Torah World – Matzav.com: Recent Episodes
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In a dramatic halachic decision prompted by the ongoing war, former Rishon Letzion and nosi of the Moetzet Chachmei HaTorah of Shas, Rav Yitzchak Yosef, has ruled that weddings may be held during the Bein HaMetzarim period this year due to the extenuating circumstances facing many couples across the country.
The ruling comes in light of widespread cancellations of weddings following Home Front Command guidelines. In response to questions from rabbanim across both Sephardic and Ashkenazic communities, Rav Yosef issued a detailed halachic letter permitting — and in some cases encouraging — couples not to postpone their wedding plans during the traditionally mournful period between the 17th of Tammuz and Rosh Chodesh Av.
The letter, titled “Holding Weddings During Bein HaMetzarim, 5785,” offers critical guidance to numerous young couples whose weddings were either canceled or delayed and who now face severe difficulty finding alternative dates or venues.
Rav Yosef makes clear that for Sephardic Jews who follow the rulings of the Mechaberin Shulchan Aruch, it is fully permitted — and even a mitzvah — to marry during this time. He emphasizes that this has been the long-standing custom in Yerushalayim for generations and applies regardless of whether the chosson has already fulfilled the mitzvah of pru u’rvu.
Although the ruling is rooted in Sephardic custom, Rav Yosef addresses Ashkenazic practice as well, noting that those who typically follow the more stringent opinion of the Rama, which prohibits weddings from the 17th of Tammuz onward, should still consider being lenient this year. He writes that the logistical challenges and emotional toll of postponements could lead to serious michsholim (spiritual pitfalls) and hardship. “HaMachmir bazeh, yotzei sechoro behefsedo,” he writes — “one who is stringent in this matter will ultimately lose more than he gains.”
He supports his lenient ruling by citing several Acharonim, including the Aruch HaShulchan, who permitted weddings during this period when necessary (excluding the week of Tishah B’Av), and Rav Aryeh Leib Grossnas in Shu”t Lev Aryeh, who ruled that “in a time of need, one should permit it.” Rav Yosef adds, “There is no greater time of need than the current moment.”
The letter concludes with a heartfelt call for Klal Yisrael to strengthen their commitment to Torah and tefillah. “Eis tzarah hi l’Yaakov, u’mimenah yevashea.”
{Matzav.com Israel}
In a moving recollection, Ponovezh Rosh Yeshiva Rav Beel Povarsky shared memories of the tumultuous days of Israel’s War of Independence in 1948, describing how the safest place he could think of during air raid sirens was the home of the Chazon Ish zt”l.
Rav Povarsky recounted: “The war had just begun, in 1948, when Ben Gurion declared the establishment of the state. Immediately the Arabs, including Egypt, planned to attack. Egypt sent a plane. There were sirens, and a bomb landed here on the K’vish HaShachor.”
He described how people reacted to the sirens at the time: “When the alarm sounded, there was a shelter at the yeshiva. Everyone went there. Some stood close to the pillars of the building.”
But Rav Povarsky’s instinct was different.
“The first thing I did when the siren went off,” he said, “was run to the Chazon Ish. That was the best shelter there was. I came in, and he was sitting and learning. He was so happy I had come. The windows were open—nothing was closed. We spoke in learning. That’s how it was.”
{Matzav.com Israel}
Rav Kalman Bar, Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi of Israel, has issued a psak halachah stating that krias haTorah missed due to shul closures must be completed under specific conditions.
The psak, published following disruptions caused by recent closures due to security concerns, rules that the parsha of Beha’aloscha, which was not read in many communities, should be completed retroactively. The ruling is based on the opinions of both early and later poskim affirming the obligation to make up a missed krias haTorah when the cancellation results from external circumstances such as a security crisis.
However, the obligation to make up the reading depends on how many members of the kehillah missed it. If the majority of the kehillah did not hear the Torah reading, then the missed parashah should be read the following Shabbos alongside that week’s regular parashah.
In contrast, if only a minority missed the reading, there is no obligation to inconvenience the broader community. Still, Rav Ber notes that a separate Torah reading may be arranged for that minority, if feasible.
Regarding how to perform the makeup reading, Rav Ber instructs that three olim should be taken from the missed parashah, and the fourth oleh should continue with the beginning of the current week’s parsha, similar to the practice when two parshiyos are read together. The same principle applies to making up the missed haftarah.
The psak also delves into a broader halachic discussion regarding whether Torah reading is a communal obligation or an individual one. Rav Ber presented various views from leading poskim and concludes that a Torah reading should not be arranged for fewer than ten people unless they are strict about regularly hearing krias haTorah.
{Matzav.com Israel}
The story of the Meraglim in Parshas Shelach is one of the most tragic and consequential episodes in the Torah. But beneath the surface of the familiar narrative lies a deep and nuanced insight into the type of leadership chosen, the spiritual mindset of Klal Yisroel, and the nature of their mistake.
The Questions: What Changed — and Why?In the first three parshiyos of Sefer Bamidbar — Bamidbar, Naso, and Beha’aloscha — we are introduced to the Nesi’im, the leaders of each shevet. They are appointed during the census, they bring korbanos during the chanukas haMishkan, and they are central to the organization of the camp.
Then suddenly, in Parshas Shelach, there is a shift.
The spies sent to scout Eretz Yisroel are not the Nesi’im we already know. The Torah uses a different phrase: Roshei Bnei Yisroel, and the list of names is entirely different. Why?
Even more puzzling is that Hashem says explicitly “shelach lecha anashim… kol nasi bahem” — implying that the men sent were supposed to be Nesi’im. Why, then, are different people chosen? And why does the Torah consistently refer to them as anashim — not once, but repeatedly?
This leads us to a second layer of questions, from Parshas Devarim, where Moshe retells the story:
- He says the Meraglim gave a good report — yet we know they discouraged the nation and spoke negatively.
- He says “velo avisem la’alos” — that the people refused to go up — but in Parshas Shelach it sounds like they were simply afraid.
- He says the people initiated the idea of sending spies — yet in Shelach, Hashem gives the command.
How do we make sense of this seeming contradiction between the two accounts?
The Deeper Picture: Leadership and IntentionsThe key lies in understanding the distinction between two types of leadership in the Torah.
The Nesi’im, featured in Bamidbar, Naso, and Beha’aloscha, were political and communal leaders. They oversaw census numbers, brought public offerings, managed tribal organization. They were like governors — practical, grounded, responsible for the people’s material welfare.
We see this from the language of the Torah itself: in Vayikra (4:22), the Torah speaks of “asher nasi yecheta” — when a nasi sins, he must bring a korban chatas. Rashi there explains that this refers to a melech, a king. The title nasi, then, clearly has a connotation of executive or governmental leadership — someone responsible for national outcomes, political decisions, and practical governance.
But the term “anashim”, which appears repeatedly in Shelach and Devarim, hints at a different type of figure. In Parshas Yisro, Moshe is told to appoint “anashim chachamim, yir’ei Elokim, anshei emes” — spiritually refined individuals, fit to be judges and teachers. These were not political administrators or tribal representatives — they were men whose leadership came from Torah wisdom, fear of Heaven, and personal integrity. In other words, anashim represent a purely spiritual role, whose entire authority stems from their inner madreigah and connection to ruchniyus.
It seems that the people requested to send this second type — anashim, not Nesi’im. Why?
Because they were hoping to reframe the journey into Eretz Yisroel as a purely spiritual experience. In the midbar, they were surrounded by Ananei HaKavod, eating mon, drinking from the Be’er Miriam, with clothing that didn’t wear out and no physical responsibilities. It was a life of pure ruchniyus.
But Eretz Yisroel would be different. There, they would need to:
- Conquer the land
- Build homes and cities
- Plant fields
- Establish courts and armies
- Build a physical Beis HaMikdash
The people were nervous — not only about the dangers of war, but about the shift in avodah. They wanted to hold onto their spiritual cocoon.
So they suggested sending spiritual leaders — anashim — who would hopefully advocate for that perspective.
But when the Meraglim came back, they gave a report that was, in many ways, factually accurate. The land was strong. The inhabitants were imposing. It consumed those who lived there.
What they failed to say — and this was their tragic error — was that this very intensity was the sign of the land’s greatness. That the spiritual weight of the land was so great, it could not tolerate spiritual impurity. That the challenges were exactly the reason Hashem wanted Klal Yisroel to inherit it — to elevate and transform it.
Instead, they fueled the people’s fear. And the people, whose hearts were already hesitant, collapsed.
That’s why Moshe later says “velo avisem la’alos”. It wasn’t merely fear. It was an inner rejection. A resistance to the kind of mission that demanded full physical investment infused with holiness.
And that’s why the Meraglim were punished so harshly. Not for lying — but for failing to lift the people up. For failing to understand the moment. For missing the ta’am of their mission.
The Mission of Torah Is to Elevate the WorldThe midbar was a world of pure ruchniyus — necessary for preparing Klal Yisroel to receive the Torah.
But the ultimate goal was not to remain there.
The goal was — and always is — to bring Torah into the world.
Into cities. Into courts. Into armies. Into land.
Even the Beis HaMikdash — the holiest place in the world — was made of metals, stone and wood, with kohanim walking barefoot on physical ground.
The failure of the Meraglim was not fear alone. It was the inability — or refusal — to transition from a Torah of the sky to a Torah of the earth. To go from mon to lechem min ha’aretz.
And that’s why this parsha echoes throughout every generation. Because the challenge of uplifting the physical through the spiritual is the mission of Klal Yisroel in every era.
Fast Forward: Why This Still Matters TodayThis exact fear is playing out again in our generation.
For two thousand years, Judaism in Golus has been centered on Torah and tefillah. That was all we had. And we built a beautiful world of ruchniyus — yeshivos, gedolim, sifrei Torah, deep learning, powerful tefillos.
But now we’re being asked to shift gears.
For anyone with open eyes and heart its obvious that the Geulah is here. But for many, the responsibility and risk that comes along with that, are terrifying.
If the Golus is over then we need to enter Eretz Yisroel, and build cities, create a government, defend borders, establish sovereignty, and prepare for a real Beis HaMikdash — one made of stone and wood and labor.
And just like the Meraglim, today, we hesitate.
It’s safer in the Beis Medrash. It’s safer in exile-mode. It’s spiritually cleaner to stay away from politics, from armies, from national responsibility.
So we say: “We’re still in Golus.”
Because if we’re still in Golus, we’re patur. No need for Korban Pesach. No need for milchemes mitzvah. No need for Aliyah. We don’t need to take the risk and we can justify it.
But that mindset — even if well-intentioned — is the exact mistake of the Meraglim.
In a powerful address delivered at the conclusion of a shiur klali in his yeshiva, Rav Moshe Shternbuch spoke about the war with Iran and the fear it has instilled across the country.
Rav Shternbuch urged his talmidim not to fall into panic or fear, emphasizing the need for both spiritual awakening and steadfast emunah. “We are currently in a time of distress,” he said. “The Arabs are launching many missiles toward Eretz Yisrael. There are casualties and injuries — may Hashem protect us. But we must understand that this is not happenstance. It is the voice of the Ribbono Shel Olam — ‘Kol dodi dofek, pischi li achosi ra’ayasi’ — calling on us to open our hearts and examine our actions, and to cry out to Hashem.”
However, he continued, fear and panic are not the appropriate response. “A Jew must have faith and trust. As my rebbi, Rav Moshe Schneider zt”l, used to say during World War II, at the height of the Blitz, when the Nazis, yemach shemam, were bombing London nightly: ‘Every bomb has an address.’ We believe with complete faith that no bomb falls randomly. Each one is sent and directed precisely by Hakadosh Baruch Hu. There is nothing to fear from a bomb.”
Rav Shternbuch emphasized that this principle — that nothing happens by chance — is foundational to Jewish life. “Our duty is not to fear them, but to remember that we are completely dependent on Hashem. As it says: ‘Hinei Keil yeshuasi, evtach velo efchad’. This is the cornerstone of a Jew’s life — to know that there is no such thing as coincidence, that everything is from Him. Ein adam nokef etzba’o milemata ela im kein machrizin alav milemaalah. No one moves a finger below without Hashem’s will above. There is no being without Hashem, and no power outside of His.”
Rav Shternbuch issued a heartfelt plea to his talmidim and the broader Torah world to redouble their efforts in limud haTorah. “We must be vigilant against bittul Torah. Hashem watches us every moment and sees all our deeds. Every word we utter is recorded Above — not a single syllable is missed. At the time of judgment, they present our own words back to us. Therefore, one must be careful not to speak idle or unnecessary words.”
{Matzav.com Israel}
At a Cabinet meeting convened Wednesday evening—the first since the launch of Operation Am KeLavi—ministers received a comprehensive security briefing on the ongoing military operations deep inside Tehran.
During the meeting, Deputy Minister Uri Maklev raised his voice in protest, accusing the Home Front Command of neglecting the chareidi public when it comes to emergency alerts. Maklev said that users of kosher phones are not receiving real-time alerts from the Home Front Command. He noted that the Reshut Ha’chareidit (Chareidi Affairs Division) in the Prime Minister’s Office had already reached out with practical solutions, but the Home Front Command has been ignoring the matter.
“Why is the chareidi public not receiving emergency alerts like other citizens?” Maklev asked Defense Minister Yisroel Katz. “Chareidi municipal leaders and residents are turning to us. The chareidi public is not connected to conventional media outlets and is unaware of incoming alerts. The Reshut Ha’chareidit in the Prime Minister’s Office presented viable solutions, yet the Home Front Command continues to disregard them.”
In response, the Defense Minister assured the Cabinet that he would personally address the issue.
Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi also joined the discussion, raising a related concern: the need to implement the “silent wave” alert system on national radio stations throughout the country—including in areas outside the north and south. He, too, said this issue is being overlooked.
{Matzav.com Israel}
As the current military conflict between Israel and Iran continues to unfold, Rav Yitzchak Dovid Grossman, Chief Rabbi of Migdal HaEmek and founder of Migdal Ohr, delivered a powerful address linking today’s events to the prophetic writings of Rashi, composed nearly 900 years ago.
In a moving message to students of the Migdal Ohr network, broadcast via the school’s audio platform, Rav Grossman referenced the hostility of Iran toward the Jewish people and framed it in stark historical and theological terms.
“Unlike other nations or regimes,” Rav Grossman began, “the Iranians don’t merely hate Jews or Israel. Their hatred is ideological. What they’re trying to do is what the Nazi oppressor attempted 80 years ago—declaring Jews to be subhuman and therefore not entitled to the rights of human beings. Afrah lepumayhu—may their words turn to dust.”
He continued by elaborating on the extremist ideology at play. “The Iranian doctrine is a racial one. They believe anything is permitted against Israelis—no restrictions, no limitations—because, in their view, it is a war against the ‘Satan,’ where there are no rules. Middle East experts have long noted that beyond their hatred, Iran is obsessed with humiliating Bnei Yisrael.”
But then Rav Grossman pointed to a striking passage in the writings of Rashi, which he described as prophetic in light of recent events.
He cited a verse from Yeshayahu, Chapter 32, verse 19: “U’barad b’redes haya’ar, u’vashiflah tishpal ha’ir—And it shall hail when the forest comes down, and in the low place the city shall be brought low.”
Explaining Rashi’s commentary, Rav Grossman said, “Rashi writes that in the future, Hashem will rain destruction upon the cities of the enemies of Israel—those cities that are full and teeming, like a forest is full of trees. He uses the phrase: ‘Veyamtir Hakadosh Baruch Hu es matar pachei haresha’im sheheim achshav benuyim u’meileim arim keya’ar’—Hashem will rain down the downfall of the wicked, whose cities are now built up like a forest.”
But the most chilling part of Rashi’s words, Rav Grossman emphasized, is when he singles out one specific nation: “Uvashiflah—shenishpeilu Yisrael ad achshav, tishpal ir—metropolis shel Paras. The city that will be brought low in the place where the Jews were humiliated,” Rashi writes, “is the capital of Persia.”
“That is,” explained Rav Grossman, “mida k’neged mida. You sought to wipe us out and humiliate us before the world, and now, in the same manner that you intended for us, your own city—Tehran and its satellites—will be disgraced.”
Rav Grossman concluded with a heartfelt prayer: “May the Almighty grant us the merit to witness the unfolding of redemption, and see with our very own eyes the realization of Yeshayahu’s vision. Amein.”
{Matzav.com Israel}
After a trip to strengthen Jewish communities abroad, Rav Azriel Auerbach returned to Erets Yisroel today via an unusual route, crossing the Jordanian border under tight security after landing in Aqaba on a private aircraft.
The journey concluded a trip that began two weeks ago, when Rav Auerbach responded to the request of American gedolim to travel to the United States and serve as the keynote speaker at the Adirei HaTorah gathering. Throughout his visit, he participated in numerous kabalos panim held in yeshivos and Torah centers across the country, delivering powerful divrei chizuk and shiurim to thousands of bnei Torah.
The rav boarded a flight back to Israel last Thursday. However, about 30 minutes before the scheduled landing, Israeli airspace was closed due to the onset of the military operation in Iran. The pilot was instructed to divert, and the aircraft was rerouted to Cyprus.
The plane landed in Larnaca on Friday, and Rav Auerbach, together with his entourage, spent Shabbos at a boutique hotel on the island. A prominent philanthropist and confidant of the rav, who had been on the same flight, quickly arranged all the necessary logistics — including meals, accommodations, and a minyan of travelers. Special arrangements were made to designate part of the hotel for Shabbos tefillos, and during the course of Shabbos, the rav addressed the stranded travelers, offering words of encouragement and invoking the verse from Parshas Beha’aloscha, “Al pi Hashem yachanu v’al pi Hashem yisa’u” — emphasizing that everything happens according to Hashem’s will, and there is no room for complaints or second-guessing.
Following Shabbos, Rav Auerbach accepted an invitation from community leaders in London to spend a few days in the city while waiting for conditions in Israel to stabilize. He continued his mission of chizuk among European Jewry, attending kabalos panim in local yeshivos and Torah institutions.
Today, the rav boarded a private jet that flew to the Jordanian city of Aqaba, adjacent to the Israeli border. Accompanied by his entourage and under police protection, he crossed into Israel and traveled to his home in the Beit Vagan neighborhood of Yerushalayim, where crowds of talmidim and admirers were waiting to greet him.
{Matzav.com Israel}
In response to widespread confusion and numerous questions regarding payments for educational institutions and preschools during the ongoing war, the Beis Din of Beitar Illit, led by Rav Tzvi Braverman, issued a formal set of halachic guidelines this week.
The ruling marks the first major halachic response to the array of financial dilemmas caused by the war’s impact on school operations across the country.
In their letter, the dayanim differentiate between various types of institutions. For official, state-supervised kindergartens and daycare centers, they ruled that payment arrangements must follow the official directives issued by authorized government bodies.
When it comes to private kindergartens, the beis din made a distinction based on whether the facility has access to a mamad (reinforced protected room). If the kindergarten is equipped with a secure space, it is permitted to operate under the condition that no more than seven children are present at any given time. If more families wish to send their children, the school must institute a rotation system.
If a private kindergarten does not have access to a protected room and therefore cannot operate safely, the beis din ruled that parents are not obligated to pay tuition for those days the school remains closed.
The ruling also addressed concerns from parents reluctant to send their children, as well as from school operators hesitant to reopen despite official clearance. These situations, the letter stated, must be considered individually with sensitivity to safety and halachic nuance.
The beis din concluded by noting that additional guidance will be issued in the near future concerning other wartime-related financial obligations, such as payments for simchah halls and transportation to schools.
The complete ruling from the Beis Din of Beitar is included below.
{Matzav.com Israel}
Residents of the Pardes Katz neighborhood in Bnei Brak are sharing a powerful story of Hashgocha and a narrowly averted tragedy after an Iranian missile struck a local school building in the early hours of Monday morning, Matzav.com has learned.
The missile made a direct hit on the Beis Yaakov Otzar HaChaim school, a mosad for Sephardic girls in the area, reducing it to rubble. Just days ago, the building had been bustling with hundreds of students. Recently renovated, the school had been fully operational until the missile strike.
According to accounts from locals, the shelter in the school had been meticulously prepared for emergency use only hours earlier by devoted staff members who came in the evening to clean and arrange it. Once they finished, they locked the shelter and handed the key to a neighbor who lives adjacent to the building.
At 4:15 a.m., an air raid siren blared across the city, waking residents and sending them scrambling for cover, as instructed by Home Front Command. Many residents who live near the school ran to the designated shelter—only to find it locked.
With no time to spare, they quickly turned back and rushed to alternate nearby shelters. Moments later, the missile struck the school with a massive explosion, destroying the entire structure and damaging nearby buildings. Windows shattered, and debris was scattered in all directions.
In a chilling twist, it was revealed that the neighbor who had the shelter key had not woken up during the siren. Had the shelter been unlocked and used, it could have ended in unspeakable tragedy. Although the shelter itself remained structurally intact, the surrounding area was strewn with wreckage and hazardous debris that would have made any rescue operation extremely difficult.
“The missile landed in the front section of the building,” one resident explained. “Had it hit the rear, where the shelter is located, we might have faced a devastating loss of life.”
Now standing in the shadow of the destroyed school, residents are overwhelmed by the clear string of miracles that unfolded. “Chasdei Hashem ki lo samnu ki lo chalu rachamav. It is only by Hashem’s mercy that we were not harmed,” one neighbor said emotionally. “We hope the day comes soon when we can return to this building that our daughters loved so dearly.”
While the building lies in ruins, the story of its locked shelter—an obstacle that turned out to be a brocha—continues to serve as a moving reminder of Hashem’s protection in the face of danger.
{Matzav.com Israel}
Agudath Israel of America will be presenting, along with Chazaq and MDY, a grand Daf Yomi siyum on Maseches Shevuos Wednesday night, June 18.
The event will feature divrei chizuk from Rav Tzemach Mazuz, rosh yeshiva of Yeshiva Kisseh Rachamim.
The evening will feature powerful divrei chizuk, heartfelt tefillah, and celebration.
Location:
Yeshiva Ohel Simcha
141-41 72nd Avenue
Flushing, NY 11367
The program will begin at 8:30 PM. Men and women are invited to attend.
For those who cannot attend in person, the event will be streamed live at: TorahAnytime.com/Chazaqlive
To listen in to the program, call 718-820-7284 ext. 46.
May we continue to come together for such occasions and hear besuros tovos for all of Klal Yisroel around the world.
{Matzav.com}
The world of niggunim and chassidus is in mourning with the passing of one of its greatest composers, Reb Yitzchok Ungar z”l of Vizhnitz, who passed away at the age of 86. His niggunim became timeless treasures in the chassidic world, sung at countless tishen, Shabbos tables, and yom tov gatherings around the globe.
Among his most famous compositions is the beloved niggun “Menuchah V’simchah,” along with hundreds of others that have been embraced by kehillos worldwide and woven into the very fabric of chassidic life.
Reb Yitzchok was a son of Reb Dovid Yosef Ungar. As a young boy, he gravitated toward the Vizhnitz court and quickly developed a close bond with the Imrei Chaim of Vizhnitz, who recognized his musical gift and would often request that he compose niggunim for the Yomim Noraim, Shabbosos, and mo’adim.
He married a daughter of Reb Yehoshua Zev Mechlovitz, a senior Vizhnitz chossid who resided in Haifa. Reb Yitzchok settled in Kiryas Vizhnitz, where he lived in close proximity to the Imrei Chaim and continued to compose niggunim that inspired generations.
Aside from his musical genius, Reb Yitzchok earned a livelihood as a sofer stam, with many seeking out his Sifrei Torah, tefillin, and mezuzos. He lived a life of humility and simplicity, raising his children in the path of Torah, yiras Shamayim, and deep emunah.
Davening at Beis Shalom, the Vizhnitzer shul near the community’s senior center, Reb Yitzchok was beloved as a baal tefillah, especially during the Yomim Noraim.
One remarkable story he shared only recently involved a dream following the petirah of the Imrei Chaim. In the dream, his Rebbe appeared and taught him a new niggun. Upon waking, Reb Yitzchok immediately recorded it. Just a few weeks ago, sensing his end was near, he revealed this dream and taught the melody to others for the first time.
According to those close to him, Reb Yitzchok composed approximately 1,500 niggunim over his lifetime.
After the passing of the Imrei Chaim and later the Yeshuos Moshe and Toras Mordechai, Reb Yitzchok remained deeply connected to the current Vizhnitzer Rebbe and was a constant presence at every event and tish.
In recent weeks, Reb Yitzchok’s health declined and he was hospitalized at Mayanei HaYeshua Medical Center. Surrounded by his family, he was niftar last night.
He is survived by his devoted wife, children, and grandchildren, all following in his path of Torah and chassidus. His sons include Rav Dovid, a mechanech; Rav Avraham, a noted askan; Rav Chaim Meir; and Rav Meshulam Faish. Among his nephews are the esteemed mashpia Rav Nachman Biderman and the Gaavad of Tchaba.
The levayah was held this morning at his home on Rechov Admor M’Vizhnitz and passed through the main Vizhnitzer beis medrash in Kiryas Vizhnitz.
Yehi zichro boruch.
{Matzav.com Israel}
During a moving address at a welcome reception held in his honor in the United States, Slabodka Rosh Yeshiva Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch, who is currently visiting America to lead a fundraising campaign for the Keren Olam HaTorah fund, delivered heartfelt words about the ongoing crisis in Eretz Yisroel.
Rav Hirsch implored American Jews to deeply feel the pain and anxiety of their brethren in Israel. “Moshe Rabbeinu went down to Mitzrayim, saw the suffering of his brothers, and cried with them,” he said. “He wished he could help. Chazal say that Moshe acted with true brotherhood—achvah—and that’s why he merited the sneh (burning bush).”
Drawing from that message, the Rosh Yeshiva said, “We’re speaking about our own flesh and blood. Anyone with relatives there knows the fear they are living with. And every Yid should feel that fear with them.
“Those who are there can’t sleep at night because of the fear and anxiety—each missile launch brings terror that it may land near them. Some people don’t even have what to eat. They live in constant uncertainty, and we need to daven, to think about their reality, and to be emotionally present with them,” he said.
Rav Hirsch went on to emphasize a second key point: “Everything happening now is from Hakadosh Baruch Hu. It’s not the Iranians. They are merely the tool through which Hashem’s will is carried out. We don’t know why, but we know clearly that it is all from Hashem. That is why we must turn to Him, to beg Him to remove His anger and bring an end to this war.”
The Rosh Yeshiva added a third fundamental: “We must truly believe that our tefillos have power. If we really believed they worked, we would daven more. There’s an obligation to feel that our prayers can make a difference—they can change everything.”
He concluded by stressing these three foundations: “We must feel the pain of our fellow Jews. We must know that everything is from Hashem. And we must believe that our tefillos help. If we internalize these truths, Hashem will hear our prayers, bring yeshuah, and all will be good, be’ezras Hashem.”
{Matzav.com}
During a shiur on Monday night, Rav Yitzchok Zilberstein delivered guidance steeped in Torah, sensitivity, and heart. Speaking in the Beis Knesses HaMerkazi of Ramat Elchanan in Bnei Brak, the Rosh Yeshiva addressed pressing halachic questions that have arisen in recent days amid ongoing rocket attacks.
During the shiur, a participant shared a striking account: a southern shul had been entirely burned down in a missile strike—except for the Aron Kodesh and the Sifrei Torah. Rav Zilberstein responded with sobering candor: “Why was the shul destroyed? I’m embarrassed to tell you why. There were people there who spoke divrei beitailim in the beis haknesses… If there were no idle or negative words spoken, the shul wouldn’t have fallen. It would have brought down the one who fired the rocket! But if it collapsed, it was destroyed by those speaking lashon hara and empty talk. Not by the Arabs with their bombs.”
As the shiur progressed, a warning was issued about an imminent siren and the tzibbur was instructed to move to the shul’s underground shelter. Rav Zilberstein offered perspective: “It’s not right to say we’re ‘leaving’ the beis haknesses. We’re not leaving—we’re just moving locations. This isn’t just a shelter. It’s a beis haknesses. A place of Torah and tefillah. The shiur continues—it’s still a beis haknesses, not just a basement.”
Once in the shelter, Rav Zilberstein resumed the shiur: “We came here to learn—we didn’t come here to hide. We simply haven’t finished yet. So we’ll continue.”
Rav Zilberstein addressed further wartime questions, including whether one should recite Hamapil before going to sleep amid sirens. His answer: “You should say Hamapil, because your berachah can bring them down. You’re stronger than they are. You say Hamapil—they don’t. They’re trying to destroy Jews. We’re invoking the Ribbono Shel Olam.”
Another question was raised: If one is woken up by a siren after alos hashachar, may he return to sleep or must he first daven? Rav Zilberstein replied, “You can’t go back to sleep. Now it’s time for Krias Shema and tefillah. After that, you can sleep.”
Toward the end, Rav Zilberstein gave heartfelt words of encouragement: “I want to bless you, my dear and beloved ones. No other nation in the world does this during sirens. The other nations talk politics or debate Trump. Only one nation, when there’s a siren, gathers in shuls and learns Torah. There’s no nation like this one. Mi ke’amcha Yisroel, goy echad ba’aretz—there’s nothing like it.”
He concluded with a personal and touching piece of advice: “You need to buy something for your wife. Why? Because she was alone during the sirens. She suffered. She waited alone. You need to show her you understand that she endured this because of us. Buy something small—a treat, a little gift—something to let her know you appreciate her pain and are there for her.”
{Matzav.com Israel}
In the wake of the Iranian missile that struck Bnei Brak, severely damaging a school for special-needs children, Gerer Rosh Yeshiva Rav Shaul Alter delivered a powerful and emotional reflection on the tragedy, questioning why such a vulnerable institution was targeted.
Speaking on the “Hi Sichasi” call-in line, where he regularly discusses Torah topics with the talmidei chachamim of his kehillah, Rav Shaul veered from his usual format to comment on current events. Referring to the heartbreaking strike that hit a facility for children with special needs, he remarked, “The Ribbono Shel Olam is awaiting the tefillos of those children in particular.”
In a poignant statement, Rav Shaul pointed out that these children, more than others, are shaken when their routines are disrupted. “They experience the change most acutely,” he explained, “and their cries in tefillah—emanating from such sincere, broken hearts—may pierce the heavens.”
The Rosh Yeshiva recalled a recent moment he witnessed at the wedding of a daughter of the gabbai of Rav Yechezkel Halpern. There, an autistic child suddenly began calling out loudly. “I saw it not as a disruption,” Rav Shaul said, “but as that child’s personal way of speaking to the Borei Olam.”
He concluded with conviction, “There is no doubt in my mind that the tefillos of such children can open gates and bring yeshuah.”
{Matzav.com Israel}
As Israel continues its fight in Operation Am K’Lavi, a special atzeres tefillah was held Monday evening at the Kosel, organized by the Western Wall Heritage Foundation. The emotionally charged event featured the sounding of shofaros and trumpets, invoking a segulah for victory against Israel’s enemies.
The gathering, held against the backdrop of the ongoing war and difficult security situation, brought together a group of rabbonim and community leaders who led heartfelt tefillos for the safety and success of IDF soldiers and security forces, for the recovery of the wounded, the safe return of the captives, and for the unity and protection of Klal Yisroel.
Among those who participated were Chief Rabbi Harav David Yosef; Chief Rabbi Harav Kalman Bar; Harav Reuven Elbaz, member of the Moetzet Chachmei HaTorah of Shas and Rosh Yeshivas Ohr HaChaim; Harav Shmuel Rabinowitz, rov of the Kosel and mekomos hakedoshim; Harav Zamir Cohen; as well as other rabbonim and public officials.
The tefillos included Tehillim, Selichos, and special supplications for chizuk, accompanied by the stirring blasts of shofaros and trumpets.
In stirring remarks during the event, the rabbonim called on the public to strengthen themselves in tefillah, emunah, and ahavas Yisroel.
Due to current security regulations from the IDF Home Front Command and the Israel Police, the event was held in a limited format. Nevertheless, tens of thousands across the country joined the atzeres via a live broadcast transmitted by the Western Wall Heritage Foundation on radio stations and news websites.
{Matzav.com Israel}
In light of the escalating security situation and the threat of missile attacks, Rav Dov Landau, rosh yeshiva of Slabodka, has issued a clear directive to immediately close Yeshivas Torah B’Tifarta in Elad due to the absence of proper protected areas (mamadim) on the premises.
Monday afternoon, Rav Yaakov Stefansky, rosh yeshiva of Torah B’Tifarta, held a consultation with Rav Landau regarding whether the yeshiva could continue functioning, despite the real danger posed by the lack of fortified shelter. Rav Stefansky explained that the yeshiva houses hundreds of bochurim and shutting it down would result in significant bitul Torah.
However, Rav Landau responded decisively and without hesitation: “If there are no protective shelters, the yeshiva must be closed. The bochurim will learn at home.”
Following this directive, the yeshiva administration issued a formal announcement to the student body: “By the instruction of the Gadol HaDor, our Rebbi, the Rosh Yeshiva Rav Dov Landau shlit”a, all bochurim are to return home as soon as possible and continue learning diligently in a safe and secure environment.”
Rav Stefansky also addressed the talmidim in the yeshiva’s beis medrash, stating that Rav Landau was unequivocal in his stance, viewing the situation as a matter of pikuach nefesh, requiring immediate compliance. He added that the yeshiva’s administration is actively working on finding a viable solution to allow the safe continuation of learning in the near future.
{Matzav.com Israel}
It is with great sadness that Matzav.*com reports the petirah of Rav Yisrael Sokol zt”l, one of the roshei yeshiva at Yeshivas Beis Medrash Elyon in Bnei Brak and author of Kuntres HaShiurim. He was 73 years old and was niftar* after battling a rare illness.
Rav Sokol was rushed today to Mayanei HaYeshua Medical Center after suffering from an infection. Despite the fervent tefillos of many mispallelim on behalf of Rav Yisrael ben Poria Leah, his condition deteriorated rapidly and, with hearts full of pain, Klal Yisroel now bids farewell to a towering figure in Torah.
The levayah will take place Tuesday morning at 10:00 a.m., departing from Yeshivas Beis Medrash Elyon in Bnei Brak and proceeding to the Ponovezh Cemetery for kevurah.
Rav Yisroel was born on the 23rd of Kislev in 1951 to his father, Rav Yosef Sokol and his mother, Mrs. Poria Leah.
As a young bochur, he entered the hallowed halls of Yeshivas Ponovezh, where he quickly distinguished himself through his exceptional diligence and clarity in learning. He earned the affection and respect of the roshei yeshiva, who recognized his greatness early on.
In due time, he married the daughter of the tzaddik Rav Shlomo Hershler, a man renowned for his bekius in all areas of Torah.
Rav Sokol began his harbotzas Torah in Yeshivas Birchas Yitzchok in Or Yehuda, where he served as a R”M, impacting many talmidim through his penetrating shiurim and hadracha. He had a particularly close relationship with Rav Don Segal, who held him in deep esteem.
In recent years, Rav Sokol rose to become one of the roshei yeshiva at Beis Medrash Elyon in Bnei Brak, where he delivered his shiurim with remarkable mesirus nefesh. Despite physical difficulty, he continued teaching with fire and dedication.
His Torah was preserved in his seriesof seforim, Kuntres HaShiurim, covering many sugyos in the yeshivah cycle.
He leaves behind a family of children and grandchildren continuing in his path.
Yehi zichro boruch.
{Matzav.com Israel}
In an emotionally charged moment during the chuppah of his granddaughter on Sunday evening, the Bobover Rebbe used the occasion to call upon his chassidim and all present to direct their thoughts and hearts toward the dire situation unfolding in Eretz Yisroel.
The wedding took place at the main Bobov beis medrash in Boro Park, a large and festive gathering celebrating the marriage of the Rebbe’s granddaughter, the daughter of Rav Chaim Dovid Wachsman, Dayan of Bobov-Monsey, to the son of Rav Moshe Horowitz, son of Rav Boruch Avrohom Horowitz, Rosh Yeshiva of Bobov and son-in-law of Rav Chaim Yaakov Horowitz.
As the chuppah began under the open skies, the Rebbe addressed the crowd with heartfelt words, reminding them of the painful reality facing Jews in the Holy Land.
“Aaleh es Yerushalayim al rosh simchasi (I shall place Yerushalayim above my greatest joy),” the Rebbe began. “Today, that posuk takes on even greater meaning. As we stand here under open skies, our fellow Jews—men, women, and children—in Eretz Yisroel are lying in bunkers. Hashem should protect them.”
The Rebbe’s remarks cast a solemn and powerful tone over the joyous celebration, stirring
שמחת בית באבובצילום: משה גולדשטייןשמחת בית באבובצילום: משה גולדשטייןשמחת בית באבובצילום: משה גולדשטייןשמחת בית באבובצילום: משה גולדשטיין
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שמחת בית באבובצילום: משה גולדשטיין
שמחת בית באבובצילום: משה גולדשטייןשמחת בית באבובצילום: משה גולדשטייןfeelings of achdus and concern for Acheinu Bnei Yisroel across the ocean.
{Matzav.com}
In a powerful shmuess delivered last night in the beis medrash of Yeshivas Slabodka in Bnei Brak, Rav Dov Landau, addressed the bochurim and avreichim with words of chizuk in light of the ongoing war between Israel and Iran.
“Klal Yisroel is experiencing very difficult days,” Rav Landau began. “These are days of confusion, days when it becomes so clear that HaKadosh Baruch Hu is guiding every aspect of creation. So many things people rely on disappear in a moment — swept away by the will of Heaven. This strengthens our understanding that we have no one to depend on other than our Father in Heaven. Ashreinu, how fortunate we are to have been raised with this awareness — that everything is from Shamayim.”
The Rosh Yeshiva continued: “We are living in a time when din and rachamim are intertwined. We don’t have prophets to tell us exactly what Hashem demands of us, but we do know what is expected of us. We, the bnei hayeshivos, the learners of Torah, are the crown of creation. We uphold the world. Our Torah study shields Klal Yisroel in the most literal sense. Therefore, we must fulfill our mission with even greater intensity. We must learn and learn, immerse ourselves in Torah without interruption, rejoice in a kushya, and find delight in every word of Torah.
“This is our mission, this is our obligation, and it is our greatest zechus,” Rav Landau said. “Only through this can we protect Klal Yisroel from all its many enemies who cry out, ‘Let us wipe them out as a nation.’ Alongside our learning, we must increase our tefillah with deep kavanah. We must be even more careful with the halachos of tefillah. It is said in the name of the Chazon Ish zt”l that during times of trouble, reciting the chapter of Yosheiv B’Seser is especially effective.
“Of course,” the Rosh Yeshiva added, “we must strengthen our emunah and bitachon, to remember that everything that happens is from Hashem. One who lives with this knowledge is calm, happy, and places all his hope in the One Who is good and does only good. Kol ma d’avid Rachmana l’tav avid. When we strengthen our faith and trust, Hashem showers goodness upon His beloved, for Hashem is close to all who call out to Him.”
Rav Landau then addressed the importance of following safety instructions: “We also have an obligation of hishtadlus. There are laws of pikuach nefesh. One must be exceedingly careful to follow all official instructions. This is a Torah-level obligation — v’nishmartem me’od l’nafshoseichem. It is said in the name of the Brisker Rov zt”l that through fulfilling the commandment of v’nishmartem, HaKadosh Baruch Hu brings salvation.
“There is something else I must say,” Rav Landau stated emphatically. “It is absolutely forbidden to go out and look at ‘interesting sights’ related to the war. The Gemara in Berachos teaches that placing oneself in danger causes one’s sins to be scrutinized. But beyond that, what is this? Entertainment? A spectacle? A ben Torah should be learning and davening that no tragedy occur! How can someone walk outside just to satisfy irresponsible and inconsiderate curiosity? That is not the behavior of a ben yeshiva!”
In conclusion, Rav Landau offered one final piece of advice: “It is very important to remain calm and composed. And there is a way to do that: stop obsessing over every bit of news. It is enough to know the basics — don’t chase after more and more information. It’s unnecessary and only leads to fear and anxiety. Eleh varechev v’eleh basusim va’anachnu b’shem Hashem Elokeinu nazkir. Heimah kar’u v’nafalu va’anachnu kamnu vanis’odad. Hashem hoshia HaMelech ya’aneinu b’yom koreinu. May Hashem save us and answer us swiftly in our time of need.”
{Matzav.com Israel}
In a dramatic and carefully coordinated extraction, the Stoliner Rebbe has returned to Israel following a whirlwind trip to Ukraine, marking him as the first admor successfully evacuated amid the current international travel crisis.
The rebbe had departed Israel early Thursday morning on a private jet to visit the kever of the Beis Aharon of Karlin, located in the town of Malyniv, Ukraine. After arriving in Poland and crossing the border into Ukraine, the rebbe visited the kever and held a tish there in honor of the occasion.
On Thursday night, the rebbe set out on his return journey, traveling first to Warsaw and then flying to Larnaca, Cyprus, where he spent Shabbos together with his seven children. They were hosted at the villa of philanthropist Lev Leviev. A few well-resourced chassidim, who were also stranded in Larnaca, arranged all Shabbos provisions and meals for the rebbe and his family.
On Sunday, the rebbe boarded a private jet from Larnaca to Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt. Upon landing, he was provided with Egyptian security detail and escorted to the Taba border crossing near Eilat. From there, he entered Israel and began the journey to his residence in Givat Ze’ev.
Sources indicate that the operation to bring the rebbe home spanned multiple countries and involved extensive logistical planning. The rebbe , determined to return to Eretz Yisroel, has now safely arrived.
Meanwhile, many Stoliner chassidim remain stranded in Larnaca, as well as in Italy and other locations. Some are reportedly en route to Israel aboard a luxury yacht.
The Stoliner Rebbe is the first gadol to successfully return to Israel since the escalation of the regional conflict disrupted global travel. Others remain abroad, including:
- Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch, currently in the U.S.
- Rav Dovid Cohne, currently in the U.S.
- Rav Don Segal, in Switzerland, heading to the U.S.
- The Gerrer Rebbe, currently in the U.S.
- Rav Yitzchak Yosef, who traveled from Rome to the U.S.
- Rav Ezriel Auerbach, now in London
- Rav Meir Isamar Rosenbaum, mashpia from Derech Emunah, who remained in Kerestir for Shabbos and will return to the U.S.
- The Admor of Stropkov, still in Italy
- The Admor of Ozherov
{Matzav.com Israel}
In an unexpected development, the mashgiach, Rav Don Segal, has departed for the United States to join a critical fundraising mission on behalf of Keren Olam HaTorah.
The mashgiach will be joining forces with Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch and Rav Dovid Cohen, to raise vital support for the Torah world during this time of unprecedented need.
The Mashgiach’s arrival is all the more remarkable given his recent stay in Switzerland, where he has been recuperating. His decision to embark on this journey underscores the urgency of the cause and his unwavering dedication to the needs of the Olam HaTorah.
With flights from Eretz Yisroel disrupted due to the ongoing conflict, the mashgiach has gone to great lengths to travel to the United States, determined to stand alongside his fellow gedolim in this critical campaign.
{Matzav.com}
In a stirring drasha, Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch, rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Slabodka, delivered powerful divrei chizuk last night to a packed audience in Chicago as part of his ongoing visit to the United States.
Speaking with his trademark clarity, Rav Hirsch stressed that everyone must remember that everything that occurs always, and now during the current war, is orchestrated by Hakadosh Boruch Hu.
Rav Hirsch spoke about the current tzarah facing Klal Yisroel, referencing the threats in Eretz Yisroel and beyond.
WATCH THE FULL VIDEO BELOW:
{Matzav.com}
Amidst the current conflict with Iran, the Boyaner Rebbe delivered heartfelt words of chizuk to his chassidim in a recorded message sent out on Motzoei Shabbos.
The Rebbe, addressing the severity of the current situation, urged his chassidim to remain calm and to help create an atmosphere of serenity in their homes, especially for the sake of their children.
In the audio recording, the Rebbe can be heard saying: “A gut voch. May it be a good week, a week of salvation for all Jews. ‘B’motzaei yom menucha, amtzei l’amecha revacha, shelach Tishbi l’ne’enacha, v’nas yagoin va’anacha.’ Jews are living through an ‘eis tzarah hi l’Yaakov,’ but we have bitachon that from it will come salvation.”
He continued by calling on his chassidim to strengthen themselves spiritually: “Yisrael nosha baHashem teshuas olamim. We must do our part. Each person must increase in what they can — improve their bein adam lachaveiro and bein adam laMakom through teshuvah, good deeds, limud Torah, tzedakah, and chesed. This is how we can bring more merit for Klal Yisrael, wherever they are.”
Turning to practical advice, the Rebbe emphasized the importance of projecting faith and strength within the home: “We must calm the children, instill in them emunah and bitachon in Hashem. ‘He’emanti ki adaber’ — we must speak words of faith. Hashem will help us merit the great salvation: ‘Yisrael nosha baHashem teshuas olamim,’ with the coming of the goel tzedek, speedily in our days, Amen.”
The rebbe then concluded by singing the niggun, “Chizku ve’yaametz levavchem.”
LISTEN:
{Matzav.com Israel}
In light of the current security crisis with the Iran war, Rav Dov Landau, rosh yeshiva of Slabodka, has issued new instructions for the chareidi education system, outlining which institutions should remain open and under what conditions.
The directives, released from Rav Landau’s home on Motzaei Shabbos, were shared with administrators of ganim, talmudei Torah, and yeshivos, and are based on the current situation as of Motzaei Shabbos.
According to the instructions:
- Children below the age of limud Gemara should not attend school at all on Sunday.
- Girls of all ages are also instructed not to attend school.
For older boys and yeshiva students, Rav Landau allowed for continued learning under strict conditions:
- From the age of Gemara learning and up, institutions may operate only if the building has a proper mamad (protected shelter) and there is sufficient space for all students to reach it calmly and safely, without panic.
- In such cases, it is preferable to learn continuously until the afternoon without sending students home for lunch breaks.
- Yeshivos ketanos may also remain open under the same safety requirements.
- Parents whose children feel anxious or frightened should not send them to school.
For yeshiva gedolah students, the rosh yeshiva instructed them to remain in the confines of the beis medrash, increase their learning, and not venture outside. “Torah magnah umatzlah,” he emphasized — Torah protects and saves — and under no circumstances should they go out to view the situation. “Zeh pikuach nefesh!” he warned.
Following the announcement of these guidelines, Rav Landau added a heartfelt message to the broader public:
“על כולנו מוטל בימים אלו להתחזק בתורה ובתפילה ובאמונה וביטחון וביראת שמים ולהשרות אוירה נעימה ורגועה בבית ובזמן פורענות מקובלנו ממרן החזו”א שאמירת פרק צ”א יושב בסתר מסוגלת מאד. ושומר ישראל הוא ישמור שארית ישראל. חבי כמעט רגע עד יעבור זעם.”
“In these days, it is incumbent upon all of us to strengthen ourselves in Torah, in tefillah, in emunah, bitachon, and yiras Shamayim, and to create a calm and pleasant atmosphere in our homes. In times of crisis, we have a tradition from the Chazon Ish that reciting Perek 91, Yoshev B’Seser, is especially potent. The Shomer Yisroel will safeguard the remnant of Yisroel. ‘Hide yourself for a short moment until the fury passes.’”
{Matzav.com Israel}
As Klal Yisroel continues to face grave danger amid the ongoing war with Iran, Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch, rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Slabodka in Bnei Brak, has issued a directive urging increased tefillah and supplication.
Speaking from Chicago, where he is currently visiting and will spend Shabbos, Rav Moshe Hillel called for the recitation of Tehillim following every tefillah, even on Shabbos.
“It’s very important to say Tehillim after every tefillah, on Shabbos as well,” Rav Moshe Hillel stated.
This guidance from the rosh yeshiva comes following a kol korei released this afternoon by the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah of America, which calls upon the tzibbur to respond with intensified teshuvah and tefillah, specifically asking every kehillah to add three chapters of Tehillim—Perek 80, 121, and 20—at the conclusion of each tefillah, to be continued until the danger has passed.
{Matzav.com}
Just hours after the outbreak of war with Iran, Rav Yitzchok Zilberstein, renowned posek, rov of Ramat Elchonon, and member of the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah of Degel HaTorah, delivered an emotional and powerful message of chizuk following neitz davening at the Central Beis Medrash in Ramat Elchonon.
In light of the grave situation, Rav Zilberstein instructed the kehillah to recite Tehillim and to say Avinu Malkeinu. Following davening, he ascended the bimah and addressed the tzibbur with passionate words.
“We are in a situation that requires immense rachamei Shamayim, like in the days of Haman harasha. Today’s Amalek has declared that he wants to wipe out the Jewish people. He says so openly,” Rav Zilberstein warned. “What must we do? The Torah tells us clearly in this week’s parsha, Behaaloscha: ‘When you go to war in your land against an enemy that oppresses you, you shall blow the trumpets and you will be remembered before Hashem your G-d and be saved from your enemies.’”
Rav Zilberstein then declared: “This is our weapon. And I want to say—the greatest weapon we have is Shabbos. Hashem said, ‘It is a sign between Me and you forever.’ But there is another incredibly important point: when Haman saw Mordechai learning with the children, he said, ‘I am lost.’ He knew that if the children are learning, he has no chance.”
“The children,” he continued, “are our greatest strength. They are pure, without sin. And when we sit and learn with them—especially on Shabbos—we wield a mighty weapon. Just as in the days of Haman, when he saw the children learning and declared, ‘I am lost,’ so too in our day, the enemy will see this and say the same.”
He urged the public to relay this message to their children: “Tell them, ‘When Haman saw children learning Torah, he said, I am lost. So too today.’”
Rav Zilberstein referenced this week’s haftorah (Zechariah 2:14–16), where the novi proclaims: “Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion, for behold I come and will dwell in your midst… And many nations will join themselves to Hashem on that day and shall be My people… and Hashem shall inherit Yehuda as His portion in the Holy Land and shall again choose Yerushalayim.” He explained that this is a promise of redemption and a divine warning to the nations that harm Israel. Hashem will repay them.
“The children are our tremendous strength! Thank G-d, in our communities, there is no hatred or jealousy. But when the war was announced at 3 a.m., we understood: now is the time to take up our greatest weapon—Shabbos. It is a sacred covenant between Hashem and Bnei Yisroel. We must safeguard it carefully and avoid idle talk.”
He emphasized: “The children are our strongest weapon. Thank G-d, our batei midrash are full of tinokos shel beis rabban, and we must strengthen our observance of Shabbos even more. It is a sign between Hashem and His people. No idle talk—just Torah learning, especially with the children.”
Rav Zilberstein concluded with hope: “With Hashem’s help, we will witness His salvation in the blink of an eye. ‘They have bowed and fallen, but we have risen and stand upright. Hashem, deliver us. May the King answer us on the day we call.’ Let us now recite several kapitlach Tehillim together. We are in a time of tzarah…”
{Matzav.com}
In a video message released ahead of Shabbos Parshas Behaaloscha, Rishon LeTzion and member of the Moetzet Chachmei HaTorah of Shas Rav Dovid Yosef addressed Klal Yisroel, urging vigilance, bitachon, and heartfelt tefillah as Israel faces heightened security threats.
Rav Yosef opened his remarks with a clear directive: “One must carefully follow the instructions of Pikud HaOref (Home Front Command) and increase tefillah for the safety of IDF soldiers and security personnel, who are risking their lives with tremendous mesirus nefesh to protect the State of Israel.”
He praised the bravery and brilliance of Israel’s defense establishment, saying, “Am Yisroel is a wise and understanding nation. In these days, we are witnessing the extraordinary wisdom that Hashem has granted to the army, the Mossad, and the security forces—a wisdom that leaves the entire world in awe of Israel’s strength and the wonders of Hashem.”
But he warned that the danger has not yet passed: “As Chazal teach us, ‘In every generation, they rise up against us to destroy us.’ Our enemies continue to plot terrible and cruel schemes.”
Rav Yosef called upon every individual to accept a sacred obligation this Shabbos: to intensify their tefillos, to recite Avinu Malkeinu, and to plead with the Shochein Meromim to safeguard Am Yisroel in every location, and to protect the soldiers, fighters, and all security personnel.
“We all know: ‘We have no one to rely on but our Father in Heaven.’ In recent days, we’ve seen incredible siyata diShmaya, and we daven that it continues—that there be no more destruction in our streets, that our soldiers return safely, and that all captives come back swiftly to their families.”
“May we all soon be zocheh to hear and share good news, salvations, and consolation.”
{Matzav.com}
As Israel grapples with heightened security concerns following the attack on Iran, a new statement from rabbonim of Yerushalayim’s Yishuv HaYashan communities calls on the ir people to completely ignore the government directives and continue life as usual.
In the sharply worded announcement, the rabbanim instructed members of their communities to maintain full schedules in yeshivos and Talmudei Torah, despite calls for altered routines or emergency adjustments from Israeli authorities.
They wrote, “Do not be misled by the calls and directives of a government that seeks to uproot the Torah.”
The statement echoes a posuk from Yirmiyahu, reinforcing the centrality of uninterrupted Torah study: “If not for My covenant [of Torah] day and night, I would not have established the laws of heaven and earth.”
{Matzav.com Israel}
In recent months, Minister Meir Porush has consistently called for halting the promotion of a draft law and has openly opposed the intention to tie the passage of the state budget to the approval of such a law. However, this morning, HaMevaser, the newspaper affiliated with Shlomei Emunim, has shifted its stance and launched a scathing attack on the newly appointed Defense Minister, Yisroel Katz.
According to the publication, “With the approval of the incoming Defense Minister, Yisroel Katz, who is continuing the policy initiated by his predecessor, Yoav Gallant, the army will begin issuing 7,000 additional draft notices to yeshiva students starting today.”
The article further stated: “The fact that the incoming Defense Minister is continuing a process that was doomed to fail from the outset, with the sole purpose of deepening the crisis with the chareidi community and perpetuating the war against the Torah world, has caused significant disappointment and resentment throughout all sectors of the chareidi public.”
The report also argued that, “This ongoing trend is likely to escalate into physical clashes with the chareidi public, with the singular goal of creating chaos and instability.”
Despite the strong language of the article, it should be noted that the decision to issue the draft notices is a continuation of the policy signed by former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, as well as per the directive of Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara. Once the decision to issue these notices was made, it became exceedingly difficult, if not impossible, to reverse it.
Senior figures within the chareidi political parties remain optimistic about Defense Minister Katz. They believe he is attentive to and understanding of the needs of the chareidi community, and that under his leadership, it might be possible to pass a draft law that would be acceptable to the chareidi public. “We are pleased with Yisroel Katz’s appointment as Defense Minister. Katz is a person of dialogue and collaboration,” said a senior official in United Torah Judaism following his appointment.
Meanwhile, in the Israeli Yated Ne’eman newspaper, a reminder was issued this morning of the directive from Gedolei Yisrael instructing yeshiva students not to report to draft offices at all—not even for the initial summons—as the new draft notices are set to be issued.
{Matzav.com Israel}
It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of Rav Dovid Yehuda Wertheimer zt”l at Maayanei HaYeshua Hospital in Bnei Brak. He was 54.
Rav Wertheimer, one of the prominent talmidei chachomim and maggidei shiur in Modiin Illit, was a son-in-law of Rav Shimon Galei zt”l. He succumbed to a severe illness that he battled over the past year.
Rav Wertheimer was born on the 28th of Av in 1970 to his father, Rav Shlomo Wertheimer, and his mother, Leah Glick. In his youth, he learned at Yeshivas Kol Yaakov in Yerushalayim.
Upon reaching marriageable age, he married his wife, Sarah Miriam, daughter of Rav Shimon Galai. Together, they established a home filled with Torah and yiras Shamayim in Modiin Illit.
Throughout his life, Rav Wertheimer toiled in limud haTorah with remarkable diligence. He was a distinguished member of the Torah community in Modiin Illit and served as a rebbi and marbitz Torah in various yeshivos, including Zichron Hillel and Heichal Yosef, where he delivered shiurim. In these yeshivos, he was deeply beloved by his talmidim, treating each one with exceptional care and dedication.
For over 20 years, Rav Wertheimer also delivered the Daf Yomi shiur at Beis Medrash Heichal Yitzchak.
Despite enduring tremendous suffering, he always carried a radiant countenance, concealing his tzaar and maintaining unwavering bitachon.
He is survived by his wife and eight children, of whom he merited to marry off only four. His youngest daughter is just 12 years old.
The levayah was held last night at his home of Rechov Chafetz Chaim in Modiin Illit, followed by kevurah at the Ponovezher Bais Hachaim in Bnei Brak.
Yehi zichro boruch.
{Matzav.com}
it is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the news of the petirah of Hagaon Rav Yehoshua Kalish zt”l, rov of the Harborview Bais Medrash in Lawrence, New York, and a revered longtime rebbi at Yeshiva Derech Ayson in Far Rockaway.
Rav Kalish was a gaon in Torah, a talmid chochom of extraordinary depth who completed Shas over 40 times during his lifetime.
As a maggid shiur and rebbi, he educated and inspired thousands, shaping the lives of countless talmidim with his brilliance, warmth, and heartfelt hadracha.
In his role as a rov, Rav Kalish was a pillar of strength and leadership, offering chochmas haTorah to his kehilla and the broader community. His sensitivity, clarity in psak, and boundless ahavas Yisroel left an indelible mark on all who were privileged to know him.
Rav Kalish’s passing is an immense loss for Klal Yisroel.
He is survived by his wife, Mrs. Beaty Kalish, and an outstanding mishapacha, including his son, Rav Doniel Kalish of the Waterbury Yeshiva.
Levayah details will be posted shortly.
Yehi zichro baruch.
On leil Shabbos, as Shabbos began, the Sanzer Rebbe collapsed in the main Sanzer bais medrash of Kiryat Sanz, Netanya. The incident took place during Mincha when the Rebbe suddenly fainted.
He was immediately transported to Laniado Hospital, in Netanya, for urgent medical attention.
After undergoing a thorough battery of medical tests, doctors ruled out any cardiac-related concerns. According to sources close to the chassidus, the Rebbe’s condition was attributed to an infection that had caused significant physical weakness.
The medical staff administered light treatment, and by Shabbos morning, the Rebbe was discharged and returned home.
{Matzav.com Israel}
The IDF has announced that Sergeant Ori Nisanovich fell in combat in Lebanon.
Nisanovich, aged 21 from Yerushalayim, served in the 13th Battalion, Golani Brigade.
His levayah took place on Motzoei Shabbos on Har Herzl in Yerushalayim.
Israel has now lost 795 soldiers since the start of the war.
The Avinoam-Evyatar Yeshiva wrote: “Blessed is the true Judge. The yeshiva announces with deep sorrow the fall of Ori Nisanovich, may G-d avenge his blood, in battle in Lebanon. The funeral will take place tonight at 11:00 p.m. on Mount Herzl. ‘And bring him up there for a burnt offering on one of the mountains, of which I will tell you.’ (Bereishis 22:2)”
{Matzav.com}
A U.S. political adviser to the United Nations said on Wednesday that two United Nations resolutions—on “oil slick on Lebanese shores” and “permanent sovereignty of the Palestinian people in the occupied Palestinian territory”—are anti-Israel.
“The United States remains disappointed that this body has again taken up this unbalanced resolution that is unfairly critical of Israel, demonstrating a clear and persistent institutional bias directed at one member state,” Nicholas Koval said of the Lebanon resolution. “One-sided resolutions like those introduced here today only distract from efforts to advance peace.”
“Our support for Israel’s security is ironclad and unwavering against all Iran-backed threats, including Hizballah. We continue to work on restoring calm and achieving a diplomatic solution that allows Israelis and Lebanese citizens to safely return to their homes in both northern Israel and southern Lebanon,” he added. “The United States will continue to oppose every effort to delegitimize Israel. As such, the United States once again vote a ‘no’ on this one-sided resolution.”
Of the resolution on permanent sovereignty, Koval used the same language about U.S. disappointment with the U.N. committee for the “unbalanced” resolution that “is unfairly critical of Israel.”
“One-sided resolutions will not help advance peace. Not when they ignore the facts on the ground. One-sided resolutions are purely rhetorical documents that seek to divide us at a time when we should be coming together. And one we must not cling to longstanding lines of division,” he said. “If member states are serious about promoting the cause of peace between Israelis and Palestinians, they should seek to end the persistent bias within the United Nations against Israel.”
(JNS)
On Thursday, the IDF said it is issuing 1,000 Charedi draft notices, as a first round of the 7,000 total Charedi notices the IDF will be sending out over the next two months.
In the coming days, Maj. Gen. Dado Bar Kalifa will be replacing Maj. Gen. Yaniv Asur as the IDF’s head of human resources, and will lead up the Charedi draft issue.
This past summer, the IDF sent out 3,000 draft notices to Charedim, but only about 300 people who received the notices ended up drafting. The army had selected the 3,000 based on who would be more likely to join, and received signals implying 50% would join. However, community pressure, including Charedim blocking induction centers on draft day, ultimately resulted in only 10% of those who received notices joining the IDF.
This time around, the IDF hopes that by casting a wider net, a higher number of Charedim will end up joining.
Additionally, the IDF is taking measures to create a more Charedi environment for new Charedi draftees, including the opening of a new Charedi combat brigade on December 26th, as the existing Netzach Yehuda brigade has become more Dati Leumi than Charedi over the years. Other Charedi options include the male-only Yoav Track within the Logistics Command, a group serving in technical and logistical capacities at a Hardened Aircraft Shelter at a male-only Air Force base section, and a new Charedi unit serving at the camp Ofer Prison. A new lieutenant colonel with a Chabad background has been introduced, who is focused on Charedi affairs and making sure new inductees are comfortable and are having their needs addressed.
The army considers the Charedi draft issue to be an issue for the politicians to solve, and is not calling for a wide-scale arrest campaign for Charedi draft dodgers. While the army has implied there may be small-scale arrests from time to time, most draft dodgers will not be arrested, unless they attempt to travel internationally.
{Matzav.com}
Rav Dov Landau, the rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Slabodka, recently met with relatives of those currently held hostage by Hamas in Gaza. During the meeting, he offered brachos to the families and discussed the ongoing efforts to secure the release of their loved ones.
Mishpacha Magazine released video footage from this meeting, in which Rav Landau was asked about Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu’s concerns regarding any deal that could potentially heighten security risks.
“I’m not a political person. Maybe if they had abducted the Prime Minister’s son, what would have he done?” Rav Landau wondered aloud.
This occasion marked the first time the rosh yeshiva has publicly addressed the situation.
WATCH:{Matzav.com Israel}
Yeshivas Zahav Mordechai – Itri, located in the Beit Safafa neighborhood of Yerushalayim, primarily enrolls talmidim from religious high schools who transitioned to the yeshiva. Recently, with the issuance of draft notices, significant efforts have been made to ensure these talmidim do not report to the recruitment offices, in line with other bochurim in the Torah world.
Monday morning, journalist Yoely Brim revealed on Galei Tzahal in a discussion with Yair Kuzin and Ariel Kahana that a major controversy has erupted within the yeshiva. According to the report, the IDF has been arranging secret, individual agreements with chareidi yeshiva bochurim, unbeknownst to the yeshivas and their rabbeim.
The agreement includes a signed commitment by the talmidim to enlist in the army upon completing their studies at the yeshiva, instead of continuing their Torah learning, in exchange for the removal of personal sanctions.
Brim disclosed that seven talmidim were expelled from Yeshivas Itri after signing this secret agreement without the knowledge of the yeshiva administration. They committed to enlist within twenty months after completing their Torah studies.
How were they discovered? The yeshiva administration received a budget allocation that was itemized by their names (since they are not classified as draft dodgers), leading the yeshiva administration to uncover the agreement. In response, the Rosh Yeshiva, Rav Avrohom Ozer, expeled the talmidim to prevent legitimizing military enlistment.
The new protocol is known as “Tamid Talmid” (“Student Forever”), and it appears that the IDF is making a concerted effort to enlist talmidim who wish to continue studying Torah.
An informed source on draft issues within the yeshiva world remarked: “We’ve reached a point where the army is doing everything it can to recruit students, even though there’s no real need for it. They’re going behind the roshei yeshivos.”
{Matzav.com Israel}
The Rosh Yeshiva, Rav Asher Deutsch, was released from the hospital yesterday to his home on Rechov Wasserman in Bnei Brak after significant improvement in his condition was seen since his hospitalization a few days ago at Maayanei Hayeshua Hospital due to an infection.
Despite his weakness, the Rosh Yeshiva has already resumed his learning schedule. In the photo above, he can be seen learning at his home after he returned from the hospital.
According to the doctors, with Hashem’s help, he should be able to return to full activity in the coming days. Until then, his customary hours for receiving visitors will not be held.
A message from the Rosh Yeshiva’s household reads: “We extend our gratitude to the Maayanei Hayeshua Hospital staff and to Minister of Health Rabbi Uriel Busu for the dedicated care provided to the Rosh Yeshiva shlit”a.”
All are asked to daven for the full recovery of Rav Asher ben Leah.
{Matzav.com Israel}
Fourteen years ago, Klal Yisroel was plunged into sadness with the sudden passing of Rav Nosson Tzvi Finkel zt”l, rosh yeshiva of Yeshiva Mir Yerushalayim, following a heart attack. Rav Finkel was 69 years old.
Rav Finkel was born on March 12, 1943, in Chicago, Illinois, to his parents, Reb Eliyohu Meir and Mrs. Finkel, and was named after his elte-zaida, the Alter of Slabodka, Rav Nosson Tzvi Finkel. Rav Nosson Tzvi later married a daughter of Rav Beinish Finkel, a son of Rav Eliezer Yehudah Finkel, rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Mir. Rav Nosson Tzvi’s wife was a second cousin of his.
Rav Nosson Tzvi became rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Mir-Yerushalayim in 1990 following the petirah of his father-in-law, Rav Beinish. He also served as a member of the Moetzes Gedolei Hatorah in Eretz Yisroel.
In his later years, Rav Nosson Tzvi suffered from Parkinson’s disease and demonstrated inspiring levels of bitachon and strength. He once remarked that he didn’t take certain medicines for his illness, because his doctor had told him that it would have an effect on his memory. “I’d rather be ill my whole life than to forget even one word of the Torah hakedosha,” he said.
The loss was a devastating one for the entire Olam Hatorah, for which Rav Nosson Tzvi was a living example of mesirus nefesh for Torah and the Ribono Shel Olam. Books have been written about Rav Nosson Tzvi’s devotion to his talmidim and to Yeshivas Mir, whose budget of millions of dollars was shouldered by Rav Nosson Tzvi, who undertook yearly trips abroad to raise funds for the yeshiva, despite his debilitating condition. There were few individuals of our dor who inspired as many people as Rav Nosson Tzvi did with his mere presence, his smile, his emunah and bitachon, and his astonishing gevurah in light of his circumstances.
Just as inspiring to many of his talmidim and others in the Torah world was Rav Nosson Tzvi’s humble upbringing. He grew up as a child in Chicago, an American kid – backpack, baseball cap, and all – and went on to become one of the most venerated roshei yeshivos of our generation, garnering the respect of the gedolei hador and the masses for his yedios haTorah, his ahavas haTorah, his hasmadah, his ahavas Hashem, his ahavas Yisroel, and his boundless love and dedication for the thousands of talmidim of Yeshivas Mir-Yerushalayim, which, under his stewardship, grew into one of the largest – if not the largest – makom Torah in the world. Also, under his leadership, Yeshivas Mir opened branches in various locations, including Brachfeld in Modiin Illit.
On the yahrtzeit of Rochel Imeinu, Klal Yisroel lost an unparalleled individual, a diamond that Klal Yisroel was blessed to have as a leader, as a rosh yeshiva, as a gadol baTorah, and as a living example of the way the Ribono Shel Olam wants each of us to conduct our lives.
Chaval al de’avdin velo mishtakchin.
Rav Nosson Tzvi was survived by his mother and his children, including Rav Avrohom Yeshaya Finkel, Rav Eliezer Yehuda Finkel, Rav Shmaryahu Yosef Finkel, Rav Yitzchok Finkel and Rav Shmuel Finkel.
Yehi zichro boruch.
{Matzav.com}
All are asked to daven for Rav Yehoshua Kalish, beloved rov of the Harborview Bais Medrash in Lawrence, New York, and longtime R”M at Yeshiva Derech Ayson in Far Rockaway.
Rav Kalish is now in critical condition and in need of rachamei shomayim.
Rav Kalish has been a source of guidance and strength to so many, and outstanding talmid chochom and maggid shiur who has been a rebbi and rov to thousands.
Please daven for Rav Yehoshua ben Breindel.
{Matzav.com}
Rav Avrohom Elimelech Biderman celebrated his 57th birthday yesterday.
On Motzaei Shabbos, Rav Meilech traveled to Haifa, where the Be’er HaEmunah group hosted a Melaveh Malkah in his honor. To mark the occasion Rav Meilech’s followers committed to strengthening their observance of shmiras haeinayim (guarding one’s eyes) in honor of his birthday, the 9th of Cheshvan.
A letter, signed by hundreds of followers, reads: “We firmly resolve, without taking a formal vow, to uphold the verse, ‘He who shuts his eyes from seeing evil,’ and to strengthen ourselves in shmiras haeinayim at least 57 times, in honor of our rebbi.”
In Tzfas, members of another chaburah associated with Be’er HaEmunah also took on a kabbolah, pledging to refrain from speaking during davening and krias haTorah for 57 days in Rav Meilech’s zechus.
Throughout the day, Rav Meilech remained near the kever of Rashbi in Meron, where he recited the entire Sefer Tehillim several times to mark his special day.
{Matzav.com}
At a time when the troubles facing Klal Yisroel seem to multiply by the day, the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah of America have issued a call for Klal Yisroel in the Diaspora to unite with our brethren in Eretz Yisroel and around the world in heartfelt prayer and outcry. We are urged to join together in a tefillah on Monday, the first Monday of Behab, this week, the week of Parshas Vayeira.
This is a unique moment for us to lift our voices as one, beseeching Hashem to bring compassion, protection, and redemption to His people. Please read the Kol Korei above and join in answering the call of our gedolei Torah.
May Hashem hear our tefillos and bring yeshuos to Klal Yisroel.
Click here for a printable PDF of the Kol Korei.
Click here for the special seder tefillah.
All are asked to daven for the rosh yeshiva Rav Asher Hakohein Deutsch, who is currently hospitalized at Maayanei Hayeshua Hospital in Bnei Brak and in need of a refuah.Rav Deutsch was admitted to the hospital due to an infection.
A large atzeres tefillah was held at the Kosel due to a worsening in Rav Deutsch’s condition.
All are asked to daven Rav Asher ben Leah.
{Matzav.com Israel}
In his final day as Israel’s Defense Minister, just before his official dismissal went into effect, Yoav Gallant approved a project that will add additional roofing at Ma’aras Hamachpeila, which will make the holy site more accessible. After months of speculation, Gallant was fired by Prime Minister Netanyahu over disagreements regarding the war, hostage negotiations, and Charedi enlistment.
Yisrael Bramson, the head of the Kiryat Arba-Chevron council, who was a major proponent of the project, thanked Gallant for his support: “We thank Minister Galant for listening and for understanding the vital need to promote the roofing of the Cave of the Patriarchs. This is a significant project for the future of Kiryat Arba-Chevron and for all the people of Israel, and we will continue to work to promote our heritage and connection to this holy place.”
The roofing project is designed to bring the site’s thousands of visitors extra relief and shade from the sun in the hot summer months, and shelter from the rain during the rainy season.
Getting any construction off the ground in Chevron is a major process, especially any project involving Ma’aras Hamachpeila.
{Matzav.com}
Noted badchan R’ Yonason Schwartz, CEO of Toys To Discover, recently discovered a concerning issue in a Williamsburg bais medrash: vapes and cigarettes are being sold openly on the premises, with little restriction on who can purchase them.
According to R’ Yonason, heard narrating in the video below, the products are readily available, creating the possibility that young children, teens, and other impressionable youth have easy access to them.
R’ Yonason was shocked to find these items on sale in a space usually reserved for davening and learning. Recognizing the potential impact on local youth, he immediately raised the issue with those overseeing the shul.
Despite his concerns and repeated attempts to engage with the administration of the bais medrash, R’ Yonason says his efforts have thus far been met with silence.
“I’ve tried reaching out multiple times, hoping to discuss this and to come up with a solution that protects our community, but no action has been taken,” he reported. “The lack of response is incredibly disappointing.”
The potential risks posed by nicotine and vaping products are well-documented, especially for children and adolescents. Health experts agree that exposure to nicotine at a young age can lead to long-term addiction and a higher likelihood of engaging in other high-risk behaviors.
R’ Yonason voiced concerns that if the sale of these items is allowed to continue unchecked, it could have far-reaching consequences for Yiddishe kinder, sharing some real-life examples of children become addicted.
In the meantime, R’ Yonason has vowed to keep raising awareness about the situation. “We have a responsibility to protect the well-being of our children.”
WATCH:
{Matzav.com}
In a new alert issued by Lakewood’s Shatnez testers, a woolen suit from the men’s brand Alesso was found to contain shatnez.
The suit, which is produced and sold by a Jewish-owned company, has sparked concern.
The discovery is significant because the fabric in question, which contains both wool and linen, qualifies as shatnez even if found in a suit made of polyester or other materials.
This revelation follows reports from shoppers who were assured by salespeople that the suit did not contain shatnez, highlighting the need for vigilance when purchasing clothing, particularly from Jewish-owned stores.
The alert serves as a reminder to the community that shatnez testing is an essential step before wearing any woolen or linen garment, and shoppers are urged to verify that all purchased clothing has been properly tested.
{Matzav.com}
R’ Mendel Roth, the son of the Shomrei Emunim Rebbe from Ashdod and a descendant of Rav Aharon Roth, publicly declared his intention to join the newly established charedi Hashmonaim Brigade on Monday evening.
R’ Roth is widely recognized for his bold and candid stances on both public and halachic matters.
In a heartfelt post on his Facebook page, R’ Roth, who is also a musician, described the inner struggles he has faced over the past year since the onset of the war: “Throughout the year, I’ve been plagued by a deep sense of unease. As the blood of my fellow Jews flows freely, I’ve remained silent,” he confessed. “Instead of compiling a list of justifications while my conscience gnaws at me, I must confront the truth head-on and take decisive action.”
This pivotal decision followed an impactful conversation with Col. Avinoam Emunah, the officer set to command the brigade. “Speaking with him felt more like conversing with a Rosh Yeshiva than a military leader,” R’ Roth recounted.
He expressed his determination to serve as a combat soldier: “The decision is final. Mendel is joining the new charedi brigade as a combat soldier, embracing the mission of instilling Jewish values and spiritual influence within the unit.”
At 33, R’ Roth acknowledged the potential challenges ahead: “I’m fully aware that during basic training, I might discover I’m not cut out for the mental or physical demands of being a combat soldier. If that happens, I will dedicate myself entirely to the brigade’s spiritual and emotional welfare, with God’s help.”
R’ Roth believes the establishment of this brigade represents a significant transformation within the IDF: “The IDF has recognized something it hadn’t before and is now fully committed to ensuring the success of this initiative. They’re ready to address the spiritual and emotional needs of the charedi community like never before.”
He noted that many charedi rabbonim who have reviewed the program details have expressed strong support for the initiative, though they emphasized that widespread enlistment of charedim would likely follow only after an initial trial period.
“I am deeply moved and proud of this decision,” R’ Roth concluded. “This brigade ushers in a new era of hope and unity, carrying profound historical significance for the fractured and troubled Israeli society.”
{Matzav.com Israel}
As we approach this pivotal election, we share a pre-election message from Rav Elya Ber Wachtfogel, Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshiva Gedolah Zichron Moshe of South Fallsburg. Rav Wachtfogel’s message is not just a call to action, but a reflection on the values that underpin our participation in the democratic process.
LISTEN:
https://matzav.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/AUDIO-2024-11-04-16-25-04.mp3
New York Judge John Hubbard sentenced Zachary Kowatch, 23, to five years of probation for attempted reckless endangerment in the first degree, a Class E felony, on Aug. 30.
Kowatch had pleaded guilty on Oct. 21 to swerving at a Jewish teenager and yelling antisemitic insults at him in the village of Fleischmanns, in Middletown, N.Y., on May 9.
“I have another one almost identical going on right now, and I don’t understand what’s the matter with people,” Shawn Smith, acting district attorney in Delaware County, N.Y., told JNS.
Joseph E. VanBlarcom, 20, faces charges for allegedly swerving his car at Jews while yelling bigoted slurs on July 29, also in the village of Fleischmanns. He awaits trial where he, too, faces a Class E felony of aggravated harassment in the second degree as a hate crime.
Smith told JNS how the police charge against Kowatch of reckless endangerment in the first degree as a hate crime wasn’t strong enough.
Still, said the DA, “for the rest of his life, he’s going to be stuck with a felony conviction. And if he violates probation, he’s got an alcohol problem, I think that was pretty clear. If he can get that under control—and turn over a new leaf and live a law-abiding way—then that works out. And if he doesn’t, then he’s convicted of a felony.”
Smith said every community “deserves to raise their children in peace. Mr. Kowatch violated that peace, and he has been held accountable.”
Gerard Filitti, senior counsel at the Lawfare Project, disagreed.
“Unfortunately, we see time and again that prosecutors under-charge bias crimes targeting the Jewish people, including in the case of Zachary Kowatch,” he told JNS. “An aggressive prosecutor could have charged him with a more serious offense: second-degree attempted murder.”
Filitti called the sentence “a sweetheart plea deal” and “a slap on the wrist for a person who was so motivated by Jew-hatred that he could have easily killed two people—and arguably may have intended to do so—and a slap in the face not just to the victims but to the Jewish community.”
Expressing skepticism at the possibility of rehabilitation, he told JNS that “it’s easy to believe that doing right by the Jewish community was outweighed by the cost of bringing Kowatch to trial.”
(JNS)
Former Hamas captive Erez Kalderon celebrated his bar mitzvah in Kiryat Gat, southeast of Ashkelon, on Thursday, after marking his 12th birthday in the Gaza Strip.
Hamas terrorists kidnapped Kalderon, along with his father, Ofer, and 16-year-old sister, Sahar, from their home in Kibbutz Nir Oz during the terrorist attacks in southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023.
Erez and Sahar were among 105 hostages released last November as part of a weeklong ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. Ofer, now 53, remains a captive in Gaza.
“It was very difficult. For probably the first time in the last year, we let ourselves celebrate for Erez to feel some joy in almost 400 days,” Eyal Kalderon, Ofer’s cousin, told JNS on Sunday.
“It’s such an emotional event for any Jewish boy, a bar mitzvah ceremony. It’s his transition from child to grown-up. It’s very symbolic and he deserved to feel on that day like a regular kid. We just wanted to give him that chance even if just for one hour,” Eyal added.
In September, Erez shared the harrowing story of his kidnapping and captivity in Gaza.
“It’s difficult for me to speak on camera, but if this reaches my dad—it’s worth everything,” he said in a video message.
Erez recounted the terrifying moments when attackers breached their home: “They simply broke the handle and entered. My dad quickly ran to the safe room, yelled at my sister Sahar to open the window, and I jumped out first.”
Ofer Kalderon, 53. Credit: Courtesy of the Hostages and Missing Families Forum.Erez was caught by an attacker who took him away on a motorcycle. “I glanced to the side and saw my dad on his knees while they were beating him—that was the last time I saw him,” he recalled.
As he read from the Torah on Thursday, Erez was accompanied by his uncle Nissan Kalderon, Ofer’s brother.
“His father was meant to stand next to him and give him the confidence to do his ‘aliyah to the Torah,’ but he wasn’t. Erez did it with Nissan but it’s not the same,” Eyal Kalderon told JNS. “We live with very mixed feelings, happiness but a lot of sadness as well.”
After the bar mitzvah ceremony, the Kalderons held an event in Ness Ziona, where family members delivered speeches and a clip of Erez and Ofer was shown.
According to the latest Israeli intelligence assessment, an estimated 51 out of the 101 hostages still held by Hamas in Gaza are alive.
“You can be alive one day and dead the next. It should be the world’s priority to bring them back,” Eyal said.
CIA director William Burns has proposed a 28-day ceasefire in Gaza in exchange for Hamas releasing eight hostages and Israel freeing dozens of Palestinian terrorists, Axios reported, citing three Israeli officials.
The head of the U.S. intelligence agency advanced the plan during discussions in Doha on Oct. 27 with Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani and Mossad director David Barnea.
On Wednesday, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said that the return of the hostages has become the IDF’s “most important mission” in Gaza.
Gallant said that the IDF will continue to put “as much pressure on Hamas as possible in order to create the conditions necessary to ensure the return of the hostages.”
The government, he continued, “must do what is necessary to bring about a deal. You must apply military pressure and do what is necessary to create the conditions required for us to carry out an agreement. This is our most important mission in Gaza at this time.”
(JNS)
[Video below.] In a significant announcement for Yeshivas Rabbeinu Chaim Berlin, the yeshiva has announced the appointment of Rav Yosef Halioua and Rav Tzvi Fink as the new roshei yeshiva of the yeshiva in Brooklyn, NY.
The announcement was made moments ago at the yeshiva by Rav Chaim Kitevits, longtime senior R”M at the yeshiva.
This announcement comes a little over a week after the shocking petirah of Hagaon Rav Shlomo Halioua zt”l, the previous rosh yeshiva, who left an indelible mark on the yeshiva and its greater community. Rav Shlomo, as is well known, was a son-in-law of the previous rosh yeshiva, Rav Aharon Schechter.
Rav Yosef is a son of Rav Shlomo Halioua and a son-in-law of Rav Chaim Yisroel Weinfeld, rov of Khal Toras Chaim of Flatbush.
Rav Tzvi Fink is a son-in-law of Rav Shlomo Halioua.
Both Rav Yosef and Rav Tzvi served previously as roshei kollel in the yeshiva‘s Gur Aryeh kollel, delivering chaburos to the yungeleit.
Yeshivas Rabbeinu Chaim Berlin, which has experienced remarkable growth and flourishing in recent years, is poised to continue its trajectory of incredible hatzlacha. Both Rav Yosef and Rav Tzvi are beloved among the bnei hayeshiva. As the yeshiva continues to mourn the loss of Rav Shlomo zt”l, there is a shared hope and belief that the new roshei yeshiva will continue to inspire the next generation of bnei Torah.
WATCH THE ANNOUNCEMENT TODAY:
{Matzav.com}
In a unique development just days before the U.S. presidential election, the zekan roshei hayeshivos in America, Maran Rav Shmuel Kamenetsky, rosh yeshiva of Yeshiva of Philadelphia and senior member of the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah of Agudas Yisroel of America, extended his bracha for the re-election of President Donald Trump.
In a recording first obtained by Belaaz News, Rav Shmuel is heard offering his bracha during a conversation with his close talmid and gabbai, Rav Leizer Weinman.
“Blessing to President Trump that he’ll win the election,” Rav Shmuel is heard saying.
“Who?”
“President Trump.”
Listen to the recording here:
https://matzav.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/RPReplay_Final1730701298.mp3This rare public endorsement reflects the vested interest of many in the Torah community regarding the outcome of the election and its implications.
Despite the rosh yeshiva’s notable recovery from various health challenges, tefillos continue for Shmuel ben Itta Ettil, as the Torah world davens for his continued strength and full return to health.
{Matzav.com}
With the US Presidential Election coming up on Tuesday, the rosh yeshiva of the Kissei Rachamim Yeshiva, Rav Meir Mazuz, called for Tefillos for a victory for former President Trump.
During his weekly shiur, Rav Mazuz said: “We must daven that Trump wins these elections. Even though Trump is from Germany, he has good attributes and he loves Israel.”
Rav Mazuz mentioned Trump’s Jewish family members, saying: “He has a grandson or granddaughter who’s Jewish. And there’s a picture of him taking his grandson on Shabbat to the Beit Knesset before Mincha, and he encourages and blesses him.”
{Matzav.com}
An American rosh yeshiva shared with Matzav.com that reports concerning Rav Asher Deutsch’s guidance on the yeshiva schedule for bein hazemanim were misinterpreted.
Contrary to initial news reports, Rav Deutsch clarified that he did not instruct yeshivos to maintain the current bein hazemanim schedule without any changes.
According to the initial report, Rav Deutsch was quoted as having emphasized that “the arrangements and regulations of the yeshivos are founded on the heights of holiness and were established by our revered rabbeim.” The report further claimed that he had stated: “We have no authority to change them in any way.” The original reports claimed that Rav Deutsch urged talmidim to adhere strictly to the regular bein hazemanim schedule, even amidst the ongoing crises affecting Klal Yisroel.
However, after a personal conversation with Rav Deutsch, the American rosh yeshiva said that this representation was inaccurate. Rav Deutsch did not, in fact, discourage yeshivos from considering adjustments to their bein hazemanim schedules in light of current events. The rosh yeshiva told Matzav.com this morning, “Rav Deutsch told me that he never said not to cancel or shorten bein hazemanim.”
{Matzav.com Israel}
Among the thousands who visited Maran Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch, Rosh Yeshivas Slabodka, over Yom Tov was Rav Mordechai Binyamin Zilberberg, the rov of the Shikun Hei neighborhood in Bnei Brak and rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Yad Binyamin. He engaged in various discussions with the Rosh Yeshiva.
During the conversation, Rav Zilberberg mentioned that a few months ago, the Rosh Yeshiva had been quoted as saying there was no reason to fear Hezbollah. “In a speech I gave,” he said, “I mentioned that Rav Moshe Hillel doesn’t say things lightly,” and indeed, we see that the Rosh Yeshiva’s words hold true.
Then Rav Zilberberg added, “When I hear the Rosh Yeshiva, I hear Rav Shteinman.”
Needless to say, these words did not sit well with the Rosh Yeshiva, and with his characteristic humility, he brushed them aside and began pouring wine for those present to say “L’chaim.”
It should be noted that several months ago, well before the “beeper attacks,” the Rosh Yeshiva had remarked that there would be a downfall for Lebanon and Hezbollah, a comment that at the time seemed perplexing, prior to all the recent operations.
{Matzav.com Israel}
Yeshiva Beth Yehudah, the largest and oldest Jewish day school in Michigan, will hold its annual dinner this Sunday, November 3, at the Detroit Marriott, marking a significant milestone, 110 years since its founding.
Former United Kingdom Prime Minister Boris Johnson will be the evening’s featured speaker.
This year’s dinner will honor Matt Lester, a prominent Detroit entrepreneur and philanthropist, with the Outstanding Leadership Award. Lester is the founder and CEO of Princeton Enterprises.
The yeshiva’s story began in 1914 when Rabbi Yehudah Leib Levin, a visionary leader devoted to Jewish education, founded an after-school program for boys at the Mogain Avrohom Synagogue in Detroit. Upon Rabbi Levin’s passing in 1925, the school was named Yeshiva Beth Yehudah in his honor. In 1954, the yeshiva expanded its mission to include Jewish education for girls, establishing a girls’ school that continues to thrive.
Today, Yeshiva Beth Yehudah serves as a cornerstone of Jewish life in Detroit, educating approximately 1,400 students in K-12 grades across its boys’ and girls’ schools. The mosad also provides specialized education to over 400 children at the James Grosfeld Center for Special Education, a program dedicated to meeting the needs of children with diverse learning challenges. In addition to these programs, Yeshiva Beth Yehudah offers a preschool, summer camps, and a kollel. Partners Detroit, another branch of the yeshiva, fosters Jewish learning and engagement throughout the community.
{Matzav.com}
It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the passing of the Mattersdorfer Rebbetzin, Rebbetzin Shaina Feigel Ehrenfeld a”h.
The rebbetzin was the devoted wife of the late Mattersdorfer Rov, Rav Simcha Bunim Ehrenfeld zt”l, member of the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah of Agudas Yisroel of America, and a daughter of Rav Shmuel Avrohom Zeltenreich zt”l, the Chakover Rov.
Rebbetzin Ehrenfeld was a beloved matriarch of an outstanding mishpacha. Her boundless kindness to all and her dedication to Torah profoundly impacted her family and community.
Together with her husband, she built a home rooted in Torah and chesed, suffused with yiras Shomayim, which they passed on to their five children. She stood alongside her illustrious husband in all his endeavors, embodying the qualities of a true eizer kenegdo and supporting his contributions to the Olam HaTorah.
The levayah will take place today, at noon, at Yeshiva Chasan Sofer, located at 1876 50th Street in Boro Park. The aron will then be flown to Eretz Yisroel, where a levayah is expected to take place in Kiryat Mattersdorf, followed by kevurah on Har Hamenuchos.
The rebbetzin leaves behind a family of gedolei Torah. Her children are Rav Dovid Aryeh Ehrenfeld, Mattersdorfer Rov; Rav Asher Anshel Menachem Ehrenfeld; Rebbetzin Miriam Ganzvi, wife of Rav Naftali Ganzvi; and Rebbetzin Sarah Horowitz, wife of Rav Mordechai Horowitz. Her son, Rav Akiva Ehrenfeld zt”l, passed away twelve years ago.
Yehi zichrah boruch.
{Matzav.com}
Larry Snelling, superintendent of the Chicago Police Department, announced that the city is adding one felony count of terrorism and one felony count of a hate crime to the 14 felony charges brought against Sidi Mohamed Abdallahi.
Abdallahi, 22, is accused of shooting a 39-year-old Jewish man, as well as firing at police officers and paramedics on Oct. 26. Snelling said that investigators found evidence on the accused gunman’s phone that indicated that he deliberately targeted Jews.
“We did not secure these charges because of public pressure” or media coverage, the police official said, speaking at a press conference at 4:30 p.m. local time at Chicago Police Department headquarters.
“We want everybody to know that we will never tolerate violence that’s rooted in hate and bigotry,” he said, noting that the crime affects the Jewish community in particular. “This shooting should be personal to everybody across the city,” he added.
“We did not rush to judgment,” Snelling said “We made sure that we continued the investigation.”
Snelling spoke alongside Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson and Kim Foxx, the state’s attorney for Cook County, Ill.
The mayor has faced intense criticism from the Chicago Jewish community for issuing a statement days later, which didn’t note that the victim was visibly Jewish. Police did not initially announced hate crime charges among the 14 felony charges.
Abdallahi’s scheduled appearance in court was delayed, while he remains in the hospital, and he now slated to appear in court on Nov. 7, NBC 5 Chicago reported. Abdallahi, who was hit multiple times during a two-and-a-half minute shootout with police officers, has been assigned a public defender, per the news station.
(JNS)
In this crucial time for Klal Yisroel, the Moetzes Gedolei Hatorah has issued a call regarding our duty to participate in the democratic process. As the Moetzes statement below explains, participating in the election process is not merely a civic responsibility, but a profound expression of our commitment to the well-being of our fellow Jews wherever they reside.
May our collective efforts be mekadeish Sheim Shomayim and bring about bracha and hatzlacha to Klal Yisroel.
[Free Translation]
The third day of the parsha of “Vera’u kol amei ha’aretz ki Sheim Hashem nikra alecha” – Ki Savo 5784.
The chachomim and gedolei hador of previous generations have already taught us that every Jew should participate in and vote in the elections in the United States, a land of kindness of which, by Hashem’s mercy, we have been blessed to be among its residents, until Moshiach comes and we ascend to Eretz Yisroel with joy.
The duty to vote stems from several reasons. First and foremost, we must care, as one person with one heart, for our fellow Jews living in our land, safeguarding Klal Yisroel regarding the government in both spiritual and material matters. Indeed, we have seen the significant achievements of American Jewry, with siyata diShmaya, through the government, due to the voting power of the Yidden. Especially today, as government officials recognize the number of eligible Jewish voters in this country, the more people who actually vote, the greater our strength and rights are in the eyes of those in power.
Moreover, for decades, Divine Providence has placed the U.S. government at the forefront of nations that care for the people of Eretz Yisroel, protecting them from the seventy wolves that threaten to consume them, especially in times of crisis and war. Voting in these elections helps bolster our government and supports its efforts to assist our brethren in their time of need.
This act of voting also embodies the principle of gratitude, which is fundamental to our faith. We must express our appreciation for the benevolent government under which we find refuge and comfort by participating in elections like every other citizen.
One should not exempt himself from the obligation to vote with the argument that, in such a large country, the voice of an individual does not matter. Experience has shown in past elections that outcomes have been determined by a mere few hundred votes. Furthermore, the turnout among the Jewish community is significant in its own right, essential for advocating with the government on behalf of communal and individual needs, as mentioned.
May the Shomer Yisroel safeguard the She’airis Yisroel and rescue us from all distress and hardship, and may we soon merit the revelation of Malchus Shomayim in the world, so that all inhabitants of the earth will recognize and know that the Kingdom belongs to Hashem.
Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah of America
Rav Kalman Ber has been chosen as Israel’s Ashkenazi chief rabbi for the upcoming decade. In the second voting round, he secured a 77-58 victory over Rav Micha Halevi, after an initial election earlier this month left both candidates with an equal number of votes.
Previously, Rav Ber held the position of Ashkenazi city rabbi in Netanya. He received strong backing from the Degel HaTorah party.
After the first voting round, Rav Ber gained additional support from those who opposed Rav Halevi. Rav Halevi had initially committed to refraining from running unless selected by a designated committee to represent the Religious Zionist community.
Rav Halevi garnered support from Bezalel Smotrich’s Religious Zionism party and Shas.
Rav Dovid Yosef, elected earlier in the month, will serve as the Sephardic chief rabbi alongside Rav Ber for the next 10 years.
{Matzav.com Israel}
Thousands gathered in Bnei Brak to honor those who have fallen in the ongoing war. The event included the completion of 2,000 masechtos of Mishnah and Gemara, which had been learned over recent months in memory of the fallen.
Various rabbonim attended, including Rav Meir Mazuz, rosh yeshiva of Yeshiva Kisei Rachamim, Chief Rabbi Rav Dovid Yosef, and former Chief Rabbi Rav Yisroel Meir Lau.
In his speech, Rav Yosef addressed the topic of chareidi army enlistment, stating, “We care about the people of Israel. We feel the nation’s pain and study to merit the soldiers.”
Rav Mazuz spoke about the importance of remembering those who serve in battle, affirming that “their (heavenly) wages are guaranteed.”
He went on to say, “We are not here to discourage, we are here to support. All those who went to war, their wages are guaranteed both in this world and in the next. In this world they’ll be remembered and in the next world they will be paid immensely. In the merit of the Gemara that you studied, may Hashem give them a great place up above.”
The event was broadcast by the chareidi media and included heartfelt tefillos for the safety of hostages and soldiers on the front lines.
{Matzav.com Israel}
It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the passing of Rabbi Dr. Raymond Harari z”l. Rabbi Harari’s legacy as an educator, mentor, and leader endures, leaving an indelible mark on thousands of lives, both within his community and far beyond.A devoted alumnus of Yeshivah of Flatbush (class of 1972), Rabbi Harari earned his Bachelor’s in Philosophy and a Master’s in Jewish Studies from Yeshiva University. His lifelong commitment to the Torah U’madah approach, integrating Torah scholarship with secular knowledge, guided his teaching and administrative roles.
Rabbi Harari spent a transformative year in Israel before returning to fulfill his aspiration of joining the faculty at Yeshivah of Flatbush Joel Braverman High School (JBHS), where he began as a Judaic Studies teacher. His dedication quickly propelled him to the position of Chairman of the Halacha Department, and later to his role as a beloved administrator and eventually Head of School.
Throughout his decades-long tenure, Rabbi Harari’s devotion, wisdom, and vision helped propel JBHS to new heights. He was instrumental in enhancing the curriculum with a vast range of Torah classes, fostering chesed programs, expanding electives, and cultivating co-curricular initiatives, all aimed at nurturing well-rounded, thoughtful young adults grounded in Jewish values. His student-centered approach and unique ability to bridge Torah and secular knowledge exemplified his lifelong dedication to chinuch, inspiring all who were privileged to learn from him.
Rabbi Harari is survived by his wife, Vicky, and his children: Michal Geffner, Yael Harari, Rabbi Avi Harari, Dr. David Harari, and Dani Harari. He is also survived by his siblings, David Harari and Renee Maman, and was predeceased by his brother, Sol Harari z”l.
The levayah took place today at Yeshivah of Flatbush Joel Braverman High School on Avenue J in Brooklyn. The kevurah will take place at the Eretz Hachaim Bais Hachaim in Eretz Yisroel. Shivah will be observed at 335 Euclid Avenue in Loch Arbour, NJ.
Yehi zichro boruch.
{Matzav.com}
On Wednesday a Chabad school in Kyiv, Ukraine suffered “significant structural damage” following a Russian drone attack.
Israel’s Ambassador to Ukraine, Michael Brodsky, confirmed the strike occurred, along with local authorities. The drone attack damaged the Perlina school, part of the Or Avner Chabad educational network.
Baruch Hashem no one was injured inside the school, however 9 people were injured in a nearby multistory residential building, according to the Kyiv Military Administration.
A statement released by Chabbad described “extensive damage” in “classrooms, the school shuttle, and the student lounge” due to the “direct hit.” However, “The school’s reinforced windows, equipped with protective film, prevented further harm to the interior of the structure,” Chabbad explained.
Following the attack, former boxing world champion Vitalyi Klitschko, the current Mayor of Kyiv, visited the school along with Rabbi Yonason Markovitch, the Chabbad chief Rabbi of Kyiv, and his wife.
Upon inspection of the attack site, a piece of the drone could be seen lying in the school’s outdoor playground, where hundreds of children often play.
In the residential building hit nearby by the explosion, multiple floors were burned and destroyed.Several floors of the nearby residential building hit by the explosion were partially burned and destroyed.
Rabbi Markovitch said it was a “tremendous miracle” that students were not in the building at the time of the attack and vowed his commitment to keep the school open. “Just as the school has remained operational throughout the war, so too will we continue to nurture our children’s souls, even in these challenging times,” he said.
{Matzav.com}
It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of Rabbi Moshe Shmuel Blaustein z”l (Moshe Shmuel ben Yitzchak Mayer), who was niftar late last night.
Rabbi Blaustein was a beloved third-grade rebbi at Eitz Chaim in Toronto and the longtime, beloved director of Camp Agudah Toronto, where he left an indelible mark on countless talmidim and campers.
Rabbi Blaustein was a legendary storyteller, cherished for his role as the voice of Shloompy Shapiro from the Marvelous Middos Machine and Borosov on Abie Rotenberg and Rabbi Shmuel Klein’s The Golden Crown.
The levayah is being held now at Agudath Israel Congregation, located at 129 McGillivray Avenue in Toronto, followed by kevurah at Bathurst Lawn Memorial Park, in the Agudath Israel section.
Rabbi Blaustein will be deeply missed by his family, students, campers, and all who were touched by his warmth, humor, and dedication to chinuch.
Yehi zichro boruch.
{Matzav.com}
HaRav David Yosef was elected on Sunday to succeed his brother HaRav Yitzhak Yosef as Israel’s Sephardic chief rabbi. The election for his Ashkenazi counterpart ended in a tie, requiring a second round between Rabbi Micha Halevi and HaRav Kalman Ber of Netanya.
HaRav Yosef, a member of the Council of Torah Sages of the Shas Sephardi movement, was favored to win and enjoyed the backing of Shas, which is widely viewed as the predominant religious political force of Sephardim in Israel.
HaRav Yosef, 67, whose late father HaRav Ovadia Yosef ZT”L joined Shas and became its spiritual leader after serving as chief Sephardic rabbi for 11 years, won 72 votes out of 140 in the Chief Rabbinate’s electing assembly. Rabbi Shmuel Eliyahu of of Tzfas came in second with 43 votes followed by HaRav Michael Amos, a rabbinical judge.
In the election for Ashkenazi chief rabbi, 40 delegates voted for HaRav Micha Halevi, the chief rabbi of Petah Tikva, and another 40 voted for Rabbi Kalman Ber of Netanya, a relative moderate with many supporters from Dati-Leumi communities as well as Charedi ones.
The remaining votes were distributed between Rabbi Meir Kahana, HaRav Eliezer Igra and HaRav Moshe Chaim Lau, the eldest son of Rabbi Yisrael Meir Lau, a previous chief rabbi of Israel and a famous Holocaust survivor and speaker. HaRav Moshe’s brother, Rav David Lau, was the previous Ashkenazi chief rabbi.
The electing assembly did not set a date for the second round of voting.
The election, which was expected to take place in spring, was delayed because of a dispute involving the Chief Rabbinate, the religious services ministry and the High Court of Justice.
The impasse was broken following a High Court of Justice ruling on Aug. 8 that effectively lifted the court’s previous requirement that women be considered to serve under the title of “rabbi” on the Chief Rabbinate’s electing assembly.
In the context of a 1980 law regulating the Chief Rabbinate’s work, the designation of “rabbi” may apply also to women versed in Jewish law, the court ruled in January. It said that the Rabbinate must therefore consider appointing women to a category of 10 rabbis whom chief rabbis may by law appoint to the electing assembly.
The Rabbinate declined to do this, saying that in Judaism, women may not be considered rabbis. It declined to convene an electing assembly, making it impossible to elect successors to the former chief rabbis, whose 10-year terms ended in July.
On Aug. 8, the High Court of Justice backtracked from its demand and authorized a compromise whereby which the rabbis agreed not to appoint anyone to the category of 10 rabbis, thereby lowering the number of electing assembly delegates from 150 to 140.
Half of the remaining 140 delegates comprise 70 municipal rabbis affiliated with the Chief Rabbinate, all of whom all men. The other half is made up of delegates who are not rabbis, including mayors, lawmakers, cabinet ministers and other public representatives, some of whom are women.
(JNS)
Rav Aaron Schustal will deliver his first shiur klali today at Bais Medrash Govoah in Lakewood, NJ.
This shiur klali marks the third instance of the next generation of yeshiva leadership, specifically the sons or sons-in-law of the current roshei yeshiva, delivering such a shiur. The first two were when Rav Aharon Olshin delivered a shiur klali last zeman and when Rav Yehoshua Abba Busel delivered a shiur klali a couple of weeks ago.
The shiur klali is scheduled to take place at 12:45 p.m. at the yeshiva’s Bais Shalom Bais Medrash on the topic of Shofar Hagazul.
This shiur klali serves as a form of hachtarah for Rav Schustal, as he has assumed the title of “R”M” at the yeshiva.
Rav Schustal, formerly a rosh chaburah at Bais Medrash Govoah, is a son of Rav Dovid Schustal, rosh yeshiva of Bais Medrash Govoah, and a grandson of Rav Simcha Schustal zt”l, rosh yeshiva of Yeshiva Bais Binyomin of Stamford, and Rav Shneur Kotler zt”l, rosh yeshiva of Bais Medrash Govoah.
His wife, Mrs. Malki Schustal, is a daughter of Rav Aharon Dovid Dunner, rov of the Tottenham Adas Yisroel shul of London and dayan of the Union of Orthodox Hebrew Congregations.
Bais Medrash Govoah is famously led by four roshei yeshiva: Rav Aryeh Malkiel Kotler, Rav Yeruchem Olshin, Rav Dovid Schustal, and Rav Yisroel Neuman. Rav Kotler is a son of the rosh yeshiva Rav Shneur Kotler and a grandson of the yeshiva’s founder, Rav Aharon Kotler. Rav Schustal is a son-in-law of Rav Shneur Kotler. Rav Olshin and Rav Neuman are both sons-in-law of Rav Dov Schwartzman, who, in turn, was a son-in-law of Rav Aharon Kotler.
{Matzav.com}
It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of Rabbi Yakov Kopel Brailofsky z”l at the age of 91.
Born in 1935 to Reb Moshe and Miriam Brailofsky, Rabbi Brailofsky was raised in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, where his dedication to Torah and avodas Hashem was evident from an early age.
A talmid of Bais Medrash Govoah in Lakewood, he had the zechus to learn under Rav Aharon Kotler zt”l. Over the years, Rabbi Brailofsky developed a deep connection with prominent gedolei Torah v’chassidus, including the previous Skverer Rebbe and the Rachmastrivka Rebbe of Boro Park.
Rabbi Brailofsky was a devoted mispallel at the Spinka Bais Medrash and the Rachmastrivka Bais Medrash in Boro Park, where his presence was a source of inspiration to all who knew him.
His life was dedicated to the chinuch of future generations. For decades, Rabbi Brailofsky taught at Yeshivas Rabbeinu Chaim Berlin as well as at the Skverer Cheder of Boro Park, imparting Torah and yiras Shomayim to countless talmidim.
He is survived by his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.
The levayah took place today at the Rachmastrivka Bais Medrash in Boro Park, and his aron has been taken to Eretz Yisroel for kevurah on Har Hamenuchos in Yerushalayim.
Yehi zichro boruch.
{Matzav.com}
An atzeres tefillah was held today in Lakewood, NJ in light of the giyus situation in Eretz Yisroel.
Roshei yeshiva and rabbonim had issued a call for people to attend the rally today, held in the heart of Lakewood, due, according to a statement prior to the event, to the “impending implementation of new Israeli draft laws that threaten to force thousands of bnei Torah into the military, posing an unprecedented threat to limud haTorah in Eretz Yisroel – the very lifeblood of the Jewish nation.”
The four roshei yeshiva of Beth Medrash Govoah, Rav Malkiel Kotler, Rav Yeruchem Olshin, Rav Dovid Schustal and Rav Yisroel Neuman, had issued a kol korei stating that men, women and children should attend the atzeres tefillah today.
Rosh yeshiva of mesivtos across Lakewood were asked to attend the event along with the talmidim of their yeshivos.
The gathering was held in a parking lot at Clifton Avenue and Ninth Street across from Beth Medrash Govoha’s Bais Aron Bais Medrash.
Other roshei yeshiva in attendance included Rav Aharon Feldman, rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Ner Yisroel in Baltimore, Rav Elya Ber Wachtfogel, rosh yeshiva of Yeshiva Gedolah Zichron Moshe of South Fallsburg, and Rav Yitzchok Sorotzkin, rosh yeshiva of Mesivta of Lakewood.
Various speeches were then delivered, describing the “gravity” of the new giyus law and “the threat it poses to the Olam HaTorah.” The speakers were call up by Rabbi Mordechai Levy.
The speakers stood on a platform erected in front of the crowd, with a large attached umbrella to protect them from the falling rain. The speakers were projected on a large screen for the crowd to see and hear.
The atzeres program began with Mincha at 1:30 p.m., led by Rav Leizer Ganz, who also recited Tehillim. Tehillim was then also recited by Rav Shmuel Choueka and Rav Michel Handelsman.
The first drasha was delivered by Rav Yisroel Neuman, rosh yeshiva of Beth Medrash Govoah, who also recited Tehillim.
Tehillim was then said by Rav Mordechai Betzalel Klein, the Skulener Rebbe of Lakewood, and Rav Shmuel Halberstadt.
Brief remarks were then delivered by Rav Shalom Ber Sorotzkin, rosh yeshiva of Yeshiva Ateres Shlomo, who recited Tehillim.
Rav Malkiel Kotler, rosh yeshiva of Beth Medrash Govoah, then addressed the atzeres.
Rav Elya Ber Wachtfogel, rosh yeshiva of Yeshiva Gedolah Zichron Moshe of South Fallsburg, spoke next. In his remarks, he stated that the entire purpose of the medinah in Eretz Yisroel is to “oiker zein Torah, to uproot Torah.” He said that even for those who are not learning Torah, it is forbidden to join the Israeli army.
“[The draft law] is a gezeirah that we cannot compare to any of the gezerios that there have been until now,” he said.
Remarks were then delivered by Rav Yeruchem Olshin, rosh yeshiva of Beth Medrash Govoah, who then also led the crowd in reciting Selichos.
The Novominsker Rebbe led the recital of Shema Koleinu.
Rav Yitzchok Sorotzkin, rosh yeshiva of Mesivta of Lakewood, then delivered a drasha and led the crowd in reciting Kabbolas Ohl Malchus Shomayim. Rav Dovid Schustal, rosh yeshiva of Beth Medrash Govoah, then led the crowd in the remainder of Kabbolas Ohl Malchus Shomayim and recited Kaddish.
A second minyan for Mincha was then held, led by Rav Menachem Savitz, ending after 4 p.m.
PHOTOS AND VIDEOS:
VIDEOS:
{Matzav.com}
The Israeli Chief Rabbinate has officially announced that the next Sephardic chief rabbi of Israel will be Rav Dovid Yosef.
Rav Yosef currently serves as the rabbi of Har Nof in Yerushalayim. A brilliant talmid chochom, Rav Yosef is a member of the Moetzet Chachmei Hatorah of Shas and head of Bais Medrash Yechaveh Da’as.
He follows in the footsteps of his brother, Rav Yitzchok Yosef, who has just finished his term in the same role. Their father, Chacham Ovadiah Yosef, also held the position of Sephardic Chief Rabbi.
On Sunday afternoon, around 140 members of the Chief Rabbi Election Assembly cast their votes in Yerushalayim.
Simultaneously, the election for the Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi ended in a tie, necessitating a subsequent round of voting to be held tonight, where all candidates will participate. The results of this second round are not anticipated until after 11 p.m.
{Matzav.com Israel}
It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of Rav Moshe Rubinstein zt”l, rosh kollel of Kollel Zichron Shneur of Monsey.
Kollel Zichron Shneur was founded over four decades ago by Rav Yaakov Kamenetzky and spearheaded and funded by askan Reb Yosef Hoffman as a center of Torah for the Monsey community. Rav Yaakov envisioned a kollel where diligent talmidei chachomim would learn with sincerity and devotion, until they are exemplary in Torah and mussar and ready to serve as the next generation of marbitzei Torah. Indeed, under the leadership of Rav Rubinstein for some 40 years, the kollel realized its lofty goals and spread Torah to the Monsey community and beyond.
Rav Rubinstein is survived by his wife, Mrs. Miriam Rubinstein, and their illustrious family, children who are renowned roshei yeshiva and marbitzei Torah, including their sons, Rav Aryeh Rubinstein, rosh yeshiva of Yeshiva Mishkan Hatorah in Lakewood; Rav Aharon Rubinstein, rosh yeshiva of Yeshiva Ohr HaTorah of Yerushalayim; and Rav Avrohom Rubinstein, rosh kollel of Kollel Zichron Shneur of Monsey.
The levayah will take place today, at 12 noon, at Kollel Zichron Shneur, located at 150 Remsen Avenue in Monsey.
The family will be sitting shivah at 1 Overhill Road in Monsey. Shacharis will be at 7 a.m., Mincha at 1:30 p.m., and Maariv at 9 p.m.
Yehi zichro boruch.
{Matzav.com}
With immense sadness, Matzav.com reports the petirah of Rav Avrohom Nesanel Zucker zt”l, rosh yeshiva of Yeshiva Gedolah Ohr Yisroel in Marine Park, Brooklyn.
Rav Zucker petirah leaves an irreplaceable void in the hearts of his family, talmidim, and the many who were privileged to know him.
Rav Zucker tragically passed away weeks after being involved in a serious accident that left him in a coma. From the time of the accident, Klal Yisroel joined together in heartfelt tefillos for the recovery of Refoel Avrohom Nesanel ben Masha Liba, storming the heavens in the hopes that he would be restored to health. Sadly, over Shabbos, Rav Zucker was niftar.
As a rebbi and rosh yeshiva, Rav Zucker was deeply beloved by his talmidim. His unique ability to connect with each individual, his genuine care for their growth, and his unrelenting concern for both their spiritual and physical well-being were hallmarks of his life’s avodah.
He wasn’t just a rebbi. He was a father figure, a guide, and a source of unwavering support to countless bochurim who looked to him for inspiration and guidance. Rav Zucker’s dedication to the yeshiva and its talmidim knew no bounds. He worried about every talmid‘s needs, striving to bring out their potential and always ensuring that they felt valued and heard.
Rav Zucker is survived by his devoted wife, Mrs. Tobie Zucker, and their wonderful family, who have stood by his side throughout his life of avodas hakodesh.
Levayah details will be posted once they are finalized.
Yehi zichro boruch.
{Matzav.com}
The following is a recorded message from Hagaon Rav Asher Arielli, senior maggid shiur at Yeshivas Mir Yerushalayim, urging participation in the upcoming atzeres tefillah rally to protest the giyus situation in Eretz Yisroel. The event, which has received the approbation of the roshei yeshiva of Beth Medrash Govoha, will take place this Sunday in Lakewood, NJ.
WATCH:
https://matzav.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/AUDIO-2024-09-26-14-02-48.mp3
In these turbulent times, as Klal Yisroel grapples with ongoing suffering and uncertainty, we stand together, united, turning our hearts and minds to Avinu ShebaShomayim. The past year has been marked by relentless challenges—tragedies, loss, and hardships that have impacted all segments of our people. With the Yemei Harachamim V’haSelichos upon us, the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah have issued the following kol korei, urging every member of Klal Yisroel to strengthen our faith, intensify our efforts in teshuvah, tefillah, and tzedakah, and reconnect with the values that define us as a nation. May our collective efforts bring a year of brachah, health, and shalom for us all.
[Free Translation]
In this time of distress for Klal Yisroel, a year that has been filled with endless suffering for our holy people from start to finish—beginning with the terrible event that occurred during the Yom Tov of Shemini Atzeres, which turned our celebration into mourning—we have been bombarded by reports of bloodshed and captivity. Our eyes are lifted to the heavens, yearning for the release of the captives and the return of those who have been lost in darkness. We have faced harsh decrees against the Torah and those who study it and practice its mitzvos, we’ve mourned the loss of our great leaders, and we’ve endured numerous calamities that have impacted all of us, from our youth to elders. Our means of livelihood have dwindled, leaving many struggling to provide for their families. This year has brought us many challenges, and we find ourselves with no one to rely on but our Father in Heaven.
Now, as we turn our gaze upward, seeking Divine mercy, let us heed the call: “Let us return to Hashem, for He has torn and He will heal us.” We all bear the responsibility to strengthen ourselves and to redouble our efforts in teshuvah, tefillah, and tzedakah, to increase the merit of Torah, and to accept the yoke of Heaven. We must invoke His compassion for His people, His city, His land, and His heritage. Especially now, as we stand on the threshold of the Yemei Harachachim V’haSelichos, we have a precious opportunity to seek out Hashem while He is near. We must add strength and vigor to our service of Hashem, conduct a thorough self-examination, and seek the merit of all of Klal Yisroel as a whole and us as individuals, so that we may all be inscribed in the Book of Life, in the Book of Sustenance and Prosperity, and in the Book of Redemption and Salvation.
The Torah states, “For what great nation is there that has a G-d so near to it as Hashem, our G-d, whenever we call upon Him?” The act of prayer stands at the pinnacle of our service, and we need to strengthen our commitment to pray with heartfelt intention, turning our tefillos into cries for mercy and supplication, rather than mere rote recitation. Additionally, we must reinforce our observance of the many important halachos related to tefillah and other areas where, unfortunately, many have become lax.
Moreover, in this time of crisis, it is our duty to strengthen our faith in Hashem—this complete faith that has been passed down from generation to generation. Throughout all exiles and hardships, we have remained loyal to Hashem and His Torah, steadfast believers, clinging to Him and trusting in His salvation. This commitment requires continuous reinforcement, especially in times of trouble.
We also wish to highlight that a hundred years ago, in the year 5684 (1924), our people faced immense suffering and a severe economic crisis across the Jewish Diaspora. During that time, the Rabbon Shel Yisroel, the Chofetz Chaim, penned a public letter (brought in the Sefer Geder Olam), stating:
“Everyone stands astounded, wondering why the times have changed so drastically for the worse. In addition to the fact that all Jews are being oppressed in every corner of the world, the cost of living is rising day by day, taxes and levies are significantly increasing, and the terrible decrees against the Torah and its mitzvos are overwhelming. Moreover, the state of livelihood everywhere is extremely poor, and our people are lamenting their dire situations.
“The primary reason for our suffering is because we distance ourselves from Hakadosh Boruch Hu. He commanded us, ‘And you shall sanctify yourselves and be holy.’ Our sages teach us that ‘whoever sanctifies himself below is sanctified from Above.’ Another verse states, ‘For Hashem, your G-d, walks in the midst of your camp to save you…’ The expression ‘to save you’ encompasses many matters: saving you from the sword, from famine, from captivity, and from plunder. ‘And your camp shall be holy, and He shall not see among you any unseemly thing and turn away from you.’”
Therefore, we find it fitting to remind the community of several key points that we should all be diligent about at this time:
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Each person should commit, during these Yemei Harachamim V’haratzon, to be vigilant about davening with a minyan, so that all our prayers may join together with the collective prayer, which is always heard. Additionally, we should join the community in reciting the chapters of Tehillim that are said together at the end of davening in all holy communities, and women and children should also recite these chapters of Tehillim daily.
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No part of Pesukei Dezimra should be skipped. Therefore, everyone should strive to arrive at shul early and not be late, so that they can recite the entire Pesukei Dezimra with enthusiasm and focus, as mentioned in the halachic sources.
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Great care should be taken to avoid idle conversation during davening and the reading of the Torah, especially during chazaras hashatz, as it is written in the Shulchan Aruch (Orach Chaim 124:7) that one who engages in such conversation “sins and his sin is greater than one can bear.”
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We must strengthen our faith in Hashem, which is the foundation of our faith. It is appropriate for everyone—men, women, and children—to set aside time every morning to review the Thirteen Principles of Faith, thus awakening ourselves to strengthen our complete belief.
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We should accept upon ourselves practical commitments regarding modesty, for, as the posuk states, “Hashem, your G-d, walks in the midst of your camp, and your camp shall be holy.” By doing this, we will merit the presence of the Shechinah and the supervision of Hashem to protect us from all evil.
In addition to all this, each person knows the state of their own soul and which matters require teshuvah and improvement. In these times, when judgments are weighed, we must awaken to correct our actions and character traits, strengthen our Torah study and set fixed times for learning, serve with our hearts, accept the yoke of Heaven, and increase acts of charity and kindness to uplift the spirits of the downtrodden. May it be Hashem’s will that the Shomer Yisroel accept our service, hear our cries with mercy and favor, and inscribe us in the Book of Good Life for a blessed year, filled with redemption and salvation. Amein, so may it be His will.
Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah of America
Israeli forces last month dismantled a terrorist squad that had detailed plans to carry out a combined shooting and bombing in the Galil, the country’s security agencies revealed on Thursday.
The cell, which was led by a 23-year-old resident of the Arab town of Arraba in the Galil and also included Palestinians from Yehuda and Shomron, was detained on Aug. 12, according to the Israel Police and Israel Security Agency.
Lead suspect Bassel Abahra planned to attack Jews coming to the Galil to visit the graves of Kivrei Tzadikim, according to the statement.
Police said Abahra enlisted the help of Palestinians who illegally infiltrated into the Jewish state from Yehuda and Shomron to assemble the bombs, and observed Jewish Mispalilim ahead of the planned attack.
The suspect was also said to have recruited two minors to the terror cell.
During the arrests, Israeli forces seized communication equipment, a combat vest and materials for making explosives, the statement said.
Earlier this week, the Israel Police announced that it had arrested five Arab residents of Yerushalayim’s Shuafat district, including the owner of a neighborhood supermarket chain, as part of a terror funding probe.
An initial investigation showed that the owner of the business, which has branches throughout the eastern part of Israel’s capital, had engaged in laundering terror funds and transferring them to Hamas, police said.
One-third of Israel’s 2.095 million Arab citizens believe that Hamas’s Oct. 7 massacre of 1,200 people, primarily Jewish civilians, is in line with Arab, Palestinian and Islamic values, according to a December 2023 poll.
In July, two Israeli citizens from the northern Arab village of A’ara were indicted on charges of trying to join Islamic State in Syria. Abdel Mahdi Gabarin and Naim Gabarin were arrested at the airport as they attempted to fly to Turkey, from where they planned to cross into Syria.
On June 17, the Israel Police revealed that security forces had arrested a resident of the Muslim village of ‘Ara, northeast of Hadera, on suspicion of preparing to join ISIS in Somalia. He was said to have made extensive preparations, including writing a will, collecting funds, applying for a foreign passport and maintaining contact with “hostile elements.”
(JNS)
A gathering has been scheduled for this Sunday, September 29, in Lakewood, New Jersey. Titled “Zaa’kas HaGolah” (Cry of the Exile), the event calls upon Yidden from around the globe to unite and stand up for the future of Torah learning and yeshiva bochurim in Eretz Yisroel.
A flyer for the event, posted above, warns of an immediate and critical threat to the yeshiva bochurim of Eretz Yisroel, stating that this issue is far more than a mere concern—it’s a battle for the future of Klal Yisroel itself, the flyer says. The situation centers around what the flyer says is growing dangers faced by bochurim, particularly the pressure and threats of being drafted into the Israeli military.
The urgent call to action emphasizes that this is a time of extreme danger and distress for yeshiva students. Klal Yisroel is being asked to respond with an outpouring of tefillah and solidarity. The gathering will take place in the heart of Lakewood, NJ, at 1:30 p.m., with Mincha scheduled as part of the event. Both men and women are called to demonstrate their support.
The flyer concludes with a question: “Will you be there to save the future of Torah?”
{Matzav.com}
A raging fire swept through a shul in Florida, leaving the building uninhabitable just days before the Yomim Norarim. The Chabad of Greater Orlando in Maitland was engulfed in flames around 11:15 a.m. on Sunday, Sept. 22, prompting a response from more than 30 emergency units, the Seminole County Fire Department told McClatchy News. When firefighters arrived, they were greeted by “a column of smoke” billowing from the roof, officials said.
Rabbi Sholom Dubov of Chabad of Greater Orlando shared with McClatchy News that the shul’s security guard was the first to spot the smoke and immediately alerted authorities. “The entire roof had smoke coming out of different parts,” Rabbi Dubov explained. “It really went through the building really quickly.” Thankfully, no one was harmed, according to the fire department. Rabbi Dubov mentioned that the shul typically holds a Shacharis minyan concluding at 10 a.m., followed by a children’s program that starts in the early afternoon. The fire broke out between these events, leaving the building empty at the time.
Despite the extensive destruction, six Sifrei Torah were miraculously preserved, including one almost 200 years old that survived the Holocaust, according to Rabbi Dubov. He explained that the shul had recently acquired the Holocaust Torah as a donation, but it was being kept in his office because it was too large to fit in the aron kodesh. When firefighters entered the building, they found the other five Sifrei Torah in the main sanctuary unharmed as well.
Rabbi Dubov recounted the fire chief’s words: “I’m not a believing man. I’m not Jewish. I’m not a believer. But I saw a miracle.” Many expressed their gratitude on social media, with several commenting on the Seminole County Fire Department’s Sept. 22 Facebook post. One person wrote, “Thank you all for respecting the importance of this place to our Jewish community, and the Torah scrolls were saved.”
Rabbi Dubov indicated that the fire was caused by an electrical issue in the Yahrzeit board. Each name on the board has a light bulb that illuminates around the anniversary of their passing. Currently, 200 out of 300 names on the board are filled, Dubov shared. “They said it wasn’t faulty, so it wasn’t like something you could have prevented,” he added. The fire department has stated that the exact cause is still under investigation.
With Rosh Hashanah approaching on Oct. 2, Rabbi Dubov and other community leaders are working to find a solution for celebrating the Yomim Tovim. “That’s the biggest challenge right now,” Rabbi Dubov said. “We don’t have access to the building, we don’t have access to the books, we don’t have access to a location.” The Rabbi also mentioned that the fire destroyed the supplies intended for holiday meals that would have served over 300 people.
In a Facebook post, Chabad leaders wrote, “We are still processing everything and hope to update everyone on our immediate plans for services, classes, programs, and our Hebrew school very soon.” The post also announced that a fundraiser had been launched to support the rebuilding efforts. Rabbi Dubov expressed his gratitude for the overwhelming support, saying, “We’re really grateful for the outpouring of support from the community. Jewish and non-Jewish people have rallied around and really encouraged us to continue.”
{Matzav.com}
In the early hours of Sunday morning, a frum family from Brooklyn, NY was involved in a serious accident on NJ-17 near Monsey, NY.
The crash occurred at around 2:30 a.m. while the family was driving home to Brooklyn when a drunk driver collided with their vehicle.
Monsey Hatzolah responded swiftly to the scene, and the family members were transported to Hackensack Medical Center for observation.
Despite the car sustaining significant damage, the occupants miraculously emerged without any injuries. They were all discharged at approximately 6:30 a.m.
Members of Boro Park Shomrim arrived shortly thereafter to assist the family, bringing them back home to Boro Park.
{Matzav.com}
In a historic moment on Sunday, construction finally began on the excavation of a tunnel which will house the upcoming Kosel elevator, a project which will bring major accessibility improvements to the holy site.
Harzel Ben-Ari, the CEO of the Company for the Development and Renovation of the Jewish Quarter, said: “This is a pivotal moment for the Jewish people, after 2,000 years of yearning, we can finally allow every Jew, regardless of age or physical condition, to connect with their roots and touch the heart of our history.”
The elevator will bridge the 26 meter height difference between the Jewish quater of the old city, and the Kosel plaza.
“Every meter of excavation has been a journey through time,” said Ben-Ari. “We have discovered entire worlds: ancient mikvahs, the remains of houses and streets that have not seen the light of day for thousands of years. Every stone, every shard of a vessel, tells us a story about our ancestors who walked here.”
Ben-Ari added that some of the findings discovered during construction will be displayed in the elevator lobby, giving visitors a glimpse into the Yerushalayim under their feet.
However, the old city of Yerushalayim is a challenging construction environment, and the project is expected to take 2 years, due to the complexity of the project.
{Matzav.com}
All are urged to daven for Tzvi ben Leah Miriam, a bochur learning in Eretz Yisroel who was involved in a tragic accident.
Tzvi was electrocuted, suffering severe burns on 50% of his body and a serious spinal injury.
He is currently fighting for his life in the hospital.
Tzvi is an alumnus of Waterbury Yeshiva and is presently a talmid at Rav Fisher’s yeshiva in Eretz Yisroel.
All are asked to daven for Tzvi ben Leah Miriam. The next hours and days are critical.
WATCH: Tehilim Gathering | Tzvi Ben Leah Miriam | Rabbi Daniel Kalish
{Matzav.com}
An atzeres tefillah originally scheduled to take place this coming Sunday, September 22, at 450 Broad Street in Newark, NJ, has been postponed.
The event, planned as a response to the ongoing gezeiras giyus (military draft) crisis in Eretz Yisroel, is now on hold after the state of New Jersey declined to approve the necessary permits for the gathering.
The atzeres, which was to run from 1 PM to 5 PM, had garnered support from admorim and gedolei roshei yeshivos. The event, titled “זעקת הגולה” (“The Cry of the Exile”), aimed to bring together participants to daven for the protection of Torah institutions in Eretz Yisroel. Posters and promotional material for the atzeres carried the slogan “כולכם נקבצו באו לך,” urging mass attendance.
As of now, no further details have been provided regarding a rescheduled time or location for the event.
{Matzav.com}
An atzeres tefillah will be held this coming Sunday, September 22, at 450 Broad Street in Newark, NJ, in response to the ongoing giyus (military draft) crisis in Eretz Yisroel.
The event will run from 1 PM to 5 PM.
Admorim and gedolei roshei yeshivos have expressed support for the atzeres tefillah, with details at this prior Matzav.com report.
The gathering, which posters titled “זעקת הגולה,” is being organized with the participation of various kehillos.
The posters promoting the event emphasize the seriousness of the situation, calling on the broader Jewish Diaspora to stand in solidarity with their brethren in Eretz Yisroel. The slogan on the posters, “כולכם נקבצו באו לך,” encourages widespread attendance to raise a collective voice in tefillah.
Participants will come together in Newark to daven for a favorable resolution to this crisis and for the safety and preservation of Yidden and Torah institutions in Eretz Yisroel.
{Matzav.com}
The battle with bureaucracy continues for a project to construct an education complex to teach as many as 2,500 Frum children.
The Jackson Township Planning Board in New Jersey rejected a proposal by 394 Chandler Holdings to build four private Jewish schools. As such, the company’s attorney, Donna Jennings, announced plans to sue.
The Aug. 19 decision resulted from a disagreement over whether the government should classify a road to the property as public or private. The latter designation would require future approval from the township council for exemptions on local zoning laws.
The board requested time to confer with the township council on resolving the road dispute, an extension Jennings opposed. In response, the board voted to reject the proposal without prejudice, which enables a resubmission of the application for another chance to get approval.
Jennings called the board’s decision “absolutely ridiculous.”
“I’ve never had a town tell me to go to another governmental entity first and then come back,” she said.
The construction project has taken time to secure approval; the developer applied in November 2022.
(JNS)
Senior gedolei Torah in Eretz Yisroel—Rav Meir Tzvi Bergman, Rosh Yeshivas Rashbi; Rav Dov Landau, Rosh Yeshivas Slabodka; Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch, Rosh Yeshivas Slabodka; Rav Aviezer Piltz, Rosh Yeshivas Tifrach; Rav Chaim Feinstein, Rosh Yeshivas Ateres Shlomo; and Rav Dovid Cohen, Rosh Yeshivas Chevron—have written special letters to kehillos in the United States, calling on them to join an upcoming tefillah gathering against the draft decree in Eretz Yisroel.
Earlier today, Matzav.com shared a poster containing the names of American rebbes and roshei yeshivas calling for an atzeres tefillah. As mentioned, both Satmar factions will unite, with both brothers, the two Satmar Rebbes, Rav Aharon Teitelbaum and Rav Zalman Leib Teitelbaum, participating together in the rally, whose date and location have not yet been announced.
Now, the gedolei Torah of Eretz Yisroel have joined in calling for participation in the rally.
In his letter, Rav Meir Tzvi Bergman writes, “To my dear brothers and friends, the Torah community and yeshiva students in the Diaspora of America, God-fearing and God-honoring individuals, and every Jew. The terrifying warning of my father-in-law, Rabbeinu HaGadol, the Avi Ezri zt”l, is already well known, that the decree of drafting yeshiva students is a decree of spiritual annihilation and religious coercion. This is a matter of ‘Yeihareg v’al ya’avor’ (one must be killed rather than transgress), as explicitly stated in the laws of Kiddush Hashem in Shulchan Aruch Yoreh De’ah. He asked that this be publicized in his name. Every Jew is obligated to do everything in their power to save the nation, lest they be among those who did not come to the aid of God among the mighty.”
In his letter, the Rosh HaYeshiva addresses the yeshiva students who refuse to appear at the draft offices: “All of Klal Yisroel should honor and elevate the yeshiva students in the Holy Land, the mighty warriors standing on the front lines of the battle, who do not report and do not cooperate at all with the military authorities.”
Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch wrote: “From the mountains of Tzion comes the call that to our deep sorrow, in recent times, the hand of those who fight against our holy Torah and the preservation of Judaism in the Holy Land has intensified. They do not recognize that our nation is a nation only by virtue of its Torah, as Rav Saadia Gaon said. They pursue and impose harsh decrees on yeshiva students and kollel scholars, uprooting them from the study halls and severing them from the source of life, burdening their families and threatening the survival of the yeshivas, which are the foundation of the Jewish home, so that they may falter, and the honor of the Torah and its scholars is brought to the dust.
“Therefore, it is of great importance and benefit to raise a loud and unified cry of protest from all the communities in their places of residence across the globe, to raise the banner of our faith in the Torah and its scholars, to frighten and protest against their evil schemes, and to call a rally in the public square to pour out prayers and supplications, so that the decree is removed from the sanctuaries of our lives—the Torah institutions and their students.”
In their letter, Rav Aviezer Pilz, Rav Chaim Feinstein, and Rav Dovid Cohen write: “We are raising a cry from the sanctuary of Hashem in Tzion to those who fear Hashem and tremble at His word regarding the hand of the wicked that has been raised against the Torah scholars, the precious yeshiva students and kollel scholars. With force and coercion, they work to uproot them from the tents of Torah, sever them from the source of life, and throw them into the abyss. They also burden the families of the Torah scholars and the survival of the yeshivas and kollelim, so that they may falter, and the honor of the Torah is brought low.
“Our brethren in the Diaspora, wherever they dwell, come to the aid of Hashem among the mighty in their fight for the foundations of the Jewish home. Raise the banner and proclaim that our nation is a nation only by virtue of its Torah. Torah scholars are the purpose of creation, its crown, and its splendor, and all their evil schemes will not succeed. Raise your voices, cry out, and rally in the public square, stand by your brothers, for this will greatly benefit the success of this existential struggle for the soul of the Jewish home. We pray before the Giver of the Torah that the path of the wicked will not succeed, and their schemes will not come to fruition, and we will merit to see the return of Hashem to Tzion, like precious stones shining with splendor, speedily in our days.”
{Matzav.com Israel}
Rav Yehoshua Abba Busel will deliver his first shiur klali today at Bais Medrash Govoah in Lakewood, NJ.
This shiur klali marks the second instance of the next generation of yeshiva leadership, specifically the sons or sons-in-law of the current roshei yeshiva, delivering such a shiur. The first was when Rav Aharon Olshin delivered a shiur klali last zeman.
The shiur klali is scheduled to take place at 12:45 p.m.
This shiur klali serves as a form of hachtarah for Rav Busel, as he has assumed the title of “R”M” at the yeshiva.
Rav Busel’s wife, Miriam Golda, is a daughter of Rav Yisroel Neuman , rosh yeshiva of Bais Medrash Govoah in Lakewood, NJ,
He is a son of Rav Yaakov Busel zt”l, the late rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Rabbeinu Yaakov Yosef of Edison, NJ. He is a grandson of Rav Boruch Sorotzkin zt”l, rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Telshe Cleveland.
Rav Busel also serves as rov of the High Street Shul in Lakewood.
Bais Medrash Govoah is famously led by four roshei yeshiva: Rav Aryeh Malkiel Kotler, Rav Yeruchem Olshin, Rav Dovid Schustal, and Rav Yisroel Neuman. Rav Kotler is a son of the rosh yeshiva Rav Shneur Kotler and a grandson of the yeshiva’s founder, Rav Aharon Kotler. Rav Schustal is a son-in-law of Rav Shneur Kotler. Rav Olshin and Rav Neuman are both sons-in-law of Rav Dov Schwartzman, who, in turn, was a son-in-law of Rav Aharon Kotler.
{Matzav.com}
A poster was released last night announcing an atzeres tefillah in response to growing concerns about threats to the Torah world and the Olam Hayeshivos in Eretz Yisroel.
The poster says that this large-scale gathering, set for this month of Elul, aims to bring together thousands of Jews to cry out in tefillah and protest, pleading to Hashem “lehaavir es ro’a hagezeirah.”
The atzeres is being organized in response to governmental decrees that are seen as endangering the integrity of Torah institutions and the broader Torah community.
The poster does not delineate the date or location of this planned atzeres.
The poster contains various signatories at its bottom half. First listed are admorim, including the Satmar Rebbe Rav Aharon Teitelbaum, the Satmar Rebbe Rav Zalman Leib Teitelbaum, the Pupa Rebbe, the Vizhnitzer Rebbe of Monsey, the Bobov-45 Rebbe, the Vienner Rov, the Vizhnitzer Rebbe of Williamsburg, as well as Rav Avrohom Yehoshua Heshel Bick and other Chassidishe rabbonim.
Beneath those names, the poster lists names of gedolei roshei yeshivos: Rav Malkiel Kotler, rosh yeshiva of Beth Medrash Govoha of Lakewood; Rav Yeruchem Olshin, rosh yeshiva of Beth Medrash Govoha of Lakewood; Rav Dovid Tzvi Schustal, rosh yeshiva of Beth Medrash Govoha of Lakewood; Rav Yisroel Tzvi Neuman, rosh yeshiva of Beth Medrash Govoha of Lakewood; Rav Elya Ber Wachtfogel, rosh yeshiva of Yeshiva Gedolah Zichron Moshe of South Fallsburg; Rav Shlomo Feivel Schustal, rosh yeshiva of Yeshiva Tiferes Yerachmiel of Lakewood; Rav Asher Kalmanowitz, rosh yeshiva of Mirrer Yeshiva of Brooklyn; Rav Yitzchok Sorotzkin, rosh yeshiva of Mesivta of Lakewood; Rav Shlomo Halioua, rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Rabbeinu Chaim Berlin of Brooklyn; and Rav Yaakov Shraga Horowitz, rosh yeshiva of Yeshiva Bais Meir of Boro Park.
{Matzav.com}
With about a week remaining before the Chief Rabbinate elections, negotiations between Aryeh Deri of Shas and Bezalel Smotrich of Religious Zionism to appoint a chareidi Sefardic Chief Rabbi and a Religious Zionist Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi have reached an impasse.
Five Ashkenazi candidates are currently in the race: Rav Micha Halevy, Rav Meir Kahana, Rav Eliezer Igra, Rav Kalman Ber, and Rav Moshe Chaim Lau, the son and brother of former Chief Rabbis Rav Yisroel Meir Lau and Rav Dovid Lau.
{Matzav.com Israel}
In response to the growing challenges and decrees facing the chareidi public, the heads of the chareidi parties have agreed on a division of labor in their dealings with the Prime Minister.
Shas Chairman Aryeh Deri will focus on resolving the issue of daycare centers. UTJ Minister Yitzchok Goldknopf has taken responsibility for the draft law, while Degel HaTorah Chairman Moshe Gafni will address budgetary issues related to chareidi education.
“The best solution for the daycare subsidy issue is to pass the draft law and regulate the status of those required for military service by law, and this must be done quickly,” Prime Minister Netanyahu said.
If that fails, the government plans to approve a resolution that would bypass Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara, who aims to cut daycare subsidies for families of yungeleit.
The resolution would extend the current daycare subsidy model until the end of the school year and proposes a plan to allow daycare subsidies for working women, even if their husbands are learning in kollel.
Meanwhile, the Attorney General has argued that the IDF should recruit chareidim based on criteria relevant to the army’s needs, such as drivers or those with language skills, rather than using “discriminatory” criteria like whether they are employed or own a mobile phone.
{Matzav.com Israel}
Members of the Degel Hatorah faction of Yahadut Hatorah met with Maran Rav Dov Landau, Rosh Yeshivas Slabodka, to explore potential solutions for the contentious Draft Law, according to sources.
Among those present at the meeting were MKs Moshe Gafni, Uri Maklev, and Yaakov Asher.
The meeting extended for nearly an hour and included not only the Draft Law but also recent developments about the expansion of the governing coalition.
Rav Landau inquired about the specifics of the Draft Law situation and its potential impact on the legislative efforts. The MKs provided him with a thorough update on the matter. The conversation later shifted to focus on the Har Habayis.
Rav Landau expressed his hope that National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir’s reduced influence, following the expected inclusion of Gideon Sa’ar’s party in the coalition, would help maintain the current status quo at the Har Habayis, which leading poskim have maintained it is assur to ascend.
Earlier, reports emerged indicating that Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu was considering replacing Defense Minister Yoav Gallant with MK Gideon Sa’ar, provided that Sa’ar agrees to join the coalition. Gallant has thus far resisted backing the proposed Draft Law, demanding that it gain the support of MK Benny Gantz in addition to the coalition’s approval.
A source within Yahadut Hatorah commented, “Gallant is the one standing in the way of any consensus on the Draft Law issue. His political interests are blocking us from reaching a mutually agreed-upon law, and he is also preventing the defense establishment from cooperating with the legislation that MK Yuli Edelstein is currently pushing forward. If Gallant is removed and Sa’ar takes over, we will finally be able to agree on a law that will halt the decrees targeting the Haredi community and the Torah world.”
A separate source from Agudas Yisrael emphasized, “In recent days, we have made it clear to Netanyahu that without a solution to the draft dilemma, the state budget will not pass. This message has reached the Prime Minister, and he has begun taking steps in that direction. Otherwise, his government will not survive.”
Sa’ar’s potential entry into the coalition could facilitate not only the passage of the Draft Law but also the advancement of other legislative priorities.
“Currently, Itamar Ben Gvir is blocking issues that are important to the chareidi community, such as the Rabbis Law,” said one source. “If Sa’ar joins the coalition, Ben Gvir’s obstruction will end, and we will be able to pass the laws that matter to us.”
{Matzav.com Israel}
In this episode of Inside the Agudah, Mr. Moshe Davis, Executive Vice President of Agudath Israel of Illinois, sits with Rabbi Yitzchok Hisiger, Agudath Israel’s Director of Torah Initiatives, to discuss his work on behalf of the frum community.
R’ Moshe comes from three generations of community leaders. His grandfather, Rabbi Shlomo Davis, was one of the founders of Telshe Yeshiva in Cleveland and Telshe High School, serving as a member of the hanhalah for over 50 years. R’ Yosef Davis, R’ Moshe’s father, came to Chicago in 1964 to learn in Telshe Chicago, establishing a lifelong association with the yeshiva. Along with the Telshe rosh yeshiva, Rav Avrohom Chaim Levin zt”l, R’ Yosef became one of the founders of Agudath Israel of Illinois, serving as its president in the early years.
Continuing the family legacy of community involvement, R’ Moshe has served on the boards of directors of many local organizations over the last 25 years, including the Midwest Region of Agudath Israel where he started as Founding Chairman, the Jewish Federation and Jewish United Fund and the Associated Talmud Torahs. Most recently, he volunteered as a co-president of JDBY-YTT, the largest Jewish day school in the Midwest, for over 12 years. He has been on the board of JDBY-YTT for over 20 years, currently serving as its Chairman of the Board.
Prior to joining the Agudah in official capacity as its Executive Vice President in February 2022, R’ Moshe worked as a licensed professional and business owner in the healthcare and real estate industries. R’ Moshe and his wife Chevie currently live in Chicago.
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It is with great sadness that Matzav.comreports the petirah of Rav Shmuel Raber zt”l, rosh yeshiva of Yeshiva Otzar HaTorah in Yerushalayim.
Rav Raber, who dedicated his life to teaching Torah and guiding thousands of talmidim, passed away at the age of 74 after a prolonged illness.
Rav Raber was a son of Rav Avraham Aba Raber and Mrs. Rachel Haber. He attended the Yeshiva of Kfar Chassidim, where he quickly gained the respect of his rabbeim, particularly Rav Eliyahu Lopian and Rav Mishkovsky.
After marrying his wife, Rav Raber began his career in harbotzas haTorah at the Daas Torah yeshiva in Yerushalayim. He later established and led the Otzar HaTorah yeshiva in the Ramot neighborhood of Yerushalayim, where he profoundly impacted the lives of countless bnei Torah.
Rav Raber was renowned for his unique approach to chinuch. Many heads of smaller yeshivas sought his advice on educating their talmidim. He was deeply loved by his talmidim, who saw him as a father figure. His teachings not only inspired them to embrace the Torah, but also imparted important methods for in-depth study of Torah.
Rav Raber was hospitalized at Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital in Yerushalayim, where he passed away surrounded by his family.
Rav Raber is survived by his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.
The levayah was held at the Otzar HaTorah yeshiva of Rechov Chizkiyahu Shabtai in Ramot. Kevurah took place on Har Hamenuchos.
Yehi zichro boruch.
{Matzav.com Israel}
Rabbi Avraham Noach and Devora Paley have celebrated the birth of a son, their second son born after the tragic deaths of their children, Menachem and Yaakov Yisrael Paley in the vehicular terror attack on Erev Shabbos Parshas Yisro at a bus stop in the Ramot neighborhood.
Just last week, the family celebrated the Bar Mitzvah of their son, Moishe, who survived the attack. Moishe was a meter away from Rav Alter Shlomo Lederman, who was murdered.
Additionally, the Paley family recently announced the engagement of their eldest daughter to Shloimy Steinharter, a talmid at Yeshiva Bais Mattisyahu.
Reb Avraham Nachum Paley, who miraculously survived the attack and has since recovered b’siyata diShmaya, serves as a Rosh Kollel in Ramot.
A month after the attack, the Paley family welcomed a son named Yonasan Refoel. Now, as mentioned, they have welcomed another son.
Additionally, another simcha: The widow of Rav Alter Yaakov Lederman got remarried last Tuesday in Yerushalayim to Reb Menachem Aryeh Konigsberger, a Chernobyler Chossid.
{Matzav.com Israel}
Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar has managed to elude targeted assassination attempts for nearly a year by utilizing a basic communication system, according to a report from the Wall Street Journal published on Monday.
The article states that ever since the October 7 attacks, which were carried out under Sinwar’s orders, he has deliberately avoided using phones, text messages, or any form of digital communication to prevent Israeli forces from pinpointing his location.
Instead, Sinwar relies on a network involving handwritten messages, coded language, and couriers to relay his instructions. Notes are passed from one courier to another until they reach their destination, often containing secret codes. This method mirrors one he devised during his incarceration for terrorist activities.
This low-tech system has even been used to convey orders to Arab mediators visiting Gaza or to Hamas members abroad. Sinwar has refused to use electronic communication, even when it causes delays in ceasefire negotiations due to the slow relay of messages between him and other parties.
Following the assassination of Saleh al-Arouri, a senior Hamas official, in Beirut earlier this year, Sinwar reinforced this approach. He has limited his communication to only a few voice recordings, shared with a very small circle of trusted aides.
{Matzav.com}
Over the past few months, Siddurim at the Kosel have been vandalized with messages calling for the destruction of the state of Israel. It is not yet known who the vandals are.
One message found in a Siddur read: “The land of Israel is holy, the people of Israel are holy, the State of Israel must be erased.”
Another read: “The Devil’s state will be erased for eternity.”
At least 12 Siddurim have been vandalized with these types of messages, as well as pages containing Tefillos for chayalim and the State of Israel being torn out.
The leader of the Libyan Jewish community in Yerushalayim, Rav Levi Nachum, said that a large number of the 70 Siddurim he has brought to the Kosel have been vandalized. Rav Nachum has called for an investigation of security camera footage from the site to identify the vandals before they harm more Siddurim.
In a statement, the Western Wall Heritage Foundation said it: “strongly condemns any act of vandalism against prayer books and is making every effort to eradicate this phenomenon.”
{Matzav.com}
On Monday, a source inside the Prime Minister’s office told KAN News that Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu plans on firing Defense Minister Yoav Gallant in the immediate future.
Bibi also reportedly plans on bringing Gideon Saar, and his New Hope party into the coalition, adding four seats to his majority.
Stocks in Israel fell and gas prices spiked as the news broke that the Prime Minister plans on firing the Defense Minister in the middle of a war. The move also raises concerns among hostage families, as Saar opposed a ceasefire deal with Hamas.
Bibi and Gallant have been at odds for months over agreeing to a ceasefire deal, with Gallant, Intelligence Services, and the IDF believing Israel must prioritize returning the hostages, and then can handle the security risks associated with a deal. Reportedly, Bibi and Gallant have not met for a long time, despite the mutli-front war Israel is facing.
According to a senior member of Neyanyahu’s cabinet, bringing in Saar would enable Bibi to pass a Charedi draft bill, something Gallant opposes. The Charedi parties have threatened to not vote for the upcoming budget, essentially torpedoing the coalition, if the draft bill is not passed. Some wondered if Bibi would call their bluff, as current poling indicates Charedi parties would be unlikely to sit in the coalition if new elections were held.
The draft bill in question would exempt the vast majority of Charedi men from serving in the IDF. Currently, the Charedi population is vulnerable to penalties if they do not enlist, as the Supreme Court has ruled the legal basis for the Charedi draft exemption has expired.
According to sources familiar with the communication between Bibi and Saar, the two have agreed in principle to the wording of a draft bill that would have the approval of the Charedi parties, and the coalition. However, Saar has denied negotiation a draft bill, with his allies saying any bill he agrees to would be based on the needs of the IDF.
Gallant has refused to back such a draft bill unless it received wide support, including from the opposition. Such a draft bill would be very controversial in Israel, with some reservists threatening to refuse to serve if the laws pass and ‘Israel steps away from being a democracy.’
US officials are concerned regarding the move to fire Gallant, with the US reportedly believing he is the ‘only adult in the room’ in Bibi’s coalition.
Meanwhile, Netanyahu put out a statement denying that Saar was going to replace Gallant, but he did not deny his intention to fire Gallant.
{Matzav.com}
Yagil Yaakov, a 13 year old boy who was kidnapped by Hamas, and held in Gaza for 52 days, wrote about his connection to Hashem during and after his time in Hamas captivity.
In an Instagram post on Sunday, Yaakov described how what kept him going during his time in Hamas captivity was his connection with Hashem, writing: “When I am often asked what is my truest connection with God, I answer that all that kept me going in captivity was the belief that I was not alone, that I had Someone with me who, although He was not able to protect me from being kidnapped, but He definitely protected me there, during all those hours in captivity.”
Yaakov continued, “This is called divine providence. I really think that I always felt divine providence around me. I always felt Him with me, protecting me from every trouble and obstacle. When I came back, I immediately told everyone that I wanted to start wearing a kippa and tzitzit and everyone laughed at me. They thought I was crazy. What has that got to do with anything now? I told them I was thinking about it all the time I was in captivity.”
“The month of forgiveness has come and I feel that I have a lot to ask forgiveness for and I also feel a connection that is big enough for me to go there to also acknowledge my gratitude. To say thank you for protecting me from my enemies, and ours,” Yaakov wrote.
Concluding, the 13 year old wrote: “Father, thank you for the privilege of being here. You chose to show me the correct way and You will not regret this. I love you, Tata, and am sure that You are trying to protect the other hostages who are still there.”
{Matzav.com}
When the mother of Bar Kupershtein, who is currently being held hostage by Hamas, appealed to the public asking for people to put on her son’s Tefillin until he returned home, Tzvika Graiver answered the call.
Graiver set up a stand in major Israeli cities, asking people passing by to put on the pair of Tefillin and Daven for the hostages. After finding success in Israel, the Tefillin are now on the road traveling around the US, where crowds have lined up for the Zechus to wear this special pair of Tefillin.
According to Graiver, it all started when his sister in law saw that Bar’s mother had posted online about the Tefillin. Graiver said: “This heroic mother wrote that she was looking for someone to take her son’s beloved Tefillin and help others put them on until he returns from Gaza. I wasn’t sure if I could take on such a heavy responsibility. But I messaged her, saying I love my own Tefillin dearly, but I’d be honored to take Bar’s Tefillin, set up a stand, and encourage others to wear them. I thought it could inspire even more people to put on Tefillin.”
Bar’s mother accepted the offer, and Graiver set up a stand with the Tefillin, a picture of Bar, and asked for Tefillos for Bar-Avraham ben Julia, along with all the other hostages.
Graiver says: “I believe that while the Israel Defense Forces are strong, the spiritual strength of Tefillin has immense power to bring miracles and, God willing, return the hostages soon.”
It took a business trip and the help of fellow Jews to get Bar’s Tefillin on the road. Graiver explains: “I had to travel over the summer for work and to visit my mother-in-law in Montreal. I called Bar’s mother and asked if I should leave the Tefillin behind. She said, ‘No, please take them with you and continue the work abroad.’ And that’s when Chabad communities really stepped in. Everywhere I went, people were eager to use Bar’s Tefillin. The fact that they belonged to a hostage encouraged many Jews to put them on.”
