Matzav

All are asked to daven for Rav Alter Dovid Chaim Stern, who has been hospitalized in critical condition at Laniado Hospital in Netanya.

Rav Stern is a prominent talmid of the famed Ponevezher mashgiach, Rav Yechezkel Levenstein zt”l, and was among the close confidants of the Chazon Ish zt”l.

In addition to the central gathering in Yerushalayim, gatherings for tefillah and hisorerus are being organized in Bnei Brak and in Jewish communities across Eretz Yisroel.

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

{Matzav.com Israel}

Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard announced the cancellation of 37 security clearances for current and former government officials accused of “abusing public trust by politicizing and manipulating” intelligence. Among those affected are several individuals who played a role in the controversial intelligence assessment, ordered by Barack Obama, regarding Russian interference in the 2016 election.

According to an ODNI memo released Monday, the officials lost their clearances due to allegations of either politicizing or weaponizing intelligence, mishandling classified materials, or failing to adhere to standard tradecraft procedures. The list includes a former senior aide to Obama-era DNI James Clapper.

“The President has directed that, effective immediately, the security clearances of the following 37 individuals are revoked,” the memo declared.

The directive further instructed, “Their access to classified systems, facilities, materials, and information is to be terminated forthwith. Any contracts or employment with the U.S. Government by these 37 individuals is hereby terminated. Any credentials held by these individuals must be surrendered to the appropriate security officers.”

Among those named is Vinh Nguyen, who worked closely with Clapper on the 2017 Intelligence Community Assessment, which has since faced widespread criticism for its findings suggesting that Russia favored Donald Trump over Hillary Clinton during the 2016 election.

“Being entrusted with a security clearance is a privilege, not a right,” Gabbard stated. “Those in the Intelligence Community who betray their oath to the Constitution and put their own interests ahead of the interests of the American people have broken the sacred trust they promised to uphold.”

Gabbard emphasized that the intelligence community must adhere to its highest obligations, saying, “Our Intelligence Community must be committed to upholding the values and principles enshrined in the US Constitution, and maintain a laser-like focus on our mission of ensuring the safety, security and freedom of the American people.”

{Matzav.com}

A Facebook post by Tiveriah Deputy Mayor Dudi “Dudik” Azulai has ignited a storm of controversy after he made sharp comments against the city’s growing chareidi population. The statement came in response to a pashkevil published by the Badatz opposing a planned concert by singer Yaakov Shwekey in the city.

In his post, Azulai warned that demographic trends indicate a significant shift in the city’s character:
“לצערי הרב ולפי המדדים שאני רואה – העיר בדרך להתחרדות, אלא אם כן יתקבלו החלטות קשות שיכולות לשנות את המגמה וזה אפשרי”
(“Unfortunately, according to the data I’m seeing, the city is on its way to becoming predominantly chareidi, unless difficult decisions are made that could reverse the trend, and that is possible.”)

The remarks drew heavy criticism from across the spectrum, with both chareidi and secular residents expressing outrage over his statements.

Speaking later in an interview with Radio Kol Rega, Azulai attempted to clarify his position, saying:
“אני אומר לחרדים אתם חרדים ואני חרד לשינוי צביונה של העיר. אנחנו צריכים לחיות אחד עם השני בעיר והפוסט הזה נכתב מדאגה לעיר ולתושבים. אני עוקב אחרי המגמה של הזרימה של כל מיני קהילות שמגיעות מחוץ לעיר ומתמקמות בטבריה. חלקן מתקבלות בצורה יפה חלקן כמו הסאטמרים לא רצויים”
(“I tell the chareidim — you are chareidim, and I am worried about the changes to the city’s character. We need to live together in this city, and this post was written out of concern for the city and its residents. I am monitoring the flow of various communities moving into Tiveriah. Some are welcomed nicely, but others, like the Satmar community, are not wanted.”)

Azulai went on to call for a serious public discussion about the city’s future:
“אני חושב שיש מה לעשות – צריך לקיים דיון נוקב לאן פניה של העיר מועדות. יכול להיות שבעוד 10 שנים כמות החרדים בטבריה תגיע ל-50 אחוז וצריך להכין את העיר לקראת זה, אולי יהיה צורך לחלק את טבריה ל-2, לחרדית וחילונית. כל ראש עיר שירצה להיבחר בעתיד יצטרך את החרדים אבל זה לא אומר שצריך לפרוש שטיח אדום”
(“I believe action can be taken. We need to have a deep discussion about where the city is headed. It’s possible that within 10 years, chareidim will make up 50% of Tiveriah, and the city must prepare for that. Perhaps it will even be necessary to divide Tiveriah into two, one chareidi and one secular. Any future mayor who wants to be elected will need the chareidim, but that doesn’t mean we should roll out a red carpet.”)

