Looking for a structured program that will give you the tools and resources you need to get Smicha? Hilchos Shabbos? Dayanus? Chuppah v’Kiddushin? Join Machon Smicha, the premier halachah institute serving the English-speaking Torah community. Machon Smicha is a unique, online, halacha-learning program that makes learning, getting tested and receiving smicha possible. We offer rigorous and structured learning programs in halachah across a broad spectrum of topics, which enables learners to grow and succeed in their Torah learning, from the novice to the scholar. Be empowered to learn Shulchan Aruch like never before, from the Mishnah and Gemara all the way to contemporary Poskim and Minhagim. Our programs include: Smicha: Achieve your dream of finally receiving smicha in a program that will empower you to succeed, Shabbos: Learn and master Hilchos Shabbos, from the original sources down to their practical application Chuppah v’Kiddushin: Become proficient in the halachos of weddings and marriage, and become equipped to be a mesader kiddushin. Dayanus: Dive deep into the halachos of beis din, halachic litigation, business, and interpersonal responsibility. Machon Smicha offers each student a complete curriculum, consisting of: Online portal with access to all the program content. Flexible schedule. Shiurim. English Study Guide, containing introductions, overviews, translations, and in-depth summaries of every halachah. Access to forums and teachers for questions, discussions, etc. Rabbi and teachers available to answer questions and aid in the learning. Quizzes, review material, and mock tests. Tests with prominent rabbis. Signed certificate for those who successfully complete the program. Machon Smicha’s next semester begins on September 4th ( Rosh Chodesh Elul)To learn more, or to apply, visit onlinemachon.com.
By Duvi Honig, Orthodox Jewish Chamber of Commerce
Thirty plus years ago, a smaller Jewish community could understand and bear the additional costs associated with producing Cholov Yisroel dairy products. The limited market justified the higher prices. But now, our thriving community, blessed with larger families, faces an unsustainable economic strain due to these inflated prices. While adhering to the mitzvah, we cannot allow these companies to capitalize on our religious devotion, profiting millions at the expense of our financial well-being.
As our community has grown exponentially over the past few decades, it is imperative for leading rabbinic authorities to address the pricing of Cholov Yisroel products.
This concern urgently requires the attention of leading rabbinic authorities to demand a reduction in pricing by at least 30%. The current cost structure, which places a heavy financial burden on our communities families who strive to observe the mitzvah of consuming Cholov Yisroel, must be reevaluated.
Historically, our rabbinic leaders have stood against such exploitations. Over a century ago in Europe, rabbinic authorities addressed the exorbitant cost of esrogim by ruling that only one esrog per community was necessary. More recently, a revered Rebbe urged his followers to boycott expensive shtreimels, emphasizing the importance of affordability over extravagance.
Currently, the disparity in pricing is staggering. A box of 12 chocolate ice cream popsicles at Aldi’s costs $2.47, while a box of 6 Ice Cream popsicles can cost between $8- $11 in a kosher store. This represents an unjustifiable markup that places undue financial pressure on our families. It is outrageous that a bag of kosher salad can cost as much as a piece of meat. These inflated prices exploit our commitment to maintain a kosher home and adhere to Cholov Yisroel standards.
Imagine a bag of kosher lettuce cost as much as a roast its pure insanity and unacceptable for us as a community to stay quiet about it.
If Rav Moshe Feinstein were alive today, I am confident he would take decisive action against these companies making excessive profits while burdening large families. Simple grocery shopping for a few yogurts, ice creams, cheeses, and two bags of salad can easily surpass $100, excluding other necessary Cholov Yisroel items. This is an extraordinary and unsustainable expense for our community especially those with large families.
There is a growing sentiment that Cholov Yisroel and bug free lettuce companies are essentially commodifying a Mitzvah, profiting millions at the expense of the devout members of our community.
We must unite and demand a 30% price reduction or boycott these companies lining their pockets with millions while taking undue advantage of the community — especially those with large families struggling to make ends meet.
Burdening Tomchei Shabbos is not a solution or fair to those organizations who try so hard to help large families be able to feed their families. we can remove stress from large families and make groceries more affordable for all and remove excess burden from our amazing communal organizations who need to raise millions more a year to make these companies more profitable.
It is incumbent upon us to call upon our rabbinic leaders to intervene in this matter.
We must urge them to promulgate a stance that will compel these profit-driven companies to reduce their prices. By doing so, we can reaffirm our commitment to fair practice, ensuring that every family can afford to fulfill their religious obligations without undue financial strain. Let us come together as a community, just as we have in the past, to address this pressing issue and protect the sanctity of our mitzvot from commercialization.
