Matzav

Dear Matzav Inbox,

There is something deeply troubling about the way the conversation surrounding yeshiva bochurim and the Israeli army is being conducted. Time and again, I watch as the defense of Torah learning—our lifeline, the very essence of Klal Yisroel—gets wrapped in noise, anger, and rhetoric that may generate headlines but does little to win hearts or strengthen our cause.

Why can’t we fight for our yeshiva bochurim without resorting to fiery, bombastic proclamations that alienate the broader public? Why is the most sacred fight—preserving Torah learning as the cornerstone of Jewish survival—so often expressed in language that diminishes the holiness of the very cause it is supposed to defend? Our gedolim never needed shouting or theatrics to make the case. Their words, delivered with dignity and clarity, carried the weight of eternity. Shouldn’t we be following their model?

Why can’t we advocate for our bochurim without simultaneously denigrating those who, for whatever reason, are serving in the army? They are not our enemies. They are part of Klal Yisroel, our own flesh and blood. Some are not yet privileged to understand the centrality of Torah; others come from different backgrounds or circumstances. But mocking or belittling them is not only unfair. It is counterproductive. It hardens hearts against our message, closes ears that might otherwise listen, and erodes the basic achdus we so desperately need.

Why can’t we fight for our yeshiva bochurim while still expressing hakoras hatov to those who do enlist? Even as we state unequivocally that Torah is the ultimate shield of Am Yisroel and that we will not negotiate over our bnei yeshiva, can we not also acknowledge that the young men who put their lives on the line are making real sacrifices? They are risking their futures, their health, and sometimes their very lives. Is it really so difficult to say “thank you” for their service, even as we insist that the Torah learner’s role is irreplaceable and exalted? Expressing gratitude does not weaken our argument. It strengthens it, by showing that our worldview is broad, compassionate, and rooted in truth.

Why can’t we stand up for Torah without turning to protests that descend into chaos and create a chillul Hashem? The sight of angry mobs, blocked roads, and violent outbursts does not glorify Torah. It desecrates it. Those images circulate far beyond our own community and reinforce every negative stereotype that already exists. Instead of sanctifying the Torah, we degrade it. Instead of gaining sympathy, we invite scorn. And instead of strengthening our youth in their mission, we confuse them, leaving them with the impression that Torah needs to be defended through outrage rather than through its own inherent power.

Why can’t we follow the example of our gedolim, who for generations have shown how to fight this battle with wisdom, restraint, and conviction? Our gedolim all fought tirelessly to protect Torah learning. They spoke and acted with unyielding firmness, yet they did so with a dignity that commanded respect even among those who disagreed. They didn’t need theatrics to prove the truth. They relied on the eternal strength of Torah, and the power of reasoned, principled argument.

This is not a call for weakness or compromise. It is not an appeal to water down our message or to soften our principles. On the contrary, it is a plea for true strength—the strength to argue our case in a way that reflects the very Torah we are fighting to preserve. To speak firmly but respectfully. To insist on the truth of Torah without dismissing the sacrifices of others. To advocate with passion, but also with intelligence and derech eretz.

We need to ask ourselves: What is the goal? Is it to make headlines, to shout louder than anyone else, to prove that we can outdo the other side in volume? Or is it to safeguard the eternal truth that Torah learning is the lifeblood of the Jewish people? If it is the latter—and surely it must be—then our methods must reflect our mission. We cannot fight for Torah by using tactics that betray the very values Torah demands of us.

If the Torah itself is our claim, then our advocacy must be consistent with Torah values. A message delivered with respect, intelligence, and humility carries infinitely more power than one shouted in anger. The world may not agree with us, but at the very least, they should walk away saying: “This is a people that stands for something sacred. This is a people whose representatives speak with dignity and faith.”

I am not naïve. I know the pressures are great, the stakes are high, and emotions are raw. But precisely because this is such a pivotal issue, we must choose carefully how we conduct ourselves. If we truly believe that Torah is our weapon, then let us wield it—not with noise and chaos, but with the timeless strength of calm conviction and unwavering emunah.

Is it too much to ask that we fight for our bochurim the way the Torah itself demands—firmly, passionately, but always with dignity, always with derech eretz, always with the spirit of Klal Yisroel as one family? That is the way our gedolim fought. That is the way our message will be heard. And that is the only way to ensure that our defense of Torah is itself a kiddush Hashem.

Respectfully,

A Yid in Pain

Lakewood, NJ

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In the wake of Monday morning’s murderous terror attack at the Ramot Junction in Yerushalayim, Rav Asher Berenzweig, one of the rabbeim of Yeshivas Mir, traveled to Bnei Brak to consult with Slabodka rosh yeshiva Rav Dov Landau regarding the chinuch and bitachon dimensions of such a tragedy.

During the meeting at Rav Landau’s residence on Rechov Harav Sher, Rav Berenzweig described the painful questions being raised in the yeshiva world. “Today there was an attack involving six families. I personally know some of them. There were bochurim from Mir who were present at the scene, and they ran back to the yeshiva feeling very unsafe. What can I say to them?” he asked.

