The real reason Ger didn't want their Chassidim to vote for UTJ and More Important Is the Rebbe "really home up there?

 

הייתי בהלם!
מה הסיבה האמיתית ל"שביתה האיטלקית" של חסידי גור? (האדמו"ר מגור הורה במכתבו להצביע ליהדות התורה אך השמיט את הקריאה "לפעול ולהפעיל", מה שגרם לחסידים להשבית את מנועי השטח והגיוס הקיימים אצלם תמיד).

כששמעתי את הסיבה האמיתית לזה הייתי בהלם!
מה שגרם לגרערס' לעשות פוזות על מפלגת יהדות התורה זה העובדה שאליקים שטארק, הנציג החדש האנרגטי והנמרץ של יהדות התורה (שהוא בכלל חסיד בעלזא) מקורב לר' שאול אלתר, רבם של פורשי חסידות גור.

אז מה שהם רצו זה פשוט 'לדפוק אותו' כדי שלא יכנס לכנסת. הוא מוצב במקום השישי ברשימה, ולכן חסידי גור פשוט העדיפו שיהדות התורה תקבל רק 5 מנדטים - העיקר שהבחור שמקורב לרב שהם כועסים עליו - לא ייכנס לכנסת!

המועמד של גור, הרי הוא הח"כ המפורסם ויו"ר הרשימה לשעבר גולדקנופף, מוצב במקום השני. לכן הם חייבים להראות שגם הם חלק מהמצביעים לרשימה, אחרת ייאבדו את המקום הנכבד שלהם.

שלא תבינו לא נכון. החסידים של גור מזדהים עם הערכים שמפלגת יהדות התורה מייצגת. לא רק זה - ברור מעל לכל ספק שככל שהרשימה הזאת יותר תצליח חסידי גור יהנו ממנה מאוד. זו המפלגה "שלהם".
ועם כל זאת - הם היו מעדיפים לדפוק את הרשימה ואת כל הציבור שמעוניין בהצלחתה (והם בכללם) - העיקר שלא יראו את האיש שמקורב לרב שאול אלתר מחייך.

אז האם ככה עובד הראש של האדמו"ר מגור?

אז קבלו סקופ: לפי עדויות מקורבים, האדמו"ר הישיש כבר "לא איתנו" זה זמן רב.
החסידים מסתירים את זה, כדי שכל הוראה שתצא מבית האדמו"ר תקבל תוקף של "הוראת הרב'ה" שאין לערער אחריה, אך לפי המידע המודלף האדמו"ר מבלה את רוב שעות היום בשינה, וגם כשהוא ער הוא "שקוע בשרעפי קודש" ואינו מוציא מפיו הוראות ברורות.

אז מי מנהל את החצר?
הנה עוד סקופ: לפי שמועות מודלפות, שניים מיורשי העצר של האדמו"ר- אנשים נכבדים ויהודים של צורה אשר כל אחד מהם הוא מנהיג פוטנציאלי דגול - חלוקים ביניהם על אופן ניהולה הראוי של החצר. (ויש שיגידו "מסוכסכים", אך אנו איננו מתיימרים לייחס לקדושי עליון מושגים ארציים).

כך נוצר מצב בו ההוראות היוצאות מבית האדמו"ר נושאות אופי לוחמני משהו, דבר שכנראה נובע מחוסר יציבות פנימית ומחלוקת בקודש פנימה כיצד לקרוא ולפרש את פני ה"אורים ותומים"

Translation:

by אהרון שגיב

I was shocked!

What is the real reason for the "Italian strike" by the Gur Hasidim? 

(The Rebbe of Gur instructed in his letter to vote for United Torah Judaism, but omitted the usual call to "work and mobilize others," causing the Hasidim to shut down their normally active campaign and voter-recruitment efforts.)

When I heard the real reason, I was stunned!

What caused the Gur Hasidim to make a show of displeasure toward the United Torah Judaism party was the fact that Elikim Stark, the new energetic representative of United Torah Judaism (who is actually a Belz Hasid), is close to Rabbi Shaul Alter, the leader of those who broke away from the Gur Hasidic movement.

So what they wanted was simply to "take him down" so that he would not enter the Knesset. He was placed sixth on the party list, and therefore Gur Hasidim apparently preferred that United Torah Judaism receive only five seats, as long as the fellow (Stark) who is close to the rabbi (Rav Shaul Alter) they are angry with, would not get into the Knesset.

