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Political strategist Roni Rimon says Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu knowingly accepted a potential political cost among moderate Likud voters by backing a series of chareidi-backed bills, calculating that preserving his alliance with the chareidi parties is more important for the coalition battles that may follow the next election.

Writing after the Knesset passed several measures sought by the chareidi parties—including the Basic Law recognizing Torah study, legislation halting the arrests of bnei yeshiva classified as draft evaders, a law permitting gender-separate higher education programs, and legislation restoring the Chief Rabbinate’s exclusive authority over kashrus certification—Rimon argued that the legislation should be viewed through both political and substantive lenses.

According to Rimon, the legislation was driven primarily by political considerations and the need for the chareidi parties to demonstrate to their constituents that they are delivering tangible results, particularly on the highly sensitive issue of military conscription.

He said the two most significant measures—the Basic Law on Torah study and the law freezing the arrests of draft-eligible bnei yeshiva—were intended to send a clear message to chareidi voters that their representatives had succeeded in addressing their community’s greatest concern.

Rimon argued that Netanyahu played a central role in advancing the legislation because he views maintaining his partnership with the chareidi parties as essential to any future governing coalition.

According to Rimon, Netanyahu wants to prevent the chareidi parties from eventually aligning themselves with opposition leaders such as Gadi Eisenkot, Naftali Bennett, or others after the next election.

At the same time, Rimon believes Netanyahu’s support for the legislation could come at a political price within his own party.

He identified moderate and liberal Likud supporters—often described as the party’s “soft Likud” voters—as the constituency most likely to object. Many of those voters, he said, have drifted toward opposition parties in recent polling because of dissatisfaction with aspects of Likud’s conduct in recent years.

Rimon suggested that Netanyahu recognizes this trend and has therefore sought to refresh the Likud slate with new outside candidates who could present the party as more moderate and liberal.

Even so, he believes the passage of the chareidi-backed legislation may make it more difficult for those former Likud voters to return.

“In my assessment,” Rimon wrote, “this week’s votes will cost Likud several seats, and Netanyahu nevertheless decided to stand with the chareidim in order to preserve the alliance.”

Rimon also discussed the High Court’s decision to suspend implementation of the law freezing the arrests of draft evaders.

He said he had predicted throughout the week that the law would quickly be blocked because it applied only to chareidim and therefore failed to meet the principle of equality.

According to Rimon, lawmakers could have avoided that outcome by drafting the legislation differently.

He suggested passing a temporary law suspending the arrests of all draft evaders, regardless of sector, until after the election.

“In that case,” he argued, “the High Court would have found it much more difficult to block the law because it would have applied equally to both chareidim and secular Israelis.”

Why lawmakers chose not to pursue that approach, he wrote, “only Hashem knows.”

Looking ahead, Rimon predicted that if Israel’s security situation remains relatively calm, the issue of chareidi enlistment will become one of the central themes of the next election campaign.

He believes opposition parties will make the issue a focal point of their campaigns, targeting what he described as one of Likud’s political vulnerabilities.

{Matzav.com}

As thousands of bochurim prepare to transition from yeshiva ketanah to yeshiva gedolah, Maran Rav Dov Landau shared extensive guidance on spiritual growth, success in learning, and the proper focus of a ben Torah. The question-and-answer session was recorded in advance of a recent Dirshu gathering for incoming bochurim.

The interviewer noted that each year thousands of bochurim attend the event and are eager to hear guidance from the rosh yeshiva. Rav Landau agreed to answer a series of questions relevant to this pivotal stage in their lives.

Asked about a well-known story related by Rav Moshe Deutsch about the Chazon Ish—that he “learned and learned, and then learned some more”—Rav Landau explained that the lesson encompasses two qualities.

“Both are true,” he said. “Constant diligence and total immersion. His diligence was such that even when the sefer was closed, the learning was always before his eyes.”

When asked how a bochur can develop enjoyment and sweetness in learning, Rav Landau replied that every positive effort helps.

