Matzav

Tensions flared Tuesday morning in the Knesset Finance Committee as iSRAELI Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich told Degel HaTorah chairman MK Moshe Gafni that he would likely remain in the opposition “for many years,” prompting sharp reactions from other lawmakers in the room.

The clash unfolded during a discussion on the state budget bill, specifically the section dealing with property tax. Gafni argued that the proposal represented an unprecedented injustice.

“When you come and say, I’m submitting a law that also applies to farmers, but I’ll remove them — I don’t understand how you’ll remove them. What, people will come to you and say, ‘Just a second, why were the farmers excluded and why weren’t other factories excluded?’ What will you say? That you have sympathy for farmers? You put it in the law. You put it there — you’re the finance minister. I don’t know which officials helped you put it there.”

At that point, a direct exchange broke out between Gafni and Smotrich. The minister shot back: “Have you never amended laws here as chairman of the Finance Committee?”

Gafni responded, “Of course I changed things, but I never said, ‘The Justice Ministry won’t let me, I went against them.’ You’re not going against it.”

Smotrich replied, “No, I’m not going…”

Gafni answered, “Fine, it doesn’t matter, everything’s fine. What difference does it make? I’m in the opposition, I’m allowed to say what I see.”

Smotrich then remarked, “Right, right. I have a feeling you’re going to remain in the opposition for many years, apparently.”

Several MKs reacted immediately. “Whoa, whoa,” some lawmakers called out in response to Smotrich’s comment.

One member shot back, “My friend, in four and a half minutes he can bring your entire building down. You probably don’t understand who you’re talking to.”

Another MK added, “You’re lucky he hasn’t decided to be in the opposition yet.”

“Gafni, I wouldn’t skip over the agenda,” one lawmaker cautioned.

MK Naor Shiri also weighed in, saying: “You’re going to spend years in the opposition, said the finance minister — who, by the way, according to the coalition agreement, isn’t even supposed to be serving as finance minister. It’s a historic mishap.”

{Matzav.com}

The commander of the Dan District, Chief Superintendent Elad Klein, said police responded with unusually strong force during this week’s unrest in Bnei Brak, explaining that officers acted decisively after what he described as a lack of coordination with the military that led to the violent escalation.

In an interview with Kan News, Klein detailed the chain of events from the police perspective following clashes in the city’s streets and the subsequent exchange of accusations between Israel Police and the IDF. The dispute centers on whether there had been prior coordination before female soldiers entered the city to conduct outreach activities with potential recruits.

“When you are not updated about such an incident and you receive it from zero to one hundred, you first deploy whatever forces you have on the ground,” Klein said, describing the rapid response once the situation became known to police.

According to Klein, officers had to act quickly to extract the soldiers from the scene. “The rescue operation led to the torching of a scooter and the overturning of a patrol car. We concentrated all available forces and entered with very strong force, even disproportionate, in order to respond decisively.”

Klein pushed back against criticism attributed to the IDF chief of staff, who reportedly said that a situation in which soldiers cannot move freely anywhere in the country is unacceptable. “They are trying to portray it as though special approval is required to enter Bnei Brak. That is not the case,” Klein said. “Hundreds of soldiers in uniform walk around here daily. They sit in restaurants and eat in the city without any problem. Just last week I was sitting in a restaurant alongside soldiers and police officers in uniform.”

At the same time, Klein acknowledged a distinction between routine presence and organized outreach activity in sensitive neighborhoods. While the military described the visit as a “home visit” to potential recruits, police maintain it involved the distribution of flyers in the heart of areas identified with extremist factions.

Concluding his remarks, Klein addressed what he described as the broader context behind the outbreak of violence. “Let’s not be naive. You cannot disconnect this incident from the context of the draft law,” he said. According to Klein, entering what he called a stronghold of extremist groups in the city prompted what, from their perspective, was a predictable reaction. “From their standpoint, it is seen as a legitimate response to the struggle they are waging.”

{Matzav.com}

A heated confrontation erupted Tuesday morning during a Knesset Finance Committee meeting, as Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich clashed with Arab MK Iman Khatib-Yassin over rising crime in Arab communities. The exchange came amid broader tensions in the committee, with additional sparring between Smotrich and opposition lawmakers.

