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Uman is preparing for the arrival of approximately 40,000 Breslover chassidim and other Jews for Rosh Hashanah, with new figures highlighting the enormous short-term economic impact the annual pilgrimage has on the Ukrainian city.

The anticipated turnout is roughly in line with last year’s attendance. The influx of tens of thousands of visitors creates an intense surge in demand for rental apartments, hotels, restaurants, stores, transportation and a wide range of other local services.

Figures from Ukraine’s State Agency for Tourism Development and the local government show that one of the most significant sources of direct municipal revenue is the tourism tax. In 2025, Rosh Hashanah visitors paid a record approximately 20 million hryvnias into the city’s coffers, up from roughly 17 million hryvnias in 2024.

For 2026, the daily tourism tax has been set at 432.35 hryvnias per person for those staying in private accommodations and 216.18 hryvnias for guests staying in hotels and hostels. A system allowing visitors to confirm payment through scanning has also been introduced.

The money collected directly by the municipality is used for local needs, including infrastructure, education and healthcare. But the tourism tax represents only a portion of the financial activity generated by the annual Rosh Hashanah gathering.

Much of the economic benefit flows directly into Uman’s private sector. Apartment owners, restaurants, retailers and local entrepreneurs see sharply increased business as tens of thousands of visitors spend money throughout the city. Because those expenditures are spread among numerous businesses and individuals, there is no single figure representing the total amount injected into the local economy.

The massive influx also creates significant expenses for Uman. The municipality must devote additional resources to sanitation, garbage collection and cleaning during and after the pilgrimage. Last year alone, approximately 1.5 million hryvnias was reportedly spent cleaning the area surrounding the tziyun.

{Matzav.com}

A baffling dispute has emerged over the disappearance of a Sefer Torah from a Chabad house in Haifa’s German Colony, with police saying the missing Torah was located while the Chabad house insists that its only kosher Sefer Torah was stolen and remains missing — just three days before Rosh Hashanah.

Earlier this week, police initially announced that they had opened an investigation into the suspected theft of a Sefer Torah. That announcement was subsequently deleted, and police issued an update saying the Torah had been located and returned and that the incident apparently was not a theft.

But Rav Ben Tzion Gagula of the Chabad house told B’Chadrei Charedim that the police account does not reflect what happened.

“There was a theft, and the Sefer Torah was not returned,” Rav Gagula said. “The Sefer Torah that disappeared was the only kosher Sefer Torah in the shul. We are three days before Rosh Hashanah and we have no Sefer Torah.”

The Torah disappeared over this past Shabbos. Before Shabbos began, the mashgiach kashrus at a nearby hotel arrived at the shul accompanied by two guests.

“He put a new cloth on the Sefer Torah. The old cloth was torn. He found a donor who donated a cloth and put it on the Sefer Torah,” Rav Gagula related.

Contrary to the wording of the initial police announcement, the shul is not located inside the hotel. It stands across from the hotel and is also made available to hotel guests who need a place to daven.

“We give them the Chabad house so that they have a place to daven. It works in an organized manner with the hotel’s security. We gave them a key. They come, open and close,” Rav Gagula explained.

By the following morning, the Sefer Torah was gone.

“The door was locked, everything was locked,” Rav Gagula said. “Apparently they came in through the window.”

He said that when police officers arrived, they observed indications that appeared consistent with someone having entered through the window.

“The policewoman saw signs of a break-in in the area of the window, and there was also a muddy footprint near the window,” he said.

Police subsequently issued a public statement saying officers from the Haifa station had opened an investigation into the suspected theft of a Sefer Torah and were working to locate both the suspect and the missing Torah.

A short time later, however, that statement disappeared. A new police update said the incident apparently had not been a theft and that the Sefer Torah had been located and returned.

Officials at the Chabad house said they were stunned by the announcement.

“There was no such thing,” Rav Gagula said. “The Sefer Torah was not returned and we are at a loss.”

He said the police announcement has made the effort to recover the missing Sefer Torah substantially more difficult because members of the public now believe there is nothing left to search for.

“It ruined the entire issue of getting the Sefer Torah back. People read that the Sefer Torah was returned and think the story is over. If they hadn’t publicized that the Sefer Torah was returned, all the media would have applied pressure and maybe it would have been found already.”

At the same time, Rav Gagula said investigators themselves appear to still be actively working on the case despite the police spokesperson’s public account.

“From the investigators’ standpoint, they are continuing to work. They call me, ask questions, investigate people and look at security cameras,” he said. “That is to say, from the standpoint of the investigation there is activity, but the spokesperson’s office wrote as though there is nothing.”

With Rosh Hashanah only days away, the Chabad house is now attempting both to cope with the disappearance and to strengthen security at the shul. Plans being considered include installing additional surveillance cameras, bars and other security measures, along with purchasing a special safe for the Sefer Torah.

“We are trying to get back up from this powerful and painful blow,” Rav Gagula said. “This is the only shul in the neighborhood, and it serves many Jews.”

The Chabad house is also appealing to anyone who might have information about the missing Sefer Torah to come forward.

