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[Video below.] Fox News host Sean Hannity paid an emotional tribute to the late Sen. Lindsey Graham during the senator’s funeral, remembering him as a passionate advocate for peace and one of Israel’s most loyal allies while forcefully rejecting accusations that he favored war.

Speaking during a memorial segment, Hannity said Graham’s unwavering support for Israel and Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu defined much of his public life, insisting critics had completely misunderstood his worldview.

Dismissing the notion that Graham was a warmonger, Hannity declared that “he loved peace, Israel, and Benjamin Netanyahu.”

He went on to praise Graham’s deep affection for the Jewish state, saying, “He loved the State of Israel. He loved the people of Israel,” and added that Graham “desperately wanted a lasting peace in the Middle East.”

Hannity described Graham as a devoted friend of Israel whose commitment to the country and its people never wavered, portraying that support as one of the senator’s enduring legacies.

WATCH:

{Matzav.com}

A man carrying a hammer entered the grounds of a Jewish day camp in Queens on Tuesday, triggering a frightening incident that ended with a child suffering a minor injury before a security guard subdued the intruder and turned him over to police.

The incident occurred at Ohr Avner Day Camp, located at the Jewish Institute of Queens (JIQ) in Elmhurst, New York. Camp officials informed parents of the incident in a detailed letter sent Tuesday, emphasizing that staff members acted quickly to protect campers and that authorities believe the episode was random rather than a targeted attack.

According to the camp, the individual, who “appeared to be mentally unwell,” entered the camp property and walked into the front yard, where children were playing under staff supervision. He then lay down on the ground and asked for a drink of water.

Camp staff immediately approached him to offer assistance while simultaneously ensuring that campers remained supervised and out of danger, the letter stated.

A staff member soon noticed that the man had a hammer lying beside him. The counselor calmly asked the individual to hand over the hammer, and he complied without incident.

Moments later, as campers were leaving the building to board buses for a scheduled trip, the situation suddenly escalated.

According to the camp, the man unexpectedly got up and attempted to enter the building, pushing his way through several children. During the commotion, one camper was knocked into a fence and sustained what the camp described as a minor injury. The child received immediate medical attention.

The camp credited its building security officer, Anthony, with preventing the situation from becoming far more serious.

“As the individual attempted to enter the building, our building security officer, Anthony, who was at his post, immediately intervened,” the letter stated. “With remarkable courage, professionalism, and presence of mind, Anthony restrained the individual and held him until the NYPD arrived and took him into custody, preventing any further harm.”

Camp administrators praised Anthony’s “heroic actions,” saying they “undoubtedly helped to prevent what could have been a far more serious situation until law enforcement arrived.”

The camp also commended its counselors and staff members, saying they remained with the children throughout the incident, acted quickly and calmly, and helped keep campers safe.

Ohr Avner stressed that, based on everything known so far, “this was a completely random incident” and that there is “absolutely no indication that our camp, our campers, or our staff were specifically targeted.”

The New York City Police Department confirmed that officers arrested the suspect and said that investigators are examining the incident as bias-related while continuing to determine a motive. Police said the man entered the camp, behaved erratically, and, while leaving the area, bumped into a child, who suffered minor lacerations to the head after striking a fence.

Camp officials acknowledged that many children witnessed portions of the incident but said the overwhelming majority were doing well afterward.

Recognizing that some campers may nevertheless be shaken, the camp said it has already consulted mental health professionals for guidance and will continue monitoring the emotional well-being of every child. Families were encouraged to speak with their children about what they experienced and to contact the camp if additional support is needed.

“The safety and security of our campers and staff remain our highest priority,” the camp stated, adding that administrators are reviewing the incident and evaluating whether additional security measures should be implemented.

The camp concluded by expressing gratitude to Hashem for protecting the camp and thanking the staff for their calm and decisive response.

“We thank Hashem for watching over our camp today and are profoundly grateful for the calm, courageous, and decisive actions of our staff, whose dedication ensured that our campers remained as safe as possible throughout the incident.”

{Matzav.com}

[Videos below.] A major outdoor concert at Sultan’s Pool in Yerushalayim featuring some of the biggest names in Jewish music was brought to an abrupt halt tonight after Israel Police ordered organizers to end the event, despite thousands of fans packing the venue for what had been billed as one of the summer’s premier musical performances.

The concert featured Mordechai Ben David, the Miami Boys Choir, Shmulik Sukkot, and a surprise guest appearance by Yaakov Shwekey, accompanied by an orchestra conducted by Yoily Dikman.

The unexpected shutdown stunned concertgoers, many of whom had traveled from across Israel and abroad to attend the event. The performance had been underway for more than two hours when organizers were instructed to stop the show.

