Operation “Shaagas HaAri” caught hundreds of families in the midst of wedding preparations, forcing many to scramble for last-minute solutions as air-raid sirens and security restrictions disrupted planned celebrations. With event halls canceling bookings and gatherings restricted, families across Israel have found creative ways to hold weddings—conducting chuppahs in school buildings, shelters, and even private apartments offered by neighbors.
The military operation began unexpectedly on Shabbos morning, Parshas Tetzaveh–Zachor, at around 8 a.m. A piercing siren shattered the quiet at a time when many homes were filled with excitement. In numerous families, the fathers of chassanim had just accompanied their sons to shul for the traditional aliyah the Shabbos before the wedding.
Within moments, the mood shifted dramatically. What had been a week of joy and anticipation leading up to the chassan and kallah’s big day quickly turned into days filled with uncertainty, pressure, and urgent problem-solving. While historians may one day view that siren as the opening moment of a wider military confrontation between the United States, Israel, and Iran, for hundreds of families it marked the start of a deeply personal ordeal.
After Shabbos ended, new Home Front Command directives began circulating: events were canceled, large gatherings restricted, and families were told to seek alternative arrangements. Many mechutanim received calls from wedding halls informing them that the celebrations could not proceed as scheduled. Some venues canceled outright, while others said they could not guarantee that weddings would be able to take place on the planned date.
“Suddenly we found ourselves without a place to marry off our child,” one parent recalled. “It’s hard to describe the feeling. Beyond the financial burden, there’s tremendous anxiety. Until the last moment you don’t know where the chuppah will be held, what will happen with the catering, whether the photographer can come if the wedding is moved to another city, and what about the band. Everything has to be rebuilt within days—and sometimes within hours—without knowing where things will end up.”
For many, the situation felt like a return to the days of the coronavirus pandemic, when weddings were often held in homes or improvised spaces. At the time, some people believed that smaller daytime weddings might become a long-term model that would save families significant expenses. But once normal life resumed, the modest celebrations quickly gave way again to large events in major wedding halls.
Few imagined how quickly circumstances would force a return to those improvised arrangements. As the current conflict intensified, nearly any available space became a potential wedding venue: underground parking garages, neighborhood shuls, public shelters, and small halls typically used for brissim.
“On Monday I married off my daughter,” said S., the father of a kallah. “Until Sunday afternoon I still had no idea where the wedding would take place. Only at the last moment did we find a hall that had a protected area. I started calling everyone I knew—friends, acquaintances. I don’t even use WhatsApp or those kinds of advertising tools. Baruch Hashem, in the end the wedding took place properly. Everyone came, and even many guests.”
Neta Shefer, manager of the “Hakeramim” event hall in Beit Shemesh—part of the “Baninu” organization founded by chessed activist Rabbi Yaakov Eliezer Shisha—said that during the war his team has continued working to assist orphans and families in need while also helping couples whose weddings were suddenly canceled.
Speaking about the hectic days since the operation began, he described scenes of parents desperately searching for solutions. “We saw parents who were helpless,” he said. “Families who didn’t know where their children’s weddings would take place. We made every effort to find solutions. Other hall owners also went above and beyond to help families celebrate their simchos.”
“At the same time,” he added, “there were also difficult cases: phones that were hung up, requests that went unanswered, and sometimes even refusals to help families or return their deposits.”
The crisis has also produced moments of creativity and kindness. In one case, an office room in a building was converted into a makeshift yichud room. In another instance in Ashdod, when no suitable space could be found, a neighbor opened his private apartment for the newly married couple.
“None of us had ever seen such a luxurious yichud room,” participants joked. “A spacious apartment, private facilities—the entire community stepped forward to help.”
Even amid the stress, unusual stories have emerged. The wedding of the granddaughter of the Toldos Avrohom Yitzchok Rebbe, originally scheduled to take place in an auditorium in Beitar, was ultimately held in the Karlin beis medrash in Givat Ze’ev. The kallah insisted that singer Aharale Samet perform at the celebration, but he in turn would not sing accompanied by drums—the traditional Yerushalayim-style “poiker.” In the end, a new arrangement was found to ensure the couple’s simchah went ahead.
