A striking exchange between a yeshiva bochur and the tzaddik Rav Dov Kook of Tverya about the proper approach to limud haTorah has emerged.
Last week, a bochur from Yeshivas Shaarei Shmuos visited Rav Kook and asked him to write a dedication and bracha in the sefer Shaar HaYichud VehaEmunah. Rav Kook responded that now that the young man is 20 years old, the sefer is appropriate for him, adding that for younger bochurim it is not yet suitable.
At that point, Rav Kook unexpectedly asked the bochur a question: Did he know how one becomes a true lamdan in Torah?
Rav Kook immediately answered his own question with a piece of advice. He warned the bochur not to overanalyze the concept of “methods of learning.”
“It is forbidden to think about this in a literal way,” Rav Kook said. “Because someone who thinks about it in a literal way becomes very confused. You must simply learn normally. What you understand, you understand. Learn in the straightforward way, and that is all.”
Rav Kook continued explaining why he discourages discussions about formal “approaches” or “systems” of learning.
“It damages a person very much when people talk about ‘methods of learning,’” he said. “And if there is anything that could truly be called a ‘method of learning,’ it is only Shaar HaYichud VehaEmunah. That is learning in the fullest sense. There is no greater lomdus than this. What is explained there is extremely subtle, the finest of the fine. It is the ultimate peak.”
Later in the conversation, Rav Kook also spoke about the bochur’s rosh yeshiva, Rav Aryeh Shapira, praising the clarity of his teaching.
“Your rosh yeshiva, Reb Aryeh Shapira, has the quality that he speaks straight and clearly, with joy and without deviating to the side,” Rav Kook said. “He speaks in a healthy way — the healthiest way. I have seen this myself. He is very thoughtful. He was here several times. I heard him and saw that he is very clear. He is not simple. He is also the son of great people — his grandfather and his father.”
Shaar HaYichud VehaEmunah is the second section of the sefer Tanya, written by the Alter Rebbe, Rav Shneur Zalman of Liadi. In this section, the Alter Rebbe elaborates on the teaching of the Baal Shem Tov that belief in the unity of Hashem does not merely mean that there is no other higher power besides Him.
Rather, the teaching explains that Hashem is the only true reality, and nothing exists independently of Him — the concept expressed in the phrase Ein Od Milvado. Everything that appears to exist separately is not truly independent existence. The continued existence of creation depends at every moment on the divine word that sustains it; without that constant divine life-force, all creation would immediately revert to absolute nothingness, just as it was before the world was created.
{Matzav.com}
Security forces on Monday removed a large Iranian missile that had fallen in the cemetery area of Tzfas, near the Arizal’s Mikvah, one of the city’s well-known sites visited by many people throughout the year. Despite the powerful impact and the sensitive location of the strike, the incident ended without injuries.
Authorities initially responded amid concerns that hazardous materials might be involved. The Environmental Protection Ministry said that emergency teams from Fire and Rescue Services were dispatched after reports of interceptor debris and a possible hazardous-materials incident.
Following extensive testing at the scene, officials determined that the situation did not involve dangerous materials. Instead, the fire that had broken out was caused by remnants of jet fuel still contained inside the missile. The ministry said it would continue monitoring the situation and stressed the importance of following Home Front Command instructions.
At the same time, Fire and Rescue officials in the Northern District reported that firefighters from the Galil-Golan station were handling several locations where missile fragments had landed in open areas around Tzfas. Additional monitoring teams conducted further inspections and confirmed that no environmental danger remained.
After the examinations were completed, residents who had initially been instructed to remain indoors were informed that they could safely return to their normal routines. Tzfas municipal spokesman Tamir Engel said all inspections had concluded and that there was no danger to the public.
The missile was transferred to security authorities for further handling, while city officials said emergency forces remain prepared for any additional developments.
{Matzav.com}
A prominent kashrus expert has issued a sharp warning against efforts by the Tzohar rabbinical organization to establish an independent kashrus certification system in Israel, arguing that such a move could undermine the existing national framework.
Speaking Monday night in an interview with Avi Mimran on the program Hamehadura Hamerkazit, Rav Yochanan Reichman strongly criticized Tzohar’s petition to Israel’s High Court of Justice seeking permission to issue kashrus certificates without the approval of the Chief Rabbinate. According to Rav Reichman, the very act of asking the court to serve as an independent regulator raises serious concerns. “The very appeal to the High Court to act as its own regulator raises questions and red flags,” he said, adding that even the strictest badatz organizations operate in coordination with the Rabbinate.