In a statement posted during the event, organizers said that after “we made history with a one-time performance” and despite “many agreements reached in advance with the Israel Police,” they had originally been told the show could continue until at least 11:15 p.m.

According to the organizers, “The officer in charge in the field suddenly ordered the performance stopped at 11:00 p.m., contrary to the agreements.”

They added that “it’s disappointing to bring an end to a huge performance after two-and-a-half hours of a giant show and without allowing the audience to enjoy the final quarter-hour and the concluding segment planned with the police.”

Organizers told Matzav.com that they had expected the police to show greater flexibility, especially since, according to them, the event was nearing its conclusion.

Audience members reacted with disappointment as the music stopped before the planned finale.

As of tonight, Israel Police had not publicly responded to the organizers’ claims regarding the decision to end the concert early.

As Israel’s High Court of Justice considered petitions challenging the law suspending the arrest of bnei Torah over the draft, Shas’ Moetzet Chachmei HaTorah issued a forceful proclamation declaring that the enlistment of yeshivah bochurim is categorically prohibited according to halachah.

Released on Tuesday during the High Court proceedings, the statement lays out the Moetzet’s unwavering opposition to drafting those whose lives are devoted to Torah learning, while making clear that the issue is one of immutable halachah rather than public policy.

The statement opens by emphasizing that the Moetzet Chachmei HaTorah does not recognize the authority of the High Court to rule on such matters. It explains that the declaration was issued solely “for the sake of making the eternal divine truth known.”

According to the Moetzet, the High Court has spent years waging what it describes as a “campaign of persecution” against lomdei Torah, repeatedly striking down legislation intended to protect their legal status. The statement further asserts that the Court is “as far removed from justice as east is from west,” maintaining that its rulings “have no validity,” including, according to the document, under international law.

The Moetzet Chachmei HaTorah states unequivocally that drafting yeshivah bochurim whose full-time occupation is Torah learning is “absolutely forbidden under halacha.” It characterizes efforts to compel their enlistment as “a campaign of religious coercion,” arguing that mandatory military service infringes upon religious freedom and even violates commitments contained in Israel’s Declaration of Independence.

To support its position, the statement cites numerous ma’amarei Chazal and the rulings of the great poskim. Among the sources quoted are passages from Maseches Nedarim and Maseches Sotah, which teach that Avraham Avinu and King Asa were punished for drafting talmidei chachamim into battle, despite those wars being fought to save Klal Yisroel. The Moetzet says these sources demonstrate that lomdei Torah do not participate in warfare, even when it is considered a milchemes mitzvah.

The document also focuses extensively on the Rambam’s Hilchos Shemittah V’Yovel, where he explains that Shevet Levi did not take part in the wars of Israel because its mission was dedicated to serving Hashem and teaching Torah. The Moetzet highlights the Rambam’s well-known ruling that “not only the Tribe of Levi,” but anyone who dedicates himself entirely to the service of Hashem and the study of Torah attains the same status. Based on that principle, the statement concludes that yeshivah bochurim and kollel yungeleit are exempt from military service according to halachah.

Addressing the frequently raised argument of “sharing the burden,” the Moetzet firmly rejects the premise, asserting that the greatest burden carried by Klal Yisroel is the constant labor of Torah learning. It states that the nation’s true security depends first and foremost upon the uninterrupted study of Torah.

The statement reinforces that position by citing pesukim and the teachings of Chazal emphasizing that Jewish military success comes through the merit of Torah learning, including the verses, “Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit, says the Lord,” and, “Five of you shall chase a hundred.”

The Moetzet further argues that Israel’s victories in modern wars themselves testify to unmistakable Hashgachah Pratis, maintaining that the nation’s successes cannot be attributed solely to military strength. According to the statement, the spiritual protection generated by the Torah learned in the batei medrash safeguards Klal Yisroel, and any effort to remove yeshivah bochurim from their shtenders for military service directly weakens that protection.

Concluding its declaration, the Moetzet Chachmei HaTorah states that throughout Jewish history it has been the talmidei chachamim who preserved the Torah and ensured the survival of the Jewish people. The statement ends with a passionate warning: “Woe to us if דווקא here in the Land of Israel, in a Jewish state, Torah scholars are trampled upon and attempts are made to silence the voice of Torah.”

{Matzav.com}

In an unprecedented move, every Rav in London’s Golders Green neighborhood has signed a joint letter directing all mosdos haTorah not to begin the upcoming school year until every child has been accepted into an appropriate educational institution. The extraordinary directive comes amid an ongoing placement crisis that has left more than 20 children without schools for the new academic year.

