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By Rabbi Pinchos Lipschutz

For many people, this Shabbos marks the beginning of the “Country Season.” Tens of thousands of Yidden head for the hills, to their summer homes, to what we used to call bungalows, although, by now, most are anything but.

That got me thinking. Do you ever think about where you would go if you wanted to run away from everything?

Not a vacation. Not a weekend getaway. But a place where the noise of the world cannot reach you. A place where the pace of life is measured not by deadlines and headlines, but by the rising and setting of the sun.

I have heard people say that if they ever had to run away for some reason, chas veshalom, they would head to one of those small, picturesque towns tucked away in the hills of Vermont.

I can imagine being holed up in a modest farmhouse at the end of a winding dirt road, surrounded by acres of trees, with a stream running nearby and a porch where I could sit with a sefer and a cup of coffee as the world passes by unnoticed.

I have only been to Vermont a couple of times, but each time I was there, I thought that there was something almost mythical about the place. The rolling green mountains, the village greens, the family farms that have existed for generations, the maple trees that explode into brilliant shades of red and gold every autumn. It represents a kind of America that seems to have been frozen in time – a simpler, quieter place where neighbors know each other, children play outdoors until nightfall, and people still wave as they pass on country roads.

Of course, I am not planning on moving there anytime soon. Aside from the issue of finding kosher food and a minyan, I suspect that I would miss the noise and energy of our communities more than I realize. A Jew was never meant to live alone on a mountain, disconnected from a kehillah and the warmth of other Yidden.

In any case, the pipe dream went up in a puff of smoke when I read an article from The Free Press about an Israeli woman who moved to Bristol, Vermont, a tiny town of 3,782 residents, the kind of place where, as she described it, “you let your kids run outside barefoot and leave your doors unlocked.”

As a child of the Second Intifada, she had lived with the fear of terrorism and violence. She believed that by moving to a quiet corner of rural America, she had left those anxieties behind. Vermont was supposed to be her refuge; a place far removed from the conflicts and hatred of the Middle East.

But then she found herself sitting on a folding chair at a local gathering, hearing accusations of “land theft” and chants about the “occupied land of Palestine.” In that moment, she said, she no longer believed that she was safe.

Think about that for a moment.

If antisemitism can make its way to a tiny Vermont town hidden among forests and mountains, a place where the biggest concerns should be the coming winter or the next maple harvest, then there is no corner of the world untouched by this ancient hatred.

The Jews of Europe once thought that they had found enlightened societies where they were accepted. Jews fled from one country to another searching for peace and security. In every generation, we have searched for a place where we could finally exhale and say, “Here, we will be left alone.”

History has repeatedly shown us that our ultimate security cannot come from geography. A beautiful landscape can soothe the soul. A quiet town can offer peace of mind. A mountain retreat can provide silence. But no place on earth can guarantee safety.

The only true refuge of the Jewish people has always been our connection to Hashem, our Torah, and our communities. We can appreciate the beauty of Vermont’s mountains, but our real shelter has never been found in the shadow of any mountain. It has always been beneath the wings of the Shechinah.

When we imagine escaping, we usually imagine subtraction. Fewer people. Fewer obligations. Less noise. Less tension. A small house at the edge of a forest where the only sound in the morning is the wind rustling through the trees and birds announcing the arrival of a new day.

There is something very alluring about that image. The world has become so loud. In an era of constant connection, we yearn for some time to disconnect.

While the quiet country road may be beautiful, it cannot replace the sound of a child reciting a posuk. The solitude of a mountain sunrise is inspiring, but it cannot replace the warmth of a “Gut Shabbos” exchanged between neighbors walking home from shul. A field of maple trees changing colors in autumn is breathtaking, but it cannot replace the sight of a bais medrash filled with Yidden bent over their Gemaros.

That is why there is something almost poetic about the Vermont dream collapsing under the very reality it was trying to escape. It was not only that antisemitism followed the Jewish people there. It was that the dream itself had overlooked an essential truth: A Jew does not find safety by becoming invisible.

We have tried that throughout our long golus. We have moved from country to country, from one enlightened society to another, hoping that perhaps here we could simply be another citizen, another neighbor, another person left in peace. Yet, the story has repeated itself too many times.

And yet, we endure, not because we have found the perfect corner of the earth where trouble cannot reach us, but because wherever we have gone, we have carried our home with us. A sefer on a table. A mezuzah on a doorpost. A minyan in a shul. A mother lighting Shabbos candles. A father learning with his child.

Perhaps that is the greatest irony of all: The little Vermont farmhouse hidden among the mountains seems like a refuge because it is far away from everyone. But a Yid’s greatest refuge has never been found in isolation. It has always been found in connection – to Hashem, to Torah, and to other Yidden.

The forests of Vermont may offer silence. But the sound of Torah is what has allowed us to survive every storm.

Think about the irony of what the Israeli woman was seeking. She went to Vermont because she wanted a place where her children could run barefoot on the grass and where doors remained unlocked. She was searching for innocence, a world that felt untouched by hatred and conflict. A world that would not bother her for being Jewish.

That longing is profoundly human. After centuries of wandering, persecution, and uncertainty, who could blame a Jew for dreaming of a quiet little corner of the world where history finally leaves him alone.

But perhaps that is the great lesson of our journey through golus. We do not survive because we find a place where there are no storms. We survive because we have learned how to build homes that can withstand storms wherever they arise.

Whether it is a Jewish home in a crowded apartment building in Boro Park, a small house in Monsey, a village in Europe centuries ago, or even a remote farmhouse surrounded by Vermont mountains, the walls do not protect us. What protects us is what is behind those walls: Torah, tefillah, emunah, and the generations of mesorah that we carry with us.

Last week, I found myself in Boro Park, having gone there to be menachem avel the Rubashkin family upon the passing of their dear mother. Having grown up and lived in Monsey for most of my life, and now residing in Lakewood, walking down the streets of Boro Park felt a bit jarring.

The streets were alive with noise, traffic, and construction, with people of all ages moving in every direction, all close together, all in motion.

As I walked, I noticed a sign indicating a bais medrash and stepped inside, simply to sit for a moment and look into a sefer. The sign read “Fultichan.” I pulled the door, expecting it to be locked, but it opened immediately – no combination, no multiple locks.

Inside was a small room with two people learning.

I had never been there before, and I do not know if I will ever be there again. But I walked in and felt at home.

A Yid walks into a bais medrash and feels at home, wherever it is, whatever its size, whether it holds multitudes or just two chavrusos learning a sugya. There is a familiarity there that transcends place and circumstance.

And that reminded me that I do not need to go to Vermont or the country or anywhere else to find stillness. All I need to do is step into a bais medrash, open a sefer, and I am transported to the eternal Yiddishe place of solitude, comfort, and safety.

A person can build a house at the edge of the forest and believe that he has finally escaped the world. But a Jew has never been tasked with finding a place where he can hide from history. Our task has always been to carry eternity with us as we walk through history.

