Matzav

Dear Matzav Inbox,

This week on Matzav, we all read with heavy hearts how Rav Dov Landau shlita announced that schools in Yerushalayim cannot open because not every single girl has a place. His words were a cry from the depths — a demand that Klal Yisroel pause everything until every bas Yisroel has a desk, a chair, a classroom, and a place where she belongs.

And yet, in Lakewood, NJ, we march forward. Schools are scheduled to open as if nothing is wrong. The buses will roll, the classrooms will buzz, the lessons will begin — while there are girls sitting at home, crushed, confused, and broken, with no idea where they will be learning this year.

How can this be? How can we, a community built on Torah, achdus, and areivus, allow the year to begin when our own daughters, our sisters, our Bnos Yisroel, our neshamos are left out in the cold?

Every day, parents are pleading, fighting, crying with roshei mosdos, making phone call after phone call, begging for a yes. Behind every spreadsheet of “available slots” is a shattered girl and a desperate mother davening for salvation. Behind every rejected application is a home full of tears. These are not statistics. These are neshamos.

Do we understand what message we send when schools open their doors knowing there are girls still on the outside? What are we saying to them? To their families? To ourselves? How can we allow the buses to pull away while some girls stand at the window, watching them leave, knowing they are unwanted, uncounted, unseen?

Is our system so broken, so complacent, that we have stopped feeling? That we accept this as “the way it is”? If Rav Dov Landau shlita can demand that an entire city halt until every girl is placed, how can Lakewood — a city built on Torah and chessed — do less?

Do we have leadership anymore?

This is not just logistics. This is not just policy.

This is the heart of our future.

I beg that our leaders, our rabbonim, our roshei mosdos, our askanim, rise to the moment. Do not allow a single school to open its doors until every bas Yisroel has one. Stop everything. Solve this. Make it happen. Because anything less is unthinkable.

If we can’t unite for this, what are we doing? If we can’t feel the pain of our sisters and daughters, what does that say about us?

Bnos Yisroel are waiting.
Neshamos are waiting.
And Hashem is watching.

With a broken heart,

A Concerned and Pained Yid

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US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is scheduled to visit Israel in roughly two weeks.

The planned date for Rubio’s arrival is during the week of September 14, and he is expected to remain in the country for several days. While there, he will meet with senior Israeli leaders. His trip comes following remarks made by US President Donald Trump, who emphasized that the fighting in Gaza must come to an end soon, warning that Israel is facing challenges in global public opinion.

“Israel is going to have to end this war [in Gaza]. It’s hurting Israel; there’s no question about it. They may be winning the war, but they are not winning in the arena of public opinion,” Trump said in an interview with the Daily Caller. “Fifteen years ago, Israel was the strongest lobbying force that ever existed. Now… it has been weakened, especially in Congress.”

During his stay, Rubio is also expected to take part in the inauguration ceremony of the “Pilgrims’ Road” at the City of David, an archaeological site linked to ancient Yerushalayim. The ceremony, set to unveil the restored 2,000-year-old main street of Yerushalayim, will bring together top Israeli and American officials.

Trump had considered joining the September 15 ceremony but ultimately decided not to attend.

The event comes just days before the United Nations General Assembly convenes in New York, where France and several other nations are expected to formally announce their recognition of a Palestinian state.

In preparation for the developments at the UN, Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu is expected to hold a meeting on Thursday with several ministers to discuss extending Israeli sovereignty over parts of Judea and Samaria and to evaluate the security ramifications of such a move.

Rubio last visited Israel in February, marking his first trip to the Middle East. That visit took place while US and Israeli officials were working closely together to secure the release of the remaining six living hostages as part of the initial phase of the ceasefire agreement.

{Matzav.com}

[COMMUNICATED]

I’ll get right to the point.

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– They don’t take for granted that they will be able to buy gifts for the kallah.

– They don’t take for granted that they will be wearing a new suit to the wedding.

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French President Emmanuel Macron criticized the United States on Tuesday for its decision to deny visas to Palestinian officials ahead of the upcoming United Nations General Assembly, calling the move “unacceptable.” Following a conversation with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Macron urged Washington to reverse the decision, stating, “We call for this measure to be reversed and for Palestinian representation to be ensured in accordance with the Host Country Agreement.”

France and Saudi Arabia are jointly organizing a conference on September 22 focused on advancing discussions around a two-state solution.

In a statement posted on X, Macron outlined France’s position, emphasizing the need for a “permanent ceasefire, the release of all hostages, the large-scale delivery of humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza, and the deployment of a stabilization mission in Gaza.”

Macron also highlighted France’s broader objectives, explaining that the country is working to “ensure that, the day after, Hamas is disarmed and excluded from any governance of Gaza, that the Palestinian Authority is reformed and strengthened, and that the Gaza Strip is fully reconstructed.”

He concluded by underscoring France’s determination to continue its efforts, writing, “No offensive, annexation attempt, or forced displacement of populations will derail the momentum we have created with the Crown Prince—momentum that many partners have already joined.”