{Matzav.com Israel}

A senior commander in Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps warned that another large-scale conflict involving Israel or the United States could erupt at any moment.

“We are not in a ceasefire, we are in a stage of war. No protocol, regulation or agreement has been written between us and the US or Israel,” said Yahya Rahim Safavi, a top military adviser to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, in comments to Iranian media.

“I think another war may happen, and after that, there may be no more wars,” he added, according to a translation by Iran International.

Safavi claimed that the U.S. and Israel rely on force to impose their policies, saying, “The Americans and the Zionists say they create peace through power; therefore, Iran must also become strong, because in the system of nature, the weak are trampled.”

He stressed the need to bolster Iran’s military and strategic capabilities, stating, “We must strengthen our diplomatic, media, missile, drone and cyber offensive strategy. We, the military, do scenario-planning, we see the worst case, and we prepare a plan for it.”

This latest statement comes after Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi threatened in late July to respond to any future attacks from Israel or the United States in a “more decisive manner.”

“If there are concerns about the possible diversion of our nuclear program into non-peaceful purposes, the ‘military option’ proved incapable — but a negotiated solution may work,” Araghchi said at the time.

Following Israel’s declaration of victory in July, Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu warned Tehran against advancing its nuclear program, saying, “if anyone in Iran tries to rebuild [the nuclear program], we will act with the same determination, with the same intensity, to foil any attempt.”

The most recent confrontation between Israel and Iran lasted 12 days, beginning on June 13 when Israel launched a surprise offensive.

According to Israeli officials, the operation targeted senior Iranian military leaders, nuclear scientists, uranium enrichment facilities, and ballistic missile sites in an effort to block what they described as Iran’s efforts to destroy the Jewish state.

Iran has repeatedly denied pursuing nuclear weapons. However, it has enriched uranium to levels beyond any civilian use, limited access for international inspectors at nuclear sites, and rapidly expanded its ballistic missile program. Israeli officials maintain that recent intelligence shows Iran had taken steps toward weaponization.

{Matzav.com}

Qatar’s foreign ministry announced on Tuesday that the latest ceasefire proposal for Gaza, which Hamas has agreed to, is “almost identical” to an earlier plan presented by US special envoy Steve Witkoff.

On Monday, Hamas informed Egyptian and Qatari mediators of its acceptance of the newest hostage-ceasefire framework, according to a source familiar with the negotiations who spoke to The Jerusalem Post.

Israel received the proposal later that evening. An Israeli official told the Post that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu would review Hamas’s offer, even though it represents only a partial deal and does not include the release of all the hostages. However, sources emphasized that Israel’s stance — which demands the release of all captives and includes additional terms for ending the war — has not changed.

Under the proposed arrangement, Hamas would free 10 living Israeli hostages in exchange for a 60-day ceasefire and the release of 150 terrorists currently serving life sentences. According to an Egyptian official speaking with Reuters, the plan would also require Israel to pause its military activity in Gaza for 60 days and could potentially serve as a stepping stone toward a broader agreement to end the conflict entirely.

Axios reported that Hamas’s acceptance “aligns 98%” with the proposal previously put forward by US President Donald Trump’s envoy, Steve Witkoff — a plan that Israel had already approved in principle. Senior Hamas official Taher al-Nunu echoed this in a Sunday interview with Al Jazeera, clarifying that there is “no clause in the proposal we agreed on related to Hamas’s weapons.”

Meanwhile, Al-Araby TV reported on Monday that a high-level meeting in Cairo involving Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, Palestinian factions, Egypt’s intelligence minister, and Hamas representatives “was positive.”

According to Al-Araby TV, the talks also “demonstrated a heightened sense of responsibility and determination to end the war.”

Sources told The Jerusalem Post that Qatar’s prime minister traveled to Egypt on Monday to meet with mediators and review options for a potential hostage agreement. During that session, Egypt and Qatar presented Hamas with an updated ceasefire proposal in a meeting that also included representatives from multiple Palestinian factions, Al-Araby TV reported.

{Matzav.com}

Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu launched an unusually harsh attack on Tuesday against Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, calling him a “weak” leader who “betrayed Israel” and “abandoned” Australia’s Jewish community. The comments come amid a growing diplomatic standoff between the two countries.