There is something about a Vermont or country summer that speaks of innocence and simplicity, where life is uncomplicated and peaceful, formed from a combination of deep green mountains, wildflowers growing along the fence lines, the old country store where everyone knows each other, the gravel road disappearing into the hills, and the old pickup truck moving slowly because there is nowhere to rush.

But even a place where time seems to move more slowly, a place that looks like it belongs in a Norman Rockwell painting, cannot promise an escape from the darker currents that run through the world.

The winds blow through the valleys of the Catskills or Vermont just as they blow through every other place on earth. The difference is not whether there is a storm outside. The difference is whether there is a flame burning inside.

And perhaps that is why, after all the centuries of exile, a small shtiebel in a noisy city can be a greater refuge than a cabin on a dusty country road.

Perhaps every person has his own Vermont.

For some, it is a bungalow in the mountains. For others, it is an apartment at the edge of Geulah, a house on a lake, or simply the dream of a different life where the burdens and anxieties of the present somehow cannot find us.

And perhaps every generation has its Vermont as well.

A time when it believes that the storms have finally passed. A moment when all the pieces appear to have fallen perfectly into place. The right people are in power. The dangerous enemies have been weakened. The future seems secure. We tell ourselves that the battles are behind us and that we can finally sit down on the porch, open a sefer, pour the coffee, and rest.

But history has a way of knocking on the door of even the quietest farmhouse.

Because no matter how far we run, we cannot run away from the world that Hashem placed us in. The purpose of a Jew is not to escape history, but to live through it with emunah. We are commanded to build homes, raise families, learn Torah, and serve Hashem not in a world free of uncertainty, but in a world where uncertainty is the stage upon which our bitachon is tested.

And that is a lesson we have been reminded of once again in recent months.

Everything was falling into place. Donald Trump won a landslide victory, doing away with Kamala Harris with historic flourish. He was Israel’s friend, the best anyone could hope for. He stood at Israel’s side during his first administration and promised to do so in his second. He was surrounded by Jewish people, conservative ones, and friends of the Jewish nation. As far as friends of Israel were concerned, he could do no wrong. He said and did all the right things. He was a welcome change and relief from the Biden and Obama years and their anti-Israel administrations.

Binyomin Netanyahu’s life mission has been to derail Iran’s push for nuclear weapons, but despite his many efforts and hard work, he found no allies in his campaign. And then Trump bought in. Following his reelection in November 2024, Netanyahu flew to the president-elect’s mansion in West Palm Beach and discussed with him how they would jointly attack Iran and its nuclear project.

Working together, last year at this time, the United States and Israel attacked Iran’s nuclear facilities. Trump and Netanyahu were jubilant. The Iranian threat had finally been removed. After lying about their nuclear ambitions for decades, Iran would finally not be able to continue production of a bomb. Trump was proclaimed an Israeli hero, and Jews the world over were thrilled.

But by February, Iran appeared to be on the cusp of enriching its uranium to levels necessary for bomb-making, and the Trump-Netanyahu coalition went to war against Iran once again. Commencing with the assassination of the Iranian Supreme Leader and dozens of members of the country’s leadership, their goal was to cause regime change and spark a transition to a post-theocratic government. Trump had promised the Iranian people as much, and he was coming now to make good on that pledge.

The other goals were to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons, destroy its ballistic missile capabilities, and end Iran’s ability to maintain and support its terror proxies.

Netanyahu was thrilled. He was finally achieving his life’s ambition. The American president was his best friend. They spoke every day or two and things were looking up. He was planning his reelection campaign, preparing clips of himself and Trump working together, and gathering Trump’s many complimentary quotes about his greatness, military leadership, and importance to Israel. Trump was even going to travel to Israel before the elections to campaign for his friend, Bibi.

And then, after months of bombing and achieving military victories, decimating Iran’s nuclear capability along with its navy and air force, Trump decided that he had had enough. What he thought would be a quick war was dragging on. Iran was blocking ships from transporting oil through the Strait of Hormuz, causing the price of gasoline to rise along with inflation. His threats and bravado were not cowing the Iranians, and the war was quite unpopular in the United States and elsewhere. He and his administration had done a poor job of selling it and explaining to the American people the need for the war.

The whole thing fell apart. All the words of Chazal cautioning us not to trust in governments or people came back to haunt us. All the lessons we have learned over the years once again became so real. Everything we have learned about lev melochim vesorim b’Yad Hashem is smacking us in the face. Eretz asher Hashem Elokecha doresh osah, tomid einei Hashem Elokecha bah, meireishis hashanah v’ad acharis shanah. If you follow Hashem’s directions, His chukim umishpotim, He will be there for you, protecting you, suppressing your enemies, and keeping your friends your friends.

But when you disrespect Him, when you do not follow His laws, when you mock His Torah and those who dedicate their lives to it, then things begin to crumble. And that is exactly what happened. When you take credit for military miracles, when you say, “Kochi v’otzem yodi asah li es hachayil hazeh,” then He says, “I will leave you to your own devices and see how far you will get.”

And as the world found out on October 7, that is not too far. And now that lesson has been repeated again. Your best friend, colleague, ally, and protector now mocks you, criticizes you, and curses you, and his vice president speaks with open contempt, if not outright hatred, toward you and your country.

President Trump tells you that if not for him, the State of Israel would not exist. If you do not acknowledge Hashem’s role in your state, then you leave a vacuum, and the American president is as eligible to fill that role as anyone else. He has been a good friend and dependable ally, and he deserves appreciation.

Israel is the land of the Jews, our haven in a sea of hatred, but when its leadership turns its back on Hashem, His Torah, and those faithful to Him, things begin to collapse.

Overnight, the man who fashions himself as master of the art of the deal was out-negotiated by a couple of lunatics with their backs against the wall, quickly running out of money and power. Overnight, the best friend of Israel, the commander-in-chief whose army worked shoulder to shoulder in unprecedented unity with Israel’s forces, jointly confronting the world’s pariah state, which views them as the Big Satan and the Little Satan, was convinced that Iran’s leaders wanted to turn over a new leaf and function as a rational country.

After dropping tens of thousands of bombs across Iran, and annihilating its navy and air force, most of its drones and missiles, and the capacity to manufacture more of them, and causing hundreds of billions of dollars’ worth of damage, the United States gave the regime a lifeline.

What happened? What changed? Observers wondered. Israel and its supporters scratched their collective heads. Commentators commented and pontificators pontificated. Republicans bit their tongues, and Democrats gleefully wagged theirs in a fit of “I told you sos” over the president’s seeming capitulation.

It is only a memorandum, not a deal. There is much negotiating ahead and nothing is definite. But a few things are clear: We are not in charge, nothing happens by itself, and nothing can be taken for granted.

