Life in Israel: 2026

Sep 14, 2026

Halacha Headlines: 9/12/26 – Shiur 576 – Rosh Hashanah & Yom Kippur Special: Making 5787 Your Best Year Yet (aujdio)

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Anti-Zionist Rabbi Debates Israeli Politician | Rabbi Yaakov Shapiro vs Moshe Feiglin (video)

you be the judge... I personally thought Feiglin was disappointing in this discussion

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A MAGICAL EVENING IN JERUSALEM! A Full Immersion in the City's Atmosphere. (video)

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Jonathan Israel - Lehiyot Acher (video)

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Sep 10, 2026

What Are We Waiting For? (video)

honestly I am not usually a fan of these types of conversations, but when I finally watched this I actually found it interesting...

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Israeli settlers : Heroes or Terrorists? (video)

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JERUSALEM TODAY! Happy Jewish New Year 5787! 🍎🍯 Shana Tova! (video)

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Ulai Hayom - Moki Salamon (video)

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Sep 9, 2026

Quote of the Day

The Brits are the absolute worst after the Nazis and the Nuchbot...

-- Tzvika Mor, candidate for Knesset in the Tzionut Haditit party

wow, that sounds pretty bad.... far worse than just sanctions should qualify for, as bad as sanctions are... like, I think "worst" at that level of Nazis and Nuchbot should at least include some wanton murder...

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Sep 8, 2026

Hatzibbur Hacharedi moves

The news is reporting that the new Haredi party HaKahal just signed an agreement to run on a joint list with the Noam party of Avi Maoz. I assume that even together on a joint list they wont get enough votes to get past the threshold. I don't know why they did not also add the other new Haredi party HaTzibbur HaCharedi to their joint list (not saying it is their fault, maybe Hatzibbur was not interested, maybe it was never offered, maybe they werent interested, whatever), as it seems at least as of now, it is most likely none of them will get in.

Speaking of Hatzibbur HaCharedi, they did just make a good move officially putting Dr Nechumi Yafeh (sp?) in at the second slot of their party list.. I dont know if it is enough to give them a big enough boost, and they still need at least two more candidates if they expect to get in. And today is the last day of party registration, so it is now or never...

Yafeh is a good selection because she comes with an impressive resume and has been int he public eye for a while, plus it solves their problem of not differentiating themselves from UTJ regarding female candidates - after all that talk, now they have a female candidate in a realistic position, if they can get past the threshold.

Hatzibbur HaCharedi is another party I am considerin voting for. I think this is an initiative that needs to be supported. I wish they had a better chance of getting in (that wont be my deciding factor), but even if they do not, supporting them now helps for such initiatives in the future. We'll see what happens... they should have joined up with another party, and Hakahal-Noam might be the right party for that - it is synergetic and together they seem to be pretty close to the threshold...

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Sep 7, 2026

Vinter's mistake

Ofer Vinter's party Amcha Yisrael is one I am considering voting for, but they did something (not today) that I don't understand.

Right after they, the leaders of Amcha Yisrael, announced their entry into the fray, they explained that they did not accept offers from the Likud to abandon their party and take reserved slots in the Likud, nor would they join up with other existing politicians and platforms because the people want something new, and they did not want to join toether with anyone connected to the failures that led to the massacre of October 7.

That makes sense, and this is an apparoach I actually value and think is worthy of supporting.

I think it was the next day, maybe two days later, Vinter gave in to extreme pressure from Netanyahu and Smotritch and promised that he would support Netanyahu and only Netanyahu for Prime Minister. Netanyahu and pothers in the Likud were attacking Vinter and saying he would be "Bennet 2.0" and bring down the Right and support the Left and Eisenkot, etc. To counter that Vinter announced he would support Netanyahu and not bring the Left to power.

