Feed aggregator

A vehicle exploded in Ramle a short while ago. Authorities say it is a criminal incident, and not terrorism. There are a few patients seriously injured.

The Pentagon’s unusual decision to keep two Navy aircraft carriers stationed in the Middle East for the past several weeks has now come to an end, with the USS Theodore Roosevelt en route back to the U.S., according to American officials.

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin had previously directed the Roosevelt to extend its mission briefly, staying in the area until the USS Abraham Lincoln could arrive sooner. The Biden administration had bolstered the U.S. military’s presence in the region to help protect Israel from potential threats posed by Iran and its allied forces, as well as to ensure the safety of U.S. personnel.

Military leaders in the Middle East have consistently maintained that having a U.S. aircraft carrier, along with its accompanying fleet, provides a strong deterrent, especially against Iran. Since the Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza began following the October 7 attack by the terror group, there has been a consistent carrier presence in the region, with occasional periods where both carriers were deployed simultaneously.

However, prior to the events of last fall, the U.S. had not maintained such a large naval presence in the region for several years.

{Matzav.com Israel}

North Korea fired multiple short-range ballistic missiles toward the sea on Thursday, its neighbors said, days after North Korean leader Kim Jong Un vowed to put his nuclear force fully ready for battle with its rivals. South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said it detected the missiles launched from North Korea’s capital flying 360 kilometers (about 220 miles) before landing in the waters between the Korean Peninsula and Japan. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida instructed officials to ensure the safety of ships and aircraft, but there were no reports of damage. The reported fight distances suggest the missiles were designed to attack targets in South Korea. In a trilateral phone talks, diplomats from South Korea, Japan and the U.S. condemned the launches that they said threatens regional and international peace. The U.S. Indo-Pacific Command separately reaffirmed that the U.S. security commitment to South Korea and Japan remains “ironclad.” The launches were North Korea’s first public weapons firing activities in more than two months. On July 1, North Korea claimed to have tested a new tactical weapon capable of delivering a “super-large” 4.5 ton-class warhead. In a Monday speech marking his government’s 76th foundation anniversary, Kim said he would redouble efforts to make his nuclear force fully ready for combat with the United States and its allies. Kim made such a pledge saying North Korea faces “a grave threat” because of what he called “the reckless expansion” of a U.S.-led regional military bloc. Kim has made similar vows numerous times, but his latest threat came as outside experts believe North Korea could carry out a nuclear test explosion or long-range missile test-launches ahead of the U.S. presidential election in November to boost its leverage in future dealings with the U.S. On Sunday, North Korea’s state media published a photo of Kim inspecting a 12-axel vehicle that would be the the country’s biggest missile launch platform. That sparked speculation that the North could be developing a more powerful intercontinental ballistic missile designed to strike the U.S. mainland. Commercial satellite images indicate that North Korea’s northeastern nuclear test site incurred minor damage from heavy summer rains in recent weeks and that no notable recent work was detected at its tunnels, 38 North, a North Korea-focused website, said an analytical piece published Wednesday. Thursday’s launches also came after North Korea flew hundreds of huge balloons carrying rubbish toward South Korea for five straight days through Sunday. Since 2022, North Korea has sharply ramped up its weapons testing activities in part of its efforts to perfect its capabilities to launch strikes on the U.S. and South Korea. The U.S. and South Korea have responded by expanding military drills that North Korea calls invasion rehearsals. Last month, Kim had still held off from missile tests or other provocative military demonstrations as the United States and South Korea conducted large-scale summertime military exercises. North Korea has previously performed missiles tests to protest other major U.S.-South Korean military training. Prior to the U.S.-South Korean exercises, Kim staged a big ceremony in Pyongyang to mark the delivery of 250 nuclear-capable missile launchers to frontline military units and called for a ceaseless expansion of his country’s nuclear program. The Aug. 4 event added to concerns about Kim’s pushes to deploy battlefield nuclear weapons along the tense border with South Korea. […]

Officials from the Yahadut Hatorah/United Torah Judaism (UTJ) Party conveyed a message to Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu on Wednesday night, emphasizing that the party expects him to manage the coalition properly and advance the chareidi draft law, as outlined in the coalition agreements.

They stressed that “without a draft law, there is no point in bringing forward a budget.”

On Tuesday, Housing Minister and UTJ chairman Yitzchok Goldknopf had personally communicated a similar warning to Netanyahu.

