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Mr. Barry Ray z”l, a devoted askan and pillar of the Chicago Torah community for more than four decades, was niftar, leaving behind a legacy of quiet dedication, steadfast leadership, and tireless service to Klal Yisroel.

For over 45 years, Mr. Ray stood at the forefront of communal responsibility in Chicago, where he was widely known as a trusted supporter, advisor, and builder of Torah institutions. With vision and unwavering commitment, he was instrumental in the founding, strengthening, and ongoing support of numerous mosdos, not only in Chicago but also in Baltimore, Florida, and Eretz Yisroel. His involvement was marked by humility and discretion; he worked behind the scenes, motivated solely by a sense of achrayus and love for Torah and its learners.

Mr. Ray understood that strong communities are built through consistency, reliability, and personal responsibility. He was always available when a cause needed backing, when an institution required guidance, or when a communal initiative demanded resolve and follow-through. His impact was felt far beyond the public eye, in the stability and growth of countless Torah endeavors.

He is survived by a distinguished family who continue his legacy of communal service. He was the devoted father of R’ Tzvi Ray, an active board member of Agudah of Illinois and the Midwest Bais Horaah; R’ Shua Ray, a steadfast supporter of Chicago mosdos and deeply involved in a wide range of communal activities; Mrs. Ahuva Feiler, wife of R’ Yanky Feiler, who worked for Agudath Israel of Illinois and continues to be active in political advocacy on behalf of the Jewish community; and Mrs. Shoshana Krupp, wife of R’ Ari Krupp, a prominent and active leader in the Baltimore Jewish community.

The levaya and kevura took place today in Chicago.

The family is sitting shiva at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Shua Ray, located at 3118 W. Wallen Avenue. Tefillah times: Shacharis: 7:30 a.m. Mincha/Ma’ariv: 4:10 p.m.

Yehi zichro boruch.

{Matzav.com}

Thousands of people took to the streets on Sunday night in the Satmar neighborhood of Bnei Brak for a large procession marking the release of yeshiva students who had been detained.

The event drew vast crowds and unfolded as a celebratory march through local streets, accompanied by energetic dancing and singing.

At the same time, a parallel procession was held in Modi’in Illit, honoring the release of Binyamin Kreif, a talmid of Yeshivas Darchei Chaim. Kreif was freed from military prison after serving close to three months, including more than 50 days in solitary confinement.

In both cities, the atmosphere was jubilant. Participants danced in the streets as the bnei yeshiva being honored were lifted onto shoulders and escorted through the crowds.

PHOTOS:

{Matzav.com}

CBS’ 60 Minutes has pulled a planned report examining the deportation of migrants to El Salvador’s notorious maximum-security prison, CECOT, opting to delay the segment just hours before it was scheduled to air.

Late Sunday, the program issued an editor’s note on X announcing the change.
“The broadcast lineup for tonight’s edition of 60 Minutes has been updated. Our report ‘Inside CECOT’ will air in a future broadcast,” the note read.

In place of the delayed report, the broadcast aired a different segment, “The Kanneh-Masons,” which centers on seven siblings from Britain who “have become sensations in the classical music world.”

A spokesperson for CBS told Fox News Digital that the network “determined it needed additional reporting,” but did not elaborate further on the decision.

Before the postponement, the network had promoted the piece as an in-depth look inside El Salvador’s most severe detention facility. According to the original press materials, correspondent Sharyn Alfonsi was set to speak with deportees who had since been released and who “describe the brutal and torturous conditions.”

“Earlier this year, the Trump administration deported hundreds of Venezuelan migrants to El Salvador, a country most had no ties to, claiming they were terrorists. This move sparked an ongoing legal battle, and nine months later the U.S. government still has not released the names of all those deported and placed in CECOT, one of El Salvador’s harshest prisons,” the press release for the segment read.

Around the same time the delay was announced, the show also made its promotional video for the segment private on YouTube. The preview had included Alfonsi questioning a former inmate about his experience during detention, referencing his account of “four months of hell.”

“Did you think you were going to die there?” Alfonsi asked.

