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A political firestorm erupted in Israel on Friday after MK Ram Ben-Barak, a member of the Bennett-Lapid “Beyachad” faction, declared during a radio interview that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is “Israel’s biggest enemy,” prompting an immediate denunciation from Likud Minister Miki Zohar.

Ben-Barak made the remark during an appearance on Kan Reshet Bet’s “Haboker Hazeh” program with Yair Ettinger. Asked about Netanyahu’s leadership and policies, Ben-Barak responded with an unusually sharp characterization of the prime minister.

“Israel’s biggest enemy is Netanyahu,” Ben-Barak said.

When pressed on whether that was indeed his position, Ben-Barak did not retreat from the statement, responding: “Unequivocally.”

The comments quickly generated controversy in Israel’s political arena, coming amid the escalating campaign rhetoric surrounding the upcoming elections and a day after Netanyahu addressed the United Nations General Assembly.

Zohar, a Likud minister, responded sharply to Ben-Barak, arguing that the comment reflected the opposition’s hostility toward Netanyahu rather than a substantive political critique.

“Ram Ben-Barak said this this morning because he could not bear the prime minister’s amazing speech yesterday at the UN. The hatred simply blinds them. Sad. Netanyahu will not surrender. With Hashem’s help, we will win the elections,” Zohar wrote.

Thousands of avreichim streamed to Rechov Strauss in Yerushalayim on Friday morning, Erev Sukkos, for a massive Yom Tov distribution by philanthropist Mr. Yoeli Landau, who handed out envelopes containing 1,220 shekels apiece to approximately 6,000 people.

The enormous turnout outside the Ohr Hachaim Torah center became so large that Strauss Street was ultimately closed to traffic as crowds gathered at the entrance to the room where Landau was personally distributing the envelopes.

An announcement publicized Thursday night had informed the public that a “Sanzer chalukah” would be held in memory of the Divrei Chaim of Sanz zy”a. The distribution was scheduled for Friday morning between 7 and 9 a.m. and was intended for married avreichim. By the early morning hours, large numbers had already begun arriving at the location.

Each recipient was given an envelope containing 1,220 shekels as a Yom Tov grant and financial assistance. Approximately 6,000 people reportedly received the envelopes directly, bringing the total amount distributed to approximately 7.32 million shekels.

The envelopes bore the words “Shefa Yoel Chalukah.”

Images and videos of the scene quickly circulated on social media, where some criticized the manner in which the distribution was conducted and the heavy crowding that developed outside the building.

Those close to Landau, however, defended the arrangement, saying that such distributions are a regular and respected practice in the United States and that the Yerushalayim event was modeled on the manner in which Landau regularly distributes tzedakah in Williamsburg.

According to his associates, every Friday Landau sits for approximately two hours in his bais medrash in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, where he provides substantial financial assistance to anyone in need who comes to him.

With Landau visiting Eretz Yisroel ahead of Sukkos, he decided to conduct a similar distribution for kollel avreichim in Israel, enabling them to cover their Yom Tov expenses with greater dignity and peace of mind.

People close to the philanthropist said Landau distributes tens of millions of shekels each month, much of it discreetly and through direct deposits into the bank accounts of families in need.

This time, however, Landau wanted the money to be available to everyone who qualified without relying on predetermined lists. His associates said the decision to conduct the mass distribution was made only at the beginning of the week, leaving insufficient time to organize an alternative system.

{Matzav.com}

Thousands participated in the levayah on Erev Sukkos of the renowned mekubal, Rav Dovid Shalom Batzri zt”l, Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshivat Hashalom in Yerushalayim, who passed away suddenly Friday morning at the age of 85.

Despite the rapidly approaching onset of Yom Tov, large crowds gathered to accompany the revered mekubal on his final journey.

Among those who delivered hespedim during the levayah were Rav Reuven Elbaz, Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshivas Ohr Hachaim; Rishon Letzion Rav Dovid Yosef; Rav Benayahu Shmueli, Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshivas Nahar Shalom; the mekubal Rav Yaakov Ades; and others.

Following the hespedim, the levayah proceeded to the Sanhedria cemetery in Yerushalayim, where Rav Batzri was laid to rest alongside his wife, Rebbetzin Tziporah Batzri a”h.

In a striking similarity, Rebbetzin Batzri also passed away immediately before a Yom Tov, on Erev Pesach. At the time, the onset of the Yom Tov prevented the family from observing the usual shivah period.

The same circumstance repeated itself with Rav Batzri’s petirah. Because his levayah took place on Erev Sukkos, the family was able to sit shivah for less than two hours before the arrival of Yom Tov brought the aveilus period to an end.

Rav Batzri, widely regarded as one of the senior mekubalim of the generation, headed Yeshivat Hashalom in Yerushalayim for decades and was a prominent figure in the world of Torah and kabbalah.

The extraordinary timing added another poignant element to an already emotional levayah: husband and wife were both niftar on the eve of a major Yom Tov, leaving their family in each instance with only a brief period to sit shivah before the chag began.

Yehi zichro boruch.

