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This Taanis Esther 5786, will mark 40 years since the Rosh Yeshiva, Maran HaGoan Rav Moshe Feinstein ztvk”l, Rabban of Klal Yisroel, the poseik hador, left this world. He left us a remarkable legacy of Torah and Halachah through his Dibros Moshe and Igros Moshe.

Fifteen years ago, a project began to publish the thousands of shailos and teshuvos of halacha, hadracha and hashkafa that were transmitted orally, and recorded meticulously by his grandson, close talmid and gabbai, Rav Mordecai Tendler shlit”a. The result has been 5-volume masterpiece named Mesores Moshe, giving over Rav Moshe mesorah’s to our generation, with many volumes still to come, b’ezras Hashem.

Harav Dovid Feinstein zt”l recommended that before publishing, the work should be reviewed by talmidim of the Rosh Yeshiva zt”l. He suggested that Rav Shmuel Fishelis shlit”a, his son-in-law, and Rav Shmuel Fuerst shlit”a, Dayan of Agudath Yisroel of Illinois look over the galleys and edit it as needed. Rav Fuerst added a letter of haskama, detailing his involvement with the project.

The children of the Rosh Yeshiva then added their own haskama, pointing out that these seforim are a tremendous window into the thought process and daas Torah of their illustrious father.

Baruch Hashem the seforim were received by the Torah world with much excitement and is found and used in batei medrish around the world. 

A few years ago, there was a growing interest in translating these works into English, so that those more comfortable with English can also be enlightened by the Rosh Yeshivah’s insights, sensitivity and worldview. After receiving a beracha from HaRav Dovid Feinstein zt”l, this new project began. Sections from the first two volumes were chosen, and translated from the original Hebrew. 

The result is a wonderful blend of fascinating shailos brought to the Rosh Yeshiva, and his view of various topics such as doctors, shidduchim and giving berachos. There are numerous historic recollections the Rosh Yeshiva himself shared, of life in Russia and early years in America. HaRav Reuven Feinstein shlit”a graced this sefer with a warm haskama.

  The Sefer has been acclaimed as a masterfully engaging release. It is widely being learned by chavrusa-schafts, Talmidei Chachamim, Baalei Batim, adults, and teenagers.  The Sefer is noted to be exciting and exhilarating, whoever picks it up cannot put it down.

Available at all Jewish booksellers in stores and online.
Distributed by Alef to Tav – info@aleftotav.com

It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the passing of Rebbetzin Leah Rila Meisels a”h, wife of Rav Yekusiel Yehuda Meisels zt”l, Gaavad of Kehillas Yereim of Sea Gate, Brooklyn. She was 98 years old.

For decades, the rebbetzin stood devotedly at the side of her illustrious husband as he spread Torah to multitudes and led the community. Known for her exceptional warmth, she merited to become related by marriage to many of the leading rebbes and rabbanim in Eretz Yisroel and around the world. Those who knew her recount that she received every visitor — from gedolei hador to the poor who knocked at her door — with a radiant countenance and genuine kindness.

Acquaintances describe her as a remarkable figure of hachnosas orchim and chesed. She quietly distributed large sums of tzedakah without seeking recognition, often ensuring that no one would ever know the source of the assistance. She served as a pillar of strength for both her family and the broader community and merited to see upright and distinguished generations continuing in her path.

The rebbetzin is survived by eleven children, all prominent rabbanim and admorim serving with distinction across the globe.

Her sons include: Rav Yisroel Shlomo Meisels, Av Beis Din of Limanov; Rav Dovid Dov Meisels, rav hatzair of Sea Gate and author of the seforim “Otzar HaShabbos”; Rav Yisroel Moshe Meisels, Av Beis Din of Alesk; Rav Pinchos Mordechai Meisels, Dayan in Sea Gate; and Rav Shmuel Zev Meisels, Av Beis Din of Yismach Moshe in Kiryas Yoel and son-in-law of the Satmar Rebbe. Among her sons-in-law are prominent admorim and rabbanim, including the Dushinsky Rebbe; Rav Yisroel Eliezer Unsdorfer, Rav of Kehillas Reishis Chochmah in Montreal; Rav Yisroel Meisels, Av Beis Din of Uhel-Williamsburg; Rav Yisroel Horowitz, Av Beis Din of Kinyan Torah in Flatbush; Rav Avrohom Yehuda Lowy, Av Beis Din and Rosh Yeshiva of Tiferes Eliezer; and Rav Avrohom Anshel Schorr, Av Beis Din of Klausen.