Now, it was kind of obvious that unless something unusual and unexpected would happen, Vinter all along was going to eventually support Netanyahu. nobody expects him to win enough seats to become Prime Minister, so eventually it would come down to making a choice, and Vinter is unabashely on the Right side of the map in Israel (from a security perspective - I dont know much about what thinks on other issues). I think it is obvious he would eventually choose to recommend Netanyahu for Prime Minister. But then he said it, and just a day after saying he wanted nothing to do with anyone connected to the failures of October 7. Later he clarified that a bit saying that he wont team up with anyone and run together on a list with anyone connected to October 7, Israel wants new and fresh faces, etc... but being on the Right, Netanyahu is his only choice for PM just because that's what there is available now.

Despite Vinter saying explicitly that he would only support Netanyahu for PM, Netanyahu and the Likud, and other Right parties have only attacked Vinter, trying to get him to drop out of the race. Even today, after Vinter submitted his official party list (with no "joint" arrangement), both the Likud and Smotritch have attacked him and are pressuring him to drop out.

So, Vinter announcing at the start that he would support only Netanyahu has not helped relieve himself from their attacks. I am not sure why he would even want to support Netanyahu considering the relentless pressure they are putting on him, and even blaming him for their eventual loss, if they will lose to Eisenkot or anyone else. But he is.

I am not sure with Netanyahu's approach to Vinter. Some polls have him crossing the threshold and some have him failing to cross - I guess he is borderline according to the average poll. If Netanyahu takes the approach to ravage votes away from Vinter (as the reports say he is trying to do), Vinter will likely not pass the threshold and then the [tens of? hundreds of?] thousands of votes he does get will surely be a waste, but if Netanyahu would just let him run his campaign and maybe even encourage some to vote for him, he probably only needs a slight boost, and then Netanyahu has those mandates in his corner. Supporting Vinter seems to me to be a better move for Netanyahu, but he seems to be taking the opposite approach, which seems less sensible to me.

So even though it seems obvious, at least to me, that Vinter would eventually support Netanyahu for PM, I think he should have kept quiet about it for now and let it play out until closer to the elections or even until after the elections, and then he could have a stronger negotiating position for more influence in the government to be formed (if Netanyahu would win). I think a lot of the people who like Vinter want new faces in politics do not or will not like that he caved so early to support Netanyahu publicly, and will continue to not like that despite being attacked relentlessly by Netanyahu (et al) continues to support him publicly.

I think this was Vinter's early mistake, and I think it is a significant one, and I think it will hurt him.

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Tweet of the Day

זה קורה עכשיו בחצות: הדלק יורד בחצי שקל! ככה נלחמים ביוקר המחייה 🇮🇱 pic.twitter.com/6In5RgcP72
— בצלאל סמוטריץ' (@bezalelsm) September 6, 2026

Overall I thought Betzalel Smotrich, Minister of Finance, did a pretty decent job in this role, especially when taking into account the difficult wars of the past 3 years through which he had to navigate the economy. The above clip though is an insult to the intelligence of the Israeli people.

As you might recall, the monthly adjustment to the price of gasoline hit historic highs at the beginning of September, hitting the price of 8.25nis per liter of gasoline. The price is adjusted monthly based on the price of oil which fluctuates all the time. The past couple of years has seen the price of gasoline get very expensive due to the ongoing war/conflict with Iran which has the price of oil fluctuating wildly sometimes going unreasonably high due to closures of the Strait of Hormuz (Strait of Trump?). However, the price of oil is only what makes the price of gasoline fluctuate monthly - the factor that makes gas in Israel so expensive is the very high excise tax (aka the blu) levied on gasoline plus the VAT. The blu tax is about 3.66 per liter making up about 44% of the cost of the gasoline, plus the VAT being 18%... so about 60%, give or take, of the price of gasoline that you pay at the pump, in Israel, is pure taxes.

So when gas hit the historic high of 8.25nis per liter, Smotritch decided he would issue an order to cut the tax and lower the price. This has been done before and is considered a legitimate method of easing the burden a bit. It hit a snag as it had to be decided if this decision is allowed during an election season or not. once it was approved, Smotritch signed the order and all is good.

the problem with the above video is Smotritch talking about this being the way to fight inflation and to fight the cost of living increases, etc... Smotritch signed a temporary order for cutting the tax, not a permanent order. It is in place for just two months. he did not lower taxes, he lowered the tax until the election. And in doing so, he also did not cut spending anywhere else at the same time to pay for it, but just threw this deficit on to the next government (which he might or might not be part of) to figure out how to pay for.

