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Two internal Hamas documents uncovered by Israeli forces in Gaza reveal that international aid groups, including the Red Cross and Doctors Without Borders, were fully aware that Hamas embedded its fighters and infrastructure inside Gaza’s hospitals — even as they publicly denied or ignored the practice, NGO Monitor said. The memos, dated February and March 2020, were translated and released by NGO Monitor after being declassified by the IDF. They describe Hamas’s systematic use of hospitals such as Al-Shifa and Nasser as command centers, gathering points for its leaders, and extensions of its terror network. One document states explicitly that the International Committee of the Red Cross set up offices adjacent to Hamas’s movement offices in the Al-Shifa complex. Another notes that Doctors Without Borders chose a secure communications room in Abu Yousef El-Najar Hospital. The memos underscore Hamas’s position that hospitals are not neutral but integral to its operations. “These groups clearly knew that Hamas exploited these facilities and chose to remain silent,” said Gerald Steinberg, president of NGO Monitor. “While condemning Israel for targeting hospitals, they ignored the terror infrastructure inside them.” The documents also show that Hamas’s Interior Security Mechanism tightly controlled NGO activity, forcing foreign delegations to report staff names, accept security escorts, and operate only with Hamas approval — effectively making them complicit in the group’s system. Anne Herzberg, NGO Monitor’s legal adviser, said it was “beyond belief” that organizations like the ICRC continue to deny knowledge of Hamas’s actions. “The documents show they had to report to Hamas. They knew they were being monitored,” she said. When pressed for comment, the ICRC declined to acknowledge Hamas’s use of medical facilities, citing only international humanitarian law protections for hospitals. Doctors Without Borders reiterated on its website that it has “no direct information” of Hamas fighters in hospitals, despite multiple reports and hostage testimony confirming their presence. The silence enables Hamas to continue using civilians and medical facilities as human shields. “They’re turning hospitals into military objectives,” Herzberg said. “Covering for Hamas only encourages them to keep doing it.” (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Rav Dovid Leibel has issued a sharply worded letter to Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara, urging her to halt the arrests of yeshiva students classified as army deserters. In his letter, he argued that such detentions only deepen mistrust and radicalization within the chareidi community, rather than contributing to a viable solution.

“The arrest of yeshiva students whose Torah is their profession not only fails to advance the necessary resolution but actually leads to further extremism and magnifies the existing suspicion,” Rav Leibel wrote. He demanded that the attorney general immediately put an end to the practice of arresting yeshiva students — including those not fully engaged in learning — emphasizing that this approach exacerbates tensions between the Torah world and state institutions.

Rav Leibel, who was instrumental in founding the new chareidi division known as HaChashmonaim, has been deeply involved in discussions over the draft since the outbreak of the war. While he has consistently rejected IDF enlistment for chareidim unless their lifestyle is fully protected by army regulations, he has also stressed the need for practical frameworks that balance Torah study with national responsibility.

In his letter, he called the arrests “damaging and harmful,” and instead pressed for measures that would build confidence between the chareidi community and the army. Among the steps he proposed were enshrining guarantees for preserving a strictly chareidi way of life in IDF orders and establishing a rabbinic oversight committee under the Ministry of Defense to ensure compliance.

“The time has come to restore trust,” he wrote. “Promises in the past were not kept, and this led to disappointment and mistrust. Arresting yeshiva students only worsens the crisis. With goodwill, solutions can be found that will meet legal requirements while preventing unnecessary damage.”

Copies of the letter were also sent to the Defense Minister, the IDF Chief of Staff, the head of the Manpower Directorate, and Brig. Gen. Shay Taib, head of the IDF’s Technological and Logistics Directorate.

So far, the Attorney General has not responded to Rav Leibel’s letter.

{Matzav.com Israel}

Rep. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota lashed out in an interview about slain conservative activist Charlie Kirk, mocking the idea that he was simply seeking polite political dialogue.
“There are a lot of people who are talking about him [Kirk] just wanting to have a civil debate,” Omar sneered to progressive outlet Zeteo. “These people are full of [garbage] and it’s important for us to call them out while we feel anger and sadness.”

She accused the Turning Point USA leader of minimizing George Floyd’s death and opposing Juneteenth, further dismissing any notion that his record had been misrepresented.
“There is nothing more [messed] up than to pretend that his words and actions haven’t been recorded and in existence for the last decade or so,” she said, alleging that Kirk’s social media presence was filled with “hateful rhetoric.”