“We ask anyone who can help — to help, in any way possible. Our goal now is both to find the Sefer Torah and to secure the place so that something like this does not happen again.”

Israel Police, however, strongly disputed several elements of the Chabad house’s account in a statement.

“Contrary to what has been claimed, when the police officers arrived at the scene upon receiving the complaint, no evidence of a break-in at the shul was found, security footage in the area was examined and nothing indicating a break-in emerged.

“In addition, a key to the shul intended for use by hotel guests was found at the hotel, and there is no record or supervision of its use. It was also found that there is one camera inside the shul that is not connected.

“An examination conducted by police at the hotel located one Sefer Torah that, according to testimony, belongs to the shul. The complainant was summoned to provide additional testimony, but at this stage claims that he is unable to come during the coming month. The investigation is continuing.”

Joe Biden said Tuesday that the radiation treatment he underwent for advanced prostate cancer last fall “worked as intended,” offering an update on his health while urging men to speak with their doctors about screening and early detection.

Biden, 83, disclosed the latest details in an extended social media message marking Prostate Cancer Awareness Month, saying the observance has taken on particular significance for him since his diagnosis last year.

“The radiation treatment from last fall worked as intended, and I continue to do the things I care about, like finishing my memoir,” Biden wrote.

Biden also expressed appreciation for the physicians, nurses and other health professionals overseeing his care, saying their “skill, dedication, and compassion mean so much.”

Much of Biden’s message focused on encouraging other men to discuss prostate cancer screening with their doctors, particularly because the disease has a far higher survival rate when discovered at an early stage.

“Talk to your doctors. Ask the hard questions. Do it for yourself, and do it for the people who love you,” Biden wrote.

Biden said men considered to be at average risk should begin discussing screening at about age 50, while Black men and men with a family history of prostate cancer should begin those conversations sooner.

The American Cancer Society similarly recommends that average-risk men discuss screening with their healthcare providers beginning at age 50. It recommends beginning those conversations at 45 for Black men and certain men with a family history of the disease, and at 40 for some men at particularly high risk.

Biden’s office disclosed in May 2025 that he had been diagnosed with an aggressive prostate cancer that had already metastasized to his bones by the time it was detected.

Doctors discovered the cancer after Biden developed worsening urinary symptoms and a prostate nodule was identified. His office said the cancer was classified with a Gleason score of 9 and Grade Group 5. Despite the advanced diagnosis, officials said the cancer was hormone-sensitive, making it responsive to treatment intended to control the disease.

Biden subsequently received radiation therapy, completing the course of treatment last fall. His latest statement indicates that the radiation achieved its intended result, though he did not provide additional details about his prognosis or whether further treatment is planned.

Fox News Digital said it contacted Biden’s office seeking additional information about his present condition, treatment and prognosis.

Biden concluded his message by expressing gratitude to those who have offered support and prayers for him and his family since his diagnosis.

“It’s my hope and prayer that by sharing our experience and being part of this important conversation, we can help save lives,” he wrote. “And no matter what, keep the faith. God bless you.”

{Matzav.com}

Maran Rav Dov Landau made a notable appearance Tuesday night at the engagement celebration of MK Moshe Gafni’s granddaughter in Bnei Brak in what was widely viewed as a public demonstration of his continued confidence in the longtime Degel HaTorah chairman just days after the decision that Gafni will not serve in the next Knesset.

Rav Landau’s participation in the simcha attracted particular attention because of its timing and because he personally made the effort to attend the event amid the upheaval surrounding Degel HaTorah’s Knesset slate.

Rav Landau’s attendance was intended, among other things, to convey an unmistakable message that he continues to have full confidence in Gafni despite the decision to replace him as a Knesset representative.

Gafni, who has served in the Knesset for 38 years, was not included on the United Torah Judaism slate for the upcoming election. He will, however, remain chairman of the national Degel HaTorah movement.

The development follows Gafni’s publication Tuesday night of an emotional farewell letter reflecting on nearly four decades representing Degel HaTorah in the Knesset.

“About 38 years ago, I was called to the flag by Maran Rosh HaYeshiva Rav Elazar Menachem Man Shach zt”l to serve as a representative in the Knesset on behalf of the Degel HaTorah movement,” Gafni wrote. “I was privileged, with Hashem’s help, to work alongside and under the guidance of the Gedolei Yisroel, those who are no longer with us and those who are with us today.”

Gafni emphasized in the letter that his departure from the Knesset does not mean his departure from public life. He said he intends to remain at the helm of Degel HaTorah and continue working on behalf of the chareidi community through the movement.

Against that backdrop, Rav Landau’s decision to personally attend the Gafni family simcha took on added significance.

The appearance was seen as signaling that the recent overhaul of Degel HaTorah’s parliamentary representation should not be interpreted as a repudiation of Gafni himself. Although his 38-year Knesset career is coming to an end, Gafni remains chairman of Degel HaTorah and, according to sources, continues to enjoy the confidence of Rav Landau.

{Matzav.com}

Israeli Prime Minister Binyomin Netanyahu will make a tightly scheduled 24-hour visit to New York later this month to address the United Nations General Assembly, despite the controversy sparked by New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s previous calls for his arrest, Israel’s ambassador to the U.N. said Tuesday.