The levayah took place at Kehillas Yereim of Sea Gate in Brooklyn and proceeded to the Satmar cemetery in New Jersey for kevurah.

Yehi zichro boruch.

{Matzav.com}

Hundreds of flights at New York City-area airports remain grounded in the aftermath of the powerful blizzard, leaving thousands of travelers stranded across the Northeast. NYC Emergency Management confirmed Monday that there were “major flight disruptions” at all three major regional hubs — John F. Kennedy International Airport, LaGuardia Airport, and Newark Liberty International Airport. […]

The first official trip to China by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz comes as his country’s manufacturers face increasing pressure from Chinese competitors and as U.S. President Donald Trump shakes up a post-World War II global order that Europe has long depended on. Merz is set to arrive Wednesday for a two-day visit, the latest in […]

A wide-ranging federal inquiry began on Tuesday into a rise in antisemitism across Australia before two gunmen believed to be inspired by the Islamic State group allegedly killed 15 people at a Sydney Jewish festival in December. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced last month that Australia’s most powerful form of public inquiry, known as a royal commission, would investigate the Dec. […]

A four-year-old boy in Israel was rushed to the hospital after suffering from severe abdominal pain and repeated vomiting. Following a series of comprehensive examinations, doctors discovered that he had swallowed eight small magnets.

The child arrived at Bnai Zion Medical Center with his parents after complaining of intense stomach pain and frequent vomiting. After undergoing thorough testing in the Pediatric Emergency Department, physicians identified the cause of his symptoms.

Dr. Liat Yaniv, a senior physician in the Pediatrics Department at Bnai Zion Medical Center, noted that the vomiting occurred without diarrhea and was an unusual color — findings that raised concern for a serious gastrointestinal issue. An urgent imaging scan revealed magnets lodged in the small intestine, along with evidence of an intestinal blockage.

In consultation with Dr. Raouf Naser, a pediatric gastroenterology specialist, the toddler was referred for surgical intervention. He underwent emergency surgery performed by Dr. Daniel Dubin, Deputy Head of the Pediatric Surgery Department at Bnai Zion Medical Center, together with Dr. Yair Ben Shmuel, a senior pediatric surgeon. Dr. Omar Abu Ras served as the senior anesthesiologist during the procedure. Surgeons successfully removed eight magnetic balls from the child’s small intestine.

The toddler was subsequently hospitalized in the Pediatric Surgery Department for continued monitoring and treatment and was discharged home several days later.

Dr. Yaakov Genizi, Head of the Pediatrics Department at Bnai Zion Medical Center, warned of the significant dangers posed by swallowed magnets. “They can attach to one another through the intestinal wall and cause blockage, tissue death, and even perforation of the intestine,” he cautioned. “Parents are urged to keep magnets and small parts out of reach of children.”

{Matzav.com}

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy declared Tuesday that Russia has not “broken Ukrainians” nor triumphed in its war, four years after an invasion that has severely tested the resolve of Kyiv and its allies and fueled European fears about the scale of Moscow’s ambitions. In a show of support, more than a dozen senior European officials headed to the […]

Israel sent a message to Lebanon that it would strike the country hard if the Hezbollah terror group attacks Israel in the case of a US attack on Iran, Reuters reported, quoting two senior Lebanese officials. Israel’s message included a threat to attack Lebanon’s civilian infrastructure, including its airport. The sources said that the threatening […]

Newly surfaced details in the investigation into the disappearance of 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie indicate that at least one image captured by her Nest doorbell camera was recorded on a different day than the others, suggesting the masked suspect may have visited the property prior to her suspected abduction on Feb. 1. A source familiar with the probe confirmed the development to Fox News Digital on Monday.

According to the source, one of the images released by the FBI does not match the date of the remaining footage, pointing to the possibility that the individual surveyed the residence in advance. The source declined to identify the specific date of the earlier image, citing the ongoing nature of the investigation.

Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos told Fox News that the information about the differing date did not originate from him.

Investigators have at various times asked neighbors to review their home surveillance footage from the entire month of January, specifically the night of Jan. 11, and also the period between Jan. 31 and Feb. 1, when Guthrie is believed to have disappeared.

ABC News was the first to report that the suspect may have scouted the property earlier, citing unnamed sources.

Jason Pack, a retired FBI Supervisory Special Agent, said the apparent advance visit suggests the crime was deliberate rather than spontaneous.

“That’s sophistication. That’s the hallmark of someone who thought about this before they acted. And it matters significantly from a legal standpoint, because premeditation and planning elevate the severity of what investigators are looking at,” Pack said. “The suspect in this case may have thought they were being careful. But appearing twice on camera while trying to avoid identification isn’t careful. That’s exposure. And right now, investigators are working very hard to close that gap.”

