actions as an attack on representative government.

“To wit, this is not governance but an attempt to undermine representative democracy. We demand the DOT end this project with all deliberate speed.”

Copies of the letter were also sent to the New York City Department of Citywide Administrative Services and the New York City Law Department.

The Department of Transportation has not yet publicly responded to the lawmakers’ allegations.

{Matzav.com}

Sen. John Fetterman is renewing his push to legalize marijuana nationwide, joining fellow Senate Democrats in reintroducing sweeping legislation that would remove cannabis from the federal list of controlled substances and allow individual states to determine their own marijuana policies.

The Pennsylvania Democrat said the Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act would end what he called the federal government’s outdated prohibition on marijuana while establishing a national framework for regulating the industry, protecting consumers, supporting research, and addressing criminal justice issues tied to past drug enforcement.

Fetterman reiterated his longstanding support for legalization, saying he has “always been very pro-weed.”

“In a very libertarian slant — I’m not going to judge anyone for using it to knock the edge off of life,” Fetterman said. “I think your path to wellness should be without judgment or punishment — legal, safe, and regulated. I supported President Biden and President Trump when they took steps on the issue. But it is time for Congress to stop [messing] around and make weed legal. This bill is a good step forward.”

According to Fetterman, the legislation is designed to create a comprehensive federal regulatory system while leaving legalization decisions largely to the states. He said the proposal would improve public health and safety, encourage scientific research, expand workers’ protections, and invest in communities disproportionately affected by the nation’s decades-long War on Drugs.

Among its public health provisions, the bill would establish a Center for Cannabis Products to oversee the manufacturing, labeling, distribution, and sale of marijuana products. It would also direct the Food and Drug Administration to develop nationwide labeling standards covering product potency, dosage, serving sizes, manufacturing information, and usage instructions.

The legislation would also create new programs aimed at preventing underage marijuana use while increasing federal funding for treatment programs addressing opioid addiction, stimulant abuse, and other substance use disorders.

On the public safety front, the proposal would remove marijuana from the Controlled Substances Act while preserving federal penalties for trafficking cannabis in violation of state law. It would also establish grants to help law enforcement combat illegal marijuana markets.

In addition, the measure would require the Department of Transportation to develop standards addressing cannabis-impaired driving, while directing the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to collect data, educate the public, and promote best practices related to impaired driving. States would also be encouraged to adopt open-container restrictions for cannabis.

The legislation would shift federal oversight of the marijuana industry to the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau. It would eliminate existing tax rules that prevent cannabis businesses from deducting ordinary business expenses and would impose a federal excise tax on cannabis products.

To promote competition, the bill would establish rules intended to prevent monopolistic practices while protecting independent growers, wholesalers, and retailers.

The proposal also places a strong emphasis on scientific research. It would require the Government Accountability Office to study the effects of marijuana legalization, while directing the Department of Health and Human Services and the National Institutes of Health to conduct or support additional cannabis research.

Veterans’ health is another major focus of the legislation. The Department of Veterans Affairs would be required to conduct clinical trials examining the impact of medical cannabis on veterans suffering from chronic pain and post-traumatic stress disorder.

The bill would also require the Bureau of Labor Statistics to publish demographic data about business owners and employees in the cannabis industry and would establish grants to expand marijuana research programs at colleges and universities, particularly historically Black colleges and universities and other minority-serving institutions.

On criminal justice issues, the legislation would create an Opportunity Trust Fund financed through federal cannabis tax revenue to invest in communities most affected by the War on Drugs. It would also establish a Cannabis Justice Office within the Department of Justice.

Additional provisions would provide grants to reduce barriers to cannabis business licensing and employment, speed FDA review of cannabis-based medications developed by qualifying small businesses, and create housing and community development grants for neighborhoods disproportionately impacted by past drug enforcement.

The proposal also calls for the automatic expungement of federal convictions for nonviolent marijuana offenses and would allow individuals currently serving federal prison sentences for nonviolent cannabis crimes to petition for resentencing.

