Feed aggregator

It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of Rav Avrohom Yitzchok Mishkovsky zt”l, a towering talmid chacham who spent decades strengthening Torah in Rechasim. He was 75.

Rav Mishkovsky, who once served as deputy head of the local council and long held a position as maggid shiur in the Makova Yeshiva in Kiryat Ata, was regarded as one of the central figures shaping the spiritual life of Rechasim.

Rav Mishkovsky was born in Haifa on 8 Cheshvan 5711 to his father, Rav Shlomo Mishkovsky, and his mother, Mrs. Penina, daughter of Rav Yehoshua Meir Schwartz. His mother tragically passed away in a car accident during his youth.

As a young man, Rav Mishkovsky learned in Yeshivas Knesses Chizkiyahu in Rechasim, where he forged a deep bond with his rabbeim, led by the rosh yeshiva, Rav Eliyahu Mishkovsky, and the mashgiach, Rav Elya Lopian. Those years shaped his path of avodas Hashem and unwavering dedication to Torah.

Upon reaching marriageable age, he wed his wife, Bruria, daughter of Rav Uri Shraga Halevi Klerman, rosh yeshiva of Knesses Chizkiyahu in Rechasim.

For decades, Rav Mishkovsky was known as a man of expansive chesed, deep yiras Shamayim, and quiet leadership. He built Torah within the community of Rechasim and became one of its foundational pillars.

“He was the first to step forward for anything connected to kedushah,” residents said. “He was a marbitz Torah, one of the key pillars of the community, and among the builders of Rechasim from its earliest growth. He carried the burden of the public tirelessly for many years. He served as deputy head of the council and as a council member for many years, taking part in numerous committees. He did everything with devotion, humility, and complete modesty, greeting every person with warmth.”

Rav Mishkovsky taught as a maggid shiur at the Makova Yeshiva in Kiryat Ata for two decades.

Today, the levayah set out from his home, passed through the Shivtai Yisroel beis medrash, and proceeded to the local cemetery, where he was laid to rest.

The niftar is survived by twelve children and many grandchildren.

Yehi zichro boruch.

{Matzav.com}

Arab affairs analyst Ohad Hemo is raising sharp questions about Hamas’ sudden willingness to comply with President Donald Trump’s Gaza framework, suggesting that the terror group must have received significant guarantees that have not been publicly revealed. In a Hebrew-language video, Hemo stressed that Hamas’ behavior is wildly inconsistent with its usual strategic playbook, especially its decision to release every living hostage and only hold back the bodies of two victims.

Hemo underscored how unusual the organization’s actions have been over the past week. “Hamas gave up the only card it had,” he said. “The question is, why did they do this? It goes against their DNA. There are various assessments, both in Israel and in the territories, that there is a secret clause — some guarantees or assurances that Hamas received from the mediators, maybe from the Americans, maybe from others.” He argued that the return of nearly all hostages simply does not align with Hamas’ long-standing doctrine unless there is an unseen incentive woven into the agreement.

According to Hemo, a widely discussed theory in Gaza connects Hamas’ cooperation to the demilitarization demands being pushed by Israel and the United States. He explained that Hamas views the threat of being stripped of its weaponry as an existential red line, prompting speculation that the group may have secured promises ensuring that its fighters will not be fully disarmed. “Yes, they will give up the tunnels, yes, they will give up the rockets,” he said, “but at least personal weapons, Kalashnikovs, they will continue to hold on to.”

Hemo added that some voices inside Gaza believe the organization may even be positioning itself to retain influence within future security structures. He noted reports circulating in the Strip that Hamas operatives could ultimately be folded into official Gaza security institutions as part of the broader understandings. “The American mediator, Bishara Bahbah, a Palestinian-American, said that they will also be integrated into the Palestinian security mechanisms. That is, it’s not that Hamas militants will be disarmed or expelled, but some of them, at least, will be integrated into the security mechanisms in the Gaza Strip.”

Hemo concluded that this theory — that Hamas is negotiating for its survival, its weapons, and its role in Gaza’s future — is the prevailing explanation among residents and observers in the region. “And that’s the explanation in Gaza for why Hamas is cooperating and returning our deceased hostages,” he said.

{Matzav.com}

The anguished parents of Ran Gvili, Talik and Itzik Gvili, spent part of their day in a deeply emotional conversation with U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee, seeking strength as their ordeal drags on.

