At his weekly shiur delivered Motzoei Shabbos, former Sephardic Chief Rabbi of Israel Rav Yitzchak Yosef issued a pointed critique of the current Israeli government’s stance on the military draft of yeshiva students.
Referring to the growing threat of arrest warrants for bnei yeshiva, Rav Yosef lamented the political alliance with the right-wing bloc, questioning the wisdom of continued support for those who now advance policies harmful to the Torah world.
“If we had gone with the left,” he stated, “things would have been much better. But instead we’re going with the right, clinging to the right—I don’t know what they saw in the right.”

In a candid and wide-ranging interview with Yishai Cohen of Kikar HaShabbat, Yisrael Beiteinu party chairman MK Avigdor Lieberman pulled no punches, making clear his stance on the ongoing war, the hostage crisis, Israel’s relationship with the U.S., and his uncompromising vision for a universal military draft—with no exemptions for yeshiva students.

On the eve of Lag Ba’omer, Rav Nachman Elchadad, father of the two brothers who tragically lost their lives in the Meron disaster of 5781, ascended to the beis hachaim in Meron to visit their kevorim.
The emotional visit marked four years since the passing of Moshe Mordechai and Yosef Dovid Elchadad, who were among the 45 victims of the terrible calamity that occurred during the hilula of Rashbi.
Family members joined Rav Elchadad at the bais hachaim, offering tefillos and remembering the beloved boys amid the atmosphere of mourning mixed with kedusha that envelops Meron each Lag Ba’omer since.

The Vizhnitzer kehillah in Bnei Brak reached an emotional crescendo on Thursday night, as thousands of chassidim gathered in the main Vizhnitzer bais medrash to witness the return of the Vizhnitzer Rebbe, Rav Yisroel Hager, and take part in the Lag Ba’omer hadlakah ceremony. The crowd erupted in joyous song, and many tearfully recited the berachah of Shehecheyanu as they beheld their Rebbe once again.
The Rebbe had been absent for three months, during which he was receiving medical treatment in Los Angeles followed by a period of rest in Switzerland.

In a moving ceremony, the Boyaner Rebbe lit the traditional Lag Ba’omer fire at the rooftop of the tziyun of Rabi Shimon bar Yochai in Meron on Thursday night, marking the 40th year that he has carried this role.
The lighting by the Boyaner Rebbe is the official opening event of the Lag Ba’omer celebrations in Meron.
This year’s event began with a stirring tribute to the victims of the Meron tragedy of 5781. As the crowd joined in a heartfelt rendition of Ani Ma’amin, the Rebbe lit a memorial candle in their honor, together with Reb Avraham Yaakov Friedman, a prominent activist and community leader from the United States.

Meron Madness and the Reason for Bonfires | Ask the Rabbi Live with Rabbi Chaim Mintz | WATCH:

Join us every Tuesday night at 8:30PM, as Oorah’s founder, Rabbi Chaim Mintz, delivers a weekly Torah class. Watch it at: https://www.oorah.org/ask-the-rabbi

In a rare and forceful statement, Rav Yehoshua Eichenstein, rosh yeshiva of Yad Aharon and nosi of the Ezram UMaginam organization, issued a severe warning regarding the recent escalation in the Israeli government’s enforcement of the draft law targeting bnei yeshivos.
Rav Eichenstein said: “In light of the worsening situation, as the authorities attempt to enforce the draft with increasing intensity — people must know that as an organization, Ezram UMaginam is standing behind every bochur. We will act by any means necessary to ensure that bochurim can continue learning in peace.”

In a special and rare event this week, Rav Moshe Sternbuch personally fulfilled the mitzvah of Reishis HaGez—the Torah obligation to give the first shearing of wool from one’s sheep to a kohein.
The wool was given to the mekubal Rav Gamliel HaKohen Rabinowitz, rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Shaar HaShamayim.
The event was held at Rav Sternbuch’s home.

WATCH:

As Lag Ba’omer approaches and crowds begin to ascend to Meron for the annual hilula of Rav Shimon bar Yochai, Hilula Project Coordinator Yossi Deutsch gave an in-depth interview in Hebrew to Kikar HaShabbat, offering a behind-the-scenes look at the intense preparations, major upgrades, and the unique challenges facing this year’s event, particularly the shortened time window due to it falling on Erev Shabbos. Matzav.com provides some highlights of the interview.