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Air raid sirens sounded repeatedly across Israel early Monday after several rounds of missile launches from Iran were detected, sending residents in many regions rushing to shelters.
The first alerts were activated shortly after 1:15 a.m., when warning sirens were heard in northern and central Israel following the detection of launches from Iran. Roughly twenty minutes later, additional missiles were identified, prompting sirens across central Israel, the Shfela region, the Lachish area, and parts of Samaria.
Another set of sirens sounded around 1:45 a.m. in northern Israel. Later, at approximately 4:00 a.m., residents in the north were again alerted after Israeli defense systems identified yet another round of missiles launched from Iran.
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Authorities reported that fragments from interceptor missiles fell in several locations, including Lod, Rishon Letzion, and Modi’in Ilit. Israel Fire and Rescue Services said teams were dispatched to multiple sites in central Israel after debris from the interceptions caused substantial damage.
At one of the impact locations in Rishon Letzion, a woman in her 50s was injured. According to Magen David Adom, stones thrown into the air by the blast struck her head, causing a head injury.
A Magen David Adom EMT who arrived at the scene said, “We arrived quickly at the scene and saw a crater in the road, with broken rocks scattered on the ground all around. At the scene there was a woman who was injured in the head by rocks that flew towards her. We provided her with life-saving medical treatment and evacuated her in an MDA Mobile Intensive Care Unit to the hospital while in stable condition.”
The woman was transported to Shamir Hospital, where officials reported that her injuries were light and that she remained in stable condition.
At roughly the same time, warning sirens also sounded in Kiryat Shmona and nearby communities after rockets were launched from Lebanon. No casualties were reported from that incident.
The Israel Defense Forces said that in response it carried out strikes targeting Hezbollah infrastructure in Beirut while also launching a new round of attacks on Iranian regime terror infrastructure in central Iran.
The overnight attacks followed a separate incident on Sunday in which a man in his 40s was seriously wounded by shrapnel in Tel Aviv during another missile barrage fired from Iran toward central Israel.
Emergency responders from Magen David Adom treated the man at the scene before transporting him to Ichilov Hospital’s emergency department.
In addition, MDA crews provided treatment to six other individuals injured at several locations throughout central Israel. Among them were two people in Petach Tikva: a 25-year-old man who sustained moderate injuries and a 56-year-old man who was lightly hurt.
{Matzav.com}
Confusion and frustration have been reported at the Kosel in recent days, as mispallelim arriving to daven say they are being prevented from entering despite official statements indicating that limited access to the plaza has been permitted.
According to Israel Police announcements, up to 50 people at a time were supposed to be allowed into the Kosel plaza in accordance with current Home Front Command safety guidelines. However, those who came to the site report that in practice entry is often blocked entirely or handled in an inconsistent manner.
Mispallelim who arrived at the Kosel say that no clear system has been established for regulating entry and exit. Some report that the situation is being managed arbitrarily by security personnel on the ground, with small groups occasionally allowed inside while at other times the entrance is closed completely without any clear explanation.
At the center of the disagreement is the question of adequate protection in the event of missile alerts. A standard protected space exists only in nearby buildings under the management of the Western Wall Heritage Foundation. However, individuals familiar with the area say that the Wilson’s Arch complex could offer meaningful protection, similar to the portable shelters used elsewhere in the country.
Many mispallelim say the failure to make use of that area for tefillah has caused significant pain and frustration, particularly during a time when many feel a strong need to pour out their hearts in tefillah at the Kosel.
“It is not appropriate that the police cannot find a way to allow tefillah at the holiest place while still safeguarding human life,” rabbonim said, adding that the ability to daven there is a vital ruchniyus need during the ongoing war.
Amid Operation Roaring Lion and the ongoing security situation, the Western Wall Heritage Foundation carried out its traditional pre-Pesach removal of the notes placed between the stones of the Kosel.
The procedure took place Sunday morning, as it does each year before Pesach, and involved removing tens of thousands of kvittelach that had been placed between the stones over the past six months before transferring them for proper genizah.