The debate, which focused on budget allocations and government policy, turned sharply contentious when Khatib-Yassin criticized the government’s handling of escalating violence in Arab society. In response, Smotrich fired back with a remark that quickly drew attention: “Are we to blame that you’re killing each other?”

Earlier in the session, Smotrich was also involved in a pointed exchange with former Finance Committee chairman Moshe Gafni. During their back-and-forth, the minister told Gafni, “You’re in the opposition — I have a feeling you’re going to remain in the opposition for years to come.”

Gafni responded in kind, as tensions in the committee room continued to rise and the discussion grew increasingly combative.

Opposition MK Naor Shiri later joined the fray, directing his comments toward Gafni and referencing coalition agreements. “Let me remind you that according to the coalition agreements, he’s not even supposed to be serving as finance minister.”

{Matzav.com}

Police arrested five people overnight, including four minors, on suspicion of throwing objects and stones at members of the Vizhnitzer center on King Shlomo Street in Bnei Brak in incidents authorities say posed a real danger to lives.

According to a police statement, officers from the Bnei Brak–Ramat Gan station, assisted by riot police and Border Police units, were deployed across the city following a series of disturbances. During operations in the area, officers identified several suspects allegedly hurling objects at members of the Chassidishe community.

Police moved in swiftly and detained five suspects — ages 13, 16, 17, 18, and 31 — all residents of Bnei Brak. The suspects were taken in for questioning at the local police station and are expected to be brought before a court later today for a hearing.

Law enforcement officials described the incident as part of repeated attempts by various groups to disrupt public order in the city. Police emphasized that they will continue to act decisively against any outbreak of violence.

Authorities also noted that members of the Vizhnitzer kehillah exercised restraint during the incident and complied with instructions from security forces on the scene, conduct that police said helped prevent further escalation.

As reported last night, dozens of fringe youths clashed for hours with police forces on Rechov Ezra in the city. During the unrest, fires were set, drivers were assaulted, and major traffic arteries experienced heavy congestion.

The disturbances began in the early afternoon as a protest near the Vizhnitzer Bais Medrash but quickly spiraled out of control. As the afternoon and evening progressed, dozens more youths arrived at the scene, and the protest evolved into a prolonged riot that included the burning of garbage bins, road blockages, and confrontations with police.

{Matzav.com}

NBA superstar LeBron James drew sharp criticism online after speaking favorably about Israeli basketball player Deni Avdija and offering warm remarks about Israel during media availability ahead of Sunday’s NBA All-Star Game in Inglewood, California.

When approached by an Israeli reporter before the game and asked about Avdija, James responded enthusiastically about the forward’s performance. “I said I believe he was an All-Star. He’s playing exceptional basketball. So that’s that.”

James then broadened his comments to address fans in Israel. “If I have fans over there – I’ve never been there – I hope you’ve been following my career. I hope I inspire people over there to not only want to be great at sports but be better in general in life. Hopefully someday I could make it over there. Like I said, I’ve never been over there, but I heard nothing but great things.”

The remarks quickly spread across social media platforms, where they were met with harsh reactions from critics. British-American commentator Mehdi Hasan condemned the statements, writing, “What a disgrace LeBron is,” as he shared a post from Al Jazeera journalist Laila Al-Arian that read, “The entire human rights community: Israel is an apartheid state committing genocide and ethnic cleansing. LeBron James: ‘I’ve heard great things about Israel.’”

American online personality Hasan Piker also attacked James, posting, “He said hope I inspire Israel to be great (at killing children). My goat is WASHED.” Other users accused the NBA star of ignoring “Palestinian Arab suffering” and argued that praising Israel in the midst of the ongoing conflict was inappropriate.

James has not publicly addressed the criticism as of this writing.

Avdija, meanwhile, marked a milestone on Sunday by becoming the first Israeli player to appear in an NBA All-Star Game.

Now in his sixth NBA season and second with the Portland Trail Blazers, Avdija entered the league as the ninth overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft by the Washington Wizards. He spent four seasons in Washington before being dealt to Portland ahead of the 2024–25 campaign.

