Due to the current security situation in Israel and the high number of soldiers who have fallen in Gaza and Lebanon, Ultra-Orthodox community leaders have ordered the cancellation of all events planned for the "Bein Hazmanim" (between-semester) vacation period.
According to a report on the Haredi news site 'Kikar Hashabbat', Lithuanian community leader Rabbi Dov Landau is considering canceling not only the events but the entire Bein Hazmanim vacation itself.
Following the decision by Rabbi Landau and Rabbi Moshe Hillel Hirsch, event organizers and Haredi municipalities have already begun announcing the cancellation of numerous events planned for the coming days.
In addition, it appears that the Bein Hazmanim vacation will end earlier than expected, and the start of the winter semester, which was supposed to begin next Friday or Sunday, will likely be moved up to Tuesday or Wednesday.
[Note: "Bein Hazmanim" refers to the traditional vacation period between study semesters at Orthodox Jewish religious schools and yeshivas.]
