More than 1 million people from more than 1,500 cities in more than 100 countries are expected to celebrate Shabbos in some fashion this weekend as part of the 12th annual Shabbos Project, which describes itself as “a global grassroots movement uniting Jews of all backgrounds and levels of observance to experience one full Shabbos together in unity.”
“Looking back on this past year, it began with us being pounded like the sand on the shore. Tremendous pain and suffering persists. The hostages are still captive, brave IDF troops continue to fight and many families mourn fallen soldiers and those who were murdered,” Warren Goldstein, the chief rabbi of South Africa who founded the project in 2013, told JNS.

On Thursday, the IDF said it is issuing 1,000 Charedi draft notices, as a first round of the 7,000 total Charedi notices the IDF will be sending out over the next two months.
In the coming days, Maj. Gen. Dado Bar Kalifa will be replacing Maj. Gen. Yaniv Asur as the IDF’s head of human resources, and will lead up the Charedi draft issue.
This past summer, the IDF sent out 3,000 draft notices to Charedim, but only about 300 people who received the notices ended up drafting.  The army had selected the 3,000 based on who would be more likely to join, and received signals implying 50% would join.  However, community pressure, including Charedim blocking induction centers on draft day, ultimately resulted in only 10% of those who received notices joining the IDF.

The Israeli Attorney General, Gali Baharav-Miara, commented on the enforcement of the decision regarding the conscription of chareidi yeshiva students, stating that “the security establishment’s plan to send 7,000 draft orders to chareidim starting Sunday must be implemented immediately and continued throughout the coming months.”
Baharav-Miara emphasized that “the ruling must be implemented in order to comply with the law and the ruling of the High Court of Justice.”

Dear Matzav Inbox,
I write with frustration over a glaring inconsistency within the frum media landscape, one that is far too blatant to ignore any longer. It is beyond time for us to face this uncomfortable truth: While print publications like Yated, Hamodia, Ami, and Mishpacha have consistently and commendably chosen to exercise sensitivity toward their readership by not publishing images of women, the leading frum online news outlets, such as Matzav and Yeshiva World, are doing the exact opposite.

Yeshivas Zahav Mordechai – Itri, located in the Beit Safafa neighborhood of Yerushalayim, primarily enrolls talmidim from religious high schools who transitioned to the yeshiva. Recently, with the issuance of draft notices, significant efforts have been made to ensure these talmidim do not report to the recruitment offices, in line with other bochurim in the Torah world.
Monday morning, journalist Yoely Brim revealed on Galei Tzahal in a discussion with Yair Kuzin and Ariel Kahana that a major controversy has erupted within the yeshiva. According to the report, the IDF has been arranging secret, individual agreements with chareidi yeshiva bochurim, unbeknownst to the yeshivas and their rabbeim.

All are asked to daven for Rav Yehoshua Kalish, beloved rov of the Harborview Bais Medrash in Lawrence, New York, and longtime R”M at Yeshiva Derech Ayson in Far Rockaway.
Rav Kalish is now in critical condition and in need of rachamei shomayim.
Rav Kalish has been a source of guidance and strength to so many, and outstanding talmid chochom and maggid shiur who has been a rebbi and rov to thousands.
Please daven for Rav Yehoshua ben Breindel.
{Matzav.com}

Dear Matzav Inbox,
I would like to address the trend of publicly sharing photos of the cars of people who park in handicapped spaces without visibly valid permits.
While it may be frustrating to witness the misuse of parking spaces designated for those with physical limitations, sharing these photos publicly can present significant halachic concerns, particularly regarding lashon hara and public busha.

A video circulating on social media captured a troubling incident where two individuals on a motorcycle were seen swiping a kippah off the head of a Jewish man as he crossed a street in Staten Island.
The Staten Island Shomrim Safety Patrol, which shared the footage on the social media platform X, stated, “Help us apprehend these individuals. Wanted for a despicable act of pushing a Kippah off a Jewish man’s head. If you can identify them or have any information, call @NYPD121Pct detective squad 718-697-8712 or call us 718-370-2121. #YourCityYourCall.”
WATCH:

Eric Gonzalez, the district attorney in Brooklyn, N.Y., announced 25 counts against Taylor Pelton, Samuel Seligson and Gabriel Schubiner in connection with incidents of anti-Israel, antisemitic vandalism this summer at the homes of board members of the Brooklyn Museum.

It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the sudden passing of R’ Menachem Wiederman z”l, at the age of 60.
A devoted husband, father, and baal chesed, R’ Menachem spent decades in Flatbush, where he was known for his warmth, kindness, and dedication to the community.
More recently, he relocated to Toms River, NJ, bringing his unique energy and commitment to Khal Zichron Yechezkel, the shul led by Rav Moshe Rotberg, where he served faithfully as gabbai.