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German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said that without Germany’s arms shipments to Israel, the Jewish state would “no longer exist.”

Merz said this during a Q&A discussion on the ARD broadcaster, while explaining why arms shipments to Israel would continue.

“There are no unconditional deliveries to Israel,” he said. “But for as long as I bear political responsibility, we will always support the State of Israel’s right to exist, including militarily—because otherwise, that state would no longer exist today.”

A spokesperson from Merz’s office declined to reply to JNS’s query on which shipments, specifically, he believes ensure Israel’s survival.

Consecutive Israeli prime ministers, including Binyomin Netanyahu, have insisted that Israel’s survival and existence are owed to its own sacrifices, resources and ingenuity of its people.

Netanyahu in 2024 responded to a partial arms embargo briefly imposed on Israel by then-U.S. President Joe Biden by saying: “if we have to stand alone, we will stand alone. If we need to, we will fight with our fingernails. But we have much more than fingernails.”

Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not reply by press time to a request by JNS for comment on Merz’s assertion.

In the ARD interview, Merz, who is generally considered to be pro-Israel, noted that in 2025, Germany also briefly halted the supply of some weapons to Jerusalem.

“I acknowledge that last August I made a decision that was heavily criticized: At a time when the Israeli military was acting forcefully against the civilian population in the Gaza Strip, I decided to stop supplying ammunition to the part of the military involved,” he said.

Israel, he added, “is the only democracy in the entire Middle East. It is a country whose very existence is threatened by a whole series of neighboring states—not least Iran and the terrorist groups it finances. That is why, ever since the Federal Republic of Germany was founded, we have supported Israel in its struggle for survival.”

He also said: “The existence of the State of Israel is non-negotiable for us.”

U.S. President Donald Trump has similarly attributed Israel’s existence to American actions under his presidency.

“Without the U.S., there would be no Israel. Without me, there would be no Israel because no other president was willing to do what I did,” Trump said on June 16. Israel “would have been blown up a long time ago” without his intervention, he added, while speaking alongside the president of the United Arab Emirates at the G7 summit.

Former German Chancellor Angela Merkel said in a 2008 Knesset speech that Israel’s security was part of Germany’s “Staatsräson,” or “reason of state”: A fundamental German national interest, rooted in Germany’s historic responsibility for the Holocaust.

Israel and West Germany established diplomatic relations in 1952. In the 1950s, Germany paid billions in reparations to Israel and Holocaust survivors, facilitating the Jewish state’s ability to absorb hundreds of thousands of Jewish refugees from Europe and the Middle East.

Historian Rafael Medoff, the founding director of the David S. Wyman Institute for Holocaust Studies in Washington, D.C., disputed Merz’s comment about assuring Israel’s existence.

“Germany only began selling significant quantities of weapons to Israel in 1962,” Medoff told JNS. “Israel existed for many years before it could buy German weapons, and it would continue to exist even if Germany were to re-impose the recent arms embargo.”

Israelis, Medoff added, “appreciate the willingness of the current German government to sell them weapons, but the idea that Israel’s existence depends on buying weapons from Germany is groundless and insulting.”

Maya Sion-Tzidkiyahu, a lecturer at the European Forum of the Hebrew University and director of the Israel-Europe Relations Program at Mitvim-The Israeli Institute for Regional Foreign Policies, told JNS that “There is truth to what he [Merz] said, but his statement takes it to an extreme, likely out of a political desire to tie defense transactions to Israel’s survival and away from the use of German weapons in Gaza or Lebanon.”

She said that public opinion on Israel has soured in Germany since the outbreak of a regional war following Hamas’s Oct. 7, 2023, massacre, “and Merz knows this. He’s been balancing his ideological commitment to Israel’s security with the growing opposition to it.”

Sion-Tzidkiyahu also said that Merz has preserved “continuity” on Israel from the policies of his predecessor, Olaf Scholz, of the center-left Social Democratic Party. Merz belongs to the center-right Christian-Democratic Union.

“Merz has largely continued Scholz’s policy of examining every export permit individually after Oct. 7. But at the E.U. level, Merz defends Israel more strongly than Scholz did,” she said.

Germany supplied 31% of Israel’s defense imports in 2025, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, with the U.S. providing another 68%.

Germany supplies Israel with tank engines and also its entire submarine fleet, comprising six Dolphin units that are operational and another three under construction that have yet to be delivered.

Israel also sells major defense systems to Germany, such as the Arrow 3, which it provided through a deal signed in 2023. The deal was expanded in December 2025, totaling $6.5 billion. This has been Israel’s largest-ever military export contract. JNS

Israeli authorities have stepped up enforcement at the country’s exit points, stopping dozens of Chareidi men — including Breslover Chassidim traveling to Uman for Rosh Hashanah — from leaving Israel because of outstanding military draft orders.

The Israel Airports Authority said Wednesday that security personnel at Ben Gurion Airport stopped six Chareidi men who were listed as being obligated to report for military service and were attempting to leave the country.

The six were intercepted in separate parts of the airport. Two were stopped at Terminal 1, while another four were prevented from departing through Terminal 3.

Following their detention, the six were turned over to officials from the Population and Immigration Authority. Checks conducted by authorities determined that all six were subject to active military orders barring them from leaving Eretz Yisroel.

The enforcement comes as growing numbers of Breslover Chassidim are making their annual journey to Uman, Ukraine, to spend Rosh Hashanah at the tziyun of Rav Nachman of Breslov.

Dozens of Breslover Chassidim have been stopped at Ben Gurion Airport after authorities discovered that they were subject to exit orders stemming from their failure to report to IDF draft offices.

Attempts to reach Uman through alternative routes have also encountered difficulties. An additional group of Breslover Chassidim was stopped at the Taba border crossing while attempting to enter Egypt, from where they reportedly planned to fly to European destinations before continuing onward to Uman for Rosh Hashanah.

{Matzav.com}

Israel’s Chief Rabbi, Rav Kalman Meir Ber, has called on IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir and Defense Minister Israel Katz to cancel disciplinary proceedings against Givati Brigade soldiers who refused to enter a Namer armored personnel carrier in which a female paramedic was present, arguing that the religious rights and halachic concerns of observant soldiers must be respected.

In a sharply worded letter, Rav Ber criticized the handling of the incident involving soldiers from the Givati Brigade’s Rotem Battalion, saying the decision failed to give sufficient consideration to the religious way of life of the soldiers and the Torah principle of the sanctity of a Jewish military camp.

Rav Ber urged the IDF chief and defense minister to consider the episode through a broader perspective than military regulations alone, saying basic common sense must also play a role in determining how such sensitive situations are handled. “We have a principle known as the ‘fifth section of the Shulchan Aruch’ – matters that do not appear in the law books but are dictated by common sense,” he wrote.

The Chief Rabbi devoted a substantial portion of his letter to the regulations governing service in the IDF. He argued that while some military codes were formulated by academics and intellectuals, the Torah itself establishes principles governing the conduct of a Jewish army, with the requirement of “Your camp shall be holy” among the most fundamental.