{Matzav.com}

On Tuesday, families of hostages, bereaved relatives, reservists, and residents from communities near the Gaza border shut down the water pipeline supplying Gaza. The action was taken as a protest against what they described as Israel’s failed approach in dealing with Hamas and as a direct demand for the prime minister to take stronger, decisive measures to end the ongoing conflict.

The shutdown was part of a wider campaign aimed at pushing the government to change its strategy and ensure Hamas’ complete defeat. Organizers of the protest stressed that Israel must enforce a real blockade on Gaza — cutting off water and all humanitarian aid — while also requiring the evacuation of civilians from Gaza City before initiating any significant ground operation.

Families of hostages and soldiers who fell in battle explained that shutting the pipeline was a necessary act meant to demonstrate their determination. They emphasized that only the full destruction of Hamas would create the conditions needed to secure the hostages’ release.

One of the protest leaders, Tzvika Mor — whose son, Eitan Mor, is being held hostage — stated: “To bring all the hostages home, Israel must deliver a decisive blow. No more partial deals, no more temporary rounds. Only a true defeat of Hamas will free them.”

Col. (res.) Hezi Nechama, a founding member of the “Forum of Reserve Commanders and Fighters,” echoed the same sentiment, saying: “It’s time to stop this war of attrition and shut off Hamas’s water supply. Only then will Hamas be defeated and the hostages returned.”

Yitzhak Fitusi, whose son Yishay was killed in battle, expressed deep frustration over the ongoing situation: “Since the war began, our loved ones fought and sacrificed their lives for the goal of defeating Hamas. For 23 months their comrades have kept fighting, yet Hamas still rules Gaza and our hostages rot in captivity.”

Reut Ben Chaim, a resident of the Gaza border area and a leader of the “Tzav 9” movement, concluded: “Our demand is simple: the flow of food, electricity, and water into Gaza strengthens Hamas, giving it breathing space, power, and capability. Closing the water pipeline to northern Gaza is a necessary step to subdue Hamas and bring our hostages home.”

{Matzav.com Israel}

On Tuesday evening, the IDF announced that on August 28, 2025, its forces, working alongside the ISA, successfully eliminated senior terrorist Hazem Awni Naeem in the Gaza City region.

According to the military, Naeem had served in several positions within Hamas’ Gaza City brigade. During the ongoing conflict, he operated as a high-ranking figure in the brigade’s military intelligence division and maintained close ties with Ezz al-Din Haddad, the commander overseeing the Gaza City brigade.

Naeem was directly involved in holding hostages in Gaza, including Emily Damari, Romi Gonen, and Naama Levy, during their period of captivity.

“The IDF and the ISA will continue to operate against the terrorist organizations in the Gaza Strip and to remove any threat posed to the State of Israel,” the military stated following the announcement.

Roughly two months earlier, the IDF confirmed the elimination of Muhammad Nasr Ali Quneita, another Hamas operative who was also responsible for holding Damari captive in Gaza.

After Quneita’s death was reported, Damari reacted on Instagram, writing: “One of many. Yes, there should be many more good news like this and we will hold them accountable for it all, God willing. But the real victory will be when Gali, Ziv and the other 48 hostages return.”

In an emotional reflection, Damari shared her memory of Quneita: “I remember his face that day when he transferred me to the tunnels deep beneath the ground. Where there’s no air, no light, and no will to live. Above us, we could hear planes, bombs, and an entire war unfolding. Then he looked at me with the smile of a deceiver and told me ‘That’s it, tomorrow you’re going home.'”

She explained the cruelty behind his words: “And no, he didn’t say that because it was true. He said it so I would start to have hope. So I would wait and wait, and nothing would happen. I looked at him and told him he was a liar (and if you knew what it’s like to tell a terrorist the word liar…). He looked at me angrily and asked, ‘Me? A liar? Why do you think that?’ And I said to him, ‘Because I hear the planes. There’s no ceasefire and no deal close.’ And sadly, between the two of us, I was right,” Damari wrote.

{Matzav.com}

Lomdei Daf Hayomi worldwide will conclude Maseches Avodah Zarah today and begin Maseches Horiyos tomorrow.

The learners of Daf Yomi are now making their way through the 36 masechtos in Talmud Bavli in the fourteenth cycle of Daf Yomi.

With 2,711 pages in the Gemara, one cycle of Daf Yomi takes about 7 years, 5 months.

The next Siyum Hashas will be held iy”H on Sunday, June 6, 2027, at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.

{Matzav.com}

Rep. Ilhan Omar, known for her outspoken anti-Israel stance, has disclosed a net worth ranging from $6 million to $30 million, despite previously claiming she was “barely worth thousands.”

On February 10, Omar posted on social media, stating that her “salary is $174,000 before taxes.” She added: “I don’t have stock or own a home and am still paying off my student debt. So if you are going to lie on something that is public, maybe try checking my public financial statements and you will see I barely have thousands let alone millions.”

Her most recent financial disclosure, however, paints a very different picture, revealing that Omar’s assets total several million dollars.

A significant portion of this wealth is tied to her husband Tim Mynett’s business ventures, including a winery and a venture capital firm called Rose Lake Capital. The VC firm is valued between $5 million and $25 million, while the winery is estimated at $1 million to $5 million. Together, these ventures contributed to a staggering 3,500% increase in the couple’s net worth from 2023 to 2024.

