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[Video below.] Maran Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch, rosh yeshiva of Slabodka, personally spoke with the newlywed kallah whose husband was arrested by Israeli military police during their week of Sheva Brachos, offering words of encouragement and reassurance as efforts continue to secure the young chosson’s release.

Rav Hirsch, who is currently in London on behalf of Keren Olam HaTorah, contacted the kallah following the arrest of her husband, Yaari Lieberman, a talmid of Yeshivas Ohr Hachaim headed by Rav Reuven Elbaz.

During the conversation, Rav Hirsch acknowledged the tremendous difficulty of the young couple’s circumstances and sought to strengthen the kallah as she faces the prospect of spending the remainder of her Sheva Brachos without her husband.

“This is a very difficult situation. Hakadosh Baruch Hu gives people challenges. From this difficult challenge, you will have blessing, success, and a happy life together with your chosson,” Rav Hirsch told her in Hebrew.

The conversation came shortly after a military court sentenced Lieberman to 20 days in military prison following his arrest Sunday morning.

Lieberman was detained by military police while walking alongside his new wife after the couple had gotten off a bus on their way to a Sheva Brachos celebration.

According to eyewitness accounts, the officers who carried out the arrest were dressed in civilian clothing and did not display visible identification. The kallah, reportedly unaware that the men taking her husband away were military police officers, initially feared that he was being abducted.

Lieberman was subsequently transferred to Military Prison 10 at Beit Lid, where he was ordered to serve a 20-day sentence for failing to comply with military draft requirements.

The circumstances of the arrest, particularly its timing during the couple’s first week of marriage, have generated widespread outrage in the chareidi community and prompted demonstrations in Yerushalayim and Beit Shemesh.

Chareidi political representatives have also intervened, calling on Defense Minister Yisrael Katz to secure Lieberman’s release and allow him to return to his wife.

Despite the military court’s ruling, organizations assisting the family are continuing their efforts to have the sentence overturned or shortened, with the immediate goal of enabling the young couple to celebrate at least part of their remaining Sheva Brachos together.

{Matzav.com}

[Video below.] A disturbing video circulating online purports to show rioters forcing their way into a residential building in Paris with a mezuzah affixed to its entrance, raising fresh concerns among French Jews as weeks of violent unrest have left businesses ransacked, a shul vandalized, and Jewish-owned properties damaged across the country.

The footage is being shared with claims that rioters entered the building and looted apartments inside. However, the precise location and date of the recording have not been independently established, and there has been no confirmation that the building was deliberately targeted because of its Jewish occupants or the mezuzah at its entrance.

The allegations come amid an increasingly troubling security situation for France’s Jewish population, which has watched widespread demonstrations over economic conditions and government policies descend into violent confrontations, vandalism, and looting.

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The presence of a mezuzah at the entrance of a residential building has particular significance for Jewish residents. Traditionally affixed to the doorposts of Jewish homes, a mezuzah is a visible indication of Jewish religious observance. Its reported presence at the building in the circulating footage has prompted questions about whether the perpetrators knew they were entering a property associated with Jewish residents.

The video has not, however, established whether the mezuzah played any role in the alleged break-in.

The latest claims follow confirmed incidents involving Jewish properties during the wave of unrest that swept across France beginning October 17.

In Paris, the Ohalei Yaakov shul in the city’s 19th arrondissement was broken into during the weekend of October 17 and 18. Members of the congregation discovered the damage when they arrived at the temporary house of worship, which is being used while the permanent shul building undergoes renovations.

Inside, siddurim, tefillin, and other religious belongings had been scattered across the floor. Cupboards and storage areas had been disturbed, and the rabbi’s office had been searched. The Torah scrolls were reportedly unharmed.

Although the scene caused considerable distress, a member of the shul committee indicated that the perpetrators may have been searching for money. Authorities and Jewish security officials had not established that the break-in was motivated by antisemitism.