Ambassador Danny Danon said Netanyahu’s appearance at the annual gathering of world leaders remains essential, declaring that “there is no option” but for the Israeli leader to make the trip.

Danon accused Mamdani of “doing politics” when the mayor branded Netanyahu a “war criminal” and called for him to be arrested. Mamdani subsequently acknowledged that New York City lacks the legal authority to carry out such an arrest.

“You know, it became very trendy to do politics by blaming Israel,” Danon said. He added, “For us, it’s important the prime minister will come.”

The controversy stems from the International Criminal Court’s November 2024 arrest warrant for Netanyahu and then-Defense Minister Yoav Gallant over allegations connected to Israel’s military campaign against Hamas in Gaza. Mamdani has cited that warrant in explaining his position on Netanyahu.

The ICC alleged that there were grounds to believe Netanyahu had used “starvation as a weapon of warfare” by limiting humanitarian assistance and deliberately targeting civilians during the Gaza war. Israel has rejected the accusations.

Although New York City itself cannot enforce the ICC warrant, Mamdani has urged the federal government to act on it. Both the United States and Israel are outside the ICC, while the Trump administration has imposed sanctions on ICC personnel amid its opposition to the court.

According to Danon, Netanyahu will land in New York late on September 23, deliver his address to the General Assembly on the afternoon of September 24, and depart for Israel that same night.

The unusually brief visit comes as the annual gathering of representatives from the U.N.’s 193 member states coincides with the Jewish holiday period and an Israeli election campaign in which Netanyahu is seeking to remain prime minister.

Danon also predicted demonstrations surrounding Netanyahu’s appearance, warning that protests would “create more chaos” on New York City streets during the General Assembly’s high-level week, which runs from September 22 through September 28.

Netanyahu’s address last year was met with a large-scale walkout by delegations as he took the podium in the General Assembly hall. Danon said he anticipates another highly visible protest this time around, saying, “I expect that there will be something like another show.”

Still, Danon said the anticipated demonstrations and disruptions would not prevent Netanyahu from delivering his message to the international body.

The Israeli leader is accustomed to such scenes, Danon said, “and I’m sure he will deliver his speech despite those attempts.”

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump urged Russian President Vladimir Putin during an hour-long phone call Tuesday to bring the war in Ukraine to a swift conclusion, arguing that an end to the fighting could pave the way for a full restoration of relations between Washington and Moscow and major new economic opportunities for both countries.

The conversation came days after Trump’s envoys, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, traveled to Moscow and Kyiv as part of a renewed American effort to break the diplomatic stalemate over the more than four-year-old war. Both Trump and Putin gave a positive assessment of those meetings, according to Kremlin foreign policy adviser Yuri Ushakov.

“Donald Trump clearly emphasized the desirability of bringing the conflict to an end as soon as possible, which would immediately open up prospects — impressive and far-reaching ones at that — for the full restoration of relations between the U.S. and Russia,” Ushakov told reporters.

According to the Kremlin’s account, Trump emphasized that renewed relations could extend well beyond diplomacy and include a significant expansion of commercial ties between the two countries.

“In his view, this would have a particular impact on trade and economic ties, promising enormous benefits for both countries. Donald Trump is keen to see a breakthrough achieved during his presidency. Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin supported this approach,” Ushakov said.

The call lasted approximately one hour and focused largely on efforts to reach a settlement in Ukraine. The White House had not immediately issued its own detailed account of the conversation following the Kremlin’s readout.

The latest diplomatic push followed weekend meetings in which Witkoff and Kushner held more than three hours of talks with Putin in Moscow before traveling to Kyiv. The trip marked the first visit to the Ukrainian capital by the two men as part of their peace efforts.

Ushakov said Trump and Putin viewed the envoys’ meetings favorably, saying the two presidents had rated the outcome “with a plus sign.” The Kremlin said the diplomatic channel involving Witkoff and Kushner would remain active.

Putin, meanwhile, used Tuesday’s call to present Trump with his assessment of the military situation and to outline what Moscow believes Washington could do to bring about a faster end to hostilities. Ushakov did not disclose the specific proposals, saying much of the conversation was confidential.

Despite the renewed diplomacy, major differences between Russia and Ukraine remain unresolved. Moscow has continued to press demands that include Ukrainian territorial concessions and abandonment of its NATO ambitions, conditions Kyiv has rejected. No concrete breakthrough was announced following the weekend meetings or Tuesday’s Trump-Putin conversation.

Putin also addressed mounting European concerns about Russia’s intentions beyond Ukraine. According to Ushakov, the Russian president told Trump that Moscow has no plans to attack European countries.

“It was underlined that we don’t have any aggressive plans regarding Europe,” Ushakov said, according to an account of the conversation.

The assurance comes amid heightened concern among European governments over alleged Russian sabotage operations and other hostile activity. Moscow has rejected accusations that it is preparing aggression against Europe and has accused European governments of using fears about Russia to justify increased military spending and continued assistance to Ukraine.

The war itself continues despite the diplomatic activity. Russia and Ukraine resumed deadly aerial attacks following a brief pause associated with the weekend talks, while fighting continues along a front stretching roughly 1,250 kilometers.

