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Former captive Eli Sharabi spoke candidly in an emotional interview aired Monday night on Kol Chai Radio’s flagship program, reflecting on the return of the final hostage, Ran Gvili Hy”d, his own recovery after captivity, and his call for unity within Israeli society.

In a conversation with host Avi Mimran, Sharabi described the moment as a painful yet meaningful turning point for the Gvili family. “Everything you said about Ran, that he’s a hero of Israel — it’s simply incredible,” Sharabi said. “This really is a nation of heroes. Like Ran, many others went out that day, took initiative, and came to rescue the residents of the Gaza border communities.” He added that for the family, it is “a very complex moment. It’s not a happy moment, but perhaps a moment of closure, of farewell, and the beginning of a healing process.”

Mimran asked Sharabi about his personal path toward recovery following prolonged captivity and devastating personal loss. Sharabi responded with striking honesty. “For me, this is who I am. I always knew how to look for solutions and not focus on problems,” he said. “After 500 days of people fighting for me — my family, my friends, the people of Israel who prayed — I don’t have the privilege to stay in bed and cry all day. I will get up and rebuild. But that’s what suits me, and it’s forbidden to judge others by my standards.”

Sharabi also spoke about the faith that sustained him during captivity deep underground. “Faith is a support for everything,” he said. “From the very first moment in captivity, I rediscovered faith. Fifty meters underground, it only grew stronger. There were crossroads of life and death over 491 days, and each time I came out alive. The light and love I receive from my family and from the people — I have no words to thank them.”

Turning to the broader national conversation, Sharabi addressed what he described as a painful gap between the inner strength shown by former captives and their families and the tone of Israel’s public and political discourse. “I agree that there is a gap,” he said, “but I don’t agree that it can’t be narrowed. We have a duty — each person in their own sphere — to talk about what unites us and not what divides us. Even when we argue, it can be done in a calm and respectful way. That responsibility rests first and foremost with elected officials.”

Mimran noted that since his release, Sharabi has chosen to speak publicly in Israel and abroad, becoming one of the most prominent voices among former hostages. Asked about his central message, Sharabi replied: “We have no other country. That’s the message I convey to the world. We have a wonderful nation, warm and deeply committed to its state, and we must do everything to continue living here. Only if we are united can we continue to exist in the State of Israel. There is no alternative.”

Addressing whether social division played a role in the events of October 7, Sharabi said, “I don’t know how to judge whether there is a direct connection, but it’s clear it didn’t do us any good. We need to be careful of people with interests who fuel the rift. Disagreements are healthy in a democracy — but not hatred. Hatred is a terrible word.”

The interview concluded with a personal reflection on faith. “My faith is very strong,” Sharabi said. “I’m not a religious person, and everyone finds faith and strength in their own way. That needs to be respected.” He closed with a message to the nation: “I wish the people of Israel to set out on a new path and to heal from this terrible trauma.”

{Matzav.com}

COLD-BLOODED NAZI: An antisemitic incident occurred at the airport in Krakow, Poland, on Monday night when a man wearing an airport employee badge attacked a group of chassidim who were waiting for their flight to Israel. The chassidim had gathered on the side of the room to daven before boarding the flight, which apparently threw […]

THWARTED: Azerbaijan’s State Security Service (SSS) announced on Wednesday that it thwarted a planned terrorist attack on a foreign embassy on its territory several months ago. The statement did not identify the embassy, but Israeli media reports confirmed that the target was the Israeli embassy in Baku. Azerbaijani security officials reported that three Azerbaijani nationals […]

A heavy Russian drone bombardment of Ukraine’s southern city of Odesa killed at least one person and injured 23, including two children and a pregnant woman, officials said Tuesday as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called for faster U.S. efforts to end Russia’s almost 4-year-old invasion of his country. The Odesa attack involved more than 50 […]

Eylon Levy addressed the end of the October 7 hostage crisis on Monday, explaining in a social media video why he has stopped wearing the yellow ribbon symbolizing the captives, while still keeping it with him as a reminder of the unresolved dangers ahead.

