At a deeply moving L’chaim celebration marking the publication of his 60th sefer, Mishmeres HaBayis on the halachos of challah, the renowned posek, Rav Moshe Mordechai Karp, was overcome with emotion and broke into tears as he began singing “Mah ashiv laHashem,” a moment that swept up all those present in heartfelt song and gratitude.
The event brought together rabbonim and dayanim of the Beis Horaah B’Yisrael, who gathered in honor of Rav Karp’s latest work. The sefer, a detailed and comprehensive halachic volume of more than 350 pages, offers clear guidance, lucid explanations, and illuminating psakim on topics relevant to the Jewish home. It also includes insightful notes on the Teshuvos Zeraim of the Rashba.
In his remarks, Rav Karp spoke emotionally of his formative years in the presence of the Steipler Gaon, author of Kehillos Yaakov zt”l. He shared that many of the halachos recorded in the new sefer were refined through discussions with the Steipler, who extended to him exceptional warmth and affection. Despite Rav Karp’s youth at the time, the Kehillos Yaakov greatly praised his diligence and talent, foreseeing in him a future vessel of blessing destined to illuminate batei Yisroel through Torah.
Rav Karp recounted how the Kehillos Yaakov would caution him that “sometimes stringencies can turn into leniencies,” reminding him that excessive chumros in one area could inadvertently lead to laxity in another. Those words, he said, continue to guide him in his approach to psak halacha until this day.
During the L’chaim, Rav Karp recited the berachah of Shehecheyanu, a practice he observes each time he completes and publishes a new sefer. In keeping with his view outlined in his work Yom Beyom (Hilchos Berachos, Volume 4), he donned a new garment beforehand, explaining that one who rejoices in wearing something new should bless Shehecheyanu upon it.
{Matzav.com}
As part of his visit to the United States, the rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Toras Zev, Rav Boruch Soloveitchik, delivered a penetrating shiur klali at Yeshivas Heichal HaTorah in Monsey, headed by Rav Mordechai Dick. The shiur focused on the sugya of shaveh kesef k’kesef.
The bochurim eagerly absorbed every word of Rav Soloveitchik’s deep pilpul, visibly inspired by the clarity and depth of his approach. After the shiur, many of them crowded around the rosh yeshiva, engaging him in lively discussion for nearly an hour, passionately delving further into the inyan.
Rav Soloveitchik’s trip to the U.S. was arranged both in support of his yeshiva and in honor of the wedding of a daughter of his close friend, R’ Yitzchok Rakowsky of Lakewood, one of the leaders of Keren Olam HaTorah.
During his stay in Monsey, the rosh yeshiva was hosted by philanthropist R’ Ari Busbi.
Over Shabbos, he attended the aufruf of the son of Rav Mordechai Dick who last night married a daughter of Rav Aryeh Malkiel Schustal, granddaughter of Rav Dovid Schustal, rosh yeshiva of Beth Medrash Govoha in Lakewood.
{Matzav.com}During his recent visit to Argentina, Rishon LeTzion and Chief Rabbi of Israel, Rav Dovid Yosef, displayed extraordinary personal involvement in helping release a woman who had been an agunah for nearly twelve years.
While visiting the local kehillah, the Chief Rabbi was urgently informed by rabbonim of a painful situation involving a husband who had persistently refused to grant his wife a get. Despite a full itinerary filled with official meetings, Rav Yosef immediately canceled a scheduled state appointment and traveled directly to the man’s location.
Rav Yosef sat with the husband for hours, speaking to his heart and pleading with him to do what is right according to halacha. The conversation extended well into the night, forcing his assistants to clear the remainder of his day’s schedule so that the Rav could remain focused solely on resolving this case.
By the next day, the breakthrough came. The husband agreed to give the get, and a qualified sofer gittin was immediately summoned to write and deliver the document properly, bringing long-awaited relief and freedom to the suffering woman.
Following the completion of the get, Rav Yosef again met privately with the husband, offering words of chizuk and encouragement, urging him to rebuild his life through teshuvah and proper conduct.
This incident, the Rishon LeTzion noted, is just one example of the hands-on approach he has made a hallmark of his leadership — personally intervening to resolve get refusals, even if it means visiting prisons or appearing unannounced in courtrooms.
“I go to prisons to meet with those who refuse, especially when it’s nearby,” Rav Yosef shared, describing his proactive efforts during his Argentina trip.
{Matzav.com}
New York’s political upheaval is already reshaping another state’s skyline. The election of democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani as New York City’s next mayor has set off a stunning $100 million property rush in Florida, as nervous New Yorkers scramble to buy homes before the new mayor’s economic policies take effect.
