Yom HaAtzma’ut ‍‍יום העצמאות

01/05/2014 – א׳ באייר ה׳תשע״ד – א׳ באייר ה׳תשע״ד – 18:45

Independence Day (Hebrew: יום העצמאות‎ Yom Ha’atzmaut, lit. “Day of Independence”) is the national day of Israel, commemorating the Israeli Declaration of Independence in 1948. The day is marked by official and unofficial ceremonies and observances.Because Israel declared independence on 14 May 1948, the 5th of Iyar (ה’ באייר) , Yom Ha’atzmaut was originally celebrated on that date. However, to avoid Sabbath desecration, it may be commemorated one or two days before or after the 5th of Iyar if it falls too close to the Jewish Sabbath. Yom Hazikaron, the Israeli Fallen Soldiers and Victims of Terrorism Remembrance Day is always scheduled for the day preceding Independence Day.In the Hebrew calendar, days begin in the evening.

“The coming into being of a Jewish state in Palestine is an event in world history to be viewed in the perspective, not of a generation or a century, but in the perspective of a thousand, two thousand, or even three thousand years.” (Winston Churchill)

Israel’s Declaration of Independence
The Origins of the Israel Defense Forces
It’s time to come home! Nefesh B’Nefesh: Live the Dream 1-866-4-ALIYAH
The Secret of Israeli Independence Day
We will continue no matter what happens with unity and love for Am Israel
גלי עטרי – אין לי ארץ אחרת
Speech by the president of the Czech Republic at the reception held to celebrate Israel’s Independence Day
Independence Means Never Having To Say You’re Sorry
New initiative – 10 days of gratitude
The Jews had every reason to fear genocide in 1948

To the true Heroes and leaders of Am Israel

“בית מקדש שלישי בירושלים Third Beit HaMikdash Holy Temple in Jerusalem; And rebuild Jerusalem the holy city soon in our days! Blessed are You, O Lord, Who will rebuild Jerusalem in His mercy.

Nahal Haredi IDF raising a Torah Scroll

Nahal Haredi was founded on the premise that physical strength alone is not enough – the spirit of Torah and Mitzvot must underlie all that is achieved. The Nahal provides religious men who seek to contribute to Israel’s military defense with a framework for personal and professional achievement that in every way promotes a Torah-true lifestyle.Nahal Haredi was created in 1999 by a group of rabbis in cooperation with the Israel Defense Forces and the Ministry of Defense, as a venue for young men who wish to serve the national interests of Eretz Yisrael while adhering to the highest religious standards. From a small unit of 30 soldiers, Nahal Haredi has become an IDF battalion of close to 1,000 troops, and now aims to reach the requisite threshold for designation as a fully operative infantry brigade. Nahal Haredi continues to develop and implement programming designed to provide military, educational, and economic opportunity to Israel’s growing Haredi community.

Unity in Israel: A Haredi Man giving a hug to an IDF Soldier

Nahal Haredi IDF praying in combat

Breslov Hasidim and the IDF – learning and praying together

The Jerusalem Light Rail Train covered in Snow and still running!

The Jerusalem Chords Bridge or Jerusalem Bridge of Strings גשר המיתרים‎, Gesher HaMeitarim, also called the Jerusalem Light Rail Bridge is a cantilever spar cable-stayed bridge at the entrance to the city of Jerusalem, Israel, designed by the Spanish architect and engineer Santiago Calatrava. The bridge is used by Jerusalem Light Rail’s Red Line, Incorporated in the structure is a glass-sided pedestrian bridge enabling pedestrians to cross from Kiryat Moshe to the Jerusalem Central Bus Station.

Ani Maamin – Mordechai Shapiro Single

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Israel’s Declaration of Independence

Declaration of Independence of the State of Israel (English subtitles)

The Palestine Post 16 May 1948 State of Israel is born

The front page #OTD in 1948. The state of Israel is created. #nytimes pic.twitter.com/svj530uzzi

— New York Times OTD (@OnThisDayNYT) May 15, 2017

The front page New York Times in 1948 The state of Israel is created

From the archive: the establishment of Israel – May 1948

The new state of Israel was proclaimed in Tel Aviv on 14 May 1948. See how the Manchester Guardian covered the story

David Ben Gurion reads out the proclamation of independence and creation of the Jewish State of Israel, 1948.

Richard Nelsson 14 May 2012 16.42 BST

https://www.theguardian.com/world/from-the-archive-blog/2012/may/14/archive-1948-establishment-israel-jewish-state

The state of Israel was founded on 14 May 1948. The following day the Manchester Guardian reported David Ben Gurion’s proclamation of independence, his appointment as Prime Minister, and the reaction of other countries to the creation of the Jewish state.

Manchester Guardian 15 May 1948-The Jewish state Born

Manchester Guardian, 15 May 1948. Read the full article.Ben Gurion announced that his government’s first act was the revocation of the White Paper of 1939 limiting immigration, and of the mandatory’s restrictions on land sales.

Manchester Guardian, 15 May 1948-Natural and Historic Right

Manchester Guardian, 15 May 1948. Read the full article.How the United Nations partition scheme of the region looked was illustrated in a graphic.

Manchester Guardian 15 May 1948-Partition in Being Map

Manchester Guardian, 15 May 1948.

Meanwhile, the paper’s leader column noted:

Last night the British Mandate for Palestine came to an ignoble end after twenty-five years…The Jews have set up their State and the Arabs have begun to cross the frontiers of Egypt, Syria and Transjordan. A civil war will be transformed into a war between nations.

Medina & Halacha – Exploring the Jewish State through the lens of Jewish Law by Rabbi Shimshon HaKohen Nadel

Israel’s Declaration of Independence

Torah Tidbits #1327 – B’ha’aalot’cha – June 14-15 – 12 Sivan 5779 website: www.ttidbits.com

Last week, MK Bezalel Yoel Smotrich of Ichud Leumi (who is seeking the post of Minister of Justice) said in an interview that Israel should “return to the way it was run in the days of King David and King Solomon.” He continued, “My desire long-term is that the State of Israel be run according to the Torah.”

In response, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu announced that “the State of Israel will not be a Medinat Halacha.” I do not know if the Prime Minister is a reader of this column, but I would be very happy to sit down with him and discuss just what a Medinat Halacha might look like. Either at his home or mine.

The truth is, since the very birth of the State of Israel, this nascent Jewish Nation has struggled with its Jewish character: Would the Jewish State be a ‘Jewish’ state or a state ‘for the Jews’? A religious state, or just another Western Democracy? One vivid example of this ‘identity crisis’ is the disagreement and debate that took place over the text of Israel’s Declaration of Independence.
In late April 1948, Pinchas Rosen, head of the pre-state judicial council and later Israel’s first Minister of Justice, assigned the task of drafting a declaration to an attorney by the name of Mordechai Boehm. Boehm in turn enlisted the help of an American Conservative rabbi living in Israel, Shalom Zvi (Harry) Davidowicz. In this first draft, Rabbi Davidowicz based his text on the Declaration of Independence of the United States, and included a number of references to G-d.

This met with much opposition by secular party leaders, and changes and additions were made by Zvi Berenson, the Histadrut trade union’s legal advisor and later a justice on Israel’s Supreme Court.

Berenson’s version was also problematic for some, and so in the days and weeks preceding the withdrawal from Palestine by British Mandatory authorities, a new draft was prepared by politicians, lawyers and writers (including Shai Agnon). The final draft of the Declaration of Independence was drafted by a small committee including David Ben-Gurion, Moshe Sharett, Rabbi Yehuda Leib Fishman- Maimon, and Aharon Zisling.

Rabbi Maimon, head of the Mizrachi party and later Israel’s first Minister of Religion, along with other Religious Zionist leaders, believed strongly that Israel’s Declaration of Independence should mention Hashem. After much opposition, Rabbi Maimon recommended using “Tzur Yisrael V’Go’alo – Rock of Israel and Redeemer”, an expression found in Tanach and our liturgy.
But Aharon Zisling, leader of the left-wing Mapam, refused to sign the Declaration if it contained any references to “a G-d in whom I do not believe”. Other left-wing leaders felt any references to Hashem or religion represented religious coercion and were a threat to Democracy. The disagreement grew to the point where it threatened to derail the proclama- tion of the establishment of the Jewish state. Ben-Gurion spent much of the morning of May 14th mediating between Rav Maimon and Zisling. After hours of talks, they finally agreed on “Rock of Israel”, and agreed to omit the “and Redeemer” from the text.

The Declaration of Independence begins by affirming the Jewish People’s ancestral and spiritual connection the land, but instead of the word “Torah”, uses “Book of Books”: “The Land of Israel was the birthplace of the Jewish people. Here their spiritual, religious and political identity was shaped. Here they first attained to statehood, created cultural values of national and universal significance and gave to the world the eternal Book of Books.” The Declaration concludes: “Placing our trust in the Rock of Israel, we affix our signatures to this proclamation at this session of the provisional Council of State, on the soil of the Homeland, in the city of Tel-Aviv, on this Erev Shabbat, the 5th day of Iyar 5708, 14 May 1948.”

Ben-Gurion was comfortable in using “Rock of Israel”, as he felt every individual can decide for himself what the “Rock of Israel” means to him. But it is clear from Tanach that “Rock of Israel” is an expression of our steadfast faith in Hashem as our rock, our strength, and our protector. On his deathbed, King David says, “The Rock of Israel has spoken to me: ‘Become a ruler over men; a righteous one, who rules through the fear of G-d'” (Shmuel Bet 23:3). “Rock of Israel” is a also mentioned in Yishayahu 30:29.

In Chana’s prayer, she recognizes “there is no Rock like our G-d” (Shmuel Alef 2:2).

In Tehillim 18:3, Hashem is the “Rock in Whom I take shelter,” and in Tehillim 19:15 he is “my Rock, and my Redeemer”. In Tehillim 62:3, “He alone is my Rock and my Salvation,” and in Tehillim 73:26 Hashem is the “Rock of my heart.”
Other references to Hashem as our “Rock” can be found in Sefer Yishayahu and Yechezkel.

According to some, Rav Yitzchak HaLevi Herzog’s choice to begin the Prayer for the Welfare of the State of Israel with “Tzur Yisrael V’Go’alo” was no coincidence. His intention was to invoke Israel’s Declaration of Independence and imbue it with religious meaning.

Just hours after its final wording was decided, party leaders lined up to sign their names to the Declaration of Independence. Rabbi Yehuda Leib Fishman-Maimon added something small just above his signature: The Hebrew letters Bet, Ayin, Zayin, Hei, representing “Be’ezrat Hashem.”
Hashem’s name ended up on the Declaration after all!

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Ever Wondered How it All Started?

The Origins of the Israel Defense Forces

You know the names of our wars, our tanks, our tech… You read about our operational capabilities and our different units. But a military isn’t born overnight. These are the IDF’s origins:

IDF Editorial Team 16May2021 https://www.idf.il/en/articles/2021/the-origins-of-the-israel-defense-forces/
Lag BaOmer 18 Iyar 5708 IDF Created (1948)
On the 26th of May, 1948, Ben Gurion ordered to disassemble all the underground resistance movements and form a new, united army called the Israel Defense Forces.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) was created on Lag BaOmer of 1948. The IDF comprises the Israeli army, Israeli air force and Israeli navy. It was formed to defend the existence, territorial integrity and sovereignty of the state of Israel and combat all forms of terrorism which threaten the daily lives of its inhabitants.

1887 – Zionism

The end of the 19th century marked the start of a new movement––Zionism. Theodor Herzl, the founder of the Zionist movement, called for Jews across the globe to come together and form a national home for the Jewish people.

Back then, the Land of Israel was part of the Ottoman Empire. It was populated mainly by Arabs from throughout the Middle East and Jewish communities in holy cities such as Jerusalem and Safed that had existed for centuries.

Inspired by Zionism and facing violent pogroms in eastern Europe, more and more Jews felt the need to escape to a place they could call their own. They came to Israel and established the first “Moshavot”––Jewish agricultural communities and towns.

As Jewish communities bloomed throughout the Land of Israel, the concept of “Hebrew Labor” became the cornerstone of Israel’s national revival process. By shaping a new society and building a country with their own hands, the Zionist movement was brought to life. At the time, the Jewish communities in the country would hire local Arabs to guard their homes, fields and plantations. However, Jewish pioneers aspired to take their security into their own hands.

1907 – Bar Giora and HaShomer

A secret order called Bar Giora was formed in order to lead Hebrew Labor, train Jews in combat, build Jewish communities and secure Jewish towns. The ultimate goal was to create a defensive Jewish force. Bar Giora set up a farm in Sejera (modern-day Ilaniya) and then spread out to guard the entire town as well as their neighboring town, Mas’ha (Modern day Kfar Tavor). Following their success in Sejera and Mas’ha, the demand for Jewish security increased. The members of Bar Giora decided to focus their efforts solely on securing Jewish communities. Therefore, they founded a legal organization––as opposed to Bar Giora, which was underground––called HaShomer. Soon, HaShomer guarded Jewish communities all throughout the Land of Israel.

Members of HaShomer, 1909

Members of HaShomer, 1909

World War I

In 1917, in the midst of World War I, Jews volunteered to join the British Army to fight against the Ottoman Empire. They formed the Jewish Legion––the 38th to 42nd Battalions of the Royal Fusiliers in the British Army––and hoped that in exchange for their contribution, they would be credited in favor of establishing the State of Israel as the country of the Jewish people once a new world order was set at the end of the war. The Jewish Legion was the first Jewish military force of the modern era, with Jewish symbols and names and Hebrew as its spoken language. The existence of the five Jewish battalions gave proof of the potential power of the Jews as a nation. The military experience its soldiers gained, as well as their spirit, became the foundation of the Jewish underground resistances which would later operate across the Land of Israel.

Once World War I came to an end, the British gained control over the Land of Israel as part of the Sykes–Picot Agreement, which divided the Middle East between the British and French.

In 1917, The British Government published the Balfour Declaration, solidifying its support and recognizing the Land of Israel as the national home of the Jewish people. The number of Jews immigrating to the British Mandate of Palestine continued to grow. These new Jewish immigrants formed a new way of living––the Kibbutz.

Triggered by the fall of the Ottoman Empire, in 1919, Arabs increased their attacks on Jewish communities in the Galilee region. The most well-known event is the Battle of Tel Hai, when a Small Arab squad attacked the small Jewish community living there, resulting in the death of eight Jews. One of the fallen was Joseph Trumpeldor, a Zionist role model and national hero.

1920 – Haganah

Meanwhile, HaShomer had been gaining members, including Eliyahu Golomb, David Ben-Gurion and Yitzhak Tabenkin, who argued that the guard should become a countrywide body. This caused controversy amongst HaShomer veterans, who aspired to maintain the selective and elitist tradition of the organization.

This led to HaShomer voluntarily disbanding, and the Haganah, a defensive organization open to all, was established. Based upon the principles of HaShomer and under the authority of the World Zionist Organization, the Haganah’s mission was to protect the Hebrew Yeshuv (the Jews who lived in the Land of Israel) from Arab attacks.

Women in the Haganah, 1924

Women in the Haganah, 1924

Almost immediately after the establishment of the Haganah began the Nabi Musa riots. Jewish homes were raided and attacked by Arabs. As the British Army stood to the side, the Haganah managed to evacuate around 300 Jews from the Old City of Jerusalem. The violence continued for four days. Once the situation deescalated, the British accused the Haganah of causing the riots and sent the Jewish soldiers to the Acre Prison.

Just a few months later, in May, 1921, the Jaffa riots occurred. Arabs attacked Jewish communities in Jaffa and throughout central Israel, killing 47 Jews. In 1929, a series of violent Arab massacres of Jewish communities took place. 133 Jews were brutally murdered as Arab mobs targeted ancient Jewish communities in holy cities such as Jerusalem, Safed, Hebron, and Nablus. Jewish families who had lived there for centuries were wiped out while British forces stood idly by.

1931 – Etzel

Following these horrific events, a group of Haganah commanders split and formed an organization called the Etzel. The Etzel abandoned the Haganah’s defensive approach and advocated for a more offensive and deterrent one, demanding decisive action against Arab aggression and British indifference.

1936 – The Arab Revolt

Meanwhile, in Europe, the Nazi party was rising to power. More and more Jews frantically fled Europe and immigrated to the British Mandate of Palestine. This resulted in the Arab revolt in Mandatory Palestine, during which Arabs committed acts of terror against British forces and their representatives as well as attacks on Jews and their property. These events were more brutal than the previous riots both in scope and intensity.

The Haganah’s policy was “Havlagah – Restraint”.
“Havlagah means our weapon will be pure. We learn the weapon, we carry the weapon, we resist those who come to attack us, but we do not want our weapon to be stained with the blood of innocents… If we were not loyal to ourselves and adopted a different strategy, we would have lost the fight a long time ago”, wrote Berl Katznelson, a prominent Zionist leader.

The Haganah headquarters received real-time reports from various agents in the Yeshuv, using an underground radio system and Morse code in order to gather intelligence and thwart Arab attacks. However, as the attacks increased, the Haganah decided to expand their fighting front. They established POSH (Field Companies), the elite commando unit of the Haganah. Its commander, Yitzhak Sadeh, developed offensive combat techniques: not to “stay behind the fence” but to operate at nighttime, conduct squad ambushes, all the while familiarizing themselves with the terrain.

Concurrently, the Haganah began to collaborate with the British Mandate and formed the PALAM, the “Special Night Squads”, an elite unit under the command of Cpt. Orde Wingate, a British officer. Cpt. Wingate selected his recruits personally. He developed a unique combat method for the unit, specializing in guerrilla warfare, memorizing the land’s topography while forming small, mobile striking units capable of taking down Arab terror squads.

When the Arab revolt ended in 1939, the Yeshuv and the Haganah had only grown stronger. With new, fortified Jewish communities and kibbutzim, the organizations were able to expand their combat capabilities via their special units, PALAM and POSH. The POSH was later turned into HISH (Field Corps), a young guard who trained to protect the Yeshuv and its people, and HIM (Guard Corps) a guard who defended Jewish communities and towns.

World War II, Lehi and Palmach

Several months later, the British government issued the White Paper of 1939, limiting Jewish immigration to the Land of Israel almost entirely. The Holocaust was just beginning, and more than ever, the Jewish people needed a safe place to go. Thousands of Jews who managed to escape the Nazis came by boat to Mandatory Palestine for survival––only to be turned back at its shores. While the Jewish people supported British efforts to fight against the Nazis, they could not stand by while desperate Jewish refugees were denied entry into the country.

“We will fight the White Paper as if there is no war against Hitler,” declared David Ben Gurion, prominent Haganah leader and Israel’s first prime minister, “and we will fight Hitler as if there is no White Paper.”

More than 40,000 Jews enlisted into the British Army during World War II to fight against the Nazis. Throughout the war, Jews served in various positions, including the famous Jewish Parachutists, made up of 37 brave men and women who volunteered to parachute into Nazi-occupied Europe in order to gather intelligence, rescue Allied forces who had fallen into enemy territory, and try to save Jews in Europe.

Meanwhile, the Etzel had internal disagreements over whether or not they should cease fire with the British and assist them during the war or continue to act in defiance of the White Paper. Eventually, those who opposed the British split and formed a new organization—the Lehi. It was a small organization, but it carried out daring missions against British rule.

idf-Poster calling for Jews to enlist into the British Army

Poster calling for Jews to enlist into the British Army

News of the Nazis’ plan to conquer the Middle East spread rapidly as France, which controlled Lebanon and Syria, came under pro-Nazi Vichy’s rule, and German Gen. Rommel made his way through north Africa’s shores to the Suez Canal.

This resulted in the establishment of the Palmach, the Haganah’s official military branch, to supplement the HISH and HIM. The Palmach was created as a force to protect and defend the Jewish people in Israel in the event of a Nazi invasion. It was an integral part of the Haganah. Every Palmach member was loyal to the Haganah as well.

The British initially sponsored the Palmach and provided its members with weapons as well as military training. The Palmach operated using methods of guerrilla warfare, combat patrols, reconnaissance, strike and sabotage. They even had a “German Platoon”, in which German-speaking soldiers impersonated Nazi military officers, trained to operate German weapons, completed intensive exercises, and studied German military history and strategy.

However, after the British victory over Gen. Rommel in Africa in the Second Battle of El Alamein, the British no longer saw the need for the Palmach’s existence and cut off all funding and assistance.

The organization was forced to go underground and support itself through work in the kibbutzim—each Palmach platoon was assigned a kibbutz to live on, where they were provided with food, housing and other resources. In return, the platoons worked on the kibbutz for half of the month and trained for combat during the other half. This combination of agricultural work and training created a combat-ready, self-sufficient force.

The Palmach managed to establish the “Palyam” (naval companies) and the “Sha” (air force service), as well as special units such as the “Sachar”, known as the Arab Platoon, which trained Arabic-speaking Jews to gather intelligence and secret information in the Middle East. Known for conducting informal social activities apart from training, its free spirit and high morale was the Palmach’s essence and source of strength.

At the time, most Yeshuv members wanted to join the Allies in the fight against the Nazis and be a part of an established, respected military rather than a newly formed paramilitary with limited resources. In order to convince Jews to join the Palmach, Yitzhak Sadeh, the Palmach’s first commander, insisted: “The Russian gun is carried by the Russian soldier, the English gun is carried by the English soldier, but friends, who will carry the Hebrew gun?”

The Jews and the British had a common enemy: the Nazis. Therefore, as long as Europe was occupied by the Nazis, the World Zionist Organization decided to refrain from using weapons against the British. However, the Etzel dismissed this decision in the last few months of the war; as news about the horrors of the Holocaust made its way overseas, the White Paper’s policy still kept Jews seeking refuge from immigrating to Mandatory Palestine. The Etzel announced their resumption of the armed struggle against British rule with the aim of expelling the British from the country and establishing an independent Jewish state instead.

That started “The Saison”––The Haganah and the Palmach’s fight against the Etzel in order to stop them from operating against the British Mandate. The Haganah began to track Etzel members and gather information to pass on to the British, sometimes even handing over Etzel members themselves. Despite rising tensions, all three organizations remained careful not to spark infighting, for they all had the same mission––to establish the State of Israel.

1945 – Jewish Resistance Movement

Immediately after World War II, the Etzel, the Lehi, the Haganah and the Palmach all came together to form a united “Hebrew Resistance Movement”. Together, they organized wide-scale operations in order to bring Jewish immigrants safely to the Land of Israel. They broke into the Atlit internment camps and released all 200 Jewish immigrants and Holocaust survivors who were imprisoned there, and sabotaged British railways, ships, jets, airports and radar stations with which the British Army used to detect Jewish immigration ships.

One of their most well-known operations is “Night of the Bridges”. On the night of June 16th, 1946, the Jewish Resistance Movement destroyed ten bridges linking Mandatory Palestine to its neighboring countries––Lebanon, Syria, Jordan and Egypt––in order to sever the British Army’s strategic and economic ties.

In response, on June 29, 1946, the British implemented their plan to eliminate the Jewish resistance: Operation Agatha, also known as the “Black Shabbat”. The British seized Jewish cities, kibbutzim and towns, confiscated important documents, arrested thousands of members, and raided homes to find guns and weapons. The “Black Shabbat” constituted a significant blow to the Yeshuv. They swiftly planned to retaliate.

At the time, the King David Hotel in Jerusalem was known to be the headquarters of the British government in Israel. The Jewish Resistance Movement’s original plan was to plant explosives and destroy the hotel as a warning sign to the British, but after consulting with the World Zionist Organization, they cancelled the mission. However, the Etzel carried on with the mission on their own. Even though they called for the hotel to be evacuated, the British dismissed their warning. 91 people died in the attack—Jews, Arabs and British. The disaster sent a massive shock through the Hebrew Resistance Movement and led to its dissolution.

The Haganah’s weapons, found by the British in Kibbutz Yagur during the “Black Shabbat”, 1947

The Haganah’s weapons, found by the British in Kibbutz Yagur during the “Black Shabbat”, 1947

1947 – The Fight for Israel’s Independence

And so, each organization resumed their previous mission––the Etzel and the Lehi continued to openly fight against the British while the Haganah and the Palmach focused on rescuing Jewish refugees and bringing them to Mandatory Palestine.

A turning point in the Haganah’s effort to save Jewish immigrants was when the British seized the Exodus 1947 illegal immigration ship, forcing thousands of Holocaust survivors seeking refuge in the Land of Israel to go back to Europe. This incident was covered heavily in the media. Members of the United Nations Special Committee on Palestine (UNSCOP) who were visiting Israel at the time witnessed the event, influencing them to recognize the necessity of a state for the Jewish People.

Exodus 1947 in Haifa’s harbor, after it was seized by the British

Exodus 1947 in Haifa’s harbor, after it was seized by the British

On the 29th of November, 1947, the UN General Assembly approved Resolution 181, marking the end of the British Mandate of Palestine. This was a historic moment for the Jewish people. The Arab population within Mandatory Palestine immediately rejected the resolution and declared war on the Jews.

The Haganah, Etzel and Lehi joined together to fight for the existence of an independent Jewish state in their ancestral homeland.

The Haganah’s six brigades of HISH and three brigades of Palmach were the main entities acting as the backbone of the Yeshuv’s military force and played a key role in Israel’s War of Independence. Half of the fighting forces were also made up of “Gahal soldiers”––Jews recruited from Europe, most of them Holocaust survivors.

After six months of war, the Haganah decided to shift from their typical defensive approach to an increasingly offensive one that led them to a series of small victories, bringing the Yeshuv enough stability to arrive at this historic moment: On the 15th of May, 1948, David Ben Gurion declared Israel’s independence from the British Empire, based on Resolution 181 and the Partition Plan. Immediately after, Israel was attacked by six foreign Arab armies.

On the 26th of May, 1948, Ben Gurion ordered to disassemble all the underground resistance movements and form a new, united army called the Israel Defense Forces.

Despite being drastically outnumbered, the newly-formed IDF worked together to win the war. Israel emerged victorious, and, once and for all, the Jewish people began to build their nation, the State of Israel.

Since then, the IDF has transformed from a small, newly-formed army to one of the most respected and powerful militaries in the world. For over 73 years, the IDF has protected the Israeli people, and this was made possible because of the Haganah, the Palmach, and all the resistance movements who built the foundation for the IDF we know today. We owe it to them to continue their legacy and fight for Israel’s future.

Defence Army of Israel Ordinance No. 4 – פקודת צבא הגנה לישראל מס’ 4

Defence Army of Israel Ordinance No 4-HEB

Defence Army of Israel Ordinance No 4-ENG

Israel Independence Day IAF jets fly over country for its 75th birthday

Psalm 20:7 These trust in chariots and these in horses, but we call on the name of HASHEM our God.

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תהילים פרק כ

ח: אֵ֣לֶּה בָ֭רֶכֶב וְאֵ֣לֶּה בַסּוּסִ֑ים וַֽאֲנַ֓חְנוּ בְּשֵׁם־יְהוָ֖ה אֱלֹהֵ֣ינוּ נַזְכִּֽיר׃

Nefesh B’Nefesh: Live the Dream US & CAN 1-866-4-ALIYAH | UK 020-8150-6690 or 0800-085-2105 | Israel 02-659-5800 https://www.nbn.org.il/ info@nbn.org.il

It’s time to come home! Nefesh B’Nefesh: Live the Dream 1-866-4-ALIYAH UK 0800-085-2105 Come home to the Land of Emuna

Living The Dream – Nefesh B’Nefesh (hi-res)

Thank you Yerushalayim Torah Academy for Girls!

OU Israel Yom HaAtzmaut 70th Anniversary Celebration

Nefesh B’Nefesh Yom Haatzmaut 2014: 66 Israeli Heroes Share a Powerful Message | NBN

“Home” – Nefesh B’Nefesh Yom Ha’atzmaut 2017

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The Secret of Israeli Independence Day

Is there any significance that Israeli Independence Day is on 5-Iyar (Shabbat, 03-May-2025)? YES, says the Vilna Gaon! This date is closely tied to Mashiach and the Final Redemption. Let’s not pass up this golden opportunity to pray especially hard for both!

Rabbi Pinchas Winston | Posted on 10April2026 | https://breslev.com/3697848/

The Secret of Israeli Independence Day

I once read that the Vilna Gaon said that the 20th and 42nd days of the Omer Count were special days, spiritual windows of opportunity with respect to the redemption of the Jewish people. Even the middot hayom (character trait for the day), Yesod sh’b’Tifferet (Foundation within Harmony) and Malchut she’b’Yesod (Kingship within Foundation) respectively, suggest this as well.

As such, they are good days to pray extra hard for the arrival of Mashiach and the Final Redemption. These two days, more than the other 365 days of the year, are good opportunities to give thanks to God that we are still here as a people, and living on our land once again. Neither is a small miracle.

