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Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch delivered a forceful warning to chareidi voters Monday night, declaring that frustration with political representatives or the ongoing military draft crisis does not justify voting for another party or staying home on election day, and cautioning that the future of the yeshiva world could be endangered if the wrong government comes to power.

Speaking at an election gathering in Petach Tikvah ahead of Israel’s October 27 Knesset elections, the rosh yeshiva addressed growing dissatisfaction within the chareidi community over the failure of political leaders to resolve the draft controversy and the increasing pressure being placed on yeshiva bochurim.

Rav Hirsch warned that the stakes extend far beyond the immediate dispute over military enlistment, asserting that a future government hostile to the chareidi community could seek to fundamentally change the educational institutions that have sustained Torah life for generations.

He cautioned that such efforts could affect not only yeshivos and kollelim, but also chederim, independent schools and seminaries.

According to Rav Hirsch, there are political forces that would welcome the opportunity to reshape the chareidi educational system and impose changes incompatible with the community’s religious principles.

The rosh yeshiva stressed that the danger is particularly serious because government authorities possess the ability to enact legislation and impose financial and administrative restrictions that could make it increasingly difficult for Torah institutions to operate independently.

Against that backdrop, Rav Hirsch addressed chareidi voters who have expressed disappointment or anger toward their elected representatives, particularly over the handling of the draft issue.

He acknowledged that individuals may have complaints about politicians and may feel that their representatives have failed to deliver the results they expected.

Nevertheless, he insisted that such grievances cannot become a justification for withholding support from the party designated by the Torah leadership.

Rav Hirsch emphasized that the election is not a referendum on the personal performance of individual politicians, but a decision with potentially far-reaching consequences for the preservation of Torah education and the independence of the chareidi community.

He warned that voters who abandon Degel HaTorah because of dissatisfaction with its representatives could inadvertently strengthen parties seeking to impose additional restrictions on the yeshiva world.

The rosh yeshiva also addressed the possibility of chareidi voters supporting other religious or right-wing parties, making clear that he considered such a decision unacceptable regardless of the political arguments offered in its favor.

He stressed that the guidance of the Torah leadership must determine how members of the community approach the election, rather than personal preferences or disappointment with political developments.

Rav Hirsch urged those present to recognize the seriousness of the moment and to ensure that every eligible voter participates in the election.

He also called upon yeshiva bochurim and other members of the community to encourage others to vote, emphasizing the importance of a strong turnout.

The address comes amid considerable uncertainty within the chareidi political establishment, with the military draft controversy creating tensions between voters and their representatives.

In recent months, the detention of yeshiva bochurim, financial sanctions affecting Torah institutions and the absence of a comprehensive legislative solution have contributed to growing frustration among segments of the chareidi public.

Some activists have argued that chareidi parties should face electoral consequences for failing to secure protections for full-time Torah learners.

Rav Hirsch’s remarks were aimed directly at that sentiment, warning that weakening the political representation of the Torah community could produce consequences far more serious than the grievances motivating such a protest.

With the election approaching, his message was that dissatisfaction with individual politicians must not be allowed to jeopardize the collective interests of the yeshiva world.

The gathering in Petach Tikvah was part of Degel HaTorah’s broader effort to mobilize voters and reinforce support for United Torah Judaism in the final days before the election.

{Matzav.com}

Iran is deliberately dragging out negotiations with the United States in an effort to weaken President Donald Trump politically ahead of the November 3 midterm elections, according to senior Iranian officials who acknowledged that Tehran’s leadership is determined to prevent the president from securing a diplomatic victory before Americans head to the polls.

The strategy was disclosed in interviews with Reuters published Tuesday, in which three senior Iranian officials and another individual familiar with the regime’s thinking described a calculated effort to prolong the current diplomatic stalemate, maintain pressure on Washington and exploit growing American dissatisfaction with the eight-month conflict.

At the same time, Iranian leaders are preparing for the possibility that the United States and Israel will resume military operations after the elections, believing that the current pause in major hostilities may prove temporary.

“Iran is preparing for renewed Israeli and US attacks, not for a deal with America to end the war,” one senior Iranian official told Reuters. “The clerical establishment is determined not to give Trump a political victory.”

The remarks offer an unusually direct acknowledgment that Tehran is factoring American domestic politics into its decisions regarding negotiations, military preparations and the future of the conflict.

Iranian officials believe Trump is eager to reach an agreement that could ease pressure on energy markets and demonstrate progress toward ending the war before voters decide control of Congress.

By withholding concessions and prolonging uncertainty, Tehran hopes to deny the administration that achievement while keeping economic pressure on the United States.

Tehran-based political analyst Saeed Leylaz openly described the strategy as an effort to affect the American political process.

“Iran is influencing the US election without taking any unlawful action,” Leylaz said.

The conflict, which began in February with American and Israeli strikes against Iran, has severely disrupted international energy markets, particularly shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important oil transportation routes.

Iranian attacks and threats against commercial vessels have reduced shipping through the strategic waterway, while an American naval blockade and international sanctions have sharply restricted Iran’s ability to export oil.

The resulting disruptions have contributed to higher energy prices and growing political pressure on the Trump administration, with American voters expressing dissatisfaction over the war and its economic consequences.

Despite the severe damage to its own economy, Iran’s leadership believes that maintaining the stalemate could yield political advantages.

The officials interviewed by Reuters indicated that Tehran sees little prospect of a diplomatic breakthrough before November 3, particularly because any agreement would require concessions that could strengthen Trump’s standing with American voters.

Washington has demanded that Iran’s nuclear program be addressed from the outset of negotiations, reflecting longstanding American and Israeli concerns about Tehran’s nuclear ambitions.

Iran, however, insists that the United States first meet a series of conditions outlined in a proposal transmitted through Qatari mediators.

Under the Iranian plan, Tehran would reopen the Strait of Hormuz within seven days, although the waterway would remain under Iranian control.

In exchange, Washington would be required to lift its maritime blockade, ease restrictions on Iranian oil exports, release frozen Iranian assets and bring hostilities to an end across the region.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said Sunday that the proposal remained available and that messages continued to pass between the two governments through intermediaries.

The United States has not accepted the terms, and Iranian officials have indicated that they have no intention of surrendering their leverage over the Strait of Hormuz without substantial American concessions.

The negotiations have also been complicated by Tehran’s deep distrust of Washington following repeated military confrontations.

Iranian officials pointed to the June 2025 Israeli strikes that disrupted planned nuclear negotiations in Oman, as well as the American and Israeli attacks launched in February shortly after another round of diplomatic discussions.

From Tehran’s perspective, those episodes reinforced concerns that negotiations could be used to buy time for military preparations rather than produce a lasting agreement.

The Iranian leadership now believes that even a negotiated settlement might not prevent another American or Israeli military campaign.

Trump has said that the United States will not resume bombing Iran before the November 3 elections, but Iranian officials told Reuters that they expect renewed attacks sooner or later.

Alex Vatanka, director of the Iran program at the Middle East Institute in Washington, said Tehran’s leadership believes the administration’s ultimate objectives extend beyond obtaining concessions on nuclear development and regional security.

“But the fundamental issue is that Tehran believes that Trump is interested in regime change … and following Israeli Prime Minister (Benjamin) Netanyahu’s policy of seeking to bring down Iran’s ruling establishment,” Vatanka said.

The possibility of renewed military action was also discussed during an unannounced visit to Israel Monday by U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.

According to three Israeli officials, Hegseth met with Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu to discuss Iran, with the visit taking place just one week before Israel’s own Knesset elections.

The Iranian strategy carries considerable risks for Tehran, whose economy has been devastated by the prolonged conflict and international restrictions.

Official Iranian figures showed annual inflation reaching 73.6% in September, while the country’s currency has lost nearly 35% of its value against the dollar since Washington reimposed its naval blockade in July.

Iranian oil exports have also collapsed. According to energy intelligence firm Vortexa, seaborne crude shipments fell to zero during the second week of September, compared with an average of approximately 230,000 barrels per day at the beginning of that month.

Exports remained at zero as of October 5, according to the firm’s data.

The economic deterioration follows months of domestic unrest, including antigovernment demonstrations that were violently suppressed by Iranian security forces earlier this year.

Nevertheless, Iranian officials appear convinced that making concessions to Washington would pose greater political and strategic risks than continuing the current confrontation.

Leylaz argued that the collapse of trust between the two countries has fundamentally changed the prospects for a diplomatic settlement.

“Reaching a sustainable deal with the US, even after the Trump administration, is no longer possible because of the deepened distrust,” he said. “Nothing will go back to the pre-war status quo.”

Neither the White House nor Iran’s Foreign Ministry responded to Reuters requests for comment on the officials’ account of Tehran’s negotiating strategy.

{Matzav.com}

In a significant medical first, doctors at Beilinson Hospital in Petach Tikvah have successfully implanted an innovative brain stimulation device in a 42-year-old woman suffering from epilepsy, using a new technique that allows electrical treatment of the brain without opening the skull or inserting electrodes directly into brain tissue.

The groundbreaking procedure, performed at the Clalit-operated hospital, marks the first use of the technology in Israel and the first implantation of its kind outside Europe. The device, known as EASEE, offers a potentially important treatment option for patients whose epileptic seizures cannot be adequately controlled with medication and who may not be suitable candidates for conventional brain surgery.

Unlike traditional surgical approaches to brain stimulation, which may require electrodes to be inserted into the brain, the EASEE system is positioned beneath the patient’s scalp but above the skull bone. From that location, it delivers carefully controlled electrical stimulation intended to reduce abnormal brain activity responsible for triggering seizures.

The first Israeli recipient of the device is Olga Moisa, 42, who has struggled with epilepsy for approximately 15 years after suffering a stroke.

Her condition had continued to affect her life despite years of treatment, prompting physicians to consider the newly available technology as another possible means of controlling her seizures.

The implantation was carried out on August 31, with physicians positioning the stimulation components over the region of the brain associated with her seizures. The system is connected to a battery-powered pulse generator implanted beneath the skin in the chest, which supplies the electrical impulses used in treatment.

Because the electrodes remain outside the skull, the procedure avoids the need to penetrate the brain itself, an important distinction from more invasive forms of neurostimulation.

In the days following the operation, Moisa’s family reported an encouraging early development: she had not experienced any epileptic seizures since the implantation.