Trump’s message to Putin nevertheless placed the prospect of normalized U.S.-Russia relations at the center of his appeal for an agreement. According to the Kremlin, Trump argued that ending the war could rapidly reopen economic and diplomatic opportunities that have largely disappeared since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Putin indicated that he agreed with the broader approach, Ushakov said, though the Kremlin did not announce that the Russian leader had accepted a ceasefire or altered Moscow’s negotiating demands.

The two presidents also agreed that prisoner exchanges between Russia and Ukraine should continue, one of the few areas where the sides have repeatedly been able to reach agreements during the conflict.

Ushakov characterized the Trump-Putin conversation as constructive and said both leaders agreed to maintain direct contact. They are expected to speak again by phone when necessary as the diplomatic effort continues.

For now, the call produced no publicly announced peace agreement. But it underscored Trump’s push to persuade Putin that ending the Ukraine war could lead to a broader reset between Washington and Moscow — including the restoration of political relations and potentially substantial economic ties.

{Matzav.com}

A growing number of Portuguese entertainers have withdrawn from an upcoming Lisbon comedy festival over the participation of Jewish American comedian Jerry Seinfeld, whose outspoken support for Israel has prompted boycott demands and controversy surrounding the event.

The inaugural Lisbon International Humour Festival, known as Commedia a La Carte Fest, is set to run from October 29 through November 1. Despite several performers dropping out and mounting pressure online, festival organizers have not announced any changes to the remaining lineup, according to Euronews.

Actress Inês Aires Pereira became the latest performer to withdraw on Saturday, announcing that she would no longer present her show “Namastê” at the festival.

Although Pereira did not specifically mention Seinfeld, she said that “one of the names persistently defends ideas and acts that I consider indefensible.” She added: “We cannot relativise or normalize a genocide.”

Her remarks were widely understood as referring to Seinfeld, one of the festival’s headline performers, who has publicly and repeatedly voiced support for Israel since the Hamas-led October 7, 2023, attacks.

The Portuguese comedy duo Cebola Mol, made up of Eduardo Madeira and Filipe Homem Fonseca, also announced Saturday that they were dropping out of the event.

“We will celebrate justice, freedom and joy with you on another occasion,” they wrote on social media. Their post included an image of the pair with a watermelon, which has become a widely used symbol of support for the Palestinian Arab cause, particularly on social media.

Other scheduled participants had already pulled out before Saturday, Euronews reported. The “Tributo Pop” concert, featuring Carolina Deslandes, Tatanka and Bárbara Tinoco, along with the group Conjunto Cuca Monga, were the first acts to withdraw. Comedian Pedro Tochas and visual artist Vhils, whose real name is Alexandre Farto, subsequently followed.

Those performers have said they will neither appear at nor attend the festival, though they have not publicly explained the reasons behind their decisions.

The withdrawals have fueled additional boycott and cancellation demands, particularly across social media. Among the performers still scheduled to participate are Herman José, Clarice Falcão and Matilde Breyner, along with César Mourão, Vasco Palmeirim, Pedro Ribeiro and Vera Fernandes. Festival organizers have given no indication that Seinfeld’s scheduled appearance could be canceled.

Seinfeld’s vocal backing of Israel has repeatedly drawn attention since October 7. Two months after the massacre, the comedian traveled to Israel for a solidarity visit after families of hostages invited him to meet with them and listen to their accounts. During a subsequent interview with Bari Weiss, Seinfeld became emotional while discussing that trip.

His support for Israel has also made him a target of protests during several public appearances. In May 2024, protesters demonstrated while Seinfeld received an honorary degree from Duke University. A month later, pro-Palestinian Arab hecklers disrupted his performance in Sydney while chanting “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free.”

Seinfeld ridiculed the disruption, telling the audience: “We have a genius, ladies and gentlemen. He solved the Middle East!” He continued sarcastically, “It’s the Jewish comedians, that’s who we have to get! They’re the ones doing everything.”

Months later, in October 2024, Seinfeld publicly voiced support for the IDF while attending a New York Mets game at Citi Field after a fan informed him that his brother was watching from the Gaza border.

Seinfeld smiled before responding, “Let’s go, Mets! Let’s go, IDF!”

Another interaction attracted attention last February when a fan approached Seinfeld for a selfie, flashed a victory sign and shouted “Free Palestine”. Seinfeld dismissed the encounter and walked away, saying, “I don’t care about Palestine.”

Several months afterward, during an appearance at Duke University in North Carolina, Seinfeld compared the Free Palestine movement to the Ku Klux Klan, arguing that the KKK was at least explicit about its hatred.

“When you say ‘Free Palestine’ you are not admitting what you really think. So actually, compared with the Ku Klux Klan, I think the Klan is even a little better in this respect, because they can say openly: ‘We don’t like black people, we don’t like Jews.’ OK, that’s honesty.”

Despite the withdrawals and calls for a boycott, Seinfeld remains scheduled to take the stage at Lisbon’s MEO Arena on November 1. Tickets for his performance are priced between 60 and 250 euros, and some seating sections have already sold out.

