זו תורה וזו שכרה
Wednesday, October 14, 2026
Go out and vote! .......HaRav Shmuel Eliyahu
HaRav Shmuel Eliyahu is Chief Rabbi of Tzfat.
The Torah commands: “You shall surely appoint over yourself a king whom the Lord your God shall choose. From among your brothers you shall appoint a king over yourself; you may not appoint over yourself a foreigner who is not your brother" (Deuteronomy 17:15).
The Jerusalem Talmud (Sanhedrin 2:6) brings an observation made by a Samaritan to Rabbi Hezekiah: “It is not written ‘I shall appoint,’ but ‘You shall appoint.’ You must appoint him over yourselves." It does not say “I shall appoint," but rather “You shall appoint." You must appoint over yourselves a king whom God has chosen.
“A leader is not appointed over the public unless the public is first consulted."
The Gemara states (Berakhot 55a): “Rabbi Yochanan said: There are three things that the Holy One, blessed be He, Himself announces, and they are famine, abundance, and a good leader."
“Rabbi Yitzchak said: A leader is not appointed over the public unless the public is first consulted, as it is stated (Exodus 35): ‘And Moses said to the Children of Israel: See, the Lord has called by name Bezalel.’
“The Holy One, blessed be He, said to Moses: ‘Moses, is Bezalel suitable in your eyes?’ He replied: ‘Master of the Universe, if he is suitable in Your eyes, is he not all the more so in mine?’ God said to him: ‘Nevertheless, go and tell Israel.’
“He went and said to Israel: ‘Is Bezalel suitable in your eyes?’ They said to him: ‘If he is suitable in the eyes of the Holy One, blessed be He, and in your eyes, is it not all the more so in ours?’"
Before commanding the appointment of a king, the Torah states: “When you come to the Land that the Lord your God gives you, and you possess it and dwell in it, and you say, ‘I shall appoint a king over myself like all the nations around me’" (Deuteronomy 17:14)
The Netziv explains:
“It appears that this is because the government of a country differs depending on whether it is governed according to the will of a king or according to the will of the people and their representatives. There is a country that cannot tolerate the rule of a king, and there is a country that, without a king, is like a ship without a captain.
Aliza Bloch warns: Israel is on the brink of civil war
Dr. Aliza Bloch of the Blue and White party addressed questions about her party's chances of crossing the electoral threshold during an interview at the Arutz Sheva-Israel National News conference, warning that a victory by either political bloc could bring Israel to the brink of civil war.
Asked when Blue and White would withdraw from the race, Bloch said the question presented an opportunity to consider what truly matters and where the country is headed.
"It is clear to me that if, God forbid, either bloc wins, we will be on the brink of civil war," she said. "In many ways, I feel that Blue and White is like the child with his finger in the dike, saying: Stop, the writing is on the wall."
Bloch continued, "I am genuinely afraid. Anyone who has ever studied history knows that the possibility of the kingdom falling apart is real. I feel that we are at a crucial moment in Israel's history, and we have chosen a very specific side of history."
Asked about the failure of efforts to unite political forces, leaving Blue and White to run independently, Bloch replied, "We are alone, but strong."
“WE ARE GOING THROUGH THE HARDEST TIME OF OUR LIVES”: Israeli Mother And Daughter Beg TV Show Not To Mock Their Ordeal
An Israeli mother and daughter who became the focus of a nationwide media frenzy following a mysterious series of international travels are pleading with the producers of a popular Israeli television satire program not to turn their ordeal into entertainment.
Mali and Liel Yahalomi, whose disappearance and subsequent movements across several countries generated widespread headlines, have asked the producers of Channel 12’s Eretz Nehederet not to feature them in a comedy sketch.
The request came after a promotional video for the show’s new season, scheduled to premiere Tuesday evening, featured impersonations of the mother and daughter by performers Yaniv Biton and Gitit Fisher.
The sketch reportedly portrays Israelis returning from abroad to vote in the upcoming elections.
However, the Yahalomis say their experience has been anything but amusing.
