The Rebbe Who Fired All the Shamashim, and This Week's Full Scoop Roundup
The mayor who refused to sign against the police and then backtracked | The huge uproar in a major Hasidic court | The media figure's move and the grandson who was not counted at the court | The benefactor who came to Israel for consultation | The presenter and the cast leg | The Chief Rabbi in a private conversation with Satmar yeshiva students | What did the celebrity rabbi and Amit Segal talk about? | The journalist who put on tefillin on a plane for a political adviser | The creative way to take photos with an iPhone in Hasidic communities | Yehuda Shukrun at a siyyum during a performance | Mordechai Ben David praying | Pini Einhorn shopping | Lipa Schmeltzer and the shtreimel that was ruined during a performance | The Knesset member seen studying in the plenum | Ron Dermer in a meeting | Ben Gvir dancing at a wedding | The council head who stepped into a boxing ring | The chef who received a blessing | The five most-viewed stories this week on Kikar and more... all the photos, gossip, and hot stories of the week. Feature by Itzik Ohana (Zupnik).
Exclusive from Zupnik, this week the chairman of the Forum of Haredi Authorities and Beitar Illit Mayor Meir Rubinstein sent a harsh letter to Police Commissioner Danny Levy, in which he announced plans to stop municipal cooperation with the Israel Police, בעקבות what he described as persecution of Torah students. Zupnik is here to tell you a little of what happened behind the scenes of the letter. At first, all the Haredi mayors were supposed to sign the letter personally, but one of the Degel HaTorah mayors objected to signing, despite the instruction of party chairman MK Moshe Gafni. In the end, by majority decision of the forum members, the letter went out with only Rubinstein's signature. Later, after the blessing of one of the party's spiritual leaders was received, that mayor asked to sign personally, but it was already too late, the letter had already been published with the forum chairman's signature, and it was decided to leave it as is.
If you photographed a familiar figure looking like an ordinary person, got hold of hot material, or heard kosher gossip, send it by Wednesday to Zupnik by email or WhatsApp.
Exclusive from Zupnik, a huge drama is shaking one of the most central Hasidic courts in the Haredi world these days. Zupnik learned that one of the greatest rebbes, who serves on the Council of Torah Sages, made a dramatic and unprecedented decision to dismiss all the existing court shamashim in one sweeping move, both at his residence and in the study hall. To create a new order, the rebbe plans to convene all the Hasidim in a few weeks for a unity Shabbat. On Motzaei Shabbat, democratic elections will be held there, in which all the Hasidim will have to choose the new shamashim themselves to run the study hall and the court's affairs. However, on the biggest question of all, who will win the coveted seat of the rebbe's chief and personal shamash, a different procedure has been set. The decision on the identity of the most powerful man in the court has been entrusted exclusively to the eldest son, the one identified among the Hasidim as the undisputed successor. Behind the scenes, the level of pressure and tension among the Hasidim is soaring, and not because of the identity of the candidates. The court is very worried about a particularly awkward scenario that could happen at the decisive moment, the fear is that during the dramatic vote count, it will become clear that most of the Hasidim, who are afraid to take sides or simply miss the old leadership, chose to put a blank ballot in the box. Zupnik promises to follow the ballot boxes and the results closely.
Exclusive from Zupnik, one Hasidic court is in turmoil over the clever move, or so he at least thought, by one of the sector's well-known media figures. For a long time, that journalist has been trying by every possible means to break in and form ties inside one of the most closed and sought-after Hasidic courts. After being rebuffed time and again, he decided to bypass the entire system and slip in through a clever loophole. In a successful operation, the media figure managed to hire none other than the rebbe's own grandson to serve as his private driver. The strategy was clear, long hours together in the car, intimate conversations on the road, and through the grandson the inside information would flow like water and the road into the inner circle would be shorter than ever. But Zupnik learned that there is just one small problem with the grand plan, it turns out that the grandson in question is connected to his grandfather's court about as much as you are connected to the Shanghai stock exchange. The young driver's level of interest in what is happening in the Hasidic court, internal politics, or confidential information is virtually zero. Will the media figure soon realize he is paying a salary for full throttle in neutral, or will he keep dreaming of the next scoop while the grandson simply enjoys a blacked-out steering wheel and good air conditioning? Zupnik will continue to follow and update.