Despite the dramatic financial gains, Omar’s filing still lists $15,001 to $50,000 in student loan debt dating back to 2005, as well as $15,001 to $50,000 in credit card balances.

Media outlets across the country highlighted the drastic rise in her personal wealth, particularly considering that Omar’s previous disclosure showed her net worth at just $65,000. At the close of 2023, Rose Lake Capital and the winery were valued at no more than $51,000 combined. According to court records cited by the Minnesota Reformer, the winery had roughly $650 in its account as recently as February 2024.

Omar has repeatedly dismissed these reports in the past, telling Business Insider that there was a “coordinated right-wing disinformation campaign” targeting her finances.

“I am a working mom with student loan debt. Unlike some of my colleagues — and similar to most Americans — I am not a millionaire and am raising a family while maintaining a residence in both Minneapolis and DC, which are among the most expensive housing markets in the country,” she told BI.

{Matzav.com}

Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu is reportedly weighing the option of creating his own hand-selected panel to lead a commission investigating the failures tied to the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack. This would serve as an alternative to a fully independent state commission of inquiry, which he has repeatedly declined to authorize.

According to a Channel 12 report released this evening, Netanyahu is leaning toward establishing a “government” inquiry — a five-member panel of individuals he would personally choose — to examine the decisions and failures connected to the October 7 assault.

The report explains that Netanyahu has come to believe that Supreme Court President Isaac Amit, who would oversee the appointment of a retired Supreme Court justice to lead an independent state commission, would likely refuse to collaborate with him on selecting its members. Netanyahu reportedly fears that Amit would appoint former Supreme Court president Esther Hayut, a longtime critic of his government’s efforts to significantly reduce the power and independence of the judiciary, to head such a commission.

Among the candidates Netanyahu is said to be considering for the proposed panel are a specific retired district judge and a former IDF general, both viewed as figures aligned with the political right.

While Netanyahu’s envisioned panel would have the same investigative powers as a formal state commission — including the ability to subpoena witnesses — the main difference lies in who appoints it. In this case, the prime minister, who bore ultimate responsibility leading up to and on October 7, would select its members.

An independent state commission, on the other hand, could pose greater personal risks for Netanyahu, as it would likely examine his role in the events and could issue findings or recommendations directly implicating him and others in positions of authority. Netanyahu has maintained that many Israelis would question the credibility of a state commission’s findings, given what he describes as widespread public distrust of the judiciary.

Nearly two years after the October 7 massacre, the government has still not taken any concrete steps toward officially establishing any form of commission of inquiry.

{Matzav.com}

Eyal Ofer, a specialist on Hamas’s economy, told Maariv that President Donald Trump’s proposal for rebuilding Gaza would not burden him the way it would affect Israelis.

“The biggest problem, as with any real estate contract, is that Israelis are dazzled by the presentation, but do not read the fine print,” Ofer said.

He explained that “the Israeli media rushed to sell the public a new-old dream, that two million Gazans will leave the Strip. This idea appeals to many. The truth must be said, if it were practical, and without accusations against Israel of ethnic cleansing, many would welcome it.”

Ofer added that Israelis have long imagined breaking away entirely from Gaza, joking that if it were possible to physically detach the Strip and let it drift into the sea, “we would have done so.”

“Reading the fine print of Trump’s plan shows that only 25% of Gazans would leave, and even they would be allowed to return once Trump’s evacuation and reconstruction is completed,” Ofer explained.

“And what about the other 75%? Where will they go? According to the presentation of the plan published by The Washington Post, they remain in Gaza in ‘secured areas’ where food will be distributed and health and education infrastructure set up for them, meaning temporary rehabilitation for the 10 years during which permanent buildings will be constructed for them, castles in the air.”

According to Ofer, Jared Kushner — Trump’s son-in-law and the architect behind the plan — suggested that Israel establish special camps for Gazans in the Negev.

“On one hand, Gazans would see this as realizing a ‘right of return’ to Israel, and on the other hand, it’s not hard to imagine how they would use this for propaganda, since the camps would certainly be surrounded by barbed wire, walls, and armed guards to prevent Gazans from spilling into the rest of Israel,” Ofer said.

“After ten years of evacuation and reconstruction, any Gazan family that wishes could return. Kushner explicitly states that Israel did not object to their return. Each Gazan family would receive an apartment in luxury towers valued by real estate estimates at half a million to one million dollars for large families.”

Under those circumstances, Ofer asked rhetorically, why anyone would choose to leave in the first place.

“And at the end of construction, the plan speaks of transferring responsibility to a renewed Palestinian Authority. Sounds familiar.”

Ofer also raised concerns about what would happen before any evacuation even begins, pointing out that the IDF would face the challenge of a million Gazans refusing to move. He said the army would end up providing security for demolition teams operating inside the area.

“Practically, this is a mission for tens of thousands of soldiers for many years, during which every week we will wake up to another ‘cleared for publication’ announcement as Hamas guerrilla operations and explosives wait in every alley.”