The mother and daughter first attracted national attention after disappearing in Vienna. They were subsequently located in Argentina before once again dropping out of public view.
More recently, reports circulated that they had been arrested in Namibia, but those claims proved incorrect. Hours later, it emerged that they were actually returning to Israel from Athens.
The unusual sequence of events has kept the pair in the Israeli headlines since August.
Now, through their attorney, Shanit Ben Shushan, they are asking for privacy.
“We are going through the hardest time of our lives, after experiencing extremely difficult days,” Mali and Liel said in a statement.
“We never asked for this publicity and never wanted to cause concern. Right now, we are asking to rebuild our lives, and we are requesting a little compassion, time, and quiet to get through the difficult days ahead. When we feel mentally capable of doing so, we will share our story.”
Their attorney sent a letter to the show’s production team titled “A Sensitive Request Regarding Mali and Liel Yahalomi.”
In the letter, Ben Shushan urged the producers not to turn the family’s experience into a comedy routine.
“I am approaching you with a request that, in my view, concerns matters of life and soul,” she wrote. “I am pleading with you in the strongest possible terms: Do not turn their story into a sketch, and do not give it additional exposure through the program.”
The attorney emphasized that behind the headlines are two women who have experienced significant emotional distress.
“We do not know what the consequences of additional public exposure might be,” she wrote. “Precisely now, as they are trying to return to their lives, our responsibility is not to add to their difficulties or turn their personal struggles into entertainment.”
She concluded with a direct appeal to the show’s creators.
“There are moments when humor must give way to humanity. There are stories that should not be touched, not because laughter is forbidden, but because one must know when to stop.”
It was not immediately clear whether the show’s producers would honor the request or proceed with the planned sketch.
Tuesday, October 13, 2026
Flatbush "gedoilim" Attacking R' Eli Stefansky
The Rabbi in the video below mocks Rav Eli Stefansky and calls him "Stupenski" as in "stupid"... then says "its better not to learn at all than to learn with Rav Eli!" ..... A jealous "torah leader" that mocks and ridicules a Marbitz Torah who has the largest audience ever for a Torah Shiur!
Is it any wonder that we have lost all hope in Charedie "gedoilim?"
?זו תורה וזו שכרה
Ironically, the majority of "Magedei Shiur" of the Daf Ha'Yomi and shiurim in Mishnayois, are not Roshei Yeshiva at all, and not Rabbanim, but ordinary "baalei-batim" In fact, attend any given shul and I'll bet there is a baal-boooos giving a well attended shiur! Speaking for Beit Shemesh where I live, the ones giving the Daf Yoimi are ALL baalei-batim!
In Yeshivois, I remember, when the Rebbe or Rosh Yeshiva wanted to belittle or mock you or even curse you, they would yell "What's going to become of you? You will becaome a "baal-booooooooos"
They mocked the very people that supported them!
But now, in the last decade, a major threat has come from the ""baal-booooooooos" camp, they are the biggest "marbeitzei torah" and have the largest followings.
Those baalei-batim learning the daf have finished Shas multiple times and have become bigger Talmedei chachamim than most Roshei Yeshiva and are "baki be'shas upoiskim"
I was recently at a shiur given by a known Rosh Yeshiva who was discussing Hichos Shabbos and he quoted a Mogein Avraham, when one of the participants, a regular daf-yoimi goer, a pashuteh baal-ha'boooooooos" said out loud, "there is no such Mogein Avraham", it turned out that the RY misquoted a pri-megadim ( a pirush on the מגן אברהם) that actually was the total opposite of what the RY wanted to convey!
And this irks the "oilom ha'yeshiva!" The hated baalei-batim are becoming a threat to them! Which if you think about it, is very silly & childish but this is really the mentality of the Yeshivishe ama-ratzim!
So they are now attacking Reb Eli who has brought tens of thousands to Torah, some of whom never opened a sefer in their lives!
Instead of praising him, they are attacking him! And this what is going on in the "oilom ha'torah" in the Chardeie communities!
