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New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani voiced strong opposition to the ongoing U.S.-Israel military campaign against Iran, criticizing the conflict on multiple fronts in a newly released interview.

Speaking with political commentator Brian Tyler Cohen, Mamdani argued that the war is fundamentally flawed. “It’s a war that should be opposed on every single ground, not just procedural, but also moral, but also political, and also a war that should be opposed on the grounds of the fact that it is being financed by the very money that could make it easier to keep calling this city, this country, home, and yet, there is a blindness to that fact,” Mamdani said.

At the outset of the conflict, Mamdani had already condemned the military action, describing U.S. and Israeli strikes as “a catastrophic escalation in an illegal war of aggression.”

In a post on X at the time, he expanded on his criticism, writing: “Bombing cities. Killing civilians. Opening a new theater of war. Americans do not want this. They do not want another war in pursuit of regime change. They want relief from the affordability crisis. They want peace.”

His comments come as President Donald Trump continues to weigh further military steps, including a possible deployment of U.S. forces inside Iran to secure its stockpiles of highly enriched uranium — a mission that could take several days to complete.

Such an operation would place American troops deep within Iranian territory, exposing them to potential attacks from short-range missiles and drones.

Meanwhile, the White House announced that the president will address the nation regarding the conflict. Press secretary Karoline Leavitt shared the announcement Tuesday evening.

“TUNE IN: Tomorrow night at 9PM ET, President Trump will give an Address to the Nation to provide an important update on Iran,” Leavitt said in a Tuesday evening post on X.

{Matzav.com}

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Tuesday that the military campaign against Iran is approaching its final stage, though he cautioned that the conflict will not conclude immediately.

Speaking with Fox News host Sean Hannity, Rubio said the United States is closing in on its objectives but emphasized that the end is not imminent. “We are well on our way. We are on or ahead of schedule on each of those four objectives. And we can see the finish line. It’s not today. It’s not tomorrow, but it is coming. We are going to get to the point where our military will have achieved all of its objectives in this mission.”

.@SecRubio: "We are going to get to the point where our military will have achieved all of its objectives in this mission, and they're doing so with extraordinary efficiency — something that I think will go down in history as one of the best run tactical military operations in… pic.twitter.com/NaoMThIhs2

— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) April 1, 2026

Rubio sharply criticized Iran’s leadership, describing it as driven by extremist ideology. “This is a regime that is led by radical Shia clerics, by people who believe that it is their calling. I know this sounds fantastical, but it’s absolutely true. This is a regime led by people who believe that it is their calling and their purpose in life to usher in the end of the world.”

He argued that Iran’s nuclear ambitions are evident from its actions and capabilities. “These people want nuclear weapons. Why do we know that? Because they are assembling all the things you need for nuclear weapons. They’re assembling long-range rockets that can eventually reach the United States, can already range Europe. We saw them demonstrate two of them last week, despite denying that they had them. They enriched uranium to 60%…from 60 to 90%, which is what you need for a bomb, takes 12 to 14 days. They bragged about still having that. They demand the right to enrich, which is how you get from 60 to 90%. They’re the leading sponsor of terrorism, not in the region, in the world.”

Rubio reiterated that preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons has been a central objective of President Trump for years. “They can never be allowed to have a nuclear weapon, which is what President Trump made very clear from the very first day of his presidency. In fact, from the very first day of his candidacy. When he came down that escalator in 2015, he talked about this,” he said, adding that Trump has consistently warned about the Iranian threat even before entering politics and has remained committed to confronting it.

He outlined the military campaign’s goals, saying significant progress has already been made. “We are going to destroy their Air Force. We have largely done that. We were going to destroy their Navy, which we have largely achieved that. We were going to destroy a significant percentage of their missile launchers. We are well on our way to achieving that. And we were going to wipe out their defense industrial base, meaning the factories that make the drones and the missiles. We are on our way to doing that,” he said.

Addressing the possibility of diplomacy, Rubio said the U.S. remains open to negotiations but remains cautious based on past experience. “We can’t ignore that for 47 years they’ve avoided and rejected any effort to negotiate. That doesn’t mean we’re going to stop trying.”

