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Dozens of Chareidi protesters gathered outside the Tel Hashomer recruitment office in Ramat Gan early Monday morning, attempting to block access roads as the IDF prepared to induct hundreds of Chareidi recruits into specially designated military programs.

The demonstration followed a similar protest Sunday outside the Tel Hashomer recruitment office, as opposition continues to grow over efforts to increase the enlistment of Chareidim into the IDF.

Seeking to disrupt Monday’s scheduled induction, dozens of protesters arrived at the entrance to the Tel Hashomer military base during the night, bringing mattresses and sleeping equipment and remaining there until morning.

The protesters deliberately arrived hours in advance in an effort to establish a presence at the site before the recruitment process began and interfere with operations at the induction center.

At daybreak, the situation at the entrance to the base became increasingly chaotic as protesters moved onto nearby access roads and attempted to block traffic leading toward the military compound and recruitment office.

The demonstrators sought to prevent or delay prospective recruits from reaching the base, resulting in traffic disruptions and confrontations with police officers attempting to maintain access to the area.

Protesters continued gathering around the Tel Hashomer complex throughout the morning, repeatedly attempting to interfere with vehicle traffic and the arrival of recruits.

The demonstrations came as the IDF prepared Monday to receive hundreds of Chareidi recruits who are slated to serve in combat-support positions through the military’s “Maalot Tzur” and “Project Yoav” programs within the Technology and Logistics Directorate.

President Trump on Monday called for Iran’s leaders to be prosecuted for “war crimes against humanity,” delivering a blistering assessment of the Islamic Republic as a “failed nation” amid continued fighting between Tehran and Washington and renewed tensions in the Strait of Hormuz.

“Iran is officially a Failed Nation. IT IS DEAD!” the president proclaimed on Truth Social. “They have no Navy, they have no Air Force, they have no currency, they are not paying their soldiers or police, Inflation is at 300%, and their leadership is in total disarray and incapable of properly representing the country.”

Trump then pointed to the Iranian regime’s violent suppression of anti-government demonstrations, while accusing Tehran of relying on propaganda and empty rhetoric.

“The only thing they have is FAKE NEWS from the USA, a willingness to kill their protesters (now over 100,000 people dead. They must be tried for war crimes against humanity!), and a good line of ‘[garbage].’”

Iran has faced accusations of massacring demonstrators who took to the streets against the regime late last year. Some estimates have placed the number of people killed at 30,000 or more.

Trump’s comments came on the heels of a new US military operation targeting rocket launchers on Iran’s Larak Island. The launchers were used by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps to deploy mines in the Strait of Hormuz, the strategically vital waterway that handled nearly one-fifth of the world’s oil supply during peacetime.

“U.S. forces took limited, precise action against IRGC minelaying forces posing an imminent threat in the Strait of Hormuz,” US Central Command (CENTCOM) posted on X Sunday evening. “In essence, Iran created the threat and the U.S. military eliminated it to protect civilian mariners, commercial shipping, and the free flow of global commerce.”

Following the US strikes on Larak Island, Jordan said its forces intercepted eight Iranian missiles that had been fired toward American military sites inside the country. Officials said the Iranian attacks caused no significant damage.

Trump nevertheless promised a forceful response to the Iranian missile launches, telling Fox News chief foreign correspondent Trey Yingst, “We’re going to hit them hard.”

CENTCOM announced last week that US forces had successfully removed mines from portions of the Strait of Hormuz and had been escorting and directing oil tankers through the critical shipping route.

Iran’s ability to disrupt shipping through the Strait has emerged as one of Tehran’s primary sources of leverage against the United States since the conflict began on Feb. 28.

Energy Secretary Chris Wright has said that approximately 9 million barrels of oil are currently moving through the Strait of Hormuz each day, a steep decline from the more than 20 million barrels that passed through the waterway daily before the war.

{Matzav.com}

A group representing retired Port Authority police officers is urging New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani not to attend this year’s 25th anniversary commemoration of the September 11 terrorist attacks, arguing that his appearance at Ground Zero would inflict “deep pain” on many first responders, survivors and relatives of those murdered.

John McDevitt, president of the Port Authority Retired Police Association, made the request in an Aug. 14 letter to Mamdani that was reported over the weekend by Fox News. McDevitt asked the mayor to refrain from participating in the Sept. 11 ceremony at the World Trade Center site.

“For us, September 11 is not a political occasion, a photo opportunity, or a platform for public officials,” McDevitt wrote to Mamdani. “It is a solemn day of remembrance for those who were murdered, those who responded, those who survived, and the families who have carried these losses for twenty-five years.”

The association stressed the particularly close bond its members have with the World Trade Center, which it described as “our home.” The September 11 attacks claimed the lives of 37 Port Authority police officers, along with 47 other members of the Port Authority family.

“Thirty-seven of our brothers and sisters made the ultimate sacrifice,” McDevitt wrote. “Their memorial should not become the center of political controversy.”

According to the retired officers, Mamdani’s political associations, policy positions and previous public statements have generated “profound concerns” among their members. The organization said those concerns are particularly significant given the sacrifices of the victims and the law enforcement officers who responded to the attacks.

“We believe your presence at Ground Zero on this 25th anniversary would cause deep pain to many members of the 9/11 community,” McDevitt wrote. “It also risks shifting attention away from the people whose lives, courage, and sacrifice the ceremony exists to honor.”

Rather than appearing at Ground Zero, McDevitt suggested that Mamdani commemorate the anniversary in another fashion, such as issuing a written statement, delivering public remarks or participating in a separate event.

“This is our day to remember,” he wrote. “Please allow us to remember in peace.”

Mamdani has previously indicated that he plans to attend the September 11 ceremony, saying he intends to “proudly honor” the victims’ families, survivors and first responders whose lives were permanently altered by the attacks.

The letter from the retired officers follows a separate petition calling for Mamdani to be kept away from the ceremony that has attracted more than 95,000 signatures. Giovanni Galante, whose wife, Grace Catherine Galante, was killed in the September 11 attacks, launched the petition in July.

The petition raises numerous objections to Mamdani, who took office in January as New York City’s first Muslim mayor. Among the issues cited is his refusal to condemn the slogan “globalize the intifada.”

It also points to Mamdani’s appearance during his campaign with Brooklyn Imam Siraj Wahhaj. The petition describes Wahhaj as an unindicted co-conspirator in the 1993 World Trade Center bombing and says he had previously advocated for gun-free jihad.

Mamdani’s decision to appoint Ramzi Kassem as New York City’s chief counsel is another issue raised by the petition. Kassem has represented convicted Al-Qaeda member Ahmed al-Darbi as well as radical organizer Mahmoud Khalil.

The petition additionally criticizes Mamdani for endorsing state Senate candidate Aber Kawas, who had previously characterized the September 11 attacks as something that “a couple of people did” and voiced support for Ahmed Ferhani, who was convicted in connection with a terror plot.

Also cited is Mamdani’s backing of congressional candidate Darializa Avila Chevalier, who had previously described the United States as “a f-ing disgrace” and spoke about using an American flag as a napkin.

The petition further draws attention to social media posts Mamdani made in 2015 concerning Al-Qaeda figure Anwar al-Awlaki, in which Mamdani defended al-Awlaki and attributed his radicalization to American policy.

Statements made by Mamdani’s father, Columbia University professor Mahmood Mamdani, are also included among the petition’s objections. Those remarks have been characterized as expressing sympathy toward suicide bombers.

Judea Pearl, whose son, Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl, was kidnapped and murdered by terrorists in Pakistan in 2002, has also publicly backed the effort opposing Mamdani’s presence at the Ground Zero commemoration.

Pearl wrote on social media: “My late son, Daniel, is not a direct victim of 9/11, yet he was murdered by Khalid Sheik Mohammad (KSM), the 9/11 architect. I wish I could join the petition to bar Mayor Mamdani from the memorial — his anti-American ideology differs little from that of KSM’s.”

{Matzav.com}

A planned White House meeting between President Donald Trump and the Satmar Rebbe, Rav Aharon Teitelbaum of Kiryas Yoel, has sparked a fierce public dispute, with conservative activist Laura Loomer attacking the invitation and questioning why the Rebbe is being given access to the president, radio host Sid Rosenberg joining the criticism, and Satmar Headquarters firing back by pointing to Kiryas Yoel’s overwhelming electoral support for Trump.