This just in!
Stefansky responded :
His Daf Yomi shiur is not meant to replace yeshiva‑style iyun. His goal is to reach people who otherwise would not learn Gemara at all. He wants to make Daf Yomi accessible, enjoyable, and consistent.
He said:If someone wants lomdus, they should learn a second seder.”This is exactly the classic Daf Yomi philosophy. He emphasized that thousands are learning because of the shiur He pointed out that: Many people who never opened a Gemara are now learning daily. His shiur has brought Jews back to Torah.The excitement helps people stay committed. “If I can get one more Yid to learn Torah, that’s everything.”
Stefansky clarified that: The humor and energy are tools to keep people engaged. The Torah is the center — not the jokes. He works extremely hard to prepare each daf seriously.“I’m not here to perform. I’m here to teach Torah.”
He stressed: He doesn’t want controversy. He doesn’t want to be part of any fight between communities. He wants achdus and kavod haTorah.“We’re all on the same team — Klal Yisrael.”
His answer was with Respect and Humility No defensiveness, No counter‑criticism, And only focused on Torah and unity!
It was one of the most dignified responses in recent Torah‑world controversies.
Entire case against Netanyahu collapsing in court
Avichai Mandelblit the previous Attorney General has now arrived in court for the second day of his testimony and has shut himself up in an inner room
After locking himself up in a side room: Former Attorney General Mandelblit enters the courtroom
Adv. Haddad Toef: Did you ever find out that the investigative materials they produced from Ilan Yeshua's phone were warrants that dealt with other suspicions?
Mandelblit: No
Drama in Netanyahu's trial: Mandelblit breaks down and admits: Dozens of key investigative actions were carried out without authorization and in violation of the law. Mandelblit also admitted that the attempt to recruit a state witness against a sitting prime minister was carried out without his knowledge, in complete violation of the law. (Castel)
Avichai Mandelblit confirmed today in court that he did not approve the production of materials from Shaul Elovitch's email inbox. According to the defense, an ISA investigator produced the materials about Netanyahu in July 2017, months before the attorney general's approval. But he said he was not convinced that he had deliberately concealed moves from him.
Mandelblit also confirms that he believed there were leaks to the media in Netanyahu's files. and asked to replace the team of attorneys because of this. According to him, it was a feeling and not a knowledge. He confirmed that no one had ordered an investigation into who leaked. According to Attorney Hadad, Liat Ben-Ari was in contact with journalist Gidi Weitz. Prosecutor Tirosh objected: "Enough of defaming."
Adv. Hadad: Did you tell anyone that the leaks by the attorney were intended to put pressure on you? Mandelblit: I may have said (Yael Yaffe).
Mandelblit has fallen apart and is now abandoning the courtroom
MK Tali Gottlieb on Mandelblit: "At the very least, he should be convicted of the offense of breach of trust"
Defense attorney Hadad: They took the attorney general and trapped him:
Prosecutor Tirosh: The State Attorney's Office is not accused here:
The head of the panel stopped the hearing and summoned them to her office.
HOW ISRAEL OPENED IRAN’S SKIES
For years, Israel had been mapping Iran’s air defenses, positioning covert systems inside the country and preparing to hit the radars and missile batteries designed to keep its aircraft out.
Then, on the opening night of the war, those hidden systems came alive as Israeli jets moved in from the outside.
This is the story of how the skies over Iran were opened.
Turns out that most of Tucker Carlson's followers are fake and are bots!
Wow! Immediately after Ukriane blew up Russian data centers yesterday and today, Tucker Qatarlson’s views dropped 71%… I told you. When I was in Ukraine, I was shown evidence of how Russia bots amplify Tucker and his anti-Trump and anti-Jewish podcasts. Thank you, Ukraine for decreasing the botted viewership of Podcastistan. America thanks you.
— Laura Loomer (@LauraLoomer) October 13, 2026
Rabbanim Now saying that one shouldn't vote for Chardeie Parties because they bring hatred to other Jews!
 |
| Harav Gotlieb Shlitah |
DIN: I am paraphrasing the rabbi and I know that I am not doing it justice, but you get his drift!
