I hardly know anything at all really about the party or its positions, but based on the website more than a handful of the candidates are from Bet Shemesh, including a friend of mine. It looks like no women were included, which is always an issue that comes up when talking about new Haredi parties (seemingly as a way of trying to differentiate them from the mainstream Haredi parties).

Personally they called me more than twenty times yeterday throughout the day to encourage me to vote in the primaries. I never signed up as a member of the party nor as someone interested in voting int heir primaries, so I am not sure how they got my number (not that it is a top military secret) or why they called me to vote. maybe they just called everyone in all haredi towns and neighborhoods or something like that. I answered a few times (because the calls came in from a few different numbers) and ignored most of the calls. I was not interested enough (and frankly was busy with work when they initially called) in listening to the long message or in the voting process so after hearing what they wanted I just hung up. 

I get that they are a new party and are trying to encourage people to participate in their process and gather support, but spamming people with 20+ calls over the course of a day is not a way, at least I don't think it is, to create endearment or support.

Haredi news groups and media are reporting that the heads of Hakahal are disappointed with the level of participation in the primaries yesterday. With only little effort required, voting was to be done via telephone and internet with no need to go anywhere for physical voting, only about 14000 people voted. They had claimed leading up to the primaries that 90000 had registered to vote.

Personally, for a new Haredi party where it can be socially and communally dangerous for people to participate in such a thing, I think 14000 is pretty impressive, though that is still a far cry from having any realistic chance of getting into the Knesset. Maybe people were frustrated by all the calls (I personally was upset at the chutzpah) or didnt like listening to long lists of names over the phone and figuring out how to vote for them. Or maybe not enough people are really interested in this. 

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The bracha of Hatov Vehamitiv is said for good things but is different than Shehecheyanu in that it is intended to be said when the news or event is good for not just myself but for other people as well.  

The brqcha of Hatov Vehameitiv was established as part of Birkat Hamazon (aka bentching) to thank God for the allowance we received to bury the many people of Beitar who were killed in the Bar Kochba revolt, who's bodies had been miraculously preserved from decomposing during the time they remained unburied.

I think this bracha is appropriate today as the remains of Yehuda Katz, fallen soldier from the battle of Sultan Yacoub in Lebanon 1982, have finally been breought back to Israel for Jewish burial. Katz's remains were the last remains outstanding from that battle after those of Zachary Baumel and Zvi Feldman were brought back in 2019 and 2025 respectively.

It took 44 years, but Israel kept looking and did not give up. Another painful chapter has been closed.

Rest in peace Yehuda.

Tucker Carlson:

In the eyes of some Israelis... In the eyes of a significant number of Israelis, Christian symbolism is offensive. Extremely offensive. So offensive that in some educational institutions, the plus sign "+" is not used in mathematics. What? Yes. The plus sign,… pic.twitter.com/DYj0htAbXW

— 𝕊𝕡𝕣𝕚𝕟𝕥𝕖𝕣 𝕻𝕣𝕖𝕤𝕤 (@SprinterPress) August 17, 2026

1. who told him? that was supposed to be a sevcret. whoever told him needs to be kicked out of the Elders....

2. It is true. Not all schools, but many, especially in the religious and Haredi school systems. We really should switch from using a deformed plus symbol to a star of david0

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his name is Guy Avner... 

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