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It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of Rabbi Dovid Berger zt”l, a distinguished sofer stam whose name became synonymous not only with excellence in safrus, but with exceptional yiras Shomayim, ehrlichkeit, and tzidkus. He was a beloved figure whose aidelkeit and ehrlichkeit left an indelible impression on all who had the privilege of meeting him.

A longtime resident of Georgian Terrace, Reb Dovid lived in Lakewood, NJ for decades, earning the admiration and affection of the entire community. His reputation as a master sofer extended far beyond the city, but those who knew him understood that his extraordinary skill was only one aspect of who he was. His true distinction lay in the purity of his character and the profound yiras Shomayim that permeated every facet of his life.

The greatest talmidei chachomim entrusted Reb Dovid with their Sifrei Torah, tefillin, and mezuzos, not merely because of his technical expertise, but because they recognized that his yiras Shomayim was on an altogether different plane. Reb Dovid’s name stood as a symbol of complete ne’emanus. His ehrlichkeit was beyond question, and his standards of precision and integrity never wavered.

Anyone who encountered Reb Dovid immediately sensed that they were in the presence of an exceptional individual. His refined demeanor, gentle nature, and unmistakable feinkeit reflected a life lived with constant awareness of the Ribbono Shel Olam. He carried himself with remarkable anavah, never seeking recognition or acclaim.

Those who interacted with him were struck by his warmth, sincerity, and dignity. Every conversation, every interaction, and every aspect of his conduct reflected a man whose life was defined by Torah and avodas Hashem.

His sudden passing leaves a profound void.

Reb Dovid is survived by his devoted wife, Mrs. Rivky Berger, along with a wonderful family of children and grandchildren who continue his legacy of Torah and yiras Shomayim.

Levayah details will be posted once they are finalized.

Yehi zichro boruch.

A sweeping new law regulating electric bicycles is now in force across New Jersey, imposing new rules on riders that include licensing, registration, insurance requirements for certain models, and mandatory helmet use.

Effective July 19, 2026, the legislation establishes a minimum operating age of 15 for anyone riding an e-bike. Riders who are 17 or older may use a valid New Jersey driver’s license, while 15- and 16-year-olds—as well as adults who do not hold a valid New Jersey driver’s license—must obtain a dedicated e-bike or moped license through the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC).

The new law also requires every e-bike, including low-speed models, to be registered with the MVC. Insurance coverage is mandatory for motorized bicycles, including throttle-powered e-bikes and pedal-assist models capable of speeds between 21 and 28 mph. However, low-speed pedal-assist e-bikes with a top speed of 20 mph are exempt from the insurance requirement.

Another significant change is that every rider, regardless of age, must now wear a helmet while operating an e-bike. In addition, motorized bicycles are prohibited from traveling on interstate highways, divided highways, and any roadway with a posted speed limit above 50 mph.

State officials are encouraging riders to familiarize themselves with the new requirements before using their e-bikes. Registration forms, licensing information, and additional guidance are available through the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission.

{Matzav.com}

The Gerer chassidus will hold a large tefillah and protest rally Monday night outside Israel’s Military Prison No. 10 following the arrest of a Gerer yeshiva bochur over military draft-related issues. The gathering will be led by the Gerer Rebbe after receiving approval from Israeli police.

The rally is scheduled to begin at 9:30 p.m. and will include Maariv, the recitation of Tehillim, and inspirational addresses on behalf of Yisrael Yehuda Fein, a talmid of Yeshivas Sefas Emes in Yerushalayim, who is currently serving a military prison sentence.

The demonstration comes in response to Fein’s arrest after he appeared at a military induction office on his scheduled reporting date in an effort to regularize his draft status and obtain a medical exemption.

According to sources within the Gerer community, Fein initially reported to the military draft office in Yerushalayim but was informed that his file was registered in Haifa and that he needed to report there immediately.

Family members and associates say Fein asked officials whether traveling to Haifa that same day could result in his arrest. He was allegedly told that because it was his official induction date, he had nothing to worry about.

However, after arriving at the Haifa draft office, Fein was informed that he had arrived too late and was transferred to the military induction base at Tel Hashomer.