What redemption-yearning person would want to pass up such an opportunity? What Jew who prays for redemption at least three times every day in his Shemonah Esrei would not want to take advantage of such a unique window to geulah shlaimah?

Yet each year, we shut the window of spiritual opportunity on these two days of the Omer. For decades now, the 20th and 42nd day of the Omer have come and gone and many redemption-oriented Jews did little to use them to further the cause of redemption.

What are these two days?

The 20th day of the Omer is Yom HaAtzmaut, Israel Independence Day, and the 42nd day is Yom Yerushalayim, Jerusalem Day.

Each year, instead of taking advantage of the opportunity of these redemption-oriented days of the Omer, we often ignore them at best. We miss the entire point of what these two days represent.

Should we be surprised? Not at all. It is a classic situation, albeit Kabbalistic. We are watching ancient forces at play here, scenarios as old as man himself. The only surprising thing is that after thousands of years of experience, we are no better at dealing with them than before.

The concept, as mentioned in Sha’ar HaGilgulim, is “mirmah utachbolet”, which means “trickery and scheming.” It is a tactic used, historically, by the Sitra Achra (Satan), and quite surprisingly, by G-d Himself.

First, the Sitra Achra. The Sitra Achra does not like redemption or anything to do with it. Redemption means Mashiach and the perfection of mankind. It means the end of the yetzer hara, and therefore, of the Sitra Achra. Therefore, the Sitra Achra hates redemption.

But he is a clever angel. He must be to make free will relevant to man. Though he can get some people to rush headlong into sin, others he cannot. They are too smart, too moral. If he wants them to miss a spiritual opportunity, he must be clever about it. He must make them believe that the wrong thing they are doing is really the right thing.

If the “road to hell is paved with good intentions,” it is because the Sitra Achra is the contractor. He’s the one who takes advantage of people’s spiritual shortcomings and blindness to trick them into sinning when they otherwise might not sin.

Right back at him though. G-d is no stranger to mirmah utachbolet. He is the One who arranged for Avraham to be born to Terach, an idol worshiper. He did it to fool the Sitra Achra into believing that no one important was being born.

He also set it up that Ruth would be born from Moav, a nation that began with an incestuous relationship. “How could anything to do with the holy Mashiach,” the Sitra Achra must have mused at the time, “come from such an unholy relationship?”

To his surprise, it did anyhow.

It was also G-d who made Dovid HaMelech’s beginning so spiritually murky. Though it made the ancestor of Mashiach’s life exceedingly difficult, it made the path to Mashiach very possible, even inevitable. We do not even know how many times such things have happened throughout history along the long journey to Mashiach and the Final Redemption.

It never ceases to amaze how many places it shows up, and what it hides from those of us who fail to think the situation to its logical, and sometimes, Kabbalistic end.

The 20th day of the Omer is here again, and many people who could use the opportunity to push for the Final Redemption will miss the opportunity.

Let us not be fooled again by the Sitra Achra. Let us fool HIM when we push away distractions of celebration and instead, pray for Redemption with mercy on such an auspicious day.

***

Pinchas Winston is the author of over 95 books on various topics that deal with current issues from a traditional Jewish perspective. He has also written on the weekly Torah reading since 1993, called “Perceptions”, as well as on current topics and trends affecting Jewish history, past and present. One of his missions is to make the depth and beauty of the more mystical teachings of Torah understandable and accessible to those who can really benefit from them. Visit his website at thirtysix.org.

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We will continue no matter what happens with unity and love for Am Israel

Tehillim-1Million Man Atzeret-3March2014

Rav Ovadia Yosef ZT”L (September 24, 1920 – October 7, 2013)

Ultra-Orthodox Jewish men study at Jerusalem’s Mir Yeshiva, the largest Jewish seminary in Israel

Israeli Mother

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Israeli Family

Our lands and tribal borders in the past

Map of the 12 Tribes of Israel

Dry-Bones-1990-Yom HaAtzma’ut Yom HaAtzmaut, Israeli Independence Day. Back in 1990 we were coming to grips with the twin surprises of the West turning its back on us and the miraculous rescue/return of the Jews from Russia and Ethiopia!

‫גלי-עטרי-אין-לי-ארץ-אחרת‬‎

גלי עטרי – אין לי ארץ אחרת Ein li eretz acheret (I have no other country)

Dry Bones: Israel at 30 (1978)” Note that there are two images of Israel. The more “Westernised” business-suited version of herself (at 30) and her remembering her early “oriental” look. Also notice the take on Jimmy “one term” Carter, and the fact that we were both excited and nervous about how things were proceeding with Anwar Sadat, President of Egypt. At the bottom of the page Doobie the Dog adds his earthy and cynical comment in his own strip.

אין לי ארץ אחרת
גם אם אדמתי בוערת
רק מילה בעברית חודרת
אל עורקיי, אל נשמתי
בגוף כואב, בלב רעב
כאן הוא ביתילא אשתוק, כי ארצי
שינתה את פניה
לא אוותר לה,
להזכיר לה,
ואשיר כאן באוזניה
עד שתפקח את עיניהאין לי ארץ אחרת
גם אם אדמתי בוערת
רק מילה בעברית חודרת
אל עורקיי, אל נשמתי
בגוף כואב, בלב רעב
כאן הוא ביתילא אשתוק, כי ארצי
שינתה את פניה
לא אוותר לה,
להזכיר לה,
ואשיר כאן באוזניה
עד שתפקח את עיניה

אין לי ארץ אחרת
עד שתחדש ימיה
עד שתפקח את עיניה

אין לי ארץ אחרת
גם אם אדמתי בוערת
רק מילה בעברית חודרת
אל עורקיי, אל נשמתי
בגוף כואב, בלב רעב
כאן הוא ביתי

בגוף כואב, בלב רעב
כאן הוא ביתי

EIN LI ERETZ ACHERETEin li eretz acheret
Gam im admati bo’eret
Rak mila be’ivrit
choderet el orkai el nishmati –
Beguf ko’ev, belev ra’ev
Kan hu beiti –Lo eshtok
ki artzi shinta et panehaLo avater lehazkir la
Ve’ashir kan be’ozneha
Ad shetiftach et einehaEin li eretz acheret
Gam im admati boeret
Rak mila beivrit
hoderet el orkai el nishmati
Beguf koev, belev raev
Kan hu beiti –Lo eshtok ki artzi
shinta et paneha
Lo avater lehazkir la
Veashir kan beozneha
Ad shetiftah et einehaEin li eretz aheret
Ad shetichadesh yameha
Ad shetiftah et einehaEin li eretz aheret
Gam im admati boeret
Rak mila beivrit
hoderet el orkai el nishmati
Beguf koev, belev raev
Kan — hu beitiBeguf koev, belev raev
Kan — hu beiti

I HAVE NO OTHER COUNTRYI have no other country
even if my land is aflame
Just a word in Hebrew
pierces my veins and my soul –
With a painful body, with a hungry heart,
Here is my home.I will not stay silent
because my country changed her faceI will not give up reminding her
And sing in her ears
until she will open her eyesI have no other country
even if my land is aflame
Just a word in Hebrew
pierces my veins and my soul –
With a painful body, with a hungry heart,
Here is my home.I won’t be silent because my country
has changed her face.
I will not give up reminding her
And sing in her ears
until she will open her eyesI have no other country
until she will renew her glorious days
Until she will open her eyesI have no other country
even if my land is aflame
Just a word in Hebrew
pierces my veins and my soul –
With a painful body, with a hungry heart,
Here is my home.With a painful body, with a hungry heart,
Here is my home.TOP

Speech by the president of the Czech Republic at the reception held to celebrate Israel’s Independence Day

Miloš Zeman, the president of Czech Republic, gave the following speech last Monday at a reception to celebrate Israel’s Independence Day. Many thanks to Gemini for the translation from the official text posted at the Czech government’s website.

May 26, 2014

Miloš Zeman, the president of Czech Republic

Ladies and gentlemen,

Let me thank you for the invitation to celebrate Israel’s Independence Day. There are dozens of days of independence being celebrated every year in the Czech Republic. Some I may attend, others I cannot. There is one I can never miss, however: it’s the Israeli Independence Day.

There are states with whom we share the same values, such as the political horizon of free elections or a free market economy. However, no one threatens these states with wiping them off the map. No one fires at their border towns; no one wishes that their citizens would leave their country. There is a term, political correctness. This term I consider to be a euphemism for political cowardice. Therefore, let me not be cowardly.

It is necessary to clearly name the enemy of human civilization. It is international terrorism linked to religious fundamentalism and religious hatred. As we may have noticed after 11th of September, this fanaticism has not been focused on one state exclusively. Muslim fanatics recently kidnapped 200 young Christian girls in Nigeria ( and the Pope who visited Israel recently has said not a word about these Christian girls being kidnapped, yet went out of his way to make things difficult for Jews ). There was a hideous assassination in the flower of Europe in the heart of European Union in a Jewish museum in Brussels. I will not let myself being calmed down by the declaration that there are only tiny fringe groups behind it. On the contrary, I am convinced that this xenophobia, and let’s call it racism or anti-Semitism, emerges from the very essence of the ideology these groups subscribe to.

So let me quote one of their sacred texts to support this statement: “A tree says, there is a Jew behind me, come and kill him. A stone says, there is a Jew behind me, come and kill him.” I would criticize those calling for the killing of Arabs, but I do not know of any movement calling for mass murdering of Arabs. However, I know of one anti-civilization movement calling for the mass murder of Jews.

After all, one of the paragraphs of the statutes of Hamas says: “Kill every Jew you see.” Do we really want to pretend that this is an extreme viewpoint? Do we really want to be politically correct and say that everyone is nice and only a small group of extremists and fundamentalists is committing such crimes?

Michel de Montaigne, one of my favorite essayists, once wrote: “It is gruesome to assume that it must be good that comes after evil. A different evil may come.” It started with the Arab Spring which turned into an Arab winter, and a fight against secular dictatorships turned into fights led by Al-Qaeda. Let us throw away political correctness and call things by their true names. Yes, we have friends in the world, friends with whom we show solidarity. This solidarity costs us nothing, because these friends are not put into danger by anyone.

The real meaning of solidarity is a solidarity with a friend who is in a trouble and in danger, and this is why I am here.

— Miloš Zeman, president of the Czech Republic, Hilton Hotel, 26th of May 2014

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Arutz Sheva http://www.israelnationalnews.com/

Independence Means Never Having To Say You’re Sorry

By Tamar Yonah 06May2014 http://www.israelnationalnews.com/Blogs/Message.aspx/5706#.U3LmfYZxMxA

Independence means never having to say you’re sorry.
If we are really going to celebrate independence, then let’s really do it!

(updated version from a blog I wrote in 2011)
Independence means never having to ask another nation for permission to defend itself.

Independence means never having to ask another country for arms and how we can use them.
Independence means never having to ask for permission to pray at our Holy Sites.

Independence means never having to ask another nation where Jews can and cannot live.
Independence means never having to ask another people if we can build in our own country.

Independence means never having to ask the U.N. to condemn terrorist attacks against us, because Israel would have already dealt out justice herself!

Independence means never having to apologize for hitting an anti-semitic, terror supporting, anarchist in the face with your gun.

Independence means never having to put a soldier on trial for cocking his gun while being threatened by enemies of the Jewish people.

Independence means never having to board a terrorist-supporting flotilla ship, where we arm our soldiers with paint guns, instead of meaning business.
Independence means never having to say you’re sorry for civilian deaths of the enemy in a war.

Independence means not giving in to the Obamas and Kerrys of the world and releasing murdering terrorists out onto the streets for a goodwill gesture.

Independence means not having to cave into world pressure and cut yourself in pieces to carve out a terrorist state in your belly.

Independence means never having to ask another entity for permission… to exist.
LONG LIVE ISRAEL! HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY!!!!! 66 years old for the modern State of Israel!

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Latma’s song for Yom Haatzmaut – Please give me back my country!

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New initiative – 10 days of gratitude

This book is the next step up the ladder of inner peace and self-realization from Rabbi Shalom Arush

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Elder of Ziyon logo http://elderofziyon.blogspot.com/

The Jews had every reason to fear genocide in 1948

05May2023 https://elderofziyon.blogspot.com/2023/05/the-jews-had-every-reason-to-fear.html

There is an interesting thread by Yair Wallach, from the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) in London, where he minimizes any threats made by Arabs towards Jews in 1948, and says that Jews exaggerate those threats in order to pursue their goal of Jewish supremacism:

So many people are attached to the “they wanted to throw us into the sea” myth based on extremely flimsy evidence – a couple of dubious quotes. If this was indeed a “genocidal war” against Jews, you’d expect such rhetoric to be easy to find. It isn’t.

There is, in contrast, a considerable corpus of public discussions in Arabic on how to integrate Jews (inc. recent migrants) into the Arab Middle East. Those ideas, unsurprisingly, were unpalatable to the Zionist mainstream. But that’s very different to “throwing into the sea”.

But it’s not enough to say: we had radically different political visions, therefore there was war. No, it has to be “they wanted to push us into the sea”. Why?

Because it’s a founding colonial myth. Israel is “the villa in the jungle.” Arabs are genocidal and violent by nature, always a security risk. So equal rights are out of the question, and a 55 year military occupation is justified – because they want to push us into the sea.

It is true that in 1948, Zionist analysts felt that the war would go their way. It is probably true that some sober Arab leaders did not plan genocide against the Jews and “merely” wanted them to remain despised second class citizens as they had been forever under Muslim rule. But there is a huge leap in logic there to claim that there was no fear of another genocide, and an even larger leap to say that Jewish racism is keeping that myth alive in order to subjugate Palestinians.

First of all, there were threats – real threats – by Arab leaders promising a massacre of Jews that were recorded in major media, and not difficult to find at all. And they included at least one explicit call to throw Jews into the sea.

Here’s one genocidal threat from November 1947:

Another one was from Abdul Azzam Pasha, secretary general of the Arab League. Right before the UN partition vote on November 29, 1947, he publicly threatened not only the Jews of Palestine but all Jews in the Middle East.

Abdul Azzam Pasha. secretary general of the Arab League, warned today that a United Nations decision to partition Palestine could mean only one thing for Arabs —“war against the Jews.”

In a statement made as the UN general assembly prepared to vote on the explosive issue he declared: “Such a decision would mean the end of the first phase of the Arab struggle to have Palestine become an independent Arab state. The second phase of the struggle will now begin . . . the Arabs will have a long run of victories even it it takes us until 1950 or 1960.

“We have justice, time and numbers on our side—everything but arms— and we shall get them too.”

The Arab spokesman said that if Haganah, army of the Jewish agency for Palestine, tries to enforce a partition decision after the British leave and Palestine Arabs seek the help of other Arab states “we shall not hesitate.”

He declared: “Every Arab from Morocco to Afghanistan would rise in answer to the call of their Arab brethren.”

He forecast “disturbances” and “persecution” of Jews in neighboring Arab countries “in an atmosphere of hatred and animosity which will prevail in case of trouble.” The spokesman added, “Palestine Arabs will not stop to find out who is Zionist and who is not. They will be fighting one enemy–Jews.”

…”If we suffer any defeats in the beginning then the Arabs will rally in huge numbers because it will be a question of racial pride.”

Azzam Pasha is saying here that it is a point of pride for Arabs not to accept Jews as equals or victors. He proudly calls Arabs racists against Jews. So even if they wouldn’t have literally thrown all the Jews into the sea, all the Arab proposals of what to do with the Jews ensured that Jews would be forever subjugated.

Now, let’s look at what happened in the immediate aftermath of Azzam Pasha’s threat. As soon as the UN partition vote ended – -within hours – Arabs in Palestine started attacking every Jew they could find.

Not Haganah members. Jews.

And for months, until the Haganah started going on the offensive, Jews were murdered every day just because they were Jewish.

In the Palestine Post of December 31, 1947, we read about:

– 39 Jews massacred at a Haifa oil refinery when 2000 Arab employees ran amok after an apparent Irgun bomb killed six Arabs.

Hospital Bus shot up-Jerusalem 31December1947

– A funeral procession to the Mount of Olives (for Jews previously murdered by Arabs) was raked by gunfire, killing one of the mourners and a British policeman.

– Two Jews were killed in separate events near Safed.

– One Jew was killed and several injured in sniping from Jaffa to Tel Aviv.

And these are only the stories about fatal attacks. There were many others that were either repulsed or “only” resulted in injuries.

This is what the paper was like every day. Jewish doctors killed in hospitals. Jews killed trying to help Arabs in trouble. Arab neighbors who had been friends with Jews turned around and started ululating in support of Iraqi troops in their villages. It was open season on Jews.

And Jewish civilians in the Arab world were also targets at that time – in Tehran and Yemen, in Bahrain and Syria, in Morocco and Egypt.

These are not myths. Azzam Pasha’s threats were coming true.

There was also at least one threat to throw Jews into the sea. In August, 1948, Muslim Brotherhood founder Hassan Banna told the New York Times, “If the Jewish state be-comes a fact, and this is realized by the Arab peoples, they will drive the Jews who live in their midst into the sea.” This is referring to the Jews of Arab countries, and the NYT added that “the Sheikh granted that this was a figure of speech,” but later in the article he explicitly said that if it wasn’t for politics, the Arab world would have “destroyed the Jews” in Palestine.

Wallach, whose Twitter feed has a number of statements disparaging those who are arguing with him because they are not real historians like he is, apparently found these explicitly genocidal statements against all Jews in the Middle East by Arab leaders too difficult to find. These are not “dubious” quotes – they are explicit calls to wipe out the Jews.

Coming only three years after the Holocaust, why wouldn’t Jews take these threats seriously? More importantly, how can anyone consider these public statements from Arab leaders, backed up by Arab actions on the ground, not genocidal? The only thing protecting the Jews in Palestine was the Haganah – without them they would have been defenseless. They weren’t defending themselves only from armies but from their neighbors. The Hadassah Hospital convoy massacre was not exactly an invitation by Arabs to work out their differences with the Jews.

Wallach’s evidence that some Arabs discussed how to not eradicate the Jews and only subjugate them may very well be true, but there was also counter-evidence – the leader of the Arab Higher Committee being a Nazi collaborator, the organized attacks against Jews the previous decade during the Arab Revolt, the 1929 pogroms against Jews throughout the land – these were all fresh memories. Maybe Arab leaders really were against genocide, and maybe they just felt it was not a practical solution, but the Arab leaders throughout the Middle East were inciting their people to murder Jews, whether in the media or speeches to mobs.

No one says that every Arab wanted to kill every Jew. But given the events that followed the partition vote, and the recent history of Arab attacks on Jews, it would have been stupid indeed for Jews to rely on the goodwill of Arabs to keep them safe.

It is true that things aren’t black and white. One can look at the relative strength of the armies and conclude that the Zionists probably wouldn’t be destroyed. But at the time, as political winds swirled around – the US changed its position about partition before Truman recognized Israel, the UN meetings on Palestine brought different news every day, the British stumbled between pretending to defend Jews to abandoning them — there was no room for the Jews to be confident. Thousands of Jews were killed during the war, and everyone knew friends and family who fell. The Jews had no less fear than the Arabs who fled – but the Jews had nowhere else to go. No matter how much Arab leaders insisted they weren’t antisemitic, it isn’t like the Jews of Palestine could expect safe passage or asylum in the neighboring states.

Wallach the historian also plays fast and loose in order to make his non-historic, purely political conclusion. What do these supposed “myths” of 1948 have to do with the “occupation” that began in 1967? If the “founding myths” were what animates Israel’s actions today, then shouldn’t they be treating Israeli Arabs the exact same as Palestinians?

He knows that Israeli Arabs having equal rights destroy his assertions, so he switches contexts to Palestinians who are not citizens, and jumps from 1948 to 1967.

Similarly, if Israel regards all Arabs as genocidal and violent, as Wallach asserts as a fundamental belief, then why did Israel make peace with Arab countries?

It is so sad when that reality gets in the way of a juicy, anti-Zionist theory.

Modern historians have the benefit of hindsight, and too often exhibit the proclivity to cherry pick the historic evidence that support their positions and ignore the inconvenient facts that say otherwise. But as we see here, being a historian does not mean being free of bias – on the contrary, it often gives the historian the hubris to discount or ignore the messy facts that don’t fit their theories.

(h/t Nurit Baytch for Hassan Banna quote)

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Yom Hazikaron: יום זיכרון We Remember and Honor our fallen

01/05/2014 – א׳ באייר ה׳תשע״ד – א׳ באייר ה׳תשע״ד – 05:36

Yom Hazikron

Soldiers saluting the Israeli Flag: “We Remember and Honor our fighting men and women and ..WE SALUTE YOU!”
An Army of Cats and Hamsters: “Even now… secret forces are gathering against the storm of those who would try to destroy the defenders of the free world. Those forces strike fear into the hearts of the enemy. On Land.. and ”
A Navy of Sharks as far as the eye can see…:”in the sea!”
A squadron of Birds fly over the Kottel:”And in the sky!” “We now are waiting for Moshiach!”

“The coming into being of a Jewish state in Palestine is an event in world history to be viewed in the perspective, not of a generation or a century, but in the perspective of a thousand, two thousand, or even three thousand years.” (Winston Churchill)

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Today, on Yom HaZikaron, we remember and honor the brave men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice to protect and defend our homeland. pic.twitter.com/b89Ky62WkM

— Rabbi Shalom Arush-english (@BreslevEnglish) May 13, 2024

Rabbi Shalom Arush-english-tweet-13May2024-Yom HaZikaron, we remember and honor the brave men and women
Today, on Yom HaZikaron, we remember and honor the brave men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice to protect and defend our homeland.

Rabbi Shalom Arush-english-tweet-13May2024-Yom HaZikaron, we remember and honor the brave men and women

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Yom Hazikaron Families

This evening starts Yom Hazikaron, Israel’s Memorial Day for soldiers and victims of terror.

This is a deeply powerful and moving illustration by the brilliant @guy_morad. pic.twitter.com/PAu3gggsgS

— Arsen Ostrovsky 🎗️ (@Ostrov_A) April 29, 2025

Arsen Ostrovsky-tweet-29April2025-Yom Hazikaron Families

Arsen Ostrovsky-tweet-29April2025-Yom Hazikaron Families

Yom Hazikaron Families

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Harold Simon, AKA Smoky Simon, fought in the War of Independence. Here’s his story: pic.twitter.com/YreKRODWQK

— IDF (@IDFSpokesperson) April 19, 2018

Israel Defense Forces tweet-19April2018 Harold Simon, AKA Smoky Simon, fought in the War of Independence. Here’s his story:

“He said three words to me- these are the three words that allow me to go on. He said to me- Mom, I can.”- Miriam Peretz talking about one of her two sons, both of whom are fallen IDF soldiers pic.twitter.com/xAqpBgMaqh

— IDF (@IDFSpokesperson) April 18, 2018

Israel Defense Forces tweet-18April2018 “He said three words to me- these are the three words that allow me to go on. He said to me- Mom, I can.”- Miriam Peretz talking about one of her two sons, both of whom are fallen IDF soldiers

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The Story of the Six Day War

יום הזכרון

Yom Hazikaron

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Yom HaZikaron (Hebrew: יוֹם הַזִּכָּרוֹן‎‎, lit. ‘Memorial Day’), in full Yom HaZikaron LeHalalei Ma’arakhot Yisrael ul’Nifge’ei Pe’ulot HaEivah (Hebrew: יוֹם הזִּכָּרוֹן לְחַלְלֵי מַעֲרָכוֹת יִשְׂרָאֵל וּלְנִפְגְעֵי פְּעֻלּוֹת הָאֵיבָה‎‎, ‘Memorial Day for the Fallen Soldiers of the Wars of Israel and Victims of Actions of Terrorism’), is Israel‘s official remembrance day,4th of Iyar (ד׳ באייר ). While Yom HaZikaron has been traditionally dedicated to fallen soldiers, commemoration has also been extended to civilian victims of terrorism.

To avoid the possibility of Sabbath desecration should either Yom HaZikaron or Independence Day take place on Saturday night, both are observed one or two days earlier (the 3rd and 4th, or the 2nd and 3rd, of Iyar) when the 5th of Iyar falls on a Friday or Saturday (Shabbat). Likewise, when Yom HaZikaron falls on Saturday night/Sunday day, both observances are rescheduled to one day later. This means that Yom HaZikaron is only actually observed on the 4th of Iyar if that date is a Tuesday.

The day opens with a siren the preceding evening at 20:00 (8:00 pm), given that in the Hebrew calendar system, a day begins at sunset. The siren is heard all over the country and lasts for one minute, during which Israelis stop everything, including driving on highways, and stand in silence, commemorating the fallen and showing respect. A two-minute siren is sounded at 11:00 the following morning, which marks the opening of the official memorial ceremonies and private remembrance gatherings at each cemetery where soldiers are buried

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The Miracle of Ad Halom

By: Rabbi Lazer Brody

Israel’s Memorial Day, Yom HaZikaron, begins this year on Sunday evening, April 14, 2013. Israel never forgets its debt of eternal gratitude to its sons and daughters who gave their lives for the achievement of the country’s independence and its continued existence. It is a day of collective and personal heartache mingled with awe and honor for our holy martyrs.

When looking at Israeli military history, most people consider the Six-Day War of 1967 as Hashem’s greatest miracle of modern times. My choice would be the War of Independence of 1948-49.

The Miracle of Ad Halom “The Pillbox” – the Hagana gun emplacement that guarded the Ad Halom bridge outside of Ashdod

The “Ad Halom” Memorial commemorates the courageous soldiers that sacrificed their lives to stop the advancement of the Egyptian Army northward in the Israel Independence War of 1948

In the initial stage of the War of Independence, the Egyptian, Syrian, Iraqi and Jordanian armies scored notable successes. It looked like the tiny Jewish nation would be finished before it began its modern-day rebirth. The formidable Egyptian army – backed by tanks, artillery, armor and aircraft, which Israel did not have – were able to cut off the entire Negev and to occupy parts of the land that had been allocated to the Jewish state, reaching as far north as Ashdod.

The Jordanian Legion succeeded in defending their key position in Latrun after a bloody aborted attempt by an untrained and inexperienced Israeli assault force that included quite a few Holocaust survivors that had recently arrived in Israel from the deportation camps of Europe. They also overran and captured Gush Etzion.

The Iraqis had almost reached the Mediterranean and the Syrians were dangerously near Haifa. Jerusalem, with 100,000 Jews was virtually cut off from the rest of Israel. Hacked to pieces in this way, Israel was not very far from collapse in June of 1948.

“The Pillbox” – the Hagana gun emplacement that guarded the Ad Halom bridge outside of Ashdod

The Israeli Army then was not much more than new immigrants from Europe and Morocco with a few kibbutznik commanders. Many of the soldiers had no firearms. Some had never shot a rifle and had little idea of what to do in a battle. If a “rare” machine gun broke down or needed assembly, it was necessary to wait for a rare expert to come along who knew how to assemble and repair machine guns.

Most of the Israel’s soldiers had had little or no training. Thousands of them were new immigrants rushed off the boats and given guns, most unable to speak Hebrew and understand commands.

The Egyptian Army dealt a nasty blow to the Givati brigade in the Battle of Nitzanim, a mile south of Ashdod. It looked like nothing could stop the Egyptians from reaching Tel Aviv; then, the war would be over and so would the State of Israel, Heaven forbid.

The morale of the Egyptians was high and the Egyptian press and people were already celebrating. First, they seized Gaza, then Majdal (Ashkelon), then Beersheba and now Nitzanim with Ashdod next on the list. By Egyptian calculations, Israel’s ill-equipped armies and settlements would fall swiftly. Egypt also hoped to reach the Ramle area to link up with the Arab Legion’s forces at Latrun. Such a move would be a mortal blow to the Jewish forces.

Yet Hashem had other plans. An Egyptian column of some 500 vehicles was making its way up the Coastal Road towards Tel Aviv. The column was confronted by a bold company of Givati soldiers who had miraculously exploded the sturdy Turkish bridge over the Lachish river at the Southern entrance of Ashdod to delay the Egyptian advance. Barely 20 miles separated the enemy from its objective.

With no time to waste before the Egyptians could circumvent the bombed out “Ad Halom” (“up to here” in Hebrew, the northernmost point of the Egyptian thrust into Israel) bridge, Israel tried its first aerial attack. Lou Lenart, an experienced American volunteer, was selected to lead the historic mission. He was joined by Moddy Alon, Ezer Weizman, and Eddie Cohen.

Each plane swooped down on the enemy with two 70-kg bombs. They tried to strafe the Egyptian column despite heavy ground fire. Unfortunately, the Messerschmitts’ untested 20 mm cannons and machine guns jammed quickly and the few rounds that they fired didn’t inflict much damage. But the psychological effect was enormous. The surprised Egyptians thought they were being hit by a massive air bombardment. They panicked and scattered all over the adjacent sand dunes. By the time they regrouped, they had lost the offensive.

