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Vice President JD Vance has established an early lead in the race for the 2028 Republican presidential nomination, while Democrats remain deeply divided over who should lead their party into the next presidential election, according to a new New York Times/Siena University survey.

The poll found that Vance commands the support of 33% of Republican primary voters, placing him ahead of Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who received 23%. On the Democratic side, however, no potential candidate managed to attract even 15% support, and a striking 45% of Democratic primary voters were unable to identify a preferred nominee.

The findings, released as the country prepares for the November 3 midterm elections, reveal a significant difference between the two parties. Republicans are already beginning to consolidate around potential successors to President Donald Trump, while Democrats have yet to develop a clear consensus about their political leadership or the direction their party should take.

Former Vice President Kamala Harris, who lost the 2024 presidential election to Trump, emerged as the leading Democratic prospect, but with the backing of only 12% of Democratic primary voters.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom placed second with 9%, followed by former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg at 7% and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York at 6%.

Sen. Jon Ossoff of Georgia received 4%, while Sen. Mark Kelly of Arizona attracted 3%. Every other Democrat mentioned by respondents received 2% support or less.

The unusually scattered results reflect the absence of a dominant figure within the Democratic Party following its defeat in the 2024 presidential election.

Unlike surveys that present voters with a predetermined selection of candidates, the Times/Siena poll asked respondents to name their preferred nominee without providing any suggested choices. That approach produced more than 20 different Democratic names, illustrating how unsettled the party’s presidential field remains.

Among those mentioned were Barack Obama and New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, neither of whom is eligible to seek the presidency. Obama is constitutionally barred from another term after serving twice as president, while Mamdani, who was born outside the United States, does not meet the Constitution’s natural-born-citizen requirement.

Even some Democrats who attracted measurable support have indicated that they are not interested in entering the 2028 contest.

Ossoff, who is currently campaigning for another Senate term, said during a debate last week that he intends to complete the full six years if reelected and has “zero interest in running for president.”

The survey also found substantial disagreements among Democratic voters over how the party should position itself politically after the 2024 election.

Nearly half of Democrats, 48%, said the party should adopt a more moderate approach and move closer to the political center. Another 27% preferred a shift further to the left, while 21% believed Democrats should maintain their current ideological direction.

The preference for moderation was even more pronounced among independent voters, with 72% saying Democrats should move toward the center. Only 11% of independents favored a more liberal direction.

Those findings suggest that Democrats face a challenge extending beyond the selection of their next presidential nominee. The party must also determine whether its future lies in appealing to more moderate voters or continuing to embrace the progressive positions championed by its left wing.

The Republican picture was considerably different, with Vance and Rubio together accounting for a majority of the preferences expressed by GOP primary voters.

Vance’s 33% support gives him a 10-point advantage over Rubio, who has previously indicated that he would defer to the vice president rather than challenge him for the Republican nomination.

President Trump himself was named by 8% of Republican respondents, despite being constitutionally ineligible to seek a third presidential term under the 22nd Amendment.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who challenged Trump for the Republican nomination in 2024, attracted just 3% support.

Another 26% of Republican primary voters did not identify a preferred candidate, considerably fewer than the 45% of Democrats who were unable to name a favorite.

The results suggest that Vance enters the early discussion about the 2028 Republican nomination with a substantial advantage, although Rubio remains a potentially significant figure should he decide to seek the presidency.

The survey also examined whether Republicans want their party to continue following Trump’s political agenda after his presidency ends.

A clear majority of Republican respondents, 63%, said they favor maintaining Trump’s policies, compared with 34% who would prefer the party to adopt a different direction.

Support for continuing Trump’s approach was particularly strong among older Republicans, while younger GOP voters were less firmly committed to preserving his political program.

Independent voters expressed a sharply different preference. More than 80% said they would like the Republican Party to move away from Trump’s approach, suggesting that the policies popular among the GOP base could present challenges in attracting voters outside the party.

The poll’s findings point to a potential dilemma for Republicans as they begin contemplating the post-Trump era. Although most Republican primary voters favor continuing his agenda, the broader electorate appears considerably less enthusiastic about that direction.

The presidential findings were drawn from a larger national survey conducted shortly before the November 3 congressional elections.

In the broader Times/Siena polling, Democrats held a substantial advantage among voters asked which party they would support for Congress. Among likely voters, Democrats led Republicans by approximately 11 percentage points in House races, 52% to 41%.

The survey also found that Trump’s job approval rating stood at 36% among likely voters, while 59% disapproved of his performance. Concerns about the economy, inflation, gasoline prices, and the war with Iran contributed to the negative assessments.

Those results suggest that Republicans face immediate electoral difficulties even as Vance emerges as an early favorite to succeed Trump as the party’s presidential nominee.

For Democrats, the situation is almost the reverse. Although the party currently enjoys a significant advantage in congressional voting preferences, its supporters have yet to agree on who should carry its banner in the next presidential election.

The Times/Siena survey was conducted from October 12 through October 19, with researchers interviewing 3,494 registered voters nationwide by telephone in English and Spanish.

The full survey carries a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 1.9 percentage points.

The presidential preference questions were answered by smaller groups consisting of 1,170 self-identified Democratic primary voters and 850 Republican primary voters. Because those samples were smaller, their margins of error are greater than that of the overall survey.

{Matzav.com}

After days of negotiations and disagreements among the Chassidic courts represented on the Israeli Agudas Yisroel Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah, an agreement has reportedly been reached to publish the council’s election declaration on Monday, just one day before Israel’s Knesset elections.

The kol korei will appear in the newspapers Hamodia and Hamevaser without the signatures of the Rebbes, in accordance with a request from Ger. However, the original wording will remain unchanged, including its strongly worded warning concerning those who do not vote for United Torah Judaism.

The agreement brings to a close a dispute that had delayed publication of the declaration during the final days of the election campaign.

The controversy began when the original text, which had been prepared for publication Thursday evening, was halted at the last moment following objections from the Gerer Rebbe.

The declaration states that voters must support only United Torah Judaism, whose ballot symbol is the Hebrew letter gimmel. It further warns that anyone who does not vote gimmel indirectly becomes a participant in a chillul Hashem and bears an extremely serious sin.

The Gerer Rebbe reportedly objected to the implications of that language, pointing out that it could be understood to mean that someone who votes for Shas is committing a sin.

He questioned how such a sweeping determination could be made, particularly regarding voters who support another established chareidi party.

Following his objections, discussions began over a revised version that would preserve the council’s endorsement of United Torah Judaism while removing the more severe language.

Under the proposed compromise wording, United Torah Judaism would be identified as the only party that the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah was calling upon the public to support.

The revised declaration would also have warned against voting for parties that do not enjoy the approval of the chachomim, but it would have omitted the assertion that anyone who fails to vote gimmel becomes a participant in a chillul Hashem.

Throughout Friday and Motzoei Shabbos, Agudas Yisroel Moetzes secretary Yaakov Walzer worked to resolve the disagreement, transmitting different versions of the declaration between the various Rebbes’ courts.

{Matzav.com}

Israeli Prime Minister Binyomin Netanyahu and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir questioned Israel Police Commissioner Danny Levy on Sunday about possible efforts to interfere with Tuesday’s Knesset elections, despite a ruling by Central Elections Committee Chairman Justice Noam Sohlberg that neither politician has the authority to direct police operations involving election integrity.

According to a report by Kan 11, the controversial meeting included discussions about potential attempts to disrupt voting, road blockades, and the police response to demonstrations. The discussions took place after Netanyahu had assured election authorities that the meeting would focus on security threats rather than political interference in the electoral process.

During the meeting, Ben-Gvir asked Levy whether police had received information about groups he described as “anarchist groups” planning to interfere with Tuesday’s voting.

Levy responded that police were investigating all information brought to their attention.

Netanyahu then sought details about how law enforcement would respond to attempts to prevent voters from reaching polling stations. The commissioner reportedly assured him that road blockades would be dealt with “with a heavy hand.”

The discussion followed a decision by Justice Sohlberg rejecting a petition seeking to prevent the meeting from taking place.

Although Sohlberg permitted the meeting to proceed, he explicitly stated that the prime minister and national security minister were not authorized to issue instructions to the police concerning election integrity or the administration of voting.

In reaching his decision, Sohlberg relied in part on Netanyahu’s explanation that the meeting was intended to address security preparations.

Earlier, Likud officials had maintained that the gathering was necessary because of security concerns and was unrelated to the management of the election.

Netanyahu himself informed the Central Elections Committee that the meeting would deal with intelligence warnings concerning possible terrorist efforts to interfere with the voting process.

Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara had opposed the meeting before it took place, arguing that political leaders should not become involved in the operational management of elections.

Gadi Eisenkot, chairman of the Yashar party, also criticized the gathering, accusing Netanyahu of attempting to interfere in the electoral process.

Meanwhile, Israel Police are preparing an extensive nationwide security operation involving approximately 22,000 officers, amid concerns about demonstrations, blocked highways, disturbances at polling stations, and possible unrest following the announcement of election results.

According to Channel 12, a senior police official disclosed that authorities had received warnings about planned demonstrations by chareidi protesters intended to interfere with voting, obstruct major roads, and make it difficult for citizens to reach polling locations.

Police are preparing to maintain a presence at nearly every polling station across the country.

Authorities have classified voting locations according to their assessed risk of disturbances or confrontations, with particular attention being given to potential flashpoints in chareidi and Arab communities.

Specialized Yasam police units will also be available for deployment if serious disturbances develop.

Another issue raised during Netanyahu’s meeting with the police commissioner reportedly concerned an organization known as “The Gideons.”

According to the senior police official, the group includes far-left activists who have publicly discussed physically protecting the Knesset and blocking Netanyahu at his residence.

