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Amid the ongoing controversy surrounding the arrest of bnei yeshivah, a new report claims that the vast majority of recent arrests are taking place not during police operations, but inside IDF draft offices after young men voluntarily arrive to address administrative matters.

Speaking on Kol Chai’s morning program, reporter Nati Kalish detailed the recent arrest of a Gerer yungerman from Ashdod and discussed what he described as a recurring pattern in recent weeks, while also highlighting a strongly worded letter issued by the Rosh Yeshivah of Mir warning talmidim not to visit draft offices without prior authorization.

Kalish reported that the avreich from Ashdod was arrested and immediately sentenced to 20 days in military prison.

“An avreich, a resident of Ashdod and a Gerer chassid, was arrested and immediately sentenced to 20 days of actual imprisonment in military prison. According to the precise information that reached us, his arrest was carried out through what his family describes as a form of deception by the military authorities. The avreich was told to come in person to the draft office to take care of technical matters and submit several missing documents. He arrived innocently with the requested paperwork—and was arrested on the spot as a draft evader.”

According to Kalish, the case reflects a broader trend.

“This pattern has repeated itself again and again in recent weeks. The Military Police are hardly going to people’s homes anymore, but nearly all of the arrests now are taking place inside the draft offices themselves. These are bochurim who come to regularize their status according to the law. Some are convinced they are doing the right thing and have no idea they are risking arrest and immediate imprisonment.”

Kalish recalled the response from Ger following a previous arrest involving one of the chassidus’ members in Ashdod.

The last time a Gerer chassid was arrested, thousands of Gerer chassidim gathered outside Military Prison 10 for a massive, organized protest under the direction of the chassidus’ leaders and askanim. The arrested bochur was subsequently released shortly thereafter.

According to the report, Gerer askanim have been engaged in quiet discussions with senior military officials since late Monday night in an effort to have the latest prison sentence overturned.

Sources within the chassidus warned that if the avreich is not released quickly, large-scale public protests could once again be organized.

“If the avreich is not released soon, there will be a major upheaval on the ground,” sources in the chassidus said, adding that organizers are seriously considering launching another wave of mass demonstrations to secure his release.

Kalish also claimed that many bochurim are arriving at draft offices after receiving questionable legal advice from attorneys who promise they can obtain medical exemptions.

“The bochurim come there hoping to receive exemptions for legitimate medical reasons, but they become victims of fixers and non-chareidi attorneys who advertise their services and try to profit financially from them. These people send the young men to the draft offices with completely inaccurate information and without any real experience, and in the end the bochurim are arrested because they are long-standing draft evaders.”

He noted that a similar incident occurred approximately three weeks ago involving a talmid of Yeshivas Mir who was arrested after reporting to a draft office under similar circumstances.

In response to that case, Mir Rosh Yeshivah Rav Eliezer Yehuda Finkel took the unusual step of issuing an official letter to the talmidim announcing the establishment of a special committee to advise bochurim on all matters relating to the draft authorities.

In his letter, Rav Finkel instructed that no bochur should report to a draft office under any circumstances without first consulting the committee and receiving its approval. He further warned that anyone who chooses to act independently and report without guidance would bear full responsibility for any resulting arrest and its consequences.

{Matzav.com}

Newly released Justice Department records indicate that the investigative team led by former Special Counsel Jack Smith reviewed text messages involving more than 40 current and former members of Congress during its investigations into President Donald Trump, prompting sharp criticism from Republicans who argue the actions violated constitutional protections.

The documents, turned over Tuesday to Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), show that Smith’s office obtained access to communications exchanged between Trump White House officials and 44 lawmakers representing both political parties.

Among those whose messages were reviewed were Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Rep. Adam Smith (D-Wash.), the ranking Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, who previously served in Congress, and former Rep. Lee Zeldin (R-N.Y.), now administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency.

The records also identify several prominent Republican lawmakers, including Grassley, Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine), Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.), and Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.), as having communications that were accessed.

During sworn congressional testimony in December 2025, Smith was asked whether investigators had examined “the content of text messages” as part of the two criminal investigations involving the 45th and 47th president. Smith replied, “No.”

Republicans reacted forcefully to the newly disclosed records.

“This is yet another grotesque example of the Biden administration’s weaponization of the Justice Department,” Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) said in a statement. “At this point, no one should be shocked by Jack Smith’s recklessness and blatant abuse of power, but they should be outraged.”