The legislation would further prohibit discrimination against non-citizens under immigration law based solely on marijuana use or possession and would bar discrimination against cannabis users in the administration of federal benefits.

The measure also includes several labor-related provisions, including eliminating certain pre-employment and random marijuana drug testing for federal employees, strengthening workplace protections for employees in the cannabis industry, and creating grant programs to educate workers about their rights.

Fetterman said he intends to continue advocating for federal marijuana legalization and ensuring that adults who are legally permitted to use cannabis have safe and regulated access to it.

{Matzav.com}

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Gedolei Yisroel gathered in Bnei Brak for an emergency meeting to address the growing shortage of qualified melamdim in Talmudei Torah. Participants discussed the increasingly difficult challenge of finding capable educators for chadarim, particularly in the younger grades, where the need has become especially acute in recent years.

Among those in attendance were Harav Dov Landau, Harav Moshe Hillel Hirsch, Harav Dovid Segal, Harav Chaim Feinstein, Harav Shraga Steinman, and Harav Shimon Galei.

During the gathering, Rav Chaim Feinstein spoke passionately about the unique role of melamdim, emphasizing that those who teach young children occupy a place of extraordinary importance in the transmission of Torah.

“The dissemination of Torah by melamdim in chadarim is no less important than that of Roshei Yeshiva and ramim. The Roshei Yeshiva and ramim teach the Torah Sheba’al Peh, while the melamdim in chadarim are the transmitters of the Torah Shebiksav, and they are an inseparable part of the chain of transmission that passes the Torah from generation to generation. The special halachah in the laws of aveilus regarding one who ‘tani u’masni’—one who teaches others—applies equally to those melamdei tinokos.”

The Rosh Yeshiva concluded by urging families and community leaders to recognize the tremendous significance and sacred responsibility carried by those who devote themselves to teaching the youngest talmidim.

{Matzav.com}

Addressing approximately 4,000 bochurim preparing to enter yeshivah gedolah, Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch delivered an inspiring and wide-ranging address at a special Dirshu gathering in Bnei Brak, urging the talmidim to seize the opportunity before them, guard against the unique spiritual challenges of this new stage of life, and strengthen themselves through unwavering dedication to Torah. During his remarks, the Rosh Yeshiva shared a remarkable personal story about a talmid he once caught going to a movie theater, who ultimately became an outstanding mechanech.

The event was organized by Dirshu as a special preparation program for bochurim transitioning from yeshivos ketanos to yeshivos gedolos. Before the Rosh Yeshiva spoke, the program’s moderator introduced him with words of profound reverence, saying:

“With awe and trembling we incline our ears to hear Daas Torah, offering clear guidance on the path that ascends to the House of Hashem, from the great shepherd of the Torah world and the yeshivos, who faithfully transmits the mesorah from generation to generation, who carries upon his pure heart the burden of this generation and the continued existence of the world of bnei Torah and the holy yeshivos. We will engrave upon our hearts the living words of Torah from the holy mouth of Maran, the great gaon, the Rosh Yeshiva, Rabbi Moshe Hillel Hirsch.”

The Rosh Yeshiva opened by emphasizing that the move into yeshivah gedolah is one of the defining moments in a person’s life and that the habits developed during these years will shape his future in Torah, avodas Hashem, and personal growth.

“My masters and teachers, you are now entering a stage that can be said to be the most important in your lives. The period when one goes from yeshivah ketanah to yeshivah gedolah is the foundation. You are now building the spiritual foundation for your entire lives. The diligence you develop in yeshivah gedolah is the foundation for a lifetime of diligence; your tefillah, your middos tovos, your precision in halachah—the more you grow and elevate yourselves in these areas, the more they will become the foundation of your entire lives.

“The purpose of all our lives is to cleave to the Holy One, Blessed is He, and the path to that is through Torah study. The more Torah there is, both in quantity and in quality, the greater the deveikus. It all begins now, and the way you conduct yourselves in yeshivah gedolah will build the foundation for your entire lives. Therefore, one must be extremely careful not to belittle even a single moment: utilize every moment in yeshivah gedolah, go to sleep on time, wake up on time, and never neglect Torah study.”