When I arrived in Los Angeles, I spoke with Rabbi Rapoport and gave him the Tefillin. All day long, people were coming to wear them. I think Bar’s Tefillin have been through at least 12 different Chabad centers, moving from one place to another every day.”
“In Florida, they traveled through Miami and Boca, reaching many Chabad emissaries,” Graiver said. “I look at the calendar and can hardly believe that it’s been almost three months of Jews putting on Bar’s Tefillin and praying for his return. I believe this will help bring him and all the hostages back safe and sound.”
Over 1,000 Jews have now worn Bar’s Tefillin, but one story stands out to Graiver the most: “I think it was on the very first day I took Bar’s Tefillin out. A young man came by, looked at the stand, and seemed hesitant. I asked if he wanted to put on Tefillin, and he asked me about the stand after noticing Bar’s picture,” Graiver recalled.
“I told him Bar’s story, and he agreed to put them on. He wore them for half an hour, praying not from a prayer book but from his heart, speaking directly to God. It turned out he was a survivor from Nova. Tefillin wasn’t part of his life, but in that moment, through Bar, he felt a deep connection. It was incredibly moving.”
{Matzav.com Israel}
For the second time this month, the Tel Aviv District Court postponed ruling on a petition asking it to order the municipality to allow gender-separated davening on Yom Kippur on public grounds.
In the hearing on Thursday, Judge Erez Yakuel instructed the municipality to obtain by Sept. 19 a position paper from the Tel Aviv Religious Council, which is subordinate to the Chief Rabbinate, on the municipality’s claim that halacha does not require a mechitza when the minyan is outside.
The municipality claimed this at a preliminary hearing last week on a petition by 14 residents and the Rosh Yehudi group, whose mission statement is strengthening Jewish identity. The petitioners went to court following the municipality’s refusal last month to issue a permit for the annual Yom Kippur minyan that Rosh Yehudi has been organizing at Dizengoff Square in recent years. Yom Kippur begins this year on Oct. 11.
The events of last year’s Yom Kippur davening at Dizengoff Square, which Rosh Yehudi held with a permit, shocked Jews and others across the world. Secular activists interrupted the event, tearing down Rosh Yehudi’s dividers—frames made of flexible materials to symbolically separate the genders while respecting the municipality’s ban on physical barriers. Some activists threw siddurim into the square’s fountain as they harassed and chased away Jews trying to daven on the holy day.
At last week’s hearing, the judge postponed ruling because he wanted the parties to compromise. Rosh Yehudi told the court it would move the event to anywhere in the city. The municipality insisted that it could not allow gender-separated prayer because this would discriminate against women. (JNS)
{Matzav.com Israel}
Rav Gershon Ribner, rosh kollel of Kollel Nesivos Hatorah and son-in-law of Rav Shneur Kotler, has succeeded in applying classical Talmudical analysis and methodology to understanding all areas of Yiddishkeit, bringing out its profundity and sense.
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The number of Jewish visitors to Har Habayis has surpassed all previous years since the liberation of Yerushalayim in 1967.
As of Sept. 6, 51,672 Jews have visited the holiest place on earth since last Rosh Hashanah (Sept. 16, 2023), according to the Beyadenu—Returning to Har Habayis organization.
It should be noted that all gedolei haposkim have said that it is halachically forbidden to go on to the Har Habayis.
As of the beginning of the month of Elul (Sept. 4), some 48,144 Jews had ascended since last Rosh Hashanah, marking a 14% increase from the 44,317 Jews who visited Har Habayis throughout the entire previous year (5783).
This number of Jews who visited this past year also surpassed the previous record from two years ago, when 47,988 Jews visited Har Habayis during 5782.
A turning point in the number of visitors was recorded after the “Return of Israel to the Temple Mount” conference held at the Knesset on July 24, where National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir announced the prayer policy of the “political echelon.” A 45% surge was recorded during this period compared to the same time last year.
However, despite that declaration, and following the comments made by Ben-Gvir in recent days where he called for a cessation of anti-Jewish “racism” on Har Habayis with regard to who is allowed to pray there, and stating that if it were up to him he would build a Shul on Har Habayis, Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu said that “there is no change to the status quo” barring Jews from worshiping there.
President Yitzchak Herzog also reiterated that Israel has an “unequivocal commitment to preserving the status quo at the holy site—in accordance with political agreements laid down since 1967 [with Jordan], and in the spirit of the rulings by leading rabbis and religious figures over the last 100 years.”
However, not all rabbis agree that the status quo is non-negotiable.
Rabbi Steven Burg, the CEO of Aish, located opposite Har Habayis in Yerushalayim’s Old City, said in a recent interview on ILTV, “It’s almost surreal to hear people arguing so vehemently against people being able to pray in a holy site. I think there needs to be a conversation about how everyone, Christians, Muslims and Jews, could be allowed to pray and to reach out to the Almighty from all the different religions that believe in one God.
“I think people should be allowed to pray on the Temple Mount. How the structure will be, and what that would look like, that is a real conversation that should happen. I feel that we shouldn’t ban anyone from praying in any place where they feel they could reach out to the Almighty,” he said.
Burg added that the threat of violence as repercussions to prayer and religious worship “is a premise that we shouldn’t accept. There needs to be a conversation about it. The Temple Mount should be a place of unity, not a place of distrust.”
Ben-Gvir said in an interview with Army Radio on Aug. 26 that Jewish prayer is allowed on Har Habayis. That prompted the denial from the Prime Minister’s Office, which stated that policy at the holy site is determined by the Cabinet and the prime minister.
A statement published by the Prime Minister’s Office on Monday said: “Last night, at the start of the Security Cabinet meeting, Prime Minister Netanyahu declared that on the issue of the Temple Mount there is no change in the status quo, nor will there be. The prime minister repeated his directive that government ministers are not to visit the Temple Mount without his approval in advance via his military secretary.”
The Har Habayis Administration activist group reacted to the report of the record-breaking number of visitors, saying, “It is heartening to see the people of Israel returning to Har Habayist. The increase in the number of worshippers ascending the Mount, even during times of war, makes the return of Israel to Har Habayis a living and existing reality.
“This surge has many contributors: the tens of thousands of visitors, the commanders and police officers who ensure that Har Habayis remains calm, peaceful and safe for visits, National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, who tirelessly works for positive progress on Har Habayis, and also Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu, who has been enabling and encouraging this positive transformation for a decade.” (JNS)
Tens of thousands of Chassidim go to Yerushalayim each year for Rosh Hashanah. This Rosh Hashanah – which is a three-day Yom Tov – many families are once again looking to rent apartments to stay for the Yom Tov and be as close as possible to their Rebbe.
In the Belzer Chassidus, a national committee has been established for renting apartments to those wishing to stay near the Rebbe. The committee is headed by Rav Shamai Kehas Gross, a member of the Badatz of Machzikei Hadas, along with other rabbonim. This committee, together with the Housing Committee led by the Belzer Rebbe, has set reasonable prices for apartments this year, alongside a series of other decisions for Rosh Hashanah.
In the Belzer Chassidus, it has been noted that in recent years, the industry of renting apartments for Rosh Hashanah in the Belzer complex in Yerushalayim and the surrounding area has become a bloodbath of sorts. Chassidim and others coming from all corners of the country and the world arrive and want to stay in the area, but are required to pay an exorbitant sum that is far from within their means.
According to the rental managers, most of whom are not Belzer Chassidim, they exploit the situation to make a fortune at the expense of the Chassidim. This phenomenon has no parallel worldwide. Even in the most prestigious hotels during peak demand times, such high sums are not charged for basic services.
In the explanatory pages for combating the high prices, it is stated that “a hotel provides full catering services including serving and clearing… A hotel provides spacious and courteous room services including maintenance and cleaning… A hotel offers comfortable beds and proper conditions, not thin mattresses in the corridor and kitchen. A hotel is left as is at the end of the stay, whereas a rented apartment needs to be cleaned thoroughly after the chag. …Despite all this, the prices are higher than hotels.”
The reports emerging this year from the field are horrifying. Apartment owners who charged exorbitant prices for their apartments last year are now demanding double that amount. They already know that if they found someone who paid their demanded price last year, they will also find someone this year willing to pay the inflated current price.
In the Biala Chassidus, they reached the conclusion that many Chassidim are facing a untenable situation, and therefore this year they instructed that no apartments should be rented at all, and only the yungeleit will come to stay with the Rebbe, while their families will remain in their homes.
As a result of the dramatic step taken by Biala, minyanim will be held in the shuls for the women who remain at home.
It has been reported that in the Biala Chassidus, Chassidim have already canceled their apartments in complete adherence to the instructions received.
The Belzer Chassidus Housing Committee, led by Rav Aharon Mordechai Rokeach, has announced that they are working with brokers and landlords and are already seeing a positive response from them. The committee has created a large database of apartments that meet their price standards.
The committee is also working to flood the market with additional accommodation options for families by renting entire buildings suitable for this purpose, with the aim of balancing the prices.
Belz is also calling on Chassidim and stating that if you have an apartment you have been renting for many years, and it exceeds the committee’s prices, report it immediately to the committee’s office. They will negotiate with the landlord and simultaneously offer you a selection of apartments that meet your requirements and are within the committee’s prices. The public is asked to report immediately to the committee’s office any apartment that exceeds the new regulations.
Below are the prices published by the Belz Housing Committee, and according to the managers, they hope that other Chassidic courts will join the fight.
On Tuesday morning, IDF Col. (Res.) Golan Vach was seriously injured in central Gaza when a tunnel shaft collapsed on him.
Col. Vach was rescued by the IDF and taken to a hospital in Israel in stable condition, and his family has been notified.
Following the 2021 Surfside building collapse, Col. Vach led the Israeli search and rescue unit which famously arrived to help the local authorities. He also led the Israeli team in Turkey following a massive earthquake in 2023, and led the IDF’s search and rescue operations in southern Israel following October 7th.
Following the tunnel collapse, the IDF released a statement saying: ‘Earlier this morning (Tuesday), during operational activity to investigate and dismantle underground infrastructure in the central Gaza Strip, a tunnel shaft collapsed, trapping an IDF officer.
The officer was rescued and was evacuated to a hospital to receive further medical treatment. His family has been notified.’
{Matzav.com}
Hundreds of people packed the Kosel plaza on Monday evening to participate in a special Tefillah service for Achdus of the nation and the safe return of the remaining hostages.
The event took place as thousands lined the streets of the capital to attend the funeral of Hersh Goldberg-Polin, one of six Israeli hostages executed last week by Hamas in Gaza which left Israelis grief-stricken and angry.
The Tefillah, which was led and organized by Tzfas Chief Rabbi Shmuel Eliyahu and included the father of a fallen soldier, as well as family members of the hostages, had been planned in advance but took on added significance due to the weekend’s news of their deaths.
“We have been at war for nearly 11 months, and we need to cry out to the heavens,” said Rabbi Eliyahu. “Yet it is not only the heavens that need [to hear] our prayers, but our soldiers.”
Gil Yogev of Neriya, whose 19-year-old son, Israel Defense Forces Cpl. Boaz Menashe Yogev, was killed on Oct. 7 during the Hamas massacre in southern Israel, said: “We are here to pray for the nation of Israel. This is the most important demonstration.”
The hour-long Tefillah included the recital of Tehillim, as well as special Tefillos usually reserved for the Yamim Noraim, and the blowing of a bronze trumpet in keeping with the Pasuk in Bamidbar (10:9): “When you go into battle in your own land against an enemy who is oppressing you, sound a blast on the trumpets.”
The tension within the country over an elusive hostage deal that has been the subject of on-again-off-again negotiations for months was also foremost on the minds of many in the crowd, which was a mix of young and old, with some even accompanied by their young children.
“Our country is torn and divided,” said Gavriel Hausman, 72, of Yerushalayim, who came for the Tefillah. “We have many challenges and we need a lot of miracles, and for that we need prayer so that we may each find the holy component within our spirit.”
Meir Strauss, a 24-year-old yeshiva student from Beit El, said: “We need to pray for the unity of the nation. We are not united, and there is a lot of hate on the streets even though we are brothers.”
“There is a lot to pray for,” noted Zeev Itzkovits, a 20-year-old yeshivah student from the Old City of Yerushalayim, who was handing out leaflets at the Kosel plaza detailing the Tefilla.
David Eisenberg, 21, of Ramat Gan, who attended the service along with his wife, said, “In the midst of all the turmoil, we understand that the best thing to do is pray.”
As the sun set on the Kosel, the ancient stones shimmering in gold, the service concluded with the reciting of “Our Father Our King” and the iconic Jewish prayer “Shema Yisrael,” followed by a song calling for heavenly mercy.
“We pray and we fight,” said Tzvika Mor, 48, of Kiryat Arba, whose 24-year-old son, Eitan, is still being held hostage in Gaza. “The army is fighting and we are praying.”
Reflecting on the burial across town and the prayer service, Mor said: “Everything together—this is our life. We bury, and we continue life and pray. The nation of Israel is strong in spirit.”
(JNS)
It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of Rabbi Yisroel Schenkolewski z”l, a longtime askan and baal chesed in the Lakewood, NJ Torah community, following a protracted illness. He was 80.
Rabbi Schenkolewski was well-known for his significant contributions to chinuch, most notably as the co-founder of Bais Kaila High School, which he established in 1977 alongside Rabbi Shmuel Mayer. The school, named in memory of his daughter, has provided a wonderful chinuch b’derech Yisroel saba to generations of bnos Yisroel.
In addition to his work in the world of chinuch, Rabbi Schenkolewski was deeply involved in the kehillah as a chaplain for the Lakewood Police Department and an active participant in local politics, where he was known for advocating on behalf of the yeshiva community. His leadership and influence extended beyond education, impacting the broader Jewish community in Lakewood through his various roles.
The levayah will be held at 4:30 p.m. at the Bais Yitzchok Bais Medrash of Bais Medrash Govoha in Lakewood, NJ. The aron will then be flown to Eretz Yisroel for kevurah on Har Hamenuchos in Yerushalayim.
Rabbi Schenkolewski is survived by his wife, Mrs. Craindel Schenkolewski, and their wonderful family.
Yehi zichro boruch.
{Matzav.com}
[Video below.] At a seudah on Thursday marking the yahrtzeit of the Divrei Yoel of Satmar zt”l, Rav Aharon Teitelbaum of Satmar delivered an important address on the pressing issue of the housing crisis in Kiryas Yoel.
For years, the community has grappled with skyrocketing housing prices, fueled by investors and developers who have been inflating prices, making affordable housing increasingly scarce for local families.
In response to this growing concern, Rav Aharon announced the development of two major housing projects in Kiryas Yoel, each slated to include nearly 1,000 affordable apartments.
These developments are a critical step toward alleviating the housing shortage and providing relief to families struggling to find suitable accommodations within their means.
To ensure that these new housing units remain affordable, Rav Aharon outlined strict guidelines that will be enforced throughout the development process. Key among these is a cap on construction costs, with permits being granted only to developers who agree to charge no more than $300 per square foot. This measure is intended to keep the final sale prices of these units within reach for the average family in Kiryas Yoel.
Moreover, to prevent speculation and the hoarding of units by investors, Rav Aharon decreed that buyers will only be allowed to purchase a single home within these developments. This rule aims to curb the practice of buying multiple units for the purpose of renting them out at inflated prices, which has exacerbated the housing crisis in recent years.
Rav Aharon also addressed the concerns of current residents living in smaller affordable apartments who may wish to upgrade to a larger unit within the new developments. He emphasized that these residents would need to sell their existing apartments at the same $300 per square foot rate before purchasing a new unit. This policy ensures that affordable housing remains accessible and that the cycle of inflated prices is not perpetuated within the community.
These clear directives have been widely praised as a crucial step toward stabilizing the housing market in Kiryas Yoel.
WATCH:
{Matzav.com}
All are requested to continue davening for Rav Avrohom Nesanel Zucker, rosh yeshiva of Yeshiva Gedolah Ohr Yisroel of Marine Park, Brooklyn, who is in critical need of rachamei Shomayim.
Rav Zucker’s family related that they are deeply grateful for the countless heartfelt tefillos and zechusim being generated for his recovery. Unfortunately, his medical condition remains critical and he is still in a coma.
Rav Zucker sustained a severe head injury on Sunday and underwent a lengthy surgery.
Please daven for Refoel Avrohom Nesanel ben Masha Liba b’soch sha’ar cholei Yisroel.
{Matzav.com}
CNN contributor Scott Jennings roasted Kamala Harris on Tuesday after news broke that the Democratic Presidential nominee would be bringing running mate Tim Walz to her much-anticipated first interview.
“I think it’s incredibly weak, weak sauce, to show up with your running mate,” Jennings, a former special assistant to President George W. Bush, told CNN, adding that the move showed a “troubling lack of confidence in her political ability.”“It makes you wonder as a voter, ‘what kind of president would you be?’” he continued. “I think Republicans are going to think it’s pretty weak to show up effectively with someone who’ll take up half the time.”
Watch the clip below:
The Trump campaign called Kamala Harris incompetent for the joint interview in a post on TRUTH.
“On Thursday — 39 days since being installed as the Democrat nominee — Kamala will sit for her first formal interview ” the Trump campaign posted on X. “Joint, since she’s not competent enough to do it on her own. **Taped, so her handlers have time to play damage control.”
Harris and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz will sit down with CNN anchor Dana Bash on Thursday.
{Matzav.com}
Due to the fear of an Iranian attack and the great concern for those foreign bnei yeshiva who are supposed to return to yeshiva in time for Elul, this week, the rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Mir Yerushalayim, Rav Eliezer Yehuda Finkel, visited the residence of the Rav Moshe Sternbuch, gaavad of the Badatz of the Eidah Hachareidus.
Rav Finkel sought Rav Sternbuch’s response regarding those American talmidim who are afraid to return to learn in Eretz Yisrael, or their parents who are anxious and fearful to send their sons to Eretz Hakodesh.
Rav Sternbuch responded decisively to the rosh yeshiva: “There have always been difficult situations. If they come to yeshiva and study Torah, we will have more zechusim (merits) and no harm will befall them. The Torah protects against afflictions and illness.”
WATCH:
{Matzav.com Israel}
A Sefer Torah, locked in a safe, stolen months ago from Yeshivas Siach Yitzchok in Far Rockaway, N.Y., has been returned to the family that donated it.
Documents provided by the New York City Police Department stated that officers arrested Saul Colon, 37, on Aug. 2. He was charged with burglary in the third degree. An unnamed accomplice remains at large.
Colon confessed to the crime and led investigators to the location of the safe, with the Sefer Torah inside, in a wooded area in the New York City borough. The Sefer Torah suffered some water damage.
Additional charges Colon received include grand larceny in the second degree and grand larceny in the fourth degree. He faces between seven-and-a-half to 15 years in prison.
The New York Post reported the value of the Sefer Torah at more than $50,000.
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz said that her office and the NYPD “never gave up on this case and, several months later, we arrested one of the suspects and were able to recover the Torah.” (JNS)
With profound sorrow, Matzav.comreports the untimely passing of Mordechai Boehm z”l of Woodmere. He was 49.Mordy tragically passed away while on vacation in Pennsylvania in an incident on the Delaware River.Mordy was the Chief Technology Officer at MillinMedical, LLC, where his expertise and leadership were invaluable. Beyond his professional accomplishments, Mordy was known for his warmth, integrity, and unwavering honesty. His kindness and compassion left a lasting impression on everyone who knew him.As a beloved member of Congregation Bais Ephraim Yitzchok (CBEY) in Woodmere, Mordy was admired and cherished by his kehillah. His presence was a source of inspiration, and he will be deeply missed by all who had the privilege of knowing him.Mordy is survived by his wife, Ilana, and his children, Aharon, Moshe, Akiva and Binyomin. The family will sit shivah at 366 Silver Court in Woodmere, NY through Tuesday morning. Shacharis on weekdays will be at 8 a.m. Shacharis on Sunday and Monday will be at 9 a.m. Mincha/Maariv will be at 7:10 p.m. The family requests no visitors between 12:00 and 2 p.m. and 5 and 6 p.m. and after 9:30 p.m.
Yehi zichro boruch.{Matzav.com}
Nearly 30,000 new Olim have arrived in Israel since the Oct. 7 massacre, according to figures released Tuesday by the World Zionist Organization.
The wave of Aliyah coincides with the nearly 11-month war against Hamas in Gaza and a surge in global antisemitism, including in North America. The war began when thousands of Hamas terrorists infiltrated southern Israel, slaughtering 1,200 people and abducting another 250. Of these, 108 still remain captive in the Strip.
“On Oct. 7, a war erupted not against the state of Israel but against the Jewish people,” said WZO chairman Yaakov Hagoel, who greeted the latest group of French immigrants upon their arrival at Ben-Gurion International Airport on Monday. “Today, in many countries around the world, it is hard to be a Jew, whether at school, at work or at prayer.”
Hagoel noted that Israel has seen a “dramatic increase” in Aliyah in the wake of the massacre, which, he said, “is a testament to the recognition of the global Jewish community that Israel is not just a refuge, but a beacon of hope and faith.”
Most of the immigrants who made aliya since the war came from the former Soviet Union, with nearly 17,000 from Russia and over 900 from Ukraine, according to figures from the Ministry of Aliyah and Integration. 2,385 Olim came from the US and 1,581 from France.
Immigration from the US in the first seven months of the year is up 16 percent compared to the same period the year before, while the numbers from France represent a 50 percent hike, according to data from the quasi-governmental Jewish Agency for Israel.
The number of Israelis who emigrated from Israel has fallen during the war after peaking during the summer of 2023 when the country was awash in turmoil over the contested judicial overhaul.
About 63,000 Israelis who left the country between November and May have not yet returned, compared to 67,000 in the same period before the war broke out, according to the Central Bureau of Statistics.
A recent report details a 355% increase in potential immigrants opening Aliyah files in France, compared to the same period last year. In the United States, the number of immigration files rose by 62%, totaling 6,000 people, while Canada saw an 87% uptick, or some 800 people, expressing their desire to move to Israel.
“The strong response we are witnessing through this wave of Aliyah is a powerful affirmation of our collective resolve to stand with Israel, now more than ever,” he said.
(JNS)
The Israeli Yated Ne’eman newspaper, aligned with the Degel Hatorah faction of the Yahadut Hatorah party, sharply criticized National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir in its paper today, labeling him as a “pyromaniac politician.”
This rebuke follows Ben Gvir’s recent endorsement of establishing a shul on the Har Habayis in Yerushalayim’s Old City.
The newspaper emphasizes the enduring stance of leading gedolei haposkim across generations who categorically prohibited Jews from ascending the Har Habayis.
The publication condemns Ben Gvir’s statements as “severe” and accuses him of “endangering the residents of the Holy Land.”
{Matzav.com Israel}
It is with profound sorrow that Matzav.com reports the tragic petirah of R’ Boruch Ber Ziemba z”l. He was 39.
R’ Boruch Ber was swimming with his children in the Delaware River when one of his children drifted out and was struggling to stay afloat. R’ Boruch Ber went to rescue the child but was drawn into the river’s strong current.
After more than 40 minutes, he was extricated from the water, but paramedics were unable to revive him.
R’ Boruch Ber was a rosh chaburah at Bais Medrash Govoah in Lakewood, NJ, where he was recognized as a budding talmid chochom and was beloved by all who knew him.
He lived on Nature’s Way in the Ocean Pointe development in Lakewood, where he was an admired member of the kehillah.
R’ Boruch Ber was a son of R’ and Rebbetzin Moshe Avigdor and Sori Ziemba of the Parkville neighborhood in Flatbush. Rebbetzin Ziemba is the longtime menaheles of Bais Yaakov of 18th Avenue in Boro Park and founder of Chein Bais Yaakov in Lakewood, NJ.
His wife, Temmi, is a daughter of Rav and Rebbetzin Moshe Shimon and Chaya Luria, rov of Khal Ohr Yechezkel on Ridge Avenue in Lakewood.
R’ Boruch Ber’s maternal grandfather was Rav Yisroel Garber zt”l, a renowned talmid chochom and the author of sefer Tal L’Yisroel, seven volumes on Shas. Rav Garber was a talmid in the yeshiva of Kamenitz in Europe, where he learned under his uncle, the rosh yeshiva, Rav Boruch Ber Leibowitz zt”l. Rav Garber’s mother was Rav Boruch Ber’s sister. The niftar, R’ Boruch Ber, was named after Rav Boruch Ber.
R’ Boruch Ber is survived by his wife and their seven children, his parents, in-laws, siblings, and a large extended family and circle of friends who are devastated by this tragic loss.
Levayah details will be posted as soon as they are finalized.
Umacha Hashem dimah me’al kol ponim.
UPDATE: The levayah will be held tonight, at 10:30 p.m. at the Bendheim (Yoshon) Bais Medrash of Beth Medrash Govoha in Lakewood NJ.
Out of respect for family members who did not know of the drowning or the petirah, Matzav.com withheld reporting until the proper parties were notified.
{Matzav.com}
Each week, the “tzaddik of Tiveriah,” Rav Dov Kook, traditionally spends seudah shlishis with his talmidim after the end of Shabbos, delivering words of hisorerus for an extended hour after Shabbos has ended.
This past Motzoei Shabbos, Parshas Eikev, Rav Kook strangely deviated from his custom and continued seudah shlishis for many hours deep into the night.
While in a state of great spiritual uplift, Rav Kook turned and whispered to his brother-in-law, Rav Eliezer Roth, head of the Asos Mishpat Bais Din and son-in-law of Rav Yitzchok Zilberstein, “Boruch Hashem, all the judgments and decrees have been sweetened.”
This occurred shortly before a dramatic preemptive strike by Israel within Lebanon.
As the meal was coming to an end and the alarms had already begun in the northern settlements, Rav Kook threw candies towards his close talmidim and said, “These will be in place of the missiles.”
The meal lasted until five in the morning. Afterward, Rav Kook davened Maariv with great devotion and immediately afterward davened Shacharis at sunrise. Following Shacharis, he made Havdalah.
{Matzav.com Israel}
As a follow-up to our report last night, the Torah community is urgently requested to continue davening for Rav Avrohom Nesanel Zucker, rosh yeshiva of Yeshiva Gedolah Ohr Yisroel of Marine Park, Brooklyn, who is in critical need of rachamei Shomayim.
Because the condition has taken a turn for the worse, a name, Refoel has been added.
Rav Zucker sustained a severe head injury on Sunday and underwent a lengthy surgery. The situation is critical, and Klal Yisroel is asked to daven on his behalf.
Please daven for Refoel Avrohom Nesanel ben Masha Liba b’soch sha’ar cholei Yisroel.
{Matzav.com}
Rav Shmuel Eliyahu, the chief rabbi of Tzefas, urged both the government and the IDF on Sunday to take necessary measures to ensure the safety of the northern residents.
“This morning, the people of Tzefas and the Galilee witnessed a miracle. Despite the launch of dozens, perhaps even hundreds of rockets, thankfully, no one was injured,” Rabbi Eliyahu stated.
He continued, “In the north, we face daily attacks. This is not a new occurrence; we experienced a similar assault on Friday and again last week.”
Rav Eliyahu emphasized, “We appeal to the IDF, its commanders, and the Israeli government to ensure that we have the same right to safety as those in Tel Aviv. We expect to live here without fear, and for safety to be guaranteed throughout the northern regions.”
Earlier, David Azulai, the head of the Metula Council, expressed on 103FM radio, “Every time, the ministers make significant decisions that essentially grant the Prime Minister and Defense Minister the authority to avoid making any decisions.”
Azulai suggested, “I propose a new name for the operation: Operation Peace for Tel Aviv. We are treated as different from the residents of central Israel. In Metula, there are no residents left. For 11 months, we’ve endured hits, with over 40 percent of residents’ homes damaged. We endure the same attacks, and today’s barrage was four times greater. While Tel Aviv is spared, we face quadruple the impacts in the north.”
He lamented, “We are constantly under attack, with increasing rocket fire. Everything that travels from the south to the north, and vice versa, passes over Metula. We are essentially the battleground. Most of the interceptions occur above us. The entire region appears to be neglected by the State of Israel without any Knesset decision. I believe this is unlawful, and the Attorney General should investigate it.”
“There is no agriculture, no tourism, and we are about to start a new school year with nothing thriving here. Although IDF soldiers are stationed to guard the Strip, we seem to have abandoned this region. The Israeli government needs to take a more decisive action or relinquish this land as it did with Yamit.”
{Matzav.com Israel}
The Torah community is urgently requested to daven for Rav Avrohom Nesanel Zucker, rosh yeshiva of Yeshiva Gedolah Ohr Yisroel of Marine Park, Brooklyn, who is in critical need of rachamei Shomayim.
Rav Zucker sustained a severe head injury earlier today and is undergoing emergency surgery. The situation is critical, and Klal Yisroel is asked to daven on his behalf.
A special tefillah gathering is being held now at The Grove Shul at 151 Grove Circle in Fallsburg, NY.
Please daven for Avrohom Nesanel ben Masha Liba b’soch sha’ar cholei Yisroel.
{Matzav.com}
It is with profound sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of Rebbetzin Esther Rivka Levenberg a”h, whose passing leaves a void in the hearts of many.
Rebbetzin Levenberg was the aishes chover of Rav Yehuda Levenberg, one of the eminent talmidei chachomim of Lakewood, a towering figure in Bais Medrash Govoah for decades, and the author of the multi-volume classic Imrei Chein seforim.
Rebbetzin Levenberg was the daughter of Rav Mordechai Schwab zt”l, the famed “Tzaddik of Monsey” and mashgiach of Yeshiva Bais Shraga. Inheriting her father’s spiritual greatness, she was a paragon of humility, modesty, and kindness.
As a true bas gedolim, Rebbetzin Levenberg excelled in her own right, embodying extraordinary middos and a deep avodas Hashem. Her acts of chesed were remarkable, and her devotion to her illustrious husband and family was unwavering. Her heartfelt davening and awe-inspiring yiras Shomayim touched the lives of all who knew her.
She is survived by her husband and their wonderful mishpacha.
The levayah will take place today at 12 noon at Bais Medrash Govoah’s Bais Medrash Bais Yitzchok, with the kevurah following at the Mount Sinai Cemetery, located adjacent to the Congregation Sons of Israel Holocaust Memorial Chapel off of East Seventh Street in Lakewood, NJ.
Yehi zichrah boruch.
{Matzav.com}
The grandson of the former acting Chief Rabbi of Israel, Rav Eliezer Igra, was wounded fighting in Gaza over Shabbos.
The soldier, who is a member of the paratroopers brigade, was lightly wounded in battle in Khan Yunis, and doctors estimate he will be able to be released from the hospital within a few days.
Rav Igra, who is currently running for the Chief Rabbi position, received a phone call on Motzei Shabbos informing him of his grandson’s injury. The rav went to be mevaker choleh at Sha’are Tzedek Hospital and canceled his appointments for the evening.
Rav Igra has 5 grandsons and 7 sons or sons-in-law who have served in the IDF in reserves since the war in Gaza began, fighting both in Gaza and on the northern front.
Rav Igra asked the tzibbur to daven for his grandson, Dvir ben Techiya.
{Matzav.com Israel}
A French police officer was wounded on Shabbos in a bombing outside the Beth Yaakov Shul in the seaside resort town of La Grande-Motte, close to Montpellier in southern France.
Two vehicles were found at the scene engulfed in flames, according to the European Jewish Press. The congreagation had not yet arrived at the Shul for Shabbos Davening services when the blast occurred.
The Representative Council of Jewish Institutions in France (CRIF) said the incident showed “an attempt to kill Jews.”
The use of a gas canister “in a car at a time when worshippers are expected to arrive at the synagogue is not simply a criminal act,” CRIF president Yonathan Arfi told Agence France-Presse.
CCTV footage reportedly showed a suspect waving a PLO flag near the synagogue.
“Our thoughts are with the congregation at the Grande-Motte synagogue and all the Jews in the country,” said French President Emmanuel Macron.
“Everything is being done to find the perpetrator of this terrorist act and protect places of worship. The fight against antisemitism is a constant battle, that of the united nation,” he added.
French Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin described the incident as “manifestly criminal,” adding, “I want to assure our Jewish fellow citizens and the municipality of my full support and say that at the request of President Macron, all means have been mobilized to find the perpetrator.
Earlier this month, Darmanin said at a ceremony commemorating an Aug. 9, 1982, terrorist attack at Chez Jo Goldenberg, a Jewish restaurant in Paris’s Marais district, that the first half of 2024 saw 887 antisemitic incidents, almost triple the 304 documented in the same period of 2023.
Darmanin warned that antisemitism “no longer hides” and that “it is an insult to the dead, the wounded, the humiliated and our history.” He also noted that to date, law enforcement has only captured one suspect in the Chez Jo Goldenberg attack.
Second gentleman Doug Emhoff attended the event, laying a wreath and lighting one of six candles memorializing the six individuals killed in a grenade attack that also wounded 22 others. “The United States stands in solidarity with you,” he said. “We cannot be silent, and we must not be afraid.” (JNS)
{Matzav.com}
Shlomo Zilberman, a chareidi soldier serving in the Paratroopers Brigade’s ‘Hetz’ company, took the opportunity to explain to Defense Minister Yoav Gallant the practice of observing shilchos Shabbos according to Rabbeinu Tam.
During a discussion with soldiers from the brigade, Gallant inquired about Zilberman’s experience in the military and his initial perception of the IDF before enlisting as a chareidi Jew. Zilberman candidly admitted, “I didn’t know what the army was. They had to explain this to me,” and he added that he was unfamiliar with even basic military distinctions, such as “red and black infantry boots.”
Zilberman also shared his dedication to his personal principles since joining the IDF. “I am very strict about my values, keeping the Shabbos according to Rabbeinu Tam [which adds an extra 40 minutes to the ending time of Shabbos],” he stated.
Curious about Gallant’s understanding, Zilberman asked, “Do you know what Rabbeinu Tam is?” He then clarified, “When you end the Shabbos, we observe an extra 40 minutes. This is very important to me. It is an integral part of my Shabbos.”
Reflecting on his experience in the military, Zilberman expressed his contentment with his current posting and spoke positively about his commanders: “I was stationed here and I am very happy.”
He continued to emphasize the support he receives: “Everyone is supporting this, even the non-religious. If it continues, we will have a chareidi army.”
Gallant responded, “As long as the army continues to fight.”
Zilberman, with a smile, quipped back, “You will have to wear a kippah.”
WATCH:
{Matzav.com Israel}
Today is the 7th yahrtzeit of Rav Aaron Brafman zt”l, the much-beloved and revered menahel of Yeshiva of Far Rockaway. He was also a respected author and a dedicated askan. But more: He was a man who loved every Jew, who saw potential where others saw failure. In the words of a talmid, he was a man “who lived and breathed Klal Yisrael; whose days were filled with Torah and maasim tovim … and most of all, who epitomized the term ‘rebbi.’”
On his yahrtzeit, we share this interview with his son, Rabbi Avrohom Baruch Brafman, and Rabbi Brafman’s close talmid, Rabbi Dov Keilson.
WATCH:
IDF Sergeant Ori Ashkenazi Nechemya has tragically fallen in battle in southern Gaza. Cleared for publication on Thursday evening, Nechemya, aged 19, from Ashkelon, was a soldier in the 46th Battalion, 401st Brigade.
Nechemya was killed by an attack using an anti-tank missile in the Rafah area of southern Gaza.
Since October 7th, 695 IDF soldiers have been killed. This number includes 331 soldiers killed in the ground operation in Gaza. An additional 4,349 soldiers have been injured, and there are 21 soldiers still hospitalized in serious condition. Another 172 soldiers are in moderate condition, and three in light condition.
{Matzav.com}
Aish.com was hit with a major DDOS cyber attack on Tuesday at 10:45am Israel time, which lasted for 6 hours. The giant attack included over 219 million requests, a scope that is unprecedented in the history of Aish.
Shragga Botwinick, Aish Director of Technology and Computer Programming said “I was immediately notified by our monitoring tools that we have in place with regard to the unusual activity. After investigating the issue I noticed a major DDoS attack. As a result of the attack, the website stopped responding for between 5-10 minutes when the attack was initiated, but following that pause our internal security systems kicked in and the site began functioning normally once more.”
According to the organization, no information was stolen or lost as part of the attack. The Israel National Cyber Directorate was informed of the attack.
This type of attack used against Aish is a cyber attack in which the attacker attempts to flood the targeted machine or resource with a huge number of requests, to try and overload the system and prevent some or all real requests from being filled.
Aish says it has been hit with numerous such attacks since October 7th, but that this attack was the largest in scope. Following an earlier attack in May, Aish says it added a significant amount of extra security to protect their site, which sees over 1 million visitors a month.
The CEO of Aish, Rabbi Steven Burg, thanked his staff for handling the attack, and said he is “not surprised” by it. “Israel and the Jewish people are under attack on all fronts, both physically as well as in the cyber world. Aish is an a-political organization but because we are dedicated to strengthening the Jewish people by spreading Jewish wisdom and Jewish values, we too are under attack. I want to thank the excellent staff, especially Shraga Botwinick, for their expert handling of the situation. These attacks are part of the delegitimization tactics used by our enemies to harm any attempts at Jews standing up for themselves or strengthening one another. But Aish will continue to do just that, spread Jewish Wisdom, speak up for the Jewish people, and strengthen all Jews around the world, no matter who or where they are.”
{Matzav.com}
In a new letter, Rav Avrohom Schorr, the Rov of Khal Nezer Gedalyahu in Flatbush, expressed deep dismay over the increasing extravagance observed at Friday Toameha gatherings and at Kiddushim on Shabbos, particularly highlighting the excessive drinking of alcohol and the lavish spending associated with these events.
The letter, penned on Erev Shabbos Nachamu, serves as a clarion call for a return to the core values of simplicity and modesty.
Rav Schorr pointed out that the opulence of these events, especially the overindulgence in alcohol, not only shifts the focus from the spiritual and communal aspects of Shabbos but also exacerbates financial pressures on families. In light of the current economic challenges faced by many, he emphasized that such overspending is particularly egregious.
Moreover, Rav Schorr noted that Toameha gatherings do not have any halachic significance.
Read it:
{Matzav.com}
In the following episode of “Inside the Agudah,” Rabbi Yitz Frank, the executive director of Agudath Israel of Ohio, sits with Rabbi Yitzchok Hisiger, Director of Torah Initiatives at Agudath Israel of America, to provide a unique inside look at his activities at the Agudah. He is engaged in multiple projects to advance legislation, educates community organizations about governmental programs and funding opportunities, and serves as a liaison to the Ohio Department of Education on behalf of Jewish day schools. An expert in education policy, he is the acting president of the Ohio Council for American Private Education (CAPE Ohio) and serves on the community relations committee of the Jewish Federation of Cleveland. He is a director of several community institutions and has been an effective leader within the Jewish community of Ohio. Watch and learn more about what the Agudah does each day.’
WATCH:
Rabbi Yitz Frank from Agudath Israel on Vimeo.
It is with immense sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of R’ Yisroel Shalom Oshry z”l and R’ Mendy Weinberger z”l in a devastating car accident last night in Mountaindale, NY, in the Catskills.
R’ Yisroel Shalom, 27, was from the Belzer kehillah of Boro Park, and R’ Mendy, 28, was from the Satmar kehillah of Boro Park.
The two were traveling at around 10 p.m. when their vehicle flipped over on Church Road and tumbled into a ditch. The vehicle caught fire, and the two were trapped inside.
Hatzalah and Fire Department personnel responded rapidly, but by the time they arrived and the flames were extinguished, R’ Yisroel Shalom and R’ Mendy had succumbed.
The levayah of R’ Yisroel Shalom will take place this morning at the Belzer Bais Medrash at 1350-39th Street in Boro Park and then at the Belzer Bais Medrash at 12 Maple Terrace in Monsey. Kevurah will follow in the Belzer chelkah of the Har Shalom Bais Hachaim in Airmont.
The levayah and kevurah of R’ Mendy will take place at 11:30 a.m. today at the Bais Hachaim in Kiryas Yoel.
Umachah Hashem dimah me’al kol ponim.
{Matzav.com}
On Thursday evening a fire broke out at a Shul in the Canaan neighborhood of Tzfas.
Four firefighting crews from the Galil-Golan fire station rushed to the scene, and found a fire raging inside the Shul. Jumping into action, the firefighters entered the Shul, made sure all Mispalilim made it out safely, and rescued the Shul’s Sifrei Torah.
Baruch Hashem the firefighters were able to rescue the Sifrei Torah undamaged, and the fire is now under control.
{Matzav.com}
Following the visit by Itamar Ben-Gvir and hundreds of others to Har Habayis on Tisha B’av, five senior Rabbanim released a video calling on Jews not to go up to Har Habayis. The video was released with Arabic subtitles, in a clear attempt to send a message to the Arab world. Reportedly, security officials and Yerushalayim mayor Moshe Lion requested the video be created.
The video featured HaRav Yitzchak Yosef, HaRav Simcha Rabinovich, HaRav Avigdor Neventzal, HaRav Shmuel Betzalel, and HaRav Dovid Cohen.
However the video did not receive much traction in the Arab world, with only two outlets sharing the news – US based Al-Hurra and the terror supporting Al-Jazeera, run by the government of Qatar. Neither channel shared the entire video, instead posting screenshots with explanatory graphics.
The Al-Jazeera graphic also referred to the Rabbanim in Arabic as “Extremist” and “Hardline,” and emphasized the video was created at the request of Israeli security officials.
The reactions in Arabic to the Al-Jazeera post were filled with antisemitism, and expressed outrage at the outlet for publicizing the Rabbanim’s “Zionist” message, with one user saying ““Al-Jazeera are pigs,” and another saying “Stop whitewashing the occupation.”
Other reactions included a user who wrote “May God help the [Muslim] Jerusalemites in cleaning up their filth…,” and “They’re distributing it to the Arabs as a smokescreen.”
{Matzav.com Israel}
On this date, August 15th, 19 years ago, Israeli forces began implementing the Disengagement Plan formulated by then Prime Minister Ariel Sharon.
Many Israeli politicians, including at one point current Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu, supported the plan, hoping evacuating Gaza would improve Israel’s security. Gush Katif required extensive military resources to secure, something many Israeli leaders did not think was sustainable. Additionally, Sharon and others believed that separating the Israeli and Palestinian populations could lead to peace, even without a formal peace agreement. Looking back, that idea seems naive at best.
Many Israelis protested the disengagement, with some protests turning violent. In some cases, Gush Katif residents barricaded themselves inside buildings, and security forces fought their way inside to drag them out.
Over the few weeks that followed August 15th, 2005, thousands of Israeli soldiers and police officers worked their way through Gush Katif, evacuating residents, and removing those who resisted by force. Additionally, the disengagement also included evacuating four towns in the northern Shomron. The evacuations were completed by September 22nd, 2005.
Many Israelis view the disengagement as one of the biggest mistakes in Israeli history. Following the disengagement, Hamas gained power in the strip, and years of rocket fire and small scale wars finally culminated in the worst day for Jews since the Holocaust, October 7th.
Following the outbreak of the war in Gaza, many right-wing Israelis have been calling for Jews to once again return to live in the Strip, with rallies calling for a Jewish return to Gaza featuring thousands of attendees, including members of Knesset. However Prime Minister Netanyahu, who once supported the disengagement, has rejected these calls, emphasizing he will not allow Jews to return and live in Gaza once again.
{Matzav.com}
Israeli security forces arrested six youths after dozens tried to breach the border with the Gaza Strip to Daven there on Thursday morning.
The six who were detained were part of a group of some 40 people who tried to enter the Strip from the Erez Crossing with northern Gaza.
The attempt to enter the enclave came as resettlement activists marked 19 years since the military carried out Israel’s disengagement from the Gaza Strip, in which more than 8,000 Jews were forcibly removed from their homes.
“We were privileged to take part in an attempt to hold Tefillos inside the Gaza Strip, with the belief that Gaza is part of the Greater Land of Israel, and with the clear understanding that only settlement can be considered a victory,” one of the participants told Israel Hayom.
“Only a Jewish Gaza will remove the threats of missiles and hostage-taking from Gaza and bring security to the residents of the south and the entire country,” the anonymous Israeli continued.
“Before the war, [Hamas leader Yahya] Sinwar, may his name be erased, would take care of ‘Marches of Return’ and threaten residents of the ‘[Gaza] Envelope’ with [arson] balloons and mortar shells; this situation needs to be reversed. Jews who demand what is theirs: A return to Gaza,” he said.
Earlier this week, the Israel Defense Forces and Israel Police declared the border area a closed military zone after hundreds of Zionist activists announced plans to mark Tisha B’AV in the IDF-held Netzarim Corridor that divides the south and north of the Strip.
Monday’s Tefillah event, which reportedly attracted 300 people, was eventually held near Kibbutz Nahal Oz on the Israeli side of the border.
In August 2005, the Israeli government, headed by Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, unilaterally disengaged from Gaza, removing thousands of residents from their homes and transferring them to within the Green Line.
While the move was designed to bring calm to Israel’s southern border, it ushered in a victory for Hamas in January 2006 Palestinian Legislative Council elections. In June 2006, the terrorist organization seized power in the Strip and evicted the Western-backed Palestinian Authority.
In September 2023, Palestinian terrorist organizations fired rockets towards the Mediterranean Sea as they marked 18 years since Israel’s defeat and the uprooting of Gaza’s 21 Jewish communities, as well as four in northern Shomron.
The Hamas-led Joint Operations Room, which includes a dozen terrorist groups that coordinate attacks on Israel, said the rocket fire was part of a military drill that also included guerrilla warfare simulations.
“The defeat of the occupation from Gaza establishes its defeat from Yehuda and Shomron and heralds the liberation of Yaffo, Chaifa, Yerushalayim and the rest of the country, Inshallah [God-willing],” said Muhammad Deif, the now-slain head of Hamas’s Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades.
During its Oct. 7 invasion of the northwestern Negev, Hamas murdered some 1,200 people, mostly Jewish civilians, and wounded thousands more. It also took around 250 civilians and soldiers back to Gaza as hostages.
Some 53% of Jewish Israelis support the re-establishment of Israeli civilian communities in the Gaza Strip, according to the “Peace Index” survey released by Tel Aviv University in January of this year.
Three months ago, Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu ruled out the possibility.
“If you mean resettling Gaza, … it was never in the cards, and I said so openly. And some of my constituents are not happy about it, but that’s my position,” the Israeli leader said in a May 21 interview with CNN.
(JNS)
MK Yaakov Asher of United Torah Judaism, who leads the Knesset Internal Affairs Committee, strongly criticized National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir. Asher accused Ben Gvir of “playing games with with matters of pikuach nefesh (life-and-death),” following Ben Gvir’s controversial visit to the Har Habayis on Tisha B’Av.
In an interview with Radio Kol Chai, Asher stated, “He cannot do whatever he wants. Who does he think he is? We didn’t elect him as Prime Minister. He should demonstrate some responsibility. To come and say things on behalf of the government? These are very tense days. He’s playing games with matters of pikuach nefesh. This is extremely serious.”
Addressing the Draft Law concerning chareidi conscription into the military, Asher declared that “if the status of students of Torah is not regulated in the law, this government has no right to exist.”
Asher also touched on a potential deal for the release of hostages, emphasizing, “In the last few months, in meetings with the families of the hostages and in discussions with the Prime Minister, we said time and time again that we would be the first ones to support any difficult decision he makes on a deal. It’s about pikuach nefesh, pidyon shvuyim, and honoring the dead.”
{Matzav.com Israel}
Rav Gershon Ribner, rosh kollel of Kollel Nesivos Hatorah and son-in-law of Rav Shneur Kotler, has succeeded in applying classical Talmudical analysis and methodology to understanding all areas of Yiddishkeit, bringing out its profundity and sense.
LISTEN:
On Tuesday night, Chazan Dudu Fisher announced that he will lead Tefillos on Rosh Hashana in the center of Tel Aviv, following the decision of the Tel Aviv municipality to ban gender-segregated Minyanim in public spaces.
Following Tisha B’av, Fisher said: “We have just ended Tisha B’Av, the day when we are supposed to remember what divisiveness in the nation can cause us. Right before the start of the fast, I heard with great sadness the decision of the Tel Aviv municipality not to hold prayers in public areas of the city.”
“This year I have decided to stay in Israel on Rosh Hashanah and hold prayers in the center of Tel Aviv, together with you. I will not be traveling to the US to hold prayers there.”
“I believe that Ron Huldai (the mayor of Tel Aviv) will also come. After all, we know that if we are united, no one can beat us.”
{Matzav.com Israel}
At the request of the mayor of Yerushalayim Moshe Lion, five senior Rabbanim published a video with Arabic subtitles calling on Jews not to visit Har Habayis.
The video featured HaRav Yitzchak Yosef, HaRav Simcha Rabinovich, HaRav Avigdor Neventzal, HaRav Shmuel Betzalel, and HaRav Dovid Cohen.
Reportedly security officials asked for the video to be created.
Most Poskim, including the Rabbanut, hold it is forbidden for Jews to visit Har Habayis, out of fear they will be Over the Issur entering areas of greater Kedusha while Tameh. However there are some Rabbanim who hold entry to some outer areas of Har Habayis is allowed, including former Chief Rabbi Shlomo Goren zt’l, who put together a map of where to go and which areas on Har Habayis to avoid.
The video comes a day after Tisha B’av, when Israeli politician Itamar Ben-Gvir (Otzma Yehudit) visited Har Habayis, along with hundreds of other Jews. Videos circulating online showed Jews bowing down while facing the Makom Hamikdash.
Ben-Gvir announced the ‘status quo’, which prevented Jews from Davening on Har Habayis, was not longer in effect. Prime Minister Netanyahu denounced the claim, saying only he can make such a decision, and that the status quo is still in effect.
{Matzav.com}
At Bais Medrash Govoha in Lakewood, NJ, the Annual Motzoei Tisha B’Av Seder at Bais Yitzchok-Binyan Herzka l’illui nishmas the mashgiach Rav Matisyahu Salomon zt”l.
WATCH:
In an event that brought tears to the eyes of all who attended, a solemn levayah was held on Erev Tisha B’Av for over 200 pairs of tefillin and numerous seforim that were tragically destroyed in a devastating fire at Camp Chaveirim, located within Camp Maaminim in the Catskills.
The kevurah took place today, on Tisha B’Av itself.
The fire, which erupted suddenly and swiftly engulfed the beis medrash, reduced the sacred items to ashes. The charred remains of the tefillin and seforim bore silent witness to the extent of the devastation, their once-sacred contents now unrecognizable.
In the aftermath of the fire, local and county authorities are conducting a thorough investigation to determine the cause of the blaze.
Dozens of Chesed Shel Emes volunteers, renowned for their unwavering commitment to kavod hameis, mobilized to salvage what remained of the tashmishei kedusha.
Assisted by members of the RNSP Shomrim, these volunteers painstakingly sifted through the charred wreckage, searching for the remnants of the tefillin and seforim.
Once the remnants were collected, Chesed Shel Emes organized a dignified levayah to honor the destroyed tefillin and seforim.
The kevurah took place at the Chesed Shel Emes cemetery in Woodridge, NY.
Earlier today, Yad Vashem’s Tisha B’av Zoom seminar was hacked by someone claiming to be from ISIS.
The zoom, which was attended by over 1,000 participants, featured speakers including Holocaust Survivor Rabbi Yisrael Meir Lau, Chairman of the Yad Vashem Council, along with Rabbi Mordechai Neugroschel.
During the zoom, a message appeared on the screen which said “Hacked by ISIS Organization of Iraq. Shut your computers down or close the meeting before we attack your computers!”
The message also included images of swastikas.
Yad Vashem said their IT team reacted swiftly, and stated a secondary platform to allow the seminar to continue.
(JNS)
London based Mohel Rabbi Jonathan Abraham was arrested last month in Ireland for performing circumcisions on Muslims without a license. Rabbi Abraham is an experienced Mohel who practices in England and all around Europe.
Rabbi Abraham has had to fight for his right to eat kosher food and daven with tefillin while in Irish prison. Following a court hearing, the Irish prison authorities have agreed to “change their practices regarding the provision of kosher food to inmates.”
This past Friday, Rabbi Abraham appeared before Judge Noelle Jackson for a hearing regarding extending his detention. In the hearing, he told the judge that despite repeatedly bringing up the issue of kosher food, the prison refused to give him kosher food, saying: “They served me a piece of chicken in a cardboard box and told me it was kosher. The word ‘kosher’ was handwritten on the box. It was just a regular cardboard box that all inmates receive their meals in.”
“There is no way such chicken could be kosher.”
In his time in prison, Rabbi Abraham has been eating cereal, boiled potatoes, cooked peas and occasional fruits.
The prison also refused to allow him to daven with his tefillin, saying it could be used to tie up other inmates. However his lawyers pointed out that “No other inmate had access to him or his cell, and he did not have access to other inmates in Cloverhill.” The judge ordered the prison administration to allow him to daven with tefillin.
Since being arrested last month, Rabbi Abraham has been denied bail, with the state arguing he is a flight risk. If he is convicted, he could face up to five years in prison and a fine of up to 130,000 euros.
{Matzav.com}
Rav Yosef Tzvi Rimon, Chief Rabbi of Gush Etzion, Rosh Yeshiva of Machon Lev and Founder and Chairman of La’Ofek, has penned a new Kinnah for Tisha B’av this year, lamenting the events of the Simchas Torah massacre.
Rav Rimon stated: “This year, Tisha B’Av is especially difficult. There is the destruction that we always cry over, and there is our destruction that joins the larger destruction. But on the other hand, we have achieved special things. We come to this war, not out of weakness or lowliness. Am Yisrael has risen up. It is hard for us but we need to remember that within the hardship, we are living in incredible times and to know that we will win this war, with Hashem’s help.
In this spirit, I wrote this Kinah. It was important to me to write a Kinah that reflects the crying, the pain, the cost, the fears, and humiliation, but along with it, shows the greatness of Am Yisrael and our heroes to remind us that we are in a time of redemption with many miracles. B’ezrat Hashem, from the crying and the memory of destruction back then and the destruction of this year, we will quickly achieve victory and complete redemption.”
Read the full text of the Kinnah below:
שִׂמְחַת תּוֹרָה – שְׁמִינִי עֲצֶרֶת,
נֶהְפַּךְ מְחוֹלֵנוּ לְתוּגָה קוֹדֶרֶת;
בְּיוֹם זֶה נִפְרְצוּ הַגְּדֵרוֹת,
יִשּׁוּבֵי הָעוֹטֵף, אֳפָקִים וּשְׂדֵרוֹת.
Simchas Torah – Shemini Atzeret,
Our dancing was turned into despondent grief;
On this day the fences were breached,
[In] the towns of the [Gaza] envelope, Ofakim and Sderot.
אֵיכָה אַרְצֵנוּ הָיְתָה לְמִרְמָס,
וַתִּמָּלֵא הָאָרֶץ חַמַאס,
מֵרְצוּעַת עַזָּה מְקוֹר הָרֶשַׁע,
מִשֹּׁרֶשׁ חַמַאס יָצָא צֶפַע.
How was our land humiliated,
The land was filled with Hamas,
From the Gaza Strip, the source of the evil,
From the root of Hamas came poison.
אֵיכָה בִּמְקוֹם שֶׁבַע הַקָּפוֹת,
נָסוּ עַל נַפְשָׁם מֵאֵימַת חֲטִיפוֹת,
אוֹיֵב אַכְזָר מַצִּית שְׂרֵפוֹת,
רוֹצֵחַ, מַשְׁפִּיל, בְּלִי לְהַרְפּוֹת.
How in place of seven hakafos,
They fled for their lives for fear of kidnapping,
A cruel enemy ignited fires,
Murdered, degraded, without letting up.
אֵיכָה בִּמְקוֹם תְּפִלַּת הַגֶּשֶׁם,
יָרַד דּוֹדִי לַעֲרוּגוֹת הַבֹּשֶׂם,
שׁוֹשַׁנִּים נִטְבָּחִים, חִלּוּל הַשֵׁם,
לִמְרַצְּחִים אַל תִּתֵּן יָד וָשֵׁם.
How in place of the Prayer for Rain,
My beloved went down to the scented flower beds,
Roses were murdered, a desecration of G-d’s name,
Do not give a memorial and remembrance to the murderers.
אֵיכָה בִּשְׁנַת שִׁבְעִים וָשֵׁשׁ,
תִּמְרוֹת עָשָׁן דָּם וָאֵשׁ,
יְהוּדִי בְּמַחְבּוֹא נֶחֱרַד וְלוֹחֵשׁ,
תַּחַת עֹנֶג שַׁבַּת קֹדֶשׁ.
How, in the 76th year,
There were pillars of smoke, blood and fire,
A Jew in hiding, whispering in fear,
Instead of the joy of the holy Shabbas.
אֵיכָה בְּנֵי צִיּוֹן הַיְקָרִים,
נָפְלוּ בִּידֵי אַנָּסִים אֲרוּרִים,
מְרוּטֵי לֶחִי נְתוּנִים לְמַכִּים,
אַחִים חֲטוּפִים בִּידֵי חֲמָסִים.
How did the precious children of Zion,
Fall into the hands of accursed rapists,
The plucked of cheek were given over to the attackers,
Our brothers were taken captive by the violent ones.
בַּיּוֹם בּוֹ שִׁמְךָ הִתְחַלֵּל,
לוֹחֲמִים נֶאֶבְקוּ אֶת שִׁמְךָ לְגַדֵּל,
הַבֵּט וּרְאֵה – מִי כְּעַמְּךָ יִשְׂרָאֵל,
חַזְּקֵנוּ וְאַמְּצֵנוּ, וּבָא לְצִיּוֹן גּוֹאֵל.
On the day Your name was defiled,
Soldiers fought to advance Your great name,
Look and see – who is like Your people Israel?
Strengthen us and give us courage, and may the redeemer come to Zion.
כְּבַרְזֶל לַחֲמוּ אַמִּיצוֹת וְאַמִּיצִים אֲהוּבִים,
עֲדִינֵי נֶפֶשׁ מִיַּד צַר מְגִנִּים,
בִּגְבוּרָתָם רָאִינוּ תְּשׁוּעַת עוֹלָמִים,
נִזְקְפָה קוֹמָתֵנוּ דּוֹר גְּאוּלִים.
They fought like iron, the beloved brave ones,
The gentle souls, guarding from the oppressor,
Due to their courage, we have witnessed salvation of worlds,
Our stature was straightened, in a generation of redemption.
בַּיּוֹם בּוֹ נִטְמְאָה נַחֲלָתֵנוּ,
הֻתְּרָה לְפִרְסוּם גְּבוּרַת עַמֵּנוּ,
נַפְשָׁם בְּכַפָּם מוֹסְרִים גִּבּוֹרֵינוּ,
אָבִינוּ מַלְכֵּנוּ נְקֹם נִקְמַת אַחֵינוּ!
On the day our inheritance was defiled,
The bravery of our people was released for publication,
Our courageous ones give up their souls in their palms,
Our Father, Our King, avenge the vengeance of our brothers.
עַל שִׁמְךָ הַגָּדוֹל נִקְרָא שְׁמֵנוּ,
זוֹכֵר וּמַזְכִּיר בְּרִית אֲבוֹתֵינוּ,
מִצָּפוֹן וּמִדָּרוֹם עוֹמְדִים לְכַלּוֹתֵנוּ,
וּבְרִיתְךָ עוֹמֶדֶת לָנוּ בְּאַרְצֵנוּ.
By Your Great Name we are called,
The One Who remembers and mentions the covenant of our forefathers,
From north and south they rise up to destroy us,
But Your covenant remains steadfast for us in our land.
עָרִיצֵי פָּרַס יָזְמוּ עֲלִילוֹת,
מַטָּחִים שָׁלְחוּ לְנוֹשְׂאֵי תְּפִלּוֹת,
סְפוּנִים יָשְׁבוּ וְעֵינֵיהֶם מְיַחֲלוֹת,
אֶת נִסֶּיךָ רָאוּ – נוֹרָא תְּהִלּוֹת.
The dictators of Persia initiated plots,
They sent barrages against those who raised a prayer,
They sat in shelters, their eyes hoping,
They saw Your miracles, the Awesome One of praise.
כַּנְפֵי רוּחַ, כַּנְפֵי נְשָׁרִים,
רָאוֹ רָאִינוּ בְּרַעֲיוֹת חַיָּלִים,
הוֹרִים וִילָדִים אֶת יַקִּירֵיהֶם מְקַבְּרִים,
חַזְּקֵם וְאַמְּצֵם עֲדַת אַבִּירִים
The wings of spirit, the wings of eagles,
We have seen soldiers’ wives,
Parents and children bury their loved ones,
Strengthen and fortify them, the congregation of heroes.
גַּלֵּי שִׂנְאָה שׁוֹטְפִים עוֹלָמֶךָ,
שׁוֹצְפִים צוֹרְרִים עַל מַקְדִּישֵׁי שְׁמֶךָ,
רוֹדְפִים אֶת שְׁלוּחֶיךָ נוֹשְׂאֵי דְּגָלֶיךָ,
בְּאַהֲבָה יְהִי נָא עָלֵינוּ דִּלּוּגֶיךָ.
Waves of hate engulf Your world,
Oppressors swarm over those who sanctify Your name,
They chase Your messengers, those who carry Your flag,
May You skip over us with love.
הָשֵׁב חֲטוּפִים, קְרָא דְּרוֹר לַשְּׁבוּיִים,
נְטַע עֲקוּרִים בְּאַהֲבַת נְצָחִים,
שַׁקֵּם פְּצוּעִים רוֹמֵם נִדְכָּאִים,
נַהֵל עֲדָתְךָ בְּחֶסֶד וּבְרַחֲמִים.
Return the hostages, call for freedom for those in captivity,
Plant those who have been uprooted with everlasting love,
Rehabilitate the wounded, raise up the depressed,
Lead Your congregation with kindness and mercy.
מוֹדִים אֲנַחְנוּ לָךְ עַל מְדִינָתֵנוּ,
עַל גְּאֻלָּתֵנוּ וְעַל פְּדוּת נַפְשֵׁנוּ,
מְאֻחָדִים תּוֹלִיכֵנוּ קוֹמְמִיּוּת בְּאַרְצֵנוּ,
הָחֵשׁ בֶּן דָּוִד מְשִׁיחַ צִדְקֵנוּ.
We give thanks to You for our State,
And for our redemption and the salvation of our soul,
United lead us upright in our land,
Hasten the son of David, our righteous Mashiach.
{Matzav.com Israel}
Rav Naftali Tzvi Yehuda Bar-Ilan zt”l passed away at Sheba Medical Center in Tel Hashomer. He was the rov of the Hachtivah Hamar Shul and the rov of the Ma’arav Rechovot neighborhood for decades. He was 82.
Rav Bar-Ilan was born in Tel Aviv on Erev Sukkos in 1942, a grandson of Rabbi Meir Bar-Ilan, a leader and prominent figure in the Mizrachi movement, and a great-grandson of the Netziv of Volozhin, after whom he was named.
In 1960, he joined the Merkaz HaRav Yeshiva, where he learned from his rabbeim, Rav Tzvi Yehuda HaKohen Kook and Rav Avraham Shapira. During his time at the yeshiva, he delivered shiurim on the “Kuzari.”
He served as the first rov of Kibbutz Barot Yitzchak and led the Movement of Kibbutz Rabbonim. He was a founder of the Noam network, the founder of the Mishnas Halacha Institute, and a member of the national board of Bnei Akiva.
He fought as a paratrooper in the Six-Day War and was among the liberators of Yerushalayim.
He authored numerous seforim, including the four-volume work “Mishtara u-Medinah B-Yisrael Al Pi Ha-Torah” (Government and State in Israel According to the Torah), for which he received the Rav Kook Prize.
Due to his being a talmid chochom and a descendant of the Netziv, Rav Tzvi Yehuda Kook would stand in his presence, and Rav Moshe Tzvi Neria referred to him as ‘the Little Netziv.’
In a conversation with one of his grandchildren, Rav Bar-Ilan highlighted the events he considered the most significant in his life: “Learning Torah from several great leaders such as Rav Tzvi Yehuda HaKohen Kook, Rav Avraham Shapira, Rav Shaul Yisraeli, Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach, and Rav Yosef Shalom Elyashiv. Establishing the first Noam school in Yerushalayim and then the Noam school in Rechovot. Being the first rov of Kibbutz Barot Yitzchak.”
He is survived by his wife, Rebbetzin Mindel, and four children: Dr. Yechiel Michel Bar-Ilan, Attorney Rabbi Shaul Bar-Ilan, Dr. Rachel Kaufman, and Rabbi Tuvia Shlomo Bar-Ilan, a rebbi at the Golan Yeshiva.
The levayah was held at the new cemetery in Rechovot.
The family is sitting shivah at the Aristocrat Hotel, 14 Damascus Eliezer Street, in Bnei Brak.
Yehi zichro boruch.
{Matzav.com Israel}
The Vizhnitzer Rebbe of Bnei Brak, Rav Yisroel Hager, has instructed his chassidim not to report to IDF Draft Offices at all.
During Seudah Shlishis at his vacation residence in England, where the Rebbe has been staying in recent weeks, he instructed not to report at all to draft offices. He conveyed this message to his close associates and family members who were with him, including the Rebbe of Vizhnitz-Beit Shemesh.
The Rebbe related that he asked his eldest son, Rav Chaim Meir Hager, Av Beis Din of Kiryas Vizhnitz, to sign a letter from Chassidishe Rebbes and Roshei Yeshivos against reporting, and that he requests that it be made known in his name that no one should respond to any summons at this time. If there are any changes, the community will be updated.
Less than a week ago, the letter from the Torah leaders of the Chassidic community was published here, instructing not to report to the draft offices.
In the letter, which was also signed by the Rebbe’s son, it is stated that this is in accordance with the opinion of all the gedolei Torah of the generation: “Since in these days, the military authorities have sent draft summonses to Chareidi young men and yeshiva students for their enlistment into the army, Heaven forbid. We clarify that the Torah sages, the great lights of Yisroel, of blessed memory, and those who are still alive, have already ruled that it is absolutely forbidden to enlist in the army, even if they establish strictly Chareidi battalions and divisions. They have already proven over many years that they do not meet these standards at all.
“And even if, initially, they may accommodate Chareidim to some extent, after some time it becomes impossible to remain there fully observant of Torah and mitzvos. Even if they claim that they will now fully ensure that Chareidim can remain strictly observant, according to Torah law, there is no credibility to these claims. We know with absolute certainty that there is no great Torah leader in Yisroel who disagrees with these matters.
“Therefore, we instruct, with the agreement of all the Torah giants of the generation, that all the young men and yeshiva students who received draft summonses are forbidden to report to the draft office at all. May the Almighty protect His people, Yisroel, that they may withstand all trials and remain faithful Jews to Hashem and His Torah.”
In the past, the rebbe had already instructed not to report to the draft offices.
The Chareidi community is not compromising in light of the draft summonses that were sent recently. As we first reported a month ago, Hagaon Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch, Slabodka rosh yeshiva, instructed not to report. Similarly, Slabodka Rosh Yeshiva Hagaon Rav Dov Landau issued a letter that was published instructing not to report to any military summons.
Similarly, the Moetzet Gedolei Hatorah of Shas announced not to cooperate at all and not to report to any summons.
{Matzav.com Israel}
In this episode of “Inside the Agudah,” Rabbi A. D. Motzen, National Director of Government Affairs at Agudath Israel of America, sits with Rabbi Yitzchok Hisiger, Director of Torah Initiatives at Agudath Israel of America, to discuss the nature of his work on behalf of the klal. Rabbi Motzen provides a unique inside look at the vital activities of his department at the Agudah, overseeing wide-ranging government advocacy across the country. School choice, funding for non-public schools, the observance of religious rights and voter turnout are just some of the issues to which Rabbi Motzen is committed. In addition, he has hired, trained, and monitored new regional directors, while providing them with ongoing professional development. Watch and learn more about what Agudath Israel does each day.
WATCH:
On Tuesday evening, after Tisha B’Av, thousands of yeshiva students and kollel yungeleit will set out for bein hazemanim, to gather strength in preparation for the upcoming month of Elul. In most yeshivas in Eretz Yisroel, limited summer camps will be held due to the current situation in the Holy Land.
In light of the current security situation, Yeshivas Mir Yerushalayim, the largest yeshiva in the world, will be extending the summer zeman until Tu B’Av, following the directive of the Rosh Yeshiva, Rav Eliezer Yehuda Finkel, and the Mashgiach, Rav Binyamin Finkel.
An announcement from the Rosh Yeshiva and Mashgiach states that it is “essential during these days to strengthen oneself and make an effort in Torah study, as it provides protection and salvation from our enemies who rise against us.”
At the Mir, the learning will continue on Wednesday, Thursday, Sunday, and Monday.
{Matzav.com Israel}
Israeli Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara sent a letter on Sunday to Labor Minister Yoav Ben Tzur stating her opinion that funding for day care centers for children of Charedim who dodge IDF service should be stopped.
The attorney general said that since the June 25 landmark ruling by the High Court of Justice that Charedi yeshivah students must perform army service, there is no legal basis to fund day care for their children.
“In the absence of a legal basis for postponing the [IDF] service, the legal basis for encouraging and supporting the state in the activities of those who avoid conscription has been dropped,” the letter states.
It added that the cessation of day care funding will start from the next academic year.
The Charedi Shas Party, to which Ben Tzur belongs, responded in a statement: “The decision of the attorney general to deny working ultra-Orthodox mothers the subsidy for day care today, three weeks before the start of the school year, just because the husband is studying Torah—this is cruel legal bullying and abuse of helpless children.
“This is a disgraceful mark of Cain on the face of the legal system, which is supposed to be the protector and helper for women who have decided to enter the workforce and contribute to the Israeli economy,” it said.
In the Charedi community, wives often work to support their husbands, who study full-time. The Labor Ministry estimates that the decision will affect some 6,700 Charedi families and about 10,000 children.
United Torah Judaism, another Charedi party, attacked the decision along the same lines, with Construction and Housing Minister Yitzhak Goldknopf, the party’s leader, calling the decision “scandalous and discriminatory.
“This is a direct attack on ultra-Orthodox women who go to work for a living, and seek to maintain a Torah lifestyle,” he said. “This is another attempt to harm the ultra-Orthodox public in various and cruel ways— an attempt doomed to failure,” he said.
United Torah Judaism said it would call for an urgent discussion in the Cabinet and the Knesset on the issue.
(JNS)
By Avi Shiff
A conference held last Tuesday on Rechov Yirmiyahu in Yerushalayim was a truly remarkable sight, as rabbonim from kehillos and mosdos catering to families from chutz la’aretz convened with mechanchim and administrators from Israeli Talmud Torahs and mosdos hachinuch. The purpose of the conference was to announce the Leebaynu project, aimed at providing educational guidance and support to bridge the gap between Americans who live in Eretz Yisroel and Israeli educational institutions, yeshivos, rabbonim, and mechanchim.
The initiative was spearheaded by MK Yitzchok Pindrus and Rabbi Nechemya Malinowitz, known for his efforts on behalf of kehillos in the Diaspora, alongside Rabbi Eliav Miller, chairman of the Lev Shomea organization, who have all recognized the complex challenges faced by Americans and their families who live in Eretz Yisroel.
“This evening is a pinnacle moment of siyata diShmaya,” said Rabbi Malinowitz in his opening address. “In recent years, we have carried out numerous projects for the benefit of the Diaspora community, providing funding and activities within various frameworks. The Leebaynu project truly extends a hand to address the most essential and significant needs of the American community in Eretz Yisroel, as dealing with the challenge of educating expatriates within Israeli mosdos is the most significant issue for those who wish to live here. I know this because I myself moved to Eretz Yisroel with my entire family, as did my late father zt”l, and I am intimately familiar with the challenges. This project is intended to provide solutions, and we daven and hope that, be’ezras Hashem, it will indeed make a tremendous difference.”
Rav Yitzchok Berkovits, rov of the American kehillah in Ramat Eshkol and rosh yeshiva of Yeshiva Aish Hatorah, addressed the conference, sharing his long-standing awareness of these challenges and emphasizing the critical importance of addressing the issues.
“This conference should have taken place years ago,” he remarked. “Why didn’t we do this thirty years ago?”
The Leebaynu project has received the full endorsement of leading gedolei Torah, including Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch, and the support of the mashgiach Rav Don Segal, Rav Dovid Cohen, Rav Yehoshua Eichenstein, and Rav Chaim Peretz Berman.
The need for this project arose from the chinuch challenges faced by Anglos who live in Eretz Yisroel. The acclimation phase in Eretz Yisroel has become a sensitive and urgent issue, causing many who have moved to Eretz Yisroel to return to their countries of origin. Those who remain in Eretz Yisroel struggle with cultural gaps. In-depth research by Lev Shomea highlighted the core issues: English-speaking chareidim living in Eretz Yisroel come from different cultural and educational backgrounds and often feel excluded from the Israeli system, significantly impacting their children’s chinuch.
The project’s goal is to act as an intermediary between parents, children, and mosdos hachinuch to bridge gaps that have been neglected, leading to loss of trust and communication breakdowns. Families that were once normative in their home countries suddenly find themselves as outsiders, struggling to understand unfamiliar nuances of the Israeli culture.
Lev Shomea, known for its extensive work in the yeshiva world, will lead the project. A Rabbinical Committee, well-acquainted with the American communities in Eretz Yisroel and their unique challenges, will oversee the initiative. Committee members include Rav Yitzchok Berkovits, Rav Yosef Elefant, Rav Yonasan Eber, and Rav Elimelech Kornfeld.
A highlight of the conference was the screening of special video clips from leading gedolei Torah directly addressing the project’s core issues.
Rav Don Segal tackled the complex question of whether mosdos hachinuch should open their doors to students with broader conceptual backgrounds than Israeli students. He then added his bracha to Lev Shomea and concluded, “its well known that the project is in the right hands with Lev Shomea running it.”
Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch, in an in-depth discussion with the project’s rabbonim, examined the specific challenges faced by English-speaking talmidim and talmidos integrating into Israeli chinuch institutions.
MK Yitzchok Pindrus presented detailed plans for Leebaynu. The project will offer a network of expert chinuch consultants to assist these families in selecting suitable mosdos hachinuch for their children, considering their unique cultural and academic backgrounds. Additionally, consultants will be available for consultations on a wide range of chinuch issues characteristic of this population.
Another important aspect of the project is a series of workshops and professional training sessions for rabbonim and mechanchim. These trainings aim to deepen understanding and familiarity with the unique challenges faced by Anglo families and equip mechanchim with practical tools to address them.
Rav Eliav Miller spoke about the importance of the project: “The Israeli public, and even we, were not sufficiently aware of the challenges faced by olim, particularly those from the United States. It is surprising how deep these difficulties run. This is why we named the project Leebaynu, to emphasize the need to connect and understand these challenges.”
At the conclusion of the conference, participants expressed hope that the Leebaynu project will mark a significant turning point in the integration and absorption of Yidden from chutz la’aretz into the Israeli chinuch system. Rabbonim and mechanchim emphasized the importance of this initiative not only for the Anglos themselves, but also as a contribution toward strengthening and enriching Israeli society as a whole.
{Matzav.com}
Wednesday night, some 1,300 men and women converged upon Ateres Chaya Hall in Borough Park to attend an event sponsored by Agudath Israel’s KnowUs division. The goal of the event, titled Dina D’malchusa Dina, was to raise awareness of how, as Torah Jews, we can uphold the highest standards of ethical and financial rectitude, especially when interacting with secular society.
It is a longstanding priority of the Agudah to attune the community to areas where extra vigilance and ehrlichkeit can be exercised. In fact, yesterday’s event was modeled after similar asifos that took place years ago, also preceding Tisha B’av, a time reserved for introspection of our place in golus.
The standing-room only crowd was riveted by addresses by Rabbi Avrohom Schorr, Rav of Bais Medrash Nezer Gedalyahu; Rabbi Binyomin Eisenberger, Rav of Bais Medrash Heichal Hatfilla; as well as by Rabbi Aaron Lipskar, Chief Executive Officer of the Aleph Institute; and renowned criminal defense attorney Mr. Benjamin Brafman. The evening was chaired by the Agudah’s Executive Vice President, Rabbi Chaim Dovid Zwiebel.
Harav Schorr implored the large gathering to strengthen the quality of living with histapkus and acceptance of Hashem’s adnus, and exposed how underlying weaknesses in these areas can lie at the root of challenges in the implementation of dina d’malchusa dina.
Harav Eisenberger, through an odyssey of ma’amorei Chazal, explicated the singular midah of Klal Yisroel’s ne’emus: where we are pleasant not only in our own eyes, but also in the eyes of those who behold us.
Rabbi Aaron Lipskar described the “preventative pidyan shvuyin” that we can undertake, and recounted, employing moving anecdotes, various legal and psychological checks that can help one avoid legal disaster.
Finally, Mr. Ben Brafman closed the remarkable evening by weaving wit and deep legal wisdom to instruct how one can avoid trouble that may not present itself as such, and the amazing impact that seemingly small positive actions can have.
The event also featured audiovisual presentations by the Aleph Institute, an organization which supports incarcerated, military, and institutionalized persons and their families and by the Living Kiddush Hashem foundation, an organization dedicated to bringing every Jew to their mission of creating a kiddush Hashem in every interaction.
R’ Chaim Gross was a visionary who helped spearhead the original asifos decades ago, entreating us to act in consonance with v’asisa hayashar v’ hatov, a movement now reenacted and grown.
In an amazing stroke of hashgocha pratis, which the organizers only recently became aware of, last night’s event occurred precisely on R’ Chaim’s 13th yahrtzeit.
{Matzav.com}
On Tuesday, the Sderot Police buried a Sefer Torah that was burned in the Simchas Torah October 7th Hamas attacks. The Torah was housed at the old Sderot police station, which was completely destroyed during the attacks. Police officers and other security forces managed to fight off the terrorists in a heroic battle which saved many lives.
The Southern Police District Commander Amir Cohen led the ceremony, along with Sderot mayor Alon Davidi, the Rav of the city Rav Dror Tawil, Tel Aviv Police District Commander Peretz Amar, and other local leaders and Rabbanim, saying:
“In Sderot’s cemetery, four heroic policemen, who fell in battle on Saturday, the holiday of Simchat Torah, on October 7, 2023, were buried. Today we bury here the old police station’s Torah scroll. This book is buried in the dirt despite its prestige and sanctity, but our holy book is the book of life.”
“The Torah, the book of the Jewish people, preserves our heritage and tradition that has protected us over the generations and brought us after thousands of years of exile to independence and the establishment of a national home in our holy land. Israel is at war and our soldiers are defending our country on all fronts, domestic and abroad. Let’s all pray to God to protect us and protect the soldiers and policemen who are guarding our country,”
{Matzav.com}
This morning, hundreds of Peleg teens protested outside the Tel Hashomer Induction Center against yeshiva students being drafted into the army.
Later in the afternoon, many protesters broke into the base. Soldiers were filmed dragging the protesters out.
According to police at the site, protesters threw objects at police and police horses, attempted to break through barriers, and called the police Nazis.
In a statement, the IDF responded to the breaking into the base, saying: “In the last few hours, dozens of protesters tried to break into the Tel Hashomer base during demonstrations held outside the base.”
“Breaking into IDF bases is a serious offense and against the law. The IDF condemns the violent behavior and insists that justice must be brought forth against the perpetrators.
“Recruiting chareidim is a necessary operational necessity, takes place in accordance with the law, and we are determined to continue promoting it.”
WATCH:
{Matzav.com Israel}
On Monday, the municipality of Tel Aviv announced that it will ban gender-segregated minyanim in public areas during Yom Kippur.
In a letter, the municipality said: “After considering the matter, we reached a decision that the tradition that began during the Covid-19 pandemic, when the municipality set up urban plazas for the benefit of prayers on Yom Kippur was suitable for that period of time, when it was vital that people convene in open spaces, and not in closed buildings.”
“The Municipality of Tel Aviv-Jaffa does not see a need to continue this activity and we must return to what was accepted for years, i.e. the Municipality will not set up any public areas, such as plazas, bustling public gardens, etc. to be used as synagogues/gathering places for a private initiatives and events.”
The letter continued to say that “Accordingly, all requests to hold prayers/gatherings have not been approved and we, therefore, cannot approve your request.”
This announcement comes after the controversy last year when Frum mispalelim set up a mechitza at a public minyan in Tel Aviv on Yom Kippur, which was not allowed by the municipality. Protestors then proceeded to pull down the mechitza and chairs, and block the minyan.
The head of the ‘Rosh Yehudi’ nonprofit petitioned the Court of Administrative Affairs against the ban, but their petition was rejected.
However, the court asked the Tel Aviv Municipality to “immediately communicate with the other parties, in an attempt to reach a settlement that would satisfy all sides, in the spirit of the holiday and out of respect for all sectors of the general public in Tel Aviv.”
{Matzav.com Israel}
Mere dozens of Charedi young men showed up at the Israel Defense Forces’ Meitav Reception and Sorting Base at Tel Hashomer in Ramat Gan on Monday out of some 1,000 who were issued draft orders.
According to the military, at least some of the men who were ordered to appear at Tel Hashomer for initial screening were deterred from reporting for duty due to a large protest outside the army base.
Hundreds of Charedi extremists participated in the demonstration, which culminated in violent riots. Ten people were arrested on charges of disorderly conduct after three officers were injured, police said.
“Hundreds of protesters arrived with the goal of breaking into the military base, confronting the policemen while throwing objects, trying to break through barriers and throw fences,” the Israel Police said.
The Charedi rioters were joined by a handful of left-wing protesters who refused to enlist in the IDF, saying they were pacifists.
On July 18, Israel’s Defense Ministry announced that it would send the first roughly 1,000 draft orders to Charedi men between the ages of 18 and 26, followed by additional rounds in the weeks that followed.
The initial wave of draft orders targeted only those who were not registered with the government as full-time yeshivah students and, therefore, would not qualify for an exemption in any case.
The announcement followed a June 24 court ruling that the IDF must draft this sector of the population into the armed forces.
The Supreme Court, sitting as the High Court of Justice, unanimously ruled against the government, with all justices agreeing that “at this time, there is no legal framework that makes it possible to distinguish between yeshivah students and others” regarding mandatory service.
Moreover, as no legal justification to support their exemption exists, “It is not possible to continue transferring support funds for yeshivahs and kollels for students who did not receive an exemption or whose military service was not postponed,” the nine-justice panel ruled.
Israel’s Charedi population generally consider national service a distraction from Torah study and a threat to their way of life. However, Hamas’s Oct. 7 invasion and the ensuing war have heightened demands by the general public that Charedi contribute to the Jewish nation’s defense.
While most Israelis agree that Charedi should play a more prominent role in the defense of the Jewish state, some politicians have questioned the behavior and timing of the Supreme Court and the attorney general.
An enlistment bill working its way through the Knesset reflects Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu’s attempt to forge a compromise with his Charedi, who have threatened to quit the governing coalition if the mass of Charedi yeshivah students is drafted.
Between 63,000 and 66,000 young men studying in Charedi yeshivahs are legally required to serve. Since the Oct. 7 Hamas terrorist attacks in southern Israel, more than 1,000 Charedi have voluntarily enlisted, and a similar number have volunteered for civilian national service.
(JNS)
Rav Aaron Olshin, the eldest son of Rav Yeruchem Olshin, rosh yeshiva of Bais Medrash Govoah in Lakewood, NJ, will deliver a shiur klali today at the yeshiva in Lakewood, NJ.
This shiur klali marks the first instance of the next generation of yeshiva leadership, specifically the sons or sons-in-law of the current roshei yeshiva, delivering such a shiur.
The shiur klali is scheduled to take place at 12:45 p.m.
This shiur klali serves as a form of hachtarah for Rav Aaron, as he will assume the title of “R”M” at the yeshiva.
Rav Aaron, the eldest son of Rav Yeruchem, is married to Mrs. Reli Olshin, who is the daughter of Rav Yosef Mermelstein, rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Novominsk in Boro Park. She is a granddaughter of R’ Chaim Aryeh Mermelstein and Rav Tuvia Goldstein, rosh yeshiva of Yeshiva Emek Halacha.
Bais Medrash Govoah is famously led by four roshei yeshiva: Rav Aryeh Malkiel Kotler, Rav Yeruchem Olshin, Rav Dovid Schustal, and Rav Yisroel Neuman. Rav Kotler is a son of the rosh yeshiva Rav Shneur Kotler and a grandson of the yeshiva’s founder, Rav Aharon Kotler. Rav Schustal is a son-in-law of Rav Shneur Kotler. Rav Olshin and Rav Neuman are both sons-in-law of Rav Dov Schwartzman, who, in turn, was a son-in-law of Rav Aharon Kotler.
Until now, the process of succession for the current roshei yeshiva had not been initiated. This will begin with Rav Aaron Olshin’s shiur klali today, marking the installation of the younger generation from the respective families of the current roshei yeshiva as the future leaders of America’s largest yeshiva.
PHOTOS ABOVE: (L-R) Rav Aaron Olshin, Rav Yeruchem Olshin, and Rav Aryeh Malkiel Kotler.
{Matzav.com}
Around 1,000 young chareidi men in Israel have been summoned to report to recruitment centers in the upcoming days.
The IDF anticipates that only 10-15% of those summoned will actually show up. In response, they have stated that if turnout is low, additional orders will be issued.
Posters have been put up in chareidi communities, urging the public to brace themselves for “massive demonstrations against the draft.”
The posters declared: “Since the founding of the state, there has not been such a devastating blow against the young men of chareidi Judaism in the Holy Land! Never before have the swords of enlistment been aimed at 1,000 boys in a single day, and this is just the beginning.”
The posters also addressed claims that “the decree is only against those who work and so on,” by citing a letter from the Deputy Attorney General to the army, which “shatters the illusion.”
The posters quoted the leaders of the Eidah Hachareidis, calling on everyone to go to the enlistment centers to “prevent the terrible religious persecution of sending thousands of Jewish boys to the military melting pot.”
{Matzav.com Israel}
The Attorney General’s Office directed the Israel Defense Forces to broaden its conscription of chareidi men to encompass full-time yeshiva students, rather than just those who are part of the workforce and not engaged in Torah study.
Earlier in the month, the IDF announced its plans to start conscripting 3,000 chareidi men aged 18-26 following the High Court’s recent ruling that the exemptions previously granted to chareidim were illegal. The first thousand were called up on July 21, and the military is getting ready to draft the next group.
To facilitate this unprecedented draft, the IDF requested employment information on young chareidi men eligible for service from the National Insurance Institute social security agency.
The army indicated that the first groups to be drafted would include men who are employed, attending higher education institutions, or possess driver’s licenses, signaling that they are not fully engaged in yeshiva studies despite having previous exemptions for such study.
In a letter to the IDF, Deputy Attorney General Gil Limon stated, “the military must act immediately to implement the ruling on the recruitment of yeshiva students who are required to do military service, in accordance with the needs of the army and its capabilities,” according to a copy obtained by the Kikar Hashabbat news site.
Limon added, “the High Court determined that at this time, there is no legal infrastructure to prevent the enlistment of chareidi yeshiva students and the state must act to enforce the provisions of the Security Service Law in their case.”
Currently, there are 63,000 chareidi yeshiva students eligible for military service.
The chareidi religious and political leadership is expected to strongly oppose any efforts to draft mainstream yeshiva students. It seems that the military initially aimed to send conscription orders to men not involved in yeshiva study to avoid direct confrontation with the chareidi community.
However, Limon pointed out that this method is legally problematic, and not drafting yeshiva students while conscripting working chareidim “would amount to selective enforcement.”
The Finance Ministry also cautioned that drafting employed chareidim could hinder efforts to integrate them into the labor market.
The Israel Democracy Institute noted that at least 22 percent of chareidi yeshiva students under 26 are illegally employed, violating the terms of their military service exemptions. These exemptions were invalidated by the court’s recent ruling. The Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee is currently debating how to regulate yeshiva students’ participation in academic study and employment under a controversial enlistment bill.
Defense Minister Yoav Gallant addressed the committee earlier this month, stating that the military needs approximately 10,000 new soldiers but can only integrate an additional 3,000 chareidim this year, due to their specific needs. This is in addition to the 1,800 chareidi soldiers drafted annually.
{Matzav.com Israel}
It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of Rav Yosef Feferkorn zt”l of Boro Park, Brooklyn.
Rabbi Feferkorn was a longtime rebbi at Yeshiva Torah Temimah in Brooklyn, NY. He passed away last night following an illness.
Rabbi Feferkorn was a supremely dedicated mechanech who educated generations of talmidim b’derech Yisroel saba, teaching at Yeshiva Torah Temimah for almost four decades.
Rabbi Feferkorn was renowned for his unwavering commitment to the growth and development of his talmidim. His classroom was a place of warmth and encouragement, as he instilled in his talmidim not only a deep love for learning but also a profound sense of yiras Shomayim and ahavas Yisroel.
His humility and dedication made him a beloved figure in Boro Park and beyond. He lived a life of simplicity and sincerity, always placing the needs of others before his own.
The levayah was held last night at the Viznitzer Bais Medrash on New Utrecht Ave in Boro Park, followed by a levayah at the Vizhnitzer Bais Medrash on Phyllis Terrace in Monsey.
Yehi zichro boruch.
{Matzav.com}
Livestreaming from the seudas hodaah of Rav Osher Eisemann tonight, at 9:30 p.m. ET, at Ateres Chana Hall at Bais Faiga in Lakewood, NJ.
WATCH:
In a dramatic turn of events, Middlesex County Judge Joseph Paone has dismissed the charges against SCHI founder Rabbi Eisemann this morning, just as the prosecution concluded their presentation.
Judge Paone explained his ruling, stating that the prosecution had utterly failed to present any evidence that Rabbi Eisemann had committed the alleged crimes.
The state is considering an appeal, but it remains uncertain if they will proceed.
The prosecution in the case against the esteemed SCHI founder rested their case yesterday after the final witness concluded their testimony.
The case was covered extensively the past few years here on Matzav.com, and Yidden all over were davening for Osher ben Chana Frumet.
Over the past few weeks, the prosecution called numerous witnesses, including state detectives and SCHI employees who were subpoenaed. However, during cross-examination, each witness either confirmed that no crime had been committed or admitted to having limited involvement in the investigation.
The prolonged trial drove up the legal costs, as every day the defense team worked cost tens of thousands of dollars. To help cover the still-remaining exorbitant legal fees, please CLICK HERE.
{Matzav.com}
It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of Rebbetzin Yehudit Fain a”h, wife of Rav Reuvein Fain, rosh yeshiva of Yeshiva Torah Vodaas. She passed away in Yerushalayim at the age of 91 after a brief illness.
She was a cherished presence in Flatbush during her years there, supporting her esteemed husband who served as rosh yeshiva of Yeshiva Torah Vodaas until his untimely passing around three decades ago.
Rebbetzin Fain was born in Lita, a daughter of Rav Elazar Alfa and Rebbetzin Shulamis, nee Karelitz. Her mother was a daughter of Rav Meir Karelitz, rov of Kobrin and an older brother of the Chazon Ish. In her youth, she moved to Eretz Yisrael, where her father became a well-known rov in Haifa. The Chazon Ish arranged the shidduch between her and Rav Reuvein, one of the young Mir talmidim who survived the war in Shanghai and later arrived in Eretz Yisroel in the early 1950s.
After their marriage, Rav Reuvein joined Kollel Chazon Ish as one of the elite yungeleit and the couple lived with very limited means. One Erev Yom Kippur, they found themselves without money for the seudah hamafsekes until they miraculously discovered some money in a drawer. Despite their financial challenges, Rebbetzin Fain efficiently managed their household, ensuring that her husband never had to worry about utility bills. Rav Reuvein eventually became a respected R”M in Bnei Brak, beloved by his talmidim.
In 1982, upon the recommendation of Rav Elazar Menachem Man Shach, Rav Reuvein was appointed rosh yeshiva at Yeshiva Torah Vodaas. Rebbetzin Fain followed her husband to New York, despite not knowing the language or having a social network. She dedicated herself to taking care of all her husband’s needs, allowing him to dedicate himself to spreading Torah and publishing his chiddushim.
After Rav Reuvein’s passing in 1993, Rebbetzin Fain returned to Eretz Yisroel, but maintained her connection with Rav Reuvein’s American talmidim. She played a crucial role in publishing several volumes of his chiddushim posthumously; some of the shmuessen were handed over to the printer were in her neat handwriting.
For the last 31 years, she devoted herself to preserving her husband’s Torah and supporting her children’s large families.
She was laid to rest in the Ponovezher Bais Hachaim next to her husband. Rebbetzin Fain is survived by her children, Rav Aryeh Leib, Rav Shepsil, Rav Meir, Rav Avrohom Yeshayahu, Rav Yaakov, Rav Shmuel Yosef, Rav Shlomo, Rebbetzin Weisfish and Rebbetzin Tep.
Yehi zichrah boruch.
{Matzav.com}
It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of habochur Moshe Gafni z”l, son of Rabbi and Mrs. Meir Gafni, the head of the Heichal Yitzchak Beis Midrash in Modi’in Illit. He was 21 years old.
On Erev Shabbos, Moshe went to the sea with his friends and he sadly drowned.
Rescue forces evacuated him to the hospital, where they were forced to pronounce his death.
Moshe was born in Modi’in Illit in 2003 to his father, Rabbi Meir Gafni, and his mother, Shifra Efrat, daughter of Rav Asher Sofer of Bnei Brak.
His petirah has shocked his many acquaintances and friends, and the mispallelim at the Heichal Yitzchak Beis Midrash in Kiryat Sefer.
He is survived by his parents and 10 siblings.
The levayah and kevurah were held on Motzoei Shabbos at the Rechovot Bais Hachaim.
Umacha Hashem dimah me’al kol ponim.
{Matzav.com Israel}
Canadian Jewish organizations have triumphed in their effort to maintain the legality of the country’s kosher-certified meat preparation.
On Wednesday, Canada’s Federal Court issued an interlocutory injunction against the Canadian Food Inspection Agency to halt the implementation of new guidelines that have disrupted shechita.
Canada’s two top Canadian kosher certifiers—MK Global Kosher Certification Agency and the Kashruth Council of Canada—partnered with the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs and other Jewish leaders.
“Significantly, the judgment recognized that the current CFIA guidelines are clearly discriminatory,” said Kashruth Council of Canada managing director Richard Rabkin. “This should dispel the false perception that shechita does not abide by the highest standards of animal welfare.”
Shimon Koffler Fogel, president and CEO of the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs, said “all segments of the community and its institutions collaborated in this effort, and the contributions of Federation CJA and UJA Federation of Greater Toronto were significant and deeply appreciated by all stakeholders.”
Rabbi Saul Emanuel, CEP of MK Global Kosher Certification Agency, stated that “we are gratified that the court validated shechita as a legitimate and humane approach that takes full account of animal welfare and meets the scientific standards established by CFIA.”
{Matzav.com}
A new bill aimed at diminishing consumer protections to allow cellphone providers to continue offering restricted plans to the chareidi community has successfully passed its second and third readings in the Knesset with a 60-53 vote. This amendment to the Communications Law legalizes the current practice where carriers offer special subscriptions for the chareidim, marked by distinct digits that identify them as part of these rabbi-approved plans.
These restricted plans are favored by many in the chareidi community who avoid unfiltered internet access. Kosher phones, which lack features like web browsers and messaging apps, come with lower costs as they are used only six days a week.
The new legislation ensures that these subscriptions will not be affected by Israel’s 2005 portability reform, which allowed most subscribers to change carriers or plans while keeping their phone number. The bill’s passage follows a year and a half after Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi reversed the previous government’s reforms intended to integrate chareidi consumers into the mainstream cellphone market.
Chareidi legislators strongly opposed these reforms.
Critics argue that the bill strengthens the control of both rabbis and carriers with financial motives over consumers. Proponents, however, believe it will provide hundreds of thousands of consumers with assurances regarding the quality and integrity of the kosher phone service they receive.
There was uncertainty about the bill’s passage due to National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir’s prior objections. Additionally, a vote on another bill supported by Shas was postponed until Sunday morning because of Ben Gvir, leading to a dispute between Shas and his Otzma Yehudit party.
After the vote, Elazar Stern, a religious lawmaker from the centrist Yesh Atid party, confronted Shas MK Yinon Azulai, one of the bill’s sponsors, shouting that the new law represents a “chillul Hashem.”
{Matzav.com Israel}
The Belzer Rebbe made an unusual statement about the vacation habits of some of his chassidim and others. During the summer break, numerous chareidi families travel to Europe, while others choose to vacation in Israel.
For many years, the Belzer Rebbe has spent the summer in a vacation home in Telz-Stone, near Yerushalayim. This year, however, the Rebbe has decided to remain in Yerushalayim, staying in his residence and welcoming more visitors than he has in previous years.
When asked about his decision, he explained that it was inappropriate to go on vacation while soldiers are risking their lives.
“How can I travel for rest and vacation when we are fighting a battle on all fronts and soldiers are sacrificing their lives, they’re working hard for us and we’re going on vacation?” the Rebbe said.
Similarly, the Sanzer Rebbe also chose to forgo his usual vacation in Caesaria this year due to the ongoing conflict.
{Matzav.com Israel}
The Supreme Court of New Jersey ruled on Wednesday in favor of Rosenbaum Yeshiva of North Jersey, in River Edge, N.J., in a defamation suit brought against the Jewish day school by a rabbi it had fired, citing inappropriate interactions with elementary-age girls under Halacha.
“Religious schools should not have to fear being dragged into court when making decisions that seek to protect children in their care,” stated Laura Wolk Slavis, counsel at Becket, which filed a brief in the case. “The justices ensured that this freedom is upheld for Jews and for people of all faiths across the Garden State.”
The ministerial exception doesn’t apply to an instance like a priest suing a bishop who punches him in the face, explained Becket; rather, it protects religious groups from defamation suits that “do nothing more than ask a court to second-guess how a religious school chose to discipline one of its ministers.”
{Matzav.com}
Excavations of the Great Synagogue of Vilna, Lithuania, destroyed by the Nazis during the Holocaust, have revealed the floor of the main prayer hall, the Israel Antiquities Authority announced on Thursday. The uncovered sections are decorated with red, black and white flowers.
The unusual dig, which first began last decade, has also uncovered two huge concrete basins under the Shul’s bathhouse and a Mikvah, according to the IAA.
The august Shul, built between 1630-1633, was in continuous use for 300 years until World War II. Constructed in the Renaissance-Baroque style, the large and magnificent Shul was the oldest and most significant building for Lithuanian Jewry.
During its heyday, the Shul was surrounded by a complex of other Shuls, Mikvaos and community institutions that formed a large center of Torah study and community life—the beating heart of Lithuanian Jewry. Among the buildings in the complex were the community council building, the home of Rabbi Eliyah, aka the Vilna Gaon, the famous “Strashun” library and a bathhouse, according to the IAA.
The Shul was looted and burned by the Nazis, and its remains were completely destroyed by the Soviet authorities in the 1950s, who built a school on the site.
Over the last decade there have been five excavations carried out at the site in the wake of a ground-penetrating radar survey showing significant remains below the surface, revealing the complex’s rich past.
“The magnificent remains we are discovering—the synagogue Bimah that was uncovered during the previous excavation seasons, as well as the colorful decorations of the floor and walls—bring back moments in the life of a lost vibrant community,” said excavation co-directors Jon Seligman of the IAA and Justinas Rakas of the Lithuanian Archeological Society. “The architectural wealth and vitality we encounter—alongside the destruction of impressive giant columns that collapsed during the destruction of the synagogue by the Nazis and the Soviets, tell the tragic story of a community that lived here, that is no more.”
IAA Director Eli Escusido said that the excavations of the site have taken on added significance this year in the aftermath of Hamas’s Oct. 7 massacre.
“In the face of rising anti-Semitism and attempts to deceive and deny, there is one undeniable truth, both simple and tragic, which tells us about an entire magnificent community that was destroyed due to hatred of Jews—Never Again,” he said.
{Matzav.com}
Israelis are preparing for potential unrest after the army issued draft notices to 1,000 chareidi men this week. This court-ordered action represents the most significant challenge yet to the long-standing exemption of chareidi yeshiva students from military service.
However, in chareidi communities, the young men who received the draft notices show no signs of worry.
Some young men might consider enlisting if the army provided “chareidi-appropriate” frameworks, reflecting a recent Smith Consulting poll presented to the Knesset State Control Committee. In the poll, 59 percent of respondents indicated that tracks allowing them to maintain their lifestyle would positively impact overall enlistment numbers.
The resistant yet calm attitude of youths mirrors the broader response of Israel’s chareidi minority, which makes up about 13% of the population, to the current push for universal conscription. Gedolei Torah have publicly instructed recruits to ignore the draft orders but have so far refrained from organizing the large-scale protests seen in previous rounds.
The timing and context of ongoing military conflicts on multiple fronts may contribute to a relatively subdued reaction from the chareidim, who remain confident in their ability to avoid mass conscription as long as their political parties are part of the coalition.
Many chareidim may also prefer to avoid mobilizing amidst growing resentment from non-chareidim over an unequal military obligation.
Only a few thousand chareidim have staged protests, raising some concerns about potential wartime friction with authorities.
“The fringe, which is not under the control of the mainstream rabbis, is making noise but they’re the exception to the rule,” said Avishai Ben Chaim, a journalist for Channel 13 who reports extensively on chareidi society. “Instead of fighting the waves, chareidi leaders prefer to swim under them,” he added.
Ben Chaim pointed out that the current government is one of the most chareidi-friendly in decades and is not responsible for the draft orders. The High Court of Justice mandated the army to start enlisting chareidim in a significant June 25 ruling that effectively ended the exemption, at least judicially.
“Chareidi representatives are in government and would gladly help to circumvent the High Court ruling if they could. So there’s no point in demonstrating. They’re just keeping a low profile,” said Ben Chaim.
Several thousand chareidim held an unlicensed protest rally on June 30 in Yerushalayim, which the police dispersed with a water cannon. Last week, dozens of chareidim attacked two senior IDF officers in Bnei Brak during meetings about the draft with top rabbonim. The officers were not injured.
These events were relatively minor compared to mobilizations such as the mass chareidi demonstration of 2014. That protest was triggered by a bill proposing to drastically reduce exemptions and introduce sanctions for noncompliance, resulting in hundreds of thousands of chareidim gathering.
At that time, chareidi parties were in the opposition. The bill passed but was later amended, and the High Court nullified the amended law in 2017, citing inequality. The June 25 ruling was the latest judicial intervention against the chareidi exemption.
The ongoing struggle over the draft issue has convinced many chareidim of the impracticality of any plan to draft the approximately 60,000 yeshiva students who were exempt before June 25 under agreements dating back to Israel’s founding.
“It’ll come down to money; a deal will be worked out,” said Azriel, a 28-year-old father of three from Haifa and a full-time kollel fellow in Vizhnitz. At one of the many small kehillos in his chareidi neighborhood of Haifa, he envisioned an arrangement where chareidim give up some state funding to keep the exemption.
But yeshivas are already struggling financially, he admitted.
The state currently funds yeshivas to the tune of NIS 1.7 billion ($477 million) annually. However, this funding faces a 30% cut because it’s partially allocated on a per-student basis. The court’s June 25 ruling also ordered the state to stop funding students who used to be exempt.
“The money will come; don’t worry,” said Azriel.
“Not enlisting is a matter of life or death for us,” Azriel said. “That’s why they won’t forcibly conscript because we’d rather die.”
To Azriel and many other chareidim, “the draft is an attempt to secularize us.” Manpower shortages, he said, “are just the excuse. Our society has evolved to resist secularization. It’s the fiber of our being.”
The IDF has units designed to accommodate the needs of chareidi troops, such as Netzach Yehuda, and plans to create new and better ones, according to the IDF Spokesperson’s Unit.
However, following the June 25 ruling, several prominent gedolim, including Maran Rav Dov Landau, have urged chareidim who receive draft notices to ignore them.
Meanwhile, in non-chareidi society, the exemption issue is actually a secondary concern in the ongoing protests against Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu’s government, which many blame for failing to prevent the October 7 Hamas attack.
{Matzav.com Israel}
MK Yitzchok Pindrus of United Torah Judaism assured that his party will not topple the government. During an interview with Kol Barama Radio, Pindrus urged chareidi yeshiva students to heed the guidance of gedolim and ignore the IDF’s summons for enlistment.
“I do not know a yeshiva student who asks the Knesset committee what to do if someone tells him to desecrate Shabbos. So, too, yeshiva students do not be turn to me or to the Knesset committee on the matter of enlistment,” he stated. “The gedolei Yisroel have instructed not to respond to the summons, and each person needs to do what halacha dictates.”
On the topic of the Knesset’s Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee discussions, Pindrus remarked, “I think that [committee chairman MK Yuli] Edelstein is trying to do professional work. He has already explained that broad consensus does not simply mean with [MK Benny] Gantz, and slammed the Defense Ministry for not behaving in an innocent fashion. I hope that this will be expressed in the discussions.
“The draft orders will not change anything, and will not affect the Torah world. Do you think that everything that the Torah world has will be canceled because of bureaucratic documents? Maximum – the yeshiva students who need to travel will not travel and will remain to study Torah. That is an important thing to learn.”
Addressing the legal battle, Pindrus commented, “The masks have come off and the picture is clear: You see what the Attorney General wants, you see that the Supreme Court has ruled unanimously – even the conservatives are against enlistment. They have only one goal: to bring down the government. And we will not give them that pleasure.”
When questioned about potential successors to Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu, he responded, “These people in the left-wing bloc, they are people who are bothered by anything that is connected to tradition. We have no reason to go with them, they are not relevant. The problem is not political but legal – Netanyahu did what he could to solve the draft crisis.”
{Matzav.com Israel}
Senior Rabbanim including Rav Shmuel Eliyahu, Rav Yaakov Ariel and Rav Dov Lior signed a letter published on Monday denouncing the potential hostage deal currently being negotiated.
The proposed deal reportedly is a three stage plan, including the withdrawal of Israeli troops from the Gaza strip, the return of Palestinians to their homes in Northern Gaza, and the increased distribution of humanitarian aid in Gaza.
The letter states that Pidyon Shvuyim is: “one of the greatest and most important Mitzvos in the Torah, and it is imperative to save them and return them to their families,”.
However, the letter goes on to say that: “the costs required for the release of the hostages endanger all the citizens of the state,”
Additionally, the letter further states that: “the release of all dangerous monsters to allow the rebuilding of Hamas’s collapsing army, withdrawal from strategic areas, and cessation of fighting before the defeat of Hamas – the public cannot endure any of these and similar measures.”
The letter concluded with a Tefillah wishing Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu success in returning the hostages home, saying: “Together with the whole Beis Yisrael, we pray that Hashem’s redeemed will soon return healthy and whole in body and soul and that Tziyon will bring glory and eternal joy upon their heads,”
{Matzav.com}
On Monday, several prominent rabbis from the right-wing religious Zionist community voiced their opposition to a proposed hostage exchange with Hamas. In an open letter, they argued that any deal involving troop withdrawal from Gaza and swapping captives for Palestinian prisoners would jeopardize Israeli lives.
Among the signatories of the letter were Ramat Gan Chief Rabbi Yaakov Ariel, and influential hardliners such as settler leaders Dov Lior and Elyakim Levanon, as well as Safed Chief Rabbi Shmuel Eliyahu. This stance might further complicate efforts within Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu’s coalition to reach an agreement with Hamas if negotiations advance.
On Sunday, Netanyahu appeared ready to send a team back to the negotiating table after a prolonged break in talks. He conducted an “in-depth discussion” with negotiators and senior security officials before his Monday departure to the United States. There, he aims to secure Washington’s support for a stringent Israeli stance based on his four “non-negotiables.”
“The prices demanded to free the hostages endanger all Israelis — old, young and women,” the rabbis’ letter read. “For example: releasing all the dangerous monsters so Hamas can rebuild its collapsed army, withdrawing from strategic areas, and stopping the fighting before Hamas is defeated.”
The letter emphasized that the risks of such a deal outweighed the Jewish obligation to rescue captives. It is believed that 116 of the 251 hostages taken by Hamas on October 7 remain in Gaza, including the bodies of 44 confirmed dead by the IDF.
“We suggest to our leaders that God will present good counsel on how to redeem the hostages, while ensuring the continued existence and well-being of the State of Israel,” the letter continued.
The 18 signatories are considered highly influential among the hard-right Religious Zionism and Otzma Yehudit parties in Netanyahu’s coalition. The leaders of these parties have indicated they might leave the coalition if a “reckless” deal with Hamas is struck, complicating efforts to resolve the hostage crisis after nearly 10 months.
In contrast to these rabbis, MK Moshe Gafni, head of one of the factions within the chareidi United Torah Judaism coalition party, expressed support on Monday for an immediate deal to free the remaining Gaza hostages at any cost. He described the Jewish principle of redeeming captives as “one of the most important commandments in the Torah, if not the most important.”
“We are in favor of doing an arrangement for the release of the hostages, all of them, now,” the influential politician was heard saying in a recording aired by Channel 12 news.
The recording was reportedly made during a meeting Gafni held with five relatives of hostages on Monday morning.
“Our position, I’m telling you here in this room, within these four walls, and I say it to the prime minister: Today, we have to free the hostages at any price,” he was heard saying.
Negotiations to secure a ceasefire in Gaza and release the hostages have recently generated increasing optimism. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Friday that “we’re in the 10-yard line” for a deal. Energy Minister Eli Cohen, a member of the security cabinet, stated in an interview with Channel 12 news on Sunday that a deal could be finalized within two weeks.
Over the weekend, eight members of Netanyahu’s own Likud party declared their opposition to the current proposal. In a letter to the prime minister, they warned that “any agreement that includes the withdrawal of our forces from their current positions in Gaza is a complete defeat.”
Specifically, they cautioned against withdrawing from the Philadelphi Route between Gaza and Egypt, which Israel asserts Hamas uses to smuggle arms into the Strip. Likud MK Amit Halevi, one of the signatories, told The Times of Israel on Sunday that he “will not be part of a coalition that takes our soldiers out of Philadelphi.”
{Matzav.com Israel}
Draft notifications were issued to chareidim on Sunday evening via text messages, instructing them to report to the Recruitment Office for their initial draft order.
An investigation by Arutz Sheva revealed that these notifications were sent to 25-year-old chareidim, including both single and married individuals, as well as some who are studying in yeshiva.
The notifications appeared to target those who are employed, even if they are balancing work with yeshiva studies. Furthermore, recipients with cell phones received the draft notifications through text messages.
This morning, the IDF dispatched approximately one thousand draft orders to chareidi young adults, aged 18-26. Over the next few weeks, two additional batches of around one thousand orders each will be sent, aiming to increase the number of chareidim serving in the IDF to about 4,800 soldiers.
On Thursday, the Minister of Defense approved the IDF’s recommendation to issue the initial orders, assuming they would be distributed in three batches. After each batch, conclusions will be drawn to improve the subsequent one.
Gallant also mentioned that the method for sending the next two draft cycles will be based on the response of the chareidi community in the upcoming recruitment cycle.
The IDF prepared for the distribution of the draft orders and noted that success will be measured by the number of young adults who actually report as summoned. Fifty percent of the orders will be sent to candidates up to age 21, 40% to those aged 22-23, and 10% to those aged 24-26.
“If we manage to recruit another battalion of chareidim, this will save the operational deployment of ten reserve battalions that will not have to report to the IDF,” estimated military officials.
{Matzav.com}
A massive fortification dating back 3,800 years that likely protected the Kings of Yehuda has been uncovered just outside the walled Old City of Yerushalayim, the Israel Antiquities Authority announced on Sunday.
The moat, which measures at least nine meters deep and 30 meters wide, was discovered in the area of the present-day parking lot just outside Sha’ar Ha’ashpot of the Old City of Yerushalayim.
Created by extensive quarrying, the moat formed a channel separating Ir David from the har Habayis, dividing the city in two.
The fortifications likely served to separate the upper city, where the Beis Hamikdash and the palace were located, from the lower city, and protect it, the state-run archaeological body said.
“It is not known when the moat was originally cut, but evidence suggests it was used during the centuries when Yerushalayim was the capital of the Kingdom of Yehuda, almost 3,000 years ago, beginning with Melech Yoshiayhu,” said the excavation’s co-directors Tel Aviv University Professor Yuval Gadot and Dr. Yiftah Shalev from the Israel Antiquities Authority.
“During those years, the moat separated the southern residential part of the city from the ruling acropolis in the north.”
Shalev added, “If the moat was cut during this period, then it was intended to protect the city from the north—the only weak point of the Ir David slope. Either way, we are confident that it was used at the time of the First Beis Hamikdash and the Kingdom of Yehuda (ninth century BCE), so it created a clear buffer between the residential city in the south, and the upper city in the north.”
The creation of the moat was a monumental operation, designed to change the natural topography to demonstrate the power of Yerushalayim’s rulers to those who entered its gates, the IAA said.
The find reveals that throughout the Iron Age (the time of the First Beis Hamikdash) the city was divided into at least two distinct parts, the archaeologists said.
“The excavations in Ir David never cease to amaze; once again, discoveries are being revealed that shed new and vivid light on the biblical literature,” said Eli Escusido, director of the Israel Antiquities Authority.
“When you stand at the bottom of this giant excavation, surrounded by enormous hewn walls, it is impossible not to be filled with wonder and appreciation for those ancient people who, about 3,800 years ago, literally moved mountains and hills.”
The discovery will be presented to the public at the “Innovations in the Archeology of Jerusalem” conference of the Antiquities Authority, Tel Aviv University and the Hebrew University on Aug. 1.
{Matzav.com}
A major fire ravaged a bais medrash at Camp Maminim in Swan Lake, in the Catskills, on Erev Shabbos.
The blaze erupted shortly before Shabbos at the camp on Laymon Road, prompting a massive response from numerous firefighters and fire trucks.
The fire completely destroyed the building, including over 250 pairs of tefillin stored inside.
In a letter to camp parents, Rabbi Yosef and Aliza Wartelsky, the camp owners, assured them that “B”H everyone is accounted for and safe and nobody was in the building.”
Rabbi Wartelsky explained that while the building is not frequently used, it serves as the shul for Camp Chaveirim. All members of Camp Chaveirim were confirmed to be safe.
Rabbi Wartelsky emphasized, “Please understand that we are taking care of each camper and staff member and will continue to communicate via emails.”
Over 210 pairs of tefillin have already been donated to replace the ones that were destroyed.
If anyone has a pair of tefillin that they can lend or donate , please PM 732-877-9600 as soon as possible.
{Matzav.com}
In a live broadcast on Radio Kol Berama, presenter Ami Maimon spoke to Rav Moshe Re’em, a son-in-law of Rav Yaakov Edelstein who passed away seven years ago and was the brother of Ponovezh rosh yeshiva Rav Gershon Edelstein.
Rav Re’em shared that Rav Edelstein’s family was urgently searching for a cabby from Rishon Letzion named Reuven Katayav, who drove Rav Edelstein on October 30, 2001, 23 years ago.
On the cabby’s receipt recently found among Rav Yaakov’s papers, the family noticed a handwritten note from Rav Yaakov stating, “I need to return two shekel to this cabby because he gave me too much change.”
Rav Re’em emphasized that although Rav Yaakov recorded the sum due to the mitzvah of hashovas aveidah, it was not obligatory to invest effort in finding the cabby to return such a small sum. But the family wanted to anyway.
Presenter Ami Maimon informed Rav Re’em that the driver had already been identified by an acquaintance of the Edelstein family, Yona Kirshenbaum, who located the driver through the driver’s grandson. And so, a circle that had begun 23 years ago was finally closed.
{Matzav.com Israel}
Rav Yitzchok Yosef, the former Sephardi chief rabbi of Israel, voiced his support for releasing terrorists “with blood on their hands” as part of a deal to free hostages held in Gaza.“There’s mortal danger in the future if you release terrorists with blood on their hands. They could kill us. But that’s not right now. The hostages are right now. There’s negotiation. In halacha, the psak is that it’s permissible to release those accursed terrorists and if they do something, even minor, they can kill them right away,” Rav Yosef said during an event at the President’s Residence in Yerushalayim.
He continued: “Let them wrap up the deals, let them make the deal quickly. It can’t be helped. It’s permissible to release terrorists with blood on their hands. They released Yahya Sinwar and we saw what he turned out to be. But this is mortal danger. If we don’t release them now, [the terrorists] will kill the hostages.”
Rav Yosef’s father, Chacham Ovadia Yosef, who also served as Sephardi chief rabbi, expressed approval for the release of terrorists with blood on their hands for the release of Gilad Shalit in 2011.
Israel is currently negotiating with Hamas on a deal for the release of the hostages, which would also involve some form of ceasefire. Hamas is demanding an end to hostilities and the release of many Palestinian prisoners, including those convicted of murder, in exchange for the hostages.
{Matzav.com Israel}
It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of Rav Avrohom Tzvi Shmulevitz zt”l, one of the great Torah giants of Eretz Yisroel. He was 77.
Rav Shmulevitz was born in Yerushalayim on the 29th of Nissan in 1947, the second son of his father, Rav Chaim Leib Shmulevitz, rosh yeshiva of Mir, and his mother, Mrs. Chana Miriam, a daughter of Rav Leizer Yudel Finkel, rosh yeshiva of Mir.
Rav Shmulevitz was also a grandson of Rav Yosef Yoizel Horowitz, the Alter of Novardok, as his paternal grandmother was the Alter’s daughter, and on his mother’s side he was a grandson of Rav Nosson Tzvi Finkel, the Alter of Slabodka.
In his youth, he studied at the Chevron Yeshiva, where he learned from the rosh yeshiva, Rav Yechezkel Sarna, and Rav Avrohom Moshe Chevroni.
While studying at the Chevron Yeshiva in the Geula neighborhood of Yerushalayim, he became very close to the Bais Yisroel of Gur and formed a special kesher with him.
Upon reaching marriageable age, he married the daughter of Rav Yehuda Leib Nekritz and the granddaughter of Rav Avrohom Jofen, son-in-law of the Alter of Novardok.
After his marriage, he learned at the Mir Yeshiva and soon began giving shiurim. He was an extraordinary talmid chochom and a world-class lamdan, though his greatness in Torah was often hidden by his humility. Besides his brilliance in Torah, he was distinguished by his exceptional middos tovos. He behaved with immense simplicity and was beloved by all who met him.
His brother, Rav Refoel Shmulevitz, one of the roshei yeshiva of the Mir Yeshiva in Yerushalayim, passed away several years ago. His brother, Rav Meir Shmulevitz, serves as the av bais din of the Bais Din L’Dinei Mamonos associated with the Yerushalayim Religious Council and head of the Encyclopedia Talmudis project.
Rav Shmulevitz leaves behind 14 children and many grandchildren. His eldest son, Rav Yisroel Yaakov Shmulevitz, is the rosh yeshiva of Yeshiva Migdal Oz in Givat Ze’ev.
The levayah will take place at 5:30 p.m. at Yeshivas Mir Yerushalayim in the Bais Yisroel neighborhood of Yerushalayim, followed by kevurah on Har Hamenuchos.
Yehi zichro boruch.
{Matzav.com Israel}
According to information that Matzav.com received shortly before Shabbos, Camp Malka girls who returned home and could not be accommodated by the camp will now have the opportunity to attend a new overnight camp.This new camp will be situated in Lakewood, NJ and is set to begin on Tuesday, July 16.The program will be led by Mrs. Chaya Faigie Bar, with Mrs. Ahuva Ziemba serving as the camp mother.
The initiative is backed by Rabbi Zvi Bloom of Torah Umesorah, ensuring a quality experience for the attendees.
For more information, contact 732.581.5915. Texting is preferred.
This 2-3 week overnight camp will be located on a beautiful campus in Lakewood.
While final details are still being finalized, numerous individuals are stepping up to ensure a fun and fulfilling summer for as many teenage girls as possible.
This initiative is being organized by individuals who are not seeking any financial gain.
Parents whose daughters are in the challenging predicament reported on here by Matzav.com this past week should reach out. They will be contacted once the final details are confirmed.
{Matzav.com}
Rav Gershon Ribner, rosh kollel of Kollel Nesivos Hatorah and son-in-law of Rav Shneur Kotler, has succeeded in applying classical Talmudical analysis and methodology to understanding all areas of Yiddishkeit, bringing out its profundity and sense.
LISTEN:
Rav Meir Zvi Bergman, rosh yeshiva Rashbi in Bnei Brak and senior member of the Moetzes Gedoleio Hatorah of Degel Hatorah, delivered a strong rebuke regarding the conscription of yeshiva students into the Israeli Defense Forces.
Addressing a gathering of roshei yeshiva, Rav Bergman, son-in-law Maran Rav Elazar Menachem Man Shach zt”l, stated, “Everyone knows that even one day that a boy is in the army is truly destruction. The entire war now is a war for the King, for Hakadosh Boruch Hu.
“We must know that it is forbidden to cooperate with them.”
Criticizing Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, Rav Bergman remarked, “Then one foolish guy comes and sends out draft orders. We are obligated to sacrifice our lives for this.”
On Thursday, the Israeli Yated featured a letter from Rav Dov Landau, rosh yeshivas Slobodka, urging yeshiva students to ignore draft notices, “or even respond to the initial draft order.”
“We do not have the ability to rely on agreements and understandings with the military’s leaders, since their hands are tied with cables of iron by the judges, and the entire response to the decrees of the echelon is simply to cave to their war against Hashem and His Torah,” wrote Rav Dov.
He further elaborated, “Now the situation is that the echelons have announced war against the Torah world, and they are the ones who opened a front and came to change the order which existed all through the years, and ordered the army to begin a process of actual enlistment of yeshiva students.”
Rav Lando reiterated, “The instruction to the yeshiva students is not to appear at all at the Draft Offices, and not to respond to any sort of call-up.”
Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch, rosh yeshivas Slobodka, also denounced the draft, saying, “This is a battle of self-sacrifice. This is not a regular battle. We have been through many religious battles over the past decades, but now this is a battle of self-sacrifice – even if the boys need to go to prison.” He noted, “The entire instruction of Rav [Aharon Leib] Shteinman to appear at the Draft Offices was only when there was discourse with the chareidi community. The moment there is no discourse and every proposal we suggest is rejected, then, from our perspective as well, there is no discourse.”
{Matzav.com Israel}
Camp Malka has encountered significant difficulties in commencing its summer program this year and has now announced that it will only be opening for a limited number of campers.
Initially, the camp’s campus – located on Ingalside Road in Greenville, NY – was under preparation, but failed to be ready in time for the scheduled start date.
In an effort to manage the delay, the camp postponed the start time by a week and temporarily placed campers in a hotel in the Poconos. However, this arrangement proved unsuccessful, with many girls having to sleep in their clothes and on the floor. Subsequently, the site was shut down by police for safety reasons.
This afternoon, the camp administration announced that they have “exhausted every avenue” to provide the campers with a summer experience.
“It is with a heavy heart that we are writing this email. We have exhausted every avenue possible to provide your daughters with the summer they deserve. We recognize that we have let down our parents, campers, and staff, and have caused tremendous aggravation. We are deeply sorry,” stated a letter signed by camp owner Rabbi Shmuel Hiller.
The letter further explained that the camp had received a temporary certificate of occupancy to host 450 campers and staff at the camp’s Scotland location. However, the facility can only accommodate the CITs, TCs, and some other staff members, but not the sophies, juniors, seniors, and remaining staff.
The camp administration is currently in the process of arranging proper transportation to bring the affected campers home this evening.
{Matzav.com}
Maran Rav Dov Landau, rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Slabodka in Bnei Brak, has issued a directive to yeshiva bochurim advising them not to report to IDF conscription offices, emphasizing that they should not comply “not even after the initial summons.”
This instruction from Rav Landau was conveyed in a letter addressed to yeshiva students, which was published in Thursday’s edition of the Israeli Yated Ne’eman.
“We cannot depend on agreements and understandings with military leaders, as their actions are constrained by legal rulings, and any compliance with court decrees amounts to acquiescing in their battle against Hashem and His Torah,” wrote Rav Landau in the letter.
“For years, there has been an understanding with Israeli military authorities that yeshiva and kollel students would not be conscripted,” he added, “and thus, following the guidance of the great rabbonim of our generation, they cooperated with military authorities to arrange legal deferments, which included reporting to military offices to formalize their status as yeshiva students.
“Now, the situation has changed, with the courts waging war against the world of Torah,” continued Rav Landau, “initiating a new phase by directing the military to commence the actual conscription of yeshiva students.”
In his letter, Rav Landau emphasized that “the directive to yeshiva students is unequivocal: do not report to conscription offices at all, and disregard any summonses.”
Rav Landau’s letter comes in response to Defense Minister Yoav Gallant’s recent decision to endorse the IDF’s recommendation to issue the first recruitment orders to young chareidim starting next month, “in accordance with the IDF’s capacity for absorption and screening, following a thorough process of refining data on potential recruits.”
Additionally, Gallant approved an information campaign aimed at educating the haredi community about their options for military and national service.
{Matzav.com Israel}
It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of Rebbetzin Sarah Schlesinger a”h. She was the wife of Rav Shmuel Akiva Schlesinger of Strasbourg, France.She was a daughter of Rav Chaim Tzvi Kruger zt”l, who led the Agudas Harabbonim in the United States and Canada and had previously served as a rov in Europe.
The Rebbetzin was the mother of Rav Yisroel Dovid Schlesinger, rov of Khal Shaarei Tefillah of Monsey, and Rav Shea Schlesinger, rov of Kehilas Bais Avrohom of Monsey.
The levayah was held Wednesday afternoon in Yerushalayim, with kevurah on Har Hamenuchos.
Yehi zichra boruch.
{Matzav.com}
The Coalition for Jewish Values (CJV) has expressed it’s thanks and appreciation to the Republican National Committee (RNC) for including the fight against antisemitism in it’s updated, abbreviated party platform.
CJV consists of over 2,500 Orthodox Rabbis that “represent the world of traditional Judaism: Yeshiva and Chassidic, Modern and Traditional, Middle Eastern, Northern African, and European.” It’s current President is Rabbi Yoel Schonfeld, the former leader of Young Israel of Kew Gardens Hills in Queens, and the former President of the Vaad Harabbonim of Queens, among other positions.
CJV Vice President Rabbi Dov Fischer, a core contributor to the CJV document, stated, “Addressing anti-Jewish hate in America was, of course, a major theme in our suggestions, and we specifically asked the platform committees to address both hostility on campus and the problem of foreign nationals who come to America in order to incite hatred.”
Rabbi Fischer continued: “We think it significant that both of these issues, of great concern to Jewish Americans and many others, were given attention despite the brevity of the RNC platform,”
{Matzav.com}
The Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah of America has released a Kol Korei emphasizing the significance of the Erev Shabbos of the week of Parshas Chukas, which has been established for generations as a day of fasting due to historical calamities.
In light of the numerous challenges facing Klal Yisroel today, the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah is calling upon all kehillos to designate this Friday as a yom tefillah, with specific chapters of Tehillim to be recited.
The full Kol Korei, and a free translation, can be found below.
May our tefillos be accepted favorably and may the zechus haTorah protect us.
THIS IS THE DECREE OF THE TORAH
(Free translation)
Tuesday morning, Parshas Chukas, 5784
The Magein Avrohom writes in siman 580 (s”k 9, as brought in the Mishnah Berurah, s”k 15), citing the Sefer Tanya Rabbosi (by Rabbeinu Yechiel HaRofei of Rome), that the Friday of the week of Parshas Chukas was established for generations as a day of fasting due to the calamities that occurred on that day. The Tanya Rabbosi states: “Regarding the burning of the Torah, we have written this as a memorial for what happened in our times due to our numerous sins, which caused this, and the Toras Elokeinu was burned in the year 5002 from the creation of the world, on the Friday of the week of the parsha of Zos Chukas HaTorah, about twenty-four wagons filled with sifrei Talmud, halachos, and aggados were burned in France, etc., and we heard from the rabbonim who were there that they performed a she’ailas chalom to determine if this was a decree from the Creator, and they were answered: ‘Veda gezeiras Oraysa – This is a decree from the Torah,’ meaning that on the Friday of ‘Zos Chukas HaTorah’ is the decree. From that day onward, individuals took upon themselves to fast on this day every year on the Friday of the parsha of ‘Zos Chukas HaTorah.’”
The Magein Avrohom adds that besides the burning of the Talmud, great troubles have occurred on this day over the generations, leading to the destruction of entire Jewish communities, R”l.
Now, we come to matters pertaining to our present time, as in this generation numerous troubles and severe decrees have arisen against the Am Hashem in general and specifically targeting the Torah and its scholars, and the young children learning Torah, both in Eretz Yisroel and in the Diaspora. Policy-makers, with malicious intent, aim to disrupt the sanctity of Torah scholars, requiring the students of our holy yeshivos to abandon their study benches in the beis medrash and enlist in the military. They scheme with various tricks, and their hand is still outstretched, poised to persist. Moreover, decrees are being issued against young children learning Torah, both in Eretz Yisroel and in the Diaspora. All of this is reminiscent of the decree of burning the Torah.
In such a time of terrible concealment of Hashem’s Presence, our enemies have lifted their heads, and our adversaries and accusers are exulting over us, saying, “Pursue them and capture them, for there is no one to save them,” Heaven forbid. Woe to the ears that hear daily of our brethren falling as casualties, being killed and captured, Heaven forbid, and there is no day whose curse is not greater than the previous one. Upon whom can we rely? Only upon our Father in Heaven.
Therefore, at this time, a time of distress for Yaakov, it is our duty to follow the practice of our ancestors, to uphold the voice of Yaakov, and to increase our prayers and supplications before the Master of Mercy. For when Klal Yisroel looks upwards and subjugates their hearts to our Father in Heaven, no weapon formed against us shall succeed.
Hence, we call upon all holy congregations of Klal Yisroel to designate this Friday of the week of Parshas Chukas as a day of great and bitter outcry regarding this decree of the Torah, to raise our voices to Heaven against the defiant hands lifted against the Toras Moshe. This day, established centuries ago by our forefathers as a fast day for severe decrees against the Torah and for harsh events that occurred to the Am HaTorah on this day, is auspicious for seeking mercy for these matters that are akin to the event [for which this day was initially established].
We therefore earnestly request that in all communities of Klal Yisroel, in shuls and botei medrashos, in Talmudei Torah and schools, in all retreats and camps, every place according to its custom, all should gather together this Friday, the week of Parshas Chukas, to awaken Divine mercy by publicly reciting specific chapters of Tehillim: 13, 79, 80, 121, 130 and 142.
We add that since this day is designated by halachic authorities for fasting by select individuals, those who wish to accept a partial fast, as explained in Shulchan Aruch siman 562, will be blessed, and the merit of the many depends on them.
May Hashem help us for the sake of His glorious Name, and may His mercy be aroused for the remnant of His people, to annul all harsh decrees against us. May our supplications be accepted favorably, and may the merit of the many and the merit of the Torah protect us, saving us from all distress and hardship, and all wickedness will vanish like smoke. Soon, may we hear and be comforted with good tidings and consolation. Amein, so may it be His will.
Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah of America
Rav Yehuda Deri zt”l, the chief rabbi of Beer Sheva and brother of Shas party leader Aryeh Deri, was niftar on Tuesday at the age of 66. The levayah is scheduled for 8 p.m. in Yerushalayim.
Rav Deri was niftar at Hadassah Ein Karem Medical Center in Yerushalayim due to complications from an infection that led to his hospitalization last month. His condition had gradually worsened over the past 24 hours.
Aryeh Deri described his late brother as “the leader of a tremendous revolution of Torah and Yiddishkeit, a vigilant keeper of kashrus who redeemed many from sin.” He added that Rav Yehuda “with his pleasant conduct and eloquence knew how to lead his listeners to love Yiddishkeit.”
Rav Yehuda’s passing is “a tremendous loss to his thousands of talmidim” and to Klal Yisrael, Aryeh Deri said, also recalling his late brother’s inclination to “swim against the current.”
Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu expressed his condolences to Aryeh Deri, stating, “Rav Yehuda was a great talmid chacham… a man of chessed and virtue who gained the love and esteem of everyone who knew him. His passing is a great loss for the world of Torah, for the people of Beer Sheva, and for the whole of Klal Yisrael,” he said.
Members of Knesset from both the coalition and the opposition extended their condolences to Aryeh Deri.
Rav Yehuda’s passing was due to a pulmonary condition that required him to be on an ECMO machine; he was taken off the machine several days ago.
A prolific author and dayan, Rav Yehuda was considered a leading candidate to succeed Rav Yitzchok Yosef as the Chief Sephardi Rabbi of Eretz Yisroel, according to sources familiar with the situation.
Some believe his illness contributed to the delay in the succession process.
Before becoming Beer Sheva’s top chareidi rov approximately 30 years ago, Rav Yehuda served as the rov of Ramot in Yerushalayim.
Born in Meknès, Morocco, Rav Yehuda immigrated to Eretz Yisrael with his family in 1968. The family settled in Bat Yam.
Yehi zichro boruch.
{Matzav.com Israel}
Rav Gershon Ribner, rosh kollel of Kollel Nesivos Hatorah and son-in-law of Rav Shneur Kotler, has succeeded in applying classical Talmudical analysis and methodology to understanding all areas of Yiddishkeit, bringing out its profundity and sense.
LISTEN:
The trial of Rabbi Osher Eisemann, beloved founder of SCHI in Lakewood, NJ, and noted baal chesed and tzaddik, is scheduled to commence today with jury selection, as he faces charges of money facilitation and corruption of a corporate official.
The prosecution has chosen not to indict Rabbi Eisemann on the alleged underlying crimes, instead focusing on the fallout charge of money facilitation – indicating that they know he did not commit any underlying crime.
The case revolves around a 12-day loan from the school, which the prosecution claims was used to promote another crime. However, it has already been established that the loan was made using private funds, not government money, and the lead detective has testified that such a loan was permissible. Furthermore, the second alleged criminal act, a loan write-down, is disputed by the bookkeeper who made the transaction, who claims that it was a simple bookkeeping maneuver, not an attempt to erase a debt.
Forensic audits ordered by the commerce department of the attorney general’s office have also shown that no loan balance existed between Rabbi Eisemann and the foundation, and that the foundation actually owed Rabbi Eisemann money. Despite this, the justice department refuses to consider these audits, clinging to their theory of a loan and attempted write-down.
Rabbi Eisemann’s legal team urgently needs hundreds of thousands of dollars to prepare for trial, including outstanding legal fees that must be paid immediately.
Donations can be made at pidyonshvuyim.com. Please daven for Osher ben Chana Frumet.
{CB Frommer – Matzav.com}
In a historic first for Israel, a political standoff has left the country without chief rabbis.
Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi Rav Dovid Lau and Sephardic Chief Rabbi Rav Yitzchok Yosef stepped down one week ago as their 10-year terms concluded.
Chief rabbis in Israel serve decade-long terms and often act as ambassadors for the nation internationally. The Chief Rabbinate holds authority over matters of personal status like marriage, gitten, geirus, as well as issues related to kevurah, kosher certification, holy sites, and rabbinical courts.
These rabbis, including those for local municipalities, are elected by a assembly comprising 80 rabbis from local religious councils and 70 public officials from the Knesset and local authorities. According to law, replacements should have been elected at least 21 days before the end of their tenure.
However, disputes over the assembly’s composition persisted, and the Ministry of Religious Affairs failed to convene it.
Originally scheduled for August 2023, the vote was postponed by the Knesset at the request of Religious Affairs Minister Michael Malkieli, citing potential interference with municipal elections set for October 31. Critics accused Malkieli of maneuvering to stack the assembly with members favorable to certain Chief Rabbi candidates and the 15-member Chief Rabbinate Council overseeing daily affairs and local rabbinic authorities.
The outbreak of war with Hamas in February led to further complications when municipal elections were postponed to February.
The situation grew more complex when the Attorney General ruled out Rav Lau and Rav Yosef’s involvement in selecting assembly members due to conflicts of interest. Both come from rabbinic families, with brothers seeking positions in the rabbinate, fueling allegations of nepotism. Rav Lau’s father, Rav Yisroel Meir Lau, served as Chief Ashkenazi Rabbi from 1993 to 2003, while Rav Yosef’s father, Chacham Ovadia Yosef, held the position of Chief Sephardi Rabbi from 1973 to 1983.
Adding another layer, the High Court of Justice in January mandated greater female representation in the assembly, directing the Chief Rabbis to include women among their nominees.
With no clear frontrunners emerging to succeed Rav Lau and Rav Yosef, several candidates have entered the fray.
{Matzav.com Israel}
It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of Rav Shmaya Greenbaum zt”l. He was 77.
Rav Greenbaum was a noted marbitz Torah in the Satmar community and the author of the acclaimed peirush titled Siyata Dishmaya.
Rav Greenbaum was a son of Rav Yehuda Greenbaum. In his youth, he studied at the Lubavitcher Yeshiva in Paris and later became one of the noted talmidim of the Divrei Yoel of Satmar, to whom he was devoted throughout his life, spreading his teachings and worldview.
Throughout his life, he learned Torah continuously and was known as an immense talmid chochom.
Rav Greenbaum authored the aforementioned Siyata Dishmaya commentary on Chumash-Rashi and on Mishnayos, and his seforim were widely accepted throughout the Torah world.
Rav Greenbaum brought flavor to the study of Mishnayos, and many recount that thanks to him, they received a living interpretation of the words of Mishnayos through his commentary, on which he labored with great effort.
He served as a maggid shiur at the Satmar Bais Medrash in Williamsburg for many years.
Additionally, he served as a dayan and halachic authority in Satmar.
He was deeply connected to the Satmar Rebbes: the Divrei Yoel, then the Beirach Moshe, and later Rav Zalman Leib Teitelbaum.
Rav Greenbaum suffered from a severe illness and passed away over Shabbos.
He is survived by his family and bnei and bnos Torah.
The levayah will be held this morning at 10 a.m. in Williamsburg, and then at the bais hachaim in Kiryas Yoel, where he will be buried.
Yehi zichro boruch.
{Matzav.com}
All are asked to daven for Rav Tzvi Menachem Feigenbaum, rosh yeshiva of Yeshiva Kerem Shlomo of Lakewood, NJ, who suffered a heart attack on Friday night.
Rav Feigenbaum is a son-in-law of Rav Meir Stern, rosh yeshiva of Yeshiva Gedolah of Passaic.
Rav Feigenbaum is now at Monmouth Medical Center’s Southern Campus/Kimball in Lakewood in an induced coma.
All are asked to daven for Tzvi Menachem ben Chana Yitta.
{Matzav.com}
On Shabbos, Dr. Yitzhak Yifat, one of the three paratroopers featured in the iconic photo at the Kosel after Israel liberated the old city of Yerushalayim in the six day war, passed away. He was 81 years old.
Yifat was nicknamed “the crying paratrooper”, seen in the center of the iconic photo. He was one of the first soldiers to enter the old city, after it had been in Jordanian hands since 1948. He was 24 years old when the photograph was taken.
Photographer David Rubinger took the photo on June 7th, 1967. It has since become a world famous symbol of the miraculous victory of the six day war.
After the war, Yifat become a well-known obstetrician-gynecologist.
His Levaya is scheduled for Sunday at Moshav Ge’a, near Ashkelon in southern Israel.
{Matzav.com}
Ivanka Trump, the daughter of President Donald Trump who converted to Judaism, made her podcast debut on the Lex Fridman show, providing a rare and intimate look into her personal beliefs and emotions.
During the conversation, Fridman explored various subjects, including how Ivanka managed to stay resilient and composed in the face of relentless criticism. She specifically mentioned “lashon hara.”
“There’s a concept in Judaism called Lashon Hara, which means evil speech. The idea is that speaking poorly of another is almost the moral equivalent to murder, because you can’t really repair it. You can apologize, but you can’t repair it.
She continued: “Another component of that is that it does as much damage to the person saying the words than it does to the person receiving them. And I think about that a lot. I talk about this concept with my kids a lot, and I’m not willing to pay the price of that fleeting and momentary satisfaction of sort of swinging back because I think it would be too expensive for my soul. And that’s how I made peace with it, because I think that feels more true for me.”
She also spoke about the bracha of Asher Yotzar: “There’s a prayer in Judaism you’re supposed to say every morning, which is basically thanking God for your body working. It’s something so basic, but it’s when it doesn’t that we’re grateful. So just reminding ourselves every day the basic things of a functional body, of our health, of access to water, which so many millions of people around the world do not have reliably, is very clarifying and super important.”
WATCH ABOVE.
{Dov T. Heller – Matzav.com}
The renowned posek Rav Yitzchok Zilberstein, who serves as head of the Bais Dovid Kollel in Cholon, has also been hit by the government cut in yeshiva funding.
A notice at his kollel stated: “The supporters of Torah have diminished, the kollel’s funds are empty, and the holy Torah cries out, ‘If there is no flour, there is no Torah.’ Whoever remains at the Bais Dovid Kollel should know that, unfortunately, there is no source of payment. May Hashem bless those who provide beneficence to talmidei chachomim.”
{Matzav.com Israel}
In light of the various tragedies that have struck Klal Yisroel and the ongoing challenging situation in Eretz Yisroel, Agudas Yisroel of America’s New Jersey office will present a kinnus hisorerus tonight, at 8:30 p.m., at Bais Medrash Lutzk, located at 520 New Egypt Road, Lakewood, NJ. Divrei hisorerus will be delivered by Rav Aryeh Malkiel Kotler, rosh yeshiva of Beth Medrash Govoha; Rav Uri Deutsch, rov of the Forest Park Shul; and Rav Yitzchok Sorotzkin, rosh yeshiva of Mesivta of Lakewood. All drashos will be delivered in English.
WATCH LIVE, 8:30 PM:
Agudath Israel of America introduces the second episode of its compelling new initiative, Torah Perspectives,designed to provide profound wisdom and valuable insights from gedolei Yisroel and prominent rabbonim. This video series aims to address contemporary issues through the timeless lens of Torah, offering guidance, inspiration, and chizuk to the wider Jewish community.
In this episode, once again hosted by Rabbi Yitzchok Hisiger, Agudath Israel’s Director of Torah Initiatives, we are zocheh to hear from Dayan Aharon Dovid Dunner, rav of Adass Yisroel Tottenham of London and dayan with the Union of Orthodox Hebrew Congregations, speaking on the topic of “The Scourge of Machklokes: Fights, Divorces, and the Pursuit of Shalom.”
Dayan Dunner, with his usual eloquence, delves into the destructive nature of machlokes and its pervasive impact on both personal relationships and the broader community. Drawing from Torah sources and his extensive experience in dealing with communal issues, as well as his consultations with gedolei hador on this very topic, he highlights the consequences of disputes, the ripple effects they can cause, and the importance of pursuing shalom in all aspects of life – and he shares a number of fascinating stories to make his points.
WATCH:
Q: Should July the Fourth be celebrated or is it chukos hagoyim?
Rav Avigdor Miller zt”l: Should you stop your learning to make a barbecue? No, there’s no reason for that.
But we hang out a flag from this synagogue on July the Fourth. Walk down Ocean Parkway, no flags. But here, yes.
I’ll tell you a story. In Vilna, Rav Yisroel Salanter once entered a big shul and it was the custom – it’s in the siddur – to say הנותן תשועה למלכים, a certain prayer for the king. Some siddurim still have that; a prayer for the President.
Does anybody ever say it? Nobody ever says it. It’s a formality. Just to bluff the goyim. If they should look in our prayer book, “See we’re praying for you.” But of course we never pray for them.
It’s not true. It’s a befeirushe Mishnah: הוי מתפלל בשלומו של מלכות – you must pray for the welfare of the kingdom, for the government. You have to pray for the government.
So Rav Yisrael Salanter once came into a big shul and the shamash instead of saying הנותן תשועה למלכים, he skipped it. They used to say it there in Russia but he skipped it. So Rav Yisroel went up to the bimah, he took a siddur and he recited it aloud for the public to hear. He himself did it. To let them know it’s an obligation – we have to pray for the government. We have to pray for the government.
So if so many meshugaim today are trying to desecrate the American flag; even the wicked Supreme Court has sanctioned the desecration of the flag—it’s not a crime any more—we have to show we appreciate Hashem’s gift to us. America is a great gift to us. We have to pray beshelomo shel malchus.
And so I say every Jew today should hang out the flag on the Fourth of July. Even just lehachis the liberals – to show the reshaim that we do appreciate America.
These fools are trying to tell us that someplace else is better. Here it’s no good. In Kent, in Ohio, the National Guard shot down four students some years ago when they protested. What a terrible fuss they made in America! But in Beijing, in China, they shot down two hundred students and nothing is said about it. What’s done by the Communists is perfectly all right. In America they were ruining the campus, these bums. They deserved to be shot down. No question about it. I sent a letter to the government and congratulated them for shooting them.
But what goes on someplace else, nothing to criticize. When the Russians marched into Hungary and took over a free land and made it a slave country of theirs, nobody said a word here.
But the Jews who were trying to fight to save themselves in Eretz Yisrael against the Arabs who want to kill Jewish men, women and children, so the New York Times is making the biggest fuss. Palestinian rights!
Why didn’t you make a fuss against the Russians? The Russians are occupying foreign countries. They’ve been doing it for years and years. They brought their tanks into Hungary, into Czechoslovakia and everywhere else. They’re threatening anybody who wants to be independent. So why is it that you raise a big mouth only against the State of Israel and not against what the Russians are doing?
The answer is the wickedness has no calculations. They do things only because of wickedness.
And therefore we should do the opposite. Now I’m not saying we should be Zionists, but absolutely when we see how the New York Times raises a hue and cry against Israel because of the injustice of the Palestinians, we should open our mouths against them.
And when the reshaim in America want to ruin this country, the least we can do is show we appreciate the great gift of America. I say we should hang out the flag, no question about it.
TAPE #792 (July 1990)
{Matzav.com}
Rav Gershon Ribner, rosh kollel of Kollel Nesivos Hatorah and son-in-law of Rav Shneur Kotler, has succeeded in applying classical Talmudical analysis and methodology to understanding all areas of Yiddishkeit, bringing out its profundity and sense.
LISTEN:
In response to recent communal tragedies and the challenging situation in Eretz Yisroel, particularly concerning the draft law and the ongoing war, the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah of Agudas Yisroel of America and the Lakewood roshei yeshiva have called for a special day of tefillah and teshuvah. Designated as a Yom Kippur Koton Mukdam, today, Thursday, will be a time for tefillah and introspection.
At Bais Medrash Govoah, tefillos of Yom Kippur Koton will be held in multiple locations. The botei medrash of Bais Yitzchok, Forest Avenue, Bais Shalom, and Bais Shmuel will each host the special tefillos, starting at 1:35 p.m.
May the tefillos ascend to the Ribono Shel Olam, and may we merit to see the fulfillment of the words of the Novi: “And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be delivered” (Yoel 3:5).
{Matzav.com}
It is with profound sadness that Matzav.com reports the tragic petirah of R’ Shloimy Lonner z”l. He was in his upper forties.
R’ Shloimy, a beloved resident of Primrose Drive in the New Central Avenue neighborhood of Lakewood, NJ, was a noted baal chesed and a true ben Torah. He was an outstanding individual, known for his unwavering kindness and dedication to helping others.
R’ Shloimy’s life was tragically cut short when he was stabbed to death today by an unstable inmate at a mental health facility that he operated in South Jersey.
This tragedy has plunged Lakewood into deep mourning once more after a spate of tzaros has stricken the community.
He is survived by his parents, Rabbi and Mrs. Yaakov Shraga Lonner; his devoted wife, Shani (nee Katz), and their three children; and his siblings.
The levayah will take place on Thursday, at 5:30 p.m., at the Congregation Sons of Israel Holocaust Memorial Chapel, located at 613 Ramsey Avenue in Lakewood, NJ, followed by kevurah at the adjacent Mt. Sinai Cemetery.
The family will be sitting shivah at 11 Primrose Drive in Lakewood, NJ.
Yehi zichro boruch.
Umacha Hashem dimah me’al kol ponim.
{Matzav.com}
In response to the landmark decision by the Israeli High Court last month, the Israeli military has embarked on a significant initiative involving the collection of income tax information from young chareidi men, the Kan public broadcaster reports.
The Israel Defense Forces plans to initiate the draft process by issuing call-up notices to employed members of the chareidi community.
This move comes as part of efforts to implement the attorney general’s directive, which mandates the conscription of 3,000 individuals from this demographic.
The decision marks a pivotal moment in Israel’s ongoing efforts to integrate the chareidi population into national military service, a contentious issue that has long divided public opinion and sparked legal challenges.
The IDF’s approach includes gathering detailed data on income tax filings from eligible young chareidi men.
According to the Kan report, the IDF will leverage income tax records as a basis for issuing draft notices.
The decision to start with employed chareidi men underscores a strategic approach aimed at gradually expanding conscription efforts within a community that has traditionally focused on limud haTorah rather than military service.
{Matzav.com Israel}
A group of young Lubavitcher bochurim from Crown Heights met this week with Rav Yerucham Olshin of Bais Medrash Govoah and Rav Mordechai Willig of YU, who were astounded by their astounding accomplishments and knowledge in Torah learning.The 13-14 year old boys had just completed two years of learning in Mechina L’Mesivta of Crown Heights, under the leadership of Rabbi Yitzchok Wolf. Geared toward advanced learners, the small 7th and 8th program offers students an opportunity to learn on a much higher level than usual, quantitatively and qualitatively.
Over the course of these two years, the talmidim had learned thoroughly: the entire Masechtos Gittin, Bava Basra, and Sota; the whole Seder Noshim and Seder Nezikin of Mishnayos; all of Chumash Vayikra with Rashi; half of the Simanim in Kitzur Shulchan Aruch; 42 Perakim of Tanya and two volumes of Likkutei Sichos.
On Thursday, the bochurim were received by Rosh Yeshiva of Beis Medrash Govoha and member of the Moetzes Gedolei Hatorah, Rav Yeruchem Olshin, as well as by the Rosh Yeshiva of YU and Av Beis Din of the RCA, Rav Mordechai Willig. They were farhered by each on the entire Masechta Bava Basra and Masechta Gittin.
The talmidim were joined by their Maggid Shiur for both Masechtos, Rabbi Chaim Polter.
Both Roshei Yeshiva were extremely impressed by the boys’ knowledge. Most of the talmidim could immediately identify the exact Daf and Amud any few words came from.
“I’ve never seen anything like this!” Rav Willig exclaimed. Rav Olshin praised the “budding talmidei chachomim.”
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In recent weeks, a story that shook the entire Jewish world was publicized for the first time on Matzav.com. It was revealed that a gentile who served as a Shabbos goy in Shikun Skver in New York, aged seventy, is actually Jewish.
