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A fierce political confrontation has broken out within Israel’s governing coalition following the election of a new local rov in Savion, ending an 11-year vacancy and igniting an unusually public war of words between United Torah Judaism and Shas.

After more than a decade without a serving rov, Rabbi Uri Sadan was elected on Tuesday as rabbi of the Savion Local Council. Rabbi Sadan, who leads the Oz VeHadar community in Petach Tikva and previously served as Savion’s chief rabbi, won in a landslide, receiving 16 votes compared to just three for the Shas-backed candidate, Rabbi Shlomo Meir Amor.

The decisive outcome followed the collapse of a political arrangement forged by Shas with the head of the local council, which ultimately failed at the ballot box. That breakdown paved the way for Rabbi Sadan’s victory. He is identified with the Tzohar rabbinic network, a fact that gave the result broader political significance far beyond the local appointment. The position had been closely watched for years and was widely considered a coveted post.

The results immediately sparked an open and acrimonious dispute between coalition partners. Knesset member Moshe Gafni, chairman of Degel HaTorah, launched a sharp attack on Shas, accusing the party of sabotaging a unified chareidi effort.

“Due to Shas’s insistence on not supporting Degel HaTorah’s candidate for the Savion rabbinate, and after their own candidate received a total of only three votes, neither a Shas candidate nor a Degel HaTorah candidate was elected — and instead a Tzohar candidate was chosen,” Gafni said. “Anyone who follows their conduct in religious services and rabbinic appointments knows that this is their way.”

Shas responded swiftly and aggressively, rejecting Gafni’s claims and accusing him of focusing on political patronage at a time of existential challenges for the chareidi community. In a statement, the party said it was “fully occupied with the critical struggle to save the Torah world and prevent the arrest of yeshiva students,” and expressed dismay that Degel HaTorah’s leader was, in their words, “choosing to deal with jobs instead of the real challenges of the hour.”

Shas further sought to undermine Gafni’s argument by pointing to the vote totals themselves. According to the party, Degel HaTorah’s own candidate — a Savion native — ran and received zero votes. “Zero,” the statement emphasized. “How exactly did Shas’s three votes prevent his election? How long will Moshe Gafni continue to mislead the public and blame others for his own failures?”

The exchange escalated further when Gafni’s office fired back with a blunt rebuttal, accusing Shas of refusing to cooperate while insisting its candidate would win. “You refused to unite forces and claimed your candidate would prevail,” the statement read. “Your jobs enterprise has suffered a crushing failure.”

While the chareidi parties traded accusations, the national-religious political camp celebrated the outcome. Leaders in that sector framed Rabbi Sadan’s appointment as a significant achievement. Religious Zionism chairman and cabinet minister Bezalel Smotrich congratulated Rabbi Sadan publicly, praising the religious-Zionist yeshiva world for producing talmidei chachomim who “combine deep learning with public engagement and active involvement in Israeli society.”

{Matzav.com}

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The daughter of the Vizhnitzer Rebbe of Bnei Brak, Rav Yisroel hager, offered a candid and emotional update on her father’s medical condition, urging continued tefillah and kabbalos, while stressing that despite outward appearances, the situation remains serious.

In a special and strengthening message delivered over the internal information line for women of the Vizhnitzer chassidus, the Rebbe’s daughter, Rebbetzin Tzipporah Teitelbaum, spoke openly about the health challenges facing her father, who continues to lead his kehillah with extraordinary inner strength. She called on women to persist in their tefillos and good resolutions, emphasizing that much rachamei Shomayim is still needed.

At the outset of her remarks, the Rebbetzin expressed deep gratitude to women of the chassidus across Eretz Yisroel and around the world for their overwhelming response and personal commitments undertaken on behalf of the Rebbe’s recovery. “First of all, I must express my gratitude to every woman and girl, in Eretz Yisroel and around the world,” she said. “Such mesirus nefesh in the resolutions, and all the good deeds being done for the recovery of my father, Rav Yisrael ben Leah Esther, that he should be healthy and come out of this.” She described how moving the response has been, adding, “You don’t know how much this warms the heart, how much strength it gives and how uplifting it is.”

She then turned to the Rebbe’s medical condition and appealed for intensified tefillah. “I simply wanted to ask that you continue with all the bruen (the passion), because truly, it’s already not normal,” she said. She explained that her father is still in the midst of a prolonged series of treatments that have not yet concluded. “He is going through so many treatments and still hasn’t finished, and hopefully he will already finish.”

The Rebbetzin sought to clarify the reality behind the Rebbe’s outward composure. “It’s true that he’s getting through it… and he ‘lies,’” she said painfully, referring to how he conceals his suffering. “Because he walks around happy, and from the outside everything looks normal, everything looks good, business as usual. But between us,” she emphasized, “the situation is not simple, and we still need a lot of rachamei Shamayim and tefillos.” She added with heartfelt pleading, “He really needs to already be after all the treatments. Enough, enough that it should end.”

