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Join hundreds of women who have transformed themselves, their homes, and their relationships with their children. Topics: Discipline, boundaries, building a positive and healthy relationship – even with the very challenging child, your child’s emotional needs, maintaining a positive home, dealing with out-of-control behavior, handling fights and arguments, the spiritual routine & the emotional spirituality atmosphere in the home, siblings dynamics and safety. Geared for ages 3-12 Beginner/ Fundamental Course: Dates  (11 sessions)Nov 10, 17, 24Dec 1, 8, 23, 24Jan 4, 13Feb 4, 13 Time: 8:30-9:30 Price: $475 Location: Lakewood, or via zoom/ teleconference   Mrs. Hirschfeld has been teaching/coaching mothers for 15 years. Her down-to-earth,approachable, and clear instruction has helped hundreds of mothers transform their homes and improve their relationships with their children.  Mrs. Hirscheld is trained, endorsed and supervised directly by Rebitzen Sima Spetner, with whom she maintains a close personal relationship. Course attendees are eligible to attend Rebitzen Spetner’s alumni courses/ teen courses at a later date.  Join from the comfort of your home! Courses available via zoom/ teleconference For information or to register: (call/ text) 718-578-2128, or email: ehparenting@gmail.com Inquire about private consultations with Mrs. Hirschfeld.   Back by popular demand! Chinuch va’d for Men by Rabbi Eli Hirschfeld: Get on the same pagewith your husband. Rabbi Eli Hirschfeld call/text 718.344.7589

President Donald Trump said Monday he could ask Israel to return to areas of Gaza vacated under the recent ceasefire and “eradicate Hamas” if necessary but is holding off to give the fragile truce a chance to hold. “We made a deal with Hamas that they’re going to be very good, they’re going to behave, they’re going to be nice, and if not, we’re going to eradicate them if we have to,” Trump told reporters at the White House. He reiterated that he does not believe Hamas’s leadership authorized Sunday’s deadly attack on Israeli troops in Gaza. “I don’t believe it was the leadership, but they have some rebellion in there among themselves,” Trump said, referencing internal executions by Hamas against rival factions. Calling Hamas “a violent group,” Trump warned, “If they keep doing it, then we’re going to straighten it out, and it’ll happen very quickly and pretty violently.” Trump added that several countries had privately offered to intervene in Gaza, claiming, “Israel would go in in two minutes if I asked them. But right now, we haven’t said that. We’re going to give it a little chance.” (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei dismissed an invitation from President Donald Trump to reopen nuclear talks, flatly denying the claim that Washington has eliminated Iran’s nuclear capabilities.

In recent months, Tehran and Washington held five indirect negotiation rounds, which ultimately collapsed following a 12-day aerial offensive in June when Israel and the United States struck Iranian nuclear installations.

“Trump says he is a dealmaker, but if a deal is accompanied by coercion and its outcome is predetermined, it is not a deal but rather an imposition and bullying,” Khamenei declared through Iranian state outlets.

Trump had told the Knesset last week that the United States would welcome the chance to broker a “peace deal” with Tehran now that a truce between Israel and Hamas had taken hold in Gaza.

“The U.S. president proudly says they bombed and destroyed Iran’s nuclear industry. Very well, keep dreaming!” Khamenei scoffed, rejecting Washington’s claims.

He went on to question America’s involvement altogether, saying, “What does it have to do with America whether Iran has nuclear facilities or not? These interventions are inappropriate, wrong and coercive.”

Western nations continue to accuse Tehran of secretly pursuing a nuclear weapons program through uranium enrichment, while Iranian officials maintain the initiative is entirely for civilian power generation and not for building bombs.