The removal was carried out in the presence of Rav Shmuel Rabinowitz, the rov of the Kosel and the holy sites, together with Mordechai (Suli) Eliav, director general of the Western Wall Heritage Foundation. During the gathering they recited a special tefillah for the success of the campaign against the enemies of Klal Yisroel, particularly Iran, and for the safety of the soldiers of the IDF and security forces fighting on multiple fronts — in the air, at sea, and on land — as well as for the safety of U.S. soldiers assisting Israel.
In a statement, the Western Wall Heritage Foundation said that even during this difficult period, tefillos continue to arrive at the Kosel from throughout Eretz Yisroel and around the world.
“In these days, when the people of Israel face great challenges and seek rachamei Shamayim, we see how thousands of tefillos continue to reach the stones of the Kosel from across the country and the world,” the statement said.
Alongside tefillos for the safety of the country, its soldiers, and the Jewish people, the foundation said it has also received notes from individuals in countries considered hostile to Israel, expressing hopes for peace among nations.
The removal was carried out in accordance with halachah, with workers using gloves and disposable wooden tools to preserve the sanctity of the site and the privacy of the notes. The collected notes were placed in special sacks and will be buried through proper genizah.
The foundation also noted that hundreds of notes are sent daily through its website, in addition to the hundreds of thousands placed personally by mispallelim and visitors at the Kosel throughout the year. Among the notes received this year were messages sent online by individuals from countries including Iran, Yemen, Iraq, Qatar, Lebanon, Pakistan, Sudan, Jordan, Egypt, and Kazakhstan, many expressing heartfelt hopes for peace and reconciliation between nations.
{Matzav.com}
Technical problems with Israel’s Home Front Command emergency alerts have been reported on older-generation kosher mobile phones, with some users saying the warnings cause their devices to freeze or even erase stored data.
The issue was discussed on the radio program Osim Seder on Kol Chai, where host Yisroel Meir spoke with Pinchas Ben Ziv, an editor at the Emes news site. Ben Ziv described a troubling situation in which safety alerts meant to save lives are instead creating serious technical problems for users of older kosher phones.
“The alert that pops up on the screen takes over their phone and they can’t do anything,” Ben Ziv said. In some cases, he explained, the alert has reportedly caused entire contact lists to be deleted and has also drained phone batteries quickly on Shabbos, since users cannot acknowledge the message or silence it.
According to Ben Ziv, the main difficulty stems from the fact that the modern alert systems were not designed for older basic phones. He said the alerts override the device’s operating system and function externally, which can cause the phone to lock up.
Ben Ziv suggested that a possible solution could come through the Rabbinical Communications Committee, noting that if certain restrictions were removed, a dedicated application could potentially be installed to manage the alerts more effectively.
Lt. Col. (res.) Danny Cohen, who serves as the Home Front Command’s spokesperson to the chareidi community, offered a different explanation, saying the system follows updated guidelines issued by Israel’s Ministry of Communications that are designed primarily for devices using fourth-generation networks.
Cohen explained that unlike second- and third-generation phones, which may freeze when the alerts appear, newer devices support modern broadcast messaging technology that functions more reliably.
“I’m not aware of problems with fourth-generation devices,” Cohen said. However, he added that some phones may require a simple software update through a computer connection in order for the text alerts to display properly.
He noted that the alert system can provide early warnings minutes before a siren sounds and can also notify residents when it is safe to leave protected areas, features that are particularly valuable on Shabbos.
Yisroel Meir concluded the discussion by calling for a better balance between maintaining the spiritual standards associated with kosher phones and ensuring that users receive reliable safety alerts.
“There’s no reason a kosher phone shouldn’t provide you with safe and quiet protection,” he said, adding that he plans to continue following the issue together with the rabbinical communications committee.
For now, officials say the recommendation is clear: to ensure proper receipt of alerts without disrupting the device, users should switch to phones that support fourth-generation networks and make sure their devices receive the necessary software updates.
{Matzav.com}Israel’s Chief of Staff, Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir, said Sunday that the current conflict represents a historic and decisive struggle that will shape Israel’s future security for years to come.
Zamir made the remarks during a situational assessment held earlier in the day with Home Front Command chief Maj. Gen. Shai Kalper, the commander of the Air Defense Array, Brig. Gen. K., and additional senior officers.
During the meeting, Zamir revealed that Israeli forces carried out overnight operations targeting Iranian Quds Force elements operating in Lebanon.