הלווית המקובל רבי דוד בצרי זצ”לצילום: יונתן זינדל – פלאש 90 הלווית המקובל רבי דוד בצרי זצ”לצילום: יונתן זינדל – פלאש 90 הלווית המקובל רבי דוד בצרי זצ”לצילום: יונתן זינדל – פלאש 90

הלווית המקובל רבי דוד בצרי זצ”לצילום: יונתן זינדל – פלאש 90 הלווית המקובל רבי דוד בצרי זצ”לצילום: יונתן זינדל – פלאש 90 הלווית המקובל רבי דוד בצרי זצ”לצילום: יונתן זינדל – פלאש 90

ביום המסוגל ביותר, פוסק הדור בשטר חתום: “עשירות מופלגה בתשפ”ז”

בשיתוף קופת העיר

20:10

יוקרה מול הכנרת. פשוט

תוכן מקודם

19:20

המתנה המפתיעה שהעניק מנשה צרפתי לבנו החתן רגע לפני החופה

מקודם

00:25

הלווית המקובל רבי דוד בצרי זצ”לצילום: יונתן זינדל – פלאש 90 הלווית המקובל רבי דוד בצרי זצ”לצילום: יונתן זינדל – פלאש 90 הלווית המקובל רבי דוד בצרי זצ”לצילום: יונתן זינדל – פלאש 90 הלווית המקובל רבי דוד בצרי זצ”לצילום: יונתן זינדל – פלאש 90 הלווית המקובל רבי דוד בצרי זצ”לצילום: יונתן זינדל – פלאש 90 הלווית המקובל רבי דוד בצרי זצ”לצילום: יונתן זינדל – פלאש 90 הלווית המקובל רבי דוד בצרי זצ”לצילום: יונתן זינדל – פלאש 90 הלווית המקובל רבי דוד בצרי זצ”לצילום: יונתן זינדל – פלאש 90 הלווית המקובל רבי דוד בצרי זצ”לצילום: יונתן זינדל – פלאש 90 הלווית המקובל רבי דוד בצרי זצ”לצילום: יונתן זינדל – פלאש 90 הלווית המקובל רבי דוד בצרי זצ”לצילום: יונתן זינדל – פלאש 90 הלווית המקובל רבי דוד בצרי זצ”לצילום: יונתן זינדל – פלאש 90 הלווית המקובל רבי דוד בצרי זצ”לצילום: יונתן זינדל – פלאש 90 הלווית המקובל רבי דוד בצרי זצ”לצילום: יונתן זינדל – פלאש 90 הלווית המקובל רבי דוד בצרי זצ”לצילום: יונתן זינדל – פלאש 90 הלווית המקובל רבי דוד בצרי זצ”לצילום: יונתן זינדל – פלאש 90 הלווית המקובל רבי דוד בצרי זצ”לצילום: יונתן זינדל – פלאש 90 הלווית המקובל רבי דוד בצרי זצ”לצילום: יונתן זינדל – פלאש 90 הלווית המקובל רבי דוד בצרי זצ”לצילום: יונתן זינדל – פלאש 90 הלווית המקובל רבי דוד בצרי זצ”לצילום: יונתן זינדל – פלאש 90 הלווית המקובל רבי דוד בצרי זצ”לצילום: יונתן זינדל – פלאש 90 הלווית המקובל רבי דוד בצרי זצ”לצילום: יונתן זינדל – פלאש 90 הלווית המקובל רבי דוד בצרי זצ”לצילום: יונתן זינדל – פלאש 90 הלווית המקובל רבי דוד בצרי זצ”לצילום: יונתן זינדל – פלאש 90 הלווית המקובל רבי דוד בצרי זצ”לצילום: יונתן זינדל – פלאש 90 הלווית המקובל רבי דוד בצרי זצ”לצילום: יונתן זינדל – פלאש 90 הלווית המקובל רבי דוד בצרי זצ”לצילום: יונתן זינדל – פלאש 90 הלווית המקובל רבי דוד בצרי זצ”לצילום: יונתן זינדל – פלאש 90

A man approximately 50 years old was injured Friday after falling from a ladder while building a sukkah on Rav Tzirlson Street in Bnei Brak, prompting emergency organizations to issue renewed warnings about the dangers involved in sukkah construction.

First responders from Hatzalah, together with Magen David Adom personnel, provided initial medical treatment at the scene before the injured man was transported to Sheba Medical Center in Tel Hashomer.

United Hatzalah ambulance driver Aharon Lerer and EMTs Yaakov Yisrael Malka and Leizer Margalit described the circumstances of the accident and the treatment provided.

“His family members told us that he fell from a ladder that he had climbed while building the sukkah. We provided him with medical treatment at the scene that included stopping the bleeding, bandaging and immobilization, after which he was quickly transported in a United Hatzalah ambulance to the trauma room at Sheba Medical Center in Tel Hashomer, suffering from injuries to his head and limbs, and his condition is defined as moderate,” they said.

Hatzalah EMT Yedidya Friedman, who also responded to the scene, said: “When I arrived at the scene, I found a man approximately 50 years old suffering from a head injury after falling from a ladder while building a sukkah. Together with Hatzalah and MDA EMTs, we provided him with initial medical treatment including immobilization and bandaging, and he was transported for further treatment at Sheba Medical Center in Tel Hashomer.”

The incident comes amid a number of injuries connected to sukkah construction during the days leading up to Sukkos. Hatzalah reminded the public to be particularly cautious while assembling sukkahs and urged people to use proper, safe and approved equipment.

Such accidents recur each year during the hectic pre-Sukkos period, when families are busy completing their final preparations for Yom Tov. Along with observing the many halachos involved in constructing a sukkah, emergency personnel stressed the importance of basic safety precautions, particularly when using ladders, working at elevated heights or handling construction equipment.

{Matzav.com}