{Matzav.com}

The government shutdown entered its twentieth day on Monday, marking the longest full closure in U.S. history and the third-longest overall, behind only the 35-day partial shutdown of 2018–19 and the 21-day standoff of 1995–96. Yet despite the historic milestone and mounting economic strain, Congress remains locked in a stalemate with no clear path forward. The Senate is set to take up another vote Monday night on the House-passed continuing resolution to reopen the government, a procedural motion that would mark the eleventh failed attempt to end the impasse. Few lawmakers expect a different outcome this time. A separate Republican measure that would guarantee pay for federal employees during the shutdown is expected to come to the floor later this week, but Democrats have already dismissed it as a “show vote,” arguing that it serves as political theater designed to benefit President Donald Trump and Office of Management and Budget Director Russ Vought. The White House has remained steadfast that spending levels must stay below those approved under former President Joe Biden before Trump will consider signing any funding measure. The partisan divide has hardened in the upper chamber, though cracks are beginning to appear within Democratic ranks. Senator John Fetterman of Pennsylvania has publicly criticized his party’s strategy, warning that Democrats risk losing credibility by keeping the government closed in a push to extend Affordable Care Act subsidies that expire at year’s end. “We wrote the law—we should own the consequences,” Fetterman said, urging colleagues to confront the looming lapse in health-care support. Meanwhile, the shutdown’s fallout is deepening across the country. Federal employees will miss their first full paycheck this week, prompting several major banks and credit unions to offer short-term emergency loans. Air traffic controllers, working without pay, have begun signaling that they may stop reporting for shifts if the situation continues, raising fears of widespread flight delays and disruptions. At the Department of Agriculture, loan programs for farmers and small businesses remain suspended, leaving rural communities facing growing uncertainty. Senate Republicans plan to meet with Trump on Tuesday in the newly renovated White House Rose Garden, a symbolic show of unity that underscores the party’s continued alignment with the former president as he drives the shutdown strategy from the West Wing. For now, neither side shows signs of budging. With critical programs nearing collapse and the November 1 funding deadline fast approaching, the next several days could determine whether Washington can break the gridlock—or whether this shutdown will cement its place among the most disruptive in modern American history. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

House Speaker Mike Johnson of Louisiana pushed back hard against what he described as a coordinated media effort to portray the recent “No Kings” demonstrations as peaceful gatherings. He accused the movement’s organizers and participants — including groups identifying as “anti-fascists” — of promoting violent rhetoric under the guise of political protest.

Johnson displayed posters featuring signs carried by demonstrators referencing former FBI Director Jim Comey’s “86 47” phrase. The term “86” — restaurant slang for “to eliminate” — has been widely interpreted as a veiled threat toward President Donald Trump, the nation’s 47th president.

At his daily shutdown press briefing, Johnson denounced what he called a dangerous escalation of language that could easily turn into action. “They’re not just protesting — what they’re doing is different – they’re trying to incite violence,” he warned, adding that federal officials are tracking potential threats linked to the rallies. “You don’t mock a president that has already had two failed assassination attempts on his life. This is not a game.”

While some argue the slogans were meant only as political criticism of Trump, Johnson’s remarks reflected a growing Republican alarm about the increasingly hostile tone of anti-Trump demonstrations — especially as the government shutdown drags on and election tensions rise. “When they go the next step and call for violence on political officials in an environment that’s already heightened threat environment, it’s dangerous stuff,” Johnson said.

He sarcastically acknowledged that the protests did not devolve into destruction, saying, “They had a right to do it. Congratulations, they didn’t burn any buildings down. That’s a big achievement for the left to have some kind of gathering where they don’t have some kind of looting, and riots, and burning a building down. But you need to look past that and look at what they’re actually advocating for openly.”

Johnson also indicated he would recall the House into session if the Senate approved a bill to restore pay for federal employees, possibly setting up a Tuesday vote.

When asked about President Trump’s Truth Social post featuring a meme that depicted protesters being airdropped with excrement, Johnson defended it as symbolic commentary rather than incitement. “He is using satire to make a point,” the Speaker explained. “He is not calling for the murder of his political opponents, and that’s what these people are doing. It’s unconscionable.”

