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Washington police say a suspected drunk driver was brought to a stop with a grappler after fleeing a traffic stop and driving the wrong way.

Tens of thousands of pro-Monarchist Iranians gathered in Munich, Germany, to protest the Iranian regime.

A group of terrorists emerged from a tunnel in northern Gaza and approached Israeli troops on the Israeli side of the ceasefire line earlier this evening, according to the military. Soldiers monitoring surveillance cameras spotted the terrorists exiting an underground site and entering a damaged building near forces from the Gaza Division’s Northern Brigade stationed […]

SOUTHCOM announced it carried out a lethal strike on Friday against a suspected drug-trafficking vessel in the Caribbean, killing three narco-terrorists.

Two Palestinians suspected of attempting to infiltrate the settlement of Karmei Tzur have been captured. The suspects were spotted approaching the community that evening, prompting local security teams and IDF troops to launch a search to prevent a potential breach. According to the IDF, forces from the Etzion Regional Brigade, the Oketz canine unit, and […]

Colombian Aerospace and Naval Forces destroyed a clandestine shipyard near Bahía Hondita in Uribia, La Guajira, where semi-submersibles for the Clan del Golfo were being built. Authorities said the vessels were intended for cocaine trafficking to Europe.

A new IDF General Staff order designed to regulate the integration of chareidi soldiers has been presented to the broader public as a dramatic breakthrough. Supporters claimed the detailed provisions would ensure that a chareidi recruit entering the army would remain chareidi upon discharge, potentially encouraging large numbers of young men from the chareidi community to enlist. However, beneath the celebratory headlines, serious concerns are emerging that the reality on the ground may be far more complicated. In a report published in the newspaper Besheva, several experts outlined what they describe as a significant gap between the promises and the practical implications of the order.

Legal scholar Professor Talia Einhorn reviewed the multi-section directive and identified what she says are loopholes embedded within the language that could allow violations of the seemingly strict conditions outlined in the document. In a position paper published in cooperation with the Torat Lechima organization, Professor Einhorn first points to what she considers the most problematic clause.

Section 3 of the order states: “This order supplements the provisions of the Joint Service Order regarding the service of members of the chareidi public in the IDF. Commanders shall implement the provisions of this order and the instructions issued pursuant to it, while preserving their dignity and in a manner that enables the observance of the faith of all those serving.”

The Joint Service Order, to which the new directive is effectively subordinate, was originally enacted to address the needs of religious soldiers, particularly concerning separation between men and women. However, under that framework, numerous testimonies have accumulated over the years from soldiers in the religious Zionist community who reported being required to serve alongside female soldiers in field operations, guard duty, and other settings—situations they say directly conflicted with halachic standards.

The next clause details the process for acceptance and placement into designated tracks for chareidi recruits: “A candidate for service or a soldier may request to serve in one of the designated service tracks.”

Here, too, Einhorn identifies what she views as a significant vulnerability. According to her, the phrase “may request to serve” leaves ultimate discretion in the hands of the army, allowing it to assign a chareidi recruit to a non-designated framework if it chooses. “The expression ‘may request to serve’ leaves the army with the authority to send him to a non-designated service track. In my view, it should state: A candidate or soldier is entitled to serve in one of the designated service tracks if he meets the criteria,” she argues.

Rabbi Aviad Gadot, chairman of the Torat Lechima organization, also addressed the issue in the Besheva report, describing the order as a profound failure. In his view, the only factor that could draw chareidim into the army is trust—and that trust, he says, is currently at a low point.

“The trust of the chareidim in the IDF is in very poor condition. All the promises that were made to rabbis and chareidi leadership in the past were violated. The order does not restore trust, because it is effectively the Joint Service Order. It becomes clear from it that the IDF leadership is not prepared to give up the progressive culture in favor of Jewish culture. They do not want to give up radical feminism, and when there is a clash – that value prevails, as the order states. Therefore the order does not contribute to chareidi enlistment; perhaps it does the opposite.”

Rabbi Gadot described the development as “a waste and a historic missed opportunity.” He expressed hope that the chairman of the Knesset’s Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, who is overseeing discussions on the draft law’s wording, will introduce necessary amendments to both the order and the legislation itself. According to Gadot, Knesset member Boaz Bismuth understands the central place of Torah within the Jewish people and recognizes what he calls the manipulations being carried out around the draft law.