The Skverer dayanim, led by the Av Beis Din, Rav Yosef Yisrael Eisenberger, who investigated and examined the facts, indeed ruled to stop using him, since it became clear that halachically he is considered Jewish in every respect.
Many residents of the area were greatly astonished by this surprising revelation, and they were pained due to the chillul Shabbos caused inadvertently through their actions. They sent their question to the senior posek, Rav Yitzchok Zilberstein, and asked whether they need kapparah for causing a Jew to inadvertently desecrate Shabbos.
In the shailah, it was written that every time someone needed a Shabbos goy, after receiving permission from the rov, they would approach him, and he performed the necessary work. What happened was that a few weeks ago, one of the residents spoke with him, and he mentioned that his family name was “Ruditsky” and he fled from Ukraine due to some incident. When it became known that this was indeed his grandfather’s surname, they were astonished, because it sounded like a Jewish surname.
Indeed, after investigating, they were astounded to discover that this grandfather of his, his mother’s father, was indeed Jewish, as was his grandmother. Therefore, according to halacha, he is considered a Jew in every respect, despite being considered a gentile for all these years. They immediately annulled his employment as a Shabbos goy.
The question was whether all those who over the years used this “Shabbos goy” need kapparah, as they inadvertently caused a Jew to perform work on Shabbos, or perhaps they do not need kapparah because they were unaware and assumed he was a gentile.
Rav Zilberstein, in his extensive teshuvah regarding matters of unintentional aveiros and ones committed under duress, deliberated whether this case is considered duress or unintentional. In his words, he decisively ruled it as absolute duress, since this individual was considered a gentile. It is explicitly stated by the Rambam in three places that a sin committed under absolute duress does not require atonement.
However, towards the end of his remarks, Rav Zilberstein added an interesting halachic novelty, that all those who used the revealed Shabbos goy who turned out to be Jewish do not require kapparah. This applies only to those who invited the gentile without proper halachic permission from the rov and transgressed the prohibition of instructing a gentile to perform work on Shabbos. Since sometimes people are unaware and not knowledgeable about the laws of instructing a gentile, and they invite the gentile without halachic permission and transgress the prohibition of amira l’akum, such a person does not need to repent only for instructing a gentile, but must repent for causing a Jew to desecrate Shabbos through him. Even though he was under duress and did not know that he was Jewish, nevertheless, since he transgressed by instructing a gentile, he is also punished for not knowing that he was Jewish.
{Matzav.com Israel}
In a decisive yet highly significant ruling, the High Court of Justice last week mandated that the state commence conscripting chareidi yeshiva students into the IDF, ending decades of mass-exemptions for young men from the chareidi community.
Shortly thereafter, the Attorney General’s Office instructed the Defense Ministry to enforce the ruling, stating, “the defense establishment’s obligation to draft yeshiva students begins on July 1.”
But what does this mean in practice, and will the army start issuing thousands of conscription notices to chareidi yeshiva students in Bnei Brak, Yerushalayim, and elsewhere across Israel?
The short answer is likely no, at least not immediately. However, the Defense Ministry and the Israel Defense Forces must establish a conscription framework capable of promptly issuing draft notices and enlisting approximately 4,800 chareidi conscripts over the next year.
When asked about complying with Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara’s instructions, the Defense Ministry declined to comment.
In its recent ruling, the High Court declared that since the law allowing blanket military exemptions for chareidi yeshiva students expired at the end of June 2023, there is no longer a legal basis for such exemptions, mandating the state to begin drafting these students.
According to the court and the attorney general’s orders, there are currently 63,000 eligible chareidi men who may be called up for military service.
Shlomit Ravitsky Tur-Paz, head of the religion and state program at the Israel Democracy Institute, explained that another 14,000 young chareidi men will turn 18 during the current enlistment year, which began in June, making them eligible for draft over the next 12 months.
In total, approximately 77,000 young chareidi men could receive draft orders from the IDF during the upcoming year.
During the High Court proceedings, the IDF informed the attorney general that it could reasonably absorb an additional 3,000 chareidi recruits into its ranks during the upcoming enlistment year, in addition to the average of approximately 1,800 who have enlisted annually in recent years.
Consequently, the attorney general instructed the IDF to start drafting 4,800 yeshiva students, though the military must now determine who will receive enlistment orders and who will remain exempt from military service.
The army has two primary options. The first involves conducting a random lottery among draft-eligible individuals and drafting those whose numbers are drawn.
However, implementing such a system risks direct confrontation with the chareidi community and its leadership if elite yeshiva students end up being drafted.
According to Ravitsky Tur-Paz, an alternative approach is to draft individuals from less prestigious yeshivas or those from the “modern chareidi” community, where secular studies are also taught alongside religious studies.
The Israel Democracy Institute estimates that the “modern chareidi” segment, including those from immigrant families and schools with core-curriculum subjects, comprises between 11 to 15 percent of the chareidi population.
This group is more integrated into Israeli society compared to the mainstream chareidi community and may be more receptive to military service, potentially providing more willing recruits.
Another potential source of conscripts is from “drop-out yeshivas,” institutions established by the chareidi community to provide a chareidi environment for young men not inclined towards intensive limud haTorah and at risk of leaving the community altogether.
The Israel Democracy Institute estimates that out of the 63,000 chareidi seminary students eligible for the draft, approximately 9,500 attend such yeshivas.
Since these institutions primarily aim to retain individuals within the chareidi fold, some might be more inclined to permit students from these yeshivas to serve in the army, especially if mainstream yeshiva students are allowed to focus solely on their learning.
While drafting individuals from these groups might encounter less opposition from chareidi rabbinical and political leaders, concerns about legality persist, as state actions must conform to administrative law, ensuring equitable application of laws to all citizens.
Ravitsky Tur-Paz suggested that as long as the state demonstrates an intention to enforce conscription laws more broadly in the future, drafting from “drop-out” yeshivas and modern chareidi yeshiva students may withstand legal scrutiny in the short term.
Both the military and the attorney general emphasized that the 4,800 individuals slated for conscription this year represent only the initial phase of the conscription process, which the High Court recognized must be gradual.
The critical question now is the extent to which chareidi leadership will resist even conscription from this segment of the community.
According to Yisroel Cohen, a prominent chareidi journalist and commentator, if the army focuses on less prominent yeshiva students and adheres to the 4,800 conscription figure this year, mainstream chareidi leadership may reluctantly acquiesce to avoid a major societal upheaval.
“If they resort to a random approach [lottery], it would create significant issues,” Cohen asserted.
“But the mainstream chareidi sector is moderate; it may agree to some degree of conscription that it considers meaningful… If recruits are from modern yeshivas and drop-out institutions, I believe they will turn a blind eye and permit the Defense and Justice Ministries to meet quotas from the peripheries.”
“However, should they start targeting the mainstream chareidi sector…this could spark a crisis.”
{Matzav.com Israel}
It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of Rabbi Yosef Basker z”l of Lakewood, NJ. He was 41.
Rabbi Basker was a beloved mechanech, teacher, and advocate who dedicated his life to the service of others.
Rabbi Basker was a teacher at Yeshiva Orchos Chaim, where his passion for Torah and chinuch left an indelible mark on his students.
He had previously taught at Yeshiva Tiferes Torah and also served as a teacher at Rav Noach Witty’s mesivta.
Beyond his contributions in the classroom, Rabbi Basker was also a tireless advocate for cholim, providing essential support and care to those in hospitals.
Rabbi Basker further enriched the lives of tinokos shel bais rabbon of the community by running the Pirchei and Mishnayos clubs at Rabbi Danziger’s shul in Raintree.
He leaves behind his wife, Shulamis, and their nine children.
The levayah will take place tonight at 10:15 p.m. at the Congregation Sons of Israel Holocaust Memorial Chapel, located at 613 Ramsey Avenue in Lakewood, NJ, followed by kevurah at the adjacent Mt. Sinai Cemetery.
Yehi zichro boruch.
{Matzav.com}
It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of the Ziditchoiver Rebbe of Chicago, Rav Yehoshua Heschel Eichenstein zt”l. Known for his immense chochmah, humility, and dedication to Torah and avodas Hashem, Rav Eichenstein left an indelible mark on all who had the privilege of knowing him.
Born into a distinguished rabbinical family, Rav Eichenstein carried forward the illustrious legacy of his forebears with grace. His father, Rav Avrohom Eichenstein, instilled in him a deep love for Torah learning and a commitment to Klal Yisroel.
In Chicago, Rav Eichenstein expanded the kehillah built by his grandfather and namesake, Rav Yehoshua Heshel Eichenstein, the first Zidichover Rebbe of Chicago, to include more than 50 different programs benefiting the city’s residents with services ranging from convenient to critical.
Under the warm and caring direction of Rav Eichenstein, The Chicago Center has grown into a vital institution offering a variety of Torah, chesed, and refuah programs. This center has become a cornerstone of Jewish life in Chicago, uniting the community and enriching Jewish living through its comprehensive services and programs.
Rav Eichenstein was not only a noted talmid chochom, but also a compassionate rov who cared deeply for his mispallelim. He was always available to offer hadracha, support, and encouragement, regardless of the time of day. His home was a beacon of hachnosas orchim, where guests were welcomed with warmth and generosity.
Rav Eichenstein’s dedication to chesed and tzedakah were extraordinary, and he inspired others to follow in his footsteps.
Rav Eichenstein’s petirah leaves a void that will be deeply felt by his family, admirers, and the greater Chicago community.
He is survived by his devoted rebbetzin, their children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.
His children include Rav Pinchos Eichenstein of Chodrov-Chicago, Rav Yissocher Dov Eichenstein of Baltimore, Rav Yecheskal Eichenstein of Marine Park Brooklyn, and Rav Zalman Leib Eichenstein of Chicago.
Yehi zichro boruch.
{Dov T. Heller – Matzav.com}
The Sephardic Chief Rabbi of Israel, Rav Yitzchok Yosef, slammed the Israeli Supreme Court judges after they overturned his decision regarding a divorced father who had become non-observant. The father wanted his Chassidishe 10-year-old son to spend every other Shabbos with him, but the Chief Rabbi had ruled that the boy should stay with his observant mother on Shabbos and visit his father on Thursdays.
“These secular judges who do not know a single page of Talmud – what do they know? They do not come close to the ankles of our rabbis. There is no need to fear them,” Rabbi Yosef declared.
However, Arutz Sheva reports, most media outlets took the Chief Rabbi’s comments out of context, linking them to the Supreme Court’s unanimous decision on Tuesday that mandates the drafting of yeshiva students into the army, due to the lack of a “legal framework” distinguishing between yeshiva students and other military service candidates.
The Court stated: “The state does not have the authority to order a blanket exemption from enlistment, and it must act in accordance with the provisions of the Defense Service Law. In the absence of a legal framework for exemption from enlistment, it is not possible to continue transferring support funds to yeshivas and study halls for students who have not received an exemption or whose military service has not been deferred,” ruled the nine judges. The head of the panel, Acting Chief Justice Uzi Fogelman, wrote that “the state must act to enforce the provisions of the Defense Service Law on yeshiva students.”
“As everyone knows, on the morning of October 7, 2023, the State of Israel experienced a brutal terrorist attack. Since then, for a period of over 8 months, we have been at war against terrorist organizations in the Gaza Strip and the northern front. As is known, the needs of the army in peacetime are not the same as in wartime. Accordingly, the current stance of the defense establishment is that due to the abundance of security tasks and the intense fighting in various arenas, there is a concrete and urgent need for additional manpower.”
Shas party chairman Aryeh Deri criticized the Court’s decision: “The Jewish people have survived persecutions, pogroms, and wars only by preserving their uniqueness – the Torah and the commandments. This is our secret weapon against all enemies, as promised by the Creator of the world. Even here, in the Jewish state, alongside our precious soldiers who risk their lives against the enemies, we will continue to zealously guard the society of Torah learners who uphold it under hardship. They are the ones who preserve our inherent strength and perform miracles in battle. There is no power in the world that can separate the people of Israel from Torah study, and anyone who tried in the past failed miserably. No arbitrary ruling will cancel the society of Torah learners in the Land of Israel, which is the branch on which we all sit.”
{Matzav.com Israel}
It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of Rav Shraga Feivish Hager zt”l, the Kossover Rebbe, a revered manhig, a dayan, and a notable darshan. He was 66 years old.
The rebbe was born on January 10th, 1958. He was an alumnus of the yeshivos of Chachmei Lublin, Ponevezh, and Lakewood.
After his marriage, he resided in Bnei Brak, on the same block as Rav Chaim Kanievsky zt”l. He spent time in Shikun Viznitz, attending the tishen and tefillos of the Vizhnitzer Rebbe, Rav Moshe Yehoshua Hager.
Upon moving to the United States, he settled in Borough Park, Brooklyn, where he was part of the Tartokover Kollel and Beis Din. He also spent time at the Bais Horaah of the Debrecener Rav, Rav Moshe Stern, and considered himself a primary disciple of Rav Fishel Hershkowitz in Williamsburg.
The rebbe was the eldest son and successor of Holocaust-survivor Rav Avrohom Yehoshua Heshel Hager, the Kossover-Zalishchiker Rebbe of Borough Park, who passed away in 1999.
His grandfather was Rav Shraga Feivish Hager (1870–1937), the Zalishchiker Rebbe, son of Rav Boruch Hager (1845–1892) of Vizhnitz. The Zalishchiker Rebbe was a son-in-law of Rav Moshe Hager (1860–1925), the Kossover Rebbe and author of Leket Oni.
The rebbe was married to Rebbetzin Sara Rachel, daughter of Rabbi Chaim Meir Wosner, rov of Zichron Meir in Bnei Brak, and granddaughter of Rav Shmuel Halevi Wosner.
The rebbe younger brother was crowned as the Zalishchiker Rebbe and together they republished the Leket Oni in 1996.
The rebbe served as the dayan of the Vizhnitzer kehillah in Borough Park and was a posek for Chesed Shel Emes.
He was renowned for his involvement in contemporary halachic issues, courageously addressing difficult topics.
The rebbe was unique in his ability to bridge diverse traditions and schools of thought within the frum community.
His lineage connected him to both the Vizhnitz and Rizhin dynasties, and through his mother, he was a descendant of the Sandza Rav. His marriage to a Wosner further blended the worlds of halacha and Chassidus, making him both a dayan and a rebbe. This unique background allowed him to be embraced by various kehillos within the community.
Despite his esteemed positions, the rebbe was known for his humility. He insisted that his kehillah not wait for his arrival for davening and made himself exceptionally accessible to everyone. Whether approached on the street, at home, or by phone, he never turned anyone away.
Although a formal schedule for meeting with people was eventually established, the rebbe continued to engage more informally than formally. His weekday tefillos were often conducted in local shuls.
The rebbe’s tish began in an unconventional manner. Following his father’s shivah, a small group began attending his Shabbos meals, transforming them into a tish. Over time, as more people joined, the rebbe agreed to conduct a tish at the shtiebel but started his meal at home. The role of gabbai was never officially appointed but was filled by volunteers from the crowd.
The rebbe was known for his deep mystical teachings. He was particularly devoted to the teachings of Rav Shimon bar Yochai and celebrated Lag B’Omer with great fervor, often visiting Rav Shimon’s kever in Eretz Yisroel.
The rebbe published several works, including Shabbos Malka Kadisha, a two-volume set on Shabbos, Avdah D’Malka – Tefilah, a two-volume set on tefillah, and Mayana D’Malka, a sefer on Chassidus. His shiurim were widely distributed in print and audio formats, and some were delivered in English.
The rebbe led several shtiebelach around the world, including in Borough Park, Williamsburg, Lakewood, and Yerushalayim.
He maintained a special connection to the historic Kossov shul in Tzefas, regularly sending financial support for its upkeep.
The rebbe battled illness for the last couple of years and was niftar on Shabbos morning.
The levayah will be held Sunday morning, 11 a.m., at the Kossover Bais Medrash, located at 1353 55th Street in Boro Park, followed a levayah at the Vizhnitzer Bais Medrash, located at 25 Phyllis Terrace in Kaser Village in Monsey. Kevurah will then take place at the Vizhnitzer Bais Hachaim on Route 306 in Monsey. The rebbe reportedly requested that no hespeidim be delivered.
The rebbe is survived by his dedicated rebbetzin and their family.
Yehi zichro boruch.
{CB Frommer – Matzav.com}
It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of Rav Refoel Yitzchok Reichman zt”l. He was 91 and passed away at Shaarei Tzedek Medical Center in Yerushalayim.
Rav Reichman was one of the last remaining talmidim of the Brisker Rov zt”l.
Rav Reichman was born in 1934 in the Bronx, New York. His father, Rav Shlomo Zalman Reichman zt”l, served as a rov there.
Even in his youth, his exceptional abilities were evident. When he began learning at Yeshiva Rabbeinu Yitzchok Elchonon in New York, he stood out among the talmidim. The rabbeim, including Rav Moshe Shatzkes and Rav Yosef Dov Soloveitchik of Boston, often enjoyed learning with the young prodigy. Talmidim from that period recalled that during shiurim, the rosh yeshiva would often turn his head towards young Refoel to see how he would respond.
During the summer months when Rav Reichman was on break from RIETS, he would head to Lakewood Yeshiva to learn from Rav Aharon Kotler zt”l.
In early summer of 1954, he arrived in Eretz Yisroel with his father to immerse himself in Torah study. Upon his arrival, the heads of the Mir and Chevron yeshivos, hearing that the young prodigy was coming, both requested that he join their yeshivos. Unable to decide between the two, he chose to split his day: learning in the morning at Chevron Yeshiva, where he studied with Rav Moshe Shapiro, and in the afternoon at Mir Yeshiva. Eventually, he decided to learn full-time at Mir Yeshiva, where he became greatly beloved by the rosh yeshiva, Rav Chaim Shmulevitz zt”l. During his time at Mir, he learned with Rav Nachum Partzovitz zt”l.
Upon his arrival in Eretz Yisroel, he, along with his father, visited the home of the Brisker Rov zt”l, who appreciated the efforts of his father in raising funds from Brisk expatriates in the United States for the yeshiva. During that meeting, Rav Reichman asked the Brisker Rav for a fixed time to learn with him. The Brisker Rov, who was so impressed by the American prodigy, set a time for him every Motzoei Shabbos to come and discuss Torah matters. For several years, he regularly visited the Brisker Rov every Motzoei Shabbos to talk in learning.
Rav Reichman maintained his connection with the Brisk family over the years, often davening at Yeshivas Brisk on Rechov Press Street on Shabbos, and visiting the Brisker Rov’s sons, Rav Berel, Rabbi Meshulam Dovid, and Rav Meir, every Yom Tov.
In Av 1956, he married his wife, the daughter of Rav Michel Dovid Shapiro, rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Tiferes Zvi.
After his marriage, Rav Reichman opened a kollel, which was rare at the time, where yeshiva graduates could study in a separate framework and receive a decent stipend. Many Torah giants, such as Rav Avraham Dov Auerbach, Rav Yehuda Trager, and Rav Label Mintzberg, among others, studied at this kollel. The kollel quickly gained a reputation as a place where Torah giants were nurtured.
During this period, he received semicha from some of the leading Torah authorities of the time, including Rav Moshe Feinstein, Rav Yechezkel Abramsky, and others.
Rav Reichman had a special relationship with Rav Yosef Shalom Elyashiv, which developed into a close connection, to the point where Rav Elyashiv would discuss current matters with him. This relationship lasted many years, with Rav Elyashiv entrusting him with various public responsibilities and appointing him to several rabbinic committees.
Even as a young talmid chochom, Rav Reichman was known for his public shiurim, filled with wonderful chiddushim rooted in true Torah scholarship. Talmidim from Chevron at that time would seek to hear his shiurim, including notable figures like Rav Dovid Cohen and Rav Shmuel Yaakov Bornstein.
During a mass immigration wave, when many families from Sephardic communities faced spiritual decline, particularly children who ended up on the streets from broken homes, the gedolei Yisroel were alarmed. Rav Shimon Biderman of Lelov and Rav Nosson Braverman established an institution for immigrant girls named Beit Olot, where they educated these girls in a boarding school setting, raising them in Torah and yiras Shomayim. This institution saved hundreds of girls, who later established exemplary families. Seeing that the founders could not bear the burden alone, Rav Reichman joined them and took on a significant part of the responsibility. He took care of both the financial and spiritual needs of the mosad, often degrading himself to raise funds, and he gave much of his own money and energy for this noble cause.
He had a special concern for the plight of girls who, for various reasons, were not accepted into schools. He dedicated many hours and great efforts to place them and persuade school and seminary directors to accept these girls. Despite having no prior connection with these families and not belonging to their circles, he exerted himself for each girl as if she were his own daughter. Many families recounted how he made them feel as if their problem was his personal concern.
Rav Reichman had the merit of marrying off his three daughters to talmidei chachomim. His eldest son-in-law is Rav Zvi Braverman, the head of the Beis Din in Beitar, and his other sons-in-law are Rav Yehuda Ben Shlomo, rosh kollel in Yerushalayim, and Rav Binyamin Dreyfus, rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Chochmat Shlomo.
The levayah was held today at the Har Tzvi Beis Medrash on Rechov Tzefania in Yerushalayim, followed by kevurah on Har HaMenuchos.
Yehi zichro boruch.
{Matzav.com Israel}
In response to growing concerns from top Democrats about President Biden’s shaky debate performance on Thursday night, Vice President Kamala Harris stepped forward to defend him during interviews on CNN and MSNBC. She emphasized that Biden should be evaluated based on his record in office rather than his debate stumbles.
“Joe Biden is extraordinarily strong,” Harris stated, even as CNN’s Anderson Cooper pressed her repeatedly on Biden’s handling of the debate.
“What we saw tonight was the president making a very clear contrast with Donald Trump on all the issues that matter to the American people. Yes, there was a slow start, but it was a strong finish,” Harris said. “What became very clear over the course of the night is that Joe Biden is fighting on behalf of the American people on substance, on policy, on performance.”
She acknowledged that Biden had a rocky start, saying, “It was a slow start, that’s obvious to everyone. I’m not going to debate that.”
At a virtual debate watch party with supporters before her CNN appearance, Harris seemed to read from prepared remarks to reassure them.
“He got into a groove where it counted,” Harris said. “Our president showed that he will win the election.”
On CNN, Harris argued that the election should be decided “on substance,” not debate style. She also sought to underscore the false claims made by former President Donald J. Trump throughout the debate and raise concerns about potential restrictions on abortion access if Trump were to return to office.
In the subsequent MSNBC interview, she consistently described Biden’s messaging as “clear” and noted that his commitment to enshrine abortion access during a second term was particularly strong during the debate.
Acknowledging once more that Biden had a slow start, Harris added, “I thought it was a strong finish.”
Harris is expected to address supporters at a rally in Las Vegas on Friday.
WATCH:
Following the Supreme Court’s ruling this week that stipulated that the military authorities must immediately issue draft orders to yeshiva students obligated to enlist, as well as cease funding for yeshivas, Rav Meir Tzvi Bergman, the senior member of the Moetzes Gedolei Hatorah of Degel HaTorah and rosh yeshivas Rashbi, released a sharp and piercing letter. In it, he asserts that laws contradicting the Torah’s laws are null and void.
Rav Bergman begins his letter with a quote: “Indeed, Your enemies roar and those who hate You have lifted their heads.” To our brothers, the people of Yisroel, Torah students who are dedicated to the word of Hashem:
“It is clear and simple that we are obligated solely to the laws of the Torah. Any law that contradicts the laws of the Torah is null and void, like dust of the earth. Rabbeinu Hagadol, my father-in-law, Maran Harav Shach zt”l, already taught that the decree of drafting yeshiva students is a decree of destruction against the holy Torah, and we must oppose it with all our might, with self-sacrifice, with all our soul and all our resources.
“Signed with pain and sorrow for the sake of upholding the Torah in Eretz Yisroel.”
Minutes after the Supreme Court ruling, when family members informed him, Rav Bergman responded firmly: “It does not concern us, whether they voted or did not vote… We have the holy Torah, we have our yeshivas, they said… they voted… what do we have to discuss about this at all?”
{Matzav.com Israel}
The senior member of the Moetzet Chachmei Hatorah of Shas, Rav Moshe Maya, addressed the Supreme Court ruling on conscription of bnei hayeshivos.
“Even someone who is not studying in a yeshiva is forbidden from enlisting in the IDF,” Rav Maya said in an interview with Yaakov Grodka on Kol Barama. “Anyone who joins the army today will end up desecrating the Shabbos.”
Rav Maya added, “Enlisting in the army is a transgression against the religion. We have a clear halacha that tells us that a yeshiva student is forbidden from joining the army. If they come into the yeshiva halls to conscript us, we will resist. It’s like forcing us to desecrate the Shabbos.”
Rav Maya addressed the attacks from the religious Zionist sector, saying: “Those with kippot who attack Torah students are making a grave mistake, because without the Torah students, there would be many more casualties in the war. Our role in the war is to study and study. Only then will Hakadosh Boruch Hu cast fear upon our enemies.”
The Supreme Court unanimously ruled this week that there is no legal framework that allows for distinguishing between yeshiva students and other individuals eligible for military service. “Accordingly,” the judges ruled, “the state does not have the authority to issue a blanket exemption from conscription and must act according to the provisions of the Security Service Law.”
It was also determined that in the absence of a legal framework for conscription exemptions, it is not possible to continue transferring support funds to yeshivas and kollelim for students who have not received an exemption or whose military service has not been deferred.
{Matzav.com Israel}
Dear Editor,
It’s surprising to me to see everyone patting themselves on the back for the so-called “great job” we did raising over $100 million for the yeshivas in Eretz Yisroel during this week’s visit of the gedolim. But let’s face the uncomfortable truth: this is all so twisted.
At a parlor meeting this week, someone apologizes to the gedolim for making them shlep all the way here to raise funds.
This is what has been gnawing at me all along.
Why did they have to shlep in the first place? Are we so incapable of donating generously without subjecting our revered 90-year-old gedolim to 16-hour days of grueling fundraising? And then we apologize with a straight face?
Are we not ashamed of what we’ve done to our gedolim?
This situation brings to mind the situation of Rav Nosson Tzvi Finkel zt”l, the late Mir rosh yeshiva, whose talmidim cried about how much they loved him and considered him their father after he passed away. But look at what he had to do in his last years, traveling all over to raise a few dollars. Is that how you treat your father and rosh yeshiva? You make him, in excruciating pain and suffering from Parkinson’s, travel to the USA just to collect a thousand dollars from your cozy study?
Now, we have the nerve to ask mechilah from the gedolim for making them come here.
But, of course, they had to come to us first so we could ask for their forgiveness. Is this for real?
Can people stop pretending that they feel bad for them after making them travel around to pick up pledges?
Someone said publicly that when he needs $107 million for a deal, he can raise it in an hour. So why did we have to subject six holy men in their 80s and 90s to an exhausting week-long global trek? Are we not humiliated by this?
We made Rav Dov Landau, who is very old, and Rav Yaakov Hillel, who has battled illness, travel to Canada just to pick up a check.
Rav Moshe Hillel, Rav Don, the Rachmastrivke Rebbe, Rav Salim. These are no youngsters. What did we just just do to them?
Is this what we call respecting our gedolim?
Asking for a Friend
{Matzav.com}
With heavy hearts, we announce the passing of Everett Fortune, the beloved security guard at Yeshiva Darchei Torah in far Rokcaway, who passed away after a valiant battle with cancer.
Everett dedicated 35 years of his life as the chief of security at Yeshiva Darchei Torah, where he was cherished by staff and students alike.
Known for his warm greetings and his signature “Thank you, Hashem,” Everett’s presence was a constant source of positivity.
Everett was more than just a security guard; he was a cherished member of the Darchei family. He formed genuine friendships with everyone at the yeshiva, from staff and rabbeim to teachers and students, touching countless lives with his kindness and unwavering dedication.
Everett’s passing, which occurred just a day after the final day of school for the 2024 year, marks the end of an era for Darchei Torah. His legacy of service and faith will continue to inspire all who were fortunate enough to know him.
Everette speaking several years ago as he underwent chemo treatments:
Watch: At a Yeshiva Darchei Torah dinner, where Everett was honored:
{Matzav.com}
Israeli Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara expressed her stance following the Supreme Court’s decision on the Draft Law, asserting that there is no legal justification for exempting chareidi yeshiva students from mandatory IDF service, unlike other Israeli citizens.
Baharav-Miara stated, “The security system must act immediately to implement the Supreme Court’s ruling on the recruitment of yeshiva students who are obligated to serve in the military, in accordance with the needs of the army and its capabilities. In accordance with this framework, the security system has already committed to act to recruit 3,000 yeshiva students in the current recruitment year, and this is in addition to the average number of recruits in recent years.”
She clarified that “this is an initial number for immediate recruitment, which does not fully reflect the current needs of the army and the promotion of the principle of equality in the burden, and the defense system must act to present a recruitment plan that includes an increase in this number.”
The attorney general also cautioned against the continuation of funding for yeshivas or students who evade conscription post-court ruling.
She stressed, “a recruitment plan must be presented, which includes taking the necessary steps to maximize the recruitment potential and to increase the aforementioned number of 3,000 recruits, in light of the current needs of the army and to promote equality in the burden. It should be mentioned that, in accordance with the court’s ruling, the obligation of the security system to recruit yeshiva students began as early as 01/07/2023.”
Yesterday, the Supreme Court issued a unanimous decision stating, “At this time, there is no legal framework which allows differentiation between yeshiva students and others who are eligible for enlistment.”
Earlier this month, the Supreme Court convened with a panel of nine judges to deliberate on petitions calling for the conscription of yeshiva students, citing the absence of legislation on the matter, and the potential revocation of budgets for yeshivas that do not enlist their students.
{Matzav.com Israel}
Tonight, Wednesday night, June 26, at 8:30 p.m., Agudath Israel of America will present the national Daf Yomi siyum of Maseches Bava Metziah.
The shiur of the final daf of the masechta will be delivered by Rav Nochum Malinowitz, rov of the Liberty Village Shul of Toms River.
Divrei hisorerus will then be delivered by Rav Uren Reich, rosh yeshiva of Yeshiva Ohr Zechariah.
The program will be broadcast from Rav Malinowitz’s daily Daf Yomi shiur at the Chesterfield Commons Shul in Lakewood, NJ.
The event will be streamed on various platforms, including at Torahanytime.com/AgudahTorah, at 8:30 p.m. ET. To listen to the program, call 718.820.7284, ext. 52.
{Matzav.com}
Rav Gershon Ribner, rosh kollel of Kollel Nesivos Hatorah and son-in-law of Rav Shneur Kotler, has succeeded in applying classical Talmudical analysis and methodology to understanding all areas of Yiddishkeit, bringing out its profundity and sense.
LISTEN:
Although the Israeli yeshivos that belong to the community of Peleg Yerushalmi – the Yerushalayim Faction group – have been actively protesting the Draft Law and have avoided appearing for deferments at the IDF’s intake center, they are still receiving government funding, according to sources.
This shocking revelation comes at the same time that other yeshivos across Eretz Yisroel have had their funding revoked due to the high court’s annulment of the draft law.
The reason for this is due to a unique component of the current legislation. The law specifies that funding will be halted for those deferring IDF service, following the court’s decision that the deferment law is unconstitutional and creates an unfair burden on the broader population.
However, the sources explain that the law does not address those who, like the followers of Peleg Yerushalmi, outright evade military service instead of deferring it. Consequently, their budgets remain unaffected because they are not covered by the law.
The Ministry of Education asserts that it lacks the authority to revoke funding and operates based on the IDF’s provided lists. These lists include only those who declared “Toraso Umnaso” and obtained deferments.
Those who neither applied for deferments nor reported to the bases, like Peleg Yerushalmi, are absent from these lists and thus – shockingly – continue to receive government stipends.
{Matzav.com Israel}
Lomdei Daf Hayomi worldwide will conclude Maseches Bava Metziah today and begin Maseches Bava Basra tomorrow.
The learners of Daf Yomi are now making their way through the 36 masechtos in Talmud Bavli in the fourteenth cycle of Daf Yomi.
With 2,711 pages in the Gemara, one cycle of Daf Yomi takes about 7 years, 5 months.
The next Siyum Hashas will be held iy”H in June 2027.
{Matzav.com}
With only days remaining to prevent a government shutdown, a prominent state legislator announced that the New Jersey Legislature has reached an agreement with Governor Phil Murphy on the upcoming annual budget. This consensus clears the way for the budget’s final adoption by the week’s end. However, significant details of the budget remain undisclosed, leaving limited time for thorough public scrutiny of what is anticipated to be a record-high spending plan. The deadline for this process is July 1.
At the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee meeting, state Senator Paul Sarlo (D-Bergen), the committee chair, stated that legislative leaders aim to have the fiscal year 2025 spending bill voted out of budget committees by Wednesday or Thursday. However, this timeline could extend to Shabbos, presenting a unique challenge for New Jersey’s frum legislators. Avi Schnall of Lakewood, NJ, and Gary Schaer of Passaic, along with Shlomo Schorr, Associate Director for Legislative Affairs at Agudath Israel of America, might find themselves spending Shabbos at the Statehouse in Trenton for the vote.
Askanim informed Matzav.com that, unlike previous years, there is no longer a hotel near the Statehouse in Trenton. Consequently, the frum representatives would likely have to sleep at the Statehouse itself.
According to the New Jersey Constitution, the state government must shut down if an annual spending bill is not introduced, approved in both houses, and signed into law by the governor by July 1.
As high-level budget negotiations continued behind closed doors, several sources indicated that Governor Murphy and the Democratic-controlled Legislature have agreed on a significant issue: a new tax on the most profitable corporations for five years, as part of the fiscal year 2025 budget. The governor first proposed this tax in late February, presenting it as a dedicated revenue source for New Jersey Transit.
The proposed tax targets companies with more than $10 million in net annual income. It has faced strong opposition from business lobbying groups but has been lauded by transportation and environmental advocates as a long-overdue, dedicated source of financial support for the state’s financially troubled bus and rail agency.
The last government shutdown in New Jersey occurred in 2017 when Republican Governor Chris Christie and the Democratic-controlled Legislature remained deadlocked on a new budget until July 3.
{Dov T. Heller – Matzav.com}
Video and photos from the levayah in Yerushalayim of Rav Moshe Wolfson zt”l, Mashgiach Ruchani of Mesivta Torah Vodaas and Rov of Bais Medrash Emunas Yisroel in Boro Park:
הלווית רבי משה וולפסון זצ”ל בירושלים צילום: שלומי טריכטרהלווית רבי משה וולפסון זצ”ל בירושליםצילום: שלומי טריכטרהלווית רבי משה וולפסון זצ”ל בירושליםצילום: שלומי טריכטרהלווית רבי משה וולפסון זצ”ל בירושליםצילום: שלומי טריכטרהלווית רבי משה וולפסון זצ”ל בירושליםצילום: שלומי טריכטרהלווית רבי משה וולפסון זצ”ל בירושליםצילום: שלומי טריכטרהלווית רבי משה וולפסון זצ”ל בירושליםצילום: שלומי טריכטרהלווית רבי משה וולפסון זצ”ל בירושליםצילום: שלומי טריכטרהלווית רבי משה וולפסון זצ”ל בירושליםצילום: שלומי טריכטרהלווית רבי משה וולפסון זצ”ל בירושליםצילום: שלומי טריכטרהלווית רבי משה וולפסון זצ”ל בירושליםצילום: שלומי טריכטרהלווית רבי משה וולפסון זצ”ל בירושליםצילום: שלומי טריכטרהלווית רבי משה וולפסון זצ”ל בירושליםצילום: שלומי טריכטרהלווית רבי משה וולפסון זצ”ל בירושליםצילום: שלומי טריכטרהלווית רבי משה וולפסון זצ”ל בירושליםצילום: שלומי טריכטרהלווית רבי משה וולפסון זצ”ל בירושליםצילום: שלומי טריכטרהלווית רבי משה וולפסון זצ”ל בירושליםצילום: שלומי טריכטרהלווית רבי משה וולפסון זצ”ל בירושליםצילום: שלומי טריכטרהלווית 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זצ”ל בירושליםצילום: שלומי טריכטרהלווית רבי משה וולפסון זצ”ל בירושליםצילום: שלומי טריכטרהלווית רבי משה וולפסון זצ”ל בירושליםצילום: שלומי טריכטרהלווית רבי משה וולפסון זצ”ל בירושליםצילום: שלומי טריכטרהלווית רבי משה וולפסון זצ”ל בירושליםצילום: שלומי טריכטרהלווית רבי משה וולפסון זצ”ל בירושליםצילום: שלומי טריכטרהלווית רבי משה וולפסון זצ”ל בירושליםצילום: שלומי טריכטרהלווית רבי משה וולפסון זצ”ל בירושליםצילום: שלומי טריכטרהלווית רבי משה וולפסון זצ”ל בירושליםצילום: שלומי טריכטרהלווית רבי משה וולפסון זצ”ל בירושליםצילום: שלומי טריכטרהלווית רבי משה וולפסון זצ”ל בירושליםצילום: שלומי טריכטרהלווית רבי משה וולפסון זצ”ל בירושליםצילום: שלומי טריכטרהלווית רבי משה וולפסון זצ”ל בירושליםצילום: שלומי טריכטרהלווית רבי משה וולפסון זצ”ל בירושליםצילום: שלומי טריכטרהלווית רבי משה וולפסון זצ”ל בירושליםצילום: שלומי טריכטרהלווית רבי משה וולפסון זצ”ל בירושליםצילום: שלומי טריכטרהלווית רבי משה וולפסון זצ”ל בירושליםצילום: שלומי טריכטרהלווית רבי משה וולפסון זצ”ל בירושליםצילום: שלומי טריכטרהלווית רבי משה וולפסון זצ”ל בירושליםצילום: שלומי טריכטרהלווית רבי משה וולפסון זצ”ל בירושליםצילום: שלומי טריכטרהלווית רבי משה וולפסון זצ”ל בירושליםצילום: שלומי טריכטרהלווית רבי משה וולפסון זצ”ל בירושליםצילום: שלומי טריכטרהלווית רבי משה וולפסון זצ”ל בירושליםצילום: שלומי טריכטרהלווית רבי משה וולפסון זצ”ל בירושליםצילום: שלומי טריכטרהלווית רבי משה וולפסון זצ”ל בירושליםצילום: שלומי טריכטרהלווית רבי משה וולפסון זצ”ל בירושליםצילום: שלומי טריכטרהלווית רבי משה וולפסון זצ”ל בירושליםצילום: שלומי טריכטרהלווית רבי משה וולפסון זצ”ל בירושליםצילום: שלומי טריכטרהלווית רבי משה וולפסון זצ”ל בירושליםצילום: שלומי טריכטרהלווית רבי משה וולפסון זצ”ל בירושליםצילום: שלומי טריכטרהלווית רבי משה וולפסון זצ”ל בירושליםצילום: שלומי טריכטרהלווית רבי משה וולפסון זצ”ל בירושליםצילום: שלומי טריכטרהלווית רבי משה וולפסון זצ”ל בירושליםצילום: שלומי טריכטרהלווית רבי משה וולפסון זצ”ל בירושליםצילום: שלומי טריכטרהלווית רבי משה וולפסון זצ”ל בירושליםצילום: שלומי טריכטרהלווית רבי משה וולפסון זצ”ל בירושליםצילום: שלומי טריכטרהלווית רבי משה וולפסון זצ”ל בירושליםצילום: שלומי טריכטרהלווית רבי משה וולפסון זצ”ל בירושליםצילום: שלומי טריכטרהלווית רבי משה וולפסון זצ”ל בירושליםצילום: שלומי טריכטרהלווית רבי משה וולפסון זצ”ל בירושליםצילום: שלומי טריכטרהלווית רבי משה וולפסון זצ”ל בירושליםצילום: שלומי טריכטרהלווית רבי משה וולפסון זצ”ל בירושליםצילום: שלומי טריכטרהלווית רבי משה וולפסון זצ”ל בירושליםצילום: שלומי טריכטרהלווית רבי משה וולפסון זצ”ל בירושליםצילום: שלומי טריכטרהלווית רבי משה וולפסון זצ”ל בירושליםצילום: שלומי טריכטרהלווית רבי משה וולפסון זצ”ל בירושליםצילום: שלומי טריכטר
שמחת נישואי בן הגר”ד פיינשטיין ר”י בית יהודהצילום: שוקי לררשמחת נישואי בן הגר”ד פיינשטיין ר”י בית יהודהצילום: שוקי לררשמחת נישואי בן הגר”ד פיינשטיין ר”י בית יהודהצילום: שוקי לררשמחת נישואי בן הגר”ד פיינשטיין ר”י בית יהודהצילום: שוקי לררשמחת נישואי בן הגר”ד פיינשטיין ר”י בית יהודהצילום: שוקי לררשמחת נישואי בן הגר”ד פיינשטיין ר”י בית יהודהצילום: שוקי לררשמחת נישואי בן הגר”ד פיינשטיין ר”י בית יהודהצילום: שוקי לררשמחת נישואי בן הגר”ד פיינשטיין ר”י בית יהודהצילום: שוקי לררשמחת נישואי בן הגר”ד פיינשטיין ר”י בית יהודהצילום: שוקי לררשמחת נישואי בן הגר”ד פיינשטיין ר”י בית יהודהצילום: שוקי לררשמחת נישואי בן הגר”ד פיינשטיין ר”י בית יהודהצילום: שוקי לררשמחת נישואי בן הגר”ד פיינשטיין ר”י בית יהודהצילום: שוקי לררשמחת נישואי בן הגר”ד פיינשטיין ר”י בית יהודהצילום: שוקי לררשמחת נישואי בן הגר”ד פיינשטיין ר”י בית יהודהצילום: שוקי לררשמחת נישואי בן הגר”ד פיינשטיין ר”י בית יהודהצילום: שוקי לררשמחת נישואי בן הגר”ד פיינשטיין ר”י בית יהודהצילום: שוקי לררשמחת נישואי בן הגר”ד פיינשטיין ר”י בית יהודהצילום: שוקי לררשמחת נישואי בן הגר”ד פיינשטיין ר”י בית יהודהצילום: שוקי לררשמחת נישואי בן הגר”ד פיינשטיין ר”י בית יהודהצילום: שוקי לררשמחת נישואי בן הגר”ד פיינשטיין ר”י בית יהודהצילום: שוקי לררשמחת נישואי בן הגר”ד פיינשטיין ר”י בית יהודהצילום: שוקי לררשמחת נישואי בן הגר”ד פיינשטיין ר”י בית יהודהצילום: שוקי לררשמחת נישואי בן הגר”ד פיינשטיין ר”י בית יהודהצילום: שוקי לררשמחת נישואי בן הגר”ד פיינשטיין ר”י בית יהודהצילום: שוקי לררשמחת נישואי בן הגר”ד פיינשטיין ר”י בית יהודהצילום: שוקי לררשמחת נישואי בן הגר”ד פיינשטיין ר”י בית יהודהצילום: שוקי לררשמחת נישואי בן הגר”ד פיינשטיין ר”י בית יהודהצילום: שוקי לררשמחת נישואי בן הגר”ד פיינשטיין ר”י בית יהודהצילום: שוקי לררשמחת נישואי בן הגר”ד פיינשטיין ר”י בית יהודהצילום: שוקי לררשמחת נישואי בן הגר”ד פיינשטיין ר”י בית יהודהצילום: שוקי לררשמחת נישואי בן הגר”ד פיינשטיין ר”י בית יהודהצילום: שוקי לררשמחת נישואי בן הגר”ד פיינשטיין ר”י בית יהודהצילום: שוקי לררשמחת נישואי בן הגר”ד פיינשטיין ר”י בית יהודהצילום: שוקי לררשמחת נישואי בן הגר”ד פיינשטיין ר”י בית יהודהצילום: שוקי לררשמחת נישואי בן הגר”ד פיינשטיין ר”י בית יהודהצילום: שוקי לררשמחת נישואי בן הגר”ד פיינשטיין ר”י בית יהודהצילום: שוקי לררשמחת נישואי בן הגר”ד פיינשטיין ר”י בית יהודהצילום: שוקי לררשמחת נישואי בן הגר”ד פיינשטיין ר”י בית יהודהצילום: שוקי לררשמחת נישואי בן הגר”ד פיינשטיין ר”י בית יהודהצילום: שוקי לררשמחת נישואי בן הגר”ד פיינשטיין ר”י בית יהודהצילום: שוקי לררשמחת נישואי בן הגר”ד פיינשטיין ר”י בית יהודהצילום: שוקי לררשמחת נישואי בן הגר”ד פיינשטיין ר”י בית יהודהצילום: שוקי לררשמחת נישואי בן הגר”ד פיינשטיין ר”י בית יהודהצילום: שוקי לררשמחת נישואי בן הגר”ד פיינשטיין ר”י בית יהודהצילום: שוקי לררשמחת נישואי בן הגר”ד פיינשטיין ר”י בית יהודהצילום: שוקי לררשמחת נישואי בן הגר”ד פיינשטיין ר”י בית יהודהצילום: שוקי לררשמחת נישואי בן הגר”ד פיינשטיין ר”י בית יהודהצילום: שוקי לררשמחת נישואי בן הגר”ד פיינשטיין ר”י בית יהודהצילום: שוקי לררשמחת נישואי בן הגר”ד פיינשטיין ר”י בית יהודהצילום: שוקי לררשמחת נישואי בן הגר”ד פיינשטיין ר”י בית יהודהצילום: שוקי לררשמחת נישואי בן הגר”ד פיינשטיין ר”י בית יהודהצילום: שוקי לררשמחת נישואי בן הגר”ד פיינשטיין ר”י בית יהודהצילום: שוקי לררשמחת נישואי בן הגר”ד פיינשטיין ר”י בית יהודהצילום: שוקי לררשמחת נישואי בן הגר”ד פיינשטיין ר”י בית יהודהצילום: שוקי לררשמחת נישואי בן הגר”ד פיינשטיין ר”י בית יהודהצילום: שוקי לררשמחת נישואי בן הגר”ד פיינשטיין ר”י בית יהודהצילום: שוקי לררשמחת נישואי בן הגר”ד פיינשטיין ר”י בית יהודהצילום: שוקי לררשמחת נישואי בן הגר”ד פיינשטיין ר”י בית יהודהצילום: שוקי לררשמחת נישואי בן הגר”ד פיינשטיין ר”י בית יהודהצילום: שוקי לררשמחת נישואי בן הגר”ד פיינשטיין ר”י בית יהודהצילום: שוקי לררשמחת נישואי בן הגר”ד פיינשטיין ר”י בית יהודהצילום: שוקי לררשמחת נישואי בן הגר”ד פיינשטיין ר”י בית יהודהצילום: שוקי לררשמחת נישואי בן הגר”ד פיינשטיין ר”י בית יהודהצילום: שוקי לררשמחת נישואי בן הגר”ד פיינשטיין ר”י בית יהודהצילום: שוקי לררשמחת נישואי בן הגר”ד פיינשטיין ר”י בית יהודהצילום: שוקי לררשמחת נישואי בן הגר”ד פיינשטיין ר”י בית יהודהצילום: שוקי לררשמחת נישואי בן הגר”ד פיינשטיין ר”י בית יהודהצילום: שוקי לררשמחת נישואי בן הגר”ד פיינשטיין ר”י בית יהודהצילום: שוקי לררשמחת נישואי בן הגר”ד פיינשטיין ר”י בית יהודהצילום: שוקי לררשמחת נישואי בן הגר”ד פיינשטיין ר”י בית יהודהצילום: שוקי לררשמחת נישואי בן הגר”ד פיינשטיין ר”י בית יהודהצילום: שוקי לררשמחת נישואי בן הגר”ד פיינשטיין ר”י בית יהודהצילום: שוקי לררשמחת נישואי בן הגר”ד פיינשטיין ר”י בית יהודהצילום: שוקי לררשמחת נישואי בן הגר”ד פיינשטיין ר”י בית יהודהצילום: שוקי לררשמחת נישואי בן הגר”ד פיינשטיין ר”י בית יהודהצילום: שוקי לררשמחת נישואי בן הגר”ד פיינשטיין ר”י בית יהודהצילום: שוקי לררשמחת נישואי בן הגר”ד פיינשטיין ר”י בית יהודהצילום: שוקי לררשמחת נישואי בן הגר”ד פיינשטיין ר”י בית יהודהצילום: שוקי לררשמחת נישואי בן הגר”ד פיינשטיין ר”י בית יהודהצילום: שוקי לרר
שמחת נישואי בן הגר”ד פיינשטיין ר”י בית יהודהצילום: שוקי לררשמחת נישואי בן הגר”ד פיינשטיין ר”י בית יהודהצילום: שוקי לררשמחת נישואי בן הגר”ד פיינשטיין ר”י בית יהודהצילום: שוקי לררשמחת נישואי בן הגר”ד פיינשטיין ר”י בית יהודהצילום: שוקי לררשמחת נישואי בן הגר”ד פיינשטיין ר”י בית יהודהצילום: שוקי לררשמחת נישואי בן הגר”ד פיינשטיין ר”י בית יהודהצילום: שוקי לררשמחת נישואי בן הגר”ד פיינשטיין ר”י בית יהודהצילום: שוקי לררשמחת נישואי בן הגר”ד פיינשטיין ר”י בית יהודהצילום: שוקי לררשמחת נישואי בן הגר”ד פיינשטיין ר”י בית יהודהצילום: שוקי לררשמחת נישואי בן הגר”ד פיינשטיין ר”י בית יהודהצילום: שוקי לררשמחת נישואי בן הגר”ד פיינשטיין ר”י בית יהודהצילום: שוקי לררשמחת נישואי בן הגר”ד פיינשטיין ר”י בית יהודהצילום: שוקי לררשמחת נישואי בן הגר”ד פיינשטיין ר”י בית יהודהצילום: שוקי לררשמחת נישואי בן הגר”ד פיינשטיין ר”י בית יהודהצילום: שוקי לרר
שמחת נישואי בן הגר”ד פיינשטיין ר”י בית יהודהצילום: שוקי לררשמחת נישואי בן הגר”ד פיינשטיין ר”י בית יהודהצילום: שוקי לררשמחת נישואי בן הגר”ד פיינשטיין ר”י בית יהודהצילום: שוקי לררשמחת נישואי בן הגר”ד פיינשטיין ר”י בית יהודהצילום: שוקי לרר
Sunday evening, a massive maamad kavod haTorah was held in the heart of Lakewood in honor of six gedolei Torah visiting the United States from Eretz Yisroel to raise funds for Keren LeMa’an Olam HaTorah, an initiative to raise $107 million for yeshivos in Eretz Yisroel.
The gathering featured the participation of Rav Dov Landau, rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Salbodka; Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch, rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Slabodka; the senior mashgiach Rav Don Segal; Rav Yaakov Hillel, rosh yeshiva of Yeshiva Ahavat Shalom; the Rachmastrivka Rebbe; and Rav Avrohom Salim.
Rainfall delayed the event, which was supposed to begin at 7 p.m. It didn’t start until about an hour later, as massive crowds made their way to the parking lot adjacent to Bais Medrash Govoah’s Bais Aron and Bais Shalom Botei Medrash and the large parking lot across the street at Clifton Avenue and Tenth Street.
Opening remarks were delivered by Rav Aryeh Malkiel Kotler, rosh yeshiva of Bais Medrash Govoah. The crowd then heard divrei hisorerus from Rav Landau, Rav Hirsch, Rav Hillel and Rav Segal.
WATCH A FULL VIDEO LIVESTREAM HERE.
VIDEOS AND PHOTOS (c) Sparks of a Nation and Matzav:
This evening, a massive maamad kavod haTorah was held in the heart of Lakewood in honor of six gedolei Torah visiting the United States from Eretz Yisroel to raise funds for Keren LeMa’an Olam HaTorah, an initiative to raise $107 million for yeshivos in Eretz Yisroel.
The gathering featured the participation of Rav Dov Landau, rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Salbodka; Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch, rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Salbodka; the senior mashgiach Rav Don Segal; Rav Yaakov Hillel, rosh yeshiva of Yeshiva Ahavat Shalom; the Rachmastrivka Rebbe; and Rav Avrohom Salim.
The event was held from 7 to 9 p.m. at the parking lot adjacent to Bais Medrash Govoah’s Bais Aron and Bais Shalom Botei Medrash and the large parking lot across the street at Clifton Avenue and Tenth Street.
WATCH A FULL REPLAY HERE.
This evening, a massive maamad kavod haTorah will be held in the heart of Lakewood in honor of six gedolei Torah visiting the United States from Eretz Yisroel to raise funds for Keren LeMa’an Olam HaTorah, an initiative to raise $107 million for yeshivos in Eretz Yisroel.
The gathering will feature the participation of Rav Dov Landau, rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Salbodka; Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch, rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Salbodka; the senior mashgiach Rav Don Segal; Rav Yaakov Hillel, rosh yeshiva of Yeshiva Ahavat Shalom; the Rachmastrivka Rebbe; and Rav Avrohom Salim.
The event will be held from 7 to 8 p.m. at the parking lot adjacent to Bais Medrash Govoah’s Bais Aron and Bais Shalom Botei Medrash and the large parking lot across the street at Clifton Avenue and Tenth Street. The dais will be stationed next to the Bais Aron Bais Medrash.
Attendees are encouraged to parks blocks away and walk due to the expected traffic.
In addition, due to the extreme heat, attendees are urged to stay hydrated and bring water bottles with them to the event.
{Matzav.com}
It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of Rabbi Avi Oberlander z”l on Waterbury, Connecticut. He was 45.
A talmid of Yeshivas Toras Moshe and Yeshivas Mir-Yerushalayim, Rabbi Oberlander was an outstanding mechanech who devoted himself to the field of chinuch for years.
Rabbi Oberlander served as the principal of Judaic Studies at Yeshiva Heichal Hatorah in Teaneck. He previously served as s’gan menahel of the Waterbury Mesivta and rosh chaburah in the Waterbury Bais Medrash program.
He is survived by his parents, his wife and their five children.
The levayah will take place this morning, at 11 a.m., at Khal Bnai Shalom in Waterbury.
Yehi zichro boruch.
{Matzav.com}
It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of Rav Moshe Wolfson zt”l, mashgiach of Yeshiva Torah Vodaas in Kensington, Brooklyn, and rov of Bais Medrash Emunas Yisroel in Boro park. He was 99.
Rav Wolfson collapsed on Motzoei Shabbos and was taken to the hospital, where he passed away.
Rav Wolfson was a close talmid of Rav Shraga Feivel Mendlowitz at Yeshiva Torah Vodaas.
He began his journey in the world of chinuch and harbotzas haTorah in 1943 with Aish Dos, the innovative program devised by Rav Mendlowitz to train mechanchim for yeshivos and day schools across America.
Rav Wolfson taught at Yeshiva Torah Vodaas for many years and was appointed as mashgiach ruchani of the yeshiva in the 1960s. The appointment was made by the then-rosh yeshiva, Rav Yaakov Kamenetsky.
Rav Wolfson was also the mara da’asra of Camp Torah Vodaas for many years. It was there, during the summer months, that he cultivated a devoted following of bnei Torah and bnei aliyah who later founded Beis Medrash Emunas Yisrael in Boro Park with Rav Wolfson as the mara d’asra. That shul became one of the most unique botei medrash in the world, with a davening that is unique in its pace and intensity. There is an unbridled passion and energy for tefillah and avodas Hashem that has become synonymous with the shul on 16th Avenue.
Many of his Rav Wolfson’s chiddushim and hashkafos are contained in various volumes, including Sefer Emunas Itecha, Wellsprings of Faith, Feast of Faith, The Core of Emunah, Sacred Soil, Service of the Heart – The Beauty and Essence of Tefillah, and Flames of Faith – An Introduction to Chassidic Thought.
The levayah will take place at 10 a.m. Sunday morning at Bais Medrash Emunas Yisroel. The aron will then be flown to Eretz Yisroel for kevurah there.
Yehi zichro boruch.
{Matzav.com}
Sephardic Chief Rabbi Rav Yitzchok Yosef was taken to Hadassah Mount Scopus Medical Center in Yerushalayim this morning.Rav Yosef underwent medical tests following his doctor’s recommendation after he experienced discomfort.
After Shabbos ended tonight, he was discharged from the hospital in good condition.
Despite his discharge, Rav Yosef remains weak and will not be delivering his usual Saturday night class at the Hazidim shul.
Hadassah Hospital issued the following statement: “Chief Rabbi Rav Yitzchok Yosef was brought to Hadassah Hospital this morning for tests, as advised by his doctor, after feeling unwell. After Shabbos concluded, he was sent home in good health.”
{Matzav.com Israel}
It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of Rav Avrohom Noach Garbuz zt”l, author of the Minchas Avrohom, rosh kollel of Kollel Har Ephraim, and one of the leading talmidei chachomim in Eretz Yisroel. He passed away at Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital in Yerushalayim during the time of his grandson’s wedding in Bnei Brak. He was 91.Rav Avrohom Noach was born in the Botei Natan neighborhood in Yerushalayim on the 12th of Shevat, a son of Rav Ephraim Zev Garbuz, one of the rosh yeshiva of the Ohel Torah Yeshiva and author of seforim Har Ephraim, and his mother, Mrs. Baila Miriam, a daughter of Rav Avrohom Noach Paley, mashgiach of the Chevron Yeshiva.
In his youth, he studied at the Chevron Yeshiva and later became one of the first talmidim of the Brisker rosh yeshiva, Rav Berel Soloveitchik. During his time in Brisk, he also learned from Rav Berel’s father, the Brisker Rov.
When he came of age, he married his wife, Rebbetzin Sarah, a daughter of Rav Bentzion Bruk, rosh yeshiva of the Novardoker Yeshiva in Yerushalayim.
After his marriage, he was appointed by his father-in-law to serve as the rosh yeshiva of the Novardok Yeshiva, a position he held until his father-in-law’s passing.
Following the passing of his father-in-law, he established the Har Ephraim Kollel, where he gave shiurim. Simultaneously, he delivered shiurim on Kodshim to chaburos from the Chevron Yeshiva, Brisk, as well as the Ponevezher Kollel, the Mir Yeshiva Kollel in Yerushalayim, and the Ateres Shlomo Kollel in Modi’in Illit.
He authored the Minchas Avrohom series on masechtos in Kodshim, as well as on Maseches Yoma. He also wrote seforim on Toras Kohanim and the Chamisha Chumshei Torah.
He was known as an enormous talmid chochom who diligently learned Torah day and night. He was connected to the greats of the generation, primarily to the gadol hador, Rav Elazar Menachem Man Shach.
He leaves behind a family of prominent marbitzei Torah, including his sons Rav Binyomin, rov of the Or HaChaim neighborhood in Bnei Brak and a maggid shiur at the Breslov Yeshiva in Bnei Brak; Rav Tzvi, a maggid shiur at the Slabodka Yeshiva; Rav Ephraim Zev, rosh yeshiva of the Sechar Sochir Yeshiva; Rav Itamar, rosh yeshiva of the Orchos Torah Yeshiva; and Rav Aryeh, a maggid shiur at Yeshivas Mir Brachfeld.
The levayah was held at his home at 12 Rechov Even HaEzel in the Ezras Torah neighborhood in Yerushalayim, followed by kevurah on Har HaMenuchos.
Yehi zichro boruch.
{Matzav.com Israel}
Dear Editor@Matzav.com,
I am writing to express my profound admiration for the askanim who have initiated a fund that I read about on Matzav.com to raise an astonishing $107,000,000 for the Olam Hatorah in Eretz Yisroel through the newly formed “Keren Olam HaTorah.” This initiative is nothing short of unbelievable. Klal Yisroel’s capacity for generosity continues to amaze me. Despite the economic hardships many are facing, our community’s commitment to tzedakah remains unwavering and inspiring.
However, I am left with a pressing question: Where is the emergency fund for the thousands of frum families in America who are struggling with deep credit card debt and can barely make ends meet? Where is the fund for families like mine, who are burdened with debt, unable to pay it off, have no money to make simchos, and are continuously falling behind financially?
Please understand, I am in no way, chalilah, impugning the remarkable effort to support Eretz Yisroel. I believe it is truly extraordinary and commendable. My intention is merely to highlight a parallel crisis that requires attention. American bnei Torah and baalei batim are drowning financially and have been for several years now.
As we continue to demonstrate our generosity globally, I humbly ask: Where is the keren to support those in our own backyard who are in desperate need?
Sincerely,
Left Wondering
All are asked to daven for a refuah sheleimah for the Kossover Rebbe, Rav Shraga Feivish Hager, of the Borough Park neighborhood in Brooklyn, who has been taken to the hospital and is on a respirator.
The rebbe has been battling serious illness for years and is in need of rachamei Shomayim.
The rebbe is a son-in-law of the gaavad of Zichron Meir, Rav Chaim Meir Halevi Wosner zt”l.
In light of his illness, an atzeres tefillah will be held today at the rebbe’s bais medrash at 13th Avenue and 55th Street in Boro Park.
All are asked to daven for Rav Shraga Feivish ben Malka.
{Matzav.com}
Rav Tzvi Kushelefsky, rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Heichal HaTorah, is a one-man chizuk and bitachon force, making his way across American communities, inspiring by his mere presence, bringing smiles and joy to all privileged to meet the senior rosh yeshiva and new father.
Rav Kushelefsky, age 88, famously recently celebrated the birth of his first child, a son, a simcha that brought joy to Jewish communities the world over.
Rav Kushelefsky is seen below speaking at the Lutzk Bais Medrash in Lakewood, at Bais Medrash Ohr Hachaim in Monsey, and at last night’s Nshei Adirei Hatorah event in Lakewood. Videos courtesy of Sparks of Nation.
WATCH:
Rav Gershon Ribner, rosh kollel of Kollel Nesivos Hatorah, reflects on the Maamad Adirei Hatorah held Sunday night at Wells Fargo Center, commenting on, among other things, Rav Ephraim Wachsman’s assurance that people who support Torah would merit ashirus. He also questions the loose use of the terms “Adirei Hatorah,” “Arzei Halevanon,” et al, phrases utilized to describe the Asarah Harugei Malchus.
LISTEN:
By Avi Shiff
[Full video replay below.] Sunday night, Wells Fargo Center was host to the third Adirei HaTorah asifa in support of the yungeleit of Lakewood’s Bais Medrash Govoah.
25,000+ people came out strong, united, and with one goal: to proclaim the glory of our nation’s yungeleit, the Adirei HaTorah.
Buses and cars pulled up from across the tri-state area, transporting thousands to the event at Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. People came from around the country and beyond.
This year, the event began earlier than the past two years, with attendees arriving from 4 p.m. and on. Guests took in the scene of a sports arena normally bedecked in sports-related signs and slogans, instead bearing statements and mottos expressing Klal Yisroel’s admiration for their yungeleit. “Three Years of Celebrating Our Most Cherished Treasure – Our Yungerman,” “The Yungerman. Our Greatest Treasure,” “For the Yungerman of Today and Tomorrow,” and “A Legacy of Torah, from Father to Son,” were emblazoned across the various electronic screens in the arena.
Upon entering the building, sandwiches, snacks and drinks were served. In the arena itself, immediately grabbing the attention of participants and crowning the room was the massive and regal looking dais, with seating for approximately 800 roshei yeshiva and rabbonim and roshei chaburah.
Beautiful music filled the arena, orchestrated by keyboardist Meir Adler from Eretz Yisroel. The silky smooth voices of singers Yanky Daskal, Bentzi Stein, and Meilech Braunstein melded beautifully, setting the tone.
Following Mincha, which was led by Rav Elchonon Berenbaum, brief remarks were delivered via video by Rav Yosef Mermelstein, rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Novominsk.
Tehillim followed for acheinu Bnei Yisroel, led by Rav Chaim Ginsburg, senior rosh chaburah at Bais Medrash Govoah.
After a brief musical interlude, virtually every seat in the arena, including every balcony and concourse, in addition to thousands of additional seats on the floor, was occupied
Fittingly, the seats on the floor of the arena couldn’t be purchased. They were reserved for yungeleit who have been learning at Bais Medrash Govoah for many years. Appropriately, the best seats in the house were given to those who were being feted this evening, the lomdei Torah who hold up our world.
Immediately thereafter, the music began, and the crowd sang and danced for several minutes. The building practically shook as the roshei yeshiva, who accompanied the special guest, Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch, rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Slabodka in Bnei Brak, were warmly and enthusiastically welcomed in an awesome display of kavod haTorah to those upon whose shoulders the entire yeshiva stands.
During his opening statements, Bais Medrash Govoah CEO R’ Yosef Heinemann reflected on the past three years since the inauguration of the Adirei Hatorah campaign, which has raised tens of millions of dollars in support of Klal Yisroel’s yungeleit who devote their lives to limud haTorah.
R’ Heinemann introduced the rosh yeshiva, Rav Aryeh Malkiel Kotler, and the crowd broke out into singing Yomim Al Yemei Melech Tosif in his honor.
During his remarks, Rav Kotler paid tribute to the devoted askanim who have spearheaded the unprecedented Adirei Hatorah campaign.
Following Rav Kotler’s remarks, several niggunim, including the Ribnitzer’s teniah, “Abaye v’Rava,” were sung.
A moving multi-part video was then shown, depicting the transmission of Torah throughout the last two centuries. The video, which was interspersed with various niggunim, described the growth of yeshivos throughout Europe, until Churban Europa, a time when some people thought that the Torah world had been decimated for good. The video then showed the growth of Torah in America, from Lakewood, NJ, the home of Bais Medrash Govoah, to mekomos haTorah throughout the world.
Highlights of the video presentation included audio of Rav Moshe Shmuel Shapiro zt”l singing and powerful remarks from Rav Mordechai Gifter zt”l.
A video was then shown of Rav Elya Ber Wachtfogel, rosh yeshiva of Yeshiva Gedolah of South Fallsburg.
Following additional singing, the special guest from Eretz Yisroel, Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch, was introduced, and the crowd erupted in song. Even after the music stopped, the singing continued, the massive crowd expressing boundless respect for the rosh yeshiva.
And just as quickly, the arena grew completely silent as Rav Hirsch addressed the crowd, speaking in English.
Toward the end of his message, Rav Moshe Hillel spoke of the “tremendous fights” of the leftists in Israel against anything related to Torah.
The crowd then erupted in sheer joy as the arrival of Rav Shmuel Kamenetsky, rosh yeshiva of Philadelphia Yeshiva, was announced. As Rav Shmuel approached the dais, the singing grew louder and stronger, an incredible feeling permeating the arena.
A video tribute to the late mashgiach of Bais Medrash Govoah, Rav Matisyahu Salomon zt”l, was then shown.
Following several heartfelt niggunim, a Siyum Hashas on Talmud Bavli and Talmud Yerushalmi, learned b’iyun by the yungeleit of Bais Medrash Govoah, was made, with the Hadran being recited by Rav Yisroel Neuman, rosh yeshiva of Bais Medrash Govoah. As Rav Neuman approached the podium, the crowd broke out into song, singing Yomim in his honor. Rav Yisroel recited the Hadran slowly, growing emotional and crying with each timeless word, imparting such a profound message with each krechtz and each carefully enunciated phrase.
The Kaddish for the siyum was then recited by Rav Moshe Salomon, son of Rav Matisyahu Salomon. The building shook with the Amein Yeish Shmei Rabbah, displaying the intensity and feelings of the entire crowd.
With the answer of the final amein and a cry of “Mazel tov!” the crowd erupted with pure joy and simchas haTorah, dancing with a fervor reserved for times like Simchas Torah.
The maamad then featured an address from Rav Ephraim Wachsman, rosh yeshiva of Yeshiva Meor Yitzchok of Monsey, who thanked the Adirei Hatorah – the yungeleit – for being “mekayeim kol ha’olam kulo,” for being the source of parnassah, health and all goodness that we merit, as Chazal tell us.
Following Kabbolas Ohl Malchus Shomayim, which was led by Rav Yeruchem Olshin, and Maariv, which was led by Rav Dovid Schustal, the thousands made their way to the exits while music filled the arena, the feeling one of kavod and reverence for the yungeleit. They devote their every day and lovingly sacrifice so much to make the study of Torah their life, not just uplifting themselves, but enriching their communities and the wider world with the unparalleled power of Torah.
It was an evening no one could forget, forever etched into the hearts of the young and old, inspired, uplifted, and charged to keep this remarkable mission going.
FULL VIDEO REPLAY:
PHOTOS:
{Matzav.com}
It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of Rebbetzin Rochel Leah Shapiro a”h, wife of Rav Dovid Yitzchok Shapiro, rosh yeshiva of Yeshiva Be’er Yaakov. She was 71 and passed away at Maayanei Hayeshua Medical Center in Bnei Brak after a prolonged illness.
The rebbetzin was the daughter-in-law of Rav Moshe Shmuel Shapiro, rosh yeshiva of Be’er Yaakov, who was a great-grandson of the Netziv of Volozhin and a nephew of the Brisker Rov.
Born in Yerushalayim in 1953, she was the daughter of Rav Moshe Meir Halevi Prag, head of the Shomrei Hachomos Kollel, and Rebbetzin Sarah Hinda, who was a daughter of the renowned mekubal Rav Chaim Yehuda Leib Auerbach, rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Shaar Hashamayim.
In 1973, she married Rav Dovid Yitzchok Shapiro, who became the rosh yeshiva of Be’er Yaakov in 2006, succeeding his father.
The rebbetzin was renowned for her role as the “aim hayeshiva – the mother of the yeshiva,” always tending to the needs of the students with exceptional care and warmth.
She leaves behind her husband and their children and grandchildren. The levayah and kevurah were held at the Ponovezh Bais Hachaim in Bnei Brak.
Yehi zichrah boruch.
{Matzav.com Israel}
Divrei hashkafah from Rav Gershon Ribner, rosh kollel of Kollel Nesivos Hatorah, on negative feelings about the Adirei Hatorah event.
LISTEN:
A group of senior gedolei Torah from Eretz Yisroel is set to travel to the United States to raise funds for “Keren LeMa’an Olam HaTorah,” an initiative to raise $100 million for yeshivos in Eretz Yisroel.
The group will include Maran Rav Dov Landau, rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Salbodka; the senior mashgiach Rav Don Segal; Rav Yaakov Hillel, rosh yeshiva of Yeshiva Ahavat Shalom; and the Rachmastrivka Rebbe.
They are slated to arrive in the United States on Sunday.
They will join Maran Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch, rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Salbodka, who is already in the U.S., to spearhead this mission.
{Matzav.com Israel}
By Avi Shiff
[Full video replay below.] Sunday night, Wells Fargo Center was host to the third Adirei HaTorah asifa in support of the yungeleit of Lakewood’s Bais Medrash Govoah.
25,000+ people came out strong, united, and with one goal: to proclaim the glory of our nation’s yungeleit, the Adirei HaTorah.
Buses and cars pulled up from across the tri-state area, transporting thousands to the event at Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. People came from around the country and beyond.
This year, the event began earlier than the past two years, with attendees arriving from 4 p.m. and on. Guests took in the scene of a sports arena normally bedecked in sports-related signs and slogans, instead bearing statements and mottos expressing Klal Yisroel’s admiration for their yungeleit. “Three Years of Celebrating Our Most Cherished Treasure – Our Yungerman,” “The Yungerman. Our Greatest Treasure,” “For the Yungerman of Today and Tomorrow,” and “A Legacy of Torah, from Father to Son,” were emblazoned across the various electronic screens in the arena.
Upon entering the building, sandwiches, snacks and drinks were served. In the arena itself, immediately grabbing the attention of participants and crowning the room was the massive and regal looking dais, with seating for approximately 800 roshei yeshiva and rabbonim and roshei chaburah.
Beautiful music filled the arena, orchestrated by keyboardist Meir Adler from Eretz Yisroel. The silky smooth voices of singers Yanky Daskal, Bentzi Stein, and Meilech Braunstein melded beautifully, setting the tone.
Following Mincha, which was led by Rav Elchonon Berenbaum, brief remarks were delivered via video by Rav Yosef Mermelstein, rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Novominsk.
Tehillim followed for acheinu Bnei Yisroel, led by Rav Chaim Ginsburg, senior rosh chaburah at Bais Medrash Govoah.
After a brief musical interlude, virtually every seat in the arena, including every balcony and concourse, in addition to thousands of additional seats on the floor, was occupied
Fittingly, the seats on the floor of the arena couldn’t be purchased. They were reserved for yungeleit who have been learning at Bais Medrash Govoah for many years. Appropriately, the best seats in the house were given to those who were being feted this evening, the lomdei Torah who hold up our world.
Immediately thereafter, the music began, and the crowd sang and danced for several minutes. The building practically shook as the roshei yeshiva, who accompanied the special guest, Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch, rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Slabodka in Bnei Brak, were warmly and enthusiastically welcomed in an awesome display of kavod haTorah to those upon whose shoulders the entire yeshiva stands.
During his opening statements, Bais Medrash Govoah CEO R’ Yosef Heinemann reflected on the past three years since the inauguration of the Adirei Hatorah campaign, which has raised tens of millions of dollars in support of Klal Yisroel’s yungeleit who devote their lives to limud haTorah.
R’ Heinemann introduced the rosh yeshiva, Rav Aryeh Malkiel Kotler, and the crowd broke out into singing Yomim Al Yemei Melech Tosif in his honor.
During his remarks, Rav Kotler paid tribute to the devoted askanim who have spearheaded the unprecedented Adirei Hatorah campaign.
Following Rav Kotler’s remarks, several niggunim, including the Ribnitzer’s teniah, “Abaye v’Rava,” were sung.
A moving multi-part video was then shown, depicting the transmission of Torah throughout the last two centuries. The video, which was interspersed with various niggunim, described the growth of yeshivos throughout Europe, until Churban Europa, a time when some people thought that the Torah world had been decimated for good. The video then showed the growth of Torah in America, from Lakewood, NJ, the home of Bais Medrash Govoah, to mekomos haTorah throughout the world.
Highlights of the video presentation included audio of Rav Moshe Shmuel Shapiro zt”l singing and powerful remarks from Rav Mordechai Gifter zt”l.
A video was then shown of Rav Elya Ber Wachtfogel, rosh yeshiva of Yeshiva Gedolah of South Fallsburg.
Following additional singing, the special guest from Eretz Yisroel, Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch, was introduced, and the crowd erupted in song. Even after the music stopped, the singing continued, the massive crowd expressing boundless respect for the rosh yeshiva.
And just as quickly, the arena grew completely silent as Rav Hirsch addressed the crowd, speaking in English.
Toward the end of his message, Rav Moshe Hillel spoke of the “tremendous fights” of the leftists in Israel against anything related to Torah.
The crowd then erupted in sheer joy as the arrival of Rav Shmuel Kamenetsky, rosh yeshiva of Philadelphia Yeshiva, was announced. As Rav Shmuel approached the dais, the singing grew louder and stronger, an incredible feeling permeating the arena.
A video tribute to the late mashgiach of Bais Medrash Govoah, Rav Matisyahu Salomon zt”l, was then shown.
Following several heartfelt niggunim, a Siyum Hashas on Talmud Bavli and Talmud Yerushalmi, learned b’iyun by the yungeleit of Bais Medrash Govoah, was made, with the Hadran being recited by Rav Yisroel Neuman, rosh yeshiva of Bais Medrash Govoah. As Rav Neuman approached the podium, the crowd broke out into song, singing Yomim in his honor. Rav Yisroel recited the Hadran slowly, growing emotional and crying with each timeless word, imparting such a profound message with each krechtz and each carefully enunciated phrase.
The Kaddish for the siyum was then recited by Rav Moshe Salomon, son of Rav Matisyahu Salomon. The building shook with the Amein Yeish Shmei Rabbah, displaying the intensity and feelings of the entire crowd.
With the answer of the final amein and a cry of “Mazel tov!” the crowd erupted with pure joy and simchas haTorah, dancing with a fervor reserved for times like Simchas Torah.
The maamad then featured an address from Rav Ephraim Wachsman, rosh yeshiva of Yeshiva Meor Yitzchok of Monsey, who thanked the Adirei Hatorah – the yungeleit – for being “mekayeim kol ha’olam kulo,” for being the source of parnassah, health and all goodness that we merit, as Chazal tell us.
Following Kabbolas Ohl Malchus Shomayim, which was led by Rav Yeruchem Olshin, and Maariv, which was led by Rav Dovid Schustal, the thousands made their way to the exits while music filled the arena, the feeling one of kavod and reverence for the yungeleit. They devote their every day and lovingly sacrifice so much to make the study of Torah their life, not just uplifting themselves, but enriching their communities and the wider world with the unparalleled power of Torah.
It was an evening no one could forget, forever etched into the hearts of the young and old, inspired, uplifted, and charged to keep this remarkable mission going.
FULL VIDEO REPLAY:
PHOTOS:
{Matzav.com}
Tonight’s Adirei Hatorah event is being held at Wells Fargo Arena in Philadelphia, PA.
The event is being held as part of the annual campaign to raise funds to cover the kollel budget of Beth Medrash Govoha in Lakewood, NJ.
This is the third consecutive year that the event is being held, a continuation of an initiative started several years ago by Mr. Leizer Scheiner and his partners.
WATCH THE EVENT LIVE HERE ON MATZAV.COM:
Years ago, tefillin were not colored black, as is mandated by halacha, a scientific study has found.
The discovery challenges long-held assumptions about the practice of tefillin observance.
The research, which was published in the prestigious journal PLOS ONE, is the work of a team from Israel and Great Britain. A battery of scientific tests showed that two-millennia-old tefillin uncovered in the Holy Land were likely the color of their natural leather when they were in use.
“This is a very important discovery,” said Professor Yonatan Adler of Ariel University, who led the study. “This is the first time that [ancient] tefillin have been scientifically examined to determine their color.”
He noted that in some of the tefillin, the leather has a natural brown color. In others, however, the very dark color of the leather, which was previously thought to be the result of dyeing, was in fact natural.
“Our tests have shown that where the leather appears dark, it is the result of a natural process and not intentional dyeing,” he said.
Back in 1949, archaeologists discovered several leather tefillin cases in a cave near Qumran, where the first Dead Sea Scrolls were found. Subsequently, additional tefillin cases were unearthed in other caves near Qumran, in Wadi Murabba‘at and in Nahal Se’elim—all in the Judean Desert.
These findings are dated to the same time as the Dead Sea Scrolls, from around the end of the Second Bais Hamikdosh period—or about 2,000 years ago.
The arid desert climate allowed these artifacts to survive for millennia until their discovery, and the tefillin cases have been preserved in the storeroom of the Israel Antiquities Authority’s Dead Sea Scrolls Unit in Yerushalayim, where the climatic conditions of the caves are replicated.
According to Dr. Ilit Cohen-Ofri, head of the conservation laboratory at the Dead Sea Scrolls Unit: “In ancient times, there were two main methods for dyeing leather black. The first method used carbon-based materials—soot or charcoal—to give the leather a black color. The second method was based on a chemical reaction between tannin, a complex organic compound found in many plants, and iron oxides. In our tests, we ruled out the possibility that the tefillin cases were dyed black using either of these methods.”
The researchers used a variety of techniques, including multispectral imaging, to examine the leather of the tefillin cases for traces of black dye or paint. The results of the analyses showed no evidence of black colorants on any of the tefillin cases.
“In the dark fragments we examined, the color appears to be the result of natural leather aging rather than intentional dyeing,” said Dr. Yonah Maor of the Israel Antiquities Authority’s analytical laboratory. “Minor water leakage into the caves over the 2,000 years the artifacts have been there could have accelerated the leather aging process. In the past, we have found that some of the Dead Sea Scrolls have also undergone a similar process, which unfortunately has caused the parchment to darken.”
The researchers believe that the practice of coloring tefillin cases black is likely due to a later tradition. They suggest that the law requiring tefillin to be made black may not have been in place in the Second Bais Hamikdosh period, when the tefillin examined in the study were in use.
“It is likely that in the beginning, there was no halachic significance to the color of tefillin,” explained Adler. “Only at a later period did the rabbis rule that tefillin should be colored black.”
As the centuries passed, poskim continued to debate whether the requirement to color tefillin cases black was an absolute obligation or merely preferable for aesthetic reasons.
“It is commonly thought that Jewish law is static and does not develop. Our ongoing research on ancient tefillin shows that the exact opposite is true; Jewish law has always been dynamic. In my view, it is this vibrancy that makes halachah so beautiful.” JNS
The following are details regarding today’s Adirei Hatorah event at Wells Fargo Arena. The address for the event is 3601 S. Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA, 19148.
The event is being held as part of the annual campaign to raise funds to cover the kollel budget of Beth Medrash Govoha in Lakewood, NJ.
This is the third consecutive year that the event is being held, a continuation of an initiative started several years ago by Mr. Leizer Scheiner and his partners.
The following are event details.
1) Approximately 25,000 people are expected in attendance at the event. Tickets have been sold out. There are no further tickets for sale from the Adirei Hatorah office. Some tickets may be available through second party sellers.
2) All tickets are currently being sent out, organizers tell Matzav.com. If you have not yet received your tickets via email, reach out to the Adirei call center at 848.261.8231.
There will be a ticket-help-desk at the arena.
3) Parking at the event has been leased out to a third party vendor. Use the following link to pre-pay for parking: http://ahmparking.com/
4) Refer to the detailed map below to see where food will be distributed. There will not be a full-service smorgasbord as in past years. Deli sandwiches will be offered, one per person, as a choice of either in a wrap or on a roll. Water and danishes will be provided at these locations as well. There will be washing stations near the restrooms in the food courts.
5) Doors will open at 4 p.m. Mincha will begin at 5:30 p.m., followed by Tehillim at 5:30 p.m. The program will start at 6 p.m.
The program is scheduled to end with Maariv at 9:15 p.m.
6) Speakers will include Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch, rosh yeshivah of Yeshivas Slabodka in Bnei Brak, and Rav Ephraim Wachsman, rosh yeshivah of Yeshiva Meor Yitzchok in Monsey. The musical portion of the event will again be orchestrated by Meir Adler of Eretz Yisroel.
For live coverage of the event, be sure that you are signed up for Matzav WhatsApp and Matzav Status.
Join the Matzav Status by CLICKING HERE.
Join the Matzav WhatsApp Groups by CLICKING HERE.
{Matzav.com}
It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of Rebbetzin Tziporah Faiga Alter a”h, wife of the the Gerrer Rebbe, the Pnei Menachem zt”l. She was 97.
In her final years, Rebbetzin Alter’s health declined, leading to her hospitalization at Maayanei Hayeshuah Hospital in Bnei Brak.
Born on 27 Tishrei 5687/1926, the rebbetzin was a daughter of Rav Avrohom Mordechai Alter, son of Rav Moshe Betzalel Alter and grandson of the Sefas Emes.
Her mother, Rebbetzin Yenta, was a daughter of Rav Shaul Moshe Zilberman, rov of Wierzchow and a significant figure in the Chassidic community in Eretz Yisroel.
In 5706/1946, she married the youngest son of the Imrei Emes. Their wedding was a momentous and joyous occasion for the Gerrer community, providing a beacon of hope and joy to survivors in DP camps and the small Chassidic communities in Eretz Yisroel. They established their home near the residence of the Imrei Emes, and after his passing they lived next to Yeshiva Sefas Emes alongside the late Rebbetzin Faiga Mintza.
Rebbetzin Tziporah devoted herself to supporting her husband’s Torah endeavors for over five decades as he led Yeshiva Sefas Emes and taught thousands of students. She supported him in all his roles with wisdom and humility.
Following the passing of the Pnei Menachem in 5756/1996, she continued to be a source of strength, engaging in charitable activities and offering counsel and brachos to those in need.
In recent years, she relocated to Bnei Brak to be closer to her son, Rav Yitzchok Dovid Alter. A few months ago, she underwent a medical procedure, and her health declined until her passing on Sunday.
Rebbetzin Alter is survived by her children, Rav Yaakov Meir Alter, Rav Shaul Alter, Rav Yitzchok Dovid Alter, Rav Doniel Alter, and Rebbetzin Lippel, wife of Rav Avrohom Dov Lippel, as well as her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
She was predeceased by two sons: Moshe Betzalel, who passed away as a child, and Rav Yehuda Aryeh, who was killed in a car accident.
The levayah was held at Yeshiva Sefas Emes in Yerushalayim, followed by kevurah at the Sanhedria Bais Hachaim.
Yehi zichrah boruch.
{Matzav.com Israel}
Agudath Israel of America is proud to introduce a compelling new initiative, Torah Perspectives, designed to provide profound wisdom and valuable insights from gedolei Yisroel and prominent rabbonim. This series aims to address contemporary issues through the timeless lens of Torah, offering guidance, inspiration, and chizuk to the wider Jewish community.
Torah Perspectives is hosted by Rabbi Yitzchok Hisiger, Agudath Israel’s Director of Torah Initiatives.
The inaugural episode, titled “A Yid’s Response to the Challenge of Antisemitism Today,” delves into one of the most pressing issues facing the Jewish community. This critical discussion features two distinguished guests:
- Hagaon Rav Elya Brudny, rosh yeshivah of Mirrer Yeshiva and chaver of the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah
- Hagaon Rav Lipa Geldwerth, rav of Congregation Kol Torah of Flatbush and maggid shiur at Yeshiva Torah Temimah
Together, the esteemed rabbonim engage in a heartfelt and intellectually stimulating conversation that addresses the complexities of antisemitism in today’s world. They explore how Torah values and principles can guide a Yid‘s response, offering practical advice and support.
Torah Perspectives promises to be an ongoing source of enlightenment and insight, drawing on the timeless wisdom of the Torah and our chachomim to navigate contemporary challenges. Stay tuned for future episodes that will continue to explore critical topics and provide invaluable guidance rooted in Torah.
WATCH THE FIRST INSTALLMENT BELOW:
Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, a member of the War Cabinet and a member of Bibi’s Likud party, is set to vote against the Rule of Continuity for the Charedi draft law, according to the Jerusalem Post. Often, voting against a bill is considered a resignation by a Minister, so it will be interesting to see if Gallant’s involvement in the current Government continues moving forward.
The Rule of Continuity allows the Knesset to advance a bill that was previously passed in a first reading, but was stopped due to the Knesset’s dissolution. If the Rule of Continuity is passed, Bibi will be able to advance the Charedi draft law that was first brought up by the Lapid-Bennet Government in 2022.
In the 2022 bill, the exemption age would rise to 22 after two years and would be subsequently raised to 23 one year later.
Additionally, a 21-year-old Charedi man would be able to join the national emergency and rescue system. The bill presented two routes for Charedim to enlist in the IDF: a shortened service of three weeks or three months, after which soldiers would be transferred to reserve duty.
The 2022 bill also proposed setting recruitment aims, which could result in financial sanctions against Yeshivas if the recruitment targets are not met. It is important to note the bill does not include sanctions against individuals who refuse to serve.
The sanctioning of Yeshivas in the bill if their Talmidim refuse to enlist was to be a gradual process, beginning with a 20% decrease in budget, which would grow following several consecutive years of failing to meet the targets.
{Matzav.com}
More than 3,500 Israelis gathered at Park HaAsor in Efrat on Thursday to celebrate the completion of a Sefer Torah in memory of 48-year-old Lucy Dee, and two of her daughters: Maia, 20, and Rina, 15. The girls were murdered by a Hamas terrorist on April 7, 2023, while their mother succumbed to her wounds three days later, on April 10.
Since the beginning of the year, youth at educational institutions in Efrat attended a Safrus workshop, with more than 5,000 children partaking in writing the Torah’s 304,805 letters.
In addition, Yehuda Elon, an Israel Defense Forces reservist and ritual scribe affiliated with the “Sign of Love” organization, took the new Sefer Torah into the Gaza Strip, where soldiers helped write letters, Arutz 7 reported.
“The Torah is a Torah of life,” Rabbi Leo Dee, Lucy’s husband and the father of the girls (the Dees have two other daughters and a son), told attendees at Thursday’s event. “Each letter in the Torah corresponds with an individual of the people of Israel, and if one [letter] is missing, the Torah scroll is invalid.”
“This is why we need absolute unity among our people. Am Yisrael chai!” added the bereaved husband and father.
In his speech, Efrat Mayor Dovi Shefler praised the Dee family for being a leading example of “how to grow out of a massive crisis.”
The new Torah scroll was placed in the town’s Orot Etzion Boys School, where Lucy Dee worked as an English teacher.
Lucy Dee, 48, and daughters Maia, 20, and Rina, 15, were ambushed last year as they traveled on Route 57 to Tiverya to celebrate the second half of Pesach with family from overseas. Maia and Rina were killed instantly, while their mother was hospitalized and died days later.
Following the murder, Leo inaugurated “Dees Day,” which people across the globe mark by sharing photos of themselves draped in Israeli flags on social media. In September, then-foreign minister Eli Cohen appointed Rabbi Dee as Israel’s special envoy for social initiatives.
{Matzav.com}
Two Likud Knesset members and a Likud minister are threatening to dodge party discipline on the Charedi enlistment issue.
Knesset members Dan Illouz and Moshe Saada, and Economy Minister Nir Barkat, sent a letter to Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu, who heads Likud, stating, “If the current draft recruitment bill for Charedi yeshivah students is brought to a vote, we will oppose it.”
“We know that this bill needs to be improved; also, the Supreme Court will disqualify it,” Saada told JNS. The draft law specifies that about 2,000 Charedi men will be recruited in the first stage.
There are 63,000 Charedi men eligible for the draft.
Israel’s Supreme Court, sitting as the High Court of Justice, is currently hearing a case in which the petitioners argue that the state must start recruiting Charedi yeshivah students because the law exempting them from mandatory service expired last year. The government representative requested that the court reject the petitions and instead allow the Knesset to continue the legislative process toward a solution.
Saada continued, “We need a law that is more realistic and more equal that also solves the heavy burden placed on so many [who serve in the IDF]. It is impossible to continue like this. We need a change in the way of thinking.”
The three Likud dissenters have a simple solution: Instead of specifying how many Charedim should be recruited, they are in favor of a cap on how many won’t be recruited.
“We believe that only a limited number of yeshivah students should be recognized every year as eligible for exemption from military service,” Illouz told JNS.
“Define those who shouldn’t be drafted, then all the others must be drafted. If those eligible evade the draft, then there should be repercussions against them personally. Under the proposed government law, the repercussions aren’t against them, but rather against their yeshivahs.”
Their plan also envisages benefits for those who do serve in the military. “We have submitted a draft bill that proposes, “You serve, you get—you don’t serve, you don’t get.” We intend to give priority to those who enlist, in projects such as discounts in buying homes,” Saada said.
“If you were to conduct a secret vote in the Likud Party on our proposal, the result would be 90% in favor. I think the entire Likud Party understands, every sane Zionist person understands, that this is what needs to be done now. We are in an existential war and to win it we need a large army. In the past, the concept was a small, smart army—this has changed,” said Saada.
The current government enlistment bill reflects Netanyahu’s attempt to find an agreed formula with the Charedi parties (Shas and UTJ), which threatened to quit the government if the mass of Charedi yeshivah students were recruited. So, the question is, why should they agree to the bill suggested by the Likud dissenters?
Ilouz said, “We believe that there is a possibility to find a tenable solution that will initiate a historical process of the Charedim joining the army. I think that now is also the time when Charedi society itself is ready for that. I’m in very close contact with a lot of Charedi elected officials and with people in the community itself and I think there is an understanding that those who don’t actually study Torah need to serve.
“If I weren’t a member of Knesset, who is not allowed to do army reserve duty, I would be together with my comrades serving in the reserves,” added Illouz.
The big question is how far will the dissenting MKs go, especially since the recruitment bill is a life-and-death issue for the coalition.
“Will you go ahead even if it leads to the downfall of the government?” JNS asked the dissenters.
“If there are no soldiers, it will lead to the downfall of the nation,” replied Saada.
“It’s not a game. We are at war, and reservists do periods of 150 days in Gaza, return home, and then go for another round. I think this is our ethical and moral duty. Even if not everyone is saying it out loud, it is clear to everyone in the Likud Party that this is what should be,” he said.
Illouz added, “I said very, very clearly that if the bill that’s currently presented is brought to a vote without significant changes, I don’t see myself voting for such a law because I won’t be able to look at all the reserve soldiers fighting right now in Gaza or on the northern border in the eyes.
“And we hope that the haredi parties will be able to be more flexible for us to get to some solution,” he said.
{Matzav.com}
It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of Rav Ahron Garfinkel zt”l, a longtime marbitz Torah. He was 78.
Rav Ahron had been in the hospital for an infection and his condition deteriorated.
A native of Monsey, NY, Rav Ahron was the head of Yeshiva Toras Chesed and a rebbi at Yeshiva Ohr Somayach in Monsey for many years.
He relocated to Jackson a few years ago to be closer to his children and grandchildren.
The levayah is being held at 2:30 p.m. today at the Congregation Sons of Israel Holocaust Memorial Chapel, located at 613 Ramsey Street, in Lakewood, NJ. The aron will then be flown to Eretz Yisroel for kevurah in Beit Shemesh.
The family will be sitting shivah at the home of Rav Aharon’s son, Rabbi Moshe Garfinkel, at 4 Katie Court in Lakewood, NJ.
The following is Zoom information for watching and listening to the levayah:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89303415979?pwd=QLA9T5V8fdA-pAmHcQlSsrucsRL07Q.Urnh3fvOlFBj-9QgPasscode: 699087Or One tap mobile : +16469313860,,89303415979# US +13017158592,,89303415979# US (Washington DC)Or Telephone: Dial(for higher quality, dial a number based on your current location): +1 646 931 3860 US +1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC) +1 305 224 1968 US +1 309 205 3325 US +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago) +1 646 558 8656 US (New York) +1 360 209 5623 US +1 386 347 5053 US +1 507 473 4847 US +1 564 217 2000 US +1 669 444 9171 US +1 669 900 9128 US (San Jose) +1 689 278 1000 US +1 719 359 4580 US +1 253 205 0468 US +1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma) +1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)Webinar ID: 893 0341 5979 International numbers available: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kedNAIylHiYehi zichro boruch.
{Matzav.com}
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In Living Chessed, Rabbi Makovsky shows us how we can, indeed, “live chessed” throughout our days, enriching the lives of others. And enriching our own lives as well. [Purchase the book HERE.]
WATCH AN INTERVIEW ABOUT THIS LIFE-CHANGING BOOK:
On Sunday morning, a nine-justice panel at the High Court of Justice will hear petitions demanding immediate conscription of Charedi men to the IDF.
On Thursday, Israeli Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara came out in support of the petitions, writing in the state’s response that the government was acting “without authority,” “violating express rules of the court,” and “undermining the rule of law” in it’s attempts to deal with the new legal situation regarding Charedim and the draft.
The government has tried to get private representation in the High Court, instead of that of the attorney general, as she opposes the governments position.
In late March, the court issued an interim order barring the government from providing funds to Charedi yeshivas for students eligible for IDF enlistment, since the legal framework for deferring their IDF service had expired.
{Matzav.com}
While there are many things that overlap between vegan products and kosher products, one does not guarantee the other. Let’s listen in to Rabbi Sholom H. Adler, Senior Kashrus Administrator at Earth Kosher, as he explains the nuances differentiating the two.
WATCH:
View it in its entirety at https://www.kashrusawareness.com/post/vegan-certified-vs-kosher-certified
Listen wherever you get your podcasts!
https://open.spotify.com/show/6Rj5rIndHc886Fblqh8U49
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/lets-talk-kashrus/id1631553497
CLICK HERE to watch more episodes of Let’s Talk Kashrus
______
We invite your questions, comments, or feedback. If there’s a specific kashrus topic you’d like to bring to public attention, feel free to contact us by email: info@kashrusawareness.com
Message or call: 678-8-Kosher
You can also visit our website www.kashrusawareness.com for a growing list of resources, timely conversations, and to watch episodes of the Let’s Talk Kashrus audio-visual series.
Join a Let’s Talk Kashrus WhatsApp Group for educational content and kashrus updates
Click here to Join a LTK WhatsApp Group
Our hearts were broken from the terrible news that we heard on Thursday night. Shmuel Brog z”l, the beautiful, pure four-year-old son of our friend, Reb Avrohom Brog, passed away in a tragic car accident. There is nothing we can say to minimize the family’s suffering or assuage their unspeakable pain. All we can do is join them in their time of mourning and bereavement.
The many friends of the family are joining together to write a Sefer Torah in Shmuel’s memory, in order to perpetuate the memory of this beloved young boy and so that the zechus of a Sefer Torah will be a merit for his neshamah in the Olam Ha’emes. When the Torah is read in shul, it will be a great nechamah for the grieving parents and will provide them with some consolation and solace from their incredible pain. By collectively donating to this fund, we can help them during their time of sorrow and assist them in rebuilding their lives after this terrible tragedy.
This campaign is endorsed by Rav Simcha Bunim Londinsky, rov of Ohr Gedaliah of Lakewood.
TAKE PART IN THE CAMPAIGN HERE.
All questions, comments, and additional donation inquiries can be directed to Rabbi Yaakov Levitin at 732-232-0534 or Ylevitin86@gmail.com.
The tax ID for this campaign is 834411630.
{Matzav.com}
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Today, 21 Iyar, is the yahrtzeit of Rabbi Moshe Sherer Z’L, Moshe ben Chaim Yehuda, longtime leader of Agudas Yisroel until his petirah in 1998.
Rabbi Sherer served as president of Agudath Israel of America as well as co-chair of the Agudas Yisroel World Organization. In these capacities, he carried out the directives of Gedolei Yisroel to strengthen authentic Torah Judaism and promote Jewish interests in America and across the globe. He was respected across the entire spectrum of Torah Jewry as a public servant who served his people with skill, dignity and integrity. It has been 26 years since his passing, but his legacy lives on through the organizational movement to which he devoted his life: Agudas Yisroel.
We share some precious memories below.
WATCH: Emissary of The Gedolim, Ambassador for Klal Yisroel: Rabbi Moshe Sherer on his Yahrtzeit
From the Jewish ObserverThe entire special memorial Jewish Observer issue after Rabbi Sherer‘s petirah in 1998: close to 100 pages of memories and lessons of this great man. Click here to read.
Rav Meir Mazuz, rosh yeshiva of Yeshiva Kisei Rachamim, expressed his approval regarding the cancellation of the “Pride Parade” in Tel Aviv and called for other cities to do the same.
Earlier this month, Tel Aviv decided to cancel its parade, with Mayor Ron Huldai stating, “now is not the time for celebrations.”
Rav Mazuz elaborated, “When those who return to Judaism begin observing the Shabbos, they begin to respect the Torah, they begin to treat the Torah as something. Here, all these years, they have held a Pride Parade. The ‘Pride Parade’ is a parade of repulsiveness. People are not ashamed to make such a parade – do you have nothing else to do?”
He further commented, “And now, this year, the mayor of Tel Aviv said, ‘This year there will be no Pride Parade.’ And may it be no longer. There should be no more of this Pride Parade! Because this parade is all about abominations, it is all about repulsiveness, it is all filth, it is all stupidity, it is all ignorance, it is all foolishness. There is no person in the world who has a brain who would do such an act.”
Rav Mazuz pointed out that Arabs do not hold such parades: “There is no comparison, but the Arabs do not do this. Because they – they are influenced by Mohammed, who was influenced by the Torah. We need to do [that].”
{Matzav.com Israel}
It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the passing of Mrs. Lea Reichmann a”h from Toronto.
Mrs. Reichmann was the devoted wife of the legendary Reb Moshe Yosef (Paul) Reichmann z”l, the greatest machzik Torah of his generation. Mrs. Reichmann stood by him and supported all his endeavors.
Mrs. Reichmann was the daughter of the late Reb Moshe Feldman from London. She married Reb Moshe in 1955 in Montreux, following an engagement that began when he was just 15.
In mid-1956, the Reichmanns left Morocco for New York and then moved to Toronto, where most of the family eventually settled.
As a partner to her husband, Reb Moshe, the leading philanthropist of the generation, Mrs. Reichmann played a key role in their charitable endeavors, with Reb Moshe donating hundreds of millions to tzedakah.
Known for his leadership in the Olympia & York real estate development company, Reb Moshe was the leading figure in supporting Jewish institutions worldwide. Despite his success, he led a private life and avoided public attention regarding his business affairs.
After her husband’s petirah, Mrs. Reichmann continued to uphold Torah and chesed in a special way.
She leaves a legacy of Torah and yiras Shomayim, and she is survived by her wonderful family of talmidei chachomim and machzikei Torah.
The levayah and kevurah are being held in Eretz Yisroel.
Yehi zichrah boruch.
{Matzav.com}
A new poll conducted by the Smith Institute for the Olam Katan newspaper showed that over half of Israelis would like to see Rabbi Shmuel Eliyahu, Chief Rabbi of Tzfat and the son of former Chief Rabbi Mordechai Eliyahu, become the next Sephardic Chief Rabbi of Israel.
The poll results show that 56% of respondents would like to see Rabbi Eliyahu appointed to the role. Among these are 55% of secular Israelis, and 74% of Dati Leumi Israelis. The poll also showed significant support for Rav Shmuel Eliyahu amongst Charedi respondents. The poll showed that if one of the Rabbanim from Shas left the race, even more people would support Rav Eliyahu’s candidacy.
However, Shas sources are saying that if Rabbi Eliyahu runs for the position, they will cancel their coalition agreement made with Dati Leumi parties regarding the choosing of the next Chief Rabbis. The agreement allowed Shas to chose the next Sephardic Chief Rabbi, and the next Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi would be a Rav from the Dati Leumi community.
{Matzav.com}
It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of Rabbi Nesanel Hakohen Kasnett zt”l, longtime resident of Boro Park and a distinguished editor at ArtScroll/Mesorah. He was 78.
Rabbi Kasnett embraced Torah in his youth, becoming a baal teshuvah, and developed a deep love for limud haTorah, becoming a brilliant talmid chochom. Though he was a licensed attorney, he chose to dedicate his life to Torah and related projects.
As a young man, he studied at Yeshiva Beis Hatalmud in Eretz Yisroel and later at Yeshivas Novardok in Boro Park.
Rabbi Kasnett had a great fondness for the Malbim and authored an English commentary on the Malbim in addition to his extensive work with ArtScroll/Mesorah. He worked on various volumes of the Schottenstein Talmud.
His love for Torah was matched by his exceptional middos and sterling character.
The Kasnetts lived for decades above his in-laws, the Melmeds. Observers often noted the harmony and care that characterized their relationship.
Rabbi Kasnett had been in poor health in recent years and passed away on Monday.
The levayah was held at Shomrei Hadas Chapels in Boro Park.
Yehi zichro boruch.
{Matzav.com}
Rabbi Avraham Kroizer, 80, who was violently thrown to the ground by a policeman in Meron last night, detailed this morning the sequence of events leading up to the incident.
“I was there to see if they would open the barricades or not, and in the meantime, I sat on the side and read chapters of Tehillim,” Rabbi Kroizer said.
He described how he ended up at the scene: “I thought that maybe they would open the barrier for me to cross later, because a few moments earlier, I saw an old man accompanied by his two children being allowed to pass. So, I thought they would allow me as well, considering I am also old.
“But the policemen told me that they would not let me pass, so I made my way back to the place on the side where I was,” he continued. “While I was making my way back, the policeman ran behind me and while running, he shouted at me that he would not allow me to return to where I had been, and then while running, he pushed me forcefully and I fell on my face.
“My entire face hurt and they gave me stitches in the hospital,” he added. When asked if he would forgive the policeman, he responded: “This is a personal matter of mine. If he repents, then by all means, just let him not repeat these actions.”
In the last 24 hours, there have been violent clashes between policemen and visitors who tried to force their way up to Meron. Disturbing footage published last night showed policemen pushing Rabbi Kroizer hard enough to send him flying before falling on his face.
In another incident, a policeman is seen drawing his gun and firing into the air during a confrontation with citizens who went up to Meron. Footage of that incident shows a policeman punching a chareidi man who tried to pass and afterwards drawing his gun and firing into the air, allegedly without any perceivable threat to his life.
Yet another video shows a female officer beating and kicking women who were trying to reach the compound.
Minister Ben-Gvir spoke with the Border Police Commander and the two agreed that all three officers will be suspended pending an investigation.
{Matzav.com Israel}
Sephardic Chief Rabbi Rav Yitzchok Yosef on Sunday harshly criticized the Supreme Court justices for their decision to stop funding for yeshivas after the exemption that allowed yeshiva students to avoid military service expired.
At a Lag Ba’omer event in Yerushalayim, he remarked, “These are foolish judges. Instead of increasing funding for the yeshivas, they provide only a pittance to the married yeshiva students.”
“Rather than increasing the funds, they reduced them. For nearly two months, the yeshiva world has received no money. Where is your common sense? We are in a difficult situation, and during times of war, we need merits for the nation of Israel. Instead of supporting that, you are undermining the very foundation you rely on.”
He emphasized, “Our Torah supports our soldiers, and all the wounded. If G-d would grant them wisdom, they would restore all the budgets. Under normal circumstances, they should have resigned from the government – what kind of government is this? They wait for an alliance with the Left, promising us whatever we want, while the Right always creates problems for us.”
In late March, Supreme Court justices Uzi Fogelman, Yitzchok Amit, and Noam Solberg issued an interim ruling to freeze support for yeshiva students of enlistment age.
This freeze took effect on April 1, following the expiration of the government’s interim order allowing the delay of yeshiva students’ enlistment.
The justices explained that the ruling was issued “in light of the Attorney General’s position on the illegality of transferring support funds after this time, and due to a lack of any apparent authority to continue the budget, we did not see fit to order a transitional instruction.”
They also stated, “Institutions whose eligibility for subsidies under the criteria will be impacted by the interim order will continue receiving funds for those students not covered by the ruling until the end of the current school year, on August 9, 2024.”
{Matzav.com Israel}
Violent clashes erupted during Lag Ba’omer, as hundreds of visitors to Meron demanded access to the kever of Rav Shimon Bar Yochai, despite legal and military restrictions.
Given the ongoing security issues and the frequent rocket attacks from Lebanon towards Meron, the Knesset enacted legislation restricting this year’s celebrations in Meron to thirty people, and the IDF designated the area as a closed military zone.
Defying these restrictions, hundreds still attempted to ascend the mountain, resulting in violent confrontations.
Footage released tonight shows police officers shoving an elderly chareidi man and throwing him to the ground. Sources in Meron reported that the elderly man sustained facial injuries.
Watch the footage above.
The National Security Ministry announced that the incident is under investigation.
Yerushalayim Minister Meir Porush commented, “The horrific sight of a Border Police officer violently pushing an elderly Jew to the ground, or another officer firing in the air at a civilian event, hurts every person’s heart and is inconceivable. I demand that the violent police officers be immediately removed from their positions.”
Religious Affairs Minister Michael Malkieli described the incident as “an inconceivable scene which cannot be ignored. Justice will immediately be done with the violators! We cannot simply move past this crime.”
MK Yoni Mashriki, chairman of the Health Committee, stated, “There was and will not be any justification for endangering the life of a helpless elderly individual and throwing him on the ground cruelly and mercilessly. I call on the Unit for Investigation of Police Officers and on the Border Police to investigate the incident and bring those involved fully to justice.”
A police statement read, “Since the morning hours, hundreds of people arrived at the area of the gravesite, clashing with the police and causing damage to property placed at the site for the purpose of ensuring their safety.”
{Matzav.com Israel}
Defense Minister Yoav Gallant has ordered the IDF to temporarily postpone sending draft notices to Charedi Yeshivah students, as political negotiations continue over legislation regulating the conscription of Charedi men.
The decision comes about a month after the High Court of Justice ruled that the long-standing exemption allowing Charedi men to defer mandatory military service must end. The court also ordered the cessation of state funding to Yeshivas during the interim period before new laws are enacted.
While the military says it has complied with the ruling by preparing draft orders for Yeshivah students, Gallant has blocked their delivery for now. Officials familiar with the matter say Gallant aims to “successfully draft Charedim” through potential political agreements rather than unilateral conscription that could spark a confrontation.
“We don’t want to send notices and start a struggle that will not really lead to drafting Charedim,” one of the officials said. “We are seeking to exhaust political processes that may provide backing for drafting Charedim through cooperation, which will lead to more effective conscription.”
The delayed draft notices have drawn criticism from those who view it as an unfair privilege for the Charedi community. However, Gallant’s office argues that a more measured approach coordinated with Charedi leaders could improve enlistment outcomes.
In the meantime, Yeshivah budgets of approximately 30 million shekels ($8.5 million) per month remain frozen in accordance with the High Court ruling as the legal framework is revised.
The Defense Ministry has received recommendations from a committee led by Maj. Gen. (res.) Eliezer Shkedi that studied Charedi conscription. Key proposals include a pilot program at IDF induction centers, focusing on recruiting men not engaged in full-time Torah learning, establishing Charedi-oriented prep courses and opening all military roles to Charedi conscripts.
{Matzav.com}
Rav Shaul Alter, Rosh Yeshivas Pnei Menachem, is set to visit the United States next week.
The Rosh Yeshiva is scheduled to leave Eretz Yisroel on Tuesday night and arrive in the U.S. early Wednesday morning.
He will mainly stay in Boro Park, where he will deliver a shiur at 8:30 p.m. on Thursday night in the Eminence Ballroom, located at 4315 16th Avenue.
Preparations are also being made for Shabbos, during which thousands are anticipated to join Rav Shaul at The Palace, located at 780 McDonald Avenue in Brooklyn.
On Sunday morning, the Rosh Yeshiva may make a brief stop in Lakewood, NJ before traveling to Chicago, where he will spend three days. The Chicago schedule includes a shiur from the Rosh Yeshiva on Sunday evening at Kollel Zichron Eliyahu and an address at Agudas Yisroel of West Rogers Park on Monday evening.
{Matzav.com}
Sunday, 7:30 PM ET
WATCH:
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{Matzav.com}
Agudath Israel of America has been monitoring and speaking to various stakeholders regarding the serious situation of the young Jewish man in Iran who has been sentenced to execution.
The execution was initially scheduled for Shabbos (tomorrow) but has reportedly been delayed to Monday.
We ask the community to have in mind Arvin Netanel ben Sonia Tziyona for rachamei Shamayim.
{Matzav.com}
The Ministerial Committee for Legislation approved a charedi draft bill on Thursday first put forward by current Minister-without-Portfolio Benny Gantz in the previous government.
“To bridge the differences and bring about a broad consensus, Prime Minister Binyomin Netanyahu decided to advance the conscription bill that passed the first reading in the previous Knesset,” the Prime Minister’s Office said on Wednesday.
“The bill was prepared by the defense establishment … and submitted by then-Defense Minister Benny Gantz,” it added.
The move was reportedly meant to prevent Gantz’s opposition. “The prime minister calls on all factions that supported the proposal in the previous Knesset to join the proposal,” the PMO said.
However, the maneuver did not seem to work as Gantz came out against his own bill.
“The State of Israel needs soldiers and not political exercises that tear the people apart in times of war,” he said on Wednesday.
“The temporary mediation law that was submitted and which the prime minister wishes to pass now was not satisfactory then, and is not relevant today in the reality after October 7,” Gantz said
The committee approved government support for the legislation despite opposition from Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara, who said that there is a legal obstacle to promoting the bill, citing a changed situation.
“The proposal ignores the new and urgent needs of the IDF, lacks factual infrastructure and ignores the position of the minister of defense,” she said.
Senior coalition officials admitted that the odds of the bill passing into law are slim to nonexistent, and the real goal is to gain time.
Netanyahu’s government is under a court-mandated deadline to submit a charedi draft bill. In March, the prime minister warned his coalition that if it didn’t bring a bill forward, it would fall.
When the bill passed its first reading in the Knesset under the previous government, United Torah Judaism MK Moshe Gafni, who is a member of the coalition, called it “a despicable and disgraceful proposal.” Gafni has not yet responded to the current effort.
Shas chairman and Netanyahu confidante Aryeh Deri at the time called it an “offensive law whose sole purpose is to harm the members of the yeshivah and to exclude the youth from their studies.”
Deri is reportedly behind the effort to push the bill now.
The bill would lower the age of exemption from mandatory service for charedi yeshivah students from 26 to 21 in an effort to get more charedi men to enter the labor force.
It would also gradually increase charedi enlistment, setting a charedi conscription target of 35% of male students by 2036.
If the targets are not met, large fines will be placed on the yeshivahs that do not send their students. JNS
Days before a High Court deadline on submitting a bill for Charedi Israelis to be drafted to the IDF, Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu has released the text.
Not changing anything, Netanyahu submitted the bill passed in a first reading by the previous Knesset and drafted by War Cabinet Minister Benny Gantz.
“To bridge the differences and bring about a broad consensus, Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu decided to advance the conscription bill that passed the first reading in the previous Knesset (Amendment 26 to the Defense Service Law),” said a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office.
“The bill was prepared by the defense establishment after thorough staff work and submitted by the then-Defense Minister Benny Gantz. … The prime minister calls on all factions that supported the proposal in the previous Knesset to join the proposal.”
The draft bill calls on setting targets for Charedi conscription, capping at 35% of male students by 2036. Additionally, it allows for a roughly 85%-15% split between IDF service and National Service for Charedim.
If the targets are not met, large fines will be placed on the yeshivahs that do not send their students.
The Charedi parties have yet to chime in on the announcement, though the premier had consulted with them.
When the bill passed its first reading in the Knesset, United Torah Judaism Knesset member Moshe Gafni called it “a despicable and disgraceful proposal” and Shas chairman and Netanyahu confidante Aryeh Deri called it an “offensive law whose sole purpose is to harm the members of the yeshivah and to exclude the youth from their studies.”
Commenting on the announcement by Netanyahu, Yisrael Beytenu head Avigdor Liberman said the circumstances have changed due to the war, therefore requiring “a mandatory conscription law for everyone. Every young man and woman aged 18—Jewish, Muslim, Christian, Druze or Circassian—must report for military or civil service.” JNS
{Matzav.com Israel}
It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of Rav Shneur Zalman Yudkin zt”l, a devoted elder chossid of Chabad who exhibited extraordinary mesirus nefesh in Russia and later embarked on a journey of inspiration and touching neshamos across many communities.
Born in 1925, Rav Shneur Zalman received his education at Yeshiva Torah Im Derech Eretz in Riga, Latvia, drawing profound inspiration from the teachings of Rav Shamshon Raphael Hirsch.
He embraced Chassidic teachings and became a fervent Chabad chossid. He often recounted the remarkable sacrifices his father made to uphold Yahadus in Russia, including enduring imprisonment for performing a bris on his son.
Throughout his life, Rav Shneur Zalman and his family steadfastly upheld their commitment to Yiddishkeit.
They eventually settled in Crown Heights, where they immersed themselves in limud haTorah and avodas Hashem.
Rav Shneur Zalman was known for his charitable endeavors, raising funds for Chabad institutions.
His mere presence brought joy to others, inspiring them towards greater piety and devotion to avodas Hashem.
He leaves behind six children, along with many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
His wife, Rebbetzin Yenta, predeceased him.
The levayah was held on Erev Shabbos at the Montefiore Cemetery in Queens.
Yehi zichro boruch.
{Matzav.com}
On Thursday evening, the IDF announced the cancellation of the traditional annual Hillula of Rav Shimon bar Yochai in Meron on Lag Ba’Omer.
The IDF said, “In accordance with an assessment of the situation in the IDF and in coordination with the relevant bodies, it was decided to cancel the festivities on Meron, between the dates of May 24 and 27, 2024. This, in accordance with the powers stipulated in the Civil Defense Law…”
In an opinion piece he published, Major General Rafi Milo, the commander of the Home Front Command, expressed that “as part of the recent situational assessments, I was informed of the planning for the event in question, which is expected to be held between the dates of May 24 and 27, 2024, as part of the traditional Lag Ba’Omer events at the grave of the Rashbi in Meron…
“According to the available information, in recent years more than 200,000 people participated throughout the Hillula, and at certain times about 50,000 people were present in the complex at the same time. After examining the information and the various considerations concerning the event, and according to the assessments of the situation that took place recently – I found that holding the event at the present time may cause actual harm to human life. Despite the importance of the event and its many years of tradition, and according to the latest assessments of the situation, it is not possible to hold the event in the format in which it took place in the past, and such a gathering cannot be allowed there…
In addition, he said that “closer to the event, the Home Front Command will order the restriction of gatherings in the Meron area and the closing of the areas where the events will take place in order to allow the Israel Police to prevent entry to them, in accordance with the arrangement that will be formulated between the Ministry of Jerusalem Affairs and Heritage and the Israel Police. Until the time of the planned event, there will be additional situation assessments to examine whether there will be changes in the operational situation assessments. If there are changes in the situation assessment by the time of the event, the Home Front Command will update the instructions accordingly…
“There is a significant threat from the Hezbollah organization and the Hamas organization in Lebanon, through the firing of anti-tank missiles, as well as the launching of aerial weapons into this area. As evidence of this, in the last two months, several serious attacks have been carried out towards this area in which dozens of rockets and a few anti-tank missiles were fired, which caused various injuries in the area and a real risk to human life,” continued Milo, who noted that the Meron area lacks sufficient means of protection, causing a concern “that when an alert is activated in the area, the many people present will be harmed while trying to get to protected areas…
“I would like to point out that I am aware of the importance of the event, as well as the desire to reach the site of the Hillula on this great day. However, the concern for the safety and security of the thousands of people and the responsibility for protecting the lives of worshipers outweighs any other consideration.”
{Matzav.com Israel}
It is with great sadness that Matzav*.com reports the petirah of the Biala Rebbe, Rav Betzalel Simcha Menachem Bentzion Rabinowitz zt”l.* He was 89.
In recent months, the Rebbe had dealt with several hospitalizations. He passed away this morning.
Born in Siedlce, Poland, on 8 Adar I, 5695/1935, the Rebbe was the youngest son of the Chelkas Yehoshua of Biala. His mother, Rebbetzin Chana Fesha, hailed from a prominent Biala Chassidic family in Voldova.
During the Nazi occupation of Poland, his family endured persecution, prompting his father’s flight to Barnovice, then under Russian rule. Following a series of miraculous events, they found refuge in Siberia before eventually settling in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, near the Persian border, prior to their journey to Eretz Yisroel.
Under the guidance of his father, the Chelkas Yehoshua, the Rebbe embarked on a challenging journey to Eretz Yisroel via Tehran, Iran, where they resided briefly before traveling through Transjordan, overcoming numerous obstacles along the way.
Upon arriving in Israel, he initially stayed in Botei Avos, established by the Ponovezher Rov, and later with his great-uncle, Rav Yosef Tzvi Kalish of Bnei Brak.
Renowned for his exceptional scholarship, he distinguished himself as one of the brightest talmidim in the Ponovezh Yeshivah, under the tutelage of roshei yeshivah.
In 5717/1957, he married his wife, Rebbetzin Beila Bracha, daughter of Rav Avrohom Moshe Babad, the rov of Sunderland. Following his marriage, he resided in Gateshead, England, serving as rosh kollel there.
Later, in 5739/1979, he assumed the position of rov in Lugano, Switzerland, before relocating to Yerushalayim.
Upon the passing of his father, the Chelkas Yehoshua, in 5742/1982, the Rebbe succeeded him as the Biala Rebbe, dividing his time between Lugano and Yerushalayim.
With the decline of the community in Lugano in 5771/2011, he permanently settled in Yerushalayim.
Throughout his life, the Rebbe established yeshivos and chinuch institutions, blending Chassidic teachings with Torah learning, underpinned by his profound knowledge and devotion.
Despite facing health challenges in his later years, he continued to inspire and lead his Chassidim with warmth and chochmah until his passing.
His prolific writings, encompassing over a hundred sefarim in the Mevaser Tov series, reflect his erudition and dedication to Torah dissemination.
He served as a member of the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah of Agudas Yisroel in Eretz Yisroel.
His is survived by his children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and numerous Chassidim.
The levayah was held this afternoon in Yerushalayim, followed by kevurah on Har Hazeisim.
Yehi zichro boruch.
{Matzav.com Israel}
It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of Rav Michael Haber zt”l, rov of Congregation Tiferes Shaul.
Rav Haber was a noted rav and marbitz Torah in the Sefardic community in Brooklyn and Deal, impacting thousands of people is so many ways.
He is survived by his wife, Mrs. Molly Haber; his siblings, Harry Haber and Sylvia Shababo; his children, Rabbi Joey Haber, Rabbi Shaul Haber, Rabbi Yaakov Haber, Rabbi Moshe Haber, Rabbi David Haber, Mrs. Chani Shelby, Mrs. Simi Mizrahi, Mrs. Nechama Srour, and Mrs. Rivka Nakash.
The levayah is being held this morning at Magen David on 67th Street in Brooklyn.
The family will be sitting shivah at 1554 East 2nd Street in Brooklyn, NY.
Yehi zichro boruch.
{*Matzav.com*}
A meeting in Lakewood, NJ today of roshei yeshiva was focused on a fresh set of measures to combat the escalating challenges in the realm of shidduchim faced by bnos Yisroel.
At the forefront of this initiative are senior American roshei yeshiva, including Rav Shlomo Feivel Schustal, rosh yeshiva of Yeshiva Tiferes Yerachmiel of Lakewood; Rav Elya Chaim Swerdloff, rosh yeshiva of Yeshiva Gedolah of Paterson; Rav Elya Ber Wachtfogel, rosh yeshiva of Yeshiva Gedolah of South Fallsburg; Rav Mordechai Dick, rosh yeshiva of Yeshiva Heichal HaTorah of Monsey; and Rav Mendel Slomovits, rosh yeshiva of Yeshiva Toras Chaim of Lakewood.
The effort was inspired by the hadracha of the Slabodka rosh yeshiva, Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch.
The gathering today, held at the home of Rav Shlomo Feivel Schustal on Cabinfield Circle in Village Park in Lakewood, yielded a unanimous decision among the roshei yeshiva to introduce a transformative rule mandating that bochurim go to learn in Eretz Yisroel no later than Pesach of third-year bais medrash.
While the precise timeline for the implementation of this takanah remains to be determined, it is anticipated that these changes will be set into motion once yeshivos have assimilated the new directives.
It was discussed that the burden of resolving the shidduch crisis is not to be borne solely by the bochurim. Young women are also called upon to make significant adjustments, delaying the commencement of their dating by a year subsequent to their return from seminary.
The roshei yeshiva underscored the need for collaboration among both young women and their families, recognizing that shidduch solutions focusing solely on the bochurim will prove inadequate in addressing the overarching issue.
A comprehensive outreach campaign is on the horizon, aimed at persuading and incentivizing young women and their families to embrace this adjusted timeline for entering the shidduch scene.
Further details regarding this shidduch initiative will be disseminated in due course.
Today’s meeting came many years after the NASI Initiative first raised awareness regarding the shidduchim age gap and its devastating impact on the shidduch scene in the American Torah world.
The meeting follows months of concerted effort, tracing back to a pivotal meeting between American roshei yeshiva and Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch several months ago in Bnei Brak.
Later, while in the United States, Rav Hirsch again spoke to roshei yeshiva to address their inquiries and reservations concerning the proposed takanah.
{Matzav.com}
It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of Rav Yechiel Yitzchok Perr zt”l, rosh yeshiva of Yeshiva Derech Ayson of Far Rockaway. He was 89.
Rav Perr grew up in South Ozone Park, Queens, where his father, Rav Menachem Mendel Perr, served as rov for over 50 years. He was a son of Rav Menachem Mendel and Rebbetzin Leah Perr.
He attended high school at Yeshivas Rabbeinu Chaim Berlin and then at Bais Medrash Govoah in Lakewood, where he learned under the rosh yeshiva, Rav Aharon Kotler, from 1954 to 1962. Rav Aharon sent Rav Perr to learn at Yeshiva of Philadelphia and be a member of the group of the founding talmidim of the yeshiva.
Rav Perr married his wife, Rebbetzin Shoshana, née Nekritz, daughter of Rav Yehuda Leib Nekritz, granddaughter of Rav Avraham Jofen, and great-granddaughter of the Alter of Novardok.
In 1969, he founded Yeshiva of Far Rockaway, which he led for decades together with the late menahel, Rav Ahron Brafman. With remarkable dedication, Rav Perr grew the yeshiva into a bastion of Torah, educating and inspiring generations of talmidim. Rav Perr was not just a brilliant talmid chochom, but a consummate baal mussar and an extraordinary mechanech. He was unique in so many ways and his petirah leaves a gaping void in the hearts of all who were fortunate to know him and be uplifted by his example.
Rav Perr is survived by his illustrious wife, Rebbetzin Shoshana Perr, and their children and grandchildren.
The levayah will be held Sunday, at 11 a.m., at Yeshiva of Far Rockaway, located at 802 Hicksville Road in Far Rockaway, NY. The aron will then be flown to Eretz Yisroel for kevurah on Har Hamenuchos in Yerushalayim.
Yehi zichro boruch.
{Matzav.com}
It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of Rabbi Avrohom Stefansky zt”l.
Rabbi Stefansky was a talmid of Bais Medrash Govoah in Lakewood during the early days of the yeshiva, drawing close to the rosh yeshiva, Rav Aharon Kotler zt”l, whom he would drive and accompany on a regular basis. Rabbi Stefansky was an indispensable meshameish to Rav Aharon, who was forever grateful to his talmid for his support and assistance during those years.
Ultimately, Rabbi Stefansky relocated to Eretz Yisroel. In 1989, he became director general of Neve Yerushalayim. While serving as a right hand to Neve founder Rabbi Dovid Refson, Rabbi Stefansky provided extraordinary leadership to the institution and was as a spiritual inspiration to the staff and students.
The levayah is being held now, at 2 p.m., at the Bendheim Bais Medrash of Bais Medrash Govoah, located at 617 6th Street in Lakewood, NJ.
Yehi zichro boruch.
{Dov T. Heller – Matzav.com}
All are asked to daven for a refuah for Rav Yitzchok Abadi.
Rav Abadi was transported to the hospital this past Shabbos with pneumonia. His health has since been deteriorating.
The 91-year-old rov and posek, born in Venezuela, moved to Tiveriah as a child and learned in Haifa, then in the Yishuv Hachadash in Tel Aviv, and then at Yeshivas Chevron in Yerushalayim. At age 19, he was sent by the Chazon Ish to learn in Montreux, Switzerland, and a year later he was sent by the Chazon Ish to learn in Lakewood under Rav Aharon Kotler.
A noted halachic expert, Rav Abadi has led a preeminent halacha kollel in Lakewood and in Har Nof, Yerushalayim. His seforim include the two-volume Ohr Yitzchok.
All are asked to daven for Rav Yitzchok ben Rivka.
{Matzav.com}
The Israeli government submitted an affidavit to the High Court of Justice on Wednesday informing the court that it has begun formulating “action plans to realize the conscription of chareidi men in the immediate time frame.”
The state added that the Ministry of Defense and the IDF were working on a plan with a longer-term view that would involve the gradual enlistment of chareidi men.
The state also requested an extension of several weeks to give the staff developing the plan enough time to complete it, after which the plan will be presented to the court.
The government noted in requesting the extension that “in light of significant security events during the last 10 days, the staff work on the issue was stopped and no real progress was possible.”
It also said that Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara conceded to the government’s request for independent legal representation on the chareidi issue only on April 21, and with Passover beginning immediately following (April 22), it hadn’t time to appoint one.
(Normally, the attorney general represents the government before the court, but when she expressed opposition to the government’s position, it requested separate representation.)
Even though Baharav-Miara submitted the state’s position to the High Court on Wednesday, the government still insists on a private attorney.
The State Attorney’s Office criticized the government’s request for independent representation. Deputy State Attorney General Gil Limon sent a letter to Cabinet Secretary Yossi Fuchs on Wednesday accusing the government of attempting to undermine his office.
“This course of action is a continuation of the attempt, which is part of what was called the ‘legal reform,’ to weaken the status of the attorney general, bypass it, and harm its ability to protect the public interest and the rule of law,” Limon wrote.
The hearing before the High Court, which is expected to be heard by a panel of nine justices, the maximum, is scheduled to take place on June 2. JNS
{Matzav.com Israel}
A large crowd gathered on Isru Chag on Techeiles Mordechai Street in the Romema neighborhood of Yerushalayim to express gratitude for the nissim that were experienced in the terror attack on Erev Yom Tov.
Seated on the dais were the four survivors who miraculously sustained only minor injuries and were released from the hospital to their homes before Yom Tov.
Also present were the neighborhood rabbonim and the rosh yeshiva of the Ohr Yerushalayim Yeshiva, Rav Dovid Shapira.
The event was addressed by Shlomie Einhorn, whose two cars were damaged in the attack. Shlomie called for unity among Klal Yisroel and emphasized the obligation to unite especially in these days because of the tangible miracle that was witnessed.
At the event’s conclusion, the former mayor of Elad, Yisroel Porush, recited Mizmor Lesodah with great emotion together with the crowd.
VIDEO AND PHOTOS:
{Matzav.com Israel}
חג הפסח אצל הגרמ”ה הירשצילום: באדיבות המצלם
חג הפסח אצל הגרמ”ה הירשצילום: באדיבות המצלםחג הפסח אצל הגרמ”ה הירשצילום: באדיבות המצלםחג הפסח אצל הגרמ”ה הירשצילום: באדיבות המצלםחג הפסח אצל הגרמ”ה הירשצילום: באדיבות המצלםחג הפסח אצל הגרמ”ה הירשצילום: באדיבות המצלםחג הפסח אצל הגרמ”ה הירשצילום: באדיבות המצלםחג הפסח אצל הגרמ”ה הירשצילום: באדיבות המצלםחג הפסח אצל הגרמ”ה הירשצילום: באדיבות המצלםחג הפסח אצל הגרמ”ה הירשצילום: באדיבות המצלםחג הפסח אצל הגרמ”ה הירשצילום: באדיבות המצלםהגר”א פילץ בביקור בחג אצל הגרמ”ה הירשצילום: באדיבות המצלםחג הפסח אצל הגרמ”ה הירשצילום: באדיבות המצלםחג הפסח אצל הגרמ”ה הירשצילום: באדיבות המצלםחג הפסח אצל הגרמ”ה הירשצילום: באדיבות המצלםחג הפסח אצל הגרמ”ה הירשצילום: באדיבות המצלםחג הפסח אצל הגרמ”ה הירשצילום: באדיבות המצלםחג הפסח אצל הגרמ”ה הירשצילום: באדיבות המצלםחג הפסח אצל הגרמ”ה הירשצילום: באדיבות המצלםחג הפסח אצל הגרמ”ה הירשצילום: באדיבות המצלםחג הפסח אצל הגרמ”ה הירשצילום: באדיבות המצלםחג הפסח אצל הגרמ”ה הירשצילום: באדיבות המצלםחג הפסח אצל הגרמ”ה הירשצילום: באדיבות המצלםחג הפסח אצל הגרמ”ה הירשצילום: באדיבות המצלםחג הפסח אצל הגרמ”ה הירשצילום: באדיבות המצלםחג הפסח אצל הגרמ”ה הירשצילום: באדיבות המצלםחג הפסח אצל הגרמ”ה הירשצילום: באדיבות המצלםחג הפסח אצל הגרמ”ה הירשצילום: באדיבות המצלםחג הפסח אצל הגרמ”ה הירשצילום: באדיבות המצלםחג הפסח אצל הגרמ”ה הירשצילום: באדיבות המצלםחג הפסח אצל הגרמ”ה הירשצילום: באדיבות המצלםחג הפסח אצל הגרמ”ה הירשצילום: באדיבות המצלםחג הפסח אצל הגרמ”ה הירשצילום: באדיבות המצלםחג הפסח אצל הגרמ”ה הירשצילום: באדיבות המצלםחג הפסח אצל הגרמ”ה הירשצילום: באדיבות המצלםחג הפסח אצל הגרמ”ה הירשצילום: באדיבות המצלםחג הפסח אצל הגרמ”ה הירשצילום: באדיבות המצלםחג הפסח אצל הגרמ”ה הירשצילום: באדיבות המצלםחג הפסח אצל הגרמ”ה הירשצילום: באדיבות המצלםחג הפסח אצל הגרמ”ה הירשצילום: באדיבות המצלםחג הפסח אצל הגרמ”ה הירשצילום: באדיבות המצלםחג הפסח אצל הגרמ”ה הירשצילום: באדיבות המצלםחג הפסח אצל הגרמ”ה הירשצילום: באדיבות המצלםחג הפסח אצל הגרמ”ה הירשצילום: באדיבות המצלםחג הפסח אצל הגרמ”ה הירשצילום: באדיבות המצלםחג הפסח אצל הגרמ”ה הירשצילום: באדיבות המצלםחג הפסח אצל הגרמ”ה הירשצילום: באדיבות המצלםחג הפסח אצל הגרמ”ה הירשצילום: באדיבות המצלםהגרמ”ה הירש בשיעור בחג צילום: ח. קלייןחג הפסח אצל הגרמ”ה הירשצילום: באדיבות המצלםחג הפסח אצל הגרמ”ה הירשצילום: באדיבות המצלםחג הפסח אצל הגרמ”ה הירשצילום: באדיבות המצלםחג הפסח אצל הגרמ”ה הירשצילום: באדיבות המצלםחג הפסח אצל הגרמ”ה הירשצילום: באדיבות המצלםהרב גרוס בתפילה נדירה: “ני
חג הפסח אצל הגר”מ שטרנבוךצילום: רפאל שוורץ וצבי בלוםחג הפסח אצל הגר”מ שטרנבוךצילום: רפאל שוורץ וצבי בלוםחג הפסח אצל הגר”מ שטרנבוךצילום: רפאל שוורץ וצבי בלוםחג הפסח אצל הגר”מ שטרנבוךצילום: רפאל שוורץ וצבי בלוםחג הפסח אצל הגר”מ שטרנבוךצילום: רפאל שוורץ וצבי בלוםחג הפסח אצל הגר”מ שטרנבוךצילום: רפאל שוורץ וצבי בלוםחג הפסח אצל הגר”מ שטרנבוךצילום: רפאל שוורץ וצבי בלוםחג הפסח אצל הגר”מ שטרנבוךצילום: רפאל שוורץ וצבי בלוםחג הפסח אצל הגר”מ שטרנבוךצילום: רפאל שוורץ וצבי בלוםחג הפסח אצל הגר”מ שטרנבוךצילום: רפאל שוורץ וצבי בלוםחג הפסח אצל הגר”מ שטרנבוךצילום: רפאל שוורץ וצבי בלוםחג הפסח אצל הגר”מ שטרנבוךצילום: רפאל שוורץ וצבי בלוםחג הפסח אצל הגר”מ שטרנבוךצילום: רפאל שוורץ וצבי בלוםחג הפסח אצל הגר”מ שטרנבוךצילום: רפאל שוורץ וצבי בלוםחג הפסח אצל הגר”מ שטרנבוךצילום: רפאל שוורץ וצבי בלוםחג הפסח אצל הגר”מ שטרנבוךצילום: רפאל שוורץ וצבי בלוםחג הפסח אצל הגר”מ שטרנבוךצילום: רפאל שוורץ וצבי בלוםחג הפסח אצל הגר”מ שטרנבוךצילום: רפאל שוורץ וצבי בלוםחג הפסח אצל הגר”מ שטרנבוךצילום: רפאל שוורץ וצבי בלוםחג הפסח אצל הגר”מ שטרנבוךצילום: רפאל שוורץ וצבי בלוםחג הפסח אצל הגר”מ שטרנבוךצילום: רפאל שוורץ וצבי בלוםחג הפסח אצל הגר”מ שטרנבוךצילום: רפאל שוורץ וצבי בלוםחג הפסח אצל הגר”מ שטרנבוךצילום: רפאל שוורץ וצבי בלוםחג הפסח אצל הגר”מ שטרנבוךצילום: רפאל שוורץ וצבי בלוםחג הפסח אצל הגר”מ שטרנבוךצילום: רפאל שוורץ וצבי בלוםחג הפסח אצל הגר”מ שטרנבוךצילום: רפאל שוורץ וצבי בלוםחג הפסח אצל הגר”מ שטרנבוךצילום: רפאל שוורץ וצבי בלוםחג הפסח אצל הגר”מ שטרנבוךצילום: רפאל שוורץ וצבי בלוםחג הפסח אצל הגר”מ שטרנבוךצילום: רפאל שוורץ וצבי בלוםחג הפסח אצל הגר”מ שטרנבוךצילום: רפאל שוורץ וצבי בלוםחג הפסח אצל הגר”מ שטרנבוךצילום: רפאל שוורץ וצבי בלוםחג הפסח אצל הגר”מ שטרנבוךצילום: רפאל שוורץ וצבי בלוםחג הפסח אצל הגר”מ שטרנבוךצילום: רפאל שוורץ וצבי בלוםחג הפסח אצל הגר”מ שטרנבוךצילום: רפאל שוורץ וצבי בלוםחג הפסח אצל הגר”מ שטרנבוךצילום: רפאל שוורץ וצבי בלוםחג הפסח אצל הגר”מ שטרנבוךצילום: רפאל שוורץ וצבי בלוםחג הפסח אצל הגר”מ שטרנבוךצילום: רפאל שוורץ וצבי בלוםחג הפסח אצל הגר”מ שטרנבוךצילום: רפאל שוורץ וצבי בלוםחג הפסח אצל הגר”מ שטרנבוךצילום: רפאל שוורץ וצבי בלוםחג הפסח אצל הגר”מ שטרנבוךצילום: רפאל שוורץ וצבי בלוםחג הפסח אצל הגר”מ שטרנבוךצילום: רפאל שוורץ וצבי בלוםחג הפסח אצל הגר”מ שטרנבוךצילום: רפאל שוורץ וצבי בלוםחג הפסח אצל הגר”מ שטרנבוךצילום: רפאל שוורץ וצבי בלוםחג הפסח אצל הגר”מ שטרנבוךצילום: רפאל שוורץ וצבי בלוםחג הפסח אצל הגר”מ שטרנבוךצילום: רפאל שוורץ וצבי בלוםעוד באותו נושא
Amid mounting security concerns in northern Israel, the Israel Defense Forces have proposed the abandonment of this year’s customary Lag Ba’omer celebrations in Meron.
This proposal, first reported by Yediot Acharonot, comes three weeks ahead of Lag Ba’omer and follows a series of consultations held by the IDF’s Northern Command and Home Front Command.
The escalating tensions with Hezbollah and recent missile assaults targeting the Meron vicinity from Lebanon have sparked considerable safety apprehensions. The IDF’s suggestion arises from the perceived peril posed by even modest congregations in the area. Over the past few months, Hezbollah has unleashed multiple rockets and missiles toward Northern Command installations in the Meron locale. The persisting threat remains, with the IDF assessing that the situation is not likely to ameliorate. These assaults have inflicted casualties, occasionally leading to civilian injuries or fatalities.
If approved, the proposal would involve the classification of the Meron site as a restricted military area throughout Lag Ba’omer. Both law enforcement and IDF personnel would implement this directive, preventing access to the location. This recommendation mirrors a prior decision made roughly one month earlier, when an event honoring the passing of Moses, slated to occur at Mount Meron, was scrapped based on an IDF suggestion.
“In line with the updated operational situational evaluation, the IDF has advised the relevant stakeholders that the gatherings commemorating the passing of Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai, scheduled to occur on Mount Meron on May 25-26, 2024, be called off,” the IDF declared. “There are no further alterations in the home front directives.”
{Matzav.com Israel}
It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of Rav Yisroel Moshe Fried zt”l, who was niftar on Acharon Shel Pesach.
Rav Fried was the rov of the Neustadt Bais Medrash on County Line Road in Lakewood. He had battled illness recently.
Rav Fried was an outstanding talmid chochom and posek who was supremely dedicated to his mispallelim and those who sought his counsel and psakim.
The levayah was held today at the Neustadt Bais Medrash in Lakewood. Kevurah took place in Monsey.
Yehi zichro boruch.
{Matzav.com Israel}
Rav Asher Halevi Soloveitchik zt”l, youngest son of Rav Meshulam Dovid Soloveitchik zt”l, Rosh Yeshivas Brisk, and a grandson of the Brisker Rov, was niftar on Isru Chag in Yerushalayim.
On Chol Hamoed, Rav Asher collapsed in his home on Rechov Nechemiah in Yerushalayim, and after prolonged resuscitation efforts, he was transferred to Shaarei Tzedek Medical center, where it was determined that he suffered a severe stroke.
Rav Asher was 54 and was niftar this morning at the hospital. He was an outstanding talmid chochom and boki who was known at Yeshivas Brisk for his hasmadah, learning at Brisk since his younger years.
The levayah was held this morning at Yeshivas Brisk, followed by kevurah on Har Hamenuchos in Yerushalayim.
He is survived by his mother, Rebbetzin Yehudis, sister of Rav Moshe Shternbuch; his wife and family.
Yehi zichro boruch.
{Matzav.com Israel}
The Olam HaTorah is davening for a refuah for Rav Asher Soloveitchik, youngest son of Rav Meshulam Dovid Soloveitchik zt”l, Rosh Yeshivas Brisk, and a grandson of the Brisker Rov.
Early this morning, Rav Asher collapsed in his home on Rechov Nechemiah in Yerushalayim, and after prolonged resuscitation efforts, he was transferred to Shaarei Tzedek Medical center, where it was determined that he suffered a severe neurological episode.
Rabbi Asher, age 54, was visited today at the hospital by his mother, Rebbetzin Yehudis, sister of Rav Moshe Shternbuch.
All are asked to daven for Rav Asher Shlomo Zalman ben Yehudis.
{Matzav.com}
Tonight, Motzoei Shabbos Chol Hamoed, Sephardic Chief Rabbi Rav Yitzchok Yosef addressed the recent missile attacks on Israel, attributing the nation’s protection to lomdei Torah.
Reflecting on the onslaught of thirteen thousand missiles, Rav Yosef asserted, “What miracles. By whose merit is it? In the merit of the Chief of Staff? In the merit of the Torah learners, the yeshiva students. This is the correct perspective.”
Despite facing criticism for his previous remarks on the Draft Law, Rav Yosef remained steadfast in his conviction, stating, “A few hesder yeshiva deans…called on me to rescind my statements. I said that I will not rescind them. Anyone who does not believe in this is a heretic.”
Last month, Rav Yosef’s comments stirred controversy when he remarked, “There are young men who are serving in reserves there, not everyone merits to learn Torah. We all merited to be yeshiva students who are exempted from the army? But shevet Levi is exempted from the army. They do not draft them, under any circumstances. No matter what. If they force us to join the army – we will all travel abroad. We will buy tickets…there is no such thing.”
Expounding on the significance of limud haTorah, Rav Yosef emphasized, “All of these secular people who do not understand this – they need to understand that without the Torah, without the yeshivas – there would be no existence, they would not have success in the army. Whatever is successful, the army, it is only in the merit of the soldiers…. sorry, the Torah learners. The soldiers are successful in the merit of the Torah learners. Rabbis, everyone needs to say this with pride. Yes, we busy ourselves with Torah, and the Torah is what protects us.”
{Matzav.com Israel}
Today, Rabbi Feivel Mashinsky is the director of Kupath Ezrah of Rockland County. Decades ago, the longtime Monsey resident was a talmid of the Klausenberger Rebbe zt”l, and the interactions that he had with the rebbe forever changed his life. Rabbi Mashinsky merited a close connection to the rebbe, including writing his shiurim and shmuessen. In this Inside ArtScroll interview, Rabbi Mashinsky, with his special chein and eloquence, and with remarkable recall, takes us back to a different time and a different world, to those years when he merited basking in the greatness of the Klausenberger Rebbe, providing a glimpse into the remarkable life depicted in the new ArtScroll biography. [Buy the new book HERE.]
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Watch all Inside ArtScroll episodes at: Inside.Artscroll.com.
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Inside ArtScroll is also available on TorahAnytime.com.
From the time that Rabbi Chaim Aryeh Zev Ginzberg was a young yeshiva bochur learning in Eretz Yisroel through today as a seasoned rov for almost 40 years, he had the merit to do what most of us just dream about. He had developed a close and personal connection to almost all of the gedolei hador of the previous generation and spent a great deal of time with many of them. He would personally ask them hundreds of contemporary shailos in all areas of halacha and hashkafah, and he immediately committed their responses in writing, often reviewing with them what he had written.
These responses comprise the sefer Shailos Uteshuvos Divrei Chachomim, which, in a new edition, contains hundreds of shailos that were never publicized before, including an expanded hashkafah section. In this Inside ArtScroll interview, Rabbi Ginzberg discusses this new sefer, as well as his interactions with the gedolei hador, sharing fascinating stories and reminiscences. [Buy the new book HERE.]
WATCH:
Watch all Inside ArtScroll episodes at: Inside.Artscroll.com.
TO LISTEN TO THE PODCAST OF THE INTERVIEW, CLICK ON THE PODCAST PLATFORM YOU WANT:
Spotify
Apple Podcast
Podbean
Tune-In
Stitcher
Or
Podcast.ArtScroll.com
Inside ArtScroll is also available on TorahAnytime.com.
After successfully thwarting Iran’s recent assault on Israel, the Nadvorna Rebbe of Eretz Yisroel urged his chassidim to express gratitude to Hashem for the myriad miracles witnessed by the Jewish people.
“While jubilation should fill our streets in acknowledgment of the miracles and benevolence bestowed upon us by Hakadosh Boruch Hu, let us, at the very least, offer our thanks to Him on this evening,” he told his chassidim on the leil haSeder.
“We should be dancing in the street after the failed attack,” he said.
The Rebbe encouraged them to undertake the completion of Shas over the next year as an expression of hoda’ah (thanks) for the remarkable Divine intervention.
{Matzav.com Israel}
Tens of thousands of Yidden attended a mass Birkas Kohanim this morning at the Kosel. The large Birkas Kohanim is held every Chol Hamoed and draws tremendous crowds.
The entire Old City of Yerushalayim was closed to vehicles as thousands streamed by foot and via bus to the Kosel. Some had davened Shacharis elsewhere, while others took part at minyanim at the Kosel. All joined together for the central Birkas Kohanim,with the Kosel chazzan calling out the bracha over a microphone. Hundreds of kohanim gathered at the front of the minyan, right by the Kosel, to bentch their fellow Yidden.
After davening, many in the crowd went to greet Rav Shmuel Rabinovitch, rov of the Kosel, and the chief rabbis to receive their bracha and wish them chag sameiach.
The biannual event was first started by Rav Menachem Mendel Gefner zt”l.
This was the 54th year since the first public Birkas Kohanim took place on Pesach at the Kosel.
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It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of Rav Yitzchok Notis zt”l.
Rav Notis was a beloved maggid shiur at Telshe Yeshiva in Cleveland for over 50 years, impacting generations of talmidim.
Rav Notis was born in Saginaw, Michigan 91 years ago. He went to learn at Mesivta Tiferes Yerushalayim in New York City before his bar mitzvah and then transferred to Telshe Yeshiva in Ohio, where he remained for the next five decades.
Rav Notis began delivering shiurim as a bochur, standing out for his yedios haTorah, his hasmadah, his humility and his extraordinary middos tovos. His career in harbotzas haTorah continued after his marriage, the bochurim witnessing how Torah transforms a person into an outstanding oveid Hashem suffused with ruchniyus.
The levayah was held at midnight at the Congregation Sons of Israel Holocaust Memorial Chapel on Ramsey Avenue, off of East 7th Street, in Lakewood, NJ.
Yehi zichro boruch.
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{Matzav.com}
הגר”מ שטרנבוך בבדיקת חמץצילום: באדיבות המצלםהגר”מ שטרנבוך בבדיקת חמץצילום: באדיבות המצלםהגר”מ שטרנבוך בבדיקת חמץצילום: באדיבות המצלםהגר”מ שטרנבוך בבדיקת חמץצילום: באדיבות המצלםהגר”מ שטרנבוך בבדיקת חמץצילום: באדיבות המצלםהגר”מ שטרנבוך בבדיקת חמץצילום: באדיבות המצלםהגר”מ שטרנבוך במכירת חמץצילום: רפאל שוורץהגר”מ שטרנבוך במכירת חמץצילום: רפאל שוורץהגר”מ שטרנבוך במכירת חמץצילום: רפאל שוורץהגר”מ שטרנבוך במכירת חמץצילום: רפאל שוורץהגר”מ שטרנבוך במכירת חמץצילום: רפאל שוורץהגר”מ שטרנבוך במכירת חמץצילום: רפאל שוורץהגר”מ שטרנבוך במכירת חמץצילום: רפאל שוורץהגר”מ שטרנבוך במכירת חמץצילום: רפאל שוורץהגר”מ שטרנבוך במכירת חמץצילום: רפאל שוורץהגר”מ שטרנבוך במכירת חמץצילום: רפאל שוורץהגר”מ שטרנבוך במכירת חמץצילום: רפאל שוורץהגר”מ שטרנבוך במכירת חמץצילום: רפאל שוורץהגר”מ שטרנבוך במכירת חמץצילום: רפאל שוורץהגר”מ שטרנבוך במכירת חמץצילום: רפאל שוורץהגר”מ שטרנבוך במכירת חמץצילום: רפאל שוורץהגר”מ שטרנבוך במכירת חמץצילום: רפאל שוורץהגר”מ שטרנבוך במכירת חמץצילום: רפאל שוורץהגר”מ שטרנבוך במכירת חמץצילום: רפאל שוורץ
הרבי מויז’ניץ באפיית מצותצילום: יהושע פרוכטרהרבי מויז’ניץ באפיית מצותצילום: יהושע פרוכטרהרבי מויז’ניץ באפיית מצותצילום: יהושע פרוכטרהרבי מויז’ניץ באפיית מצותצילום: יהושע פרוכטרהרבי מויז’ניץ באפיית מצותצילום: יהושע פרוכטרהרבי מויז’ניץ באפיית מצותצילום: יהושע פרוכטרהרבי מויז’ניץ באפיית מצותצילום: יהושע פרוכטרהרבי מויז’ניץ באפיית מצותצילום: יהושע פרוכטרהרבי מויז’ניץ באפיית מצותצילום: יהושע פרוכטרהרבי מויז’ניץ באפיית מצותצילום: יהושע פרוכטרהרבי מויז’ניץ באפיית מצותצילום: יהושע פרוכטרהרבי מויז’ניץ באפיית מצותצילום: יהושע פרוכטרהרבי מויז’ניץ באפיית מצותצילום: יהושע פרוכטרהרבי מויז’ניץ באפיית מצותצילום: יהושע פרוכטרהרבי מויז’ניץ באפיית מצותצילום: יהושע פרוכטרהרבי מויז’ניץ באפיית מצותצילום: יהושע פרוכטרהרבי מויז’ניץ באפיית מצותצילום: יהושע פרוכטרהרבי מויז’ניץ באפיית מצותצילום: יהושע פרוכטרהרבי מויז’ניץ באפיית מצותצילום: יהושע פרוכטרהרבי מויז’ניץ באפיית מצותצילום: יהושע פרוכטרהרבי מויז’ניץ באפיית מצותצילום: יהושע פרוכטרהרבי מויז’ניץ באפיית מצותצילום: יהושע פרוכטרהרבי מויז’ניץ באפיית מצותצילום: יהושע פרוכטרהרבי מויז’ניץ באפיית מצותצילום: יהושע פרוכטרהרבי מויז’ניץ באפיית מצותצילום: יהושע פרוכטרהרבי מויז’ניץ באפיית מצותצילום: יהושע פרוכטרהרבי מויז’ניץ באפיית מצותצילום: יהושע פרוכטרהרבי מויז’ניץ באפיית מצותצילום: יהושע פרוכטרהרבי מויז’ניץ באפיית מצותצילום: יהושע פרוכטרהרבי מויז’ניץ באפיית מצותצילום: יהושע פרוכטרהרבי מויז’ניץ באפיית מצותצילום: יהושע פרוכטרהרבי מויז’ניץ באפיית מצותצילום: יהושע פרוכטרהרבי מויז’ניץ באפיית מצותצילום: יהושע פרוכטרהרבי מויז’ניץ באפיית מצותצילום: יהושע פרוכטרהרבי מויז’ניץ באפיית מצותצילום: יהושע פרוכטרהרבי מויז’ניץ באפיית מצותצילום: יהושע פרוכטרהרבי מויז’ניץ באפיית מצותצילום: יהושע פרוכטר
Watch: Rav Itche Meir Morgenstern and a large crowd performing biur chometz at the site of this morning’s terror attack in Yerushalayim, not just fulfilling the mitzvah, but doing so in way that expressed gratitude for the Heavenly miracles that spared those at the site of the frightening car ramming.