Gur's own candidate, the well-known MK and former party chairman Yitzhak Goldknopf, is placed second on the list. Therefore they have to show that they are still part of the party's voter base; otherwise, they could lose their prestigious position.

Don't misunderstand. Gur Hasidim identify with the values represented by the United Torah Judaism party. More than that, it is beyond doubt that the more successful the party is, the more Gur Hasidim would benefit from that success. This is "their" party.

And yet, they would supposedly prefer to hurt the party and everyone interested in its success, including themselves, as long as they do not have to see someone close to Rabbi Shaul Alter smiling.

So is this really how the Rebbe of Gur thinks?

Well, here's a scoop: according to accounts from people close to him, the elderly Rebbe has "not really been with us" for quite some time.

The Hasidim allegedly conceal this, so that every instruction coming from the Rebbe's household will carry the authority of a binding "order from the Rebbe" that cannot be challenged. But according to the leaked information, the Rebbe spends most of the day asleep, and even when awake he is "absorbed in holy thoughts" and does not issue clear directives.

So who is running Ger?

Here's another scoop: according to leaked rumors, two of the Rebbe's potential successors, both respected figures and men of stature who could each become great leaders, disagree over the proper way to manage the court. (Some might say they are feuding, but we would not presume to apply such worldly terms to holy individuals.)

As a result, the directives emerging from the Rebbe's household have taken on a somewhat combative tone, apparently stemming from internal instability and disagreement within the leadership over how to interpret and understand the guidance reflected in the "Urim and Tumim."

Note: The original Hebrew text is a strongly opinionated political and religious commentary. Terms such as "scoop," "leaked rumors," "not really with us," and similar expressions reflect the author's claims and rhetoric,

Belz Director, father of 18, who accompanied his daughter when she enlisted in the IDF, dances with her at her wedding!

 

קידוש השם: רבי שלמה אינדורסקי שליט״א מנהל הבית מדרש הגדול דחסידי בעלזא שליווה לפני שנה את בתו לשירות צה״ל זכה אמש להכניס אותה תחת החופה כדת משה וישראל. https://t.co/wRcIOi8LBV

— יוסי בהגרמ״מ (@Yosssia123) October 15, 2026

אבא חסיד בעלזא, עם 18 ילדים, רוקד עם הבת שלו בחתונה, למרות שהיא בחרה בדרך אחרת. כי בסוף, לא משנה באיזו דרך הילדים שלך בוחרים, הם תמיד נשארים הילדים שלך. זה אבא. זאת אהבה. https://t.co/I0yLpsDSMR

— בין הסדרים (@lhnn_w915) October 15, 2026

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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.

Ger and Sanz on each others throats!

 

Tensions inside Agudas Yisrael escalated overnight following a contentious meeting between representatives of Gur and Sanz, after Sanz firmly rejected a demand that its representatives sign a written commitment sought by Gur.

According to a report by Kikar HaShabbos, the dispute erupted after Gur representatives sought a formal letter of commitment from Sanz, similar to an agreement that had reportedly been signed several years ago. Sanz rejected the demand outright, reportedly responding: “This will not happen. We are not repeating the same mistake twice.”

With the sides at an impasse, a senior Gur delegation traveled Monday night to Kiryat Sanz in Netanya in an effort to resolve the dispute. The Gur delegation included Motty Babchik, Yonatan Chassid and Chanoch Dranger, while Sanz was represented by Berl Stemer and Reichman.

During the meeting, the Gur representatives reportedly stressed the importance of their request and maintained that the demand had come from the Gerrer Rebbe.

But Sanz refused to budge.

“We are not subordinate to you. We also have a Rebbe, and his opinion and decision carry exactly the same weight as those of the Rebbes of Gur, Vizhnitz and Belz,” the Sanz representatives reportedly told the Gur delegation.

Sanz further made clear that the chassidus answers to the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah and the Sanzer Rebbe, and would not accept the authority of another chassidus.

According to the report, Gur ultimately withdrew its demand for the written commitment after it became clear that Sanz would not agree to sign it.

The confrontation comes amid broader turmoil inside Agudas Yisrael surrounding the party’s Knesset slate. The dispute intensified after Gur moved to remove Sanz representative MK Moshe Shimon Roth from the fifth position on the Agudas Yisrael list.