When the war began, people the world over were fearful, and everyone immediately began davening and saying Tehillim. As time went on, they got used to the situation. Besides, Trump and Netanyahu were in charge. Their armies, the two most powerful in the world, were doing what they do best and crushing Iran. What could go wrong?

We slackened off. We lost sight of the One Who really runs everything and thought that the ruination of the Iranian regime was a done deal. Israel would be granted years of peace. Iran’s days as a terror paymaster would be ended, and its proxies would collapse. The Arab Gulf states would have nothing more to fear and would line up to make peace with Israel.

Well, it is not yet over, but the war seems to be heading toward a surprise ending. Our tefillos have the ability to change the outcome. Our devotion to Torah can bring about the change. Our mesirus nefesh for Torah has the power of the parah adumah to result in taharah and kedusha.

This week, we lain, “Zos haTorah, odom ki yomus b’ohel.” The secret of our existence, the secret of our success, is to go beyond our abilities, to stretch ourselves physically and financially for Torah. By doing so, we succeed, and our people succeed along with us.

• • • • •

Perhaps, one day, I will still make my way to that little farmhouse in Vermont.

Perhaps I will still sit on that porch as the morning mist rises from the stream, a cup of coffee warming my hands, a sefer open before me, listening to the whisper of the trees as they sway in the gentle breeze.

But the peace I imagined finding there was never hidden among the hills or waiting for me at the end of some forgotten dirt road.

A Yid can sit in the middle of a city, surrounded by noise and commotion, with enemies gathering at his borders and the nations of the world changing their loyalties overnight, and he can still possess a tranquility that no mountain retreat can provide. Much the same, a person can sit in the most beautiful corner of the world and be filled with fear if he believes that his fate rests in the hands of presidents, generals, and governments.

The lesson of these days is one our people have learned and relearned throughout thousands of years of history. We appreciate those whom Hashem sends to help us. We express gratitude to friends who stand by us. We use the tools that Hashem places in our hands – diplomacy, military strength, wisdom, and strategy.

But we must never confuse the messenger with the One Who sent him.

The same Hand that directs the flow of a quiet Vermont stream directs the currents of history. The same Creator Who paints the leaves in the forests of New England decides the fate of empires, moves the hearts of kings, and determines whether a friend remains a friend and whether an enemy loses his power.

“Zos haTorah, odom ki yomus b’ohel.” The secret of Yiddishe existence is not our ability to find a place where the world cannot touch us. It is our ability to enter the ohel of Torah, to live by it, and to sacrifice for it.

After thousands of years of wandering through every kind of landscape – deserts and ghettos, palaces and prisons, prosperity and persecution – the Jewish people are still here. We never found our Vermont.

We found something far greater.

The ohel of Torah.

The nations search for their security in treaties and alliances. Empires trust in their armies and economies. We have our own refuge.

Not a farmhouse at the end of a winding road.

Not a president in Washington.

Not a military coalition or a diplomatic victory.

Our refuge has always been, and will always be, the Ribbono Shel Olam.

He is always available to us, wherever we are. We do not have to run away anywhere. We do not need to find quaint towns and cottages. “Ki karov eilecha hadovor me’od beficha uvilvovcha.” Personal tranquility is a choice that can be achieved by stepping into the ohel haTorah, the Ohel Hashem, figuratively and literally. It is always open, always available.

The light is always on.

May we all be zoche to the ultimate tranquility and peace with the coming of Moshiach Tzidkeinu bekarov mamash.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump secured a significant political victory Wednesday evening after the Senate reversed course on legislation aimed at limiting his authority to conduct military operations against Iran. Just one day after advancing a war powers resolution, senators voted to block an identical proposal from moving forward, following intense lobbying from the White House and pressure from Republican leadership.

The dramatic shift came after Trump publicly criticized Republican senators who had supported Tuesday’s measure, as well as those who were absent from the vote. The president argued that congressional efforts to curb his military authority weakened his hand as his administration pursued negotiations with Iran.

Trump’s campaign to rally Republican lawmakers quickly produced results. Senators Rand Paul and Bill Cassidy, both of whom had supported the earlier effort to restrict the president’s military powers, changed their positions during Wednesday’s vote.

Paul declined to vote either for or against the proposal, instead voting “present,” while Cassidy switched from supporting the measure to opposing it.

Republican Senators Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski continued to back the legislation by voting in favor of limiting the president’s authority. Democratic Senator John Fetterman crossed party lines to support the administration by voting against the proposal. The final vote ended 47-50-1, preventing the measure from advancing.

The Senate’s reversal came just hours after a tense closed-door Republican conference meeting, where Cassidy confronted the administration over its handling of the Iran conflict. According to CNN, the Louisiana senator questioned why a military operation initially expected to last one month had stretched to four months without accomplishing its primary objectives.

“I stood and said, ‘You have not told the American people what’s going on. It was supposed to last four weeks, it’s lasted four months. Our original objectives have not been achieved, and I want to know what’s going on,” Cassidy related to members of the press following the confrontation.

Later that day, Cassidy said his concerns had been addressed after receiving a detailed intelligence briefing from Vice President JD Vance and special envoy Steve Witkoff, along with an invitation to the White House for additional discussions.

“I want to thank Vice President Vance and Special Envoy Witkoff for the thorough briefing this afternoon on Iran. I appreciate the quick invitation to the White House to address many of my concerns,” Cassidy wrote on social media.

Paul also explained why he altered his vote, saying that although his constitutional concerns regarding executive authority remained unchanged, he believed the president should have additional flexibility as diplomatic efforts continued.

“My opinion on the debate over war and executive power has not changed and I have voted that way several times. But since hostilities seem to be over and the President asked me to give consideration to his negotiating position, I will do so. My vote of present is a way to give the President more space and leverage to negotiate a lasting peace,” the Kentucky senator stated.

Trump celebrated the outcome shortly after the vote, praising the senators who changed their positions and thanking Republican leaders for helping secure the victory.

“Wow! The Senate just changed its vote on Iran from 50-48 against, to 50-47 for. Rand Paul and Bill Cassidy changed. Thank you to Leader John Thune, Lindsey Graham, Bernie Moreno, and all. This vote puts Iran on notice! President DJT”.

The latest vote marked the 11th time since January that the Senate has considered legislation related to limiting presidential war powers concerning Iran, underscoring the ongoing debate over Congress’s role in authorizing military action.

Throughout the dispute, the White House sharply criticized Republicans willing to support restrictions on the president’s authority. Earlier this month, after the House approved a similar resolution by a 215-208 vote with support from four Republicans, Trump labeled those lawmakers “GRANDSTANDERS” and called their actions “unpatriotic.”

Following Tuesday’s initial 50-48 Senate vote, Trump intensified his criticism by calling the four Republican senators who supported the measure “losers,” adding, “These Senators have just made my job more difficult.”

{Matzav.com}

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President Donald Trump took aim at Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, mocking the longtime New York Democrat over his increasingly critical stance toward Israel and joking that he planned to send him a traditional Palestinian outfit as a birthday present.

