Feed aggregator

LISTEN:

Israeli Heritage Minister Amichai Eliyahu quietly traveled to Russia on Thursday for an official visit, marking the first trip by a member of Israel’s government to the country in three years. Arutz Sheva–Israel National News reports exclusively that Eliyahu is expected to remain in Russia through the weekend before returning to Israel on Sunday.

The visit comes against the backdrop of the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war and a sensitive diplomatic climate between Moscow and Israel, making the trip particularly notable.

While in Russia, Eliyahu conducted a series of working meetings with businessman Lev Leviev, as well as officials from the Israeli Embassy and leaders of the local Jewish community.

The discussions centered on plans for a new heritage center dedicated to immigrants from the former Soviet Union. The project, which is being developed in partnership with the Rishon LeZion Municipality, is expected to cost more than 100 million shekels and aims to preserve the legacy and experiences of Soviet Jewry for future generations.

“Since the 1990s, no one has been telling this story, and in another moment, it will be forgotten,” Minister Eliyahu told Arutz Sheva-Israel National News, explaining the necessity of the project.

Eliyahu said his commitment to the initiative stems from a formative experience during his youth. At age 12, he accompanied his father, Rabbi Shmuel Eliyahu, to witness the large-scale immigration of Jews from the former Soviet Union to Israel. Seeing his father moved to tears left a lasting impression on him, and over time he became increasingly aware of the cultural and historical challenges facing many Russian-speaking immigrants, inspiring him to champion the heritage center.

The trip is especially significant given the strained history between Eliyahu and Russian officials. Roughly a month after the outbreak of the Swords of Iron War, Russia’s Foreign Ministry publicly condemned remarks he made suggesting that the use of an atomic bomb in Gaza was an option.

At the time, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova responded sharply, saying, “This appears to be an admission by Israel that it possesses nuclear weapons. If we are hearing official statements on this matter, then where are the inspectors of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)?”

{Matzav.com}

A group of six Republican senators broke with their party and sided with Democrats in support of an amendment aimed at preventing construction of President Donald Trump’s planned 90,000-square-foot White House ballroom without explicit approval from Congress.

The proposal, introduced by Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), sought to place authority for the ballroom project solely in the hands of Congress. It also would have prohibited the use of federal funds or private donations for the project unless lawmakers first signed off on it.

The six Republicans who voted with Democrats to overcome a procedural hurdle were Sens. Susan Collins of Maine, Jon Husted of Ohio, Jerry Moran of Kansas, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Dan Sullivan of Alaska, and Thom Tillis of North Carolina.

The amendment was offered during the Senate’s vote-a-rama on the Republican reconciliation package focused on immigration enforcement funding. To move forward, it needed 60 votes to defeat a point-of-order challenge.

The measure ultimately fell short, failing by a vote of 52-47.

Several of the Republicans who supported the amendment are facing difficult political battles ahead of the November elections.

A recent Fox News survey of 1,015 registered Ohio voters, conducted between May 28 and June 1, found Husted trailing former Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown in Ohio’s Senate contest.

In Maine, a UMASS Lowell/YouGov poll of 650 likely voters conducted between May 13 and May 26 showed Democratic challenger Graham Platner ahead of Collins by a margin of 48 percent to 43 percent.

Meanwhile, an Alaska Survey Research poll conducted in March among 1,283 registered voters found Democratic candidate Mary Peltola leading Sullivan in a potential Senate matchup.

Earlier this week, Senate Republicans removed language from the revised reconciliation bill that would have provided up to $1 billion in federal funding for the ballroom project. The revised legislation was released by the Senate Judiciary Committee.

The original version of the budget package had included as much as $1 billion for security improvements at the White House and the proposed ballroom. That funding provision sparked significant resistance from Republican senators, prompting its removal from the final Senate draft.

{Matzav.com}

Renewed debate over the kashrus status of conventional broiler chickens has once again stirred discussion in the Torah world, prompting a direct inquiry to one of the generation’s foremost halachic authorities. During a recent visit to Rav Moshe Sternbuch, Rav Shlomo Yedidya Zafrani, Av Beis Din of Kesser Torah, sought clarification on the issue amid a fresh campaign challenging the permissibility of commonly consumed poultry.

The question arose during Rav Zafrani’s visit to Rav Sternbuch’s home, where the dayan raised concerns about the renewed efforts by certain groups to discourage consumption of standard broiler chickens and revive support for the Brakel breed as the preferred alternative.

Rav Zaafrani reviewed the background of the controversy, reminding Rav Sternbuch of the heated debate that erupted several years ago when advocates of the Brakel chicken sought to promote its use while casting doubt on the status of conventional poultry commonly found in Jewish homes.

He noted that at the time, Rav Sternbuch issued a clear and unequivocal ruling permitting the continued consumption of standard broiler chickens without concern. Rav Zafrani further recalled that Rav Sternbuch had taken the unusual step of dispatching a knowledgeable representative to personally investigate the relevant shechitah and kashrus procedures, ultimately confirming that there was no basis for concern.

The dayan also informed Rav Sternbuch that he had relied on that ruling when authoring his own halachic works and had published the permissive ruling in his seforim based on Rav Sternbuch’s guidance.

In light of recent advertisements and public campaigns once again calling for the prohibition of conventional poultry and generating concern among consumers, Rav Zafrani asked whether there had been any change in the halachic assessment and whether Rav Sternbuch continued to stand by his original position.

Rav Sternbuch responded immediately and emphatically, declaring: “מה שהיה – היה.”

