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The commander of US Central Command, Navy Admiral Brad Cooper, met with President Donald Trump on Thursday to outline possible military courses of action involving Iran, according to a person close to the president cited by ABC News.

Also present at the meeting was General Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the president’s senior military adviser, a second individual familiar with the conversation told ABC News.

The briefing coincided with indirect negotiations in Geneva between American and Iranian representatives over Tehran’s nuclear and ballistic missile activities. While no agreement was announced at the conclusion of the talks, Iran’s foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, said progress had been made and indicated that “technical talks” would resume in Vienna, Austria, next week.

Despite the ongoing diplomatic channel, Trump has continued to signal that military action remains an option and has reinforced the US force posture in the Middle East.

In recent days, several Republican lawmakers and members of the administration have privately argued that Israel, rather than the United States, should spearhead any strike on Iran if diplomacy fails, according to two people familiar with those internal discussions.

It was not clear as of Thursday whether Trump had endorsed that approach. The president has reportedly grown increasingly dissatisfied with Tehran’s refusal to stop enriching uranium and curb its ballistic missile development.

ABC News reported that Trump typically weighs a broad range of viewpoints before reaching a final decision. Politico first disclosed that some senior advisers and Republican figures have pushed for Israel to assume the lead role in any military action.

At the same time, sources say a coordinated US-Israeli operation remains under consideration. The United States has deployed substantial naval and air assets to the region, placing ships and combat aircraft within operational range of Iranian targets.

“The media may continue to speculate on the President’s thinking all they want, but only President Trump knows what he may or may not do,” White House Deputy Press Secretary Anna Kelly said, reiterating a line she has used repeatedly in recent weeks when asked about the administration’s plans regarding Iran.

{Matzav.com}

A new Knesset seat projection published by Channel 14 indicates continued stability for the right-wing bloc, which would secure 65 mandates if elections were held today. The survey also shows Likud maintaining a clear lead as the largest party in the Knesset.

According to the poll, Likud drops by one seat compared to the previous survey but still stands at 33 mandates, keeping its position at the top of the political map.

In second place is the Joint List with 13 seats. The notable shift in the survey comes from Gadi Eisenkot, whose party Yashar rises to 11 mandates — an increase of two seats from the last measurement. Shas also gains one seat, reaching 11 mandates. In contrast, Naftali Bennett’s party weakens and falls to fifth place with 10 seats.

The Democrats maintain their standing with 9 mandates. Yisrael Beiteinu and United Torah Judaism each receive 8 seats, though the latter drops one mandate compared to last week’s poll. Otzma Yehudit remains steady at 8 seats, while Religious Zionism strengthens slightly to 5. Yesh Atid hovers just above the electoral threshold with 4 mandates, and Blue and White fails to cross the minimum threshold required to enter the Knesset.

When broken down by political blocs, the right-wing camp holds 65 mandates, while the left-wing bloc stands at 42. The Arab parties collectively account for 13 seats, preserving the current balance between the opposing camps.

On the question of suitability for prime minister, Binyomin Netanyahu continues to lead by a wide margin with 55 percent support — a three-point increase. Gadi Eisenkot ranks second with 19 percent and shows upward momentum, while Naftali Bennett declines sharply to 14 percent, marking a drop of seven points. Avigdor Liberman registers a modest rise to 6 percent, and Benny Gantz trails behind.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump on Thursday praised a federal court decision rejecting a lawsuit that sought to block construction of a new ballroom at the White House, describing the outcome as “great news for America.”

In a message posted on social media, Trump wrote that the judge had “thrown out, and completely erased, the effort to stop its construction” of what he called “the most beautiful Ballroom anywhere in the World.”

The president stressed that “not one dollar of Taxpayer money is being spent,” saying the initiative is financed solely by “Patriot Donors and Contributors.”

Trump added that the planned ballroom — which he has previously floated as a venue for future inaugurations and large-scale state functions — is “ahead of schedule, and under budget,” and said it would stand “as a symbol to the Greatness of America.”