Omar was not alone among Democrats in showing little sympathy for Kirk’s murder. Just hours after he was gunned down at Utah Valley University, Illinois Governor JB Pritzker turned his ire on President Trump.

“Political violence unfortunately has been ratcheting up in this country,” Pritzker told reporters, pointing to the recent killing of Minnesota’s Democratic House speaker.

“I think there are people who are fomenting it in this country — I think the president’s rhetoric often foments it,” Pritzker went on.

“We’ve seen the January 6th rioters who clearly have tripped a new era of political violence,” he added, ignoring the two failed assassination attempts against Trump himself.

Arizona Senator Mark Kelly also weighed in, faulting extreme speech from all political corners.

“Political violence is never the answer. It divides us. But also, I’ve got to say, political rhetoric, too, from both sides, often gets out of hand and it incites people to do things like this,” Kelly said during a CNN appearance.

He appealed to Americans to “think about … our words and the consequences of them, you know, from both sides of the political spectrum.”

Others took the opportunity to openly revel in Kirk’s death. Michael Kilbane, president of the Fairview Park, Ohio City Council, wrote a cruel Facebook post: “A lot of good people died today. Charlie Kirk wasn’t one of them.”

Even members of law enforcement joined in. Secret Service agent Anthony Pough used Facebook to mock those grieving.

“If you are Mourning this guy .. delete me. He spewed hate and racism on his show,” Pough wrote, as reported by RealClearPolitics.

“At the end of the day, you answer to GOD and speak things into existence. You can only circumvent karma, she doesnt [sic] leave,” he added.

The Secret Service issued a response to The NY Post, stressing that the agency “will not tolerate any behavior which violates our code of conduct.”

“We are aware of the employee’s social media post from today and the individual has been placed on administrative leave as we investigate the matter,” a spokesperson confirmed.

The fallout extended beyond the agency. A Marine recruiter lost his position after uploading an Instagram image of Kirk with the caption: “Another racist man popped.”

“The Marine in question has been relieved of his recruiting duties, and the matter is currently under investigation,” Capt. Austin Gallegos told Task & Purpose.

Meanwhile, a Toledo Fire Department battalion chief used Facebook to celebrate the killing, writing that the shooting was “totally preventable and avoidable if not for the policies and beliefs of people like” Kirk and “his uneducated hateful ilk.”

“Wish the guy was a better shot,” the post continued. “Charlie Kirk offers nothing but hate and division to society.”

“No one would miss him and discourse would be better without him.” The fire department is said to be reviewing the disturbing message.

The backlash even reached the classroom. AnneMarie Donahue, a teacher at Wachusett Regional High School in Massachusetts, was placed on leave after Libs of TikTok highlighted an Instagram post where she wrote: “We’re NOT offering sympathy.”

Her post came just minutes after Kirk was struck by the sniper’s bullet.

In Florida, Lee County School District Commissioner Anastasios Kamoutsas vowed accountability.

He announced plans to investigate “every educator who engages in this vile, sanctionable behavior” after FOX 4 reported on a district employee who wrote: “What’s that about the cost of the second amendment being ‘some gun deaths every year,’ Bye Charlie.”

{Matzav.com}

Feminist website Jezebel is facing intense backlash after publishing an article in which a reporter paid self-described witches on Etsy to place curses on Charlie Kirk — just two days before the conservative activist was assassinated at a Utah Valley University event. The article, published Monday, mocked Kirk while detailing how the writer purchased “multiple curses” intended to silence the Turning Point USA founder. “Are you interested in punishing Kirk for the years of regressive rhetoric he’s shouted at America’s youth and anyone within earshot?” the piece asked readers. “To ruin his day with the collective feminist power of the Etsy coven would be my life’s greatest joy.” The Jezebel reporter admitted to unease about the stunt, writing, “Now, is it ethical to curse a man I’ve never met? Probably not. But is it unethical to let him keep talking? Yes. So here we are, in the gray area.” On Wednesday, Kirk was gunned down mid-speech during his “American Comeback Tour,” fatally shot in the neck as he addressed students in Orem, Utah. The suspected assassin remains at large. Following the killing, Jezebel quietly added an editor’s note to the top of the piece: “This story was published on September 8. Jezebel condemns the shooting of Charlie Kirk in the strongest possible terms. We do not endorse, encourage, or excuse political violence of any kind.” (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Images and video clips of the man authorities are seeking in the killing of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk have been made public as investigators continue their pursuit for the second consecutive day.

