Matzav

A group of Columbia University students locked themselves to a campus gate in protest over the arrest and possible deportation of Mahmoud Khalil, a leading figure in the Columbia University Apartheid Divest (CUAD) movement, according to a report from Fox News Digital.

The demonstration took place Wednesday outside the university’s St. Paul’s Chapel. Those protesting demanded that Columbia disclose the identity of the individual who allegedly tipped off immigration authorities about Khalil.

The Columbia Palestine Solidarity Committee posted on X: “We will not leave until our demand is met.”

They added, “FREE MAHMOUD KHALIL. NAME THE TRUSTEE. Jewish students will not leave. They will remain chained to the campus gates until @Columbia University is held accountable. WHO REPORTED MAHMOUD TO ICE?”

According to university representatives, campus security removed the chained demonstrators from the gate after approximately two hours.

Khalil, who played a central role in organizing anti-Israel protests at Columbia, was taken into custody by federal immigration officials on March 8. His arrest was linked to a broader enforcement push by the Trump administration aimed at addressing what it labels as antisemitic and “anti-American” activity on college campuses.

He originally came to the U.S. in 2022 on a student visa and later obtained permanent residency.

Federal officials claim Khalil failed to mention on his green card application that he had what they called “membership” in the UN’s Palestinian refugee agency, UNRWA. His legal team and UNRWA, however, said he only participated in an unpaid internship at their New York office, which was fully disclosed in his application and was part of his academic program at Columbia.

In addition, authorities allege that Khalil omitted details about what they call “continued employment” with the British embassy in Beirut after 2022.

Another accusation leveled against Khalil is that he distributed materials containing Hamas propaganda.

{Matzav.com}

The Supreme Court on Thursday released its official explanation for a ruling it handed down roughly six months ago concerning the legality of holding gender-separate prayer gatherings in public areas of Tel Aviv. The decision came in response to a petition filed by the Rosh Yehudi organization.

In that earlier decision, the court instructed the Tel Aviv Municipality to permit gender-segregated tefillos in Meir Park, after city officials denied a similar request for Dizengoff Square.

Justice Yechiel Kasher, outlining his reasoning, criticized the city’s approach: “The municipality’s clear position embodies a principled, sweeping and absolute preference for maintaining gender nonsegregation in public spaces over any other consideration, and whatever the circumstances may be… it seems that the clear harm that this entails for those who wish to hold chareidi Jewish prayers, and their right to equality, was not considered at all by the municipality.”

In an especially sharp rebuke, Justice Kasher added: “During the discussion before us, the answer was even given that the municipality has nothing against chareidi prayer as long as it is not held in a manner that separates women and men, an answer that seems immaterial to clarify why it cannot be heard.”

Kasher further took issue with the message being conveyed by the city’s stance, explaining that their policy effectively implies “prayer in the manner in which his ancestors and forefathers prayed has a flaw, and therefore it is forbidden to hold it in public.” He emphasized that this was said “even when the applicant refers to the holiest day of the year for the Jewish religion.”

Justice David Mintz echoed the concerns, pointing out that “the municipality did not give even the slightest weight to the rights to equality and freedom of worship of the religious groups that customarily hold prayers in a gender-separated manner, as well as to the serious violation of these rights that its policy embodies.”

Mintz dismissed the municipality’s argument that gender separation was inherently discriminatory, asserting that even if that were true, “violation of one type of equality (between men and women) does not serve as an inexhaustible justification for violating another type of equality (between those who practice one religious sect and another, or between one religion and another).”

The justices also delivered criticism aimed at what they referred to as the “privileged elders of the first Hebrew city,” saying these influential figures failed to recognize just how damaging and alienating their stance was to a significant portion of the population that wishes to preserve the prayer traditions passed down through generations.

Reacting to the release of the court’s rationale, Israel Zeira, who heads Rosh Yehudi, said: “We welcome the court’s decision, which ruled the obvious – Judaism also has rights in Tel Aviv. However, we believe that the key to a solution lies in dialogue and respectful discourse that will enable a life together, as befits the character of the first Hebrew city.”

Still, despite the legal victory, Rosh Yehudi ultimately chose to cancel the planned outdoor tefillos due to concerns over potential confrontations. Nevertheless, the ruling may lay the groundwork for continued efforts by chareidi groups to hold traditional tefillos in public spaces in Tel Aviv and beyond.

{Matzav.com}

The IDF and Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) carried out an airstrike targeting Hamas operatives at a command and coordination facility in Jabalyia, which also functioned as a primary gathering hub for members of the terror group in that region.

After conducting a detailed intelligence assessment, the IDF confirmed that Shadi Diab Abd Al-Hamid Falouji, a Hamas terrorist from the East Jabalyia Battalion who had crossed into Israel and took part in the October 7 massacre, was killed in the strike.

The operation also took out several other high-ranking Hamas figures: Mohammed Sharif, a member of the group’s General Security Apparatus who was involved in the manipulative public display during the release of hostage Agam Berger; Mohammed Hani Atiya Daour, the leader of Hamas’s Rocket and Mortar Unit; and Mohammed Issa Mahmoud Askari, a terrorist tied to both the Northern Brigade Rocket Unit and the General Security Apparatus.

The IDF emphasized that it had implemented a range of precautionary measures to reduce the risk to innocent civilians prior to carrying out the attack. These included aerial reconnaissance and additional intelligence efforts to ensure precision.

{Matzav.com}

The IDF on Thursday released the results of its in-depth probe into how security forces responded during the massacre at the Supernova Music Festival, held near Re’im, on October 7, 2023.

The horrific attack, in which 378 people—including civilians, security personnel, and festival staff—were slaughtered and 44 others were kidnapped (11 of whom were later murdered in captivity), revealed widespread shortcomings within the military, particularly within the Gaza Division and its Northern Brigade.

The investigation commended Chief Superintendent Nivi Ohana, commander of the Ofakim Police Station, for making a swift call to shut down the festival as rocket fire began at 6:29 a.m. According to the findings, this prompt action likely saved thousands of lives and prevented an even greater catastrophe.

One of the more unexpected conclusions from the report was that the festival itself was not an original target for Hamas. The terrorists, who had intended to reach Netivot, mistakenly arrived at the Re’im area after taking a wrong turn at the Shokeda Junction—bringing them directly to the site of the large gathering.

Hamas’s invasion strategy began with a massive rocket barrage of around 5,000 missiles, intended to overwhelm defenses and enable 1,200 terrorists to breach Israeli territory, take control of key positions around the Gaza border, and then proceed to murder residents in nearby communities. Most of the Supernova victims lost their lives while attempting to escape and were ambushed in different locations along the way.

At the time of the onslaught, roughly 3,500 individuals were present at the festival site, including event staff, security teams, and police officers. The most lethal attack zones included the main festival grounds and its adjacent parking lots, a curve in the road near Mifalsim, the intersection and entrance to Kibbutz Re’im, Gama Junction, the Be’eri area, the surroundings of Alumim, and Route 232.