Israel’s outnumbered Givati forces seized the opportunity to launch a counterattack. With Hashem’s loving grace, they stopped the advance in its tracks.

The Turkish Bridge (Rebuilt) over the Lachish River at the Ad Halom crossroads – if the Egyptian Army’s progress would not have been thwarted here, then nothing would have stopped them from reaching Tel Aviv

The price of success was high: Eddie Cohen, a South African-born pilot, was killed when his Messerschmitt – apparently hit by anti-aircraft fire – crashed and burned trying to land after the mission. As a result, the First Jewish Fighter Squadron lost one-fourth of its aircraft and one-fifth of its pilots on its maiden combat sortie.

Eddie Cohen of blessed memory was not the macho type of pilot. Indeed, he was contemplative, calm, scholarly, never daring, and never reckless or adventurous. This anti-hero was the Israeli Air Forces’s first heroic martyr. He merited being Hashem’s emissary in the formidable miracle that turned the tide of Israel’s War of Independence.

With an army that wasn’t an army, an air force that wasn’t an air force, and a pilot that preferred classical music and archeology to flying warplanes that weren’t much more than souped-up Piper Cubs, Hashem chose to perform the miracle of Ad-Halom on the outskirts of my beloved hometown of Ashdod.

“They have their chariots and they have their horses, but we shall call the Name of Hashem our G-d!” (Psalm 20:8).

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Yom Hazikaron: Israel’s Memorial Day

This day honoring fallen soldiers, immediately precedes Israel’s Independence Day.

By MJL Staff http://www.myjewishlearning.com/holidays/Jewish_Holidays/Modern_Holidays/Yom_Hazikaron.shtml

IDF Yom Hazikaron-Flags for the Fallen

The fourth of Iyar, the day preceding Israel’s Independence Day, was declared by the Israeli Knesset (parliament) to be a Memorial Day for those who lost their lives in the struggle that led to the establishment of the State of Israel and for all military personnel who were killed while in active duty in Israel’s armed forces. Joining these two days together conveys a simple message: Israelis owe the independence and the very existence of the Jewish state to the soldiers who sacrificed their lives for it.

Yom Hazikaron, the Israeli Memorial Day, is different in its character and mood from the American Memorial Day. For 24 hours (from sunset to sunset) all places of public entertainment (theaters, cinemas, nightclubs, pubs, etc.) are closed. The most noticeable feature of the day is the sound of a siren that is heard throughout the country twice, during which the entire nation observes a two-minutes “standstill” of all traffic and daily activities. The first siren marks the beginning of Memorial Day at 8 p.m., and the second is at 11 a.m., before the public recitation of prayers in the military cemeteries. All radio and television stations broadcast programs portraying the lives and heroic deeds of fallen soldiers. Most of the broadcasting time is devoted to Israeli songs that convey the mood of the day.

“Magash Hakesef” (The Silver Platter), a poem written by Nathan Alterman during the 1948 War of Independence, was during the 1950s and ’60s the most common reading for Yom Hazikaron ceremonies. The poem attained a status almost similar to Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address in U.S. culture.

The Silver Platter

Natan Alterman

And the land grows still, the red eye of the sky slowly dimming over smoking frontiers

As the nation arises, Torn at heart but breathing, To receive its miracle, the only miracle

As the ceremony draws near, it will rise, standing erect in the moonlight in terror and joy

When across from it will step out a youth and a lass and slowly march toward the nation

Dressed in battle gear, dirty, Shoes heavy with grime, they ascend the path quietly

To change garb, to wipe their brow
They have not yet found time. Still bone weary from days and from nights in the field

Full of endless fatigue and unrested,
Yet the dew of their youth. Is still seen on their head

Thus they stand at attention, giving no sign of life or death

Then a nation in tears and amazement
will ask: “Who are you?”

And they will answer quietly, “We Are the silver platter on which the Jewish state was given.”

Thus they will say and fall back in shadows
And the rest will be told In the chronicles of Israel

The Silver Salver-1947

During the ’70s, especially following the Six-Day War (June 1967) and the Yom Kippur War (October 1973), numerous new poems and songs commemorating fallen soldiers became popular and often replaced “The Silver Platter” in public ceremonies. “Hare’ut” (“Friendship”), a song composed a year after the 1948 war, had an impressive comeback in the 1980s and ’90s. The late prime minister Yitzhak Rabin considered this poem/song to be his favorite.

להקת הנח”ל – שיר הרעות

Almost every high school in Israel has a “memorial corner” with the photos of the school graduates who fell in battle or while on military duty. Some high schools organize their own Yom Hazikaron ceremonies and invite the families of the fallen graduates to participate. The unique atmosphere of the day is enhanced by the sight of teenagers and children, all dressed in white shirts and blue pants or skirts, on their way to school, and thousands of soldiers in uniform on their way to the military cemeteries.

The list of fallen soldiers becomes longer every year. The inevitable tendency of radio and television programs is to focus on individual stories of soldiers who lost their lives in recent decades, rather than on those who fought in the pre-state undergrounds and 1948 war, who have fewer surviving immediate family relatives today.

Yom Hazikaron is not conceived as a religious commemoration by the majority of Israelis, but as part of the civil culture. The siren sound seems to inspire awe and sanctity no less than any traditional religious ceremony.

Outside of Israel, Yom Hazikaron is commemorated as part of Israel Independence Day observance. There is usually a short memorial or a moment of silence preceding the communal Yom Ha’atzmaut celebration. In synagogues that observe Yom Ha’atzmaut, a special reading may be added to the service, often preceding the Kaddish [memorial prayer]

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Inoffensive Savagery

By Pamela Geller 14November2012 https://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2012/11/inoffensive_savagery.html

When is the word “savage” not racist and offensive?

In Tunisian citizen Souhir Stephenson’s “Tunisia, a Sad Year Later,” published last Wednesday in the New York Times, she wrote: “Tourism is dwindling. Who wants to vacation among bands of bearded savages raiding embassies, staking their black pirate flag over universities or burning trucks carrying beer?”

“Bearded savages.” This appeared in the Times just six weeks after the paper ran a piece calling my American Freedom Defense Initiative (AFDI) subway ads “potentially inflammatory” and quoting Muneer Awad of the Hamas-linked Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) calling me “a bigot and a racist” for the ad, which reads: “In any war between the civilized man and the savage, support the civilized man. Support Israel. Defeat jihad.”

Indeed, this ad touched off a nationwide firestorm, with pundits and activists all over the country excoriating me for using the word “savage” to describe Islamic jihadists and supremacists. CNN “journalist” Mona Eltahawy was actually caught in the act of spray-painting over the ad, and was arrested, after which little act of fascism she had the gall to claim that she was merely exercising her freedom of speech.

What is the difference between the New York Times’s use of the word savage and the AFDI use?

Or Hillary Clinton’s, for that matter? In a statement on September 12, she used the same word to characterize those who had attacked our consulate in Benghazi and murdered Ambassador Chris Stevens and three other American officials: “This was an attack by a small and savage group — not the people or Government of Libya.”

Is Clinton’s use of the word savage offensive?

In all of these instances, we are all describing the same barbarians: Islamic jihadists who glory in violence and murder. So why is my ad unacceptable, but no one is angry with Souhir Stephenson or the Secretary of State?

My use of the word “savage” has been widely decried as “racist” and “dehumanizing.” Critics have invoked the use of the term to describe Native Americans and others in attempts to prove that any use of it is clear evidence of racist and even genocidal inclinations. But is any and every use of the word “savage” really some kind of thinly veiled call for genocide? Nonsense. Franklin Delano Roosevelt called the Nazis “savages.” And they were. Would Muneer Awad call him “a bigot and a racist” as well?

Nor do the critics of the AFDI ad have anything at all to say about the very real savagery that is committed in the name of the jihad against Israel. And that in itself raises questions about their real agenda. The AFDI ad refers not to all Muslims, as has often been claimed, but to those jihadis who rejoice in the murders of innocent civilians. The war on Israel is a war on innocent civilians. The targeting of civilians is savage. The murder of Ambassador Stevens was savage. The relentless 60-year campaign of terror against the Jewish people is savage. The torture of hostage Gilad Shalit was savage. The bloody hacking to death of the Fogel family was savage. The Munich Olympic massacre was savage. The unspeakable torture of Ehud Goldwasser was savage. The tens of thousands of rockets fired from Gaza into southern Israel (into schools, homes, etc.) are savage. The vicious Jew-hatred behind this genocide is savage. The endless demonization of the Jewish people in the Palestinian and Arab media is savage. The refusal to recognize the state of Israel as a Jewish state is savage. The list is endless.

This kind of savagery goes on in the name of jihad on a daily basis around the world — and my ads are the problem? Souhir Stephenson’s piece in the Times demonstrates the hypocrisy of the ad’s critics, and their moral myopia in identifying the resistance to savagery as worse than the savagery itself.

It is time for all genuine supporters of human rights to stand against the savagery that Hillary Clinton identified in Libya and that Souhir Stephenson rightly excoriates in Tunisia, and that is regularly celebrated as heroism in Gaza. But do the guardians of acceptable opinion have the courage to be consistent?

Note: I submitted this piece as an op-ed to the New York Times last week, after the Times attacked me for using the word “savage” of jihadists and then using it themselves. Predictably, they never responded. So that just adds to this tale of media bias and irresponsibility.

Pamela Geller is the publisher of AtlasShrugs.com and the author of the WND Books title Stop the Islamization of America: A Practical Guide to the Resistance.

The historic AFDI pro-freedom campaign that changed the discourse and finally had press, politicians and pundits calling savages savages (not militants, insurgents, resistance blah blah blah). We took a lot of heat, but the truth won out.

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On Jan. 29, 2004, 11 people lost their lives and 50 were wounded in a suicide bombing on Egged Bus 19 in Jerusalem. Since that tragic incident, the remains of Bus 19 have travelled around the world as a reminder of the horrors of terrorism. First stopping at The Hague for the International Court of Justice hearing regarding the Israeli West Bank barrier, the wreckage was then brought to the United States, where it toured among various cities, college campuses, synagogues, and churches.

Shmuel HaNavi bus bombing From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia The Shmuel HaNavi bus bombing was the suicide bombing of a crowded public bus (Egged bus 2) in the Shmuel HaNavi quarter in Jerusalem, Israel, on August 19, 2003. Twenty-four people were killed and over 130 wounded. Many of the victims were children, some of them infants. The Islamist militant group Hamas claimed responsibility for the attack.

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Miracles in Gaza IDF The Israeli Defense Forces

Mother Rachel testimony from IDF soldiers

Israeli Ministry of Immigrant Absorption ad – Boyfriend – with English subtitles

These flags are flags of the Nazi Youth Organization “Hitler-Jugend”, regional branch of Palestine. The historical context to the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem, Haj Amin Al-Husseini.”

Every Israeli will understand this message. Will the Americans understand what we have to go through both as Civilians and in the Military? Just because someone is not in uniform does not mean they are not a target for an Arab Nazi (Fatah, Hamas, Hezbollah ect.) terrorist.

The Arabs have always been Nazis and they are still Nazis.

Iktiba High school posts picture presenting Hitler as admirable

This will not stop until Israel either transfers then or goes for Total Victory like the Allies did during World War II.

For Example: Soviet reprisals

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia<

In the Soviet occupation zone, thousands of youths were arrested as “Werwolves”.^[53]^[54] Evidently, arrests were arbitrary and in part based on denunciations.^[53] The arrested boys were either “shot at dawn” or interned in NKVD special camps.^[53] with an total “Isolation policy“.

The Soviet authorities enforced a policy of total isolation of the inmates from the beginning. A decree of 27 July 1945 reads: “The primary purpose of the special camp is the total isolation of the contingent therein and the prevention of flights”, and prohibits all mail and visitors.^[12] Another decree of 25 July 1946 confirmed the “total isolation from the outside world” as a primary purpose, and further reads:

“[Inmates of special camps] are to be isolated from the society by special measures, they are not to be legally charged, and in contrast to the usual procedure in legal cases, their cases are not to be documented.”^[13]

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Eli Groner, Israel’s PMO Director General – Israel`s 69 Independence Day in LA

שערי שמים . Gates of Heaven

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Sultan Knish - The Journalism of Daniel Greenfield

Israel is Fighting the World’s War

Daniel Greenfield April 25, 2023 http://www.danielgreenfield.org/2023/04/israel-is-fighting-worlds-war.html

The dead included a 6-year-old boy and his 8-year-old brother killed in a car ramming attack in Jerusalem, a British mother and daughters gunned down on the road, a 27-year-old from Connecticut traveling to a wedding, and an Italian tourist run over on the beach.

In some countries, the soldiers fight wars, in Israel, they fight to stop a genocide.

Islamic massacres are often defended with some variation of “the occupied have the right to resist”. The Muslim occupiers keep resisting the indigenous Jewish population by killing women and children, and random foreigners whose only crime is being non-Muslim in a land that the terrorists want to reclaim for Islam.

Ever since the “throw the Jews into the sea” era, the agenda has never changed.

After the shooting of two brothers driving through the occupied village of Huwara, the Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research conducted a poll asking the Arab Muslim settlers if they approved of the terrorist attack. 71% of them supported the killings.

When Yom Hazikaron, Israel’s Memorial Day, arrives on Monday evening, it finds a nation at war against a genocidal enemy that has half the world under siege.

In the past several weeks, five terrorists were arrested in Sweden, four in France in yet another plot to carry out an attack the Champs-Elysées, a teenager in the UK will be tried for plotting an attack at the Isle of Wight Festival and an Islamic terrorist leader in Australia was sentenced to 15 years in prison for planning to behead a non-Muslim and drape his body in the ISIS flag.

Stories like these have become so routine and overshadowed that we no longer pay any attention to them. Islamic terrorism unites us all. Its victims include America and Europe, India, China and Russia. It crosses the world from Africa to Asia and ends up on our doorstep.

With so much of the world under siege, it is a wonder that a tiny country so narrow you could walk its width has been the finger in the dike, holding out against a tide of death flooding the world.

The Jihad did not begin in Israel, but it was a warning to the world of what was to come. The prediction that we would one day all be Israelis, that Islamic terrorism would become a part of our everyday lives and we would go on while trying to ignore it, has long since come to pass.

But, as Israel enters its memorial day and red poppies known as the ‘blood of the maccabees’ mark the fallen, followed by Yom HaAtzamut, its independence day, there are still things, both good and bad, that we can learn from the Jewish State. The connection between the two Israeli commemorations, memorial day on Monday night and independence day on Tuesday night, is a powerful reminder that independence can only be maintained through a willingness to fight.

Surrender is not an option, but it has never been an option in a country where it would mean the mass murder, with occasional side mass rape, of the population. Israel has retreated, it has negotiated, but it has never surrendered. The terrorist attacks serve as a constant reminder of an enemy that obsessively kills women and children because its mission is total extermination.

Only 38% of the Israelis killed in Islamic terrorist attacks in 2023 were military age men. 27% were female and 22% were children. The murdered included 6-year-old and 8-year-old boys run down in the street, a 14-year-old boy on the way to synagogue and a 15-year-old British girl traveling with her family.

This is why the Israeli soldier serves. He is there to put his body on the line between Islamic terrorists and the most vulnerable and innocent children whose lives they lust to take.

Islamic terrorists don’t kill children by accident, they see it as their highest calling.

House Democrats recently protested the arrest of Sheikh Rashid Ghannouchi, of Tunisia’s Islamist Ennahda Movement, who had called for “unceasing war against the Americans”.

“There are no civilians in Israel. The population—males, females and children—are the army reserve soldiers, and thus can be killed,” Ghannouchi had also declared.

The Islamic cleric has often been described as a “moderate” by the media. Moderate Muslim clerics believe in exterminating all the women and children. What do the “extremists” believe?

Despite Israel’s turbulent politics, Yom HaZikaron, the commemoration of the fallen, briefly clarifies the stakes.

And the stakes are the children. And the world.

The Muslim world convinced the international community to pressure Israel by promising that the Jihad would stop there. “Give us Israel and it will end,” they urged. Despite all those promises, the Islamic war against civilization has spread across the world. Most of the world’s major nations and some of the minor ones have their own Islamic insurgency that plays by the same rules: alternating political demands with brutal massacres in the name of Islamic rule.

Generations of Israelis have gone to an endless war, sacrificed sons and daughters, to hold back the tide. They did it in defiance of the ignorance, hostility and pressures of the world.

They did it because they believed, they did it because they refused to die and they did it because surrendering to an enemy that gleefully butchers children was unthinkable.

Despite everything that has happened in the last generation, the world has learned little. But the Israelis have learned that peace is an illusion and that all they can do is hold the line.

When the torches are lit and loved ones weep, when the ‘blood of the maccabees’ blooms, a nation reckons again with the price that it pays for survival. Whatever myths pacifists may harbor and anti-war activists preach, there is no escape for any nation from paying that price.

Some nations have it paid by others, as the United States of America has done for so much of the globe, but in a world where evil is a reality writ in the black ink of the Koran, there can only be temporary refuges from the reckoning.

Israel still relies on a draft army. The price paid for war is a shared burden, but so is the price paid for appeasement. The fallen and their families come from all walks of life. These men and women, grandmothers, sisters, sons and nephews, have paid the world’s price in tears. They did not do it for the world, but their nation’s memorial day is nonetheless a lesson for the world.

Paying the price for freedom has long since become a cliche. Israelis do not pay the price for freedom. They pay it so that their children, their loved ones and their people are not eradicated from the earth by a brutal enemy that has no concept of mercy and worships barbarism.

The Israelis have come up against a choice that we will all have to make sooner or later. They chose not to die. The day will come when we may face that choice as starkly as they do.

Let us hope and pray that we choose well.

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By Staff | Posted in Chagim - Holidays | Tagged Yom Hazikaron: | Comments Off

Lag B’Omer

16/04/2026 – כ״ט בניסן ה׳תשפ״ו – כ״ט בניסן ה׳תשפ״ו – 06:02

Kever Rashbi-Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai-Meron Israel

What Is Lag B’Omer?
The Light of Lag B’Omer
Breslev Customs for Lag B’Omer
Tens of Thousands Visit Meron Shrine for Lag B’Omer Celebrations in Israel
Count on Rebbe Shimon!
Ben & Jerry’s new flavor for Lag B’Omer in Israel, ‘S’mores’

Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai
The Wisdom of Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai
Rashbi’s Passing
Soothing the National Pain

What Is Lag B’Omer?

by Rabbi Shraga Simmons https://aish.com/what-is-lag-baomer/

Lag B’Omer marks the date of Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai’s death. So why is it such a celebration?

Rabbi Shimon in the Cave

Rabbi Shimon was a great sage who lived during the Roman conquest of Jerusalem 2,000 years ago. He was one of Rabbi Akiva’s five students who – despite terrible persecutions – ensured that the Torah would not be forgotten.

The Talmud (Shabbat 33b) describes a seminal event in the life of Rabbi Shimon:

When the Romans outlawed the study of Torah, Rabbi Shimon spoke out against them. The Romans thus pronounced a death sentence against Rabbi Shimon, who was forced to go into hiding.

Rabbi Shimon and his son Elazar fled to a cave in the northern region of Israel. They had no means of subsistence, but a miracle occurred and a carob tree sprouted in the cave, along with a stream of water.

Rabbi Shimon and his son had no change of clothes. In order to preserve their clothes from wearing out, they each dug a deep hole, removed their clothes and buried themselves neck-deep in the sand. (Out of modesty, they wanted to be covered.) They would spend the entire day immersed in Torah study. When the time for prayer arrived, they would put on their clothes, pray – and then return to the sand.

Rabbi Shimon and his son remained in the cave for 12 years, involved in nothing but the study of Torah. One day, Elijah the prophet came to the cave and announced that the Caesar had died, and the decree against Rabbi Shimon was lifted.

Rabbi Shimon and his son ventured out of the cave. They saw some farmers working in the field. Rabbi Shimon was shocked that his fellow Jews were not continuously occupied in Torah study. “How could anyone forsake eternal life by indulging in mundane, worldly pursuits?” he said. Rabbi Shimon then cast his gaze upon the farmers – and they were immediately vaporized, due to the power of Rabbi Shimon’s spiritual stature.

At that point, a voice from heaven proclaimed: “My world is not to be destroyed! Return to your cave!”

Rabbi Shimon and his son returned to the cave, in order to learn better how to control their spiritual powers. At the end of one year, a voice from heaven announced: “Emerge from your cave!”

Rabbi Shimon and his son emerged, and again encountered people involved in mundane, worldly pursuits. It was Friday afternoon, and they saw a man running with two bundles of myrtle blossoms. “Where are you going with these flowers?” they asked him. “They are in honor of Shabbat,” said the man. “But why do you have two bundles?” they asked. “One is for ‘zachor,’ and one is for ‘shamor,’ ” he said, referring to the two aspects of Shabbat observance mentioned in the Ten Commandments.

At which point Rabbi Shimon turned to his son and said, “Now I see the power of a Jew and his mitzvot” – Shabbat is a day within the physical world which bridges the gap to the transcendent dimension. On Shabbat, even the most physical pursuits – whether a delicious meal or an afternoon nap – carries with it a special degree of holiness.

RABBI SHIMON REVEALS THE ZOHAR

Rabbi Shimon went on to become the greatest Torah teacher of his generation. When he reached the final day of his life, he called together his students and told them to pay close attention.

The Zohar (3:291b) describes the scene:

Rabbi Shimon spent the entire day in a prophetic stream of consciousness, revealing the deepest mystical secrets of Torah. He told his students: “Until now, I have held the secrets close to my heart. But now, before I die, I wish to reveal all.”

Rabbi Abba, a student assigned with the job of transcribing Rabbi Shimon’s words, reports: “I couldn’t even lift my head due to the intense light emanating from Rabbi Shimon. The entire day the house was filled with fire, and nobody could get close due to the wall of fire and light. At the end of the day, the fire finally subsided, and I was able to look at the face of Rabbi Shimon: He was dead, wrapped in his Tallis, lying on his right side – and smiling.”

Why was Rabbi Shimon bathed in light and fire? Because Torah is compared to fire – for example, “Aish HaTorah”. Fire is that material which converts physical matter into energy. So too, Torah shows us how to transform the material world into a transcendent energy. In fact Rabbi Shimon’s Kabbalistic work, “The Zohar,” literally means “shining light.”

How is Lag BaOmer Celebrated in Israel?

To celebrate Lag B’Omer, Jews from around Israel light bonfires, to commemorate the great fire that surrounded Rabbi Shimon. For weeks before, Israeli children scavenge wood to arrange as impressive sculptures – often 20 and 30 feet high. Great public celebrations are held and the wood towers are burned on Lag B’Omer.

But if Lag B’Omer marks the date of Rabbi Shimon’s death, why is it such a celebration?

The reason is that Rabbi Shimon had been convicted of a capital crime by the Romans. By all rights, he should have died well before his time. But through tremendous self-sacrifice (hiding in the cave) and a series of miracles (the carob tree and the stream), Rabbi Shimon was able to live out a full life. The climax of this great life was the revelation of Torah’s greatest inner secrets. All this is cause for celebration.

Lag B’Omer is a day of great pilgrimage to the tomb of Rabbi Shimon in the Galilee town of Meiron. In one day, an estimated 250,000 Jews visit Meiron – dancing, praying, and celebrating the wonderful spiritual gifts that Rabbi Shimon bequeathed to us. Some people camp out for weeks beforehand in anticipation.

On Lag B’Omer, the entire town is filled with torches and bonfires – in the streets and on the rooftops. Planes flying overhead are perplexed, and satellite maps of Israel take on a different glow. Symbolically, they illuminate the paths of those who seek to understand the deeper truths of Torah, as revealed by Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai.

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The Light of Lag B’Omer

The light of the fires on Lag B’Omer is the light of the Torah, and the light of Hashem. This light is in our souls, and it’s what is truly burning inside.

Moshe Neveloff | Posted on 23May2024 | https://breslev.com/1074139/

The Light of Lag B’Omer by Moshe Neveloff

This week we celebrate the holiday of Lag B’Omer, which marks the celebration of the yahrzeit (date of passing) of Rebbe Shimon Bar Yochai, one of the greatest Tzaddikim and Sages from the time period of the Mishna. It also marks the end of the mourning period for the thousands of students of Rebbe Akiva who passed away in a plague during Sefirat Ha’Omer (counting the omer) according to one custom. Why do we celebrate the day Rebbe Shimon passed away as a holiday? Why do thousands upon thousands of Jews travel to Meron in Northern Israel to pray by his grave site and celebrate? Why do Jews all over the world light bonfires?

In a special and interesting way, Rebbe Nachman opens his main book of teachings, Likutei Moharan, with a teaching about Rebbe Shimon Bar Yochai, hinting at the special connection which exists between the souls of these two tzaddikim and the teachings which they revealed. Rebbe Nachman explains that Rebbe Shimon Bar Yochai promised that the Torah would not be forgotten, in his merit and in the merit of the Zohar which he revealed.

This is alluded to in a story in the Talmud, Tractate Shabbos. When the Sages gathered together in the town of Yavne, the only place in the land of Israel where the Romans still permitted Jews to learn Torah in public, they declared in their discussion that in the future the Torah will be forgotten from the Jewish people. They saw with their spiritual vision the length of the exile which had begun at that time and all of the sorrows which the Jewish people would suffer during the long years of exile. Rebbe Shimon Bar Yochai, who was present at the gathering, replied to the other Sages that G-d forbid, the Torah will be forgotten, as it says in the book of Devarim (Deuteronomy), “For it shall not be forgotten from the mouth of its offspring…” (Chapter 31, Verse 21). Rebbe Shimon supported his words that the Torah would not be forgotten with this verse specifically, because the final letters of each word in the verse spell the name Yochai in Hebrew, who was the father of Rebbe Shimon. Through the offspring of Rebbe Yochai, Rebbe Shimon, and his work, the Zohar, the Torah would not be forgotten.

Rebbe Nachman explains that it says in the Holy Zohar, authored by Rebbe Shimon Bar Yochai, that through his book the Jewish people will leave the exile. The light of the Holy Zohar will keep the Jewish people connected to the Torah during the long exile. For most of his life, except for a small group of students, nobody knew that Rebbe Shimon was learning the secrets of the Torah. On the day that Rebbe Shimon passed away, Lag B’Omer, he revealed to his students hidden secrets of the Torah and the Zohar. The whole room became filled with light, and this is how he passed away.

However, we need to ask ourselves a question – how are the secrets of the Torah connected to me on my level? What do they have to do with me? Many of us have trouble understanding these deep teachings.

A tzaddik like Rebbe Shimon has tremendous power on the day of his passing to reach even higher spiritual heights and sweeten any harsh decrees which might be upon the Jewish people in general, and specific Jews who pray in his merit in particular. The Sages said that a tzaddik is even more alive and present spiritually in the world after he passes away. Furthermore, several Chassidic masters teach that the power of atonement of Yom Kippur also happens for the Jewish people on Lag B’Omer, but in a more hidden way. Rebbe Shimon also reveals the secrets of the Torah to each person on their level. He reveals to them how much Hashem loves them and wants each and every Jew to be close to Him. He reveals that this is truly the thing which we all want most in the world, a life of revealing our connection with Hashem in our own special way. He shows us what our special path in this world is, and his light gives us the strength to keep walking on that path.

The special attribute of the day of Lag B’Omer is hod she’b’hod, glory of glory, and it is the week of Aharon the Cohen. Each week of the Sefirat HaOmer is connected to the special attribute of one of the seven shepherds of the Jewish people, Avraham, Yitzchak, Yaakov, Moshe, Aharon, Yosef and David. Rebbe Shimon also possessed the special attribute of Aharon, and he is able to shine the light of love into every person’s heart, especially on the day of his passing, just as Aharon brought love and peace between people in his time.

From my personal experience, almost every time I have traveled to Meron for Lag B’Omer or to Uman for Rosh Hashanah, at some point along the way I think to myself, “what I am doing?” I don’t want to go through dealing with the long hours of travel, the masses of people, the weather conditions, the lack of sleep, etc. But when I return, I understand exactly why I went. Inside, I feel renewed with the light of faith which these great Tzaddikim shine to each person who comes to them to pray and seek their guidance.

The light of the fires on Lag B’Omer is the light of the Torah, and the light of Hashem. It represents our true will to serve Hashem and return to Hashem. This light is in our souls, and it’s what is truly burning inside. Lag B’Omer has the power to show each person that this is who we truly are – burning with love and good desires to come closer to Hashem and live a life of helping others. Rebbe Nachman said, “My fire will burn until the coming of the Messiah.” He is continuing the path of Rebbe Shimon, revealing the fire of the Torah, the secrets of the Torah, in a way that each and every Jew can find their path to return to Hashem. These tzaddikim light the fire inside of us which has always been there – it just became extinguished at some point in our lives, like a secret which becomes revealed. Through their light we are able to begin to see our own light. Happy Lag B’Omer!