“Mi ke’amcha Yisroel,” Shefer said, reflecting on the past days. “It’s incredible to see how willing families are to adapt so that a chassan and kallah can celebrate their wedding on the right day despite all the challenges.”
He recalled visiting a small hall one morning where a bris milah was being held. Guests were heard blessing the infant with the traditional words, “Kesheim shenichnas…. Just as he has entered the covenant, so may he enter Torah, chuppah, and maasim tovim.” Only hours later, in that very same hall, a glass was broken under the chuppah as a chassan and kallah were married there.
{Matzav.com}
Opposition leaders are celebrating after Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu and Finance Minister Betzalel Smotrich announced that the government will not advance the draft law concerning yeshiva students at this time, saying the decision was made with the agreement of the chareidi parties.
Following the announcement, opposition figures quickly claimed credit for the delay, arguing that sustained political pressure prevented the legislation from being approved.
Opposition leader Yair Lapid said that from the moment discussions began on what he called the controversial draft exemption law promoted by Netanyahu, he pledged it would not pass. Lapid said his Yesh Atid party led the parliamentary fight against the proposal, which he described as an attempt to exempt tens of thousands of young men from military service, and added that after months of political battles the government has now effectively acknowledged that the legislation cannot move forward.
Former prime minister Naftali Bennett also declared victory, saying the decision represented a win for the Israeli public after a lengthy struggle led by reserve soldiers’ organizations and others who opposed the bill. Bennett said the outcome showed that Israeli society expects everyone to share the burden of military service.
The reactions came after Netanyahu and Smotrich said Tuesday evening that the coalition intends to prioritize passing the state budget by the end of the current month while putting the draft law and several other disputed reforms on hold.
Smotrich said the government had decided to set aside controversial issues during wartime in order to focus on national responsibility and unity, adding that the budget will concentrate on funding needed for security and achieving victory in the war.
Despite shelving the draft law, chareidi parties signaled they will continue supporting the government during the current wartime period.
A senior chareidi source related that the chareidi parties will vote in favor of the budget and do not intend to bring down the government while the country is at war, acknowledging that the effort to pass the draft law has failed for now but emphasizing that the parties have secured important gains in the state budget.
{Matzav.com}
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps warned Wednesday that global oil prices could surge to $200 per barrel as the Strait of Hormuz—the key route for a large portion of the world’s exported oil—remains shut during the ongoing U.S.-Israeli military campaign against Iran.
The warning came from Ebrahim Zolfaqari, a spokesperson for the IRGC’s Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, who blamed the conflict for threatening stability in global energy markets.
“Get ready for oil to be $200 a barrel, because the oil price depends on regional security, which you have destabilized,” Ebrahim Zolfaqari, a spokesperson for the IRGC’s Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, told Reuters.
Tensions in the region escalated further after the U.S. military announced Tuesday that American forces had destroyed 16 vessels used to lay naval mines near the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian officials have since warned that vessels connected to the United States or Israel could be targeted, with the IRGC stating that such ships “will be considered a legitimate target,” according to Al Jazeera.
Energy markets have already shown sharp volatility. West Texas Intermediate crude, the main benchmark for North American oil prices, is currently trading near $87 per barrel. Earlier this week, however, the price spiked to nearly $120. Meanwhile, the national average cost of gasoline in the United States has climbed to $3.57 per gallon, according to data from AAA.
In response to rising energy prices triggered by the conflict, the International Energy Agency announced that its 32 member nations will release 400 million barrels of oil from strategic reserves in an effort to stabilize global markets.
“This is a major action aiming to alleviate the immediate impacts of the disruption in markets,” Fatih Birol, executive director of the IEA, said in an address from Paris. “But to be clear, the most important thing for a return to stable flows of oil and gas is the resumption of transit through the Strait of Hormuz.”
Birol said the emergency reserves would be distributed gradually in a way that fits the needs and timelines of participating countries. Among the nations that have already indicated they will take part are Japan, Germany, and the United Kingdom.
