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French President Emmanuel Macron, arrives at the White House.

Australia has denied entry to Israeli parliamentarian Simcha Rothman (Religious Zionism) ahead of a planned solidarity visit with the country’s Jewish community, which faces escalating antisemitic attacks, the Australian Jewish Association announced on Monday.

Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke justified the move by claiming Rothman was coming “to spread a message of hate and division,” Australia’s ABC News reported. However, the AJA confirmed on Monday that one of the written reasons provided by the government for the ban was that Rothman’s statements calling for “the elimination of Hamas … have been received by members of the Australian community as inflammatory and concerning.”

Australia has listed Hamas in its entirety as a terrorist organization for financial sanctions since 2001.

In addition to the visa cancellation, Rothman received a three-year ban from traveling to Australia. It is reportedly the first major action taken by Canberra since last week’s announcement that Australia intends to recognize a Palestinian state at next month’s United Nations meeting.

“This decision by the Australian government is essentially caving to terror. There is no other way to see it. The messages they accused me of spreading are simply that Hamas is bad and Israel is good—positions that enjoy broad consensus in Israel and in any freedom-loving country,” Rothman told JNS on Monday.

Rothman argued that views such as condemning Hamas, urging the world to side with Israel, holding Hamas responsible for Palestinian suffering and warning that a Palestinian state threatens Israel’s survival are not just his personal positions but reflect a resolution supported by two-thirds of the Knesset. He maintained that Australia’s decision was, therefore, directed not at him individually but at the State of Israel.

“Australia is afraid of Islamic terrorists threatening its government. That is the real reason for banning my entry. And I am not alone—eventually, Australia will learn that appeasing terror never works. It always leads to more terror. Israel learned this at a heavy price on Oct. 7,” said Rothman, referring to the Hamas-led invasion of southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023.

Rothman said he was ready to appeal the decision if asked, but would follow the lead of Australia’s Jewish community on the matter.

Israeli Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism Minister Amichai Chikli harshly criticized the decision in an X post, calling it “an extension of the Albanese government’s disgraceful choice to honor the rapists and murderers of Hamas.” The ban “reflects a broken moral compass, discrimination and a grave assault on free speech,” he added.

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, the leader of the Religious Zionism Party, in a message addressed to Rothman on X wrote: “In the face of all the antisemites in the world, the people of Israel stand behind you and support you.” He urged Rothman to continue “proudly voicing Israel’s stance,” adding: “We won’t stop until complete victory.”

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar announced retaliatory measures, including revoking the visas of Australian representatives to the Palestinian Authority, and instructing Israel’s embassy in Canberra to closely scrutinize any future visa requests.

“While antisemitism is raging in Australia, including manifestations of violence against Jews and Jewish institutions, the Australian government is choosing to fuel it by false accusations, as if the visit of Israeli figures will disrupt public order and harm Australia’s Muslim population. It is shameful and unacceptable!” Sa’ar wrote on X.

AJA CEO Robert Gregory called the last-minute visa cancellation “a viciously antisemitic move from a government that is obsessed with targeting the Jewish community and Israel.”

In a statement posted to X, Gregory said that Rothman, chair of the Knesset’s Constitution, Law and Justice Committee, had been scheduled to meet with victims of antisemitism, visit Jewish institutions and address Jewish schools and synagogues.

“I have just returned from Israel and can attest that there is growing alarm there about the situation for Jews in Australia under the Albanese government,” Gregory wrote, emphasizing that Rothman’s trip was in no way connected to current events in the Middle East.

The cancellation was “spiteful and intended to cause maximum harm to the Australian Jewish community,” Gregory asserted, saying that the paperwork was filled out correctly and on time and the visa was approved, only to then be canceled on the day that Rothman was to have headed to the airport.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been highly critical of the anti-Israel policies put forth by the left-wing Labor government led by Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, linking them to recent antisemitic incidents.

The Australian government in June canceled the visa of Hillel Fuld, a dual U.S.-Israeli citizen and prominent pro-Israel social media personality. In November last year, Canberra declined to grant an entry visa to former Israeli justice minister Ayelet Shaked, who had planned to travel there to attend a pro-Israel event.

Australia joined four other countries in June imposing sanctions on Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir for allegedly “inciting violence” against Palestinians in Judea and Samaria.