With those words, Rav Sternbuch made clear that his original ruling remains fully in force. According to the account of the meeting, he reaffirmed that the accepted broiler chickens consumed throughout the Torah-observant community remain permissible, and that the longstanding ruling relied upon by many leading rabbanim continues to stand without modification.

His response was widely interpreted as a decisive rejection of renewed attempts to cast doubt on the kashrus of conventional poultry and as reassurance to the public that there is no need to be alarmed by the latest wave of claims surrounding the issue.

{Matzav.com}

Following months of discussions with leading roshei yeshivah, poskim, and Torah leaders, a significant decision has been reached in the world of shidduchim: broad support has been granted to “Hashadchan,” a supervised shidduch platform that operates through a monitored telephone system and digital network.

Earlier this week, shortly before departing for the Keren Olam HaTorah fundraising mission in the United States, Slabodka Rosh Yeshivah Rav Dov Landau met with the organization’s leadership and members of its spiritual oversight committee. During the meeting, he received a detailed presentation outlining the platform’s operations, supervision procedures, and security safeguards, and subsequently offered his blessing for the initiative.

Sources familiar with the process told Matzav.com that the decision followed an extended period during which leading Torah authorities carefully evaluated the changes that have taken place in the shidduch world in recent years, particularly the growing use of digital platforms. One of the primary issues under discussion was the widespread circulation of photographs during the shidduch process and concerns over the lack of control families often have over how those images are shared.

According to individuals involved in the discussions, the transmission of photographs among shadchanim, acquaintances, and other parties became a major focus. To address those concerns, the platform developed a specialized security feature known as the “Vault,” which prevents users from downloading, saving, or forwarding images. Photographs become viewable only after approval from both sides and may be accessed only a limited number of times and for a restricted period.

Another distinctive aspect of the initiative is its emphasis on parental involvement. Access to the database is limited exclusively to parents through a controlled supervision system. Once an initial match is identified, the process is transferred to a certified shadchan affiliated with the program. Yeshivah bochurim and seminary students are not directly involved in the search process itself.

Following the approval of the initiative, a spiritual oversight committee was established to guide and monitor its development. The committee operates under the direction of the project’s presidents, Rav Yehoshua Eichenstein, Rosh Yeshivah of Yad Aharon, and Rav Amram Fried. Other members include Rav Dovid Eisenstein, one of the roshei yeshivah of Lehavas HaTorah in Beitar Illit, and veteran shadchan and educator Rabbi Hillel Mann.

A substantial number of prominent rabbinic figures from both the Litvishe and Sephardic communities have already expressed support for the project. Among them are Rav Berel Povarsky, Rav Yitzchok Zilberstein, Rav Asher Weiss, Rav Shlomo Yehudah Zafrani, Rav Mordechai Shmuel Edelstein, Rav Shimon Galei, Rav Chaim Peretz Berman, Rav Yehudah Silman, and others.

The initiative was first presented approximately a year ago to Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch, who voiced his support for the concept. More recently, Rav Dovid Cohen also endorsed the project.

At the same time, representatives of the initiative have spent recent weeks presenting the model to rabbanim and educators in a number of chassidic communities, particularly within Belz and Vizhnitz. Leaders in those circles have reportedly expressed interest in the platform, and discussions are underway regarding the possibility of integrating it into the shidduch systems used by their educational institutions, under the guidance of the respective rabbinic leadership and in cooperation with the organization’s administration.

According to the organizers, the platform has already helped facilitate the establishment of more than 320 Jewish homes throughout Israel.

Next week, the leadership of the initiative is scheduled to meet with Rav Meir Tzvi Bergman, the senior member of the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah, to seek his blessing for the continued growth of the project and its planned expansion both in Israel and abroad.

A war powers resolution sponsored by Representative Rashida Tlaib that sought to force President Donald Trump to withdraw U.S. forces from military operations in Lebanon suffered an overwhelming defeat in the House of Representatives on Thursday, according to The Hill.

Lawmakers rejected the measure by a lopsided 324-92-2 vote. The opposition included a broad bipartisan coalition of 207 Republicans, 117 Democrats, and Independent Representative Kevin Kiley of California, all of whom voted against the proposal.

Representative Thomas Massie of Kentucky was the lone Republican to support the resolution. Meanwhile, Democratic Representatives Betty McCollum of Minnesota and Derek Tran of California voted present.

Tlaib’s resolution argued that Congress had never granted formal approval for the current U.S. military involvement connected to events in Lebanon.

“Congress has not declared war with respect to, or provided any specific statutory authorization for, United States military participation in the military action by Israel in Lebanon, and the United States has not designated any actor inside Lebanon under any authorization for use of military force,” it stated.

Following the vote, Tlaib defended the legislation on social media, repeating accusations against Israel while urging an end to military operations.

“11 children are being killed every day in Lebanon. The indiscriminate bombings must stop. The government of Israel has expanded strikes across the country despite a ceasefire,” she wrote.

Tlaib did not mention that Hezbollah has repeatedly violated the ceasefire agreement by launching rockets and explosive drones at Israeli civilians and IDF soldiers.

The measure faced resistance not only from Republicans but also from senior Democrats. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York and other top Democratic leaders released a joint statement disputing the central premise of the resolution.

They argued that “currently there are no US servicemembers involved in combat operations or hostilities in Lebanon.”

Democratic leaders further noted that if congressional action were eventually required, another war powers resolution introduced by Tlaib would be a more appropriate vehicle. That separate measure also calls for the withdrawal of U.S. troops from combat operations in Lebanon but specifically states that “nothing in this concurrent resolution may be construed to prevent or limit security cooperation with the Lebanese Armed Forces or the protection of diplomatic facilities.”