The respected benefactor Mr. J. Rudin came especially from the United States to consult with Yeshiva Head and Council member Rabbi Reuven Elbaz and to receive a blessing for his business. The yeshiva head blessed him and noted the tremendous merit of his support for the entire world of Torah. Later in the week, we saw Rabbi Reuven Elbaz singing "Tehei Hasha'a HaZot" at the Western Wall with his students after a special תיקון held there.
The kabbalist and righteous sage Rabbi Yaakov Adas was seen this week shortly before midnight at the Western Wall, organizing a minyan for the evening prayer.
Just before the highly publicized interview of MK Michael Malkieli on the Kikar studio, we caught interviewer Yishai Cohen and editor-in-chief Chaim Illuz in an in-depth halachic discussion with the MK about the virtue of peace and compromise, following his resignation from candidacy for the committee to appoint judges.
As every week, a real uproar broke out this week on the Black Hats studio, this time between Rabbi Israel Trooper of the Jerusalem Faction and MK Naor Shiri of Yesh Atid over the question, "Who is normal?"
After the uproar, we caught host Yossi Sargovsky in a calm and relaxed conversation with Rabbi Israel Trooper and Reserve Brig. Gen. Ram Aminach. On the other side, we caught the show's producer Neria Saadia with MK Naor Shiri and spokesman Daniel Gil.
After Zupnik revealed last week that the "heated argument" from the Black Hats program between Yossi Sargovsky and the host of Black Iron, Netanel Izek of the Srugim website, was continuing in the corridors, this week we caught the two in a pleasant, relaxed, and calm conversation.
After two weeks of absence and the longing of thousands of viewers, first because of Shavuot and later because of a broken leg, Zupnik caught presenter Yossi Abdu today in the Kikar studio, limping on crutches with a broken leg, making a huge effort to bring you the "unimportant news."
We saw Kikar HaShabbat media figure Itzik Ohana and Shabi Rapaport, the adviser on Haredi affairs to President Isaac Herzog, in a private conversation with the president's wife, Michal Herzog, during an event at the President's Residence.
At the exit from the sheva brachot for Degel HaTorah chairman MK Moshe Gafni, attended by Yeshiva Head Rabbi M.H. Hirsch, Zupnik saw analyst Israel Cohen approach with his son Ari to receive a blessing from the yeshiva head. The video shows Rabbi Hirsch warmly blessing little Ari while Gafni and the court loyalists listen to the wish that he grow in Torah.
Later we caught Israel Cohen in a private conversation with educator Rabbi Motke Blay, in an in-depth discussion about approaches to public messaging and the right method, whether the left hand should push away or the right hand draw near, and the rest of it. In the end, both agreed that chairman Moshe Gafni should make the decision.
Doesn't this happen to everyone? Kosher expert Rabbi Yosef Dorfman arrived at Ben Gurion Airport this week on his way to another kosher mission abroad, and then discovered that he had come a day early and his flight was only scheduled for the next day.
Rabbi Yair Hadaya, who was chosen as the new chief rabbi of Eilat, at a reception for the Sephardi Chief Rabbi Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef, at the inauguration ceremony in the city.
The funeral procession for Rebbetzin of Rachmastrivka, may she rest in peace, which took place this week in Monsey with the participation of thousands of Hasidim, naturally required especially complex logistical arrangements regarding traffic direction and parking at the site. The man spotted in the field taking charge of the operation was the veteran activist Rabbi Zerah from Skver neighborhood. Rabbi Zerah, known in the Hasidic world for his many years of experience managing parking lots, was seen directing traffic, equipped with his signature walkie-talkie and managing the system with all the parties in the field.