Her son shared the news of the apparent improvement, although the medical team emphasized that the observation period was still far too short to establish whether the treatment would provide lasting seizure control.

The German-developed technology is intended primarily for patients with drug-resistant focal epilepsy, a form of the neurological disorder in which seizures originate in a particular region of the brain. Approximately one-third of people with epilepsy do not achieve adequate seizure control through medication alone, leaving many patients facing years of recurring attacks despite continued medical treatment.

For such patients, conventional treatment options can include surgery to remove the affected brain tissue or implanting electrodes within the skull to deliver electrical stimulation. However, these procedures are not appropriate for everyone, particularly when the location of the seizure-producing region makes surgery difficult or potentially dangerous.

The EASEE device, developed by German medical technology company Precisis, was designed to provide a less invasive alternative. Its name stands for Epicranial Application of Stimulation Electrodes for Epilepsy.

The system uses a thin electrode array positioned directly above the area where seizures originate. Although the electrodes do not touch the brain, the electrical impulses they deliver can influence the underlying neural activity, with the aim of reducing the frequency and severity of seizures.

The procedure generally takes approximately 60 to 90 minutes, and patients can often return home within a day or two. The device is typically activated several weeks after implantation, with specialists subsequently adjusting its settings according to the patient’s condition and response to treatment.

The technology has already undergone clinical testing in Europe, producing encouraging results among patients whose epilepsy had resisted conventional medication.

A study published in the medical journal JAMA Neurology examined 33 patients who received the device at specialized epilepsy centers in Germany and Belgium. Among the 32 patients evaluated after six months of stimulation, approximately 53% experienced a reduction of at least 50% in their seizure frequency. The median reduction in seizures across the group was 52%.

Researchers reported no serious adverse events attributed to the device or implantation procedure during the initial study period.

Additional findings published in the journal Epilepsia in 2025 provided evidence of longer-term benefits. Among 26 patients who continued treatment and supplied seizure records through the two-year follow-up, approximately 65% experienced a reduction of at least 50% in seizure frequency, while the median reduction reached 68%.

The researchers also reported improvements in patients’ health-related quality of life, without serious complications attributed to the implantation or stimulation during the follow-up period.

Nevertheless, the studies involved relatively small groups of patients and were conducted without randomized control groups, meaning additional research is necessary to establish the treatment’s effectiveness across a broader population.

The EASEE system received European regulatory certification in 2022 and has since been introduced at epilepsy treatment centers in several European countries, including Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Portugal, and the United Kingdom.

In August 2026, a British hospital reported its first implantation of the device in a 60-year-old woman who had experienced epilepsy since early childhood. The procedure was part of the technology’s expanding use within Britain’s National Health Service.

The technology is also moving toward clinical evaluation in the United States. In November 2025, Precisis announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration had authorized a pivotal clinical study to assess the system’s safety and effectiveness in American patients. The planned study is expected to enroll approximately 200 participants.

The introduction of the device at Beilinson represents another step in making the treatment available beyond the European medical centers where it was initially developed and tested.

For Moisa, the significance of the procedure is particularly personal. After approximately 15 years of living with epilepsy following her stroke, she now has access to a treatment designed to address the neurological activity responsible for her seizures without requiring surgery inside the skull.

Doctors will continue monitoring her condition to determine whether the initial encouraging results develop into sustained improvement. Because the treatment generally requires a period of activation, adjustment, and follow-up, the absence of seizures immediately after surgery cannot by itself establish that the device has successfully controlled her epilepsy.

The medical team hopes that, as experience with the technology grows, the procedure will become an additional option for other patients who have exhausted conventional treatments.

For now, the successful implantation at Beilinson marks an important expansion of epilepsy treatment in Israel, bringing a relatively new form of brain stimulation to patients who previously faced a much narrower range of medical options.

{Matzav.com}

A demolition operation targeting a bais hora’ah in Bnei Brak’s Shikun Hei neighborhood sparked a confrontation Tuesday morning, with reports that Rav Moshe Nidam, who heads the institution and oversees local kollelim, was injured during the incident and required medical treatment.

The demolition drew a sharp response from local rabbonim and public officials, including Rav Masoud Ben Shimon, the rav of Bnei Brak, who arrived at the scene and expressed anguish over the destruction of the Torah institution.

According to reports in the Israeli chareidi media, municipal demolition crews arrived at the location Tuesday morning to carry out the removal of the structure housing the bais hora’ah. The operation quickly became contentious as people associated with the institution gathered at the site.

During the confrontation, Rav Nidam was reportedly injured and subsequently received medical attention. The precise circumstances surrounding his injury, including who was responsible and how the incident unfolded, have not been independently established.

The incident attracted considerable attention in the neighborhood, where the institution serves as a center for halachic guidance and is associated with local Torah-learning activities.

According to additional reporting, the demolition began at approximately 8 a.m. on Levin Merisha Street, where inspectors and workers from Israel’s land-enforcement authority arrived accompanied by police officers. The authorities reportedly maintained that the structure had been built without the required permits.

The bais hora’ah had operated in the neighborhood for approximately 35 years, making its destruction particularly painful for residents who had relied on the institution for decades.

As the demolition began, dozens of mispallelim who had been davening Shacharis in a nearby bais medrash emerged to protest. Heated exchanges and pushing followed as the protesters confronted the enforcement personnel.

Footage circulated from the scene captured the tense atmosphere, with people shouting and repeatedly calling on others not to touch individuals involved in the confrontation.

Rav Masoud Ben Shimon arrived after delivering a shiur at a yeshiva and was visibly distressed by the destruction.

“How dare they lay hands on Rav Moshe, who establishes Torah learning?” he exclaimed.

The rav struggled to express his anguish over what had occurred.

“Hashem will see our suffering. It is difficult for me to speak. I am tired after delivering a shiur at the yeshiva,” he said.

He then drew a comparison to the account in Sefer Iyov, describing the reaction of Iyov’s friends when they witnessed his suffering.

“It says that after they came and saw the destruction, they remained silent. They could not speak. They could not open their mouths. That is exactly my situation now. I cannot speak,” Rav Ben Shimon said.

Despite his distress, he continued with a forceful condemnation of the demolition.

“We protest with all our strength. The honor of the Torah and the honor of Torah scholars will never forgive this,” he declared.

Rav Ben Shimon concluded his remarks with a tefillah for the rebuilding of the third Bais Hamikdosh.

Bnei Brak Deputy Mayor Shlomo Elharar, who heads the Shas faction on the City Council, also arrived at the site, accompanied by other Shas council members. The officials joined those protesting the demolition and participated in a gathering of tefillah at the location.

The incident comes amid intensified enforcement against structures built without permits in several Israeli municipalities, including religious buildings. Authorities have maintained that construction regulations apply to such structures, while community representatives have repeatedly protested the demolition of shuls and other Torah institutions.

In this case, the authorities’ reported position was that the building lacked the necessary construction permits. However, the specific history of the property, the legal proceedings preceding the demolition and whether alternative arrangements had been considered were not immediately clear.

The circumstances of Rav Nidam’s reported injury also remained under examination, with the available reports not establishing precisely how he was hurt or identifying the person responsible.

{Matzav.com}

Conservative radio host and outspoken supporter of President Donald Trump Sid Rosenberg unleashed a blistering attack on the Satmar community Tuesday, accusing its leadership of betraying the president and undermining Jewish interests by supporting New York Governor Kathy Hochul in her reelection campaign against Republican Bruce Blakeman.

In a furious post on X, Rosenberg singled out the Satmar Rebbe and longtime chassidic political activist Mr. Moshe Indig, arguing that neither should have been permitted to attend a recent meeting with Trump at the White House.

Rosenberg, who hosts the popular “Sid & Friends in the Morning” program on 77 WABC, went considerably further than criticizing the community’s political endorsement, accusing Satmar of regularly turning against fellow Jews and presenting a danger to New York’s future.

“So the Satmars are endorsing the wretched @GovKathyHochul! She’s running against a proud Pro Israel Jew in my friend @NassauExec! This is why Rabbi Teitelbaum and phony @RabbiIndigNY never should have been invited to the White House! @LauraLoomer and I did all we could to stop it but the President was duped! That community back stabs good Jews everyday and is a threat to the future of New York. —— Jews!” Rosenberg wrote.

The remarks followed Hochul’s high-profile visit Monday to Kiryas Yoel, where she received an elaborate welcome from more than 6,000 students at Satmar’s Bais Rochel girls’ schools and met privately with Rav Aharon Teitelbaum. The girls at the school held a lengthy chant in honor of Hochul as men of the community looked on from the stage.

The governor’s appearance came as Satmar leaders publicly backed her bid for another term, providing a potentially valuable source of support ahead of the November 3 gubernatorial election.

During the visit, Hochul was joined by Satmar communal figures, including Moshe Indig and Kiryas Yoel administrator Gedaliah Szegedin. The reception highlighted the close relationship that the governor has cultivated with chassidishe leadership, particularly regarding education funding and government assistance for private-school families.

Following her appearance in Kiryas Yoel, Hochul continued her campaign tour through Rockland County, visiting the Vizhnitzer community in Monsey and meeting with the Skverer Rebbe in New Square.

The governor’s outreach to chassidishe voters has become an increasingly prominent element of her reelection strategy as she faces Blakeman, the Jewish Nassau County executive who has made his support for Israel and opposition to antisemitism central themes of his campaign.

Rosenberg, a vocal advocate for Trump and a personal friend of Blakeman, has repeatedly promoted the Republican candidate on his radio program.

The radio host’s criticism also revived controversy surrounding a September meeting at the White House, when a delegation of chassidishe leaders met with Trump. Rosenberg and conservative activist Laura Loomer were among those who opposed the inclusion of certain chassidic leaders.

In Tuesday’s post, Rosenberg claimed that he and Loomer had attempted to prevent the White House meeting and asserted that Trump had been misled into welcoming the delegation.

Blakeman, meanwhile, has accused Hochul of failing to adequately confront antisemitism and has repeatedly criticized her political alliance with New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, whose positions on Israel have generated considerable opposition within the Jewish community.

During their October 13 gubernatorial debate, Blakeman sharply challenged Hochul over rising antisemitism and her relationship with Mamdani, arguing that Jewish New Yorkers face growing threats under Democratic leadership.

