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At a Lag BaOmer shiur delivered tonight, Rav Yitzchok Zilberstein addressed the current security situation that has prevented travel to Meron this year, offering a chizuk-filled perspective: Even if we cannot go to Rashbi, Rashbi can come to us.

Speaking at his weekly shiur in the central bais haknesses of Ramat Elchanan, Rav Zilberstein opened by stressing the greatness of the day. “Baruch Hashem, we have reached a very great day, Lag BaOmer,” he said. “A day that is capable of many good things. Chazal greatly praise this day, and all those who know how to be mispallel on this day and perform maasim tovim on this day — Chazal greatly praise them.”

He went on to reflect on the situation facing Klal Yisroel. “Today we are in a matzav where not all the nations of the world are with us. Many are against us in a major way. But we rely on HaKadosh Baruch Hu, and we direct our tefillos that they should ascend upward, be’ezras Hashem, and that we should merit the special segulos that HaKadosh Baruch Hu granted us for this day, Lag BaOmer.”

Rav Zilberstein then shared a powerful teaching he once heard from his father-in-law, Rav Yosef Shalom Elyashiv. Referring to the long-standing minhag of traveling to the kever of Rashbi in Meron, he recalled asking whether Rav Elyashiv would go.

“There were always those who traveled to Meron. Today there is no Meron — that is not a simple thing,” Rav Zilberstein said. “I once heard from my father-in-law, Maran Hagaon Rav Yosef Shalom Elyashiv zt”l. I asked him if he was traveling to Meron, and he told me a sharp line: ‘Why do I need to go to Meron? Rashbi comes to me…’”

He continued with the explanation he heard: “‘Why are you asking me if I will go to Meron? What do you mean? I use every moment for limud haTorah — and instead of me going to him, he comes to me.’”

Rav Zilberstein explained that the meaning is clear: “Rabi Shimon bar Yochai comes to someone who learns his Torah. That is what Rav Elyashiv meant — I learn his Torah, and he comes to me to hear how I am learning it.”

Newly released recordings have ignited political controversy after Minister Idit Silman was heard making sharp allegations about former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett’s ability to function while in office.

The recordings, aired by Channel 14, capture remarks Silman made during a closed-door gathering of activists, where she described what she claimed took place behind the scenes during the previous government under Bennett’s leadership. In the conversation, she asserted that Bennett was in a severely weakened mental state and was not effectively running the government.

Silman is heard saying: “I’ll tell you something most people don’t know. Practically speaking, in the previous government, Naftali Bennett did not function, and that was from the beginning. He was both confused and stammering. In my opinion, in general, he was in a very, very poor mental state – everyone around him knew.”

She continued with a more striking claim: “Everyone around him knew it. They would give him pills in all kinds of red boxes, supposedly so he could function.” According to her, his alleged inability to lead resulted in power shifting to his political partner: “The one who actually ran the Prime Minister’s Office was Lapid and his entire team.”

Silman also addressed her decision to leave the coalition — a move that ultimately brought down the government — saying: “As far as I’m concerned, when I brought them down, I brought down Lapid as prime minister, and that was clear to everyone.”

No response was issued on behalf of Silman following the publication of the recordings.

A statement from Bennett’s “Together” party dismissed the claims, saying: “Fake. The ‘Together’ party led by Bennett wishes Silman great success in the upcoming primaries. There is no doubt she will bring great honor to Likud.”

{Matzav.com}

American officials indicated Monday that the United States is moving nearer to resuming large-scale military action against Iran, though any final move depends on decisions by President Donald Trump and Iran’s leadership.

The warning came as the fragile ceasefire faced strain in the Strait of Hormuz with the launch of Project Freedom.

“We are closer to the resumption of major combat operations than we were 24 hours ago after Iran fired on US vessels and targeted UAE today with missiles and drones and fast boats,” senior officials told Chief National Security Correspondent Jennifer Griffin.

Officials emphasized that the direction of the conflict will ultimately hinge on choices made by President Donald Trump and Iranian authorities, noting that no directive has yet been issued to formally end the ceasefire.

The U.S. military, they said, remains fully prepared for potential escalation. It is “rearmed and retooled,” the officials added.

At present, there has been no formal command to restart offensive strikes, and the ceasefire technically remains in place. There has been “no un-pause of the ceasefire.”

In the meantime, American forces are concentrating on defensive operations aimed at safeguarding maritime traffic in the Gulf.

Authorities in the United Arab Emirates reported that Iran launched more than a dozen missiles and drones on Monday, resulting in three injuries, while a drone strike ignited a fire at an oil installation, injuring three Indian nationals.

The British military said two cargo ships caught fire near the UAE, while U.S. officials confirmed that six Iranian vessels targeting civilian shipping were destroyed.

“The commanders on scene have all the authorities they need to protect themselves and commercial shipping,” according to one well-placed U.S. defense official.

The commander can strike “if US forces see missile launchers moving or identity missiles being put on the rails or identify targets of opportunity that threaten commercial shipping.”

“We preserve the right to eliminate those threats. We don’t have to wait. We can anticipate and preempt. There is a level of maneuverability.”

“We can hit a known threat. We don’t have to wait until Iran fires first.”

One source compared the current defensive posture to a zone defense, as opposed to escorting each vessel individually, which would resemble a man-to-man approach.

President Donald Trump initiated Project Freedom on Monday to assist ships that have been delayed for weeks along the strategic waterway.

According to the source, individually escorting vessels through the strait is “inefficient,” whereas a broader defensive system utilizing coordinated air and naval assets along with surveillance “creates a layered defense that takes advantage of numbers and capability.”