According to sources close to the Housing Minister, Goldknopf explicitly told Netanyahu, “There is no point in bringing a state budget to a vote without a draft law.”

This message follows ongoing talks in the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee regarding the draft law. Last week, Goldknopf was present at the committee’s meetings, a move interpreted as an effort to “accelerate the process of passing the draft law.”

After the committee discussions, the minister reaffirmed, “If there is no draft law, there will be no government, not even for [Benny] Gantz.”

{Matzav.com Israel}

Vice President and Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris expressed her dismay on Wednesday regarding the death of Aysenur Eygi, a US citizen, during a protest near Shechem (Nablus). Harris described the incident as “unacceptable” and affirmed that the United States will push for clarity from Israel on the matter.

“The killing of Aysenur Eygi is a horrific tragedy that never should have happened. Doug and I are keeping her family and loved ones in our prayers. Aysenur was peacefully protesting in the West Bank — standing up against the expansion of settlements — when her young life was senselessly cut short. No one should be killed for participating in a peaceful protest. The shooting that led to her death is unacceptable and raises legitimate questions about the conduct of IDF personnel in the West Bank. Israel must do more to ensure that incidents like this never happen again,” said Harris in her official statement.

Harris acknowledged Israel’s preliminary investigation into the situation, which suggested that the death was the result of an accidental error by the IDF. “Israel’s preliminary investigation indicated it was the result of a tragic error for which the IDF is responsible. We will continue to press the government of Israel for answers and for continued access to the findings of the investigation so we can have confidence in the results. There must be full accountability,” she added.

In concluding her remarks, Harris made it clear that the US would hold any parties responsible for fueling violence in the West Bank accountable. “The United States will continue to hold accountable anyone in the West Bank — Israelis and Palestinians — who stokes violence and undermines peace and stability,” she emphasized.

The IDF, on Tuesday, shared the results of their internal investigation concerning the Friday incident, which resulted in Eygi’s death. According to their findings, it is believed that Eygi was unintentionally struck by stray gunfire that had not been aimed at her but was instead directed at a key figure in the riot.

The riot itself occurred at Beita Junction, where a large group of Palestinian protesters were involved in violent acts, including burning tires and throwing rocks at Israeli security forces.

President Joe Biden also weighed in on the tragedy. Initially, when asked about Eygi’s death, he responded, “Apparently, it was an accident, ricocheted off the ground, and just hit by accident. I’m working that out now.” However, by Wednesday, Biden issued a more pointed statement, expressing his condemnation of the event.

“I am outraged and deeply saddened by the death of Aysenur Eygi. Aysenur was a recent US college graduate. She was also an activist whose idealism led her to travel to the West Bank to peacefully protest the expansion of settlements. The shooting that led to her death is totally unacceptable,” Biden’s statement read.

Biden further commented on Israel’s role, saying, “Israel has acknowledged its responsibility for Aysenur’s death, and a preliminary investigation has indicated that it was the result of a tragic error resulting from an unnecessary escalation. The US government has had full access to Israel’s preliminary investigation and expects continued access as the investigation continues so that we can have confidence in the result. We will continue to stay in close contact with Israeli and Palestinian authorities regarding the circumstances that led to Aysenur’s death.”

Biden also underscored the importance of ensuring such incidents are prevented in the future, calling for accountability. “There must be full accountability. And Israel must do more to ensure that incidents like this never happen again,” he added.

Addressing the broader situation in the West Bank, Biden pointed to the ongoing cycle of violence and placed blame on both sides. “The violence in the West Bank has been going on for too long. Violent extremist Israeli settlers are uprooting Palestinians from their homes. Palestinian terrorists are sending car bombs to kill civilians. I will continue to support policies that hold all extremists – Israelis and Palestinians alike – accountable for stoking violence and serving as obstacles to peace,” Biden concluded.