Tlaib has remained one of Israel’s most outspoken critics throughout her time in Congress and has intensified those attacks during the war against Hamas in Gaza.

Following the October 7, 2023 Hamas massacre in Israel, she criticized what she described as Israel’s “apartheid system” and condemned the United States for providing billions of dollars in support of what she called “the apartheid government.”

She has also repeatedly defended her use of the slogan “from the river to the sea,” insisting that it represents Palestinian Arab freedom, despite widespread criticism that the phrase is a call for the elimination of the State of Israel.

Tlaib additionally faced backlash after accusing the IDF of “bombing” a hospital in Gaza, despite evidence showing that the explosion was caused by a misfired rocket launched by the Islamic Jihad terrorist organization.

[Video below.] President Donald Trump announced Thursday that he will use emergency wartime authorities to channel nearly $700 million into the American coal industry, aiming to expand coal exports overseas and increase coal-powered electricity generation at home.

The initiative will rely on the Defense Production Act of 1950, a law enacted during the Cold War that gives the president sweeping powers to support industries considered vital to national security. Under the plan, federal funds will be directed toward modernizing more than a dozen coal-fired power plants, helping finance the construction of two new coal facilities, and advancing development of a coal-export terminal on the West Coast.

Administration officials have argued that strengthening domestic energy production is essential for national security, particularly as electricity demand rises due to the rapid growth of artificial intelligence infrastructure. They also contend that expanding U.S. energy capacity will reduce dependence on foreign sources.

Environmental groups quickly blasted the proposal, accusing the administration of spending taxpayer dollars to prop up an industry they say contributes heavily to pollution and climate concerns.

Patrick Drupp, climate policy director at the Sierra Club, called it a taxpayer-funded subsidy for a polluting industry and said the group would fight the initiative in courts.

“It is disgusting and reprehensible that the president of the United States is giving away our taxpayer dollars to deadly and expensive coal plants,” Drupp said.

Industry leaders, however, praised the move. Rich Nolan, president and CEO of the National Mining Association, said the investment would help maintain a stable energy supply while meeting growing electricity needs and shielding consumers from volatile energy prices.

“The administration is supporting ⁠that strategy with decisive action at home to ensure that upgrades to existing energy assets are made, and at our ⁠ports to ⁠ensure that U.S. coal can answer the world’s needs,” Nolan said.

Coal once dominated the nation’s electricity grid, accounting for more than half of all U.S. power generation in 1990. Today, however, its share has fallen below 20 percent as utilities increasingly turned to natural gas and renewable energy alternatives.

Although Trump has rolled back numerous regulations affecting the coal sector, employment in the industry has continued to decline. Federal data cited from the St. Louis Federal Reserve shows that the number of coal miners in the United States dropped from roughly 51,500 in 2017 to approximately 39,800 last year.

According to a White House official, more than half of the funding package will be allocated to upgrades at 13 existing coal-fired power plants. Additional funding will support coal-related projects in Alaska, Maryland, and West Virginia, as well as the long-discussed West Gateway coal export terminal in Northern California.

{Matzav.com}

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy publicly appealed to Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday to meet in person for negotiations, issuing a direct challenge as the war enters a pivotal stage and diplomatic efforts remain stalled.

The open letter marked the first time since Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022 that Zelenskyy has publicly addressed Putin directly. In the message, he sharply criticized the Russian leader’s more than two decades in power and argued that the conflict can only be resolved through leadership-level engagement.

Zelenskyy also noted changing international dynamics, saying Ukraine cannot afford to sit back and wait for Washington to refocus on the conflict while the Trump administration remains heavily engaged with developments involving Iran.

“I am proposing a meeting,” Zelenskyy wrote.

President Donald Trump welcomed the idea of a direct meeting between the two leaders and expressed hope that such talks could help bring the war to a close.

“It would be great” if Putin and Zelenskyy met, Trump said. “They should get it done.”

When reporters asked Trump what concessions he had encouraged Putin to make in pursuit of peace, the president declined to elaborate on specifics but emphasized that compromise would be required from both sides.

“They’re going to both make compromises,” he said. “I suggested those compromises.”

Zelenskyy’s proposal comes as Ukraine seeks to capitalize on recent military gains achieved through enhanced long-range strike capabilities, which have complicated Russian operations. At the same time, Russia has intensified aerial attacks across Ukraine, using missiles and drones in an effort to exploit Kyiv’s ongoing vulnerabilities and shortages.

The Ukrainian president suggested that any negotiations take place in a neutral location rather than in either country’s capital. He named Switzerland, Turkey, and several Arab nations as potential venues.

“It is leaders who resolve the key issues. That has always been the case, and it always will be,” he wrote. “I propose to set a clear date for such a meeting.”

Zelenskyy further claimed that Ukrainian intelligence assessments indicate Russia may be preparing for a prolonged conflict extending through 2027 and 2028, with an increasing reliance on ballistic missile attacks to compensate for shortcomings on the battlefield.

He also accused the Kremlin of attempting to widen instability in the region by drawing Belarus further into the war and fueling tensions surrounding Transnistria, the Russian-backed separatist territory in Moldova.

According to Zelenskyy, the economic and military costs of the war are becoming increasingly difficult for Russia to absorb. He pointed to successful Ukrainian drone strikes deep inside Russian territory, economic pressures, fuel supply problems, inflation, and continued mobilization efforts as evidence of mounting strain.