The Rosh Yeshiva then warned the talmidim about the new spiritual tests that accompany the greater independence of yeshivah gedolah.

“There is a new yetzer hara. Until now you were in yeshivah ketanah, under the supervision of the yeshivah and the mashgiach, and most of you lived at home under the guidance of your parents. Now there is a feeling of freedom. At night, nobody knows what you are doing. The very feeling that a person is free is, in itself, a reason that the yetzer hara can seize a person.

“There was once a Chassidishe bochur from America who arrived as a very strong bochur, and I caught him going to the movies. I felt I could be lenient with him, so I kept him in the yeshivah, and he began to learn. Today he is a very great mechanech. When I asked him how a bochur like him could do such a thing, he answered: ‘I came to Eretz Yisroel, I felt free, and therefore I did it.’ You should know that this feeling of freedom is a yetzer hara, and it is important to overcome it.”

He continued by cautioning against another common mistake made by bochurim entering yeshivah gedolah.

“A second yetzer hara is the feeling, ‘I am smart. I’m already in yeshivah gedolah, and I can decide for myself what is good for me. I don’t need to listen to what the Rosh Yeshiva or the mashgiach tells me.’ That is a great mistake. In reality, you still need to follow the guidance of the mashgiach and the Roshei Yeshiva, and not think that you are wiser than they are.”

The Rosh Yeshiva urged every talmid to leave behind any limiting perceptions formed during his years in yeshivah ketanah.

“The third point: A bochur entering yeshivah gedolah may think, ‘I’m not one of the masmidim’ or ‘I’m not one of the tzaddikim.’ Know that when you enter yeshivah gedolah—new faces have arrived here! You are completely different bochurim, a different cheftza. Forget all the weaknesses you had in yeshivah ketanah. Don’t think, ‘I’m that type.’ There is no such thing.

“Even bochurim who were average in yeshivah ketanah—in yeshivah gedolah you can become outstanding! On the other hand, a bochur who excelled in yeshivah ketanah must realize that learning in yeshivah gedolah is something entirely different. The learning is more difficult and demands much greater diligence. Don’t become discouraged if you are not number one in the shiur; do your very best, and you will succeed.”

He encouraged the talmidim to set lofty goals in every aspect of their spiritual lives.

“A bochur should enter yeshivah gedolah with very great aspirations: to know the entire Torah, to know halachah completely, to fulfill every mitzvah properly, and to reach the highest level in bein adam l’chaveiro. The Chofetz Chaim says that the yetzer hara tries to plant in a person the feeling that ‘this isn’t for me—it’s only for geniuses.’ That is the advice of the yetzer hara! Every person can learn with tremendous diligence and be meticulous in mitzvos.

“In addition, Maran Rav Aharon Kotler zt”l said that a person is afraid to accept upon himself the yoke of Torah, but one who accepts the yoke of Torah eventually finds the Torah sweet. Even when there is a difficult sugya that brings no immediate enjoyment, there is tremendous satisfaction in knowing that one is doing the most important thing in life.”

The Rosh Yeshiva also stressed that every talmid must know his own strengths and limitations while striving for greatness.

“One must aspire to the highest levels, but according to one’s own abilities and talents. If a bochur needs seven hours of sleep, he should not sleep only five and a half hours because his friend does so, because then he will collapse completely. The essence of iyun is wonderful clarity, not merely saying words. Rav Chaim of Volozhin zt”l says that if a person is going through a period of decline and has no desire to learn, he should not stop learning. If you are capable of learning at only 30%, then learn at 30%, and through that you will return to 100%.”

Concluding his address, Rav Hirsch turned to the challenges currently confronting the Torah world, emphasizing that the proper response to the draft decree and other pressures is greater attachment to Torah and to Hashem.