The United States has not yet announced whether it will contribute oil from its own strategic petroleum reserve.
President Trump previously criticized a decision by President Joe Biden to release 180 million barrels from U.S. strategic reserves following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Trump argued that those reserves should be preserved for military needs rather than used to bring down fuel prices.
Trump has also downplayed the significance of rising fuel costs during the current conflict, saying that higher gasoline prices are a “very small price to pay” as the administration continues its military campaign against Iran.
The president has offered varying estimates about how long the fighting might continue. At one point he suggested the war could last as long as five weeks, though on Monday he said the conflict would end “very soon.” On Tuesday, Trump said the U.S. “excursion” in Iran was “nearly complete.”
{Matzav.com}
Tens of thousands of Israelis who were stranded abroad when the war began have already returned home, according to new figures released Wednesday by the Israel Airports Authority.
The data was published as part of Operation “Wings of the Lion,” the effort launched to bring back large numbers of Israelis who were overseas when Operation “Shaagas HaAri” began.
According to the Airports Authority, between March 5 and March 10 a total of 215 flights landed at Ben Gurion Airport, carrying approximately 38,867 passengers returning to Israel.
Officials said that additional arrivals are expected throughout the day. Around 40 more flights are scheduled to land Wednesday, bringing roughly 6,250 more passengers back to the country. During the same period, about 13,000 travelers departed from Ben Gurion Airport on flights operated by Israeli airlines.
Passenger traffic has also increased significantly at Israel’s land border crossings since the war began. Between February 28 and March 10, crossings through Begin (Taba), Rabin (Arava), the Jordan River crossing, and Allenby Bridge saw heavy movement.
During that time, approximately 26,500 travelers entered Israel through those crossings, while about 33,000 people exited the country.
Officials said that operations at Ben Gurion Airport as well as the land crossings are continuing around the clock in order to facilitate the safe return of Israeli citizens while also assisting passengers who need to leave the country.
The Israel Airports Authority said in a statement that it will continue to update the public with any relevant information as needed.
{Matzav.com}
A political dispute erupted Wednesday after senior coalition officials, including Finance Minister Betzalel Smotrich, made statements opposing the advancement of legislation regulating the draft status of yeshiva students, prompting Degel HaTorah representatives to respond with a retaliatory move in the Knesset Finance Committee.
Members of Degel HaTorah on the committee voted Wednesday morning against a coalition request to separate the property tax issue from the Arrangements Law and instead supported removing the matter from the committee’s agenda.
In a statement explaining the unusual vote, Degel HaTorah said the decision came in response to comments made the previous night by senior coalition figures criticizing coalition agreements reached between the chareidi parties and the government.
As previously reported, chareidi representatives had agreed to support passage of the state budget even though, before the war began, they had insisted they would not back the budget until a draft law regulating the status of yeshiva students was approved.
Chareidi lawmakers explained that during wartime it would be inappropriate to destabilize the government. As a result, they agreed to support the budget while pointing to several achievements included in the spending plan that benefit the chareidi community.
Tensions escalated, however, after Smotrich declared publicly in the presence of the prime minister that the draft law would not be advanced at this time, a statement that reportedly surprised chareidi representatives and was viewed by them as contradicting earlier understandings.
Smotrich said that in order to focus on the war effort, disputed issues are being set aside for now, including the draft law and several reforms that have not yet gained broad agreement, emphasizing that wartime requires unity and national responsibility.
In addition to the finance minister’s remarks, chareidi representatives were angered by statements from other coalition partners who criticized both the proposed draft law and budget allocations directed to the chareidi sector.
The vote in the Finance Committee is being interpreted as an early signal of growing tensions within the coalition if the dispute over the draft law and related issues continues.
{Matzav.com}
The Israel Defense Forces on Wednesday published recordings capturing radio communications between Israeli and American pilots who took part in a joint flight operation over Iran.
According to the IDF, the recordings highlight the close coordination between the Israeli Air Force and the United States Armed Forces during ongoing military activity connected to Operation Roaring Lion.
