Matzav

In a dramatic turn of events, a woman who had been denied a get for six years by her incarcerated husband was finally released from her state of agunah thanks to the personal involvement of the Rishon Letzion, Rav Dovid Yosef, nosi of the Bais Din Hagadol.

The case involved a man from the Sharon region who had been convicted of bank robbery and imprisoned. Although he and his wife had long been separated and engaged in divorce proceedings, he persistently refused to grant her a get, attending repeated hearings in shackles and demanding unreasonable financial terms in exchange for the divorce.

After six years of fruitless litigation in the regional bais din, the matter was brought before the Bais Din Hagadol in Yerushalayim, where Rav Dovid Yosef presided alongside Rav Maimon Nahari and Rav Meir Freiman. Despite the woman’s despair—at one point even requesting that the case be closed—and the failed attempts at negotiation and property division, the case remained active.

Recognizing the urgency, the court referred the matter to the Division for the Prevention of Agunah Cases under the direction of Rav Eliyahu Maimon. Working together with rabbinic officials from the Israel Prison Service, Rav Maimon traveled to the prison, held lengthy discussions with the husband, and issued stern warnings, including the possibility of solitary confinement. Ultimately, the husband agreed to grant the get.

However, when the time came for the formal proceedings, a new challenge arose: the wife, accompanied by her attorney, reneged on the previously agreed-upon financial arrangement.

Undeterred, Rav Dovid Yosef personally intervened, spending hours in separate, intensive discussions with each party. With a strategic combination of firmness and warmth, he managed to negotiate a final agreement. Late in the afternoon, the court sofer and witnesses were summoned, and the get was executed on the spot.

The woman was officially freed from her chained status. The husband was returned to prison. Both parties, moved to tears, expressed their gratitude to Rav Dovid Yosef for his tireless efforts and compassion.

A photo of Rav Yosef bentching the woman after the proceedings – seen above – captures the emotional conclusion to a years-long ordeal.

{Matzav.com Israel}

The Peleg Yerushalmi and the Eida Hachareidis have announced a series of nationwide demonstrations in response to the arrest of three yeshiva students who were transferred to military prison for failing to report to the draft office.

In a statement issued Tuesday afternoon, the Vaad LeHatzolas Olam HaTorah declared, “Tens of thousands of bnei Torah will take to the streets across the country” to protest the imprisonment of three kollel members—Reb Elazar Kaufman, Reb Dovid Menachem Mintzberg, and Reb Dov Aryeh Mordechai Rabinowitz—who were jailed for not appearing at the IDF draft office in recent years, in accordance with the directives of Rav Shmuel Auerbach zt”l.

Senior rabbinic members of the Vaad were reported to have traveled to consult with Rav Ezriel Auerbach regarding the scope and strategy of the protests, which are expected to erupt in multiple locations throughout Israel beginning today.

The first major protest, led by the Eida Hachareidis, is set to take place this evening. It will begin at the Batei Ungarin plaza in Yerushalayim at 8:00 p.m., continuing from there onto major roadways including Route 1 and other key arteries.

“In accordance with the directives of the leading Torah sages—Rav Ezriel Auerbach shlit”a and the rabbonim of the Eida Hachareidis—thousands from across the religious spectrum will participate,” Peleg representatives announced. “Chassidic groups, Sephardic Eida Hachareidis communities, and the bnei Torah of Peleg Yerushalmi will all take part. Widespread disruptions and traffic gridlock are expected on major thoroughfares across Eretz Yisroel.”

The arrest that sparked the protest movement occurred earlier today at a construction site in Yehud, where three people were detained during a demonstration against alleged desecration of Jewish graves. Upon being brought to the police station, it emerged that the three were listed as draft evaders. They were subsequently transferred to military police custody.

One of the detainees is a grandson of the Mishkenos HaRo’im Rebbe.

Attorneys Shlomo Hadad and Itay Cohen, who represent the detainees, issued a statement explaining: “Today, three young chareidi men were arrested for participating in a protest in Yehud against grave desecration. While at the police station, it was discovered they were registered as draft dodgers. Following communication between the police and the IDF, it was decided to transfer them to military custody.”

