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A chance meeting in a Bnei Brak yeshiva between former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and Reb Avraham Zarbiv has drawn attention after Bennett offered warm praise and compared the rabbi to prominent Israeli military figures, despite having recently criticized the national torch-lighting ceremony in which Zarbiv participated.

The unexpected encounter took place Monday night during a father-son event at a yeshiva high school where Bennett’s son studies. According to reports, Bennett happened to meet Rabbi Zarbiv, who had been selected to light a torch at Israel’s Independence Day ceremony, and the interaction quickly became notable for Bennett’s enthusiastic remarks.

According to journalist Michael Shemesh, Bennett spoke highly of Zarbiv’s contributions and drew comparisons to well-known figures in Israel’s military history. “You are like Ariel Sharon and like Meir Har-Zion, who changed and implemented new methods of warfare,” Bennett reportedly told Rabbi Zarbiv.

Rabbi Zarbiv, who serves as a dayan on the Tel Aviv Rabbinical Court, has become a widely recognized figure during the ongoing war. His reserve duty operating D9 bulldozers in Gaza, combined with his rabbinic role, has made him a symbol for many of the fusion between religious life and military service. During his service, he developed a combat method for demolishing structures—dubbed the “Zarbiv method”—which, according to reports, has helped save soldiers’ lives.

The meeting is particularly notable given Bennett’s recent criticism of the tone and direction of this year’s torch-lighting ceremony. He had previously pledged that “next year the ceremony will return to the people,” expressing dissatisfaction with how the state-run event was conducted. Nevertheless, when encountering one of the ceremony’s most prominent participants, Bennett chose to commend him and liken him to historic military figures.

Rabbi Zarbiv had previously made headlines for his forceful statements regarding the war in Gaza. During his service, he called “to flatten Gaza,” a remark that sparked widespread public debate. While some viewed the statement as extreme and controversial, others embraced him as a heroic figure. His selection to light a torch at the Independence Day ceremony drew criticism in parts of the international media, alongside strong support from segments of the Israeli public.

Bennett’s office responded to the reports by emphasizing the private nature of the gathering. “Former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett attended a father-and-son evening with his younger son David at his school. He came as a father, not as a public figure. Journalists are expected to respect his family’s privacy.”

The event itself was part of a traditional “fathers and sons” program, where parents and students spend time learning and participating in activities together. The presence of both Bennett and Rabbi Zarbiv—each a public figure in his own right—added an unusual dimension to the evening for those in attendance.

Bennett’s comparison of Zarbiv to Ariel Sharon and Meir Har-Zion reflects his broader view of the importance of military innovation. Sharon, a former commander of Unit 101 who later served as defense minister and prime minister, was known for pioneering new combat tactics. Har-Zion, a former special forces fighter, was similarly associated with developing unconventional operational methods. Bennett’s remarks suggest he sees Zarbiv’s contributions as a continuation of that legacy.

At 52, Rabbi Zarbiv, a father of six, continues to balance his role as a dayan with active reserve duty. During the war, he documented aspects of his operational work, and some of those videos—showing him using a D9 bulldozer to demolish structures with his method—circulated widely on social media.

The encounter highlights the complexity of Israel’s current public discourse. While Bennett has taken issue with the institutions behind the torch-lighting ceremony, his personal interaction with Rabbi Zarbiv reflects a willingness to acknowledge individuals he views as embodying both religious dedication and military commitment.

{Matzav.com}

It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of Rav Rachamim Eliyahu Mazuz zt”l, posek of Yeshivas Kissei Rachamim, who was niftar after a prolonged illness.

Rav Mazuz was the younger brother of Rav Meir Mazuz zt”l, and is survived by his brother, Rav Tzemach Mazuz.

Throughout his life, he devoted himself with great mesirus nefesh to preserving and publishing the Torah works of his father, Rav Matzliach Mazuz Hy”d, including editing and clarifying his seforim.

Born on the 17th of Kislev 5709, Rav Mazuz displayed remarkable brilliance from a young age. He married his wife, Rebbetzin Tamar, in Cheshvan 5729. According to testimony from his brother, their father would regularly present him with complex shailos in halachah to analyze due to his deep familiarity with the works of the Acharonim and shailos uteshuvos.