Rav Landau replied with compassion: “You must calm them. These are the judgments of Hashem. MishpAtecha tehom rabbah. We hope that Hashem’s kindness will give them hope. This was a very severe judgment. It is shocking to hear. Even one who only hears about it is shaken.”

Rav Berenzweig pressed further: “The bochurim asked me, especially now during Elul, when they are trying to grow spiritually, how can they absorb such a blow?”

The rosh yeshiva responded: “One must acknowledge their feelings. Tell them we understand them. Still, these are the judgments of Hashem, alongside His mercy. Emphasize that there will yet be kindness from Hashem. Let them know that their pain is valid; do not dismiss their reaction. Once they feel that their emotions are understood, it becomes easier for them to accept. There is no point in arguing. better to say: we understand, and we hope Hashem will turn this into a time of His chessed.”

Rav Berenzweig then noted that the bereaved families had called on him to speak words of comfort. “What message can I share with them?” he asked.

Rav Landau answered: “Mishpatecha tehom rabbah. It is shocking. Whoever hears is shaken. There are no words of consolation. But we share in your grief with all our hearts—that itself gives a small measure of comfort.”

At that point, Rav Landau’s grandson shared a heartbreaking detail: “One of the victims had given up his spot in a car for another person who was in a hurry. He got out and remained at the bus stop, where he was killed.”

The rosh yeshiva responded again: “Mishpatecha tehom rabbah. What can one say?”

Finally, Rav Berenzweig mentioned: “One of those murdered was born in Spain, recently came to Eretz Yisroel, and just married two months ago.”

Rav Landau sighed deeply and said with anguish: “One can only cry, just cry. It is terrible, beyond words. What can one possibly say?”

{Matzav.com Israel}

Israeli Deputy Prime Minister and Acting Interior Minister Yariv Levin responded to a letter from Deputy Minister Almog Cohen demanding the deportation of the families of the terrorists who carried out the attack in Yerushalayim.

In his response, Levin wrote: “I see great importance in the deportation of terrorists’ families—both from the perspective of justice and as a deterrent tool that has the power to prevent additional attacks. The severe attack that took place today requires a decisive move, which must also include the deportation of the families of the terrorists involved in it. However, the law imposes significant restrictions, in particular stipulating that deportation can only be carried out with the approval of the military commander—the head of Central Command—and only under very specific circumstances.”

Levin added: “As a result of the provisions of the law, it is not possible to immediately deport the relatives of the terrorists who are Israeli citizens. The law also places additional heavy requirements, such as proving prior knowledge of the terrorist’s intent or demonstrating support and identification with the act of terror. In light of your experience and involvement in legislation, it would be appropriate for you to lead a process of in-depth review of the issue, together with the security establishment and other relevant bodies, so that we can promote an amended bill immediately when the Knesset resumes work after the recess.”

In conclusion, Levin stressed: “Despite the clear intention to deport, the law in its current form places far too many obstacles in the way of carrying out a comprehensive and swift deportation of terrorists’ families.”

{Matzav.com}

The IDF together with the Shin Bet announced on Tuesday that they had struck senior Hamas leaders in Doha, Qatar.

In their joint statement, Israeli security services said that those targeted were among the masterminds of the October 7, 2023 massacre that left some 1,200 Israelis dead in the South, and that they had been directing Hamas’s terror activities for many years prior to that.

Israeli officials confirmed that Khalil al-Hayya was one of the intended targets, though his death has not yet been established.

Officials also said Washington was notified of the operation in advance and signaled its approval. Following the incident, the U.S. Embassy in Doha told American citizens to remain indoors under a shelter-in-place advisory.

“Hamas received the new proposal from the Qataris, which we [Israel] obtained from Witkoff last week in Paris. The prime minister met with the Hamas leadership yesterday, and they decided to meet again today to discuss the proposal, arriving from Turkey,” a diplomatic source told the Jerusalem Post.

“The State of Qatar strongly condemns the cowardly Israeli attack that targeted residential buildings housing several members of the Political Bureau of Hamas in the Qatari capital, Doha,” said Majed al-Ansari, spokesperson of the Qatari Foreign Ministry.

“This criminal assault constitutes a blatant violation of all international laws and norms, and poses a serious threat to the security and safety of Qataris and residents in Qatar,” he added.

“While the State of Qatar strongly condemns this assault, it confirms that it will not tolerate this reckless Israeli behavior and the ongoing disruption of regional security, nor any act that targets its security and sovereignty.”

Israeli authorities stressed that the strike was carried out with precision weaponry, using detailed intelligence, to ensure that only senior Hamas figures were hit.

The official communiqué from the IDF and the Shin Bet described the operation as a “precise strike targeting the senior leadership of the Hamas terrorist organization.”

“For years, these members of the Hamas leadership have led the terrorist organization’s operations, are directly responsible for the brutal October 7th massacre, and have been orchestrating and managing the war against the State of Israel,” the statement read.

There has been no word regarding Khaled Mashaal, the onetime Hamas leader who still serves as an influential figure within the group.

