Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu, in a wide-ranging interview with Australian journalist Erin Molan, addressed President Donald Trump’s letter to Israeli President Isaac Herzog urging a pardon for Netanyahu.
Speaking candidly, Netanyahu expressed gratitude to Trump while rejecting any notion of admitting guilt. “Regarding the pardon request? I will think about it. I will definitely not admit guilt. I am grateful to President Trump; he speaks the truth. This trial is ridiculous. I spend three days a week, imagine, conducting a war and expanding peace, and three days in court talking about why my son Yair, when he was five, received a Bugs Bunny doll or cigars from friends. It’s ridiculous, the case is falling apart,” Netanyahu said.
He noted that the drawn-out proceedings have become a source of embarrassment for prosecutors and have long since lost public interest. “The news stopped covering it; it’s embarrassing for the prosecution, and President Trump essentially called it a political witch hunt.”
Netanyahu further emphasized that the ongoing trial is not just a personal distraction but a national burden. “It harms both American and Israeli interests, which is also what Trump said. My time should be free to pursue the issues that will determine Israel’s future and its place in the Middle East.”
{Matzav.com}As negotiations over a new draft law drag on with no legislation yet in sight, MK Meir Porush, head of the Shlomei Emunim faction, issued a stark warning in a wide-ranging interview in Hebrew with Kikar HaShabbat. Matzav.com presents portions of the interview here.
Porush described the situation of the chareidi public as the worst it has been “since the establishment of the State,” citing the arrests of yeshiva students and financial sanctions, and cautioned that continued arrests could provoke mass unrest.
“The fact that we have no law regulating the status of yeshiva students — that’s the root of all this,” Porush said. “As long as there is no law, whatever they’re doing to us now is just a fraction of what’s coming.” He pointed to the Supreme Court’s past rulings striking down deferments for Torah study, saying, “It began when the court ruled that thousands of yeshiva students cannot be exempt just because they’re learning Torah — because Torah study is not listed as a legitimate reason for deferment. You see the judicial activism at play.”
Porush lamented that the chareidi parties had failed to insist on passing the draft law before the coalition was formed. “Even at the time, I said — not behind closed doors — that everyone looked out for their own priorities. Smotrich, Ben Gvir, Netanyahu — each made sure his own law passed before the government was established. But the draft law was delayed. No one asked me if I agreed. Decisions were made elsewhere, and that’s how we got here.”
The veteran MK said the arrests of yeshiva students were a misguided approach. “This won’t work,” he stated. “Trying to force us — it won’t help. You can’t draft the chareidi public into the army by coercion when we have our own worldview about the army. Arrests won’t change that.”
Porush warned that the growing number of arrests could ignite a public backlash. “If the arrests intensify, our community will certainly rise up. People will not accept it. There will be a response — I don’t know what kind, but it will be real and forceful.”
He rejected claims that the IDF targets Sephardi yeshiva students disproportionately, saying, “When they come to our neighborhoods, there’s always a large crowd, so the army can’t act. They pick places where they can come at two in the morning when fewer people gather. It’s not about Ashkenazim or Sephardim — I don’t accept that view.”
Asked about the proposed draft bill put forward by MK Boaz Bismuth, Porush said he has not yet reviewed the final version. “I don’t know what the law says officially. I know what was leaked, but that’s not the final text. When I go to speak with the rabbonim, I prefer not to confuse them until there’s a final draft to review and discuss.”
Porush emphasized that he was never part of any agreement that included recruitment targets or sanctions. “I warned at a Cabinet meeting that these targets and sanctions were never approved by the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah of Agudas Yisroel,” he said. “They told me, ‘You don’t know everything,’ but my position is clear — I’ll do whatever the Gedolei HaTorah instruct.”
Asked whether he supports drafting those who are not learning, Porush replied, “Don’t ask me about those who don’t learn. First, restore what always existed — the arrangement where those who sit and learn receive deferments. Reestablish that, and then we can discuss anything else. They stole the very foundation of our agreement — bring it back first.”
He added firmly, “I won’t hint at compromise. I’m not ready to give up anything. First, return what was ours — then we’ll talk.”
Regarding whether the chareidi parties would bring down the government if the draft law isn’t passed, Porush said, “You have to ask yourself: If we break everything and go to elections, what did we accomplish? Did we pass a law? No. So what’s the point?”
Still, he noted, “The coalition can’t pass any law without the chareidim. We’re not advancing their legislation as a form of protest — they feel it. If they tell us, ‘You won’t get your law,’ then we’ll say goodbye.”