“There is no doubt this is a wonderful plan for real estate developers from Miami, but someone forgot what Gaza’s population really is, what the Palestinian ethos is, and how deeply Gazan society is religious and inseparable from Hamas’s ideology,” Ofer warned, stressing that Gazans are bound by religious directives instructing them to “cling to the land and continue jihad until the total destruction of Israel.”

“Anyone who thinks a real estate project, comfortable life, and economic welfare are the solution to Gaza’s hatred of Israel, I have a suitcase full of Qatari humanitarian dollars to sell him. The suitcase is used but in good condition. Model 2018. First hand, wrapped in a shiny cellophane conception.”

{Matzav.com Israel}

Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu released a message this evening directed to IDF soldiers, both active-duty and reservists, as well as their families.

Netanyahu began his statement by saying: “I stand by you, and express my deep appreciation for you, IDF soldiers and reserve soldiers, and your families. I know that you have paid a heavy price – at work, with studies and at home.”

He continued, emphasizing the magnitude of the battle: “We are fighting a stubborn and just war without peer. We do not forget for a moment what they did to us on October 7, the beheadings, the women who were raped, the babies who were burned and the hostages who were taken into the tunnels in Gaza. We are working to bring them all back,” he said.

Netanyahu then addressed Israel’s broader regional challenges, stating: “We are acting to defeat Hamas, but together we have, so far, done wonders in breaking the Iranian axis, both in Gaza and with Hezbollah in Lebanon, and with the Assad regime that collapsed, and with Iran itself that threatened us with existential threats, which we removed together, and now we are facing the Houthis. But what began in Gaza – must end in Gaza.”

Speaking directly to the soldiers, Netanyahu added: “Dear IDF soldiers, conscripts and reservists, throughout the war we have made very tough decisions, which nobody believed that we were really capable of implementing. But we implemented them because you gave us and me the power to advance the State of Israel toward a sweeping victory.”

Concluding his remarks, the Prime Minister declared: “Now we are facing the decisive stage. I believe in you. I rely on you, and the entire people of Israel embraces you. With G-d’s help, together we will win.”

{Matzav.com Israel}

An exciting new initiative is making it easier for shuls to strengthen the kedushah and focus of tefillah with a free, elegant acrylic sign reminding mispallelim to avoid phone use during davening.

These professionally designed signs are available completely free of charge and come in three stunning styles — White, Gold, and Clear — to suit any shul’s décor and ambiance. The signs are offered in both English and Hebrew, making them an ideal fit for any community.

Ordering a sign is simple. Just fill out the short form at the link below, and a beautiful acrylic sign will be shipped directly to your shul at no cost:

Click here to order your free sign.

This initiative aims to enhance the atmosphere of tefillah by creating a respectful and distraction-free environment, encouraging everyone to focus fully on their connection to Hashem.

If you have any questions about the program or would like to sponsor signs for additional shuls, you can reach out directly by emailing: nophoneduringdavening@gmail.com.

Don’t wait — get one for your shul today and help elevate the experience of davening for your entire kehilla!

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump issued a stern warning to Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, urging him not to stand in the way of federal assistance being sent to Chicago to help address the city’s surge in violent crime, calling it “the murder capital of the world.” He made it clear to Pritzker: “We’re coming.”

After a violent Labor Day weekend left Chicago reeling, Trump criticized Pritzker’s resistance to federal involvement, saying that rejecting or obstructing support designed to restore order is both politically unwise and “dangerous” for residents.

“At least 54 people were shot in Chicago over the weekend, 8 people were killed,” Trump posted Tuesday morning on Truth Social. “The last two weekends were similar. Chicago is the worst and most dangerous city in the world, by far. Pritzker needs help badly, he just doesn’t know it yet. I will solve the crime problem fast, just like I did in D.C. Chicago will be safe again, and soon. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!”

Trump also turned his attention to D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser, a longtime political opponent, but surprisingly praised her decision to work with his administration on public safety efforts. He contrasted her approach with other Democratic leaders who oppose federal help.

“Wow! Mayor Muriel Bowser of D.C. has become very popular because she worked with me and my great people in bringing crime down to virtually nothing in D.C.,” Trump wrote in a Labor Day post on Truth Social. He went on to criticize officials such as Pritzker, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, California Gov. Gavin Newsom, and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson for refusing similar cooperation.

“Her statements and actions were positive, instead of others like Pritzker, Wes Moore, Newscum, and the 5% approval rated Mayor of Chicago, who spend all of their time trying to justify violent crime, instead of working with us to completely eliminate it, which we have done in Washington, D.C., NOW A CRIME FREE ZONE,” Trump added. “Wouldn’t it be nice to say that about Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, and even the Crime Drenched City of Baltimore???”

Trump insisted that the dramatic crime reduction seen in Washington, D.C., can be replicated in other cities struggling with violence if local leaders are willing to collaborate.

“It can happen, and it can happen fast!” Trump declared. “Work with us!!!”

In a rare moment of acknowledgment for Bowser, Trump highlighted that her willingness to accept federal resources not only improved safety but also boosted her popularity among residents.

“Mayor Bowser’s ratings have gone up, in a short period of time, 25%, and the people of D.C. are thanking her for stopping crime wherever she goes,” Trump continued. “It’s not a miracle, it’s hard work, courage, and being SMART.”