The disclosure also implies that the information recovered by the FBI and Google from the camera system extended beyond the final event stored in the device’s memory.

According to the Pima County Sheriff’s Department, Guthrie’s doorbell camera went offline at 1:47 a.m. on the night she was taken. Roughly 25 minutes later, at 2:12 a.m., another camera on the property detected a person but failed to record any footage.

Initially, the Pima County Sheriff’s Department directed inquiries to the FBI. After publication of the initial report, however, the department released a statement clarifying that no timestamps had been publicly disclosed in connection with the Nest images.

“We are aware that doorbell images released earlier in the investigation depict a suspect in different stages of attire, including with and without a backpack,” the PCSD said in a statement. “There is no date or time stamp associated with these images. Therefore, any suggestion that the photographs were taken on different days is purely speculative.”

Prior to this clarification, experts had raised questions about whether the masked individual shown in the images was the same person, noting differences in clothing and the absence in some images of a backpack and holstered firearm that appeared in others.

{Matzav.com}

Israeli intelligence officials have assessed that the US only has enough firepower in the Middle East to carry out four or five days of intense airstrikes on Iran, according to a report in the UK’s Financial Times on Tuesday. The assessment comes despite the fact that the US has deployed the most firepower in the […]

France’s spat with the U.S. ambassador to Paris took another turn Tuesday with the French foreign minister saying the top U.S. diplomat in France must respond to a summons and won’t have access to French government officials until he complies. French authorities had summoned Ambassador Charles Kushner — the father of U.S. President Donald Trump […]

A wave of arrests of yeshiva bochurim took place in Beit Shemesh overnight Monday, with two bochurim stopped by an Israel Police officer and handed over to the military police, and another bochur arrested at his home by the military police. The first incident took place when an Israel Police officer stopped two Chassidish bochurim […]

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In a stinging defeat for Finance Minister Betzalel Smotrich and an embarrassment to Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, the Knesset overnight Monday voted down Smotrich’s order doubling the VAT exemption on overseas online purchases from $75 to $150. The vote was an unprecedented political drama, as it was the first time since the government was formed […]

By Rabbi Berach Steinfeld

Posuk yud zayin in Perek chof heh in Chumash Devarim tells us that we should remember what Amalek did to Bnei Yisroel. That is why we have the mitzvah of Parshas Zachor, to be leined for all to hear.

The Gemara in Brachos, daf mem zayin, amud bais, brings down a story about Reb Elazar, who came to Shul and found that there were only nine people for the minyan. Reb Elazar freed his Eved Knani, Tevi, who then completed the minyan. The Gemara questions how he was allowed to do that, if Reb Yehuda says that one who frees his slave is oiver an aseh that one should keep an Eved Knani forever. The Gemara answers that since minyan is a mitzvah of a rabim, it therefore was allowed.

The Rosh in siman chof says that the mitzvah of a rabim is stronger than a regular mitzvah because the posuk says “Venikdashti” amongst Klal Yisroel, the source for a minyan. This premise will hold true even if it is for a mitzvah deRabbanan, like to hear kedusha or borchu; nevertheless, it will be doche a mitzvah deOraysa of a private person not to free a slave. The Rosh concludes that this must be the case because the Gemara is not speaking in a situation where the tzibbur was laining Parshas Zachor, which is min haTorah. So we see that this point, of a tzibbur being stronger, applies even if one is just doing a mitzvah deRabbanan.

The Trumas Hadeshen, based on this Rosh, says in siman kuf ches that the mitzvah of Parshas Zachor is to listen to it with a minyan. Therefore, if one has only one of the following options—either hearing Zachor with a minyan, or Krias Hamegillah with a minyan—one should choose Zachor with the minyan, since the mitzvah is min haTorah. The Shulchan Aruch in siman kuf mem vov, seif bais, concurs.

The Pri Chodosh in seif koton bais asks: Where did the Rosh learn this halacha, that one needs a minyan for the reading of Zachor? In addition, why don’t we find that a person has a chiyuv to hear any of the other mitzvos of zechiros (for example, remembering Yetzias Mitzrayim or Maaseh Miriam) betzibbur?

The Hagahos Peulas Sachir on the Sefer Maaseh Rav for the Gra says that the chiyuv of tzibbur for Amalek will come as a result of the shita of the Yereim in siman taf lamed heh, who holds that the mitzvah of erasing Amalek is not a mitzvah for every private person, but rather a mitzvah on the tzibbur under a king. With this in mind, it makes sense that we should read the parsha of Amalek betzibbur, to remind us that this is a tzibburdige din.

