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As Israel’s political system gears up for another election season and candidates position themselves as the country’s would-be saviors, Rav Tzemach Mazuz used his weekly shiur to deliver a pointed message about ambition, honor, and the limits of human effort.

Drawing on the lessons of this week’s parshah (in Eretz Yisroel), Parshas Korach, the Rosh Yeshiva connected the political maneuvering of the present day with timeless Torah teachings, offering a sharp critique of the relentless pursuit of power and what appeared to be a veiled jab at those determined to unseat Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu at all costs.

“There is nothing better than peace,” Rav Mazuz began. “Soon the election season will be here, and everyone wants to ‘save’ the country. Everyone wants to be prime minister. But Shlomo Hamelech already taught us in Koheles: ‘Hevel havalim, amar Koheles, hevel havalim, hakol havel.’”

The Rosh Yeshiva then cited the words of Chazal in Maseches Yoma, “Bimkomcha yoshivucha, u’mishelcha yitnu lach,” along with the verse in Mishlei, “Al tiga l’ha’ashir.” The message, he explained, is that a person is obligated to make only a reasonable effort and then place his trust in Hashem.

“There is no need to exhaust oneself and struggle excessively,” Rav Mazuz said. “A person must make some hishtadlus, but beyond a limited amount of hishtadlus, nothing more is required. This is the tradition we have received from our rabbeim.”

To illustrate the dangers of chasing status and honor beyond what Heaven has allotted, Rav Mazuz cited a famous parable from the Gemara in Sanhedrin.

“This is what people say: ‘The camel went to ask for horns, and in the end they cut off the ears that it already had.’”

The Rosh Yeshiva elaborated on the Gemara’s imagery with a smile.

“Anyone who has seen a camel knows that it is a tall and impressive animal, but it has one deficiency—its ears are small. The camel said to itself, ‘I am much taller than the ox. If the ox has horns, then I deserve even larger and more beautiful horns.’ In the end, not only did it fail to receive the horns it wanted, but even the ears it already possessed were taken away.”

He then applied the lesson directly to human behavior.

“What is the lesson? A person thinks that what he has is not enough. He fights and struggles for more and more. What does he gain in the end? Not only does he fail to receive what he sought, but even what he already had can be taken from him.”

Rav Mazuz pointed to Korach as the classic example of someone whose ambition led to ruin. Although Korach was already enormously wealthy and held a position of great distinction as one of those entrusted with carrying the Aron, he was not satisfied.

“That tremendous greatness was not enough for him,” Rav Mazuz said. “He set his sights on the Kehunah Gedolah and sought to overthrow Moshe and Aharon. But what happened in the end? Not only did he fail to become Kohen Gadol, not only did he cease being among those who carried the Aron, he did not even remain alive. The earth opened its mouth and swallowed him, his family, and all his possessions. Nothing remained. In the end, Korach lost everything.”

Concluding his remarks, Rav Mazuz delivered what many listeners viewed as a timely message for politicians and public figures caught up in the current political climate.

“From here we learn that a person must be happy with his portion and with what he has,” he said. “A person should remember: If something truly belongs to you, Hakadosh Baruch Hu will bring it to you on a golden platter. One may—and indeed should—make hishtadlus. But one must not wage war for it.”

Thousands of Satmar chassidim gathered this week in Williamsburg for a major emergency assembly led by Rav Aharon Teitelbaum of Satmar, who delivered an impassioned address warning of what he described as a troubling decline in standards of kedusha and tznius and a widening cultural gap between generations.

The gathering, titled “Shemirah L’Doros,” was held at Eden Palace and attended by thousands of chassidim, along with the community’s rabbanim and dayanim. Organizers said the event was convened to strengthen religious standards and reinforce long-standing traditions within Satmar homes and institutions.

Before the arrival of the Rebbe, the keynote address was delivered by his eldest son, Rav Menachem Mendel Teitelbaum, the Satmar Av Beis Din of Williamsburg. He spoke at length about issues of tznius, emphasizing the importance of proper hair covering for married women, concerns surrounding contemporary wigs, the dangers of technology, and other areas he said require immediate attention and stronger communal safeguards.

When the Rebbe entered the hall, he began his remarks with the pasuk, “V’hayah b’achalchem milechem ha’aretz tarimu terumah laHashem.” Drawing on Midrashic teachings, he explained that “lechem” alludes to a wife, while “terumah” signifies separation. He said the message is that when building a Jewish home, one must consciously separate oneself and one’s family from prevailing societal influences and worldly trends.