The review also addressed how the event received official authorization. Investigators noted that the organizers had properly followed procedures to obtain a permit. While IDF personnel were absent from police planning meetings, the army had initially approved the festival concept, and a Home Front Command officer even visited the site ahead of a second planned event. The Northern Brigade commander had initially rejected the permit due to concerns about troop deployment for security, but after deliberation with the Gaza Division, the permit was granted—aligned with the IDF’s policy of maintaining routine civilian life in the Gaza border region.

The report’s harshest criticism focused on how the Northern Brigade, led by Col. Cohen, and the Gaza Division handled the situation. “There was no security coordination between the festival and the military activity in the area,” the findings stated. Additional failures included not assigning a military liaison to the festival’s police control center, no on-site inspections by commanding officers, and a lack of military forces deployed to guard the event.

Alongside detailed descriptions of the massacre and systemic failings, the report also documented individual acts of bravery. Though the festival was quickly disbanded following the police commander’s alert, terrorists managed to access critical locations and fire on people trying to escape. At one point, a report from the Home Front Command to the Northern Brigade’s operations room incorrectly indicated that most terrorists had already withdrawn from the area, leading the military to divert its attention. The investigation also flagged a miscalculation by an IDF attack helicopter pilot who failed to engage a group of terrorists because their identity could not be confirmed.

A group of approximately 100 Hamas Nukhba fighters arrived at the festival around 8:10 a.m., having lost their way en route to Netivot. Armed with heavy weaponry, they continued the slaughter, killing an additional 171 people—including the wounded, event staff, and police. It wasn’t until 11:30 a.m. that a small team of Givati Brigade soldiers and Israel Prison Service officers, guided by a soldier on leave, arrived and succeeded in neutralizing 15 terrorists. The area wasn’t fully secured and cleared of attackers until 3:00 a.m. the next morning.

The investigation concluded that both the Northern Brigade and the Gaza Division lacked a real-time understanding of the unfolding tragedy at the festival. No communication was established with the police, and the military made no significant effort to gather accurate information. The General Staff’s Operations Division only received a first report of the incident at 10:00 a.m., several hours into the attack. A host of critical failures across the Northern Brigade, Gaza Division, and Southern Command were cited as factors that contributed to the inability to prevent or mitigate the bloodshed.

Key deficiencies highlighted included poor planning regarding the location and potential vulnerabilities of the event, the absence of a formal threat assessment ahead of the massive gathering, limited awareness among military personnel about the festival and its scale, a complete breakdown in coordination between the army and civilian authorities, the failure to designate the festival as a sensitive site requiring extra protection, and the lack of a proper alert system for incoming rocket fire.

{Matzav.com Israel}

Anat and Haggai Angrest, the parents of IDF soldier Matan Angrest, have now agreed to make public the details surrounding their son’s capture during the October 7 Hamas onslaught, including the brutal assault he endured at the hands of a violent crowd in Gaza after being taken from his tank.

“We decided to go to the end to get our son out of hell,” the parents said.

Matan Angrest had been stationed with his unit in Nahal Oz when he was abducted from his tank and subjected to a savage beating. His mother explained that at first, she couldn’t bring herself to view the footage of the incident. But once she did, she felt a powerful responsibility to share it with the nation, believing that revealing the shocking reality of what happened to her son would bolster the urgent calls for the return of all hostages.

Canada will impose a matching 25% tariff on all vehicles brought in from the United States, Prime Minister Mark Carney revealed Thursday. He sharply criticized President Trump’s recently announced “Liberation Day” tariffs, calling them a major setback for international commerce.

Carney clarified that the new duties would impact all vehicles failing to meet the criteria outlined in the US-Mexico-Canada trade agreements, making it clear that Mexico would not be subject to these additional charges.

The prime minister expressed hope that this move would pressure the U.S. to reconsider its inward-looking economic stance, though he acknowledged that the current trade tensions may just be the beginning of a deeper conflict.

“Given the prospective damage to their own people, the American administration should eventually change course,” Carney told reporters. “But I don’t want to give false hope.”

President Trump sent ripples through global markets on Wednesday when he introduced extensive 10% tariffs on almost every imported product, including those from traditional allies such as the EU, Japan, and Israel.

He described the action as a bold “Declaration of Economic Independence,” asserting it would drive production back to American soil, while generating employment and growth at home.

Although Canada and Mexico avoided immediate inclusion in the new tariffs — including the headline-grabbing 25% tax on foreign-made vehicles — that exemption may be temporary.

Both countries are home to numerous facilities operated by American automakers, offering manufacturers lower production costs and a steady supply of vehicles for the U.S. market.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, nearly $57 million in automobiles and components were imported from Canada. Additionally, the U.S. Commerce Department reported $87 billion in vehicle imports and $64 billion in auto parts from Mexico.

Even though the two neighbors were not hit by the broad tariff package, analysts from RBC Capital Markets warned that Canadian consumers could still feel the financial pinch from Trump’s trade moves.

“Tariffs on imports from Canada are still set to rise on Thursday. Auto tariffs announced last week will still push the average US tariff rate on imports from Canada to about 3.5% from 2.5% by our count,” RBC’s Nathan Janzen and Claire Fan said in a statement.

In response to Trump’s move, a small group of Republican senators broke from party lines and attempted to halt the implementation of tariffs against Canada, including the duties on steel and aluminum.

However, it is unclear whether the Republican-led House of Representatives will support or reject the proposed measures.

In Mexico, President Claudia Sheinbaum struck a more conciliatory tone, applauding the fact that her country was excluded from the tariffs announced by the U.S.

“This has to do with the good relationship we have built between the Mexican and U.S. government, which is based on respect,” Sheinbaum told reporters.

She reaffirmed her commitment to securing a rollback or reduction of tariffs on vehicles, steel, and aluminum.

{Matzav.com}

Lakewood, NJ Township officials announced that they have arranged the operation of nine locations across the Township on Friday, April 11th – from 7:00 am until 12:00 pm – with controlled fires for residents’ Chometz burning needs.

Township officials have worked in coordination with the Lakewood Department of Public Works, Lakewood Fire Department, Lakewood Police Department, Ocean County Fire Marshal’s Office and other agencies to ensure that these locations are both convenient and safe for local residents:

1. Private Way and 7th Street
2. Clifton Avenue and 10th Street
3. Parking Lot at Jersey Shore BlueClaws Stadium

4. John F. Patrick Sports Complex (Vine Avenue)
5. Larry D’Zio Park (Locust Street)
6. Khal Zichron Yaakov – 175 Sunset Road
7. Frank Bartolf Park (Brook Road)
8. Pine Park (West County Line Road)
9. 185 Miller Road

In addition to the protocols and supervision on the part of government agencies, it is imperative that individuals and families utilizing these sites follow proper safety guidelines, in order to avoid potential injuries or other dangers. Some pertinent guidelines are as follows:

• Maintain a proper distance from the fire, per the directives of officials onsite.
• Children must be under constant adult supervision.
• The fires are for the burning of appropriate food items only. No cans, bottles, plastic, Lulav cases, or similar items can be thrown into the fire. Burning these items present a true danger to everyone nearby.
• All sites will have a separate dumpster onsite for the disposal of items that cannot be placed into the fire.