(Inspired by a short class on Lag B’Omer given by Ohad Tennenbaum, a teacher at Shackuf, the workshop I used to learn at; and a class by Rav Shlomo Katz).

***

Republished with permission from breslov.blog.

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Breslev Customs for Lag B’Omer

Read about the customs in Breslever communities of Yerushalayim, Williamsburg, Monsey, and Borough Park…

Rabbi Dovid Sears | Posted on 22October2025 | https://breslev.com/265154/

Breslev Customs for Lag B’Omer Rabbi Dovid Sears

Rabbi Shmuel Horowitz writes lavishly about the simcha (happiness) and hitorerut (illumination) experienced by those who celebrated Lag B’Omer in Meron, particularly the Breslever Chassidim who participated in the “hillula de-RASHBI (anniversary of his passing).” He writes: “What can be said, what can be communicated? One should yearn, long, and exert himself all of his days with mesirut nefesh (devotion) to experience and share in this. In the inner part of the tomb, people weep and do teshuva, and their hearts are deeply aroused; even on Yom Kippur, no one ever heard of such a place of teshuva as this! On the outside [in the courtyard and surrounding areas], rejoicing, gladness, singing, music, and dancing prevail; even at the weddings of kings, no one ever beheld or heard of such ecstasy! Ashreinu mah tov chelkeinu (happy are we and how good is our portion), that we were privileged to witness all this!” (Rabbi Shmuel Horowitz, Yemei Shmuel, vol. I, chap. 56. For more extensive Breslev teachings and historical material on Lag B’Omer, see Mo’adei Yisrael: Lag B’Omer, Bnei Brak: Agudat Mayanot ha-Netzach 2003)

* * *

On the Shabbat before Lag B’Omer in the Breslever communities of Yerushalayim, Williamsburg, Monsey, and Borough Park, it is customary to sing “Bar Yochai” etc., before “Ki-gavna” on Friday night. This is a widespread custom today. (Heard from Rabbi Nachman Burshteyn and Rabbi Meir Wasilski)

* * *

In the Tzefat community they sing “Bar Yochai” and “Amar Rabbi Akiva” on every Friday night before “Ki-gavna.”
One can see the tomb of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai through the windows of the Breslev synagogue in Tzefat. (Heard from Rabbi Binyamin Rosenberg)

* * *

This is also the custom in Meron. (Heard from Rabbi Avraham Shimon Burshteyn)

* * *

Tachanun is omitted on both Erev Lag B’Omer and Lag B’Omer, as stated in Shulchan Aruch. However, it is not our custom to omit Tachanun for the entire week of “hod,” as in some Chassidic communities. (See Orach Chaim 493:2, with Mishnah Berurah)

* * *

In Likutei Halakhot, Rebbe Nosson mentions the minhag (custom) to give a child his first haircut on Lag B’Omer.
(See Likutei Halakhot, Rosh Chodesh 3:11, 9:13; Pesach 7:24; Dam 1:12; Simanei Behemah ve-Chayah Tehorah 4:6; Hekhsher Keilim 4:4; Nezikin 3:3)

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In addition to participating in the traditional festivities, many Breslever Chassidim recite Rebbe Nosson’s prayer in honor of Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai, Likutei Tefillot II, 47.

* * *

It is also common practice to learn the Rebbe’s lesson “Lekhu Chazu” at the beginning of Likutei Moharan, which discusses Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai and the Zohar. This lesson is usually delivered by one of the speakers at the Lag B’Omer seudah in the various Breslev communities.

* * *

The Rebbe states that shooting arrows on Lag B’Omer is a segula for having children. (Sefer ha-Middot, “Banim” I, 63)<

* * *

Members of the Tzefat community visit the grave of Rabbi Shimon in Meron on Lag B’Omer, together with the many thousands of Jews who come from far and wide in honor of the tzaddik and in order to pray for divine mercy at this auspicious time.

* * *

Reb Avraham Sternhartz used to spend either the Shabbat before or after Lag B’Omer in Meron. (Heard from Rabbi Avraham Shimon Burshteyn)

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Tens of Thousands Visit Meron Shrine for Lag B’Omer Celebrations in Israel

by JNS.org 14May2017 9:23 am https://www.algemeiner.com/2017/05/14/tens-of-thousands-visit-meron-shrine-for-lag-bomer-celebrations-in-israel/

Ultra orthodox jews from the chassidic dynasty of Schatz Dershowitz seen near a big bonfire, during celebrations of the Jewish holiday of Lag Baomer in Beit Shemesh outside Jerusalem on May 13, 2017. Lag Baomer commemorates the death of Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai, one of the most important sages in Jewish history 1800 years ago. The most well-known custom of Lag BaOmer is the lighting of bonfires throughout Israel and in Jewish communities worldwide. Photo by Yaakov Lederman/ Flash90

Haredi Jews watch the lighting of a bonfire in Beit Shemesh, near Jerusalem, for Lag B’Omer May 13, 2017. Photo: Yaakov Lederman/Flash90.

JNS.org – Tens of thousands of Israelis traveled to the gravesite of famed sage Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai (“Rabbi Shimon”) at Mount Meron this weekend for the Lag B’Omer holiday.

The annual Lag B’Omer celebrations at Meron, in Israel’s northern Galilee, represent some of the largest public gatherings in the country, attracting mostly Israelis from the Jewish state’s haredi communities.

This year’s festivities commenced with the lighting of a major bonfire at 1:15 a.m. Sunday by Rebbe Nachum Dov Brayer, leader of the Boyan Hasidic dynasty. Israel Police Commissioner Roni Alsheikh, Religious Services Minister David Azoulay and Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan all attended the bonfire.

Lag B’Omer is the 33rd day of the seven-week Omer period between the Jewish holidays of Passover and Shavuot. Though deemed a relatively minor Jewish holiday, Lag B’Omer holds major spiritual significance in Judaism’s mystical Kabbalistic tradition.

According to Jewish tradition, Rabbi Shimon — a leading disciple of Rabbi Akiva — passed away on the date of Lag B’Omer in the 2nd century AD. Tradition also states Rabbi Shimon transmitted the Zohar, the foundational Kabbalistic text he authored, on Lag B’Omer. Bonfires are lit on the holiday to celebrate the spiritual light Rabbi Shimon brought into the world with the mystical text.

Also on Lag B’Omer, Jews cease to mourn the deaths of 24,000 of Rabbi Akiva’s students. A deadly plague caused by the students’ disrespect for each other stopped abruptly on the 18th day of the Hebrew month of Iyar, coinciding with Lag B’Omer, according to the Talmud. Only five students — including Rabbi Shimon — survived the plague.

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Count on Rebbe Shimon!

Why do hundreds of thousands of people frequent Rebbe Shimon Bar Yochai’s holy gravesite in Meron every Lag B’Omer? They have someone to count on…

Rabbi Lazer Brody | Posted on 04May2023 | https://breslev.com/426857/

Count on Rebbe Shimon! – Rabbi Lazer Brody

Rebbe Yehoshua ben Levi was one of the greatest miracle workers and righteous sages of the Talmud. But in a trying situation, he suggests that we count on Rebbe Shimon (tractate Berachot, 9a).

For centuries, Jews have done everything in their power to pray by Rebbe Shimon bar Yochai’s holy grave site in Meron on Lag B’Omer, his yahrtzeit, or day of departure from the physical world. Throughout the ages, people have seen phenomenal miracles after having come to Meron on Lag B’Omer, the thirty-third day of the Omer. What’s so special about it?

The Zohar in the beginning of the Idra Zuta tells that moments before Rebbe Shimon left this world he gathered his students and told them that this – the Eighteenth of Iyar and Lag B’Omer – should be a day of joy and celebration. The Arizal says, “On Lag B’Omer the Tanna Rashbi (acronym for Rebbe Shimon bar Yochai) stands at his holy resting place and blesses each and every person that comes to pray there and rejoice in his name on his holy yahrtzeit.”

A blessing from Rebbe Shimon, author of the holy Zohar who revealed the esoteric secrets of Torah, invokes miracles. Thousands of Jewish children are named “Shimon” in honor of Rashbi, since they were born as a result of their parents’ supplications in Meron. I’d like to share one such story with you, in which I was personally involved.

Tomer and Sari Berman (names changed to protect their privacy) were born into secular homes in Haifa. Tomer had been a sailor in the Israeli Merchant Marines and Sari was a former champion athlete. After having received emuna books and CDs, Tomer and Sari decided to pursue an observant Jewish lifestyle. They hoped that their spiritual turnaround would accord them with the merit of having children, for they had been married for six years already and were yet to be blessed with children.

As an athlete, Sari had suffered a type of hernia that is associated with tremendous strain on the inguinal area. Her reproductive apparatus was severely damaged and fertility specialists told her that she had a minuscule chance of ever having children. She and Tomer weren’t satisfied with the answer they received in the Israeli fertility clinic, so they used up every bit of their savings seeking the advice and treatment of specialists in Europe and America. Broken-hearted and empty-pocketed, they came back to Israel, a week before Lag B’Omer. They gave me a call and asked if I had any advice for them. I told them that they should take advantage of the Arizal’s promise, go to Meron on Lag B’Omer, and get the blessing of Rebbe Shimon bar Yochai. If possible, they should also do six hours of personal prayer there. They did.

Twelve months later, on the eleventh day of Iyar, little baby Berman was born. The day of the Brit Mila, the circumcision, came out on the 18th of Iyar, Lag B’Omer! Despite the difficulties involved, Tomer and Sari insisted on having his Brit (circumcision) in Meron. They did, and they named the baby Shimon.

Three years later, Shimon had his challakeh, his first haircut, in Meron.

Next year, G-d willing, Shimon Berman will have his bar mitzvah in Meron.

You can surely count on Rebbe Shimon.

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New Ben & Jerry’s Limited-Edition Flavor for Lag B’Omer in Israel

By Hana Levi Julian
29 Nisan 5783 – April 20, 2023 https://www.jewishpress.com/news/breaking-news/new-ben-jerrys-limited-edition-flavor-for-lab-bomer-in-israel/2023/04/20/

Ben & Jerry’s new flavor for Lag B’Omer, ‘S’mores’

Photo Credit: courtesy – Ben & Jerry’s new flavor for Lag B’Omer, ‘S’mores’

Israeli ice cream lovers, rejoice!

Ben & Jerry’s Israel has announced it will offer a brand-new flavor – in a limited edition – for the upcoming Lag B’Omer holiday.

The new flavor, “S’mores” will reprise the long-beloved sweet, created annually by countless children at summer campfires, using sweet crackers, chocolate bars and gooey, roasted marshmallows.

The name “s’mores” is an abbreviation of the phrase “some more.”

The Ben & Jerry’s version – only in Israel and only for the Lag B’Omer holiday, will feature ice cream that combines marshmallow with cookie crumbs, chocolate cookie crumbs and pieces of fudge.

The new flavor will be available in all the Israeli food chains, convenience stores and supermarkets where Ben & Jerry’s is sold.

Ben & Jerry’s new Lag B’Omer S’mores flavor

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Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai

By Nissan Mindel
Published by Kehot Publication Society
https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/112515/jewish/Rabbi-Shimon-Bar-Yochai.htm

Every year on Lag BaOmer (18 Iyar), we remember the great and holy Tanna (Mishnaic sage) Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai, who died on this day about eighteen centuries ago. To this day, pious Jews make an annual pilgrimage to Kefar Meron, in the Land of Israel, to pray at the tomb of this great and holy scholar.

A Student of Rabbi Akiva

When Shimon was a young boy, he studied in the great academy of the scholars of Yavneh, founded by Rabbi Yochanan ben Zakkai, who died just about the time that Shimon was born. Shimon’s principal teacher was the famous Rabbi Akiva, who had his academy at Benei Berak. So attached did Shimon become to his master, Rabbi Akiva, that the latter called him “my son.”

During the cruel persecution by the Roman Emperor Hadrian, when the Talmudic Academies were shut down and the study of the Talmud was forbidden on penalty of death, Rabbi Akiva continued to teach the Talmud publicly, and his devoted pupil Shimon stayed at his side, until Rabbi Akiva was arrested. Even then, Shimon continued to visit his master in prison to receive instruction there. Only death finally separated them, for Rabbi Akiva was condemned to die a martyr’s death for Kiddush Hashem (the sanctification of G‑d’s name).

Becoming a Rabbi Under Roman Rule

Those were very difficult times for the Jewish people in the Land of Israel under the brutal persecution of the Roman Emperor Hadrian. It was particularly difficult for the sages to study the Talmud and to conduct schools. On penalty of death, it was also forbidden to ordain students of the Talmud. Both the ordaining Sage and the ordained scholar were put to death if caught. The entire Jewish religious life was in danger, until the great Rabbi Yehudah ben Baba publicly ordained five famous scholars, defying Hadrian’s cruel decree. Rabbi Shimon was one of these five scholars. (Rabbi Meir was another one.) The Roman authorities were soon after these dauntless Jewish champions. The ordained scholars escaped, but Rabbi Yehudah ben Baba was caught and put to death.

Defying the Romans

Finally, the cruel Hadrian died in great pain, and his decrees were no longer enforced with the same brutality as before. Then the leading sages of that time gathered to consider ways and means of restoring Jewish religious life. Among the leading sages gathered at Usha, we find Rabbi Shimon again. For reasons of safety, the sages moved to Yavneh, where they sat in conference in a vineyard. The leading sages were Rabbi Yehudah, Rabbi Yosei the Galilite, and Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai. Discussing what attitude to take towards the Roman government, Rabbi Yehudah suggested a friendly one, Rabbi Yose expressed no opinion, while Rabbi Shimon spoke very bitterly of the Roman tyrants, and advocated every possible defiance. For Rabbi Shimon could never forget the terrible sight of his beloved master and teacher, Rabbi Akiva, being tortured to death by the Roman executioners. The sages were not aware that their conversation was overheard by a certain young man, Judah ben Gerim. At one time a disciple of Rabbi Shimon, Judah ben Gerim later turned spy for the Roman authorities. This treacherous man reported the conversation of the sages to the Roman authorities. At once they decreed honor and rank for Rabbi Yehudah for speaking favorably of them, exile for Rabbi Yosei for failing to do so, and death for Rabbi Shimon, who dared to challenge them.

Life in Hiding

Rabbi Shimon fled for his life together with his son Rabbi Elazar. For some time they stayed in hiding in the Bet Hamedrash (academy), where Rabbi Shimon’s wife brought them bread and water daily. When the search was intensified, they decided to seek a better hiding place. Without telling anyone of their whereabouts, they hid in a cave. G‑d caused a carob tree to spring up at the entrance to the cave, as well as a spring of fresh water. For twelve years, Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai and his son Elazar dwelt in the cave, sustaining themselves on carobs and water. During the time, they studied and prayed until they became the holiest sages of their day.

Return to Worldly Matters

At the end of twelve years, the Prophet Elijah brought them the good tidings of a change in the government and a reprieve. Father and son now left the cave. Passing a field where they saw Jewish farmers toiling on the land, they said, “Imagine people giving up the sacred study of the Torah for worldly matters!”

No sooner did they utter these words, than all the produce of the field went up in smoke. Then they heard a heavenly voice saying, “Have you come out to destroy My world? Go back to your cave!” They returned to the cave for another twelve months, and left it again, only after they heard the same heavenly voice calling them to leave.

This time, they came out with a different outlook on life. Seeing a Jew carrying two bunches of myrtle, rushing home on Friday afternoon, they asked him what he was going to do with the myrtle.

“It is to adorn my house in honor of the Shabbat,” the man replied.

“Would not one bunch of myrtle be sufficient to fill your house with fragrance?” they asked.

The stranger replied, “I am taking two bunches, one for ‘Remember the Shabbat day’ and the other for ‘Keep the Shabbat Day holy.’”

Said Rabbi Shimon to his son, “See how precious the precepts are to our brethren!”

Satisfied that despite all the decrees and persecutions of the cruel Roman rulers, the Jews still clung to the commandments and especially Shabbat observance, Rabbi Shimon and his son felt greatly encouraged.

Proceeding on their way, they met Rabbi Pinchas ben Yair, another famous scholar about whom there are so many wondrous tales in the Talmud. Rabbi Pinchas ben Yair was Rabbi Shimon’s father-in-law, and he came out to meet his in-laws. Seeing the terrible effects of the prolonged cave life upon the health of his son-in-law, Rabbi Pinchas ben Yair burst into tears, but Rabbi Shimon consoled him saying that he could never have attained such a high degree of scholarship and divine wisdom, had he not spent so many years in the cave.

Teaching in Tekoa

Rabbi Shimon settled in the town of Tekoa, where he founded a great academy. The greatest scholars of the time gathered there to receive instruction from Rabbi Shimon. Among them was Rabbi Yehudah, the son of Rabbi Shimon ben Gamliel, the Nassi, later the compiler of the Mishnah.

One day Rabbi Shimon met Judah ben Gerim, the treacherous spy who had caused him so much trouble. Rabbi Shimon exclaimed, “Is this man still alive?” and soon afterward Judah ben Gerim died.

Once again religious persecution increased. The Romans prohibited Shabbat observance and other important Jewish laws.

The Sages decided to send a delegation to Rome, and chose Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai to head the delegation.

When they came to Rome, they heard that the daughter of the Roman emperor had lost her mind and that no one could cure her. Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai proceeded to the palace and asked for permission to treat the patient. After a few days’ treatment the princess became well. In gratitude, the emperor told Rabbi Shimon that he could choose the most precious thing in his treasury. Rabbi Shimon found there the original decrees of persecution, and claimed them as his reward. Thus he succeeded in bringing great salvation to his people.

Teacher of Israel

Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai was one of the greatest teachers of Jewish Law and ethics. His many sayings and laws in the Talmud reflect his holiness of character and devotion to the Torah. Once he said, “If I were present at the giving of the Torah on Mount Sinai, I would have demanded two mouths: one for continuous study of the words of the Torah, and the other for eating.” But then he admitted that this would not be very wise, since even now when man has but one mouth, he says so many wrong things. How much more so if he had two!

Even though he lived the life of a recluse for many years, Rabbi Shimon knew the importance of good human relationships. Said he, “Man should rather jump into a fiery furnace than offend another in public.” “To deceive anyone by words is worse than cheating him out of money.” “He who lets arrogance get the better of him is like the heathen worshipping idols.” In the Ethics of Our Fathers, we find his saying, “There are three crowns: the crown of the Torah, and crown of priesthood, and the crown of royalty; but the crown of a good name excels above them all.”

Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai is the author of the sacred Zohar (“Brilliance”), containing mystic interpretations of the Torah, and chief source of the Kabbalah. For many generations the teachings of the holy Zohar were studied by a few select scholars, until the great scholar Rabbi Moses ben Shem Tov de Leon published the Zohar about seven hundred years ago.

Rabbi Shimon is also the author of Sifri and “Mechilta of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai.”

Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai died in Meron, a village near Safed, in the Land of Israel. As we mentioned before, many Jews make an annual pilgrimage to his grave on the eighteenth of Iyar (Lag BaOmer), the day he died, where they light candles and pray at his grave.

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The Wisdom of Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai

By Nissan Mindel
Published by Kehot Publication Society
https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/112043/jewish/The-Wisdom-of-Rabbi-Shimon-Bar-Yochai.htm

Lag B’Omer is around the corner, and two great names immediately come to our mind: Rabbi Akiba and Rabbi Simeon Ben Yohai.

Rabbi Simeon Ben Yohai was a disciple of Rabbi Akiba. The Romans had put a price on his head, so he hid in a cave, together with his son Rabbi Elazar for thirteen years. When they came out of hiding they were the greatest teachers of their time. Rabbi Simeon died on the day of Lag B’Omer.

Many are the wise sayings and teachings of Rabbi Simeon, which are to be found in all sections of the Talmud. Here we want to mention some of them, so that we can learn a little more about this great Sage.

Rabbi Simeon ben Yohai lived in a difficult time, when his beloved land and people were under the rule of the cruel Romans. But he knew that G‑d was always with His people. Said he:

“Great is G‑d‘s love for Israel, for He revealed Himself to them in a land of uncleanliness and idol worship (Egypt) in order to free them from there.”

Again, Rabbi Simeon said: “See how beloved Israel is to the Holy One, blessed be He, for wherever they went into exile, the Divine Presence (Shechinah) went with them: they were exiled to Egypt, and the Shechinah went with them; they were exiled to Babylon, and again the Shechinah went with them. And when Israel will be redeemed in the future, the Shechinah will be redeemed with them, as it is written, ‘And G‑d, thy G‑d, will return (with) thy exile.’ ”

Rabbi Simeon ben Yohai was a great lover of the Holy Land. Said he:

“No one should leave the Holy Land as long as there is something to eat there at any price. Elimelech, Machlon and Kilyon (mentioned in the Book of Ruth) were leaders of their generation. “When they left the Holy Land during the famine, they were punished and died in a strange land.”

On another occasion, Rabbi Simeon said: “G‑d gave Israel three wonderful presents, but each one was earned through pain and suffering: The Torah, the Holy Land, and the World to Come.”

Rabbi Simeon’s love for the Torah knew no bounds. As he himself never wasted any time, but devoted every minute to the study of the Torah, so he urged others to do likewise, even when people have very little time to spare. He gave the following example:

“There were two brothers. One was saving every penny until, in time, he had quite a large fortune. The other thought, What’s the use of saving pennies? So he spent everything, and remained always poor.

“So it is with learning,” said Rabbi Simeon. “If one learns two or three things during the day, and two or three things at night, two or three chapters during the Sabbath, and the same during Rosh Chodesh, then in time he will be rich with knowledge. But the one who says, How much can I learn, I have so little time? and wastes those precious minutes, will always be poor in knowledge.”

Rabbi Simeon taught that the welfare of the people depended upon their observance of the Torah, for he said:

“The bread-loaf and the rod came down together from Heaven. Said G‑d, If you keep the Torah, you will have bread to eat if not, you shall get the rod.”

One of Rabbi Simeon’s students once went abroad, and returned with great riches. The other students were filled with envy and also wanted to go abroad to make their fortunes. This made Rabbi Simeon sad, and he told them that they could have the choice of gold or the Torah. In fact, he took them to a valley, and prayed to G‑d to fill it with gold. The next moment the valley was filled with gold. Rabbi Simeon then said, “Whoever wants it, may have as much as he likes; but know that whoever takes this gold, will lose his share in the World to Come.” No one took any of it.

Rabbi Simeon spoke very lovingly of the holy Shabbos. He said that it was a gift which G‑d gave to the Jews alone, and that the Jews and the Shabbos are a fitting pair. Here is what Rabbi Simeon said of the Sabbath:

“The Sabbath said to G‑d, Master of the World! Each day of the week has a campanion (Sunday has Monday, Tuesday-Wednesday, etc.), except for me, for I am the odd day of the week! Replied G‑d, The People of Israel shall be your companion!”

Rabbi Simeon also had this to say about the Sabbath:

“If the people of Israel would observe but two Sabbaths properly, G‑d would redeem them immediately!”

Rabbi Simeon taught his people to be honest and truthful, and with good manners. Said be:

“To cheat one by words is even worse than to cheat him out of money.”

“One who enters his house suddenly, and especially one who enters somebody else’s house without knocking, is disliked by G‑d.

Rabbi Simeon urged the good people not to lose all the good they have done by turning away from G‑d in the end. The wicked people he urged to return to G‑d and in this way wipe their record clean:

“A man, even if he was completely righteous all his life, may lose all his benefits, if he turns away from G‑d in the end. But he who was wicked all his life, yet returns to G‑d in the end-his wicked past will be forgotten.” (This does not include, of course, one who thinks that he can go on sinning, hoping to turn over a new leaf some day, and get away with it.)

Because of Israel, G‑d blesses the whole world. Said Rabbi Simeon ben Yohai: “When the people of Israel are worthy, the rain comes down on the fields and trees and seeds, and the world is blessed. But if the people of Israel are not worthy, the rain falls into the oceans and rivers (bringing nothing but floods).”

Once Rabbi Simeon was asked, “Why did the manna come down from heaven every day? Could not G‑d rain down enough manna in one day to last them a whole year?”

To which Rabbi Simeon replied: “A king had a beloved son. The king gave his son an allowance once a year, and only saw him one day in the year, when he came for his allowance. So the king began to give his son his allowance in small instalments every day, and the son came to see his -father daily. So it was also with the children of Israel. Every day the Jews would lift their eyes to G‑d praying for food, so that His children would not die in the desert. If they would receive in one day enough food for a whole year, they would pray to G‑d only once a year.”

Thus Rabbi Simeon ben Yohai taught us the importance of our daily prayers, not because G‑d has to be reminded about us, but because praying to G‑d and keeping G‑d in our hearts and minds every day, constantly, is good for us and will make us better people.

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Rashbi’s Passing

Lag B’omer is the anniversary of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai’s exit from the physical world. The Zohar in Idra Zuta gives a moving account of what happened…

Rabbi Moshe Miller | Posted on 23May2024 | https://breslev.com/352596/

Rashbi’s Passing

Translated by Rabbi Moshe Miller from the Idra Zuta, Zohar III, 287b-296b

We have learned: On the day that Rabbi Shimon [bar Yochai] was to depart the world he began arranging his teachings.

Tzadikim of the stature of Rabbi Shimon know when they have fulfilled their tasks in this world and when they are to pass on to the World of Truth. They therefore begin preparing themselves for the transition.

The Disciples [of Rebbe Shimon found out that he was making his final arrangements, and they] gathered together at the house of Rebbe Shimon. Before him were Rabbi Elazar his son, Rabbi Abba and the other disciples, so that the house was filled. Then fire surrounded the house, so that everyone fled outside…

When Rabbi Shimon looked up and saw that the house was full, he wept and said, “On another occasion, when I was deathly ill (as mentioned in the Addenda to Zohar Devarim), Rabbi Pinchas ben Yair was with me. While I was choosing my place [in the Garden of Eden] they granted me [extra years] until now. When I returned [to the living], a fire surrounded me and it never ceased, so that no person could come in to me without permission.

The fire surrounding him was a sign that the Shechina was constantly revealed upon him. Even the greatest of Rabbi Shimon’s students, such as Rabbi Chiya, required permission to enter (see Zohar II 14a).

Now I see that it has ceased, and so the house has filled up [with visitors who entered without my permission].

Commentaries explain that perhaps there were some there who were not worthy of hearing the mysteries that Rabbi Shimon planned to reveal, and for this reason the Shechina had left him (Kocho d’Rashbi, Ma’aracha 4).

While they were sitting Rabbi Shimon opened his eyes [in the sense of spiritual gazing into the higher worlds] and saw what he saw.

He experienced the revelation of the Shechina (Sha’arei HaIdra).

Then fire surrounded the house, so that everyone fled outside leaving only Rabbi Elazar and Rabbi Abba [who were worthy of receiving the Shechina]. The remainder of the disciples sat outside. Rebbe Shimon said to Rabbi Elazar his son, “Go outside and see if Rabbi Yitzchak is here. I made a promise to him [that he would live until the day of my passing and that I would take him into the Garden of Eden (see Zohar I, 118a)]. Tell him to put his affairs in order and then come and sit with me. Happy is his lot!” The holy matters that I did not reveal until now, I wish to reveal in the presence of the Shechina…

Rebbe Shimon arose [in deference to the Shechina and the souls of saintly tzadikim that had descended to be with him as he revealed the secrets of the Torah]. He then sat again, smiling and happy, and he asked, “Where are the Disciples?” Rabbi Elazar arose and brought them in. They sat down before Rebbe Shimon.

Rebbe Shimon raised his hands in prayer and made his supplications with great joy. Then he said, “Those who were in the Idra [Rabba] are invited [to stay, but not the rest of the visitors, lest they put themselves in danger]. They all went out and only Rabbi Elazar his son, Rabbi Abba, Rabbi Yehuda, Rabbi Yose and Rabbi Chiya remained. Meanwhile, Rabbi Yitzchak arrived, and Rabbi Shimon said to him, “How fortunate is your lot. How much joy should be added to you on this day!” Rabbi Abba was sitting behind Rebbe Shimon’s shoulders and Rabbi Elazar before Rebbe Shimon.<

Rebbe Shimon said, “Now is an auspicious time [to reveal the secrets of the Torah]. I wish to enter the World to Come without shame. For the holy matters that I did not reveal until now, I wish to reveal in the presence of the Shechina, so that no one will say that I left the world without fulfilling my task and that I concealed [these secrets] in my heart until now so that they would come with me to the World to Come. I will present them to you; Rabbi Abba shall write, and Rabbi Elazar my son will review them, and the remaining Disciples must whisper them in their hearts.” The dead do not praise G-d…

Rabbi Abba rose from behind Rabbi Shimon’s shoulders [and sat before Rebbe Shimon]. Rabbi Elazar continued sitting before Rebbe Shimon. Rebbe Shimon said, “Arise, my son, for another [a tzadik from the upper worlds] will sit in that place.” Rabbi Elazar arose [and sat down elsewhere].