The Rebbe then turned to what he described as a growing problem in contemporary Jewish communities.

“We live in Williamsburg alongside various groups and communities that are meticulous regarding different stringencies and customs, yet in matters of tznius they are not careful at all,” he said. “Our holy fathers and rabbeim were extraordinarily strict regarding kedusha and tznius, viewing them as among the most serious matters. Chas v’shalom for any of us to treat these issues lightly. We have a clear mesorah regarding how to conduct ourselves, how to dress, and how to educate our children, and it must not be altered to accommodate the spirit of the times or changing fashions.”

During his address, the Rebbe related a story about the Divrei Chaim of Sanz. According to the account, a prominent Torah leader once asked the Sanzer Rav for the halachic source of a particular practice and questioned where it was written. The Divrei Chaim famously responded, “It is written within me, and I am the Torah.”

The Rebbe became emotional as he applied that lesson to the teachings of his uncle, the Satmar Rav, author of Vayoel Moshe.

“These matters are written and firmly established in the teachings of our uncle, the Vayoel Moshe, and he is the Torah,” the Rebbe declared. “No one should, chas v’shalom, dismiss them with questions and confusions of ‘Where is it written?’”

In one of the most striking moments of the evening, the Rebbe lamented what he sees as a dramatic erosion of traditional standards from one generation to the next.

“The difference in dress between the grandmother and the children and grandchildren is terrible and frightening,” he said. “There is an alarming yeridas hadoros. We must live according to the concept of ‘tarimu terumah’—a language of elevation. A chassidishe Yid must conduct himself with dignity and upliftedness, not be pulled along by neighbors and friends, but stand proudly with the traditions that have been entrusted to us.”

The Rebbe also identified what he believes is one of the root causes of the phenomenon: the growing practice of sending young men to study in yeshivos outside the Satmar community.

“A large part of this weakening comes from sending boys to study in outside yeshivos,” he said. “There they are exposed to foreign outlooks and become cooled off in matters of Chassidus and yiras Shamayim. Later on, they see nothing wrong with their wives becoming lenient regarding standards of dress and tznius.”

The Rebbe expressed strong support for the remarks delivered earlier by his son, describing them as “words that come from the heart” and therefore destined to enter the hearts and minds of those who heard them.

Addressing the audience directly, he urged every participant to view the message as a personal responsibility.

“These words are directed to you personally,” he said. “Every individual must ensure that within his own home, among his children and grandchildren, proper standards are maintained and that as many protective boundaries and safeguards as possible are established.”

Toward the conclusion of the event, the Rebbe praised students of the Satmar Bais Rochel schools who, in recent weeks, voluntarily cut their long hair as an expression of commitment to the community’s standards. He commended them for what he described as a courageous step taken in the interest of preserving the sanctity of the Jewish home.

The gathering concluded with the Rebbe offering brachos to the assembled chassidim that they succeed in upholding the community’s sacred standards and traditions.

He ended by invoking the well-known teaching: “In the merit of righteous women our ancestors were redeemed, and through them may we soon merit redemption in our days, Amen.”

A growing controversy has erupted in the United Kingdom after a policy group within the Green Party, led by a Jewish politician, began examining a proposal that could ultimately lead the party to support a ban on non-medical bris milah—a move that would directly affect both Jewish and Muslim communities across Britain.

The Green Party’s Health Policy Working Group (HPWG), chaired by Zack Polanski, is reportedly considering recommendations that would restrict parents from authorizing irreversible surgical procedures on children unless they are deemed medically necessary. If adopted, the proposal could pave the way for the party to endorse prohibiting bris milah.

According to a report in The Spectator, the working group launched an internal consultation asking party members whether parents should be permitted to consent to “an irreversible surgical procedure on a child only when it is medically necessary.” Participants in the survey were specifically asked to share their views regarding bris milah.

The debate echoes a similar controversy that emerged in Iceland in 2018, when the country became the first in Europe to advance legislation banning non-medical bris milah. That proposal sparked fierce opposition from Jewish and Muslim leaders, who argued that such a measure would infringe on religious freedom. While the Icelandic initiative received broad political support, comparable proposals elsewhere in Europe have often been championed by nationalist parties, including Germany’s Alternative for Germany (AfD) and Sweden’s Sweden Democrats.