Isaac Toledano, CEO of the Miami-based BH Group, said the flood of new contracts began months before Mamdani’s victory was even sealed. In just the past few months, his firm has seen an unprecedented surge of buyers from New York, totaling more than $100 million in signed deals—nearly twice the amount recorded in 2024. “I think the election accelerated how people make decisions. People are nervous about what’s coming, how it’s going to affect their lifestyle, the quality of life, taxes, and even public safety,” Toledano explained.
Mamdani, a 34-year-old Muslim born in Uganda, defeated establishment candidate Andrew Cuomo in a stunning political upset that analysts have described as a defining moment for the Democratic Party’s future direction. “The uncertainty about what’s next and the fact that Mamdani made it clear what he believes is right for New York has a lot of people feeling uneasy,” Toledano told Fox News Digital.
The mayor-elect’s campaign platform—marked by sweeping socialist proposals—has rattled many of the city’s wealthiest residents. Among his promises were a rent freeze affecting more than two million tenants, universal child care for all children from infancy through age five, free city bus transportation, and even publicly operated grocery stores.
Florida officials, sensing opportunity, have begun preparing for an influx of wealthy New Yorkers relocating to the Sunshine State. Governor Ron DeSantis humorously weighed in on social media with an online poll asking how Floridians should handle the new arrivals. “Floridians — response to the Mamdani election in NYC should be to: Build a FL border wall, Tariff all transplants, or ‘Recruit new transplants,’” DeSantis quipped in a post on X.
President Donald Trump foresaw this exodus weeks earlier while speaking at the America Business Forum in Miami. “Now the Democrats are so extreme that Miami will soon be the refuge for those fleeing communism in New York City. They flee,” Trump declared. He added a warning he’s voiced many times before: “As I’ve warned for many years, our opponents are hell-bent on turning America into a communist Cuba or a socialist Venezuela, and you see what happened to those places.”
{Matzav.com}President Donald Trump issued a sharp caution to the Supreme Court, declaring that overturning his tariff policies would trigger catastrophic consequences for America’s economy and security.
“The U.S. Supreme Court was given the wrong numbers,” Trump posted early Tuesday on Truth Social. “The ‘unwind’ in the event of a negative decision on Tariffs, would be, including investments made, to be made, and return of funds, in excess of 3 Trillion Dollars. It would not be possible to ever make up for that kind of a ‘drubbing.’ That would truly become an insurmountable National Security Event, and devastating to the future of our Country – Possibly non-sustainable!”
The president has repeatedly cautioned the Court against dismantling his trade measures, describing them as vital to protecting American jobs, industry, and national stability. He said that reversing them would wipe out trillions in wealth and unravel years of progress.
Trump also outlined a broader economic vision in his recent posts, highlighting plans to use tariff revenue to support working Americans and reduce the ballooning national debt. “All money left over from the $2000 payments made to low and middle income USA Citizens, from the massive Tariff Income pouring into our Country from foreign countries, which will be substantial, will be used to SUBSTANTIALLY PAY DOWN NATIONAL DEBT,” he wrote Monday. “Thank you for your attention to this matter! President DJT.”
In the same flurry of messages, Trump took aim at critics of his approach, arguing that tariffs have strengthened the U.S. economy, spurred growth, and restored balance to global trade. “People that are against Tariffs are FOOLS!” he wrote. “We are now the Richest, Most Respected Country In the World, With Almost No Inflation, and A Record Stock Market Price. 401k’s are Highest EVER. We are taking in Trillions of Dollars and will soon begin paying down our ENORMOUS DEBT, $37 Trillion. Record Investment in the USA, plants and factories going up all over the place.”
At the center of the legal battle is whether the 1977 International Emergency Economic Powers Act authorizes the president to impose tariffs for national security reasons. U.S. Solicitor General D. John Sauer represented Trump’s position before the justices last week. Lower courts have repeatedly rejected his interpretation but allowed the tariffs to stay in effect until the Supreme Court issues its ruling.
In another Truth Social post, Trump blasted what he sees as a double standard in trade authority: “So, let’s get this straight??? The President of the United States is allowed (and fully approved by Congress!) to stop ALL TRADE with a Foreign Country (Which is far more onerous than a Tariff!), and LICENSE a Foreign Country, but is not allowed to put a simple Tariff on a Foreign Country, even for purposes of NATIONAL SECURITY. That is NOT what our great Founders had in mind! The whole thing is ridiculous! Other Countries can Tariff us, but we can’t Tariff them??? It is their DREAM!!! Businesses are pouring into the USA ONLY BECAUSE OF TARIFFS. HAS THE UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT NOT BEEN TOLD THIS??? WHAT THE H— IS GOING ON??? President DJT.”
{Matzav.com}