“The message from the Albanese government to Jews is clear and we urge all Jews to seriously consider whether it is safe for them to visit Australia under this government,” Gregory wrote.

“AJA is hearing from increasing numbers of Australian Jews who feel unwelcome under this government and are planning to leave. It seems the government is happy to replace them by importing thousands of Gazans,” he continued.

While Rothman was banned for three years, the Australian government, in the months leading up to January 2025, granted nearly 1,000 three-year humanitarian visas—mostly to Palestinian nationals (though some were also offered to Israelis)—fleeing the Israel-Hamas conflict. Many recipients were already in Australia on visitor visas, thereby gaining the right to work, study and access social benefits.

“Israel is fully justified in taking strong measures in response to this and we have briefed contacts in the Trump Administration, who are also concerned about events in Australia,” Gregory concluded. JNS

{Matzav.com}

it is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the tragic passing of Mrs. Miriam Gewirtzman a”h.

Mrs. Gewirtzman, née Stern, was the devoted wife of Reb Mayer Gewirtzman of Flatbush.

Together with Reb Mayer, she built a home filled with Torah, chesed, and ahas Hashem.

Her family, friends, and all who knew her will remember her as one of the sweetest and most selfless people, whose sincerity and compassion left a lasting impression on everyone she encountered. She was a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and friend, who was known for her warmth, kindness, and genuine care for all those around her.

She is survived by her husband, Reb Mayer, along with their wonderful family of children and grandchildren.

The levayah will take place at Shomrei Hadas Chapels in Boro Park.

Yehi zichrah boruch. 

{Matzav.com}

UK Prime Minister Starmer has arrived at the White House, joining NATO’s Rutte and EU’s von der Leyen, who have also arrived moments before.

Prime Minister Netanyahu: Like you, I hear the reports in the media, and from them you can gather one thing – Hamas is under atomic pressure.

YWN regrets to inform you of the Petira of Mrs. Miriam Gewirtzman, long-time Flatbush resident. She was the wife of R’ Mayer and mother of R’ Leizer, R’ Shlomie, R’ Yerachmiel, R’ Shayma, R’ Yehuda, R’ Boruch Ber, Ephraim and Mrs. Malka Leah Manis. The Levaya will take place today, Monday, August 18, at 12:30 PM at Shomrei Hadas Chapels. Kevura will be at Beth David Cemetery, Elmont, NY, approximately 3:00 PM.

President Trump announced Monday that he intends to issue an executive order aimed at what he described as restoring “HONESTY” to the 2026 midterm elections by eliminating both mail-in ballots and electronic vote-counting machines.

“I am going to lead a movement to get rid of MAIL-IN BALLOTS, and also, while we’re at it, Highly ‘Inaccurate,’ Very Expensive, and Seriously Controversial VOTING MACHINES,” Trump said in a post on Truth Social.

Although Trump denounced voting machines as “highly inaccurate,” he presented no proof to support that charge. In reality, most Americans submit paper ballots that are later scanned by machines, with several layers of verification to safeguard results.

“WE WILL BEGIN THIS EFFORT, WHICH WILL BE STRONGLY OPPOSED BY THE DEMOCRATS BECAUSE THEY CHEAT AT LEVELS NEVER SEEN BEFORE, by signing an EXECUTIVE ORDER to help bring HONESTY to the 2026 Midterm Elections,” the president wrote.

Trump gave no timeline for when the order might be signed, nor did he explain what specific measures it would contain.

In the United States, election oversight primarily falls to individual states and municipalities, though federal law sets certain standards.

Statutes such as the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 shape how elections are conducted nationwide. Federal agencies also play roles: the FEC supervises federal campaign activity, the Election Assistance Commission provides resources to state officials, and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency defends election systems from interference.

By contrast, in March 2021, President Joe Biden used his own executive order to press federal agencies to increase voter registration efforts, a decision that drew harsh criticism from Republicans.

Earlier this year, Trump attempted to restrict states from counting ballots that were mailed by Election Day but arrived afterward. That executive order was struck down by a judge in June, who ruled the president lacked the authority to impose such limits.

Still, Trump maintains that he has the power to dictate how votes are tallied across the nation.

“Remember, the States are merely an ‘agent’ for the Federal Government in counting and tabulating the votes. They must do what the Federal Government, as represented by the President of the United States, tells them, FOR THE GOOD OF OUR COUNTRY, to do,” he asserted.