The report states that the working group’s policy officer urged party members to participate in the consultation, writing that “this would be a huge help in ensuring that the Green Party has an up-to-date health policy from this autumn.” The party’s annual autumn conference is scheduled for September, when a number of controversial policy proposals are expected to be debated.

The British Jewish newspaper Jewish News warned that adopting such a policy could undermine the Green Party’s growing support among Muslim voters, a constituency in which the party has made gains in recent years. Observers also noted that the proposal could create political difficulties in areas with sizable Orthodox Jewish populations, including London’s Hackney borough, where the Greens have achieved notable electoral success.

A spokesperson for the Green Party stressed that the proposal is not currently official party policy. The spokesperson explained that the party’s working groups consist of members who independently develop and evaluate policy ideas, and that any proposal can become official party policy only if it is approved by delegates at a party conference vote.

For now, the consultation remains under review, but its mere consideration has already generated significant concern among religious communities and renewed a broader debate over religious liberty and parental rights in Britain.

{Matzav.com}

California Gov. Gavin Newsom is preparing to release a highly anticipated podcast interview with Hunter Biden on Friday, offering what appears to be one of Biden’s most extensive public appearances since his father left office.

Newsom previewed the conversation Thursday by posting a short teaser on X, where he playfully welcomed his guest as “Presidential candidate Hunter Biden.”

Biden immediately joined in the joke.

“Here’s the deal. I’ll run, but only as your VP,” he told Newsom.

Explaining his mock interest in the job, Biden quipped that the vice president’s residence “is a lot cooler” than the White House.

The exchange came after Newsom referenced remarks made by President Donald Trump, who recently suggested Hunter Biden “could do well” in a 2028 presidential campaign while criticizing controversial Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner.

“I had to give you a break for just one day,” Biden joked to Newsom, alluding to the nonstop discussion surrounding the governor’s own potential White House ambitions.

In the 13-second preview clip released ahead of the episode, Biden declares: “They gave me a stage and I’m going to use it.” He then rattles off the names of several public figures with whom he has sparred, including Tucker Carlson and President Trump.

The discussion also reportedly touched on Platner, who has faced scrutiny over allegations involving toxic personal relationships and a reported Nazi tattoo. According to Politico, Biden defended the embattled candidate during the interview.

“If that’s the standard by which we are going to judge people, particularly people in elected office,” Biden told Newsom, “then I don’t think we’re going to have many people in elected office.”

The teaser quickly drew criticism online, with detractors mocking Newsom’s decision to feature a guest whose personal history has often attracted controversy.

“That’s a whole Lotta crack on one podcast…call it the Escobar files!!!” one social media user wrote.

“Is he going to talk about how he did drugs at the White House?” another commenter sarcastically asked.

Since President Biden’s departure from office, questions have persisted about Hunter Biden’s activities and public profile. In recent weeks, however, he has become increasingly visible, suggesting a renewed willingness to engage in public and political discussions.

Earlier this month, Biden celebrated seven years of sobriety through a series of social media posts. After a lengthy absence from X, he resumed posting in May and has frequently addressed criticism tied to his past struggles with substance abuse, including his long-running battles with crack cocaine and alcohol.

Those addictions became central to legal troubles that culminated in his 2024 conviction for falsely completing a federal firearm-purchase form regarding his drug use. He was also accused of failing to pay $1.4 million in taxes. Both matters were ultimately resolved through a pardon issued by his father.

Other recent posts have focused on political and media controversies, including criticism of CNN anchor Jake Tapper over his memoir and attacks on plans by Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump to redevelop an abandoned island off the Albanian coast.

Questions about Biden’s finances have also resurfaced. The California Post recently reported that he has been living in Southern California while facing debts exceeding $20 million. According to the report, that total includes roughly $15 million to $17 million owed to a prominent Washington legal team, approximately $5 million owed to longtime associate Kevin Morris, and another $1 million tied to a former art dealer.

Financial controversies have followed Biden for years. Reports have alleged that he spent millions of dollars on drugs, luxury clothing, prostitutes, and cosmetic dental work, expenditures that reportedly became a source of friction during divorce proceedings with his ex-wife.

He has also remained a political liability at times because of issues connected to his infamous laptop, which fueled years of scrutiny over alleged conflicts of interest involving Ukraine and cast a shadow over his father’s presidency.