Rav Ber noted that since the establishment of the IDF, accommodations have been made to enable shomrei Torah u’mitzvos to serve while observing kashrus and Shabbos. He questioned why similar sensitivity should not be extended to concerns surrounding mixed-gender service.

“Why, when it comes to mixed-gender service, does a religious, Torah-observant soldier have no right to a say, when matters of the ‘sanctity of the camp’ are fundamental to his very way of life?” he asked.

Rav Ber called for the IDF regulations governing such situations to be revised in a manner that properly accommodates the religious lifestyle and halachic requirements of observant soldiers.

Addressing hesder yeshiva students and other religious soldiers who volunteer for combat units, Rav Ber wrote that his “heart aches” over the controversy. He strongly criticized those responsible for establishing military codes that he said were rooted in a culture far removed from the Torah, maintaining that it was under those standards that the Givati soldiers had been “judged harshly.”

Rav Ber warned that proceeding against the soldiers could have consequences extending far beyond the immediate controversy, particularly as Israel seeks to bring additional sectors of the population into military service.

“Such an action – putting soldiers on trial when their sole concern is preserving the sanctity of the camp – could bring disaster upon the need to integrate everyone into this national effort,” he wrote.

Concluding his letter, Rav Ber made a personal appeal to Zamir and Katz to reconsider the disciplinary action and overturn the decision.

“I write these words with a heavy heart and out of a sense of responsibility for the people of Israel and the unity of the nation. I implore you to change the decision and to keep these words of mine before you,” he wrote.

{Matzav.com}

Slabodka rosh yeshiva Hagaon Rav Dov Landau has delivered a pointed message about Degel HaTorah’s political future, declaring that the Torah world is beholden to no prime minister or political figure amid what he described as intensifying persecution of bnei Torah by the Israeli authorities.

Speaking in Tiveria, Rav Landau addressed the increasingly difficult situation facing the olam haTorah and appeared to signal that Degel HaTorah should not be viewed as automatically committed to Prime Minister Binyomin Netanyahu or his political bloc.

“Torah study and dealing in Torah are the most sublime things in the world; ‘The study of Torah is equal to all the commandments.’ We all know that the Torah world is in a very serious condition, and the persecution by the authorities weighs on Torah world day by day, and every single Torah student feels the yoke of the decrees.

“We do not depend on so-and-so, or this or that prime minister, only on the Creator of the Universe, and we all expect and hope that he will have mercy on his nation, particularly on the Torah world,” Rav Landau stated.

His remarks come as Degel HaTorah itself could be headed for major changes ahead of next week’s deadline for submitting candidate lists. Discussions between the offices of Rav Landau and Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch have reportedly included the possibility of replacing several of the party’s longtime representatives in the Knesset, including Moshe Gafni and Uri Maklev.

Should those changes ultimately be implemented, MK Yaakov Asher, who is regarded as close to Rav Landau’s circle, is expected to assume the leading position in Degel HaTorah.

The IDF acknowledged Wednesday that commanders in the Givati Brigade’s Rotem Battalion improperly conducted a training exercise on Shabbos despite there being no operational necessity for doing so, conceding that the decision infringed upon the religious way of life of the soldiers involved, Arutz Sheva reports.

The admission follows complaints raised by soldiers over the past week. The soldiers said the Shabbos incident occurred before the more recent controversy surrounding the presence of a female paramedic and contributed to a growing breakdown in trust between members of the company and their commanders.

That controversy erupted after 15 soldiers from the Rotem Battalion were sentenced to ten days in military detention for refusing to enter a Namer armored personnel carrier while a female paramedic was inside.

Other soldiers in the battalion maintained that the refusal was the culmination of an extended period of friction between members of the hesder platoon and their commanders over issues involving halacha and the IDF’s Joint Service Order.

According to the soldiers, approximately a week and a half before the Namer episode, their company commander ordered a training exercise to take place on Shabbos. The drill included practicing the evacuation of casualties and inserting an intravenous line. The soldiers maintained that there was no pressing security or operational consideration requiring the training to be conducted on Shabbos and asked that it instead be scheduled for another time.

Speaking to Arutz Sheva, the soldiers described the concerns they raised at the time. “We asked why an exercise like this had to be conducted on Shabbat when there was no professional or operational necessity for it.” Following Shabbos, they brought the matter to the brigade rov, who reviewed what had occurred and concluded that there had been no justification for conducting the exercise on Shabbos in the absence of an operational need.

The IDF has now confirmed that the exercise indeed took place and acknowledged that no operational necessity required it to be held on Shabbos. “As part of the Rotem Battalion’s routine operations in the Gaza Strip area on Saturday, August 8, 2026, a company-level training exercise was held in the Gaza Strip,” the IDF stated.

Military officials said the soldiers’ complaints prompted an examination of what had occurred. “Following the exercise, and in light of claims raised by some of the soldiers in the battalion, it was determined that there was no operational reason to conduct the training exercise on Shabbat and that the brigade rabbi had not been informed of the exercise,” the IDF stated.

The incident was subsequently investigated, and a command-level discussion was held within the battalion, with the IDF saying that lessons had been drawn from what occurred. The military also explicitly acknowledged that approving the unnecessary Shabbos exercise had harmed the religious soldiers involved, stating, “The approval of the training exercise infringed upon the soldiers’ way of life.”

Following the investigation, battalion commanders confronted the company commander and informed him that his decision had been mistaken. According to the IDF, the procedures that must be followed in similar situations going forward were clarified to him, and he was summoned for a review with the commander of the Givati Brigade.

{Matzav.com}

The IDF says it will investigate and discipline a reservist who was documented davening at the kever of Elazar ben Aharon HaKohen near Itamar, after dozens of Jews entered the site during the Selichos period to daven at the holy site.

The kever, located in the village of Awarta in Area B, has long been visited by Jews seeking to daven at the burial place of Elazar ben Aharon HaKohen. The latest visit drew attention after footage showed the IDF reservist participating in the tefillos.

According to a report by Galai Tzahal (IDF Radio), the soldier is expected to be questioned by the brigade commander and subsequently face disciplinary action. The IDF acknowledged that since the beginning of the Selichos period, dozens of Jews have been entering kevarim of figures from Tanach situated in Area B.

The IDF said it has thus far refrained from taking action to prevent the visits because forces in the area are occupied with missions considered more pressing. However, the decision to take disciplinary action against the reservist prompted strong criticism from Jewish activists in the hilltop communities.

Activist Ariel Danino said Jewish residents of the region have routinely traveled through and entered Area B for decades, arguing that the incident involving the soldier was hardly unusual.

“For more than 20 years, residents have been entering Area B every day without coordination. It happens every day. Members of Knesset and government ministers drive home through Area B,” he wrote.

Danino pointed specifically to the Gilad Route, a major roadway in the Shomron that runs through Area B, as evidence that Jews regularly travel through territory under that designation.

“Stop selling people the illusion that Area B is beyond the mountains of darkness and that Jews are forbidden from entering it,” he wrote.

Danino added that requiring prior IDF coordination every time a Jewish resident enters Area B would create an enormous logistical burden because of how frequently residents travel through such areas.