Speaking during remarks following a meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, Trump claimed Schumer had undergone a dramatic political transformation on Middle East issues.

“Schumer’s lost his way. He’s become, essentially, a Palestinian. I think it’s the greatest transformation of a political position I’ve ever seen,” Trump said.

The president then escalated the joke, adding, “He’s become 100 per cent Palestinian. In fact, I’ve asked for a beautiful, beautiful silk outfit to be sent in the Palestinian tradition. I’m going to send it to him as a birthday present.”

Trump has repeatedly criticized Schumer in recent years over the senator’s public disagreements with Israeli Prime Minister Binyomin Netanyahu and his calls for changes in Israel’s leadership during the war against Hamas. Trump has previously accused Schumer of abandoning his longtime pro-Israel positions, despite Schumer’s decades-long record of support for the Jewish state.

Schumer, the highest-ranking Jewish elected official in the United States, has continued to describe himself as a strong supporter of Israel while also sharply criticizing Netanyahu’s handling of the war in Gaza and urging new elections in Israel.

The head of an organization that assists bnei yeshivah in dealing with Israel’s military authorities warned Wednesday night that attorneys and self-described fixers are exploiting the distress of yeshivah students and their families, charging large sums of money while often leaving the bochurim in even greater legal jeopardy.

Speaking on Kol Chai Radio’s Tzav Ma’atzar program, Rabbi Chaim Karelitz, director-general of Ezram U’Maginam, revealed that approximately 48 chareidi bochurim are currently being held in military prison.

According to Karelitz, six of those detainees were arrested Tuesday at military induction offices, while another was detained on Highway 6.

Karelitz said his organization, which has been at the forefront of assisting bnei yeshivah dealing with military authorities, has seen an alarming increase in cases involving lawyers and intermediaries who promise to resolve draft-related issues in exchange for substantial fees.

Rather than helping, he warned, many of these individuals ultimately complicate the bochurim‘s legal status, increasing the likelihood of arrest.

He cited a case that came to the organization’s attention earlier that day involving a bochur who had hired one of these intermediaries to handle his military status. Instead of resolving the matter, the young man ultimately found himself behind bars.

“We are dealing with a situation where the army operates according to regulations,” Karelitz explained. “Once the draft date has passed and officials determine that the documentation is insufficient, they automatically place the individual under arrest.”

Karelitz described the problem as widespread.

“There are lawyers and other people looking to make money off individuals who are under tremendous stress and panic,” he said. “They circulate throughout the yeshivah world and charge close to 10,000 shekels from each bochur.”

He further claimed that nearly 90 percent of those arrested since the current wave of detentions began had either paid or “fallen into the trap” of attorneys or unauthorized intermediaries.

According to Karelitz, some of these individuals have even established referral networks inside yeshivos, paying bochurim to recruit additional clients.

He recounted one case involving a Jerusalem yeshivah, where the arrest of one bochur led to the discovery that approximately 30 other bochurim at the same institution were already in the process of working with the same intermediary.

“We stopped it,” Karelitz said.

The radio program concluded with a warning to parents and bnei yeshivah not to seek assistance from unauthorized individuals or be persuaded by promises from those presenting themselves as problem-solvers.

The host announced that Karelitz will return to the program next week to explain how families can avoid falling victim to such schemes while navigating issues involving the military authorities.

A public controversy erupted Wednesday following reports that Shin Bet Director David Zini ordered the removal of a memorial display at the agency’s headquarters honoring Shin Bet personnel who were killed during the October 7 Hamas massacre.

According to a report by Josh Breiner in Haaretz, the memorial, which had been placed near the entrance to the Shin Bet headquarters in Tel Aviv, commemorated members of the security service who lost their lives in the October 7 attacks.

The report said Zini justified the decision by saying that “there is no need to see the failure before our eyes every day.” Sources close to the Shin Bet chief were also quoted as describing the memorial display as conveying “defeatism.”

According to the report, a senior security official said the directive to dismantle the memorial was met with “astonishment” inside the agency.

In response to the report, the Shin Bet issued a statement explaining the reasoning behind the decision.

“The failure of October 7 was one of the greatest and most painful failures in the history of the State of Israel,” the agency said. “In the view of the head of the service, displaying only some of the fallen minimizes the scope of the failure and reflects only part of the terrible disaster that befell us. At the agency’s headquarters there is an official memorial wall displaying all of the service’s fallen, not just a small portion of them.”

Opposition leader Yair Lapid sharply criticized the reported decision, calling it “a moral failure.”

“In Jewish thought, memory is not weakness—it is strength,” Lapid wrote.

Quoting the late Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks, Lapid added: “To be a Jew is to carry the burden of memory without allowing it to rob us of hope and faith.”

“That is why we commemorate the destruction on Tisha B’Av,” he continued. “That is why the country comes to a standstill on Holocaust Remembrance Day and Memorial Day.”

Lapid concluded by warning, “What we forget, we are liable to repeat. What we remember, we can prevent. Memory is not only pain. It is also responsibility. It is our moral compass and the source of the strength to build a different future.”

He called on Zini to reconsider the decision.

{Matzav.com}

In response to a growing number of serious accidents involving electric scooters, one of Boro Park’s foremost rabbonim has enacted a sweeping new policy prohibiting bochurim in his yeshivah from owning or riding the increasingly popular vehicles.

Rav Binyomin Eisenberger, rosh yeshivah of Yeshivas Heichal HaTalmud and rov of Heichal HaTefillah, announced this week that all bochurim in his yeshivah are strictly forbidden from possessing or using electric scooters.

The new directive follows a troubling rise in serious traffic accidents involving motorized scooters and similar vehicles throughout the Brooklyn neighborhood. According to reports, the immediate catalyst for the decision was a recent incident in which one of the yeshivah’s own bochurim suffered severe injuries after being struck by a passing vehicle while riding an electric scooter.

The yeshivah is located on the outskirts of Boro Park, along 60th Street, a considerable distance from many bochurim‘s homes. As a result, numerous bochurim had come to rely on electric scooters as a convenient way to travel to the yeshivah in time for sedorim and tefillos.

Despite the inconvenience the new policy may cause, Rav Eisenberger determined that the growing danger to life could no longer be ignored.

Under the new regulations, no bochur may own, bring, or ride an electric scooter in connection with the yeshivah. Instead, bochurim have been instructed to travel on foot whenever possible or use safer transportation alternatives, such as local taxi services.

The move comes amid increasing concern in chareidi communities over the growing number of accidents involving electric scooters and bicycles. In recent years, these vehicles have become commonplace in many neighborhoods, but they have also been linked to a steady stream of serious injuries and fatal accidents.

Many community members expressed hope that Rav Eisenberger’s decisive action will encourage other mosdos and communities to adopt similar safeguards, helping prevent future tragedies and protect the lives of countless bochurim.