Rebbe Shimon wrapped himself [in his talit]. He sat down and said: “‘The dead do not praise G-d, nor do those who go down into Silence [the eternal silence of the grave for the absolutely wicked] (Psalms 115:17).’ ‘The dead do not praise G-d…’ – this surely means those who are called ‘dead’ [even when they are alive], for G-d is called ‘[eternally] living’, and He dwells among those who are also called ‘live’ [the righteous] and not among those who are called ‘dead’ [even during their lifetimes, for they do not cleave to G-d, the Source of Life]. The end of the verse states, ‘…nor do those who go down into Silence’ – those who descend to Silence will remain there. [I.e., only those who descend to Silence permanently will not praise G-d, whereas those who experience a temporary spiritual anguish [Gehinom] after death do return to utter G-d’s praises]. But those who are called alive are different; the Holy One, blessed be He, desires their honor.”

***

(Reprinted with kind permission of www.kabbalaonline.org)

(Rabbi Moshe Miller, a guest teacher at Ascent when he lived in Israel, was born in South Africa and received his yeshiva education in Israel and America. He is a prolific author and translator, with some twenty books to his name on a wide variety of topics, including a new, authoritative, annotated translation of the Zohar. He currently lives in Chicago.)

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Soothing the National Pain

Israel has a long list of aches and troubles, from within and from without. Yet, the unity of Lag B’Omer soothes the national pain. That in itself is reason to celebrate.

Rabbi Lazer Brody | Posted on 12May2024 | https://breslev.com/326015/

Soothing the National Pain

Lag B’Omer begins this year at sundown on Monday night, May 8, 2023

The two most significant events of Lag B’Omer are the cessation of the plague that killed 24,000 of Rabbi Akiva’s students and the yahrtzeit (date of passing) of Rebbe Shimon Bar Yochai. We find an amazing connection between these two seemingly unrelated events.

Rabbi Akiva’s Students

The Gemara (tractate of Yevamot 62b) relates that Rabbi Akiva had 12,000 pairs of students, all whom them died in a few short weeks between Pesach and Shavuot because they didn’t properly respect each other.

Why were these gentle Torah scholars punished so harshly? Don’t think for a moment that they verbally abused one another, or that they were guilty of humiliating or slandering one another. Heaven forbid! Rebbe Akiva’s 24,000 students were simply smug toward one another. They didn’t adequately listen to what their fellow student had to say. Each thought that he knew better or was a tiny bit better than his fellow, thinking that his tribe, his clan, his bloodline and his family were a little bit better or more prestigious than that of his study partner.

As soon as one person thinks he’s better than someone else, his heart and mind turn off to that other person. One says to himself, “What can I possibly learn from him? I’m better than he is!” Such an attitude not only stifles Torah growth but personal growth as well. It uproots the entire time-tested system of learning Torah with a chevruta (study partner) and in groups. Rebbe Nachman of Breslev explains (Likutei Moharan I:34), that every individual has a special talent and strength that no one else has. Therefore, when we learn with others, we receive their special illumination from the way the Torah reflects on their souls. This makes us ever so richer. Rebbe Akiva’s students were therefore punished for not taking advantage of each other to climb higher in the true service of Hashem.

No one can be the best in everything. When I look around the “Chut Shel Chesed” main study hall in Jerusalem, I see one young man who’s has a brilliant analytical mind for in-depth Gemara study. The young man that sits behind him virtually knows Shulchan Aruch by heart and is a walking encyclopedia of Jewish law. Across the aisle is the yeshiva’s Doctor Feelgood who makes everyone laugh and never lets anyone feel sad. He learns with a person who is always tutoring orphans whose lone parent can’t afford remedial learning help. The guy behind him is the best chazzan in the yeshiva, and so forth row by row and aisle by aisle. One can learn just as much from one’s fellow students as one can from the books on the wall.

Rebbe Shimon Bar Yochai

Lag B’Omer, the 33^rd day in the counting of the Omer, falls on 18th day of Iyar, the yahrtzeit (anniversary of the death) of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai, one of our foremost Mishnaic sages. The Zohar tells us that on the day Rabbi Shimon passed away, a great light of endless joy filled the day, because of the previously hidden Torah wisdom that he revealed to his students. This secret wisdom was written down and recorded in the holy Zohar. The Zohar, the compendium of Jewish esoteric thought that is presented to us via Rebbe Shimon’s inner-dimensional elaborations on Torah, happiness, is a phenomenal reason to rejoice. So much so that the day of Rebbe Shimon’s passing, the sun did not set until Rabbi Shimon had revealed all that he was permitted to. As soon as he was done, the sun set, and his soul returned to its Creator.

The happiness of back then has become a Jewish tradition. Each year, hundreds of thousands of overjoyed Jews make the Lag B’Omer pilgrimage to Rebbe Shimon’s holy grave site in Meron in the Upper Galilee. There is dancing, singing, and bonfires. Little boys of three get their first haircuts, kippa, and side curls (photo, left). Awesome amounts of food and drink are offered to everyone, everywhere.

The Tikkun

As it turns out, Lag B’Omer in Meron achieves the tikkun, the exact spiritual correction of the blemish caused by the fact that Rebbe Akiva’s 24,000 students didn’t properly respect one another. In Meron, close to half a million people are trying to touch or at least obtain a glimpse of Rebbe Shimon’s holy grave site. The pressure of the crowds is tremendous. Yet no one pushes and no one has an angry word. Satmer Chassidim from Mea Shearim dance with soldiers wearing knitted kippas on their heads. Ashkenazim and Sefardim, Chassidim and Lithuanian, even religious and non-religious are forced together in very close quarters. Love, brotherhood, and a wonderful feeling of happiness and friendship prevail.

The tiny Land of Israel has a long list of aches and troubles, from within and from without. Yet, the unity of Lag B’Omer soothes the national pain. That in itself is reason to celebrate.

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Passover פסח Leil haSeder K’Seder – an enjoyable and meaningful Seder

01/04/2026 – י״ד בניסן ה׳תשפ״ו – י״ד בניסן ה׳תשפ״ו – 14:36

Passover Seder Plate

Rabbi Arush on the Seder
Sefirat HaOmer Chart 2026
Jabotinsky’s Pesaach lessons: For this hard-to-be-a-Jew year
Days of Mashiach
Moshiach’s Meal-Seuda Moshiach – סעודת משיח
Shevi’i shel Pesach: Meal of the Baal Shem Tov

Pre Seder Checklist
Pesach is 30 Days after Purim. It is time to clean the house for Pesach. The Day After Purim
Preparing for Pesach
Next Year in Jerusalem
The Third Temple – Dayenu
Home Front Command alerts during Shabbat and the holiday
This is How You Prepare for Shabbat in an Emergency

Rabbi Arush on the Seder

Rabbi Arush explains to use how to have “Leil haSeder K’Seder” – an enjoyable and meaningful Seder with tips, tricks and most importantly – all the segulot! PRINT THIS ARTICLE AND PUT IT IN YOUR HAGGADAH so that you can follow it as you go through the Seder.

Rabbi Shalom Arush | Posted on 05April2023 | https://breslev.com/1091015/

Rabbi Arush on the Seder

Print this article and put it in your Haggadah

so that you can follow it as you go through the Seder.

Preparations for Seder

I am very careful to have the Seder ready the night before. Why?

You must have time to sleep in the afternoon to be awake for the Seder! Men, women and children! The one time that I allow a husband to command a wife is on this day: “You must sleep!!!”
You also need time to eat well in the afternoon in order to have a longer Seder without rushing due to hunger.

Remember that it’s forbidden to work after mid-day on Erev Yom Tov, even more serious than working

It is important to be happy on the holiday because holidays are the aspect of the “heart” and the heart needs to be happy! Make sure to do your preparation with happiness and excitement!

Remember – keeping the holiday is not one mitzvah. It’s thousands of mitzvot ! One hour is 3,600 seconds, which means that there are 3,600 mitzvot every hour! One day is 86,400 seconds, which means 86,400 mitzvot! This is true for Shabbat and all the more so for the holiday! Be happy! Passover is thousands of wonderful mitzvot, even the simplest Jew who doesn’t learn leaves the holiday with tens of thousands of mitzvot!

Maariv

Seder night – it’s not night, it’s day! This night has the power as if it was day.

The evening begins with Maariv! This is when we receive the light of the festival. Also, this is the only night that we say Hallel, and not only one time, but twice! Even women are required to say Hallel twice! At the time of Maariv, they must say Hallel even if they are at home! Ashkenazim and Sephardim!

On this night all the prayers from the entire year go up to Shamayim (heaven)! Pray! Ask Hashem to help us have
“Leil HaSeder k’Seder”! Start praying now to have a proper Seder!

Seder

The first thing to remember – the Seder begins with emuna!The Seder begins when and how Hashem wants. You must have patience and just be happy and singing. We all want to start with Kadesh right away, but sometimes there are obstacles, big and small. Before Kadesh comes emuna!

Who wrote the Haggadah? Some say it was Rabbi Akiva, some say Eliyahu Hanavi, and some say Anshei Knesset HaGedolah (Men of the Great Assembly, during the time of Ezra). Either way, it was giants who wrote the Haggadah! There is so much in it!

For someone who eats everything at the Seder according to its laws, all kinds of healing come into the food!

Everyone must know themselves. If you can manage wine, fine. If not, maybe 50/50 wine/grape juice, and if not then only grape juice! This is not a night to get drunk. Make sure to say my prayer before every cup of wine! (Available in Harav Arush’s Haggadah in Hebrew).

Matzah – use hand matzah. Only time that we say the blessing “to eat matzah.” The first portion of matzah should be completely plain, no salatim (salads), no nothing. Thirty grams is a kezayit (the size of an olive). The best thing is to weigh your matzah before the Seder to know how much is a kezayit. But even the thinnest round hand matzah, has in it at least 4 kezayot. So eat at least a quarter of a hand matzah and you’re fine! Make sure you eat at least a kezayit of the maror as well.

Say everything with a tune and also say it loudly, even yelling! It says that Hashem “heard our cry.” So this is a night to cry out to Hashem! There is an amazing Zohar on this. It’s a segulah for tikkun habrit.

To lean – to lean to the left is not enough. You must lean on something. On a pillow, on the arm chair, on whatever – but lean on something!

Everything has its segulah. Tonight is also a night to remember childless women – the three angels came to Avraham Avinu on Seder night! Sarah Imenu was remembered on Pesach! Certainly you can also be remembered on Passover to find a soulmate if it is also a night to have children.

Haggadah

Karpas – Have in mind that Hashem should have mercy on us. Have in mind to sweeten all the judgments on the Jewish people, and send them all to our enemies!
The salt water – Water is mercy and kindness. Again, have in mind to sweeten the judgments and bring kindness upon ourselves and Am Yisrael.
Yachatz – To cut the middle matzah, try to cut the matzah so that the big piece is a “vav” (ו) and the smaller one is a “daled” (ד). It’s very hard to do so in practice, so it’s enough that you think about it and try. Have in mind to break our Yetzer Hara, bad character traits, evil lusts, and desires.

Cutting the middle matzah is also a segulah for parnassah, so have in mind to pray to have good income! Also to have in mind to break the judgments.
Rebbe M’Apta holds that it is a segulah to have in mind at the blessing “Hashem who redeemed us” to be redeemed from whatever suffering you have. You can bring down these salvations at that time!

Saying the Haggadah slowly, slowly. What is this 10-15 minutes of speed reading!? Everyone says the Haggadah. The father runs the Seder, comments, etc. but everyone reads the Haggadah for themselves. Saying the Haggadah brings huge segulot (rectification) for speaking lashon hara (evil speech), to receive kol tov (all good), to receive forgiveness for all your sins! To receive huge spiritual lights! Also to receive yediat haTorah – to truly know the entire Torah.

Every child should ask the questions. Let’s explain the questions a little and explain them to the children!

- Dipping. We dip the karpas. When is the second time? When we dip the maror into the charoset.
- Eating only matzah. What is chametz? Emuna b’teva – believing in nature. Tonight is only matzah, only emuna in hashgacha pratit, in Hashem’s personal Divine providence! Sometimes we believe in nature, sometimes in hashgacha, but tonight we believe only in hashgacha.
- Vegetables. Only maror. Ma pitom (What are you talking about- Israeli slang)? Bitter? Tonight we make everything sweet! Make sure to prepare everything with honey, everything should be sweet, even more than the rest of the year.
- Tonight we all lean.

We provide not just a cup, but also a chair for Eliyahu HaNavi!

Kiss the matzah! It’s a segulah for shmira (protection).

Through eating the matzah we receive huge things! We can even receive a new soul! So eat the matzah happily!
- Rectifies all gilui arayot, sexual sins, and also to receive humility and lowliness to know that everything is from Hashem.
- Fixes the sin of the etz hadaat (eating from the Tree of Knowledge).
- Saves us from all sorts of suffering.
- Serves as a rectification for eating improper foods in the past. It’s like fasting on Yom Kippur!
- Serves as “food of healing” according to the Zohar.
- Chases out of the house all the sitra achra, all the evil.
- Rectifies the moach, the mind., the mind.
- Serves as a segulah to bring us from darkness to great light and to cancel our anger and arrogance.

Eat the maror with happiness to cancel the Evil Inclination.

Using a plastic bowl or cup, take out the 16 drops for the 10 plagues etc., The father pours out a drop of wine for each one, and the wife pours out a drop of water (only the head of the Seder does this, not everyone). The wine signifies the judgments, like the blood, and the water signifies the kindnesses. To remember that in the same cup, the Jew drank water, and the Egyptian drank blood! The wine that remains in the cup is a huge segulah for healing! If a couple has no children, each should drink from this wine and they will have a child. Now everyone at the Seder should drink a drop of that wine specifically, pour for everyone a little bit of what is left in the cup.

The Meal

Even the meal has segulot! It’s an aspect of redemption!

Tzaphon – eating the afikomen. Leave over a tiny bit of the afikomen in a plastic bag for the entire year! Eating it is also a segulah for healing and also for doing teshuva shleima (to completely return in repentance to Hashem).
Barech – say the Blessing after Meals with intention, word by word, and you can receive income with abundance! We need to sing, and say Hallel with happiness and in a loud voice.

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Sefirat HaOmer Chart 2026

Click to download the .PDF file Sefirat HaOmer Chart 2026

Count Today’s Omer

https://www.chabad.org/holidays/sefirah/omer-count.htm

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Rabbi Lazer Brody and Moses

Jabotinsky’s Pesaach lessons: For this hard-to-be-a-Jew year

Jabotinsky anticipated the recurring need to answer, to defend, to explain – and sometimes simply to endure. Read and gain strength.

Ronn Torossian / Published: 6April2026, 8:48 AM (GMT+3) https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/425099

100 Israeli old Shekel coin – Zeev Jabotinsky- צילום iStock

In 1911, on the eve of a century that would test the Jewish people in ways even he could scarcely have imagined, Ze’ev Jabotinsky – the Revisionist Zionist leader – turned to the Passover seder not as ritual alone, but as a living framework for understanding Jewish character, continuity, and responsibility.

In his essay “Four Sons,” Jabotinsky did not merely reinterpret a familiar passage; he recast it as a reflection on how different individuals adapt – psychologically, emotionally, and morally – to the same shared history. A study in how Jews respond differently to pressure, belonging, and identity across generations. Jabotinsky’s story is said to be adapted to the psychology of four typical children across generations of Jewish life. Each son reflects not just a personality, but a posture toward belonging, memory, and obligation.

Jabotinsky wrote: “The first [son] is clever, the second is impudent, the third a simpleton, and the fourth ‘such that he doesn’t even know how to ask.’ And each must be answered in order, according to his tastes and measure of understanding.”

The Clever: [The Wise son]

“The clever boy wrinkles his high forehead, gazes searchingly with his big eyes and wants to know what really the matter was. Why did they first love his forefathers in Egypt, welcome them with open arms, and then begin persecuting and tormenting them, and, so queerly they kept on persecuting and tormenting them and throwing the baby boys into the rivers, but wouldn’t for anything let them go. What was the explanation, Daddy?’ – asks the clever boy.”

Here Jabotinsky recognizes the intellectual instinct that has so often defined Jewish survival: the refusal to accept narrative without interrogation. The clever child is not satisfied with miracle; he demands coherence in history, even when history itself resists coherence. His response is adaptation through inquiry – a need to make sense of contradiction, to reconcile acceptance and rejection, emancipation and persecution. His question echoes forward into modernity, into politics, into every effort to understand a world that has always treated Jews differently.

The Impudent: [The Wicked son]

The second boy is ‘impudent’ – there he sits -back in his chair, crossing his feet and grinning ironically – and asks – what are all these funny customs and memories which should have been forgotten long ago!

“‘Blunt his teeth’ says the ritual of the Passover concerning this son. But I doubt if his teeth can be blunted … for nothing is more unvanquishable than indifference. Nothing can touch him, once he says of his own people, ‘you,’ you can give him up … He will go on grinning at you with all his teeth, and nothing that you can do will blunt them.

And, indeed, you should not blunt the teeth of this son. Let him go on his way with strong teeth. Poor fellow, he will need them in the encampment of the triumphant whither he is drawn. He will have to crack hard nuts there, and the hardest will be the nut of contempt. Often and often will he have to take kicks in answer to loving speeches, be spat upon in answer to his flattery …”

The impudent son represents another form of adaptation: detachment. Jabotinsky’s insight cuts deeper than moral judgment – he identifies indifference, as a great danger. The rupture is linguistic as much as emotional: the shift from “we” to “you.” And yet, even here, Jabotinsky resists easy condemnation. He understands that this, too, is a response to pressure – an attempt to assimilate, to escape, to redefine oneself outside the collective. But the world this son runs toward, he warns, will not embrace him as fully as he imagines.

The Simpleton: [The Simple son]

The third boy is the simpleton. His eyes are honest, clear and direct. For him the world is simple and indisputable. He loves to believe and worship with the simple faith of the primitive man … an artless, single-minded trustfulness.

“‘Daddy,’ he says, and planting his elbows and pressing his chest on the table, he stretches out his neck and turns to you … believing already everything you will tell him, for he wants to believe, ‘Daddy, when will a better time come?’

“Then tell him gently and simply about everything that is happening now in the great illimitable Diaspora. Tell him how in a thousand different places, the newly scattered temple of the undying people is being raised by a thousand hands. Tell him how gradually the hitherto scattered national will is being unified before our eyes, how again a real people is being created … like all healthy nations … Tell him how everywhere, with every day the pride and respect for our own individuality grows. … Tell him what wonderful poets are now writing in our tongue, and how beautiful … this tongue is. … And tell him further how gaily the colonist’s children are chattering in this language in Palestine. And how … by great labour … through a thousand obstacles … something new is rising and growing there.”

If the clever son adapts through questioning, the simple son adapts through trust. He does not demand explanation; he seeks reassurance. Jabotinsky answers with vision – of renewal, language, land, and collective will. This is a different kind of strength: the ability to believe in a future that must be built deliberately, against odds that are neither hidden nor denied.

The One Who Doesn’t Know How to Ask:

“The fourth boy does not know how to ask. He sits at the table sedately, does everything properly and it does not even enter his head to ask what it is all about and why. According to the ritual, you should not wait for his questions but tell him of your own accord. I disagree. … [T]here is sometimes a higher wisdom … in that a man takes something from the past without question, without curiosity as to causes or effects. … According to the ritual, you should tell this son about everything that he does not ask. But I think, let the father too be silent and … kiss this son on his brow, the surest keeper of the sacrament.”

Here Jabotinsky offers the concept that preservation and instinct are also part and parcel of who we are. Simply carrying forward what was received. This Passover, these categories are no longer confined to the Haggadah; they are visible all around us – in bomb shelters and schools, in grocery stores and on campuses, in headlines and in the arguments within and beyond the Jewish world.

We are not just telling the story; we are living inside its questions.

It is a very hard year to be a Jew.

In Israel, our sons and daughters are spread out, fighting from Lebanon to Gaza, carrying the burden of defending our great Jewish state. Across the diaspora – from New York City to Australia, from Toronto to Paris – Jewish communities face a climate that feels increasingly precarious and uncertain.

Jabotinsky anticipated this recurring need to answer, to defend, to explain – and sometimes simply to endure.

As Jabotinsky wrote in another essay, “What Are We to Do?”:

“[O]ne permanent assignment that is entrusted to each of us, old and young, men and women, educated and ignorant, as a group and as individuals … is the defence of our people’s honor.”

The seder ends, as it always does, with a forward glance – not only toward redemption, but toward responsibility. The questions of the four sons do not disappear when the evening is over; they follow us outward, into a world that continues to demand response in different voices, with different kinds of courage.

This year, all year, even more than ever, we must embrace our tradition, our sons and daughters, our customs and beliefs.

Chag Pesach Sameach. Am Israel Chai.

Ronn Torossian is an Israeli-American entrepreneur, author and communal leader.

The Passover Story: Why Tell It?

Lazer Brody

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Days of Mashiach

The Days of Mashiach consist of literally what has been happening in the State of Israel for 76 years, and literally what is happening in the State of Israel today.

Rabbi Shmuel Eliahu / 6April2026, 6:35 PM (GMT+3) https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/425132

HaRav Shmuel Eliahu is Chief Rabbi of Tzfat.

During the celebration of Pesach we are bidden to contemplate on our Redemption from Egypt and on our future Redemption, may it reach completion in our time soon. While the recital of the Haggadah gives us a general overview, there are understandings which benefit from further clarification.

Ingathering of Exiles and Removal of Foreign Rule

From the Gemara it appears that the Days of Mashiach consist of the ingathering of the exiles and the removal of foreign rule over us (literally what has been happening in the State of Israel for 76 years, and literally what is happening in the State of Israel today).

“It was taught: Ben Zoma said to the Sages: Shall the Exodus from Egypt be mentioned in the Days of Mashiach? Behold it is already stated: ‘Behold, days are coming, says the Lord, when they shall no longer say: As the Lord lives who brought the children of Israel up from the land of Egypt, but rather: As the Lord lives who brought up the seed of the house of Israel from the land of the north and from all the lands where I had driven them!’ They said to him: Not that the Exodus from Egypt will be uprooted from its place, but that the subjugation to the kingdoms will be primary, and the Exodus from Egypt secondary to it” (Berachot 12A).

According to this, in our days we must relate on every Seder Night both the story of our Redemption from the kingdoms and also the miracles of today.

Rabbi Elazar ben Azariah rejoices because he understands that the Redemption will be very great.

According to the opinion of the Sages, in the Days of Mashiach they will also mention the Exodus from Egypt, but it will be secondary to the story of the freedom from the subjugation of the kingdoms. And according to the opinion of Ben Zoma and Rabbi Elazar ben Azariah, they will mention only the miracles that exist in current times.

To illustrate the dispute, we may say that according to the opinion of the Sages, the departure of the Jews in our generation from 102 countries to reach Israel is ten times the Exodus from Egypt; therefore they mention the Exodus from Egypt as secondary to the Redemption of our times.

According to the opinion of Rabbi Elazar ben Azariah and Ben Zoma, they will not mention the Exodus from Egypt at all in the generation of the ingathering of exiles. It will apparently be a hundred or a thousand times greater than the Exodus from Egypt, and therefore it is not mentioned at all.

Accordingly,Rabbi Elazar ben Azariah is profoundly happy when he understands that, according to Halakha, the future greatness of the Redemption will be so great in relation to the Exodus from Egypt – “higher than all blessings, songs, praises, and consolations that are spoken in the world.” This is indeed very joyful.

Corresponding to Four Sons

In the Haggadah we read about the Four Sons. The Torah mentions four times the obligation to tell the sons the story of the Exodus from Egypt. Each time the Torah speaks in a different style, and it is evident that it is speaking about four different types of sons.

In the book of Devarim it is written:

“When your son asks you tomorrow, saying: What are the testimonies and the statutes and the judgments that the Lord our God has commanded you? Then you shall say to your son: We were slaves to Pharaoh in Egypt, and the Lord brought us out of Egypt with a strong hand. And the Lord gave signs and great and terrible wonders in Egypt, upon Pharaoh and upon all his house, before our eyes. And He brought us out from there in order to bring us, to give us the Land that He swore to our fathers, etc.”

From the question and its style it appears that the wise son is in the Land of Israel.

In the book of Shemot, the Torah commands us to answer the son who asks in a defiant manner: “And it shall be when your children say to you: What is this service to you? Then you shall say: It is the Passover sacrifice to the Lord, who passed over the houses of the Children of Israel in Egypt when He struck Egypt and saved our houses. And the people bowed and prostrated themselves.”

The style of the question is like that of a wicked son. He sees the Passover as “your” service and not his own festival, and the answer to him is in a different style. This question is said when they are in Egypt and speaking about the Land of Israel.

The account of the simple son and the son who does not know how to ask is stated on the day of the Exodus from Egypt, after they have already departed.

Regarding the simple son it is written: “And it shall be when the Lord brings you into the Land of the Canaanite, as He swore to you and to your fathers, and gives it to you… And it shall be when your son asks you tomorrow, saying: What is this? And you shall say to him: With a strong hand the Lord brought us out of Egypt, from the house of bondage…”

Also: “And it shall be when the Lord brings you into the Land of the Canaanite, and the Hittite, and the Amorite, and the Hivite, and the Jebusite, which He swore to your fathers to give you, a Land flowing with milk and honey, and you shall perform this service in this month… And you shall tell your son on that day, saying: Because of this the Lord did for me when I went out of Egypt.”

Even though he does not ask, you initiate and explain to him.

In the Land of Israel There Are No Wicked People

How are we to understand this statement when the reality seems otherwise. The meaning is that the Torah assumes that the possibility of having wicked sons exists only when the Jews are in the difficult exile of Egypt; but when they have already gone out, their level rises, and when they enter the threshold of Eretz Yisrael they share in the blessing of wisdom which hovers over the Land.

This explains what Rabbi Avraham Azulai, of blessed memory, one of the students of the Ari, wrote in his praises of Eretz Yisrael. He states that in the Land of Israel there are no wicked people:

“Know that anyone who dwells in the Land of Israel is called righteous, even if they are not righteous as it appears; for if he were not righteous, the Land would vomit him out, as it is written: ‘And the Land vomited out its inhabitants.’ And since it does not vomit him out, he is certainly called righteous, even though he appears to have the status of a wicked person” (Chesed LeAvraham, Maayan 3, Nahar 12).

As we saw above, the Torah teaches that Hashem brought us up from Egypt to give us the Land of Israel – specifically the Land of Israel. Among the many reasons for this is that the air of the Holy Land grants wisdom and a clearer knowledge of the workings of Hashem. Similar to the belief in Hashem and a person’s love and reverence for Him, which all contain many levels, wisdom also levels upon levels.

HaRav Tzvi Yehuda HaKohen Kook, of blessed memory, told his students at the Mercaz HaRav Yeshiva in Jerusalem that a basic foundation of wisdom today is that the Jewish People realize that all Jews belong in the Land of Israel. May it come to pass soon.

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Moshiach’s Meal-Seuda Moshiach – סעודת משיח

Moshiach’s Meal: What, Why and How

https://www.chabad.org/holidays/passover/pesach_cdo/aid/3965990/jewish/Moshiachs-Meal-What-Why-and-How.htm

Moshiach’s Meal Art by Rivka Korf Studio https://www.rivkakorf.com/

What Is the Moshiach’s Meal?

Following a tradition instituted by the Baal Shem Tov, Jews all over the world celebrate the waning hours of Passover with Moshiach’s Meal (Moshiach’s Seudah in Yiddish), a feast celebrating the Divine revelation yet to come.

Why Do We Celebrate This Meal?

On the last day of Passover, we read verses from the book of Isaiah as the haftorah.1 This reading includes many wondrous prophecies about the era of Moshiach.

The prophecy foretells of a leader upon whom “the spirit of the L‑rd shall rest, a spirit of wisdom and understanding, a spirit of counsel and heroism, a spirit of knowledge and fear of the L‑rd.”

In addition to bringing peace to mankind (“he will judge the poor justly, and he shall chastise with equity the humble of the earth”), the new peace and G‑dly understanding will extend to all of G‑d’s creatures: “And a wolf shall live with a lamb, and a leopard shall lie with a kid . . . and a small child shall lead them.”

The Baal Shem Tov, the founder of the chassidic movement, was the first one to celebrate this meal, with an open door, allowing anyone who wished to partake.

The sixth Lubavitcher Rebbe explained that on the last day of Passover the radiance of Moshiach is already shining.

When Is the Moshiach’s Meal

Moshiach’s Meal is held following Minchah (the afternoon service) on the eighth day of Passover. In Israel, where Passover is seven days long, Moshiach’s Meal is held on the seventh day.