Since it was first announced, the proposal has drawn debate. Opponents, including historic preservation advocates and ethics groups, have raised concerns that erecting a substantial new addition within the White House grounds could affect the historic nature of the executive residence, which is subject to federal preservation protections.

Backers of the project contend that constructing a permanent ballroom would eliminate the recurring need for temporary tents and off-site locations for major gatherings, enhance the White House’s ability to host official events and do so using private funding rather than public dollars.

{Matzav.com}

Three years after the passing of the longtime rov of Meron, Rav Elazar Stern has now been formally appointed as the official rav of Meron, succeeding his father, Rav Meir Zev Stern zt”l, who led the community for decades.

Rav Elazar was confirmed in the role today in an official capacity, solidifying what had already been his practical leadership in recent years.

For many years, Rav Stern has served as a respected posek and dayan, recognized for his clear rulings and depth in Torah scholarship. He is the author of the widely regarded seforim Gan Na’eh and the responsa work Birkas Elazar.

While residing in Ashdod, he served as rav of the Ma’orei Or community. Following his father’s passing, and in accordance with his father’s wishes, he relocated to Meron, where he continued serving in rabbinic leadership and halachic guidance for residents and visitors alike.

With today’s decision, the appointment has now received formal confirmation from the Meron Moshav committee, granting official status to Rav Stern’s role as rav of the sacred site.

{Matzav.com}

The Knesset’s legal department issued a sharp warning Thursday that a proposed amendment to Basic Law: The Government — dubbed the “Ben Gvir Law” — could be invalidated by the High Court of Justice if enacted in its current form.

In a preparatory document circulated to members of the special committee reviewing amendments to the Basic Law, the Knesset’s legal adviser wrote that the bill’s attempt to bar judicial review over the appointment and dismissal of ministers may exceed constitutional boundaries set by the Supreme Court. The adviser cautioned that the proposal could be viewed as personal legislation and potentially deemed an abuse of the Knesset’s constituent authority under standards established in recent rulings.

According to the draft under consideration, courts would be prohibited from exercising judicial review over the appointment or removal of ministers, aside from verifying compliance with formal eligibility requirements set by law. In practical terms, this would eliminate judicial scrutiny of the prime minister’s discretion and remove from the court’s authority the precedent established in the Deri-Pinhasi ruling, which laid the groundwork for intervention in appointments considered extremely unreasonable.

The legal opinion states that a sweeping elimination of judicial oversight would conflict with warnings expressed in recent Supreme Court decisions, particularly the January 2024 ruling that struck down the amendment canceling the reasonableness doctrine. In that case, a majority of justices held that the court retains authority to intervene in exceptional cases involving misuse of constituent power. The document notes that several senior justices indicated that a narrower amendment — for example, one that limits application of the reasonableness doctrine specifically in the context of ministerial appointments — might have been considered differently than a broad measure barring all forms of review.

The legal department warned that the current wording could undermine foundational principles of separation of powers and the rule of law because it “leaves entire areas without effective judicial review” and hampers the protection of important public interests, including public trust and governmental integrity.

Beyond the substantive concerns, the legal office also pointed to constitutional and political timing issues. Renewed efforts to advance the bill could place it in direct tension with the Supreme Court’s doctrine of “abuse of constituent authority,” as articulated in the ruling on incapacity legislation. The document highlights that in light of Justice Stein’s ruling regarding Aryeh Deri, as well as the conditional order issued in a petition asking the court to instruct the prime minister to dismiss National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, there is heightened concern that the amendment may be aimed at producing immediate consequences for specific political figures. Under the framework set by the court, such circumstances could support a claim that the Knesset is not acting as a general constituent authority but rather tailoring a Basic Law to address a present political need.

Among the alternatives suggested by the legal department is adopting a more limited model that would restrict judicial review only with respect to the reasonableness doctrine, particularly in cases where appointments have also been approved by the Knesset, while preserving the possibility of review on other legal grounds. Another option under consideration is prospective application — delaying the amendment’s effect until the next Knesset — a step that could mitigate claims of personal legislation and avoid the appearance of altering constitutional rules midstream.