Hours after the initial report, a statement issued in the names of Gur’s Central Faction and the Sanz community said the sides had reached an agreement following talks held “in a positive atmosphere and with mutual understanding.” Under the reported agreement, the representative of the Sanzer Rebbe would receive the fifth position on the Agudas Yisrael Knesset slate.

The statement added that the arrangement was intended to increase representation for the various kehillos and promote cooperation on communal and religious matters.

Yisrael Eichler MK in the Aguda Party Dumped by Belzer Rebbe ...He is in shock! Not Expected!

 

DIN: MK Yisrael Eichler was involved in efforts that delayed or obstructed the extradition of Malka Leifer who was convicted of sexually abusing her students, and is serving time in Australia 

Following the drama surrounding the ouster of UTJ MKs Moshe Gafni and Uri Maklev, a decision was made by the Belzer chassidus during the past week that Agudas Yisrael Deputy Minister Yisrael Eichler, the Belzer representative on the UTJ slate, will conclude his role and be replaced by Rav Elyakim Stark, one of the Chassidus’s senior activists.

The significant decision was supposed to be announced on Sunday, but the official announcement was postponed due to the Rebbe’s health condition.

Agudas Yisrael’s leadership will convene this evening at 6:00 p.m. to finalize the composition of the list.

Rav Elyakim Stark is the chairman of the Belzer chassidus’s Executive Committee and a powerful political figure in the chassidus. In the last municipal elections, he effectively managed the entire political operation and gained extensive political experience.

Rav Stark also heads a chaburah for Chassidish bochurim from abroad who learn at the Mir Yeshiva in Jerusalem, where he spends a considerable portion of his day. In the evenings, he is involved in public and Torah-related activities on behalf of the Chassidus’s institutions and in external relations, as a shliach of the Rebbe’s only son, HaRav Aharon Mordechai Rokeach.

In addition, Stark is active in the Or HaTzafon Institute, which is engaged in clarifying the teachings of the Belzer Rabbanim and researching the history of the Chassidus. His work over the years in the educational, Torah, and communal spheres has placed him among the leading activists in the chassidus.

According to a Kikar H’Shabbat report, Deputy Minister Eichler was shocked when he received the news over the past 24 hours, but made clear that he accepts whatever the Rebbe decides.

Sources in Belz Chassidus told Kikar: “It can be said that Eichler was genuinely hurt by the move. He did not expect it — but as a loyal chassid, he accepts the decision.”

“It had already seemed certain that Eichler would continue, and now everything has changed. It may be that because of the decision in Degel to remove the veteran and capable MKs, it was decided to carry out a renewal here as well.”

Belzer Chusid Rabbi Yaakov Farber, pioneer of Charedi military integration, passes away at 32

 Rabbi Yaakov Aharon Farber - the visionary behind the "Ma'alot Tzur" initiative designed to integrate Charedi men into military bases under conditions that safeguard their religious lifestyle - has passed away at the age of 32 following years of illness.

Rabbi Farber died in hospital after his health abruptly deteriorated during a planned medical procedure.

He was born in Montreal, Canada, to Rabbi Moshe Tzvi Farber, a prominent Belz Hasid in the city, and Chaya Tzipora, daughter of Rabbi Moshe Schwartz, one of the elder respected figures of the Belz community in Jerusalem.

Under the "Ma'alot Tzur" framework, Rabbi Farber advocated for key accommodations, including allowing participants to serve without uniforms and tailoring the program specifically to married men outside the full-time yeshiva system who maintain close ties with rabbinic mentors.

In a past interview with journalist Shilo Fried, he highlighted how vital it was for participants to remain anchored in the rabbinic world. "When I interviewed candidates, my first question was always: 'Who did you consult before coming here?' It was crucial for me to hear that they had a rabbi they leaned on and stayed connected with," he shared.

Alongside his work with the program, Rabbi Farber was deeply involved in community life in Givat Ze'ev, actively contributing over the years to the local Belz institutions.

He is survived by his wife and six children. His youngest daughter was born just a few months ago.

