A man from California described the experience of finding a menorah passed down from his Holocaust-surviving grandmother amidst the devastation of the wildfires in the Los Angeles area as “insanely powerful.” Joshua Kotler shared with the New York Post that his family, which includes his wife Emily Kotler and their two daughters, had evacuated their home in Altadena and taken refuge at his wife’s sister’s residence in nearby Glassell Park, just “20 minutes” away. He expressed his gratitude to God that his family was able to escape the danger unharmed.
Before their home was destroyed, Joshua recalled that he had returned to the house to attempt to protect it by “hosing down” the roof, but ultimately left again in the face of the worsening situation.

It is with great sadness that Matzav.comreports the petirah of Rav Mordechai Moshe Perlman zt”l, R”M and Mashgiach of Yeshivas Ohr Somayach in Yerushalayim. He was 76.
Rav Perlman was born in the United States, a son of Rabbi Avraham Zev Mrs. Ruth Perlman.
In his youth, Rav Perlman learned at Yeshivas Mir Yerushalayim, where he immersed himself in limud haTorah and forged a deep connection with his rabbeim.

At the weekly Shas faction meeting on Monday, Shas Chairman Aryeh Deri expressed his commitment to supporting any deal regarding the release of hostages that is brought before the government for approval.
“The Shas movement supports Prime Minister Binyomin Netanyahu’s efforts to bring about the release of the hostages, and will support any deal that is brought to government approval for this important goal,” Deri stated.
“We pray that the efforts will bear fruit and lead to the fulfillment of the commandment of ransoming captives, which is one of the most important commandments in Judaism – to save the lives of our kidnapped brothers and sisters, return the living to the embrace of their families, and ensure that the dead are given a Jewish burial,” he continued.

The Israeli High Court of Justice has given the government until the end of January to clarify its plans for increasing Chareidi enlistment in the Israel Defense Forces and enforcing penalties for those avoiding the draft.
This order came after multiple petitions were submitted, demanding that all Chareidi men who were previously exempt from service be immediately conscripted.
The court highlighted that approximately 80,000 Chareidi men who are eligible for service have not yet been recruited. It expressed concern that the gap between the number of Chareidi recruits called up and those who actually enlist could prevent the government from meeting its recruitment goals for the current year.

Dear Residents of Lakewood, NJ,
I hope this message finds you well. I would like to take a moment to express my deep appreciation for the dedication and tireless efforts of our local elected officials. Their work on behalf of our community is invaluable, and I am grateful for all they do to ensure Lakewood remains a safe and vibrant place to live.
The recent and ongoing fires in Los Angeles have been truly devastating. Families have lost their homes and all their belongings, schools have been destroyed, and precious Torah scrolls have been rescued under heartbreaking circumstances. These events are a powerful reminder of how quickly life can change and how important it is to be prepared.

Two schools in Anderlecht—one of the 19 municipalities that make up Belgium’s Brussels–Capital Region—have refused to take part in a ceremony marking the laying of Stolpersteine, or Memory Stones, for Belgian Jews murdered during the Holocaust.
The schools said that they “do not wish to impose the children any discussion on the Holocaust given the current conditions in the Middle East.”
The gold-colored paving stones, known as “Stolpersteine’’ and created by German artist Gunter Demnig in 1992, are placed in front of the last places where victims of Nazi extermination or persecution, mostly Jews, chose freely to live, work or study. More than 100,000 have been laid across Europe.

It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of Rabbi Dovid Scheiner z”l.
A resident of Far Rockaway, NY, Reb Dovid was an outstanding talmid chochom who was marbitz Torah in local botei medrash for many years. He was constantly found learning and sharing his profound Torah insights with anyone who was fortunate enough to sit and learn with him.
His deep knowledge of Torah, combined with his incredible yiras Shomayim, made him a respected figure in the community and a source of inspiration for many.

During his tish on Friday night, following Birkas HaMazon, the Vizhnitzer Rebbe of Bnei Brak shared an impactful story about a dream that he had, relating the details with Chassidim who had come to spend Shabbos with him after he returned to Bnei Brak from his resting place in Netanya.
The rebbe began: “I want to share a story that happened to me this week, early Monday morning, at my place of rest in Netanya. A Jew, whom I knew personally, who passed away a few years ago, appeared to me in a dream. He came to ask me for a tikkun (a rectification) because he has no rest in Shomayim.”

On Erev Shabbos, Asarah B’teves, Rev Menachem Helfgott z”l, the senior Chassid of Kapytschnitz, passed away at the age of 99. He was buried on Friday in the Yarkon Cemetery.
Reb Menachem was born in Austria on the 3rd of Adar in 1925 to his father, Reb Tzvi Helfgott, and his mother, Mrs. Nechama Helfgott.
In Vienna, he learned under the Rebbe of Kapytschnitz , and later continued on to the United States, where he was connected to the Rebbe. He spent periods of time with the Rebbe, particularly during Yomim Tovim.
After arriving in Tel Aviv, he formed a strong connection with the Rebbe’s brother-in-law, the Rebbe of Sadigura, the Abir Yaakov.

It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the passing of Rebbetzin Malka Hochster a”h.
Rebbetzin Hochster was the wife of the late Rav Shmuel Hochster zt”l.
Rebbetzin Hochster was blessed with a family of noted marbitzei Torah. Among her children is Rav Reuven Hochster, renowned mashgiach of Yeshivas Mir Brachfeld.
The levayah was held tonight at the Sanhedria funeral home in Yerushalayim. She was buried next to her husband.
Her son, Rav Reuven Hochster, will be sitting shiva at her home at 2 Sderot Eshkol, Entrance A, Apartment 14, in Ramat Eshkol, Yerushalayim.
Yehi zichrah boruch.
{Matzav.com Israel}