Observers noted that Trump’s renewed push for election changes seemed to stem from his recent meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska.

“You know, Vladimir Putin said something, one of the most interesting things,” Trump told Fox News host Sean Hannity after the summit.

“He said, ‘Your election [in 2020] was rigged because you have mail-in voting.’ He said, ‘Mail-in voting, every election.’ He said, ‘No country has mail-in voting. It’s impossible to have mail-in voting and have honest elections.’”

According to Trump, Putin also suggested that the war in Ukraine might have been avoided had Trump secured reelection in 2020.

“ELECTIONS CAN NEVER BE HONEST WITH MAIL IN BALLOTS/VOTING, and everybody, IN PARTICULAR THE DEMOCRATS, KNOWS THIS,” Trump declared. “I, AND THE REPUBLICAN PARTY, WILL FIGHT LIKE HELL TO BRING HONESTY AND INTEGRITY BACK TO OUR ELECTIONS.”

{Matzav.com}

The White House shared a photo of the room where President Trump and President Zelenskyy are set to hold peace talks, with the meeting scheduled to begin at 1 PM.

Federal incentives for home energy improvements are running out at the end of the year, so it’s decision time for anyone who has been thinking about a heat pump. The right decision can depend on where you live, how much you have to spend and how deeply you want to cut emissions. But the payoff can be significant. Bill Gerosa was spending about $6,700 annually to heat and cool his house about 30 miles (48 kilometers) north of New York City. He was eager to bring down his costs, and shelled out $13,000 for a ground-source heat pump that was made more affordable by significant state and utility incentives. “I had to prove to myself and to my wife that I wasn’t doing something monumentally stupid,” he said. Gerosa’s monthly energy use plunged by two-thirds. He installed solar panels at the same time to offset the rest, and his heating and cooling bills fell to virtually nothing. Last month — about seven years after installing the system — he’s recovered what it cost to install the system. Heat pumps 101 The simplest way to understand a heat pump is that it uses electricity to gather heat from one place and move it to another. Heat exchangers, compressors and refrigerants are part of the system. That’s how it can work not just for heating but for cooling — in summer, a heat pump can pull warm air from a house and push it outside. That’s also the secret to how heat pumps can be more efficient than conventional heating technologies, which have to generate heat before they can distribute it. It takes a lot less energy to simply transfer heat, according to the International Energy Agency. A decade ago, heat pumps could struggle when it got really hot or really cold outside. But advances in technology mean today’s heat pumps can keep homes cool even in triple-digit temperatures and warm even when it’s well below zero. There are two main types of heat pumps: air source and ground source. Air-source heat pumps work with the air around the heat pump. Ground-source heat pumps — also known as geothermal — use pipes that circulate liquid underground to either gather or discharge heat. Air-source pumps cost less to install and require less space since there’s no need to run underground pipes. But operating costs are higher than ground-source pumps. They’re most effective in more moderate climates. Ground-source pumps cost more up front and installing hundreds of feet of underground piping can be disruptive to lawns and gardens. But they’re more efficient and cost-effective in the long run because underground temperatures are far more constant than air temperatures. “They’re seeing the ground temperature of about 50 degrees, not the outside air temp. So that’s where they really dominate on efficiency, payback, energy bills, peak demand on the grid, all of those things,” said Ted Tiffany, senior technical lead for the Building Decarbonization Coalition, a nonprofit that advocates for green energy use in buildings instead of fossil fuels. Panama Bartholomy, the coalition’s executive director, noted that a heat pump costs more than a gas furnace or central air conditioner, but can do the work of both. Drilling for the underground piping that a ground-source pump requires can add around $10,000 to the project. The U.S. Department of Energy estimates that the added installation […]

Seven months after the devastating terror attack near the Samarian village of Al-Funduq, in which three Israelis were murdered, including police investigator Elad Winkelstein, his widow Tal has given birth to a son. The child, born on Tu B’Av, has been named Gilad Menachem in memory of his father.

The shooting attack, which occurred about half a year ago, claimed the lives of Rachel Cohen, Aliza Raiz, and Elad Winkelstein, who was gunned down in front of his 10-year-old son sitting beside him in the car. At the time of the tragedy, Tal was in the early stages of pregnancy. Now, she has welcomed the baby boy into the world, offering her family a ray of hope and comfort in the shadow of immense loss.