“If the IDF wants every entry into Area B coordinated with it, great. They’ll start getting 800 phone calls a day from civilians who want to drive from Har Bracha to Kedumim,” he added.

Elisha Yered similarly condemned the reaction to the incident, objecting in particular to descriptions portraying the reservist as having simply entered a Palestinian village rather than visiting a longstanding Jewish holy site.

“This was not ‘in a Palestinian village,’ but at the tomb of Eleazar son of Aaron the Priest near Itamar – a holy site where Jews have been praying for many years.”

Yered maintained that merely entering Area B is not prohibited by law and said Jews have every right to visit and daven at the kevarim of tzaddikim located there.

“What kind of disgrace is this, and why is this even newsworthy?!” he wrote.

[COMMUNICATED]

Three kedoshei elyon had one common concept when it came to learning Torah – they were the Ohr Hachaim Hakadosh (Rabbi Chaim ibn Attar 1696-1743) when he came to Eretz Yisroel; the Ramchal (Rabbi Moshe Chaim Luzzatto 1707-1746) when he lived in Padua, Italy;  and Hagaon, Harav Chaim Volozhiner, (1749-1821) the famous talmid of the Gaon of Vilna.

They each had a yeshiva with ‘around-the-clock’ Torah learning, 24-hours a day, so that there would be no minute when the sound of Torah learning would not be heard in this world. The 24-hour period would be divided into shifts, and as one ended the next would begin.

Torah-24

A “Torah-24” Center has been opened in Yerushalayim and the Nasi is Maran Sar Hatorah, Harav Chaim Kanievsky, zt”l.

• The first “Torah-24” center is in Yerushalayim

• 11 Kollelim with 163 avreichim will be learning at “Torah-24” every day

• Nigleh, Nistar, Chumash and Halacha – All under ONE ROOF

• Talmud Bavli / Yerushalmi – Kabbalah & Zohar – Rambam, Shulchan Aruch & Poskim, Zeraim – Taharos 

• The following SIX kollelim – Kollel Hashkomas Haboker, Kollel Yerushalmi, Kollel Bavli, Kollel Choshen Mishpat/Even Haezer, Kollel Erev Shabbos, Kollel Kabbalah B’Chatzos (Tikun Chatzot, Etz Chaim, Zohar, Tehillim) – are fully operational

• 24 hour תורה learning cycle – 6:00 am to 6:00 am – is divided into different shifts

• Each kollel shift has its own program, Rosh Kollel and avreichim

• Detailed monthly and annual tests – written and oral – for all avreichim 

• Already there are 77 avreichim metzuyonim, and a large number of candidates are vying for the remaining slots in the kollelim. All the avreichim are required to take rigorous monthly tests.

In the words of Gedolei Torah:

“Torah-24 תורה” – where the voice of Torah is not absent from within the walls of the kollelim, not even for a minute…

“The idea … of day and night shifts of non-stop kollelim… the full range of subjects of the Torah… the derech of the Ramchal, the Ohr Hachaim Hakodosh and Hagaon Reb Chaim of Volozhin.”

– Nasi Maran Sar Hatorah, Hagaon Harav Chaim Kanievsky, zt”l

“All who donate to and support “Torah-24 תורה” will merit all the brochos of the Torah, including those for refuos, yeshuos, parnossa tova and nachas from all their descendants, Amen”

– Maran Rosh Yeshivas Ponevez, Hagaon Harav Gershon Edelstein, zt”l

At “Torah-24 תורה”, exceptional avreichim do not pause for a moment while studying all the areas of the holy Torah, with a shift of remarkable scholars studying the holy Zohar and the recitation of Tikun Chatzos at midnight. 

All who donate and support this holy endeavor of “Torah-24 תורה” should see brocha and success … children and grandchildren immersed in Torah and mitzvos… fulfillment of all the hopes of their hearts for good and with brocha. 

– Maran Hagaon Harav Moishe Sternbuch, shlit”a 

I join the esteemed Rabbanim and Gaonim, shlit”a, in endorsing the illustrious “Kollel Kabbalah b’Chatzos” designated for outstanding talmidei chachomim, masters of Torah and yiras Shomayim, who spend their nights in Beis Hashem, engaging deeply in the concealed dimensions of Torah during this auspicious time of Divine Favor…

I hereby call upon my generous brethren to support this endeavor with significant sums, for through this they will attain the great merit of the hidden Torah studied at night. May you all be blessed by Hashem with many blessings in accordance with the greatness of the endeavor that you are supporting!

– Maran Hagaon Hamekubal, Harav Yaakov Meir Shechter, shlit”a

“Support ‘Torah-24 תורה’ where the sound of Torah – nigleh and nistar – all hours of the day and night; and be blessed from shamayim that the Torah should never cease from your mouth; children bnei Torah; abundant parnassa and good health”

– Maran Hagaon Harav Shimon Badani, zt”l
Rosh Kollel Torah V’Chaim, Member Moetzet Chachmei Hatorah

“Torah-24 תורה” – groups of talmidei chachomim geonim in different shifts, delve in the subjects of Torah learning without interruption – Bavli, Yerushalmi, Dalet Chelkei Shulchan Aruch, Rambam, Kabbala, Midrash, Tana”ch and more.  “Torah-24 תורה” is in actuality a wonderful continuation of the heichalei hakodesh and battei midrash of our holy Rabbonim – the Ramchal, the Ohr Hachaim Hakadosh and the Nefesh Hachaim, zy”o. Who would not want to be part of this historical and amazing project “Torah-24 תורה”, and the greatness of its holy impact in both the supernal and lower realms?  “My brocha to all who support “Torah-24 תורה” – You should merit great abundance in both the spiritual and the material – supernal light, peace of mind, tranquility of the soul and bodily health. Only goodness and kindness should pursue you all the days of your lives, and you should dwell securely for your length of days.

– Maran Hamashpia Hagadol, ‘Reb Meilech’ Biderman, shlit”a

“Your kesher with ‘Torah-24 תורה’ will be a true ובהם נהגה יומם ולילה – and we will delve in them by day and by night”

– Maran Hagaon Harav Shraga Steinman, shlit”a – Orchos Torah

“Talmidei Chachomim of ‘Torah-24 תורה’ delve into all sectors of Torah – Bavli and Yerushalmi, Dalet Chelkei Shulchan Aruch, Rambam, Kabbalah – Nistar”

– Maran Hagaon Harav Shimon Gallai, shlit”a – Bnei Brak

Kollel Kabbalah b’Chatzos” is a precious link in the golden chain of the glorious Torah empire “Torah-24”… bringing tremendous delight to the Ribbono shel Olam. Fortunate are all those who take part in this great and holy endeavor.

– Maran HaMekubal Rav Abish Zehnwirth, shlit”a

For more “Torah-24” information click on: www.torah-24.com or call 718-766-5022

Israeli Prime Minister Binyomin Netanyahu declared Wednesday that Israeli forces will remain positioned along the Gaza Strip’s Yellow Line, saying Israel currently controls 60% of Gaza and intends to continue its operations until Hamas is fully disarmed and the territory can no longer threaten Israel.