Netanyahu reportedly asked police to devote particular attention to the group and any activities that could threaten public order.

The concerns extend beyond the voting itself.

Police officials are reportedly particularly worried about the possibility of widespread unrest after the election results become known, especially if the outcome produces intense political confrontation.

One scenario examined by law enforcement involves demonstrators attempting to storm the Knesset.

However, police officials emphasized that they have not received concrete intelligence indicating that such an attempt is actually being planned.

A senior police official told Channel 12 that the period following the election could prove considerably more volatile than Election Day itself.

“What happens after the elections should concern us more than the elections themselves. The results could bring people into the streets,” the official said.

Despite those concerns, police currently expect Tuesday’s voting to proceed with relatively limited disturbances.

Authorities are nevertheless preparing for a range of possible security emergencies, including terrorist attacks and missile fire.

According to the senior official, police have received several warnings about potential terrorist activity over the past week and a half, although there is presently no specific intelligence indicating an attack planned for Election Day.

The heightened security preparations come amid an intensely contested election campaign, with political tensions running high and authorities seeking to ensure that voters can reach polling stations without intimidation or interference.

The meeting between Netanyahu, Ben-Gvir, and Levy has added another layer of controversy to the final days of the campaign, raising questions about the boundaries between legitimate government security coordination and political involvement in election-related policing.

While Netanyahu and Likud insist that the discussions were necessary to address genuine threats, critics maintain that election security must remain under independent police command, free from political direction.

With approximately 22,000 officers preparing for deployment and security officials monitoring potential disturbances both before and after the vote, Israel is entering Election Day under unusually extensive police precautions.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump delivered a blistering attack on Democratic Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed on Sunday, declaring that Jewish Americans who vote for him should be ashamed of themselves and accusing the candidate of harboring deep hostility toward Israel and the Jewish people.

Speaking at a campaign rally ahead of the November 3 midterm elections, Trump expressed outrage that El-Sayed, who has repeatedly criticized Israel and questioned the United States’ relationship with the Jewish state, could receive support from Jewish voters.

“Any Jewish person that supports this guy should be ashamed of themselves,” Trump declared. “You should never speak to them again.”

TRUMP: Any Jewish person that supports El-Sayed should be ashamed of themselves. I'm polling at 99% in Israel and I cannot how anybody who's Jewish can even think about voting for this guy pic.twitter.com/bJkLWVGFt8

— Acyn (@Acyn) October 25, 2026

The president continued by questioning how Jewish voters could consider backing the Democratic nominee despite his record of controversial statements about Israel.

“I cannot understand how anybody who’s Jewish can even think about voting for this guy,” he continued, adding, “And he’ll get some.”

El-Sayed, a physician and former Detroit health director, is running against Republican Mike Rogers in one of the closely watched Senate contests of the election cycle. The race has attracted national attention as Republicans and Democrats battle for control of Congress.

The Democratic candidate emerged victorious from his party’s August primary, narrowly defeating Rep. Haley Stevens, who had been regarded as a strong supporter of Israel. His nomination immediately intensified scrutiny of his positions on Israel, antisemitism, and American foreign policy in the Middle East.

Throughout the campaign, El-Sayed has been a vocal critic of Israel’s military operations and has advocated major changes to Washington’s longstanding security relationship with the Jewish state.

During an appearance on MS NOW, he characterized Israeli military actions as “bloodthirsty” and accused the Israeli government of committing genocide.

In another interview, this time with journalist Jim Acosta, El-Sayed acknowledged that Hamas had committed war crimes but continued to level serious accusations against Israel’s leadership.

He has also opposed unconditional American military assistance to Israel and has faced criticism for declining to provide an unequivocal answer when asked whether Israel has a right to exist.

During one campaign interview, he described Israel’s leadership as “as evil as Hamas.”

Those statements have become central to Republican criticism of his candidacy, with Trump and other party figures arguing that his positions reflect hostility toward America’s closest Middle Eastern ally.

The confrontation took place at a Republican campaign event in Port Huron, Michigan, where Trump appeared alongside Rogers and Republican gubernatorial candidate John James. Much of the president’s address focused on El-Sayed, whom he portrayed as a dangerous choice for the Senate.

At the beginning of his remarks, Trump accused the Democratic nominee of having extremist associations, repeating allegations that El-Sayed has denied.

“I’m here to keep a jihadist, Muslim Brotherhood member from becoming a United States senator,” Trump told the crowd.

The president also invoked the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, drawing a comparison between the current political contest and the passengers aboard United Airlines Flight 93 who fought back against the hijackers.

“Twenty-five years later, Michigan needs to stand up and fight, just like Todd did, to stop a jihadist from walking into the Capitol,” Trump said, referring to Todd Beamer, a Michigan native who helped lead the resistance aboard the hijacked aircraft.

Trump further asserted that El-Sayed’s alleged associations should disqualify him from serving in Congress.

“Anyone with that record of support for jihadists would be screened and unable to get a seat on an airplane. They certainly should not give him a seat in the United States Senate,” he said.

El-Sayed has rejected accusations that he belongs to the Muslim Brotherhood or supports terrorism. There is no established evidence that he is a member of the organization. The Republican allegations have drawn heavily on statements attributed to his half-sister concerning their mother’s purported involvement with the group in Egypt decades ago.

The Democratic candidate has condemned the accusations as attacks on his Muslim faith and has argued that Republicans are attempting to portray him as un-American rather than debate his policy positions.

Another major controversy surrounding El-Sayed involves his reaction to the March 12 attack on Temple Israel in West Bloomfield Township, outside Detroit.

Authorities said an armed attacker drove a vehicle containing gasoline and fireworks into the synagogue complex while approximately 140 people, many of them children, were inside. Security personnel confronted the attacker, preventing a potentially catastrophic loss of life. The FBI subsequently described the incident as an act of terrorism inspired by Hezbollah.

El-Sayed condemned the attack and antisemitism, but his subsequent explanation of the circumstances surrounding the violence provoked outrage among Jewish community members.

Discussing the incident, he said that “violence is a cycle” and that “hurt people hurt people.”

Critics accused him of appearing to rationalize the attack by discussing the attacker’s family losses in Lebanon and connecting the incident to the wider conflict in the Middle East.

El-Sayed later apologized to members of the Michigan Democratic Jewish Caucus in August, acknowledging that his attempt to provide broader context had caused pain and that his remarks should have ended with an unequivocal condemnation.

The candidate has maintained that he never intended to excuse the attack and has repeatedly stated that antisemitic violence is unacceptable.

His position on Israel has nevertheless remained a central issue in the Senate campaign.

In an interview last week with ABC News, El-Sayed argued that the United States should reconsider treating Israel as an ally, accusing the Israeli government of drawing Washington into military conflicts while receiving American assistance.

“An ally that takes your money to push you into wars you shouldn’t be fighting is not an ally,” he said during an interview with ABC News.

The statement generated additional criticism from Republicans and pro-Israel voters, particularly given the continuing tensions involving Iran and Israel’s security.

El-Sayed has maintained that his criticism is directed at the Israeli government and its policies rather than Jews or Judaism. He has rejected accusations of antisemitism, arguing that opposition to Israeli military operations should not be equated with hostility toward Jewish Americans.

The divisions over his candidacy have also surfaced within Michigan’s Jewish Democratic community. While some prominent Jewish Democrats have endorsed El-Sayed, others have expressed serious reservations about his rhetoric and positions on Israel.

Republican Mike Rogers has sought to capitalize on those concerns, making outreach to Jewish voters a significant component of his campaign.

During a recent debate, Rogers accused El-Sayed of concealing the extent of his political positions and suggested that even some Democrats were uncomfortable supporting him.

“Think about this: there are so many Democrats who are coming out today and saying they can’t vote for Abdul El-Sayed because he’s too extreme,” Rogers said.

Rogers has also described El-Sayed as hostile toward Jewish interests, although the Democratic candidate has strongly disputed that characterization.

Trump has been making similar allegations since El-Sayed secured the Democratic nomination in August.

Shortly after the primary, the president launched a personal attack on the candidate, accusing him of dishonesty and hostility toward Jews.

“When I watch Abdul, he’s full of [garbage],” Trump said at the time, describing the Democratic nominee as a “man of hate” and accusing him of harboring hostility toward Jewish people.

Trump went further, insisting that El-Sayed’s public statements of tolerance did not reflect his true beliefs.

“This guy hates Jews. Somebody said, ‘Oh, that’s a little strong’. No, he hates Jews and he hates Israel…He’s a man of hate. And now he’s going around saying, ‘No, I love everybody.’ He doesn’t love everybody. Put him in office. You’re going to find out what he loves.”

The president also asserted that El-Sayed “doesn’t love Israel. He doesn’t love Jewish people. He hates them. He hates them with a passion that burns in his heart.”

Those accusations have become a recurring feature of Trump’s campaign appearances as Republicans attempt to defeat El-Sayed and win the Michigan Senate seat.

The race has attracted additional attention following an appearance Saturday by Barack Obama, who campaigned in Detroit for El-Sayed and other Democratic candidates. Obama criticized efforts to question El-Sayed’s American identity because of his religion.

Trump responded with his own campaign appearance the following day, using the Port Huron rally to deliver some of his strongest criticism of the Democratic nominee yet.

The president also praised Rogers, a former congressman and FBI agent, as a candidate who would represent Michigan’s interests in Washington.

“This guy, he’s like Central Casting. He’s what your state is all about. He really is. He’s a fantastic man. He’s going to be one of the great United States senators, Mike Rogers,” Trump said.

Rogers previously ran for the Senate in 2024, narrowly losing to Democrat Elissa Slotkin. He is now seeking another opportunity to represent Michigan, with Republicans viewing the open seat as an important opportunity in their effort to maintain control of the chamber.