On Thursday morning, the FBI distributed several pictures of a “college-aged” suspect they believe may be linked to the attack.

“We are asking for the public’s help identifying this person of interest in connection with the fatal shooting of Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University,” the FBI posted on X. The photos show a thin man covered in dark clothing from head to toe.

The suspect is shown with wraparound sunglasses, a dark cap, and a long-sleeved shirt that appears to feature an American flag.

TMZ reported that the same individual was caught on security cameras heading toward the Utah Valley University campus on the morning Kirk’s event was scheduled to begin.

Later that night, the Utah Department of Public Safety released four more images that provided a closer look. Although his gray hat partially conceals his face, the shirt displays both an eagle and an American flag, his gray Converse shoes are visible, and one shot shows his black backpack.

The low-quality footage reveals a tall, slim man entirely dressed in black, limping along a neighborhood street with a backpack just before noon as he made his way toward the university.

Officials suspect that he might have been hiding the bolt-action rifle later discovered by police not far from the crime scene.

Authorities further suggested that because of his attire, the man could have blended in with the fleeing crowd in the immediate aftermath of the gunfire.

Anyone with information is urged to call 1-800-CALL-FBI or submit details online.

Kirk, age 31, was struck by a single sniper’s bullet fired from the Losee Center building on campus, roughly 200 yards away from where he was addressing the audience at the opening stop of his American Comeback tour.

Two people who were initially detained in the wake of the incident were later cleared of involvement. One faces an obstruction charge, while the other was questioned by federal investigators and released.

Investigators recovered a .30-06 Mauser bolt-action rifle wrapped in a towel in wooded terrain near Utah Valley University’s Orem campus. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives said the weapon is believed to have been used in the crime.

Preliminary accounts indicated that the rifle’s ammunition carried markings referencing “transgender and anti-fascist ideology.” However, a Justice Department official told The NY Post that the agency has not yet confirmed whether those inscriptions matched what was recovered at the site.

{Matzav.com}

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) launched a blistering attack on conservative broadcaster Tucker Carlson on Wednesday, accusing him of fueling antisemitism and anti-Israel sentiment among young conservatives. Speaking at the Heritage Foundation in Washington, Cruz warned that Carlson’s rhetoric was “deeply disturbing” and compared him directly to progressive firebrand Rep. Ilhan Omar, a frequent critic of Israel. “Tucker Carlson is turning into Ilhan Omar. This is bizarre. This is ridiculous,” Cruz declared, drawing sharp applause from the audience. The senator’s comments came as part of a broader warning that antisemitism is taking root on the American right. “In the last six months, what we’ve seen on the right has been deeply disturbing,” he said, urging Republicans not to stay silent. “We need to speak out and oppose it.” Cruz singled out Carlson’s program, which has featured Holocaust revisionists and guests questioning whether Hamas is a terrorist group. “There are very few ironclad rules of politics, but here’s one. Hitler was always, always bad,” Cruz said to cheers. Carlson, once the most watched host on Fox News, has also amplified the “great replacement theory,” a racist and antisemitic conspiracy cited by white supremacists in Charlottesville in 2017 and by the gunman who killed 11 Jews at Pittsburgh’s Tree of Life synagogue in 2018. “What worries me most,” Cruz said, “is the 19- and 20-year-old college kids, who are listening to this and cheering on this anti-Israel sentiment, this antisemitic sentiment.” Cruz’s warning comes as Carlson remains a powerful figure on the right. He received thunderous applause at the 2024 Republican National Convention and campaigned alongside GOP vice-presidential nominee JD Vance. The senator also used his Heritage appearance to promote new legislation designating the Muslim Brotherhood and its branches as terrorist organizations — a move that would sanction Hamas and other Islamist groups. The bill has nine Senate co-sponsors and a bipartisan companion in the House. But his sharpest barbs were aimed not at Democrats but at Carlson, whose growing influence among young conservatives Cruz described as corrosive and dangerous. “Antisemitism must never be tolerated — not on the left, and not on the right,” Cruz said. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Two days after Israel carried out its strike targeting senior Hamas figures in the heart of Qatar, Israeli defense officials are increasingly concerned that the mission did not meet its objectives. According to a Thursday report on Channel 12, assessments within the defense establishment now lean toward classifying the operation as a failure.