Grassley’s office has previously revealed that Smith’s investigation issued subpoenas seeking records from roughly 430 Republican individuals and organizations, as well as phone logs connected to more than a dozen GOP figures. Grassley has characterized the effort as a broad “fishing expedition.”

According to the documents, Smith’s office established a specialized “Filter Team” whose role was to prevent investigators from viewing privileged communications or infringing upon constitutional protections while reviewing records obtained from the National Archives and Records Administration.

The communications at issue were exchanged between October 2020 and Jan. 20, 2021, during the final months of the Trump administration.

White House officials whose messages were included in the records encompassed former Chief of Staff Mark Meadows, Dan Scavino, Ivanka Trump, Stephen Miller, Peter Navarro, current CIA Director John Ratcliffe, current FBI Director Kash Patel, Rudy Giuliani, Kellyanne Conway, and then-Vice President Mike Pence.

The Filter Team was tasked with screening evidence gathered through two investigations known internally as “Project Coconut,” which examined efforts to challenge the outcome of the 2020 election, and “Project Cranberry,” which focused on allegations involving classified documents kept at Mar-a-Lago.

One internal DOJ email dated Aug. 21, 2023, and included among the records provided to Grassley, shows investigators discussing the direct acquisition of “54 excel files with text messages from White House phones,” which were subsequently uploaded to a shared drive.

Another internal Justice Department document outlined strict procedures governing the review process, stating, “All communication to/from the Filter Team must go through the Coordinator. No materials shall be disclosed to the investigative team without approval of a filter team attorney.”

Despite those safeguards, Assistant Attorney General Patrick Davis wrote in a letter accompanying the records that Smith’s investigators failed to follow the established process.

According to Davis, Smith’s team “bypassed the Filter Team and directly accessed these text messages. The FBI then identified the people whose phone numbers sent or received the texts.”

{Matzav.com}

45Kearny, NJ — Bloom’s Kosher is proud to announce the launch of the Bloom’s Kosher International Teachers’ Grant, a new initiative created to recognize and support the extraordinary dedication of Morahs and Rabbeim who regularly spend their own money on classroom rewards, snacks, celebrations, educational activities, and supplies.

Every year, educators invest hundreds of dollars out of their own pockets to create memorable classroom experiences, encourage good behavior, celebrate accomplishments, and make learning more enjoyable. Rather than investing solely in traditional advertising with uncertain results, Bloom’s Kosher has chosen to invest directly in the people who invest in our children every day.

“Morahs and Rabbeim dedicate themselves to their students every day, often purchasing classroom rewards and supplies with their own money,” said Sholom Rabin, CEO of Bloom’s Kosher. “We wanted to create a program that recognizes their commitment while strengthening Torah learning, supporting the supermarkets that carry our products, and investing directly in the communities we serve. We hope this is just the beginning of a program that will grow year after year and positively impact thousands of educators around the world.”

Applicants will complete an online application and be verified as Morahs or Rabbeim actively teaching in Jewish schools. Approved applicants will receive an email notifying them of their grant amount, along with detailed instructions for the next steps.

Recipients may then purchase any products from the Bloom’s, Oneg, or Sizgit family of brands at the supermarket of their choice. After submitting their receipt and any required documentation, they will receive reimbursement in accordance with the program guidelines.

By reimbursing purchases after they are made, the program directs grant funding through the supermarkets that invest in exceptional shopping experiences, maintain strong inventory, and proudly carry the Bloom’s, Oneg, and Sizgit family of brands. The initiative supports educators while also driving customers to the retailers that make these products available in their communities.

The Bloom’s Kosher International Teachers’ Grant is launching as a pilot program, with funding available for hundreds of grants during its inaugural year. While Bloom’s Kosher would love to support every Morah and Rebbi who applies, funding for the pilot program is limited. Applicants who are not selected may be placed on a waiting list and considered for future funding opportunities as the program expands.

Looking ahead, Bloom’s Kosher envisions the grant becoming much more than a reimbursement program. Future initiatives may include Torah learning campaigns, educational challenges, classroom contests, raffles, and exclusive classroom resources designed to encourage participation while creating memorable learning experiences.

The long-term vision is to expand the Bloom’s Kosher International Teachers’ Grant one school at a time, ultimately supporting thousands of Morahs and Rabbeim throughout the world. As the program grows, Bloom’s Kosher hopes to establish a charitable funding model that will enable the grant to reach even more educators and continue making a meaningful impact for generations to come.

Applications are now open.

Learn more and apply at: https://bloomskosher.com/grant

{Matzav.com}