Trump also mentioned that even in Los Angeles, led by Democratic Mayor Karen Bass, some officials quietly welcomed federal involvement to address spiraling issues like homelessness, gang violence, and illegal immigration.

“The top law enforcement officer in L.A. said, during the riots, and when I sent the troops in early, that they couldn’t have done it without us,” Trump added. “They were completely overwhelmed! If we hadn’t gone in early, on top of the Palisades plus fires, L.A. would have lost the Olympics.”

While offering praise, Trump cautioned Bowser that the ultimate responsibility for maintaining public safety in the capital rests on her administration, warning her not to reverse course politically.

“Congratulations to Mayor Muriel Bowser, but don’t go woke on us,” Trump concluded.

{Matzav.com}

[COMMUNICATED]

by Rabbi Eliezer Sandler

The concept of the Yissachar-Zevulun Torah Learning Pact goes back well over 3,500 years, to the time of Yaakov Avinu and his sons. It is named for the Torah pact between two of his sons – Yissachar the scholar and Zevulun the merchant. Not only was it an equal pact but, Chazal explained, the deed of Zevulun/the Sponsor is considered even greater than that of Yissachar, because without the support of Zevulun, Yissachar would not have had the wherewithal to study Torah undisturbed.”

It is well-known that when it comes to learning Torah, people who sponsor the learning, often do so, not just as a donation. By financially supporting specific Torah scholars, they enter into a binding, written, signed and sealed learning partnership pact whereby the Sponsor (the Zevulun) is deemed by Halacha as if he personally studied the Torah completed by the Scholar (the Yissachar). (See below.) 

Thus, those who support the Talmidei Chachomim at Shas Yiden via a Yissachar-Zevulun Pact merit a portion in every daf of the entire Talmud Bavli and associated texts that they study, and complete the entire cycle in the space of ONE year. Some of the Sponsors opt to continue sponsoring repeat cycles of Shas which accrue to them.

Sar Hatorah, Maran Hagaon Harav Chaim Kanievsky, zt”l, Nasi Shas Yiden, emphasized: The most mehudar Yissachar-Zevulun pact to support in our times is that offered by Shas Yiden – it comprises the entire Shas, Rashi and Tosfos – all in just one year!

Rav Chaim explained why this pact with Shas Yiden is the most mehudar. Chazal say that the highest level of learning is when one understands what he is learning b’iyun u’ve’amkus. However, even higher than that is when one remembers b’al peh all what he has learned. I have farhered the Shas Yiden avreichim geonim many times and can attest ZEI KENNEN SHAS (they know Shas)!

YES! YOU CAN MAKE

your OWN SIYUM on the ENTIRE Shas, Rashi & Tosfos IN JUST ONE YEAR!

The Yissachar-Zevulun Pact in Halacha

The Shulchan Aruch in Yoreh De’ah Chapter 246 regarding the efficacy of the Yissachar-Zevulun Sponsorship Pact for the Zevulun (the Sponsor) states clearly:  It is deemed as if he (the one sponsoring the learning) himself learned all the Torah studied under the pact. 

All the learning under the Shas Yiden Yissachar-Zevulun Pact is yours בעוה”ז ובעוה”ב (in both This World and the World to Come)! Concerning this, the Netziv of Volozhin comments that in Olam Habah, the Zevulun sponsor will sit together with the Gedolei Torah of the past and merit to participate in their discussions and pilpulim on all the Torah learned.

Achieve Almost 7 million Mitzvos in One Year

The Vilna Gaon in Shnos Eliyahu Pe’ah 41 states that one should hold precious every word of Torah that he learns because each word is considered a mitzvah of its own. 

Thus, since in Talmud Bavli, Rashi and Tosfos there are 6,608,891 words, that translates into almost 7 million mitzvos accruing through Yissachar-Zevulun at Shas Yiden. 

Official Shtar from Shas Yiden

Each Yissachar-Zevulun pact is confirmed by an official contract (shtar) from Shas Yiden specifying the learning of the entire Shas, and is witnessed by talmidei chachomim.

All who wish to enter into a Yissachar-Zevulun Pact for the entire Shas during ONE year should contact Shas Yiden to make arrangements: 718-702-1528.

The opportunity to complete the entire Shas has been a cherished way to honor family members and others as a prized achievement. It has also proven to be a source of comfort for mourners to obtain such a zechus for their dear ones during the year of mourning – a siyum of the entire Shas can be completed on the yahrzeit!

Yissachar-Zevulun Pact –

Beyond the Grave

The legendary visionary and “Father of Yeshivos”, Reb Chaim of Volozhin, was the founder of the famous yeshiva in the town of Volozhin and the beloved talmid of the Vilna Gaon. 

Reb Chaim had an ongoing Yissachar-Zevulun pact with a local shoemaker – a man who was not learned but who dearly valued Torah learning. They had a ‘deal’ whereby the shoemaker would pay the monthly financial support needed for Reb Chaim and his family. For this financial support, the shoemaker would have an equal share in all Reb Chaim’s daily Torah study – both in the mitzvah of Torah study בעוה”ז and that the knowledge of the Torah learned would continue to be his בעוה”ב (in the World to Come).

