Yeshiva World News

TODAY!! Missed The First One? Hoshana Raba MAAMAD HASHAVA!!!

TODAY!! Missed The First One? Hoshana Raba MAAMAD HASHAVA!!! A second MAAMAD HASHAVA!! by Neki Kapayim will be held this Hoshana Raba!! Forgotten Debt?* Damaged A Car? *Return An Item?? Click HERE to join the Neki Kapayim annual Maamad Hashava! Keren Neki Kapayim is an innovative halachic solution developed by Gedolei Haposkim for the return of unknown debts and misplaced assets. Join the thousands who have come clean and your Tefillos will soar this Yom Kippur. Click HERE to join the Neki Kapayim annual Maamad Hashava! As upstanding, committed Shomrei Torah Umitzvos, our life is all about observing the dictates of Torah and halacha to the utmost of our abilities. Obviously, we each have our shortcomings in different areas, and for this reason the Torah gives us the opportunity of Teshuva – to come clean and make good on our failings. There is one area though, for which the ordinary process of Teshuva, do not suffice to clear us of our misdeeds – that is the real of bein odom l’chaveiro – sins between man and fellow man. When it’s simply a question of a personal offense – one has to ask for forgiveness. If it’s a monetary obligation the debt must be paid up. Click HERE to join the Neki Kapayim annual Maamad Hashava! But what happens when we don’t even know to whom we owe whom to pay? This is indeed a dilemma! Are our hands completely clean? Is there anything in our hands or in our possession that’s not 100% our own? Perhaps, we don’t know who the owner is, but does that make it ours? The thought is frightening! Click HERE to join the Neki Kapayim annual Maamad Hashava! Click HERE to join the Neki Kapayim annual Maamad Hashava! Can we stand before Hashem pleading for mercy; asking for brachos for ourselves and our loved ones, when our hands are sullied by money that’s not ours?The Gemara (Beitza 29a, Bava Kamma 94b) discusses the issue of returning unknown debt. Click here for halachic overview The solution developed by the dayanim of Keren Neki Kapayim is a new and innovative idea to achieve a complete and immediate return to the true owner of the money, whoever and wherever he might me Click HERE to join the Neki Kapayim annual Maamad Hashava!

ושבו בנים לגבולם: Netanyahu Hails Historic Hostage Return, Warns Campaign Against Israel’s Enemies Not Over

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday night hailed the imminent return of the last Israeli hostages from Gaza as both a “historic event” and the emotional climax of Israel’s two-year war with Hamas. “Citizens of Israel, my brothers and sisters,” Netanyahu began. “This is an emotional evening, an evening of tears, an evening of joy. Because tomorrow, children will return to their border.” The address came hours before Israel is set to receive the final 20 living hostages held by Hamas as part of a U.S.-brokered ceasefire deal. Netanyahu, whose leadership throughout the conflict has been marked by deep political divisions, sought to recast the moment as one of national unity, renewal, and unfinished struggle. “This is a historic event that blends sorrow over the release of murderers and joy over the return of hostages,” Netanyahu said, acknowledging the painful tradeoffs embedded in the agreement. “This is a historic event that some did not believe would happen,” he added. “But our fighters believed. Many among the people believed. And I believed.” Netanyahu — who has faced protests, political backlash, and scrutiny over his handling of the war — used the address to call for an end to internal division. “I know there are many disagreements among us,” he said. “But on this day, and I hope also in the period ahead, we have every reason to put them aside. Because through joint efforts we achieved enormous victories. Victories that astonished the entire world.” The prime minister credited Israel’s military and diplomatic campaigns for achieving what he described as an “astonishing victory” that reshaped the regional balance of power. “Everywhere we fought — we won,” he declared, before warning that “the campaign is not over.” “Some of our enemies are trying to rebuild themselves to attack us again. And as we say — we’re on it,” he said. Netanyahu’s most emotional moment came as he spoke of the families of the abducted, recalling his meetings with them throughout the war. “My wife and I met many times with the families of the abductees,” he said. “We saw their pain, their yearning, their tears. These meetings were with me in every decision I made during the war. We embraced the families, and I promised them: I will not rest until I bring your loved ones back.” He extended thanks to IDF soldiers and commanders, Israel’s security forces, bereaved families, and the wounded — calling them “heroes who carry their pain in body and soul.” The prime minister said Monday — when Israel expects to see its final hostages freed — is a symbolic turning point for the nation. “Tomorrow is the beginning of a new path,” Netanyahu said. “A path of building, a path of healing, and I hope — a path of uniting hearts.” “Together we will continue to strengthen our country. Together we will continue to win, and b’ezrat hashem, together we will ensure the eternity of Israel.” (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

IDF Appoints Maj. Gen. Yaki Dolf to Lead Liaison HQ for Gaza Ceasefire Monitoring

IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir has appointed Maj. Gen. Yaki Dolf, the incoming commander of the relatively dormant Northern Corps, to lead a new military headquarters that will serve as the liaison between the IDF and the US-led international monitoring mechanism overseeing the Gaza Strip ceasefire. The headquarters will operate under the authority of Deputy Chief of Staff Maj. Gen. Tamir Yadai, the military said.

