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The Jewish community of Isfahan issued a sharply worded statement condemning Israel and the United States during a memorial ceremony held in recent days for Iranians killed during the war, declaring support for the Islamic Republic and expressing solidarity with the Iranian people.

The event was held in memory of 170 teachers and children who Iranian officials say were mistakenly killed at the outset of the conflict. According to reports, the tragedy occurred on February 28, 2026, when a cruise missile struck the Shajara Tayeba girls’ elementary school in the southern Iranian city of Minab during a U.S. military operation targeting military sites in the area.

Addressing the gathering, Hakham Suleiman Sadeghpour, one of the leaders of the Jewish community in Isfahan, criticized Israel and the United States while emphasizing the longstanding coexistence of Jews and Muslims in Iran.

“Jews and Muslims throughout the history of this land have lived side by side and played a significant role in creating stable coexistence. In Iran’s history, the solidarity and unity of the people have been important factors in helping the country overcome various challenges and crises.”

Sadeghpour delivered his remarks during a memorial service held at the Keter David Synagogue in Isfahan. He also condemned what he called the “Zionist regime” and praised social cohesion as a key factor in Iran’s endurance.

“Cooperation and social unity are central characteristics of the continuity and stability of Iranian society throughout different periods of Iran’s history.”

He went on to say that Iran has faced numerous hardships over the centuries and has consistently overcome them through national unity.

“Iran has faced many difficult events and conditions throughout history, and history shows that the presence of the people alongside one another and the strengthening of the collective spirit have always played a decisive role in overcoming those conditions.”

Sadeghpour added that the concept of national solidarity remains relevant today and can help preserve peace and stability.

“Reference to the concept of national solidarity, beyond being part of the country’s historical heritage, can still help strengthen tranquility, stability, and peace.”

At the conclusion of the ceremony, the Jewish community of Isfahan released an official statement concerning the war, known in Iran as “Roar of the Lion.”

“We condemn the Zionist and American activity against the Republic of Iran.”

The statement stressed that Iranian Jews identify strongly with their homeland and see themselves as an integral part of the nation.

“We, the Jewish community, express our sympathy and support wherever the name of Iran is mentioned. The distinction between religion and faith is no longer meaningful. Iranian Jews have always seen themselves as Iranians, are filled with sorrow over the martyrdom of Iran’s great leader, and rejoice at the selection of his lawful successor.”

The statement also expressed condolences over the deaths of the children in Minab and condemned the attack as a war crime.

“The Jewish community of Isfahan expresses its deepest condolences over the martyrdom of the children of the noble lineage of Minab and condemns this shameful war crime. The names of the martyrs have touched all of our hearts. This war crime is reprehensible, and the perpetrators of these crimes must be taught a lesson that Iranians will never surrender.”

In perhaps the most striking remarks of the event, Sadeghpour invoked the Biblical story of Moshe and Pharaoh, comparing Iran’s struggle against its adversaries to that ancient conflict.

“Just as Moshe Rabbeinu defeated Pharaoh and the Egyptians, so too will Iran and the Iranian people overcome the perpetrators of these crimes. We will prove that we, the men, women, and children, are present in the field and have shed our blood for this homeland. We, the followers of the Muslim, Zoroastrian, Jewish, and Christian faiths, have all sacrificed martyrs for this country and have always proven that America and the Zionist regime can only imagine bringing this nation to its knees.”

The statement concluded with a prayer that no more children would be harmed and a declaration of loyalty to Iran.

“With the hope that no student will be killed behind a school desk, and with the hope that no foreigner will be allowed to invade this land, Iran is our life.”

A major victory for the chareidi education system was secured this week after MK Moshe Gafni successfully negotiated a one-year reprieve for eight Talmudei Torah affiliated with the Chinuch Atzmai network that had been facing imminent closure.

Following intensive discussions involving Education Minister Yoav Kisch, senior Education Ministry officials, and direct involvement from Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu’s office, an agreement was reached postponing the planned closures and giving the institutions at least another year to continue operating.

The arrangement brings relief to hundreds of families, teachers, and administrators who had been facing significant uncertainty and provides the Chinuch Atzmai network with additional time to address regulatory demands imposed by the Education Ministry.

Just last week, concerns mounted across the chareidi community as several institutions appeared to be on the verge of shutting their doors. Among the schools reportedly at risk were well-known Talmudei Torah in Bnei Brak, including Talmud Torah Zichron Meir and others, due to government requirements concerning core curriculum studies.

According to reports, Gafni became deeply involved in the issue and spent days conducting negotiations with Education Ministry officials in an effort to prevent the closures.