{Matzav.com Israel}

By Rabbi Yair Hoffman What follows will probably be a rather controversial topic.  The author invites comments because it may make for some serious differences in halachic observance.  One such difference involves the many details in the Mitzvah of Sukkah. This article can be divided into three parts. The first part of this article is a social behavior observation that few people will find controversial.  It involves whose view is followed. Part I ERETZ YISROEL OBSERVANCE Generally speaking, Torah observant Jews living in Eretz Yisroel observe one of three Tefach measurements: 1] Rav Chaim Na’eh zt”l 8.0 centimeters or 3.15 inches 2] The Chazon Ish zt”l     9.6 centimeters or 3.78 inches 3] A Combination           8.0 CM and 9.6 CM whichever is more stringent for each halachic topic. Very few Torah observant Jews living there, give significant weight to the view of Rav Moshe Feinstein zt”l that the tefach is 3.54 inches or 9 centimeters. AMERICAN OBSERVANCE Many Torah observant Jews living in America considered Rav Moshe Feinstein zt”l as the Posaik of America.  As such, these different communities gave more weight to the view of Rav Feinstein than that of the two other Poskim.  Of course, many communities also employed some sort of combination – mostly Rav Moshe and Rav Na’eh – whichever is more stringent for each halachic topic, or even all three views whichever is more stringent for each halachic topic. Part II Do we assume that the general population of Jews living in the time of the first Bais HaMikdash observed halacha?  Most specifically, do we assume this to be true in terms of Tumah and Tahara?  I would like to assume that most Torah observant Jews in both America and Eretz Yisroel would agree to that supposition. Next – Do we assume that the general population of Jews living in the time of the first Bais HaMikdash liked to save money?  Let’s assume that they did.  Most of us put away the milk container back into the refrigerator after we make our coffee in order to avoid bacterial contamination of the milk. Although there are debates between the Rambam and the Rash (not the Rosh) as to the nature of impurity when dealing with an opening less than a Tefach – the vast majority of commentaries understand that when the opening of a storage vessel is less than a tefach in width and length and thus circumference – the impurity is either prevented or limited in some way. It seems pretty clear that if the opening of the containers were larger than that of a Tefach – it would subject the contents of the containers to the dangers of becoming Tameh – spiritual contamination. Part III – The Archaeology A number of years ago, archaeologists measured the circumference of various ceramic containers during the time of Dovid HaMelech.  They discovered that all of them – without exception – had openings between 3.48 and 3.53496 inches.  See https://huji.org.ar/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Karasik-et-al-2020.pdf. This discovery is uncanny.  The top figure is exactly that which Rav Moshe Feinstein zatzal says! Why this may be controversial is that some may argue that archaeology has no place in terms of the determination of halacha.  Others of course argue with this idea – including some major Poskim of the last generation.  Another issue is whether the […]

The Postal Service’s new delivery vehicles aren’t going to win a beauty contest. They’re tall and ungainly. The windshields are vast. Their hoods resemble a duck bill. Their bumpers are enormous. “You can tell that (the designers) didn’t have appearance in mind,” postal worker Avis Stonum said. Odd appearance aside, the first handful of Next Generation Delivery Vehicles that rolled onto postal routes in August in Athens are getting rave reviews from letter carriers accustomed to cantankerous older vehicles that lack modern safety features and are prone to breaking down — and even catching fire. Within a few years of the initial rollout, the fleet will have expanded to 60,000, most of them electric models, serving as the Postal Service’s primary delivery truck from Maine to Hawaii. Once fully deployed, they’ll represent one of the most visible signs of the agency’s 10-year, $40 billion transformation led by Postmaster General Louis DeJoy, who’s also renovating aging facilities, overhauling the processing and transportation network, and instituting other changes. The current postal vehicles — the Grumman Long Life Vehicle, dating to 1987 — have made good on their name, outlasting their projected 25-year lifespan. But they’re well overdue for replacement. Noisy and fuel-inefficient (9 mpg), the Grummans are costly to maintain. They’re scalding hot in the summer, with only an old-school electric fan to circulate air. They’re have mirrors mounted on them that when perfectly aligned allow the driver to see around the vehicle, but the mirrors constantly get knocked out of alignment. Alarmingly, nearly 100 of the vehicles caught fire last year, imperiling carriers and mail alike. The new trucks are being built with comfort, safety and utility in mind, by Oshkosh Defense in South Carolina. Even tall postal carriers can stand up without bonking their heads and walk from front to back to retrieve packages. For safety, they have airbags, 360-degree cameras, blind-spot monitoring, collision sensors and anti-lock brakes — all of which are missing on the Grummans. The new trucks also have a feature that became common in most cars more than six decades ago — air conditioning. And that’s key for drivers in the Deep South, the desert Southwest and other areas with scorching summers. “I promise you, it felt like heaven blowing in my face,” Stonum said of her first experience working in an air-conditioned truck. Richard Burton, another driver, said he appreciates the larger payload area, which can accommodate bigger packages, and the fact that he can stand up and doesn’t have to crouch, helping him avoid back pain. The old trucks also had a habit of breaking down in traffic, he added. Brian Renfroe, president of the National Letter Carriers Association, said union members are enthusiastic about the new vehicles, just as they were when the Grummans marked a leap forward from the previous vehicles, old-school Jeeps. He credited DeJoy with bringing a sense of urgency to get them into production. “We’re excited now to be at the point where they’re starting to hit the streets,” Renfroe said. The process got off to a rocky start. Environmentalists were outraged when DeJoy announced that 90% of the next-gen vehicles in the first order would be gas-powered. Lawsuits were filed demanding that the Postal Service further electrify its fleet of more than 200,000 vehicles to reduce tailpipe emissions. […]

