Matzav

Israel’s defense minister warned that any new leader installed by Iran’s ruling regime could be treated as a military target as Israel presses forward with its campaign against Tehran.

Israeli Defense Minister Yisroel Katz issued the warning in a message posted on X, saying Israel is prepared to strike Iranian leaders who continue policies aimed at threatening Israel and its allies.

“Every leader appointed by the Iranian terror regime to continue and lead the plan to destroy Israel, to threaten the United States and the free world and the countries of the region, and to suppress the Iranian people—will be an unequivocal target for elimination,” Katz wrote early Wednesday.

“It does not matter what his name is or the place where he hides,” he added.

Katz said he and Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu have instructed the Israel Defense Forces to be ready to carry out such actions as part of Israel’s broader military operation against Iran.

“The Prime Minister and I have instructed the IDF to prepare and act by all means to carry out the mission as an integral part of the objectives of Operation Lion’s Roar,” he wrote.

The defense minister also said Israel intends to continue working closely with the United States in an effort to weaken Iran’s ruling regime while encouraging conditions that could eventually bring about political change in the country.

“We will continue to act with full force, together with our American partners, to crush the regime’s capabilities and create the conditions for the Iranian people to overthrow it and replace it,” he wrote.

Israel and the United States launched a series of airstrikes against Iranian targets on Shabbos, focusing on military facilities and senior officials in the regime. The strikes marked one of the most direct clashes in the long-running confrontation between the two countries.

Iran responded by firing missiles and deploying drones against Israeli territory and American positions across the region, fueling concerns that the fighting could broaden into a larger Middle East war as both sides continue exchanging attacks.

Among the names mentioned as a possible successor to Iran’s leadership is Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of the late Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who had long been viewed by some observers as a potential heir to the position even before his father was killed in the joint U.S.-Israeli strikes on Shabbos.

Despite that speculation, Mojtaba Khamenei has never held elected office or an official role within Iran’s government.

{Matzav.com}

California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Tuesday sharply criticized Israel, referring to it as an “apartheid state” and raising the possibility that the United States may eventually need to reconsider its military backing of the country. His remarks came as President Donald Trump faces growing political pressure in Washington following U.S. military strikes against Iran.

Newsom made the comments during an event in Los Angeles while promoting his newly released memoir.

During a discussion with Jon Favreau, host of the “Pod Save America” podcast, Newsom was asked whether the United States should begin “rethinking our military support for Israel.”

Newsom responded: “It breaks my heart, because the current leadership in Israel is walking us down that path where I don’t think you have a choice about that consideration,” Politico reported.

The California governor, who traveled to Israel in the aftermath of Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023 attack, has found himself navigating a politically sensitive issue that deeply divided Democrats during the 2024 presidential race.

Newsom has previously emphasized the strong relationship between California and Israel, while also noting that he did not receive campaign donations from the American Israel Public Affairs Committee.

AIPAC typically focuses on federal elections rather than state-level contests. Through its affiliated federal political committees, the organization supports candidates seeking seats in Congress.

The group describes its mission as supporting “pro-Israel Democratic and Republican members of Congress and congressional candidates,” a focus that centers specifically on elections for the U.S. House and Senate.

At the Los Angeles event, Newsom directed criticism toward the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, suggesting that internal political considerations in Israel are influencing policy decisions.

“He’s got his own domestic issues. He’s trying to stay out of jail. He’s got an election coming up. He’s potentially on the ropes. He’s got folks, the hard line, that want to annex the West Bank,” Newsom said, adding that some “are talking about it appropriately as sort of an apartheid state.”

Newsom also took aim at the Trump administration’s military campaign in Iran, expressing skepticism about the administration’s stated objectives.

Iranian state media reported that Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed following joint U.S. and Israeli strikes, and other reports have described a widening American military campaign against Iran that has drawn legal and political scrutiny from Democrats while being praised by many Republicans.

“We’re talking about regime change?” Newsom said. “For two years, they haven’t even been able to solve the Hamas question in Israel.”

{Matzav.com}

Several roshei yeshiva and senior rabbonim within the Religious Zionist community sharply criticized a directive issued by Israel’s Education Ministry instructing boarding schools to send their students home for Shabbos following the outbreak of the war with Iran.

Speaking to Arutz Sheva, the rabbonim said the sweeping order was applied to institutions across the country without proper consideration of the circumstances at each yeshiva or campus. According to them, officials failed to examine whether individual schools had adequate protected areas where talmidim could remain safely, and the decision was issued without meaningful consultation with recognized poskim or other gedolei Torah.

Some mechanchim explained that while certain institutions may indeed have lacked sufficient shelter and therefore needed to send their students away, many others were properly equipped with secure areas and could have safely kept their talmidim on campus for Shabbos. They argued that issuing a blanket directive caused unnecessary chillul Shabbos in situations where there was no clear or immediate danger.

