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Rav Dov Kook of Tiveria remains in serious condition, with his family still awaiting significant improvement in his consciousness and ability to move, his son Rav Gedaliah Kook said in an update while urging the public to continue davening for his recovery.

Speaking with Rabbi Moshe Ben Lulu, Rav Gedaliah described his father’s difficult medical condition and appealed for additional tefillos and spiritual commitments on his behalf. He also discussed a major women’s gathering being organized by Rebbetzin Kook for her husband’s refuah, scheduled for Monday at Hangar 11 in the Tel Aviv Port.

“We are waiting for Hashem’s salvation,” Rav Gedaliah said, asking the public “to daven again and undertake all the spiritual efforts.”

He explained that, according to doctors, the initial months following a stroke and systemic collapse can be particularly significant in determining potential improvements in consciousness, communication and movement. Rav Gedaliah stressed that this represents only the medical assessment, while the family continues to daven and hope for a yeshuah beyond what doctors may anticipate.

Describing his father’s present condition, Rav Gedaliah said, “The Rav has still not gotten up, he does not move a hand or a foot, he cannot move any limb of his body.”

There have, however, been occasional signs of limited communication. Rav Gedaliah said his father has at times responded through slight head movements, particularly when Rebbetzin Kook or leading Gedolei Yisroel are present. He cautioned that these responses are brief and difficult, generally lasting only several seconds.

“He is receiving the best treatment in the world,” Rav Gedaliah stressed.

At the same time, he said there have been significant improvements in several of his father’s bodily systems. The family views some of those developments as “open miracles,” particularly after doctors had previously raised grave concerns about his condition.

The conversation then turned to a major initiative intended to generate additional tefillos for Rav Kook: a massive gathering for women being spearheaded by Rebbetzin Kook.

According to Rav Gedaliah, thousands of women from across the spectrum are expected to attend the event at Hangar 11 in the Tel Aviv Port. The gathering was initially planned for the Caesarea Amphitheater, but the venue was changed after Rebbetzin Kook requested that the security personnel inside the women’s area consist exclusively of women, allowing the event to be conducted in accordance with her standards of tznius.

Rav Gedaliah said the Rebbetzin has asked participants to bring drums and turn the gathering into an evening of tefillah, simcha and anticipation of a yeshuah.

A massive collective recitation of Tehillim is also planned. Organizers intend to divide the chapters among the thousands of women in attendance, allowing the participants to collectively complete the equivalent of approximately 1,500 entire Sifrei Tehillim within a short period of time.

The evening will also feature a musical program. Rav Gedaliah emphasized that the gathering is being organized without any profit motive.

The event is scheduled for Monday at 9 p.m. at Hangar 11 in the Tel Aviv Port. Rav Gedaliah said free transportation has been arranged from various locations around the country, with tickets available through the ticketing systems and contact information publicized for the gathering.

“Please respond to the Rebbetzin’s call, for an evening of simcha, an evening of yeshuah,” he appealed to listeners.

During the broadcast, Ben Lulu also played a recording of Rebbetzin Kook urging women to attend and increase their tefillos for her husband’s recovery and for yeshuos for Klal Yisroel.

The public is asked to continue davening for Rav Kook, whose name for tefillah is Rav Chizkiyahu Dov ben Shoshana.

Mordechai Ben David’s newly released single, “Uvetuvcha Hagadol,” has been more than 23 years in the making — and its surprising history stretches back to Menachem Toker’s wedding, where the song was performed publicly for the first time more than two decades ago.

Composer and arranger Eli Laufer revealed the story during an interview with Toker on the radio program “Zman Avir,” explaining that the song was actually composed jointly by Laufer and MBD in Miami more than 23 years ago. Although MBD considered including it on his album “Efshar Letaken,” the song ultimately remained unreleased until this week.

During the interview, Toker produced a rare recording from his wedding approximately 23 and a half years ago.

“You were there, and you surprised me with a new song, you and Mordechai Ben David on the stage,” Toker reminded Laufer.

Toker recalled that MBD had made a special trip to attend the wedding, which took place approximately a week before Pesach, and that MBD and Laufer performed the newly composed song together.

Laufer initially had difficulty remembering all the details of the evening, although he said he had recently seen footage from the wedding showing himself playing the keyboard. Listening again to the decades-old performance, Toker told him, “I’m listening now to the chords you’re putting in there. You are the gadol hador.”