At the instruction of Israeli Finance Minister Betzalel Smotrich, the chief rabbis of Israel sold all of the chometz owned by the state to an Arab Israeli businessman, the Chief Rabbinate of Israel announced.
The sale has “halachic and legal validity and allows the citizens of Israel to properly observe the commandments of Pesach without the fear of chometz remaining in their possession,” the Chief Rabbinate said.
Hussein Jabar, 64, from the Arab town of Abu Ghosh west of Israel’s capital, paid a deposit of 20,000 shekels ($5,300).
After Yom Tov, he will be offered the possibility of completing the transaction, which has an estimated total value of $150 billion.
“The ceremony took place at 11 a.m. at the Chief Rabbinate of Israel in Yerushalayim. It felt very dignified. It made me proud and it was moving,” Jabar told JNS on Sunday night after signing the agreement.
“I put together a team of experts in the food and catering business from Abu Ghosh. We are about 10 people, and we designed a plan to raise the money. Hopefully, this year, we will make it happen,” Jabar said.
If Jabar and his partners fail to raise the total amount before the end of Pesach on the night of April 30, the ownership will revert to the state.
Jabar took over the task some 28 years ago after the previous buyer, also from Abu Ghosh, was relieved of his duties when it was discovered his maternal grandmother may have been Jewish.
At Yerushalayim’s Ramada Hotel, where he has worked for about 40 years, Jabar met with Rav Yisroel Meir Lau, then-Ashkenazi chief rabbi of Israel, who suggested he take the job.
Jabar said on Sunday, “My family is really happy for me. They love it. By doing this, I feel that I am creating a connection between the Jews and the Arabs in Israel, bridging the gap between both communities.”
As Israel enters its seventh month of war in Gaza triggered by Hamas’s Oct. 7 massacre of some 1,200 people, Jabar expressed a wish for quieter times. “I hope we will soon have peace and only good news for everyone. I wish the people of Israel a kosher and happy Pesach,” he told JNS.
As part of the ceremony, Smotrich authorized the chief rabbis, Rav Dovid Lau and Rav Yitzchok Yosef, to carry out the mechirah on behalf of the state.
“Since the chag of Simchas Torah, when the terrible disaster happened to us, we have been praying for the success of the security forces,” said Rav Yosef. “We need to continue to pray for our soldiers, who give their lives and fight on the northern and southern borders and wherever they are.”
Rav Lau said, “Our neighbors want to destroy us and make us forget the joy, but the entire nation of Israel has stood up to fight for its home, for our essence as the Jewish people—we are not ready to give up on that.” JNS
By Rabbi Chaim Dovid Zwiebel, executive vice president, Agudath Israel of AmericaUpon the Yahrtzeit of the Novominsker Rebbe zt”l, todayI had the zchus, for over 35 years, to work closely with the Novominsker Rebbe ztvk’l in the vineyards of Agudas Yisroel. Many of those interactions were memorable, and I had frequent occasion to marvel at the brilliance, compassion and vision of this great leader.But perhaps the project the Rebbe undertook that will remain with me most vividly is the very last one I had the privilege to work with him on: the letter of brocha and chizuk issued by the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah earlier this week, on Monday 12 Nisan, in advance of the upcoming Yom Tov of Pesach.One of the ways the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah communicates with Klal Yisroel is through written statements. For many years, the Novominsker Rebbe served as the primary draftsman of such statements. His mastery of Loshon Hakodesh, and his ability to convey thoughts and ideas with precision, elegance and economy, made the Rebbe the natural choice to put the Moetzes’s directives into writing.Of course, that is not to say that the Novominsker Rebbe was the sole author of statements of the Moetzes; other members of the Moetzes would typically review the Rebbe’s drafts and offer additions, subtractions or other suggestions. But at the end of the process, the document would largely represent the product of the Rebbe’s labors.Which brings us to the Moetzes’s most recent 12 Nisan “Michtav Brocha V’chizuk.”Last Thursday afternoon, 8 Nisan, Reb Shloime Werdiger (chairman of Agudah’s board of trustees) and I called the Rebbe with a suggestion that the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah issue a pre-Pesach message of chizuk to Klal Yisroel in these unprecedented times. We didn’t spell it out, but of course the Rebbe understood that we were asking him to draft such a statement.The Rebbe became extremely emotional on the phone. “I am very shvach and really don’t have the koichos to write such a letter, but it’s the right thing to do, and I have an achrayus.” The Rebbe told us he had two prior public commitments he had to deal with first — a telephone shiur he was saying that evening for the kehila of Washington Heights, and another telephone shiur, for the mispallelim of his bais medrash, at 12:00 Friday morning — and that afterwards he would do his best to draft a letter for the Moetzes.To my amazement, at approximately 10:00 Friday morning I received a call from the Rebbe, telling me that he had decided to work on the text of the letter overnight, and that he would like to read it to me as a proposed Moetzes statement. He then proceeded to dictate his draft statement, four full paragraphs long, which I transcribed.In discussing the draft with Reb Shloime Werdiger, we felt that the letter might benefit through the addition of one other paragraph, and I conveyed this to the Rebbe on a Motzoei Shabbos phone call. The Rebbe agreed that the suggestion we had made was an important one. “I’m not feeling so well and don’t have the koiach to work on this tonight,” the Rebbe told me, “but b’ezras Hashem I hope to do it tomorrow.”And so he did. On Sunday afternoon, 11 Nisan, the Rebbe called me to dictate the additional paragraph we had discussed, as well as several other changes he wanted made to the statement. “That’s it, Chaim Dovid, this is what I can do. Please circulate this to as many of the chaveirim of the Moetzes as you can reach, make whatever additional changes they see fit, and let’s get it out to the entire tzibbur tomorrow.”The turnaround time was tight, but we were able b’H to share and discuss the statement with seven members of the Moetzes, some of whom had minor comments which were incorporated into the statement and all of whom expressed enthusiastic support for the message it embodied.True to the Rebbe’s directive, we finalized the Moetzes’s Michtav Brocha V’chizuk and published it, along with an English-language free translation, on Monday afternoon 12 Nisan.Then, just hours later, in the early morning of 13 Nisan, we heard the besura lo tova that our heilige Novominsker Rebbe had been taken from us. Gevald! Boruch Dayan Ho’emes.So what was the Rebbe’s parting message to Klal Yisroel? I will not attempt to summarize the many substantive points of the Moetzes statement, but I believe the key point is this:After taking note of the unprecedented circumstances of the day, when all the pain and suffering we are enduring makes it difficult to fathom how we might conceivably fulfill our obligation on Seder night of celebrating Yetzias Mitzraim as a personal contemporary reality, the Moetzes proclaims “Davka Achshov!” — specifically now we have the opportunity and obligation of celebrating Zman Cheiruseinu, our time of freedom, at a higher level than ever before.For what is cheirus, freedom, in its ultimate sense? Freedom from physical bondage, of course, but so much more: cheirus hanefesh, freedom of the spirit for Torah and mitzvos; cheirus, freedom, to honor Hashem and perform acts of kindness, which is the very purpose of our lives; cheirus, freedom, to have knowledge and fear of Hashem, which is the ultimate destiny of all of creation.Davka achshav, at a time when everything about our lives has changed so dramatically and all our illusions of “normalcy” have been shattered, davka now is when we can gain a higher appreciation of what Zman Cheiruseinu truly entails and reach new levels of personal contemporary Yetzias Mitzraim.The message is profound, and is the Novominsker Rebbe’s parting mandate for Klal Yisroel.On Monday early evening, a few short hours after Agudas Yisroel had published the Michtav Brocha V’chizuk of the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah, I received a phone call from one of the Rebbe’s sons. He told me that if someone had told him that his father would be capable of writing such a statement over the past few days when he felt so weak, he would never have believed it. Where did he get the koichos to do it?Obviously, the son answered, the Rebbe saw this as his special achrayus — and when an achrayus was incumbent on him, he would summon koichos that otherwise didn’t exist and carry out what he understood to be his responsibility.Our loss with the Novominsker Rebbe’s petirah is incalculable. One hopes, though, that the Rebbe — the ultimate ba’al achrayus — will carry out his new achrayus of being a meilitz yosher for Klal Yisroel from his lofty perch b’ginzei meromim.Ye’hei zichro boruch.{Matzav.com}
Lakewood, NJ – Lakewood, an area of 26 square miles, has 217 miles of Township streets. It also has thousands upon thousands of garbage receptacles – bins that, while serving town residents, belong to the Lakewood Public Works Department, which is responsible for the maintenance and repair of Township roads and sewers, Township parks and open space, snowplowing of Township streets, leaf and brush collection, and, of course, garbage and recycling collection.
It is because these bins belong to the township that several Lakewood poskim, notably Rav Shmuel Felder, a posek of Beth Medrash Govoha, have ruled that there is no halachic concern if town residents leave chometz in their trash cans on Yom Tov. Since the cans are in the reshus of the township, there is no issue of baal yeira’eh and baal yeimotzeh.
It should be noted that Pesach is a good time to clean out your bins and hose them down, which is also recommended during the warmer weather, when they bins tend to emit a foul odor when they are not cleaned or hose down.
{Matzav.com}
Rav Meir Mazuz, rosh yeshiva of Yeshiva Kisei Rachamim, shared his thoughts on the Draft Law during a discussion on Wednesday night. He addressed the proposed legislation that would require yeshiva students, previously exempt from military service, to enlist.
Regarding the exemption of Torah learners from enlistment, during an interview with Kol Barama Radio, Rav Mazuz referenced former Prime Minister David Ben Gurion’s decision, noting, “Say that Torah learners are exempted from enlistment and that was Ben Gurion’s idea – he did it so that he would not be worse than Vespasian, who gave us ‘Yavne and her wise men.'”
Under the current system, yeshiva students dedicated to Torah study are granted exemption from military service provided they engage in full-time study. However, this arrangement has faced criticism, prompting the government to pursue a Draft Law aimed at resolving the issue satisfactorily.
On the topic of hostages and tefillos for their release, Rabbi Mazuz prescribed the recitation of specific brachos. He stated, “After a person concludes his seder, he should take a cup of wine and say, ‘May it be Your will….that You release all of the captives from pitch blackness to light, and from darkness to great light, for we are Your sons, even if we did not walk on a good path, our loving and forgiving Father.'”
Expressing his views on Israel’s response to an Iranian attack, Rav Mazuz recommended caution. He remarked, “The Americans are crazy, they help us after they already fired the rockets. Iran sent rockets and shouldn’t respond – we should be like a doll, and they’ll send rockets and we’ll say ‘yes, yes, yes,’ and not respond.”
{Matzav.com Israel}
Following a fire that ripped through the Chassidim 110 – Chabad Shul in Pomona, NY, on Wednesday morning, congregants were devastated to discover that all three of the Shul’s Sifrei Torah had been destroyed.
Congregants, with the assistance of Chaveirim volunteers, were finally given access to the Shul located at 34 Northridge Road a few hours after the fire tore through the Shul, destroying the entire building.
They discovered that the Torahs, which had been stored in a metal safe, were tragically unable to withstand the fire.
Neighbors captured the flames on video a little before 6:00 am. The fire quickly spread and engulfed much of the building.
Residents are devastated by the loss of other holy articles as well, such as Tefillin, seforim and more.
The fire spread to brush behind the home as firefighters worked to contain the blaze, ABC reported. The cause of the fire is still unknown.
There were no reports of injuries. COLLIVE.COM
{Matzav.com}
Thousands of bochurim gathered in multiple locations last week to hear divrei hisorerus before the upcoming Pesach bein hazmanim. The gatherings, sponsored by Agudas Yisroel and arranged with the help of dedicated askanim in the respective locations, included close to 3,000 talmidim in Lakewood, 1,000 in Monsey, and a hookup to Montreal, and were directed at bochurim from Bais Medrash and 11th 12th grades.
The asifos, called to prepare bochurim for bein hazmanim in the shadow of the war in Eretz Yisroel, and in light of the threat to bnei yeshiva in Eretz Yisroel, were addressed by many of the Gedolei Yisroel.
In Lakewood, Chaver Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah Rabbi Aryeh Malkiel Kotler, Rosh HaYeshiva of Beth Medrash Govoha, and Chaver Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah Rabbi Elya Brudny, Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshivas Mir, addressed the bochurim, with Rabbi Nochum Binder, Rav of Hampshire Hills, giving divrei chizuk and introducing the speakers. In Monsey, Rabbi Uren Reich, Rosh HaYeshiva of Yeshivas Ohr Zechariah and HaRav Dovid Breslauer shlit”a, Rosh Kollel of Yeshiva Gedolah Zichron Moshe, addressed the bochurim, with Rabbi Avrohom Yeshaya Rosenman of Yeshivas Bais Binyomin introducing the speakers and giving divrei chizuk.
In addition, to the speakers at each location, two of the Gedolei Eretz Yisrael, Rabbi Moshe Hillel Hirsch, Rosh Yeshivas Slabodka, and Rabbi Dovid Cohen shlit”a, Rosh Yeshivas Chevron, spoke to the bochurim via video.
The ruach in both halls, filled to capacity with the “Ligyono shel Melech” – the Ribono Shel Olam’s special forces – was truly electric, with each bachur leaving the evening inspired by the Gedolei Yisrael with a mission for this Bein Hazmanim.
Videos of the divrei chizuk at the event are available by clicking here. Other locations for asifos are being explored over the next few days before bein hazmanim, and communities wishing to participate should email yehrman@agudah.org.
{Matzav.com}
It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of Rav Binyomin Tzvi Kaplan zt”l. He was 68.
Rav Kaplan was a son of Rav Nosson Kaplan, author of Toras Nosson and Neizer Hakodesh, and Mrs. Chana Kaplan, née Gelernter.
He was a grandson of the famed Rav Yisroel Chaim Kaplan, rosh yeshivas Toras Chesed in Brisk and mashgiach of Bais Medrash Elyon in Monsey and son-in-law of Rav Yerucham Levovitz.
Rav Kaplan was a talmid muvhak of his rabbeim at Bais Medrash Govoah in Lakewood, most prominently the mashgiach, Rav Nosson Meir Wachtfogel, and the rosh yeshiva, Rav Shneur Kotler.
Rav Kaplan, who resided for many years in Monsey, was a highly esteemed talmid chochom, who possessed beautiful middos tovos and sterling character. Torah was the delight of his life.
He raised his mishpacha to follow in his derech of Torah and avodas Hashem, and always demonstrated genuine care and ahavas Yisroel for others.
Rav Kaplan is survived by his wife, Mrs. Yocheved Kaplan, and his children, Mrs. Faiga Dena Zuckerman, Rabbi Yehoshua Leib Kaplan, Rabbi Avromi Kaplan, Rabbi Yisroel Chaim Kaplan, Mrs. Devora Mirel Kitay, and Mrs. Basya Katz.
The levayah was held at the Shamgar Funeral Home in Yerushalayim, followed by kevurah on Har Hazeisim.
Yehi zichro boruch.
{Matzav.com}
In Reb Reuven Feinstein on the Haggadah, Rav Sholom Reuven Feinstein, the esteemed and beloved Rosh Yeshivah of Yeshiva of Staten Island, guides us through the Seder. Indeed, as we enjoy this Haggadah masterpiece, we begin to actually feel that we are sitting with the Rosh Yeshiva at his Seder table.
In this Inside ArtScroll interview, the Rosh Yeshivah reminisces for us what Pesach was like at the home of his father, Hagaon Rav Moshe Feinstein. The Rosh Yeshivah also offers fascinating chinuch insights and general chizuk in his trademark down-to-earth manner. Watch and be inspired! [Buy the new Haggadah HERE.]
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It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of Rav Asher Yaakov Shternbuch zt”l of Golders Green, London. He was 75.
Rav Asher Yaakov was a son of Rav Dov and Rebbetzin Rochel Shternbuch. Rebbetzin Rochel was a daughter of Rav Alexander Ziskind Ellinson, one of the leaders of the Torah community in England.
In his youth, Rav Asher Yaakov served as a maggid shiur at the Belzer Bais Medrash. He was highly respected by the residents of Golders Green and was known as a man of great piety who taught Torah with great simcha. He was mechanech many talmidim, who appreciated his yedios haTorah and his warmth toward each of them.
In London, he served as the rosh kollel of the morning kollel at the Sadigura Bais Medrash and was also marbitz Torah at Bais Medrash Bais Shmuel-Radomishla.
Rav Asher Yaakov’s life revolved around Torah learning and teaching. He delivered shiurim all his life. He was a tremendous talmid chochom, but always carried himself with utmost humility.
In the last year, he endured terrible suffering, yet he continued to learn and daven and engage in avodas Hashem with true devotion.
He leaves behind a family of outstanding bnei and bnos Torah. He is survived by his wife, Mrs. Miriam Shternbuch; his children, R’ Binyomin, R’ Eli, R’ Nesanel, R’ Moshe, R’ Yitzchok, R’ Shua, R’ Shloimy, Mrs. Tzipora Sorotzkin, Mrs. Rivky Perlstein, Mrs. Dassy Friedman and Mrs. Ita Kleinbart. His siblings are R’ Ely Shternbuch, R’ Alexander Shternbuch, R’ Naftoly Shternbuch, R’ Shloima Shternbuch, Mrs. Judy Schachar and Mrs. Hana Lurcher.
The levayah is being held tonight at the Shamgar Funeral Home in Yerushalayim, followed by kevurah on Har Hazeisim.
Yehi zichro boruch.
{Matzav.com}
It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of Rav Naftali Tzvi Yehuda Shapiro zt”l, rosh yeshiva of Yeshiva Shaarei Shemuos in Beit Chilkia and son of Rav Moshe Shmuel Shapiro zt”l. He was 69.
He was niftar at the Sheba Medical Center in Tel Hashomer on Shabbos.
Rav Shapiro was a son of Rav Moshe Shmuel Shapiro zt”l, rosh yeshiva of Yeshiva Be’er Yaakov, and Rebbetzin Chaya Faiga Tziporah Shapiro a”h, daughter of Rav Aharon Weinstein zt”l.
At his bris, he was named Naftali Tzvi Yehuda after his grandfather, the Netziv of Volozhin.
He learned under his father, Rav Moshe Shmuel, at Be’er Yaakov, where he was renowned for his scholarship and hasmadah.
Even from a young age, his outstanding kochos were evident, excelling in limud haTorah with diligence, and his exemplary middos.
He was later sent by his father to learn at Bais Medrash Govoah in Lakewood, where he learned under the rosh yeshiva, Rav Shneur Kotler zt”l.
He married his wife, Rebbetzin Rivka, daughter of Rav Bentzion Neuman zt”l, one of the prominent marbitzei Torah of the Slabodka Yeshiva.
After his marriage, he continued his learning at Be’er Yaakov Yeshiva.
He was proficient in Kabbalah, and many sought his counsel on various matters.
With the establishment of the Shaarei Shemuos Yeshiva in Beit Chilkia about 15 years ago, he assumed leadership alongside Rav Aryeh Shapiro, teaching Torah and inspiring his talmidim.
In recent years, he published the seforim ‘Beis Sha’arim’, which includes shiurim he delivered at his yeshiva.
His father, who trusted him implicitly, passed on to him the tradition regarding the usage of the Goral HaGra, and he utilized it when necessary, doing so with modesty and discretion. He was also known for his brachos, and many sought his brachos for yeshuos.
He leaves behind his wife, Rebbetzin Rivka, who stood by his side with utmost dedication throughout his life, and his children and grandchildren.
His siblings are Rav Dovid Yitzchak Shapiro, rosh yeshiva of the Be’er Yaakov Yeshiva; Rav Menachem Mendel, Rav Yaakov, Rav Aharon, Rav Aryeh, Rebbetzin Minna Golda Shapiro and Rebbetzin Nechama Rivka Shimon.
The levayah was held tonight at the Shaarei Shemuos Yeshiva in Beit Chilkia, followed by kevurah at the Ponovezh Bais Hachaim in Bnei Brak.
Yehi zichro boruch.
{Matzav.com Israel}
Rav and founder of Machon Maggid Harakiah in Cedarhurst, NY, Rabbi Daniel Glatstein is one of the contemporary Jewish world’s most popular speakers and respected maggidei shiur. In his unique Haggadah Shel Pesach, he treats the Haggadah text not as a series of unconnected “vertlach,” but as a living, unified document, mirroring the slavery, miracles, and ultimate liberation in its words and structure.
In this fascinating interview, Rabbi Glatstein gives us a deeper understanding of fundamental components of the Haggadah, and, indeed, of the entire experience of Yetzias Mitzrayim. [Buy the new book HERE.]
WATCH:
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In this episode, Rabbi Reinman discusses emunah peshutah, simple faith, and explains why there are over a hundred mitzvos related to the Exodus from Egypt and only one related to the Giving of the Torah.
The second fundamental belief of Classical Judaism is that the Torah is the inviolate word of God, that it was given to the Jewish people at Mount Sinai after they emerged from centuries of bondage in Egypt. These events are recorded in the Torah, and we accept them as absolutely true.
But how do we know that God really gave us the Torah at Mount Sinai? We cannot offer as proof that it is written in the Torah, because how do we know the Torah is true? We only know the Torah is true because we received it from God at Mount Sinai. This becomes a circle. So, what is the basis for this belief?
There’s a long-standing controversy among Jewish thinkers regarding the proper basis for adherence to Judaism. Should our beliefs rest on a rational philosophical foundation or should they be accepted, at least by the common people, on simple faith? Should the approach be mechkar, philosophical investigation, or emunah peshutah, simple faith?
So, how are we to understand the concept of simple faith? What does it mean, and why should we rely on it? There has to be a rational reason to have simple faith. Even if we rely on tradition, how do we know the tradition is delivering truth?
I want to offer a hybrid approach, rational arguments that embrace and explain the concept of emunah peshutah, simple faith. Let us begin with a question. Two miraculous events combined to form the Jewish people. The Exodus from slavery in Egypt and the Giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai. Which of these two is more crucial to the identity of the Jewish people? … See more at Rabbireinman.com.
WATCH:
At a leftist protest, innovative bochurim got creative, getting a stand-in to act as Rav Dov Landau arriving – and the protestors fell for the ruse, believing that the older rov was indeed the Slabodka rosh yeshiva.
The incident began outside Yeshivas Slabodka in Bnei Brak when a group of leftists gathered on Friday morning, calling for the recruitment of yeshiva students. Their protest was marked by shouts and the blaring of bicycle horns.
As the noise persisted, the protesters were asked to leave. The protesters brazenly refused to leave unless they were addressed by the rosh yeshiva, Rav Dov Landau.
Aware that Rav Landau was slated to attend a meeting with other roshei yeshivos, the bochurim devised a clever strategy to resolve the situation. With the assistance of law enforcement, they orchestrated a plan. Turning to R’ Yossi Rosenfeld, the yeshiva‘s cook, he agreed to don a hat and a long coat, masquerading as the rosh yeshivah. He accompanied them to a waiting car outside.
Presented with the spectacle of what appeared to be the rosh yeshiva flanked by his disciples, the leftist protesters intensified the cacophony of their horns. They later departed, allowing Rav Landau to depart safely for his meeting.
WATCH:
The senior mashgiach Rav Don Segal shared his perspective on the Supreme Court’s ruling concerning the exemption of chareidim from military conscription, contending that it is yeshiva students who authentically shoulder the responsibility of safeguarding the nation.
“Indeed, the whole of Yisroel is still Yisroel, even though there are many who err, but the whole of Yisroel is one whole, and therefore it is true that everyone needs to bear and contribute to the success of the whole of Yisroel,” he said during his drasha at the Ichud Bnei Hayeshivos annual conference.
“But there is one fundamental error here: What is called equality in burden? The truth is that those who truly bear the burden are the bnei yeshiva, the holy talmidei chachomim.
“A woman from Chaifa told me a year ago, ‘I must believe that yeshiva students have something that gives them some satisfaction. Otherwise, there is no explanation for why they don’t do everything that the world does. How they can stay like this without anything? There must be something that gives them much more satisfaction.’ This was said by someone who never learned Tosafos, never said a bracha, and never had any closeness to Hashem.
“Indeed, we are the ones who truly bear the burden and the rest are results. Therefore, on the contrary, we must fortify ourselves in Torah study, in tefillah, in kedusha, and in everything. Everyone knows that if it only concerns oneself, it’s satisfactory, but if one knows that he is responsible for others like a father who knows he is responsible for a family, then he has a responsibility.
“The truth is that the dear Torah students, the keepers of the Torah and the commandments, they are the supporters of everything, of the entire Jewish nation, and of the entire situation. Equality in burden? That’s not called equality! It’s called us bearing the burden! The bearing of the burden is the strengthening in Torah and in tefillah.”
{Matzav.com Israel}
Chief Rabbi of Israel Rav Dovid Lau touched down in Spain on Thursday, engaging in discussions with Jewish community leaders in Madrid.
Given the prevailing security concerns and apprehensions regarding potential terrorist threats targeting Jewish symbols, Rav Lau was discreetly ushered out of the airport through a side exit, bypassing passport control.
Facilitated by a local entrepreneur and esteemed community member, Sammy Ben Hemo, the visit saw Rav Lau and his entourage greeted by an armored vehicle upon arrival.
Among those present at the meeting were community rabbis and notable figures such as Rabbi Avraham Medina, a prominent local rabbi, and Carlos Malka, a distinguished business figure within the Jewish community.
The encounter, albeit brief, spanned only a few hours, with the rov being accompanied by armed security personnel owing to the delicate security situation.
{Matzav.com Israel}
The son of the Slonimer Rebbe, Rav Moshe Berezovsky, paid a visit to Slabodka rosh yeshiva Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch in Bnei Brak.
During the meeting, Rav Berezovsky requested that Rav Hirsch call for a mass protest similar to the “March of the Million” which was held over 20 years ago.
Rav Hirsch listened to the request, but according to Kol Chai Radio, he rejected it outright, saying that such a move would only “fan the flames,” and potentially lead to elections – something which the chareidi parties do not wish to see happen right now.
During the conversation, Rav Hirsch explained, “This is not the time, and we must not bring about the breakdown of the coalition before we have exhausted every effort to pass a Draft Law by consensus.”
{Matzav.com Israel}
All are asked to daven for the recovery for Rabbi Yonason Sanders, who is in need of a refuah sheleimah.
Rabbi Sanders is the founder and dean of Bais Tova Elementary School and Shiras Devorah High School, two of the largest and most prominent mosdos hachinuch in Lakewood, NJ.
Rabbi Sanders has suffered from an infection due to a kidney stone or a related procedure, and the resultant medical complications now have him sedated and vented at Jersey Shore Medical Center in Neptune, NJ.
All are asked to daven for Yonason ben Itta.
{Matzav.com}
The Slabodka rosh yeshiva has voiced concerns regarding the push to conscript chareidim into the military, suggesting that some proponents harbor animosity towards religion. He emphasized the community’s obligation to safeguard Torah study, foreseeing a potential need for significant sacrifice.
Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch made these statements during a gathering at Slabodka Yeshiva in Bnei Brak. His remarks followed the recent ruling by the High Court of Justice, which mandated the cessation of government funding to chareidi yeshivos for talmidim eligible for IDF enlistment, as the legal basis for deferring their military service is set to expire soon.
This ruling marked a significant escalation in the longstanding dispute over draft exemptions granted to chareidi individuals, many of whom devote their time to Torah study rather than military service. Opponents of these exemptions argue for a more equitable distribution of the defense burden across the populace.
Addressing his yeshiva, Rav Hirsch lamented that the court’s decision effectively nullified their right to engage in Torah study within Eretz Yisroel, at least temporarily. He underscored the likelihood of needing to make sacrifices to preserve Torah learning, though the exact nature of such sacrifices remains uncertain.
“We will need self-sacrifice for the Torah,” he said, adding that “it is impossible to know in exactly what form.”
Rav Hirsch went on to explain that there were two types of people “who are pushing to cancel the matter of Torah with us.”
The first, he said, don’t hate the chareidim or even religion in particular, but rather, as non-believers, they “don’t realize that the Torah is what is saving us” and the country from enemies in the region.
But, Rav Hirsch said, the second type of people don’t care about equality, “they hate religion, they hate Torah” and those who dedicate themselves to its study.
“There is proof” of that “in what happened in recent days but I don’t want to specify here,” he said. “It was only because of hatred. Against us. Hatred of religion. Hatred of the Torah. And hatred of Torah scholars.”
“They want to destroy us and we will need to stand against them. And there will be self-sacrifice. I hope we don’t come to that. But it could very well be that we will come to sacrifice when we need to stand against them. And this is not the time to specify.”
{Matzav.com Israel}
A group of men and bochurim from the Peleg Yerushalmi gathered in Yerushalayim along Highway 4 earlier today to protest the arrest of a yeshiva student who failed to appear at the IDF recruitment office for his military service deferment. The demonstration led to the complete blockage of northbound traffic on Highway 4. Additionally, protesters […]
[ Rosh Yeshivas Rashbi Rav Meir Tzvi Bergman, member of the Moetzes Chachmei Hatorah of Degel Hatorah, has issued a dramatic letter. In this handwritten letter, he addresses recent events within the Degel Hatorah movement. “Those who claimed that the preservation of Torah and Judaism depends solely on a certain representative…these are matters devoid of […]
Mrs. Yenta (Judith) Siegal-Potash a”h passed away early Friday morning. She was approximately 94 years old. Her first husband was “Yakob der zinger” made famous for his mesiras nefesh by R’ Yom Tov Ehrlich. Born in Munkacz, Hungary, she witnessed significant historical events during her life. She attended the wedding of the Minchas Elazar’s daughter. […]
It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of renowned and beloved singer R’ Oded Dovid (Dedi) Graucher z”l. He was 62. Dedi dealt with a severe health setback approximately five years ago and underwent a remarkable recovery. Nonetheless, his medical journey had remained delicate since that time, necessitating periodic hospitalizations. He passed […]
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By Chaim Gold
Multitudes of Jews across the globe will gather together on 24 Elul, the Chofetz Chaim’s yahrzeit to learn the Chofetz Chaim’s seforim, learn inspirational lessons from his life, and daven to Hashem to have rachmanus on Klal Yisroel in advance of the Yamim Noraim.
This year’s Yom Limud and Tefilla will showcase a special videocast with divrei chizuk by leading Gedolei Yisrael including, HaGaon HaRav Shimon Galei, shlita, HaGaon HaRav Yissocher Frand, shlita, Rosh Yeshiva at Yeshiva Ner Yisrael of Baltimore, HaGaon HaRav Reuven Elbaz, shlita, Rosh Yeshivat Ohr Hachaim, HaGaon HaRav Yitzchok Berkovitz, shlita, Rosh Yeshiva Aish HaTorah, Rav Dovid Hofstedter, shlita, Nasi Dirshu and Rav Zev Smith, shlita, Maggid Shiur, Dirshu Daf HaYomi B’Halacha and Irgun Shiurei Torah. The videocast will also feature inspirational Yamim Noraim niggunim with Naftali Kempeh.
One of the highlights of the videocast promises to be historical footage of HaGaon HaRav Yitzchok Scheiner, zt”l, Rosh Yeshiva of the Kamenitz Yeshiva.
The fact that the Chofetz Chaim’s yahrtzeit falls on 24 Elul, a week before Rosh Hashanah, offers a special, auspicious eis ratzon for tefillah at the time when we need it most.
Indeed, if there was ever a time that Klal Yisrael needed to unite in a massive outpouring of tefillah and achdus; if there was ever a time when tens of thousands of tinokos shel beis rabban needed to come together to invoke rachmei shomayim, that time is now!
Undoubtedly, the video and divrei chizuk from the Gedolim in honor of the Chofetz Chaim’s yahrtzeit and in advance of the upcoming Yamim Noraim will serve as an ideal way to prepare and derive chizuk for the Yom Hadin.
Click here to view the Dirshu Vision & Inspiration videocast
It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of Rabbi Yisroel Yaakov (Geoffrey) Kramer z”l of Beitar Illit and formerly of England.
Rabbi Kramer was the man behind the establishment of the beloved children’s choir, “Pirchei London,” otherwise known at the London School of Jewish Song, and was the musical collaborator of Rabbi Yigal Calek, the renowned conductor and composer from Manchester.
When he was nearing bar mitzvah age, young Yisroel Yaakov came with his parents to the city of Manchester, where they settled in a house adjacent to the Machzikei Hadas shul. Their neighbor turned out to be none other than the legendary and principal chazzan of the Machzikei Hadas kehillah, Rabbi Hershel Goldstein, who taught Rav Shalom Schwadron, the Maggid of Yerushalayim, the famous rendition of V’Atah Kadosh that is widely sung today in its unique “Machzikei Hadas” version.
After receiving his education at the local school and learning Gemara from Rabbi Goldstein, young Yisroel went on to study at Gateshead Yeshiva, where he excelled under the guidance of his rabbeim, particularly Rav Leib Gurwicz. Following this, he continued his studies under the guidance of Rav Avrohom Gurwicz. During that time, the menahel was Rav Chizkiyahu Eliezer Kahn.
After leaving Gateshead, Rabbi Kramer went to London, where his star began to rise. He was approached by the Agudas Yisrael organization in London to lead the choir that would accompany the Siyum HaShas celebration, which was approaching. The choir consisted of young boys and adolescents, and as Rabbi Kramer recalled, “In essence, this was my first time on a stage in front of thousands of people. The subsequent performances I participated in were also in front of thousands, but I mostly operated from behind the scenes, managing and overseeing all the professional aspects.”
Months after that Siyum HaShas, Rabbi Kramer received a request from Yigal Calek to assist him with the London choir. “I gladly accepted his request,” Rabbi Kramer later recalled, “and from then on, every Sunday, Reb Yigal would teach the children new melodies, until the first recording of Pirchei London, which included fourteen songs, most of which were composed by Yigal himself. The album was well-received, and in a short time, the choir became a tremendous success.”
Rabbi Kramer composed the famous “B’Ein Meilitz Yosher” of the London choir, as well as “Ani Ma’amin.”
Yehi zichro boruch.
{Matzav.com Israel}
יום הזיכרון לרב מפוניבז’צילום: שוקי לרריום הזיכרון לרב מפוניבז’צילום: שוקי לרריום הזיכרון לרב מפוניבז’צילום: שוקי לרריום הזיכרון לרב מפוניבז’צילום: שוקי לרריום הזיכרון לרב מפוניבז’צילום: שוקי לרריום הזיכרון לרב מפוניבז’צילום: שוקי לרריום הזיכרון לרב מפוניבז’צילום: שוקי לרריום הזיכרון לרב מפוניבז’צילום: שוקי לרריום הזיכרון לרב מפוניבז’צילום: שוקי לרריום הזיכרון לרב מפוניבז’צילום: שוקי לרריום הזיכרון לרב מפוניבז’צילום: שוקי לרריום הזיכרון לרב מפוניבז’צילום: שוקי לרריום הזיכרון לרב מפוניבז’צילום: שוקי לרריום הזיכרון לרב מפוניבז’צילום: שוקי לרריום הזיכרון לרב מפוניבז’צילום: שוקי לרריום הזיכרון לרב מפוניבז’צילום: שוקי לרריום הזיכרון לרב מפוניבז’צילום: שוקי לרריום הזיכרון לרב מפוניבז’צילום: שוקי לרריום הזיכרון לרב מפוניבז’צילום: שוקי לרריום הזיכרון לרב מפוניבז’צילום: שוקי לרריום הזיכרון לרב מפוניבז’צילום: שוקי לרריום הזיכרון לרב מפוניבז’צילום: שוקי לרריום הזיכרון לרב מפוניבז’צילום: שוקי לרריום הזיכרון לרב מפוניבז’צילום: שוקי לרר
There is great excitement in London as Maran Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch, rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Slabodka, is slated to visit the city this week in advance of the Yomim Noraim.
At the request of rabbonim and community leaders, the rosh yeshiva will arrive in London on Monday afternoon. At the airport, a reception will be held. From there, he will travel with his family to his host, where he will receive community members.
Following this, a special gathering will be held with the heads of the local mosdos.
In the evening, the main event will take place at the Adath Yisroel Shul in the Golders Green section of the city. The event will be conducted in English.
On Tuesday, the rosh yeshiva will visit the Stamford Hill neighborhood, where he will address his talmidim and others.
On Wednesday, the rosh yeshiva is slated to return to Eretz Yisroel, and many are expected to participate in a farewell event at the airport.
{Matzav.com Israel}
On Erev Shabbos, just hours before Sabbos began, an electrical panel at the Nadvorna Bais Medrash in the city of Bnei Brak caught fire. Thankfully, there were no injuries, but major damage was caused to the building’s electrical system.
The electric company claimed they could repair it, but they said that the repair would take place on Shabbos. Following the guidance of the Rebbe, it was decided not to perform the repair work and not to get involved with repairs infringing on kedushas Shabbos.
As a result, the Chassidim davened under the open sky on Friday night, and on Shabbos morning they davened in a hall located beneath the Rebbe’s residence. Additionally, an auf ruf for one of the Chassidim’s sons and a bris milah also took place in the same hall.
The rebbe‘s tish that was supposed to be held on Friday night was canceled. Similarly, for seudah shlishis, the Rebbe partook in a small gathering with a few Chassidim in the hall located beneath the Rebbe’s residence.
{Matzav.com Israel}
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Noted mashpiah Rav Meilech Biderman fell off a platform tonight, Motzoei Shabbos, at a hadlakah in Meron following a Shabbos Hisachdus. Thankfully, he emerged unharmed, and then, with fortitude, he returned to the platform and conveyed a powerful lesson, explaining that a Yid encounters trials and tribulations after their tefillah, which serves as a sign […]
It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of Rav Calman Weinreb zt”l, longtime R”M at Yeshivas Ner Yisroel in Baltimore. The levayah was held today at the Yeshiva Ner Yisroel Bais Medrash. Kevurah followed at the Agudah Cemetery in Rosedale. Shivah is being held at the Weinreb home, located at 416 Yeshiva […]
Noted posek Rav Shmuel Eliezer Stern of Bnei Brak has issued an unexpected p’sak in relation to the upcoming Yom Tov of Sukkos in Bnei Brak.
Rav Stern’s pronouncement asserts, “Should the infestation [of rats and mice in Bnei Brak] not be resolved by the arrival of Sukkos, individuals would find it impossible to fulfill the mitzvah of sukkah in areas situated on the ground floor, streets, courtyards, or any location within the reach of mice, following the principle of mitzta’er [discomfort, which exempts one from the mitzvah of sukkah].”
“According to halacha, constructing a sukkah in a locale inhabited by wild animals or characterized by factors inducing fear, even if the builder himself isn’t frightened, leads to the majority’s incapability to fulfill the sukkah obligation,” the rov elucidated.
Addressing the initial day of Sukkos, Rav Stern said, “Should no alternative be available, the utilization of such a sukkah would be permissible.”
Bnei Brak has grappled with a prolonged mice and rat infestation. In June, a rat bite led to the hospitalization of a two-and-a-half-year-old girl. Awakened by her daughter’s cries during the night, the mother found her child bleeding from several wounds on her body. Medical professionals at Mayanei Hayeshua Medical Center confirmed that the injuries stemmed from rat bites.
In a separate occurrence in April, a rat bite incident transpired at a Bnei Brak childcare facility involving a toddler. Parents from the nursery reported numerous attempts to alert the local authorities about rat presence on the premises, yet their concerns were unheeded.
The childcare center involved revealed that, after receiving no response from the authorities, they took independent measures to eliminate the rodents within the building. Unfortunately, the infestation has reached such an extensive scale that even this approach has proven ineffective.
{Matzav.com Israel}
Hagaon Rav Moshe Shternbuch, gaavad of the Eidah Hachareidis, expressed profound discontent during his shiur to his talmidim of Kollel Teshuvos V’Hanhagos. In addition, he authored a rare letter of protest in his own handwriting.
During his recent shiur during the afternoon, Rav Shternbuch voiced sharp criticism regarding a disturbing incident that occurred in Ramat Beit Shemesh Dalet. This incident involved a gabbai honoring a woman with gelilah within the confines of the shul.
Rav Shternbuch penned his strong objection to the incident, which took place at a hachnosas Sefer Torah at the shul.
The bizayon haTorah quickly garnered attention, as visual evidence emerged from the event. It was clear that shul gababim gave the honor of gelilah – wrapping the Sefer Torah – to a woman in a shul packed with men.
This audacious action has evoked a wave of condemnations and bewilderment from public figures, who questioned how a shul that identifies itself as “Chareidi” could introduce various reforms seemingly influenced by the Reform movement.
In the wake of the strong criticism, the shul reps released a statement claiming to have received permission from one of the city’s rabbinic authorities. However, a firm denial was issued from the rabbinic authorities, categorically refuting these claims as false and baseless. The local rov further chastised the gabbaim for their audacious behavior.
In response to the uproar, a delegation of rabbonim visited the home of Rav Shternbuch to present the distressing incident to him and seek his guidance. Rav Shternbuch responded that a protest is warranted. He took a pen from his pocket and promptly composed a protest letter in his own handwriting.
He wrote, “Every heart should tremble upon hearing about the community with chareidi roots that has descended step by step. They honored a woman’s involvement in rolling the Sefer Torah and publicized that this elevated the honor of the Torah and the honor of the chareidi woman.”
During his shiur to his talmidim, he said, “It is essential to raise our voices in protest against the harm inflicted upon the honor and sanctity of the Torah.”
{Matzav.com Israel}
An individual who had dutifully acted as the “Shabbos goy” within an undisclosed Jewish community for over three decades was recently revealed to be of Jewish descent, a revelation that emerged after his passing. The man’s children presented compelling evidence of his Jewish lineage to support their request for his burial in a Jewish cemetery. […]
The Sanz-Klausenberger Rebbe of Boro Park will be visiting Eretz Yisroel for the first time in nine years. The rebbe departed yesterday from Newark Liberty International Airport and will be landing at Ben Gurion Airport. Accompanying him is a distinguished entourage of Chassidim, supporters, and others. A massive kabbolas ponim will be held this evening […]
During the highly anticipated Adirei HaTorah event held at Wells Fargo Arena in Philadelphia in June, Rav Aryeh Malkiel Kotler, the rosh yeshiva of Bais Medrash Govoah, shared news of an impending increase in kollel stipends for BMG yungeleit. However, the exact scale of the raise and its commencement date were not disclosed at the […]
Exactly a century ago, on the 9th of Elul 5683 (1923), Rav Meir Shapiro took the podium at the Knessiah Gedolah in Vienna. An air of anticipation permeated the room as he began his speech. At 36 years old, Rav Shapiro possessed a captivating charm, a sharp wit, and was celebrated globally as an orator. […]
Renowned and beloved singer Dedi Graucher was urgently transported to Sheba Hospital in Tel Hashomer in serious condition last night. Presently, he is under the care of the cardiac intensive care unit. Graucher dealt with a severe health setback approximately five years ago and underwent a remarkable recovery. Nonetheless, his medical journey has remained delicate […]
It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of Rabbi Tzvi Tausky zt”l of Rechov Chazon Ish in Bnei Brak. He was 87 years old. Rav Tzvi was born in Budapest, Hungary, a son of Rabbi Asher Tausky. At a young age, he was orphaned by his father and was left scarred by […]
This past week, Rav Aryeh Malkiel Kotler, rosh yeshiva of Bais Medrash Govoah in Lakewood, NJ, visited Eretz Yisroel. Sources indicate that the rosh yeshiva went to participate in a simcha in the family of his late brother, Rav Meir zt”l. During his time there, Rav Kotler spoke at Yeshivas Chevron and at yeshivas Be’er […]
Reb Moyshe Silk, an American attorney, writer, and former government official, is quite an accomplished individual. Much of the world knows him as Mitchell Silk, a brilliant legal mind, an authority on Chinese law and infrastructure finance, and the only Chassidic Jew ever confirmed by the Senate to one of the highest positions in the […]
All asked to daven for Rav Moshe Tzadka, rosh yeshiva of Yeshiva Porat Yosef. He is currently hospitalized at Shaare Zedek Medical Center in Yerushalayim due to his deteriorating health. According to the rosh yeshiva‘s close confidant, Rabbi Yehuda Hazan, “The rosh yeshiva has been experiencing weakness in recent days and has been hospitalized for […]
It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of Rav Aharon Moshe Schechter zt”l, rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Rabbeinu Chaim Berlin. He was 97. Rav Schechter was born in 1925 in Brooklyn, NY, a son of R’ Yossel (Joe) and Rose Schechter. R’ Yossel was one of the stalwart baalei batim in the […]
It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of Rav Chaim Shmueli zt”l. He was 86. Rav Chaim was born in France. During his youth, he witnessed the horrors of the Nazi regime’s conquest. He was compelled to hide for a year in a foreign family’s home as the Gestapo went from house […]
Amidst the ongoing discussions surrounding the conscription law, National Unity leader MK Benny Gantz undertook a visit to Bnei Brak to visit Yeshivas Rashbi rosh yeshiva Rav Meir Tzvi Bergman, member of the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah of Degel Hatorah. The meeting took place at Rav Bergman’s residence in Bnei Brak. At the outset of their […]
Rav Yaakov Ariel, former rov of Ramat Gan and head of the Hutam organization, expressed his unequivocal backing for the choice to refrain from operating the Tel Aviv light rail on Shabbos. Rav Ariel articulated, “On Shabbos, there is no school, no work, no commerce… There is no need for a train on Shabbos.” This […]
The Toldos Avrohom Yitzchok Rebbe has been hospitalized at Hadassah Ein Kerem Medical Center in Yerushalayim. The Rebbe has experienced various ailments, and is undergoing a battery of tests related to the functioning of his kidney. All are asked to daven for Rav Shmuel Yaakov ben Yenta. {Matzav.com Israel}
It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the passing of Mrs. Sara Chana (Wolpin) Fasman a”h. Mrs. Fasman was the absolute epitome of what it means to live every minute to its fullest. Mrs. Fasman was a morah to hundreds of pre-school children for over 25 years, bringing a fresh smile and a liveliness […]
The massive levayah of the Rachmastrivka Rebbe, Rav Chai Yitzchok Twersky zt”l, seemingly caused disturbance among Chestnut Ridge town leaders. The town lies on the route between Borough Park neighborhood where the rebbe lived and the Har Shalom Cemetery in Monsey, where the rebbe was interred. Representing the town, lawyer Alak Shah penned a letter […]
Bechasdei Hashem, two bochurim with special needs have been located after a span of more than 17 hours during which they were missing. The boys are 22 and 18 years of age, respectively. The bochurim became separated from their special needs group on a hike at Sam’s Point/Ice Caves Mountains in Cragsmoor, New York at […]
Immediately after the massive levayah of the Rachmistrivke Rebbe of Boro Park, Rav Chai Yitzchok Isaac Twersky zt”l, it was announced that event rebbes – six sons and one grandson – would take over leadership of the Chassidus. The grandson is a son of the rebbe’s eldest son, Rav Mordechai Twersky zt”l, who passed away during […]
הרבי מרחמסטריווקא זצ”לצילום: שוקי לרר הרבי מרחמסטריווקא זצ”לצילום: שוקי לרר הרבי מרחמסטריווקא זצ”לצילום: שוקי לרר הרבי מרחמסטריווקא זצ”לצילום: שוקי לרר הרבי מרחמסטריווקא זצ”לצילום: שוקי לרר הרבי מרחמסטריווקא זצ”לצילום: שוקי לרר הרבי מרחמסטריווקא זצ”לצילום: שוקי לרר הרבי מרחמסטריווקא זצ”לצילום: שוקי לרר הרבי מרחמסטריווקא זצ”לצילום: שוקי לרר הרבי מרחמסטריווקא זצ”לצילום: שוקי לרר הרבי מרחמסטריווקא זצ”לצילום: שוקי לרר […]
It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of the Rachmastrivka Rebbe of Boro Park, Rav Chai Yitzchok Isaac Twersky zt”l. He was 92. The rebbe was a son of Rav Yochanan Twersky of Rachmastrivka and a son-in-law of Rav Yaakov Yosef Twersky of Skver. Rav Chai Yitzchak, born in 1931 into a […]
All are asked to daven for Rav Aharon Schechter, rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Rabbeinu Chaim Berlin and member of the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah of Agudas Yisroel, who is in need of rachemi Shomayim. Rav Schechter was hospitalized this morning, as he battles various ailments in need of urgent medical attention. The rosh yeshiva‘s condition has boruch Hashem stabilized. […]
All are asked to daven and say Tehillim for the Rachmastrivka Rebbe, who is in need of rachamei Shomayim. The rebbe contracted pneumonia and is in serious condition, dealing with difficulty breathing and other ailments. The rebbe, Rav Chai Yitzchok Isaac Twersky, is a son of Rav Yochanan Twersky of Rachmastrivka and a son-in-law of Rav Yaakov Yosef Twersky of […]
Kedushas Levi – Translated and Elucidated Who among us has never heard of, and marveled at, and been inspired by Rav Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev? He was “the defender,” who found the good in every Jew, and whose passionate avodas Hashem was combined with an unparalleled love for His people. Known as an illui from […]
On Friday, a poignant event took place in Meron as an upsherin was performed on three-year-old Dovid Aharon Diskind, son of Reb Shmuel Binyamin Diskind z”l, who tragically passed away in the Meron tragedy of 5781. At the location where his father z”l perished, extended family members gathered, along with Reb Meir Nachman Elchadad, who […]
The forthcoming release of the Consumer Price Index, coupled with the rental index, has brought attention to the soaring rental prices in Israel in recent months, despite a downward trajectory in housing prices. The ongoing purchasing crisis has rapidly transformed into a rental predicament. Yehuda Morgenstern, Director-General of the Construction and Housing Ministry, shared insights […]
It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of Rav Yissocher Wasserlauf zt”l. He was 72. A resident of the Jewish Quarter in Yerushalayim, Reb Yissocher was a renowned educator who served as the rosh yeshiva of Yeshiva Ahavas Chayim. Reb Yissocher was a son of Reb Yitzchok and Faiga Wasserlauf. Reb Yissocher […]
A high-ranking member within the Israeli government coalition has asserted that the chareidi factions are intensifying their insistence on securing the implementation of a comprehensive override clause. Recent discussions among coalition parties have revealed that the chareidi parties are resolute in their stance and show no willingness to make concessions on this matter, according to […]
Inspirational and Timely Advice from Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch and Rav Dovid Cohen By Chaim Gold It was a sight, a surreal sight. Some 4,000 bachurim, all the same age, graduating yeshiva ketana (12th grade) listening for hours to the passionate words of Gedolei Yisrael, words of advice to elevate them on how to succeed […]
It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the passing of Rav Moshe Yechiel Halevi Tzuriel zt”l. He was 85. Born in Germany, he migrated with his family to the United States during his childhood. He learned at Yeshivas Ner Yisroel in Baltimore, under the rosh yeshiva Rav Yaakov Yitzchak Ruderman, and received semicha. He […]
The authorities in the Ukrainian city of Uman have called on frum visitors to forego this year’s traditional visit at the kever in the city of Rav Nachman of Breslov for Rosh Hashanah. Despite the perilous security situation amid the ongoing Russian invasion, hundreds are expected to make the pilgrimage between Sept. 15-17, when Jews […]
For the first time in five years, Rav Boruch Weisbecker, rosh yeshiva of Yehsiva Bais Matisyahu in Bnei Brak and a member of the Moetzes Gedolei Hatorah of Degel Hatorah, has embarked on a chizuk trip to the United States. The rosh yeshiva departed earlier this week, escorted off by a procession of talmidim and […]
It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of Rav Yisroel Meir Trachtman zt”l. Rav Yisroel Meir was born in Chicago during the shivah of the Chofetz Chaim approximately ninety years ago and was thus named Yisroel Meir after him. His father, Rabbi Binyomin Trachtman, was a rov in Chicago. At the age […]
A yungerman and his wife, residents of Lakewood, NJ, are in need of rachamei Shomayim after being involved in a moped accident in Rome, Italy, where they had traveled during this current bein hazemanim. The wife’s condition is said be to stable. Unfortunately, the yungerman is in very serious condition and is currently sedated at […]
A couple brought a question to Hagaon Rav Yitzchok Zilberstein, noted posek and rov of Ramat Elchonon. The couple explained that they got married a few years ago and saved up a substantial amount of money every month. They were contemplating using this money to write and donate a Sefer Torah to one of the […]
The Slabodka rosh yeshiva, Rav Dov Landau, paid a visit to the Ponovezh rosh yeshiva, Rav Berel Povarsky, where he is staying with his family in the Almah moshav in northern Israel. Rav Landau, who is staying in the Or Haganuz moshav, heard that Rav Povarsky was staying in the north and wanted to visit […]
It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of Reb Chaim Ber Meisels z”l of Williamsburg. He was 45. Reb Chaim Ber was a well-known baal chesed and baal tzedakah, a beloved member of the community in Brooklyn. Reb Chaim donated substantial sums to tzedakah, both for those in need in Eretz Yisroel […]
It is with great shock and sadness that Matzav.com reports the sudden passing of Mrs. Mindel Margulies a”h. She suffered a heart attack, was taken to Jersey Shore Medical Center in Neptune, and passed away. Mrs. Margulies was the wife of Rav Menachem Mendel Margulies zt”l, rosh yeshiva of Yeshiva Gedolah Torah Temimah. Mrs. Margulies had gotten remarried several weeks […]
Shas chairman Aryeh Deri and Agudas Yisrael chairman Yitzhak Goldknopf have agreed in closed conversations that if the Draft Law exempting Chareidi yeshiva students from serving in the IDF is not passed at the beginning of the Knesset’s winter session, they will dissolve the government, Channel 12 News reported. According to the report, Deri and Goldknopf […]
New legislation aimed at allowing Chareidi yeshiva students to enter the workforce at a younger age without fear of conscription is set to be advanced by the coalition in the upcoming months, according to a top aide to Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu. The proposal suggests lowering the exemption age from military service for Chareidi students […]
Numerous charedi families residing in Bnei Brak, Yerushalayim, Beit Shemesh, Modi’in Illit, and Beitar Illit endured a Shabbos without electricity amid scorching heat. This is not an isolated incident, as power outages have been recurrent in charedi areas, occurring either close to or during Shabbos. Some locations have experienced multiple outages, with prolonged periods of […]
It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of Reb Eliezer Miller z”l. Reb Eliezer was a son of Rav Avigdor and Rebbetzin Ethel Miller zt”l. A wonderful, gentle, giving individual, always with a good vort and a smile for every person, Reb Eliezer raised a beautiful mishpacha and carried his parents’ illustrious […]
In a heart-wrenching incident, a woman from the Stamford Hill community of London, England, was tragically killed in a three-vehicle accident on the A26 highway in France. Two other individuals perished in the crash as well. The tragic incident occurred at around 6 PM this evening local time. The accident occurred in a work zone […]
Today, Rav Boruch Mordechai Ezrachi, rosh yeshiva of Yeshiva Ateres Yisroel in Modiin Illit and member of Degel’s Moetzes Gedolei Hatorah, underwent a crucial cervical vertebrae surgery at Hadassah Ein Kerem Medical Center. Prior to the surgical procedure on his spine, the rosh yeshiva received a comprehensive explanation of the intricate details from both the […]
Via Sparks of a Nation: He lived a pure humble life, learning Torah constantly in his room, hardly eating or sleeping. He became renowned as one of the greatest gedolim of our day, influencing hundreds of thousands the world over. Rav Aharon Leib Shteinman zt”l was a throwback to a bygone world. He derived no […]
This evening, thousands of people gathered at the Kosel in Yerushalayim to mark Tisha B’Av, commemorating the destruction of both Botei Mikdosh. They gathered to read Megillas Eicha and recite Kinnos near the site where the Botei Mikdosh once stood. Tens of thousands of visitors are expected over the next day at the Kosel, the […]
During Mayor Moshe Lion’s visit to Rabbi Dov Lior’s home in the Beit Orot neighborhood of Yerushalayim, a firebomb was thrown at the house, causing immediate panic among those present during the meeting. According to a witness who attended the meeting, a sudden loud boom was heard, prompting everyone to rush outside. They discovered a […]
Following the rise in the prices of hats worn by Chassidishe bochurim, administrators of yeshivos for boys who have reached the age of bar mitzvah are going to be enforcing the wearing of “kasketlach,” or caps, instead of hats. In a letter distributed Monday to Chassidishe boys in Bnei Brak, it was decided that the […]
הילולת האר”י הקדושצילום: יוסי לוי הילולת האר”י הקדושצילום: יוסי לוי הילולת האר”י הקדושצילום: יוסי לוי הילולת האר”י הקדושצילום: יוסי לוי הילולת האר”י הקדושצילום: יוסי לוי הילולת האר”י הקדושצילום: יוסי לוי הילולת האר”י הקדושצילום: יוסי לוי הילולת האר”י הקדושצילום: יוסי לוי הילולת האר”י הקדושצילום: יוסי לוי הילולת […]
Rav Boruch Mordechai ben Hinda Malka Mizrachi, is still hospitalized after undergoing medical treatment to help his breathing. In a message of chizuk, Rabbi Yisrael Choder, one of his close talmidim, conveyed the significance of strengthening tefillos for his refuah at this time. “As you know, there was a great miracle, and as the doctors […]
As the summer bein hazemanim approaches, Maran Rav Dov Landau, rosh yeshiva of the Slabodka Yeshiva in Bnei Brak, delivered a strong message to yeshiva bochurim, urging them to maintain their dedication as “bnei Torah.” In his comments, he emphasized the significance of recognizing the concept of “vacation” while still embodying the identity of bnei […]
Following an incorrect calculation, the Israeli government is expected to increase the budget for yeshivos and religious institutions by $3.84 million beyond sums already transferred this year. Yair Lapid and MK Avigdor Lieberman immediately condemned the idea, arguing that it will takes money away from children with special needs and benefits the chareidim at their […]
It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the passing of Raphael Yaakov Yisroel (Raphi) Strauss z”l. He was 37. In the realm of extraordinary individuals, Raphi was at the top of the list. Raphi was graced with a heartwarming smile despite being born with the rare condition of xeroderma pigmentosum (XP). This hereditary ailment […]
It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the passing of Avrohom Yosef Weiss z”l, an 11-year-old boy from Boro Park. Avrohom Yosef, who was staying at Nachalei Emunah Bungalow Colony in Monticello, NY, suffered a severe allergic reaction several weeks ago and went into cardiac arrest. The boy was first taken to Catskill Regional […]
In the more than five decades that he was involved in Agudath Israel of America, rising from a member of their youth group to the Executive Vice President of the organization, Rabbi Shmuel Bloom encountered literally thousands of fascinating people: gedolei Yisrael, dedicated askanim, politicians from all sides of the political spectrum, and so many “just plain Jews” – […]
A new ad put out this week by the NASI organization seems to place the “shidduch crisis,” namely the trouble girls are having in shidduchim, squarely on the shoulders of yeshiva bochurim. “Could our sons’ plans be fueling our daughters’ shidduch challenges?” the ad headline reads. The ad goes on to say that “Our daughters’ […]
The Mesorah Heritage Foundation has launched three brand new exciting series that promise to enhance the learning of Chumash. We take a look at these three groundbreaking projects: Ryzman Edition Midrash Rabbah in Hebrew Series Dedicated by Zvi and Betty Ryzman The Ryzman Family Edition Hebrew Midrash Rabbah will enhance the study and understanding of […]
Chief Rabbi of Israel Rav Yitzchok Yosef wrote a letter on Wednesday to Binayahu Chorev, one of his personal associates from the religious Zionist sector, in which he clarifies his recent statement on the severity of ascending the Har Habayis. In his weekly shiur from the Yazdim Shul in Yerushalayim, Rav Yosef mentioned a number […]
Rav Eliezer Wolf, av bais din in Amsterdam and head of the Top-K Kosher Certification, has issued a statement regarding the recent controversy surrounding the kashrus of Sprite Zero. Rabbi Wolf clarified that although his certification does not approve of tartaric acid without specific kosher supervision, those who rely on lenient opinions regarding the consumption […]
It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of the Shatzer Rebbe of Williamsburg, Rav Yosef Chaim Moskowitz zt”l. He was 78. The rebbe was a son of Rav Yechiel Michel Moskowitz, who was a son of Rav Shalom Moskowitz, the Shatzer Rebbe. The rebbe married his wife, a daughter of the Dezher […]
It is with gratitude to Hakadosh Boruch Hu that Matzav.com reports that Maran Rav Shmuel Kamenetsky, rosh yeshiva of Philadelphia Yeshiva, has been discharged from in-patient care. Upon his release, the rosh yeshiva first visited the yeshiva bais medrash, where he was greeted with great joy. The rosh yeshiva expressed his deep appreciation for the […]
After a month of farhers involving nearly five hundred bochurim, the rabbeim of Yeshivas Ponovezh gathered on Erev Shabbos at the residence of the yeshiva‘s nosi, Rav Leizer Kahaneman, on Rav Hirsch Street in Bnei Brak to determine who would be accepted to the yeshiva for the upcoming year. This year, a record number of […]
In an elevated gathering, the leadership of the Shuvu Network gathered at the residence of Rav Meir Tzvi Bergman. Particularly noteworthy was the presence of the Admor from Modzhitz. During the event, a letter from Rav Dov Landau and Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch was read, as were the brachos of the Admor from Vizhnitz, conveyed […]
A new member has been added to the Moetzet Chachmei Hatorah of Shas following recent appointment of four new members. During a memorial gathering marking eleven months since the petirah of Chacham Shalom Cohen zt”l, the nosi of the Moetzet Chachmei Hatorah, Chacham Moshe Maya, announced that the rosh yeshiva of Yeshiva Yekirei Yerushalayim, Chacham […]
סיכום מסע הגר”ד כהן בלונדוןצילום: באדיבות המצלם סיכום מסע הגר”ד כהן בלונדוןצילום: באדיבות המצלם סיכום מסע הגר”ד כהן בלונדוןצילום: באדיבות המצלם סיכום מסע הגר”ד כהן בלונדוןצילום: באדיבות המצלם סיכום מסע הגר”ד כהן בלונדוןצילום: באדיבות המצלם סיכום מסע הגר”ד כהן בלונדוןצילום: באדיבות המצלם סיכום מסע הגר”ד כהן בלונדוןצילום: באדיבות המצלם […]
Good news from the Intensive Care Unit at Hadassah Ein Kerem in Yerushalayim, as Rav Boruch Mordechai Ezrachi, rosh yeshiva of Yeshiva Ateres Yisroel, underwent a medical procedure that addressed his respiratory issues. Close associates of the rosh yeshiva conveyed that the treatment was successful. The doctors are extremely satisfied and attribute the positive outcome […]
A sharp letter from prominent gedolim and rabbonim in Eretz Yisroel has been released against the establishment of a yeshiva that would combine limudei kodesh and limudei chol. In recent weeks, Rav Dovid Leibel (pictured above), nosi of Kehillos Achvas Torah, declared his aspiration and plans to establish a chinuch institution in Beit Shemesh that […]
There is good news from the Intensive Care Department at Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital in Yerushalayim, as improvement has been seen in the condition of Rav Boruch Mordechai Ezrachi, Rosh Yeshivas Ateres Yisroel and member of the Moetzes Gedolei Hatorah of Degel Hatorah. His closetalmid, Rabbi Yaakov Grossbard, stated, “Boruch Hashem, there has been a […]
It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of Rav Elchonon Schwimmer zt”l, rosh yeshiva of Yeshiva Orchos Meir in Bayit Vegan, and previously rosh yeshiva at Yeshivas Chevron Geulah. He was 66. Rav Shwimmer suffered from a severe illness, and in recent days, his condition deteriorated. He passed away at Hadassa Ein […]
A series of regulations were announced in the Gerer community: In Gerer shteiblach throughout Eretz Yisroel, it was declared over Shabbos that there are issues regarding women’s wigs, which raise concerns of avodah zarah. Although the announcement was not an official proclamation, the gabbaim passed the directive around that there are issues with all shaitlach […]
It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the tragic passing of Shia Singer z”l at Camp Arugas Habosem-Tzeilim on Whittaker Road in South Fallsburg, NY. He was just 12 years old. Following the seudas Shabbos on Friday night, Shia suddenly collapsed. Despite the valiant efforts of Hatzolah, they were unable to revive him, and […]
It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the passing of Rabbi Dr. Shalom Gold z”l. Rabbi Gold, originally from the Williamsburg area of Brooklyn, NY, was a talmid of Yeshiva Torah Vodaath in NY, Yeshivas Ner Yisroel in Baltimore, and Yeshivos Ponovezh and Chevron in Eretz Yisroel. He received semicha from Israeli Chief Rabbi […]
In a positive turn of events, Dovid Aryeh Lang, the almost eight-year-old boy from Lakewood, NJ who choked on a candy toy on Thursday has made a miraculous recovery. After being rushed to Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune in a life-threatening condition, the young boy underwent emergency surgery. Fortunately, on Shabbos, he regained […]
It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of Rebbetzin Chava Taplin a”h. She was 81. Rebbetzin Taplin was the aishes chover of Hagaon Rav Yisroel Taplin, renowned talmid chochom, masmid and mechaber seforim from Beth Medrash Govoah. Throughout the decades, the Rebbetzin was a devoted eizer kenegdo, enabling her husband to spend […]
All are asked to daven for the wellbeing of Rav Baruch Mordechai Ezrachi, Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshiva Ateres Yisroel and a member of the Moetzes Gedolei Hatorah of Degel HaTorah, who was hospitalized over Shabbos. The Rosh Yeshiva had been spending Shabbos at his yeshiva, Ateres Yisroel, in Modiin Illit when he began having trouble breathing and was transported to […]
Bnei Brak is grappling with a severe rat infestation that has caused shock and dismay among residents. Sifrei Torah and sifrei kodesh have been discovered with gnawed edges, having been bitten by rats. The situation has worsened to the point where even a 2-year-old girl was bitten by a rat while sleeping in her bed […]
Over a month after the passing of Maran Rav Gershon Edelstein zt”l, late last night, Rav Dov Landau arrived for a rare visit to the home of his childhood friend, Rav Baruch Mordechai Ezrachi, in the Bayit Vegan neighborhood in Yerushalayim. It was close to midnight by the time the Rosh Yeshivah of Slabodka arrived […]
It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the passing of Rav Yosef Heisler zt”l, av bais din of Bais Din Harabani in Yerushalayim, who served for many years as an esteemed dayan. He was 84. Rav Heisler was a son of Rav Zalman Zeidel and Mrs. Tamar Heisler. He wife is a daughter of […]
The new bais medrash of Bais Medrash Yabia Omer led by noted mashpiah and mekarev Rav Yigal Cohen boasts a stunning golden aron kodesh, similar to the famed golden aron kodesh of the Ponevezh Yeshiva in Bnei Brak, which was brought to Eretz Yisroel from Italy. Replicas of the aron kodesh in Ponevezh exist in […]
Rav Meir Mazuz, the 78-year-old rosh yeshiva of Yeshiva Kisei Rachamim, was discharged from the hospital on Tuesday morning following a series of examinations. On Monday evening, Rav Mazuz had been transported to the Mayanei Hayeshua Medical Center in Bnei Brak after experiencing discomfort. Those close to Rav Mazuz ask that the public continue their […]
Israel’s government plans to pass a bill that anchors the value of Torah study in a quasi-constitutional Basic Law, in order to preserve a law exempting chareidi men from military service. The legislation defining Torah study as a “core state value” is expected to be brought to the Knesset for a vote during the Knesset’s […]
The chareidi victim who was injured in the stabbing terror attack in Bnei Brak yesterday reconstructed the sequence of events from his hospital bed at Mayanei Hayeshua Hospital. “I was walking on Rechov HaTzvi when the assailant approached me,” he recounted. “I didn’t have any prior acquaintance with him. I thought he was coming to […]
Last night, a grave incident occurred in the Catskills, resulting in severe injuries to the son and son-in-law of the Satmar Rebbe of Williamsburg. The accident took place on Route 55 in Swan Lake, near the vicinity of Machane Divrei Yoel, when two vehicles collided with great force. This collision caused harm to a total […]
It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the passing of Reb Zev Deutsch z”l of Bnei Brak. He was 97. Reb Zev was born in the city of Erlau in Hungary, a son of Reb Yechiel and Miriam Deutsch. Reb Zev was one of the first mispallelim and the very first gabbai of the […]
It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah at Ma’ayanei HaYeshua Hospital in Bnei Brak of Rebbetzin Tzipora Kalmanowitz a”h. She was 85. The Rebbetzin was the wife of Rav Yisroel Yitzchok Kalmanowitz, the Oholei Yeshuah. The Rebbetzin was born on 28 Teves, a daughter of Rav Yitzchok Meir and Rebbetzin Breina Bas […]
An asifas chizuk for parents with struggling children was held Tuesday night at Bnos Devorah in Lakewood. Divrei chizuk were delivered by Rav Binyomin Finkel, Mashgiach of Mir Yerushalayim, and Rav Uri Deutsch, rov of the Forest Park Shul in Lakewood. WATCH:
Nearly all rabbonim in Chicago have issued a message to their community to only engage in and purchase food from home businesses with reputable kosher supervision. This proclamation follows the lead of an earlier Kol Koreh signed by the leading poskim in North America outlying similar guidelines. What is unique about the Chicago Kol Koreh […]
It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of the Lizhensker Rebbe, Rav Elimelech Shiff zt”l. He was 75. The rebbe was born in Yerushalayim, a son of Rav Elazar Moshe Avrohom Shiff and was named after Rav Elimelech of Lizhensk. In his childhood, he learned at Mosdos Belz in Yerushalayim. He married […]
It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the passing of R’ Avrohom Moshe Melohn z”l. He was in his sixties. R’ Avrohom was a son of Joseph and Martha Melon, whose names resonate strongly in the community due to their remarkable acts of philanthropy. R’ Avrohom Melohn z”l followed in his parents’ footsteps, earning a reputation […]
הספד בישיבת פוניבז’ במלאת השלושיםצילום: שוקי לרר הספד בישיבת פוניבז’ במלאת השלושיםצילום: שוקי לרר הספד בישיבת פוניבז’ במלאת השלושיםצילום: שוקי לרר הספד בישיבת פוניבז’ במלאת השלושיםצילום: שוקי לרר הספד בישיבת פוניבז’ במלאת השלושיםצילום: שוקי לרר הספד בישיבת פוניבז’ במלאת השלושיםצילום: שוקי לרר הספד בישיבת פוניבז’ במלאת השלושיםצילום: שוקי לרר […]
The issue of older singles seeking shidduchim in the United States continues to be a concern, and several roshei yeshivos have decided to do their hsihtadlus to address this phenomenon, or at least try to partially mitigate it. To this end, a delegation of roshei yeshiva from the United States will arrive in Eretz Yisroel […]
As first reported here on Matzav.com, Rav Binyomin Finkel, venerated mashgiach of Yeshivas Mir Yerushalayim, is on a special visit this week to the United States. Rav Finkel arrived on Monday, June 26, and went to Lakewood, where he has spent his time thus far. Monday morning, he spoke at the Kollel Ohr Shmuel early morning kollel […]
Upon the shloshim of Maran Rav Gershon Edelstein zt”l, rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Ponovezh, a matzeivah was placed at the kever of the rosh yeshiva at the Ponovezh Beis HaChayim in Bnei Brak. The wording of the matzeivah was prepared by family members, and the matzeivah was constructed by the Weiss brothers, skilled matzeivah builders […]
As reported earlier this week on Matzav.com, upon the shloshim of Rav Gershon Edelstein zt”l, rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Ponovezh, Rav Eliezer Kahaneman, nosi of the yeshiva, gathered the hanhalah together and informed them of the appointment of Rav Dovid Levi, a son-in-law of Rav Gershon and a longtime R”M in the yeshiva, as rosh […]
Rav Binyomin Finkel, venerated mashgiach of Yeshivas Mir Yerushalayim, will be making a special visit to the United States. From Monday, 7 Tamuz (June 26) through Monday, 14 Tamuz (July 3), the mashgiach will embark on a short but impactful chizuk trip. During his visit, the mashgiach will dedicate most of his time to Lakewood, […]
It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the passing of Mrs. Bracha Biegeleisen a”h of Boro Park. She was 87. Mrs. Biegeleisen was the wife of Reb Moshe Biegeleisen, proprietor of the famed J. Biegeleisen Seforim Store, a Boro Park icon. The levayah is being held now at Shomrei Hadas Chapels, located at 3803 […]
Upon the shloshim of Maran Rav Gershon Edelstein zt”l, Rav Eliezer Kahaneman, nosi of the Ponovezh Yeshiva in Bnei Brak, has announced that Rav Edelstein’s son-in-law, Rav Dovid Levi, will continue the path of his esteemed father-in-law and serve as a rosh yeshiva at Ponovezh. During the past week, Rav Kahaneman had prolonged discussions and […]
It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of Rabbi Yosef Mitnick z”l, longtime master rebbi and educator from Brooklyn, NY. The levayah will be held today at 2 p.m. at Shomrei Hadas Chapels, located at 3803 14th Avenue in Brooklyn, NY. The aron will pass Yeshivas Rabbeinu Chaim Berlin on Coney Island […]
הגרח”י גינזבורג בביקור בישיבת פוניבז’צילום: באדיבות המצלם הגרח”י גינזבורג בביקור בישיבת פוניבז’צילום: באדיבות המצלם הגרח”י גינזבורג בביקור בישיבת פוניבז’צילום: באדיבות המצלם הגרח”י גינזבורג בביקור בישיבת פוניבז’צילום: באדיבות המצלם הגרח”י גינזבורג בביקור בישיבת פוניבז’צילום: באדיבות המצלם הגרח”י גינזבורג בביקור בישיבת פוניבז’צילום: באדיבות המצלם הגרח”י גינזבורג בביקור בישיבת פוניבז’צילום: באדיבות המצלם […]
It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of Rebbetzin Dina Perkowski a”h. She was 92. Rebbetzin Perkowski was a daughter of Reb Yehoshua Ludmir, a noted talmid of Rav Isser Zalman Melczer. She was the wife of Rav Yisroel Perkowski zt”l, rosh yeshiva of Yeshiva Bais Hatalmud and rov of the Agudah of […]
It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of Rav Shlomo Zalman Gertner zt”l. He was 84. Rav Shlomo Zalman was born in Poland on the 7th of Iyar, a son of Rav Alter Dovid, and survived the Holocaust, being miraculously saved from the Nazi inferno. Throughout his life, Rav Shlomo Zalman immersed […]
After a prolonged hospitalization and for the first time since the beginning of this zeman, the head of the Grodno Yeshiva and a member of the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah, Rav Yitzchok Hacker, arrived at his yeshiva in Bnei Brak and delivered a shiur, to the great excitement of the talmidim. הגר”י הקר בשיעור כללי בישיבהצילום: […]
It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of the Bostoner Rebbe of Flatbush, Rav Pinchos Dovid Horowitz zt”l. He was 78. The rebbe was a son of Rav Moshe Horowitz, Bostoner Rebbe of New York, and Rebbetzin Leah Fradil (Eichenstein) Horowitz. The levayah will be held today at the Bostoner Bais Medrash, […]
Yerushalayim Mayor Moshe Leon had a personal conversation with the Toldos Avraham Yitzchak Rebbe. A range of topics related to Yerushalayim were discussed, with the light rail issue being prominent after a demonstration that took place this week at the rebbe’s direction. The rebbe expressed concerns to the mayor about the impact of the light […]
WATCH: Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch went to visit fellow Slabodka rosh yeshiva, Rav Dov Landau, to welcome him back home following his high-profile visit to the United States.
Twitter’s fact-check feature, referred to as “community notes,” has rectified a misleading claim regarding the attendance record at MetLife Stadium. The erroneous statement, made by a popular culture account, falsely asserted that musician Ed Sheeran had broken the all-time attendance record with an audience of 89,000. […]
A significant vulnerability in the Ministry of Transportation’s identification system has exposed the personal information of talmidim attending yeshivos across Eretz Yisroel. This breach occurred through the ministry’s telephone answering service and website, enabling unauthorized access to the data. Complaints received by the Authority for the Protection of Privacy revealed that staff members at yeshivos […]
The ancient house of Hagaon Rav Michel Yehuda Lefkowitz zt”l at 4 Wilkomir Street in Bnei Brak was completely demolished today to make way for the construction of a residential building on the site. The house, located on the upper part of Wilkomir Street had been standing for over eighty years. Rav Michel Yehuda initially […]
In a dramatic recording published last night on the Siach Yitzchok hotline, featuring the teachings of Rav Yitzchok Zilberstein, he expressed strong words regarding the ban on Angel Bakery. As previously reported on Matzav.com, the opinion of Rav Zilberstein was that anyone who cares about kavod haTorah should not purchase Angel’s products, despite the ban […]
In a lengthy hesped during his Chumash shiur, Rav Avraham Yehoshua Soloveitchik, rosh yeshivas Brisk, spoke of the Ponovezh rosh yeshiva, Maran Rav Gershon Edelstein zt”l. Among other things, Rav Soloveitchik mentioned that without Rav Edelstein, the Ponovezh Yeshiva would not have been sustained, and he expressed our need for rachamim, mercy, from Hashem. He […]
Maran Rav Gershon Edelstein zt”l, Rosh Yeshivas Ponovezh, was very careful for decades, since he was young, not to leave the city of Bnei Brak. Why? The reason was singular: His blood pressure was sensitive and could rise from any abnormal activity, especially traveling by car. According to his calculations, if he went on a […]
Maran Rav Shmuel Kamenetsky, Philadelphia rosh yeshiva, is back in the hospital, Matzav.com has learned, and all are asked to daven for his refuah. Rav Shmuel was hospitalized last week, diagnosed with a pneumonia infection. He responded well to the medication and treatment administered and was then transferred to a rehab facility. He has now […]
At an atzeres hesped l’illui nishmas Maran Rav Gershon Edelstein zt”l held at the main shul of Ramat Elchanan, there were several speakers, including Rav Yitzchak Zilberstein, rov of Ramat Elchanan, as well as Rav Yehuda Silman, Rav Ma’asoud ben Shimon, Rav Chaim Mordechai Ausband and Rav Yehoshua Edelstein. “The rosh yeshiva was a giant […]
The Slabodka rosh yeshiva, Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch, who rarely attends simchos of admorim, arrived for the first time at the wedding of the Belzer Rebbe’s grandson held last night at the Arnona Hall in Yerushalayim. The rosh yeshiva arrived immediately after delivering a hesped at Chevron Yeshiva in Givat Mordechai, marking the end of […]
The wedding of a grandson of the Belzer Rebbe was held last night in Yerushalayim. The chosson is a son of the rebbe’s son, Rav Aharon Mordechai Rokeach, who is a son-in-law of the Makova Rebbe. The kallah is a daughter of Rav Aharon Brief, a rov in the Belzer kehillah in Ashdod. The chosson’s […]
Thousands joined the joyous celebration last night of the marriage of a granddaughter of the Gerer Rebbe, a daughter of his son-in-law, Rav Chaim Yehoshua Schorr, rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Chiddushei Harim in Bnei Brak. The chosson, Yisrael Bergman, is a son of Rav Menashe Bergman of Tel Aviv. The chasunah took place at the […]
Rav Dov Landau, rosh yeshivas Slabodka in Bnei Brak, who flew from Eretz Yisroel on Motzoei Shabbos to spend a week in America, will deliver a shiur tomorrow at Bais Medrash Govoah in Lakewood, NJ. The shiur follows the Adirei HaTorah event on Sunday, which Rav Landau attended but did not address. Rav Landau has […]
Currently, at the Ponevezh Yeshiva, they are learning Maseches Sanhedrin during this zeman, the last masechta on which the late Rosh Yeshiva, Maran Rav Gershon Edelstein zt”l, gave shiur.
Regarding this masechta there is a remarkable story testifying to the depth of knowledge of Rav Gershon, as related by Rav Uziel Leibowitz, rosh yeshiva of Yeshiva Birkas Shmuel in Bnei Brak.
Rav Uziel related that when his father, Rav Chaim Shlomo Leibowitz, became rosh yeshiva at Ponevezh Yeshiva, one of the major driving forces behind that decision was Rav Gershon Edelstein. After a period when the yeshiva cycle came to Maseches Sanhedrin, Rav Chaim Shlomo informed Rav Gershon humbly that since he mainly teaches the chiddushim of his zaide, the Birkas Shmuel, Rav Boruch Ber Leibowitz, and since there is no Birkas Shmuel on Maseches Sanhedrin, during that zeman he would not deliver shiurim in the yeshiva.
Rav Gershon called Rav Uziel, son of Rav Chaim Shlomo, and told him that he urgently needed to fulfill a mission for his father, Rav Chaim Shlomo.
To the astonishment of Rav Uziel, Rav Gershon took out the four volumes of Birkas Shmuel, took a pen and paper, and with expertise and familiarity, quickly extracted – in minutes – all the relevant sources from the four volumes of Birkas Shmuel that relate to Maseches Sanhedrin. He requested that this be delivered to Rav Uziel’s father, and added in simplicity that “we have much from the Torah teachings of the gaon Rav Boruch Ber on this masechta.” Rav Gershon asked that Rav Chaim Shlomo continue delivering the shiurim even during that summer zeman when they studied Maseches Sanhedrin in the yeshiva.
This story highlights the phenomenal knowledge of Rav Gershon, who was familiar with all the volumes of Birkas Shmuel, to the extent that within a few minutes of review, he was able to note all the relevant sources from the seforim pertaining to a specific masechta.
{Matzav.com Israel}
הגר”מ שטרנבוך בקצירת חיטיםצילום: דוד ארזניהגר”מ שטרנבוך בקצירת חיטיםצילום: דוד ארזניהגר”מ שטרנבוך בקצירת חיטיםצילום: דוד ארזניהגר”מ שטרנבוך בקצירת חיטיםצילום: דוד ארזניהגר”מ שטרנבוך בקצירת חיטיםצילום: דוד ארזניהגר”מ שטרנבוך בקצירת חיטיםצילום: דוד ארזניהגר”מ שטרנבוך בקצירת חיטיםצילום: דוד ארזניהגר”מ שטרנבוך בקצירת חיטיםצילום: דוד ארזניהגר”מ שטרנבוך בקצירת חיטיםצילום: דוד ארזניהגר”מ שטרנבוך בקצירת חיטיםצילום: דוד ארזניהגר”מ שטרנבוך בקצירת חיטיםצילום: דוד ארזניהגר”מ שטרנבוך בקצירת חיטיםצילום: דוד ארזניהגר”מ שטרנבוך בקצירת חיטיםצילום: דוד ארזניהגר”מ שטרנבוך בקצירת חיטיםצילום: דוד ארזניהגר”מ שטרנבוך בקצירת חיטיםצילום: דוד ארזניהגר”מ שטרנבוך בקצירת חיטיםצילום: דוד ארזניהגר”מ שטרנבוך בקצירת חיטיםצילום: דוד ארזניהגר”מ שטרנבוך בקצירת חיטיםצילום: דוד ארזניהגר”מ שטרנבוך בקצירת חיטיםצילום: דוד ארזניהגר”מ שטרנבוך בקצירת חיטיםצילום: דוד ארזניהגר”מ שטרנבוך בקצירת חיטיםצילום: דוד ארזניהגר”מ שטרנבוך בקצירת חיטיםצילום: דוד ארזניהגר”מ שטרנבוך בקצירת חיטיםצילום: דוד ארזניהגר”מ שטרנבוך בקצירת חיטיםצילום: דוד ארזניהגר”מ שטרנבוך בקצירת חיטיםצילום: דוד ארזניהגר”מ שטרנבוך בקצירת חיטיםצילום: דוד ארזניהגר”מ שטרנבוך בקצירת חיטיםצילום: דוד ארזניהגר”מ שטרנבוך בקצירת חיטיםצילום: דוד ארזניהגר”מ שטרנבוך בקצירת חיטיםצילום: דוד ארזניהגר”מ שטרנבוך בקצירת חיטיםצילום: דוד ארזניהגר”מ שטרנבוך בקצירת חיטיםצילום: דוד ארזניהגר”מ שטרנבוך בקצירת חיטיםצילום: דוד ארזני
By Avi Shiff
How could it top last year’s event?
That was the question on everyone’s mind. After all, the first Adirei HaTorah asifa one year ago was an extraordinary maamad that left all attendees deeply inspired. What would the second time be like?
As it turned out, the Adirei HaTorah asifa last night turned out to be just as extraordinary, if not more so, than last year.
25,000+, people came out strong, united, and with one goal: to proclaim the glory of our nation’s yungeleit, the Adirei HaTorah.
It was an incredible, truly exceptional event in every way.
For weeks, people had read about the highly anticipated Adirei HaTorah event, and finally – finally – the night was here. There was a tremendous demand for tickets to the sold-out event, with people frantically seeking entry.
The buses – hundreds of them – pulled up from across the tri-state, transporting thousands to the event at Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Many others came by car, joining the parade of vehicles patiently making their way to the arena this past Sunday night.
By about 7 p.m., most of the attendees had arrived, taking in the scene of a sports arena usually bedecked in various sorts of signs and slogans instead bearing statements and refrains expressing Klal Yisroel’s admiration for their yungeleit. “Together, We Will Celebrate the Yungerman and His Torah” and “We Are Here for Kavod HaTorah” were emblazoned across the various electronic screens in the arena.
Upon entering the building, attendees were treated to a buffet dinner before entering the arena itself. In the arena itself, immediately grabbing the attention of participants was the massive dais, with seating for approximately 500 roshei yeshiva and rabbonim.
By the time the program began at about 8 p.m., every seat in the arena, including every balcony and concourse, in addition to hundreds of additional seats on the floor, was occupied.
Fittingly, the seats on the floor of the arena couldn’t be purchased. They were reserved for yungeleit who have been learning at Beth Medrash Govoha for many years. Appropriately, the best seats in the house were given to those who were being feted this evening, the lomdei Torah who hold up our world.
The program began with Tehillim led by Rav Chaim Ginsburg, longtime rosh chaburah at Beth Medrash Govoha.
Immediately thereafter, the music began, and the crowd sang and danced for several minutes, an absolutely exhilarating beginning to what would be an unforgettable event. The building practically shook as keyboardist Meir Adler from Eretz Yisroel played the music, accompanied throughout the evening by singers Yanky Daskal, Zanvil Weinberger, Dovy Meisels, Bentzi Kletzkin, and the Malchus and Shira Choirs.
During his opening statements, emcee Rabbi Yosef Heinemann remarked that “we are telling the world at large, that each and every yungerman’s Torah and ameilus baTorah are what sustain and hold up the world.” He added in the name of the Chofetz Chaim, “It is your Torah that brings the brocha and shefa to Klal Yisroel.”
Rabbi Heinemann introduced the rosh yeshiva, Rav Aryeh Malkiel Kotler, and the crowd broke out into singing Yomim Al Yemei Melech Tosif in his honor.
During his remarks, Rav Kotler announced an increase in the checks of the kollel yungeleit, thanks to the generosity of the Adirei HaTorah supporters.
Following Rav Kotler’s remarks, a video was shown of various gedolei Torah, including Dayan Aharon Dovid Dunner, Rav Elimelech Biderman and Rav Rav Elya Brudny, expressing their support for the Bais Medrash Govoah yungeleit and the Adirei HaTorah initiative.
The arena grew silent as Rav Meir Tzvi Bergman, rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Rashbi in Bnei Brak, was welcomed. Rav Bergman and Rav Dov Landau, rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Slabodka of Bnei Brak, were the two special guests from Eretz Yisroel who flew in for the event. Unfortunately, due to immense weakness, Rav Landau was unable to address the asifa.
As Rav Bergman approached the dais, everyone quietly recited “Hamakom yenacheim eschem,” offering nechamah to the rosh yeshiva upon the passing of his son this past week.
Rav Bergman opened his remarks by noting the recent passing of Rav Gershon Edelstein zt”l, rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Ponovezh, adding that he himself was in the middle of shivah following the petirah of his son, Rav Ezriel. It was an astounding display of kavod haTorah and personal strength for the rosh yeshiva to note Klal Yisroel‘s loss of the gadol hador before even mentioning his own personal tzarah.
Rav Bergman, toward the end of his message, remarked that there are so many singles in Klal Yisroel seeking zivugim. In a message that he repeated in English, he said in the name of his father-in-law, Rav Elazar Menachem Man Shach zt”l, that reciting Birkas Hamazon from inside a bentcher is a zechus for a yeshuah.
Following a video featuring a bracha from Chacham Ysoef Harari Raful, rosh yeshiva of Yeshiva Ateret Torah, Bentzi Kletzkin and Dovy Meisels sang several heartfelt niggunim.
At that point, a Siyum Hashas on Talmud Bavli and Talmud Yerushalmi, learned b’iyun by the yungeleit of Beth Medrash Govoha, was celebrated, with the Hadran being recited by Rav Yisroel Neuman, rosh yeshiva of Beth Medrash Govoha. As Rav Neuman approached the podium, the crowd broke out into song, singing Yomim in his honor. As Rav Neuman recited the Hadran, he grew emotional, crying with each timeless word, imparting such a profound message with each krechtz and each carefully enunciated word.
Brief remarks were then delivered by the rosh yeshiva, Rav Dovid Schustal, who recited the Kaddish for the siyum.
Following the spirited dancing in honor of the siyum, a video was shown of various rabbonimn speaking about the chashivus of the yungeleit.
The keynote drasha was then delivered by Rav Elya Chaim Swerdloff, rosh yeshiva of Yeshiva Gedolah of Paterson. At one point, Rav Swerdloff remarked in the name of the Chofetz Chaim that a machzik Torah, even if he is an am haaretz, in the future will ultimately be zocheh to know Torah as well. Such is the zechus and power of supporting lomdei Torah.
Divrei bracha were then delivered by Rav Yeruchem Olshin, followed by Kabbolas Ohl Malchus Shomayim and Maariv.
As the thousands made their way to the exits with music filling the arena, the mood was one of kavod and reverence for the yungeleit who devote their every day – and sacrifice so much – to make the study of Torah their occupation, not just uplifting themselves, but enriching their communities and the wider world with the unparalleled power of Torah.
It was an evening no one would soon forget, inspired, uplifted, and charged to keep the mission going.
{Matzav.com}
The highly anticipated Adirei Hatorah event of Bais Medrash Govoah will take place todayat Wells Fargo Arena in Philadelphia.
Two of the special guests at the event will be Rav Meir Tzvi Bergman, rosh yeshivas Rashbi in Bnei Brak, and Rav Dov Landau, rosh yeshivas Slabodka in Bnei Brak.
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As reported on extensively here on Matzav.com, Rav Bergman will iy”H be attending despite currently sitting shivah following the petirah of his son, Rav Ezriel.
All tickets to the event have been sold. Ticket holders can look forward to a riveting event after last year’s inaugural Adirei Hatorah chizuk asifa drew some 25,000 people.
The keynote drasha will be delivered by Rav Elya Chaim Swerdloff, rosh yeshiva of Yeshiva Gedolah of Paterson.
The music will be played by keyboardist Meir Adler. Singers will include Zanvil Weinberger, another special guest, and the Malchus and Shirah Choirs
Adirei Hatorah is an initiative spearheaded by Mr. Lazer Scheiner and others to ensure proper reverence for bnei Torah in general and specifically the yungeleit of America’s largest yeshiva, Bais Medrash Govoah, in Lakewood. The initiative has led to the doubling of the kollel checks of the yungeleit and raised tens of millions of dollars in an amazing show of hachzokas haTorah.
{Matzav.com}
Omer Bar Lev, the head of Angel Bakery’s board, and Yaron Angel, one of the bakery’s owners, took a significant step on Sunday by going to be menachem avel the children of Maran Rav Gershon Edelstein to express their apologies.
The shivah visit came after a series of events involving Bar Lev and his engagement in radical leftwing politics, including a protest against chareidim at the home of Rav Gershon in Bnei Brak.
Bar Lev was appointed to the bakery’s board after his unsuccessful career as a politician and minister in the Labor party.
In early May, Bar Lev found himself at the aforementioned anti-chareidi protest near the residence of Rav Gershon Edelstein. The protest, marked by a lack of respect towards the centenarian gadol hador, ignited a spontaneous boycott of Angel Bakery initiated by a vast majority of the chareidi community, who demanded that Angel Bakery either dismiss Bar Lev or that he offer a sincere apology. Neither action was taken.
Initially, Angel Bakery attempted to ignore the boycott by claiming that it actually benefited their business, as they were no longer obligated to sell subsidized bread at a financial loss. However, as time passed and the boycott persisted, the credibility of this assertion began to dwindle, as they were losing millions of shekel.
In an unexpected turn of events, Bar Lev and Yaron Angel made the decision to visit Rav Edelstein’s mishpacha to extend their condolences and offer their apologies. Leaving letters of apology behind, they hoped to express their remorse.
Only time will tell whether their apology will be accepted and the boycott lifted.
{Matzav.com Israel}
A handwritten cross-out of Maran Rav Gershon Edelstein zt”l has come to light: He crossed out words on the cover of his copy of the sefer “Asifas Shmuos” containing his shmuessen published by his talmid Rav Yisrael Cohen.
In his humility, Rav Gershon crossed out the titles that were written on it, both the title “Maran” and the title “Rosh HaYeshiva.”
The original wording on the sefer cover was:
ליקוטי דברים בהלכה ובאגדה מתורתו ומשנתו של רבנו ראש הישיבה מרן הגאון רבי ירחמיאל גרשון אדלשטיין שליט”א.”
Rav Gershon crossed out the words “Likkutei,” “Toraso umishnaso,” “Rosh HaYeshiva,” and “Maran.”
Apparently, Rav Gershon viewed these words as excessive glorification of his name and title and thus decided to erase them from the cover.
{Matzav.com Israel}
Everything through the eyes of halacha: Rav Meir Tzvi Bergman, Rosh Yeshivas Rashbi, was visited by Rav Simcha Bunim Cohen, rov of Khal Ateres Yeshaya in Lakewood, NJ, who penned a psak permitting Rav Bergman to attend tomorrow’s Adirei Hatorah event despite sitting shivah for his son.
As first reported on Matzav Status, Rav Bergman will address the Adirei HaTorah event this Sunday at Wells Fargo Arena in Philadelphia despite recent events.
This past week, after the tragic and untimely petirah of Rav Meir Tzvi’s son, Rav Ezriel Bergman zt”l, at the age of 70, rumors spread that Rav Meir Tzvi would not attend the Adirei HaTorah event. These reports were unfounded.
Despite sitting shivah, Rav Meir Tzvi, for this unique maamad of kavod haTorah, will be’ezras Hashem participate.
The psak written by Rav Cohen, a noted posek and the author of renowned sifrei halacha, was directed to Rav Cohen’s brother-in-law, Rav Shlomo Lesin, who is a close yad yemin of Rav Bergman.
Rav Cohen writes that he discussed the issue with noted posek Rav Bentzion Kook. The outcome of their conversation, obtained by Matzav.com, was that Rav Bergman should attend, with the following restrictions:
1) Rav Bergman will remain in a separate close-off section.
2) He may sit on a regular chair.
3) He may deliver brief divrei chizuk and mussar.
4) He will not be welcomed with music and singing, but it can be announced that Rav Bergman has arrived for kavod haTorah.
5) After the drasha, Rav Bergman will depart the arena.
6) If possible, Rav Bergman should begin his drasha by stating that since the evnt is a very important one to be mechazeik bnei Torah, it is permitted for him to take part even during shivah.
The psak:
Rabbi Aaron Brafman was the much-beloved and revered menahel of Yeshiva of Far Rockaway. He was also a respected author and a dedicated askan. But more: He was a man who loved every Jew, who saw potential where others saw failure. In the words of a talmid, he was a man “who lived and breathed Klal Yisrael; whose days were filled with Torah and maasim tovim … and most of all, who epitomized the term ‘rebbi.’” [Purchase the new volume HERE.]
In the first interview, the author of Rabbi Brafman’s biography, Rabbi Shimon Finkelman, gives us a glimpse into the life of this extraordinary man.
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In this second interview, we spoke to Rabbi Brafman’s son, Rabbi Avrohom Baruch Brafman, and Rabbi Brafman’s close talmid, Rabbi Dov Keilson.
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Maran Rav Shmuel Kamenetsky, Philadelphia rosh yeshiva, has been released from the hospital, Matzav.com can confirm.
Rav Shmuel was hospitalized this week, being diagnosed with a pneumonia infection. Boruch Hashem, he responded well to the medication and treatment administered. The rosh yeshiva had been at a rehab facility for the weeks before.
He has nowreturned to the rehabilitation facility to continue his rehab.
All are asked to continue davening for Rav Shmuel ben Itta Ettil.
{Matzav.com}
As first reported on Matzav Status last night, Rav Meir Tzvi Bergman, rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Rashbi in Bnei Brak, is expected to address the Adirei HaTorah event this Sunday at Wells Fargo Arena in Philadelphia despite recent events.
Yesterday, after the tragic and untimely petirah of Rav Meir Tzvi’s son, Rav Ezriel Bergman zt”l, at the age of 70, rumors and reports spread that Rav Meir Tzvi would not attend the Adirei HaTorah event. These reports are unfounded.
Be’ezras Hashem, despite being in shivah, Rav Meir Tzvi, for this unique maamad of kavod haTorah, is expected to participate.
There is precedent for attendance by a gadol baTorah at such an event even during shivah, as has been seen over the years in special circumstances. Those close to the rosh yeshiva tell Matzav.com that Sunday’s maamad clearly falls under the rubric of an asifa lechvodah shel Torah in which the rosh yeshiva will be’ezras Hashem take part even during his current aveilus.
“We continue to daven that the rosh yeshiva should have physical strength and stamina, in general and especially after the untimely petirah of his beloved and choshuve son,” one of the askanim related.
Yesterday, shortly after Rav Bergman’s arrival in the United States and learning of the petirah, Rav Aryeh Malkiel Kotler, rosh yeshiva of Beth Medrash Govoah, was menachem avel Rav Meir Tzvi.
Watch – Rav Meir Tzvi tearing kriah yesterday:
Rav Malkiel Kotler being menachem avel.
{Matzav.com Israel}
In a weekly bulletin that disseminates the teachings of Rav Dov Kook, the tzaddik of Tiveriah, Rav Kook is quoted as vehemently criticizing the management of Angel Bakery for not apologizing for the bizayon haTorah brought about by one of the senior members of their management, stating that the ban on the bakery would remain “ad bias goel tzedek,” until Moshiach comes.
“With the bitter news of the passing of the rosh yeshiva [Rav Gershon Edelstein], Rav Kook tore his garment as a sign of mourning…”
Afterward, Rav Kook spoke about “the offense to the honor of Torah committed months ago… If those members of the bakery management had sought forgiveness in time, they would have been forgiven lifnim mishuras hadin. But now that they have persisted…it is a ban that will last until the arrival of the goel tzedek, and it shall be like the cheirem derabbeinu Gershom.”
{Matzav.com Israel}
In a shiur that he delivered last night at his yeshiva in Beit Shemesh, Rav Moshe Shternbuch was maspid the Ponovezh rosh yeshiva, Rav Gershon Edelstein zt”l.
Rav Shternbuch resided for many years in the neighborhood adjacent to the yeshiva of Ponovezh. He also sent his sons to study at Ponovezh, where they learned under the rosh yeshiva.
Rav Shternbuch acknowledged this in his hesped and said, “I knew him from the time we were neighbors in Bnei Brak. He was a ‘living mussar sefer.’”
Rav Shternbuch commented on the tremendous Torah knowledge of Rav Gershon, saying, “I knew the gaon Rav Gershon when we were neighbors in Bnei Brak. He learned and taught diligently throughout his life, disseminating Torah to thousands of talmidim. Even the talmidim of his talmidim benefited from his guidance.
“On one hand, he sat and learned, and on the other hand, he set aside time to offer advice to each and every individual, assisting others in immersing themselves in the world of Torah. We can call Rav Gershon a ‘tzaddik tov,’ because he was good to both Heaven and to people.”
“He was a ‘living mussar sefer,’ great in his personal character and genuine humility. Not only did he not seek honor, but he believed that he did not deserve it, he did not enjoy it, and he did not even understand what honor was. His humility was otherworldly.”
{Matzav.com Israel}
It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the sudden petirah of Rav Ezriel Bergman zt”l. He was 70.
Rav Ezriel was a son of Rav Meir Tzvi Bergman, rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Rashbi in Bnei Brak, and a grandson of Maran Rav Elazar Menachem Man Shach zt”l.
As reported here on Matzav, Rav Meir Tzvi is en route to the United States to participate in the Adirei Hatorah event on Sunday at Wells Fargo Arena in Philadelphia. It is not yet clear how the sudden petirah of the rosh yeshiva’s son will affect trip to the United States.
Sources state that under his doctor’s orders, Rav Bergman will not immediately return to Eretz Yisroel, but will sit shivah in the United States.
The levayah will be held tonight at 10:30 p.m. at Yeshivas Rashbi in Bnei Brak, followed by kevurah in Elad.
Yehi zichro boruch.
{Matzav.com Israel}
הגרמ”צ ברגמן בטרקלין פתאלצילום: שוקי לררהגרמ”צ ברגמן בטרקלין פתאלצילום: שוקי לררהגרמ”צ ברגמן בטרקלין פתאלצילום: שוקי לררהגרמ”צ ברגמן בטרקלין פתאלצילום: שוקי לררהגרמ”צ ברגמן בטרקלין פתאלצילום: שוקי לררהגרמ”צ ברגמן בטרקלין פתאלצילום: שוקי לררהגרמ”צ ברגמן בטרקלין פתאלצילום: שוקי לררהגרמ”צ ברגמן בטרקלין פתאלצילום: שוקי לררהגרמ”צ ברגמן בטרקלין פתאלצילום: שוקי לררהגרמ”צ ברגמן בטרקלין פתאלצילום: שוקי לררהגרמ”צ ברגמן בטרקלין פתאלצילום: שוקי לררהגרמ”צ ברגמן בטרקלין פתאלצילום: שוקי לררהגרמ”צ ברגמן בטרקלין פתאלצילום: שוקי לררהגרמ”צ ברגמן בטרקלין פתאלצילום: שוקי לררהגרמ”צ ברגמן בטרקלין פתאלצילום: שוקי לררהגרמ”צ ברגמן בטרקלין פתאלצילום: שוקי לררהגרמ”צ ברגמן בטרקלין פתאלצילום: שוקי לררהגרמ”צ ברגמן בטרקלין פתאלצילום: שוקי לררהגרמ”צ ברגמן בטרקלין פתאלצילום: שוקי לררהגרמ”צ ברגמן בטרקלין פתאלצילום: שוקי לררהגרמ”צ ברגמן בטרקלין פתאלצילום: שוקי לררהגרמ”צ ברגמן בטרקלין פתאלצילום: שוקי לררהגרמ”צ ברגמן בטרקלין פתאלצילום: שוקי לררהגרמ”צ ברגמן בטרקלין פתאלצילום: שוקי לררהגרמ”צ ברגמן בטרקלין פתאלצילום: שוקי לררהגרמ”צ ברגמן בטרקלין פתאלצילום: שוקי לרר
For over seventy years, the Ponovezh rosh yeshiva, Maran Rav Gershon Edelstein zt”l, served as ba’al toke’a (shofar blower) in Ponovezh on Rosh Hashanah.
Rav Gershon relied on Rav Tzvi Greinemann, son of Rav Meir Greinemann, regarding the kashrus of the shofars due to his expertise in the matter. In recent years, Rav Gershon used only shofars belonging to Rav Tzvi, which were on loan to Rav Gershon at his residence on Rechov Raavad in Bnei Brak.
Less than two hours after his petirah, on the morning of the levayah, Rav Tzvi was contacted by Rav Gershon’s family, who inquired about his whereabouts and informed him that they were sending someone immediately to bring him the shofars. The family members explained that there was a tzavaah from the rosh yeshiva that all borrowed items in his possession must be returned to their owners before the kevurah. Rav Tzvi thus received the shofars.
A few years ago, Rav Gershon’s shofar became damaged and he turned to Rav Greinemann expressing his need for a new shofar. Rav Greinemann provided him with two excellent shofars. The agreement between them was that the shofars would remain in the possession of Rav Greinemann and Rav Gershon had permission to blow them. Years passed. Yesterday, as mentioned, a messenger arrived and stated that Rav Gershon requested that before his kevurah, the shofars be returned.
{Matzav.com Israel}
The mayor of the Nof HaGalil municipality, Ronen Plot, has announced his intention to name a street after the Ponovezh rosh yeshiva, Maran Rav Gershon Edelstein zt”l.
In a statement, he said: “With great sorrow and deep mourning, Nof HaGalil received the sad and bitter news of the passing of the esteemed rosh yeshiva, Rav Yerachmiel Gershon Edelstein zt”l.
“Rav Edelstein served as the head of the Ponevezh Yeshiva in Bnei Brak for decades, and he served as the president of the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah of Degel HaTorah. He devoted his life to thousands of his talmidim and was engaged in Torah study throughout his life. He led the chareidi community with great wisdom and humility.”
The mayor continued, “On a personal level, the residents of Nof HaGalil hold deep appreciation for the rav‘s significant contribution, as he encouraged and nurtured the neighborhood of Har Yona Gimel and instructed his talmidim to reside in Nof HaGalil. In order to commemorate his pure memory, it is my intention to propose to the members of the city council to name a street after him in the neighborhood upon his shloshim.”
{Matzav.com Israel}
Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu arrived yesterday to offer condolences to the family of Maran Rav Gershon Edelstein zt”l.
Rechov Raavad in Bnei Brak was blocked to vehicular traffic, with heavy security measures throughout the street and the area.
Netanyahu was accompanied by the chairman of the Degel HaTorah party, Member of Knesset Moshe Gafni, along with the rosh yeshiva’s grandson Motti Paley, who served his grandfather devotedly in recent years.
The Prime Minister conversed with the rosh yeshiva’s sons for more than half an hour.
WATCH:
There has been improvement in the condition of Maran Rav Shmuel Kamenetsky, Philadelphia rosh yeshiva.
Rav Shmuel was re-hospitalized this week, being diagnosed with pneumonia. The rosh yeshiva had been at a rehab facility for the weeks before.
Today, boruch Hashem, the family relates that the rosh yeshiva is responding well to the medication he has been given and is feeling much better.
All are asked to continue davening for Rav Shmuel ben Itta Ettil.
{Matzav.com}
A photo that is moving the Torah world is one of Maran Rosh Yeshiva HaGaon Rav Gershon Edelstein zt”l in the intensive care unit of the hospital, delivering his daily shiur.
On the night of Shavuos, Rav Gershon was hospitalized at Mayanei HaYeshua hospital. After a few hours, his medical condition stabilized. Towards morning, he announced that he could daven Shacharis with a minyan. Indeed, a minyan of talmidim arrived and davened together with him.
With Hashem’s help, his numbers were stable. He davened and learned in his room. With the consent of the doctors, he got off the bed and sat in the chair to daven and learn.
Sons and sons-in-law, and grandchildren, who managed to enter the room for a moment came out and said that the Rosh Yeshiva conducted himself as usual, despite being fully aware of his critical medical condition.
On Sunday morning, Rav Gershon said that he had the ability and desire to deliver his daily shiur, and thus, in a moment, he immersed himself in the depths of the sugya studied in the yeshiva, and with the approval of the doctors, he prepared the shiur during the morning hours and wrote it down.
Around noon, talmidim from Yeshivas Ponovezh arrived at the hospital. It was an amazing sight to see how more than the talmidim wanted to learn, Rav Gershon wanted to nourish and satisfy the thirst of the students who poured their hearts out for his speedy recovery.
And so, in the intensive care unit, they came to see that despite his weakness, the spirit remained strong.
The next day, Monday, Rav Gershon began to prepare the daily shul. As he was connected to the oxygen mask intended to ease his breathing due to his weakened heart, the Rosh Yeshiva studied Sanhedrin, 6a.
Rabbi Yishai Ginsburg and Rabbi Tzvi Hersh Lipkovitz were quoted with deep emotion, as both of them, in the midst of the conversation, burst into tears: the shiur was delivered with the same clarity, sound, and depth of analysis as the shiurim of the past years. Rav Gershon immersed himself in the depth of the sugya, with the meforshim, comparing and contrasting the different shitos and elucidating the nuances of the Gemara.
The talmidim present in the room couldn’t help but be moved by the sight before them. Here was their revered Rosh Yeshiva, frail and weak in body, but with a mind that remained sharp and focused until the very end. They witnessed a true testament to the power and impact of Torah study, as Rav Gershon’s teachings continued to flow forth, undeterred by his physical condition.
As the shiur progressed, the atmosphere in the room became increasingly charged with emotion. The talmidim, who were both inspired but also saddened by their rebbi’s deteriorating health, listened intently, hanging on to every word that emanated from his lips. They knew they were witnessing a rare and precious moment, a final transmission of wisdom from a gadol hador.
Throughout the lesson, Rav Gershon maintained his customary style, pausing at certain points to emphasize key ideas or to provide additional insights. His voice, though weakened, resonated with the authority and passion that had characterized his teachings for decades. It was as if he drew strength from the very Torah he was expounding, as if the words themselves breathed life into his fragile body.
At the conclusion of the shiur, there was a collective sense of awe and reverence among those present. They realized that they had just witnessed something extraordinary—a true embodiment of the Torah spirit, a testament to the power of Torah, and a reminder of the eternity of the Jewish people.
After the lesson, the rosh yeshiva expressed his gratitude to the talmidim for their presence and support.
Shortly after delivering his final shiur, Rav Gershon’s health further deteriorated, and he passed away on Tuesday morning.
Rav Gershon’s legacy continues to live on through his teachings and the impact he had on generations of talmidim. His unwavering commitment to limud haTorah and his dedication to instilling a love for learning in others serve as an inspiration.
{Matzav.com Israel}
The last video captured of Maran Rav Gershon Edelstein zt”l, Rosh Yeshivas Ponovezh, is beleived to have been on Thursday, Erev Shavuos. At the time, the rosh yeshiva was visited by Reb Shau Graucher, who is working on spreading awareness of the importance of bentching Birkas Hamazon from a bentcher, with kavanah, and he asked […]
The Belzer Rebbe has established an organization aimed at providing support to individuals who go off the derech, with no intention of persuading them to return. The organization, named “Ahavas Kodmim,” was created in response to the tragic suicide of a 23-year-old former Belzer chossid who experienced significant emotional distress.
Insiders close to the Belzer Rebbe revealed that the young man’s suicide deeply affected the Belzer kehillah and led to a realization that the disconnection between those who go off the derech and their families is harmful.
One of the founders of the organization was quoted on Galatz as saying, “They received their chinuch in our mosdos throughout their lives, and even though they have made a different choice regarding Torah umitzvos, we must support and embrace them unconditionally.”
Recently, a group of approximately 30 former Belzer Chassidim embarked on a trip organized by the Chassidus, visiting the city of Belz and other locations in Europe.
{Matzav.com Israel}
מראות חייו של הגרי”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררמראות חייו של הגרי”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררמראות חייו של הגרי”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררמראות חייו של הגרי”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררמראות חייו של הגרי”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררמראות חייו של הגרי”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררמראות חייו של הגרי”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררמראות חייו של הגרי”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררמראות חייו של הגרי”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררמראות חייו של הגרי”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררמראות חייו של הגרי”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררמראות חייו של הגרי”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררמראות חייו של הגרי”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררמראות חייו של הגרי”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררמראות חייו של הגרי”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררמראות חייו של הגרי”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררמראות חייו של הגרי”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררמראות חייו של הגרי”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררמראות חייו של הגרי”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררמראות חייו של הגרי”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררמראות חייו של הגרי”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררמראות חייו של הגרי”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררמראות חייו של הגרי”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררמראות חייו של הגרי”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררמראות חייו של הגרי”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררמראות חייו של הגרי”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררמראות חייו של הגרי”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררמראות חייו של הגרי”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררמראות חייו של הגרי”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררמראות חייו של הגרי”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררמראות חייו של הגרי”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררמראות חייו של הגרי”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררמראות חייו של הגרי”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררמראות חייו של הגרי”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררמראות חייו של הגרי”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררמראות חייו של הגרי”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררמראות חייו של הגרי”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררמראות חייו של הגרי”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררמראות חייו של הגרי”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררמראות חייו של הגרי”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררמראות חייו של הגרי”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררמראות חייו של הגרי”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררמראות חייו של הגרי”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררמראות חייו של הגרי”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררמראות חייו של הגרי”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררמראות חייו של הגרי”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררמראות חייו של הגרי”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררמראות חייו של הגרי”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררמראות חייו של הגרי”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררמראות חייו של הגרי”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררמראות חייו של הגרי”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררמראות חייו של הגרי”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררמראות חייו של הגרי”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררמראות חייו של הגרי”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררמראות חייו של הגרי”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררמראות חייו של הגרי”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררמראות חייו של הגרי”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררמראות חייו של הגרי”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררמראות חייו של הגרי”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררמראות חייו של הגרי”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררמראות חייו של הגרי”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררמראות חייו של הגרי”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררמראות חייו של הגרי”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררמראות חייו של הגרי”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררמראות חייו של הגרי”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררמראות חייו של הגרי”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררמראות חייו של הגרי”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררמראות חייו של הגרי”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררמראות חייו של הגרי”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררמראות חייו של הגרי”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררמראות חייו של הגרי”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררמראות חייו של הגרי”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררמראות חייו של הגרי”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררמראות חייו של הגרי”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררמראות חייו של הגרי”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררמראות חייו של הגרי”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררמראות חייו של הגרי”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררמראות חייו של הגרי”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררמראות חייו של הגרי”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררמראות חייו של הגרי”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררמראות חייו של הגרי”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררמראות חייו של הגרי”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררמראות חייו של הגרי”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררמראות חייו של הגרי”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררמראות חייו של הגרי”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררמראות חייו של הגרי”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררמראות חייו של הגרי”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררמראות חייו של הגרי”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררמראות חייו של הגרי”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררמראות חייו של הגרי”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררמראות חייו של הגרי”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררמראות חייו של הגרי”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררמראות חייו של הגרי”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררמראות חייו של הגרי”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררמראות חייו של הגרי”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררמראות חייו של הגרי”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררמראות חייו של הגרי”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררמראות חייו של הגרי”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררמראות חייו של הגרי”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררמראות חייו של הגרי”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררמראות חייו של הגרי”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררמראות חייו של הגרי”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררמראות חייו של הגרי”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררמראות חייו של הגרי”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררמראות חייו של הגרי”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררמראות חייו של הגרי”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררמראות חייו של הגרי”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררמראות חייו של הגרי”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררמראות חייו של הגרי”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררמראות חייו של הגרי”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררמראות חייו של הגרי”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררמראות חייו של הגרי”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררמראות חייו של הגרי”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררמראות חייו של הגרי”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררמראות חייו של הגרי”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררמראות חייו של הגרי”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררמראות חייו של הגרי”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררמראות חייו של הגרי”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררמראות חייו של הגרי”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררמראות חייו של הגרי”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררמראות חייו של הגרי”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררמראות חייו של הגרי”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררמראות חייו של הגרי”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררמראות חייו של הגרי”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררמראות חייו של הגרי”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררמראות חייו של הגרי”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררמראות חייו של הגרי”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררמראות חייו של הגרי”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררמראות חייו של הגרי”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררמראות חייו של הגרי”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררמראות חייו של הגרי”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררמראות חייו של הגרי”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררמראות חייו של הגרי”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררמראות חייו של הגרי”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררמראות חייו של הגרי”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררמראות חייו של הגרי”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררמראות חייו של הגרי”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררמראות חייו של הגרי”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררמראות חייו של הגרי”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררמראות חייו של הגרי”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררמראות חייו של הגרי”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררמראות חייו של הגרי”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררמראות חייו של הגרי”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררמראות חייו של הגרי”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררמראות חייו של הגרי”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררמראות חייו של הגרי”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררמראות חייו של הגרי”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררמראות חייו של הגרי”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררמראות חייו של הגרי”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררמראות חייו של הגרי”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררמראות חייו של הגרי”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררמראות חייו של הגרי”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררמראות חייו של הגרי”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררמראות חייו של הגרי”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררמראות חייו של הגרי”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררמראות חייו של הגרי”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררמראות חייו של הגרי”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררמראות חייו של הגרי”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררמראות חייו של הגרי”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררמראות חייו של הגרי”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררמראות חייו של הגרי”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררמראות חייו של הגרי”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררמראות חייו של הגרי”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: שוקי 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זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררמראות חייו של הגרי”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררמראות חייו של הגרי”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: שוקי לרר
תיעוד אווירי מהלווית הגר”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: עומר פיכמן, פלאש 90תיעוד אווירי מהלווית הגר”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: עומר פיכמן, פלאש 90תיעוד אווירי מהלווית הגר”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: עומר פיכמן, פלאש 90תיעוד אווירי מהלווית הגר”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: עומר פיכמן, פלאש 90תיעוד אווירי מהלווית הגר”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: עומר פיכמן, פלאש 90תיעוד אווירי מהלווית הגר”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: עומר פיכמן, פלאש 90תיעוד אווירי מהלווית הגר”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: עומר פיכמן, פלאש 90תיעוד אווירי מהלווית הגר”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: עומר פיכמן, פלאש 90תיעוד אווירי מהלווית הגר”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: עומר פיכמן, פלאש 90תיעוד אווירי מהלווית הגר”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: עומר פיכמן, פלאש 90תיעוד אווירי מהלווית הגר”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: עומר פיכמן, פלאש 90תיעוד אווירי מהלווית הגר”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: עומר פיכמן, פלאש 90תיעוד אווירי מהלווית הגר”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: עומר פיכמן, פלאש 90תיעוד אווירי מהלווית הגר”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: עומר פיכמן, פלאש 90תיעוד אווירי מהלווית הגר”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: עומר פיכמן, פלאש 90תיעוד אווירי מהלווית הגר”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: עומר פיכמן, פלאש 90תיעוד אווירי מהלווית הגר”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: עומר פיכמן, פלאש 90תיעוד אווירי מהלווית הגר”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: עומר פיכמן, פלאש 90הלווית הגר”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: יונתן זינדל, פלאש 90הלווית הגר”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: יונתן זינדל, פלאש 90הלווית הגר”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: יונתן זינדל, פלאש 90הלווית הגר”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: יונתן זינדל, פלאש 90הלווית הגר”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: יונתן זינדל, פלאש 90הלווית הגר”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: יונתן זינדל, פלאש 90הלווית הגר”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: יונתן זינדל, פלאש 90הלווית הגר”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: יונתן זינדל, פלאש 90הלווית הגר”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: יונתן זינדל, פלאש 90הלווית הגר”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: יונתן זינדל, פלאש 90הלווית הגר”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: יונתן זינדל, פלאש 90הלווית הגר”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: יונתן זינדל, פלאש 90הלווית הגר”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: יונתן זינדל, פלאש 90הלווית הגר”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: יונתן זינדל, פלאש 90הלווית הגר”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: יונתן זינדל, פלאש 90הלווית הגר”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: יונתן זינדל, פלאש 90הלווית הגר”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: יונתן זינדל, פלאש 90הלווית הגר”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: יונתן זינדל, פלאש 90הלווית הגר”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: יונתן זינדל, פלאש 90הלווית הגר”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: יונתן זינדל, פלאש 90הלווית הגר”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: יונתן זינדל, פלאש 90הלווית הגר”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: יונתן זינדל, פלאש 90הלווית הגר”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: יונתן זינדל, פלאש 90הלווית הגר”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: יונתן זינדל, פלאש 90הלווית הגר”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: יונתן זינדל, פלאש 90הלווית הגר”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: יונתן זינדל, פלאש 90הלווית הגר”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: יונתן זינדל, פלאש 90הלווית הגר”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: יונתן זינדל, פלאש 90הלווית הגר”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: יונתן זינדל, פלאש 90הלווית הגר”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: יונתן זינדל, פלאש 90הלווית הגר”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: יונתן זינדל, פלאש 90הלווית הגר”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: יונתן זינדל, פלאש 90הלווית הגר”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: יונתן זינדל, פלאש 90הלווית הגר”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: יונתן זינדל, פלאש 90הלווית הגר”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: יונתן זינדל, פלאש 90הלווית הגר”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: יונתן זינדל, פלאש 90הלווית הגר”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: יונתן זינדל, פלאש 90הלווית הגר”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: יונתן זינדל, פלאש 90הלווית הגר”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: יונתן זינדל, פלאש 90הלווית הגר”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: יונתן זינדל, פלאש 90הלווית הגר”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: יונתן זינדל, פלאש 90הלווית הגר”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: יונתן זינדל, פלאש 90הלווית הגר”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: יונתן זינדל, פלאש 90הלווית הגר”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: יונתן זינדל, פלאש 90הלווית הגר”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: יונתן זינדל, פלאש 90הלווית הגר”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: יונתן זינדל, פלאש 90הלווית הגר”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: יונתן זינדל, פלאש 90הלווית הגר”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: יונתן זינדל, פלאש 90הלווית הגר”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: יונתן זינדל, פלאש 90הלווית הגר”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: יונתן זינדל, פלאש 90הלווית הגר”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: יונתן זינדל, פלאש 90הלווית הגר”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: יונתן זינדל, פלאש 90הלווית הגר”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: יונתן זינדל, פלאש 90הלווית הגר”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: יונתן זינדל, פלאש 90הלווית הגר”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: יונתן זינדל, פלאש 90הלווית הגר”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: יונתן זינדל, פלאש 90הלווית הגר”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: אבשלום ששוני, פלאש 90הלווית הגר”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: אבשלום ששוני, פלאש 90הלווית הגר”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: אבשלום ששוני, פלאש 90הלווית הגר”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: אבשלום ששוני, פלאש 90הלווית הגר”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: אבשלום ששוני, פלאש 90הלווית הגר”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: אבשלום ששוני, פלאש 90הלווית הגר”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: אבשלום ששוני, פלאש 90הלווית הגר”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: אבשלום ששוני, פלאש 90הלווית הגר”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: אבשלום ששוני, פלאש 90הלווית הגר”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: אבשלום ששוני, פלאש 90הלווית הגר”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: אבשלום ששוני, פלאש 90הלווית הגר”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: אבשלום ששוני, פלאש 90הלווית הגר”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: אבשלום ששוני, פלאש 90הלווית הגר”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: אבשלום ששוני, פלאש 90הלווית הגר”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: אבשלום ששוני, פלאש 90הלווית הגר”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: אבשלום ששוני, פלאש 90
מסע הלווית מרן הגרי”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררמסע הלווית מרן הגרי”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררמסע הלווית מרן הגרי”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררמסע הלווית מרן הגרי”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררמסע הלווית מרן הגרי”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררמסע הלווית מרן הגרי”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררמסע הלווית מרן הגרי”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררמסע הלווית מרן הגרי”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררמסע הלווית מרן הגרי”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררמסע הלווית מרן הגרי”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררמסע הלווית מרן הגרי”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררמסע הלווית מרן הגרי”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררמסע הלווית מרן הגרי”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררמסע הלווית מרן הגרי”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררמסע הלווית מרן הגרי”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררמסע הלווית מרן הגרי”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררמסע הלווית מרן הגרי”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררמסע הלווית מרן הגרי”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררמסע הלווית מרן הגרי”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררמסע הלווית מרן הגרי”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררמסע הלווית מרן הגרי”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררמסע הלווית מרן הגרי”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררמסע הלווית מרן הגרי”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררמסע הלווית מרן הגרי”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררמסע הלווית מרן הגרי”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררמסע הלווית מרן הגרי”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררמסע הלווית מרן הגרי”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררמסע הלווית מרן הגרי”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררמסע הלווית מרן הגרי”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררמסע הלווית מרן הגרי”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררמסע הלווית מרן הגרי”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררמסע הלווית מרן הגרי”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררמסע הלווית מרן הגרי”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררמסע הלווית מרן הגרי”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררמסע הלווית מרן הגרי”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררמסע הלווית מרן הגרי”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררמסע הלווית מרן הגרי”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררמסע הלווית מרן הגרי”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררמסע הלווית מרן הגרי”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררמסע הלווית מרן הגרי”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: שוקי 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לררמסע הלווית מרן הגרי”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררמסע הלווית מרן הגרי”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררמסע הלווית מרן הגרי”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררמסע הלווית מרן הגרי”ג אדלשטיין זצ”לצילום: שוקי לרר
Maran Rav Shmuel Kamenetsky, Philadelphia rosh yeshiva, has been re-hospitalized, being diagnosed with pneumonia.
The rosh yeshiva had been at a rehab facility for the last weeks. Unfortunately, he is now back in the hospital.
All are asked to continue davening for Rav Shmuel ben Itta Ettil.
{Matzav.com}
הרב אוחנה אצל הרב אדלשטייןמרן במוצאי יום הכיפוריםמרן ראש הישיבה הגר”ג אדלשטייןמרן הגר”ג אדלשטיין
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An emotional wedding took place in Brooklyn as Chaim Tzvi Meisels, a great-grandson of the Beirach Moshe of Satmar, got married.
About seven years ago, Chaim Tzvi chose to immigrate to Israel and enlist in the IDF. Chaim Tzvi left everything behind and came to the new country, where he enlisted in the IDF combat unit and was sworn in at the Kosel.
Chaim Tzvi served as a commanding officer in the Nachal Chareidi program. Despite everything, he did not sever ties with his family and his father, Rav Mordechai Aharon Meisels, a rebbi at the Satmar Yeshiva in Kiryas Yoel. Rav Mordechai Aharon is a son of Rav Dov Berish Meisels, a son-in-law of the Beirach Moshe.
In the past, Chaim Tzvi wrote about his experience enlisting in the army: “A few months before ‘Operation Protective Edge,’ almost a year after I left the community in which I grew up, I decided that I wanted to enlist….I bought a plane ticket and came alone to the country. At first, a friend connected me to the ‘Soldier to Soldier’ organization… In August 2014…after three months of basic training, I was accepted into the Egoz unit. I didn’t tell anyone my story. I was afraid that they would think I wasn’t suitable.”
“At the beginning of the course, I fell behind the team and couldn’t be one of the leaders. Therefore, after a year in the course, when I wanted to go to the officer’s course, I wasn’t allowed. After consulting with Rav Menachem Mendel HaKohen Friedman, the Admor of Pashkan, I chose to leave the unit and join a battalion.”
About a year ago, after completing his military service, Chaim Tzvi returned to the US and began to gradually return to his Chassidic community, until his engagement b’shaah tovah.
As mentioned, this week, he got married at the Ateres Matel Leah Hall in Manhattan Beach, Brooklyn. The kallah is a daughter of Rav Aharon Yaakov Greenwald from Skver.
{Matzav.com Israel}
It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of Maran HaGaon Rav Yerachmiel Gershon Edelstein zt”l. He was 100 years old.
Rav Gershon had been hospitalized for the last week or so and his condition turned critical this morning. He was niftar at about 10 o’clock local time.
Rav Gershon was the senior member of the of the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah of Degel HaTorah and the rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Ponevezh for eight decades.
The levaya is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. at Yeshivas Ponevezh in Bnei Brak.
Rav Gershon was born on April 18, 1923 in the town of Shumyatch (Shumyachi), near Smolensk, in the Soviet Union, to Rav Zvi Yehuda Edelstein and Miriam Mobshovich. Rav Zvi Edelstein was rov of Shumyatch; his father Rav Yerachmiel Gershon Edelstein, was the author of Ben Aryeh on Shas. Rebbetzin Miriam’s father, Rav Mordechai Shlomo Mobshovich, was rabbi of Malstovka (Krasnopillia).
His mother obtained fake birth certificates with the wrong date of birth for her sons so that they would be registered as three years younger than their real age and would not attend a school under the supervision of the Yevsektzia, the extremely anti-religious Jewish branch of the Communist Party. He learned Torah from Rav Zalman Leib Estolin, in exchange for his father Rav Zvi Yehuda teaching Torah. Following his mother’s illness with typhus, he was sent with his younger brother Yaakov to his aunt, Rebbitzin Rivka Tzvia Paz, in the city of Klimovich (Klimavichy), where they studied Torah secretly with Rav Mordechai Eliyahu Shneur. There they also received the news of their mother’s passing.
In the month of Nisan 5694 (March–April 1934), his father succeeded in obtaining a permit to leave for Palestine, and asked his sons to return to their home in Shumyatch. At that time, his grandmother Rebbetzin Reizel ran the household and raised the brothers, so that their father could study Torah. In Iyar, Rav Zvi and his family traveled on the liner Novorossiysk from Odessa to Palestine, arriving on Lag Ba’omer.
In Elul 5794 (1934), after several months of wandering between relatives, their father settled in Ramat Hasharon. The brothers Yaakov and Gershon slept on the floor. Since there was no religious school in Ramat Hasharon, the father studied with his sons at home, sitting on orange crates due to lack of furniture.
In 5795 (1935), their father was elected to be the rov of Ramat Hasharon.
In Elul 5784 (1935), the sons were sent to the Lomzha yeshiva, following Rav Gershon’s pleas. They arrived at the yeshiva on the 1st of Elul, having traveled on foot from their home to Petach Tikva, where the Yeshiva was, and did not know that the zman had started the day before. The Mashgiach, Rav Avraham Abba Grosbard, said he no longer had room for them. The secretary of the yeshiva, Rav Shlomo Zalman Mozes met them and invited them to sleep in his house until beds were found for them in the Yeshiva in the beginning of Cheshvan. At the behest of their father, they joined Rav Shmuel Rozovsky’s shiur.
A year later, their father remarried. He asked them to come home, as the Rebbetzin now took care of the house, and they could study Torah full-time. The brothers returned to their study schedule with their father. In the winter of 5704 (1943–1944), when the Ponevezh Yeshiva was established, Rav Shmuel Rozovsky, who was appointed head of the yeshiva, came to ask their father that they should join the group of the yeshiva’s founders. Rav Gershon and Rav Yaakov were among the first six talmidim in the yeshiva, which was then located in the Ligman Shul in Bnei Brak. The yeshiva bochurim would sleep in rooms rented for them in the city; the two young brothers lived in the house of Rav Michel Yehuda Lefkowitz, who rented the only bedroom in the house to Rav Rozovsky.
The founder of the yeshiva, the Ponovezher Rov Rav Yosef Shlomo Kahaneman, appointed Rav Gershon to teach Holocaust refugee students who had come to the orphanage “Batei Avos” and in 5706 (1945–1946) he was appointed to give shiurim to the young talmidim at the yeshiva.
In 5708 (1947–1948) he married Rebbetzin Henya Rachel, daughter of Rav Yehoshua Zelig Diskin, rov of Pardes Channa, and in the same year he was appointed by Rav Kahneman as Rosh Mesivta of the yeshiva.
Rav Edelstein was close to the Chazon Ish. After the passing of Rav Edelstein’s father on the 20th of Cheshvan, 5711 (1950), he hesitated whether to take over the role of the rov of Ramat Hasharon; however, since he already held a position in the yeshiva and in light of his wife’s refusal to uproot from Bnei Brak, the role was assigned to his brother Rav Yaakov instead.
In the mid-1990s, Rav Edelstein began giving the shiur klali, becoming the rosh yeshiva together with Rav Berel Povarsky.
In 5763 (2003), he was added to the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah of Degel HaTorah.
Rav Edelstein served as Ba’al Tokei’ah at the Ponevezh yeshiva from 5706 (1945).
After Rav Aharon Leib Shteinmanwas niftar in 2017, Rav Edelstein became the joint new gadol hador alongside Rav Chaim Kanievsky. After Rav Chaim’s petirah in 2022, Rav Edelstein was viewed as the senior gadol hador of the Olam HaTorah.
His passing leaves a gaping void.
Yehi zichro boruch.
{Matzav.com}
Rav Elya Chaim Swerdloff, rosh yeshiva of the Paterson Yeshiva, will be one of the guest speakers at the upcoming Adirei Hatorah event, Matzav.com has learned.
While rumors of his speaking had been bandied about, it was only finalized last night.
Rav Swerdloff is recognized as one of the leading roshei yeshivos in the United States. His yeshiva is renowned for its sterling reputation and for producing bnei Torah of the highest caliber.
Rav Swerdloff, who learned at Yeshiva Bais Hatalmud in his younger years, is a son of Reb Moish Swerdloff zt”l, one of the outstanding members of the East New York kehillah of the last century that coalesced around the Young Israel of New Lots and the special Yidden of the community at the time.
Rav Swerdloff’s rebbetzinis a daughter of Rav Gershon Weisenfeld zt”l, rosh yeshiva at Yeshiva Bais Hatalmud and founding rosh yeshiva of Passaic Yeshiva. Rav Gershon’s rebbetzin, Rivka, was a daughter of Rav Mendel Zaks and a granddaughter of the Chofetz Chaim.
As previously reported here on Matzav.com, Rav Meir Tzvi Bergman, rosh yeshivas Rashbi in Bnei Brak, and Rav Dov Landau, rosh yeshivas Slabodka in Bnei Brak, will be flying in for the Adirei Hatorah event, scheduled for this Sunday, June 4, at Wells Fargo Arena in Philadelphia.
Adirei Hatorah is an initiative spearheaded by Mr. Leizer Scheiner and others to ensure proper reverence for bnei Torah in general and specifically the yungeleit of America’s largest yeshiva, Bais Medrash Govoah, in Lakewood, NJ. The initiative has led to the doubling of the kollel checks of the yungeleit and raised tens of millions of dollars in an amazing show of hachzokas haTorah.
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{Matzav.com}
The condition of Maran Rav Gershon Edelstein, rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Ponovezh in Bnei Brak, at Maayanei Hayeshua Medical Center in Bnei Brak has worsened. All are ask to daven for his refuah.
The rosh yeshiva, who recently celebrated his 100th birthday, was hospitalized last week after suffering from shortness of breath. Upon his arrival, the rosh yeshiva underwent a battery of tests and it was decided by physicians to keep him there for further treatment and supervision.
All are asked to daven for Rav Yerachmiel Gershon ben Miriam.
{Matzav.com Israel}
The hospitalization of Maran Rav Gershon Edelstein, Rosh Yeshivas Ponovezh, has caused great concern in the Torah world, as previously reported on Matzav.com.
He has since been at the intensive care unit at the Ma’ayanei HaYeshua Medical Center in Bnei Brak.
It became widely known that the Rosh Yeshiva was greatly concerned while in the hospital.
What was his concern?
On Erev Yom Tov, when he was still at home, he had performed an eruv tavshilin, which allows the preparation of food from a Yom Tov to a Shabbos. He discovered in the hospital that, due to regulations, it would not be possible to light neiros Shabbos within the hospital ward. Consequently, the Rosh Yeshiva sought a permissible form of melacha that would prevent a bracha levatalah.
Thus, on Yom Tov, a small pot was brought to the Rosh Yeshiva’s room in the intensive care unit, where he personally mixed the ingredients of the soup in the pot. This was done so that he would have a share in the cooking process, thereby preserving the integrity of the eruv tavshilin brachah said on the eve of the Yom Tov.
All are asked to continue davening for Rav Yerachmiel Gershon ben Miriam.
{Matzav.com Israel}
Rabbi Alter Yachnes, known to children all over the world as “Rebbi Alter” for his famous songs and popular children’s albums, is in serious condition at the hospital and in need of rachamei Shomayim.
Rebbi Alter was hospitalized on the eve of the Yom Tov of Shavuos.
He is at the intensive care unit of Hadassah Ein Kerem hospital in Yerushalayim.
The 75-year-old resident of Yerushalayim is a star chinuch entertainer among children thanks to his many catchy tunes, including his famous song “Paroh in Pajamas.”
All are asked to daven for Alter Tzvi Aryeh ben Chana Chaya.
{Matzav.com Israel}
Just before the Yom Tov of Shavuos, gedolei Torah in the city of Bnei Brak a unique gift from Rabbi Aharon Yosef Kornitzer of the Tiv Matzos Bakery: a bouquet of wheat stalks.
The wheat stalks were from the beginning of the harvest of wheat for matzah for Pesach 5784.
ראשית קצירת החיטיםגדולי ישראל מקבלים קצירת חיטיםצילום: שוקי לררגדולי ישראל מקבלים קצירת חיטיםצילום: שוקי לררגדולי ישראל מקבלים קצירת חיטיםצילום: שוקי לררגדולי ישראל מקבלים קצירת חיטיםצילום: שוקי לררגדולי ישראל מקבלים קצירת חיטיםצילום: שוקי לררגדולי ישראל מקבלים קצירת חיטיםצילום: שוקי לררגדולי ישראל מקבלים קצירת חיטיםצילום: שוקי לררגדולי ישראל מקבלים קצירת חיטיםצילום: שוקי לררגדולי ישראל מקבלים קצירת חיטיםצילום: שוקי לררגדולי ישראל מקבלים קצירת חיטיםצילום: שוקי לררגדולי ישראל מקבלים קצירת חיטיםצילום: שוקי לררגדולי ישראל מקבלים קצירת חיטיםצילום: שוקי לררגדולי ישראל מקבלים קצירת חיטיםצילום: שוקי לררגדולי ישראל מקבלים קצירת חיטיםצילום: שוקי לררגדולי ישראל מקבלים קצירת חיטיםצילום: שוקי לררגדולי ישראל מקבלים קצירת חיטיםצילום: שוקי לררגדולי ישראל מקבלים קצירת חיטיםצילום: שוקי לררגדולי ישראל מקבלים קצירת חיטיםצילום: שוקי לררגדולי ישראל מקבלים קצירת חיטיםצילום: שוקי לררגדולי ישראל מקבלים קצירת חיטיםצילום: שוקי לררגדולי ישראל מקבלים קצירת חיטיםצילום: שוקי לררגדולי ישראל מקבלים קצירת חיטיםצילום: שוקי לרר
Thousands of Vizhnitzer Chassidim participated today in a hachnosas Sefer Torah in Bnei Brak l’illui nishmas the Yeshuos Moshe of Vizhnitz.
The Vizhnitzer Rebbe, Rav Yisroel Hager, was at the center of the celebration, transported in a special carriage- like vehicle, surrounded by large crowds filling the streets.
The procession left from Rechov Damesek Eliezer at the corner of Sderot Vizhnitz and headed to Rechov Ezra and Givat Pinchos, and from there to the large Vizhnitzer Bais Medrash.
WATCH:
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Maran Rav Gershon Edelstein, rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Ponovezh in Bnei Brak, was hospitalized at Maayanei Hayeshua Medical Center in Bnei Brak on Thursday.
The rosh yeshiva, who recently celebrated his 100th birthday, suffered from shortness of breath. Upon his arrival, the rosh yeshiva underwent a battery of tests and it was decided by phyisicans to keep him there for further treatment and supervision.
Over the course of the night, Rav Edelstein’s condition stabilized, but he is still hospitalized and his condition is being closely monitored.
At Ponevezh Yeshiva, lomdim stopped their Shavuos night learning to recite Tehillim.
All are asked to daven for Rav Yerachmiel Gershon ben Miriam.
{Matzav.com Israel}
For the first time since the start of his recovery from illness, the rosh yeshiva of Slabodka, Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch, delivered a special message to rabbeim ahead of Shavuos.
Rabbeim from the Darchei Yosher network of Talmud Torahs under the direction of Rav Yaakov Rosenstein received detailed answers to a number of chinuch questions from Rav Hirsch.
Rav Hirsch was asked if it’s important that a rebbi be calm and happy in cheder. Rav Hirsch responded, “This is very, very important. A rebbi can kill a talmid if he is not happy and relaxed and is in a bad mood. He’ll yell at a boy when he doesn’t need to yell, and can destroy him. It is very important that a rebbi set aside everything that he has going on in his private life, to disconnect from everything that goes on in his private life. In cheder, part of the avodah is to be calm and happy… There are rabbeim who literally destroy children.”
{Matzav.com Israel}
קציר חיטיםצילום: שוקי לררקציר חיטיםצילום: שוקי לררקציר חיטיםצילום: שוקי לררקציר חיטיםצילום: שוקי לררקציר חיטיםצילום: שוקי לררקציר חיטיםצילום: שוקי לררקציר חיטיםצילום: שוקי לררקציר חיטיםצילום: שוקי לררקציר חיטיםצילום: שוקי לררקציר חיטיםצילום: שוקי לררקציר חיטיםצילום: שוקי לררקציר חיטיםצילום: שוקי לררקציר חיטיםצילום: שוקי לררקציר חיטיםצילום: שוקי לררקציר חיטיםצילום: שוקי לררקציר חיטיםצילום: שוקי לררקציר חיטיםצילום: שוקי לררקציר חיטיםצילום: שוקי לררקציר חיטיםצילום: שוקי לררקציר חיטיםצילום: שוקי לררקציר חיטיםצילום: שוקי לררקציר חיטיםצילום: שוקי לררקציר חיטיםצילום: שוקי לררקציר חיטיםצילום: שוקי לררקציר חיטיםצילום: שוקי לררקציר חיטיםצילום: שוקי לררקציר חיטיםצילום: שוקי לררקציר חיטיםצילום: שוקי לררקציר חיטיםצילום: שוקי לררקציר חיטיםצילום: שוקי לררקציר חיטיםצילום: שוקי לררקציר חיטיםצילום: שוקי לררקציר חיטיםצילום: שוקי לררקציר חיטיםצילום: שוקי לררקציר חיטיםצילום: שוקי לררקציר חיטיםצילום: שוקי לררקציר חיטיםצילום: שוקי לררקציר חיטיםצילום: שוקי לררקציר חיטיםצילום: שוקי לררקציר חיטיםצילום: שוקי לררקציר חיטיםצילום: שוקי לררקציר חיטיםצילום: שוקי לררקציר חיטיםצילום: שוקי לררקציר חיטיםצילום: שוקי לררקציר חיטיםצילום: שוקי לררקציר חיטיםצילום: שוקי לררקציר חיטיםצילום: שוקי לררקציר חיטיםצילום: שוקי לררקציר חיטיםצילום: שוקי לררקציר חיטיםצילום: שוקי לררקציר חיטיםצילום: שוקי לררקציר חיטיםצילום: שוקי לררקציר חיטיםצילום: שוקי לררקציר חיטיםצילום: שוקי לררקציר חיטיםצילום: שוקי לררקציר חיטיםצילום: שוקי לררקציר חיטיםצילום: שוקי לרר
According to reports in the Israeli chareidi media, major changes are coming to Yeshivas Brisk, led by Rav Avraham Yehoshua Soloveitchik. Among the changes is the appointment of yungeleit who will oversee “shemiras hasedorim” and record who arrives on time and who arrives late.
Brisk is home to some 1,400 bnei Torah, who learn in the five-story building on Rechov Press in Yerushalayim.
There are four levels in the observance of sedorim in Brisk: those who come before 9:00 a.m., those who come before 9:15, those who come between 9:30 and 9:45, and those who come before 10:00. Anyone coming after 10:00 will not be entitled to the monthly chalukah (stipend), which is currently distributed via check, not in cash, as was the case in the past.
Rav Avraham Yehoshua has also reportedly been focused on being mechazeik the seder on Fridays in the yeshiva.
{Matzav.com Israel}
A grandson of Rav Berel Povarsky, Rosh Yeshivas Ponovezh, a son of his son, Rav Yisroel Chaim Povarsky, and a grandson of Rav Chaim Shlomo Liebowitz zt”l, got engaged this week to a granddaughter of Rosh Yeshivas Chevron Rav Moshe Mordechai Farbstein, a daughter of his son-in-law, Rav Yosef Elefant, R”M at Yeshivas Mir Yerushalayim. The vort was held at the home of Rav Berel Povarsky.
שמחת הווארט בפוניבז’ – חברוןצילום: שוקי לררשמחת הווארט בפוניבז’ – חברוןצילום: שוקי לררשמחת הווארט בפוניבז’ – חברוןצילום: שוקי לררשמחת הווארט בפוניבז’ – חברוןצילום: שוקי לררשמחת הווארט בפוניבז’ – חברוןצילום: שוקי לררשמחת הווארט בפוניבז’ – חברוןצילום: שוקי לררשמחת הווארט בפוניבז’ – חברוןצילום: שוקי לררשמחת הווארט בפוניבז’ – חברוןצילום: שוקי לררשמחת הווארט בפוניבז’ – חברוןצילום: שוקי לררשמחת הווארט בפוניבז’ – חברוןצילום: שוקי לררשמחת הווארט בפוניבז’ – חברוןצילום: שוקי לררשמחת הווארט בפוניבז’ – חברוןצילום: שוקי לררשמחת הווארט בפוניבז’ – חברוןצילום: שוקי לררשמחת הווארט בפוניבז’ – חברוןצילום: שוקי לררשמחת הווארט בפוניבז’ – חברוןצילום: שוקי לררשמחת הווארט בפוניבז’ – חברוןצילום: שוקי לררשמחת הווארט בפוניבז’ – חברוןצילום: שוקי לררשמחת הווארט בפוניבז’ – חברוןצילום: שוקי לררשמחת הווארט בפוניבז’ – חברוןצילום: שוקי לררשמחת הווארט בפוניבז’ – חברוןצילום: שוקי לררשמחת הווארט בפוניבז’ – חברוןצילום: שוקי לררשמחת הווארט בפוניבז’ – חברוןצילום: שוקי לררשמחת הווארט בפוניבז’ – חברוןצילום: שוקי לררשמחת הווארט בפוניבז’ – חברוןצילום: שוקי לררשמחת הווארט בפוניבז’ – חברוןצילום: שוקי לרר
Rav Chaim Kanievsky’s personal copy of a sefer he authored, Shoneh Halachos – handwritten on 237 pages – was sold this week at a public auction for $471,200.
The manuscript was sold by the Genazim auction house, which told the manuscript for $370,000, plus a commission of 24% and VAT on the commission, with the amount reaching the aforementioned $471,200.
At the end of the sefer, Rav Chaim wrote:
“סיימתי בעזה”י מוצש”ק פ’ שקלים כ”ח שבט תשל”ה תם ונשלם שבח לאל בורא עולם ספר שונה הלכות”.
Genazim listed the item as follows:
Handwritten and Autographed Manuscript of Shoneh Halachos Volume 3 by Rabbi Chaim Kanievsky
Shoneh Halachos is the well-known and fundamental halachic work of Rabbi Chaim Kanievsky; this is his original handwritten manuscript.
237 full pages, entirely handwritten by Rabbi Chaim Kanievsky!
Rabbi Chaim Kanievsky listed the Table of Contents on the title page in beautiful large block letters. The sefer contains Hilchos Yom Tov, Chol Hamoed, Tisha B’Av, Taanis, Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Succah and Lulav, Chanukah and Megillah.
The cover is autographed C. Kanievsky, and autographed again on the back cover with Rabbi Chaim Kanievsky’s full name for davening.
At the end of the sefer he inscribes: “Completed with the help of Hashem Yisborach on Motza’ei Shabbos Kodesh Parshas Shekalim, 28th of Shevat, 1975.
Finished and completed, may K-l, the Creator of the World, be praised”
{Matzav.com}
It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of Rabbi Velvel (Yitzchok Zev) Finkelstein zt”l.
Reb Velvel was a son of Rabbi Yaakov and Shaindy Finkelstein zt”l.
Reb Velvel was the nosi of Yeshiva Gedolah of Bayonne, an outstanding baal chesed who assisted yechidim and the klal continuously. He was a longtime resident of the Kensington neighborhood in Brooklyn.
The kindest person you could meet, with a heart of gold, Reb Velvel was a one-of-a-kind individual.
His father, Reb Yankel, was a noted tomeich Torah and baal chesed, whose values and ideals were undiluted by the American culture, and Reb Velvel was very much the same, a staunch and unwavering oveid Hashem throughout his life, clinging to the hashkafos with which he was raised and the lessons he learned from his illustrious rabbeim.
Reb Velvel always lived with pashtus, carrying himself with simplicity and eschewing the materialism rampant in the outside culture.
Reb Velvel battled various illnesses and medical ailments over the last period with tremendous gevurah.
He is survived by his wife and his children and grandchildren, as well as his siblings, R’ Reuven Finkelstein, R’ Nachum Finkelstein, R’ Shmuel Akiva Finkelstein, R’ Avrohom Finkelstein, Mrs. Zlaty Friedman and Rebbetzin Liba Magid.
The levayah will be held at 11:30 a.m. at Yeshiva Gedolah of Bayonne, located at 747 Avenue C in Bayonne, NJ. The aron will then be flown to Eretz Yisroel for a levayah and kevurah in Bet Shemesh, leaving on El Al from Newark Liberty International Airport at 5:30 p.m.
Yehi zichro boruch.
{Matzav.com Newscenter}
It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the passing of Rav Yisroel Meir Zaks z”l. He was 69.
Reb Yisroel Meir was a great-grandson of the Chofetz Chaim, after whom he was named.