{Matzav.com}

Hagaon HaRav Elya Brudny and Hagaon HaRav Malkiel Kotler addressing the hundreds of Chavrusos at a Lev L’Achim Kiruv Bais Hamedrash in Holon. The delegation of Gedolim includes the Novaminsker Rebbe from Lakewood, Hagaon HaRav Yudi Svei (Rosh Yeshiva Philadelphia) and Hagaon HaRav Chaim Yehoshua Hoberman (Rosh Yeshiva Long Beach).

The Washington Post reports that construction crews have begun taking apart part of the White House to pave the way for President Donald Trump’s long-planned ballroom project.

President Donald Trump said Monday that the U.S. commands “great respect” from Beijing and that he will reach a “fantastic deal” with Chinese President Xi Jinping when the two leaders meet soon. Trump’s remarks come after Beijing infuriated him by expanding export controls on rare earth products that are used in smartphones, fighter jets, electric vehicles and more. Trump spoke as he hosted Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese at the White House, celebrating an agreement with the U.S. ally as a potential counterpoint to China’s near-monopoly in processing those critical minerals. “I think we’re going to end up having a fantastic deal with China,” Trump said. “It’s going to be a great trade deal. It’s going to be fantastic for both countries, and it’s going to be fantastic for the entire world.” When asked about China’s leverage, Trump said Beijing “threatened us with rare earths, and I threatened them with tariffs.” But he insisted his good relationship with Xi means they would work out ”a very fair deal.” All eyes are on a potential meeting between Trump and Xi because any failure to reach some agreement raises the risk of destabilizing not only relations between the two superpowers but also the global economy. Trump affirmed that he would meet with Xi this month on the sidelines of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation summit, a grouping of 21 economies. Beijing has not announced plans for Xi to make the trip to South Korea, but it’s not unusual for such details to emerge closer to the travel date. Trump touts tariffs as a powerful tool with China The president has threatened to impose a new 100% tariff on China in response to Beijing’s expanded rules on rare earth products. And he said Monday that it has already had results. “Now, they’re treating us with great respect,” Trump said. “Now, we’ll see what happens. I said, if we don’t make a deal, I’m putting on an additional 100% on November 1. I think we’ll make a deal.” Since returning to the White House, Trump has levied additional 30% across-the-board tariffs on China. Trump said the total rate on Chinese goods is about 55% to 57% and the country has paid the U.S. “hundreds of billions of dollars worth of money for tariffs.” Beijing, however, has indicated it would play hardball. “Threatening high tariffs is not the right way to deal with China,” Lin Jian, a spokesperson for the Chinese foreign ministry, said last week in response to Trump’s new tariffs threat. At the meeting with Albanese, Trump said he has other options to use against China: “They can’t get parts for their airplanes. We build their airplanes.” Still, he said he prefers reaching a deal. “I want to be good to China. I love my relationship with President Xi,” Trump said. Trump isn’t worried about China attacking Taiwan Trump also dismissed concerns that Beijing could soon attack the self-governed island of Taiwan. That is because, he said, the U.S. is far superior in military power. “It’s not even close,” Trump said. “We have the best equipment. We have the best of everything, and nobody’s going to mess with that.” The United States is obligated by its own laws to give military support to Taiwan, which split from China in 1949 during a civil war. Beijing claims sovereignty over the island and vows to seize it by force if […]

Moscow has brushed aside President Trump’s new proposal to halt the war in Ukraine by freezing both sides at their current positions, insisting that “Russia’s stance doesn’t change.”

Responding to Trump’s weekend call for an immediate end to the fighting — one that would effectively leave each side in control of the land it presently holds — Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov mocked the idea that Kyiv would be allowed to retain portions of the Donbas region.

“This topic was repeatedly raised in various forms during contacts between Russia and the US. The Russian side answered every time, this answer is well known: The consistency of Russia’s position doesn’t change,” Peskov told local outlets.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has long maintained that Ukraine must fully relinquish the Donbas before Moscow will consider any cease-fire arrangement.

At present, Russian forces occupy most of the Donbas region — holding all of Luhansk Oblast and roughly three-quarters of Donetsk Oblast, according to open-source tracking and military analysts.