The legal adviser further recommended strengthening parliamentary oversight mechanisms to prevent the creation of unchecked executive authority. Proposed measures include expanding the Knesset’s ability to hold individual votes on certain ministerial appointments during the swearing-in of a government; requiring presentation to the plenum of the circumstances surrounding a new minister’s appointment upon the request of 40 members of Knesset; and even establishing a structured process allowing the Knesset to remove a minister by majority vote after due proceedings and the opportunity for the minister to present arguments.

Deliberations on the proposal resumed after the Knesset Committee voted to reconstitute the special committee under Section 89 of the Knesset bylaws, enabling it to revisit language that had previously been prepared for second and third readings but never brought to a final vote. The legal department emphasized that nearly three years have passed since that draft was formulated and that significant constitutional rulings have since been issued, warranting a renewed review of the bill’s language and its compliance with judicial standards.

At the center of the debate is whether lawmakers will insist on advancing a sweeping amendment that would largely remove High Court involvement in ministerial appointments and dismissals, or instead adopt a more measured revision designed to reduce constitutional friction and increase the likelihood that the legislation would withstand judicial scrutiny if challenged.

{Matzav.com}

The United States and Iran signaled meaningful movement on Thursday in negotiations aimed at resolving their long-running nuclear standoff and preventing potential American military action, with mediator Oman pointing to tangible progress even as Washington continues a major force buildup in the Middle East.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told state television that the discussions “made very good progress and entered into the elements of an agreement very seriously, both in the nuclear field and in the sanctions field.”

He indicated that another round of talks could be held in “perhaps less than a week,” and said technical-level meetings at the UN’s nuclear agency are expected to begin in Vienna on Monday.

A US official characterized the atmosphere of the negotiations to Axios as “positive.”

Those optimistic descriptions stood in contrast to earlier accounts suggesting American frustration with Tehran’s stance, as well as anonymous comments from senior Israeli officials to Hebrew-language media asserting that the divide between the parties appeared to be widening and that the prospect of a US strike was increasing.

At the same time, The Wall Street Journal offered a more cautious interpretation Thursday evening, reporting that the two sides remained “still far apart on key issues.”

The reason for the differing portrayals was not immediately evident.

Following the conclusion of the meetings in Switzerland, Omani Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr Albusaidi wrote on X that both delegations intend to reconvene after consultations in their respective capitals, with expert-level sessions slated for Vienna next week.

Albusaidi’s remarks came after indirect negotiations in Geneva between Araghchi and US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, with one round held in the morning and another in the afternoon.

“We have finished the day after significant progress in the negotiation between the United States and Iran,” Badr Albusaidi said.

Araghchi, describing the exchange as among the most substantive contacts between Tehran and Washington in recent years, told Iranian state television: “We reached agreement on some issues, and there are differences regarding some other issues.”

“It was decided that the next round of negotiations will take place soon, in less than a week,” he said, adding that Tehran had made clear its demand for relief from sanctions.

The US negotiating team did not immediately issue a public statement on the outcome.

Axios had earlier reported that Witkoff and Kushner were “disappointed” with Iran’s posture after the morning session, but by day’s end, a source told the outlet that the overall tenor was “positive.”

According to Axios and other reports, the talks — facilitated by Albusaidi and attended by UN nuclear watchdog chief Rafael Grossi — extended for several hours and involved a mix of direct and indirect communication.

Israel’s Channel 12 reported that Iran proposed limiting uranium enrichment to medical purposes, halting broader nuclear activity for a set period, and later resuming enrichment under a regulated regional framework.

The US position, according to the same report, calls for an agreement with no expiration date.

Channel 12 further reported that Washington would allow low-level enrichment at a research reactor in Tehran but is demanding the dismantling of Iran’s other nuclear facilities and the removal of all enriched uranium from the country.

That description of American demands closely aligned with The Wall Street Journal’s account.