Ran Gvili remains the final Israeli still held captive in Gaza, with Thai national Sudthisak Rinthalak—who has been declared dead—also still in Hamas’ hands.

The couple described a meeting filled with genuine warmth from the ambassador. “Ambassador Huckabee was warm and heartfelt. We felt he genuinely cares about Ran, Sudthisak, and all of our families,” they conveyed, noting that his empathy offered them a brief respite from the constant pain.

According to the family, Huckabee emphasized America’s steadfast commitment, telling them the administration intends to remain at Israel’s side “until the last hostage comes home.” His reassurance highlighted the deep alignment between Washington and Jerusalem during this ongoing crisis.

The Gvili family left the meeting buoyed by the ambassador’s words, clinging to the hope that global pressure will not ease until every captive—Israeli or foreign—is returned safely.

{Matzav.com}

At the opening session of the Fatah Youth Conference on Thursday, Mahmoud Abbas used the stage to celebrate what he called the origins of the “Palestinian revolution,” invoking Fatah’s first attack in 1965 and lauding figures such as Abu Jihad and Abu Iyad as “heroes.” He connected their actions to the Intifada, portraying them as central pillars in the campaign against Israel.

Rather than acknowledge — or condemn — Hamas’ atrocities on October 7, 2023, Abbas shifted attention entirely to the ongoing fighting in Gaza, which he characterized as a “barbaric war of annihilation” and a “new Nakba.” He claimed that more than seventy thousand Palestinians have been killed since the conflict began.

Throughout his address, Abbas vowed to press on with what he described as the Palestinian quest for freedom and statehood. He offered prayers for the “heroic martyrs” and publicly praised the Palestinians imprisoned in Israel, referring to them as “heroic prisoners.”

Turning to political matters, Abu Mazen stressed that Gaza remains an indivisible part of the Palestinian homeland and insisted that any future Palestinian state must include both the Strip and Jerusalem. As he put it, “There can be no peace without a just solution to the Palestinian refugee issue in accordance with Resolution 194.”

{Matzav.com}

In the zchus of the Bas Ayin’s Yortzeit, Lev Rochel Bikur Cholim of Lakewood invites the community to join a meaningful initiative, providing meals to cholim who need support during this special time.

The Bas Ayin, whose kever in Tzfas draws thousands seeking yeshuos and brachos, taught us that true chesed transforms both giver and receiver.

When you donate to support Bikur Cholim meals, R’i Meyer Brull and R’ Yehuda Kaszirer  will daven for you at the Bas Ayin’s kever in Tzfas. All meals provided on the day of the yortzeit will be l’iluy nishmaso.

Every contribution ensures that cholim in our community receive nourishing meals prepared with heart and soul.

Join this powerful initiative at HERE and become part of a legacy of chesed that honors both the Bas Ayin’s zechus and serves those who are in any kind of medical crisis.

Political winds appear to be shifting for Vice President JD Vance as new polling suggests his once-comfortable path toward the 2028 Republican nomination is narrowing. Fresh survey data shows a steady erosion in support, particularly in matchups against Donald Trump Jr., raising questions about whether the vice president’s presumed frontrunner status is weakening.

Under the Constitution’s 22nd Amendment, added in 1951, a president is limited to two terms, meaning Donald Trump will not be eligible to run again in 2028. That has turned the GOP’s attention to the next generation of contenders, even though none have formally entered the race.

For much of the past two years, Vance has been widely seen as the natural inheritor of Trump’s agenda. Yet the latest numbers imply that frustration with the current administration may be rubbing off on him. Some analysts interpret the vice president’s slippage as a reflection of broader dissatisfaction that has surfaced in national polling.

McLaughlin & Associates’ trendlines illustrate the story. Back in August, Vance held a commanding edge over Trump Jr. in a hypothetical GOP primary, with 36 percent to Trump Jr.’s 16 percent—a 20-point advantage. That margin ballooned to 28 points in September.

But by October, the picture had changed. Vance registered 38 percent while Trump Jr. climbed to 20 percent, shrinking the lead to 18 points. The November numbers tightened the race further: Vance dropped to 34 percent, Trump Jr. rose to 24 percent, and the gap closed to just 10 points. The most recent survey sampled 439 likely voters between November 17 and 24.

These intraparty dynamics are unfolding at the same time Donald Trump himself is taking hits in national polling. A recent Economist/YouGov poll recorded his weakest approval rating since returning to office: 39 percent approval and 58 percent disapproval, leaving him at -19 net approval.