“This is a highly unusual and troubling development,” the attorneys said. “Given the nature of the protest and the public sensitivity surrounding both the issue of grave desecration and chareidi enlistment, the move raises serious concerns.”

Opposition leader Yair Lapid commented on the matter, stating, “I commend the IDF for enforcing the law regarding chareidi draft evasion. There must be no discrimination. Everyone must serve.”

{Matzav.com Israel}

In a significant development, Hussein al-Sheikh, the Palestinian Authority’s second-in-command, sat down today in Ramallah with US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee—a meeting that marks the first official encounter between the two.

This move contrasts sharply with the Palestinian Authority’s stance during President Donald Trump’s previous term in office, when they boycotted Ambassador David Friedman due to his staunch backing of Israeli settlements in Yehuda and Shomron.

Huckabee, who shares Friedman’s pro-settlement views, was nonetheless welcomed by the PA leadership—signaling a shift in Ramallah’s strategy. Unlike its rigid position under Trump’s earlier administration, the PA now appears to be softening its diplomatic posture, driven largely by its deteriorating financial health and waning political clout. With the governing body teetering, it is desperate for international backing to pressure Israel into changing course on multiple fronts.

Following the meeting, Sheikh posted on social media that he and Huckabee discussed possible solutions to the Gaza conflict. The conversation included the pressing need to secure the release of Israeli hostages and to ensure that humanitarian supplies reach the region, where famine-related deaths are increasingly being reported.

The two also touched on the severe economic turmoil affecting the West Bank, the PA’s dire budgetary woes, and the spike in unchecked violence perpetrated by settlers, Sheikh noted.

“Ways to strengthen bilateral relations were explored as well as the importance of the American role in achieving stability, security, and peace in the region,” Sheikh writes.

{Matzav.com}

While in the United States, Israeli Prime Minister Binyomin Netanyahu sat down for an extended conversation on the Nelk Boys’ Full Send Podcast, with the episode premiering on Tuesday. The interview spanned over an hour and covered a wide range of topics, from global threats to personal reflections.

Addressing the issue of Iran, Netanyahu painted a grim picture of the danger it poses to Israel, describing the regime as “a person with two lumps of cancer that threatened our lives,” alluding to both Iran’s nuclear ambitions and its missile arsenal.

He made a distinction between the Iranian leadership and its citizens, asserting that while the regime remains hostile, the people themselves are not beyond reach. “80% of them want to throw these theological thugs (the regime) out,” Netanyahu said, suggesting that peace is possible with the Iranian population even if not with its rulers.

Responding to criticism about his global image, Netanyahu pushed back against the idea that he is widely disliked. He maintained that many people, including heads of state, acknowledge his accomplishments, particularly in confronting Iran. “The propaganda is there, but the truth beckons, and what Israel did with President Trump is safeguard free societies,” he said. He continued, “The question you have to ask is not why they hate me or President Trump, it’s why don’t they see the reality? Why don’t they see what’s good for them? The truth is most of them do when you tell them the facts.”

When asked about the achievements he considers most significant, Netanyahu pointed to his campaign against Iran and his efforts to move Israel away from socialism as the milestones he’s proudest of. He added that the most painful cost of his career has been the toll it has taken on his wife and sons.

Shifting to political developments in the United States, Netanyahu was asked how figures like Zohran Mamdani—who has made inflammatory comments such as supporting the “globalization of the intifada”—could gain influence in a city with a large Jewish population like New York. Netanyahu criticized this political trend harshly: “A lot of people have been taken in by this nonsense. You want to defund the police? You want to have people go into stores and rob them and be free. You think that really makes a good society? You want to crush enterprise? You want to tax people to death? That’s a one-term effort, but sometimes you have to get mugged by reality to understand how stupid that is.” While Netanyahu made it clear that he disapproves of Mamdani’s rhetoric, he said he wasn’t overly worried: “if we can speak the truth to the young people of America, they’ll wise up.”