Elsewhere in France, Jewish-owned businesses were among those damaged during the violence. In Marseille, shops belonging to Jewish proprietors were set ablaze, while in Paris, businesses operated by Jewish residents suffered extensive destruction and theft.

The unrest also directly affected Chabad representatives working in the French capital.

Near Place de la République, one of the areas hardest hit by the rioting, a vehicle belonging to a Chabad rabbi was set on fire, and a Chabad family found itself trapped inside its community center as violence erupted in the surrounding streets.

Rabbi Moshe Cohen, a Chabad representative in the area, described widespread destruction affecting businesses owned by Jews and non-Jews alike.

Despite the damage suffered by Jewish residents, Cohen cautioned against automatically characterizing the attacks as antisemitic. He said the perpetrators appeared primarily interested in stealing merchandise rather than targeting a particular religious community.

The Service de Protection de la Communauté Juive, France’s Jewish Community Protection Service, similarly reported that it had not identified evidence showing that Jewish institutions and businesses were deliberately singled out during the initial wave of riots.

Those assessments have not eliminated the fear experienced by Jewish residents, particularly when religious institutions, businesses, and residential properties become caught up in widespread lawlessness.

The scale of the destruction across France has been substantial.

Hundreds of thousands of demonstrators took to the streets on October 17 to protest rising living costs, fuel prices, deteriorating educational conditions, and broader dissatisfaction with the government of President Emmanuel Macron.

While many demonstrators participated peacefully, groups of rioters broke away from the protests and attacked shops, public buildings, and other properties.

Businesses were looted in Paris, Marseille, Lyon, and other major cities. Storefronts were smashed, merchandise was stolen, and vehicles were set ablaze. Police officers faced violent confrontations with rioters as security forces struggled to contain the disturbances.

The October 17 demonstrations drew an estimated 550,000 to 800,000 participants nationwide, according to differing estimates, with thousands of arrests reported during the ensuing unrest.

The economic damage has been severe. French business organizations estimate that retailers have suffered losses exceeding €1 billion over three weeks of disturbances, with broader estimates suggesting that the total cost, including uninsured damage and lost revenue, could be substantially higher.

The unrest continued through the end of October, although the scale of the demonstrations declined.

On Saturday, October 31, approximately 320,000 people participated in protests across France, including about 70,000 in Paris, according to the French Interior Ministry.

Most of those demonstrations remained peaceful, but isolated confrontations erupted in several cities. Police used tear gas and other crowd-control measures, while authorities reported preventing groups intent on vandalism and looting from breaking away from protest marches.

Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez warned that security forces would respond firmly to further violence, particularly amid concerns that Halloween disguises could be used to conceal the identities of rioters.

For French Jews, the developments have added another layer of uncertainty to an already difficult period.

The damage to Jewish-owned businesses, the break-in at a Paris shul, and the reported intrusion into a residential building bearing a mezuzah have drawn attention to the vulnerability of Jewish institutions and households when public order deteriorates.

At the same time, distinguishing between opportunistic criminal activity and attacks motivated specifically by antisemitism remains essential. Jewish security officials and local rabbonim have emphasized that the confirmed incidents do not, by themselves, establish an organized campaign targeting Jews during the demonstrations.

The circulating residential-building video has nevertheless become another source of alarm, particularly because it raises the possibility of rioters entering spaces where families would ordinarily expect to be safe.

The incident also comes amid heightened scrutiny of videos circulating from the French unrest. French media and independent fact-checkers have documented numerous misleading or fabricated images and recordings falsely attributed to the recent demonstrations, making verification of individual incidents particularly important.

For Jewish residents of Paris, the immediate concern extends beyond determining the motives of individual perpetrators. The destruction of businesses, attacks on property, and intrusions into residential buildings have raised fundamental questions about personal security and the ability of authorities to protect residents during periods of widespread disorder.

The latest footage has brought those concerns into sharper focus, even as the circumstances surrounding the alleged break-in and any possible antisemitic motive remain unverified.