In a statement accompanying the audio, the military emphasized that the two countries are working together closely as part of a broader effort to weaken the Iranian regime.
“The Israeli Air Force and the US Air Force continue to operate with full aerial freedom over Iranian skies,” the IDF stated.
WATCH:
https://matzav.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/573b9e2dc0904fc7adb8cbc713563da9.mp4Approximately 100 rockets were fired at Israel Wednesday evening by the Hezbollah terrorist organization, prompting interception efforts and retaliatory strikes by the Israeli Air Force against launch sites and other Hezbollah targets in Lebanon.
The Israel Defense Forces confirmed the attack shortly after 8:20 p.m., reporting that multiple communities came under rocket fire within a short period of time.
Shortly after 8:20 pm, the IDF Spokesperson’s Unit stated: “In the past few minutes, the Hezbollah terrorist organization launched rockets toward several areas in Israel. Along with the intercepting effort, the Israeli Air Force is currently striking ready-to-launch projectile launchers and additional infrastructure sites belonging to the Hezbollah terrorist organization across Lebanon.”
“The public is requested to follow the Home Front Command’s defensive guidelines. The IDF will not tolerate any harm to Israeli civilians and will forcibly respond against any threat posed to the State of Israel.”
Reports from the field indicated that several rockets struck in different areas, with initial information suggesting that people were injured in the attacks.
Earlier in the evening, Mate Asher Regional Council chairman Moshe Davidovich issued an urgent message to residents urging heightened caution. Davidovich, who also heads the Confrontation Line Forum, advised residents of the Mateh Asher region to remain near protected spaces and limit unnecessary activity outside their homes.
The warning came after what he described as a series of alerts from security officials, leading him to instruct residents to be prepared to reach shelters or safe rooms quickly if necessary.
Across a number of northern communities, local authorities announced that extracurricular programs, public gatherings, and social events scheduled for the evening would be canceled as a precaution.
At the same time, numerous messages circulated widely on social media and WhatsApp groups claiming that a “significant missile barrage” could be imminent.
Despite those reports, the IDF Home Front Command stated that it had not issued any warning of unusual incoming fire expected overnight, and that no changes had been made to official civilian defense guidelines.
Responding to the growing speculation, IDF spokesman Brigadier General Efi Defrin addressed the public.
“I am aware of the public discourse in recent hours regarding the possibility of increased shooting. I want to emphasize that there is no change in the Home Front Command’s defense policy as of this moment. The IDF is prepared for strong defense and will do whatever is necessary to protect the citizens of Israel.”
He added that the situation continues to be closely monitored and emphasized the importance of following official safety instructions.
“We continue to conduct ongoing situation assessments and will update you on any changes, if any. I emphasize – continue to obey the Home Front Command’s instructions. They save lives.”
{Matzav.com}
Israeli defense officials are examining a significant change to the way missile alerts are issued to civilians, potentially distinguishing between areas at risk of a direct ballistic missile strike and areas where the main danger comes from falling interceptor debris.
The proposal is currently being reviewed by the IDF Home Front Command as authorities search for ways to reduce the ongoing disruption to civilian life caused by frequent alerts during the conflict with Iran.
According to a report Wednesday by Channel 12 News, the Home Front Command is considering revising how warning zones are defined when ballistic missiles are launched from Iran.
Under the proposal being studied, authorities could issue different types of warnings depending on the level of threat in a particular area. Regions facing the danger of a direct hit from a ballistic missile carrying a 400–500 kilogram warhead could receive stronger alerts than areas where the primary risk is falling fragments from intercepted missiles.
While interceptor debris remains a serious hazard, military officials note that during nighttime hours most residents are already inside their homes. In some cases, they believe remaining indoors may provide sufficient protection.
Home Front Command officials are aware that millions of Israelis are being awakened repeatedly throughout the night by incoming alerts. As a result, the military is exploring ways to ease the strain on daily life if the current situation continues for several more weeks.
According to defense assessments, the goal is to allow some level of normal routine and economic activity to continue while minimizing the impact that constant nighttime alarms are having on sleep and everyday life.
{Matzav.com}
