In an extraordinary show of solidarity, more than 5,000 children from Ateres Shlomo institutions across the country were transported on Monday to the gates of Military Prison 10 near Beit Lid to protest the continued detention of yeshiva student Ariel Shamai, who remains confined under harsh conditions.
The protest was organized under the guidance of the rosh yeshiva, Rav Shalom Ber Sorotzkin, following consultation with Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch. Each child wore a yellow sun hat emblazoned with the image of the “captured” bochur and joined in heartfelt tefillos led by the maggid, Rav Yisroel Meir Shoshan, who urged them to cry out to Heaven for the young man’s swift release.
Rav Shoshan addressed the unusual step of bringing children to a public demonstration, explaining that normally nothing is allowed to interrupt talmud Torah shel tinokos shel beis rabban. “But here,” he said, “the Torah itself is being humiliated. When Torah is under attack, even the youngest children must come forth to daven and beg for rachamei Shamayim to annul the gezeirah.”
Rav Sorotzkin then delivered what many described as his “Hostage Speech,” drawing a powerful parallel between Shamai’s plight and the national campaign for the hostages taken in Gaza.
“We are fighting for their survival—for the existence of Am Yisroel in Eretz Yisroel,” the rosh yeshiva declared passionately. “There were those who questioned why we use the same symbolism as the hostage campaign, claiming that we are appropriating it for Ariel Shamai, who was ‘abducted’ to prison and torn away from his place of learning. I want to explain one thing: don’t think the hostages were only yours. The hostages were ours too—perhaps even more ours than yours. We cared about them. Our gedolei Torah and bnei Torah couldn’t sleep in beds while they were captive. We cared, we davened for them, we learned for them. Don’t appoint yourselves as guardians over what doesn’t belong to you. It was through our tefillos and limud Torah that the great miracles happened.”
He continued, “Am Yisroel triumphs in ways that defy nature—because of the kol Yaakov, the voice of Torah. Let me be clear: we don’t, chas v’shalom, wish to hurt anyone. Everyone is beloved. But we must make it understood once and for all: to disconnect us from Torah is like cutting off the oxygen of a sick man—it severs us from the very source of life.”
Rav Sorotzkin also shared a moving detail from his conversation with Shamai, recounting that the bochur wept when he told him that his friends were learning Perek Chezkats HaBatim while he sat in prison, far from the beis medrash.
A letter written by Shamai from within the military jail was also read aloud:
“To the precious bnei yeshiva, the rosh yeshiva and all the rabbonim: I was deeply moved to hear how much you care about me and by the letters you sent. With Hashem’s help, we’ll get through this difficult time.”
He wrote further:
“While I sit here in prison, I feel the emptiness of being away from the yeshiva. You must know how elevated you are—the difference between you and them is beyond measure. The nobility and happiness that comes with Torah life can’t be compared to anything outside. Out there, everything is empty, false, fleeting. They are pitiful and lost, while you, bnei Torah, live true, joyful lives of purpose. With tefillah, we’ll merit great yeshuos. May we sanctify Hashem’s Name and soon see the geulah shleimah.”
As the emotional rally drew to a close, the children released balloons into the sky, singing, before returning to their cheder classrooms.
{Matzav.com}
After he was interviewed on Jewish far-right commentator Laura Loomer’s show, Rep. Randy Fine (R-Fla.) told JNS that he received a letter from the Qatari ambassador to Washington stating that his “observations about Qatar” are inaccurate.
“You said that Qatar ‘funds most of the institutions that are damaging’ the United States, adding that Qatar is ‘responsible for’ protests on U.S. college campuses,” Meshal Al Thani wrote in the letter, dated Oct. 22.
“Qatar condemns antisemitism and all forms of religious and ethnic intolerance,” the envoy wrote. “Qatar had no role in the recent unrest on U.S. college campuses, and there is no evidence to the contrary.”
“I do not expect everyone to be ‘a fan of Qatar,’ as you put it,” the ambassador wrote. “We expect only to be judged on the basis of accurate information.”
Fine told JNS that “the Qataris have come after me for years, and I think that their efforts to fund all of these organizations that have come after me have not worked.”