On Prime Minister Netanyahu’s handling of the issue, Porush was candid: “We have our complaints. He’s capable, and when he wants something, he knows how to make it happen. Of course he could have done more to move this forward — he knows this is our central issue. He didn’t help us enough, and that’s a valid criticism. But sometimes, even when he wanted to act, he faced legal advisers who constantly push back. That’s the reality.”
{Matzav.com}
Dear Matzav Inbox,
Can we talk about the latest epidemic spreading quietly through the frum world?
No, not a new fad diet or a WhatsApp group.
I’m talking about grown men—yes, frum men, in their, fifties, sixties and seventies—dyeing their hair jet black as if they’re fooling us.
Do they honestly think we don’t notice? When a man’s face, posture, and wardrobe all scream “retirement age” but his hair is darker than his grandson’s, who exactly does he think he’s fooling? It doesn’t make him look younger. It makes him look ridiculous. You can practically hear the hair dye shouting, “I’m insecure!” from across the shul.
Let’s be real: no one is mistaking you for being 40 again. The only thing your “Mens Hair Now” routine does is make you look like a wax figure who escaped from Madame Tussauds. And while we’re not even touching the halachic side of it (that’s another conversation entirely), can we at least acknowledge that it’s just plain unbecoming?
There used to be a time when gray hair was considered a badge of honor. It meant wisdom, experience, dignity. Now, we have people running to the drugstore to erase every sign of life lived. Why? Are we so terrified of looking our age that we’d rather look absurd than authentic?
Gentlemen, it’s time to grow up—literally. Stop pretending, stop painting your heads, and stop believing that vanity will somehow make you more appealing. Embrace your years, your silver strands, your earned respect. A man with white hair has lived. A man who dyes it black just looks like he’s still trying to live in denial.
There’s nothing wrong with being forty, fifty, sixty or seventy or more. There is something wrong with being that age and acting like a teenager who just discovered Just for Men. So please, put down the dye, step away from the mirror, and let Klal Yisroel see that growing older with grace is still something to be proud of.
Signed,
A Yid Who Can Spot a Bottle of Hair Dye from a Mile Away
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The opinions expressed in letters on Matzav.com do not necessarily reflect the stance of the Matzav Media Network.
{Matzav.com}
[COMMUNICATED]
It’s midnight in the holy city of Yerushalayim, and a group of exalted and illustrious mekubalim stream in, one by one, into the Beis Medrash overlooking the Makom HaMikdash—the site of our destroyed Beis HaMikdash—where they will spend the night immersed in holiness.
Each and every one of these carefully selected Yidden has already spent years in the study of the Zohar and the writings of the Arizal and his talmidim. Their faces radiate holiness and holy purpose, and they exude humility and piety.
They are the Avreichim of Kollel Kabbalah B’Chatzos—a project of Torah-24 which is founded and led by HaGaon Rav Avrohom Eisen, shlit”a, Pozna Rov, a confidant of gedolei Yisroel.
The night begins at midnight, when the avreichim tearfully and mournfully recite Tikkun Chatzos, along with other tefillos, lamenting what has been lost, and storming the Heavens for its restoration.
Following this, they will delve into the deepest secrets of the hidden Torah—until the sun comes up over Yerushalayim. For the entire night, hour after hour, they chase sleep away, and remain immersed into the Kabbalah that has been handed down to us by the most exalted tzaddikim that Klal Yisroel possessed.
Gedolei Yisroel who have become aware of the Kollel Kabbalah B’Chatzos phenomenon have expressed awe and admiration for these illustrious men.
Hagaon HaMekubal Rav Abish Zenwirth, who has attested that he knows these men up close, has attested that “they are humble tzaddikim who prepare themselves for their holy nights by immersing in the mikveh, and study the secrets of Torah all night amid ahavas Hashem and deep fear of Heaven.”
In his letter of endorsement for Kollel Kabbalah B’Chatzos, Rav Zenwirth writes: “Fortunate are all those who take part in this great and holy endeavor. They will surely merit all the Heavenly blessings and illuminations. They will be pursued by goodness and kindness all their lives, and in their merit we will soon hear the great blast of the shofar of Mashiach. Amen.”
Partner in this incredible and holy endeavor today, and be joined with these holy mekubalim of Yerushalayim who will daven for you and your family to indeed merit the many Heavenly blessings that come to those who spend their nights immersed in Torah.