Until recently, a number of Hamas’s external leaders were considered too vital for negotiations to be eliminated.

But that changed in July 2024 when the Mossad assassinated Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran, even though he was engaged in mediation efforts at the time.

That killing triggered a clash with the Biden administration, which charged Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu with deliberately preventing a hostage arrangement he was not yet ready to accept.

Israeli defense officials, however, stood behind Netanyahu, contending that Haniyeh had been a roadblock to progress and that his culpability for October 7 left no option but to remove him.

It is not yet known how the Trump administration will respond to this latest strike, as it is simultaneously working to push Israel and Hamas toward an agreement. The identity of Hamas’s chief negotiator going forward also remains uncertain.

This operation also broke with precedent, since it was openly executed by the air force in coordination with the Shin Bet, rather than covertly by the Mossad, which traditionally handles assassinations abroad, including that of Haniyeh.

Analysts suggested that the Mossad’s relatively stronger working ties with Qatar may have led Israel to keep the agency out of this mission.

{Matzav.com}

Outside the United Nations headquarters in New York, demonstrators staged a shocking protest in which they played soccer with a realistic model of Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu’s head in place of the ball.

The stunt was held on Sunday, September 7, just days before the opening of the 80th UN General Assembly session later this month.

The protest was arranged by INDECLINE, an American art collective notorious for politically charged and controversial performances. The mock head was created by Spanish artist Eugenio Merino, whose past works have frequently stirred outrage.

In a statement released by INDECLINE, organizers explained that the action was meant “to draw the international community’s attention to the genocide currently being perpetrated in Gaza.”

The group also asserted that those who took part in the game were “activists and citizens,” representing both Jewish and Palestinian backgrounds.

{Matzav.com}

In a notable departure from earlier positions, the British government has formally clarified that it does not believe Israel’s military campaign in Gaza meets the legal definition of genocide, the Times reported on Monday.

The statement was issued in a letter from David Lammy during his final days as Foreign Secretary, just before he transitioned into his new posts as Justice Secretary and Deputy Prime Minister in Sir Keir Starmer’s cabinet reshuffle, announced this past Friday.

Lammy’s correspondence, addressed to Sarah Champion, chair of the international development committee, was written in response to her call for transparency regarding the UK’s ongoing provision of parts for F-35 fighter jets employed by Israel.

According to Lammy, the Foreign Office had reviewed the matter and determined that Israel’s conduct does not meet the standard for genocide outlined in the Genocide Convention, which requires “intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnic, racial or religious group.”

He wrote, “The government has not concluded that Israel is acting with that intent.”

This represents the first instance in which the UK has directly expressed its official stance on the subject. Until now, officials had consistently argued that judgments on genocide were the responsibility of appropriate courts rather than governments.

Back in May, Middle East Minister Hamish Falconer reaffirmed this position, stating: “It is the UK government’s long-standing position that any formal determination as to whether genocide has occurred is a matter for a competent court, not for governments or non-judicial bodies.”

Still, Lammy did not minimize the toll of the conflict, describing the consequences in Gaza as “utterly appalling” due to the large number of civilian deaths and the widespread devastation, the Times reported. He pressed Israel to “do much more to prevent and alleviate the suffering that this conflict is causing.”

In September, the UK froze 30 arms export licenses to Israel out of concern that British-produced weapons could be implicated in violations of international law. However, it did not include parts for the American-made F-35 fighter jets in that suspension, citing their importance to NATO’s collective defense framework and their role in global security.

{Matzav.com}

Qatar’s Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, held talks in Doha on Monday with top Hamas officials, where he urged them to “respond positively” to the latest U.S.-brokered initiative for a ceasefire and hostage release in Gaza, according to Reuters.

A source familiar with the meeting told the outlet, “The Qatari prime minister pressed Hamas to respond positively to the latest American proposal, conveyed through mediators, and aimed at securing a ceasefire and hostage release deal in Gaza.”

Reports on Sunday revealed that President Donald Trump recently presented Hamas with a new plan for a broad hostage agreement that significantly differs from previous offers.

Under the terms of the proposal, all 48 hostages, both alive and deceased, would be freed immediately, while hundreds of convicted terrorists and thousands of Palestinian detainees would be released in return.

The plan also calls for Israel to stop its advance in Gaza City and to enter into negotiations to end the conflict, with President Trump personally directing the talks. As long as those discussions continue, hostilities would not resume.

Posting on Truth Social, the President declared: “Everyone wants the hostages home. Everyone wants this war to end! The Israelis have accepted my terms. It is time for Hamas to accept as well. I have warned Hamas about the consequences of not accepting. This is my last warning; there will not be another one! Thank you for your attention to this matter.”

Advisers close to Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu indicated that “Israel is seriously considering President Trump’s proposal; Hamas will likely continue its refusal.”

Later that same evening, Hamas issued a statement acknowledging the proposal but again placing conditions on any agreement.

“We have received several ideas from the American side through mediators to reach a ceasefire agreement. In this context, the Hamas movement welcomes any effort that supports stopping the aggression against our people and emphasizes its immediate readiness to sit at the negotiating table,” the statement read.