In an English-language statement posted on his official X account, Netanyahu declared: “History will remember Albanese for what he is: A weak politician who betrayed Israel and abandoned Australia’s Jews.”

Opposition Leader Yair Lapid criticized Netanyahu for the outburst, arguing that such confrontations only bolster foreign leaders politically. Lapid claimed that Albanese gained from the exchange, writing that Netanyahu had handed him a “gift.”

“The thing that most strengthens a leader in today’s democratic world is a confrontation with Netanyahu, the most politically toxic leader in the Western world,” Lapid wrote on X. “It’s unclear why Bibi is rushing to give the Australian prime minister this gift.”

Netanyahu’s statement followed Australia’s decision to block far-right Religious Zionism MK Simcha Rothman from entering the country. In response, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar announced that Israel was revoking the residency visas of Australia’s representatives to the Palestinian Authority.

Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong condemned Israel’s retaliatory move, calling it “an unjustified reaction.”

“At a time when dialogue and diplomacy are needed more than ever, the Netanyahu Government is isolating Israel and undermining international efforts towards peace and a two-state solution,” Wong said in a statement.

Tensions between the two nations have escalated in recent months, particularly after Canberra declared its intention to recognize a Palestinian state at the UN General Assembly in September.

On Monday, the Australian government cancelled Rothman’s visa just hours before his scheduled departure. Rothman, a coalition member, had been expected to speak at events organized by the Australian Jewish Association.

Shortly after the cancellation, Sa’ar announced that Australia’s representatives to the Palestinian Authority would have their visas revoked.

“I also instructed the Israeli Embassy in Canberra to carefully examine any official Australian visa application for entry to Israel,” Sa’ar said. “This follows Australia’s decisions to recognize a ‘Palestinian state’ and against the backdrop of Australia’s unjustified refusal to grant visas to a number of Israeli figures.”

In an interview with Australian journalist Erin Molan on Monday, Sa’ar sharply criticized Canberra’s decision, calling the government’s actions “shameful” and “unacceptable.”

“Instead of battling against antisemitism in Australia as they should, they are doing the opposite. They are fueling antisemitism by this mad decision to ban the entrance to Australia of Israeli politicians and other figures with no justification,” he said.

Sa’ar also dismissed Australia’s claim that Rothman’s ban was based on concerns about public order and Muslim community sensitivities, saying it was “totally false and totally disconnected from anything rational. The Australian government is on a very, very wrong path.”

Israel’s ambassador to Australia, Amir Maimon, spoke with Israel’s Kan public broadcaster on Tuesday, saying Australia’s actions were illegitimate since the visa had already been approved before its cancellation. He added that the move had sparked concern among Australian Jews and noted broader tensions in bilateral relations.

“The Jewish community is worried,” Maimon said, explaining the state of affairs between the two countries. “My predecessors told me that the relations were based on friendly foundations, but since Labour won [the last election], there’s been an erosion, and since October 7, there’s been a dramatic rise in antisemitism.”

{Matzav.com}

Israel’s Coordination of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) accused the United Nations of presenting “severe reporting discrepancies” regarding the amount of humanitarian aid reaching Gaza, claiming that nearly 6,000 aid trucks that entered the area since May were excluded from UN records.

According to COGAT, the actual figures show that Israel enabled the transfer of nearly 9,200 trucks carrying supplies into Gaza — more than two and a half times the amount reflected in the UN’s official reporting.

“UN data on the volume of aid, along with repeated statements and reports by senior members of the international community, are often presented as an indisputable absolute truth,” COGAT said in a statement. “However, the UN’s documentation and monitoring mechanisms are deficient and present a misleading, partial, and at times inaccurate picture of the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip.”

The UN publishes its numbers through an online dashboard intended to display a complete account of humanitarian deliveries. In reality, COGAT explained, the dashboard only tracks trucks coordinated directly by UN agencies and a limited number of aid organizations affiliated with them.

COGAT further noted that the system fails to include a significant volume of assistance provided through other channels, including contributions from foreign governments, additional international relief organizations, private sector efforts, airdropped supplies, and goods distributed by the American-based Gaza Humanitarian Foundation.

{Matzav.com}

Last Friday, Ukrainian designer Viktor Anisimov presented Volodymyr Zelensky with a new black suit featuring a subtle adjustment — a back vent — giving it a more civilian appearance compared to the strictly military-style clothing the president has worn since the start of the war.

“These are our hopes for peace,” Anisimov told Reuters about the design choice. “We think that if we add something subtle to this image, something from civilian clothing to his uniform, then it will be like a lucky charm.”