The controversy erupted after Loomer wrote on X that the Rebbe is expected to meet with President Trump on Thursday and asserted that White House Jewish Liaison Martin Marks had arranged the meeting. Loomer sharply criticized Marks over the invitation and claimed that the Rebbe intends to use the meeting to urge Trump to intervene with Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu over the drafting of yeshiva students in Eretz Yisroel.

Loomer wrote: “BREAKING: White House Jewish Liason Martin Marks appears to be setting President Trump up for a political crisis. Satmar Rebbe, one of the leaders of the haredi movement that rejects the State of Israel has been invited by Marks to meet with @POTUS on Thursday. @martinjmarks

“These are anti-Israel pro-Mamdani rabbis who are being hosted with open arms in the Oval Office. Did anyone bother to do any vetting? The Grand Rabbi of Satmar was reportedly invited to the White House by Martin Marks and plans to ask President Trump to pressure Israeli PM Netanyahu @netanyahu to end the draft of ultra-Orthodox Yeshiva students, as reported in Hasidic news outlets.

Loomer cotninued: “Rabbi Aaron Teitelbaum, the Grand Rabbi of Satmar in Kiryas Joel, previously directed his representatives to endorse jihadist Zohran Mamdani @ZohranKMamdani for NYC Mayor and supported Kathy Hochul against Lee Zeldin @epaleezeldin for NY Governor in 2022. He then said Mamdani isn’t an anti-Semite, which is outrageous. I am told that endorsements for GOP candidates are NOT currently on the agenda for this meeting, per White House sources. Why is White House staffer @martinjmarks scheduling precious face time between President Trump and anti-Israel lunatic Democrat rabbis who are frowned upon by majority of the Jewish community? Who will Martin Marks invite to the White House to meet with President Trump next, Abdulrahman Mohamed El-Sayed? @AbdulElSayed

“Bizarre things are happening at the White House this week and I don’t think anyone has told President Trump. This is going to severely [anger] the Jewish Republicans in the MAGA base who voted for President Trump. It’s also going to create tension with world leaders ahead of Rosh Hashanah.”

Loomer’s broadside was followed by an even more heated reaction from Sid Rosenberg, the New York radio personality and outspoken Trump supporter. Rosenberg took direct aim at the Satmar Rebbe and urged Marks to reconsider the meeting, using unusually harsh language in his X post.

“This is a HUGE mistake!!! This Rabbi is a TERRIBLE guy and has no right being anywhere near @POTUS! …Come on Marty! You can’t do this! Please!!!! I kill this guy and @rabbiindig on my show all the time! The worst Jews have to offer!!!”

The attacks prompted a public response from Satmar Headquarters, which addressed Loomer directly and disputed the political picture she presented of the Rebbe’s community.

Satmar’s response focused particularly on the voting record of Kiryas Yoel and the Town of Palm Tree, home to Rav Aharon Teitelbaum and a major center of Satmar Chassidus. The statement argued that the community has demonstrated exceptionally strong support for Trump in presidential elections and urged Loomer to examine the actual voting record.

Satmar Headquarters wrote:

“Dear @LauraLoomer

“We appreciate your concerns regarding the recent invitation extended to the Grand Rebbe of Satmar, Rabbi Aron Teitelbaum, to meet with President Trump. However, it’s important to clarify regarding the community of Town of Palm Tree and Village of Kiryas Joel, the seat of Grand Rebbe Aron which is home to a significant number of Satmar Hasidim. Historically, Palm Tree/Kiryas Joel leadership has shown strong support for President Trump in both recent presidential elections, voting overwhelmingly in his favor—more than any other Jewish community in the nation. This demonstrates a deep commitment to his leadership and policies within our community. We encourage you to fact-check the voting trends and sentiments of Kiryas Joel residents. Engaging in respectful dialogue about our community’s perspectives can foster better understanding and unity during these complex times. Thank you for your attention to this matter, and we hope for a constructive conversation moving forward. Best, @HQSatmar”

The dispute highlights the complicated political position occupied by Satmar. Satmar is famously and ideologically opposed to Zionism and the State of Israel on religious grounds, while the heavily Chassidic Kiryas Joel community has simultaneously delivered enormous margins for Trump in presidential elections. Its political activity on the state and local levels, however, has not always aligned with Republican candidates.

Loomer’s criticism centered heavily on those distinctions, particularly the Satmar leadership’s relationships with Democratic politicians and its position regarding Zohran Mamdani. She also sought to frame the planned meeting as potentially problematic for Trump’s relationship with pro-Israel supporters.

The immediate issue expected to be raised at the White House, according to Loomer and reports she referenced, is the ongoing battle in Israel over the draft of yeshiva students. The issue has become an extraordinary point of concern throughout the Chareidi world as arrests and enforcement measures against yeshiva bochurim have intensified.

Rav Aharon Teitelbaum has been among the prominent Chassidic leaders speaking out against efforts to draft yeshiva students, and the reported White House meeting would provide an opportunity to bring those concerns directly to President Trump.

Satmar’s public response did not address the substance of what Rav Aharon plans to discuss with Trump or dispute that the draft issue could be raised. Instead, its statement concentrated on rejecting Loomer’s portrayal of the community’s relationship with Trump and emphasized the extraordinary margins the president has received from voters in Kiryas Joel.

The increasingly heated exchange now places additional attention on Thursday’s expected meeting.

{Matzav.com}

Several Canadian websites, including those operated by government-related services, briefly labeled Lake Ontario as “Lake America” on Sunday, even though Google had said its adoption of President Donald Trump’s new name for the lake would be limited to users in the United States, according to CBC News.

The unexpected appearance of the name on Canadian sites came one day after Google Maps said it had changed its designation of the lake in response to an executive order signed by Trump. Google said it acted after the US government’s official geographic names database was updated to reflect the new name.

Despite Google’s assertion that the change would be restricted to US users, maps used by a number of Canadian organizations subsequently began identifying the body of water as “Lake America.” CBC News reported that the affected sites included Hydro One’s power outage map, the Liquor Control Board of Ontario’s store locator, GO Transit’s station finder, and a Canadian federal government map dealing with housing and infrastructure.

Hydro One confirmed that its map was displaying the wrong name and attributed the problem to a third-party mapping provider.

“We are aware that Lake Ontario is being incorrectly labeled on our outage map,” a spokesperson told CBC News in an email, adding that Hydro One regrets the “error.”

The utility said it was working to have the designation corrected.

“The issue originates from a third-party mapping service,” the utility said. “We are working with our vendor to correct the issue as quickly as possible and restore the proper geographic reference.”

Metrolinx, the Ontario government agency that oversees GO Transit, similarly acknowledged the problem and said it was reviewing its online services to ensure the traditional Canadian name remained in place.

“We are actively reviewing our websites to make sure they all identify Lake Ontario by its correct name: Lake Ontario,” Metrolinx said.

The agency said it was also moving to shut down the particular mapping feature where the new name had appeared.

“We are in the process of disabling the map function on the GO stations’ page where this occurred.”

MapQuest, meanwhile, announced on social media that it does not intend to use Trump’s chosen name for the lake. Apple has yet to publicly indicate whether it plans to make any changes to its own mapping services.

Trump announced Thursday that Lake Ontario would be known as “Lake America” in the United States, making the move as relations between Washington and Ottawa have become increasingly strained over trade.

Sitting at the Resolute Desk, Trump signed an executive order directing the Interior Department to update the lake’s name within the US geographic naming system. Although the order gives the department 30 days to implement the change, Trump declared that the new designation was “official, effective immediately.”

Trump said he had “notified all of the various people that we have to notify. So, we’ve done everything that you have to do.”

The fight over the lake’s name is unfolding against the backdrop of an escalating trade battle between the United States and Canada, with both governments imposing tariffs on goods from the other country. Washington announced 50% tariffs on $20 billion in Canadian products following the collapse of trade negotiations, while Ottawa retaliated with tariffs covering $20 billion in American goods, including dairy products, steel, appliances and agricultural equipment.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney rejected Trump’s effort to rename the lake, pointing to the centuries-old origins of the Lake Ontario name.