A senior Israeli source acknowledged that while there may have been limited success in eliminating a handful of senior operatives, the primary target was not achieved. “We are continuing to wait for the final intelligence picture and are hoping that perhaps some of the senior officials were killed,” the source said, adding, “as the hours go by, it seems that most of the operation’s goals were not accomplished.”

Updated assessments indicate that Hamas leaders were indeed inside the structure struck by the Israeli Air Force. However, reports suggest that either the munitions used were ill-suited for the designated target, or that the Hamas leaders managed to flee to another room at the moment of impact.

Channel 13 further reported that many Israeli security officials argued against the timing of the strike, describing it as “the most inconvenient moment imaginable.” They had urged Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to postpone action in light of discussions surrounding President Trump’s proposed framework for a potential deal, stressing that “it would be better to give negotiations a chance.”

A senior Israeli official criticized Netanyahu directly: “The prime minister chose not to accept the position of 90% of the professional bodies who made clear the consequences—among them the IDF Chief of Staff, the head of the National Security Council, and the head of the Mossad.”

Kan News reported that in a cabinet meeting ahead of the strike, Mossad Director Dedi Barnea warned against targeting Hamas leaders during active negotiations. “When there are talks taking place, you don’t eliminate the people you are dealing with,” he cautioned.

Looking ahead, Netanyahu is expected to convene the security cabinet tomorrow to discuss the continuation of Israel’s campaign in Gaza and assess the broader implications of the strike in Qatar.

{Matzav.com Israel}

Israeli President Yitzchak Herzog was the target of a security scare in London on Thursday after a suspicious package was delivered during his official visit, his office said. British and Israeli security personnel moved quickly to secure the object. Officials did not provide details on the contents of the package, but the incident underscored mounting concerns that Iranian-linked groups could attempt to target Israeli officials abroad following the June war with Tehran. Israeli intelligence has repeatedly warned that Iran, working with Hamas, may seek to strike Israeli assets overseas. In response, the Shin Bet has deployed what it described as “unique technological capabilities” to bolster security around Israeli diplomatic missions, delegations and institutions. Some of the measures, officials said, are being used abroad for the first time. Herzog’s trip to Britain has already been marked by political tension. On Wednesday, he met with Prime Minister Keir Starmer at 10 Downing Street in a meeting both sides described as difficult. Herzog criticized the U.K. government’s stance on Israel, while Starmer condemned Israel’s ongoing campaign against Hamas and its strike on terrorists in Qatar earlier this week. “It was a meeting between allies, but it was a tough meeting,” Herzog said later at Chatham House. “Things were said that were tough and strong, and clearly we can argue, because when allies meet, they can argue.” (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

The State Department announced on Thursday that it is keeping watch on the online activity of foreign nationals who are “praising, rationalizing, or making light” of the assassination of conservative figure Charlie Kirk.

Kirk, 31, was gunned down on Wednesday while delivering a speech at Utah Valley University. Authorities are still searching for the shooter.

“In light of yesterday’s horrific assassination of a leading political figure, I want to underscore that foreigners who glorify violence and hatred are not welcome visitors to our country,” Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau wrote in a message posted on X.

“I have been disgusted to see some on social media praising, rationalizing, or making light of the event, and have directed our consular officials to undertake appropriate action. Please feel free to bring such comments by foreigners to my attention so that the @StateDept can protect the American people.”

Shortly after Landau’s statement, X users began responding with examples of posts that they said matched his description.

“Hey @Microsoft is this your employee celebrating the murder of Charlie Kirk? Does this align with your company values?” one person asked.

Another user added, “A Somalian American X user celebrating the assassination of Charlie Kirk.”

{Matzav.com}

In a heartfelt conversation with Bamah magazine, HaGaon Rav Moshe Yehuda Schlesinger, one of the elder roshei yeshiva of our generation and rosh yeshiva of Kol Torah, reflected on the recent horrific terror attack at the Ramot Junction in Yerushalayim in which Reb Levi Yitzchok Pash, a devoted worker of the yeshiva, was murdered.

“I know what it means to feel the pain of loss,” Rav Schlesinger said. “I too had a son who was murdered, Hashem yikom damo. It is a pain that endures for years. People sometimes imagine that grief fades with time, but this is not true at all. In fact, the difficulty can even intensify as the years go on.”