Following the murder of his father, the author of Ish Matzliach, Rav Mazuz was the first in the family to leave Tunisia and make his way to Eretz Yisroel, acting on a dream his mother had. After spending approximately two and a half months in a transit camp in France and about a week at sea, the family arrived via Greece and settled in Eretz Yisroel.

He dedicated decades to editing and preparing his father’s writings for publication, including Shu”t Ish Matzliach and Matzmiach Yeshuah. As president of Machon HaRav Matzliach, he oversaw the publication of numerous seforim. He became widely known among the tzibbur for his detailed hagahos titled Ish Matzliach on the Mishnah Berurah. Even in his youth, he had already edited major works such as Vayomer Yitzchak by his rebbi, Rav Yitzchak Buchnik, and Mishpat Kasuv by Rav Yisrael Zeitoun.

For over forty years, Rav Mazuz led the kollel of Yeshivas Kissei Rachamim with a firm hand, guiding generations of avreichim, and delivering shiurim to outstanding bochurim on sugyos throughout Shas, with a deep and penetrating understanding of all the meforshim.

His unique style of writing became well known throughout the olam hahalachah. Rav Dovid Yosef once remarked: “I am very familiar with the writing style of my great father, Maran Rav Ovadia Yosef zt”l, but the only one whose writings sometimes confuse me into thinking they are my father’s is the gaon Rav Rachamim Mazuz.”

In the latter part of Cheshvan of this past year, as his condition declined, the names “Chaim” and “Shalom” were added to his name following consultation with his brother and his son-in-law, Rav Eliyahu Binyamin Madar.

At that time, Rav Dovid Yosef issued a public call, saying: “The tzibbur in Eretz Yisroel does not sufficiently recognize who the great gaon Rav Rachamim is — he is truly a continuation of his father, a giant in Torah. I see it in his notes on the Mishnah Berurah Ish Matzliach, and in the responsa Ish Matzliach that he edited. He is an extraordinary gaon whom our generation has not fully appreciated. I believe he is a talmid chacham who protects the generation, and we must all daven that Hakadosh Baruch Hu grant him a complete recovery so he can continue to spread Torah and glorify it.”

Rav Mazuz leaves behind a distinguished family who continue in his path, carrying forward his legacy in halachah and harbotzas haTorah.

The levayah will take place on Wednesday, departing from Bnei Brak and continuing to Yerushalayim, where he will be laid to rest on Har Hazeisim alongside his father.

Tehei nishmaso tzrurah b’tzror hachaim.

{Matzav.com}

A U.S.-flagged commercial ship operated by a Maersk subsidiary has made a successful journey through the Strait of Hormuz under American military escort, signaling a renewed push to reopen one of the world’s most critical shipping lanes.

According to CNBC, the vessel Alliance Fairfax completed its passage on Monday without any incidents. The crew was unharmed after being stranded at sea since February 28, when hostilities involving Iran disrupted maritime traffic in the region.

The Strait of Hormuz, a narrow but vital corridor linking the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman, typically handles roughly 20 percent of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas shipments. However, shipping activity has been largely halted amid the fighting, leaving numerous commercial vessels unable to pass.

United States Central Command confirmed that two U.S.-flagged merchant ships have now successfully navigated the strait. U.S. Navy guided-missile destroyers have been deployed in the area to shield commercial vessels and ensure continued access through the waterway.

Officials said the escorted crossings are part of a broader effort to reestablish normal shipping operations and assist vessels that had been stuck during the conflict.

Regional tensions remain elevated following recent drone and missile attacks in the United Arab Emirates, along with reports of U.S. strikes targeting Iranian vessels in the strait.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi commented on the situation, saying recent developments “make clear that there’s no military solution to a political crisis.”

He added, “As talks are making progress with Pakistan’s gracious effort, the U.S. should be wary of being dragged back into quagmire by ill wishers. So should the UAE. Project Freedom is Project Deadlock.”

President Donald Trump issued a warning that Iran would be “blown off the face of the earth” if it attacked American vessels tasked with protecting commercial shipping in the strait.

Trump also indicated that the confrontation could continue for “another two or three weeks,” pointing to mounting pressure on Iran’s energy infrastructure.

“One way or the other, we win,” Trump said, adding that the United States has already achieved major battlefield successes.

