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An urgent meeting of leading roshei yeshiva and rabbonim from across the tri-state area was convened last night in Lakewood, NJ to address what participants described as the growing spiritual dangers posed by artificial intelligence (AI) and the need to safeguard yeshivos from its influence.

The gathering was held at Ateres Chana Hall at Bais Faiga and drew senior Torah leadership. The meeting was called amid rising concern that rapid advances in AI technology present unprecedented challenges to kedusha, focus, and the integrity of the Olam HaTorah.

Those in attendance included Rav Yosef Mermelstein, rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Novominsk; Rav Shlomo Feivel Schustal, rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Tiferes Yerachmiel; Rav Yitzchok Sorotzkin, rosh yeshiva of Mesivta of Lakewood; Rav Elya Ber Wachtfogel, rosh yeshiva of Yeshiva Gedolah Zichron Moshe of South Fallsburg; Rav Elya Kanarek, rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Ohr Hameir of Peekskill; the roshei yeshiva of Bais Medrash Govoah, Rav Malkiel Kotler, Rav Dovid Schustal, Rav Yeruchem Olshin, and Rav Yisroel Neuman; Rav Yisroel Ehrlich, rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Mishkan Hatorah; Rav Eliyahu Yagid, rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Keren Hatorah; Rav Avrohom Bromberg, rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Shaar Hatalmud; Rav Yaakov Horowitz, rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Bais Meir; Rav Dovid Breslauer, rosh kollel of Yeshiva Gedolah Zichron Moshe of South Fallsburg; Rav Shmuel Abba Olshin, rosh yeshiva of Yeshiva Gedolah of Hillside; Rav Yitzchok Lichtenstein, rosh yeshiva of Yeshiva Torah Vodaas; Rav Simcha Bunim Paler, rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Mekor Chaim; Rav Uri Meir Kanarek, rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Noam Hatalmud; Rav Moshe Pruzansky, rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Chemdas Hatorah; and other rabbonim.

Speakers emphasized that while technology in general — and AI in particular — is advancing at a pace never before seen, the Torah world must respond with clarity and firm boundaries. The discussion focused on how AI tools can quietly penetrate yeshiva environments, affect purity of thought, undermine discipline, and introduce influences that can be damaging to a ben Torah.

In his remarks, Rav Wachtfogel framed the challenge in stark but nuanced terms, describing AI as an “Eitz Hadaas Tov V’Ra.” He explained that the difficulty lies precisely in the fact that AI contains elements that are beneficial alongside components that are deeply harmful. “Halevai that it should only be ra, if only it would only have bad components,” he said. If that were the case, he noted, the battle would be far simpler. It is the blend of usefulness and danger, he explained, that makes AI so complex and so perilous for the Olam HaTorah.

Speakers stressed that what makes AI especially threatening is not only what it can do, but how subtly it can enter a person’s life, reshape thinking, and erode sensitivity without immediate awareness.

The assembled rabbonim spoke about the responsibility of roshei yeshiva and mechanchim to act proactively and establish clear policies.

{Matzav.com / Photo: Yissochar Dunoff}

Rabbi Dr. Eliyahu Zini has filed a defamation lawsuit seeking 500,000 shekels against Haaretz, accusing the newspaper of orchestrating a coordinated smear campaign aimed at him and his family in the lead-up to the appointment of his nephew, David Zini, as head of Israel’s Shin Bet. According to the lawsuit, filed through attorneys Yechiel Weinrot, […]

Prime Minister Netanyahu met this evening in his office in Jerusalem with U.S. Congressman Josh Gottheimer (D – NJ).

TRUMP: Minnesota’s Corrupt Governor will possibly leave office before his Term is up but, in any event, will not be running again because he was caught, REDHANDED, along with Ilhan Omar, and others of his Somali friends, stealing Tens of Billions of Taxpayer Dollars. I feel certain the facts will come out, and they will […]

The Trump administration is ending universal CDC recommendations for several childhood vaccines, including rotavirus, Covid-19, influenza, meningococcal disease, hepatitis A and hepatitis B — instead advising parents decide with healthcare providers. The CDC is also changing guidance for RSV, dengue and meningococcal vaccines so they are recommended only for high-risk children.