He was subsequently brought before a military officer, convicted in a disciplinary proceeding, and sentenced to 20 days in Military Prison No. 10.

Gerer officials contend that the decision failed to take into account Fein’s medical condition or the fact that he had voluntarily appeared in an effort to complete the process of obtaining a medical exemption.

Members of the chassidus also pointed to the student’s difficult family circumstances, noting that his father is currently under house arrest in the United States following extradition, leaving the family to cope with an especially painful situation.

In recent days, Gerer community leaders, together with veteran prison advocate Rabbi Shimon Shisha, have been working with the relevant authorities in an effort to secure Fein’s early release.

Israel is preparing for the possibility of a significant escalation with Iran after the United States informed the Israeli government that it intends to broaden its military campaign against Iranian targets in the coming days, according to Israeli and American security officials.

Despite the planned expansion of the U.S. operation, Washington has made clear that it prefers to keep Israel out of the current phase of the conflict and avoid drawing it directly into the fighting.

During recent strategic discussions between Israeli and American officials, the possibility was raised that Iran could decide to “break the rules” by launching missile attacks against Israel, a move that would almost certainly trigger an Israeli military response. U.S. officials have indicated that they are seeking to prevent such a scenario and keep the conflict centered in the Gulf region.

Over the past 24 hours, the United States has transferred additional equipment and munitions to support American fighter aircraft operating in the region. At the same time, 10 more U.S. aerial refueling aircraft arrived in Israel from Europe and from Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar as part of preparations for potential Iranian attacks on American military installations throughout the Gulf.

According to senior Israeli officials, Turkey also warned that it could provide air support to Iran if Kurdish forces entered the country as part of a reported Mossad-backed ground operation. The officials said this was the scenario President Donald Trump was referring to when he recently stated that Turkey had come close to becoming directly involved in the conflict. Under the alleged Mossad plan, Kurdish fighters would have received aerial protection from the Israeli Air Force during the operation.

Meanwhile, Channel 13 News reported that Qatar has presented a new proposal aimed at easing tensions between Washington and Tehran.

Under the Qatari initiative, the United States would suspend its airstrikes, while Iran would commit to reopening two shipping lanes through the Strait of Hormuz for a period of 10 days.

Israeli officials are also evaluating several scenarios that could pull Israel into a broader war, including a direct Iranian missile attack, intelligence indicating preparations for an imminent strike that would require a preemptive Israeli attack, or a request from President Trump for Israeli military participation. One senior Israeli official said the likelihood of escalation “has increased significantly over the past 24 hours.”

The heightened concerns come after Iran fired four missiles Sunday toward Jordan and other areas in the Gulf following overnight U.S. strikes inside Iranian territory.

According to reports, President Trump has informed mediators that unless a ceasefire is reached this week, they should prepare for a further escalation of military operations.

A senior Israeli military officer told Channel 13 News that had any of the Iranian missiles struck Eilat, Israel would have been obligated to respond militarily.

In the meantime, Israel is increasing its preparedness for the possibility of Iranian missile attacks while sending a clear warning to Tehran.

“Our strike plans are ready,” Israeli officials said.

Senior Israeli officials also told Channel 14 News that the confrontation with Iran appears to be on a course toward an almost unavoidable collision. They believe key decisions could be made within days, raising the possibility of renewed high-intensity fighting with Iran as early as this week.

Even as Iran’s confrontation with the United States intensifies, Tehran has not yet decided whether to expand the conflict by attacking Israel directly. Israeli assessments indicate that Iranian leaders have not reached a final decision but could do so in the near future.

Israel’s political and security leadership has already determined that if Iran launches attacks against Israeli territory, the country will respond aggressively to eliminate the threat.

Another possibility under discussion is that the United States could decide to broaden its military campaign and ask Israel to join the operation. Israeli officials indicated that Jerusalem would welcome such a request and view it as an opportunity to conduct coordinated military action against Iran.

Israeli officials continue to monitor U.S. decisions closely, acknowledging that uncertainty currently outweighs certainty and warning that the growing number of unanswered questions may itself point to an increasing risk of escalation.