Rav Reichman argued that attempts to create an alternative kashrus structure built on halachic leniencies are fundamentally flawed. “To base kashrus on bedieved, on shaas hadechak, on heterim—that is not how you run a system. No one begins with Plan B,” he said. As an illustration, he recounted a story about the renowned Yerushalmi tzaddik Rav Dovid Baharan, who once wept when he was forced to rely on a halachic bedieved ruling.
According to Rav Reichman, a proper kashrus system must be established from the outset on the highest lechatchila standards, with leniencies used only in rare and pressing situations.
During the interview, the discussion compared the national kashrus framework to other state institutions such as the military and the healthcare system. Rav Reichman warned that dismantling the centralized structure could lead to chaos. “Tomorrow everyone will set up his own army, his own hospital. That would be destruction,” he said. “You would be taking an institution that has stood for years with the backing of the gedolei Yisroel and destroying it.”
He pointed to the Military Rabbinate as an example of a successful state-run religious institution and questioned why Tzohar was not pursuing cooperation with the Chief Rabbinate in the same way other private kashrus bodies do.
Toward the end of the conversation, Rav Reichman addressed Tzohar chairman Rav Dovid Stav personally, saying that while he knows him and recognizes his positive character, he is surprised by the direction the organization has taken professionally.
“I say to Tzohar: be like everyone else. Don’t try to damage the kashrus of Am Yisroel,” Reichman said.
Host Avi Mimran concluded the discussion by noting that the issue will now move to deliberations in both the High Court and the Knesset, where it will be decided whether the Chief Rabbinate’s authority over kashrus certification will remain intact or whether the system will open to broader competition.
Religious and political leaders are closely watching the developments, as a ruling by the High Court could significantly reshape the kashrus landscape for restaurants and food establishments across Israel. Supporters of the initiative argue it could lower prices and improve service, while critics like Rav Reichman warn it could weaken the halachic integrity of the country’s established kashrus system.
{Matzav.com}
A public dispute between Rov Yosef Chaim Ohev Tzion and radio host Menachem Toker over women’s shaitelach took an unexpected turn Monday when the rov joined Toker live on the air, turning what had been a controversy into a cordial on-air reconciliation.
Rov Ohev Tzion, a prominent speaker at the Moussaieff Shul, appeared on Toker’s program Zman Avir after recently criticizing the host over remarks related to women’s wigs. The conversation, arranged by the show’s editor Kobi Segal, quickly developed into a warm and respectful exchange.
The rov emphasized that he had no intention of insulting Toker personally. “People tried to inflame the situation. We do not want to hurt any Jew. We know the good things you do,” he said. Toker immediately responded with respect, saying, “I forgive in advance. Who am I to speak about the rov?”
Much of the discussion focused on the controversy surrounding wigs that had sparked the original criticism. Rov Ohev Tzion explained that his concern was with how wigs are sometimes presented in magazines. “I was shocked to see a certain picture of wigs that were displayed in a very inappropriate way,” he said.
He also referred to the ruling of Rav Ovadia Yosef, who strongly opposed the wearing of wigs. Rov Ohev Tzion added that even authorities who permitted wigs did not have today’s modern styles in mind. “If they were living in our times, they would certainly forbid the wigs of today,” he said. He concluded by stressing that a mother’s modesty is an important key to raising righteous children.
Toward the end of the broadcast, the rov shared several segulos connected with the upcoming month of Nissan. Among them was an unusual suggestion for preventing migraines. “A person who gets a haircut on Wednesday, which is the eve of Rosh Chodesh Nissan, will not have headaches for the entire year,” he said.
He also encouraged people to daven for parnassah on Rosh Chodesh Nissan. “This is the time to ask for parnassah. The Ribbono Shel Olam renews the entire creation,” he said. Rov Ohev Tzion added that giving Kimcha D’Pischa charity before Pesach serves as protection from serious misfortune.
The conversation concluded on a positive note, with Toker thanking the rov for joining the program and expressing hope that he would appear again in the future. Rov Ohev Tzion, who lives in Ramat Shlomo and delivers shiurim on Tuesdays and Thursdays, ended by offering Toker a bracha: “Continue doing good for the Jewish people.”
{Matzav.com}IDF Spokesman Brig. Gen. Effie Defrin delivered a public briefing Monday night updating the nation on developments in the ongoing war against Iran and its regional proxies. During the address, Defrin revealed that Israeli forces had struck key strategic targets in Tehran and announced that more than 100,000 reservists have been mobilized for the expanding ground maneuver in southern Lebanon. He also shared a moving story about a chareidi mother from Bnei Brak whose actions helped save her children during a missile strike.
