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In a fiery address, the Rebbe of Toldos Yehuda Stutchin, Rav Mottel Zilber, delivered unusually sharp remarks on the importance of learning penimiyus haTorah — the deeper dimensions of Torah — claiming that the Mizrachnikim and modern communities are far ahead of many chassidim in their understanding of these areas.

Speaking during a recent shiur chassidus in Yerushalayim, the Rebbe — known for his honesty and uncompromising pursuit of truth — expressed deep concern over what he described as a troubling gap in Torah knowledge: “This is a vast part of Torah, and we have no right to hide ourselves from entire sections of it. And who does involve themselves in this? The Mizrachnikim and the modern, they know far more than we do. They study these topics, they call it ‘Machshevet Yisrael’ (Jewish thought), they become knowledgeable in them, they live them, and they understand them deeply. But a chassidic Jew,” the Rebbe added, “when you speak to him, it will often become clear that he is an am ha’aretz (ignorant) in these matters.”

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The Rebbe stressed that while the chareidi world often focuses primarily on nigleh — the revealed aspects of Torah — many within the modern and dati leumi (national-religious) communities dedicate significant time and resources to exploring penimiyus haTorah (the inner dimensions of Torah), Jewish philosophy, and Machsheves Yisroel (Jewish thought). According to him, this leaves many chassidim lacking depth in areas critical to avodas Hashem and yiras Shomayim.

His remarks come within the broader framework of longstanding calls from gedolei Yisroel to prioritize learning the inner dimensions of Torah. The Vilna Gaon emphasized that true understanding of Torah begins with nistar (hidden teachings) before one can fully grasp the rest of its wisdom.

The Baal HaTanya famously wrote that “knowing the order of creation and the process of hishtalshelus (the chain of spiritual descent)… is also a great and lofty mitzvah, and indeed surpasses many others.”

{Matzav.com}

VP VANCE: “The President has been very clear. There are not going to be [American] boots on the ground in Ukraine.”

VP VANCE: “This is how wars ultimately get settled… They all end with some kind of negotiation… He’s not going to force these parties to walk through the door. All he can do is open the door and ask them to negotiate in good faith.”

Additional footage of the massive Israeli airstrikes on Houthi terror targets in Sana’a.

NBC: You don’t think Zelensky is the legitimate leader of Ukraine? Putin doesn’t recognize him as the legitimate leader of Ukraine? Lavrov: No, we recognize him as de facto head of the regime. And in this capacity, we are ready to meet with him.

VP VANCE: “The Russians have made significant concessions to President Trump for the first time in three and a half years of this conflict… We’re trying to negotiate as much as we can with both the Russians and Ukrainians to find a middle ground to stop the killing.”

In the Breslover community, there is growing concern that Israeli Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara may prevent young Breslover chassidim of draft age from traveling to Uman for Rosh Hashanah. With just about a month remaining before the annual pilgrimage, leaders fear that legal restrictions could keep hundreds of young men from reaching the tziyun of Rav Nachman in Ukraine.

Political officials are working to reach an agreement with the Defense Ministry and the IDF that would allow draft-eligible men to make the trip despite the existing restrictions on leaving the country. These limitations remain in place due to the absence of finalized legislation clarifying the status of yeshiva students who defer military service.

Shas chairman Aryeh Deri recently met with Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and other senior figures in an effort to create a framework that would permit travel to Ukraine for up to seven days, officially designating the trip as a religious journey rather than one for leisure.

Those involved in the discussions have said that a resolution could be reached in the coming days between Breslover representatives, the Defense Ministry, and the IDF.

However, fears remain that even if an arrangement is secured, the attorney general may ultimately reject it and block young men from leaving the country to join the Rosh Hashanah gathering in Uman.

If such a decision is made, Breslover activists are expected to stage protests outside Baharav-Miara’s residence, demanding that permission be granted. In the past, Breslover chassidim have organized similar demonstrations, including outside the homes of senior officials — even chareidi leaders like Deri — calling on them to help secure approvals for the annual pilgrimage.

{Matzav.com Israel}

PM Bibi Netanyahu, Defense Minister Israel Katz, and IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir observed the Israeli Air Force strike on the Houthis in Yemen from the IAF command center in Tel Aviv. Reports say the strikes targeted a military facility near a presidential palace, a fuel depot, and two power stations.

The IDF announced that troops from the 474th “Golan” Regional Brigade carried out overnight raids in southern Syria last week, seizing caches of weapons that included Russian anti-tank missiles, Kalashnikov rifles, explosive devices, and other equipment.