We extend our gratitude to Matzav.com for shedding light on this critical issue. The Orthodox Jewish Chamber of Commerce has long been aware of this concern, but it is the community’s voices that highlight its unsustainability. It is time for our leading rabbinic authorities to demand a reduction in the pricing of Cholov Yisroel products by at least 30% or boycott them. Our families deserve a fair opportunity to uphold their religious values without facing financial hardship.
The time for action is now. Let us unite and call upon our leaders to ensure that our community’s spiritual and economic needs are met fairly and justly.
{Matzav.com}
Delta Air Lines announced on Wednesday that it has temporarily halted flights between John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York and Tel Aviv through October 31, a week after Sukkos concludes, due to the ongoing conflict in the region. Delta said that passengers can still book seats on partner airlines like Air France and El Al through their website. The airline said that it is “continuously monitoring the evolving security environment” and will update passengers as necessary. The airline also warned of potential additional cancellations on a rolling basis and issued a travel waiver for customers who booked trips to or from Tel Aviv before October 31. The waiver covers fare differences and must be used for travel starting by December 15. With Delta and United Airlines suspending flights, El Al remains the only airline offering direct service between the U.S. and Israel. American Airlines has not resumed flights to Tel Aviv since halting them after the October 7 Hamas attack, and announced on Wednesday that it will not resume them until at least March 29, 2025. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
Hatzolah Air departed early Thursday morning on a plane loaded with search and rescue experts and equipment to Flagstaff, Arizona, where a frantic search is taking place for 8-year-old Tzion Maron, a Baltimore resident who went missing Wednesday evening and has not been heard from since. The aircraft landed in Flagstaff at around 10:15 AM Eastern Time.
According to a report by the Saudi newspaper Asharq al-Awsat, the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) terror group is still holding seven Israeli hostages, who were abducted on October 7. This follows an earlier statement from PIJ leader Ziyad Nakhaleh, who announced on October 8 that the group had taken more than 30 of the 251 hostages abducted during the Hamas-led massacre in southern Israel a day prior. Some of the hostages the PIJ held were released during a temporary truce in November, and it remains unclear whether any of those still in PIJ custody have died. The report also highlights growing cooperation between Hamas and PIJ, particularly after the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran last month. This strengthened alliance is evident not only in Gaza but also in the West Bank, as demonstrated by the failed suicide bombing by a Nablus resident in Tel Aviv on Sunday, which both terror groups jointly claimed responsibility for.
A U.S. government report expected to stir debate concluded that fluoride in drinking water at twice the recommended limit is linked with lower IQ in children. The report, based on an analysis of previously published research, marks the first time a federal agency has determined — “with moderate confidence” — that there is a link between higher levels of fluoride exposure and lower IQ in kids. While the report was not designed to evaluate the health effects of fluoride in drinking water alone, it is a striking acknowledgment of a potential neurological risk from high levels of fluoride. Fluoride strengthens teeth and reduces cavities by replacing minerals lost during normal wear and tear, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The addition of low levels of fluoride to drinking water has long been considered one of the greatest public health achievements of the last century.
In his address at the Democratic National Convention last night, former President Bill Clinton spent a significant portion of his time ridiculing Donald Trump, taking aim at his self-centeredness, his age, and even his peculiar fixation on Hannibal Lecter.
“President Obama once gave me the great honor of saying I was explainer in chief. I’ve thought through it and I don’t know what to say,” Clinton remarked, reflecting on his role as a communicator.
Clinton, who delivered a speech at the 2012 Democratic National Convention—one that many believe played a key role in boosting Obama’s chances for reelection—returned to the stage, albeit with a voice that has grown softer with age, a change he himself acknowledged.
“Now let’s cut to the chase. I am too old to gild the lily. Two days ago I turned 78, the oldest man in my family for a generation. And the personal vanity I want to assert is I am still younger than Donald Trump,” Clinton quipped, bringing attention to his age while simultaneously pointing out that he is still younger than Trump.
Clinton’s remarks largely centered on Trump’s self-absorption, a theme that has resonated throughout the convention.
“He mostly talks about himself, so the next time you hear him, don’t count the lies, count the I’s,” said Clinton – not known for being a truth-teller himself, as evidenced by his shameful behavior when he was the occupant of the White House. “His vendettas, his vengeance, his complaints, his conspiracies.”