One prominent rav described the ministry’s action as “scandalous,” saying that schools suddenly found themselves placed in an impossible situation—forced to choose between obeying government orders or remaining faithful to their hashkafah and halachic standards. In some instances, he said, institutions that hesitated to carry out the directive faced pressure from authorities and were compelled to make their own independent decisions.

According to reports, in several locations buses arrived during Shabbos in order to take the students home. In other cases, parents traveled to pick up their children themselves. However, some yeshivos chose to delay the departures until after Shabbos, deciding it was preferable to wait before arranging transportation.

At least one evacuation, according to the reports, was carried out only after receiving explicit authorization from a local rav.

{Matzav.com}

Iranian intelligence officials quietly reached out to the CIA to explore possible terms for halting the U.S. and Israeli military campaign against their country shortly after the attacks began, according to a report, even as Tehran has publicly rejected negotiations with President Donald Trump.

According to Middle Eastern officials and representatives of a Western government who spoke anonymously to The New York Times, operatives tied to Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence contacted the CIA indirectly through the intelligence service of a third country just one day after the strikes began.

Despite the contact, officials in Washington are doubtful that either side is ready to seriously pursue negotiations in the immediate future.

Even so, the reported outreach has raised questions about whether Iran’s leadership would be capable of implementing any ceasefire arrangement while the country’s power structure is being shaken by ongoing Israeli strikes targeting top officials.

Neither the White House nor Iranian officials responded to requests from the Times for comment on the report, while the CIA declined to comment.

According to the report, Israeli officials have urged the United States not to engage with the Iranian overture, as Israel intends to continue its extended campaign aimed at crippling Iran’s military capabilities and potentially undermining the stability of its ruling regime.

President Trump signaled Tuesday that negotiations were unlikely, writing on social media that it was now “too late” to pursue talks with Tehran.

Later in the day, while speaking with reporters, Trump noted that many of the Iranian officials the United States once viewed as potential negotiating partners had been killed in the strikes.

“Most of the people we had in mind are dead,” Trump said. “Pretty soon, we are not going to know anybody.”

The outreach from Tehran highlights a major dilemma facing the Trump administration as it considers its longer-term strategy toward Iran: what kind of leadership might take shape in Tehran if the current government weakens or collapses.

At the beginning of the conflict, Trump suggested that widespread unrest among the Iranian public could produce an entirely new leadership. More recently, however, his comments have suggested a more practical approach in which new figures might rise from within the existing political structure.

Officials familiar with the administration’s thinking say any agreement to stop the bombing campaign would likely require Iran to abandon—or sharply scale back—its ballistic missile and nuclear programs, while also ending its backing of proxy groups such as Hezbollah.

In return, Trump has suggested that Iran’s remaining leaders might be permitted to retain certain levels of economic and political power.

Trump recently pointed to developments in Venezuela as a possible model for reshaping leadership in Iran.

“What we did in Venezuela, I think, is the perfect scenario,” Trump said in an interview Sunday with The New York Times. “Leaders can be picked.”

Some analysts, however, caution that such an outcome may be difficult to achieve.

Steven A. Cook, a Middle East expert at the Council on Foreign Relations, said Trump’s recent remarks could reflect differing views between Washington and Israel about the ultimate objectives of the military campaign.

Israel, he suggested, does not want the United States pursuing what Cook described to the Times as a “Venezuela-like solution to change in Iran,” which could involve figures tied to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, an organization that controls large segments of the country’s economy.

Meanwhile, Israeli strikes against Iran’s leadership have continued.

On Tuesday, Israeli forces targeted a compound where senior Iranian clerics had gathered to discuss selecting a successor to Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in an airstrike on Saturday.

Before the strikes began, the CIA reportedly compiled an intelligence assessment analyzing several possible leadership scenarios that could emerge in Iran following a joint U.S.-Israeli military campaign.

Officials who were briefed on the analysis said none of the potential outcomes carried a high level of certainty, given the many unknowns surrounding Iran’s complex political system.

{Matzav.com}

Israeli Defense Minister Yisroel Katz disclosed Wednesday that Israel’s military campaign against Iran had originally been scheduled for later in the year but was moved forward significantly because of shifting developments.

Katz made the remarks during a meeting with IDF intelligence soldiers and commanders, where he described how evolving conditions led to an accelerated timetable for the operation.

Addressing the intelligence personnel, Katz said: “Since the war was planned for the middle of the year, with the same goal, but because of the developments and circumstances, mainly within Iran, the US President’s position, and the possibility of creating a joint operation, the need arose to move everything up to February.”

