In a first ruling of its kind, Israeli rabbinical authorities have taken away the passport of an American businessman and barred him from leaving Israel for more than a year, claiming he is responsible for his son’s refusal to grant his wife a get.

Ynet reports that the bais din said that the case in question is “one of the most difficult” it has faced in light of the dire situation of the wife, who suffered a stroke and became partially paralyzed shortly before requesting a get a decade ago. Their names have been barred from publication.

The wife suffered the stroke on a visit to Eretz Yisroel with her husband in 2005 and shortly thereafter the husband returned to the United States, where he remains, while his wife and their two children stayed in Israel and she became an Israeli citizen. The court says the husband has ignored her request and a court ruling for a divorce as well as another ruling demanding he pay alimony.

The father of the husband, who is in his late 60s, was in Israel last year on a family visit when he was summoned to the court, told to hand in his and his wife’s passports and barred from leaving the country. The bais din, Ynet says, argued that by providing his son with a job and stipend, the father was responsible for his son’s intransigence.

{Matzav.com Israel News Bureau}

Earlier today, Matzav.com reported that Rav Shmuel Kamenetsky, rosh yeshiva of Yeshiva of Philadelphia, and Rav Avrohom Chaim Levin, rosh yeshiva of Telshe Yeshiva in Chicago, voted in today’s presidential election for Donald J. Trump.

Now,Matzav.com has learned that Rav Elya Ber Wachtfogel, rosh yeshiva of Yeshiva Gedola Zichron Moshe of South Fallsburg, NY, also cast his vote today for Mr. Trump.

As of this writing, the election results are still coming in, with states like Florida and North Carolina too close to call.

{Matzav.com Newscenter}

Divrei bracha were delivered by Rav Aryeh Malkiel Kotler, Rav Mordechai Bezalel Klein, RCCS founder R’ Hershel Cohen, and R’ Meir Mordechai Berkowitz.

PHOTOS BY JDN:

{Matzav.com}

-Communicated-

By Devorah Koenig

What is it that you daven most for? Is it health? Is it prosperity? Do you wish to find your shidduch? Do you long to finally hold a baby in your arms? Who among us does not have bakashos for the Ribbono Shel Olam–for themselves or their loved ones?  And who is better to advocate for ourselves and our loved ones, than our own Mama Rachel?

Since 2001, the Kluger family of Sanhedria has taken personal responsibility for the ruchnius at Kever Rachel, as if it were their own mother’s grave.  They started a kollel—which has grown to seven kollelim.  Scores of avreichim come to Kever Rachel in unending, round-the-clock shifts to learn, daven and say tehillim on behalf of Klal Yisrael, every single day of the year.

CLICK HERE TO DONATE.

Mosdos Kever Rachel’s avreichim learn and daven, and allow yidden from all over the world to call in names, for anything from refuah shelaimos to parnassah, or any other requests to be davened for at the gravesite, for Rachel Imeinu’s neshama to carry upward to the Ribbono Shel Olam.

Hundreds of urgent and heartbreaking requests are called in, mailed and emailed every month to Mosdos Kever Rachel from yidden worldwide, requesting prayers to be said on behalf of the ill, the childless and those in need of yeshuos.

And in turn, the incredible, miraculous stories of yeshuos– happiness and successful outcomes– get called in, mailed and emailed.

Our gedolim agree that supporting Mosdos Kever Rachel is what brings upon these most powerful yeshuos.

While learning, davening, tehillim and chesed programs, all in honor of Rachel Imeinu take place 365 days each year at her kever, on Yud Alef Cheshvan, her yahrtzeit, the power will be even stronger. 

CLICK HERE TO DONATE.

A massive tefilla gathering led by talmidei chachomim and renowned mekubalim is scheduled for this Sunday, so act now! Call or email before Sunday November 13^th at 8:00am Eastern Time.

Don’t be left out of the astounding stories of yeshuos and nissim you and your loved ones deserve!  Call Mosdos Kever Rachel, and with your generous support, you can merit yeshuos!  The power is in your hands.