And in a sharp transition, not only in Monsey, but also in Bnei Brak, at the wedding celebration of the rebbe of the Czanz-Zimigrad Hasidic court, Zupnik noticed the court activist equipped with a walkie-talkie pressed to his ear. Zupnik still does not know who had a matching earpiece of the same model.
The rebbe of Lelov-Sasnovtsa, who was upset this week that his brother, the rebbe of Lelov-Stratin, also ascended to the throne of leadership and began holding tisches in Bnei Brak, was seen in an urgent consultation with the Vizhnitz activist Yosef Shimon Schachter, in the hope that he would find a solution to the problem.
We saw the rebbe of Sereet Vizhnitz and his Hasidim praying at Rachel's Tomb.
Kreistir is bustling with life, as the Gavad of Makova has been staying there in recent days. Zupnik noticed that when he entered the guesthouse of Rubin, he was accompanied by Abraham Aba Greenbaum, an activist from Rabbi Yeshayele's House.
We saw Chief Rabbi David Lau, who flew on a strengthening trip to Jewish communities in the United States, in a private Torah conversation with students from the Satmar yeshiva in Queens.
French Jews received blessings from Yeshiva Head Rabbi Yitzhak Ezrachi, one of the heads of the Mir Yeshiva, who flew on a strengthening trip to Jewish communities.
Rabbi Shlomo Kanievsky, head of Kiryat Melech Yeshiva, blessing at the wedding canopy of the son of the benefactor Rabbi Shlomo Brunner. Sharp-eyed viewers will notice producer Gadi Witman holding the microphone.
Magen David Adom producer and spokesman Moti Buchchin this week married off his daughter Hila in a lavish event to Meir Simcha Kaletsky, son of businessman Gershi Kaletsky.
We saw celebrity rabbi Mordechai Hassidim with analyst Amit Segal of Channel 12 at the broadcast position in the Knesset.
Media figure Aryeh Erlich, editor of Mishpacha magazine, was seen putting tefillin on Boris Grinshpon, adviser to Knesset Speaker MK Amir Ohana, during a flight from the United States to Israel.
The businesspeople, the brothers Yankele, Shmulik and David Halperin, were seen praying at the Hilula of the Pele Yoetz in Bulgaria.
Social photographer Avi Partig found a creative way to take iPhone photos at events in closed Hasidic communities, just like a masquerade soldier in the army.
Rabbi Ronen Shaulov gave a special class to employees of Channel 14 at the channel's synagogue.
Radio broadcaster Yehuda Shukrun at a siyyum during a performance by singer Yaniv Ben Mashiach, held with full segregation at Caesarea Amphitheater. During the siyyum, Shukrun did humorous imitations of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Yaniv Ben Mashiach.
Magen David Adom CEO Eli Bin praised the strategic advisers, the brothers Yanki and Yom Tov Bichler, for their work on behalf of the organization, at the tribute performance for Magen David Adom friends, "Winners for Life," at the Sultan's Pool in Jerusalem.
Afterward, in the front row we saw Avraham Menela, chairman of MDA, Eli Bin, MDA CEO, and the brothers Yanki and Yom Tov Bichler, MDA's strategic advisers.
At the event at the Sultan's Pool, Zupnik caught the first performance of the MDA Jerusalem medics choir. The choir, built במיוחד by producer Eli Abramov, consists of organization volunteers, accompanied the greatest singers during the performance, and was one of the evening's surprises.
In the middle of the night this week we saw MDA volunteers posing for a group photo with singer Aharela Samet at a gas station in central Israel.
At the Western Wall we caught singer Mordechai Ben David and his close associate, businessman Shlomo Malul, in a heartfelt prayer.
We saw singer Pini Einhorn buying food at a local restaurant in Netanya after a performance.
The move that broke the internet this week was the footage from Binyanei HaUma, in which Lipa Schmeltzer was seen painting his magnificent shtreimel in front of the stunned audience. Zupnik rubbed his eyes, but the next day he received footage revealing the full story, the strategist and marketing man Mendi Weiner was seen with Lipa before Shabbat, as they planned together the surprise that managed to stir up the internet. Afterward, Zupnik saw Lipa Schmeltzer with the shtreimel near Binyanei HaUma and had trouble digesting that such a beautiful shtreimel was ruined at the event.