One day the shoemaker passed away suddenly. During the shiva period, Reb Chaim was facing a perplexing halachic question and researched high and low for a solution. That night the shoemaker appeared to him in a dream and gave him the full solution that he sought. Reb Chaim was amazed and commented, “Azoi gich, Azoi Gich – So quickly, so quickly has he acquired the zchus and knowledge of the Torah that I have studied!”

In the words of Gedolei Torah:

Maran Hagaon Harav Chaim Kanievsky, zt”l, Nasi Shas Yiden:

“In just ONE year, through Yissachar-Zevulun at Shas Yiden, you can be zoche to the entire Shas forever – בעוה”ז ובעוה”ב (in olam hazeh and olam habah).

“Moreover, whoever supports Shas Yiden is zocheh to fulfill both Yissachar-Zevulun and support of aniyei (the poor of) Eretz Yisroel in the fullest sense of the word.

“Those who support Shas Yiden will be saved from chevlei (the travails of) Moshiach – spiritually and materially, and will be zoche to have ehrlicher bonim u’vanos yir’eishomayim ”

Maran Hagaon Harav Dov Lando, shlit”a, Rosh Yeshiva, Slabodka:

“Who compares to the Shas Yiden? Incredible talmidei chachomim geonim who raised the bar in limud Hashas b’iyun u’v’amkus. Blessed are those who enter a Yissachar-Zevulun pact with them.”

Hamashpia Hagadol Reb Meilech Biederman, shlit”a:

 “Yissachar-Zevulun at Shas Yiden – best possible deal, and in just 1 year! 100% partnership! 100% Shas x 5 times! 100% Shisha Sidrei Mishna – בעוה”ז ובעוה”ב”

Sanzer Rebbe, shlit”a:

“A first in 2000 years of Jewish history! Until Shas Yiden, never a Torah institution where ALL the avreichim metzuyonim v’geonim know the entire Shas by heart”

Harav Yaakov Hillel, shlit”a:

“Therefore, the great mitzvah to support the efforts [of the Talmidei Chachomim] with generous donations in order that they should continue diligently with their studies to enhance the greatness of the Torah and its glory. 

An alarming case has come to light in the Belgian town of Knokke, where a 9-year-old girl seeking treatment at a local hospital discovered that her medical file contained what appears to be an antisemitic remark.

The child had been treated for “traumatic pain in the lower part of the left arm.” However, in the section of the official report listing allergies, the attending physician recorded the entry as “Jewish (Israeli)” — a statement entirely unrelated to her medical condition and without any clinical basis. The fact that this was written in an official medical document has raised serious concerns about professional misconduct.

According to the JID organization, which monitors and combats antisemitism, the doctor involved is of Middle Eastern origin and has previously shared anti-Israel messages in Arabic on his social media accounts. JID announced that it plans to file formal complaints with both Belgian law enforcement authorities and the country’s medical regulatory board.

“This is not only an antisemitic slur recorded in a child’s medical file, but also a blatant violation of medical ethics,” JID said in a statement. “Such actions by a medical professional tarnish the integrity of the entire Belgian healthcare system.”

The organization further stressed that this incident reflects a larger, troubling trend that has been emerging across Europe, particularly since October 7. Jewish patients in several countries have reported feeling increasingly unsafe when seeking medical care. JID cited additional reports from Ireland, Britain, Norway, and elsewhere, where Jewish individuals have encountered bias or felt compelled to conceal their identity out of fear of discrimination.

“Antisemitism must never become the norm, especially not in official medical documentation concerning a child,” JID urged. “We expect the hospital and the Belgian Medical Council to address this matter with the utmost seriousness.”

Ralph Pace, chairman of JID, described the situation as “a case of maximum severity,” vowing to pursue all possible legal and disciplinary actions against the doctor. “Writing such a note in a medical report crosses every red line,” he declared.

{Matzav.com}

Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid (Yesh Atid) declared that another electoral win for Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu’s right-wing coalition would spell “the end of Zionism” and the Jewish state.

“We are in an election year. Since 1948, there has not been a more critical year for the fate of the nation,” Lapid told activists at a party gathering, warning that if Netanyahu wins, “the state will fall apart.”

“There are two possibilities,” the opposition leader continued, “Either a successful, first-world country, loved worldwide, with liberal values and a love for tradition, or a violent and backward third-world country that turns Judaism into racism and seeks to dismantle our democracy.”

Lapid outlined Yesh Atid’s vision for an alternative government, vowing reforms including a constitution, education investment, anti-corruption measures, stronger protections for the judiciary and law enforcement, and “above all,” returning the remaining 48 hostages still held in Gaza.

Lapid urged voters to unite behind the Yesh Atid, “send home the Oct. 7 government” and prevent young Israelis from leaving the Jewish state, claiming that “there will be nothing left to save” two years from now if Netanyahu’s conservative government secures another election win.

Israel’s next national vote is scheduled to take place in 2026 unless the Netanyahu-led government collapses and early elections are called.

