Matzav

On Shabbos afternoon, the elderly mekubal Rav Alter Dovid Chaim Stern was transported from his home in Bnei Brak to the Maayanei HaYeshua Hospital after experiencing severe shortness of breath and general weakness.

Sources state that the mekubal has been suffering from significant weakness in recent months. The situation worsened on Shabbos, prompting his immediate hospitalization.

Despite his frailty, Rav Stern had continued his long-standing practice of traveling weekly to Meron. He even made the trip this past Thursday, just days before his condition took a turn for the worse.

All are asked to daven for Rav Alter Dovid Chaim ben Chaya Sarah.

{Matzav.com Israel}

Rav Shmuel Kamenetsky, the zekan roshei hayeshivos in America, was admitted to intensive care just hours before Shabbos.

Rav Kamenetsky, rosh yeshiva of Yeshiva of Philadelphia, has been hospitalized several times in recent months.

On Erev Shabbos, Rav Shmuel was taken to the hospital and admitted to the ICU.

All are asked to daven for Rav Shmuel ben Itta Ettil.

{Matzav.com}

On June 13, Israel carried out a strike on Iran with the green light from the Trump administration, though U.S. officials made it clear they would only become involved if the mission proved effective, according to Washington Post columnist David Ignatius.

Israeli sources mentioned in the article said that Iran was not only advancing its nuclear weapons program but was also working on an electromagnetic pulse (EMP) weapon. This type of device, when detonated at high altitude, can unleash a surge of electromagnetic energy capable of disabling Israel’s power grid.

The report noted that the Israeli operation inflicted enough damage on Iran’s nuclear infrastructure to delay its progress by at least a year. However, this fell short of Israel’s initial claims that the setback would last several years.

Earlier this month, the Wall Street Journal revealed that during Operation Rising Lion, Iran managed to detect and exploit flaws in Israel’s air defense systems, leading to civilian casualties.

Missile defense analysts observed that Iran refined its strategy throughout the campaign, using a method of “trial and error” to enhance the accuracy and effectiveness of its missile launches. Their conclusions were drawn from examining debris and impact zones using publicly accessible information.

This evolving strategy reportedly enabled Iran to identify and take advantage of weak points in Israel’s defenses. As the operation continued, Iran began launching more sophisticated missiles from a wider range of sites, which made it harder for Israel’s systems to intercept them.

As the fighting wore on, experts noted a shift: although the number of missiles launched decreased, a greater proportion of them reached their intended targets. They emphasized that while Israel’s missile defense technology is among the best in the world and benefits from U.S. support, no system can offer absolute protection.

The report also pointed out that Iran improved both the timing and diversity of its missile attacks during the conflict, expanding the scope of its targets and further straining Israel’s ability to respond effectively.

In the early stages of the war, only 8% of Iranian missiles managed to penetrate Israeli defenses. By the latter half, that figure had doubled to 16%.

{Matzav.com}

Over Shabbos, Russia unleashed a massive aerial assault on Ukraine, targeting civilian areas with a barrage of missiles and drones. In Dnipro — a city often recognized as a hub of Jewish life in Ukraine — over a hundred projectiles, including kamikaze drones, were launched. One of the missiles hit the top floor of a high-end apartment complex in the heart of the city, where Rabbi Moshe and Shoshi Weber, Chabad shluchim, reside.

The blast resulted in two fatalities and left many others wounded. Although the Webers’ home sustained significant damage, the family miraculously made it out without injury.

Rabbi Weber oversees Kolel Torah in Ukraine, a global initiative that promotes structured Torah study, especially throughout Europe and the former Soviet Union, with thousands of participants engaged regularly.

“We experienced an incredible miracle this Shabbos. The missile struck the building, damaging our balcony and part of our apartment, but thank God we are completely fine and unharmed,” Rabbi Weber shared.

Rabbi Mayer Stambler, who leads the Jewish communities across Ukraine and has lived in Dnipro since the 1990s, remarked, “It was a very difficult night in Dnipro. I don’t recall such intense and massive bombardments — and we’ve had rockets several times a week — since the war began three and a half years ago. There’s clearly a significant escalation in recent months, and we, the civilians, feel it firsthand.”