Daf Yomi Learners Learn That one can eat a cow without Shechita and would not be restricted by the prohibition of cooking meat and milk

 Vue de Monde restaurant, on the 55th floor of the Rialto Towers in Melbourne, is one of the swankiest locations in Australia. Located in what was once the tallest building in the Southern Hemisphere, the restaurant provides panoramic views of the city, and its menu usually includes 14 to 17 set courses with options like “cured South Australian kangaroo with native mountain pepper.”

However, in August 2015, it hosted the launch of the “Ancient Kosher Ben Pekuah Meat Project,” one of the most ambitious and revolutionary kosher products launched in over 1,000 years.

Ben Pekuah is an ancient Halachic concept that is discussed in Jewish law, the Talmud, and rabbinic literature; it refers to the offspring of pregnant kosher bovine animals that are slaughtered in accordance with Jewish law. The surviving premature fetuses inside the slaughtered mothers are not considered to be “alive” according to the Mishna and some rabbinic opinions. This means that although the surviving animals look like regular goats, sheep, or cows, under Jewish law they do not technically require ritual slaughter nor the checking of their lungs or internal organs for imperfections that would render them nonkosher. The hind quarters of these animals—including the fats and the sciatic nerves, which are generally forbidden—may also be consumed, according to some rabbinic opinions.

According to some well respected halachic authorities, the Ben Pekuah is a species (like deer) that is not restricted by the prohibition of cooking meat and milk.

Throughout Jewish history small herds of Ben Pekuah have existed with their special privileges known about and utilized, including the fact that ritual slaughter was not required, with the last of these known herds recorded in the 13th century.

"Disconnected" Litvishe Roshei Yeshiva Running Scared as their Followers Wake Up and Enlist

As I’ve been writing over the past two weeks, there is a noticeable shift taking place in the thinking and hashkafah of many within the Charedi community. More and more people are recognizing that they cannot remain separate from the rest of the Jewish people, and that this separation is creating real resentment.

We all live in this country, and every individual has a responsibility to be part of Klal Yisrael and not to be poretz geder.

Many are beginning to realize that their elderly spiritual leaders are, in their view, increasingly out of touch — disconnected from the realities unfolding around them — and that these leaders are often influenced by handlers who filter what they see and hear.

We are at war, yet when speaking to a typical Charedi individual, you might not sense it. Some openly say that this is not “their war,” a statement that echoes language historically used by those hostile to the Jewish people.

At long last, some within the community are waking up. There is a small but genuine ray of hope that people are beginning to see the larger picture and reassess long‑held assumptions.

 An emergency gathering attended by dozens of Lithuanian-haredi yeshiva deans was held Sunday to warn against what they described as a "grave spiritual danger" posed by the enlistment of haredim into army frameworks tailored for the haredi public.

Central to the gathering was the reading of a sharply-worded letter from leading rabbis opposing military enlistment, even in frameworks that claim to accommodate religious observance and allow soldiers to maintain their haredi lifestyle. In the signatories' opinion, these arrangements "regrettably do not endure over time despite promises and commitments."

Rabbi Moshe Hillel Hirsch wrote: "It has unfortunately come to my attention that, as part of efforts to enlist Torah students, various tracks have been established and given names such as ‘Kodkod’ and others, and recently additional enlistment tracks have been added in the south, in Netivot and Be’er Sheva."

"And it is certain that all of these tracks are an integral part of the army, and one who goes there hands himself over to the control and authority of the military rulership, and becomes a full soldier in every respect, and it is similar to joining the army, which has no permissible aspect at all."

The letter also included remarks by yeshiva dean Rabbi Dov Lando, who warned: "Anyone who, G-d forbid, joins these tracks or similar, should know that beyond the personal tragedy that he brings upon himself and his household, others may, G-d forbid, be drawn after him, and his sin would be great to bear."

However within the Chasidic-haredi community: In groups such as Belz, Sanz, Karlin, and others, married working men are permitted to participate in supervised military initiatives.

Nachum Yisrael Eber found murdered in Colombia was looking for new bride after his marriage to teenager failed

 The Brooklyn Orthodox man brutally murdered in Colombia was reeling from the end of his one-month marriage to a teen bride — and was desperately looking for a new love when he was killed.

The body of Nachum Israel Eber was found dismembered inside a bloody wardrobe that was dumped on a street in Bogota on Sunday.

Yosef Matheron, a Colombian man who befriended Eber and helped translate for him, told The Post how Eber had met his 18-year-old wife before the brief union unraveled in January.