Netanyahu told i24News last month that “the public decided that, for now, I can bring security, stability, and peace,” saying his political fate could only be decided in an election. “When I think I have done all the things I need to do, I still have many tasks, [so] I will continue,” he said. JNS

{Matzav.com}

A man has been taken into custody in north London after a series of violent incidents targeting Orthodox Jewish women and a small child in Stamford Hill, according to Shomrim.

The attacks unfolded on Monday afternoon around the Clapton Common area, where the suspect was captured on camera riding an e-scooter along the pavement. In one reported incident, he allegedly rammed into a 21-year-old Orthodox Jewish woman while shouting an antisemitic insult. She suffered a broken arm, leg bruising, and facial wounds and was transported to the hospital for treatment.

A short time later, the same man was filmed shoving his scooter into another woman, aged 24, as she walked with her three-year-old daughter. The force of the collision caused both mother and child to fall to the ground. The young girl was described as “shocked and traumatized” following the ordeal.

Shomrim condemned the attacks, calling them “unprovoked antisemitic assaults” and describing the events as “a shocking act of rogue violence against women and girls.”

Volunteers from the organization tracked the suspect until officers arrived at the scene. The Metropolitan Police later confirmed that he had been arrested on suspicion of racially aggravated common assault and common assault.

{Matzav.com}

A recent vote by a group calling itself the International Association of Genocide Scholars (IAGS), which accused Israel of “genocide,” was manipulated to secure a predetermined outcome, according to one of the association’s members.

On Monday, international outlets reported that the IAGS had voted overwhelmingly—86% in favor—to conclude that Israel was guilty of “genocide” in its campaign against Hamas in Gaza.

Israel immediately condemned the resolution, saying it falsely portrayed the aggressors as the victims. Israeli officials stressed that Hamas launched an attack on Israel with the intent to massacre civilians, and that Israel’s actions are in self-defense.

Now, criticism of the vote has intensified after one association member revealed major problems with the process. According to this account, the resolution was rushed through without open debate, no opposing views were permitted, the identities of those who drafted it were concealed, and even non-scholars were allowed to cast ballots. Moreover, only about a quarter of the membership participated in the vote, meaning the result represented the will of an activist minority rather than the entire body.

The Times of Israel quoted Sara Brown, a Jewish genocide scholar, who condemned the process: “The content of the resolution and the way it was forced through speak to an embarrassing absence of professionalism,” she said. Brown noted that the resolution cited organizations like Amnesty International that had altered the definition of genocide to fit Israel’s conduct.

Emails also showed that the association barred dissenting perspectives from being shared on its listserv, claiming that the platform was not intended for debate, and refused to identify the individuals who authored the resolution.

“The appearance is that this was a unanimous vote on behalf of the entirety of the association. It was not, and they refused to have a transparent, critical discussion,” Brown explained. “The leadership, in my opinion, had an agenda.”

Brown further criticized the organization for granting voting rights to individuals who were not scholars—such as political activists and artists—arguing that while this might provide “diversity,” it did not contribute to genuine academic expertise or analysis.

{Matzav.com}

As public demonstrations continue in support of a hostage deal, Nobel Prize winner Professor Yisroel Aumann voiced sharp opposition to any agreement that would allow Hamas to remain in control of Gaza. Speaking in an interview with Ynet, the renowned game theory and behavioral economics expert warned that such pressure only advances defeat rather than victory.

“I think the protests and the pressure, supposedly for the hostages, are not really for the hostages,” Aumann said. “This pressure is simply to surrender in this war. From the very beginning, they wanted us to leave Gaza, to leave Hamas there, to leave the situation as it was—and that is very bad, because we want peace.”

Aumann insisted that while the protesters do not wish for Israel to cease existing, their demands effectively mean surrender. “What they are actually asking is that we surrender in the war, that we stop the war, and that we also release thousands of terrorists back—that means Hamas won the war and continues to rule there. The goal of Hamas, and in fact also of Mahmoud Abbas, is to destroy the State of Israel. Around the world you hear the call: ‘From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free.’”

Pressed on the impact of internal pressure on Israel’s ability to both bring the hostages home and defeat Hamas, Aumann responded: “I want to believe that the protesters do not want the destruction of the State of Israel, but that is what it amounts to… I think they don’t understand this. Some of my own relatives are among the protesters, whom I love very much. But they don’t understand that this issue is existential. This is not a matter of settlers or politics—it’s about the State of Israel itself. We have lived here for over 100 years under constant conflict, with violence beginning in 1921 when the Arabs started attacking us. If we want another hundred years of the same—violence and endless attacks—then surrender is the way.”

He added a pointed critique of the government as well: “They don’t understand that we must eliminate Hamas. And by the way, I also have some criticism of the government. What are we doing in Gaza for two years? Why haven’t we conquered Gaza? This whole disaster was brought on ourselves—not only the failure of October 7, but primarily the disengagement. Without the disengagement, Hamas could not have built hundreds of kilometers of tunnels or carried out October 7. The disengagement is the root of evil. And even before that, the Oslo Accords included an education clause—that both sides would educate their children for peace. We did, but they did not.”