“The name Lake Ontario comes from the Wendat word Ontari’io, which, appropriately, means ‘the lake is beautiful, the lake is big”.”

Carney noted that the name existed long before either modern Canada or the United States came into being.

“The name is more than 400 years old, predating both the Confederation of Canada and the Declaration of Independence of the United States of America,” added Carney.

The Canadian prime minister concluded by portraying the dispute as part of broader changes taking place in the United States while insisting that Canadians would continue referring to the lake by its longstanding name.

“We know that America is changing. Their trading relationships, their foreign policies, their national monuments, their hydronyms. Canadians also know that naming reality means calling it Lake Ontario – then, now and always,” concluded the Prime Minister.

{Matzav.com}

Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei accused the United States and Israel on Sunday of seeking to undermine unity across the Muslim world, issuing the charge as questions continue to swirl over his health and whereabouts following months without a public appearance.

In a message issued for Islamic Unity Week, Khamenei described Washington and Jerusalem as fundamentally hostile to Muslim solidarity and claimed that even Muslim governments maintaining close relations with the two countries are not immune from that hostility.

“The criminal rulers of the US and the illegitimate Zionist regime are the sworn enemies of this unity and friendship,” Khamenei said in a message marking Islamic Unity Week. He added that even leaders of Muslim countries regarded as allies of Washington and Jerusalem were subject to what he characterized as their hostility.

Khamenei went on to contend that greater solidarity throughout the Muslim world could have strengthened the position of Palestinian Arabs. He questioned whether they would have remained “so defenseless” if Muslims had acted as “a single, united hand.”

His comments followed another appeal for unity issued two days earlier, when Khamenei called on Iranian government officials to protect national cohesion and refrain from statements that could erode public confidence.

Addressing Government Week on Friday, Khamenei issued a categorical warning against conduct that could deepen divisions within Iranian society.

“I firmly declare that committing anything that harms social cohesion is forbidden.”

Khamenei also instructed officials to steer clear of “discouraging statements that weaken national and public motivation.” He criticized what he portrayed as manufactured political divisions, citing such competing formulations as “war or negotiations,” “consensus or extremism” and “compromise or warmongering.”

The Iranian leader urged government authorities to emphasize the country’s “power and strength,” maintaining that focusing excessively on Iran’s vulnerabilities could benefit its adversaries while damaging the morale of those who support the regime.

Khamenei additionally turned to Iran’s mounting economic problems, urging officials to address inflation, unemployment, rising prices, investment and domestic manufacturing. He also expressed support for efforts to diminish the dollar’s importance within the Iranian economy.

Despite the series of statements attributed to him, Khamenei has not been seen publicly since the 40-day war began on February 28. His disappearance from public view came after his father, Ali Khamenei, was killed in joint American-Israeli strikes on Iran and Mojtaba Khamenei subsequently assumed the position of Supreme Leader.

The prolonged lack of a public appearance has fueled persistent speculation about Khamenei’s physical condition and location, with some reports alleging that he sustained severe wounds and others raising the possibility that he is no longer alive.

In July, Saudi broadcaster Al Hadath cited an Israeli defense source who claimed Khamenei had fled Iran. The source further alleged that Ahmad Vahidi and senior Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps officials were preparing statements in Khamenei’s name. According to the same account, growing internal disputes within the IRGC, coupled with unrest across Iran, were threatening the organization’s continued stability.

CNN reported in March that Khamenei had been wounded on the opening day of the war. According to that report, his injuries included a broken foot, wounds near his left eye and cuts to his face.

Another report issued earlier this month and attributed to Khamenei’s office claimed that Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian had participated in a conference with the Supreme Leader. However, no photographs, video or other visual documentation of the purported meeting were released.

President Donald Trump weighed in on the continuing uncertainty surrounding Khamenei during an interview last week with The Glenn Beck Program. Trump said he believes the Iranian leader remains alive, although he asserted that Khamenei suffered extensive injuries.

“I don’t think he’s dead. He was very seriously wounded,” Trump said. “The left side of his body, the arm, the leg, the whole thing, he was very seriously wounded. But I don’t think he’s dead.”

Trump also said that Iranian officials continue to publicly conduct themselves as though Khamenei remains in command, repeatedly portraying their decisions as requiring his authorization.

“And if he is, they’re putting on a pretty good show because they talk about, you know, going back to talk to him all the time, you know, to get a final blessing on things,” the President said.

Britain’s Chief Rabbi, Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis, is urging the British government to reconsider planned sanctions and trade restrictions targeting Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria, warning that the measures could hurt British Jews, damage UK-Israel relations and ultimately undermine efforts to achieve peace in the Middle East.

Rabbi Mirvis said he presented those concerns directly to Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband during a meeting Friday, amid reports that Britain is preparing punitive measures in response to Israeli plans to build housing in the E1 area between Jerusalem and Ma’ale Adumim.

“I welcomed the opportunity on Friday to meet with the Foreign Secretary, the Rt Hon. Ed Miliband. While we share fervent hopes for a future of peace and security in the Middle East, I explained why I believe the UK Government’s intended sanctions will be counter-productive and even endanger such a vision of peace,” Rabbi Mirvis said in a post on social media.

The Chief Rabbi also warned that the move would be particularly troubling for British Jews amid what he described as unprecedented hostility toward Jews and Israel.

“I told the Foreign Secretary that many within the UK Jewish community will view such measures with deep dismay, at a time when the vilification of Jews, Judaism and the Jewish State has already reached unprecedented levels,” he added.

Rabbi Mirvis questioned whether the proposed sanctions would have any meaningful effect on Israeli government policy. Instead, he said, their economic impact could expand well beyond their intended targets and potentially develop into a broader boycott of Israel.

“The intended policy will not influence Israeli decision-making in the way the Government intends. Instead, it risks inflicting real harm across the region. Given the obvious challenges of defining and implementing such measures, there is a clear danger that they will spiral into a de facto boycott of trade with Israel more broadly, damaging the long-term relationship between our two countries and threatening the livelihoods of tens of thousands of Palestinian workers,” continued Rabbi Mirvis.

The Chief Rabbi said British Jews could also bear an outsized share of the consequences because of their extensive religious, family, educational and charitable connections to Israel. He warned that heightened anti-Israel rhetoric has repeatedly been accompanied by increased hostility toward Jews.

“These measures will also disproportionately affect British Jews because of our close religious, family, charitable and educational ties to Israel. Over recent years, we have seen repeatedly that when rhetoric towards Israel escalates, hostility towards Jews is never far behind.”

Rabbi Mirvis made clear that he condemns attacks against Palestinians carried out by Israeli extremists, but argued that Britain’s proposed policies could perversely strengthen those responsible while punishing many others who reject such violence.

“I strongly condemn the reprehensible violence perpetrated against Palestinians by a small number of extremists, yet the UK Government’s proposals will only embolden the tiny minority who support such criminality, while penalizing countless others who abhor it.”

He also challenged the British government’s rationale for targeting Israel over construction in E1. Rabbi Mirvis noted that previous diplomatic frameworks for resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict have envisioned the strategically located area remaining under Israeli control.

“The stated justification for punishing an ally in this way, is Israel’s long-planned construction of homes in the E1 area. Yet successive peace efforts, from Oslo to Camp David and beyond, have envisaged a final agreement in which this area would remain under Israeli sovereignty. It is therefore difficult to escape the painful conclusion that domestic political considerations are driving foreign policy, the impact of which is negative both for prospects for peace in the Middle East and for the UK Jewish community,” concluded the Chief Rabbi.

Rabbi Mirvis’ intervention followed a report in The Times that British Prime Minister Andy Burnham is preparing a series of measures in response to Israel’s E1 construction plans. Among the possibilities reportedly under consideration are restrictions on goods associated with Israeli communities in Judea and Samaria and sanctions against individuals involved in moving the housing plans forward.

Israel recently published a tender for seven residential complexes in E1 encompassing 1,234 housing units. Those homes are part of approximately 3,400 units that received approval for construction in the area last August.