He praised the intelligence units for their work leading up to the campaign, noting that their efforts helped make the earlier launch possible. “We ourselves hoped for this, but weren’t sure, and you advanced the intelligence aspect significantly. From day to day and hour to hour, another capability and more dimensions, and of course, operational preparedness. You have a giant part in building this ability, which also led to this combination and the result of the fantastic opening blow and onward,” the Minister added.

Katz stressed that the fighting is still ongoing but expressed confidence that the campaign will ultimately strengthen Israel’s security standing. “We are in the midst of a campaign, we are convinced that it will end well, and that the result will be the most significant boost to Israel’s security and position, the removal of threats and everything that we have been contending with for a long time,” Katz emphasized.

He said Israel’s edge in the confrontation stems largely from its intelligence capabilities and operational strength. “Our advantage over Iran in this campaign is mostly on two dimensions: intelligence and operational capabilities. If you asked what surprised the Iranians to the point that they weren’t ready despite the strategic warning, it’s because they didn’t know how to estimate the two dimensions: the width and depth of intelligence on every target, and the operational ability to utilize the intelligence to hit, attack, destroy, and ruin their abilities.”

The head of Military Intelligence, Maj. Gen. Shlomi Binder, also addressed the soldiers and described the role of intelligence units during the ongoing conflict. “We are operating from this very place to provide timely warnings in a multi-front campaign. We are constantly monitoring all arenas and ensuring we deliver high-quality intelligence that will give us the alert we need. We also provide intelligence for decision-making, and above all, we are now supplying intelligence for victory over the enemy, for victory over Iran across all dimensions, in every mission, and in all the capabilities we have determined to degrade. We are operating 24/7.”

{Matzav.com}

A senior Iranian Shiite cleric has issued a religious decree urging Muslims worldwide to wage jihad after Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, was killed in an Israeli airstrike.

Grand Ayatollah Naser Makarem Shirazi released the ruling shortly after Khamenei’s death, framing the event as a religious turning point and calling on followers of Islam to respond.

In the decree, Shirazi wrote that “the lowest of the enemies of humanity and the most evil infidels” succeeded in killing the “leader of the Islamic revolution,” Ali Khamenei, who “fulfilled his dream to be a martyr.”

Shirazi argued that throughout Islamic history, sacrificing one’s life in the service of Allah has often been the cost of preserving honor and independence. He also suggested that such sacrifices are part of the spiritual preparation for the arrival of the Mahadi, the Islamic messianic figure.

The cleric stressed that the Islamic Revolution is larger than any single leader and will continue regardless of Khamenei’s death. He said the country’s Assembly of Experts must move quickly to select a new supreme leader, while Iranian security forces should take firm action to ensure that foreign enemies cannot exploit the moment to stir unrest within the country.

The ruling directly blamed both the United States and Israel for Khamenei’s killing, with Shirazi referring to Israel as “the cursed Zionist entity,” and declared that Muslims everywhere were religiously obligated to avenge the slain Iranian leader.

{Matzav.com}

It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of Rabbi Refoel Avrohom Yitzchok Hakohen Portowicz zt”l, a devoted mechanech who influenced generations of talmidim over more than five decades in the field of Torah education, leaving behind a legacy of dedication to Torah, chinuch, and the growth of countless young lives.

For more than fifty years, Rabbi Portowicz stood at the forefront of Torah education, guiding and inspiring talmidim with patience, clarity, and a deep sense of responsibility for every student entrusted to his care. For many years he served as menahel of Yeshivas Ziv Hatorah in Brooklyn, where he played a central role in building and strengthening the yeshiva’s educational environment. Under his leadership, generations of boys were guided not only in their learning, but in their development as bnei Torah and ehrliche Yidden.

His influence extended far beyond the classroom. With genuine care and a deep understanding of the challenges young people face, he invested himself in the growth of each student, offering guidance, encouragement, and direction.

Rabbi Portowicz’s dedication to chinuch was not limited to the school year. During the summer months, he continued his work with young people in the camp setting, where his presence was felt by hundreds of campers who benefitted from his guidance and inspiration. He served as head counselor of Camp Rayim, where he helped create an atmosphere of growth, camaraderie, and meaningful learning.

He also served as director of Camp Kochavim, where he worked tirelessly to ensure that the camp environment was not only enjoyable, but also uplifting and spiritually enriching for the boys who spent their summers there.

In addition, Rabbi Portowicz served as teen learning mashpia of Camp Romimu, where he inspired older campers to deepen their commitment to Torah and avodas Hashem.

Throughout his decades of work in chinuch, Rabbi Portowicz became known for his warmth, sincerity, and dedication to the success of every talmid. Whether in the classroom, the beis medrash, or the camp grounds, he approached his role with a deep sense of mission. His talmidim remember a mechanech who believed in them, pushed them to grow, and remained a source of guidance long after they left his direct care.