“It is our aim to discuss the release of all prisoners in exchange for a clear declaration of an end to the war and the complete withdrawal of forces from the Gaza Strip. Additionally, we seek the establishment of a committee to manage Gaza, composed of independent Palestinians, which would begin operations immediately. This would include an explicit and binding commitment from the enemy to uphold the agreements, preventing a recurrence of past instances where agreements were made but later rejected or canceled,” Hamas continued.

Despite Hamas’s demands, Trump later expressed optimism, telling reporters he believed an arrangement to free the hostages and bring about a ceasefire in Gaza could be achieved “very soon.”

{Matzav.com}

The Palestinian Authority, under the leadership of Mahmoud Abbas, released a statement on Monday condemning civilian casualties following the deadly terror assault that took place earlier that day in the Ramot neighborhood of Yerushalayim.

The attack was carried out by two Palestinian Arabs from the Ramallah area and claimed the lives of six Jews, while another seven people were wounded. Not long after, the PA’s official news outlet, Wafa, circulated the response from Abbas’s office.

According to the statement, “The Palestinian Presidency reiterates its longstanding position of rejecting and condemning any harm to both Palestinian and Israeli civilians. It disavows all forms of violence and terrorism, regardless of their source.”

The message went on to assert that “security and stability in the region cannot be achieved without ending the occupation, halting the mass destruction operations in the Gaza Strip, and addressing the settler terrorism in the West Bank, including in occupied East Yerushalayim.”

The declaration concluded by stating that it was issued “in response to the events that occurred today in occupied Jerusalem.”

{Matzav.com}

The Global Sumud Flotilla reported early Tuesday that one of its ships may have been targeted by a drone strike while en route to Gaza, according to Reuters.

Organizers said that despite the incident, every passenger and crew member was unharmed.

At the time of the reported strike, the vessel was berthed at the port of Sidi Bou Said in Tunisia.

Yet Tunisia’s National Guard disputed those claims, saying no drone had been detected in the skies above the harbor where the ship was moored.

Officials explained that the inquiry is still underway, but preliminary indications suggest the damage may have stemmed from a technical failure on the vessel itself.

The flotilla consists of 20 boats that launched from Barcelona last Monday. They arrived in Tunisia on Sunday, where local activists joined the mission and additional supplies were loaded before continuing on toward Gaza.

Originally scheduled to leave Tunis on Sunday, the convoy’s departure was pushed off to Wednesday. Organizers said the delay was due to “technical and logistical reasons beyond management’s control.”

Among those taking part are Swedish environmental campaigner Greta Thunberg and Ada Colau, the former mayor of Barcelona who ended her city’s official ties with Israel while in office. The effort has also drawn backing from actors Susan Sarandon and Liam Cunningham, best known for his role in HBO’s “Game of Thrones.”

Thunberg had previously been expelled from Israel in June after joining another Gaza-bound flotilla, the Madleen, which the IDF stopped at sea.

Despite accusations that participants were “kidnapped” by the IDF—claims made in prerecorded videos—the activists were provided with food and water.

Israel’s Foreign Ministry later noted that the Madleen carried less than one truckload of aid, which was redirected through official humanitarian channels to Gaza.

{Matzav.com}

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By Rabbi Berach Steinfeld The Torah  tells us in Devarim 26:1,2 that when you enter Eretz Yisroel you should bring the first ripened fruit as a gift to Hashem. This comes right after the parsha of mechiyas Amalek. The reason they are right next to each other is because a person knocks out the machshova of gaaveh by bringing bikurim where one might think that kochi ve’otzem yadi brought him all this wealth; nevertheless, he goes and takes the first fruit that is ripened and brings it up to Yerushalayim. That is pshat in the posuk terumas yadcha, which is referring to bikurim. By bringing bikurim we raise our hands up to show that we are not the cause of all the wealth, but it is rather Hashem who is the source of our blessings. This counteracts the koach of Amalek, which is the gematria of “Ram-” gaava. Moshe lifted his hands when Klal Yisroel started winning because he got them to understand that it is not their own hands fighting a war, but rather Hashem making them win.                 What happens in a year of Shmitta, where all the fruits are hefker; do we still have the mitzvah of bikurim? Rashi in Shmos 23:19 says that even during shmitta one has to bring bikurim. The Maharal says this must be a mistake, since it is not possible to say “the fruits you gave me.” The Ohr Hachaim also says that bikurim applies only during the six non-shmitta years.                 The Minchas Chinuch argues with the position of the Ohr Hachaim and says that from both Rashi and the Rambam it is mashma that a person is chayev to bring bikurim even during shmitta. The Shailos Utshuvos Avnei Neizer says that one is pattur from bikurim during shmitta. The Maharam Shik in Mitzvah 91 wants to explain the machlokes whether or not one is required to bring bikurim during shmitta based on another machlokes between the Bais Yosef and the Maharit. Are the fruits of shmitta automatically hefker, or is it part of the mitzvah that the owner is mafkir it? The Bais Yosef holds that the fruits of shmitta belong to the owner, he just has a requirement to be mafkir it. Based on this shitta, one could bring bikurim and say thanks for the fruits that were given to me, whereas according to the Maharit, where the shmitta fruit are automatically hefker, then there would be no possibility of being required to bring bikurim from shmitta fruit.                 Even according to the Bais Yosef one has to be mafkir the fruit. How can a person bring bikurim and say the “fruits you gave me” if he has to be mafkir it? This question is asked by the Chemdas Yisroel in kuntres Ner Mitzvah 30:1. He answers that the mitzvah to be mafkir the fruit is only once it is fully ripe and ready to be eaten, but the mitzvah of bikurim applies as soon as the first fruit turns ripe – he wraps a red thread on the fruit – so this takes place before he can be mafkir, so the mitzvah of bikurim is applicable earlier.                 The Sefer Emunas Yisroel brings two more answers to the above question of the Chemdas Yisroel. One is based on the Minchas Chinuch mitzvah 83 that says according to the Rambam if a woman owns a field she would not have to be mafkir her field. In this case, a woman who is mechuyav in bikurim would have to bring it in the year of shmitta as well. Another tirutz, also based on the same Minchas Chinuch mentioned above, says that a field owned by ketanim who are in essence under Bar Mitzvah, are not required to be mafkir the field during Shmitta and according to that one man de’amar in Yerushalmi Terumos 1:1 a katan should bring bikurim. We see from here how important it is to acknowledge that everything is from Hashem and to have Emunah and Bitachon!