“The October 7 hostage crisis is over, but it won’t be the last hostage crisis,” Levy said in the video.

He went on to describe the circumstances surrounding the return of the final hostage, emphasizing that it was achieved through Israeli action rather than cooperation from Hamas. “The final hostage, Ran Gvili, is finally home for burial, but fittingly, it’s not because the kidnappers honored their side of the ransom. It’s because Israel went in itself to get him out.”

Levy stressed that despite this outcome, Israel paid a heavy price to secure the release of hostages. “But make no doubt, we paid a ransom to get the hostages out. We left Hamas in power, and we freed thousands of terrorists from jails. We put the hostage takers of tomorrow back on the streets to get out the hostages of yesterday,” he said.

He warned that such concessions carry long-term consequences, noting the broader implications of negotiating with terrorist groups. “And everyone knows that when you pay a ransom to terrorist hostage takers, you encourage more kidnappings. It’s why most countries say they don’t negotiate with terrorist hostage takers, but we did, because we had no choice, because we were blackmailed, because we had to bring everyone home, because there can be no one left behind. But have no doubt, Israel has taught Hamas that taking hostages works, that it will pay a ransom in future,” Levy cautioned.

Looking ahead, Levy argued that Israel must now confront the reality that more abductions are likely and develop strategies to prevent them. “And so Hamas and other Palestinian terrorist groups will now try to take more Israeli hostages. And Israel is going to have to think of creative and maybe aggressive ways to deter more hostage taking in future. That needs to be a national priority now that the October 7th hostage crisis is over. How do we stop Israelis from ever getting taken hostage again? Now that we taught the kidnappers that taking hostages pays. So I’m keeping this safe,” he concluded.

{Matzav.com}

Bondi Beach terror attack victim Rosalia Shikhverg said she doubts the ability of Western Sydney hospitals to keep Jewish Australian patients safe after her traumatic experience at Liverpool Hospital, where she was hospitalized after she was struck in the head by shrapnel during the attack. Shikhverg was admitted to the hospital under her name and […]

A New York City police officer has been reassigned to modified duty after shooting and killing a raccoon that authorities say charged aggressively toward people in Rockaway Beach.

The incident took place at about 7:45 a.m. Thursday, after a 911 call reported an aggressive animal in the area, according to a police department spokesperson in a statement emailed Monday.

Police said officers responded to the boardwalk and attempted to guide the raccoon away from the area and toward a safer location. During that effort, the animal suddenly charged, prompting one officer to fire his weapon and strike the raccoon. No bystanders were hurt in the incident.

The officer involved has not been publicly identified. The department’s Force Investigation Division, which examines cases in which officers discharge their firearms, is handling the internal review.

As of Monday, it remained unclear whether officials intended to test the raccoon for rabies.

{Matzav.com}

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents will have a security role during the upcoming Milan Cortina Winter Games, according to information shared with local media by sources at the U.S. Embassy in Rome. The Associated Press independently confirmed the information with two sources at the embassy. The sources who confirmed ICE participation on Tuesday said […]

[Video below.] NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte delivered a blunt message to European leaders on Monday, cautioning that the continent cannot ensure its own security without continued support from the United States.

Speaking to the European Parliament in Brussels, Rutte dismissed the notion that Europe could stand alone militarily, underscoring the depth of transatlantic dependence in defense matters. “If anyone thinks here again that the European Union, or Europe as a whole, can defend itself without the US, keep on dreaming. You can’t. We can’t. We need each other,” he said.

Rutte went on to warn that any serious attempt by Europe to act independently would require a massive and politically fraught increase in military investment. He said defense spending would need to rise to 10% of GDP if European nations “really want to do it alone,” along with the development of an independent nuclear deterrent—an undertaking that would cost billions.