The celebration customarily extends past nightfall, ushering out Passover amid song, words of Torah and inspiration.

How Is the Moshiach’s Meal Celebrated?

In 1906 Rabbi Shalom Dov Ber of Lubavitch incorporated four cups of wine and matzah into Moshiach’s Meal, mirroring the Seder held the week before. You can also serve fruit and other Passover goodies.

If you will be celebrating with a group you can have people prepare stories or Torah thoughts related to Moshiach. The actual program is flexible, but you want to pace your four cups throughout the singing and speaking. Customarily, the leader of the group announces which cup you are up to. Note that you do not need to drink these cups in their entirety. A sip suffices.

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Shevi’i shel Pesach: Meal of the Baal Shem Tov

This story is traditionally told over on the last day of Pesach, at the “Meal of the Baal Shem Tov,” which is eaten just before sunset. We eat this meal to commemorate the Baal Shem Tov’s miraculous deliverance from the cannibals and his return to Istanbul.

Breslev Israel staff / Posted on 07April2026 https://breslev.com/1079753/

Meal of the Baal Shem Tov

After many years of wanting to go to Eretz Yisrael, the holy Baal Shem Tov finally decided to make the long journey. He hired a wagon and set out from Medzeboz, Ukraine together with his righteous daughter Udell and his student and attendant Reb Hirsch Sofer. They planned to travel to Istanbul by wagon and from there, to travel by ship to the Holy Land.

After several months on the road, the Baal Shem Tov, his daughter Udell, and Reb Hirsch Sofer arrived in Istanbul on the eve of Passover. The holy Baal Shem Tov took almost no money with him, because he had absolute faith that God would provide for all his needs on the journey. He had just enough money to rent the cheapest room in a local inn, but did not have any left over to buy the necessary items to celebrate the Seder that evening. He decided to go to the local study hall, learn Torah, and wait for God to provide him with all his needs.

Udell and Reb Hirsch were also not the least bit concerned, because miracles often occurred to the holy Baal Shem. They expected that God would certainly not abandon him now. Since Udell expected God to provide for their needs, she decided to go to the seashore to launder her father’s clothing for the upcoming holiday.

A very wealthy couple lived in Germany. The doctors had told them that they could never have children. They heard about the Baal Shem Tov and decided to travel to Medzeboz — perhaps he would be able to perform a miracle whereby God would give them a child. When they arrived in Medzeboz, however, they discovered that the Baal Shem Tov had already left for the Holy Land. They decided to follow his trail and try to catch up with him. They also arrived in Istanbul on Passover eve. They registered at an inn and asked many people in Istanbul if they had seen the holy Baal Shem Tov, but no one had seen him.

They decided to go to the docks and ask the sailors if the Baal Shem Tov had boarded one of the ships traveling to Eretz Yisrael. On their way to the docks, they saw a woman doing her laundry and they asked her if she had seen the Baal Shem Tov. That woman was the Baal Shem Tov’s daughter, Udell.

Udell told them that she was the Baal Shem Tov’s daughter and that her holy father was staying at the same inn where they were lodging. When the couple heard that, their joy knew no bounds. They invited Udell, her father, and Reb Hirsch to join them for the Seders.

When the Baal Shem Tov returned from the synagogue after the evening holiday prayers, he was not the least surprised and joined the wealthy couple at their Seder. At the beginning of the Seder, the Baal Shem Tov turned to the couple and said to them, “I know why you have come and your salvation will soon be on its way.” No sooner had he spoken, when his face suddenly changed, and a tortured pained expression replaced his pleasant countenance as he went into a trance.

His daughter, Udell, was concerned. Although she had seen his soul ascend to heaven on many occasions, she had never seen her father’s face so lifeless before. Some time later, however, the Baal Shem Tov returned to normal, and beaming with joy he said. “Heaven was angry for me for violating the laws of nature to make a miracle that would grant children to this couple, they therefore decreed that I should lose my share in the world to come for this act. I answered that now I could serve God for pure motives without expecting any reward and I rejoiced. The Satan saw that I became even happier when they took away my reward in the hereafter, and he then convinced the heavenly court to return my share in the future world.

After the meal, when the Baal Shem Tov came to the words of the Hallel, “Le’otot niflaot — For He performs wonders,” his voice rang out loud and clear, as he articulated the words with utter devotion over and over again. The sound of his words carried out far into the stillness of the night. The rest of the Seder passed and it was early morning by the time they finished. Until now, the merchant had refrained from making any comments or asking questions for fear of disturbing his Godly visitor.

But now that the Seder was over, he ventured several comments. “Rabbi, if I may ask…why did you repeat that particular verse of the Hallel?”

“The Jews of Istanbul were in grave danger,” disclosed the Baal Shem Tov. “While I was reciting that verse, my soul ascended to heaven and I interceded on their behalf. I continued with the Hallel when I was informed that the decree had been nullified. You will learn all about it tomorrow morning in shul.”

On the following morning, as the congregation assembled for their holiday prayers, one prominent member of their community suddenly rushed in: “Mazel tov, my good friends. Congratulate yourselves on having escaped imminent danger.”

Everyone crowded around to hear the details of his surprising announcement. “As you may well know,” he began, “our late Sultan was in the habit of dressing in common clothing to walk incognito among his people, as did his father, the previous Sultan. This particular stroll took him far out of the city limits and before he realized what had happened, he was surrounded by a group of roving bandits.

“They seized him and brought to their hideout. It occurred to the Sultan that these thieves did not know his identity.

“After his pockets had been emptied of the all his valuables, the Sultan was confident that he would be released. But the thieves informed him that they must kill him since he knew the location of their hideout. The Sultan contemplated his chances of survival. ‘If I reveal my identity, they will surely kill me, for they would realize that capital punishment would await them if anyone knew whom they had captured and robbed. Let me use my wits to see if I can save myself.’

‘I am trained with a particular skill which may bring you much profit,” the Sultan told his captors. They gathered around the Sultan in interest: “I know how to fashion valuable tapestries. My products will fetch high prices for you on the market. Try and see.”

“The robbers were interested in making a profit and willing to give his plan a fair try. They purchased simple mats from which the Sultan fashioned his tapestry. After two days, the first product was ready for the market. The finished product did not over impress the bandits, but the Sultan hastened to warn, “This tapestry can only be appreciated by a true connoisseur of art. Do not be daunted if at first people laugh at the price you ask. But by no means are you to settle for less than what I tell you. Go from shop to shop until you find the proper customer, a person who can appreciate this fine work of art.”

“It happened just as the captive has foretold. The bandits were greeted by jeers and hoots when they demanded an outlandish price for their merchandise. The scene was repeated at every store they entered.

“By now a large crowd of people had gathered to see the outcome of the farce. ‘Who would be mad enough,’ they wondered, ‘to pay the price these men were asking for what appeared to be a simple mat?’ Just then my father happened to walk by. He learned from the people around him the cause of the gathering and was shown the merchandise. He realized that there was something deeper here than what met the eye, and asked to examine the tapestry. A quick look showed him that there was nothing especially artistic about the piece before him except for one letter intricately woven and hidden in the cloth.

“‘I’ll take it at your price,’ my father promptly told them. He then inquired as to the craftsman who had fashioned it. The men were reluctant to give him any information. ‘If you like this work, we can bring you more,’ they promised but that was all they would say.

“The bandits returned to their hideout with good news for the imprisoned Sultan. Not only had his cloth been purchased at his price, but the customer wished to order more rugs. The Sultan was certain that some clever person bad caught on to his ruse and set about his work cheerfully, ingeniously weaving in the second initial into the center of the cloth.

“‘When this cloth was brought to my father the next day, he knew that he had been right in assuming that it contained a clue. After paying the price, he hurried to the Sultan’s palace with his tale. The palace broke into pandemonium. No one knew what had happened to the Sultan. Searches were being organized but no trace or clue had yet been found.

“When my father presented his story and evidence to the Sultan’s advisers, all agreed it was indeed the Sultan who was trying to send a message as to his whereabouts. My father was told to hold his tongue and to continue purchasing the tapestries.

“Day after day, letter by letter, the sultan spelled out directions to his location. Soon, a battalion of soldiers was dispatched to the robber’s hideout where they succeeded in freeing the Sultan.

“The Sultan did not forget my father, his benefactor, and summoned him to the Palace. ‘How can I thank you enough?’ he said. ‘Name a reward and you will have it.’

“My father refused to hear of a reward. ‘Is it not reward enough that I have had the privilege to save the life of my king? It is a privilege which is reward in itself.’ This was not enough for the Sultan, however. He made out a proclamation stating that my father and his children would forever have the privilege of free access to the Sultan’s palace and the attention of the Sultan himself for any need they may have.

“This all happened to my father many, many years ago. He never had any reason use his privilege. My father passed away as did the late Sultan. Until this day, I found no cause all these years to seek access to the Sultan’s.

“This year, our Sultan happened to be walking through the market place with his Chief Counselor, who is well know as one who vehemently hates Jews, when he noticed a flurry of activity. Cartloads of strange bread were being transported from place to place. The Sultan had never seen anything like it. ‘What are these cakes?’ he asked his Chief Counselor.

“‘’These are called matzot. They are eaten by the Jews throughout the holiday they call Passover. Some Jews pride themselves in eating only “shmura” (watched) matzos made from the blood of a Muslim child which they slaughter for that purpose,’ the Chief Counselor replied.

“The Sultan was stunned! ‘Don’t take my word for it, Your Majesty,’ the counselor said, ‘make your own inquiries. You will hear the same story.’

“The Sultan did ask around and learned that there were, in fact, many Jews who only ate the special loaves known as shmura matzah which were baked under the most careful supervision and inferred that his counselor’s comments were true. He was horrified and instituted a special inquiry to determine which Jews ate only shmura matzah. He intended to have his guards arrest the culprits while they sat at their Seder, and then have them executed.

“Last night, on the eve of our holiday, I had a dream. My father appeared to warn me of the impending danger. He instructed me to go straight to the Sultan, by virtue of my special privilege of free entry and tell him the truth. I was to expose the Sultan’s Chief Counselor for what he was — not a devout Moslem as the Sultan thought, but a practicing Greek Orthodox Christian. ‘Tell the Sultan to send his soldiers to the counselor’s home in the middle of the night,’ my father instructed, ‘and they will find him in bed with a cross on his chest.’

“I awoke towards evening, deciding that the dream had been simply a dream, and I went about with my preparations for the evening Seder. But suddenly I became very tired and had to lie down. I promptly fell into a deep sleep. My father appeared again, warning me to heed his advice for only I could save the community.

“When I awoke the second time I realized that it was not a meaningless dream and that immediate action had to be taken. It was already late at night when I arrived at the Sultan’s palace. Despite my right to enter the palace when I wished, I did not want to cause a commotion and wake the Sultan. I begged the palace guards to take me to the “Old Queen” – the Sultan’s mother.

“The Queen happened to be awake. She listened patiently to my story. I hastened to remind her that in all these years neither my father not I had used our privilege. If I was asking her to intercede for the Jews on my behalf, it was because the matter was one of life or death.

“The Queen asked me to wait while she spoke to her son. She did not plan to present the Jew’s cause for she had heard nothing of the impending decree and thought it might not be true. Instead, she decided to tell her son that her husband, the late Sultan, had appeared to her in a dream, instructing her to warn her son against issuing any evil decrees.

“At first the young Sultan denied any impending evil decrees. When his mother mentioned the Jews, he confessed. ‘Yes, Mother, but my law concerning the Jews is a beneficial one for it concerns those Jews who use Moslem blood in their matzah baking. I have ordered this cult to be destroyed for the public benefit.’

“Seeing that I had spoken the truth, the Queen now told the entire story to her son who asked that the wine merchant be brought before him. I ran forward, throwing myself at his feet, my story pouring out in tearful pleas. I begged the Sultan to follow my father’s suggestion of surprising the Chief Counselor in his home to prove that he was unfaithful to the Moslem faith. The Sultan followed my suggestion and all proved as I had predicted. In their fury, the soldiers executed the Chief Counselor on the spot.

“The Sultan immediately cancelled the decree that would have killed us all.”

“All this happened just as I was reciting the Hallel, did it not?” the Baal Shem Tov asked the merchant.

The statement was confirmed, for indeed the Baal Shem Tov had been aware of the miracle at the very minute that it happened which coincided with his recital of ‘Le’ose niflaot gedolot!’”

After the first two days of the holiday, the wealthy couple showed their gratitude by purchasing the Baal Shem Tov’s passage on a ship bound for the holy land. At sea, a massive storm broke out and threatened to sink the ship. The Baal Shem Tov divined that to calm the storm he could either throw his Torah writings or his daughter overboard, into the raging sea.

The Baal Shem Tov’s daughter, Udell, knew the value of her father’s Torah writings and decided to jump overboard. Just before she was about to jump, Divine inspiration came upon her and she changed her mind. She turned to the other passengers and said, “It is better that you should take my father’s writings and throw them overboard, because I am destined to have a grandson who will produce some of the most beautiful teachings and writings of all. His writings will save thousands of Jewish souls who have fallen to the depths of impurity and will help them return to their Father in Heaven.”

This grandson is none other than Rebbe Nachman of Breslev!

The sailors threw the Baal Shem Tov’s writings into the sea and the storm abated.

The passengers were exhausted from their ordeal. The ship weighed anchor near a small island to allow the passengers to rest and regain their strength. The Baal Shem Tov, Reb Hirsch and Udell took a walk on the island. They were abducted by a group of cannibals, who were planning to have them for their dinner.

The cannibals started sharpening their knives in preparation for slaughtering the Baal Shem Tov, Reb Hirsch and Udell. Reb Hirsch turned to the Baal Shem Tov. In desperation he yelled, “Do something! Save us from these animals!”

But the Baal Shem Tov couldn’t say a word.

Reb Hirsch screamed in panic, “Why do you remain silent?!”

The Baal Shem Tov answered, “I forgot everything. I can’t even remember the alef beit (the Hebrew alphabet). Maybe you can remember something?”

Reb Hirsch responded, “I also forgot everything! I can only remember the alef beit!”

“Then why are you silent? Say the alef beit!” the Baal Shem Tov ordered.

The Baal Shem Tov repeated each letter after Reb Hirsch. In the middle of their recital, the Baal Shem Tov’s knowledge and powers suddenly returned to him and he said that they would be saved shortly. Suddenly a loud whistle blew in the distance and the cannibals took fright and ran away. Another ship had just arrived on its way to Istanbul. The ship’s crew untied and freed the Baal Shem Tov and his party and brought them back to Istanbul.

They arrived safely in Istanbul on the last day of Pesach. The Baal Shem Tov said, “Now I know for certain that Heaven doesn’t want me to go to Eretz Yisrael.” Immediately after Pesach the Baal Shem Tov and his party returned to Medzeboz.

***
From She’va’chai Ha’Baal Shem Tov

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Pre Seder Checklist

Cleaning for Pesach פסח (Passover). Remove all the Chametz and Don’t forget the Kitchen

Shop for Pesach פסח (Passover)

You know exactly what you can buy in every Store. and in many store everything is without Kitniyot. – Leavened foods concealed behind plastic at Jerusalem supermarket during Passover

You know exactly what you can buy in every Store. and in many store everything is without Kitniyot. – Leavened foods concealed behind plastic at Jerusalem supermarket during PassoverThe White plastic film covering the shelves of Chametz is what our local store dose, but a lot of stores remove all Chametz completely weeks before Pesach.

All the Dairy is Kosher for Pesach at least a week before Pesach.

I personal like Rami Levi Mehadrin in Givat Shaul, Jerusalem. The products have no Kitniyot.

Pesach Supermarket Shopping

13 Nissan Did you remember to sell your chametz? Your local Chabad rabbi can help, or complete an online “Authorization for the Sale of Chametz” form by clicking here.Search for the chametz after dark (click here for the exact time). Recite the blessing prior to the search, and the nullification of the chametz (Kol Chamira) following the search. Click here for more information on the search and removal of chametz.

14 Nissan The day before Passover

Bedikat Chametz: Checking for Chametz the Night before The day before Pesach פסח (Passover)

Rabbi Chaim Lazaroff, searches for leavened bread, also called chametz, at Chabad of Uptown April 17, 2008 in Houston. The candle is used to search for the chametz, while a feather is used to sweep it in to a wooden spoon. All three items are burned along with the chametz. The burning of leavened bread represents the eradication of the ego and all of the negative energies associated with the ego according to Jewish religious scripture. Pesach, or Passover, celebrates freedom. Egypt represents the limitation of ourselves. The observance of Passover is an exercise in being better today than we were yesterday and unleashing personal boundaries to drive ourselves to perfection.
Thursday, April 17, 2008, in HOUSTON. ( Eric Kayne / Chronicle )

Finish eating Chametz

Burning and Nullifying the Chametz the day before Pesach פסח (Passover)

Burning-Chametz

Start Cooking for Pesach פסח (Passover)

Wonder Pot-סיר פלא-potato-תפוחי אדמה

An Israeli Pesach Seder סדר פסח (Passover Seder)

IDF Passover Seder

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https://www.oref.org.il/eng

Home Front Command alerts during Shabbat and the holiday

Silent wave during Shabbat and the holiday

During Shabbat and the holidays, you can receive Home Front Command alerts via the Silent Wave frequencies

https://www.oref.org.il/eng/articles/haredim/rockets-missles/4401

Radio Stations operating in “Silent Wave” format, providing preliminary guidelines, alerts, and end-of-event notifications; the National Emergency Portal on your computer; and the Home Front Command app—this is how you can receive the alerts in your area on Shabbat and Holidays.

Shabbat and Holidays observant citizens can receive the alerts and guidelines through the following means:

Silent Wave on Radio Stations

The following radio stations cease broadcasting on Shabbat and holidays and provide preliminary guidelines, alerts, and notifications regarding the end of an event and exiting the protected space. Starting on the first day of Passover, on every Shabbat and holiday, the “Silent Wave” will broadcast the guidance area on every preliminary guideline and end-of-event notification.:

Kol BaRama at frequencies: 105.7, 104.3, 92.1, 107.6 FM
Kol Chai at frequencies: 92.8, 93, 102.5 FM
Radio Darom at frequency: 101.5 FM
Galei Israel at frequencies: 106.5, 94, 89.3 FM
During the weekend only – Kan Moreshet at frequencies: 90.5 / 90.8 / 92.5 / 100.7 FM

Please note: During Operation “Roaring Lion”, you can also receive Radio Kol Chai and Kol BaRama in the Northern region:

Kol Chai on frequency 93 FM.
Kol BaRama in the Safed area on frequency 92.1 FM, and in the Haifa and Krayot area on frequency 105.7 FM.
Additionally, you can receive alerts only on Radio 90 at frequency 94.7 FM.

Leave the radio device turned on to one of these frequencies to receive only instructions and alerts during Shabbat and holiday.

To find the name of the guidance area for your town – enter the site homepage and enter the name of your town into the box at the top of the page.

National Emergency Portal

You can connect to the National Emergency Portal (this website) before Shabbat, approve the activation of voice alerts in the pop-up window on the homepage, then go to the “Alerts” tab and define your location. The computer must be left active during Shabbat (it is important to disable “Sleep Mode” in the computer settings so the screen remains on). If rocket or missile fire occurs in your defined area, an alert will be received via sound and an on-screen display.

Home Front Command App

If you have a smartphone—you can receive alerts on the Home Front Command app if a threat is posed to your location (location services must be enabled) as well as for 10 areas of interest of your choice. On iPhone—ensure the device is not on “Silent” mode. People with hearing disabilities can set the alert to a 10-second vibration (on Android—set this in the app’s settings page; on iPhone—set the vibration in the device’s system settings). Additionally, the alert can be received accompanied by the flashlight flickering.

Home Front Command Quiet Wave on Shabbat

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https://www.oref.org.il/eng

This is How You Prepare for Shabbat in an Emergency

Using a few simple actions you can prepare for Shabbat in emergency situations, while following the Home Front Command guidelines and observing Shabbat

https://www.oref.org.il/eng/articles/haredim/rockets-missles/4400

The State of Israel is in the midst of a war in the south and in the north. During a war, even when there is a temporary respite, you are still in a time of emergency that does not stop on Shabbat, so people who observe Shabbat must prepare and make the necessary adjustments before Shabbat, by following a number of simple steps.

This preparation is important and essential to enable you to follow the Home Front Command guidelines in full, even during Shabbat, while keeping both life-saving guidelines and the Shabbat.

Receiving alerts during Shabbat:

To guarantee that you continue to receive alerts during Shabbat, you must connect before Shabbat to the Home Front Command’s means of alert.

Click here for information on receiving alerts on Shabbat and holidays.

Preparing the protected space before Shabbat

At this time, we must be prepared and have the protected space ready in case an alert is received. This is even more significant before Shabbat, to make sure the protected space can serve us as needed during Shabbat. Therefore, it is important to perform the following actions before Shabbat begins:

• Make sure the light in the protected space and on the way to it is switched on, so we can safely reach the protected room and avoid tripping in the room or on the way to it.

• Remove any Mukze items that may interfere with the arrival and stay in the protected space.

• Make sure that before Shabbat starts you leave some useful items in the protected room: bottles of water, a radio operating on the silent wave, a siddur, toys for the children, etc.

Spending the Shabbat away from home?

• Make sure you hosts have a protected space that is suitable for your needs and those of your family.

• Find out what is the time available to reach shelter in the location where you will be spending the Shabbat.

• Prepare the protected space in the place where you will be staying before Shabbat starts and according to guidelines.

Preparing for emergencies in Shul

On Shabbat and holidays, it is customary to go to Shul with the children and the women’s gallery is also fuller than on ordinary days. Therefore, it is important to know and remind the members of the family of the behavioral guidelines at the Shul.

Even outdoors, the Home Front Command guidelines save lives

Naturally, many families go on Shabbat with the children for walks in the neighborhood, to play in the park and visit extended family and friends. Therefore, it is important to know and to remind the children of the behavioral guidelines when receiving al alert on rocket and missile fire outdoors, according to the following:

• In a built-up area – enter a shelter or a stairwell in a nearby building for 10 minutes. Stay away from the entrance area.

• In an open area – lie on the ground and protect your head with your hands.

A special letter from the Chief Rabbis

When the Iron Swords War erupted, the Chief Rabbis, The Rishon Lezion Rabbi Izhak Yossef Shalita (שליט”א) and the Chief Rabbi, Rabbi David Lao Shalita (שליט”א), issued a letter with specific Halacha rulings for behavior in Shabbat during a war, along with Halachot referring to the behavior in time of war on normal days.

These are the main points in the letter:

1. You must follow all Home Front Command guidelines and recommendations to the letter. When the guideline is to remain at home, do not leave the home at all, even not to pray, say your prayers alone.

2. Pray only in Shuls that have protected space or are close to protected spaces. If an alert is received, go to the protected space immediately until the danger passes. People who are ill and walk slowly should pray in their homes, unless the Shul is in a shelter.

3. If you receive an alert during Amida, you must stop immediately and walk silently to the protected space, and then return and pray. If the delay was no more than five or six minutes, continue where you left off, if it was more than five or six minutes, start over from the beginning of Amida. If an alert is received in the middle of reading from the Torah, close the scroll immediately and place a cloth over it and then go to the protected space, even if the Torah is left unguarded. When you return, continue the reading where you left off.

4. In every Shul, leave a mobile phone that is switched on before Shabbat, so it can be used to call emergency services in case of need. A mobile phone can be kept in your pocket on vibration mode.

5. Those who have a licensed weapon, should carry the weapon also on Shabbat, even if you do not usually trust the Eruv. It is important to make sure that in every Shul there is at least one person who is armed. Walk with your weapon covered by your clothes.

6. Leave the radio on, tuned to the silent wave, to make sure you receive the Home Front alerts.

7. In all prayers, include the Avinu Malkenu prayer, including on Shabbat and Rosh Chodesh (omitting the “Katvenu” part and in Shabbat and Rosh Chodesh omitting Chatanu Lefanecha), when opening the Heichal, repeat 12 times “Leolam Hashem Dvarech Nitzav Bashamaim” and the Psalms 20, 100, 121, 230, 242 as well as the special prayer we issued for this time.

8. For matters relating to Tvila and Tahara, consult your local rabbis.

9. Simchas such as weddings, Briths and such like must be conducted according to the Home Front Command guidelines.

ויהי רצון שלא ישמע עוד שוד ושבר בגבולנו, ושב יעקב ושקט ושאנן ואין מחריד, ובא לציון גואל במהרה בימינו אמן.

Shabbat Shalom

Venishmartem Meod Lenafshotechem, with G-D’s help, together, we shall win!

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By Staff | Posted in Chagim - Holidays | Tagged Passover, Pesach, Practices and Halacha for Seder Night, Seder | Comments Off

ISRAEL AT WAR 5786: Iran: Operation Roaring Lion

28/02/2026 – י״ב באדר ה׳תשפ״ו – י״ב באדר ה׳תשפ״ו – 20:00

ISRAEL Connection People

Israeli technology doesn’t just power AI and help fight cancer, it brings people together. pic.twitter.com/fxP8y8VnEl

— Saul Sadka (@Saul_Sadka) March 1, 2026

Saul Sadka-tweet-1March2026-ISRAEL Connection People
Israeli technology doesn’t just power AI and help fight cancer, it brings people together.

Saul Sadka-tweet-1March2026-ISRAEL Connection People

Tips for Israelis
Home Front Command alerts during Shabbat and the holiday
This is How You Prepare for Shabbat in an Emergency
Home Front Command Pikud HaOref guidelines הנחיות פיקוד העורף
1March2026-2 Days before Purim
Nefesh B’Nefesh-We’re here for you
2026 Jewish demographic momentum in Israel
Modi’in Illit family celebrates the birth of their 21st child
Newborn babies wrapped in life itself
Israeli hospitals moved underground
Joy and stoicism in the bunkers of Tel Aviv
A couple holds their wedding in an bomb shelter of Tel Aviv
A BEAUTIFUL MESSAGE FROM AN ISRAELI PILOT TO THE CHILDREN
Benjamin Netanyahu speaks from the intelligence headquarters rooftop
Charlie Hebdo-10March2026-Iran-for a French supreme guide
Russia Says Iran Conflict ‘Not Our War’
‘Iran Says School Massacre’ and the Media Repeats: How a Regime Claim Became a Viral Headline
Israel-Haters Furious Over Al-Aqsa Closure During Iran War
Jordan complains Al Aqsa is closed for the war. But the Kotel is closed, too

Iran attacked 7 countries
Map-Europe within range of Iranian missiles-21March2026″
UK has no defences against Iran missiles that can hit London
UAE dismantles Hezbollah-Iran terror network
How-to achieve aerial superiority over a terrorist regime
DAVID’S SLING
ISRAELI DEFENSE INDUSTRIES demonstration in Tehran
France turns on Israel, puts it’s own citizens at risk
IDF begins ground operation in Lebanon
Lebanon government outlaws Hezbollah
THE LARGEST MILITARY FLYOVER IN IDF HISTORY
Iranian lies
Iranian Neighborliness IRAN’S REGIONAL DIPLOMACY
Security official: Half of the Missiles from Iran had cluster warheads
Missile attack on Beit Shemesh killed 9 civilians including 4 children

Where Iran fired it’s missiles and Drones

Tips for Israelis

Tips for Israelis.

How to determine if that sound was an exploding missile interception or thunder:

If your phone didn’t give you a heart attack a minute ago with its endless screeching, it’s thunder.

Follow me for more tips.

— The Mossad: Satirical and Awesome (@TheMossadIL) March 19, 2026

The Mossad: Satirical and Awesome-tweet-19March2026-Tips for Israelis
Tips for Israelis.

How to determine if that sound was an exploding missile interception or thunder:

If your phone didn’t give you a heart attack a minute ago with its endless screeching, it’s thunder.

Follow me for more tips.

The Mossad Satirical and Awesome-tweet-19March2026-Tips for Israelis

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https://www.oref.org.il/eng

Home Front Command alerts during Shabbat and the holiday

Silent wave during Shabbat and the holiday

During Shabbat and the holidays, you can receive Home Front Command alerts via the Silent Wave frequencies

https://www.oref.org.il/eng/articles/haredim/rockets-missles/4401

Shabbat and Holidays observant citizens can receive the alerts and guidelines through the following means:

Silent Wave on Radio Stations

Kol BaRama at frequencies: 105.7, 104.3, 92.1, 107.6 FM
Kol Chai at frequencies: 92.8, 93, 102.5 FM
Radio Darom at frequency: 101.5 FM
Galei Israel at frequencies: 106.5, 94, 89.3 FM
During the weekend only – Kan Moreshet at frequencies: 90.5 / 90.8 / 92.5 / 100.7 FM

Please note: During Operation “Roaring Lion”, you can also receive Radio Kol Chai and Kol BaRama in the Northern region:

Kol Chai on frequency 93 FM.
Kol BaRama in the Safed area on frequency 92.1 FM, and in the Haifa and Krayot area on frequency 105.7 FM.
Additionally, you can receive alerts only on Radio 90 at frequency 94.7 FM.