Singer Elkana Edri celebrated the brit of his first son at a luxurious event at David Castle, and his name in Israel will be Michael.
Rabbi Natan Tzvi Zokhovsky, chairman of Degel HaTorah's Rabbis Committee, and the halachic decisor Rabbi Amram Fried, together with Eliezer Cohen, a member of the Bnei Brak city council, congratulated MK Yaakov Asher, who became engaged to his daughter with the young man Reuven Hershkowitz.
In the middle of the night, after the event ended, we saw Yeshiva Head Rabbi Dov Landau arrive to congratulate MK Yaakov Asher, while behind him his assistant Yona Wizel was seen recording the event.
Shas chairman MK Aryeh Deri was seen immersed in Torah study during a debate in the Knesset plenum.
Later we saw Shas chairman MK Aryeh Deri and MK Haim Biton smiling in the Knesset plenum after the victory in the election of State Comptroller Attorney Michael Ravillo.
We saw MK Uri Maklev in a private conversation with Chief Rabbi David Lau outside an event in Bnei Brak.
MK Erez Malul served as prayer leader for Mincha in the office of Sephardi Chief Rabbi David Yosef, alongside chief of staff Itai Gadsi and aide Haim Triki.
Former minister Ron Dermer was seen in a meeting at the Kempinski Hotel in Tel Aviv.
Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar performed the mezuzah affixing at Israel's new embassy in Fiji.
Minister of National Security Itamar Ben Gvir was seen dancing at the wedding of the daughter of Rabbi Haim Perl, the chief rabbi of Fire and Rescue Services in Israel.
Culture and Sports Minister Miki Zohar received a blessing at the home of Rabbi Tzemach Mazuz, head of the Kisei Rahamim Yeshiva.
Defense Minister Israel Katz received a blessing from the kabbalist Rabbi Netanel Sheriki outside an event in Ofakim.
Transportation Minister Miri Regev and her ministry director-general Moshe Ben Zaken, received a blessing and consultation from Rabbi Yaakov Israel Ifergan, known as the Rantgen.
Moti Babchik, chief of staff to MK Yitzhak Goldknopf, chairman of United Torah Judaism, was seen engrossed in a phone call on his way to the inauguration of the bridge in Bnei Brak named after Rabbi Moshe Yehuda Leib Landa, may his memory be for a blessing, the city's rabbi.
Afterward we saw Yehuda Morgenstern, director-general of the Housing Ministry, arrive at the sought-after event.
During the ceremony we saw the mayor of Bnei Brak, Chanoch Zeibert, his deputy and acting mayor Menachem Shapira, deputy mayors Shlomi Elharar, Gudi Silman and Michael Kakun, longing for a patch of shade between the speeches and the tours at the bridge inauguration.
Yehuda Butbul, mayor of Elad, at the sheva brachot for the son of Shurli Frachter, chief of staff to deputy and acting mayor Yaakov David Barkovich.
Elad Mayor Yehuda Butbul also took part in a sheva brachot event hosted by public relations man Israel Rosenfeld for his niece.
We saw PR man Pinchas Plinker receiving a blessing from Rabbi Yeshu'a and Rachamim Abuchatzeira at a sheva brachot for his son.
Israel Gantz, head of the Binyamin Regional Council and chairman of the Yesha Council, in an exhibition boxing match with Israeli boxer Ahavat Hashem Gordon at a boxing club in New York.
We saw Barak Stiglitz, head of the Culture and Sports Department in Elad, and Yechikam Gamliel, head of the Youth Department in Elad, learning in chavruta during a vacation in Venice.
Yeshiva Head Rabbi Ben Zion Ezrachi of Ateret Yisrael was in a private conversation with Sephardi Chief Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef after a Torah event.
Sephardi Chief Rabbi David Yosef gave a lecture this week at the kollelim of the Center for Rabbinic Instruction for Rabbis, headed by Rabbi Yosef Eliyahu, the son of the late Sephardi Chief Rabbi Rabbi Mordechai Eliyahu. After years of estrangement.