A senior Israeli official told Channel 12 News that while coordination with Washington remains constant, President Trump remains difficult to predict.

“We are in continuous dialogue with the Americans, but one thing is clear: Trump is unpredictable. Right now it appears that the decision to increase the intensity of the strikes against Iran will indeed be carried out,” the official said.

At the same time, Israeli intelligence believes Trump’s envoys—particularly Steve Witkoff—are still attempting to halt the cycle of escalation and revive negotiations aimed at reaching a diplomatic agreement.

Israeli leaders were also informed in recent hours that Iran does not currently appear interested in launching missiles at Israel, recognizing the consequences such an attack would bring. However, officials cautioned that the situation could change quickly as Iranian military activity continues moving closer to Israel.

“We are preparing for every possible scenario and developing both immediate operational options and long-term strategic plans,” one senior Israeli official said. “If the Americans decide to escalate or involve Israel, or if the Iranians take an unexpected and reckless step against us, we will be ready.”

{Matzav.com}

Qatar is working to secure the release of members of Iran’s Jewish community who have been detained by Iranian authorities, serving as an intermediary between the United States and Tehran, according to officials familiar with the matter.

Several members of Iran’s Jewish community were recently arrested after criticizing the Iranian regime during the country’s confrontation with the United States and Israel. Sources familiar with the negotiations told Kan News correspondent Roi Kais that Qatar has been engaging with senior Iranian officials in an effort to obtain their release.

The mediation comes just days after Iran released an American citizen who had been detained in the country since 2024. President Donald Trump publicly thanked the Iranian government following her release.

According to the report, Qatar’s involvement extends beyond efforts to free American citizens and also includes negotiations on behalf of the detained members of Iran’s Jewish community.

Officials noted that Qatar’s motivation is not purely humanitarian. Rather, the Gulf state is seeking to demonstrate to Washington that it is the most effective and reliable mediator in the region, outperforming rival countries in facilitating sensitive negotiations.

A total of five members of Iran’s Jewish community are currently being held on various charges, according to the report.

Despite coming under attack from Iran in recent months, Qatar continues to push for renewed diplomatic engagement between Washington and Tehran, hoping to bring the two sides back to the negotiating table.

{Matzav.com}

Israeli Prime Minister Binyomin Netanyahu’s office issued a scathing response Sunday after New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said he would seek Netanyahu’s arrest if the Israeli leader visits New York for the United Nations General Assembly in September.

In a statement released Sunday evening, the Prime Minister’s Office sharply criticized both Mamdani and the International Criminal Court (ICC), accusing the mayor of trying to divert attention from his own record while denouncing the court as illegitimate.

The statement described the ICC as “a kangaroo court that has no jurisdiction over Americans or Israelis.” It further asserted that the “bogus arrest warrant” issued against Netanyahu was approved by former ICC prosecutor Karim Khan “just days before allegations of sexual misconduct against him became public.” According to the statement, “it was a clear attempt by Khan to divert public attention and seek protection from scrutiny.”

The Prime Minister’s Office also defended Israel’s wartime conduct under Netanyahu’s leadership, saying that “under Prime Minister Netanyahu’s leadership, Israel has taken unprecedented measures during wartime to minimize harm to civilians.” The statement accused Hamas of “using Palestinians as human shields while deliberately targeting innocent Israeli civilians.”

The response also took direct aim at Mamdani personally.

“Instead of supporting Khan’s criminal conduct, Mr. Mamdani should focus on repairing the damage his policies have caused New York City,” the statement said. It added that “like Karim Khan, Mamdani appears interested in diverting public attention away from his own failures by attacking the leader of the Jewish state and the only democracy in the Middle East.”

The exchange follows remarks Mamdani made in an interview with The New York Times, in which he reiterated that he wants Netanyahu arrested if the prime minister visits New York.

“Whatever the law allows me to do in New York City, that’s what we’ll do,” Mamdani said. “But we’re not going to write our own laws for that purpose.”

He also declared, “I believe Prime Minister Netanyahu belongs in The Hague. He is a war criminal who has been charged by the International Criminal Court. That is a view many people hold simply because of what his actions have brought about over many years.”

{Matzav.com}