Smotritch can definitely walk around saying things like we cut the pain for you so you wouldnt have to poay so much at the pump right now and things like that but fighting inflation with a temporary two month order without any cuts to cover it? This doesn't combat inflation in any way.

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1st selichot 5786-5787 Yehuda Tombak with Hallelu Choir 2026 clips (video)

this is a compilation of four clips I recorded at the Chazzanut Selichot on Motzei Shabbos.. selichot led by Chazzan Yehuda Tombak, acocmpanied by Hallelu choir conducted by Shalom Kinori and Netanel Neumann... The event was hosyed in my shul, Bnei Hayeshivot (Nahal Noam), in RBS A, Motzei Shabbat Netzavim Vayeilech 5786, September 2026, in advance of the Yomim Noraim of 5787....

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Halacha Headlines: 9/5/26 – Shiur 575 – ELECTIONS IN ISRAEL – CHAREIDIM AND THE DRAFT | TZEDAKA QUESTIONS | MUSICAL SELICHOS (audio)

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Huckabee on settler violence: 'They're not settlers, they're unsettled' (video)

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The Making of Homeward Bound | Benny Friedman (video)

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Hashivenu | Ahuva Fink | TYH Nation | For Women & Girls (video)

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Sep 6, 2026

Tweet of the Day

after last night's drama in UTJ (specifically in Degel Hatorah), there have been a few tweets I have seen that qualify for TotD. I had to choose one so I decided that was the best. Maybe other's were funnier, but this one is more serious and respectful..

כנכד של הרב רביץ אני קצת שמח על מה שקורה כעת בדגל. מצד שני אני לא כל כך מבין מה הבעיה בגפני ומקלב שתיפתר בהבאת צעירים.שניהם אנשים חרוצים לא נהנתנים, שבקיאים בעבודה הפרלמנטרית הרבה יותר מהממוצע במפלגות אחרות. הבעיה של המפלגה הזאת היא הניתוק מעם ישראל, והחשיבה שהתורה ניתנה בליטא.
— צבי רביץ (@tzviravitz) September 6, 2026

My translation:

As the grandson of Rav Ravitz I am a bit happy over what is happening right now in Degel. On the other hand, I dont really understand what the problem is with Gafni and Maklev that will be solved by bringing in younger people. Both are diligent people and not hedonists, they are greater experts in parliamentary work far more than the average in any other party. The problem with this party is that it is disconnected from the nation of Israel and they think the Torah was given in Lithuania...

For some background, the OP, Tzvi Ravitz, is the grandson of Avraham Ravitz, the founder of Degel Hatorah. Ravitz served in the Knesset for Degel Hatorah until 2008 when he resigned. Officially he resigned but supposedly was pushed out, but given the opportunity to resign so as to save face and to leave honorably (supposedly this opportunity was given to Gafni and Maklev as well last night but they thought they could fight the decision and change it but were unsuccessful).

I was a little surprised that Maklev was pushed out along with Gafni. Maklev is one of the hardest working MKs (and deputy ministers) in Knesset. He can regularly be found in his Knesset chambers working long after everyone else has left. In general I think he was well liked and got things done for his constituents.

I dont really know anything yet about the new people taking their slots so will reserve judgement until I see them in action..

Truthfully I was surprised to learn from this tweet that Avraham Ravitz has a grandson who served in the army and is currently living abroad (nothing wrong with it, but it was new information to me)

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Sep 3, 2026

Tweet of the Day

I don't know if this really happened or if it is just someone's imagination...

אחד החברים שלי שעבר דרך סיני בדרך לאומן סיפר לי איך הם הצליחו לצאת מהארץ למרות צו הגיוס.

לדבריו, העריקים נכנסו למזוודות, והחברים שלא עריקים סחבו אותם דרך הצד הישראלי בטאבה, שבו אין שיקוף או בידוק לכבודה.

