Feed aggregator

The Israeli Hamodia newspaper launched a sharp attack this morning following the split within the chareidi factions during Wednesday’s Knesset vote on the “defense funding package.”

The divide was evident within Agudas Yisroel: party chairman MK Yitzchok Goldknopf cast his ballot against the budget, while MKs Meir Porush and Yisroel Eichler chose to abstain — a move that allowed the bill to pass by a narrow margin.

The vote took place in a special recess session after Prime Minister Binyomin Netanyahu applied heavy pressure on coalition partners, focusing in particular on United Torah Judaism. Within Degel HaTorah, all MKs abstained in line with the directive of their leadership, Rav Dov Landau and Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch, who ruled that a security budget could not be toppled because of pikuach nefesh considerations.

Behind the scenes, MK Moshe Gafni was in direct contact with the Prime Minister’s Office while simultaneously consulting with the gedolim, who instructed him to abstain “demonstratively.”

Agudas Yisroel, however, showed a more divided front. Goldknopf had publicly declared in advance that he would vote against, but Porush and Eichler, after consultations with their rabbonim, opted instead to abstain. The result was a serious internal rift within the party.

Hamodia’s report accused Netanyahu of exploiting these divisions: “Netanyahu succeeded in splitting the chareidi representation, and the budget law passed — despite his failure to honor the written and signed commitment to secure the status of Torah learners.”

The newspaper went further, asserting that the Prime Minister “achieved his goal without advancing the legislation that would safeguard the position of yeshiva students.”

In addition, Hamodia announced that, as a result of the Knesset vote, the nationwide prayer rallies planned in protest of the draft law were being postponed. “It is impossible on the one hand to abstain or support the government’s budget, and on the other hand hold demonstrations against that same government,” the paper wrote.

{Matzav.com Israel}

Military police overnight Wednesday raided the homes of talmidim of Charedi Hesder yeshivos in an attempt to arrest them for desertion, the L’Chatchila channel reported on Thursday. According to the report, these are talmidim registered in the official hesder track, but their status has not yet been regulated in the IDF, and therefore they are classified as “deserters.” Some of the talmidim they attempted to arrest are sons of reservists, and in one incident, the police broke into a home in the middle of the night, terrifying young children whose father is serving in Gaza. The son was not even at home at the time of the raid but was in yeshiva. According to Channel 12 News, the raids took place in Petach Tikvah. These are talmidim who are registered in a formal Hesder program, but according to sources knowledgeable of the issue, their status has not yet been regulated in the IDF, and they have been classified as deserters. According to L’chatchila, the issue is that according to previous military regulations, “deserters” cannot join a hesder program. The regulations have changed, and Chareidim who are interested are now allowed to join a Hesder program. Sources familiar with the details point a finger at the new head of the Manpower Planning Division, accusing her of dragging her feet and not advancing the regulation of the students’ status.  L,’Chatchila stated on Thursday afternoon, “Following the attempt to arrest bochurim from the Chareidi hesder yeshivaos last night, urgent gatherings are being held by Roshei Yeshivos and administrators. The purpose: to discuss measures in response to the IDF and the implications of this move for the future.” “We feel that the army is restricting our steps in every area,” one of the Roshei Yeshivos said. (YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)

Dear Matzav Inbox,

While learning today’s Daf Yomi, I was struck once again by how timeless Chazal’s words are. In Maseches Horiyos (10a), Rav Yehoshua turns to Rabban Gamliel with a sharp reminder: “You have two talmidim — Rav Elazar Chisma and Rav Yochanan ben Gudgeda. They are capable of analyzing the most intricate details of tekufos and gematrios — yet they have no bread to eat, no clothing to wear.” Their brilliance was unmatched, yet their pockets were empty.

Rabban Gamliel, recognizing the truth of this, immediately elevated them, appointing them to positions that gave them honor and support.

I believe that the Gemara is teaching us far more than a historic anecdote about two great Amoraim. It’s reminding us of a fundamental principle: mezona lo bizchusa talya milsa, ela b’mazala talya milsa — sustenance does not come because of one’s merit, but because of one’s mazel.

This is such a vital perspective for our generation. How often do we — consciously or subconsciously — equate a person’s financial situation with their worth, their intelligence, or their diligence? Someone with wealth is assumed to be successful, clever, or even blessed with special favor. Someone struggling to make ends meet is, unfairly, thought of as less capable, less deserving, or simply not trying hard enough. But Chazal tell us: that is not how the Ribbono Shel Olam runs the world.