The convention paid tribute to Clinton’s 1992 presidential campaign while Clinton endorsed the idea that Hillary Clinton could carry on the legacy of the “man from hope,” suggesting she would be the “president of joy.”
However, Clinton also cautioned about the challenges that lie ahead.
“This is a brutal, tough business—I want you to be happy,” he warned. “One of the reasons Kamala Harris is doing so well is you are happy. But you should never underestimate your adversaries.”
Clinton emphasized the need for resilience, noting the importance of “meeting people where they are” and indicating that there are potential voters to reach in rural areas.
“Not a day goes by that I’m not grateful for the chance the American people gave me to be one of the 45 people who have held the job,” Clinton said. “Even on the bad days, you can still make something good happen. Kamala Harris is the only candidate in this race with the vision, the experience, the temperament, the will, and yes—the sheer joy—to do that on good and bad days. To be our voice.”
{Matzav.com}
Bullets have been found in the bodies of the hostages recovered by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) from Gaza last week. This discovery has led the IDF to assess that the hostages were likely murdered by Hamas while in captivity. While the reports do not specify which hostages were shot, the mother of Yagev Buchshtav confirmed to Kan radio that her son was among those found with bullet wounds. The recovered hostages, whose bodies were brought back from Khan Younis, include Buchshtav, 35, Alex Dancyg, 75, Chaim Peri, 79, Yoram Metzger, 80, Nadav Popplewell, 51, and Avraham Munder, 78.
A moderate earthquake with a magnitude of 3.5 struck off the coast of northern Israel, according to the Israel Geological Institute. The tremor was felt in the coastal cities of Haifa and Nahariya, located along the Mediterranean coast. The epicenter of the earthquake was approximately 37 kilometers (22 miles) offshore, with no reports of injuries or damage. The quake was felt by residents in the region, but did not cause any significant harm or disruption.
An Israeli negotiating team has departed for Cairo to engage in talks on a potential hostage deal. The team is led by Mossad Director David Barnea and includes Major General Eliezer Toledano, head of the IDF’s Strategy and Third-Circle Directorate. The US will be represented by CIA Director William Burns, who will lead the American team in the negotiations.
Tomiko Itooka, a Japanese woman, became the world’s oldest living person at age 116, following the death of 117-year-old Maria Branyas, according to the Guinness World Records. Her age and birthdate — May 23, 1908 — were confirmed by the Gerontology Research Group, which validates details of people thought to be 110 or older, and put her at the top of its World Supercentenarian Rankings List. Itooka lives in a nursing home in the city of Ashiya, a city in Hyogo Prefecture that also confirmed her birthdate. She assumed the title of world’s oldest person after Branyas’ family announced the 117-year-old’s death Tuesday. Guinness confirmed Itooka’s new status on Thursday.
The country is facing heightened threats from many corners at a time when law enforcement agencies are struggling, FBI Director Christopher Wray said in an exclusive interview, adding that he is “hard pressed to think of a time in my career where so many different kinds of threats are all elevated at once.” “I worry about the combination of that many threats being elevated at once, with the challenges facing the men and women in law enforcement more generally,” Wray said at the office in the suburb of Brooklyn Center. “And the one thing that I think helps bridge those two challenges is partnerships. That’s how we get through. It is by all working together.” “One of the things that we have been doubling down on with every passing day is, is on partnerships, because ultimately you’re talking about the ability to connect the dots, whether it’s against some kind of election influence threat or some other kind of threat,” Wray said. “You need to have partners sharing information with each other to put the two pieces together to see the bigger picture.”
Tomiko Itooka, a Japanese woman, became the world’s oldest living person at age 116, following the death of 117-year-old Maria Branyas, according to the Guinness World Records. Her age and birthdate — May 23, 1908 — were confirmed by the Gerontology Research Group, which validates details of people thought to be 110 or older, and put her at the top of its World Supercentenarian Rankings List. Itooka lives in a nursing home in the city of Ashiya, a city in Hyogo Prefecture that also confirmed her birthdate. She assumed the title of world’s oldest person after Branyas’ family announced the 117-year-old’s death Tuesday. Guinness confirmed Itooka’s new status on Thursday. When told about her becoming the oldest person, she replied, “Thank you,” a phrase she also relays often to the caretakers at her home. Itooka celebrated her birthday three months ago, receiving flowers, a cake and a card from the mayor. Every morning, she has a popular yogurt-flavored drink called Calpis. Her favorite food is bananas. Born in Osaka, Itooka was a volleyball player in high school. She married at 20, and had two daughters and two sons, according to Guinness. Itooka managed the office of her husband’s textile factory during World War II. She lived alone in Nara after her husband died in 1979, before entering the nursing home. She climbed the 3,067-meter (10,062-foot) Mount Ontake twice, and enjoyed long hikes even after she turned 100. (AP)
“We got 76 days. That’s nothing. There’ll be time to sleep when you’re dead,” Tim Walz said to cheers during his DNC speech last night. “We’re gonna leave it all on the field. That’s how we’ll keep moving forward.”