He went on to say, “This is the second time in the past month that a Chabad emissary was miraculously saved. Just two weeks ago, a drone hit the car of Rabbi Yossi Wolf, the rabbi of Kherson — and thank God, he too was unharmed. It is time to end this war and put a stop to the terrorism that continues to claim the lives of innocent civilians and soldiers on the battlefield every week. The Rebbe’s emissaries are here — despite everything — to help every Jew, both physically and spiritually. It’s not easy; it’s challenging. But we don’t abandon our mission. We pray for peace and for the coming of Moshiach soon.”

Vice President JD Vance currently edges out three high-profile Democrats in projected 2028 presidential election matchups, according to a new Emerson College poll released Friday.

The nationwide survey, conducted July 21-22 among 1,400 voters, showed Vance holding modest leads over potential Democratic challengers: former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, California Governor Gavin Newsom, and New York Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. The poll carries a 2.5% margin of error.

Against Buttigieg, Vance leads by just 0.8 percentage points — 43.9% to 43.1% — with 13.1% of voters still unsure. The same poll found that in the 2024 election, 42% voted for President Donald Trump and 40.5% for Vice President Kamala Harris, while 15.7% said they didn’t vote and 1.8% supported another candidate.

Vance’s strongest showing was against Newsom, beating him 45.3% to 42.1%, a 3.2-point advantage, with 12.5% undecided. When matched against Ocasio-Cortez, Vance led 44% to 41%, a 3-point gap, while 14.6% remained undecided.

“A key takeaway from the ballot tests is that about 13% of the electorate remains persuadable, while the other 87% have already settled on a party preference,” said Spencer Kimball, executive director of Emerson College Polling, in a statement released alongside the survey.

As of now, none of the three Democrats tested in the poll have officially declared a 2028 presidential bid.

Newsom recently made a visit to South Carolina, a key early primary state, raising eyebrows about his national ambitions. Buttigieg, who gained momentum in the 2020 Democratic primaries with a win in Iowa and a strong second-place finish in New Hampshire, stirred more speculation earlier this year when he announced he wouldn’t pursue statewide office in Michigan, where he currently resides.

There are also murmurs that Ocasio-Cortez — a leading voice on the party’s progressive wing — may be contemplating a primary challenge in 2028 against Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer.

Noticeably absent from the survey was Kamala Harris, who is said to be weighing a possible campaign for governor of California next year, as Newsom faces term limits. Other Democratic governors seen as potential contenders — such as Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan, Andy Beshear of Kentucky, Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania, and JB Pritzker of Illinois — were also not included in this particular poll.

{Matzav.com}

FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino made a dramatic announcement on Saturday, revealing that he has uncovered new information related to alleged corruption and abuse of power within the government — revelations he says left him deeply shaken.

Although he declined to go into detail, Bongino hinted that investigations are underway and being handled with strict adherence to legal protocols.

“What I have learned in the course of our properly predicated and necessary investigations into these aforementioned matters, has shocked me down to my core,” Bongino said in a powerful statement posted to X.

“We cannot run a Republic like this. I’ll never be the same after learning what I’ve learned.”

Bongino refrained from giving any specifics about when the public might be informed about the discoveries. He acknowledged that while he no longer maintains the same public presence he once had during his years as a podcast host, that doesn’t mean he’s inactive.

“We are going to conduct these righteous and proper investigations by the book and in accordance with the law,” he stressed.

“We are going to get the answers WE ALL DESERVE. As with any investigation, I cannot predict where it will land, but I can promise you an honest and dignified effort at truth. Not ‘my truth,’ or ‘your truth,’ but THE TRUTH.”

In this episode, Rabbi Yaakov Yosef Reinman describes how the Kingdom of Yehudah went from the heights to the depths when Menasheh succeeded Chizkiyahu.

Chapter Thirty-four: Destruction and Banishment

In 533 b.c.e., after a reign of twenty-five years, Chizkiyahu passed away. His twelve-year-old son Menasheh ascended to the throne and remained there for fifty-five years. It was the longest reign in Jewish history. And the worst. Menasheh destroyed everything his father had accomplished, and by the time he was through, the Kingdom of Yehudah had exceeded the basest forms of paganism it had known during the reign of Achaz.