{Matzav.com}

The Lod Central District Court on Tuesday reversed a lower court’s decision in the case of Tzachi Braverman, chief of staff to the prime minister and Israel’s ambassador-designate to the United Kingdom, siding with police and restoring a series of restrictions against him.

Judge Michael Kershen of the District Court ruled in favor of the police appeal, reimposing the limitations that had previously been lifted. These include a prohibition on leaving the country, suspension from his position at the Prime Minister’s Office, and a ban on communicating with a wide range of officials connected to the office.

In explaining his decision, Kershen said that after examining the investigative materials, he concluded that the level of reasonable suspicion against Braverman had increased. He wrote that this conclusion should already have been reached when the matter was first considered by the Magistrate’s Court, and that in the days since that ruling, the suspicions had only deepened.

Kershen also criticized the earlier decision by Magistrate’s Court President Menachem Mizrahi, rejecting the notion that concerns about obstruction were merely theoretical. He stated that the danger of interference with the investigation was significant. The judge cautioned that permitting Braverman to remain overseas—particularly in the capacity of ambassador to the United Kingdom—given his knowledge of internal government systems, could severely undermine the ongoing probe.

The District Court further noted that giving advance notice to a suspect before questioning may open the door to potential interference. Kershen wrote that the risk of such actions at a sensitive stage of the investigation could not be dismissed.

In their appeal, police maintained that the actions attributed to Braverman, as well as the circumstances surrounding them, required his removal from both the Prime Minister’s Office and the Kirya. They argued that fears of obstruction are central to the case and justify the restrictive measures now reinstated by the court.

The Rev. Jesse Jackson, a figure in the American civil rights movement, Baptist minister, and two-time Democratic presidential candidate, died today at the age of 84, his family announced.

“Our father was a servant leader — not only to our family, but to the oppressed, the voiceless, and the overlooked around the world,” the Jackson family said in a statement. “We shared him with the world, and in return, the world became part of our extended family. His unwavering belief in justice, equality, and love uplifted millions, and we ask you to honor his memory by continuing the fight for the values he lived by.”

No immediate cause of death was released.

Jackson had faced serious health challenges in recent years. He was hospitalized in November and had lived for more than a decade with progressive supranuclear palsy, a neurological condition that affects movement, balance, and swallowing and can lead to life-threatening complications. In 2017, he publicly disclosed that he had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease.

Born in Greenville, South Carolina, Jackson emerged as a national voice during the civil rights era, working closely with the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and participating in major demonstrations.

In 1971, after a dispute that led to his suspension from the SCLC over allegations that he had used the organization for personal gain, Jackson founded People United to Save Humanity, known as PUSH. The organization focused on improving economic conditions in Black communities and later broadened its activities to include political advocacy. In 1996, PUSH merged with the National Rainbow Coalition, which Jackson had launched during his first presidential campaign, forming the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition.

Jackson sought the Democratic presidential nomination in 1984 and again in 1988. In his first run, he secured more than 18% of the primary vote and won several contests. A 1984 New York Times profile noted, “Merely by being black and forcing other candidates to consider his very real potential to garner black votes, which they need, Jackson has had an impact.” In 1988, he expanded on that performance, winning 11 primaries and caucuses and cementing his status as a significant national political figure.

Reflecting on his 1984 campaign years later, Jackson said in a PBS interview, “The great responsibility that we have today is to put the poor and the near-poor back on front of the American agenda. This is a dangerous mission, and yet it’s a necessary mission!”

Yet his 1984 presidential bid was also shadowed by controversy, particularly over remarks and associations that many viewed as anti-Semitic. During an off-the-record conversation with a reporter that year, Jackson referred to Jews as “hymies” and called New York City “hymietown.” When the comments became public, he initially denied making them and accused Jewish critics of targeting his campaign. He later acknowledged using the slur and issued an emotional apology at a synagogue shortly before the New Hampshire primary.

Tensions intensified when Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan defended Jackson and issued his own inflammatory statements, including warning that if Jews harmed Jackson, it would be the “last ‘black brother’ they would harm.” Jackson’s hesitation at the time to fully repudiate Farrakhan drew sharp criticism from Jewish leaders and organizations.