The Ukrainian leader asserted that Russian forces suffered more than 30,000 killed or seriously wounded troops during May alone. He said Ukraine possesses “video confirmation” of those losses and argued that similar casualty figures have persisted for months.

At the same time, Zelenskyy acknowledged that Ukraine continues to endure significant losses of its own, even while maintaining what he described as a more favorable casualty ratio.

As part of his proposal, Zelenskyy said Ukraine would support a complete ceasefire for the duration of negotiations and called for a full prisoner exchange between the two sides as an initial confidence-building measure.

He also urged Russia to return Ukrainian civilians and children who were taken from occupied areas during the course of the war.

“The world has not grown tired of Ukraine, as you long hoped it would. But there is growing fatigue with Russia,” Zelenskyy said.

A court in Yerushalayim on Thursday heard requests to extend the detention of dozens of individuals arrested following the violent protest outside the home of Deputy Supreme Court President Justice Noam Solberg. During the proceedings, several detainees and their attorneys raised serious allegations regarding the conditions under which they were held after their arrests.

The hearings, held at the Yerushalayim Magistrate’s Court, involved 62 suspects arrested in connection with the disturbance and alleged damage caused to Justice Solberg’s home and vehicle.

At the conclusion of the hearings, the court approved continued detention for 44 of the suspects. The detention of five minors was extended until Friday, while some adult suspects will remain in custody until June 9 and others until June 10.

In a separate ruling, the court ordered 19 suspects released to house arrest. However, it granted a police request to delay implementation of those releases until Friday. The bus driver who was arrested in connection with the incident was released, while hearings involving additional suspects were still ongoing.

Police had sought a 12-day extension of the suspects’ detention, arguing that they posed a danger. Because of the unusually large number of detainees, the proceedings were divided among three courtrooms and heard by three different judges, creating the possibility that suspects facing similar allegations could receive different rulings.

During the hearings, it emerged that some of the detainees have refused to identify themselves to authorities. Statements made in court indicated that this refusal has weighed against them when judges considered requests for release or alternative detention arrangements.

Attorney Roi Polity, who represents many of the suspects, sharply criticized the manner in which they were held following their arrests. Addressing a police investigator, he asked, “Since they were arrested until now, they were kept on a bus? Did you create a prison on wheels and violate the arrest laws?”

The investigator responded, “I can state that for most of the time they were on the bus. There is not enough room at the Chevron police station.”

One detainee personally addressed the judge and described what he claimed were difficult conditions following the arrests. He alleged that the bus was sealed without air conditioning, that detainees were restrained with plastic handcuffs behind their backs, and that those who stood up were knocked down. He further claimed that despite repeated requests as temperatures rose and detainees felt faint, the air conditioning was not turned on. According to his account, some detainees eventually lost consciousness, prompting emergency medical volunteers to respond. He said they were later returned to the bus, and that conditions at the Russian Compound detention facility were similarly unbearable, with no ventilation, drinking water, or restroom access for approximately 24 hours.

The proceedings also revealed that a police vehicle was reportedly present at the scene when the incident began and observed the events as they unfolded but did not intervene. According to the investigator, the reason was a significant disparity between the number of police officers and the number of demonstrators.

Attorney Polity questioned how authorities could argue that Justice Solberg’s family had been in danger if police officers had withdrawn from the scene. Police representatives countered that some detainees allegedly attempted to escape while being transported to the Hebron police station and that officers successfully prevented those efforts.

The defense attorney also raised allegations regarding the use of force against detainees. He argued that authorities should investigate claims that suspects were struck while handcuffed behind their backs. In addition, he asserted that cameras confiscated by police contained no footage, leaving investigators without evidence against many of the suspects.

A police representative responded that the investigation remains ongoing and insisted that additional evidence is expected to emerge, saying, “There will be evidence.”

President Donald Trump said Thursday that any Iranian attack resulting in the deaths of American service members could quickly lead to renewed U.S. military action, underscoring the fragile nature of the current ceasefire with Tehran.

While speaking with reporters at the White House, Trump was asked whether the United States would return to war if Iran killed American troops. He responded, “Well, it would be a good reason. If they killed US troops, I think I would do that very quickly.”

His remarks came a day after a report in The Wall Street Journal revealed that, according to U.S. officials, Trump had privately informed advisers that he could abandon the ceasefire arrangement if Iran were responsible for American military casualties.

Q: Is killing US troops your red line for ending the ceasefire?

TRUMP: If they killed?

Q: US troops

TRUMP: What does that mean?

Q: That you would restart the war with Iran if they killed US troops

TRUMP: Well, it would be a good reason pic.twitter.com/g80TrBa90N

— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) June 4, 2026

Those officials also maintained that the ceasefire remains in place despite recent hostilities. Tensions flared Tuesday night when U.S. forces carried out strikes on Iran’s Qeshm Island, prompting Tehran to launch missiles and drones toward Kuwait in retaliation.

Addressing the possibility of a new agreement with Iran, Trump argued that policies pursued by Presidents Joe Biden and Barack Obama encouraged Tehran’s nuclear ambitions.

“The Obama deal, I terminated that or they would have had a nuclear…that was a road to a nuclear weapon. Our deal – if we make that deal and it’s going well but who knows – if we make that deal it’s the exact opposite. They will never have a nuclear weapon. I’m not going to let them have a nuclear weapon,” he stated.

Trump also dismissed the idea of undertaking a secret operation to capture Iran’s stockpile of enriched uranium. He said there was little value in pursuing what he described as “nuclear dust,” arguing that the material is effectively sealed away.