It is difficult to understand why a young prince raised in the royal palace of the saintly Chizkiyahu should be inclined to such evil. Perhaps some traumatic experience activated the dormant toxins of the blood of Achav and Ezevel that flowed in his young veins. Perhaps the influence of his mother Hephzibah was in some way responsible. But whatever his motivations, he broke new ground in villainy and depravity.

Far more difficult to understand is how the people of Yehudah allowed themselves to be subverted by Menasheh. The light of Torah had shone more brightly during the reign of Chizkiyahu than at any time since the days of Shlomo. How could they fall so far in a few short years?

At first glance, it would seem that only people with whom we come into direct contact influence our attitudes and beliefs. After all, how can we be affected by what our ancestors thought and did in the previous century? But the truth is that the attitudes and beliefs of our distant ancestors have an exceedingly powerful influence on our lives.

The Talmud advises against making critical remarks about gentiles in front of the descendants of righteous converts for ten generations. Although these thoroughly Jewish descendants of converts are very far removed from their gentile forbears in time and ideology, there still remains a tenuous connection that is not so easily severed. It manifests itself in thousands of minuscule subliminal and subconscious nuances. The passage of each generation, however, filters out more and more of these nuances. By the tenth generation, they are all gone, and the connection is severed. Such is the power of generational conditioning.

Conversely, the longer successive generations adhere to a particular ideology or way of life, the more ingrained it becomes. All the fine nuances of thought and life are sifted through the filters of each passing generation until they become imprinted on the souls of posterity.

The shaded flavors of a child’s upbringing—the attitudes, the inflections, the rhythms, the humor, the habits, the fears and the hopes—all color his being with the deep-hued dyes of background and identity. Newly acquired attitudes and beliefs, however, no matter how strongly held, do not merge into the fibers of the soul. The intellect is more easily transformed than the identity, and only by generational conditioning do the intellect and the identity merge.

The Kingdom of Yehudah had been transformed under Chizkiyahu. The dismal fate of its sister kingdom to the north and the charismatic leadership of the noble Chizkiyahu had combined to diffuse the spirit of the core element to all levels of society. But generational conditioning in the new mode was lacking. Actually, generational conditioning worked against the Jewish people, since they had become conditioned for centuries to apathetic and mechanical Torah observance. Thus, although the light of Torah did indeed illuminate Chizkiyahu’s kingdom, it was only a luminous garment worn on the exterior of the soul. It would take generations of continuity for that garment to fuse with the soul, but those generations never came to pass. Menasheh would not let it happen …

Read full chapter and earlier chapters at www.rabbireinman.com.

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​​For more info, email bitachon4life@gmail.com.

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Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni expressed her belief today that recognizing a Palestinian state before it is actually formed could do more harm than good.

“I am very much in favor of the State of Palestine, but I am not in favor of recognizing it prior to establishing it,” Meloni stated in an interview with the Italian newspaper La Repubblica.

She continued by cautioning against symbolic moves that don’t reflect reality on the ground. “If something that doesn’t exist is recognized on paper, the problem could appear to be solved when it isn’t,” Meloni added.

France’s announcement that it intends to formally recognize a Palestinian state at the United Nations General Assembly in September has been met with strong objections from both Israel and the United States, especially amid ongoing hostilities in Gaza between Israel and Hamas.

Insiders have said that Israel’s response to France’s plans includes threats to reduce intelligence cooperation and potentially undermine French initiatives in the region. Meanwhile, some Israeli cabinet ministers are calling for the annexation of the West Bank in response.

With its large Jewish and Muslim populations, France stands to become the first major Western power to formally back Palestinian statehood. Such a move could add momentum to a global campaign that until now has been largely led by smaller nations more critical of Israel’s policies.

Italy’s Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani weighed in on Friday, stating that diplomatic recognition must come hand-in-hand with mutual acknowledgment, saying the Palestinian side must also recognize Israel in return.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer echoed similar sentiments, saying on Friday that acknowledgment of Palestinian statehood should be just one part of a broader roadmap aimed at ensuring long-term peace and safety for both peoples.

In a recorded message, Starmer emphasized a coordinated effort with the UK’s allies to push forward a “pathway to peace” that includes recognizing a Palestinian state as a step toward a larger goal. “But it must be part of a wider plan which ultimately results in a two-state solution and lasting security for Palestinians and Israelis. This is the way to ensure it is a tool of maximum utility to improve the lives of those who are suffering – which of course, will always be our ultimate goal,” the British premier added.