WATCH:
The country is facing heightened threats from many corners at a time when law enforcement agencies are struggling, FBI Director Christopher Wray said in an exclusive interview, adding that he is “hard pressed to think of a time in my career where so many different kinds of threats are all elevated at once.” Wray spoke Wednesday with The Associated Press while visiting the Minneapolis field office to talk about partnerships between law enforcement agencies and also with other entities. His remarks come as the FBI confronts heightened concerns over terrorism, both domestic and international, as well as Chinese espionage and intellectual property theft and foreign election interference. “I worry about the combination of that many threats being elevated at once, with the challenges facing the men and women in law enforcement more generally,” Wray said at the office in the suburb of Brooklyn Center. “And the one thing that I think helps bridge those two challenges is partnerships. That’s how we get through. It is by all working together.” Wray’s assessment of an elevated threat landscape is consistent with alarm bells he has sounded for months. Soon after the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas in Israel, Wray began warning that the rampage could serve as an inspiration to militants, “the likes of which we haven’t seen since ISIS launched its so-called caliphate years ago.” The FBI has also scrambled to deal with security concerns related to the United States’ southern border, with officials revealing in June that eight people from Tajikistan with suspected ties to the Islamic State group were arrested and were being held on immigration violations. Officials are also dealing with the specter of foreign election interference. The FBI and other federal agencies announced Monday that Iran was responsible for a hack targeting the Trump campaign and for an attempted breach of the Biden-Harris campaign, part of what officials portrayed as a brazen and aggressive effort to interfere in American politics. Wray declined to talk about any specific investigation or threat but said investigations into cyberattacks, including against election infrastructure, candidates or campaigns, require help from the private sector. “One of the things that we have been doubling down on with every passing day is, is on partnerships, because ultimately you’re talking about the ability to connect the dots, whether it’s against some kind of election influence threat or some other kind of threat,” Wray said. “You need to have partners sharing information with each other to put the two pieces together to see the bigger picture.” Law enforcement officers are being killed in the line of duty at a rate of about one every five days, Wray said, noting that four first responders have died in Minnesota alone in 2024. They include a Minneapolis officer killed in May while trying to help someone, and two officers and a paramedic who died in Burnsville in February when a heavily armed man opened fire. Such violence “breaks my heart every single time,” the director said. The FBI has not been spared such attacks: Days after agents searched Donald Trump’s Florida estate, Mar-a-Lago, to recover classified documents, a gunman who called on social media for federal agents to be killed “on sight” died in a shootout after trying to get inside the FBI’s Cincinnati office. Wray said the FBI has […]
[COMMUNICATED]
Three kedoshei elyon had one common concept when it came to learning Torah – they were the Ohr Hachaim Hakadosh (Rabbi Chaim ibn Attar 1696-1743) when he came to Eretz Yisroel; the Ramchal (Rabbi Moshe Chaim Luzzatto 1707-1746) when he lived in Padua, Italy; and Hagaon, Harav Chaim Volozhiner, (1749-1821) the famous talmid of the Gaon of Vilna.
They each had a yeshiva with ‘around-the-clock’ Torah learning, 24-hours a day, so that there would be no minute when the sound of Torah learning would not be heard in this world. The 24-hour period would be divided into shifts, and as one ended the next would begin.
Torah-24
A “Torah-24” Center has been opened in Yerushalayim and the Nasi is Maran Sar Hatorah, Harav Chaim Kanievsky, zt”l.
Under ONE ROOF, from 6:00 am – 6:00 am, 10 kollelim fill successive learning shifts. Each kollel focuses on a specific area of in-depth Torah study. The “Torah-24” Kollelim include: Boker (Gemora), Yerushalmi, Bavli, Zeraim-Taharot, Dalet Chelkei Shulchan Aruch, Erev (Gemora), Chatzos- Zohar/Kabbolah, Erev Shabbos (Chumash / Medrash b’iyun).
Already there are 52 avreichim metzuyonim, and a large number of candidates are vying for the remaining slots in the kollelim. All the avreichim are required to take rigorous monthly tests.
