Secrecy, Rabbinic Power Moves, and High-Profile Weddings in This Week’s Jewish Media Roundup

A weekly roundup in the ultra-Orthodox gossip column opens with a report that a major Hasidic court is in turmoil over the health of its rebbe. The leadership is said to be keeping the medical details hidden even from close aides, while worried followers try to learn what is happening. The publication says this is not Gur, Belz, or Vizhnitz, but the identity of the rebbe remains under a court gag order, and it will keep watching.

Another exclusive says the shake-up over gabbais in one court linked to a member of the Council of Torah Sages has entered a second stage. According to the report, the rebbetzin was furious over the leak and the court decided on a damage-control strategy. For now, only the study hall gabbais will be replaced, while the rebbe’s own gabbais will be handled later, quietly and out of sight.

The column also reports on a string of political and public appearances: businessman Haredi figures, journalists, ministers, and rabbis were seen at weddings, study sessions, blessings, and private gatherings across Israel, New York, Miami, Bnei Brak, Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, and even an open-air event in Bulgaria. Among the notable scenes were Benny Gantz studying with Yishai Cohen, Israel Cohen speaking with Aryeh Deri, and several ministers and MKs attending family celebrations and visiting imprisoned yeshiva students. It also notes that Interior Ministry officials toured a light-rail site, and that Minister Itamar Ben Gvir was photographed on vacation in Eilat.

The most detailed social coverage centered on the wedding of MK Moshe Gafni’s granddaughter, daughter of Rabbi Eliahu Gafni, where a wide array of politicians, rabbis, and public figures attended, including Ministers Miri Regev and Mai Golan. Rabbi Yitzchak Zilberstein blessed the groom and later spoke at the event. The next day, an elaborate sheva berachot was held at the old synagogue in Motza, with leading Torah figures and Knesset members present.

The roundup ends with entertainment and religion crossover: singers performed at weddings in Tel Aviv and Miami, Motty Steinmetz sang at a Miami wedding and later teamed with Ofir Salomon for a duet, and several public figures were seen praying, learning, giving blessings, or celebrating birthdays. It also lists the week’s five most-read stories on the site, topped by a report about the grounded F-35 and the potential loss of billions.