The president was also questioned about the ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon that was announced Wednesday night. Pushing back against a reporter’s suggestion that Hezbollah had rejected the arrangement, Trump offered a different account.

“Hezbollah didn’t reject anything. They called us, and they said, ‘How about stopping?'” he said.

Trump went on to express hope that the conflict along Israel’s northern border could finally come to an end.

“Lebanon has been under attack for so many years and is always like an underdog. It would be really nice if it could end. I spoke to Bibi Netanyahu about that, and I speak to them about it and I actually spoke to Hezbollah about it.”

A new public opinion survey released ahead of an upcoming Sovereignty Movement conference in Yerushalayim suggests that the chareidi community is among the strongest supporters of Israeli sovereignty and Jewish settlement in disputed territories, revealing levels of support that surpass those found in other religious sectors.

The poll, published amid ongoing political tensions between the chareidi parties and the governing coalition, paints a picture of a community that overwhelmingly favors expanding Israeli sovereignty in Yehudah and Shomron, the Gaza Strip, and southern Lebanon, while also supporting initiatives aimed at encouraging emigration from Gaza.

According to the survey, chareidim expressed the highest level of support for sovereignty in Yehudah and Shomron. A remarkable 96% said they support either immediate or gradual application of Israeli sovereignty in the region. By comparison, support stood at 85% among the religious Zionist public and 82% among traditional Israelis.

The survey also found strong backing among chareidim for policies concerning Gaza. Ninety percent of respondents supported encouraging Gaza residents to relocate to other countries, while 86% favored applying Israeli sovereignty over the territory.

Support was similarly high for renewed Jewish settlement in Gaza. According to the findings, 83% of chareidi respondents backed both the encouragement of emigration from Gaza and the establishment of Jewish communities there.

Perhaps the most unexpected finding involved southern Lebanon. The survey found that 83% of chareidim support extending Israeli sovereignty to that area as well—a figure higher than the level of support recorded among both the religious Zionist and traditional sectors.

Leaders of the Sovereignty Movement, Yehudis Katsover and Nadia Matar, said the results carry a clear message for elected officials. “The chareidi public has sent a clear and unequivocal message to its public leadership. It is not located in the center of the political map but is deeply connected to Eretz Yisroel and to the desire for sovereignty and Jewish settlement in Gaza and Lebanon. This public demands sovereignty now, and we call on its representatives in the Knesset to act in accordance with the wishes of their voters and advance this move even before the elections.”

The survey was conducted for the Sovereignty Movement by Direct Polls, headed by Tzuriel Sharon. It included 489 respondents and was designed to represent Israel’s Jewish population. The poll reported a maximum margin of error of 4.4 percent.

In a dramatic and unprecedented move aimed at protecting children caught in divorce disputes, the Rabbinical Courts Administration has unveiled sweeping new regulations designed to combat parental alienation and safeguard children’s welfare. The new binding directives were signed by the President of the Supreme Rabbinical Court, Chief Rabbi Rav Dovid Yosef, and establish uniform procedures for handling urgent cases involving concerns over child safety and parent-child relationships.

The new policy is rooted in the halachic and judicial principle that every child has a fundamental right to maintain a healthy and ongoing relationship with both parents. At the same time, the guidelines recognize that children must be fully protected in situations involving violence or danger. The regulations emphasize that delays in addressing parental alienation can cause severe and lasting emotional harm to children, and therefore require rabbinical judges throughout the regional court system to act quickly and decisively.

Among the most significant changes is a strict timetable for handling urgent cases. Whenever a request is filed seeking immediate or temporary relief to preserve a child’s relationship with a parent or to ensure the child’s safety, the court must either hold a hearing within seven days of the filing or issue a detailed written ruling within 72 hours if the matter can be decided based on the submitted materials.

The regulations also prohibit unnecessary delays once proceedings have begun. Follow-up stages, including responses from the parties, affidavits, and expert reports, must be completed within the shortest possible timeframes. Any deviation from the prescribed schedule will require special justification and a written explanation by the court.

To ensure compliance, the heads of the regional rabbinical courts will personally oversee implementation of the new procedures. Every six months they will be required to submit reports to the President of the Supreme Rabbinical Court and the Director of the Rabbinical Courts detailing any cases that exceeded the mandated timetable and explaining the reasons for the delay.

A major section of the new directive addresses parental alienation directly, defining it as emotional harm and abuse inflicted upon a child. The regulations state that rabbinical courts have a judicial obligation to intervene aggressively when one parent attempts to turn a child against the other.

The new framework authorizes a broad range of enforcement measures against an alienating parent. These include the use of collection proceedings, contempt sanctions, and other administrative restrictions intended to compel compliance with court orders.

The policy also introduces significant financial consequences. Courts will be empowered to impose fines payable either to the state or to the injured parent, following advance warnings issued early in the proceedings. In cases involving deliberate refusal to facilitate contact between a child and a parent, judges will have explicit authority to reduce or even eliminate child-support obligations. The courts may also require the alienating parent to reimburse legal-aid expenses incurred by the state.

Perhaps the most far-reaching provision concerns custody. The regulations state that parental alienation occurs under the supervision and responsibility of the parent with whom the child resides, and that failure to prevent such alienation may reflect a serious deficiency in that parent’s fitness as a custodial guardian. As a result, courts will be authorized to consider immediately transferring the child to the alienated parent or temporarily placing the child with a third party or treatment center to facilitate restoration of the relationship.

The new procedures further clarify that repairing severe parental alienation often requires specialized treatment from private professionals rather than relying solely on public services. In such situations, the alienating parent may be ordered to bear the full cost of the therapeutic intervention.