Eber, 51, a member of the Boro Park Belz Hasidic community, went to South America to search for a bride after divorcing his first wife five or six years ago. They shared four kids and two grandchildren.

Eber searched far and wide for a new bride, working with matchmakers in New York and Ukraine, before setting his sights on Colombia, his best friend said.

The divorcee was drawn to the country because he knew a rabbi from his community who would travel there and help descendants of Spanish Inquisition exiles convert to Judaism.

“He mentioned that he was exploring the possibility of meeting someone to marry, and eventually he made a match,” Matheron said.

Eber met the much younger woman in Barranquilla and thought she was 20 years old, the pal said.

Matheron said he spent a lot of time with the pair, and he would often accompany them on dates to get ice cream.

“They were a religious couple, a very wholesome couple,” he said, “He didn’t drink alcohol, he didn’t use drugs, he was a religious man.”

The two were married in a ceremony in Barranquilla, and a dinner celebrating the union was held in Bogota, he said.

But it turns out his new in-laws lied about their daughter’s age — she was really 18, and was getting cold feet.

“The young woman eventually broke up with him, though mostly because she told him she didn’t feel ready — she felt she was too young and believed she had rushed into taking that step. But it was never something she was forced to do,” Matheron said of the marriage.

He told Eber, who was depressed after the January split, to go home to the Big Apple and recover.

But Eber was determined to stay in Colombia until he found a wife.

“It’s very hard to live alone in our community. Everyone lives with their families and has children in the house,” his friend from Brooklyn said.

Bad luck seemed to follow the “high-strung, nervous” Eber, Matheron said.

“I decided to stop traveling with Nachum, as I had already encountered several security issues. I was being robbed frequently in the places we stayed, though I couldn’t figure out why,” he said.

Eber may have made himself a target for a “paseo millionairo” attack — where robbers stalk a potential victim for days — by doing things foreigners shouldn’t, like walking around with his cell phone in his hand, Matheron theorized.

“I’d tell him: ‘Nachum, this isn’t New York.’ He would start speaking Yiddish, Hebrew, and English right out in the open. He drew attention to himself, because of his distinctive attire and the various languages ​​he spoke,” he said.

The murder victim was described by his friend as a loving father and grandfather who would do anything for his family.

“During COVID he traveled to Cleveland and took care of his sick father for 100 days straight, that’s the kind of person he was,” his friend said.

Eber’s Brooklyn friend spoke to him April 21, the last day he was seen alive, and said Eber was optimistic.

His body was found Wednesday, and local police are investigating.

“He came to Colombia to find a wife, then, his dreams went cold,” Eber’s Brooklyn friend said.

Belz Chasid from New York abducted, brutally murdered in Colombia

 

Nachum Yisrael Eber, a 51-year-old Belz Hasid from the Borough Park neighborhood of New York, was murdered during a trip to Colombia after being abducted by a local criminal gang.

According to initial reports from Colombian authorities, Eber was kidnapped in an attempted robbery and was later killed by his assailants, who fled the scene.

His body was found in a remote area bearing signs of severe violence, days after contact with him was lost and he was reported missing.

Family members, concerned for his safety, appealed to community activists and authorities for assistance in locating him. Following intensive searches conducted in cooperation with local officials, his body was located.

Eber is survived by an extended family, including 16 siblings, who are part of the Belz Hasidic community in the United States, Canada and Israel.

At the same time, leaders of the Jewish community in Colombia, along with international aid organizations and community activists from the United States, are working to ensure proper respect for the deceased and to arrange for his burial as soon as possible.

Colombian authorities have opened a murder investigation, while community representatives are applying diplomatic pressure to expedite the transfer of his body for burial in Israel

Concern in Belz as Rebbe’s condition worsens

Concern is mounting in the Belz hasidic sect following a recent deterioration in the health of the Belzer Rebbe, Rabbi Yissachar Dov Rokeach.

His son, Rabbi Aharon Mordechai Rokeach, on Sunday night sent a message via the sect's internal "Kol Belz" system, calling on Belz hasidim in Israel and abroad to pray for the Rebbe's recovery.

The statement said the Rebbe is in a state of great weakness, and urged the public to recite Psalms, give charity, and pray for his recovery.

Over the past Shabbat (Sabbath), the Rebbe did not attend public prayers and instead prayed with a small quorum at his home.

