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Dear Matzav Inbox,

There are things we tolerate in our community simply because “that’s how it’s always been,” and then there are things that should make every Yid stop in their tracks and say: This is a shandeh. What I am about to describe falls squarely into the latter category.

I am speaking about the way some bosses in the frum world treat their employees.

It is shocking that in a community built on middos, on derech eretz, on ve’ahavta l’reiacha kamocha, we still have individuals in positions of authority who behave as if basic human dignity is optional. People who talk down to their workers, who yell, who belittle, who humiliate, who forget that the person standing in front of them is not “staff,” not “help,” but a Yid created b’tzelem Elokim.

I have watched employees—hardworking, ehrliche, dependable people—walk out of offices with their shoulders slumped, eyes glazed, faces drained of color. Why? Because their frum boss shredded their dignity over a small mistake, a misunderstood instruction, or worse, just because they were the designated punching bag that day. I’ve heard, and seen, stories of bosses screaming across the room, mocking their workers, calling them names, treating them in ways they themselves would never tolerate for a second.

And somehow, it continues. Somehow, we have allowed it to become normal.

Where did we go wrong? When did we decide that business is a heter to abandon basic decency? When did we forget that becoming successful or yarshening a company from your dad or grandfather does not give a person permission to become arrogant? When did we stop holding individuals accountable for acting like miniature tyrants instead of leaders?

We preach mussar. We attend shiurim about bein adam lechaveiro. We speak about creating a kiddush Hashem in the workplace. Yet, in the very same frum offices, behind closed doors, the behavior is the opposite of everything we claim to stand for.

And the damage? It is enormous. It destroys morale. It erodes self-esteem. It pushes people away from our community’s ideals. It scars them. It teaches an entire generation that frumkeit and menschlichkeit are somehow separable. It is a disgrace.

We must stop pretending this is rare or exaggerated. It is not. Too many people whisper these stories in the hallways, afraid to speak loudly because they need their jobs. Too many workers fear retaliation, fear losing their parnassah, fear being labeled “difficult” for daring to ask for basic respect.

Every boss has a choice: to lift people up or to crush them. To inspire or to intimidate. To behave like a leader or like a bully. And every employee has the right—not a luxury, a right—to be treated with dignity.

To those bosses who act with chesed, who model what it means to be a true baal middos, who speak gently, correct respectfully, and remember that their employees are human beings, yasher koach. You are the ones creating a kiddush Hashem every single day.

But to the others—the ones whose voices thunder down hallways, whose tempers flare without limit, whose arrogance fills the building—they need to hear this loud and clear: Your behavior is a chilul Hashem.

It is not leadership. It is not strength. It is not professionalism. It is cruelty wrapped in frum language.

If you can’t treat your employees with respect, you should not be managing them. Step aside. Get serious help. Learn mussar. Work on your temper. Do whatever you need to do, but stop excusing your behavior as “stress” or “pressure” or “that’s just how I run my business.”

We, as a community, must demand better. We must create workplaces where employees feel valued, where communication is civil, where frumkeit and menschlichkeit coexist, as they were always meant to. Let us have the courage to say that cruelty is not a business model, that yelling is not management, and that being frum is not a costume but a way of life that must permeate even the walls of an office.

If we cannot treat the people who work for us with dignity, what are we even building?

It’s time to fix this. It’s time to speak up. It’s time to stop allowing frum bullies to hide behind their titles.

Because at the end of the day, the greatest success is not measured in profits, properties, or payrolls. It is measured in how we treat other Yidden.

An Employee

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Degel HaTorah chairman Moshe Gafni warned on Tuesday of a significant decrease in yeshiva funding this month, accusing the Attorney General’s legal advisers of blocking the use of funds that have already been legally approved by both the government and the Knesset. Gafni said that the funding freeze affects recipients who have no connection whatsoever […]

Momentum toward passing a new Israeli draft law — intended to formalize the status of yeshiva students and set updated enlistment targets — hit another major obstacle, as the legal adviser to the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee came out firmly against including civil–security service as part of the draft quotas.

The development follows a report yesterday indicating that the committee’s legal adviser, Miri Frenkel-Shor, had already demanded at least two more months of deliberations on the draft law. Such a delay would push the legislative process dangerously close to the deadline for passing the state budget, creating additional political pressure.

As time goes on, the challenges surrounding the legislation appear only to intensify.

Chareidi parties have insisted that the new draft law recognize civil–security service — work in the police, the Shin Bet, the Mossad, and the Prison Service — as part of the enlistment goals. Their argument is that, given the new targets proposed, these roles must count toward meeting the law’s requirements.

But Frenkel-Shor issued a formal legal opinion rejecting that proposal outright.

In her written assessment to committee members, she stated: “The civil–security service track, which is open only to graduates of chareidi educational institutions, constitutes a violation of equality since the nature of national-civil service is fundamentally different from military service, even if it is considered civil–security service.”

She added further concerns, writing that this service track is significantly shorter, voluntary rather than compulsory, and does not include reserve duty — all of which, she argued, create a substantial disparity between it and actual army service.