President Biden briefly wore a red “Trump 2024” hat during a visit to a fire station in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, on Wednesday, sparking a mix of reactions from supporters and critics. “I’m proud of you now….” said the Trump supporter who handed Biden the hat, according to video obtained by conservative influencer Benny Johnson. Shortly after, Biden posed with a group of children donning pro-Donald Trump attire in a photo op at a Pennsylvania firehouse on Wednesday, September 11. The president appeared awkward as he stood in the middle of about 16 kids, many donning shirts in support of Trump. The White House acknowledged the incident, saying that Biden wore the hat “as a gesture” of bipartisanship, following his remarks on the country’s unity after 9/11. “At the Shanksville Fire Station, @POTUS spoke about the country’s bipartisan unity after 9/11 and said we needed to get back to that,” said White House senior deputy press secretary Andrew Bates. However, supporters of the Republican nominee were less than convinced with that explanation, with the Trump War Room account posting, “Kamala did so bad in last night’s debate, Joe Biden just put on a Trump hat.” The incident occurred in Somerset County, a heavily Republican area, where Biden had earlier participated in a wreath-laying ceremony at the memorial to United Airlines Flight 93. Ironically, during Tuesday night’s debate, Trump mentioned sending a “MAGA” hat to Vice President Kamala Harris, saying, “Everything that she believed three years ago and four years ago is out the window. She’s going to my philosophy now.” (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

On Wednesday evening, the Hamas terror organization expressed its willingness to establish an “immediate” ceasefire with Israel in Gaza, citing an earlier proposal from the United States, according to Reuters. The Hamas terrorist group emphasized that it is ready to proceed without additional demands from any party.

In a public statement, Hamas disclosed that its negotiators, led by senior figure Khalil al-Hayya, held discussions with mediators on Wednesday. The talks involved Qatar’s Prime Minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, and Egypt’s intelligence chief, Abbas Kamel, and took place in Doha.

A source familiar with the matter told Axios’ Barak Ravid that after the discussions in Doha, Qatari and Egyptian mediators sensed a possibility of introducing a fresh bridging proposal next week, crafted by the US, Qatar, and Egypt.

The United States has consistently pushed for a framework that includes both a ceasefire and the release of hostages, which President Joe Biden initially outlined in May. However, Hamas has repeatedly turned down every plan offered.

The Washington Post revealed last week that US officials have been collaborating with Egypt and Qatar to finalize a definitive “take it or leave it” agreement. Yet, on Saturday, the same newspaper reported that US representatives announced they had “indefinitely delayed” presenting the final proposal.

According to the Post, the latest challenge arose when Hamas unexpectedly demanded that Israel free high-profile terrorists in exchange for humanitarian prisoners.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, addressing the situation on Tuesday, minimized the pessimism surrounding a potential hostage deal. He mentioned that the US intends to put forward a new proposal “very soon.”

During a joint press conference in London with UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy, Blinken was questioned about the ongoing talks regarding the ceasefire and hostage situation and whether the negotiations had reached an impasse. He was also asked if any guarantees could be provided to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu regarding the Philadelphi Corridor and whether Israel’s security would be maintained, even if Israeli forces were not stationed there.

“On the ceasefire, here’s what I can tell you: More than 90 percent of the issues have been agreed, decided. So we’re down to a handful of issues – not even a handful of issues – that are hard but fully resolvable, in our judgment. And as we’ve said before, when you get down to the last 10 percent, the last 10 meters, those are, almost by definition, the hardest ground to cover. But we believe that these are fully resolvable,” Blinken responded.