The public is asked to pray for the complete and speedy recovery of Rabbi Yissachar Dov son of Miriam, among the other ill of Israel.

Liar Porush: “Arrests Of Bnei Torah Is Causing A Rift With Largest Jewish Kehilla In The Diaspora”

 

Meir Porush claims that the arrests of Bnei Torah are “causing a rift with the largest Jewish kehilla in the Diaspora.” This is simply not true.

Which kehilla is he referring to? Lakewood? Skver? Monroe? These communities do not center their education around love of Eretz Yisrael; in many cases, the topic is barely addressed.

Porush states: “The Jewish community that sends the largest number of young Jews to study in Eretz Yisrael is the community of New York.”

Yes — but then they leave. Yeshivos like Mir actively discourage foreign students from making Aliyah. I know this firsthand; my own son was discouraged when he expressed interest in officially making Aliyah!

He then adds another claim: 

“The Jewish community that sends the largest number of couples to make Aliyah is New York.”

Anyone who watches Nefesh B’Nefesh flights knows this is simply not the case. You will not find Charedi families on those flights — not one.

Israel must do what is right for its citizens and should not shape national policy based on the opinions of Charedim living in Chutz La’Aretz who never have, and show zero interest in making Aliya! 

Porush then makes his most dramatic statement:

“The ongoing persecution by the judicial system against lomdei Torah is creating a severe, perhaps irreparable, rift.”

Persecution? Against lomdei Torah? What is he talking about?

No one is preventing anyone from learning. The batei midrash and kollelim are full, from morning to night. I have never seen a single person stopped from learning Torah.

Israel has a law: if you are eligible for the IDF, you must either enlist or do national service. That is not persecution — that is basic civic responsibility. Even Rav Shach and Rav Shteinman ruled clearly that anyone who is not learning seriously must serve.

Porush’s statements are not grounded in reality, and they misrepresent both the situation in Israel and the attitudes of Diaspora communities.

In a speech last week marking the Day for Strengthening Ties with Diaspora Jewry, UTJ MK Meir Porush addressed the serious damage that the arrests of bnei yeshivos have caused to ties with the frum community in the US.

“The largest Jewish community in the world outside Israel is in New York and New Jersey,” he said. “Unfortunately, it seems that for certain elements here, strengthening ties with this community is not important. On the contrary, they want to weaken those ties and, chalilah, even sever them, perhaps because of its Chareidi identity.”

“The Jewish community that sends the largest number of young Jews to study here in Eretz Yisrael is the Jewish community of New York. The Jewish community that sends the largest number of couples to make aliyah to Eretz Yisrael and to Jerusalem is the community of New York. Enter the Mir, Belz, or Brisk yeshivos in Jerusalem and see how many bochurim and avreichim left the comfortable conditions of New York and came to study in Eretz Yisrael.”

“The state invests hundreds of millions of shekels, and perhaps even more, in Diaspora Jewry, whether through the Ministry of Aliyah with the aim of bringing them to Israel, or through the Ministry of Diaspora Affairs to strengthen them abroad, and through many other channels. I doubt whether even a tiny fraction of that is invested in the Jewish community of New York.”

“Recently, U.S. Congressman Mike Lawler’s letter was published. He is one of Israel’s greatest friends in Congress and represents a significant portion of that Jewish community in New York in his district. He appealed to the Prime Minister and cried out about the absurdity: how can a group of unelected judicial clerks so severely harm the rights of the American citizens he represents, simply because they came to Israel to learn Torah?”

“The ongoing persecution by the judicial system against lomdei Torah is creating a severe rift, perhaps even an irreparable one, between us and the largest Jewish community in the Diaspora. When we gather here to speak about strengthening ties with Diaspora Jewry, perhaps we should first make sure not to weaken our ties with Diaspora Jewry.”

“Perhaps the Attorney-General shouldn’t be busy from morning to night constructing piles upon piles of interpretations explaining how, why, and in what way not to fund yeshivos that bring foreign students to Israel, students who have nothing to do with the issue of military conscription, simply because perhaps they might buy milk at a coffee corner where an Israeli ben yeshivah is also drinking tea.”

Satmar "Shventz" Plan Massive Anti-IDF Draft Demonstration ..Guess Where? ... In London ..