In addition, the Supreme Rabbinical Court is instructed to exercise caution before granting stays of execution that would delay regional court orders intended to restore or stabilize a child’s relationship with a parent.

Explaining the purpose of the initiative, Rav Dovid Yosef said, “These proposals are intended to eliminate or at least reduce the harm inflicted on the tender souls of children who, unfortunately, experience parental alienation, as well as the severe long-term consequences that result. These children have no one to save them, and their eyes are turned toward us.”

The new regulations will be published in the official registry and on the Rabbinical Courts’ official website and will take effect immediately.

{Matzav.com}

The United Nations’ nuclear monitoring agency says it still cannot determine the status of Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile following last June’s war, according to a confidential report distributed to member nations and reviewed by The Associated Press on Thursday.

In the report, the International Atomic Energy Agency stated that it “cannot provide any information on the current size, composition or whereabouts of the stockpile of enriched uranium in Iran or whether Iran has suspended all enrichment-related activities.”

The agency further warned that it was “unable to discharge its safeguards responsibilities” under the Safeguards Agreement of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. The report stressed that it is “indispensable and urgent” for Tehran to fulfill the obligations required under that agreement.

According to the document, IAEA inspectors have had extremely limited access to Iranian nuclear sites since the agency’s previous report in February. The only facility visited during that period was the Bushehr nuclear power plant, where inspectors conducted an inspection between June 1 and June 3.

The reactor at Bushehr currently operates using uranium supplied by Russia and enriched to 4.5 percent purity, a level commonly used for civilian electricity production.

The report was released amid renewed instability across the Middle East.

On Wednesday, Iranian drones struck Kuwait’s primary airport, causing extensive damage to a passenger terminal. One person was killed, dozens were injured, and airport operations were temporarily suspended. The attack marked the latest escalation in the ongoing exchange of hostilities between Iran and the United States, despite a fragile ceasefire.

The IAEA estimates that Iran possesses approximately 972 pounds of uranium enriched to 60 percent purity, a level considered only a short technical step away from the 90 percent enrichment generally associated with nuclear weapons.

IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi recently warned in an interview with the Associated Press that the existing stockpile could be sufficient to produce as many as ten nuclear bombs if Iran chose to weaponize the material. He emphasized, however, that such a capability does not mean Iran currently possesses a nuclear weapon.

Under IAEA procedures, material enriched to that level would ordinarily be subject to monthly verification and monitoring.

The report also noted that Grossi continues to support diplomatic efforts aimed at resolving concerns over Iran’s nuclear activities. It stated that he reiterates his “full support to the negotiations underway aimed at finding a mutually acceptable solution to issues related to Iran’s nuclear program and his readiness … to support an eventual agreement.”

Negotiations have continued for weeks as international mediators seek a more lasting arrangement to end the conflict, which has now entered its fourth month. Those discussions have become increasingly complicated by Israel’s expanding military campaign against Iran-backed Hezbollah forces in Lebanon.

Meanwhile, Iran continues to control access through the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz, a key route for global shipments of oil, natural gas, and related products. At the same time, the United States has maintained its blockade of Iranian ports.

As a result, energy markets remain under pressure, fuel prices continue to stay elevated, and the economic consequences of the conflict are being felt far beyond the Middle East.

{Matzav.com}

The Department of War has dramatically reduced the number of officially recognized religious affiliations available to U.S. servicemembers, eliminating 180 faith designations as part of a broader effort announced earlier this year by War Secretary Pete Hegseth.

The move reduces the number of approved faith codes used by the U.S. Military Chaplain Corps from more than 200 to just 31, according to a memorandum issued Thursday by Undersecretary of Defense Anthony Tata and reported by Military.com.

In the memo, Tata said the revised policy is intended to “streamline the DoW collection of religious preferences for service members to enhance the delivery of targeted religious support from the Chaplaincy.”

He further explained the rationale behind the change, writing, “The new list will provide chaplains with clear, readily available information that will better enable them to anticipate the religious support needs of service members and to provide religious support activities that align with service members’ personal faith and practices.”

Under the revised system, the remaining recognized categories include Agnostics, Buddhists, Hindus, Muslims, Jews, Sikhs, and numerous Christian denominations, including Baptists, Catholics, Lutherans, and Methodists, according to the report.

Hegseth first outlined plans to reduce the number of faith codes several months ago, arguing that the existing system had become unwieldy and ineffective.

“The previous system had ballooned to well over 200 faith codes.… It was impractical and unusable, and many codes were never used at all,” Hegseth said in March.

He also noted at the time that most military personnel identified with only a handful of the available classifications, saying that the overwhelming majority of servicemembers fell within six major faith categories.

The reduction in faith codes is part of a broader set of changes affecting military chaplains.

Earlier this year, the Pentagon directed chaplains serving in the armed forces to display their religious insignia in place of traditional officer rank insignia.

Explaining the decision, Hegseth said, “A chaplain is first and foremost a chaplain, and an officer second. This change is a visual representation of that fact.”

He further emphasized the unique role chaplains occupy within the military, stating, “Specifically unique to the role of a chaplain, they are first and foremost called and ordained by God. And, while they will retain rank as an officer to those they serve, their rank will not be visible.”

Pentagon officials say the changes are designed to better align the chaplaincy with the religious needs of servicemembers while simplifying the administration of faith-related support throughout the armed forces.

{Matzav.com}

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis took aim at California’s election system, criticizing the state’s prolonged vote-counting process as officials continued tallying ballots in the closely watched Los Angeles mayoral primary several days after voting concluded.