“First of all, he must demand that the General Staff order for chareidim not be subordinate to the Joint Service Order. Because that is like saying that the order regarding kashrut would be subordinate to the order regarding non-kosher food, and so on. The gender agenda is the original sin. The Chief of Staff is introducing into the IDF agendas of far-left NGOs; to this day the IDF has not freed itself from the agenda led by the Gender Affairs Advisor.”

According to Rabbi Gadot, the current version of the order is the product of lobbying efforts by various organizations during deliberations in the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, where demands were raised that women be allowed access to all areas of the military.

“Radical feminists said this in the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee,” Gadot said, “and Eyal Zamir comes from those same circles and is now continuing what he did as Deputy Chief of Staff.”

Although the directive asserts that these policies will not affect chareidi soldiers, Gadot argues that the influence of the feminist provisions will ultimately reach even those serving in protected tracks. “According to this order, there could be a chareidi officer who completed a track in the Hasmonean framework, went through an officers’ course in a designated program, but once he finishes he can be assigned as a commander in a mixed battalion. Within the chareidi frameworks there will not be progressive public displays, but in the larger army the chareidi soldier will encounter it in various contexts.”

{Matzav.com}

AOC: “We are shocked at the President’s destruction of our relationship with our European allies, his threatening over Greenland is not a joke, it is not funny. It threatens the very trust of relationships that allow peace to exist.”

Sec. Rubio in Munich: “We, in America, have no interest in being polite and orderly caretakers of the West’s managed decline.”

Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny was poisoned by the Kremlin with a lethal toxin derived from the skin of poison dart frogs, five European countries said Saturday. The foreign ministries of the U.K., France, Germany, Sweden and the Netherlands said analysis of samples from Navalny, who died two years ago, “have conclusively confirmed the presence […]

About 250,000 people demonstrated on Saturday against Iran’s government on the sidelines of a gathering of world leaders in Germany, police said, answering a call from Iran ’s exiled Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi for cranked-up international pressure on Tehran. Banging drums and chanting for regime change, the giant and boisterous rally in Munich was part […]

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Day Two of the 8th Annual CHEMED Medical Ethics Conference continued with tremendous energy and depth, offering a full slate of dynamic lectures and top-tier speakers in both the medical and halachic fields.

Participants engaged in thought-provoking sessions, cutting-edge discussions, and practical learning across a wide range of topics. With many new faces joining returning attendees, the atmosphere remained vibrant, collaborative, and inspiring.

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President Donald Trump has been cautioned by his closest advisers that securing a nuclear agreement with Iran may prove historically unattainable, according to a senior U.S. official cited by Israeli journalist Barak Ravid of Channel 12.

The warning reportedly came after Trump asked special envoy Steve Witkoff and his son-in-law Jared Kushner to assess the likelihood of successfully negotiating a deal with Tehran. In response, the two advisers pointed to past efforts, telling the president that Western governments have never managed to conclude a favorable agreement with the leadership of the Islamic Republic. Despite that track record, they indicated they would continue approaching the negotiations firmly.

“If they agree to what we are asking for, we will give you the option and you decide,” the two diplomats reportedly told Trump.

The United States has been engaged in efforts to reach an understanding with Iran aimed at curbing its nuclear program and preventing a broader military confrontation. However, an initial round of discussions held this week in Oman ended without a breakthrough.

A follow-up meeting is scheduled for Tuesday in Geneva, where Witkoff and Kushner are expected to take part in the next phase of talks.

Trump has repeatedly made clear that military action remains an option if Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, refuses to finalize an agreement. On Thursday, he warned that Iran could face a “very traumatic” moment if negotiations collapse.

A collective sense of relief spread throughout the Torah community after several tense days during which the country followed the developments surrounding the arrest of Reb Avraham Ben Dayan. He returned home on Erev Shabbos, as previously reported here on Matzav.com, concluding a period marked by protests and gatherings across the country.

For his first Shabbos after being freed, Reb Ben Dayan chose to spend the day at his father-in-law’s home in the moshav of Tifrach, away from the public spotlight and the commotion of the city.

The most moving moment came on Motzei Shabbos, when Rav Avraham Yitzchak Kook, Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshivas Maor HaTalmud, arrived unexpectedly at the home where the avreich was staying, seeking to honor his steadfast resolve.

As soon as the Rosh Yeshiva entered the house, he immediately began a spirited and extended dance with Reb Ben Dayan. “We witnessed here a true joy of a mitzvah,” one of those present recounted. “This was not merely a dance celebrating his release, but a declaration by the entire Torah world that we will not be intimidated.”