The Rabbi is saying that those parties like Shas, Degel & Aguda don't represent the "oilom ha"torah" at all.
He says, let's look what these parties have brought us. The "Torah" parties have not brought us to the famous Torah dictum of the ואהבת לרעך כמוך!
They haven't brought Klall Yisrael to שמחה ואושר, on the contrary they brought the Charedie communities to depression, brought and provoked issues between one Jew and another, and brought Charedim to having great financial hardships, mental issues, and incest.
Chas Ve'sholom to vote for these parties, not for the Ashkenazi parties and not for the Sfardie parties just because they represent themselves as Oilom Hatoirah, but know this is not our Torah, and so my friends don't buy what they are selling, portraying aging Torah Leaders as if they are Gedoilei Torah and that you should vote for them.
Look to vote to those who are really connected to G-D and who encourage love between one another, who have respect for others.
Not like those who portray themselves as tzaddikim but discriminate and refuse to take children of Baalei Teshuva into their schools. there is no question that the RBS"O is not happy with them. Chas Ve'Sholom to vote for them!
לשם שמים KRUMKEIT
לשם שמים KRUMKEIT
The נצי"ב in his פתיחה לספר בראשית writes that you can have צדיקים ,חסידים & עמלי תורה who are not ישר (straight)
They label those who don't follow their דעת תורה as צדוקים ואפיקורסים.
As a result, שפיכת דמים is justified.
This is פשט in the Pasuk "צדיק וישר הוא Hashem is straight and doesn't tolerate צדיקים who are Farkrumt even when it's done לשם שמים;
That was the cause for the חורבן הבית.
Unfortunately, we have a very similar situation today.
Some Farkrumte צדיקים whose intention is לשם שמים, are unwilling to stop the children & ladygayers from being
- מזיקים ,משחיתים ,מצערים את הרבים - ומחללים את השם
Disturbing details from deadly school trip explosion.........'He unscrewed it - and then it exploded'
Disturbing details are coming out from the tragedy that occurred during the ORT Ma’alot Yeshiva High School annual school trip on the Ramim Ridge in the Upper Galilee, in which 14-year-old student Elazar Yair Wilensky was killed, and 24 others were wounded.
According to testimonies by the students, during the hike the teens found several pieces of military ordnance, including two missiles, and they even collected some of them. The students also said that they held onto a cluster munition that they found for over an hour, without being aware of the danger, until it detonated while they took a break for lunch.
The students claimed that they were not briefed or instructed on how to behave if they found ordnance or weapons. The Ministry of Education implicitly rejected the claims and clarified that as part of the trip's approval, explicit safety instructions were provided, including a complete prohibition on touching the falls.
Along with the eyewitness reports, difficult questions are being raised regarding the authorization of the route, after it was found that JNF-KKL notified officials responsible for coordinating the hikes that the area was closed due to war damage.
The trip was part of a three-day hike along the Israel National Trail. Ninth-grade students set out from the yeshiva in Ma’alot in the morning and hiked in the Ramim Ridge area, near the Lebanese border.
According to the testimonies, during the hike the students noticed several items of military ordnance scattered in the area, including two missiles. Some of the teenagers collected items they found, and at one point a cluster munition was also picked up.
The students carried the munition for more than an hour, until the group reached the Mitzpe Pe’er area and stopped for lunch after the Mincha afternoon prayer. During the stop, the munition exploded, seriously injuring students and accompanying staff.
Eitan Masauri, a 14-year-old student who sustained a shrapnel injury to his neck, told Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who visited the wounded at Rambam Medical Center, that one of the students who discovered the munition began playing with it and unscrewed part of it, after which the explosion occurred. "Guys were thrown through the air; some fell into the bushes. There were two seconds of shock," Masauri described.
The student said that despite being injured himself, he tried to help one of his friends. "I realized I was injured. I saw that a friend was hurt, and I tried to help him," he said.
