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In a moving ceremony at Yeshivas Ateres Shlomo, habochur Ariel Shamai — who recently completed a prison term for refusing to report to the IDF — received an extraordinary letter of chizuk from gedolei Torah.

The event, attended by hundreds of bnei hayeshiva, was marked by deep emotion as Shamai was presented with the letter written by the Gedolei Yisroel to strengthen and bless him for his steadfast devotion to Torah. The letter was encased in a beautifully carved parchment scroll, adorned and mounted on wooden Atzei Chaim, displayed inside an elegant glass box.

The letter bore the signatures of many of the generation’s foremost gedolei Torah: Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch, Rav Moshe Sternbuch, Rav Meir Tzvi Bergman, Rav Berel Povarsky, Rav Don Segal, Rav Yitzchok Yosef, Rav Avraham Salim, Rav Reuven Elbaz, and the roshei yeshiva of Ateres Shlomo, Rav Chaim Feinstein and Rav Chaim Mordechai Ausband.

The gedolim wrote to Shamai: “Rak chazak ve’ematz me’od lishmor la’asos kechol haTorah, lema’an taskil bechol asher teilech. We bless you with heartfelt sincerity and words of admiration and encouragement, to the precious and distinguished ben aliyah, a true warrior of Hashem and His Torah, the esteemed bochur Ariel Shamai, may he be blessed.”

The letter continued: “Fortunate are you for having merited to demonstrate your love for the holy Torah publicly. Fortunate are you, for all who see and hear of you declare, ‘Fortunate is he who toils in Torah; fortunate is his father, his mother, and his teachers.’ Fortunate are you for having sanctified the Name of Heaven through your sacrifice and joyful choice of the holy Torah.”

The gedolim further wrote: “Your pain is our pain, and it is preserved in the treasure house of the Holy One, blessed be He, Who says to His Heavenly retinue: ‘See My beloved sons whose anguish comes from their joyous devotion to Me.’ Surely, you will merit to grow in Torah all your life and become a true talmid chacham, fulfilling your pure aspiration to know all of Torah and to learn it always, undisturbed and with joy. May you soon merit a fitting match and build a faithful home in Israel, blessed with Hashem’s abundance, and see generations of upright, blessed descendants. Chazak chazak v’nischazek.”

{Matzav.com}

Elon Musk has unveiled yet another eyebrow-raising vision for the future — replacing prisons with robot chaperones. The Tesla CEO suggested that the company’s Optimus humanoid robots could one day be used to shadow and control the actions of ex-convicts, effectively eliminating the need for traditional incarceration.

At a recent Tesla shareholder meeting, Musk shared his latest concept, calling it a “more humane form of containment of future crime.” He described a world where convicted individuals are not confined in prisons but instead monitored by personal robotic guardians programmed to prevent any repeat offenses.

“You don’t have to put people in prisons and stuff,” Musk said. “If somebody’s committed crime, you now get a free Optimus and it’s just gonna follow you around and stop you from doing crime. But other than that you get to do anything. It’s just gonna stop you from committing crime, that’s really it.”

The announcement instantly ignited heated debate, with critics questioning both the practicality and morality of such an idea. Skeptics pointed out that Tesla’s Optimus prototypes have thus far demonstrated only rudimentary functions — such as simple movements and carrying light objects — far from the complex ethical decision-making required to handle human behavior.

“This shows a complete lack of understanding of criminology, the justice system, and frankly, basic human rights,” said Michael Johnson, a legal expert at the Brookings Institution. “The idea that a robot can somehow rehabilitate offenders better than comprehensive support programs is absurd. It comes across as a dystopian surveillance scheme more than anything else.”

Robotics specialists also expressed alarm at the potential for errors and misuse. “These robots simply do not have anywhere near the intelligence or physical capabilities to monitor, let alone restrain, human behavior,” said robotics engineer Sarah Chen. “The risks of false positives, bias, and misuse are immense. What happens when a robot misinterprets a benign situation as a crime? Who is liable?”

Beyond ethical concerns, investors raised doubts about Musk’s focus. Some shareholders questioned why the billionaire continues to float extravagant, sci-fi-like ideas instead of addressing production challenges and delivery targets at Tesla. The same meeting where Musk made his remarks also granted him a staggering $1 trillion compensation package.