Tal shared that the day of the attack coincided with her entering the tenth week of pregnancy. “I was sure the pregnancy wouldn’t survive because of the difficulty of going through such a long period alone,” she recalled. “But with time, I understood that this was a mission placed before me. I know it will be hard, and there will be challenges and complications, but this child will bring light and joy into our home. That’s what children give us.”

For the grieving family, the birth has become a profound symbol of consolation and continuity. “I called him Gilad Menachem. He was born on Tu B’Av, in the month of Menachem Av. I gave him that name because ‘Gilad’ recalls the name Elad, and also serves as a memorial. And ‘Menachem’ because there is comfort in this month,” Tal explained.

Elad left behind two other sons: Omer, a toddler, and Neveh, age 10, from a previous marriage. It was Neveh who tragically witnessed his father’s murder during the attack.

Tal described the difficulties of raising children without a father’s presence. “There’s a fear in raising children alone — on the practical level, you need to depend on others and ask for help. And of course, emotionally, for a child growing up without a father — and a father like Elad — that absence is strongly felt. He was a unique father. Elad knew the most important thing was the home, and even when he was offered promotions in the police, he always thought about family life and raising the children. When he was with them, he wasn’t just supervising; he was building memories with them.”

Despite the grief and hardship, Tal emphasized her inner strength and faith. “I would say my personal story connects to this entire period, and that we were chosen, because we are part of something bigger. I hope and believe this brings us closer to the days of complete redemption. I hope I can raise my children in the healthiest way possible.”

{Matzav.com Israel}

President Donald Trump released a sharp statement about the hostages still in Gaza, stressing that their freedom depends on defeating Hamas.

“We will only see the return of the remaining hostages when Hamas is confronted and destroyed!!!” President Trump declared on social media. “The sooner this takes place, the better the chances of success will be.”

He reminded his audience that he has dealt with this issue before, both in America and Israel.

“Remember, I was the one who negotiated and got hundreds of hostages freed and released into Israel (and America!),” he said.

Trump also pointed to his broader foreign policy track record.

“I was the one who ended 6 wars, in just 6 months. I was the one who obliterated Iran’s Nuclear facilities,” he wrote.

He closed his remarks with a blunt message.

“Play to win, or don’t play at all!”

Trump’s comments came shortly after reports that Hamas had been presented with a new truce arrangement for Gaza and was expected to issue a reply soon.

According to Al-Hadath, the plan includes the return of ten Israeli hostages alive, along with 18 bodies, the transfer of humanitarian supplies through international groups such as the Red Crescent and the United Nations, and a pause in fighting for 60 days. Negotiations to secure an end to the war would begin at the start of that pause.

Asharq News added that sources close to Hamas suggested the group may accept the terms, though Arab news outlets did not mention whether the deal involved any Israeli troop pullback.

{Matzav.com}

US Ambassador to NATO: “President Trump is a peacemaker and he is mediating a brutal, meat-grinder war to a truce… both sides are going to have to give… there is nobody that is better positioned, and can bring the parties to the table, than Donald Trump.”

Television’s MSNBC news network is changing its name to My Source News Opinion World, or MS NOW for short, as part of its corporate divorce from NBC. The network, which appeals to liberal audiences with a stable of personalities including Rachel Maddow, Ari Melber and Nicole Wallace, has been building its own separate news division from NBC News. It will also remove NBC’s peacock symbol from its logo as part of the change, which will take effect later this year. The name change was ordered by NBC Universal, which last November spun off cable networks USA, CNBC, MSNBC, E! Entertainment, Oxygen and the Golf Channel into its own company, called Versant. None of the other networks are changing their name. MSNBC got its name upon its formation in 1996, as a partnership then between Microsoft and NBC. Name changes always carry an inherent risk, and MSNBC President Rebecca Kutler said that for employees, it is hard to imagine the network under a different name. “This was not a decision that was made quickly or without significant debate,” she said in a memo to staff. “During this time of transition, NBC Universal decided that our brand requires a new, separate identity,” she said. “This decision now allows us to set our own course and assert our indepedence as we continue to build our own modern newsgathering organization.” Still, it’s noteworthy that the business channel CNBC is leaving “NBC” in its name. MSNBC argues that CNBC has always maintained a greater separation and, with its business focus, is less likely to cover many of the same topics. Still, the affiliation between a news division that tries to play it safe and one that doesn’t hide its liberal bent has long caused tension. President Donald Trump refers to the cable network as “MSDNC,” for Democratic National Committee. Even before the corporate change, NBC News has been reducing the use of its personalities on MSNBC. Some NBC News personalities, like Jacob Soboroff, Vaughn Hillyard, Brandy Zadrozny and Antonia Hylton, have joined MSNBC. The network has also hired Carol Leoning, Catherine Rampell and Jackie Alemany from the Washington Post, and Eugene Daniels from Politico. Maddow, in a recent episode of Pivot, noted that MSNBC will no longer have to compete with NBC News programs for reporting product from out in the field — meaning it will no longer get the “leftovers.” “In this case, we can apply our own instincts, our own queries, our own priorities, to getting stuff that we need from reporters and correspondents,” Maddow said. “And so it’s gonna be better.” (AP)