CLICK HERE TO DONATE.

Call 1-888-276-2435 or visit www.keverrachel.com to place your sponsorship.

CAPTIONS:

Above: Rav Shmuel Auerbach participating in one of the siyumim events of the Kollelim of Mosdos Kever Rachel.

Below: Rav Meir Soloveichik zatzal of Brisk in his last days visitng Kever Rachel.

{Matzav.com}

It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the passing of Rabbi Aron Krawiec zt”l.

Born in Shanghai in 1946 during the period when the Mir Yeshiva was stationed there during and after World War II, Reb Aron was a son of Rav and Rebbetzin Mendel and Rashel Krawiec.

Rav Mendel was a noted rosh yeshiva at Yeshivas Rabbi Yaakov Yosef (RJJ) in Manhattan for many years and a renowned marbitz Torah.

Rebbetzin Rashel (nee Berek) was the oldest daughter of Rav Aharon Berek zt”l, the right hand and personal secretary of Rav Chaim Ozer Grodzensky zt”l. Rebbetzin Rashel’s parents hosted the roshei yeshiva and gedolim of a magnificent era, and so she was zoche to feel like a daughter to Rav Shimon Shkop zt”l, Rav Elchochon Wasserman zt”l, Rav Aharon Kotler zt”l, the entire Greineman family, the Karelitz family, and so many others. She also got to know Rav Boruch Ber Leibowitz zt”l and the roshei yeshiva of Telz, Slabodka and Mir, and their illustrious families.

As a youngster, Rebbetzin Rashel’s father took her along to Radin to discuss yeshiva-related issues with the Chofetz Chaim zt”l. She considered that visit with the elderly Chofetz Chaim to be a highlight in her life that sustained her in all difficult times.

Interestingly, the shidduch between Reb Aron’s parents, Rav Mendel and Rebbetzin Rashel, was arranged by Rav Aharon Kotler, as Rav Mendel was a talmid muvak of Rav Aharon and a member of the Rav Aharon’s household. Rebbetzin Rashel, a young girl of 20, got engaged to her illustrious chosson, a man of over 30 who was destined to become an outstanding marbitz Torah. It was because Rebbetzin Rashel was a kallah that she was saved during the war. She went along with the Mirrer Yeshiva to Shanghai and was hesitant to leave her parents and siblings. Her father would not leave, as he was busy with so much Hatzolah work. The Brisker Rov zt”l sent his daughter, Rebbetzin Lifsha Feinstein, a close friend of Rebbetzin Rashel, to speak to her, and the Rov encouraged her to leave with her chosson, reassuring her that Rav Mendel, who was a talmid muvhak of the Rov, would become a great rosh yeshiva.

After five long years in Shanghai, with all its trials and tribulations – the 120-degree hot weather, the rampant sicknesses, the stress, and the tensions and fears – the Krawiecs left for America. In Shanghai, it was Rav Avrohom Kalmanowitz zt”l and Rav Aharon Kotler zt”l who sustained them from afar in America, sending money for food and later the means for escape to America.

In Shanghai, Rav and Rebbetzin Ashkenazi, the local rov and rebbetzin, married off Rav Mendel and Rebbetzin Rashel and were their ‘unterfirers.’ The tremendous chizuk that Rav Mendel and Rebbetzin Rashel received from Rav Chatzkel Levenstein zt”l was crucial to their wellbeing. It was Rav Chatzkel who supported them – and pushed them all to live on – when at the end of the war they all realized that their homes in Europe had gone up in flames and that their families all perished.

Rav Mendel and Rebbetzin Rashel immigrated to America, arriving in San Francisco. They then boarded a train that took them to New York City. A relative found them two rooms in a boarding house in Sea Gate, Brooklyn. With a minimum of possessions and the two small children – Reb Aron and his sister – who were born in Shanghai, they arrived as “greenhorns” in a foreign land.