“I would like to thank the many government officials and community leaders who have worked together so effectively to make Chometz burning accessible and safe for Lakewood residents,” says Township Committeeman and Emergency Services Liaison Meir Lichtenstein. “We look forward to a safe and enjoyable holiday season, and wish everyone a Chag Kosher V’sameach.”

 {Matzav.com}

For the first time in nearly half a century, the MTA has introduced a completely reimagined version of the New York City subway map — but not everyone is impressed. Despite being touted as “easily readable,” many commuters dismissed the overhaul as needlessly complex and a poor use of funds by an already embattled agency.

The new map replaces Michael Hertz’s iconic 1979 design — often compared to a tangled web of spaghetti — with crisp, vivid lines on a white background. It clearly distinguishes each subway line, while also noting accessible stations and places where passengers can transfer between stations without paying an additional fare.

In a significant stylistic shift, the familiar outlines of the city’s boroughs have been swapped for abstract, graphic representations, rather than the geographically accurate shapes seen on previous versions.

“The new MTA is focused on a quality, 21st-century customer experience, and it’s about time our map caught up,” MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber said in a statement.

“The new version is much easier to read while also reflecting all the enhancements we’ve made over the years.”

But on the ground, many riders said they had no idea the map had even changed — until they were informed by The NY Post — and reactions ranged from indifferent to outraged.

“I would prefer to see more working elevators or less homeless on the trains, or even bring some of those newer trains to all the lines,” Allison Graham, 40, said at the Astoria-Ditmars N station in Queens.

“The map update could’ve waited. There are other things that need to be prioritized.”

Michelle, another commuter at the same stop, offered a dry take on the new look: “really nice … if you’re a tourist. I don’t hate it but I probably won’t ever look at it again.”

A.J., hurrying through Canal Street in Manhattan, didn’t hold back either.

“Seems like a waste of money. It’s not even for New Yorkers, New Yorkers don’t need that,” he said.

“I hope this is not why they are raising the fare again. Is this where it goes?” rider David R., 45, asked while waiting at the Broadway stop in Astoria.

Transit enthusiasts quickly drew comparisons to Massimo Vignelli’s minimalist 1972 map, which was scrapped after just seven years due to complaints that it confused riders and bore little resemblance to the city’s actual geography.

“It’s always funny that the MTA has been desperately trying to implement this exact map for like 50 years and nobody has ever liked it,” one user wrote on X, responding to the debut.

Longtime riders accustomed to the familiar street grid were critical of the shift, arguing that the new look makes it harder to orient oneself and navigate transfers between lines.

“Oh dear! That’s much more complicated than it needed to be!” one person lamented on X. “Looking at the benefits of other metro/subway maps across the world would have been helpful.”

“The city looks distorted. This is not an improvement,” someone else added.

Another user compared the design to a “video game” interface.

A recurring complaint among commenters focused on the expense of the redesign, which the MTA has yet to publicly reveal. Many are calling for the return of the old map, which the agency says will still be accessible online.

“This map sucks,” another person posted on X. “It uses way too much space for lines instead of making use of the redundancy of lines on shared tracks. This leads to crazy distortion of distances above ground.”

The updated graphic, created by the MTA’s Creative Services Mapping Department, also includes nearby rail systems such as Amtrak, Metro North, the Long Island Rail Road, and PATH.

Commuters can expect to see the new design rolled out across train cars and stations over the coming weeks and months.

“This map rollout is utilizing the dedicated space in every subway car and the thousands of digital screens in the transit system to provide customers with detailed and up-to-date service information,” said MTA Chief Customer Officer Shanifah Rieara.

“I want to thank our customers for their input and the creative team for their years of work to update this iconic piece of the New York City Subway system.”

{Matzav.com}

it is with great sadness that Matzav.comreports the petirah of Rav Menachem Rotenberg zt”l, who for many years served as mashgiach ruchani at Yeshivas Kol Torah. He was niftar this morning at the age of 79.

Rav Menachem was born in 1946 in Yerushalayim to his father, Rav Avraham, who had been expelled from Germany by the Nazi regime due to his status as a Polish Jew, and his mother, Mrs. Sheina, originally from Poznan, Poland.

In Elul 1958, a young Menachem Rotenberg entered the hallowed halls of Yeshivas Kol Torah, following in the footsteps of his older brother, Rav Tzvi, who was already recognized as one of the outstanding bnei Torah in the yeshiva. From the start, he distinguished himself with his diligence and devotion to Torah learning, forging strong connections with his roshei yeshiva and mashgichim, including Rav Baruch Kunstadt, Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach, Rav Yechiel Michel Schlesinger, Rav Yitzchok Yerucham Bordiansky, and the revered mashgiach Rav Gedaliah Eisemann, who all recognized in him a future talmid chacham of note.

In Elul of 1964, Rav Menachem joined Yeshivas Ponovezh, where he learned under its legendary roshei yeshiva and continued developing in Torah and yiras Shamayim.

When the time came to marry, he was chosen by Rav Chaim Dov Silver, one of the heads of the Vaad HaYeshivos, as a son-in-law. He established his home in Bayit Vagan, close to the very yeshiva where he had grown into a ben Torah, Yeshivas Kol Torah.

He was soon called upon to begin teaching in the yeshiva ketanah of Kol Torah, a position he held for many years, later assuming the role of mashgiach ruchani in the yeshiva gedolah. In both roles, he transformed the environment with his unique warmth and presence.

To his talmidim, he was not merely a mashgiach, but a spiritual father. He didn’t turn away those who struggled—on the contrary, he sought them out, lifted them up, supported them with true ahavah, and never let them feel alone. His radiant smile was legendary, and many talmidim recalled how being greeted by his beaming face each morning gave them chizuk to face the day.

His talmidim remember him as a nurturing presence in the yeshiva, someone they could turn to with confidence. For many bochurim who had come from overseas—far from their homes and families—he became a father and mother figure rolled into one. The warmth and sincerity with which he related to them became their anchor.

A true masmid, Rav Menachem devoted himself to constant Torah learning. For years, he kept a rigorous daily regimen, learning two and a half blatt of Gemara with deep analysis each day. He built a loft in his home where he could immerse himself in uninterrupted learning, and his love for Torah radiated from him. His talmidim would occasionally test his knowledge with “needle-point quizzes”—and though he shied away from showcasing his brilliance, he would indulge them with simcha. His grasp of the material was impeccable, the result of decades of unrelenting hasmadah.

His tefillah was an inspiration—meticulous, heartfelt, and unwavering.