“Everything is good. Every good thing is beneficial.”

Pressed to identify the most important factor in acquiring a true taste for learning, Rav Landau emphasized the importance of tefillah.

“The greatest influence? Tefillah is asking Hashem. If Hashem gives it to him, then he has it. If not, then he does not. We ask—we do not demand.”

When the interviewer suggested that prayer is therefore the primary hishtadlus, Rav Landau agreed, while stressing that a bochur must also become deeply immersed in his learning.

“Yes. And especially through complete immersion in learning. The learning has to occupy his mind. He should live with what he is learning. When he encounters a new insight, he should think about it.”

Rav Landau elaborated that genuine growth comes from stopping to appreciate every fresh insight in Torah rather than rushing ahead.

Quoting the Chofetz Chaim, he said a person should always ask himself, “What would I have thought had this not been written?” He also related a story about the Brisker Rav, who as a young man admired not merely the Rogatchover Gaon’s brilliance, but his ability to stop and carefully analyze every novel idea.

“When something truly new suddenly occurs to you,” Rav Landau said, “your eyes should light up. You should be excited. Every genuine chiddush should awaken a sense of wonder.”

Turning to the transition from yeshiva ketanah to yeshiva gedolah, the interviewer suggested that older bochurim are given greater independence.

Rav Landau expressed surprise.

“There is a mashgiach, and there is a rosh yeshiva…”

When it was suggested that bochurim nevertheless enjoy greater freedom in organizing their schedules, he responded that they should simply follow the established routine of the yeshiva.

“The yeshiva has its schedule. Why not follow it?”

He emphasized that discipline is indispensable.

“If he is disciplined, he should remain disciplined and follow what the yeshiva requires. He may think he’s a great genius, but he must be disciplined.”

Rav Landau added that proper bein adam l’chaveiro is equally essential to acquiring Torah.

“Without that, a person cannot acquire Torah.”

Asked whether interpersonal conduct actually enhances learning, he replied that it certainly does.

“That is the accepted understanding, and it is self-evident. Listen to the other person until he finishes, even if you already have an opposing argument.”

The conversation then turned to attending shiurim. Some bochurim, the interviewer noted, believe they can learn everything independently from seforim or recordings.

Rav Landau dismissed the notion.

“There are even greater foolish ideas than that…”

He encouraged attending shiurim regularly and recommended writing notes whenever possible.

“Not everyone is capable of writing, but for someone who can, it is very good. Later he will enjoy having those notes. Even while writing, new ideas develop. When a person writes, he thinks more deeply about what he is learning. But it depends on the personality of each bochur—not everyone is the same.”

Asked about the challenge many bochurim face in waking up for Shacharis, especially after going to sleep late, Rav Landau answered without hesitation.

“Certainly. Certainly.”

When asked whether attending a later minyan of avreichim might be acceptable, he smiled at the repeated qualifications.

“If… if… there are many ‘ifs.’ If he doesn’t want to get up… then he should get up! Set an alarm clock and get up. The Mechaber says, ‘Strengthen yourself like a lion.’ Once you become accustomed to it, it becomes very easy.”

The interviewer also asked whether young bochurim should spend time studying issues of secularism, modernity, religion and state, particularly given today’s heated public debates.

Rav Landau advised them not to become preoccupied with such matters.

“They should not think about it so much.”

Asked directly whether bochurim should involve themselves in issues of religion and the state, he replied:

“They should learn. They should not be thinking about those things. They should think about their learning. And about bein adam l’chaveiro. Respecting another person is extremely important—listening to him, rejoicing when things go well for him, and if, chas v’shalom, things are not going well, sharing in his pain. As much as possible, live with the other person.”

Concluding the session, the interviewer asked the rosh yeshiva to offer a brachah to the thousands of bochurim preparing to enter yeshiva gedolah.