Miliband responded to the tender by sharply condemning Israel and demanding that the plans be rescinded.

“This Israeli Government’s publication of a tender for the E1 settlement project is an unacceptable and destructive act. E1 would cut across the heart of Palestine and risks separating the West Bank from East Jerusalem, which would endanger the viability of a two-state solution,” Miliband said.

The British foreign secretary maintained that construction in E1 conflicts with London’s commitment to establishing a Palestinian state and asserted that Israeli communities beyond the pre-1967 lines violate international law.

“The UK has been clear privately and publicly in our opposition to E1 and our support for a two-state solution as the only way to ensure long-term security and peace for both Palestinians and Israelis. All settlements damage that prospect and are a flagrant breach of international law,” he claimed.

Miliband said he personally conveyed Britain’s objections to Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar. He also revealed that London’s Foreign Office summoned Israel’s Chargé d’Affaires to formally protest the E1 plans.

“Today, I made clear to the Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar that the Israeli Government must halt E1 plans immediately, retract the tender and stop all settlement expansion. In addition, the Israeli Chargé d’Affaires has been summoned to the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, where we set out the UK’s profound objection to this move by the Netanyahu government and demanded an immediate reversal,” said Miliband.

Miliband further signaled that the British government intends to unveil additional steps against Israel in the coming weeks.

“Britain will not stand back and accept the destruction of the two-state solution. In the coming weeks we will set out a comprehensive set of measures to respond to Israeli government policies, protect the viability of the Palestinian state, target sanctions at those who participate in illegal settlement expansion and support a just and lasting peace for Israelis and Palestinians,” the UK Foreign Secretary declared.

Sa’ar responded by forcefully rejecting Britain’s demands and accusing Miliband of addressing Israel in a condescending manner.

“I reject outright the statement of the UK Foreign Secretary and the patronizing tone of his words,” Sa’ar wrote on social media.

The Israeli foreign minister defended the right of Jews to live throughout Eretz Yisroel and invoked Britain’s own historic recognition of the Jewish people’s connection to the land.

“The Jewish people have the right to live throughout the Land of Israel, just as the British have the right to live in London and throughout the United Kingdom. More than a century ago, the Balfour Declaration formally recognized the historic right of the Jewish people to re-establish their national home in the Land of Israel – including in the area in question.”

Sa’ar then turned Britain’s criticism back on London, pointing to territories under British control far from the United Kingdom and accusing the government of applying a double standard to Israel.

“Britain itself still controls colonial territories thousands of miles from its shores. It is absurd for Britain to lecture the Jewish people about where they may live in their historic tiny homeland, when the Jewish people’s connection and right to this land is the most extensively documented of any people in human history.”

Sa’ar also rejected the suggestion that Israel had suddenly authorized a new E1 construction initiative. He said the underlying decision dates back to 2025 and that the tender process had already been moving forward for months before the latest documents were released.

“There have been no new decisions regarding development in E1. The decision was made in 2025. The tender process has been underway for several months, with certain tender documents published only in recent days. The British Foreign Secretary’s statement is entirely one-sided.”

The Trump administration is preparing another round of banking sanctions against Iran this week as Washington intensifies its effort to cut Tehran off from the global financial system, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Sunday.

Speaking to The Associated Press, Bessent said the administration is prepared to use aggressive financial measures to pressure Iran and those facilitating its access to international markets.

“This is going to be financial violence if we have to,” Bessent said in the interview. “We are showing people that we know who you are, you know who you are, and this has got to stop.”

Bessent made the remarks ahead of Group of 20 meetings in Asheville, North Carolina, where he is expected to meet individually with finance officials from major global economies as well as developing countries. Winning broader international support for the campaign to economically isolate Iran is expected to be a central subject of those discussions.

As the war with Iran approaches its sixth month, the Trump administration has increasingly turned to financial pressure as another major front in the conflict. U.S. officials have labeled the expanding effort an “economic D-Day” against Tehran, building upon sanctions that Washington has maintained against Iran for decades.

Last week, Bessent unveiled “Operation Economic Outcast,” an initiative aimed at further restricting Iran’s access to money and isolating its government from the international financial system. The United States later announced additional sanctions targeting UAE branches of Egypt’s Banque Misr.

As part of the Treasury Department’s proposed action, the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, known as FinCEN, would prohibit Banque Misr UAE from maintaining correspondent banking relationships with American financial institutions. Such a move would significantly restrict the bank’s ability to process dollar-denominated transactions connected to Iran.

The administration has thus far largely relied on warnings to governments that continue doing business with Tehran instead of imposing sweeping new sanctions against those countries. China presents one of Washington’s most significant challenges because it remains Iran’s largest trading partner and the leading buyer of Iranian oil.

Bessent told AP that he intends to address China’s continued purchases of Iranian oil directly with Chinese officials during the G20 gathering. Asked about possible U.S. sanctions against Beijing over that trade, he said “all options are on the table.”

The Treasury secretary also pushed back against claims that the Trump administration has been reluctant to challenge China over its economic relationship with Tehran, calling that characterization “a completely false narrative that the media picked up on.”

Despite the tensions over Iranian oil, Bessent said the United States and China have overlapping interests in two critical areas: restoring navigation through the Strait of Hormuz and ensuring that Iran does not acquire a nuclear weapon.

{Matzav.com}

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The Movement for Quality Government in Israel on Sunday called for a criminal investigation into former Rishon LeTzion Rav Yitzchok Yosef following sharp remarks he made about Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara during his weekly shiur, including his declaration that “she will get her blow.”

The organization submitted its request to the attorney general, state attorney, police commissioner, and head of the Israel Police Investigations and Intelligence Division, asking authorities to open either a criminal investigation or, at minimum, a preliminary inquiry into whether Rav Yosef’s remarks crossed the legal threshold for incitement to violence.

As previously reported, Rav Yosef strongly criticized Baharav-Miara over her controversial decision to order the cancellation of the main hilula event commemorating his father, Rav Ovadia Yosef zt”l.

“The attorney general, who hates religion, decided to cancel the hilulos for Maran Rabbeinu Ovadia Yosef zt”l,” Rav Yosef said. He then sharply condemned her decision, saying, “This wicked woman is messing with Maran? Hakadosh Boruch Hu will destroy her; she will get her blow.”

Rav Yosef continued by recalling the enormous turnout at his father’s levayah and contrasting the restrictions on the planned gathering with events held in memory of Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin.

“Listen, at Maran’s levayah, my father’s, there were almost a million people there, all of the Jewish people. There were secular and religious Jews, knitted kippahs, white kippahs, Chassidim, Litvaks. Whoever was at the levayah and saw the broad public that was there — everyone was there, a million people. So, the anniversary of the Rav arrives, and they want to hold a memorial for him as they should, as befitting his honor, as the entire public recognized his greatness, and suddenly they issue a legal opinion. This wicked woman, the attorney general — I don’t know what her name is — this crazy Miara, issues a legal opinion that it is forbidden to hold a gathering in honor of Maran. Rabin was murdered close to elections, and for him they don’t prohibit it.

“He belongs to the left, fine, let them hold a gathering, why not? But Maran was the gadol hador, who was not a political person. Maran was a Torah figure. Rabin was a political person, but Maran was a Torah figure. She issued an opinion this week that it is forbidden to hold gatherings before elections. They should not listen to her at all. Hakadosh Boruch Hu will destroy her; He will give her her blow. She is messing with Maran, with Maran, the gadol hador. This will not pass in silence. Hashem should help that she gets her blow.”

In its request, the Movement for Quality Government argued that Rav Yosef’s comments must be viewed in the context of what it described as an increasingly hostile public atmosphere and repeated attacks against the attorney general and other senior public officials.

The organization noted Rav Yosef’s stature and broad public influence, pointing out that his weekly shiur is recorded, broadcast and viewed by a large audience.

According to the organization, the totality of the remarks raises a genuine concern that they could constitute incitement to violence under Section 144D2(a) of Israel’s Penal Law. It said determining whether the comments crossed the criminal threshold requires consideration of the identity and influence of the speaker, precisely what was said, the context in which the remarks were delivered, the audience and the extent to which they were disseminated.

