Friday, October 16, 2026
Show of strength in Jerusalem: 5,000 attend Religious Zionist Party rally
More than 5,000 activists gathered Thursday evening at the International Convention Center in Jerusalem for the Religious Zionist Party's "Hineni" rally, ahead of the elections for the 26th Knesset, scheduled to take place in less than two weeks.
According to the party, the gathering marked the largest show of support in its history, bringing together grassroots activists from across Israel, from Metula in the north to Eilat in the south.
Leading rabbis from the religious Zionist community, representing more than 100 yeshivas and educational institutions, also attended the event to demonstrate their support for the party and its leadership.
Religious Zionist Party chairman and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich addressed the gathering, warning against voting for parties that might fail to cross the electoral threshold.
"In less than two weeks, we will head to elections that will determine the future of our country. A war on seven fronts, a struggle over our identity, our democracy, and our future - all of this is at stake at the ballot box," Smotrich said.
He outlined his party's priorities for the next Knesset term, including strengthening Jewish settlement in the Galilee and Negev, combating crime and protection rackets, reinforcing Jewish identity, easing the burden on reservists, drafting haredi men into the military, and introducing changes to the judicial system.
Smotrich went on to criticize other parties on the political right, arguing that they were jeopardizing the right-wing bloc's chances of winning the elections.
"The future of the State of Israel is too precious to gamble with. There are those who are still tempted to embark on dangerous adventures at the expense of the right, instead of taking national responsibility and withdrawing," he said.
Smotrich also warned against the formation of a government led by opposition figures.
"We must not lose and allow a destructive left-wing government of [Gadi] Eisenkot, [Yair] Golan, and [Mansour] Abbas to destroy everything we have built," he declared.
Concluding his remarks, Smotrich urged right-wing voters to support a party he said was certain to cross the electoral threshold.
Party officials said the rally marked the beginning of the operational preparations for Election Day, during which thousands of activists will work to expand support for the party and encourage voters to turn out at the polls.
UTJ MK "Meshiginer" Elyakim Shtark Compares Draft Evaders Travelling Abroad to those escaping the Holocaust!
The Charedi parties are getting crazier and crazier, and I don't see a light at the end of the tunnel! Smotrich was 100% correct ! This young smart-alecky naive Shtark needs a lesson in Holocaust studies ASAP ...
Incoming United Torah Judaism MK Elyakim Shtark has sparked controversy after comparing the situation of yeshiva students who fear traveling abroad because of their unresolved military service status to restrictions on freedom of movement during the Holocaust.
Shtark, who is set to replace MK Yisrael Eichler in the Knesset, was speaking about the difficulties faced by yeshiva students who wish to travel overseas to seek marriage partners but fear being arrested at the airport because they are classified as military draft evaders.
At the beginning of his remarks, Shtark addressed Eichler, who is known for his outspoken statements, saying, "I've made a commitment not to bring up the Holocaust during my first few years, because you've already brought it up enough."
However, Shtark then proceeded to draw a comparison to the Holocaust himself.
"I'm not one to make Holocaust comparisons, but I find myself unable to describe our situation any other way. Our situation is close to what it was during the Holocaust, when people couldn't cross borders. It reminds me of the stories our grandparents told us," he said.
Some Stories Never go away and stay in the family ! Son of Malka Leifer Faces NIS 2.5 Million Lawsuit Over Abuse of Boy
Meir Leifer was himself convicted of committing an indecent act against a 10-year-old boy. He was sentenced to eight months of community service, a suspended prison sentence and compensation of NIS 45,000.
The new lawsuit alleges that the abuse caused severe and lasting psychological harm to the victim, who is now 13, affecting his education, social relationships and daily functioning. “The plaintiff’s soul remains wounded, and he has become a sad and withdrawn person,” the lawsuit states, describing anxiety, sleep disturbances, difficulty concentrating and significant social and academic problems.
According to the claim, the boy may require long-term psychological treatment and assistance, while his future earning capacity could also be affected. The lawsuit seeks compensation for medical and therapeutic expenses, emotional suffering, future loss of earnings, pension losses and ongoing care. It also requests damages under Israel’s Prevention of Harassment Law.