For El-Sayed, the campaign has become a test of whether his progressive positions on Israel and American foreign policy can attract enough voters to overcome Republican attacks and concerns among some Jewish Democrats.

For Rogers, the strategy involves consolidating Republican support while persuading independents and traditionally Democratic voters that El-Sayed’s positions are too extreme.

With the election only days away, Michigan has become one of the country’s most closely contested Senate battlegrounds, and the outcome could have significant consequences for the balance of power in Washington.

Trump’s remarks Sunday made clear that he intends to keep El-Sayed’s record on Israel, his response to the synagogue attack, and his alleged extremist associations at the forefront of the campaign through Election Day.

{Matzav.com}

Prime Minister Binyomin Netanyahu sparked a political firestorm Sunday after sharing an AI-generated image depicting a nuclear explosion over Tel Aviv, accompanied by a warning that Iran’s nuclear ambitions pose an existential threat to Israel and that the country must take advantage of President Donald Trump’s remaining time in office to confront the danger.

The image, showing a massive mushroom cloud rising over Tel Aviv as buildings are engulfed in flames, was posted to Netanyahu’s social media account just two days before Tuesday’s Knesset elections.

Netanyahu shared the image alongside a lengthy statement written by Israeli political commentator Yuval Bloomberg, introducing it with the words, “Read the important words of Yuval Bloomberg.”

The statement warned that the Iranian nuclear threat dwarfs the political controversies dominating Israel’s election campaign and argued that the next prime minister must be capable of working closely with President Trump to prevent Tehran from obtaining nuclear weapons.

“The State of Israel faces a real and tangible existential threat,” Bloomberg wrote in the statement shared by Netanyahu. “If the Iranians obtain nuclear weapons, nothing else will matter anymore. Everything pales into insignificance in the face of the existential threat posed by Iran and the Shiite axis.”

Bloomberg argued that Israel has a limited opportunity to deal decisively with Iran while Trump remains in the White House.

“We have another two years of Trump to finish the job in Iran, and there is no way of knowing what will come after that,” he wrote, warning that a future American administration might be less willing to cooperate with Israel.

The statement described the current period as a historic opportunity to address what Bloomberg characterized as the greatest threat facing Israel.

He argued that controversies involving Qatar, chareidi military conscription, Netanyahu aide Yonatan Urich, and other political disputes were distracting the public from the Iranian danger.

“If two atomic bombs were to fall on central Israel, who would care about all these meaningless controversies?” the statement asked.

Bloomberg warned that future generations would not forgive Israeli leaders if they failed to take advantage of the opportunity to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.

He further argued that Israel requires a prime minister capable of maintaining a close relationship with Trump and withstanding international pressure.

In one of the statement’s most provocative passages, Bloomberg warned that voters who choose a leader incapable of confronting Iran could expose themselves and their families to the danger of a “second Holocaust.”

Netanyahu’s decision to circulate the message, together with the graphic depiction of a nuclear attack, immediately drew fierce criticism from opposition leaders.

Gadi Eisenkot, chairman of the Yashar party and one of Netanyahu’s principal election rivals, accused the prime minister of attempting to frighten voters.

“Netanyahu, you’re hysterical,” Eisenkot wrote on X.

“As in every election campaign, it’s the same method of lies and scare tactics. This time, threatening Israeli citizens with mass destruction,” he continued, accusing Netanyahu of failing to achieve the objectives of Israel’s military operations against Iran.

Eisenkot added, “You’ve failed. And in two days, the people of Israel will show you that at the ballot box.”

Yair Golan, chairman of the Democrats party, also sharply condemned the post.

“The prime minister of Israel has published an image of an atomic bomb over Tel Aviv,” Golan wrote. “I ask that he be kept away from social media. The man and those around him have lost it. The pressure is mounting.”

Golan said that Tuesday’s election would provide an opportunity to replace the current government.

Former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett also criticized Netanyahu, accusing him of suggesting that Israel’s survival depends on his continued leadership.

“He tells us that if he loses, we will all die. This is a lie,” Bennett wrote.

“The State of Israel was born and grew strong long before him, and will continue long after him. The people of Israel are stronger than any politician,” Bennett added.

The controversy comes amid renewed questions about the status of Iran’s nuclear program following the American and Israeli military operations against Tehran in 2025 and 2026.

Netanyahu previously declared that those operations had inflicted devastating damage on Iran’s nuclear capabilities, describing the results as a major victory for Israel.

Opposition leaders seized on the apparent contrast between those earlier declarations and Sunday’s warning that Iran continues to pose an existential nuclear threat.

The social media post also reportedly raised concerns among American officials.

According to a Channel 12 report, White House officials feared that the dramatic image and accompanying rhetoric could lead Iranian leaders to misinterpret Israel’s intentions, potentially increasing the risk of military escalation.

The report suggested that Trump’s subsequent statement ruling out an American strike on Iran that day may have been intended, at least in part, to ease tensions.

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Two Israeli opposition figures outlined competing priorities for Gaza and Israel’s future relations with the Palestinians on Sunday, with former IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot pledging to end Hamas rule in Gaza within 18 months of taking office, while Democratic Party MK Gilad Kariv called for the Palestinian Authority to assume a role in Gaza and for Israel to resume negotiations with the Palestinians.

Kariv, a member of the Democrats party, made his remarks during an event organized by Israel Shelanu, an organization representing immigrants from Russia.

Addressing the future of Gaza, Kariv argued that the territory should be politically connected to the Palestinian Authority and the West Bank.

“The future of Gaza includes a connection between the Gaza Strip and the West Bank,” Kariv declared.

He also called for renewed diplomatic engagement between Israel and the Palestinians, stating, “We need to renew negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians.”

Kariv’s remarks reflect his party’s support for renewed diplomatic negotiations and a political arrangement involving the Palestinian Authority, which currently administers portions of the West Bank.

His proposal to involve the Palestinian Authority in Gaza comes amid continuing disagreements within Israel over who should govern the territory following the war against Hamas.

Meanwhile, Eisenkot, chairman of the Yashar! party and a former IDF chief of staff, presented his own commitments during a major election gathering held by his party.

Eisenkot promised that Hamas would no longer govern Gaza within 18 months of his assuming office, presenting the dismantling of the terrorist organization’s rule as a central objective of a government under his leadership.

“Within 18 months of my taking office, the Hamas terrorist organization will no longer rule Gaza,” Eisenkot declared. “There is no person more committed to dismantling Hamas than I am.”

The former military chief also outlined several steps he said his government would take immediately upon assuming power, including establishing a state commission of inquiry and advancing legislation concerning military service.

“On the government’s first day, we will establish a state commission of inquiry,” Eisenkot said. “Within a week of its establishment, we will create a national cabinet to combat crime and begin legislating a universal service law.”

The proposed commission of inquiry would address demands for an official investigation into the failures surrounding the October 7 Hamas attack and the events that followed.

Eisenkot’s proposed universal service legislation would also place the military draft controversy at the center of his government’s agenda, at a time when the status of yeshiva students remains one of the most contentious issues in Israeli politics.

{Matzav.com}

Shas chairman Aryeh Deri has declared that his party will refuse to join Israel’s next governing coalition unless an agreement is reached to regulate the status of yeshiva students, making the military draft controversy a central condition for Shas’s participation in any future government.

The declaration comes ahead of Tuesday’s Knesset elections, as chareidi political leaders face mounting pressure over the failure to resolve the status of yeshiva bochurim amid the ongoing military recruitment controversy.

Deri’s position applies regardless of which political leader is tasked with forming the next government. According to his statement, Shas will insist on an acceptable arrangement concerning yeshiva students before agreeing to enter a coalition.

The ultimatum places the draft issue at the center of potential coalition negotiations following the election, when parties seeking to assemble a parliamentary majority may need the support of Shas and other chareidi factions.

In an interview with Kikar HaShabbat on October 14, Deri said the position was rooted in the instructions of the late Rav Ovadia Yosef zt”l.

“We are continuing in the path of Maran. Maran told us to do everything, absolutely everything, to regularize the status of yeshiva students, with the principle being that anyone who studies Torah should continue,” Deri said.

He emphasized that the demand had already been communicated publicly by both himself and Rav Yitzchak Yosef.

“We declared it. Maran the Rishon L’Tzion said it in his own voice, and I said it: There will be no government in Israel that Shas supports or participates in without regularizing the status of yeshiva students. How can we accept this sword hanging over them, with the arrests?”

Deri also sharply criticized the renewed arrests of yeshiva bochurim, alleging that the enforcement measures were being used for political purposes rather than to address the military’s manpower needs.

He accused the attorney general and opposition figures of seeking to inflame tensions surrounding the draft controversy, arguing that arrests would lead to demonstrations without producing additional soldiers.

“Everyone admits that not a single arrest brings a soldier. Nothing!” Deri declared, according to the interview.

He further accused the attorney general of acting maliciously and encouraging a confrontation that would provoke protests by the Peleg Yerushalmi.

“There’s no doubt that was the goal!” Deri said.

His criticism culminated in a pointed declaration: “We survived Pharaoh; we’ll survive this too.”

Deri’s position closely mirrors the ultimatum issued by United Torah Judaism chairman MK Yaakov Asher, who has likewise insisted that his party will neither enter nor support a government that fails to enact legislation regulating the status of yeshiva students.

Asher has stressed that coalition promises and future commitments will not be sufficient, insisting instead on actual legislative action.

The dispute has become one of the principal issues confronting Israel’s chareidi parties following the collapse of efforts to pass an acceptable draft law during the outgoing Knesset.

