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[Video below.] A striking moment at Yeshivas Ponovezh in Bnei Brak has generated considerable discussion across the yeshiva world, after Rav Yisroel Bunim Schreiber, Rosh Yeshivas Nesiv Hadaas and one of the prominent marbitzei Torah of the yeshiva world, covered his ears when a bochur recited the rare bracha of “Shechalak Mechochmaso Lireiav” upon seeing him.

The incident occurred at a Siyum HaShas held on Erev Rosh Hashanah l’illui nishmas Ponovezh talmid Meir Shaer z”l, who was tragically niftar during bein hazemanim.

Bochurim and rabbonim of the yeshiva gathered for the special maamad, which included divrei chizuk and hisorerus in preparation for the Yom Hadin.

Among those who came to address the gathering was Rav Schreiber, widely known throughout the Torah world for his phenomenal yedios haTorah. Rav Schreiber, who is currently in need of a refuah sheleimah, delivered words of chizuk ahead of Rosh Hashanah.

As Rav Bunim entered the maamad, however, an unexpected scene unfolded. One of the bochurim rose from his place and, in a loud voice, began reciting with Shem U’Malchus the uncommon bracha said upon seeing an outstanding talmid chochom: “Baruch Atah Hashem… Shechalak Mechochmaso Lireiav.”

Rav Bunim immediately reacted. Known for his uncompromising adherence to halacha and his distaste for displays of personal kavod, the Rosh Yeshiva placed both hands firmly over his ears so that he would not hear the conclusion of the bracha.

He then sharply called out to the bochur in front of the assembled crowd: “Erev Rosh Hashanah! Bracha levatala!”

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[Video below.] President Donald Trump singled out Shimmy Biegeleisen z”l, the 42-year-old Brooklyn father of five who was killed in the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001, as he paid tribute Friday to individual victims of the terror attacks during a solemn 25th-anniversary commemoration at the Pentagon. Trump recalled that Biegeleisen was on the 97th floor of the South Tower and surrounded by photographs of his five children when the building came down. Records and memorial sources identify Biegeleisen as a vice president at Fiduciary Trust International who was killed at the World Trade Center.

Trump delivered the remarks at a ceremony honoring the 184 people killed when American Airlines Flight 77 was deliberately crashed into the Pentagon on September 11, 2001.

Opening on a somber note, Trump commemorated all 2,977 victims who were killed in the coordinated attacks in New York, Virginia and Pennsylvania, reflecting on the magnitude of the loss a quarter-century later.

The President recalled several of the children who were aboard American Airlines Flight 77, among them three 11-year-old students traveling on a school trip. He also remembered sisters Zoe Falkenberg, 8, and Dana Falkenberg, 3, who were traveling with their parents. Trump then recounted the fate of a group of Pentagon colleagues who had gathered for a sergeant major’s dinner party the weekend before the attack: “Every person at that sergeant major’s party was murdered by terrorists who flew Flight 77 straight into this legendary building.”

“Today we renew the sacred oath that we first swore in their names a quarter of a century ago. We will never, ever forget,” the president said. “That’s why we fight today. We don’t have a choice. There can only be victory. We fight hard, we fight to win. We will always remember the victims and the families of September 11th, 2001.”

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Trump proceeded to recount the stories of individual victims whose lives ended that morning. Among them was Patrick Danahy, 35, who was working on the 90th floor of the South Tower. After the North Tower was hit, Danahy telephoned his pregnant wife, Mary, told her he was safe and urged her not to watch television. She later watched as the second plane struck the South Tower and the building collapsed with her husband still inside. Their youngest daughter was born exactly one month later, on October 11.

Trump then turned to the story of Shimmy Biegeleisen, who was 42 and working on the 97th floor of the South Tower. The Brooklyn resident and father of five was killed when the tower collapsed. Trump described Biegeleisen as being surrounded by photographs of his five children in his final moments.

“Free people must never avert their eyes from such hideous cruelty. We cannot forget that moment of immense and horrible evil that took place in this world, bent on the destruction of all that is good,” Trump stated.

“But this morning, we also remember how America responded to that wickedness,” he continued. “On days like 9-11, we learn what a country is truly made of. We’re learning right now what we’re made of and we have to be strong and we have to be smart. And Americans are made of a goodness spirit that can transcend any earthly force.”

The President also revisited the heroism aboard United Airlines Flight 93, whose passengers and crew fought back after realizing the plane had been hijacked as part of the wider attack. Trump recalled a flight attendant boiling water to use against the hijackers and spoke about Todd Beamer, the 31-year-old New Jersey passenger who asked a telephone operator in Illinois to join him in The Lord’s Prayer before uttering his now-famous final words — “Let’s roll” — as passengers moved to retake the cockpit. Their actions prevented the plane from reaching its intended target, and it crashed into a field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania.