Rav Mendel became the rosh yeshiva at Yeshivas Rabbeinu Yaakov Yosef after Rav Aharon Kotler recommended him for that position. It was not easy traveling daily from Sea Gate, saying two shiurim a day, and preparing the talmidim for semicha, and it was an uphill battle, as American parents were not really prepared to have their sons so engrossed in Torah.

At Rebbetzin Rashel’s levaya, Rav Meir Hershkowitz, rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Bais Binyomin of Stamford and one of Rav Mendel’s earliest talmidim, described in vivid detail the challenges that Rav Mendel faced. Rav Mendel turned young, talented American bochurim into true Bnei Torah, and future roshei yeshiva, rabbonim and mechanchim.

Rav Mendel and Rebbetzin Rashel later fulfilled their lifelong dream to settle in Eretz Yisroel, where Rav Mendel  became rosh yeshiva in Karlin Stolin. Unfortunately, Rav Mendel became ill in Eretz Yisroel and later returned to the US and settled in Boro Park, where he lived until the end of his life.

Reb Aron was greatly influenced by his illustrious parents and carried their images in his mind throughout his life. He learned at Yeshivas Brisk in Yerushalayim under Rav Berel Soloveitchik zt”l and was a talmid of Beth Medrash Govoha in Lakewood, NJ, under Rav Shneur Kotler zt”l.

Reb Aron married his wife, Rochel, a daughter of Rabbi and Mrs. Avrohom Newhouse, and the young couple settled in Brooklyn.

Reb Aron, throughout his life, was devoted to limud haTorah, spending much time at the Mirrer Yeshiva and other mekomos haTorah in Flatbush, where he lived. During his final decade and a half, he spent his days fully immersed in Torah learning.

Reb Aaron was a talmid chochom and a yorei Shomayim whose deeply held ideals were passed on to his upstanding family, including his children, who are all respected bnei Torah, accomplished members of their respective communities.

After residing in Flatbush for decades, the Krawiecs relocated several years ago to the Pine River Village senior community in Lakewood, NJ.

Reb Aaron endured a difficult and trying illness for the last few years. Despite daunting challenges, his family, inspired by his example, maintained remarkable strength during that period and cared for Reb Aaron with great devotion and dedication. Despite living with yissurim for the last six years, Reb Aron didn’t utter a complaint, accepting the nisyonos with emunah.

Reb Aron’s oldest granddaughter is slated to get married in several weeks.

Reb Aaon is survived by his wife, Mrs. Rochel Krawiec; their six children, including Rav Meir Krawiec, R”M at Yeshiva Gedolah Zichron Moshe of South Fallsburg; Rabbi Avrohom Krawiec of Lakewood; Reb Zevi Krawiec of Lakewood; Reb Eliezer Krawiec of Los Angeles; Mrs. Shifra Bloom and Mrs. Sarah Gosherg.

Reb Aaron is also survived by his two siblings, Rebbetzin Malka David, wife of Rav Hillel David, rov and rosh yeshiva of Khal Yeshiva Shaarei Torah in Flatbush and noted senior posek; and Mrs. Shaindel of Baltimore, Maryland.

The levayah is schedule for 12:30 p.m. at the Pine River Village Shul, located at 500 Pine Street, after which the aron will be flown at 4 p.m. from John F. Kennedy International Airport to Eretz Yisroel for kevurah in Yerushalayim.

Yehi zichro boruch.

{Matzav.com Newscenter}

A melava malka was held at Agudath Israel of Long Island to honor the rov of the shul, Rav Yaakov Reisman, who is retiring after almost 30 years of service.

Over 500 people, including almost all of the rabbonim of shuls in the Five Towns, attended the event.

The guest speaker was Rav Avrohom Ausband, rosh yeshiva of Yeshiva of Telshe Alumni of Riverdale. Rav Reisman and Rav Ausband have been friends for more than 50 years and attended Telshe Yeshiva together.

