MKs Who Won't Speak to Each Other, and All the Photos, Gossip, and Reveals of the Week

The spokesperson who became an editor | The yeshiva head was hospitalized and politicians came to visit him in secret | A Haredi appeal to Trump in Arabic | What did Geffner talk about with the rebbe's aide? | Everyone who was at Itzik Ohana's engagement party | The rebbe in business class | Mkaleb's aide got married, everyone was there | The prisoners' father at Izkovitz | The musicians reunited at the sheva berachot for the daughter of the producer and spokesperson | The mashgiach gave his book to Mordechai Ben David | The child prodigy in prayer | Amiram Dvir and Hillel Meir discuss Torah | Haredi political unity in the plenum | The MK who does shteiging every morning | Moti Babchik indulges himself | City hall senior officials threw a surprise birthday party for the mayor | The kabbalist celebrated his son's bar mitzvah and welcomed a first grandson | The five most-viewed reports this week on Kikar, and more... The photos, gossip, and hot stories of the week. Hosted by Itzik Ohana (Zupnik), Zupnik in Kikar (Photo: Nati Shohat, Flash 90 | Editing: Yedidya Cohen)

Zupnik reveal: Two Haredi Knesset members, from two different parties, have not been speaking to each other for some time. The reason, one of them claims the other hurt him in a media interview. • Did you photograph a known person “like any ordinary person,” get your hands on hot material, or hear kosher gossip? Send it by Wednesday to Zupnik via the Yellow Mail or WhatsApp

Zupnik reveal: For various reasons and problems, a spokesperson for one of the parties has begun, for now, to edit the weekly newspaper. Zupnik wishes him success. • Zupnik reveal: At one of the hospitals in Israel this week, a yeshiva head who in recent years has become influential in shaping the public agenda in one of the Haredi parties was hospitalized. Zupnik spotted many politicians who came to visit him out of concern for his condition. • Trump, hear from Yossi Abdo and Moshe Aryeh: The world is not fools, and here is an appeal by Yossi Abdo and Moshe Aryeh to President Donald Trump, “The world is not donkeys.” • Watch

Just before the stormy interview on the Kikar studio about the communications reform and the concern over Shabbat desecration, we caught interviewer Yossi Sergovski in a hallway conversation with Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi. At the wedding of the daughter of Shas man Yosef Chaim Kalf in Bnei Brak, Zupnik spotted Kikar HaShabbat commentator Yishai Cohen, the host of the program on Kol Chai Avi Mimran, and Shas’s legendary spokesman and new father Itzik Sudri in a joint selfie. At that same wedding, we caught Shas spokesman Asher Medina in a deep conversation with Dr. Avishai Ben Haim. Despite his broken leg, Yossi Abdo did not give up on visiting the grave of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai in Meron.

During a closed sheva berachot in the Vizhnitz Hasidic court held for donors and benefactors, Zupnik spotted the rebbe’s trusted aide, Bentzion Stanger, conferring with Degel HaTorah chairman MK Moshe Gafni and his son Eliyahu, with media personality Israel Cohen in between. Zupnik tried to listen in and heard Gafni speaking, among other things, about his meeting that evening with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his promises to the Haredi public. Did Gafni “buy” the promises? Zupnik is keeping that information to himself... (Photo: A. Eizenbach)

At a small event this week, Zupnik saw commentator Israel Cohen speaking with basketball player Deni Avdija, the most successful Israeli player in the American league. Avdija, who came to Israel for a short visit, is considered an Israeli advocate and uses the fact that he is a celebrity in the United States to work on behalf of the State of Israel. Rabbis and public figures attended this week the engagement celebration of media personality Itzik Ohana of Kikar HaShabbat, who became engaged to Hani Fahima. Zupnik learned that many who were on their way to the event canceled at the last minute because of the missile fire from Iran toward Israel. Rabbi Yigal Cohen, head of Yabia Omer institutions and a member of the Chief Rabbinate Council of Israel, who came to offer his blessings, revealed that he postponed his flight to a strengthening tour in the United States in order to attend the event: “Itzik always helps me do acts of public merit, this is my gratitude to him.” | Photo: Shlomi Cohen