{Matzav.com}

British Prime Minister Andy Burnham on Tuesday defended his government’s sweeping new measures targeting Israeli communities in Judea and Samaria, including a ban on goods produced there, sanctions against individuals and businesses, and a formal declaration that Britain considers Israel’s presence in Palestinian-claimed territory unlawful.

Burnham insisted that the moves are aimed at the policies of Israel’s government and not at Israelis themselves, saying Britain could no longer remain passive if it hopes to preserve the possibility of a two-state solution.

“Today we are announcing carefully judged, targeted steps that are not aimed at the Israeli people, but at the unacceptable policies of the current Israeli government,” he wrote.

Under the new policy, Britain will bar imports from what it terms “illegal settlements,” formally adopt the position that “the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territory is unlawful,” and sanction people and companies accused of assisting, financing or benefiting from Israeli communities in Judea and Samaria.

Burnham said companies and investors connected to planned construction in the E1 area will also be subject to the sanctions.

In defending the decision, Burnham contended that “settlement construction” is increasingly jeopardizing the possibility of establishing a Palestinian state. He pointed to the authorization of 104 new communities since Israel’s current government took office in December 2022 and cited UN figures reporting more than 1,500 incidents of violence by Israeli civilians against Palestinian Arabs this year.

Burnham singled out Israel’s move to permit construction tenders in E1 ahead of the October elections, arguing that development in the strategically located area would make a future Palestinian state increasingly difficult to establish.

“This would cut a swathe through the heart of the West Bank – snuffing out the hope of realising a two-state solution. It cannot be allowed to happen,” he wrote.

Alongside the sanctions and trade restrictions, the British government is unveiling additional humanitarian assistance for Gaza. Burnham pointed to the devastation there, saying more than 70,000 people, including at least 20,000 children, have been killed, millions have been displaced, and Gaza’s population has been pushed into roughly one-third of the territory.

“The suffering of the Palestinian people is a scar on the conscience of the world,” Burnham wrote, while emphasizing that he continues to condemn both Hamas and its October 7, 2023, terrorist attack on Israel.

“I have condemned the monstrous terrorist attack on Israel on 7 October 2023 in the strongest possible terms – and continue to condemn Hamas. However, it does not justify the Israeli government’s actions in Gaza or the West Bank.”

Burnham maintained that the measures should not be viewed as sanctions against Israel itself. Rather, he said, they are designed to pressure the Israeli government while avoiding punishment of Israelis who disagree with its policies.

“The Israeli people are not responsible for the actions of their government. And nor is the Jewish community in the UK. Blaming British Jews for the actions of Benjamin Netanyahu’s government is wrong, plain and simple. And it is antisemitism, plain and simple.”

The prime minister said he met with representatives of the British Jewish community last week and assured them that his government remains committed to fighting antisemitism and protecting Jewish citizens.

Burnham portrayed the measures as an attempt to keep alive the prospect of Israelis and Palestinian Arabs eventually living peacefully and securely alongside one another, saying that goal continues to have broad support in Britain.

“We are taking these steps because it is the right thing to do,” wrote Burnham.

Israel responded with a series of retaliatory steps. Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar announced that Israel will shutter the British Consulate in Jerusalem and impose additional measures against British activities and representatives.

Sa’ar said the response, approved in coordination with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, followed what he characterized as a succession of anti-Israel actions taken by Britain’s Labour government.

Israel’s countermeasures include closing the British Consulate in Jerusalem, expelling British representatives from the International Gaza Support Center in Kiryat Gat, ending a British program that trains Palestinian Authority forces in Judea and Samaria through the “British Support Team in Ramallah,” and barring 12 British elected officials and other British nationals accused of antisemitic or anti-Israel activity or of denying Israel’s right to exist.

UK Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis also issued a forceful denunciation of the British government’s decision, warning that sanctions directed at Jews living in Judea and Samaria marked “a dark day for British Jews.”

“This is truly a dark day for British Jews,” Mirvis said. “Today our Government has chosen to ignore the deep concerns expressed by so many of us.”

The Chief Rabbi charged that rather than advancing prospects for peace, the government’s actions give greater legitimacy to hostile anti-Israel rhetoric.

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Israel’s political parties submitted their final candidate lists Tuesday night, closing one of the last major procedural stages before the Oct. 27 election for the 26th Knesset and ending two frantic days of political deals, internal battles and last-minute maneuvering.

By the time the doors of the Central Elections Committee closed, the major parties had finalized the candidates they will present to voters. Eighteen lists had already been submitted Monday, including Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid’s B’Yachad, Gadi Eisenkot’s Yashar, the Democrats, Yisrael Beytenu, Otzma Yehudit and Ra’am. Likud, Shas, United Torah Judaism, Religious Zionism and Blue and White were among the major parties that waited until Tuesday. Sept. 8 was the official deadline for submitting candidate lists.

The final hours were particularly dramatic on the right and within the chareidi parties, where negotiations continued almost until the deadline.

