A wave of anger swept across the chareidi political leadership on Monday after dozens of chareidi educational institutions were issued closure orders by Israel’s Education Ministry. The schools and chadarim had opened despite Home Front Command guidelines issued during the current security situation.
Minister of Yerushalayim and Jewish Tradition Meir Porush blasted Education Minister Yoav Kisch for the move, accusing him of overstepping his authority and displaying a lack of understanding of the chareidi way of life. Finance Committee Chairman MK Moshe Gafni joined the criticism shortly afterward.
As previously reported by Matzav.com, institutions ranging from yeshivos ketanos to chadarim and girls’ schools in cities such as Yerushalayim, Bnei Brak, Tiveria, Rechovot, Modiin Illit, and Beitar Illit received formal notices to shut down for violating national emergency protocols.
In a public statement, Education Minister Yoav Kisch declared, “The lives of our children come first. Any educational institution that violates Home Front Command instructions will be dealt with immediately through the enforcement tools available to the ministry: sending inspectors, issuing closure orders, and freezing funding. There are no compromises when it comes to student safety. This is a national responsibility, and we will use every tool at our disposal.”
He added that the ministry would continue strict enforcement against any school that does not adhere to emergency directives.
In response, Minister Meir Porush stated: “I am not defending those who disregard Home Front Command instructions, especially when there are emergency alternatives near the school. I continue to urge the public to follow these life-saving guidelines.”
However, he sharply criticized the closures themselves, saying, “Minister Yoav Kisch’s decision to shut down these institutions reflects the condescending attitude of someone completely disconnected from the chareidi lifestyle.”
Porush emphasized the centrality of education in Jewish life and pointed out that most chareidi schools were established by private nonprofit organizations, not by the state. “If the Ministry of Education didn’t open these institutions, it has no right to close them,” he said.
With biting sarcasm, Porush added, “Clause 32 of the Supervision of Schools Law empowers the Education Ministry director-general to close a school if incitement against the state is taking place. I’d be happy to tour East Jerusalem with Minister Kisch to see whether all schools that promote incitement are being shut down. Apparently, in Kisch’s view, incitement to terrorism does not endanger lives.”
MK Moshe Gafni echoed Porush’s remarks, stressing that Home Front Command directives are essential for saving lives. Still, he called the ministry’s recent actions against chareidi schools “disproportionate and outrageous.”
“The Education Minister is not a law enforcement agency and lacks the authority to act as one,” Gafni said. “The sectoral affiliation of these institutions is clearly relevant here. It seems the minister is enthusiastic—almost gleeful—about revoking licenses from chareidi schools. He would do better to focus his efforts on improving education, budgets, teachers, and students rather than turning his staff into ad hoc judges and police officers casually issuing closure orders.”
Gafni concluded with a call for dialogue: “I urge him to immediately halt these harsh measures and sit down with school leaders to find mutually acceptable solutions, rather than throwing the baby out with the bathwater.”
In response, Minister Kisch’s office doubled down: “Pikuach nefesh overrides everything—there can be no compromises when lives are at stake. Contrary to Minister Porush’s claims, the Education Ministry will ensure that any institution that endangers students or staff by violating Home Front Command guidelines will lose its funding and be closed. Sectoral identity is entirely irrelevant.”
{Matzav.com Israel}
Dozens of bochurim from Yeshivas Torah B’Tifartah, forced to vacate their Elad campus due to the war, have found refuge at Yeshivas Be’er HaTorah in Beit Shemesh, where they are continuing their learning.
The bochurim, residents of Beit Shemesh, joined Yeshivas Be’er HaTorah and took part in a shiur klali delivered by the rosh yeshiva, Rav Gavriel Yosef Levi. The shiur uniquely integrated sugyos from Maseches Sanhedrin, which the Torah B’Tifartah talmidim had been learning, with Maseches Bava Kama, the masechta being studied in Be’er HaTorah.
“It was a deeply uplifting scene,” shared one talmid. “The bais medrash was filled with intense hasmadah and the energy of Torah. Watching bochurim from both yeshivos engaging with each other, connecting the sugyos from both masechtos, created an extraordinary atmosphere of Torah growth.”
The relocation came after Yeshivas Torah B’Tifartah, which numbers around 1,200 talmidim, divided into four temporary branches around the country so the bochurim could remain close to home and near protected spaces. Locations included Bnei Brak (Beis Knesses Chanichei HaYeshivos on Rechov Rambam), Yerushalayim (Beis Knesses Chazon Ish in Ramat Shlomo), Beit Shemesh (Yeshivas Be’er HaTorah – Gil branch), and Modiin Illit
The roshei yeshiva, rabbeim, and ramim are making regular visits to each branch, delivering shiurim.
With the announced ceasefire, the talmidim of Torah B’Tifartah are now preparing to return to their main campus in Elad.
{Matzav.com Israel}
Following the implementation of a ceasefire between Israel and Iran, Israeli emergency services reported that 28 people lost their lives and thousands more sustained injuries due to Iranian assaults.
Magen David Adom confirmed it had pronounced 28 people dead—four of them just earlier this morning. The organization also reported treating 17 people with critical injuries, 29 with moderate wounds, 872 in stable condition, and an additional 401 individuals experiencing severe anxiety as a result of the attacks.
The Israeli Health Ministry released a slightly different set of figures, stating that 3,238 individuals had been admitted to hospitals over the course of the 12-day conflict. Their breakdown included 23 in serious condition, 111 moderately injured, 2,933 with minor wounds, 138 treated for acute anxiety, and another 30 patients whose medical status remains undetermined.
In addition to those transported by Magen David Adom, others arrived at hospitals via alternate emergency responders or by evacuating on their own.
According to the IDF, Iran fired approximately 550 ballistic missiles and close to 1,000 drones toward Israeli territory throughout the hostilities. Most of these were successfully intercepted.
Despite the defenses, 31 ballistic missiles did manage to strike civilian areas, while a single drone reportedly hit a residential building.
Authorities have also reported widespread displacement, with more than 9,000 residents forced to leave homes that were either heavily damaged or completely destroyed during the attacks.
{Matzav.com}
President Trump received a formal nomination for the Nobel Peace Prize on Tuesday, credited for his pivotal role in bringing about the cease-fire between Israel and Iran.
Rep. Buddy Carter of Georgia submitted the nomination in a letter addressed to the Norwegian Nobel Committee. In it, he commended Trump “in recognition of his extraordinary and historic role in brokering and end to the armed conflict.”
Carter, who has served Georgia’s 1st Congressional District, based in Savannah, since 2015, stated, “President Trump’s influence was instrumental in forging a swift agreement that many believed to be impossible.”
He went on to praise Trump’s assertive approach to national security, writing, “President Trump also took bold, decisive actions to halt Iran’s nuclear ambitions and ensure that the world’s largest state sponsor of terrorism remains incapable of acquiring a nuclear weapons.”
{Matzav.com}