In unusually sharp remarks, former Rishon LeTzion Rav Yitzchok Yosef voiced strong support for the ongoing protests against the arrest of yeshivah students and launched a blistering attack on Israel’s right-wing government, lamenting what he described as the continued persecution of the Torah world.

The comments, published Wednesday in an audio recording, came against the backdrop of nationwide demonstrations over the detention of bnei Torah. In the recording, Rav Yosef criticized the authorities for targeting yeshivah students and avreichim and expressed particular concern over what he described as the disproportionate impact on Sephardic members of the Torah community.

“We are participating in the protest against the authorities for what they are doing in stopping Torah learners and persecuting them—arresting talmidei chachamim, avreichim, and bnei yeshivah,” Rav Yosef said. “Sadly, it is primarily Sephardim. There is blatant discrimination here. They are humiliating them.”

The Rishon LeTzion then turned his criticism toward the government itself, expressing dismay that such policies were being carried out under a coalition identified with the political right.

“Woe to us that דווקא a right-wing government has imposed such decrees against the bnei Torah, the avreichim, and the holy Torah,” he declared. “May there not be Heavenly displeasure. We protest with all our strength against this ביזיון התורה.”

Continuing his remarks, Rav Yosef appeared to allude to the government with a pointed biblical phrase.

“We do not rely on those who are in politics—‘their right hand is a false right hand,’” he said, adding an appeal to the authorities: “We ask the government: Remove your hands from the talmidei chachamim. Leave the Sephardic bnei Torah alone. Leave us in peace so that we may sit and learn Torah.”

Concluding his message, Rav Yosef reiterated his long-held position regarding military service for yeshivah students.

“One who studies Torah is exempt from going to the army—and even one who is not studying Torah. How can he go to such a secular army?” he said. “Be strong and courageous. Hashem is with you, mighty men of valor.”

{Matzav.com}

A new Israeli government initiative targeting the Torah world is expected to begin in the coming weeks, as Israel’s Tax Authority prepares to strip tax benefits from chareidi nonprofit organizations that support yeshivos attended by students classified by the military as draft evaders.

According to a report aired Wednesday evening on Kan News, the Tax Authority is expected to contact yeshivos whose donors currently receive tax deductions and require them to disclose whether any of their students are officially designated as “draft dodgers” under military records.

As part of the process, yeshivos will reportedly be required to submit lists of students for cross-checking against army databases. Under the planned policy, any yeshivah found to have students classified as draft evaders would lose eligibility for tax-benefit status. Estimates suggest that the financial impact could amount to tens of millions of shekels annually.

The move is being viewed by many in the chareidi community as another step in what they describe as an ongoing campaign against the Torah world.

The initiative follows a directive issued approximately one month ago by Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara, who instructed that donors to yeshivos whose students do not serve in the military should no longer qualify for tax benefits. The directive drew fierce criticism from chareidi political parties, which warned that the financial damage to yeshivos and Torah institutions could ultimately reach tens or even hundreds of millions of shekels each year.

Kan News further reported that even before responding to petitions filed with the High Court of Justice, the attorney general had already instructed the Tax Authority and other relevant government agencies to begin preparing the groundwork necessary to halt the subsidization of donations to chareidi yeshivos through the tax-benefit system.

The expected implementation of the policy comes amid escalating tensions surrounding the status of yeshivah students, military draft enforcement, and the arrest of bnei Torah, issues that have sparked widespread protests and political turmoil across the country in recent weeks.

President Donald Trump abruptly derailed a planned White House-style signing ceremony for a bipartisan housing package on Wednesday, refusing to move forward with the legislation until Congress first approves his election security proposal, the SAVE America Act. The unexpected decision came amid an increasingly tense day at the U.S. Capitol that also featured a heated confrontation with Republican senators over the ongoing conflict with Iran.

The housing affordability bill had been scheduled for a public signing event intended to showcase bipartisan cooperation on one of the country’s most pressing economic issues ahead of the November midterm elections. Instead, Trump canceled the event just two hours before it was set to begin.

Explaining his decision, Trump declared that the legislation would remain unsigned until lawmakers advanced his election proposal.

“Today’s Housing News Conference and Signing is hereby cancelled until such time as we pass the desperately needed SAVE AMERICA ACT, which I consider to be a National Emergency,” Trump posted on his Truth Social platform.

The SAVE America Act would require individuals to provide proof of U.S. citizenship when registering to vote and present photo identification at the polls. Supporters argue the proposal would safeguard election integrity, while Democrats contend it would place unnecessary obstacles in the way of eligible voters.

Although the measure has already stalled in the Senate, with Republican leadership acknowledging it currently lacks the votes necessary to overcome procedural hurdles, Trump continued pressing lawmakers to take it up.

The president, who has continued to maintain that fraud prevented him from winning the 2020 presidential election, carried that message into a private lunch with Senate Republicans later in the day.

According to multiple reports, the meeting became contentious when Trump confronted Republican senators who had joined Democrats a day earlier in supporting a resolution related to the Iran conflict.

Four Republican senators crossed party lines to approve a largely symbolic measure calling on Trump either to seek congressional authorization for continued military operations against Iran or to bring those hostilities to an end.

After the meeting, Sen. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana recounted his exchange with the president, saying Trump questioned why any Republican would support the resolution.

“I stood and said: ‘You have not told the American people what’s going on. It was supposed to last four weeks; it’s lasted four months. Our original objectives have not been achieved and I want to know what’s going on,'” Cassidy said, according to The Hill and CNN.

Cassidy, who was defeated in Louisiana’s Republican primary in May by a Trump-endorsed challenger, will not be seeking another term in November.

Trump appeared to remain frustrated as he departed the luncheon.

“I don’t like a few people, but that’s OK — I think you know who they are.”

The dispute over war powers unfolded as the administration continued pursuing a permanent agreement with Iran following months of fighting that unsettled energy markets worldwide and exposed divisions within the Republican Party.

Before entering the closed-door meeting alongside Senate Majority Leader John Thune, Trump brushed aside reporters’ questions about the housing legislation and instead expressed confidence about developments in the Middle East.

He said the “war is going very well” and that “Iran is making very big concessions.”

The housing legislation itself had cleared Congress with overwhelming bipartisan support and was widely promoted by Republicans as a meaningful response to the nation’s housing affordability crisis.

Among its key provisions are measures designed to increase the nation’s housing supply, reduce regulatory barriers to construction, and make homeownership more accessible at a time when elevated mortgage rates, limited inventory, and soaring rents continue to strain American families.

Trump had previously praised the legislation as part of his broader effort to reduce Americans’ cost of living during a period of stubborn inflation, some of which has been linked to instability caused by the Iran conflict.

On Wednesday, however, the president downplayed the importance of the housing package, describing it as being of “minor importance” and saying it “pales in comparison” to passing the SAVE America Act.