Defrin reported that the Israeli Air Force destroyed a strategic naval headquarters belonging to Iran’s Revolutionary Guards in the heart of Tehran, along with a facility used to develop satellite attack capabilities. “The Iranian regime used this headquarters to turn the maritime arena into a theater of terror,” the spokesman said, adding that the satellite development center posed a threat to Israeli and international space assets.
At the same time, the IDF is intensifying its operations along the northern border. Defrin confirmed that forces from the 91st Division have begun ground activity at key locations in southern Lebanon as part of efforts to strengthen protection for communities in northern Israel. Addressing reports about troop levels, he disclosed that an unprecedented number of reservists have been called up. “We currently have more than 100,000 reservists… IDF soldiers will stand as a barrier between every threat and the residents of the north,” he said.
He added that the 146th Division has now joined the campaign and that the maneuver is concentrating on areas around Metula, Margaliot, and Manara in order to prevent direct rocket fire at Israeli homes.
A particularly emotional moment in the briefing came when Defrin described a recent visit to the Kass family on Rechov Yerushalayim in Bnei Brak, whose home was struck by an Iranian cluster missile. “The mother was playing with her six children in the living room, and Yehuda, the two-week-old baby, was in her arms. The responsible behavior of this brave mother simply saved their lives,” Defrin said.
The spokesman condemned Iran’s use of cluster munitions, describing them as a violation of the laws of war, and warned that Iran is attempting to spread fear through propaganda and misinformation. “They are trying to spread terror and fear. The Israeli public is not listening to those threats,” he said.
In other sectors, Defrin noted that IDF forces continue counterterrorism operations in Judea and Samaria, where more than 250 terror suspects have been arrested over the past two weeks. Israeli forces are also continuing deep strikes against terrorist infrastructure in Gaza.
He also addressed a difficult incident involving the deaths of four members of a Palestinian family in the village of Tamun during an undercover operation. “Every harm to innocent people turns the stomach. The IDF does not act with the intention of harming civilians,” Defrin said, adding that the case is under thorough investigation by both military authorities and the Justice Ministry’s police oversight unit.
Defrin concluded by noting that the campaign has dealt heavy blows to Iran’s military capabilities. According to the IDF, approximately 70 percent of Iran’s launch capabilities have been neutralized and about 80 percent of its air defense systems destroyed.
“Our goal is to remove the threats against Israel for the long term,” Defrin said. “We still have many targets, and we are continuing according to our operational plans.”
{Matzav.com}In the midst of the tense days of war and constant sirens, dozens of bochurim from Yeshivas Darchei Shlomo and avreichim from Kollel Beis Dovid have temporarily moved their limud haTorah to protected shelters in the Ramat Elchanan neighborhood of Bnei Brak. In recent days, Rav Yitzchok Zilberstein descended to the shelter of the neighborhood’s central shul and delivered a stirring shmuess chizuk to the bochurim, speaking about the power of simchas haTorah to overcome fear and hardship.
The younger bochurim of Yeshivas Darchei Shlomo, under the leadership of Rav Avrohom Pollak—rosh hakahal of Ramat Elchanan and a close associate of Rav Zilberstein—have been continuing their seder halimud in the neighborhood during this period so they can remain close to protected spaces.
At the same time, dozens of avreichim from Kollel Beis Dovid, who normally travel daily from Bnei Brak to Cholon, have been learning during this period in the central beis haknesses of Ramat Elchanan. Rav Zilberstein’s presence in the neighborhood has brought a sense of calm and menuchas hanefesh to many residents and visitors who come daily to receive his bracha following Mincha Gedolah.
In recent days, the bochurim merited a special moment when Rav Zilberstein came down toward the end of the morning seder to the shelter beneath the beis haknesses and delivered an uplifting sichas chizuk, addressing the spiritual meaning of the current situation.
At the beginning of his remarks, Rav Zilberstein told the bochurim that although many people are frightened that the situation could escalate into a much larger war, he personally is not afraid. When he sees dedicated bochurim and a strong yeshiva, he said, it gives him strength and confidence.
“Today everyone is afraid that the situation may escalate into a world war… but I am not afraid, because when I see good bochurim like you and such a good yeshiva, I am not afraid.”
To illustrate the tremendous power of simchas haTorah, Rav Zilberstein shared a remarkable story about an avreich who traveled to Russia to give shiurim and spread Torah. According to Rav Zilberstein, the shiurim were so sweet and powerful that the bochurim eagerly absorbed every word.