According to her, even though civil–security placements may involve some form of security contribution, they “do not currently meet the test of present security needs, which require increasing the number of IDF combat soldiers and personnel.”

The reaction in the chareidi factions has been one of deep concern. There is growing fear that as discussions progress, the legal adviser will object to additional core elements of the bill, making passage nearly impossible.

A senior chareidi figure involved in negotiating the draft law warned: “At this pace, if she indeed opposes the central clauses, we will not be able to amend them, because the rabbanim will not allow it. On the other hand, it would be a mistake to pass a law that contradicts the legal adviser’s position. And if we pass it anyway, it is almost certain to be struck down by the High Court, which would only create a bigger mess. If this continues, there will be no law.”

{Matzav.com}

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has reaffirmed his strong refusal to cede any territory, resisting U.S. pressure for painful concessions to Russia as he moved ahead Tuesday to rally more European support for his country. “Undoubtedly, Russia insists for us to give up territories. We, clearly, don’t want to give up anything. That’s what we are fighting for,” […]

MANHATTAN: A four-alarm fire erupted Tuesday morning in a six-story, non-fireproof building on West 106th Street and Amsterdam Avenue in Manhattan’s Upper West Side, with flames visible through the roof and top floor. One person was carried from the building, and two injuries have been reported, though their extent is unclear. Traffic in the area […]

A stormy scene erupted in the Knesset on Monday after MK Naama Lazimi of the Democrats party was forcibly removed from the podium for the second time in two weeks, following harsh remarks in which she again referred to Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu as a “mafioso” and “head of a crime organization.”

The incident occurred during a plenary session following Netanyahu’s address, in which he criticized the opposition. Immediately afterward, Lazimi took to the podium and declared: “Today we saw yet another deranged performance from the head of the crime organization known as Binyamin Netanyahu. So what is this mafioso, who is extorting an entire country, telling us?”

Her remarks triggered an immediate uproar. Likud MK Tali Gottlieb, seated in the plenum, burst out at Lazimi: “You will not call a prime minister a mafioso — get down!” Gottlieb then appealed to the deputy Knesset speaker, MK Nissim Vaturi, who was overseeing the session, to order Lazimi’s removal.

“You will not call a prime minister a mafioso, get down,” Gottlieb repeated. Lazimi continued speaking and claimed that Netanyahu had transferred suitcases of money to Hamas. At that point, Knesset ushers approached the podium and removed her by force.

This is the second time in two weeks that Lazimi has been ousted from the podium. Two weeks earlier, she was also removed after calling the Likud “a crime organization.” At that time she said: “I want to say something to those who call themselves members of the Likud party, but in reality have long been members of a crime organization.” She continued attacking the coalition: “When the entire Prime Minister’s Office works with a hostile state, Qatar, to make money during wartime and you all stay silent — are these not the codes of organized crime?”

Deputy Speaker Eliahu Revivo, who chaired that earlier session, demanded she retract her statements; after she refused, he ordered her removal. Today, Lazimi repeated similar accusations — and was again removed from the podium.

Earlier in the session, Netanyahu delivered remarks as part of a “40 signatures” debate and sharply criticized the premise of the discussion, which focused on Israel’s supposed declining international standing. “Collapse of Israel’s international status? What a disconnect from reality. What a recycling of hollow slogans that are the opposite of what is actually happening. The State of Israel today is stronger than ever,” he said.

Netanyahu also addressed Israel’s relations with the United States and Russia. “We are friends of the U.S., but we are two independent countries. The friendship is based on shared values and shared interests, which have only sharpened,” he said. “Israel has no better ally than the United States, and the United States has no better ally than Israel.”

On ties with Russia, the prime minister said: “We have ongoing contact with another global power, Russia. I speak regularly with President Putin in order to strengthen the relationship.”

He then discussed the first state visit of the German chancellor to Israel yesterday, explaining its significance. Members of Yesh Atid interrupted with jeers: “He came here because you can’t land in Germany.” Netanyahu shot back: “Why do you keep repeating that lie?”

Turning to the draft law, Netanyahu said: “This is the beginning of a historic process. It is expected to triple or quadruple what the previous government — which called itself the healing government — achieved.”

As opposition shouting grew louder, Netanyahu concluded with a declaration aimed at the core of the public debate: “The world of Torah protected us for thousands of years and will continue to protect us — together with the draft.”

{Matzav.com}

SPRING VALLEY: Firefighters from multiple departments, along with other emergency personnel, are on the scene of a fully engulfed structure fire at 1 Wolfe Drive near South Cole Avenue. The 2½-story wood-frame home has heavy fire on the second floor extending into the attic.

Q: “Which country right now is in the stronger negotiating position?” TRUMP: “It’s Russia. It’s a much bigger country…I think if I weren’t president, you could’ve had World War 3…but right now it’s a big problem. It’s a big problem for Europe—and they’re not handling it well.”

President Trump says Zelensky hasn’t even read the peace proposal yet: “A lot of people are dying, so it would be really good if he’d read it. His people loved the proposal… I think he should find time to read it.”

WH Press Sec. on President Trumps’ trip to Pennsylvania: “Within 6 months, President Trump signed the largest middle class tax cut in American history… You’ll hear stories of everyday American tonight who will benefit directly from those tax rebates next year.”