By Monday, that “lucky charm” made its debut during Zelensky’s visit to Washington, setting a warmer tone for his meeting at the White House with US President Donald Trump. Moments after Zelensky arrived, Trump complimented him on the new look.

Zelensky’s choice of clothing stood in contrast to the controversy surrounding his appearance during a tense Oval Office meeting in February, where his dark military-style outfit drew criticism from Trump and became a focal point of a highly publicized scolding.

Anisimov, 61, who lives in Ukraine’s northern Chernihiv region, said he watched footage of that February encounter and felt the sting of Trump’s remarks. He believed the comments went beyond Zelensky personally and reflected on Ukrainians as a whole.

“There was a slight sense of despair because they do not understand how we breathe, how we live,” he said.

A White House reporter who had questioned Zelensky in February about not wearing a suit offered unexpected praise this time. On Monday, the same journalist told the Ukrainian leader, “You look fabulous in that suit.”

Anisimov explained that he was not focused on outside reactions this time, whether positive or negative. His priority was ensuring Zelensky projected dignity and strength.

“They praise, they scold. If we win, and we will win, then whose suit it was doesn’t matter,” he said.

Since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022, Zelensky has consistently opted for military-inspired outfits, typically collarless shirts paired with rugged boots, as a visual show of unity with Ukraine’s soldiers on the front lines.

“In this moment, internally, we all changed, everything changed, life changed. It was a point of no-return,” Zelensky said in an interview with Ukrainian media a year after the invasion began.

Interestingly, the black suit Zelensky wore on Monday was originally designed — alongside an identical navy version — as an option for Ukrainian Independence Day celebrations on August 24.

Initially, the team debated details like the back vent, leading Anisimov to take the suit back for slight modifications on Friday. However, before he even had a chance to adjust the sleeves, he received an urgent call from Zelensky’s administration on Saturday: the president needed the suit immediately for his trip to the United States.

This isn’t the first time Anisimov has been tasked with reshaping Zelensky’s image. In the early 2000s, back when Zelensky was still a comedian, he and his “Kvartal 95” team sought a more polished look as they transitioned from small comedy contests to mainstream television.

The transformation happened gradually, beginning with simple black t-shirts, then moving to white shirts and ties, eventually evolving into full suits that became a signature of the comedy troupe’s brand.

Anisimov said he hadn’t heard from Zelensky in over five years until a mutual contact from those early styling days reached out to him in January with a proposal: design a capsule wardrobe for the president.

Drawing from Zelensky’s trademark military-inspired image, Anisimov built the collection around versatile pieces while maintaining a sense of authority and formality.

“I can’t say that we sewed (a suit) specifically for the NATO summit or for an important conversation with Trump and European leaders. The suit is just a suit,” Anisimov said, noting that Zelensky now owns about five similar jackets, each with small, individualized adjustments.

Since introducing the capsule collection, Zelensky has worn Anisimov’s designs on several significant occasions, including Pope Francis’s funeral in April and the NATO Summit in June. Both appearances helped repair strained ties with the United States following the contentious February meeting, reinforcing the importance of image and symbolism in Ukraine’s ongoing diplomatic efforts.

{Matzav.com}

Deputy Attorneys General Adv. Avital Sompolinsky and Adv. Gil Limon sent a formal letter to Amir Medina, the Acting Director-General of the Ministry of Labor, addressing the updated eligibility requirements for tuition subsidies in daycare centers and family-based daycares for the upcoming 2025-2026 school year.

In the letter, they referred to a Supreme Court ruling regarding a petition that challenged the eligibility of parents who are legally obligated to enlist in the military but sought subsidies based on religious studies. The court established a transitional period before these subsidies would be phased out. Following this decision, the Minister of Labor issued revised subsidy criteria, which officially remove alternative eligibility for religious students who are required to enlist, effective March 2025.

The deputies highlighted that, due to hundreds of requests asking to amend the subsidy conditions and reports that certain groups were instructing parents on how to bypass the rules, a new policy was created. This policy sets out detailed documentation requirements for applicants requesting a change in employment status beginning in March 2025, in order to block fraudulent claims. The new procedure has already been approved and made public.

They then addressed two main concerns. The first involves challenges in verifying eligibility when a parent works for their spouse’s business or within a religious institution. As they explained, “There is a conceptual difficulty in granting subsidies based on a criterion whose fulfillment cannot be verified, and consequently, enforcing it is impossible.”

The second issue raised relates to military service. According to the deputies, “granting direct subsidies on a significant scale to encourage employment or studies of a person whose legal obligation is military enlistment is incompatible with the duty to enlist and with the principle of the rule of law.”