{Matzav.com}

A Queens man already facing manslaughter charges in the death of a Jewish woman has been indicted on hate-crime charges for allegedly vandalizing a kosher bagel shop displaying Israeli flags on two separate occasions, with prosecutors accusing him of deliberately targeting the establishment because of its Jewish ownership and support for Israel.

Dawood Faisal, 22, of Fresh Meadows, was arraigned Monday in Queens Supreme Court on an indictment charging him with two counts of third-degree criminal mischief as a hate crime. The charges stem from incidents in May at Bagels & Co., a kosher establishment on Union Turnpike in a heavily Jewish section of Queens.

Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced the indictment Monday, emphasizing that investigators believe Faisal’s actions were motivated by antisemitism.

“As alleged, Dawood Faisal, repeatedly targeted a Fresh Meadows business specifically because it is Jewish-owned and featured Israeli flags, and destroyed property as an expression of antisemitism. Bias crimes are an affront to our entire community and will not be tolerated.”

According to prosecutors, the first incident occurred on May 15 at approximately 6:18 p.m., when Faisal allegedly approached the shop and knocked over nine metal plant stands positioned outside the business.

The planters spilled dirt and plants across the sidewalk. Investigators allege that Faisal then gathered some of the debris and twice threw it toward the storefront, where Israeli flags and banners were prominently displayed.

Eight days later, on May 23, at approximately 1 a.m., Faisal allegedly returned to the same location and again began destroying the outdoor displays.

This time, prosecutors say, he pushed and kicked over 11 metal plant stands, spilling their contents onto the pavement. After emptying the planters, he allegedly attempted to knock over a large clay pot. When he was unable to overturn it, he pulled the plants out of the container.

The incidents prompted an investigation by the NYPD Hate Crimes Task Force, which worked with the Queens District Attorney’s Hate Crimes Bureau to identify the suspect and develop the case.

Faisal was initially arrested on the vandalism allegations on July 31 and charged in Queens Criminal Court. Monday’s development represents the formal indictment by a grand jury and his subsequent arraignment in Supreme Court.

If convicted of the most serious hate-crime charge, he faces up to seven years in prison.

The case has attracted additional attention because Faisal is also accused of causing a deadly traffic collision just two days after the second alleged attack on the bagel shop.

On May 25, prosecutors say Faisal was driving at more than 75 miles per hour along Francis Lewis Boulevard, where the posted speed limit is 35 miles per hour.

Authorities allege that he drove through two red lights before colliding with two vehicles, setting off a chain-reaction crash that propelled one of the cars into a crosswalk.

Standing in that crosswalk were 71-year-old Cara Trager, a journalist and member of the Queens Jewish community, and her husband, Michael.

Trager sustained fatal injuries, while her husband was also injured in the collision.

Prosecutors allege that Faisal fled the scene before subsequently crashing his own vehicle. Bystanders reportedly detained him until police arrived.

He was indicted in June on manslaughter, assault and related charges stemming from the crash and has remained in custody without bail in connection with that case.

The fatal collision and the alleged antisemitic vandalism are being prosecuted separately. Authorities have not charged the crash as a hate crime, and prosecutors have not established that Trager or her husband were deliberately targeted because they were Jewish.

Nevertheless, the fact that the same defendant is accused of vandalizing a Jewish-owned business shortly before the fatal collision has caused considerable distress within the local Jewish community.

Michael Trager has previously raised questions about whether the alleged vandalism and the circumstances surrounding his wife’s death warrant closer examination.

The incidents occurred in a section of Queens with a substantial Jewish population, where residents had already expressed concern about antisemitic incidents targeting Jewish businesses and institutions.

Following the vandalism at Bagels & Co., members of the Jewish community organized a show of support for the establishment, with hundreds of customers reportedly gathering outside the shop to demonstrate solidarity with its owners.

The case has also drawn attention from elected officials representing the neighborhood.

State Assemblyman David Weprin, whose district includes the bagel shop, welcomed the indictment and condemned the alleged targeting of the Jewish-owned establishment.

“This was yet another incident of antisemitism in Queens, and this indictment further demonstrates that we will never back down to hate,” Weprin said.

Queens Supreme Court Justice Michael Hartofilis ordered Faisal to return to court on November 12 in connection with the hate-crime indictment.

Faisal remains presumed innocent of all charges unless and until proven guilty in court.

{Matzav.com}

Vice President JD Vance believes President Donald Trump would throw his support behind him if he enters the 2028 presidential race, although he says he has neither reached a decision about seeking the White House nor discussed a possible endorsement with the president.

In an interview with journalist Mark Halperin that aired Monday evening, Vance addressed speculation about his political future and the possibility of succeeding Trump as the Republican Party’s presidential nominee.

“I really have not made up my mind about what to do in 2028. I just haven’t focused on it. We, you and I, have talked about that. Look, I think if I run, the president will endorse me,” Vance told Halperin.

Despite his confidence that Trump would support him, Vance acknowledged that the president might prefer to remain neutral during the early stages of a Republican primary, allowing prospective candidates to compete before making an endorsement.

“I think I would get his endorsement, but I also think there’s something to be said for people actually running their own race,” he said. “Because the president’s endorsement is so dispositive, you could absolutely see a scenario where the president says, ‘You know what? We need to let this race play out,’ and not like preemptively prejudge the results.”

Vance nevertheless maintained that, should he ultimately decide to seek the nomination, he expects Trump to support his candidacy.

“But my attitude is, if I run, I think the president would endorse me. But I also haven’t talked to him about it yet,” Vance said.

The vice president made similar observations during a separate conversation with Sean Spicer, who served as White House press secretary during Trump’s first administration. In that interview, Vance suggested that Trump’s endorsement would carry such enormous influence among Republican voters that it could effectively determine the outcome of the party’s presidential primary.

“Then the primary is over. Of course, I think whoever the president endorses will ultimately win the Republican primary,” Vance told Spicer when asked what would happen if Trump publicly backed him.

At the same time, Vance emphasized that securing the Republican nomination and winning the presidency are two separate challenges. He said that regardless of Trump’s influence within the GOP, the eventual nominee would still have to campaign nationally and convince voters that the Republican agenda deserves their support.

“Look, I think there’s a lot of value. There is a lot of value to going and making the best case that we can to the American people. Because while Donald Trump will ultimately decide who’s going to be the Republican nominee, you have a general election, 330 million Americans are going to decide who the president of the United States is,” Vance said.

Trump’s political influence has already played a decisive role in Vance’s career. During the 2022 Republican Senate primary in Ohio, Vance was struggling to gain momentum and was trailing rivals Mike Gibbons and Josh Mandel in polling. Trump’s endorsement shortly before the primary dramatically changed the dynamics of the contest, helping Vance secure the nomination and ultimately win election to the Senate.

The president has continued to demonstrate his ability to shape Republican primaries. Earlier this year, Trump backed Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in his Senate challenge against incumbent Republican Sen. John Cornyn. Paxton went on to secure the Republican nomination, providing another example of the influence Trump’s support carries among GOP voters.

Vance’s remarks come as speculation intensifies over who will inherit leadership of the Republican Party when Trump completes his second term. Although the vice president is widely regarded as a leading potential contender, Secretary of State Marco Rubio has also emerged as a possible successor, with reports indicating that some Trump advisers favor Rubio as the party’s next presidential nominee.

Trump has previously spoken favorably about both men, describing Vance and Rubio as a potential political “dream team,” but has stopped short of formally choosing a successor.

In his recent interview with Spicer, Vance also explained that family considerations would weigh heavily on any decision to pursue the presidency. The vice president, who has four young children, said he would need to determine whether a presidential campaign and the responsibilities of the office could be reconciled with his obligations at home.

For now, Vance says his immediate attention remains on the November midterm elections, where Republicans are battling to preserve their congressional majorities. He has indicated that he expects to give more serious consideration to his own political future after those elections conclude.

{Matzav.com}

Forty-two Chabad yeshiva bochurim returning to Eretz Yisroel after spending a year learning at 770 Eastern Parkway in Crown Heights were detained by Israeli military police at Ben Gurion Airport on Tuesday morning, in a major enforcement operation that has sparked outrage throughout the Chabad community and prompted intervention by senior rabbonim and government officials.

The bochurim, most of them approximately 19 or 20 years old, had just completed their year of kevutza, the longstanding Chabad program in which Israeli yeshiva students spend an extended period learning at the movement’s world headquarters in Brooklyn.

Their return home took an unexpected turn when military police, who had reportedly received advance information about the group’s arrival, were waiting at the airport to detain students whose military status had not been regularized.

Approximately 80 bochurim were aboard the flight from New York. Initial statements from Chabad representatives indicated that 25 students had been detained, but subsequent military reports placed the number at 42.

According to accounts from the scene, the bochurim were stopped at passport control, where their documents were examined and those identified as having unresolved military obligations were separated from the other passengers.

Some had their passports confiscated before being taken into military custody. Military authorities had arranged additional personnel and transportation in anticipation of the group’s arrival.

Families who had been waiting at the airport to welcome their sons home after more than a year abroad were left distressed as the bochurim were taken away without being permitted to reunite with their relatives.

The detained students were transported to the IDF induction center at Tel Hashomer for military proceedings, where they were offered the possibility of avoiding immediate imprisonment by agreeing to enlist.

According to an IDF statement issued later Tuesday, 27 of the 42 detained bochurim agreed before a military judge to enter military service. They were found fit for service, received suspended prison sentences and were permitted to return home pending the beginning of their enlistment process.

Another 13 students initially refused to agree to enlist and were sentenced to military imprisonment, according to the IDF’s account. Two additional bochurim, whose military authorities said had been evading service for more than 540 days, were transferred directly to military prison.

However, Chabad community reports subsequently indicated that intervention by askanim had secured the release of the 13 students who had initially refused enlistment, although they would still be required to appear before a military judge. According to those reports, two bochurim remained imprisoned.

The differing accounts reflect developments throughout the day as rabbonim, community representatives and government officials worked to resolve the situation.

The arrests have drawn particular attention because Chabad has historically maintained a separate understanding with Israeli military authorities regarding the enlistment of its yeshiva students.

Under the longstanding arrangement, bochurim were permitted to complete their yeshiva studies, including their year of kevutza in New York, before entering military service at a later stage.

