Going to Uman for Rosh Hashana ...Read this first!

By EMAILIM BATORAH 

R. Shlomo Zalman Auerbach, R. Chaim Shmulevitz זצ״ל, and many other Gedolim stated that davening at the קברים of Israeli soldiers הי"ד who were killed — even those who were not  Shomer Torah u’Mitzvos —are as beneficial and effective as davening at קברי צדיקים. NO NEED FOR UMAN, KERESTIER. ETC,   A Yid who gives his life to save other Yidden attains the highest level of קדושה. Chazal declare (Bava Basra 10b): אין כל בריה יכולה לעמוד במחיצתן   No creature can stand within the מחיצה of those who sacrifice themselves for כלל ישראל.   Many struggle to understand how someone who was not a שומר תורה ומצוות — even was עובר על כל התורה כולה — can suddenly become a קדוש the moment he is killed על קידוש השם   The גמרא (קידושין מ"ט) teaches: If a רשע גמור is מקדש  a woman on condition that he is a צדיק, she is מקודשת — שמא הרהר תשובה בדעתו. Perhaps he had a moment of genuine תשובה. From here we see that a רשע גמור can be transformed into a צדיק in an instant. רש"י (תהלים ע"ט) writes: בשר חסידיך – משקבלו פורענותם הרי הם חסידים Once they receive their suffering, they are considered חסידים. Even Yidden who were not observant — if goyim killed them — are elevated to the level of חסידים.   The רמב"ם הל' תשובה פ"ז ה"ד writes that a בעל תשובה should never imagine he is distant from the level of the צדיקים because of his past עבירות. Rather: He is beloved and cherished before Hashem As if he never sinned And his reward is greater, for he tasted sin, separated from it, and conquered his יצר. If this is true for ordinary teshuvah, קל וחומר for one who gives his life for כלל ישראל.   It was deeply moving to stand at the graves of young sixteen‑year‑old boys who escaped Nazi Europe, reached Eretz Yisrael, and ended up being מוסר נפש to protect Yidden. These youths — barely adults — rose to the highest level of קדושה. In עולם האמת, we will never reach their מחיצה. But in this world, we can still stand within their ד׳ אמות, recite a קפיטל תהלים,  לטובת נשמתם הקדושים. Perhaps, Har Herzl E. Rosh Hashanah instead of Uman Rosh Hashanah

Litvishe Gedolei Yisrael Denounce Musical Selichos Events! This will Backfire!

 

This is what I have been screaming about for years, that the Gedoilim especially the Litvaks are totally disconnected from the rest of Klall Yisrael. Beyond the 4 walls of their Bais Ha'Medrish they are clueless about the rest of their brethren. 

In Israel, what happened on October 7 has absolutely no "shaichis" to them, in fact I had a conversation with one of the signatories of the above letter, months after the tragedy, and this Rav looked bewildered when I mentioned to him that there were Hatzalah members that were murdered on Oct 7! He asked me in all earnest "Why would Hatzalah drive towards Gaza on Simchas Torah?" 

Personally, I am not one of those that run to these type of Slichos, but I admit that I did go once to a Carlbach Slichos on the upper West Side and actually found it inspiring.

When I was a child and then a teenager I always davened in Chassidishe Shtiblich, but, I remember that I walked into Rav Gustman's Shul on Eastern Parkway on a Shabbos, and was astonished that they didn't sing Keil Adon, but just said it as if it was Ashrei! Of course years later, I davened in the MIR and Bais Hatalmid and their Shabbos davening was like the weekdays, there was absolutely no difference. They even had a 14 year old boy as the Shliach Tzibber who probably didn't know what the term "nusach" meant, and if I had to guess, I would venture to say that he never found out! 

These "gedoilim" should thank G-d, that after 3,500 years, there are Jews going to Selichos and davening! We all are inspired by different things, and most of the Baalei Teshuva and Giyorim that I met, told me that they were inspired by the singing in the davening! 

When I was growing up, people went to hear Chazzonim, now they can't stand chazzonim, and so, are now doing musical Selichos..... Kol Hakovod! 

I'm pretty sure that the Avoda in the Bais Hamikdash were the Leviim singing and playing their instruments including Shabbos! 

As the High Holy Days approach, leading Lithuanian charedi rabbis have issued a strongly worded letter warning against the growing practice of holding public Selichot services accompanied by musical instruments.

The letter was signed by leading senior rabbis, including Slabodka Rosh Yeshivos Rabbi Dov Landau and Rabbi Moshe Hillel Hirsch, and was issued under the evocative heading, “We Tremble and Shudder at the Day of Your Coming.”

The rabbis condemned what they described as an inappropriate trend that has spread in recent years: organizing large-scale “Selichot events” featuring live musical performances.