The talks took place against the backdrop of a High Court petition filed by the Hiddush organization against Chinuch Atzmai. The petition alleges irregularities in instructional-hour reporting and claims that some institutions are not fully complying with mandated core curriculum requirements.

Education experts familiar with the matter explained that while government funding formulas in the past often allowed a degree of flexibility based on partial compliance, government ministries and the courts have recently adopted far stricter standards.

Central to the dispute is the requirement that schools comply with the licensing conditions established by the Education Ministry, standards that critics argue are not currently being met by certain boys’ educational institutions.

The crisis intensified when school administrators received notices from Chinuch Atzmai Director-General Rabbi Eliezer Sorotzkin instructing them to prepare for a collective hearing process involving educational staff, melamdim, and teachers.

Although the move was described as largely procedural and driven by regulatory obligations, it raised alarm throughout the community. Hundreds of families feared potential layoffs, while thousands of students faced uncertainty regarding where they would study in the coming school year.

The newly negotiated agreement has now provided what many view as critical breathing room.

With the closure threat delayed for at least another year, school leaders and Chinuch Atzmai officials will have time to evaluate government requirements, explore possible solutions, and formulate plans that would allow the institutions to continue operating while addressing regulatory concerns.

The agreement is being viewed as especially significant for the hundreds of educators employed by the affected schools, as well as for the thousands of students and parents whose educational future had been thrown into doubt.

For now, the threat that hung over the institutions and jeopardized the upcoming school year has been lifted, allowing classes to open as scheduled.

Supporters of the arrangement say the delay creates an opportunity to pursue long-term solutions that will preserve the unique character of Chinuch Atzmai schools while enabling them to continue functioning within the framework required by government authorities.

Sources in the Torah world expressed appreciation for Gafni’s efforts and for the direct involvement of the Prime Minister’s Office in reaching the compromise.

Attention now turns to the coming year, during which Chinuch Atzmai officials will be tasked with finding a sustainable path forward that will allow the institutions to remain open while satisfying the demands of the educational and legal systems.

{Matzav.com}

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The Israeli government’s campaign of economic measures targeting draft-eligible yeshiva students is intensifying, with Israeli Deputy Attorney General Gil Limon pressing ahead with efforts to revoke municipal property tax discounts from young chareidi couples whose husbands do not serve in the military.

In a sharply worded letter sent this week to Interior Ministry Director-General Israel Ozen, Limon rejected the ministry’s refusal to advance regulatory changes that would allow local authorities to deny arnona discounts to households headed by men classified as eligible for military service.

Limon argued that the Interior Ministry’s position conflicts with directives issued by Israel’s Supreme Court and instructed officials to continue promoting the measure without delay. The dispute stems from a ruling by Supreme Court Justice Noam Solberg requiring the ministry to determine how it would address the issue of municipal tax discounts for those subject to military draft obligations.

Last Thursday, the Interior Ministry informed officials that it did not intend to pursue the proposed sanction, citing several concerns. Among them were fears that the measure could undermine the financial stability of local governments, push vulnerable families deeper into poverty, and create legal and practical difficulties for municipalities being asked to enforce military service policy.

Limon dismissed those arguments, insisting that both the courts and government professionals have identified the loss of arnona benefits as an effective mechanism for encouraging military service.

“The arguments regarding harm to weaker populations and local authorities do not constitute sufficient justification,” Limon wrote. “We will not be able to defend this position legally.”

Addressing concerns about the financial impact on affected households, Limon acknowledged that eliminating the discounts could significantly burden many families but maintained that the measure was specifically chosen because of its effectiveness.

“Revoking an arnona discount may be economically significant for many households, and for that reason it was identified as an effective step to encourage those obligated to serve. If consequences materialize, government authorities can be expected to formulate appropriate responses.”

Limon also pointed to what he described as a procedural issue, noting that the matter had not been presented to the appropriate ministerial authority. He wrote that because Israel has been without a serving interior minister for approximately ten months, the relevant powers should have been formally transferred to the prime minister, as required by law.

The letter follows another controversial development announced a day earlier. Under new guidelines currently being prepared by government agencies, Torah institutions that enroll students classified as draft-eligible could lose eligibility for tax benefits tied to charitable donations.

Those guidelines were formulated during high-level discussions involving the Justice Ministry, the Israel Tax Authority, and the Corporations Authority ahead of a Supreme Court hearing scheduled for July.

The Israel Tax Authority is expected to publish an official notice on the matter in the coming days. The proposal would add another layer to a growing list of financial penalties that Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara and her office have sought to impose on draft-eligible yeshiva students and the institutions in which they study.