“Right now, we’re working intensely with our Egyptian and Qatari counterparts to work together to bridge any remaining gaps. And in the coming time, very soon, we’ll put that before the parties and we’ll see what they say,” he added.

{Matzav.com Israel}

The Pentagon announced on Thursday that the USS Theodore Roosevelt is returning to the US after arriving in the Middle East in July due to concerns over the Iranian threat to Israel in response to the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh. The Washington Post reported that the Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier, which arrived in the Gulf of Oman a few weeks ago, will remain in the area as a deterrent to Iran. U.S. commanders in the Middle East claim that “the presence of U.S. aircraft carriers and their accompanying warships is an effective deterrent in the Middle East,” especially against Iran. For several months earlier this year, the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower was deployed in the Red Sea to assist Israel and serve as a deterrent against the Houthis. (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)

Hamas issued an unexpected statement on Wednesday attributed to Yahya Sinwar, the group’s leader in Gaza, offering congratulations to Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune on his disputed re-election.

In the announcement, Sinwar “congratulates President Abdelmadjid Tebboune on the renewed trust of the Algerian people in him as President of Algeria.” He emphasized “Tebboune’s support for the Palestinians” and linked his congratulations to what Hamas refers to as the “Al-Aqsa flood,” a reference to the deadly attack on Israel on October 7, 2023.

“Sinwar reiterates his appreciation of the Algerian role in supporting the Palestinian people and defending their rights in international forums,” the statement added. The reference to the October 7 attack in this diplomatic context indicates Hamas’ intention to keep this event central to its narrative, despite the severe consequences the conflict has had for the people of Gaza.

Since the outbreak of the war, Sinwar has only made one formal statement in October 2023, in which he offered an “immediate release of prisoners” in exchange for all Palestinians held in Israeli prisons. Israeli intelligence believes he is hiding in Gaza’s tunnel network to avoid targeted strikes.

This message also marks the first public statement since Sinwar assumed the role of head of Hamas’ political bureau, following the mysterious elimination of Ismail Haniyeh at the end of July.

{Matzav.com Israel}

Hamas has reaped at least half a billion dollars from humanitarian aid entering the Gaza Strip, according to a report by Channel 12 on Tuesday. Approximately 200 aid trucks enter Gaza daily, intended to provide relief to the civilian population. However, Channel 12’s Almog Boker reported that the terror group has turned this aid into a key revenue stream by seizing the supplies and selling them to the local population, using the profits to fund recruitment and operations. “It’s actually become the main oxygen pipeline for the terrorist organization,” Boker said, noting that Hamas has added 3,000 terrorists to its payroll in northern Gaza through these illicit profits. The revelation has sparked widespread condemnation in Israel from across the political spectrum, with public anger reignited following the murder of six Israeli hostages last week. Protest group Tzav 9 has led the charge against the Israeli government’s decision to allow humanitarian aid into Gaza, arguing that aid is directly benefiting Hamas. “There is no logic in bringing the trucks directly to the hands of Hamas terrorists,” the group said in a statement. “No aid should go in until the last hostages return.” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu acknowledged Hamas’s exploitation of aid at a press conference on September 4, saying that while Israel has cut off other financial streams for Hamas, humanitarian aid remains a critical source of funds for the terror group. “We’re choking them. But there’s one thing they have, which is the distribution of food,” Netanyahu said. He accused Hamas of stealing aid, hoarding it, and selling it at inflated prices to Gazans. While Netanyahu promised that Israel would eventually cut off Hamas’s ability to profit from humanitarian aid, he did not provide a timeline for when this would happen. The Israeli government has faced pressure from the Biden administration to allow aid into Gaza. President Joe Biden had pledged that aid would stop if it fell into Hamas’s hands, but the U.S. continues to push for the flow of aid despite admitting that Hamas seizes a significant portion of it. On June 14, the U.S. State Department sanctioned Tzav 9, calling it “a violent extremist Israeli group” for blocking and damaging humanitarian convoys. The State Department stated that the aid is crucial to preventing further humanitarian crises in Gaza. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

