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By Rabbi Berach Steinfeld
Bnei Yisroel were redeemed from Mitzrayim on Pesach. The Ramban, in his psicha for Chumash Shemos, says that galus will not end until Bnei Yisroel return to their place and to the “maalos” of their avos (forefathers.) When Bnei Yisroel left Mitzrayim, they left the house of slavery, but they were still considered in galus because they were in the midbar and not in their own land. When they arrived at Har Sinai and made the mishkon, they reached the maaleh of the avos. Only through the defeat of the yetzer hora will they reach true “cheirus.” This is the milchama that is brought down in Chovos Halevavos in Shaar Yichud Hamaaseh, Perek Heh. He recounts a story of a chassid who met an army returning from winning a war on the battlefront. The army had conquered a tough enemy and gained spoils of the war. The chassid told them, “You just returned from winning the small war. Now you need to prepare yourself to win the big war, which is the milchama of the yetzer hora.” We will be zoche to Eretz Yisroel only when we beat the yetzer hora. It is important for us to realize that it is not “kochi ve’otzem yadi” that provides for our success. Eretz Yisroel is called the land of Israel not because it is a name of a place, but rather because of the people living there. Klal Yisroel are mashpia on the place and not that the place is mashpia on Klal Yisroel. We mentioned before that part of redemption is that Klal Yisroel needs to reach the “maaleh” of the “avos.” To help us understand this we will explain why Avrohom Avinu was called Avrohom “Ha’ivri.” The Midrash Rabba explains that the reason he was called Ivri was because the whole world was on one side, and he was on the other side. Avrohom Avinu was the only person who believed in Hashem during his time. His belief did not waver even though he was alone in that belief. This is what true “emuna” is all about. We see similar language used when Yona responded to the question about who he was. He answered by saying, “Ivri anochi.” We must realize that strengthening our emunah in Hashem is the work that needs to be done during the month of Nissan to arrive at true cheirus. Reb Yehuda would say the ten makkos in the code “detzach adash be’achav” to help remember them because the makkos are so integral to our emunah. The ten makkos correspond to the ten maamoros with which Hashem created the world. They also correspond to the Aseres Hadibros, the foundation of our faith. The makkos were set in place to counteract Pharaoh’s proclamation of “li yeori vaani asisini”(the river is mine I created it.) We need to constantly remember that everything is provided byHashem and from Hashem. May we be zocheh to the true cheirus by the coming of Moshiach speedily in our days!President Donald Trump offered an unusual public assessment of French President Emmanuel Macron, saying he would rate the French leader “an 8 out of 10” while discussing relations with European allies.
Trump made the remarks while speaking about his interactions with Macron and cooperation with European leaders, offering a mix of praise and humor as he evaluated the French president’s performance.
“Yeah, I have spoken to him,” Trump said. “He’s been, on a scale of 0-10, I’d say he’s been an 8.”
Trump added that while Macron had done well overall, he was not perfect, joking that perfection was not expected given the challenges of leading France.
“Not perfect — but it’s France. We don’t expect perfect,” Trump said.
The remarks came as Trump discussed ongoing diplomatic engagement with European leaders and coordination with allies on international issues. Trump has maintained a sometimes complicated relationship with Macron, alternating between praise and criticism during various international disputes.
{Matzav.com}A striking exchange between a yeshiva bochur and the tzaddik Rav Dov Kook of Tverya about the proper approach to limud haTorah has emerged.
Last week, a bochur from Yeshivas Shaarei Shmuos visited Rav Kook and asked him to write a dedication and bracha in the sefer Shaar HaYichud VehaEmunah. Rav Kook responded that now that the young man is 20 years old, the sefer is appropriate for him, adding that for younger bochurim it is not yet suitable.
At that point, Rav Kook unexpectedly asked the bochur a question: Did he know how one becomes a true lamdan in Torah?
Rav Kook immediately answered his own question with a piece of advice. He warned the bochur not to overanalyze the concept of “methods of learning.”
“It is forbidden to think about this in a literal way,” Rav Kook said. “Because someone who thinks about it in a literal way becomes very confused. You must simply learn normally. What you understand, you understand. Learn in the straightforward way, and that is all.”
Rav Kook continued explaining why he discourages discussions about formal “approaches” or “systems” of learning.
“It damages a person very much when people talk about ‘methods of learning,’” he said. “And if there is anything that could truly be called a ‘method of learning,’ it is only Shaar HaYichud VehaEmunah. That is learning in the fullest sense. There is no greater lomdus than this. What is explained there is extremely subtle, the finest of the fine. It is the ultimate peak.”
Later in the conversation, Rav Kook also spoke about the bochur’s rosh yeshiva, Rav Aryeh Shapira, praising the clarity of his teaching.
“Your rosh yeshiva, Reb Aryeh Shapira, has the quality that he speaks straight and clearly, with joy and without deviating to the side,” Rav Kook said. “He speaks in a healthy way — the healthiest way. I have seen this myself. He is very thoughtful. He was here several times. I heard him and saw that he is very clear. He is not simple. He is also the son of great people — his grandfather and his father.”