A couple of years ago, Rabbi Portowicz moved to Lakewood, where he resided in the Albert area.

The levayah will take place today at 2:30 PM at the Congregation Sons of Israel Holocaust Memorial Chapel, located at 613 Ramsey Avenue in Lakewood, New Jersey. Kevurah will follow at the adjacent Mt. Sinai Cemetery.

Yehi zichro boruch.

{Matzav.com}

NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Gov. Kathy Hochul announced the first New York City neighborhoods that will offer free day care for 2-year-olds this fall under the new 2-Care initiative.

Mamdani joined Hochul and Schools Chancellor Kamar Samuels during a visit to the Sugar Hill Children’s Museum of Art & Storytelling in Harlem, one of the providers expected to participate in the 2-K program.

City officials said the initial rollout will provide about 2,000 2-K seats across four areas: Washington Heights and Inwood; Fordham and Kingsbridge; East Brooklyn, including Canarsie, Brownsville and Ocean Hill; and Ozone Park and the Rockaways.

“Launching 2-K in these four neighborhoods is just the beginning of our work to put money back in New Yorkers’ pockets, strengthen our entire economy and help more families build their lives here,” Mamdani said.

The city plans to gradually expand the program over the next several years, with full implementation expected by the 2029–2030 school year.

“This is the first time the State of New York has made such an unprecedented commitment to the families and children of the City of New York, and we’re not going backwards, we are committed,” Hochul said.

According to Hochul, the pilot phase has already secured funding. Officials say the program will grow to serve 12,000 children next year and will ultimately expand to cover all 2-year-olds in New York City within four years. In the meantime, participation will remain limited to selected neighborhoods.

“These determinations were made in part, on a reflection of which neighborhoods had those providers ready to go before the end of this year, and also as a reflection of economic need that will continue to be some of the ways in which we making determinations for the 12,000 seats next year,” Mamdani said. “But then by the end of year four, it’s every single 2-year-old in the City of New York.”

Staten Island will not be part of the first phase of the program. Mamdani did not offer a specific explanation for the borough’s exclusion but said it will be included in the expansion next year.

Officials said enrollment will open this summer, though the process for selecting participating children has not yet been finalized.

{Matzav.com}

Amid the ongoing security tensions, Israel’s Chief Rabbinate has reportedly held emergency discussions about the possibility of declaring a leap year and adding a second month of Adar in order to delay Purim celebrations until conditions improve.

According to a report published Tuesday, urgent consultations have taken place in recent days in the offices of Israel’s chief rabbis—Rishon LeTzion Rav Dovid Yosef and Chief Rabbi Rav Kalman Bar. The discussions reportedly included senior security officials and focused on the halachic possibility of declaring ibbur hashanah—intercalating the year by adding a second Adar—even though the current year is scheduled to be a regular year according to the established Jewish calendar.

The report states that the talks began after the outbreak of the war with Iran during Operation Shaagas HaAri. The central concern raised in the discussions was the prospect that large segments of Israel’s population might be forced to celebrate the days of Purim in bomb shelters and protected spaces due to the ongoing rocket threats.

According to those familiar with the discussions, the chief rabbis expressed deep concern that the security situation could undermine the spirit of the holiday. The fear is that the commandment of v’nahafoch hu—the transformation of danger into joy—could instead be overshadowed by anxiety and fear if people are required to celebrate the festival under emergency conditions.

For that reason, the rabbis reportedly examined whether it might be halachically possible to redefine the current month as Adar I and add an additional month of Adar II, in the hope that the security situation would stabilize by then and allow the holiday to be celebrated properly and with communal joy.

During the extended deliberations, historical precedents from the Beis Din HaGadol were reviewed. In past eras, the year was sometimes intercalated not only due to astronomical considerations but also because of pressing circumstances that could prevent the proper fulfillment of mitzvos.

One of the questions raised during the discussions was whether the current situation—where many Israelis must remain in shelters—could be considered a form of oneis, a halachic circumstance beyond people’s control that might justify extraordinary measures in the calendar.

Another concern mentioned was the potential timing of Pesach, particularly in light of statements by President Donald Trump suggesting that the war could last approximately four weeks, which could place additional holidays under the shadow of ongoing hostilities.

Sources close to the chief rabbis described the discussions as reflecting a difficult dilemma between preserving the fixed Jewish calendar and addressing the emotional and spiritual challenges facing tens of thousands of Israelis currently living under constant threat.

The Chief Rabbinate issued a brief response to the report, stating: “Following consultations between the chief rabbis, it was decided to wish everyone a happy Purim, including those who enjoy the Purim humor in the report.”

Ah frelichen Shushan Purim.