Many Chabad chassidim subsequently enlisted in the IDF, and the arrangement was regarded within the community as an important accommodation allowing young men to complete their Torah studies before fulfilling military obligations.

However, changes to the legal framework governing yeshiva deferments disrupted the arrangement, leaving numerous Chabad bochurim without a clear mechanism for regularizing their military status.

Chabad representatives have reportedly submitted several proposals intended to restore an acceptable framework, but those efforts have not yet produced a new agreement.

In June, Defense Minister Yisrael Katz reportedly instructed military officials to develop an alternative arrangement after concerns emerged that eliminating the previous system could ultimately reduce enlistment among Chabad students.

The absence of a replacement has left returning bochurim vulnerable to detention, particularly when their unresolved military status is identified during passport inspections.

Following Tuesday’s arrests, the Beis Din Rabbonei Chabad issued a statement explaining that its members had been in contact with the relevant authorities even before the flight arrived.

“The members of the Beis Din are in direct contact with the various authorities through a special representative appointed for this purpose,” the statement said.

The rabbonim added that preparations had been made in coordination with the families and military officials in anticipation of possible difficulties when the students returned.

“The members of the Beis Din have been working in recent days, and continue working at this very hour, to ensure that the students receive humane treatment and, following the resolution of their status with the military authorities, are released as quickly as possible to their homes and families.”

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu addressed the arrests during an interview with Kol Barama radio Tuesday morning, describing the situation as unacceptable and warning that coercive measures could undermine efforts to resolve the chareidi draft controversy.

“We must preserve the world of Torah, because it is what preserved us,” Netanyahu declared.

Heritage Minister Amichai Eliyahu also sharply criticized the arrests, arguing that the enforcement operation would ultimately damage military recruitment rather than encourage it.

“The arrest of Chabad chassidim returning from a period of study in the United States was not intended to increase recruitment rates, but precisely the opposite,” Eliyahu said.

“Most Chabad chassidim enlist and share the burden. For years, they had a special enlistment track, until the judicial system cancelled it. Today’s arrests only harm recruitment and harm the charedim who do enlist.”

Eliyahu further alleged that senior legal officials had pressured the military to conduct arrests during the final week before Israel’s October 27 Knesset elections.

MK Meir Porush, who has been involved in efforts to resolve the status of Chabad yeshiva students, said he was working directly with military and defense officials following the detentions.

“I have worked in the past, and throughout the past year as well, to regulate the status of Chabad yeshiva bochurim. I am now in contact with officials in the IDF and Defense Ministry in an effort to assist the temimim who were arrested this morning at Ben Gurion Airport.”

The IDF defended its actions, maintaining that the bochurim were legally obligated to enlist and that military authorities were enforcing existing law.

“The Military Police routinely enforces the Defense Service Law, including at border crossings, in coordination with relevant authorities, including the Population and Immigration Authority,” the military said.

The IDF added that it would continue to enforce enlistment requirements equally and ensure compliance with the obligation to serve.

The arrests come amid an escalating confrontation over the military draft, with yeshiva bochurim increasingly facing detention when their unresolved status is discovered during encounters with police or border authorities.

The timing has intensified the controversy, coming exactly one week before Israel’s national elections and amid growing frustration within the chareidi community over the government’s failure to establish a lasting arrangement protecting full-time Torah learners.

For Chabad families, the immediate concern remains the fate of the bochurim still facing military proceedings and the possibility of further arrests as additional students return to Eretz Yisroel from their year of learning in Crown Heights.

{Matzav.com}

The Trump administration has canceled more than 300,000 visas issued to foreign nationals since President Donald Trump returned to the White House in January 2025, marking what the State Department describes as the most aggressive visa revocation campaign in American history.

State Department officials disclosed the new figures Tuesday, explaining that the administration has been systematically withdrawing visas from individuals implicated in criminal offenses, immigration fraud, public safety concerns, and activities deemed threatening to national security.

Among those affected are at least 4,000 foreign nationals whose visas were revoked over their involvement in so-called birth tourism, a practice in which individuals travel to the United States for the purpose of giving birth so their children can obtain American citizenship.

The administration says its enforcement campaign reflects a broader effort to ensure that foreign nationals who receive permission to enter the United States comply with American laws and immigration requirements.

“With over 300,000 revocations, the Trump administration has revoked more visas at a faster pace than any administration in history,” added State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott.

Pigott emphasized that the government intends to continue identifying visa holders whose conduct violates immigration rules or raises security concerns, warning that the administration will take additional action whenever necessary.

“Let the message be clear: we have zero tolerance for foreigners here on visas who break the law, commit fraud, or undermine our national security. We are taking, and will continue to take, action to keep our borders, and our nation, secure.”

The State Department did not immediately release a breakdown identifying the countries of origin of the individuals whose visas were canceled. Officials also did not specify how many of those affected were physically present in the United States when their visas were revoked.

The latest figures represent a significant increase from numbers released just weeks earlier. In September, the department reported that approximately 250,000 visas had been revoked since Trump began his second term, indicating that the total has since risen by at least 50,000.

The accelerating pace of enforcement has been particularly pronounced during 2026, as the administration has expanded its scrutiny of visa holders and applicants. By comparison, the State Department’s Bureau of Consular Affairs reviewed approximately 23,000 visa revocation cases during 2025, according to the figures cited in the report.

The department has also provided information about the types of criminal activity that contributed to visa cancellations last year.

Approximately 25% of the visas revoked in 2025 were associated with assault or related offenses, while 22% involved driving under the influence. Theft accounted for another 7%, and an additional 7% were linked to drug possession, substance abuse, or narcotics distribution.

These figures illustrate the administration’s emphasis on withdrawing immigration privileges from individuals whose conduct, according to federal officials, demonstrates that they should no longer be permitted to travel to the United States under previously issued visas.

{Matzav.com}

A group of prominent gedolei Torah has issued a joint public letter calling on the chareidi community to participate in the upcoming elections in Israel, warning that the outcome could have far-reaching consequences for the future of Torah institutions, yeshivos, and chareidi families.

The letter, titled “A Call to Klal Yisroel Regarding the Upcoming Elections,” bears the signatures of leading rabbonim and roshei yeshiva from across the chareidi community. It presents voting as a matter of communal responsibility, emphasizing that the political decisions made in the coming period could affect the ability of the Torah community to preserve its institutions and way of life.

The appeal comes amid considerable political tension surrounding the future of yeshiva bochurim, military conscription, and government policies affecting the chareidi population. Against that backdrop, the rabbonim stress the importance of maintaining political representation that operates under the guidance of Gedolei Yisroel.

“Throughout the generations, Klal Yisroel has stood firm in hard times by holding fast to Torah and to those who carry its banner. This responsibility falls on us,” the letter says.

The signatories describe the present political climate as one marked by developments that would previously have seemed unimaginable, and warn that the consequences of the upcoming elections will extend well beyond the immediate political contest.

“The past period has brought decisions affecting the chareidi community that none of us imagined we would see. The coming elections will shape the years ahead for our yeshivos, our mosdos, and our children,” the letter states.

The rabbonim go on to emphasize the significance of every individual vote, arguing that low turnout among chareidi voters could weaken the community’s political influence.

“This is not a time to stand on the side. Every vote adds strength to those who represent us faithfully, under the guidance of Gedolei Yisroel. Every vote that stays home weakens us, and in practice strengthens the left,” the letter declares.

The statement concludes with a direct appeal to eligible voters to take an active role in the election and encourage participation among members of their households.

“We turn to every man and woman eligible to vote: this is your achrayus and your zechus. Go out, bring your household, and vote,” the rabbonim write.

The letter carries the signatures of Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch, rosh yeshiva of Slabodka; Rav Avrohom Gurwicz, rosh yeshiva of Gateshead; Rav Yehoshua Eichenstein, rosh yeshiva of Yad Aharon; Rav Eliezer Yehuda Finkel, rosh yeshiva of Mir; Rav Elya Brudny, rosh yeshiva of Mir Brooklyn; Rav Yitzchok Sorotzkin, rosh yeshiva of Telz; Rav Yeruchem Olshin, rosh yeshiva of Bais Medrash Govoha; Rav Yitzchok Berkovits, rosh yeshiva of Aish HaTorah; and the two Novominsker Rebbes, Rav Yehoshua Perlow and Rav Yisroel Perlow.

The letter comes amid growing concern within United Torah Judaism over voter apathy and dissatisfaction among segments of the chareidi electorate. Some voters have expressed frustration with the party’s handling of the military draft controversy, while others have considered supporting alternative chareidi lists or abstaining altogether.

Those concerns have prompted an intensified effort by senior rabbonim and political representatives to reinforce support for the established chareidi parties ahead of the October 27 election.

Over the weekend, leading members of Degel HaTorah’s Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah gathered in Bnei Brak for an emergency election meeting, where speakers stressed the obligation to vote and warned against allowing political frustration to undermine the community’s representation in the Knesset.

Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch has also spoken forcefully against abstention or voting for competing parties, emphasizing the importance of supporting the political representatives operating under the direction of Gedolei Yisroel.

Meanwhile, support for United Torah Judaism has been reinforced by developments within the chassidishe community, including public endorsements from Belz and other groups. The party is seeking to consolidate its traditional electoral base during the final days of the campaign.

United Torah Judaism and Shas have also signed a surplus-vote agreement for the election, reflecting their continued cooperation on matters affecting Torah learning, yeshiva bochurim, and chareidi educational institutions.

{Matzav.com}

The attack on the Stoliner Rebbe by extremists in Beit Shemesh has sparked widespread outrage throughout the chareidi community, with two Israeli newspapers, Hamodia and Hamevaser, issuing unusually forceful condemnations of the incident and calling for action against those responsible.

The Rebbe was targeted while leaving a family simcha in Beit Shemesh, when a group of unruly young men reportedly confronted him and threw objects in his direction. The incident has prompted sharp criticism across the chareidi community, with the newspapers describing the attack as an intolerable violation of the honor due to gedolei Yisroel.

Hamodia devoted prominent coverage to the incident on its front page, publishing a report under the headline, “Shock, Revulsion and Condemnations Throughout the Entire Chareidi Community Following a Disgraceful Attack on One of the Greatest and Most Distinguished Rebbes.”