One of the central questions raised by the testimonies concerns the students’ preparation for a trip in an area where munitions from the war remained. Students said they had not received instructions before setting out on the trail on how to respond if they encountered unexploded ordnance or other military items.
They also said they did not notice a warning sign posted near the area where they were staying, which stated that there was a danger from unexploded ordnance and that entry to the area was prohibited.
The Chosson Eli Lavan an American citizen studying in Yerushalayim, accused of spying for Iran released to house arrest
An American yeshiva bochur who spent four months in an Israeli prison after being accused of maintaining contact with an Iranian intelligence operative has been ordered released to house arrest following an extensive legal and communal effort.
Israeli Supreme Court Justice Yitzchak Amit ordered the release of 21-year-old Eli Lavan, an American citizen studying in Yerushalayim who is also a chosson preparing for his wedding.
Lavan had been held at Gilboa Prison for approximately four months after authorities accused him of communicating with a foreign Iranian operative in exchange for several hundred dollars. An indictment was subsequently filed against him.
According to a report by B’Chadrei Chareidim, the release followed months of behind-the-scenes efforts involving the American organization Tzedek, headed by prominent askan Reb Moshe Margaretten, which works on behalf of Jewish prisoners and is involved in pidyon shvuyim cases.
The organization took responsibility for assisting with Lavan’s legal defense and brought attorney Uri Korb onto the defense team. Korb worked alongside attorney Menachem Stauber, whose efforts helped secure the Supreme Court’s decision allowing Lavan to leave prison under restrictive conditions.
As part of the release arrangement, Tzedek provided the Supreme Court with a bank check for one million shekels as financial security.
Additionally, longtime prisoner advocate Reb Shimon Shisha of the Ezra V’Yoeitz organization pledged his personal apartment as collateral to satisfy the conditions imposed by the court.
The substantial financial guarantees were instrumental in securing the house arrest arrangement after months of detention.
Lavan’s case attracted the attention of communal activists because of his status as a young American yeshiva student and chosson facing serious national security allegations.
The accusations against him involve alleged contact with an Iranian agent in exchange for relatively small payments, although the criminal proceedings remain ongoing and the allegations have not resulted in a conviction.
Brisker Rosh Yeshiva Mocks the Gedoilim Like R' Landau & R' Hirsch that say that to Vote "is a mitzva" and it is a "Milchemes Mitzvah"
This is too funny!
I have been screaming about this for years, that the Charedie Gedoilim are a bunch of hypocrites, on one hand they don't recognize the State at all, and even state that "they have no part in it," and on the other hand they say that it is a "mitzvah to vote" and add that the election is a "Milchemes Mitzvah" and one need to close the gemarras and vote!
These hypocrites are the spiritual heads of these political parties and are fighting to have more seats in the Zionist Knesset which they describe as a "knesiya of meenim & apikorsim"
At least the Rosh Yeshiva below, a Brisker, is honest in his hatred of Israel and other Jews, whom he calls "rashaim" and speaks in Yiddish refusing to talk Hebrew unlike Rav Landau and Rav Hirsch who speak Hebrew!
Below he mocks the hypocrisy of Rav Sholom Ber Sorotzkin that on "one hand he sings the anti Israel tune "'ובשלטון הכופרים' and at the same time for $$$$$$, he gives "respect to the biggest apikorsim"
Black FedEx driver in Lakewood Loves Jewish Songs meets Composer Hershy Weinberger
GOP candidate for Senate Justin Murphy's response to a question about Iran. Booker almost wet his pants.
This is fantastic.
— Laura Loomer (@LauraLoomer) October 12, 2026
Monday, October 12, 2026
Jewish NYC teacher Mia Kurzer disrupted vigil for victims of Oct. 7 massacre
A Jewish New York City public school teacher crashed a Manhattan vigil last week honoring victims of the Oct. 7 massacre in Israel, alongside other protesters who cheered on Hamas and chanted violent messages such as “globalize the intifada,” The Post has learned.