After the dancing concluded, the Rosh Yeshiva sat down with the avreich for an extended conversation filled with strength and encouragement. He praised Reb Ben Dayan’s courage and said that his steadfastness in the face of this test served as inspiration for yeshiva students and avreichim during this complex period.

Before departing, the Rosh Yeshiva added warm words of brocha, noting that the merit that sustained him during the days of his arrest would continue to accompany him and his family, strengthening them in their Torah learning and continued growth in serving Hashem.

The United States carried out a sweeping series of airstrikes across Syria targeting ISIS positions, capturing or killing at least 50 operatives, in what officials described as an ongoing response to the deadly ambush that claimed the lives of American personnel late last year.

According to US military authorities, the strikes hit no fewer than 35 sites, with 20 American aircraft deploying more than 90 precision-guided weapons under Operation Hawkeye. The campaign follows the Dec. 13, 2025 ambush attributed to ISIS that left three Americans dead, including two US soldiers.

US Central Command stated that between Feb. 3 and Feb. 12, forces executed 10 separate strike missions aimed at 30 ISIS-linked targets. Those operations destroyed weapons depots and additional logistical infrastructure used by the terror organization.

Video footage released publicly showed powerful explosions ripping through multiple sites in Syria, with rockets detonating and sending clouds of smoke, dirt, and debris high into the air.

CBS reported that the operation involved a range of aircraft, including F-15Es, A-10s, AC-130Js, MQ-9 drones, and Jordanian F-16 fighter jets.

This latest campaign represents the third wave of US retaliatory action following the December ambush. On Dec. 19, just days after the killings, American forces struck more than 70 ISIS targets in Syria. A subsequent round of attacks was carried out on Jan. 10, when 35 additional targets were hit with precision-guided munitions, according to US CENTCOM.

“The strikes today targeted ISIS throughout Syria as part of our ongoing commitment to root out Islamic terrorism against our warfighters, prevent future attacks, and protect American and partner forces in the region,” US Central Command warned in a post on X last month.

“Our message remains strong: if you harm our warfighters, we will find you and kill you anywhere in the world, no matter how hard you try to evade justice,” CentCom concluded.

Military officials said Operation Hawkeye, which began on Dec. 19, 2025, resulted in the capture or elimination of at least 50 ISIS fighters.

The broader campaign reflects President Trump’s pledge to “retaliate” against ISIS in response to the ambush attack.

The victims of that assault were identified as Sgt. Edgar Brian Torres-Tovar and Sgt. William Nathaniel Howard, both members of the Iowa National Guard, along with US civilian interpreter Ayad Mansoor Sakat, who were shot by an ISIS gunman.

“We will never forget, and never relent,” Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said in an X post following military operations on Jan. 10.

Meanwhile, NBC reported Thursday that Syria’s Defense Ministry announced its forces had taken control of a strategic base in the eastern part of the country that had been operated by the US military for years.

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Tensions surfaced between Israel and Washington after U.S. President Donald Trump publicly questioned why Israeli President Isaac Herzog has not issued a pardon to Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu, prompting sharp reactions from officials in the President’s Residence.

Sources within the Israeli President’s office said they were taken aback and angered by Trump’s comments. According to those officials, Trump stated that Herzog possesses the authority to pardon the prime minister but has opted not to exercise it, characterizing that decision as both embarrassing and lacking justification.

Individuals in the president’s circle further raised the possibility that Netanyahu himself may have encouraged Trump to weigh in, echoing suggestions that surfaced when Trump initially raised the matter. Senior aides told Channel 12 News that throughout the weekend the president and his advisers sought to clarify who may have spurred Trump to address Israel’s head of state in this way. They signaled that if Netanyahu had any involvement in prompting such public pressure, it would cross well-established lines, and they would demand clarification from the prime minister.

According to those aides, the statements were interpreted not merely as a personal slight against President Herzog, but as a challenge to Israel’s independence and its status as a sovereign nation.

In a formal statement, the President’s office underscored that any appeal for a pardon must, under standard protocol, first be reviewed by the Ministry of Justice, which provides a legal assessment. Only after that step is completed does the president consider the issue, weighing the law, the good of the country, and his own judgment, free from outside or domestic coercion.

The statement added that President Herzog maintains deep respect for President Trump, particularly regarding his record of support for Israel and its security. At the same time, it stressed that Israel functions as an independent state guided by the rule of law. The office made clear that, notwithstanding the impression created by Trump’s remarks, Herzog has not reached any determination on the matter.

