The Peleg Yerushalmi announced that it will not participate in the upcoming “Million Rally” organized by the main chareidi parties, citing the absence of any planned public denunciations of the government or the new draft law.
According to senior faction sources, members of the Bnei Torah rabbinic leadership visited the home of Rav Azriel Auerbach, who expressed opposition to the draft legislation being promoted by the chareidi political representatives in the Knesset. The law includes draft quotas and sanctions targeting the yeshiva world.
In a statement issued by the Peleg, it was noted: “When asked by the rabbonim, the Amud HaHora’ah elaborated regarding the planned ‘Million Rally’ organized by the chareidi parties, where no binding words of protest are expected to be heard against the authorities—who arrest G-d-fearing Jews morning and night—and certainly not against the law, which is being shamefully advanced by the chareidi representatives in the Knesset themselves.”
Rav Auerbach declared: “Those who understand among our people realized more than a decade ago that the path of compromise would lead to the complete destruction of the Torah world. Only by standing firmly, without bowing or yielding, as we were taught by our revered roshei yeshiva Rav Shmuel Auerbach and Rav Asher Deutch, will we prevail in this determined battle for the future of Torah.”
As a result, the Peleg will not be taking part in Thursday’s mass rally in Yerushalayim.
Meanwhile, journalist Yoeli Barim reported Sunday night on Channel 13 about a sharp disagreement between the Shas and United Torah Judaism parties regarding the tone and messaging of the upcoming demonstration, whether it should focus on protesting the government or on expressing solidarity with the Torah world.
{Matzav.com}
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A collective effort has been established to write four Sifrei Torah in memory of the four boys who were tragically niftar last Motzei Shabbos in the horrific accident: Aharon Nosson Lebovitz, Shloimy Cohen, Yaakov Kilburg, and Chaim Simcha Grossman.
The heartbreaking loss has deeply shaken Klal Yisrael. In response, Yidden across the country are coming together to dedicate new Sifrei Torah as an everlasting zechus — a living continuation of the Torah and kedusha these boys represented.
All are asked to unite in bringing menucha to their families and helping keep their Torah alive.
An emergency meeting convened today at the Badatz of the Eidah HaCharedis in its full composition under the leadership of Rav Moshe Shternbuch to discuss how to respond to the arrests of yeshiva students amid the ongoing draft controversy.
Rosh Yeshiva Rav Shalom Ber Sorotzkin of Ateres Shlomo took part in the session. Rav Sorotzkin has been leading efforts to unite the various communities on behalf of his talmid, Ariel Shamai, who was detained and is now being held in a military prison.
Participants considered a range of extraordinary measures not previously used by the Edah HaCharedit.
Opening the meeting, Rav Sorotzkin spoke emotionally about the imprisoned talmid, stressing that “this is a young man who sits and learns most hours of the day with great perseverance” and calling for determined action on his behalf. The discussion was then handed over to Rav Yitzchak Shlomo Beloya and ultimately to Rav Shternbuch.
Rav Shternbuch issued a forceful ruling, saying that the community must “go out to fight for the sake of Hashem with self-sacrifice.” He declared that protesting is a Torah obligation and urged the community to show extraordinary commitment so that, God willing, a yeshuah will follow. He stressed that although they do not seek conflict, they see no alternative but to resist what they described as an attack on Torah life.
At the end of the meeting, the Badatz issued a sharp written notice stating that they intend to wage a mitzvah war with complete dedication. The Badatz also announced that anyone who is enticed to join any of the army’s so-called chareidi tracks — whether military or civilian frameworks associated with service — will be boycotted: such individuals’ children will be barred from attending schools and institutions designated for the chareidi public in order to preserve the community’s “fortress wall” between the God-fearing public and the secular masses.
{Matzav.com}
Final preparations are underway for the massive “Million Man Atzeres” against the draft decree, which is scheduled to take place this Thursday at 2:30 p.m. at the entrance to Yerushalayim, centered around the String Bridge and the nearby streets.
The organizing committee, which includes representatives of all the chareidi parties, held a Zoom session following an earlier meeting at the Bnei Brak municipality. Participants included Chaim Bitton and Yosef Chaim Kalef of Shas, Chanoch Zeibert and Meir Porush of Agudas Yisroel, and Menachem Shapira of Degel HaTorah.