Despite the controversies, Newsom appears unfazed by the criticism and may benefit from the attention generated by the interview. The California governor is widely viewed as a potential contender for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2028.

Observers have increasingly pointed to Newsom’s podcast, This Is Gavin Newsom, as evidence that he is refining his public messaging and building a national profile ahead of any future campaign.

The show has amassed more than 250,000 YouTube subscribers and generated at least 10 million views. Individual episodes generally attract audiences ranging from tens of thousands of viewers to nearly 160,000.

One reason the podcast has drawn attention is Newsom’s willingness to host ideological opponents, including conservative commentators Charlie Kirk and Ben Shapiro, a strategy that has sparked criticism from some fellow Democrats.

Newsom has repeatedly rejected suggestions that the podcast is primarily a political vehicle, insisting that his motivation is personal growth rather than campaign preparation.

“I’m doing this selfishly because I want to learn. I want to get better in life, not just politics. And if I’m better in life, I’ll be better in politics,” the governor told Politico.

{Matzav.com}

The leadership of the Association of Hesder Yeshivas has issued a formal letter to heads of Hesder institutions across Israel, reiterating its opposition to mixed-gender combat service and clarifying its position regarding the enlistment of Hesder students into the IDF’s Armored Corps.

In the letter, members of the association’s council explained that following the Supreme Court’s ruling on the issue, they have been actively engaged in efforts aimed at preventing situations in which female combat soldiers serve alongside male soldiers committed to observing halacha.

The council said these initiatives have been coordinated with a broad spectrum of rabbinic leaders from the religious Zionist community, including roshei yeshiva of advanced Torah institutions and rabbanim who lead pre-military academies representing various segments of the national-religious public.

They noted that numerous discussions have been held in recent weeks, during which they consistently conveyed their belief that men and women serving together in frontline maneuvering combat units is incompatible with the religious commitments of soldiers who adhere to halacha.

Council members also stated that they remain in ongoing communication with senior IDF officials in an effort to create a framework that would allow observant soldiers to serve in the Armored Corps while maintaining their religious standards.

“We will make every effort to enable the enlistment of our students into the Armored Corps in the upcoming draft without harming their values,” they wrote.

The rabbis further sought to distance themselves from reports circulated in recent days, stressing that a letter publicized in the media concerning enlistment to the Armored Corps did not originate from the council and does not reflect its official position.

“The letter that appeared in the media in recent days regarding enlistment to the Armored Corps is not a letter from the council,” adding that the publication of such a letter contradicts their position.

The statement bore the signatures of the roshei yeshiva who serve on the Council of the Association of Hesder Yeshivas.

{Matzav.com}

U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee told a visiting group of Christian leaders that their backing of Israel is rooted in faith and biblical principles, not political considerations, as they gathered in Jerusalem for a conference dedicated to confronting rising antisemitism.

Addressing members of the International Christian Embassy during the emergency gathering, Huckabee emphasized that Christian support for the Jewish state is based on Scripture and God’s covenant with the Jewish people.

“The reason we stand with Israel is not political, but because of God’s promise to Abraham,” Huckabee said during remarks to members of the International Christian Embassy who are in Israel for an emergency conference focused on combating antisemitism.

Huckabee also highlighted Israel’s remarkable ability to withstand repeated threats from adversaries that vastly outnumber it in both population and military resources.

“The amazing thing is that a tiny, tiny country of 10 million people wins over and over again when its existence is threatened by those who have 10 times the population, many times the military budget. And yet, it not only survives. It thrives,” he said.

He attributed that success to what he described as a divine promise dating back nearly four millennia.

“So what’s the secret? The secret is that 3,800 years ago, God said to Abraham, I’m going to create a people. And you are him. And I’m going to put you where you belong, and I’m going to give you a purpose,” Huckabee added.

Responding to reports alleging hostility toward Christians in Israel, Huckabee said his own decades of experience in the country have painted a very different picture.

“I have been visiting this country for 53 years. I cannot think of a warmer welcome I could have received, not just from the government officials, but from the people on the streets and everywhere I go in this country,” he said.

Huckabee said he continues to be struck by the friendliness and acceptance he encounters throughout Israel despite being open about his evangelical Christian beliefs.

“I am amazed at the reception that people show me, knowing full well that I am an evangelical Christian who believes in the Bible. It does not offend people,” Huckabee added.

{Matzav.com}