Days after a decisive arbitration ruling handed control of Ponovezh Yeshiva to its nosi, Rav Eliezer Kahaneman, the attorneys who represented the yeshiva arrived at his home on Sunday — cake in hand — to celebrate what has been described as a landmark legal triumph.
The visit came after retired judge David Cheshin issued his long-awaited decision last week in the decades-long dispute between Rav Kahaneman and Rav Shmuel Markowitz over leadership of the storied Ponovezh Yeshiva. The ruling overwhelmingly favored Rav Kahaneman.
In the arbitration decision, the court ordered the faction led by Rav Markowitz to vacate all Ponovezh properties, to cease using the Ponovezh name, and to stop issuing official documents on the yeshiva’s letterhead. In addition, Rav Markowitz was directed to pay Ponovezh a financial penalty of ten million shekels within sixty days of the ruling.
Judge Cheshin accepted the vast majority of the arguments presented by Ponovezh’s legal team — attorneys Udi Artzi and Ran Feldman — and rejected most of the claims made by Rav Markowitz and his organization, Masores HaTorah. The arbitrator also ruled that this decision constitutes a continuation of the well-known 2000 arbitration by Rav Zimbalist, determining that those who violated the earlier arbitration agreement were Rav Markowitz and the Masores HaTorah faction.
On Sunday, attorneys Artzi and Feldman visited Rav Kahaneman at his residence to celebrate the victory. They brought a cake decorated with an image of the yeshiva’s building and thousands of talmidim dancing in its courtyard — a photograph taken recently at the yahrtzeit of the late rosh yeshiva, Rav Gershon Edelstein zt”l, during a Sefer Torah dedication held in his memory.
During their meeting, participants recalled Rav Edelstein’s unwavering insistence that the yeshiva could not be jointly run by both factions. From the very beginning, he maintained that peaceful functioning required separation — to the point that he voluntarily relinquished the main heichal and moved to the Ohel Kedoshim building for the sake of harmony.
Rav Kahaneman expressed deep gratitude to the attorneys and blessed them that their efforts in securing the yeshiva’s stability and its ability to continue its Torah mission in peace and serenity should bring them continued success in the years ahead.
{Matzav.com}
Amid intensifying tensions over the national draft, the IDF chief of staff has circulated the finalized draft of new military service regulations for chareidi soldiers to three retired major generals for their review — a move insiders say signals that official approval of the long-awaited orders is only days away.
According to information obtained by sources, Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Herzi Halevi received the final version of the Pekudot Matkal several weeks ago. The document was drafted in recent months through negotiations between representatives of Rav Dovid Leibel and senior IDF officials, headed by Brig.-Gen. Shay Taib.
After reviewing the text, the chief of staff opted not to sign immediately and instead forwarded the draft to three reserve major generals for further examination.
Sources familiar with the process say this internal review is the main reason for the delay in Halevi’s signature. The reserve officers, however, reportedly offered no significant objections to the content. As a result, officials expect the orders to be signed in the coming weeks — possibly even within days.
The new regulations represent a major shift for the IDF. For the first time, the army will formally allow external rabbinic supervision over commanders, codify restrictions on women entering bases where chareidi soldiers serve, and solidify additional guarantees aimed at preserving chareidi religious standards.
In the background of the delayed approval is ongoing friction between the IDF and Rav Dovid Leibel, who has refused to permit students who do not qualify for the status of torasam umnasam to enlist. His position, associates say, stems from a lack of confidence in the army’s commitment to safeguarding chareidi needs.
In recent weeks, Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee chairman MK Nissim Vaturi Bismut met with Rav Leibel to discuss the hold-up and the broader implications. With coalition negotiations over a mutually acceptable draft law hinging partly on the completion of these new regulations, officials hope that the signing of the orders will clear the path for renewed progress.
{Matzav.com}
A sweeping new survey released Sunday paints a picture of a population increasingly contemplating life elsewhere. According to the findings, 27 percent of Israelis are now thinking about leaving the country, despite most respondents warning that a large-scale wave of departures would put Israel’s future at risk.