“During the night we acted against Iranian Quds Force elements in Lebanon, in Beirut, and struck them,” Zamir said. “I tell you that there is no safe place for the Iranian evil proxies anywhere in the Middle East — not in Beirut and not anywhere else.”
The chief of staff also addressed the ongoing confrontation with Hezbollah and the heavy price being paid on the northern front.
“At the same time, we have experienced considerable fire directed at northern communities, and there was also an incident overnight. From here I want to send my condolences to the families of those who were killed and wish a speedy recovery to our wounded,” he said. “Hezbollah is an extreme arm of the Iranian octopus, and it is paying — and will continue to pay — a heavy price for this.”
Zamir noted that Israel has already been operating under prolonged emergency conditions and warned that the current war could continue for an extended period.
“Israel has been in a state of ongoing emergency for two years already. What we need right now above all is perseverance and patience. This will take a long time, and you must be prepared for that — however long it takes, it will take.”
He echoed remarks made by Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu the previous evening, emphasizing that determination and resilience will ultimately determine the outcome of the conflict.
“I say to you — and you know this very well — that the one who will win is the side that shows determination and perseverance. We know our home front; it has very great resilience. I am confident in the strength of our home front to give us all the backing we need to achieve our goals.”
Zamir also acknowledged the difficulties faced by Israeli civilians, many of whom have repeatedly had to seek shelter during missile alerts.
“I know that citizens at home are forced to enter protected spaces quite often. We are constantly reviewing the instructions according to the evolving situation. I say to the citizens — remain attentive and act according to the instructions.”
He stressed that the war effort involves the combined work of multiple branches of Israel’s military.
“We are all together in this effort — the Air Force pilots, the armored forces, our infantry and engineering units that are now on the border lines and in Lebanon. Everyone together in this effort. It is a very large effort.”
Zamir concluded by describing the war as a defining moment for Israel.
“This is the war of our generation, a critical war, a decisive war. This war will determine our future and our security here for many years to come.”
{Matzav.com}
A chareidi firefighter from Beit Shemesh who helped rescue victims during last week’s devastating incident in the city has been hailed for his bravery after entering dangerous conditions to save those trapped at the scene.
Yeshayahu Penik, a chareidi resident of Beit Shemesh who serves as a support firefighter in Israel’s Fire and Rescue Authority, rushed into the disaster zone even as sirens continued to sound and the situation remained volatile.
At the scene, surrounded by thick smoke and the cries of distressed families, Penik immediately joined rescue teams searching for trapped victims and deploying water lines to battle the flames.
Reflecting on the moment, Penik described acting almost instinctively as he carried out the rescue efforts.
“I was working on instinct,” he said. “What I did was a kiddush Hashem and truly saving lives. I understood this was not a normal interception. I went out to the scene together with all the teams and we began searching.”
Penik is one of 45 chareidi firefighters serving within Israel’s firefighting system, a group that demonstrates that it is possible to maintain a strong Torah identity while participating in emergency response and community protection.
His personal story reflects that balance. Although he comes from a deeply religious background, Penik said his family supported his decision to join the firefighting service. His parents even attended his graduation ceremony from the training program.
“I feel part of a system that accepts me as a chareidi Jew,” he said, adding that he also receives strong support from his wife.
The rescue efforts have drawn national attention. National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir praised Penik’s actions and the growing participation of chareidi volunteers in emergency services.
“The service of chareidi young people is a real asset to the State of Israel,” Ben Gvir said. “Yeshayahu proves that it is possible to combine religious mission together with national and security responsibility at the highest level.”
For Penik, the combination is natural. He says that wherever help is needed, he intends to be there, wearing his uniform while guided by his faith and commitment to saving lives.
{Matzav.com}
The Satmar Rebbe addressed the ongoing war with Iran during Seudah Shlishis, speaking emotionally about the situation and cautioning against rejoicing over the military successes of what he referred to as the “Zionist Eigel.” The Rebbe said that even feeling happiness in one’s heart over such successes requires kapparah.
During his remarks, the Rebbe explained that he sees three different levels of people who become entangled, in his view, in the sin of the “Zionist Eigel” during the current war.
He began by recalling a memory from his childhood connected to the parsha of Ki Sisa, involving his uncle, the Satmar Rebbe, Rav Yoel Teitelbaum.