Ending the interview on a lighter note, Netanyahu shared a humorous moment he once had with President Trump. Asked what the two leaders share in common, he laughed about their mutual love for burgers. Recalling Trump’s trip to Israel, he said, “We had dinner cooked by this very good chef. He gave a seven-course dinner. The longest dinner I’ve ever had. Finally, he brings in this dressed-up hamburger. I looked at President Trump, and he looked at me. Finally, we had what we wanted – we got the hamburger.”

WATCH:

Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu has turned down a plea from members of the Hagvura Forum—families who lost loved ones in battle—who urged him to immediately cut off humanitarian assistance to Gaza, including the supply of electricity and water.

Responding to their appeal, Netanyahu defended his decision, stating, “Our actions are consistent with international law.”

In his reply to the families, Netanyahu reaffirmed that Israel’s war objectives remain firm and unchanged: to eliminate Hamas rule, to ensure the safe return of the hostages, and to eliminate the security threat from Gaza.

“I received your letter regarding the actions in the War of Revirth and the commitment to achieving total victory,” Netanyahu wrote. “I thank you for your heartfelt words, and I strengthen each one of you – those who feel the pain of bereavement in this critical, just, and moral battle. From the first day of the war, its goals have not changed, and they will not change: the dismantling of Hamas rule in the Gaza Strip, bringing all our hostages home, and neutralizing any future threat from Gaza to Israel.”

He went on to explain that Israel is deploying a range of military strategies, guided by real-time intelligence and adapted to the evolving battlefield. “For this purpose, we are using diverse combat methods, based on the intelligence we have and in accordance with the situation on the ground. Our actions are consistent with international law so that we can continue to fight with strength and determination as needed, until victory is achieved. We constantly review our actions to ensure the best possible results for us. I reiterate in the clearest terms: Hamas will no longer rule Gaza. We will strike it, defeat it, and make it pay the full price for its brutal aggression. Our fallen sons and daughters did not die in vain. Thanks to them, and with God’s help, our state exists. In their blood, Israel’s eternity is guaranteed.”

Yehoshua Shani, who lost his son Captain Uri Mordechai and now serves as head of the Hagvura Forum, voiced his disappointment and pressed Netanyahu to halt all supplies reaching the Gaza Strip. “Our hostages are not being held in Gaza according to international law, and on October 7, Hamas had no regard for international law. Everything that enters the Gaza Strip reaches the enemy, it goes to Hamas, and it serves as oxygen for Hamas terrorists to continue harming our soldiers and Israeli civilians. International law does not require aiding the enemy.”

He continued with a passionate appeal: “Our loved ones, the heroes of Israel, went into battle believing in the righteousness of the cause, with a deep understanding that we have no other land. They went to defeat our enemies and restore security to the Jewish people for generations to come. As we stated in our letter, we call on the government to stop providing oxygen to the enemy. Mr. Prime Minister, the people are behind you, the bereaved families are behind you – remove the gloves, crush the enemy, only then will we bring victory, bring security, return our hostages, and protect the lives of our soldiers. The Jewish people, with God’s help, will win,” he emphasized.

{Matzav.com}

Dozens of pro-Palestinian agitators are facing serious disciplinary consequences, including lengthy suspensions and permanent expulsions, after participating in both the violent takeover of Columbia University’s Butler Library this past May and the disruptive tent encampment from the previous spring, according to The New York Post.

Sources with knowledge of the university’s response revealed that over 70 students are being disciplined for their involvement in the library occupation on May 7 and the encampment protest that took place on the Morningside Heights campus in spring 2024.

Around two-thirds of the students will receive suspensions ranging from one to three years, most commonly two-year bans, the sources added.

The penalties were formally handed down on Monday after Columbia’s University Judicial Board concluded its investigation into the protests.

“Our institution must focus on delivering on its academic mission for our community. And to create a thriving academic community, there must be respect for each other and the institution’s fundamental work, policies, and rules,” a Columbia spokesperson said in a statement.

“Disruptions to academic activities are in violation of University policies and Rules, and such violations will necessarily generate consequences. The speed with which our updated UJB system has offered an equitable resolution to the community and students involved is a testament to the hard work of this institution to improve its processes.”

These disciplinary actions follow a wave of temporary suspensions issued in the immediate aftermath of the chaotic May 7 demonstration, when a crowd of protesters forced their way into Butler Library, disrupting students who were preparing for their finals.