The renewed diplomatic push comes amid mounting anxiety over a possible regional escalation. President Donald Trump has repeatedly warned that failure to secure a deal could trigger military action, and US forces have been deployed in significant numbers to nearby waters.

The decision to set another negotiating session suggests that both sides see sufficient progress to continue talks, potentially delaying previously threatened strikes. However, a similar round of discussions scheduled by Omani mediators in June 2025 never occurred after Jerusalem, with American backing, initiated operations targeting Iran’s nuclear and missile infrastructure.

Thursday’s meetings marked the third round of US-Iran nuclear discussions in recent weeks.

The delegations first met for roughly three hours before breaking. During the initial session, Iranian representatives presented a draft framework for an agreement, Axios reported.

During the recess, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei told state television that “both delegations needed to carry out consultations with their respective capitals.”

An Iranian official speaking to Al Jazeera during the pause said Tehran’s negotiators had rejected demands for complete dismantlement of the nuclear program and the export of all enriched uranium.

“Our proposal in Geneva is politically serious, technically creative, and includes everything required to reach an agreement immediately,” the Iranian official told the Qatari network.

Iran, which denies pursuing nuclear weapons but has enriched uranium to levels exceeding civilian requirements and limited inspections of its facilities, has consistently opposed calls to end enrichment altogether.

Tehran has also insisted that discussions be confined to its nuclear activities and sanctions relief. The United States, however, has sought to broaden the agenda to include Iran’s ballistic missile development and its backing of armed groups across the region.

A senior Iranian official told Reuters before the talks that progress toward a framework agreement would be possible if Washington separated “nuclear and non-nuclear issues,” though he cautioned that significant gaps would still need to be addressed during this third round.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Wednesday that Iran’s unwillingness to negotiate over its missile program presents a “big problem” that ultimately must be resolved. The missiles, he said, were “designed solely to strike America” and threaten stability in the region.

{Matzav.com}

Pro-Palestinian groups, working together with a range of civil society organizations, have unveiled plans for a new maritime convoy bound for the Gaza Strip, describing it as a major effort to challenge Israel’s naval blockade and deliver humanitarian supplies.

Organizers say the flotilla is set to leave on April 12 from multiple Mediterranean ports in Spain, Italy, and Tunisia. Its stated objective is to breach the blockade imposed on Gaza and transport assistance directly to the coastal enclave.

According to a report by Al-Arabi Al-Jadid, more than 200 boats are expected to take part in the initiative. The effort is being backed by the “Mavi Marmara” Freedom and Solidarity Association as well as the Turkish İHH Foundation, a humanitarian group that says it is dedicated to safeguarding freedoms, defending human rights, and providing relief aid.

Bülent Yıldırım, president of the İHH Foundation, told the newspaper that the ships designated for the flotilla will be acquired through donated funds. He indicated that organizers intend to assemble a substantial number of vessels in an effort to complicate any attempt by Israel to block their arrival along the Gaza shoreline.

Yıldırım further stated that participants from 150 countries — numbering in the thousands — are expected to join the mission. In addition to carrying supplies, the flotilla aims to bring medical professionals, educators, infrastructure and environmental development teams, attorneys, and investigators focused on alleged war crimes.

A similar attempt last October ended when the Israeli Navy intercepted vessels linked to the “Freedom Coalition” flotilla that sought to reach Gaza. Approximately 150 individuals aboard those ships were detained without incident and taken to the port of Ashdod, where they underwent questioning before being deported.

At the time, Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs released a statement declaring, “Another futile attempt to break the maritime blockade and enter a combat zone has ended in nothing.”

{Matzav.com}

A protest campaign opposing the arrest of Chareidim for evading military conscription has escalated, as activists erected a display in Modiin Illit labeled “Hostages Square” — invoking imagery associated with the Israeli hostages held captive in Gaza. The installation was set up Thursday in a central traffic circle in the predominantly Chareidi city following a […]

We are officially in the thick of it. The hislahvus of Adar is everywhere, and with it comes the annual blitz of Purim fundraising. As someone who grew up in the system and now has sons in Yeshiva, I recognize that these campaigns are the lifeblood of our mosdos. We want our boys to be […]

President Donald Trump met Thursday at the White House with New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, in an unannounced session that centered on housing policy and, later, the detention of a Columbia University student by federal immigration authorities.