“In those harrowing days after the attacks, we saw the authentic spirit of our nation. We were all New Yorkers that day, every one of us,” President Trump said.

Trump also highlighted the massive American flag that became a symbol of the Pentagon’s resilience in the immediate aftermath of the attack. On September 12, 2001, General James Jackson ordered the largest flag in the military’s collection to be displayed beside the damaged portion of the Pentagon. During Friday’s ceremony, Trump asked those assembled to stand in recognition of the flag and the three firefighters who originally raised it: Joseph Morabito, Scott Morgan and Carl Sahlberg.

“In the generation since 9-11 American sons and daughters have traveled to the darkest corners of the earth and done battle with a shadowy enemy so that our children might once again know carefree days in cloudless skies,” said Trump. “For 25 years, our best and bravest have kept America safe, and today we salute every member of the United States military who served in the war on terror.”

“A generation after 9-11, we also know that the final response to those atrocities and the ultimate victory over the perpetrators will not be found on a foreign battlefield,” Trump remarked while also recognizing current American service members involved in efforts to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear capability.

The President additionally paid tribute to FDNY Captain Timothy Stackpole, a father of five who had endured years of grueling rehabilitation after suffering severe burns over 40% of his body in a five-alarm fire in 1998. Stackpole had returned to full duty and was promoted to captain shortly before September 11. Although he was off duty on the morning of the attacks, he rushed to the World Trade Center to help and was killed when the South Tower collapsed.

“As scripture tells us, the light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it,” said the commander-in-chief. “September 11th reminded us of the terrible power of hate. The 25 years since have shown us the even greater power of the American spirit to endure and prevail and to win.”

{Matzav.com}

[Video below.] A deeply emotional scene unfolded after midnight at the Har Nof home of Rav Moshe Shternbuch, as the senior posek broke down in uncontrollable tears following Selichos, crying out over the difficult situation facing Klal Yisroel and pleading with the Ribono Shel Olam for mercy as the Yemei Hadin approach.

The extraordinary scene took place in Rav Shternbuch’s home in Yerushalayim while much of the city was asleep. After completing Selichos after chatzos, Rav Shternbuch remained immersed in intense emotion, tears streaming from his eyes as he began speaking to those gathered around him.

His words, delivered amid repeated sobbing, left those present shaken. Several of Rav Shternbuch’s close attendants themselves began to cry, later remarking that the raw emotion and unusual manner in which he spoke were unlike what they were accustomed to seeing from him.

Rav Shternbuch began with a piercing call to teshuvah.

“Come, let us return to Hashem, because the time is difficult and the troubles of our hearts have multiplied, and we do not know what will be…”

Then his voice broke.

“Father, Father, Father! Come back to us! How much longer will we have to suffer? You told us that we are Your children, and a father does not abandon his children. Please, do not abandon us! It is true that we sinned before You with brazenness and defiance, and we did not listen to the voice of the holy Creator, but You are our Father…”

Rav Shternbuch continued through his tears, pleading that the relationship between Hashem and His children should itself serve as the source of forgiveness.

“HaKadosh Baruch Hu will help us and He will forgive us, because it is the way of a father to forgive his son, and You will forgive us because we are Your children, for that is what You promised us: ‘You are children to Hashem your G-d.’”

He then uttered a brief sentence that encapsulated the anguish evident throughout his remarks:

“The situation is bitter, bitter, bitter!”

Rav Shternbuch went on to speak with profound pain about the gezeiros and spiritual challenges confronting the Torah community. His words were deliberately guarded, and he indicated that there were matters about which he could not speak openly.

“They are killing us and fighting against us. Oy.”

Then, addressing those gathered around him, Rav Shternbuch issued a stark warning.

“Rabbosai! The situation is not good! I am not permitted to speak, and I will not speak, chas v’shalom, but the situation is bitter, bitter, bitter, bitter! Oy, they want to completely uproot us from HaKadosh Baruch Hu, and they want us to become a nation like all the nations, a people like all the other peoples. And about this HaKadosh Baruch Hu said, ‘That which enters your minds shall not be!’ It will not happen!”

With his voice filled with anguish, Rav Shternbuch continued:

“And they disgrace HaKadosh Baruch Hu and do not listen to His voice. And what will be the end? They are killing us and fighting against us… Oy, HaKadosh Baruch Hu should help and have mercy! This is a time of tzaros, and HaKadosh Baruch Hu should help us get through it.”

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