In her remarks, she also shared a teaching she heard from her father on the posuk “Yom l’yom yabi’a omer,” explaining that the word yabi’a is an acronym for “Yesh Borei Olam Yesh — There is a Creator of the world.” “That is his essence,” she said. She further cited a well-known teaching in the name of the Yeshuos Moshe on the posuk of “Ivdu es Hashem b’simchah,” explaining its meaning as: “Serve — that is serving Hashem with joy. That alone is avodas Hashem: when it comes from inner depth and true, genuine inner joy.”

She concluded with a tefillah and brachah, expressing hope that in the merit of all the resolutions and good deeds being done, and through the strength of the chassidim and chassidos — “who are only good and constantly bring joy” — the community will soon merit seeing the Rebbe return to leading his holy flock “with physical and emotional strength, and to be in a constant state of recovery, because that is his vitality.”

{Matzav.com}

Sen. Bernie Sanders said that the conduct of Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents has shocked the nation, accusing the agency of extraordinary racism and violence during an appearance on CNN’s “The Source.”

Speaking with host Kaitlan Collins, Sanders argued that the actions attributed to ICE run counter to American values and have alarmed a broad swath of the public. “I surely hope so. I think the overwhelming majority of the American people are shocked by what they are seeing. This is the United States of America. You’ve seen guys in masks paid by federal tax laws knocking on doors, sending five year old kids into detention centers, shooting several people, occupying an entire city, intimidating city. In fact, it was a Republican candidate for governor in Minnesota who dropped out of the race. And he said, you know, I can’t defend what the Republican National Party is doing. You know, driving while Asian, driving while Latino is not unconstitutional. So the racism and the, violence is extraordinary. And I think the American people are saying enough is enough.”

Collins pressed Sanders on whether new accountability measures would ease concerns, asking, “Does it reassure you at all that they are sending body cameras to these federal agents?”

Sanders dismissed that step as insufficient and pointed to his own legislative efforts. “That’s small, you know, look, I in my own view and I brought forth an amendment as you may know, the other day, as part of that legislation —”

Collins interjected to clarify the proposal, saying, “You wanted to repeal the $75 billion.”

Sanders confirmed the goal and expanded on his criticism of the agency’s role and funding. “Exactly over a four year period. I mean, they are now not Immigration and Customs Enforcement, but they are a domestic Trump’s domestic army extraordinarily well funded. And I was pleased that every Democrat voted with me. And we had two Republicans got 49 votes to say, do away with that 75 billion over four year period. For I said put that money, by the way, into Medicaid.”

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump said Wednesday that he held what he described as a highly successful phone conversation with Chinese leader Xi Jinping, calling it a constructive exchange ahead of his anticipated April trip to Beijing.

According to Trump, the wide-ranging discussion touched on a number of major international and bilateral issues, including trade relations, military matters, Taiwan, Iran, the war between Russia and Ukraine, and increased Chinese purchases of American energy and agricultural goods.

The call took place only hours after Xi participated in a virtual meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, adding geopolitical significance to the timing of the conversation.

Trump later characterized the exchange in a post on Truth Social as productive and focused on the future.

“Many important subjects were discussed, including Trade, Military, the April trip that I will be making to China (which I very much look forward to!), Taiwan, the War between Russia/Ukraine, the current situation with Iran, the purchase of Oil and Gas by China from the United States, the consideration by China of the purchase of additional Agricultural products,” Trump wrote.

Trump said Xi committed to sharply increasing China’s imports of American soybeans, boosting purchases to 20 million tons this season, up from 12 million previously. Trump described the move as a significant victory for U.S. farmers.

“All very positive,” Trump wrote. “The relationship with China, and my personal relationship with President Xi, is an extremely good one, and we both realize how important it is to keep it that way.”

The president also voiced confidence that relations between Washington and Beijing would continue to yield tangible benefits during his time in office.

“I believe that there will be many positive results achieved over the next three years of my Presidency having to do with President Xi, and the People’s Republic of China!” he said.

China’s government issued its own readout of the call, confirming that the two leaders discussed major global issues as well as a series of international summits both countries are expected to host in the coming year. Those gatherings, Beijing noted, could provide opportunities for additional meetings between the two leaders.

The Chinese statement did not mention Trump’s expected April visit to China.

Beijing also used the opportunity to restate its long-standing position on Taiwan, underscoring that it has no intention of relinquishing its objective of reunifying with the self-governing democratic island.

“China will never allow Taiwan to be split,” the Chinese statement said.

{Matzav.com}

BREAKING: The Klausenberger Rebbe passed out momentarily this evening while addressing a major Siyum HaRambam at the Armory in Crown Heights. The Rebbe was not transported to the hospital. Sources tell YWN that the Rebbe fasts during the weeks of “Shovavim”, and this incident is possibly related.

A quiet but far-reaching transformation is underway inside the world’s largest yeshiva. After decades of fragmented stipends, fluctuating bonuses, and multiple monthly payments, Mir Yeshiva has adopted a new, unified financial model that is already changing daily life for thousands of avreichim.

Anyone familiar with the inner workings of Mir knows that even a minor administrative adjustment quickly becomes the talk of the Beis Yisrael neighborhood. What has taken place over the past three months, however, goes well beyond a technical tweak. It is a fundamental overhaul that directly affects the financial stability and peace of mind of the yeshiva’s avreichim and their families.