Later, we saw Kabbalist Rabbi Yaakov Israel Ifargan, known as “the Rantgen,” blessing the groom Itzik Ohana. | Photo: Shlomi Cohen

During the event it was revealed that media personality Chaim Illuz, editor-in-chief of Kikar HaShabbat, was the one who brought Itzik Ohana into the media world about a decade ago. | Photo: Shlomi Cohen

Then we saw National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir blessing the groom Itzik Ohana: “I love him very much, he works for the people of Israel.” | Photo: Shlomi Cohen

Transport Minister Miri Regev and Transport Ministry Director General Moshe Ben Zaken, who came to bless Itzik Ohana, announced increased transportation on the wedding day. | Photo: Shlomi Cohen

Shahar Tal, one of the senior officials at the Interior Ministry, receives a warm blessing from Rabbi Yigal Cohen, head of Yabia Omer institutions and a member of the Chief Rabbinate Council of Israel, at Itzik Ohana’s engagement celebration. At the end of the evening we saw Itzik Ohana thanking from the bottom of his heart his good friend, social media star Shuki Solomon, who was also his matchmaker. Kikar HaShabbat historian Israel Shapira was seen listening to military rabbi Yehuda Wizman. Shapira asked about his years in Lebanon, “the land of cedars.”

Poskim Rabbi Yitzchak Zilberstein, rabbi of the Ramat Elchanan neighborhood in Bnei Brak and a member of the Council of Torah Sages of Degel HaTorah, was seen in the middle of Shacharit leaving the shelter of the synagogue after the sirens over the missile fire from Iran. | Photo: Kol Barama newsroom

The Modzitz Rebbe was seen in business class on the way to New York.

The maestro at work: just before the silver jubilee celebration for Vizhnitz institutions in Elad, Zupnik caught the legendary former house boy of the Vizhnitz Rebbe, Rabbi Yosef Shimon Schechter, giving a final briefing to the current house boy and his deputy team, who listened eagerly. Experience speaks!

At the betrothal of the daughter of ZAKA Netanya chairman Rabbi Moshe Barber, the ketubah was read by Rabbi Yosef Moshe Dov Halberstam, rabbi of the Tzanz communities in the United States, beloved son of the Tzanz Rebbe. (Photo: Moshe Goldstein)

At the wedding of his aide David Birenberg, MK Uri Maklev, who arrived early for the chupah, was seen in an animated conversation with the chairman of United Torah Youth, Rabbi Yehuda Wisfish. And here is MK Uri Maklev being honored under the chupah of his aide David Birenberg with the blessing “Who created man.”

MK Tzvi Sukkot was seen dancing wildly at the wedding with the groom David Birenberg. Among the many wedding guests, Zupnik spotted singer Shmulik Sukkot, who came to congratulate the happy groom. Yisrael Hayom Haredi affairs correspondent Yaakov Hershkowitz was seen during the rite of dressing the kittel for the groom David Birenberg. During the grand celebration, Zupnik caught Yedioth Ahronoth Haredi affairs correspondent Shila Fried together with Yehuda Mandelovitz, the man and the office. We caught the energetic activist Rabbi Ze’evy Druk on a motorcycle so as not to miss any event. Public relations and strategy man Yehuda Cohen sits during the aggressive speech by Degel HaTorah chairman MK Moshe Gafni at the United Torah Youth conference and briefs the speech to all news channels and websites. Watching over him from above is the mashgiach Rabbi Aharon Wagschal.

Rabbi Shalom Lazar, Chabad envoy in the Russian city of Sochi, affixed a mezuzah at the new home of social media star Dudi Kapler in Jerusalem.