Mia Kurzer, a special education teacher at The Heritage School in East Harlem, was among the protesters videotaped at the event in Union Square, where some carried flags of terrorist groups Hamas and Hezbollah, according to a complaint filed with the Department of Education and Schools Chancellor Kamar Samuels.\
A Jewish activist and educator who filed the complaint is demanding Kurzer be investigated for creating a hostile environment for Jewish students and faculty at her school.
“Last night, pro-Palestinian demonstrators overran an October 7 vigil in Union Square organized by Israelis for Peace, drowned out the reading of the names of people killed, and took over chairs reserved for participants, including Comptroller Brad Lander and Mayor Zohran Mamdani,” Moshe Spern wrote in his formal Oct. 8 complaint.
“Video from the event shows Ms. Kurzer among those occupying those seats while mourners were being shouted down. Chants reported at the scene included ‘[globalize] the intifada’ and praise for the attackers.”
Spern said he had video evidence that the teacher was at the event.
“She was comfortable sitting among the Hamas flags and Hamas chants,” he told The Post Sunday.
Earlier in the day, Kurzer came to school wearing a keffiyeh, Spern’s complaint alleged.
“That choice made staff and students uncomfortable and signaled political activism inside a New York City public school,” he said.
Spern also complained that the Department of Education ignored a prior complaint he made about Kurzer attending protests outside the Park East Synagogue in Manhattan.
“A year ago I notified you that Ms. Kurzer participated in both protests outside Park East Synagogue on November 19, 2025, and May 2026, at which demonstrators chanted ‘intifada revolution,’ ‘globalize the intifada,’ and ‘death to the IDF,’ and Jewish congregants were obstructed from entering their house of worship,” Spern told the chancellor.
“Those demonstrations were widely condemned, including by Governor Hochul, as intimidation of Jewish New Yorkers at a synagogue led by a Holocaust survivor.”
The Jewish educator argued that the sum of Kurzer’s actions shows a pattern of hostility towards Israel and Jews.
“Taken together, the synagogue protests at which intifada was chanted, an unanswered OEO [ Office of Equal Opportunity & Diversity Management] referral, disruption of an October 7 vigil, and wearing a keffiyeh in school on 10/7, this is not an isolated incident,” he wrote in the document. “It is a continuing course of conduct by a DOE employee that creates a hostile environment for Jewish students and staff and is incompatible with the Department’s obligations under Chancellor’s Regulation A-830, A-421, and Title VI.”
Spern demanded an investigation be conducted by the Office of Equal Opportunity and Diversity Management or a referral made to the Special Commissioner on Schools Investigation.
“Jewish students and staff are entitled to a school that does not employ someone who joins mobs outside synagogues and then marks October 7 with a political symbol in the building,” he said.
The teacher’s anti-Israel protest work dates back to her college years.
In 2024, Kurzer was interviewed by CNN about her participation in anti-Israel protests at the University of Wisconsin, where she was a student at the time. She said she was Jewish and attended Hebrew school as a child, but critics slammed her as “not a real Jew” for partaking in the protests.
Kurzer, reached by phone, had no comment.
One-third of secular Israelis see plane rescue as ‘divine providence’
A new Arutz Sheva poll reveals significant differences between secular, traditional, religious, and Haredi Jews in how they perceive the rescue of passengers during the incident involving the flight from Dubai.
The findings also reveal a striking distinction between two ways of expressing belief in Divine Providence, with respondents from different religious backgrounds showing clear preferences for one formulation over the other.
The survey was conducted by the Mesaker-Rovadim Research Institute for Arutz Sheva as part of the Israel Barometer.
In the question concerning perceptions of the plane rescue, respondents were presented with several options, including two attributing the rescue to Divine Providence and one attributing it to human actions and a combination of circumstances.
The survey findings show that nearly all Haredi and religious respondents chose an answer expressing belief in Divine Providence: 100% and 94%, respectively.
A large majority of traditional respondents, 84%, also attributed the rescue to Divine Providence.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)