Musk’s history of ambitious — and at times bizarre — concepts includes brain-computer interfaces, underground transport tunnels, and dreams of Martian colonies. Still, even longtime followers found this particular proposal startling, seeing it as a leap beyond even his usual boundary-pushing ideas. Whether the “robot parole officer” vision ever materializes remains to be seen, but for now, it’s another entry in Musk’s long list of futuristic provocations.

{Matzav.com}

Dear YWN, As a member of the Syrian Sephardic community, I am deeply troubled by the upcoming event where former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett will be hosted this Sunday at a large venue attended by many in our community. Bennett’s agenda is clear and singular: to undermine Prime Minister Netanyahu, who led Israel through its […]

President Donald Trump’s directive to formally rename the Department of Defense as the “Department of War” could carry a price tag approaching $2 billion, a staggering cost that is already raising eyebrows on Capitol Hill as lawmakers weigh whether to approve the change. The proposal, which requires congressional authorization, would trigger a sweeping overhaul of […]

New York lawmakers are advancing a proposal that would require repeat speeding offenders to install new “intelligent speed assistance” devices in their vehicles, a move supporters say could prevent some of the city’s most dangerous drivers from reaching deadly speeds. The devices, which use GPS technology to cap a car’s maximum speed based on the […]

Iranian authorities have arrested two men seen in a viral video wearing military uniforms and carrying the flag of the former monarchy — a rare public display of dissent that quickly spread across social media and triggered a quick response from the regime. The footage, recorded inside a Tehran metro station, shows the pair holding […]

With Israel’s state budget discussions for 2026 expected to begin soon, former chareidi ministers have made an unusual request to the Finance Ministry and other senior government officials, urging them not to overlook their ministries in the upcoming allocations.

According to a report in Ynet, members of Knesset from Shas who only recently left their ministerial posts reached out to the Prime Minister’s Office and the Finance Ministry, asking that their former ministries not suffer from budget cuts now that they are no longer in the coalition. The plea comes amid concerns over the sweeping reductions that often accompany state budget negotiations, as the lawmakers seek not only to prevent cuts but even to secure expanded funding.

Earlier this week, MK Yaakov Margi announced that Shas supports the draft law proposal put forward by Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee Chairman MK Boaz Bismuth, revealing that the latest version of the bill was drafted in consultation with former minister Ariel Attias.

Margi’s comments stirred internal tension within the party, as Shas’s official stance until now had been that the party was waiting for the Moetzes Chachmei HaTorah to decide on the issue. In an interview with Channel 99, Margi defended Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu’s decision not to advance the bill until there is full agreement among the chareidi factions.

“He’s waiting for us,” said Margi. “There’s the plan called the Bismuth outline, which we in Shas agree with. Some cynically say Ariel Attias wrote it—but it was a joint effort. It’s a complex proposal for anyone familiar with previous versions of the draft law.”

Margi added, “We expect the rabbonim of Degel HaTorah to express their views as well. I know that one rav (Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch) has already agreed, and the other (Rav Dov Landau) is expected to give his answer within a day or two. This process will help move the bill forward in committee.”

Following the stir caused by his remarks, Margi issued a clarification, saying: “The law regarding the status of bnei yeshivos is currently under discussion among the gedolei hador and no final decision has yet been made.”

{Matzav.com}

Harsh criticism expressed by HaGaon HaRav Yosef Shalom Elyashiv, z’tl, many years ago about the Israeli judicial system was recently published in the series “Devar Torah al HaParsha—Bereishis,” by HaRav Dov Eliach. HaRav Elyahshiv made the statements to his brother-in-law, HaRav Simcha Shlomo Levin, z’tl, (the son of HaGaon HaRav Simcha Levin, z’tl). In the […]

A plume of toxic gas blanketed a small Oklahoma city after a tanker truck sprang a leak in a hotel parking lot, forcing hundreds of nearby residents to evacuate and hospitalizing several dozen people, authorities said Thursday. The anhydrous ammonia gas release happened shortly before 10 p.m. Wednesday. People in the immediate area were in […]

For three unforgettable days, the streets of France were filled with emotion, reverence, and song as Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch, rosh yeshivas Slabodka, visited the country on a rare and historic mission of chizuk. From Paris to Rancy, thousands came out to greet him, lining the streets with flags, music, and tears of awe and joy.