He emphasized that while negotiations are preferable, they cannot be used as a stalling tactic. “President Trump always, always would rather have negotiations than war. And he will always, we gave them 60 days early last year. We gave them additional time to negotiate after Midnight Hammer again earlier this year. But each and every time those things have proved fruitless. But we’re going to keep trying. There are messages being exchanged. There are talks going on. There is the potential for direct meeting at some point. We’re always going to be open for that. But President Trump is not going to allow fake negotiations to be used as a delay tactic to buy more time to buy themselves space.”

{Matzav.com}

Buckingham Palace announced Tuesday that King Charles will travel to the United States in late April for a state visit, a high-profile trip British officials hope will help mend relations with President Donald Trump following tensions over the Iran war.

The king and Queen Camilla are scheduled to take part in a previously arranged visit marking the 250th anniversary of American independence from Britain, after which they will continue on to Bermuda.

“Their majesties’ program will celebrate the historic connections and the modern bilateral relationship between the United Kingdom and the United States,” Buckingham Palace said, noting that the visit is being undertaken at the recommendation of the British government.

The trip will mark the first state visit to the United States by a British monarch since 2007, when Queen Elizabeth II — Charles’ mother — made her fourth official visit during her reign.

According to reports, King Charles III is expected to address a joint session of Congress during the visit, highlighting the enduring relationship between the two nations as the U.S. commemorates its milestone anniversary.

Relations between Trump and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer have come under strain in recent weeks, largely due to the U.K.’s reluctance to take a more active role in the Iran war and its refusal to allow American forces to launch initial strikes from British bases.

Although Britain has since permitted what Starmer described as defensive operations, Trump has openly criticized the prime minister, saying he was “not Winston Churchill” and accusing him of weakening the long-standing alliance between the two countries.

Trump has also dismissed Britain’s offer to contribute additional military resources to the region.

Beyond the Iran conflict, disagreements have emerged over Britain’s agreement with Mauritius to transfer sovereignty of the Chagos Islands, where the joint U.S.-U.K. Diego Garcia air base is located. Trump has called the arrangement a serious error, a stance welcomed by some of Starmer’s political opponents.

Starmer, who previously worked as a human rights lawyer, has questioned the legality of the military campaign against Iran — a position that has resonated with segments of the British public concerned about rising energy costs and the broader consequences of the conflict.

Despite those concerns, Starmer has refrained from directly attacking Trump and has maintained publicly that relations between the two leaders remain positive.

Since Trump returned to office, the British government has leaned on the monarchy’s diplomatic influence to help maintain goodwill with the White House. Trump has expressed strong admiration for the royal family, and officials hope that connection can help preserve cooperation on issues such as the war in Ukraine and potential trade disputes.

Charles previously hosted Trump for a rare second state visit to the United Kingdom last September, which included a ceremonial carriage procession and a formal banquet at Windsor Castle. During that visit, Trump praised the relationship between the two countries, calling it “irreplaceable and unbreakable.”

British officials are now looking to the 77-year-old monarch to once again help stabilize the relationship during a period of friction. Prince William is also expected to visit the United States later in the year during the soccer World Cup.

Trump said last week that the upcoming visit would proceed despite the tensions with Starmer. “He’s a friend of mine,” Trump said of Charles. “He’s a great gentleman.”

The visit, however, could place the king in a delicate position, requiring him to publicly engage with a U.S. president who remains unpopular among many British voters.

There are also policy differences between the two leaders, particularly on climate change, an issue Charles has championed for decades but where Trump has taken a markedly different stance.

In addition, Charles may face renewed scrutiny over his brother, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, who is currently under police investigation for alleged misconduct tied to his association with the late Jeffrey Epstein.

Some political figures in Britain have already voiced opposition to the visit. Ed Davey, leader of the Liberal Democrats, has previously argued that the trip should be canceled, saying Trump should not be rewarded diplomatically given his past criticisms of the United Kingdom.

The city of Bnei Brak is mourning the passing of Rabbi Meshulam Menachem Lerer z”l, a longtime chief military chazzan and a beloved figure known for his warmth and dedication to Torah. He passed away at the age of 80 after a prolonged illness.

Rabbi Lerer had been hospitalized in recent weeks as his condition worsened significantly.

