Monday, December 15, 2025
A Phone Charger, a Bus Ride, and a Love Story That Began in Jerusalem
Love at First Charge
Moshe was riding Jerusalem’s Bus 67 when he asked Miriam if he could use her phone charger.
One conversation turned into something more — and the rest is history.
They got married 💍
When the bus company heard their story, they sent Bus 67 to the wedding so the newlyweds could ride it home together.
Only in Israel!
Names Released of Victims Murdered in Sydney Terror Attack
Rabbi Eli Schlanger
Alex Kleitman
Dan Elkayam
Rabbi Yaakov Halevi Levitin
Reuven Morrison
May their memory be a blessing.
Yeshiva students and the Tribe of Levi's obligation to serve
The Question:
I have heard that members of the Haredi community claim that yeshiva boys are exempt from military service because they are considered like members of the Tribe of Levi, who dedicated themselves to Torah study, and did not divert their minds to anything else.
And even though many in the Haredi community are not descendants of the Tribe of Levi, any Jewish person may choose to conduct himself like the Tribe of Levi, as the Rambam wrote:
“And why did Levi not merit an inheritance in the Land of Israel and its spoils together with his brothers? Because he was set apart to serve the Lord, to minister to Him, and to teach His straight ways and His righteous laws to the public, as it is said: ‘They shall teach Your judgments to Jacob and Your Torah to Israel.’ Therefore, they were set apart from the ways of the world-they do not wage war like the rest of Israel, and they do not inherit or acquire for themselves by the strength of their bodies.
"Rather, they are the Lord’s Legion, as it is said: ‘Bless, O Lord, his army.’ And He, blessed be He, provides for them, as it is said: ‘I am your portion and your inheritance.’
"And not only the Tribe of Levi, but any person from among all the inhabitants of the world whose spirit generously moves him, and whose intellect understands to set himself apart to stand before the Lord, to serve Him, and to worship Him, to know the Lord, and who walks uprightly as God made him, and who throws off from his neck the yoke of the many calculations that people seek-behold, he becomes sanctified as Holy of Holies. And the Lord shall be his portion and inheritance forever and ever, and He will grant him in this world that which is sufficient for him, as He has granted to the Kohanim and the Levites. As David, peace upon him, said: ‘The Lord is my portion and my cup; You maintain my lot.’” (Hilchot Shemittah ve’Yovel 13:12-13).
Answer: Two Errors
There are two fundamental errors in the position that claims that the sons of the Tribe of Levi did not take part in the wars of Israel:
1. In practice, numerous Kohanim and Levites participated in the wars of Israel like all other soldiers; among them were great righteous men, such as Benaiah son of Yehoiada.
2. Moreover, before the Kohanim and Levites took part in the wars as regular fighters, they led the soldiers of Israel in their battles: as the Kohen anointed for war, as bearers of the Ark that went out with the fighters, as those who blew the trumpets, as officers responsible for exemptions from the draft, and as officers who harshly punished those who fled the battlefield.
In other words, they served as the “Military Rabbinate Corps,” “Education Corps,” “Military Police,” and “Military Prosecution,” and afterward, still participated as regular fighters. Thus, in practice, they participated in the wars more than all the other tribes.
Since the damage caused by an error in such an important issue is very serious, and as our Sages said: “A mistaken ruling in learning is counted as intentional wrongdoing” (Avot 4:13), I will expand upon these foundations.
Sunday, December 14, 2025
Body of Aba Shaul of Bnei-Brak Has Been Retrieved
A body was found in the Yarkon River Sunday afternoon, during extensive searches for the missing Eliyahu Aba Shaul, a 19-year-old from Bnei Brak.
Aba Shaul was last seen on Wednesday, and since then, intensive search efforts have been underway.
The body was located by ZAKA volunteers in coordination with the Israel Police and the Fire and Rescue Service's Lehava Unit, in the area around the Yarkon River and its environs.
Police are currently verifying the identity of the body, and no official announcement has been made regarding its identification.