Footage from the incident showed protesters wearing keffiyehs and chanting “Free, free Palestine” while banging drums and clapping in a show of defiance.

The group also vandalized parts of the library, taping over tables and plastering the space with Palestinian flags during the five-hour standoff.

Two public safety officers sustained injuries when demonstrators forced their way inside the building.

Columbia’s acting president Claire Shipman sharply criticized the mob’s actions at the time, stating that she had no alternative but to summon the NYPD to restore order.

Ultimately, police arrested numerous demonstrators, restraining them with zip ties before removing them from the scene.

{Matzav.com}

House Speaker Mike Johnson, Republican from Louisiana, announced that the House will be closing up shop ahead of schedule this week, allowing members to begin their summer recess earlier than planned. The decision comes amid growing unrest surrounding the unreleased documents tied to Jeffrey Epstein’s criminal history.

Originally, Congress was slated to adjourn on July 24 for its traditional August break, giving lawmakers time to reconnect with their home districts and constituents.

However, mounting pressure from Democrats and a select group of Republicans demanding the release of Epstein-related case materials has led Johnson to adjust the legislative calendar, stating that the final voting day will now be July 23.

“We’re not going to play political games with this,” Johnson declared during a press briefing.

Discontent among MAGA supporters has been rising in response to the Justice Department’s handling of the Epstein investigation, creating noticeable friction between President Donald Trump and a portion of his typically steadfast following.

{Matzav.com}

President Trump on Tuesday urged the Department of Justice to pursue legal action against Barack Obama, accusing him of initiating an intelligence evaluation intended to support claims that Russia interfered in the 2016 election on Trump’s behalf.

“Whether it’s right or wrong, it’s time to go after people,” Trump stated from the Oval Office, following renewed focus on allegations that Obama had orchestrated the response to suspicions of Russian election meddling after Trump’s victory.

Describing the situation as a grave offense, Trump said it amounted to “criminal at the highest level,” pointing to recently declassified materials released by Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard.

“It would be President Obama, he started it. And [Joe] Biden was there with him, and [James] Comey was there, and [James] Capper — the whole group was there, and [John] Brennan.”

Trump went further, calling Obama the ringleader: “The leader of the gang was President Obama… He’s guilty.”

He didn’t mince words about what he believed took place: “This was treason, this was every word you could think of. They tried to steal the election. they tried to obfuscate the election.”

{Matzav.com}

In a move that has sparked fierce political tension, the IDF announced plans to launch an unprecedented enforcement campaign next week targeting yeshiva students classified as draft dodgers under Israeli law. The initiative will coincide with the start of bein hazmanim and could see arrests begin within days.

According to military officials, the IDF’s Manpower Directorate is wrapping up the distribution of an additional 54,000 draft orders to chareidi men, bringing the total number of orders sent in recent months to nearly 80,000.

Currently, approximately 5,000 yeshiva students are classified as deserters. In the coming two months, that number is expected to skyrocket to 30,000, and by next year it could reach 80,000 if the legal and political stalemate over chareidi enlistment remains unresolved.

Military police are preparing to carry out arrests at roadblocks across the country. In coordination with the Traffic Police, chareidi individuals flagged as deserters will be handed over to military authorities.

The IDF intends to begin the crackdown before the end of July, just as bein hazmanim begins. The move marks a dramatic escalation in enforcement and has sent shockwaves through the chareidi community.

Senior officials in the chareidi political factions delivered a unified warning to Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu earlier this week: if even a single yeshiva student is arrested, the chareidi parties will revolt.

Coalition insiders say this message was the key factor behind Netanyahu’s recent push to oust MK Yoel “Yuli” Edelstein from his role as chairman of the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, seen as a punitive step to reassert control over military policy debates.

However, chareidi lawmakers clarified that removing Edelstein does nothing to address their demands.

“Edelstein’s removal doesn’t help us,” one senior chareidi politician said. “It may be Netanyahu punishing someone who defied him, but it won’t bring us back into the government.”

Their message remains firm: “We demand the presentation and passage of a conscription law that has majority support within the coalition. Without that, we are not part of this government.”