He was a son of Rabbi Yosef Eliezer Lerer z”l. He married his wife, the daughter of Rabbi Menachem Mendel Shtok z”l. Together they built a home rooted in Torah, raising a distinguished family.

Those who knew him describe a man of integrity and kindness. “He was a person entirely defined by chessed and a warm countenance,” a family acquaintance said. Alongside his public role as chief military chazzan, he remained humble, consistently set aside time for Torah learning, and was widely admired by all who encountered him.

Over the years, he left a lasting impact on the world of chazzanus, using his powerful and moving voice to inspire tefillah and strengthen emunah.

He is survived by a prominent family that continues his legacy, including his son, Reb Yehoshua (Shuki) Lerer, one of the most recognized photographers in the chareidi world, and his son Reb Chaim Yaakov Lerer, a respected Lelover chossid.

The levayah was held at Heichal HaTorah Ateres Zehava in Shikun Hei in Bnei Brak, proceeding to the Segulah cemetery in Petach Tikvah.

Yehi zichro boruch.

Former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley expressed strong support Tuesday for President Donald Trump’s military campaign against Iran, saying the United States should press forward and complete the mission rather than settle for a partial result.

In an interview with CNBC, Haley argued that the operation has reached a critical stage and should be carried through to its conclusion. “I think you finish it,” Haley said.

She contrasted the situation with other international crises and pointed to what she described as major progress already achieved by U.S. forces. “This is not Venezuela, where you extract [former leader Nicolas] Maduro. This is something where … 75% of the job is done. I think it’s miraculous what our military has done,” she added.

Haley said the administration has made sound decisions so far but emphasized that stopping short would leave unfinished business. “I think the decisions that have been made have been good, but if you’re going to do it, do it right and finish it so that we never have to deal with the Iranian regime again.”

Her comments come as the U.S.-led conflict with Iran has entered its fifth week, following the launch of coordinated American and Israeli strikes under Operation Epic Fury after nuclear diplomacy broke down.

According to U.S. officials, the campaign has targeted key elements of Iran’s military infrastructure, including command centers, air defenses, missile and drone launch sites, and airfields, with the goal of weakening Tehran’s ability to threaten the United States and its allies.

Thousands of targets have reportedly been struck as the conflict has widened across the region, fueling debate in Washington and among allied nations over whether to continue military operations or shift toward a diplomatic resolution.

Haley identified the Strait of Hormuz as one of the most pressing complications of the war, given its central role in global oil shipments. “The effects that they did not expect, or I think that have posed to be the challenge is, obviously, the Strait of Hormuz,” Haley said.

She warned that Iran’s control over the waterway could have far-reaching consequences and stressed the need to keep it open. “And what you don’t want is for Iran to have a strong hold over that, and I think we’re seeing the ramifications of that, is that we’ve got to make sure that that stays open and stop their mining capabilities in the process,” she explained.

The fighting has already disrupted energy flows through the strait, contributing to market instability and raising concerns about supply shortages and inflation if the situation persists.

Haley also urged the United States to maintain broader pressure on its global adversaries. “Iran is going in the right direction,” she said, while calling on Washington and its allies to continue confronting Russia and China and to rally partners to “step in and finish this.”

Her remarks reflect a divide among Republicans over how the war should end, with some supporting a decisive military conclusion while others caution that prolonging the conflict could carry significant military, political, and economic risks.

{Matzav.com}

The Israel Defense Forces announced that it is continuing a broad and coordinated campaign of precision strikes against Iran’s terror infrastructure, led by the Operations Directorate in cooperation with the Israeli Air Force and military intelligence.

According to the IDF, the Air Force has so far carried out more than 800 strike missions, deploying roughly 16,000 munitions in attacks targeting Iranian assets.

Officials also revealed that following a large-scale intelligence and planning effort conducted after Operation Rising Lion, over 5,000 additional targets were uncovered. These included thousands of terror-related components that were later hit during Operation Roaring Lion.

At the same time, the IDF is operating across multiple arenas beyond Iran. Under the direction of the Operations Directorate, Israeli forces have struck approximately 7,000 targets across all fronts involved in the ongoing campaign.