“Recently, an inappropriate phenomenon has begun in which ‘Selichot events’ are held with musical instruments,” the rabbis wrote. “These Selichot events contradict the very essence of the days of Selichot, which the Sages instituted as a time for repentance, remorse and soul-searching, to purify and sanctify oneself in preparation for the approaching Days of Judgment, and to merit being inscribed and sealed for a good and peaceful life.”

The rabbis cautioned against transforming the solemn religious observance into an entertainment event. “God forbid that a lofty and sacred concept instituted by our Sages should be turned into an event of recreation and a musical performance,” they wrote, adding that such gatherings can also involve “serious breaches of religious standards of holiness and modesty.”

The letter calls on members of the public not to attend such events and urges community leaders to take a clear stand. “We therefore join in strengthening the calls issued by leading rabbis, both those who have passed away and those who are still with us, that people should, God forbid, not participate in such events,” the letter states.

The rabbis also addressed municipal and political officials, calling on them not to provide financial or logistical support for the gatherings. “[There should be] no support or funding for these events by public authorities, in any form,” they wrote.

The letter further draws a distinction regarding the use of musical instruments in synagogues and study halls, which the rabbis say should remain places dedicated to prayer and Torah study. “Certainly, such events should not be held in the sanctuaries of God, the synagogues and houses of study,” they wrote. “Likewise, prayers and the recitation of Hallel should not be conducted with musical instruments.”

The rabbis concluded their letter with a prayer that the community would remain faithful to its religious traditions and the practices handed down by previous generations.

“May the Almighty raise us ever higher, so that we may cleave to the tradition of our fathers, and may He inscribe and seal us for a good life,” they wrote.

Rabbi Breitowitz's View on Going Up to the Har Habyis!

 

Rare footage from 911

 

AG Letitia James turns evil eye on Trump — and blind eye to NY crime

 

by Miranda Devine NYP

We know Trump-deranged New York Attorney General Letitia James campaigned on jailing the president, but an explosive all-staff email from one of her star prosecutors Friday claims her office explicitly directed him to “find and pursue crimes” to pin on Donald Trump and his allies, according to the Albany Times- Union.

In a bridge-burning email to 2,000 colleagues at 10 a.m. Friday, Assistant Attorney General Daniel Wiesenfeld claimed that he had been instructed by his supervisor “to find and pursue crimes committed by specific individuals and organizations affiliated with Donald Trump.”

“The best part of having f–k you money is being able to tell the truth, without fear of consequences so here we go,” his email began, before listing James’ efforts to frame Trump, according to a readout provided to The Post.

Wiesenfeld, 34, alleged his boss, bureau chief Shamiso Maswoswe, directed him to target “Trump himself, Truth Social, Hewlett Packard (DOJ approved merger) . . . without having a credible reason for targeting these organizations and individuals . . .

“Presumably she acted at the behest of Tish [James] . . .

“Tish’s personal grudges with Trump sets the agenda. Find a crime and any crime of his would do.”

He pointed out that James is using “significant public taxpayer dollars to target convenient public enemies” while ignoring “rampant non-profit homeless shelter fraud, Medicaid fraud, and crimes in and around synagogues,” he wrote.

Social Media erupts in rage that the White House Invited The Satmar Rebbe a pro-Mamzarani anti-Jewish State Leader

 

Why would the White House Jewish Liason invite radical left rabbis who endorsed @ZohranKMamdani and oppose the state of Israel to have an Oval Office meeting with President Trump as Mamdani and his DSA candidates are trying to elect communists and jihadists who are backed by… https://t.co/TUel6LfWKv

— Laura Loomer (@LauraLoomer) August 31, 2026

This is a HUGE mistake!!! This Rabbi is a TERRIBLE guy and has no right being anywhere near @POTUS! This Rabbi sucks off @NYCMayor at every opportunity and has more than once screwed the good Jews! Come on Marty! You can’t do this! Please!!!! I kill this guy and @rabbiindig on my… https://t.co/b95F3FOYYM

— Sid Rosenberg (@sidrosenberg19) August 31, 2026

 A reminder from a previous gathering of more than 10,000 Jews:

Satmar Grand Rabbi Aron Teitelbaum stated:

“We have no part in Zionism. We have no part in the State of Israel.”

here he is — https://t.co/MZ5JSvf9CK

— Zee lee (@YitzchakMen) August 31, 2026

Hundreds of Charedim fed up with their Teirah Leadership Enlist in IDF Combat Roles

Hundreds of Ultra-Orthodox recruits are joining IDF combat tracks, including the Hasmonean Brigade, Netzach Yehuda Battalion and the Hatz Ultra-Orthodox Paratroopers company, alongside additional security-service tracks.

The IDF says the programs are designed to allow meaningful combat service while maintaining an Ultra-Orthodox lifestyle.

A small group of anti-draft protesters gathered outside the recruitment office as the enlistment took place.