There are many poskim who disagree and say you do not need a minyan; however, according to the Rosh, we can understand why we need a minyan.

Let us hope we are zocheh to the tzibbur and the king Moshiach to wipe out Amalek.

President Donald Trump will step before Congress on Tuesday night to deliver his State of the Union address, using the nationally televised platform to argue that his first year back in office has been a success, even as political headwinds build ahead of November’s pivotal midterm elections.

The annual address arrives at a moment of heightened political tension. After a year marked by rapid policy moves and sweeping executive actions, the 79-year-old Republican faces growing scrutiny from critics and fresh challenges that could shape the trajectory of his second term.

Among the developments reportedly frustrating the president are recent opinion surveys showing sagging approval numbers — figures he has publicly brushed aside — and a Supreme Court decision overturning his signature tariff program, a central element of his economic strategy.

The optics of the evening add another layer of drama. Trump will speak before the very justices who invalidated the tariff policy, including two whom he appointed to the bench. Following the ruling, he sharply criticized the court, calling members of it “fools.”

Control of Congress hangs in the balance this fall. Should Democrats reclaim either chamber, Trump could face significant legislative gridlock for the remainder of his term and renewed talk of impeachment, potentially setting the stage for a third such effort against him.

Despite those risks, the president is expected to project confidence. His speech is likely to blend a forceful defense of his administration’s record with a clear pivot toward the upcoming midterm campaign.

“It’s going to be a long speech because we have so much to talk about,” Trump said at the White House on Monday.

He also rejected the legitimacy of unfavorable polling data, labeling as “fake” surveys such as a Washington Post-ABC News-Ipsos poll released Sunday that pegged his approval rating at 39 percent.

Democrats, meanwhile, are preparing visible counterprogramming. Some lawmakers plan to boycott the address, while others intend to stage silent protests during the speech. The address itself is required under the Constitution, which directs that the president shall “from time to time give to the Congress information of the State of the Union.”

Sen. Tina Smith of Minnesota announced she would not attend, saying Trump uses such appearances to “spread lies – not to mention they’re long and boring.”

The speech follows a year in which Trump has expanded executive authority, aggressively confronted political adversaries and advanced a high-profile domestic agenda, while pursuing a more disruptive approach to international affairs.

On immigration, Trump is expected to highlight what his administration describes as substantial progress in reducing illegal crossings at the southern border. He has frequently pointed to enforcement actions along the Mexican border as evidence of a crackdown.

Yet public opinion appears divided. While many voters support tougher immigration policies in principle, some surveys indicate discomfort with large-scale enforcement raids. Protests over those operations in January were linked to unrest that resulted in the deaths of two U.S. citizens.

Economic policy will also feature prominently. The president plans to argue that inflation has eased under his watch and to promote what he has repeatedly called a “Golden Age” of American prosperity.

Still, he faces skepticism from voters who remain concerned about rising living costs. Many critics have tied those pressures to the tariff policies that were later struck down by the Supreme Court, complicating his economic message.

Internationally, observers will be listening closely for signals regarding Iran. A significant U.S. military buildup in the region has intensified pressure on Tehran to reach a nuclear agreement, raising speculation about potential military action if negotiations falter.

State of the Union speeches have historically served as platforms for major foreign policy initiatives. In 2003, George W. Bush used his address to lay the groundwork for military action in Iraq, underscoring the significance of the moment.

As tradition dictates, attention will also focus on the guests seated in the House gallery. Lawmakers from both parties often invite individuals whose stories align with their political messages.

Trump has extended an invitation to the U.S. men’s ice hockey team, which captured Olympic gold in Italy with a 2-1 victory over Canada — the program’s first such triumph since 1980.

However, according to U.S. media reports, the women’s team declined an invitation from the president. The development followed remarks Trump made in a call with the men’s team in which he joked that he would be impeached if he failed to invite the women as well.

{Matzav.com}

Yair Lapid, Israel’s opposition leader, delivered a blistering attack on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday, before pivoting to a message of national unity should Israel slide into open conflict with Iran. Speaking from the podium of the Knesset, Lapid said that despite deep political divisions, a war with Tehran would force Israel’s leadership into […]

President Donald Trump said tonight that California Gov. Gavin Newsom has “just dropped out of the Presidential Race,” despite the fact that Newsom has made no such announcement and has not formally declared a 2028 campaign.

