Feed aggregator

During his evening broadcast on Thursday, popular Israeli radio personality Yankele Friedman addressed the massive atzeres tefillah in Yerushalayim, attended by Gedolei Yisroel from across the spectrum in solidarity with lomdei Torah. While praising the unprecedented unity and kiddush Hashem the event created, Friedman sharply criticized the dangerous behavior of dozens of young men who scaled cranes, rooftops, and construction scaffolds during the gathering.

“I want to say a word about the disturbing scenes I witnessed at this rally,” Friedman began. “These are our own people — young bochurim and avreichim. I don’t know what they were thinking. They put their lives in real danger, climbing cranes that are dozens of meters high, walking on rooftops and scaffolding. It’s a miracle, baruch Hashem, that this didn’t end in a mass tragedy.”

Friedman continued with emotion: “What’s happening to us? What is this urge to climb up and risk your life? Do you know how much a crane operator is paid to work up there? It’s a very high salary because it’s dangerous work. Do you realize how much preparation he undergoes before climbing that crane?”

He urged the public not to ignore the problem or dismiss it as minor. “Please, don’t tell me, ‘Don’t air our dirty laundry.’ This is our laundry — and it’s dirty. But we have to talk about it. Every person must warn himself, parents must warn their children and educators. What’s going on here? We came to a rally for chizuk and hisorerus, and it turned into, chas v’shalom, a situation of sakanas nefashos. It’s truly shocking.”

{Matzav.com}

Two years ago, as thousands gathered to daven on Rochel Imenu’s yahrtzeit, one mother stood sobbing at the kever. It was Yelena Trufanov, whose son Sasha had been taken hostage on October 7th. Through her tears, she whispered the same tefillah again and again: “Please… just show me he’s alive.” A mother’s tears. A mother’s […]

As the massive atzeres tefillah today in Yerushalayim concluded, MK Meir Porush — one of the key organizers of the gathering — issued a sharp warning to the government, declaring that if the campaign against bnei Torah continues, the chareidi community will be forced to escalate its response.

In an interview with Avi Mimran on Mahadura Hamercazit, Porush opened with words of gratitude: “First and foremost, we must thank the public who responded to the call of the gedolei Yisroel and came to stand in support of lomdei Torah. It was a tremendous event, a true kiddush Hashem.”

Porush stressed that the enormous turnout was a clear message to those seeking to undermine the Torah world. “Those who are trying to harm us saw today a massive public standing against them — a public that will not allow anyone to harm lomdei Torah,” he said. “To harm lomdei Torah is to take on the tens of thousands who filled the streets of Yerushalayim this evening.”

Addressing the transportation issues that arose before the rally, Porush revealed that the challenges stemmed from last-minute changes by Israel Railways. “The announcement by the train company came as a complete surprise, contrary to everything that had been agreed upon,” he explained. “We held countless meetings with the authorities to arrange travel logistics for the atzeres. In the end, we managed to partially reverse the decision, and trains operated until 2:00 p.m.”

Porush concluded the interview with a warning to government officials: “Today’s rally came after red lines were crossed and lomdei Torah were kept under arrest for too long. If the persecution of lomdei Torah continues, we will have no choice but to take further action.”

{Matzav.com}

A remarkable display of kavod haTorah unfolded in Los Angeles as a delegation of Gedolei Yisroel arrived on behalf of Keren Olam HaTorah. The delegation, which arrived early Tuesday, October 21, was led by Harav Dov Landau, shlit”a, accompanied by Harav Yaakov Hillel, shlit”a, Harav Chaim Peretz Berman, shlit”a, Harav Eliezer Yehuda Finkel, shlit”a, Harav […]

Two political surveys released Thursday evening painted completely different pictures of Israel’s political landscape, sparking debate over which channel’s polling can be trusted.

According to a poll conducted by Mano Geva for Channel 12 News, if elections were held today, Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu’s coalition would win just 51 Knesset seats—an outcome that would leave the right-wing bloc far from a governing majority. Channel 14’s right-leaning survey, however, told a very different story, giving the same coalition a commanding 66 seats.

The Channel 12 poll showed Likud with 26 mandates, Bennett’s party at 21, Yair Golan with 11, Yair Lapid’s Yesh Atid at 10, Shas and Avigdor Liberman’s Yisrael Beytenu each at 9, Itamar Ben Gvir’s Otzma Yehudit also at 9, Gadi Eisenkot’s Yashar at 8, Yitzchok Goldknopf’s United Torah Judaism at 7, Hadash-Ta’al with 5, and Ra’am also with 5.
When grouped into blocs, the opposition received 59 seats, the Arab parties 10, and the coalition only 51—signaling, according to Channel 12’s framing, a serious decline for the right.

