‘We are all one battle team. Whoever isn’t learning, someone should put a hand on their shoulder and tell them to go do something good for the IDF.’

 Brigadier General (res.) Yehuda Duvdevani, founder of the Nahal Haredi and Netzah Yehuda Battalions, says that currently, it is impossible to give in any longer and that recruitment by the Charedi public must be increased.

In an interview with Benny Teitelbaum at Kan Moreshet, Duvdevani told how the first Charedi battalion was established in the IDF.

 "Twenty-five years ago, when I served as head of youth, Nahal and National Missions Division in the Ministry of Defense, I recruited thirty-one haredi youngsters to become fighters in the IDF. They were the 'pioneers.’ We encountered great difficulties and many did not believe that the project would succeed. They told me, 'Ben-Gurion didn't succeed, Rabin didn't succeed.' But with help and a partnership, together with a group of rabbis and with the blessing of Rabbi Ovadia Yosef and Rabbi Shteinman, Rabbi Ovadia gave me his famous slap, and that was his approval to recruit the Haredim into the IDF."

"We acted with tremendous dedication and true faith in bringing haredi youth into the IDF. Today the battalion is the bridge between secular and haredi Jews in the IDF and in Israeli society, in general," added Duvdevani.

When asked what he says to rabbis who oppose the draft today, Duvdevani replied: 

"To all those who say that we should only be studying, I say that we are in a state of war and we must sanctify Heaven every day in-depth, in unity, with a mighty spirit. It is inconceivable that the haredi population does not take part. The IDF opened its ranks. Over 15,000 haredi youth have served in the Netzah Yehuda Battalion. Even now, the Netzah Yehuda Battalion has been serving in Gaza for two weeks. The Arrow Paratroopers and Tomer Battalions in Givati have been in Gaza since the beginning of the war. These are amazing guys who give us all a boost of faith."

Duvdevani also responded to the claim that many of the soldiers currently serving in the battalion are not haredi at all: "At the time I decided that one-third of the recruits would not be haredi, in order to bring all kinds of courses into the battalion, into the army. I have to meet the challenge I set for myself – I took them out of their homes, I will guard them, and return them to their homes at the end of their service."

Duvdevani believes that with a little flexibility, it will be possible to find compromises that will be acceptable to the haredi sector. He explained, "We need to sit down and talk. If you want to mix politics and business, that's something else. 

It is inconceivable that such a large and growing public will not take part. Look at the Religious Zionist sector and see their contribution. Aren’t they learning and aren’t they serving in faith? Everything can be done through dialogue, and whoever is really studying eighteen hours a day, should sit and study, and strengthen us through Torah. But the thousands who come and sign up for two hours a month and the rabbis approve it – this is very serious. They need to come and contribute, and not only in the IDF. There are many options today. We need to talk about how to do it in good spirits, how they can share the responsibilities with us."

"The people of Israel these days need unity, an agreement, to share the responsibilities between us all – a knitted kippah (skullcap), a black kippah, no kippah. We are all one battle team. Whoever isn’t studying - someone should put a hand on their shoulder and tell them to go do something good for the IDF," he concluded.

Dozens of Breslov Chasidim enter Shechem under Fire From Terrorists

Dozens of Breslov Chasidim arrived Sunday night in Shechem (Nablus), illegally and without coordinating with the IDF.

The group arrived in Shechem for the purpose of praying at Joseph's Tomb, via minibus and private cars. Some of the vehicles were stopped by security forces at the entrance to Shechem, while others reached Joseph's Tomb.

Terrorists fired at the minibus, in which around 20 Breslov Chasidim were traveling. No one was injured. Large numbers of forces from the Samaria Brigade were called to the scene and rescued the Chasidim, who were transferred to the police.

"During the night, a number of Israeli civilians attempted, without permission, to enter the Joseph's Tomb compound. All of the civilians were evacuated from the area, and no one was injured," an IDF statement read.

"We emphasize that entering Area A without [security] coordination is forbidden and dangerous to Israelis."

 

Uh Oh!! ..Lieberman Looking to Strip Draft Dodgers of Daycare Subsidies

 

MK Avigdor Liberman, chairman of the Yisrael Beytenu party, will propose a bill under which yeshiva students who did not serve in the IDF not be allowed to leave Israel.