Netanyahu’s staff responded: “President Trump’s statement on Sunday was made on his own initiative. Prime Minister Netanyahu heard about it in the media and did not know about it in advance, just as he did not know in advance about President Trump’s statement on this issue in his speech to the Knesset.”

The Pinsk-Karlin community is in mourning following the petirah of the venerable chassid, Rav Yehuda Rosenfeld zt”l, one of the elder and most respected members of the Pinsk-Karlin kehilla and the uncle of the current Rebbe. He passed away on Shabbos Kodesh at the age of 91.

The levayah took place this evening at the Beis Medrash of Pinsk-Karlin in the Beis Yisrael neighborhood of Yerushalayim with kevurah on Har HaZeisim.

Rav Rosenfeld was born on the 26th of Teves, 5695 (1935), to his father, Rav Yitzchak Menashe Rosenfeld, who served for many years as a shochet, and to his mother, Mrs. Hadassah. She was a daughter of the gaon Rav Yehoshua Heshel Heltovski, one of the senior leaders of the Karliner chassidim and a descendant of Rav Aharon HaGadol of Karlin.

In his youth, he studied in Karlin, where he attached himself closely to the Rebbes of the Karlin dynasty. Upon reaching marriageable age, he married the daughter of Rav Yitzchak Rachtshper.

In Yerushalayim, Rav Rosenfeld became a well-known and respected shochet. He was renowned for his diligence in limud haTorah, using every spare moment to immerse himself in learning.

His brother was the Orchos Aharon of Pinsk-Karlin, and his nephew is the current Pinsk-Karliner Rebbe.

He is survived by six children and many grandchildren.

Yehi zichro boruch.

The International Space Station returned to full strength with Saturday’s arrival of four new astronauts to replace colleagues who bailed early because of health concerns. SpaceX delivered the U.S., French and Russian astronauts a day after launching them from Cape Canaveral. Last month’s medical evacuation was NASA’s first in 65 years of human spaceflight. One […]

It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the passing of Rav Ben Zion Bobchik zt”l, longtime rov of the Gerer kehillah in Kiryat Gat and rov of the Beis HaChassidim Baal Shem Tov in Bnei Brak. Rav Bobchik, author of the sefer Batzar BaMidbar, passed away over Shabbos at the age of 72.

Rav Bobchik had been battling a serious disease over the past year.

The levayah was held tonight at his home at 14 Ben Yaakov Street in Bnei Brak, proceeding to the Vizhnitzer bais hachaim.

Born on the fourth of Adar 5714 (1954) to Rav Yosef Bobchik and Mrs. Sheindel Bobchik, he was raised in the institutions of the Gur chassidus and developed close ties with its rebbes from a young age.

Upon reaching marriageable age, he wed the daughter of Rav Nosson Zilberberg. Over the years, he was appointed rav of the Gur Beis HaChassidim on Baal Shem Tov Street in Bnei Brak, and in recent years served as the rov of the Gur community in Kiryat Gat.

Rav Bobchik was regarded as one of the prominent and respected figures in the Bnei Brak chassidic community. He was among the founders of the Baal Shem Tov shtiebel, which later relocated to Yonah HaNavi Street. Throughout his life, he served as a rav and halachic authority, with difficult and complex halachic questions brought before him regularly.

In the past decade, after assuming the rabbinic leadership of Gur chassidim in Kiryat Gat, he frequently traveled to the city to respond to halachic inquiries and guide community members in matters of halacha.

He enjoyed a close relationship with the Gerrer Rebbe, who is said to have consulted with him often on halachic matters. At family simchos of his son, Reb Motty Bobchik, the two would engage in extended discussions in Torah and halachah.

Rav Bobchik was widely known as an outstanding talmid chacham who immersed himself in Torah learning constantly.

He davened daily at the Belz chassidic shtiebel on Ben Yaakov Street in Bnei Brak, near his home.

Even during his illness, he continued to devote himself to Torah learning.

He is survived by a distinguished family. Among his sons are Rav Yisrael Bobchik, a rav and posek in Petach Tikva; Rabbi Mordechai Shimon (“Motty”) Bobchik, chief of staff to MK Yitzchak Goldknopf and a leading figure in the Gur chassidus; and his son-in-law Rabbi Moshe Reuven Goldknopf, son of MK Yitzchak Goldknopf.

Yehi zichro boruch.