Endorsements & Letters
Endorsements include Maranan Hagaonim shlit”a: Harav Gershon Edelstein, Harav Berel Povarsky, Harav Shimon Badani, Harav Dovid Cohen, Harav Boruch Mordechai Ezrachi, Harav Chaim Feinstein, Harav Shimon Galai, Harav Shraga Shteinman.
Letters of support-encouragement have been received from Maranan Hagaonim, shlit”a: Hamekubal Harav David Bazri, Hamashpia Hagadol Reb Elimelech Biderman, Hamekubal Harav Yaakov Meir Schechter, Harav Moishe Sternbuch, Harav Yitzchak Tuvia Weiss.
For more “Torah-24” information click on: www.torah-24.com or call 718-766-5022
Kamala Harris may be the Democratic candidate, but it’s Nancy Pelosi who continues to wield significant influence over the party, a fact she underscored during her speech tonight at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago.
“I know that Vice President Harris is ready to take us to new heights,” declared the veteran Congresswoman representing California’s 11th district during her primetime speech at the packed United Center. “Politically, she is astute and strategic in winning difficult elections, quickly securing the nomination with dignity and grace and choosing Tim Walsh as our vice president,” Pelosi continued, offering her highest commendation to the political strategist.
Pelosi, now 84, is widely seen as the driving force behind the movement to usher 81-year-old Joe Biden off the political stage, particularly after his poor performance against Donald Trump during the CNN debate on June 27. A seasoned politician with deep roots in the Democratic Party, Pelosi has dismissed rumors of her involvement in Biden’s departure from the race.
Despite her denials, few believe the claims of innocence from the author of The Art of Power. This skepticism is likely why Pelosi began her speech with a lengthy “Thank you Joe!” in an attempt to smooth over any lingering resentment within the party.
For the time being, Pelosi even chose to downplay her own role in the legislative successes of the past three years, all of which she had a significant hand in pushing through Congress.
“On January 20, 2021, with the inauguration of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, we established one of the most successful presidencies of modern times,” Pelosi stated.
“And we quickly proved that Democrats deliver – millions of jobs, stronger infrastructure and rural broadband, a Biden Child Tax Credit, rescuing human pensions, honoring our veterans, bold climate action, lowering the cost of prescription drugs,” she enumerated. “All thanks to President Biden’s patriotic vision of a fair America doing so with liberty and justice for all.”
While Pelosi had high praise for one president, she did not hesitate to harshly criticize another.
“January 6 was a perilous moment for our democracy,” she said, referring to the former president she had long opposed, Donald Trump. “Never before had a president of the United States so brazenly assaulted the bedrock of our democracy, so lethally embraced political violence, so willfully betrayed his oath of office,” Pelosi told her fellow Democrats, recalling the attack on Congress, where many MAGA insurgents were specifically targeting her.
Pelosi seemed to rush through her speech, which lasted less than five minutes.
{Matzav.com}
Bullets have been found in the bodies of some hostages recovered by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) from Gaza last week. This discovery has led the IDF to assess that the hostages were likely murdered by Hamas while in captivity. While the reports do not specify which hostages were shot, the mother of Yagev Buchshtav confirmed to Kan radio that her son was among those found with bullet wounds. The recovered hostages, whose bodies were brought back from Khan Younis, include Buchshtav, 35, Alex Dancyg, 75, Chaim Peri, 79, Yoram Metzger, 80, Nadav Popplewell, 51, and Avraham Munder, 78. Chaim Peri, z’l, 79, was abducted from Kibbutz Nir Oz on October 7. He was a father of five and grandfather of 13. His wife survived the massacre. Yagev Buchshtav, z’l, 34, was abducted from Kibbutz Nirim on October 7, along with his wife, Rimon Kirsht Buchshtav, who was released in November. Nadav Popplewell, z’l, 51, was abducted from Kibbutz Nirim along with his mother Channah Peri, who was released in November. His brother Roi Popplewell, H’yd, 54, was murdered on October 7. Yoram Metzger, z’l, 80, was abducted from Kibbutz Nir Oz on October 7 along with his wife Tami, who was released in November. He was a father of three and grandfather of seven. Alex Dancyg, z’l, 75, a world-renowned historian and Holocaust educator, was abducted from Kibbutz Nir Oz on October 7. He was born in Warsaw to Holocaust survivors and made aliyah with his parents in 1957. He dedicated his life to Holocaust education, including leading trips to Poland and teaching Yad Vashem guides. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
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