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Just hours after the Knesset’s Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee approved legislation temporarily freezing the arrest of yeshiva bochurim classified as draft evaders, leading Sephardic rabbonim and roshei yeshiva issued a sharply worded public letter condemning the measure, warning that it grants the state sweeping authority over the Torah world and places yeshivos under unprecedented government control.

The legislation, as approved by the committee, would suspend arrests, criminal investigations, and other enforcement measures against bnei Torah eligible for military service for a period of 90 days. However, the protection would not be automatic. Instead, bnei yeshiva and roshei yeshiva would be required to submit affidavits to a special military committee, to be established within a week, and comply with a series of strict conditions.

The rabbonim argued that while the proposal appears to provide temporary relief from arrests, it actually establishes a dangerous framework that allows the government to determine who is truly engaged in Torah study and who is not.

In their letter, the rabbonim wrote that the legislation incorporates “the same destructive oversight mechanisms and the same ‘divide and conquer’ approach” that were contained in the previously proposed draft legislation known as the Bismuth Framework, which had been opposed by senior Torah leaders from every segment of the Torah world in Israel and abroad.

They warned that the law would effectively “bring down the walls of the Torah world” by placing yeshivos and batei medrash under full government control and intensive supervision. According to the letter, the legislation authorizes intrusive surprise inspections of individual bochurim and avreichim, giving government inspectors sole authority to determine each student’s future.

The rabbonim outlined four principal objections to the legislation.

First, they warned that any student found repeatedly absent during inspections—even if he misses only a single hour of the required nine hours of daily study, which are defined by law—would immediately become subject to arrest.

The letter argues that the legislation’s “divide and conquer” approach would make arrests far easier to carry out than under the current system. Rather than confronting an entire united chareidi community, authorities would be able to target individual bochurim and avreichim, forcing them to face the government alone without the protection of broad communal solidarity.

The rabbonim expressed particular concern that Sephardic bnei yeshiva, many of whom live in Israel’s peripheral communities, would become the first targets of enforcement efforts, citing what they described as past experience.

They also objected to provisions requiring roshei yeshiva and roshei kollel to submit ongoing reports identifying students who fail to meet every required hour of study. According to the letter, the law effectively forces roshei yeshiva to become informants while establishing a government committee that will continuously monitor inspection reports and attendance records.

Another concern centers on a provision stating that if repeated absences reach 20 percent of a yeshiva’s student body, the institution could lose its official recognition. Students would then be forced to quickly find another recognized yeshiva willing to accept them in order to avoid becoming subject to arrest.

The rabbonim further warned that the inspection system would fundamentally change the atmosphere inside yeshivos, replacing an environment of spiritual growth with constant pressure, anxiety, and tension between students and their roshei yeshiva. They said school leaders would feel compelled to expel students who fail to meet attendance requirements, undermining the spiritual and emotional conditions necessary for successful Torah study.

The letter stresses that even if the law is eventually struck down or allowed to expire, simply agreeing to such legislation would inflict lasting damage by allowing the state to establish oversight mechanisms that could permanently breach the independence of the Torah world.

The rabbonim also pointed to previous government sanctions as evidence that merely discussing such enforcement measures often leads to their implementation even before legislation formally takes effect. They argued that only firm public opposition and unwavering resistance have succeeded in preventing more severe decrees against the Torah community.

In addition, they noted that the legislation does nothing to eliminate the existing sanctions and penalties already imposed on bnei Torah, leaving those measures fully intact while creating an impression that they have been accepted.

Concluding their letter, the Sephardic Torah leaders issued an emphatic call for opposition to the bill, writing that they cannot believe anyone who identifies as chareidi would support such “destructive legislation.” They declared that it is an absolute obligation to oppose the measure with full force, expressing confidence that the promise that “Torah will never be forgotten from the Jewish people” will endure and that Hashem will continue to protect both His Torah and those who dedicate their lives to its study.

{Matzav.com}

Conservative commentator Ben Shapiro and his wife are celebrating the birth of their fifth child, a baby boy, whom they welcomed this morning.

Shapiro shared the happy news with his millions of followers in a post on X, expressing gratitude for the newest addition to the family.

“With immeasurable thanks to God, we’re proud to announce the addition of baby number 5 to the Shapiro family this morning!” Shapiro wrote.

The newborn is the fifth child for Shapiro and his wife, Dr. Mor Shapiro, an Israeli-born physician. The couple married in 2008.

The Shapiros previously welcomed their fourth child, also a son, in 2023. At the time, Shapiro announced the birth by thanking God, the medical team, and his wife, calling the newborn “a big handsome boy.”

Shapiro, 42, is the co-founder of The Daily Wire and host of The Ben Shapiro Show, one of the country’s most widely followed conservative podcasts and radio programs. In addition to his work in media, he is the author of numerous bestselling books and a frequent commentator on politics, culture, and public policy.