{Matzav.com Israel}

President Donald Trump has been unsettled by recent developments in Gaza, particularly reports of Palestinians being killed while attempting to access aid, and he was also “caught off guard” by Israel’s recent military actions in Syria and the shelling that impacted a church in Gaza, according to White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt.

Leavitt’s statements underscored the continuing strain between U.S. and Israeli positions on the conflicts in both Gaza and Syria, even as the broader alliance between the two nations remains intact on a strategic level.

Speaking to reporters at the White House about the Sunday incident in which numerous Gazans were killed while seeking humanitarian aid, Leavitt remarked, “The president never likes to see that. He wants the killing to end, and he wants to negotiate a ceasefire in this region.”

“He wants to see all of the hostages released from Gaza. That has been a top priority for this president,” she continued.

The Israel Defense Forces acknowledged it had opened fire near a group of Palestinians, claiming the individuals had approached soldiers aggressively as crowds gathered around a UN aid convoy in northern Gaza. According to Hamas, the gunfire led to the deaths of 79 Palestinians. The IDF accused Hamas of inflating the number but did not offer a separate estimate, and foreign media remain barred from independently entering Gaza to verify the casualty reports.

Leavitt stated that Trump’s goal is to ensure aid is distributed “in a peaceful manner where more lives are not being lost,” but also stressed that the distribution system must prevent resources from being diverted to Hamas.

Trump “hated seeing the pictures of starvation of women and children who desperately need that aid,” Leavitt said.

She also pointed to the administration’s endorsement of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, which for the past two months has worked to distribute supplies using a new process intended to keep Hamas from intercepting the goods.

However, this approach has encountered significant challenges. Civilians have had to traverse considerable distances and cross military lines to reach distribution zones. Furthermore, the GHF has not been screening aid recipients due to the disorganized nature of the deliveries, making it impossible to ensure the supplies are getting to the right people. Hamas has condemned the foundation and issued warnings against cooperating with it.

When asked whether Trump has voiced anger to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over the Gaza strikes, Leavitt said the two remain in close contact and maintain a “good working relationship.”

Still, she acknowledged Trump had been “caught off guard” by both the Israeli military operation in Syria and the tank shell that inadvertently struck Gaza’s only Catholic church, resulting in the deaths of three civilians. Israel later issued an apology and said the strike was accidental.

“In both accounts, the president quickly called the prime minister to rectify those situations,” said Leavitt.

In a report published over the weekend by Axios, several unnamed U.S. officials expressed dissatisfaction with Netanyahu’s military decisions, particularly concerning Israeli strikes on Syrian regime forces, which the U.S. believes may destabilize the fragile leadership in Damascus that it is attempting to support.

While the Axios piece cited frustration among Trump’s staff, Leavitt’s remarks made it clear that the president himself shared in the concerns.

Earlier on Monday, U.S. special envoy to Syria Tom Barrack took issue with Israel’s military activity in Syria, saying it had created additional hurdles for American efforts to foster stability in the region.

Israel, in its defense, claimed its actions were intended to protect the country’s Druze minority and alleged that the Syrian regime under President Ahmed al-Sharaa had been complicit in attacks targeting the Druze population in southern Syria.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump issued a demand on Monday for CNN to retract and apologize for a report it ran last month, which claimed that recent U.S. airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear infrastructure would only marginally delay the regime’s nuclear ambitions by a few months, according to an internal intelligence estimate.

Posting on his Truth Social platform, Trump highlighted remarks made by Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in a Fox News interview. In that conversation with Bret Baier, Araghchi confirmed the extent of the damage caused by the U.S. offensive, describing it as “serious.”

“Iran’s Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, on the Iran Nuclear Sites: ‘Damages are very severe, they are destroyed.’ Of course they are, just like I said, and we will do it again, if necessary! As interviewed by Bret Baier,” Trump wrote.

He didn’t stop there. Trump blasted CNN, calling for the immediate dismissal of the journalist behind the story and a public apology to him and the U.S. Air Force. “Fake News CNN should immediately fire their phony ‘reporter’ and apologize to me and the great pilots who ‘OBLITERATED’ Iran’s nuclear sites. CNN is a major ratings loser, as is MSDNC!” he declared.