Laufer then explained how “Uvetuvcha Hagadol” had originally come into existence during a visit to Miami with MBD.

“We were in Miami, and we composed it together with Mordechai. Mordechai said: Now let’s light candles and compose a song. There was a keyboard there,” Laufer recalled.

The two sat together and created “Uvetuvcha Hagadol,” and Laufer said they immediately sensed that they had produced something special.

“Mordechai always wanted to release it, and now there was an opportunity to release it,” he said.

The song, however, came close to reaching listeners many years earlier. Laufer revealed that “Uvetuvcha Hagadol” was considered for inclusion on MBD’s “Efshar Letaken” album, but MBD ultimately decided against putting it on the album. The composition consequently remained on the shelf, despite having already been performed at Toker’s wedding.

Now, more than 23 years after that performance, the song has finally received its official release.

Toker asked whether a composition created more than two decades ago could still resonate with today’s listeners. Laufer said the initial reaction to the single indicates that the melody has lost none of its appeal.

“People are very moved and are complimenting me very much about this song. People are very excited,” Laufer said.

Toker jokingly suggested that evaluating the staying power of an MBD song requires a different standard altogether.

“Mordechai Ben David is always relevant. The question is whether a song is relevant 23 years later,” he said.

Laufer also discussed the credits behind the new release, explaining that he and MBD jointly composed the melody, while Laufer handled the arrangement.

When Toker pressed him to identify which portions of the song had been composed by each of them, Laufer replied, “I don’t remember, together. I think I did most of it.”

After Toker teased him about taking credit, Laufer quickly added, “G-d forbid. Mordechai is a great composer.”

Laufer went even further in praising MBD’s abilities as a composer, saying, “I think he is no less talented as a composer than he is as a singer… There’s nothing you can do, he is the king.”

Shmuel Stern, Laufer noted during the conversation, was responsible for the vocal arrangements on the newly released song.

For Toker, the release brought the story full circle: a song written more than 23 years ago and unveiled at one of the most important moments of his own life has finally become an official MBD release.

“It was released in honor of my wedding 23 years ago,” Toker joked, before offering Laufer the blessing, “A faithful home for me and for you.”

{Matzav.com}

A Chareidi commander serving in a classified elite technological unit of the IDF has left military service after receiving a direct instruction to do so from Rav Avraham Salim, a member of Shas’ Moetzes Chachmei HaTorah, according to a report by Kan News.

During a conversation between the two, Rav Salim addressed the commander’s continued service in the IDF and instructed him to leave, citing the ongoing confrontation over the drafting of bnei yeshivos.

“Leave the IDF because it is at war with students of Torah, so that your family will not be harmed because you are a soldier.”

Rav Salim further explained that the commander could continue participating in reserve duty while cautioning him against taking steps that would establish a deeper or more permanent connection to the military.

“You can go to reserve duty, but do not take part in something that would tie you more to the army.”

The commander reportedly told Kan News that when he initially entered the military, and particularly around the time of the October 7 massacre, he had received encouragement and backing from several prominent rabbonim.

That support reportedly changed as the battle over the Draft Law grew increasingly contentious and authorities stepped up enforcement measures and sanctions against bnei yeshivos who had not reported for military service.

As tensions surrounding the draft intensified, the backing the commander had previously received from rabbinic figures reportedly began to diminish, ultimately leading to his conversation with Rav Salim and his decision to leave his position.

{Matzav.com}

Shin Bet Director David Zini paid a visit Tuesday to Chabad-Lubavitch World Headquarters at 770 Eastern Parkway in Crown Heights, touring the famed building and taking a particular interest in the yeshiva and its bochurim during a trip to the United States for meetings with American officials.

Zini, who previously served as an IDF major general and has led Israel’s internal security service since October 2025, came to 770 together with security personnel and Chabad community activists. A substantial police presence surrounded the building during his visit.

The Shin Bet chief is religiously observant, a fact that has received considerable attention since he took over leadership of the Israeli security agency.

Zini’s tour began in the WLCC room, the location from which the Rebbe’s farbrengens and other events were transmitted to audiences around the globe for many years. WLCC manager Rabbi Mendel Eisenbach welcomed Zini upon his arrival.

From there, Zini requested an opportunity to visit the main shul and observe the bochurim studying in the 770 Yeshiva.