Shaar HaYichud VehaEmunah is the second section of the sefer Tanya, written by the Alter Rebbe, Rav Shneur Zalman of Liadi. In this section, the Alter Rebbe elaborates on the teaching of the Baal Shem Tov that belief in the unity of Hashem does not merely mean that there is no other higher power besides Him.
Rather, the teaching explains that Hashem is the only true reality, and nothing exists independently of Him — the concept expressed in the phrase Ein Od Milvado. Everything that appears to exist separately is not truly independent existence. The continued existence of creation depends at every moment on the divine word that sustains it; without that constant divine life-force, all creation would immediately revert to absolute nothingness, just as it was before the world was created.
{Matzav.com}
Security forces on Monday removed a large Iranian missile that had fallen in the cemetery area of Tzfas, near the Arizal’s Mikvah, one of the city’s well-known sites visited by many people throughout the year. Despite the powerful impact and the sensitive location of the strike, the incident ended without injuries.
Authorities initially responded amid concerns that hazardous materials might be involved. The Environmental Protection Ministry said that emergency teams from Fire and Rescue Services were dispatched after reports of interceptor debris and a possible hazardous-materials incident.
Following extensive testing at the scene, officials determined that the situation did not involve dangerous materials. Instead, the fire that had broken out was caused by remnants of jet fuel still contained inside the missile. The ministry said it would continue monitoring the situation and stressed the importance of following Home Front Command instructions.
At the same time, Fire and Rescue officials in the Northern District reported that firefighters from the Galil-Golan station were handling several locations where missile fragments had landed in open areas around Tzfas. Additional monitoring teams conducted further inspections and confirmed that no environmental danger remained.
After the examinations were completed, residents who had initially been instructed to remain indoors were informed that they could safely return to their normal routines. Tzfas municipal spokesman Tamir Engel said all inspections had concluded and that there was no danger to the public.
The missile was transferred to security authorities for further handling, while city officials said emergency forces remain prepared for any additional developments.
{Matzav.com}
A prominent kashrus expert has issued a sharp warning against efforts by the Tzohar rabbinical organization to establish an independent kashrus certification system in Israel, arguing that such a move could undermine the existing national framework.
Speaking Monday night in an interview with Avi Mimran on the program Hamehadura Hamerkazit, Rav Yochanan Reichman strongly criticized Tzohar’s petition to Israel’s High Court of Justice seeking permission to issue kashrus certificates without the approval of the Chief Rabbinate. According to Rav Reichman, the very act of asking the court to serve as an independent regulator raises serious concerns. “The very appeal to the High Court to act as its own regulator raises questions and red flags,” he said, adding that even the strictest badatz organizations operate in coordination with the Rabbinate.
Rav Reichman argued that attempts to create an alternative kashrus structure built on halachic leniencies are fundamentally flawed. “To base kashrus on bedieved, on shaas hadechak, on heterim—that is not how you run a system. No one begins with Plan B,” he said. As an illustration, he recounted a story about the renowned Yerushalmi tzaddik Rav Dovid Baharan, who once wept when he was forced to rely on a halachic bedieved ruling.
According to Rav Reichman, a proper kashrus system must be established from the outset on the highest lechatchila standards, with leniencies used only in rare and pressing situations.
During the interview, the discussion compared the national kashrus framework to other state institutions such as the military and the healthcare system. Rav Reichman warned that dismantling the centralized structure could lead to chaos. “Tomorrow everyone will set up his own army, his own hospital. That would be destruction,” he said. “You would be taking an institution that has stood for years with the backing of the gedolei Yisroel and destroying it.”
He pointed to the Military Rabbinate as an example of a successful state-run religious institution and questioned why Tzohar was not pursuing cooperation with the Chief Rabbinate in the same way other private kashrus bodies do.
Toward the end of the conversation, Rav Reichman addressed Tzohar chairman Rav Dovid Stav personally, saying that while he knows him and recognizes his positive character, he is surprised by the direction the organization has taken professionally.
“I say to Tzohar: be like everyone else. Don’t try to damage the kashrus of Am Yisroel,” Reichman said.
Host Avi Mimran concluded the discussion by noting that the issue will now move to deliberations in both the High Court and the Knesset, where it will be decided whether the Chief Rabbinate’s authority over kashrus certification will remain intact or whether the system will open to broader competition.
Religious and political leaders are closely watching the developments, as a ruling by the High Court could significantly reshape the kashrus landscape for restaurants and food establishments across Israel. Supporters of the initiative argue it could lower prices and improve service, while critics like Rav Reichman warn it could weaken the halachic integrity of the country’s established kashrus system.
{Matzav.com}
A public dispute between Rov Yosef Chaim Ohev Tzion and radio host Menachem Toker over women’s shaitelach took an unexpected turn Monday when the rov joined Toker live on the air, turning what had been a controversy into a cordial on-air reconciliation.