Rav Schlesinger himself suffered the tragic murder of his son, Eliezer Schlesinger z”l, who was killed during the First Intifada in Sivan 5748 (1988). Eliezer was returning from Yeshivas Maalot HaTorah near Gan Sacher when he was attacked and murdered by a terrorist from Abu Ghosh. He was buried on Har HaZeisim.

Speaking with deep pain about the loss of Reb Levi Yitzchok Pash, the rosh yeshiva described him as “a unique individual, with remarkable character traits, who was deeply devoted to the bochurim of the yeshiva and constantly sought ways to benefit and assist them. We must learn from his path. I heard that whenever he had spare time, he would enter the beis medrash to sit and learn. Such behavior reveals a person who, despite being engaged in earning a livelihood, constantly sought growth in Torah and yiras Shamayim.”

In his wider remarks published in Bamah, Rav Schlesinger emphasized the importance of reflection and awareness in avodas Hashem. “This is something that obligates every individual. The value of our deeds is determined by the thought and intention we put into them. For us, bnei hayeshivos, whose lives revolve around Torah study and mitzvah observance, it is certainly incumbent upon us to examine our actions so that everything we do comes from an elevated place.”

He stressed that this message is especially relevant in these days leading up to the Yamim Nora’im. “We must arrive at the Days of Judgment with careful thought and reflection on the year that has passed, on everything that has befallen Klal Yisroel in this past year. By doing so, each person will be able to strengthen himself in the areas where he most needs chizuk.”

{Matzav.com}

Shuls should bar individual mispalelim from bringing guns to minyanim unless they are part of an organized, trained security team, according to new guidance released this week by the Secure Community Network (SCN), the security arm of the Jewish Federations of North America and the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations. The report comes as Jewish communities face heightened threats and as debates over firearms in shuls intensify. Michael Masters, SCN’s national director and CEO, told JNS that “allowing individuals in an unstructured, unplanned way to carry guns in a house of worship is simply not a viable or responsible option given the threat environment or the potential impacts of doing that.” Instead, SCN is urging congregations to formalize volunteer security teams — with clear chains of command, defined roles, and training in threat recognition, crisis response and de-escalation — coordinated with law enforcement and backed by written policies. “Far too few” shuls have what Masters called “a thoroughly vetted, well-thought-out gun policy.” The report stakes out a position in a debate that has quietly divided Jewish institutions: whether armed mispalelim deter attacks or risk turning moments of crisis into chaos. Millions of Americans — including many Jewish families — have purchased firearms in recent years. But SCN warns that unstructured gun carrying could expose synagogues to legal liability and undermine carefully crafted security protocols. The recommendations: Limit armed presence to vetted volunteer teams. Clarify when and how force can be used. Train members on situational awareness and de-escalation. Establish policies for other weapons, including tasers and sprays. Jewish institutions have poured money into security since the deadly Pittsburgh synagogue shooting in 2018, with dramatic increases in patrols, coordination with police, and infrastructure upgrades. Yomim Noraim tefillos are now among the most heavily secured times of the year, Masters noted — though he acknowledged that smaller shuls often struggle with fewer resources. “We are investing more as a community, nationally and locally, in security than we ever have before,” he said. “But the responsibility to do this right has never been higher.” (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

A Nukhba terrorist who was captured about two weeks ago provided the security establishment with an internal glimpse of life in Gaza. In a recording published on Channel 14, the Nukbah terrorist admits that the majority of “innocent Gazan civilians” belong to terrorist organizations. “About 70% of the residents of Gaza belong to the Hamas and Islamic Jihad organizations, the most well-known organizations we have that control the area,” he said. “Everyone belongs to Hamas and Islamic Jihad.” It should be noted that the other 30% may belong to other terrorist organizations located in Gaza, including those affiliated with ISIS, the cruel Mujahideen Brigades terror group that abducted the Bibas family, H’yd, and other groups affiliated with the PFLP, DFLP, and Al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades. He added that he thinks that at least 70% of the residents of the Strip would immigrate to other countries if they were allowed: “If most people in Gaza had the chance to leave for Egypt, they wouldn’t care where they went—the real goal is simply to escape Hamas’s oppression here.” (YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)

In preparation for the upcoming Yamim Nora’im, important changes have been announced within the Gerrer chassidus: the appointment of a new baal tokei’a to blow the shofar in the main beis medrash, and a new permanent gabbai to oversee its operations.