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[Video below.] The Sanzer Rebbe paid a special visit to the home of Maran Rav Dov Landau in Bnei Brak on Thursday, personally expressing his appreciation for the Rosh Yeshiva’s extraordinary efforts during Israel’s recent Knesset election campaign and praising his dedication to strengthening the honor of Torah and ensuring the success of chareidi Jewry.

The meeting took place while the Sanzer Rebbe was in Bnei Brak to be menachem avel Rav Shimon Galai following the petirah of his brother, Rav Mordechai Galai zt”l. During his visit to the city, the Rebbe made a special trip to Rav Landau’s residence to convey his gratitude.

The Sanzer Rebbe spoke warmly about the Rosh Yeshiva’s tireless efforts in the days leading up to the elections, during which Rav Landau traveled to communities throughout Eretz Yisroel to encourage participation and rally support for the chareidi parties.

The Rebbe described those efforts as an extraordinary kiddush Hashem, emphasizing the personal sacrifices made by the Rosh Yeshiva in his determination to uphold kavod haTorah and kavod Shomayim.

“I do not want to take up the Rosh Yeshiva’s time, but I simply could not restrain myself,” the Sanzer Rebbe said. “I want to be here on behalf of the tens of thousands of Yidden to express my gratitude for the tremendous kiddush Hashem that the Rosh Yeshiva brought about, for the mesirus nefesh to elevate the honor of Torah and the honor of Heaven. That is why I felt obligated to come and personally say yasher koach.”

The Rebbe then offered Rav Landau a heartfelt bracha for continued strength and longevity in his leadership of the Torah world.

“May he continue to reign for many years,” the Rebbe said, invoking the words of the posuk, “Orech yamim u’shenos chaim yosifu lach” — “Length of days and years of life shall be added to you.”

“That is all I wanted to say,” the Rebbe added.

Rav Landau responded with appreciation, telling the Rebbe, “Thank you very much for the bracha.”

The Sanzer Rebbe replied simply, “I felt obligated.”

The Rosh Yeshiva then reciprocated with a bracha for the Rebbe, saying, “May the one who has blessed be blessed with the finest of blessings.”

The meeting also came ahead of an important overseas journey scheduled for Sunday, when Rav Landau is expected to travel to Europe as part of fundraising efforts on behalf of the Torah world.

Before the conclusion of the visit, Rav Landau personally requested the Sanzer Rebbe’s bracha for the success of the upcoming trip, which is intended to raise vital financial support for yeshivos and kollelim.

{Matzav.com}

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[Audio below.] An extraordinary recording of a telephone conversation between Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and a Gerer chossid has become one of the most talked-about moments of Israel’s election, after the chossid calmly confronted the prime minister over four years of unfulfilled promises to the chareidi community, even as Netanyahu raised his voice and desperately sought help getting chareidi voters to the polls.

The conversation took place Tuesday evening, approximately 90 minutes before voting stations closed, when Netanyahu personally contacted Itche Dzalovsky, a Gerer chossid and well-known chareidi broadcaster who operates a popular telephone news hotline. The prime minister was deeply concerned about reports that significant numbers of chareidi voters, particularly within Ger, were staying home rather than supporting the parties aligned with his government.

What followed was a remarkable exchange in which Netanyahu repeatedly demanded to know whether chareidim would vote, while Dzalovsky refused to abandon the central issue: the government’s failure to deliver on its commitments concerning the military draft and the protection of the yeshiva world.

“Itche, what’s happening with the chareidim?” Netanyahu asked at the beginning of the conversation.

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Dzalovsky began explaining that the community was furious over the government’s handling of the draft issue and the promises that had gone unfulfilled.

Before he could finish, Netanyahu interrupted angrily, demanding to know whether chareidi voters understood the consequences of refusing to participate in the election.

“Tell me, are they crazy? Do they want a left-wing government?” Netanyahu exclaimed.

Dzalovsky remained composed.

“They want a government that will deliver on what it has repeatedly promised,” he responded.

Netanyahu’s agitation intensified. At one point, his wife, Sara Netanyahu, could be heard shouting in the background that everyone would die if the election went the wrong way.