{Matzav.com}

Purim celebrations in the court of Seret Vizhnitz in Haifa were marked this year by the tense security situation in northern Israel, as repeated rocket alerts disrupted the traditional tish on the night of Purim.

During the gathering, three consecutive sirens sounded across the city, forcing chassidim and guests to seek shelter in protected areas. When the first alert was heard, the Seret Vizhnitzer Rebbe left the bais medrash and made his way to a nearby protected space.

While the Rebbe remained in the secure area, thousands of chassidim stayed inside the bais medrash and responded to the tense moments with powerful singing, chanting the posuk “V’chol karnei resha’im agadei’a, teromamnah karnei tzaddik.”

After three separate alerts and a message from Home Front Command announcing that the immediate danger had passed, the Rebbe returned to his table to continue the tish. However, only minutes later another early warning notification was issued. At that point, the Rebbe immediately began birkas hamazon and again made his way to the protected area to ensure the safety of those present.

Amid the disruption caused by the sirens, chassidim also experienced an unusual moment during the krias hamegillah. On the night of Purim, the Rebbe personally read the first two chapters of the megillah, after which the reading was continued by Rav Meshulam Rosenberg.

During the daytime megillah reading on Purim, however, an unexpected development occurred. After the first two chapters were completed, Rav Rosenberg attempted to continue the reading but suddenly lost his voice due to hoarseness and was unable to proceed.

In response to the situation, the Rebbe took over the reading himself and continued until the entire megillah had been completed.

Chassidim later expressed deep excitement over the rare moment, noting that it is uncommon for the Rebbe to read the entire megillah himself. Many said they felt privileged, describing the experience as an extraordinary occasion within the chassidus.

{Matzav.com}

French President Emmanuel Macron said Tuesday night that the U.S.-Israeli strike on Iran that killed the country’s supreme leader was carried out “outside of international law,” adding that France cannot support the operation.

In a nationally televised address, Macron placed responsibility for the broader conflict in the Middle East on Iran but made clear that Paris does not endorse the strikes themselves, a stance that could strain relations with Washington.

His comments come as tensions between the United States and some European governments have intensified over the war. Earlier Tuesday, President Donald Trump threatened to halt trade with Spain after Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez condemned the war as illegal and refused to allow American military aircraft to operate from Spanish bases during attacks on Iran.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who appeared alongside Trump during the press conference where the trade warning was issued, did not publicly defend Sánchez at the time. Macron’s remarks now appear to place France closer to the Spanish position regarding the legality of the conflict.

Although Trump has suggested the fighting could conclude within days or weeks, Macron warned that the conflict may continue for an extended period.

“Strikes will likely continue in the coming days to weaken Iran and destroy its counterattack capabilities. And in response, Iranian strikes in the whole region are expected to continue,” Macron said.

Macron also announced that France is strengthening its military posture in the region to safeguard its interests. The French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle is being deployed to the Mediterranean, accompanied by fighter jets and air-defense systems.

“We will continue this effort as long as it is needed,” he said.

The French president confirmed that Paris has also dispatched anti-missile defense systems to Cyprus, a move that had previously been reported.

“Cyprus, an EU member state, a country with which we have signed a strategic partnership … requires our support,” he said.

Macron stressed that France must uphold its credibility by honoring its security commitments to allies in the region, including Qatar, Kuwait, and the United Arab Emirates, where approximately 800 French troops are currently stationed.

On Sunday, Iranian drones struck a French naval facility in the United Arab Emirates, though no casualties were reported.

French fighter jets also conducted flights over the UAE during the weekend as part of what officials described as “sky security operations,” according to French Foreign Affairs Minister Jean-Noël Barrot.

{Matzav.com}

While Israel remains on high alert amid the ongoing security situation, the bais medrash of Yeshivas Ponevezh in Bnei Brak resonated late into the night with the powerful sound of Torah learning, as thousands of talmidim gathered for a continuous learning session on the night of Purim.

The long-standing tradition—established decades ago by the rosh yeshiva, Rav Gershon Edelstein zt”l—continued this year with remarkable intensity. The evening also featured an emotional visit from the current rosh yeshiva, Rav Berel Povarsky.

As the streets of Bnei Brak filled with the festive atmosphere of the Yom Tov, tempered by the tension of the ongoing security situation in Eretz Yisroel, thousands of bochurim at the flagship yeshiva of the olam hayeshivos chose to arm themselves with what they see as the Jewish people’s most powerful weapon: Torah.

On the night of Purim, when many celebrate in the streets, the yeshiva’s talmidim set aside the usual festivities and gathered in the main bais medrash for an inspiring and uninterrupted learning session that continued until 2:00 a.m.

The famous learning session held each year on the night of Purim in Ponevezh is far from routine. It was instituted decades ago at the direct instruction of Rav Gershon Edelstein, who would regularly emphasize the unique power of learning Torah precisely at times when others might step away from it. The talmidim of the yeshiva, viewing this as a living spiritual legacy, packed the bais medrash to capacity.