The absence of legislation has left thousands of yeshiva bochurim facing uncertainty over their military status, while enforcement proceedings and arrests have triggered widespread protests.

Deri has repeatedly maintained that the responsibility of Shas is to protect those who devote themselves to Torah learning and to secure a lasting legislative arrangement.

In a more recent interview with Kol Chai, published October 21, Deri went further, making clear that Shas would be prepared to face another election rather than establish a government without resolving the issue.

Asked directly whether the party would maintain its position even at the cost of another election, Deri responded: “Absolutely! We will not establish a government or swear in a government without this issue being resolved.”

He said Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu was aware of the demand and argued that the legislation would require sufficient parliamentary support.

“The prime minister knows this, and he says it himself,” Deri said. “There’s nothing to do; it will take some time, but that’s why we need to make sure we have 61.”

Deri expressed confidence that parties currently hesitant about the legislation would ultimately have to confront the issue during coalition negotiations.

“Those who hesitated a little in the right-wing parties will understand that without this, there is no government,” he said.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump has renewed his endorsement of Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu ahead of Israel’s upcoming elections, calling on Israeli voters to return Netanyahu to office so the two leaders can complete their campaign against Iran and preserve what Trump described as their extraordinary military achievements.

In a message published Sunday on Truth Social, Trump again threw his support behind Netanyahu, reposting his endorsement from the previous week and emphasizing the close partnership between Washington and Yerushalayim. The president credited their cooperation with severely weakening Iran’s military capabilities, damaging its economy, and preventing the Islamic Republic from obtaining nuclear weapons.

“To the people of Israel, to those who haven’t seen it, I am attaching the Endorsement I gave one week ago to your Prime Minister, Bibi Netanyahu. As everyone is aware, including the enemy, Bibi and I have had a great relationship in winning together. I did the Venezuelan attack, one of the most successful Military Operations in History but, before that, we did Operation Midnight Hammer, stopping the World’s Number One State Sponsor of Terror from obtaining a Nuclear Weapon. Then we did Operation Epic Fury, and Iran now has No Navy, No Air Force, and both their Military and Economy are in shambles, including the fact that Iran’s Inflation is at 301%. The Naval Blockade has precluded them from getting Oil, and two levels of leadership, both Military and otherwise, are gone,” Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social.

President Trump, my friend Donald – thank you for your extraordinary endorsement. Israel has never had a greater friend in the White House. Together we will never let Iran's regime get nuclear weapons. Thank you for your clarity, courage and unwavering support.@realDonaldTrump pic.twitter.com/GqaOVB74Dj

— Benjamin Netanyahu – בנימין נתניהו (@netanyahu) October 18, 2026

Trump’s message presented Netanyahu’s reelection as essential to maintaining the pressure on Tehran, arguing that the two countries must continue working together until the threat posed by Iran has been eliminated.

He urged Israelis to remember Netanyahu’s record when casting their ballots, portraying the prime minister as a wartime leader who had played a central role in confronting Israel’s enemies.

“When you go to the Polls please remember that Bibi has been an outstanding Warrior Prime Minister! Israel was called The Little Satan, with the United States being called The Big Satan, by some very evil people. There can no longer be the chant heard around the World of ‘Death to America, Death to Israel,’ and there won’t be. Vote for Bibi Netanyahu for Prime Minister, we have to finish the job that we started!”

The renewed endorsement follows Trump’s public declaration of support for Netanyahu one week earlier, when he argued that replacing the Israeli prime minister could jeopardize the military and diplomatic progress achieved against Iran.

In that earlier message, Trump praised Netanyahu as a vital American partner and described the Iranian regime’s longstanding threats against Israel and the United States as a danger that could no longer be tolerated.

“To the Great People of Israel: Bibi Netanyahu has been a Great Warrior Prime Minister, and an even greater Partner for Peace in combatting the Islamic Republic of Iran, with its 51 year old chant, ‘Death to Israel, Death to America! We will destroy the Little Satan and the Big Satan,'” Trump wrote. “What Country can survive when things such as this are allowed to be said, because eventually, they always end up being true?”

The president argued that American and Israeli military operations, combined with economic restrictions, had dramatically reduced Iran’s ability to threaten either country. Nevertheless, he warned that the campaign against Tehran was not necessarily over and that further measures could be taken if the Iranian leadership failed to change course.

“It would have been only a question of time until Iran would have put that ominous phrase into effect, but they have been systematically destroyed, both Militarily and Financially, and unless they change their ways, rapidly, we will soon finish the job.”

Trump also issued a pointed warning about the consequences of a Netanyahu defeat, suggesting that the United States could be left to confront Iran without the same level of Israeli cooperation.

“If Israel has the wrong Leader, which would be anyone other than Bibi, America will have to do this work ourselves, and I am not inclined to do so,” Trump warned.

The president’s decision to renew his endorsement comes at a critical moment for Netanyahu, with Israelis scheduled to vote on Tuesday, October 27. Recent election surveys have indicated that Netanyahu’s existing coalition may fall short of the 61 Knesset seats required to form a majority government, leaving the prime minister facing a difficult reelection battle.

The Jerusalem Post reported that Netanyahu and figures close to him had been seeking another public statement from Trump in the final days of the campaign. According to Axios, the two leaders spoke twice over three days, and Netanyahu suggested possible language for additional endorsements, including the possibility of Trump speaking directly with Israeli journalists.

The reports indicate that Netanyahu has placed considerable importance on securing Trump’s backing, apparently calculating that the American president’s popularity among Israeli voters could help strengthen his electoral position.

The endorsement is particularly notable because Trump had previously avoided taking sides in the Israeli election. Despite their longstanding relationship, the two leaders have experienced disagreements in recent months over the handling of Iran and other regional issues.

In a telephone interview following his original endorsement, Trump explained that he had always intended to support Netanyahu but had deliberately waited before making his position public.

“I was always going to do that. I just didn’t want to do it too soon,” Trump said.

He also emphasized the importance of having a dependable Israeli leader.

“It is important that Israel has a person they can count on,” the president said.

Asked whether he could work with a different Israeli prime minister, Trump left the question open.

“Maybe I will, maybe I won’t. Who wants to take the chance?”

Following Trump’s initial endorsement, Netanyahu released a video thanking the president and emphasizing their shared determination to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.

The prime minister also sought to connect the confrontation with Tehran to the economic concerns of Americans, arguing that allowing Iran to become a nuclear power would have severe consequences for global energy markets.

“Let me say to the American people,” he said, “if you’re worried about today’s gas prices, think of what will happen if Iran gets nuclear weapons – something that Donald Trump and I will never allow.”

Netanyahu went on to predict that the collapse of Iran’s current government would produce a substantial reduction in fuel prices.

When the Iranian regime “disappears,” Netanyahu continued, “gas prices will go down, and how – but only under Trump.”

The prime minister also praised Trump’s leadership and his role in strengthening the security of Israel and its allies.

“The world has been fortunate,” said Netanyahu, “America has been fortunate, America’s allies have been fortunate, Israel has been fortunate, and the Jewish people have been fortunate” to have a leader like Trump.

In a separate telephone conversation after the first endorsement, Netanyahu told Trump that their joint efforts against Iran remained unfinished and that they also had further work to accomplish in expanding the Abraham Accords.

“Donald, we have a job to finish [in Iran]…and we’ll finish it together. We’ll finish it, and no one else will do it,” Netanyahu said.

Trump responded by praising Netanyahu’s resilience and expressing confidence in his prospects.

“You’re a warrior. You’ve been treated unfairly by your country and probably some others also… But you’re a great warrior, and we will prove that.”

The president added, “I think you’re terrific. I was always going to do [the endorsement]. I think you’re going to have a tremendous victory, actually,” before telling Netanyahu, “You’re the man I want by my side, Bibi.”

Netanyahu’s political opponents have challenged the significance of Trump’s intervention, arguing that the decision about Israel’s next government belongs exclusively to Israeli voters.

Gadi Eisenkot, one of Netanyahu’s principal rivals, said he respects Trump and appreciates his contributions to Israel’s security but rejected the idea that an American presidential endorsement should determine the election.

“But the elections are a domestic Israeli issue. The only ones who will decide are the citizens of Israel, and I will stand firm on this,” Eisenkot said.

Other opposition figures have similarly argued that Israel’s leadership should be determined by the electorate rather than by expressions of support from foreign leaders.

{Matzav.com}

With Israel preparing for Tuesday’s Knesset elections, the Central Elections Committee has released figures revealing the enormous logistical operation required to accommodate more than 7.3 million eligible voters, including 450 million printed ballot slips, over 12,000 polling stations, approximately 100,000 election workers, and a budget of 690 million shekels.

The figures, published Sunday ahead of the October 27 election for the 26th Knesset, offer a glimpse into the extensive preparations taking place across the country as election officials finalize arrangements for voting, transportation, security, accessibility, and ballot counting.

According to the committee, 7,331,981 Israeli citizens are eligible to vote in the upcoming election.

To accommodate them, officials have established 12,018 polling stations throughout Israel, with approximately 18,000 ballot boxes prepared for use.

Among the polling stations, 6,209 have been designated as accessible to voters with disabilities, including 3,621 specially accessible polling stations equipped to accommodate individuals requiring additional assistance.

The election operation is being coordinated through 20 regional election committees, which oversee preparations and voting procedures in their respective areas.

Perhaps the most striking figure released by the committee concerns the number of ballot slips printed for the election.

Although fewer than 7.4 million people are eligible to vote, the Central Elections Committee has printed approximately 450 million ballot slips, an average of more than 61 slips for every eligible voter.

The enormous quantity reflects Israel’s voting system, in which each political party has its own printed ballot slip. Voters select the slip representing their chosen party and place it inside an envelope before depositing it into a ballot box.