A German government representative noted on Friday that Berlin currently has no intention of recognizing a Palestinian state in the near future. Instead, Germany is focusing its efforts on advancing real progress toward a two-state outcome that has long been stalled.

Critics of unilateral recognition argue that such declarations are largely symbolic unless they emerge from direct engagement with Israel, and they stress that a Palestinian state should only come from negotiated agreements between the two sides. Supporters of recognition, however, argue that the current Israeli leadership shows no interest in peace talks or a two-state outcome, and that international pressure is the only remaining tool to move things forward.

According to a count by AFP, at least 142 nations have either recognized or expressed plans to recognize Palestinian statehood. Many of these announcements have come in the wake of the war in Gaza, which erupted after the October 7, 2023, massacre by Hamas.

Following the onset of that conflict, countries such as Norway, Spain, Ireland, and Slovenia joined a growing list of governments that have issued formal recognition, alongside several nations outside of Europe.

{Matzav.com}

Israeli intelligence officials believe that last month’s joint military actions by the U.S. and Israel inside Iran significantly set back Tehran’s progress toward developing two kinds of nuclear warheads, as well as an electromagnetic pulse (EMP) weapon that could wreak havoc on Israel’s infrastructure, according to a report published today by the Washington Post.

The article says the 12-day conflict inflicted serious damage, destroying approximately 1,500 of Iran’s 3,000 ballistic missiles and eliminating 80% of its 500 missile launchers. Anonymous Israeli officials told the Post that Iran had intended to grow its missile arsenal to 8,000 units, and that any delay in striking would have dramatically increased Israel’s vulnerability to such attacks.

Still, the report notes that Israel faced an unpleasant surprise during the campaign when it became clear that Iran possessed more solid-fueled missiles than previously estimated. These types of missiles are harder to intercept, according to one Israeli source quoted by the newspaper.

The extent of the blow to Iran’s strategic capabilities was further amplified by targeted killings of key personnel. The Post reports that Israeli operations eliminated Iran’s top-tier and second-tier nuclear scientists, as well as most of those in the third tier. Israeli sources indicated that they hope these assassinations will discourage the next generation of Iranians from entering nuclear research and development.

These findings were detailed in an opinion column by David Ignatius, a foreign affairs analyst for the Washington Post.

Ignatius further reveals that as U.S. President Donald Trump declared a ceasefire, “Israel was moving into a final phase of attacks intended to topple the regime,” though he does not provide further details. On June 24, just hours after the ceasefire was announced, Trump directed Israel to abort planned airstrikes on Tehran and condemned Israel’s actions as violations of the ceasefire agreement.

The targeted assassinations are also believed to have brought an end to Iran’s efforts to build an EMP weapon. EMPs release intense bursts of electromagnetic energy capable of disabling power grids and electronics. The initiative was championed by Iran’s Revolutionary Guard as an alternative to nuclear bombs, which are technically forbidden by a religious edict issued by Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

Despite that religious prohibition, Israeli sources say Iran was progressing on both a conventional fission-based nuclear device and a more advanced fusion warhead. The Post reports that the latter, more complicated project was abandoned after Israeli strikes killed many of the key scientists involved.

A senior Israeli official told the Post that “Iran is no longer a nuclear threshold state,” a view also expressed by IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir. The source added that it would take Iran at least one to two years to develop a nuclear weapon — and that any covert attempt to rush a crude device would likely be discovered and stopped by Israel.

Israeli leaders have insisted that their preemptive attack on June 13 was prompted by evidence that Iran — which has openly called for Israel’s destruction — was moving closer to acquiring a nuclear weapon. While Iran continues to deny any intention of pursuing nuclear arms, it has enriched uranium to 60%, a level well beyond civilian energy needs and just shy of weapons-grade material.

{Matzav.com}

In a message posted on Telegram overnight, the IDF announced that it had “carried out an airdrop of humanitarian aid as part of the ongoing efforts to allow and facilitate the entry of aid into the Gaza Strip.”

According to the military, the operation was conducted “in accordance with the directives of the political echelon.”

This marks the first instance of Israel itself conducting an airdrop of supplies into Gaza since the war erupted, having previously permitted only foreign nations to undertake such missions.