Mamdani disclosed the meeting in a social media post, writing, “I had a productive meeting with President Trump this afternoon,” and sharing a photograph of himself beside the president in the Oval Office.

In the image, Trump is seen holding a mock-up of a Daily News front page bearing the headline: “Trump to City: Let’s Rebuild.” Mamdani added in his post, “I’m looking forward to building more housing in New York City.”

Hours after the sit-down, Mamdani said he and Trump also spoke by phone about a Columbia University student who had been taken into custody earlier in the day. According to university officials, federal immigration agents allegedly misrepresented themselves in order to gain access to a campus residential building before detaining the student, identified as Elaina Aghayeva.

Mamdani wrote, “In our meeting earlier, I shared my concerns about Columbia student Elaina Aghayeva, who was detained by ICE this morning. He has just informed me that she will be released imminently.” Aghayeva later confirmed on social media that she had been freed.

The Oval Office meeting followed Trump’s remarks earlier in the week during his State of the Union address, when he referenced Mamdani as a “nice guy” with “bad policies” and said the two speak “a lot”. The mayor responded the next day at a press conference, saying that when they communicate, their discussions center on ensuring the city continues to move forward.

Neither the White House nor City Hall publicly previewed Thursday’s meeting. Earlier in the day, CNN reported that the president and mayor were expected to meet, citing two individuals familiar with the arrangements. Housing was anticipated to be a central issue, as it had been during their prior White House meeting in November.

At that earlier session, Trump commended Mamdani and suggested that despite having branded him a “communist” during the mayoral race, they shared areas of agreement. Their conversation reportedly covered real estate development, adjustments to zoning regulations, and strategies aimed at lowering electricity costs, among other matters.

Following that encounter, Axios reported that the two leaders had begun communicating by text message — a surprising development given their previous sharp public exchanges.

During the mayoral campaign, Trump cautioned voters that choosing Mamdani would “ruin the city, while Mamdani had called Trump a fascist. Once face to face, however, their interactions took on a markedly different tone.

A group of Queens elected officials and civic leaders is taking New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani to court, alleging his administration unlawfully delayed the release of records tied to a controversial decision to rescind the city’s adoption of a widely used definition of antisemitism. The lawsuit, filed this week in state court, accuses the […]

A young woman who is battling against social media giants took the stand Thursday to testify about her experience using the platforms as she was growing up, saying she was on social media “all day long” as a child. The now 20-year-old, who has been identified in court documents as KGM, says her early use of social […]

As tensions soar amid a possible US strike on Iran, IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir has been holding closed-door discussions with Israel’s political leadership, presenting the possible consequences of a prolonged confrontation with Iran—from paralysis of Ben-Gurion Airport and damage to the home front to erosion of air-defense systems and prolonged attrition campaigns. However, […]

Mortgage rates in the United States have dropped below 6% for the first time in nearly two years, a development that housing analysts say could influence both prospective buyers and homeowners who have been hesitant to make a move.

According to new data released by the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp., widely known as Freddie Mac, the average rate on a 30-year fixed mortgage now stands at 5.98%. The last time rates were at this level was in September 2022.

Industry observers describe the move under 6% as an important psychological turning point. Many homeowners have been reluctant to sell because doing so would mean giving up mortgages secured at much lower rates in prior years. At the same time, elevated borrowing costs have discouraged would-be buyers, contributing to a constricted housing market.

During the height of the pandemic, mortgage rates averaged around 2.5%. However, as inflation rose, the Federal Reserve increased its benchmark interest rate, pushing mortgage rates sharply higher in response.

Rates eventually climbed to roughly 7.8% in October 2023, marking their recent high.