רק אחרי שעברו את הצד הישראלי הם יצאו מהמזוודות בצד המצרי.

הצו נשאר בארץ. https://t.co/wzyNJW6n6C
— בין הסדרים (@lhnn_w915) September 3, 2026

My Translation:

(original tweet)

I have 20 friends who have the status of deserters who just went out through Sinai to get to Uman.

I spoke with them and the emotion in their voices was crazy: We were all focused and infused with purpose to get to "Rabbeinu" (ie Rebbe Nachman, Uman).

You can argue with htem about everything but one thing you cannot take away from them: when they have decided where they are going, nothing gets in their way..

(follow up tweet, the actual totd):

One of my friends who went out through Sinai on his way to Uman told me how they successfully got out despite the draft order [that should prevent them from leaving the country]:

According to what he said, the deserters went into suitcases while their friends who are not deserters shlepped them from the Israel side of the Taba border crossing to the Egyptian side. On the Israeli side they do not check luggage or put it through xray machines. Only afterthey crossed over to the Egyptian side did they get out of the suitcases, while their draft orders were left in Israel.

I dont know what luggage they used, but whichever brand it was should turn that into an advertisement showing the durability of their suitcases.

How small are these people? Can full size adults fit into suitcases like that? How did their friends shlep them - shlepping 60-80 kilo (or more?) is not that easy, even with wheels on the suitcases.

How do they plan to get back into Israel? They probably just worry about one step at a time and did not plan it that far in advance, but I am waiting to hear how this turns out. Whatever happens later you can be sure that they will be happy and smug that they were able to get to "Rabbeinu" despite the obstacles...

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Sep 2, 2026

just noise in Degel?

Final lists for the various parties running for Knesset are due to be submitted next week on September 7 and 8, after which the lists will be closed with no further changes allowed. With just about a week left to finalize the lists, there is now a strong push in the parties planning to run to finalize their lists in time for submission.

While there is not much in the regular news media about this (other than Hamechadesh as of this writing), all day long there have been updates flying on the Haredi news Whatsapp groups about a shakeup in the Degel Hatorah faction list of representatives. Supposedly the leading Rabbis of Degel are considering replacing MKs Gafni and Maklev with some fresh names, but it keeps going back and forth.

I have a hard time believing it will happen, but even if it does, I am not sure why it would be such a big deal. They all supposedly just do what the rabbis say anyway and dont really do anything on their own, so why should it matter which people are the reps? Change the rabbis and maybe it will make a difference. All the noise there seems to me to be just noise and may be just a power struggle between the different factions (even within the factions there are more sub factions). In the end I dont think anything will happen, but even fi it does it wont be a big deal, and maybe it is not so bad to freshen things up a bit, get some new people in...

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Interesting Psak: voting for a non Jew

Ofer Vinter's new party, Amcha Yisrael, was formed jointly between Vinter and Yoseph Haddad, an Arab Israeli Christian Zionist who takes the number two slot on the party list. Haddad served in the IDF (as a fighter in the Golani brigade) and became very popular and well known, over the past few years as he got very involved in pro Israel advocacy and would go to Arab protests around the world and stand up for Israel in the face of throngs of haters.

A party led by Ofer Vinter and Yoseph Haddad is one that could be very popular in the right wing side of the electorate. As a new party it will surely struggle with the minimum threshold leading up to the elections (so far they are refusing to even consider joining together with another party) but if it can get in and establish its base, it can grow into something big. That is a big if as they are and will draw a lot of opposition as opponents look for them to fail.

Amcha Yisrael just had a wrench thrown into its works.

Rav Shlomo Aviner, one of the leadng rabbis of the Religious Zionist sector, was asked during a shiur if one is allowed to vote for this new party, Amcha Yisrael, considering the number two slot is filled by a non-Jew, Yoseph Haddad.