He was a son of Rav Tzvi Hirsch Zaks, a son of Rav Mendel Zaks, son-in-law of the Chofetz Chaim.
Reb Yisroel Meir married his wife, a daughter of Rav Yisrael Klein.
Reb Yisroel Meir endured many yissurim during his lifetime, but spent his days learning Torah with great joy.
For twenty years, he was not blessed with children, and finally had one child, a son, who married this past year to a daughter of the famed maggid Rabbi Shlomo Levenstein.
The levayah and kevurah were held last night in Beit Shemesh.
Yehi zichro boruch.
{Matzav.com Israel}
Hagaon Rav Dov Landau, Rosh Yeshivas Slabodka in Bnei Brak will be flying to the United States to attend the upcoming Adirei Hatorah event, Matzav.com has learned.
Bais Medrash Govoah’s Adirei Hatorah event is scheduled for Sunday, June 4, at Wells Fargo Arena in Philadelphia.
The news come a day after it was revealed that Hagaon Rav Meir Tzvi Bergman, rosh yeshivas Rashbi in Bnei Brak, will be participating in the event.
Adirei Hatorah ticket holders can look forward to a riveting event at Wells Fargo Arena after last year’s inaugural Adirei Hatorah chizuk asifa drew some 20,000 people.
Adirei Hatorah is an initiative spearheaded by Mr. Leizer Scheiner and others to ensure proper reverance for bnei Torah in general and specifically the yungeleit of America’s largest yeshiva, Bais Medrash Govoah, in Lakewood, NJ. The initiative has led to th doubling of the kollel checks of the yungeleit and raised tens of millions of dollars in an amazing show of hachzokas haTorah.
{Matzav.com}
It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of Rav Michoel Binyomin Hakohein Fuchs zt”l of Ramot, Yerushalayim. He was 77.
Rav Fuchs was a son of Rav Yitzchok Meir Fuchs. In his younger years, he learned under Rav Yitzchok Hutner zt”l.
He married his wife, a daughter of Rav Moshe Dov Weingarten.
His entire life was spent in the bais medrash. Rav Michoel Binyomin was known as one of the great masmidim of Yerushalayim. He learned at taught Torah at Lakewood East in Yerushalayim and was venerated for his hasmadah, yedios, yrias Shomayim and ahavas Hashem.
The levayah was held in Ramot and kevurah took place on Har Hamenuchos in Yerushalayim.
Yehi zichro boruch.
{Matzav.com Israel}
תפילת גדולי הדור בציון השל”ה בטבריהצילום: דוד כהןתפילת גדולי הדור בציון השל”ה בטבריהצילום: דוד כהןתפילת גדולי הדור בציון השל”ה בטבריהצילום: דוד כהןתפילת גדולי הדור בציון השל”ה בטבריהצילום: דוד כהןתפילת גדולי הדור בציון השל”ה בטבריהצילום: דוד כהןתפילת גדולי הדור בציון השל”ה בטבריהצילום: דוד כהןתפילת גדולי הדור בציון השל”ה בטבריהצילום: דוד כהןתפילת גדולי הדור בציון השל”ה בטבריהצילום: דוד כהןתפילת גדולי הדור בציון השל”ה בטבריהצילום: דוד כהןתפילת גדולי הדור בציון השל”ה בטבריהצילום: דוד כהןתפילת גדולי הדור בציון השל”ה בטבריהצילום: דוד כהןתפילת גדולי הדור בציון השל”ה בטבריהצילום: דוד כהןתפילת גדולי הדור בציון השל”ה בטבריהצילום: דוד כהןתפילת גדולי הדור בציון השל”ה בטבריהצילום: דוד כהןתפילת גדולי הדור בציון השל”ה בטבריהצילום: דוד כהןתפילת גדולי הדור בציון השל”ה בטבריהצילום: דוד כהןתפילת גדולי הדור בציון השל”ה בטבריהצילום: דוד כהןתפילת גדולי הדור בציון השל”ה בטבריהצילום: דוד כהןתפילת גדולי הדור בציון השל”ה בטבריהצילום: דוד כהןתפילת גדולי הדור בציון השל”ה בטבריהצילום: דוד כהןתפילת גדולי הדור בציון השל”ה בטבריהצילום: דוד כהןתפילת גדולי הדור בציון השל”ה בטבריהצילום: דוד כהןתפילת גדולי הדור בציון השל”ה בטבריהצילום: דוד כהןתפילת גדולי הדור בציון השל”ה בטבריהצילום: דוד כהןתפילת גדולי הדור בציון השל”ה בטבריהצילום: דוד כהןתפילת גדולי הדור בציון השל”ה בטבריהצילום: דוד כהןתפילת גדולי הדור בציון השל”ה בטבריהצילום: דוד כהןתפילת גדולי הדור בציון השל”ה בטבריהצילום: דוד כהןתפילת גדולי הדור בציון השל”ה בטבריהצילום: דוד כהןתפילת גדולי הדור בציון השל”ה בטבריהצילום: דוד כהןתפילת גדולי הדור בציון השל”ה בטבריהצילום: דוד כהןתפילת גדולי הדור בציון השל”ה בטבריהצילום: דוד כהןתפילת גדולי הדור בציון השל”ה בטבריהצילום: דוד כהןתפילת גדולי הדור בציון השל”ה בטבריהצילום: דוד כהןתפילת גדולי הדור בציון השל”ה בטבריהצילום: דוד כהןתפילת גדולי הדור בציון השל”ה בטבריהצילום: דוד כהןתפילת גדולי הדור בציון השל”ה בטבריהצילום: דוד כהןתפילת גדולי הדור בציון השל”ה בטבריהצילום: דוד כהןתפילת גדולי הדור בציון השל”ה בטבריהצילום: דוד כהןתפילת גדולי הדור בציון השל”ה בטבריהצילום: דוד כהןתפילת גדולי הדור בציון השל”ה בטבריהצילום: דוד כהןתפילת גדולי הדור בציון השל”ה בטבריהצילום: דוד כהןתפילת גדולי הדור בציון השל”ה בטבריהצילום: דוד כהןתפילת גדולי הדור בציון השל”ה בטבריהצילום: דוד כהן
Hagaon Rav Meir Tzvi Bergman, rosh yeshivas Rashbi in Bnei Brak, will be flying to the United States to attend the upcoming Adirei Hatorah event, Matzav.com has learned.
Bais Medrash Govoah’s Adirei Hatorah event is scheduled for Sunday, June 4, at Wells Fargo Arena in Philadelphia.
The news is significant, as Rav Bergman, one of the zekan roshei hayeshivos in Eretz Yisroel, hasn’t left Eretz Yisroel in a number of years.
Rav Bergman is a son-in-law of Maran Hagaon Rav Elazar Menachem Man Shach zt”l, Ponovezher rosh yeshiva.
Adirei Hatorah ticket holders can look forward to a riveting event at Wells Fargo Arena after last year’s inaugural Adirei Hatorah chizuk asifa drew some 20,000 people.
Adirei Hatorah is an initiative spearheaded by Mr. Leizer Scheiner and others to ensure proper reverance for bnei Torah in general and specifically the yungeleit of America’s largest yeshiva, Bais Medrash Govoah, in Lakewood, NJ. The initiative has led to th doubling of the kollel checks of the yungeleit and raised tens of millions of dollars in an amazing show of hachzokas haTorah.
{Matzav.com}
It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of Rav Refoel Shapiro zt”l. He was 73.
Rav Refoel was a son of the great Rav Moshe Shmuel Shapiro, Rosh Yeshiva of Be’er Ya’akov. He was named Refoel after his grandfather, Rav Refoel Shapiro, Rosh Yeshivas Volozhin.
In his youth, he learned at Yeshiva Tiferes Tzion in Bnei Brak and even had the opportunity to be tested by the Brisker Rov at one point. He then learned at Yeshiva Be’er Yaakov under his father.
Rav Refoel was later marbitz Torah in Los Angeles.
He is survived by his siblings, Rav Dovid Yitzchak Shapiro, Rav Menachem Mendel Shapiro, Rav Naftali Tzvi Yehuda Shapiro, Rav Yaakov Shapior, Rav Aharon Shapiro, Rav Aryeh Shapiro, Rebbetzin Mina Golda Shapiro, and Rebbetzin Nechama Rivka Shimon.
Since Rav Refoel is not survived by any children, all are asked to learn for Rav Refoel ben Rav Moshe Shmuel.
Yehi zichro boruch.
{Matzav.com}
Last night, a multitude of individuals protesting the Israeli government’s intention to allocate substantial funds to the chareidi community paraded through the streets of Bnei Brak. The demonstration drew around 4,000 participants who embarked from the Ayalon Mall in neighboring Ramat Gan.
As the demonstrators marched, local chareidi residents warmly received them, setting up refreshment stations reminiscent of a previous march that took place two months earlier. Notably, this procession unfolded without any significant incidents.
Prior to the rally, the organizers issued a statement, emphasizing their purpose of marching in Bnei Brak. Their objective was to convey a resolute message to a government they believed was ravaging their community. Specifically, they criticized the chareidi leadership for colluding with an autocratic regime on one hand while plundering public resources on the other. The organizers conveyed their exasperation, asserting that the donkeys, symbolizing the burden-bearers of service and the economy, had reached their limit. They condemned the government’s conduct, characterizing the public funds as a political slush fund benefiting associates of United Torah Judaism MK Moshe Gafni and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich.
Furthermore, the organizers expressed concern that once the budget received approval, the government would direct its attention toward implementing a contentious judicial reform plan. Although the protesters initially focused on opposing the government’s overall reform agenda, they have now turned their attention to the substantial financial allocations granted to coalition parties in the latest budget. The government’s critics highlighted two major issues: the approval of NIS 13.7 billion ($4 billion) in discretionary funds, primarily intended for the chareidi community, and a proposed municipal tax fund that would redistribute funds from wealthier towns to poorer ones.
A protester interviewed by the Walla news site explained that the aim of the march was to raise awareness about the inequitable relationship between various communities in Israel. He clarified that the demonstration was not against the chareidi public as a whole but rather against their leadership, which perpetuated injustice detrimental to the country’s long-term well-being. Expressing his dissatisfaction, he expressed hope for the departure of Gafni. Reflecting on their 19 weeks of street protests and multiple arrests, he concluded that the proposed reform ultimately served specific sectors and that the government allowed this injustice to persist.
{Matzav.com Israel}
The Brooklyn-based Litvishe yeshivos and Bais Yaakovs have reached a consensus to commence the upcoming academic year earlier, according to an announcement made by Torah Umesorah, Matzav.com has learned. The aim is to reduce the gap between summer camp and yeshiva, ensuring a smoother transition.
With Rosh Chodesh Elul falling on an earlier date in the calendar, yeshivos will commence on the 12th of Elul, while the girl schools will start on the 14th of Elul. This adjustment will be compensated by concluding the previous school year earlier. These dates align with August 31st and August 29th, respectively.
Acknowledging the potential challenges of implementing this change at such a late stage, Torah Umesorah emphasized the importance of making an effort to initiate the new schedule sooner rather than later, recognizing the benefits it would bring.
Torah Umesorah had communicated its proposed dates to the yeshivos through a letter from its Vaad Roshei Yeshiva, and the agreed-upon schedule is a result of this correspondence.
It is noteworthy that the summer vacation period will remain unchanged. The decision was made with the approval of Maran Rav Shmuel Kamenetsky.
It is anticipated that the chassidishe yeshivos will likely have a later departure for camp and subsequently return later as well.
The following is the text of the letter released by Torah Umesorah and obtained and transcribed by Matzav.com:
L’chvod Roshei Yeshiva, Roshei Mosdos, Heads of School, Menahalim and Menahalos,
Earlier in the year, Torah Umesorah forwarded a letter to all yeshivos and Bais Yaakovs regarding the need for a change in the school calendar, which urged schools to schedule their start dates around Rosh Chodesh Elul and not Labor Day.
In conjunction with this effort, zekan rosh hayeshiva Harav Shmuel Kamenetsky shlit”a, who should have a refuah sheleimah, stressed that it is imperative to have the schools start earlier to prevent the unnecessary extra time between camp and school. The rosh hayeshiva also stated that the Bais Yaakovs should start the same week as the yeshivos.
Over the past few months, the Brooklyn yeshivos and Bais Yaakovs worked together and at long last reached a consensus, confirming an earlier start date for the ’23-’24 school year. We understand that it may be difficult to implement at this late date, but it is important to make the effort to initiate this new schedule, sooner rather than later.
The plan is for the yeshivos to start the school year on Tuesday, August 29 / 12 Elul, and the Bais Yaakovs to start the school year on Thursday, August 31 / 14 Elul.
We look forward to the yeshivos and Bais Yaakovs continuing to work together in the coming years to ensure that the school calendar is arranged in a way that provides the proper chinuch structure for our children.
We thank the roshei mosdos, menahalim, menahalos, rabbeim and moros for heeding the call of the Vaad Roshei Yeshiva, and we laud the efforts of the Brooklyn community for seizing the opportunity to make a change that will iy”H have a positive impact on the chinuch of our children.
We request that other communities consider joining this movement and working together on this important chinuch issue.
{Matzav.com}
It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of Rabbi Moshe Grylak z”l, editor-in-chief of Mishpacha Magazine and a leader of the teshuvah movement. The long-time respected writer was 87.
Rabbi Grylak was born in Antwerp, Belgium, a son of Rabbi and Mrs. Eliyahu Grylak. He was named Moshe Chaim after the Ramchal.
With the outbreak of World War II, he fled to France with his family, living under Vichy rule in the guise of a gentile. At the age of 6, he fled across the border to Switzerland alone with three other children, and there he grew up with adoptive parents until the end of the war.
Rabbi Grylak spent time serving in the IDF, then as a reserve in the Air Force, fighting in the Yom Kippur War. After that, he was one of the pioneers and leaders of the teshuvah movement.
He began his career in journalism by writing for the Maariv. He later served as one of the founders of the Israel Yated Ne’eman and served as the chief editor of the newspaper for several years.
In the 1990s, he became the editor-in-chief of Mishpacha. Rabbi Grylak also published a number of seforim and books, including some under a pseudonym, Chaim Eliav, and these were translated into several languages.
A few years ago, his wife, Mrs. Sarah Grylak, passed away.
For years, he lived in Tel Aviv. More than thirty years ago, he settled in the Har Nof neighborhood in Yerushalayim.
He leaves behind six children and many grandchildren.
The levayah will be held this evening at the Shamgar funeral home in Yerushalayim, followed by kevurah on Har Hamenuchos.
Yehi zichro boruch.
{Matzav.com Israel}
In order to strengthen the attendance at Shacharis in the Mir Yeshiva’s main bais medrash in the Bais Yisrael neighborhood in Yerushalayim, the rosh yeshiva, Rav Eliezer Yehuda Finkel, has instructed that the time of the davening be shortened.
Reports state that the goal is to increase the number of Israeli bochurim who attend, and so the rosh yeshiva said that only Israeli bochurim should daven for the amud and that the davening should end at around 8:00 instead of 8:10. For example, saying ‘Mi Shebeirach’ for cholim after krias haTorah will be canceled and will instead be included as part of Tehillim after Shacharis.
At the same time, the rosh yeshiva has established a Mishna Berurah chaburah after davening for the Israeli bochurim, a 10-minute seder covering about a page a day.
{Matzav.com Israel}
Rabbi Moshe Sherer not only changed history, he made history. After a half-century of Rabbi Sherer’s wise, visionary, charismatic, and indefatigable advocacy and leadership, the Torah community was luxuriant, respected, and influential — and the gedolei Torah were its authoritative voice. Much that we take for granted today was shepherded by him through Congress and legislatures, through executive chambers and the courts, such as aid to yeshivos, the rights of Torah institutions, and employment security for Shabbos observers. Rabbi Sherer was at home in many worlds. He was the loyal servant and confidant of great Torah sages; and a friend and adviser of people in the highest echelons of power – but he was attentive to the needs of the humblest “Reb Yisrael.” He was a visionary, yet he had insight into the art of the possible.
Now, 25 years after his passing, Inside ArtScroll features a scintillating interview with his son, Rav Shimshon Sherer, who shares personal memories of his legendary father, who was center stage, yet remained an intensely private, loving family man. This is an interview you don’t want to miss.
[Purchase the Rabbi Sherer book HERE.]
WATCH:
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It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the passing of Rebbetzin Rivka Bergman a”h of Yerushalayim. She was 93.
Rebbetzin Bergman was the wife of Rav Nachum Bergman. Together, they were great machnisei orchim, hosting numerous guests – including many American bochurim from Brisk, Mir and elsewhere – every Shabbos.
Rebbetzin Bergman was a daughter Rav Yisrael Asher Wallis. On her mother’s side, she was a granddaughter of the famed maggid Rav Ben Zion Yadler.
Rebbetzin Bergman’s husband, Rav Nachum, was a noted disciple of the Brisker Rov and an outstanding talmid chochom.
As mentioned, her home in Batei Ungarin in Yerushalayim was open to one and all.
Rav Nachum was niftar fifteen years ago.
Yehi zichrah boruch.
{Matzav.com Israel}
On this Lag Ba’omer, we remember the 45 victims of the Meron tragedy two years ago. Men and boys of all ages lost their lives on that day. There are still no words for this immeasurable loss. Yehi zichrom boruch.
WATCH:
In a penetrating message, the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah of Degel Hatorah, the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah of Agudas Yisroel, and the Moetzet Chachmei HaTorah of Shas, issued a joint statement, pleading with all those visiting Meron this Lag Ba’omer to follow all the rules and outlines laid out by the organizers, who have labored for months to ensure a safe and enjoyable celebration.
The joint kol koreh asks that “each and every person who plans to visit Meron do their part for the common good and obey the instructions given for the benefit of the public.”
{Matzav.com}
ערב שבת במירון תשפ”גצילום: שוקי לררערב שבת במירון תשפ”גצילום: שוקי לררערב שבת במירון תשפ”גצילום: שוקי לררערב שבת במירון תשפ”גצילום: שוקי לררערב שבת במירון תשפ”גצילום: שוקי לררערב שבת במירון תשפ”גצילום: שוקי לררערב שבת במירון תשפ”גצילום: שוקי לררערב שבת במירון תשפ”גצילום: שוקי לררערב שבת במירון תשפ”גצילום: שוקי לררערב שבת במירון תשפ”גצילום: שוקי לררערב שבת במירון תשפ”גצילום: שוקי לררערב שבת במירון תשפ”גצילום: שוקי לררערב שבת במירון תשפ”גצילום: שוקי לררערב שבת במירון תשפ”גצילום: שוקי לררערב שבת במירון תשפ”גצילום: שוקי לררערב שבת במירון תשפ”גצילום: שוקי לררערב שבת במירון תשפ”גצילום: שוקי לררערב שבת במירון תשפ”גצילום: שוקי לררערב שבת במירון תשפ”גצילום: שוקי לררערב שבת במירון תשפ”גצילום: שוקי לררערב שבת במירון תשפ”גצילום: שוקי לררערב שבת במירון תשפ”גצילום: שוקי לררערב שבת במירון תשפ”גצילום: שוקי לררערב שבת במירון תשפ”גצילום: שוקי לררערב שבת במירון תשפ”גצילום: שוקי לררערב שבת במירון תשפ”גצילום: שוקי לררערב שבת במירון תשפ”גצילום: שוקי לררערב שבת במירון תשפ”גצילום: שוקי לררערב שבת במירון 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Tonight, there will be gatherings in Flatbush and Lakewood as a zechus for the refuah sheleimah of Moreinu Rav Shmuel Kamenetsky, Rosh Yeshivas Philadelphia.
In Flatbush, a gathering will be held at Agudas Yisroel Bais Binyomin, located at 2913 Avenue L, from 8:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., with Tehillim as well as divrei chizuk from Rav Moshe Tuvia Lieff, rov of Agudas Yisroel Bais Binyomin; Rav Elya Brudny, rosh yeshiva of Mirrer Yeshiva; and Rav Meyer Yedid, rov of Khal Shaarei Zion.
In Lakewood, a gathering will take place at Yeshiva Ketana of Lakewood, located at 102 Second Street, from 8:15 p.m. to 9:15 p.m., with Tehillim as well as divrei chizuk from Rav Yeruchem Olshin, rosh yeshiva of Bais Medrash Govoah, and Rav Chaim Meir Roth, rov of Sterling Forest-Sefard.
{Matzav.com}
American Bnei Torah learning in Eretz Yisroel gathered en masse at the Kosel to daven for Maran Rav Shmuel Kamenetsky.
The tefillos come after the Philadelphia rosh yeshiva suffered a stroke this past week.
There appears to have been no cognitive damage, but the rosh yeshiva’s speech has been affected.
All are asked to continue davening for Rav Shmuel ben Itta Ettil.
WATCH:
{Matzav.com}
The Jewish Russian Community Centre of Ontario (JRCC) hosted a bris milah yesterday for Armin Konn, born in 1926.
Some remarked that at age 96, perhaps Armin was the oldest to have a bris milah since Avrohom Avinu had his 3,736 year ago.
Armin was born in 1926 in Ukraine under the oppression of the communist regime and fought with the Partisans in 1942-43. He then served in the Red Army air force until his plane was downed over Lithuania in 1944 and spent the rest of the war in a Nazi prison camp.
Armin was not been circumcised as a child, due to the communist oppression of religion.
And so, the bris was held yesterday in Toronto, alongside another bris, that of a son of Rabbi Yisroel Zaltzman.
At the bris, Armin received his Jewish name. And what did he choose? Why, Avrohom, of course.
{Matzav.com}
The coffee room located at the Belzer Bais Medrash on Rechov Belz in Bnei Brak has decided to start charging money for each cup of coffee.
Maayanei Hayeshua, which operates the coffee room around the clock, 24 hours a day, stated that “due to the current government’s decision to raise milk prices, and, as known to all, Maayanei Hayeshua goes through over 650 liters of milk per month… Therefore, we request a payment of half a shekel for each cup of coffee, and we also ask for donations to sustain this, weekly or monthly, as a zechus, for a refuah, or for an aliyas neshamah,” the hanhalah of the bais medrash wrote.
The coffee room in question is located at 5 Belz Street in Bnei Brak.
We are told that there are quite a number of other shuls and botei medrash that have implemented a similar pricing structure for coffee and milk.
{Matzav.com Israel}
The overall condition of Maran Rav Shmuel Kamenetsky, Philadelphia rosh yeshiva, remains unchanged after his stroke earlier this week.
Physicians are working on transferring the rosh yeshiva to a rehab facility or Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania.
Boruch Hashem, as previously reported here, there appears to have been no cognitive damage, but the rosh yeshiva’s speech has been affected.
All are asked to continue davening for Rav Shmuel ben Itta Ettil.
{Matzav.com}
A street in Yerushalayim will bear the name of Rav Eliyahu Bakshi-Doron zt”l, who passed away three years ago.
The decision was made unanimously by the Names Committee of the Municipality of Yerushalayim.
The Bakshi-Doron family expressed their gratitude to the mayor for the tribute.
At the request of Yerushalayim Mayor Moshe Leon, the committee discussed the accomplishments of Rav Bakshi-Doron in Israel, the Diaspora, and especially in the city of Yerushalayim in his numerous roles and as the Sephardic Chief Rabbi.
Born in 1941, Rav Bakshi-Doron served as Rishon Letzion from 1993 to 2003.
Rav Bakshi-Doron was born in Yerushalayim to Ben-Zion Bakshi-Doron, an Iranian Jewish immigrant, and Tova, who immigrated from Aleppo. He had one older brother, a younger brother, and a sister.
As a young man, Rav Bakshi-Doron studied in several yeshivos, including at Yeshiva HaDarom under Rav Meir Tzvi Bergman, at Yeshivas Chevron, and at Kollel Kol Yaakov. For decades, ever since he was a bochur, he would daven each day kevosikin.
In 1970, Rav Bakshi-Doron began his rabbinic career in the neighborhoods of Ramat Nasi and Ramat Yosef in the city of Bat Yam. He was appointed as Sephardi Chief Rabbi of the city in 1972, and in 1975, the larger city of Haifa, where he remained for 18 years.
In 1993, Rav Bakshi-Doron became the first Rishon Letzion, or Sephardic chief rabbi of Israel, of non-Iraqi extraction since Rav Ben-Tzion Meir Chai Uziel in 1954. He served his term concurrently with his Ashkenazi counterpart, Rav Yisroel Meir Lau.
Rav Bakshi-Doron’s wife, Esther, was a daughter of the former Chief Rabbi of Akko, Rav Shalom Lopes. She was born in Yerushalayim in 1940 and absorbed the ahavas haTorah and yiras Shomayim of her father, and also grew up under the powerful influence of her grandfather, Rav Yaakov Lopes, who served as rosh yeshiva of a yeshiva for mekubolim in Yerushalayim. On her mother’s side, she traced her descent to the Bardugo family of rabbonim, who were descendants of Rosh Mashbir and Mayim Amukim.
Rav Bakshi-Doron and his wife always had their hands outstretched to the poor. Their home, with their ten children in their care, was always open to guests. The poor and needy ate at their home every Shabbos and Yom Tov. They ran tzedokoh funds that distributed bridal needs to kallahs. Dozens of requests arrived every day and they would meet their needs. On Erev Pesach, they distributed tens of thousands of dollars to the needy.
Yehi zichro boruch.
{Matzav.com Israel}
All are asked to say Tehillim for Rav Matisyahu Salomon, mashgiachof Beth Medrash Govoha in Lakewood, NJ, who is in need of rachamei Shomayim.
The mashgiach is hospitalized, having been airlifted to the hospital today.
The name for Tehillim is Matisyahu Chaim ben Ettil.
{Matzav.com}
It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of Rav Moshe Chaim Slanger zt”l, mashgiach of Yeshiva Porat Yosef in Yerushalayim. He was 91.
Rav Moshe Chaim was the author of Sefer Simchas Mordechai.
Rav Moshe Chaim was born in Budapest, Hungary, as the firstborn son of his father, Rav Avraham Yitzchak Slanger, who went through the horrors of the Holocaust.
In his childhood he studied at Yeshiva Toras Emes. In 1944, his father managed to get his family onto the Kastner train and they were taken to the Bergen-Belsen camp, where they stayed for about six months.
They left the Bergen-Belsen camp and were taken by train to Switzerland, and from there they went to Eretz Yisroel. They lived in Givat Shmuel and later moved to the neighboring Bnei Brak.
Rav Moshe Chaim, whose brother was Rav Tzvi Dov Slanger, rosh yeshiva of Yeshiva and Mesivta of Baltimore, was close to the Chazon Ish, Rav Eliyahu Eliezer Dessler, and learned at Yeshivas Ponovezh, Yeshivas Lomza and Yeshivas Be’er Ya’akov, where he learned under Rav Moshe Shmuel Shapiro and Rav Shlomo Wolbe. Later, he learned at Chevron Yeshiva.
As a young man, he taught at Yeshivas Maale in Yerushalayim, and then at Yeshivas Chorev in Yerushalayim, and was one of the heads of Machon Harry Fishel.
With the establishment of the Porat Yosef Yeshiva in Katamon, and then in the Old City, Rav Moshe Chaim was appointed as mashgiach. At Porat Yosef, he gave shmuessen and was a guide to bochurim who had a special relationship with the talmidim as well as with the rosh yeshiva of the yeshiva Chacham Shalom Cohen.
He leaves behind an outstanding family of children and grandchildren.
Yehi zichro boruch.
{Matzav.com Israel}
It has been determined that the Philadelphia rosh yeshiva, Rav Shmuel Kamenetsky, suffered a stroke this afternoon.B’chasdei Hashem, the rosh yeshiva is completely alert and aware, and is being fully communicative.However, although his cognition was boruch Hashem not affected, his motor skills were.The doctors have said that the situation is still developing and the next 24 hours are critical.The rosh yeshiva has instructed to request that people be mispallel for his refuah.All are asked to daven for Shmuel ben Itta Ettil.{Matzav.com}
All are asked to daven for Rav Shmuel Kamenetsky, rosh yeshiva of Yeshiva of Philadelphia, zekan roshei yeshivos of the United States, and senior member of the Moetzes Gedolei Hatorah of Agudas Yisroel of America.
Rav Kamenetsky has been hospitalized after attended the massive levayah earlier today in Lakewood of Rav Meir Herskowitz zt”l, Stamford rosh yeshiva.
All are asked to daven for Shmuel ben Itta Ettil.
{Matzav.com}
It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of Hagaon Rav Meir Herskowitz zt”l, rosh yeshiva of Yeshiva Bais Binyomin of Stamford. He was 89.
Rav Hershkowitz was one of the gedolei roshei yeshiva and gedolei hador of America. A prized talmid of Rav Aharon Kotler zt”l, Rav Hershkwitz had a profound impact on talmidim over many decades of harbotzas haTorah.
His humility and tzidkus were matched by his ahavas haTorah and ahavas Hashem, as he served as a guiding light in the Torah world.
The levayah will be held at 11:30 a.m. at Beth Medrash Govoha, located at 617 6th Street in Lakewood, NJ, and then at 4 p.m. at Yeshiva Bais Binyomin, located at 51 Carlton Road in Monsey, NY. The aron will then be flown, via John F. Kennedy International Airport, to Eretz Yisroel for kevurah on Har Hamenuchos in Yerushalayim.There will possibly be a hookup at 712-832-5656, 500#.Yehi zichro boruch.
{Matzav.com}
All are asked to daven for Rav Meir Herskowitz, rosh yeshiva of Yeshiva Bais Binyomin of Stamford, who is in need of rachamei Shomayim.
During second seder today, Beth Medrash Govoha of Lakewood talmidim stopped learning to say Tehillim for the rosh yeshiva, who is currently at Specialty Hospital of Central Jersey at Monmouth Medical Center’s Southern Campus.
All are asked to daven for Rav Meir ben Pesi.
{Matzav.com}
It’s that time of year again: Artscroll’s Annual Set Sale, the best opportunity to stock up on popular ArtScroll sets.
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A fire broke out at the Spinka Bais Medrash in Boro Park, completely burning the structure, apart from the Sifrei Torah and the rebbe’s room.
Boruch Hashem, there were no injuries.
The conflagration was at Bais Medrash Heichal Yitzchok located on 56th Street between 14th and 15th Avenues.
Firefighting forces worked valiantly to put out the fire.
The bais medrash was one that was used by the old Spinka Rebbe zt”l after the Holocaust.
The room where the rebbe receives people was not burned, and the Sifrei Torah and divrei Torah of the rebbe were also miraculously saved.
The rebbe lives upstairs from the bais medrash. He was recently released from the hospital after a battle with illness.
The fire was apparently caused by an electrical short from a refrigerator in a side room.
{Matzav.com}
Rabbonim in the Skverer community have issued a letter forbidding the use of AI – or Artificial Intelligence – platforms, stating that the spiritual danger of such bots render them inappropriate, no different than unfiltered.
The letter, signed by 17 rabbonim, was released this past week by the Bais Din Zedek of Chassidei Skver.
{Matzav.com}
The Israeli Yated Ne’eman called on its readers not to participate in the ‘Million Man March’ in Yerushalayim tonight in support of the judicial reform proposed by the government.
“We are obviously going in the direction of the right, on the instructions of our rabbis, but this battle does not belong to us and we are not joining it,” the newspaper explained.
“We are in favor of judicial reform and against the grip of liberal terror on people’s lives through dictatorship, but no ultra-Orthodox will set foot (at this demonstration),” the editorial continued.
“Whoever participates in extreme right-wing demonstrations is not part of our community, he is not one of ours, that’s all. He is deprived of his citizenship in the house of God. His passport has expired.”
The Israeli Yated is not in any way connected to the American Yated Ne’eman.
Organizers of Thursday’s rally presented the demonstration as a response against the vast protest movement that opposes the reform.
The movement in favor of the reform is led by the new Tekuma 23 organization, created by Likud parliamentarian Avichay Buaron, as well as by Beraleh Krombie, a strategic communication advisor and an ultra-Orthodox Chabad follower. –I24 News
It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the sudden petirah of Reb Mordechai Eliyahu Friedman z”l. He was 64.
A son of Reb Chaim Aizik and Leah Friedman, Reb Mordechai learned at Yeshivas Telz-Chicago, where he drew close to the roshei yeshiva, Rav Avrohom Chaim Levin and Rav Chaim Dov Keller. He then learned at Mirrer Yeshiva in Brooklyn and at Yeshivas Mir Yerushalayim.
He married Miriam Herzog, a daughter of Rabbi and Mrs. Feish Herzog.
Reb Mordechai was very close to the Novominsker Rebbe and to Rav Shaul Brus, whose shiurim he would attend.
Reb Mordechai was a noted baal chesed, with a heart overflowing with ahavas Yisroel.
He was niftar this morning, leaving family and friends in shock.
The levayah will be held at 5 p.m. at the Novominsker Bais Medrash, located at 1644 48th Strete in Boro Park, followed by a levayah at the Congregation Sons of Israel Holocaust Memorial Chapel, located at 613 Ramsey Avenue in Lakewood, NJ, and kevurah in the adjacent Mount Sinai Bais Hachaim.
Yehi zichro boruch.
{Matzav.com}
Tzvi Moshe Arnstein from the Tzion Minute podcast shares a fresh perspective on why the Yom Haatzmaut celebrations in Israel, are your celebration too.
Listen here
An Israeli flag was hoisted upon the roof of Ponevezh Yeshiva in Bnei Brak as it is every year on Yom Ha’atzmaut, but a group of troublemakers from the Peleg Yerushalmi in the yeshiva hung a different flag: that of the Palestinians.
The tradition to hang an Israeli flag was established by the Ponovezher Rov, Rav Yosef Shlomo Kahaneman zt”l, when he founded the yeshiva in 1944.
{Matzav.com Israel}
Satmar’s opposition to the Zionist State of Israel continued this year on Yom Ha’atzmaut, when the order was given to Satmar Chassidim to change the order of the chapters of Tehillim recited every day after Shacharis.
An announcement states that this came at the direction of the Satmar Rebbe, who proclaimed the change due to the “bitter day” of the founding of the State of Israel.
In the official announcement, it was pointed out that according to the schedule that Satmar follows, the Tehillim falling out yesterday would have been the kappitlach of Hallel. Thus, as the sign below indicates, a change was made.
{Matzav.com}
Tens of thousands of Yidden undertook the trip to the small Hungarian village of Bodrogkeresztur to visit the kever of Rav Yeshaya ben Rav Moshe Steiner of Kerestir upon his yahrtzeit.
WATCH:
Yisrael Beitenu Chairman Avigdor Liberman on Sunday called to fire Chief Rabbi Rav Yitzchok Yosef after the latter suggested that Interior Minister Moshe Arbel should condition the allocation of funds to local authorities on the construction and financing of religious institutions – yeshivos and shuls.
“The time has come to stop the madness of robbing the public coffers by tricks and deals of the chareidi machers in the Knesset and in official state institutions. The separation of religion and state is the order of the hour,” Leiberman wrote on his Twitter account.
Rav Gershon Ribner, rosh kollel of Kollel Nesivos HaTorah, has been appointed as the new mara d’asra of the Tallmawr Ashkenaz Minyan in Toms River, NJ.
Rav Ribner, a renowned marbitz Torah, had been sought after by many kehillos in Lakewood and beyond seeking a rov.
Rav Ribner is famed for his shiurim, his riveting hashkafah shailos uteshuvos often featured here on Matzav.com, and his classic seforim, Apischa D’Bava, Apischa Dishmatsa, and more.
Rav Ribner is a son of Rav Shlomo Ribner and a son-in-law of Rav Shnuer Kotler zt”l, rosh yeshiva of Bais Medrash Govoah.
Rav Ribner joins the other local rabbonim in Tallymawr, Rav Boruch Rabinowitz, Rav Binyomin Weinrib, and Rav Shimon Yisroel Meisels.
{Matzav.com}
Mran Rav Gershon Edelstein, rosh yeshiva of Ponovezh Yeshiva, turned 100 years old today, 2 Iyar.
The rosh yeshiva was born 2 Iyar/April 18, 1923 in the town of Shumyatch, near Smolensk, in the Soviet Union, a son of Rav Zvi Yehuda and Miriam (Mobshovich) Edelstein. Rav Zvi was rov of Shumyatch. His father, Rav Yerachmiel Gershon Edelstein, after whom Maran Rav Gershon is named, was the author of Ben Aryeh on Shas. Rebbetzin Miriam’s father, Rav Mordechai Shlomo Mobshovich, was rov of Malstovka (Krasnopillia).
Rav Gershon learned Torah from Rav Zalman Leib Estolin. Following his mother’s illness with typhus, he was sent with his younger brother, Rav Yaakov, to his aunt, Rebbetzin Rivka Tzvia Paz, in the city of Klimovich, where they learned Torah with Rav Mordechai Eliyahu Shneur.
In the month of Nissan 5694 (March–April 1934), his father succeeded in obtaining a permit to leave for Eretz Yisroel and asked his sons to return to their home in Shumyatch. At that time, his grandmother, Rebbetzin Reizel, ran the household and raised the brothers, so that their father could study Torah. In Iyar (April–May), Rav Zvi and his family travelled on the Novorossiysk ship from Odessa to Palestine, arriving on Lag Ba’omer. The family traveled to Yerushalayim.
In Elul 5794 (1934), after several months of wandering between relatives, their father settled in Ramat Hasharon. Since there was no religious school in Ramat Hasharon, Rav Gershon’s father studied with his sons at home, sitting on orange crates due to lack of furniture. They studied Gemara with Rosh and Rif, and, by some of the masechtos, also with Tur and Beit Yosef.
In 5795 (1935) their father was elected to be rov of Ramat Hasharon.
In Elul 5784 (1935), the sons were sent to the Lomza Yeshiva. They arrived at the yeshiva on the 1st of Elul, having travelled on foot from their home to Petach Tikva, where the yeshiva was, and did not know that the zeman had started the day before. The mashgiach, Rav Avraham Abba Grosbard, said he no longer had room for them. The secretary of the yeshiva, Rav Shlomo Zalman Mozes met them and invited them to sleep in his house until beds were found for them in the Yeshiva in the beginning of Cheshvan. At the behest of their father, they joined Rav Shmuel Rozovsky’s shiur.
A year later, their father married again and asked them to come home, as the rebbetzin now took care of the house and they could study Torah full-time. The brothers returned to their study schedule with their father. In the winter of 5704 (1943-1944), when the Ponevezh Yeshiva was established, Rav Shmuel Rozovsky, who was appointed rosh yeshiva, asked their father that they should join the group of the yeshiva‘s founders. Rav Gershon and Rav Yaakov were among the first six talmidimin the yeshiva, which was then located in the Ligman Shul in Bnei Brak. The yeshiva bochurim would sleep in rooms rented for them in the city; the two young brothers lived in the house of Rav Michel Yehuda Lefkowitz, who rented the only bedroom in the home to Rav Rozovsky.
The founder of the yeshiva, Rav Yosef Shlomo Kahaneman, the Ponovezher Rov, appointed Rav Gershon to teach Holocaust refugee talmidim who had come to the Botei Avos orphanage, and in 5706 (1945-6) he was appointed to give shiurim to the young talmidim at the yeshiva.
In 5708 (1947-8), he married Rebbetzin Henya Rochel, daughter of Rav Yehoshua Zelig Diskin, rov of Pardes Channa, and in the same year he was appointed by the Rov as rosh mesivta of the yeshiva.
Rav Gershon was close to the Chazon Ish. After the passing of his father on the 20th of Cheshvan 5711 (1950), he hesitated whether to take over the role of rov of Ramat Hasharon. However, since he already held a position in the yeshiva and in light of his wife’s refusal to uproot from Bnei Brak, the role was assigned to his brother Rav Yaakov instead. Thus, Rav Gershon remained in Ponovezh, ultimately becoming rosh yeshiva.
After the petirah of Maran Rav Aharon Leib Shteinman, the head of Degel HaTorah, Rav Gershon became the joint new leader alongside Maran Rav Chaim Kanievsky.
{Matzav.com Israel}
מעמד כבוד התורה בתולדות אהרןצילום: איציק ו.מעמד כבוד התורה בתולדות אהרןצילום: איציק ו.מעמד כבוד התורה בתולדות אהרןצילום: איציק ו.מעמד כבוד התורה בתולדות אהרןצילום: איציק ו.מעמד כבוד התורה בתולדות אהרןצילום: איציק ו.מעמד כבוד התורה בתולדות אהרןצילום: איציק ו.מעמד כבוד התורה בתולדות אהרןצילום: איציק ו.מעמד כבוד התורה בתולדות אהרןצילום: איציק ו.מעמד כבוד התורה בתולדות אהרןצילום: איציק ו.מעמד כבוד התורה בתולדות אהרןצילום: איציק ו.מעמד כבוד התורה בתולדות אהרןצילום: איציק ו.מעמד כבוד התורה בתולדות אהרןצילום: איציק ו.מעמד כבוד התורה בתולדות אהרןצילום: איציק ו.מעמד כבוד התורה בתולדות אהרןצילום: איציק ו.מעמד כבוד התורה בתולדות אהרןצילום: איציק ו.מעמד כבוד התורה בתולדות אהרןצילום: איציק ו.מעמד כבוד התורה בתולדות אהרןצילום: איציק ו.
The body of Reb Yisroel Kessous z”l, of Elad, was found on Shabbos in the Kinneret after he had been reported missing.
He was 23.
Reb Yisroel grew up in Ramat Shlomo, Yerushalayim, a son of R’ Chaim and Rochel Kessous.
As a bochur, he learned at Yeshiva Yakirei Yerushalayim in Yerushalayim and then at Yeshiva Torah Betifarta in Elad.
He was an outstanding young ben Torah, a masmid who was loved by all his friends and excelled in his vodas Hashem and bein adam lachaveiro.
After his marriage three years ago, he began learning in Rav Katzav’s kollel in Elad.
He leaves behind his wife and a little daughter who is just one year old.
The levayah and kevurah were held tonight on Har Hamenuchos.
Yehi zichro boruch.
{Matzav.com Israel}
With the start of the spring/summer zeman, there will be a major change at the largest yeshiva in Eretz Yisroel. The entire Bais Shalom building of the yeshiva in the Bais Yisroel neighborhood of Yerushalayim will be dedicated only to Rav Asher Arieli’s shiur, and in fact, it will be a separate yeshiva there of sorts, with separate tefillos.
Rav Arieli is known for giving the largest daily shiur in the world.
Now, after much deliberation, Rav Arieli’s shiur will become a separate entity starting on Monday.
Until now, there have been no tefillos in Bais Shalom. That will change.
Another innovation is that the daily shiur will take place at 12:20 p.m. instead of 6:00 p.m.
{Matzav.com Israel}
Following a large inferno in the Satmar bais midrash and institutions in Geulah, the Yerushalayim municipality issued a closure order in preparation for the demolition of the newly renovated Talmud Torah and yeshiva ketanah building.
City engineers determined that the building was in danger of collapse due to weakening of its foundations during the eight-hour fire.
{Matzav.com Israel}
Rav Dovid Yosef of the Shas Moetzes announced his intention to contend for the position of Rishon Letzion in five months.
“As far as I am concerned, nothing is more fulfilling than sitting here in this room,” he said. “This chair is the same chair where my father zt”l sat to study until the late hours of the night. There is no greater pleasure than this. I am free and happy. The question is, I need to look not at what I want, but at what Hashem wants. There are many gedolei Torah who are exerting great pressure on me and who have said that they are sure that this is retzon Hashem.”
“In this matter, those who need to make the final decision and have already made it are the gedolei Yisroel,” Rav Yosef said.
{Matzav.com Israel}
Incited by a deputy mayor, dozens of Tel Aviv residents are angry at plans to move a yeshiva to the city’s 50-year-old Megurim shul. The yeshiva is to be housed in a planned seven-story addition to the building.
Yeshivas Maale Eliyahu needs to move from its present nearby location to make way for a state elementary school.
Deputy Mayor Reuven Ladianksy of the Green Secularism Party is persuading the public that their quality of life will be adversely affected by a yeshiva.
“I want to make it clear that there is no need for a yeshiva in the neighborhood and the surrounding area!” Ladiansky announced. “It is a secular neighborhood that does not want and need to absorb about 250 individuals who live outside the neighborhood and even outside the city.”
The Tel Aviv-Jaffa Municipality responded that the yeshiva was already active nearby and that “the establishment of a new wing in the shul does not contradict the liberalism of the city of Tel Aviv-Jaffa, which accepts all its residents.”
Four renowned talmidei chachomim were added to Shas’ Moetzet Chachmei HaTorah, after the passing of Rav Ovadiah Yosef in 2013, and of Moetzet members Rav Shalom Cohen and Rav Shimon Baadani last year.
The new appointees are Rav Shlomo Machpud, Gaavad of the Yoreh Deah Beis Din and rov of the Yemenite community; Rav Shlomo Ben Shimon, one of the senior rabbonim of the Sephardi community; Rav Shmuel Betzalel, rosh yeshivas Porat Yosef in Yerushalayim’s Old City; and Rav Avraham Salim, rosh yeshivas Maor HaTorah in Yerushalayim.
The four will serve alongside the veteran Moetzes members Rav Moshe Maya, Rav Dovid Yosef, and Rav Reuven Elbaz.
Chief Rabbi Rav Yitzchak Yosef is expected to be appointed as President of the Moetzet and leader of the Sephardic community at the end of his tenure in a few months.
The four newcomers have been active in the Torah world their whole lives.
Rav Shlomo Ben Shimon, 86, a brother-in-law of Rav Shalom Cohen zt”l, was one of the founders of the Torah and Hora’ah Yeshiva in Tel Aviv, and served as a dayan in various botei din including the Beis Din Harabbani in Yerushalayim. Rav Ovadiah Yosef entrusted him to decide unusually serious and difficult issues.
Today, Rav Shlomo serves as Gaavad of Bnei Brak’s Neve Tzion Beis Din and as rov of the city’s Neveh Yitzchok shul and Ramat David neighborhood.
Rav Shlomo Machpud, 83, a talmid of Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach and the Ponevez Yeshiva, is Gaavad of the Yoreh Deah Beis Din he founded, and rov of the Neve Achiezer and Shechunah Vov neighborhoods in Bnei Brak.
Rav Shmuel Betzalel, 83, one of great Sephardic roshei yeshivos of our generation and a colleague of Rav Shalom Cohen at Porat Yosef Yeshiva in the Old City for 50 years, is one of the community’s most renowned darshanim and an author of volumes on Shas and mussar. Born in Iraq, Rav Shmuel was nine years old when his family moved to Eretz Yisroel. He studied in Chevron Yeshiva where he drew close to Rav Yechezkel Sarna, Rav Meir Chodosh, and Rav Boruch Mordechai Ezrachi.
Rav Avraham Salim, 84, learned at Kol Torah and later at Ponevez Yeshiva where he was a talmid muvhak of Rav Elazar Menachem Man Shach. As a talmid of Ponevez, he consulted with Rav Gershon Edelstein before deciding to join the Moetzes. Rav Salim was also greatly influenced by his great uncle, Rav Ezra Attiya of Porat Yosef.
{Matzav.com Israel}
In light of the upcoming elections for local municipalities, Bnei Brak mayor and the secretary of the Moetzes Gedolah Hatorah Reb Avraham Rubinstein, together with his deputy, Menachem Shapiro, and others, visited the homes of gedolei Torah.
During a visit to Slabodka rosh yeshiva Rav Dov Landau, Rav Landau asked the mayor when the elections will be held.
After hearing that the elections will be held immediately after Sukkos, Rav Landau remarked, “We are zocheh that we have a leader for the generation. The rosh yeshiva Rav Gershon [Edelstein] is our leader, and the leadership of the Torah world and the generation is in his hands, and all the issues of the elections are in his hands.”
{Matzav.com Israel}
הילולת הדברי חיים בחצר הקודש צאנזצילום: משה גולדשטייןהילולת הדברי חיים בחצר הקודש צאנזצילום: משה גולדשטייןהילולת הדברי חיים בחצר הקודש צאנזצילום: משה גולדשטייןהילולת הדברי חיים בחצר הקודש צאנזצילום: משה גולדשטייןהילולת הדברי חיים בחצר הקודש צאנזצילום: משה גולדשטייןהילולת הדברי חיים בחצר הקודש צאנזצילום: משה גולדשטייןהילולת הדברי חיים בחצר הקודש צאנזצילום: משה גולדשטייןהילולת הדברי חיים בחצר הקודש צאנזצילום: משה גולדשטייןהילולת הדברי חיים בחצר הקודש צאנזצילום: משה גולדשטייןהילולת הדברי חיים בחצר הקודש צאנזצילום: משה גולדשטייןהילולת הדברי חיים בחצר הקודש צאנזצילום: משה גולדשטייןהילולת הדברי חיים בחצר הקודש צאנזצילום: משה גולדשטייןהילולת הדברי חיים בחצר הקודש צאנזצילום: משה גולדשטייןהילולת הדברי חיים בחצר הקודש צאנזצילום: משה גולדשטייןהילולת הדברי חיים בחצר הקודש צאנזצילום: משה גולדשטייןהילולת הדברי חיים בחצר הקודש צאנזצילום: משה גולדשטייןהילולת הדברי חיים בחצר הקודש צאנזצילום: משה גולדשטייןהילולת הדברי חיים בחצר הקודש צאנזצילום: משה גולדשטייןהילולת הדברי חיים בחצר הקודש צאנזצילום: משה גולדשטייןהילולת הדברי חיים בחצר הקודש צאנזצילום: משה גולדשטייןהילולת הדברי חיים בחצר הקודש צאנזצילום: משה גולדשטייןהילולת הדברי חיים בחצר הקודש צאנזצילום: משה גולדשטייןהילולת הדברי חיים בחצר הקודש צאנזצילום: משה גולדשטייןהילולת הדברי חיים בחצר הקודש צאנזצילום: משה גולדשטייןהילולת הדברי חיים בחצר הקודש צאנזצילום: משה גולדשטייןהילולת הדברי חיים בחצר הקודש צאנזצילום: משה גולדשטייןהילולת הדברי חיים בחצר הקודש צאנזצילום: משה גולדשטייןהילולת הדברי חיים בחצר הקודש צאנזצילום: משה גולדשטיין
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It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of Reb Chaim Yehuda Goldstein z”l. He was 74.
Reb Chaim Yehuda was the founder of 47th Street Photo, the renowned electronics business in New York City.
Reb Chaim Yehuda provided parnassah to thousands, was a magnanimous baal tzedakah, was a phenomenal baal chesed, and was, at the same time, a talmid chochom who spent his years, especially after his business took a downturn, learning Torah.
Reb Chaim Yehuda was a chossid of Satmar and remained close to its mosdos throughout his life, supporting them with unbelievable generosity. But Reb Chaim Yehuda gave to all, never turning a blind eye to any mosad or individual.
His wife was Mrs. Leah Goldstein, daughter of Reb Leibish Mendlowitz. Reb Chaim Yehuda is survived by his outstanding children and grandchildren.
Yehi zichro boruch.
{Matzav.com}
Rav Baruch Mordechai Ezrachi, Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshiva Ateres Yisroel and a member of the Moetzes Gedolei Hatorah of Degel HaTorah, had been hospitalized at Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital in Yerushalayim to treat an infection in his leg. Incredibly, he was released from the hospital today and went to address the Lev L’Achim convention held tonight in Binyonei Haumah.
The 94-year-old rosh yeshiva, who just recently undertook a trip abroad, is in poor health, but has been battling his condition with superhuman strength.
Those close to the rosh yeshiva express their amazement that he exerted the energy to speak as he did at tonight’s event, a clip of which you can watch below.
All are asked to continue to daven for Rav Boruch Mordechai ben Hinda Malka.
WATCH:
{Matzav.com Israel}
All are asked to say Tehillim for Rav Matisyahu Salomon, mashgiachof Beth Medrash Govoha in Lakewood, NJ, who is in need of rachamei Shomayim.
While the mashgiach is at home, and not presently hospitalized, his situation is serious.
The name for Tehillim is Matisyahu Chaim ben Ettil.
{Matzav.com}
Rav Yehuda Aryeh Dinner, rov of Merkaz Bnei Barak, was asked if, this year, because Rosh Chodesh falls on Shabbos, is it permissible to shave and take a haircut on Friday?
Rav Dinner, like many other poskim, stated that it is permissible to take a haircut this Friday.
Indeed, the Mishnah Berurah (493:5) states explicitly that it is permissible to take a haircut or shave this Friday, in honor of Shabbos and Rosh Chodesh, even if one follows the minhag to refrain from grooming from Pesach until Lag Ba’omer. Although ordinarily one may not shave Erev Shabbos or Erev Rosh Chodesh during Sefirah, this Friday it is permissible because it is being done in honor of both Shabbos and Rosh Chodesh.
Furthermore, the Mishnah Berurah writes that because of the convergence of Shabbos and Rosh Chodesh on the same day, even a wedding may take place this coming Friday, provided the meal – which is the main festivity of the wedding – will be served on Shabbos.
There are many that have the custom not to shave or take haircuts on Rosh Chodesh in accordance with the Tzavah (ethical will) of Rav Yehudah HaChasid who cautioned it is dangerous to do so. Accordingly, the allowance of the Mishna Berura cited above should not be valid for those who follow Rav Yehudah Hachasid since Friday is Rosh Chodesh.
However, Rav Moshe Feinstein, zt”l (Bein Pesach L’Shevuos Ch.10: note 5) ruled that is acceptable. He explained that those who keep the custom of Sefira until Lag B’omer may not shave or take a haircut earlier, and therefore the mitzvah to honor Rosh Chodesh overrides the restriction of Rav Yehudah Hachasid. It follows that those who only begin Sefira on Rosh Chodesh should not shave or take a haircut on Friday, since they could have done so on Thursday.
The Orthodox Union brings the shitah of Rav Yisroel Belsky zt”l, who had a different position and recommended shaving and taking a haircut on Thursday (before Rosh Chodesh) in honor of Shabbos and Rosh Chodesh. This was also the opinion of the Si’ach Yitzchak (229) who also quotes this as the position of the Kineses Hagedola. He explains that since the Magen Avrohom (hakdama to Siman 260) writes that a haircut taken on Thursday is considered in honor of Shabbos and according to Rav Yehuda HaChasid there is a sakana (danger) to take a haircut on Friday, it is better to shave and take a haircut on Thursday rather than do on Rosh Chodesh and put oneself in danger.
Rav Yitzchak Yosef, in his weekly shiur, said that only for Ashkenazim is it permissible to shave, but it is forbidden for Sephardim.
{Matzav.com Israel}
All are asked to daven for the wellbeing of Rav Baruch Mordechai Ezrachi, Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshiva Ateres Yisroel and a member of the Moetzes Gedolei Hatorah of Degel HaTorah, who is hospitalized.
The Rosh Yeshiva is being treated at Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital in Yerushalayim.
Rav Ezrachi felt unwell and was hospitalized to treat an infection in his leg.
The 94-year-old rosh yeshiva, who just recently undertook a trip abroad, is in poor health, but is in full consciousness, and his family hoped that he will be released soon for antibiotic treatment at home.
All are asked to daven for Rav Boruch Mordechai ben Hinda Malka.
{Matzav.com Israel}
The Chassidus of Ger’s technology affairs committee has published guidelines regarding multimedia systems in vehicles that are unlocked and open to the internet, and those that are blocked but can easily be hacked.
“Tesla’s car cannot be blocked, and it may not be purchased at all,” said the committee.
In notices posted with the title “Bal Yeiraeh UBal Yeimatzei,” the committee said that it is obligatory on the Chassidim to disconnect any system that has a navigation system before using it, “and the responsibility rests with each and every person not to cause an obstacle, G-d forbid, not for himself and certainly not for his children and, G-d forbid, to leave in his possession a dangerous tool without restriction and supervision under the rubric of Lo sosim domim becaisecha.”
In addition, as mentioned, the committee specifically mentions Tesla vehicles, about which they write that it is not possible to block them at all, and the instruction is that the vehicles may not be purchased or used at all.
{Matzav.com Israel}
It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of Reb Michoel Schnitzler z”l, shortly before the start of Shabbos. He was 62.
Reb Michoel, who was in Airmont, suffered a heart attack. Resuscitation efforts were undertaken, to no avail.
Reb Michoel was an iconic singer and performer who was a popular singer at weddings and events for well over three decades. He released over a dozen albums and many songs during a wonderful career.
Reb Michoel was a singer with a generous heart, humble humor, and extraordinary gefeel, one of the classic “old timers” whose niggunim never get old.
Reb Michoel, as a youngster, never dreamed that he would be a singer. He was born and raised in Kiryas Yoel as the tenth child of twelve children. His father, Reb Zisha Schnitzler, who was niftar in 1977 at the age of 49, when Reb Michoel was a fifteen-year-old bochur, was a dedicated melamed of children. Reb Michoel’s parents, Reb Zisha and Yenta Golda, came to America in 1956, running away from Hungary after the Communist takeover.
His eldest sister, Mrs. Rivka Miller, is the wife of the Yarmer Ruv and world-famous badchan Reb Yankel Miller.
Reb Michoel was not especially drawn to singing as a child. It was only once Reb Michoel was married and the father of two children that he got into it by Hashgocha. Reb Michoel was a yungerman at the Satmar Rebbe’s tish on Sukkos, during the Simchas Bais Hashoeivah. Two yungeleit who knew that Reb Michoel had a nice voice encouraged his to get up on the table and sing. Reb Michoel was very shy, but he took the microphone and began to sing, turning his face to the wall so that he wouldn’t have to see people’s reactions. After about half an hour, Reb Michoel finally had the courage to turn around, and he realized that the olam was dancing and singing, getting into the spirit. That gave him the chizuk to continue. A few minutes later, a yungerman walked over to Reb Michoel and declared that he loved his singing and that he wanted to hire him to sing at his son’s wedding. This was during the 1980s, when the concept of having a singer at a wedding was completely foreign to most people. Reb Michoel said, “Sure,” but figured that he wasn’t serious about it. And then, two months later, the yungerman called to remind Reb Michoel of his promise. Reb Michoel showed up at the wedding and sang along with the band. It was a success and the rest was history.
At first, Reb Michoel continued working in his regular job and would sing on the side, perhaps once or twice a week. But as time went on and the concept of having a singer took off, Reb Michoel became busier.
Eventually, Reb Michoel and his wife moved to Sea Gate, where they lived near Mordechai Ben David, and soon Reb Michoel began to sing nearly every night at weddings.
Reb Michoel recently recalled in an interview with Yated Ne’eman what he called “perhaps my most unusual job,” which was “to perform at a non-Jewish wedding.” He related:
One of my loyal clients (I sang at several of his weddings) told me that he has a non-Jewish business associate who heard me singing at his wedding and decided that he must have me sing at his daughter’s wedding. He davka wanted me to sing the “vini” song. (A lebedige avinu malkeinu.) He called and begged for “vini,” refusing to take no for an answer. When I asked where the wedding would be, he said at a local church, so of course I turned him down.
“So maybe you’ll sing at the reception?” he pleaded. “It’s going to be in an upscale hotel.” I asked a shailah, was told that it wasn’t an issue, and then accepted the job. I sang Avinu Malkeinu at the reception for ten minutes straight and the crowd went wild!
Reb Michoel was an outstanding baal chesed with a lev tov, and his passing is a shock to all who knew and loved him. He will be sorely missed.
Levayah details will be posted once they are finalized.
Yehi zichro boruch.
{*Matzav.com*}
As many as eight cars went up in flames early today, Acharon Shel Pesach after a fire broke out at the garage of the Armon Hotel on Summer Street in Stamford, Connecticut, the site of “the Pesach Experience” program catered by Chap a Nosh of Cedarhurst.
The cars were located in the covered portion of the open-air garage.
Firefighters used hose lines to extinguish the flames and cool the structural supports of the garage.
The garage eventually became compromised because of the blaze and the firefighters had to try to extinguish the fire from outside.
After 40 minutes, the fire was under control.
The entire hotel was evacuated.
By 10:30 a.m., the hotel reopened and most guests were allowed to return to their rooms.
There were no reported injuries.
{Matzav.com}
During Pesach, more than 10,000 people went to visit and receive the bracha of the Ponovezh rosh yeshiva, Rav Gershon Edelstein, among them gedolei Torah, roshei yeshiva, rabbonim of cities, members of the Knesset, mayors, and others.
PHOTOS:
פסח תשפ”ג אצל הגרי”ג אדלשטייןצילום: שוקי לרר, אלעזר פיינשטיין ופלאש 90פסח תשפ”ג אצל הגרי”ג אדלשטייןצילום: שוקי לרר, אלעזר פיינשטיין ופלאש 90פסח תשפ”ג אצל הגרי”ג אדלשטייןצילום: שוקי לרר, אלעזר פיינשטיין ופלאש 90פסח תשפ”ג אצל הגרי”ג אדלשטייןצילום: שוקי לרר, אלעזר פיינשטיין ופלאש 90פסח תשפ”ג אצל הגרי”ג אדלשטייןצילום: שוקי לרר, אלעזר פיינשטיין ופלאש 90פסח תשפ”ג אצל הגרי”ג אדלשטייןצילום: שוקי לרר, אלעזר פיינשטיין ופלאש 90פסח תשפ”ג אצל הגרי”ג אדלשטייןצילום: שוקי לרר, אלעזר פיינשטיין ופלאש 90פסח תשפ”ג אצל הגרי”ג אדלשטייןצילום: שוקי לרר, אלעזר פיינשטיין ופלאש 90פסח תשפ”ג אצל הגרי”ג אדלשטייןצילום: שוקי לרר, אלעזר פיינשטיין ופלאש 90פסח תשפ”ג אצל הגרי”ג אדלשטייןצילום: שוקי לרר, אלעזר פיינשטיין ופלאש 90פסח תשפ”ג אצל הגרי”ג אדלשטייןצילום: שוקי לרר, אלעזר פיינשטיין ופלאש 90פסח תשפ”ג אצל הגרי”ג אדלשטייןצילום: שוקי לרר, אלעזר פיינשטיין ופלאש 90פסח תשפ”ג אצל הגרי”ג אדלשטייןצילום: שוקי לרר, אלעזר פיינשטיין ופלאש 90פסח תשפ”ג אצל הגרי”ג אדלשטייןצילום: שוקי לרר, אלעזר פיינשטיין ופלאש 90פסח תשפ”ג אצל הגרי”ג אדלשטייןצילום: שוקי לרר, אלעזר פיינשטיין ופלאש 90פסח תשפ”ג אצל הגרי”ג אדלשטייןצילום: שוקי לרר, אלעזר פיינשטיין ופלאש 90פסח תשפ”ג אצל הגרי”ג אדלשטייןצילום: שוקי לרר, אלעזר פיינשטיין ופלאש 90פסח תשפ”ג אצל הגרי”ג אדלשטייןצילום: שוקי לרר, אלעזר פיינשטיין ופלאש 90פסח תשפ”ג אצל הגרי”ג אדלשטייןצילום: שוקי לרר, אלעזר פיינשטיין ופלאש 90פסח תשפ”ג אצל הגרי”ג אדלשטייןצילום: שוקי לרר, אלעזר פיינשטיין ופלאש 90פסח תשפ”ג אצל הגרי”ג אדלשטייןצילום: שוקי לרר, אלעזר פיינשטיין ופלאש 90פסח תשפ”ג אצל הגרי”ג אדלשטייןצילום: שוקי לרר, אלעזר פיינשטיין ופלאש 90פסח תשפ”ג אצל הגרי”ג אדלשטייןצילום: שוקי לרר, אלעזר פיינשטיין ופלאש 90פסח תשפ”ג אצל הגרי”ג אדלשטייןצילום: שוקי לרר, אלעזר פיינשטיין ופלאש 90פסח תשפ”ג אצל הגרי”ג אדלשטייןצילום: שוקי לרר, אלעזר פיינשטיין ופלאש 90פסח תשפ”ג אצל הגרי”ג אדלשטייןצילום: שוקי לרר, אלעזר פיינשטיין ופלאש 90פסח תשפ”ג אצל הגרי”ג אדלשטייןצילום: שוקי לרר, אלעזר פיינשטיין ופלאש 90פסח תשפ”ג אצל הגרי”ג אדלשטייןצילום: שוקי לרר, אלעזר פיינשטיין ופלאש 90פסח תשפ”ג אצל הגרי”ג אדלשטייןצילום: שוקי לרר, אלעזר פיינשטיין ופלאש 90פסח תשפ”ג אצל הגרי”ג אדלשטייןצילום: שוקי לרר, אלעזר פיינשטיין ופלאש 90פסח תשפ”ג אצל הגרי”ג אדלשטייןצילום: שוקי לרר, אלעזר פיינשטיין ופלאש 90פסח תשפ”ג אצל הגרי”ג אדלשטייןצילום: שוקי לרר, אלעזר פיינשטיין ופלאש 90פסח תשפ”ג אצל הגרי”ג אדלשטייןצילום: שוקי לרר, אלעזר פיינשטיין ופלאש 90פסח תשפ”ג אצל הגרי”ג אדלשטייןצילום: שוקי לרר, אלעזר פיינשטיין ופלאש 90פסח תשפ”ג אצל הגרי”ג אדלשטייןצילום: שוקי לרר, אלעזר פיינשטיין ופלאש 90פסח תשפ”ג אצל הגרי”ג אדלשטייןצילום: שוקי לרר, אלעזר פיינשטיין ופלאש 90פסח תשפ”ג אצל הגרי”ג אדלשטייןצילום: שוקי לרר, אלעזר פיינשטיין ופלאש 90פסח תשפ”ג אצל הגרי”ג אדלשטייןצילום: שוקי לרר, אלעזר פיינשטיין ופלאש 90פסח תשפ”ג אצל הגרי”ג אדלשטייןצילום: שוקי לרר, אלעזר פיינשטיין ופלאש 90פסח תשפ”ג אצל הגרי”ג אדלשטייןצילום: שוקי לרר, אלעזר פיינשטיין ופלאש 90פסח תשפ”ג אצל הגרי”ג אדלשטייןצילום: שוקי לרר, אלעזר פיינשטיין ופלאש 90פסח תשפ”ג אצל הגרי”ג אדלשטייןצילום: שוקי לרר, אלעזר פיינשטיין ופלאש 90פסח תשפ”ג אצל הגרי”ג אדלשטייןצילום: שוקי לרר, אלעזר פיינשטיין ופלאש 90פסח תשפ”ג אצל הגרי”ג אדלשטייןצילום: שוקי לרר, אלעזר פיינשטיין ופלאש 90פסח תשפ”ג אצל הגרי”ג אדלשטייןצילום: שוקי לרר, אלעזר פיינשטיין ופלאש 90פסח תשפ”ג אצל הגרי”ג אדלשטייןצילום: שוקי לרר, אלעזר פיינשטיין ופלאש 90פסח תשפ”ג אצל הגרי”ג אדלשטייןצילום: שוקי לרר, אלעזר פיינשטיין ופלאש 90פסח תשפ”ג אצל הגרי”ג אדלשטייןצילום: שוקי לרר, אלעזר פיינשטיין ופלאש 90פסח תשפ”ג אצל הגרי”ג אדלשטייןצילום: שוקי לרר, אלעזר פיינשטיין ופלאש 90פסח תשפ”ג אצל הגרי”ג אדלשטייןצילום: שוקי לרר, אלעזר פיינשטיין ופלאש 90פסח תשפ”ג אצל הגרי”ג אדלשטייןצילום: שוקי לרר, אלעזר פיינשטיין ופלאש 90פסח תשפ”ג אצל הגרי”ג אדלשטייןצילום: שוקי לרר, אלעזר פיינשטיין ופלאש 90פסח תשפ”ג אצל הגרי”ג אדלשטייןצילום: שוקי לרר, אלעזר פיינשטיין ופלאש 90פסח תשפ”ג אצל הגרי”ג אדלשטייןצילום: שוקי לרר, אלעזר פיינשטיין ופלאש 90פסח תשפ”ג אצל הגרי”ג אדלשטייןצילום: שוקי לרר, אלעזר פיינשטיין ופלאש 90פסח תשפ”ג אצל הגרי”ג אדלשטייןצילום: שוקי לרר, אלעזר פיינשטיין ופלאש 90פסח תשפ”ג אצל הגרי”ג אדלשטייןצילום: שוקי לרר, אלעזר פיינשטיין ופלאש 90פסח תשפ”ג אצל הגרי”ג אדלשטייןצילום: שוקי לרר, אלעזר פיינשטיין ופלאש 90
The Belzer Rebbe, who underwent surgery on Pesach, was discharged from the hospital to his home in Kiryat Belz, Yerushalayim.
The rebbe had been at Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital.
Belzer Chassidim gathered around his home and greeted the rebbe’s car with spontaneous singing.
All are asked to continue davening for the complete recovery of Rav Yissochor Dov ben Miriam.
{Matzav.com Israel}
All are asked to say Tehillim for Rav Matisyahu Salomon, mashgiachof Beth Medrash Govoha in Lakewood, NJ, who is in need of rachamei Shomayim.
While the mashgiach is at home, and not presently hospitalized, his situation is serious.
Signs hanging at Beth Medrash Govoha ask talmidim to daven as a zechus for the mashgiach.
The name for Tehillim is Matisyahu Chaim ben Ettil.
{Matzav.com}
It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of Rav Nosson Farkash zt”l, R”M at Yeshiva Nachlas Dovid in Petach Tikva and one of the choshuve marbitzei Torah of the Ramat Elchonon neighborhood of Bnei Brak. He was 74.
In his youth, he learned at Yeshiva Be’er Yaakov, under Rav Moshe Shmuel Shapiro.
A great talmid chochom who was kind to all people and served as one of the rabbonim of Yeshiva Nachlas Dovid, Rav Nosson was a unique personality, combining unbridled ahavas haTorah, a wide breadth of Torah knowledge, and a personality that drew people in, as he touched them with his kindness and generous heart.
As one of the prominent residents of Ramat Elchonon, he was very close to the rov of the neighborhood, Rav Yitzchak Zilberstein.
He was also a close friend of Rav Yaakov Koledetsky, one of the senior rabbonim of Ramat Elchonon who passed away three years ago after contracting the Coronavirus.
He is survived by an outstanding family.
The levayah was held earlier at the Central Shul on Rechov Harav Sonnenfeld in Ramat Elchonon, followed by kevurah in Elad.
Yehi zichro boruch.
{Matzav.com Israel}
From Hadassah Hospital in Yerushalayim comes the good news that the operation performed on the Belzer Rebbe was successful.
The operation lasted two and a half hours, as planned by the doctors, who are satisfied with the results.
A meeting was held by the senior doctors at Hadassah Hospital following the successful operation, and it was decided that the rebbe will remain in the hospital for the time being under the supervision of a devoted team of medical experts.
Present at the meeting was the rebbe’s son Rav Aharon Mordechai Rokeach and noted medical expert Reb Elimelech Firer, who was very active in the rebbe’s care.
The doctors expressed their gratitude for the tremendous success of the operation, which they said was “above nature.”
All are asked to continue davening for Rav Yissochor Dov ben Miriam.
{Matzav.com}
It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of Rav Boruch Shraga Hakohein Plonczak zt”l. He was 101.
Rav Plonczak served for decades as the rosh yeshiva of Yeshiva Etz Chaim of Wilrijk in Antwerp, Belgium.
Rav Plonczak was a talmid of Rav Elchanan Wasserman and Rav Boruch Ber Leibowitz.
He immigrated to the Holy Land after the Holocaust and lived in Petach Tikva after studying at the Lomza Yeshiva together with many Torah greats.
He married his wife, Esther, a daughter of Rav Moshe Zvi Hkaohein Plonczak.
After a few years, they moved to Antwerp, where Rav Plonczak was appointed to serve as the rosh yeshiva of Yeshiva Etz Chaim in Belgium.
He was an exraordinary tzaddik and an outstanding talmid chochom, and in fact, Rav Shach, in his sefer Avi Ezri, quotes Rav Plonczak by name.
He leaves behind a son and five daughters, and many grandchildren who follow in his footsteps. One of his sons-in-law is Reb Refoel Wolf, well known gabbai of Rav Shach.
The levayah was held at Rav Plonczak’s home on Rechov Yonah Hanavi in Bnei Brak, stopping at the Shamgar Funeral Home en route to Har Hamenuchos for kevurah there.
Yehi zichro boruch.
{Matzav.com}
The Belzer Rebbe, who has been battling ill health for the last period, is slated to undergo surgery tomorrow, Monday of Chol Hamoed.
The procedure – reportedly on his back – will take place at Hadassah Ein Kerem Medical Center in Yerushalayim.
The ailment being treated has been causing the rebbe tremendous pain.
All are asked to daven for Rav Yissochor Dov ben Miriam.
{Matzav.com}
It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of Rebbetzin Bruriah David a”h. She was 85.
A brilliant mechaneches, Rebbetzin David was the founder and dean of Beth Jacob Jerusalem, commonly known as BJJ, a prestigious girls seminary located in the Unsdorf neighborhood of Yerushalayim.
Born in 1938, she was the only child of Hagaon Rav Yitzchak Hutner, Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshiva Rabbeinu Chaim Berlin, and the wife of Hagaon Rav Yonasan David, Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshiva Pachad Yitzchok in Yerushalayim’s Har Nof neighborhood.
Together with her husband and parents, she was on one of the airplanes hijacked by the Black September terrorists in 1970.
Her parents, Rav Yitzchok and Rebbetzin Masha (Lipshitz), married in 1933 and moved to Mandatory Palestine, but returned to New York a year later, where Bruria was born.
The Rebbetzin received her doctorate in history from Columbia University in 1971…
The Rebbetzin was a woman of unique caliber, possessing a deep understanding of people and a remarkable breadth of knowledge in Torah and history. It is said that the Rebbetzin devoted time in her early years towards the transcribing of her father’s classic seforim, Pachad Yitzchok.
Rebbetzin David founded BJJ, also known as Machon Sarah Shneirer, in the early 1970s as a post high school seminary in Israel, which is geared for American and European graduates of Bais Yaakov who wish to pursue Torah study on an advanced academic level. Previously, she had a seminary in Esther Schonfeld of the East Side, and then in Bais Yaakov Academy. The seminary also provides professional training toward a teaching degree.
Rebbetzin David is survived by her illustrious husband, Rav Yonason, and thousands of talmidos who were inspired and nurtured by the Rebbetzin.
Yehi zichrah boruch.
{Matzav.com}
Tens of thousands of Yidden attended a mass Birkas Kohanim this morning at the Kosel. The large Birkas Kohanim is held every Chol Hamoed and draws tremendous crowds.
The entire Old City of Yerushalayim was closed to vehicles as thousands streamed by foot and via bus to the Kosel. Some had davened Shacharis elsewhere, while others took part at minyanim at the Kosel. All joined together for the central Birkas Kohanim,with the Kosel chazzan calling out the bracha over a microphone. Hundreds of kohanim gathered at the front of the minyan, right by the Kosel, to bentch their fellow Yidden.
After davening, many in the crowd went to greet Rav Shmuel Rabinovitch, rov of the Kosel, to receive their bracha and wish them chag sameiach.
The biannual event was first started by Rav Menachem Mendel Gefner zt”l.
This was the 52nd year since the first public Birkas Kohanim took place on Pesach at the Kosel.
WATCH:
Members of the Badatz of the Eidah Hachareidis gathered today at Zupnik in Yerushalayim for mechiras chometz with the raavad of the Eidah, Rav Moshe Shternbuch. Chometz was sold on behalf of thousands of people.
An innovation this year by Rav Shternbuch was to write in the deed of sale that the gentile can pay for the chometz with a deduction of 5%, and not as in previous years, when a deduction of 2% was written. The reason for this was so that the gentile can potentially profit from the sale and thus the sale will not be seen as a haramah (fraud).
In addition, Rav Shternbuch told the gentile that even if for some reason the sale does not apply according to the laws of the state, the sale will exist and be valid according to Torah law.
Furthermore, Rav Shternbuch – who speaks English perfectly, of course – decided to hold the entire conversation with the gentile in English to make sure that the gentile understood everything well.
{Matzav.com Israel}
ליל הסדר בבעלזאצילום: אנשיל בעקליל הסדר בבעלזאצילום: אנשיל בעקליל הסדר בבעלזאצילום: אנשיל בעקליל הסדר בבעלזאצילום: אנשיל בעקליל הסדר בבעלזאצילום: אנשיל בעקליל הסדר בבעלזאצילום: אנשיל בעקליל הסדר בבעלזאצילום: אנשיל בעק
Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch, venerated rosh yeshiva of the Slabodka Yeshiva and member of the Moetzes Gedolei Hatorah of Degel Hatorah, remains hospitalized at Maayanei Hayeshua hospital in Bnei Brak, but there is some good news following a long series of difficult treatments.
According to sources close to the rosh yeshiva, “After receiving the results of the tests that the rosh yeshiva underwent the last few days, the doctors are satisfied with the results.”
However, they point out that “the rosh yeshiva is still weak and recovering from the illness and the treatments that he underwent.”
The 87-year-old venerated rosh yeshiva is a native of the United States, where he learned at Beth Medrash Govoha under Rav Aharon Kotler. He is the son-in-law of Rav Mordechai Shulman, whom he succeeded as rosh yeshiva in Yeshivas Slabodka. Rav Shulman was a son-in-law of Rav Eizik Sher, who was a son-in-law of the Alter of Slabodka.
Rav Moshe Hillel is one of the prime addresses for hadracha in the greater Olam HaTorah and Olam Hayeshivos.
All are asked to daven for Rav Moshe Hillel ben Mindel.
{Matzav.com Israel}
A six-month-old toddler, Cheirut Leibovitz of Yerushalayim, passed away overnight after being hit by a bus in the Rechavia neighborhood of Yerushalayim.
Monday afternoon she was hit by a bus on Keren Hayesod Street in Yerushalayim and was rushed to Shaarei Tzedek Hospital in Yerushalayim in critical condition. Doctors fought for her life, but unfortunately she did not survive the injury and her petirah was confirmed.
At about 3 p.m., a report was received by Magen Dovid Adom about a baby girl in a stroller who was hit by a bus on Keren Hayesod. Paramedics provided medical treatment and evacuated her to the hospital with a head injury while she was sedated and ventilated.
The toddler was a daughter of Reb Nachshon Nechemiah Leibovitz, who works at Shaarei Tzedek Hospital, where he received the awful news in the middle of a shift.
The levayah was held at the Kehillas Yerushalayim Chapels, followed by kevurah on Har Hamenuchos in Givat Shaul, Yerushalayim.
Umacha Hashem dimah me’al kol ponim.
{Matzav.com Israel}
Sunday morning, in honor of Pesach, the Western Wall Heritage Foundation removed kvitlach (notes) that had been placed between the Kosel stones over the past six months.
The removal was carried out per halachic guidelines, using gloves and disposable wooden utensils to make room for new notes from tourists and visitors expected to arrive in Yerushalayim in the coming months.
The kvitlach were collected in sacks and will be buried with worn seforim transferred to a designated genizah.
Rov rabbi of the Kosel and holy sites, Rav Shmuel Rabinowitz, personally supervised the note removal, as he does every year.
The custom of placing kvitlach in the Kosel was recorded already three centuries ago by the Or HaChaim HaKadosh. The kvitlach are buried along the entire length of the Kosel and can also be found among the courses of stones that were exposed in the Kosel Tunnels.
An average of about 3,000 kvitlach are sent each month through the Western Wall Heritage Foundation’s website. This is in addition to the hundreds of thousands of notes personally tucked between the stones by visitors.
This past year, about 100,000 notes were sent through the website alone, an increase of 30% compared to this period last year, from countries around the world, including the United States, Slovakia, Brazil, South America, Colombia, Germany, the Netherlands, Canada, England, Russia, Venezuela, Ukraine, India, Mexico, Argentina, and Taiwan.
The top ten countries with the highest notes sent are the USA, Brazil, Colombia, Russia, Canada, Slovakia, South Africa, Ukraine, and England.
Notes can be sent through the official website: www.thekotel.org.
Thousands of notes are sent to the Kosel annually, each with a story behind it. In addition, groups and organizations from many countries send notes to the Kosel. For example, last month, notes were sent to the Kosel by participants at a tourism conference in Madrid, Spain, as well as from Taiwan. A virtual Kosel was shown at the conference, and the participants were invited to write what was in their hearts on the notes brought by the Ministry of Tourism to the Kosel.
As an aside, the traditional Birkas Kohanim at the Kosel will take place on Sunday, the 3rd day of Chol Hamoed – 18 Nissan, 5783 / April 9, 2023, at 8:45 a.m.
{Matzav.com Israel}
A week after the left-wing demonstration in Bnei Brak, which passed in complete silence, contrary to the media’s predictions of severe clashes between the left-wing demonstrators and the residents of Bnei Brak, it has been revealed that behind the unique undertaking in which thousands of portions of cholent and other foods were distributed to the demonstrators was none others than the Kol Halashon organization, which organized and financed the effort at a cost of about NIS 20,000.
The huge pots of cholent were purchased from one of the most prestigious delicatessens in the country.
Kol Halashon made sure to order only vegetarian cholent, which would be accepted by the left-wing demonstrators, and that cholent was under the hashgacha of the Badatz of the Eidah Hachareidus.
{Matzav.com Israel}
Popular child soloist Bentzy Kletzkin celebrated his bar mitzvah this past Thursday night.
Following is a video and photos from the celebration, which drew a large crowd of family members, friends, and, of course, fellow singers and musicians.
Watch: Bentzy singing at the bar mitzvah:
שמחת הבר מצווה של בנצי קלצקיןצילום: חיים טויטושמחת הבר מצווה של בנצי קלצקיןצילום: חיים טויטושמחת הבר מצווה של בנצי קלצקיןצילום: חיים טויטושמחת הבר מצווה של בנצי קלצקיןצילום: חיים טויטושמחת הבר מצווה של בנצי קלצקיןצילום: חיים טויטושמחת הבר מצווה של בנצי קלצקיןצילום: חיים טויטושמחת הבר מצווה של בנצי קלצקיןצילום: חיים טויטושמחת הבר מצווה של בנצי קלצקיןצילום: חיים טויטושמחת הבר מצווה של בנצי קלצקיןצילום: חיים טויטושמחת הבר מצווה של בנצי קלצקיןצילום: חיים טויטושמחת הבר מצווה של בנצי קלצקיןצילום: חיים טויטושמחת הבר מצווה של בנצי קלצקיןצילום: חיים טויטושמחת הבר מצווה של בנצי קלצקיןצילום: חיים טויטושמחת הבר מצווה של בנצי קלצקיןצילום: חיים טויטושמחת הבר מצווה של בנצי קלצקיןצילום: חיים טויטושמחת הבר מצווה של בנצי קלצקיןצילום: חיים טויטושמחת הבר מצווה של בנצי קלצקיןצילום: חיים טויטושמחת הבר מצווה של בנצי קלצקיןצילום: חיים טויטושמחת הבר מצווה של בנצי קלצקיןצילום: חיים טויטושמחת הבר מצווה של בנצי קלצקיןצילום: חיים טויטושמחת הבר מצווה של בנצי קלצקיןצילום: חיים טויטושמחת הבר מצווה של בנצי קלצקיןצילום: חיים טויטושמחת הבר מצווה של בנצי קלצקיןצילום: חיים טויטושמחת הבר מצווה של בנצי קלצקיןצילום: חיים טויטושמחת הבר מצווה של בנצי קלצקיןצילום: חיים טויטושמחת הבר מצווה של בנצי קלצקיןצילום: חיים טויטושמחת הבר מצווה של בנצי קלצקיןצילום: חיים טויטושמחת הבר מצווה של בנצי קלצקיןצילום: חיים טויטושמחת הבר מצווה של בנצי קלצקיןצילום: חיים טויטושמחת הבר מצווה של בנצי קלצקיןצילום: חיים טויטושמחת הבר מצווה של בנצי קלצקיןצילום: חיים טויטושמחת הבר מצווה של בנצי קלצקיןצילום: חיים טויטושמחת הבר מצווה של בנצי קלצקיןצילום: חיים טויטושמחת הבר מצווה של בנצי קלצקיןצילום: חיים טויטושמחת הבר מצווה של בנצי קלצקיןצילום: חיים טויטושמחת הבר מצווה של בנצי קלצקיןצילום: חיים טויטושמחת הבר מצווה של בנצי קלצקיןצילום: חיים טויטושמחת הבר מצווה של בנצי קלצקיןצילום: חיים טויטושמחת הבר מצווה של בנצי קלצקיןצילום: חיים טויטושמחת הבר מצווה של בנצי קלצקיןצילום: חיים טויטושמחת הבר מצווה של בנצי קלצקיןצילום: חיים טויטושמחת הבר מצווה של בנצי קלצקיןצילום: חיים טויטושמחת הבר מצווה של בנצי קלצקיןצילום: חיים טויטושמחת הבר מצווה של בנצי קלצקיןצילום: חיים טויטושמחת הבר מצווה של בנצי קלצקיןצילום: חיים טויטושמחת הבר מצווה של בנצי קלצקיןצילום: חיים טויטושמחת הבר מצווה של בנצי קלצקיןצילום: חיים טויטושמחת הבר מצווה של בנצי קלצקיןצילום: חיים טויטושמחת הבר מצווה של בנצי קלצקיןצילום: חיים טויטושמחת הבר מצווה של בנצי קלצקיןצילום: חיים טויטושמחת הבר מצווה של בנצי קלצקיןצילום: חיים טויטושמחת הבר מצווה של בנצי קלצקיןצילום: חיים טויטושמחת הבר מצווה של בנצי קלצקיןצילום: חיים טויטושמחת הבר מצווה של בנצי קלצקיןצילום: חיים טויטושמחת הבר מצווה של בנצי קלצקיןצילום: חיים טויטושמחת הבר מצווה של בנצי קלצקיןצילום: חיים טויטושמחת הבר מצווה של בנצי קלצקיןצילום: חיים טויטושמחת הבר מצווה של בנצי קלצקיןצילום: חיים טויטושמחת הבר מצווה של בנצי קלצקיןצילום: חיים טויטושמחת הבר מצווה של בנצי קלצקיןצילום: חיים טויטושמחת הבר מצווה של בנצי קלצקיןצילום: חיים טויטושמחת הבר מצווה של בנצי קלצקיןצילום: חיים טויטושמחת הבר מצווה של בנצי קלצקיןצילום: חיים טויטושמחת הבר מצווה של בנצי קלצקיןצילום: חיים טויטושמחת הבר מצווה של בנצי קלצקיןצילום: חיים טויטו
Reports of a fire at the Lakewood Matzoh Bakery in Lakewood, NJ has been confirmed to be nothing more than increased smoke condition, possibly related to nearby power outages.
The bakery will resume its regular operations Sunday morning at 9 a.m.
The bakery, located on Prospect Street, is operated by R’ Tzvi Davidowitz.
{Matzav.com}
A popular Pesach program has been canceled a week before Yom Tov because, organizers say, of a “huge financial scam.”
The program, by Aryeh Hospitality, was to be held at the Claridge Hotel in Atlantic County, NJ.
The organizers sent out a message stating that “It is with great pain that we are forced to notify you of this unfortunate and unprecedented situation. While the program was moving along nicely, while our dedicated team was working tirelessly to make it a true success, we were hit with a huge financial scam, and we are not sure at this point if we can continue.”
The organizers said that they are trying to find an alternative option. “
Should we be successful at it, we will notify you immediately. One of our team members will personally reach out to you B’ezras Hashem within 24 hours. Any payments that were made this morning will not be processed unless we reach a resolution. We hope to be able to share good news very soon.”
{Matzav.com}
Rav Boruch Mordechai Ezrachi, rosh yeshiva of Yeshiva Ateres Yisroel in Yerushalayim, undertook a visit from Eretz Yisroel to the United States, visiting various communities and imparting chizuk along the way. Rav Ezrachi made stops in Los Angeles, Montreal, New York and New Jersey.
During his stop in Los Angeles, he visited renowned baal tzedakah and baal chesed Reb Shlomo Yehuda Rechnitz to thank him for funding the world’s largest Kimcha D’Pischa.
For several years now, Shlomo Yehuda has sponsored the Oneg Shabbos v’Yom Tov Kimcha d’Pischa, the world’s largest distribution of food packages for Yom Tov. Thousands of families receive food packages, all staples of Pesach. The recipients range the full gamut of residents of Yerushalayim, Bnei Brak, Elad, Kiryat Sefer, Modiin Illit, and elsewhere: Litvishe families, Sefardic families, Bucharian families, Chassidishe families, as well as dati-leumi families.
Oneg Shabbos v’Yom Tov’s founder is Rav Ephraim Stern, who has been leading this effort since 1979.
Rav Ezrachi remarked to Shlomo Yehuda that he does not know of any other such chesed on such a scale, a distribution that costs over $4 million.
The rosh yeshiva spent close to two hours with Shlomo Yehuda, extolling the great merit of helping Yidden get through Pesach with ease. Rav Ezrachi said that he could not remain indifferent to such kindness and had to go to visit Shlomo Yehuda to thank him in the name of Klal Yisrael and the thousands of avreichim who benefit from his generosity.
{Matzav.com Israel}
חתונת בן זקוניו של הגר”ש קנייבסקיצילום: שוקי לררחתונת בן זקוניו של הגר”ש קנייבסקיצילום: שוקי לררחתונת בן זקוניו של הגר”ש קנייבסקיצילום: שוקי לררחתונת בן זקוניו של הגר”ש קנייבסקיצילום: שוקי לררחתונת בן זקוניו של הגר”ש קנייבסקיצילום: שוקי לררחתונת בן זקוניו של הגר”ש קנייבסקיצילום: שוקי לררחתונת בן זקוניו של הגר”ש קנייבסקיצילום: שוקי לררחתונת בן זקוניו של הגר”ש קנייבסקיצילום: שוקי לררחתונת בן זקוניו של הגר”ש קנייבסקיצילום: שוקי לררחתונת בן זקוניו של הגר”ש קנייבסקיצילום: שוקי לררחתונת בן זקוניו של הגר”ש קנייבסקיצילום: שוקי לררחתונת בן זקוניו של הגר”ש קנייבסקיצילום: שוקי לררחתונת בן זקוניו של הגר”ש קנייבסקיצילום: שוקי לררחתונת בן זקוניו של הגר”ש קנייבסקיצילום: שוקי לררחתונת בן זקוניו של הגר”ש קנייבסקיצילום: שוקי לררחתונת בן זקוניו של הגר”ש קנייבסקיצילום: שוקי לררחתונת בן זקוניו של הגר”ש קנייבסקיצילום: שוקי לררחתונת בן זקוניו של הגר”ש קנייבסקיצילום: שוקי לררחתונת בן זקוניו של הגר”ש קנייבסקיצילום: שוקי לררחתונת בן זקוניו של הגר”ש קנייבסקיצילום: שוקי לררחתונת בן זקוניו של הגר”ש קנייבסקיצילום: שוקי לררחתונת בן זקוניו של הגר”ש קנייבסקיצילום: שוקי לררחתונת בן זקוניו של הגר”ש קנייבסקיצילום: שוקי לררחתונת בן זקוניו של הגר”ש קנייבסקיצילום: שוקי לררחתונת בן זקוניו של הגר”ש קנייבסקיצילום: שוקי לררחתונת בן זקוניו של הגר”ש קנייבסקיצילום: שוקי לררחתונת בן זקוניו של הגר”ש קנייבסקיצילום: שוקי לררחתונת בן זקוניו של הגר”ש קנייבסקיצילום: שוקי לררחתונת בן זקוניו של הגר”ש קנייבסקיצילום: שוקי לררחתונת בן זקוניו של הגר”ש קנייבסקיצילום: שוקי לררחתונת בן זקוניו של הגר”ש קנייבסקיצילום: שוקי לררחתונת בן זקוניו של הגר”ש קנייבסקיצילום: שוקי לררחתונת בן זקוניו של הגר”ש קנייבסקיצילום: שוקי לררחתונת בן זקוניו של הגר”ש קנייבסקיצילום: שוקי לררחתונת בן זקוניו של הגר”ש קנייבסקיצילום: שוקי לררחתונת בן זקוניו של הגר”ש קנייבסקיצילום: שוקי לררחתונת בן זקוניו של הגר”ש קנייבסקיצילום: שוקי לררחתונת בן זקוניו של הגר”ש קנייבסקיצילום: שוקי לררחתונת בן זקוניו של הגר”ש קנייבסקיצילום: שוקי לררחתונת בן זקוניו של הגר”ש קנייבסקיצילום: שוקי לררחתונת בן זקוניו של הגר”ש קנייבסקיצילום: שוקי לררחתונת בן זקוניו של הגר”ש קנייבסקיצילום: שוקי לררחתונת בן זקוניו של הגר”ש קנייבסקיצילום: שוקי לררחתונת בן זקוניו של הגר”ש קנייבסקיצילום: שוקי לררחתונת בן זקוניו של הגר”ש קנייבסקיצילום: שוקי לררחתונת בן זקוניו של הגר”ש קנייבסקיצילום: שוקי לררחתונת בן זקוניו של הגר”ש קנייבסקיצילום: שוקי לררחתונת בן זקוניו של הגר”ש קנייבסקיצילום: שוקי לררחתונת בן זקוניו של הגר”ש קנייבסקיצילום: שוקי לררחתונת בן זקוניו של הגר”ש קנייבסקיצילום: שוקי לררחתונת בן זקוניו של הגר”ש קנייבסקיצילום: שוקי לררחתונת בן זקוניו של הגר”ש קנייבסקיצילום: שוקי לררחתונת בן זקוניו של הגר”ש קנייבסקיצילום: שוקי לררחתונת בן זקוניו של הגר”ש קנייבסקיצילום: שוקי לררחתונת בן זקוניו של הגר”ש קנייבסקיצילום: שוקי לררחתונת בן זקוניו של הגר”ש קנייבסקיצילום: שוקי לררחתונת בן זקוניו של הגר”ש קנייבסקיצילום: שוקי לררחתונת בן זקוניו של הגר”ש קנייבסקיצילום: שוקי לררחתונת בן זקוניו של הגר”ש קנייבסקיצילום: שוקי לררחתונת בן זקוניו של הגר”ש קנייבסקיצילום: שוקי לררחתונת בן זקוניו של הגר”ש קנייבסקיצילום: שוקי לררחתונת בן זקוניו של הגר”ש קנייבסקיצילום: שוקי לררחתונת בן זקוניו של הגר”ש קנייבסקיצילום: שוקי לררחתונת בן זקוניו של הגר”ש קנייבסקיצילום: שוקי לררחתונת בן זקוניו של הגר”ש קנייבסקיצילום: שוקי לררחתונת בן זקוניו של הגר”ש קנייבסקיצילום: שוקי לררחתונת בן זקוניו של הגר”ש קנייבסקיצילום: שוקי לררחתונת בן זקוניו של הגר”ש קנייבסקיצילום: שוקי לררחתונת בן זקוניו של הגר”ש קנייבסקיצילום: שוקי לררחתונת בן זקוניו של הגר”ש קנייבסקיצילום: שוקי לררחתונת בן זקוניו של הגר”ש קנייבסקיצילום: שוקי לרר
המשפיע רבי מיילך בידרמן עם הבחורים במירוןצילום: א. אייזנבאךהמשפיע רבי מיילך בידרמן עם הבחורים במירוןצילום: א. אייזנבאךהמשפיע רבי מיילך בידרמן עם הבחורים במירוןצילום: א. אייזנבאךהמשפיע רבי מיילך בידרמן עם הבחורים במירוןצילום: א. אייזנבאךהמשפיע רבי מיילך בידרמן עם הבחורים במירוןצילום: א. אייזנבאךהמשפיע רבי מיילך בידרמן עם הבחורים במירוןצילום: א. אייזנבאךהמשפיע רבי מיילך בידרמן עם הבחורים במירוןצילום: א. אייזנבאךהמשפיע רבי מיילך בידרמן עם הבחורים במירוןצילום: א. אייזנבאךהמשפיע רבי מיילך בידרמן עם הבחורים במירוןצילום: א. אייזנבאךהמשפיע רבי מיילך בידרמן עם הבחורים במירוןצילום: א. אייזנבאךהמשפיע רבי מיילך בידרמן עם הבחורים במירוןצילום: א. אייזנבאךהמשפיע רבי מיילך בידרמן עם הבחורים במירוןצילום: א. אייזנבאךהמשפיע רבי מיילך בידרמן עם הבחורים במירוןצילום: א. אייזנבאךהמשפיע רבי מיילך בידרמן עם הבחורים במירוןצילום: א. אייזנבאךהמשפיע רבי מיילך בידרמן עם הבחורים במירוןצילום: א. אייזנבאךהמשפיע רבי מיילך בידרמן עם הבחורים במירוןצילום: א. אייזנבאךהמשפיע רבי מיילך בידרמן עם הבחורים במירוןצילום: א. אייזנבאךהמשפיע רבי מיילך בידרמן עם הבחורים במירוןצילום: א. אייזנבאךהמשפיע רבי מיילך בידרמן עם הבחורים במירוןצילום: א. אייזנבאךהמשפיע רבי מיילך בידרמן עם הבחורים במירוןצילום: א. אייזנבאךהמשפיע רבי מיילך בידרמן עם הבחורים במירוןצילום: א. אייזנבאךהמשפיע רבי מיילך בידרמן עם הבחורים במירוןצילום: א. אייזנבאךהמשפיע רבי מיילך בידרמן עם הבחורים במירוןצילום: א. אייזנבאךהמשפיע רבי מיילך בידרמן עם הבחורים במירוןצילום: א. אייזנבאךהמשפיע רבי מיילך בידרמן עם הבחורים במירוןצילום: א. אייזנבאךהמשפיע רבי מיילך בידרמן עם הבחורים במירוןצילום: א. אייזנבאךהמשפיע רבי מיילך בידרמן עם הבחורים במירוןצילום: א. אייזנבאךהמשפיע רבי מיילך בידרמן עם הבחורים במירוןצילום: א. אייזנבאךהמשפיע רבי מיילך בידרמן עם הבחורים במירוןצילום: א. אייזנבאךהמשפיע רבי מיילך בידרמן עם הבחורים במירוןצילום: א. אייזנבאךהמשפיע רבי מיילך בידרמן עם הבחורים במירוןצילום: א. אייזנבאךהמשפיע רבי מיילך בידרמן עם הבחורים במירוןצילום: א. אייזנבאךהמשפיע רבי מיילך בידרמן עם הבחורים במירוןצילום: א. אייזנבאךהמשפיע רבי מיילך בידרמן עם הבחורים במירוןצילום: א. אייזנבאךהמשפיע רבי מיילך בידרמן עם הבחורים במירוןצילום: א. אייזנבאךהמשפיע רבי מיילך בידרמן עם הבחורים במירוןצילום: א. אייזנבאךהמשפיע רבי מיילך בידרמן עם הבחורים במירוןצילום: א. אייזנבאךהמשפיע רבי מיילך בידרמן עם הבחורים במירוןצילום: א. אייזנבאךהמשפיע רבי מיילך בידרמן עם הבחורים במירוןצילום: א. אייזנבאךהמשפיע רבי מיילך בידרמן עם הבחורים במירוןצילום: א. אייזנבאךהמשפיע רבי מיילך בידרמן עם הבחורים במירוןצילום: א. אייזנבאךהמשפיע רבי מיילך בידרמן עם הבחורים במירוןצילום: א. אייזנבאךהמשפיע רבי מיילך בידרמן עם הבחורים במירוןצילום: א. אייזנבאךהמשפיע רבי מיילך בידרמן עם הבחורים במירוןצילום: א. אייזנבאךהמשפיע רבי מיילך בידרמן עם הבחורים במירוןצילום: א. אייזנבאךהמשפיע רבי מיילך בידרמן עם הבחורים במירוןצילום: א. אייזנבאךהמשפיע רבי מיילך בידרמן עם הבחורים במירוןצילום: א. אייזנבאךהמשפיע רבי מיילך בידרמן עם הבחורים במירוןצילום: א. אייזנבאךהמשפיע רבי מיילך בידרמן עם הבחורים במירוןצילום: א. אייזנבאךהמשפיע רבי מיילך בידרמן עם הבחורים במירוןצילום: א. אייזנבאךהמשפיע רבי מיילך בידרמן עם הבחורים במירוןצילום: א. אייזנבאךהמשפיע רבי מיילך בידרמן עם הבחורים במירוןצילום: א. אייזנבאךהמשפיע רבי מיילך בידרמן עם הבחורים במירוןצילום: א. אייזנבאךהמשפיע רבי מיילך בידרמן עם הבחורים במירוןצילום: א. אייזנבאךהמשפיע רבי מיילך בידרמן עם הבחורים במירוןצילום: א. אייזנבאך
It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of Rebbetzin Sarah Zakheim a”h. She was 104 years old.
The Rebbetzin was the wife of Rav Yaakov Zakheim zt”l, longtime rov of Agudas Yisroel of Midwood on Bedford Avenue and Avenue J in Flatbush. Rav Zakheim was a talmid of Rav Elchonon Wasserman zt”l, Hy”d, in Baranovitch and one of the last remaining links to that bygone era of the Torah world of pre-war Europe.
The Rebbetzin was a devoted eizer kenegdo to her husband and a dedicated rebbetzin to his kehillos during the Zakheims’ various stops in Trenton, East Flatbush, and Flatbush proper.
Rebbetzin Zakheim is survived by her children, Reb Moshe Zakheim, Mrs. Rachel Klein and Mrs. Devorah Hamada, and many grandchildren. She was predeceased by her son, Reb Shlomo Zakheim z”l, a renowned baal chesed.
The levaya was held tonight at Rav Zakheim’s shul at the corner of Bedford Avenue and Avenue J.
Yehi zichrah boruch.
{Matzav.com}
The Orthodox Union and the CRC (Hisachdus Harabbonim) have released a joint statement (see above) regarding the kashrus of Birdsboro beef.
The statement follows the spreading of rumors and claims regarding the kosher status of said meat, which is sold, in the Bingo supermarkets in New York and New Jersey.
The two supervising agencies assure kosher consumers that Birdsboro beef is glatt kosher l’mehadrin and there are no concerns to be had.
Birdsboro released a statement of its own (see below), stating that “a rumor has been spread of an imaginary michshol that supposedly occurred with our meat. This story is fabricated… The rumor is a complete fabrication from beginning to end. There was neither a story nor a scandal.”
{Matzav.com}
In a unique and moving event arranged by Eretz HaKodesh, gedolei Yisroel recited Birkas Illanos on trees from the fields of Keren Kayemet L’Yisrael/the National Fund for Israel (KKL) that had been maintained according to the laws of Shmittah.
For the first time in history, this past year, KKL observed the laws of Shmittah on all the lands under its jurisdiction. In practical terms, this meant that, thanks to the orchestration of Eretz HaKodesh, KKL did not rely on a heter mechirah (selling the land), but allowed all its land to remain fallow for the recent Shmittah year. In keeping with these halachos, the fruits were distributed for free to the public.
Trees from these very fields were brought to Bnei Brak for the recital of Birkas Illanos. The gedolim who joined expressed their admiration for the monumental accomplishment enabled by Eretz HaKodesh to ensure Shmittah compliance on thousands of dunams of land.
Gedolim who participated included Rav Berel Povarsky, Rav Boruch Mordechai Ezrachi, Rav Shimon Galei, Rav Shlomo Kanievsky, Rav Shraga Shteinman, Rav Chaim Peretz Berman, Rav Issamar Garbuz, and Rav Amram Fried.
The gedolim, in addition to reciting Birkas Illanos, gave heartfelt brachos to the farmers who kept Shmittah with these trees, wishing them bracha and hatzlacha in their future endeavors. They also gave a bracha to the askanim of Eretz HaKodesh for making this possible.
The undertakings to ensure Shmittah observance were the latest in a concerted effort of Eretz HaKodesh to ensure and protect kedushas ha’aretz in Eretz Yisroel.
{Matzav.com Israel}
Beginning with the coming school year, thousands of children in the Boyaner Chassidus cheder will have to wear a uniform.
The decision was made due to the fact that Chassidic dress today has deteriorated and the administration wants to preserve the old style of dress.
In a letter sent on Friday to the thousands of children of Boyan’s Torah Talmud network in Israel, which has over 4,000 children and 1,500 just in the city of Beitar, parents were informed that they should not purchase clothes at the end of the season as in the past, but only from the company with which Boyan has negotiated. There are five types of clothing that the parents can choose from with which to dress their children.
The note mentions, “It is important to note that the clothes will be in the best quality. The price will also be significantly cheaper than the prices used on the market for clothes of similar quality.”
The clothing for the students will be sold for the first time in the month of Av this summer.
“However,” stated the letter, “we are informing parents ahead of time, so that they will be aware of this and avoid purchasing other clothing as part of the ‘end of season’ sales that are taking place these days.”
{Matzav.com Israel}
It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of Mrs. Chaya Dina (nee Specter) Brus a”h of Bensonhurst following a lengthy illness of many years.
Tragically and shockingly, her petirah comes just one month after the untimely petirah of her husband, Rabbi Yeshaya Yechezkel Brus z”l, the 48-year-old son of Rav Moshe Mendel Brus, rosh yeshiva of Yeshiva Bais Hatalmud, and a grandson of Rav Shaul Brus zt”l, rosh yeshiva of Yeshiva Bais Hatalmud.
The devastating petirah leaves seven yesomim, the children of R’ and Mrs. Brus, without both of their parents.
The levayah will be held at 10 a.m. at Yeshiva Bais HaTalmud in Bensonhurst, followed by kevurah at 1 p.m. in Lakewood, NJ.
Yehi zichro boruch.
{Matzav.com}
A hachnosas Sefer Torah was held at the home of Rav Moshe Shternbuch, raavad of the Eidah Hachareidus, on Katzenelbogen Street in the Har Nof neighborhood in Yerushalayim.
הכנסת ס”ת לבית פוסק הדור הגר”מ שטרנבוךצילום: שוקי לררהכנסת ס”ת לבית פוסק הדור הגר”מ שטרנבוךצילום: שוקי לררהכנסת ס”ת לבית פוסק הדור הגר”מ שטרנבוךצילום: שוקי לררהכנסת ס”ת לבית פוסק הדור הגר”מ שטרנבוךצילום: שוקי לררהכנסת ס”ת לבית פוסק הדור הגר”מ שטרנבוךצילום: שוקי לררהכנסת ס”ת לבית פוסק הדור הגר”מ שטרנבוךצילום: שוקי לררהכנסת ס”ת לבית פוסק הדור הגר”מ שטרנבוךצילום: שוקי לררהכנסת ס”ת לבית פוסק הדור הגר”מ שטרנבוךצילום: שוקי לררהכנסת ס”ת לבית פוסק הדור הגר”מ שטרנבוךצילום: שוקי לררהכנסת ס”ת לבית פוסק הדור הגר”מ שטרנבוךצילום: שוקי לררהכנסת ס”ת לבית פוסק הדור הגר”מ שטרנבוךצילום: שוקי לררהכנסת ס”ת לבית פוסק הדור הגר”מ שטרנבוךצילום: שוקי לררהכנסת ס”ת לבית פוסק הדור הגר”מ שטרנבוךצילום: שוקי לררהכנסת ס”ת לבית פוסק הדור הגר”מ שטרנבוךצילום: שוקי לררהכנסת ס”ת לבית פוסק הדור הגר”מ שטרנבוךצילום: שוקי לררהכנסת ס”ת לבית פוסק הדור הגר”מ שטרנבוךצילום: שוקי לררהכנסת ס”ת לבית פוסק הדור הגר”מ שטרנבוךצילום: שוקי לררהכנסת ס”ת לבית פוסק הדור הגר”מ שטרנבוךצילום: שוקי לררהכנסת ס”ת לבית פוסק הדור הגר”מ שטרנבוךצילום: שוקי לררהכנסת ס”ת לבית פוסק הדור הגר”מ שטרנבוךצילום: שוקי לררהכנסת ס”ת לבית פוסק הדור הגר”מ שטרנבוךצילום: שוקי לררהכנסת ס”ת לבית פוסק הדור הגר”מ שטרנבוךצילום: שוקי לררהכנסת ס”ת לבית פוסק הדור הגר”מ שטרנבוךצילום: שוקי לררהכנסת ס”ת לבית פוסק הדור הגר”מ שטרנבוךצילום: שוקי לררהכנסת ס”ת לבית פוסק הדור הגר”מ שטרנבוךצילום: שוקי לררהכנסת ס”ת לבית פוסק הדור הגר”מ שטרנבוךצילום: שוקי לררהכנסת ס”ת לבית פוסק הדור הגר”מ שטרנבוךצילום: שוקי לררהכנסת ס”ת לבית פוסק הדור הגר”מ שטרנבוךצילום: שוקי לררהכנסת ס”ת לבית פוסק הדור הגר”מ שטרנבוךצילום: שוקי לררהכנסת ס”ת לבית פוסק הדור הגר”מ שטרנבוךצילום: שוקי לררהכנסת ס”ת לבית פוסק הדור הגר”מ שטרנבוךצילום: שוקי לררהכנסת ס”ת לבית פוסק הדור הגר”מ שטרנבוךצילום: שוקי לררהכנסת ס”ת לבית פוסק הדור הגר”מ שטרנבוךצילום: שוקי לררהכנסת ס”ת לבית פוסק הדור הגר”מ שטרנבוךצילום: שוקי לררהכנסת ס”ת לבית פוסק הדור הגר”מ שטרנבוךצילום: שוקי לררהכנסת ס”ת לבית פוסק הדור הגר”מ שטרנבוךצילום: שוקי לררהכנסת ס”ת לבית פוסק הדור הגר”מ שטרנבוךצילום: שוקי לררהכנסת ס”ת לבית פוסק הדור הגר”מ שטרנבוךצילום: שוקי לררהכנסת ס”ת לבית פוסק הדור הגר”מ שטרנבוךצילום: שוקי לררהכנסת ס”ת לבית פוסק הדור הגר”מ שטרנבוךצילום: שוקי לררהכנסת ס”ת לבית פוסק הדור הגר”מ שטרנבוךצילום: שוקי לררהכנסת ס”ת לבית פוסק הדור הגר”מ שטרנבוךצילום: שוקי לררהכנסת ס”ת לבית פוסק הדור הגר”מ שטרנבוךצילום: שוקי לררהכנסת ס”ת לבית פוסק הדור הגר”מ שטרנבוךצילום: שוקי לררהכנסת ס”ת לבית פוסק הדור הגר”מ שטרנבוךצילום: שוקי לרר
It is with great sadness that we report the passing of Rebbetzin Rochel Kviat a”h, the second wife of Rav Dovid Kviat zt”l, renowned rov, rosh yeshiva and mechaber seforim. She was 96.
The Rebbetzin is survived by her children, R’ Noach Schwartz, Mrs. Janie Friedman, Mrs. Chaya Siegal, Mrs. Devorah Scherman, and Mrs. Rivky Senderovitz.
The levayahwill be held today, at 11:30 a.m., at the Congregation Sons of Israel Holocaust Memorial Chapel, located at 613 Ramsey Avenue, in Lakewood NJ, followed by kevurah in Queens.
Yehi zichrah boruch.
{Matzav.com}
In what was an emotional affair today, the bris of the brother of Asher Menachem (7) and Yaakov Yisrael (5) Paley Hy”d, who were killed in a terrorist attack last month, was held.
The baby was named Yonason Refoel and the sandek was Rav Don Segal.
WATCH:
A special letter from two gedolei Yisroel calls for tefillos for Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch, venerated rosh yeshiva of the Slabodka Yeshiva and member of the Moetzes Gedolei Hatorah of Degel Hatorah, who is in need of rachamei Shomayim.
The letter, seen below, was signed by Rav Gershon Edelstein, Rosh Yeshivas Ponovezh, and Rav Dov Landau, Rosh Yeshivas Slabodka.
Rav Hirsch was hospitalized last week at Maayanei Hayeshua hospital in Bnei Brak
The 87-year-old venerated rosh yeshiva is a native of the United States, where he learned at Beth Medrash Govoha under Rav Aharon Kotler.
He is the son-in-law of Rav Mordechai Shulman, whom he succeeded as rosh yeshiva in Yeshivas Slabodka. Rav Shulman was a son-in-law of Rav Eizik Sher, who was a son-in-law of the Alter of Slabodka.
All are asked to daven for Rav Moshe Hillel ben Mindel.
{Matzav.com Israel}
חתונת בת הרב אריה קנייבסקיצילום: משה גולדשטייןחתונת בת הרב אריה קנייבסקיצילום: משה גולדשטייןחתונת בת הרב אריה קנייבסקיצילום: משה גולדשטייןחתונת בת הרב אריה קנייבסקיצילום: משה גולדשטייןחתונת בת הרב אריה קנייבסקיצילום: משה גולדשטייןחתונת בת הרב אריה קנייבסקיצילום: משה גולדשטייןחתונת בת הרב אריה קנייבסקיצילום: משה גולדשטייןחתונת בת הרב אריה קנייבסקיצילום: משה גולדשטייןחתונת בת הרב אריה קנייבסקיצילום: משה גולדשטייןחתונת בת הרב אריה קנייבסקיצילום: משה גולדשטייןחתונת בת הרב אריה קנייבסקיצילום: משה גולדשטייןחתונת בת הרב אריה קנייבסקיצילום: משה גולדשטייןחתונת בת הרב אריה קנייבסקיצילום: משה גולדשטייןחתונת בת הרב אריה קנייבסקיצילום: משה גולדשטייןחתונת בת הרב אריה קנייבסקיצילום: משה גולדשטייןחתונת בת הרב אריה קנייבסקיצילום: משה גולדשטייןחתונת בת הרב אריה קנייבסקיצילום: משה גולדשטייןחתונת בת הרב אריה קנייבסקיצילום: משה גולדשטייןחתונת בת הרב אריה קנייבסקיצילום: משה גולדשטייןחתונת בת הרב אריה קנייבסקיצילום: משה גולדשטייןחתונת בת הרב אריה קנייבסקיצילום: משה גולדשטייןחתונת בת הרב אריה קנייבסקיצילום: משה גולדשטייןחתונת בת הרב אריה קנייבסקיצילום: משה גולדשטייןחתונת בת הרב אריה קנייבסקיצילום: משה גולדשטייןחתונת בת הרב אריה קנייבסקיצילום: משה גולדשטייןחתונת בת הרב אריה קנייבסקיצילום: משה גולדשטייןחתונת בת הרב אריה קנייבסקיצילום: משה גולדשטייןחתונת בת הרב אריה קנייבסקיצילום: משה גולדשטייןחתונת בת הרב אריה קנייבסקיצילום: משה גולדשטייןחתונת בת הרב אריה קנייבסקיצילום: משה גולדשטייןחתונת בת הרב אריה קנייבסקיצילום: משה גולדשטייןחתונת בת הרב אריה קנייבסקיצילום: משה גולדשטייןחתונת בת הרב אריה קנייבסקיצילום: משה גולדשטייןחתונת בת הרב אריה קנייבסקיצילום: משה גולדשטייןחתונת בת הרב אריה קנייבסקיצילום: משה גולדשטייןחתונת בת הרב אריה קנייבסקיצילום: משה גולדשטייןחתונת בת הרב אריה קנייבסקיצילום: משה גולדשטייןחתונת בת הרב אריה קנייבסקיצילום: משה גולדשטייןחתונת בת הרב אריה קנייבסקיצילום: משה גולדשטייןחתונת בת הרב אריה קנייבסקיצילום: משה גולדשטייןחתונת בת הרב אריה קנייבסקיצילום: משה גולדשטייןחתונת בת הרב אריה קנייבסקיצילום: משה גולדשטייןחתונת בת הרב אריה קנייבסקיצילום: משה גולדשטייןחתונת בת הרב אריה קנייבסקיצילום: משה גולדשטייןחתונת בת הרב אריה קנייבסקיצילום: משה גולדשטייןחתונת בת הרב אריה קנייבסקיצילום: משה גולדשטייןחתונת בת הרב אריה קנייבסקיצילום: משה גולדשטיין
Israel Police has asked for the public’s help in their search for an 18-year-old yeshiva bochur, Elimelech Smetnikov, who has gone missing.
Elimelech lives on Shoshana Polyakov Street in the Kiryat Moshe neighborhood in Yerushalayim.Elimelech was last seen on Shabbos morning at Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital and has not made contact with his family since departing the hospital without telling anyone where he was going.{Matzav.com Israel}
The Shabbos Maamad, a project of Ki Haim Chayeinu, a division of Agudas Yisroel of America, has been postponed, Matzav.com has learned.
The event, scheduled to be held on Monday, March 27 at the Prudential Center, was going to focus on the beauty and depth of Shabbos Kodesh.
Organizers were expecting attendance by men, women and children, twenty-thousand strong.
Now, organizers released a statement, saying, “Due to technical and logistical challenges, we have decided to postpone the event to a future date to be determined. More details will be forthcoming, b’ezras Hashem.”
A week ago, one of the organizers said, “Agudath Israel, upon the advice and guidance of daas Torah, is seeking to inspire all of us to appreciate Shabbos even more. By putting Shabbos on this pedestal and understanding more of its depth and penimiyus, we will be able to cherish this gift from Hashem in a whole new way.”
The Shabbos Maamad was organized on the heels of the successful Masmidei HaShabbos and Shabbos Malkisah programs, developed by Agudah’s Ki Heim Chayeinu. The programs have been run in over 150 yeshivos and Bais Yaakovs across the country as a six-week curriculum educating over twenty-five thousand children and their families about the positivity and essence of Shabbos.
{Matzav.com}
It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of Rabbi Moshe Juravel zt”l.
Rabbi Juravel was a longtime 5th grade rebbi at Torah Institute/Yeshivas Kochav Yitzchok of Baltimore.
Rabbi Juravel is survived by his wife, Mrs. Shulamis Juravel, and his children, R’ Pinchos Efraim Juravel, R’ Yisroel Meir Juravel, Hadassah Shifra Yagid, Sara Leah Matthew, Yehudis Brocha Schreiber, Esther Rivkah Stern, Miriam Rochel Aron, Devorah Malka Gruskin, and Shoshana Tova Klein.
His siblings are Rabbi Dovid Juravel, famed for his tapes and books; Rabbi Avry Juravel, noted kashrus personality; Rebbetzin Shulamis Schmelczer; wife of Rav Chaim Schmelczer zt”l, founding menahel of Telshe Yeshiva Chicago; and Mrs. Leah Israelowitz, wife of Rabbi Ephraim Israelowitz.
The levayah is being held this morning at Levinson’s in Baltimore. A second levayah will be held today at 6 p.m. at the Congregation Sons of Israel Holocaust Memorial Chapel, located at 613 Ramsey Avenue, off of East 7th Street, in Lakewood, NJ, followed by kevurah in the adjacent bais hachaim.
The family will be sitting shivah at 6018 Clover Road in Baltimore.
Yehi zichro boruch.
{Matzav.com / Photo: Baltimore Jewish Life}
Tragedy struck in Belgium when a minibus carrying about 20 people from Antwerp to London crashed overnight.
The accident claimed the life of the driver, R’ Shimmy Segal z”l. He was 67.
Another approximately 18 passengers were injured, several, including a bochur, seriously.
The passengers were returning to London after spending Shabbos in Antwerp with the Pshevorsker Rebbe.
Antwerp is approximately five hours by car from London.
All are asked to daven for Tzvi ben Rochel Libah and Avrohom Eliezer ben Chaya Yutal.
{Matzav.com}
Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch, venerated rosh yeshiva of the Slabodka Yeshiva and member of the Moetzes Gedolei Hatorah of Degel Hatorah, is in need of rachamei Shomayim.
Rav Hirsch was hospitalized last week at Maayanei Hayeshua hospital in Bnei Brak and was released, but he has since been hospitalized again after feeling unwell.
Rav Hirsch was stricken last week with fever and pneumonia, along with a compromised immune system, and his symptoms have persisted.
The 87-year-old venerated rosh yeshiva is a native of the United States, where he learned at Beth Medrash Govoha under Rav Aharon Kotler.
He is the son-in-law of Rav Mordechai Shulman, whom he succeeded as rosh yeshiva in Yeshivas Slabodka. Rav Shulman was a son-in-law of Rav Eizik Sher, who was a son-in-law of the Alter of Slabodka.
Rav Moshe Hillel is one of the prime addresses for hadracha in the greater Olam HaTorah and Olam Hayeshivos.
All are asked to daven for Rav Moshe Hillel ben Mindel.
{Matzav.com Israel}
It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of Rabbi Avrohom Ziegler zt”l of Boro Park. He was 81.
Reb Avrohom was a tremendous baal chesed and yorei Shomayim, with an aidelkeit and a feinkeit that inspired all who knew him.
In 1987, after a three year battle with leukemia, Reb Avrohom’s son Shlome passed away in the prime of his life. Wise beyond his years, Shlome pleaded with his father, shortly before his passing, to fulfill a heartrending request. “Tatty, don’t forget me. Please do something to help others who suffer as I do, in my memory.”
The loss of their young son Shlome was the impetus for Reb Avrohom and his wife to establish a dynamic organization that became known as Zichron Shlome Refuah Fund.
Knowing all too well the hardships that a family experiences when a member is stricken with a cancer illness, the Zieglers stepped up, and over three and a half decades, the Zieglers and Zichron Shlome Refuah Fund touched the lives of thousands of patients and their families by easing their overwhelming burden, dispensing financial help and providing for many important needs.
Reb Avrohom’s mission was to create an island of tranquility for cancer patients and their families, amidst the turmoil of their storm. Thanks to him, patients receive help to alleviate the extra burdens that accompany a cancer illness and are better equipped to courageously battle their illness.
Reb Avrohom is survived by his wife, Mrs. Raizy Ziegler, and their family.
The levayah will be held tonight, at 10 p.m., at Shomrei Hadas Chapels, located at 3803 14th Avenue in Brooklyn, NY.
Yehi zichro boruch.
{Matzav.com}
It was recently reports that Rav Yosef Ezra Zelicha zt”l, a longtime talmid of Rav Shimon Baadani, related how the Rosh once appeared to Rav Baadani in a dream.
In a recording, Rav Zelicha relates that when Rav Baadani was studying Maseches Kesuvos, Rav Baadani was bothered by a certain Rosh and couldn’t find an answer.
He eventually came up with a solution, saying that two words in another line were misplaced, and by transferring them to the difficult section, all difficulties melted away.
When his talmidim pressed him on how he came across the surprising solution, Rav Baadani said the Rosh himself had appeared in a dream and revealed the secret to him. Checking old printings of the Rosh, the talmidim discovered the words where the Rosh said they should be — only newer editions had the mistake.
{Matzav.com Israel}
Twenty years ago, he was a yungerman in Ponevezh, known more for diligence than his oratory prowess, a scion of the rebbes of Lelov who reflected the energy and joy of his ancestors. Some American bachurim in the Slabodka Yeshivah discovered the thirty-something-year-old Rav Elimelech Biderman and formed a private chaburah with him. They started eating Shabbos seudos at his home, speaking to him in learning and about life, and found that interactions with him left them feeling rejuvenated, a bit better about themselves.
When one of the chaburah members continued on to Mir, he missed the weekly shmuess, and so he asked Reb Meilech to start coming up to Yerushalayim as well. On Thursday nights, a chaburah was formed near the Mirrer Yeshivah in Yerushalayim, a small group gathering in the apartment that had once belonged to Rav Shloim’ke Zhviller, one of the great tzaddikim of Yerushalayim — and a great-grandfather of Reb Meilech, who is married to the daughter of the Zutchker Rebbe, himself a son-in-law of Ray Mordechai of Zhvil, grandson of Ray Shloim’ke.
The Torah of Reb Meilech seemed to come from a place without boundaries, a rush of halachah, chassidus, and Kabbalah, classic mussar and drush, stories and lomdus. The people responded to his message, their hearts captured by his vision of what a Yid is, how precious every small tenuah that a Yid makes is, how beloved each Yid is to the Master of the universe. They found strength and courage in the steady, continuous flow of emunah that came forth, learning not just to accept, but to appreciate, to revel in the challenges and joyfully triumph.
Over the last two decades, Reb Meilech’s voice has spread, with derashos delivered in both Yiddish and Hebrew in Meah Shearim or the Ponevezher Kollel, in a yeshivah for Americans, at a Tel Aviv “chaburah” of secular high-tech entrepreneurs, at the famed Sephardic Yazdim beit haknesset, and in small neighborhood shuls. Clips and translations of his weekly shiurim are lifting neshamos across the world. His reach and impact have grown, but he himself remains the same, without a formal beis medrash, yeshivah, or kollel, without organizations or websites, dancing through life, from the deepest corners of his beloved Meron to side rooms at the Itzkowitz Shtieblach in Bnei Brak.
He is hard to pin down, his days a trail of tefillah and chizuk: in hospital wards, offering words of hope, at a shivah home telling mourners that the sun will rise again, in the center of a throbbing circle at the wedding of someone who didn’t have it easy, adding new dimensions of simchah. He can be standing on a Bnei Brak street corner listening to the suffering of an individual or hidden away in the back of an out-of-the-way beis medrash, humming by an open Gemara.
That’s the schedule — Torah, chizuk, emunah, simchah, little particles of life flowing from him to others, giving them a new burst of chiyus.
He is restoring the pride, the innate joy, the valor that comes with being a Yid. When he is dancing on the table, the wall of people around him soaring along with him, together they are reaching higher, dreaming of more, celebrating what they have.
This is the call of Rav Meilech Biderman and this is the call of a brand new Haggadah published by ArtScroll, the lyrics of a whole year becoming full-throated song on the night of Pesach. Written by bestselling author Yisroel Besser, there is a theme that runs through the pages of Reb Meilech on the Haggadah, and it is one of clarity, courage, and most of all, freedom — the freedom of becoming His.
Becoming His, and understanding that He is ours as well.
He is watching, He is listening, He is waiting, and He is cherishing each word we say.
Reb Meilech has touched all of Klal Yisrael with his messages of chizuk, bringing us uplift and hope, filling us with confidence that we can make good things better.
Reb Meilech on the Haggadah brings his message of emunah and hope to our Seder table.
Reb Meilech will enliven our Seder as only he can, with beautiful divrei Torah, delightful stories, and wise insights. This Haggadah will fill your home with Reb Meilech’s unique brand of simchah, the happiness of being part of Klal Yisrael, the joy of becoming aware of Hashem’s gifts all around, and the delight of knowing how much our Creator loves us and takes pleasure in all the good things we do.
Available in 2 luxurious leather options too!
BUY THIS MUST-HAVE HAGGADAH HERE or pick up a copy today at your local Hebrew Bookseller!
{Matzav.com}
Mrs. Devorah Paley, whose two young sons were killed in a terrorist attack last month in Yerushalayim’s Ramot neighborhood, gave birth to a boy overnight at Hadassah Medical Center Mount Scopus.
R’ Avraham Noach Paley, who was seriously wounded in the attack, was by his wife’s side while she was in labor. The child is the Paley family’s tenth.
Yaakov Yisrael Paley, 5, and Asher Menachem Paley, 7, were killed on Feb. 10 when Hussein Karaka, 31, an Arab Israeli resident of the Issawiya neighborhood in eastern Jerusalem, smashed his car into a bus stop.R’ Avraham Noach, 42, was recently released from Hadassah Ein Kerem Medical Center after spending two weeks in a coma. He learned of the death of his sons when he regained consciousness. Upon leaving the hospital on Monday, he immediately visited his sons’ graves in the city’s Har HaMenuchos cemetery, arriving via ambulance and using a wheelchair.
“Sweethearts, I didn’t have time to say goodbye to you. I want to say thank you. What joy you had in learning, what sweetness, what joy of life,” he said at the cemetery.
Twenty-year-old R’ Alter Shlomo Lederman, a recently married yeshiva student, was also killed in the attack. In addition to Avraham Noach Paley, three other Israelis were wounded in the attack. Karaka was shot dead at the scene by a police officer. JNS
Virtual Judaica has auctioned off a talis katan of Rav Shmaryahu Yosef Chaim Kanievsky zt”l.
The Judaica house said that “the tzitzit are the original tzitzit that Reb Chaim blessed and kissed each morning.”
The winning bid was $1,926.00.
{Matzav.com}
R’ Avrohom Noach Paley, father of two boys murdered in a Palestinian terror attack in Yerushalayim last month, visited his sons’ kevorim today for the hakomas hamatzeivos.
Asher Menachem Paley, 7, and Yaakov Yisroel Paley, 5, were murdered by a terrorist who drove a car into a bus stop in Ramot.
R’ Avrohom was wheeled to the kevorim in a wheelchair and immediately broke down in a sea of tears.
R’ Avrohom, 42, was seriously injured in the attack and only learned of the death of his sons when he regained consciousness nearly three weeks later.
He went straight to the cemetery after leaving Hadassah Medical Center in Ein Kerem, arriving via ambulance.
Before being discharged, he thanked the staff who took care of him “with devotion from the moment I arrived at Hadassah, both in the intensive care unit and the surgical department.
“I thank everyone for accompanying me during these difficult moments,” he said.
Twenty-year-old R’ Alter Shlomo Lederman was also killed in the Feb. 10 attack committed by Hussein Karaka, 31, an Arab Israeli resident of the Issawiya neighborhood in eastern Yerushalayim.
WATCH:
It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirahof Rav Chaim Meir Weinberg zt”l, longtime R”M at Yeshiva Torah Vodaas in Brooklyn.
Rav Weinberg was himself a talmid of Yeshiva Torah Vodaas, as well as Bais Medrash Elyon.
His wife, Masha, is a daughter of the famed Rav Shaya Shimanowitz zt”l, rosh yeshiva at Yeshiva Rabbeinu Yaakov Yosef/RJJ, whose yahrtzeit is actually today.
Rav Weinberg was an outstanding talmid chochom, whose hasmadah and humility matched his greatness in Torah, serving as an exceptional role model to generations of talmidim at Torah Vodaas.
The levayah was held today at Yeshiva Torah Vodaas in Brooklyn.
The aron is being flown to Eretz Yisroel for kevurah tomorrow on Har Hamenuchos in Yerushalayim.
Yehi zichro boruch.
{Matzav.com / Photo: Tsemach Glenn}
Yesterday was the shloshim of Asher Menachem Paley Hy”d and Yaakov Yisroel Paley Hy”d, who were murdered in the terror attack in the Ramot neighborhood of Yerushalayim.
Today, the family members will be going to Har Hamenuchos, apparently for the first time together with the boys’ father, R’ Avraham Noach ben Yehudis, whose condition is improving, for the hakomas matzeivos.
Below you can see photos of the matzeivos at the kevorim of the boys.
Rav Boruch Mordechai Ezrachi, rosh yeshiva of Yeshiva Ateres Yisroel in Yerushalayim, left Eretz Yisroel yesterday for a visit to the United States.
Rav Boruch Mordechai told those close to him: “As long as I have a drop of strength in me, I feel it is my duty to go out and influence Klal Yisrael with divrei mussar.”
During his visit, he is expected to visit Los Angeles, Montreal, as well as New York.
{Matzav.com}
Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch, venerated rosh yeshiva of the Slabodka Yeshiva and member of the Moetzes Gedolei Hatorah of Degel Hatorah, is in need of rachamei Shomayim after his condition has taken a turn for the worse. The rosh yeshiva is in the hospital under the close watch of a team pf physicians.
The 87-year-old venerated rosh yeshiva is a native of the United States, where he learned at Beth Medrash Govoha under Rav Aharon Kotler.
He is the son-in-law of Rav Mordechai Shulman, whom he succeeded as Rosh Yeshiva in Yeshivas Slabodka. Rav Shulman was a son-in-law of Rav Eizik Sher, who was a son-in-law of the Alter of Slabodka.
Rav Moshe Hillel is one of the prime addresses for hadracha in the greater Olam HaTorah and Olam Hayeshivos.
All are asked to daven for Rav Moshe Hillel ben Mindel.
{Matzav.com Israel}
All are asked to daven for Rebbetzin Yocheved Paler, who was hit by a vehicle together with her daughter in Lakewood, NJ and was hospitalized.
Rebbetzin Paler is the wife of the late Rav Yitzchok Paler zt”l, rosh yeshiva of Yeshiva Mekor Chaim in Lakewood, NJ, who was niftar about five years ago.
The Rebbetzin is a daughter of Rav Gavriel Ginsburg zt”l, rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Ner Yisroel of Toronto. She is a noted mechaneches and a beloved teacher at Shiras Devorah High School in Lakewood.
The accident happened Friday night at River Avenue and Chestnut Street in Lakewood as mother and daughter were walking. Both were takne to Jershey Shore Medical Center in Neptune.
{Matzav.com}
It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of Rebbetzin Denah Weinberg a”h.
Rebbetzin Weinberg was the wife of Rav Noach Weinberg, founder of Yeshivas Aish HaTorah and legendary mekarev.
She was the founder and dean of EYAHT College of Jewish Studies for Women in Yerushalayim.
Rebbetzin Weinberg was born in Far Rockaway, New York, a daughter of Albert and Esther Goldman. Albert was the youngest of eight children of Rabbi Yaakov Yitzchok Goldman, rov of Congregation Ohave Shalom in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, and his wife, Dina.
Rebbetzin Weinberg married Rev Noach in New York in February 1958. They lived in Yerushalayim, , where they raised 8 sons and 4 daughters.
After giving weekly classes to women in her Kiryat Sanz apartment for several years, in 1984, with seed money from Aish HaTorah, she opened the EYAHT college in two ground-floor apartments located across the street from her home. She named the college “EYAHT” (א.י.ה.ת.) by creating an acronym for the phrase, אשה יראת ה’ היא תתהלל.
Rebbetzin Weinberg taught The 48 Ways to Wisdom, a curriculum developed by her husband based on Pirkei Avos. She also taught a curriculum on the beauty and meaning of Shabbos, which she developed. She placed a strong emphasis on the role of the Jewish woman in her family and community, with special classes on shalom bayis and chinuch habanim.
Rav Weinberg was a leader and visionary par excellence. Every fiber of his being was animated by the reality of the Ribono Shel Olam and the truth of Torah. He lived with the awareness of Hakadosh Boruch Hu, His infinite love and awesomeness, and the power of Torah to instruct us on how to live a most meaningful life.
Rebbetzin Weinberg passionately believed in the greatness of every human being, and she exuded genuine love and concern for every Jew, and was a beloved mother to thousands.
Rebbetzin Weinberg dedicated her life to supporting her husband’s effort of bringing a renaissance within Jewish people, to reach out to every Jew and reconnect him to the depth and meaning of our heritage. Rebbetzin Weinberg helped Rav Weinberg undertake the task to galvanize the Jewish people and inspire people to live up to their mission and be mekadeish sheim Shomayim.
Rebbetzin Weinberg lived with the attitude, like her husband, that if masses of Jews are assimilating, it’s our responsibility to bring each and every one back. We must meet the challenges facing us head on and do whatever we can to remedy the situation.
WATCH THE LEVAYAH LIVE HERE:
Yehi zichrah boruch.
{Matzav.com Israel}
Rabbi Avraham Noach Paley was seriously injured in the terror attack in Ramot that claimed the lives of his two beloved sons.
Reb Avraham Noach hovered between life and death as his health condition was precarious.
But then, with the tefillos of Klal Yisroel, he began to improve, opening his eyes and making a miraculous recovery.
He still has a way to go, but he’s getting there as the tefillos continue.
And this morning, at a family bris held at Hadassah Ein Kerem Medical Center, R’ Avraham Noach served as sandek, an incredible development in light of all that has occurred.
{Matzav.com Israel}
עלייה לציון מרן הגר”ח קנייבסקי זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררעלייה לציון מרן הגר”ח קנייבסקי זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררעלייה לציון מרן הגר”ח קנייבסקי זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררעלייה לציון מרן הגר”ח קנייבסקי זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררעלייה לציון מרן הגר”ח קנייבסקי זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררעלייה לציון מרן הגר”ח קנייבסקי זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררעלייה לציון מרן הגר”ח קנייבסקי זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררעלייה לציון מרן הגר”ח קנייבסקי זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררעלייה לציון מרן הגר”ח קנייבסקי זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררעלייה לציון מרן הגר”ח קנייבסקי זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררעלייה לציון מרן הגר”ח קנייבסקי זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררעלייה לציון מרן הגר”ח קנייבסקי זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררעלייה לציון מרן הגר”ח קנייבסקי זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררעלייה לציון מרן הגר”ח קנייבסקי זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררעלייה לציון מרן הגר”ח קנייבסקי זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררעלייה לציון מרן הגר”ח קנייבסקי זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררעלייה לציון מרן הגר”ח קנייבסקי זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררעלייה לציון מרן הגר”ח קנייבסקי זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררעלייה לציון מרן הגר”ח קנייבסקי זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררעלייה לציון מרן הגר”ח קנייבסקי זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררעלייה לציון מרן הגר”ח קנייבסקי זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררעלייה לציון מרן הגר”ח קנייבסקי זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררעלייה לציון מרן הגר”ח קנייבסקי זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררעלייה לציון מרן הגר”ח קנייבסקי זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררעלייה לציון מרן הגר”ח קנייבסקי זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררעלייה לציון מרן הגר”ח קנייבסקי זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררעלייה לציון מרן הגר”ח קנייבסקי זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררעלייה לציון מרן הגר”ח קנייבסקי זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררעלייה לציון מרן הגר”ח קנייבסקי זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררעלייה לציון מרן הגר”ח קנייבסקי זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררעלייה לציון מרן הגר”ח קנייבסקי זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררעלייה לציון מרן הגר”ח קנייבסקי זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררעלייה לציון מרן הגר”ח קנייבסקי זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררעלייה לציון מרן הגר”ח קנייבסקי זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררעלייה לציון מרן הגר”ח קנייבסקי זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררעלייה לציון מרן הגר”ח קנייבסקי זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררעלייה לציון מרן הגר”ח קנייבסקי זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררעלייה לציון מרן הגר”ח קנייבסקי זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררעלייה לציון מרן הגר”ח קנייבסקי זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררעלייה לציון מרן הגר”ח קנייבסקי זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררעלייה לציון מרן הגר”ח קנייבסקי זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררעלייה לציון מרן הגר”ח קנייבסקי זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררעלייה לציון מרן הגר”ח קנייבסקי זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררעלייה לציון מרן הגר”ח קנייבסקי זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררעלייה לציון מרן הגר”ח קנייבסקי זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררעלייה לציון מרן הגר”ח קנייבסקי זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררעלייה לציון מרן הגר”ח קנייבסקי זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררעלייה לציון מרן הגר”ח קנייבסקי זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררעלייה לציון מרן הגר”ח קנייבסקי זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררעלייה לציון מרן הגר”ח קנייבסקי זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררעלייה לציון מרן הגר”ח קנייבסקי זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררעלייה לציון מרן הגר”ח קנייבסקי זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררעלייה לציון מרן הגר”ח קנייבסקי זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררעלייה לציון מרן הגר”ח קנייבסקי זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררעלייה לציון מרן הגר”ח קנייבסקי זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררעלייה לציון מרן הגר”ח קנייבסקי זצ”לצילום: שוקי לררעלייה לציון מרן הגר”ח קנייבסקי זצ”לצילום: שוקי לרר
פורים תשפ”ג בחצר גורצילום: שוקי לררפורים תשפ”ג בחצר גורצילום: שוקי לררפורים תשפ”ג בחצר גורצילום: שוקי לררפורים תשפ”ג בחצר גורצילום: שוקי לררפורים תשפ”ג בחצר גורצילום: שוקי לררפורים תשפ”ג בחצר גורצילום: שוקי לררפורים תשפ”ג בחצר גורצילום: שוקי לררפורים תשפ”ג בחצר גורצילום: שוקי לררפורים תשפ”ג בחצר גורצילום: שוקי לררפורים תשפ”ג בחצר גורצילום: שוקי לררפורים תשפ”ג בחצר גורצילום: שוקי לררפורים תשפ”ג בחצר גורצילום: שוקי לררפורים תשפ”ג בחצר גורצילום: שוקי לררפורים תשפ”ג בחצר גורצילום: שוקי לררפורים תשפ”ג בחצר גורצילום: שוקי לררפורים תשפ”ג בחצר גורצילום: שוקי לררפורים תשפ”ג בחצר גורצילום: שוקי לררפורים תשפ”ג בחצר גורצילום: שוקי לררפורים תשפ”ג בחצר גורצילום: שוקי לררפורים תשפ”ג בחצר גורצילום: שוקי לררפורים תשפ”ג בחצר גורצילום: שוקי לררפורים תשפ”ג בחצר גורצילום: שוקי לררפורים תשפ”ג בחצר גורצילום: שוקי לררפורים תשפ”ג בחצר גורצילום: שוקי לררפורים תשפ”ג בחצר גורצילום: שוקי לררפורים תשפ”ג בחצר גורצילום: שוקי לררפורים תשפ”ג בחצר גורצילום: שוקי לרר
Rav Moshe Sternbuch, raavad of the Eidah Hachareidis, decried a phenomenon that has become popular with bochurim walking around on Purim in secular clothes and other such attire.
“There are yeshiva boys who dress on Purim like seculars on the street. It is muktzah machmas mius (disgusting) to look at them. I can’t look at them like that. They look like gentiles or secular people; they aren’t recognizable as yeshiva boys.”
“You need to know that clothing affects a person’s nefesh,” he added.
“The fact that there are those who dress in these clothes is a big concern, and one must be very careful not to dress in clothes like that…
“On the other hand, it is a true Kiddush Hashem if you see a yeshiva boy who dresses and behaves like a ben Torah on Purim… As Chazal say: אשרי אביו שלמדו תורה ואשרי רבו שלמדו תורה.”
{Matzav.com Israel}
הגרמ”צ ברגמן בשיחה בישיבת מירצילום: שלומי טריכטר ואיציק ו.הגרמ”צ ברגמן בשיחה בישיבת מירצילום: שלומי טריכטר ואיציק ו.הגרמ”צ ברגמן בשיחה בישיבת מירצילום: שלומי טריכטר ואיציק ו.הגרמ”צ ברגמן בשיחה בישיבת מירצילום: שלומי טריכטר ואיציק ו.הגרמ”צ ברגמן בשיחה בישיבת מירצילום: שלומי טריכטר ואיציק ו.הגרמ”צ ברגמן בשיחה בישיבת מירצילום: שלומי טריכטר ואיציק ו.הגרמ”צ ברגמן בשיחה בישיבת מירצילום: שלומי טריכטר ואיציק ו.הגרמ”צ ברגמן בשיחה בישיבת מירצילום: שלומי טריכטר ואיציק ו.הגרמ”צ ברגמן בשיחה בישיבת מירצילום: שלומי טריכטר ואיציק ו.הגרמ”צ ברגמן בשיחה בישיבת מירצילום: שלומי טריכטר ואיציק ו.הגרמ”צ ברגמן בשיחה בישיבת מירצילום: שלומי טריכטר ואיציק ו.הגרמ”צ ברגמן בשיחה בישיבת מירצילום: שלומי טריכטר ואיציק ו.הגרמ”צ ברגמן בשיחה בישיבת מירצילום: שלומי טריכטר ואיציק ו.הגרמ”צ ברגמן בשיחה בישיבת מירצילום: שלומי טריכטר ואיציק ו.הגרמ”צ ברגמן בשיחה בישיבת מירצילום: שלומי טריכטר ואיציק ו.הגרמ”צ ברגמן בשיחה בישיבת מירצילום: שלומי טריכטר ואיציק ו.הגרמ”צ ברגמן בשיחה בישיבת מירצילום: שלומי טריכטר ואיציק ו.הגרמ”צ ברגמן בשיחה בישיבת מירצילום: שלומי טריכטר ואיציק ו.הגרמ”צ ברגמן בשיחה בישיבת מירצילום: שלומי טריכטר ואיציק ו.הגרמ”צ ברגמן בשיחה בישיבת מירצילום: שלומי טריכטר ואיציק ו.הגרמ”צ ברגמן בשיחה בישיבת מירצילום: שלומי טריכטר ואיציק ו.הגרמ”צ ברגמן בשיחה בישיבת מירצילום: שלומי טריכטר ואיציק ו.הגרמ”צ ברגמן בשיחה בישיבת מירצילום: שלומי טריכטר ואיציק ו.הגרמ”צ ברגמן בשיחה בישיבת מירצילום: שלומי טריכטר ואיציק ו.הגרמ”צ ברגמן בשיחה בישיבת מירצילום: שלומי טריכטר ואיציק ו.הגרמ”צ ברגמן בשיחה בישיבת מירצילום: שלומי טריכטר ואיציק ו.
On Thursday, Matzav.com reported on the fire in Phoenix, Arizona that claimed the lives of R’ Shimone Boyer z”l and his sons, Nachman z”l, 8, and Dov Ber z”l, 7.
Firefighters found the townhome full of smoke with flames coming from the windows after arriving at the scene near 35th and Northern Avenues at 11 p.m. R’ Shimon and four of his children – three sons and one daughter – were found by firefighters after they extinguished the flames.
While fire rescue was able to resuscitate the two older children, Tamar, 11, and Shevach 9, both were in extremely critical condition and were placed on life support at the hospital while the doctors did everything they could to save their lives.
Now, we are pained to report that first Tamar and then Shevach breathed their last as their uncle Steve Boyer held their hands in the pediatric ICU.
The levayah is being held today at Beth Israel Cemetery.
Umacha Hashem dimah me’al kol ponim.
{Matzav.com}
It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of Rav Dovid Bussu zt”l, the Baba Sali’s son-in-law, husband of Rabbanit Avigayil, the Baba Sali’s oldest daughter. He was 92. The levayah was held at Bais Medrash Maor Yisroel in Givat Shaul, Yerushalayim.
PHOTOS:
הלווית הגה”צ רבי דוד בוסו זצ”לצילום: איציק ו.הלווית הגה”צ רבי דוד בוסו זצ”לצילום: איציק ו.הלווית הגה”צ רבי דוד בוסו זצ”לצילום: איציק ו.הלווית הגה”צ רבי דוד בוסו זצ”לצילום: איציק ו.הלווית הגה”צ רבי דוד בוסו זצ”לצילום: איציק ו.הלווית הגה”צ רבי דוד בוסו זצ”לצילום: איציק ו.הלווית הגה”צ רבי דוד בוסו זצ”לצילום: איציק ו.הלווית הגה”צ רבי דוד בוסו זצ”לצילום: איציק ו.הלווית הגה”צ רבי דוד בוסו זצ”לצילום: איציק ו.הלווית הגה”צ רבי דוד בוסו זצ”לצילום: איציק ו.הלווית הגה”צ רבי דוד בוסו זצ”לצילום: איציק ו.הלווית הגה”צ רבי דוד בוסו זצ”לצילום: איציק ו.הלווית הגה”צ רבי דוד בוסו זצ”לצילום: איציק ו.הלווית הגה”צ רבי דוד בוסו זצ”לצילום: איציק ו.הלווית הגה”צ רבי דוד בוסו זצ”לצילום: איציק ו.הלווית הגה”צ רבי דוד בוסו זצ”לצילום: איציק ו.הלווית הגה”צ רבי דוד בוסו זצ”לצילום: איציק ו.הלווית הגה”צ רבי דוד בוסו זצ”לצילום: איציק ו.הלווית הגה”צ רבי דוד בוסו זצ”לצילום: איציק ו.הלווית הגה”צ רבי דוד בוסו זצ”לצילום: איציק ו.הלווית הגה”צ רבי דוד בוסו זצ”לצילום: איציק ו.הלווית הגה”צ רבי דוד בוסו זצ”לצילום: איציק ו.הלווית הגה”צ רבי דוד בוסו זצ”לצילום: איציק ו.הלווית הגה”צ רבי דוד בוסו זצ”לצילום: איציק ו.הלווית הגה”צ רבי דוד בוסו זצ”לצילום: איציק ו.הלווית הגה”צ רבי דוד בוסו זצ”לצילום: איציק ו.הלווית הגה”צ רבי דוד בוסו זצ”לצילום: איציק ו.הלווית הגה”צ רבי דוד בוסו זצ”לצילום: איציק ו.הלווית הגה”צ רבי דוד בוסו זצ”לצילום: איציק ו.הלווית הגה”צ רבי דוד בוסו זצ”לצילום: איציק ו.הלווית הגה”צ רבי דוד בוסו זצ”לצילום: איציק ו.הלווית הגה”צ רבי דוד בוסו זצ”לצילום: איציק ו.הלווית הגה”צ רבי דוד בוסו זצ”לצילום: איציק ו.הלווית הגה”צ רבי דוד בוסו זצ”לצילום: איציק ו.הלווית הגה”צ רבי דוד בוסו זצ”לצילום: איציק ו.הלווית הגה”צ רבי דוד בוסו זצ”לצילום: איציק ו.הלווית הגה”צ רבי דוד בוסו זצ”לצילום: איציק ו.הלווית הגה”צ רבי דוד בוסו זצ”לצילום: איציק ו.הלווית הגה”צ רבי דוד בוסו זצ”לצילום: איציק ו.הלווית הגה”צ רבי דוד בוסו זצ”לצילום: איציק ו.הלווית הגה”צ רבי דוד בוסו זצ”לצילום: איציק ו.הלווית הגה”צ רבי דוד בוסו זצ”לצילום: איציק ו.הלווית הגה”צ רבי דוד בוסו זצ”לצילום: איציק ו.הלווית הגה”צ רבי דוד בוסו זצ”לצילום: איציק ו.הלווית הגה”צ רבי דוד בוסו זצ”לצילום: איציק ו.הלווית הגה”צ רבי דוד בוסו זצ”לצילום: איציק ו.הלווית הגה”צ רבי דוד בוסו זצ”לצילום: איציק ו.
Three people perished in a late-night residential fire in Phoenix, Arizona last night.
The fire claimed the lives of R’ Shimon Boyer z”l and his sons, Nachman z”l, and Dov Ber z”l.
Firefighters found the townhome full of smoke with flames coming from the windows after arriving at the scene near 35th and Northern avenuesat 11 p.m. last night.
R’ Shimon and four of his children – three sons and one daugter – were found by firefighters after they extinguished the flames. As mentioned, two of the children passed away at the hospital. The other two are in critical condition.
Umacha Hashem dimah me’al kol ponim.
{Matzav.com}
It was heartbreaking.
R’ Avraham Noach Paley, father of Asher Menachem and Yaakov Yisrael Paley, the eight and six-year old brothers who were killed in a terrorist ramming attack in Ramot, Yerushalayim, almost three weeks ago, was finally told about the deaths of his children.
The 42-year-old father was seriously hurt in the attack and was unconscious till a few days ago.
His wife Devora told him about the tragic loss of his two sons as the staff at Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital looked on.