Asked what he would say to hostage families who argue that pressuring the government publicly is the only way to bring their loved ones home, Aumann replied: “I understand you one hundred percent, I understand how important this is, and I want your son to return—but I also want my son, my grandson, and my great-grandson not to be killed, and I want your grandson not to be killed, and I want to live in peace. So I have to choose. And I think the good of the whole country outweighs the good of the individual. What they are asking is that Israel surrender, and that will mean decades more of violence, another hundred years of bloodshed, if we give in.”

Responding to claims that solidarity and social cohesion are essential for Israel’s strategic strength, Aumann said: “Internal unity is very important, and I regret the divisions in the nation over this issue more than anything. But still, I want to live in peace. I don’t want my children killed, I don’t want your grandchildren or the hostages’ grandchildren killed. That is why I do not want to surrender.”

Aumann said he has not spoken with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in several years, but if given the chance, he would ask for an explanation of the government’s strategy. “I don’t understand why this war has lasted two years, why we have not conquered Gaza. The truth is I don’t know what is going on. I don’t understand the conduct of the war. I am against surrender, but I don’t understand the government’s actions. I would ask him to explain what he is doing.”

On antisemitism abroad, the professor, who was born in Frankfurt before his family fled Germany prior to Kristallnacht, drew sobering parallels. “It’s not just European Jewry at risk, but Jews in the United States, in Australia, and elsewhere. Today, Germany is actually better than many other countries in terms of antisemitism and extreme anti-Israel sentiment. Antisemitism worldwide is rising sharply. The one positive result is that Jews are fleeing and coming to Israel. But antisemitism across the world continues to grow. It’s not the same as Germany in the 1930s—it was far worse then—but it is very worrying.”

{Matzav.com}

Dear Matzav Inbox,
A group of Yidden, simple shechainim, went to meet with Skver’s leadership circle. They did not come with politics or power. They came as parents, as baalei batim, as Yidden desperate to preserve the peace of their homes and the kedushah of their neighborhoods.

With broken hearts, they begged: stop buying homes in our communities only to pack them with lowlives, pritzus and crime. Stop turning quiet Yiddishe streets into places of pritzus, chaos and fear.

The response they were given? “This is what the Tatte wanted. We have to do this to protect our community, our children. You need to understand that we are a community that does the most chesed in the world. But this is not something that we can even negotiate on. We just have to do this.”

Those words should make us stop and ask: What did I just hear? 

“Tatte” may sound lofty, but no one can claim a license to harm others on the grounds that “this is what the Tatte wanted.” The Torah is eternal, and every generation must follow its ways. If a policy results in Chilul Hashem, in pritzus, in tearing apart Yiddishe neighborhoods, then no amount of “Tatte” can justify what is going on, because that is not the Torah’s way.

But “we are a community that does the most chesed in the world” is equally hollow. Chesed is one of the great pillars of Klal Yisroel. It defines us as a people. It is the very foundation on which the world stands: Olam chesed yibaneh. To invoke the name of chesed in order to justify behavior that is the opposite of chesed conduct, which brings pain, division, and harm to fellow Yidden, is a distortion that undermines the very integrity of Torah itself.

Yes, chesed is central. Yes, Ahavas Yisroel is central. But one mitzvah does not cancel another. Because a community invests heavily in one area does not mean it can excuse achzarius in another. Torah does not work on a “balance sheet” where good deeds erase aveiros. Each stands on its own, and each carries its own weight.

True chesed uplifts. It creates achdus. It eases suffering and reflects the ways of Hashem Himself: מה הוא רחום אף אתה רחום. When “chesed” is used as a shield to excuse behavior that isolates or intimidates, it no longer deserves the name chesed. It becomes something far more dangerous, achzarius dressed in the garments of mitzvah. 

No amount of good can erase the damage caused by policies that exclude or harass. A ribbon-cutting of a chesed project does not make mutar what the Torah makes assur. Chazal teachדרכיה דרכי נעם וכל נתיבותיה שלום  – the Torah’s ways are pleasant and peaceful. To twist that into דרכיה דרכי מחלוקת וכל נתיבותיה סבל  is to hollow out the Torah’s very message.

To say, “We are a community of chesed, but we must do this” is hollow, and dangerous. Teaching the next generation that as long as you carry the label of chesed, anything else, even actions that harm other Yidden, can be permitted is surely a guarantee that whatever chesed takes place will be short lived and will eventually expire.

Klal Yisroel deserves better. We deserve to see Torah life modeled by the way the Torah sets forth. Not by cruelty hidden under a banner of kindness.

If we allow chesed to be hijacked for actions that trample the mitzvah of ואהבת לרעך כמוך, then the word loses its meaning. And when chesed loses its meaning, so does the heart of our people. Let’s work together towards true Ahavas Yisroel. That doesn’t mean you need to follow my ways or I must follow yours. That means fully internalizing and understanding that every Yid, whether they daven like you or live like me, is still part of the same Klal Yisroel. It means seeing each other’s strengths instead of trying to erase each other’s presence. It means appreciating that the Aibishter put us all here together, not to destroy one another, but to build. And certainly it does not mean to destroy each other’s neighborhoods.

Ahavas Yisroel does not mean trampling other Yidden in the name of someone else’s agenda.

Trying to live as an Ohaiv Yisroel,
Binyomin Ribiat
A Yid within the air-mile

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