Jackson was also criticized for comments regarding Jewish history and Israel. He faced backlash for statements suggesting he was “sick and tired of hearing about the Holocaust,” asserting that it was no worse than the suffering endured by Black Americans during slavery, and claiming that Jews had a “persecution complex.” His approach to Middle East politics, including a 1979 public embrace of PLO chairman Yasir Arafat, angered many American Jews who viewed the PLO as hostile to Israel.

Additional controversy arose from a 1979 column in which Jackson wrote that Jews “dominate the leadership at the top” of the labor movement and blamed “Jewish promoters” for arranging a particular boxing match. The Anti-Defamation League accused him at the time of exhibiting an “anti-Semitic streak,” a charge that lingered in public debate for years.

Despite these disputes, Jackson continued to wield influence in American politics. In 1991, he was elected as one of Washington, D.C.’s “shadow senators,” advocating for D.C. statehood and serving a single term.

He also played a role in negotiating the release of detained Americans abroad. In 1984, he secured the freedom of a U.S. Navy pilot captured by Syria and facilitated the release of at least 16 Americans held in Cuba. In 1990, he helped obtain the release of 700 women and children from Iraq, and in 1999 he negotiated the release of three U.S. soldiers held in Yugoslavia. In recognition of these efforts, President Bill Clinton awarded him the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2000. Years later, he assisted in the release of two Gambian Americans imprisoned in The Gambia.

In more recent years, Jackson remained active in public life. He was a vocal supporter of progressive causes and politicians, including endorsing Sen. Bernie Sanders in the 2020 presidential race. Sanders said at the time, “It is one of the honors of my life to be supported by a man who has put his life on the line for the last 50 years fighting for justice.”

Jackson also commented frequently on national politics, condemning Donald Trump’s presidency and warning that “Fifty years of civil rights have been threatened.”

He is survived by his wife, Jacqueline Brown, whom he married in 1962, and their five children, including former Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr.

{Matzav.com}

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By Rabbi Berach Steinfeld It seems puzzling that the mention of the building of the inner mizbeach is not discussed when the other vessels of the Mishkan are mentioned in Parshas Terumah. The inner mizbeach, which was used for the k’tores, is discussed in Parshas Tetzaveh when the vestments of Aharon Hakohen are mentioned. The inner mizbeach seems to be out of place there.                   The Chavatzeles Hasharon brings another puzzling point to discuss. When each command is mentioned in Parshas Tetzaveh, it says that Aharon should do it following the commandment. In contrast, when commands are mentioned in Parshas Terumah, it does mention that Aharon should do it. Why is this so? We could explain the difference by understanding the purposes of the Mishkan. The first reason for the building of the Mishkan was to build a house for Hashem so the Shechina could rest in it. The second reason is that we have a place where we could serve Hashem by bringing various sacrifices and do the Avoda. It would seem that in Parshas Teruma we concentrate on making a dwelling for Hashem and “furnishing it,” hence we see the klei Hamishkan enumerated in Parshas Teruma. In Parshas Tetzaveh we concentrate on the Avoda and the ability to bring sacrifices in the Mishkan. The Parsha therefore concentrates on the vestments of Aharon Hakohen, who was the high priest to serve Hashem in the Mishkan. This would explain why we don’t mention Aharon in Parshas Terumah; since it is a house built for Hashem with the furniture that belongs to Hashem. Parshas Tetzaveh, on the other hand, deals with the Avoda part of the Mishkon. It is therefore appropriate that when every command is mentioned, Aharon Hakohen is also mentioned. The posuk mentions the keilim again in Parshas Tetzaveh to tell us that Aharon was the one responsible to do the Avoda. Based on the above premise we can say that the mizbeach hapnimi was not part of the furniture of the Mishkon; it was just a way to be able to bring the k’tores. A proof of this is that Shlomo Hamelech built ten shulchanos and ten Menoros in the Bais Hamikdosh, but he did not build ten Mizbechos. Shlomo Hamelech, based on the word of Hashem, was able to enhance the hashra’as haShechina by enhancing the furniture and adding more. In contrast, because the Mizbeach was not part of the furniture, Shlomo Hamelech could not add any. To further understand the difference between the inner mizbeach and other klei hamishkan we can look at the explanation of Meshech Chochma who explains why the command of the inner Mizbeach is not written with the rest of the klei hamishkan. The Meshech Chochma explains that all the other vessels were integral as far as the Avoda is concerned. If there was no Aron, then there would be no luchos. If there was no outside mizbeach, there would be no korban tamid. If there was no Menorah, there would be no lighting of the candles. However, even if there was no mizbeach hapnimi, we would still be required to bring the k’tores since it could be brought even without a mizbeach. This proves that the mizbeach hapnimi was not part of the furniture, it was there to enhance the avoda, This explains why it is not written in Parshas Teruma with the furniture of the Mishkon, but rather in Parshas Tetzaveh with the part of the avoda that was needed for the mishkon. May we be zoche for the Bais Hamikdosh Hashlishi that will be both a place for hashra’as hashechina and avodas hakorbanos.