The prime minister continued pressing Dzalovsky, warning that a government supported by Arab political parties would threaten the future of the Torah world.

“Do they want to die? They want to destroy the Torah world, and they’re not coming out? That’s what I want to know,” Netanyahu demanded.

Dzalovsky responded that the community’s objective was precisely to preserve its religious way of life.

“They want ultra-Orthodox Jews to be able to observe the Torah and its commandments to the depths of their souls, without having their religion trampled,” he explained.

Netanyahu repeatedly tried to steer the conversation back to the immediate electoral question, asking whether chareidim were actually heading to the polls.

But Dzalovsky insisted that the prime minister was overlooking the reason for their reluctance.

“But they’ve had four years of promises being broken consistently,” he said.

Netanyahu brushed aside the complaint, insisting that there was no time to revisit past commitments when the election was about to end.

“Fine, but that’s not the question right now. Are they going out to vote or not? That’s what I’m asking,” Netanyahu replied.

Dzalovsky delivered perhaps the most pointed assessment of the entire conversation.

“They’re not convinced there’s anyone who will keep his word.”

When Netanyahu asked him to repeat himself, Dzalovsky did so, making clear that the problem was a fundamental loss of confidence in the government’s assurances.

The Gerer chossid explained that after years of commitments that had not been fulfilled, it was extremely difficult to persuade people that another promise would be meaningful.

With the clock running down, Netanyahu asked whether anything could still be done to change the situation.

Dzalovsky suggested that the prime minister contact the Gedolei Yisroel, including members of the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah and the Moetzes Chachmei HaTorah, and provide concrete guarantees that his commitments would be honored.

Netanyahu responded incredulously.

“I’m going to give them guarantees now, with an hour and a half left, tell me?”

Dzalovsky replied that accomplishing in 90 minutes what had not been accomplished over four years would indeed be extremely difficult.

As the conversation drew to a close, Netanyahu appeared to acknowledge that Dzalovsky was offering him little hope of a last-minute turnaround.

“So, in short, you’re telling me there’s nothing to be done, right?” the prime minister asked.

“That’s what I think. I think it’s really, really impossible,” Dzalovsky answered.

“Thank you, Itche. Goodbye,” Netanyahu said, ending the conversation.

The recording quickly circulated across Israeli media and social networks, attracting considerable attention because of the unusual spectacle of an ordinary chareidi broadcaster confronting the prime minister so directly.

The exchange also drew praise from Israeli television personality Guy Lerer of Channel 13, who said he was astonished by Dzalovsky’s willingness to challenge Netanyahu without becoming intimidated by the prime minister’s increasingly forceful tone.

Lerer wrote that he initially suspected the recording was artificially generated because the conversation seemed so extraordinary. After confirming its authenticity, he praised Dzalovsky for repeatedly returning to the government’s broken promises despite Netanyahu’s attempts to redirect the discussion.

According to Lerer’s account, Netanyahu had initially sought to deliver an election appeal through Dzalovsky’s chareidi news hotline. Dzalovsky declined to broadcast the requested statement, and the subsequent telephone conversation became the recording that spread throughout the country.

The incident occurred against the backdrop of deep frustration within Ger over the Netanyahu government’s handling of the military draft issue.

In the weeks preceding the election, Israeli media reported that Netanyahu’s political allies feared tens of thousands of Gerer chassidim might refrain from voting for United Torah Judaism, the party they had traditionally supported.

The dissatisfaction followed the government’s failure to enact legislation addressing the draft status of yeshiva bochurim, despite commitments made to the chareidi parties during the previous coalition negotiations.

Former Housing Minister Yitzchok Goldknopf, a senior Gerer representative, had already resigned from the government amid the dispute, reflecting the deterioration in relations between the chassidus and Netanyahu’s coalition.

Reports before Election Day indicated that Ger’s usual election mobilization efforts were largely absent, fueling concerns within Likud and United Torah Judaism that a significant bloc of dependable voters would remain at home.

{Matzav.com}