Leaders in the Torah world view the latest move as part of what they describe as an escalating campaign of economic pressure aimed at chareidi families and Torah institutions.

The issue has also sparked sharp disagreements within the government. During a cabinet meeting approximately two weeks ago, several ministers reportedly criticized the attorney general’s demands. Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi voiced particular opposition, declaring: “The government’s policy is that those who do not learn Torah enlist—so why are we discussing measures against those whose Torah study is their occupation?”

{Matzav.com}

A tense overnight hostage crisis at a Chase Bank in Bakersfield came to an end early Wednesday when the suspect, who claimed to be carrying explosives on his body, was fatally shot during a law enforcement operation, authorities said.

Police reported that every hostage held inside the bank was safely rescued and suffered no injuries. Although none required emergency treatment, those involved were evaluated by medical personnel at the scene. The standoff concluded shortly after 4:20 a.m.

“The hostage situation concluded following an officer-involved shooting involving Federal Bureau of Investigation personnel,” Bakersfield police said in a news release.

Authorities have continued to block off streets surrounding the bank while investigators process the scene. Police announced that additional details would be released during a press conference scheduled for Wednesday morning.

Earlier in the ordeal, negotiators succeeded in persuading the suspect to release two hostages. Law enforcement officials had maintained communication with him by telephone throughout the standoff.

As the situation unfolded, officials established a security perimeter covering the area between 18th Street and Truxtun Avenue and stretching from Chester Avenue to H Street.

When the suspect initially barricaded himself inside the bank on Tuesday, several customers and employees were still in the building. Some individuals managed to escape before the situation escalated further.

Authorities said no injuries were reported during the incident. In a statement issued around 6 p.m. Tuesday, the Bakersfield Police Department said that “an adult male subject had barricaded himself inside the building with several community members.”

Several hours later, police announced that negotiators had secured the release of another hostage.

“We remain on scene at the Chase Bank building and have negotiated the release of a second hostage,” police said. “There are currently no injuries reported. Avoid the area as this remains an active scene. We will continue to provide updates as information becomes available.”

As the crisis continued into the night, the FBI assumed responsibility for tactical operations. According to reports, federal agents took over “SWAT operations,” while the FBI’s Sacramento field office said it planned to “support the response” throughout the overnight hours.

Bakersfield Mayor Karen Goh said she was closely following developments as law enforcement worked to bring the situation to a peaceful resolution.

“The best way the public can help at this time is by avoiding the area and allowing law enforcement officers, negotiators, and other trained professionals the space and opportunity to safely carry out their duties,” she said in a statement.

The incident began Tuesday when authorities received reports of a bomb threat inside the Chase Bank, according to Good Morning America.

Police communications during the standoff indicated that officers believed the suspect might have been carrying an improvised explosive device.

“The suspect possibly has a makeshift detonator in his hand and wires coming out from under his shirt,” a police radio broadcast said.

{Matzav.com}

An Israir flight bound for Ljubljana was unable to reach its scheduled destination on Wednesday after Slovenian authorities declined to issue the landing authorization required for the aircraft, forcing the plane to divert and land in neighboring Croatia instead.

The flight, which had been scheduled to arrive in Slovenia’s capital city, was redirected to Zagreb after clearance to land in Ljubljana was denied by local officials.

Reports indicate that Slovenian authorities have recently adopted a policy of refusing landing permits to Israeli carriers, reportedly as a protest against the actions and policies of the Israeli government.

Israeli officials view the move as a breach of international aviation arrangements governing air travel among European Union nations. The incident prompted immediate involvement from both Israel’s Foreign Ministry and the Civil Aviation Authority, which began working to address the situation.

Efforts by diplomatic representatives and aviation officials to obtain last-minute approval for the aircraft to proceed to Ljubljana continued throughout the day but had not produced results by Wednesday evening.

Transportation Minister Miri Regev condemned the decision, accusing Slovenia of politicizing civilian air travel and unfairly targeting Israeli passengers.

“This is an unacceptable political decision that directly harms Israeli citizens,” Regev said. “Those who seek to boycott Israel through aviation should understand that there will be consequences. Israel will not stand idly by and will use every tool at its disposal to protect its airlines and the freedom of movement of its citizens.”

The dispute comes as Slovenia undergoes a change in political leadership. The outgoing administration has been among the most outspoken critics of Israel within Europe, and the landing ban was imposed during the transition period between governments.

Israeli officials are hopeful that relations may improve soon, as the incoming government, which is expected to assume office in the coming weeks, is generally regarded as more favorable toward Israel than the current administration.

{Matzav.com}