Leave the radio device turned on to one of these frequencies to receive only instructions and alerts during Shabbat and holiday.

To find the name of the guidance area for your town – enter the site homepage and enter the name of your town into the box at the top of the page.

National Emergency Portal

Home Front Command App

Home Front Command Quiet Wave on Shabbat

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https://www.oref.org.il/eng

This is How You Prepare for Shabbat in an Emergency

Using a few simple actions you can prepare for Shabbat in emergency situations, while following the Home Front Command guidelines and observing Shabbat

https://www.oref.org.il/eng/articles/haredim/rockets-missles/4400

This preparation is important and essential to enable you to follow the Home Front Command guidelines in full, even during Shabbat, while keeping both life-saving guidelines and the Shabbat.

Receiving alerts during Shabbat:

To guarantee that you continue to receive alerts during Shabbat, you must connect before Shabbat to the Home Front Command’s means of alert.

Click here for information on receiving alerts on Shabbat and holidays.

Preparing the protected space before Shabbat

• Make sure the light in the protected space and on the way to it is switched on, so we can safely reach the protected room and avoid tripping in the room or on the way to it.

• Remove any Mukze items that may interfere with the arrival and stay in the protected space.

• Make sure that before Shabbat starts you leave some useful items in the protected room: bottles of water, a radio operating on the silent wave, a siddur, toys for the children, etc.

Spending the Shabbat away from home?

• Make sure you hosts have a protected space that is suitable for your needs and those of your family.

• Find out what is the time available to reach shelter in the location where you will be spending the Shabbat.

• Prepare the protected space in the place where you will be staying before Shabbat starts and according to guidelines.

Preparing for emergencies in Shul

Even outdoors, the Home Front Command guidelines save lives

• In a built-up area – enter a shelter or a stairwell in a nearby building for 10 minutes. Stay away from the entrance area.

• In an open area – lie on the ground and protect your head with your hands.

A special letter from the Chief Rabbis

These are the main points in the letter:

4. In every Shul, leave a mobile phone that is switched on before Shabbat, so it can be used to call emergency services in case of need. A mobile phone can be kept in your pocket on vibration mode.

6. Leave the radio on, tuned to the silent wave, to make sure you receive the Home Front alerts.

8. For matters relating to Tvila and Tahara, consult your local rabbis.

9. Simchas such as weddings, Briths and such like must be conducted according to the Home Front Command guidelines.

ויהי רצון שלא ישמע עוד שוד ושבר בגבולנו, ושב יעקב ושקט ושאנן ואין מחריד, ובא לציון גואל במהרה בימינו אמן.

Shabbat Shalom

Venishmartem Meod Lenafshotechem, with G-D’s help, together, we shall win!

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Home Front Command Pikud HaOref guidelines הנחיות פיקוד העורף

גם שברי יירוט עלולים לגרום לנזק כבד!!! כך נראה בניין מגורים שנפגע הבוקר משבר יירוט באחת מערי הצפון. המשפחה ששהתה במרחב המוגן ניצלה מפגיעה pic.twitter.com/xTVi9U9fnU

— פיקוד העורף (@PikudHaoref1) February 28, 2026

Pikud HaOreftweet-28February2026-interceptions fragments can cause severe damage
Even fragments of interceptions can cause severe damage!!! This is how a residential building that was hit this morning by an interception fragment in one of the northern cities looks. The family that was in the protected space was saved from impact

Pikud HaOref-tweet-28February2026-interceptions fragments can cause severe damage

מה שרואים כאן בסרטון הוא טיל אחד שמתפזר להרבה חימושים קטנים ומסוכנים.
שימו לב, לא כל החימושים מתפוצצים בעת המגע עם הקרקע וכל מגע בהם עלול להוביל לפיצוץ ולסכן חיים!
לכן, עכשיו יותר מתמיד מתרחקים מנפלים, מרחיקים אחרים ומתקשרים מיד למוקד 100.
בטוח שמקפידים על הנחיות פיקוד העורף! pic.twitter.com/WApNWZMbZ3

— פיקוד העורף (@PikudHaoref1) March 2, 2026

Pikud HaOref-tweet-2March2026-missile disperses into many small dangerous munitions
What you see here in the video is a single missile that disperses into many small and dangerous munitions.

Pay attention, not all the munitions explode upon contact with the ground, and any contact with them could lead to an explosion and endanger lives!

Therefore, now more than ever, stay away from unexploded ordnance, keep others away, and immediately call the hotline 100.

Safely adhering to the Home Front Command guidelines!

Pikud HaOref-tweet-2March2026-missile disperses into many small dangerous munitions

No video is worth your lives

שום סרטון לא שווה את החיים שלכם.
קיבלתם התרעה על ירי טילים? לא יוצאים למרפסת ולא פותחים את החלון בשביל לצלם.
נכנסים מיד למרחב המוגן ולא יוצאים עד לקבלת הודעה מפורשת.

בטוח שמקפידים על הנחיות פיקוד העורף, הן מצילות חיים. pic.twitter.com/9Zg2VVUAzB

— פיקוד העורף (@PikudHaoref1) March 26, 2026

Pikud HaOref-tweet-26March2026-No video is worth your lives
No video is worth your lives.
You received an alert about missile fire? Do not go out to the balcony and do not open the window to film.
Enter the protected space immediately and do not leave until you receive an explicit message.

Be sure to follow the Home Front Command guidelines; they save lives.

Pikud HaOref-tweet-26March2026-No video is worth your lives

צילמת יירוטים? אתם מהמרים על החיים. שימו 🧡 בזמן קבלת התרעה מתמגנים, בשום אופן לא מצלמים ומסתכנים❗️ pic.twitter.com/ZkPpeCZ3it

— פיקוד העורף (@PikudHaoref1) March 22, 2026

Pikud HaOref-tweet-22March2026-Filming interceptions
Filming interceptions? You’re gambling with your lives. Put 🧡 on protecting yourselves when receiving an alert, under no circumstances film and endanger yourselves❗️

Pikud HaOref-tweet-22March2026-Filming interceptions

Home Front Command Pikud HaOref guidelines-13April2026

עדכון במדיניות התגוננות של פיקוד העורף

בהתאם להערכת מצב מדיניות ההתגוננות תעודכן החל מיום שני, 13 באפריל 2026 בשעה 21:00 ועד ליום שלישי, 14 באפריל 2026 בשעה 20:00. pic.twitter.com/vbwGUk5xR1

— פיקוד העורף (@PikudHaoref1) April 13, 2026

Pikud HaOref-tweet-13April2026-Home Front Command guidelines
Update to the Home Front Command’s Defense Policy

In accordance with the situation assessment, the defense policy will be updated starting from Monday, April 13, 2026, at 21:00 until Tuesday, April 14, 2026, at 20:00.

Pikud HaOref-tweet-13April2026-Home Front Command guidelines

Home Front Command guidelines

Home Front Command Pikud HaOref guidelines-28February2026

בהתאם להערכת המצב הוחלט בפיקוד העורף על שינוי בהנחיות –
מעבר מפעילות מלאה לפעילות הכרחית בכל הארץ- ללא קיום פעילויות חינוכיות, ללא התקהלויות, ללא מקומות עבודה למעט משק חיוני.

המדיניות בתוקף החל מיום שבת, 28 בפברואר 2026, בשעה 08:00 ועד ליום שני, 2 במרץ 2026, בשעה 20:00. pic.twitter.com/7iGNnIMcVi

— פיקוד העורף (@PikudHaoref1) February 28, 2026

Pikud HaOref-tweet-28February2026-Home Front Command guidelines
In accordance with the situation assessment, the Home Front Command has decided to change the guidelines –
a shift from full activity to essential activity nationwide – without conducting educational activities, without gatherings, without workplaces except for essential services.

The policy is in effect starting from Saturday, February 28, 2026, at 08:00 until Monday, March 2, 2026, at 20:00.

Pikud HaOref-tweet-28February2026-Home Front Command guidelines

Home Front Command guidelines-ENG-28February2026

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1March2026-2 Days before Purim

🔦SPOTLIGHT: ONE OF THE PROUDEST JEWS

Under the sky, with sirens ringing out, Ben Goldstein steps forward and simply exudes what it means to be a proud Jew in the Land of Israel.

If you’re looking for inspiration, find Ben Goldstein and follow his channels. pic.twitter.com/bAf0x1tG68

— Mossad Commentary (@MOSSADil) March 1, 2026

Mossad Commentary-tweet-1March2026-2 Days before Purim
🔦SPOTLIGHT: ONE OF THE PROUDEST JEWS

Under the sky, with sirens ringing out, Ben Goldstein steps forward and simply exudes what it means to be a proud Jew in the Land of Israel.

If you’re looking for inspiration, find Ben Goldstein and follow his channels.

Mossad Commentary-tweet-1March2026-2 Days before Purim

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Nefesh B’Nefesh-We’re here for you

We’re here for you ❤️

Once again we find ourselves as a nation seeking safety from ongoing sirens throughout the country. It is important to know where to turn for our physical safety as well as emotional safety.

As always, the Answers team is here for you to listen, guide and… pic.twitter.com/n5afaQCDGs

— Nefesh B’Nefesh (@NefeshBNefesh) March 1, 2026

Nefesh B’Nefesh-tweet-1March2026-We’re here for you
We’re here for you ❤️

Once again we find ourselves as a nation seeking safety from ongoing sirens throughout the country. It is important to know where to turn for our physical safety as well as emotional safety.

As always, the Answers team is here for you to listen, guide and connect with emotional resources during this time. We can be reached from Sunday–Thursday 9 AM–5 PM at *3680 or answers@nbn.org.il.

Resources and support links: http://linktr.ee/nbn_aliyah

– @PikudHaoref1 (Home Front Command) should always be your first point of reference for public preparedness and safety. Phone: 104

– Natal Israel’s trauma center
– Eran Emotional crisis hotline

All Health Funds are offering emotional assistance:

Clalit – 03-7472010
Macabi – *3555
Leumit – 1700507507, *507
Meuhedet – *3833

Based on guidance from Dr. Yonit Schorr, a Clinical Psychologist in private practice in Jerusalem and former Clinical Research Psychologist at the Boston Veterans Hospital and National Center for PTSD, there are several ways to help yourself and your loved ones during stressful times. Emotions such as fear, anger, or feeling “numb” are normal reactions to stress, and sharing feelings can help reduce tension within families. The sound of sirens can naturally trigger panic, so modeling calm and explaining what is happening — especially to children — can help create a sense of security. It’s also important to listen without judgment, allowing both adults and children to express feelings and ask questions, even when there are no clear answers.

Families should try to limit exposure to anxiety-arousing media and focus only on reliable headlines, as repeated footage can increase distress, particularly for children. Keeping familiar routines, making time for simple comforting activities, and staying connected with others can help restore balance. As Dr. Schorr reminds us through the “oxygen mask” analogy, self-care is essential — rest when you can, exercise, eat nourishing meals, listen to music, take walks, call friends, and focus on what helps you stay physically and emotionally resilient.

NBN wishes you a safe and joyous Chag Purim!

Nefesh B’Nefesh-tweet-1March2026-We’re here for you

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2026 Jewish demographic momentum in Israel

12April2026 4:05 pm https://theettingerreport.com/2026-jewish-demographic-momentum-in-israel/

Ambassador (ret.) Yoram Ettinger, “Second Thought: a US-Israel Initiative” April 12, 2026

In 2025, the number of Israel’s Jewish births was 139,676 – 74% higher than 1995 (80,400), compared to 44,029 Arab births – 21% higher than 1995 (36,500).

In 2025, Jewish births were 76% of total births, compared to 69% in 1995. The surge of Jewish births has taken place due to the unprecedented rise of births (since 1995) in the secular sector, notwithstanding a rising level of education, income and wedding age and expanded urbanization. Since 1995, Israel’s ultra-orthodox sector has experienced a mild decrease of fertility, while the modern orthodox rate of fertility has been stable.

Israel fertility rate 1996-2025 Jew-Arab

In 1969, Israel’s Arab fertility rate was six births higher than the Jewish fertility rate. In 2024, Jewish fertility rate – 3.09; Israeli Muslims – 2.51.

Muslim fertility rate has been Westernized: Jordan (similar to West Bank Arabs) – 2.5 births per woman, Iran – 2, Saudi Arabia – 2.1, Morocco – 2.3, Iraq – 3.4, Egypt – 3, Yemen – 3.3, the United Arab Emirates – 13, etc.

Israel’s robust Jewish fertility rate reflects upbeat optimism, patriotism, attachment to roots, communal solidarity, frontier-mentality, less abortions and a traditional joy of having children. Arab demographic Westernization is attributed to sweeping urbanization, enhanced status of women (education, employment, rising wedding age, shorter reproductive period) and expanding use of contraceptives.

Israel fertility rate 1965-2025 Arab-Jew Arab birth rate decline

More information on mywebsite and in my recent video.

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Modi’in Illit family celebrates the birth of their 21st child

Modi’in Illit family celebrates the birth of their 21st child, all born as singletons. The eldest child is only 22, meaning the family has added nearly one child per year over two decades.

Israel National News / Published: 10March2026, 11:07 AM (GMT+2) / https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/423679

A well-known family in Modi’in Illit celebrated the birth of their 21st child yesterday (Monday) at Ma’ayanei HaYeshua Hospital in Bnei Brak.

The case is particularly unusual, as all 21 children were born as singletons, with no multiples among them.

According to the Haredi news channel HaPargod, the eldest child in the family is only 22 years old. This means that over just more than two decades, the family has welcomed nearly one child every year.

At present, all the children still live at home with their parents and are unmarried.

The family’s story has drawn significant attention in the neighborhood, mainly due to the sheer number of children and the fact that every birth was a singleton. Many local residents have already expressed willingness to assist the family with support and logistics during the early days following the birth.

While there have been a few reports in recent years of families with a similar number of children, those cases typically included multiple sets of twins. This family’s string of singleton births makes their case exceptionally rare.

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Newborn babies wrapped in life itself

Newborn babies at Beilinson Hospital were wrapped in blue and white as a reminder of what we are fighting for: life itself.

📸 @Beilinson_ENG pic.twitter.com/vrcNIuNfjm

— Israel ישראל (@Israel) March 8, 2026

Israel-tweet-8March2026-Newborn babies wrapped in life itself
Newborn babies at Beilinson Hospital were wrapped in blue and white as a reminder of what we are fighting for: life itself.

📸 @Beilinson_ENG

Israel-tweet-8March2026-Newborn babies wrapped in life itself

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Israeli hospitals moved underground

Israeli hospitals moved underground. This is a picture of civic responsibility. Take a lesson world. Underground is for civilians, not terrorists. pic.twitter.com/mJsa9q3k3H

— Inside_Israel_Intel (@inside_IL_intel) February 28, 2026

Inside_Israel_Intel-tweet-28February2026-Israeli hospitals moved underground
Israeli hospitals moved underground. This is a picture of civic responsibility. Take a lesson world. Underground is for civilians, not terrorists.

Inside_Israel_Intel-tweet-28February2026-Israeli hospitals moved underground

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Joy and stoicism in the bunkers of Tel Aviv

Joy and stoicism in the bunkers of Tel Aviv right now as Israelis await the incoming Iranain retaliation that everyone knew would come. Praying and singing. Booms in the background. pic.twitter.com/iG4Wr2ipNJ

— Saul Sadka (@Saul_Sadka) February 28, 2026

Saul Sadka-tweet-28February2026-Joy and stoicism in the bunkers of Tel Aviv
Joy and stoicism in the bunkers of Tel Aviv right now as Israelis await the incoming Iranain retaliation that everyone knew would come. Praying and singing. Booms in the background.

Saul Sadka-tweet-28February2026-Joy and stoicism in the bunkers of Tel Aviv

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A couple holds their wedding in an bomb shelter of Tel Aviv

🇮🇱 Resilience in Israel

As ballistic missiles from the Iranian regime are fired at Israeli cities and sirens sound, life goes on.
A couple holds their wedding in an underground parking lot converted into a bomb shelter.

Love will not be interrupted.
Mazel Tov! 💙 pic.twitter.com/N3c6vRGnWh

— StandWithUs (@StandWithUs) March 4, 2026

StandWithUs-tweet-4March2026-couple holds their wedding in an bomb shelter of Tel Aviv
🇮🇱 Resilience in Israel

As ballistic missiles from the Iranian regime are fired at Israeli cities and sirens sound, life goes on.
A couple holds their wedding in an underground parking lot converted into a bomb shelter.

Love will not be interrupted.
Mazel Tov! 💙

StandWithUs-tweet-4March2026-couple holds their wedding in an bomb shelter of Tel Aviv

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A BEAUTIFUL MESSAGE FROM AN ISRAELI PILOT TO THE CHILDREN

🇮🇱 A BEAUTIFUL MESSAGE FROM AN ISRAELI PILOT TO THE CHILDREN

An Israeli Air Force pilot recorded a message for children who may be sitting in protected rooms tonight.

“You’re not alone.
When I fly high above your homes, my entire mission is to protect you.

Maybe you’re in a… pic.twitter.com/HIay7lSXx5

— Mossad Commentary (@MOSSADil) March 1, 2026

Mossad Commentary-tweet-1March2026-A BEAUTIFUL MESSAGE FROM AN ISRAELI PILOT TO THE CHILDREN
🇮🇱 A BEAUTIFUL MESSAGE FROM AN ISRAELI PILOT TO THE CHILDREN

An Israeli Air Force pilot recorded a message for children who may be sitting in protected rooms tonight.

“You’re not alone.
When I fly high above your homes, my entire mission is to protect you.

Maybe you’re in a shelter right now. Maybe it’s a little scary.
But there are thousands of us doing everything we can to keep you safe.

When I’m in the cockpit, I think about your smiles, your games, the hugs you give your parents.

Every time you go into the safe room on time, you’re part of our team. Our team of heroes.

If your heart is beating fast, take a deep breath. Hold your brother or sister’s hand. Listen to a song you love.

And think of me flying above you, guarding the sky like an invisible shield surrounding you.”

He ends with:

“You are not alone. You are loved. You are protected. And I am here for you, even when you can’t see me.”

Mossad Commentary-tweet-1March2026-A BEAUTIFUL MESSAGE FROM AN ISRAELI PILOT TO THE CHILDREN

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Charlie Hebdo-10March2026-Iran-for a French supreme guide

Allons-nous manquer de guides suprêmes ?

👉 Dossier Municipales à Nantes : dépôt de bilan
👉 Iran : pour un guide suprême français
👉 Novlangue : la trumpisation de la science

En vente mercredi ! pic.twitter.com/BAPPcmMozA

— Charlie Hebdo (@Charlie_Hebdo_) March 10, 2026

Charlie Hebdo-tweet-10March2026-Iran-for a French supreme guide
Allons-nous manquer de guides suprêmes ?

👉 Dossier Municipales à Nantes : dépôt de bilan
👉 Iran : pour un guide suprême français
👉 Novlangue : la trumpisation de la science

En vente mercredi !
Translated from French
Are we running out of supreme guides?

👉 Municipal Elections in Nantes: filing for bankruptcy
👉 Iran: for a French supreme guide
👉 Novlangue: the Trumpification of science

On sale Wednesday!

Charlie Hebdo-tweet-10March2026-Iran-for a French supreme guide

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5 March 2026 at 10:27 am New York Time https://www.wsj.com/livecoverage/iran-us-israel-conflict-2026/card/russia-says-iran-conflict-not-our-war–O2B3TxlnWcvV5aoZjFOF

Russia Says Iran Conflict ‘Not Our War’

By Thomas Grove

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that Russia hadn’t received any official requests for aid from Iran and that Moscow had no intention of getting involved in the conflict, despite the close ties between the Kremlin and Tehran.

“It’s not our war,” he said on state television. “We’re seeing a constantly increasing number of countries that are being dragged into the conflict. We’re doing what corresponds to our interests.” Russia and Iran signed a strategic partnership last year and are united in trying to disrupt the U.S.-led order, but Moscow has largely stayed out of the conflict, publicly offering only support at the United Nations.

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“Iran Says School Massacre” and the Media Repeats: How a Regime Claim Became a Viral Headline

Key Takeaways: Iran’s state broadcaster, the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB), claimed that the U.S. had targeted the Shajareh Tayyebeh school. Western outlets soon picked up the story without attributing it to regime-backed media….

Sharon Levy 1March2026 6:37 pm< https://honestreporting.com/iran-says-and-the-media-repeats-from-regime-claim-to-viral-headline/

How a Regime Claim Became a Viral Headline

Key Takeaways:

Iran’s state broadcaster, the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB), claimed that the U.S. had targeted the Shajareh Tayyebeh school. Western outlets soon picked up the story without attributing it to regime-backed media.
The media omitted that the Iranian regime exploited the civilian infrastructure of the school as it was located in an IRGC complex and, therefore, was not the target of the strike.
The story spread rapidly without independent verification, illustrating how unconfirmed claims can go viral and shape international perception before facts are fully examined.

On Saturday, February 28, Israel and the U.S. launched a joint military operation against the Iranian regime, targeting senior leadership, including Supreme Leader Ali Hosseini Khamenei, and military commanders. The operation has also seen a significant targeting of military infrastructure, including air defense systems, missile launchers, and Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) command centers.

The Iranian regime, like its terrorist proxies Hamas and Hezbollah, has embedded its infrastructure within civilian locations. As protests broke out at the beginning of 2026, the movement of weapons and military equipment into protected civilian locations, such as schools and hospitals, was widely observed. This prompted Iranian civilians to take protective measures and warn one another of the dual use of protected spaces.

Geolocation/Correction/Additional Info:

1. Confirmed geolocation: The Imam Ali school in Arak, Iran (34.088253, 49.687137) @GeoConfirmed .
2. The photo is from as early as January 8th, 2026 – Per earliest reports it just depicts them as “Security forces”.
3. This school appears… https://t.co/6y7INfX8Fx pic.twitter.com/JWAZJ34bch

— Tal Hagin (@talhagin) January 27, 2026

Tal Hagin-tweet-27January2026-Geolocation-Correction-Additional Info
Geolocation/Correction/Additional Info:

1. Confirmed geolocation: The Imam Ali school in Arak, Iran (34.088253, 49.687137) @GeoConfirmed .
2. The photo is from as early as January 8th, 2026 – Per earliest reports it just depicts them as “Security forces”.
3. This school appears to have been used in the past as a staging ground for Tehran Riot Police, an example from 2022:
Throwback Iran-tweet-27January2026-
Straight out of Hamas playbook…

In preparation for a possible US strike, the regime in Iran has relocated its IRGC forces from official bases to SCHOOLS.

Theyre doing this to maximize civilian casualties (specifically children) for propaganda purposes.

Tal Hagin-tweet-27January2026-Geolocation-Correction-Additional Info

When the IDF targeted an IRGC compound in Minab, southern Iran, Iran’s state broadcaster, the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB), immediately claimed that the U.S. had purposefully targeted the Shajareh Tayyebeh school full of young girls. Al Jazeera soon published the story, blaming Israel for the deaths of children.

HonestReporting-instagram-1March2026

The Western media, without questioning the credibility of the source, immediately reported on the strike and followed Al Jazeera’s lead by holding Israel responsible. In doing so, the media further amplified and legitimized claims from the same regime that has spent the past two months executing its own civilians in the streets protesting for freedom.

The same outlets that included a caveat about their inability to independently verify the number of protesters killed by the regime were the same ones that published and continuously updated alleged casualty figures without any verification other than a regime source. This is not to say that innocent civilians may not have died in the strike, but they were certainly not the target of Israel or the U.S. Moreover, a civilian building was purposefully exploited by the Iranian regime, putting civilians in immediate danger.

1/
“Iran says,” and the media repeats. Without verification.

An evil regime that only weeks ago was killing its own people and covering it up is now trusted not to create false narratives against Israel?

Two and a half years of publishing Hamas propaganda, and the media still… https://t.co/sIVUMfGBp0

— HonestReporting (@HonestReporting) February 28, 2026

HonestReporting-tweet-28February2026-Iran says-and the media repeats Without verification
1/
“Iran says,” and the media repeats. Without verification.

An evil regime that only weeks ago was killing its own people and covering it up is now trusted not to create false narratives against Israel?

Two and a half years of publishing Hamas propaganda, and the media still haven’t learned. Does the al-Ahli hospital incident ring any bells?

Sadly, @Telegraph isn’t the only one. 🧵
The Telegraph-tweet-28February2026-
🚨 Fifty-one schoolgirls were killed and 60 were injured when a strike destroyed a girls’ elementary school in Minab, southern Iran, Iranian media has reported

Follow the latest ⬇️
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/03/02/raf-akrotiri-cyprus-drone-strike-us-israel-iran-war/

HonestReporting-tweet-28February2026-Iran says-and the media repeats Without verification

Analysis of the Strike

The school, reportedly intended to be for the children of military personnel, was built directly next to an IRGC naval base, according to anti-regime media. Independent geolocation analysts further indicated that the Shajareh Tayyebeh school was located in the same premises as the Sayyid al-Shohada barracks of the IRGC Navy’s Asef Brigade. While it remains unclear whether many civilians were present in the area at the time of the strike, witnesses have reported that the school was not targeted but rather the adjacent IRGC buildings, where missiles were reportedly being stored.

This information was, of course, omitted from IRIB’s reporting of the strike. As a result, when Western outlets covered the story, the school’s proximity to – and apparent integration with – an IRGC military complex was missing from the coverage.

And now more proof: reviewing maps and satellite images shows that the girls’ school “Shajareh Tayebeh of the IRGC Navy Minab” is located adjacent to and within the compound of several buildings belonging to the IRGC; including the “Martyr Absalan Clinic” belonging to the Medical… https://t.co/Np1MFP0hNL pic.twitter.com/hmMUxQJ1ho

— Emily Schrader – אמילי שריידר امیلی شریدر (@emilykschrader) February 28, 2026

Emily Schrader-tweet-F28ebruary2026-And now more proof
And now more proof: reviewing maps and satellite images shows that the girls’ school “Shajareh Tayebeh of the IRGC Navy Minab” is located adjacent to and within the compound of several buildings belonging to the IRGC; including the “Martyr Absalan Clinic” belonging to the Medical Command of the IRGC Navy and the “Seyyed al-Shohada Cultural Complex of the IRGC.”

Emily Schrader-tweet-28February2026-And now more proof

The Iranian Embassy in Austria continued with the disinformation campaign on behalf of the regime, sharing a now-viral image on X of a backpack that reportedly belongs to one of the schoolgirls killed in the strike. However, research analysts have found the photo to be AI-generated, as a Google Gemini watermark was detected hidden in the image.

The photo of the pink backpack being used here very likely isn’t real – but AI-generated.

This is both based on the glossy features of the image, which are currently common amongst AI models – As well as the detection of a Google Gemini watermark imbedded in the image: https://t.co/jGANvierX8 pic.twitter.com/8eqFAX15Mc

— Tal Hagin (@talhagin) March 1, 2026

Tal Hagin-tweet-1March2026-The photo AI-generated
The photo of the pink backpack being used here very likely isn’t real – but AI-generated.

This is both based on the glossy features of the image, which are currently common amongst AI models – As well as the detection of a Google Gemini watermark imbedded in the image:

Tal Hagin-tweet-1March2026-The photo AI-generated

Adding to the uncertainty surrounding the already disputed casualty figures, basic questions remain unanswered, most notably who exactly was killed in the strike. As of the time of writing, The Telegraph reported 165 casualties, including 81 pupils, citing Iranian sources. That leaves 84 individuals not identified in the public breakdown. And given that the school was located within an IRGC compound, it is legitimate to ask whether any of the remaining casualties were affiliated with the regime, a distinction that has not been clarified.

The Minab school story is getting increasingly weird.
The latest claim is that 165 people were supposedly killed in the strike, yet only 81 are described as pupils – less than half of the total.
Which raises an obvious question: who were the 84 adults supposedly killed there? https://t.co/qj7N8taKQu pic.twitter.com/skCpD5L1bD

— Mark Zlochin – מארק זלוצ’ין༝ (@MarkZlochin) March 1, 2026

Mark Zlochin-tweet-1March2026-story is getting increasingly weird
The Minab school story is getting increasingly weird.
The latest claim is that 165 people were supposedly killed in the strike, yet only 81 are described as pupils – less than half of the total.
Which raises an obvious question: who were the 84 adults supposedly killed there?

Mark Zlochin-tweet-1March2026-story is getting increasingly weird

The disinformation does not stop at pro-regime sources. A widely-circulated photograph online purported to show a misfired IRGC missile that had fallen inside Iranian territory and struck the school, shifting the blame onto the Iranian regime. However, independent analysts found that the school was located more than 1,000 kilometers from where the photo was taken. They also show that the structure in the photograph faced a direction inconsistent with the alleged missile trajectory, making it unlikely that the image depicted the Shajareh Tayyebeh school.