At a public gathering marking the return home of a yeshiva bochur who had been released from Israeli military prison after refusing to report to the Draft Office, Rav Tzemach Mazuz delivered pointed remarks urging reconciliation and mutual respect across Israeli society.

The rosh yeshiva of Yeshiva Kisei Rachamim focused his comments on tensions between the chareidi community and the Israel Defense Forces, warning that internal strife only weakens the nation.

Calling for a shift in mindset, Rav Mazuz stressed that the relationship between Torah learners and soldiers should not be viewed as adversarial. “It’s a shame that we have baseless hatred, as if we and the army are against each other. No, we complement each other!”

He went on to invoke the historical consequences of division, urging the public to replace animosity with genuine care and unity. “Enough with baseless hatred, it caused the destruction of the Second Bais Hamikdosh. Let’s increase ‘baseless love.’ I love every soldier. I love the army. They are doing their job, and we are doing our job. Together, with G-d’s help, Am Yisroel chai.”

{Matzav.com}

Under heavy security, a motorcade believed to be transporting Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, departed a Lower Manhattan federal courthouse following their arraignment.

A crowd gathered outside New York’s Metropolitan Detention Center, singing in celebration as Nicolás Maduro is held there following his capture by the U.S. in Venezuela.

The Bank of Israel has cut interest rates by 25 basis points to 4% for the second consecutive time — despite most economists expecting no change. The bank cited a stronger shekel, easing inflation after the December CPI, and declining risk levels. Governor Amir Yaron said policy will remain cautious due to continued uncertainty.

Tim Walz: “I don’t want to mince words here. Donald Trump and his allies in Washington and in Saint Paul and online want to make our state a colder, meaner place.”

Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro will be represented by defense attorney Barry Pollack, known for representing WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, while his wife, Cilia Flores, will be defended by former Houston federal prosecutor Mark Donnelly.

Governor Tim Walz holds a press conference after announcing he will not seek re-election in 2026.

An American military operation in Venezuela killed 32 Cuban officers over the weekend, the Cuban government said Sunday in the first official death count provided of the American strikes in the South American nation. The Cuban military and police officers were on a mission the Caribbean country’s military was carrying out at the request of […]

A defamation lawsuit seeking half a million shekels has been filed by Rabbi Dr. Eliyahu Zini against Haaretz, alleging that the paper carried out a coordinated effort to damage his reputation and that of his family. The suit was submitted through his legal team, Dr. Yehiel Weinrot, Tal Shachaf, and Yehuda Schwartz.

According to the filing, the campaign began on September 4, 2025, when a prominent article appeared on the front page of a Haaretz weekend supplement. Written by Hilo Glazer, the piece carried the headline “There Have Been Extremists in Israel’s Leadership, But a Shin Bet Head Like David Zini Has Never Been Seen.”

The lawsuit claims the presentation of the article was designed to cultivate what it describes as a “dramatic and dark atmosphere,” featuring oversized text and a black background. The article allegedly cast suspicion on Major General David Zini, the incoming head of the Shin Bet, and focused particular attention on his uncle, Rabbi Eliyahu Zini.

At the center of the complaint is Glazer’s assertion that Rabbi Zini authored an article in the book Baruch HaGever. In that piece, Glazer allegedly wrote, Rabbi Zini praised the massacre at the Cave of the Patriarchs and claimed that “the prohibition of ‘Do not kill’ does not apply to a Jew who kills a non-Jew.”

Rabbi Zini flatly denies those claims, calling them entirely fabricated. The lawsuit states that “the plaintiff never wrote or contributed an article to this book; his name does not appear in the list of authors; there is no reference to him regarding the massacre at the Cave of the Patriarchs; and he has never made the claims attributed to him on any platform.”