Likud: Netanyahu Unveils His Picks

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu used his reserved positions on the Likud slate to bring several prominent newcomers into the party, including Talik Gvili, the mother of fallen IDF soldier and slain hostage Ran Gvili; political commentator Yaakov Bardugo; and IDF reservist Elisha Madan, who lost both legs while fighting in Gaza.

Gvili received the ninth position, Bardugo was placed 11th and Madan 15th. Attorney David Peter was placed 16th, former Labor MK Eli Goldschmidt 26th, and Itzik Bonzel, father of fallen IDF soldier Amit Bonzel and a founder of the Gvura Forum, 29th.

Netanyahu heads the Likud slate, followed by Eli Cohen, Amir Ohana, Yariv Levin and Miri Regev. Defense Minister Israel Katz is sixth and Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar seventh. The party submitted a 35-member list.

The maneuvering came as Netanyahu spent the closing days before the deadline trying to prevent smaller right-wing parties from wasting votes by failing to cross Israel’s 3.25% electoral threshold. His efforts produced some results, but not the broad right-wing consolidation he had sought.

Shas Adds IDF Reserve Officer to Top Six

Shas made changes of its own, though nothing approaching the upheaval taking place within United Torah Judaism.

Aryeh Deri remains in the top position, with Yinon Azoulay moving into second place, followed by Michael Malchieli, Yoav Ben-Tzur and Haim Biton.

The most notable newcomer is Dror Amos, a lieutenant colonel in the IDF reserves who heads the Haifa Religious Services Council. He was given the sixth position on the slate.

He is followed by Moshe Abutbul, Uriel Buso, Yosef Taieb, Yonatan Mishraki, Yosef Elantnov, Erez Malul and Simon Moshiashvili. Veteran Shas figures Yaakov Margi and Moshe Arbel are not on the new slate after asking not to run.

Amos’ placement is particularly noteworthy with the chareidi draft issue expected to remain a major subject throughout the campaign.

United Torah Judaism: An Era Ends

The most dramatic changes in chareidi politics came within United Torah Judaism.

Veteran Degel HaTorah MKs Moshe Gafni and Uri Maklev, two of the most recognizable figures in the party for decades, will not return to the Knesset on the new slate. Their departure followed a decision by Rav Dov Landau to refresh Degel HaTorah’s parliamentary representation. Gafni was asked to continue as chairman of the national Degel HaTorah organization.

Yaakov Asher has emerged at the head of the revamped Degel lineup, followed by Yitzchok Pindrus, with new figures joining the party’s parliamentary ranks.

But the upheaval went considerably further on the Agudas Yisroel side.

Following a bitter internal confrontation, Meir Porush of Shlomei Emunim and new Belzer representative Elyakim Stark established a separately registered political framework, Chomas Toras Yisroel, through which they will participate in the joint UTJ slate.

The move does not mean that Shlomei Emunim and Belz are running against UTJ. Instead, it gives them separate political and financial standing within the overall alliance, alongside Degel HaTorah and Agudas Yisroel.

The arrangement came only after a day of extraordinary internal acrimony between the Porush camp and allies of Yitzchok Goldknopf, with accusations flying between the factions over control of Agudas Yisroel and the distribution of political power.

The result is that UTJ will still appear before voters as one electoral list, but the internal structure behind that list has changed substantially.

New Parties Target Chareidi Voters

The election is also seeing several new parties attempt to attract chareidi voters dissatisfied with the established parties.

The Hatzibur Hachareidi party, headed by Beit Shemesh Deputy Mayor Motti Leitner, submitted its slate under the requested ballot letters “Zach.” Asher Fredi was placed second, Dr. Nechumi Yaffe third and Ziva Glantz fourth.

The party is seeking support particularly among working chareidim and has promoted expansion of the state-chareidi education system and secular studies, greater participation in the workforce and service by chareidim who are not learning Torah full time, while maintaining exemptions for full-time Torah learners.

Another new party, Hakhel, has taken aim at the traditional method by which chareidi representatives are selected. The party held open primaries in which 14,469 people reportedly voted. Bnei Brak City Council member Shlomo Elboim, associated with the Ger breakaway community, finished first with 5,282 votes, followed by Yitzchok Chala and Baruch Adler.

Its central argument is that chareidi voters themselves should have a direct role in choosing their representatives instead of receiving predetermined candidate lists selected by party institutions and chassidic groups.

On the opposite end of the chareidi spectrum, Tzeva Shachor — Magen Olam HaTorah also submitted a slate. The party, associated with more hard-line opposition to the chareidi draft, requested the ballot letters “Ner” and is seeking support from voters who believe the established chareidi parties have not taken a sufficiently uncompromising position on the enlistment of bnei yeshiva.

Smotrich and Feiglin Join Forces

Religious Zionism leader Bezalel Smotrich finalized his alliance with Moshe Feiglin, placing Feiglin second on the joint slate.

Smotrich holds the first position, followed by Feiglin, Orit Strock and Simcha Rothman. The list also includes newcomers Itamar Eitam and Reut Ben Haim.

MK Ohad Tal, who finished fourth in Religious Zionism’s primary, was pushed down to the 12th position following the merger and reserved placements. Tal said that despite his personal disappointment, he supported the arrangement.

