As Israel launches new virus curbs Thursday night, roadblocks will be set up on highways and in cities, but officials tell paper police won't close Haredi schools that defy rules

Yaakov Kanievsky pushes back on criticism of Chaim Kanievsky's order to keep schools open despite lockdown, as he 'believes that the Jewish people have no existence without Torah'

Leader of Lithuanian branch of Haredi Judaism, 92, criticized for leadership in pandemic, experienced worsening of his condition after contracting COVID-19 in early October

Edelstein vows to do what he can to crack down on ultra--Orthodox schools continuing to open illegally; Bnei Brak deputy mayor says city will not comply with rules

Moshe Gafni says he made issue 'clear' to Netanyahu during conversation; health minister warns schools breaching lockdown may be fined, lose licenses

Ronni Gamzu said to make great efforts to dissuade experts, while internally warning that illegal opening of Torah institutions could serve a crushing blow to public trust

Move comes after top rabbi ordered classes to resume; ministers call for defunding institutions that reopened, while ultra-Orthodox express fury at Netanyahu

PM says rules will be enforced, calls on Haredi community to heed regulations, after top ultra-Orthodox leader instructs boys' schools to resume teaching despite ban

Ronni Gamzu urges Israelis to keep to the health guidelines, says complacency could take cities backwards as country prepares to roll back restrictions amid fears of repeated chaos

Top ultra-Orthodox leader, himself sick with COVID, backtracks on ruling that defied national virus rules; reportedly came under pressure to rethink from Ponevezh Yeshiva head