Trump had already taken aim at CNN journalist Natasha Bertrand, the author of the controversial piece, accusing her of spreading false information and labeling her work as “Fake News.”

In response to CNN’s reporting, CIA Director John Ratcliffe issued a statement contradicting the assessment cited in the article. “CIA can confirm that a body of credible intelligence indicates Iran’s Nuclear Program has been severely damaged by the recent, targeted strikes. This includes new intelligence from an historically reliable and accurate source/method that several key Iranian nuclear facilities were destroyed and would have to be rebuilt over the course of years.”

Ratcliffe emphasized the agency’s continued commitment to transparency and accurate intelligence gathering: “CIA continues to collect additional reliably sourced information to keep appropriate decision-makers and oversight bodies fully informed. When possible, we will also provide updates and information to the American public, given the national importance of this matter and in every attempt to provide transparency.”

{Matzav.com}

Tensions are mounting within the Likud party and the broader coalition as efforts intensify to remove MK Yuli Edelstein from his position as chairman of the Knesset’s Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee. The move comes amid a deepening rift between the government and the chareidi factions over the failure to advance a new draft law.

Following criticism that Edelstein has not progressed the legislation as agreed with the chareidi parties, Likud announced plans to hold a vote on replacing him. Among the candidates eyeing the influential post are MKs Boaz Bismuth, Eli Dallal, Nissim Vaturi, and Hanoch Milwidsky.

According to a report by Ynet, Milwidsky has emerged as the leading contender after receiving quiet backing from Prime Minister Netanyahu’s inner circle. Milwidsky is seen as more likely to push through the long-delayed draft law, a priority for the chareidi parties. Sources within Likud suggest he currently enjoys a clear majority of support among party members for the role.

Meanwhile, MK Boaz Bismuth was spotted entering the prime minister’s office in the Knesset on Monday, fueling speculation that he may be seeking Netanyahu’s endorsement as well.

Despite the political maneuvering, chareidi leaders are staying focused on their central demand. “Edelstein isn’t the issue for us—it’s Netanyahu,” a senior chareidi figure said. “If he wants to pass the draft law, it will happen. How? That’s his problem. We’re not returning to the coalition until the law is passed.”

Similarly, a senior United Torah Judaism official told N12, “Replacing Edelstein doesn’t concern us. It’s meaningless. He already pushed out Gallant—did that change anything? Netanyahu has to decide whether he wants to pass the draft law or not.”

In parallel, Channel 11 reported that Netanyahu approached Knesset legal advisor Sagit Afik for an opinion on Edelstein’s dismissal. Afik reportedly warned that such a move could set a dangerous precedent and potentially hinder the passage of the draft law.

Despite this caution, Netanyahu’s office appears determined to proceed with the replacement process before the Knesset session ends next week. Meanwhile, Edelstein is fighting to retain his position, working behind the scenes to rally Likud MKs to his side. He’s pushing for a secret ballot vote, hoping that members will feel free to vote their conscience without party pressure.

Likud is expected to vote on Wednesday on Milwidsky’s request to be appointed chairman of the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee.

{Matzav.com Israel}

Yisrael Beiteinu chairman MK Avigdor Lieberman has once again launched a fiery verbal assault on the chareidi public, this time introducing a provocative campaign slogan ahead of the upcoming elections: “No draft, no vote.” The proposal, aimed at boosting his appeal in public opinion polls, includes a push to deny voting rights to yeshiva students who do not enlist in the IDF.

“We will ensure everyone is drafted. There will no longer be people who claim ‘Torasam umnasam,’” declared Lieberman during a political speech, using the term traditionally used for full-time Torah learners.

In his remarks, Lieberman took aim at MK Yuli Edelstein, who is currently under pressure for refusing to advance the draft law. “The next victim of the draft-dodging coalition is Yuli Edelstein,” Lieberman said. “I warned this would happen. It’s a disgraceful act.”

He also condemned the recent interview given by United Torah Judaism chairman MK Yitzchok Goldknopf to Kikar HaShabbat, saying, “When I hear Goldknopf threatening that if the state dares to draft yeshiva students, ‘the country will not rest or be silent,’ it’s the height of disgrace.”