“I guess they decided to try to engage me directly,” said the Florida Republican, who is Jewish.
The Qatari envoy also responded to the congressman’s statement that it is dangerous to let Qatari fighter pilots train on U.S. soil. “I assume you did not intend your remarks to be understood as a categorical fear of Muslims,” Al Thani wrote. He added that many Muslims live in Florida, including in Fine’s district.
Fine told JNS that his staff believes that the Qatari embassy has invited him to prior events. “I’m not aware of any previous contact to me directly,” he said. “I’ve had two death threats from Muslims that are inspired by much of the stuff that the Qataris pay for.”
Fine told JNS that he stands by his statements.
“Fear of Islam is rational. Islamophobia is a lie, as phobia implies irrational fear,” he said. “If you speak to anyone with half a brain and they hear someone yelling ‘Allahu akbar’ on the street, they’re going to look for somewhere to hide.”
Fine said that Qatar funds the Council on American-Islamic Relations, which has attacked him, and that Josh Weil, his Democratic opponent in March’s special election for a vacant House seat, accepted Qatari funding through the ActBlue platform.
“Look at my Democrat opponent when I ran for office, who came up with $15 million—an unheard of amount. No one can figure out where the money came from,” Fine said. “Where do you think it came from? I know where I think it came from.”
No evidence has been published suggesting that Doha funded Fine’s political opponents.
Qatar has been routinely accused of supporting terrorism, including by its Arab neighbors. The Al Jazeera television network, which the Qatari government owns and controls, has a documented history of disseminating Jew-hatred and of glorifying terrorists and employing Hamas operatives, who have posed as journalists.
Israel and several Arab countries have banned the network.
The Qatari defense minister once stated that “we are all Hamas,” and the Qatari government has long harbored Hamas leaders in luxury hotels in Doha.
Hamad Al-Muftah, Qatar’s deputy chief of mission in Washington, has pushed back aggressively on criticism of Qatar. In recent days, he accused Wall Street Journal editorial board member Elliot Kaufman, an Orthodox Jew, of accepting money from the Israeli government for criticizing Al-Muftah’s defense of a Harvard University fellow accused of supporting terrorism.
Al-Muftah cited a debunked report that Israel pays influencers $7,000 per social media post to back the Jewish state.
Fine told JNS that Al-Muftah’s claim about Kaufman left him “sort of stunned.”
“For a Qatari diplomat to trot that out, I mean, that’s just made up,” the congressman said. JNS
{Matzav.com}
Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich pushed back sharply at the backlash over his recent “the Saudis can keep riding camels” remark, which drew widespread condemnation before he issued an apology. Speaking at Monday’s Religious Zionism faction meeting, Smotrich said the outrage should be directed at Saudi Arabia, not him.
“Where were you when, for two years, the Saudis accused IDF soldiers of genocide and starvation? When they supported legal proceedings against Israel in international courts and backed arrest warrants for the Prime Minister and the Defense Minister? That’s a thousand times more insulting than an unplanned, not-so-graceful remark by Israel’s finance minister,” he said, pointing out that the kingdom has long promoted anti-Israel rhetoric.
Smotrich accused Riyadh of hypocrisy and of participating in antisemitic discourse. “The Saudis have said much more offensive things about us. They’ve taken part in antisemitic rhetoric – and no one demanded that they apologize. They call for tearing the State of Israel in two and for establishing a terrorist state in our midst. But that’s fine, apparently. They’re allowed.”
With biting sarcasm, he added, “So I made an unfortunate comment – oh dear, we offended the Saudis! How terrible, who will ever recover from this.”
Turning to broader regional issues, Smotrich stressed that while he supports expanding peace agreements, it must be grounded in integrity rather than political pressure. “We believe in peace, but not at any price. We will expand the agreements and deepen cooperation, but we will insist on a basic principle – peace for peace. A genuine peace based on truth, not on the lie of creating a terrorist state that would endanger our future and our existence. No one – and I emphasize, no one – is doing us a favor by normalizing relations with us or joining the Abraham Accords.”