Despite Trump’s refusal to sign the measure immediately, the legislation may still become law. Under the Constitution, a bill automatically takes effect after ten days if the president neither signs nor vetoes it while Congress remains in session.

The president also demonstrated his commitment to prioritizing the election proposal last week when he called off the Senate confirmation hearing for his nominee to serve as director of national intelligence, saying lawmakers should instead focus on advancing the SAVE America Act.

Backers of the legislation argue it would significantly strengthen election security by ensuring that only eligible citizens cast ballots.

Critics, however, maintain that voter fraud is exceedingly uncommon and warn that the proposal would disproportionately affect minority communities, married women, and others who may face greater difficulty obtaining the required identification and documentation.

{Matzav.com}

A series of violent incidents targeting chareidi participants in Wednesday’s nationwide convoy protest has intensified concerns over rising anti-chareidi hostility, with several confrontations reported across the country and one particularly disturbing altercation taking place on Highway 1 as demonstrators returned home.

The most serious incident occurred Wednesday evening when a motorist was filmed attacking a vehicle carrying chareidi protesters traveling on Highway 1 toward Tel Aviv. Video footage circulated online shows the enraged driver smashing a side mirror and attempting to assault those inside the vehicle.

Within moments, additional protesters gathered at the scene, leading to a heated confrontation. Police officers who arrived shortly afterward intervened and restored order before the situation escalated further.

In a statement, police said, “A short time ago, Border Police officers from the Mateh Yehuda station were dispatched to Highway 1 following reports of a fight and a gathering of people around the incident. Upon arrival, officers acted quickly to separate those involved and restore public order.”

According to the police, “A preliminary investigation indicates that the victim is a resident of Beit Shemesh. The suspect, a resident of Rishon LeZion, will be summoned later today for questioning at the police station to clarify the circumstances of the incident.”

The attack came after a day marked by multiple reports of violence directed at participants in the massive vehicle protest organized in response to the arrests of yeshivah students.

Earlier on Highway 1, one driver was reportedly seen pointing a handgun in the direction of chareidi demonstrators. Footage released by protest organizers appeared to show the individual driving slowly near a group of young chareidim while holding what appeared to be a firearm.

Protest organizers condemned the incident as a serious threat and called on law enforcement authorities to take immediate action.

“No shots were fired,” organizers noted, but they described the incident as deeply alarming and indicative of the growing hostility directed toward the chareidi public.

Another violent confrontation reportedly involved Beitar Illit Deputy Mayor Gedalyahu Eisenstein, chairman of the city’s chassidic faction. Witnesses said a driver deliberately collided with his vehicle before physically attacking him and allegedly attempting to choke him.

In a separate incident on the Ayalon Highway, a truck driver reportedly exited his vehicle and charged toward one of the protest convoy’s cars that had departed from Bnei Brak. According to eyewitness accounts, the man was armed with a knife and sticks.

Passengers said the attacker struck the vehicle repeatedly and pounded on its windows while they remained trapped inside, fearing for their safety. The occupants reportedly contacted police immediately and refrained from responding physically despite what they described as an imminent threat.

The string of confrontations has fueled accusations from protest organizers and chareidi leaders that inflammatory rhetoric against the Torah community is contributing to a dangerous atmosphere in which physical violence is becoming increasingly common.

As investigations continue into the various incidents, organizers are calling on authorities to ensure that those responsible are held accountable and that participants in future demonstrations can exercise their right to protest without fear of intimidation or attack.

What organizers described as the largest vehicle protest in recent memory brought major highways across Israel to a near standstill on Tuesday, as tens of thousands of participants rallied against the arrest and imprisonment of bnei Torah. The demonstration, known as the “Convoy Protest,” drew participants from across the spectrum of the chareidi community and culminated in dramatic scenes outside Prison 10, where recorded messages from leading Torah authorities were broadcast directly to incarcerated yeshivah students and avreichim.

Within minutes of the protest’s launch, its impact was being felt nationwide. Traffic congestion spread across major roadways, media outlets devoted extensive coverage to the demonstrations, and many workers reportedly left their jobs early in anticipation of the disruptions. Participants said the message was unmistakable: the Torah community would not remain silent in the face of efforts to imprison those dedicated to Torah study.

One of the most striking aspects of the protest was the rare display of unity among Israel’s various chareidi factions. Chassidim affiliated with Agudas Yisrael, the yeshivah community following the guidance of Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch, and large segments of the Sephardic Torah community all took part. Organizers credited the involvement of Rav Moshe Maya, the senior member of the Moetzes Chachmei HaTorah, with helping bring broad Sephardic participation and the support of Shas representatives.

Heavy traffic jams were reported throughout the country as convoys moved along highways and major intersections. In many locations, participants held Minchah minyanim on roadsides and in the midst of protest gatherings. At the same time, several confrontations were reported between protesters and secular motorists, including verbal altercations and physical incidents that organizers described as acts of hostility toward the demonstrators.

Authorities sealed off access routes leading to Prison 10, deploying large numbers of police officers to prevent thousands of protesters from approaching the facility. Unable to reach the prison itself, organizers erected powerful sound systems near the area and broadcast messages of support, protest, and inspiration toward the prison grounds.

Recorded addresses from leading Torah figures echoed through the area, carrying words of encouragement to those being held behind bars for refusing military service. Protest organizers said the messages were intended to strengthen the imprisoned bnei Torah and remind them that the broader Torah world stood firmly behind them.

Rav Meir Tzvi Bergman delivered an emotional message directed to the detainees.

“I want to join and strengthen the young men who were arrested because they sit and learn Torah. ‘Praiseworthy are you for having been seized because of Torah.’ You are giving strength to the entire future of Klal Yisrael.”

The elderly rosh yeshivah repeated his words with visible emotion, again emphasizing that the imprisoned students were providing encouragement and inspiration to the entire Jewish people.

Former Sephardic Chief Rabbi Rav Yitzchak Yosef also addressed the prisoners, speaking with evident pain about the arrests and emphasizing that the protest was not only on behalf of full-time Torah scholars but also against what he described as broader persecution of observant Jews.

“We ask all the authorities—we do not rely on those who are in politics, their right hand is a false right hand—we do not rely on the authorities. We ask them: Leave the Torah scholars alone, leave the Sephardic Torah students alone.”

Following additional songs and prayers, Rav Shmuel Betzalel, rosh yeshivah of Porat Yosef and a member of the Moetzes Chachmei HaTorah, delivered a fiery address.

“Those who are distant want to abolish the holy Torah. They do not understand what the Jewish people are. And you prisoners, prisoners of the holy Torah, who are imprisoned for the sanctification of Hashem’s Name—Hashem is with you, mighty heroes. You will bear your imprisonment with pride, and all the public that came to identify with the holy Torah—Hashem should bless them all, to sustain the Jewish people. Without the holy Torah, the Jewish people do not exist, and they want, G-d forbid, to erase the Torah of our forefathers and the nation itself.”