The Israeli Air Force is investigating why air defense systems failed to intercept the Houthi missile launched at Israel on Friday night, including the possibility that the missile contained cluster munitions. Iran fired several cluster munitions, which fire smaller explosives over a wide area, during Operation Rising Lion. Initial reports said that the missile disintegrated in midair over Israel, and several interceptors launched at the fragments failed to intercept them, including Israel’s Arrow, David’s Sling, and Iron Dome systems and the American THAAD system.  

A large brush fire is burning near Mevaseret Zion in central Israel, with police warning that they are considering closing Route 1, the main highway linking Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. Law enforcement officials confirm that residents of two streets in Mevaseret Zion, located just west of Jerusalem, are being evacuated as a precaution. Fire officials add that they are also considering evacuating hikers in the area depending on how the situation develops.

Tensions erupted in Kfar Malal on Shabbos when National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir was confronted by left-wing demonstrators as he made his way to shul with his son, a soldier serving in an elite IDF unit.

According to witnesses, a group of protesters lay in wait for the minister, shouting accusations as he passed. Among the chants directed at him were: “You are a convicted terrorist and a murderer of hostages.”

Ben Gvir did not remain silent and responded directly to the group, pointing to his son standing beside him: “He is protecting you, draft-dodgers.”

After Shabbos, Ben Gvir released a statement describing the confrontation. “This Shabbos I stayed with my family in Kfar Malal at the home of a wonderful family. In the morning, I left wrapped in my tallis on the way to daven at the beis knesses, together with my son who came back from his elite unit to spend Shabbos with us. Suddenly, a group of violent and dangerous anarchists surrounded us, holding cell phones and cameras on Shabbos, shouting shameful accusations like: ‘Terrorists, racists, murderers of hostages.’”

Ben Gvir strongly criticized the demonstrators’ behavior: “It is a disgrace and a shame that a soldier in an elite unit has to hear insults and curses from a handful of draft-dodgers. It is a disgrace and a shame that they disregard Shabbos — if it were Muslims, they would be respectful — and it is a disgrace and a shame for their vulgarity and style. But they will keep shouting, I will continue working for Am Yisroel, and Shuval will continue serving in his unit for everyone!”

{Matzav.com Israel}

Israel’s Air Force is carrying out strikes against the Houthi targets in Sanaa, including missile bases, a power plant, and the presidential palace, local media reported late Sunday afternoon. The report comes on the same day that an IDF investigation revealed that for the first time, the Houthis fired a missile containing Iranian cluster munitions at Israel on Friday night. Earlier on Sunday, Walla reported that Israel is preparing to carry out a large-scale strike against the Houthis.     According to a political source quoted by the report, IDF intelligence and Mossad officials are compiling an extensive list of Houthi military targets. Despite claims by senior IDF officials in recent months that striking the Houthis is challenging because most of their critical military targets are underground, the political source said that “the Houthis are conquerable. They need to be hit simultaneously in their command and control system, ports, military capabilities, and defense industry.” In June, the IDF carried out a targeted assassination attempt on the Houthis’ Chief of Staff, Muhammad Abd Gharmari, while he was chewing khat with other senior officials. He survived the attack but was seriously wounded. Since October 7, Houthi missile attacks have forced millions of Israelis into shelters, often in the dead of the night. Israel has carried out multiple retaliatory strikes on Houthi targets, but the attacks on Israel have continued. (YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)

More than two months after the originally scheduled date, uncertainty surrounds the highly anticipated wedding of Avner Netanyahu, son of israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu.

The event, initially planned for Chavat Ronit in the Sharon region, was postponed due to the war with Iran. According to previous reports, the ceremony was expected to take place today, but as of now, there are no visible preparations at the venue.

Back on June 16, ahead of the originally planned date, the area surrounding the exclusive estate was buzzing with activity. Trucks and cranes were seen installing iron fencing and barriers stretching hundreds of meters around the property. Local residents were given instructions to prepare for road closures, and security forces were deployed in significant numbers to secure the event.

This time, however, the atmosphere is completely different. Over the past week, there have been no signs of fencing, no heavy equipment, and residents have received no special instructions regarding traffic restrictions or security arrangements.

During the earlier preparations in June, widespread protests were planned near the venue, aimed at disrupting guests’ arrival. Last week, activists issued a call for a demonstration to coincide with the expected new wedding date, but since then, no additional updates have been issued, raising questions about whether those plans are still in place.

Local residents say the contrast is striking. “Last time we saw heavy security preparations, roadblocks, and lots of chaos,” one resident explained. “This time, there’s no sign of any special arrangements. It looks like either the wedding will be held with just a small group of guests, or maybe it will take place somewhere else entirely that hasn’t been revealed.”