Lieberman went on to accuse chareidi leadership of manipulating their community for political gain. “The incitement to dodge the draft coming from chareidi leaders is not Jewish—it’s heresy. They are holding the chareidi public hostage in the name of power, honor, and money,” he charged.

Reiterating one of his long-standing claims, Lieberman said, “All the great Torah sages were men of action. The Rambam and Rashi worked full-time jobs. This so-called ‘leadership’ that encourages draft evasion and idleness is nothing less than heretical.”

He concluded with a dramatic call for legislative change: “We will draft everyone. There will be no more ‘Torasam umnasam.’ And when we talk about sanctions, the real one should be the denial of voting rights. If you don’t serve—you don’t vote. Most modern countries have some restriction on voting rights, and we should too.”

{Matzav.com Israel}

President Donald Trump reposted a video on Truth Social that showed a fake, artificially rendered scene of former President Barack Obama being arrested.

The video, originally posted on July 20 by the TikTok user “neo8171,” opens with a compilation of Democratic politicians declaring, “no one is above the law”—a phrase frequently invoked in reference to Trump’s legal battles, including his indictment in Georgia and felony conviction in New York.

The video features the internet meme character Pepe the Frog, an image that became widely recognized during the 2016 election and was eventually included in a hate symbol database. As the song “YMCA” plays in the background, the video cuts to a fake rendering of Obama in the Oval Office, being pulled from his chair and handcuffed by FBI agents. The altered footage then shows him in an orange prison uniform. A spokesperson for Obama declined to comment on the fabricated AI content.

Two days prior to the video’s release, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard issued a statement claiming to possess proof that the Obama administration, following the 2016 election, had generated “politicized intelligence that was used as the basis for countless smears seeking to delegitimize President Trump’s victory.”

Despite this, the Senate Intelligence Committee, in a 2020 report led by a Republican majority, reaffirmed the U.S. intelligence community’s assessment that Russia interfered in the 2016 election to benefit Trump. Trump has long maintained that the Russia investigation was a fabricated scandal. Addressing Gabbard’s recent statement, Rep. Jim Himes of Connecticut, the ranking Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, said on CBS’s Face the Nation that her allegation is a “dangerous lie.” He argued that Gabbard was diverting attention by highlighting Russian attempts to disrupt voting systems rather than their efforts to harm Hillary Clinton’s campaign.

Appearing on Sunday Morning Futures on Fox News, Gabbard said she planned to forward her findings to the Department of Justice and the FBI for criminal investigation. Trump posted several clips of her interviews on his Truth Social account.

“As is always the case, President Trump was right about the Obama-Biden administration’s clear involvement in the greatest witch hunt in American history and the genesis of the decade-long hoax saga that tore our nation apart and undermined the will of the people,” said White House spokesperson Harrison Fields in a written statement. “The President and his entire administration are committed to unearthing wrongdoing and holding any individual accountable for this gross abuse of power and blatant conspiracy against President Trump and his supporters.”

{Matzav.com}

Roughly half of Israeli participants in a recent Pew Research Center survey named Iran as the most serious threat to their nation, while 17% pointed to Hamas. The survey, released in July 2025, analyzed how citizens across 25 countries perceive external threats to their national security.

Israelis largely did not view global powers like the United States, China, or Russia as major threats. These countries were not mentioned in meaningful numbers by respondents in Israel.

In sharp contrast, 43% of respondents in Turkey labeled Israel as the most dangerous threat to their country, with 30% identifying the United States as the next most concerning.

Turkey was the only country in the survey where Israel topped the list of perceived threats, a distinction that did not appear in any other nation polled.

The Pew report emphasized that across most of the world, three nations—China, Russia, and the United States—were the dominant sources of concern. Americans, for instance, overwhelmingly saw China as their primary threat. Canadians, however, cited the U.S. more than any other nation.

Within Europe, Russia remained the most frequently mentioned security concern, particularly in Eastern and Northern European countries such as Poland and Sweden.

Perceptions in the Asia-Pacific region reflected regional tensions. The majority of Australians and Japanese identified China as their number one threat. This trend held true for India and Pakistan as well, where China was the top concern. In South Korea, however, 40% of respondents saw North Korea as their greatest threat.