Notably, the announcement was released solely in English on Telegram and did not appear on the IDF’s official X accounts, in either Hebrew or English.

The “Handala” vessel, which departed from Italy carrying pro-Palestinian activists, neared the Gaza coast, where IDF commandos from the elite Shayetet 13 unit boarded and took control of the ship.

Roughly two weeks ago, the flotilla set sail from the Italian city of Syracuse, publicly declaring its mission to “break the siege on Gaza.”

An alert was issued aboard the ship, prompting those on board to put on life jackets while announcing they were bracing themselves for an interception.

The IDF released a statement saying: “The IDF enforces the maritime security blockade on the Gaza Strip and is prepared for a variety of scenarios, which will be carried out according to the directives of the political echelon.”

Jacob Berger, a pro-Palestinian Jewish activist from New York who is among the participants, posted a video on Instagram in which he stated: “We’re here, 100 miles from Gaza, so tell Israel to come catch us already.”
{Matzav.com}

The IDF announced on Motzoei Shabbos the tragic passing of Sergeant Major (res.) Betzalel Yehoshua Mosbacher, who succumbed to injuries sustained during active duty in Gaza.

Mosbacher, 32 years old and a resident of Avnei Eitan, was a member of the 749th Engineering Battalion under the 828 Bislamach Brigade. He served in the Combat Engineering Corps.

He was critically wounded on July 19, 2025, during operations in the southern Gaza region and later passed away from those wounds.

Mosbacher leaves behind his wife, Maayan, and their daughter.

A statement from the Golan Regional Council expressed deep sorrow: “At this difficult time, the Golan community embraces his wife Maayan and daughter, his parents Yaakov and Chana, his brothers, his sisters, and his entire family. The Council and the entire Golan salute the soldiers of the IDF, who continue even now to risk their lives in the war. We hope and pray for good news for the entire nation of Israel.”

During the same incident in which Mosbacher was fatally injured, another IDF officer—a combat engineer from the 710th Battalion, part of the 179th Brigade—was also critically wounded. Both men were rushed to the hospital, and their families were promptly informed.

The IDF clarified that the injuries were caused when an armored personnel carrier hit an explosive device in Khan Yunis, located in the southern part of Gaza.

{Matzav.com Israel}

Israel’s Ministry for Diaspora Affairs has revealed that the pilot of the Vueling Airlines flight involved in the recent removal of Jewish youth from a plane previously trained two of the terrorists behind the 9/11 attacks, including lead hijacker Mohamed Atta.

The pilot, identified as Ivan Chiribella, was confirmed by the airline itself to have had ties to the training of those involved in the deadly 2001 attacks on the United States.

The controversy stems from an incident on Wednesday, when a group of about 50 Jewish children and teenagers—ages 10 to 15—were ejected from a Vueling flight at Valencia Airport in Spain. The group, part of a European Jewish summer program, was scheduled to fly from Valencia to Paris.

According to reports, the youth began singing traditional Hebrew songs as they boarded the aircraft and continued while seated during the pre-departure delay. Many were visibly identifiable as Jewish, wearing tzitzis and displaying Magen Dovid symbols—typical attire for members of Jewish youth organizations.

Flight staff reportedly ordered the group to stop singing. When the children didn’t immediately obey, airport authorities were contacted. Police then arrived at the scene and instructed the children to place their phones on the ground to prevent any video documentation of the incident.

A 21-year-old counselor traveling with the group tried to de-escalate the situation but was met with force. Eyewitnesses say police tackled her, placed her in handcuffs, and took her into custody after she challenged the officers’ actions. Her phone was confiscated, and she was reportedly released only after signing a non-disclosure agreement.

Keren Lamy, whose child was on the flight, spoke to i24NEWS, stating that her son had been threatened for singing in Hebrew. “If you continue, we will call the police,” he was reportedly told by airline staff.

Authorities told the group they were not allowed to reboard the plane because their singing had caused a disruption. Vueling has yet to release a public statement about the incident, and no rebooking or compensation has been offered to the affected passengers.

Stranded at Valencia Airport with no immediate travel alternative, the children were aided by a local Jewish organization, which provided them with food and lodging while new travel plans to France are arranged.

{Matzav.com}

A surprise work action by ground crews at Ben Gurion Airport caused major disruptions Friday morning, leaving many passengers stranded and flights significantly delayed.