The suit further alleges that the accusations were repeated weeks later. On September 22, 2025, another Haaretz article, this time by Doron Koren, again attributed the same statements to Rabbi Zini, adding what the lawsuit describes as heightened “sensationalism,” including the claim that “His nephew (Rabbi Dr. Zini) praised the massacre at the Cave of the Patriarchs in an article in the book Baruch HaGever and claimed that ‘Do not kill’ does not apply to a Jew who kills a non-Jew.”

According to the filing, additional Haaretz writers echoed the allegations after the initial publication, including in an editorial titled “Zini’s Test” and in a separate article by Yossi Klein.

Rabbi Zini contends that the cumulative effect of these publications amounted to a “coordinated and timed campaign of intimidation designed to tarnish the reputation of the family and relatives of the new head of the Shin Bet, Major General David Zini, with the goal of thwarting his appointment.” He argues that readers could reasonably come away believing he praised the massacre, an assertion he insists is completely untrue.

{Matzav.com}

Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu delivered a forceful response this evening to opposition criticism during a 40-signature debate in the Knesset, rejecting claims about the government’s conduct and laying out what he described as the strategic consequences of its decisions.

Turning to the opposition benches, Netanyahu addressed Yesh Atid chairman Yair Lapid directly, saying, “Keep shouting.” He followed with a pointed jab at the party’s political standing: “You should carefully measure the level of shouting in your faction because there are only four realistic seats.”

Netanyahu then launched a broader attack on the opposition’s approach, accusing it of reflexive resistance to critical government actions. “You are an extremist opposition that automatically opposes the fateful decisions we make, and thanks to which we guarantee the eternity of Israel. It’s lucky we didn’t listen to you, because otherwise there would have been hostages alive in Gaza, Sinwar would have been alive, Nasrallah would have been alive, and Iran would have rushed towards nuclear weapons. Reality clearly proves that we are not the extremists. We are very balanced, determined, and powerful.”

Addressing Iran, Netanyahu warned that Israel and the United States remain aligned on preventing Tehran from rebuilding its military capabilities. “Trump and I will not allow Iran to restore its ballistic missile industry and nuclear program,” he said. He added that Israel stands with the Iranian public while underscoring the gravity of the moment: “We identify with the struggle of the Iranian people. We may be standing at a crucial moment. If we are attacked, the consequences for Iran will be very serious.”

Referencing his meeting with President Trump in Florida last week, Netanyahu said the two leaders reaffirmed shared objectives regarding Gaza. “The President emphasized our shared commitment to disarm Hamas and demilitarize Gaza,” he told the Knesset.

In closing remarks aimed again at his critics, Netanyahu accused the opposition of undermining national strength while claiming to promote unity. “You, with your defeatism and bowing your heads, in opposing every decision the government has made for Israel, are the extremists who are harming our national cohesion and resilience. This is expressed in many areas. You talk about unity and at the same time, you are dividing.”

{Matzav.com}

Ousted Venezuelan strongman Nicolás Maduro erupted in Manhattan federal court Monday, denouncing his arrest as an abduction before being swiftly halted by the presiding judge as the proceedings began.

“I’m the president of the republic of Venezuela … I am here kidnapped … I was captured at my home in Caracas, Venezuela,” Maduro declared at the outset of the hearing, prompting an immediate interruption from Alvin Hellerstein, who moved to rein in the outburst.

“Let me interfere — there will be a time and a place to go into all of this. Your counsel will be able to make motions … at this time, I just want to know one thing: Are you Nicolás Maduro Moros?” the judge asked from the bench.

“I am Nicholas Maduro Moros,” the defendant responded.

The confrontation set the tone for a contentious arraignment in which Maduro repeatedly proclaimed his innocence and insisted he remains the legitimate leader of Venezuela. After Hellerstein advised him of his right to legal counsel, Maduro pushed back.

“I am innocent. I am not guilty. I am a decent man. I am still president of my country,” he said.