To resolve this, they suggested considering the inclusion of a requirement in the subsidy criteria that would make the regularization of one’s status with the military authorities a condition for receiving financial support, regardless of any other qualifying factors.

In closing, the deputies called for developing a clear, well-reasoned policy regarding the subsidy framework, taking into account the various legal and practical challenges involved.

{Matzav.com}

The IDF Spokesperson’s Unit announced Tuesday evening that the IDF, together with the ISA and under the guidance of the Southern Command, carried out a targeted operation on August 10th, 2025, that resulted in the elimination of Jihad Kamal Salem Najjar, a member of Hamas’ military wing.

Najjar was one of the terrorists who infiltrated Kibbutz Nir Oz during the horrific October 7th attack and participated in the kidnapping of Yarden Bibas.

“The IDF and ISA will continue to operate against the terrorists who took part in the brutal October 7th massacre,” the military stated following the strike.

After the announcement, Yarden expressed his feelings, saying: “A small part of my closure happened today. Thank you to the IDF, the Shin Bet, and everyone who took part in the elimination of one of the terrorists who kidnapped me on October 7. Thanks to you, he will not be able to harm anyone else. Please take care of yourselves, heroes.”

He continued, “I am waiting for full closure with the return of my friends David and Ariel, and the remaining 48 hostages.”

Yarden’s wife, Shiri, and their two sons, four-year-old Ariel and nine-month-old Kfir — the youngest victim abducted that day — were also kidnapped and held apart from him. In November 2023, a month after their abduction, the terrorists holding them murdered Shiri and the two children in cold blood, strangling the infants with their bare hands.

Yarden himself was released on February 1 as part of a hostage deal. Later that month, the bodies of his wife and children were returned to Israel.

{Matzav.com Israel}

A Russian missile struck the Jewish cemetery in the city of Pervomaisk, located in Ukraine’s Mykolaiv region, on Tuesday afternoon. Footage from the site shows multiple fires erupting across various areas within the cemetery following the attack.

The strike hit the Bohopol cemetery, the largest of Pervomaisk’s five Jewish burial grounds. The cemetery is named after the town of Bohopol, which was eventually incorporated as a neighborhood within Pervomaisk. Before the devastation of the Holocaust, the area was home to an estimated 30,000 Jews.

Among those interred at Bohopol are several prominent rabbonim, including Rav Yisrael HaKadosh of Bohopol and Rav Mordechai of Tolna. At this stage, it remains uncertain whether their graves sustained any damage in the strike.

In 2004, Chabad Rabbi Levi-Yitzchak and Rebbetzin Hannah Perlstein arrived in Pervomaisk, reopening the synagogue and working to rebuild the local Jewish community. Today, the Jewish population in the city is roughly 2,000, and a mikveh is scheduled to be inaugurated there next month.

Rabbi Perlstein commented on the situation, saying: “Firefighters recently arrived at the cemetery to put out several fires that broke out there and caused extensive damage to the tombstones. We are trying to assess the damage with the aim of treating the sanctity of the deceased. We are here on behalf of the Lubavitcher Rebbe and nothing will deter us and our brothers who are sent forth with dedication throughout the country.”

Rabbi Meir Stambler, chairman of the Jewish communities in Ukraine, condemned the attack, stating: “This is the fourth attack on the Jewish community in Ukraine in a month. As you may recall, just last week the synagogue in Odessa was hit, about three weeks ago the house of Rabbi Moshe Weber, a Chabad emissary, was hit in Dnipro, and a few days earlier the car of Rabbi Yossi Wolf, the rabbi of Kherson, was hit by a direct hit from a drone. Thank God, in all the cases I mentioned, by great miracles, there were no physical injuries. It is necessary to put an end to Russian terrorism, which is causing loss of life and great damage throughout Ukraine. We pray for peace and redemption.”

{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. 

Several families from Samaria crossed into Syrian territory on Monday near Alonei Habashan, with the aim of creating a new community they called “Neve Habashan.”

Among the participants were young children, and the plan was to remain there long-term. As part of the effort, the relatives of Yehudah Dror Yahalom, a soldier from Chevron who was killed in Lebanon, established a memorial site in his honor and planted flowers on the grounds.

Shortly after, IDF troops arrived, escorted the group back across the border into Israel, and handed the civilians over to police for questioning.

Leah Sheffer of Avnei Eitan, affiliated with the “Bashan Pioneers,” told Arutz Sheva–Israel National News that the move was not spontaneous but had been organized over the course of several months.