Parnassah is not a barometer of chochmah. It is not a measuring stick of madreigah. The same Gemara that records Rav Elazar Chisma’s brilliance also records his poverty. The Torah world is filled with people of immense talent and burning dedication who carry the crushing burden of financial hardship. And it is filled with people of modest learning who live with great material wealth. Neither extreme is an indicator of merit or lack thereof.

This should humble us. It should also soften us. When we meet someone struggling with parnassah, let us not cast silent judgments about their “choices” or their “worthiness.” When we meet someone with great wealth, let us not assume their spiritual standing is higher or lower because of it. Mezona lo bizchusa talya milsa — parnassah is in Hashem’s hands, determined by His will, His mazel, His cheshbon.

And perhaps most of all, it should remind us to treat every Yid with respect and dignity, whether they walk in with an expensive suit or worn-out shoes. Rav Yehoshua’s call echoes across the generations: see the greatness in others, even if their pockets are empty.

Y. D. K.

To submit a letter to appear on Matzav.com, email MatzavInbox@gmail.com

DON’T MISS OUT! Join the Matzav Status by CLICKING HERE. Join the Matzav WhatsApp Groups by CLICKING HERE.

The opinions expressed in letters on Matzav.com do not necessarily reflect the stance of the Matzav Media Network.

{Matzav.com}

A former Israeli prime minster has warned Israel will attack any country that harbours anyone it sees as responsible for the death of Israelis. Naftali Bennett told Yalda Hakim there would “no safe haven”, adding: “You cannot kill Jews and think you can get away with it.”

WATCH:

Dear Matzav Inbox,

There are moments in life when words fail to capture the depth of gratitude one feels. I recently experienced such a feeling, and I feel compelled to share it, not because my story is unique, but because it is yet another testament to the boundless chesed of Klal Yisroel.

Several weeks ago, my family and I faced a crisis that shook us to our core. My teenage son was suddenly rushed to the hospital with a medical emergency. It was late at night, my husband was out of town, and I found myself overwhelmed, sitting alone in the emergency room with fear gripping my heart.

And then Klal Yisroel stepped in.

It began with one simple phone call to a neighbor, just to let someone know what was happening. Within minutes, a cascade of kindness poured forth. A woman I barely knew showed up at my house to stay with my younger children so I could focus on my son. A father from our block drove across town in the middle of the night to bring me food and drinks in the ER, saying quietly, “You won’t have the strength to care for him if you don’t take care of yourself.”

By the next morning, word had spread. Hot meals appeared at my doorstep, every one packaged with love. Friends coordinated rides for my children to and from school. Someone slipped an envelope under my door to help cover hospital parking and expenses. Others texted me daily, not just with offers, but with concrete suggestions—“I’ll pick up your laundry today,” or “I’m taking your kids for Shabbos so you can rest.” Each offer was specific, thoughtful, and practical.

Perhaps the most moving moment came on Shabbos, when my son was still in the hospital. I was torn between staying with him and being home with the rest of my family. Without me asking, a rotation of people volunteered to sit by his side over Shabbos. They sang zemiros, learned with him, and simply made sure he didn’t feel alone. When I walked into the hospital room on Motzei Shabbos and saw my son smiling for the first time in days, surrounded by young men who had given up their own comfort, I couldn’t hold back my tears.

This, I realized, is the heartbeat of Klal Yisroel. In times of joy and in times of hardship, no Jew is ever truly alone. We are bound together not just by shared faith, but by shared responsibility.

I write this letter not only to say thank you to the malachim who carried us through those difficult days, but also to remind myself and others: every act of chesed, no matter how small it may seem, creates ripples far greater than we can imagine. The meals, the rides, the visits….they were not just gestures. They were lifelines.

May we always merit to be on the giving end of such chesed, and may we never forget that in lifting up another Yid, we elevate ourselves and all of Klal Yisroel.

Der greste zach in der gantzeh velt iz tzu ton a tovah far a Yid.

With endless gratitude,
A Grateful Mother

To submit a letter to appear on Matzav.com, email MatzavInbox@gmail.com

DON’T MISS OUT! Join the Matzav Status by CLICKING HERE. Join the Matzav WhatsApp Groups by CLICKING HERE.

The opinions expressed in letters on Matzav.com do not necessarily reflect the stance of the Matzav Media Network.