Mark Shanahan, a lecturer in American politics at the University of Surrey, told Newsweek that Vance’s fortunes are closely tied to the president’s. He explained: “Polls are pretty meaningless this far out from the election, but the issue for Vance is that he’s so closely tied to this Administration. For the moment, he has to be in lockstep with the president. If he’s not, he simply isn’t doing the job he has been elected to fulfill. So, while Trump’s polling is languishing, Vance suffers.”

Not all surveys paint the same bleak picture for the vice president. A YouGov poll taken November 6–9 placed Vance at 42 percent among GOP voters, leaving Trump Jr. far behind at 13 percent. This larger survey included 2,172 U.S. adults and carried a margin of error of plus or minus 2.8 percentage points.

Another set of data from Echelon Insights, collected October 16–20, had Vance even stronger at 46 percent in a field of likely voters. That poll, which had a margin of error of plus or minus 4 percentage points, again put him in the top position.

Speculation surrounding 2028 contenders extends well beyond the Trump orbit. Axios recently floated the possibility of Texas Senator Ted Cruz entering the race. Cruz swatted away the chatter in an interview with Fox News, saying: “Reporters are going to write headlines that get clicks and get eyeballs. I got a job. It’s representing 31 million Texans and it’s fighting every day for 31 million Texans.”

Shanahan noted that the early calendar offers opportunities for lesser-known potential contenders to distinguish themselves. He observed: “Other potential candidates—even those only under consideration because of their name, not their skill set—can start to build their individual political and policy identity. A year before the midterms, this may give an advantage. But that may well disappear as the presidential primaries get closer.”

{Matzav.com}

Rep. Nancy Mace unleashed a fierce response following the shocking ambush of two National Guard service members in Washington, D.C., using a Fox News appearance to argue that the attack was the direct result of President Joe Biden’s “disastrous” approach to Afghanistan and immigration. Her comments marked one of the sharpest condemnations yet from Capitol Hill in the wake of the shooting.

During the interview, Mace aimed her anger squarely at the suspect, Rahmanullah Lakanwal, declaring, “I hope that the [Justice Department] and the judge in this case will put this terrorist down. He doesn’t deserve to live!”

Lakanwal’s arrival in the U.S. has quickly become a central political flashpoint. He came to America in September 2021 under Operation Allies Welcome, the program created during the Biden administration to evacuate Afghans following the U.S. military withdrawal. Reports indicate he previously served in the CIA-backed Zero Unit before being transported out of Afghanistan, and he was granted asylum earlier this year.

Mace argued that the events in Washington were symptomatic of wider failures tied to the 2021 pullout from Afghanistan, saying, “What we’re learning now is that the devastating withdrawal from Afghanistan has had devastating consequences.” She asserted that the evacuation effort lacked proper controls, adding, “We’ve learned after the withdrawal that the Biden administration didn’t fully vet the individuals that were coming from Afghanistan over here to the United States.”

She expanded her criticism, contending that the problem extended far beyond a single case. Pointing to broader immigration concerns, Mace insisted, “I believe that the vetting was very loose. We know on our southern border during the Biden administration, we had a number – hundreds – of potential terrorists that came across the southern border into the United States.” She capped her warning with a stark prediction: “We know that there are terrorist cells all across the country waiting to act, we don’t know when.”

{Matzav.com}

Fox: Are we going to see an escalation in charges? Jeanine Pirro: Oh, there’s no question… (Rahmanullah Lakanwal) will now be charged with murder in the first degree.

Jeanine Pirro: If you saw the chaos that was going on at that airport in Kabul, in Afghanistan, it was typical of what was going on in the Biden administration.

At least 174 people have died as a result of massive flooding and landslides across Sumatra, Indonesia. Days of torrential rain intensified by Cyclone Senyar caused rivers to overflow, destroying homes, sweeping away roads, and cutting off entire communities. Rescuers are searching for the missing, but damage and continuing rain are slowing efforts.

Israel has helped establish another field hospital in Gaza, this one with 150 beds and 200 medical and support staff, marking the 15th such facility set up in the Strip since October 7, 2023.

IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir visited troops hospitalized after being wounded in an overnight clash with gunmen in Syria.

President Donald Trump used his Thanksgiving message on Truth Social to deliver a blistering tirade against Minnesota’s leadership, unleashing especially harsh criticism at Gov. Tim Walz, whom he labeled “seriously retarded.”

