The song “Tamid Ohev Oti”  – more commonly known as “Od Yoter Tov” – which recently burst into the chareidi world, is being sung in various places, including weddings and other simchos.
However, in recent weeks, a wide debate has emerged surrounding the song and its lyrics. In some locations, including yeshivas and chadorim, the song has been prohibited.
The song was composed by Rav Shalom Arush of “Chut Shel Chesed. Last weekend, in an extensive article in the weekend supplement of Yediot Achronot, journalist Shila Fried quoted the words of Rav Arush, who said that the song was born from the messages he regularly conveys to his talmidim during his shiurim.

It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of the distinguished philanthropist Rav Shmuel Binyamin Eliezer Berger zt”l, a leader of the Satmar kehillah in London, who passed away after a prolonged illness at the age of 70.
The niftar was known as an immense ish chesed, who generously contributed from his wealth to Torah and tzedakah institutions worldwide.
Rav Berger was born in England to his father, Rav Shalom Tzvi Berger, and his mother, Mrs. Fradel. He was a grandson of the famed Rav Getzel Berger, patron of Satmar.

On Motzoei Shabbos, thousands of bochurim gathered at Ateres Genendel/Fountain Ballroom in Lakewood to mark the completion of the study of Sefer Chofetz Chaim.
The siyum featured the participation of gedolei Torah and roshei yeshiva, including Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch, rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Slabodka in Bnei Brak, Rav Elya Brudny, rosh yeshiva of Mirrer Yeshiva in Brooklyn, and Rav Elya Ber Wachtfogel, rosh yeshiva of Yeshiva Zichron Moshe of South Fallsburg, who shared words of chizuk and hisorerus with the bochurim in attendance.
The evening featured spirited dancing, with zemiros by Avrumi and Shea Berko.

Photos courtesy of: Collive.com / Thanks to photographers Shalom Ross, Dovber Donner, Mendy Krief, Itzik Roytman and Yossi Jerufi

The ministerial team overseeing the investigation into the Meron tragedy has given its approval for Yerushalayim Affairs Minister Meir Porush to oversee the organization of this year’s Lag Ba’omer celebrations in Meron.
This decision comes shortly after Israel and Lebanon finalized a ceasefire agreement.
There are plans for the festivities to proceed in a manner similar to the way they were celebrated last year.
Over the past few months, the Ministry has been conducting a series of meetings with officials from Israel Police and the Transportation Ministry. At the same time, work is underway on a government bill aimed at creating a regulatory framework for the event.

On Friday afternoons during the brief winter days, the gates leading into Beitar Illit will be closed to cars 20 minutes prior to shkiah. This measure is being implemented to avoid any desecration of Shabbos.
The decision followed a dedicated conference held in the city, where the local rabbonim gathered to discuss the issue.
To support the effort, volunteers will set up roadblocks on the main streets of the city.
The rabbonim emphasized that this decision is meant to prevent situations where residents might be stuck outside the city on Shabbos, particularly with the early sunsets during the winter months.
{Matzav.com Israel}

On Sunday, hundreds of Ger yeshiva bochurim were instructed to stay in Yerushalayim and refrain from returning to their yeshiva in northern Israel.
This directive comes despite the recent ceasefire agreement between Israel and Lebanon, as well as the decision by several educational institutions in northern Israel to resume operations.
Reports indicate that the students had evacuated their yeshiva in Hatzor Haglilit at the onset of the war, even before the Home Front Command issued evacuation orders.
Subsequently, bomb shelters were constructed for the students at a cost of hundreds of thousands of shekels, yet their rebbe still advised against their return to the north, citing what he saw as an unnecessary danger.

For the 18th consecutive year, Matzav.com will be livestreaming the annual Chabad Kinnus Hashluchim. Watch the full event here LIVE, as 6,000 Chabad shluchim and their supporters gather for the International Conference of Shluchim, taking place in New Jersey.
WATCH:

P R E P R O G R A M
7:30pm Jerusalem • 12:30pm New York • 9:30am Los Angeles
Join Rabbi Hesh Epstein and Mr. Zev Jacobson as they are joined by shluchim from around the world with updates from the front lines.
P R O G R A M
8:30pm Jerusalem • 1:30pm New York • 10:30am Los Angeles
WELCOME
Rabbi Mendy Kotlarsky
Brooklyn, NY
והחי יתן אל לבו
THE LIVING SHALL TAKE TO HEART

Thousands of Chabad rabbis posed today for their annual massive portrait. The photo carries added meaning this year as Rabbi Zvi Kogan, Chabad-Lubavitch emissary in the UAE, was absent, with the photo being taken less than a week after his kidnapping and murder in Dubai.

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