Without U.S. backing, he cautioned, Europe would forfeit its most critical security protection. “In that scenario, you will lose the ultimate guarantor of our freedom, which is the US nuclear umbrella. So hey, good luck,” Rutte said.

His remarks followed a turbulent week for Europe and its Western partners, driven largely by President Donald Trump’s renewed push for U.S. ownership of Greenland. Trump raised the issue repeatedly before publicly ruling out the use of force to annex the Arctic island during his address at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

Rutte nevertheless offered praise for Trump’s focus on Arctic security, even as he acknowledged that such comments might be unpopular with his audience. “I think he’s right. There is an issue with the Arctic region. There is an issue of collective security, because these sea lanes are opening up, and because the Chinese and the Russians are more and more active,” he said.

The NATO secretary general laid out two parallel tracks for addressing the Greenland issue. One would center on NATO assuming a greater collective role in safeguarding the Arctic, aimed at limiting both military and economic access by Russia and China.

The second track would continue through direct talks among the United States, Denmark, and Greenland. Rutte stressed that he would not take part in those discussions, saying he lacks any mandate to negotiate on Denmark’s behalf and has no intention of doing so.

Earlier this month, Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen and Greenland’s foreign minister, Vivian Motzfeld, met in Washington with Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Rasmussen later described the talks as “constructive,” while acknowledging that a “fundamental disagreement” remains unresolved.

A week later, Trump met with Rutte in Davos and said he had reached a framework for a Greenland deal with the NATO chief. Trump also announced that, as a result, he would refrain from imposing tariffs on European countries that had opposed his efforts to acquire the semi-autonomous Danish territory. While the details of the framework—and Rutte’s precise role—remain unclear, Trump’s abrupt reversal once again placed the NATO secretary general at the center of the debate.

WATCH:

{Matzav.com}

Three of the world’s biggest tech companies face a landmark trial in Los Angeles starting this week over claims that their platforms — Meta’s Instagram, ByteDance’s TikTok and Google’s YouTube — deliberately addict and harm children. Jury selection starts this week in the Los Angeles County Superior Court. It’s the first time the companies will […]

After weeks of internet shutdowns throughout Iran, sources close to the Jewish kehilla in the country told Kan News on Tuesday that several Jews were detained on suspicion of involvement in the protests against the regime. The Jewish kehilla has denied any connection to the protests and claimed the arrests were a mistake. Community leaders […]

Candles flickered at dawn Tuesday at the vast Holocaust memorial in Berlin as people across Europe and beyond paused to commemorate International Holocaust Remembrance Day, reflecting on Nazi Germany’s murder of millions of people and its attempt to completely wipe out Jewish life on the continent. International Holocaust Remembrance Day is observed across the world on […]

President Donald Trump has remained publicly silent on whether the United States is preparing for a direct strike on Iran, even as Washington concentrates a significant naval force near the region, including the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln. Reports suggest that the buildup may be intended less as a prelude to immediate military action and more as leverage for intensified economic pressure.

Despite dramatic reports in recent days describing severe internal violence against Iranian civilians, the U.S. has not launched any overt attack on Tehran. Instead, Trump told Israeli journalist Barak Ravid on Sunday evening that “Iran wants to talk,” a remark that has added uncertainty about the administration’s intentions.

According to a senior American official cited by Ynet, Washington has conveyed a message to Tehran indicating it is open to negotiations.

Trump later elaborated on that stance, saying, “We are ‘open for business,’ as they say. If they want to reach out to us and they know the conditions, we’ll have talks. The Iranians know the conditions. They are very well aware of our terms.”

A new report aired by i24 News, and echoed by the Iranian opposition outlet Iran International, suggests that the White House may be weighing a strategy short of full-scale war: a naval blockade and economic chokehold on Iran, modeled on measures previously taken against Venezuela.

According to the report, the concept is actively being discussed within the White House, though no final decision has been made.