In the vaadim he delivered, Rav Menachem would lift his talmidim with words of chizuk and clarity. He conveyed strength with gentleness, elevating each bochur with a smile and a sense of purpose.

Even in his final year, as his health declined, Rav Menachem begged to be brought to the yeshiva daily. Despite the difficulty, he did everything possible to be there, continuing to spread joy and light among his beloved talmidim.

He is survived by his distinguished wife, as well as sons and daughters, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, all proud bearers of his legacy. Among his sons-in-law is MK Yitzchok Pindrus, chairman of the United Torah Judaism party.

The levayah was held this morning at Yeshivas Kol Torah in the Bayit Vagan neighborhood of Yerushalayim.

Yehi zichro baruch.

{Matzav.com Israel}

Hungary announced on Thursday that it intends to exit the International Criminal Court, timing the declaration just hours after Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu landed in Budapest, despite being subject to an ICC arrest warrant.

Rather than complying with the court’s mandate, the administration of Prime Minister Viktor Orban chose to disregard the warrant. Netanyahu received a ceremonial welcome at Buda Castle, complete with a military band, instead of facing detention upon arrival.

With this decision, Hungary becomes the only European Union nation seeking to leave the ICC. The move reinforces Orban’s role as a contrarian within Europe—an image he cultivates to appeal to his base at home—and highlights his continued affinity with the Trump-era stance toward global institutions.

Gergely Gulyas, Orban’s chief of staff, stated via Facebook that Hungary would launch the withdrawal proceedings “in accordance with constitutional and international law frameworks.”

Still, under the Rome Statute, the treaty that created the ICC in 1998, Hungary remains bound by its legal obligations for at least one more year, meaning that its failure to detain Netanyahu on Thursday represented a violation of the agreement.

“Hungary remains under a duty to cooperate with the I.C.C.,” said court spokesman Fadi El Abdallah in a statement responding to the Hungarian announcement.

The ICC had issued arrest warrants last November targeting both Netanyahu and his former defense chief Yoav Gallant, citing alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity committed during military actions in Gaza.

This visit to Hungary marked Netanyahu’s first trip to a nation under ICC jurisdiction since the warrants were announced, raising questions about whether he might be apprehended. His earlier visit to Washington in February posed no such risk, as the U.S. is not a party to the ICC.

A number of European nations, France among them, have hesitated to say whether they would carry out the ICC order if Netanyahu were to visit. But Orban went far beyond ambiguity. In November, he condemned the court’s move outright, welcomed Netanyahu’s visit, and declared unambiguously that Hungary would not detain him.

Though Gulyas first introduced the idea of leaving the ICC back in February, he noted then that a final determination had not yet been made.

Of the ICC’s 125 member states, only two—Burundi and the Philippines—have officially withdrawn, both doing so after the court began probing their heads of state. Venezuela has hinted at following suit but has yet to act.

Orban has built his political identity around defying the European consensus. As a NATO and EU member, he has repeatedly clashed with Western allies, lambasting leaders who support Ukraine as “warmongers,” nurturing ties with Russian President Vladimir V. Putin, and accusing Brussels of trying to infringe on Hungarian sovereignty. He also delayed Sweden’s NATO membership for over a year.

Hosting Netanyahu in Budapest despite the ICC warrant gave Orban another chance to challenge Western norms and potentially curry favor with Washington.

Netanyahu’s trip marked his first journey to a nation that officially recognizes the ICC’s authority since the court called for his arrest.

{Matzav.com}

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For nearly a century, the halls of Yeshiva Chofetz Chaim / RSA have echoed with voices of dedicated scholars immersed in Torah. From early morning to late at night, these dedicated avreichim delve into the depths of learning, refine their middos, and prepare to lead Klal Yisroel. Their dedication isn’t just personal—it extends far beyond the Beis Medrash. Wherever they go, they bring the power of Torah with them, strengthening the communities they join and shaping the spiritual foundation of Jewish life across America. Yeshiva Chofetz Chaim’s reach has transformed communities nationwide, and countless more are waiting to embrace a deeper connection to Torah. Let’s recognize the impact by supporting Chofetz Chaim today!

The impact of the Kollel isn’t measured in days or even years—it is measured in generations. The talmidim who sit and learn today will teach, guide, and inspire for decades to come. The Torah they absorb will be passed down to their own children, their talmidim, and entire communities, ensuring that the strength of Torah continues to flourish wherever they go.

For so many, the Chofetz Chaim Kollel is more than just a place of learning—it is a foundation, a lifeline, a home. It is where young men become talmidei chachomim, where the next generation of leaders emerge. It is where the mesorah of Torah is nurtured and safeguarded, ensuring its light shines brightly for the future. And that light does not remain within the walls of the Beis Medrash—it spreads to communities near and far, strengthening Torah and strengthening the Jewish world.

Torah is for today. It is for tomorrow. It is forever.

This is where you come in. Your partnership makes this all possible. The scholars who dedicate themselves to Torah learning are not alone in their mission—they are supported by those who understand that Torah is the foundation of our future. Together, we ensure that the next generation of leaders can continue to grow, lead, and teach, bringing the power of Torah wherever they go.

This campaign aims to raise the Kollel’s annual budget, ensuring it’s continued operation, and to provide the dedicated yungerleit with a well-deserved pre-Pesach bonus, allowing them to celebrate the YomTov with joy and dignity.

As Pesach approaches, we reflect on the journey of our people—on the sacrifices made, the foundations built, and the timeless mission of our nation.

Just as our ancestors were redeemed for a purpose, we too are partners in ensuring that Torah continues to flourish for future generations.

April 2&3 | Matched X2 | Raising $1.6 mil 
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President Trump issued a new executive order on Wednesday aimed at shutting down a trade loophole that has allowed inexpensive goods from China to bypass tariffs for years.

The 78-year-old president took aim at what’s known as the “de minimis” exemption, claiming it gave companies in China and Hong Kong a way to smuggle illegal drugs into the country under the radar.

“These shippers often avoid detection due to administration of the de minimis exemption,” the president wrote, asserting that the flood of duty-free Chinese goods “play a significant role in the synthetic opioid crisis in the United States.”

Under current rules, items valued below $800 are eligible for the de minimis exemption and enter the U.S. tariff-free.

E-commerce giants like Shein and Temu have relied on this provision to offer rock-bottom prices to American shoppers, but the new measures could significantly impact their operations.

Back in February, Trump paused the exemption temporarily before reinstating it to allow the Commerce Department more time to put systems in place for handling the change.

“The Secretary of Commerce has notified me that adequate systems are now in place to process and collect tariff revenue for covered goods from the PRC otherwise eligible for duty-free de minimis treatment,” Trump wrote.

The updated rule means these items will now face new fees instead of other existing tariffs, including the 20% import duty Trump had previously implemented on Chinese goods.

Starting May 2, any qualifying shipment under $800 will be charged a 30% ad valorem duty or a flat $25 fee—whichever is greater. That flat rate jumps to $50 beginning June 1.