The announcements come as the community braces for the solemn days ahead, following a period of difficulty due to the weakened health of the Gerrer Rebbe. For the first time, a special chamber has been built within the main beis medrash on Rechov Yirmiyahu in Yerushalayim, connecting the Rebbe’s private residence with his designated place of tefillah.

According to information obtained by Matzav.com, Rabbi Moshe Aryeh Weinstein has been appointed as the new baal tokei’a, succeeding the legendary Rabbi Itche Rosmarin. Already during Rabbi Rosmarin’s lifetime, Rabbi Weinstein was chosen as his deputy and on several occasions blew the shofar in the main beis medrash. With Rabbi Rosmarin’s passing this past Sivan, Rabbi Weinstein has now officially assumed the sacred role.

Rabbi Weinstein is the son of Rabbi Chaim Yisroel Weinstein z”l, a Holocaust survivor who later settled in Yerushalayim and delivered shiurim in Zichron Moshe. Growing up in the Gerrer institutions, Reb Moshe Aryeh married the daughter of Rabbi Zalman Orzel and lived in Bnei Brak, near Rabbi Shlomo Zilberstein, one of the leading rabbanim of the chassidus. In recent years, he relocated to Ashdod.

A man of notable Torah scholarship, Rabbi Weinstein was among the founders of the Rashi shtiebel in Bnei Brak, where the Gerrer Rebbe himself would daven. He is also renowned as an expert sofer STa”M, with many of the greatest rabbanim requesting his exquisitely crafted tefillin. The waiting list for his work was famously long, with wealthy patrons often placing orders immediately upon the birth of a son. His integrity and precision became his hallmark, earning him the trust of the Gerrer leadership. At the outset of the current Rebbe’s leadership some three decades ago, Rabbi Weinstein was appointed to the management board of the Gerrer institutions and has since remained closely involved.

Gerrer chassidim recall that in earlier times, another baal tokei’a, Rabbi Simcha Bunim Shpernovitz—also a sofer STa”M—was affectionately known as “Simcha Bunim Sofer-Shofar,” a testament to the community’s tradition of combining scholarship, craftsmanship, and devotion in this pivotal role.

In addition to Rabbi Weinstein’s appointment, another major position has been filled: Rabbi Mordechai Yosef Schiff has been named the permanent chief gabbai of the great beis medrash.

Rabbi Schiff is the son of the revered longtime gabbai, Rabbi Chanina Schiff, with whom he served for many years. He is considered one of the Rebbe’s close confidants and is highly respected for his authority in overseeing all matters of the beis medrash. Beyond his new appointment, Rabbi Schiff also serves as the rov of a yishuv in Mateh Yehuda and is responsible for distributing the shmuessen of the Gerrer Rebbes.

This marks the second time in Gerrer history that the son of a gabbai has stepped into his father’s role. Following the passing of Rabbi Chanina Schiff in 2008, Rabbi Mendel Binka—son of the previous gabbai, Rabbi Yehoshua Noach Binka—was appointed. Throughout his tenure, Rabbi Yosef Schiff remained by his side, assisting with all aspects of the gabbai duties.

During the COVID-19 restrictions, the Rebbe’s aide, Rabbi Leibel Pazintchevsky, temporarily assumed the role of gabbai. Now, with this latest announcement, Rabbi Yosef Schiff has been formally confirmed as the permanent successor, continuing the legacy of his father.

{Matzav.com}

Large crowds from across the chassidic community gathered outside Prison 10 to protest the detention of yeshiva students who had been arrested due to unresolved draft status issues. The demonstration came in response to the imprisonment of Nesanel Maor Yitzchak and Yisroel Meir Taharani — the latter having completed his sheva brachos only the day before — and was framed as a wider objection to what organizers described as the government’s harassment of Torah learners in Eretz Yisroel.

The rally was arranged by the Action Committee established earlier this year at a meeting of prominent chassidic leaders in Ma’ale Hachamisha. At the forefront were representatives of the largest dynasties, including Gur, Vizhnitz, Sanz, Boyan, and Slonim.