Mr. Simcha David, president of Agudath Israel of Long Island, remarked, “The love and admiration that the rov has for his kehillah and the kehillah for the rov was clearly evident. It was testimony to over 29 years of leadership and individual relationships that the rov has formed, spanning many generations of mispallelim. We look forward to continuing those relationships as the rov takes on the role of rabbi emeritus.”

Photos: Ivan H. Norman

{Matzav.com}

It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the passing of Rav Shlomo Gross zt”l at the age of 69.

Rav Gross was the rov of the Belzer Bais Medrash on 15^th Avenue in Boro Park and the author of Shailos Uteshuvos Mishneh Shlomo.

Rav Gross was a respected talmid chochom, posek, and dayan. His passing has plunged his followers and admirers into mourning.

The levaya was held earlier today at the Belzer Shul in Boro Park.

Yehi zichro boruch.

{Matzav.com}

Parents of Chabad bochurim affected by an agreement made by Chabad leaders that entails most bochurim enlisting in the IDF by the age of 26 in return for the right to study and do kiruv overseas are demanding to know the details of a secret appendix to the agreement and threatening to petition the issue in court if they are not forthcoming.

“Parents do not intend to keep silent,” a member of the chassidus said. “If there is an agreement, we want to see it. The bochurim went to the army and signed one agreement. One section clearly said that it was in accordance with another agreement. Can someone show us what are sons are signing for? Media people asked the army for the letter and were turned down. If we don’t see the real agreement, we’ll go to the High Court.”

{Matzav.com Israel News Bureau}

On Election day, Matzav.com reported exclusively that Rav Gershon Edelstein, rosh yeshiva of Ponovezh Yeshiva and member of the Moetzes Gedolei Hatorah in Eretz Yisroel, told talmidim of his from the US who asked him for whom to vote in today’s US presidential election to follow the rosh yeshiva of Philadelphia, Rav Shmuel Kamenetsky, and vote for the candidate he supports, which, it turned out, was Donald Trump.

Subsequently, the Israeli Yated Ne’eman published an interview with Rav Kamenetsky, whom they questioned about why he supported Mr. Trump.

Rav Kamenetsky explained that “people who do not behave honestly and telling the truth do not experience success,” referring to Hillary Clinton.

Rav Kamenetsky added that “the chosen candidate,” meaning Mr. Trump, is surrounded by people who have shown understand and accommodation for Yiddishkeit and the Torah world in the United States, and their conduct has always been honest and truthful. “It is important that we follow this path,” he said.

As Matzav previously reported, other roshei yeshiva who voted for Trump were Rav Elya Ber Wachtfogel, rosh yeshiva of Yeshiva Gedolah Zichron Moshe of South Fallsburg, and Rav Yeruchim Olshin, rosh yeshiva of Beth Medrash Govoha in Lakewood, NJ.

{Matzav.com Newscenter}

A mispallel at the Lee Garden Shul on Lorimer Street in Williamsburg was shocked to discover last Thursday morning that his tallis and tefillin were missing from the cubby in which he placed his bag after davening at the Satmar shul the day before. Unbeknownst to him, the tefillin weren’t stolen, but rather fell into a garbage can next to the cubbies Wednesday evening, as can be seen in the video clip below.

This revelation, however, only became known when the surveillance cameras at the shul were examined. By that time, the garbage bag has already been collected by the New York Sanitation Department and dropped off at a transfer station, where it was mixed with thousands of tons of refuse. It was then shipped several hundred miles via rail to a landfill in the Rochester area.

A desperate operation is underway to save the tefillin.

The private waste transfer firm and landfill owners understand how painful and important this matter is. They zeroed in on 50 rail cars – containing approximate 1,000 tons of garbage – where the tefillin might be, and graciously agreed to provide a large site at the landfill where the content of these rails can be spread out to be sifted through by volunteers.

It will require over 100 volunteers for over a day to sift through the garbage.

Volunteers will be outfitted with special rakes and safety gear to work at the landfill, and will be provided with travel expenses and food.

Satmar askanim from Williamsburg have appealed for volunteers who are willing to travel at the beginning of next week to assist in the search mission and for contributions to be able to successfully fund this mission to find the tefillin. To assist, click here.