“We all know that there are decrees against the Torah world, the draft decree, and they are coming against us in every possible way. We must know that the way of bnei Torah to fight against this is through Torah study itself, meticulous observance of the mitzvos, and attachment to the Holy One, Blessed is He.

“If we are attached to HaKadosh Baruch Hu, it will bring us siyata d’Shmaya. If we live with the feeling of ‘V’yod’ei Shimcha,’ if we think about what Hashem wants and learn with diligence—nothing will happen, and we will defeat them completely! There is absolutely nothing to worry about. HaKadosh Baruch Hu will help each and every one of us reach the highest levels in Torah, tefillah, and middos, and may we merit to bring honor to Heaven and the coming of the complete Geulah, speedily in our days.”

{Matzav.com}

As talmidim prepare to leave for Bein Hazemanim after Tishah B’Av, Ponevezh Rosh Yeshiva Rav Dovid Levy delivered a powerful address urging them to avoid dangerous outings and instead use the break to strengthen others through Lev L’Achim. He warned that bnei Torah are under unprecedented public scrutiny and stressed that every talmid has a responsibility to create a Kiddush Hashem through his conduct.

The Rosh Yeshiva spoke at the conclusion of the final shiur klali of the zeman, against the backdrop of the ongoing gezeiras hagiyus and what he described as the escalating incitement against the Torah world. He cautioned that many people are actively searching for opportunities to criticize yeshiva students and therefore urged the bochurim to be especially mindful of their behavior during Bein Hazmanim.

Continuing a tradition established by his late father-in-law, Rav Gershon Edelstein zt”l, the Rosh Yeshiva explained that it has long been customary to offer words of encouragement before the yeshiva disperses for the break. He emphasized that every ben Torah should conduct himself in a manner that inspires admiration for Torah and those who learn it.

He also encouraged talmidim seeking a change of pace not to spend their vacation on potentially dangerous hikes, but rather to dedicate time to learning with Jews who are growing in their observance through Lev L’Achim. He advised that such learning should be conducted warmly and pleasantly, without arguments or debates.

The Rosh Yeshiva continues another practice of Rav Gershon Edelstein zt”l by delivering his daily shiur throughout Bein Hazmanim. This year, he will continue teaching Maseches Bava Basra each day from his home in Kiryat HaYeshiva without interruption.

His remarks quickly spread throughout the yeshiva and became a major topic of conversation among the talmidim.

The full text of Rav Levy’s remarks follows:

“There is a tradition to say words of encouragement. I am not worthy of saying words of encouragement, but there is a tradition to say words of encouragement, so I will say words of encouragement. We already spoke during the previous zeman that before every Bein Hazmanim, a person has to prepare himself for how to leave the zeman and enter Bein Hazmanim, just as Moshe Rabbeinu did when leaving the Mishkan. Moshe Rabbeinu did not need preparation to leave the Mishkan because he was always in the Mishkan, but someone who leaves the Mishkan requires a special calling and special preparation for how to leave.

“We are in the beis medrash, and then there is no problem. Everyone is beloved, everyone is under the Shechinah, everyone is constantly with the Torah. But when one goes elsewhere, the first thing we must know and remember is what is written in this week’s parsha: ‘Ve’ahavta es Hashem Elokecha b’chol levavcha u’vchol nafshecha.’ What does ‘Ve’ahavta es Hashem Elokecha’ mean? Cause others to love Him! What does that mean? That people should see how a person behaves, how refined his deeds and conduct are, and then the Name of Heaven becomes beloved through him, when people say, ‘Look how bnei Torah conduct themselves.’ That is ‘Ve’ahavta es Hashem Elokecha’—causing others to love HaKadosh Baruch Hu.

“But if they see the opposite—and today especially, when they are looking for bnei Torah, examining them the way someone inspects an esrog, searching every point on the esrog—just as when buying an esrog they inspect every point, so too they search every point in bnei Torah, looking for any flaw. If they find the slightest defect, they invalidate the entire esrog. Today people are searching for blemishes in bnei Torah. If they see even a small weakness, they build mountains out of it. Therefore, one must ensure that, chas v’shalom, no chilul Hashem results from him.