Israel’s High Court of Justice ruled on Monday that chareidi yeshiva students who have not resolved their military status or obtained a valid exemption will lose access to discounts from national insurance.

The decision was issued in response to a petition filed by Israel Hofsheet and the Movement for Quality Government in Israel (MQG). The ruling will not take effect immediately—the State has been given 30 days to announce the start date.

The petitioners argued that since the expiration of the draft law in June 2023, there has been no legal basis for exemptions, which means there is no justification for benefits either. According to Israel Hofsheet, the subsidies effectively “constitute a state subsidy for unlawful draft evaders.”

MQG first petitioned the court in January, pointing to a June 2024 decision that barred the government from offering financial incentives that encourage avoiding military service. According to MQG, the discounts amount to more than NIS 100 million annually—roughly NIS 1,000 per student—with a discount rate of 67 percent.

In its ruling, the court emphasized that the government cannot provide monetary incentives to avoid army service. “We will stop all privileges for draft evaders, even if the government continues to drag its feet. Petition after petition, all incentives for those who choose to shirk their military service during wartime will be stopped. The time for equality has come,” said Uri Keidar, executive director of Israel Hofsheet.

Just over a month ago, the court upheld a separate petition from Israel Hofsheet, ruling that state funding must end for certain chareidi yeshivos created for at-risk youth who do not enlist—most notably the Noham institutions for disengaged students. That funding was ordered to be cut off this month.

The petition in that case highlighted that many of the young men in those programs are not consistently engaged in Torah learning and often work off-the-books, contrary to the terms for exemption. The Welfare and Social Affairs Ministry had previously allocated about NIS 35 million to those schools.

Attorney Ori Hess, who leads the economics division at MQG, welcomed the latest outcome: “This is a significant victory for the principle of equality and for protecting public funds. The High Court confirmed our position that evasion of military service should not be financially rewarded. The decision will return more than 100 million shekels a year to the state treasury and strengthen the principle of equal burden. This is a good day for Israeli democracy and for every citizen who believes in social justice.”

{Matzav.com Israel}

New York’s top cop says she has no interest in seeing soldiers on city streets and expressed strong opposition to President Donald Trump’s suggestion of sending the military into America’s largest cities.

Speaking at a gathering in midtown Manhattan on Monday, NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch warned that federal National Guard personnel don’t have the experience needed to tackle urban crime and could actually make matters worse. Her remarks came as Trump threatened to dispatch Guard units to both New York and Chicago after asserting control over the Metropolitan Police Department in Washington, DC.

“One of the very major concerns that I have around this topic of deploying the National Guard to New York City or big cities across the country is that it will introduce an amount of chaos and disorder and confusion that will be counterproductive — to say nothing of the fact that as a lifelong New Yorker, I am revolted by the idea of the militarization of our streets,” Tisch told the audience at the Citizens Budget Commission, a nonpartisan fiscal watchdog group.

Tisch explained that while the federal government has the legal right to assume command over DC’s police force, that authority does not extend to New York or other cities. Still, she acknowledged Trump could place Guard members on corners throughout the city or even have them patrol the subway system.

Governor Kathy Hochul has already stationed roughly 1,000 Guard members in the transit system, but their assignments are primarily limited to bag inspections rather than patrolling train cars or platforms.

The commissioner said she would welcome more federal assistance in targeting illegal firearms and suggested additional federal prosecutors should take on gun-related cases. “Let’s focus on the right type of partnership with the federal government,” she said. “The National Guard happens not to be that.”