“We established the movement based on the belief that, from a security standpoint, it is right to enter and establish settlements so the IDF can control territory further forward. The Julani regime is a terrorist regime… and we believe that without control of this area, another October 7-style event could easily breach our fence,” she said.

Sheffer also stressed the historic significance of the region. “The second reason is our ancestral heritage—the inheritance of the tribe of Menashe, the Bashan region. In the days of King David and during the Second Temple period, we lived there. Jewish archaeological remains from those times are still present.”

Recounting what took place, she explained: “We entered less than a kilometer beyond the fence. The IDF controls the area, and the fence was wide open. It took about 30 to 40 minutes before anyone noticed we had crossed. We erected a sign in memory of Yehuda Yahalom, and his family was deeply moved by the cornerstone laying.”

Sheffer added that the soldiers received them kindly. “They greeted us warmly, we spoke with them, and the atmosphere was very pleasant. They expressed strong support for a complete Land of Israel and praised our efforts. Eventually, they suggested we leave to avoid legal trouble, and we complied.”

The activists later issued a joint statement, declaring: “The Bashan is our ancestral heritage. These empty expanses are calling us to return and settle the land. We call on the Israeli government to remove the enemy from all areas of the Bashan and allow pioneers to settle there!”

According to the IDF Spokesperson’s Unit, “Earlier today, a report was received about several vehicles carrying Israeli civilians who crossed the border fence into Syrian territory. IDF forces at the location safely returned the civilians to Israeli territory after a short time.”

The statement further noted, “The suspects were detained at the scene and summoned for questioning by Israel Police. The IDF emphasizes that this is a serious incident, constituting a criminal offense and endangering both the public and IDF personnel.”

{Matzav.com Israel}

President Trump made clear that American troops will not be deployed to Ukraine as part of any future security guarantees, though he hinted that the U.S. could provide assistance from the skies.

Pressed during a Tuesday appearance on “Fox & Friends” about whether the U.S. might put soldiers on the ground to defend Ukraine, Trump responded with certainty. “Well, you have my assurance,” he said. “I’m president and I’m just trying to stop people from being killed.”

He emphasized that Washington’s role would be to bolster European allies in their backing of Kyiv, suggesting that most of America’s involvement would center on air power. “We’re willing to help them with things, especially, probably, if you could talk about by air, because nobody has the kind of stuff we have,” Trump explained.

Trump pointed out that European partners appear ready to commit troops themselves. “They want to have boots on the ground,” he said. “I don’t think it’s going to be a problem, to be honest with you, I think Putin is tired of it [the war]. I think they’re all tired of it. But you never know. We’re going to find out about President Putin in the next couple of weeks.” He added, “We’re going to see where it all goes. It’s possible that he [Putin] doesn’t want to make a deal.”

For years, Ukraine has pushed for ironclad security guarantees to guard against another Russian invasion. Senior members of Trump’s team, including special envoy Steve Witkoff, recently said Putin had signaled openness to a NATO-style pact in which other countries would commit to Ukraine’s defense.

Yet Moscow appeared to dismiss the idea on Monday. The Russian Foreign Ministry said through state outlet RIA, “We reaffirm our repeatedly stated position on our categorical rejection of any scenarios that envisage the appearance in Ukraine of a military contingent with the participation of NATO countries, which is fraught with an uncontrolled escalation of the conflict with unpredictable consequences.”

Trump himself clarified that any guarantee system “can’t be NATO because that’s just not something that would ever, ever happen.” Reports have suggested that Putin has floated China as one of the possible participants in such an agreement.

Meanwhile, Zelensky announced a potential $90 billion European-backed security package that would include U.S. firepower and a deal for America to acquire advanced Ukrainian-made drones. The announcement came after his Monday sit-down with Trump, which was described as warm and collaborative—standing in stark contrast to their heated Oval Office clash back on February 28, when tensions boiled over in front of cameras.

At the White House meeting, Zelensky was joined by several European heads of state. After conferring with them, Trump placed a private call to Putin. “I didn’t do it in front of them. I thought that would be disrespectful to President Putin. I wouldn’t do that because they have not had the warmest relations,” Trump explained. “It was years that he didn’t speak to anybody from the White House — and it was a long time that he didn’t speak to anybody from Europe.”

During that conversation, Trump sought to arrange a one-on-one between Putin and Zelensky, and said the Russian president indicated he was open to it.

Even so, Trump cautioned that any optimism should be tempered. “Putin is going to be good, if he’s not, that’s going to be a rough situation,” he warned. Though he touted his personal bond with the Russian leader, he underlined that progress mattered more than friendship.