The research, compiled by the Israel Democracy Institute, surveyed 720 Jews and 187 Arabs in April. The results showed notable contrasts between communities, with 30% of Arab citizens considering emigration compared to 26% of Jewish citizens. Among Jews, respondents who described themselves as less religious — and those aligned with the political left — expressed far greater interest in leaving than religious or right-leaning counterparts.
A striking detail emerged among those contemplating relocation: 69% of Jews and 62.5% of Arabs said they were not drawn to any particular country at all, explaining that the appeal was simply “getting out of the country.”
The questionnaire was taken after a year and a half of conflict on several fronts, predating both June’s 12-day confrontation with Iran and the more recent Gaza ceasefire that facilitated the release of most hostages. Researchers acknowledged that these later developments may have shifted public attitudes, but the data does not yet reflect that.
When examining Jewish respondents by religious identity, the group least connected to religious observance showed the strongest inclination to leave. Non-religious Jews made up 39% of those considering emigration, followed by traditional but non-religious (24%), traditional religious (19%), Orthodox (14%), and just 4% among the ultra-Orthodox.
Younger, secular Jewish Israelis stood out even more. Among that demographic, 60% said they would think about moving away, and among high earners who also hold a foreign passport, the share rose to 80%.
The trend cut across both Jewish and Arab communities when education levels and income rose. Respondents in high-mobility professions — including high-tech, finance, and medicine — were the most open to relocating abroad.
Those holding a second passport unsurprisingly appeared more ready to consider leaving, but the report highlighted a more unexpected finding: 33% of Israelis born in the country were considering emigration, compared with 22% of those who had moved to Israel from abroad. The authors suggested that individuals who made the deliberate choice to immigrate are generally less inclined to reverse that decision.
Among Israeli-born Jews with dual citizenship, the likelihood of contemplating departure increased if they had previously lived abroad. The more time they had spent outside Israel, the higher the possibility they would consider doing so again.
Views on Israel’s current condition were mixed but leaned pessimistic. Forty-two percent of Jews and 33% of Arabs labeled the nation’s situation as “bad,” while 8% of Jews and 15% of Arabs described it as “good.”
Participants cited a familiar cluster of worries when explaining why they might leave: the soaring cost of living, fears over security, frustration with politics, and concerns about “the lack of a good future for my children.”
Europe emerged as the leading destination of interest among potential emigrants. Forty-three percent pointed to the European Union as their preferred option, noticeably above the 27% who chose North America or Canada.
Broader frustrations also appeared frequently, including dissatisfaction with public services, worries about global perceptions of Israel, alarm over the trajectory of democracy and free expression, and unease about the country’s identity as the Jewish state.
Yet despite the growing interest in living elsewhere, the most powerful anchor keeping both Jewish and Arab Israelis rooted remained the same: family. Many respondents said they would be far more likely to consider leaving if their relatives had already moved away.
{Matzav.com}
[Video below.] Zohran Mamdani refused to walk back his harshest descriptions of President Trump on Sunday, reaffirming his view of the president as a “fascist” and “despot” even as he praised their unexpectedly constructive first meeting. Appearing on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” the incoming New York City mayor made clear that his opinion of Trump hasn’t budged. “That’s something that I’ve said in the past. I say it today,” Mamdani said when pressed on whether he still sees the president as a fascist.
Despite the charged language, Mamdani emphasized that he believes he can work productively with Trump. He said the two found real areas of agreement during their Oval Office conversation on Friday, particularly around the shared goal of making New York City more livable and financially accessible. “What I appreciated about the conversation that I had with the president was that we were not shy about the places of disagreement,” Mamdani said. “We also wanted to focus on what it could look like to deliver on a shared analysis of an affordable crisis for New Yorkers.”
That dynamic was on full display during their post-meeting press conference, when a reporter asked Mamdani point-blank whether he still considers Trump a fascist — a label he has applied repeatedly in the past. As Mamdani hesitated, Trump jumped in: “That’s OK. You can just say yes. It’s easier than explaining it. I don’t mind.” The moment underscored the odd blend of candor and cooperation between the two men.