The Smotrich-Feiglin agreement was part of a broader effort to reduce the possibility that right-wing votes would be lost among parties failing to clear the electoral threshold. Netanyahu had publicly pressed right-wing factions to unite, warning, “When we unite, we win. When we splinter, we lose.”

Those efforts stopped short of a broader agreement. Itamar Ben-Gvir rejected calls for Otzma Yehudit to reunite with Smotrich, while former IDF Brig. Gen. Ofer Winter also resisted pressure to merge his new party with another right-wing list.

Gantz Stays in the Race

Benny Gantz ended another lingering question Tuesday by formally submitting an independent Blue and White slate.

Gantz remains first, followed by Pnina Tamano-Shata and former Beit Shemesh Mayor Aliza Bloch. Roee Konkol is fourth, followed by Rotem Avidar Tzalik and Alon Schuster.

Gantz moved ahead with the independent run despite Blue and White having polled below the 3.25% electoral threshold for months. The decision leaves him outside the three other major opposition frameworks: Bennett and Lapid’s B’Yachad, Eisenkot’s Yashar and the Democrats.

The Lists Are Set — Now the Campaign Begins

Tuesday night’s deadline means parties can no longer spend the campaign reshuffling candidates or negotiating new electoral mergers. Israel uses a closed-list proportional representation system, meaning voters choose a party rather than individual candidates, making the composition and order of each slate particularly consequential.

The final submissions also leave a crowded field in which the 3.25% electoral threshold could play an important role. No Israeli party has ever won an outright majority in the 120-seat Knesset, making the number and composition of parties that clear the threshold important to subsequent coalition negotiations.

With the lists now locked in, the campaign enters its final seven weeks.

Israelis head to the polls on Oct. 27.

{Matzav.com}

A new chareidi party formed around opposition to the military draft submitted its candidate list for Israel’s 26th Knesset on Tuesday, setting the stage for a potentially significant challenge to the established chareidi parties in the upcoming election.

The party, Tzeva Shachor (“Black Color”) – Defender of the Torah World, formally presented its slate to Central Elections Committee Chairman Justice Noam Sohlberg.

Heading the list is Rav Eliyahu Boimerind, who leads the Ma’atrei Shevi’i network of Friday night kollelim in Eretz Yisroel and is a son-in-law of the late Rav Yosef Neuwirth. The second spot was given to Rav Dror Degani, a rosh kollel, followed by Rav Yonatan Yissachar, also a rosh kollel. Rav Yitzchak Rabin HaKohen, an av beis din in Bnei Brak and head of the Shaarei Tzion kollel network, holds the fourth position.

At the Central Elections Committee, Yaakov Chaim Miller, representing Tzeva Shachor – Defender of the Torah World, initially requested the Hebrew letters “דת” as the party’s ballot symbol. After learning that the letters were already taken, Miller asked for time to consult with party officials. Attorney Dean Livne, acting director-general of the Central Elections Committee, suggested the letters “נר,” which the party ultimately requested.

Party officials said their campaign would focus almost exclusively on fighting efforts to draft yeshiva bochurim and avreichim into the IDF, rejecting proposed compromises over the longstanding draft deferment arrangement.

“The sole overriding objective of our list is to prevent the persecution of religion regarding the draft decree and to act in every legitimate way against the decree,” the party said. “We will not agree to any of the new formulas involving various compromises, other than the longstanding deferment arrangement as it existed and as it was practiced since the establishment of the state. This is the only way, and every other framework or arrangement involving compromises and changes to this format must be fought.”

The party is also touting polling that it says demonstrates that its candidacy could amount to far more than a symbolic protest against the veteran chareidi political establishment.

According to a poll conducted by veteran Israeli pollster Rafi Smith and presented by the party, 22% of the chareidi public supports Tzeva Shachor. Party officials say that level of backing could potentially translate into four to five Knesset seats.

{Matzav.com}

After months in which nonstop travel between New York and Israel was dominated by just two Israeli carriers, the picture is changing dramatically. Within days, five airlines are expected to be competing for passengers on one of Israel’s busiest and most important international routes.

El Al and Arkia, which have been operating nonstop service while major U.S. carriers were absent, are being joined by Delta Air Lines and United Airlines, with Israir preparing to enter the New York market on Sept. 16. The sudden expansion comes at an especially significant moment, with demand surging ahead of the Yomim Tovim.

Delta Air Lines officially restarted its daily nonstop JFK–Tel Aviv service this week. The first flight departed New York on Sunday, Sept. 6, arriving at Ben Gurion Airport the following morning, with the first return flight from Israel operating Monday. Delta is flying the route aboard an Airbus A330-900neo with Delta One, Premium Select, Comfort and Main Cabin seating.

“The resumption of service follows a thorough review of the evolving security environment in the region,” Delta said in announcing its return. “The safety and security of our customers and employees remain our top priority, and Delta will continue to monitor the situation closely in coordination with aviation authorities and government agencies.”

Delta’s arrival at Ben Gurion represented more than the restoration of another flight. It marked the return of a major American carrier to the Israel market following the suspensions prompted by the U.S.-Israel war with Iran earlier this year.