“Given Rabbi Yosef’s high standing and the broad distribution in which the remarks were heard, garnering thousands of views, this raises a concern about the commission of acts of violence. Therefore, the movement demanded that law enforcement authorities open a criminal investigation against Rabbi Yosef, or at the very least a preliminary inquiry, and act to fully pursue the matter if it is found that there is a basis to do so,” the organization said.

Attorney Yael Bloch, director of the litigation department at the Movement for Quality Government, said criticism of the attorney general is legitimate but argued that Rav Yosef’s comments went beyond permissible criticism.

“It is permissible to criticize a decision by the attorney general. It is forbidden to turn that criticism into harsh statements that raise concern about incitement to violence against her. This is not the first time Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef has used his position and influence to attack the rule of law and the gatekeepers. We are not the ones who determine whether an offense was committed — that is the job of law enforcement authorities. Now they must examine the remarks seriously and quickly.”

Shas MK Michael Malchieli responded sharply to the demand for an investigation and defended Rav Yosef’s right to express his daas Torah.

“The ginger’s brazenness is reaching the heavens and breaking a new record. No one will be able to harm Maran shlita, who stated his opinion, daas Torah, clearly. The Shas movement will continue to grow stronger despite the ginger’s bitterness and whims.”

President Donald Trump warned Sunday that allowing Iran to obtain a nuclear weapon could lead to the destruction of Israel and potentially much of the Middle East, as he defended the ongoing U.S. military and economic campaign against Tehran and vowed that the Islamic Republic will never become a nuclear-armed state.

Speaking with Trey Gowdy on Fox News, Trump portrayed Iran’s nuclear ambitions as an intolerable danger and said Tehran’s longstanding role as a sponsor of terrorism makes preventing it from acquiring nuclear weapons imperative.

“Iran is a number one leading state sponsor of terror, you’ve heard that many times, in the whole world. They cannot have a nuclear weapon,” Trump said.

.@POTUS: "Iran is the number one leading state sponsor of terror… They cannot have a nuclear weapon." pic.twitter.com/XmfAxTcFvT

— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) August 31, 2026

Trump said he has repeatedly faced questions about whether the military campaign against Iran was necessary. He said the scale of destruction possible from a nuclear weapon makes the answer obvious.

“I have numerous people say, ‘Well, did you have to do it?’ And then I say, ‘Do you think it’s okay for Iran to have a nuclear weapon?’ Nuclear weapon is massive destruction. You know, take what you see and multiply it times 100. And everybody says no.”

According to Trump, the U.S. pressure campaign has inflicted extraordinary damage on Iran, with the naval blockade and financial restrictions hitting the country particularly hard.

“The blockade has been unbelievable. The financial hits that we’re giving them, we’re hitting them very hard. Never, nobody’s ever been hit like this,” he said.

Calling Iran “a failing nation,” Trump indicated that he does not necessarily need a negotiated agreement to bring the confrontation to a successful conclusion, saying he is willing to see how events unfold.

“And at the right point, we’ll either win or they’ll do something. But I don’t mind winning, just winning. I don’t need a signature on a piece of paper,” Trump said.

Trump also asserted that Iran’s armed forces have suffered devastating losses during the campaign, including the destruction of major portions of its naval, air and air-defense capabilities.

“But we’re doing very well. Their Navy’s gone. Their Air Force is gone. Their leaders are gone. All of their anti-aircraft, I mean, it’s all wiped out.”

While describing Iranians as “tough people” and “smart people,” Trump condemned the country’s rulers in stark terms. “But they’re very evil,” he said.

Trump further accused the Iranian regime of killing tens of thousands of demonstrators, claiming that the death toll has continued to climb in recent months.

“They killed 52,000 protesters as of three months ago. And sadly, they’ve added very substantially to that list.”

Trump alleged that the crackdown has expanded beyond those taking part in demonstrations.

“Even people that aren’t protesting, they go into the houses and they take them and they shoot them,” Trump added.

Turning to the potential consequences of a nuclear-armed Iran, Trump said Israel’s survival would be directly threatened and suggested the repercussions could engulf the entire region.

“These are very violent, evil people. And if they had a nuclear weapon, Israel would be gone. If I weren’t president, Israel would be gone. There would be no Israel and there would probably be no Middle East,” Trump stated.

Trump also cited Iranian attacks on Gulf states after the outbreak of hostilities, saying Tehran targeted countries that had previously maintained relatively neutral relations with the Islamic Republic.

“And the way you know that is people that were sort of neutral got along with them for years. As soon as the shooting started, they started aiming at Saudi Arabia, at Qatar, at UAE, at Bahrain, at Kuwait. They were aiming. Everybody was shocked. I was surprised,” he said.

Those attacks, Trump argued, ultimately worked against Iran by costing Tehran whatever regional backing or neutrality it had previously enjoyed. He said the episode also demonstrated what those countries might have faced had Iran possessed nuclear weapons.

“I thought it was a very good thing because they lost all of the support that they had. They had a certain amount of support. They were, let’s say, neutral, largely neutral. That means that if they would have had a nuclear weapon, they would have fired it,” Trump said.

Trump reiterated his warning that the consequences of an Iranian nuclear weapon could have been catastrophic throughout the Middle East.

“So I think the Middle East would have essentially been gone. But Israel definitely would have been gone,” added the President, who said the danger could eventually have spread farther.

“And I guess we would be next or Europe or someplace. But no, you cannot let them have a nuclear weapon. And they won’t have a nuclear weapon.”

Trump’s remarks were broadcast just hours after American forces struck Iranian military targets on Larak Island. The attack reportedly left two people dead and two others wounded.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps responded by threatening retaliation. Iranian forces subsequently fired missiles toward U.S. bases in Jordan.

The attack on Larak Island represented the first American strike inside Iranian territory since late July, when Trump halted a two-week U.S. military campaign centered on the strategically vital waterway.

Trump announced last week that U.S. naval forces had completed the removal of mines from international waters in the Strait of Hormuz.

“I have just been informed by the United States Navy that all mines have been removed and/or detonated from within the International Waters of the Strait of Hormuz. Iran has been notified that any ship or boat placing new mines will be immediately and systematically destroyed,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.

Trump said American forces were maintaining intensive surveillance of the area and warned that Washington would respond immediately to any attempt to place additional mines in the strait.

“Through Space Force, we are watching every square inch of the Strait, as we are, also, with Pickaxe Mountain and the already destroyed three other Nuclear sites. There is a Zero Tolerance policy on mine placement in full force and effect.”

Iran, however, has maintained that the conflict remains underway. Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi subsequently said Tehran continues to consider itself at war and would keep the Strait of Hormuz closed until its demands are met.

“We are still in a state of war, and the Strait of Hormuz will remain closed,” Gharibabadi said, in comments quoted by Iranian media, while stressing that reopening the strategic waterway would require an end to the conflict on all fronts, the lifting of the blockade and a resolution of the situation in Yemen.

Gharibabadi said those conditions would have to be fulfilled before Iran permits the crucial shipping route to reopen.

“The reopening of the Strait of Hormuz will only happen in exchange for ending the war on all fronts, lifting the blockade, and resolving the situation in Yemen.”

{Matzav.com}

Rav Tzemach Mazuz, rosh yeshiva of Yeshivat Kisei Rachamim, sharply criticized Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara over the decision to cancel this year’s central memorial gathering for Rav Ovadia Yosef zt”l, accusing her of continually seeking new ways to harm bnei Torah.

Speaking during his weekly address at Yeshivat Kisei Rachamim on Motzoei Shabbos, Rav Mazuz invoked a posuk from Bereishis while condemning the attorney general.

“That poor attorney general — her mind all day is ‘only evil all day’ (Bereishis 6:5). Every day she thinks, ‘What can I do to the bnei Torah? How can I harm them?’ Every day she thinks of a new decree,” Rav Mazuz said.

Rav Mazuz then described seeing a newspaper headline on Friday reporting that Baharav-Miara had barred the annual memorial gathering honoring Rav Ovadia Yosef.

“I saw a headline in the newspaper on Friday: ‘The attorney general prohibits holding the hilula of Maran Rav Ovadia Yosef zt”l.’ Yes, why? (She even has reasons…) ‘Because it could influence people to vote Shas. No! We want pure elections. Everyone should vote according to the dictates of his conscience.’ How ‘pure’ she is… Yes.”