What a spectacle — and what a waste of time. Satmar is busy organizing protests in London, but let’s be real: sooner or later the Muslims will chase them out. London already has a Muslim mayor, and when the tide turns, where exactly will Satmar run?

Not to the USA — Trump isn’t opening the doors for more people to mooch off the system. The only option left will be Israel, where they’ll suddenly need the very protection of the IDF they spend their lives demonizing.

So what’s behind this useless protest? Not one MK in the Knesset cares what these leidegeirs have to say. The truth is simple: Satmar teenagers are bored out of their minds. They don’t enjoy learning, they don’t exercise, they don’t swim, they don’t have smartphones. So what’s left?

Easy. Stage a protest against their eternal nemesis — the State of Israel, home to the majority of the Jewish people. At least it keeps them occupied for a few hours.

But then comes Sunday. And the question remains: what do you do with these kids once the protest is over?

Stay tuned.

Following the major Satmar rally in Manhattan against Israel’s proposed draft law, which accomplished Zero, London’s Satmar kehilla is now preparing for its own large-scale demonstration. 

Thousands of residents from across London’s frum neighborhoods are expected to gather Thursday afternoon outside the Israeli Embassy to voice their opposition to the ongoing efforts in the Knesset to advance a new conscription law.

The demonstration is being organized by Satmar and are pushing to have all major chasidish kehillos join them , with participation expected from , Belz, Vizhnitz, Bobov, and Ger. 

Both dueling Satmar factions have agreed to unite for this protest, lending unusual weight and symbolism to the event, just like when dueling Arabs unite against Israel.

 Organizers also noted that the gathering is set to take place on the 21st of Kislev, long marked as the “Yom Hatzalah” of the Satmar Rebbe, Rav Yoel Teitelbaum zt”l, from none other than Rudolf Kastner a Zionist! 

The call to protest follows a request from the Badatz of the Eidah HaGanavim in Yerushalayim, which issued a strongly worded letter urging kehillos abroad to join the outcry against any legislation that would compel "bnei Torah" in Eretz Yisroel to serve in what they termed “the army of destruction.”

 In response, the rabbonim of London’s Badatz Kehillas Kadathia issued their own letter encouraging full participation, stressing that the hour demands a united and public stance.

Local rabbonim across London have signed on to the initiative, encouraging all men and bochurim to attend. Yeshivos affiliated with Ger have already confirmed that they will be sending their bochurim, and organizers say buses will be running from all major chareidi centers to accommodate the large turnout.

The demonstration follows the massive Manhattan protest outside the Israeli Consulate two months ago, which drew international attention but accomplished zero. With the draft bill continuing to advance through Israel’s Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, London’s kehillos say it is their responsibility to raise their voices in solidarity.

The atzeres is scheduled to begin at 2:00 p.m. London time. Community leaders anticipate a peaceful but forceful show of unity, expressing the long-held position that the chareidi community worldwide stands firmly against any legislation that would require bnei Torah in Eretz Yisroel to abandon their learning and join military service.

Prominent Belz Chasid travels for granddaughter's wedding and passes away

 Rabbi Benzion Rabinowitz, a prominent Belzer hasid in Jerusalem, died over Shabbat (the Sabbath) at a US hospital.He was 87.

Rabbi Rabinowitz arrived in the US last week for his granddaughter's wedding, which took place on Tuesday in Williamsburg. On the night of the wedding, he began feeling unwell, and after dancing the traditional "Mitzvah Tanz" dance with the bride, he went to rest.

On Friday night, he was hospitalized after contracting a virus and passed away the following morning, during the week of the "sheva brachot" celebrations.

Rabbi Rabinowitz was known for his precision in prayer, and he taught the Belz Rebbe grammar methods. As a result, the Belz community began praying according to precise pronunciation using the "Avodat Hashem" prayer book.

Rabbi Rabinowitz suffered the loss of his son, Rabbi Yosef, and his daughter during his lifetime.

The funeral took place on Saturday night at the Belz synagogue on 43rd Street in Borough Park. His coffin was flown to Israel, and the funeral procession will leave Sunday night at 10:00p.m. from the Sanhedria funeral home in Jerusalem, passing through the Belz Great Synagogue in Kiryat Belz, and will continue to the "Kahal Mahzikei Dat" section of Mount Hamenuchot, where he will be buried.