Rav Aviner responded that people should definitely not vote for them. Rav Aviner explained that non-Jews that are friends of ours need to be treated well but, even if he would qualify as a ger toshav, or even as a "righteous person among the nations" he still cannot be given positions of leadership in the Land of Israel. Such a person can be a citizen and should be treated well, btu he cannot be a leader in Israel.

source: Srugim

Vinter himself has responded to this saying that when he fought under fire in Lebanon, in Gaza, and in Judea and Samaria, he was commanded over by, and he commanded over, Druze, Christians and Bedouin commanders and fighters. He referred to some specific commanders who were worthy of their command and were leaders who did not abandon their soldiers, alongside others who fell in battle defending the Land of Israel. They were worthy to fight for, get injured for, and sometimes die for, the State, they were worthy enough for us to follow them into battle, they are also worthy enough to be leaders.

The Likud has for many years, maybe always, included non-Jews on its list for Knesset and many have served as Members of Knesset and even as Minister. I dont remember hearing calls from Rabbis to not vote Likud (correct me if there were and I am not remembering correctly) so as to not be putting a non-Jew in position of leadership in Israel over the Jewish people.

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Areshes - Dudi Kalish & Shulem (video)

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Sep 1, 2026

guns in Bet Shemesh

Yesterday Minister of National Security Itamar Ben Gvir announced his decision to categorize the city of Bet Shemesh as a city whose residents can apply for gun permits. Until now only residents of certain specific streets or neighborhoods were granted the right to apply for gun permits, but nto the entire city is included. Several streets have been excluded so the residents of those streets still cannot get gun permits. the excluded streets are the streets and areas where the extremists (such as Neturei Karta and other extreme elements) live.

Personally I had no interest in getting a gun, but it was not even anything to think much about because I had no way to qualify - living in Bet Shemesh, no police or army background, not working in a dangerous job, etc... it was a moot thought to even consider it as I had no way to get it even had I wanted one. Now that I can qualify just because I live in Bet Shemesh I am wondering what you think, if this is something important enough to do or not... let me know your thoughts but chances are high that I wont bother anyway, unless I hear a really strong argument.

Like with herd immunity people who dont vaccinate are nostly safe because of everyone who does, with guns if I dont get one I and everyone around me will still be pretty safe because of the other people who have guns... but I am still interested in hearing arguments....

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Degel Ministers

Yesterday there were reports that the Degel Hatorah faction of UTJ is considering taking ministerial positions in the future governments it might be members of.

As far as Haredi parties go, Shas always, sice its formation, participated fully in governance by taking ministerial positions UTJ refrained form taking ministerial positions, claiming an inherent problem with being a partner in things the government might do that go against the Torah. They could be members of the coalition in the Knesset but, they felt, by not taking ministerial positions they were not really members of the government and did not bear any shared responsibility for decisions taken that might involve chilul shabbos or other violations of halacha. Eventually they started taking deputy minister positions, still claiming lack of shared responsibility as long as it is not a full miniterial position (and sometimes they even basically ran the ministry with a puppet minister from another party holding the ministerial position on behalf of UTJ. Eventually the Agudat Israel faction of UTJ also started taking full ministerial positions while Degel continued to only take deputy minister roles at most.

And now, according to news reports yesterday, Degel is considering taking full ministerial roles just like Shas and Aguda. I have not seen any explanation as to what changed in their policy to consider this other than their ongoing competition with the Aguda faction as this would allow them to demand the top position for their faction in the next government and not let Aguda have it. Degel's rabbis might or might nto approve the change, but thew that they are considering it is noteworthy enough.

Personally I support this. Their lack of shared responsibility is a farce and just something to make themselves feel better. Fuller participation makes less of a joke of the government and more direct involvement on their side.

That being said, in recent weeks I have heard the argument (raised when talking about the draft law) they like to raise of "ten li yavneh vchachameha" - give me Yavneh and its sages - like the famous request of Rav Yochanan Ben Zakkai of the Roman general Vespasian where he said just leave us alone to learn torah and we wont bother anyone. In Israel it is used as well regarding the draft law - just leave us alone and let us learn torah and we wont bother anyone, ten li yavneh vechachameha, just leave us alone dont bothe rus and we wont bother you. You cannot really say ten li yavneh vechachameha when you are involved in running the government and deciding how the country should function and how people's lives are affected. A true Ten Li Yavneh Vechachameha argument would work if they pulled out of politics and said just leave us alone to learn torah, dont bother us and we wont bother you. When they are increasingly involved in governance, the argument ten li yavneh regarding one aspect of life in Israel when there is involvement in everything else is a false narrative.