“May Hashem help us with Siyata DiShmaya. They should know that the world stands upon them. The world exists because of them. The study of Torah is what protects us, and it has always protected us. May Hashem help that all the persecutions disappear like a passing dream, like a vanishing cloud, like a blowing wind. May we merit great blessings in every area, and for all of Klal Yisroel, may we merit the coming of Moshiach Tzidkeinu speedily in our days. Amen.”

{Matzav.com}

Israeli authorities are investigating whether a service vehicle that struck an Israir aircraft at a London airport before takeoff may have been part of a deliberate act with a nationalist motive. The incident forced the cancellation of a flight to Tel Aviv and marked the third time in less than a year that an Israir plane has been hit by an airport service vehicle in London.

The aircraft was preparing to depart for Tel Aviv on Friday when a ground service vehicle collided with it, requiring an inspection to assess the damage. Following the investigation, officials determined that the aircraft could not operate the flight, and the departure was canceled.

The string of similar incidents has raised concerns within Israel’s aviation industry. Senior aviation officials have questioned whether the repeated collisions could be intentional, prompting Israeli authorities to raise the matter with aviation officials in London and the United Kingdom while considering additional steps with local authorities.

The canceled flight caused significant disruption for passengers. Some travelers were accommodated in hotels, while others were rebooked on alternate flights later that day.

Passengers who observe Shabbos were unable to travel before sunset on Friday and remained in London until Sunday, when they returned to Israel on another flight.

According to passengers, they remained seated inside the aircraft for approximately an hour without air conditioning. The aircraft was then shut down, and they waited for another hour before being informed that the flight had been canceled.

{Matzav.com}

Former Israeli Supreme Court President Aharon Barak made a series of surprising remarks during a recent interview with Rav Ido Weber-Erlich, expressing support for Torah study as a fundamental value, commenting on the arrests of bnei yeshiva, reflecting on past judicial decisions, and addressing the Netanyahu trial.

During the conversation, Rav Weber asked Barak about the recently enacted law declaring Torah study to be a supreme value of the Jewish people.

“Yes,” Barak replied. “There is no problem.”

Rav Weber then raised the issue of the arrests of yeshiva bochurim, saying, “These chareidim really are suffering. A yeshiva bochur is walking down the street, and suddenly they arrest him.”

Barak did not dispute the characterization and continued the discussion.

The conversation then turned to Barak’s judicial career. Asked whether there were rulings he regretted, Barak answered without hesitation.

“Of course.”

When asked for an example, he responded, “Doesn’t a person make mistakes?” However, he declined to identify any specific ruling.

“I need to know myself that I made a mistake. Other people don’t need to hear it.”

Barak noted that he authored approximately 34,000 judicial decisions during his career.

“Do you know how many rulings I issued in my lifetime? Thirty-four thousand. Small and large. Of course there are mistakes.”

Asked whether any of those mistakes related to issues affecting Judaism and the chareidi community, Barak pointed to the Tal Law.

“Specifically there, with the Tal Law, I said that it served a proper purpose and was consistent with the values of the State of Israel.”

When Rav Weber asked why the Tal Law was ultimately struck down, Barak disputed that characterization.

“We didn’t cancel it. I didn’t cancel it. I rejected the petition.”

According to Barak, the law ultimately failed because the military was unable to implement it effectively.

“Because the army was not prepared to manage it. Therefore, all the arrangements contained in the Tal Law were never realized.”

When asked whether that meant the collapse of the arrangement was not the fault of the chareidim, and whether that marked the beginning of today’s draft crisis, Barak replied: “That’s where it began.”

The interview concluded with questions about President Bibi Netanyahu’s ongoing criminal trial and reports that the judges had suggested prosecutors reconsider the bribery charge.

Barak said he was unfamiliar with the matter.

“I don’t know. I’m not familiar with it. If they said that, they know what they are relying on.”

Asked whether the prosecution should heed the judges’ comments, Barak responded:

“The judges are not supposed to say that, and the prosecution should take it into consideration. Yes, it should take it into consideration.”