The United States and Britain pledged nearly $1.5 billion in additional aid to Ukraine on Wednesday during a visit to Kyiv by their top diplomats as Ukrainian officials renewed their pleas to use Western-provided missiles against targets deeper inside Russia. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced more than $700 million in humanitarian aid, while British Foreign Secretary David Lammy confirmed that his country would provide another $782 million in assistance and loan guarantees. Much of the effort was aimed at bolstering the energy grid that Russia has repeatedly pounded ahead of an expected difficult winter. Blinken and Lammy traveled together to the Ukrainian capital on a rare joint tour to underscore their commitment to the country in its war. Air-raid sirens sounded repeatedly during the visit, causing delays in their schedule and forcing them to cancel a wreath-laying ceremony. Blinken said he would bring the discussion with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy about the missiles “back to Washington to brief the president.” Blinken said U.S. President Joe Biden and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer will “no doubt” talk about the issue when they meet Friday in Washington. “Speaking for the United States, we have adjusted and adapted as needs have changed, as the battlefield has changed. And I have no doubt that we’ll continue to do that as this evolves,” Blinken told a news conference. The diplomatic visit unfolded as Russia’s bigger and better-equipped army bears down on Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk region and conducts aerial attacks on cities across the country using missiles, glide bombs and drones that claim many civilian casualties. Lammy said the 2 1/2-year conflict is at a “critical” juncture following Ukraine’s daring incursion last month into Russia’s Kursk region. “We convey the deepest condolences for the shocking attacks that we have seen, over the loss of civilian life, particularly women and children — horrific, barbaric, unbelievable,” Lammy said. But relations between Ukraine and its Western partners have been increasingly strained by Kyiv’s repeated appeals for the West’s authorization to use long-range weapons from the United States and other allies to strike targets deeper inside Russia. That issue took on added urgency after Russia’s latest reported acquisition of ballistic missiles from Iran, but Western leaders have so far balked at Ukraine’s request, fearing that, if granted, it could escalate the war. Biden has allowed Ukraine to fire U.S.-provided missiles across the border into Russia in self-defense, but has largely limited the distance they can be fired. Zelenskyy said he hoped for changes to those limitations. “Let’s count on some strong decisions, at least,” he said. “For us, it’s very important.” He said he hoped to speak to Biden later this month, noting that U.S. military and financial support is crucial. “We rely heavily on it, and frankly, we can’t prevail without it,” Zelenskyy said. However, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin last week pushed back on the idea that long-range strikes would be a game-changer. “I don’t believe one capability is going to be decisive, and I stand by that comment,” Austin said at a meeting of allied military leaders in Germany. The Ukrainians have other means to strike long-range targets, he added. Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal told Lammy he hoped an agreement on using long-range assets “for strikes on the territory of our enemy” could be […]

By Rabbi Pinchos Lipschutz

Elul, the month of introspection and preparation for the Days of Judgment—Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur—is always a serious period. As the Days of Judgment approach, people become increasingly fearful of what will transpire with them during the coming year. They seek to rectify their actions and draw closer to Hashem, His Torah, and mitzvos.

This year, an extra jolt was delivered with the sudden passing of Rav Avrohom Ausband zt”l, the great gaon, rosh yeshiva, and rebbi, beloved and admired by many thousands in the Torah community. He was seen as a vibrant and energetic talmid chochom who devoted himself to learning Torah, living Torah, teaching Torah, and advancing its causes.

American-born and raised, he was a member of the post-Holocaust generation of roshei yeshiva. He opened his yeshiva over forty years ago and had been raising and developing exceptional talmidim ever since. His brilliance, erudition, and oratory were legendary, contributing to his highly respected standing in the Torah world.

News of his petirah spread quickly around the world, as those who appreciate Torah and gedolei Torah were overcome with grief and sadness at the loss of such an outstanding and unique gadol in the prime of his life.

Every morning, at the conclusion of Shacharis during Elul, the shofar is blown to awaken us to do teshuvah, as the posuk (Amos 3:6) states, “Im yitoka shofar ba’ir v’am lo yecherodu – When the shofar is blown in the city, [can] the people not become afraid?”

This is rooted in the Tur (Hilchos Rosh Hashanah 581), who writes that Chazal established the custom of blowing the shofar during Elul so that people will be alerted to perform teshuvah, as the posuk we previously quoted states. The question in the posuk demonstrates that the sound of the shofar causes people to fear.

Rav Dovid Cohen, rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Chevron, who is currently in the United States on behalf of the Keren Olam Torah, points out in his sefer that the posuk, which is widely repeated and mentioned as the source of the custom to blow the shofar during Elul, does not directly refer to teshuvah or Rosh Hashanah. The posuk mentions the shofar and its ability to evoke fear as a tool of war. In times of war, people panic when they hear the shofar because they know that a battle will soon be near.