Trump’s directive also mandates that carriers moving international packages from China or Hong Kong into the U.S. post a bond as a guarantee for the duty payments.

In recent years, Chinese fast-fashion brands have aggressively exploited the decades-old trade provision to scale up exports of inexpensive goods.

According to the Congressional Research Service, the value of these small shipments surged to $66 billion in 2023—up sharply from $5.3 billion just five years earlier.

Originally, the de minimis rule was intended to let travelers bring back souvenirs without going through customs or paying tariffs.

However, the Cato Institute, a libertarian-leaning policy group, contends that the exemption is a vital tool for streamlining trade and is particularly helpful to lower-income families.

They cite data showing that areas with lower average incomes receive more de minimis shipments—especially from China—than wealthier neighborhoods.

One of the studies the think tank references suggests that eliminating the exemption could cost American consumers between $11 billion and $13 billion a year, translating to a personal cost of $35 to $80 annually.

Trump signed the executive order on the same day he unveiled a new set of reciprocal tariffs targeting dozens of foreign nations.

{Matzav.com}

The day after what President Trump dubbed “Liberation Day” has brought a swift and severe backlash in the financial markets, marking what some are calling a “Day of Reckoning” on Wall Street.

Equities took a nosedive on Thursday morning following the President’s sweeping announcement of new retaliatory tariffs, a move that has sparked fears of a full-blown global trade war with far-reaching consequences for the world economy.

As of 9:45 a.m. ET, the Dow Jones Industrial Average had dropped 1,162 points, a decline of 2.75%.

The S&P 500 sank by 3.4%, while the Nasdaq suffered an even deeper fall of 4.5%, reacting sharply to Trump’s rollout of a blanket 10% tariff on all imported goods, with even steeper penalties targeting dozens of countries, revealed after markets closed on Wednesday.

“This was the worst-case scenario for tariffs and were not priced into the markets, which is why we are seeing such a risk-off reaction,” Mary Ann Bartels, chief investment strategist at Sanctuary Wealth, said in a note.

“We’re expecting rocky markets for the next few months, and through the end of the first half of the year,” she added.

Speaking on Fox News’ “Fox & Friends” Thursday morning, Vice President JD Vance acknowledged the immediate fallout but stood by the plan. He said he would not “shy away” from the hardships these tariffs might cause in the short term, emphasizing that the nation needed a “big change.”

Firms that depend heavily on Chinese manufacturing were hit particularly hard.

Apple, which relies on China for the bulk of its iPhone production, saw its shares slide by 7.5% after Trump slapped a hefty 34% tariff on Chinese goods, bringing the total levied on Beijing to 54% when factoring in earlier tariffs imposed this year.

While Apple has been attempting to shift some of its production to countries like Vietnam and India, that strategy may face roadblocks now that Trump has also imposed 46% and 26% tariffs on those nations, respectively.

Intel dropped 3.7%, and Qualcomm saw a 4.7% decline.

The sell-off extended across the tech sector, with Nvidia falling 5.9%, Tesla matching that drop, and Amazon sliding 7.2%.

Footwear giants such as Nike, Adidas, and Puma—many of which manufacture heavily in Vietnam—were not spared either. Nike took the hardest hit, its stock plunging 13.7% during early trading.

The tariff shock reverberated through currency markets as well, sending the US Dollar Index down 2.1%, while the euro surged by 2.4%, setting it on course for its largest single-day rise in nearly a decade.

Citi analysts quickly advised investors to go long on the euro, predicting the dollar could tumble to its lowest point since October 2021.

Trump’s 10% across-the-board tariff is roughly three times higher than the average rate before he took office in January. It is scheduled to take effect at 12:01 a.m. this Saturday.

Additional tariffs above the baseline 10% are set to roll out just after midnight on April 9, allowing a brief window for diplomatic negotiations to take place between the U.S. and other nations.

However, that delay may simply prolong market anxiety, as uncertainty over how talks will evolve continues to weigh heavily on investors.

“While we have made it past Liberation Day, there is still no clarity on tariffs, as President Trump has complete discretion on adjusting these tariffs and the ability to create carve outs as he sees fit,” David Bahnsen, chief investment officer at The Bahnsen Group, said in a note.

“For a stock market that was craving certainty, there is now even more ambiguity than before this announcement.”

{Matzav.com}

The Supreme Court ruled unanimously Wednesday that the Food and Drug Administration properly rejected applications to market fruit- and dessert-flavored liquids for electronic cigarettes that the agency says are popular with young people and risk them getting hooked on nicotine.

The FDA had appealed a lower-court decision that said the agency unfairly shifted its standards for approving e-cigarettes liquids while ruling on applications from two companies wanting to sell new products with names such as “Jimmy the Juice Man Peachy Strawberry,” “Iced Lemonade” and “Killer Kustard Blueberry.”

Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr., who authored the opinion, wrote that the FDA rejection of the applications was “sufficiently consistent” with the guidance it had given companies seeking to win approval for such products. Alito also highlighted the potential dangers of flavored e-cigarettes.

“One nearly decade-old estimate found that there were 7,700 unique e-liquid flavors, including not only flavors that were familiar to cigarette smokers (tobacco and menthol) but also fruit, candy, and dessert flavors that were appealing to nonsmokers,” Alito wrote. “The kaleidoscope of flavor options adds to the allure of e-cigarettes and has thus contributed to the booming demand for such products among young Americans.”

An e-cigarette or vape is a battery-powered device that heats a nicotine-infused liquid, turning it into a vapor that is inhaled. E-cigarettes are generally considered less harmful than traditional cigarettes but still carry health risks.

The case marked a milestone in an ongoing battle between the FDA and a vaping industry worth billions of dollars. The agency has moved aggressively to regulate flavored vapes in recent years, rejecting more than 1 million fruit-, candy- and dessert-flavored products, according to court filings. Wednesday’s ruling was also a somewhat rare example of the high court siding with government regulators, after a string of decisions trimming agency powers.

A 2024 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention survey found vapes were the most common tobacco product used by middle- and high-schoolers. About 1.6 million students use e-cigarettes, according to the survey, which amounts to about 6 percent of the middle- and high school population. Nearly 90 percent of those who vape prefer the flavored liquids, according to the survey. Overall, youth vaping has declined significantly after reaching a peak in 2019.

Health officials have said that addictive nicotine from vapes can influence the development of adolescent brains, affecting attention, learning and memory. Vaping may also be associated with asthma, chronic bronchitis and emphysema.

The FDA began regulating e-cigarettes as tobacco products in 2016, as public health officials expressed concern about a dramatic rise in youth vaping. The booming marketplace offered flavored liquids such as bubble gum, mocha and margarita that were enticing to kids.

Some experts have criticized the FDA’s denials of e-cigarette products, arguing that the agency has refused to accept evidence that the products are not as harmful as once believed to be and that studies show e-cigarettes can help people quit smoking. The FDA has allowed the marketing of some menthol- and tobacco-flavored e-cigarettes because cigarette smokers say they want to use them to quit the habit.