The security chief displayed considerable curiosity about the yeshiva’s daily learning program and curriculum. He wanted to know how many hours the bochurim spend learning each day, what time their seder begins, and which subjects occupy their studies.

Rabbi Mendy Carlebach, chaplain of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Police Department, and Rabbi Chanina Sperlin, an NYPD chaplain, coordinated Zini’s visit. During his time at 770, Zini also spoke with Rabbi Yekusiel Feldman, a mashpia at 770.

Following the tour, Zini stepped onto Kingston Avenue for a short walk. A small group quickly gathered around the visiting Israeli security official, with several people exchanging brief words with him.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump on Tuesday dismissed reports that he is attempting to pressure Iran into returning to negotiations with Washington, saying he is satisfied with the United States’ current position as Tehran faces mounting military and economic pressure.

“I’m not trying to force Iran to the bargaining table, as ABC Fake News reported. I couldn’t care less if they sign a worthless, to them, agreement. I like our position now much better, with almost total control of the Hormuz Strait, and their economy totally collapsing,” Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social.

He followed that message with a direct appeal to Iranians, writing, “They are just playing out the inevitable. When are the Iranian people going to rise up and fight?”

Trump’s remarks came after the United States launched a new round of strikes against Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps targets inside Iran. Early reports indicated that Qeshm Island and Chabahar were among the locations hit, with explosions reported in both areas.

US Central Command said American forces had completed the wave of attacks against Iranian military infrastructure.

“US forces struck Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) targets including air defense sites, radar systems, maritime assets and facilities, mine laying capabilities, and communications sites,” CENTCOM said.

“The strikes follow recent attempted attacks by the IRGC against commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz and against American service members,” the command added.

Trump had earlier said the military operation was launched in retaliation for Iranian actions in the Strait of Hormuz as well as a previous missile attack targeting a US military installation in Jordan. He also warned Tehran that any response to the American operation would trigger significantly stronger US attacks.

“The United States is, as we speak, striking Iranian Targets near the Strait of Hormuz. The strikes are large and powerful, and in retaliation for the Iranians’ failed attempt at adding sea mines to the Strait, which currently has no mines (They have been completely removed or detonated!), and the Iranians shooting eight missiles, all successfully knocked down, at our Military Base in Jordan,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.

The president then issued an even more severe warning about what could follow if Iran retaliates.

“If the failed Nation of Iran retaliates for this very justified attack, they will be hit again at a much harder and higher level, but it will not be the biggest attack of them all, that is waiting in the wings and, when it is over, there will be very little left of the Islamic Republic of Iran!” he added.

{Matzav.com}

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A Chareidi schoolgirl in Tiveria was fined 20 shekels after a button on her clothing was left open, prompting a sharp response from Israel’s Education Ministry and renewed scrutiny over the use of monetary penalties as a disciplinary measure in schools.

The incident reportedly occurred at an educational institution affiliated with Karlin-Stolin, where the open button was deemed a violation of the school’s tznius regulations.

The institution has not issued an official response to the report. The Education Ministry, however, strongly criticized what occurred, saying, “This is a serious incident that should not have happened.”

According to the ministry, its examination of the matter determined that the document setting out the fine was not a recently approved school policy and had been distributed by a staff member without authorization.

“The ministry’s inquiry found that this was an old document that was distributed by a staff member without the knowledge or approval of the school administration. Following the incident, the procedures were clarified to the staff, and the supervisory authorities will ensure that it does not happen again,” the Education Ministry said.

The controversy is not the first time the Education Ministry has been asked to address the practice of educational institutions imposing financial penalties on students for disciplinary infractions.

A 2024 report by Israel’s Public Complaints Commission detailed a case involving a Chareidi seminary that charged students 25 shekels for lateness and absences. Students who requested an additional opportunity to take an examination were also charged 30 shekels.

At the time, the seminary explained that the money was intended in part to cover the costs of staff members who prepared and reviewed assignments given to students as a consequence of their lateness or absences.

The matter was referred to the director of the Education Ministry’s Chareidi district. Following an investigation, the ministry determined that collecting the payments was “improper and illegal.”

The seminary’s administration was subsequently informed of the finding, and the institution discontinued the practice.

Under Israel’s Compulsory Education Law, education provided under the law is generally free, although certain exceptions allow schools to collect specified payments from parents. Disciplinary fines are not included among the categories of payments that educational institutions are permitted to collect.

{Matzav.com}