An image from Zanjan falsely used to claim that a misfired IRGC ballistic missile was what hit the Minab girls school.

Location [POV]: 36.684951, 48.488164
MFMQ+X7M Zanjan, Zanjan Province, Iran@GeoConfirmed @FaytuksNetwork

Geolocated with @talhagin https://t.co/bI9bsjiYyQ pic.twitter.com/l3zMnUMabh

— Stinky (@Stinky915846091) February 28, 2026

Stinky-tweet-28February2026-image from Zanjan falsely used
An image from Zanjan falsely used to claim that a misfired IRGC ballistic missile was what hit the Minab girls school.

Location [POV]: 36.684951, 48.488164
MFMQ+X7M Zanjan, Zanjan Province, Iran
@GeoConfirmed @FaytuksNetwork

Geolocated with @talhagin

Stinky-tweet-28February2026-image from Zanjan falsely used

The Iranian regime has taken a page out of Hamas’ notebook. For the past two and a half years, Hamas has made exaggerated and false claims, which the media repeatedly amplified before doing their own due diligence. Corrections, when they came, rarely traveled as far as the original headlines. That same cycle of rapid accusation, viral spread, and delayed scrutiny is now playing out in Iran.

The nature of war between Israel and the Iranian regime means that vast amounts of information are released in real time, often before facts can be fully verified. When reporting omits key context or relies heavily on regime-affiliated sources, narratives can solidify before the truth has a chance to catch up, leaving the public with a distorted understanding of events.

In a time of instantaneous reporting and with clear evidence that narratives are being deliberately shaped for strategic purposes, rigorous scrutiny by the media is essential to ensure the truth prevails.

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What needs to be done.

Dramatic: cleared for publication – tonight an Iranian missile struck the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem.

In Israel, there are already those calling on Bibi to allow the construction of the Temple. pic.twitter.com/ytYVNxSHyC

— daniel hanuka📟 🇮🇱 (@LionsOfZion_ORG) March 3, 2026

daniel hanuka-tweet-3March2026-Iranian missile struck Al Aqsa Mosque
Dramatic: cleared for publication – tonight an Iranian missile struck the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem.

In Israel, there are already those calling on Bibi to allow the construction of the Temple.

daniel hanuka-tweet-3March2026-Iranian missile struck Al Aqsa Mosque

Israel-Haters Furious Over Al-Aqsa Closure During Iran War

David Lange – 3March2026 – https://www.israellycool.com/2026/03/03/israel-haters-furious-over-al-aqsa-closure-during-iran-war/

Israel-haters are furious because it is a day ending in Y and Israel still exists. But also over something more specific: Israel closed al-Aqsa Mosque.

Israel has closed al-Aqsa Mosque for the third consecutive day, preventing Palestinian Muslims from praying at the site during the holy month of Ramadan, in what has been described as an unprecedented violation.

Palestinians warn that the move forms part of a broader Israeli strategy to exploit security tensions to impose further restrictions and consolidate control over al-Aqsa Mosque.

The closure comes under what Israeli authorities describe as a state of emergency following its launch of a war with Iran on Saturday.

The mosque, located in occupied East Jerusalem, will remain shut until further notice, with only essential activity permitted.

Sheikh Ikrima Sabri, the former grand mufti of Jerusalem and one of al-Aqsa’s senior imams, condemned the “unjustified” decision.

He told Al Jazeera the closure “signifies police control under the pretext of security”.

“It contravenes freedom of worship and suggests that the occupation authorities are asserting control over the mosque and stripping the Islamic Waqf of its authority to administer it.”

The closure during Ramadan is unprecedented in recent memory, as al-Aqsa Mosque is rarely shut to worshippers.

That’s right. Israel closed al-Aqsa Mosque because rockets have been raining down on Israel. There is no pretext – it are facts. The same emergency regulations apply to synagogues. To public events. To everyone – which has put a hell of a dampener on Purim this year, let me tell you!

Yet here we have the haters essentially complaining about the fact we are protecting Muslims – including the ones who hate us – essentially from themselves.

The same report inadvertently reinforces this by mentioning other occasions we closed the site:

Israeli forces briefly closed the site in 2014 and again in 2017 amid heightened tensions in Jerusalem. In 2014, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas described the move as a “declaration of war”.

The mosque was also closed during the Covid-19 pandemic on public health grounds. Aside from that period, no prolonged closure had been recorded since Israel’s occupation of East Jerusalem in 1967.

However, Israel shut the site during the 12-day war with Iran in June, a move many Palestinians viewed as unprecedented at the time.

What makes this complaint even more ridiculous? It was made even after this happened:

The warhead of an Iranian missile hit a site just several dozen meters from the Old City of Jerusalem, and just several hundred meters from the Western Wall and the Temple Mount, during the course of Saturday, police announced on Sunday.

According to police, an explosion was heard and smoke was seen rising from a site just west of the Old City on Saturday morning, shortly after the beginning of the latest armed conflict with Iran.

—

The Old City of Jerusalem includes some of the most important holy sites in the world, including the Western Wall and the Temple Mount, the holiest sites in the world for Jews; as well as the al-Aqsa Mosque, one of the holiest sites in Islam; and the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, believed by Christians to be the site of the crucifixion of Jesus.

Israel is protecting the site from the very people who claim to be its “defenders” in Tehran. Not that these particular people we are protecting likely appreciate it. In fact, I suspect most, if not all, of them are praying for more rockets.

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Elder of Ziyon logo http://elderofziyon.blogspot.com/

11March2026 Elder of Ziyon https://elderofziyon.blogspot.com/2026/03/jordan-complains-al-aqsa-is-closed-for.html

Jordan complains Al Aqsa is closed for the war. But the Kotel is closed, too.

The Jordanian Foreign Ministry issued a press release condemning Israel for closing Al Aqsa Mosque during the war, calling it ” a clear violation of international law and international humanitarian law.”

The official spokesman on behalf of the Ministry, Ambassador Fouad Al-Majali, confirmed that the absolute kingdom rejected and denial of this illegal and unjustified action, and for the Israeli authorities to continue its provocative actions in the Holy Al-Aqsa Mosque / Holy Holy Haram and towards the worshippers, stressing that Israel has no sovereignty over the occupied city of Jerusalem and its Islamic and Christian sanctities.

This is a lie. Even if you consider Israel to be an occupier of Jerusalem, it is responsible for to “ensure, as far as possible, public order and safety,” under international law as codified in the Hague Regulations article 43.

Arab media is falsely claiming that Israel has no restrictions on Jews in Jerusalem. Palestine Today says “Jerusalemites confirm that these measures are applied only to the Al-Aqsa Mosque, while life continues normally in the rest of the city, including markets and public areas.”

Again, a lie. Here is a screenshot of what the Kotel looks like today from its live camera.

kotel closed

Israel restricts all gatherings of more than 50 people unless they can easily reach a shelter quickly.

As much as the Jordanians and Palestinians pretend that Israel is discriminating against Muslims and Christians, the facts always show them to be liars.

Old City Jerusalem under missile attack

The Iranian regime is firing missiles at Jerusalem, Israel’s capital.
One of them struck a few hundred meters from the Old City, the Western Wall, Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.

Protecting lives & worshippers’ safety comes first. That is why prayer at all… pic.twitter.com/9xh6SEARmA

— Israel Foreign Ministry (@IsraelMFA) March 12, 2026

Israel Foreign Ministry-tweet-12March2026-Old City Jerusalem under missile attack
The Iranian regime is firing missiles at Jerusalem, Israel’s capital.
One of them struck a few hundred meters from the Old City, the Western Wall, Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.

Protecting lives & worshippers’ safety comes first. That is why prayer at all holy sites has been temporarily suspended.

Israel Foreign Ministry-tweet-12March2026-Old City Jerusalem under missile attack

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the Islamic Republic has launched missile strikes aimed against civilians in 7 different countries over the past 48 hours.

the Islamic Republic has launched missile strikes aimed against civilians in 7 different countries over the past 48 hours. pic.twitter.com/h1SHk3982T

— Israel Foreign Ministry (@IsraelMFA) March 1, 2026

Israel Foreign Ministry-tweet-1March2026-Iran attacked 7 countries
the Islamic Republic has launched missile strikes aimed against civilians in 7 different countries over the past 48 hours.

Israel Foreign Ministry-tweet-1March2026-Iran attacked 7 countries

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Map-Europe within range of Iranian missiles-21March2026

pic.twitter.com/2bOCV7rePc

— amir s (@amir_persian_) March 22, 2026

Mossad Commentary-tweet-22March2026-Europe within range of Iranian missiles
Iran has demonstrated a range of at least 4,000km for their ballistic missiles.

Practically all of Europe is within Iran’s range.

Will Europe wake up now? Or will they wait to get hit?

(Map: ISW)

Mossad Commentary-tweet-22March2026-Europe within range of Iranian missiles

Map-Europe within range of Iranian missiles-21March2026

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UK has no defences to stop Iranian missiles and would be forced to rely on US and Europe to stop them as it’s revealed they can now hit London

By GLEN OWEN POLITICAL EDITOR
Published: 00:39 GMT, 22 March 2026 | Updated: 07:04 GMT, 22 March 2026 | https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-15668053/UK-defences-Iranian-missiles-rely-US-Europe-stop-London.html

Britain would be forced to rely on American missile defence systems stationed in Europe if Iran launched a rocket attack on the UK similar to the one attempted on Diego Garcia this weekend.

The warning came after Tehran fired two ballistic missiles on Friday night towards the base in the Indian Ocean, which is jointly operated by the US and the UK.

The island lies 2,360 miles from Iran, well beyond the 1,240 miles which was thought to be the outer limit of the regime’s reach.

It potentially puts Paris, 2,609 miles away, and even London – 2,750 miles – within Iran’s range if, as some strategists fear, the country uses its Simorgh space launch technology to extend its missile range. RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus is just 1,000 miles from Tehran.

And Israel warned last night that that Iran’s new missile can hit Europe.

IDF chief of staff, Lt Gen Eyal Zamir, in a video released on Saturday night. said: ‘Iran launched a two-stage intercontinental ballistic missile with a range of 4,000km towards an American target on the island of Diego Garcia.

‘The missiles were not intended to hit Israel. Their range reaches the capitals of Europe. Berlin, Paris and Rome are all within direct threat range.’ The IDF later added that London is also in range.

Steve Prest, a retired Royal Navy commodore, said: ‘Ballistic missiles are space rockets. They launch, they go really high up and they come down really fast. If you’ve got a space programme, you’ve got a ballistic missile programme.’

In a ballistic attack, defence experts say Britain would be forced to rely on American SM-3 defence systems stationed across Eastern Europe, or the Patriot missiles used by the Germans, to intercept rockets.

The attempted strike on Diego Garcia came as Sir Keir Starmer extended permission for the US to use British bases to launch attacks on the Strait of Hormuz to protect shipping from Iranian assaults.

Neither of the missiles fired at Diego Garcia hit their target, with one believed to have been shot down by a US warship’s SM-3 interceptor and the other failing in flight.

Diego Garcia-Khorramshahr-4 missile

Tory leader Kemi Badenoch accused Sir Keir of covering up the attempted attack on Diego Garcia, saying the Prime Minister needed to ‘come clean’ over the details of the launch.

Government sources confirmed the attack happened before an official statement later said it had allowed the US military to launch strikes on Iran from the island base to help to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. This came as:

The US used ‘bunker buster’ bombs in a reported attack on Iran’s Natanz nuclear enrichment facility. The munition was designed to be dropped from B-2 stealth bombers to destroy targets up to 200ft underground;
The American military claimed that Tehran’s ability to threaten ships passing through the Straits of Hormuz had been ‘degraded’;
The UAE released a joint statement from 22 countries, including Britain, France, Germany, Bahrain and Australia, demanding that Tehran reopen the Straits of Hormuz to shipping;
Prices of vegetables in supermarkets could rise within weeks as the war in Iran makes the cost of fertiliser and energy soar;
Holidaymakers were scrambling to book flights and switch destinations to avoid the threat of spiralling fares and disruption caused by the war;
Motorists could face a 1970s-style 50mph speed limit in an attempt to save fuel under emergency plans;
Sir Keir promised Cyprus that the British airbase on the island will not be used by the Americans to strike Iran.

The Prime Minister spoke to Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides and made a commitment that RAF Akrotiri would not be involved in his agreement with Mr Trump on the use of British bases in the war.

This comes after Mr Christodoulides warned last week that when the war finishes, he will demand negotiations about the future of Britain’s ‘colonial’ military bases on the island.

General Sir Richard Barrons, a former Commander in Chief of British forces, said on Saturday that Iran’s power may have been ‘serially underestimated’.

General Sir Richard, who headed the UK’s Joint Forces Command between 2013 and 2016, said it was previously thought that ‘Iran’s missiles had a range of only 2,000 kilometres [1,240 miles] and Diego Garcia is 3,800 kilometres [2,360 miles] away from Iran’.

He was responding to questions over whether Mr Trump was right to say Britain had done ‘too little and too late’ or whether opponents of the war were correct that the UK had been sucked into an American war.

Meanwhile, vegetable prices could rise within weeks as the cost of fertiliser and energy surges, said National Farmers Union president Tom Bradshaw.

He said Britain no longer had the ability to make fertiliser domestically and was ‘absolutely at the mercy of world markets’.

The Middle East is a key supplier of ingredients used to make fertiliser. Most of these pass through the Strait of Hormuz, which has been blocked by Iran, causing prices to spiral as farmers scramble to buy limited supplies as spring planting season looming.

Prices of imported goods are likely to rise immediately because of higher transport costs, said Mr Bradshaw, adding that increases for other foods would begin to appear in coming weeks.

He added: ‘For vegetables grown in heated greenhouses, such as cucumbers, peppers and tomatoes, it will be over the next month to six weeks that we will see those cost increases coming through to the retailer.’

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UAE dismantles Hezbollah-Iran terror network

UAE authorities dismantle a Hezbollah-Iran backed terror network, citing money laundering and national security threats.

Israel National News / Published: 20March2026, 3:23 AM (GMT+2) https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/424272

Authorities in the United Arab Emirates announced on Thursday the dismantling of a terrorist network which they said was funded and operated by Hezbollah and Iran, Reuters reported.

The network was reportedly involved in money laundering, financing terrorism, and posing a threat to national security.

According to the UAE state news agency, the arrested members of the network were working under the guise of a commercial enterprise, aiming to infiltrate the national economy and destabilize the country’s financial stability.

There has been no immediate response from either Hezbollah or Iran regarding the claims.

The UAE has been a key target in Iran’s ongoing missile and drone attacks since the US-Israel war on Iran began in late February. Emirati officials have confirmed that hundreds of strikes have targeted the country, damaging vital infrastructure such as oil facilities, ports, and regions near major urban centers.

Thursday’s announcement comes a day after Kuwait announced the second set of arrests this week involving a group of 10 Kuwaiti nationals allegedly linked to the Hezbollah terrorist organization.

According to the Ministry of Interior, the group had planned to target vital facilities in Kuwait as part of a larger plot aimed at destabilizing the Gulf state.

The suspects, who had trained in camps abroad linked to Hezbollah, are accused of coordinating with external operatives to gather coordinates of key sites in Kuwait. The ministry confirmed that the suspects provided detailed confessions following their arrests.

This announcement comes after the earlier arrests this week of 14 Kuwaiti nationals and two Lebanese citizens, who were also linked to Hezbollah. These individuals were allegedly involved in efforts to undermine the stability of the country.

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How-to achieve aerial superiority over a terrorist regime

Watch this video for a how-to achieve aerial superiority over a terrorist regime: https://t.co/KF3pkcHfjQ

— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) March 1, 2026

Israel Defense Forces-tweet-1March2026-How-to achieve aerial superiority
Watch this video for a how-to achieve aerial superiority over a terrorist regime:
LTC Nadav Shoshani-tweet-1March2026-
‼️ The video outlines the phases of the operation: targeting air defense systems and missile launchers in western Iran, then paving the way toward Tehran and establishing aerial superiority over the capital.

Israel Defense Forces-tweet-1March2026-How-to achieve aerial superiority

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DAVID’S SLING

🚨 LAST MINUTE UPGRADE:
DAVID’S SLING

Just weeks before fighting with Iran escalated, Israel completed major upgrades to the David’s Sling missile defense system.

Officials say the enhancements significantly improved its ability to intercept complex ballistic and cruise… pic.twitter.com/uBsS5dNdTv

— Mossad Commentary (@MOSSADil) March 2, 2026

Mossad Commentary-tweet-2March2026-DAVID’S SLING
🚨 LAST MINUTE UPGRADE:
DAVID’S SLING

Just weeks before fighting with Iran escalated, Israel completed major upgrades to the David’s Sling missile defense system.

Officials say the enhancements significantly improved its ability to intercept complex ballistic and cruise missile threats.

Stay connected, follow, subscribe @MOSSADil

Mossad Commentary-tweet-2March2026-DAVID’S SLING

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ISRAELI DEFENSE INDUSTRIES demonstration in Tehran

pic.twitter.com/RMmxLNsive

— Zack Mydik 🎗️ (@ZuckMydikAgain) March 1, 2026

Dr. Eli David-tweet-1March2026-ISRAELI DEFENSE INDUSTRIES demonstration in Tehran
ISRAELI DEFENSE INDUSTRIES announcement:
TO ALL OUR CLIENTS WORLDWIDE
Following the decision of the French government to restrict our participaton at the paris Air Show – we have decied to transfer the demonstration to Tehran.
YOU ARE ALL WELCOME TO VIEW OUR PRODUCTS.
Zack Mydik-tweet-1March2026
Anyone else who wants to fck with us please take a number and we will be with you shortly

Dr. Eli David-tweet-1March2026-ISRAELI DEFENSE INDUSTRIES demonstration in Tehran

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France turns on Israel, puts it’s own citizens at risk

🚨 FRANCE TURNS ON ISRAEL, PUTS ITS OWN CITIZENS AT RISK

Israel has had enough of French stupidity.

After defense restrictions, exhibition bans, and backing an arms embargo at the UN, Jerusalem is now reportedly cutting off defense procurement from France.

All this comes at a… pic.twitter.com/a4jx52a5e2

— Mossad Commentary (@MOSSADil) March 31, 2026

Mossad Commentary-tweet-31March2026-France turns on Israel, puts it’s own citizens at risk
🚨 FRANCE TURNS ON ISRAEL, PUTS ITS OWN CITIZENS AT RISK

Israel has had enough of French stupidity.

After defense restrictions, exhibition bans, and backing an arms embargo at the UN, Jerusalem is now reportedly cutting off defense procurement from France.

All this comes at a time when countries around the world are lining up after seeing the effectiveness of Israeli defense systems.

France is moving in the opposite direction.

At the very moment Europe faces growing threats — from Russia externally and instability internally — Paris is choosing to distance itself from one of the few countries actively confronting those same dangers.

Instead of strengthening cooperation in defense and intelligence, it is creating distance.

That has consequences. Less on Israel, more on the safety and security of the French people.

Israel will not fund or rely on partners whose policies undermine its security while it is actively at war.

This marks more than a policy shift.
It signals a new phase in Israel’s relationship with parts of Europe.

A message not just to France, but to others:
Israel is not a doormat.

Stay connected, follow @MOSSADil

Mossad Commentary-tweet-31March2026-France turns on Israel, puts it’s own citizens at risk

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IDF begins ground operation in Lebanon

IDF forces take up forward positions in Lebanese territory, aiming to provide additional layer of security for residents of northern Israel.

Yoni Kempinski / 3March2026, 9:25 AM (GMT+2) / https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/423289

IDF forces have crossed the border into Lebanon to take “forward offensive” positions in southern Lebanese territory.

The forces are operating in southern Lebanon and took control of multiple position in order to create an additional layer of security for residents of northern Israel.

“In parallel to IDF activity as part of Operation ‘Roaring Lion’, IDF soldiers are operating in southern Lebanon and are positioned at several points near the border area as part of an enhanced forward defense posture,” the IDF announced Tuesday morning.

“The IDF is working to create an additional layer of security for residents of northern Israel. The IDF is conducting targeted strikes against Hezbollah terrorist infrastructure in order to remove threats and prevent infiltration attempts into Israeli territory.

“The Hezbollah terrorist organization chose to attack Israel on behalf of the Iranian regime, and it will bear the consequences of its actions. The IDF will not allow harm to Israeli civilians, and will continue to act to defend the State of Israel and its citizens.”

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz commented, “Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and I have authorized the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) to advance and take control of additional strategic positions in Lebanon in order to prevent attacks on Israeli border communities.”

“The IDF continues to operate forcefully against Hezbollah targets in Lebanon. The terrorist organization is paying, and will continue to pay, a heavy price for firing at Israel.

“To prevent the possibility of direct fire targeting Israeli communities, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and I have authorized the IDF to advance and secure additional strategic areas in Lebanon, and from there to defend the border communities.

“We promised security for the communities of the Galilee, and that is what we will deliver,” he concluded.

Earlier on Tuesday, the Hezbollah terror group launched 15 rockets towards the Golan Heights and five to the Upper Galilee, as well as two UAVs which were intercepted over the Western Galilee.

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Lebanon government outlaws Hezbollah

Clans of Baalbek no Hezbollah

🚨 LEBANON: RAMP TO “HOSTING” HEZBOLLAH
The clans of Baalbek have issued a statement backing the Lebanese government’s position that sovereignty means no non-state weapons on Lebanese soil.

They expressed support for ending the use of Lebanon as a platform for foreign agendas.… pic.twitter.com/q2PCWw0tqi

— Mossad Commentary (@MOSSADil) March 2, 2026

Lebanon government outlaws Hezbollah

Lebanon’s government says the decision to outlaw Hezbollah’s military activity and to disarm the group is final, and the armed forces have been authorized to execute that decision. pic.twitter.com/IcnQrgacJt

— Mossad Commentary (@MOSSADil) March 3, 2026

Mossad Commentary-tweet-2March2026-Clans of Baalbek no Hezbollah
🚨 LEBANON: RAMP TO “HOSTING” HEZBOLLAH
The clans of Baalbek have issued a statement backing the Lebanese government’s position that sovereignty means no non-state weapons on Lebanese soil.

They expressed support for ending the use of Lebanon as a platform for foreign agendas.

For years, Hezbollah’s arms have defined Lebanon’s reality.

Now, voices inside the country are signaling there may be an offramp.

The question is whether Beirut will take it.
Mossad Commentary-tweet-3March2026-Lebanon government outlaws Hezbollah
Lebanon’s government says the decision to outlaw Hezbollah’s military activity and to disarm the group is final, and the armed forces have been authorized to execute that decision.

Mossad Commentary-tweet-2March2026-Clans of Baalbek no Hezbollah

Mossad Commentary-tweet-3March2026-Lebanon government outlaws Hezbollah

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THE LARGEST MILITARY FLYOVER IN IDF HISTORY

🛩️THE LARGEST MILITARY FLYOVER IN IDF HISTORY:

~200 IAF jets completed a broad strike against the missile array and the aerial defense systems of the IRGC in western and central Iran.

500+ targets hit, including aerial defense systems & missile launchers in several locations… pic.twitter.com/PVOuzlOekj

— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) February 28, 2026

Israel Defense Forces-tweet-28February2026-THE LARGEST MILITARY FLYOVER IN IDF HISTORY
🛩️THE LARGEST MILITARY FLYOVER IN IDF HISTORY:

~200 IAF jets completed a broad strike against the missile array and the aerial defense systems of the IRGC in western and central Iran.

500+ targets hit, including aerial defense systems & missile launchers in several locations throughout Iran simultaneously.

Conducted following precise planning with excellent intelligence, while synchronizing hundreds of fighter jets, the strikes allowed the expansion of the IAF’s aerial superiority over Iranian air space.

Israel Defense Forces-tweet-28February2026-THE LARGEST MILITARY FLYOVER IN IDF HISTORY

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Iranian lies

🚫The Iranian regime claims to have killed 50 U.S. service members. LIE.
✅There have been no reported U.S. casualties.

🚫The IRGC claims that a U.S. Navy ship was struck by missiles. LIE.
✅No U.S. Navy ship has been struck. The Armada is fully operational.

🚫The Iranian… pic.twitter.com/qGsZ45EmzD

— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) February 28, 2026

U.S. Central Command-tweet-28February2026-Iranian lies
🚫The Iranian regime claims to have killed 50 U.S. service members. LIE.
✅There have been no reported U.S. casualties.

🚫The IRGC claims that a U.S. Navy ship was struck by missiles. LIE.
✅No U.S. Navy ship has been struck. The Armada is fully operational.

🚫The Iranian regime is claiming severe damage at multiple U.S. bases. LIE.
✅Damage to U.S. installations was minimal and has not impacted operations.

U.S. Central Command-tweet-28February2026-Iranian lies

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Iranian Neighborliness IRAN’S REGIONAL DIPLOMACY

💥 IRAN’S REGIONAL DIPLOMACY 💥

Distribution of 3,403 missiles and drones across the Middle East:

🇦🇪 UAE — 1,737 (51%)
🇰🇼 Kuwait — 332 (9.8%)
🇮🇱 Israel — 330 (9.7%)
🇴🇲 Oman — 297 (8.7%)
🇧🇭 Bahrain — 273 (8%)
🇶🇦 Qatar — 164 (4.8%)
🇯🇴 Jordan — 119 (3.5%)
🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia — 86… pic.twitter.com/aF8deNZEIL

— Mossad Commentary (@MOSSADil) March 13, 2026

Mossad Commentary-tweet-13March2026-IRAN’S REGIONAL DIPLOMACY
💥 IRAN’S REGIONAL DIPLOMACY 💥

Distribution of 3,403 missiles and drones across the Middle East:

🇦🇪 UAE — 1,737 (51%)
🇰🇼 Kuwait — 332 (9.8%)
🇮🇱 Israel — 330 (9.7%)
🇴🇲 Oman — 297 (8.7%)
🇧🇭 Bahrain — 273 (8%)
🇶🇦 Qatar — 164 (4.8%)
🇯🇴 Jordan — 119 (3.5%)
🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia — 86 (2.5%)
🇮🇶 Iraq — 60 (1.8%)

Weapons used:
🚀 1,209 ballistic missiles
🛸 2,194 drones

Boost the algorithm: Bookmark, Share, Reply, Repost, Like and Follow @Mossadil

Mossad Commentary-tweet-13March2026-IRAN’S REGIONAL DIPLOMACY

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Security official: Half of the Missiles from Iran had cluster warheads

A security source reveals that about half of the missiles launched from Iran since the beginning of the war had a cluster warhead.

Israel National News / Published: 10March2026, 5:01 PM (GMT+2) / https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/423698

remains of an Iranian missile-Spokesperson

A security official revealed that about half of the missiles launched from Iran since the beginning of the war carried a cluster-type warhead.

According to the official, these warheads are particularly dangerous. “This is a bomb that can cause extensive damage. Following the safety instructions is critical. It is not hundreds of kilograms of explosives concentrated in one place, but rather spreads across an area of roughly 10 kilometers, which requires a great deal of responsibility from civilians. It kills. Interception debris from regular missiles as well as from large missiles is lethal,” the official said.

Military sources noted that the launches from Iran in recent days have been aimed at population centers, military bases, and national infrastructure, and that the regime in Tehran seeks to harm as many civilians as possible.

According to them, at the moment, it does not appear that Hezbollah and Iran are scheduling and coordinating their attacks against Israel. They noted that the assessments are that Iran is firing small volleys – and would have been interested in coordinating larger, coordinated volleys from several locations across the country at the same time – but is not succeeding in doing so.

Iran uses Cluster Bombs to target Civilians

See, up-close, the cluster munitions used against Israel

🎥 WATCH: See, up-close, the cluster munitions used against Israel.

Stay connected, follow @MOSSADil. pic.twitter.com/e6B51jsu2T

— Mossad Commentary (@MOSSADil) March 13, 2026

Mossad Commentary-tweet-13March2026-luster munitions used against Israel
🎥 WATCH: See, up-close, the cluster munitions used against Israel.

Stay connected, follow @MOSSADil.

Mossad Commentary-tweet-13March2026-luster munitions used against Israel

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Missile attack on Beit Shemesh killed 9 civilians including 4 children

The photograph you shared is of a missile attack that killed 9 civilians including 4 children in Beit Shemesh.

Your laughter is noted. pic.twitter.com/pqAuWJcxxr

— The Mossad: Satirical and Awesome (@TheMossadIL) March 10, 2026

The Mossad: Satirical and Awesome-tweet-10March2026-Missile attack on Beit Shemesh killed 9
The photograph you shared is of a missile attack that killed 9 civilians including 4 children in Beit Shemesh.

Your laughter is noted.