The activist Rabbi Shimon Shisha, known as “the prisoners’ father,” was seen at the entrance to Izkovitz very late at night. Media personality Aryeh Erlich, editor of Mishpacha magazine, in a private conversation with singers Yaanky Daskal and Meir Adler at a Torah event in the United States. (Photo: Shalom Wagshal)

The musicians Shmulik Sukkot, Avrumi Weinberg, Chaim Shlomo Mayes, Shmulik Berger and Yossi Poltsek performed heartfelt songs at the sheva berachot for the daughter of producer and ZAKA spokesperson Moti Buchchin and the son of businessman Gershi Kaletsky. The educator Rabbi Meir Padida gave his book, “On One Foot,” to his close friend Mordechai Ben David, who came to visit him this week. We saw the child prodigy singer Mendi Roth at prayer at the grave of the Lubavitcher Rebbe in New York. Later we saw the child prodigy singer Mendi Roth in a musical meeting with singer Lipa Schmeltzer. Zupnik caught singer-songwriter and composer Moishi Greenbaum returning late at night from another big event while driving fast in blatantly illegal conduct...

We saw singers Amiran Dvir and Hillel Meir discussing Torah in the street. Singers Shmulik Sukkot, Ari Hill, Motti Wiesel and Dudi Feldman, along with social media figures Dudi Friedman and Avi Pratig, were at the bar mitzvah celebration for the son of musician and choir conductor Shmulik Kalish. (Photo: Hershi Kotovsky)

Musician Adi Netaneli in an interview with Nataniel Leifer on the program “HaMevaker” on Kikar HaShabbat, about the development and production of his luxury headphones. At the kiosk outside Zichron Moshe synagogue in Jerusalem, Zupnik saw singer and kumzitzer Shimi Lifshitz in conversation with fans. Composer, conductor, and arranger Moshe Laufer was seen this week renewing his suit in Bnei Brak.

We saw the following Knesset members, Aryeh Deri, Moshe Gafni, Michael Malkieli, Yaakov Asher, Uriel Buso, Yaakov Tessler, Chaim Biton, Yoav Ben Tzur and Yitzchak Goldknopf, in a political consultation in the Knesset plenum after the vote on the Basic Law, Torah Study, which was approved in its preliminary reading. (Photo: Noam Moskowitz, Knesset spokesperson)

Zupnik caught MK Uriel Buso studying the daily page of Talmud, as he does every morning, at the Avi Ezri synagogue in Petah Tikva, before going on with his day. Zupnik of course did not miss the drama this week in the Finance Committee that debated the daycare bill. During the debate, Zupnik repeatedly caught crucial consultations between Degel HaTorah chairman MK Moshe Gafni and United Torah Judaism faction chairman MK Uri Maklev. MKs Yaakov Margi and Moshe Abutbul, in a political conversation with Shas chairman MK Aryeh Deri in the Knesset plenum.

Erez Maimon, chairman of the Tiferet organization, in a working meeting with Culture and Sports Minister Miki Zohar on the development of cultural events in the Haredi and religious sectors. Rabbi Shmuel Rabinovitch, rabbi of the Western Wall and the holy sites, Boaz Yosef, director general of the Population and Immigration Authority, Yehuda Avidan, director general of the Religious Services Ministry, and Yaakov Cohen, one of the senior officials at the Religious Services Ministry, on a professional tour in Meron and Amukah ahead of the expansion and upgrading of infrastructure at the tomb of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai and the tomb of the holy Tanna Rabbi Yonatan ben Uziel.

Moti Babchik, chief of staff to Yitzchak Goldknopf, chairman of United Torah Judaism, was seen indulging at the restaurant of chef Avi Malka in Rishon LeZion. Moishi Zelushinski and Israel Klerman were seen listening eagerly to a Talmud lesson from Rabbi Yosef Graz. Netali Ken Dror, chief of staff to National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, was caught deep in a phone conversation at the guard post at the ministry entrance. Zupnik wonders whether she is switching to a security role.