Trump opened his remarks with a fiery holiday greeting, writing, “A very Happy Thanksgiving salutation to all of our Great American Citizens and Patriots who have been so nice in allowing our Country to be divided, disrupted, carved up, murdered, beaten, mugged, and laughed at, along with certain other foolish countries throughout the World, for being ‘Politically Correct,’ and just plain STUPID, when it comes to Immigration.”

He asserted that the current foreign-born population in the United States is unsustainably large, declaring, “The official United States Foreign population stands at 53 million people (Census), most of which are on welfare, from failed nations, or from prisons, mental institutions, gangs, or drug cartels.” Trump continued to argue that American taxpayers are carrying an enormous burden, claiming, “They and their children are supported through massive payments from Patriotic American Citizens who, because of their beautiful hearts, do not want to openly complain or cause trouble in any way, shape, or form. They put up with what has happened to our Country, but it’s eating them alive to do so!”

The president then shifted to specific figures, stating, “A migrant earning $30,000 with a green card will get roughly $50,000 in yearly benefits for their family. The real migrant population is much higher.” He linked these claims to what he described as national decline, adding that the “refugee burden is the leading cause of social dysfunction in America,” referencing what he called “Failed schools, high crime, urban decay, overcrowded hospitals, housing shortages, and large deficits, etc.”

Minnesota served as his prime example, as he alleged that “hundreds of thousands of refugees from Somalia are completely taking over the once great State of Minnesota.” Trump wrote that “Somalian gangs are roving the streets looking for ‘prey’ as our wonderful people stay locked in their apartments and houses hoping against hope that they will be left alone.”

He then launched into an attack on the state’s political leaders. “The seriously retarded Governor of Minnesota, Tim Walz, does nothing, either through fear, incompetence, or both,” Trump wrote, before turning his ire to Rep. Ilhan Omar: “while the worst ‘Congressman/woman’ in our Country, Ilhan Omar, always wrapped in her swaddling hijab, and who probably came into the U.S.A. illegally in that you are not allowed to marry your brother, does nothing but hatefully complain about our Country, its Constitution, and how ‘badly’ she is treated, when her place of origin is a decadent, backward, and crime ridden nation, which is essentially not even a country for lack of Government, Military, Police, schools, etc…”

Closing out his message, Trump tied his immigration stance to Wednesday’s shooting of two National Guardsmen in Washington, D.C., allegedly by an Afghan national. He pledged sweeping action if returned to office, declaring he would permanently halt migration from “Third World Countries” and “remove anyone who is not a net asset” to the United States.

{Matzav.com}

The Jewish community of Chernivtsi, Ukraine, was left reeling on Thursday evening after a fire ripped through the famed Sadigura Kloiz Kedisha, a historic shul regarded as one of the most significant landmarks in the world of Chassidus.

According to initial reports, a mentally disturbed individual entered the building while the guard had briefly stepped away. Shortly afterward, flames erupted inside the structure, causing extensive damage before firefighters managed to bring the blaze under control. Police officers responding to the incident apprehended the suspect at the scene.

Investigators later disclosed that the same man had attempted to set fire to a local church just a month earlier, highlighting longstanding concerns about his mental state and previous behavior.

Rabbi Menachem Glitzenstein, the Chief Rabbi of Chernivtsi, expressed deep sorrow over the destruction. “This is a very unfortunate and painful incident,” he said. “The shul is one of the most important structures in the entire Chassidic world.”

Rabbi Glitzenstein, who also serves as the local Chabad shliach, stressed that the event did not reflect broader tensions in the city. “In Chernivtsi, we do not feel antisemitism,” he said. “There is extensive security around Jewish institutions, and serious efforts are made to prevent any expression of antisemitism. All residents here live together in harmony and peace.”

The Kloiz Kedisha is a treasured historic site dating back nearly 180 years. It was built under the direction of Rav Yisroel of Ruzhin, founder of the Ruzhiner dynasty, and served as the center of the Sadigura court for four generations. Historians often describe it as one of the most beautiful shuls in the Chassidic world.

The building stood abandoned after World War I and remained unused for nearly a century. Almost ten years ago, it underwent a full restoration and was rededicated, returning to its former glory—until Thursday’s devastating fire left it heavily damaged once again.