“We thought we were already the living dead honestly,” one prisoner responded.

The deportations themselves have remained a flashpoint for controversy. Earlier this year, Donald Trump’s administration sent hundreds of Venezuelan migrants—many alleged to be gang members—to CECOT. In March, U.S. District Judge James Boasberg issued an emergency order blocking certain removals to El Salvador. Despite that ruling, hundreds of migrants stayed in the prison for months afterward.

Boasberg has since directed the Department of Justice to disclose the whereabouts and current status of the migrants who were transferred to the El Salvador facility.

{Matzav.com}

Amid widespread unease over household finances, a top economic adviser viewed as a leading candidate to chair the Federal Reserve says the administration anticipates a surge in tax refunds and stronger paychecks next year, arguing that improving data will soon be felt by families.

National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett outlined those expectations during an appearance Thursday on FOX Business’ Varney & Co., predicting an unprecedented refund season.

“We are going to see the biggest refund cycle ever in the history of America, and people are going to get massive refund checks,” Hassett said.

He added that the magnitude of the refunds could be substantial.

“We’re expecting just that part of it alone to be worth a couple-thousand-dollar refund … the numbers are striking.”

Earlier in the week, Donald Trump echoed that outlook during a Wednesday night address, saying the administration expects “the largest tax refund season of all time” next spring and asserting that many households would save between $11,000 and $20,000 per year.

Hassett also addressed recent polling that paints a more pessimistic picture of the economy. A Fox News Poll found that 44% of respondents say they are falling behind financially, while 74% describe economic conditions as “not so good” or “bad.” He argued that wage growth and inflation trends tell a different story.

“You saw in the jobs report that … wages for the typical worker were up 3.7%. So if you’re running 3.7% wage increases at 1.6% core inflation, then real wages are growing at a rate of about 2 [to] 2.5%. By our estimates right now, blue-collar workers have already seen an almost $2,000 raise this year after inflation, because wages are growing so much faster than prices,” Hassett explained.

Speaking later on FOX Business’ The Big Money Show, Hassett suggested that the benefits of recent policy moves may take time to show up in tax filings, recalling a similar lag during the administration’s earlier legislative push.

“I think that what happens in the end — and this is what happened in the first [Trump] term — is that people will see it in their wallets,” he said. “We didn’t pass the ‘Big, Beautiful Bill’ until the middle of the summer. And so a lot of the tax changes, which affect last year, weren’t in any tax forms that people filled out at the beginning of the year.”

Overall, Hassett struck an upbeat note on economic conditions, pointing to what he called a “blockbuster” November inflation report that came in cooler than analysts expected. He said supply-side growth is now exerting downward pressure on prices.

“What’s happened is, as we predicted throughout this term, that if you really put the pedal to the metal on aggregate supply, then that’s gonna put downward pressure on prices,” he said.

He concluded by drawing a parallel to earlier performance under President Trump, when growth and inflation appeared to settle into a favorable balance.

“And don’t forget, that’s where we were last time in President Trump’s first term. We were growing in the 3% range, and we had inflation in the 1% range. And it looks like that’s where we are again.”

{Matzav.com}

A proposal to send $2,000 rebate checks funded by tariff revenue could move to Capitol Hill early next year, according to remarks made Sunday by National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett. Speaking on Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan, Hassett indicated that President Trump is likely to press lawmakers to act.

“I would expect that in the new year, the president will bring forth a proposal to Congress to make that happen,” Hassett said during the interview.

The administration has been publicly advocating for the rebates since last month, with President Trump calling for $2,000 checks to be distributed to most Americans while excluding “high-income people.” The White House has not released details defining which income levels would be eligible, but officials have said the funding would come from revenue generated by the president’s broad import tariffs.

Hassett emphasized that even if the White House advances the plan, Congress would control the outcome. “It could come from tariff revenue, but in the end, we get taxes, we get tariffs, we get revenue from lots of places, and then Congress decides how to spend those monies,” he said. “That’s an appropriation. And so, this would have to be money that would be an appropriation.”

