matzav.com
What is Matzav.com
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Matzav.com is an online news website aimed largely at the Orthodox / “frum” Jewish community. (matzav.com)
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Its tagline calls it “The online voice of Torah Jewry.” (matzav.com)
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It began in the late 2000s (formally, a “new site” launch was announced in 2009). (matzav.com)
What it covers — content & scope
Matzav.com offers a mix of content, roughly broken down into:
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News — including “Breaking News,” “US & World,” “Jewish Community,” “Torah World,” etc. (matzav.com)
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Opinion — editorials, letters to the editor (e.g. “Matzav Inbox”), commentary, community discussions. (matzav.com)
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Torah / Jewish-religious content — including halachic discussions (“Halachic Corner”), “Daf Yomi Insights,” weekly Torah portion commentary (“Parsha Insights”), video shiurim (classes/lectures). (matzav.com)
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Notices relevant to the Orthodox community — e.g. yahrtzeit (memorials), communal announcements, events. (matzav.com)
In other words the site mixes “world news + Jewish community news + internal religious / Torah content.”
Editorial Purpose & Audience
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The site aims to serve “Torah-observant” Jews — i.e. those who want news filtered through a religious lens, or in a way that avoids material considered objectionable in Orthodox circles. (matzav.com)
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From its “Who We Are” page, Matzav.com claims that its perspective is rooted in Torah values — using Torah as the basis for moral and social guidance. (matzav.com)
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Historically they have partnered with “kosher internet” providers / filters so that readership remains within community standards. (matzav.com)
Recent Developments
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On March 13, 2025, Matzav.com announced a merger with another Jewish news site, Yeshiva World News. This merger was described as a “historic” combining of the two to create a single broader site covering all facets of frum life. (matzav.com)
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The merged venture is referred to as MatzavWorld in that announcement. (matzav.com)
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According to older site-history posts, Matzav.com grew “faster than any Jewish news site of its kind on the Web” in its early years. (matzav.com)
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The site says that as of late 2024 it experienced a record-high traffic month, marking its 18th year as a news source for its community. (matzav.com)
Strengths & Criticisms (or Trade-offs)
Some strengths of Matzav.com:
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It fills a niche for Torah-observant Jews who want news + religious content + community announcements in one place.
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It tries to respect religious sensitivities (e.g. “kosher internet” ethos, filtering of objectionable content) — meaningful for users who want to avoid secular-media issues.
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Offers both global/world news and deeply community-specific coverage (Jewish community affairs, halacha, Torah learning resources).
But there are trade-offs / limitations to be aware of:
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The religious orientation means the lens is strongly Orthodox; readers should be conscious that reporting and commentary may reflect that worldview (rather than “neutral secular journalism”).
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Coverage may prioritize issues important to the frum community; some global or secular topics might get less attention or be framed differently.
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Because the site also offers opinion and religious-commentary, differentiation between objective news vs. ideological/religious commentary sometimes must be carefully considered by the reader.
What People Use It For
Matzav.com tends to be used by:
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Orthodox Jews seeking a news source aligned with their religious values.
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People who want to stay updated on both global events, Jewish-community developments, and religious/halachic issues.
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Individuals or families looking for Yiddishkeit-friendly commentary — Torah insights, halachic rulings, communal decisions, as well as news about antisemitism, Israel events, community welfare, etc.
Key Takeaways
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Matzav.com is a long-running online news site serving the Orthodox Jewish community, mixing world news, community reporting, religious teachings, and opinions.
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It aims to offer a “kosher” medium — content aligned with values and filters appropriate for a frum readership.
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Recently the site merged with Yeshiva World News into a new unified platform, which likely expands its coverage and audience.
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For readers within its target community, it offers a one-stop place for news, Torah learning content, and community matters. For others, its religious/communal orientation means it should be approached with awareness of its perspective.
FAQ
Q: Is Matzav.com secular or religious?
Matzav.com is religious — explicitly oriented to Torah-observant (Orthodox) Jewish values. Its content is shaped by that framework.
Q: Does it cover only Jewish-community news, or also general/world news?
It covers both. There are sections for global/world news, U.S news, Jewish-community news, as well as Torah-specific and religious content.
Q: Is Matzav.com the same as MatzavWorld now?
As of 2025, there was an announced merger of Matzav.com with Yeshiva World News, under the name “MatzavWorld.” The claim is that the two combined into a single larger site.
Q: Can non-Orthodox or secular readers get value from it?
Potentially yes — for world or global news updates. But because the editorial lens is religious and community-oriented, some articles (especially on community/halacha) might assume familiarity with Orthodox norms and may carry implicit religious framing.
Q: Does Matzav.com offer religious teachings or study resources?
Yes. It includes Torah-related content: halachic discussions, Daf Yomi insights, weekly parsha (Torah portion) commentary, and even video shiurim (lectures/classes).
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