Despite extensive international sanctions and the recent reactivation of the “snapback” mechanism, Iran remains a major oil supplier to countries such as Russia and China. U.S. officials are said to be examining ways to disrupt those exports through maritime pressure rather than airstrikes.

The approach would mirror actions taken against Venezuela in recent years, aimed at weakening the regime of Nicolás Maduro by targeting its economic lifelines. Some analysts have dubbed the possible Iran strategy “Maduro 2.0.”

Still, observers caution against taking the administration’s conciliatory rhetoric at face value. Trump’s statements have fueled speculation that Washington may again be employing misdirection — similar to tactics used ahead of past operations.

Analysts point to a previous episode in which the White House announced that Trump’s envoy, Steve Witkoff, would begin talks with Iran “the following week,” even as U.S. B-2 Spirit bombers were already preparing for a historic strike on Iranian nuclear facilities.

For now, the presence of the USS Abraham Lincoln and its strike group signals that, regardless of public diplomacy, the military option — or at least the threat of it — remains firmly on the table.

{Matzav.com}

Parts of Australia sweltered in record temperatures of close to 50 degrees Celsius (122 degrees Fahrenheit) on Tuesday as the country sweated through a prolonged heat wave. The rural towns of Hopetoun and Walpeup in Victoria state registered preliminary highs of 48.9 C (120 F), which if confirmed overnight would top records set on the […]

Today is The GOLDEN Opportunity… to Improve Your Parnassah (livelihood) in only a few minutes – and it’s free. In appreciation from Yad L’Achim.   Today, Tuesday of Parshas Beshalach is the special day of Segulah for Parnassah! Taught to us by Reb Menachem Mendel of Rimanov zt”l to recite Parshas Hamon –  TODAY Tuesday […]

[Links below.] Today, Tuesday of Parshas Beshalach, is a special day. Seforim tell us that it is extremely prudent to utilize this day to pray for parnassah, livelihood, for the next 12 months.

It is a widespread and accepted custom to recite “Parshas Hamonn,” the portion in the Torah that describes the way Hashem provided monn (i.e., parnassah from heaven) for the Yidden in the Midbar. This can be found in Sefer Shemos, Perek 16: 4-36. It is customary to read the pesukim twice and the Targum once, and also to recite a short tefillah for sustenance beforehand. (Click here for the tefillah as well as for the ArtScroll English translation of these pesukim. Click here for the parsha, including the Targum Onkelos.)

Reciting this parsha reminds us that just as Hashem sustained the Jews then, so too, He – and He alone – provides for each and every one of us now.

With Hashgacha Pratis, Divine Providence, Hashem looks after our every need down to the most minute and seemingly mundane detail.

The following is a short yet powerful essay by Rav Yissocher Frand, which teaches us an important lesson:

One Who Cheats In His Business Doesn’t Believe in G-d

By Rav Yissocher Frand

Parshas Mishpatim begins “And these are the statutes that you shall place before them.” There is a very famous Rashi on the words “And these”. Normally “these” would mean “to the exclusion of others”. But Rashi says that the conjunction “and” adds to what came before (vov mosif), in Parshas Yisro.

In Parshas Yisro, G-d gave us the Ten Commandments. Rashi here says that just as the Ten Commandments were given at Sinai, so too the laws that are recorded in Parshas Mishpatim were also given at Sinai.

The truth of the matter is that this Rashi requires understanding. There is another famous Rashi [Vayikra 25:1] on the words “On Mount Sinai” (mentioned in connection with Shmita) which asks, “What is the connection between Shmitah and Mount Sinai?” Rashi there answers that just like the laws of Shmita were given with all their rules and intricate details at Sinai, so too all other commands were given with their rules and intricate details at Sinai.

If that is the case, what is Rashi adding here, by telling us that the laws of Parshas Mishpatim were given at Sinai? We know that — the whole Torah was given at Sinai!