According to Liberman, the bill would "regulate in law the obligation for military or civilian service for every youth upon reaching the age of 18: Jewish, Muslim, Christian, Druze, and Circassian."

Under such a law, an 18-year-old who has not enlisted in military or civilian service will be subject to a number of sanctions: He will not be allowed to leave Israel; he will not receive the standard citizen's tax credit; he will not be eligible for benefits deriving from residence in an area of national priority; and he will not be eligible for property tax discounts.

Such an individual's children would also not be eligible for government daycare subsidies, nor would he be eligible for academic support in institutions of higher education, eligible to work at a government or local government job, or eligible for the "Mechir Lemishktaken" discounted housing program.

This is not the first time Liberman has attempted to cut daycare subsides for haredim.

In July 2021, then-Finance Minister Avigdor Liberman Liberman (Yisrael Beytenu) announced that his office would changing the eligibility criteria for daycare subsidies, allocating government funding only to families in which the mother's partner works at least 24 hours (half time) each week, instead of allocating subsidies based only on the mother's work hours. Though yeshiva students would no longer be eligible for subsidies, higher education students would be.

The matter sparked outrage among citizens and lawmakers alike, and in January 2022, Israel's Supreme Court ordered that the planned cut to daycare stipends for certain religious families be delayed until the next school year.

Discovered: Rare coin from Bar Kohba Revolt engraved with the name of “Eleazar the Priest”

 

A rare coin from the time of the Bar Kokhba Revolt, bearing the name of “Eleazar the Priest,” and dated to the first year of the revolt (132 CE), was discovered in the Mazuq Ha-he'teqim Nature Reserve.

The coin was discovered together with three other coins from the time of the Revolt, bearing the name “Simeon.” It was discovered in the course of the Judean Desert Cave Survey carried out by the Israel Antiquities Authority in cooperation with the Ministry of Heritage and the Archaeological Office for the Military Administration of Judea and Samaria, with the aim of retrieving the ancient treasures before they are stolen by antiquity looters.

There are a few possibilities regarding the identity of Eleazar the Priest, whose name appears on the coin. One is Rabbi Eleazar Hamod‘ai, a Tannaic rabbi from the time of Rabbi Akiva, a pupil of Rabbi Yohanan ben Zakai. It seems that Rabbi Eleazar Hamod‘ai played a significant religious role at the time of the Bar Kokhba Revolt, and he was living in the town of Beitar— the location of the revolt headquarters. The Talmud accounts that he died in Beitar, probably during the Revolt (Jerusalem Talmud Ta‘anit 4:5).

On the obverse face of the coin, a date palm is engraved, with the inscription “Eleazar the Priest” inscribed in ancient Hebrew script. On the reverse, a bunch of grapes is surrounded by the text, “Year One of the Redemption of Israel,” again in ancient Hebrew script.

Since 2017, a team of archaeologists from the Israel Antiquities Authority Prevention of Archaeological Theft Unit, have been systematically surveying the Judean Desert, with the aim of reaching the valuable finds before the antiquity looters. Among the finds discovered in the desert in the course of the survey, were a scroll with fragments of the Twelve Minor Prophets, Roman iron swords —one still in its sheath —and the earliest complete basket in the world, and more.

“We invite the public to join us in the seventh excavation season in the desert, to help save the Judean Desert archaeological finds, endangered by antiquities theft," says Eli Escusido, Director of the Israel Antiquities Authority. “The public is invited to a taste of Zionism, and a touch of ‘escapism’, volunteering on a dig, together with the Israel Antiquities Authority archaeological team, in the Murabba‘at Caves along Nahal Darga. The Judean Desert excavations do not cease to amaze us, and we hope that in this season we will also be able to report important finds.”

The excavation will begin on 11th March 2024, and will last for ten days. The volunteers will lodge in a camp set up in the desert by the Israel Antiquities Authority, and there will be lectures and other activities. Registration and details are available on the Israel Antiquities Authority Website.

New York Man Who Killed Girl After Wrong Turn Into His Driveway Gets 25 Years To Life

 

A man who fatally shot a 20-year-old woman after the SUV she was riding in mistakenly drove into his rural driveway in upstate New York was sentenced Friday to more than 25 years to life in prison.