Since the Federal Reserve began lowering its key interest rate — cutting it three times last year — mortgage rates have trended downward, though gradually. In addition, last month President Trump directed Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae, the government-backed entities that buy and bundle home loans for investors, to acquire $200 billion in mortgage-backed securities. Analysts say that move may have contributed to the continued decline in rates, as stronger demand for loans on the secondary market enables lenders to offer more favorable terms.

Although rates are only modestly lower than they were a week ago and remain well above the record lows seen during the pandemic, some experts believe crossing the 6% threshold could spur renewed activity. Kate Wood, a housing specialist at the personal finance site NerdWallet, said the psychological shift alone may encourage more Americans to reenter the market. Some buyers have been waiting for rates to fall, while many homeowners have delayed selling to avoid surrendering cheaper existing mortgages.

A rate below 6% could provide the push some need. “ There are people who are certainly going to reach that breaking point of ‘I love my mortgage rate, but my goodness, I cannot stand this house anymore,'” says Wood.

Recent data from the Mortgage Bankers Association showed total mortgage applications rose 2.8% in the week ending Feb. 13 compared with the prior week. However, that increase was largely driven by refinancing activity. Applications for other types of loans declined, suggesting the broader housing market remains sluggish.

Even though several years of elevated rates have softened home prices somewhat, affordability challenges persist. The median sales price of a home in the United States at the end of last year was $405,000.

A key driver of the nation’s housing affordability problem continues to be limited supply. The number of homes available for sale remains low, and new construction has not kept pace with demand. A recent report from Realtor.com cautioned that if inventory does not increase alongside a potential surge in buyers, prices could climb again, wiping out affordability improvements created by lower mortgage rates. At the same time, builders have expressed concerns about a difficult construction environment marked by high costs.

“ If you don’t add supply to the market, either in the form of new construction or existing homes from new listings, you’re going to see that demand increase turn into price increases,” said Jake Krimmel, senior economist at Realtor.com.

{Matzav.com}

A Columbia University student taken into custody by federal immigration authorities at her campus residence Thursday morning was released later in the day after New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said he received personal assurances from President Trump during a White House meeting.

Mamdani announced the development shortly after speaking with the president. “Just got off the phone with President Trump. In our meeting earlier, I shared my concerns about Columbia student Elaina Aghayeva, who was detained by ICE this morning. He has just informed me that she will be released imminently,” Mamdani wrote on X late Thursday afternoon.

Several hours afterward, Columbia University confirmed that the student had been freed.

“The university is relieved and thrilled that our student, Ellie, has been released from detainment. We will share additional details this evening,” the university said in a statement posted to Instagram.

Mamdani was in Washington, DC, for a previously undisclosed Oval Office meeting with Trump — the second time the two have met face-to-face since Mamdani’s victory in the November mayoral election.

Aghayeva, who is expected to graduate from the Ivy League institution this year, posted a message to Instagram shortly after being taken into custody around 6:30 a.m., writing, “Dhs illegally arrested me. Please help.”

The Department of Homeland Security stated that Aghayeva is an illegal immigrant from Azerbaijan whose student visa had been revoked in 2016 by the Obama administration after she allegedly failed to attend classes.

According to Columbia’s acting president, Claire Shipman, federal agents arrived at the university’s Morningside Heights campus at approximately 6:30 a.m. Thursday. In a letter to the campus community, Shipman alleged that officials made “misrepresentations” in order to gain entry to the student’s apartment before detaining her.

The operation reportedly involved multiple agents, who told campus security they were pursuing a missing persons investigation involving a 5-year-old child.

In a statement provided to The Post, DHS said officers were admitted into the apartment by the building’s manager and the student’s roommate. The agency added that all agents displayed badges and immediately identified themselves.

Following her arrest, Aghayeva again turned to Instagram, posting the message, “Dhs illegally arrested me. Please help,” alongside what appeared to be a point-of-view image showing a woman’s legs from inside the back seat of a vehicle.

Several Democratic officials in New York City sharply criticized the arrest.

Manhattan Borough President Brad Hoylman-Sigal accused federal authorities of misleading university officials. In an angry post on X, he claimed agents “purposefully deceived campus housing/security to gain entry to the student’s apartment.”