Rav Mazuz continued his criticism, sarcastically referring to Baharav-Miara as “holy” and comparing her to the wicked biblical Queen Izevel.

“Almost every day, look at the front page of the newspaper — what this ‘holy’ attorney general, this wicked Izevel, thought of and came up with that night. Yes, she is unfortunate!” Rav Mazuz said.

The controversy erupted after reports Thursday that the attorney general had directed that this year’s memorial gathering for Rav Ovadia Yosef be canceled, despite legislation providing for the event.

According to the stated reasoning behind the decision, Rav Ovadia Yosef is closely identified with the Shas party, and holding the gathering could therefore amount to election propaganda even if no explicitly political statements were made during the event.

Critics have pointed to what they describe as a glaring double standard involving the annual state memorial for Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin. Rabin was directly identified with the Labor Party, they argue, yet the official state ceremony commemorating him continues to be held even when its date falls in close proximity to Election Day.

{Matzav.com}

Israel’s judicial complaints commissioner has upheld a complaint filed by a man who said a bais din warned him that refusing to sign a proposed divorce agreement could result in NIS 10,000 in legal costs, finding that the warning could have been perceived as improper pressure to accept the bais din’s proposal.

Retired Judge Asher Kula, the Commissioner for Complaints Against Judges, released summaries Sunday of several recent decisions involving complaints against judges and batei din, including the case involving the NIS 10,000 warning.

According to the complaint, the man was appearing in proceedings involving a divorce claim filed against him and was not yet represented by an attorney. During the hearing, the head of the bais din allegedly warned him that if he did not sign the divorce agreement, his refusal would “cost” him NIS 10,000 in legal expenses.

The man maintained that, at that stage, he did not understand the implications of the agreement being presented to him. He therefore asked not to sign anything until he could obtain legal advice and have the terms and consequences of the agreement explained to him.

After reviewing the circumstances, Kula determined that the complaint was justified.

According to the commissioner, raising the possibility of imposing NIS 10,000 in costs immediately after the man said that he was unwilling to sign the agreement or proceed with the divorce before obtaining legal counsel could have been understood as pressure to accept the bais din’s proposal.

In a separate decision, the commissioner addressed the handling of a case in small claims court. A complainant said a senior registrar had failed for approximately six months to rule on a municipality’s request to dismiss a lawsuit for lack of jurisdiction.

A decision dismissing the lawsuit was ultimately issued only on the morning the hearing was scheduled to take place, less than four hours before the proceeding was set to begin.

The complainant said that because of the delay, he lost a day of work and was forced to prepare unnecessarily for a hearing that ultimately never took place.

The commissioner acknowledged that on the morning of the scheduled hearing, the registrar acted efficiently in attempting to notify the parties and prevent them from making an unnecessary trip to court. Looking at the case as a whole, however, Kula concluded that greater consideration should have been given to the litigant’s time.

Another complaint involved the issue of equal treatment between the parties during proceedings in a bais din.

A woman complained that the man’s attorney was permitted to question her at length, while her own attorney was not afforded a comparable opportunity to question the man.

The review found that the bais din itself had extensively questioned both parties and concluded that the factual record necessary to decide the case had been sufficiently developed.

Nevertheless, the commissioner observed that once the attorney representing one side had been permitted to question the opposing litigant, the bais din should have considered granting the other side’s attorney a similar opportunity. Doing so, he said, would help preserve procedural equality between the parties as well as the appearance of justice.

Nicolás Maduro has released the first photos of himself from a New York federal detention facility, eight months after he was captured in a special U.S. operation and brought to the United States.

The images show the ousted Venezuelan president smiling, dressed in athletic clothing and flashing a victory sign with his hands. They are the first photos of Maduro to emerge from the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, where he has been held since January alongside his wife, Cilia Flores.

“I want you to know that we are standing firm,” Maduro wrote in a message accompanying the photos.

In another post, Maduro said he was sending the pictures as a “small gift” to his grandchildren and supporters, thanking them for “every word, every gesture and every blessing.”

According to those close to Maduro, the photographs were actually taken on June 25, around Father’s Day, but only reached his family by mail this week.

Maduro is facing four charges in the United States related to narco-terrorism and has denied the allegations against him.

During his first court appearance in January, Maduro declared, “I am innocent. I am a decent man. I am still the president of my country.”

He subsequently described himself as a “prisoner of war.”

Maduro and Flores are expected to go on trial in June 2027.

The release of the prison photographs comes as Venezuela and the United States have reached a massive oil agreement under which the U.S. will control 65 billion barrels of the country’s oil reserves.

{Matzav.com}

Hundreds of bnei Torah gathered outside the gates of Prison 10 on Sunday evening for a large atzeres chizuk and protest following the arrest and imprisonment of yeshiva bochur Yisrael Guchafi of Bnei Brak.

The gathering, attended by rabbonim, roshei yeshiva and hundreds of members of the Olam HaTorah, was held following an unusual joint call issued by Rav Moshe Maya, senior member of the Moetzet Chachmei HaTorah, and Rav Shlomo Machpud, a member of the Moetzet, who urged the public to attend and protest the arrests of bnei yeshiva.

Rav Machpud addressed the gathering with an impassioned speech, sharply condemning the latest arrests.

“This is nothing new. For 78 years, the state has fought against everything holy in the Jewish people. But the latest decrees have surpassed them all.”

“They built the state only to destroy Judaism. They do not really want soldiers. They do not want them in the army. They are not interested in the yeshiva students who are in the yeshivos.”

“What interests them? To uproot Judaism from the Jewish people!”

“They know that the Jewish people are not a nation except through their Torah. The Torah is our life, and they cannot move us even a hairsbreadth.”

The joint letter issued by Rav Maya and Rav Machpud was headlined “Lech Kenos Es Kol HaYehudim” and expressed a forceful protest over what the rabbonim described as “the degradation of the honor of Torah and the persecution of those who learn it.”

The letter declared that “it is incumbent upon every individual to participate and protest the arrest of Torah scholars at a gathering honoring the Torah,” following the imprisonment of the yeshiva bochur, who, the letter said, had been jailed “for the sin of toiling in Torah.”

The rally comes amid a growing wave of arrests of bnei yeshiva in recent days. Among the cases that have drawn particular attention is that of Guchafi, a talmid at Yeshivas Kfar Chassidim, who was arrested in Haifa after becoming involved in an incident with an inspector over a malfunction with his Rav-Kav transit card. He was subsequently turned over to the military police.

Another recent arrest involved Motti Mishkovsky, a grandson of Rav Nosson Zochovsky, rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Gaon Yaakov. Mishkovsky was arrested near the Ben Shemen Forest and transferred to military police custody. He was subsequently tried and sentenced to 20 days in Prison 10.

Avraham Angel, a talmid at Yeshivas Nezer Yisrael, was also transferred to Prison 10. Angel was initially arrested on Route 443 on suspicion of driving a stolen vehicle. According to the report, police officials had explicitly indicated that he would not be transferred to the military police, but he was ultimately handed over and imprisoned.

Officials with the Tzeva Shachor system reacted angrily to the developments, warning that the manner in which the arrests are being handled could have serious consequences.

“The lack of trust in the police and law enforcement system will lead directly to anarchy and a complete loss of control during future attempts to arrest yeshiva students in the field.”

Rav Yitzchok Yosef also addressed the arrests during his weekly shiur, recounting an incident involving a yeshiva bochur who had previously been imprisoned in a military facility and endured severe spiritual challenges while incarcerated.

“The prisoners, the poor yeshiva boys who were arrested. One of the prisoners told me that they took him to a detention facility, and the television was on the entire time. He was there for several days. He begged the guards — I am a yeshiva student, I am a ben Torah, why are you showing television, all kinds of immodesty, all kinds of things. They did not listen to him, as though they were forcing him.”

{Matzav.com}

Community leaders, bereaved families and the gabbaim of the Tiferes Yisrael shul in Beit Shemesh gathered Sunday for the solemn kevurah of the remains of Sifrei Torah that were burned in the missile strike that devastated the shul and claimed lives earlier this year.