The staff at Matzav.com, Matzav WhatsApp, and Matzav Status wishes all of our readers around the globe a chag kosher vesomeiach and a kosheren Pesach.

We are grateful to all those who have supported Matzav.com in this important endeavor to provide a kosher and informative Torah newscenter for the greater frum community. We express our gratitude to those who have encouraged and guided us. Of course, we thank our supporters, sponsors and advertisers, as well as our dedicated readers and contributors from countries around the world.

Thank you for making all Matzav.com platforms the #1 English-Language Torah news and inspiration choice for the frum community.

Have a wonderful and meaningful Yom Tov.

The Matzav.com Staff

{Matzav.com Newscenter}

Senior figures in Iran’s leadership returned to the streets of Tehran in a public appearance following a wave of high-profile assassinations, in what appears to be an effort to project control and unity.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian was seen attending celebrations marking “Islamic Republic Day” in Tehran, alongside Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, joining crowds of regime supporters.

During the event, Araghchi addressed those present, saying, “I came to be among them, to draw energy from this movement on the ground and to enjoy this unity and popular cohesion.”

The public appearance comes after a period in which top Iranian officials avoided visibility due to ongoing targeted killings within the regime’s upper ranks. The last time they were seen publicly in Tehran was approximately two and a half weeks earlier, during events marking “Iranian Jerusalem Day.”

Shortly after that appearance, Ali Larijani — widely regarded as a key figure within the regime — was assassinated. He had also been documented attending the earlier mass gathering alongside the president and foreign minister.

Meanwhile, a report in The Wall Street Journal indicated that Araghchi and Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf were temporarily removed from Israeli and U.S. target lists for several days, in order to allow diplomatic contacts between the sides to proceed.

The latest public event is being viewed as a calculated move by the regime to demonstrate stability and control on the streets, while also emphasizing internal unity amid mounting military and political pressure.

President Donald Trump said he plans to be present at the Supreme Court on Wednesday as justices hear oral arguments in Trump v. Barbara, a case that could determine whether children born in the United States to illegal immigrants and foreign visitors are entitled to birthright citizenship under the Constitution.

Speaking about the upcoming hearing, Trump indicated his intention to attend in person. “I’m going,” Trump said when asked about SCOTUS hearing oral arguments in the case on April 1. “I think so, I do believe because I’ve listened to this argument for so long.”

Trump reiterated his criticism of how birthright citizenship is currently applied, pointing to cases involving wealthy foreign nationals. “Chinese billionaires and billionaires from other countries who all of a sudden have 75 children or 59 children in one case or 10 children, becoming American citizens,” Trump said. “[The 14th Amendment] was about slaves … all of this legislation, all of this having to do with birthright citizenship, it was at the end of the Civil War. The reason was, it had to do with the babies of slaves and the protection of the babies of slaves.”

He continued to argue that the policy has strayed from its original purpose. “It didn’t have to do with the protection of multi-millionaires and billionaires wanting to have their children getting American citizenship,” Trump continued. “It is the craziest thing I’ve ever seen.”

Shortly after returning to office last year, Trump signed an executive order aimed at ending automatic citizenship for children born in the U.S. to illegal immigrants and foreign tourists, often referred to as “anchor babies,” a term used to describe children whose citizenship can later enable family members to obtain legal status.

Following the order, advocacy groups filed lawsuits challenging the policy, ultimately bringing the case before the Supreme Court, where a final decision is expected this year.

Data from 2023 estimated that between 225,000 and 250,000 children were born in the United States to illegal immigrant parents, accounting for roughly seven percent of all births that year.

The Supreme Court has not issued a definitive ruling explicitly requiring that children born in the U.S. to illegal immigrants must be granted citizenship, and the issue remains the subject of ongoing legal debate.

A number of conservative legal scholars argue that the Citizenship Clause of the 14th Amendment does not mandate birthright citizenship in such cases, maintaining that children born to individuals without legal status are not “subject to the jurisdiction” of the United States as that phrase was originally understood.

The United Arab Emirates is preparing to join a U.S.-led military effort aimed at reopening the Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway for global trade and a critical artery for its own economy, according to Arab officials cited by The Wall Street Journal.