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez avoided giving a straight answer when pressed on whether Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer should relinquish his leadership role after multiple Democratic senators sided with Republicans on a vote to reopen the government.
When asked directly on Wednesday if Schumer ought to step down as the party’s leader in the Senate, Ocasio-Cortez delivered a lengthy reply that skirted the issue entirely. “I think what’s important is that we understand that…a leader is a reflection of the party, and Senate Democrats have selected their leadership to represent them,” she said, according to the Washington Examiner’s Rachel Schilke.
The New York lawmaker went on to broaden her remarks, saying, “And so the question needs to be bigger than just one person. We have several Senate primaries this cycle. I know I’m being asked about New York. That is years from now. …We actually do have Senate elections this year, and my hope is that people across this country actually participate in their primary elections in selecting their leadership.”
Her comments came as Schumer faced a wave of internal backlash after eight Democratic senators broke ranks and joined Republicans in supporting a procedural measure on Sunday night that allowed a continuing resolution to advance — effectively paving the way to end the government shutdown.
Those who crossed the aisle included Sens. Maggie Hassan and Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire, Dick Durbin of Illinois, Jacky Rosen of Nevada, and Tim Kaine of Virginia. They were joined by Catherine Cortez Masto of New Mexico, Angus King of Maine, and John Fetterman of Pennsylvania, all of whom previously voted to move the House-approved funding measure forward.
By siding with Republicans, the eight Democrats abandoned efforts to secure a guaranteed continuation of enhanced Obamacare premium subsidies first enacted during the pandemic. In exchange, they accepted a verbal commitment from Senate Republican leader John Thune to hold a vote on the subsidies “no later than the second week in December.”
In an interview with Breitbart News prior to the shutdown on October 1, Senate Republican Conference Chair Tom Cotton accused Schumer of precipitating the crisis out of fear that Ocasio-Cortez might challenge him for his seat. “Chuck Schumer is shutting down the government because he’s terrified of a primary from AOC. His actions are disgraceful,” Cotton said.
After Sunday’s vote, Cotton renewed his criticism, blasting Schumer as “a disgrace” who put “his deranged hatred for President Trump ahead of serving the public.”
The internal Democratic rift over the spending deal has reignited tensions within the party, with progressives and moderates once again clashing over leadership and strategy — while Ocasio-Cortez continues to keep her distance from directly confronting Schumer’s standing at the top.
{Matzav.com}
Israeli officials confirmed Wednesday that Hamas possesses complete information about all four hostages whose bodies are still in Gaza. The report, released by Kan 11 News, cites senior sources familiar with the situation who said the terror group maintains detailed knowledge about each of the deceased.
According to those sources, the intelligence extends beyond Hamas itself, encompassing data about captives held by the Islamic Jihad group as well. This revelation underscores the complexity of the hostage situation and the overlapping control among militant factions inside Gaza.
The officials underscored that Israel’s stance remains firm: no half measures or partial deals will be accepted regarding the recovery of the fallen. “They must all be brought back – down to the very last one,” the sources declared, calling for increased diplomatic and security pressure on Hamas to achieve that outcome.
At the same time, efforts are reportedly being made to locate and retrieve the bodies through coordination involving Hamas representatives and the International Red Cross. These steps are said to form part of the broader framework addressing both captives and missing individuals from the war.
Separately, Asharq Al-Awsat reported earlier in the day that among the four, one of the deceased hostages is currently held by Hamas, another by Islamic Jihad, and two more are believed to be located in Israeli-controlled territory east of the Yellow Line.
{Matzav.com}
Hamas and Islamic Jihad announced Thursday afternoon that they will release the body of a deceased hostage later in the evening, saying the handover is set for 8:00 PM.
According to the joint statement, the remains were recovered in the Morag region, located just north of Khan Yunis in southern Gaza.
At present, the terrorist groups in Gaza are holding the bodies of four Israeli hostages — Dror Or, Meni Godard, Ran Gvili, and Sudthisak Rinthalak — whose families have been waiting in anguish for their return.
Officials cited by Kan 11 News on Wednesday confirmed that Hamas possesses complete information concerning all four of the deceased hostages whose bodies remain in Gaza.
The same sources added that these details are not limited to those in Hamas custody but also cover hostages held by Islamic Jihad.
Government officials stressed that no deal should move forward without the recovery of every last body, calling for intensified diplomatic and military pressure to ensure their return. “They must all be brought back – down to the very last one.”
{Matzav.com}