For three years, the avreich delivered those shiurim. When the shiur ended, the bochurim would quickly open their notebooks and record everything he said.
After three years he returned to Eretz Yisroel with his wife. When they arrived, his in-laws came to greet them, having heard glowing reports about the tremendous impact he had made through his harbotzas haTorah.
However, something unexpected occurred. While davening in the beis haknesses at the airport and putting on tefillin, a small pill accidentally fell from his pocket. His father-in-law picked it up and brought it to a medical expert, who explained that the medication was used for someone suffering from epilepsy.
The family was devastated. Late that night, the wife’s parents came to Rav Zilberstein in tears. They explained that they had just discovered that their son-in-law suffered from this illness and did not know how to proceed.
Rav Zilberstein told them that he had his own reasoning. If the avreich had delivered shiurim for three years and had never once experienced an episode, it meant that the illness did not dominate him. The joy and sweetness of Torah—simchas haTorah—had the strength to overcome it.
To confirm his reasoning, Rav Zilberstein consulted a leading medical expert and presented the idea. The doctor agreed completely, explaining that if someone had exerted himself so intensely for three years teaching Torah without suffering an episode, it indicated that the illness was being subdued.
Because the wife’s father remained concerned that the original kiddushin might be considered a mistake due to the undisclosed illness, the family decided to perform a second kiddushin quietly as a precaution. The ceremony was held late at night, and they softly sang “Od Yishama,” so that the story would not become public knowledge.
Rav Zilberstein then told the bochurim the continuation of the story. The couple later had a son who grew up to be one of the finest children in the neighborhood, filled with tremendous cheshek haTorah and blessed with good health.
According to Rav Zilberstein, the child’s greatness came from the extraordinary love of Torah that filled the home.
He explained that Torah responds to love and devotion. Just as a wife responds when her husband truly loves her, Torah embraces and protects the person who truly loves it.
Turning to the bochurim in the shelter, Rav Zilberstein praised them warmly and said they were fortunate to have a rosh yeshiva and maggidei shiur of such quality.
At that point, Rav Avrohom Pollak asked how bochurim can maintain focus during such difficult days, when sirens interrupt the night and sleep is constantly disrupted, while the hanhalas hayeshiva still expects them to arrive on time and not miss even a moment of seder.
Rav Zilberstein responded that the previous night there had been several sirens while he was in Ramat Chen. The next morning he asked several bnei yeshiva how they felt after such a night.
Their answer, he said, was simple: they would overcome it, because Torah is their life and strength.
At that moment Rav Zilberstein began singing the well-known words declaring that Torah is the life and length of the Jewish people. The bochurim joined him, filling the shelter with heartfelt song.
He then described how one ben yeshiva told him that the explosions only strengthened their determination. Even without sleep, they remained happy because they knew they were spiritually stronger.
Rav Zilberstein concluded by telling the bochurim that they are the finest of the Jewish nation and beloved by HaKadosh Baruch Hu. They must feel proud of their role, he said, because bnei Torah are stronger than anything else.
Before leaving, he gave the bochurim a heartfelt bracha that they should continue rising higher and higher in Torah, and that their rabbeim should see much nachas from them.
He concluded by explaining that the highest level in Torah is for a person to become a moreh hora’ah, someone who can guide the tzibbur in matters of halacha. Such a person, he said, stands at the forefront of the Jewish nation and brings the Shechinah into the world.
Rav Zilberstein finished by bentching the bochurim that they should grow into gedolei Torah and bring pride to their rabbeim, their roshei yeshiva, and all of Klal Yisroel.
{Matzav.com}
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar raised questions about the stability of Iran’s leadership, drawing attention to the unexplained absence of the country’s new supreme leader, Mojtba Khamenei. In a television interview, Sa’ar suggested that the Iranian regime may be experiencing internal turmoil, noting that the figure expected to lead the so-called “Axis of Resistance” has not appeared publicly while Iran faces intense military pressure.
His remarks have added to speculation that the power transition following the death of Ali Khamenei may be more unstable than Iranian authorities have acknowledged.
During his interview with Fox News, Sa’ar openly criticized the Iranian leadership and highlighted the unusual disappearance of the new ruler.
“Where is Mojtba? It’s starting to become embarrassing for the Iranian regime,” Sa’ar remarked.
He said that in the midst of a major war, the absence of a visible supreme leader raises serious questions about the regime’s strength and confidence. The Israeli foreign minister added that while Iran attempts to project power through its regional proxies, its own leadership remains unseen, creating what he described as a leadership void at the center of the Iranian state.