The visit, which took place this week, was joined by Rav Simcha Shmuel Zaks, one of the senior roshei yeshiva of Slabodka.

Everywhere Rav Hirsch went, he was received with honor and enthusiasm. Children waved specially designed banners, bnei Torah filled the streets, and community leaders expressed profound excitement at welcoming a figure of such stature.

Organizers of the visit noted that preparations had been underway for weeks. “In the Talmudei Torah and schools, children were taught about the meaning of honoring Torah and how to greet a gadol b’Yisrael,” one committee member said. “Many of the rabbanim arranged private meetings with the Rosh Yeshiva to seek his daas Torah and guidance on communal issues.”

French police provided extensive security arrangements to ensure the smooth and safe conduct of the events. At one point, during national celebrations marking the end of World War I on November 11, major Parisian arteries—including the Arc de Triomphe and the Champs-Élysées—were closed to traffic. Yet, in a remarkable gesture of respect, French authorities opened the closed roads exclusively for Rav Hirsch’s motorcade.

Upon landing in France, the Rosh Yeshiva was greeted at the airport by prominent rabbanim, community leaders, and his talmidim. He then traveled under heavy police escort to his host, philanthropist R’ Joachim Cohen.

That evening, Rav Hirsch delivered the keynote address at a massive event marking the 80th anniversary of Yeshivas Aix-les-Bains. He spoke passionately about the obligation to raise boys to attend yeshivos kodesh and warned of the dangers of introducing secular studies. His words reverberated across the French Jewish community and became the central topic of discussion in batei midrash throughout the country. Later that night, a private dinner benefitting Yeshivas Slabodka was hosted by R’ Joachim Cohen.

The next morning, Rav Hirsch traveled to the Torah Center of Rancy, led by Rav Yitzchak Toledano. He was received in a moving kabbalas panim procession with Sifrei Torah and accompanied by hundreds of community members. He addressed parents about instilling Torah values in their children and later spoke to yeshiva ketana students about the love of Torah and how to attain it. During a special session with the melamdim, the Rosh Yeshiva fielded questions on chinuch and hashkafah, offering hour-long insights shaped by decades of leadership. A touching moment came when a young child presented him with a sealed envelope filled with personal kabbalos tovos—commitments to growth—from the local children in honor of his visit.

Rav Hirsch then attended a private dinner at the home of R’ Dov Kuriel in Rancy before heading to the main event of the day at the Yad Mordechai community in Paris, led by Rav Yitzchak Katz. Hundreds of children greeted him with song, and the Rosh Yeshiva blessed them warmly before addressing the avreichim and bochurim in the packed beis midrash, speaking about achieving closeness to Hashem. As he departed, hundreds followed him in joyous singing and dancing through the streets of Paris in a display of kavod haTorah that France had rarely seen.

Later that evening, he delivered a shmuess at Yeshivas Emes L’Yaakov, led by Rav Moshe Rotenberg, where he again inspired the bochurim to deepen their dedication to learning and avodas Hashem.

On Tuesday morning, Rav Hirsch davened Shacharis at the Baba Sali beis haknesses in Paris and offered brief words of chizuk after tefillah. His final stop was at the Union des Orthodoxes community, under the leadership of Rav Frankfurter and Rav Fedida, where once again the crowds filled the streets, singing and dancing in joy and reverence. From there, the Rosh Yeshiva departed for the airport, concluding a journey that left an indelible mark on the hearts of French Jewry, a visit they will indeed never forget.

{Matzav.com}

A young Chareidi man, 18, a resident of Meron, was unlawfully detained on Friday by the Military Police for many hours, was transferred to the Israel Police on Shabbos, and remained in custody for about 30 hours without being brought before a judge. When he was finally brought to court, the judge ruled that his […]

A co-pilot is under investigation after allegedly forging documents to secure a captain position with Lithuanian carrier Avion Express and flying commercial routes across Europe without the required qualifications, according to German aviation outlet Aero Telegraph. The pilot, whose identity has not been disclosed, previously worked only as a co-pilot for Garuda Indonesia. Despite lacking […]

In a sweeping reversal of energy policy, the Trump administration announced Thursday that it is reopening millions of acres in Alaska’s Arctic region for oil and gas exploration—land that had been sealed off under President Biden’s restrictions.