Mamdani said he explained to Trump that both of them benefited electorally from the same underlying anxiety: New Yorkers’ fears about soaring living costs. He recounted conversations with voters on Fordham Road in The Bronx and Hillside Avenue in Queens, strong Democratic neighborhoods where many nonetheless cast ballots for Trump. “I shared with the president that when I asked those New Yorkers why did they vote for the president, they told me again and again it was cost of living, cost of living, cost of living,” Mamdani said.
He also welcomed Trump’s willingness to engage in a detailed discussion about the city’s immense barriers to building new housing — something Trump knows firsthand from his years developing properties in New York. Mamdani said they reviewed everything from the city’s restrictive zoning codes to the protracted ULURP approval process. “We spoke about the need to change so many of those situations such that a developer doesn’t tell you the thing more expensive than labor or materials is waiting,” he noted.
On the policy front, Mamdani reiterated his ambition to raise taxes on high earners and corporations to help finance his sweeping agenda, which includes free child care, fareless buses, and expanded affordable housing. Those changes would require signoff from Gov. Kathy Hochul and the state legislature, but Mamdani signaled flexibility on how to pay for his proposals. “And what I’ve also said is more important than how we fund something is that we fund something,” he said. “And if there are additional or alternate revenue streams to do so, I will accept them, and I will celebrate them because the most important thing is to actually deliver for the New Yorkers who, right now, can’t even conceive of having a family in New York City because of how expensive we’ve made childcare across the five bureaus.”
The incoming mayor also doubled down on his position that NYC’s police force does not need more officers, maintaining that the existing 35,000 uniformed members are sufficient. That stance contrasts with the priorities of Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch — who has agreed to stay on under Mamdani — and who has publicly advocated for expanding the NYPD’s ranks.
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{Matzav.com}
The IDF announced Sunday that a targeted operation in Beirut, directed by Israel’s Intelligence Directorate, killed Haytham Ali Tabataba’i — Hezbollah’s Chief of General Staff and one of the most influential military minds inside the terror group. Israeli officials described the strike as a major blow to Hezbollah’s upper echelon and a critical disruption to its operational rebuilding efforts.
Tabataba’i’s career stretched back to the 1980s, when he first enlisted in Hezbollah’s ranks. Over the decades, he rose steadily, eventually holding some of the group’s most sensitive positions. He previously commanded the elite Radwan Force and later oversaw Hezbollah’s entire military effort in Syria, where he was credited with embedding the organization deeply into the Syrian battlefield and expanding its capabilities.
Once the Gaza–northern front war erupted, Tabataba’i was tapped to manage Hezbollah’s operational array—responsible for synthesizing intelligence, coordinating units, and shaping the group’s force structure. During Operation Northern Arrows, after Israeli strikes eliminated much of Hezbollah’s senior field command, he became the central figure running the war effort against Israel from Lebanon.
After that operation concluded, Tabataba’i was elevated to Chief of General Staff. In that role, he undertook an aggressive campaign to reconstruct the organization’s fighting units and reinforce its readiness for a future confrontation with Israel. He wielded enormous influence inside Hezbollah, using his connections and experience to expand the Radwan Unit and strengthen the terror group’s operational infrastructure.
Following the strike, the IDF emphasized that it “will act against efforts to rebuild and rearm the Hezbollah terrorist organization and will operate to remove any threat posed to Israeli civilians,” while reiterating that the military “remains committed to the understandings reached between the State of Israel and Lebanon.”
The Prime Minister’s Office confirmed that the Beirut operation was aimed squarely at Tabataba’i, describing him as second only to Secretary General Naim Qassem in the organization’s hierarchy. “A short while ago, in the heart of Beirut, the IDF attacked the Hezbollah Chief of Staff, who had been leading the terrorist organization’s buildup and rearmament. Prime Minister Netanyahu ordered the attack upon the recommendation of the Defense Minister and the IDF Chief of Staff. Israel is determined to act to achieve its objectives everywhere and at all times,” the statement read.
Israeli officials noted that in recent years Tabataba’i supervised Hezbollah’s special forces and became its highest-ranking active military commander once the rest of the senior chain of command had been eliminated. His significance was well known internationally: the U.S. State Department’s Rewards for Justice program had placed a $5 million bounty on information leading to his capture.