Netanyahu made the remarks during a visit to an IDF installation near the Yellow Line, where he was joined by IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir, Southern Command chief Maj. Gen. Yaniv Asor, and 99th “Bazak” Division commander Brig. Gen. Elad Tzuri.

While at the site, Netanyahu received detailed operational briefings from commanders stationed in the area. The discussions covered current IDF activity along the Yellow Line, continuing military missions, efforts to eliminate threats, and measures being taken to safeguard Israeli troops and nearby communities.

“We control the territory. You can see Ashkelon from here; you can see all of our communities in all directions: Sderot, Netivot, and the kibbutzes. We are not withdrawing. We are staying on this line,” the Prime Minister declared.

Netanyahu said Israel’s military presence in Gaza extends well beyond the Yellow Line and indicated that additional operations are planned as the IDF continues targeting terrorists.

“We control 60% of the Gaza Strip, and there is more to come, because we are eliminating the terrorists who threaten us. We are doing so day in and day out. Yesterday we took the head of Hamas’s general security service. We will certainly learn some things. But we are doing everything to reach our goal: disarming Hamas and demilitarizing the Gaza Strip. Gaza will never be a threat to Israel. This goal has effectively been reached, and there is still work to be done, and we will complete it.”

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump offered a direct message of reassurance to Israel on Wednesday evening as renewed fighting between the United States and Iran raised fears of a wider regional escalation.

Speaking briefly by phone with Israel’s Channel 12, Trump said Israel had no reason to be concerned as the confrontation with Tehran intensified.

“Israel should not worry. You know why? Because I’m the president, and I will take care of Israel.”

The president’s remarks followed a new wave of U.S. military strikes against targets belonging to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, with attacks reported around Qeshm Island, Chabahar and Bandar Abbas, including locations near the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz.

U.S. Central Command said the military operation got underway at noon Eastern Time. According to CENTCOM, the strikes followed recent attempts by the IRGC to attack commercial vessels traveling through the Strait of Hormuz, as well as attempted attacks against American military personnel stationed in the region.

CENTCOM said American forces struck a range of Iranian military infrastructure, including air-defense positions, radar installations, maritime facilities and assets, mine-laying capabilities and communications sites.

Trump said in a post on Truth Social that the U.S. action came in retaliation for an Iranian attempt to deploy sea mines in the Strait of Hormuz and for an Iranian missile attack targeting a U.S. military base in Jordan.

The president warned Tehran against responding to the American operation, saying that any retaliation would prompt U.S. strikes “at a much harder and higher level,” and adding that an even more extensive attack was “waiting in the wings.”

Iran nevertheless responded by firing ballistic missiles toward American military installations in Jordan. Jordan’s military said 13 ballistic missiles were launched toward the country, with its defenses intercepting 10. The other three missiles exploded in locations away from populated areas.

Two U.S. officials told Reuters that there were no injuries among American personnel stationed in Jordan.

Reports in Iranian media later claimed that drones had been used to attack a U.S. military base in Bahrain, although the claim was not officially confirmed. Explosions were also reported in Kuwait, where the country’s military said its air-defense systems were responding to Iranian ballistic missiles and drones.

Before Iran’s retaliation, Iranian Army spokesman Mohammad Akraminia had pledged that Tehran would answer the American attacks, describing the coming response as “swift, crushing and widespread.”

Trump, meanwhile, pushed back against a report suggesting that the military campaign was designed to pressure Tehran into returning to negotiations with Washington.

“I’m not trying to force Iran to the bargaining table, as ABC Fake News reported. I couldn’t care less if they sign a worthless, to them, agreement,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.

“I like our position now much better, with almost total control of the Hormuz Strait, and their economy totally collapsing,” he added.

The latest outbreak of hostilities comes amid warnings from Israeli security officials that the possibility of another direct escalation between Israel and Iran has been growing.

Defense Minister Yisroel Katz said Wednesday that intensifying economic pressure on Tehran, coupled with increasing internal and regional tensions surrounding the Iranian regime, could ultimately prompt Iran to initiate an open military confrontation with Israel.

Katz said Israel is prepared for that scenario and is coordinating closely with Washington.

“We are prepared for both defense and offense, in coordination with the United States,” he said.

“If they attack because of Lebanon, because of Samaria, because of Gaza, or simply because they feel like it, our planes are ready to take off.”

{Matzav.com}

Rozana USA, an international NGO engaged in “health diplomacy,” announced on Monday that Rahm Emanuel and his brothers, Ezekiel and Ari, have donated $550,000 to fund the training of 11 pediatric doctors and 36 pediatric nurses from An-Najah National University Hospital in Nablus (biblical Shechem) at Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center (Ichilov).

The $550,000 contribution by Rahm, a potential U.S. presidential contender, and his brothers, will honor their parents, Benjamin and Marsha Emanuel. Their late father was a pediatrician and their mother was a radiology technician and therapist.

“This contribution will ultimately provide much needed, improved care for Palestinian children while leveraging the field of healthcare to build constructive, trusting relations between Israeli and Palestinian medical professionals, bridging the divide,” they said.

Otzma Yehudit Knesset Member Limor Son Har-Melech responded angrily, saying she would prevent the training of Palestinian doctors and nurses in Israel.

“As chair of the Knesset Health Committee, I was the first to bring to the agenda the outrageous phenomenon of training doctors from the P.A. [Palestinian Authority] in Israeli hospitals,” she posted to X on Monday.

“Israeli hospitals, residency beds, senior staff, and the professional expertise of the Israeli health system are not a training factory for the enemy.”

She said she would turn to the Israeli Health Minister and Ichilov hospital’s CEO demanding that they stop the program.

• JNS

Infrastructure in Syria visited by International Atomic Energy Agency inspectors in August is “consistent with a nuclear reactor,” according to a confidential IAEA report obtained by the AFP, the outlet reported on Tuesday.

Syria under the (now-collapsed) Assad regime “failed to report nuclear material, facilities and activities,” according to the report.

After Assad’s regime was overthrown in December 2024, the new Syrian government agreed to grant IAEA inspectors access to suspected former nuclear sites.

In a July 17 letter, Damascus notified the agency of the existence of another undeclared site, inviting the nuclear watchdog “to cooperate with the Syrian authorities in the inspection and verification of the site and of any nuclear material to be potentially found,” according to the Associated Press.

Then, in August, IAEA inspectors visited the Deir Ezzor site in eastern Syria and the second facility, AFP reported.

“Based on observations made by the agency at the Deir Ezzor site, the agency confirms that the cooling infrastructure which has now been uncovered is consistent with that of a nuclear reactor,” the IAEA said, according to AFP.

The IAEA said it would continue to monitor the situation as the excavation work progresses.

Besides the “nuclear reactor under construction” at the Deir Ezzor facility, the nuclear watchdog listed a fuel fabrication plant, where the nuclear fuel for the reactor was manufactured, and a location where the nuclear fuel, as well as uranium scrap and waste, were stored, the report added.

Last month, IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi commended Damascus’s “courageous decision” to report an undisclosed site, at which inspectors found several tons of nuclear material.