A statement released by the administration confirmed the move, declaring that it had finalized a rule eliminating Biden’s 2024 order that blocked development across 13 million acres of the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska. The official notice is set to be published in the Federal Register on Friday.

The National Petroleum Reserve—spanning roughly 23 million acres—was originally established in 1923 by President Harding as a backup fuel source for the U.S. Navy. Over the decades, it has become a political flashpoint, with Democrats arguing for environmental protection of its wilderness areas while Republicans have pushed for increased domestic production.

The Trump administration defended its decision as a necessary step toward revitalizing Alaska’s economy and fortifying the nation’s energy independence. “By rescinding the 2024 rule, we are following the direction set by President Trump to unlock Alaska’s energy potential, create jobs for North Slope communities and strengthen American energy security,” Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said in a written statement.

Thursday’s action marks the culmination of a process that began earlier this year when the administration first proposed rolling back the Biden-era rule. With this latest announcement, that proposal now becomes official policy—signaling a decisive shift back toward energy expansion in the Arctic.

{Matzav.com}

A federal judge on Thursday denied Democratic Rep. LaMonica McIver’s motions to toss out a prosecution against her stemming from a visit to an immigration detention center this year. U.S. District Judge Jamel Semper also said he would reserve judgment on one of the New Jersey congresswoman’s motions to toss the case brought by acting […]

California officials have announced plans to invalidate 17,000 commercial driver’s licenses issued to immigrants, after state authorities admitted the expiration dates extended beyond the drivers’ legal residency in the United States. The decision marks a sharp reversal following months of federal criticism and renewed scrutiny over how states handle licensing for noncitizens.

The controversy reignited after a deadly Florida crash in August involving a tractor-trailer operator who was in the country illegally and made an illegal U-turn, killing three people. The case drew national attention and prompted the Trump administration to demand accountability from California and other states that allow undocumented residents to obtain commercial licenses.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said the state’s move proves that California “acted improperly,” despite its earlier defense of its procedures. “After weeks of claiming they did nothing wrong, Gavin Newsom and California have been caught red-handed. Now that we’ve exposed their lies, 17,000 illegally issued trucking licenses are being revoked,” Duffy said. “This is just the tip of iceberg. My team will continue to force California to prove they have removed every illegal immigrant from behind the wheel of semitrucks and school buses.”

Governor Gavin Newsom’s office responded that all the affected drivers had valid federal work authorizations at the time their licenses were issued. While initially declining to explain the revocations, the governor’s office later said the affected licenses violated a California statute requiring that expiration dates align with the end of a person’s legal stay in the country.

Newsom’s spokesperson Brandon Richards fired back at Duffy over his public accusations. “Once again, the Sean ‘Road Rules’ Duffy fails to share the truth — spreading easily disproven falsehoods in a sad and desperate attempt to please his dear leader,” Richards said.

The issue of licensing immigrants gained added urgency following multiple fatal truck crashes in Texas, Alabama, and California involving drivers who were not authorized to be in the U.S. Those incidents have intensified scrutiny over who is permitted to operate commercial vehicles nationwide.

Earlier this fall, Duffy announced tighter national restrictions on noncitizen eligibility for commercial driver’s licenses, accusing six states of issuing them to ineligible applicants. California was the first to face sanctions after an audit was completed, while reviews in other states were delayed due to the federal shutdown.

As part of the enforcement push, Duffy revoked $40 million in federal transportation funds from California, arguing that the state had failed to enforce English proficiency rules for truck drivers. He warned Wednesday that another $160 million could be withheld if California fails to cancel every improperly issued license and bring its system into full compliance.

The new federal guidelines introduced in September now make it far more difficult for immigrants to obtain commercial licenses. Only holders of H-2A, H-2B, or E-2 visas—representing temporary agricultural, temporary nonagricultural, and investment workers—will qualify. States must verify immigration status through a federal database, and licenses will be valid for no more than a year or until the visa expires, whichever comes first.

Out of 200,000 noncitizen commercial drivers nationwide, only about 10,000 will still qualify under these new rules. The rest may keep their licenses only until they are due for renewal, as the restrictions are not retroactive.

The 17,000 California drivers affected by this week’s action were issued licenses before these new standards took effect. Each has been notified that their credentials will be invalid within 60 days.