How, then, is this posuk, which refers to war, a source for the shofar we sound during Elul, which is a call for people to do teshuvah?

The Zohar sees this message in the opening of this week’s parsha, “Ki seitzei lamilchamah al oyvecha,” where the Torah ostensibly discusses the Jewish people going to battle against their enemies and the capture of an aishes yefas toar. The Zohar, as well as commentators such as the Arizal and later the Ohr Hachaim, teach that these pesukim guide us in battling our eternal enemy, the yeitzer hara.

The posuk states that the woman cries for her parents for a period of one month. The Zohar and the Arizal explain that this is an indication of the month of Elul, which is a time for teshuvah.

Doing teshuvah is like going to battle against our enemy, the yeitzer hara, who seeks to distance us from Hashem and proper observance of mitzvos. Therefore, just as in a time of war leisurely pursuits are limited, so too, during Elul, that same serious mindset must prevail. Activities acceptable throughout the year have no place now.

Elul and the blowing of the shofar infuse us with a sense of urgency and desperation. Every action we undertake should be weighed to determine whether it will bring us closer to Hashem’s embrace or, chas v’shalom, distance us further.

Those in sync with the ratzon Hashem are alert to the kol shofar. They are engaged in the milchemes hayeitzer that defines human existence. Thus, when they hear the sound of the shofar, they tremble with the knowledge of “hinei yom hadin.”

In normal times, when tzaddikim are taken from us, it is a message for us to do teshuvah and draw closer to Hashem. When two tzaddikim are taken at the beginning of Elul, the message is compounded, and it is as if a thousand shofros were blown, admonishing us to quickly do teshuvah and improve our actions and lives.

{Matzav.com}

The IDF said on Thursday that military forces rescued two Israeli civilians after their boat drifted into Lebanese waters. “Earlier today, a report was received about two Israeli civilians on a disabled civilian vessel that drifted into Lebanese waters,” the IDF spokesperson said. “Upon receiving the report, naval and air forces were deployed to the area.” “After identifying and establishing contact with the vessel, the naval forces began a rescue operation and brought the civilian ship back to the sovereign waters of the State of Israel.” (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)

Agudath Israel celebrates the favorable vote on Wednesday of The Educational Choice for Children Act of 2024 (ECCA). Following a model already operating successfully in more than twenty states, H.R. 9462 will provide $5 billion in scholarships to cover expenses facing public and private school children. It does this by allowing a dollar-for-dollar federal tax credit for taxpayers who contribute to Scholarship Granting Organizations (SGO). These SGOs would then provide scholarships for a range of educational expenses, including private school tuition. Agudath Israel played a key role in the crafting and promotion of this legislation. Working with the sponsors and coalition partners over the last several years, Agudah staff participated in hundreds of meetings and most recently submitted a memo (here) of support and generated thousands of letters of support from constituents across the country. Following nearly two hours of discussion, the US House Ways and Means Committee voted in favor of the proposal, clearing the way for the bill to be brought to the floor of the House “We thank the 23 members of the Ways and Means Committee who voted with families today and we encourage their colleagues on both sides of the aisle to follow their lead and support this important legislation on the floor of the House.” Said Rabbi Avi Schnall, Agudath Israel’s Director of Federal Education Affairs.

An Israeli reservist soldier sustained injuries on Wednesday during a Hezbollah anti-tank missile attack from Lebanon, according to the Israel Defense Forces.

The incident coincided with a barrage of roughly 100 rockets launched from Lebanon, striking northern Israel.

The injured reservist, a 39-year-old member of Kibbutz Dan’s local security team, was transported to Rambam Hospital in Haifa after being struck by a missile in his community.

Hospital officials reported that the soldier was conscious but had suffered injuries from shrapnel. He underwent surgery and was listed in serious condition.

Earlier on Wednesday afternoon, more than 60 rockets were fired from Lebanon toward northern Israel, followed by an additional 40 in the early evening.

The IDF reported that a volley of about 30 rockets landed in open areas near Abirim, in the Western Galilee. Shortly after, another 30 rockets were fired into the Galilee Panhandle, with impacts reported near Kfar Szold.

Residents in both the upper and western Galilee were instructed to stay near bomb shelters during the attacks. Fortunately, there were no injuries as most of the rockets landed in uninhabited areas.