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History made!

The price of gas (95 Octane) in Israel is set by the government (the maximum price - gas stations can charge less if they so desire) and includes a heavy "blu tax". The price is adjusted the first of every month as per the fluctuations of the global oil markets and whatever else affects the price of gasoline.

History was just made as the price of gasoline went up to the price of 8.25nis per liter as of today, September 1 2026. 8.25nis per liter, is, at least according tot he reports I have seen, the highest ever price of gas in the history of Israel!

For those not familiar, I asked Google's Gemini to do all the conversions of liters and shekels to gallons and dollars and the price of 8.25nis per liter is equivalent to roughly $10.43 per gallon at current conversion rates.

It is always fun being part of Israel making history!

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Interesting Psak: Musical Selichot

With the imminent start of the Ashkenazi selichot season, the Torah Council of Sages, led by Rav Dov Landau and Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch, have put out a letter decrying the trend of "musical selichot" - that is selichot events that include musical accompaniment and a concert or kumzitz atmosphere.

The Rabbis discourage participation in such events and also call on the public and public offices to not arrange them or support them or fund them. They call such musical selichot "inappropriate" and in clear opposition to the actual purpose of the days of selichot being to arouse people to teshuva, to cheshbon nefesh, taking an accounting of one's behavior, for the Days of Judgement upon us. They say that these events, by their very nature, corrupt the concept of the prayers. It takes a holy and elevated concept and turns it into a form of entertainment and a show, besides for all sorts of other breeches of kedusha and tzniyut that accompany such events.

source: Hamechadesh

Far be it from me to support or argue against the above psak. I would just note from my my own experience that the "musical selichot" events I see happening (within the Haredi community at least) are all designed to be musical in the way that they think inspires the crowd to teshuva, not a form of concert or the like.

And that being said, my shul is hosting (not arranging as it is not a shul event, just hosting) a chazzanut selichot (if that is what you might call it), this Motzash at 10pm (regular shul selichot after a shiur/sicha by Rav Ahron Pessin at 12:10)

The event, as you can see by the logo, is sponsored by the City of Bet Shemesh. As far as I can tell this is chazanut, no musical accompaniment. I do not know if this falls into the category of musical selichot of whch the rabbis above spoke out against. I suspect not, but you can each decide this for yourselves. .

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Aug 31, 2026

ALIYAH: Everything You Need to Know - (From a Torah Perspective) (video)

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INSIDE TRUMP'S WHITE HOUSE (they tried to kill the President!!!) (video)

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A stroll through a city beloved by the world. The atmosphere of Jerusalem. (video)

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HAYOM — Irving Kairey & Eli Levin (video)

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Aug 30, 2026

Halacha Headlines: 8/29/26 – Shiur 574 – Shofar Blowing – When Have We Fulfilled the Mitzvah? (audio)

this is a bit of a drier episode but for those interested in the details of shofar blowing (like myself), it is very good...

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The Final Redemption From A Torah Perspective: Rabbi Tovia Singer (video)

I am always curious about people who are so confident that they know exactly how, and when, things are going to play out....

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Friday. The crowded Mahane Yehuda market and the empty center of Jerusalem. (video)

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Dovy Meisels, Bentzi Stein & Neshama - Haben Yakir (video)

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Aug 27, 2026

Special interview | Huckabee on Israel, Trump and the Middle East (video)

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Manischewitz Matchmakers- Jewish Dating Show Episode 2 (video)

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Yehuda Ner: Shomer t'Shabbos (video)

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Aug 26, 2026

Why Ishay Ribo Is Stepping Away from Social Media | Behind the Bima | BONUS Episode (video)

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The Holy People Building The Bet Hamikdash (video)

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Shira Linsha - Mangina (Official Music Video)