The IAEA said at the time it had found around 73 tons of natural uranium metal, comprising 55 tons of fuel rods and the rest uranium scrap and waste.

Nuclear material stored at secret ‘Site 99’

In 2017, Israel’s “Operation Orchard” targeted the suspected Deir Ezzor nuclear site, also known as the Al-Kibar reactor. The White House subsequently confirmed that intelligence indicated the site was a nuclear facility purposed for military uses.

Axios reported in August that Washington and the Syrian government had agreed to let the IAEA remove nuclear material stored by the Assad regime at a secret site.

An agreement between the nuclear watchdog and Damascus was signed in late July, following months of U.S.-brokered negotiations to prevent a potential escalation involving Israel and perhaps Turkey, the report read.

Despite Israel’s bombing of the site almost 19 years ago, several research and development sites connected with Syria’s nuclear program remain, including nuclear material stored at a location identified as “Site 99,” according to the report.

Although the material cannot be used for a nuclear weapon, it can be converted into a conventional explosive device that disperses radioactive material, known as a “dirty bomb.” This raised concerns in Jerusalem, which kept close tabs on the situation. JNS

A woman and her partner are facing a lengthy list of criminal charges in Florida after prosecutors alleged that four young children were confined for more than six years inside the sleeper compartment of a semi-truck, where they endured abuse, beatings, neglect and deprivation.

Tamra Marshon Stewart, 37, of Jacksonville, and Keysha Monique Epps, 51, of Atlanta, Georgia, have been charged in Orange County in connection with the alleged abuse, Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier announced Tuesday.

“This case is one of if not the most horrific that my team has ever had to work on,” Uthmeier said at a news conference.

According to authorities, Epps worked as a commercial truck driver and, together with Stewart, served as the primary caregiver for four children — two girls and two boys. Investigators said the children lived inside the sleeper cab of Epps’ truck while she regularly traveled between Atlanta and Miami.

Officials allege that from January 2020 until April 2026, the four children — two who were 5 years old, one who was 6 and another who was 9 — were forced to sleep together on a single bunk inside the truck. During that period, authorities say they were deprived of sufficient food, proper hygiene, education and necessary medical treatment.

Investigators said two of the children sustained burns that went untreated and ultimately caused significant scarring.

The two girls told investigators that Stewart had abused them over a period of years. The two boys allegedly witnessed the abuse and said they were beaten after confronting Stewart and informing Epps about what was occurring.

Prosecutors allege that Epps was aware of the abuse but neither intervened to protect the children nor reported what was happening to authorities.

Stewart now faces two counts of battery by a person in familial or custodial authority, two counts of child neglect without great bodily harm, and two counts of child neglect causing permanent disfigurement.

Epps has been charged with two counts of battery by a person in familial or custodial authority, two counts of child neglect without great bodily harm, two counts of child neglect causing permanent disfigurement, and four counts of failure to report child abuse.

Authorities said the investigation remains active and additional criminal charges could be brought as investigators continue examining the case.

“These children were trapped in a rolling prison and abused by the adults who were supposed to protect them,” Uthmeier said in a statement. “Florida has zero tolerance for anyone who preys on children. We will seek the maximum punishment under the law.”

Apple has changed the name of Lake Ontario to “Lake America” on Apple Maps for users in the United States, implementing President Donald Trump’s directive to rename the lake within the US geographic naming system.

The company confirmed that Americans using Apple Maps will now see the body of water labeled “Lake America” following the update to the US Geographic Names Information System. Canadian users will continue to see the traditional “Lake Ontario” designation, while users in other countries will be shown both names, Reuters reported.

Apple is following the same geographic-labeling approach it used after Trump directed that the Gulf of Mexico be renamed the Gulf of America.

The Apple Maps change comes after Alphabet, Google’s parent company, implemented a similar update on Google Maps for American users late Saturday.

Although Google had said its “Lake America” label would be displayed only to users in the United States, the new designation briefly appeared Sunday on several Canadian websites, including government services.

Trump announced last Thursday that he wanted Lake Ontario to be officially designated “Lake America” in the United States, making the move amid worsening tensions between Washington and Ottawa over trade and other issues.

Sitting at the Resolute Desk, Trump signed an executive order directing the Interior Department to update the lake’s name in the US geographic naming system. The department was given 30 days to carry out the directive, though Trump declared that the change was “official, effective immediately.”

The president also said all necessary parties had already been informed of the decision.

Trump said he had “notified all of the various people that we have to notify. So, we’ve done everything that you have to do.”

The naming dispute comes as economic friction between the neighboring countries continues to intensify. The United States imposed 50% tariffs on $20 billion in Canadian products after trade negotiations broke down, prompting Canada to retaliate with tariffs on $20 billion worth of American goods. The Canadian measures cover products including steel, dairy goods, appliances and agricultural equipment.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney pushed back against Trump’s renaming initiative, emphasizing the centuries-old history behind the Lake Ontario name.

“The name Lake Ontario comes from the Wendat word Ontari’io, which, appropriately, means ‘the lake is beautiful, the lake is big”.”

Carney noted that the name predates the founding of both modern Canada and the United States.

“The name is more than 400 years old, predating both the Confederation of Canada and the Declaration of Independence of the United States of America,” added Carney.

The Canadian leader concluded by portraying the dispute as part of broader changes taking place in the United States while insisting that Canadians would continue using the lake’s historic name.

“We know that America is changing. Their trading relationships, their foreign policies, their national monuments, their hydronyms. Canadians also know that naming reality means calling it Lake Ontario – then, now and always,” concluded the Prime Minister.

Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar warned Tuesday that Israel will retaliate if Britain moves forward with sanctions over Israeli construction in the E1 area, escalating a growing diplomatic clash between Israel and London over development between Yerushalayim and Ma’ale Adumim.

“If Britain acts against Israel, Israel will act against Britain,” Sa’ar said in an excerpt from a Hebrew-language podcast interview with Ynet.

The foreign minister said Jerusalem is treating the prospect of British punitive measures seriously, while accusing the British government of allowing internal political pressures to drive an increasingly hostile approach toward Israel.

“There is a government there that is systematically acting against Israel. It has already harmed defense exports to us and imposed sanctions on ministers. What guides it is its domestic politics, and at the end of the month the Labour Party conference is convening,” he said.

Pressed on what steps Jerusalem might take against Britain, Sa’ar declined to reveal specifics but indicated that Israeli officials are already preparing possible retaliatory measures.

“Why hint at it? What I’ve said is enough. We are preparing. If they make a mistake, there will be a response,” he replied.

Sa’ar issued the warning shortly after British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband told lawmakers that Israel’s plans for E1 amounted to “the crossing of a red line.” According to Miliband, construction in the area would separate territory envisioned for a future Palestinian state and “risks making a Palestinian state unviable.”

“This government will not acquiesce in the destruction of the two-state solution,” Miliband said. “We will act and I will set out a comprehensive set of measures in the coming weeks.”

Tensions between the two countries have intensified following the publication of a tender covering seven residential compounds in E1, totaling 1,234 housing units. The developments are included among approximately 3,400 housing units that received approval for the area last August.