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has had to move out of her private residence for the time being because of heightened threats against her and targeted “vicious doxxing,” according to a statement from her department provided to Fox News Digital.

Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin explained, “Following the media’s publishing of the location of Secretary Noem’s Washington D.C. apartment, she has faced vicious doxxing on the dark web and a surge in death threats, including from the terrorist organizations, cartels, and criminal gangs that DHS targets. Due to threats and security concerns, she has been forced to temporarily stay in secure military housing. Secretary Noem continues to pay rent for her Navy Yard residence.

“It’s a shame that the media chooses sensationalism over the safety of people enforcing America’s laws to keep Americans safe,” McLaughlin added.

Just last week, Noem pointed out that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers are being attacked at record levels. She said that ICE agents “are now facing a 1000% increase in assaults against them as they risk their lives to arrest the worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens.”

In a post shared on X, she also declared, “We will not and have not let this violence stop us or slow us down. Everyday our law enforcement continues to enforce the law and arrest the most depraved criminals including pedophiles, terrorists, murderers, gang members, and … predators.”

Earlier reporting in July revealed that ICE saw an 830% rise in physical assaults between January 21, 2025, and July 14, 2025, when compared with the same period in the previous year. That surge coincided with the period beginning the day after President Donald Trump resumed office.

{Matzav.com}

At the conclusion of a moving and uplifting Rischa D’Oraisa event held in Bnei Brak, the Rosh Yeshiva of Slabodka, HaGaon HaRav Dov Landau Shlita, delivered powerful words of chizuk in the face of the harsh decrees looming over the Torah world and the Chareidi public. “We all know that due to our sins we have been in galus for many years, and now we tangibly feel the weight of that galus pressing down upon us. There is a decree upon us—the lomdei Torah—a harsh and bitter decree. Jews are persecuting fellow Jews because of limud haTorah. This is a dreadful decree, and in our sins we find ourselves in the midst of it, rachmana litzlan.” “The difficult situation we find ourselves in is the decree of galus, but the true test is how we confront this decree—the nisayon that Hakadosh Baruch Hu is placing upon us. Our duty, as one united people, is to withstand this test from Hashem Elokeinu and to stand as firm as rock, never yielding to the decree of the authorities to, chas v’shalom, draft lomdei Torah. One who is arrested by them has an obligation not to give in and not to be enticed in any way to go to the army, rachmana litzlan.” “Those who study Hashem’s Torah and follow its path are the true representatives of Judaism, and we proclaim before the entire world: It is inconceivable that a Jew should be imprisoned for his devotion to Hashem’s Torah. The Torah is the protector of the Jewish people, and only the Torah and its study grant Jews the right to exist in Eretz Yisrael. Without Torah, there is no merit for Jews to remain in Eretz Yisrael, and one who fights against the Torah and its learners is, in fact, fighting against the safety of the Jewish people in Eretz Yisrael.” He concluded his remarks with a forceful declaration: “We will not rest and we will not remain silent until the authorities remove their hands from the lomdei Torah and allow us to continue our learning, just as it has been since the beginning of Jewish settlement under this government in Eretz Yisrael.” (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Dear Matzav Inbox, As the summer winds down and the crisp air of Elul fills our hearts with anticipation, a new school year begins. The halls of our yeshivos and Bais Yaakovs will once again echo with the sweet sounds of Torah and tefillah, as children of all ages embark on another journey of growth, learning, and connection to Hashem. But before we dive into the rhythm of carpools, homework, and lunchboxes, let us pause for a moment to recognize and express our deepest hakaras hatov to the unsung heroes of our communities: the rabbeim and morahs. These tireless mechanchim and mechanchos are not merely educators—they are builders. Builders of neshamahs, shapers of futures, and catalysts for greatness. They dedicate their days, nights, and hearts to ignite within our children a passion for Yiddishkeit, a love for Torah, and a commitment to middos tovos. And