In a lesson learned from the October 7 massacre, which occurred on Shabbos Simchas Torah, IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir canceled all Yom leave for soldiers. For years, the IDF has granted leave to numerous commanders and soldiers on Yamim Tovim, known as הדממות (shutdown), meaning that the majority of soldiers at IDF bases and even entire units went on leave at the same time, leaving bases with a skeleton crew, or even completely empty. Hamas was well-aware of this practice and took advantage of it on Simchas Torah 2023, when less than half of the normal number of IDF troops were stationed along the Gaza border.

During Monday’s Daf Yomi shiur, Reb Eli Stefansky took a full six minutes to discuss the ongoing World Zionist Congress (WZO) elections, encouraging those whose rabbanim permit participation to vote for Eretz Hakodesh. Rabbi Stefansky leads Mercaz Daf Yomi, which is followed by 20,000 participants daily, and used this platform to highlight the potential impact of the elections on the allocation of WZO funds. It was noted that Reform movements have historically voted in large numbers, directing funding toward initiatives that are detrimental and antagonistic to frum people in Eretz Yisroel.

A federal judge in Manhattan ruled that anti-Israel agitator Mahmoud Khalil is not to be deported “unless and until the Court orders otherwise,” on Monday. Khalil, who led anti-Israel protests and encampments on Columbia University’s campus, was taken into custody on the Upper West Side in New York City on Saturday. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said that he was a former Columbia graduate student who “led activities aligned to Hamas, a designated terrorist organization.” The judge ordered a hearing for Wednesday. This after Khalil’s lawyer argued their client had been detained illegally and should be released. Politicians have also spoken out in defense of Khalil. “Squad” member Rep.

In a recent Purim shmuess, Rav Yisroel Reisman shlit”a, Rav of Agudas Yisroel of Madison in Brooklyn, and Rosh Yeshiva of Torah Vodaath, shared a humorous yet eye-opening cautionary tale about the pitfalls of relying on artificial intelligence for halachic guidance. While the story was fitting for Purim, its underlying message carried serious implications for the frum world. Rabbi Reisman began by acknowledging the rise of AI technology, quipping, “I’m aware that there’s something called AI, which always stood for Agudath Israel. Lately, it stands for artificial intelligence. I am aware that those who lack natural intelligence therefore have artificial intelligence.” He then recounted how a mispalel approached him with a shaalah but ultimately decided he no longer needed to ask.

The Chief Rabbanim of Israel and the Kosel Rav are demanding the return of five fallen Kosel stones currently on display at various places in Israel. The story began when the Israel Antiquities Authority transferred a five-ton Kosel stone to a historical exhibition at Ben-Gurion Airport, which is considered a desecration of the stone’s kedushah. The stone, one of the stones that fell during Churban Bayis Sheini, was previously on display at the Knesset.

The Knesset’s Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee held another meeting on Monday morning regarding the regulation of a Chareidi draft law. During the meeting, Lt. Col. Avigdor Dikstein, the head of the Chareidi department in the IDF’s Manpower Directorate reported that 14,000 draft orders will be sent to bnei yeshivos in three phases: 5,000 on Thursday, March 13th; 4,000 on April 6th; and 4,000 on May 4th. The majority of the orders are being sent to random bnei yeshivos who are eligible for enlistment but 4,900 are being sent to those whom the IDF views as being more likely to actually enlist, including those working or studying for a career while also attending yeshiva. However, Dikstein estimated that the IDF will not meet its recruitment targets for the Chareidi sector.

Israeli diplomatic officials have spoken with Trump administration officials about the direct talks conducted by Trump’s hostage envoy Adam Boehler with Hamas and reached “understandings,” Kan News reported on Monday morning. According to the report, the US and Israel agreed that any talks between Boehler and the Hamas terror organization will be fully coordinated with Israel.

In recent days, an unprecedented scare campaign has been targeting Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu in an attempt to deter him from firing Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar. Beyond the usual threats from political elements, former senior figures in the security establishment, many of whom are leftists, have made statements insinuating that Bar’s dismissal could lead to the exposure of sensitive and personal information about Netanyahu and his family.

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar held a tense meeting on Thursday, during which Netanyahu urged Bar to resign from his position – but he refused, Channel 12 reported on Sunday. Prime Minister Netanyahu told Bar during the particularly charged meeting: “We waited for the investigation. Now is the time to hand over the keys.” Last week, Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar referred to his responsibility for the October 7th failure in closed-door talks, saying: “I have taken responsibility and I intend to fulfill it.

Federal immigration authorities have arrested Mahmoud Khalil, a notorious Palestinian “activist” and ringleader of Columbia University’s disruptive anti-Israel encampment movement. The Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, acting on a State Department order, swooped into Khalil’s university-owned apartment near Columbia’s Manhattan campus, taking him into custody for his role in stoking unrest on university campuses. Khalil’s attorney, Amy Greer, whined to The Associated Press that ICE agents informed her they were executing a State Department directive to revoke Khalil’s student visa. When Greer pointed out that Khalil, who graduated in December, held a green card as a permanent resident, the agents delivered a crushing blow: that privilege was being stripped away too.