The move would mark a significant shift, potentially making the UAE the first Gulf state to take direct military action against Iran, after sustaining heavy attacks from Iranian missiles and drones.

Officials said the UAE is working to secure a United Nations Security Council resolution that would authorize such an operation. Emirati diplomats have also urged the United States, along with European and Asian allies, to form a coalition capable of reopening the strait by force. One official warned that Iran’s leadership is fighting for survival and is willing to damage the global economy by maintaining its grip over the strategic passage.

According to the report, the UAE has been assessing how it could contribute operationally, including efforts to help clear naval mines from the waterway.

Officials in the Emirates also suggested that the United States should seize control of key islands along the route, including Abu Musa, which has been held by Iran for decades but is claimed by the UAE.

In a statement, the UAE’s Foreign Ministry pointed to recent international actions condemning Iran’s behavior, including a United Nations resolution denouncing attacks on Emirati cities and another by the International Maritime Organization criticizing the closure of the strait. The ministry said there is a “broad global consensus that freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz must be preserved.”

Officials from another Gulf country described the UAE’s current posture as a major departure from its previous strategy. Dubai, the UAE’s commercial hub, has historically maintained economic ties with Iran, and Emirati diplomats had worked to mediate between Washington and Tehran prior to the outbreak of war, including hosting Iranian security official Ali Larijani, who was later killed in an airstrike.

Iran has launched nearly 2,500 missiles and drones at the UAE — more than at any other country, including Israel. Despite this, the UAE, like other Gulf states, had until now sought to avoid direct military confrontation with Iran.

A new Reuters/Ipsos survey released Tuesday shows that a strong majority of Americans want the United States to wrap up its role in the war with Iran as soon as possible, even if it means falling short of the Trump administration’s stated objectives.

According to the poll, which was conducted between Friday and Sunday, 66 percent of respondents said they support ending the conflict quickly under those conditions. By contrast, 27 percent said the U.S. should remain engaged until all of its goals in Iran are achieved, even if that prolongs the war. Another six percent did not provide an answer.

Among Republican respondents, opinions were more divided. Forty percent said they favor bringing the conflict to a close sooner rather than later, even if it means incomplete results, while 57 percent supported continuing military involvement until the objectives are fully met.

The survey also found that public opinion on U.S. airstrikes in Iran leans negative. Sixty percent of those polled said they disapprove of the strikes, while 35 percent said they support them. The poll included responses from 1,021 participants.

Rising fuel costs have emerged as one of the most noticeable domestic consequences of the conflict. Gas prices in the United States climbed above $4 per gallon on Monday for the first time in more than three years.

Looking ahead, two-thirds of respondents said they expect fuel prices to continue increasing over the next year, including 40 percent of Republicans who share that concern.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump sharply criticized birthright citizenship on Tuesday afternoon, describing it as a system being abused by wealthy foreigners who travel to the United States to have children.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump argued that the current interpretation of the policy strays from the original intent of the 14th Amendment, which was enacted after the Civil War to grant citizenship to formerly enslaved individuals.

“Birthright Citizenship has to do with the babies of slaves, not Chinese Billionaires who have 56 kids, all of whom “become” American Citizens. One of the many Great Scams of our time!”

Trump’s remarks came just one day before the U.S. Supreme Court is set to hear oral arguments in a case tied to his executive order seeking to restrict birthright citizenship. The policy, signed on the first day of his second term, has been blocked from taking effect after a lower court ruled in July 2025 that it was likely unconstitutional.

The president has repeatedly argued that so-called “birth tourism” poses concerns for national security and public safety, including comments he made earlier this week.

The 14th Amendment, passed in 1866 and ratified in 1868, established citizenship for individuals born in the United States, particularly those who had previously been enslaved. It also overturned the Supreme Court’s 1857 Dred Scott v. Sanford ruling, which had denied citizenship to Black Americans.

“All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside,” the amendment said.

In his executive order, Trump acknowledged that the amendment “rightly repudiated” the “shameful” Dred Scott decision but argued that its language has since been incorrectly applied. He pointed to the phrase “subject to the jurisdiction” as central to the debate, asserting that children born to foreign nationals should not automatically receive citizenship.