Defense Minister Israel Katz praised the operation, issuing a sharp warning to Hezbollah’s leadership. “We will continue to act forcefully to prevent any threat to the residents of the north and the State of Israel. Anyone who raises a hand against Israel will have his hand cut off. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and I are determined to continue the policy of maximum enforcement in Lebanon and anywhere else. We will not allow a return to the reality of before October 7th.”
Lebanon’s President Joseph Aoun condemned the Israeli action, accusing Israel of escalating the conflict and ignoring international appeals. “The Israeli strike in Dahieh is further proof that Israel does not heed the repeated calls to halt its attacks. We once again call on the international community to assume its responsibility and intervene to stop the attacks in Lebanon and against its people. Israel refuses to implement international resolutions and rejects all efforts and initiatives proposed to end the escalation and restore stability.”
Inside the IDF’s senior command post in the Kirya, Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Eyal Zamir oversaw the real-time strike alongside Operations Directorate head MG Itzik Cohen, Operations Division head BG Yisrael Shomer, Operations Brigade head BG Meni Liberty, and other commanders. Briefing after the hit, Zamir said, “We struck the most senior commander in the Hezbollah terrorist organization. The strike was intended to prevent the organization from further strengthening its capabilities and to deliver a precise blow to those who attempt to harm the State of Israel.” He added, “The IDF remains committed to the understandings agreed upon between the State of Israel and Lebanon, but we will not allow the Hezbollah terrorist organization to strengthen or rearm, and we will act to remove any threat to the civilians of the State of Israel.”
The Beirut attack followed a string of IDF operations against Hezbollah operatives. On Saturday, Israeli forces eliminated Kamel Reza Karnabsh, who had been rebuilding Hezbollah’s presence in the Meifadon region of southern Lebanon. In a separate 91st Division mission, another operative was killed near the village of Khoula; the IDF identified him as the group’s local representative who coordinated military and economic activities and facilitated the takeover of private property for terror purposes.
{Matzav.com}
President Trump launched a scathing rebuke at Ukraine on Sunday, accusing its leaders of showing “zero gratitude” toward the United States even as Washington pushes a controversial cease-fire framework now under fire for resembling a Russian “wishlist.” “UKRAINE ‘LEADERSHIP’ HAS EXPRESSED ZERO GRATITUDE FOR OUR EFFORTS, AND EUROPE CONTINUES TO BUY OIL FROM RUSSIA,” Trump wrote on Truth Social, venting frustration over what he sees as lopsided expectations placed on the U.S.
He went on to complain that America continues to shoulder most of the military burden for Ukraine’s defense. “THE USA CONTINUES TO SELL MASSIVE $AMOUNTS OF WEAPONS TO NATO, FOR DISTRIBUTION TO UKRAINE (CROOKED JOE GAVE EVERYTHING, FREE, FREE, FREE, INCLUDING ‘BIG’ MONEY!),” he added, contrasting his approach with that of his predecessor and warning that Washington’s support is being taken for granted.
The president’s outburst came as the 28-point proposal intended to wind down the war ignited political chaos in Washington and European capitals. After the document leaked last week, senators publicly claimed that Secretary of State Marco Rubio had suggested the United States was not the true author of the blueprint, fueling speculation that the terms mirrored Moscow’s long-standing demands rather than a balanced diplomatic offer.
State Department officials quickly attempted to shut down that narrative, insisting the U.S. did, in fact, draft the plan. The proposal calls for dramatic changes on Ukraine’s side, including giving up the entire Donbas region—territory Russia has failed to capture outright despite years of fighting.
Other major concessions demanded of Kyiv include agreeing never to join NATO, reducing its armed forces from about 900,000 soldiers to 600,000, and granting sweeping amnesty to all participants in the conflict. That provision would ensure Russian fighters avoid prosecution for war crimes.
In contrast, the terms ask relatively little of Russia, raising alarm among Ukraine’s allies and intensifying the political storm surrounding the peace proposal.
{Matzav.com}