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Aug 25, 2026

Rav Hershel Schachter: How to Find Meaning as a Ben Torah in the Workforce (Career, Torah, Money) (video)

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Ido Yitzhcak: Selichot Concert (video)

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Aug 24, 2026

The Altalena

The Altalena was a ship off the cost of Israel bringing weapons for the War of Independence, immigrants and Irgun fighters. Menachem Begin was on the ship and he and David Ben Gurion had a disagreement as to what to dow itht he weapons brought on the ship. Ben Gurion insisted that all the weapons be handed over to the IDF, saying there can only be one military in the fledgling newly founded State of Israel, while Begin wanted most of the weapons distributed among the different Irgun groups so they could continue fighting as militias. After fighting broke out between the two groups, Ben Gurion ordered his forces to sink the ship. Begin decided to stand down and told his people to not shoot back so as to prevent a possible civil war. The ship was shelled and sunk with 16 Irgun fighters being killed (not on the ship but fighting on land with IDF troops), along with 3 IDF soldiers.

no new picture of the wreckage has yet been released

In 1949 the ship was towed further out to sea, about 15 kilometers off the coast, and sunk, to clear the coast of the remianing debris.

People have since been searchign for remains of the Altalena. The Ministry of Heritage today announced, via Ministers Amichai Eliyahu and Itamar Ben Gvir, that the Altalena has been discovered fully intact, at a depth of 503 meters and about 20km off the coast.

Minister Eliyahu said new technology made the discovery possible, saying "

"We have been dealing with this issue secretly for many years, and today – the fruits of the intelligence and operational effort have borne exciting fruit for the sake of historical truth, the memory of the fallen, and unity with Israel."

I assume they are going to see if it is viable to recover the wreckage and bring it ashore. There is a question as to what is meant by finding it fully intact as eye witnesses from the days of when the Altalena was sunk have said it was not intactw hen it sank as part of the ship had separated and went up in flames, but these are details that will be worked out when historians get to analyze it more thoroughly.

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Halacha Headlines: 8/22/26 – Shiur 573 – Correct Him - or Let It Go? When Should Mistakes in Shul Be Corrected? (audio)

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Jonathan Pollard joins Israel First with MK Sharren Haskel (video)

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Modern Tel Aviv 🌴 From the Sarona Neighborhood to Dubnov Garden. (video)

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Shlomo Lipman - Soldiers Of Truth [ Official Music Video]

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Aug 23, 2026

Interesting Psak: Ketuba Value

The Religious Council of the Chief Rabbinate of Israel convened to come to a consensus regarding the value of the ketuba, the marriage document.

As it is, there is no accepted value. Maybe people simply write in the original text of 200 zuz, which has no specifically accepted value today, while other people write in large, and even astronomical, sums that nobody expects will actually be pad out in case of divorce or death but they are put in as an expression of love and committment and value.

The Rabbanut sees the above as a problem. Not having a real known value to the ketuba, or putting in an astronomical amount nobody expects will be actually paid out creates halachic problems with the contract.

After discussing and debating the matter, the Rabbanut has determined the value of the ketuba will be valued at a minimum of 36000nis, and at a maximum of no more than 360000nis.

The Rabbanut thinks that putting a real value on the modern ketuba will serve its purpose in proviing the woman with some financial security, and it will put the ketuba back in its deserved place as a real halachic document and not just as an empty declaration that will be ignored when it needs to be applied.....

source: Kipa

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Pollard ignores death threats and re-enters politics

Just about three months ago Jonathan Pollard announced he was going to be running for Knesset, and a few days later announced he is not going to be running for Knesset due to the death threats he received.

Today, Pollard reversed again, announcing that he has joined a political party and will be running for Knesset.

I guess the death threats stopped after he cancelled his initial bid. I wonder if they will start up again now that he is back to running...

Surprisingly, to me, the party Pollard is joining for his Knesset bid is the new party recently formed by Sharren Haskel. Haskel was a member of Gideon Saar's party. Saar went back to the Likud with a gauranteed slot for himself. Zeev Elkin ran in the Likud primaries and acheived what is considered an unrealistic slot (though rumors are swirlign he might get a designated slot from Benjamin Netanyahu as a counterbalance to Avigor Lieberman for the Russian and Olim vote. Haskel was the third main personality of that party and she left the Likud and formed her own new party (Yisrael Techilla - Israel First). I happen to like Sharren Haskel and find her to be a responsible, well intentioned, good positioned, even measured, politician.