“That is a major reason not to be with them, not to be in the places where they gather, not to be together with them. And not only not to be with them, but also not to follow their ways. I don’t know what there is in Nachal Amud, the Hexagon Pool, and all these foolish things. I’m telling you—believe me—I went through it, not for myself, but with groups from other yeshivos, and I won’t say which ones. It’s foolishness and emptiness. There is absolutely nothing to it.

“I am telling you, leave all these things alone. It’s only dangerous, and all you do is sweat. And if someone wants to recharge a bit or get a change of pace, I suggest—only suggest—that he sign up with Lev L’Achim. There are many people longing for someone to learn with them. And there, we don’t argue with them. We simply say: If you want to learn, come into an air-conditioned beis medrash, have a few candies and some treats on Wednesday or Thursday, and we’ll learn a beautiful pshat in the Gemara, a Mishnah, sweet Torah ideas—and through that we will create a Kiddush Hashem and bring people to love the Name of Heaven.”

President Donald Trump has approved a long-awaited nuclear cooperation agreement with Saudi Arabia that could eventually allow the kingdom to enrich uranium for its civilian nuclear energy program, according to two people familiar with the decision.

The sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the agreement has not yet been formally announced, said the administration is expected to unveil the deal publicly as early as Wednesday.

The proposed agreement would remain in effect for 30 years and would include significant participation by American companies in developing Saudi Arabia’s civilian nuclear program. It also envisions the possible construction of a uranium enrichment facility inside the kingdom following a joint U.S.-Saudi feasibility study.

The White House did not immediately comment on the reported decision, which was first disclosed by The Wall Street Journal.

Both President Trump and President Joe Biden previously pursued agreements that would enable the United States to share civilian nuclear technology with Saudi Arabia.

However, nuclear nonproliferation experts have expressed concern that allowing Saudi Arabia to operate uranium enrichment centrifuges could create a pathway toward a future nuclear weapons capability. Those concerns have been heightened by previous remarks from Saudi Arabia’s crown prince indicating the kingdom could seek nuclear weapons if Iran were to acquire an atomic bomb.

Regional tensions have further intensified those fears. Following Israel’s attack on Qatar targeting Hamas officials, Saudi Arabia and nuclear-armed Pakistan entered into a mutual defense pact. Pakistan’s defense minister later stated that his country’s nuclear arsenal “will be made available” to Saudi Arabia if necessary, a remark widely interpreted as a warning directed at Israel, which is widely believed to be the Middle East’s only nuclear-armed nation.

While enriching uranium alone does not produce a nuclear weapon, it represents a significant step toward that capability. A country must also master additional technologies—including the use of synchronized high explosives—but enrichment is widely viewed as opening the door to weaponization. That concern has long been at the center of Western objections to Iran’s nuclear program.

The agreement would differ from the arrangement previously reached between the United States and the United Arab Emirates. Under its so-called “123 agreement,” the UAE built the Barakah nuclear power plant with South Korean assistance while agreeing not to enrich uranium domestically. Nonproliferation experts have long regarded that model as the “gold standard” for nations seeking civilian nuclear energy without increasing proliferation risks.

{Matzav.com}

Ben Gurion Airport could be forced to cancel scheduled flights if additional American aerial refueling aircraft are brought in, according to Israel Airports Authority Director General Sharon Kedmi, who warned that the airport is operating at its limits.

In an interview with Kan Reshet Bet, Kedmi said airport officials are working to keep commercial traffic moving despite the strain. “We are doing everything to avoid canceling flights,” Kedmi stated. “There are American refuelers here and in other places. We are in contact with the Air Force and everyone is doing their job.”

Kedmi stressed that the airport does not have room to accommodate any more refueling aircraft without affecting civilian operations. “We cannot allow even one more tanker into Ben Gurion Airport. If it does, we will start canceling flights. The public needs to prepare for cancellations and delays. We need to remember that this is a civilian airport.”

{Matzav.com}