R’ Avraham burst into tears and said, “Baruch Dayan Ha’emes,” and added, “Hashem did this because of my aveiros.”
{Matzav.com Israel}
In a letter written in the days leading up to Purim, Maran Rav Gershon Edelstein, Rosh Yeshivas Ponovezh, urges the public to strengthen their Torah learning and to be careful not to harm another.
“The days of Purim are dedicated to much love and brotherhood, and sending portions of food to each other,” Rav Gershon wrote. “Therefore, on these days, one must be extremely careful regarding the conduct between a person and his friend, and G-d forbid not to cause pain or discomfort to another.”
Rav Gershon ends his letter by stating, “May it be that thanks to the strengthening of Torah and middos tovos, may we and the entire House of Yisroel be blessed with good news, salvation and comfort, just as our ancestors were blessed in those days at this time.”
{Matzav.com Israel}
A massive levayah was held for the Sifrei Torah that were burned in a blaze at the Satmar Bais Medrash in Geulah, Yerushalayim.
The firemen saved various Sifrei Torah and pairs of tefillin, but tragically, two Sifrei Torah were severely damaged by the conflagaration.
הלווית ספרי התורה בסאטמרצילום: דוד ארזני ושלומי טריכטרהלווית ספרי התורה בסאטמרצילום: דוד ארזני ושלומי טריכטרהלווית ספרי התורה בסאטמרצילום: דוד ארזני ושלומי טריכטרהלווית ספרי התורה בסאטמרצילום: דוד ארזני ושלומי טריכטרהלווית ספרי התורה בסאטמרצילום: דוד ארזני ושלומי טריכטרהלווית ספרי התורה בסאטמרצילום: דוד ארזני ושלומי טריכטרהלווית ספרי התורה בסאטמרצילום: דוד ארזני ושלומי טריכטרהלווית ספרי התורה בסאטמרצילום: דוד ארזני ושלומי טריכטרהלווית ספרי התורה בסאטמרצילום: דוד ארזני ושלומי טריכטרהלווית ספרי התורה בסאטמרצילום: דוד ארזני ושלומי טריכטרהלווית ספרי התורה בסאטמרצילום: דוד ארזני ושלומי טריכטרהלווית ספרי התורה בסאטמרצילום: דוד ארזני ושלומי טריכטרהלווית ספרי התורה בסאטמרצילום: דוד ארזני ושלומי טריכטרהלווית ספרי התורה בסאטמרצילום: דוד ארזני ושלומי טריכטרהלווית ספרי התורה בסאטמרצילום: דוד ארזני ושלומי טריכטרהלווית ספרי התורה בסאטמרצילום: דוד ארזני ושלומי טריכטרהלווית ספרי התורה בסאטמרצילום: דוד ארזני ושלומי טריכטרהלווית ספרי התורה בסאטמרצילום: דוד ארזני ושלומי טריכטרהלווית ספרי התורה בסאטמרצילום: דוד ארזני ושלומי טריכטרהלווית ספרי התורה בסאטמרצילום: דוד ארזני ושלומי טריכטרהלווית ספרי התורה בסאטמרצילום: דוד ארזני ושלומי טריכטרהלווית ספרי התורה בסאטמרצילום: דוד ארזני ושלומי טריכטרהלווית ספרי התורה בסאטמרצילום: דוד ארזני ושלומי טריכטרהלווית ספרי התורה בסאטמרצילום: דוד ארזני ושלומי טריכטרהלווית ספרי התורה בסאטמרצילום: דוד ארזני ושלומי טריכטרהלווית ספרי התורה בסאטמרצילום: דוד ארזני ושלומי טריכטרהלווית ספרי התורה בסאטמרצילום: דוד ארזני ושלומי טריכטרהלווית ספרי התורה בסאטמרצילום: דוד ארזני ושלומי טריכטרהלווית ספרי התורה בסאטמרצילום: דוד ארזני ושלומי טריכטרהלווית ספרי התורה בסאטמרצילום: דוד ארזני ושלומי טריכטרהלווית ספרי התורה בסאטמרצילום: דוד ארזני ושלומי טריכטרהלווית ספרי התורה בסאטמרצילום: דוד ארזני ושלומי טריכטרהלווית ספרי התורה בסאטמרצילום: דוד ארזני ושלומי טריכטרהלווית ספרי התורה בסאטמרצילום: דוד ארזני ושלומי טריכטרהלווית ספרי התורה בסאטמרצילום: דוד ארזני ושלומי טריכטרהלווית ספרי התורה בסאטמרצילום: דוד ארזני ושלומי טריכטרהלווית ספרי התורה בסאטמרצילום: דוד ארזני ושלומי טריכטרהלווית ספרי התורה בסאטמרצילום: דוד ארזני ושלומי טריכטרהלווית ספרי התורה בסאטמרצילום: דוד ארזני ושלומי טריכטרהלווית ספרי התורה בסאטמרצילום: דוד ארזני ושלומי טריכטרהלווית ספרי התורה בסאטמרצילום: דוד ארזני ושלומי טריכטרהלווית ספרי התורה בסאטמרצילום: דוד ארזני ושלומי טריכטרהלווית ספרי התורה בסאטמרצילום: דוד ארזני ושלומי טריכטרהלווית ספרי התורה בסאטמרצילום: דוד ארזני ושלומי טריכטרהלווית ספרי התורה בסאטמרצילום: דוד ארזני ושלומי טריכטרהלווית ספרי התורה בסאטמרצילום: דוד ארזני ושלומי טריכטרהלווית ספרי התורה בסאטמרצילום: דוד ארזני ושלומי טריכטרהלווית ספרי התורה בסאטמרצילום: דוד ארזני ושלומי טריכטרהלווית ספרי התורה בסאטמרצילום: דוד ארזני ושלומי טריכטרהלווית ספרי התורה בסאטמרצילום: דוד ארזני ושלומי טריכטרהלווית ספרי התורה בסאטמרצילום: דוד ארזני ושלומי טריכטרהלווית ספרי התורה בסאטמרצילום: דוד ארזני ושלומי טריכטרהלווית ספרי התורה בסאטמרצילום: דוד ארזני ושלומי טריכטרהלווית ספרי התורה בסאטמרצילום: דוד ארזני ושלומי טריכטרהלווית ספרי התורה בסאטמרצילום: דוד ארזני ושלומי טריכטרהלווית ספרי 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התורה בסאטמרצילום: דוד ארזני ושלומי טריכטרהלווית ספרי התורה בסאטמרצילום: דוד ארזני ושלומי טריכטרהלווית ספרי התורה בסאטמרצילום: דוד ארזני ושלומי טריכטרהלווית ספרי התורה בסאטמרצילום: דוד ארזני ושלומי טריכטרהלווית ספרי התורה בסאטמרצילום: דוד ארזני ושלומי טריכטרהלווית ספרי התורה בסאטמרצילום: דוד ארזני ושלומי טריכטרהלווית ספרי התורה בסאטמרצילום: דוד ארזני ושלומי טריכטרהלווית ספרי התורה בסאטמרצילום: דוד ארזני ושלומי טריכטרהלווית ספרי התורה בסאטמרצילום: דוד ארזני ושלומי טריכטרהלווית ספרי התורה בסאטמרצילום: דוד ארזני ושלומי טריכטרהלווית ספרי התורה בסאטמרצילום: דוד ארזני ושלומי טריכטרהלווית ספרי התורה בסאטמרצילום: דוד ארזני ושלומי טריכטרהלווית ספרי התורה בסאטמרצילום: דוד ארזני ושלומי טריכטרהלווית ספרי התורה בסאטמרצילום: דוד ארזני ושלומי טריכטרהלווית ספרי התורה בסאטמרצילום: דוד ארזני ושלומי טריכטרהלווית ספרי התורה בסאטמרצילום: דוד ארזני ושלומי טריכטר
It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of Rav Avrohom Eliezer Kviat zt”l. He was 72.
Rav Kviat was a R”M at Yeshiva Tiferes Shmuel-Aleksander in Boro Park and the mara d’asra of Agudas Yisroel of 18th Avenue in Boro Park.
Rav Kivat was a son of Rav Dovid Kviat zt”l, the author of Sukkas Dovid who was a R”M for years at Mirrer Yeshiva and the mara d’asra of Agudas Yisroel of 18th Avenue.
Rav Avrohom Eliezer was an outstanding talmid chochom who inspired hundreds of bnei Torah over the years, raising them to new heights in aliyah baTorah. His sterling character and his care for every individual impacted his talmidim and mispallelim alike.
With the support of his wife, Rebbetzin Baila, nee Friedman, Rav Avrohom Eliezer spent his life immersed in limud and harbotzas haTorah.
He became the rov of Agudas Yisroel of 18th Avenue following his father’s petirah.
The levayag is being held at the Agudas Yisroel of 18th Avenue.
Yehi zichro boruch.
{Matzav.com}
A pair of pants that belonged to Maran Hagaon Rav Chaim Kanievsky zt”l were put up for auction before being swiftly taken down.
The auction was set to launch March 1, with the opening bid set at $3,200.
“Pants that belonged to…Rav Chaim Kaniesvky…and worn by him for a long time,” the auction listing read.
The authenticity of the pants was confirmed by the family, specifically a grandson, R’ Gedaliah Honigsberg, but Prime Judaica—the Lakewood auction house selling the pants—pulled the item, ostensibly due to flack received from those who felt that the auction was a bizayon to the gadol hador.
Good news emerged from the Hadassah Ein Kerem hospital in Yerushalayim, where Rabbi Avraham Noach ben Yehudis Paley, who was seriously injured in the terror attack that claimed the lives of his two sons, opened his eyes several times on Shabbos.
Rabbi Paley is said to be starting the process of recovery and rehabilitation after an operation that took place on Thursday. According to the family, it is a long process that will take more time. But the fact that he opened his eyes has been called “miraculous.”
The family emphasizes that “he still needs a lot of prayers from all of us. That’s why we ask that tefillos continue until his complete recovery.”
His two sons, Asher Menachem and Yaakov Yisroel Paley were killed on that Erev Shabbos as the family was en route to Bnei Brak.
Rabbi Paley, it is related, does not yet know what happened in the tragic incident.
{Matzav.com Israel}
A huge fire broke out at the Satmar Bais Medrash in Yerushalayim. For hours, firefighters worked to gain control of the fire that destroyed the bais medrash in the Geula neighborhood.
There were no casualties, but the mythological structure suffered major damage.
It is not yet clear what caused the fire to break out.
The firemen saved Sifrei Torah and pairs of tefillin that were in the bais medrash, but at least two Sifrei Torah were damaged by the fire, though not completely burned.
At around 4:30 a.m., a report was received of a fire at the bais medrash. 9 firefighting teams and a crane arrived at the scene to perform extinguishing operations. The fire spread to two other buildings adjacent to the bais medrash, including a Talmud Torah. The buildings were in danger of collapsing and therefore the extinguishing operations were carried out with utmost care.
According to once source, 8 Sifrei Torah were rescued.
{Matzav.com Israel}
Rav Yitzchok Zilberstein, rov of Ramat Elchonon, commented in sharp words on the question of carrying weapons in order to defend against an attack.
Recorded in Vavei Ha’amudim, Rav Zilberstein was asked a member of a Bnei Brak kollel, who in light of the security situation, is afraid to be in shul on Shabbos with his children, since there is not a single person in the shul with a weapon. He inquired about the possibility of obtaining weapons from the police for Shabbos and Yom Tov. The man would volunteer for the community watch of Bnei Brak for a number of hours a month driving around in certain places, and by doing so, he would get a license to carry a weapon. This would be at night and not at the expense of hours at his kollel.
Rav Zilberstein replied, “It is a shame that even among the Torah community, there are some who do not know enough about the importance of their Torah learning and do not believe enough how much the Torah protects Klal Yisroel.”
“A person who studies Torah, he should know that when he studies, he spreads over himself and over his entire city the protection of Torah, and this saves from all evil. As Chazal say in the Gemara in Sotah, Torah magna umatzla.”
“We have a mitzvah to make hishtadlus, and we are forbidden to go to a place of danger…but is this the hishtadlus that Hashem wants from us? …Certainly not. This is not the desired approach… On the contrary, when there are terrorist attacks, Hashem hints to us that we must strengthen ourselves in Torah… Hashem does not bring terrorist attacks to imply to us that we should take up weapons…”
{Matzav.com Israel}
The community of Sanz in Netanyahu received a dramatic message on the internal phone line of the Chassidus:
The Samchem organization that brings together shidduchim has committed to a shadchanus of NIS 16,000 for shadchanim who will make shidduchim for boys and girls in the Chassidus who are older than age 24.
{Matzav.com Israel}
A special gathering was held at the Mir Yeshiva in Yerushalayim on the occasion of the publication of the new Haggadah Shel Pesach Meshulchan Rav Eliyahu Boruch from the teachings and writings of Rav Eliyahu Boruch Finkel zt”l.
הוצאת הספר בישיבת מירצילום: באדיבות המצלםהוצאת הספר בישיבת מירצילום: באדיבות המצלםהוצאת הספר בישיבת מירצילום: באדיבות המצלםהוצאת הספר בישיבת מירצילום: באדיבות המצלםהוצאת הספר בישיבת מירצילום: באדיבות המצלםהוצאת הספר בישיבת מירצילום: באדיבות המצלםהוצאת הספר בישיבת מירצילום: באדיבות המצלםהוצאת הספר בישיבת מירצילום: באדיבות המצלםהוצאת הספר בישיבת מירצילום: באדיבות המצלםהוצאת הספר בישיבת מירצילום: באדיבות המצלםהוצאת הספר בישיבת מירצילום: באדיבות המצלםהוצאת הספר בישיבת מירצילום: באדיבות המצלםהוצאת הספר בישיבת מירצילום: באדיבות המצלםהוצאת הספר בישיבת מירצילום: באדיבות המצלםהוצאת הספר בישיבת מירצילום: באדיבות המצלםהוצאת הספר בישיבת מירצילום: באדיבות המצלםהוצאת הספר בישיבת מירצילום: באדיבות המצלםהוצאת הספר בישיבת מירצילום: באדיבות המצלםהוצאת הספר בישיבת מירצילום: באדיבות המצלםהוצאת הספר בישיבת מירצילום: באדיבות המצלםהוצאת הספר בישיבת מירצילום: באדיבות המצלם
The ‘chametz law’ proposed by MK Moshe Gafni (United Torah Judaism) passed its first reading in the Knesset on Wednesday. The bill was approved by a vote of 60-49.
Arutz Sheva reports that the bill is meant to restore the status quo which existed before 2018, when security guards had the authority to prevent people from bringing chametz into hospitals during Pesach. In 2018, the Supreme Court ruled that the ban on bringing chametz into hospitals over Pesach assover was illegal.
Last year, former coalition chairwoman Idit Silman resigned from the previous government, preventing it from having a 61-seat-majority, over then-Health Minister Nitzan Horowitz’s efforts to order hospitals to allow chametz into hospitals during Pesach. Silman’s resignation and the loss of the coalition’s majority ultimately led to the government’s collapse and the November 2022 elections in which the current government was elected.
The bill under consideration would anchor the previous restrictions in law and stipulate that hospitals cannot permit chametz to be brought onto their premises during Pesach and continue to present themselves as kosher.
It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of Rav Yosef Chaim Kopschitz zt”l, rosh yeshiva of Yeshiva Porat Yosef in the Old City of Yerushalayim. He was 88.
Rav Kopschitz had recently been taken to Shaarei Tzedek Hospital, where his condition was described as “very serious.”
Rav Kopschitz served as a rov of the Neve Tzvi neighborhood in Yerushalayim and a member of the vaad haruchni of the Israeli Yated Ne’eman.
Yehi zichro boruch.
{Matzav.com Israel}
It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of the Chuster Rov, Rav Shmuel Shmelke Leifer zt”l of Boro Park.
A son of Rav Aharon Moshe Leifer of Chust, Rav Shmelke, as a bochur, was meshameish his zaide, the Skolya Rebbe. In his younger years, he learned at Yeshivas Ger.
The rov subsequently opened his own yeshiva, Toras Chesed.
For many years, the rov served as a rav hamachshir of various food establishments in Boro Park.
The levayah will be held on Monday morning, at 10 a.m., t the Chust Bais Medrash, located at 5506-16th Avenue in Boro Park. Kevurah will follow at the Har Shalom Cemetery in Airmont, NY.
Yehi zichro boruch.
{Matzav.com}
At a dinner to benefit Mosdos Satmar in Boro Park held last night, attendees were informed that the Satmar kehillah led by Rav Zalman Leib Teitelbaum has formally entered into contract to purchase the iconic Yeshiva Torah Temimah building in Kensington for use by the Satmar Talmud Torah.
After the installation of a new board at Torah Temimah just five years ago, the administration of the Yeshiva Gedolah and its affiliated real estate has been under the auspices of the family of the late rosh hayeshiva, Rav Lipa Margulies zt”l. The Bais Medrash/Yeshiva Gedolah program then relocated to Staten Island, while Satmar leased the site at the corner of Ditmas Avenue and Ocean Parkway. The original 555 Torah Temimah building currently houses the preschool thru mesivta and is flourishing under an invigorated leadership and hanhala.
Now, Satmar has formally announced that it is under contract to purchase that building for an estimated $20 million.
The five-story building was in immaculate condition when Satmar began its lease several years ago, housing a beautiful large bais medrash, two auxiliary botei medrash, classrooms, and more, with a spacious dining room and the basement level.
Providing Satmar with the seed money for the building purchase is Reb Lipa Friedman, a son of the famed Satmar gabbai Reb Moshe Friedman. The building will thus be renamed “The Lipa Friedman Building.”
{Matzav.com}
In honor of the 97th birthday of Rav Moshe Shternbuch, Raavad of the Badatz of the Eidah Hachareidis, a large group of kohanim from Chevron Yeshiva and the Toldos Aharon Chassidus gathered at Rav Shternbuch’s home in Har Nof to bentch Rav Shternbuch with Birkas Kohanim.
The gathered was orchestrated by Rav Avrohom Yeshayahu Stern. (Sparks of a Nation)
WATCH:
Hershy Schwartz, a young man who was engaged to be married in ten days, was murdered in a horrific robbery in North Miami Beach, Florida on Motzoei Shabbos. He was just 40 years old.
Hershy, a resident of North Miami Beach, was an active member of Chesed Shel Emes of Florida.
He was found this morning in his car after being shot in what appears to be an armed robbery, police said.
Hershy was beloved by all and a dedicated volunteer, the members of Chesed Shel Emes of Florida said. “We have lost one of our best. We will work together with the police department to bring the perpetrators of the crime to justice,” said Mark Rosenberg, head of Chesed shel Emes Florida.
Hershy was engaged to be married to Rosie Brustowsky, a daughter of Rav Aaron and Mrs Miriam Brustowsky, renowned longtime mechanech. The wedding was to be held in Lakewood in two weeks.
Levayah details will be provided once they are finalized.
Umachah Hashem dimah me’al kol ponim.
{Matzav.com}
Rav Yitzchok Zilberstein, rov of Ramat Elchonon, sent a moving letter of condolence to the Paley family following the murder of the two Paley boys in Yerushalayim.
The boys’ zaide, Rav Paley, lives in Ramat Elchonon.
“After the terrible disaster in which Asher Menachem and Yaakov Yisroel were killed … the sorrow and grief are great, but we must remind ourselves that very soon there will be resurrection of the dead (techias hameisim), and you will be reunited with them soon with the coming of Moshiach.”
The letter concludes with words of consolation and a bracha for the refuah of the father, R’ Avrohom Noach ben Yehudis.
{Matzav.com Israel}
All are asked to daven for Rav Yosef Chaim Kopschitz, rosh yeshiva of Yeshiva Porat Yosef in the Old City of Yerushalayim, who is in need of rachamei Shomayim after his health condition deteriorated.
Rav Kopschitz was taken to Shaarei Tzedek Hospital, where his condition is described as “very serious.”
The 88-year-old rosh yeshiva serves as one of the rabbonim of the Neve Tzvi neighborhood in Yerushalayim and serves as a member of the vaad haruchni of the Israeli Yated Ne’eman.
Al are asked to daven for Rav Yosef Chaim ben Chaya Ruchama.
{Matzav.com Israel}
חלק ראשון מביקורו של הרבי מבאבוב בלונדוןצילום: באדיבות המצלםחלק ראשון מביקורו של הרבי מבאבוב בלונדוןצילום: באדיבות המצלםחלק ראשון מביקורו של הרבי מבאבוב בלונדוןצילום: באדיבות המצלםחלק ראשון מביקורו של הרבי מבאבוב בלונדוןצילום: באדיבות המצלםחלק ראשון מביקורו של הרבי מבאבוב בלונדוןצילום: באדיבות המצלםחלק ראשון מביקורו של הרבי מבאבוב בלונדוןצילום: באדיבות המצלםחלק ראשון מביקורו של הרבי מבאבוב בלונדוןצילום: באדיבות המצלםחלק ראשון מביקורו של הרבי מבאבוב בלונדוןצילום: באדיבות המצלםחלק ראשון מביקורו של הרבי מבאבוב בלונדוןצילום: באדיבות המצלםחלק ראשון מביקורו של הרבי מבאבוב בלונדוןצילום: באדיבות המצלםחלק ראשון מביקורו של הרבי מבאבוב בלונדוןצילום: באדיבות המצלםחלק ראשון מביקורו של הרבי מבאבוב בלונדוןצילום: באדיבות המצלםחלק ראשון מביקורו של הרבי מבאבוב בלונדוןצילום: באדיבות המצלםחלק ראשון מביקורו של הרבי מבאבוב בלונדוןצילום: באדיבות המצלםחלק ראשון מביקורו של הרבי מבאבוב בלונדוןצילום: באדיבות המצלםחלק ראשון מביקורו של הרבי מבאבוב בלונדוןצילום: באדיבות המצלםחלק ראשון מביקורו של הרבי מבאבוב בלונדוןצילום: באדיבות המצלםחלק ראשון מביקורו של הרבי מבאבוב בלונדוןצילום: באדיבות המצלםחלק ראשון מביקורו של הרבי מבאבוב בלונדוןצילום: באדיבות המצלםחלק ראשון מביקורו של הרבי מבאבוב בלונדוןצילום: באדיבות המצלםחלק ראשון מביקורו של הרבי מבאבוב בלונדוןצילום: באדיבות המצלםחלק ראשון מביקורו של הרבי מבאבוב בלונדוןצילום: באדיבות המצלםחלק ראשון מביקורו של הרבי מבאבוב בלונדוןצילום: באדיבות המצלםחלק ראשון מביקורו של הרבי מבאבוב בלונדוןצילום: באדיבות המצלםחלק ראשון מביקורו של הרבי מבאבוב בלונדוןצילום: באדיבות המצלםחלק ראשון מביקורו של הרבי מבאבוב בלונדוןצילום: באדיבות המצלםחלק ראשון מביקורו של הרבי מבאבוב בלונדוןצילום: באדיבות המצלםחלק ראשון מביקורו של הרבי מבאבוב בלונדוןצילום: באדיבות המצלםחלק ראשון מביקורו של הרבי מבאבוב בלונדוןצילום: באדיבות המצלםחלק ראשון מביקורו של הרבי מבאבוב בלונדוןצילום: באדיבות המצלםחלק ראשון מביקורו של הרבי מבאבוב בלונדוןצילום: באדיבות המצלםחלק ראשון מביקורו של הרבי מבאבוב בלונדוןצילום: באדיבות המצלםחלק ראשון מביקורו של הרבי מבאבוב בלונדוןצילום: באדיבות המצלםחלק ראשון מביקורו של הרבי מבאבוב בלונדוןצילום: באדיבות המצלםחלק ראשון מביקורו של הרבי מבאבוב בלונדוןצילום: באדיבות המצלםחלק ראשון מביקורו של הרבי מבאבוב בלונדוןצילום: באדיבות המצלםחלק ראשון מביקורו של הרבי מבאבוב בלונדוןצילום: באדיבות המצלםחלק ראשון מביקורו של הרבי מבאבוב בלונדוןצילום: באדיבות המצלםחלק ראשון מביקורו של הרבי מבאבוב בלונדוןצילום: באדיבות המצלםחלק ראשון מביקורו של הרבי מבאבוב בלונדוןצילום: באדיבות המצלםחלק ראשון מביקורו של הרבי מבאבוב בלונדוןצילום: באדיבות המצלםחלק ראשון מביקורו של הרבי מבאבוב בלונדוןצילום: באדיבות המצלםחלק ראשון מביקורו של הרבי מבאבוב בלונדוןצילום: באדיבות המצלםחלק ראשון מביקורו של הרבי מבאבוב בלונדוןצילום: באדיבות המצלםחלק ראשון מביקורו של הרבי מבאבוב בלונדוןצילום: באדיבות המצלםחלק ראשון מביקורו של הרבי מבאבוב בלונדוןצילום: באדיבות המצלםחלק ראשון מביקורו של הרבי מבאבוב בלונדוןצילום: באדיבות המצלםחלק ראשון מביקורו של הרבי מבאבוב בלונדוןצילום: באדיבות המצלםחלק ראשון מביקורו של הרבי מבאבוב בלונדוןצילום: באדיבות המצלםחלק ראשון מביקורו של הרבי מבאבוב בלונדוןצילום: באדיבות המצלםחלק ראשון מביקורו של הרבי מבאבוב בלונדוןצילום: באדיבות המצלםחלק ראשון מביקורו של הרבי מבאבוב בלונדוןצילום: באדיבות המצלםחלק ראשון מביקורו של הרבי מבאבוב בלונדוןצילום: באדיבות המצלםחלק ראשון מביקורו של הרבי מבאבוב בלונדוןצילום: באדיבות המצלםחלק ראשון מביקורו של הרבי מבאבוב בלונדוןצילום: באדיבות המצלםחלק ראשון מביקורו של הרבי מבאבוב בלונדוןצילום: באדיבות המצלםחלק ראשון מביקורו של הרבי מבאבוב בלונדוןצילום: באדיבות המצלםחלק ראשון מביקורו של הרבי מבאבוב בלונדוןצילום: באדיבות המצלםחלק ראשון מביקורו של הרבי מבאבוב בלונדוןצילום: באדיבות המצלםחלק ראשון מביקורו של הרבי מבאבוב בלונדוןצילום: באדיבות המצלםחלק ראשון מביקורו של הרבי מבאבוב בלונדוןצילום: באדיבות המצלםחלק ראשון מביקורו של הרבי מבאבוב בלונדוןצילום: באדיבות המצלםחלק ראשון מביקורו של הרבי מבאבוב בלונדוןצילום: באדיבות המצלםחלק ראשון מביקורו של הרבי מבאבוב בלונדוןצילום: באדיבות המצלםחלק ראשון מביקורו של הרבי מבאבוב בלונדוןצילום: באדיבות המצלםחלק ראשון מביקורו של הרבי מבאבוב בלונדוןצילום: באדיבות המצלםחלק ראשון מביקורו של הרבי מבאבוב בלונדוןצילום: באדיבות המצלםחלק ראשון מביקורו של הרבי מבאבוב בלונדוןצילום: באדיבות המצלםחלק ראשון מביקורו של הרבי מבאבוב בלונדוןצילום: באדיבות המצלםחלק ראשון מביקורו של הרבי מבאבוב בלונדוןצילום: באדיבות המצלםחלק ראשון מביקורו של הרבי מבאבוב בלונדוןצילום: באדיבות המצלםחלק ראשון מביקורו של הרבי מבאבוב בלונדוןצילום: באדיבות המצלםחלק ראשון מביקורו של הרבי מבאבוב בלונדוןצילום: באדיבות המצלםחלק ראשון מביקורו של הרבי מבאבוב בלונדוןצילום: באדיבות המצלםחלק ראשון מביקורו של הרבי מבאבוב בלונדוןצילום: באדיבות המצלםחלק ראשון מביקורו של הרבי מבאבוב בלונדוןצילום: באדיבות המצלםחלק ראשון מביקורו של הרבי מבאבוב בלונדוןצילום: באדיבות המצלםחלק ראשון מביקורו של הרבי מבאבוב בלונדוןצילום: באדיבות המצלםחלק ראשון מביקורו של הרבי מבאבוב בלונדוןצילום: באדיבות המצלםחלק ראשון מביקורו של הרבי מבאבוב בלונדוןצילום: באדיבות המצלםחלק ראשון מביקורו של הרבי מבאבוב בלונדוןצילום: באדיבות המצלםחלק ראשון מביקורו של הרבי מבאבוב בלונדוןצילום: באדיבות המצלםחלק ראשון מביקורו של הרבי מבאבוב בלונדוןצילום: באדיבות המצלםחלק ראשון מביקורו של הרבי מבאבוב בלונדוןצילום: באדיבות המצלםחלק ראשון מביקורו של הרבי מבאבוב בלונדוןצילום: באדיבות המצלםחלק ראשון מביקורו של הרבי מבאבוב בלונדוןצילום: באדיבות המצלםחלק ראשון מביקורו של הרבי מבאבוב בלונדוןצילום: באדיבות המצלםחלק ראשון מביקורו של הרבי מבאבוב בלונדוןצילום: באדיבות המצלםחלק ראשון מביקורו של הרבי מבאבוב בלונדוןצילום: באדיבות המצלםחלק ראשון מביקורו של הרבי מבאבוב בלונדוןצילום: באדיבות המצלםחלק ראשון מביקורו של הרבי מבאבוב בלונדוןצילום: באדיבות המצלםחלק ראשון מביקורו של הרבי מבאבוב בלונדוןצילום: באדיבות המצלםחלק ראשון מביקורו של הרבי מבאבוב בלונדוןצילום: באדיבות המצלםחלק ראשון מביקורו של הרבי מבאבוב בלונדוןצילום: באדיבות המצלםחלק ראשון מביקורו של הרבי מבאבוב בלונדוןצילום: באדיבות המצלםחלק ראשון מביקורו של הרבי מבאבוב בלונדוןצילום: באדיבות המצלםחלק ראשון מביקורו של הרבי מבאבוב בלונדוןצילום: באדיבות המצלםחלק ראשון מביקורו של הרבי מבאבוב בלונדוןצילום: באדיבות המצלםחלק ראשון מביקורו של הרבי מבאבוב בלונדוןצילום: באדיבות המצלםחלק ראשון מביקורו של הרבי מבאבוב בלונדוןצילום: באדיבות המצלםחלק ראשון מביקורו של הרבי מבאבוב בלונדוןצילום: באדיבות המצלםחלק ראשון מביקורו של הרבי מבאבוב בלונדוןצילום: באדיבות המצלםחלק ראשון מביקורו של הרבי מבאבוב בלונדוןצילום: באדיבות המצלםחלק ראשון מביקורו של הרבי מבאבוב בלונדוןצילום: באדיבות המצלםחלק ראשון מביקורו של הרבי מבאבוב בלונדוןצילום: באדיבות המצלםחלק ראשון מביקורו של הרבי מבאבוב בלונדוןצילום: באדיבות המצלםחלק ראשון מביקורו של הרבי מבאבוב בלונדוןצילום: באדיבות המצלםחלק ראשון מביקורו של הרבי מבאבוב בלונדוןצילום: באדיבות המצלםחלק ראשון מביקורו של הרבי מבאבוב בלונדוןצילום: באדיבות המצלםחלק ראשון מביקורו של הרבי מבאבוב בלונדוןצילום: באדיבות המצלםחלק ראשון מביקורו של הרבי מבאבוב בלונדוןצילום: באדיבות המצלםחלק ראשון מביקורו של הרבי מבאבוב בלונדוןצילום: באדיבות המצלםחלק ראשון מביקורו של הרבי מבאבוב בלונדוןצילום: באדיבות המצלםחלק ראשון מביקורו של הרבי מבאבוב בלונדוןצילום: באדיבות המצלםחלק ראשון מביקורו של הרבי מבאבוב בלונדוןצילום: באדיבות המצלםחלק ראשון מביקורו של הרבי מבאבוב בלונדוןצילום: באדיבות המצלםחלק ראשון מביקורו של הרבי מבאבוב בלונדוןצילום: באדיבות המצלםחלק ראשון מביקורו של הרבי מבאבוב בלונדוןצילום: באדיבות המצלםחלק ראשון מביקורו של הרבי מבאבוב בלונדוןצילום: באדיבות המצלםחלק ראשון מביקורו של הרבי מבאבוב בלונדוןצילום: באדיבות המצלםחלק ראשון מביקורו של הרבי מבאבוב בלונדוןצילום: באדיבות המצלםחלק ראשון מביקורו של הרבי מבאבוב בלונדוןצילום: באדיבות המצלםחלק ראשון מביקורו של הרבי מבאבוב בלונדוןצילום: באדיבות המצלםחלק ראשון מביקורו של הרבי מבאבוב בלונדוןצילום: באדיבות המצלםחלק ראשון מביקורו של הרבי מבאבוב בלונדוןצילום: באדיבות המצלםחלק ראשון מביקורו של הרבי מבאבוב בלונדוןצילום: באדיבות המצלםחלק ראשון מביקורו של הרבי מבאבוב בלונדוןצילום: באדיבות המצלםחלק ראשון מביקורו של הרבי מבאבוב בלונדוןצילום: באדיבות המצלםחלק ראשון מביקורו של הרבי מבאבוב בלונדוןצילום: באדיבות המצלםחלק ראשון מביקורו של הרבי מבאבוב בלונדוןצילום: באדיבות המצלםחלק ראשון מביקורו של הרבי מבאבוב בלונדוןצילום: באדיבות המצלםחלק ראשון מביקורו של הרבי מבאבוב בלונדוןצילום: באדיבות המצלםחלק ראשון מביקורו של הרבי מבאבוב בלונדוןצילום: באדיבות המצלםחלק ראשון מביקורו של הרבי מבאבוב בלונדוןצילום: באדיבות המצלםחלק ראשון מביקורו של הרבי מבאבוב בלונדוןצילום: באדיבות המצלםחלק ראשון מביקורו של הרבי מבאבוב בלונדוןצילום: באדיבות המצלםחלק ראשון מביקורו של הרבי מבאבוב בלונדוןצילום: באדיבות המצלםחלק ראשון מביקורו של הרבי מבאבוב בלונדוןצילום: באדיבות המצלםחלק ראשון מביקורו של הרבי מבאבוב בלונדוןצילום: באדיבות המצלםחלק ראשון מביקורו של הרבי מבאבוב בלונדוןצילום: באדיבות המצלםחלק ראשון מביקורו של הרבי מבאבוב בלונדוןצילום: באדיבות המצלםחלק ראשון מביקורו של הרבי מבאבוב בלונדוןצילום: באדיבות המצלםחלק ראשון מביקורו של הרבי מבאבוב בלונדוןצילום: באדיבות המצלםחלק ראשון מביקורו של הרבי מבאבוב בלונדוןצילום: באדיבות המצלם
חנוכת ביהכנ”ס המרכזי בפסגת זאבצילום: באדיבות המצלםחנוכת ביהכנ”ס המרכזי בפסגת זאבצילום: באדיבות המצלםחנוכת ביהכנ”ס המרכזי בפסגת זאבצילום: באדיבות המצלםחנוכת ביהכנ”ס המרכזי בפסגת זאבצילום: באדיבות המצלםחנוכת ביהכנ”ס המרכזי בפסגת זאבצילום: באדיבות המצלםחנוכת ביהכנ”ס המרכזי בפסגת זאבצילום: באדיבות המצלםחנוכת ביהכנ”ס המרכזי בפסגת זאבצילום: באדיבות המצלםחנוכת ביהכנ”ס המרכזי בפסגת זאבצילום: באדיבות המצלםחנוכת ביהכנ”ס המרכזי בפסגת זאבצילום: באדיבות המצלםחנוכת ביהכנ”ס המרכזי בפסגת זאבצילום: באדיבות המצלםחנוכת ביהכנ”ס המרכזי בפסגת זאבצילום: באדיבות המצלםחנוכת ביהכנ”ס המרכזי בפסגת זאבצילום: באדיבות המצלםחנוכת ביהכנ”ס המרכזי בפסגת זאבצילום: באדיבות המצלםחנוכת ביהכנ”ס המרכזי בפסגת זאבצילום: באדיבות המצלםחנוכת ביהכנ”ס המרכזי בפסגת זאבצילום: באדיבות המצלםחנוכת ביהכנ”ס המרכזי בפסגת זאבצילום: באדיבות המצלםחנוכת ביהכנ”ס המרכזי בפסגת זאבצילום: באדיבות המצלםחנוכת ביהכנ”ס המרכזי בפסגת זאבצילום: באדיבות המצלםחנוכת ביהכנ”ס המרכזי בפסגת זאבצילום: באדיבות המצלםחנוכת ביהכנ”ס המרכזי בפסגת זאבצילום: באדיבות המצלםחנוכת ביהכנ”ס המרכזי בפסגת זאבצילום: באדיבות המצלםחנוכת ביהכנ”ס המרכזי בפסגת זאבצילום: באדיבות המצלםחנוכת ביהכנ”ס המרכזי בפסגת זאבצילום: באדיבות המצלםחנוכת ביהכנ”ס המרכזי בפסגת זאבצילום: באדיבות המצלםחנוכת ביהכנ”ס המרכזי בפסגת זאבצילום: באדיבות המצלםחנוכת ביהכנ”ס המרכזי בפסגת זאבצילום: באדיבות המצלםחנוכת ביהכנ”ס המרכזי בפסגת זאבצילום: באדיבות המצלםחנוכת ביהכנ”ס המרכזי בפסגת זאבצילום: באדיבות המצלם
It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of Rav Abba Bronspigel zt”l, rosh yeshiva at Yeshivas Rabbeinu Yitzchok Elchonon and Beis Medrash L’Talmud.
Rav Bronspiegel studied under Rav Yeruchum Gorelick and Rav Yosheh Ber Soloveitchik, learning under the latter for ten years.
Later, as rosh yeshiva at REITS and Bais Medrash L’Torah of Lander College, he guided, inspired and educated thousands of talmidim with compassion, warmth and insight.
Rav Bronspiegel possessed great amkus in his learning, couple with wide-ranging yedios haTorah.
Rav Bronspiegel always spoke about how he had “two rebbes,” Rav Soloveitchik and Rav Gorelick.
His wife was a daughter of the venerable Rav Elie Munk.
Rav Bronspiegel lived for many years in Boro Park, where he led a shul.
Rav Bronspiegel was zocheh to raise an outstanding family, bnei Torah impacting their respective communities.
The levayah will be held on Sunday, at 10 a.m., at the Congregation Sons of Israel Holocaust Memorial Chapel, located at 613 Ramsey Avenue, in Lakewood, NJ.
Yehi zichro boruch.
{Matzav.com}
It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of Rabbi Yeshaya Yechezkel Brus z”l. He was 48.
Reb Yeshaya was a son of Rav Moshe Mendel Brus, rosh yeshiva of Yeshiva Bais Hatalmud, and a grandson of Rav Shaul Brus zt”l, rosh yeshiva of Yeshiva Bais Hatalmud.
Reb Yeshaya was a kollel yungerman who spent his life between the walls of the bais medrash. A fixture at his beloved Yeshiva Bais Hatalmud, he dedicated his life to limud haTorah, with the support of his devoted wife.
He is survived by his wife and seven children.
The levayah was held at Yeshiva Bais Hatalmud in Bensonhurst, followed by kevurah in Lakewood.
Yehi zichro boruch.
{Matzav.com}
Rabbi Avi Schnall, Director of the New Jersey Office of Agudath Israel, has stepped down from that position as he has his eye on politics.
The Brooklyn native, now living in Lakewood, NJ, is expected to run as a Democrat against Republican Assemblyman Sean Kean for a seat on the New Jersey State Assembly.
That district, NJ-30, includes his hometown of Lakewood and Point Pleasant, as well as the Monmouth County municipalities of Avon-by-the-Sea, Belmar, Bradley Beach, Brielle, Farmingdale, Howell Township, Lake Como, Manasquan, Sea Girt, Spring Lake, Spring Lake Heights, and Wall Township.
Avi assumed his role at the Agudah of NJ in 2014 and has since then advocated for the community at the state and local levels. During his tenure, Avi gained the trust of both the Christie and Murphy administrations. He has sat on the New Jersey Department of Education’s nonpublic school committee and served as its chairman in 2018. Governor Phil Murphy appointed Avi to his Social Services and Faith Committee of the Restart and Recovery Advice Council in 2020.
While the frum community is losing a reliable askan at the Agudah, it is hoped that Avi can continue to use his considerable abilities in his next role.
{Matzav.com}
The Rosh Yeshiva Rav Gershon Edelstein sent letters of condolence to the families of those killed in the terror attack in Ramot on Friday in which R’ Alter Shlomo Lederman and the brothers Asher Menachem and Yaakov Yisroel Paley lost their lives.
“We do not know the ways of Heaven, where in such a disaster small children were lost in such a horrible way, pure souls who have not tasted the taste of sin, …and yet the question arises, ‘What has God done to us?’ for there is no such thing as an accident in the world…” he wrote.
Later he wrote, “This is what is incumbent upon us…to search and investigate all our actions, by regularly studying mussar…”
{Matzav.com Israel}
In the shadow of the heavy mourning that befell Klal Yisrael over the murder of Asher Menachem and Yaakov Paley in the Yerushalayim terror attack, all are asked to continue davening for the refuah of their father, Reb Avraham Noach ben Yehudis, who is still hospitalized under anesthesia and ventilated in the hospital.
Reb Avraham was transferred this week from Hadassah Har Hatzofim to Hadassah Ein Kerem, where he is hospitalized in the intensive care unit while being sedated and ventilated. For now, there is no noticeable improvement in his condition.
{Matzav.com Israel}
Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu and his wife Sara arrived last night at the home of the Paley family, whose sons were murdered in the terror attack on Erev Shabbos in the Ramot neighborhood.
Before his arrival, a letter of condolence was sent by the Prime Minister to the family members.
“Unfortunately, a terrorist robbed from you – from all of us – the wonderful Asher and Yaakov. They fell victim to a murderous hatred, devoid of moral inhibitions, of a human animal, just because they were Jews and Israelis. …Our answer to the tyrants of Israel is sharp and decisive: to continue building our country, to strengthen the unity of our people, to strengthen the belief in the rightness of our way in order to overcome every hardship and enemy. This is our home, and we will remain here with God’s help forever and ever.”
“Dear members of the Paley family, I and my wife Sara send you our full condolences. At the same time, we offer a prayer for Avraham’s recovery from his severe injury.”
The mother of the family, Chana Devorah Paley, told the Prime Minister and his wife about the two small children who were buried one after the other, and said that faith is what holds the family together.
When Mrs. Paley showed the Netanyahu’s a picture of the children, the Prime Minister said to her: “I ask for your permission to put the picture in my office. This terrible story will help me explain to the Jews of the world what is the difference between the people of Israel and our enemy. While our enemy murdered these two souls, our forces were in Turkey and saved lives.”
Prime Minister Netanyahu and his wife heard from family members about the condition of the father of the family, Avraham, who is still sedated and ventilated in the hospital. The family members asked to daven for Avraham Noach ben Yehudis.
The young Tzviki Paley surprised Prime Minister Netanyahu by asking that he visit his father, Avraham, in the hospital. The Prime Minister said that if he can, he will go visit him in the hospital.
The grandfather, Rabbi Shmuel Paley, asked for the Prime Minister to make sure that in every school in the country, even the secular ones, the students know that there is a Creator of the world, and that they are always to engage in ahavas Yisroel, not only in times of sorrow like this.
{Matzav.com Israel}
On the order of the Rosh Yeshiva Rav Gershon Edelstein, Tuesday morning, a decisive and clear letter from the Rosh Yeshiva of Chevron, Rav Dovid Cohen, a member of the Moetzet Chachmaei Hatorah, was released on the subject of registration for mesivtos.
Because of competition between yeshivos and other factors, Rav Cohen instructed that all registration will be done only after Lag Ba’Omer.
“There is no permit to break [the rule],” writes Rav Cohen.
Leaders of mesivtos approached Rav Gershon, explaining that it would destroy the studies of the chadorim if there was early registration. Because of this, Rav Gershon ordered Rav Cohen to write things clearly in a letter.
{Matzav.com Israel}
It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of Rav Yissochor Dov Berish Zlotnik zt”l, one of the most prominent Chassidim of Breslov and machnisei orech in Yerushalayim. Several years ago he fell into a coma and was hospitalized in serious condition.
He passed away at the age of 64.
Rav Berish lived and breathed kindness. Among other things, he was known as the host of hundreds of Jews of all shades of the rainbow at his home in Botei Ungarin in Yerushalayim. After davening at the Breslover Shul, he would bring home numerous guests, who enjoyed a delicious meal.
Rav Berish was born in Yerushalayim, a son of Rabbi Yechiel Michel Zlotnik.
He married his wife,. Freida, nee Eisner, from the Toldos Aharon community.
The levayah was held last night at Brelover Shul in Beit Shemesh, then at the Brelover Shul in Meah Shearim, followed by kevurah on Har Hazeisim.
Yehi zichro boruch.
{Matzav.com Israel}
In a special handwritten letter, Maran Rav Gershon Edelstein, rosh yeshivas Ponovezh, offers comments in light of the recent attacks and tragedies.
“As of late, there have been earthquakes in the world, which came to wake up the people of Klal Yisroel,” he writes. “As Chazal said, no calamity comes to the world except for Klal Yisroel, …and the troubles and terrible disasters have increased, especially in the killing of pure souls who did not taste the taste of sin, may Hashem avenge their blood…
“We don’t know the accounts of Heaven, but it is our duty to … correct our ways and our actions. Every adult knows the shortcomings of his heart, and in particular one must strengthen himself in have good relations between a man and his fellow man, and every adult should try to set a time every day to study mussar, even a few moments.”
{Matzav.com Israel}
These boys from Yeshiva Chofetz Chaim accepted to learn an extra mishmar, and what did they want as their reward? A visit to Maran Rav Shmuel Kamenetsky.
Upon visiting Rav Shmuel in Philadelphia, the rosh yeshiva was told of the boy’s request to visit him. His humble response? “I feel elated!”
Rav Shmuel addressed the boys…and these are his warm remarks:
LISTEN:
https://matzav.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/AUDIO-2023-02-12-08-09-19.mp3
The yungeleit at Kollel Pinsk Karlin in the Bais Yisroel neighborhood of Yerushalayim are having a hard time digesting the heavy loss of their chaver, R’ Alter Shlomo Lederman Hy”d, who was killed in the terror attack on Friday in Yerushalayim.
At his seat in the kollel, the yungeleit placed a yahrtzeit candle along with a volume of Shulchan Aruch that belonged to him, in which he wrote enthusiastically every day.
Umacha Hashem dimah me’al kol ponim.
{Matzav.com Israel}
Being the parent of a child at risk is one of the most painful challenges one can face and one of the most isolating as well. The phones aren’t ringing with offers of volunteers to do homework with the children, to deliver meals and pay for necessary treatment. Many parents are ashamed or afraid to reach out and ask for support, to build connections with others in the same situation. There is so much conflicting advice, as well as endless guilt, pain, and confusion. Where does one turn? How should one deal with a KIP (kid in pain) who has chosen a different path? What should one do about the extended family? How does one deal with the siblings living at home, who need support as well?
Enter Kesher Nafshi, an organization founded by Reb Gedalia Miller, himself a parent of a struggling child. The goal of the organization is to strengthen the bond between parents and their children, thereby rebuilding the relationship and allowing healing to occur.
The following is a fascinating interview with Reb Gedalia, conducted by Rabbi Yitzchok Hisiger.
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הלווית הקדוש אלתר שלמה לדרמן הי”דצילום: ישי ירושלמי
הלווית הקדוש אלתר שלמה לדרמן הי”דצילום: ישי ירושלמיהלווית הקדוש אלתר שלמה לדרמן הי”דצילום: ישי ירושלמיהלווית הקדוש אלתר שלמה לדרמן הי”דצילום: ישי ירושלמיהלווית הקדוש אלתר שלמה לדרמן הי”דצילום: ישי ירושלמיהלווית הקדוש אלתר שלמה לדרמן הי”דצילום: ישי ירושלמיהלווית הקדוש אלתר שלמה לדרמן הי”דצילום: ישי ירושלמיהלווית הקדוש אלתר שלמה לדרמן הי”דצילום: ישי ירושלמיהלווית הקדוש אלתר שלמה לדרמן הי”דצילום: ישי ירושלמיהלווית הקדוש אלתר שלמה לדרמן הי”דצילום: ישי ירושלמיהלווית הקדוש אלתר שלמה לדרמן הי”דצילום: ישי ירושלמיהלווית הקדוש אלתר שלמה לדרמן הי”דצילום: ישי ירושלמיהלווית הקדוש אלתר שלמה לדרמן הי”דצילום: ישי ירושלמיהלווית הקדוש אלתר שלמה לדרמן הי”דצילום: ישי ירושלמיהלווית הקדוש אלתר שלמה לדרמן הי”דצילום: ישי ירושלמיהלווית הקדוש אלתר שלמה לדרמן הי”דצילום: ישי ירושלמיהלווית הקדוש אלתר שלמה לדרמן הי”דצילום: ישי ירושלמיהלווית הקדוש אלתר שלמה לדרמן הי”דצילום: ישי ירושלמיהלווית הקדוש אלתר שלמה לדרמן הי”דצילום: ישי ירושלמיהלווית הקדוש אלתר שלמה לדרמן הי”דצילום: ישי ירושלמיהלווית הקדוש אלתר שלמה לדרמן הי”דצילום: ישי ירושלמיהלווית הקדוש אלתר שלמה לדרמן הי”דצילום: ישי ירושלמיהלווית הקדוש אלתר שלמה לדרמן הי”דצילום: ישי ירושלמיהלווית הקדוש אלתר שלמה לדרמן הי”דצילום: ישי ירושלמיהלווית הקדוש אלתר שלמה לדרמן הי”דצילום: ישי ירושלמיהלווית הקדוש אלתר שלמה לדרמן הי”דצילום: ישי ירושלמיהלווית הקדוש אלתר שלמה לדרמן הי”דצילום: ישי ירושלמיהלווית הקדוש אלתר שלמה לדרמן הי”דצילום: ישי ירושלמיהלווית הקדוש אלתר שלמה לדרמן הי”דצילום: ישי ירושלמיהלווית הקדוש אלתר שלמה לדרמן הי”דצילום: ישי ירושלמיהלווית הקדוש אלתר שלמה לדרמן הי”דצילום: ישי ירושלמיהלווית הקדוש אלתר שלמה לדרמן הי”דצילום: ישי ירושלמיהלווית הקדוש אלתר שלמה לדרמן הי”דצילום: ישי ירושלמיהלווית הקדוש אלתר שלמה לדרמן הי”דצילום: ישי ירושלמיהלווית הקדוש אלתר שלמה לדרמן הי”דצילום: ישי ירושלמיהלווית הקדוש אלתר שלמה לדרמן הי”דצילום: ישי ירושלמיהלווית הקדוש אלתר שלמה לדרמן הי”דצילום: ישי ירושלמיהלווית הקדוש אלתר שלמה לדרמן הי”דצילום: ישי ירושלמיהלווית הקדוש אלתר שלמה לדרמן הי”דצילום: ישי ירושלמיהלווית הקדוש אלתר שלמה לדרמן הי”דצילום: ישי ירושלמיהלווית הקדוש אלתר שלמה לדרמן הי”דצילום: ישי ירושלמיהלווית הקדוש אלתר שלמה לדרמן הי”דצילום: ישי ירושלמיהלווית הקדוש אלתר שלמה לדרמן הי”דצילום: ישי ירושלמיהלווית הקדוש אלתר שלמה לדרמן הי”דצילום: ישי ירושלמיהלווית הקדוש אלתר שלמה לדרמן הי”דצילום: ישי ירושלמיהלווית הקדוש אלתר שלמה לדרמן הי”דצילום: ישי ירושלמיהלווית הקדוש אלתר שלמה לדרמן הי”דצילום: ישי ירושלמיהלווית הקדוש אלתר שלמה לדרמן הי”דצילום: ישי ירושלמיהלווית הקדוש אלתר שלמה לדרמן הי”דצילום: ישי ירושלמיהלווית הקדוש אלתר שלמה לדרמן הי”דצילום: ישי ירושלמי
By Rabbi Elli Bohm
Rabbi Bohm is a musmach of Rav Belsky zt”l and was a close talmid for about 20 years. He authored Halacha Berurah columns on over a hundred halachah topics that were meticulously reviewed by Rav Belsky for halachic and factual accuracy. )
I sit down tonight to pen this article on my beloved rebbi, moreh derech, and posek. I had the zechus to have spent thousands of hours listing to Rav Belsky’s shiurim, discussing all areas of Torah topics with him. I cherish the time he devoted to reviewing hundreds of halachah articles that I wrote over the years.
It’s so hard to come to terms with the fact that I no longer have access to such a special rebbi, who influenced my life probably more than any other individual. Four years ago, upon seeing him when he returned from the hospital, I made a Shehecheyanu with Sheim Umalchus for the immense joy I felt at that moment. I was so hoping to do the same again now, but the Ribbono Shel Olam had different plans.
An article can’t do justice to describe the impact he had on my life and on the tens of thousands of talmidim in whose lives he played such a pivotal role.
What increases the challenge in writing such an article is the fact that when you are so close to someone, you don’t have a list of inspirational stories that stand out as you would have if you just spent a single day visiting a gadol. With someone who you are so close with, you don’t just take notice of extraordinary things. It is all part of one big memory.
My shaychus with Rav Belsky started when I was an eleventh grade talmid at Yeshiva Torah Temimah. I was learning Mishnah Berurah Hilchos Pesach and encountered an apparent stirah in the words of the Mishnah Berurah. I went around asking the question to many rabbonim, who acknowledged that it was a good kashah. I was not ready to give up. At the time, a number of the talmidim in my class went to Camp Agudah’s Masmidim program run by Rav Belsky. They were forever describing his gadlus, telling me how he literally knows everything and that there is not a single question he cannot answer.
I called Rav Belsky one night to ask him the question. Within seconds, he directed me to look in a different cheilek of Mishnah Berurah, and based on what the Chofetz Chaim writes there, one can easily understand why it’s not a stirah and why the Chofetz Chaim specifically chose to write what he wrote in each location. The terutz blew me away.
Rav Belsky went on to say that, often, people think that they found a stirah in the words of the Chofetz Chaim, but with a drop of additional iyun, one can clearly realize how every single word was so meticulously written. Rav Belsky related that Rav Yaakov Kamenetsky zt”l said that you can be medayeik in the words of the Mishnah Berurah as if you are learning a Rishon, and the Chofetz Chaim was zocheh to that because he scrutinized every word that came out of his mouth with regard to shemiras halashon.
The following day, I made up my mind that I needed to develop a shaychus with this adam gadol. During lunchtime, I left Torah Temimah and walked the three blocks to Torah Vodaas. I met Rav Belsky as he was walking to Minchah and introduced myself as the caller from the night before. He smiled. I mentioned that I had a few more questions to ask him. He told me that after Minchah, he would be taking the train to Manhattan to go to the Orthodox Union’s offices, where he supervises its kashrus, and that I can walk him to the train.
I readily accepted the opportunity, somewhat surprised that this gadol traveled to the OU by train, unaccompanied by anyone. I prepared my list of questions and the walk began. I soon realized that it was not Rav Belsky’s style to answer questions quickly. Every answer included lengthy explanations along with lots of stories and abstract tidbits. I only got to ask two questions during the fifteen-minute walk. I built up the courage and asked him if I can accompany him on the train. He smiled again and made me feel very comfortable. He even helped me swipe my MetroCard, which had been giving me difficulty.
The shaychus then began.
His Tzidkus
I quickly realized that Rav Belsky dedicated significant amounts of time to everyone. It did not make a difference if the person was an eleventh grade bochur, a yungerman, a meshulach from Eretz Yisroel, an almanah, a prestigious askan, or a rosh yeshiva.
People were always impressed by his ga’onus. Those who knew him were even more impressed by his tzidkus. He was not able to say no to anyone.
Someone once asked me if I don’t feel awkward calling Rav Belsky so often. Why, the person asked, don’t I let him rest and relax a bit? I responded that apparently this person does not know Rav Belsky. There was no such thing as relaxation time for him. If it would not be me calling or visiting him, I said, it would be someone else. There seemed to always be people waiting by his house. He did not know the meaning of locking his door. Almost every second of his day, he was with someone. His entire life was dedicated to Klal Yisroel.
I was once sitting in his house reviewing a Halacha Berurah article I wrote, and every five seconds, the phone was ringing. I mentioned to him gently that if he takes every call, we will never get done with the article and the deadline was approaching. He looked at me in disbelief. “How can I not answer? There might be a pikuach nefesh issue on the line.”
This was his very selfless essence. He was always there for the klal.
One time, we were really up against a deadline the next morning, yet his phone just kept ringing. He politely apologized and told me that he will call me when things quiet down and promised to finish reviewing the article before the deadline. My phone rang at 2 a.m. That was when things first quieted down in the Belsky household.
People would line up to ask him shailos and for eitzos, haskamos and tzedakah.
The tzedakah was something I would not have believed if I did not see it with my own eyes hundreds of times. Meshulachim heard that there is a big baal tzedakah in Torah Vodaas and his name is Rabbi Belsky. They would come to pour out their hearts to him, and the smallest check he wrote was $20.
For many years, there were lines out his door for tzedakah. I once asked him if he had a fund. He responded that all the meshulachim definitely think that he has a fund, but it is all from his personal checking account. I asked him how he can afford it. He told me, “That’s the Ribono Shel Olam’s job – to make sure there is money in the account. When people come pouring out their hearts to me, how can I not offer my personal financial assistance?”
He was so careful not to embarrass or hurt any person’s feelings. There was once a Yid who kept on coming to him and cried out his heart. I once commented to Rav Belsky that this person comes so often. He told me, “I gave him advice and he doesn’t listen to me, but he still comes back crying when things are not working out.” I asked him, if the person is not taking his advice, why does he still spend so much time talking to the person when he is so busy? Rav Belsky said, “He is in such pain. How can I send him out and hurt his feelings? I must listen to him cry.”
To further illustrate his sense of concern for each person’s feelings, four years ago, when he was taken to Maimonides Hospital and was being treated by a doctor, some people advised him that he can probably get better treatment if he switched to a Manhattan hospital. Rav Belsky refused to be transferred, saying that his present doctor is confident he can help, and if he switches, it will hurt the doctor’s feelings. He refused to let that happen.
When the immigration of Russian Jewry began with the fall of the Iron Curtain, the newly-arrived immigrants needed guidance and someone to turn to. Rav Belsky became the address. He didn’t just help the Russian Jews. He actually taught himself Russian in a short period of time so that he would be able to communicate effectively with them.
Nothing he did was half-baked. Everything he touched was influenced by his expert approach.
Standing Up For the Truth
Rav Belsky’s selfless dedication to all people often ended up with him personally receiving a lot of flack, as he did not hesitate to go up against powerful and influential people if he felt that they were wronging someone. In most of these cases, no other person would touch the issue, as they knew good and well that going up against powerful individuals would ultimately come back and hurt them. But Rav Belsky’s door was always open. He was such a mevakeish ha’emes and possessed a tzidkus of wanting to help people. He couldn’t stand by as someone was taking advantage of another person shelo kadin. He put his neck on the line to help others.
People knew that if they had a din Torah and wanted a fair shake, regardless of the stature of the other litigant, Rav Belsky’s bais din was the place to go.
Rav Belsky once commented that he doesn’t get discouraged by the negativity some people falsely spewed about him. He described it with a moshol. He said that when a person is climbing a high mountain, as long as he keeps on looking up, he will succeed. As soon as he looks down around him, he will slowly get frightened by his situation and that might cause him to fall. The same is true in life, said Rav Belsky. A person must focus only on the Ribono Shel Olam and on doing what is right, not taking a look at any of his surroundings.
He had such an enormous bikkush for emes. When he would come back from a din Torah where it was evident that one of the baalei din or to’anim were lying, it pained him physically. He had such agmas nefesh over it. It also hurt him to see people fighting about petty things and not be able to separate themselves and recognize the bigger picture. When he was able to persuade the parties to do what was yashrusdik, he experienced the greatest simcha.
His Ga’onus
In two decades, there was not a single question that I asked him on any topic to which I did not receive a lengthy response, whether it was in Tanach, Shas, Daled Chelkei Shulchan Aruch, or, lehavdil, chochmas chitzoniyus. He had such a mastery of astronomy, mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology, history, and virtually every other subject.
There was not a posuk in Chumash or Nach that he could not rattle off baal peh. Every time I mentioned a Gemara to him, he was instantly able to show it to me.
He had the same geshmak in every area of Torah, whether it was hilchos Shabbos or a sugya in Kodshim. I was once discussing with him a sugyah in Ohalos. It was an abstract sugyah, not one he is asked about daily. I was blown away by how well he remembered it. It was as if he just learned it the day before.
I was once discussing with him the Chazal that one should learn mah shelibo chofetz, what his heart desires. He told me that he has a hard time relating to that, as all parts of the Torah give him equal enjoyment.
His son once mentioned to me that he observed Rav Belsky finish the entire Maseches Kesubos on a flight to Eretz Yisroel.
On Shabbos, he studied Masechtos Shabbos and Eruvin, finishing these masechtos hundreds, if not thousands, of times.
He possessed his remarkable knowledge already 40 years ago. His younger years were devoted to learning with such intense hasmadah and a thirst for knowledge. Once he became a rebbi, almost all his time was consumed by shiurim and helping be madrich people. At that point, he spent very little time on his own personal learning; it was always dedicated to others.
Rav Yaakov Kamenetsky zt”l once commented that if Rav Belsky would’ve spent another ten years of his life focused on his personal learning, with the extraordinary kishron he had, he would’ve been the greatest Torah giant in the entire world. Rav Belsky understood his calling and he was there for the klal, and he still merited to be among the most prominent gedolei Torah of his generation.
Tumults
Anyone who knew Rav Belsky saw how it pained him when people started a tumult based on false information or false sevaros.
False tumults especially bothered him, as they created a hullabaloo and uproar, scaring people unnecessarily.
He once related that years ago, there was a shailah about the kashrus of cast iron pots. He went to ask the shailah to Rav Yaakov Kamenetsky zt”l. Rav Yaakov said that such a shailah should be brought to Rav Moshe Feinstein zt”l. Together, they traveled to the Lower East Side to ask Rav Moshe. Rav Moshe thought long and hard, and said that to assur it would cause a major kashrus issue in everyone’s kitchens and he needs to give it more thought. Rav Moshe stressed that they should not disclose this finding to anyone until he has a final answer in order to avoid causing an unnecessary tumult. Eventually, Rav Moshe came up with a heter that he felt comfortable relying on and the issue was put to rest.
Rav Belsky commented that the kohein gadol is warned not to stay inside the Kodesh Hakodoshim on Yom Kippur for too long, despite it being the holiest day and the fact that he is representing Klal Yisroel. He is advised, nonetheless, to keep it short in other not to frighten the people that something bad had happened to him.
Such is the achrayus not to frighten people unnecessarily, said Rav Belsky.
Years ago, Rav Belsky related that there was a meeting with rabbonim to discuss a shailah regarding the kashrus of milk based on a new discovery. Even before the meeting was over, with a decision rendered, information somehow leaked to the public and there were kol korehs already posted all over. Rav Belsky was greatly bothered by this.
When the shaitel tumult erupted a number of years ago, I worked very closely with Rav Belsky on researching the facts. Rav Belsky sent a letter to Rav Yosef Shalom Elyashiv zt”l with a few questions on his p’sak on the matter. A few days later, I walked into the coffee room at Bais Medrash Govoah in Lakewood and saw a group of people looking at a letter written by Rav Elyashiv in response to Rav Belsky’s letter to him. I immediately called Rav Belsky to hear his take on it. He was shocked. He didn’t even know that Rav Elyashiv had responded to him and that it was already posted in Lakewood. It turned out that his fax machine was out of paper, but the fact that the olam in Bais Medrash Govoah saw it first demonstrated how quickly, in this day and age, kol korehs and letters are spread.
Rav Belsky told me that most tumults result from some people learning a sugya for the first time and thinking that they discovered something, not knowing that it was already addressed year ago by gedolei Torah. Generally, every 20 years, the same tumults resurface.
Nothing bothered him more than when people denigrated gedolim of previous generations. During a certain eruv tumult, I observed how he spoke so passionately about those who just dismiss the words of previous gedolim. He fought fervently for the sake of emes. It pained him so greatly to see people being mechalel Shabbos. It had detrimental effect on his health at the time.
He fought an issue to the very end, whether it was lekulah or lechumrah. The personal consequences didn’t matter to him. He wished to make sure that people were not megaleh ponim shelo kehalachah.
I fear what will be now when future tumults arise, without someone like Rav Belsky, who had the achrayus, the seichel hayoshor, the knowledge of all the facts, and the power to set the record straight.
Style of P’sak
Rav Belsky utilized his vast knowledge to see a complete picture in every sugya in Shas. He had an extraordinary power of reason and could quickly dismiss any sevara that lacked truth. His bikkush ha’emes was even more noticeable when talking to him in learning. He could not stomach when someone would say a pilpul or come to a conclusion that he felt was halachically incorrect.
He once showed me an algebra formula in which once you substitute ‘x’ and ‘y’ on both sides of the equation, you end up with a result of 1=0. Obviously, that’s impossible. He used this to illustrate that, often, a pilpul might sound good, but if it produces a conclusion that is absurd, then it means that somewhere along the way, you made a mistake, despite how accurate it might seem. His glattkeit in p’sak did not allow him to accept anything that sounded remotely contrary to what clear logic dictated.
It often troubled him when people offered a lomdishe shtickel and, based on that, established new dinim in halachah that are not mentioned in any of the Rishonim or Acharonim. He often said that unless we are dealing with a new shailah, the fact that certain obvious dinim did not appear in any of the earlier poskim is generally a good indication that it’s not accurate.
He strongly opposed the attitude of some people who distinguished contemporary scenarios from earlier times, thus calling for a change in halachah. He said that in order to make such a distinction, one must be very fluent in 1) the metzius in earlier times, 2) the current metzius, and 3) the related sugyos. Without proficiency in all three of these areas, it’s impossible to make any distinctions.
Rav Belsky had such a common sense approach to halachah. When people listened to a shiur from him, it often did not contain major pilpulim, yet when he was asked a question, he gave the most brilliant pilpul to explain what he had said. Pilpulim did not create his pesakim. Rather, his extraordinary knowledge of all aspects of Torah and, lehavdil, secular subjects gave him a deep understanding of the underlying root, concepts and sevaros of each sugya. With this depth of understanding, the pesakim for each practical issue were simple extensions of the sugya. His rayos and pilpulim were generally only a by-product of his p’sak, demonstrating why he was right; they were not the source or basis of the p’sak.
Rav Belsky did not just pasken from behind his shtender in the bais medrash. He would roll up his sleeves and take apart machinery, also traveling to remote places if giving an accurate p’sak required that.
Kashrus
It was because of his clarity and knowledge that he was able to revolutionize kashrus in America. He earned everyone’s admiration. People yearned to hear his expert opinion on all matters.
He once mentioned to me that he was in a slaughterhouse and the menaker did not remove a piece of fat that was cheilev. He pointed it out to those on the production line, but they disagreed, saying that the fat he was pointing to was permitted fat, as that piece of meat is from a different part of the animal. Rav Belsky felt that he had no choice, so he stopped the production line and pieced together the entire animal. He was able to clearly demonstrate that he was correct.
A Rebbi
His shiurim and pesakim often included many stories. I once asked him why he spent so much time telling stories. He said that stories do a very good job in being madrich people and teaching them hanhagos for life. His role, he said, was not just to be a posek, but to be a rebbi. He was not just a posek hador. He was a rebbi hador.
Maggidei shiur work hard on preparing shiurim. Rav Belsky almost never prepared for his shiurim. He just did not have the time. He was busy helping Klal Yisroel. He was not a performer looking to impress his audience, concerned with what a crowd would like to hear. Nonetheless, talmidim eagerly awaited his shiurim, because he taught them how to think logically and how to find the truth. He prepared them for life.
His question-and-answer shiurim on halachah were probably his most popular. The crowd dictated what he would speak about, and he made it fascinating. Thousands of people would flock to these halachah shiurim, and thousands listen to tapes of them. He was not just answering shailos. He was a rebbi teaching the background needed, and the correct logic and approach, for each shailah.
His office at Yeshiva Torah Vodaas was his classroom. People were often puzzled by the fact that he didn’t have an office. But he didn’t need one. He was a rebbi. That role never changed despite what stage of life he was at.
He would play paddleball in camp with talmidim, he went tubing down the Delaware with them, he went on hikes and star-gazing walks, and he traveled on coach buses on camp trips. Rav Belsky had no concern about his image. He was focused on how he could connect better with his talmidim. These trips and outings are among the fondest memories of his talmidim.
During one of his summer star-gazing trips, he noticed a star that was not in its proper position. This bothered him greatly and he expressed to his astonished talmidim that something is wrong, as he never saw that star in that location. The next morning, one of his talmidim contacted NASA. They told him that such an occurrence happens every few hundred years. They were amazed that someone had realized it.
Rav Belsky would spend time teaching his talmidim how to knead dough for matzos. He had everything worked out to a perfect science, with an exact procedure. From baking matzos to deveining an animal, Rav Belsky’s lessons helped shaped his talmidim.
When he reviewed my halachah articles, he spent time commenting on the grammar and sometimes even rewriting paragraphs himself. Everything needed to be perfect.
I merited to spend time in the daled amos of a person whose every step was guided by halachah, with such sincere hergesh in mitzvos, such selfless dedication to everyone, such a bikkush ha’emes, and such care and concern for each member of Klal Yisroel. He cannot be replaced.
I wonder to myself where all the halachah shailos that crossed his table will be directed to now. And who will be the listening ear for all the Yidden who are in pain? Who will go to bat for the emes?
Thousands of Yidden have lost a rebbi, a gadol, a father…
For the first time in history, Keren Kayemet L’Yisrael/the National Fund for Israel (KKL) observed the laws of Shmittah on all the lands under its jurisdiction. In practical terms, this meant that, thanks to the orchestration of Eretz HaKodesh, KKL did not rely on a heter mechirah (selling the land), but allowed all its land to remain fallow for the recent Shmittah year. In keeping with these halachos, all the trees on these lands were harvested and the fruits were distributed for free to the public.
As part of this observance of the mitzvos of Shmittah, 10,000 yeshiva students from around the country participated in a massive Eretz HaKodesh-sponsored event at the KKL-owned carob fields as part of the Otzar Bais Din arrangement under the direction of Rav Yosef Efrati. The students were given the opportunity to pick the carobs from the trees, and the carobs were then transported to a factory that made carob cream from them.
All the children at the event participated in a comprehensive agricultural training from bnei Torah instructors, who taught them about the agricultural work in the KKL’s forests and the observance of the mitzvos of Shmittah according to halacha. After that, they enjoyed a fascinating virtual reality presentation prepared by members of Rav Efrati’s bais medrash about the halachos of Shmittah.
The children participated in picking and gathering the carobs, and then in the exciting activities and attractions arranged by the KKL Education Division.
“With siyata diShmaya, we were able to arrange activities with great educational value, as children learned hand-on, in the field, how to observe the mitzvah of Shmittah and to be careful to ensure that all work is done strictly according to halacha,” remarked Rabbi Shmuel Litov, deputy chairman of the KKL on behalf of Eretz HaKodesh. “In addition to learning about the mitzvos hateluyos ba’aretz, the entire family was treated to a day of fun and relaxation.”
These efforts to ensure Shmittah observance is the latest in a string of efforts and undertakings of Eretz HaKodesh to ensure and protect kedushas ha’aretz in Eretz Yisroel.
It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of Rabbi Yehoshua Fishman zt”l, former longtime executive vice president of Torah Umesorah.
Rabbi Fishman was also the rov of the oldest Orthodox shul in all of Brooklyn, Queens and Long Island, Congregation Beth Jacob Ohev Sholom.
Rabbi Fishman devoted decades to the chinuch of Yiddishe kinder, heading Torah Umesorah with great dedication.
He is survived by his wonderful family, following in his ways.
Yehi zichro boruch.
{Matzav.com}
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It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of Rebbetzin Ahuva Liba Klein a”h.She was 94.
Rebbetzin Klein was the wife of the Ungvarer Rov, Rav Menashe Klein zt”l, noted posek and author of Mishneh Halachos.
She was a daughter of Rav Dovid Shlomo Frankel, author of Be’er Dovid.
Throughout their life together, the rebbetzin was a pillar of support to her illustrious husband.
She passed away in Eretz Yisroel.
Yehi zichro boruch.
{Matzav.com}
A group of visitors from Lakewood who arrived on a Yarchei Kallah in Eretz Yisroel heard divrei chizuk at the residence of Rav Bentzion Hakohein Kook, Rosh Bais Horaah Haklali.
Rav Kook remarked: “When disputes and quarrels multiply among us…until God forbid people insult and humiliate each other, one community against another, and even drag the disputes inside their homes, an atmosphere of discord is created…and because of this, the haters of Klal Yisroel raise their heads against the chareidim l’devar Hashem. And if, God forbid, the matter does not stop, and the internal disputes continue, even the hatred of the nations of Eisav…increases.”
He added that “recently, it became known that the UN mission requested to investigate a plot about the killing of Palestinian children for organ trafficking. This is disturbing and reminds us of the dark days of blood libels against Jews.”
“Although these days the libel about using gentile blood for matzoh will no longer be accepted, the story is changed a bit…
“Unfortunately, we are already used to this kind of thing, since in all our years of exile we have suffered from it.”
He added, “We must try to look at the good things in others and ignoring their shortcomings, and measure for measure, the hatred of our enemies will be removed from us.”
{Matzav.com Israel}
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קנייבסקי עם נכד הגרמ”ש אדלשטייןצילום: שוקי לררחנות בת הגרי”ש קנייבסקי עם נכד הגרמ”ש אדלשטייןצילום: שוקי לררחנות בת הגרי”ש קנייבסקי עם נכד הגרמ”ש אדלשטייןצילום: שוקי לררחנות בת הגרי”ש קנייבסקי עם נכד הגרמ”ש אדלשטייןצילום: שוקי לררחנות בת הגרי”ש קנייבסקי עם נכד הגרמ”ש אדלשטייןצילום: שוקי לררחנות בת הגרי”ש קנייבסקי עם נכד הגרמ”ש אדלשטייןצילום: שוקי לררחנות בת הגרי”ש קנייבסקי עם נכד הגרמ”ש אדלשטייןצילום: שוקי לררחנות בת הגרי”ש קנייבסקי עם נכד הגרמ”ש אדלשטייןצילום: שוקי לררחנות בת הגרי”ש קנייבסקי עם נכד הגרמ”ש אדלשטייןצילום: שוקי לררחנות בת הגרי”ש קנייבסקי עם נכד הגרמ”ש אדלשטייןצילום: שוקי לררחנות בת הגרי”ש קנייבסקי עם נכד הגרמ”ש אדלשטייןצילום: שוקי לררחנות בת הגרי”ש קנייבסקי עם נכד הגרמ”ש אדלשטייןצילום: שוקי לררחנות בת הגרי”ש קנייבסקי עם נכד הגרמ”ש אדלשטייןצילום: שוקי לררחנות בת הגרי”ש קנייבסקי עם נכד הגרמ”ש אדלשטייןצילום: שוקי לררחנות בת הגרי”ש קנייבסקי עם נכד הגרמ”ש אדלשטייןצילום: שוקי לררחנות בת הגרי”ש קנייבסקי עם נכד הגרמ”ש אדלשטייןצילום: שוקי לררחנות בת הגרי”ש קנייבסקי עם נכד הגרמ”ש 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לררחנות בת הגרי”ש קנייבסקי עם נכד הגרמ”ש אדלשטייןצילום: שוקי לררחנות בת הגרי”ש קנייבסקי עם נכד הגרמ”ש אדלשטייןצילום: שוקי לררחנות בת הגרי”ש קנייבסקי עם נכד הגרמ”ש אדלשטייןצילום: שוקי לררחנות בת הגרי”ש קנייבסקי עם נכד הגרמ”ש אדלשטייןצילום: שוקי לררחנות בת הגרי”ש קנייבסקי עם נכד הגרמ”ש אדלשטייןצילום: שוקי לררחנות בת הגרי”ש קנייבסקי עם נכד הגרמ”ש אדלשטייןצילום: שוקי לררחנות בת הגרי”ש קנייבסקי עם נכד הגרמ”ש אדלשטייןצילום: שוקי לררחנות בת הגרי”ש קנייבסקי עם נכד הגרמ”ש אדלשטייןצילום: שוקי לררחנות בת הגרי”ש קנייבסקי עם נכד הגרמ”ש אדלשטייןצילום: שוקי לררחנות בת הגרי”ש קנייבסקי עם נכד הגרמ”ש אדלשטייןצילום: שוקי לררחנות בת הגרי”ש קנייבסקי עם נכד הגרמ”ש אדלשטייןצילום: שוקי לררחנות בת הגרי”ש קנייבסקי עם נכד הגרמ”ש אדלשטייןצילום: שוקי לררחנות בת הגרי”ש קנייבסקי עם נכד הגרמ”ש אדלשטייןצילום: שוקי לררחנות בת הגרי”ש קנייבסקי עם נכד הגרמ”ש אדלשטייןצילום: שוקי לררחנות בת הגרי”ש קנייבסקי עם נכד הגרמ”ש אדלשטייןצילום: שוקי לררחנות בת הגרי”ש קנייבסקי עם נכד הגרמ”ש אדלשטייןצילום: שוקי לררחנות בת הגרי”ש קנייבסקי עם נכד הגרמ”ש אדלשטייןצילום: שוקי לררחנות בת הגרי”ש קנייבסקי עם נכד הגרמ”ש אדלשטייןצילום: שוקי לררחנות בת הגרי”ש קנייבסקי עם נכד הגרמ”ש אדלשטייןצילום: שוקי לררחנות בת הגרי”ש קנייבסקי עם נכד הגרמ”ש אדלשטייןצילום: שוקי לררחנות בת הגרי”ש קנייבסקי עם נכד הגרמ”ש אדלשטייןצילום: שוקי לררחנות בת הגרי”ש קנייבסקי עם נכד הגרמ”ש אדלשטייןצילום: שוקי לררחנות בת הגרי”ש קנייבסקי עם נכד הגרמ”ש אדלשטייןצילום: שוקי לררחנות בת הגרי”ש קנייבסקי עם נכד הגרמ”ש אדלשטייןצילום: שוקי לררחנות בת הגרי”ש קנייבסקי עם נכד הגרמ”ש אדלשטייןצילום: שוקי לררחנות בת הגרי”ש קנייבסקי עם נכד הגרמ”ש אדלשטייןצילום: שוקי לררחנות בת הגרי”ש קנייבסקי עם נכד הגרמ”ש אדלשטייןצילום: שוקי לררחנות בת הגרי”ש קנייבסקי עם נכד הגרמ”ש אדלשטייןצילום: שוקי לררחנות בת הגרי”ש קנייבסקי עם נכד הגרמ”ש אדלשטייןצילום: שוקי לררחנות בת הגרי”ש קנייבסקי עם נכד הגרמ”ש אדלשטייןצילום: שוקי לררחנות בת הגרי”ש קנייבסקי עם נכד הגרמ”ש אדלשטייןצילום: שוקי לררחנות בת הגרי”ש קנייבסקי עם נכד הגרמ”ש אדלשטייןצילום: שוקי לררחנות בת הגרי”ש קנייבסקי עם נכד הגרמ”ש אדלשטייןצילום: שוקי לרר
It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of Rav Mordechai Avrohom Katz zt”l, rov of Khal Avreichei Torah Vodaas in Brooklyn, NY.
Rav Mottel was a son of Rav Aharon Aryeh Katz, mara d’asra of Khal Bais Aharon in Flatbush. His mother, Malka, was a daughter of Rav Elazar Twersky, Faltishaner Rebbe of Boro Park.
He was a noted marbitz Torah, who spent his years immersed in learning and teaching Torah, and performing numerous chassodim for others.
He is survived by his four children and seven siblings.
The levayah was held today at Khal Avreichei Torah Vodaas on 16th Avenue in Boro Park.
Yehi zichro boruch.
{Matzav.com / Photo: Holy Shots – Tsemach Glenn}
Yesterday, the Badatz of the Eidah Hachareidis issued a letter following the horrific attack in the Neve Ya’akov neighborhood in Yerushalayim on leil Shabbos in which seven people were murdered by a Palestinian terrorist.
The letter states, “Every heart faints and every head aches over the murder and wounding of Jews on leil Shabbos in Neve Ya’akov, and other similar cases that happened recently. We believe that the decree of heaven is upon us. We must be careful in our actions, and according to the Rambam it is a mitzvah from the Torah to cry out…for every trouble that comes upon the congregation…”
“It is a sacred duty for every member of Klal Yisroel to wake up to repentance and to correct his actions…”
The letter attacks those who taunt the Arabs. “At a time like this [we must speak out] in the face of the harm caused by the spirit of nationalism that has spread to incite hatred of the gentiles, when Jews in ultra-Orthodox clothing are taunting the gentiles in an alarming manner, as if the keepers of the Torah and mitzvos are involved in a conflict between Jews and Arabs.”
The letter also warns about the strict prohibition of going up to the Har Habayis: “In particular, it is obligatory to protest loudly against those who incite and push many to go up to the Har Habayis.”
The letters ends, “May the Lord have mercy on us to say that our troubles are enough…”
{Matzav.com Israel}
It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the passing of Reb Yehoshua Krauss z”l, owner of the renonwed Krauss Shtreimels. He was 63.
A resident of Williamsburg, Reb Yehoshua was a Tosher chossid. Reb Menachem Mendel Lipa Yehoshua Krauss was a son of Reb Asher Enzil Segal Krauss.
His company, Krauss Shtreimels, is one of the largest shtreimel factories in the United States.
Reb Yehoshua was know for his ehrlichkeit, and all his life he supported mosdos of Torah and chesed.
He leaves behind an outstanding family.
The levayah was held at the Tosh Bais Medrash in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, followed kevurah at the old Satmar chelkah in New Jersey.
Yehi zichro boruch.
{Matzav.com}
Twenty years ago, Roy (Yisroel) and Leah (Linda) Neuberger electrified the Jewish world with Roy’s book, From Central Park to Sinai, sharing the story of their return to Torah and Jewish life. Now, in the riveting From Sinai to Yerushalayim, bestselling author Rabbi Nachman Seltzer joins them on their fascinating journey, revealing new and unusual parts of the Neubergers’ lives, both before they became observant and in the two decades since they shared their story and became world-traveling ambassadors of Torah.
In this fascinating Inside ArtScroll interview, Roy and Leah describe how they were born to wealth and privilege, and educated in the most prestigious schools. Roy and Leah should have been contented and happy, and yet something was missing, always missing … until they found Torah. In this interview, and in the new page-turner of a book, prepare to discover an adventure-filled life, full of surprises and inspiration. [Purchase the new book HERE.]
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A Hatzolah volunteer from Williamsburg aboard a flight from New York City to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, is being credited with saving a fellow passenger’s life after she experienced a medical emergency, Fox News Digital reports.
The routine JetBlue flight 571 from LaGuardia Airport to Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport took a terrifying turn when a woman suddenly fainted in the aisle as the crew was handing out drinks. The Hatzolah volunteer, R’ Tzvi Schischa, stepped in when the woman collapsed about an hour into the flight and the pilot was preparing to make an emergency landing.
A photo provided by Simon Gifter shows the Williamsburg Hatzolah volunteer wearing blue gloves assisting a woman lying on the floor of the plane.
Schischa was able to get the woman stabilized so the flight could continue to its destination.
{Matzav.com}
All are asked to daven for the Kaliver Rebbe, who was taken to Lenox Hill Hospital in Manhattan.
The 84-year-old rebbe, who suffers from muscular dystrophy and paralysis, was rushed to the intensive care unit of the Manhattan hospital after he had not been feeling well for the past few days, and doctors found that a serious infection had spread in his body.
On the orders of the rebbe‘s personal doctor, he was taken to the hospital, where he is under the supervision of senior doctors and underwent medical treatment to address the infection.
The rebbe has dedicated his life to being mekarev Yidden of all stripes and backgrounds. In recent years he has fallen ill with muscular dystrophy and communicates through his eyes.
All are asked to daven for Rav Moshe ben Raizel.
{Matzav.com}
All are asked to daven for a refuah sheleimah for the Kossover Rebbe, Rav Shraga Feivish Hager, of the Borough Park neighborhood in Brooklyn, who has fallen ill and is in need of rachamei Shomayim.
The rebbe is a son-in-law of the gaavad of Zichron Meir, Rav Chaim Meir Halevi Wosner zt”l. In light of his illness, a large atzeres tefillah will be held today at 8:30 p.m. at the rebbe’s bais medrash at 13th Avenue and 55th Street in Boro Park.
All are asked to daven for Rav Shraga Feivish ben Malka.
{Matzav.com}
Lakewood, NJ – Beth Medrash Govoha has submitted plans to the Lakewood Planning Board seeking approval for the construction of six apartment buildings with 100 apartments in each on the 36-acre property it purchased from Georgian Court University this past March.
The property is located in an R-12 Zone, which permits only single family homes on lots no smaller than 12,000 square feet. However, Lakewood Township’s Planned Educational Campus ordinance allows for the construction of the buildings without requiring a variance, so long as they are built by BMG without outside investor participation and the apartments are rented exclusively to talmidim of the yeshiva.
Also included in the project is a separate structure intended to be used as a daycare center, as well as playgrounds in front of each of the six buildings.
{Matzav.com}
In light of a severe lack of rain in Israel, rabbonim of all communities are calling on Yidden daven for rainfall.
In a letter from the Badatz of the Eidah Hachareidis, the Badatz rabbonim stated that they were asked by Torah-observant farmers to daven for rain and to say in the bracha of Shomeia Tefillah in Shemoneh Esrei the bracha of “V’aneinu Borei Olam.”
The Badatz Machzikei Hadas of Belz also called on people to daven for rain.
At a meeting of the Rabbanut Hareishit L’Yisroel the Rabbinical Council, headed by the Chief Rabbis of Israel, Rav Yitzchak Yosef and Rav Dovid Lau, asked people to say the nusach hatefillah for rain, each community according to their nusach.
{Matzav.com Israel}
The Israel Democracy Institute published the annual “Yearbook of Chareidi Society in Israel,” which reviews the group’s changes and trends.
The proportion of working chareidi men in the first nine months of 2022 rose to 53.5%, the highest in 25 years, and 80% of chareidi women work, the report said, while the percentage of learning yungeleit increased by 2.4%.
Some 44% of the chareidi population live below the poverty line, and 47% of chareidim report difficulty in covering household expenses, compared to 36% among non-chareidim. The average income of chareidi workers is 61% of their non-chareidi counterparts.
The chareidi population stood at 1,280,000, constituting 13.3% of Israelis, and was growing at 4% annually.
Close to half (42.6%) live in two cities, with 26% in Yerushalayim and 16.6% in Bnei Brak. Another 23.7% live in chareidi cities such as Beit Shemesh, Modiin Illit, Beitar Illit, and Elad, and 12.4% live in cities with lower proportions of chareidim, including Ashdod, Petach Tikva, Haifa, Rechovot, and Netanya.
Despite their lower incomes, 82% of chareidim reported that their mental state was very good, compared to only 58% of non-chareidim. Chareidim also had higher rates in satisfaction indices, with 61% reporting the highest level of satisfaction with life (on a scale of 1–10) compared to 24% of non-chareidi Jews.
Likewise, 51% of chareidim are satisfied with their personal relationships, compared to 32% of non-chareidim. Chareidim also reported fewer negative feelings, with 18% reporting feeling lonely compared to 32% of non-chareidim, and 29% reporting feeling depressed compared to 45% among non-chareidim.
{Matzav.com Israel}
During a shmuess delivered by Rav Yaakov Adas, he referred to the storm surrounding the High Court’s ruling against Aryeh Deri and said, “I told Deri a long time ago not to come back. ‘They will look for you. Go get involved in chinuch. Now your job is to correct what is outside, not there [in the Knesset].”
Rav Adas made the remarks after a Shovavim gathering at Bais Medrash Tiferes Ugedulah in Yerushalayim led by Rav Shimon Dror.
Rav Ades added: “They offered him a plea deal. I told him that he would have to promise them that he would not be a minister or a member of Knesset. He would manage the education network. What does he have from being the Minister of the Interior and being responsible for the sewage of Umm El Fahm? Instead, he should work on the chinuch of thousands of yaldei Yisroel.”
Later, Rav Adas spoke out harshly against the members of the Knesset and said that what is happening there “is a shame and a disgrace.”
{Matzav.com Israel}
All are asked to say Tehillim for Rav Matisyahu Salomon, mashgiachof Beth Medrash Govoha in Lakewood, NJ, who is in need of rachamei Shomayim.
The mashgiach was airlifted to the hospital.
First seder this morning at Beth Medrash Govoha was paused to recite several kappitlach of Tehillim as a zechus for the mashgiach.
The name for Tehillim is Matisyahu Chaim ben Ettil.
{Matzav.com Newscenter}
It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of Rav Eliyahu Dovid Reichman zt”l, rosh kollel Imrei Yosef. He was 90.
Rav Eliyahu Dovid was born in Yerushalayim in 1932 to his parents, Reb Moshe Yehuda and Sara Nechama Reichman. His father was a rebbi at Yeshiva Toras Emes in Yerushalayim for forty years.
Rav Eliyahu Dovid learned at the Slabodka Yeshiva in Bnei Brak and became close to the Steipler Gain and to Maran Rav Elazar Menachem Man Shach.
He married his wife, Malka, the eldest daughter of the Maggid, Rav Shalom Mordechai Schwadron. After their wedding, they lived in Bnei Brak and Rav Eliyahu Dovid learned at Kollel Chazon Ish together with Rav Chaim Kanievsky.
On the advice of Rav Shach, he eventually moved to the southern city of Kiryat Gat, where he opened a yeshiva and kehillah. At an older age, he moved to Tzila, where he served as rov and greatly strengthened the residents of the Jewish community.
He eventually moved to the Neve Ya’akov neighborhood in Yerushalayim, where he was one of the senior rabbonim of the neighborhood, and served as the rosh kollel of the Imri Yosef kollel in Bnei Brak.
Rav Eliyahu Dovid wrote a number of acclaimed seforim. All his days, he was immersed in Torah and nothing else.
He leaves behind an outstanding family.
The levayah was held at his home in the Neve Ya’akov neighborhood in Yerushalayim, followed by kevurah on Har Hazeisim.
Yehi zichro boruch.
{Matzav.com Israel}
It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of Ben (Binyamin) Chafetz and Boruch Taub, who were killed in a crash of a plane that had gone missing near Westchester County Airport.
Both Ben and Boruch were residents of Cleveland, Ohio.
Yehi zichrom boruch.
Umacha Hashem dimah me’al kol ponim.
HERE IS THE ORIGINAL MATZAV.COM REPORT, 8 PM ET:
Weather is impacting the search for an aircraft carrying two frum men that lost contact with the ground shortly before approaching Westchester County Airport, Patch reports.
According to New York State Police, the single engine plane was last seen about 1 mile northwest of the airport in the area of the Kensico Reservoir.
A text message from one of the occupants stated: “Say tehillim… we lost engines… Call and have community say Tehillim.”
At least two dive teams are reportedly staging near the water.
The airport declared an emergency after losing contact with the plane on its approach to runway 16 at 5:36 p.m. today, Patch reports. Armonk Fire, Port Chester Fire, Purchase Fire, West Harrison Fire, Rye Brook Fire, Armonk EMS, Harrison EMS, and Port Chester EMS responded.
The NYS Department of Environmental Protection is helping with the search from the water.
“A single-engine Beechcraft A36 crashed after the pilot reported engine issues approximately one mile from Westchester County Airport in White Plains, N.Y.around 6:15 p.m.local time on Thursday, Jan. 19,” an FAA spokesperson said in a statement to Patch. “An unknown number of people were on board. Local search-and-rescue personnel are looking for the aircraft. The plane was traveling from John F. Kennedy International Airport to Cuyahoga County Airport in Richmond Heights, Ohio.”
All are asked to daven for Boruch Yosef Yechezkel ben Sarah Serach Eshka and Binyomin Riyal ben Brocha.
{Matzav.com}
A 2-year-old girl who was riding a scooter on Rechov Eli Hakohein in Yerushalayim and ran with it towards the street just avoided being hit by a bus that passed by.
Paramedics were called to the scene and gave the girl initial medical treatment, before evacuating her to Shaare Zedek Hospital for a head injury. Her status is defined as moderate.
Hershy Locker, a volunteer with Hatzolah, said: “When I arrived at the scene, I found a pedestrian, a 2-year-old girl, lying on the road with a severe head injury after being hit by a bus. With the help of paramedics and other medics from the Hatzolah and Magen David Adom, we gave her initial medical treatment. Afterwards, MDA evacuated her with a moderate head injury to a trauma center at Shaarei Tzedek Hospital in Yerushalayim.”
Avraham Vogel, a medic from Ichud Hatzolah who arrived at the scene, said, ” I gave her first aid at the scene of the accident. She was then transferred to Shaarei Zedek Medical Center, where at this point she is in moderate condition.”
The girl’s mother told Matzav.com that her “daughter flew into an oncoming Egged bus and was saved miraculously.” She added, “I was busy discussing the need for a new charity organization when this occurred. With gratitude to Hashem and in zechus of a complete refuah, I turn to you for help in praising His Great Name and helping the poverty stricken in Israel have Shabbos food delivered to their door each week by donating HERE.”
WATCH:
{Matzav.com Israel}
All are asked to say Tehillim for Rav Matisyahu Salomon, mashgiachof Beth Medrash Govoha in Lakewood, NJ, who is in need of a refuah shleimah after being hospitalized overnight.
The name for Tehillim is Matisyahu Chaim ben Ettil.
{Matzav.com Newscenter}
According to sources, Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch, venerated rosh yeshiva of the Slabodka Yeshiva and member of the Moetzes Gedolei Hatorah of Degel Hatorah, is in need of rachamei Shomayim, having contracted a serious illness.
The sources indicate that the rosh yeshiva is at his home.
All are asked to daven for Rav Moshe Hillel ben Mindel.
{Matzav.com Israel}
Hundreds protested a shop in Yerushalayim that sells cellphones that do not have Kosher authorization from the Rabbinical Board for Communications tonight. Arutz Sheva reports that at the beginning of the evening, police allowed the protesters to demonstrate, and officers blocked the road to vehicular traffic.
Later, in videos that were published this evening, a group of mounted police can be seen galloping through the crowd of chareidi protesters. National security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir asked Commissioner Kobi Shabtai to investigate the officers’ conduct and discern whether the use of force was justified.
The police are accusing the protesters of spraying pepper spray and throwing eggs at officers who separated the protesters from the cell phone shop.
{Matzav.com Israel}
It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of Rav Moshe Menachem Ludmir zt”l.
Rav Moshe Menachem fell at his home on Rechov Brandeis in Yerushalayim. He was hospitalized at Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital, where he passed away.
Rav Moshe Menachem was born in Yerushalayim and in his youth became close to the Bais Yisroel Ger.
He learned at Yeshiva Sefas Emes in Yerushalayim. He learned together with Rav Shlomo Zilberstein, rov of Ger in Bnei Brak.
He served for forty years as a rebbi at Yeshiva Mesoras Avos in Bnei Brak and Yeshiva Pnei Menachem.
His Shabbos shiurim were compiled into a sefer Yagdil Torah.
About a decade ago, he moved to Yerushalayim, where he would sit every day in the daily shiur of Rav Daniel Chaim Alter.
The levayah was held at the Gerer Bais Medrash on Rechov Yirmiyahu in Yerushalayim, then at the Shamgar funeral home, followed by kevurah on Har Hamenuchos.
Yehi zichro boruch.
{Matzav.com Israel}
It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the passing of Reb Naftali Hertz Meisler z”l of Antwerp/Yerushalayim. He was 68.
Reb Naftali Hertz was one of the most prominent supporters of Vizhnitz.
A son of Reb Chaim Shlomo Meisler, he learned at the Lucerne Yeshiva in Switzerland, under the rosh yeshiva Rav Yitzchak Dov Koppelman.
He lived for decades in Antwerp, Belgium and over a decade ago moved to Yerushalayim.
Reb Naftali Hertz was extremely close to the Yeshuos Moshe of Vizhnitz and his son, the present Vizhnitzer Rebbe of Bnei Brak.
He leaves behind one son, singer Reb Shlomo Meisler of Antwerp.
The levayah was held today at his home at 19 Rechov Minchas Yitzchok in Yerushalayim, followed by kevurah on Har Hamenuchos.
Yehi zichro boruch.
{Matzav.com}
Rabbi and Mrs. Yisroel Efraim Fishel Weinberger, from the Bobov-45 community, celebrated their first child after 33 years of marriage.
The following are video and photos of the bris:
הברית המרגשת היום לבן הרב וינברגרצילום: שלומי טריכטרהברית המרגשת היום לבן הרב וינברגרצילום: שלומי טריכטרהברית המרגשת היום לבן הרב וינברגרצילום: שלומי טריכטרהברית המרגשת היום לבן הרב וינברגרצילום: שלומי טריכטרהברית המרגשת היום לבן הרב וינברגרצילום: שלומי טריכטרהברית המרגשת היום לבן הרב וינברגרצילום: שלומי טריכטרהברית המרגשת היום לבן הרב וינברגרצילום: שלומי טריכטרהברית המרגשת היום לבן הרב וינברגרצילום: שלומי טריכטרהברית המרגשת היום לבן הרב וינברגרצילום: שלומי טריכטרהברית המרגשת היום לבן הרב וינברגרצילום: שלומי טריכטרהברית המרגשת היום לבן הרב וינברגרצילום: שלומי טריכטרהברית המרגשת היום לבן הרב וינברגרצילום: שלומי טריכטרהברית המרגשת היום לבן הרב וינברגרצילום: שלומי טריכטרהברית המרגשת היום לבן הרב וינברגרצילום: שלומי טריכטרהברית המרגשת היום לבן הרב וינברגרצילום: שלומי טריכטרהברית המרגשת היום לבן הרב וינברגרצילום: שלומי טריכטרהברית המרגשת היום לבן הרב וינברגרצילום: שלומי טריכטרהברית המרגשת היום לבן הרב וינברגרצילום: שלומי טריכטרהברית המרגשת היום לבן הרב וינברגרצילום: שלומי טריכטרהברית המרגשת היום לבן הרב וינברגרצילום: שלומי טריכטרהברית המרגשת היום לבן הרב וינברגרצילום: שלומי טריכטרהברית המרגשת היום לבן הרב וינברגרצילום: שלומי טריכטרהברית המרגשת היום לבן הרב וינברגרצילום: שלומי טריכטרהברית המרגשת היום לבן הרב וינברגרצילום: שלומי טריכטרהברית המרגשת היום לבן הרב וינברגרצילום: שלומי טריכטרהברית המרגשת היום לבן הרב וינברגרצילום: שלומי טריכטרהברית המרגשת היום לבן הרב וינברגרצילום: שלומי טריכטרהברית המרגשת היום לבן הרב וינברגרצילום: שלומי טריכטרהברית המרגשת היום לבן הרב וינברגרצילום: שלומי טריכטרהברית המרגשת היום לבן הרב וינברגרצילום: שלומי טריכטרהברית המרגשת היום לבן הרב וינברגרצילום: שלומי טריכטרהברית המרגשת היום לבן הרב וינברגרצילום: שלומי טריכטרהברית המרגשת היום לבן הרב וינברגרצילום: שלומי טריכטרהברית המרגשת היום לבן הרב וינברגרצילום: שלומי טריכטרהברית המרגשת היום לבן הרב וינברגרצילום: שלומי טריכטרהברית המרגשת היום לבן הרב וינברגרצילום: שלומי טריכטרהברית המרגשת היום לבן הרב וינברגרצילום: שלומי טריכטרהברית המרגשת היום לבן הרב וינברגרצילום: שלומי טריכטרהברית המרגשת היום לבן הרב וינברגרצילום: שלומי טריכטרהברית המרגשת היום לבן הרב וינברגרצילום: שלומי טריכטרהברית המרגשת היום לבן הרב וינברגרצילום: שלומי טריכטרהברית המרגשת היום לבן הרב וינברגרצילום: שלומי טריכטרהברית המרגשת היום לבן הרב וינברגרצילום: שלומי טריכטר
It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of Rav Shimon Baadani zt”l, head of the Moetzet Chachmei Hatorah of Shas. He was 94.
Rav Baadani had been hospitalized at Sheba Hospital in Tel Hashomer after being transferred from Maayanei Hayeshuah Hospital.
Rav Baadani was the rosh yeshiva of Yeshiva V’Kollel Torah V’Chaim in Bnei Brak.
Rav Baadani was born in 1928 in Chadera. His parents, Covid and Chaviva Baadani, were both from Yemen. They had had ten children in their homeland, of whom only two sons and one daughter survived. Rav Shimon was their eleventh and last child.
Rav Baadani’s parents initially sent him to a Mafdal (Religious Zionist) school that provided religious education. Rav Baadani went on to attend the Novardok Yeshiva in Chadera before transferring to the Beis Yosef-Novardok Yeshiva in Yerushalayim, where Maran Rav Elazar Menachem Man Shach was serving as rosh yeshiva.
After several years, at the suggestion of Rav Shach, Rav Baadani transferred to the Porat Yosef Yeshiva in Yerushalayim, then led by the rosh yeshiva Rav Ezra Attiya. Following the destruction of the Porat Yosef Yeshiva building in the Old City, Rav Baadani was asked to form a branch of the yeshiva in the Katamon neighborhood for the benefit of newly arrived immigrants. This branch later became an independent yeshiva, also led by Rav Baadani.
Rav Baadani co-founded Yeshiva V’Kollel Torah V’Chaim in Bnei Brak together with Rav Moshe Pardo. He taught thousands of talmidim who went on to serve as rabbonim, roshei yeshivas, dayanim and morei horaah.
Beginning in the 1970s, Rav Baadani involved himself in strengthening the Jewish communities of Latin America. He visited Argentina and regularly traveled to Mexico and Panama to be mechazeik those communities.
Rav Baadani was involved in the formation of the Shas party in 1984 and was a member of the Shas’ Moetzet Chachmei HaTorah.
Rav Baadani and his wife, Rabbanit Shulamit, nee Abadai, had seven children. His sons are Rav Dovid Yeshaya Baadani, rosh kollel of Kollel Taharos in Yerushalayim, Rav Moshe Baadani, rosh chaburah at the kollel; and Rav Chaim Baadani, director of Torah V’Chaim.
The levaya is being held at Kollel Torah V’Chayim on Rechov Rabi Akiva in Bnei Brak, followed by kevurah at the Ponevezh Bais hachaim.
Yehi zichro boruch.
{Matzav.com Israel}
At a gathering attended by leaders of Rav Zalman Leib Teitelbaum of Satmar’s kehillah, 7 million dollars were raised for new Satmar buildings in Kiryas Yoel and the surrounding areas belonging to the kehillah led by Rav Zalman Leib.
In a subsequent drasha, Rav Zalman Leib revealed that he had received a call from a chossid who expressed his desire to donate a sum of one and a half million dollars – anonymously.
Thus, eight and a half million dollars were raised in one day.
A review of the growth of the community in Kiryas Yoel was given at the gathering by the director of the local Satmar institutions, Rabbi Moshe Eli Ostreicher.
Additional fundraising gatherings are being held this week, with millions more expected to be donated.
{Matzav.com}
All are asked to daven for the head of the Moetzet Chachmei Hatorah of Shas, Rav Refoel Shimon ben Chaviva Baadani, who is hospitalized at Sheba Hospital in Tel Hashomer in critical condition.
Rav Baadani, 95, was first hospitalized in serious condition at Maayanei Hayeshuah Hospital at the end of the month of Cheshvan after undergoing resuscitation. Some time ago he was transferred for further rehabilitation to Tel Hashomer, but his condition has deteriorated and he was transferred to the intensive care unit.
Due to pneumonia, his condition has continued to deteriorate.
In the meantime, Shas Chairman Aryeh Deri left his niece’s wedding last night and rushed to Tel Hashomer Hospital to be with Rav Baadani.
All are asked to continue davening for Rav Baadani’s full recovery.
{Matzav.com Israel}
Rav Meir Mazuz, rosh yeshiva of the Kisei Rahamim Yeshiva, responded in his weekly shiur last night to the uproar following his remarks last week against the Pride Parades and against Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana, the first openly toeivah Knesset Speaker in Israel’s history, Arutz Sheva reports.
“The country is in an uproar. What? I said? No one else said the same thing? The Torah said ‘it is an abomination’, what do you want from my life?” said Rabbi Mazuz.
Last week, Rabbi Mazuz implicitly hinted that Ohana, who served as Public Security Minister at the time of the Meron disaster in 2021, was responsible for the disaster.
“And impudence above all, two years ago when there was the disaster in Meron, they say that the minister who was responsible is infected with this disease, so there is the question of why did this happen to us? It happened, we have stay away from it!” Before that, he attacked the pride parade and called it “the parade of beasts.”
“We need to stay away from the pride parade, they are boasting that they are doing the pride parade in Yerushalayim. When there is such a parade we should shut the windows, and tell the children that ‘there is a parade of beasts here’, these are animals walking on two feet, this is impudence,” said Rav Mazuz.
Eliyahu Haliwa, who turned out to be a Lebanese Muslim after marrying a frum Syrian girl from Brooklyn, NY, in 2021 and later underwent a “giyur lechumrah” to become a full-fledged Jew, has now given a get to his wife following a ruling by the Tel Aviv Rabbinical Court.
As first reported by Matzav.com last year, Rabbi Avrohom Reich, founder of Kehillas Hatzolas Yisroel, one of the first kiruv organizations in Brooklyn for Russian Jews, said that after speaking to Haliwa’s mother, who lives in Texas, who said she was Jewish, Haliwa underwent a giyur lechumrah. Rabbi Reich, as we reported, did not conduct the conversion himself, but witnessed the conversion being made by a bais din, confirming this in a letter seen below.
Haliwa then went to visit Israel with the intention of settling there. At the time, he wanted to get back together with his wife.
Meanwhile, Haliwa said that leaders and rabbis from the Syrian community tried to persuade his wife to cut ties with him.
“I want everyone to know, including the Syrian community, that they will not be able to cut me off from my wife,” he said at the time. “Next year I will be here with my wife, no matter how much they try to cut us off.” As for her family, and whether they will one day accept him, he said, “I hope that one day they will accept me. I have nothing against them.” He added, “I am happy to be here in the Land of Israel, in the Holy Land. This is my home, this is my place. I am surrounded by good people. I am surrounded by the army and police who protect me. I am happy here. The air here is different. This is where I belong. With the help of Hashem, I will live here, I will die here, and I will be buried here, and soon I will be reunited here with my wife.”
Earlier, Haliwa had said that he stopped putting on tefillin because he knew he is not allowed to. Eliyahu was then interviewed on the radio by broadcaster Zev Brenner.
“I was wrong and did a lot of damage to the bride’s family,” he said. “I’m not a victim, and not trying to be one. I just want another chance. I want to fix what happened.” He added, “I want people to understand me, but unfortunately people respond that I deserve death. All the news networks wrote harsh things about me. I want to be a Jew. I really want to convert. I have a Jewish soul. I want to be ultra-Orthodox. I wanted to study Torah long before the wedding.”
The issues became too complex and his wife ended up approaching the Tel Aviv Rabbinical Court with a letter from rabbonim stating that Haliwa was a Muslim at the time of their marriage, so the marriage should be cancelled retroactively. The Rabbinical Court did its own independent research and concluded that while Haliwa’s great-grandmother is a Muslim in Lebanon, she descends from Jewish lineage.
The Tel Aviv Rabbinical Court put a restraining order on Haliwa that required him to give a get if he wanted to leave the country, and now, he has granted the get, freeing his wife.
{Matzav.com Israel}
It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of Rav Yosef Lieberman zt”l, rosh kollel of Kollel Shomrei Hachomos and the rov of the Sadigura Bais Medrash in Yerushalayim, on Shabbos morning. He was 95.
Rav Lieberman, a renowned gaon and talmid chochom, was the author of Sefer Mishnas Yosef.
Rav Lieberman was born in Pressburg, Slovakia, a son of Rav Tuvia Lieberman, who was a descendant of the Chasam Sofer, and Rechel Lieberman, a daughter of Rav Yekusiel Freidiger, a descendant of Rav Yaakov Yisrael Twerski of Cherkas.
As a youngster, he became close to the rov of the city, Rav Akiva Sofer, the Daas Sofer, a relationship that continued even when they immigrated to Eretz Yisrael.
He married his wife, Malka, a daughter of Rav Yechiel Chaim Labin, the rebbe of Makova, who was a brother-in-law of Rav Aharon of Belz.
He became close to the Tchebiner Rov, Rav Dov Berish Weidenfeld.
Rav Lieberman was appointed to serve as the rosh kollel of Kollel SHomreo Hachomos and, when he moved to the Neveh Zvi neighborhood in Yerushalayim, as the rov of the Sadigura Bais Medrash.
Rav Lieberman was a noted posek and a senior editor and contributor to the ArtScroll Talmud.
In recent years, he lived in the home of his son-in-law and daughter, Rabbi and Mrs. Menachem Mendel Fuchs in the Ramot neighborhood of Yerushalayim.
Rav Lieberman leaves behind an outstanding family, including his sons: Rav Yehoshua Lieberman, Rosh Beis Midrash L’Dayanus Heichal Hamishpat and Rosh Kollel Iyun Shevet Halevi, Rav Yekusial Leiberman, one of the rabbonim of the Sadigura Bais Medrash in Yerushalayim, Mrs. Weiss, wife of Rav Chaim Weiss, rov in Beitar, Mrs. Shmerler, wife of Rav Chaim Shmerler, Mrs. Fuchs, wife of Rav Menachem Mendel Fuchs, rv of Kehillas Shomrei Hachomos in Ramot.
The levayah was held tonight at the Sadigura Bais Medrash on Rechov Shmuel Hanovi in Yerushalayim, passing Kollel Shomrei Hachomos in Botei Ungarin, followed by kevurah on Har Hamenuchos near the tziyun of Rav Aharon of Belz.
Yehi zichro boruch.
{Matzav.com}
Rabbi and Mrs. Efraim Fishel Yisroel Weinberger, from the Bobov-45 community, have celebrated their first child after 33 years of marriage.
11 years ago, the Weinbergers moved from Boro Park to Yerushalayim.
Rabbi Weinberger, 52, is a son of the Turka av bais din and serves as a maggid shiur at a yeshiva in Yerushalayim.
He and his wife married in 1989. Rav Shlomo of Bobov attended their wedding 33 years ago.
The Weinbergers now live in Romema.
The baby was born today at the Laniado Hospital in Kiryat Sanz, Netanya.
{Matzav.com Israel}
Following a positive reaction among the chareidi public following the decision to lower the tax on sweet drinks in Israel, Rav Bentzion Mutzafi, rosh yeshiva of Yeshiva Bnei Tzion, attacked the decision of Finance Minister Betzalel Smotrich.
“What fools these are,” said Rav Bentzion. “This donkey is going to lower the tax on sugary drinks? Fool. We are the number one country in amputations. Where does this come from? From the disease of diabetes. We have over a million of diabetics, over ten percent of the population, and that’s the known ones.”
The rosh yeshiva went on, “There are those who have silent diabetes who have not discovered it. Diabetes comes when you eat sugar and drink sweets, and it also makes you fat, and also brings terrible diseases. Diabetes is a terrible plague.”
According to Rav Bentzion, he understands the cancellation of the tax on disposable plastics and the like, but not the cancellation of the tax on sugary drinks: “Here comes this fool. One-time [disposable plastics], I understand you. Fine, remove [the tax], but sugary drinks?”
{Matzav.com Israel}
An incident with a Sefer Torah falling at the Ponovezh Yeshiva in Bnei Brak caused a great shock across the Torah world and led the roshei yeshiva to issue a detailed letter to the talmidim.
Beforehand, the rosh yeshiva, Rav Gershon Edelstein, had sent the nosi of the yeshiva, Rav Leizer Kahaneman, to Rav Moshe Shaul Klein, who was asked about the opinion of Rav Shmuel Wosner.
The letter published by the yeshiva was signed by the roshei yeshiva, Rav Gershon Edelstein and Rav Berel Povarsky alongside Rav Kahaneman.
In the letter, the roshei yeshiva wrote that the talmidim should not fast, because this will cause bitul Torah. Rather, the roshei yeshiva set this Thursday, the 12th of Teves, as a day of teshuvah and hisroerus. “On this day, all members of the yeshiva will say after Mincha the 19th chapter of Tehillim, and all those who were in the bais midrash when the Sefer Torah fell will eat only bread and water on this day without putting anything on the bread and no other foods. This will be until tzeis hakochavim…”
Also, the bochurim will take it upon themselves to strengthen their respect for the bais medrash and for seforim, and each talmid will take it upon himself to return seforim to their places together with two other seforim he did not study from and return them to the seforim shranks.
{Matzav.com Israel}
The sight of thousands of people in a beis midrash without wearing a rekkel and hat is not a common one in heimishe circles — unless these are the same chassidim about whom the Sokolover Rebbe zt”l said that the Imrei Emes of Gur has thousands of chassidim who do not don tefillin and do not fast on Yom Kippur — the tinokos shel beis rabban. Children from across Eretz Yisroel gathered in the main Gerrer beis medrash in Yerushalayim in the waning hours of Chanukah — after Mincha of Zos Chanukah — to depart from the yom tov of lights with the fire of Torah.
The stirring event began hours earlier, when thousands of excited children boarded buses in cities around the country for the inaugural “Haragil B’ner” program. It was organized by the new organization, “Vechol Banayich,” which has set as its mission to help children study and review what they’ve learned.
Outside it was a stormy Yerushalayim winter, but even the rainwater which poured down from the steps of the beis medrash couldn’t extinguish the love the children have for Torah. Inside the shul it was toasty, warmed by the sound of so many pure children loudly reciting “Amen” and “Amen Yehei Shemei Rabbah” at the last Mincha of Chanukah 2022. The yearning for Chanukah has already begun, with everyone reciting Ve’al Hanissim one final time and hanging on to the kedusha of the chag which marks the last of the nissim performed for our forefathers.
The new beis medrash, which has had the chance to witness many events during the short time since it was built, has at times had the announcement go out that “the seats are not intended for children” who must find their place in the aisles. This time, though, these children are the guests of honor, as the flags hoisted in every corner announce.
The management of the beis medrash, and its head, Rav Yonasan Bornstein, have prepared refreshments in advance and gave every indication that they are proud to host the gathering. The organization Vechol Banayich even boasts having its new logo joining those of the other many enterprises in the Ichud Mosdos Gur umbrella.
Similar to the third horn that announces a train’s imminent departure, the sound of the children sliding into their seats and shifting in their chairs signified that the event was momentarily beginning.
The program was opened with a beautiful address by Hagaon Harav Avraham Mordechai Altar, the son of the Gerrer Rebbe shlita, who heads Vechol Banayich. Rav Avraham Mordechai spoke to the children, urging them to continue trodding on the path of Torah and not to waste their precious days of youth which, as the phrase goes, is “sweeter than old age.”
Presently, the rabbanim who will be testing the children entered the beis medrash. These are Hagaon Harav Yitzchak Yosef shlita, the Rishon L’tzion, and Hagaon Harav Chaim Yitzchak Isaac Landa shlita, the rav of Bnei Brak. The two rabbanim sat with the children for an entire hour, clearly enjoying how well they understood the Gemara. The rabbanim asked and the children answered, with the crowd following along with bated breath.
“Which mitzvos,” one of the testers questioned, “is mentioned in the Gemara as something that Hashem also does?” Thousands of hands went up as the children attempted to answer the question. And when the rav asked, “Which things carry a requirement to have a house of at least four amos?” you begin counting on your fingers the list of things that are mentioned in the Gemara — and you suddenly notice that all the people sitting next to you are doing the same. Thousands of people. One mind.
Similar to light bulbs scattered on a white ceiling, the black-clad rebbeim who sit between the students with their white shirts appear like black fire on top of white fire as they witness the fruits of their labor.
The test concluded with a bracha from the rabbanim. Rav Yitzchak Yosef recounted some of the accomplishments of his great father, the Rishon L’tzion Hagaon Harav Ovadia Yosef zt”l. “I stood next to him during the levayah of Rav Yosef Shlomo Kahneman, the Ponovezer Rav, and the hespedim were in Yiddish,” he recalled. “My father did not understand Yiddish, so what did he do during the entire time of the hespedim? He recited from memory four masechtos of mishnayos, word for word.”
Rav Yosef then revealed a personal story he heard from his father. “When he was a child,” Rav Yosef said, “he had a difficult time remembering what he learned. What did he do? He reviewed endlessly. He was not interested in anything except his Torah studies, until the gates of Torah were opened to him and he enlightened the whole world.”
The rav of Bnei Brak, Rav Landa shlita, regaled his young audience with stories of greatness that inspired generations of Gerrer children. He told of the group of yungeleit who traveled abroad along with a delegation of shochtim; they took advantage of the breaks between work to study with the Mezumanim program. Or about the precious children who reached out to the Rebbe with their small hands to receive a bracha — and all they wanted was a sincere request to know the entirety of Shas under Mezumanim.
The rabbanim then benched the children who were tested and knew the material, as well as for all the assembled, followed by the emotional singing of tunes which beg Hashem for success in Torah. “Avinu Av Harachaman racheim aleinu…”
There were tears in many eyes hearing the pure children’s voices rise and fall as they begged for their eyes to be “enlightened in your Torah” and their hearts unified in love and fear for Hashem.
“You have the bracha,” Hagaon Harav Moshe Chaim Denderovitz affectionately informed the yeshiva students. “All that remains for you to do is to realize what you have been blessed with, decide the direction of life that suits you, and walk on it until the promised success is in sight.”
A major patron of this project who adamantly to refuses to be named here said: “this is a project that is so near and dear to the Rebbe shlita; it has been his dream for many years. For me, it’s the greatest Zechus to be able to be a part of bringing it to fruition, and to see the rebbe witness the fruits of his labor.”
The massive event capped the days of Chanukah, enabling the children to seize the light of Torah and to stretch the power of the lecht through the long nights of Teves.
In Bnei Brak, the joyous engagement of the youngest son of Rav Shlomo Kanievsky, Rosh Yeshivas Kiryas Melech and Tiferes Tzion, was celebrated. The chosson, Aharon Kanievsky, a grandson of Maran Rav Chaim Kanievsky, is a talmid of Kiryas Melech. The kallah is a daughter of Rav Yosef Lauer and agranddaughter of Rav M. A. Braverman zt”l.
אירוסי בן זקוניו של הגר”ש קנייבסקיצילום: שוקי לרראירוסי בן זקוניו של הגר”ש קנייבסקיצילום: שוקי לרראירוסי בן זקוניו של הגר”ש קנייבסקיצילום: שוקי לרראירוסי בן זקוניו של הגר”ש קנייבסקיצילום: שוקי לרראירוסי בן זקוניו של הגר”ש קנייבסקיצילום: שוקי לרראירוסי בן זקוניו של הגר”ש קנייבסקיצילום: שוקי לרראירוסי בן זקוניו של הגר”ש קנייבסקיצילום: שוקי לרראירוסי בן זקוניו של הגר”ש קנייבסקיצילום: שוקי לרראירוסי בן זקוניו של הגר”ש קנייבסקיצילום: שוקי לרראירוסי בן זקוניו של הגר”ש קנייבסקיצילום: שוקי לרראירוסי בן זקוניו של הגר”ש קנייבסקיצילום: שוקי לרראירוסי בן זקוניו של הגר”ש קנייבסקיצילום: שוקי לרראירוסי בן זקוניו של הגר”ש קנייבסקיצילום: שוקי לרראירוסי בן זקוניו של הגר”ש קנייבסקיצילום: שוקי לרראירוסי בן זקוניו של הגר”ש קנייבסקיצילום: שוקי לרראירוסי בן זקוניו של הגר”ש קנייבסקיצילום: שוקי לרראירוסי בן זקוניו של הגר”ש קנייבסקיצילום: שוקי לרראירוסי בן זקוניו של הגר”ש קנייבסקיצילום: שוקי לרראירוסי בן זקוניו של הגר”ש קנייבסקיצילום: שוקי לרראירוסי בן זקוניו של הגר”ש קנייבסקיצילום: שוקי לרראירוסי בן זקוניו של הגר”ש קנייבסקיצילום: שוקי לרראירוסי בן זקוניו של הגר”ש קנייבסקיצילום: שוקי לרראירוסי בן זקוניו של הגר”ש קנייבסקיצילום: שוקי לרראירוסי בן זקוניו של הגר”ש קנייבסקיצילום: שוקי לרראירוסי בן זקוניו של הגר”ש קנייבסקיצילום: שוקי לרראירוסי בן זקוניו של הגר”ש קנייבסקיצילום: שוקי לרראירוסי בן זקוניו של הגר”ש קנייבסקיצילום: שוקי לרראירוסי בן זקוניו של הגר”ש קנייבסקיצילום: שוקי לרראירוסי בן זקוניו של הגר”ש קנייבסקיצילום: שוקי לרראירוסי בן זקוניו של הגר”ש קנייבסקיצילום: שוקי לרראירוסי בן זקוניו של הגר”ש קנייבסקיצילום: שוקי לרראירוסי בן זקוניו של הגר”ש קנייבסקיצילום: שוקי לרראירוסי בן זקוניו של הגר”ש קנייבסקיצילום: שוקי לרר
Rafi Perlstein, a chossid of the Kretchnif dynasty where violin playing is an inseparable part of Chanukah lighting, wrote about the history of the centuries-old Kretchnif-Nadvorna tradition.
“Since I was a small child, I waited all year to hear the rebbe’s special niggun,” he said.
The custom began with Rav Mordechai of Nadvorna (1824–1894), who used to tell his sons: “Who will meet the Moshiach and play before him? Chaim the musician? Maybe you will merit to greet him and play before him.”
The story is told of Rav Mordechai’s son, Rav Meir of Kretchnif, who went to cheder on his own accord when his father was absent from home for a long time. Upset that the teacher had usurped the duty to teach his son Torah, Rav Mordechai ordered Meir not to look at any sefer until he forgot alef beis. But having a good memory, Rav Meir took a while to forget, and he meanwhile built a violin and learnt to play proficiently.
Playing the violin became such a holy avodah for Rav Meir that his father would wake him at night to hear him play. The avodah was passed from generation to generation, with the instrument generally played after lighting the Chanukah licht.
The current Kretchnifer Rebbe continues the custom of his father, who often played a special tune attributed to his grandfather, Rav Eliezer Zev of Kretchnif, to play the violin to perek 13 of Tehillim, “Hinei mah tov umah no’im.”
“The purpose of it all is the minhag, the sacred avodah, the sublime gathering of the chassidim and principally, the mesores,” Perlstein says.
{Matzav.com}
Rav Meir Mazuz said in a video released last night that Israel’s new Knesset speaker – the first person in the role who lives a toeivah lifestyle – was “infected with a deadly disease.”
Rav Mazuz also suggested during his weekly drasha that new Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana’s toeivah lifestyle caused the deadly Meron tragedy in 2021. Ohana served as Public Security Minister during the tragedy that killed 45 people.
The comments on Ohana came after Rav Mazuz mentioned the annual LGBT Pride Parade in Yerushalayim, telling residents to close their windows when it happened. He also advised people to explain to their children the parade consists of “animals that walk on two.”
“You should distance yourself from it,” he continued. “This is a parade of animals. You have no business looking at it. What can we do about them?”
Then, referring to Ohana without using his name, Mazuz continued: “Two years ago, when there was the disaster in Meron, they say that the minister who was responsible was infected with this disease. Is there a question why this happened to us?” –i24 News
Following the unprecedented success of the historic Adirei HaTorah event held for men at Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on Sunday, June 12, last year, organizers have announced that a second such maamad will take place this coming spring, on Sunday, June 4, two weeks after Shavuos.
The venue and other info have not been released publicly yet.
Last year’s event was attended by approximately 25,000 people, paying tribute to the 6,500 yungeleit of Beth Medrash Govoha in Lakewood.
A subsequent women’s gathering in Lakewood honored the n’shei chayil who enable the limud haTorah of the menfolk.
{Matzav.com}
Rav Elya Meir Sorotzkin zt”l became a rosh yeshivah at a very young age and, with “blood, sweat and tears,” as he would often say, built his yeshiva into a premier institution, and, more importantly, built individual talmidim. Because he personally went through the painstaking process of self-discovery and growth, he was able to identify with the struggles and triumphs of his talmidim in a way that few could.
This Inside ArtScroll interview features a conversation with a close talmid, Rabbi Tzvi Uhr, who describes the lifelong impact that his rebbi had on his talmidim, giving us an appreciation for how every page in the biography of Rav Elya Meir Sorotzkin will inspire and uplift us. PURCHASE THE BOOK HERE.
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הלווית הרבנית אזרחי ע”הצילום: אלי וולפאהלווית הרבנית אזרחי ע”הצילום: אלי וולפאהלווית הרבנית אזרחי ע”הצילום: אלי וולפאהלווית הרבנית אזרחי ע”הצילום: אלי וולפאהלווית הרבנית אזרחי ע”הצילום: אלי וולפאהלווית הרבנית אזרחי ע”הצילום: אלי וולפאהלווית הרבנית אזרחי ע”הצילום: אלי וולפא
It is with shock and sadness that Matzav.com reports the sudden passing of Rabbi Morris (Moshe Yitzchok) Esformes z”l.
Rabbi Esformes suffered a heart attack and passed away.
Rabbi Esformes was one of the Torah world’s noted philanthropists and baalei chesed, with a golden heart that was open to one and all.
In the city of Chicago, Illinois, where he resided, Rabbi Esformes was one of the pillars, a close friend to virtually every local mosad, and particularly Yeshivas Telshe Chicago, having a personal kesher with the roshei yeshiva.
Rabbi Esformes’s sudden passing leaves a gaping void in the hearts of all who knew him and the thousands across the world who benefitted from his kindness and generosity.
He is survived by his wonderful family of children and grandchildren following in his ways.
The levayah will be held at 10:30 p.m. at Ida Crown Jewish Academy, located ar 8233 Central Park Avenue in Skokie, Illinois.
Yehi zichro boruch.
{Matzav.com}
Rav Dovid Yosef, a member of the Moetzet Chachmei Hatorah of Shas and son of Chacham Ovadia Yosef, revealed in a shiur to his talmidim that he instructed Shas chairman Aryeh Deri not to pass laws that would discriminate against the secular in Israel, Arutz Sheva reports.
“You hear what’s happening in the media, they keep saying ‘the religious are going to enact laws, to restrict and change’. I want to reassure the secularists, we have no intention of making laws to increase hatred and division, we want to unite, we want to bring closer, we don’t want to divide,” Rav Yosef said. “We instructed Aryeh Deri and our members of the Knesset not to submit laws that would restrict the secular public, we do not retaliate through threats and laws. The Chazon Ish said that we have never seen a person who had stones thrown at him on Shabbos and because of that he repented. This is not our way, we will not follow the way of coercion. My father, Rav Ovadia, his way was always one of love and friendship and closeness, that will be our way. We will not act like the previous government, which abused us and acted against us in such a harsh manner. We will chart a gentler path and bring hearts together,” he said.
As in previous years, Zos Chanukah was celebrated with an evening of thanksgiving – an expression of Hoda’ah, Simcha and Chizuk of Emunah and Bitachon – in celebration of the fifth anniversary of the miraculous release of R’ Sholom Mordechai Rubashkin from a place called Prison on Zos Chanukah 5778.
WATCH:
In an extraordinary event organized by Ichud Mosdos Gur, about 200 people were tested on entire masechtos or perakim of Gemara by heart. This is hardly earth shattering, considering that these tests are regularly administered. What was unique was the fact that those taking them are men who work the entire day and utilize their morning and evening hours to study. Yet, the knowledge they evinced was flawless.
It is no secret that the Gerrer Rebbe shlita strongly encourages his chassidim to study the entirety of Shas, setting a personal goal for each man in his vast network of mosdos according to their ability. He established the organization “Mezumanim” to push them to attain a clear knowledge of dafim, perakim or masechtos.
After a series of public events in recent years, during which hundreds of exceptional yungeleit and bochurim were tested on all or part of Shas, it is now the turn of the “baalei batim,” as they are called in Gur. For this purpose, a special kollel network called Chedvasa was established. Founded as a private initiative by a group of chassidim, at the order of the Rebbe, Rav Yonasan Bornstein, the menahel of the Ichud, was directed to promote it by merging it with Ichud Mosdos Gur.
Chedvasa unites close to 2,000 Gerrer chassidim who work for most of the day. But for two hours a day, they disconnect from everything around them, turn off their cell phones, and concentrate on one goal: to learn an additional daf of Gemara.
This enterprise has about sixty branches across Eretz Yisroel, the United States and Europe, and is headed by the rebbe’s son, Rav Nechemiah Alter shlita.
Last week, Chedvasa witnessed a major highlight when participants from all over the world converged for a testing marathon, led by the Gerrer Rebbe and in the presence of thousands of chassidim — not including kollel yungeleit and bochurim who were not invited to the event. They answered with a latent clarity to hundreds of questions asked by gedolim such as Rav Yitzchak Zilberstein, the rav of Ramat Elchanan; Rav Yaakov Meir Stern, a world renowned posek; and Rav Yosef Zhaler, the Rosh Yeshiva of the Sadiger yeshiva.
Attendees included a fascinating variety of manual workers, programmers, accountants, therapists, and professionals in about 70 other fields. What united them is the two hours of Torah study which for them is the mainstay of the day. It is obvious that these men have attained great levels.
At the event, held under the auspices of, and funded by, the Yerushalayim Municipality, was sponsored in memory of the late Rav Avraham Noach Klein zt”l, a special and unique example of a businessman who attained great Torah knowledge simultaneous to his successful business career. His son, Rav Yaakov Klein from the United States, recited Kaddish after the siyum in his memory, and his son-in-law, Rav Pinchas Traube, one of the most respected marbitzei Torah at the Gerrer kollel in Yerushalayim, spoke about his father-in-law.
Rav Ephraim Green, a grandson of Rav Avraham Noach’s, made a siyum during the program.
At the event’s conclusion, attendees participated in a sumptuous seudas mitzvah, with close to 2,000 men dancing for an hour in joy.
The siyum was enhanced by the singer, Reb Dov Friedman and the Yedidim International Choir, along with other musicians from the Gerrer kehilla.
It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the passing of Rebbetzin Shulamit Ezrachi a”h. She was 91.
The Rebbetzin was the wife of Rav Boruch Mordechai Ezrachi, rosh yeshiva of Yeshiva Ateres Yisroel and member of the Moetzes Gedolei Hatorah of Degel Hatorah, and a daughter of the famed mashgiach Rav Meir Chodosh, who biography she authored.
The Rebbetzin was born in Yerushalayim, a daughter of Rav Meir and Rebbetzin Tziviah leah Chodoesh.
When she was young, she traveled with her mother to Lithuania to receive the brocha of the Chafetz Chaim together with her older brother, Rav Aharon Chodosh, mashgiach of the Mir Yeshiva, both of whom were privileged to see the holy face of the Chofetz Chaim.
She grew up in the area of the Chevron yeshiva in Geula and from a young age was connected to the yeshiva. She observed the compassionate leadership of her father and mother towards the talmidim, as the family lived on the first floor of the yeshiva. Their home was open to yeshiva students day and night, every day of the week. On the counter in the kitchen there were always cookies intended for the members of the yeshiva, who frequently came in to make themselves a cup of tea and avails themselves of the food there.
She was one of the first students of Seminart Beis Ya’akov in Yerushalayim.
She married Rav Baruch Mordechai, one of the esteemed bochurim of the Chevron yeshiva who would go on to become one of the gedolei hador.
The Rebbetzin was an outstanding mechaneches who touches the lives of an untold number of students.
Her house, like her parents’, was wide open to all her husband’s talmidim, who would enter without knocking, knowing that they were welcome. She was the aim hayeshiva of Ateres Yisroel.
Over the years, she authored a number of biographical books, among them about her father Rav Meir Chodosh and a comprehensive biography of the Chofetz Chaim.
She is survived by her husband, the Rosh Yeshiva, her son, Rav Bentzion, and four daughters.
The levayah will be held tomorrow at her home on Rechov Kasuto in the Bayit Vegan neighborhood in Yerushalayim, followed by kevurah on Har Hazeisim.
Yehi zichrah boruch.
{Matzav.com Israel}
It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of Rabbi Asher Green zt”l.
Born in St. Louis Missouri, Rabbi Green moved to New York to study in Yeshiva Torah Vodaas at the age of twelve.
After graduating high school at the age of eighteen, he moved on to Beth Medrash Govoha in Lakewood, NJ, where he learned under the rosh yeshiva, Rav Aharon Kotler zt”l, for five zemanim.
Later, he learned at Bais Medrash Elyon and Bais Yosef (Novardok) under Rav Avrohom Jofen zt”l until he returned to St. Louis, where, with Rav Shmuel Faivelson zt”l, established a Yeshiva Gedola there.
He subsequently lived in Monsey for many years. In 2000, he returned to Lakewood and resumed learning at Bais Medrash Govoha.
He is survived by his children, Rabbi Pinchos Green, Rabbi Tzvi Green, Rabbi Doniel Green, Rabbi Kalman Green, Rabbi Dovi Green, and Rabbi Zevi Green.
The levayah is being held now at the Congregation Sons of Israel Holocaust Memorial Chapel, located at 613 Ramsey Avenue, in Lakewood, NJ, followed by kevurah in the adjacent bais hachaim.
Yehi zichro boruch.
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Two bochurim, Nosson Nota Rosenbaum, 18, a student of Yeshivas Toras Chaim Vizhnitz in Elad and a resident of Bnei Brak, and his cousin, Chaim Wertheimer, 14, a student of the Machnovka Belz Yeshiva of Elad and a resident of the city, were killed in a terrible accident overnight upon returning from Meron.
The levayos will be held at 7 p.m. after the Vizhnitzer Rebbe’s tish in Bnei Brak and then at 8 p.m. at Bais Medrash Imrei Boruch on Rechov Rebbi Chiya in Elad. Nosson Nota’s levayah will pass Yeshiva Toras Chaim and Chaim’s levayah will pass the Machnovka Belz Yeshiva.
Nosson Nota was a son of Reb Meir Nachman Rosenbaum, melamed at Talmid Torah Vizhnitz in Bnei Brak. Chaim was a son of Reb Yissochor Moshe Wertheimer in Elad.
Both fathers are sons-in-law of Rav Yisrael Mordechai Reich, one of the elder Chassidim of Vizhnitz who passed away on Tisha B’av two years ago.
Both boys studied at Talmud Torah Vizhnitz as children.
Yesterday, they went out to Meron together with Reb Yissochor Moshe Wertheimer, who also took his son, Dovid, and other family members to daven at the kever of Rav Shimon Bar Yochai on Zos Chanukah.
They two bochurim were killed in a car accident on the way home.
All are asked to daven for Yissochor Moshe ben Gila Fraida, Yehoshua ben Gittel, Moshe Chaim ben Margulies, and Yaakov ben Margulies, who are hospitalized at Hillel Yaffe Hospital in Chadera.
Umacha Hashem dimah me’al kol ponim.
{Matzav.com Israel}
Rav Chaim Meir Drukman z”l, Rosh Yeshiva of Ohr Etzion Yeshiva and head of the Center for Bnei Akiva Yeshivos, has passed away. Reports said that he died from COVID-19 complications. He was 90.
Born in November 1932 in Kuty, Poland (today Ukraine), he made aliyah to Mandate Palestine in 1944 after being saved from the Holocaust. He studied at the Aliyah Institute in Petach Tikva and the Bnei Akiva Yeshiva in Kfar Haroeh. He then transferred to the Mercaz HaRav Yeshiva in Yerushalayim, where he became a talmid of Rav Zvi Yehuda Kook.
He served in the Israel Defense Forces, in the Bnei Akiva gar’in in the Nachal. In 1952, he became a member of Bnei Akiva’s National Directorate, and from 1955 until 1956, he served as an emissary of the organization to the United States.
In 1964, Rav Drukman founded the Ohr Etzion B’nei Akiva Yeshiva High School, where he remained Rosh Yeshiva. In 1977, he established the Ohr Etzion Yeshiva, for many years the largest Hesder Yeshiva in the country. In 1995, he founded the Ohr MeOfir academy for high school graduates of the Ethiopian community. Since 1996, was also the head of the Center for Bnei Akiva Yeshivos and ulpanot in Israel.
In 1990, Rav Drukman was appointed director of the newly created State Conversion Authority, which provides services to candidates for conversion to Judaism.
Rav Drukman was first elected to the Knesset in the 1977 elections on the National Religious Party’s list. He was re-elected in 1981, and was appointed Deputy Minister of Religious Affairs. However, as an opponent of the Camp David Accords, he lost the post in March 1982. In October 1983, he broke away from the NRP and attempted to form a Knesset faction by the name of Zionist Religious Camp, but was refused permission to do so by the House Committee. Instead, he sat as a single MK for the remainder of the Knesset term.
In the run-up to the 1984 elections, he and Avraham Verdiger formed a new party, Morasha. It won two seats, taken by the two founders. Although the party joined the government, neither Rav Drukman nor Verdiger were given cabinet posts. In July 1986, Rav Drukman left Morasha and returned to the NRP.
Rav Drukman played a leading role in the establishment of Gush Emunim.
In 2012, he was selected to be awarded the Israel Prize.
Chief Rabbi Rav Dovid Lau mourned the loss of Rav Drukman, recognizing him as a “great man who, for 90 years of his life, taught, educated and brought Jews closer to faith in the Creator. And out of the great love of the Torah, he loved every person from Israel, every pebble upon the land of Israel, and every letter in the Torah of Israel, and in these three perfections, he educated and raised generations that will continue to learn and to see the great light shining before their eyes.”
{Matzav.com Israel}
After the recent momentous wedding of the son of the Boyaner Rebbe, it was decided in Boyan that no more photographs or videos be taken inside the Boyaner Bais Medrash, nor at any event or gathering in the Chassidus.
In a message that was published on Friday, it was stated that even ordinary cameras and certainly not more sophisticated devices are to be used to document these events in Boyan.
The letter states that at the rebbe‘s events, only those in charge of it can take pictures, and no one else has permission to take pictures, without exception.
As some Matzav readers may recall, at the Boyaner wedding and sheva brachos, Boyaner Chassidim stood with laser devices and tried blinding anyone who took pictures.
In addition, the letter states that it is not permitted for anyone to transmit images or news to any external party, both in writing and in speech, without approval from the Boyaner Vaad Haruchni (spiritual committee).
{Matzav.com Israel}
Rabbi Elazar Mordechai Goldberg zt”l, who passed away in the Lag Ba’omer Meron tragedy, was a rebbi at a Talmud Torah in Beitar. A friend of his, Reb Shmuel, who taught with him at the Talmud Torah, Ateres Eliyahu, related the following.
“He had many friends, but I continued the connection even after his passing, studying Mishnayos in his memory every single day. I had the privilege of finishing all of Shisha Sidrei Mishnah l’illui nishmaso.
“On the night of the 22nd of Cheshvan, I dreamt a dream. I saw my deceased friend, his face happy and bright, dressed in his Shabbos bekeshe, with a shtreimel on his head, and he asks me: ‘Please, go to Rabbi Ephraim Zilberman and ask him to forgive me for the ink I owe him.’
“I did not pay attention to the dream… The next night, Reb Elazar appeared again, and I still didn’t take it seriously. I am not a person of dreams… This is not my field! But Reb Elazar insisted. He came back and appeared again and again – a full week! The eighth time, on the night of the 29th in Cheshvan, he had already changed. He did not smile at me again, but lowered the shtreimel from his head and said, ‘Why don’t you help me? For you, it is an easy thing to go to Rav Ephraim Zilberman and ask him to forgive me, whereas I have to, with great difficulty, go a long way from far away, with enormous efforts.’
“This time I couldn’t ignore the dream. The next day, at Yom Kippur Kotton, I went to Rav Zilberman. Apart from his many activities, he inherited from his great father Rav Yitzchok Shlomo Zilberman the art of writing safrus. He also comes every Friday to test the students at the Torah Talmud. Reb Elazar was also involved in the work of sta”m. On one of the occasions when Rav Zilberman came to examine the students, he talked with Reb Elazar about a certain type of ink called ‘Dyuchnan,’ a new ink developed in recent years, and suggested that he try using it. On the following Friday, Rav Zilberman gave him about a quarter of a jar of ink, a small amount worth about twenty-five shekels, and Reb Elazar took it to try it.
“Rav Zilberman did not expect Reb Elazar to return the ink to him. He, for his part, gave it as a complete gift, but Reb Elazar saw it as a loan and planned to return the value of the ink after he used it. A few days later, Reb Elazar passed away, before he had time to tell anyone about his plan to return the ink, and before anyone even knew about the ink in his possession. And this small, negligible amount, which Rav Zilberman did not even think about receiving back, was causing problems from him in the Olam Ha’emes.
“I had been somewhat embarrassed to go to Rav Zilberman and tell him about the dream I had, but I had no choice. I understood that this was a true dream, and Rav Zilberman treated it with all seriousness. He immediately called several yungeleit and announced for them to hear, ‘I fully forgive Reb Elazar Mordechai ben Reb Shmuel, zichrono livrocha, and the debt is completely forgiven. May the deceased rest b’shalom al mishkavo v’tehi mishmaso tzerurah betzror hachaim.”
{Matzav.com Israel}
All are asked to daven for Rebbetzin Shulamit Ezrachi, wife of Rav Boruch Mordechai Ezrachi, rosh yeshiva of Yeshiva Ateres Yisroel, who is in serious condition at Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital in Yerushalayim.
The Rebbetzin was transferred to the intensive care unit after a worsening of her condition due to severe inflammation of her heart valves.
Her husband came with family to stay near her room in the hospital.
The rebbetzin is a daughter of the famed mashgiach Rav Meir CHodosh zt”l.
Her name for Tehillim is Shulamis Machlah bas Tziviah Leah.
{Matzav.com Israel}
It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the passing of Rebbetzin Yaffa Miriam Auerbach a”h, wife of Rav Avrohom Dov Auerbach zt”l, She was 83.
The rebbetzin was the eldest daughter of Rav Asher Ze’ev Werner, rov of Tiveriah.
After her marriage to her husband, Rav Avrohom Dov, son of the posek hador, Rav SHlomo Zalman Auerbach, they lived in Yerushalayim, where her husband sat and learned.
After her father’s passing, Rav Avrohom Dov was asked to take over his position, despite the fact that he was only 23 years old at the time.
Following her husband’s appointment as the rov of the city of Tiveriah, for decades she stood at the side of her husband and supported him in his amazing avodas hakodesh.
Her home was known throughout Tiveria as an open one, welcoming one and all. She was a noted personality in the city, running the local girls school in Tiveriah and other mosdos.
She leaves behind an outstanding family.
The levayah was held last night from the central Bais Medrash Ohr Torah on Rechov Harav Werner in Tiveriah, followed by kevurah at the old bais hachaim in Tiveriah.
Yehi zichrah boruch.
{Matzav.com Israel}
It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of Rav Mendel Shneur Zalman Atik zt”l, one of the noted talmidim of the Brisker Rov and Chazon Ish. He was 94.
In the last few years, he battled weakness and illness. He passed away at Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital in Yerushalayim.
Rav Atik was born on 30 Kislev in the Old City of Yerushalayim, the eldest son of his father, Rav Rabbi Shlomo Zvi Atik, and his mother, Mrs. Chaya Leah Atik, daughter of Rav Yehoshua Shimon Weingarten, one of the ziknei Karlin.
As a child he, he studied at Talmud Torah and Yeshivas Etz Chaim under Rav Isser Zalman Meltzer, and at Yeshivas Mir under the Rosh Yeshiva Rav Eliezer Yehuda Finkel.
He was very close to the Brisker Rov, Rav Yitzchok Zev Soloveitchik, and would attend his weekly shiur, becoming one of his closest talmidim. He also became very close to the Chazon Ish and would travel to Bnei Brak often to talk to him in learning.
He married his wife, Sarah Leah, a daughter of Rav Shimon Hillel Schlesinger.
After his marriage, he learned at the Mir with Rav Moshe Yehoshua Landau, one of the nyted students of the Chazon Ish.
Over thirty years ago, he opened Yeshiva Eretz Zvi in the Bucharim neighborhood in Yerushalayim. His derech of learning combined the approaches of the Brisker Rov, the Chazon Ish, and Rav Leizer Yudel Finkel. Many of his shiurim were printed by his talmidim.
Several years ago, his son Rav Yitzchak Ze’ev Atik, R”M at Eretz Zvi, was niftar at the age of 56 following illness.
Rav Atik leaves behind an outstanding family, including his son, the noted talmid chochom Rav Shea Atik.
The levayah was held earlier tonight at his home on Rechov Pri Chodosh in Yerushalayim, followed by kevurah on Har Hamenuchos.
Yehi zichro boruch.
{Matzav.com Israel}
At a ceremony held in Yerushalayim’s City Hall, Mayor Moshe Leon and other municipal officials received awards for their efforts to enable modern Yerushalayim to observe shemittah with almost unprecedented hiddur.
The awards were granted by Rav Yosef Efrati and Rav Shlomo Amar.
“The first meeting regarding shemittah took place exactly two years ago,” Mayor Leon said. “I remember that the first time the subject came up, we had no questions at all. It was clear that Yerushalayim was going to keep shemittah in accordance with halacha. There was no doubt that Yerushalayim, the focus of the entire Jewish people, would proudly observe shemittah without compromise.”
Leon said that 6,000 trees were planted ahead of shemittah, and numerous gardening projects were hastily completed. In addition, Form 4, the authorization for people to occupy newly-built apartments, did not include the requirement to complete gardens around buildings during the shemittah year.
“If there is anything I envy about Mayor Moshe Leon,” Rav Efrati said, “it is his great merit for keeping shemittah in Yerushalayim with great hiddur.”
{Matzav.com Israel}
Rav Avigdor Nebenzahl, 87-year-old rov of the Old City of Yerushalayim, was involved in a car accident at the Ramot junction today while en route to Bnei Brak. As police and emergency personnel dealt with the details of the accident, writing up reports and so on, Rav Nebenzhal, who was unhurt boruch Hashem, simply remained in the vehicle, as if nothing had happened, learning Torah undisturbed, a sight that amazed those at the scene, one of whom captured the scene on video.
WATCH:
Rav Yehuda Adas, Rosh Yeshivas Kol Ya’akov and one of the Torah leaders in the Sephardic community, sent a letter last night, signed by Rav Moshe Tzadka, to all the members of the Moatzos Gedolei Hatorah of Agudas Yisroel and Degel HaTorah.
In the letter,, Rav Adas says that “We are standing at a special moment in which it is impossible to form a government without the participation of the chareidi parties.
“And we are here to raise the cry of the Sephardi Torah world….as the decree of the draft has eaten up every good part of the Sephardi Torah public, and as we know clearly and reliably that a Sephardi boy who did not grow up in a chareidi environment, and is going to receive a delay, they take advantage of his weakness, and many temptations are offered both in studies and in money, and many have succumbed.
“We must stand as a wall in such a way that the chareidi parties will not in any way enter the coalition as long as there is no express commitment in writing to regulate the dichui (postponement), without any target quotas and temptations of any kind, as was the case in the past.”
Sources who are aware of the letter indicated that it is a particularly unusual step, both in light of the fact that Rav Adas has refrained in recent years from expressing his opinion publicly on issues, and in terms of it being a personal letter to each members of the Moatzos Gedolei Yisroel.
{Matzav.com Israel}
Yoilish Krauss, a well-known anti-Zionist activist who is a father of 18 children living in Meah Shearim in Yerushalayim, is seen in the video below offering his own lyrics to the stanza of Yevonim, singing his original song with his children tonight. The lyrics reflect Yoilish’s deep-seated hatred for Zionists and those with the Zionist mindset.
His new words are:
אוי ציונים נקבצו עליי אזיי בימי סאטמר, ופרצו חומות החינוך וטימאו כל התלמודי תורה, ומנותר הקנאים נעשה נס לשושנים, ימי שבת ימי יום טוב קבעו מחאות והפגנות
WATCH:
It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of Rebbetzin Devorah Esther Spiegel a”h, beloved wife of Rav Dovid Spiegel, Ostrov-Kalushiner Rebbe and rov of Congregation Beis Medrash of Cedarhurst.
The rebbetzin, together with the rebbe, brought the joy of Yiddishkeit and Chassidus to Cedarhurst and the Five Towns, adding so much the life and vibrancy of the community.
The rebbetzin is survived by the rebbe, Rav Dovid, and their children, two sons and ten daughters, and many grandchildren.
The levaya will take place Wednesday morning, at 10 a.m., at the Bais Medrash of Cedarhurst, located at 504 West Broadway in Cedarhurst, followed by kevurah at the Beth Israel Cemetery in Woodbridge, NJ.
Yehi zichrah boruch.
{Matzav.com}
מסיבת חנוכה בישיבת בית מתתיהוצילום: שוקי לררמסיבת חנוכה בישיבת בית מתתיהוצילום: שוקי לררמסיבת חנוכה בישיבת בית מתתיהוצילום: שוקי לררמסיבת חנוכה בישיבת בית מתתיהוצילום: שוקי לררמסיבת חנוכה בישיבת בית מתתיהוצילום: שוקי לררמסיבת חנוכה בישיבת בית מתתיהוצילום: שוקי לררמסיבת חנוכה בישיבת בית מתתיהוצילום: שוקי לררמסיבת חנוכה בישיבת בית מתתיהוצילום: שוקי לררמסיבת חנוכה בישיבת בית מתתיהוצילום: שוקי לררמסיבת חנוכה בישיבת בית מתתיהוצילום: שוקי לררמסיבת חנוכה בישיבת בית מתתיהוצילום: שוקי לררמסיבת חנוכה בישיבת בית מתתיהוצילום: שוקי לררמסיבת חנוכה בישיבת בית מתתיהוצילום: שוקי לררמסיבת חנוכה בישיבת בית מתתיהוצילום: שוקי לררמסיבת חנוכה בישיבת בית מתתיהוצילום: שוקי לררמסיבת חנוכה בישיבת בית מתתיהוצילום: שוקי לררמסיבת חנוכה בישיבת בית מתתיהוצילום: שוקי לררמסיבת חנוכה בישיבת בית מתתיהוצילום: שוקי לררמסיבת חנוכה בישיבת בית מתתיהוצילום: שוקי לררמסיבת חנוכה בישיבת בית מתתיהוצילום: שוקי לררמסיבת חנוכה בישיבת בית מתתיהוצילום: שוקי לררמסיבת חנוכה בישיבת בית מתתיהוצילום: שוקי לררמסיבת חנוכה בישיבת בית מתתיהוצילום: שוקי לררמסיבת חנוכה בישיבת בית מתתיהוצילום: שוקי לררמסיבת חנוכה בישיבת בית מתתיהוצילום: שוקי לררמסיבת חנוכה בישיבת בית מתתיהוצילום: שוקי לרר
At a pre-Chanukah shiur at the Dushinsky Bais Medrash with Rav Moshe Shternbuch, introductory remarks were delivered by Rav Amram Oifman of the Eidah Hachareidis. He spoke about the woman, Mirel bas Rachel Leah, who was injured in a violent hafganah this past week.