Frustrated travelers at the airport in Lod reported being stuck for hours with no flight updates displayed on the terminal screens. In one case, a pilot reportedly informed passengers already aboard a plane that takeoff would be delayed due to the ongoing labor action.

While passengers referred to the disruption as a “work slowdown” or “Italian strike,” the airport’s workers’ union denied that a strike was taking place. Instead, they blamed the delays on a staffing shortage.

“There is no strike,” said a representative of the workers’ committee. “What’s happening is the result of a surge in passenger volume while staffing levels remain insufficient.”

The Israel Airports Authority acknowledged the situation in a statement: “The management of the Airports Authority is working in cooperation with the employees. Given the current congestion, we are working to resolve the issue as quickly as possible. We apologize to the passengers for the delays.”

In an unprecedentedly harsh critique, former minister Meir Porush has launched a scathing attack on senior figures within Agudas Yisroel, particularly the secretary of the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah, accusing them of undermining the decisions of the council and misleading government officials while claiming to represent the will of the gedolim.

In a lengthy interview with HaMevaser reporters Eliezer Shulman and Meir Berger, Porush lays out his version of how the current crisis unfolded—where no law exists to protect the status of bnei yeshiva—and he directly faults individuals from within his own party for distorting reality and bypassing proper authority.

Rejecting recent doomsday claims that chareidim may need to leave Eretz Yisroel, Porush turned the argument on its head: “The yishuv Yehudi was here before the state. If you can’t tolerate us, you get out. We’ll guard Eretz Yisroel with the power of Torah.”

He went on to recount his perspective on how the political handling of the yeshiva deferment law unraveled.

“At the start of this term, I acted in accordance with the mission I was assigned by the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah—to lead the effort to enshrine the status of bnei yeshiva in law. We held numerous meetings, including at the Prime Minister’s Office and with the Defense Ministry. In each of them, I firmly demanded immediate legislation.”

Porush emphasized that at no point was he approached by the prime minister with requests for postponements, and any such efforts bypassed him. “There were people who pushed for delays and supported them—and those decisions were made in meetings of party leaders. You know who’s part of those discussions.”

He said that after the war began, contacts were paused, but when talks resumed, he was shocked to learn of them through media reports. “Some of these meetings were attended by inexperienced activists claiming to speak for Agudas Yisroel. I briefed the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah at the time.”

Porush clarified that although he was asked by one rebbe to investigate what was going on, and he had the means to do so, he had no role in the actual negotiations over the proposed new law. “From my standpoint, any talks conducted without the approval of the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah are meaningless.”

He then launched into a blow-by-blow account of the events leading to the current impasse. “After the previous law was struck down by the Supreme Court, we spent years trying to develop a new solution. As we headed into the most recent election, it was clear that resolving the status of bnei yeshiva would be our top priority.”

Porush described how during coalition talks, the chareidi parties made it clear that this issue came first. The plan, developed with legal expert Yitzchak Miron, involved two tracks: passing a Basic Law recognizing Torah study as a core national value and updating the military service law with broad coalition agreement.

But even then, Porush had reservations. “I was vocal, even in HaMevaser, that delaying legislation was a mistake. The coalition at the time passed four Basic Laws quickly—dealing with Netanyahu, Smotrich, Ben Gvir, and Deri. Why not ours? There was no public opposition at the time. It could’ve been done quietly and efficiently.”

After the war broke out, a new working group began to draft a revised law—without his knowledge or participation, despite him being the official Moetzes representative. “I was even asked to sign a check for 60,000 shekels for a new attorney I’d never heard of, supposedly hired to review the new bill. No one ever explained why Miron was replaced. I still don’t know what legal advice was given.”

Porush revealed that when the prime minister’s office later brought a statement before the Cabinet claiming “significant progress” had been made with the chareidi parties, he asked what that referred to. “Cabinet Secretary Yossi Fuchs replied: ‘It’s substantial enlistment quotas and financial sanctions for noncompliance. That’s the package.’”

He responded bluntly in the meeting: “The Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah was not consulted on this. There’s no agreement.” When he told Minister Yariv Levin that there was no approval from the Moetzes, Levin replied, “Of course there was—from all three Moetzes.” Porush pressed him again: “I’m talking about what you’re proposing now.” Levin retorted, “You can’t rewrite history.”