Channel 14’s poll, on the other hand, produced dramatically different numbers. It placed Likud far ahead with 35 seats, followed by Bennett’s party at 12, Shas at 11, the Democrats at 10, Yisrael Beytenu at 9, United Torah Judaism at 8, Otzma Yehudit at 7, Eisenkot’s Yashar party at 7, Yesh Atid at 6, Religious Zionism at 5, Ra’am at 5, and Hadash-Ta’al at 5. Both Blue and White (2.4%) and Balad (1.7%) failed to cross the electoral threshold.

In total, Channel 14’s results showed the right-wing bloc with 66 seats, the left-wing bloc with 44, and the Arab parties holding 10.

When asked who is most suited to serve as prime minister, the Channel 14 poll found 56% backing Netanyahu, compared to 22% for Naftali Bennett, 12% for Gadi Eisenkot, 5% for Yair Lapid, 4% for Avigdor Liberman, and just 1% for Benny Gantz.

The stark contrast between the two polls quickly reignited Israel’s ongoing debate over media bias—whether Channel 12 is amplifying perceptions of right-wing weakness or Channel 14 is overstating its strength. As one political commentator quipped online: “It depends which channel you trust—and which reality you choose to believe.”

{Matzav.com}

Five resolutions were recited at the huge atzeres tefillah in Jerusalem against the arrests and imprisonment of Bnei Torah on Thursday afternoon. 1. The atzeres declares publicly and unequivocally that the Torah is our life and the joy of our hearts. For thousands of years, our forefathers were moser nefesh for its limud and observance. […]

Hundreds of thousands gathered in Yerushalayim on Thursday for a massive atzeres tefillah in support of the Olam HaTorah. The event, filled with heartfelt tefillah and unity, ended in unspeakable grief when news spread that a 17-year-old bochur had fallen to his death from the framework of a high-rise building near the entrance to the city during the gathering.

According to messages circulating online attributed to the boy’s classmates, the teenager may have suffered from emotional distress, possibly linked to mistreatment or feelings of rejection from his peers. “We have to take responsibility,” they wrote in a note of anguish, urging others to recite Tehillim for his neshamah and to seek his forgiveness at his kever.

The heartbreaking incident, along with similar recent events, has sparked urgent discussion about how to recognize warning signs in struggling youth. Parents, educators, and friends are all asking the same question: How can we notice emotional pain early enough to prevent disaster?

To explore this vital issue, Kikar HaShabbat spoke with Chaim Luria, a psychologist specializing in clinical work and a lecturer at the Open University’s Department of Psychology. Matzav.com presents portions of the interview, which was conducted in Hebrew.

The Adolescent’s Vulnerable Years

“Human beings are social creatures,” Luria began. “Our environment — the people around us — plays a critical role in our mental well-being. Friendship and social connection aren’t luxuries; they’re basic human needs.”

He explained that during adolescence, a young person’s emotional world shifts dramatically: “The center of gravity moves from parents and family to peers and the outside world. This transition is natural — it’s meant to help the child grow into an independent adult. But it’s also a fragile stage because it happens gradually. The teen begins loosening the strong bonds of dependence on family before new social supports are fully in place. That’s when they’re most emotionally exposed.”

Teachers and educators, Luria said, play an essential bridging role: “They represent adult authority, but in a setting that’s part of the teen’s social world. They must be alert, observant, and sensitive to changes among students. Even small signs of alienation or humiliation shouldn’t be ignored. And chavrei ha’eshiva also bear responsibility — though they may not realize how deeply their behavior can affect a peer.”

Offering Support, Not Sarcasm

When asked what to do upon noticing signs of distress, Luria emphasized empathy and simplicity: “Complex cases need professional help, but everyone in a teen’s life can make a difference. Sensitivity is key. Avoid sarcasm — what sounds like harmless teasing may cut deeply. Show genuine interest, ask how they’re doing, and listen. Sometimes a friendly, sincere conversation can make all the difference — it can literally save a life.”

After a Tragedy: What Not to Do

As communities search for meaning and accountability after such an event, Luria cautioned against blame: “It’s wrong and harmful to point fingers at teachers, friends, or anyone close to the victim. These situations are always complex. Assigning guilt won’t bring healing; it will only deepen the pain. Our goal must be to learn, to grow, and to create environments where no teen feels unseen or unheard.”

The tragedy that shadowed a day of kedushah and unity in Jerusalem has left an entire community shaken and has reignited an urgent call to look closer, listen harder, and never ignore the quiet signals of a heart in pain.