He emphasized that Israel’s commitment to peace remains unchanged but warned against external conditions. “We have always extended a hand in peace, and we continue to do so,” he said. “But we will not accept any country in the world imposing conditions on us involving the partition of the land, the relinquishment of parts of our homeland, or denial of our heritage and roots.”
Addressing economic matters, Smotrich shifted to the defense budget, insisting on fiscal restraint despite ongoing security needs. “The defense establishment will be required to become more efficient and return to a reasonable budget. Yes, the budget will remain higher than before the war – that’s natural – but it cannot continue growing without limit. Economic security is an inseparable part of national security,” he concluded.
{Matzav.com}
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In a surprising twist, a sitting member of Israel’s Knesset has voiced his public support for one of New York City’s most polarizing political figures, Zohran Mamdani — a candidate whose outspoken hostility toward Israel has made headlines across the Jewish community.
MK Ahmad Tibi, chairman of the Ta’al party, lavished praise on Mamdani in a statement released Monday. “There is a young, articulate, and visionary character who brings a new and refreshing spirit of social justice and universal principles to the elections in New York,” Tibi declared, hailing Mamdani as a unifying force among the city’s diverse population.
According to Tibi, “Zohran is a leader who unites all of the cities’ communities, Christians, Muslims, and Jews, around him, thanks to his integrity, courage, and public commitment.” He further commended Mamdani for what he described as resilience in the face of bigotry. “Despite the racist and Islamophobic attacks, he continues to stand strong, speak clearly against hate and discrimination, and represent the clear and important idea that everyone is equal and deserving.”
Tibi ended his statement with a rousing endorsement, saying he is “sure” Mamdani will “defeat the racists for the good of all residents of New York and become a symbol of unity, tolerance, and hope. Haideh Zohran! Go Zohran! Ila al-Amam (onwards) Zohran Mamdani!”
Mamdani’s record, however, has drawn sharp criticism from Jewish leaders and pro-Israel groups. He has questioned Israel’s right to exist as a Jewish state, claiming it must instead “guarantee equal rights for all.” His vocal backing of the BDS movement — which he has called a legitimate “form of protest” — has been condemned as a direct assault on Israel’s legitimacy. Mamdani has also refused to denounce the inflammatory slogan “globalize the intifada,” deepening the unease surrounding his candidacy among Jewish and pro-Israel voters.
{Matzav.com}Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich made clear on Monday that Israel’s fight is far from finished, declaring that “the war is not yet over.” Speaking at his Religious Zionism Party meeting, he said that while diplomatic discussions are underway, what matters is not talk, but action on the ground.
“There are agreements and attempts to stabilize the situation, but the real test lies in implementation,” Smotrich said. “The State of Israel will not allow the reconstruction of Gaza as long as Hamas is not completely dismantled – militarily, politically, and administratively.”
He was adamant that humanitarian narratives cannot be used as a cover to reestablish terrorist control. “We will not allow the creation of a renewed terrorist entity under the guise of ‘humanitarian reconstruction.’ Genuine demilitarization is a fundamental condition for rebuilding, and any attempt to bypass this will be categorically rejected. The security of Israel’s citizens comes first.”
Reflecting on the broader meaning of the conflict, Smotrich noted that its impact went far beyond the battlefield. “This war was not only a military test – it was a national, social, and economic one. Those who carried the main burden were Israel’s middle class – in the reserves, at work, in business, with mortgages, and under financial strain. They brought us victory, and now they should be the first to benefit from its fruits.”
To that end, Smotrich said his ministry is moving forward with economic measures aimed at easing the pressure on working families. He announced plans for income tax reductions designed to promote employment and growth while supporting those who bore the brunt of the crisis. He also unveiled new initiatives to encourage aliyah, explaining, “This is not just an economic policy – it’s a national statement.”
On the matter of regional diplomacy, Smotrich reaffirmed Israel’s approach to the Abraham Accords and ongoing efforts by the Trump Administration to expand them. “We believe in peace – but not at any price. We will expand the agreements, deepen cooperation, but insist on a fundamental principle: peace for peace. True peace built on truth, not on the falsehood of establishing a terrorist state that would endanger our future and our existence. No one – and I emphasize, no one – is doing us a favor by normalizing relations with us or joining the Abraham Accords. We have always extended a hand in peace and continue to do so, but we will not agree to any country imposing conditions on us involving partition of the land, relinquishing parts of our homeland, or denying our heritage and roots.”