{Matzav.com}

A scathing new report reveals that fare and toll evasion cost the MTA around $1 billion in 2024, far exceeding the already shocking figures the transit authority had admitted to, the NY Post reports.

According to the Citizens Budget Commission, the chronically underfunded MTA is poised to lose another $900 million in 2025 due to subway turnstile jumpers, bus riders refusing to pay, and drivers skirting tolls.

“We still need to ensure that all riders pay their fair share and frankly improving fare evasion improve the public’s confidence in the MTA and the system,” said CBC President Andrew Rein.

At the same time, officials at the MTA have chosen to pile new costs onto paying customers. This year they implemented a $9 congestion toll to drive into Manhattan below 60th Street and are weighing a fare hike to $3 for subways and buses.

Flashy attempts to stem evasion — such as spiked barriers, high-tech fare gates, keeping emergency exits locked, hiring security guards, and even commissioning a $1 million study on the psychology of freeloaders — have done little to curb the problem.

The watchdog group argues that cutting down on fare evasion is crucial to narrowing the agency’s persistent $800 million annual operating deficit.

Yet the analysis cautions that the MTA’s own bookkeeping may underplay the size of the problem.

CBC researchers note that the authority’s published numbers consistently come in lower than their independent estimates.

“The MTA’s estimate, often reported as $700 to $800 million, is lower because it assumes a larger share of individuals who evade the fare would not have paid anyway than CBC’s,” according to the study.

The report explains that the MTA excludes from its tallies certain riders it assumes wouldn’t pay regardless — such as children, students with OMNY passes, or others entitled to free rides.

Broken down by mode of transit, the CBC found in 2024 the MTA lost $568 million on buses, $350 million on subways, no less than $46 million on commuter rail, and about $51 million from unpaid tolls.

All told, the $918 million loss was more than three times the $305 million the agency lost in 2019, before the pandemic disrupted ridership.

“Every minute during 2024, 330 subway fares and 710 bus fares were evaded,” the analysis states, stressing that the MTA and police could never realistically stop every instance.

There was one encouraging sign: heightened enforcement in late 2024 coincided with a steady decline in lost revenue, even as more riders returned to the system.

Still, Rein warned that the progress shouldn’t mask the staggering scale of the problem.

“From one perspective it’s good to see that reduction, from the other perspective we’re still seeing $900 million in losses, which is equivalent to three rounds of fare increases. And frankly these numbers are three times what they were before the pandemic,” he said.

The CBC urged the agency to move faster on installing next-generation faregates, expand proof-of-payment systems on buses, coordinate with the city on policing strategies, and broaden participation in the Fair Fares Program for low-income riders.

“Fare evasion is not victimless,” Rein said. “When people evade fares it really puts more of the burden on everybody else, everyone else who is paying the fare, the toll.”

{Matzav.com}

A moment of silence was observed at Ground Zero to honor the victims of the 9/11 attacks. Seen in the crowd is former Mayor Bill de Blasio and Governor Kathy Hochul.

Former NYC Mayor Rudy Giuliani made his first public appearance since suffering a fractured vertebra in a serious car accident, arriving at the 9/11 memorial ceremony in Manhattan in a wheelchair and wearing a body brace.

POTUS: To every family member that still feels a void every day of your lives, the First Lady and I unite with you in sorrow. And today, as one nation, we renew our sacred vow that we will NEVER FORGET September 11th, 2001.

BREAKING: President Trump is posthumously awarding Charlie Kirk the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Jobless claims jumped to 263,000 last week, the highest since 2021, pointing to a weakening labor market. At the same time, inflation accelerated to 2.9% in August, leaving the Fed under pressure to cut rates despite prices remaining above its 2% target.

FBI: “We have recovered what we believe is the weapon that was used in yesterday’s shooting, it is a high-powered, bolt action rifle. That rifle was recovered in a wooded area…”

BREAKING: Charlie Kirk’s assassin appears to be of “college age.”

BREAKING: The FBI says it has tracked the Charlie Kirk shooter’s movements and obtained video footage, expressing confidence in identifying him. After the attack, the suspect jumped off the building and fled into a nearby neighborhood.

Qatar’s International Media Office denied an Axios report claiming Doha is reconsidering its security partnership with Washington, insisting the claim is “categorically false” and stressing that its defense ties with the U.S. are “stronger than ever and continuing to grow.”

President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump arrive at the Pentagon on the 24th anniversary of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

Yaki Dolf, the former commander of the West Bank division, is promoted to the rank of major general ahead of entering the role of chief of the Northern Corps.