The newspaper described the confrontation as a deeply troubling incident that had generated condemnation from across the spectrum of chareidi Jewry.

Hamevaser adopted similarly strong language, running its coverage under the headline, “Outrage and Revulsion Throughout All Segments of Torah-Observing Jewry Following the Despicable Attack on the Stoliner Rebbe.”

Its report detailed how the Rebbe had traveled to Beit Shemesh to participate in a family celebration and was subjected to harassment by a group of reckless young men as he departed the venue.

The newspaper emphasized that the incident involved an affront to a revered leader who has devoted his life to spreading Torah and guiding his community.

Beyond its news coverage, Hamevaser published a sharply worded editorial under the headline, “Alas! How Much Longer?”

The editorial condemned individuals who claim to be acting on ideological or religious principles while resorting to violence and intimidation against rabbonim and rebbes.

“Chareidi Jewry, from one end of the spectrum to the other, is horrified and shaken,” the editorial declared.

The newspaper warned that such behavior reflects a disturbing deterioration in the moral and educational standards of those involved, particularly when young people attempt to justify acts of aggression in the name of Torah.

The editorial also criticized the broader atmosphere that allows such incidents to occur, questioning how individuals who profess allegiance to Torah values could engage in conduct that humiliates and endangers respected Torah leaders.

“How much longer must we endure the fists of the ignorant and those who possess excessive strength?” the editorial asked.

The newspaper called upon communal leaders and those responsible for educating the younger generation to confront the phenomenon and take meaningful steps to ensure that similar incidents do not recur.

Both Hamodia and Hamevaser stressed that the attack must not be viewed as an internal matter involving a particular chassidus. Rather, they characterized it as an offense against the dignity of Torah leadership that demands a response from the entire chareidi community.

The newspapers also called for those responsible to be held accountable, warning that allowing such behavior to pass without consequences would risk encouraging further acts of harassment and violence against rabbonim and rebbes.

{Matzav.com}

MK Yitzchok Goldknopf revealed Monday that the Gerer Rebbe has warned that a decline in United Torah Judaism’s electoral strength would constitute a chillul Hashem, underscoring the importance the Rebbe places on maintaining the political representation of the chareidi community in the upcoming Knesset elections.

Goldknopf made the remarks during a meeting with representatives of Ger serving in local municipalities, as preparations intensify for Israel’s October 27 election.

“The Ger Rebbe told me that if United Torah Judaism loses strength, it will be a chillul Hashem,” Goldknopf told the gathering, according to the Hebrew report.

The statement comes just days after the Ger Rebbe issued a personal appeal to his chassidim to participate in the election and cast their ballots for United Torah Judaism, bringing an apparent end to weeks of uncertainty over whether Ger would mobilize its substantial voting base.

In a message published in Hamodia on Sunday, the Rebbe called upon members of the chassidus to support the party, whose ballot symbol is the Hebrew letter gimmel.

“As the elections approach, I hereby ask all members of our community to vote for the United Torah Judaism and Shabbos list, whose symbol is Gimmel, Agudas Yisroel,” the Rebbe wrote, according to a translation of the Hebrew announcement.

The Rebbe concluded his message with a bracha that the participation of his chassidim should lead to an increase in kavod Shomayim.

The public endorsement represented a significant development following a period of strained relations between Ger and other factions within United Torah Judaism, particularly Degel HaTorah.

The dispute centered largely on the ongoing battle over the military draft of yeshiva bochurim and avreichim. Ger had taken a more confrontational position toward the government over the failure to advance legislation protecting the status of bnei yeshiva, while other elements within the chareidi political leadership favored a different approach.

The disagreement had become so serious that concerns arose within United Torah Judaism that Ger might refrain from actively encouraging its chassidim to vote, potentially depriving the party of tens of thousands of ballots.

Political reports suggested that the chassidus accounts for approximately 30,000 votes, making its participation an important consideration for United Torah Judaism.

The uncertainty intensified last week amid reports of disagreements involving Goldknopf, Degel HaTorah representatives, and other senior figures within Agudas Yisroel.

Efforts to resolve the dispute included a lengthy meeting Thursday between United Torah Judaism chairman MK Yaakov Asher and Goldknopf, during which the two sought to address the outstanding differences and restore cooperation ahead of Election Day.

Further discussions followed, and by Motzoei Shabbos, an agreement had reportedly been reached that paved the way for the Rebbe’s public appeal.

{Matzav.com}

Federal agents descended on multiple locations across New York City on Tuesday morning, including at least two sites in Boro Park, Brooklyn, as part of a sweeping investigation into suspected healthcare fraud. The coordinated law enforcement activity comes on the same day that President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance are preparing to announce a new $25 million federal program offering financial rewards to individuals who help expose fraud involving taxpayer funds.

The FBI confirmed that agents, working alongside other federal and local law enforcement agencies, were carrying out operations in Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island, and additional locations throughout New York City. Federal law enforcement sources told CBS News New York that the searches were connected to an investigation involving alleged healthcare fraud.

In Boro Park, one of the locations targeted was near the intersection of Fort Hamilton Parkway and 51st Street. Federal authorities also conducted an operation at a storefront on Eighth Avenue near 41st Street, where video footage showed at least eight law enforcement personnel at the scene.

Some of the agents were wearing jackets identifying them as members of Homeland Security Investigations, the investigative division of the Department of Homeland Security. The operation involved multiple agencies working together to execute federal search warrants.

“FBI New York, along with multiple other law enforcement agencies are conducting law enforcement activity in the area of Queens, Staten Island, Brooklyn, and other locations around New York City in connection with ongoing federal investigations,” a spokesperson said.

Although federal sources identified healthcare fraud as the focus of the searches, authorities have not publicly identified the individuals or businesses suspected of wrongdoing, disclosed the amount of money potentially involved, or announced whether anyone has been taken into custody.

It also remains unclear whether all the locations searched Tuesday are connected to a single investigation or whether the operations involve several separate cases.

The raids unfolded against the backdrop of an intensified nationwide effort by the Trump administration to combat fraud in government-funded programs, particularly those involving healthcare, Medicaid, Medicare, and other federal benefits.

In Washington, President Trump and Vice President Vance are scheduled to appear together in the Oval Office Tuesday afternoon to formally introduce the Fraud Whistleblower Incentive Program, known as WHIP.

The new initiative will establish a $25 million fund to reward individuals who provide information leading to successful prosecutions or significant federal enforcement actions involving fraud against the government.

Under the program, whistleblowers may qualify for payments of up to $30,000 if their tips result in a fraud conviction or another major enforcement action. The Justice Department will oversee the initiative, with members of the public directed to submit information through the federal government’s fraud.gov website.

The administration says the initiative is intended to encourage ordinary Americans, independent investigators, and others with knowledge of fraudulent activity to come forward with information that could help federal authorities identify and prosecute individuals stealing taxpayer money.

White House spokesperson Lauren Bis described the program as another component of the administration’s aggressive campaign against the misuse of federal funds.

“Every day, President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud is zeroing in on the rampant abuse of taxpayer dollars and giving Americans the accountability they deserve. This administration has zero tolerance for individuals who steal from Americans,” Bis said.

The president is also expected to recognize independent journalist and YouTube personality Nick Shirley during Tuesday’s Oval Office event, presenting him with a $10,000 check for his investigative work highlighting suspected fraud involving government-funded childcare programs in Minnesota.

Shirley attracted national attention in December 2025 after releasing a widely circulated video examining childcare facilities operated by members of Minnesota’s Somali community. His reporting raised questions about whether certain facilities were legitimately providing services while collecting substantial amounts of taxpayer funding.

Some of Shirley’s allegations were disputed, and state inspectors reported that facilities they examined were operating as expected. However, federal investigations into fraud involving Minnesota childcare and nutrition programs have also resulted in criminal charges and convictions.

Among those prosecuted was Fahima Egeh Mahamud, the former head of a Minnesota childcare facility featured in Shirley’s reporting. Mahamud pleaded guilty in July to federal wire fraud and conspiracy charges connected to fraudulent reimbursement claims.

According to federal prosecutors, Mahamud was involved in schemes that included millions of dollars in improper childcare assistance claims and hundreds of thousands of dollars in fraudulent federal nutrition program reimbursements.

The White House has pointed to Shirley’s work as an example of how independent reporting and information supplied by members of the public can help draw attention to suspected abuses of government programs.

The whistleblower initiative follows the creation of Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud in March, with Vance appointed to lead the administration-wide effort.

Since its establishment, the task force has focused on identifying improper payments, strengthening eligibility verification procedures, and investigating suspected fraud across multiple federal assistance programs.

Among the measures announced by the administration are reviews of hundreds of thousands of Affordable Care Act enrollments, restrictions on certain Medicaid reimbursements, and enforcement actions involving Medicare providers suspected of improper billing.

Last month, Vance announced that approximately 750,000 Affordable Care Act enrollments would be terminated because of suspected fraudulent or improper enrollment, with an additional 450,000 cases placed under review.

Federal authorities have also intensified scrutiny of medical equipment suppliers, hospice providers, and other healthcare businesses receiving payments through government-funded insurance programs.

The Justice Department has made healthcare fraud a major enforcement priority. According to federal figures released Tuesday, its healthcare fraud strike forces have charged more than 6,200 defendants since 2007 in cases involving over $45 billion in alleged fraudulent billings to federal healthcare programs and private insurers.

{Matzav.com}

Israel’s Ashkenazic Chief Rabbi, Rav Kalman Ber, held a meeting with representatives of Mishmeres HaShabbos to discuss the halachic challenges posed by modern technology and the growing need to ensure that new electrical and electronic systems comply with the requirements of Shabbos.

The meeting focused on the work of Mishmeres HaShabbos, an organization dedicated to examining technological developments and identifying potential problems that can arise when electronic equipment and automated systems are used on Shabbos.

The delegation was headed by Rav Eliyahu Beifus, chairman of Mishmeres HaShabbos, and included Rav Shmuel Yosef Shtitzberg and Rav Eli Friedman. Rav Rafael Frank, secretary of the Chief Rabbinate Council, also participated in the meeting.

Rav Ber welcomed the delegation and praised the organization’s efforts to address technological developments that could lead to inadvertent Shabbos violations.