“If I can save 7,000 people a week from being killed, I think that’s pretty [good]. I want to try and get to heaven if possible. I hear I’m not doing well. I hear I’m really at the bottom of the totem pole,” Trump joked. “If I can get to heaven, this will be one of the reasons.”

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump said his push to negotiate peace between Russia and Ukraine is not about chasing awards but about something much larger: he hopes it might help him “get to heaven.”

“If I can save 7,000 people per week from being killed – I want to get to heaven, if possible; I’m hearing I’m not doing well,” Trump said during a live phone interview on Tuesday morning. “If I can get to heaven, this will be a reason.”

On Monday, Trump briefly stepped away from a meeting with European leaders in the Oval Office to place a call to Russian President Vladimir Putin. Putin, picking up the call at 1 a.m. local time, spoke with Trump about arranging a direct meeting between himself and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who has been leading his country through more than three years of war.

“One gentleman said, ‘Let’s meet in another month or two,’” Trump recounted, careful not to identify the European official by name. “I said, ‘A month or two?! You will have 40,000 people dead.’ You do it tonight.”

Trump acknowledged his strong rapport with Putin but emphasized that personal ties alone are meaningless unless they produce results. “I want to get things done,” he said. “If it works out, I’ll go to the trilat [trilateral meeting] and close it up.”

He pointed a finger at Barack Obama for Moscow’s annexation of Crimea. “Obama gave it away,” Trump said. “They took the most valuable piece surrounded on four sides by ocean, a beautiful piece of property. Why the heck did he do that to them? In one of the dumbest real estate deals I’ve ever seen.”

Trump also compared his NATO strategy to Joe Biden’s, stressing that Ukraine no longer receives free American arms. Instead, weapons are sold to NATO, which pays upfront before handing them off to Kyiv. “Since I’ve been there, we don’t pay,” Trump explained. “I got NATO to go from 2% to 5%. We sell to NATO, and NATO pays us immediately. Then they give it to Ukraine.”

According to Trump, once NATO delivers the equipment, Ukraine and its allies are free to decide how to use it.

That arrangement, he suggested, could be one reason Putin views him as a credible intermediary. Secretary of State Marco Rubio remarked on Sunday that Trump is uniquely positioned to bring the Russian leader into peace discussions.

Trump added that European powers are leaning toward stronger action and that he alone has the leverage to unify them in negotiations with Russia. “France and Germany, and the U.K., they want boots on the ground,” he said. “Putin is tired of it; they are all tired of it.”

{Matzav.com}

Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, a leading Democrat and potential presidential contender, has signed new legislation that grants access to student financial aid for all state residents, regardless of their immigration status. The change effectively allows illegal immigrants in Illinois to apply for state-based educational assistance.

The decision drew sharp criticism from conservative Congresswoman Mary Miller, R-Ill., who condemned the measure as unfair to citizens. She said the policy amounts to rewarding illegal immigrants and called it a “slap in the face” to Illinois families and students.

According to the text of the law, the aim is to create “equitable eligibility for financial aid and benefits” across the state’s student population.

The bill specifies that “a student who is an Illinois resident and who is not otherwise eligible for federal financial aid, including, but not limited to, a transgender student who is disqualified for failure to register for selective service or a noncitizen student who has not obtained lawful permanent residence, shall be eligible for financial aid and benefits.”

One of the sponsors of the measure, Democratic state Senator Celina Villanueva, praised Pritzker for approving the legislation. She stated that “this law is about making sure no student is left behind because of where they were born.”

Her office issued a statement explaining that the legislation “eliminates the patchwork of confusing and sometimes conflicting requirements that have excluded undocumented, DACAmented, and mixed-status students from critical aid.”

The law applies to all Illinois residents and qualifies them for financial aid programs provided through the state, municipalities, or public universities, according to Villanueva’s office.

The statement further emphasized that the law “builds upon Villanueva’s long-standing advocacy for immigrant and first-generation students by creating a more consistent and inclusive pathway to accessing support.”

“If you live in Illinois and are pursuing higher education, you should have access to the same opportunities as your peers,” Villanueva added. “Illinois invests in all of our students, and we’re committed to helping them succeed.”

Miller, however, blasted the initiative in remarks to Fox News Digital, saying, “allowing taxpayer-funded financial aid for illegal aliens is a slap in the face to hardworking Illinois families and students.”