On the eve of a pivotal Supreme Court hearing regarding petitions over tefillah arrangements at the Kosel, Israel’s Chief Rabbis, Rav Dovid Yosef and Rav Kalman Ber, submitted an urgent notice along with a detailed halachic ruling clarifying their uncompromising position on preserving the sanctity of the site.

The High Court of Justice is set to convene Tuesday morning to deliberate on petitions challenging the current prayer framework at the Kosel. In advance of the hearing, the Chief Rabbis released a clear and forceful psak addressing the kedushah of the remnant of the Beis Hamikdash.

In their ruling, the chief rabbis state unequivocally that the plaza of the Kosel carries the full halachic status of a beis haknesses, deriving its sanctity from its proximity to the makom haMikdash. As such, they stress, the most stringent halachic standards apply there, including complete separation between men and women during prayer.

The psak also reviews the historical conduct of tefillah at the Kosel across generations, emphasizing that prayer at the site has always followed the mesorah of Klal Yisrael without deviation. Any attempt to alter established practice, they warn, would constitute a severe affront to the feelings of the believing public and to the enduring traditions of Am Yisrael.

The Chief Rabbinate further argues that explicitly halachic and religious matters—particularly the order of prayer at the holiest accessible site for the Jewish people—do not fall within the jurisdiction of civil courts. “It is not possible to decide through legal tools on matters whose roots lie in faith and halachah,” the statement asserts.

The rabbis also point to the existing alternative at the southern section of the Kosel, known as Ezras Yisrael, which allows groups wishing to pray according to different formats to do so. Given that alternative, they contend, there is no justification for transforming the main Kosel plaza into what they describe as a political or social battleground.

Additionally, the Chief Rabbinate expresses firm opposition to any modification of the regulations governing the holy sites. They warn that altering the longstanding arrangements would undermine the status quo and erode the Rabbinate’s exclusive authority in matters of religion.

In an official statement, the Chief Rabbinate declared: “The Kosel is a remnant of our Beis Hamikdash. It is not private property and not a venue for demonstrations. We expect the Court to respect the thousands of years of Jewish tradition and not permit harm to the sanctity of the site and the unity of those who daven there.”

{Matzav.com}

Sharp backlash erupted Monday after media personality Eyal Berkovich made inflammatory remarks about the chareidi community during a live radio broadcast, in the wake of the unrest in Bnei Brak. Speaking on 103FM, the Channel 13 presenter lashed out at those involved in the disturbances and used language that many listeners described as deeply offensive.

During the program, Berkovich addressed the riots that broke out after two IDF servicewomen entered the city, directing harsh criticism at those who attacked soldiers and burned Israeli flags.

“It’s time to finally put an end to these chareidim,” he said. When his co-host, Arel Segal, pressed him to clarify what he meant, Berkovich elaborated and called for a forceful response by authorities.

“There is police, there is an army, there is the Shin Bet, there is everything,” Berkovich said. “What is this thing? To burn Israeli flags, here in the State of Israel? To beat up female soldiers? To call us Nazis? These people need to be exiled from here, they are haters of Israel”.