Miliband swiftly denounced the tender and called on Israel to cancel it. He said he had raised the matter directly with Sa’ar, while the British Foreign Office summoned Israel’s Chargé d’Affaires over the issue.

The British foreign secretary also made clear that London was considering further action against Israel in response to its policies.

“Britain will not stand back and accept the destruction of the two-state solution. In the coming weeks we will set out a comprehensive set of measures to respond to Israeli government policies, protect the viability of the Palestinian state, target sanctions at those who participate in illegal settlement expansion and support a just and lasting peace for Israelis and Palestinians,” the UK Foreign Secretary declared.

Sa’ar rejected the British criticism, taking issue both with Miliband’s position and his choice of language while accusing London of applying a double standard to Israel.

“Britain itself still controls colonial territories thousands of miles from its shores. It is absurd for Britain to lecture the Jewish people about where they may live in their historic tiny homeland, when the Jewish people’s connection and right to this land is the most extensively documented of any people in human history.”

Sa’ar also challenged Britain’s suggestion that the latest tender reflected a new policy decision by the Israeli government, saying the underlying development plan had already been approved last year.

“There have been no new decisions regarding development in E1. The decision was made in 2025. The tender process has been underway for several months, with certain tender documents published only in recent days. The British Foreign Secretary’s statement is entirely one-sided.”

Britain’s Chief Rabbi, Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis, has also weighed in on the dispute. During a meeting with Miliband last week, Rabbi Mirvis urged the foreign secretary to reconsider proposed sanctions and trade restrictions affecting Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria, warning that such measures could damage efforts toward peace while also carrying consequences for Britain’s Jewish community.

{Matzav.com}

Toronto mayoral candidate Bahira Abdulsalam is pledging to make the war in Gaza an immediate focus of her administration if elected, declaring that her first motion at City Hall would include an effort to “open our doors” to families coming from Gaza.

Abdulsalam, a professional engineer who is running for mayor in Toronto’s Oct. 26 municipal election, made the proposal in remarks that began circulating widely online in recent days. The City of Toronto confirms that the 2026 mayoral election is scheduled for Oct. 26.

“So here is my first motion to the city hall, if elected as a mayor of the city of Toronto,” Abdulsalam said.

She then laid out two elements of the proposed measure, beginning with a review of the city’s purchasing practices and suppliers.

“First, disclose, show Torontonians what our city buys, who it buys from and measure this against the international law,” she said.

Abdulsalam then turned directly to Gaza, saying, “Second, we open our doors for families grieving from Gaza and coming here to the city.”

Her comments immediately raised a practical question about how such a proposal could be implemented by a Toronto mayor. Immigration and citizenship are federal responsibilities in Canada, meaning that Toronto City Hall and the mayor do not have the authority to independently admit foreign nationals into the country. The City of Toronto itself identifies “citizenship and immigration” as responsibilities of Canada’s federal government.

Toronto does, however, play a substantial role in helping immigrants and refugees after they arrive. A 2025 federal-provincial immigration agreement specifically recognizes Toronto’s infrastructure and experience in integrating immigrants and responding to large numbers of refugees, while providing for cooperation among the federal, Ontario and Toronto governments.

Abdulsalam therefore could use the mayor’s office to advocate for federal action and seek city resources or programs to assist Gaza families admitted by Ottawa, but she could not unilaterally bring Gaza residents into Canada. Toronto’s mayor also serves as a representative of the city in dealings with other levels of government, providing a potential avenue for such lobbying.

The proposal fits into a broader pattern of pro-Palestinian advocacy that has become a prominent element of Abdulsalam’s political activity. Her campaign website includes what she calls a “Palestine Platform,” which calls for a two-way Canadian arms embargo on Israel, greater funding for Gaza relief efforts including UNRWA, and other measures aimed at changing Canadian policy toward Israel and the Palestinians.

Her Gaza remarks also come as Abdulsalam faces controversy over previous social-media statements concerning Israel, Zionism and Hamas.

The Toronto candidate is currently the subject of disciplinary proceedings before Professional Engineers Ontario stemming from complaints over her online political commentary. Among the posts cited in reporting on the case are statements attributed to Abdulsalam describing Hamas as “the Palestinian Resistance and the only military force in the world that is standing up courageously against Israel to defend the Palestinians,” and another in which she wrote that “Zionism is way more cruel than the Nazis.”

In another post cited in the complaint, Abdulsalam wrote, “Hamas is the official government of the Gaza Strip; it is not merely a resistance movement; it is the elected government in Palestine.”

Abdulsalam has strongly contested the disciplinary case and argues that the engineering regulator is improperly attempting to police political speech that she made in her private capacity.

“I am before a discipline tribunal because of what I posted, in my own name and on my own time, about political and social questions, questions of war and peace, of conscience, and of parents and children,” she said in a July statement.

“A regulator’s authority exists to protect the public from unsafe engineering. It was never granted to superintend the political conscience of the people it licenses,” Abdulsalam added. No final disciplinary finding should be inferred merely from the existence of the proceedings.

Jewish organizations have sharply criticized Abdulsalam over her past statements. B’nai Brith Canada CEO Simon Wolle told the Jerusalem Post last month that his organization was “appalled” by posts he said expressed explicit support for Hamas and repeated antisemitic conspiracy theories.

The Canadian Antisemitism Education Foundation has similarly condemned her rhetoric. Its executive director, Andria Spindel, argued that international conflicts have no place in municipal government and accused Abdulsalam’s statements of fueling “hatred and bigotry.”

Abdulsalam, for her part, has publicly rejected accusations that she engages in collective blame against Jews or other communities. In a recent campaign statement, she said it is unfair to hold all Jews responsible for the actions of a government, just as it is unfair to judge all Muslims or Palestinians based on the conduct of individuals.

This is Abdulsalam’s second campaign for Toronto mayor. She ran in the 2023 mayoral by-election, finishing 14th in a field of 102 candidates. She formally entered the 2026 mayoral contest in May.

{Matzav.com}

Russia has been secretly providing Iran with advanced missile technology aimed at helping Tehran develop weapons capable of striking US Navy aircraft carriers in the Middle East, according to a Financial Times investigation published Tuesday.

The covert partnership reportedly dates back to 2023 and operated under the codename C430L, with Moscow assisting Tehran as it worked to develop increasingly sophisticated missile capabilities.

One of the project’s primary goals was reportedly to create a ramjet propulsion system capable of propelling Iranian missiles at several times the speed of sound. Missiles using such technology, especially when traveling at low altitudes, could leave Western air defense systems with significantly less time to detect and respond to an incoming attack.

The Financial Times reported that the sophistication of the technology involved meant that any transfer would likely have required approval at the highest levels of Russia’s government. The missile cooperation may have been one component of a wider exchange between the two countries, with Iran aiding Moscow’s drone program while Russia provided assistance to Tehran’s missile efforts. The two governments have also developed extensive intelligence ties.

Documents reviewed by the Financial Times reportedly show that work on the arrangement had begun even before it was formally signed in November 2023, approximately one month after the October 7 attack.