Still, Moscow’s army has been unable to seize Donetsk’s heavily fortified “fortress belt,” which has successfully pushed back Russian offensives for over three years.

Kyiv has steadfastly refused to entertain any proposal that involves surrendering the region, warning that doing so would allow Moscow to regroup and more easily overrun the rest of the country once the Donetsk defenses are dismantled.

According to the Washington Post, Putin told Trump in a recent phone call — which took place before Trump’s meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky — that Russia expects Kyiv to yield Donetsk as part of any truce.

Following that conversation, Trump sat down with Zelensky for a three-hour discussion in which he outlined his plan to end hostilities and “stop where they are.”

“So what I say is they should stop right now at the battle lines. Go home, stop killing people and be done,” Trump told reporters Sunday.

Trump rejected claims that the session with Zelensky turned heated or that he pressured the Ukrainian leader to cede the entire Donbas or face destruction at the hands of Russia.

Despite dismissing Trump’s cease-fire suggestion, Peskov noted that the Kremlin remains open to a face-to-face between Trump and Putin to continue negotiations.

The two leaders are reportedly planning to meet in Budapest in the coming weeks, though it is unclear whether Zelensky will take part.

Trump and Putin last conferred during a summit in Alaska earlier this summer.

{Matzav.com}

HAPPENING NOW: A delegation of Gedolim from the United States accompanied by a group of Baalei Batim are currently on a tour of the many incredible Lev L’Achim Kiruv Batei Midrashim, where Avreichim learn each night with non-religious Israelis, infusing their Neshamos and instilling their souls with the sweet words of Torah and Yiddishkeit. YWN will provide additional details of this historic trip over the next 24 hours.

The Israel Defense Forces announced Monday evening that it has taken possession of the body of an Israeli hostage, handed over by the Red Cross after being collected from Hamas operatives earlier in the day.

“The IDF requests that people act with sensitivity and await the official identification that will first be given to the families of the hostages. Hamas is required to abide by the agreement and to make all necessary efforts to return the fallen hostages,” the military said in a statement.

A short time later, the army clarified: “According to information provided by the Red Cross, a coffin of a deceased hostage has been transferred into its custody and is on the way to IDF troops in the Gaza Strip. Hamas is required to uphold the agreement and take the necessary steps to return all the hostages.”

Following the arrival of the coffin to Israeli forces, the Chief Military Rabbi is expected to lead a brief service, which will include the recitation of Tehillim and the draping of the Israeli flag over the coffin.

{Matzav.com}

The federal government shutdown has now stretched into its twentieth day, officially marking it as the longest full closure in American history — and the third-longest overall, surpassed only by the 35-day partial shutdown of 2018–19 and the 21-day standoff of 1995–96.

The Senate is preparing for another vote on the continuing resolution already passed by the House, scheduled for Monday evening. Lawmakers, however, are bracing for what would be the eleventh failed effort to end the standoff.

“Since the Democrats recklessly shut down the United States government, the Democrats are making some very costly history here: Don’t lose that in all that’s happening,” House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., said Monday at his daily briefing. “This is now the third longest shutdown in history. And when you look at it carefully, it is now already the longest full shutdown of all time. You had an example in 2018, and you had one back in 1995 that were longer, but they were partial shutdowns because they only affected a part of the federal government. This is everything.”

Republicans plan to advance a separate measure this week that would allow federal workers to receive pay during the shutdown. Democrats, however, are dismissing the effort as a political stunt meant to benefit President Donald Trump and OMB Director Russ Vought — and have indicated they will not support it, according to Punchbowl News.

Trump and Vought have pledged to hold firm until Senate Democrats agree to reopen the government under spending limits below those set by President Joe Biden. The two have argued that the shutdown is an opportunity to trim federal programs that favor Democratic priorities.

While most Democrats are united in opposing the House measure, a handful have begun to break ranks. Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., criticized his colleagues for refusing to take responsibility for the Affordable Care Act subsidies that are set to expire later this year.