Belzer Chusid Sees Off His daughter that Enlisted

 

In a scene that is capturing widespread attention across Israeli social media, a brief nine-second video has ignited powerful emotion and debate. The clip shows Ba’ash Indursky, a young woman from the Belz Hasidic community, stepping forward to enlist in the Israel Border Police — with her traditionally observant father, Shlomo Indursky, at her side.

Indursky, a senior administrative director at the Belz headquarters in Jerusalem, is seen wrapping his daughter in a long, heartfelt embrace before she enters the enlistment base. Family members surround the pair, offering support in what has become an unusually public moment of unity from a sector where military enlistment, especially for women, remains exceedingly rare.

The video, published by media figure Yossi Reiner, has sparked a wave of reactions online. Many viewers praised the father’s unwavering love and the daughter’s determination; others highlighted the cultural significance of a Hasidic woman enlisting with her family’s full support.

In just seconds, the clip captures a striking intersection of faith, family, and national service — a moment that continues to echo across the public conversation in Israel.

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Dov Hikind Spot On about that Huge Chillul Hashem by the Satmar Dueling Brothers

 

In a fiery interview on the Zev Brenner Radio Show Saturday night, former New York Assemblyman Dov Hikind sharply criticized the Satmar community for organizing a major protest against the State of Israel, which took place Sunday in Manhattan.

Both Satmar factions — the Aronim and the Zaloynim — are uniting for the first time since 2013, after dragging each other in secular courts, to stage a joint rally opposing the Israeli government’s proposed draft of yeshiva students. 

Organizers say the timing of the protest reflects Satmar’s long-held policy not to rally against Israel while the country is at war. (Israel is always at war so this policy is a lie) With fighting in Gaza now paused (paused? two Idf soldiers were murdered yesterday after the ceasefire) following the ceasefire brokered by President Donald Trump, they argue that the time has come to voice opposition to what they call “gezeiras hagiyus,” the decree of conscription.

So now helping to fight murderers and rapists is a "gezeira?" 

Hikind, however, denounced the rally as “an absolute disgrace,” accusing its organizers of being trapped in the past.

 “Are these people still living in the 1960s?” he asked. “They receive massive support from the Israeli government — housing, education, welfare — and yet they march against the very country that sustains them. It’s ridiculous.”

He called the planned protest “a dangerous and shameful spectacle,” warning that “what the Satmars are doing is not a game.” Hikind said, “It’s heartbreaking for the Jewish people that this can even happen. The idea that some in Satmar believe they are holier than everyone else — it’s beyond arrogance. It’s delusional.”

Hikind also pointed out that no other major Chassidic group — including Belz, Bobov, or Ger — is participating in or supporting this event, either in New York or in Israel. “This is not a mainstream Chassidic position,” he said. “The rest of the Chassidic world knows better than to embarrass Am Yisrael at a time like this.”

He added that the demonstration only serves to embolden Israel’s enemies. “This kind of event gives Hamas and other terrorists a reason to celebrate,” Hikind warned. “They see Jews protesting against Israel and use it as propaganda to justify their terrorism. It’s fuel for their hate.”

Hikind further noted that with antisemitism surging around the world, this type of public demonstration “is totally inappropriate” and dangerous. “It gives fodder to antisemites everywhere who are already looking for excuses to attack Jews,” he said. “This isn’t the time to hand them more ammunition.”

The former lawmaker also suggested that the protest could have political fallout in New York City. “Events like this make the Jewish community look divided and weak,” he said. “It plays right into the hands of politicians like Zohran Mamdani, who’s running for mayor and has made a career out of attacking Israel. Why give him more ammunition?”

Hikind emphasized that Satmar is entitled to its opinion and has every right to protest, but urged them to use better judgment. “I have no issue with people expressing their beliefs,” he said. “But there has to be sensitivity. Right now, with everything Israel is facing, this is absolutely not the time.”

He noted that during his years in office, he worked closely with both Satmar Rebbes and often helped their communities. “I have no animosity toward Satmar,” he said. “They’re wonderful people, and I respect their dedication. But this event — at this time — is simply ridiculous.”

He concluded by calling on the broader Jewish community to reject the divisive message of the rally. “At a moment when Israel is fighting for its survival,” Hikind said, “the Jewish world should be standing together — not tearing itself apart.”