The Ramba”n says a very interesting thing. According to the Ramba”n, Parshas Mishpatim and the Parsha of the Ten Commandments were said together at the initial meeting of G-d with Moshe on Sinai (prior to the 40 day period when Moshe learned the rest of the Torah). Subsequent to that, Moshe Rabbeinu came down, taught the Jewish people what he had learned from G-d and then went back up to Mount Sinai to learn more.

What emerges from this Ramba”n is that the laws of one ox goring another ox, of digging a hole in the public domain, or paying workers on time, all the mundane intricacies of life have the same status and were given at the same time as the Ten Commandments. Therefore, Rashi is stating something significant.

But, is it not peculiar that almost in the same breath as G-d spoke “I am the L-rd your G-d who took you out from Egypt…”, the foundation of Judaism, He also told us about our responsibilities when we borrow our neighbor’s car?

Why does Parshas Mishpatim rate the same session as “I am the L-rd your G-d”?

Rav Moshe Feinstein, zt”l, said that this comes to teach us that if a person does not keep Parshas Mishpatim (monetary laws), he doesn’t believe in “I am the L-rd your G-d” either.

“I am the L-rd your G-d” is the theory — I believe. But the other side of the coin, the practice, is do you cheat in your business? If you cheat in your business, you do not believe in “I am the L-rd your G-d”.

Rav Moshe continues, if a person believes in G-d with more than lip service, then the person believes that G-d provides him with a livelihood. If a person believes that G-d provides the livelihood, then what reason is there to cheat? “A person’s livelihood is fixed for him from Rosh HaShannah” [Beitzah 16a]. If one believes that, there is no need to cheat. Anyone who cheats, does not believe it.

That is why “I am the L-rd your G-d” is in the same session as the law of how to pay one’s workers.

There was recently a meeting in New York of the Association of Jewish Certified Public Accountants; an organization appropriately called Cheshbon. Rav Schwab told this group that a person who is dishonest in business is a Kofer b’Ikkar (He denies G-d). For the same reason that we just mentioned — that if a person really believed, he would not need to cheat. One cheats because he thinks — “this will get me the parnossah”. Cheating indicates that he does not believe that G-d will take care of him.

Then Rav Schwab continued by saying the following. “You will ask that we see people who cheat a tremendous amount and are nonetheless, successful. Now if parnossah comes from G-d, how can that be?”

Rav Schwab explained that such people’s money comes from the ‘Sitra Achra’, from the forces of impurity in the world, not from G-d. No good will ever come out of the money that comes from the powers of impurity (Kochos HaTumah) in the world. He or his children or someone down the line will never see satisfaction (nachas) from that money.

The ‘test’ of earning a livelihood is not only a test of telling the truth, of not stealing, etc. It is a test of ‘I am the L-rd your G-d’. Daily, we are put to the ‘test’ of whether or not we really believe. If we really, really believe, then there is never a reason to be less than 100% honest in our dealings with other people and with ourselves.

{halachafortoday@yahoo.com/Noam Amdurski-Matzav.com Newscenter}

Azerbaijan’s State Security Service (SSS) announced on Wednesday that it thwarted a planned terrorist attack on a foreign embassy on its territory several months ago. The statement did not identify the embassy, but Israeli media reports confirmed that the target was the Israeli embassy in Baku. The announcement came just a day after Israeli Foreign […]

President Donald Trump has strong-armed many of America’s biggest trading partners into pledging trillions of dollars of investment in the United States. But a study out Tuesday raises doubts about whether the money will actually materialize and questions how it would be spent if it did. “How realistic are these commitments?’’ write Gregory Auclair and […]

An antisemitic incident occurred at the airport in Krakow, Poland, on Monday night when a man wearing an airport employee badge attacked a group of chassidim who were waiting for their flight to Israel. The chassidim had gathered on the side of the room to daven before boarding the flight, which apparently threw the employee […]

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