“The level of civil rights violations that took place is staggering,” he fumed.

City Council Speaker Julie Menin, who graduated from Columbia, described the episode as “disturbing” and issued a rebuke of ICE in her own social media statement.

“ICE has no place in our schools and universities. These activities do not make our city or country safer, but rather drive mistrust and danger. As Columbia College alumni, our hearts are with the community there, and we have been in contact with the University to offer our assistance.”

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul also condemned the arrest and said she intends to introduce legislation that would prohibit ICE from entering what she described as sensitive locations, including schools and dormitories.

“Let’s get it passed now,” she wrote on X.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer likewise denounced the detention as “unacceptable,” calling for immediate clarification about Aghayeva’s situation and stating that his office was coordinating with Columbia and appropriate authorities.

{Matzav.com}

The South Florida community is preparing for an incredible evening of unity — a night dedicated to helping members of our community connect, network, and explore employment opportunities in a warm and supportive environment. The Florida Job Networking Men’s Night Out will bring together job seekers, business owners, and community members ready to help for […]

Rav Dovid Cohen, rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Chevron and a member of the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah, delivered a special address at the beis medrash of Yeshivas Zichron Meir for younger bochurim in Yerushalayim, focusing on the inner essence of Purim and warning against inappropriate conduct.

“Purim is among the greatest days of the year,” he declared, while cautioning that frivolity and recklessness are not befitting a ben Torah.

He also addressed the current matzav, emphasizing that “our very existence depends solely on the Torah of the bochurim.”

At the outset of his remarks, the rosh yeshiva spoke about the unique stature of these days as a time of preparation for Purim. He cited a responsum of the Ridbaz, who discusses a case of a prisoner permitted to leave jail only two days a year and faced with a choice: Should he select the two holiest days—Yom Kippur and Purim—or leave at the earliest possible opportunity? “The question was whether to go out on the two most important days of the year—Yom Kippur and Purim—or to leave as early as possible. From the very question we see how Purim is defined; these are the greatest days of the year.”

Rav Cohen elaborated on the connection between Purim and Yom Kippur, explaining that both are days of renewed acceptance of the Torah with love and willingness. He then warned against diminishing the sanctity of the day through excessive revelry. “Sometimes people lose the true meaning of Purim. As a great man once told me, there are those who go through this day in a state of wildness. That is not correct! That is not the way of a ben Torah, and it is not the way of a Jew at all. Although Chazal said that one is obligated to drink on Purim, the Beis Yosef emphasizes that a person must not cast off the yoke. Rather, it should be an increased joy that is entirely connection and closeness to the Creator.”

Turning to the broader challenges facing the generation, the rosh yeshiva spoke about the centrality of ameilus baTorah. “We all know the situation, that we are humiliated and pursued. But the fundamental truth that every person must recognize is that Klal Yisrael survives only through the power of Torah. In the face of all dangers and decrees—this is your strength, the young bochurim immersed in learning. This is what sustains us!”

He concluded with words of blessing and encouragement for the talmidim and the yeshiva staff. “Baruch Hashem, you are a very important group. There are bochurim here with tremendous abilities and great rabbanim who invest in you. Make the most of these years; these are the years that build a bochur for life. One who understands that these are years of construction and invests in them receives a solid foundation for the next stage in yeshiva. May it be Hashem’s will that you merit years of joy and spiritual elevation and become great talmidei chachamim.”

{Matzav.com}

The Israel Air Force has issued new internal guidelines instructing soldiers not to order food deliveries to the Kirya military headquarters in Tel Aviv, citing concerns that spikes in orders could inadvertently signal impending military activity. According to directives obtained by Ynet, the IAF is worried that patterns similar to the so-called “Pentagon Pizza Index” […]

U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee told Israeli media that he does not expect President Donald Trump to punish Israeli President Isaac Herzog if Herzog declines to grant a pardon to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in his ongoing corruption trial. In an interview published by Ynet, Huckabee said Herzog “has every right to take his […]