“This is holy work,” Rav Ber told the visitors. “And observing Shabbos will certainly protect and benefit the Jewish people and bring them many merits.”

Representatives of Mishmeres HaShabbos explained that modern construction has introduced a range of sophisticated computerized systems into residential buildings, many of which operate automatically through sensors and digital controls.

They noted that residents of newly constructed apartment buildings may unknowingly activate electronic equipment simply by performing ordinary activities, including opening a faucet, entering a lobby, walking through a stairwell, or using a building’s garbage disposal facilities.

Among the systems discussed were electronically controlled water pumps, digital water meters, motion-activated lighting, electronic entrance doors, intercom systems, and sensors installed in garbage chutes.

The representatives explained that these technologies are particularly common in high-rise residential buildings, where computerized systems are increasingly integrated into the building’s basic infrastructure.

According to the organization, growing awareness of the problem has prompted numerous construction companies, including some of Israel’s leading real estate developers, to seek halachic guidance before installing these systems.

Rav Shtitzberg described the many inquiries received from residents throughout Eretz Yisroel and discussed technological solutions developed by Mishmeres HaShabbos in cooperation with manufacturers and engineering companies.

He emphasized that the most effective approach is to address potential Shabbos problems while a building is still being designed.

When halachic supervision is incorporated into the original construction plans and included in agreements with developers, the necessary systems can be installed in a manner compatible with Shabbos observance.

Attempting to modify computerized equipment after residents have already moved into a building, he explained, is considerably more complicated and expensive.

During the discussion, Rav Ber raised an additional issue involving the use of modern technology in commercial kashrus supervision.

The chief rabbi suggested examining whether remotely controlled cooking systems could help address the halachic requirements of bishul akum, particularly in large commercial kitchens where non-Jewish employees prepare food.

Hotels, institutional kitchens, and catering facilities frequently employ non-Jewish cooking staff, creating a need for appropriate Jewish participation in the cooking process under the applicable halachic standards.

Rav Ber proposed exploring a supervised technological system that would allow a Jewish mashgiach to activate cooking equipment remotely.

Such a system, if found halachically acceptable, could potentially provide another option for kashrus agencies overseeing large kitchens.

The proposal would require a detailed examination of the technology and the relevant halachic considerations before any system could receive approval.

Following the discussion, Rav Ber requested that Mishmeres HaShabbos prepare a comprehensive memorandum for consideration by the Chief Rabbinate Council.

The proposed document would address the need for halachic oversight of computerized equipment in newly constructed high-rise buildings, as well as electronic systems installed in shuls and mikvaos.

Modern mikvaos and shuls increasingly rely on computerized heating, filtration, pumping, and monitoring equipment, raising questions about their operation on Shabbos.

The memorandum would outline the areas requiring supervision, including digital water meters, pumps, electronic sensors, and computerized control systems.

The document is expected to be submitted for review and, subject to approval, published under the auspices of the Chief Rabbinate.

At the conclusion of the meeting, Rav Ariel Cohen, director-general of Mishmeres HaShabbos, expressed appreciation for the chief rabbi’s encouragement and his interest in expanding the organization’s work.

“We had the privilege of presenting to Chief Rabbi Rav Kalman Ber the organization’s extensive activities and the new halachic questions brought about by technological development,” Rav Cohen said.

“We received substantial and practical encouragement, both in the field of construction and in developing additional solutions, such as in the field of kashrus and similar areas.”

Rav Cohen said the organization has already begun advancing the matters discussed during the meeting, with particular emphasis on increasing awareness of the importance of halachic supervision before new technologies are installed.

“We are already working to advance the issues raised at the meeting, with the aim of expanding awareness of the need for early halachic supervision and ensuring that modern systems are adapted to the requirements of halacha before they are put into use,” he said.

“With Hashem’s help, we will soon be able to bring the public additional developments that will assist in properly observing Shabbos and enhancing its observance.”

{Matzav.com}

An unusual gathering involving approximately 300 supporters of the Toldos Avrohom Yitzchok chassidus took place in northern Eretz Yisroel, with participants arriving from the United States for a special event attended by the Toldos Avrohom Yitzchok Rebbe at Kever Choni Hame’agel in Chatzor Haglilis.

The event attracted attention because of its elaborate travel arrangements, which included a private helicopter flight from Ben Gurion Airport to the northern part of the country, allowing the visiting supporters to reach the gathering without the lengthy drive from the airport.

The gathering brought together American donors and supporters of the chassidus for an occasion centered on the Rebbe and the historic kever of Choni Hame’agel, the renowned Tanna whose tefillos for rain are recorded in the Gemara.

The gathering, known as Vaharikosi, was organized as part of a major fundraising campaign to complete the construction and renovation of the Toldos Avrohom Yitzchok central bais medrash in Meah Shearim, Yerushalayim.

Approximately 300 chassidim and supporters who had contributed substantial sums toward the building project were invited to participate in the event, which took place on 7 Cheshvan, a date associated with the beginning of the request for rain in Eretz Yisroel.

The Rebbe personally traveled to Chatzor Haglilis despite reported health difficulties and the considerable demands of the journey. His arrival was greeted with singing and considerable excitement among the assembled chassidim.

During the gathering, the Rebbe addressed those present, offering words of chizuk and brachos to the supporters who had undertaken major commitments toward the completion of the bais medrash.

A special address was delivered by Rav Yehuda Deutsch, a prominent mashpia, who spoke about the significance of the day and the location, preparing the participants for the central portion of the gathering.

Among the leading supporters were R’ Shmili Horowitz and R’ Shemaya Reich, two major American donors to the building fund, who arrived at Ben Gurion Airport at approximately 5:30 p.m.

Because of the timing of their arrival, special arrangements were made for a private helicopter to transport the two men directly from the airport to Chatzor Haglilis.

The helicopter landed near the site of the gathering, where the Rebbe and hundreds of supporters were waiting.

The two donors subsequently presented the Rebbe with substantial financial commitments toward the completion of the central bais medrash.

One of the most memorable moments occurred when the Rebbe, while remaining seated, participated in a special dance with the two American supporters, holding their hands as the assembled chassidim sang.

The moment recalled a similar occasion on Rosh Hashanah, when the same two donors had participated in a special dance with the Rebbe.

At the conclusion of the gathering, the Rebbe personally distributed a special kameia to each of the approximately 300 supporters in recognition of their contributions to the building project.

The kameios were presented as a segulah for protection, health, livelihood, and success, accompanied by the Rebbe’s brachos.

The event also included an unusual development involving Rav Yehuda Deutsch, who was in the middle of the sheva brachos celebrations for his son’s wedding.

Having traveled north to participate in the gathering, Rav Deutsch needed to return to Yerushalayim in time for the main sheva brachos celebration scheduled for that evening.

The two American donors offered him a seat aboard their helicopter for the return journey, allowing him to avoid the lengthy drive south.

Rav Deutsch accompanied them on the helicopter flight back toward central Eretz Yisroel and was able to reach the sheva brachos celebration in Yerushalayim on time.

The elaborate gathering was coordinated by Impact Productions as part of the chassidus’s fundraising efforts to complete its central bais medrash in Meah Shearim.

ה הרבי מתוא”י בחוני המעגלצילום: שוקי לרר הרבי מתוא”י בחוני המעגלצילום: שוקי לרר הרבי מתוא”י בחוני המעגלצילום: שוקי לר הרבי מתוא”י בחוני המעגלצילום: שוקי לרר הרבי מתוא”י בחוני המעגלצילום: שוקי לרר הרבי מתוא”י בחוני המעגלצילום: שוקי לרר הרבי מתוא”י בחוני המעגלצילום: שוקי לרר הרבי מתוא”י בחוני המעגלצילום: שוקי לרר הרבי מתוא”י בחוני המעגלצילום: שוקי לרר הרבי מתוא”י בחוני המעגלצילום: שוקי לרר הרבי מתוא”י בחוני המעגלצילום: שוקי לרר הרבי מתוא”י בחוני המעגלצילום: שוקי לרר הרבי מתוא”י בחוני המעגלצילום: שוקי לרר הרבי מתוא”י בחוני המעגלצילום: שוקי לרר הרבי מתוא”י בחוני המעגלצילום: שוקי לרר הרבי מתוא”י בחוני המעגלצילום: שוקי לרר הרבי מתוא”י בחוני המעגלצילום: שוקי לרר הרבי מתוא”י בחוני המעגלצילום: שוקי לרר הרבי מתוא”י בחוני המעגלצילום: שוקי לרר הרבי מתוא”י בחוני המעגלצילום: שוקי לרר הרבי מתוא”י בחוני המעגלצילום: שוקי לרר הרבי מתוא”י בחוני המעגלצילום: שוקי לרר הרבי מתוא”י בחוני המעגלצילום: שוקי לרר הרבי מתוא”י בחוני המעגלצילום: שוקי לרר הרבי מתוא”י בחוני המעגלצילום: שוקי לרר הרבי מתוא”י בחוני המעגלצילום: שוקי לרר הרבי מתוא”י בחוני המעגלצילום: שוקי לרר הרבי מתוא”י בחוני המעגלצילום: שוקי לרר הרבי מתוא”י בחוני המעגלצילום: שוקי לרר הרבי מתוא”י בחוני המעגלצילום: שוקי לרר הרבי מתוא”י בחוני המעגלצילום: שוקי לרר הרבי מתוא”י בחוני המעגלצילום: שוקי לרר הרבי מתוא”י בחוני המעגלצילום: שוקי לרר הרבי מתוא”י בחוני המעגלצילום: שוקי לרר הרבי מתוא”י בחוני המעגלצילום: שוקי לרר

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הרבי מתוא”י בחוני המעגלצילום: שוקי לרר

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הרבי מתוא”י בחוני המעגלצילום: שוקי לרר

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הרבי מתוא”י בחוני המעגלצילום: שוקי לרר

הרבי מתוא”י בחוני המעגלצילום: שוקי לרר הרבי מתוא”י בחוני המעגלצילום: שוקי לרר הרבי מתוא”י בחוני המעגלצילום: שוקי לרר הרבי מתוא”י בחוני המעגלצילום: שוקי לרר הרבי מתוא”י בחוני המעגלצילום: שוקי לרר הרבי מתוא”י בחוני המעגלצילום: שוקי לרר הרבי מתוא”י בחוני המעגלצילום: שוקי לרר הרבי מתוא”י בחוני המעגלצילום: שוקי לרר הרבי מתוא”י בחוני המעגלצילום: שוקי לרר הרבי מתוא”י בחוני המעגלצילום: שוקי לרר

{Matzav.com}

Shas MK Michael Malkieli has issued a sharp warning to chareidi voters ahead of Israel’s October 27 elections, declaring that staying home or supporting parties unlikely to enter the Knesset could help bring to power politicians seeking to undermine Torah institutions, religious education, and the Jewish character of the state.