When informed of his constitutional rights, Maduro claimed he was learning of them in real time. “I did not know of these rights. Your honor is informing me of them now,” Marudo said, adding that he was seeing the indictment for the first time and formally entering a plea of not guilty.

“I am innocent. I am not guilty of anything that is mentioned here,” he said.

The exchange followed brief pleasantries between judge and defendant, with Hellerstein opening the session by saying, “Good morning, Mr. Maduro,” before launching into a sweeping recitation of the charges. The 92-year-old jurist read aloud allegations spanning more than a quarter century.

“Mr. Maduro … is charged in one count of narco-terrorism conspiracy, specifically from 1999 to 2025, he knowingly conspired with others … and intentionally provided something of pecuniary value to a person or organization engaged in terrorism and terrorist activity,” Hellerstein said.

As the charges were read, Maduro scribbled furiously on a white sheet of paper at the defense table.

Monday marked the first appearance in a U.S. federal courtroom for Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. The 66-year-old former leader and his 69-year-old spouse were indicted Saturday in the Southern District of New York on charges including narco-terrorism conspiracy, cocaine importation conspiracy, possession of machine guns and destructive devices, and conspiracy to possess machine guns and destructive devices against the United States.

Federal prosecutors say the couple was taken into custody at their heavily fortified compound in Caracas during a high-risk operation carried out by U.S. forces, dubbed “Operation Absolute Resolve,” after Donald Trump authorized the mission earlier that day.

The Trump administration has long labeled Maduro’s rule illegitimate, asserting that he clung to power through rigged elections, including the 2024 vote. Under Venezuela’s constitution, Executive Vice President Delcy Rodríguez would be next in line to assume the presidency.

Maduro and Flores are currently being held in separate, solitary cells at Metropolitan Detention Center, the high-security Brooklyn facility guarded by heavily armed law enforcement. The jail has previously housed some of the most notorious defendants in recent history, including Mexican drug lord Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman, music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs, and accused UnitedHealthcare CEO killer Luigi Mangione.

{Matzav.com}

During his weekly shiur, Rav Yitzchak Yosef, the former Rishon LeTzion, addressed the recent arrests of yeshiva students and what he described as their mistreatment in military detention. Speaking at Beis Knesset HaYazdim in Yerushalayim, Rav Yosef wove the issue into his ongoing halachic discussion of Maariv, including whether one who davens an early Maariv has already accepted nighttime.

Rav Yosef shared a personal account involving a family member. “I have a grandson, a yeshiva bochur, who received a draft order,” he said. “He tore it up and put it in the toilet, as I told him to, and I told him not to come home to visit. Why? They’ll come at two in the morning, knock on the door, and take him to arrest. They don’t enter the yeshiva. Stay in the yeshiva – lock yourself in.” He added pointedly, “Maybe something good will come from this — that they’ll stay locked inside the yeshiva.”

The Rishon LeTzion then related the story of a yeshiva student arrested for what authorities term “draft evasion” and taken to a military prison, using the account to frame a halachic question raised during the shiur. “There was someone who didn’t stay in the yeshiva,” Rav Yosef said. “He wasn’t feeling well and went to his home in Ofakim. They came in the middle of the night and arrested him. He was taken to detention. In the morning he asked for tefillin — they took him quickly and he didn’t have a chance to bring tefillin — but they refused under any circumstances, especially if there are female guards there.”

Rav Yosef continued with a description relayed to him by one of the detainees. “One of the prisoners told me that a guard said to him, ‘Do you believe in Hakadosh Boruch Hu?’ He answered, ‘Of course, what do you mean?’ The guard said, ‘Hakadosh Boruch Hu will bring you [the tefillin].’ That’s how they mock. Evening came and they had to eat quickly. What did he do? At ten past four he davened Maariv. What else could he do there?”

At that point, Rav Yosef explained, the story took an unexpected turn that raised a practical halachic issue. “After he finished Maariv, at four-ten, suddenly they brought him tefillin,” the Rishon LeTzion said. “Can I put on tefillin now? He already davened Maariv — he already made it night.”