She went on to say, “Our state is drowning in debt, yet JB Pritzker is determined to drain even more taxpayer dollars to reward illegals. It’s absolutely shameful.”

The Illinois GOP also weighed in, with a spokesperson telling Fox News Digital that “once again, Governor Pritzker proves that he is prioritizing illegal immigrants at the expense of Illinois families.”

“Illinois taxpayers should not have their hard-earned taxpayer dollars pay for benefits to illegal immigrants who shouldn’t be here in the first place,” the spokesperson concluded.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump’s approval rating has jumped to 54 percent in the wake of his high-profile summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska on Friday.

According to a weekend poll by InsiderAdvantage, Trump “now has an advantage among every age group other than the most senior of voters,” while showing gains among black voters at 23.7 percent and Hispanic voters at 47.2 percent. His support among white voters has climbed to 64 percent, one of the strongest levels recorded.

The survey also revealed that just over half of independents (50.4 percent) now back Trump. Among Republicans, support is overwhelming at 92 percent, while 17.9 percent of Democrats also gave him a positive rating.

In total, 44 percent of respondents disapproved of Trump’s performance, giving him a net approval margin of +10 percent.

The outlet’s previous poll in July showed Trump with a narrower lead — 50 percent approval against 48 percent disapproval, for a net rating of +2.

“Only the nation’s oldest voters disapprove of his job performance, which is consistent with our prior surveys,” pollster Matt Towery explained Monday. “Overall, his approval numbers are surging upwards post-summit.”

Commenting on the meeting, Trump said the discussions with Putin produced “great progress.” Putin, for his part, remarked that the war in Ukraine would never have started if Trump had been in the White House in 2022 instead of Joe Biden.

{Matzav.com}

The IDF has issued an order to demolish the home of terrorist Thaabat Mohammed Masalma, who carried out the shooting attack at the Al-Khader junction that claimed the life of 12-year-old Yehoshua Aharon Tuvia Simcha Hy”d and wounded several others. The order, signed by the Central Command, calls for both confiscation and destruction of the residence. The announcement comes more than six months after the deadly attack.

Masalma, together with other terrorists, launched the attack late at night on December 11, 2024, near the Tunnels Road by Beitar Illit. The attackers opened heavy fire on an Israeli civilian bus, hitting it with 23 bullets.

Tragically, the shooting killed Yehoshua Aharon Tuvia Simcha Hy”d, the 12-year-old son of Rav Zusha Simcha, rosh yeshiva of the Klal Chassidic Yeshiva in Beitar Illit. The family, residents of Yerushalayim, had been returning from a sheva brachos when they were caught in the ambush.

Three other civilians were injured in the attack. A woman in her 40s sustained moderate wounds from gunfire to her limbs, while two other passengers were lightly hurt, some from glass shards. Emergency medical teams from Magen David Adom and United Hatzalah treated the victims on site before transferring them to Hadassah Ein Kerem and Shaare Zedek Medical Centers in Yerushalayim.

Following the shooting, the terrorist fled the scene, prompting a massive security sweep that included roadblocks and a lockdown around Bais Lechem. In February, indictments were filed against four individuals involved in the attack, including Masalma.

The IDF noted that the house of another terrorist implicated in the assault, Az al-Din Maluh, was already demolished two months ago.

{Matzav.com Israel}

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As the Israeli government prepares to approve an expanded state budget, the Finance Ministry has decided to slash approximately 800 million shekels from coalition funds that were earmarked for the Ofek Chadash program in chareidi educational institutions. The funds had not been transferred in any case due to the absence of core curriculum studies in those schools.

The move comes ahead of a cabinet vote to raise the deficit target to 5.2%, a reversal of Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich’s earlier pledge that it would not exceed 5%.

Officials at the ministry have warned that if Israel launches a full-scale ground campaign to seize control of Gaza, the costs — estimated in the tens of billions of shekels — could push the deficit even higher before the end of the year.

Under the proposal heading for government approval, an additional 1.6 billion shekels will be allocated for humanitarian aid to Gaza, mostly food and medical supplies. Another 200 million shekels will be set aside for compensation payments to terror victims and bereaved families. A flexible budget line of about 3 billion shekels will also be created for unforeseen war-related expenses.

With these adjustments, overall government spending will reach roughly 650.3 billion shekels — the largest in Israel’s history — including nearly 150 billion shekels dedicated to defense alone.

Economic experts are cautioning that this budget expansion could trigger another downgrade of Israel’s credit rating before the year is out, and that by 2026 the government may be forced to implement painful tax hikes and deep spending cuts.

{Matzav.com Israel}