Rabbinic weddings, protests, and political meetups fill this week’s gossip roundup

This week’s “Zupnik” roundup in Kikar HaShabbat mixes religious celebrations, political encounters, protest preparations, and behind-the-scenes media gossip. The column also says it has identified a new newspaper CEO, recently appointed without relevant background, who is trying to launch a subscription drive that has so far failed, and may soon be replaced.

Among the standout scenes, Rabbi Shalom Ber Sorkotzkin of Ateret Shlomo sang to a student at his wedding while sitting on the floor of the hall, alongside musicians Shmicha Birnhak and Moishe Sherman. The column also spotted figures ranging from Rabbi David Yosef, Rabbi Yigal Cohen, Rabbi Yitzhak David Grossman, and Rabbi David Lau to politicians including Moshe Gafni, Aryeh Deri, Amir Ohana, Yisrael Katz, Miki Zohar, and Benny Gantz.

A major thread was the “car protest,” organized in response to the arrest of draft dodging yeshiva students. Reporters and activists were shown preparing, riding in protest vehicles, pasting posters, and covering the demonstrations in real time. The roundup says Haredi politicians and aides were visible at the protests and even outside prisons, including at Prison 10, where lawmakers visited detained Torah students.

The column also highlights a long list of weddings, brit milah celebrations, bar mitzvah preparations, birthday parties, and musical events. It notes, among other things, a secret birthday for Netanel Angel, a bat mitzvah prep visit for the son of Israel Ozen, the wedding of the daughter of Yaakov Margi’s associate, and performances by several Haredi singers. It adds that Yair Elitzur has switched management after five years with Aviel Hillel and is now represented by Yotam Yechiel.

The roundup ends with its weekly most-read stories on the site and invites readers to send in photos or tips via email or WhatsApp.