In an interview with Kol Chai Radio, Malkieli singled out Yair Golan, Yair Lapid, Avigdor Lieberman, and Naftali Bennett, arguing that a decline in chareidi voter turnout could have far-reaching consequences.

“When Yair Golan talks about dismantling haredi society and removing religion from the public sphere, he is counting precisely on that bitter haredi voter who decides to stay home or vote for a fringe party that will not cross the electoral threshold,” Malkieli declared.

“Every wasted vote weakens the faith-based camp and actively hands power to Golan, Lapid, Liberman, and Bennett. This is not merely a political statement, but a direct struggle over the very identity of the Jewish state and the honor of Heaven.”

Malkieli argued that chareidi voters who are frustrated by the failure to resolve the military draft crisis must consider what could happen if parties hostile to the chareidi community gain control of the government.

He pointed to the previous government’s efforts to change Israel’s kashrus system and Chief Rabbinate as examples of policies that could return under a different coalition.

“Unlike us, when the left comes to power, it has no legal advisers bothering it and no petitions to the Supreme Court blocking it,” Malkieli said. “We saw what happened when there was a Religious Affairs Minister who sought to dismantle the kashrut system and the Chief Rabbinate. Those measures went through quickly.”

He also warned that the next government will have considerable influence over Israel’s judicial and legal establishment through a series of senior appointments.

“During the next term, extremely consequential appointments will be made: Supreme Court justices, the Attorney General, the State Attorney, and the State Comptroller,” Malkieli said.

“If we abandon the arena, the haredi public will suffer from appointments that will shape the country in a disconnected spirit for the next 30 years.”

The Shas lawmaker said the potential consequences extend well beyond political appointments, warning that a left-wing government could target the independence of chareidi educational institutions.

“They do not intend to stop at the large educational networks, but to reach even the exemption institutions and the most traditional Torah education,” Malkieli warned.

“Within a short time, we could find ourselves fighting for the very right to study Torah.”

Malkieli acknowledged that the chareidi parties have not succeeded in securing a comprehensive solution to the legal status of yeshiva bochurim and avreichim, a failure that has generated considerable dissatisfaction among voters.

Nevertheless, he insisted that withdrawing from the political process would only make matters worse.

“Despite the complexities and the fact that the issue of regulating the status of yeshiva students has not yet been fully resolved, our obligation now is not to sit with folded arms, but to influence traditional voters in the periphery and ensure strong Torah representation that will protect the sacred institutions of Israel,” he said.

In a separate interview Monday evening with broadcaster Avi Mimran, Malkieli reiterated that Shas intends to support a right-wing government headed by Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, while demanding that the legal status of those learning Torah be addressed as a central condition in coalition negotiations.

He also rejected claims that Shas operates without the guidance of its rabbinical leadership, pointing to the involvement of Rav Yitzchok Yosef and members of the Shas Moetzes Chachmei HaTorah in the party’s election campaign.

{Matzav.com}

A disturbing incident involving a yeshiva bochur arrested over his failure to enlist in the IDF has sparked outrage in Eretz Yisroel after he was brought to a hospital emergency room with his hands and feet shackled, despite being in custody over a military draft violation rather than a violent offense.

The incident occurred at Hillel Yaffe Medical Center in Hadera, where the bochur was escorted by military personnel while restrained with handcuffs and leg irons. Photographs of the young man sitting in the hospital while shackled circulated widely Monday, prompting sharp criticism of the treatment being given to yeshiva students arrested amid the ongoing confrontation over chareidi military conscription.

According to a report by Channel 14 journalist Yehuda Aharoni, the incident came to light after another person waiting in the emergency room noticed the bochur being brought inside under guard.

The witness described his astonishment at seeing a visibly chareidi young man restrained in a manner generally associated with dangerous criminal suspects.

“I see a yeshiva bochur coming in, handcuffed at his hands and feet, as though he were the worst criminal,” the witness recounted.

The man said he managed to speak briefly with the bochur while they were sitting near one another, quietly asking why he had been arrested.

According to the witness, the young man explained that his arrest was connected to his status as a yeshiva student who had not reported for military service.

“He tells me that his only crime is that he learns Torah,” the witness said.

The bochur reportedly resides in Kiryat Malachi, although the witness was unable to determine which yeshiva he attends.

The conversation was cut short when the personnel accompanying the detainee noticed the exchange and moved him to another location in the hospital.

The witness said that even an Arab individual who observed the scene appeared taken aback by the sight of the handcuffed bochur and offered him words of encouragement.

“Be strong. They’re arresting you only because you learn Torah. Kol hakavod,” the man reportedly told the detainee.

The account drew considerable attention in the chareidi community, particularly because of the contrast between the nature of the alleged offense and the extensive physical restraints used while the bochur was receiving medical attention.

According to the IDF, the bochur had been taken into custody the previous Friday at the Taba border crossing, where he allegedly attempted to leave Eretz Yisroel despite an active order prohibiting his departure from the country because of his unresolved military draft status.

Following his arrest by military police, he was transferred to a military detention facility. The army said the young man requested medical attention upon arriving at the facility and was subsequently examined. Medical personnel then determined that he should be transported to the emergency department at Hillel Yaffe Medical Center.

Responding to the controversy, the IDF defended the use of restraints, maintaining that the decision had been made in accordance with established procedures and security assessments.

“The shackling was carried out in accordance with regulations, based solely on a professional decision. Security measures are determined according to the professional considerations of the detention authorities, in order to ensure the safety of the detainee and those around him,” the IDF said in a statement translated from Hebrew.

The military did not publicly identify any specific threat posed by the bochur that necessitated restraining both his hands and feet during his hospital visit.

The incident prompted the human rights organization B’Tsalmo to intervene, with its director, Shai Glick, sending an urgent letter to Defense Minister Yisrael Katz, IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir, and senior military legal officials.

Glick demanded the immediate removal of the restraints and an investigation into the decision to transport and hold the bochur in the hospital while shackled.

In his letter, Glick described the incident as “cruel, humiliating and disproportionate conduct that constitutes a severe violation of the detainee’s fundamental rights and human dignity.”

He argued that the young man was being held over a military service issue and had not been accused of violence or any offense that would ordinarily warrant such extraordinary security measures.

“This is a yeshiva student who is not a criminal offender, is not accused of violent crimes, does not endanger human life, and there is no reasonable basis to fear that he would attempt to escape while lying in a hospital and requiring medical treatment,” Glick wrote.

B’Tsalmo maintained that restraining a patient with both handcuffs and leg irons should be reserved for exceptional circumstances involving serious security risks. The organization warned that the treatment of the bochur raised concerns about possible abuse of authority.

The organization called for disciplinary action against those responsible if an investigation establishes that the restraints were unjustified. It also demanded clear instructions to prevent similar incidents involving other detainees.

“If this grave injustice is not corrected immediately, we will not hesitate to act through all the legal and public means available to us,” Glick warned.

Copies of the letter were forwarded to chareidi Knesset members, the Israel Medical Association, the Knesset Health Committee, and the office of the health minister.

The Israel Medical Association’s ethical guidelines state that detainees and prisoners should ordinarily receive medical treatment without restraints and that shackling in a medical setting should be employed only when less restrictive alternatives are insufficient.

{Matzav.com}

[COMMUNICATED]

The Twin Miracles of Flatbush Shas Yiden!

In a recent derashah—a snippet of which went viral around the world—the renowned mashpiah, Rav Meilich Biderman, shlit”a, shared a remarkable story that transpired recently in Flatbush which attests to the power of partnering with Shas Yiden in sponsoring siyumim.

Every month, Shas Yiden’s remarkable talmidei chachamim celebrate multiple siyumim on the masechtos that they mastered that month, milestones on their monumental journey of mastering Shas, Rav Biderman explained as he told the miraculous story that transpired at the Flatbush Shas Yiden Kollel over the last few months:

For years, the Rebbetzin of the Rosh Kollel had prepared the fish and challahs for the monthly siyumim. It had become her personal zechus, a quiet act of hakaras hatov and participation in the simchas haTorah taking place each month.

At one particular siyum, a yungerman approached the Rosh Kollel with a request. His sister was an older single who was desperately waiting for her shidduch. Could she acquire the zechus of preparing the fish and challos at the siyum?

The Rosh Kollel explained that this was traditionally the Rebbetzin’s zechus, but when he presented the request, she readily agreed—but then an unexpected complication arose.

This yungerman had another sister who was also waiting for a yeshuah of her own: She had been married for five years and was still waiting for children.

How could he choose between them?

They decided to divide the zechus. One sister would receive the zechus of the fish, and the other the zechus of the challos.

And then, in Rav Meilich’s words, “Rabbosai, the yeshuah came immediately!”

The very next day, a shidduch was suggested for the first sister, and within a week, she was a kallah!

And exactly nine months later, the second sister gave birth to a baby boy.

Two sisters. Two different yeshuos. Both connected to one siyum.

We cannot predict how or when Hashem will answer a person’s tefillos. But stories like this remind us of the immeasurable power of Torah and the extraordinary privilege of becoming a partner in it.

The extraordinary talmidei chachamim of Shas Yiden around the world invest their entire essence into mastering Torah. They acquire Torah one masechta at a time, celebrating siyum after siyum—bringing so much nachas to Hakadosh Baruch Hu.

There is a place for each of us in that accomplishment!

Sponsoring a monthly siyum is essentially taking part in the simchas haTorah, strengthening those who devote themselves to mastering Shas, and attaching oneself and one’s family to the eternal zechus of Torah.

Perhaps that is why Rav Meilich began and ended his story with the words: “Sichu b’chol nifl’osav, speak of Hashem’s wonders!” Tell the stories. Speak about the wonders. Recognize the extraordinary zechus that Hashem gives us.