A particularly moving moment occurred when the rosh yeshiva, Rav Berel Povarsky, entered the bais medrash to witness firsthand the extraordinary sight of thousands of young men deeply immersed in learning. The rosh yeshiva expressed great satisfaction, and dozens of talmidim approached him to discuss the sugyos they were studying, as he encouraged them to continue strengthening the merit of Klal Yisroel through their learning.

At the conclusion of the learning session at 2:00 a.m., a special tefillah was held for the salvation of the Jewish people and the nullification of harsh decrees.

Following the tefillah, thousands of bochurim broke out in powerful singing that echoed throughout the area. Alongside the traditional Purim melodies, songs of geulah and heartfelt supplication filled the hall, as the talmidim cried out and prayed for deliverance in the shadow of the ongoing war.

ליל פורים בישיבת פוניבז’ (צילום: שוקי לרר)

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{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. 

ShasYiden.com

Israeli defense officials say there has been a significant decline in the number of missiles being launched from Iran, attributing the drop to extensive damage inflicted on missile launchers as well as reports that some Iranian soldiers have abandoned their positions out of fear they would be targeted.

Four days into the war, security officials in Israel say the number of launches has steadily decreased, a trend they link to sustained Israeli and American strikes on Iran’s missile infrastructure.

According to a report aired overnight on Kan News, roughly 90 missiles were launched on the first day of the conflict. The number dropped to about 65 on the second day, around 25 on the third day, and approximately 20 launches were recorded on Tuesday.

A security official quoted in the report said the decline is expected to continue. “This trend will intensify; we and the Americans are damaging Iran’s ability to carry out large-scale attacks.”

At the same time, the IDF announced that the Israeli Air Force has struck dozens of missile launch sites and rendered approximately 300 missile launchers in Iran inoperable.

Since the beginning of Operation Shaagas HaAri, the Air Force has dropped roughly 4,000 munitions across targets throughout Iran.

According to the IDF Spokesperson’s Office, hundreds of fighter jets and aircraft have carried out simultaneous strikes over the past 24 hours against hundreds of targets across Iran and Lebanon.

As part of the ongoing offensive effort, the Israeli Air Force continues to conduct successive waves of attacks targeting the Iranian regime’s ballistic missile systems and air-defense networks.

Since the launch of Operation Shaagas HaAri, the Air Force has neutralized about 300 missile launchers, the result of more than 1,600 strike sorties and an around-the-clock effort to hunt down launchers and missile stockpiles in order to reduce the volume of fire directed at Israel’s home front.

{Matzav.com}

Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu attended a public megillah reading Tuesday night, the night of Shushan Purim, at Yeshivas Mercaz HaRav in Yerushalayim, prompting criticism from some observers who questioned whether his participation complied with Home Front Command restrictions on public gatherings.

The prime minister joined a large crowd at the yeshiva for krias hamegillah, though the event drew scrutiny because current emergency guidelines issued by Israel’s Home Front Command prohibit large public gatherings.

After photos and video from the event circulated, the Prime Minister’s Office responded to media inquiries, stating that Netanyahu “acted in accordance with the guidelines.”

As previously reported, Home Front Command announced that the current security restrictions would remain in place until Shabbos, March 7, 2026, at 8:00 p.m. Under the updated policy, public gatherings are not permitted, most workplaces are closed except for essential services, and educational activities are suspended.

The issue gained additional attention after Kan 11 political correspondent Michael Shemesh commented publicly on the situation following Netanyahu’s appearance at the reading.

“Incidentally, after Netanyahu’s appearance at the public megillah reading, it would be appropriate for Home Front Command to at least update the guidelines and allow many Jews who wish to hear the megillah properly to do so,” Shemesh wrote. “In my opinion the restrictions at this stage are completely excessive.”

{Matzav.com}

A diplomatic conversation infused with faith and historical reflection took place Tuesday between Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee Chairman Boaz Bismuth and U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee, as the two discussed the joint Israeli-American operation in Iran, Operation Shaagas HaAri, during the days of Purim.

“The attack in Iran is like reliving the days of Mordechai and Esther. We are seeing the miracle before our eyes,” Huckabee said, highlighting the symbolism of the timing during the days of Purim.

Bismuth said during the conversation that Israel currently finds itself “in the midst of a process in which a new Middle East is being built, one that will influence the entire global order,” adding that the moment is historic and will reshape reality for generations.

He emphasized that Israel and the United States are in the middle of a historic initiative being led by President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu—an effort that is reshaping the Middle East and influencing the broader world order.

According to Bismuth, “as people of faith, it can be said that the finger of God touched Trump and Netanyahu,” adding that the two leaders are acting with a sense of mission at a defining moment in history.