The most controversial moment of the exchange came when Berkovich escalated his rhetoric and drew a comparison between the extremists in Bnei Brak and terrorist operatives. “They are worse than Arabs, terrorists. They are haters of Israel,” the broadcaster declared.

Segal quickly distanced himself from that comparison and attempted to temper the discussion, responding, “But terrorists shoot, kill and murder. They don’t kill and murder. I have a lot of anger at them.”

{Matzav.com}

A video recorded during Sunday’s unrest in Bnei Brak has sparked widespread reaction after footage showed police officers pulling the wig off a chareidi woman amid efforts to disperse rioters. The clip quickly spread across social media, drawing strong responses from across the political spectrum.

The incident, which occurred during clashes between police and demonstrators, shows officers approaching the woman in the protest area and forcibly removing her wig while carrying out operations against those involved in the disturbances.

The footage ignited a storm online, with many questioning whether such an action was necessary in the course of police activity. Senior political commentator Amit Segal shared the video on his social media platforms and asked, “Is it really necessary to remove wigs from chareidi women as part of police operations?”

On Monday, Arab MK Ahmad Tibi of the Hadash-Ta’al party addressed the matter during a speech in the Knesset plenum, strongly criticizing what was seen in the video. He drew a comparison to incidents involving Muslim women whose hijabs were removed.

“In Yerushalayim, on the light rail, women with hijabs were attacked several times,” Tibi said in the plenum, “and even once a woman’s hijab was removed. It’s terrible, something that must not happen.”

Tibi then turned directly to the events in Bnei Brak. “I will relate to what happened in Bnei Brak in one matter. I saw in the video a police officer striking a woman and removing her wig. This is something that must not happen. Just as I oppose harming a Muslim woman with a hijab, so too I oppose harming a Jewish woman with a wig.”

{Matzav.com}

The IDF developed and briefly deployed a classified capability aimed at securing the release of hostages during the war, with plans to transfer those rescued to a concealed location inside Israel, but the effort ultimately failed and the method was abandoned, according to a report aired on Channel 12 News.

During the course of the fighting, the military activated a sensitive and previously undisclosed tool that enabled forces to draw terrorists out from tunnels in Gaza. Defense officials hoped the tactic would create an opportunity to extract hostages safely and move them to a secure, undisclosed site within Israel.

The broader plan envisioned holding the rescued captives at that secret location for several days. During that window, Israel intended to launch an additional operation to free other hostages still being held.

However, the initial mission did not succeed in securing the hostages through this approach. Following the failed attempt, Israel discontinued use of the method and did not return to it for the remainder of the war, the report said.

{Matzav.com}

Bnei Brak experienced another difficult evening on Monday, as groups of fringe youths engaged in prolonged confrontations with police along Rechov Ezra, igniting fires, attacking motorists, and causing significant traffic disruptions throughout the city. The incidents have raised serious concern among residents, particularly given the impact on the city’s Torah atmosphere and the welfare of its youth.

What began in the early afternoon as a protest near the Vizhnitzer center quickly spiraled beyond control. As the hours passed, additional marginal elements joined the scene, and the demonstration turned into an extended public disturbance. Garbage bins were set ablaze, major roads were blocked, and confrontations with police continued well into the evening.

Large police forces were dispatched to the area multiple times in an effort to restore order and disperse the crowds. According to law enforcement officials, officers used crowd-control measures, including batons, after police personnel and passing drivers were reportedly attacked and a tangible threat to public safety emerged.

As reported earlier, Bnei Brak Mayor Chanoch Zeibert responded sharply to the unrest, expressing deep pain over the events. “In recent hours in the city, there have been uncontrolled and unsupervised demonstrations and protests, which are an educational disaster for our children’s souls. These demonstrations originate with a handful of fringe individuals who are dragging young people into actions whose consequences no one can foresee.”

The mayor urged parents to act decisively to protect their families. “I ask every parent to take responsibility for himself and his family and ensure that no one from their immediate family is present in these areas that are dangerous from an educational standpoint. At the same time, the police are operating on the scene to prevent the continuation of these irresponsible events in our city.”