During the second wave of rocket fire, the IDF confirmed that 30 rockets were fired at the Arab al-Aramshe region, and another 10 targeted Matat. Many rockets landed in open fields, though some reached Matat. No injuries were reported in these incidents.

In response, the IDF launched artillery strikes against Hezbollah observation posts and other targets in southern Lebanon.

Later in the day, Israeli fighter jets conducted airstrikes on Hezbollah positions in Khraibeh, a rocket launcher in Ayta ash-Shab, and buildings used by Hezbollah in Houla, Ayta ash-Shab, and Marwahin, according to the IDF.

The series of rocket attacks and missile strikes followed the IDF’s earlier confirmation that it had carried out a drone strike in southern Lebanon’s Mays al-Jabal, targeting two Hezbollah operatives.

One of the operatives was killed, and the other was injured in the strike.

Additionally, Israeli fighter jets destroyed a Hezbollah rocket launcher in Marimin, which had been previously used to launch attacks on Israel, according to the IDF.

Another rocket launcher, ready for use, was targeted in Rashaya al-Foukhar, the military added.

Lebanese media outlets also reported two drone strikes near Maroun al-Ras in southern Lebanon, though there was no immediate response from the IDF.

{Matzav.com Israel}

An unusual and dramatic Israeli-attributed operation, including a ground infiltration, took place in the Masyaf area of Syria earlier this week. As YWN reported, the IDF carried out airstrikes in Syria overnight Sunday, described as the “most massive wave of attacks in years,” that destroyed an IRGC chemical arms production site. Media reports on Wednesday evening, including Syrian TV, a Syrian opposition media outlet based in Turkey, said that the raid included a rare Israeli ground operation. According to the reports, after Israeli fighter jets bombed targets from the air, Israeli commandos descended from helicopters on ropes, raided the facility, and captured several Iranian officers. The operation began with airstrikes on the roads leading to the facility and on the facility’s security vehicles and points. Afterward, IDF helicopters carrying special forces approached the facility and hovered in the air as IDF commandos descended to the facility via ropes. Violent clashes at the site ensued, during which at least three Syrians were killed and others were injured, and the IDF commandos captured several Iranian officers. They also nabbed documents and key equipment and then rigged the facility with explosives. The IDF forces withdrew from the area under the cover of combat and helicopters and drones, and later detonated the explosives, destroying the facility. According to reports, the Syrian regime blocked rescue teams from reaching the target area. The slain and injured Syrian operatives were taken to an unknown location. According to sources quoted in reports, it can be assumed that the Syrian regime or elements within it facilitated the attack and the landing of the forces. An eyewitness, a journalist from the Masyaf region, told the channel that on the night of the attack, he woke up to the sounds of explosions shaking the city and its surroundings. He stated that the sites hit by Israel are well-known to residents and have been attacked several times in the past, but this attack was “special because of its precision and power.” He added that Israeli helicopters entered the area after the strikes and carried out a quick ground operation. Greek researcher Eva J. Koulouriotis wrote that “the targeted facility is directly affiliated with the IRGC and is responsible for developing ballistic missiles and drones and provides logistical support to the Hezbollah militia in Lebanon. The facility has been operating for more than ten years and was subjected to Israeli air strikes last year.” “This special operation in Syria is considered an important development in the recently escalating scene in the Middle East. It is certain that what happened in Masyaf will become more clear in detail as the days pass and may be an indication of the imminence of a new escalation, whether on the Syrian or Lebanese arena.” (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)

The IDF and Shin Bet announced on Wednesday evening that two terrorists involved in the October 7 massacre were eliminated in a joint operation in Gaza last week. One of the slain terrorists was Abdallah Abu Reala, a Hamas terrorist who was involved in the abduction of Cpl. Noa Mariciano, H”yd, who was later murdered in cold-blood by a “doctor” in Shifa Hospital. Reala was also involved in carrying out attacks against IDF troops in Gaza throughout the war. In a separate operation, another Israeli airstrike killed Ayman Abu Alhayani, a Nukhba terrorist who was involved in the October 7 attack near  the Erez crossing Another one of Marciano’s captors was killed in an IDF strike in May. (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)

LISTEN:

https://matzav.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Bitachon4Life-Shiur-1314-Tikvah-Part-109.mp3

​​For more info, email bitachon4life@gmail.com.