“I was then a child and I visited his home on Shabbos Kodesh Parshas Ki Sisa. He tested me on what I had learned in cheder, and tested me on Chumash Rashi from the weekly portion, Parshas Ki Sisa. I told him that we learned everything that is written about the sin of the golden calf, that the Jewish people worshipped the golden calf.”
According to the Rebbe, his uncle asked him how it could be possible that Klal Yisroel would bow down to a figure made of gold.
“And he asked me: ‘How can it be that the Jewish people would simply worship and bow down to a calf made of gold? How can that be?’. I was a child and I did not know how to answer him, and then he answered me based on what is brought in the Midrash: the calf was not just a silent calf made of gold, the golden calf had life; it danced, it sang, the calf performed wonders, it did tricks – it was just like a living calf. And therefore the Jewish people fell into its trap, and that caused them, heaven forbid, to worship the golden calf and to sin with that terrible sin.”
The Rebbe said that his uncle explained there were three levels of people who became involved in the sin of the Eigel.
“There were three levels of those who stumbled in the sin of the calf: some saw the wonders and simply began to worship the idol outright. The second group did not actually worship the calf, but they kissed and embraced the calf with affection. And there was a third group, which was the majority of the Jewish people, who simply rejoiced in their hearts; they saw the dancing and wonders of the calf and they enjoyed and were happy that the idol was able to perform all these wonders, and therefore everyone needed to bring atonement for the sin.”
Drawing a parallel to the current situation, the Satmar Rebbe said the lesson is very relevant to the present war with Iran.
“This is a very important lesson for our time, for this moment that we are standing in now with the war with Iran — the Zionist calf is performing wonders, it dances, it jumps, the whole world sees that it is succeeding in performing wonders. There are some among the Jewish people who bow to the idol — they serve the Zionist calf, and there are some who do not serve the calf but they kiss the Zionist calf.”
He continued by saying that the largest group, in his view, are those who simply feel joy in their hearts when they hear about military successes.
“But the main large group are those who rejoice in their hearts over the success of the calf, over the wonders that the calf succeeds with, over the dancing. They follow all day exactly every wonder, every success of the calf. You have no permission to think about it; even to rejoice in your heart is completely forbidden. They hear the news, they see all the strikes of the calf and they rejoice in their hearts over the success of the Zionist calf, and for that they need atonement — for the joy in the heart over the success of the idol.”
The Rebbe concluded by urging listeners to remember that avodah zarah remains forbidden even when it appears powerful or successful.
“Hashem should help and grant us understanding, to realize that idol worship is forbidden even when it succeeds in showing wonders. It dances, but the golden calf remains the golden calf. It is forbidden to serve it, forbidden to kiss it, forbidden to look at it and forbidden to rejoice in it. And this should be a guiding light for us, until Hashem helps and all idol worship will be abolished from the world, including this calf.”
{Matzav.com}
During a Purim celebration held in the court of the Biala Rebbe of Bnei Brak, the Rebbe delivered a fiery address that included sharp criticism of the Mizrachi movement and Zionism, drawing strong reactions from those present.
The remarks were delivered during the traditional Purim tish gathering held in the Rebbe’s court, where chassidim assembled to celebrate the holiday together with their Rebbe.
Opening his address, the Rebbe offered words of encouragement to the bochurim standing around the parenches, emphasizing the spiritual strength and value of every ben Torah.
“There is no such thing as a weak bochur,” the Rebbe declared passionately. “Every bochur is a precious treasure; each one is strong in his ruchniyus. Who are the truly weak ones? The people of Mizrachi and the Zionists — they are the klipah of Amalek in our generation.”
The Rebbe continued with pointed criticism, saying that anyone who adopts what he described as the outlook of Mizrachi is also considered part of that spiritual impurity.
“Anyone who goes with the ‘head’ like Mizrachi is also considered part of those klipos of Amalek that must be erased. This is the tumah from which we must distance ourselves completely.”
During the tish, in keeping with certain chassidic customs, the Rebbe was seen smoking a cigarette during moments of intense spiritual elevation, which according to chassidic tradition can symbolize lofty spiritual ideas and yichudim on this holy day.
{Matzav.com}