{Matzav.com}

An account on X associated with the Mossad published a blunt message in Persian on Thursday aimed directly at Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, accusing senior Iranian military officials of deceiving him and acting without his knowledge. The post, which tagged Khamenei’s official X account, claimed that senior commanders of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard […]

Investigative materials from the criminal probe into the leak of the Sde Teiman video that has rocked the country clearly indicate that Military Advocate General [MAG] Mag.-Gen. Yifat Tomer-Yerushalmi personally ordered the leak of investigative materials related to the affair and was informed many hours in advance of the intention to leak the video itself, […]

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) sparred with CNN anchor Dana Bash in a tense exchange Thursday, defending his party’s refusal to consider partial government funding as the 30-day federal shutdown continues to deepen, threatening food assistance for tens of millions of Americans. Johnson insisted that Republicans would not agree to any stopgap spending measure unless […]

The tragic end to Thursday’s massive atzeres tefillah in Yerushalayim has left a nation reeling and asking painful questions.

The event—marked by unity and heartfelt tefillah on behalf of the Olam HaTorah—ended in heartbreak when 17-year-old Menachem Mendel Litzman fell to his death from a high-rise under construction in the Migdal Marom complex near the rally site.

Witnesses say Litzman fell from roughly the 11th floor of what is slated to become the tallest tower in the city—around 40 stories high. Police are investigating the circumstances of his death, including the possibility of suicide.

Moments after the fall, clashes broke out between police officers and protesters who tried to prevent security forces from clearing the area. Some people threw stones and bottles, and one officer was filmed drawing his weapon into the air after a colleague was struck by an object.

Throughout the rally, numerous participants were seen climbing on unfinished building frames, cranes, rooftops, and billboards to get a better view of the massive crowd. Videos shared online showed young men dangerously scaling construction sites and heavy machinery.

Following Litzman’s death, organizers immediately dispersed the gathering. Magen David Adom paramedics confirmed the young man’s death at the scene. Police later announced the opening of a formal investigation.

Eyewitness Accounts Point Fingers at Police

In the hours after the tragedy, questions mounted over who bears responsibility for preventing the fatal incident. Witnesses accused police of ignoring multiple warnings and clear footage circulating online that showed hundreds of participants perched on scaffolding, cranes, and rooftops. Despite the obvious danger, critics say, the police neither instructed organizers to clear those areas nor used the loudspeaker system to issue safety warnings—until after the fatal fall.

According to Ynet, the police had expected between 200,000 and 300,000 participants but deployed only about 2,000 officers. Operational approval for the event was handled solely by the Yerushalayim District command, not by national police leadership, despite the clear safety risks.

One witness told Ynet: “Construction workers shouted at the boys to stay away and not climb, but once the crowds arrived, they couldn’t stop them.” Another added, “No policeman tried to stop us from going up the building.” A third said: “There was a construction lift that went up to the 20th floor. The police saw it and let people go into the site.”

Police Reject Accusations

Police sources, speaking to N12, presented a very different account. They claim they had advance intelligence that some demonstrators planned to break into the construction site and climb to high floors. Despite multiple layers of security—including fencing, an electronic access code system, and guards—the protesters reportedly breached the perimeter and entered the site.

An hour before the tragedy, police had already received reports of “a life-threatening situation” at the site and multiple emergency calls warning that people had climbed onto the tower. Yet despite numerous attempts to intervene, police said they were “unable to prevent” the break-in and ascent.

Authorities say hundreds of young protesters were involved in the security breach, even disabling the site’s electronic entry system.

The catastrophe has ignited fierce debate over the adequacy of crowd control measures, the conduct of law enforcement, and the safety oversight of mass demonstrations. As the investigation continues, both grief and anger hang heavy over a tragedy that many believe could—and should—have been prevented.

{Matzav.com}

Rep. Claudia Tenney (R-N.Y.) introduced a House resolution on Tuesday affirming Israel’s full sovereignty over the Temple Mount—Har HaBayis—and demanding true religious equality for Jews, Christians, and Muslims at the holiest site in Judaism. The measure, which underscores that Jerusalem is the “undivided capital of Israel”, pushes back against what Tenney called “repeated international efforts […]

Democrat Abigail Spanberger is more eager to talk about struggling soybean farmers than President Donald Trump’s attack on American institutions. She plays down the historic nature of her campaign for Virginia governor and avoids making big, bold promises about what she will accomplish if elected. Yet some believe the moderate approach — others call it boring — that the former congresswoman […]

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer is keeping quiet about whether he’ll cast his ballot for socialist Zohran Mamdani in next week’s New York City mayoral race — a question he’s pointedly avoided despite mounting pressure from reporters.

When asked directly if he would support Mamdani in the November 4 election, Schumer sidestepped. “The bottom line is very simple,” he said. “I have a good relationship with him, and we’re continuing to talk.” His vague response did little to clarify where he stands as tensions grow inside his party.