Although authorities say there is no direct link, the disturbances come just one day after serious clashes broke out on Chagai Street following the harassment of two IDF servicewomen. Those incidents also continued for hours, resulted in numerous arrests, and required a significant police presence in several parts of the city.

Many residents voiced sorrow that such scenes are unfolding in a city identified with Torah and spiritual growth, and community leaders once again called on parents and educators to safeguard both the physical safety and spiritual wellbeing of the city’s precious youth.

{Matzav.com}

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who leads the Religious Zionism party, said this week that he would counsel his own daughter against serving in the Israel Defense Forces, citing the stance of leading rabbinic authorities and long-standing religious principles.

Speaking during his party’s faction meeting in the Knesset, Smotrich was asked directly by a reporter how he would respond if his daughter expressed interest in enlisting. He replied, “If my daughter asked me, I would try to educate her not to go” serve in the military.

He pointed to the guidance of senior rabbinic leadership as shaping his position. “The Chief Rabbinate is against this. This is the position of my rabbis,” says Smotrich. “I hope that you, these big progressives, can also respect the values of several thousand years…. And I of course respect those who think differently than I do.”

The question of religious women serving in the IDF remains a source of ongoing debate within the national religious community. While many young women from that sector choose to perform national service in lieu of military enlistment, it is also not uncommon for graduates of religious high schools to join the army. At the same time, a number of prominent religious Zionist rabbis have publicly opposed female enlistment, contending that army service does not align with standards of modesty and appropriateness.

Smotrich himself entered the military later in life, enlisting at age 28 and completing a shortened period of service. Over the years, he has also voiced criticism of mixed-gender combat frameworks within the IDF.

{Matzav.com}

A day after painful scenes of unrest shook the city of Bnei Brak, Mayor Chanoch Zeibert released a heartfelt message to residents, pleading with parents to ensure that their children remain at home and far from any gatherings or demonstrations that could place them in harm’s way.

In a tone reflecting deep concern for the chinuch and ruchniyus of the city’s youth, the mayor warned, “In recent hours in the city, there have been uncontrolled and unsupervised demonstrations and protests, which are an educational disaster for our children’s souls.”

Zeibert stressed that these incidents were not representative of the city’s Torahdike population, but rather the actions of a small and extreme element. According to Zeibert, “The demonstrations originate with a handful of fringe individuals who are dragging young people into actions whose consequences no one can foresee.”

He noted that law enforcement authorities are taking steps to restore calm and prevent further disturbances. At the same time, he placed clear responsibility on parents to safeguard their families, calling on them “to take responsibility and make sure that no member of their family is in these areas.”

Emphasizing that such behavior stands in stark contrast to the derech of Bnei Brak, the mayor declared, “Violence is not our way, unleashing passions goes against our values, and we can not condone moves that negate the Torah and halacha.” He continued with an emotional appeal: “Dear parents, protect your children’s lives, your treasures, with all vigilance. The place for treasures is not in the streets.”

Concluding his message, Zeibert said that his words reflect the daas of the city’s rabbonim, writing that he speaks in the name of the rabbinic leadership “who ask that we live in a tribute to the Torah and those who study it.”

{Matzav.com}

A heavy pall has descended upon the Torah community of Rechasim with the petirah of Rav Yehuda Sharabi zt”l at the age of 91. One of the elder talmidim of Yeshivas Knesses Chizkiyahu and among the founders of the Torah settlement in the northern community, he embodied a lifetime of unwavering dedication to Torah, avodah, and mussar.

Rav Sharabi zt”l was counted among the devoted students of the great roshei yeshiva and baalei mussar of earlier generations. He learned under the guidance of the mashgiach Rav Eliyahu Lopian zt”l, Rav Noach Shimonowitz zt”l, Rav Eliyahu Meiselsky zt”l, and the mashgiach Rav Dov Yaffe zt”l.

From his earliest youth, his heart burned with a love for Torah. Under the direction of Rav Avraham Tzadok zt”l, he was sent to Yeshivas Tiferes Yisrael in Haifa, where he grew in Torah and yiras Shamayim and forged close bonds with his rabbeim. Later, at the instruction of his rebbi Rav Eliyahu Meiselsky zt”l, he transferred to Yeshivas Knesses Chizkiyahu in Zichron Yaakov to learn under Rav Noach Shimonowitz zt”l. It was there that his character was shaped as a profound learner, a man of deep thought and refined mussar.