{Matzav.com}

In the second such incident in less than a month, an Israeli was arrested after filming outside the home of former prime minister Naftali Bennett in Ra’anana on behalf of Iran, the Shin Bet and the Israel Police announced in a joint statement on Monday. Lekachao Demsash, a 30-year-old resident of Rishon L’Tzion, was arrested […]

Dear Matzav Inbox,

A troubling tone has crept into our communal conversation, one that treats roshei mosdos not as devoted servants of the tzibbur, but as convenient targets for frustration, suspicion, and public scorn.

At a time when our mosdos are under unprecedented financial and societal pressure, the people standing at the helm are being second-guessed, attacked, and blamed for problems they did not create and cannot magically solve. It is long past time to pause, step back, and speak honestly about what roshei mosdos actually carry on their shoulders, and why they deserve our understanding, support, and gratitude rather than our anger.

Do you know what it’s like to be constantly harassed?

Not criticized in good faith. Not asked sincere questions. Harassed. Day in and day out. Anonymous emails. Public WhatsApp groups. Snide comments whispered at simchos. Armchair experts who have never balanced a budget, never signed a paycheck, never sat across from a rebbi whose rent is overdue, yet somehow feel fully qualified to pass judgment.

Do you know what it’s like to fundraise just to survive?

To wake up every morning knowing that if the checks don’t come in, the lights don’t stay on. That tuition — even when painfully high — still doesn’t cover expenses. That every month is a cliffhanger. That one donor pulling back can mean cutting a program, a rebbi, a therapist, a lifeline for a child who needs it most.

Do you know what it’s like to make payroll?

To stare at numbers late at night, calculating and recalculating, wondering how to stretch what you don’t have into what you must have. To sign checks knowing full well that your own salary — if you even take one — is the last priority. To absorb the stress so that rabbeim can teach, educators can inspire, and children can walk into a building that feels safe and stable.

Most roshei mosdos didn’t sign up for this.

They didn’t open yeshivos and schools because they wanted power, prestige, or a title. They opened mosdos to serve the community. To answer a need. To give children chinuch. To build something that would outlive them.

And instead, they are crushed under an impossible load.

They deal with parents who are hurting financially, but who sometimes turn that pain into anger directed at the very people trying to keep the doors open. They hear, “Why is tuition so high?” from both sides of their office door: parents who can’t afford it, and staff who can’t live without raises.

They deal with staff shortages, burnout, emotional crises, special needs cases that require infinite patience and resources, and children who come to school carrying burdens far heavier than backpacks. They are expected to be educators, administrators, fundraisers, social workers, compliance officers, and miracle workers — all at once.

They deal with ציבור pressure.

Everyone has an opinion. Everyone knows better. Everyone is sure there’s a simpler solution — until it’s their turn to sit in the chair.

And yet, despite all of this, they keep going.

They answer calls late at night. They sit with parents who are crying. They advocate for students who have no one else. They take the hits so others don’t have to. They absorb the stress, the blame, the venom — because if they don’t, the system collapses.

We owe them far more than criticism.

We owe them gratitude. Respect. Basic mentchlichkeit.

You don’t have to agree with every decision. You don’t have to think every policy is perfect. But the casual, relentless bashing of roshei mosdos has crossed a line. It is cruel. It is ignorant. And it is deeply unfair.

Before firing off that message. Before joining that pile-on. Before declaring, with great confidence, what “they should do,” ask yourself one question:

Could you do this?

Carry the financial burden. The emotional toll. The responsibility for hundreds or thousands of lives. The sleepless nights. The endless pressure. The public judgment.

Most people couldn’t last a week.

Roshei mosdos carry an impossible load so that our children can have a future. The least we can do is stop making it heavier.

L. K.

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{Matzav.com}

Following earlier evacuation warnings, the IDF has now begun attacking targets across southern Lebanon.