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A post shared by Ariel Menashe (@arielmenashe2)

Mother Shares a story when her Daughter requested an exemption from the army

This appeared on a Beit Shemesh Chat 

 "Just wanted to share our very positive experience with the rabbanut in yerushalayim, to acquire a פטור. It was quick, efficient, they did NOT grill our daughter at all. 

The whole experience was straight forward and really was quite smooth and easy. 

They asked if our daughter was shomer Shabbos and kashrus. That’s pretty much it. 

Do not allow ppl to gaslight you and make you afraid to go.

North American Aliyah Hits Record as 1,100 Arrive in August, Putting Israel on Track for 4,000 Newcomers This Ye

North American aliyah is surging. More than 1,100 new immigrants arrived in Israel in August alone, while over 4,000 are now expected to make the move this year.

The record wave includes hundreds of families and children, with newcomers settling across Israel and entering schools and workplaces nationwide.

Chutzpah!!! Prominent Chasidic rabbis are reportedly set to meet Trump , where the Satmar Rebbe plans to raise Israel’s yeshiva draft issue.

 

If the report that the $atmar Rebbe, R' Aaron, is planning to bring up the enlistment of Charedim to Trump is true, I consider this "mesirah" and the Rebbe would be a "rodef" 

The rebbe sees that the RBS"O is not listening to his curses against the State when he says 3 times a day ולמלשינים , so he decided to go directly to the source ..Donald Trump! 

But Trump cannot do a thing to change the law in Israel, he couldn't even get Pres Herzog to give Netanyahu a pardon! Even Netanyahu cannot do a thing about it! 

The $atmar rebbe himself condemned Trump on many occasions and mocked Pres Trump when Trump recognized Yerushalyim as Israel's capital, the "rebbe" then said that "there is no Israel and there is no capital" 

The rebbe once barked that "Trumpism infiltrated the Jewish camp" yet the rebbe's hate against the only Jewish State "trumps" his own statements just to badmouth the home of the majority of the Jewish people. 

I suggest the rebbe mind his own business and stop talking about a country he doesn't recognize , and instead focus on his community that is presently dealing with a pandemic of Satmar youth going off the derech !

A delegation of prominent Hasidic rabbis and yeshiva heads is reportedly scheduled to meet US President Donald Trump at the White House on Thursday.

According to reports, those invited include the $atmar Rebbes, the $kverer Rebbe, the Bobover Rebbe, the Bobov-45 Rebbe, the Vizhnitzer Rebbe of Monsey, and Rabbi Aryeh Malkiel Kotler, a senior leader of Beth Medrash Govoha in Lakewood, along with additional rabbis and communal representatives.

Some details surrounding the meeting, including the full list of participants, have not been independently confirmed, and no public announcement confirming the meeting has been issued by the White House.

The planned meeting was partially confirmed by Rabbi Aharon Teitelbaum, the $atmar Rebbe of Kiryas Joel, who told students on Friday night that he had received an invitation to meet Trump at the White House together with other rabbis and community representatives.

The $atmar Rebbe said that he had initially considered declining the invitation, citing the Jewish month of Elul and preparations for the High Holidays.

He also played down the significance of meeting the US president in itself, telling his students that Jewish religious study was of greater importance than the prestige surrounding a presidential meeting.

The Rebbe said he ultimately decided to accept the invitation after recalling a meeting with a US president approximately 30 years ago, during which he was able to assist a Jew facing difficulties.

He said he hopes the upcoming meeting could similarly be used to assist an individual currently in distress.

The $atmar Rebbe also said he intends to raise the controversy surrounding the enlistment of yeshiva students in Israel.

“Right now tens of thousands of Jews in Israel are suffering over this decree to draft yeshiva students," he said, expressing hope that he would be able to appeal to Trump for assistance on the issue.

Reports on the planned meeting have also said that members of the delegation are expected to express appreciation to Trump for his administration's support for the Orthodox Jewish community and its institutions and to discuss concerns affecting Orthodox Jewish education.

The $atmar Rebbe's decision to meet Trump comes despite his previous sharp criticism of the president and of support for him among Orthodox Jews.

In November 2022, Teitelbaum condemned what he called “Trumpism" within the Orthodox Jewish community, saying it had “infiltrated the Jewish camp" and accusing some Trump supporters of having been “brainwashed."

Speaking after the 2022 New York gubernatorial election, in which he supported Democratic Governor Kathy Hochul, the $atmar Rebbe said his political considerations were focused on protecting his community and its educational institutions.

“We are not going to fix America. It’s not our job to fix America. Our goal is to protect ourselves," he said at the time.

Addressing his students ahead of this week's reported White House meeting, the Rebbe again warned against becoming overly focused on Trump or the attention surrounding the visit.

“Don't get swept up in all this ‘Trumpism,’" he said, adding that a single Torah lesson in the yeshiva was worth more to him than the entire affair.