Rav Amram vigorously protested the violence and the criminal acts of a group of extremists. Then, in the presence of Rav Shternbuch and the Dushinsky Rebbe, Tehillim was recited for her refuah.
Rav Oifman said that the extremists do not have daas Torah and do not listen to rabbonim. He said that the injured woman lives in his building and he knows her and her family.
In the meantime, the father of the injured woman, Rabbi Meir Schlesinger, said that, bechasdei Hashem, there were great miracles when his daughter was taken to the operating room for a complicated operation. The bleeding miraculously stopped and the doctors said that she received her life again as a gift. She is now sedated and ventilated. All are requested to continue davening.
{Matzav.com Israel}
It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of Rav Dovid Shneur zt”l of the Bayit Vegan neighborhood of Yerushalayim. He was 88.
Rav Dovid was born in central Morocco to his parents, Rabbi and Mrs. Moshe Yaakov Shneur. As a child, he studied at Talmud Torah Aim Habonim under Rav Dovid Ovadia.
He traveled to France, where he studied at Yeshiva Ohr Yosef-Novardok under Rav Gershon Liebman, and later was one of the leaders of the yeshiva.
He immigrated to the Holy Land and settled in Bnei Brak. He was a member of the hanhalah of Yeshiva Shearis Yosef in Be’er Ya’akov, led by Rav Nissim Toledano. He also directed the Chinuch Atzmai school in Ramat Hasharon.
He later served as a member of the Bnei Brak city council and served as the deputy mayor. In recent years, he lived in Yerushalayim.
He was a person of noble character, rosh verishon lechol dovor shebekedusha, who was involved in numerous causes over the years. He was very close to many gedolei Torah.
Above all, he was a lomeid Torah and a noted talmid chochom who spent his life immersed in learning. He authored many seforim, including Alei Desheh, Neos Desheh, Motzei Desheh, Tenuvos Desheh, Pirchei Desheh, Alei Ohr, Degel Hamussar, and Ish Al Diglo.
He leaves behind an outstanding family following in his ways.
The levayah and kevurah were held on Sunday on Har Hamenuchos.
Yehi zichro boruch.
{Matzav.com}
רבי מיילך בידרמן בערב חנוכה בביתרצילום: ארי קופרשטוקרבי מיילך בידרמן בערב חנוכה בביתרצילום: ארי קופרשטוקרבי מיילך בידרמן בערב חנוכה בביתרצילום: ארי קופרשטוקרבי מיילך בידרמן בערב חנוכה בביתרצילום: ארי קופרשטוקרבי מיילך בידרמן בערב חנוכה בביתרצילום: ארי קופרשטוקרבי מיילך בידרמן בערב חנוכה בביתרצילום: ארי קופרשטוקרבי מיילך בידרמן בערב חנוכה בביתרצילום: ארי קופרשטוקרבי מיילך בידרמן בערב חנוכה בביתרצילום: ארי קופרשטוקרבי מיילך בידרמן בערב חנוכה בביתרצילום: ארי קופרשטוקרבי מיילך בידרמן בערב חנוכה בביתרצילום: ארי קופרשטוקרבי מיילך בידרמן בערב חנוכה בביתרצילום: ארי קופרשטוקרבי מיילך בידרמן בערב חנוכה בביתרצילום: ארי קופרשטוקרבי מיילך בידרמן בערב חנוכה בביתרצילום: ארי קופרשטוקרבי מיילך בידרמן בערב חנוכה בביתרצילום: ארי קופרשטוקרבי מיילך בידרמן בערב חנוכה בביתרצילום: ארי קופרשטוקרבי מיילך בידרמן בערב חנוכה בביתרצילום: ארי קופרשטוקרבי מיילך בידרמן בערב חנוכה בביתרצילום: ארי קופרשטוקרבי מיילך בידרמן בערב חנוכה בביתרצילום: ארי קופרשטוקרבי מיילך בידרמן בערב חנוכה בביתרצילום: ארי קופרשטוקרבי מיילך בידרמן בערב חנוכה בביתרצילום: ארי קופרשטוקרבי מיילך בידרמן בערב חנוכה בביתרצילום: ארי קופרשטוקרבי מיילך בידרמן בערב חנוכה בביתרצילום: ארי קופרשטוקרבי מיילך בידרמן בערב חנוכה בביתרצילום: ארי קופרשטוקרבי מיילך בידרמן בערב חנוכה בביתרצילום: ארי קופרשטוקרבי מיילך בידרמן בערב חנוכה בביתרצילום: ארי קופרשטוקרבי מיילך בידרמן בערב חנוכה בביתרצילום: ארי קופרשטוקרבי מיילך בידרמן בערב חנוכה בביתרצילום: ארי קופרשטוקרבי מיילך בידרמן בערב חנוכה בביתרצילום: ארי קופרשטוקרבי מיילך בידרמן בערב חנוכה בביתרצילום: ארי קופרשטוקרבי מיילך בידרמן בערב חנוכה בביתרצילום: ארי קופרשטוקרבי מיילך בידרמן בערב חנוכה בביתרצילום: ארי קופרשטוקרבי מיילך בידרמן בערב חנוכה בביתרצילום: ארי קופרשטוקרבי מיילך בידרמן בערב חנוכה בביתרצילום: ארי קופרשטוקרבי מיילך בידרמן בערב חנוכה בביתרצילום: ארי קופרשטוקרבי מיילך בידרמן בערב חנוכה בביתרצילום: ארי קופרשטוקרבי מיילך בידרמן בערב חנוכה בביתרצילום: ארי קופרשטוקרבי מיילך בידרמן בערב חנוכה בביתרצילום: ארי קופרשטוקרבי מיילך בידרמן בערב חנוכה בביתרצילום: ארי קופרשטוקרבי מיילך בידרמן בערב חנוכה בביתרצילום: ארי קופרשטוקרבי מיילך בידרמן בערב חנוכה בביתרצילום: ארי קופרשטוקרבי מיילך בידרמן בערב חנוכה בביתרצילום: ארי קופרשטוקרבי מיילך בידרמן בערב חנוכה בביתרצילום: ארי קופרשטוקרבי מיילך בידרמן בערב חנוכה בביתרצילום: ארי קופרשטוקרבי מיילך בידרמן בערב חנוכה בביתרצילום: ארי קופרשטוקרבי מיילך בידרמן בערב חנוכה בביתרצילום: ארי קופרשטוקרבי מיילך בידרמן בערב חנוכה בביתרצילום: ארי קופרשטוקרבי מיילך בידרמן בערב חנוכה בביתרצילום: ארי קופרשטוקרבי מיילך בידרמן בערב חנוכה בביתרצילום: ארי קופרשטוקרבי מיילך בידרמן בערב חנוכה בביתרצילום: ארי קופרשטוקרבי מיילך בידרמן בערב חנוכה בביתרצילום: ארי קופרשטוקרבי מיילך בידרמן בערב חנוכה בביתרצילום: ארי קופרשטוקרבי מיילך בידרמן בערב חנוכה בביתרצילום: ארי קופרשטוקרבי מיילך בידרמן בערב חנוכה בביתרצילום: ארי קופרשטוקרבי מיילך בידרמן בערב חנוכה בביתרצילום: ארי קופרשטוקרבי מיילך בידרמן בערב חנוכה בביתרצילום: ארי קופרשטוקרבי מיילך בידרמן בערב חנוכה בביתרצילום: ארי קופרשטוק
The hadlakah for the first night of Chanukah took place this evening at the Kosel in the presence of the rov of the Kosel, Rabbi Shmuel Rabinowitz; the mayor of Yerushalayim, Moshe Lion, MK May Golan, Director of the Western Wall Heritage Foundation Mordechai (Suli) Eliav and the general public.
WATCH:
A unique clip of the Ponovezh Rosh Yeshiva, Rav Gershon Edelstein, shows him highlighting what a great source of joy it is for a Jew “shel asani goy.”
“Shelo Asani Goy….. It’s not simple! It’s a big madreigah! What joy! What happiness! A happy life…Shelo Asani Goy!”
“We don’t feel it. We don’t feel that much…how blessed we are, what good we share.”
He added, “With Hashem’s help…our brothers who are far away will be privileged to be on this level…”
WATCH:
A Sefer Torah was written as a zechus for the refuah of Rebbetzn Faiga Tzipora Lau, wife of Ashkenzai Chief Rabbi of Israel Rav Dovid Lau. The event was held in the city of Modi’in.
הכנסת ספר תורה לרפואת הרבנית לאוצילום: יעקב כהן ושלומי כהןהכנסת ספר תורה לרפואת הרבנית לאוצילום: יעקב כהן ושלומי כהןהכנסת ספר תורה לרפואת הרבנית לאוצילום: יעקב כהן ושלומי כהןהכנסת ספר תורה לרפואת הרבנית לאוצילום: יעקב כהן ושלומי כהןהכנסת ספר תורה לרפואת הרבנית לאוצילום: יעקב כהן ושלומי כהןהכנסת ספר תורה לרפואת הרבנית לאוצילום: יעקב כהן ושלומי כהןהכנסת ספר תורה לרפואת הרבנית לאוצילום: יעקב כהן ושלומי כהןהכנסת ספר תורה לרפואת הרבנית לאוצילום: יעקב כהן ושלומי כהןהכנסת ספר תורה לרפואת הרבנית לאוצילום: יעקב כהן ושלומי כהןהכנסת ספר תורה לרפואת הרבנית לאוצילום: יעקב כהן ושלומי כהןהכנסת ספר תורה לרפואת הרבנית לאוצילום: יעקב כהן ושלומי כהןהכנסת ספר תורה לרפואת הרבנית לאוצילום: יעקב כהן ושלומי כהןהכנסת ספר תורה לרפואת הרבנית לאוצילום: יעקב כהן ושלומי כהןהכנסת ספר תורה לרפואת הרבנית לאוצילום: יעקב כהן ושלומי כהןהכנסת ספר תורה לרפואת הרבנית לאוצילום: יעקב כהן ושלומי כהןהכנסת ספר תורה לרפואת הרבנית לאוצילום: יעקב כהן ושלומי כהןהכנסת ספר תורה לרפואת הרבנית לאוצילום: יעקב כהן ושלומי כהןהכנסת ספר תורה לרפואת הרבנית לאוצילום: יעקב כהן ושלומי כהןהכנסת ספר תורה לרפואת הרבנית לאוצילום: יעקב כהן ושלומי כהןהכנסת ספר תורה לרפואת הרבנית לאוצילום: יעקב כהן ושלומי כהןהכנסת ספר תורה לרפואת הרבנית לאוצילום: יעקב כהן ושלומי כהןהכנסת ספר תורה לרפואת הרבנית לאוצילום: יעקב כהן ושלומי כהןהכנסת ספר תורה לרפואת הרבנית לאוצילום: יעקב כהן ושלומי כהןהכנסת ספר תורה לרפואת הרבנית לאוצילום: יעקב כהן ושלומי כהןהכנסת ספר תורה לרפואת הרבנית לאוצילום: יעקב כהן ושלומי כהןהכנסת ספר תורה לרפואת הרבנית לאוצילום: יעקב כהן ושלומי כהןהכנסת ספר תורה לרפואת הרבנית לאוצילום: יעקב כהן ושלומי כהןהכנסת ספר תורה לרפואת הרבנית לאוצילום: יעקב כהן ושלומי כהןהכנסת ספר תורה לרפואת הרבנית לאוצילום: יעקב כהן ושלומי כהןהכנסת ספר תורה לרפואת הרבנית לאוצילום: יעקב כהן ושלומי כהןהכנסת ספר תורה לרפואת הרבנית לאוצילום: יעקב כהן ושלומי כהןהכנסת ספר תורה לרפואת הרבנית לאוצילום: יעקב כהן ושלומי כהןהכנסת ספר תורה לרפואת הרבנית לאוצילום: יעקב כהן ושלומי כהןהכנסת ספר תורה לרפואת הרבנית לאוצילום: יעקב כהן ושלומי כהןהכנסת ספר תורה לרפואת הרבנית לאוצילום: יעקב כהן ושלומי כהןהכנסת ספר תורה לרפואת הרבנית לאוצילום: יעקב כהן ושלומי כהןהכנסת ספר תורה לרפואת הרבנית לאוצילום: יעקב כהן ושלומי כהןהכנסת ספר תורה לרפואת הרבנית לאוצילום: יעקב כהן ושלומי כהןהכנסת ספר תורה לרפואת הרבנית לאוצילום: יעקב כהן ושלומי כהןהכנסת ספר תורה לרפואת הרבנית לאוצילום: יעקב כהן ושלומי כהןהכנסת ספר תורה לרפואת הרבנית לאוצילום: יעקב כהן ושלומי כהןהכנסת ספר תורה לרפואת הרבנית לאוצילום: יעקב כהן ושלומי כהןהכנסת ספר תורה לרפואת הרבנית לאוצילום: יעקב כהן ושלומי כהןהכנסת ספר תורה לרפואת הרבנית לאוצילום: יעקב כהן ושלומי כהןהכנסת ספר תורה לרפואת הרבנית לאוצילום: יעקב כהן ושלומי כהןהכנסת ספר תורה לרפואת הרבנית לאוצילום: יעקב כהן ושלומי כהןהכנסת ספר תורה לרפואת הרבנית לאוצילום: יעקב כהן ושלומי כהןהכנסת ספר תורה לרפואת הרבנית לאוצילום: יעקב כהן ושלומי כהןהכנסת ספר תורה לרפואת הרבנית לאוצילום: יעקב כהן ושלומי כהןהכנסת ספר תורה לרפואת הרבנית לאוצילום: יעקב כהן ושלומי כהןהכנסת ספר תורה לרפואת הרבנית לאוצילום: יעקב כהן ושלומי כהןהכנסת ספר תורה לרפואת הרבנית לאוצילום: יעקב כהן ושלומי כהןהכנסת ספר תורה לרפואת הרבנית לאוצילום: יעקב כהן ושלומי כהןהכנסת ספר תורה לרפואת הרבנית לאוצילום: יעקב כהן ושלומי כהןהכנסת ספר תורה לרפואת הרבנית לאוצילום: יעקב כהן ושלומי כהןהכנסת ספר תורה לרפואת הרבנית לאוצילום: יעקב כהן ושלומי כהןהכנסת ספר תורה לרפואת הרבנית לאוצילום: יעקב כהן ושלומי כהןהכנסת ספר תורה לרפואת הרבנית לאוצילום: יעקב כהן ושלומי כהןהכנסת ספר תורה לרפואת הרבנית לאוצילום: יעקב כהן ושלומי כהןהכנסת ספר תורה לרפואת הרבנית לאוצילום: יעקב כהן ושלומי כהןהכנסת ספר תורה לרפואת הרבנית לאוצילום: יעקב כהן ושלומי כהןהכנסת ספר תורה לרפואת הרבנית לאוצילום: יעקב כהן ושלומי כהןהכנסת ספר תורה לרפואת הרבנית לאוצילום: יעקב כהן ושלומי כהןהכנסת ספר תורה לרפואת הרבנית לאוצילום: יעקב כהן ושלומי כהןהכנסת ספר תורה לרפואת הרבנית לאוצילום: יעקב כהן ושלומי כהןהכנסת ספר תורה לרפואת הרבנית לאוצילום: יעקב כהן ושלומי כהןהכנסת ספר תורה לרפואת הרבנית לאוצילום: יעקב כהן ושלומי כהןהכנסת ספר תורה לרפואת הרבנית לאוצילום: יעקב כהן ושלומי כהןהכנסת ספר תורה לרפואת הרבנית לאוצילום: יעקב כהן ושלומי כהןהכנסת ספר תורה לרפואת הרבנית לאוצילום: יעקב כהן ושלומי כהןהכנסת ספר תורה לרפואת הרבנית לאוצילום: יעקב כהן ושלומי כהןהכנסת ספר תורה לרפואת הרבנית לאוצילום: יעקב כהן ושלומי כהןהכנסת ספר תורה לרפואת הרבנית לאוצילום: יעקב כהן ושלומי כהןהכנסת ספר תורה לרפואת הרבנית לאוצילום: יעקב כהן ושלומי כהןהכנסת ספר תורה לרפואת הרבנית לאוצילום: יעקב כהן ושלומי כהןהכנסת ספר תורה לרפואת הרבנית לאוצילום: יעקב כהן ושלומי כהןהכנסת ספר תורה לרפואת הרבנית לאוצילום: יעקב כהן ושלומי כהן
It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the passing of noted machzik Torah and baal chesed R’ Yissochor Dov (Beri/Albert) Reichmann z”l. He was 93.
R’ Beri was one of five brothers who led the Reichmann empire, an empire not of business, but of hachzokas haTorah and chesed on a historic level.
R’ Beri was born in Vienna, Austria, one of six siblings. The family escaped Nazi occupied Austria and Paris.
In 1954, Reb Beri arrived in Eretz Yisroel from Tangier, Morocco. The Reichmann family had escaped prior to the Holocaust by fleeing Vienna and eventually landing in Tangier. In Morocco, Reb Beri’s father, Reb Shmayahu Reichmann, had established a foreign currency business that he operated together with Reb Beri. Reb Beri got engaged to his wife, Egosah, and then got married in Eretz Yisroel.
After their wedding, the Reichmanns moved to Tangier. Egosah continued her pastime of teaching and established a school for young children, together with a young Moroccan architect named Samuel Toledano. It was in Tangier that their eldest child, Efraim, was born.
In 1959, the Reichmanns followed Reb Beri’s parents and two of his brothers to Toronto, Ontario. The Reichmanns played a pivotal role in raising Toronto to the standards of Torah excellence that it boasts today.
R’ Beri joined his younger brothers, Paul and Ralph Reichmann, who had set up business in Toronto. Paul was the president of their company, Olympia and York, and Albert served as chairman of the company, but was most known for his tzedakah and chesed work.
In the late 1980s, R’ Beri became closely involved in the cause of the Jews in the Soviet Union. He used his money and influence in an effort to enable their emigration to Eretz Yisroel.
He leaves behind an outstanding family of children and grandchildren following in his ways. His children are Reb Efraim, Reb Duddy, Mrs. Breindy Koenig and Mrs. Libby Gross.
The levaya will be held on Sunday at 11:30 a.m. at Khal Toras Emes/the Viewmount Shul in Toronto.
Yehi zichro boruch.
{Matzav.com}
It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the passing of Mrs. Chava Faige Rochel Zlotowitz a”h, wife of Rabbi Meir Zlotowitz zt”l, founder of ArtScroll/Mesorah. She was 81.
A regal woman, Mrs. Zlotowitz was a pillar of support to her illustrious husband, playing an integral role in his ability to turn ArtScroll into perhaps the greatest disseminator of Torah in recent memory.
Mrs. Zlotowitz was a devoted mother to her family, always putting them first and displaying supreme dedication to them.
Mrs. Zlotowitz leaves behind a wonderful family of children and grandchildren following in her ways.
The levayah will be held Sunday, at 10:30 a.m., at Shomrei Hadas Chapels in Boro Park, Brooklyn.
Yehi zichrah boruch.
{Matzav.com}
All are asked to daven for Rav Baruch Weisbecker, rosh yeshiva of Yeshiva Bais Matisyahu in Bnei Brak and a member of the Moetzes Gedolei Torah of Degel Hatorah, who is in need of rachamei Shomayim.
This past week, the rosh yeshiva has undergone a series of treatments.
In light of the worsening of his medical condition, an atzeres tefillah was held Thursday in the yeshiva with the participation of all the rabbeim of the yeshiva. During the gathering, his son Rav Zvi, spoke divrei hisoreru.
All are asked to daven for Rav Baruch ben Tziviah.
{Matzav.com Israel}
It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of Rebbetzin Toby Weitman a”h, wife of the late Rabbi Moshe Weitman zt”l, dean of TAG, and mother of the current TAG dean Rabbi Meyer Weitman.
Rebbetzin Weitman was a regal presence in the halls of TAG and elsewhere. She was the paradigm of kevudah bas melech penimah and inspired others in her quiet, deep and meaningful way.
The levayah is being held now at TAG high school, located at 636 Lanett Avenue in Far Rockaway.
The family will sit shiva at the Rebbetzin’s home at 1125 Beach 12th Street in Far Rockaway.
Yehi zichrah boruch.
{Matzav.com}
An uproar has brewed in the Eidah Hachareidis community following the revelation that some mashgichim of the Badatz of the Eidah have smartphone devices – without WhatsApp or video.
Following that revelation, the Badatz convened to discuss the issue. In the end it was decided to allow those mashgichim to have protected smartphone devices, but on the condition that they do not take them out in public and only use them for the purpose of their work, since they need to follow the factories’ cameras live in their hashgacha duties.
This special permit that the Badatz gave to the mashgichim caused a great uproar in Meah Shearim and other circles and a major campaign of street ads against that permission began.
As a result, the Badatz met again yesterday, with the participation of Rav Chaim Uri Freund despite his illness. A tense discussion lasted for many hours.
Members of the Kashrus Committee explained that the technology that is developing today requires the mashgichim to have these devices in order to monitor the cameras at factories, and they also need WhatsApp because business owners no longer answer phone calls, only WhatsApp messages, and sometimes the mashgichim must be in touch with business owners immediately.
The Eidah concluded that special devices with a special and different shape be marketed to those mashgichim in order to avoid a tumult, but they agreed that this requires a budget of millions of shekels. The Badatz decided in the meantime not to issue a new decision, and so the permit given to the mashgichim stands – for now.
{Matzav.com Israel}
Rabbi Moshe Margereten of Tzedek Association met yesterday with the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, in Kiev.
The meeting was organized by Zelensky’s father, Oleksandr Zelensky, as Tzedek has been involved in helping Ukrainian refugees.
Margereten presented Zelensky with a mezuzah with his name engraved on it in silver.
The Jewish President thanked him for the gift and said that he was sure that the mezuzah would protect him.
During the meeting, Margareten conveyed warm wishes from several American senators.
A source who was present at the meeting said that “the security was crazy. We didn’t know where we were being taken, and we found ourselves in Zelensky’s office.”
Margereten and the person who accompanied him were taken through a dark passage with flashing lights that gave no opportunity for them to understand where they were located. The members of Zelensky’s office took pictures of the meeting, and apparently they will publish the pictures in the coming days.
The president was excited to see Margereten and said that he plans to visit the US. Margereten invited him to Skver.
{Matzav.com}
כינוס גדולי ישראל בבית המשגיחצילום: שמואל קורלנסקיכינוס גדולי ישראל בבית המשגיחצילום: שמואל קורלנסקיכינוס גדולי ישראל בבית המשגיחצילום: שמואל קורלנסקיכינוס גדולי ישראל בבית המשגיחצילום: שמואל קורלנסקיכינוס גדולי ישראל בבית המשגיחצילום: שמואל קורלנסקיכינוס גדולי ישראל בבית המשגיחצילום: שמואל קורלנסקיכינוס גדולי ישראל בבית המשגיחצילום: שמואל קורלנסקיכינוס גדולי ישראל בבית המשגיחצילום: שמואל קורלנסקיכינוס גדולי ישראל בבית המשגיחצילום: שמואל קורלנסקיכינוס גדולי ישראל בבית המשגיחצילום: שמואל קורלנסקיכינוס גדולי ישראל בבית המשגיחצילום: שמואל קורלנסקיכינוס גדולי ישראל בבית המשגיחצילום: שמואל קורלנסקיכינוס גדולי ישראל בבית המשגיחצילום: שמואל קורלנסקיכינוס גדולי ישראל בבית המשגיחצילום: שמואל קורלנסקיכינוס גדולי ישראל בבית המשגיחצילום: שמואל קורלנסקי
Mrs. Elka Rothman a”h of Botei Broide in Yerushalayim passed away yesterday, leaving behind some 2,000 descendants. She was 97.
Mrs. Rothman was born in Yerushalayim, a daughter of the famed Rav Amram Blau, who fought for kevod Shomayim and shemiras hamitzvos throughout his life.
A pious and special woman, she was married to Rav Yisroel Asher Rothman, a longtime rebbi at Talmud Torah Etz Chaim in Yerushalayim.
As mentioned, it is estimated that she left behind about 2000 descendants.
In Yerushalayim, it was always said that she is “the grandmother of half of the city,” and her name appeared every week on invitations to many simchos in Yerushalayim, Beit Shemesh and beyond. The owners of the printing stores would joke to baalei simcha, “With Elka or without Elka?”
The levayah was held last night at the Shamgar funeral home in Yerushalayim, followed by kevurah on Har Hazeisim.
Yehi zichrah boruch.
{Matzav.com Israel}
A special letter written by Rav Gershon Edelstein, Rosh Yeshivas Ponovezh, and signed by other gedolim, call for chizuk and reinforcement during the holy days of Chanukah.
The gedolim exhort people not to slacken off in their Torah learning, and not to waste precious time for events that are not appropriate for a ben Torah.
“It is a time that is most auspicious, more than the rest of the year, for hatzlacha in Torah and mitzvos,” the letter said.
Rav Edelstein added, “And since on Chanukah, the salvation was that the decree not to engage in Torah was canceled, there is a greater obligation to engage in Torah.”
{Matzav.com Israel}
סיום הש”ס בבית מדרש עליוןצילום: שוקי לררסיום הש”ס בבית מדרש עליוןצילום: שוקי לררסיום הש”ס בבית מדרש עליוןצילום: שוקי לררסיום הש”ס בבית מדרש עליוןצילום: שוקי לררסיום הש”ס בבית מדרש עליוןצילום: שוקי לררסיום הש”ס בבית מדרש עליוןצילום: שוקי לררסיום הש”ס בבית מדרש עליוןצילום: שוקי לררסיום הש”ס בבית מדרש עליוןצילום: שוקי לררסיום הש”ס בבית מדרש עליוןצילום: שוקי לררסיום הש”ס בבית מדרש עליוןצילום: שוקי לררסיום הש”ס בבית מדרש עליוןצילום: שוקי לררסיום הש”ס בבית מדרש עליוןצילום: שוקי לררסיום הש”ס בבית מדרש עליוןצילום: שוקי לררסיום הש”ס בבית מדרש עליוןצילום: שוקי לררסיום הש”ס בבית מדרש עליוןצילום: שוקי לררסיום הש”ס בבית מדרש עליוןצילום: שוקי לררסיום הש”ס בבית מדרש עליוןצילום: שוקי לררסיום הש”ס בבית מדרש עליוןצילום: שוקי לררסיום הש”ס בבית מדרש עליוןצילום: שוקי לררסיום הש”ס בבית מדרש עליוןצילום: שוקי לררסיום הש”ס בבית מדרש עליוןצילום: שוקי לררסיום הש”ס בבית מדרש עליוןצילום: שוקי לררסיום הש”ס בבית מדרש עליוןצילום: שוקי לררסיום הש”ס בבית מדרש עליוןצילום: שוקי לררסיום הש”ס בבית מדרש עליוןצילום: שוקי לררסיום הש”ס בבית מדרש עליוןצילום: שוקי לררסיום הש”ס בבית מדרש עליוןצילום: שוקי לררסיום הש”ס בבית מדרש עליוןצילום: שוקי לררסיום הש”ס בבית מדרש עליוןצילום: שוקי לררסיום הש”ס בבית מדרש עליוןצילום: שוקי לררסיום הש”ס בבית מדרש עליוןצילום: שוקי לררסיום הש”ס בבית מדרש עליוןצילום: שוקי לררסיום הש”ס בבית מדרש עליוןצילום: שוקי לררסיום הש”ס בבית מדרש עליוןצילום: שוקי לררסיום הש”ס בבית מדרש עליוןצילום: שוקי לררסיום הש”ס בבית מדרש עליוןצילום: שוקי לררסיום הש”ס בבית מדרש עליוןצילום: שוקי לררסיום הש”ס בבית מדרש עליוןצילום: שוקי לררסיום הש”ס בבית מדרש עליוןצילום: שוקי לררסיום הש”ס בבית מדרש עליוןצילום: שוקי לררסיום הש”ס בבית מדרש עליוןצילום: שוקי לררסיום הש”ס בבית מדרש עליוןצילום: שוקי לררסיום הש”ס בבית מדרש עליוןצילום: שוקי לררסיום הש”ס בבית מדרש עליוןצילום: שוקי לרר
The wife of the Chief Rabbi of Israel Rav Dovid Lau was released from the hospital to her home after a long period of hospitalization. Yesterday, the rov and rebbetzin went to the Kosel to give thanks to the Ribono Shel Olam.
Rebbetzin Faiga Tzipora bas Hadassah Lau had been hospitalized for an extended period of time at the Sheba Hospital in Tel Hashomer, where she arrived after a stroke. In recent months, her condition has improved against all the doctors’ estimates, and it was clear that the tefillos of Klal Yisroel had resulted in a major turnaround.
At the same time, the family emphasized that the road to a full recovery is still long. All are asked to daven for Faiga Tzipora bas Hadassah.
{Matzav.com Israel}
The Vizhnitzer Rebbe of Bnei Brak, who visited the USA last week, arrived at the residence of his cousin, the Rebbe of Vizhnitz Monsey. During his visit, the topic of young men getting engaged before the age of 18, while in yeshiva, came up. They discussed, among other things, that some yeshivos promptly expel these bochurim from the yeshiva, not wanting to have to deal with chassanim-related issues.
The Vizhnitzer Rebbe expressed his pain at what is happening in the world of Chassidishe yeshivos.
“In past generations, they married at a very young age,” said the rebbe, “and nowadays it is not so prevalent, but I hold it against some yeshivos that forbid the students to get engaged in the second year of bais medrash, even though the boy has already reached the age of eighteen , and only from the Yom Tov of Shavuos onward in the second shiur can one get engaged… This is not correct in my view. I have said more than once that it is not correct to introduce such a rule in yeshivos, because it is against the opinion of our Torah Hakedosha. ….There are various yeshivos where it is forbidden to talk about shidduchim before the age of twenty, and on this my father (the Yeshuos Moshe) would react severely. When eighteen-year-old boys came before him, he would exhort them to hurry up in matters of shidduchim, but Chassidishe yeshivos would prevent them from engaging in shidduchim.”
{Matzav.com}
Various perpetrators seen in the video below are wanted for running after Jewish boys while firing a taser gun and yelling, “RUN JEWS! GET OUT OF HERE!” on Avenue J and East 16 Street in Flatbush.
The NYPD’s 70 precinct and Shmira are investigating.
WATCH:
It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of Rebbetzin Fraida Milka (née Hass) Lowy a”h, the second wife of the Tosher Rebbe. She was 72.
The rebbe’s first rebbetzin, Chava, passed away in 1996. In 2007, the rebbe married his second wife, Rebbetzin Malka, the almanah of the renowned baal chesed, Reb Avrohom Yitzchok Hauer. She was a daughter of Reb Mendel Hass of Montreal.
Rebbetzin Malka enabled the rebbe to continue serving Hashem with mesirus nefesh, accepting petitioners at all hours, even after he took ill in 2008 with pneumonia, from which he never fully recovered. The rebbetzin devotedly stood at his side until his petirah.
Yehi zichrah boruch.
{Matzav.com}
A large crowd gathered on Har Hazeisim for the hakomas matzeivah at the kever of Rav Yitzchok Tuva Weiss zt”l, gaon av bais din of the Badatz of the Eidah Hachareidis of Yerushalayim, who was niftar in the month of Av.
הקמת מצבה על ציון הגרי”ט וייס זצ”לצילום: שמואל דרייהקמת מצבה על ציון הגרי”ט וייס זצ”לצילום: שמואל דרייהקמת מצבה על ציון הגרי”ט וייס זצ”לצילום: שמואל דרייהקמת מצבה על ציון הגרי”ט וייס זצ”לצילום: שמואל דרייהקמת מצבה על ציון הגרי”ט וייס זצ”לצילום: שמואל דרייהקמת מצבה על ציון הגרי”ט וייס זצ”לצילום: שמואל דרייהקמת מצבה על ציון הגרי”ט וייס זצ”לצילום: שמואל דרייהקמת מצבה על ציון הגרי”ט וייס זצ”לצילום: שמואל דרייהקמת מצבה על ציון הגרי”ט וייס זצ”לצילום: שמואל דרייהקמת מצבה על ציון הגרי”ט וייס זצ”לצילום: שמואל דרייהקמת מצבה על ציון הגרי”ט וייס זצ”לצילום: שמואל דרייהקמת מצבה על ציון הגרי”ט וייס זצ”לצילום: שמואל דרייהקמת מצבה על ציון הגרי”ט וייס זצ”לצילום: שמואל דרייהקמת מצבה על ציון הגרי”ט וייס זצ”לצילום: שמואל דרייהקמת מצבה על ציון הגרי”ט וייס זצ”לצילום: שמואל דרייהקמת מצבה על ציון הגרי”ט וייס זצ”לצילום: שמואל דרייהקמת מצבה על ציון הגרי”ט וייס זצ”לצילום: שמואל דרייהקמת מצבה על ציון הגרי”ט וייס זצ”לצילום: שמואל דרייהקמת מצבה על ציון הגרי”ט וייס זצ”לצילום: שמואל דרייהקמת מצבה על ציון הגרי”ט וייס זצ”לצילום: שמואל דרייהקמת מצבה על ציון הגרי”ט וייס זצ”לצילום: שמואל דרייהקמת מצבה על ציון הגרי”ט וייס זצ”לצילום: שמואל דרייהקמת מצבה על ציון הגרי”ט וייס זצ”לצילום: שמואל דרייהקמת מצבה על ציון הגרי”ט וייס זצ”לצילום: שמואל דרייהקמת מצבה על ציון הגרי”ט וייס זצ”לצילום: שמואל דרייהקמת מצבה על ציון הגרי”ט וייס זצ”לצילום: שמואל דרייהקמת מצבה על ציון הגרי”ט וייס זצ”לצילום: שמואל דרייהקמת מצבה על ציון הגרי”ט וייס זצ”לצילום: שמואל דרייהקמת מצבה על ציון הגרי”ט וייס זצ”לצילום: שמואל דרייהקמת מצבה על ציון הגרי”ט וייס זצ”לצילום: שמואל דרייהקמת מצבה על ציון הגרי”ט וייס זצ”לצילום: שמואל דרייהקמת מצבה על ציון הגרי”ט וייס זצ”לצילום: שמואל דרייהקמת מצבה על ציון הגרי”ט וייס זצ”לצילום: שמואל דרייהקמת מצבה על ציון הגרי”ט וייס זצ”לצילום: שמואל דרייהקמת מצבה על ציון הגרי”ט וייס זצ”לצילום: שמואל דרייהקמת מצבה על ציון הגרי”ט וייס זצ”לצילום: שמואל דרייהקמת מצבה על ציון הגרי”ט וייס זצ”לצילום: שמואל דרייהקמת מצבה על ציון הגרי”ט וייס זצ”לצילום: שמואל דרייהקמת מצבה על ציון הגרי”ט וייס זצ”לצילום: שמואל דרייהקמת מצבה על ציון הגרי”ט וייס זצ”לצילום: שמואל דרייהקמת מצבה על ציון הגרי”ט וייס זצ”לצילום: שמואל דרייהקמת מצבה על ציון הגרי”ט וייס זצ”לצילום: שמואל דרייהקמת מצבה על ציון הגרי”ט וייס זצ”לצילום: שמואל דרייהקמת מצבה על ציון הגרי”ט וייס זצ”לצילום: שמואל דרייהקמת מצבה על ציון הגרי”ט וייס זצ”לצילום: שמואל דרייהקמת מצבה על ציון הגרי”ט וייס זצ”לצילום: שמואל דרייהקמת מצבה על ציון הגרי”ט וייס זצ”לצילום: שמואל דרייהקמת מצבה על ציון הגרי”ט וייס זצ”לצילום: שמואל דרייהקמת מצבה על ציון הגרי”ט וייס זצ”לצילום: שמואל דרייהקמת מצבה על ציון הגרי”ט וייס זצ”לצילום: שמואל דרייהקמת מצבה על ציון הגרי”ט וייס זצ”לצילום: שמואל דרייהקמת מצבה על ציון הגרי”ט וייס זצ”לצילום: שמואל דרייהקמת מצבה על ציון הגרי”ט וייס זצ”לצילום: שמואל דרייהקמת מצבה על ציון הגרי”ט וייס זצ”לצילום: שמואל דרייהקמת מצבה על ציון הגרי”ט וייס זצ”לצילום: שמואל דרייהקמת מצבה על ציון הגרי”ט וייס זצ”לצילום: שמואל דרייהקמת מצבה על ציון הגרי”ט וייס זצ”לצילום: שמואל דרייהקמת מצבה על ציון הגרי”ט וייס זצ”לצילום: שמואל דריי
It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of Rav Azriel Zelig Weinberg zt”l, one of the last talmidim of the Brisker Rov, Rav Yitzchok Zev Soloveitchik. Rav Weinberg was 82. He passed away at Shaarei Tzedek hospital in Yerushalayim.
Rav Weinberg was born in Eretz Yisroel on the 28th of Shevat, a son of Rav Chaim Yosef Dovid and Mrs. Perel Weinberg.
He learned under the Brisker Rov and became a very close talmid, ultimately becoming know as Rav “Zelig Brisker” because of that connected.
He married his wife, a daughter of Rav Shmelke Pinter zt”l of London.
He was known as an exalted yorei Shomayim, and all his life, he was devoted to limud and harbotzas Torah. He authored the sefer חביון עוז on Gemara and Rambam.
He leaves behind a family of children and grandchildren following in his ways.
The levayah was held at his home on Rechov Strauss in Yerushalayim, followed by kevurah on Har Hazeisim.
Yehi zichro boruch.
{Matzav.com Israel}
21 years after the petirah of Maran Rav Elazar Menachem Man Shach zt”l, a street in Yerushalayim will be dedicated in his name. Rechov Harav Shach will be a central street in the Ramat Shlomo neighborhood of Yerushalayim
The new street will split off from Rav Druk Street and extend along all the new streets in the west of the neighborhood.
The inauguration of the street will be held on Thursday, 21 Kislev, with the participation of council members, public representatives, neighborhood rabbonim, and residents.
Several years ago, the Yerushalayim Municipality approved the naming of the street after Rav Shach. The decision received the approval of the Municipality’s Names Advisory Committee, but for some reason it did not receive the final approval of the City Council.
In the last year, Mayor Moshe Leon decided to personally intervene in the matter, leading to its final approval.
{Matzav.com Israel}
It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of Rabbi Moshe Yanofsky z”l of Flatbush, Brooklyn.
Rabbi Yanofsky was the founder and longtime beloved principal at Machon Bais Yaakov in Boro Park.
Reb Moshe was also the long-time principal of Bais Yaakov of Boro Park, serving alongside Rav Boruch and Rebbetzin Vichna Kaplan for over 20 years.
Reb Moshe was known for his humor and humility. “Please don’t call me ‘Rabbi,’” he would say, not wanting an honorific in front of his name. “My whole life I’ve been known as Mr. Yanofsky.”
Rabbi Yanofsky grew up in Brownsville, Brooklyn, the son of immigrants from Russia. He and his younger sister were considered miracle children, since their mother was in her forties when Reb Moshe was born.
Rabbi Yanofsky was a pioneering mechanech, who, with creativity, good cheer, and inspiration, influenced thousands of talmidos over the years.
During the last few years, Rabbi Yanofsky battled difficult illness and endured tremendous yissurim during this period.
He is survived by his wife, Mrs. Sharon Yanofsky, and his children, Rabbi Shimon Yanofsky, Dr. Noson Yanofsky, R’ Meir Leib Yanofsky and Mrs. Golda Baila Feigenbaum. He was predeceased by his son, Rav Eliyahu Yanofsky z”l of Lakewood.
Levayah details will be posted once they are finalized.
Yehi zichro boruch.
A noteworthy meeting took place this week at Givat Rokeach in Bnei Brak, as the Brisker rosh yeshiva, Rav Avraham Yehoshua Soloveitchik, went to the residence of the Slabodka rosh yeshiva, Rav Dov Landau.
The two roshei yeshiva had a conversation for about an hour about the burning issues of the day, and at the end of the conversation, the subject of the conscription law came up.
According to sources, Rav Soloveitchik told Rav Landau that now seems to be a time to correct the injustices against the world of Torah as there seems to be a possibility of passing a law that would provide a complete exemption for Torah students from being drafted into the army.
Rav Landau responded that seemingly a complete exemption is not possible, but “it is mandatory to demand that the ‘Tal Law,’ with a Toraso Umnaso arrangement, be enacted, with a superseding clause that would prevent the High Court from invalidating the law.”
{Matzav.com Israel}
The members of the Eidah Hachareidus community who regularly demonstrate against the light rail on Rechov Bar Ilan in Yerushalayim received a boost last night when members of the Peleg Yerushalmi faction joined them, turning the protest into a mass demonstration.
For over two years, members of certain communities have been protesting against the light rail work in Yerushalayim, claiming that the passage of the train in their neighborhood will harm the sanctity of the place.
Protesters often taken into custody and their detention is extended from time to time, while some have been sued for damages in the sums of hundreds of thousands of shekels by the company performing the railway work.
המחאה בבר אילןצילום: ישי ירושלמיהמחאה בבר אילןצילום: ישי ירושלמיהמחאה בבר אילןצילום: ישי ירושלמיהמחאה בבר אילןצילום: ישי ירושלמיהמחאה בבר אילןצילום: ישי ירושלמיהמחאה בבר אילןצילום: ישי ירושלמיהמחאה בבר אילןצילום: יאיר לויהמחאה בבר אילןצילום: יאיר לוי{Matzav.com Israel}
BUY THIS BOOK FOR 20% OFF HERE!
Reb Dovid is a brand new biography published by ArtScroll/Mesorah Publications depicting the life and legacy of Rav Dovid Feinstein zt”l. Born to one of the greatest poskei hador of his time, Rav Moshe Feinstein zt”l, Rav Dovid himself was a phenomenal masmid and illui. Yet Rav Dovid carried his incomparable yichus and many accomplishments lightly, with a sweetness and humility that only emphasized his Torah greatness.
He was a quiet man, content to sit and learn day and night in the MTJ bais medrash that was his second home for eight decades. And yet, with the achrayus for the klal that also defined him, he taught and influenced thousands, beloved by talmidim and virtual strangers alike for his compassion, deep understanding of human nature, and gentle smile.
He was, as one of America’s leading roshei yeshivah said of him, a man who was “kulo Torah” – whose essence was Torah. “Kulo Torah” included care and consideration for others – the ability to understand the needs of the talmidim who were so drawn to him, of petitioners who came to him pleading for tefillos and brachos, of shoppers who stopped him in grocery store aisles with halachic questions, and of his people, his neighbors and friends on his beloved Lower East Side.
Written by Yisroel Besser, Reb Dovid is a book about the many aspects of Torah greatness that a person can achieve – a book that helps us achieve greatness as well.
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The following are some anecdotes from this new book, a volume packed with stories of uplift and inspiration.
- • • • •
Talmidim were privileged to witness a rare scene one Sunday when a visitor stood there after Reb Dovid’s weekly shiur was over, challenging the Rosh Yeshivah on a certain psak. He was relentless, and kept asking, “What is the Rosh Yeshivah’s mekor to say like that?”
Uncharacteristically, Reb Dovid looked at him and told him to get a pen and paper. Then, Reb Dovid started to list off mareh mekomos — sugyos in the Gemara, Rishonim, nosei keilim on the Shulchan Aruch, and teshuvah sefarim, speaking for several minutes as the gentleman wrote, filling a page with sources until Reb Dovid stopped and said, “Ayein sham, look in those places, and you will see a mekor.”
- • • • •
He didn’t generally discuss the chiddushim found in sifrei Acharonim, using just the Gemara itself and quoting from the Rambam or Shulchan Aruch. On the day before a new zman, a talmid noticed him heading to the shelf of sifrei Acharonim in the back of the beis medrash. Reb Dovid withdrew a Pnei Yehoshua from the shelf and started to learn it, from the beginning. He stood there, in the same spot, for several hours, learning the entire Pnei Yehoshua on Masechta Bava Kamma, turning page after page, as if reviewing a book with which he was familiar, until he reached the final page, and then he replaced it on the shelf.
- • • • •
A talmid chacham came to speak with Reb Dovid, and he was immediately confronted by the unexpected sight — one familiar to talmidim in the yeshivah — of Reb Dovid restocking
the soda machine in the yeshivah’s front hallway. The visitor was stunned and tried to do the task, but Reb Dovid didn’t let.
“It is my mitzvah,” he said simply, not understanding why the other person would try to take it.
“But it is not appropriate for the Rosh Yeshivah!” the visitor argued.
“What’s your mekor, your source, that this is called “eino l’fi k’vodo”? Reb Dovid asked. “It brings in money for Torah, so to me it’s a great kavod.”
- • • • •
One of Reb Dovid’s close talmidim had learned under several other great geonim before he had come to MTJ.
“I learned by Reb Dovid for the fewest years, but I learned the most Torah from him. I wondered how that could be,” this talmid reflects, “and then I realized that he was getting shailos on kol haTorah kulah, the entirety of Shulchan Aruch and beyond, so just by sitting and listening to his routine conversations I was being exposed to all of that.”
He describes the scene. “Bachurim would call from their yeshivah pay phones to discuss new shavers, listing model numbers, and Reb Dovid was as patient and humble as a neighborhood rav in a small shul as he answered each one. The Rosh Yeshivah kept a lift-and-cut shaver in his drawer and he would use it to show people how to dull the blades, when the situation called for it, in order to make the shaver permissible for use. He could be displaying the shaver to a visitor, while a child from the cheder popped in to ask what berachah to make on a wafer; then a call would come in with a question about a woman in labor, the doctors unsure whether to save the mother or the baby. Reb Dovid answered each with the same confidence and composure, moving seamlessly between the parts of Torah, his voice and demeanor the same regardless of the complexity of the question.
“Then there were the shailos that were uniquely his, the type that poskim elsewhere had said, ‘Only Reb Dovid could answer this,’ and those of us privileged to listen and hear those shailos were exposed to yedios that we might never have known.”
The talmidim would look on in awe at the way the entirety of Torah seemed to be spread out before their rebbi.
A talmid was walking Reb Dovid to breakfast one morning and said that he had a difficulty with a Gemara on Masechta Shabbos 147b — a masechta unconnected to anything being learned formally in yeshivah that zman. Reb Dovid stopped walking and stood in place for about ten seconds, then nodded and said, “Okay.”
He was ready, the Gemara in front of him.
“There was another unique feature to the Rosh Yeshivah’s psak,” notes a prominent posek. “You didn’t need to follow up with him. His initial answer somehow covered all eventualities, in just a few words. It could be a medical shailah asked on a Friday, and his teshuvah would incorporate the medical aspects, the Shabbos aspects, and the practical aspects. Sometimes, you didn’t think he heard the whole question, but his grasp was so quick that he heard exactly what you were saying, understood the implications, and addressed every part of it in his brief answer.”
He had respect for the opinions of doctors, and often sought advice from a small network of doctors he trusted, but at the same time, a very strong sense of bitachon was part of the
decision-making process.
A caller once shared the doctor’s prediction regarding a certain course of treatment and its devastating side effects. Reb Dovid listened, then said, “The side effects are just speculation. It will be fine. Don’t worry about that part.”
It was obvious that Reb Dovid had a clear line in his mind between what was fact and what was not, his guidance a perfect interplay between bitachon and deep understanding of
medical realities.
A respected rav was charged with administering a fund to help a widow in his community, and he had several questions.
“The questions were tricky, pitting what was good for her against what she wanted, and in the Rosh Yeshivah’s answer, there was this perfect blend of mastery of halachah and true
compassion. I had researched this topic beforehand and was fluent in all the contemporary teshuvos on these halachos,” recalls the rav, “and I don’t know if Reb Dovid had read them
all, but he certainly anticipated every single one of their svaros and took them into account.”
- • • • •
At a chasunah, a donor to MTJ noticed Reb Dovid at the sweet table, filling a napkin with a few small cakes. Seeing an opportunity to do something for a great man, he hurried over. “The Rosh Yeshivah likes these cakes? I will send him a truck full of this cake for Shabbos. He doesn’t have to wrap them up to go.”
Reb Dovid smiled and started to walk toward the women’s section, the younger man following him. Reb Dovid asked someone to call the Rebbetzin, and when she approached, he handed her the napkin.
“Here,” he said, “I noticed some of the cake you like, so I brought it for you.”
A talmid of MTJ had become a popular tour guide in Eretz Yisrael, and when Reb Dovid and the Rebbetzin visited, he took them on a private tour of the mekomos hakedoshim. They started in Kever Rachel, which was a special experience for them. They were meant to continue to Me’aras HaMachpelah, in Chevron, but Reb Dovid asked the driver to return to the hotel instead.
Reb Yissocher Ginzberg, who was accompanying them, was worried that Reb Dovid didn’t feel well, but the Rosh Yeshivah assured him that he felt fine. He had decided against going to the Me’aras HaMachpelah, he said. He explained that the Me’aras HaMachpelah had many steps to climb and the Rebbetzin, who used a walker, would not be able to navigate them.
The Rebbetzin insisted that she didn’t mind. “The bottom of the steps in the Me’aras HaMachpelah is also a holy place,” she said good-naturedly, knowing how much tefillah meant to her husband, but Reb Dovid had made up his mind.
“A whole year,” he explained to Reb Yissocher, “I am busy with the yeshivah, with giving shiurim, with answering shailos, and with klal issues. I have so many obligations outside the house. Now, I am on a very rare vacation with my wife, and I will be with her. If she cannot go in, I won’t go in either.”
Reb Dovid was in Lakewood for a parlor meeting on behalf of Rav Michel Feinstein’s kollel. It was toward the end of his life, and there was a large crowd waiting to greet him. When
Reb Dovid entered the house, there was a commotion. Reb Dovid turned to the host, his talmid Ezra Beyman, and asked if he could have privacy for a moment to make an important phone call. Everyone in the Rosh Yeshivah’s entourage had cell phones, so the host reasoned that the call must be very private. He led his rebbi to his study, where Reb Dovid sat down.
And called the Rebbetzin.
He asked about her day, and told her a bit about his day. He asked what she would be eating for supper, and wished her a pleasant evening. She had been alone in the apartment all day, he explained, while he circulated and met people and went to different homes. He wanted to include her in his activities, because she was his partner.
The Rosh Yeshivah’s face, recalls Reb Ezra, was like that of a chassan speaking to his kallah, more than sixty years after his chasunah.
Then Reb Dovid went to greet the participants, the important phone call completed.
- • • • •
The daily post-Shacharis Mishnayos shiur finished a masechta, and in honor of the siyum, someone set out some kichel, herring, and a bottle of whiskey. Reb Dovid partook in the impromptu festivities and a concerned observer wondered if there was a halachic source to make a siyum on a masechta of Mishnayos. Reb Dovid considered the question and shared a fundamental part of his philosophy. “We have been in galus for a long time,” he said, “and when reasons to celebrate come our way, we should use them. Being b’simchah in galus does not need a mekor,” he concluded as he pointedly reached for a l’chaim.
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{Matzav.com}
A brand new Sefer Torah dedicated l’illui nishmas Rav Chaim Kanievsky zt”l. The destination? Who would ever believe it: Nigeria. A Chabad house in Nigeria to be exact.
The dedication in memory of Maran Rav Chaim was held in conjunction with the tenth anniversary of the Chabad House in Nigeria, headed by Reb Yisroel and Chaya Ozen.
The Sefer Torah was donated by R’ Dov Ziskin.
PHOTOS:
The wedding of the ben zekunim of the Stoliner Rebbe was held last night in Tel Aviv.
Chassidim who arrived in the afternoon for the wedding reception realized very quickly that the Tel Aviv District of the Israel Police would not approve use of the bleachers that were erected there, and so the chupah was delayed for a long time.
At first, attendees expressed outrage when thousands who arrived were forced to stand crowded, when the police didn’t allow use of the bleachers.
It was a saga that lasted a few hours. After a safety engineer confirmed that the bleachers were safe, the chupah was allowed to proceed.
Engineer Avi Levy was called in and he examined each and every bleacher. The required approvals were obtained with the help of Rabbi Rami Birchayhu.
Sources said that up to 12,000 people – including women, girls and children – participated in the simcha.
170 buses were mobilized to transport people from all over the country. Over 1,200 people came from abroad for the celebration.
The chosson is 22-year-old Mordechai Shochet. The kallah is a daughter of Rav Shlomo Kuteiner, maggid shiur at Yeshivas Lev Simcha of Ger in London and rov of Bais Medrash Yesod Ha’avodah-Slonim in London.
The music at the wedding was conducted by the famed Yochi Briskman of New York.
The mesader kiddushin was the Rachmastrivke Rebbe of Yerushalayim.
{Matzav.com Israel}
Thousands of followers of renowned mashpia Rav Meilich Biderman packed the Vizhnitzer bais medrash in Bnei Brak to mark the yahrtzeit of the Bas Ayin.
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הילולת הבת עין בבית ויז’ניץצילום: שוקי לררהילולת הבת עין בבית ויז’ניץצילום: שוקי לררהילולת הבת עין בבית ויז’ניץצילום: שוקי לררהילולת הבת עין בבית ויז’ניץצילום: שוקי לררהילולת הבת עין בבית ויז’ניץצילום: שוקי לררהילולת הבת עין בבית ויז’ניץצילום: שוקי לררהילולת הבת עין בבית ויז’ניץצילום: שוקי לררהילולת הבת עין בבית ויז’ניץצילום: שוקי לררהילולת הבת עין בבית ויז’ניץצילום: שוקי לררהילולת הבת עין בבית ויז’ניץצילום: שוקי לררהילולת הבת עין בבית ויז’ניץצילום: שוקי לררהילולת הבת עין בבית ויז’ניץצילום: שוקי לררהילולת הבת עין בבית ויז’ניץצילום: שוקי לררהילולת הבת עין בבית ויז’ניץצילום: שוקי לררהילולת הבת עין בבית ויז’ניץצילום: שוקי לררהילולת הבת עין בבית ויז’ניץצילום: שוקי לררהילולת הבת עין בבית ויז’ניץצילום: שוקי לררהילולת הבת עין בבית ויז’ניץצילום: שוקי לררהילולת הבת עין בבית ויז’ניץצילום: שוקי לררהילולת הבת עין בבית ויז’ניץצילום: שוקי לררהילולת הבת עין בבית ויז’ניץצילום: שוקי לררהילולת הבת עין בבית ויז’ניץצילום: שוקי לררהילולת הבת עין בבית ויז’ניץצילום: שוקי לררהילולת הבת עין בבית ויז’ניץצילום: שוקי לררהילולת הבת עין בבית ויז’ניץצילום: שוקי לררהילולת הבת עין בבית ויז’ניץצילום: שוקי לררהילולת הבת עין בבית ויז’ניץצילום: שוקי לררהילולת הבת עין בבית ויז’ניץצילום: שוקי לררהילולת הבת עין בבית ויז’ניץצילום: שוקי לררהילולת הבת עין בבית ויז’ניץצילום: שוקי לררהילולת הבת עין בבית ויז’ניץצילום: שוקי לררהילולת הבת עין בבית ויז’ניץצילום: שוקי לררהילולת הבת עין בבית ויז’ניץצילום: שוקי לררהילולת הבת עין בבית ויז’ניץצילום: שוקי לררהילולת הבת עין בבית ויז’ניץצילום: שוקי לררהילולת הבת עין בבית ויז’ניץצילום: שוקי לררהילולת הבת עין בבית ויז’ניץצילום: שוקי לררהילולת הבת עין בבית ויז’ניץצילום: שוקי לררהילולת הבת עין בבית ויז’ניץצילום: שוקי לררהילולת הבת עין בבית ויז’ניץצילום: שוקי לררהילולת הבת עין בבית ויז’ניץצילום: שוקי לררהילולת הבת עין בבית ויז’ניץצילום: שוקי לררהילולת הבת עין בבית ויז’ניץצילום: שוקי לררהילולת הבת עין בבית ויז’ניץצילום: שוקי לררהילולת הבת עין בבית ויז’ניץצילום: שוקי לררהילולת הבת עין בבית ויז’ניץצילום: שוקי לרר
גלריה ראשונה מביקור הרבי מבאבובצילום: שוקי לררגלריה ראשונה מביקור הרבי מבאבובצילום: שוקי לררגלריה ראשונה מביקור הרבי מבאבובצילום: שוקי לררגלריה ראשונה מביקור הרבי מבאבובצילום: שוקי לררגלריה ראשונה מביקור הרבי מבאבובצילום: שוקי לררגלריה ראשונה מביקור הרבי מבאבובצילום: שוקי לררגלריה ראשונה מביקור הרבי מבאבובצילום: שוקי לררגלריה ראשונה מביקור הרבי מבאבובצילום: שוקי לררגלריה ראשונה מביקור הרבי מבאבובצילום: שוקי לררגלריה ראשונה מביקור הרבי מבאבובצילום: שוקי לררגלריה ראשונה מביקור הרבי מבאבובצילום: שוקי לררגלריה ראשונה מביקור הרבי מבאבובצילום: שוקי לררגלריה ראשונה מביקור הרבי מבאבובצילום: שוקי לררגלריה ראשונה מביקור הרבי מבאבובצילום: שוקי לררגלריה ראשונה מביקור הרבי מבאבובצילום: שוקי לררגלריה ראשונה מביקור הרבי מבאבובצילום: שוקי לררגלריה ראשונה מביקור הרבי מבאבובצילום: שוקי לררגלריה ראשונה מביקור הרבי מבאבובצילום: שוקי לררגלריה ראשונה מביקור הרבי מבאבובצילום: שוקי לררגלריה ראשונה מביקור הרבי מבאבובצילום: שוקי לררגלריה ראשונה מביקור הרבי מבאבובצילום: שוקי לררגלריה ראשונה מביקור הרבי מבאבובצילום: שוקי לררגלריה ראשונה מביקור הרבי מבאבובצילום: שוקי לררגלריה ראשונה מביקור הרבי מבאבובצילום: שוקי לררגלריה ראשונה מביקור הרבי מבאבובצילום: שוקי לררגלריה ראשונה מביקור הרבי מבאבובצילום: שוקי לררגלריה ראשונה מביקור הרבי מבאבובצילום: שוקי לררגלריה ראשונה מביקור הרבי מבאבובצילום: שוקי לררגלריה ראשונה מביקור הרבי מבאבובצילום: שוקי לררגלריה ראשונה מביקור הרבי מבאבובצילום: שוקי לררגלריה ראשונה מביקור הרבי מבאבובצילום: שוקי לררגלריה ראשונה מביקור הרבי מבאבובצילום: שוקי לררגלריה ראשונה מביקור הרבי מבאבובצילום: שוקי לררגלריה ראשונה מביקור הרבי מבאבובצילום: שוקי לררגלריה ראשונה מביקור הרבי מבאבובצילום: שוקי לררגלריה ראשונה מביקור הרבי מבאבובצילום: שוקי לררגלריה ראשונה מביקור הרבי מבאבובצילום: שוקי לררגלריה ראשונה מביקור הרבי מבאבובצילום: שוקי לררגלריה ראשונה מביקור הרבי מבאבובצילום: שוקי לררגלריה ראשונה מביקור הרבי מבאבובצילום: שוקי לררגלריה ראשונה מביקור הרבי מבאבובצילום: שוקי לררגלריה ראשונה מביקור הרבי מבאבובצילום: שוקי לררגלריה ראשונה מביקור הרבי מבאבובצילום: שוקי לררגלריה ראשונה מביקור הרבי מבאבובצילום: שוקי לררגלריה ראשונה מביקור הרבי מבאבובצילום: שוקי לררגלריה ראשונה מביקור הרבי מבאבובצילום: שוקי לררגלריה ראשונה מביקור הרבי מבאבובצילום: שוקי לררגלריה ראשונה מביקור הרבי מבאבובצילום: שוקי לררגלריה ראשונה מביקור הרבי מבאבובצילום: שוקי לררגלריה ראשונה מביקור הרבי מבאבובצילום: שוקי לררגלריה ראשונה מביקור הרבי מבאבובצילום: שוקי לררגלריה ראשונה מביקור הרבי מבאבובצילום: שוקי לררגלריה ראשונה מביקור הרבי מבאבובצילום: שוקי לררגלריה ראשונה מביקור הרבי מבאבובצילום: שוקי לררגלריה ראשונה מביקור הרבי מבאבובצילום: שוקי לררגלריה ראשונה מביקור הרבי מבאבובצילום: שוקי לררגלריה ראשונה מביקור הרבי מבאבובצילום: שוקי לררגלריה ראשונה מביקור הרבי מבאבובצילום: שוקי לררגלריה ראשונה מביקור הרבי מבאבובצילום: שוקי לררגלריה ראשונה מביקור הרבי מבאבובצילום: שוקי לררגלריה ראשונה מביקור הרבי מבאבובצילום: שוקי לררגלריה ראשונה מביקור הרבי מבאבובצילום: שוקי לררגלריה ראשונה מביקור הרבי מבאבובצילום: שוקי לררגלריה ראשונה מביקור הרבי מבאבובצילום: שוקי לררגלריה ראשונה מביקור הרבי מבאבובצילום: שוקי לררגלריה ראשונה מביקור הרבי מבאבובצילום: שוקי לררגלריה ראשונה מביקור הרבי מבאבובצילום: שוקי לררגלריה ראשונה מביקור הרבי מבאבובצילום: שוקי לררגלריה ראשונה מביקור הרבי מבאבובצילום: שוקי לררגלריה ראשונה מביקור הרבי מבאבובצילום: שוקי לררגלריה ראשונה מביקור הרבי מבאבובצילום: שוקי לררגלריה ראשונה מביקור הרבי מבאבובצילום: שוקי לררגלריה ראשונה מביקור הרבי מבאבובצילום: שוקי לררגלריה ראשונה מביקור הרבי מבאבובצילום: שוקי לררגלריה ראשונה מביקור הרבי מבאבובצילום: שוקי לררגלריה ראשונה מביקור הרבי מבאבובצילום: שוקי לררגלריה ראשונה מביקור הרבי מבאבובצילום: שוקי לררגלריה ראשונה מביקור הרבי מבאבובצילום: שוקי לררגלריה ראשונה מביקור הרבי מבאבובצילום: שוקי לררגלריה ראשונה מביקור הרבי מבאבובצילום: שוקי לרר
A special feeling permeated this year’s Agudah Convention. The Agudah Convention has traditionally been the place where Klal Yisroel gathers to discuss the issues of the day, interact with and hear from the Gedolei Yisroel, and find opportunities to be stronger as a united tzibbur. With representatives from all of Klal Yisroel’s many groups, the many attendees gathered with a true “agudah” – bound together in a common cause of increasing kvod Shamayim.But if there was one theme that was stressed during the Agudah Convention this year, it was speaking up by learning Torah. “Learning Torah is what brings us closest to Hashem,” said Rabbi Moshe Hillel Hirsch, Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshivas Slabodka, Bnei Brak, and Chaver Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah of Degel HaTorah, at Motzoei Shabbos’s keynote session of the Agudah Convention. “Never say you don’t have the strength!” This theme was echoed by, among others, Chaver Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah Rabbi Yeruchim Olshin, Rosh HaYeshiva of Beth Medrash Govoha, who explained that specifically in the context of mesorah, learning Torah is what keeps the chain of mesorah strong.Learning Torah, said Chaver Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah Rabbi Aryeh Malkiel Kotler, Rosh HaYeshiva of Beth Medrash Govoha, protects us: “We will not allow any influences to penetrate – our mechitzah is our Torah!” And Rabbi Yaakov Robinson, Rav of Beis Medrash Mikor Hachaim in Chicago and executive director of the Midwest Agudas Yisroel Council of Synagogue Rabbanim, asked the attendees, “What do you choose to do? Do you go to seder? Do you go to minyan? Or do you choose an extra hour in the office?”The plight of the Jews of Ukraine still weighs heavily on Agudah’s Vaad Hatzalah, and was an area of focus at the convention. Tens of thousands of Jews remain in Ukraine and are still facing incredible hardship in what continues to be a war zone. Supporting our brothers and sisters is critical and the Vaad Hatzalah continues its work in Ukraine and with resettled refugees elsewhere in Europe, Eretz Yisroel, and the United States.A touching presentation turned into a joyous celebration of kavod haTorah, singing, and dancing. A sefer Torah – Klal Yisroel’s sefer Torah – was presented by Agudah’s COO Rabbi Yitzchok Ehrman on Motzai Shabbos to the leadership of the Vaad Hatzalah, Sholoime Werdiger, Reuven Wolf, R’ Menashe Frankel, and Bentzion Heitner, on behalf of the thousands of Ukrainian refugees who were saved by their work. The evening turned into an impromptu celebration, first in the ballroom, and then in the Armon Hotel’s lobby, with singing and dancing late into the night. The sefer Torah will be sent to Neptun, Romania, where it will be used in Tikva’s refugee center for Ukrainian Jews.Many other issues were discussed. On the ruchnios side, effective tefillah, keeping true to Yiddishkeit in a work environment, and living with Hashem, day in and day out. On the gashmios side, others, among them: the economic downturn, challenges of technology, being a Jew in galus, and the continuing constant struggle for religious rights. (For the complete program of the Agudah convention, click here.)Over the last years, the Agudah Convention has featured various special tracks preceding the actual convention itself. The mental health professionals track is long-standing; this year, over 300 mental health professionals gathered to learn from each other and from Daas Torah, to network, and to get a charge to take them into the next year. Among the speakers was Chaver Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah Rabbi Aharon Feldman, Rosh HaYeshiva, Yeshivas Ner Yisroel of Baltimore.For its second year, there was a special track for Kallah teachers, who were inspired and educated by experts in the field, as well as Rabbonim and morei hora’ah.And finally, the special program for Rabbonim proceeded on Thursday evening and Friday morning, with the Rabbanim talking with, among others, Chaver Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah Rabbi Shlomo Eliyahu Miller, Rosh Kollel and Av Beis Din of Kollel Avreichim, Toronto.
It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of Rav Mordechai Sternberg zt”l, rosh yeshiva of Yeshiva Har Hamor. He was 74. Rav Sternberg had fought a long battle with cancer.
Rav Sternberg previously served as a marbitz Torah at Yeshiva Beit El and Yeshiva Or Etzion.
In recent years, in addition to leading Har Hamor, he had taught at Ateret Yerushalayim, Ma’ale Eliyahu, Ateret Nechemiah, and elsewhere.
He is survived by his wife, Rebbetzin Miriam Sternberg, and his children and grandchildren.
Yehi zichro boruch.
{Matzav.com Israel}
The noted rov Rav Shlomo Machpoud, who is an expert mohel, was en route to a bris last week when, due to a traffic backup, he realized that he, and the baby with its parents, wouldn’t make it to the bris location before shkiah, sunset, in time for the bris to be performed on the eighth day.
Rav Machpoud and the parents – who had, in the meantime, been pulled over by police for an illegal detour – managed to meet up next to Ben Gurion Airport and, with just minutes before shkiah, Rav Machpoud performed the bris, on the eighth day, in the back seat of the car, the taxi driver serving as the impromptu sandek.
Thus, on the side of an Israeli highway, a baby boy was welcomed into the covenant of Avrohom Avinu, a member of the most special nation on earth.
{Matzav.com Israel}
After undergoing treatment to improve his breathing, the head of the Moetzet Gedolei Hatorah of Shas, Rav Reofle Shimon ben Chaviva Baadani, woke up at Maayanei Hayeshua Hospital, where he was hospitalized in very serious condition.
The 95-year-old chacham woke up in the intensive care unit of the hospital and even responded to those around him by shaking his head.
One of the chacham’s close associates said, “You see a medical miracle here, and it’s all thanks to the many tefillot. The rav underwent resuscitation and was in critical condition. Today I asked for his bracha and he nodded his head several times.”
All are asked to continue davening for Rav Baadani’s full recovery.
{Matzav.com Israel}
עצרת חיזוק בישיבת קמניץצילום: באדיבות המצלםעצרת חיזוק בישיבת קמניץצילום: באדיבות המצלםעצרת חיזוק בישיבת קמניץצילום: באדיבות המצלםעצרת חיזוק בישיבת קמניץצילום: באדיבות המצלםעצרת חיזוק בישיבת קמניץצילום: באדיבות המצלםעצרת חיזוק בישיבת קמניץצילום: באדיבות המצלםעצרת חיזוק בישיבת קמניץצילום: באדיבות המצלםעצרת חיזוק בישיבת קמניץצילום: באדיבות המצלםעצרת חיזוק בישיבת קמניץצילום: באדיבות המצלםעצרת חיזוק בישיבת קמניץצילום: באדיבות המצלםעצרת חיזוק בישיבת קמניץצילום: באדיבות המצלםעצרת חיזוק בישיבת קמניץצילום: באדיבות המצלםעצרת חיזוק בישיבת קמניץצילום: באדיבות המצלםעצרת חיזוק בישיבת קמניץצילום: באדיבות המצלםעצרת חיזוק בישיבת קמניץצילום: באדיבות המצלםעצרת חיזוק בישיבת קמניץצילום: באדיבות המצלםעצרת חיזוק בישיבת קמניץצילום: באדיבות המצלם
On Friday, Rabbi Dr. Aaron Twersky held nothing back while speaking at the Agudah Convention as part of a panel on anti-Semitism. “I used to come to Agudah Conventions and felt comfortable. Why? Because there was a Chassidishe olam. For the last 10 years, it has been going down and down. There are no Chassidim […]
The Ungvarer Rebbe of Modi’in Illit returned early in the morning yesterday from the chasunah of his nephew, his brother’s son, to the granddaughter of the Seret Vizhnitzer Rebbe and was saved from a serious accident. The wedding was held at the Romema Sports Hall in Haifa. The chosson is the youngest son of the […]
A plan years in the making began coming to life this past week as construction crews started clearing a parcel of land on Oak Street that will be developed into a stunning – but affordable – new wedding venue. The initiative to build an affordable chasunah hall was made possible by the contributions of the […]
An emotional closing of a circle: R’ Avigdor Hayut lost his son Yedidia and his talmid Moshe Levy in the Meron disaster. A year and a half later, R’ Avigdor was surprised when he saw the director of Ziv Hospital, Dr. Salman Zarka, arrive for the bris of his son. Zarka, at the time of […]
Taliban approved the renovation of the Yu Aw shul in Herat, a town in western Afghanistan once home to tens of thousands of Jews. Built at the turn of the 20th century and restored in 2009, the 120-year-old shul is in danger of collapse due to a leaking drainage channel. Once home to the largest […]
A sexagenarian survivor of last week’s bombings in Yerushalayim is grateful to be alive, showing visitors at the hospital a Sefer Tehillim that he had on his person at the time of the attack, as he was en route home from Meron. Shrapnel penetrated the sefer of Dovid Hamelech’s hymns… ….but it came to halt with the words: “Nafsheinu […]
On Shabbos, Mr. Meir Mishel Azruel z”l, a noted Moroccan philanthropist, passed away in Yerushalayim. He was 99. Mr. Azruel was called the “Montefiore of Moroccan Judaism” for the past 30 years. He lived for the past two years in the Lady Stern Hotel on Rechov Yaffo in Yerushalayim that he owned. He was born […]
הלווית הגר”ח ארנטרוי זצ”ל בלונדוןצילום: באדיבות המצלם הלווית הגר”ח ארנטרוי זצ”ל בלונדוןצילום: באדיבות המצלם הלווית הגר”ח ארנטרוי זצ”ל בלונדוןצילום: באדיבות המצלם הלווית הגר”ח ארנטרוי זצ”ל בלונדוןצילום: באדיבות המצלם הלווית הגר”ח ארנטרוי זצ”ל בלונדוןצילום: באדיבות המצלם הלווית הגר”ח ארנטרוי זצ”ל בירושליםצילום: שלומי טריכטר הלווית הגר”ח ארנטרוי זצ”ל בירושליםצילום: שלומי טריכטר […]
Rav Yehuda Cohen, rosh yeshiva of Yeshiva Yakirei Yerushalayim, was hospitalized on Motzoei Shabbos after falling on Shabbos morning in his yeshiva in Yerushalayim. The rosh yeshiva fell in the yeshiva at around 11:00 on Shabbos morning, but asked his talmidim not to call Hatzolah until the end of Shabbos because, he said, it was […]
By C. Sopher With Rav Binyamin Rimmer current visit to the United States, Matzav.com takes a look at Rav Rimmer’s background and shares inspiring anecdotes about the esteemed rosh yeshiva. The weekly Shabbos morning Chumash shiur in Unsdorf’s Be’er Shmuel shul started as an impromptu. American yungerleit thirsting for leadership, old-timers eager to hear […]
A name had been added to Rav Shimon Baadani, the senior member of the Moetzet Chachmei Hatorah of Shas, as a zechus for his recovery. Rav Baadani is in critical condition at Maayanei Hayeshua Medical Center in Bnei Brak. The 95-year-old chacham is in need of rachamei Shomayim. The name Refoel has been added. Yesterday, […]
Shabbos is the 60th yahrtzeit of Rav Aharon Kotler zt”l, rosh yeshiva of Bais Medrash Govoah. The following is a drosha delivered by Rav Elya Svei zt”l, rosh Yeshivas Philadelphia, upon Rav Aharon’s 25th yahrtzeit. LISTEN:
It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of Dayan Chanoch Ehrentreu zt”l. He was 89 years old. Dayan Ehrentreu was born in Frankfurt in 1932 to Rabbi Yisroel and Rebbetzin Blima Ehrentreu. His paternal grandfather was the Munich Rov, Rav Chanoch Ehrentreu, after whom he was named. When his family immigrated to […]
Hundreds of people gathered for the levayah of Aryeh Shechopek, 16, a Canadian-Israeli resident of Har Nof who was killed in the terror bombing attack in Yerushalayim today. Aryeh was on his way to yeshiva and was waiting for the school bus when the bomb placed by a Palestinian terrorist detonated, fatally wounding him and […]
Hundreds of people attended the levayah this afternoon of 16-year-old Israeli Aryeh Shechopek, who was killed earlier in the day in the first of twin terror bombings in Yerushalayim. The teenager was killed at a crowded bus stop near the entrance to the capital while on his way to study at his religious school in […]
Several families who lost their loved ones in the Meron tragedy have celebrated simchos. Hindy Rosmarin, who had been engaged to Pinchas Menachem Knoblovitz z”l, has gotten engaged. Rabbi Avigdor Chayut, whose 13-year-old son Yedidya passed away in the tragedy, celebrated the birth of a son this week. And finally, the family of Rabbi Meir […]
The wedding of a grandson of Rav Shmuel Markowitz, rosh yeshiva of the Ponovezh Yeshiva, was held in Bnei Brak. The chosson, Yitzchok Zev Kaufman, is a son of Rav Markowitz’s son-in-law and daughter, Rav and Mrs. Michoel Kaufman. VIDEO, PHOTOS: שמחת נישואי נכד הגר”ש מרקוביץצילום: יחיאל שדה שמחת נישואי נכד הגר”ש מרקוביץצילום: יחיאל […]
A siyum was made by talmidim of Yeshivas Mir Yerushalayim who completed Talmud Bavli and Yerushalmi dozens of times. The siyum was made l’illui nishmas the rosh yeshiva, Rav Nosson Tzvi Finkel zt”l. The siyum was led by Rav Yitzchak Meir Sternbuch of the Mir. Kaddish was said by the father of Reb Yanky Warshauer, […]
It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the passing of Rabbi Yeshaya Cohen z”l. He was 31 years old. Reb Yeshaya resided in Afula, where he served as a rosh kollel. Born in Bnei Brak, he was a son of Reb Yosef Chaim and Chana Cohen. He attended the Yeshiva Birchas HaTorah in Bnei […]
It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the passing of Rav Avrohom Edelman zt”l. An outstanding talmid chochom, Rav Avrohom lived in Lakewood, NJ for many years before relocating to Eretz Yisroel several years ago. His son, Rav Chaim Zev Edelman, is the founder of Cheder Toras Zev in Lakewood. The levayah will take […]
Rav Shimon Baadani, the senior member of the Moetzet Chachmei Hatorah of Shas, has seen a deterioration in his condition at Maayanei Hayeshua Medical Center in Bnei Brak. The 95-year-old chacham is in need of rachamei Shomayim. All are asked to daven for Rav Shimon ben Chaviva. {Matzav.com Israel}
Rav Dovid Cohen, rosh yeshiva of Chevron Yeshiva and member of the Moetzes Gedolei Hatorah of Degel Hatorah, is resting in Nir Etzion after undergoing surgery to remove gallstones. The rosh yeshiva has thus taken a hiatus from his yeshiva and the delivery of his shiurim as he convalesces. All are asked to daven for […]
It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of Mrs. Tsipora Falik a”h. She was 75. Mrs. Falik was a veteran mechaneches in Brooklyn, NY teaching for many years at Tomer Devorah, Bais Brocha, Ger and elsewhere. Mrs. Falik was a daughter of Rav Yehuda Aryeh and Chaya Lisz z”l. Rav Yehuda Aryeh was […]
It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the passing of Reb Nachum Gold z”l. R’ Nachum was a close talmid of Rav Avrohom Yaakov Hakohein Pam zt”l, rosh yeshiva of Yeshiva Torah Vodaas. R’ Nachum, in his younger years, learned at Yeshiva Torah Vodaas, where his rabbeim included Rav Pam, of course, as well […]
Thousands of Chabad shluchim posed for their annual group photo outside Chabad World Headquarters at 770 Eastern Parkway this morning. Photo credits: Shalom Burkis, CrownHeights.info
It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of Hagaon Rav Shraga Feivel Cohen zt”l. He was 85. One of the gedolei haposkim in the United States, Rav Cohen was renowned worldwide for his magnum opus, Badei Hashulchan, an encyclopedic Mishnah-Berurah-like work on Shulchan Aruch. His father, Rav Eliezer Cohen, was the rov […]
A Belzer chossid from the southern city of Ashdod moved the Belzer Rebbe this week after he brought him a shtender that his father used over 70 years ago in Tel Aviv. The shtender was used by Rav Mordechai Rokeach of Biłgorai, Poland, over 70 years ago, in his home in Tel Aviv. It was […]
Beit Shemesh recently approved 45 shuls for its newest neighborhood, Ramat Beit Shemesh Dalet, with much of the suburb still under construction. Kehillos will meanwhile daven in temporary structures. The city’s population is growing rapidly, from 125,000 in 2019 to 144,000 this year, bli ayin hora. {Matzav.com Israel}
Rav Shaul Alter, the Gerrer rosh yeshiva, has arrived in the United States for a visit during which he’s expected to be greeted by thousands during various stops. The son of the Pnei Menachem of Ger, Rav Shaul served as the rosh yeshiva of Yeshiva Sefas Emes Yeshiva in Eretz Yisroel and today heads Kehillas V’Yeshivas Pnei Menachem. He is […]
On the eight-year anniversary of the massacre in Har Nof, in which five of the neighborhood’s residents were killed, Rav Moshe Sternbuch, raavad of the Eidah Hachareidis, issued an emotional call to the residents of the neighborhood for strengthening in the study of Torah on leil Shabbo. Eight years ago, in the middle of Shacharis […]
An unusual wedding took place yesterday in Meah Shearim. The chosson, 42, was from Poland and the kallah, 37, from Brazil. Both were born into Christian families and raised to be “good Christians,” but they were exposed to the world of Judaism and decided to convert. Reb Meir Yoel Leichtag was born in a small […]
Approximately 1,000 people joined the Mesorah Heritage Foundation as it celebrated the historic completion of the Schottenstein Hebrew and English Editions of Talmud Yerushalmi at an overnight Siyum Celebration at the Trump National Doral in Miami, Florida on Wednesday evening and Thursday morning, November 9-10. The event gathered international Jewish leaders, leading philanthropists, patrons, […]
It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of Rav Shmuel Shmelke Pinter zt”l, rov of Khal Bikovsk. He was 75. Rav Pinter became ill toward the end of Covid and had battled illness for the last couple of years. Rav Pinter served as the rov for many years of Khal Bikvosk in Boro Park, and during […]
It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the passing of R’ Mendy Rosenberg z”l of Flatbush, Brooklyn. R’ Mendy’s story is an inspiring one. In 2009, about 14 years ago, R’ Mendy was diagnosed with ALS. Mendy attended the Siyum Hashas in 2012. He was so moved by what he saw that when the […]
As the foundation of the new Misameach Family Center is being built, many Rabbonim and Roshei Yeshiva have visited the site and actually poured cement for the walls of the new building. They expressed their amazement and were impressed of the progress, the size and the great location of the new center. Roshei Yeshiva of […]
Hundreds of bachurim of the Oraysa Yeshiva participated this week in the affixing of the mezuzos for the spacious and magnificent Heichal HaTorah which was built inside the yeshiva building on Strauss Street in Yerushalayim after much demand from thousands of talmidei chachamim in the city. The event was graced with the participation of Hagaon […]
It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of Rav Chaim Eizik Tikotzky zt”l. He was 57 years old. Rav Chaim Eizik was born in Switzerland, a son of Rav Eliyahu Tikotzky, a descendant of the Baal Shem Tov. He was a son-in-law of Rav Binyamin Yehuda Bernstein, one of the most prominent […]
ניחום אבלים אצל בני הגר”ח וואלקין זצ”לצילום: באדיבות המצלם ניחום אבלים אצל בני הגר”ח וואלקין זצ”לצילום: באדיבות המצלם ניחום אבלים אצל בני הגר”ח וואלקין זצ”לצילום: באדיבות המצלם ניחום אבלים אצל בני הגר”ח וואלקין זצ”לצילום: באדיבות המצלם ניחום אבלים אצל בני הגר”ח וואלקין זצ”לצילום: באדיבות המצלם ניחום אבלים אצל בני הגר”ח […]
Three Sifrei Torah were stolen from the Beit Eliyahu Tunisian Shul in Rishon Letzion on leil Shabbos, All three Sifrei Torah had been brought to Eretz Yisroel from Djerba, Tunisia, and are 180, 150 and 79 years old respectively. When mispallelim arrived at the shul Shabbos morning for davening, they found the shul in ruin, […]
WATCH: Mizmor L'Dovid - The Life and Times of Rav Dovid Feinstein Zt"l from fwd|NYC on Vimeo.
Complete All of Talmud Yerushalmi in Under Six Years! In 1980, at the Knessia Gedolah, the Mo’etzes Gedolei HaTorah adopted the initiative of the Gerrer Rebbe, the Lev Simcha zt”l, and instituted a Daf Yomi cycle of Talmud Yerushalmi. Although many people started studying with this new cycle, due to the difficult language and style of […]
At Yeshivas Rabbeinu Chaim Ozer in Bnei Brak, the rosh yeshiva, Rav Menachem Zvi Berlin, one of the oldest roshei yeshiva of our time, who has led the yeshiva for over thirty years and has had thousands of talmidim over the years, appointed his son, Rav Yechiel Berlin, to serve as rosh yeshiva in the […]
יארצייט מרן הרב שך זצ”לצילום: שוקי לרר יארצייט מרן הרב שך זצ”לצילום: שוקי לרר יארצייט מרן הרב שך זצ”לצילום: שוקי לרר יארצייט מרן הרב שך זצ”לצילום: שוקי לרר יארצייט מרן הרב שך זצ”לצילום: שוקי לרר יארצייט מרן הרב שך זצ”לצילום: שוקי לרר יארצייט מרן הרב שך זצ”לצילום: שוקי לרר […]
Newly-elected New York State Governor Kathy Hochul called the Rav Aharon Teitelbaum of Satmar at his home in Kiryas Yoel to thank him for his endorsement of her in Tuesday election, Matzav.com has learned. The Democrat won a first full term in office, defeating Republican Rep. Lee Zeldin and making history as the first elected […]
Rav Aharon Teitelbaum of Satmar blasted the frum community after Election Day regarding what he called the “Trumpism” that has overtaken much of the frum community. “Trumpism became entangled in the Jewish camp,” he said in a drasha at his yeshiva in Kiryas Yoel, according to a report in the Forward. “This Trumpism twisted the […]
It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of Reb Avi Shulman z”l. Reb Avi was one of the great mechanchim of our time, a visionary educator who not only instilled timeless values in generations of students, but taught thousands of mechanchim and mechanchos how to do the same. All his life, he […]
Maran Rav Shmuel Kamenetsky, rosh yeshiva of Yeshiva of Philadelphia and senior member of the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah of Agudas Yisroel of America, has penned a letter encouraging New Yorkers to vote for Lee Zeldin in the gubernatorial election. 13 Cheshvan 5783 We are all aware of the attack on Yeshivas in New York State, […]
A new letter signed by Rav Shmuel Kamenetsky, Chacham Yosef Harari Raful, Rav Elya Ber Wachtfogel, and Rav Malkiel Kotler calls for yeshivos and schools to maintain a smartphone-free environment. The letter was released in Lashon Hakodesh and English. “It is well known that the most effective method of influencing the next generation is the […]
Last night, Maran Rav Gershon Edelstein, Rosh Yeshivas Ponovezh, attended the wedding of his granddaughter, a daughter of his son, Rav Shimon Yosef zt”l. The wedding was held at Armonot Chen Hall in Bnei Brak. PHOTO: חתונת נכדת הגרי”ג אדלשטייןצילום: שוקי לרר חתונת נכדת הגרי”ג אדלשטייןצילום: שוקי לרר חתונת נכדת הגרי”ג אדלשטייןצילום: שוקי […]
הילולת רחל אמנוצילום: ישי ירושלמי הילולת רחל אמנוצילום: ישי ירושלמי הילולת רחל אמנוצילום: ישי ירושלמי הילולת רחל אמנוצילום: ישי ירושלמי הילולת רחל אמנוצילום: ישי ירושלמי הילולת רחל אמנוצילום: ישי ירושלמי הילולת רחל אמנוצילום: ישי ירושלמי הילולת רחל אמנוצילום: ישי ירושלמי הילולת רחל אמנוצילום: ישי ירושלמי הילולת […]
It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of Rav Chaim Walkin zt”l, mashgiach at Yeshiva Knesses Yisroel in Yerushalayim. He was 77. Last week, Rav Walkin collapsed at his home on Rechov Kasuto in the Bayit Vegan neighborhood of Yerushalayim. Hatzolah paramedics were called to his home and they performed resuscitation until […]
The wedding of Refoel Levin was held last night at Ateres Reva Hall in Lakewood, NJ. The chosson is a son of Rav Shmuel Yehuda Levin zt”l, rosh yeshiva of Telshe Yeshiva of Chicago, who suddenly passed away earlier this year not long after the engagement. The absence of the late rosh yeshiva was palpable […]
While the country was consumed with the exit polls of the Israeli election, some bnei Torah participated in a special “Uvacharta Bachaim” seder at Mir Yerushalayim, making sure that the kol Torah would be alive. לימוד במוצאי הבחירות בישיבת מירצילום: ברוך יערי לימוד במוצאי הבחירות בישיבת מירצילום: ברוך יערי לימוד במוצאי הבחירות בישיבת […]
The Rebbe of Tchakava, Rav Shlomo Gestetner, who serves as the rov of the Givat Moshe neighborhood and a dayan with the Eidah Hachareidis in Yerushalayim, got engaged last night in a zivig sheini after his wife passed away three and a half years ago. The kallah, Rebbetzin Esther Shmerler, is the wife of Rav […]
All are asked to daven for the senior mashgiach Rav Chaim Walkin, who collapsed in his home today and whose condition is said to be critical. Rav Walkin, mashgiach at Yeshiva Knesses Yisroel, suddenly collapsed at his home on Rechov Kasuto in the Bayit Vegan neighborhood of Yerushalayim. Hatzolah paramedics were called to his home. […]
“MOST OF THE COALITION IS SHOMER SHABBOS”: The MKs of Degel Hatorah visiting Maran Rav Gershon Edelstein the day after the election. WATCH:
NO TACHANUN: Rav Meir Mazuz paskened not to say Tachanun at Mincha today in light of the right’s victory in Israel’s national elections. WATCH:
It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the passing of Rebbetzin Chaya Felder a”h. She was 102. Rebbetzin Felder was the wife of Rav Tzvi Mordechai Felder zt”l, longtime rov of Khal Bais Aharon on 18th Avenue in Boro Park. He was a daughter of R’ Meir Bland. Rebbetzin Felder was an isha chashuvah, a humble and […]
The Boyaner Rebbe, Rav Nochum Dov Brayer, became a citizen in order to vote in today’s Israeli elections. The Rebbe, who is a member of the Agudah’s Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah in Eretz Yisroel, was a US citizen until now. WATCH:
On Sunday, New York gubernatorial candidate Rep. Lee Zeldin received a number of notable endorsements in the frum community, including from various askanim, the Flatbush Jewish Community Coalition (FJCC), and others. Zeldin was also endorsed by Hagaon Rav Yisroel Reisman, rosh yeshiva of Yeshiva Torah Vodaas, at an event held at Rav Reisman’s home in […]
הכנסת ס”ת לישיבת בית מדרש גבוהצילום: משה גולדשטיין ושלומי טריכטר הכנסת ס”ת לישיבת בית מדרש גבוהצילום: משה גולדשטיין ושלומי טריכטר הכנסת ס”ת לישיבת בית מדרש גבוהצילום: משה גולדשטיין ושלומי טריכטר הכנסת ס”ת לישיבת בית מדרש גבוהצילום: משה גולדשטיין ושלומי טריכטר הכנסת ס”ת לישיבת בית מדרש גבוהצילום: משה גולדשטיין ושלומי טריכטר […]
Rav Dovid Cohen, rosh yeshivas Chevron and member of the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah of Degel Hatorah, had sharp words for Itamar Ben Gvir, head of Otzma Yehudit. “He is one of the biggest mechallelei Shem Shomayim of the last generation. He is metamei the Mikdash in the open. He is one of the biggest mechallelei […]
97-year-old Mr. Leon Shagrin of Florida hails from the town of Gribov, Galicia. His life was turned upside down when he was a child of twelve years old. He never even got to celebrate his bar mitzvah. But it’s never too late. Nope. Even a 97-year-old man can celebrate his Jewish identity and wrap those […]
In a unique photo, seen above, Maran Rav Gershon Edelstein, rosh yeshivas Ponovezh, is seen personally calling roshei yeshiva and roshei kollel to urge them to have their talmidim and yungeleit participate in the “Hai’asfu” election gatherings that will be held Sunday evening all over the country. The series of national gatherings will be held […]
עלייה לציון מרן הגר”ע יוסף זצ”לצילום: דוד ארזני עלייה לציון מרן הגר”ע יוסף זצ”לצילום: דוד ארזני עלייה לציון מרן הגר”ע יוסף זצ”לצילום: דוד ארזני עלייה לציון מרן הגר”ע יוסף זצ”לצילום: דוד ארזני עלייה לציון מרן הגר”ע יוסף זצ”לצילום: דוד ארזני עלייה לציון מרן הגר”ע יוסף זצ”לצילום: דוד ארזני עלייה לציון מרן הגר”ע יוסף זצ”לצילום: דוד […]
It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of R’ Ronen Tzig z”l. He was 37. R’ Ronen was one of the chashuvim of the yeshiva of Rav Moshe Shternbuch. In the last year, he fell ill with an awful disease, and a name was added by Rav Shternbuch as a zechus, but […]
Why do the rabbonim get involved in elections? Isn’t it my personal issue? See the answer from Maran Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch to MK Rav Yitzchok Pindrus. WATCH: To have your questions answered: https://wa.me/972538887182
A gathering was held last night on Rechov Yoel in the Bais Yisroel neighborhood in Yerushalayim to protest against certain American bochurim living in the neighborhood who residents claim “are causing a lot of damage.” Rabbonim spoke out against those who rent them apartments. Advertisements have been published recently on the streets of Yerushalayim against […]
In an unusual letter, Rav Dov Kook of Tiveriah stated that it is mandatory to vote for the chareidi parties in the Israeli election. “It’s a terrible chillul Hashem all over the world if they don’t succeed, and anyone who doesn’t feel that way needs to be checked.” It should be noted that despite the […]
GUIDANCE FROM RAV GERSHON: UTJ MK Yitzchok Pindrus posed several election-related questions to Maran Rav Gershon Edelstein. “Someone’s son didn’t get into a local cheder and is angry at the Degel HaTorah MKs for not doing enough. He doesn’t want to vote for them.” “A person doesn’t feel that he is part of the chareidi […]
New York Governor Kathy Hochul met on Sunday with the grand rabbis of Satmar and Skver, the leaders of the prominent Chassidic sects in New York as she competes for reelection in the November 8 statewide elections. The governor met separately with the Satmar Rebbe, Rav Aaron Teitelbaum, who resides in Kiryas Joel in Monroe […]
Shas chairman Aryeh Deri wondered on Tuesday evening how charedim are allowing themselves to stay at home on election day and not vote in order to prevent Yair Lapid from remaining as Prime Minister, Arutz Sheva reports. “The Torah world as a whole is in great danger,” he said in an interview with the radio […]
המעמד בסלבודקהצילום: יעקב נחומי, אלחנן קוטלר ואריאל אוחנה המעמד בסלבודקהצילום: יעקב נחומי, אלחנן קוטלר ואריאל אוחנה המעמד בסלבודקהצילום: יעקב נחומי, אלחנן קוטלר ואריאל אוחנה המעמד בסלבודקהצילום: יעקב נחומי, אלחנן קוטלר ואריאל אוחנה המעמד בסלבודקהצילום: יעקב נחומי, אלחנן קוטלר ואריאל אוחנה המעמד בסלבודקהצילום: יעקב נחומי, אלחנן קוטלר ואריאל אוחנה […]
This afternoon, President Joe Biden called the Skverer Rebbe to ask for the support of his chassidim in the upcoming election, especially with regard to Representative Sean Patrick Maloney (D-NY), Rockland Daily reports. The president reportedly went on to add at the conclusion of the call, “You will have an open door to my administration,” […]
The levayah of Rav Nosson Goldberg zt”l was held earlier this week. Rav Goldberg was a longtime kashrus administrator for the Orthodox Union, an expert in shechitah and in the field of kashrus in general. He served as the rov of Khal Avrohom UTzvi Hirsh in Boro Park. Rav Goldberg learned under Rav Leib Malin […]
Rav Shimon Baadani, senior member of the Moetzet Chachmei Hatorah of Shas, has been released from the hospital after a miltu-week stay. Rav Baadani was hospitalized at the Maayanei Hayeshua Medical Center in Bnei Brak on Shabbos Parshas Vayeilech. Rav Baadani had not been feeling well and had been experiencing great weakness for weeks. On […]
אירוסי בת הגרי”ש קנייבסקי עם נכד הגרמ”ש אדלשטייןצילום: שוקי לרר אירוסי בת הגרי”ש קנייבסקי עם נכד הגרמ”ש אדלשטייןצילום: שוקי לרר אירוסי בת הגרי”ש קנייבסקי עם נכד הגרמ”ש אדלשטייןצילום: שוקי לרר אירוסי בת הגרי”ש קנייבסקי עם נכד הגרמ”ש אדלשטייןצילום: שוקי לרר אירוסי בת הגרי”ש קנייבסקי עם נכד הגרמ”ש אדלשטייןצילום: שוקי לרר […]
It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the passing of R’ Alexander Zishe Rosenblum z”l, who was injured critically in a car accident six years ago. R’ Zishe was a member of the “Tantzers” group who are mesameiach people in special circumstances. R’ Zishe was on his way from Monsey to Boro Park in November […]
The former star of Israel’s national soccer team who now hosts a TV program caused a media storm after he brazenly attacked the chareidi public on his program and warned of their return to power after the elections. “They are cut off from the people and they are the ones who are going to […]
It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of Rav Meir Zev Stern zt”l, the rov of Meron and Marom HaGalil for decades. He was 86. Rav Stern was recently hospitalized at Ziv Hospital in Tzefas for an infection. He passed away over Shabbos. Rav Stern was born in the city of Temeshvar […]
It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of Rav Moshe Uri Blau zt”l of Rechov Yisa Bracha in Yerushalayim. He was 74. On the night of Hoshanah Rabbah, he suddenly collapsed and was taken to Shaarei Tzedek Hospital in Yerushalayim. Doctors fought to save his life, but he passed away over Shabbos. […]
Moishy Kleinerman has been missing for over 200 days, ever since he was last seen in the Har Meron area. Yesterday, his mother, Gitty, marked his birthday buying him a birthday present and a balloon with the words “Mazel tov.” “Tonight, with Hashem’s help, will be our Moishy’s 17th birthday,” Gitty wrote. “Please daven hard […]
During a Yom Tov visit by Rav Avraham Yeshayahu Kanievsky, rosh kollel Orchos Yosher, to Rav Dov Landau, rosh yeshiva of the Slabodka Yeshiva in Bnei Brak, Rav Avraham Yeshayahu showed the rosh yeshiva a tallis kotton that was used by the Chazon Ish and made according to his instructions. Rav Avraham Yeshayahu has received […]
מעמד כבוד התורה בברכת שמואלצילום: שלומי טריכטר מעמד כבוד התורה בברכת שמואלצילום: שלומי טריכטר מעמד כבוד התורה בברכת שמואלצילום: שלומי טריכטר מעמד כבוד התורה בברכת שמואלצילום: שלומי טריכטר מעמד כבוד התורה בברכת שמואלצילום: שלומי טריכטר מעמד כבוד התורה בברכת שמואלצילום: שלומי טריכטר מעמד כבוד התורה בברכת שמואלצילום: שלומי טריכטר […]
It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the passing of R’ Yonason Fischer z”l of Lakewood, NJ. R’ Yonason suffered a fatal heart attack on Yom Tov while at the home of his parents in Monsey. He was 41 years old. R’ Yonason was a son of Rabbi and Mrs. Yoel Zvi Fischer of […]
At Hakafos Shniyos at Ponovezh Yeshiva in Bnei Brak, the talmidim began to sing Uvechein Tzaddikim. The rosh yeshiva, Rav Gershon Edelstein, gently began to wave his finger, instructing the talmidim not to sing Uvechein Tzaddikim. Later, it was explained by those close to the rosh yeshiva that he is makpid not to sing to […]
Likud chairman Bibi Netanyahu spoke on Wednesday at a conference of the Manufacturers Association of Israel and said that he disagrees with the chairman of United Torah Judaism, Yitzchok Goldknopf, on the need to study English. “I don’t agree with him, and I as Prime Minister and the Likud will lead the policy,” Netanyahu said, […]
Hakafos shniyos were held across Eretz Yisroel last night. At Ponovezh Yeshiva in Bnei Brak, the highlight was the participation of the rosh yeshiva, Rav Gershon Edelstein. Watch as he enters the yeshiva and is greeted by the talmidim:
All are asked to daven for Rav Aharon Schechter, rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Rabbeinu Chaim Berlin, who is in need of rachemi Shomayim. Please daven for Rav Aharon Moshe ben Fruma Rochel. {Matzav.com}
The head of the Agudah faction of Yahadut Hatorah, Yitzchok Goldknopf, told Israel’s Channel 12 that Israel has not benefited from teaching core subjects such as math and English to Israeli youth in secular schools, the Jerusalem Post reports. Goldknopf said that math and English studies had no effect on Israel’s economy in an attempt […]
It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of Rav Avner Chizkiyahu Binyaminov zt”l, rosh yeshiva of Yeshiva Bais Refoel and Yeshiva Be’er Yisroel. He was 83 and passed away at Maayanei Hayeshuah Hospital. For many years, he taught Torah to generations of talmidim at his yeshivos on Rechov Don Yosef Hanasi in […]
It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the passing over Shabbos Chol Hamoed of Rabbi Dovid Gruman zt”l of Los Angeles. Rabbi Gruman was a beloved mechanech in Los Angeles for over four decades. He was a son of the late Rav Pinchus Gruman zt”l, longtime rov in Los Angeles, and a son-in-law of […]
It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the passing of Reb Yosef Waks z”l. He was 69. Reb Yosef was a pioneering member of Hatzolah, joining the Williamsburg chapter of Hatzolah decades ago and later becoming of the first Hatzolah members in the Catskills. A chossid of Klausenberg, Reb Yosef was a bus driver […]
All are asked to say Tehillim and daven for the refuah of Mrs. Shulamis Rozansky, founder and menaheles of Tiferes Bais Yaakov in Lakewood. Her name is Shulamis bas Kaila. {Matzav.com}
It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the passing of Rebbetzin Tzipora Goldman a”h. She was 56. Rebbetzin Goldman had suffered a stroke several weeks ago. The rebbetzin was a daughter of the Skverer Rebbe and the wife of the Zvhiller Rebbe. The levayah will be held at 3:45 p.m. at Bais Medrash Birkas […]
Domestic Help with Wines at Home – Part 2 Rabbi Yitzchok Hisiger continues his discussion with Rav Moshe Heinemann, Rabbinic Administrator of the Star-K and Rov of Agudas Yisroel of Baltimore, regarding potential kashrus issues that can arise when non-Jewish domestic help is employed in the home. View it in its entirety at www.KashrusAwareness.com WATCH: […]
In the middle of a shmuess at seudah shlishis about Elul and the coming Yomim Noraim, the Belzer Rebbe referred to the Selichos recited by those of Eidot Hamizrach. The Bais Yosef writes that one should say Selichos from the beginning of the month of Elul. The Rebbe began to sing the portion of “Chotonu […]
פתיחת זמן אלול בישיבת בית הלויצילום: יעקב כהן פתיחת זמן אלול בישיבת בית הלויצילום: יעקב כהן פתיחת זמן אלול בישיבת בית הלויצילום: יעקב כהן פתיחת זמן אלול בישיבת בית הלויצילום: יעקב כהן פתיחת זמן אלול בישיבת בית הלויצילום: יעקב כהן פתיחת זמן אלול בישיבת בית הלויצילום: יעקב כהן פתיחת […]
Some people are bent out of shape over a new advertisement from Nechomas Yisroel appearing in chareidi media that uses the September 11 attacks to highlight the work of this organization, which is focused on ensuring that Yiddishe neshamos do not end up in public school. The ad shows a picture of the Twin Towers […]
There are few yeshivos in the country like Yeshiva Tiferes Torah of Lakewood, NJ, for several reasons, but it starts at the top, with beloved founder and menahel Rav Yisroel Gelbwachs, a legend in the world of chinuch. Rav Gelbwachs greeted his talmidim on the first day of school this week in his bigdei Shabbos, […]
A routine inspection of the Kosel’s stones started yesterday morning ahead of the tens of thousands of visitors and mispallelim expected to arrive at the Kosel Plaza for the upcoming Yomim Noraim season. The Western Wall Heritage Foundation conducts a comprehensive manual inspection and maintenance of the Kosel stones twice a year – prior to […]
A special Adirei HaTorah event for women is slated to be held on Sunday, October 2, during the Aseres Yemei Teshuvah, three days before Yom Kippur. The event is a follow-up to the historic Adirei HaTorah event held for men at Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on Sunday, June 12, which was attended by […]
With the start of the Elul zeman, Israeli President Yitzchok Herzog paid a visit to Yeshiva Torah B’Tifarta in Elad, where he had the opportunity to learn Gemara with some of the bochurim there, studying Perek Shnayim Ochzin in Maseches Bava Metziah. WATCH:
פתיחת זמן אלול בישיבת קרית מלךצילום: שוקי לרר פתיחת זמן אלול בישיבת קרית מלךצילום: שוקי לרר פתיחת זמן אלול בישיבת קרית מלךצילום: שוקי לרר פתיחת זמן אלול בישיבת קרית מלךצילום: שוקי לרר פתיחת זמן אלול בישיבת קרית מלךצילום: שוקי לרר פתיחת זמן אלול בישיבת קרית מלךצילום: שוקי לרר פתיחת […]
Rav Don Segal, the famed senior mashgiach from Eretz Yisroel, has embarked on a two-week Elul chizuk trip to the United States. The trip comes after Rav Don received requests from rabbonim in Lakewood and beyond to come to America to be mechazeik people during this period in advance of the Yemei Hadin. Rav Don […]
Via COLlive.com: A group of bochurim who were traveling yesterday to the Lubavitcher Los Angeles Mesivta for the coming year met a newlywed couple while they were waiting in the JFK International Airport terminal. The young couple approached the bochurim and said that it is the 7th day since their wedding and it would be […]
Boyaner Chassidim have been informed by the rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Ruzhin-Boyan in Eretz Yisroel, Rav Zvi Rabinowitz, that the Boyaner Rebbe’s son, Rav Mordechai Shlomo Brayer, will serve as the rov of the Boyaner kehillah in the United States after the passing of the previous rov, Rav Eliezer Ben Zion Eichler. There are Boyaner […]
On Sunday, with the beginning of Elul zeman, the bochurim of Yeshiva Migdal Oz entered their new bais medrash in Givat Ze’ev. Over 100 workers worked laboriously to finish construction of the new bais medrash. The contractor originally said that there was no realistic way that the construction would be finished by Rosh Chodesh Elul, […]
At a meeting of the Eidah Hachareidis held last night in Yerushalayim, it was decided that no new Gaon Av Bais Din will be appointed at this time to replace the recently niftar Rav Yitzchok Tuvia Weiss zt”l. A decision regarding an appointment will be made in a year. The proposal to keep the situation […]
After a month of not leaving his house and after a long period of hospitalization, Rav Yitzchok Hacker, rosh yeshiva of the Grodno Yeshiva in Be’er Yaakov, went to his to participate in the start of the zeman. There was great excitement among the bochurim as Rav Hacker, a member of the Moetzes Gedolei Hatorah, who had […]
Chaverim received a call from a driver in the Catskills, who mistakenly left his tefillin on the roof of his vehicle before driving off. By the time he remembered where he left his tefillin, it was nowhere to be found. Catskills Chaverim began a search right away, retracing his steps, in hopes of finding the […]
הנחת אבן הפינה לבית מתתיהוצילום: דוד קשת הנחת אבן הפינה לבית מתתיהוצילום: דוד קשת הנחת אבן הפינה לבית מתתיהוצילום: דוד קשת הנחת אבן הפינה לבית מתתיהוצילום: דוד קשת הנחת אבן הפינה לבית מתתיהוצילום: דוד קשת הנחת אבן הפינה לבית מתתיהוצילום: דוד קשת הנחת אבן הפינה לבית מתתיהוצילום: דוד קשת […]
The Shas movement was left without its spiritual leader with the petirah of Chacham Shalom Cohen zt”l on the eve of the 25th Knesset elections, a matter being pondered by the members of the Shas Moetzet Chachmei Hatorah. One of the oldest members of the Moetzet, Rav Moshe Maya, remarked that there is no suitable […]
It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of the Zvhiller Rebbe of Yerushalayim, Rav Shlomo Goldman zt”l. He was 66 years old. The rebbe collapsed at his home on Rechov Yechezkel in Yerushalayim, suffering from a heart attack. Resuscitation efforts were to no avail. The rebbe was a son of the Ohr […]
With the help of Hashem, Torah continues to spread and spread, reaching new corners all the time. Yesterday , a Sefer Torah was welcomed at the new development in Naugatuck, CT on the campus of the new Mesivta Yesodei Hatorah. Video: Yitzy Engel
בחורי ישיבות חוזרים לזמן אלולצילום: שוקי לרר בחורי ישיבות חוזרים לזמן אלולצילום: שוקי לרר בחורי ישיבות חוזרים לזמן אלולצילום: שוקי לרר בחורי ישיבות חוזרים לזמן אלולצילום: שוקי לרר בחורי ישיבות חוזרים לזמן אלולצילום: שוקי לרר בחורי ישיבות חוזרים לזמן אלולצילום: שוקי לרר בחורי ישיבות חוזרים לזמן אלולצילום: שוקי לרר בחורי ישיבות חוזרים לזמן אלולצילום: שוקי […]
המצבה של חכם שלום כהן זצ”לצילום: באדיבות המצלם המצבה של חכם שלום כהן זצ”לצילום: באדיבות המצלם המצבה של חכם שלום כהן זצ”לצילום: באדיבות המצלם המצבה של חכם שלום כהן זצ”לצילום: באדיבות המצלם המצבה של חכם שלום כהן זצ”לצילום: באדיבות המצלם המצבה של חכם שלום כהן זצ”לצילום: באדיבות המצלם המצבה […]
After fighting for his life for the past two weeks, Shimon Meir Darshan, a talmid of Yeshiva Knesses Yitzchok in Modi’in Illit, passed away Sunday night. He was 19 years old. Shimon Meir had drowned two weeks ago at the separate beach in Netanya and was pulled from the water while unconscious. MDA and Ichud […]
It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of Habochur Yosef Chaim David z”l, who was niftar over Shabbos at Jersey Shore Medical Center in Neptune, NY. He was 19. Yosef Chaim, who hailed from Mexico, was a talmid at Yeshiva Toras Chaim of Lakewood who was injured in a car accident on […]
All are asked to daven for Rav Shlomo Machpoud, who has been hospitalized. Rav Machpoud, the gaavad of Badatz Yoreh Deah, was not feeling well on leil Shabbos and was taken to Sheba Hospital in Tel Hashomer. The 82-year-old rov is the mara d’asra of the Yemenite community in Eretz Yisroel. All are asked to […]
Moshe Nosson Englard z”l and Yehoshua Englard z”l, were two of the kedoshim of Meron who passed away in the awful tragedy last Lag Ba’omer. They were the sons of Rav Yitzchok Menachem Mendel Englard, rosh kollel Bobov in Yerushalayim. Yesterday, two Sifrei Torah were completed in memory of the two Englard boys. The emotional […]
חתונת בן אברהם רובינשטיין ר”ע ב”בצילום: שוקי לרר חתונת בן אברהם רובינשטיין ר”ע ב”בצילום: שוקי לרר חתונת בן אברהם רובינשטיין ר”ע ב”בצילום: שוקי לרר חתונת בן אברהם רובינשטיין ר”ע ב”בצילום: שוקי לרר חתונת בן אברהם רובינשטיין ר”ע ב”בצילום: שוקי לרר חתונת בן אברהם רובינשטיין ר”ע ב”בצילום: שוקי לרר חתונת […]
All are asked to daven and say Tehillim for the Rachmastrivka Rebbe, who is in need of rachamei Shomayim. The rebbe has now been hospitalized for over two months. The rebbe, Rav Chai Yitzchok Isaac Twersky, is a son of Rav Yochanan Twersky of Rachmastrivka and a son-in-law of Rav Yaakov Yosef Twersky of Skver. The rebbe, a renowned tzaddik and mashpiah, leads his bais medrash and kehillah in […]
חתונת נין הגרי”ג אדלשטייןצילום: שוקי לרר חתונת נין הגרי”ג אדלשטייןצילום: שוקי לרר חתונת נין הגרי”ג אדלשטייןצילום: שוקי לרר חתונת נין הגרי”ג אדלשטייןצילום: שוקי לרר חתונת נין הגרי”ג אדלשטייןצילום: שוקי לרר חתונת נין הגרי”ג אדלשטייןצילום: שוקי לרר חתונת נין הגרי”ג אדלשטייןצילום: שוקי לרר חתונת נין הגרי”ג אדלשטייןצילום: שוקי לרר […]
As bein hazemanim comes to a close, an incredible kiddush Sheim Shomayim took place at Camp Ohr Shraga, where 417 siyumei masechtos were made by the bochurim there, reflecting the way these young bnei Torah chose to spend their summer break. Seen below is a list of every siyum made, with the name of the […]
It was less than two weeks ago that Ukrainian Ambassador to Israel Yevgen Korniychuk said that Jews who travel to Uman, Ukraine, for Rosh Hashanah to daven at the kever of Rav Nachman of Breslov are risking their lives, yet over 1,000 Jews are actually already in Uman, and sources states that approximately 50 charter flights are booked […]
All are asked to daven for a refuah shleimah for Rav Meir Hershkowitz, rosh yeshiva of Yeshiva Bais Binyomin of Stamford and one of the ziknei roshei hayeshivos of the American olam haTorah. The rosh yeshiva is in need of rachamei Shomayim. Please be mispallel for Rav Meir ben Pessy. {Matzav.com}
The talmidim of the largest yeshiva in the world, Yeshivas Mir Yerushalayim, in the Bais Yisrael neighborhood of Yerushalayim, have been informed that in light of the recent tragedies that have hit Klal Yisroel, the upcoming Elul zeman will begin tomorrow, Thursday, instead of this coming Sunday. The rosh yeshiva, Rav Eliezer Yehuda Finkel, consulted […]
שמחת נישואי בן הגר”י אתרוגצילום: באדיבות המצלם שמחת נישואי בן הגר”י אתרוגצילום: באדיבות המצלם שמחת נישואי בן הגר”י אתרוגצילום: באדיבות המצלם שמחת נישואי בן הגר”י אתרוגצילום: באדיבות המצלם שמחת נישואי בן הגר”י אתרוגצילום: באדיבות המצלם שמחת נישואי בן הגר”י אתרוגצילום: באדיבות המצלם שמחת נישואי בן הגר”י אתרוגצילום: באדיבות המצלם […]
It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of Mrs. Pearl Weinstock a”h. She was 69 years old. Mrs. Weinstock suffered a fatal heart attack. The wife of Reb Yitzchok Zev Weinstock, one of the co-owners of the renowned Meal Mart company, Mrs. Weinstock was a noted baalas chessed who, together with her […]
Shmuel and Giti Kleinerman, parents of Moishi Kleinerman, the 16-year-old from Modiin Illit who has been missing for 150 days, spoke about the expansion of the search for their son. “We wished for this combination of forces for many weeks and we are happy that it is happening,” they said. In the last few days, […]
The petirah of Chacham Shalom Cohen zt”l, nosi of the Moetzet Chachmei Hatorah, rosh yeshiva of Porat Yosef, and leader of the Sephardic public for the past nine years, has left a gaping void, especially in the Sephardic public. On the eve of elections, Chacham Shalom used to go out and call for the public […]
הלווית מרן חכם שלום כהן זצ”לצילום: שלומי טריכטר הלווית מרן חכם שלום כהן זצ”לצילום: שלומי טריכטר הלווית מרן חכם שלום כהן זצ”לצילום: שלומי טריכטר הלווית מרן חכם שלום כהן זצ”לצילום: שלומי טריכטר הלווית מרן חכם שלום כהן זצ”לצילום: שלומי טריכטר הלווית מרן חכם שלום כהן זצ”לצילום: שלומי טריכטר הלווית […]
The Rishon L’Tzion, Rav Yitzchok Yosef, spoke publicly in the early morning of Monday after the petirah of Chacham Shalom Cohen zt”l, rosh yeshiva of Yeshiva Porat Yosef and nosi of the Shas party’s Moetzet Chachmei Hatorah. “Together with the entire House of Yisroel, we mourn and are broken to the point of despair at the departure […]
חכם שלום כהןצילום: שוקי לרר חכם שלום כהןצילום: שוקי לרר חכם שלום כהןצילום: שוקי לרר חכם שלום כהןצילום: שוקי לרר חכם שלום כהןצילום: שוקי לרר חכם שלום כהןצילום: שוקי לרר חכם שלום כהןצילום: שוקי לרר חכם שלום כהןצילום: שוקי לרר חכם שלום כהןצילום: שוקי לרר חכם […]
It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of Rav Shalom Cohen, rosh yeshiva of Yeshiva Porat Yosef and nosi of the Shas party’s Moetzet Chachmei Hatorah. He was 91. Rav Cohen’s condition deteriorated over Shabbos after it worsened on Friday and he was moved to the intensive care unit at Hadassah Ein Kerem Medical Center, […]
Rav Shaul Alter was menachem avel the Glustein family, offering powerful words of consolation and comfort. WATCH:
Mekubal Rav Dov Kook performed a pidyon nefesh this evening as a zechus for a refuah for Rav Shalom Cohen. WATCH:
Due to the deterioration in the condition of Rav Shalom Cohen, rosh yeshiva of Yeshiva Porat Yosef and nosi of the Shas party’s Moetzet Chachmei Hatorah, a name, Chaim, has been added as a zechus for his refuah. As reported earlier, his condition deteriorated over Shabbos after it worsened on Friday and he was moved to the intensive care […]
The event was attended by Rav Moshe Tzadka, Rav Yitzchok Yosef, and Rav Dovid Batzri. עצרת תפילה ביזדיםצילום: דוד ארזני עצרת תפילה ביזדיםצילום: דוד ארזני עצרת תפילה ביזדיםצילום: דוד ארזני עצרת תפילה ביזדיםצילום: דוד ארזני עצרת תפילה ביזדיםצילום: דוד ארזני עצרת תפילה ביזדיםצילום: דוד ארזני עצרת תפילה ביזדיםצילום: דוד […]
The condition of Rav Shalom Cohen, rosh yeshiva of Yeshiva Porat Yosef and nosi of the Shas party’s Moetzet Chachmei Hatorah, further deteriorated over Shabbos after it worsened on Friday and he was moved to the intensive care unit at Hadassah Ein Kerem Medical Center, where he was first hospitalized for a serious infection in his leg. Due to […]
As the town of New Square is preparing for a joyous Shabbos sheva brachos of the Skever Rebbe’s granddaughter, the sad news rippled through the shtetel that Rebbetzin Tziporah Goldman, a daughter of the Rebbe, has collapsed, Rockland Daily reports. Hatzolah rushed to the home and performed resuscitation maneuvers. The patient was transferred to the […]
הילולת רבי אהרן מבעלזא תשפ”בצילום: שוקי לרר הילולת רבי אהרן מבעלזא תשפ”בצילום: שוקי לרר הילולת רבי אהרן מבעלזא תשפ”בצילום: שוקי לרר הילולת רבי אהרן מבעלזא תשפ”בצילום: שוקי לרר הילולת רבי אהרן מבעלזא תשפ”בצילום: שוקי לרר הילולת רבי אהרן מבעלזא תשפ”בצילום: שוקי לרר הילולת רבי אהרן מבעלזא תשפ”בצילום: שוקי לרר […]
Watch: At the heartbreaking levayah on Thursday in Bnei Brak of Habochur Mordechai Schlesinger z”l, who tragically drowned in the Kinneret. Umacha Hashem dimah me’al kol ponim.
The condition of Rav Shalom Cohen, rosh yeshiva of Yeshiva Porat Yosef and nosi of the Shas party’s Moetzet Chachmei Hatorah, has worsened and he has been moved to the intensive care unit at Hadassah Ein Kerem Medical Center, where he was first hospitalized for a serious infection in his leg. Rabbonim have called on the public to daven […]
It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of Rav Yaakov Ludmir zt”l. He was 54. Rav Yaakov was born in Bnei Brak, a son of Rav Moshe Ludmir, noted mechanech and author of the Sefer Yagdil Torah who was very close to the Bais Yisroel of Gur. Rav Yaakov was educated as […]
Mordechai Schlesinger z”l, an 18 and a half year old bochur, drowned Wednesday evening at the separate beach in Tiveriah near the kever of Rav Meir Baal Haness. Mordechai was born in Bnei Brak, a son of Reb Yechezkel Chaim Schlesinger, mashgiach at Yeshivas Be’er Hatalmud of Elad, and Mrs. Henya Schlesinger, née Finkelstein, daughter […]
At the sheva brachos yesterday for the Toldos Avrohom Yitzchok Rebbe’s granddaughter, singer Lipa Shmelczer surprised the rebbe with a new song on the spot. Lipa told the rebbe, “The rebbe‘s chossid, Arele Samet, has been asking me for two years to compose a niggun for him. I am asking the rebbe to give me a posuk to which I will compose a melody and dedicate it […]
There is no denying that we benefit greatly from technology. There are tremendous opportunities for chesed online. One can listen to, and be inspired by an infinite amount of shiurim available on all levels. Through social media, we can even reconnect to our childhood friends we haven’t spoken to in decades. And yet, as I […]
It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the passing of Rebbetzin Shoshana Scheiner a”h. Rebbetzin Scheiner, nee Lichtenstein, was the wife of Rav Reuven Scheiner zt”l, longtime R”M at Yeshiva Torah Vodaas in Brooklyn, NY. A devoted aishes chayil, Rebbetzin Scheiner was supremely dedicated to her husband, allowing him to serve as a marbitz Torah for decades. Rebbetzin Scheiner is survived by […]
It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of Rav Shlomo Braunstein zt”l, longtime beloved menahel at Yeshivas Rabbeinu Chaim Berlin in Brooklyn, NY. Previously, Rav Braunstein was Rosh Yeshiva at Yeshiva Darchei Noam (Boston) in Brooklyn. An outstanding talmid chochom and marbitz Torah, Rav Braunstein influenced generations of talmidim, inspiring them to […]
It s with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach zt”l, rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Hamekubalim Shaar Hashomayim. He was 85. Rav Shlomo Zalman was born in Yerushalayim, a son of Rav Eliezer Auerbach, rosh yeshivas Shaar Hashomayim, the second son of Rav Chaim Yehuda Leib Auerbach, rosh yeshivas Shaar […]
Rav Gershon Edelstein, rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Ponovezh, remarked tonight: “Now during bein hazemanim, there have been several tragedies, in a strange way, unusual disasters. It’s something incomprehensible. Many people lost their lives. Apparently, during bein hazemanim we are missing the zechus haTorah. Woe is to us.” WATCH:
Jews who travel to Uman, Ukraine, on Rosh Hashanah to daven at the kever of Rav Nachman of Breslov risk their lives, according to Ukrainian Ambassador to Israel Yevgen Korniychuk. “Rosh Hashanah is coming, and no matter what we say, Orthodox Jews will try to get to Uman again. We understand your willingness to go […]
It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the sudden petirah of Rav Pinchos Algerbeli zt”l, mashgiach of Yeshiva Me’or HaTorah. He was 58. Rav Pinchos went for bein hazemanim with his family to France and passed away there. He is survived by his wife and two children. Rav Pinchos was a special and unique […]
As first seen on the ever popular Matzav Status: Chaim Tzvi Katz is absolutely adored wherever he goes, loved by everyone he meets and greets. And no one know how to greet like bochurim. Upon his arrival at Camp Degel, Chaim Tzvi was welcomed like royalty, with music and much pomp, the campers expressing their […]
As first reported on the ever popular Matzav Status: Rav Boruch Mordechai Ezrachi and Rav Dovid Yitzchok Shapiro met up in Givat Washington, where many bnei Torah are spending bein hazemanim. In addition to the shiurim they delivered, the bnei Torah gathered around as the two roshei yeshiva shared classic niggunim. Rav Shapiro sang “Sabeinu […]
The Skverer Rebbe is doing well after a serious collision involving the car he was traveling in this evening. Rockland Daily reports that the Rebbe was in his car on Route 6 in Orange County, returning to Shikun Skver from the Satmar wedding in Kiryas Yoel, when an oncoming car swerved into their lane, colliding […]
Rav Shalom Cohen, rosh yeshiva of Yeshiva Porat Yosef and nosi of the Shas party’s Moetzet Chachmei Hatorah, was taken to Hadassah Ein Kerem Medical Center today to be treated for a serious infection in his leg. A series of tests are being conducted at the hospital and Rav Cohen is undergoing a series of treatments. Those close the […]
Rav Gershon Edelstein, Rosh Yeshivas Ponovezh, and Rav Dov Landau, Rosh Yeshivas Slabodka, sent letters of condolence to Rav Dov Glustein and family who are grieving after the tragic passing of Mrs. Shoshana Glustein a”h and her two daughters, Chaya Sarah and Chana, in the terrible tragedy on Shamgar in yerusholayim last week. In his […]
Israel’s Education Ministry informed yeshivos and kollelim of a seemingly generous new plan — to pay yungeleit who have learned three years or more and who are exempt from the army a full government stipend for only 20 hours of learning a month instead of the 35 hours required at present. The Vaad Hayeshivos responded […]
Among those injured in the bus accident at Rav Shefa in Yerushalayim is Batsheva bas Sara Chaya, who was seriously injured and has experienced severe bleeding. Her father-in-law, Rav Hillel Paley, renowned baal menagein and mashgiach, appealed for people to daven for her. “Please say a tefillah and ask for great mercy for my daughter-in-law, […]
הלווית משפחת גלושטייןצילום: יונתן זינדל – פלאש 90 הלווית משפחת גלושטייןצילום: יונתן זינדל – פלאש 90 הלווית משפחת גלושטייןצילום: יונתן זינדל – פלאש 90 הלווית משפחת גלושטייןצילום: יונתן זינדל – פלאש 90 הלווית משפחת גלושטייןצילום: יונתן זינדל – פלאש 90 הלווית משפחת גלושטייןצילום: יונתן זינדל – פלאש 90 הלווית […]
Announcing the levayah of Mrs. Shoshana Glustein a”h and her daughters, victims of Thursday night’s awful bus tragedy in Yerushalayim. LISTEN:
Rav Reuven Feinstein, rosh yeshiva of Yeshiva of Staten Island, underwent successful knee replacement surgery yesterday, as first reported on Matzav.com last night. The doctor was happy with the results, but today, his blood pressure dropped and he was moved to the ICU at the hospital. Bechasdei Hashem, his family relates that “the main issue” […]
The victims of Thursday night’s awful tragedy as a bus crashed into pedestrians at the Rav Shefa Mall in Yerushalayim have been named. They are Mrs. Shoshana Glustein a”h, 40, from Ofakim, and her daughters, Chaya Sarah, 7, and Chana, 2. Mrs. Glustein was a daughter of Rabbi and Mrs. Yaakov Alexander Ehrenfreund. Rabbi Ehrenfreund […]
Rav Asher Weiss, Rosh Kollel of Machon Minchas Osher L’Torah V’Horaah and author of the Minchas Osher, gave a powerful shmuess about the need to be careful and guarded during bein hazemanim and not to get into dangerous situations. “There are G-d-fearing people who are careful on the קלה כבחמורה, the lenient and the strict […]
Rav Reuven Feinstein underwent successful knee replacement surgery today. The octogenarian rosh yeshiva of Yeshiva of Staten Island in Staten Island, New York, is said to be doing well, bechasdei Hashem. His family relates that the doctor is happy with the results. Today, as the rosh yeshiva was in surgery, talmidim and campers at Camp […]
It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of Rabbi Eliezer Tzvi Handelsman z”l of Los Angeles. He was 62. Reb Leizer, as he was known, was a son of Rabbi and Mrs. Moshe Handelsman of Brooklyn. In his youth, he learned at Yeshiva of Philadelphia, Mirrer Yeshiva, South Fallsburg, and under Rav […]
עלייה לקבר עתניאל בן קנז בחברוןצילום: ארי קופרשטוק עלייה לקבר עתניאל בן קנז בחברוןצילום: ארי קופרשטוק עלייה לקבר עתניאל בן קנז בחברוןצילום: ארי קופרשטוק עלייה לקבר עתניאל בן קנז בחברוןצילום: ארי קופרשטוק עלייה לקבר עתניאל בן קנז בחברוןצילום: ארי קופרשטוק עלייה לקבר עתניאל בן קנז בחברוןצילום: ארי קופרשטוק עלייה […]
Agudah campers greeting Rabbi Yeruchim Olshin Agudah campers greeting Rabbi Shlomo Eliyahu Miller Rabbi Elya Brudny addressing Agudah campers Rabbi Elya Brudny with Agudah campers Rabbi Shlomo Eliyahu Miller addressing Agudah campers Rabbi Shlomo Eliyahu Miller with Agudah campers Mr. Shlomo Werdiger and Rabbi Elya Brudny Rabbi Elya Brudny speaking with Rabbi Yitzchok Ehrman Mr. […]
It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of Rav Yudel Meltzer zt”l. He was 86. Rav Meltzer was a son of Rav Zvi Yehuda Hirsch Meltzer and the grandson of Rav Isser Zalman Meltzer, rosh yeshiva of Yeshiva Etz Chaim and author of Even Ha’azel. His mother, Sarah, was a daughter of […]
It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of Rav Uri Mandelbaum zt”l, menahel of Philadelphia Yeshiva. He was 88 years old. Rav Mandelbaum was supremely devoted to the yeshiva, serving in his position for 55 years, inspiring and guiding generations of talmidim. He is survived by his wife, Mrs. Betty Mandelbaum, and […]
It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of Rabbi Yaakov Rajchenbach zt”l following an illness. Reb Yaakov, who resided in Chicago, Illinois, was one of the noted machzikei Torah of the Olam HaTorah, a noted baal chesed who was involved in torchei tzibbur for decades. Humble, self-effacing, with a heart the encompassed […]
It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of Mrs. Judy Fruchthandler a”h. Mrs. Fruchthandler was the wife of Rav Yosef Fruchthandler, longtime R”M at Yeshivas Rabbeinu Chaim Berlin. The levayah is taking place now in front of the Camp Morris Bais Medrash in Woodridge, NY. Kevurah will take place at 2 p.m. at […]
Last night, Rav Yitzchok Sorotzkin, rosh yeshiva of Mesivta of Lakewood and member of the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah of Agudas Yisroel, addressed a parlor meeting at the home of Dovid Fischer on Melissa Lee Drive in Jackson to benefit the Vaad Hatzalah of Ukrainian Jewry. The event featured a live on-site Zoom report from the […]
News of a wide-ranging fire at the campus of Camp Mesivta Aliyah on Breezy Hill Road in Parksville, NY made headlines today, with tidbits, videos and photos spreading quickly across frum online and social media. Matzav.com spoke with head staff at Camp Aliyah shortly after the fire was put out to get a firsthand report […]
At a chinuch conference tonight in Yerushalayim, Rav Shaul Alter was answering questions when Chevron rosh yeshiva Rav Dovid Cohen entered. Rav Shaul promptly stood up and said he’s done. He remarked with great humility that “when the supermarket comes to an area, the little grocer closes shop!” WATCH:
A special committee of the Chief Rabbinate of Israel met this week and decided to impose sanctions on the Chug Chasam Sofer Petach Tikva kashrus organization due to “failures in the activities of the kashrus body.” The Chief Rabbinate has decided to limit the activities of the organization, which grants kosher supervision to products imported […]
Rav Avigdor Nebenzahl, the rov of the Old City of Yerushalayim, strongly opposes Prime Minister Yair Lapid’s decision to “unfreeze” the outline of the Kosel proposal and prohibit the use of mechitzos in the Ezras Yisroel section, which was given to the Reform and Conservative movements who operate contrary to halacha. In a letter addressed […]
A directive of Baba David Abuchatzira and the brocha of Rav Chaim Feinstein resulted in a huge deal in the sale of a luxury restaurant in Emek Refaim for double the price. About two weeks ago, one of the luxury restaurants in Emek Refaim in Yerushalayim was sold for nearly NIS 10 million, double the […]
קידוש חלקת בית הקברות באלעדצילום: שוקי לרר קידוש חלקת בית הקברות באלעדצילום: שוקי לרר קידוש חלקת בית הקברות באלעדצילום: שוקי לרר קידוש חלקת בית הקברות באלעדצילום: שוקי לרר קידוש חלקת בית הקברות באלעדצילום: שוקי לרר קידוש חלקת בית הקברות באלעדצילום: שוקי לרר קידוש חלקת בית הקברות באלעדצילום: שוקי לרר […]
Rav Gershon Edelstein, Rosh Yeshivas Ponovezh in Bnei Brak, has released a letter of chizuk to yeshiva students ahead of the days of bein hazemanim. In his letter, Rav Edelstein asks them to increase their limud haTorah and to be careful not to go on on dangerous trips. At the beginning of his letter, Rav […]
American tech entrepreneur Marc Randolph was recording another episode for his business podcast “That Will Never Work” and ended up celebrating a personal milestone. Randolph, a Silicon Valley investor who co-founded the Netflix video streaming service, welcomed to his show Lubavitcher brothers Yossi Chayo and Levi Chayo. The two founded and operate Bellissimo Custom Hats […]
הלווית הגרי”ט וייס זצ”לצילום: שוקי לרר הלווית הגרי”ט וייס זצ”לצילום: שוקי לרר הלווית הגרי”ט וייס זצ”לצילום: שוקי לרר הלווית הגרי”ט וייס זצ”לצילום: שוקי לרר הלווית הגרי”ט וייס זצ”לצילום: שוקי לרר הלווית הגרי”ט וייס זצ”לצילום: שוקי לרר הלווית הגרי”ט וייס זצ”לצילום: שוקי לרר הלווית הגרי”ט וייס זצ”לצילום: שוקי לרר […]
הגאב”ד הגרי”ט וייס זצ”לצילום: שוקי לרר הגאב”ד הגרי”ט וייס זצ”לצילום: שוקי לרר הגאב”ד הגרי”ט וייס זצ”לצילום: שוקי לרר הגאב”ד הגרי”ט וייס זצ”לצילום: שוקי לרר הגאב”ד הגרי”ט וייס זצ”לצילום: שוקי לרר הגאב”ד הגרי”ט וייס זצ”לצילום: שוקי לרר הגאב”ד הגרי”ט וייס זצ”לצילום: שוקי לרר הגאב”ד הגרי”ט וייס זצ”לצילום: שוקי לרר […]
At an asifa for bochurim entering mesivta in preparation for the new school year, mashgiach Rav Meir Tuvia Pollak took aim at various fashion styles among yeshiva bochurim, specifically the small hat brims that have become in style. “I saw a new hat with no brim around it,” said Rav Pollak, “just some wire around […]
It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of Rav Shlomo Maklev zt”l, a longtime member of Kollel Chazon Ish in Bnei Brak, who passed away at Sheba Hospital in Tel Hashomer. He was 88 years old. Rav Shlomo was born in Petach Tikva, a son of Reb Dovid Maklev, who was an […]
It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of Reb Luzy Steinmetz z”l of Flatbush after a protracted illness. He was 44. In his youth, Reb Luzy learned at Yeshiva Torah Temimah, and then at Yeshivas Mir-Yerushalayim and Yeshiva Torah Vodaas. Reb Luzy was a beloved member of Khal Bnei Torah of Flatbush, led by […]
It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of Rav Yitzchok Tuvia Weiss zt”l, gaon av bais din of the Badatz of the Eidah Hachareidis of Yerushalayim. He was 96. Rav Weiss was niftar on Friday night at Hadassah Ein Kerem Medical Center in Yerushalayim. Born in August 1926 in Slovakia, he was […]
An eighth-grader in the Chabad school in Nachlat Har Chabad, the Chabad neighborhood in Kiryat Malachi, Israel, Shalom Dov Ber Lipsh was doing what he loved to do on Friday afternoons: helping Jewish men and boys to put on tefillin. On his way home, he was hit by a car and killed on the spot. The […]
A beis din of the Edah Hachareidis in Yerushalayim and a Bnei Brak beis din led by Rav Shmuel Eliezer Stern discussed the kashrus of hundreds of kesubos sold by a seforim store network, which lacked the word ve’ezun (I will feed) and seemingly freed the husband from the obligation to sustain his wife. Rav […]
Rav Yisroel Berger, rov of Yerushalayim’s Ganei Geulah neighborhood, which is populated mostly by people who moved to Eretz Yisroel from other countries, convened with the neighborhood’s beis din to impose a limit on rent which has increased to almost $4,400 monthly for large apartments due to huge demand. Imposing such high rents on tenants […]
Sixty rabbonim and twenty rebbitzens from across the United States met in Chicago earlier this week for the 12th annual Midwest Agudas Yisroel Council of Synagogue Rabbonim Conference. This year’s program was practical, informative and extremely relevant, and attended by many Roshei Yeshiva, Dayanim, Rabbanim and world-renowned experts in their fields who have dedicated their […]
A conflagration broke out today at Bais Yosef D’Ulam, Rav Yaakov Friedman’s shul in Kew Gardens Hills in Queens, NY, destroying the bais haknesses. Bechasdei Hashem, the Sifrei Torah were safely removed from the shul and no one was injured in the blaze. The shul is located on 72nd Road at 141st Street. Firefighters from […]
So many tears. So much hope. The Three Weeks, culminating with the mourning of Tisha B’Av, is a time of sorrow – and faith. A time of deep suffering – and endless love. A time of mourning over destruction – and belief in the possibility of rebuilding. Rav and founder of Machon Maggid Harakiah in […]
All are asked to continue davening for Rav Yitzchok Tuvia Weiss, gaon av bais din of the Badatz of the Eidah Hachareidis of Yerushalayim, who has seen a deterioration in his condition at Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital in Yerushalayim. Recently, Rav Weiss was hospitalized with a severe infection and doctors at Hadassah Ein Kerem were forced to sedate and intubate Rav […]
3 months ago, Shai Ben Shlomo was admitted to the hospital in critical condition after a terrorist in Elad hit him in the head with an ax. Today, b’chasdei Hashem, he was released to his home, completely healthy. He hugged his son and greeted well wishers, too emotional for words. Ben Shlomo had been with […]
בר מצוה לנין חכם שלום כהןצילום: באדיבות המצלם בר מצוה לנין חכם שלום כהןצילום: באדיבות המצלם בר מצוה לנין חכם שלום כהןצילום: באדיבות המצלם בר מצוה לנין חכם שלום כהןצילום: באדיבות המצלם בר מצוה לנין חכם שלום כהןצילום: באדיבות המצלם בר מצוה לנין חכם שלום כהןצילום: באדיבות המצלם בר […]
It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of Rav Shlomo Walder zt”l, one of the pillars of the Haifa community and the gabbai and administrator of Yeshiva Tiferes Yisroel in Haifa. He was 86. Rav Shlomo, who lived in the Hadar HaCarmel neighborhood in Haifa, was known as a very generous man […]
אירוסין ובר מצווה לנכדי ראש ישיבת פוניבז’צילום: באדיבות המצלם אירוסין ובר מצווה לנכדי ראש ישיבת פוניבז’צילום: באדיבות המצלם אירוסין ובר מצווה לנכדי ראש ישיבת פוניבז’צילום: באדיבות המצלם אירוסין ובר מצווה לנכדי ראש ישיבת פוניבז’צילום: באדיבות המצלם אירוסין ובר מצווה לנכדי ראש ישיבת פוניבז’צילום: באדיבות המצלם אירוסין ובר מצווה לנכדי ראש […]
Rav Yaakov Meir Schechter attended the bris of a grandson of Former Prime Minister Binyomin Netanyahu. The baby is a son of R’ and Mrs. Doniel and Noa Roth and the fifth grandson of Netanyahu. Rav Schechter served as sandek and mohel. The brachos were recited by Rav Shimon Shapiro. The bris was held at […]
What more appropriate way to spend Tisha B’Av than to get a real understanding of the story of Kamtza and Bar Kamtza and the churban. ArtScroll has just released a new, convenient softcover volume, The Schottenstein Edition of Ein Yaakov Orlofsky Family Edition of Seder Nashim – Tishah B’Av Excerpts from Tractate Gittin, which includes a […]
Jonathan Boyd, executive director of Institute for Jewish Policy Research, wrote in an op-ed that world Jewry is “gradually becoming majority chareidi.” Boyd noted that today’s 2.1 million chareidim, who comprise a seventh of world Jewry, are projected to become four million by 2040. He added that Britain’s chareidim already comprise a larger proportion of […]
The sudden petirah of Rav Shmuel Yehuda Levin zt”l, rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Telshe Chicago, a week and a half ago plunged the yeshiva and its talmidim into mourning. Today, Rav Shmuel Yeshaya Keller, rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Telshe Chicago, announced the installation of Rav Ephraim Mordechai Levin, son of Rav Shmuel Yehuda, as the […]
It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of Rav Ozer Yonah Kushner zt”l. He was 82. Rav Kushner, a resident of Lakewood, NJ, served for many years as a R”M at Mesivta of Long Beach, being marbitz Torah to generations of talmidim. He is survived by his wife, Mrs. Shulamis Kushner, and […]
B’chasdei Hashem, Ponovezh rosh yeshiva Maran Rav Gershon Edelstein has been released from Mayanei Hayeshuah hospital in Bnei Brak, where he spent this past Shabbos. The rosh yeshiva is feeling well after being hospitalized with chest pains and general weakness. He underwent observation and further tests and the doctors felt comfortable sending him home today. […]
Yesterday, Matzav.com reported that Rav Ephraim Wachsman, rosh yeshiva of Yeshiva Meor Yitzchok, spent this past Shabbos, Parshas Pinchos, in Deal, NJ. Matzav posted a portion of the divrei chizuk that he delivered to the community last night. Below is separate audio of a new song, with lyrics by Rav Wachsman that he taught the […]
Join an insightful conversation between Rabbi Yitzchok Hisiger and Rabbi Sholem Fishbane, Director of Kashrus for the Chicago Rabbinical Council, and the Executive Director of AKO, discussing a sticky rice situation that happened at a recent event. View it in its entirety at www.KashrusAwareness.com CLICK HERE to watch more episodes of Let’s Talk Kashrus ______ […]
Watch the levayah of Rebbetzin Sarah Etel Freifeld a”h, wife of Rav Shlomo Freifeld zt”l, founder of Yeshiva, Sho’r Yoshuv, 11 AM ET:
Rav Ephraim Wachsman, rosh yeshiva of Yeshiva Meor Yitzchok, spent this past Shabbos, Parshas Pinchos, in Deal, NJ. The following is a portion of the divrei chizuk that he delivered to the community last night. LISTEN: Audio 1: Audio 2:
It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of Rebbitzen Sarah Etel Freifeld a”h. Rebbetzin Freifeld, originally from Costa Rica, was the second wife of the great Rav Shlomo Freifeld zt”l, founder of Yeshiva Sh’or Yoshuv, who remarried after his first wife passed away. Rebbetzin Sarah Etel, crowning a great life journey of […]
It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of Rav Yaish Cohen zt”l, the zekan ha’ir of the city of Beit Shean and the Yemeni community. He was 108 years old. Rav Cohen was a chazzan in the local shul and a rebbi of generations of children. He was a humble man who used […]
Ponovezh rosh yeshiva Maran Rav Gershon Edelstein is still hospitalized at Mayanei Hayeshuah hospital in Bnei Brak, where he spent Shabbos. The rosh yeshiva davened the Shabbos tefillos with a number of talmidim who joined him in his room, and he ate the Shabbos meals with his daughter and son-in-law, Reb Avraham Yeshayahu Adler, rosh […]
Yesterday, Camp Simcha held its incredible “Deal Day” in Deal, NJ, bringing smiles and laughter to children struck with illness. Fun activities, exciting prizes and gifts and delicious good were enjoyed by all. The kiddush Hashem was lost on no one, including an employee of Rita’s of Lakewood – which served its delicious fare at […]
About two years after the petirah of the Sadigura Rebbe, a special letter was sent out on behalf of the Bais Din in Bnei Brak headed by Rabbi Sariel Rosenberg in which the dayanim who signed inform the public about the issuance of a temporary restraining order forbidding the sons of the previous Sadigura Rebbe, […]
It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of Rav Shlomo Carlebach zt”l, former mashgiach ruchani of Yeshivas Rabbeinu Chaim Berlin in Brooklyn, NY. He was 96 years old. Rav Carlebach was born on August 17, 1925, in Hamburg. His father, Rav Yosef Carlebach, was the city’s last chief rabbi and a scion […]
Less than a week after being diagnosed with Covid-19, Maran Rav Gershon Edelstein, rosh yeshiva of Ponovezh Yeshiva, was hospitalized today for symptoms unrelated to the coronavirus. The rosh yeshiva was feeling weakness and pains in his chest, according to sources. All are asked to daven for Rav Yerachmiel Gershon ben Miriam. {Matzav.com Israel}
Police arrested a man in his 50s who was traveling around Israel in an expensive BMW and presenting himself as a grandson of Rav Yisroel Abuchatzeira, the Baba Sali, to get generous donations. “I obviously didn’t have so much money on me,” said a woman who gave him over $1,000. “So he took me to […]
PROJECT MOVING ALONG: Launched in 1942, the Encyclopedia Talmudis has reached the letter mem in 48 volumes, but is still 30 volumes short. A 2016 agreement with Toronto philanthropist Dr. Dov Friedberg and his wife Nancy was aimed at ensuring the completion of the encyclopedia within 10 years. Sources tell Matzav.com that the project is […]
According to official figures, the Israeli army drafted 1,222 chareidim in 2019 and 1,193 in 2020. IDF officials said the actual count was greater, because the army only counts people who learned in certain specified chareidi institutions between the ages of 14–18. If chareidi institutions not on the list are included, this adds an additional […]
This week, the parents of the missing teen Moishy Kleinerman met the family of Moshe Illowitz, father of five children who disappeared in Meron three years ago. “There are such similar circumstances here – both are named Moshe, both disappeared in Meron,” said Gitty Kleinerman, Moishy’s mother. The families met at a Yerushalayim hotel and […]
It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of Rav Yitzchok Pinter zt”l, rov of Khal Bikovsk in Bnei Brak. He was 69. Rav Yitzchok was a son of Rav Shmuel Shmelke Pinter, rov of Bikvosk and nosi of the Yesodei HaTorah institutions in London, and a grandson of Rav Chaim Pinter. Rav […]
הלווית ראש ישיבת טלזצילום: שוקי לרר הלווית ראש ישיבת טלזצילום: שוקי לרר הלווית ראש ישיבת טלזצילום: שוקי לרר הלווית ראש ישיבת טלזצילום: שוקי לרר הלווית ראש ישיבת טלזצילום: שוקי לרר הלווית ראש ישיבת טלזצילום: שוקי לרר הלווית ראש ישיבת טלזצילום: שוקי לרר הלווית ראש ישיבת טלזצילום: שוקי לרר […]
This past week, the beis midrash of Rav Zvi Meir Zilberberg was inaugurated. The inauguration of the bais medrash began on Wednesday, when Rav Zvi Meir delivered a shmuess to members of the kehillah. On the occasion of the inauguration of the bais medrash, a pamphlet was published of rules and regulations written by Rav […]
The levayah of Rav Shmuel Yehuda Levin zt”l, rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Telshe in Chicago, will be held at 10 a.m. (11 a.m. ET) at Telshe Yeshiva, located at 3535 W. Foster Avenue in Chicago, followed by a levayah at 6 p.m. at Bais Medrash Govoah’s Bais Yitzchok in Lakewood, NJ. (Listen to the Chicago […]
It is with shock and sadness that Matzav.com reports the sudden petirah of Rav Shmuel Yehuda Levin zt”l, rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Telshe in Chicago, after suffering a heart attack. He was 63 years old. Rav Levin was a son of Rav Avrohom Chaim Levin zt”l, rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Telshe in Chicago, and a […]
הגר”ש קנייבסקי במסע חיזוק בצפוןצילום: שוקי לרר הגר”ש קנייבסקי במסע חיזוק בצפוןצילום: שוקי לרר הגר”ש קנייבסקי במסע חיזוק בצפוןצילום: שוקי לרר הגר”ש קנייבסקי במסע חיזוק בצפוןצילום: שוקי לרר הגר”ש קנייבסקי במסע חיזוק בצפוןצילום: שוקי לרר הגר”ש קנייבסקי במסע חיזוק בצפוןצילום: שוקי לרר הגר”ש קנייבסקי במסע חיזוק בצפוןצילום: שוקי לרר […]
הילולת האור החיים תשפ”בצילום: איציק ו. הילולת האור החיים תשפ”בצילום: איציק ו. הילולת האור החיים תשפ”בצילום: איציק ו. הילולת האור החיים תשפ”בצילום: איציק ו. הילולת האור החיים תשפ”בצילום: איציק ו. הילולת האור החיים תשפ”בצילום: איציק ו. הילולת האור החיים תשפ”בצילום: איציק ו. הילולת האור החיים תשפ”בצילום: איציק ו. […]
All are asked to continue davening for Rav Yitzchok Tuvia Weiss, gaon av bais din of the Badatz of the Eidah Hachareidis of Yerushalayim, who was sedated and intubated over Shabbos at Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital in Yerushalayim. Recently, Rav Weiss was hospitalized with a severe infection, and he was later released to an apartment […]
All are asked to daven and say Tehillim for the Rachmastrivka Rebbe, who has been transferred to Cleveland in order to stabilize his condition. The rebbe, Rav Chai Yitzchok Isaac Twersky, is a son of Rav Yochanan Twersky of Rachmastrivka and a son-in-law of Rav Yaakov Yosef Twersky of Skver. The rebbe, a renowned tzaddik and mashpiah, leads his bais medrash and kehillah in Boro Park, Brooklyn. The rebbe had […]
As first reported on Matzav Status, Amare “Yehoshafat” Stoudemire paid a visit today to America’s largest yeshiva, Bais Medrash Govoha, in Lakewood. NJ. During his visit, he met the rosh yeshiva, Rav Aryeh Malkiel Kotler. The former NBA star, who received Israeli citizenship in March 2019 while playing professional basketball in Israel, converted to Yiddishkeit […]
Today, 30 Sivan / June 29, is the fifth yahrzeit of Rabbi Meir Zlotowitz z”l, the founder, president, and visionary behind ArtScroll/Mesorah. During his forty years at the helm, he spearheaded “The ArtScroll Revolution,” changing the Jewish world by bringing Torah and Jewish awareness to hundreds of thousands of our brethren all over the world. […]
Dozens of Vizhnitzer supporters who arrived this week from abroad for the Dveikim BaTorah event of Igud Mosdos Vizhnitz, where 160 yungeleit were crowned as rabbonim and received semicha, decided to surprise the musmachim and together pledged to give each one a gift of $1,200. During the flight from New York to Eretz Yisroel, several […]
Israel’s Education and Finance ministries said that they will fund chareidi schools that teach math, English, and science, without requiring them to include other core curricula. Other class subjects that won’t be required include Hebrew, social studies, and physical education. According to the announcement, the plan will allow chareidi boys’ schools to receive around $1,700, […]
It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of Rabbi Simcha Ullman z”l, menahel of the Cheder of Los Angeles. Rabbi Ullman was an outstanding, beloved, and greatly admired mechanech, who influenced and inspired generations of talmidim with great care and sensitivity. His passing leaves a great void in the world of chinuch, where Rabbi […]
For more than three months, Rav Shmuel Deutsch, rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Be’er Mordechai in Eretz Yisroel, has been hospitalized in critical condition in the hospital and has needed multiple procedures at Shaare Zedek Hospital in Yerushalayim. About a month ago, the Rosh Yeshiva began a lengthy rehabilitation process, but in recent days, there has […]
It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of Rav Bentzion Shilovitzky zt”l, rosh yeshiva at Yeshiva Machneh Yisroel in Yerushalayim and a resident of Neve Ya’akov. He was 76. Rav Bentzion was a son of Rav Shlomo and Sarah Shilovitzky. His father, Rav Shlomo learned at the Lomza Yeshiva in Petach Tikva […]
In response to the Nekadesh event for women last week focusing on the challenges of technology in the life of a frum woman, some people have decided to take the next step. These activists distributed a sign-up sheet, seen above, seeking signatures. The paper, given out at Beth Medrash Govoha in Lakewood, NJ, says, “We, […]
שמחת נישואי בן הגרש”ב סורוצקין ר”י עטרת שלמהצילום: שוקי לרר שמחת נישואי בן הגרש”ב סורוצקין ר”י עטרת שלמהצילום: שוקי לרר שמחת נישואי בן הגרש”ב סורוצקין ר”י עטרת שלמהצילום: שוקי לרר שמחת נישואי בן הגרש”ב סורוצקין ר”י עטרת שלמהצילום: שוקי לרר שמחת נישואי בן הגרש”ב סורוצקין ר”י עטרת שלמהצילום: שוקי לרר […]
חתונת נכד הגרי”ג אדלשטיין עם נכדת הגר”י אונגרישרצילום: שוקי לרר חתונת נכד הגרי”ג אדלשטיין עם נכדת הגר”י אונגרישרצילום: שוקי לרר חתונת נכד הגרי”ג אדלשטיין עם נכדת הגר”י אונגרישרצילום: שוקי לרר חתונת נכד הגרי”ג אדלשטיין עם נכדת הגר”י אונגרישרצילום: שוקי לרר חתונת נכד הגרי”ג אדלשטיין עם נכדת הגר”י אונגרישרצילום: שוקי לרר […]
All are asked to daven and say Tehillim for the Rachmastrivka Rebbe, who was hospitalized on Friday night. The rebbe, Rav Chai Yitzchok Isaac Twersky, is a son of Rav Yochanan Twersky of Rachmastrivka and a son-in-law of Rav Yaakov Yosef Twersky of Skver. The rebbe, a renowned tzaddik and mashpiah, leads his bais medrash and kehillah in Boro Park, Brooklyn. The rebbe is in the ICU at Maimonides Medical Center […]
Rav Dovid Trenk zt”l had a special way of looking at people, believing in every individual with an unshakeable faith. It was with that conviction, accompanied by unbridled love and care, that he influenced anyone fortunate enough to enter his orbit. And no one saw this more than his devoted wife, Rebbetzin Leah Trenk. Rebbetzin […]
The question of Degel HaTorah and Agudah Yisroel running together or spearate in the upcoming Israeli election has been discussed. But now, MK Moshe Gafni said in an interview with Radio Kol Chai that the issue has been settled: They are going to run together. “At the moment, Degel HaTorah and Agudas Yisroel are running together […]
Rav Yehuda Aryeh Dinner, rov of downtown Bnei Brak, referred to the dissolution of the Knesset during his daily shiur and wished for the members of the government “to fall into the ground like the sons of Korach.” He remarked, “This week is Parshas Korach [in Eretz Yisroel], and Rav Shteinman was always afraid of […]
Israel’s Commissioner of Police, Kobi Shabtai, met with the leader of the Peleg Yerushalmi, Hagaon Rav Asher Deutsch, at his residence in Bnei Brak. The meeting was also attended by the police rov, Rabbi Rami Brachiahu. The police said that Rav Deutsch heard from the commissioner about the steps taken by the police to provide […]
It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of Rebbetzin Chaya Hershkowitz a”h, wife of Rav Ephraim Fischel Hershkowitz zt”l, the Haleiner Rov. She passed away on the day of her granddaughter’s wedding at the age of 94. Throughout their life together, the rebbetzin stood at the side of her illustrious husband, a […]
It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of Rav Menachem Yehuda Chechik zt”l. He was 70 years old. Reb Menachem Yehuda was the eldest son of the tzaddik Rav Velvel Chechik, author of Toras Ze’ev and close talmid of the Brisker Rov. In his youth, he studied at the Etz Chaim Yeshiva […]
The nosi of the Moetzet Chachmei HaTorah of Shas, Chacham Shalom Cohen, who is at Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital where he is convalescing, was updated yesterday on the end of the Bennett-Lapid government. The Rosh Yeshiva stated: “Hashem’s name is sanctified in the world. A government that harmed and sought to destroy Judaism and … […]
The parents of Moishy Kleinerman of Modi’in Illit, who disappeared about 3 months ago, went last night with MK Yaakov Asher to the home of Maran Rav Gershon Edelstein for brachos and chizuk. The 16-year-old bochur has been missing for 87 days. Rav Edelstein was mechazeik the parents and gave them a bracha for a […]
הרבי מסאטמר בקצירת חיטיםצילום: מערכת בחצרות הרבי מסאטמר בקצירת חיטיםצילום: מערכת בחצרות הרבי מסאטמר בקצירת חיטיםצילום: מערכת בחצרות הרבי מסאטמר בקצירת חיטיםצילום: מערכת בחצרות הרבי מסאטמר בקצירת חיטיםצילום: מערכת בחצרות הרבי מסאטמר בקצירת חיטיםצילום: מערכת בחצרות הרבי מסאטמר בקצירת חיטיםצילום: מערכת בחצרות הרבי מסאטמר בקצירת חיטיםצילום: מערכת בחצרות […]
A six-year-old boy is in critical condition after being hurt in a freak incident this evening at a local playground in Lakewood, NJ. The boy was wearing a helmet, which is believed to have gotten caught on a portion of the playground equipment, choking him. The boy was transported to Jersey Shore Trauma Center in […]
As reported on Matzav.com, the Rishon Letzion Rav Yitzchok Yosef, in his weekly shiur, criticized MK Itamar Ben Gvir for going on the Har Habayis in violation of the psak of the greatest gedolim and poskim. Ben Gvir said, in response, that he respects the Rishon Letzion, but he follows the ruling of his rabbi, […]
אברכי כולל דושינסקיא אצל פוסק הדורצילום: רפאל שוורץ אברכי כולל דושינסקיא אצל פוסק הדורצילום: רפאל שוורץ אברכי כולל דושינסקיא אצל פוסק הדורצילום: רפאל שוורץ אברכי כולל דושינסקיא אצל פוסק הדורצילום: רפאל שוורץ אברכי כולל דושינסקיא אצל פוסק הדורצילום: רפאל שוורץ אברכי כולל דושינסקיא אצל פוסק הדורצילום: רפאל שוורץ […]
Mispallelim at Sanzer Shul in Monsey, NY were shocked to discover a number of swastikas drawn on a wall, on a door, and on a paper. It is not clear when the perpetrators accessed the building to commit the act. The swastikas were first found on Friday evening, as people arrived at the shul for […]
The Rishon Letzion, Rav Yitzchok Yosef, launched a scathing attack on visitors to the Har Habayis, particularly MK Itamar Ben Gvir, who ignore the halachic opinion of all leading poskim. “Who forbade entrance to the Har Habayis? All the great men of the generation,” said Rav Yosef. “Everyone forbade entrance to the Har Habayis…. There […]
Rav Dovid Cohen, Rosh Yeshiva of Chevron Yeshiva and member of the Moetzes Gedolai HaTorah of Degel HaTorah, was hospitalized right before Shabbos Kodesh at Shaare Tzedek Hospital in Yerushalayim after feeling ill and fearing a heart attack. Rav Cohen returned from the United States on Wednesday morning after serving as the guest speak at […]
Since it was revealed last night that there is a proposal for Degel Hatorah and Agudas Yisroel to split up and run separately for the next Knesset, the issue has provoked public debate. Over the years, the party was 6-4 in favor of the Chassidim (Agudah), and after the municipal election in 2018, when in […]
Join an insightful conversation between Rabbi Yitzchok Hisiger and Rabbi Sholem Fishbane, Director of Kashrus for the Chicago Rabbinical Council ,and the Executive Director of AKO. Enjoy the Q&A discussing the complexities in buying slurpees. View it in its entirety at www.KashrusAwareness.com Hosted by Rabbi Yitzchok Hisiger Guest: Rabbi Sholem Fishbane Every year 7-Eleven produces […]
On March 26, 16-year-old Moishy (Avrohom Moshe) Kleinerman of Modiin Illit went missing after spending Shabbos in Meron. Since then, no one has seen or heard from him. Today is the 82nd day since his disappearance and the search for him has picked up speed, with dozens of volunteers joining the search and the Israel Police setting […]
“Tish” necklaces and keychains are new products made out of real shirayim taken from a rebbe‘s tish – all fish. “Shirayim is known for its segulos and now you have an opportunity to take it with you,” the company’s website says. The company says that it currently has fish from the tishen of the Toldos […]
Mendel and Miriam (nee Fink) Mintz are an incredible couple who got married last night. Both of them have faced difficult medical challenges, and yet both of them are so strong, so resolute, so valiant, not letting their hardships hold them back. As Mendel said in remarks at the inspiring wedding, Mendel and Miriam show […]
Rav Shaul Alter, the Gerrer rosh yeshiva, is on a visit to Los Angeles, where he’s been greeted by thousands during various stops. The son of the Pnei Menachem of Ger, Rav Shaul served as the rosh yeshiva of Yeshiva Sefas Emes Yeshiva in Eretz Yisroel and today heads Kehillas V’Yeshivas Pnei Menachem. He is […]
As reported by Matzav.com last month, following the passing of gedolei hador in recent years and the addition of new members of the Moetzes Gedolei Hatorah, there’s been a new development in the titles used for the gedolim. For the first time, the Israeli papers beganusing the title “Rabbon Shel Kol Bnei Hagolah,” or “Rashkebehag,” for the Ponovezh rosh […]
It was a brief moment, but a touching one, at Sunday night’s Adirei HaTorah event at Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The staff of the arena had never before seen an event like that one. The people, the ruach, the speeches, the decorum, the singing and dancing – it was like nothing they had […]
גלריה מהמעמדצילום: יח”צ גלריה מהמעמדצילום: יח”צ גלריה מהמעמדצילום: יח”צ גלריה מהמעמדצילום: יח”צ גלריה מהמעמדצילום: יח”צ גלריה מהמעמדצילום: יח”צ גלריה מהמעמדצילום: יח”צ גלריה מהמעמדצילום: יח”צ גלריה מהמעמדצילום: יח”צ גלריה מהמעמדצילום: יח”צ גלריה מהמעמדצילום: יח”צ גלריה מהמעמדצילום: יח”צ גלריה מהמעמדצילום: יח”צ גלריה מהמעמדצילום: יח”צ […]
By Avi Shiff 25,000+, they came out strong, united, and with one goal: to proclaim the glory of our nation’s yungeleit, the Adirei HaTorah. “It was the most uplifting maamad of its kind I’ve ever experienced,” said one attendee. “It was like Simchas Torah, Yom Kippur, and leil Purim in yeshiva all wrapped into one,” […]
Yehuda Alkabetz, born in the village of Sakhnin, always knew he was different. People called him Muhammad al-Jamil, but his friends who wanted to tease him would yell “Yehud Ruch Man HaDa.” He often asked himself, “Being called a Jew – how does this derogatory nickname relate to me?” As he grew up, he realized […]
סיום הש”ס ושבע ברכות בישיבת קרית מלךצילום: שוקי לרר סיום הש”ס ושבע ברכות בישיבת קרית מלךצילום: שוקי לרר סיום הש”ס ושבע ברכות בישיבת קרית מלךצילום: שוקי לרר סיום הש”ס ושבע ברכות בישיבת קרית מלךצילום: שוקי לרר סיום הש”ס ושבע ברכות בישיבת קרית מלךצילום: שוקי לרר סיום הש”ס ושבע ברכות בישיבת […]
Rav Moshe Sternbuch, raavad of the Eidah Hachareidis, was released on Friday from Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital after a successful pacemaker procedure. On his way out of the hospital, Rav Yitzchak Tuvia Weiss, a friend from his youth and gaavad of the Eidah, visited him. On Tuesday, Rav Shternbuch was hospitalized after feeling unwell for […]
Matzav.com can confirm for its readers that this Sunday’s Adirei HaTorah event to be held at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is completely sold out. There is not a ticket to be had for the kavod haTorah event of our lifetime, honoring the yungeleit of Beth Medrash Govoha. As previously reported, over 500 […]
An Arab thief was betrayed by the ringtone of a phone he had nabbed. The story began in Beit Shemesh when a yungerman left his baby carriage in the apartment building lobby. Suddenly, he remembered he had left a bag there with money and his cellphone, but by the time he rushed down, both were […]
Israeli Minister of Communications Yoaz Handel arrived in Kiryat Malachi yesterday as a guest of Mayor Eliyahu Zohar to review the installation of fiber optics throughout the city. During the minister’s tour, a Chabad representative in the city council and the acting mayor, Bezalel Mizrachi, suggested that he put on tallis and tefillin. And he did. The minister […]
A visitor’s center and hachnossas orchim are planned for the newly-discovered kever of Rav Shabse of Rashkov, one of the Baal Shem Tov’s foremost talmidim. Rav Shabse is renowned for his famous Siddur, the first to include the kavanos and minhagim of the Baal Shem Tov. Due to the proximity of the cemetery to an […]
Protests from liberal and Reform groups influenced a bus company to reverse its decision to keep immodest posters out of Bnei Brak. The Dan Bus Company had instructed its drivers “to have respect for the feelings of our passengers” and check that buses used on Bnei Brak routes have no immodest posters. But the “Free […]
All four Roshei Yeshiva of Beth Medrash Govoah in Lakewood, NJ have signed a strongly worded letter aimed at Lakewood’s Zoning board and political leaders. According to the letter, published here, the Roshei Yeshiva are vehemently opposed to the approval of cell towers in greater Lakewood’s residential areas which are proven to c’v cause health […]
It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of Rav Yisroel Gottlieb zt”l. He was 81. Rav Yisroel was a son of Rav Ephraim Gottlieb, a noted chossid of Karlin Stolin who lived in the Katamon neighborhood of Yerushalayim, and his mother, Mrs. Chaya Gottlieb, who was one of the first to sew […]
הרבי מסערט ויז’ניץ בכותלצילום: מערכת קול ברמה הרבי מסערט ויז’ניץ בכותלצילום: מערכת קול ברמה הרבי מסערט ויז’ניץ בכותלצילום: מערכת קול ברמה הרבי מסערט ויז’ניץ בכותלצילום: מערכת קול ברמה הרבי מסערט ויז’ניץ בכותלצילום: מערכת קול ברמה הרבי מסערט ויז’ניץ בכותלצילום: מערכת קול ברמה הרבי מסערט ויז’ניץ בכותלצילום: מערכת קול ברמה הרבי מסערט ויז’ניץ בכותלצילום: מערכת קול […]
It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of Rav Michoel Bender zt”l. He was 71. Rav Michoel was the longtime mashgiach at Yeshiva Bais Binyomin of Stamford, currently in Monsey. A tzaddik yesod olam, Rav Bender was a son of the legendary Torah and chinuch pioneers, Rav Dovid and Rebbetzin Basya Bender. Rav Dovid, […]
All are asked to daven for Rav Moshe Shternbuch, rosh av bais din of the Badatz of the Eidah Hachareidis of Yerushalayim, who has been hospitalized at Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital in Yerushalayim. Rav Shternbuch, 93, currently lives in Har Nof, where he is the rov of the local Gra Shul, named after the Vilna […]
Rav Yitzchok Tuvia Weiss was hospitalized today after feeling very weak. The gaavad of the Eidah Hachareidis was taken to Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital from his home on Givat Moshe Street in the Gush Shemonim neighborhood in Yerushalayim. The 96-year-old gaavad has, in the past month, suffered from a foot infection. This morning, after davening […]
The event was titled “Once a Movie Star…. NOW a Leading Rabbi!” On January 14th, 2014, the CHAZAQ organization hosted a special evening with Rav Uri Zohar, who spoke, in English, about his life and answered questions. WATCH:
It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the passing of Mrs. Rivka Katzenstein a”h. A resident of Jackson, NJ, Rivka was a daughter of Rav and Rebbetzin Eliyahu Brog, rov of the Bais Yisroel Torah Center in Flatbush. She was a granddaughter of Rav Shmuel Elchonon Brog zt”l, longtime R”M at Yeshiva Rabbeinu Chaim Berlin, and a great- […]
It is with great sadness that we report the passing of Rav Uri Zohar zt”l, the legendary leader of the teshuvah movement. He was 86 years old. Rav Zohar was born on November 4, 1935 in Tel Aviv. In 1952, he graduated high school and did his military service in an army entertainment troupe. By […]
Gedolim and admorim are speaking out. In various circles, the violence seen recently in certain Chassidic communities is being condemned. The first to protest was the Rebbe of Vizhnitz-Bnei Brak, as reported by Matzav.com. “Raising a hand on a Jew…how can you be included in a minyan?” said the rebbe. Later, on Shabbos in Belgium, […]
Following the passing of gedolei hador in recent years and the addition of new members of the Moetzes Gedolei Hatorah, there’s a new development in the titles used for the gedolim. This morning, the Israeli Yated, for the first time, used the title “Rabbon Shel Kol Bnei Hagolah,” or “Rashkebehag,” for the Ponovezh rosh yeshiva, […]
In response to Israeli Finance Minister Avigdor Lieberman’s remarks against yeshivos and kollelim, MK Matan Kahana said in the Knesset plenum: “The people of Israel exist thanks to them. I hope there will be many more who will sit and study Torah seriously.” Kahana, who is serving as deputy minister, responded as part of the […]
Rav Elya Brudny, Rav Yaakov Bender and Rav Yisroel Reisman penned the following article in Times Union: Midnight on Tuesday marks the deadline to submit comments about the State Education Department’s proposed regulation of private schools. Already more than 160,000 members of the public have written to express their opposition to these regulations. Let us […]
Israeli Finance Minister Avigdor Lieberman avers that there is no reason to fund chareidi establishments that, he says, teach “idleness.” Lieberman statement was made at a Yisroel Beiteinu faction meeting, where the often controversial minister claimed that chareidi institutions that refuse to teach “core subjects such as English and math” should “do it at their […]
All parents want the best for their children – that they should be good and upright, that they have everything they need for a fruitful, joyous life. The classic work, Shelah HaKadosh, contains a tefillah that parents should recite for their children at any time of the year – but especially before Rosh Chodesh Sivan, which […]
Rav Eliyahu Zilberman, rosh yeshiva of the Aderes Eliyahu Yeshiva in the Jewish Quarter of Yerushalayim, was crowned rov of the famed Churva Shul in the Old City. The appointment was made after the petirah of Rav Simcha Hakohein Kook zt”l, rov of the city of Rechovot, who was rov of the Churva Shul, having […]
The head of Yeshiva Shaarei Rachamim, Rav Meir Mazuz, last night clarified the harsh words he said the night before against Foreign Minister Yair Lapid and Finance Minister Avigdor Lieberman. In his clarification, he said that his words were taken out of context. “On Motzoei Shabbos, I said something that shocked everyone in the country. […]
The Vizhnitzer Rebbe protested recent violence within certain segments of the Chassidic world. During seudah shlishis at his Bais Midrash in Kiryat Vizhnitz in Bnei Brak, the rebbe vehemently protested against Chassidim raising their hands to one another. The rebbe told his followers: “It is forbidden to raise one’s hands (against another). Chassidim have protested […]
It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of Rabbi Yosef Herz zt”l. He was 85. Rabbi Herz passed away at the Hadassah Mount Scopus Hospital in Yerushalayim. Rabbi Herz was one of the veteran talmidei chachomim of the Stamford Hill neighborhood of London. Rabbi Herz was a son of Rav Tzvi Aryeh […]
It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of Rabbi Pinchas Aryeh Stolper zt”l. He was 90 years old. Rabbi Stolper was an internationally renowned pioneer in Jewish youth work, widely respected as a lecturer, teacher, educator, author and thinker. Rabbi Stolper was the founder of the National Conference of Synagogue Youth (NCSY), […]
It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of Rabbi Nachman Zakon zt”l of Yerushalayim. Rabbi Zakon, a veteran mechanech and author, was the director of Yeshiva Teachers Institute, a chinuch training program for kollel men, and of Chinuch Habonim Seminars Yerushalayim. In his youth, Rabbi Zakon learned at Yeshiva Torah Vodaath in […]
Farmer Roundtable With Avichai Koch, Yehuda Alon, Moderated by Rabbi Yitzchok Hisiger: WATCH: PHOTOS:
It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of Rav Simcha Hakohen Kook zt”l, chief rabbi of Rechovot. He was 92. Over the last quarter of a century, Rav Kook turned a largely ceremonial post into an active effort to bridge the gap between the city’s secular and religious residents, thereby raising the […]
Q: Can you justify the motives of two groups of chassidim who are in conflict with one another? Rav Avigdor Miller: You mean the Satmarer and the Lubavitcher? Q: Yes, I had that in mind. Rav Avigdor Miller: When it comes to this we have to know that we are talking about two groups of […]
It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of Rav Yaakov Aharonoff zt”l. He was 100 years old. Rav Yaakov was a member of the “Lochmei Hadas” organization that was established to fight the breaches of the state during the years of its establishment relating to shopkeepers and vehicles traveling on Shabbos. Rav […]
NBA legend LeBron James attended a Jewish wedding Sunday night, where he received a personal blessing from Rav Yoshiyahu Yosef Pinto. The exchange was captured on video and went viral. The exchange took place at the New York City wedding of Jeffrey Schottenstein, son of businessman Jay Schottenstein, the owner of the American Eagle clothing […]
It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of Rav Leibe Gruber zt”l, rov of Bais Medrash Zichron Yoel of Lakewood. He was 60 years old. Rav Gruber was a noted rov and marbitz Torah, and a longtime resident of Lakewood. Rav Gruber battled illness for the last few years and passed away […]
Yesterday was the 4th yahrtzeit of Mendy Klein z’l. R’ Klein was a true friend and supporter of so many mosdos and people, and his loss is still felt. In 2018, after R’ Mendy’s petirah immediately before the Agudas Yisroel dinner at which he was going to be honored, the video below was shared in […]
After thousands of people broke into the Rashbi compound in Meron and broke down the partitions between the men and women, the police raised their hands and announced, after assessing the situation, the collapse of the so-called “Meron Outline.” At the same time, extremists set fire to the Toldos Avraham Yitzchok compound equipment. The checkpoints […]
It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the passing of Rav Avner Moshe Pincus zt”l of Bnei Brak. He was 79. Born to his parents, Rav Chaim Avrohom and Rebbetzin Orah Pincus, in his younger years he studied at Yeshiva Bais Hatalmud in New York under Rav Aryeh Leib Malin. Later, he moved to […]
As expected, there is chaos on the road of Israel leading to Meron, as police have blocked entry to the mountain and the areas around it. Eyewitnesses report that many busses and thousands of people, including many of whom have tickets to Har Meron for Lag Ba’omer, are stranded on the dark roads, with no […]
Meron Superintendent Zviki Tessler briefed reporters last night, discussing the wide-ranging preparations for Lag Ba’omer in Meron. He first addressed the issue of safety approvals: “We are now in the final approvals stage, when according to procedure, the approvals are given on the day of the event… “This year…we are required to limit the audience […]
The Rebbe of Toldos Aharon arrived last night to the city of Beit Shemesh to visit his older brother, the Rebbe of Toldos Avraham Yitzchak, who has been weak since he was released from the hospital. The brothers talked for twenty minutes in private. The Rebbe of Toldos Avraham Yitzchak is staying in his apartment […]
כנס חיזוק למשפחות הרוגי מירוןצילום: שמואל דריי כנס חיזוק למשפחות הרוגי מירוןצילום: שמואל דריי כנס חיזוק למשפחות הרוגי מירוןצילום: שמואל דריי כנס חיזוק למשפחות הרוגי מירוןצילום: שמואל דריי כנס חיזוק למשפחות הרוגי מירוןצילום: שמואל דריי כנס חיזוק למשפחות הרוגי מירוןצילום: שמואל דריי כנס חיזוק למשפחות הרוגי מירוןצילום: שמואל דריי […]
Rav Simcha Hakohein Kook, rov of the city of Rehovot, has been hospitalized this weekend. Rav Kook, who is 92, felt unwell and was hospitalized at Shaarei Tzedek Hospital in Yerushalayim, where he was found to be suffering from pneumonia and having difficulty breathing. Rav Kook has served as rov of the city of Rechovot […]
A mass gathering of the Rabbanim of Lakewood, Toms River, Jackson and Howell was held in BMG’s Ateres Esther Hall on Monday evening in advance of the highly anticipated upcoming “Warrios of Torah” event. Approximately 150 distinguished Rabbanim from all sectors of the community came together to show solidarity with the organizers of the event […]
Prosecutors in the case of SCHI founder Rabbi Osher Eisemann asked the judge for more time to answer after fielding numerous hard-hitting questions from a judge during a hearing last week. Judge Joseph Paone, who was recently assigned to the case after Judge Ben Bucca stepped away, granted the prosecution time to submit written responses, […]
Rav Yitzchak Meir Morgenstern, rov of the Toras Chacham kehillah in Yerushalayim, paid a 1 a.m. visit to the residence of the Rosh Yeshiva of Beis Matisyahu in Bnei Brak, Rav Baruch Weisbecker, member of the Moetzes Gedolah Hatorah. The two talked for about twenty minutes. After the visit, Rav Itche Meir was given a […]
After two years of not being able to organize a large siyum mishnayos, Pirchei Agudas Yisroel celebrated the comeback of our Annual National Siyum Mishnayos al Shem Harav Yehoshua Silbermitz zt”l this past Sunday night at the Kol Yaakov Hall in Brooklyn. Pirchim from Brooklyn, Monsey, Passaic, Boston and other cities were in attendance to honor the mesayemei Shishah […]
Back in December, tragedy shook the frum community as a 15-year-old girl, Leil Namdar a”h, was killed in a car accident in Woodmere, NY. The accident occurred when a Dodge Ram driven by a drunk driver slammed into a car on Edward Avenue and Peninsula Boulevard a little before 11 p.m. The car was operated by […]
The matzeivah at the kever of Maran Rav Chaim Kanievsky zt”l was placed this morning at the Shomrei Shabbos-Zichron Meir bais hachaim in Bnei Brak. The text of the tombstone was written by the family, according to wording formulated by Rav Chaim’s father, the Steipler. The matzeivah text is primarily comprised of the names of […]
It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the passing of Rav Eliyahu Abba Shaul zt”l. Rav Eliyahu’s health deteriorated suddenly after he collapsed at his home on Rechov Sorotzkin in Yerushalayim. Rav Eliyahu was born in Yerushalayim on the 24th of Sivan, the only son of HaGaon Chacham Bentzion Abba-Shaul zt”l. His mother was […]
The Sadigura Rebbe has welcomed a son, his first after two daughters. The news arrived in Sadigura at about 2 a.m., when the baby was born at Ichilov Hospital in Tel Aviv. The 25-year-old Rebbe of Sadigura was crowned almost two years ago, filling the position of his father, the Ateres Yisrael of Sadigura. This […]
Ahead of the Rashbi celebration on Lag Ba’omer in Meron, Rav Meir Mazuz called on the public to be careful not to stay more than four hours in Meron on the day of Lag Ba’omer. “You have to be careful this year to learn a lesson from last year. Do not go on Lag Ba’omer. […]
It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of Rabbi Shalom Fischer zt”l. He was 65. Rabbi Fischer, one of the most noted Chassidim of Erlau, had battled serious illness for the past two years. He was born on the 3rd of Iyar. His father was the late Rabbi Shimshon Fischer. He was […]
It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of Rabbi Mordechai Noach Mark z”l. He was 89. A noted talmid chochom, Rav Mark was menahel of the Vaad Hakashrus of the Eidah Hachareidus for many years. He was born in Yerushalayim on 7 Adar in 1933. His father, the late Rav Yitzchak Yosef […]
Former Likud minister Silvan Shalom recently spoke of how a secret meeting between Rav Chaim Kanievsky and former Prime Minister Netanyahu influenced a decade of Israeli history. Shalom began by relating that he was familiar with the famous residence at 23 Rashbam Street, having visited it several times when he served as finance minister and […]
It was recently revealed that years ago, speaking at an educational conference, the mashgiach Rav Dov Yaffe said that yeshivos must be careful not to “clip the wings” of bochurim who have an original approach to learning. As an example, he pointed to two gedolei hador who may have been lost were they not allowed […]
It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of Rabbi Eliyahu Menachem Margulies z”l of Ramat Shlomo, Yerushalayim. He was 64. Reb Eliyahu, a veteran of Yeshivas Mir Yerushalayim, had a stroke earlier in the year, and since then his condition deteriorated. Reb Eliyahu was noted for the outstanding amount of funds that […]
As reported previously, this year’s Lag Ba’omer celebration in Meron will look different than it has been in years past. There will be only one fire at the event, which will be lit by the Rebbe of Boyan. Reaching the mountain will only be possible via buses and dedicated shuttles and by purchasing tickets in […]
Sephardic chief rabbi of Israel Rav Yitzchok Yosef issued a rare public statement, calling on people with firearm licenses to carry their weapons in shuls following last night’s deadly Palestinian terror attack in Elad. “Due to the tense security situation, those with a license to carry a weapon…should bring it to shul and help keep […]
After yesterday’s Palestinian terror attack in Elad that claimed the lives of three Yidden, rabbonim of the Stoliner kehillah in Eretz Yisroel instructed all owners of guns to carry their weapons during the current terror wave. See the proclamation above, which directs those who own guns to bring them to shul both during the week […]
Rabbi Yehonatan Chabakuk Hy”d has been identified as one of the victims of tonight’s Palestinian terror attack in Elad. A Breslover Chossid in his 40s, he worked as a mechanic for a living. He leaved behind his wife and five children. “There is no one in the city of Elad who does not know Yonatan,” […]
Dovid Amar, a resident of the city of Elad, miraculously survived the horrific massacre that took place tonight in which three residents were murdered with brutal ax blows by Palestinian terrorists. Dovid related: “Two terrorists were holding axes. We were in the middle eating cholent inside my car, and the terrorists came from all sides […]
Like every year on Yom Ha’atzmaut, Israeli Independence Day, an Israeli flag was flown on the roof of the Ponovezh Yeshiva in Bnei Brak this morning. This tradition was established by the Ponovezher Rov, Rav Yosef Shlomo Kahaneman zt”l, when he founded the yeshiva in 1944. {Matzav.com Israel}
Following a meeting held on Tuesday between Rabbi Yitzchak Shapira, mechutan of the Rebbe of Gur, and the chairman of Yesh Atid, Yair Lapid, outgoing MK Yaakov Litzman issued an unusual announcement in which he renounced the meeting. The meeting between the two revolved around the city of Arad, where Shapira was appointed by the […]
הילולת ר’ ישעיה בן ר’ משה תשפ”בצילום: שוקי לרר הילולת ר’ ישעיה בן ר’ משה תשפ”בצילום: שוקי לרר הילולת ר’ ישעיה בן ר’ משה תשפ”בצילום: שוקי לרר הילולת ר’ ישעיה בן ר’ משה תשפ”בצילום: שוקי לרר הילולת ר’ ישעיה בן ר’ משה תשפ”בצילום: שוקי לרר הילולת ר’ ישעיה בן ר’ […]
A full two years after he was elected, Rabbi Eliezer Shmulevitz, a noted talmid chochom who serves as the Chabad shliach to the Israeli city of Ohr Akiva, was confirmed as the Chief Rabbi of the Caesarea locality. Rabbi Shmulevitz was elected as the locality’s Chief Rabbi nearly two years ago, in an election that saw no […]
Kesheim shenichnas l’bris: This morning, a bris took place in Kerestir, welcoming to the bris Avrohom a 12-year-old Jewish Ukrainian refugee now living in Budapest. The boy was named Avrohom Yeshaya after Avrohom Avinu and Rav Shayale of Kerestir.
