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Five of the senior members of the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah of Degel HaTorah have formally joined the call of Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch urging avreichim throughout Eretz Yisroel to undertake a daily taanis dibbur and intensified hasmadah in response to the escalating gezeiros against the olam haTorah.

In a special letter now being distributed to kollelim across the country, the gedolim expressed their wholehearted support for Rav Hirsch’s initiative, calling on avreichim to devote themselves to uninterrupted learning while observing a taanis dibbur during at least the first half-hour of the morning seder through the Yomim Noraim.

The letter states: “We hereby join wholeheartedly in the call of the Rosh Yeshivah, Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch, shlita, to establish special siddrei shekidah in all the kollelim throughout Eretz Yisroel, learning with complete continuity and observing a taanis dibbur for at least the first half-hour of the morning seder, until the Yomim Noraim.”

The proclamation bears the signatures of five senior members of the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah: Rav Meir Tzvi Bergman, Rav Berel Povarsky, Rav Aviezer Piltz, Rav Dovid Cohen, and Rav Eliezer Yehudah Finkel.

Concluding the letter, the gedolim offered a heartfelt berachah: “May this merit stand for Klal Yisroel against the severe persecutions and the renewed troubles brought about by those who oppress us.” The appeal comes amid the increasingly difficult situation facing the olam haTorah due to the ongoing gezeiras hagiyus and the continued withholding of funding from yeshivos.

The publication of the letter follows a special gathering held at Rav Hirsch’s home shortly before his departure to the United States on behalf of the Keren Olam HaTorah campaign. Dozens of roshei kollel from across Eretz Hakodesh participated in the meeting.

At that gathering, Rav Hirsch issued an extraordinary spiritual appeal, urging roshei kollel and avreichim to accept upon themselves a daily taanis dibbur during the first half-hour of every learning seder, beginning immediately and continuing through the conclusion of the Yomim Noraim. He emphasized that it is specifically the difficulty of such a commitment that gives it its power.

“This is something very difficult, and precisely because it is difficult and constitutes a form of mesirus nefesh, it will bring tremendous Kevod Shamayim,” Rav Hirsch wrote in his original letter. “As a result, Hakadosh Baruch Hu will draw closer to us, and we will merit special siyata diShmaya from Hakadosh Baruch Hu. Without that special siyata diShmaya, it will not be possible to prevail against those who are fighting against us.”

Organizers also announced that another gathering of leading gedolim is expected to take place at the home of Rav Dov Landau, where an additional call for spiritual strengthening and renewed kabbalos by avreichim and bnei Torah is anticipated.

A similar letter was recently issued by Rav Moshe Sternbuch, Gaavad of the Badatz of the Eidah HaChareidis, urging increased hischazkus as part of the spiritual battle against Amalek. The parallel calls from leading gedolim across different segments of the olam haTorah underscore the profound sense of urgency for heightened avodas Hashem during this challenging period.

{Matzav.com}

In an encouraging development, the mekubal of Tiveria, Rav Chizkiyahu Dov HaKohen Kook, spoke several words on Thursday for the first time since being hospitalized approximately six weeks ago with severe pneumonia.

Rav Kook was initially admitted to the intensive care unit at North Medical Center (Poriya). Earlier this week, he was transferred to a specialized rehabilitation hospital in Ness Tziona, where his condition has shown steady improvement.

According to those close to the rov, he has made notable progress in recent days. In addition to speaking a few words, he has been successfully weaned off mechanical ventilation, his eyesight has improved, and he is now able to communicate his wishes.

Because speaking remains physically taxing, family members and caregivers are limiting conversation with him to avoid exhausting him. Nevertheless, his ability to speak, even briefly, has been described as a deeply moving and significant milestone in his recovery.

Family members related that during the day the rov was asked to respond to several suggestions presented to him, indicating disapproval of some of them. Ultimately, he expressed a desire to have Mishnayos from Seder Taharos read aloud to him, preferring that over other suggestions that had been offered.