Before the kevurah, remarks were delivered by Beit Shemesh Mayor Shmuel Greenberg, City Council member Nati Gabay and Tzion Revach, who had donated one of the Sifrei Torah and whose son, Gavriel Baruch Hy”d, was killed in the same tragedy.

The Tiferes Yisrael shul, where the Sifrei Torah had been housed, was completely destroyed in the missile strike. The shul is now at an advanced stage of reconstruction and is expected to reopen to mispallelim in time for the upcoming Yomim Tovim.

For Revach, the kevurah carried an especially painful significance. After having buried his son, he was now taking part in the kevurah of the Sefer Torah for which he had painstakingly saved, shekel by shekel, in order to have it written.

“For me, this is a difficult day. It takes me back to the terrible blow I suffered this year when I buried my son, and now I am burying the Sefer Torah for which I collected shekel by shekel in order to have it written. But I find comfort in the rebuilding of the shul, which will symbolize our revival and our ability to rise from our mourning.”

Mayor Greenberg spoke about the pain of the kevurah while pointing to the rebuilding of the destroyed shul as a source of hope and renewal following the tragedy.

“We are burying here today, with sorrow and honor, the Sifrei Torah that went up in flames at the site of the missile strike that hit the city during the ‘Operation Lion’s Roar’ war. The shul that was completely damaged is at an advanced stage of reconstruction, and with God’s help, the site will be ready in time for the Yomim Tovim. May the year and its curses end; may the year and its blessings begin.”

City Council member Nati Gabay described the kevurah as the closing of another painful chapter for Beit Shemesh, while noting the extraordinary anguish endured by Revach.

“Another painful chapter in the history of the city came to an end today. For Tzion, this is a second burial after losing his son. We are now rebuilding the temporary miniature Bais Hamikdosh, and with Hashem’s help, it will only be an interim station until the permanent structure is built and the community is returned to the shul.”

{Matzav.com}

As first reported here on Matzav.com, several admorim from New York have received official invitations from the White House to attend a special meeting with President Donald Trump in Washington, D.C., this coming Thursday, with the gathering expected to focus on matters of importance to Klal Yisroel and the Jewish community.

Invitations were extended to the Satmar Rebbe of Kiryas Yoel, the Satmar Rebbe of Williamsburg, the Skverer Rebbe, the Bobover Rebbe and the Vizhnitzer Rebbe of Monsey. The meeting is also expected to provide an opportunity for the Admorim to express hakaras hatov to President Trump for his efforts on behalf of the Jewish community in a range of areas.

The Satmar Rebbe of Kiryas Yoel, Rav Aharon Teitelbaum, addressed the invitation during his tish on Leil Shabbos Kodesh with talmidim of the mesivta in Kiryas Yoel, explaining that he ultimately decided to accept the invitation in the hope that the meeting could be used to help Jews facing difficult circumstances.

Preparations for the gathering are now underway, with askanim representing the various Chassidishe courts coordinating with political officials. Consultations are also being held in the homes of the Admorim as the details are finalized for what could become an unusual and historic gathering of prominent Admorim at the White House.

Speaking at his tish on Leil Shabbos, the Satmar Rebbe began by citing the posuk of “Dirshu es shlom ha’ir,” speaking of the obligation to seek the welfare of the government. He noted that Jews in the United States are privileged to live under a malchus shel chesed, with the government maintaining good relations with the Jewish community and providing conditions far better than those Jews experienced in Europe in earlier generations.

“I received an invitation from the White House last Sunday to meet with the president this coming Thursday, together with other rabbis and community activists. At first, I thought not to accept the invitation, since we are now in the month of Elul, we are very busy, and in the yeshiva we are in the middle of the sugya of chatzi shiur, and we need to prepare for the Yomim Noraim. After all, this is a non-Jew who has never performed a single mitzvah in his life, and has never merited to shake a lulav or eat matzah. Every single Jew is worth more than him! What is so significant about this?! You go in, sit on a chair for a few minutes and talk to a non-Jew…”

The Rebbe then recalled a similar experience approximately three decades ago, when he participated in a meeting with the president serving at the time. That encounter, he said, ultimately provided an opportunity to help a Jew who was facing serious difficulties.

“But then I remembered that about 30 years ago, something similar happened to me, when we had a meeting with the president at the time, and there was a Jew who was in distress and it was possible to help him, and thank God it was worthwhile.”

The Rebbe related that on the day after that earlier White House meeting, he spoke to the bochurim in yeshiva and sought to place the significance of meeting an American president in its proper perspective.

“The day after that meeting 30 years ago, I spoke at the yeshiva before the boys and said that every Jew is worth more than him. One must know that when reciting the blessing ‘Who has not made me a non-Jew,’ the intention is not referring to a non-Jew who cleans the streets, but to the most important non-Jew, who is the president of the United States, and that is what one should have in mind when reciting the blessing ‘Who has not made me a non-Jew.'”

The Rebbe then cautioned the bochurim against allowing the attention surrounding his prospective White House visit to distract them from their limudim, telling them that their continued immersion in the sugya being learned in yeshiva was far more important.

“I want to ask all the boys, when there is such a matter, it is possible that the boys will get involved in it and become immersed in it, so I ask that everyone diligently continue studying the sugya of ‘chatzi shiur,’ so as not to neglect Torah study and not to become immersed in all the ‘Trumpism,’ as they call it… I tell you: One shiur in the sugya in the yeshiva is worth more in my eyes than this entire matter! Hakadosh Boruch Hu should help that we be able to act on behalf of Jews who are in distress.”

Following the Rebbe’s remarks, those gathered sang with great emotion, “Atah vechartanu mikol ha’amim, veromamtanu mikol haleshonos, vekidashtanu bemitzvosecha, vekeiravtanu Malkeinu la’avodasecha.”

The court of the Satmar Rebbe of Williamsburg, Rav Zalman Leib Teitelbaum, also confirmed that an invitation had been received. Following the news, an archival photograph was circulated showing the Rebbe during a White House visit with President Ronald Reagan in 5747/1987.

The latest development comes nearly a year after plans were made for a meeting between the Satmar Rebbe and Rav Shaul Alter, Rosh Yeshiva of Ger, and President Trump. That planned meeting ultimately did not take place.

{Matzav.com}

Rav Yitzchok Zilberstein delivered a powerful message of chizuk to a group of melamdim and mechanchim in Holon, telling them that the Torah learned by young children represents Klal Yisroel’s greatest protection and declaring, “You are the real Israel Defense Forces — they stole the name from us.”

The staff members of Talmud Torah Beis Dovid in Holon visited Rav Zilberstein in his learning room in honor of the beginning of the Elul zeman. Hundreds of children learn at the Talmud Torah, which is under Rav Zilberstein’s nesius. The melamdim and mechanchim were accompanied by the school’s director, Rabbi Avraham Ovadia, and came to hear words of guidance and chizuk for their vital role in educating the next generation.

Rav Zilberstein began by addressing the tense security situation and fears surrounding Iran’s nuclear capabilities.

“Look, my dear friends, do you know what the prime ministers here are afraid of today? An atomic bomb. It is clear to him that Iran has an atomic bomb, because the biggest liars in the world are Iran; they are the biggest liars in the world. He says that from the way they speak with passion and conviction, it seems to him that they have the bomb. An atomic bomb is the greatest fear in the world today, and I heard that the government here is afraid of the bomb.”

Rav Zilberstein then turned to the melamdim and told them where, from a Torah perspective, Klal Yisroel’s true defense lies.

“Do you know who the greatest force against the atomic bomb is? You! How? There are children who are free of sin — these tinokos shel beis rabban who are here. Their prayer is prayer, their learning is learning; there is no accuser. When Haman came to Mordechai and heard that he was learning with them the laws of kemitzah, he said, ‘I am lost.’ He also knew that the Jewish people have a weapon, and the weapon we have is not drums or dancing; our weapon is the children!

“You, my dear friends, are the weapon of the Jewish people. You teach tinokos who are free of sin, and they are our weapon. The children must learn well, and that is in our hands. Children who learn well are the shield of the Jewish people.”