According to police statistics, crime in New York has fallen across every major category so far this year, with overall reported crime down 4.5% through August. Shootings in particular have dropped significantly, with 489 incidents reported through August, marking a 19% decline from the previous year.

“We’ve got this,” Tisch declared in defense of the NYPD’s ability to manage public safety. “We don’t need or want the federal government’s help here in that way.”

Her skepticism is shared in other states. Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro said he would not welcome National Guard forces being imposed on Philadelphia or elsewhere in the state. “What the president is doing injects chaos in communities, and I can tell you that we are prepared should he decide to try that here in Philly,” Shapiro said at a press conference Monday. “We’re prepared should they try to deploy the National Guard against my will in any community across Pennsylvania.”

{Matzav.com}

Israeli Defense Minister Yisroel Katz issued a stark threat to Hamas in a post online, declaring that if the terror group refuses to free the hostages it is holding in Gaza and disarm, the enclave will be leveled and the organization itself will be wiped out.
“This is a final warning,” he stated.

He continued with dramatic language, saying, “Today, a mighty hurricane will strike the skies over Gaza City, and the roofs of the terror towers will tremble. The IDF continues as planned and is preparing to expand the operation to bring about the decisive defeat of Gaza,” he concluded.

Reports indicate that the Israeli Air Force is set to carry out a wave of strikes targeting numerous sites, including more tall structures in Gaza.

Katz’s declaration came shortly after US President Donald Trump wrote on social media, “It is time for Hamas to accept [a hostage deal] as well. I have warned Hamas about the consequences of not accepting. This is my last warning, there will not be another one! Thank you for your attention to this matter. DONALD J. TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,” the message read.

In recent days, according to sources cited by The Jerusalem Post, Hamas has been presented with a new US-backed initiative aimed at winning the release of the captives in Gaza. The plan, transmitted through Israeli negotiator Gershon Baskin and Dr. Bishara Bahbah, lays out a broad framework to bring an end to the fighting.

In a statement issued Sunday evening, Hamas asserted that it is ready to “immediately sit at the negotiating table to discuss the release of all hostages in exchange for a clear declaration of an end to the war, a full withdrawal from the Gaza Strip, and the formation of a committee to administer the Gaza Strip from independent Palestinians, which will assume its work immediately.”

{Matzav.com Israel}

Tucker Carlson’s recent commentary on Israel and terrorism has drawn sharp criticism from Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, who blasted the former Fox News host as extreme and “unrecognizable.”

“Something is wrong with Tucker Carlson,” Cruz said on his podcast Verdict With Ted Cruz. “I don’t know what the h—‘s wrong with him.”

Cruz reflected on Carlson’s past influence during the 2020 election season, the riots, and COVID lockdowns, contrasting it with what he sees now as confused and dangerous positions on issues of war and terrorism. “I look at the Tucker today: He’s unrecognizable,” Cruz remarked. “As listeners to this podcast know, I went on Tucker’s show. I know Tucker was going to come after me, and — sadly — do so dishonestly.”

According to Cruz, Carlson’s views have shifted so drastically that they now blur lines conservatives have traditionally drawn clearly. He pointed out that Carlson not only offered condolences to Osama bin Laden’s family and entertained the idea of siding with Nazi Germany, but also cast doubt on whether Hamas is a terrorist group while showing sympathy for authoritarian powers in Russia and Iran.

Cruz rejected those positions outright. He said they were “bizarre,” “unhinged,” and morally indefensible, adding that terrorist figures and groups must be condemned without hesitation. “I’m not even sure Hamas is actually a radical jihadi organization. It seems more like a political organization,” Carlson had said recently.

Cruz went on to call Carlson’s direction a betrayal of conservatism itself, likening his rhetoric to that of Reps. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., and Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., whom conservatives often cite as examples of far-left views. “Now, @TuckerCarlson doesn’t know if Hamas is a terrorist organization,” Cruz posted on X, alongside clips of Carlson’s remarks. “(‘Elmo is just asking questions …’) What the h— happened to Tucker?? He’s turning into Ilhan Omar.”

This dispute follows an earlier clash between the two, when Carlson took aim at Cruz over his defense of Israel. Cruz recounted on his podcast: “The week that I did the Tucker interview, it was the week right before the president launched the bombing attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities. And Tucker was spiraling at the time because he was attacking [President] Donald Trump and saying, if the United States bombs Iran, he said it would be World War III, No. 1. He said thousands of Americans will die, No. 2. And he said America will lose, No. 3: Iran will beat us in World War III.”

Cruz stressed that none of Carlson’s dire warnings came true. “Every one of those predictions, we now know the truth: They were laughingly, entirely, totally false,” he said.

He recalled that even Trump dismissed Carlson’s take. “I’m the one that decides what America First is, and I’m telling you right now, defending America is America First,” Cruz quoted Trump as saying. “I’ve got to say it just started Tucker on this downward spiral.”

Carlson has argued that showing sympathy for the death of a terrorist’s family member is simply “human decency,” but Cruz dismissed that reasoning. “If people are evil psychotic mass murderers, then society celebrates that they are no longer with us,” Cruz said. “There is justice. I believe in the principle of justice. We’re so sorry we took out your psychotic daddy who murdered nearly 3,000 Americans — no, we’re not sorry.”