In nearby communities such as Harutzim, Bnei Tzion, and Batzra, residents were previously advised to work from home on the original wedding date due to anticipated road closures and security measures. No such instructions have been issued this time.

The wedding, initially expected to host hundreds of guests but no political figures, was planned to take place near the estate’s lake, with strict confidentiality agreements signed by all vendors and event staff. The current postponement marks the second delay. The celebration was originally scheduled for November 26, 2024, but was pushed to the summer because of scheduling conflicts, only to be postponed again due to Operation Am K’Lavi.

At this point, whether the event will still take place at Chavat Ronit, proceed quietly elsewhere, or be postponed yet again remains unclear.

{Matzav.com Israel}

An initial investigation by the Air Force in the wake of the failure to intercept the Houthi missile launched at Ben Gurion Airport on Friday night revealed that the missile was equipped with a cluster bomb warhead. It is the first time that the Iranian-backed Houthis fired cluster munitions at Israel. Iran attacked Israel with several missiles with cluster munitions, which fire smaller explosives over a wide area, during Operation Rising Lion. The IDF stated that the failure to intercept the missile is being thoroughly investigated but does not stem from the type of missile itself. “The air defense systems, and in particular the upper layer, are capable of intercepting missiles of this type, as they have done in the past,” an IDF spokesperson said. (YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)

A large brush fire is burning near Mevaseret Zion in central Israel, with police warning that they are considering closing Route 1, the main highway linking Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. Law enforcement officials confirm that residents of two streets in Mevaseret Zion, located just west of Jerusalem, are being evacuated as a precaution. Fire officials add that they are also considering evacuating hikers in the area depending on how the situation develops. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

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Leaked recordings aired by Channel 12 on Friday night revealed that Aharon Haliva, the former head of the IDF Military Intelligence Directorate, claimed that Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu disregarded intelligence assessments and ignored repeated warnings to strengthen preparations ahead of the events of October 7.

According to the report, Haliva explained, “In the past, it was common for the prime minister to meet with the head of the Intelligence Directorate once a week. Then it went down to once a month, then once every two months. By the end, meetings were only once every six months.”

Haliva further emphasized that “it is not for the head of the Intelligence Directorate to decide whether he would meet with the prime minister.”

The report also noted that Haliva expressed concern over Iran’s nuclear ambitions, stating, “If one day the state investigation committee opens the books on the last 20 years of our dealings with the nuclear issue and the money we invested there, building the barrier in Gaza will be peanuts compared to the billions invested there for nothing.”

In the recordings, Haliva also raised doubts about Israel’s handling of Operation Rising Lion — also referred to as the 12-Day War that took place from June 13 to June 24, 2025. He remarked, “I don’t know what should have been done. I’m not going into the analysis now, but [US President Donald] Trump should not have been pressured to withdraw from the nuclear deal.”

Haliva also recalled that during the Israel-Hamas War, just four days after the October 7 attacks, a tense confrontation occurred between Netanyahu and then-defense minister Yoav Gallant. According to Haliva, the disagreement centered on Gallant’s insistence that Israel should have launched strikes on targets in Lebanon at the start of the war — an approach Netanyahu eventually came to support.

This latest release follows recordings from the previous week, also published by Channel 12, in which Haliva sparked controversy by stating, “For every person killed on October 7 [by Hamas terrorists], 50 Palestinians need to die.”

In those earlier recordings, Haliva also addressed a fundamental failure in Israel’s intelligence framework, admitting, “One of the hardest problems before October 7 was the belief that intelligence was omnipotent. It is not just arrogance, it’s deeper.”

{Matzav.com}

The Israeli Air Force is investigating why air defense systems failed to intercept the Houthi missile launched at Israel on Friday night, including the possibility that the missile contained cluster munitions. Iran fired several cluster munitions, which fire smaller explosives over a wide area, during Operation Rising Lion. Initial reports said that the missile disintegrated in midair over Israel, and several interceptors launched at the fragments failed to intercept them, including Israel’s Arrow, David’s Sling, and Iron Dome systems and the American THAAD system. One of the fragments exploded in the yard of a home in the Ginaton moshav, near Ben-Gurion Airport. B’Chasdei Hashem, the homeowner had entered her bomb shelter and was not injured, but her home sustained light damage. Shortly after the attack, a senior Houthi official published a video saying that “this is a historic moment in which a Yemeni missile split up into several missiles over Israel.” A Houthi spokesperson later claimed responsibility for the attack, saying that the terror group launched a Palestine 2 hypersonic ballistic missile at Ben-Gurion Airport and claimed that the missile can travel at 16 times the speed of sound and has stealth technology to evade radar. (YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)

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