Several hundred Jews traveling to Kerestir for the yahrtzeit of Rav Shayale of Kerestir were stranded at an airport in Frankfurt overnight, preventing them from catching their connecting flight to Budapest, Hungary. Lufthansa Airlines personnel averred that some of the passengers were refusing to don masks aboard their flight from Newark Liberty International Airport to […]
Rabbi Zechariah Wallerstein z”l was a visionary. He was the founder of Ohr Naava, as well as Tiferes Bnos Yisroel Seminary, Ateres Miriam Seminary, Bnot Chaya Academy, Hakaras Hatov Initiative, Ohr Naava Shidduch Initiative, the Yutta Zicherman Crisis Center for Intervention, and the Ranch at Bethel.
He did so much for chinuch, kiruv, and Klal Yisroel in general.
Before his passing, he asked that he be buried with his tallis bag, seen above. Why?
The explanation is astounding.
Rabbi Wallerstein proudly had a collection of nose rings and other rings and piercings that he placed in and on his tallis bag. These were rings that he convinced courageous girls to remove – forever. He inspired them to turn over a new leaf and leave their rings and piercings behind, as they drew closer to Hakadosh Boruch Hu.
And that is why he wished to be buried with that special tallis bag. Those rings were – and are – indeed priceless, a testament to a lifetime of influence and inspiration, drawing neshamah after neshamah back to their source.
{Matzav.com}
Hosted by Rabbi Yitzchok Hisiger
By: Let’s Talk Kashrus
The Bourbon industry has spilled over from being the safest walk-a-straight-line mashke to becoming an area fraught with kashrus challenges. The rationale behind that is largely because inherently, bourbon is an aged drink. Can mashgichim delve into years of liquor changing hands?
WATCH:
WATCH THE FULL EPISODE
Rabbi Yitzchok Hisiger: In regard to Chometz She’avar alav Ha’Pesach, why is there more of a concern with bourbon than with other whiskeys?
Rabbi Sholem Fishbane: Good question. Bourbon is American-made, so it happens to pass through many Jewish hands, whether at the bottling process, the storing, or the distribution, or even behind the scenes. For example, when a bourbon manufacturer runs out of the base alcohol they might buy it from the Jewish fellow down the block.
It’s much more prevalent than with scotch, which is less of a Jewish-owned industry out in Scotland, or Irish whiskey.
Let’s contrast that with the typical application we would receive to certify potato chips. Day One: application received. On that same day you can watch the potato be removed from the ground, scrubbed, sliced, fried, and packaged. The next day, you’re snacking to your heart’s content, creating a mess in your car. Right?
Not so with bourbon. Bourbons are aged. So when you walk into a factory, you need some intel to figure out, okay, what happened here? It’s one of the things we mashgichim wish we had: time machines! You’ve got to recreate the scene. What happened here eight years ago?
It’s quite fascinating. Just a short time ago, in relation to kashrus, bourbon was the safest drink; four ingredients, nothing else.
I have to tell you, it has exploded the industry. We’ve gotten more knowledge, and it’s not so pashut anymore. Little did I realize that people actually buy barrels and they age it in their own basements.
There was a yungerman from Lakewood who purchased several hundred thousand dollars of bourbon from a Jewish-owned company that never sold their Chometz! He aged it in his cellar and boy, what a nisayon to have! Should he pour it down the drain? Can he give it away? These are real shailos for a Rav.
Rabbi Hisiger: That’s a straight up tough shot to swallow.
Rabbi Fishbane: Here’s another one. Many years ago, we were invited to a large bourbon and spirits factory. They asked us to certify their product for their Israel market.
In Eretz Yisroel, the Rabbanut is very makpid on yoshon. So the question at hand was: Is the wheat used to make the vodka yoshon? I remember walking through the factory and then we sat down to discuss the matter with them. As I was getting up, I said, “Oh, I forgot to ask one thing. By the way, is this factory Jewish-owned?” He looked at me and said, “Yeah.” And I asked, “Do you know if the chometz was sold?”
He had no idea what I was talking about. He thought that we were talking about mevushal, because they knew that when they donated to the local federation, it always had to be mevushal. So he said, “But rabbi, it was cooked!” The halacha of chometz she’avar alav haPesach was so foreign to him. (It took six months to research if he was actually Jewish, not just “culturally Jewish”. He happened to be well-known within political circles, so we ended up calling a senator who grew up with him. We also had to investigate if it was fully Jewish-owned.) Anyway, it was a fascinating halachic question.
So Reb Yitzchok, let me ask you: If you were the owner and I, or any other rav hamachshir, knew that this is chometz she’avar alav haPesach, which we assume Chazal made to encourage you, the owner, to not have chometz on Pesach, do I have to announce that to the world? In Brisker terms, is it a din on the gavra or is it a din on the cheftza?
Now, the AKO Bais Din doesn’t convene often, but when it does, boy, is it a serious thing. The poskim of the major agencies come together to solve very complex shailos. We had to gather the Bais Din for this, because since this individual owned so many products, the problem was so far-reaching. It would affect Jewish events, simchos, and individual consumption all over. The Bais Din reached the maskanah that, yes, chometz she’avar alav haPesach is so serious in the eyes of Chazal and we must raise awareness about this.
So Reb Yitzchok, can you imagine the call I had to make to this factory? “Yeah, I just want to follow up on your request to be kosher. Well, not only can you not be kosher, but I’m about to tell the world that the majority of your products may not be used.” Boy, did that not go over well.
But sometimes the Ribono Shel Olam shows that when you do the right thing, it works out. One day the guy called us back and said, “You know what? We were so impressed with your authenticity, it was an incredibly uncomfortable thing for you to do what you did, and it could have had legal ramifications too, but you just stuck to the letter of Jewish law. I want to do this right. What can we do to make our product kosher?”
I said, “Well, generally when you have a company that’s Jewish-owned, we sell the chometz before Pesach and buy it back after Pesach.”
He looks at me and says, “Well, according to federal law, every time I buy or sell liquor, I’m required to pay tax. That’s going to cost me at least $300 million in taxes every Passover!”
Rabbi Hisiger: For real?
Rabbi Fishbane: Yes, since it’s a bona fide sale. I start throwing at him Chasam Sofers, but he cut me off and asked, “Rabbi, is this a real sale or not?” And I tell him, “Of course it’s a real sale.”
In the end, we came up with a creative solution. He agreed to put away a hundred barrels every year so that a non-Jewish person would own it fully — all the way until bottling. They would also mark off the barrels so they wouldn’t be touched, and in ten years we’d have authentically kosher bourbon!
Rabbi Hisiger: Ingenious. Did he have to pay tax on that?
Rabbi Fishbane: No, legally it was a different type of sale. But the point I want to bring out with this is his question, which really sheds light on the whole inyan of chometz she’avar alav haPesach. As with all the topics we’re discussing here, the yochid should follow the guidance of his own rav, because, indeed, there are many who are machshir even if the company is Jewish-owned, specifically when it comes to schnapps.
WATCH THE FULL EPISODE
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We invite your questions, comments, or feedback. If there’s a specific kashrus topic you’d like to bring to public attention, feel free to contact us by e-mail: info@kashrusawareness.com
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You can also visit our website www.kashrusawareness.com for a growing list of resources, timely conversations, and to watch the debut episodes of the Let’s Talk Kashrus audio-visual series.
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It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the passing of Rabbi Moshe Neuman zt”l, longtime menahel of Bais Yaakov of Queens, NY.
Rabbi Neuman was a musmach of Rav Yitzchok Hutner zt”l at Yeshivas Rabbeinu Chaim Berlin.
From the years 1961 to 2011, Rabbi Neuman stood at the helm of Bais Yaakov Academy, shepherding it from a school of 27 students in a tiny building in Corona to a school of close to 850 students in a four-story building in Kew Gardens.
Throughout those years, Rabbi Neuman was a consistent and reliable presence for all the girls who studied at Bais Yaakov.
А smile at the beginning of the day. A warm hello. A concerned “How are you?” These seemingly simple memories of Rabbi Neuman are what generations of students of the Bais Yaakov Academy of Queens hold dear in their hearts.
As a young man, Rabbi Neuman was working toward a degree in tax law, but his obvious talents in the area of chinuch led his rosh yeshiva, Rav Hutner, to nudge him in a different direction. From his first experience as an eighth-grade substitute, it was clear that Rabbi Neuman was a natural. He “got kids” and was able to reach them on their level, gain their trust, and make them want to learn.
Rabbi Neuman worked for four years as a third-grade rebbi and assistant principal in Detroit. After his marriage to Rivkah Hollander, the couple moved to Allentown, Pennsylvania, where Rabbi Neuman served as principal of the Jewish Community Center Day School. In the spring of 1961, sensing that it was time for their growing family to return to New York, Rabbi Neuman accepted the position as principal of a fledgling girls’ school in Queens.
Bais Yaakov flourished under the auspices of Rabbi Neuman, growing quickly from a small school into the thriving institution it is today. What was the secret of his success? Bais Yaakov alumni who attended the school at any and every point during Rabbi Neuman’s 50 years of tenure all point to the same key characteristics: “He knew everyone’s name – first and last,” and, “He greeted us each and every morning with an enthusiastic ‘Boker tov’ and a smile.” While these might sound like small gestures, it is clear by the deep impression they made that they were indeed significant and meaningful to his many students.
Hands-on would not be an adequate term to describe the level of care and concern that Rabbi Neuman brought to his position. Any way a child needed to be nourished, he was the man for the job. It would not be unusual to see the esteemed principal bend down and tie a young student’s shoelace.
When the Balsam farm on Cross Bay Boulevard closed down, Bais Yaakov had a problem getting chalav Yisrael milk. Rabbi Neuman came to the rescue, shlepping milk in his car from Boro Park each and every day.
“Can I come in and disturb your class?” was Rabbi Neuman’s opening gambit to enter the classroom and spend some quality time with BYQ’s talmidos.
Mrs. Gitty Acker, an administrator in BYQ and longtime third grade morah, shared that she would call Rabbi Neuman into her classroom each time the girls finished learning a parshah in Chumash. He would “quiz” the students, giving them a chance to show off all they learned. He also went into each classroom in the school during Elul to blow the shofar and used to read part of Megillas Esther to Mrs. Acker’s students each year before Purim. “The girls were always amazed when he said the Aseres Bnei Haman in one breath.” In the sixth grade, he would give weekly parshah lessons from Rabbeinu Yonah. He was not a principal who sat in his office. He spent time in the classrooms.
Rabbi Neuman knew how to turn even bitter moments into sweet ones. Mrs. Chana (Goldberger) Fendrich recalls nostalgically how when she was sent out of class and sent to the principal’s office, Rabbi Neuman offered her a candy and told her not to tell anyone.
He had a very close relationship with the teachers. As one teacher says, “Rabbi Neuman could get us to do anything for a student because we knew that he was willing to do anything. There was no such thing as saying no.”
Mrs. Nechama Jurkowitz, Limudei Kodesh principal at Bais Yaakov, recalls that Rabbi Neuman would sit with the teachers and both listen to them and give over to them. “Teachers felt it was worth coming to school to teach, and also to be taught – by Rabbi Neuman.”
Rabbi Neuman didn’t just know every student’s name. He knew everything about them there was to know: their challenges, their strengths, what might have worked for them in the past, and what did not. He looked for the best in each child so he could inspire her to bring out her kochos and reach her potential.
Mrs. Tamar (Well) Miller entered BYQ in seventh grade after moving to New York from Chicago. She and her father arrived first, ahead of the rest of the family. She relates that Rabbi Neuman used to check on her all the time. “He always used to ask me how I was doing. I’ll always remember his smile and his warmth. He really cared.”
Mrs. Elisa (Hoffman) Taub, Director of the Midos Program in Bais Yaakov, attended BYQ as a student and sent her daughters to the school. In her view, “Rabbi Neuman never changed, from when I knew him as a little girl to when I knew him as an adult.” With his signature warmth, everyone felt a personal connection to him. “He always got his messages and his values across through his anecdotes. Eretz Yisrael, ahavas Yisrael, the Jews trapped behind the Iron Curtain, the Holocaust – he was always teaching, but you didn’t necessarily feel like he was teaching you. He was putting his heart into your heart.”
Rabbi Neuman’s caring extended beyond his students to the entire Klal Yisrael. Mrs. Shifra (Jakubowicz) Silber remembers that every assembly would begin with kappitel kuf-lamed, recited responsively as a tefillah “for our brothers and sisters trapped behind the Iron Curtain.” This made a lasting impression on his many students.
Above all, Rabbi Neuman wanted to teach the girls at Bais Yaakov to have middos and mentchlichkeit. “Stand up for someone older who might need a seat… Call your grandparents before Shabbos.” These lessons were imparted on a daily basis.
Mrs. Nechama Jurkowitz captured one of Rabbi Neuman’s unique qualities: “When you spoke to him, you felt like there is no one else in the whole world who mattered to him at that moment. Students felt that way, and teachers, too. He never forgot what you spoke about, and always remembered to ask you about it. It was all about relationship.”
Rabbi Neuman is survived by his wife, Mrs. Rivkah Neuman, and a wonderful family of children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.
The levayah will be held today at 1 p.m. at Shomrei Hadas Chapels, located at 38th Street and 14th Avenue in Boro Park.
Yehi zichro boruch.
Note: The interviews in the above tribute first appeared in the Queens Jewish Link when Rabbi Neuman zt”l and his rebbetzin were honored at their son’s Bais Yaakov in Far Rockaway.
{Matzav.com}
Some of the best bochurim from Gerer yeshivos around Eretz Yisroel underwent a general farher on Shas at the residence of Rav Chaim Feinstein, rosh yeshiva of Yeshiva Ateres Shlomo.
An hour was set for the test, but in light of the bochurim’s impressive knowledge, Rav Feinstein agreed to extend the farher for a long time afterwards, astonished by their breadth of understanding and grasp.
WATCH:
Yesterday, Sunday, May 1, Kollel Cheishek Shlomo, led by its roshei kollel, Rav Avrohom Yeshaya Appel and Rav Asher Steinmetz, celebrated the chanukas habayis of its new building at 506 New Egypt Road in Lakewood, NJ.
Kollel Cheishek Shlomo is unique in the world of kollelim. For starters, to join the kollel for first seder or second seder, one must undergo a rigorous farher on 250 blatt Gemara. First seder runs from 9:15 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. Second seder runs from 2 p.m. to 5:50 p.m. and covers four blatt a week with bechinos. Yungeleit are paid $1,650 a month for twelve months.
The kollel, led by the visionary Rabbi Appel, offers the yungeleit many amenities and services, including breakfast, lunch, a place to rest during bein hasedorim, and subsidized, extended-hours child care at the kollel’s daycare center.
In addition to the morning and afternoon sedorim, the kollel just started a morning kollel from 5 to 7 a.m. and an afternoon kollel from 8 p.m. to 10:15 p.m. Participants must complete at least 50 blatt a month, and they get paid $350 a month for each of those sedorim.
Yesterday’s event featured divrei brocha from Rav Shmuel Kamenetsky, rosh yeshiva of Yeshiva of Philadelphia, and Rav Yitzchok Sorotzkin, rosh yeshiva of Mesivta of Lakewood, and a hachnosas Sefer Torah.
PHOTOS:
At Yeshiva Torah Betifarta in Elad, 600 siyumim on masechtos were made for the shloshim of Rav Chaim Kanievsky. Photographer Shuki Lerer captured the event on camera.
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After much concerted effort by askanim, the Bnei Akiva compound in Meron has been approved by officials for the use of tishen on the eve of Lag Ba’omer.
As reported previously by Matzav.com, in accordance with the interim conclusions of the State Commission of Inquiry into the Meron disaster, a single hadlakah led by the Rebbe of Boyan will be held this year on Har Meron on Lag Ba’omer. As a result, many Chassidic courts have sought to hold tishen throughout the moshav near Har Meron, and in recent weeks, great efforts have been made to locate suitable complexes throughout Meron where rebbes and rabbonim can hold Lag Ba’omer events safely.
A number of feverish meetings have been held with the aim of locating and approving a complex that will be used by the masses.
During the past week, MK Meir Porush met with the Minister of Religious Affairs, Matan Kahana, and asked for his intervention.
After much effort, the Bnei Akiva complex located near the mountain was approved for this use.
According to the outlined agreement, a number of different events will be held at the complex at different hours, with a limited number of participants.
The Bnei Akiva complex will host events for Karlin and Zvhil, as well as the rov of Tzefas, Rav Shmuel Eliyahu, and others.
{Matzav.com Israel}
It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of Rabbi Zecharia Shimon Hakohein Wallerstein z’’l. He was in his sixties.
Rabbi Wallerstein was the founder of Ateres Naava Seminary for Girls and Ohr Naava Women’s Institute in Brooklyn, NY.
Over three decades in chinuch, Rabbi Wallerstein, with his trademark passion, clarity, and love, touched the hearts and souls of thousands of students from all shades of the religious spectrum.
Whether speaking or lecturing across the world or teaching classes in his schools, Rabbi Wallerstein had a unique ability to educate, uplift and inspire people, drawing them closer to Yiddishkeit.
Rabbi Wallerstein had battled illness for the last period and passed away this morning.
He is survived by his wife, Mrs, Estee Wallerstein, their daughters and grandchildren.
The levayah will be held today, at 11 a.m., at Ohr Naava, located at 2201 East 23rd Street in Flatbush, Brooklyn.
Yeho zichro boruch.
The levayah of Rav Nota Greenblatt zt”l, av bais din of Memphis, TN and noted rov and posek, who was niftar on Friday at age 96, will be held today, Sunday, May 2, at 2 p.m., at Mesivta Tiferes Jerusalem, located at 145 East Broadway in Manhattan.
WATCH THE LEVAYAH LIVE ON MATZAV.COM HERE:
Dial-in phone number: 857-347-0369
{Matzav.com}
Rabbi Moshe Brandsdorfer, a graduate of Yeshiva Shor Yoshuv in Lawrence, N.Y., has taken the helm of the Orthodox Union’s Torah Initiatives Department, which oversees a broad array of innovative Torah programming and offers diverse approaches to make Torah study a central part of life for Jewish adults.
Rabbi Brandsdorfer, who previously served as executive director at the Jewish Community Council of the Rockaway Peninsula, brings more than 15 years of experience in nonprofit management to his new role. As executive director of Torah Initiatives, he will focus on maximizing and expanding existing department programs while seeking to develop new and creative Torah projects.
He will also work to broaden the OU’s Torah websites and mobile apps; form new partnerships; and grow the department’s acclaimed Semichas Chaver Program, an interactive halacha learning program.
“We are very pleased to welcome Rabbi Brandsdorfer to the Orthodox Union as executive director of Torah Initiatives,” Orthodox Union President Moishe Bane said. “Rabbi Brandsdorfer brings with him an array of important assets to further strengthen and grow the department, including a tremendous passion for Jewish learning, creativity and many years of management experience.”
Said Orthodox Union Executive Vice President Rabbi Moshe Hauer, “We are thrilled to have someone of the caliber and experience of Rabbi Brandsdorfer leading our Torah Initiatives Department. We have been especially impressed by his passion to creatively increase access to quality Torah resources for the entirety of the Jewish community.”
Rabbi Brandsdorfer joins the Orthodox Union with longtime experience in organizational leadership, communal affairs, social services, program management and development. After studying psychology at Brooklyn College, he began his career as a special education teacher at Yeshiva Bonim Lamokom, a school for children with special needs at Yeshiva Torah Vodaath in Brooklyn’s Kensington neighborhood.
He went on to become a program director at Brooklyn’s Harmony Services, an organization that serves people with developmental disabilities. During his six years there, he directed the Kinor Dovid Day Hab rehabilitation program that helped more than 75 clients with special needs. Among his accomplishments there, he founded Camp Kinor Dovid, an inclusive summer camp located in Camp Ma-Na-Vu, in Parksville, N.Y. He went on to serve as director of development at Mesivta Ateres Yaakov in Lawrence, N.Y., where he led annual fundraising efforts and a $4 million capital campaign.
Rabbi Brandsdorfer continued to develop his professional training, receiving administrative and fundraising education at Brooklyn-based Torah Umesorah, a nationwide network of yeshivos and day schools. He also participated in professional development programs at Boston University, Columbia Business School and Notre Dame University, where he learned about nonprofit strategy and made important connections with his classmates and professors.
“I’ve always had a passion for elevating people’s lives through deeper and more passionate Jewish engagement,” Rabbi Brandsdorfer said. “Today, more than ever before, we have the ability to reach and meaningfully engage Jews around the world in Torah learning. The OU Torah team has done an incredible job of this with its many Torah projects, innovative apps, websites and events. I look forward to leading this department to even greater heights.”
Rabbi Brandsdorfer resides in Woodmere with his wife and children.
{Matzav.com}
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The chaburah, in Lakewood, NJ is comprised of a blend of yungeleit and working chevra.
The Rosh Chabura, Rav Betzalel Katz, is well known talmid chochom already involved with Oraysa. Marai mekomos will be provided along with optional tests. Bring your own chavrusa or the kolel will provide a yungerman. Watch how an hour a day can change your life. Join now!
It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of Rav Nota Greenblatt zt”l, av bais din of Memphis, TN and noted rov and posek. He was 96 years old.
Rav Greenblatt was born in 1925 in Washington, DC. In 1928, his parents moved to Ellenville, NY, where his father, Rav Yitzchok, a native of Brisk, became the rov of the shul. Rav Yitzchok then became a shul rov in Newark, which had a large Jewish community. Rav Yitzchok was not only a talmid chochom who wrote seforim, but was also a maggid, traveling around and speaking. In 1943, Rav Yitzchok started the first day school in Newark, which was the second religious day school to open in New Jersey.
Rav Nota Greenblatt was born in Washington, but spent the years age 8 to age 12 in Israel. He returned to the US by himself at the age of 12 in 1937 to study under Rav Dovid Leibowitz at Yeshiva Chofetz Chaim on South 9th Street in Williamsburg. The mashgiach of the yeshiva was Rav Chaim Pinchos Scheinberg. Rav Greenblatt learned with bochurim who were much older than him and was able to hold his own due to his in-depth, Yerushalmi chinuch. He spoke a fluent Yiddish, which helped him become close to Rav Dovid. Rav Dovid told him, “If you’re sincere and you know where you want to go in life and have a plan, you’ll never fail. You will always succeed.”
Rav Dovid passed away in 1941 and Rav Greenblatt decided to join a private kibbutz organized by Rav Yoshe Ber Soloveitchik and his cousin, Rav Michel Feinstein, in Boston. Rav Greenblatt was the youngest in the kibbutz, only 16 years old.
After a year, the kibbutz broke up. Rav Michel Feinstein went back to New York and became a rosh yeshiva at his uncle Rav Moshe Feinstein’s yeshiva. In 1942-3, Rav Greenblatt joined Rav Moshe Feinstein’s yeshiva, Mesivta Tiferes Yerushalayim, and became one of a small group of his prized talmidim. Rav Greenblatt was close throughout his life with Rav Michel and Rav Moshe.
In those years, when a phone call came for Rav Moshe, a yeshiva bochur would answer it. If the question was simple, the bochur would answer it, and if it was difficult, he would pass the phone to Rav Moshe. Rav Greenblatt fielded the phone for the three years he was there.
In 1946, Rav Greenblatt took the first boat allowed by the US government to travel to Palestine after the war. It was packed with hundreds of meshulachim who had been stranded in the US during the war. The boat stopped at the Azor islands, 1,500 miles west of Portugal. Rav Greenblatt got off and decided to take a look around and see if there were any Jews there. He asked around and a priest took him to a forest, where he saw a store with a sign “Goldberg’s Jewelry.” He went in, met a native girl, and asked her where Goldberg is. She pointed to the back. Rav Greenblatt went to the back, opened the door, and saw a Yid with a black Litvishe-style yarmulka sitting and learning Mishnayos while his wife stood nearby. Rav Greenblatt told him, “Shalom aleichem!”
Goldberg became excited. “You speak Yiddish?”
“Yes.”
Goldberg hugged and kissed Rav Greenblatt. He was the first Yid he had seen in 5-6 years. Goldberg had come from Kovno on one of the last boats to Palestine. When the war broke out and it was too dangerous to continue traveling, the Azor islands took in the travelers and he was stuck there for five years. Now he was waiting to get approval to go to Palestine, but a whole year had passed without the longed-for certificate arriving.
He told Rav Greenblatt that he hadn’t eaten a piece of kosher meat in five years. Rav Greenblatt offered him a kosher salami sandwich and the man’s eyes lit up. When Rav Greenblatt asked him what he had eaten all these years, the man told him, “Seeds and grass, like the birds.” A year or two later, the Goldbergs finally made it to Eretz Yisroel.
In Eretz Yisroel, in 1946, Rav Greenblatt studied with Rav Michel Feinstein. Rav Greenblatt studied for two years in Chevron and was a chavrusah of Rav Aharon Cohen, later rosh yeshiva of Chevron. Once, during the seder, Rav Greenblatt heard something while learning that aggravated him and he stamped his foot and made a hole in the floor. The yeshiva decided not to repair it, because, they said, “This is how you should learn Torah — that you get so excited that you even make a hole in the floor.”
Rav Greenblatt came back to the US in 1948 because his father was sick. In 1949, when his father felt better, Rav Greenblatt saw an ad in a Jewish paper looking for an assistant rabbi and a Talmud Torah rebbi in Memphis, Tennessee. His father encouraged him to take it. Rav Greenblatt spent the next few years until his father’s petirah going back and forth between Memphis and New York.
When Rav Greenblatt visited Rav Moshe to ask his advice about the position, Rav Moshe encouraged him to take it and wrote him a semicha as he walked out the door. Rav Binyomin Kamenetzky, who went on to open Yeshiva of South Shore, drove him to the train in February 1949. It took a day and a half to reach Memphis by train.
The shul was called Anshe Sfard and members of the congregation were Jews who were born in Memphis. The only Jewish education in town was the Talmud Torah run by Rav Stampfer.
While Rav Greenblatt started out teaching in the Talmud Torah, his long-term goal was to replace the Talmud Torah with a serious Torah day school. Six months later, he started the Memphis Hebrew Academy with the help of others. It was the largest opening at the time that a day school ever had – 34 students. Rav Nachum Lansky, a rosh yeshiva in Ner Yisroel, was in that first class.
Rav Greenblatt wrote the first check and, a year later, when he needed to borrow money, he borrowed thousands of dollars from Rav Binyomin Kamenetzky. He couldn’t charge tuition, because almost no one would have come. It was hard to get kids to come even for free. The school didn’t charge tuition for 15 years. Today, it is still open and going strong after 70 years.
One day in shul, Rav Greenblatt heard two Jews talking. “I feel bad about the Kaplan girl. She comes from a poor family, she keeps Shabbos, and she doesn’t go to the singles’ parties. She has no way to meet a boy and will never get married.”
Rav Greenblatt said, “Who are you talking about? I’m looking for a girl like that.” Rav Greenblatt took the Kaplan girl on a date on the city bus and they went for a walk. They married in 1949.
When Rav Greenblatt married his wife, there were family members who protested that he was an illustrious Torah scholar and could have married a daughter of roshei yeshivos instead of the daughter of a simple Memphis baal habayis. Rav Greenblatt later explained that his wife was virtually the only shomeres Shabbos in town, her family didn’t have money and led simple lives with strong Jewish values, and he had heard that her grandfather, who had come from Lithuania, had a store in a non-Jewish neighborhood that he kept closed on Shabbos. He didn’t trust himself to decide when to open it up after Shabbos, so he would ask a child if he saw three stars in the sky before going to open his store. Rav Greenblatt respected that ehrlichkeit.
Mrs. Greenblatt became a local rebbetzin, spending her time raising their five children and helping in the community.
In the early 1950s, Rav Greenblatt got a phone call from a woman in Clarksdale, Mississippi, named Mrs. Abramson. She had some questions to ask him about taharas hamishpacha. Rav Greenblatt was surprised and asked who was keeping these laws in Clarksdale. She told him that she made sure that local women were following halacha. This began a friendship between Mrs. Abramson and the Greenblatts. One result of this friendship was that Rav Greenblatt became the mohel who performed brisos all over the south.
Rav Greenblatt also started writing gittin. He traveled all over the US for 60 years to ensure that secularly-divorced Jewish women receive a get. In addition, Rav Greenblatt built mikvaos in many cities in the south. He also worked for the OU and oversaw shechitah in the OU kosher meat plants in Iowa. He helped establish the Jewish high school in Memphis. He was a shul rov for 18 years and for the next 50 years maintained a minyan in his home every Shabbos.
He was also a rabbi’s rabbi, fielding questions from young rabbis around the country.
Rav Greenblatt is survived by a wonderful family carrying on his legacy. His son, Rabbi Dovid Greenblatt of Lawrence, has founded and administrates several large charity funds, notably the Davis Memorial Fund, and is the author of “Call Heard ‘Round the World.” His other children are Rachelle Lapidus, Lea Fink, Jacob Greenblatt and Joey Greenblatt.
The levayah will be held on Sunday, May 2, at 2 p.m., at Mesivta Tiferes Jerusalem, located at 145 East Broadway in Manhattan.
Yehi zichro boruch.
{Matzav.com}
Gedolei Yisroel have called for people to be mekabel Shabbos early as a zechus for a refuah for Rebbetzin Faiga Tzipora bas Hadassah Lau, the wife of the Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi of Israel Rav Dovid Lau.
As readers may recall, in the middle of Pesach, Rebbetzin Lau was flown to Israel after feeling unwell on the Greek island of Crete, where she stayed with her husband, the chief rabbi, during the Yom Tov. This week, a tefillah rally was held at the Kosel as a zechus for her refuah.
In a letter written by Rav Yitzchak Zilberstein, who was joined by Rav Berel Povarsky and Rav Shimon Badani, the gedolim called on the early kabbolas Shabbos.
{Matzav.com}
It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the passing of Mrs. Raizel Nechamah Wolhendler a”h. She was 104 years old.
Born in Krakow as the youngest of four, Mrs. Wolhendler, nee Dym, was one of the last living students of the famed Frau Sarah Schenirer, founder of the Bais Yaakov movement.
She was separated from her husband, Chaim Shmuel, during World War II, later getting back together in Europe and ultimately immigrating to the United States, where they rebuilt their lives.
Mrs. Wolhendler became a teacher in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, carrying on the values and legacy of her legendary teacher, Frau Schenirer, teaching until she was well into her older years.
The levayah was held last night in Brooklyn, followed by kevurah in the Satmar bais hachaim Kiryas Yoel.
Yehi zichrah boruch.
{Matzav.com}
“Restoring the glory of our yungeleit” is the goal of Tomchei Torah for Yungeleit of Beth Medrash Govoha, an initiative spearheaded by a group of askanim who have led an effort to raise tens of millions of dollars in order to increase the monthly stipends of the yungeleit of Beth Medrash Govoha in Lakewood, NJ to $1,000 a month – up from $350 a month – plus Yom Tov bonuses. Tens of millions of dollars have been raised on the last year toward this goal.
Now, in their continuing effort to raise the bar, Tomchei Torah for Yungeleit of Beth Medrash Govoha has announced an upcoming event which they are calling “a historic maamad” to celebrate “an everlasting Torah partnership as we salute the adirei haTorah.”
Titled “Adirei HaTorah – Warriors of Torah,” the event will be held on Sunday, June 12, at The CURE Insurance Arena in Trenton, New Jersey, the 8,600-seat venue which recently hosted the Dirshu Daf Yomi siyum on Seder Moed.
The yeshiva, located in the heart of the city of Lakewood, has thousands of talmidim, both yungeleit and bochurim. About half of the yungeleit of the yeshiva receive a monthly stipend.
Beth Medrash Govoha was founded in 1943 by Rav Aharon Kotler zt”l, who passed away in 1962. Rav Shneur Kotler zt”l, his son, led the yeshiva from 1962 until his passing in 1982. The present roshei yeshiva are Rav Aryeh Malkiel Kotler (son of Rav Shneur Kotler), Rav Dovid Schustal (son-in-law of Rav Shneur Kotler), Rav Yeruchim Olshin and Rav Yisroel Neuman (sons-in-law of Rav Dov Schwartzman).
{Matzav.com}
The Vizhnitzer Rebbe of London, who began a series of treatments last winter, is experiencing tremendous weakness and is expected to continue his series of treatments. Yesterday, the Rebbe entered The London Clinic in England.
The Rebbe is expected to undergo treatments throughout the week and then return to his home in the Stamford Hill neighborhood of London. In three weeks, he is expected to undergo a bone marrow transplant and then will remain in isolation for a few weeks.
It is hoped that the Rebbe will be home for the Yom Tov of Shavuos and be able to join his Chassidim at his bais medrash.
All are asked to daven for Rav Dovid ben Sima Mirel.
{Matzav.com}
Following the conclusions of Israel’s Commission of Inquiry that a single hadlakah will take place on Har Meron on Lag Ba’omer, a number of Chassidic courts announced that this year they will hold tishin in Complex A (the Fishman Zelikovich Complex), which extends over 8 dunams of land.
Last night, Zviki Tessler, director of Lag Baomer in Meron, sent a letter to the Chassidishe representatives stating that although private events are not his responsibility, he is willing to make every effort to assist them in locating areas for tishin to arrange complexes subject to the approval of officials.
In recent days, a number of meetings of Chassidishe representatives have been held with the participation of Tessler in order to ensure that the events will be conducted in the safest manner and without risk to human life.
Complex A will host the Lag Ba’omer events of Toldos Avraham Yitzchak, Rav Elimelech Biderman, Yeshivas Oraisa, and others. Producers will set up a stage for the rebbe and rabbonim, and a special stage for the orchestra.
In addition to the private events that will take place in the Chassidic compound, there will be public events in Meron, including the main – and only – lighting led by the Rebbe of Boyan, and the memorial service for the 45 kedoshim killed in the tragedy last year, as first reported by Matzav.com earlier this week.
In addition, additional events are expected to take place, including those led by Rav Rafael Abuchatzeira, Rav Benayahu Shmueli, and others.
{Matzav.com Israel}
In a historic asifa held this week at the residence of Maran Rav Gershon Edelstein, with the participation of Rav Yitzchok Zilberstein and other rabbonim, Rav Gershon undertook to assume the position of nosi of Yeshiva Kiryas Melech, which is led by Rav Shlomo Kanievsky.
PHOTOS:
It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of Rav Shlomo Zalman Rechtscheffer z”l. He was 83.
Reb Shlomo Zalman was born on 3 Adar in Yerushalayim to his father, Reb Yitzchok.
As a child, he studied at Talmud Torah Meah Shearim during the years of the establishment of the state of Israel. He then learned at Talmud Torah Etz Chaim in Yerushalayim and at Yeshivas Itur Chachomim.
He was a talmid of the gaon Rav Nota Freund, who nurtured him and recognized his talents and kishron. Already at the age of 16, he was farhered with his class by Rav Aharon Kotler, during which Rav Aharon asked a question that no one knew the answer it – no one except Reb Shlomo Zalman, who was the youngest of the students and answered the question quietly.
He married his wife, the daughter of the late Rav Fishel Henig, one of the noted Chassidim of Karlin, and thus all his life Reb Shlomo Zalman was attached to the rabbonim of Karlin.
He toiled in Torah all his days and was known for his prodigious memory, remembering everything he learned from his childhood with a grasp of Shas by heart.
A central chapter in his life was his involvement in the revelation of kevorim of tzaddikim in Eretz Yisroel. One of the noted kevorim that he helped identify is the kever of the Tanna Yonasan Ben Uziel in Amuka.
All his life, he carried himself modestly, performing chesed quietly and without fanfare.
He leaves behind an outstanding family. One of his sons is Reb Avraham, editor of the HaMevasser newspaper.
The levayah was held at the Shamgar Funeral Home in Yerushalayim and kevurah took place on Har Hazeisim.
The family is sitting shivah at his home in Kiryat Shomrei Emunim in Yerushalayim.
Yehi zichro boruch.
{Matzav.com Israel}
After a recent improvement in the health of Rav Baruch Shmuel Deutsch, who has been hospitalized for a month and a half, his condition has deteriorated again.
There has been a worsening in the condition of the rosh yeshiva at the hospital in Yerushalayim after there was already talk of transferring him to another ward in light of the improvement in his condition.
Now, however, the rosh yeshiva is anesthetized again in the intensive care unit, and is in need of rachamei Shomayim.
All are asked to daven for Rav Baruch Shmuel ben Leah.
It should be noted that the annual gathering of the Uchsavtam organization, which was supposed to take place this Thursday, was canceled due to the poor health of the rosh yeshiva, who serves as the organization’s nosi.
{Matzav.com Israel}
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{Matzav.com}
Lag Baomer on Har Meron’s organizer, Zvi Tessler, has presented the outline for the Rashbi celebration on Har Meron this Lag Ba’omer, exactly one year after the tragic disaster that claimed the lives of 45 Yidden.
It has been clear to everyone that this year, the Lag Ba’omer celebration will look different than it has been in years past. Indeed, several significant changes have been highlighted.
First, there will be only one fire at the event, which will be lit by the Rebbe of Boyan, who according to long-standing tradition is the one who opens the Lag Ba’omer celebrations in Meron. In previous years, there were about 20 fires on the mountain throughout the night.
At the end of the lighting, a memorial service for the victims of last year’s disaster is expected to take place. The ceremony will be pre-arranged with family members.
Reaching the mountain will only be possible via buses and dedicated shuttles and by purchasing tickets in advance, allowing police to know at any given moment how many people are on the mountain.
The tickets, which can only be purchased in advance and will not be sold on the mountain, will allow one to stay on the mountain for a designated period of time.
“Some have called for the celebration not to be held this year,” Tessler said, “but we thought otherwise. There is a large tzibbur for whom this is important. At the same time, we will not be able to satisfy everyone’s wishes. ”
Additional restrictions that will apply this year include a ban on food distribution and a ban on building tents around the tzion.
{Matzav.com Israel}
Family and talmidim of Maran Rav Chaim Kanievsky zt”l arrived at the bais hachaim in Bnei Brak this week to mark the shloshim.
Rav Chaim was niftar on Shushan Purim, and since the shloshim fell on Pesach, when there are no visits to the cemetery, the shloshim was marked after Yom Tov.
Tehillim was led by his son, Rav Shlomo Kanievsky, Rosh Yeshivas Kiryas Melech, and then Rav Chaim’s eldest son, Rav Avrohom Yeshaya Kanievsky, the head of Kollel Orchos Yosher, recited Kaddish.
The Toldos Avrohom Yitzchok Rebbe, who felt unwell during Pesach, was taken this week for a series of tests at Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital in Yerushalayim.
The Rebbe underwent a series of tests at the hospital that were planned in advance after he did not feel well during the Yom Tov. The tests revealed gallbladder inflammation and the Rebbe was hospitalized.
The Rebbe was supposed to visit the community in Har Yonah in the Galilee and stay there until Lag Ba’omer. Now, that trip has been canceled.
All are asked to daven for the complete and speedy refuah of Rav Shmuel Yaakov ben Yenta.
{Matzav.com Israel}
Hundreds gathered on Chol Hamoed Pesach with the “Yenukah,” Rav Shlomo Yehudah Beeri, at the walls of Yerushalayim.
Rav Shlomo Yehuda is called the “Yenukah” because he is young – about 33 – and has shown amazing knowledge in all aspects of the Torah. He knows, by heart, the Torah, Shas and commentaries, Zohar and its commentaries, and many other writings. During his shiurim, he gives exact references by page number and paragraph.
At the conclusion of the evening, the Yenukah sang together with Chazzan Chaim Eliezer Hershtik.
{Matzav.com Israel}
Eliyahu Haliwa, who turned out to be a Lebanese Muslim after marrying a frum Syrian girl from Brooklyn, NY, and now says that he has undergone a “giyur lechumrah” and is a full-fledged Jew, is currently visiting Eretz Yisroel.
As first reported by Matzav.com, Rabbi Avrohom Reich, founder of Kehillas Hatzolas Yisroel, one of the first kiruv organizations in Brooklyn for Russian Jews, says that after speaking to Haliwa’s mother, who lives in Texas, who said she was Jewish, Haliwa underwent a giyur lechumrah.
Rabbi Reich, as we reported, did not conduct the conversion himself, but witnessed the conversion being made by a bais din, confirming this in a letter seen below.
Haliwa is currently visiting Israel with the intention of settling there. He told Bechadrei Chareidim that he will try in every way to get back together with his wife. Haliwa is being accompanied and hosted by Chezky Sibek, deputy and acting head of the Emek Chefer Council.
In the interview with Bechadrei Charedim, which took place at the Kosel, Haliwa said that leaders and rabbis from the Syrian community are trying to persuade his wife to cut ties with him.
Haliwa says that people in the Syrian community took his tallis and tefillin from him, and he currently uses tefillin loaned to him by fellow Jews. After his current visit to the Holy Land, he plans to return to Brooklyn to tie up some loose ends and take care of some matters, and then return to Eretz Yisroel to live out his life.
“I want everyone to know, including the Syrian community, that they will not be able to cut me off from my wife,” he said. “Next year I will be here with my wife, no matter how much they try to cut us off.” As for her family, and whether they will one day accept him, he said, “I hope that one day they will accept me. I have nothing against them.”
He added, “I am happy to be here in the Land of Israel, in the Holy Land. This is my home, this is my place. I am surrounded by good people. I am surrounded by the army and police who protect me. I am happy here. The air here is different. This is where I belong. With the help of Hashem, I will live here, I will die here, and I will be buried here, and soon I will be reunited here with my wife.”
WATCH:
{Matzav.com Israel}
The Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi of Israel, Rav Dovid Lau, has called on the public to daven for his wife, who is hospitalized at Beilinson Hospital in Petach Tikva in critical condition.
Rav Lau’s wife, Rebbetzin Feiga Tzipora bas Hadassah, was hastily flown on Motzoei Shabbos from the Greek island of Crete, where the family was staying for the Yom Tov, after collapsing.
An intensive care unit team of the Medasis Medical Flight Company treated the rebbetzin throughout the flight until she was hospitalized in Eretz Yisroel, where she was anesthetized.
All are asked to daven for Rebbetzin Feiga Tzipora bas Hadassah.
{Matzav.com Israel}
Jewish attendees at Chicago Cubs games in Chicago have been surprised to hear a certain song being played to introduce one of the local players. Rafael Ortega is honored as he comes to bat with music of a DJ Niso Clob official remix of Joey Newcomb’s Thank You Hashem.
WATCH:
All are asked to daven for Rav Binyomin Povarsky, who is in need of rachamei Shomayim.
A noted rosh kollel and talmid chochom, Rav Binyomin is a son of the Ponovezher Rosh Yeshiva, Rav Berel Poversky.
Rav Binyomin was hospitalized on Shvi’i Shel Pesach in the intensive care unit of Ichilov Hospital in Tel Aviv in very serious condition after being transferred from Hadassah Hospital in Mount Scopus.
Due to his difficult medical condition, a tefillah gathering was held today at the home of his father, Rav Berel, on Rechov Ben Zakai in Bnei Brak, and Rav Berel added the name Refoel as a zechus.
The 61-year-old Rav Binyomin, who lives in the Maalot Dafna neighborhood of Yerushalayim, is the rosh kollel of Kollel Keser Torah in the Ramot neighborhood of Yerushalayim.
All are asked to daven for Rav Refoel Binyomin ben Leah.
רבי אלימלך בידרמן בבית שמשצילום: יעקב לדרמן רבי אלימלך בידרמן בבית שמשצילום: יעקב לדרמן רבי אלימלך בידרמן בבית שמשצילום: יעקב לדרמן רבי אלימלך בידרמן בבית שמשצילום: יעקב לדרמן רבי אלימלך בידרמן בבית שמשצילום: יעקב לדרמן רבי אלימלך בידרמן בבית שמשצילום: יעקב לדרמן רבי אלימלך בידרמן בבית שמשצילום: יעקב לדרמן רבי אלימלך בידרמן בבית שמשצילום: יעקב לדרמן רבי אלימלך בידרמן בבית שמשצילום: יעקב לדרמן רבי אלימלך בידרמן בבית שמשצילום: יעקב לדרמן רבי אלימלך בידרמן בבית שמשצילום: יעקב לדרמן רבי אלימלך בידרמן בבית שמשצילום: יעקב לדרמן רבי אלימלך בידרמן בבית שמשצילום: יעקב לדרמן רבי אלימלך בידרמן בבית שמשצילום: יעקב לדרמן רבי אלימלך בידרמן בבית שמשצילום: יעקב לדרמן רבי אלימלך בידרמן בבית שמשצילום: יעקב לדרמן רבי אלימלך בידרמן בבית שמשצילום: יעקב לדרמן רבי אלימלך בידרמן בבית שמשצילום: יעקב לדרמן רבי אלימלך בידרמן בבית שמשצילום: יעקב לדרמן רבי אלימלך בידרמן בבית שמשצילום: יעקב לדרמן
הראש”ל בשיעור בבעלזא אשדודצילום: שוקי לרר הראש”ל בשיעור בבעלזא אשדודצילום: שוקי לרר הראש”ל בשיעור בבעלזא אשדודצילום: שוקי לרר הראש”ל בשיעור בבעלזא אשדודצילום: שוקי לרר הראש”ל בשיעור בבעלזא אשדודצילום: שוקי לרר הראש”ל בשיעור בבעלזא אשדודצילום: שוקי לרר הראש”ל בשיעור בבעלזא אשדודצילום: שוקי לרר הראש”ל בשיעור בבעלזא אשדודצילום: שוקי לרר הראש”ל בשיעור בבעלזא אשדודצילום: שוקי לרר הראש”ל בשיעור בבעלזא אשדודצילום: שוקי לרר הראש”ל בשיעור בבעלזא אשדודצילום: שוקי לרר הראש”ל בשיעור בבעלזא אשדודצילום: שוקי לרר הראש”ל בשיעור בבעלזא אשדודצילום: שוקי לרר הראש”ל בשיעור בבעלזא אשדודצילום: שוקי לרר הראש”ל בשיעור בבעלזא אשדודצילום: שוקי לרר הראש”ל בשיעור בבעלזא אשדודצילום: שוקי לרר הראש”ל בשיעור בבעלזא אשדודצילום: שוקי לרר
מאפיית ויז’ניץ במוצאי פסח תשפ”בצילום: שוקי לרר מאפיית ויז’ניץ במוצאי פסח תשפ”בצילום: שוקי לרר מאפיית ויז’ניץ במוצאי פסח תשפ”בצילום: שוקי לרר מאפיית ויז’ניץ במוצאי פסח תשפ”בצילום: שוקי לרר מאפיית ויז’ניץ במוצאי פסח תשפ”בצילום: שוקי לרר מאפיית ויז’ניץ במוצאי פסח תשפ”בצילום: שוקי לרר מאפיית ויז’ניץ במוצאי פסח תשפ”בצילום: שוקי לרר מאפיית ויז’ניץ במוצאי פסח תשפ”בצילום: שוקי לרר מאפיית ויז’ניץ במוצאי פסח תשפ”בצילום: שוקי לרר מאפיית ויז’ניץ במוצאי פסח תשפ”בצילום: שוקי לרר מאפיית ויז’ניץ במוצאי פסח תשפ”בצילום: שוקי לרר מאפיית ויז’ניץ במוצאי פסח תשפ”בצילום: שוקי לרר מאפיית ויז’ניץ במוצאי פסח תשפ”בצילום: שוקי לרר מאפיית ויז’ניץ במוצאי פסח תשפ”בצילום: שוקי לרר מאפיית ויז’ניץ במוצאי פסח תשפ”בצילום: שוקי לרר מאפיית ויז’ניץ במוצאי פסח תשפ”בצילום: שוקי לרר מאפיית ויז’ניץ במוצאי פסח תשפ”בצילום: שוקי לרר מאפיית ויז’ניץ במוצאי פסח תשפ”בצילום: שוקי לרר מאפיית ויז’ניץ במוצאי פסח תשפ”בצילום: שוקי לרר מאפיית ויז’ניץ במוצאי פסח תשפ”בצילום: שוקי לרר מאפיית ויז’ניץ במוצאי פסח תשפ”בצילום: שוקי לרר מאפיית ויז’ניץ במוצאי פסח תשפ”בצילום: שוקי לרר מאפיית ויז’ניץ במוצאי פסח תשפ”בצילום: שוקי לרר מאפיית ויז’ניץ במוצאי פסח תשפ”בצילום: שוקי לרר מאפיית ויז’ניץ במוצאי פסח תשפ”בצילום: שוקי לרר
Released by: AKO – The Association of Jewish Kashrus Organizations and the Kashrus Awareness Project
FOR THE MOST UPDATED INFO, CLICK HERE.
Compiled by Rabbi Sholem Fishbane
Executive Director, AKO
info@akokosher.org
Introduction The following memo provides important information about Chametz She’avar alav HaPesach at various establishments.
In general, it is difficult to make definitive statements about the acceptability of purchasing chametz from specific stores after Peach because of practical and halachic ambiguities.
First, it is not easy to establish Jewish or non-Jewish ownership. Nonetheless, in this paper we have assumed that publicly traded companies may be treated as non-Jewish entities since the majority of potential stockholders are not Jewish.
Secondly, even if a product is sold in a non-Jewish store, it may be chametz She’avar alav HaPesach if the distributor is Jewish Determining the identity of the distributor is a formidable task because this information is proprietary and is not readily available.
Thirdly, while chametz that is delivered after Peach to a Jewish establishment is not Chametz She’avar alav HaPesach, it is difficult to determine the arrival date of any given product, as the turnaround time is generally unknown. Nonetheless, some Poskim maintain that if there is a safek when product was delivered, the principle of safek d’rabbanan l’kulah applies, while others hold that safek d’rabbanan l’kulah is not applicable in this situation for various reasons.
Finally, some Jewish companies participate in a mechiras chametz, but there are divergent opinions among Poskim about the validity of a sale of a company that is operating on Peach. Furthermore, the sale will not be effective for chametz acquired on Peach because one cannot sell a davar she’lo ba l’olam. To address these concerns, some Poskim recommend selling the entire company rather than the chametz, but this too is a matter of dispute if this is acceptable.
Our goal is not to recommend buying or not buying chametz from any particular establishment. Rather, each kashrus organization or Rav must formulate their own set of standards and guidelines for the purchase of chametz. Once that is done, this memo will provide information that will be helpful in determining which stores fall into the categories of acceptable or not acceptable sources for the purchase of chametz after Pesach.
Categories of Establishments Below are six general categories of establishments with lists of stores that fall into each specific category.
Non-Jewish Companies Supplied by Non-Jewish Distributors Either publicly traded companies (which are assumed to have non-Jewish ownership), or privately owned by non-Jews
Chometz may be purchased at these stores after Pesach:
- Aldi
- BJ’s Wholesale Club
- Costco
- CVS
- Duane Reade
- Hannaford
- Kmart
- Publix
- Rite Aid
- Sam’s Club
- Trader Joes
- Walgreens
- Walmart
- Wawa
- Wegmans
- Whole Foods
B. Non-Jewish Companies Supplied by Jewish Distributor
Publicly traded company or privately owned by non-Jews
Supplied by a Jewish distributor who sells the company (not only the chametz) before Peach but continues to operate on Pesach
General List
- D’Agostino Markets
- Food Emporium
- Foodway Supermarket
- Gristedes Foods
- Key Food
- Kroger
- Safeway – see below
- Stop and Shop
- Target – see below
- Winn Dixie
Note: Target
C. Franchised Stores
Stores are individually owned, and it is necessary to research each store’s ownership
Note: 7-Eleven
Some stores may be Jewish owned, but the supplier for all these stores is not Jewish.
Note: Shoprite
D. Jewish Owned Company Traditional mechiras chametz executed, but store is open on Pesach
Price Chopper
E. Less than 50% Jewish Ownership of Store and Distributor The majority of the company is owned by non-Jews. Zecher Yitzchok (#8) and Chemed Moshe (quoted by Mishna Berurah, Sha’ar HaTziun 448:4) hold that chametz She’avar alav HaPesach is batel b’rov if there is a majority of non-Jewish ownership, though Sha’ar HaTziun and others question this position.
The Jewish partners sell their shares in the business (not only the chametz), and the business operates on Pesach
Albertson’s Chains include
Acme (see below), Jewel-Osco Pavilions Randall’s Safeway (see below) Shaw’s Star Markets Tom Thumb Vons Kosher aisles of Acme in PA, NJ and New England and the kosher aisles of all Safeway stores are stocked by a kosher certified supplier who sells the chametz and is closed for Pesach.
Wakefern (which supplies all Shoprite stores)
Wakefern Food Corporation is a cooperative which is owned by the Shoprite store owners, some of whom are Jewish. A Rabbi arranges transfer of Jewish ownership to non-Jewish partners.
F. Online Distributors Online merchants, such as Amazon, Sam’s Club and Walmart, are not Jewish-owned, but often serve as distributors for other businesses, some of whom are Jewish owned. The name of the supplier is generally posted on the website and consumers should make a reasonable effort to determine if the supplier is Jewish before purchasing chametz after Pesach.
AKO 2701 West Howard Street, Chicago, Illinois 60645
(773) 465-3900
Fax: (773) 465-6632
www.akokosher.org
After a month of being in critical condition at Shaare Tzedek Hospital in Yerushalayim, doctors now say that there has been significant improvement in the medical condition of Hagaon Rav Boruch Shmuel Deutsch, Rosh Yeshivas Be’er Mordechai.
Rav Deutsch’s condition has improved and he has begun communicating with those around him.
As was reported, Rav Deutsch underwent medical treatment before Purim at Ichilov Hospital, and the Rosh Yeshiva was released to his home in Yerushalayim, but his condition began to deteriorate at home and he needed respiratory assistance. On the Motzoei Shabbos after Purim, Rav Deutsch was transported from his home to Shaare Tzedek Hospital due to a severe deterioration in his condition.
Tuesday night, Hagaon Rav Tzvi Friedman, close friend of Rav Deutsch, went to be mevaker choleh Rav Deutsch and the two spoke.
All are asked to daven for Rav Boruch Shmuel Hakohein ben Leah.
{Matzav.com Israel}
The lines were long, but that only added to the beauty and charm of the experience.
Hundreds of people throughout the day lined up to greet Maran Rav Shmuel Kamenetsky, the Philadelphia rosh yeshiva, at a home in Lakewood, NJ the line of people waiting for him snaking around the dining room and out into the street, young and old eager to receive the bracha of the zekan roshei hayeshivos in America.
With his characteristic warmth and ever-present smile, Rav Shmuel greeted each visitor, offering a heartfelt bracha followed by best wishes for ah gutten moed, leaving one and all with a memory that will long not be forgotten.
Photos by Binyomin Rotbart
Rav Ezra Binyamin Shochet, Rosh Yeshivas Or Elchanan-Chabad in Los Angeles, paid visits today to the Litvishe gedolei roshei yeshivos of Bnei Brak.
Rav Shochet visited Rav Gershon Edelstein, Rav Berel Povarsky, Rav Dov Landau, and Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch. He also visited Rav Yitzchok Eizik Landau, rov of Bnei Brak.
The roshei yeshiva spoke in learning with Rav Shochet, who mentioned to them the fact that his yeshiva was founded by Rav Simcha Wasserman zt”l, son of Rav Elchonon Wasserman Hy”d.
Rav Edelstein received Rav Shochet with great joy, and after exchanging brachos, they discussed the shitah of the Rambam regarding the dalet kosos, and the opinion of the Shulchan Aruch Harav on the issue.
During his visit to Rav Landau, Rav Shochet discussed the Brisker Rov regarding two dinim in dalet kosos.
During the visit to Rav Povarsky, Rav Povarsky reminisced about the days when his father, Hagaon Rav Dovid Povarsky, was the rosh yeshiva of the Chabad Yeshiva in Tel Aviv seventy years ago, and he spoke about the special disciple of his father, Rav Yoel Kahan, who passed away last year.
{Matzav.com Israel}
A rare visit took place last night in Yerushalayim, as the Gerer rosh yeshiva, RRav abbi Shaul Alter, went to the residence of the nosi of the Moetzet Chachmei Hatorah of Shas, Rav Shalom Cohen, rosh yeshivat Porat Yosef, in honor of Chol Hamoed.
Rav Cohen honored the rosh yeshiva with a lechayim and then the two spoke in learning.
Rav Alter thanked Rav Cohen for the special hospitality shown to his kehillah, as “Our Talmud Torah and our yeshiva operate under the Bnei Yosef network and we greatly appreciate it.”
Later, they talked about the greatness of the chachamim of Seforad and the Ashkenazi Torah greats.
WATCH:
{Matzav.com Israel}
It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of Rabbi Shlomo Friedman z”l, one of the noted builders in the city of Bnei Brak. He was 92 years old and passed away at Maayanei Hayeshuah Hospital in Bnei Brak.
Reb Shlomo was born in Romania on the 1st of Teves. His father was Rabbi Eliyahu Friedman, a veteran of the city of Bnei Brak.
Reb Shlomo was one of the builders of the city of Bnei Brak, constructing yeshivos and shuls, including the Mishkenos Yaakov shul in the city, as well as the large beis midrash of the late Rav Chaim Greinemann, to whom he had been close since his youth and who became his rebbi. He was also involved in the construction of numerous Torah institutions in the city.
He supported many Torah institutions, including Yeshivas Ofakim.
Reb Shlomo is survived by his wife, his son Rav Pinchas Shalom Friedman, noted mechaber seforim and leader machzir teshuvah, four daughters, and many grandchildren.
The levayah and kevurah took place Tuesday night at the Segulah Bais Hachaim in Petach Tikvah.
Yehi zichro boruch.
{Matzav.com Israel}
It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the passing of Rabbi Michoel Raitzik zt”l.
Reb Michoel was an outstanding talmid chochom and respected member of the Chicago community. His delivered a popular Daf Yomi shiur and spent his life immersed in limud haTorah.
He is survived by his children, Rabbi Shabsi Raitzik, Rabbi Uri Raitzik, Rabbi Yoni Raitzik, Rabbi Avrohom Raitzik, Rabbi Nesanel Raitzik, Rabbi Chananya Raitzik, Mrs. Yehudis Levovitz, and Mrs. Adina Zabrowski.
The levayah will be held at 11 a.m. at the Congregation Sons of Israel Holocaust Memorial Chapel, located at 613 Ramsey Street, in Lakewood, NJ. The aron will then be flown to Eretz Yisroel for kevurah there.
Yehi zichro boruch.
{Matzav.com}
Following a halachic storm in the Torah world over the time of reading the Megillah in Ramat Beit Shemesh Dalet, and after Rav Moshe Bransdorfer announced that the reading time in Ramat Beit Shemesh Dalet is on the 15th of Adar, various rabbonim have come out and said that the time for reading the Megillah in Ramat Beit Shemesh Dalet is, in fact, on the 14th and not the 15th.
In a letter on the topic, Rav Moshe Shternbuch, raavad of the Eidah Hachareidis, stated unequivocally that Purim in Ramat Beit Shemesh Dalet is on the 14th and not the 15th.
During a shiur klali at his yeshiva, Rav Shternbuch reiterated this psak.
After new buildings were added to Ramat Beit Shemesh Dalet that connect to the neighborhood of Chorvat Tel Yarmot, a controversy arose over the reading of the Megillah, since according to archaeologists, the latter area is a walled city from the days of Yehoshua bin Nun.
In recent weeks, rabbonim have published their opinion that the Megillah should be read there on the 14th and not on the 15th.
Rav Shternbuch said that a psak from some to read the Megillah on both days is mistaken as well.
{Matzav.com Israel}
For the first time in 80 years, last year, Beth Medrash Govoha did not host a mesibas Purim due to Covid-19.
This year, the BMG mesibah returns in all its glory.
Each year, hundreds upon hundreds of people gather at Beth Medrash Govoha in Lakewood, NJ, for a Purim mesibahon the first night of Purim, Motzoei Taanis Esther. Each year, the gathering is an uplifting one, with beautiful singing and divrei Torahfrom the roshei hayeshiva and mashgiach.
Previously, the annual gathering had been held in the Israel Henry Beren Hall dining room of the yeshiva. The past few years, the event has been held in the Bais Aron Bais Medrash of the yeshiva at the corner of Tenth Street and Madison Avenue. This year, it will begin with mesibos in the Bais Yitzchok and Bais Shalom botei medrash, followed by the main mesibah at 10:45 in the Bais Aron Bais Medrash.
One year ago, because of Covid fears and restrictions, the yeshiva was compelled to cancel the event which has been called “the highlight of the year” for many attendees.
{Matzav.com}
A statement of Agudath Israel of America shared with Matzav.com:
The issue of extending Daylight Savings Time (DST) has come up over the years on both the federal and state levels and Agudath Israel of America has joined other segments of society in generally opposing these efforts.
Our concerns revolved around two areas. First, as a representative of Orthodox Jewish schools, we shared the views of those in the school community who were concerned about children walking, carpooling or taking the bus to school in the pre-sunrise darkness and the increased risk of accidents and injuries that resulted. Indeed, during the Arab oil embargo in early 1970s, when a year-long DST was attempted (but was quickly ended due to public outcry), there were numerous reported incidents of children being injured and assaulted as they traveled to school in the pitch-black streets. Whatever benefit that might accrue due to extended DST pales in comparison to the cost in safety of our children.
The second concern related to an unintended consequence the change in DST would have on a fundamental aspect of Jewish religious life – morning prayers. Under Jewish law, morning prayers, and the rituals associated with them, are regulated in time-specific ways and must be performed no earlier those certain specified times. Synagogue schedules accommodate those times. With a change in DST, and the later sunrise, the times for prayers and their accompanying rituals will be disrupted –which, in turn, will put into jeopardy their proper fulfillment, discourage synagogue attendance, and result in late arrival for work.
The U.S. Senate today passed legislation that would make DST year-round and thus implicate these and other concerns. The bill will now move to the House, where the various issues on both sides will be debated. Along with others, Agudath Israel intends to continue to express its concerns to the representatives in that chamber and make clear the negative consequences the change will have on the safety of our children and on our Jewish religious practice.
{Matzav.com}
Enjoy this riveting journey into the history, compilation and production of the 51-volume Schottenstein Edition Talmud Yerushalmi. Join a fascinating tour of historic Teverya, watch the graphic artists at work, meet the Mesorah Heritage Foundation scholars and editors, join an in-depth factory tour, and see much more in this exclusive presentation marking the completion of this monumental 15-year project. Learn more at https://www.artscroll.com/yerushalmi.
WATCH:
When SED released its regulations on Thursday, they provided only a broad outline of the new regulations. SED made it sound like Yeshivas would only be required to teach Math, Science, Arithmetic and Social Studies. Now that the full text of the regulations is available – look at what Matzav*.com found in the fine print. It’s almost hard to believe. “Instruction in health education pursuant to Education Law 804” – this includes: “health education courses which include instruction regarding alcohol, tobacco and other drugs as the Commissioner may deem necessary and desirable . . . The Commissioner is authorized to make recommendations . . . every three years .. . to include … information available regarding the misuse and abuse of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs, including but not limited to heroin.” Heroin Instruction?! In our boys & girls Elementary Schools?! “Instruction in physical education and kindred subjects pursuant to Education Law 803(4)” — this includes “courses shall be designed to aid in the . . . development of character, citizenship, physical fitness, health and worthy use of leisure time” in a manner that will be reviewed by the local school board! Our Yeshiva boys will be taught how to use leisure time in a manner equivalent to Public School instruction! Heaven Forbid! Instruction in the history, meaning and significance of the provisions of the US & NYS constitutions is accompanied with a reference to Education Law 801, which requires “instruction in patriotism, citizenship and human rights issues”, referencing such incidents as the mass starvation in Ireland from 1845-1850. We have good reason to fear “human rights issues” as taught by New York progressives. And – do we want our Yeshivas to mimic the city’s sterling job of teaching patriotism to NYC children? This makes clear what we always feared about State control of yeshiva curriculum – the requirements in these regulations are the starting point of state control, not the end, {Matzav.com*}
On Friday, March 11, high ranking Agudath Israel of America officials, along with representatives of other American Jewish organizations providing humanitarian assistance to Ukrainian refugees crossing the border into neighboring countries, participated in a meeting with UN ambassadors from a number of Eastern European countries. The meeting was hosted by the Slovakian Ambassador to the United Nations Michal Mlynar, and included ambassadors from Ukraine, Poland, Moldova, Hungary, and Romania. The meeting was intended to create a dialogue between the organizations, Ukraine, and its bordering countries about how best to coordinate efforts and assist each other. One of the main issues discussed was expediting the transport of food, religious articles, and other supplies, avoiding unnecessary delays as the materials proceed through customs. In addition, Agudath Israel board chairman Mr. Sol Werdiger raised the issue of providing Kosher food for Jewish refugees through the UN world food program. “It was very helpful to speak with ambassadors of the countries bordering Ukraine. Many refugees are heading there either as a waypoint or, possibly, permanently,” said Rabbi Chaim Dovid Zwiebel, who participated in the meeting in his capacity as Executive Vice President of Agudath Israel. “We are particularly grateful to have heard directly from the Ukranian ambassador about the needs of his country and people.” Mr. Werdiger expressed his gratitude to the Slovakian ambassador for setting up this important meeting and recognizing the work of Agudath Israel. “But what is most important,” said Mr. Werdiger, “are the channels set up by this meeting that will help strengthen the relief and rescue efforts.”
Singer Meilech Kohn is engaged to Hinda Greiman of Baltimore.
The 53-year-old chosson and 31-year-old kallah will be getting married in the near future.
The kallah is a daughter of R’ Gershon Greiman.
Meilech was born in 1969 in Williamsburg, Brooklyn and raised in the Satmar Chassidishe community there.
Meilech grew up surrounded by music, experimenting with a keyboard at home as a child. As a boy and in his teens, he would sit next to the ba’al tefilla during the Yomim Noraim at the shul of the Satmar Rov, Rav Yoel Teitelbaum. The chazzan was Reb Meilech Wieder, son of noted Chazzan Yehoshua Wieder.
Later on, Meilech broadened his horizon by traveling and learning in various yeshivos worldwide.
Meilech spent a while traveling and discovering music of all genres and styles from all over. He lived in Los Angeles for a while as well as in Israel for several years.
He spent a number of years working as the official chazzan in various shuls in the tristate area of NY.
Meilech became popular after the release of his song “VeUhavatu” in 2016. Before then, he was relatively unknown.
Meilech is a first cousin of singer Lipa Schmelczer.
{Matzav.com}
For close to 20 years, Agudas Yisroel of America has shared guidelines for the use of alcohol on Purim, specifically how it relates to bochurim’s drinking. The letter above has been signed by many Roshei Yeshiva who joined to inform the community, and their talmidim, of this serious issue.
A high res version of the image above in Hebrew and English is available in PDF format for download here.
{Matzav.com}
A yeshivah in Poland that was once the largest in the world has been converted into a refugee camp for Ukrainian Jews fleeing their home county as Russia’s war continues.
Chachmei Lublin Yeshiva operated in Lublin, Poland, from 1930 to 1939.
It now holds roughly 190 beds for Ukrainian Jewish refugees, American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee director in Poland Karina Sokolowska said. She said that “some are regular hotel rooms, but we also have large halls in the building where we put many mattresses on the floor.”
The JDC has an additional 500 beds across Poland in temporary refugee camps and is working closely with the Jewish community in Warsaw and Poland’s Chief Rabbi Michael Schudrich to help Ukrainian Jewish refugees as much as possible.
“Sometimes, we cannot give them a place to stay immediately,” said Sokolowska. “Sometimes, they are told to be picked up in another four hours from the border.”
She added that almost everyone she knows in the Jewish community in Warsaw is housing a Ukrainian family to help with the shortage of available hotel rooms.
“Until 12 days ago, my job was to promote Jewish education and culture in Poland,” said Sokolowska. “But now, I am dealing with a whole different world. I never thought I would need to run a huge operation for Jewish refugees—definitely not in Poland.”
JDC also has two storage centers in Poland where it keeps food, clothes, shoes and other items to aid Ukrainian Jews. jns
The final set of briefs have been filed before the Appellate Division of the Superior Court in the case of Lakewood teacher, lawyer, and BMG alumnus Aaron Lang, in his quest to have the state’s education funding formula declared unconstitutional and to restore fair funding to Lakewood.
Lang has been at the forefront of the battle for fair education funding for Lakewood for more than seven years through a case he filed asserting that the state’s funding formula unconstitutionally disadvantages Lakewood by not including private-school students in its tally when it calculates state aid to a district. Last year, an Administrative Court Judge ruled that Lakewood’s education was below legal standards, but declined to actually call the funding formula unconstitutional. Later, the state’s Education Commissioner rejected the judge’s ruling, asserting that the district’s education level was sufficient to meet the legal bar of “thorough and efficient” education, or T&E.
Lang subsequently appealed the ruling, filing late last year before the Appellate Division of the Superior Court. At that point, leading education legal expert and retired Rutgers Law professor Paul Tractenberg joined the case on Lang’s side, adding a heavyweight education expert to Lakewood’s argument. Tractenberg argued education cases before the state’s Supreme Court in the past, and is most known for leading the fight in the landmark Abbott v. Burke cases, which New Jersey judges and lawyers voted overwhelmingly to be the most important state court decision of the 20th century.
The 69-page brief was filed in November outlining that the state’s funding formula is illegal, as its failure to include private-school students when allocating state aid creates a situation in which districts cannot supply the constitutionally mandated “thorough and efficient” level of education. After a number of requests for deadline extensions, the state filed their response last week, which was followed by Lang and Tractenberg’s final submission this week.
“The [judge], who personally heard the testimony and reviewed the documents comprising the elaborate record of this case, concluded that the students are being denied T&E,” write Lang and Tractenberg in the 20-page brief filed this week. “The [Acting Commissioner], having explicitly accepted all the [judge]’s findings of fact, and without explaining either precisely what legal standard for T&E she was using or why the [judge]’s recommended decision was wrong about the denial of T&E, overturned that crucial portion of the [judge]’s recommended decision.”
In 2011, the courts ruled that the legislature was mandated to supply those districts who were represented in the landmark Abbott cases with sufficient funding. Other underfunded districts, however, which were not included in the Abbott cases, failed to get relief, because their plight was not included in the rulings. In this brief, Lang and Tractenberg seek to garner a similar judicial ruling for Lakewood, so that Lakewood would be entitled to some much-needed fiscal relief.
They also sum up, in a succinct way, the crux of the issue Lakewood is facing.
“To a substantial degree, even the [judge] and [Acting Commissioner] have acknowledged what the core problems are; indeed, no one involved in the case has denied that Lakewood is a unique district in New Jersey. The [judge] correctly referred to it as an ‘outlier.’ The fact that Lakewood, a single district with fewer than one-half of 1% of all the State’s students, has more than 25% of the State’s nonpublic school students should tell you all you need to know about Lakewood’s uniqueness. And these unique demographics have caused unique fiscal stresses, as everyone recognizes and accepts. The fact that, according to the [judge], 52% of Lakewood’s entire public school budget is consumed by transportation and special education costs for Lakewood’s tens of thousands of nonpublic school students (it was 31,000 and counting at the time of the hearing in this case, but it has grown to well over 40,000 by now, since the [judge] recognized in her [initial decision] an annual growth of 2,500 to 3,000).
“The consequence, also conceded by everyone associated with this case, is that Lakewood simply does not have enough education funding through [the funding formula] to provide its public school students with even a chance at achieving T&E. The State’s only response has been to extend loans in ever-increasing amounts to try to fill in the massive fiscal gaps caused by the district’s unique costs for nonpublic school students. But, according to the [judge], these loans, now totaling almost $137 million—virtually the size of Lakewood’s annual budget—have created an ‘unsustainable’ fiscal problem for Lakewood and are effectively a state-operated ‘Ponzi scheme,’ according to the [judge].”
With the completion of the Appellate filings, Lang and Tractenberg intend to file for certiorari before the New Jersey Supreme Court, so that the state’s highest court can take the case. This move can be done before the Appellate Division rules on the case in order to jumpstart a High-Court decision that can have ramifications on the public policy of education funding for districts across the state.
[matzav.com]
One of the most moving, inspiring, and integral components of any major Dirshu event is the profound achdus that it represents. Achdus both among the wide-ranging crowd that spans the entire gamut of Torah Jewry and achdus among the Gedolei Yisrael who came to encourage, strengthen and express their admiration for lomdei Dirshu.
The greatest Roshei Yeshiva from the Litvish Torah world addressed the event, including HaGaon HaRav Aharon Feldman, shlita, Rosh Yeshivas Ner Yisrael Baltimore; HaGaon HaRav Elya Ber Wachtfogel, shlita, Rosh Yeshivas South Fallsburg; HaGaon HaPosek, HaRav Hillel David, shlita, Rav of Shaarei Torah; HaGaon HaRav Shlomo Feivel Schustal, Rosh Yeshivas Tiferes Yerachmiel; Hagaon HaRav Aryeh Malkiel Kotler, shlita, Rosh Yeshivas Beth Medrash Govoha of Lakewood, and numerous others.
There were the great Admorim and Rabbanim of the Chassidishe world, the Rachmastrivka Rebbe, shlita; the Skulener Rebbe, shlita, who made the siyum and gave over such sweet words of chizuk, the Chernobyler Rebbe, shlita; the Kossover Rebbe, shlita; the Vienner Rav, shlita; HaGaon HaRav Yechiel Mechel Steinmetz, shlita, Skverer Dayan and senior Posek of Boro Park; and HaGaon HaRav Yitzchok Zalman Gips, Rav of Khal Birchas Avrohom of Boro Park.
There were prominent Sephardic giants such as Hagaon HaRav Shmuel Choueka, shlita, Rav of Khal Ohel Simcha; HaGaon HaRav David Ozeri, shlita; and numerous other prominent rabbanim.
The diversity of the crowd was limited to externals because in truth, there was no diversity! When everyone was singing and dancing after the siyum and clasping hands, there were no Chassidim and no Yeshiva types. There were no Sephardim or Ashkenazim. They were all just Torah Jews, Yidden united by the Torah we learn and the halacha and Daf HaYomi B’Halacha that they all learn and observe.
After the Hadran, Rav Malkiel Kotler, Rosh Yeshiva of Beis Medrash Govoha of Lakewood, was called upon to say the Kaddish. Rav Kotler said, “Chazal teach us that he who learns halachos every day is assured a place in Olam Habaah. Chazal,” Rav Kotler continued, “do not only mean that after his lifetime he will go to Olam Habaah, rather, they are giving us a message for this world too. A person who learns halacha every day, lives his life ‘Olam Habaadig’, he lives his life in this world with an eye above the world.
It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of Reb Feivy Mandel z”l of Lakewood, NJ, who was tragically killed in an automobile accident the morning in Lakewood.
Reb Feivy was driving south on Madison Avenue in Lakewood, turning on Courtney Road, when his vehicle was struck by another car driving north at a high speed. Reb Feivy’s car spun around and ultimately smashed into a nearby traffic light pole. Hatzolah paramedics arrived at the scene, but were forced to declare the petirah.
The incident took place near Bais Faiga Elementary School on Madison Avenue and Courtney Road.
Reb Feivy, who was 33, was a member of the kollel at Beth Medrash Govoha. As a bochur, Reb Feivy learned at the yeshiva of Rav Meir Soloveitchik in Yerushalayim.
A devoted ben Torah with an ever-present smile, Reb Feivy was beloved by everyone who knew him.
Reb Feivy is survived by his parents, his devoted wife, and their five children.
Levayah details will be posted once they are finalized.
Umacha hashem dimah me’al kol ponim.
The levayah will be held at 5 p.m. at the Congregation Sons of Israel Holocaust Memorial Chapel, located at 613 Ramsey Street, off of East 7th Street, in Lakewood, NJ, followed by kevurah in Deans, NJ.
{Matzav.com}
After drying and cleaning a collection of old manuscripts, researchers at the National Library of Israel discovered a work on hilchos shechitah copied in Persia 365 years ago.
Most significantly, the sefer’s author writes in many places, “I found written in the sefer of my teacher Rav Yosef Karo,” indicating the author was a talmid of the mechaber of the Shulchan Aruch.
{Matzav.com Israel}
Ten months after the Meron tragedy, the Israeli police presented the Forum of the Families of the Meron Tragedy with items from the scene whose owners were never identified.
“We hope to use the items as part of a corner of remembrance on Mount Meron which will certify that the greatest civil tragedy since the state was founded is not forgotten,” a representative of the forum said.
Meanwhile, the Authority for Land Affairs Enforcement destroyed the Kohanim Bridge, the last of three illegal bridges on the compound.
These include the Dov Bridge, near where the tragedy occurred; the Mehadrin Bridge, meant to enhance tznius; and the Kohanim Bridge, which gave kohanim access to the site over numerous kevorim.
{Matzav.com Israel}
Tov V’chesed Opens Magnificent Double Wedding Hall Where Orphans Are Married Off Free Of Charge
Yesomim and yesomos from poor Israel families have long had a hard time making it to their big day because the many expenses are financially crushing. To remedy this issue, an ingenious and forward-thinking plan was hatched by Rabbi Shisha of Tov V’Chesed.
He embarked on a mission of building two magnificent wedding halls built side by side in the city of Beit Shemesh. Recently completed, each hall serves and presents as a regular hall but there is a twist: only one wedding is paid for by the family! The profits are then used to cover all expenses of the second wedding where the chosson or kallah are orphaned: hall, caterer, musician, florist, photographer etc. With both halls being interchangeable, no visitor can know which wedding is being held free of charge! This forward-thinking project will cover approximately 150 weddings every year.
The hall has been open for a couple of months, and every night, the heart-rending chuppah sees chosson and kallah shed a tear of joy for the tremendous yeshua they’ve seen at the hand of the donors who they are mispalel for at this auspicious time.
This is soon followed by the jubilant sounds of simchas chosson v’kallah, all enjoyed by the family with dignity and complete peace of mind! A number of leading Rebbes and Gedolim who are intimately familiar with the chesed efforts of Rabbi Shisha and his group have visited the new space in the early months to put up a mezuzah and make a L’chaim, sharing warmest hatzlacha wishes for this paradigm-shifting venture.
Some of the generous donors who contributed large sums to the project came to Israel to witness firsthand the fruits of their labor and see the world of chesed they had a hand in building. As they toured the impressive facility, they were overwhelmed with emotion realizing that this gift will keep on giving for years and decades to come.
Sponsorship opportunities are still available at Ulamei Hakramim. To contribute with a dedication or share your donation, please contact 845-517-0656 or visit the Tov V’Chesed website at Tovvchesed.com
It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of Rav Menachem Mendel Gerlitz zt”l, renowned writer and historian. He was 80 years old.
The niftar, well known by his pen name “Menachem Getz,” was a son of Rav Dovid Tzvi and Rochel Gerlitz. He was a son-in-law of Rav Yosef Sheinberger zt”l, the secretary of the Eidah Hachareidis.
Rav Menachem Mendel was a prolific author who authored numerous books for the Oraisa Institute, which he founded, including the noted series of seforim, “In the Ways of Our Fathers” about the Tannaim and the Amoraim.
In addition, he authored seforim on the Baal Shem Tov and Yerushalayim Shel Maalah, classic books that were trailblazers in their genre.
He published more than a hundred books during his lifetime.
The Oraisa Institute published many classic seforim, including Chiddushei HaGrenatm Shiurei HaGrach, Haggadah Shel Pesach MiBais Leiv-Brisk, and more. In 1981, Rav Getz authored a classic sefer on Birkas Hachama Kehilchasah.
Another sefer he authored was Mara D’ara Yisroel, the biography of Rav Yosef Chaim Sonnenfeld.
Rav Gerlitz was very close to various gedolim, including Maran Rav Elazar Shach, the Strikover Rebbe, the Minchas Yitzchok, Rav Moshe Shmuel Shapiro, and others.
His children include Rav Moshe Shimon Gerlitz, Rav Meshulam Zisha Gerlitz, Rav Yerachmiel Shlomo Gerlitz, Rav Aryeh Gerlitz, Rav Chaim Gerlitz, Rav Yisroel Elimelech Gerlitz.
The levayah took place on Sunday at his home Rechov Ovadia in Yerushalayim, followed by kevurah on Har Hamenuchos in Yerushalayim.
Yehi zichro boruch.
{Matzav.com Israel}
At the behest of the gedolei Yisroel, thousands of girls gathered at the Kosel this morning, Rosh Chodesh Adar Bais, for an atzeres tefillah at a time when the leaders of Reform movement from the United States gathered at the Kosel to desecrate it.
The atzeres tefillah served as a counter to the provocation against Jewish law and tradition carried out by those from the Reform community and others who wish to compromise the kedusha of the Kosel. The Kosel plaza was filled with bnos Yisroel and others, who gathered to daven for rachamei Shomayim.
This event of kiddush Sheim Shomayim was arranged and sponsored under the auspices of Eretz Hakodesh, on the instructions of gedolei Yisroel, including Rav Gershon Edelstein, Rosh Yeshivas Ponovezh.
Thousands of seminary girls in Yerushalayim, both native Israelis and those from abroad who are studying in Eretz Yisroel, participated in the tefillah rally.
This atzeres tefillah was designed based on a directive handed down some years ago by Rav Aharon Leib Shteinman zt”l to MK Yitzchok Pindrus and Rabbi Lerner.
VIDEOS AND PHOTOS:
At the behest of the gedolei Yisroel, thousands of girls will gather at the Kosel tomorrow morning, Rosh Chodesh Adar Bais, for an atzeres tefillah at a time when the leaders of Reform movement from the United States are set to gather at the Kosel and desecrate it.
The atzeres tefillah will serve as a counter to the provocation against Jewish law and tradition carried out by those from the Reform community and others who wish to compromise the kedusha of the Kosel. The Kosel plaza will be filled with bnos Yisroel and others, who will gather to daven for rachamei Shomayim.
This event of kiddush Sheim Shomayim is being arranged and sponsored under the auspices of Eretz Hakodesh, on the instructions of gedolei Yisroel, including Rav Gershon Edelstein, Rosh Yeshivas Ponovezh.
Thousands of seminary girls in Yerushalayim, both native Israelis and those from abroad who are studying in Eretz Yisroel, will participate in the tefillah rally.
This atzeres tefillah is designed based on a directive handed down some years ago by Rav Aharon Leib Shteinman zt”l to MK Yitzchok Pindrus and Rabbi Lerner.
The event will get underway at 6:30 a.m. Israel time/11:30 p.m. ET. The atzeres tefillah can be viewed live on the Kosel cams.
מעמד המחשה מעשית של הלכות שחיטה וטריפותצילום: שוקי לרר מעמד המחשה מעשית של הלכות שחיטה וטריפותצילום: שוקי לרר מעמד המחשה מעשית של הלכות שחיטה וטריפותצילום: שוקי לרר מעמד המחשה מעשית של הלכות שחיטה וטריפותצילום: שוקי לרר מעמד המחשה מעשית של הלכות שחיטה וטריפותצילום: שוקי לרר מעמד המחשה מעשית של הלכות שחיטה וטריפותצילום: שוקי לרר מעמד המחשה מעשית של הלכות שחיטה וטריפותצילום: שוקי לרר מעמד המחשה מעשית של הלכות שחיטה וטריפותצילום: שוקי לרר מעמד המחשה מעשית של הלכות שחיטה וטריפותצילום: שוקי לרר מעמד המחשה מעשית של הלכות שחיטה וטריפותצילום: שוקי לרר מעמד המחשה מעשית של הלכות שחיטה וטריפותצילום: שוקי לרר מעמד המחשה מעשית של הלכות שחיטה וטריפותצילום: שוקי לרר מעמד המחשה מעשית של הלכות שחיטה וטריפותצילום: שוקי לרר מעמד המחשה מעשית של הלכות שחיטה וטריפותצילום: שוקי לרר מעמד המחשה מעשית של הלכות שחיטה וטריפותצילום: שוקי לרר מעמד המחשה מעשית של הלכות שחיטה וטריפותצילום: שוקי לרר מעמד המחשה מעשית של הלכות שחיטה וטריפותצילום: שוקי לרר מעמד המחשה מעשית של הלכות שחיטה וטריפותצילום: שוקי לרר מעמד המחשה מעשית של הלכות שחיטה וטריפותצילום: שוקי לרר מעמד המחשה מעשית של הלכות שחיטה וטריפותצילום: שוקי לרר מעמד המחשה מעשית של הלכות שחיטה וטריפותצילום: שוקי לרר מעמד המחשה מעשית של הלכות שחיטה וטריפותצילום: שוקי לרר מעמד המחשה מעשית של הלכות שחיטה וטריפותצילום: שוקי לרר מעמד המחשה מעשית של הלכות שחיטה וטריפותצילום: שוקי לרר מעמד המחשה מעשית של הלכות שחיטה וטריפותצילום: שוקי לרר מעמד המחשה מעשית של הלכות שחיטה וטריפותצילום: שוקי לרר מעמד המחשה מעשית של הלכות שחיטה וטריפותצילום: שוקי לרר מעמד המחשה מעשית של הלכות שחיטה וטריפותצילום: שוקי לרר מעמד המחשה מעשית של הלכות שחיטה וטריפותצילום: שוקי לרר מעמד המחשה מעשית של הלכות שחיטה וטריפותצילום: שוקי לרר מעמד המחשה מעשית של הלכות שחיטה וטריפותצילום: שוקי לרר מעמד המחשה מעשית של הלכות שחיטה וטריפותצילום: שוקי לרר מעמד המחשה מעשית של הלכות שחיטה וטריפותצילום: שוקי לרר מעמד המחשה מעשית של הלכות שחיטה וטריפותצילום: שוקי לרר מעמד המחשה מעשית של הלכות שחיטה וטריפותצילום: שוקי לרר מעמד המחשה מעשית של הלכות שחיטה וטריפותצילום: שוקי לרר מעמד המחשה מעשית של הלכות שחיטה וטריפותצילום: שוקי לרר מעמד המחשה מעשית של הלכות שחיטה וטריפותצילום: שוקי לרר מעמד המחשה מעשית של הלכות שחיטה וטריפותצילום: שוקי לרר מעמד המחשה מעשית של הלכות שחיטה וטריפותצילום: שוקי לרר מעמד המחשה מעשית של הלכות שחיטה וטריפותצילום: שוקי לרר מעמד המחשה מעשית של הלכות שחיטה וטריפותצילום: שוקי לרר
As part of a project of the central Chabad library to upload 3,000 of its rarest and most precious manuscripts online, a rarely-viewed personal siddur of the Baal Shem Tov has become publicly accessible for the first time.
The siddur was handwritten by the Baal Shem Tov’s brother-in-law in the early 17th century, with mystical kavanos of the Arizal.
The central Chabad library has completed the years-long project of uploading its rarest and most precious manuscripts for online public access. Each of the 3,000 manuscripts shares secrets of Torah and tells an incredible story of the survival of Torah and the Jewish people.
In the margins of the Baal Shem Tov’s siddur, one finds inscriptions of the Baal Shem Tov’s students, asking their master to pray for their wellbeing. Its pages are literally soaked and stained with the blood stained tears of the Baal Shem Tov.
Its survival through multiple wars, pogroms, fires and all is a miracle unto itself.
For hundreds of years, its access was restricted to a select few. Now, anyone from anywhere can view its tear soaked pages. All one needs to do is click here.
{Matzav.com}
It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of Rav Shelomoh Eliezer Danziger zt”l. He was 101 years old.
Rabbi Danziger was a rebbi for many years at Yeshiva Rabbi Shamshon Raphael Hirsch in Washington Heights, New York.
Rabbi Danziger learned in his youth under Rav Dovid Lifshitz, longtime rosh yeshiva at Yeshivas Rabbeinu Yitzchok Elchonon, and under Rav Dovid Leibowitz, rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Chofetz Chaim.
Rabbi Danziger was an outstanding talmid chochom and mechanech who truly loved and cared for his talmidim, who were inspired by his ahavas haTorah and his gentle demeanor.
Throughout his life, Rabbi Danziger was a paragon of middos tovos, his sterling character making a profound impression on one and all.
Rabbi Danziger lived for the last few decades in Lakewood, NJ.
Rabbi Danziger’s wife, Mrs. Bracha Danziger, passed away about ten years ago.
His is survived by his children, Rav Yehezkel Danziger, Editorial Director of ArtScroll’s Schottenstein Talmud; Mrs. Miriam Stavsky; Rav Hillel Danziger, Editor at ArtScroll/Mesorah; Rabbi Gamliel Danziger, Rabbi Yochanan Danziger, Rabbi Eliyohu Danziger, and Rabbi Avrohom Danziger; and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
The levayah will take place at 11 a.m. at the Congregation Sons of Israel Holocaust Memorial Chapel, located at 613 Ramsey Street, in Lakewood, NJ. The aron will then be flown to Eretz Yisroel for kevurah in on Har Hamenuchos in Yerushalayim on Friday morning.
Shiva in the US will begin Sunday night, ending Thursday morning, at 1185 Monmouth Avenue in Lakewood, NJ.
Yehi zichro boruch.
{Matzav.com}
Agudath Israel of America has released the following Kol Korei from the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah.
26 Adar I, 5782
There are hundreds of thousands of Jews in Ukraine (among them, many Orthodox Jews), who are in peril as a result of the Russian invasion into Ukraine. They face the dangers of war, as well as the danger of increasing antisemitism.
These Jews of Ukraine are in a state of fear, and in many situations without food, without shelter, without transportation, and without security from antisemitic attacks.
The Jewish Nation is one organism; when one limb of a body hurts, the whole body is in pain. Every one of us is obligated to feel the pain of our fellow Jews as if each of us would be in the same situation of being forced to leave home without preparation or bare necessities.
Therefore, we ask that all of us – living in peace – should gather in our shuls to say Tehillim for the merit of Ukranian Jews; particularly, after each tefillah to recite chapters 130, 142 and 121, followed by אחינו כל בית ישראל וכו’. We should hold the tefillos of Yom Kippur Katan this Wednesday, Erev Rosh Chodesh, 29 Adar II. The Sages say that repentance, prayer and charity remove the evil of the decree.
Along the same vein, we ask that the public donate, each to his ability, to the relief fund for the Jews of Ukraine that was established by Agudas Yisroel; millions of dollars are needed immediately to help the Jews of Ukraine.
When the Jews of previous generations donated money to support the service in the Bais HaMikdash, they specifically gave half a shekel, not a complete shekel. The commentaries say that this was so that each person feel that he is part of the one organism that is the Jewish Nation. Through this realization, may we merit the cessation of all evil decrees from amongst us and that Hashem rest His Divine Presence on us with the speedy coming of Mashiach.
Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah of America
{Matzav.com}
It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of Rav Zevulun Dovid Liebb zt”l. He was 94.
Rav Liebb served as a marbitz Torah for over six decades, including serving as rosh yeshiva of Yeshiva Ishey Yisroel.
Rav Liebb was a noted talmid of Yeshivas Rabbeinu Chaim Berlin, learning under the rosh yeshiva, Rav Yitzchok Hutner zt”l, with whom he had a close kesher.
For many years, Rav Liebb was the baal Shacharis during the Yomim Noraim at Yeshivas Rabbeinu Chaim Berlin.
Rav Liebb’s devoted wife, Rebbetzin Esther Ranna Liebb a”h, passed away several years ago.
He is survived by his children, Rabbi Avrohom Shmuel Liebb, Rabbi Shlomo Yitzchok Liebb, Rabbi Shragie Liebb, Rabbi Yeruchem Liebb, Mrs. Sara Gittel Anisfeld (wife of R’ Avrohom Anisfeld), Mrs. Chana Rochel Tabak (wife of R’ Yossel Tabak), Mrs. Leah Malka Abraham (wife of R’ Dovie Abraham) and Mrs. Raizel Nissenbaum.
The levayah will be held on Sunday at 11 a.m. at the Congregation Sons of Israel Holocaust Memorial Chapel, located at 613 Ramsey Street, in Lakewood NJ.
The family will be sitting shivah at 15 12th Street in Lakewood.
Yehi zichro boruch.
{Matzav.com}
It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of Rebbetzin Hinda Kohn a”h, the Toldos Aharon Rebbetzin. She passed away at Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital in Yerushalayim at the age of 74.
The Rebbetzin was the eldest daughter of her father, Rav Naftali Labin of Ziditchov. In 1959, as a child, she immigrated to the Holy Land with her parents, who drew close to the Shomer Emunim Rebbe. In her parents’ house, she was imbued with a chinuch of love of Torah and extreme modesty, and from there she inherited a degree of nobility and kindness which she exhibited all her life.
In 1960, due to the poor health of her mother, Rebbetzin Miriam Eidel, she emigrated with her father’s family to London, where she cared for her mother during her illness with dedication and loyalty.
In 1966, she married her husband, Rav Dovid Kohn, the Rebbe of Toldos Aharon, the second son of the Divrei Emunah, and the wedding took place on 20 Elul of that year in Yerushalayim.
At the end of her mother’s life, the Rebbetzin relocated and moved to live close to her place of residence in London. After a few years, she immigrated with her father, the late Rebbe of Ziditchov, to the United States, where he established his bais medrash.
She devoted herself to her illustrious husband, and dedicated herself wholeheartedly to her family and to the upbringing and education of her children, while facilitating the Torah learning of her husband, allowing him to learn without any interruption, even during times of poverty and deprivation, always content with little.
At the time of the establishment of the Toldos Aharon Bais Medrash in Monsey, under the leadership of her husband, she labored to do whatever was necessary letovas the bais medrash. Her home was open to dozens of orphan and heartbroken people, as she welcomed nitzrachim of all types. All her life, she was engaged in the mitzvah of strengthening the oppressed and brokenhearted.
Her home in the US was full of tzedakah collectors from the Holy Land, and she would prepare meals for them like royalty
The Rebbetzin was always a symbol of nobility, modesty and humility.
When her husband became rebbe of Toldos Aharon half a century ago, they immigrated to Eretz Yisroel, and she continued her avodas hakodesh as a devoted wife and the Rebbetzin of the Chassidus. Among her efforts was the establishment of the Ezer Layoldos-Lev Tov organization.
In Yerushalayim, dozens of young men living abroad who were learning in Eretz Yisroel ate their seudos at the Rebbetzin’s home, and throughout the week she prepared for Shabbos with great joy.
In the last year, she fell ill and suffered tremendously. Despite everything, she continued her daily routine as much as she could, with many tefillos said on her behalf.
She is survived by her husband, the Toldos Aharon Rebbe; their sons, Rav Yisrael Yosef, Rav Aharon, Rav Moshe (Av Bais Din of Toldos Aharon in London), Rav Menachem Nachum, Rav Yeshaya, Rav Yoel Yechiel, and Rav Shlomo Leib; their daughters, the wives of Rav Avrohom Rabinowitz, the rebbe of Chernovitz, Rav Eliyahu Ginzenburg, Rav Boruch Kahana, and Rav Nosson Friedman; and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Her siblings are the Rebbe of Ziditchov-London, the Rebbe of Ziditchov-Williamsburg, the Rebbe of Bolchov, the Rebbe of Ziditchov-Bnei Brak, and her sister, the wife of the Tosher Rebbe.
Yehi zichrah boruch.
{Matzav.com Israel}
Rav Elya Ber Wachtfogel, rosh yeshiva of Yeshiva Gedolah Zichron Moshe of South Fallsburg, put on Shabbos clothing last week when he heard news of the movement of Russian warships. The response of the rosh yeshiva is based on a Kabbolah that he has that when the Russians will cross the Dardanelles River, it will trigger the start of a series of events before Moshiach comes, and therefore, in his words, “Men ken shoin untun Shabbosdike kleider.”
Rav Elya Ber recently told a talmid, “I’ve been waiting for this moment for 70 years.”
Matzav.com learned from those close to Rav Elya Ber that he first heard this kabbolah when he was 10 years old from his father, the mashgiach, Rav Nosson Wachtfogel. Rav Nosson heard it from Rav Doniel Movoshovitz of the Kelmer Talmud Torah, who heard it from the Alter of Kelm, who heard it from someone who heard it from Rav Chaim Volozhiner, who heard it from the Vilna Gaon.
{Matzav.com}
During yesterday’s mussar shiur at Mesivta of Waterbury, one of the yeshiva’s maintenance men, Alan, who has been with the yeshiva for years, entered Rabbi Daniel Kalish’s shiur room and spoke from his heart to the bochurim.
He expressed his sincere appreciation to Rabbi Kalish. “He was the first one I met on Cook Street that accepted me. He didn’t say, ‘Oh, what is this black guy doing here?’ He walked over…like, ‘Hi, my name is Rabbi Kalish. What is your name?’”
“This guy here,” he said, pointing to Rabbi Kalish, “he walked up to me and said, ‘Hi, my name is Rabbi Kalish. What is your name?’ I said, ‘My name is Alan.’ And he said, ‘How…how can I help you?’”
Alan lavished praise on Rabbi Kalish, giving him a pat on the back as the bochurim applauded, before he exited the room.
WATCH:
{Matzav.com}
There is great joy in the Botei Ungarin neighborhood of Yerushalayim upon the engagement of Chaim Menachem Manish Hoizman, a 64-year-old bochur in the neighborhood who has gotten engaged.
The chosson is a longtime talmid of Yeshiva Liflagos Reuven in Yerushalayim. His kallah is Sarah Koren, age 50.
The chosson is well-known in Yerushalayim and beloved at his yeshiva. He often attends the gatherings of Rav Itche Meir Morgenstern and Rav Tzvi Meir Zilberberg.
Menachem is a son of Rav Shimon Aryeh Hoizman, a member of Yerushalayim Shel Maalah who was niftar several years ago.
The vort took place at Menachem’s sister’s house in the Meah Shearim neighborhood of Yerushalayim.
{Matzav.com Israel}
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{Matzav.com}
Chareidi parties declared war against Justice Minister Gideon Saar and his New Hope Party, blaming him for the behavior of party member Yoaz Hendel who is trying to torpedo Israel’s kosher phones system. “The State of Israel cannot persist with chareidi autonomy,” Handel said.
MK Yaakov Litzman of UTJ said that under the guise of encouraging competition and better service, Hendel was furthering Reform interests “to break the wall chareidim want and expose them to undesirable material.”
Kosher phones provide the cheapest deals in Israel, with one such plan costing only $3.10 a month.
Hendel once revealed his attitude to chareidim in a Yediot Acharonot article, writing: “In the 18th century, the Haskalah movement arose in Eastern Europe and the chareidi movement was created to oppose it… They [the chareidim] are a new phenomenon in Judaism, exactly like the Reform. With the passing of time, I assume they will disappear like the Essenes, Sadducees, Sabbateans, and other sects and streams.”
{Matzav.com Israel}
Rav Chaim Kanievsky learning at his home on Sunday:
הגר”ח קנייבסקי בלימוד בביתוצילום: שוקי לרר
הגר”ח קנייבסקי בלימוד בביתוצילום: שוקי לרר הגר”ח קנייבסקי בלימוד בביתוצילום: שוקי לרר הגר”ח קנייבסקי בלימוד בביתוצילום: שוקי לרר הגר”ח קנייבסקי בלימוד בביתוצילום: שוקי לרר הגר”ח קנייבסקי בלימוד בביתוצילום: שוקי לרר הגר”ח קנייבסקי בלימוד בביתוצילום: שוקי לרר הגר”ח קנייבסקי בלימוד בביתוצילום: שוקי לרר הגר”ח קנייבסקי בלימוד בביתוצילום: שוקי לרר הגר”ח קנייבסקי בלימוד בביתוצילום: שוקי לרר הגר”ח קנייבסקי בלימוד בביתוצילום: שוקי לרר
It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the passing of Rav Yeruchem Kaplan zt”l, rosh yeshiva at Yeshiva Mikdash Melech in Brooklyn. He was in his 80s.
Rav Kaplan was the oldest of six children of the Baranovitch-born Rav Yisroel Mendel Kaplan, noted talmid of Rav Elchonon Wasserman and Mir who served as a famed marbitz Torah for years at Hebrew Theological College in Chicago and the Philadelphia Yeshiva. Rav Mendel passed away in 1985. His mother, Rebbetzin Sarah Baila, was a daughter of Rav Tzvi Hirsch Gutman of the Baranovich Yeshiva.
Rav Yeruchem, like his father, was born in Baranovitch. He was just a child when the Kaplan mishpacha fled the ravages of the Holocaust via Shanghai.
Rav Yeruchem, as mentioned, was one of six children. He was a brother to Tzirel, wife of Rav Chaim Benoliel; Rochel, wife of Rav Dovid Lopian; Rav Chaim Ozer Kaplan, who was niftar in Shanghai; Rav Shimon Kaplan; and Esther, wife of Rav Shaul Hutner.
Rav Yeruchem married his wife, Rebbetzin Rena, nee Baker.
Rav Yeruchem learned at the Mirrer Yeshiva, where he drew close to the founding rosh yeshiva, Rav Avrohom Kalmanowitz, and at Yeshiva Bais Hatalmud in Bensonhurst, where he was close to Rav Leib Malin.
Rav Yeruchem served at the helm of Yeshiva Mikdash Melech together with his brother-in-law, Rav Chaim Benoliel, inspiring hundreds of talmidim and serving as an example of ameilus in Torah and pure yiras Shomayim.
The levayah will take place today at 3 p.m. at Yeshiva Bais Hatalmud, located at 2127 82nd Street, in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn.
Yehi zichro boruch.
{Matzav.com}
It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of R’ Moshe Zuckerman z”l.He was 54 years old.
R’ Moshe, a resident of Toms River, NJ, was a beloved employee at Seasons in Lakewood, where he was known for having a kind word for one and all. R’ Moshe was a baal chesed with a lev tov who would do anything to help anyone.
The levayah will be held on Sunday morning, at 10:30, am at Rabbi Moshe Rotberg’s shul, located at 1871 Old Freehold Rd in Toms River. The aron will then be flown to Eretz Yisroel for kevurah there.
Yehi zichro boruch.
{Matzav.com}
It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of Hagaon Rav Yaakov Landau zt”l. He was in his 70s.
Rav Landau was one of the gedolei Torah of the American Torah world, a maggid shiur who instilled ahavas haTorah in thousands of talmidim over a lengthy career of harbotzas haTorah, and a rov who led his kehillah through his example of gadlus in Torah and avodas Hashem.
Rav Landau served for decades as the ninth-grade maggid shiur at Yeshiva Torah Temimah in Brooklyn. While his stature as a talmid chochom would have warranted that he deliver a higher level shiur or become a rosh yeshiva in his own right, Rav Landau humbly remained in that role for so many years, recognizing the unique opportunity to light the spark of ahavas haTorah and cheshkas haTorah in young bochurim just entering mesivta.
Rav Landau continued in this role during the summers as well, when he served as a rebbi at Machaneh Mesivta of Silver Lakewood in Woodridge, NY.
After approximately three decades at Yeshiva Torah Temimah, Rav Landau relocated from Brooklyn to Lakewood, NJ where he became the rov of Khal Chanichei Hayeshivos and ultimately opened a mesivta, Mesivta Tiferes Shmuel. With the same freshness and vitality for which he was famous, Rav Landau continue to serve as a rebbi like no other. His shiurim were masterpieces of depth and clarity, and his tzidkus was something to behold, an example for the talmidim to emulate.
Rav Landau was a tzaddik through and through, fully devoted to limud haTorah around the clock while behind able to relate to every person, no matter their age or background, with kindness and gentility, and truly understanding their individual plights, notwithstanding his exalted status. Despite being one of the gedolei Torah and tzaddikim wherever he resided, Rav Landau was supremely humble, carrying himself with such profound pashtus.
Rav Landau was a tremendous talmid chochom, whose yedios haTorah were astounding in their breadth and depth, always shared with crystal clear clarity and his trademark ahavas haTorah and warmth.
Rav Landau battled illness for the last period, and yet, astoundingly, while in the throes of his machlah, he showed up at his yeshiva every day to teach Torah. His gevuras hanefesh was not lost on the rabbeim or his beloved talmidim.
Today, the Ribono Shel Olam took Rav Landau’s pure neshamah to the Kisei Hakavod, leaving the Torah world bereft of one of its greatest and humblest giants. Chaval al de’avdin.
Rav Landau leaves behind his devoted wife, Rebbetzin Esther (Leibowitz) Landau, and his children, Rabbi Chaim Shalom Landau, Rabbi Chezky Landau, Rabbi Moshe Leib Landau, Rabbi Aharon Landau, Rabbi Avrohom Yitzchok Landau, Rabbi Shmuel Dovid Landau, Rabbi Boruch Ber Landau, Rabbi Zalman Landau, and Mrs. Elisheva Fuerst; and many grandchildren. He is also survived by his sister, Mrs. Rothkopf.
The levayah will be held Sunday morning, at 10:30, at Khal Chanichei Hayeshivos, located at 142 Hollywood Ave in Lakewood, NJ, followed by kevurah in Lakewood. Levayah live call-in number: 732.839.3003, enter 7763828466#.
The family will be sitting shivah at 191 St. Nicholas Avenue in Lakewood, NJ.
WATCH THE LEVAYAH LIVE:
Yehi zichro boruch.
{Matzav.com}
It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the passing of the Tchakever Rebbe, Rav Naftoli Halberstam zt”l. He was 94.
The rebbe was born in Tchakeva, Galicia, in 1928. His father, Rav Yankele of Tchakeve, was a great-grandson of the Divrei Chaim of Sanz. His mother, Rebbetzin Aidel Dinah, was a daughter of the Shotzer Rebbe of London. In 1935, they immigrated to Eretz Yisroel.
Rav Naftoli and his brothers, Rav Moshe and Rav Meir, became outstanding bnei Torah and talmidei chachomim. Rav Naftoli learned at the Slonimer Yeshiva and became close to the Nesivos Shalom of Slonim.
For decades, Rav Naftoli led the kashrus division of the Eidah Hacharedis and was universally respected. The rebbe was known as one of the preeminent kashrus authorities.
The levayah will be held on Friday morning at the rebbe‘s bais medrash on Rechov Yonah in Yerushalayim, followed by kevurah on Har Hazeisim.
Yehi zichro boruch.
(Matzav.com / with BP24}
It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the passing of Rav Yehoshua Aryeh Rosen zt”l. He was 91.
Rav Rosen was one of the senior ramim at Yeshiva Merkaz Harav, and one of the outstanding students of Rav Tzvi Yehuda Kook.
He was born in Poland to his parents, R’ Chaim and Rachel Rosen. He immigrated to Eretz Yisroel after wandering in the Siberian steppes during World War II with a group of children from Tehran.
He served in the IDF and fought in the Six Day War and the Yom Kippur War.
Ultimately, at the advice of the Chazon Ish, he went to Yerushalayim to learn at Yeshivas Chevron and then joined the Merkaz Harav Yeshiva. There he became a talmid muvhak of Rav Tzvi Yehuda Kook.
He studied for two years with Rav Ephraim Borodiansky at Kollel Shevet M’Yehuda in Tel Aviv.
He was appointed as a rebbi at Yeshivat Nachalim and taught there for several years.
He was also a R”M at Yeshivas Bnei Tzvi in Bet El and was ultimately appointed as a R”M at Yeshiva Mercaz Harav.
He co-founded Yeshivas Yerushalayim L’tzeirim and Yeshivas Nir in Kiryat Arba.
The levayah was held at Yeshiva Mercaz Harav in Yerushalayim.
Rav Rosen was married to his wife, Naomi, nee Adler, and leaves behind four children.
Yehi zichro boruch.
{Matzav.com Israel}
It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the passing of Rabbi Moshe Handelsman zt”l. He was 92.
Reb Moshe was the longtime beloved executive director of the Mirrer Yeshiva in Flatbush, Brooklyn.
Always amiable and with a good word and vort for everyone, Reb Moshe was loved and admired by the hanhalah and talmidim of the yeshiva alike. Whenever he addressed a yeshiva function, whether it was a fundraiser on behalf of the yeshiva or a Kiddush in the yeshiva dining room, Reb Moshe always captivated his audiences, sharing divrei Torah and maaselech in his trademark manner.
Reb Moshe was a son of Reb Reuven and Mrs. Faiga Handelsman and grew up in Romania. During the war, Reb Moshe endured various difficult trials and tribulations, most significant of which was the petirah of his mother. The Handelsman family later immigrated to the United States a decade after the war.
It was Reb Moshe’s kesher with the legendary Rav Avrohom Kalmanowitz, founding rosh yeshiva of the Mirrer Yeshiva in Brooklyn, that led to his shidduch with his wife, Toby, nee Israel.
Reb Moshe was zocheh to raise an outstanding family of bnei Torah and marbitzei Torah.
He made an indelible mark on the Mirrer Yeshiva, to which he was supremely devoted, and he will always be remembered for his remarkable contributions to the yeshiva. He had a unique kesher with the roshei yeshiva, Rav Shraga Moshe Kalmanowitz and Rav Shmuel Berenbaum, and cherished his kesher with the yeshiva in general. The Mirrer Yeshiva truly was his second family.
Reb Moshe is survived by his second wife, Mrs. Yehudis (Hirsch) Handelsman; his children, Rav Leizer Handelsman of Los Angeles, Rav Michel Handelsman, R”M at Mesivta of Lakewood, Mrs. Faigy Borchardt of Bensonhurst, and Mrs. Yitty Sternbuch of Bensonhurst; and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
The levayah will be held Tuesday morning at Mesivta of Lakewood, located at 801 Kennedy Boulevard in Lakewood, NJ, followed by a levayah at Mirrer Yeshiva, located at 1791 Ocean Parkway, at the corner of Avenue R, in Brooklyn, NY. The aron will then be flown to Eretz Yisroel for kevurah on Har Hamenuchos in Yerushalayim.
Yehi zichro boruch.
{Matzav.com}
A chosson who fell from a table at his chasunah last night is fighting for his life at Sheba Medical Center in Tel Hashomer.
The tragic incident occurred at the Achuzah Hall in Modiin where the chosson, Itai Ben Ahuva, was getting married. In the middle of the chasunah, he was raised on a table by his friends – as is often done at weddings – but then fell off the table, crashing to the ground. He was rushed to hospital with severe brain damage.
Sound man Pini Rothstein who was at the wedding recounted, “The chosson was lifted on a table and fell from a height of about 3 meters. His parents’ shouts as they reacted to the fall cannot leave my head.”
Rothstein declared: “We should instruct all members of any orchestra to stop the music at weddings when a chosson or kallah is lifted in such a dangerous way.”
Itai Ben Ahuva is a talmid at Yeshiva Halichos Shlomo in Tel Aviv, headed by Rav Mordechai Auerbach.
The incident took place at about 11 p.m.
Dr. Tzion Zibli, director of the neurosurgery department at Sheba, reported this morning on the chosson’s condition and said: “He is anesthetized and respirated, and being treated in the intensive care unit. The team is fighting for his life.”
{Matzav.com Israel}
It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the passing of Rebbetzin Chava Hecht a”h. She was 95.
Rebbetzin Hecht, nee Lasker, was the longtime director of Camp Emunah in the Catskills.
She was the wife of Rabbi Yaakov Yehuda (JJ) Hecht.
During her career in chinuch, teaching at Bais Rivka, and camping, she touched the lives of thousands of youngsters.
She is survived by her children, Rabbi Sholem Ber Hecht of Queens; Bassie Raskin of Crown Heights; Rabbi Yossie Hecht of South Africa; Fraide Sabol of Crown Heights; Rabbi Shea Hecht of Crown Heights; Dovid Sabol of Crown Heights; Rivky Abramowitz of Crown Heights; Chana Rochel Duchman of Los Angeles; Levi Hecht of Crown Heights; Rabbi Shimon Hecht of Park Slope; and Binie Tenenbaum of Irvine,CA; and many grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by her son, Gershon Sabol. She is also survived by her sister, Mrs. Tziporah Goldberg of Boro Park.
The levayah was held this past week. Kevurah took place at Old Montefiore Cemetery in Queens.
The family is sitting shivah at 1342 Carroll Street in Brooklyn.
{Matzav.com}
Last night, Rav Yeruchem Olshin, rosh yeshivah of Bais Medrash Govoha in Lakewood, NJ, celebrated the wedding of his granddaughter, a daughter of his son-in-law and daughter, Rav and Mrs Zev Schechter. The wedding was held at Ateres Reva Hall in Lakewood. The chosson, Shmuel Boruch Greenberger, is a son of Rav and Mrs. Mayer Dovid Greemnberger.
WATCH:
The Toldos Avraham Yitzchak Rebbe is asking his chassidim not to purchase or wear tall shtreimels, as has become popular today in the shtreimel market.
The rebbe called for shtreimels to be made to only 13 cm high and cost only NIS 4,000.
The high shtreimels that have recently become popular in the Chassidic sector have led admorim such as the rebbes of Modzitz, Sanz, Karlin and Bobov to ask their Chassidim not to succumb to the new styles.
A week ago, his son, Rav Berish Kahn, married off his son. Ahead of the wedding, chassidim bought a shtreimel for Rav Berish as a gift for the celebration, but his father, the rebbe, was unhappy when he saw the shtreimel.
“The height,” the rebbe remarked, “is like a spodik…. You can give it as a gift to Rav Itche Falloch,” the rebbe said, referring to a chossid close to the rebbe who wears a spodik. “Maybe he will have something to do with it!”
The rebbe made it clear that he wanted new and cheap shtreimels to be made for his Chassidim. The chassidim brought to the rebbe some shtreimels for the rebbe to look at. When the rebbe observed them, he pointed to a shtreimel that was only 13 cm high as an ideal choice.
The chassidim hurriedly got to work, putting a plan n place to produce shtreimels at a low price of no more than 4,000 shekels and a height of 13 cm.
According to one of the people involved, the rebbe only made this as a request, not as a regulation requiring everyone to change. Nevertheless, apparently, hundreds of chassidim will be changing their shtreimels in the near future.
{Matzav.com Israel}
הגר”ג אדלשטיין בפוניבז’צילום: שוקי לרר הגר”ג אדלשטיין בפוניבז’צילום: שוקי לרר הגר”ג אדלשטיין בפוניבז’צילום: שוקי לרר הגר”ג אדלשטיין בפוניבז’צילום: שוקי לרר הגר”ג אדלשטיין בפוניבז’צילום: שוקי לרר הגר”ג אדלשטיין בפוניבז’צילום: שוקי לרר הגר”ג אדלשטיין בפוניבז’צילום: שוקי לרר הגר”ג אדלשטיין בפוניבז’צילום: שוקי לרר הגר”ג אדלשטיין בפוניבז’צילום: שוקי לרר הגר”ג אדלשטיין בפוניבז’צילום: שוקי לרר הגר”ג אדלשטיין בפוניבז’צילום: שוקי לרר הגר”ג אדלשטיין בפוניבז’צילום: שוקי לרר הגר”ג אדלשטיין בפוניבז’צילום: שוקי לרר הגר”ג אדלשטיין בפוניבז’צילום: שוקי לרר הגר”ג אדלשטיין בפוניבז’צילום: שוקי לרר הגר”ג אדלשטיין בפוניבז’צילום: שוקי לרר הגר”ג אדלשטיין בפוניבז’צילום: שוקי לרר הגר”ג אדלשטיין בפוניבז’צילום: שוקי לרר הגר”ג אדלשטיין בפוניבז’צילום: שוקי לרר הגר”ג אדלשטיין בפוניבז’צילום: שוקי לרר הגר”ג אדלשטיין בפוניבז’צילום: שוקי לרר הגר”ג אדלשטיין בפוניבז’צילום: שוקי לרר הגר”ג אדלשטיין בפוניבז’צילום: שוקי לרר הגר”ג אדלשטיין בפוניבז’צילום: שוקי לרר הגר”ג אדלשטיין בפוניבז’צילום: שוקי לרר הגר”ג אדלשטיין בפוניבז’צילום: שוקי לרר
Yesterday, United States Ambassador Thomas Nides visited the Aish World Center and met with the rosh yeshiva of Yeshiva Aish HaTorah, Rav Yitzchak Berkovits, and Aish CEO Steve Burg.
{Matzav.com / Photos: Todd Rosenblatt}
It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of Habochur Shlomo Sorotzkin z”l. He was 19 years old.
Shlomo had battled illness for several years, fighting valiantly while thousands davened for his refuah.
He was a son of R’ Chaim Dov and Mrs. Sara Aliza Sorotzkin of the Pine River kehillah in Lakewood, NJ. He was grandson of Dr. and Mrs. Bentzion Sorotzkin (Brooklyn) and Rabbi and Mrs. Yisroel Gluck (Chicago).
Back in 2016, R’ Chaim Dov and Sara Aliza sustained the tragic passing of their infant daughter, Baila Brocha a”h. May they know no further tzaar.
The levayah will be held at 10:30 tonight at the Congregation Sons of Israel Holocaust Memorial Chapel, located at 613 Ramsey Street in Lakewood, NJ, followed by kevurah in the adjacent bais hachaim.
The family will be sitting shivah at 12 Sequoia Street in Lakewood. Shacharis 8:00 am, Mincha 5:00 pm, Maariv 9:30 pm. Women are requested to only come during the following times: 10:00-1:30, 2:30-6:15, 7:30-10:00.
Yehi zichro boruch.
{Matzav.com}
הגרב”ד פוברסקי ביום היארצייט של אביוצילום: שוקי לרר הגרב”ד פוברסקי ביום היארצייט של אביוצילום: שוקי לרר הגרב”ד פוברסקי ביום היארצייט של אביוצילום: שוקי לרר הגרב”ד פוברסקי ביום היארצייט של אביוצילום: שוקי לרר הגרב”ד פוברסקי ביום היארצייט של אביוצילום: שוקי לרר הגרב”ד פוברסקי ביום היארצייט של אביוצילום: שוקי לרר הגרב”ד פוברסקי ביום היארצייט של אביוצילום: שוקי לרר הגרב”ד פוברסקי ביום היארצייט של אביוצילום: שוקי לרר הגרב”ד פוברסקי ביום היארצייט של אביוצילום: שוקי לרר הגרב”ד פוברסקי ביום היארצייט של אביוצילום: שוקי לרר הגרב”ד פוברסקי ביום היארצייט של אביוצילום: שוקי לרר הגרב”ד פוברסקי ביום היארצייט של אביוצילום: שוקי לרר הגרב”ד פוברסקי ביום היארצייט של אביוצילום: שוקי לרר הגרב”ד פוברסקי ביום היארצייט של אביוצילום: שוקי לרר הגרב”ד פוברסקי ביום היארצייט של אביוצילום: שוקי לרר הגרב”ד פוברסקי ביום היארצייט של אביוצילום: שוקי לרר הגרב”ד פוברסקי ביום היארצייט של אביוצילום: שוקי לרר הגרב”ד פוברסקי ביום היארצייט של אביוצילום: שוקי לרר הגרב”ד פוברסקי ביום היארצייט של אביוצילום: שוקי לרר הגרב”ד פוברסקי ביום היארצייט של אביוצילום: שוקי לרר הגרב”ד פוברסקי ביום היארצייט של אביוצילום: שוקי לרר הגרב”ד פוברסקי ביום היארצייט של אביוצילום: שוקי לרר