Cruz continued, “This moral relativism, I have got to say, is a weird thing when someone who considers himself, calls himself a conservative, sounds exactly like Ilhan Omar. It is a weird thing when a supposed conservative sounds like Rashida Tlaib, sounds like [Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y.,] and says, ‘Gosh, we ought to be saying I’m sorry to Osama bin Laden’s family.’ No, we should not.”

He reminded listeners that Hamas’ own charter explicitly proclaims “jihad is its path.” Cruz added, “Hamas is designated a terrorist organization by the United States of America — that’s as a matter of federal law — by Australia, by Canada, by Paraguay, by Israel, by Japan, by New Zealand, by the United Kingdom, and the European Union.”

Cruz accused Carlson of ducking direct criticism of Trump while still taking shots at his decisions. “He doesn’t have the courage, he doesn’t have the backbone to actually attack Trump, so he just attacks everything Trump does,” Cruz charged. “He attacks bombing Iran. Well, who was the commander in chief who made the order? And by the way, that was an incredibly successful military operation that made America safer.”

Although Carlson has often expressed opposition to war, Cruz pointed out that Trump shares that instinct but differs in approach. “I don’t know what’s going on with Tucker; I don’t know what is driving it,” Cruz said. “It’s one thing to feel kind of isolationist and to say, ‘Gosh, you know, I don’t like wars.’ OK, fine, that is a view, and to be clear, Donald Trump doesn’t like wars either. [Former President] Joe Biden and the Democrats get us in war. President Trump has gotten us out of war. But getting us out of war, you do it through strength. And getting us out of war does not mean that you refuse to defend America.”

Cruz wrapped up with a blunt message: “Fine, if Tucker wants to be isolationist, knock yourself out.”

{Matzav.com}

With just a week or so left before tens of thousands of Breslover chassidim are scheduled to fly to Uman for Rosh Hashanah, the crisis over travel routes appears to be moving toward resolution. Israeli officials are close to finalizing an agreement with Romania that would allow pilgrims to transit through its airports, easing concerns after the collapse of talks with Moldova.

According to officials involved, Romania has presented a series of conditions to accommodate the large influx of travelers. These include receiving full flight data from Israel ahead of time, as well as the deployment of translators and ushers in Romanian airports to help passengers navigate terminals and transfer points.

Negotiations with Romania intensified after Moldova unexpectedly informed El Al on Monday that two flights slated to land in Chisinau would likely be canceled. Moldovan authorities reportedly insisted that flights should instead be operated by local carriers, further straining ties.

Israel reacted sharply to Moldova’s move, delivering a strong diplomatic warning that such behavior could have consequences for bilateral relations. Officials emphasized their frustration after weeks of discussions and substantial financial concessions were offered in an effort to secure a deal.

As reported previously by Matzav.com, Israel had invested significant resources in preparing Moldova’s airport infrastructure to accommodate the influx of pilgrims, including funding equipment and improvements. Moldova, however, demanded that all of the upgrades—financed by Israeli taxpayers for the benefit of travelers—remain in place permanently for Moldovan use even after the Yom Tov.

Israeli officials involved in the talks described this as a “step too far.” At that point, the government chose to terminate negotiations with Chisinau and shifted its focus toward reaching an alternative arrangement with Bucharest.

The newly formed Israeli task force, which includes the directors-general of the Foreign Ministry, the Prime Minister’s Office, the Interior Ministry, and the Ministry for Jerusalem Affairs, is scheduled to meet with Romanian counterparts on Tuesday afternoon. That session is expected to determine whether a final solution for this year’s Uman pilgrimage can be secured.

{Matzav.com}

Students in New York returned to class this fall under a new “bell-to-bell” cellphone ban, designed to reduce distractions and encourage students to interact with one another in person. The first week of the policy has now passed, and reactions from parents, students, and teachers were largely favorable, according to CBS News.

“At first, I was really torn up about it. And then, now, I kind of like, like at lunch, we’ll all talk the whole period,” said Jack Kuenstler, a senior at Walt Whitman High School in South Huntington.

To help enforce the rule, Walt Whitman High School even added an extra bell, signaling the moment each day when all phones must be put away. Under the policy, students may only use school-approved emails or devices for academic purposes.

“It’s such a habit that I always had [my cellphone]. That’s why I feel like it’s weird. But I feel like it’s good, though, because I’m more focused in class,” said 11th-grader Isabella David.

Principal John Murphy admitted he was “apprehensive” about the change at first, since he had previously supported the more limited restriction of banning phones only during class time. But he now sees real benefits. Murphy said there has been an “uptick in positive energy” and noted that students are “really actively engaged.”

The new rules have even encouraged students to dust off old-fashioned activities. Board games have begun popping up in the lunchroom, with kids gathering around to play together. “The kids are actually being kids and interacting with their peers. I think that was what the heart of this initiative was,” Murphy explained.

Teacher Kathleen O’Neill agreed, saying that phones had been undermining learning for years. She described the problem as an “epidemic,” noting how hard it had become to teach without constant interruptions.