Election officials have prepared approximately 11.5 million ballot slips for each participating party list, ensuring that polling stations have sufficient supplies throughout election day.

Producing the ballots alone required approximately 250 tons of paper.

The preparations also involve a substantial workforce that expands dramatically as election day approaches.

During periods between elections, the Central Elections Committee operates with approximately 40 permanent employees. As elections approach, that number increases to roughly 1,200.

On election day itself, approximately 100,000 workers will be involved in operating polling stations, supervising voting procedures, managing logistics, and assisting with the counting process.

To prepare personnel for their responsibilities, the committee has organized training programs for approximately 50,000 workers, using some 2,140 classrooms across the country.

Another major component of the preparations involves monitoring voting procedures and preventing irregularities.

Approximately 15,000 cameras have been allocated for election integrity inspectors, who are responsible for documenting relevant incidents and helping ensure that voting and ballot counting are conducted in accordance with election regulations.

The cameras form part of the committee’s broader supervision operation, which is intended to identify irregularities and maintain confidence in the electoral process.

Transportation arrangements are also being finalized to make it easier for voters to reach their designated polling stations.

The Central Elections Committee announced that 660 intercity public transportation routes will operate free of charge on election day.

In addition, all Israel Railways routes will be included in the free transportation arrangements.

The initiative is intended to assist voters who must travel between cities to reach their registered polling locations, including individuals who live, study, or work away from the addresses where they are registered to vote.

The committee’s preparations carry a substantial financial cost.

The approved budget for the 26th Knesset elections stands at approximately 690 million shekels, equivalent to roughly $222 million.

The funding covers the nationwide election operation, including personnel, printing, equipment, transportation, training, logistical support, and supervision.

Based on the number of eligible voters, the budget represents approximately 94 shekels for every person entitled to cast a ballot.

Even after the polling stations close and the votes are counted, the logistical operation will continue.

According to the Central Elections Committee, more than 400 tons of paper and cardboard are transferred for recycling following an election, including materials used for ballots, packaging, and other election-related purposes.

The preparations come as Israel enters the final days of an election campaign marked by intense political competition and disputes over the future composition of the Knesset.

Election officials have also been addressing changes to the ballot following the withdrawal of several political parties from the race.

The committee announced Sunday that ballot slips belonging to the Achi party, which withdrew from the election on Friday, will be removed from polling stations. The party’s name will also be marked as withdrawn on lists displayed to voters, and ballots cast for the party will be considered invalid.

Similar procedures were implemented following the withdrawal of Benny Gantz’s Blue and White party.

The Central Elections Committee said that its extensive preparations are designed to ensure that voting proceeds smoothly and that every eligible voter has an opportunity to participate.

“All of this is part of the preparations to ensure a proper, accessible, and supervised election process that enables the public to exercise its right to vote,” the committee said.

With just two days remaining until Israelis head to the polls, the figures illustrate the scale of the operation behind what, for each voter, amounts to selecting a single ballot slip and placing it into an envelope.

Behind that simple act stand hundreds of millions of printed ballots, thousands of polling stations, tens of thousands of workers, an extensive transportation network, and hundreds of millions of shekels in election expenditures.

{Matzav.com}

[Video below.] New York Republican gubernatorial candidate Bruce Blakeman surprised popular Jewish singer Shmueli Ungar during an appearance on the singer’s ShmueliCast podcast when he revealed that his Hebrew name is Baruch and that he belongs to an Orthodox shul.

The exchange, which featured a visibly enthusiastic reaction from Ungar, offered an unusual glimpse into Blakeman’s Jewish identity as he campaigns for governor of New York.

During the conversation, Blakeman told the hosts that they were welcome to address him by either his English or Hebrew name.

“You can call me Bruce or you can call me Baruch. My Hebrew name is Baruch,” Blakeman said.

Ungar appeared surprised by the revelation.

“You’re Jewish?” he asked.

“Yes! I belong to an Orthodox synagogue,” Blakeman responded.

The singer reacted with excitement, expressing surprise that the Republican candidate was Jewish.

“I didn’t know you’re Jewish, gevaldig! A yid, yiddishe kind,” Ungar exclaimed.

The conversation then turned to whether Blakeman could speak Yiddish, with Ungar’s co-host asking the gubernatorial candidate about his familiarity with the language.

“How about Yiddish?” the co-host asked.

“A bissel,” Blakeman replied, using the Yiddish expression meaning “a little.”

The lighthearted exchange highlighted a side of Blakeman that may be unfamiliar to some voters, particularly those who know him primarily through his political career and his role as Nassau County executive.

Blakeman, who is seeking to unseat Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul in the November 3 election, has made public safety, affordability, and opposition to certain Democratic policies central themes of his campaign.

WATCH:

{Matzav.com}

An emerging Orthodox Jewish community in rural Florida is attracting growing interest from families in New York seeking more affordable housing, lower living expenses, and a different environment in which to raise their children.

The development, located in Glades County, has reportedly already drawn approximately 60 Orthodox families, while more than 100 additional families are considering relocating to the area.

The movement reflects a broader interest among Orthodox families in establishing communities outside the traditional Jewish population centers of Brooklyn, Lakewood, and South Florida, where housing costs and the expenses associated with raising large families have become increasingly significant concerns.

For families considering the move, the appeal extends beyond real estate prices. The developing community is reportedly working to establish the religious and educational infrastructure necessary to sustain Orthodox family life, including a shul, yeshiva, and kosher shopping options.

The project has also attracted attention amid concerns about antisemitism and public safety in New York, although the reasons families are considering relocation vary.

The community, known as Lakefront Estates, is a $300 million development covering approximately 550 acres near Lake Okeechobee. It officially began welcoming residents earlier this month and is being developed with the needs of Orthodox families in mind.

Yidel Perlstein, the development’s CEO, told the New York Post that the first wave of homebuyers has been predominantly Orthodox Jewish families looking to leave New York. He emphasized, however, that the development is open to purchasers of all backgrounds.

The planned community includes approximately 1,000 single-family homes and hundreds of rental units, together with schools, shuls, commercial facilities, and other services intended to support a growing residential population.

According to Perlstein, four-bedroom homes measuring approximately 2,500 square feet start at $460,000, while seven-bedroom homes of approximately 3,700 square feet are being offered for $585,000.

For families accustomed to New York’s real estate market, the prospect of purchasing a spacious home at those prices has been a major attraction.

But several families interviewed by the NY Post said that financial considerations were only part of the story.

One former Boro Park resident, identified only as Morris, described a growing sense of unease about antisemitism in New York City.

“You could feel the antisemitism everywhere; even my community Borough Park changed after Mamdani came in,” he said.

Another new resident, a mother of four who requested anonymity, said that concerns about antisemitism, together with the cost of housing, contributed to her family’s decision to relocate.

She also pointed to Florida’s private-school tuition assistance programs as an important consideration for families with children attending yeshivos and other religious schools.

The concerns come amid troubling statistics concerning antisemitic incidents in New York City.

According to figures cited by NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch, Jewish New Yorkers were the victims of 245 of the city’s 463 confirmed hate crimes during the first nine months of 2026, accounting for approximately 53% of the total.

The figures have heightened concerns among Jewish community leaders, particularly as families weigh whether New York remains an affordable and comfortable place to raise children.

New York State Assemblyman Aron Wieder, whose Rockland County district includes a substantial Orthodox population, confirmed that approximately 20 families from his district have already relocated to Lakefront Estates.

Wieder said the rise in antisemitism has prompted families to consider leaving communities where they have lived for generations.

“All my grandparents were Holocaust survivors, never would they have dreamed that their descendants would have to face what they faced in the leadup to the Holocaust,” Wieder said.

“For a Jew to have to look over their shoulder when they’re walking down the street, it’s very disturbing,” he added.

The relocation movement is also being driven by the financial pressures confronting Orthodox families in New York, where large households often require additional bedrooms and where the costs of housing, tuition, taxes, and daily necessities can place substantial strain on family budgets.

Florida’s absence of a state individual income tax and its programs assisting families with private-school tuition have added to the state’s appeal.

For Glades County, a largely rural area with a population of approximately 13,270, the arrival of an organized Orthodox community represents a significant demographic and economic development.

Perlstein said that the investment has already brought economic activity to the region and that local officials and many residents have been receptive to their new neighbors.

“It’s a paradise, the weather is nice, the people are nice, everyone is so welcoming,” Perlstein said.

However, the new residents have also encountered antisemitic hostility, demonstrating that moving away from New York has not eliminated every concern that motivated some families to relocate.

Far-right activists Jake Lang and Jeffrey Walstein, who uses the online name “The Jersey Goy,” have visited the area and circulated inflammatory messages targeting the Orthodox newcomers.

In one video filmed outside the development, Lang criticized the residents for maintaining their distinctive religious and cultural practices.

“They don’t assimilate, they eat their own food, speak their own language, they worship their own God, they don’t dress like us, they are not Americans,” Lang declared.

The rhetoric has caused anxiety among some residents, particularly families who moved to Florida partly because they hoped to escape antisemitic hostility.

The mother of four interviewed by the Post said that although local business owners have generally treated the newcomers warmly, she has also encountered hostility from certain residents.

“We’re just a few people in no man’s land,” she said. “We’re here to build our families, build our community, be nice to our neighbors.”

Local law enforcement officials have taken steps to reassure the community.

Earlier this month, senior Florida Highway Patrol officials, Glades County Sheriff David Hardin, and other local government representatives visited Lakefront Estates following reports of antisemitic online attacks.

The visit was intended to demonstrate support for the new residents and reinforce the authorities’ commitment to protecting the community.

Perlstein praised the response from local officials, saying they have been attentive to the concerns raised by the hostile activity.