According to the investigation, Russian support for Iran remained ongoing during the war with Iran in February and provided Tehran with significant assistance as it carried out attacks against Gulf states.

Military cooperation between Moscow and Tehran has grown considerably in recent years as both governments have faced increasing Western pressure over their international alliances and activities in their respective regions.

The deepening relationship was on display in April 2025, when Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi traveled to Moscow and met Russian President Vladimir Putin. During the meeting, Araghchi delivered a message from Iran’s then-Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was later eliminated in joint US-Israeli strikes on Iran earlier this year. The message stressed the importance of further strengthening relations between Russia and Iran.

Several weeks after that meeting, Putin signed legislation previously approved by the Russian parliament that expanded bilateral cooperation between Moscow and Tehran across multiple areas, including military and security matters.

Iran has also pursued the acquisition of Russia’s advanced Sukhoi Su-35 fighter jets as part of its efforts to strengthen its military capabilities. Tehran, however, has voiced frustration over Moscow’s repeated delays in delivering the aircraft.

{Matzav.com}

Something remarkable will take place across Flatbush this Motzoei Shabbos.

Matzav.com has learned that before the first haunting words of Selichos are recited, before Ashrei and the Yud-Gimmel Middos, and before thousands begin the annual journey toward the Yomim Noraim, more than 30 shuls throughout the Flatbush community will open their batei medrash for a community-wide seder limud designed to bring people into Selichos with the zechus and spiritual elevation of Torah.

The sweeping initiative, billed simply as the “Selichos Seder,” has brought together an extraordinary cross-section of Flatbush shuls, rabbonim, kollelim and bnei Torah around a beautifully simple idea: What better way is there to prepare to stand before the Ribbono Shel Olam than by first sitting down and learning Torah?

Under the banner “Elevate Your Selichos — Stand before Hashem with the z’chus of Torah,” participating shuls will hold a seder limud b’chavrusa beginning at approximately 12:10 a.m., followed by Selichos at approximately 12:55 a.m. Individual shul schedules may vary. And organizers have made clear that no one should stay away because he does not have a chavrusa: Those arriving without one will be paired up.

But perhaps even more striking than the concept itself is the scope of the response.

More than 30 shuls have already joined the initiative, with the list still in formation.

Participating shuls include Agudas Yisroel Bais Binyomin, led by Rav Moshe Tuvia Lieff; Agudas Yisroel of Flatbush; Agudas Yisroel of Madison, led by Rav Yisroel Reisman; Bais Medrash Avreichim, led by Rav Meir Finkel; Bais Medrash Bais Yeshaya, led by Rav Moshe Yitzchak Fisher; Bais Medrash Torah U’Tefillah, led by Rav Yitzchok Olshin; Bais Mordechai D’Bertch, led by Rav Tzvi Eli Rokeach; Chaim Berlin Alumni-Marine Park, led by Rav Ahron Rapps; Kesser Yisroel Mordechai, led by Rav Meir Platnick; Khal Avrechei Bais Chaim Yisroel, led by Rav Yehuda Friedman; Khal Bais Elazar Faltishan, led by Rav Yonasan Binyamin Katz; Khal Beis Mordechai, led by Rav Boruch Miller; Khal Bnei Avraham Yaakov, led by Rav Moshe Bergman; Khal Bnei Shlomo Zalman, led by Rav Yosef Frankel; Khal Bnei Torah Bais Naftali, led by Rav Bentzion Schiffenbauer; Khal Bnei Torah-Kollel Dirshu, led by Rav Shlomo Cynamon; Khal Talmidei Hayeshivos, led by Rav Binyamin Cohen; Khal Tiferes Avraham-Zidichov, led by Rav Yechezkel Eichenstein; Khal Zichron Mordechai, led by Rav Yekusiel Bitman; Khal Zichron Yakov-Shlomo V’Chava, led by Rav Ezra Rodkin; Knesses Bais Avigdor, led by Rav Aharon Kahn; Kollel B’nei Torah, led by Rav Yosef Eisen; Yeshivas Ohr Yisroel, led by Rav Herschel Zolty; Khal Igud Avreichim, led by Rav Pinchas Frankel; Khal Kollel B’nei Yeshivos, led by Rav Moshe Scheinerman; Khal Kol Torah, led by Rav Lipa Geldwerth; Khal Meshivas Nefesh, led by Rav Noam Rosenzweig; Khal Nachlas Dovid, led by Rav Daniel Osher Kleinman; Khal Premishlan, led by Rav Moshe Ahron Fulop; Khal Sasregen, led by Rav Bentzion Frankel; and Khal Sha’ar Hashamayim, led by Rav Chanoch Posy.

It is difficult to overstate what a scene this promises to create. Motzoei Shabbos before the first Selichos has always possessed a character all its own. There is an electricity in the air as the clock moves toward midnight. Men who have spent an ordinary Motzoei Shabbos at home begin making their way toward shul. The streets fill. The batei medrash come alive. A familiar niggun begins, and suddenly the reality of Elul, of Rosh Hashanah drawing near, feels very real.

This year, across Flatbush, that experience will begin nearly an hour earlier, with the sound of Torah.

In shul after shul, chavrusos will bend over their seforim. The hum of learning will fill batei medrash across the neighborhood. And then, almost simultaneously, those same voices will close their Gemaros and open their Selichos, carrying the zechus of their Torah directly into their tefillos.

There is something especially powerful about the fact that this is not taking place in one building or under the banner of one particular kehillah. It is a Flatbush-wide undertaking. Different shuls. Different rabbonim. Different neighborhoods and constituencies. One community preparing together for the first Selichos.

The first night of Selichos can easily become defined by the atmosphere surrounding it: the late hour, the packed shul, the special melodies and the emotion of hearing Selichos for the first time in nearly a year. All of those things are meaningful. But the Flatbush Selichos Seder seeks to add something before all of them: Torah.

Before asking, learn. Before pleading, toil. Before standing before Hashem and saying Selach lanu, spend time immersed in His Torah.

At 12:10 this Motzoei Shabbos, lights will be burning in batei medrash across Flatbush, pages of Gemara will be turning, and hundreds — perhaps thousands — of Jews will be learning together.

Then, at approximately 12:55, the learning will give way to Selichos.

The same mouths that moments earlier were speaking words of Torah will begin speaking words of tefillah.

And across more than 30 shuls, an entire community will begin the journey toward the Yomim Noraim together — carrying with it the greatest zechus it knows: the zechus haTorah.

{Matzav.com}

Rav Dov Kook of Tiveria remains in serious condition, with his family still awaiting significant improvement in his consciousness and ability to move, his son Rav Gedaliah Kook said in an update while urging the public to continue davening for his recovery.

Speaking with Rabbi Moshe Ben Lulu, Rav Gedaliah described his father’s difficult medical condition and appealed for additional tefillos and spiritual commitments on his behalf. He also discussed a major women’s gathering being organized by Rebbetzin Kook for her husband’s refuah, scheduled for Monday at Hangar 11 in the Tel Aviv Port.

“We are waiting for Hashem’s salvation,” Rav Gedaliah said, asking the public “to daven again and undertake all the spiritual efforts.”