O’Neill added that the ban has created new opportunities for skill-building. Students, she said, are now forced to develop face-to-face communication skills, rather than relying only on texting.

During the opening week, just three students were caught sneaking in phones. Under the guidelines, confiscation is allowed, and repeat offenders risk suspension.

To support the ban, more landline phones were installed in the building so students can reach their parents if needed. Parents were also assured that they could call or email the school to get a message to their child immediately.

Reactions in New York City itself were somewhat more divided. On the Upper West Side, some students expressed frustration with how their phones were stored. Still, one parent pointed out that her daughter’s phone remained powered down when she picked her up, which she considered a success.

A student in Queens said she worried about not being able to contact her parents directly in an emergency.

But other parents saw the benefits firsthand. One mother referenced a hazmat incident that took place Thursday at a school in Westchester County. “I was actually pleased that they didn’t have phones because I think there would have probably been more confusion,” she explained. “Getting just one message from the school is probably better than a million different rumors.”

{Matzav.com}

At his weekly shiur Monday night, HaGaon Rav Yitzchok Zilberstein, rov of Ramat Elchanan and member of the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah, delivered an emotional message of chizuk in response to the morning’s deadly terror attack at the Ramot junction in Yerushalayim.

With tears in his eyes, Rav Zilberstein opened his remarks with deep anguish over the tragedy. “We are in a time of immense distress; the pain cries out to Heaven. Six Jews were murdered al kiddush Hashem in the attack, and four soldiers fell as kedoshim in Gaza. Hashem should avenge their blood,” he said.

The rov spoke movingly of the families left behind. “These were bnei Torah who went out in the morning, their wives waiting happily to greet them for Yom Tov. Some even gave their wives money to buy a new dress for Rosh Hashanah. Now that garment sits there weeping—what ‘simchas Yom Tov,’ what ‘chag’? The wife sees the dress and cries. Children who prepared divrei Torah to share with their father now sit shivah. Our joy has turned to mourning.”

Rav Zilberstein noted that the tragedy occurred just a day after a lunar eclipse, which Chazal in Maseches Sukkah describe as a troubling omen for Klal Yisroel. “These are clear signs of tzarah. A lunar eclipse is a call for us to return in teshuvah,” he said.

With palpable sorrow, the rov declared, “If we had known in advance, if we had prepared properly, perhaps this could have been prevented. If we had cried out to Hashem with more sincerity, learned more Torah, davened with greater kavana—surely we might have averted this. Because we did not, Hashem took from us the finest of talmidei chachamim. Every one of those who were killed were among the choicest of the Jewish people.”

Quoting his father-in-law, Rav Yosef Shalom Elyashiv zt”l, Rav Zilberstein emphasized that each Jew knows best where he needs to improve. “Every person is aware of the blemishes in his own heart. Each one must examine his deeds and correct his ways,” he said.

Still, Rav Zilberstein urged a collective response. “The mitzvah upon us now is to unite in strengthening Torah study, to appease HaKadosh Baruch Hu—because He too is weeping. Hashem says, ‘I have such righteous children, yet I must judge them with harshness.’ The Shechinah’s sorrow is immense, and for that as well we must cry.”

He concluded with a heartfelt tefillah: “May Hashem grant us all good lives, to learn Torah and teach it, to sanctify His great Name, to increase tefillah and kiddush Shem Shamayim, to strengthen shalom bayis and ahavas Yisroel. With Hashem’s help, we will merit His rachamim, His redemption, and wondrous salvations. May there no longer be sounds of destruction and grief within our borders.”

{Matzav.com Israel}

A troubling incident unfolded in Jackson, NJ, when Jackson police officers prevented a Hatzalah volunteer from immediately transporting a patient to the hospital, holding him up in a parking lot because of where he had parked while responding to the emergency.

According to witnesses and photo and video evidence obtained by Matzav.com, the Hatzalah member arrived at the scene with lights activated in order to rush a patient in need of urgent care. With no available spaces nearby, he pulled into two adjacent handicap spots to expedite the transfer. While the patient awaited transport, Jackson police officers confronted the Hatzalah member over the parking location.

Multiple Jackson police vehicles surrounded the scene, blocking the Hatzalah member’s vehicle as officers questioned him.

Several officers stood outside the car in discussion, even as the emergency vehicle remained positioned to transport the patient.

Community members who heard about this and were present expressed outrage that law enforcement officers chose to focus on parking rather than prioritizing the medical emergency at hand. “It is beyond comprehension that precious minutes were wasted arguing over parking spots when a patient’s health was on the line,” one bystander remarked.

Hatzalah is known throughout the region for its lifesaving volunteer services, with members responding within minutes to emergencies and working hand in hand with other first responders. In this case, however, what should have been a seamless emergency response turned into an unnecessary standoff.

The patient was eventually transported to the hospital, but the delay has sparked anger in the community, raising serious concerns about the treatment of Hatzalah volunteers in Jackson and the impact on lifesaving efforts.

{Matzav.com}