Meanwhile, development of Lakefront Estates is continuing, with additional homes planned and more families expected to arrive in the coming months.

Developer Yona Lunger has said that hundreds of families have expressed interest in the project, including approximately 900 who reportedly placed refundable deposits to reserve lots.

He has also acquired additional land in the area and indicated that Lakefront Estates could be followed by similar developments elsewhere in the region.

The project represents an effort to establish a fully functioning Orthodox community in an area far removed from the densely populated Jewish neighborhoods of New York and New Jersey.

With a shul, yeshiva, and kosher supermarket already operating, residents are beginning to establish the communal institutions necessary for long-term growth.

{Matzav.com}

In an unusual development within Lelov, the Lelover Rebbe, who personally refrains from voting in national Knesset elections, has departed from his longstanding practice of avoiding involvement in electoral politics and issued an explicit directive to his chassidim who do participate in elections to vote exclusively for Yahadut HaTorah.

The announcement, described by members of the chassidus as a historic departure from generations of established practice, was delivered publicly on Friday night in the Lelover Bais Medrash, shortly before the recitation of Kegavna during Kabbolas Shabbos.

At the Rebbe’s express instruction, his meshamesh bakodesh, Reb Noach Goldberg, stood before the assembled chassidim and conveyed the Rebbe’s position regarding Tuesday’s upcoming Knesset elections.

According to the announcement, the Rebbe emphasized that the community must remain faithful to the path handed down through the generations and that those who participate in elections are obligated to cast their ballots exclusively for Yahadut HaTorah.

The message further warned against supporting other political parties that do not enjoy the approval of the Torah leadership.

The directive is particularly noteworthy because the Lelover Rebbe himself does not participate in Knesset elections. Although he votes in municipal elections, he has consistently refrained from casting a ballot in national elections and, until now, has avoided publicly instructing his chassidim how to vote.

A Lelover chossid told Kikar HaShabbat that the announcement represents a significant milestone in the history of the chassidus.

For years, the Rebbe maintained a position of complete noninvolvement in Knesset election campaigns, a practice that some within the community attribute to both family considerations and a desire to preserve the traditions of his predecessors.

Among the factors cited is the Rebbe’s family connection to Satmar, including brothers-in-law and other relatives who belong to that chassidus, which maintains a longstanding ideological opposition to participation in Israeli national elections.

Another consideration has been the established practice of the Lelover Rebbe’s father, the previous Rebbe zt”l, who did not publicly express a position on Knesset elections.

The family’s history of public involvement in national elections is extremely limited.

According to the report, the Rebbe’s grandfather, the Lelover Rebbe known as the Birkas Moshe zt”l, signed an election-related kol korei on just one occasion, together with the Belzer Rebbe, Rav Aharon Rokeach zt”l.

That isolated precedent highlights the significance of the current Rebbe’s decision to issue an explicit public instruction concerning the upcoming election.

The announcement was also unusual in its timing and setting.

Rather than communicating his position privately to individual chassidim, the Rebbe directed that it be announced publicly in the main bais medrash on Friday night, before Kegavna, ensuring that the message would be heard by the assembled community.

The Rebbe’s directive was carefully worded to distinguish between his own longstanding practice of abstaining from Knesset elections and the obligations of chassidim who do participate.

He did not announce that he would personally begin voting, nor did he issue a blanket instruction requiring every member of the chassidus to cast a ballot.

Instead, the message specifically addressed those who vote, directing them to support Yahadut HaTorah and not to deviate toward other political lists.

{Matzav.com}

Rav Moshe Maya, a senior member of Shas’s Moetzet Chachmei HaTorah, has reportedly issued an extraordinary appeal for chareidi participation in Tuesday’s Knesset elections, arguing that the current challenges confronting the Torah community demand a unified response at the ballot box, including from groups that have traditionally refrained from voting.

Speaking at an educational gathering ahead of the election, Rav Maya addressed the importance of strengthening political representation at a time when the future of yeshiva bochurim and the independence of the Torah community have become central election issues.

According to the report, his remarks extended beyond the traditional Shas electorate to include members of the Peleg Yerushalmi and the Eidah Hachareidis, communities in which opposition to participation in Israeli elections has historically been particularly strong.

The appeal is especially notable because it comes amid intense controversy over the military draft of yeshiva bochurim, arrests of those accused of failing to report for military service, and proposed measures affecting the chareidi community.

Rav Maya’s message was that the gravity of the situation requires chareidim to recognize the potential consequences of failing to participate in the election.

His reported position represents an unusually broad call for electoral participation from a senior member of the Shas Torah leadership, reaching even those who ordinarily reject involvement in the Israeli political system.

Speaking at the education conference of the Heichal Moshe network of Talmudei Torah in Yerushalayim, Rav Maya delivered an impassioned address in which he said the arrests of yeshiva bochurim had left him deeply distressed.

“Today the situation is completely different,” Rav Maya declared. “Today their banner is to disgrace talmidei chachomim as much as possible. Since they arrested the first yeshiva bochur and put him in prison, I can barely sleep. I wake up in the middle of the night and ask myself: Where is our obligation to protest?”

He then issued his appeal to those who have traditionally abstained from elections.

“Anyone who has an identity card, even if he belongs to the Peleg Yerushalmi or the Eidah Hachareidis, must go and protest!” Rav Maya said. “If someone has the ability to protest and does not protest, he becomes a partner to the wrongdoing and is held accountable for it. Today, the only protest is to vote.”

Rav Maya directly addressed the longstanding opposition to voting among certain Torah communities, including the position associated with his own rebbi, Rav Yehuda Tzadkah zt”l.

“If you ask: Didn’t Gedolei Yisroel such as Rav Yehuda Tzadkah zt”l say that one may not vote? Gedolei Yisroel have already said that if Chacham Yehuda Tzadkah were with us today, he would say, ‘Run to vote!'”

Rav Maya explained that, in his view, the current campaign against yeshiva bochurim has fundamentally changed the considerations surrounding participation in elections.

“Until today, they did not harm talmidei chachomim. Today they are harming and disgracing them. Today, voting is not in support of the Zionists or the state. The protest is against them! We will not allow them to disgrace talmidei chachomim.”

He warned that abstaining from the election would effectively weaken the political strength of those seeking to defend the yeshivos.

“Someone who does not vote has his vote divided among the other parties, and through this he becomes a partner to their actions against those who learn Torah,” Rav Maya said.

“After all, most of the parties support drafting yeshiva bochurim and disgracing talmidei chachomim.”

Rav Maya also addressed the argument that military service represents an obligation that must be shared equally among all sectors of Israeli society.

“Today they speak about ‘equality in bearing the burden.’ What burden?” he asked. “Someone who does not believe in the Holy One, blessed be He, thinks the burden is the army, ‘My strength and the might of my hand have brought me this success.'”

He contrasted that outlook with the words of the posuk, “Not through might and not through power, but through My spirit.”

“I want one thing from you: Strengthen the yeshivos!” Rav Maya declared.

The senior Shas Torah leader then outlined the political leverage he believes could result from a dramatic increase in chareidi voter participation.

“The only way is if we all go, influence others, and vote,” he said. “That will be the greatest protest, and it will be impossible to establish a government without us.”

Rav Maya suggested that the chareidi parties could potentially reach 25 Knesset seats if all eligible chareidi voters participated, including those who ordinarily abstain.

“If the chareidi public reaches 25 seats, there will be no possibility of establishing any government,” he said. “And when they cannot establish a government, there will be repeat elections.”

In separately reported recordings, Rav Maya elaborated on the political leverage such a bloc could exercise.

“If nobody indulges himself and everyone votes only for chareidi parties, including the Peleg Yerushalmi, we will reach 25 seats. Nobody in the world will be able to establish a government,” he said.

He also made clear that he did not regard either Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu or his principal challenger, Gadi Eisenkot, as an automatic political partner.

“You don’t go with anyone. Not Bibi and not Eisenkot, only with whoever gives more,” Rav Maya said, referring to the demands of the chareidi community.

Returning to the draft controversy, Rav Maya argued that the state’s own founding commitments to freedom of religion and conscience should protect the ability of yeshiva bochurim to continue learning.

“Even according to their own understanding, in the Declaration of Independence they committed themselves to freedom of religion and conscience,” he said.

“If the Rambam explicitly rules that it is forbidden to draft yeshiva bochurim, that is the halachah! What do they want, to force us to violate our religion?!”

Rav Maya concluded with a forceful declaration about the importance of political strength in confronting the courts and protecting the Torah community.

“With our own hands, we will clip the wings of the Supreme Court,” he declared. “And we must know one thing: We have saved our souls, because at least we protested the disgrace of talmidei chachomim.”

“If we do this, the Holy One, blessed be He, will, with Hashem’s help, bring us salvation speedily.”

His appeal comes against the backdrop of a particularly bitter election campaign within the chareidi community, as the established parties seek to prevent abstention and the loss of votes to smaller factions.

The Eidah Hachareidis, however, has maintained its longstanding opposition to participation in Knesset elections. Just days ago, its Badatz issued a formal declaration reiterating that members of its community should not vote.

{Matzav.com}

Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie launched a blistering attack on President Donald Trump and two of his most prominent Republican allies on Sunday, accusing the president of creating a “rotten moral core” within the Republican Party and warning that Vice President JD Vance and Ohio gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy represent a troubling future for the GOP.

Appearing on ABC’s “This Week,” Christie delivered his criticism while discussing a controversial political advertisement, using the dispute to condemn what he described as a broader deterioration of moral standards within his party.

Christie, who challenged Trump for the Republican presidential nomination in 2024 before withdrawing from the race, argued that the controversy surrounding the advertisement reflected something much deeper than a single campaign decision.