Senior officials from the Elad municipality at a surprise birthday party for Mayor Yehuda Butbul, during a working meeting. We saw Shmuelik Greenberg, mayor of Beit Shemesh, and Yehuda Morgenstern, director general of the Housing and Construction Ministry, in a private conversation about the city’s outline agreement at a real estate conference. Meir Rubinstein, mayor of Beitar Illit, received a blessing from the Biala Beit Shemesh Rebbe at the wedding celebration for the daughter of producer Rabbi Zusha Deitch. (Photo: Shmuel Frey)

Jerusalem Mayor Moshe Lion awarded the City Mayor’s Volunteerism Medal to medical adviser Rabbi Binyamin Fisher, chairman of Magen LaCholeh. (Photo: Aharon Kruizer)

The incoming head of the Mossad, Maj. Gen. Roman Gofman, visited and prayed at the Western Wall together with Rabbi Shmuel Rabinovitch, rabbi of the Western Wall and the holy sites. Kabbalist Rabbi Shimon Galai and medical activist Eli Broner of Ezer Mizion paid a condolence visit to Rabbi Shlomo Davidzon, who lost his wife and son in a car accident about a month ago and is hospitalized at Hadassah Hospital. Rabbi Michal Lasri, a public benefactor, married off his granddaughter Michal, daughter of his son Kobi, to Yitzhak Peretz, son of Rabbi Pinchas Eliyahu Peretz from Ofakim. | Photo: Photo by Meir Babiov | Video: Asnat Ovadia

Kabbalist Rabbi Netanel Shiriki celebrated his son Daniel’s bar mitzvah at Ahuzat Daniel hall in Netivot, with rabbis and public figures in attendance. | Photo: Production: Shon Blaish

That same week, Rabbi Netanel Shiriki was blessed with a first grandson, a son born to his daughter Ranana Ben Ezra. Rabbi Yaakov Yagen married off his son, the cantor Nissim Yagen, in a happy occasion. We saw celebrity rabbi Mordechai Hassidim buying fish for Shabbat at the Mahane Yehuda market in Jerusalem. Haredi talent agent Yossi Hoffman was injured in the leg during a motorcycle ride on a trip in Vietnam. Rabbi Shimon Assayag, one of the rabbis of Afula, prayed at the gravesite of Rabbi Yeshayele of Kerestir in Hungary. Rabbi Zbadia Cohen, chief rabbi of Tel Aviv and head of the city’s rabbinical courts, and Rabbi Itzik Bar Ze’ev, rabbi of the Great Synagogue in Tel Aviv, affixed a mezuzah at the office of Shlomo Pivko, president of the Great Synagogue and chief cantor of the Air Force. (Photo: Moshe Bohbot)

We saw businessman and attorney Avi Hadar studying diligently during a private event. Ahead of the approaching elections and the Likud primaries, Yossi Rosenbaum is adding public relations man Elad Par to his office, known as a trusted aide to benefactors of the Torah world, who until now worked behind the scenes and is now joining the firm. Zupnik wishes him success. We saw social media star Dudi Kapler filming an interesting video with Nachum Frank, CEO of Mazoor. Charitable activists Yehoshua Rauchberger and Yaakov Zeibeld of Lev Chash in Haifa received the President’s Volunteer Award from President Isaac Herzog. Journalist Moran Kors had a car accident this week. “A car hit us, it’s a miracle it ended with just trees and rocks, we came out unharmed,” she told Zupnik.

At the conclusion of a learning and research process on growth trends in the education system, held at the initiative of the Haredi district in the Education Ministry, certificates of appreciation were presented to the group facilitators by Haredi district director Shai Kalderon and Haredi professional development supervisor Eti Binder.

Singer Yinon Ben Meshiach led havdalah at the end of Shabbat Chatan for footballer Yarden Shua of Beitar Jerusalem and Or Zuares, with singer Yinon Midar seen nearby. | Photo: Mikhael Sharbit

And to conclude, the five most-viewed articles in the past week on Kikar: in fifth place, for the first time ever, divers documented an impressive great white shark in the Mediterranean Sea. In fourth place, within a few days, Elon Musk is expected to become the first trillionaire in history. In third place, the Israeli singer claimed he won 40 million in the lottery and posted a story, “I didn’t realize I was a millionaire.” In second place, with full payment and in accordance with acquisition law, the court sold the kabbalist’s illness to a gentile. And in first place, “War on protection money,” Ben Gvir and Galon’s massive plan goes into action.