“It’s also important for us to note this is the first time in history that any party has had the audacity to shut down the government over a totally clean, nonpartisan continuing resolution,” Johnson said again at his briefing. “This is a political stunt, and it’s the first time it’s been done. It is the most costly, most selfish, most dangerous political stunt in the history of the United States Congress.”

As the shutdown enters its third week, the consequences are deepening. Federal workers will go without their first full paycheck this week, prompting some banks and credit unions to extend emergency loans to affected employees. Air traffic controllers have warned that staff shortages could soon disrupt flights nationwide.

Meanwhile, the USDA’s loan and grant programs for farmers and small businesses have ground to a halt, leaving many without critical funding.

On Tuesday, Senate Republicans are expected to meet with Trump in the newly renovated Rose Garden. The gathering, largely symbolic, underscores the party’s continued solidarity with the White House as the standoff drags on.

With essential programs faltering and the November 1 funding deadline looming, lawmakers face mounting pressure to end the crisis — or risk cementing this episode as one of the most damaging shutdowns in modern U.S. history.

According to USA Today, here’s how this shutdown compares to the longest in U.S. history (ranked by duration):

1. 2019 under Trump – 35 days

2. 1996 under President Bill Clinton – 21 days

3. 2025 under Trump – 20 days

4. 1978 under President Jimmy Carter – 17 days (tied)

5. 2013 under President Barack Obama – 17 days (tied)

6. 1977 under Carter – 12 days

7. 1976 under President Gerald Ford – 11 days (tied)

8. 1979 under Carter – 11 days (tied)

9. 1977 under Carter – 8 days (tied)

10. 1977 under Carter – 8 days (tied)

11. 1995 under President Bill Clinton – 5 days

12. 1990 under President George H.W. Bush – 4 days

13. 2018 under Trump – 3 days (tied)

14. 1982 under President Ronald Reagan – 3 days (tied)

15. 1983 under Reagan – 3 days (tied)

16. 1981 under Reagan – 2 days (tied)

17. 1984 under Reagan – 2 days (tied)

18. 1982 under Reagan – 1 day (tied)

19. 1984 under Reagan – 1 day (tied)

20. 1986 under Reagan – 1 day (tied)

21. 1987 under Reagan – 1 day (tied)

22. 2018 under Trump – several hours

“The Senate Democrats have zero shame about this,” Johnson said. “They don’t have any shame at all about the pain that they’re inflicting upon hardworking families, upon soldiers and law enforcement officers and veterans, the elderly and the disabled, women, infants, and children. Services to all those categories and paychecks to those folks are being stalled because Democrats are playing games today.”

{Matzav.com}

A surprising new poll shows that Andrew Cuomo could come within striking distance of left-wing frontrunner Zohran Mamdani in the New York City mayoral race — but only if Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa steps aside.

According to results from Gotham Polling and AARP New York, 44.6% of voters said they would support Mamdani if Sliwa exited the race, compared to 40.7% who would back Cuomo. With the survey’s 4-point margin of error, Cuomo would be nearly neck-and-neck with the Queens assemblyman.

When all three candidates remain on the ballot, Mamdani still leads decisively, drawing 43.2% of the vote to Cuomo’s 28.9% and Sliwa’s 19.4%, the poll revealed.

The data also indicates that undecided voters skew older — with nearly 78% of them aged 50 or above — a demographic that could significantly benefit Cuomo, while Mamdani continues to dominate among younger voters.

“The decisive factor in this race may be the older voters who haven’t yet made up their minds,” said Stephen Graves, president of Gotham Polling & Analytics. “If the contest narrows to two leading candidates, the 50-plus electorate — by far the most reliable voting bloc — will likely determine who becomes the next mayor of New York City.”

The survey was modeled after 2021 general election turnout, when fewer than 40% of voters were under 50. Analysts cautioned that this may undercount Mamdani’s strength, as his campaign has since registered tens of thousands of younger voters, potentially shifting turnout to an even split between age groups this November.