“Look, it goes to a bigger issue than just the fact that this is a horrible ad and one that should never have been run,” Christie said. “This goes to the rotten moral core that Donald Trump has created for my party.”

The former governor then turned his criticism toward Vance and Ramaswamy, portraying both men as politicians attempting to emulate Trump’s political style without possessing the qualities that have made the president successful with his supporters.

“And you then take the two, probably two of the most prominent Trump wannabes in our party, JD Vance and Vivek Ramaswamy, and what they’re showing America is, we want to be just as morally bankrupt as Trump, but we don’t have any of the charm or charisma that people might like,” Christie declared.

His remarks represented a particularly sharp attack on Vance, who serves as vice president, and Ramaswamy, the businessman and former Republican presidential candidate now seeking the governorship of Ohio.

Christie warned that the Republican Party risks replacing Trump’s distinctive political appeal with candidates who imitate his confrontational approach but lack the personal attributes that have helped him maintain a loyal following.

“This is the future of our party if we don’t get our act together, is to have charmless people with no charisma and the lack of moral clarity and center that Donald Trump has,” Christie said.

The controversy centers on a campaign advertisement produced by Ramaswamy’s gubernatorial campaign featuring Donna Arthur, the estranged mother of his Democratic opponent, Amy Acton.

In the commercial, Arthur accuses her daughter of dishonesty, disputes Acton’s account of her difficult childhood, and urges Ohio voters not to elect her governor.

The advertisement immediately attracted attention because Acton has publicly described suffering sexual abuse at the hands of her stepfather when she was 12 years old. Court records confirm that her stepfather was indicted on a charge of raping her, and Acton and her brother were subsequently removed from their mother’s custody.

Acton has said that her mother failed to protect her and that the two have been estranged for decades.

Ramaswamy’s campaign acknowledged producing the advertisement and announced plans to spend approximately $4 million promoting it through television and digital platforms.

The commercial drew criticism from members of both political parties, including prominent Republicans who questioned the decision to involve Acton’s estranged mother in the campaign.

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine publicly called for the advertisement to be withdrawn, saying it was wrong to air it, particularly given the circumstances surrounding Acton’s childhood.

Republican Sen. Jon Husted, who is seeking reelection in Ohio, also distanced himself from the commercial, saying he would not have run it.

Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, who clashed repeatedly with Ramaswamy during the 2024 Republican presidential primaries, criticized him as well, renewing her longstanding objections to his political tactics.

Vance, however, defended Ramaswamy during a campaign appearance in Ohio on Wednesday, criticizing Republicans who had joined the backlash.

“Politics is a tough business, and my message to my fellow elected Republicans is if you actually believe in the things you say you believe in, stop whining about an advertisement and go win the race in 13 days,” Vance said.

The vice president also accused Democrats and the media of focusing excessively on the controversy rather than on the issues facing Ohio voters.

President Trump addressed the controversy separately, telling reporters that he was unfamiliar with the details but understood that Acton’s mother had publicly turned against her daughter.

Trump described the situation as unusual.

Christie’s criticism on Sunday was directed as much at Vance’s defense of the commercial as at Ramaswamy’s decision to produce it.

The former governor argued that the willingness of prominent Republicans to defend such tactics reflects the direction in which the party has moved under Trump’s leadership.

He also suggested that the Ohio election could become a significant test of whether Republicans continue embracing that political approach.

“I think this ad showed much more about JD Vance and Vivek Ramaswamy and the cautionary tale for the future of our party than anything else that’s happened in this election because if Ramaswamy wins in Ohio, we’re going to see the exact same stuff in 2028,” Christie said.

“If he loses, I think it’s going to be a real wake-up call for this type of conduct in our party.”

Christie’s reference to 2028 comes as Vance is widely discussed as a potential future Republican presidential candidate, while Ramaswamy has also sought to establish himself as a prominent figure within the party’s next generation of leadership.

The former New Jersey governor has a long and complicated history with Trump. He was among the first major Republican officials to endorse Trump during the 2016 presidential primaries and later advised him during his presidency.

Their relationship deteriorated significantly after the 2020 election, particularly over Trump’s efforts to challenge the results and the events surrounding January 6, 2021.

Christie subsequently became one of Trump’s most outspoken Republican critics, making opposition to the president a central feature of his unsuccessful 2024 presidential campaign.

During that campaign, Christie also clashed with Ramaswamy, whom he accused of adopting Trump’s political style and defending the president rather than presenting an independent vision for the Republican Party.

His latest remarks indicate that those disagreements have continued well beyond the 2024 election.

The dispute over the Ohio advertisement has also become a broader debate within Republican circles over the boundaries of political campaigning and whether intensely personal attacks should be considered acceptable election tactics.

Ramaswamy’s campaign has maintained its defense of the commercial, arguing that voters should hear criticism of Acton from someone who knows her personally.

Acton and her supporters, meanwhile, have condemned the advertisement as an attempt to exploit painful experiences from her childhood for political advantage.

A controversy has erupted in Israel just two days before Tuesday’s Knesset elections after a left-wing activist circulated a social media message encouraging religious and chareidi voters to write the words “בס״ד” on their election ballots, a seemingly religious gesture that would actually cause their votes to be disqualified.

The message, posted on X by activist Donnie MacLoof, whose name has also been rendered in Hebrew as Doni Machlouf, was accompanied by an image demonstrating how voters should add the familiar Hebrew abbreviation to the upper corner of their ballot slips.

The abbreviation, short for B’siyata Dishmaya, meaning “With the Help of Heaven,” is commonly written at the top of letters and documents in the frum community.

However, under Israeli election regulations, adding handwritten words or other identifying markings to an official ballot can render it invalid, meaning that voters following the activist’s suggestion could unknowingly lose their votes.

MacLoof presented his recommendation as a matter of religious pride, arguing that ballot papers in the Jewish state should carry the traditional inscription.

“It is outrageous that in the Jewish state they did not print בס״ד on the voting ballots,” he wrote.

“Therefore, I recommend that everyone bring a pen with them to the polling station and add בס״ד in the upper corner of the ballot.”

He continued by claiming that doing so would strengthen the voter’s choice while delivering a message to secular Israelis.

“This will also strengthen your vote and stick a finger in the eye of all the secular people,” he wrote.

The post quickly attracted attention after it was shared by prominent figures associated with Israel’s political left, including Gonen Ben Yitzhak, a founder of the anti-Netanyahu protest movement Crime Minister, and Naor Narkis, an activist associated with the Democrats party.

The involvement of those figures intensified accusations that the message was a deliberate attempt to trick religious voters into invalidating their own ballots.

Critics argued that the wording appeared specifically designed to appeal to religious sensibilities, encouraging voters to perform an act that would ordinarily be viewed as an expression of faith while concealing its potential electoral consequences.

The controversy was highlighted by political commentator Matti Tuchfeld, the political desk chief at Israel’s Channel 14, who warned that the recommendation could cause religious and traditional voters to lose their votes.

“Who writes בס״ד at the top of a page? Religious people are accustomed to opening every letter and every document with בס״ד or Baruch Hashem,” Tuchfeld explained.

He said the suggestion was being presented as a way of connecting the voting process to religious observance, even though the additional writing would violate election rules.

“You must not scribble on voting ballots, and this could lead to disqualification,” Tuchfeld warned.

The controversy prompted an intervention by Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, who issued his own warning to voters.

“Citizens of Israel, another trick has been exposed today, one of the ugliest we have seen,” Netanyahu said.

“They are spreading an apparently innocent ‘recommendation’ — write בס״ד on the voting ballot. But they know the truth: A ballot with additional writing is an invalid ballot.”

Netanyahu accused his political opponents of attempting to manipulate the election by causing supporters of the right-wing and religious parties to cast invalid votes.

“The goal is for your vote to be disqualified and for Gadi Eisenkot to establish a government with Yair Golan and the Arab parties,” Netanyahu declared.

“That will not happen, because you will not allow it.”

The Central Elections Committee has separately issued warnings about the importance of keeping ballot papers free of additional writing.

Acting committee director-general Dean Livne explained that writing “בס״ד” or “בע״ה” on a ballot, or adding a drawing, would cause the ballot to be invalidated.

The clarification is particularly relevant to religious voters, for whom writing such expressions at the top of a document is an ordinary practice.

Unlike personal letters, however, official election ballots must comply with strict rules designed to ensure that votes are properly recorded and counted.

Israeli voters ordinarily select a printed ballot bearing the letters of their chosen political party and place it inside an official envelope.

Adding handwritten inscriptions, drawings, or other markings can result in the ballot being rejected during the counting process.

The election authorities have also been addressing other misleading messages circulating ahead of the vote, including claims concerning the signatures required on voting envelopes.

Officials clarified that responsibility for ensuring the validity of official envelopes rests with polling station personnel, rather than voters themselves.

{Matzav.com}

National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has launched a targeted campaign to win over dissatisfied chareidi voters ahead of Tuesday’s Knesset elections, warning that support for smaller parties that fail to cross the electoral threshold could cost the right-wing bloc as many as two Knesset seats.

According to internal polling cited by Ben-Gvir’s Otzma Yehudit party, chareidi voters representing approximately one-and-a-half to two Knesset seats are considering supporting alternative political lists that are unlikely to secure representation in the next Knesset.

Party officials also claim that tens of thousands of additional chareidi voters are considering staying home rather than supporting the established chareidi parties.

Ben-Gvir is seeking to capitalize on that dissatisfaction by presenting Otzma Yehudit as an alternative for voters who are unwilling to support United Torah Judaism or Shas but do not want their votes to be wasted on parties that may fail to enter the Knesset.