During the visit, the rov‘s father-in-law, Rav Yitzchak Zilberstein, also came to see him. Upon entering the room, Rav Zilberstein recited a Shehecheyanu over a new fruit, thereby exempting the brocha customarily recited upon seeing the rov after an extended absence. Family members observed that Rav Kook repeatedly lifted his head toward his father-in-law during the visit and appeared visibly comforted and uplifted by the encounter.

One of the Rav’s close associates told B’chadrei Chareidim, “This is a tremendous source of encouragement and strength for the public. We can clearly see that the tefillos are having an effect, and we must not stop praying for even a moment.”

Several weeks ago, following the instruction of the mashgiach, Rav Don Segal, and with the blessing of Rav Zilberstein, the name “Chizkiyahu” was added to the Rav Kook’s name in light of his critical medical condition.

All are asked to continue davening for the complete recovery of Rav Chizkiyahu Dov HaKohen ben Shoshanah.

{Matzav.com}

Fox News host Sean Hannity is reassuring viewers that he is recovering well after widespread online speculation about his health prompted questions over changes in his appearance during recent broadcasts.

In a post shared Wednesday on X shortly before his nightly television program aired, Hannity explained that the issue stemmed from a neck injury he suffered while exercising, not from any serious underlying medical condition.

“Thanks to everyone who has checked in. I’ve already addressed this several times on my radio show, but while training, I developed a painful pinched nerve in my neck,” Hannity wrote on the social platform X before his weeknight primetime show on the network aired. “My doctor put me on prednisone to reduce the inflammation, and while it’s helping, it led to laryngitis and some puffiness, which is normal for this medication.”

The longtime broadcaster said he continues to improve and has not slowed down despite the temporary side effects of the treatment. He also poked fun at the amount of attention the issue has generated online.

The conservative commentator said he is “fine, recovering well, and still training,” and he joked that “a few weeks of prednisone has generated more social media commentary than 30 years of ratings success.”

Hannity also thanked those who reached out with words of encouragement, while jokingly acknowledging that some of his critics may have hoped the news was more serious.

“I appreciate all the concern and well wishes—including from members of the left-wing media,” the host continued. “Sorry to disappoint them, but a pinched nerve, a raspy voice, and a puffy face aren’t taking me out anytime soon.”

His statement followed several days of online commentary from critics who had mocked the noticeable swelling in his face and neck during recent television appearances.

Among them was comedian Josh Johnson of “The Daily Show,” who made light of Hannity’s appearance.

“I’m sorry but what is going on with Sean Hannity’s face,” Josh Johnson, a comedian on “The Daily Show,” joked this week. “I mean, I have never seen white cheeks that big that haven’t been rapped about.”

Now 64, Hannity remains one of Fox News’ longest-tenured personalities and one of President Donald Trump’s most prominent media allies.

In addition to hosting his nightly Fox News program, Hannity also anchors a nationally syndicated weekday radio show and recently launched a podcast that regularly features Trump administration officials and other allies of the president.

In an unprecedented move, Yeshivas Mir—the world’s largest yeshivah—will suspend its regular learning schedule on Sunday as thousands of talmidim gather for a massive public tefillah rally in response to the continued imprisonment of one of the yeshivah‘s talmidim in Military Prison 10.

The extraordinary gathering will begin at precisely 12:15 p.m., when all the batei medrash of the yeshivah will empty as the thousands of lomdim proceed to Kikar Zvhil and along Rechov Shmuel Street in Yerushalayim. The rally will be led by the roshei yeshivah.

Organizers said the gathering will conclude promptly at 1:00 p.m., coinciding with the end of the morning seder.

The decision to hold the unprecedented public assembly was made by Mir Rosh Yeshivah Rav Eliezer Yehuda Finkel after consulting with Maranan Rav Dov Landau and Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch in light of the talmid‘s ongoing detention.

The rally marks a highly unusual step for the Mir, reflecting the growing concern throughout the olam haTorah over the continued arrests of bnei yeshivah.