Posting on X, DeSantis contrasted California’s pace with that of Florida, where election results are typically reported within hours.

“Florida processes more than 10 million votes in a matter of hours. California takes days, or sometimes even weeks, to count the votes,” DeSantis wrote on X.

“It’s pathetic, and it’s corrosive to our civic culture.”

His comments came as Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass maintained a narrow lead in the city’s nonpartisan mayoral contest. However, she had not yet secured the majority needed to avoid a runoff election later this year.

The race for the second runoff position also remained unresolved. Republican candidate Spencer Pratt and City Council member Nithya Raman were still battling for a spot in the next round as election officials continued processing outstanding ballots.

California’s extended counting period is largely the result of state election laws that allow mail-in ballots postmarked by Election Day to be counted if they arrive within seven days. In addition, official results are not finalized until the completion of the canvassing process.

The slow pace has once again become a point of contention for Republicans, who argue that lengthy delays in reporting results can weaken public trust in elections, particularly when major races remain undecided long after polling places have closed.

{Matzav.com}

A new report from the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget is sounding the alarm over the future of Social Security, warning that the program’s retirement trust fund is on track to run out of money in 2032. If Congress fails to intervene before then, beneficiaries could face an automatic 24% reduction in payments.

The analysis, released Wednesday, estimates that approximately 63 million Americans would be affected by the cuts, including retirees, surviving family members, spouses, and dependents. The group projects that the average recipient would lose roughly $500 per month in benefits.

According to the report, residents in 29 states would see average monthly reductions exceeding $500. Among the states facing the steepest declines are Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, New Hampshire, and New Jersey.

The CRFB noted that Social Security’s retirement system has been spending more money than it collects through payroll taxes and other revenue sources for the past 16 years. To make up the difference, the program has relied on its trust fund reserves.

Once those reserves are depleted, however, federal law requires Social Security to limit payments to the amount of revenue it receives, preventing the program from paying full scheduled benefits.

The report estimates that more than 15% of residents in 47 states would be directly impacted by the reduction. The largest concentrations of affected individuals would be found in Maine, West Virginia, Vermont, Delaware, Montana, and New Hampshire.

Researchers also warned that the financial consequences would extend beyond retirees and their families. Nationwide, a 24% cut in Social Security payments would reduce benefit distributions by approximately $345 billion per year, an amount equal to about 1.1% of the nation’s gross domestic product.

The report found that 40 states would experience economic losses exceeding 1% of their respective GDPs. West Virginia, Mississippi, Vermont, South Carolina, and Maine are expected to be among the states most heavily affected.

Measured in total dollars lost, California would sustain the largest reduction, with residents collectively losing an estimated $33 billion annually. Florida would follow with roughly $27 billion in reduced benefits, while Texas, New York, and Pennsylvania would see losses of approximately $24 billion, $20 billion, and $16 billion, respectively.

The CRFB emphasized that the effects of insolvency would be felt nationwide, with no state insulated from the impact. The organization urged lawmakers to begin addressing the issue before the trust fund reaches exhaustion.

The report argued that restoring the program’s long-term financial health will likely require difficult policy decisions involving both taxes and benefit levels. However, it warned that postponing action only increases the likelihood of sudden, across-the-board cuts affecting beneficiaries regardless of their age or financial circumstances.

“With less than seven years until Social Security is projected to be insolvent, policymakers need to enact changes to the program as quickly as possible,” the report concluded.

The IDF and Shin Bet carried out an overnight operation in northern Gaza on Thursday, targeting and eliminating several senior members of Hamas’ General Security Apparatus, a key internal arm of the terrorist organization responsible for protecting its leadership and supporting operational activity.

According to the IDF, the General Security Apparatus serves as a secretive and central component within Hamas. The unit is tasked with safeguarding top Hamas officials, maintaining secure communications among leaders, and coordinating their meetings. Senior members also oversee the movement of Hamas leaders between emergency locations and prepare intelligence assessments used by the organization’s leadership in planning operations and directing attacks against Israel.

Among those killed in the strike was Hassan Rabah Hassan Labad, the deputy head of the General Security Apparatus. Israeli officials described Labad as a leading figure within the organization who played a major role in shaping policy, issuing directives, and participating in key decision-making processes.

The operation also eliminated Asim Amin Shalash Shubair, Abdullah Ata Younes Abu Kaloub, and Muhammad Naaman Zaki Abu Mark. The IDF said all three held senior positions within the apparatus and were deeply involved in its leadership and strategic decision-making.

According to Israeli officials, the strike was carried out because the operatives posed an immediate threat. The IDF said the individuals had recently been involved in efforts to rebuild Hamas’ infrastructure and were assisting the organization’s leadership in advancing terrorist operations against both Israeli civilians and IDF forces.

Before carrying out the attack, the military said it implemented a series of measures designed to reduce the risk of civilian casualties, including the use of precision-guided weapons and extensive aerial surveillance.

The IDF added that forces operating under the Southern Command remain deployed in the area in accordance with the ceasefire arrangement and will continue taking action against any emerging threats to Israeli security.

{Matzav.com}

Former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice believes the recent conflict with Iran has dramatically altered the balance of power in the Middle East, strengthening the United States and Israel while leaving Tehran weakened and increasingly isolated. She argues that the outcome presents President Donald Trump with a rare chance to help shape a more stable regional order.

In an opinion piece published in The Wall Street Journal, Rice wrote that although neither side achieved a clear-cut battlefield triumph, the campaign nevertheless accomplished several important strategic objectives.