In sub-Saharan Africa and Latin America, significant portions of the population regarded the United States as a key concern. Respondents in countries like South Africa, Kenya, Nigeria, Mexico, Brazil, and Argentina frequently named the U.S. as a leading threat.

European respondents primarily viewed Russia as a pressing security danger, but when it came to the United States, concerns were more focused on economic influence than military threat.

The report also highlighted different national views on China. Australians and South Koreans were nearly evenly split on whether to categorize China as an economic or military threat. In contrast, Japanese respondents were more likely to see China mainly as a security challenge.

{Matzav.com}

Profound sadness has gripped the communities of Carmiel and Tzefas with the passing of Rabbi Binyamin Makhlouf zt”l, who passed away after a period of illness.

Rabbi Makhlouf, a retired lieutenant colonel, served as the rov of the Kol Eliyahu kehillah in Carmiel and held several senior positions in the IDF’s Military Rabbinate, including as Chief Rabbi of the Central and Northern Commands. He also commanded the military casualty identification and burial unit in the north and oversaw sacred efforts related to chessed shel emes and the dignified halachic burial of fallen soldiers. His work was especially valued by organizations such as ZAKA, who relied heavily on his expertise and dedication.

He was also the head of the Birchas Eliyahu Bais Din, named in honor of the Rishon LeTzion Rav Mordechai Eliyahu zt”l, and was a close talmid and associate of Rav Shmuel Eliyahu, Chief Rabbi of Tzfas. In addition, he served as the rov of the shlachthois in Tzfas and was known for his firm and principled defense of kashrus and halachah, both in his military service and in his public leadership.

Rabbi Makhlouf was beloved for his devotion to Torah and his deep care for lomdei Torah. In Carmiel, he was among the prominent lomdim at Kollel Maayan HaTorah.

During the recent Iron Swords War, a poignant image circulated of Rabbi Makhlouf donning his IDF uniform alongside three of his children—each of them reserve officers—who were called up for duty following the October 7th attacks.

His levayah was attended by a large crowd who paid their final respects to a man who spent his life safeguarding the walls of Torah and kedusha in both the military and civilian arenas.

Yehi zichro boruch. {Matzav.com Israel}

Profound sadness has gripped the communities of Carmiel and Tzefas with the passing of Rabbi Binyamin Makhlouf zt”l, who passed away after a period of illness.

Rabbi Makhlouf, a retired lieutenant colonel, served as the rov of the Kol Eliyahu kehillah in Carmiel and held several senior positions in the IDF’s Military Rabbinate, including as Chief Rabbi of the Central and Northern Commands. He also commanded the military casualty identification and burial unit in the north and oversaw sacred efforts related to chessed shel emes and the dignified halachic burial of fallen soldiers. His work was especially valued by organizations such as ZAKA, who relied heavily on his expertise and dedication.

He was also the head of the Birchas Eliyahu Bais Din, named in honor of the Rishon LeTzion Rav Mordechai Eliyahu zt”l, and was a close talmid and associate of Rav Shmuel Eliyahu, Chief Rabbi of Tzfas. In addition, he served as the rov of the shlachthois in Tzfas and was known for his firm and principled defense of kashrus and halachah, both in his military service and in his public leadership.

Rabbi Makhlouf was beloved for his devotion to Torah and his deep care for lomdei Torah. In Carmiel, he was among the prominent lomdim at Kollel Maayan HaTorah.

During the recent Iron Swords War, a poignant image circulated of Rabbi Makhlouf donning his IDF uniform alongside three of his children—each of them reserve officers—who were called up for duty following the October 7th attacks.

His levayah was attended by a large crowd who paid their final respects to a man who spent his life safeguarding the walls of Torah and kedusha in both the military and civilian arenas.

Yehi zichro boruch. {Matzav.com Israel}

WATCH:

LISTEN:

https://matzav.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Bitachon4Life-Shiur-1549-Tocheles-Part-69-Holding-On.mp3

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

LISTEN:

https://matzav.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Stories4Life-Shiur-460-Turn.mp3