“The Fourteenth Amendment has never been interpreted to extend citizenship universally to everyone born within the United States,” the order said. “The Fourteenth Amendment has always excluded from birthright citizenship persons who were born in the United States but not ‘subject to the jurisdiction thereof.’”

Trump’s post followed closely on the heels of a segment on Fox News in which host Will Cain discussed the issue, highlighting a case involving a Chinese billionaire who reportedly had more than 100 children through surrogacy in the United States.

“Why would they do that? Because babies born here are automatically U.S. citizens,” Cain said. “Also, surrogacy is illegal in China.”

Cain added that several European countries are reconsidering birthright citizenship policies, suggesting that the United States is increasingly becoming an “outlier” on the issue.

MK Michael Malkieli defended the inclusion of religious service funding in the state budget, calling it a historic achievement and rejecting criticism directed at allocations for the chareidi community.

Speaking Tuesday morning on Kol Chai radio, Malkieli addressed the recurring debate over funding typically labeled as coalition money. “One of the things that is truly surprising is that every budget year, again, there is this issue that the funds for the chareidi public are not in the base,” he said. He explained that the goal of incorporating these funds into the core budget is to end the repeated disputes and recognize chareidim as equal citizens. “What we are entitled to, whether it is education or religious budgets, should be part of the base of the State of Israel.”

Malkieli expressed frustration over the public and media discourse surrounding the issue, arguing that many critics lack a basic understanding of the facts. “I ask them, does anyone have any idea what money we are talking about? Yes, jobs, Shas, distribution — absolutely not. This is education, this is children, these are kindergarten teachers,” he said. He criticized what he described as “such shallow media discourse” and said that chareidi representatives are primarily focused on “trying to save from the lion and the bear” in the face of opposition from political rivals and the press.

During the interview, Malkieli highlighted what he described as a major shift in how religious services are funded. “Since the establishment of the state, every budget for religious services — building mikvaos, shuls, eruvin — was never part of the base,” he said. He called the move to include construction budgets in the core allocation “an unprecedented achievement.” He added that progress is also being made on regulating salaries for rabbanim in moshavim and regional councils, which he said would significantly strengthen religious services nationwide.

Turning to the contentious draft law, Malkieli insisted that the delays are not due to political hesitation. “The difficulties today are not political difficulties in the draft law. The difficulties are legal difficulties and feasibility with respect to the High Court,” he said. He stressed that if the issue were political — whether due to lack of will or fear of media backlash — the coalition would not remain intact. “If the problem is Netanyahu or there is no majority in the government, we will not be there — it simply will not exist.”

Concluding the interview, Malkieli expressed hope that work on the draft legislation would continue despite the parliamentary recess, with the aim of reaching an agreement acceptable to Torah leadership. He noted that the state has informed the High Court that it has not abandoned efforts to pass a consensual law. “I very much hope that at the beginning of the next session we will advance this,” he said, adding a message ahead of the upcoming Yom Tov: “In Nissan we are destined to be redeemed, with Hashem’s help — that is what we need to pray for.”

{Matzav.com}

Due to heightened security concerns, access to the Kosel will be closed to the general public throughout Pesach, with the traditional Birchas Kohanim ceremony limited to a small group and broadcast live for viewers.

Amid Operation Shaagat HaAri and ongoing tensions in Yerushalayim, the Western Wall Heritage Foundation, Israel Police, and the Yerushalayim Municipality announced a significantly scaled-down and unusual arrangement for the Yom Tov period. The decision follows recent security incidents, including falling missile debris in the Old City and the Jewish Quarter.

In accordance with Home Front Command directives and restrictions on large gatherings, officials confirmed that the public will not be permitted to visit the Kosel at all during the days of Pesach. Shaar Yaffo and Shaar Ha’ashpah will be closed to both vehicles and pedestrians, and public transportation routes to the area will be suspended. Security officials stressed that these steps are necessary to protect lives.

The annual Birkas Kohanim, which typically draws massive crowds, will take place this year with only 50 kohanim, all of whom must register in advance. The ceremony is scheduled for Sunday, the 18th of Nissan 5786, April 5, 2026, during the morning hours, and will be made available to the public via live broadcast.