Kevin Monahan, 66, was convicted of second-degree murder in the death last April of Kaylin Gillis. She was riding in a caravan of two cars and a motorcycle that was trying to leave after pulling into Monahan’s long, winding driveway while looking for a party at another person’s house in the town of Hebron.

“I think it’s important that people know that it is not OK to shoot people and kill them who drive down your driveway,” Judge Adam Michelini said. Apart from the wider deterrent effect, Michelini said it’s important that Monahan remain behind bars rather than be free to harm more people.

The judge handed down the maximum sentence after Gillis’ father, boyfriend and best friend told Monahan and the packed court room about their anguish and the immeasurable void in their lives.

“Kaylin was a sweet and loving soul, something you can only wish to achieve,” boyfriend Blake Walsh said from the stand, as Monahan sat with a stony face. “Kaylin was everything you wish you could be. I will never be able to forgive you for your actions. I wouldn’t even think about it.”

The judge sentenced Monahan to 25 years to life for the second-degree murder and handed down a consecutive sentence of one-and-a-third to four years for tampering with physical evidence. A sentence for reckless endangerment will be served concurrently.

Michelini scolded Monahan for showing no remorse.

Harav Meir Bergman of Kollel Chazon Ish States That He "Is not 'mevatter" on Torah ! All While the "teirah" Learners are out blocking Traffic!!

זקן חברי המועצת: "אף אחד לא בעל הבית לוותר על התורה

בדברים שנשא בהיכל כולל חזון איש התייחס ראש הישיבה הגאון רבי מאיר צבי ברגמן לסוגיית גיוס בני הישיבות וביקש לנצל את המעמד ולהשמיע דברים נחרצים כנגד הדיבורים על חקיקת חוק לחייב את בני הישיבות בגיוס לצבא; "אני רוצה כאן להכריז במעמד זה שאנחנו לא נסכים לשום דבר בנוגע לגיוס בני הישיבות" 

Translation: 

‎In his speech at the Kollel Chazon Ish Hall, the Gaon Rosh Yeshiva Rabbi Meir Zvi Bergman addressed the issue of recruiting yeshiva students to the IDF,  saying that he will take  advantage of the occasion and make strong statements against the talk of enacting a law to require yeshiva children to enlist in the army. "I want to declare here on this occasion that we will not agree to anything regarding the recruitment of yeshiva students." ‎

Rav Bergman Shlitah  must have been kidding? 

What "torah" is he talking about? 

They are not learning "teirah" they are on the streets day and night, protesting all kinds of narishkeitin!v 

Can someone tell the kind rabbi what is really going on? 

Beit Shemesh Chareidim Freaking Out and in Panic Afraid That Dr Aliza Bloch Will Win

 

LOL!!!! Chareidim are themselves fighting like cats and dogs, yet they blame Aliza Bloch for trying to split the Chareidie Vote.

I hope it's true! Why shouldn't she try? ... 

The Chareidim don't admit that Deri threw Abutbul in to knock out Grinberg! What did they think was going to happen?

At any rate, they are running around like poisoned mice to make sure they have some achdus amongst themselves! So far as of this afternoon, Shas and Aguda are supporting Dr. Bloch. 

Things may change as Grinberg is offering Shas and Aguda high positions in his administration, but Grinberg is a bald-faced liar as he already promised those positions to Degel! 

Both Shas and Aguda will get a much bigger piece of the pie if they back Dr. Aliza Bloch since  so far she hasn't offered anyone any positions. 

So pass the popcorn! 

 

The Same Chareidim That Scream "Tzneeis" and "Shiksah" Have No problems Sitting with Women At Elections

 

These are the same individuals who throw women in the back of the bus and would never allow them to sit next to them but when it comes to elections everything is permitted! 

Peleg Leaves Torah to the Dati Leumi Guys To Go and Riot in Bnei-Brak

 They need to be drafted ASAP! The sooner the better, as you see no one is learning so lets draft them all. 

 

A Runoff In Beit Shemesh For Mayor .... Will Aliza Bloch Win This One?

 

It looks like the majority of the residents of Beit Shemesh are Chareidie. Which I have no problem with except I don't want them anywhere in charge of anything!