Rov Ohev Tzion, a prominent speaker at the Moussaieff Shul, appeared on Toker’s program Zman Avir after recently criticizing the host over remarks related to women’s wigs. The conversation, arranged by the show’s editor Kobi Segal, quickly developed into a warm and respectful exchange.
The rov emphasized that he had no intention of insulting Toker personally. “People tried to inflame the situation. We do not want to hurt any Jew. We know the good things you do,” he said. Toker immediately responded with respect, saying, “I forgive in advance. Who am I to speak about the rov?”
Much of the discussion focused on the controversy surrounding wigs that had sparked the original criticism. Rov Ohev Tzion explained that his concern was with how wigs are sometimes presented in magazines. “I was shocked to see a certain picture of wigs that were displayed in a very inappropriate way,” he said.
He also referred to the ruling of Rav Ovadia Yosef, who strongly opposed the wearing of wigs. Rov Ohev Tzion added that even authorities who permitted wigs did not have today’s modern styles in mind. “If they were living in our times, they would certainly forbid the wigs of today,” he said. He concluded by stressing that a mother’s modesty is an important key to raising righteous children.
Toward the end of the broadcast, the rov shared several segulos connected with the upcoming month of Nissan. Among them was an unusual suggestion for preventing migraines. “A person who gets a haircut on Wednesday, which is the eve of Rosh Chodesh Nissan, will not have headaches for the entire year,” he said.
He also encouraged people to daven for parnassah on Rosh Chodesh Nissan. “This is the time to ask for parnassah. The Ribbono Shel Olam renews the entire creation,” he said. Rov Ohev Tzion added that giving Kimcha D’Pischa charity before Pesach serves as protection from serious misfortune.
The conversation concluded on a positive note, with Toker thanking the rov for joining the program and expressing hope that he would appear again in the future. Rov Ohev Tzion, who lives in Ramat Shlomo and delivers shiurim on Tuesdays and Thursdays, ended by offering Toker a bracha: “Continue doing good for the Jewish people.”
{Matzav.com}IDF Spokesman Brig. Gen. Effie Defrin delivered a public briefing Monday night updating the nation on developments in the ongoing war against Iran and its regional proxies. During the address, Defrin revealed that Israeli forces had struck key strategic targets in Tehran and announced that more than 100,000 reservists have been mobilized for the expanding ground maneuver in southern Lebanon. He also shared a moving story about a chareidi mother from Bnei Brak whose actions helped save her children during a missile strike.
Defrin reported that the Israeli Air Force destroyed a strategic naval headquarters belonging to Iran’s Revolutionary Guards in the heart of Tehran, along with a facility used to develop satellite attack capabilities. “The Iranian regime used this headquarters to turn the maritime arena into a theater of terror,” the spokesman said, adding that the satellite development center posed a threat to Israeli and international space assets.
At the same time, the IDF is intensifying its operations along the northern border. Defrin confirmed that forces from the 91st Division have begun ground activity at key locations in southern Lebanon as part of efforts to strengthen protection for communities in northern Israel. Addressing reports about troop levels, he disclosed that an unprecedented number of reservists have been called up. “We currently have more than 100,000 reservists… IDF soldiers will stand as a barrier between every threat and the residents of the north,” he said.
He added that the 146th Division has now joined the campaign and that the maneuver is concentrating on areas around Metula, Margaliot, and Manara in order to prevent direct rocket fire at Israeli homes.
A particularly emotional moment in the briefing came when Defrin described a recent visit to the Kass family on Rechov Yerushalayim in Bnei Brak, whose home was struck by an Iranian cluster missile. “The mother was playing with her six children in the living room, and Yehuda, the two-week-old baby, was in her arms. The responsible behavior of this brave mother simply saved their lives,” Defrin said.
The spokesman condemned Iran’s use of cluster munitions, describing them as a violation of the laws of war, and warned that Iran is attempting to spread fear through propaganda and misinformation. “They are trying to spread terror and fear. The Israeli public is not listening to those threats,” he said.
In other sectors, Defrin noted that IDF forces continue counterterrorism operations in Judea and Samaria, where more than 250 terror suspects have been arrested over the past two weeks. Israeli forces are also continuing deep strikes against terrorist infrastructure in Gaza.
He also addressed a difficult incident involving the deaths of four members of a Palestinian family in the village of Tamun during an undercover operation. “Every harm to innocent people turns the stomach. The IDF does not act with the intention of harming civilians,” Defrin said, adding that the case is under thorough investigation by both military authorities and the Justice Ministry’s police oversight unit.
Defrin concluded by noting that the campaign has dealt heavy blows to Iran’s military capabilities. According to the IDF, approximately 70 percent of Iran’s launch capabilities have been neutralized and about 80 percent of its air defense systems destroyed.
“Our goal is to remove the threats against Israel for the long term,” Defrin said. “We still have many targets, and we are continuing according to our operational plans.”
{Matzav.com}