Rav Zilberstein also stressed the importance of ensuring that children conduct themselves with proper derech eretz, particularly at a time when resentment toward lomdei Torah is intense.

“There are children whom I see in the street, acting a little wild, walking around like that, and it is very bad… We have to be very careful with the children in the street. If people see them outside wandering around freely… the anger against Torah learners is truly terrible. They say: ‘We are all here at war, and look how they are walking around the street, looking here, looking there; there are some who even smoke a few cigarettes. Your brothers went out to war and you will sit here.’ It is destructive!

“You, my dear friends, are today in charge of the Israel Defense Forces. What is the army that we have? The army — this is our army. Children who walk in the street with derech eretz and behave with derech eretz and seriousness — that is the greatest weapon in the world, and it is in your hands.”

Turning to the practical work of chinuch, Rav Zilberstein said that frightening children with talk of an Iranian atomic bomb may not necessarily be the proper approach. Instead, he urged the melamdim to inspire their talmidim through stories of tzaddikim that instill yiras Shomayim and demonstrate what genuine dedication to Torah looks like.

“To instill in them and tell them that there is an atomic bomb, I don’t know if that is exactly the right way. But look at this picture. This is my father-in-law, Rav Yosef Shalom Elyashiv zt”l. Let me tell you what happened with him:

“In Yerushalayim, a hot-air balloon (zeppelin) once arrived for the first time. Rav Elyashiv heard that a hot-air balloon had arrived, so he left his house in order to see it. After taking one step, he immediately said to himself: ‘You should be ashamed of yourself. The Jewish people need yeshuos and you are going to see a hot-air balloon? Are you crazy? Is this why you were born into the world? To see a hot-air balloon?’ He immediately went back. Although he very much wanted to see this wonder, he restrained himself and locked himself in. There is no balloon, there is no flying; there is only one thing — the holy Torah!

“Stories of tzaddikim can help tremendously. Stories about tzaddikim are very, very important — stories of tzaddikim that bring inspiration and yiras Shomayim.”

Rav Zilberstein then shared two memories from the Yerushalayim of his childhood, illustrating the sensitivity and yiras Shomayim of Rav Isser Zalman Meltzer zt”l, the author of the Even HaEzel.

“I’ll give you another example of stories of yiras Shomayim. I learned in Talmud Torah Eitz Chaim in Yerushalayim. I was a small child, and our rebbe was Rav Isser Zalman Meltzer zt”l. We followed him and saw that during the summer he would not take the shortest route from Eitz Chaim to his home, but would make a detour. We wanted to know why he made a detour. Whom do you ask? Only family members. They went and approached the Rebbetzin and said to her: We want to know, Rebbetzin, why does Rav Isser Zalman go this way? She answered: There are very beautiful watermelons there, and he is afraid that he will give an ayin hara!

“If someone else had told me this, I would have told him that either you are telling a joke or you don’t know Rav Isser Zalman. Maybe you are confusing him with somebody else. Why would he even look at the watermelons?

“But since it is written in the Gemara (Bava Basra 2b), Rav Abba said in the name of Rav Huna in the name of Rav: It is forbidden for a person to stand in his friend’s field when the crop is fully grown, and as Rashi explains there, ‘so that he should not harm it with an evil eye.’ What crops do we have in Yerushalayim? When there are good fruits, like a red watermelon, it is like what the Gemara was discussing. Therefore, in his great goodness, he was afraid and concerned about this. It is simply unbelievable.”

Rav Zilberstein then related another incident involving Rav Isser Zalman, this one concerning an ani who came seeking tzedakah.

“Another small story. These things are small, but in truth they are great, and we have to tell children stories of tzaddikim. I learned under Rav Isser Zalman in cheder. A poor man came, knocked and asked for tzedakah. Rav Isser Zalman told him: I don’t have money right now. So he left. A moment later, the Rebbetzin, Baila Hinda a”h, came in and told him that all of her milk had spilled from the pot onto the fire, and she said she did not know why it had happened. Rav Isser Zalman said: I know why… because he did not give tzedakah to the poor man.

“He went out into the street and ran after the poor man, Reb Yankel! So Reb Yankel, the poor man, says to Rav Isser Zalman: ‘Ah, something already spilled in your house’… Yerushalayim is a city of truth. Rav Isser Zalman saw this and did not respond. He only apologized that he had not had money.

“This is what stories of tzaddikim are, and this is what must be done. It is a mitzvah for each of our dear beloved ones to find a story about tzaddikim, to tell stories of quality, like this incident, which was a tremendous mussar haskel for me.”

Rav Zilberstein concluded by returning to his central message to the melamdim: that their daily work with Jewish children is itself part of the spiritual defense of Klal Yisroel.

“These are the things that must be said to talmidei chachomim who are engaged in the Israel Defense Forces. Who are the Israel Defense Forces? You! You who learn with the children — that is the real Israel Defense Forces. They stole the name from us. That name is not theirs. The Israel Defense Forces are us.”

Rav Zilberstein then directed the visitors’ attention from his learning room toward the adjoining kollel, where dozens of avreichim were immersed in their learning.

“Come and see what is going on here. Avreichim are sitting here and do not lift their heads from the Gemara for even a moment. Look. It is a mitzvah to look. Come, look here. Almost all of them have semichah for hora’ah, and there is not one person here speaking devarim beteilim. There is not one person dreaming about devarim beteilim. This is called the Israel Defense Forces. Look here, see here. They sit here day and night; you will not hear one unnecessary word here”…

Rav Zilberstein concluded his remarks with a heartfelt bracha to the melamdim for success in their avodas hakodesh.

“My dear beloved ones, may Hakadosh Boruch Hu help us succeed in carrying out our mission. The Iranians want to prepare only one thing — an atomic bomb — and that is everyone’s fear. But this is the answer: Do not be afraid. Rather, be here (in the kollel), or more correctly, be here (in the Talmud Torah). All the best to you, with God’s help.”

{Matzav.com}

Israel’s Foreign Ministry has issued updated emergency guidelines for those planning to travel to Uman for Rosh Hashanah, warning travelers that the ongoing war in Ukraine has created an unpredictable security environment and will result in nighttime curfews and other restrictions during the holiday period.

The ministry urged travelers to strictly follow Ukrainian laws and instructions from local authorities, including presenting identification and other documents whenever requested. Israelis were warned against arguments, confrontations or provocative behavior with authorities that could result in arrest. The ministry stressed that Israeli consular assistance does not extend to interfering with legitimate enforcement of Ukrainian law.

Regarding the continuing security threat, travelers were instructed to take air-raid sirens seriously and immediately enter the nearest protected area whenever an alert sounds. They were also warned to stay away from locations where missiles, drones or intercepted projectiles have fallen.

The Foreign Ministry emphasized that photographing or publishing images of military installations, military vehicles, soldiers or the sites of missile and drone impacts is strictly prohibited, including posting such material on social media. Such photographs could expose information about the activities or locations of Ukrainian security forces.

Israeli-Ukrainian dual citizens were given an additional warning. Ukrainian authorities may regard them solely as Ukrainian citizens while they are in the country and could therefore subject them to restrictions applicable to Ukrainian nationals. In such circumstances, the Israeli government’s ability to provide consular assistance may be limited.

Ahead of the annual Rosh Hashanah pilgrimage, the Foreign Ministry recommended that travelers download the Israeli Traveler application and make certain that their passports remain valid for the required period.

Those who require medication were advised to bring medical prescriptions written in English. Travelers may bring no more than five packages of medication intended exclusively for personal use, according to the guidelines. Carrying narcotic or psychotropic substances is strictly prohibited, as is bringing medications that are banned in countries through which travelers will pass on their way to Ukraine.

The ministry also cautioned travelers to prepare for heavy traffic and significant congestion on roads and at border crossings as large numbers of visitors make their way to Uman. Travelers were advised against paying tourism taxes through unfamiliar or unauthorized parties and were told to retain all necessary receipts and documentation.

In an emergency, Israelis in Ukraine can contact the emergency line of the Israeli Embassy in Kyiv at +380-96-770-0103. The Foreign Ministry’s Situation Room in Israel can also be reached at +972-2-530-3155.

{Matzav.com}