The event opened with an address by Rav Moshe Bruner, mashgiach of Yeshivas Sfas Emes in Yerushalayim. Standing beside him was Rav Avraham Mordechai Alter, eldest son of the Gerrer Rebbe, lending the evening heightened significance. In a forceful statement directed at the government, Rav Bruner declared: “We are addressing the Prime Minister and the ministers as clearly as can be: no quotas and no targets! If you want the merit of supporting Torah, then arrange for Torah scholars to be legally registered, and you will gain the zechus haTorah. If not, salvation will come to the Jewish people from another place. We will come out ahead, and you will be the ones who lose — let that be clear!”

The Rebbe of Chug Chasam Sofer also spoke, lamenting what he described as ongoing persecution: “Shamefully, even in 5785, Torah learners in Eretz Yisroel are being targeted. It is not enough that they themselves cast off the yoke [of Torah], now they pursue those who dedicate their lives to it and send young bochurim to military prison. We will not allow it, and they will not succeed in breaking our spirit.”

A broad range of chassidic communities participated in the protest, including Gur–Beit Shemesh, Boyan–Modi’in Illit, Seret Vizhnitz, Sanz, Tchernobyl, and others. Among the prominent figures present were Rav Avraham Mordechai Alter, son of the Gerrer Rebbe; Rav Dovid Twersky, son of the Tchernobyler Rebbe of Beit Shemesh; the Chasam Sofer Rebbe; the Temeshvar Rebbe; Rav Avraham Yehoshua Heschel Breyer, son of the Boyaner Rebbe; Rav Fishel Hager, son-in-law of the Boyaner Rebbe; Rav Yechezkel Durbarmadiker, Boyaner Rav in Modi’in Illit; and Rav Shraga Feivel Weinberger, Rav of the Yeshuos Moshe Vizhnitz kehillah in Elad and member of the Vizhnitz beis din in Bnei Brak.

המחאה בכלא 10צילום: קובי הר צבי המחאה בכלא 10צילום: קובי הר צבי המחאה בכלא 10צילום: קובי הר צבי המחאה בכלא 10צילום: קובי הר צבי המחאה בכלא 10צילום: קובי הר צבי המחאה בכלא 10צילום: קובי הר צבי המחאה בכלא 10צילום: קובי הר צבי המחאה בכלא 10צילום: קובי הר צבי המחאה בכלא 10צילום: קובי הר צבי המחאה בכלא 10צילום: קובי הר צבי המחאה בכלא 10צילום: קובי הר צבי המחאה בכלא 10צילום: קובי הר צבי המחאה בכלא 10צילום: קובי הר צבי המחאה בכלא 10צילום: קובי הר צבי המחאה בכלא 10צילום: קובי הר צבי המחאה בכלא 10צילום: קובי הר צבי המחאה בכלא 10צילום: קובי הר צבי המחאה בכלא 10צילום: קובי הר צבי {Matzav.com}

It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of Rav Eliyahu Greenzeig zt”l, one of Yerushalayim’s distinguished talmidei chachomim, who was niftar at the age of 84. In recent years, he endured prolonged suffering with great strength and emunah. His levayah was held at Shamgar, continuing to Har HaMenuchos for kevurah.

Rav Greenzeig was born in Tel Aviv in 1942 (5702) to his father Rav Chaim zt”l and his mother Mrs. Rachel Leah a”h. In his youth, he studied at the Yeshiva LeTzeirim of Or Yisroel in Petach Tikvah, where he was cherished by his rabbeim, including Roshei Yeshiva Rav Yaakov Neiman and Rav Yaakov Rozovsky.

He later advanced to Ponovezh Yeshiva, where he formed close bonds with its roshei yeshiva, particularly with Rav Yosef Shlomo Kahaneman zt”l, the Ponovezher Rav, to whom his grandfather had also been deeply connected.

Following his marriage to the daughter of Rav Bentzion Prag zt”l, Av Beis Din of Agudas Yisroel and one of the gedolim of Yerushalayim, Rav Greenzeig was asked to serve as a maggid shiur at Yeshivas HaGra in Haifa.

Afterward, he settled in Yerushalayim, maintaining close ties with many of the city’s great Torah figures. During these years, he took on the role of editor of the renowned Otzar Meforshei HaTalmud project, republished the commentary of the Abudraham, and authored numerous seforim that earned him wide recognition, including Mikra Ha’eidah, Pekudei Ha’eidah, and Kruei Mo’ed.