{Matzav.com}

Israel’s next national election will take place on October 27 as originally scheduled, after the Knesset completes its full term, marking the first time in nearly four decades that Israelis will head to the polls on schedule rather than after an early collapse of the government.

Knesset Legal Adviser Sagit Afik confirmed on Sunday that the current parliament will conclude its term on July 17, with the election date remaining unchanged.

“The current Knesset will complete its full term and will not be dissolved [early]. The election date remains as established by law — October 27,” Afik said during a meeting of the Knesset House Committee.

If the timetable holds, it will be Israel’s first regularly scheduled election since 1988. It will also make Prime Minister Binyomin Netanyahu’s current administration the first Israeli government to serve out its entire term since 1973.

The announcement comes as coalition lawmakers race to advance a long list of controversial legislation before the Knesset adjourns. Once parliament dissolves, most legislative activity effectively comes to a standstill unless measures receive backing from both the coalition and the opposition.

Israel’s 37th government was sworn in on December 29, 2022, following the collapse of the Naftali Bennett-Yair Lapid coalition.

Led by Netanyahu’s Likud party and supported by several chareidi and right-wing parties, the coalition has frequently been described as the most conservative government in Israel’s history.

Despite surviving its full term, the coalition repeatedly faced threats to its stability. One of the most persistent flashpoints involved legislation aimed at preserving longstanding exemptions from mandatory military service for chareidi men, an issue that has divided not only the opposition but members of the coalition itself.

The government also weathered repeated threats from right-wing coalition partners during the war in Gaza, with some warning they would bring down the government over proposed hostage-release and ceasefire agreements with Hamas.

Recent polling indicates that if Israelis were voting today, Netanyahu’s coalition would likely fall short of securing a majority in the 120-member Knesset. At the same time, the Zionist opposition bloc—an alliance opposed to Netanyahu that excludes both Arab-majority and chareidi parties—appears to be hovering near the threshold needed to form a governing coalition.

Among those expected to challenge Netanyahu for the premiership are former IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot, chairman of the Yashar party, and former prime minister Naftali Bennett, who now leads the Together party.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump disclosed Sunday that he spoke with Sen. Lindsey Graham just hours before the South Carolina lawmaker’s unexpected death, saying the senator was focused on advancing the SAVE America Act and appeared to be in good spirits despite mentioning he was tired after returning from Ukraine.

Speaking by phone on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” Trump recounted what he believes may have been one of Graham’s final conversations, describing a senator who remained fully engaged in his work until the very end.

“What makes it even stranger is I got a call last night some time in the early evening, maybe in the sevens, and he called, and he said we’re all set for the SAVE America Act,” Trump said. “He was pushing the SAVE America Act like crazy.”

Trump said Graham had just arrived back in the United States after traveling to Ukraine, a demanding journey that left him fatigued but otherwise seemingly healthy.

“He said he just landed from Ukraine. That’s a long trip to make. He sounded a little tired, but perfect,” Trump said. “He actually said he was tired, but he wanted to pass the SAVE America Act, and I said, ‘Well, we’ll get it done, Lindsey. I’ll get it done. I’ll see you soon. We might even meet today.'”

Only a few hours later, Trump said, he received the devastating news that Graham had died following what has been described as a brief and sudden illness.

“It couldn’t have been much longer. It could have been his last call. I don’t know exactly, but I got a message at about 1:00 in the morning from one of the people in his office that he had passed away,” Trump said. “I said, I can’t believe it. He was like a member of the family to me. It’s very tough, actually.”

The president praised Graham as an exceptionally effective legislator, highlighting his ability to bridge partisan divides and negotiate with members of both parties.

“He was such an advocate,” Trump said. “If he wanted to get something, and you know, he had a unique ability. He was able to deal with Democrats. If I had a problem, a real problem, I wouldn’t often ask, but if I had a problem with a Democrat, he could work it out. He was a great politician, actually.”

Trump also said Graham had no intention of stepping away from public office and believed he was well-positioned for another electoral victory.

“There was nobody like him,” Trump said. “He loved being a politician, and he was going to win his election. He was going to win it big.”

Although Graham could be relentless when pursuing issues he cared deeply about, Trump said that determination earned him admiration from colleagues across Washington.

“He was a tough cookie. Don’t misunderstand,” Trump said. “If he wanted to get something, if he thought he was right and had people against him, he could be very tough, actually, but he was a good person.”

When asked whether Graham had indicated he was unwell during their conversation, Trump said the senator spoke only of being worn out from travel.

“He told me, ‘You know, I feel good, but I’m tired,'” Trump said. “He was fine. I knew him well. He would let you know if he wasn’t feeling well.”