During the reign of the Chareidie Abutbul as Mayor, the corruption was rampant with many of his administration arrested for being on the take.  In addition, he allowed the extremists free reign and they got out of control spitting on children going to school while screaming and barking "Shiksas" "tznuah" etc. Basically, terrorizing the rest of Beit Shemesh. 

When Dr. Aliza Bloch won in the last election, the extremists were a little bit more restrained, as Dr. Bloch is not a Chareidie but is basically from the Dati Leumi crowd, and they were not comfortable raising the bar, though, they did do much damage to the city, both physically and besmirching the name of entire Beit Shemesh. Just recently when Dr. Bloch came to visit a school, they surrounded her car and almost killed her, the army had to rescue her from these untamed barbarians. People hearing that I live in Beit Shemesh ask right away "How do you live with these extremists?" The truth is that the extremists are a minority of a minority and when they make trouble it is always in the news. 

Being that the city has turned Chareidie, I thought that Dr. Aliza Bloch would have as much chance of winning this election as a snowball in Eilat! 

So Hashem sent Deri to throw a hatchet into the election. 

Until Deri put his nose in, it was between Dr. Bloch the present Mayor and Shmuel Grinberg, a non-English speaker, running in a more or less Anglo community! Deri asked Abutbul the previous Mayor whose administration was plagued by scandal after scandal, to run, to knock out Grinberg. 

Why? 

Deri doesn't really care about Beit Shemesh and doesn't care what happens there! He actually lives in Har Nof in Yerushalyim and his power base is in Yerushalayim and Bnei-Brak. So why get involved?

Politics!!!! And Politics brings the shekels. Deri needs to get Shas guys elected in all Chareidie cities to wield power.

He is the leader of the Shas party founded by Rav Avadia Yosef z"l after Rav Yosef had a huge falling out with Rav Shach z"l! He is a Sfardie, and he hates Ashkenazim, (for good reason, I may add). 

Supposedly he had a deal in Bnei Brak and in Elad with Aguda and Degel about some candidate running for Mayor where they were all on the same page. For some reason, Degel had a falling out with Shas, they may have breached their agreement, so to even the score so to speak,  he pushed Abutbul to run in Beit Shemesh, he got Ger and the Aguda on board. This was to knock out Grinberg who was endorsed by Degel.  No Chareidie endorsed Dr. Bloch.

 Just that you guys know, the loshon hara between the candidates Abutbul and Grinberg hit the roof, and both bad-mouthed Dr. Bloch. Dr. Bloch the classy lady, stayed above the fray and didn't badmouth either candidate, she just kept repeating her record of trying to help everyone. 

Understand so far? 

Good because I don't, either way, all hell broke loose! 

To become the Mayor of Beit Shemesh, you need at least 40% of the vote. No one reached the 40% mark but Abutbul got the least and so he is out! Good riddance! 

In a Chareidie Town you would think that Dr. Aliza Bloch, a Dati Leumi person, would have no chance. But Hashem has a sense of humor and sent in the Gerer troops to put a hex on Grinberg! 

The Gerers hate Grinberg because he was endorsed by Degel. He was also endorsed by their arch-enemy Rav Shaul Alter. 

Shmuel Grinberg the guy who cannot utter one English word in a town dominated by Anglos dragged in old feeble out-of-town rabbis to a huge, massive gathering to endorse his candidacy. This gathering was in a Beit Shemesh Sports Center where for years the Chareidim yelled that one is not allowed to step in there. How we change things for "teirah" 

All those rabbis kept talking about doing "histadlus" yet not one mentioned the concept of "Betachon," I guess when it comes to Chareidie interests in elections there is no concept of "Betachon." only "hishtadlus" plays a role. 

As an aside that when it comes to serving our country, "hishtadlus" is thrown out the window and only "bitachon" plays a role! Chareidim are the only ones who have the license to decide when to invoke "hishtadlus" and when to invoke  "Betachon." The author of Chovas Halvovos is turning in his grave.

So now that the Gerers who endorsed Abutbul, will not in any way endorse Grinberg, Dr. Aliza Bloch has a chance of winning.

 All this may change at any time since the political situation is so volatile. 

I hear as I am typing this that Grinberg is reaching out to Ger and Aguda and offering them high positions in his cabinet