Yolonda C. Richardson, president and CEO of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, praised the ruling and accused the companies of attempting to market “blatantly kid-friendly flavors.”

“Today’s ruling is a major victory for the health of America’s kids and efforts to protect them from the flavored e-cigarettes that have fueled a youth nicotine addiction crisis,” Richardson said in a statement. “It affirms that the FDA’s marketing denials for flavored e-cigarettes have been legally and scientifically sound and should encourage FDA to stay the course.”

Richardson said the FDA must to do more to crack down on thousands of illegally marketed flavored e-cigarettes that have flooded the market without the health agency’s approval.

The high-court case revolved around the 2009 Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act, which Congress passed to combat tobacco use among adolescents. The act requires any company marketing a new tobacco product not commercially available after 2007 to get approval from the FDA. Some flavored vapes available before 2007 were grandfathered in under the law.

Applicants must show that the product will be “appropriate for the protection of the public health.” That means weighing the likelihood that the product will help existing smokers, usually adults, switch to less-dangerous alternatives against the risk that it will encourage new users, typically young people, to start smoking.

The FDA rejected the applications by Triton Distribution and Vapetasia to market the candy and dessert-flavored vapes in 2021, finding there was insufficient evidence to back the companies’ contention that the benefits of the products – helping adults to quit – would outweigh their downside.

The companies appealed the denials to the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, arguing that the FDA was requiring more-rigorous scientific evidence of its claims than it initially announced, making it all but impossible for the companies to win approval.

The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals sided with the companies, finding the FDA rejection was “arbitrary and capricious.” The FDA then appealed to the Supreme Court.

After Wednesday’s ruling, Tony Abboud, executive director of a trade association representing e-cigarettes companies, called on President Donald Trump to clarify regulation of e-cigarettes. Trump vowed to “save” the vaping industry while running for president in September.

“This ruling underscores the urgent need for decisive action from the Trump Administration to resolve ongoing – and future – litigation by eliminating once and for all the regulatory uncertainty plaguing the FDA,” Abboud, of the Vapor Technology Association, said in a statement. “President Trump’s FDA can establish clear and fair guidance that supports innovation and ensures the survival of the small businesses that make up the U.S. vaping industry.”

(c) 2025, The Washington Post · Justin Jouvenal 

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NYC Mayor Eric Adams made waves on Thursday by revealing that he’s bowing out of the Democratic primary for mayor. Instead, he’s taking a gamble on a risky independent run, hoping to bypass party lines altogether.

He broke the news in a campaign video, less than a day after a federal judge threw out the corruption case that had shadowed him for months.

“More than 25,000 New Yorkers signed my Democratic primary petition, but the dismissal of the bogus case against me dragged on too long, making it impossible to mount a primary campaign while these false accusations were held over me,” Adams said during the six-minute address.

“But I’m not a quitter. I’m a New Yorker,” he continued. “And that is why today, although I am still a Democrat, I am announcing that I will forgo the Democratic primary for mayor and appeal directly to all New Yorkers as an independent candidate in the general election.”

Adams argued that the city doesn’t need more political division, saying he’s always prioritized the needs of everyday residents over partisan loyalties.

“I firmly believe that this city is better served by truly independent leadership, not leaders pulled at by the extremists on the far left or the far right, but instead those rooted in the common middle, the place where the vast majority of New Yorkers are firmly planted,” Adams said.

Sources familiar with his thinking told The Post that Adams had been seriously considering a nonpartisan run for some time, especially as the legal cloud hanging over him refused to clear.

In the campaign video, he touched on the legal saga, admitting that the scandal may have eroded public trust.

“I know that the accusations leveled against me may have shaken your confidence in me and that you may rightly have questions about my conduct,” he said.

“And let me be clear, although the charges against me were false, I trusted people I should not have and I regret that. But the issues I face are nothing compared to yours.”

“Ultimately, it will be up to you who runs this city for the next four years,” he added. “As someone who has always fought for you and who is accountable to only you, I hope I can earn your vote.”

Even with the case behind him, Adams now faces the daunting challenge of convincing voters to give him another shot after a turbulent first term that saw declining approval ratings and persistent controversy.

Some supporters think Adams still has a shot at political redemption, likening it to a miraculous comeback, while others believe his political fate is already sealed.

Instead of filing Thursday alongside other Democratic hopefuls like ex-Governor Andrew Cuomo, Adams will deliver his petitions to the Board of Elections on May 27.

To make it onto the ballot as an independent, Adams needs around 3,750 more valid signatures. He’s also working with limited funds — with just $3 million in his campaign account as of last month, following a dismal fundraising period that saw only $36,000 in new contributions.

His announcement came shortly after a key legal victory: Manhattan federal Judge Dale Ho finally ruled on the case’s fate, deciding not only to drop the charges but to do so in a way that prevents them from being resurrected.

Ho’s ruling went beyond what the Department of Justice under President Trump had requested. While DOJ officials had asked for a dismissal without prejudice, Ho slammed that approach, saying it appeared to leave the door open for politically motivated charges down the line.

As fresh data revealed that the overwhelming majority of chareidi men summoned for military duty have refused to report, Avigdor Lieberman urged law enforcement on Wednesday to take legal action against prominent gedolei Torah who have publicly advocated for draft resistance.

Lieberman, who heads the Yisrael Beytenu party, singled out former Sephardic Chief Rabbi Rav Yitzchok Yosef and Slabodka rosh yeshiva Rav Dov Landau, accusing these gedolim of inciting yeshiva students to ignore enlistment orders.

In a tweet, Lieberman stated that Rav Landau “ordered yeshiva students not to report to recruitment offices,” and that Rav Yosef “called for draft orders to be torn up and thrown down the toilet.” He also noted that “at the same time, dozens of demonstrations and calls for evasion are taking place” in chareidi areas.

Lieberman pointed to specific articles in Israeli law that classify encouraging draft dodging during wartime as a crime punishable by up to 15 years in prison. He demanded that authorities “act in accordance with the law, and not to evade its enforcement.”

When asked if he intended to file formal complaints, Lieberman’s spokesperson said his call was for the government itself to uphold the law.

In a sarcastic retort, UTJ lawmaker Yaakov Asher referenced Lieberman’s Soviet background, saying, “if difficulties arise for the Israel Police in enforcing the matter, it would be possible to use the good services of the KGB.”

No additional chareidi MKs commented on Lieberman’s remarks.

Fresh statistics from the IDF released Wednesday revealed that just 205 out of 10,000 chareidi men who were sent draft notices since last summer have actually signed up—barely over two percent.

In a speech last March, Rav Yosef warned that the chareidim could leave the country if they were forced into the military. “If you force us to go to the army, we’ll all move abroad,” he declared.