For many years, the stipend system at Mir was built in layers. There was a basic allowance, supplemented by an extensive web of incentives: special programs, chaburos, group learning tracks, bonuses for tests, and rewards for consistency. While these additions increased overall support, they often arrived separately and unpredictably. Payments were sometimes delayed, making it difficult for families to plan ahead or even know how much money would ultimately come in at the end of the month.

In advance of the yeshiva’s upcoming historic Adirei-like gathering scheduled for Rosh Chodesh Adar, the hanhalah approved what insiders are calling a “revolution of order.” The goal was clear: transparency, stability, and kavod haTorah. Under the new system, all bonuses and supplements—previously issued as separate payments—are consolidated into a single, fixed monthly check.

The result is a dramatic increase in clarity and consistency. Instead of a base stipend followed by scattered additions, the entire package is now paid at once. The new monthly amount exceeds 2,000 shekels, with many avreichim receiving between 2,000 and 2,200 shekels, depending on seniority and learning track.

“Until now, the money came in drip by drip,” one Mir yungerman explained. “You’d get the base amount, then wait to see when the chaburah supplement would arrive, and later the bonus from a learning program. Today, I receive one respectable check. It’s almost double what used to be considered a standard stipend. It gives you stability, peace of mind to focus on learning, and a real sense that the yeshiva values our effort in a dignified way.”

Those involved in implementing the change emphasize that this is not merely a financial adjustment, but a shift in attitude toward those who devote their lives to limud haTorah. “We realized that the real revolution isn’t only about raising funds,” one official said, “but about how that support is delivered. A single, unified check creates order and wellbeing. When an avreich knows exactly how much he is receiving—and that the amount meaningfully reflects all the programs and achievements that are now built into the stipend—it changes how he experiences his avodah.”

{Matzav.com}

Kaplan Medical Center reported today that the condition of a 35-year-old chosson who collapsed earlier this week has shown marked improvement.

As reported here on Matzav.com, the chosson collapsed during his wedding at Kibbutz Hulda and received immediate medical attention from medics and paramedics of Magen David Adom (MDA) and United Hatzalah who were present at the simcha.

Hospital officials said Wednesday morning that the chosson has regained consciousness and is now able to communicate with those around him. Doctors noted that he is no longer considered to be in immediate life-threatening danger.

Dr. Natalia Kaufman, Director of the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit at Kaplan Medical Center, said: “There has been significant improvement in the condition of the patient who arrived from the event hall in the Shephelah region. After intensive treatment by the medical team, the patient has regained consciousness and is communicating with those around him. At this stage, we can say he is no longer in immediate danger.”

She added: “He still requires ongoing supervision and close monitoring in the cardiac ICU to ensure his stability. The medical team continues to investigate the cause of the incident.”

Ben Sinai, a United Hatzalah volunteer who was attending the wedding, described the dramatic moments following the collapse. “I was in the hall as one of the guests at the wedding when I suddenly saw a commotion and heard cries for help. I noticed that the chosson had collapsed and was in cardiac arrest. I immediately called for assistance and began resuscitation efforts with the help of additional medics, including the use of the event hall’s defibrillator. After prolonged CPR and, thank God, his heart started beating again. He was taken to the hospital, and at this stage his condition is serious.”

{Matzav.com}

Trump on Jerome Powell: “I’m asking him, ‘Why are you spending almost $4B on a very small, little complex of buildings?’ … He’s renovating buildings for $3-$4B… They’re spending more money than [was spent on] any building ever built in history, per square foot.”

Senator Josh Hawley on the suspected biolab that the FBI raided in Las Vegas: We don’t know if this property owner, who is a Chinese national, has ties to the Chinese government, and I think we’d better find out really quickly.

Residents of the city of Beitar Illit have become accustomed to the fact that every week, the gates of the city are closed before Shabbos to prevent Chillul Shabbos. But most residents weren’t aware of the story of emunah and mesiras nefesh behind the closing of gates, a story that ended this week with tears […]

Members of the newest class of probationary firefighters visited the 9/11 Memorial & Museum on Wednesday, continuing a long-standing department tradition held with each incoming class to honor the victims of the September 11 attacks.

Trump on his call with President Xi: “We have a very good relationship… these are the two most powerful countries in the world and we have a very good relationship. We spoke for an hour… China’s paying a lot of tariffs. In the past, they didn’t.”

More than 60 skiers were stranded in frigid conditions at a resort in New York’s Adirondack Mountains after a mechanical issue halted a ski lift, though all were evacuated safely.

Trump on Kevin Warsh: He would not have gotten the job for Federal Reserve chair if he was not in agreement with lowering interest rates.

TRUMP: “There are some areas in our country that are extremely corrupt. They have very corrupt elections. Take a look at Detroit, take a look at Philadelphia, take a look at Atlanta… If [states] can’t do it honestly, and it can’t be done properly and timely, then something else has to happen.”

Trump on helping cities remove criminals: “Well, one thing I say to my people… I say, ‘They have to ask, and they have to say please.'” NBC: “Who has to ask, and who has to say please? TRUMP: “The mayor or the governor.”