Thursday, October 15, 2026
Special interview with Iran’s chief rabbi
Rabbi Younes Lazar Hamami, one of the leaders of Iran’s Jewish community, addressed the security situation facing Jewish communities in Iran on Tuesday, expressing a surprising view of the local authorities.
He claimed that, unlike many Jewish communities around the world that require heightened security, synagogues and Jewish institutions in Iran do not need security systems or special guards, as the local police provide protection for all citizens.
During an interview with Iranian media, Hamami sharply criticized Israel, referring to it as the “Zionist regime."
He accused Israel of using allegations of antisemitism to target its opponents and silence criticism of the country.
To support his claims, he pointed to protests by Jews in countries such as the US and Britain against Israeli policies, arguing that these demonstrations prove that many Jews oppose the actions of the Israeli government.
Ger Threating Not to Vote in Elections because they hate Eliakim Stark who is a Belzer Chusid
The Ger hasidic movement, a dominant force within the United Torah Judaism (UTJ) party, is threatening to boycott the upcoming elections.
Hamodia, the newspaper representing the Ger hasidic community, has notably refrained from publishing any call by the Ger Rebbe, Rabbi Yaakov Aryeh Alter, to vote for the party. No official statement regarding the elections has been issued, an extremely unusual situation at such an advanced stage of the campaign, when election activities are normally in full swing.
Behind the silence lies a severe political crisis that erupted just hours before the deadline for submitting Knesset candidate lists:
Meir Porush, a representative of the Shlomei Emunim faction, and Eliakim Stark, a representative of the Belz hasidic community, unexpectedly broke away from Agudat Yisrael and established a separate party called Torat Homat Yisrael, whose representatives occupy fourth and sixth place on the joint UTJ list.
The move was intended to secure funding proportional to their electoral strength within UTJ.
The Ger hasidic movement has struggled to accept the move and is reportedly determined to do everything possible to prevent Stark, who holds sixth place on the UTJ list, from entering the Knesset.
"As of now, we have been instructed not to engage in any election-related activity, and so far, there has been no public call from the Gerrer Rebbe. So it is not at all clear whether we will vote in the upcoming elections," a Gerrer hasid told Arutz Sheva - Israel National News.
"The goal," the hasid admitted, "is to do everything possible to keep Stark out."
If the Ger community does not vote, UTJ could potentially lose two Knesset seats.
In Belz, however, officials are dismissing the threat.
"The entire Ger hasidic movement accounts for 25,000 to 30,000 votes. Meanwhile, the natural growth in UTJ's voter base amounts to 55,000 votes. Even if they stage a work-to-rule protest, they won't manage to affect even the seventh seat," sources in the movement told Arutz Sheva.
Nevertheless, the prevailing assessment is that a compromise will ultimately be reached and Gerrer hasidim will turn out to vote for the United Torah Judaism list.
Betzalel Smotrich Always the Gentleman Refuses to Engage in Battle With Rav Landau
The entire Yeshivishe World is an uproar when Betzalel Smotrich dared say what every single frum thinking reasonable person thinks and is afraid of saying out loud, asserting "that Chareidim show ingratitude to Hashem" and questioning of "how anyone could remain Chareidi in Eretz Yisroel"
Anyone who was ever been stuck in traffic for hours and witnessed the sheer violence perpetrated by Bnei-Torah on other Jews, anyone who walked the streets in Yerushlayim seeing Bnei-Torah calling other Jews in uniform "Nazi" and witnessing with their own eyes, Bnei-Torah calling a Bas-Yisrael, someone's wife, someone's daughter or sister ... "Shiksah" , anyone that sees the utter destruction that Bnei-Torah did to the Light Rail, resulting in damage of close to a billion shekel, is questioning "how anyone could remain Chareidi in Eretz Yisroel"
Rav Landau who is quick to dish out whatever is on his mind, like calling Jewish Children in Uniform "rashaim & murderers" during the 9 days, no less, and stating with a straight face that October 7 was a war because the IDF wants to grab more land and is fighting in Gaza for "their own glory" and that October 7 was NOT a Milchemes Mitzva, yet elections are, cannot take it when someone else with a different hashkafa questions his Charedie narrative.
Rav Dov Landau responded to Betzalel Smotrich’s sane and reasonable comment on Chareidim, describing Smotrich’s words as a" Chillul Hashem" and warning that "defending Torah and those who learn it has become more critical than ever."