Wanting clarity, Porush later reviewed the official cabinet transcript and confirmed the exact exchange.

He continued: “I asked around, and those who were part of the closed-door talks told me the agreement included 4,800 recruits in year one, another 4,800 in year two (later raised to 5,700), a 10-year goal of 50% enlistment, and both institutional and individual sanctions against Torah learners.”

“These are the facts,” Porush stated. “People in Agudas Yisroel cut deals and misled Likud into believing it was backed by the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah.”

He noted that he sent a letter to the Moetzes secretary reminding him of his authorized role and warning that it was inconceivable for these moves to happen behind his back. “And recently it became public that the secretary not only knew and remained silent, but was himself involved. In my view, that is extremely serious.”

When asked how he responds to claims that he doesn’t follow the Moetzes, Porush fired back: “I’m used to being attacked. But this accusation—that I disregard the Moetzes—is the one that hurts most. The Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah themselves know the truth, and maybe now their communities will too.”

Porush said he keeps a file in his office titled “Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah,” containing dozens of instances over the years showing how he acted based on their directives, including high-profile issues like prisoner swaps, the Ayman Odeh vote, sovereignty in Yehudah and Shomron, and leaving the government.

“Even when I rarely speak with certain MKs, before the vote on the hostage deal, I asked the Gerrer Rebbe’s representative for his view. There’s not a single major vote where I don’t know the stance of every member of the Moetzes.”

As for what lies ahead, Porush warned: “Some people go around issuing demands in public while they or their aides secretly agreed to very different terms behind closed doors. Now they blame others for a mess they themselves helped create. I’m not here to judge—but the public should consider carefully who’s behind these headlines and what they’re trying to distract from.”

{Matzav.com}

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In a symbolic act, Rav Moshe Sternbuch publicly tore up a draft notice issued by the IDF to a yeshiva bochur from Yeshivas Toldos Aharon.

The gesture was carried out in his home during a special visit.

On Thursday night, the bochur, holding the official draft order he had received from the army, arrived at Rav Sternbuch’s home seeking chizuk in the face of mounting pressure. He was accompanied by noted Yerushalayim askan Rav Shimon Shisha, who requested that Rav Sternbuch publicly tear the order as a sign of protest and strength for all bnei yeshiva.

Rav Sternbuch gave the young man a heartfelt brachah that he should remain steadfast in his Torah learning and be spared from any spiritual or physical stumbling blocks. He then proceeded to rip the draft notice to shreds in front of those present.

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{Matzav.com}

In an address delivered Thursday evening to thousands of mesivta-age bochurim, Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch, rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Slabodka, warned against any participation in military programs — including those tailored for the chareidi public — stating unequivocally that yeshiva students must not allow themselves to be drawn away from Torah learning.

The speech took place at a Dirshu event in Bnei Brak, attended by boys preparing to enter yeshivos ketanos. Rav Hirsch’s remarks served as a strong rejection of recent IDF efforts to create recruitment tracks aimed specifically at the chareidi community.

“A bochur must not be enticed to leave yeshiva — not even for a so-called ‘chareidi hesder’ or any other program,” Rav Hirsch declared. “There are people out there offering suggestions, tempting bochurim, trying to pull them away from their place in yeshiva.”

He continued, “Baruch Hashem, in yeshiva ketanah you haven’t yet experienced this pressure. But it may come when you enter yeshiva gedolah. Remember: you are not even allowed to consider leaving yeshiva — not even for a moment.”

Rav Hirsch explained that continued dedication to Torah is not only a personal obligation but a national necessity. “We owe this to Hashem, we owe it to Klal Yisroel. Our Torah brings salvation. When we learn Torah, Hashem draws close to us — and when Hashem is close to us, we merit siyata d’Shmaya, both as individuals and as a people.”

He urged the boys to stand firm: “Do not be tempted. Don’t listen to anyone who tries to persuade you to leave, with nonsense or fake alternatives. Stay in the yeshiva — that is where your place is.”

Rav Hirsch concluded with a heartfelt brachah: “May Hashem help each and every one of you to grow and grow and grow, to bring kiddush Hashem into the world, and through your high-level learning, bring kavod Shamayim and the complete geulah speedily in our days. Amein.”

{Matzav.com Israel}