According to details obtained by Matzav.com, the rally will not feature a central stage or amplification trucks. Instead, leading rabbonim will be stationed at various points, with one balcony designated as the focal area from which selichos will be recited.
The program will consist solely of selichos, Tehillim, and the public declaration of Kabbalas Ol Malchus Shomayim.
During the committee discussions, organizers expressed their belief that the police have accepted that the event will indeed proceed and are preparing accordingly. The committee plans to tour the site on Tuesday, and an official notice about the event is expected to appear in the chareidi newspapers tomorrow.
Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch, who last week approved the decision to hold the rally following the arrest of yeshiva bochru Ariel Shamai, was updated today by organizers on the logistical aspects of the event. Rav Hirsch instructed that the rally should take place “at any time and location possible, but only with full police approval.”
Earlier, representatives met with police officials, who are preparing for a crowd of at least half a million people. Police sources reportedly emphasized that their role is “to assist and prevent clashes, not to create unnecessary friction.” Officers even asked that the message be conveyed to the public that they “stand with the demonstrators, not against them.”
Among those attending today’s coordination meeting were Shmulik Shapira (Agudas Yisroel–Gur), Tzachi Barim (Deputy Mayor of Yerushalayim), Shimi Blau (Agudas Yisroel–Shlomei Emunim), Menachem Shapira (Degel HaTorah), and Yaakov Orgad (Shas).
Another round of meetings — both among the committee members and with police — is scheduled for tomorrow to finalize remaining details.
{Matzav.com}
Barely two weeks after the Gaza ceasefire took effect, Kan News revealed Sunday evening that the IDF is grappling with a serious internal security lapse, one that military officials have described as a grave breach of information security rules. Because of the classified nature of the incident, few concrete details have been released.
Security sources said the situation resulted from “a serious human error and gross negligence,” adding that the full extent of the damage is still being evaluated. Officials noted that “this incident is particularly severe and is being thoroughly examined to ensure that any damage, if caused, will be contained as much as possible.”
In response, Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir immediately ordered a formal inquiry, placing it under his personal oversight. He also instructed senior officers to draft tougher new regulations to safeguard sensitive military information and prevent future lapses of this kind.
According to the IDF, the initial findings from the probe are expected to be delivered to the top command within days. Military insiders indicated that disciplinary actions are likely for those responsible, emphasizing that Lt. Gen. Zamir is directly supervising and tracking the progress of the investigation to ensure full accountability.
{Matzav.com}
During a recent White House press briefing, Jewish reporter Mr. Jake Turkeltaub — better known as Turx — surprised many when he asked Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt whether President Donald Trump was planning to build the Third Bais Hamikdosh in Yerushalayim.
Leavitt replied that such a topic “had not come up in any of the meetings held on President Trump’s construction projects.”
The question immediately drew mixed reactions online and in the media. Many observers dismissed it as inappropriate or misguided, calling it “foolish” and “an embarrassment.”
Others defended Turx’s boldness, noting that his question touched on deep religious and political symbolism rather than literal construction plans.
In response to the wave of criticism, Turx clarified his intent in an interview with Belaaz. “If there’s one thing Trump understands, it’s leverage. The problem is he couldn’t figure out how to get leverage over Hamas,” he explained, emphasizing that his comment was more about strategy than theology.
Turx elaborated that in his view, the solution is “very simple”: “To tell the Hamas terror group that if they won’t disarm, control of the Har Habayis will be transferred solely to the Jews.” He argued that Hamas leaders are indifferent to human life but deeply attached to the Temple Mount. “They don’t care about anybody’s kids, they’ll sacrifice everybody, but the one thing they will not sacrifice is Har Habayis,” he said.
Clarifying further, Turx added, “I’m not saying, ‘Let’s go up and build the Bais Hamikdash this second,’ I’m saying, ‘Let’s put Har Habayis on the table.’ And if that doesn’t work and Hamas does not disarm, then we’ll have to figure out about building the Beis Hamikdash, but for now, let’s just use it for leverage.”
The question came in the wake of President Trump’s announcement of several ambitious new building initiatives, including a ceremonial arch in Washington and plans to replace the White House’s east wing with an elegant ballroom — part of what he has described as “projects of lasting American greatness.”
{Matzav.com}