Despite the poll’s projections, both Cuomo and Sliwa have vowed to stay in the race. Cuomo, running as an independent after losing to Mamdani in the Democratic primary, and Sliwa, representing Republicans, have each dismissed suggestions that they should step aside.

Researchers surveyed 1,040 likely voters over two days last week. Across all age groups, respondents cited the cost of living as their top concern, with 63.6% naming it their primary issue. Public safety followed at 48.6%, while 38.9% pointed to housing affordability as their main worry.

Nearly 43% of voters identified as very liberal or somewhat liberal — a clear advantage for Mamdani — while just over 23% described themselves as somewhat or very conservative.

Mamdani, a 33-year-old state assemblyman from Queens, shocked the political establishment when he defeated Cuomo and outgoing Mayor Eric Adams in June’s Democratic primary. Born in Uganda and raised in New York, Mamdani calls himself a proud socialist.

His progressive positions have sparked controversy in political and Jewish circles alike, particularly due to his sharp criticism of Israel and his refusal to denounce Hamas.

Cuomo, age 67, who previously served as New York’s governor and as U.S. housing secretary, took aim at Mamdani’s inexperience during the first of two recent mayoral debates. On Sunday, he again targeted Sliwa, labeling him a “spoiler” and urging him to withdraw.

“The problem is Curtis Sliwa is a spoiler in the race,” Cuomo said on WABC 770 AM’s “The Cats Roundtable.” “A vote for Curtis Sliwa is really a vote for Mamdani.”

Sliwa, 71, founder of the Guardian Angels and a longtime radio host, fired back during last week’s debate, insisting that Cuomo should be the one to step aside instead.

The Gotham/AARP poll concluded that older New Yorkers could once again tip the balance.

“Once again, New York’s older voters are poised to decide this election,” said Beth Finkel, AARP New York State Director. “These are issues that matter not only to older adults and to New Yorkers of every generation.”

{Matzav.com}

The Supreme Court said on Monday that it will consider whether people who regularly smoke marijuana can legally own guns, the latest firearm case to come before the court since its 2022 decision expanding gun rights. President Donald Trump’s administration asked the justices to revive a case against a Texas man charged with a felony because he allegedly had a gun in his home and acknowledged being a regular pot user. The Justice Department appealed after a lower court largely struck down a law that bars people who use any illegal drugs from having guns. The Republican administration favors Second Amendment rights, but government attorneys argued that this ban is a justifiable restriction. They asked the court to reinstate a case against Ali Danial Hemani. His lawyers got the felony charge tossed out after the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals found that the blanket ban is unconstitutional under the Supreme Court’s expanded view of gun rights. The appellate judges found it could still be used against people accused of being high and armed at the same time, though. Hemani’s attorneys argue the broadly written law puts millions of people at risk of technical violations since at least 20% of Americans have tried pot, according to government health data. About half of states legalized recreational marijuana, but it’s still illegal under federal law. The Justice Department argues the law is valid when used against regular drug users because they pose a serious public safety risk. The government said the FBI found Hemani’s gun and cocaine in a search of his home as they probed travel and communications allegedly linked to Iran. The gun charge was the only one filed, however, and his lawyers said the other allegations were irrelevant and were mentioned only to make him seem more dangerous. The case marks another flashpoint in the application of the Supreme Court’s new test for firearm restrictions. The conservative majority found in 2022 that the Second Amendment generally gives people the right to carry guns in public for self-defense and any firearm restrictions must have a strong grounding in the nation’s history. The landmark 2022 ruling led to a cascade of challenges to firearm laws around the country, though the justices have since upheld a different federal law intended to protect victims of domestic violence by barring guns from people under restraining orders. (AP)

The IDF has begun placing physical markers along the Yellow Line in the Gaza Strip, to which it withdrew under the current ceasefire. The markers—3.5-meter-tall concrete blocks topped with yellow metal signs—are being set roughly 200 meters apart. The military started marking the line yesterday and says the effort will continue “in the coming period.” According to mediators, the Yellow Line covers more than half of the Strip’s territory, about 53%, mostly outside urban areas.