The letter, addressed to principals and administrators of the community’s mosdos, instructs that neither the boys’ Talmudei Torah nor the girls’ schools may open their doors as long as even one child remains without a proper educational placement.

Widely viewed as a historic step within Britain’s Chareidi community, the directive calls for postponing the start of the zeman until every student has secured a suitable place to learn. The Rabbanim said the decision reflects their commitment to stand with families who have spent months enduring the anguish of not knowing where their children will study.

The letter opens by expressing profound appreciation to the principals and administrators who devote themselves tirelessly to maintaining the community’s educational institutions, praising their unwavering dedication to the chinuch of the community’s children and to strengthening its mosdos haTorah.

The Rabbanim then explain the reason for their extraordinary ruling. They note that more than 20 children, for various reasons, still have not been accepted into an appropriate school for the coming academic year. They write that these children and their parents have spent months waiting in deep distress for a solution that has yet to come. Therefore, acting together under the authority of the city’s Rabbanim, they are instructing that the doors of the schools and Talmudei Torah for the new classes remain closed until every child has found a suitable place to learn.

The Rabbanim openly acknowledge that postponing the opening of schools will inevitably result in lost Torah learning for thousands of other students. Nevertheless, they explain that the severity of the situation justifies such a step, writing that this is a time when extraordinary measures are required for the sake of Heaven.

The letter concludes with a heartfelt tefillah that peace and truth will prevail within the community, that every child will merit an education according to his or her proper path in the traditions of Yisroel Saba.

{Matzav.com}

The Belzer community is mourning the petirah of the dayan Rav Shmuel Pinchas Traube zt”l, who passed away Tuesday morning in Bnei Brak after enduring nearly two decades of severe illness. He was 64.

Rav Traube served for many years as the dayan of the Belzer Bais Medrash Beis Pinchas in Bnei Brak and as the senior rav hamachshir for the Machzikei HaDas kashrus organization in Eretz Yisroel.

He was also one of the foremost talmidim of the late posek, Rav Shmuel Halevi Wosner, author of Shevet Halevi, who held him in exceptionally high regard.

The levayah was held at Beis Pinchas Belz on Rechov Yoel in Bnei Brak. A second procession was held at the Sanhedria Funeral Home in Yerushalayim, passing the Belzer bais medrash in Kiryas Belz before continuing to the Machzikei HaDas section of Har HaMenuchos for kevurah.

Rav Traube was born on the 10th of Adar 5722 (1962) to Rav Ephraim Traube z”l, affectionately known in Belz as “Reb Ephraim Krakover.” His father served as a trusted aide to the Belzer Rebbe, Rav Aharon Rokeach zt”l, and for many years was the baal tefillah and baal koreh in the Belzer court.

He was educated in Belzer educational institutions in Yerushalayim before continuing to the Belzer yeshivah on Rechov Agrippas, where he quickly distinguished himself as one of the outstanding bochurim. At just 14 years old, while still in the Belzer yeshivah ketana, he was tested on the entire Maseches Chullin.

After his marriage to a daughter of Rav Shmuel Tzvi Greenwald z”l, one of the veteran and respected Belz Chassidim of Bnei Brak, Rav Traube’s extraordinary scholarship became even more evident.

He initially served as rosh kollel for Belzer avreichim before studying practical hora’ah under Rav Wosner. The famed posek later remarked during a visit to the Belzer Rebbe that throughout the many years he had examined and ordained dayanim and rabbanim, he had never encountered anyone who grasped complex halachic matters as quickly as Rav Traube. Rav Wosner predicted that he was destined to become one of the leading poskim of his generation.

For many years, Rav Traube headed the special beis din overseeing the Machzikei HaDas kashrus organization, serving as its chief rav hamachshir and supervising food production facilities throughout the country.

When the Beis Pinchas Belz bais medrash opened on Rechov Yoel in Bnei Brak, the Belzer Rebbe personally appointed Rav Traube to serve as its dayan. He fulfilled that role for many years while also serving as the congregation’s baal tefillah and baal koreh.

Approximately 20 years ago, Rav Traube was diagnosed with a debilitating muscular degenerative disease. His condition steadily deteriorated over the years. At the Belzer Rebbe’s instruction, his children and family began accepting Shabbos from midday each Friday as a zechus on his behalf, and those close to him credit that practice with extending his life for many years.

In recent weeks, his condition worsened significantly. He was hospitalized two weeks ago after developing a severe infection, and on Tuesday morning he passed away.

Rav Traube is survived by children who are accomplished talmidei chachamim, maggidei shiur, and mashpi’im within the Belzer community.

Yehi zichro boruch.

{Matzav.com}