“The three-month military campaign degraded Iran’s ability to project power,” Rice wrote, citing the damage inflicted on Iran’s armed forces, missile arsenal, and network of regional proxies.

According to Rice, Israel emerged as the greatest beneficiary of the conflict.

“In this regard, Israel has never been more secure,” Rice wrote, arguing that Israel’s military actions following the October 7, 2023 Hamas terrorist attack significantly weakened Iranian-backed organizations, including Hamas and Hezbollah.

Rice also maintained that the war strengthened ties among the United States, Israel, and several leading Arab states. She pointed to increased intelligence coordination and joint defense initiatives as evidence of growing regional cooperation.

She noted that many Arab governments that historically viewed Israel as an adversary now see partnership with the Jewish state as advantageous, particularly in areas such as technology, economic development, and modernization.

Rice further argued that the war exposed serious vulnerabilities within the Iranian regime. In her view, Tehran’s leadership was forced to confront the reach of American military power and the effectiveness of intelligence cooperation among the United States and its allies. She also contended that Iran’s ability to influence global energy markets proved less formidable than many analysts had assumed.

Perhaps most significantly, Rice wrote that American and Israeli operations dealt a major setback to Iran’s nuclear program.

“It will be a long time before Iran can build a viable nuclear weapon,” she wrote.

While acknowledging that Iran may still possess significant quantities of highly enriched uranium, Rice argued that crucial elements of its nuclear infrastructure were heavily damaged. She cited destruction to conversion facilities, centrifuge systems, and the loss of key nuclear scientists during the campaign.

Rice urged the Trump administration not to offer Tehran sanctions relief or release frozen assets as part of any future diplomatic arrangement.

“Not a single penny of frozen assets or sanctions relief should go to Tehran,” she wrote, warning that Iran has previously used such resources to rebuild military capabilities and fund terrorist organizations aligned with its interests.

She also advocated maintaining a strong military posture and expanding intelligence-sharing arrangements with regional partners to prevent Iran from reconstituting its missile and nuclear programs.

Although the conflict did not result in the collapse of the Iranian regime, Rice argued that Tehran now finds itself in a far weaker position than it has occupied in years, with diminished influence and fewer strategic options.

“Strategic patience is hard, and it isn’t always satisfying. But time is on the side of the U.S. and its allies,” Rice wrote. “Reaching no deal is fine. Reaching a bad deal isn’t.”

{Matzav.com}

The IDF announced Thursday evening that Capt. Eitan Shmuel Lemberg, 21, of Mishmar HaShiv’a, was killed during combat operations in Lebanon after a terrorist fired an anti-tank missile at Israeli forces.

Lemberg served as an officer in the Armored Corps with the 75th Battalion of the 7th Armored Brigade, known as the “Sa’ar from Golan” Formation. Military officials notified his family of his death following the incident.

According to the initial investigation, the attack occurred at approximately 4:00 p.m. during an operational mission north of the Litani River. A terrorist launched an anti-tank missile at an Israeli tank that was operating as part of the Golani Brigade combat team’s activities in southern Lebanon.

The missile struck the armored vehicle, killing Lemberg. Following the attack, Israeli forces immediately began a large-scale response operation in the area.

The IDF subsequently targeted Hezbollah infrastructure linked to the attack. Military aircraft and artillery units struck positions in the vicinity from which the missile was launched, as part of a broader effort to neutralize threats and prevent additional attacks on Israeli troops operating in the region.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump sharply criticized four Republican members of Congress on Thursday after they joined Democrats in supporting legislation that would limit his ability to conduct military operations against Iran without congressional authorization.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump condemned the vote as “unpatriotic” and suggested the lawmakers had weakened his administration’s ongoing efforts to bring the conflict with Iran to a close through negotiations.

The House approved the war powers resolution on Wednesday by a narrow 215-208 margin, marking the first successful effort by lawmakers to advance legislation restricting Trump’s authority to continue military action against Iran absent approval from Congress.

Four Republicans crossed party lines and voted with Democrats in favor of the measure: Reps. Thomas Massie of Kentucky, Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania, Tom Barrett of Michigan, and Warren Davidson of Ohio.

Reacting to the vote, Trump wrote, “Yesterday, in a meaningless vote, the House voted, 4 bad Republicans and all of the Dumocrats, to limit my War Powers, right in the middle of my final negotiations to end the War with the Islamic Republic of Iran.”

He continued by questioning the timing of the move and the motives behind it, writing, “Who would do such an unpatriotic thing. They know where the negotiations stand.”

Trump also accused Democrats of being motivated more by opposition to him than by concern for the country’s interests, invoking what he described as “Trump Derangement Syndrome.”

“They would rather have our Country fail than give me another, of many, victories,” he said.

The president reserved some of his strongest criticism for the Republicans who voted for the measure.

“The four Republicans, that’s a whole other story — They’re GRANDSTANDERS!” Trump wrote. “They should be ashamed of themselves.”

Despite its passage in the House, the resolution faces significant hurdles moving forward and would likely be vetoed by Trump should it ultimately reach his desk.

Trump’s remarks came as his administration continues to pursue a broader diplomatic agreement with Iran after months of military tensions that have had far-reaching effects both in Washington and throughout the Middle East.

Throughout the conflict, Trump has defended his approach, maintaining that his policies have increased American leverage while pressuring Iran to engage in negotiations. He has repeatedly argued that his strategy has strengthened the U.S. position and helped bring Iranian leaders back to the bargaining table.

{Matzav.com}