Rabbi Moshe Prezis, who was chosen as the chief rabbi of Holon, was a guest at the weekly class of the people-loving Rabbi Yigal Cohen, head of Yabia Omer institutions and a member of the Chief Rabbinate Council of Israel. "I am a fan of the rabbi, he is the psychologist of the generation, the rabbi was a partner in my selection."
We saw Rabbi Zabdya Cohen, chief rabbi of Tel Aviv and head of the city's rabbinical courts, on a kosher inspection tour at one of the city's hotels.
Rabbi Shlomo Zbihy, rabbi of the Jews of Mashhad, Iran, and head of the Tiferet Rafael institutions, at a Torah scroll dedication held by Natan Elatan, chairman of the National Planning Staff at the Interior Ministry, who recently announced his resignation, in the Kiryat Shalom neighborhood of Tel Aviv, in memory of his son Rachamim Eliyahu Elatan, may his memory be for a blessing, who was killed about a year ago in a motorcycle accident.
Rabbi Avraham Deri, rabbi of Beersheba, and Rabbi Yitzhak Feldman, rabbi of the Assuta hospitals, at a Torah scroll dedication to Assuta Hospital in Beersheba.
Matanel Nogaoker, head of the chief rabbinate director-general's staff, in consultation at the home of Sephardi Chief Rabbi David Yosef.
Sephardi Chief Rabbi David Yosef and Rabbi Yosef Ben David, rabbi of the regional council of Kiryat Ekron and a member of the Chief Rabbinate Council of Israel, at a rare training conference on meat de-veining, held at the Ashdod religious council, led by city religious council chairman Rabbi Ovadia Dehan and Rabbi Avraham Buganim of the city's kashrut department.
And so they celebrated the birthday of producer Mati Goldstein, at Moti Zilber's restaurant in Manhattan.
Fashion designer Meir Elmalih flew secretly to Turkey to design custom-tailored suits for several Knesset members ahead of the elections.
Kabbalist Rabbi Netanel Sheriki paid a strengthening visit to the Torah wing at Ayalon Prison יחד with Central District Commander Chief Superintendent Shlomi Shaghi, prison commander Chief Superintendent Sharon Cohen, and Central District rabbi Rabbi Meir Magnazi.
We saw the charity figures Efi Feldman, chairman of United Hatzalah Bnei Brak, and Moshiko Moskovitz, chairman of Nechama VeHatzalah LeIsrael, eating on Thursday night at Motis in Bnei Brak.
Retired Lt. Col. Yossi Levi, CEO of the Shomer Union, won the title of "Heroes of Israeli Society" for 5786, awarded by the Zionist Council in Israel, under the World Zionist Organization.
Radio Kol Chai producer Shimi Broverman got engaged for a second marriage to Shira Oirbach.
Yael Ben Mashiach, the wife of singer Yaniv Ben Mashiach, held a challah separation ceremony together with her mother-in-law, in honor of the huge performance held this week in Caesarea.
Chef Dudu Outmezgine received a blessing from Rabbi Shlomo Yehuda Beeri, known as the Yanuka, who told him, "May you succeed in all your deeds."
Singer Sasson Shaulov and his manager, producer Avi Guetta, prayed the evening prayer shortly before a huge performance at Menora Mivtachim Arena in Tel Aviv.
Actor Omer Hazan held a dignified event in honor of a moving siyyum masechet he completed recently.
Finally, the five most-viewed stories on Kikar over the past week: in fifth place, the stormy protests of the Jerusalem Faction, with police forcibly clearing the demonstrators in Jerusalem with grenades and mounted police. In fourth place, without a port and without a law, the floating nuclear city that will house 80,000 residents. In third place, they remember you, the crows that do not forget faces and pass their grudge to the next generation. In second place, Trump leaned toward signing an agreement with Iran, but this is how it ended. And in first place, Esti was found after two weeks of being missing in a private house, this is how her family reacted.