After his marriage, he established his home near the yeshiva and remained there until his final day, fulfilling in the most literal sense the description of “an elder who sits in the yeshiva.” He fixed his place of tefillah in the yeshiva’s beis medrash and was meticulous in attending the mussar seder and shmuessen. In his later years, he even maintained chavrusos with younger bochurim, studying matters of mussar and avodas Hashem. He was known as a living example of deference to rabbeim, exactness in halachah, and purity of speech. Not a word of disparagement about another person was ever heard from his lips.

For decades, he transmitted Torah at Yeshivas Ohr Chadash, under the leadership of the mara d’asra Rav Moshe Tanaami, alongside his close friend Rav Yaakov Ben Shoshan zt”l. There, he invested heart and soul into bringing his students into the world of Torah, raising many talmidim with mesirus nefesh and a profound sense of responsibility for their spiritual future. His talmidim recalled that his firmness and strength were always coupled with warmth and a shining countenance, and that every demand he made of them was purely lesheim Shomayim.

Rav Sharabi was among the founders of the community in Rachasim and contributed greatly to establishing its Torah character and spiritual fabric. Together with his devoted wife, the rebbetzin, he built a faithful Torah home founded on deep mutual respect. He merited to see sons and sons-in-law who are marbitzei Torah, and all his descendants continue in the path of Torah and yirah.

The family is sitting shivah at his home at 3 Rechov Hazayit in Rechasim.

Yehi zichro boruch.

U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee said Monday night in Yerushalayim that Washington and Jerusalem are fully coordinated in confronting Iran’s nuclear ambitions, while also addressing his upcoming interview with Tucker Carlson and last week’s White House meeting between President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu.

Speaking at the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, Huckabee first commented on his planned sit-down with Carlson, explaining why he agreed to the interview.

“This Wednesday I’m doing a long interview with Tucker Carlson. Many have asked why. I figured instead of him talking about me, he should talk to me. I don’t recognize the Tucker of the last few years. But we do not change the narrative by being silent in the face of misinformation. We change the narrative by pushing back. Silence is agreement. It is why some of the horrific things in human history have happened. Because people were silent in the face of blood libels and lies.”

Turning to the recent meeting in Washington between President Trump and Prime Minister Netanyahu, Huckabee described the discussions in highly positive terms.

“The meetings I felt were extraordinary, in many ways historic.”

Focusing on the Iranian threat, Huckabee emphasized what he called complete strategic alignment between the two allies. “The US and Israel are absolutely aligned on Iran. Iran cannot continue their nuclear and ballistic program. Iran is not Israel’s problem; it is the world’s problem. For 47 years, Iran has said death to America – they preface that with death to Israel, but only because Israel is in the way.”

He cautioned that Iran’s influence extends well beyond the Middle East, pointing to the global reach of Tehran’s allied groups. “The proxies of Iran alone are a threat not only in the Middle East and Israel, but they are already in the western hemisphere. If you think it’s only the Middle East at risk, you fail to understand the threat is global.”

On the question of ongoing negotiations, Huckabee acknowledged uncertainty about whether diplomatic efforts would succeed. “Talks are taking place. But can anything come from the talks this week that will bring peace? I honestly don’t know. There is significant doubt as to whether the Iranian nuclear threat, ballistic program, and funding of terror will be removed. But if they were willing to do that, because they realize the consequences of not doing so, I’d be delighted.”

He further revealed that he had conveyed both hope and resolve in conversations with President Trump. “As I told the President, I hope that, miraculously, something can happen to thwart a military confrontation.

But I also told him, Mr. President, if it has to happen, I’m willing to be in the middle of it, because for the future of my children, to remove this threat. At some time, the United States has to say enough is enough. Either they make a radical change, or they experience ‘the second kick of a mule’. I think the President has made it clear that a military action is not his first choice, but it is his desire to make sure they can’t wreak havoc in the world.”