On Thursday evening, Aba Shaul's clothes were found alongside an electric bicycle near the Yarkon River, from the direction of Rokah Street in Ramat Gan, which led to a focused search effort in the area.
On Sunday morning, a reassessment of the situation was held by the police, led by Dan District Commander, Deputy Commander Elad Klein, along with all relevant parties involved in the field operations.
The Satmar Opposition to the Daf Yoimie
In the above video R' Eli Stefansky reads an email from a Satmar chusid who says that the Satmar SHIT'ah is against Jews learning the Daf!
I've written many times about this and I still cannot wrap my head around this!
Rav Meir Shapiro stands before the Congress. His proposal: one page of Gemara a day, studied by Jews everywhere.
Until then, only a few tractates were learned regularly — Berachot, Shabbat, Eruvin. Others, like Zevachim and Temurah, were ignored. Rav Shapiro’s vision was bold: every Jew, every tractate, every day.
On Elul 10, 5683, the resolution passed. A new era began. Daf Yomi wasn’t just about study. It was about unity. As Rav Shapiro told the delegates: one people, one page, one heartbeat.
R’ Meir’s idea was greeted by the six hundred delegates present at the Knessiya with a standing ovation, later described by the Bluzhever Rebbe in the Artscroll book Five Great Leaders as similar to Ma’amad Har Sinai and by the Chofetz Chaim as something that “would hasten the coming of Mashiach.”
The first Daf Yomi cycle began on Rosh Hashana of 5684, which coincided with September 11, 1923. The Gerrer Rebbe was just one of the tens of thousands in Europe, Israel and America who took upon himself to learn Daf Yomi and his many followers hastened to follow his lead.
All this is true except if you dare walk into a Reform Temple or a Satmar Bais Medrish!
R' Yoel Teitelbaum, the founder of Satmar Chassidius opposed learning the Daf Yoimie because this idea originated from Harav Meir Shapiro a member of the Agudah! Even though this was a way to "unify the Jewish people" the Satmar Rebbe would have nothing to do with that!
Why?
Because the proposal was made by the Aguda!!
A frum Jew a leader of tens of thousands was against this idea, was against unity!
I cannot understand this at all.
We just went to the beach to celebrate Chanukkah
They say you never know when it’s going to be your last. It’s 8:07 p.m. The hell began apparently just one hour ago, but it feels like a lifetime ago. I am writing on my sister-in-law’s iPad because I don’t have my phone, I don’t have my keys, my pram or anything, everything has been left there. I feel naked without my phone and I can’t stop fixating on it, yet I am so grateful for my life. Most importantly, my baby’s life. I can’t even believe I am writing this. I am in shock, in disbelief. I want to vomit.
All I remember is one minute everything is nice and grand. I’m chatting to my friend about joining her beach plans on Friday, and then I hear fireworks. Huh, I thought to myself as I look up at the sky, confused. I don’t see fireworks. Suddenly I hear everyone and see the CSG guys saying, “Down, down, everyone down.”
Rabbi Eli Schlanger Originally of Beit Shemesh Murdered in the terrorist attack in Sydney Recently Sent a Letter to PM Albanese after Australia Recognized a Palestinian State
Rabbi Eli Schlanger, a Chabad rabbi and emissary, had recently sent a letter to Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. In the letter, written after Australia recognized a Palestinian state, Schlanger urged Albanese not to betray the Jewish people and called on him to reverse the decision. Today, Rabbi Eli Schlanger was murdered along with 10 others at a Hanukkah event he organized, killed in cold blood for being Jewish in Australia.
Today he was murdered in the terrorist attack in Sydney during Hanukkah, leaving behind a wife and four children.
Watch:
The COWARDS used shot guns, fired from a bridge above and sheltered themselves behind concrete in order to murder defenseless and innocent men, women and children… who were peacefully celebrating their faith.
The 2 dogs in Bondi Beach have been neutralised pic.twitter.com/lTeEyrVyv7
— Sam E (@Sm137023) December 14, 2025
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