their dedication begins long before the first bell rings. While others enjoy the slower pace of summer, our rabbeim and morahs are hard at work behind the scenes, preparing for the year ahead. They spend countless hours planning engaging lessons, organizing classrooms, designing activities, and thinking deeply about every child they will teach. Each bulletin board, seating chart, and curriculum choice is created with care, ensuring that their talmidim and talmidos will feel inspired, supported, and ready to grow. Every parsha they teach, every gemara they clarify, every aleph they patiently review is infused with a sense of mission—to ensure that the mesorah of Klal Yisroel burns brightly in the next generation. And it is not only the Torah they teach but the warmth and care they pour into each child. Who among us hasn’t seen the glow in a child’s eyes as they recount a story from class, or the pride as they master a new concept? Rabbeim, morahs, you are the pillars of our communities. You are the ones who plant seeds of Torah in tender hearts, who nurture them with love and dedication, and who guide young neshamahs to grow into true bnei and bnos Torah. Whether it’s a warm smile in the morning, a gentle word of encouragement, or the wisdom to see the unique potential in every child, your avodah is nothing short of holy. As parents, as grandparents, as members of Klal Yisroel, we owe you so much. Your effort during the summer months, your tireless planning, and your commitment to excellence do not go unnoticed. As the school year begins, let us daven for your continued success, strength, and siyata dishmaya. Let us support you in every way we can, recognizing that the precious children you teach today are the builders of tomorrow. May this year be one of brachah and hatzlachah for all our rabbeim, morahs, and the precious talmidim and talmidos they inspire. May the Torah learned in their classrooms bring nachas to the Ribono Shel Olam and bring us closer to the geulah sheleimah, bimheirah beyameinu. L’kavod rabbeim, morahs, and the future of Klal Yisroel—thank you. Thank you for everything. Binyomin Waldman

 

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{Matzav.com}

The IDF discovered and demolished another tunnel, this time in the Al-Mu’azi camp in central Gaza.

With just days before the start of Elul, the Israeli Ministry of Transportation convened a meeting on Sunday to prepare for the tens of thousands of Israelis planning to travel to Uman for Rosh Hashanah.

The session, chaired by Transportation Minister Miri Regev, included the ministry’s director general Moshe Ben Zaken, Foreign Ministry director general Eden Bar Tal, Deputy Knesset Speaker MK Eliyahu Revivo, representatives of the Breslover community, travel agents, and other professional officials. The discussions focused primarily on ensuring smooth passage through Moldova, which serves as a central gateway for pilgrims traveling to Uman.

Minister Regev emphasized her ministry’s commitment to coordinate with all relevant authorities to secure proper arrangements with Moldovan officials and other international partners.

MK Revivo, who himself travels annually to Uman, voiced strong concern: “One of the main weak points is the Kishinev crossing. As long as there is no clear and prior agreement with the Moldovan authorities, we may face a serious problem. It is crucial that we show the travelers that the State of Israel is standing behind them and ensuring their journey is safe and dignified.”

In recent weeks, Breslover communities have grown increasingly anxious after reports that Moldova has not yet granted landing approvals for Israeli charter flights to Kishinev Airport, the main route for the thousands of chassidim seeking to reach Uman.

Rav Yaakov Jan, chief rabbi of Uman, sent an official letter to Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, Minister Regev, and Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar, urging immediate intervention with the Moldovan government. He warned that the delays are creating immense logistical difficulties and could endanger the ability of travelers to reach the tziyun of Rav Nachman of Breslov, especially given the ongoing security situation in Ukraine and the lack of convenient alternative flight routes.

At the same time, Breslover rabbonim in Israel and abroad have declared special days of tefillah for the success of the diplomatic efforts. These gatherings will include recitations of Tehillim, Tikkun Haklali, and public tefillos in the chassidus’s central batei knesses, with the hope that a resolution will be reached soon to allow tens of thousands of travelers to arrive safely and without difficulty.

{Matzav.com Israel}