The senator’s evasive answer came shortly after House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries made waves by publicly throwing his support behind Mamdani. Jeffries told The New York Times that while he and the socialist candidate have “areas of principled disagreement,” unity within the Democratic Party must take precedence at a time when President Donald Trump poses what he called an “existential” threat.

Jeffries praised Mamdani as someone who has “relentlessly focused on addressing the affordability crisis and explicitly committed to being a mayor for all New Yorkers, including those who do not support his candidacy.” He concluded, “In that spirit, I support him and the entire citywide Democratic ticket in the general election.”

The endorsement was widely viewed as Jeffries caving to the party’s far-left faction, which has spent months defending Mamdani’s radical platform. The candidate has championed sweeping socialist initiatives such as a publicly run grocery network, asserted that “queer liberation means defunding the police,” and argued that “mental health experts” should replace law enforcement in handling certain crises.

Mamdani has also come under fire for refusing to back resolutions honoring Israel and condemning the Holocaust. Nor has he denounced the inflammatory chant “Globalize the Intifada,” a stance that has drawn heavy criticism from Jewish organizations and civic leaders alike.

President Donald Trump has not held back in his assessment of the socialist contender, branding him a “Communist Lunatic.” That characterization prompted an angry reply from Jeffries, who posted on X: “Stop lying about Assemblyman Mamdani. He is neither a communist nor a lunatic. And New York City doesn’t need to be saved by a wannabe King. Besides, you are too busy destroying America with your One Big Ugly Bill to do anything else.”

{Matzav.com}

The concept of the Yissachar-Zevulun Torah Learning Pact goes back well over 3,500 years, to the time of Yaakov Avinu and his sons. It is named for the Torah pact between two of his sons – Yissachar the scholar and Zevulun the merchant. Not only was it an equal pact but, Chazal explained, the deed of Zevulun/the […]

The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) has issued a warning about the growing risks posed by text-to-video artificial intelligence tools, saying that despite company safeguards, the technology is already producing antisemitic, extremist and violent content at alarming rates. The ADL found that nearly 40% of prompts tested between August and October on major AI video platforms—including Google’s […]

In a move that has left linguists scratching their heads and parents utterly baffled, Dictionary.com crowned “6-7” as its 2025 Word of the Year — even though, technically, it isn’t a word at all, the AP reports. The bizarre viral phrase has taken over classrooms, TikTok feeds, and text messages, leaving adults struggling to decode it while teenagers can’t seem to stop saying it.

The site’s annual pick is meant to reflect cultural shifts and trends through language, but even Dictionary.com admits it’s not entirely sure what “6-7” means. “Don’t worry, because we’re all still trying to figure out exactly what it means,” the site said when announcing the choice this week.

The origin of the cryptic term traces back to a 2024 song that began circulating on TikTok. Clips featuring basketball players, including the NBA’s LaMelo Ball — who happens to stand 6-foot-7 — helped propel the phrase into the digital mainstream. It reached full-blown meme status when a boy dubbed “The 6-7 Kid” yelled the phrase in a video while another child juggled his hands beside him. Within days, the sound and gesture were everywhere.

No one can quite agree on what “6-7” stands for. Some argue it means “so-so” or “maybe this, maybe that,” especially when paired with the accompanying hand motion. Others use it as a playful jab to annoy adults. Even its spelling — “6-7,” “6 7,” or “six seven” — is up for debate. Merriam-Webster has labeled it “a nonsensical expression used especially by teens and tweens.”

“It’s meaningless, ubiquitous, and nonsensical. In other words, it has all the hallmarks of brainrot,” Dictionary.com said. “Still, it remains meaningful to the people who use it because of the connection it fosters.”

The trend has taken on a life of its own, spilling out from social media into schools, homes, and even the NFL, where players have adopted it as a celebration gesture. Parents and teachers, desperate to understand the craze, have made their own videos dissecting its meaning. Some suggest ignoring it until it fades away; others have tried to reclaim it by turning it into Halloween costumes in hopes of making it “uncool.” Teachers in some schools have even banned students from saying it during class.

Dictionary.com says its choice reflects how language evolves online and captures what people are talking about — or in this case, endlessly repeating. The site reviewed social media chatter, news stories, and search engine data before deciding on “6-7,” noting that online searches for the term have multiplied sixfold since June.

“The Word of the Year isn’t just about popular usage; it reveals the stories we tell about ourselves and how we’ve changed over the year,” the site said.

{Matzav.com}

Go ahead and roll your eyes. Shrug your shoulders. Or maybe just juggle your hands in the air. Dictionary.com’s word of the year isn’t even really a word. It’s the viral term “6-7” that kids and teenagers can’t stop repeating and laughing about and parents and teachers can’t make any sense of. The word — […]