He continued, expressing the sense of purpose surrounding the events: “One can simply say that there is the finger of God here. This is a tremendous event. Truly tremendous.”

Bismuth also expressed gratitude to Ambassador Huckabee, the American people, and the U.S. administration for their friendship and steadfast support of Israel. He additionally conveyed condolences to the families of American soldiers who were killed during the operation, noting that Israel deeply values both their sacrifice and the partnership between the two nations.

{Matzav.com}

A moving moment unfolded on the night of Purim at the central Marina Roshcha shul in Moscow, as a rare and centuries-old Megillas Esther was presented to the Chief Rabbi of Russia in an emotional ceremony.

The gift was presented by Alexander Grodetsky, a 95-year-old Jewish man, who arrived at the shul and handed the miniature megillah to Russia’s Chief Rabbi, Rav Berel Lazar. The ancient megillah had been preserved within his family for generations.

Standing firmly and speaking with deep emotion, Grodetsky shared the remarkable story behind the treasured heirloom. He explained that the megillah had been given to him 75 years earlier by his great-grandfather. That great-grandfather, born in the year תר”ל, had inherited it from his own father, indicating that the scroll was written more than two centuries ago. “When my grandfather gave me the megillah, he asked me to guard it for the rest of my life,” Grodetsky told the Chief Rabbi, adding resolutely, “I decided that the best way to protect it now is to entrust it to our rabbi.”

After the central public reading of the megillah before a large crowd, hundreds of young Jewish attendees gathered to hear remarks from the Chief Rabbi, who displayed the rare megillah to those present. Rav Lazar connected Grodetsky’s vitality and longevity with his dedication to Jewish tradition. “If you all want to be happy and at peace with long life like Alexander Grodetsky, you should keep Megillos Esther in your homes and follow the path of preserving the heritage of Israel. Our ancestors drew optimism from this megillah, and from it we understand that the Jewish people cannot be defeated.”

The rabbi went on to emphasize the contemporary message of Purim, stressing that every detail of life is guided by hashgachah pratis. “The belief that HaKadosh Baruch Hu watches over us gives us strength in every situation. Even when reality appears difficult, we must remain certain that there is a Creator who directs the world. There is no place for worry when we know that there is a Leader of the palace, and every doubt—which has the gematria of Amalek—has no place in the Jewish spirit.”

In his concluding remarks, Rav Lazar called upon the community to strengthen Jewish identity, particularly in light of the events unfolding in Eretz HaKodesh. He urged Jews to express pride in their heritage through traditional Jewish dress, the use of Jewish names, and the performance of practical mitzvos, foremost among them placing a mezuzah on the entrance to the home. Such acts, he said, will help ensure the security and ultimate victory of the Jewish people in Eretz HaKodesh and throughout the world.

{Matzav.com}

Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina called on President Donald Trump Tuesday to support Israel by launching joint military strikes against the Hezbollah terrorist group in Lebanon.

His remarks came as the Israel Defense Forces targeted Hezbollah positions and deployed troops across the border into southern Lebanon. The operations followed Hezbollah’s violations of the ceasefire agreement, including launching rockets toward Israel and aligning with Iran’s attacks during the ongoing U.S.-Israeli war.

Speaking to reporters and quoted by CBS, Graham said, “I’m calling on President Trump today: Join Israel to attack Hezbollah. Avenge the Marines,” referring to a 1993 suicide bombing of a US barracks in Lebanon that killed hundreds of American service members, an attack the United States has blamed on Hezbollah.

Lindsey Graham: "I'm calling on President Trump today — join Israel to attack Hezbollah … fly with Israel" pic.twitter.com/ymiUtdOGB9

— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) March 3, 2026

Graham, who is a close political ally of Trump and has consistently advocated a hardline approach toward Iran, also defended the administration’s military operations targeting the Iranian regime. He said Iran’s leadership appears to be nearing collapse.

He argued the Iranian government is in its “death throes” and said that “the demise of this regime is at hand.”

Addressing Democratic critics who say Iran did not pose an immediate threat to the United States, Graham rejected that view.

“The idea that you’re going to let a homicidal maniac get to the imminent stage, to me, is misplaced.”

Graham has repeatedly pushed for a more aggressive stance toward Iran and previously opposed diplomatic agreements between Washington and Tehran. He has argued that lasting peace in the Middle East will only come with the fall of the current Iranian regime.

{Matzav.com}

Federal prosecutors unsealed a complaint on March 2 charging Dan Sohail, 36, with intentionally damaging religious property at Chabad-Lubavitch world headquarters in the Crown Heights neighborhood of Brooklyn, N.Y., according to the U.S. Department of Justice.