Gal Hirsch Oversees Final Preparations at Re’im Base Ahead of Hostage Return

Ahead of the Hostages’ Arrival: Brig. Gen. (res.) Gal Hirsch, Israel’s Coordinator for Hostages and Missing Persons, is currently conducting a readiness tour at the expanded reception site for hostages at the Re’im base, where the freed hostages are expected to reunite with their families. As part of the visit, Hirsch affixed a mezuzah at the entrance to the expanded facility.

SECURE YOUR SUKKAHS!

SECURE YOUR SUKKAHS: Strong winds this morning blew a Sukkah off a porch at 18th Avenue and 59th Street. Chaverim volunteers quickly responded to the scene and secured the Sukkah to prevent further damage or safety hazards.

OPERATION RETURNING HOME: IDF Chief Declares Final Operation to Bring Hostages Back After Two Years of War

Israel’s Chief of the General Staff, Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir, declared Sunday night the launch of Operation “Returning Home”, signaling the final stage of the war with Hamas and the imminent return of the remaining hostages held in Gaza — two years after the October 7 massacre that upended Israeli society. “In a few hours we will all be reunited — one people, embraced and united,” Zamir said in a nationally televised address from IDF headquarters. “We will rejoice at the sight of our living hostages returning to their families, and we will mourn the return of those who were murdered.” The remarks, delivered as the army completed its redeployment along the Gaza border, framed the upcoming exchange as both a military and moral turning point — the culmination of what Zamir called “an existential war” that transformed a shattered nation into a “generation of victory.” “We went out to defend on October 7th, from a shattering failure that will be engraved in the memory of every Israeli soldier and commander,” Zamir said. “From that fracture, the generation of victory has risen.” He described the campaign against Hamas as a hard-won triumph achieved through “two years of relentless military pressure” combined with “complementary diplomatic measures,” asserting that the terror group had been defeated and that Gaza “no longer poses a threat to the State of Israel and its civilians.” The IDF, Zamir said, is now fully deployed and “at full readiness” to oversee the transfer of the remaining 20 living hostages and the bodies of several others who were killed in captivity. “The safety of our troops in battle and the safety of the hostages in captivity were central considerations throughout the entire course of the war,” he noted, stressing that every operational decision had been made to protect lives. He praised the coordination between combat units, intelligence teams, and the Hostages Directorate — led by Maj. Gen. Gal Hirsch — calling their work “precise, professional, and responsible.” “I saw your determination to bring the hostages home,” Zamir told his soldiers. “I saw eyes shining through the veil of exhaustion. I saw the unceasing faith in the justness of our cause. You did it — you brought this day.” Zamir’s speech took on a tone of national reconciliation as he urged Israelis to see the hostages’ return as a moment of unity after division and trauma. “Throughout the war, the value of camaraderie stood out between the lines,” he said. “Time and time again it united and strengthened us in moments of disagreement. On the day of the hostages’ return, we will convene for a day of national unity.” The general’s remarks underscored a deliberate shift in message from the military’s earlier tone of defiance toward one of closure and cohesion — positioning the end of the hostage crisis not just as a victory, but as a symbol of national restoration. Zamir also paid tribute to the 915 IDF soldiers killed since the start of the war, as well as the thousands injured or traumatized. “The abyss of loss they left in the hearts of their loved ones has also been opened within me,” he said. “We will not forget, not even for a moment, the price of this loss, the sacrifice, or the individuals harmed physically or emotionally, who […]