Because thousands of participants are expected to fill the streets surrounding the yeshivah, significant traffic disruptions and heavy congestion are anticipated along Shmuel Hanavi and throughout the surrounding area during the rally.

Organizers said details regarding road closures and changes to public transportation routes will be released in the coming days.

{Matzav.com}

Over the last few years, an ongoing challenge has become apparent within the STa”M industry. Many completely well-intentioned buyers, who assume they are purchasing 100% kosher scrolls, are finding themselves uncertain about how to verify what is actually coming into their homes. 

This challenge is not a matter of klaf simply degrading over time, but rather a structural vulnerability in how STa”M is produced and distributed globally. Rabbi Moshe Elefant, COO of OU Kosher, recently shared an encounter that illustrates this exact issue. A professional sofer checking mezuzos in Lakewood, New Jersey, visited a large residence where the homeowner had spared no expense. Shockingly, every single one of the mezuzos in the home was found to be completely pasul, and they had been pasul from the moment they were written. The homeowners had acted with complete sincerity and spent significant sums, but they didn’t get the kosher mezuzos they had purchased.  

Writing a kosher mezuzah is an intricate, labor-intensive process governed by complex halachos. As Rabbi Ezra Sarna, Director of Halacha Initiatives at the Orthodox Union, explains, the margin for error is tremendous. “Each mezuzah contains over 700 letters, along with multiple other components. In many cases, if even one is off, the entire mezuzah can be pasul.” Furthermore, even if the klaf appears perfectly written, it could still be disqualified due to a sofer’s lack of knowledge or improper kavanah during the writing process – factors that are impossible to verify simply by looking at the finished product. 

Without a centralized quality assurance process, the market is continually flooded with varying qualities of mezuzos that have sadly not been written or checked k’halacha. Buyers are left in the dark, wondering who they can rely on, asking themselves if the bodek is truly reliable, or if the inspection was performed independently of the sofer who wrote the klaf. 

Recognizing this growing communal need, the lay leadership of the Orthodox Union stepped in a few years ago. They turned to the OU’s Kashrus department, the community’s trusted experts in systematic certification, to develop a proactive, long-term solution. The result is the OU STa”M Pikuach Initiative which works with multiple partners and vendors to bring confidence to your doorpost.  

The core vision is straightforward: the OU is doing for STa”M exactly what it has historically done for kosher food. For decades, the frum community has trusted the OU symbol to ensure the highest standards of kashrus in our kitchens. Now, that same level of trust and rigorous oversight is available to protect the doorposts of our homes and shuls.

What does an OU-endorsed mezuzah entail? It replaces uncertainty with a verifiable system of checks and balances. The OU provides direct oversight, ensuring every mezuzah is written by a vetted, certified sofer who maintains active certification. The klaf and dyo (ink) are verified and approved as 100% kosher for mezuzah use. The thorough inspection system requires that a completed mezuzah is checked by a chain of two separate magiim (Mashgichim for STa”M). It is then inspected by rabbonim, examined once again by both magiim, and scanned by a cutting-edge, AI-powered computer program designed to detect even the slightest inaccuracies. Any issues raised during the checks are paskened on by rabbonim. 

Once a mezuzah passes this rigorous process and is deemed strictly kosher l’chatchila, it is packaged in a tamper-proof plastic sleeve bearing the “Endorsed by OU” logo. This provides consumers with unprecedented transparency. The packaging includes a certificate of authenticity detailing exactly who the sofer was, who the magiim were, what materials were used, and when the mezuzah requires its next checking.  

The OU STa”M Pikuach Initiative is committed to educating the frum community on the issues related to acquiring mezuzos confidently. There will be opportunities in communities across the US to learn more through shiurim and public lectures. OU-endorsed mezuzos are currently available for purchase through various trusted vendors. To learn more about this vital initiative and to find an authorized vendor near you, please visit ou.org/mezuzah.