He leaves behind a family that follows in his path: his sons, Rav Shimon, Rav Yaakov, and Rav Menachem, and his son-in-law Rav Shmuel Movshovitz.

Yehi zichro boruch.

{Matzav.com Israel}

A town in Westchester County has walked back its earlier rejection of a request by a Jewish group to hold Tashlich in a local park, The Forward reports. On Wednesday evening, the Mount Kisco Recreation Commission voted to grant Chabad of Bedford a permit for the Rosh Hashanah ritual at Leonard Park, easing tensions over whether religious practices could take place there.

The Forward reported that back in June, the Commission had turned down Chabad’s permit request, pointing to a deed restriction that supposedly prohibited religious functions. That position drew criticism after it emerged that the same park had hosted an Easter egg hunt this spring. Tashlich is a ceremony during Rosh Hashanah in which Jews symbolically cast away sins by tossing pieces of bread into flowing water.

“I’m glad that they reconsidered, that they realized that a mistake was made, and they were able to backtrack and do the right thing for the community and for their constituents,” said Rabbi Arik Wolf of Chabad of Bedford.

Mayor Michael Cindrich explained to The Examiner News that Leonard Park is covered by four different deeds, some of which date back nearly a century and contain contradictory provisions. After seeking legal advice, he said the town was told, “the recommendation was to move ahead with it and deal with other conflicts in the future.”

Attorney Lauren Israelovitch of the National Jewish Advocacy Center, who is representing Chabad, praised the town’s reversal but warned that the mayor’s remarks suggested more hurdles may lie ahead when it comes to similar applications.

“While the mayor has described the matter as ‘extremely complicated,’ citing various deeds and conveyances to be reviewed in the coming months so that park rules and restrictions can be clarified, the law is clear: blanket bans on religious activities in a park—without valid time, place, and manner restrictions—are unconstitutional,” she said in a statement given to the Forward.

“We trust the Village will ultimately do the right thing, and we will continue to monitor developments closely,” she added. “If necessary, we are prepared to go to court, though we sincerely hope it does not come to that.”

For now, Chabad has the go-ahead to conduct Tashlich at Leonard Park this year.

“I think it certainly will bring more people out this year who feel grateful that we’re able to exercise our rights,” Rabbi Wolf remarked.

{Matzav.com}

Yerushalayim is facing renewed uproar over the ongoing high school crisis. Despite assurances from the administration of the Old High School and the municipality that two new classes were being opened as an integral part of the institution to accommodate all girls left without placement, parents charge that, in practice, their daughters have been placed in a detached building far from the rest of the student body.

The plan was unveiled last week as a supposed solution to the crisis, with officials announcing that two new ninth-grade classes would be launched under the Seminar Hayoshon’s auspices. The goal, they said, was to provide every girl who remained without a school a proper placement.

But parents say the arrangement amounts to segregation. Instead of joining the high school’s established classes, the new students have been directed to an off-site facility, a move that has sparked intense anger and accusations of discrimination.

In a letter circulated by the high school administration, officials wrote: “Daas Torah has ruled that the Seminar Hayoshon should continue accepting excellent students from quality homes who remained outside for lack of space. At the same time, the current classes will be slightly reduced, and from them, two additional classes will be opened in a new building allocated to the high school by the municipality.”

The letter further stated that the additional classrooms are to function as a full and equal part of the high school: “There is nothing new under the Seminar Hayoshon. The students are an inseparable part of the high school as a whole, in every building, from ninth grade through the end of their studies.”

Parents, however, are unconvinced. They argue that their daughters have been relegated to what they call a “leper building,” isolated from the mainstream of the school. “After being badly hurt during the admissions process, they are now forced to begin their studies cut off from the regular classes, even though they are fine girls from exemplary chareidi homes,” parents said. “If the issue was only a matter of space, the twelfth-grade classes—already well integrated into the high school—could have been moved there. Instead, they are starting ninth grade in isolation.”

The Yerushalayim Municipality responded in a statement: “With the agreement of Mayor Moshe Leon and the Old High School’s leadership, it was decided to open additional classes to absorb the students left outside the system. Due to acute space constraints, the municipality located a nearby building and prepared it with new classrooms. All accepted girls are a full and integral part of the high school in every respect, from the unified educational staff to joint study days and extracurricular programs. Claims of racist discrimination are baseless and are categorically rejected.”

{Matzav.com Israel}