He explained that, according to doctors, the initial months following a stroke and systemic collapse can be particularly significant in determining potential improvements in consciousness, communication and movement. Rav Gedaliah stressed that this represents only the medical assessment, while the family continues to daven and hope for a yeshuah beyond what doctors may anticipate.

Describing his father’s present condition, Rav Gedaliah said, “The Rav has still not gotten up, he does not move a hand or a foot, he cannot move any limb of his body.”

There have, however, been occasional signs of limited communication. Rav Gedaliah said his father has at times responded through slight head movements, particularly when Rebbetzin Kook or leading Gedolei Yisroel are present. He cautioned that these responses are brief and difficult, generally lasting only several seconds.

“He is receiving the best treatment in the world,” Rav Gedaliah stressed.

At the same time, he said there have been significant improvements in several of his father’s bodily systems. The family views some of those developments as “open miracles,” particularly after doctors had previously raised grave concerns about his condition.

The conversation then turned to a major initiative intended to generate additional tefillos for Rav Kook: a massive gathering for women being spearheaded by Rebbetzin Kook.

According to Rav Gedaliah, thousands of women from across the spectrum are expected to attend the event at Hangar 11 in the Tel Aviv Port. The gathering was initially planned for the Caesarea Amphitheater, but the venue was changed after Rebbetzin Kook requested that the security personnel inside the women’s area consist exclusively of women, allowing the event to be conducted in accordance with her standards of tznius.

Rav Gedaliah said the Rebbetzin has asked participants to bring drums and turn the gathering into an evening of tefillah, simcha and anticipation of a yeshuah.

A massive collective recitation of Tehillim is also planned. Organizers intend to divide the chapters among the thousands of women in attendance, allowing the participants to collectively complete the equivalent of approximately 1,500 entire Sifrei Tehillim within a short period of time.

The evening will also feature a musical program. Rav Gedaliah emphasized that the gathering is being organized without any profit motive.

The event is scheduled for Monday at 9 p.m. at Hangar 11 in the Tel Aviv Port. Rav Gedaliah said free transportation has been arranged from various locations around the country, with tickets available through the ticketing systems and contact information publicized for the gathering.

“Please respond to the Rebbetzin’s call, for an evening of simcha, an evening of yeshuah,” he appealed to listeners.

During the broadcast, Ben Lulu also played a recording of Rebbetzin Kook urging women to attend and increase their tefillos for her husband’s recovery and for yeshuos for Klal Yisroel.

The public is asked to continue davening for Rav Kook, whose name for tefillah is Rav Chizkiyahu Dov ben Shoshana.

Mordechai Ben David’s newly released single, “Uvetuvcha Hagadol,” has been more than 23 years in the making — and its surprising history stretches back to Menachem Toker’s wedding, where the song was performed publicly for the first time more than two decades ago.

Composer and arranger Eli Laufer revealed the story during an interview with Toker on the radio program “Zman Avir,” explaining that the song was actually composed jointly by Laufer and MBD in Miami more than 23 years ago. Although MBD considered including it on his album “Efshar Letaken,” the song ultimately remained unreleased until this week.

During the interview, Toker produced a rare recording from his wedding approximately 23 and a half years ago.

“You were there, and you surprised me with a new song, you and Mordechai Ben David on the stage,” Toker reminded Laufer.

Toker recalled that MBD had made a special trip to attend the wedding, which took place approximately a week before Pesach, and that MBD and Laufer performed the newly composed song together.

Laufer initially had difficulty remembering all the details of the evening, although he said he had recently seen footage from the wedding showing himself playing the keyboard. Listening again to the decades-old performance, Toker told him, “I’m listening now to the chords you’re putting in there. You are the gadol hador.”

Laufer then explained how “Uvetuvcha Hagadol” had originally come into existence during a visit to Miami with MBD.

“We were in Miami, and we composed it together with Mordechai. Mordechai said: Now let’s light candles and compose a song. There was a keyboard there,” Laufer recalled.

The two sat together and created “Uvetuvcha Hagadol,” and Laufer said they immediately sensed that they had produced something special.

“Mordechai always wanted to release it, and now there was an opportunity to release it,” he said.

The song, however, came close to reaching listeners many years earlier. Laufer revealed that “Uvetuvcha Hagadol” was considered for inclusion on MBD’s “Efshar Letaken” album, but MBD ultimately decided against putting it on the album. The composition consequently remained on the shelf, despite having already been performed at Toker’s wedding.

Now, more than 23 years after that performance, the song has finally received its official release.

Toker asked whether a composition created more than two decades ago could still resonate with today’s listeners. Laufer said the initial reaction to the single indicates that the melody has lost none of its appeal.

“People are very moved and are complimenting me very much about this song. People are very excited,” Laufer said.

Toker jokingly suggested that evaluating the staying power of an MBD song requires a different standard altogether.

“Mordechai Ben David is always relevant. The question is whether a song is relevant 23 years later,” he said.

Laufer also discussed the credits behind the new release, explaining that he and MBD jointly composed the melody, while Laufer handled the arrangement.

When Toker pressed him to identify which portions of the song had been composed by each of them, Laufer replied, “I don’t remember, together. I think I did most of it.”

After Toker teased him about taking credit, Laufer quickly added, “G-d forbid. Mordechai is a great composer.”

Laufer went even further in praising MBD’s abilities as a composer, saying, “I think he is no less talented as a composer than he is as a singer… There’s nothing you can do, he is the king.”

Shmuel Stern, Laufer noted during the conversation, was responsible for the vocal arrangements on the newly released song.

For Toker, the release brought the story full circle: a song written more than 23 years ago and unveiled at one of the most important moments of his own life has finally become an official MBD release.

“It was released in honor of my wedding 23 years ago,” Toker joked, before offering Laufer the blessing, “A faithful home for me and for you.”

{Matzav.com}

A Chareidi commander serving in a classified elite technological unit of the IDF has left military service after receiving a direct instruction to do so from Rav Avraham Salim, a member of Shas’ Moetzes Chachmei HaTorah, according to a report by Kan News.

During a conversation between the two, Rav Salim addressed the commander’s continued service in the IDF and instructed him to leave, citing the ongoing confrontation over the drafting of bnei yeshivos.

“Leave the IDF because it is at war with students of Torah, so that your family will not be harmed because you are a soldier.”

Rav Salim further explained that the commander could continue participating in reserve duty while cautioning him against taking steps that would establish a deeper or more permanent connection to the military.

“You can go to reserve duty, but do not take part in something that would tie you more to the army.”

The commander reportedly told Kan News that when he initially entered the military, and particularly around the time of the October 7 massacre, he had received encouragement and backing from several prominent rabbonim.

That support reportedly changed as the battle over the Draft Law grew increasingly contentious and authorities stepped up enforcement measures and sanctions against bnei yeshivos who had not reported for military service.

As tensions surrounding the draft intensified, the backing the commander had previously received from rabbinic figures reportedly began to diminish, ultimately leading to his conversation with Rav Salim and his decision to leave his position.

{Matzav.com}