Closing his remarks, Smotrich addressed Israel’s defense spending, emphasizing fiscal responsibility alongside security needs. “The defense establishment will be required to become more efficient and return to a reasonable budget. Yes, the budget will remain higher than it was before the war – that’s natural – but it cannot continue to grow without limit. Economic security is an inseparable part of national security,” he said.
{Matzav.com}Widespread outrage erupted today after a yeshiva bochur who arrived at a police station to file a complaint was instead arrested and handed over to military police — a move that prominent chareidi figures are calling a severe blow to the community’s trust in law enforcement.
Yaakov Yisroel Gil, a talmid at Yeshivas Nachlas Shlomo in Bnei Brak, was detained Monday afternoon by the Military Police after arriving at the Be’er Sheva police station to lodge a formal complaint. According to his family, officers checked his identification, discovered that he was listed as an army deserter, and immediately transferred him to military custody.
Chareidi leaders and relatives of the student sharply condemned the incident, describing it as a dangerous precedent. “This is a serious violation of the chareidi public’s trust in the Israel Police,” said one family member. “If a yeshiva bochur who walks into a station to submit a complaint ends up in a military jail, who will dare go to the police if they’re victimized? This completely severs the connection between the chareidi community and the police.”
An askan told Matzav.com, “This is an infuriating act that directly undermines the already fragile cooperation between the chareidi public and law enforcement. The police should have maintained the long-standing status quo and refrained from targeting yeshiva students. Instead, they have acted with total insensitivity and a complete lack of judgment.”
The Ezram UMaginam organization released a statement saying, “The Israel Police violated the status quo once again by transferring a yeshiva student to military detention after summoning him for questioning. The young man, who was called to appear at the Be’er Sheva station, is now being held in a military facility in southern Israel. He and his family are receiving legal assistance from Ezram UMaginam’s legal department and attorney Shlomo Haddad. The public is urged to continue following guidelines and not to go to police stations without first consulting with advocacy organizations.”
{Matzav.com}
At a special Mishmeres HaShalom ceremony in Bnei Brak honoring the Chasan HaShalom, the Slabodka Rosh Yeshiva Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch delivered the keynote address and extended heartfelt brachos to Los Angeles philanthropist Reb Shlomo Yehuda Rechnitz, lauding his dedication to Torah and Klal Yisroel.
Although Rav Hirsch was unable to travel to Los Angeles for the Keren Olam HaTorah event there and the wedding of Shlomo Yehuda’s daughter due to the start of the winter zeman, he conveyed his deep appreciation and brocha during the event.
Speaking to the large gathering, Rav Hirsch emphasized the importance of studying the sefer Chofetz Chaim and the obligation to live with constant awareness of Hashem’s presence. “A person must always strive to live with ‘Shivisi Hashem lenegdi samid’. It is a very lofty level. Yet one who guards his tongue, pausing before every word to consider whether it is lashon hara or not, naturally lives with constant awareness of Hashem’s will — and thereby fulfills ‘Shivisi Hashem lenegdi samid’ in practice.”
Rav Hirsch turned to express his admiration and brocha for Shlomo Yehuda, renowned for his remarkable support of Torah institutions across Eretz Yisroel and the world. “May he continue to help and spread good throughout Klal Yisroel,” said the Rosh Yeshiva.
“I find it fitting, at this elevated event, to express my blessing and appreciation to this extraordinary ish chesed who supports the Torah world wherever it flourishes.”
He concluded with a personal brocha for Shlomo Yehuda: “May he merit abundant nachas from all his descendants, and continue to support the Torah world with blessing, good health, and great success in all his endeavors.”
{Matzav.com}
Hamas announced on Monday that it plans to transfer the body of an Israeli hostage it murdered back to Israel later in the evening. The handover is scheduled for 9:00 p.m., according to the terror group’s statement.
Israeli authorities are preparing to receive the remains once the casket arrives. Teams will be on site to perform identification procedures and confirm the hostage’s identity following the return.
{Matzav.com}
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