The event will be streamed live, allowing viewers to participate remotely and experience the tefillos and brachos in keeping with longstanding tradition. Organizers expressed hope that the war will conclude before the Yom Tov, enabling a return to the customary aliyah l’regel.

The schedule for the tefillos is as follows:

• Shacharis – 08:30
• Birchas Kohanim (Shacharis) – 09:00
• Mussaf – 10:00
• Birchas Kohanim (Mussaf) – 10:15
• Tefillah for the safety of IDF soldiers, security forces, and all of Klal Yisroel – 10:30

{Matzav.com}

A young woman who was held captive in Gaza insisted on observing Pesach even under harsh conditions, refusing to eat chametz despite limited food options, her mother revealed ahead of the Yom Tov.

Merav Berger, mother of Agam Berger — who was taken hostage to Gaza and later returned to Israel — shared details at a pre-Pesach event about how her daughter conducted herself during the time she spent in captivity.

“She told them she doesn’t eat chametz.” According to her mother, Agam was aware that the holiday was approaching, partly due to a radio that was available, and made a firm decision not to eat chametz, even though pita bread was the main food given to them.

Berger said that after repeated requests, her captors eventually agreed to provide an alternative. “They knew exactly when it was Erev Pesach,” she said. “And in the end, they actually brought her corn flour.” She explained that at that time, the hostages were being held in houses rather than tunnels, which allowed for slightly different conditions. “It was a period that had a bit more abundance, in quotation marks,” she said, enabling Agam to avoid chametz throughout the days of the holiday.

Agam did not stop there. Together with Liri, another hostage who had been taken with her, she tried to recreate a sense of Yom Tov even while in captivity. “They asked for more vegetables,” her mother recounted. “They took an onion, filled it with rice, and made stuffed vegetables — a kind of Yom Tov meal.”

Even symbolic elements of the Yom Tov were not entirely absent. “There was a date, and for her that was like charoses.” According to her mother, the two girls attempted to reconstruct the Haggadah from memory. “They drew the Haggadah, whatever they remembered, and that’s how they marked the chag. They didn’t give up.”

Berger also described how her daughter set clear boundaries with her captors. “She told them in half Arabic and half pantomime, you kidnapped me, now deal with who I am. I am a Jew.”

{Matzav.com}

An Iranian missile that struck near a kindergarten campus in Petach Tikvah caused significant damage to the city’s well-known “Pacifier Tree,” with dozens of pacifiers disappearing and restoration efforts now under consideration.

The unusual incident occurred when a missile landed close to a network of kindergartens affiliated with Agudas Yisroel, damaging the historic tree, which has long served as a meaningful educational symbol for generations of young children. The force of the blast caused visible harm to the tree and its surroundings.

During a damage assessment conducted by local director Rabbi Tzvika Schlesinger, the extent of the impact became clear. Dozens of pacifiers that had been hung on the tree over the years were torn off, scattered, and lost. Some of those items had been there for decades and cannot be recovered.

For many years, the Pacifier Tree has played a role in helping children transition away from using pacifiers. Each child who gave up a pacifier would place it on the tree in a small symbolic act marking growth and maturity. Over time, the tree became a powerful emotional and educational landmark, representing the stories of thousands of children.

City officials noted that beyond the physical damage, the loss carries deeper emotional and cultural significance. Some of the missing items represented memories accumulated over many years and are irreplaceable, making this a broader loss for the community as a whole.

Efforts are now underway to explore ways to restore and preserve the tree and its surroundings, with the goal of maintaining its unique legacy and returning it to its role as a meaningful part of childhood development for local families.

{Matzav.com}

Following the Knesset’s approval of the death penalty law for terrorists, National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir held a high-level meeting with senior Israel Prison Service officials to begin preparing for how the law will be implemented.

According to sources, the meeting — attended by Prison Service Commissioner Kobi Yaakobi, Deputy Commissioner Hatem Azam, who is expected to oversee the implementation, and other senior officials — focused on initial preparations, even though it may take several months before the law is carried out in practice.

Among the proposals discussed were creating a dedicated facility in central Israel for inmates sentenced to death, requiring them to wear red jumpsuits, and building specific infrastructure for executions. The plan includes carrying out executions by hanging, along with constructing a designated structure for that purpose.