He further stated that Iran’s naval strength has been significantly weakened in recent engagements, describing what remains of its forces as limited.

{Matzav.com}

Amid ongoing attempts by thousands to reach Mount Meron despite official bans, a growing debate is taking shape over the future of the annual Lag BaOmer pilgrimage, with analysts suggesting the event can no longer continue in its traditional form.

In an interview Tuesday with i24NEWS, commentator Yechiel Galai addressed the unusual scenes unfolding since the previous day, as large numbers of chareidi participants sought to access the mountain by any means possible, including bypassing checkpoints and restrictions imposed by authorities.

Galai explained that within the chareidi community, there is a deeply rooted perception of unequal treatment when it comes to large public events. He said that many feel that when it comes to major sporting or cultural gatherings in northern Israel, the government makes extensive efforts to accommodate them even under difficult conditions, whereas the Lag BaOmer gathering in Meron—seen as the largest religious and cultural event for the chareidi tzibbur—is more quickly curtailed.

At the same time, Galai emphasized that the reality is more nuanced. A growing number of people within the chareidi community recognize the current security risks and do not believe that reaching Meron at any cost is justified. He noted that the significant expansion of decentralized Lag BaOmer events in Yerushalayim and other locations, drawing tens of thousands of participants, may point to the direction the הילולא is heading in the coming years.

Even in the absence of security concerns, Galai added, Meron itself presents inherent limitations. The mountain, its access routes, and its infrastructure are not equipped to sustainably handle the massive crowds that seek to attend each year. Combined with the rapid demographic growth of the chareidi ציבור and ongoing safety considerations, he said, there is an increasing need to rethink how the event is structured.

Galai also highlighted a growing disconnect on the ground. While authorities have officially halted bus transportation, deployed roadblocks, and banned access, the public are still managing to reach the site on foot or through indirect routes. This has created a dual reality in which official restrictions remain in place, yet thousands are still present on the mountain.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump said Tuesday that Iran should capitulate as U.S. forces continue efforts to weaken its capacity to threaten commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.

Speaking to reporters at the White House, Trump asserted that Tehran is under heavy pressure and signaled that negotiations are likely. “They play games, but let me just tell you, they want to make a deal. And who wouldn’t, when your military is totally gone?”

Trump argued that Iran’s military strength has been significantly diminished, describing its current capabilities as limited to firing “peashooters.” He also made clear that the U.S. intends to maintain its position in the region, stating that “nobody’s going to challenge the blockade” of Iranian shipping.

When asked about potential violations of the ceasefire, Trump declined to define a specific threshold that would trigger a U.S. response, even after Iran launched cruise missiles and attack drones targeting the United Arab Emirates.

Earlier in the day, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine briefed reporters at the Pentagon following recent Iranian strikes on shipping lanes and targets in the United Arab Emirates.

Hegseth described Project Freedom, the ongoing naval mission aimed at ensuring safe transit through the Strait of Hormuz, emphasizing that it is distinct from other military operations. “This operation is separate and distinct from Operation Epic Fury. Project Freedom is defensive in nature, focused in scope, and temporary in duration-with one mission: protecting innocent commercial shipping from Iranian aggression.”

He issued a warning to Tehran, saying, “To what remains of Iran’s forces: if you attack American troops or innocent commercial shipping, you will face overwhelming and devastating American firepower,” he added. We prefer this to be a peaceful operation, but are locked and loaded to defend our people.”

Hegseth also underscored that the U.S. is asserting control over the critical waterway. “What we’re demonstrating with Project Freedom is they [Iran] don’t control the Strait. We know Iran is embarrassed by the fact that our blockade is holding, and we can run ships through – and we’re going to help the world run ships through,” Hegseth said.

Gen. Caine noted that while Iran has carried out attacks, they have not yet escalated to a level that would prompt a broader military response. He detailed the scale of U.S. operations in the region, stating, “On the surface, guided missile destroyers and other warships are detecting and defeating Iranian threats. This includes fast boats and one-way attack drones. In the air, more than 100 fighters, attack aircraft, and other manned and unmanned aircraft, synchronized by the 82nd Airborne Division are in the air 24 hours a day, providing defensive overwatch for the enhanced security area.”

{Matzav.com}