He also addressed the prisoners directly.

“I turn to the avreichim and the young men who are behind bars in the prisons: Preserve the spirit of true yiras Shamayim that you maintained within the holy yeshivah. At the same time, let your spirits and hearts be uplifted through the ways of the holy Torah. Feel, feel that the Holy One, Blessed is He, is with you—that you are prisoners and representatives of the entire Torah world and of the Torah itself.”

The crowd also listened to a recorded blessing from Rav Yaakov Meir Shechter, one of the senior figures of the Breslov community.

“Be strong and courageous. The Holy One, Blessed is He, will help. Fortunate are you… with all your strength, fortunate are you in this world and the next.”

Rav Moshe Berezovsky, rosh yeshivah of Slonim, likewise spoke of the spiritual significance of the arrests.

“The courts and governmental authorities placed you in prison in order to break your desire to remain faithful to the Holy One, Blessed is He, and to His Torah. We do not abandon the source of our life, even if it requires self-sacrifice. Rabbi Akiva also taught us the way—to sacrifice oneself with joy. All my life I was distressed, wondering when I would have the opportunity to fulfill this. Thank G-d that the wicked among Israel are not yet killing us for learning Torah, but they are trying to harass us, humiliate us, and treat us like criminals because we wish to learn Torah and remain faithful to the Holy One, Blessed is He, and His holy Torah.”

Rav Yitzchak Moshe Erlanger delivered an impassioned message rooted in the story of Rabbi Akiva’s defiance of Roman decrees against Torah study.

“Fortunate are you for having been seized because of Torah. I ask the Master of the Universe to give me the right words to say. The Gemara tells us: ‘The wicked kingdom decreed that the Jewish people should not engage in Torah.’ The Roman government decreed that the Jewish people should not study Torah. Pappus ben Yehudah came and found Rabbi Akiva gathering crowds publicly and studying Torah. Rabbi Akiva simply ignored all of those decrees and continued gathering the masses and teaching Torah.”

Throughout the gathering, organizers recited the names of all those currently imprisoned, along with the names of their mothers, for prayer. Special prayers were also offered for R’ Amram Markowitz, an avreich and father of two young children who reportedly lost consciousness while in prison.

As the protest concluded late Tuesday night, organizers hailed the demonstration as a historic success, pointing to the nationwide disruption, the unprecedented unity among disparate chareidi groups, and the powerful messages delivered to those imprisoned as evidence that the Torah community had made its voice heard across Israel.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump revealed on Wednesday that he personally persuaded Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to remain on the sidelines during the recent conflict involving Iran, while also signaling that Ankara could soon receive a significant benefit from Washington.

Speaking at the White House alongside NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, Trump said Erdogan had considered becoming involved in the war but ultimately refrained after discussions with him.

“He’s a friend of mine, and he stayed out of the war,” Trump said.

Trump went on to suggest that Turkey had been among the countries most likely to enter the conflict, potentially in support of Iran.

“You know, he was a prime candidate to go into the war with Iran. Maybe, on Iran’s side because he’s not a big fan of Israel, as you know. And I asked him to stay out. He stayed out.”

The president also offered strong praise for Erdogan, describing the Turkish leader as both capable and widely respected.

“Erdogan loves Turkey, right? He’s doing a great job. He loves Turkey. I love the US, but he loves Turkey, and he’s doing a great job. He’s a respected man, a respected leader. He’s been a friend of mine.”

During the exchange with reporters, Trump was asked whether the United States might eventually provide Turkey with F-35 fighter jets, something Ankara has long sought.

Responding positively, Trump emphasized Turkey’s importance within the NATO alliance and hinted that he may soon take steps favorable to Erdogan.

“I think so. He’s a member of NATO. Some people don’t consider himself, but he really is. He is a strong member of NATO. Yeah, I’m going to probably do something that’s going to make him very happy.”

Trump’s comments come against the backdrop of increasingly strained relations between Turkey and Israel. Prior to Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack, officials from both countries had been making progress toward repairing ties that had been damaged for years.

That effort largely unraveled after the war began, with Erdogan emerging as one of Israel’s most outspoken international critics.

In March 2024, Erdogan condemned Israel following military operations against terrorist targets in Gaza and referred to the Jewish state as a “terror state.”

Later that year, he argued that the Netanyahu government posed the greatest danger to stability in the Middle East.

Erdogan also drew international attention in April 2024 when he hosted then-Hamas political bureau chief Ismail Haniyeh in Istanbul. Haniyeh was subsequently eliminated by Israel.

A short time afterward, the Turkish president stated that more than 1,000 Hamas members were receiving medical treatment in Turkish hospitals and criticized Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis for describing Hamas as a terrorist organization.

More recently, Erdogan has broadened his criticism of Israel, warning that Israeli military activity in Syria and Lebanon could eventually threaten Turkish interests as well.

Earlier this month, he cautioned against additional Israeli operations in the region, declaring, “We see comprehensive initiatives led by Israel in the Mediterranean, and no one should pursue adventures there.”

He also accused Israel of endangering regional stability, saying, “Israel’s aggression threatens the entire world.”

Warning that Turkey would not remain passive if its interests were harmed, Erdogan added, “If the rights of Turks or Turkish-Cypriots are harmed in the Middle East – our response will be unequivocal and strong.”

Trump’s remarks highlighted both his close personal relationship with Erdogan and Turkey’s continuing importance in regional diplomacy, even as tensions between Ankara and Israel remain high.

{Matzav.com}

A new survey released by the Kantar Institute for Kan News points to growing momentum for Israel’s right-wing parties while signaling declining support for the Beyachad (Together) alliance headed by Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid.

According to the poll, if Israelis were to vote today, the Likud would emerge as the largest party with 24 Knesset seats. Close behind would be Gadi Eisenkot’s Yashar party, which would secure 22 mandates.

The Bennett-Lapid Beyachad list would receive 16 seats, while Yisrael Beytenu would win 10. The Democrats and Otzma Yehudit would each capture 9 seats, followed by Shas with 9 and United Torah Judaism with 7. Hadash-Ta’al would receive 6 seats, Religious Zionism would win 5, and Ra’am would enter the Knesset with 4 mandates.

Several parties would fail to clear the electoral threshold under this scenario. Blue and White, the Reservists Party, and Balad would all remain outside the Knesset.

When the results are broken down by political blocs, the current coalition parties would hold 54 seats, while parties opposed to Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu would collectively command 56 seats.

The poll also examined a hypothetical scenario in which Beyachad, Yesh Atid, and Eisenkot’s Yashar party joined forces under a single slate led by Eisenkot. In that case, the unified list would become the largest faction in the Knesset with 36 seats.

Even under that arrangement, however, Likud would still secure 26 seats, and the broader Netanyahu-aligned bloc would remain at 56 mandates.