WH Press Sec.: “The Democrats are the greatest con artists in American politics. They are pretending to champion the issue of affordability, when they themselves created the worst inflation crisis in a generation.”

TRUMP: “Europe is a different place, If it keeps going the way it’s going, many of those countries will not be viable countries any longer.”

New footage from Iran during the “12 Day War” shows Israeli Air Force jets striking missile launchers in Kermanshah. Secondary explosions are visible after the attack.

Cambodian media reported that Thai fighter jets bombed Samraong, the capital of Oddar Meanchey province, with online videos showing a plume of smoke rising from the city.

The IDF says troops opened fire on “suspects” near the entrance to Khan Arnabeh in southern Syria after riots broke out during an operation in the area. According to the military, several individuals advanced toward the forces despite warning shots, prompting soldiers to shoot the legs of two alleged instigators before the crowd dispersed and […]

IDF forces say they uncovered three crude rockets in various stages of assembly in Tulkarem last month, following interrogations of several detained terrorists. Among them, Ahmad Abu Samra is accused of planting a bomb on an IDF APC in September that wounded two soldiers, attempting a similar attack on another vehicle, and participating in a […]

BDE: An 11-month-old baby with no underlying health conditions, who had not yet been vaccinated, was niftar on Tuesday morning from measles complications, Israel’s Health Ministry reported. The baby was transferred about a week ago from the Poriyah Medical Center in Tiveria to Rambam Hospital in Haifa due to the deterioration of his condition and […]

Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman launched his long-anticipated bid for governor on Tuesday, thrusting the Long Island Republican into what is shaping up to be one of the marquee primaries of 2026. Blakeman, 70, made the announcement in a Facebook post and accompanying campaign video, framing his run as a fight against Democratic Gov. Kathy […]

Yad L’Achim is raffling off one of the most exquisite heritage menorahs ever crafted — and only 499 tickets will be sold. LESS THAN 100 TICKETS LEFT!! You’ll receive a random ticket number between 1–499, and that will be the amount you pay for your ticket – and a chance to bring home this stunning […]

President Donald Trump sharply escalated his criticism of Mexico on Monday, alleging that the country is violating its decades-old water-sharing obligations and depriving Texas agriculture of essential resources. He charged that Mexico has fallen drastically short of delivering the water owed under the 1944 U.S.–Mexico Water Treaty and declared that he is prepared to slap an additional 5% tariff on Mexican goods if the situation is not remedied at once.

The treaty requires each country to send designated amounts of river water across the border—Mexico must transfer 1.75 million acre-feet from the Rio Grande over every five-year cycle. Trump argued on Truth Social that the current cycle has ended with Mexico “owing” roughly 800,000 acre-feet, an amount he says represents a blatant breach of the agreement. “Mexico continues to violate our comprehensive Water Treaty, and this violation is seriously hurting our BEAUTIFUL TEXAS CROPS AND LIVESTOCK,” he wrote, insisting that the deficit accumulated entirely “over the past five years.”

Trump demanded that Mexico begin by releasing 200,000 acre-feet before Dec. 31, stressing that the remainder must follow shortly afterward. He lamented that Mexico has not addressed the problem: “As of now, Mexico is not responding, and it is very unfair to our U.S. Farmers who deserve this much needed water.” He then announced a retaliatory step, saying, “That is why I have authorized documentation to impose a 5% Tariff on Mexico if this water isn’t released, IMMEDIATELY. The longer Mexico takes to release the water, the more our Farmers are hurt. Mexico has an obligation to FIX THIS NOW. Thank you for your attention to this matter!”

This is not Trump’s first warning. In an April 10 Truth Social post, he raised similar concerns, contending that Mexico had repeatedly shorted its treaty commitments. By late April, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins stated that Mexico had agreed to increase deliveries in an effort to shrink the shortfall, noting that the arrangement provided immediate relief for the growing season while also laying out near-term commitments through the close of the five-year cycle in October.

Yet frustrations in Texas have only intensified. Last month, Gov. Greg Abbott again blasted Mexico for what he called chronic noncompliance. “Mexico must be held accountable for their continued breaches of our long-standing water agreement,” he said, arguing that farmers in the Rio Grande Valley are suffering the consequences. Abbott warned that “Texas farmers are enduring preventable hardship and an erosion of the agricultural viability of the Rio Grande Valley,” citing “almost 2 million acre-feet” in missing water across more than two years’ worth of obligations. He also emphasized that “The breach of the 1944 Water Treaty violates foundational elements of international law and diplomacy and must be corrected immediately.”

The treaty imposes reciprocal responsibilities: the U.S. must send 1.5 million acre-feet from the Colorado River to Mexico annually, while Mexico must fulfill its Rio Grande deliveries in cumulative five-year blocks. The most recent cycle fell so far short that Mexico delivered less than half of its promised supply.

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, speaking on Oct. 30, insisted her administration intends to meet the treaty’s terms. “There will be a delivery of water now that there are more resources, without putting human consumption and agriculture at risk,” she said, according to El País.

{Matzav.com}