Rav Dovid Yosef, Rosh Yeshivas Yechaveh Da’as and son of Chacham Ovadia Yosef, alongside his brother, current Sefardic Chief Rabbi Rav Yitzchok Yosef, issued a call to the chareidi community to forgo street celebrations during the upcoming Purim amidst the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
“We find ourselves amidst a war, a challenging battle against our adversaries. Daily, we receive distressing updates about fallen soldiers. The circumstances are undeniably difficult. I believe it’s crucial for everyone to observe Purim within their homes, fulfilling its commandments. However, regarding public revelries, caution must be exercised to avoid displaying jubilation and dancing in the streets. We must tread carefully,” Rav Yosef emphasized.

The famed composer and director of the London School of Jewish Song, Yigal Calek, is in need of rachamei Shomayim. His name for Tehillim is Yigal Yisrael ben Blima Gittel.
During the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s, Yigal led London School of Jewish Song. The Israel-born mechanech had a flamboyant style and exceptional ear for music that propelled his young proteges into stardom across the Jewish world.
Curiously, although Yigal is undoubtedly an innovator, he is also deeply traditional. Thus, while his songs have always been very much in tune with modernity and the zeitgeist, they are nonetheless firmly embedded in the music of the Jewish yesteryear.

Journalist Amit Segal revealed last night that Sephardi Chief Rabbi Rav Yitzchak Yosef, a prolific mechaber seforim and brilliant talmid chochom, has been selected as the recipient of the Israel Prize in the category of Torah Literature.
However, the award’s bestowal hinges on the occurrence of the prize ceremony this year, as Education Minister Yoav Kisch has postponed it until the next year due to the ongoing conflict.
Segal pointed out the irony of potentially awarding the highest honor of the State of Israel to someone who has previously urged the chareidi community to depart the country.

It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of Rabbi Yehudah Levin zt”l of Lakewood.
Rav Yehudah was one of Lakewood’s premeir baalei tzedakah and baalei chesed. For years, he immersed himself in chesed, helping an untold number of people. The scope of his kindess is hard to quantify.
The last few years, he retired and spent his days learning Torah with tremendous hasmadahand yegiah. 
He leaves behind his wonderful family, who are following in his ways.
Yehi zichro boruch.
{Matzav.com}

Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi Rav Dovid Lau responded today to the remarks made by his Sephardi counterpart Rav Yitzchok Yosef, suggesting that chareidim should contemplate leaving the country if they face conscription into the IDF or national service like other Israeli citizens.
During the funeral of Captain Daniel Perez, who lost his life to Hamas terrorists on October 7 and whose remains have been held by the terrorist organization since, Rav Lau expressed, “We have a remarkable generation, a generation of soldiers, a generation of committed individuals, a generation who stand up and sacrifice everything to defend the people, safeguard the Torah, and protect the land.”

This morning, the neighborhood of Har Nof in Yerushalayim was almost completely closed off to traffic. Early in the morning, barriers were placed at the entrance of Yeshiva Heichal Hatorah on Rechov Katzenelenbogen, where the esteemed rosh yeshiva, Rav Tzvi Kushelevsky, aged 88, brought his son into the bris of Avrohom Avinu on the date of the birth of Moshe Rabbeinu.
The bris took place this morning immediately after Shacharis in the bais medrash of the yeshiva, with thousands trying to get into the bais medrash. Heavy security was stationed at the entrance to the yeshiva.

A special Krias Shema laining was held tonight as hundreds gathered at Yeshiva Heichal HaTorah in Har Nof, Yerushalayim, the night before the bris of the firstborn son of 88-year-old rosh yeshiva Hagaon Rav Tzvi Kushelevsky.
WATCH:

{Matzav.com Israel}

Rav Gershon Ribner on “The man who holds the power to liberate all who suffer from the shidduch crisis.”
LISTEN:

The Montreal community is grieving deeply over the petirah of eleven-year-old Chaim Meir Miller z”l.
Chaim Meir was a son of Rabbi and Mrs. Shraga Shmuel Miller of Montreal, Canada.
Reb Shraga Shmuel is a son of noted askan Reb Isaac Leib Miller and a grandson of the famed badchan, Rav Yankel Miller, the Yarma Ruv.
A few weeks ago, Chaim Meir experienced a sudden collapse on Shabbos due to complications from an infection. Montreal Hatzolah successfully resuscitated him after some time.
Unfortunately, he tragically passed away.
The levayah took place in Montreal and then at the Vizhnitzer Bais Medrash in Monsey, followed by kevurah at the Vizhnitzer Bais Hachaim in Monsey.

The Movement for Quality Government in Israel has lodged a formal complaint against Sephardic Chief Rabbi Rav Yitzchok Yosef, addressing the judiciary ombudsman on Monday, alleging that his alleged politicization of his judicial role warrants his removal from the Great Rabbinical Court of Appeals.
In a communication to the ombudsman, former Supreme Court justice Uri Shoham, the watchdog group contended that Rav Yosef’s recent remarks advocating draft evasion amounted to “a blatant violation of the rules of ethics for judges.”
During a speech on Motzoei Shabbos, Rav Yosef had stated that individuals engaged in Torah study should not be conscripted into the army “under any circumstances, no matter what,” and warned of Chareidi enlistment avoidance leading to emigration.