United Airlines is following immediately behind. United scheduled the resumption of its Newark–Tel Aviv operation for Sept. 8, with two daily flights aboard Boeing 787 Dreamliners, substantially increasing the number of seats available between the New York metropolitan area and Israel.

The return of the two American carriers is particularly important because American Airlines remains out of the Israel market, with its Tel Aviv service suspended through March 27, 2027. That leaves Delta and United as the two major U.S. airlines currently returning to the nonstop New York–Israel market.

But perhaps the most intriguing development is coming from Israir, which is preparing to enter a market historically dominated by much larger airlines.

Israir has secured the final regulatory approvals necessary to begin service between Ben Gurion Airport and JFK on Sept. 16, according to Aviation Week. The launch will mark the carrier’s return to the United States for the first time since 2009.

Israir had originally sought authority to operate six round trips per week using Airbus A330-200 aircraft. Its current booking schedule, however, calls for three weekly flights initially, increasing to four per week in mid-October. The company has already taken delivery of two A330-200s as the beginning of a broader plan to develop a six-aircraft widebody fleet.

That means travelers between New York and Israel will have five nonstop carriers to choose from: El Al, Arkia, Delta, United and Israir.

For travelers who endured the limited options and extraordinary fares that followed repeated suspensions by foreign airlines, the change could be significant. More carriers mean substantially more seats entering the market at a time when demand for travel to Israel is especially intense.

El Al remains the largest operator on the route, with multiple flights between JFK or Newark and Ben Gurion. Arkia, meanwhile, has established itself as a genuine alternative in the New York market, operating nonstop JFK flights using widebody aircraft. Current schedules show Arkia deploying Airbus A330-200s as well as Boeing 787-9 aircraft on some services.

Arkia’s presence has been an important part of the changing landscape. During the summer, when foreign airlines remained largely absent, the Israeli carrier provided additional capacity on a route where passengers had comparatively few nonstop alternatives.

Arkia is continuing to market its New York service as an alternative for passengers seeking nonstop travel to Israel, an indication that what began as an expansion during an unusually constrained period in Israeli aviation is becoming a more established part of the market.

The transformation is striking. For a prolonged period, passengers seeking nonstop New York–Tel Aviv flights effectively depended on El Al and Arkia. Now, in the space of little more than a week, Delta and United are restoring substantial capacity and Israir is preparing to make its debut.

United’s return alone adds two daily flights, while Delta is adding another daily service. Israir’s initial three weekly flights will further increase capacity.

That additional supply could provide some relief during the extremely busy Tishrei travel period. The Israel Tourism Intelligence Hub has described the return of U.S. nonstop service as a material improvement in seat supply ahead of the Yomim Tovim, with particularly heavy travel periods expected during September and October.

It does not necessarily mean cheap tickets are about to become plentiful. September fares have remained elevated, particularly around the peak holiday dates. Israel Hayom reported last month that Delta round-trip fares for September were running at roughly $2,680, with significantly lower prices appearing later in October.

Still, the significance for travelers is broader than the price of any individual ticket. Additional carriers provide more departure times, more available seats and more alternatives when one airline is sold out or prohibitively expensive.

It also represents a major reversal from the situation that followed the outbreak of the war with Iran in February, when international carriers suspended Israel service and the number of nonstop options contracted sharply. Delta and United both halted their Israel operations during that period.

The competition could become even more intense if other American airlines eventually return. For now, however, American Airlines remains on the sidelines, leaving the five-carrier lineup to El Al, Arkia, Delta, United and Israir.

For passengers, the most important development is simple: the New York–Tel Aviv bottleneck is finally beginning to break.

After a long stretch in which travelers often had little choice but to take whatever nonstop seat they could find, five airlines are preparing to fight for the same passengers — and they are doing it just as one of the busiest travel seasons of the Jewish calendar gets underway.

{Matzav.com}

After a turbulent week in Degel HaTorah that saw veteran Knesset members Moshe Gafni and Uri Maklev removed from their positions, Rav Dov Landau issued an unusual video statement Tuesday declaring that the decision to overhaul the party’s Knesset representation was his alone.

The rare video was released from the home of Rav Landau amid widespread public criticism and claims that political operatives and other figures within Degel HaTorah were responsible for the dramatic changes.

Rav Landau, the rosh yeshiva, directly rejected those reports and made clear that he personally decided on the changes, which included the removal of Gafni and Maklev and the placement of Yaakov Asher at the head of the Degel HaTorah list.

“That is a complete lie,” Rav Landau said, responding to allegations that political operatives were behind the move. “I alone decided.”

Rav Landau then raised his voice as he addressed the controversy.

“Forgive me for speaking loudly, because a lie is answered loudly!” he said.

The extraordinary statement came after days of intense criticism surrounding the manner in which the changes were carried out. Some figures within Degel HaTorah had claimed that political operatives were responsible for engineering the ouster of the longtime lawmakers.

Against that backdrop, Rav Landau departed from his usual practice and personally addressed the controversy, seeking to put an end to speculation about who was behind the decision.

His message was unequivocal: The decision to replace the veteran Degel HaTorah lawmakers was his own.

{Matzav.com}