{Matzav.com}

The United States is moving forward with a plan to construct new housing compounds for Gazans inside Israeli-controlled areas of the Gaza Strip, which Washington hopes will create an alternative to Hamas rule but which faces massive logistical, political and humanitarian obstacles. Dubbed “Alternative Safe Communities,” the compounds would initially house several thousand displaced Palestinians […]

In an unprecedented security move aimed squarely at Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani’s incoming administration, Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman is vowing to erect a digital wall along Long Island’s border with New York City. In a Fox News interview, Blakeman said he has ordered Nassau police and county agencies to line the border with Queens with […]

Following the latest movement on the draft law, a key question is now hanging over the political scene in Yerushalayim: Will the chareidi parties once again throw their votes behind the coalition and give it the “oxygen” it needs to keep functioning?

According to Friday reports, the issue is being actively discussed inside the chareidi factions, though expectations differ between the parties. Senior officials inside United Torah Judaism say the matter will be brought up at the faction’s meeting this coming Monday, but the prevailing assessment is that a return to full support is unlikely in the near term. Any long-term decision, they stress, will ultimately be brought before the Gedolei Yisroel.

The debate comes after a significant development: with approval from the homes of the Gedolim and a green light from the Prime Minister’s Office, Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee Chairman Boaz Bismuth circulated an updated draft of the proposed conscription law to committee members. That move broke a legislative freeze that had persisted for weeks due to chareidi frustration over the lack of progress on the law.

Until now, both UTJ and Shas have been withholding votes on coalition legislation, effectively creating a logjam and complicating the government’s ability to move bills forward. But following last night’s advancement of the draft law, figures close to Prime Minister Netanyahu began pressing chareidi MKs to resume supporting coalition bills, arguing, “We helped you. Now help us.”

A UTJ MK said on Thursday night that the party cannot, at this stage, support coalition proposals while the draft law is still unfinished. “We cannot, publicly, take such a step,” he said, “despite the pressure from the Prime Minister’s people.”

Inside Shas, the picture is less rigid. Party officials believe that if they see continued forward motion on the draft law in the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee—and if the Prime Minister’s Office continues signaling approval—they may gradually restore support for coalition bills. Any meaningful progress in the legislation would increase the likelihood of Shas rejoining the coalition’s voting efforts.

Late Thursday night, for the first time in a while, Committee Chair Bismuth instructed his staff to distribute the updated text of the draft law to committee members ahead of next week’s scheduled discussions. The step came after the chareidi parties received an initial, principled go-ahead from the Gedolei Yisroel.

After releasing the draft, Bismuth stated, “This is it—we’re moving forward, with a balanced and responsible draft law that is good for the people of Israel. This law is not here to stabilize a coalition; it’s here to stabilize a country. With Hashem’s help, we will do and succeed.”

According to the updated text, the first year of the law will be shortened and clearly defined: it will run from the date of passage until June 30, 2026, regardless of when final approval is granted. This means the first major enlistment benchmark—5,760 recruits—will be required in just about six months. A cumulative target of 8,160 recruits will be required within roughly a year and a half.

The law also stipulates that national service will be recognized only in security-related frameworks, such as the Israel Police, the Prison Service, the Shin Bet, and the Mossad.

Additional provisions include revoking academic scholarships for those who do not meet the requirements and altering the makeup of the oversight committee: instead of the IDF’s chief rabbi, a colonel from the IDF’s Human Resources Directorate will take part.

Committee members were informed that next week, three sessions will be held on Monday and Tuesday to advance the legislation.

{Matzav.com}

British authorities on Thursday arrested a 31-year-old man in connection with the terror attack that left two people dead and three others seriously wounded at a Manchester shul on Yom Kippur. Greater Manchester Police said the suspect was taken into custody at Manchester Airport after arriving on an inbound flight. He is being held on […]

Israeli defense officials are warning that both Jerusalem and Washington are approaching the limits of their patience as Hezbollah rapidly rebuilds its military capabilities while the Lebanese Army looks the other way. Speaking to The Jerusalem Post on Thursday, the officials accused Lebanon of allowing the Iranian-backed terror group to restore missile stockpiles, smuggle weapons […]

A California man accused of threatening to bomb every synagogue in his vicinity and posting a stream of violent, antisemitic messages online was arraigned Tuesday on a three-count federal indictment, the Justice Department announced. Elijah Alexander King, 36, of San Luis Obispo, pleaded not guilty to charges stemming from an August social media threat in […]