Posting on Truth Social, Trump asserted that the California governor had exited the contest,  writing “Wow! Gavin Newscum just dropped out of the Presidential Race!!! President DJT,” a statement that conflicts with Newsom’s own public comments. Although Newsom has long been viewed as a potential White House contender, he has neither confirmed nor ruled out a future bid in recent months.

Speculation about Newsom’s national ambitions has circulated for several years. In 2021, he flatly rejected the idea, saying he had “sub-zero interest” in seeking the presidency. More recently, however, his rhetoric has softened. In a June 2025 interview with The Wall Street Journal, Newsom said “it’s a path that I could see unfold,” while stressing that he had not made any immediate plans. His expanded national presence — including a widely covered CNN speech criticizing Trump’s decision to deploy military personnel to Los Angeles — has only intensified talk about his political future.

Newsom has remained active in national debates and has continued to challenge Trump directly, including publicly correcting what he described as false statements made on Truth Social. Those posts included accusations that California was harboring a “drug cartel” and claims regarding Walmart’s business operations, both of which Newsom disputed. The two have repeatedly sparred in public settings, including at the 2024 Munich Security Conference, where Newsom accused Trump of fostering an “age of authoritarianism”

Political observers say Newsom’s recent activity suggests a deliberate effort to build a broader national profile. Larry Sabato, who directs the University of Virginia Center for Politics, characterized one of Newsom’s recent comments as a “home run,” arguing that it effectively positioned the governor’s opposition to Trump as part of a larger defense of democratic norms. At the same time, a December 2024 survey found that more than half of California voters believe Newsom is more focused on potential presidential ambitions than on governing the state.

For now, Newsom has not provided a clear answer about whether he intends to pursue the presidency in 2028. His office has declined to clarify his shifting tone or respond directly to Trump’s latest assertion.

{Matzav.com}

The Vizhnitzer Rebbe of Bnei Brak, Rav Yisroel Hager, held an emotional seudas hodaah on Monday night at his residence in the moshav of Ora, commemorating 26 years since he survived a devastating car accident near the entrance to Yerushalayim. The gathering was combined with a fundraising initiative on behalf of the Vishnitzer community’s Kimcha D’Pischa campaign in Elad.

Prominent supporters of the chassidus, who contributed substantial sums toward providing Pesach necessities for families in need, were seated around the Rebbe’s table for the special occasion.

Also in attendance was the Rebbe’s son-in-law, the Vishnitzer Rebbe of Beit Shemesh, who addressed the assembled chassidim. In his remarks, he reflected on the many kindnesses of the Ribbono Shel Olam over the years and spoke of the ongoing gratitude felt by the community.

Rav Yaakov Mordechai Hager, Av Beis Din of Vishnitz in Elad, delivered heartfelt words, his voice breaking with emotion. He offered a tefillah that Hashem have mercy on the impoverished and downtrodden, and that the chassidim merit to soon see the Rebbe restored in full strength and splendor.

Throughout the tish, lively singing filled the room, with the Rebbe strongly encouraging the melodies, especially during the singing of “Yesh Borei Olam.” He later expanded on divrei kodesh inspired by the elevated atmosphere.

In deeply moving remarks, the Rebbe recounted the details of the accident and the miraculous chain of events that led to his rescue. He reviewed the sequence of those days and expressed gratitude for the many individuals who stood by him and assisted during that critical period.

The Rebbe also spoke with visible emotion about the hospital visit of Rav Shmuel Wosner, who came to see him shortly after the accident.

At the conclusion of the gathering, following Birchas Hamazon, the benefactors approached to receive a special gift in honor of Pesach, presented as a token of appreciation for their steadfast support of the chassidus’s charitable efforts.

{Matzav.com}

A wave of hate mail targeting chareidi members of Knesset has been recorded in recent days, against the backdrop of heated public debate over the draft law and rising anger toward the chareidi sector.

One of the letters, published by journalist Yaakov Hershkowitz in Yisroel Hayom, included extreme and offensive language. It stated: “You chareidim — all of you are bloodsuckers. Evaders of military service. Parasites and leeches. Despicable liars.”

The letter was reportedly sent to several chareidi MKs and reflects the escalating rhetoric surrounding the issue of military exemptions. According to aides, this was not an isolated incident but part of an ongoing pattern of similar letters being delivered to Knesset offices.

Staff in the lawmakers’ offices said they continue to act as emissaries of their rabbinic leadership and choose to ignore what they described as “background noise.” However, they acknowledged that the phenomenon is troubling and appears to be intensifying.

{Matzav.com}