President Trump on a phone call with CNBC this morning: “He’s devastated about Charlie Kirk — and said he thinks Charlie could’ve been President one day.”

A retired FBI official believes the killer who targeted Charlie Kirk selected a rooftop that offered both a clear shot and a quick escape route, allowing them to be “miles and miles away” not long after pulling the trigger.

Law enforcement reported that the shooter, who was still at large as of early Thursday, fired the lone deadly round from the top of the Losee Center Building at Utah Valley University. The building stood roughly 200 yards from where Kirk was sitting in a temporary tent addressing a crowd of 3,000.

“If you come off that roof — and I’ve seen the drone footage of this — there’s an open-air parking lot behind that building,” retired FBI supervising agent James Gagliano explained on “Fox and Friends.”

“So this is a big concern because this person, within three to five minutes of that shot going off, that person could have been in a vehicle on his way out and miles and miles away,” he said.

“Provo airport’s only about 45 minutes from there,” he added, noting that the assassin might have quickly fled the state as well.

Kirk, 31, a husband and father of two, was struck in the throat while speaking outdoors on Wednesday. The shot sent panicked students running and screaming as he collapsed to the ground bleeding.

Video captured right after the shot was fired seems to show a small, dark figure leaping and dashing across a rooftop in the distance while the audience ducked in fear.

Another recording, filmed earlier, depicts a dark form lying flat on the same rooftop where the sniper was later positioned, as bystanders below speculated about what they were seeing. Moments later, the shot was fired at Kirk.

“People are suggesting this was a professional hit. And yet from that distance, we’re talking a little over 500 feet, just short of 200 yards, that’s not a tough shot with a rifle, if this suspect had a scope,” Gagliano said.

“It’s a very easy shot.”

US Army Sergeant Nicholas Ranstad, a decorated sharpshooter, echoed that assessment, calling it an “easy shot” and saying there was no reason to assume the gunman was highly trained, making the case even harder to solve.

Ranstad, who once held the American record for the longest confirmed sniper kill in Afghanistan, criticized the lack of security at the university, describing it as “a buffet for someone who wanted to kill someone.”

“When you have events like that, you look at the security, if you push 250, 300 yards, it’s an easy shot,” he said.

“Not to mention out in the open, wind is low out in the country. It’s not like in the city, where a bullet flying past the buildings will move more,” Ranstad added.

According to UVU Police Chief Jeff Long, only six campus officers were assigned to the event, working in tandem with Kirk’s private security staff.

Kirk was transported to a nearby hospital but succumbed to his injuries, leaving behind his wife and two young children.

In the immediate aftermath, investigators detained two people for questioning but later released both of them.

Even so, Gagliano expressed confidence that the manhunt would soon yield results, predicting authorities would have the shooter in custody before the end of the day Thursday.

{Matzav.com}

Federal and state authorities said Thursday they have recovered the rifle used in the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, as a massive manhunt continues for the shooter. FBI Salt Lake City Special Agent-in-Charge Robert Bohls confirmed investigators located a high-powered bolt-action rifle in a wooded area near the Utah Valley University campus, where Kirk was fatally shot on Wednesday. The weapon is believed to have been abandoned by the gunman as he fled the scene. Officials also disclosed that they have obtained video images of the suspect and are analyzing extensive evidence, including palm prints and footprints found near the rifle. “We do have good video footage of this individual,” Utah Department of Public Safety Commissioner Beau Mason said. “We are not going to release that at this time.” Authorities described the suspect as appearing to be of “college-age.” Investigators believe he fired a single shot from a rooftop roughly 200 yards from Kirk’s speaking tent before leaping from the building and disappearing into the surrounding area. “We are exhausting every lead,” Bohls said, emphasizing that the investigation remains active and ongoing. Meanwhile, President Donald Trump announced Thursday that Kirk will be awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor. Speaking at the Pentagon during a 9/11 commemoration, Trump hailed Kirk as “a giant of his generation, a champion of liberty and an inspiration to millions and millions of people.” “I’m pleased to announce that I will soon be awarding Charlie Kirk posthumously the Presidential Medal of Freedom,” the president said. “Our prayers are with his wonderful wife Erika and his beautiful children.” Trump added that the date of the ceremony would be announced soon, promising, “I can only guarantee you one thing, that we will have a very big crowd. Very, very big.” (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)