Sohail, of Carteret, N.J., was taken into custody earlier in the day and arraigned before U.S. Magistrate Judge Clay Kaminsky in Brooklyn federal court.

Prosecutors allege that on Jan. 28, Sohail drove to a side entrance of the Chabad-Lubavitch World Headquarters complex, exited his vehicle and removed barriers set up to protect the site. After motioning for passersby to move away, he allegedly returned to his car and rammed the entrance. He then reversed and drove into the doorway four more times, knocking the door off its hinges. No injuries were reported.

“Americans should be free to practice their faith without fearing defacement of their sacred places,” Harmeet Dhillon, U.S. assistant attorney general for civil rights, stated. “The Department of Justice will not tolerate attacks on houses of worship, and will vigorously prosecute those who carry them out.”

James Barnacle, assistant director in charge of the FBI New York Field Office, stated that “Sohail allegedly jeopardized dozens of lives and damaged one of our city’s sacred synagogues.”

“The FBI and the NYPD will continue to protect our community’s religious institutions to ensure a safe place for all worshippers,” he added.

NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch called Chabad Headquarters in Brooklyn “a sacred place for many Jews in New York City and around the world.”

“Every New Yorker deserves to live in a safe city where they can practice their faith freely and without fear,” she said. JNS

{Matzav.com}

A previously undisclosed phone conversation between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Donald Trump played a decisive role in the decision to launch the strike on Iran that triggered the current conflict, according to a report published Tuesday by Axios.

The report states that Netanyahu contacted Trump on February 23 to share intelligence indicating that Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, along with several of his closest advisers, would be gathering at a single location in Tehran on the morning of Saturday, February 28.

Three individuals familiar with the conversation told Axios that Netanyahu informed Trump that the meeting created a rare opportunity in which the entire group could potentially be eliminated in a single airstrike.

The call took place from the White House Situation Room and had not been previously disclosed. According to the report, it marked a turning point in the sequence of events that ultimately led to the outbreak of the current war with Iran.

The intelligence suggesting that Khamenei and his senior leadership team would be together in one place was viewed as a unique opportunity that both Trump and Netanyahu were reluctant to pass up.

Trump had already been weighing the possibility of a military strike against Iran before receiving this intelligence, but had not yet determined when such an operation might take place. The information Netanyahu shared during the call helped shape the timing of the decision.

Officials from both the United States and Israel told Axios that the February 23 conversation was the result of months of close coordination between the two leaders. In the two months leading up to the attack, Trump and Netanyahu met in person twice and held 15 phone conversations.

At one point the two countries considered launching the operation a week earlier, but the strike was postponed due to intelligence considerations and operational issues, including unfavorable weather conditions.

At Trump’s request, the CIA carried out an initial assessment that verified the intelligence gathered by Israeli military intelligence regarding Khamenei’s planned meeting.

Once that review began confirming the information, planning for the operation moved forward quickly. Trump informed Netanyahu that he was inclined to proceed but said he first intended to deliver his State of the Union address the following evening.

U.S. officials said Trump made a “deliberate decision” to avoid focusing heavily on Iran during the speech so as not to tip off Khamenei or cause him to alter his plans before the strike could be carried out.

By Thursday, intelligence officials had confirmed that the Iranian leadership would indeed be assembling at the location.

“Confirmed that these people were all going to be together, and we needed to take advantage of it,” a source told Axios.

That same day, Trump’s envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff contacted the administration from Geneva after hours of negotiations with Iranian representatives, delivering what they described as a bleak assessment of the diplomatic talks.

Following those developments, Trump determined that the intelligence was credible and that diplomacy had failed. On Friday at 3:38 p.m. EST, he authorized the operation.

Roughly eleven hours later, bombs struck Tehran, Khamenei was killed, and the military confrontation began.

An Israeli official told Axios that Trump had originally wanted to carry out the strike earlier, in early January, but that Netanyahu requested a delay.

The official said the final schedule was “fully coordinated,” with both sides agreeing the operation would be conducted together.

According to the report, the initial strategy envisioned a strike in late March or early April in order to give the administration more time to build public support.

However, a U.S. official told Axios that Netanyahu urged a faster timetable, warning that Iranian opposition figures hiding in safe houses could be vulnerable to the regime. Moving up the timeline left the administration with limited time to present a public case for military action.

Israeli Ambassador to Washington Yechiel Leiter declined to address details of the February 23 call but rejected suggestions that Netanyahu had strongly pushed to speed up the operation.

“Over the past year, we have worked more closely than ever with our partners in the United States regarding Iran, and we see eye to eye on the danger Iran poses to Israel, to the United States, and to the free world,” Leiter told Axios.

“Anyone who knows President Trump understands that he is a strong leader who cannot be steered,” the ambassador added.

{Matzav.com}