Duffy said earlier audits revealed major irregularities—about a quarter of the 145 reviewed licenses in California should never have been approved, with some remaining active years after a driver’s work permit expired.

Newsom’s office maintains that the state acted according to guidance from the Department of Homeland Security when the licenses were first granted, insisting that California followed federal recommendations in good faith.

{Matzav.com}

The Biden administration quietly reviewed intelligence last year suggesting that Israeli soldiers had sent Palestinians into Hamas tunnels they believed could be rigged with explosives, according to two former U.S. officials familiar with the assessment. The intelligence — gathered in the final weeks of President Biden’s term and shared across the White House and intelligence […]

President Donald Trump announced that the lavish new $300 million White House ballroom will be funded “100% by me and some friends of mine,” highlighting a blend of personal generosity and support from influential allies.

The White House disclosed the names of 37 contributors, featuring an eclectic mix of donors — from cryptocurrency tycoons and major corporations to charitable foundations, financiers, and sports team owners. The roster also included familiar figures in Palm Beach, Florida, where Trump resides.

Among those on the list were two major figures tied to Israel — longtime Trump supporter Miriam Adelson and Israeli-American businessman Isaac Perlmutter, both of whom have backed Trump and Republican causes for years.

Adelson, who controls the Adelson Family Foundation devoted to strengthening Israel and the Jewish people, has long been a close confidante of Trump. During his recent visit to Israel, Trump singled her out while addressing the Knesset, recalling her influence in his 2017 decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. He also noted that she and her late husband, Sheldon Adelson, were among the most frequent White House guests during his presidency.

“Look at her sitting there so innocently. She’s got $60 billion in the bank,” Trump quipped, referring to the billionaire philanthropist and majority owner of the Dallas Mavericks.

Isaac Perlmutter’s contribution was made through the Laura & Isaac Perlmutter Foundation, which operates out of Lake Worth Beach near Palm Beach. The foundation focuses on health care, social justice, and cultural projects. The Perlmutters, known for their philanthropy and ties to Trump, have previously donated to his campaigns and affiliated political committees. Perlmutter, the former chairman of Marvel Entertainment, has been a key supporter of Trump’s initiatives over the years.

The donor list featured some of the world’s largest tech companies, including Amazon, Apple, Google, and Microsoft — all of which contributed $1 million each to Trump’s inauguration. Top executives from these firms have recently met with Trump to discuss his push for domestic manufacturing and artificial intelligence development. Palantir Technologies, co-founded by Peter Thiel, was also among the contributors, a company that has long benefited from lucrative federal contracts.

Crypto firms like Coinbase, Ripple, and Tether also made appearances on the list, reflecting the industry’s growing alliance with Trump as his administration works to relax digital asset regulations and integrate cryptocurrency leaders into advisory roles.

Donations also came from heavyweights in other sectors: defense contractors Lockheed Martin and Booz Allen Hamilton; industrial giant Caterpillar; energy company NextEra Energy; and Union Pacific, whose massive $85 billion merger with Norfolk Southern has Trump’s support. Individual donors included Blackstone’s Stephen Schwarzman, oil magnate Harold Hamm, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers co-owners Edward and Shari Glazer.

However, the White House acknowledged that the released list was incomplete. Some known contributors — such as Carrier Group, which pledged an HVAC system, and Nvidia, whose CEO Jensen Huang confirmed a donation — were not yet listed.

Officials have not revealed specific donation amounts, and most companies declined to discuss their contributions when contacted by the Associated Press. A senior White House official, speaking anonymously, said that the donor list has continued to expand since October but that several corporations prefer to remain unnamed until disclosure is legally mandated. The official added that no foreign entities or individuals are involved in the funding.

{Matzav.com}

BREAKING: Sec. of War Pete Hegseth announces ‘Operation Southern Spear,’ targeting narco-terrorists in the Caribbean. “The Western Hemisphere is America’s neighborhood – and we will protect it,” said Hegseth.

BREAKING: Rep. Eric Swalwell – a vocal critic of President Trump- has been referred to the DOJ for a criminal investigation over possible mortgage fraud.

France paid an emotional tribute to the 130 people killed a decade ago in attacks by Islamic State gunmen and suicide bombers on cafes, restaurants and the Bataclan concert hall