Researchers also tested support for a potential new political alliance bringing together Benny Gantz, Dedi Simhi, and Yoaz Hendel. That proposed party would receive 7 seats, according to the survey.

One of the most striking findings involved the future strength of Yesh Atid. If Bennett and Lapid were to part ways and run separately, Bennett’s party would win 14 seats while Yesh Atid would plunge to just 4 mandates, barely surviving above the electoral threshold.

Respondents were also asked who should head the anti-Netanyahu camp in the next election. Eisenkot emerged as the clear favorite, receiving support from 40 percent of those surveyed. Bennett trailed far behind at 16 percent, while 27 percent said neither man should lead the opposition bloc.

A separate Channel 13 News poll produced similar results, showing continued strength for the right and modest gains for Religious Zionism.

In that survey, Likud received 23 seats and Eisenkot’s Yashar party 20. The Bennett-Lapid alliance dropped to 15 seats, while Yisrael Beytenu climbed to 12. The Democrats would win 10 seats, Otzma Yehudit 9, Shas 8, and United Torah Judaism 8. Hadash-Ta’al would secure 6 seats, Religious Zionism 5, and Ra’am 4.

As in the Kan News survey, the Reservists Party, Balad, and Blue and White failed to cross the electoral threshold.

The Channel 13 poll found the Netanyahu-aligned bloc holding 53 seats, compared to 57 seats for the opposition camp, suggesting that despite gains for the right, neither side currently enjoys a decisive path to forming a stable governing coalition.

{Matzav.com}

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A new Washington Post analysis has reignited concerns about political bias in artificial intelligence, finding that several of the most widely used AI chatbots were significantly more likely to generate responses categorized as left-leaning when addressing controversial political topics.

The newspaper evaluated leading AI systems developed by OpenAI, Google, Anthropic, Elon Musk’s xAI, and other companies. Using a set of political prompts created by researchers, the study examined how the chatbots responded to divisive policy questions and whether those responses reflected left-leaning viewpoints, right-leaning viewpoints, or arguments from both sides.

Among all the models tested, ChatGPT from OpenAI displayed the strongest tendency toward responses classified as left-leaning, according to the Post’s findings.

The analysis found that ChatGPT offered exclusively left-leaning arguments in 80 percent of its answers, while only 3 percent of its responses contained solely right-leaning arguments. The remaining 17 percent included perspectives from both sides of the debate.

The trend was not limited to ChatGPT. DeepSeek, an artificial intelligence platform developed in China, also produced a substantial majority of responses that were categorized as left-leaning. According to the analysis, 70 percent of its answers fell into that category, compared with 7 percent that were exclusively right-leaning and 23 percent that incorporated both viewpoints.

Even Gab AI, a chatbot associated with the conservative-oriented social media platform Gab, generated more responses classified as left-leaning than right-leaning. The Post reported that 50 percent of its answers were categorized as left-leaning, while just 3 percent were deemed exclusively right-leaning. Another 47 percent presented arguments from both perspectives.

Anthropic’s Claude also showed a tendency toward left-leaning responses, though to a lesser degree. Researchers determined that 43 percent of its answers reflected left-leaning viewpoints, while 57 percent included arguments representing both sides of an issue.

According to the Post, only two of the AI models tested regularly provided responses that approached political questions with a broader balance of viewpoints.

Google’s Gemini included arguments from both sides in 93 percent of its responses. Meanwhile, Elon Musk’s Grok produced left-leaning responses 40 percent of the time, right-leaning responses in 33 percent of cases, and balanced responses in 27 percent.

The findings arrive as President Donald Trump has increasingly focused on concerns surrounding ideological bias in artificial intelligence systems.

Earlier this year, Trump signed an executive order requiring that AI technologies used by federal agencies operate as “neutral, nonpartisan tools.”

Google defended Gemini’s results in the study. A company spokeswoman told the Post that the chatbot was intentionally designed to provide responses that remain balanced and avoid favoring any particular political viewpoint.

Anthropic likewise rejected claims that its system exhibits political bias.

A company spokesman told the newspaper that Claude is trained to treat different political viewpoints equally and undergoes extensive testing before new versions are released to the public.

To conduct the analysis, the Post instructed each chatbot to answer political questions in 30 words or fewer, with personalization features disabled.

Researchers then reviewed the responses and classified them according to whether they reflected left-leaning arguments, right-leaning arguments, or a combination of both viewpoints.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump declared Wednesday that Iran has assured the United States it is not imposing any tolls, insurance fees, or other charges on vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz, while warning that inaccurate reporting on the issue could derail ongoing negotiations between Washington and Tehran.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump sharply criticized media reports suggesting that Iran was seeking to profit from or restrict commercial traffic through the critical maritime corridor, insisting that Iranian officials had conveyed the opposite message to the United States.

“Iran has informed the U.S. that, despite troublemaking Fake News reporting to the contrary, there are ‘NO TOLLS, NO INSURANCE COSTS, & NO OTHER CHARGES OF ANY KIND BEING SOUGHT OR RECEIVED BY IRAN ON SHIPS TRAVELING THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ,'” Trump wrote.

Trump indicated that the accuracy of that assurance is essential to the future of diplomatic discussions between the two countries, making clear that any deception would have immediate consequences.

“If this is false information, negotiations would end, immediately!” Trump said.

The Strait of Hormuz remains one of the most strategically significant waterways in the world, serving as a key route for global shipments of oil and natural gas. A substantial portion of the world’s energy supply passes through the narrow passage linking the Persian Gulf with international shipping lanes.

Because of its importance to global commerce, any uncertainty surrounding access to the strait has the potential to unsettle energy markets and trigger fears of disruptions to worldwide supply chains.

Trump’s remarks came as his administration continues diplomatic engagement with Iran after a period marked by escalating tensions, military conflict, and regional instability.

Administration officials have repeatedly stated that the objective of the negotiations is to establish lasting regional stability while ensuring that Iran is unable to threaten its neighbors or international security.

The president also sought to dispel reports that the United States had recently transferred funds to Iran or released assets directly to the Iranian government.

“Additionally, no money has been given to Iran, or released from their money to them, by the U.S.,” Trump wrote.

Instead, Trump outlined a plan under which Iranian funds currently controlled by the United States would be used to purchase American agricultural products intended for humanitarian relief.

“We will be releasing some of their money, that is totally controlled by us, to our Farmers and Ranchers, for the purchase of Corn, Wheat, Soybeans, and more,” Trump said.

“Food is desperately needed in Iran, and we will be purchasing it for them exclusively from the United States.”

Under the proposal described by Trump, the funds would be directed toward the purchase of American-grown food products rather than being handed over directly to Iranian authorities. The approach could provide economic support to U.S. farmers while helping address food shortages inside Iran.

The president’s comments underscored the delicate state of the negotiations, as both sides continue discussions aimed at easing tensions while avoiding renewed conflict in one of the world’s most strategically important regions.