Sponsor a Shas Yidden siyum! Become a partner in Torah. And the zechus of Torah will surely bring yeshuos and berachos to you and your family.

https://shasyiden.com/donate

Israel’s Tax Authority is renewing its push to eliminate the country’s 200-shekel banknote, arguing that restricting cash transactions could generate tens of billions of shekels in additional tax revenue annually and spare Israelis from substantial tax increases in the coming years.

Speaking Monday at the annual conference of tax advisers in Eilat, Israel Tax Authority Director Shay Aharonovich warned that the government faces an increasingly severe financial situation, with enormous defense expenditures and continued military operations threatening to force painful economic measures in 2027 and 2028.

According to a report by Ynet, Aharonovich said that eliminating cash transactions altogether could bring the government an additional 20 billion to 30 billion shekels annually in tax collections by combating unreported income and illegal financial activity.

“I am stating here in the clearest possible terms that if we eliminate the use of cash in Israel tomorrow, it could generate an additional 20 to 30 billion shekels in annual tax revenue and prevent other painful measures,” Aharonovich declared. “But the Bank of Israel opposes it.”

The proposal to discontinue the 200-shekel note, Israel’s highest-denomination banknote, has previously generated considerable controversy. Aharonovich nevertheless maintained that reducing the availability of cash is essential to addressing widespread tax evasion and financial misconduct.

He pointed to recent police investigations, including cases involving local municipalities, as evidence of the problems associated with large cash payments.

“We will have to eliminate some cash payments, which have already been restricted recently,” he said. “The Bank of Israel opposes eliminating the 200-shekel note, but we have seen in police investigations what happens with cash payments, including very recently in local authorities.”

Aharonovich also issued a stark warning about the government’s financial outlook, predicting that the next two national budgets will be particularly difficult.

“The budgets in 2027 and 2028 will be brutal,” he said. “Unfortunately, we do not see extraordinary economic growth coming next year, and we continue to fight on seven fronts.”

He estimated that Israel’s annual defense budget could reach approximately 200 billion shekels, with the extraordinary spending levels potentially continuing through both 2027 and 2028.

The Tax Authority chief expressed skepticism about political assurances that taxes would not increase, arguing that the next government will have little choice but to introduce significant fiscal measures unless alternative revenue sources can be identified.

“We will have to demand and implement difficult measures, from eliminating the 200-shekel note to eventually eliminating all cash,” he said.

Aharonovich disclosed that a special team within the Finance Ministry is already preparing proposals for the next government aimed at increasing revenue without immediately resorting to broad tax increases.

He also criticized what he described as excessive military reserve mobilization expenditures, suggesting that defense spending has expanded without sufficient scrutiny.

“There is a complete lack of restraint when it comes to calling up reservists, and nobody challenges the defense establishment,” he said. “It is already clear that an annual defense budget of 200 billion shekels will force the next government to raise taxes.”

Rather than immediately increasing the value-added tax or personal income tax rates, Aharonovich urged policymakers to pursue more targeted measures.

Among the possibilities under consideration is tightening legislation governing retained corporate profits, a move intended to increase government revenue from funds accumulated within companies.

He argued that such measures would be preferable to across-the-board tax increases that would directly affect consumers and wage earners.

“It would be better to take intelligent steps to finance the expensive defense budget than to seek easy solutions, such as immediately raising VAT by one percentage point and increasing income tax rates by one percentage point,” he said.

Aharonovich also criticized an earlier decision to abolish Israel’s property tax, suggesting that special interests had succeeded in eliminating a valuable government revenue source.

“A group of interested parties eliminated a good tax at the time,” he said. “If we do not come up with good, creative solutions, we will find ourselves facing a dead end, and then we will have to raise VAT and income taxes, which would be a bad solution.”

The proposal to eliminate the 200-shekel banknote is not new. In 2024, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu directed officials to examine advancing the measure as part of a broader campaign against the underground economy and the extensive use of cash in unreported transactions.

Under the proposal discussed at the time, the 200-shekel note would gradually be withdrawn from circulation before eventually being discontinued altogether.

The Bank of Israel has opposed eliminating the denomination, and no final decision has been announced to remove the banknote from circulation.

Meanwhile, Yaron Gindi, president of Israel’s Chamber of Tax Consultants, agreed during the conference that tax increases appear unavoidable, but urged the government to distribute the burden more strategically.

Gindi proposed several changes to the tax system, including eliminating the existing tax exemption on residential rental income and requiring landlords to pay taxes beginning with the first shekel earned.

He also advocated taxing capital income from the first shekel while simultaneously reducing taxes on employment income, arguing that the tax burden should shift away from workers.

Another proposal would require all Israeli citizens to submit annual income reports, a change that would substantially expand the government’s ability to monitor earnings and enforce tax compliance.

{Matzav.com}

A controversial auction of a Sefer Torah parchment desecrated by Nazi soldiers during the Holocaust was stopped at the last moment in Norway after intense diplomatic pressure from Israel prompted the auction house to purchase the sacred artifact itself, preventing it from being sold to a private collector.

The extraordinary development unfolded Monday at Valkyrie Historical Auctions in Oslo, where a section of a Sefer Torah that had been looted from Jews during World War II was scheduled to go under the hammer. Just ten minutes before bidding was set to begin, the auction house submitted its own substantial bid to secure the parchment and keep it from entering the private collectibles market.

According to the Norwegian news outlet Verdinytt, the auction house ultimately acquired the item for a technical sale price of $10,625, equivalent to approximately 100,000 Norwegian kroner. That amount included the purchase price and a 25 percent auction commission.

Rather than retaining the parchment for commercial purposes, the company intends to donate it to a Holocaust remembrance organization in San Diego, California, where it can be preserved and used to educate future generations about the destruction of European Jewry.

The parchment, containing passages from Sefer Devarim, carries a particularly horrifying history. Originally part of a Sefer Torah, the sheet was stolen from Jews during the Holocaust and apparently damaged in a fire.

Its subsequent treatment by the Nazis added another layer of desecration. A German SS soldier used the holy parchment as ordinary wrapping material to package an item being mailed to Germany.

The original markings from that shipment remain visible on the parchment. Written in pen directly on the sacred text are details identifying the military field unit from which the package was sent, along with the recipient’s address.

The artifact therefore bears physical evidence of both the Nazi persecution of European Jewry and the deliberate degradation of Jewish religious objects.

In its original auction listing, the parchment was described as “a sad and powerful symbol of the destruction of European Jewry and its culture and tradition.”

The planned sale sparked outrage after Israel’s Foreign Ministry publicly condemned the decision to auction a Sefer Torah fragment that had been stolen and desecrated during the Holocaust.

On Sunday, the ministry issued a sharply worded statement on X, describing the proposed transaction as “a moral atrocity” and demanding that Norwegian authorities intervene to prevent the sacred item from being sold.

The criticism placed considerable pressure on the Oslo auction house, which said it had advertised the item for approximately six weeks without receiving objections.

Representatives of the company maintained that the Israeli intervention came only shortly before the auction was scheduled to begin, leaving insufficient time to withdraw the item through the usual procedures.

Faced with the prospect of the parchment being acquired by a private buyer, the auction house devised an unusual solution: it entered the bidding process itself and submitted an offer high enough to ensure that the artifact would remain under its control.

The last-minute purchase effectively halted the planned private sale while allowing the company to arrange for the parchment’s transfer to an institution dedicated to Holocaust education and remembrance.

“We are now working with organizations in the United States that preserve objects for educational purposes. Such an institution is a much more appropriate place for this piece than a private sale,” a company spokesman said in a statement translated from Hebrew.

The controversy also brought renewed attention to Norway’s approach to Holocaust remembrance, particularly reports that the Norwegian government intends to discontinue financial assistance for educational trips by Norwegian students to former Nazi extermination camps.

Israeli officials sharply criticized the apparent contradiction between permitting the commercial sale of sacred Jewish artifacts stolen during the Holocaust and reducing support for programs intended to educate young people about Nazi atrocities.

In its public statement, Israel’s Foreign Ministry summarized the situation with a pointed comparison: “Auctions of sacred texts looted by the Nazis – IN. Visits to extermination camps – OUT.”

The ministry demanded immediate intervention by the Norwegian government, describing the planned sale as a “moral disgrace.”

The auction catalog itself had offered the parchment as an unusual Holocaust-related collectible, despite its origins as part of a Sefer Torah that had apparently been stolen from a Jewish community in Nazi-occupied Poland.

Additional reporting indicated that the auction included other Holocaust-era Jewish possessions, among them tefillin reportedly stolen by the Nazis and clothing bearing the yellow star that Jews were forced to wear under Nazi persecution.

The catalog also featured Nazi memorabilia, including military insignia, propaganda material, and photographs of senior Nazi officials.

The controversy prompted Gideon Taylor, president of the World Jewish Restitution Organization, to condemn the commercialization of Jewish religious property taken during the Holocaust.

Taylor argued that sacred objects stolen from Jewish communities should be returned to the Jewish people rather than treated as ordinary merchandise available to private collectors.

He called upon Norwegian authorities to establish the identities of those involved in the sale and ensure that the parchment would be restored to an appropriate Jewish institution.

The organization also pointed to international principles concerning Nazi-looted cultural property, including recommendations endorsed by Norway in 2024 calling for such objects to be returned to their original owners, successor institutions, or organizations representing the Jewish people.

Those principles recognize that religious and cultural possessions stolen during the Holocaust carry significance far beyond their financial value and should be treated as part of the historical heritage of the communities from which they were taken.

Valkyrie Historical Auctions, which specializes in World War II and Holocaust-era artifacts, is headed by historian Norbert Podlesny, whose grandfather was imprisoned in the Majdanek concentration camp.

The company has defended its work as an effort to preserve historical objects, but the sale of the Sefer Torah parchment raised serious questions about the distinction between historical preservation and the commercial trading of sacred objects looted from Holocaust victims.

With the auction house now arranging for the parchment’s transfer to a Holocaust memorial organization in the United States, the immediate danger of the sacred artifact passing into private hands appears to have been averted.

The planned donation will allow the desecrated parchment, which survived Nazi persecution only to be used as packaging material by an SS soldier, to be preserved as testimony to the destruction of European Jewry and the extraordinary suffering inflicted upon its communities.

{Matzav.com}