In the Israeli Yated, Rav Landau advised yeshiva students not to speak with military personnel. Those at risk of arrest due to their refusal to serve should steer clear of all interactions with state authorities, he said, and anyone planning to travel abroad must consult with the Vaad HaYeshivos, the liaison body between chareidi yeshivas and the Defense Ministry regarding deferments.

{Matzav.com Israel}

Vice President JD Vance told Breitbart News on Wednesday evening that his and President Donald Trump’s attention is squarely on fulfilling their current responsibilities—not on speculating about the 2028 election.

Vance explained that once Trump achieves the goals his administration has set, there will be widespread enthusiasm for him to continue leading. But for now, any talk about 2028 is premature.

“Well, look, I think President Trump is going to accomplish so many great things for the American people, and he already has, but of course, we’re only a few months into this, that I think by the end of his term, the American people were going to say, yeah, we’d love to have a third term of President Trump,” Vance told Breitbart News. “At the same time, President Trump is not focused on politics, and I’m not focused on politics. We’re focused on governing, on actually delivering on the mandate that the American people gave us. So I expect to work with and for President Trump for years to come, not just over the next few years. We’ll see what happens in 2026 and 2028, but I’m focused on doing a good job for the American people right now, and I know that’s what President Trump believes. If we take care of business now, yeah, the American people are going to want four more years of President Trump’s leadership. But we got to deliver first, and that’s what we’re trying to do.”

These remarks from Vance follow a recent interview in which Trump left the door open, however slightly, to another White House bid—even though the Constitution currently bars him from doing so. Having already served as the 45th president and now as the 47th, Trump would be ineligible for a third term under the 22nd Amendment.

“A lot of people want me to do it,” Trump said in a phone interview with NBC News this weekend when asked if he would try to run again despite the Constitutional amendment that prohibits it. “But, I mean, I basically tell them we have a long way to go, you know, it’s very early in the administration.”

“I’m focused on the current,” Trump also told NBC News.

NBC’s Kristen Welker and Megan Lebowitz included more of Trump’s remarks in their article. When asked about his interest in a third term, Trump said, “I like working.”

“I’m not joking,” Trump said, when asked to clarify. “But I’m not — it is far too early to think about it.”

Pressed on whether he’s seen any proposals that would enable him to serve again, Trump responded, “There are methods which you could do it.”

When NBC floated a hypothetical in which Vice President JD Vance could run and then hand over the presidency to Trump, the former president replied, “that’s one” method.

“But there are others, too,” Trump added.

When asked to name another, Trump simply said, “no.”

Without a constitutional amendment modifying the 22nd Amendment, Trump would be legally blocked from holding the presidency for a third time. And given the complexity and length of the amendment process, such a change seems implausible within the timeframe before 2028.

What’s notable in all this is how quickly political circles and media voices reacted to Trump’s musings, even though his core message was clearly about concentrating on current governance. That’s the same point Vance reiterated in his Breitbart interview—that their administration is still in its early days and both he and Trump are committed to fulfilling their campaign agenda. The frenzy appears to have been largely driven by NBC’s probing. Still, Vance’s comments now publicly reflect the stance that if Trump’s efforts prove successful, Americans may indeed long for another term—but that’s a conversation for the future. Their priority right now is delivering on the promises that got them elected.

{Matzav.com}

A viral 60 Minutes interview sparks outrage as journalist Lesley Stahl asks a freed Hamas hostage if he was starved or if terrorists simply had no food. The PBD Podcast crew reacts, questioning media bias, journalistic standards, and moral clarity.

WATCH:

By Rabbi Pinchos Lipschutz

I am writing this on Rosh Chodesh Nissan, grateful to have arrived at the month of geulah—both for the past and, hopefully, for the present as well.

Just as the month was about to begin, Klal Yisroel suffered a devastating tragedy, losing a mother and her two precious children on Shabbos afternoon. At their levayah on Sunday, there was an overwhelming outpouring of grief.

Also on Shabbos, a beloved mechanech and builder of Torah in Monsey passed away. Rav Moshe Schwab blazed a trail of Torah, establishing a yeshiva where each talmid was treated like a diamond, polished to sparkle and shine. He was one of the good people of Monsey, whose efforts helped make the town the special place it is today.

These tragedies, along with so many others that befall us—the wars in Eretz Yisroel between Jews and Arabs, as well as between Jews themselves; the strife, the poverty, and the many challenges we refer to as “crises”—are all symptoms of golus.

We yearn for the geulah because we long for the return of the Shechinah to the Bais Hamikdosh and for the return of all Jews to Eretz Yisroel. We pray to be in Yerushalayim this Yom Tov, partaking in the Korban Pesach. We hope for the healing of the sick, the repair of our divisions, and the return of our departed loved ones, together with all the great souls of generations past.

The Vilna Gaon writes (Even Sheleimah 11:1) that the geulah will begin on Pesach and will unfold in four stages. May it begin this Pesach.

But what can we do to help bring it about?

The Jewish people have been in golus since the destruction of the second Bais Hamikdosh and our dispersion among the nations. That Bais Hamikdosh was destroyed due to the sins of lashon hara and sinas chinom. It was because of our addiction to these sins that we were exiled, and it follows that to merit the geulah, we must eliminate these aveiros from our lives and our world. Despite the efforts of many generations, we still haven’t succeeded. It’s easier said than done.

To understand why these two aveiros are so difficult to overcome, we need to examine their roots. We’ve made significant progress in eradicating many other sins, but these two remain deeply entrenched, despite intense efforts, especially since the time of the Chofetz Chaim.

Our tradition teaches that the roots of lashon hara and sinas chinom trace back to the negative influence of the Eirev Rav, who joined our nation as we left Mitzrayim and have caused great harm ever since. Their impact still lingers in the form of what our holy sages call klipos.

To rid ourselves of these impure forces, we must eliminate the klipas Eirev Rav that fuels them, enabling them to penetrate hearts and stir up conflict, division, and hatred.

But how?

Rav Yitzchok Eizik Chover writes (Ohr Torah 27) that the sins of lashon hara and sinas chinom stem from bittul Torah. The solution, as the posuk in Mishlei (15:4) teaches, is “marpeh lashon eitz chaim.” The cure for harmful speech is Torah, the Tree of Life. Torah purifies the soul and removes the negative inclinations rooted in flawed middos, which in turn are influenced by the klipah of the Eirev Rav.

People speak ill of others and harbor resentment against good people for seemingly no reason. This pattern has persisted since the time of the second Bais Hamikdosh and we have yet to break it. In fact, it seems that in our era, the final phase of exile known as ikvesa d’Meshicha, these elements have grown even more intense. Lashon hara and baseless hatred have become particularly severe.

They are fed by the Eirev Rav. They are fed by bittul Torah. As helpful as programs and educational efforts about lashon hara and sinas chinom may be, if we don’t address the root cause, the problem will continue.