Ben Gvir reportedly stated that any necessary funding would be provided to the prison service and emphasized his desire to move forward with the process as quickly as possible.

Prison Service spokesperson Zivon Freidin, a deputy commissioner involved in the designated team, outlined the emerging plan. “The minister of national security held a discussion with the commissioner and the deputy commissioner who is leading the staff work. A team has been established with a formal mandate, and a work plan was presented under which a dedicated facility will be set up in central Israel, including a hanging cell and a viewing cell. A special unit of prison fighters will be established, and several prison fighters will be assigned so that they will not know who pressed the button, and they will be accompanied by a psychological support system.”

The Knesset gave final approval to the legislation on Monday. The bill, advanced by Ben Gvir and his Otzma Yehudit party, passed amid political tensions and disagreements even within the coalition. After the results were announced, coalition members applauded and celebrated, while opposition lawmakers shouted at Netanyahu, who voted in favor, calling out: “A slave of Ben Gvir!”

The law establishes the death penalty for terrorists convicted of premeditated murder carried out as part of terrorist activity. It has become one of the most controversial measures in recent years, with opposition from some figures in the defense and legal systems over possible consequences, while supporters argue it is a key tool for strengthening deterrence.

It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of Rav Aryeh Nadav zt”l, one of the elder gedolei Torah of Yemenite Jewry and the rav of Ramat Amidar, who was niftar at the age of 89.

Earlier this evening, emergency responders were called to his home in Ramat Gan after he collapsed. They carried out prolonged resuscitation efforts, but tragically he was niftar.

The levayah took place tonight, departing from his beis medrash, Tiferes Yisroel, on Hahagana Street in Ramat Gan, and proceeding to the Vizhnitzer beis hachaim in Bnei Brak for kevurah.

The rav was born on the second of Iyar 5696 to his father, Rav Azri Nadav zt”l, and his mother, Mrs. Yonah a”h. In his youth, he learned in Yeshivas Ponovezh, where he became closely attached to the roshei yeshiva.

In later years, he was appointed rav of the Ramat Amidar neighborhood in Ramat Gan. There, he became a great mezakeh es harabbim, bringing many back to Torah. Through his efforts, many in the Yemenite community became bnei Torah. He was a beacon of Torah, and many flocked to his derashos and shmuessen, which were renowned, as his words were rich with depth and inspiration.

All his life, he conducted himself with humility, keeping to the sidelines and avoiding honor.

He leaves behind a blessed family. Among his sons is the famed maggid meisharim, Rav Yechiel Nadav, and he also merited sons-in-law who are distinguished rabbonim, including Rav Itamar Machpud, av beis din of Chukas Mishpat in Ashdod.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps issued a warning against leading global technology companies, accusing them of involvement in assassinations inside the country and threatening retaliatory action.

According to the announcement, 18 companies — including Apple, Google, Intel, Microsoft, and Meta — could be targeted beginning at 8 p.m. Wednesday, in response to the killings.

In its statement, the Revolutionary Guard urged employees of those firms to leave their workplaces immediately “to save their lives,” while also advising civilians living near company offices in the Middle East to take precautionary measures.

“Residents in the vicinity of these companies, in all countries of the region, should also leave their locations within a radius of one kilometer and move to a safe place,” the Iranians warned. “Companies that actively participate in terrorist plans will be targets of retaliation. Starting from 20:00 on Wednesday (Tehran time), their facilities will be subject to attack in response to any assassination within Iran.”

A mohel from Bnei Brak was taken into custody on Tuesday on suspicion of negligent homicide after a baby passed away two weeks following a bris milah.

Police said that investigators from the Bnei Brak–Ramat Gan station launched an inquiry after receiving a report that the infant had died, allegedly as a result of complications stemming from the bris milah performed by the mohel.

According to findings from the investigation, the baby underwent the bris milah earlier this month. An infection later developed at the site, and the infant was brought to a doctor, who immediately directed that he be taken to the emergency room. The hospital subsequently pronounced the child dead.

Authorities stated that the mohel was questioned on suspicion of negligent homicide involving a minor. Following the interrogation, he was detained, and he is expected to be brought before the Tel Aviv Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday, Erev Pesach, for a hearing.

{Matzav.com}