So what is surprising to me about Pollard joining Haskel's new party is that I am surprised he considers her extreme enough for his positions. And I ams urprised she does not consider him too extreme for her party. If you heard any of his interviews in recent years you would likely consider him more extreme right than Itamar Ben Gvir, at least that's what it seems to me. He did say that he joined her party because of her loyalty to him throughout his years in American prison and that she is a responsible politician...

The only way to prevent another October 7 is to put people like you in positions of responsibility, because I know where your heart is. You fought for me without boasting about it. You were quiet, loyal and effective. And that is what we need in the new Knesset.

From Haskel's perspective she says this gives her a big boost and I am sure she appreciates the name recognition he brings to the party, and perhaps some hero celebrity power to some. Still, it does not seem like a good fit to me.

Good luck to them. I don't care much for Pollard but if he is her ticket to getting back into the Knesset, it will have been a good move.

Will I vote for this party? I consider myself undecided still and am waiting to see how thigns play out closer to the elections with several parties under consideration. Haskel's party was oen fo the parties I was considering. This partnership pushes it down the list a bit for me at this time, but we'll see what happens.

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Aug 20, 2026

not to speak against

I don't know anything about this initiative beyond what is in the image above....

it'll be a relief to get to election day so we can start ragging on people again... 😂

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Hakahal primaries spam doesn't win votes

One of the new Haredi political parties that have recently been formed, HaKahal, held its primaries yesterday. Their primaries were held via their website and over the telephone.

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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Moti Leitner: 'Israel is doing Satmar's work for it' (video)

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Manischewitz Babka - Nosh with Josh (video)

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August 18th. I invite you to Jerusalem from the Western Wall through the tourist districts. (video)

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Atah Zocher | Mendy Portnoy | ELUL (A Live Piano Album) (video)

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Aug 18, 2026

Baruch Hatov Vehametiv

Baruch Hatov Vehameitiv!

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.

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Quote of the Day

So offensive that in some Israeli religious schools, the plus sign is not used in math. The plus sign, you know, that connotes addition. Why? Because it looks like a cross, and that's considered too offensive for the eyes of schoolchildren, and so an inverted T is used. That's a fact, you can look it up

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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Smotrich: '1.8 million Nazis won't live on our borders' (video)

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Kosher Hotdog Chain Comes to America! (video)

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Yeled Trampolina - Simche Friedman & Shay Viner (video)

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Aug 17, 2026

Halacha Headlines: 8/15/26 – Shiur 572 – SIMCHOS IN HALACHA – MOST FREQUENTLY ASKED SHAILOS (audio)

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The State of Israel, the Neviim, Meir Kahane, and More (video)

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Jerusalem, August 12. The atmosphere in the Old City from the Hurva Synagogue to the Dung Gate (video)

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Why Don't Ya / You'll Be Fine | Alex Clare | TYH LIVE SESSIONS (video)

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Aug 13, 2026

Tel Aviv Vice Mayor Challenges NYC Mayor Mamdani to Boxing Match! (video)

his name is Guy Avner...

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Jerusalem Daily, August 12. Walking from City Hall to the Hurva Synagogue through the Old City (video)

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Avinu Malkeinu - Bracha Jaffe ft. ZAHAV Girls Choir | For Women and Girls Only (video)

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Aug 10, 2026

The Pioneers of Israel: Then and Now (video)

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🚨 The Vatican’s Biggest Secret… (video)

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I Performed Magic for the NEW YORK YANKEES! (video)

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MeAtah Ve'ad Olam - Aaron Razel & Aviya Sherman (video)

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Aug 9, 2026

Halacha Headlines: 8/8/26 – Shiur 571 – A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A RAV!! – Hear things you'll never see in writing – A peek behind the curtain (audio)

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