WATCH THE VIDEO OF THE TEFILLIN FALLING INTO THE GARBAGE:

{Matzav.com}

At the beginning of last week, the clock in Eretz Yisroel was moved back one hour to winter time.

Several people asked Rav Chaim Kanievky’s grandson what Rav Chaim, whose every moment is calculated, does with the “extra” hour when the clock is changed. Does he learn something special during that hour? How does it affect his set sedorim?

The answer is surprising: The clocks at Rav Chaim’s home are never changed, his grandson said. They stay all year on winter time. The same, Rav Chaim’s grandson said, is the case at the Lederman Shul on Rechov Rashbam near Rav Chaim’s home; the clock is not changed. Minchah there the entire year is at 12:30.

For those around Rav Chaim, the times change as the clocks change, and thus during Daylight Saving Time, Mincha for them is at 1:30 p.m.

Rav Chaim has been asked why he doesn’t change the clock. He said, “Because those in government change their clocks, I have to do so too?”

Occasionally, this reality causes confusion, with some people not being aware of the fact that the clocks in Rav Chaim’s home weren’t changed. Thus, when, for example, Rav Chaim is asked to serve as sandek at a bris, his household double checks to ensure that everyone is on the same page regarding the time.

{Matzav.com Israel News Bureau}

There was a horrific car crash on Thursday, November 3^rd, in which several frum men were injured.

Zishe Rosenblum lost his arm in the accident and is currently in a coma, his prognosis still up in the air.

What you may not know is that he was on his way, as usual, from one mitzvah to another. After waking up Thursday morning and heading to stock the local hospital with Kosher food to ensure that patients and their visitors had what to eat, and bringing breakfast to some bedridden patients, he followed his daily routine of going to learn and daven before spending a full day at work. After spending just a couple of minutes with his wife and 4 children, he got in the car for an hour and a half trip to Monsey to sing and dance at an event for children currently undergoing chemotherapy and their families. When he finally left Monsey, his long day was far from over – his next stop was to go back to the hospital to bring food to people stuck in the ER and restock the candy for children who would be stuck in the hospital for yet another Shabbos.

Unfortunately, a deer ran in front of the car he was riding in and in trying to avoid it, the car spun out of control and went over the divider and into a tree, severing one of Zishe’s arms and causing tremendous damage to the other.

The battle to recovery is far from over, but the bills have only just begun. Expensive therapy, prosthetics, and other bills not covered by insurance are just the start – rent, tuition, food and clothing for his family that have lost their breadwinner for at least a year are looming large. His family has enough to worry about with his recovery. Yidden are helping them make sure that money is one worry they don’t have to deal with.

Stories abound about Zishe and the incredible chessed to which his every spare second is devoted. There are very few people who have devoted their lives to helping others like Zishe has, working tirelessly to bring a smile to the faces of children and families affected by the life changing nature of a cancer diagnosis suffer every day. Every spare second he has is used to bring simcha to the lives and smiles to the faces of those who need it most. It is impossible to repay the hours and dollars Zishe spent helping the less fortunate. But now is the time to act to try and help him like he would help any one of us.

This “The Chesed Fund” account has been set up directly with the Rosenblum family. All proceeds will go towards his recovery, recuperation, and sustaining his family through this long arduous process. Open your hearts, open your wallets, and open your mouths to tell your friends and the world that we value the incredible work Zishe has done, and we look forward to the day where he can continue this avodas hakodesh. By helping now in his time of need you will be a partner in all of Zishe’s incredible zechusim in the future!

In the meantime, the family requests you keep Alexander Zisha ben Eliza in your tefillos and continue to accept Shabbos 10 minutes early in the zechus of a refuah sheleima.

If you’d like to volunteer to help fill the void that klal yisrael is currently feeling, or if you have any questions, please feel free to contact Sholi Rosenblum (Zishe’s brother) at 917-655-4770.

{Matzav.com}