Trump said the suddenness of the senator’s death came as a complete shock.

“It had to be something like that that would just be a quick end,” Trump said. “Other than being tired, he was fine.”

Looking back on Graham’s career, Trump singled out his forceful defense of Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh during the contentious 2018 confirmation hearings, calling it one of the defining moments of the senator’s public life.

“His moment on Kavanaugh was one of the classics in the history of the Senate,” Trump said. “I think that saved Brett Kavanaugh’s Supreme Court ascension.”

Trump also reflected on how his relationship with Graham evolved from political rivals during the 2016 Republican presidential campaign into a close friendship.

“We got friendly, and the friendship grew,” Trump said. “He was an amazing advocate. I don’t know how you find anybody like him.”

According to Trump, Graham became one of his most trusted allies in Washington, frequently visiting the White House and providing valuable insight into the mood of the Senate.

“He was a great gauge, a temperature gauge, of the Senate,” Trump said. “He was somebody that most Democrats liked, some didn’t, but most Democrats liked, and just about all of the Republicans liked Lindsey.”

Asked who should succeed Graham in the Senate, Trump said he already has a preferred candidate but believes it is too soon after the senator’s passing to discuss names publicly.

“I have someone that I think would be great, but I don’t want to say it now because it’s too soon with Lindsey,” Trump said. “I don’t want to even talk about anybody.”

Instead, Trump voiced confidence in South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster, saying he expects the governor to make a wise interim appointment until voters elect a permanent successor.

“The governor is a good friend of mine,” Trump said. “I endorsed him early on, and he endorsed me right from the beginning.”

Trump recalled that McMaster, then serving as South Carolina’s lieutenant governor, was among his earliest supporters during the 2016 presidential campaign. He also noted that his decision to appoint then-Gov. Nikki Haley as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations ultimately elevated McMaster to the governorship.

“By moving her, I got myself a great guy,” Trump said. “Henry McMaster has been a really good governor, and a really good guy. … He’s going to do the right thing, I think.”

While expressing confidence in McMaster’s judgment, Trump emphasized that South Carolina voters will ultimately choose Graham’s long-term replacement at the ballot box.

“Ultimately, there will be an election,” Trump said. “I have someone that I like, but I’m not going to tell you now because it’s too soon.”

Closing the interview, Trump once again honored Graham’s legacy, saying his contributions to the nation would endure long after his passing.

“He’s got so many legacies,” Trump said. “He was somebody that loved our country, and he fought very hard for the country.”

{Matzav.com}

A Ukrainian refugee who fled the war in his homeland, only to lose his son and son-in-law to Hamas terrorists on October 7, has now died in a tragic drowning accident in Ashdod, bringing yet another heartbreaking chapter to a family already devastated by unimaginable loss.

Vladimir Logvinenko, 60, drowned at an unrecognized beach near Citadel Beach in Ashdod. On Sunday, family members gathered at the Ashdod cemetery to bid him a final farewell, less than three years after Hamas murdered his son, Vitali, and his father-in-law, Oleg, during the October 7 massacre.

He is survived by his wife, Irina, his daughter, Katya, his daughter-in-law, Lilia, and his grandson, Yaroslav. According to relatives, Vladimir suffered from a hearing impairment, an experience that deeply influenced his son Vitali, who devoted himself to volunteering on behalf of the deaf and hard-of-hearing community.

Born in Ukraine in January 1989, Vitali attended a police academy before marrying Lilia in 2017. The couple made their home in Kherson, where they welcomed their son, Yaroslav. Lilia recalled the extraordinary relationship between father and son, describing Vitali as a warm, generous man who loved cooking, entertaining family and friends, and spending his free time fishing by the sea. He also operated a successful food stand in Kherson and was widely admired for his kindness.

The family initially immigrated to Israel in 2019 but later returned to Ukraine. Vitali eventually came back to Israel on his own, and after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Lilia and Yaroslav joined him. Together they settled in Ashkelon, close to Lilia’s parents.

On the morning of October 7, Vitali and his father-in-law, Oleg, went fishing near the Gaza border. When Hamas launched its murderous assault on southern Israel, the two men attempted to flee but were caught by terrorists and murdered near the Gama Junction.

The family’s suffering deepened again on Saturday afternoon. At 4:27 p.m., Magen David Adom’s 101 emergency dispatch center in the Lachish region received a report of a drowning at an unrecognized beach near Ashdod.

MDA motorcycle unit paramedic Orel Asulin and MDA medic Simcha Hasid described the desperate efforts to save Vladimir’s life.

“We saw a man in his 50s who was unconscious, without a pulse and not breathing, after he had been pulled from the water and beach rescuers were performing CPR. We continued providing medical care and carried out prolonged resuscitation efforts, but unfortunately, we had to pronounce his death.”

{Matzav.com}