After several months of quiet, the IDF Military Police have resumed their controversial operations targeting yeshiva students who have not reported for military service. The renewed effort began overnight with an attempted arrest in the chareidi neighborhood of Neve Yaakov in northern Yerushalayim.

The incident, which occurred shortly after midnight between Sunday and Monday, saw Military Police investigators attempt to detain a yeshiva student at his home on Edmond Fleg Street. Within minutes, large crowds of local residents gathered in protest, leading to a major confrontation that forced the police to retreat from the area without completing the arrest.

Eyewitnesses described chaotic scenes as residents poured into the streets, chanting and blocking police vehicles. The Peleg Yerushalmi issued a statement claiming responsibility for the resistance. “The masses who arrived prevented the arrest, and the police withdrew,” the statement read. “Eyewitnesses reported that the Military Police used force in an attempt to break down the door.”

The dramatic standoff marks the first such attempt in months. Until now, the Military Police had largely confined their operations to airport arrests — detaining yeshiva students identified as draft evaders when attempting to leave or return to the country.

The renewed activity comes amid heightened tensions surrounding the draft issue and ongoing debates within the government over the future of the draft law. Community leaders in Neve Yaakov condemned the incident, warning that any attempt to arrest yeshiva students from their homes risks inflaming already fragile relations between the religious community and the state.

For now, the yeshiva student remains free, and police sources say the operation will be reviewed, though indications suggest that further arrest attempts could follow in the coming weeks as enforcement intensifies.

{Matzav.com}

Israel Police chief Danny Levy has ordered police officers to refrain from arresting Chareidi “draft dodgers,” despite the IDF and Justice Ministry’s request for assistance in enforcement, Haaretz reported on Monday. According to the new directive, from now on, if a Chareidi “draft dodger” is encountered by a police officer, he will receive a summons to appear at the military police, but he will not be arrested or immediately transferred to the military police. According to the report, the new directive was issued due to concerns about protests and a shortage of security manpower. In a discussion held last month at the Ministry of Justice, it became clear that the police had changed their approach and were unwilling to assist the military police in the arrest of Chareidim, partially due to concerns about clashes and disturbances that would require the police to allocate large forces to restore public order. The document distributed to police officers states that police officers are forbidden from carrying out joint operations with the military police to capture deserters, such as joint roadblocks. “The Israel Police does not carry out proactive activities on the subject,” it stated. The statement continues by saying, “Locating and arresting deserters may lead to public order events, including protests and clashes, both locally in the area of the arrest and more broadly in response. If it is discovered that a person detained incidentally is a deserter, the police officers should give him an invitation to visit the military police facility and release him on the spot, without arresting him or transferring him to the military police.” The statement added that the police officers should refrain from “provocations and expressing an opinion” towards those detained. i24 News reported weeks ago that the reason for the halt in the arrests of Chareidi “deserters” by the police was the IDF’s refusal to recruit five reserve Border Police (Magav) companies requested by the police. These reserve units were meant to assist police in dealing with public disturbances that tend to erupt following the arrests of bnei yeshivos. The police had demanded the reserve companies—which the IDF is responsible for recruiting and funding—so that other special riot-control units (Yasam) could be redirected to handle Chareidi protests that break out in response to such arrests. According to a police source, the IDF refused to call up the reserve units, and as a result, the police stopped arresting deserters, instead issuing them summonses to report to the military police. The judicial system has strongly criticized the change in the police approach. “They are leaving the military police to deal alone with thousands of deserters and draft dodgers,” a source told Haaretz. “It is illogical and impossible. The police simply do not want to get involved in this event and are afraid of protests instead of assisting in law enforcement.” (YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)

Hagaon HaRav Malkiel Kotler who is on a short trip to Eretz Yisroel met on Monday with HaGaon HaRav Meir Tzvi Bergman, Rosh Yeshivas Rashbi and Zakein Chevrei Moetzes Gedolei Hatorah.

President Trump says that there will be “NO” boots on the ground in Gaza.