The initiative is being directed by Yossi Goldberger, a chareidi candidate associated with Otzma Yehudit, who has been assigned responsibility for outreach to the community.

The campaign comes amid growing tensions within the chareidi electorate over the military draft controversy, the arrests of yeshiva bochurim, and dissatisfaction with the performance of chareidi political representatives.

In a special statement delivered Sunday evening to the chareidi media, Ben-Gvir appeared alongside Goldberger, who occupies the ninth position on Otzma Yehudit’s Knesset list, and presented what he described as troubling findings from polling conducted within the chareidi community.

“My chareidi brothers, good week. In-depth surveys conducted within the chareidi community show us a worrying phenomenon,” Ben-Gvir said.

“There are between one-and-a-half and two Knesset seats’ worth of chareidim who intend to vote for parties that will not cross the electoral threshold. There are also several tens of thousands of chareidim who do not intend to vote at all.”

The figures were presented by Ben-Gvir’s party and have not been independently verified. Nevertheless, they underscore the concern among right-wing political figures that dissatisfaction within the chareidi community could translate into a substantial number of votes being lost.

Under Israel’s electoral system, a party must receive at least 3.25% of the valid national vote to enter the Knesset. Votes cast for parties that fail to reach that threshold do not contribute to the allocation of seats, potentially affecting the balance of power between competing political blocs.

Ben-Gvir framed the issue as a direct threat to the political right and connected it to his longstanding campaign against Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara.

“Therefore, I call on you: Do not give a gift to Gali Baharav-Miara!” he declared.

Addressing voters who are disappointed with UTJ and Shas, Ben-Gvir urged them to consider Otzma Yehudit rather than supporting smaller lists or abstaining.

“If you are disappointed with the chareidi parties, vote Otzma Yehudit,” he said.

“Bet, and another bet, and another bet, in order to remove Gali Baharav-Miara, not to give her a gift.”

Ben-Gvir was referring to the Hebrew letter bet, the ballot symbol of Otzma Yehudit.

His appeal was accompanied by the establishment of a special campaign headquarters devoted to reaching chareidi voters who are considering casting protest votes or staying home.

Goldberger, the party’s chareidi candidate, has been placed in charge of the initiative.

According to party officials, the campaign includes small gatherings in private homes and personal meetings with potential supporters, with the aim of persuading voters that Otzma Yehudit offers a viable alternative to smaller parties that may fail to win representation.

The party has been careful to emphasize that its campaign is not directed at chareidim who follow the instructions of their rabbonim to support the established chareidi parties.

Instead, officials say they are concentrating on voters who have already decided against supporting UTJ or Shas and are considering other political options.

That distinction is particularly important given the sensitivity surrounding attempts by non-chareidi parties to attract voters traditionally aligned with the Torah leadership.

Otzma Yehudit maintains that it is seeking to recover votes that would otherwise be lost rather than weaken the established chareidi parties.

The latest campaign follows earlier reports that Ben-Gvir’s party sees significant electoral potential among dissatisfied chareidi voters.

Last week, party officials cited polling suggesting that chareidi support for Otzma Yehudit could potentially amount to two or three Knesset seats, although those estimates were also based on internal party assessments.

Ben-Gvir has previously claimed that senior figures within the chareidi parties approached him about coordinating his campaign to avoid drawing support away from voters committed to UTJ and Shas.

According to Ben-Gvir, those discussions focused on directing his outreach toward people who would otherwise abstain or vote for parties unlikely to cross the electoral threshold.

He did not publicly identify the chareidi officials whom he said had contacted him.

The issue has become especially sensitive as the chareidi electorate confronts competing political appeals in the final days before the election.

While Gedolei Yisroel and the established chareidi parties have called for strong participation in the vote, smaller movements have attempted to capitalize on dissatisfaction with the traditional political leadership.

Among the alternatives attracting attention is the new chareidi party headed by Motti Leitner, which has sought support among voters frustrated with the established parties.

Recent national polling has not shown Leitner’s party crossing the electoral threshold, raising questions about the potential consequences of votes cast for the list.

Ben-Gvir’s campaign seeks to turn those concerns into support for Otzma Yehudit, presenting his party as an alternative for voters who want to register dissatisfaction without supporting a list that may receive no Knesset seats.

The strategy also reflects the broader competition within the right-wing bloc over votes that could prove decisive in determining the composition of the next government.

With the election scheduled for Tuesday, Ben-Gvir is warning that the combined effect of abstention and support for smaller parties could significantly weaken the right’s prospects.

{Matzav.com}

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Rav Yitzchok Yosef, the former Sephardic Chief Rabbi of Israel, has sent a deeply moving letter of encouragement to a bus driver who was involved in a tragic accident that claimed the life of a young child in Modiin Illit, urging the emotionally shattered driver not to surrender to despair and to find strength in Torah learning and his responsibility to his family.

The letter was revealed by journalist Moshe Mans during a broadcast of Kikar HaShabbat’s Davar Rishon program, in which he recounted an emotional conversation with the driver, who has reportedly been struggling with overwhelming anguish since the accident.

The tragedy occurred on Avnei Nezer Street in Modiin Illit, where a young boy riding a scooter entered a pedestrian crossing and was fatally struck by a bus.

According to Mans, footage of the accident indicates that the child entered the crossing at high speed, leaving the driver without sufficient time to stop the vehicle and prevent the collision.

Despite the circumstances, the driver has been devastated by the knowledge that a child lost his life in an accident involving his bus.

Mans described the driver as a gentle, highly respected individual whose emotional condition has deteriorated significantly since the tragedy.

“I came to him after seeing messages in groups about a broken and shattered man sitting in his home,” Mans related.

“This is a precious driver whom everyone knows, and the footage also proves that he had absolutely no possibility of stopping. The child suddenly entered the pedestrian crossing at high speed, and the driver had no way of preventing the tragedy.”

Mans said that even though the available footage appeared to support the driver’s account of the accident, the driver remained consumed by grief and guilt.

“And yet, when I speak with him, he cries bitterly,” Mans continued.

The driver described the terrible emotional toll the incident has taken on his daily life.

“I have no day and no night. I cannot pick up my children. I have no life,” the driver told Mans.

The journalist said the conversation left a profound impression on him, illustrating how a fatal accident can devastate not only the family of the victim but also a driver who may have been powerless to prevent it.

During their conversation, the driver made an emotional appeal to parents, asking them to speak to their children about the dangers of entering pedestrian crossings without first checking for approaching traffic.

“Beg on your program for parents to tell their children that even when they reach a pedestrian crossing, they should stop for a second and look,” the driver pleaded.

“A bus driver or the driver of a tall vehicle cannot always see a child who suddenly enters the road at high speed.”

The driver hoped that publicizing his experience would encourage parents to reinforce basic road-safety precautions with their children and potentially prevent another family from experiencing a similar tragedy.

Mans expressed sympathy both for the grieving family of the child and for the driver, who continues to struggle with the emotional aftermath of the accident.

The story took an especially moving turn when Rav Yitzchok Yosef learned of the driver’s condition and sent him a personal letter offering guidance and encouragement.

In the letter, Rav Yosef acknowledged the terrible tragedy while emphasizing that the incident had occurred unintentionally.

“I heard about the tragic incident that occurred through you inadvertently and without intent,” Rav Yosef wrote.

He then addressed the driver’s emotional condition directly, warning him against allowing his grief to develop into prolonged despair.

“Know that it is the advice of the yetzer hara that you should fall into sadness and despair,” Rav Yosef wrote.

“The wheel cannot be turned backward, because everything is from Heaven.”

Rav Yosef explained that although the driver was understandably shaken by the tragedy, allowing himself to become overwhelmed by depression would only create further suffering for himself and those who depend on him.

“What will it accomplish if you fall into deep melancholy? It will harm you and your family, and the damage will outweigh the benefit,” he wrote.

The former chief rabbi then offered the driver practical spiritual guidance, encouraging him to transform his anguish into meaningful actions that would benefit the neshamah of the child.

“Therefore, my advice is that you establish and add time for Torah learning for the elevation of his soul, strengthen yourself in Torah and mitzvos, and divert your thoughts as much as possible so that you can continue raising your children.”

The letter reflected Rav Yosef’s effort to help the driver find a path forward while recognizing the profound emotional pain caused by the tragedy.

Rather than allowing the accident to consume his life, Rav Yosef encouraged him to dedicate additional time to Torah learning l’ilui nishmas the child and to draw strength from continued observance of Torah and mitzvos.

He also emphasized the driver’s responsibilities toward his own children, urging him to regain the emotional strength necessary to continue caring for and raising his family.

The account has drawn attention to the lasting psychological impact that fatal traffic accidents can have on drivers, even in cases where the circumstances indicate that they may have had little opportunity to avoid the collision.

In this case, Mans said the driver was not seeking to minimize the tragedy or distance himself from the suffering of the bereaved family.

On the contrary, his anguish was so intense that he described himself as unable to function normally in his own home.

His appeal to parents focused on a practical lesson from the tragedy: children must understand that a pedestrian crossing does not eliminate the need to stop, look, and make sure that approaching vehicles can see them and have sufficient time to stop.

The driver’s warning was particularly directed toward children riding scooters, who may enter a crossing more quickly than a motorist can reasonably anticipate.

For the driver, the accident has become a source of continuing emotional torment.

Rav Yosef’s letter sought to provide him with a measure of comfort, reminding him that he cannot undo what happened and encouraging him to direct his energy toward Torah, mitzvos, and his family.

The tragedy has left a family mourning the loss of a young child and a driver struggling to come to terms with his involvement in the accident.

Through his letter, Rav Yosef offered the driver a message of chizuk: to resist despair, increase his Torah learning in memory of the child, and find the strength to continue living and caring for his family.

{Matzav.com}