HaRav Landau Shlit”a made the remarks during a visit from Rabbonim from Rechasim, who came to his home and the home of HaGaon HaRav Moshe Hillel Hirsch Shlit”a to seek guidance and brachos ahead of Israel’s upcoming elections, in a State that those Rabbanim don't recognize and who consider the Knesset "a gathering of meenim & apikorsim"
While saying there was no need to engage Smotrich directly, Rav Landau stressed that the attack on Torah required a forceful response.
I am not sure what a "forceful response is" but the Yated, the mouthpiece of Degel and Rav Lamdau' hinted Rav Landau was referring to physical violence. כדרכם בקודש .... and no one is surprised!
Invoking the Chazon Ish’s directive to participate in Israeli elections, he said the obligation to vote had been “doubled and redoubled” amid the current threats to Torah and the treatment of lomdei Torah “as plunder, Hashem yishmereinu.”
He called on the public to vote for United Torah Judaism, declaring, “We have nothing remaining except this Torah!”
He emphasized that everyone must vote, even if doing so involved inconvenience or personal sacrifice, and said voters should cast their ballots in their own places of residence rather than seek exemptions because of distance or logistical challenges.
Smotrich made the controversial comments earlier this week at two events. Asked why he had not responded publicly to HaRav Landau’s criticism, he said he was hesitant to argue openly with a talmid chacham.
He cautioned that his silence should not be mistaken for agreement, invoking the traditional warning to beware of the “burning coals” of Torah scholars.
Smotrich added that he davened for HaRav Landau to do teshuvah, while maintaining that a public response was unnecessary.
He subsequently described Chareidim as ungrateful and “completely blind,” questioning how anyone could remain Chareidi today.
Comptroller Mark Levine will not invest in Israeli Bonds siding with Mamzarani/Satmar policy Against Israel
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani on Wednesday welcomed Comptroller Mark Levine’s decision not to invest city funds in Israeli bonds, saying the city should not purchase bonds issued by any foreign government.
Asked by Jacob Kornbluh about a New York Times report on Levine’s decision, Mamdani said he supported the comptroller’s move.
Lakewood Vaad Backs Cory Booker for Senate Over Republican
The Lakewood Vaad, a group of Orthodox Jews , has endorsed Democratic U.S. Senator Cory Booker and Republican Representative Christopher Smith for reelection in the November election.
The organization also supports Republican Ocean County Commissioner Frank Sadeghi for another term.
At the local level, the Vaad backs Democratic Mayor Raymond Coles and Republican Township Committeewoman Deborah Fuentes for reelection to the five member Township Committee. Coles and Fuentes face Republican Moshe Raitzik and Democrat Samantha Stokes.
For the Lakewood Board of Education, the Vaad endorses incumbents Samuel Melnik and Harriet Westbrook Goldberg. With no candidate filed for the third seat, it supports a write in campaign for incumbent Abraham Reich and urges voters to reject a related public question.
In the race for two seats on the Lakewood Board of Fire Commissioners, the group backs incumbents David Bender and Harrison Pfeffer over challenger Larry Loigman.
The Vaad holds major influence among Lakewood’s large Orthodox Jewish population and often issues bipartisan endorsements based on couple of powerful community members needs.
Ami features Rav Schach a hater of Chabad ...Crown Heights bans the magazine
Rav Schach mamash hated the Lubavitcher Rebbe on a personal level and went as far as to announce in public that Chabad mikvaot were pasul and children born as the result were bnei nidah. He never apologized or retracted.
To put a man like that on a cover shows that the clown Yitzy Frankfurter the editor is clueless and insensitive !
Rav Schach was a political figure who broke away from Aguda to form his own political party called Degel! He initially endorsed the disastrous Oslo Accords that bought about the intifada that murdered innocent Jews Then under pressure he backed away from supporting it.
📰 Ami Magazine will not be sold in Crown Heights stores this week following controversy over the magazine’s front-cover feature of a figure who caused significant anguish within the Chabad community in the past. Crown Heights stores have reportedly united in a decision not to carry this week’s issue.
— Shchuna News (@ch_shchuna770) October 14, 2026
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