As spring nears, gardening services start promoting the need to destroy weeds at their roots to prevent regrowth. Simply mowing the lawn makes everything appear neat and green for a short time, but unless the weeds are pulled out from the roots, they will quickly return. And worse, they will rob the lawn of vital nutrients and weaken its vitality. No amount of fertilizer or watering will help unless the weeds are uprooted.

Lashon hara and sinas chinom are the weeds that choke our people and obstruct our path to geulah.

When we speak about geulah during Nissan, the chodesh hageulah, it implies that something in this month catalyzes limud haTorah, which in turn weakens the grip of the klipah of the Eirev Rav. But what is that force?

Rav Tzadok Hakohein (Pri Tzaddik, Rosh Chodesh Nissan) explains that Moshe Rabbeinu expressed hesitation in confronting Paroh, saying, “V’aich yishmo’eini Pharoh,” because “va’ani aral sefosoyim.” He doubted his ability to be heard due to his speech impediment.

Hashem, the One who grants speech, assured Moshe that He would repair his speech and that Paroh would listen. However, Moshe’s real concern, “va’ani aral sefosoyim,” alluded to the klipah of impurity in the hearts of the Jewish people, which created a disconnect from Torah and made them unable to heed his words.

This is what he meant when he said, “Hein Bnei Yisroel lo shomu eilay, ve’aich yishmo’eini Pharoh, va’ani aral sefosoyim.” The term orlah refers to the yeitzer hara. Moshe was saying that the yeitzer hara was blocking the people from hearing his message.

When Hashem told Moshe, “Hachodesh hazeh lochem,” He gave the Jewish people the power to infuse this month with extra kedusha. With this added holiness, the Jews were able to overcome their areilus, their yeitzer hara. They returned to Torah study, and the impediment in Moshe’s speech, which had been tied to their spiritual weakness, was lifted. He could now speak to Paroh. The areilus that had blocked his words was gone. Geulah was now within reach.

Even though everything Moshe said was Torah, commanded directly by Hashem, his words could not be accepted by the Jewish people, without the added kedusha brought by the month of Nissan.

It seems, then, that what transformed Nissan into a month of redemption was this infusion of extra kedusha, which neutralized the areilus that had caused a lapse in Torah study.

Nissan, the month of geulah, includes the mitzvah of biur chometz, the removal of chometz from our homes. We search for it in every crack and crevice, ensuring that not a trace remains.

Chometz is allegorically compared to the yeitzer hara, which blocks us from teshuvah and from proper behavior. Chometz is dough that has risen. Matzah is dough that has not. Chometz represents arrogance. Matzah represents humility. A humble person doesn’t engage in lashon hara or sinas chinom. He doesn’t harbor hate. He learns sifrei mussar, such as Mesilas Yeshorim, is content with what he has, learns Torah, and works on his middos.

During this month of geulah, removing chometz from our homes mirrors the need to remove chometz from our souls. To merit geulah, we must search within and cleanse ourselves of the se’or shebe’isah—the yeitzer hara that holds us back from self-improvement and spiritual growth.

Since, as Rav Yitzchok Eizik Chover taught, geulah is dependent on Torah, we are strengthened by the knowledge that this month brings added kedusha. It gives us the spiritual energy to overcome the yeitzer hara and forces of tumah. We are empowered to search for the remnants of tumah within ourselves, knowing that we can uproot them and return to lives free of chet, lashon hara, and bittul Torah.

When we rid our homes and hearts of chometz, we don’t just prepare for the heightened kedusha Nissan offers. We prepare ourselves to help usher in the geulah that this month is destined to bring.

The Arizal taught that the name of the Yom Tov, Pesach, hints at the power of speech, as it can be read as “peh soch—the mouth speaks.”

With the added kedusha of this time and the preparations for geulah, our mouths are cleansed of lashon hara and sinas chinom. We become capable of speaking with love—about our fellow Jew and about Hashem. We learn to use the gift of speech for good.

That’s why, at the Seder, we say, “Vechol hamarbeh lesaper b’Yetzias Mitzrayim harei zeh meshubach”—the more we speak about the Exodus, the more praiseworthy we are. Through this, we demonstrate our ability to use the peh soch—our speech—the way it was intended: to elevate, to inspire, and to bring kedusha into the world through words and Torah.

Imagine a young musician blessed with the ability to bring music to life at the piano, but due to poverty, he becomes a plumber. Even if he becomes the most successful plumber in town, part of him remains dormant. The song inside him goes unsung. As he fixes pipes and clears drains, he dreams of music. No one may notice this about him, but that’s only because they don’t truly know him.

So too, when Klal Yisroel was enslaved in Mitzrayim, we were a nation with a song trapped inside us. We couldn’t express it. We were weighed down, unable to soar, bound by slavery and tumah.

But when we were redeemed, the gift of speech returned. Holiness burst forth from our mouths, along with deep wells of spiritual expression.

“Vechol hamarbeh lesaper b’Yetzias Mitzrayim harei zeh meshubach.” The more we speak of our redemption, the greater we become. The Seder is an experience of expression: Torah, Hallel, and mitzvos, all flowing from mouths that have been spiritually redeemed and elevated.

The night of peh soch.

On Pesach, we became who we were meant to be. Our song—the essence of our soul—was finally released.

We now have the power to achieve greatness through our words. And we’ve been encouraged by the Master of the World Himself, who says, “Harchev picha—Open your mouth wide!”

The Jews weren’t just physically enslaved in Miztrayim. Their thoughts, souls, and speech were shackled too. They were heirs to greatness, but they were caked in mud, buried under the weight of servitude. Holy children of Hashem, they had become defiled and unrecognizable. That’s what golus can do.

But at the destined hour, Hashem lifted them out of the swamp, allowing them to rise again.

In our times, Hashem leaves the task to us. He gives us the tools to rise above the spiritual darkness. He enables us to rid our lives of chometz, to return, to pursue holiness and goodness.

He tells us: “If you want to be redeemed, you must do teshuvah. You must correct your sins—the very sins that delay the coming of Moshiach and the rebuilding of the Bais Hamikdosh.”

Through the Moshe Rabbeinus of every generation, Hashem sends us reminders year after year:

“Rachtzu, hizaku, hosiru ro’ah ma’alileichem mineged einai, chidlu harei’a.” They call out to us, as the novi Yeshayahu did, quoting pesukim, invoking Chazal, drawing from seforim, and speaking in their own words, telling us that to merit the geulah, we must separate from the misguided, abandon sin, and return to our true selves. Then the darkness will lift, the golus will end, and the geulah will usher in a new era.

We are living in the final stages of the final golus. We stand at the threshold of the moment we’ve awaited for thousands of years. It is up to us to make it a reality.

We can do it.

All it takes is a little more love, a little more compassion. Positive thoughts. Positive speech. A thorough internal cleaning and spiritual polishing that restores our brilliance and clarity.

May we all merit to be as pure and radiant as our Pesach homes. And may our actions, words, and deeds help bring the geulah soon.

{Matzav.com}

The post The Song of Pesach first appeared on Matzav.com.