Hostages Relocated Inside Gaza as Israel Awaits Final Release on Monday Morning

The final stage of the Israel-Hamas ceasefire is set to unfold within hours, as Hamas confirmed Sunday evening that all remaining living hostages will be released from Gaza on Monday morning — nearly two years after the Oct. 7, 2023, massacre that launched the war. Senior Hamas official Hussam Badran told the London-based Al-Araby Al-Jadeed newspaper that the release of the living hostages “will take place tomorrow,” as part of the agreement requiring Hamas to hand over every surviving captive — along with the bodies of those confirmed dead — by noon Monday. According to reports from the Qatari outlet Al-Araby and Al Jazeera, the living hostages will be freed from three separate points across the Gaza Strip, with the Red Cross supervising the transfers. Later in the evening, Hamas is expected to transfer to Israel the bodies of hostages who were killed in captivity. The terms of the ceasefire — negotiated in Sharm el-Sheikh with U.S., Egyptian, and Qatari mediation — stipulate that Hamas must deliver all living hostages and the remains of the deceased whose locations it knows by 12 p.m. Monday. Israeli officials said the IDF, the Hostages and Missing Persons Directorate, and the Red Cross are fully mobilized for the operation, which is expected to bring home the final 20 living hostages still held by Hamas. The transfer will occur in coordination with Red Cross vehicles, which will cross into Gaza at multiple points to collect the captives and bring them to prearranged handover sites under IDF supervision. “We are ready for every scenario and every timeline,” said Gal Hirsch, Israel’s Coordinator for the Hostages and Missing Persons, in a briefing earlier Sunday. “This time, it’s everyone — all the living hostages are coming home.” A senior Hamas official cited by Al Jazeera said the group has completed internal preparations for the release, including verifying the identities and numbers of the hostages and transferring them to various sites throughout Gaza. “Hamas representatives will meet tonight with the Red Cross to finalize the release mechanism,” the official said, without specifying an exact hour for the operation. The locations of the three release points have not been publicly disclosed, though they are believed to be distributed across northern, central, and southern Gaza to facilitate coordination with the Red Cross and Israeli forces. While the living hostages are expected to cross into Israel during the morning hours, Al-Araby reported that Hamas plans to transfer the bodies of several deceased captives later Monday evening. Israeli officials said preparations are in place at military bases and hospitals to receive both survivors and remains simultaneously. Under the agreement, the bodies of Israeli hostages will be handed over to Red Cross personnel, who will transport them to IDF custody for identification and military honors before they are taken to the Institute of Forensic Medicine in Abu Kabir. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

“A Day of Tension, Anticipation, Hope, Great Pain and Joy”: How Israel Is Preparing for the Final Hamas Hostage Release

After 737 days of war, anguish, and waiting, Israel is bracing for the final hostage release — the moment when the last 20 living captives held by Hamas are brought home. “This is a day of tension, anticipation, hope, great pain and joy,” said Gal Hirsch, Israel’s Coordinator for the Hostages and Missing Persons, as his team completed final checks for what may be the most emotionally charged operation since the war began. “We are at full readiness.” The release, set for 2 a.m. Monday, will mark the completion of the first phase of the sweeping ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas — a deal intended to end nearly two years of brutal conflict and bring closure to hundreds of families torn apart since October 7, 2023. Hirsch described the upcoming operation as the culmination of an unprecedented national effort — a mix of military precision, humanitarian coordination, and raw emotion. The International Committee of the Red Cross will transport the hostages out of Gaza in a convoy of up to ten vehicles, including an ambulance and a minibus, before handing them over to Israeli forces along the “yellow line,” the first designated withdrawal zone from the Strip. Once in Israeli custody, the group will be flown to the Re’im base in the Negev — the same compound that received the earliest waves of released hostages in 2023 and 2024, now expanded and fortified for what Hirsch called “the most comprehensive and sensitive operation to date.” “This time, it’s not a partial release or a symbolic gesture,” Hirsch said. “It’s the return of everyone who remains alive.” At Re’im, each freed captive will be taken into a private room for immediate medical evaluation before reuniting with relatives who have been waiting for two years. Psychologists, doctors, and trauma specialists will be on site to stabilize and assess each person’s physical and emotional condition. From there, the hostages will be airlifted by Israeli Air Force helicopters to three hospitals across central Israel: Sheba Medical Center at Tel Hashomer (10 hostages), Ichilov in Tel Aviv (five), and Beilinson in Petah Tikva (five). Each will be placed in what officials are calling “safe rooms” — sealed spaces reserved for families and medical teams only. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu personally toured the medical facilities and military bases on Friday, overseeing final briefings. “He gave very specific instructions to ensure that every detail, down to the smallest logistical point, is covered,” Hirsch said. Additional emergency capacity has been set aside at Soroka Hospital in Be’er Sheva and Barzilai in Ashkelon. “We are prepared for every scenario,” Hirsch added. “This is not a symbolic event — it’s the completion of a national mission.” Alongside the 20 living hostages, Hamas is expected to return the remains of at least a dozen of the 28 Israelis confirmed to have died in captivity. Once the Red Cross completes the transfer of the living, it will shift to collecting the coffins of the dead, which will be handed over to Israeli forces. The coffins will be wrapped in Israeli flags and received with full military honors at Re’im. A military rabbi will lead kaddish before the bodies are transported to the Institute of Forensic Medicine in Abu Kabir for identification. Families will be notified as soon as confirmations are made. […]

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