Skepticism remains among some Republicans. Last month, Sen. Ron Johnson told Fox Business anchor Maria Bartiromo that the nation “can’t afford” a rebate of that size.

Recent data show that tariff collections have surged. According to a September statement from the US Treasury Department, the government brought in $195 billion from tariff duties over the first three quarters of the year.

Economists say consumers are bearing part of the cost. The Yale Budget Lab reported that as of Nov. 17, the average effective tariff rate paid by consumers stood at 16.8 percent, the highest level since 1934 and an increase of 14.4 percentage points since early January.

The idea of tariff-funded rebates has circulated in Congress before. In July, Sen. Josh Hawley introduced a bill proposing $600 rebates for most Americans and their dependent children, a plan that would have provided $2,400 to a family of four.

{Matzav.com}

An emotional scene unfolded last night, the seventh night of Chanukah, at the main beis medrash of the Vizhnitzer chassidus on Shlomo Hamelech Street in Bnei Brak, when Yosef Chaim Ochana, recently freed from Hamas captivity, arrived together with his father to attend the Vizhnitzer Rebbe’s Chanukah candle lighting.

Ochana, who was released in the most recent hostage deal, entered the Vizhnitzer court accompanied by members of his family. Thousands of chassidim filled the beis medrash for the lighting, which took place amid heightened emotion and a strong sense of gratitude.

The bond between the Ochana family and the Vizhnitzer court was forged during the long months of captivity. Throughout nearly two years of uncertainty and anguish, Yosef Chaim’s father, Avraham Ochana, made frequent visits to the home of the Vizhnitzer Rebbe. During that period, the Rebbe offered encouragement, blessings, and chizuk, repeatedly urging the family to hold fast to hope and faith in salvation.

After the candle lighting, as powerful niggunim of thanks and joy filled the beis medrash, the Rebbe stepped forward and began a special dance together with Yosef Chaim and his father. The sight of the Rebbe dancing with the former hostage moved the assembled crowd, many of whom were visibly emotional.

At the conclusion of the dance, Avraham Ochana, overcome with tears, addressed the Rebbe before the gathered chassidim. “Rebbe,” he cried, “you promised me he would come out alive. And here we are — we have come to give thanks.”

Following the public gathering, Yosef Chaim and his father were received privately by the Rebbe in his room. The meeting lasted for over an hour, during which the family expressed their personal gratitude for the Rebbe’s support, the tefillos, and the ongoing spiritual backing of the Vizhnitzer community throughout the ordeal.

{Matzav.com}

A national auto service chain has agreed to pay a six-figure settlement after a federal investigation concluded that it improperly rejected a Jewish job applicant because of his observance of Shabbos. Mavis Tire will pay $304,000 to resolve the case brought by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

The matter stemmed from an interview for a management role in Central New York. During the interview process, the applicant requested a religious accommodation that would excuse him from working on Friday nights and Saturdays.

Investigators found that after the applicant raised the issue, the company stopped considering him for the management position and instead offered him a lower-paying job as a tire technician, citing the greater flexibility of that role. When the applicant reiterated that he could not work during the Sabbath, the company rescinded the offer entirely.

The EEOC concluded that the company’s actions ran afoul of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which bars religious discrimination and retaliation against individuals who seek accommodations or raise complaints related to their faith.

“Employers may not refuse to hire a job applicant to avoid approving a request for religious accommodation,” said Arlene Nieto, the commission’s acting director in New York. “Employers must make reasonable efforts to accommodate the employee’s sincere religious beliefs, unless such accommodation would cause an unreasonable hardship.”

Under the terms of the settlement, Mavis Tire committed to revising its policies on religious accommodations. The company also agreed to provide training for retail managers in the Central New York region, as well as for national human resources staff involved in hiring decisions and the handling of religious accommodation requests.

{Matzav.com}

A wide-ranging panel addressing issues at the forefront of the yeshiva world was held during the Chanukah mesibah at Yeshivas Kiryat Melech in Bnei Brak. The discussion featured Rav Yisroel Meir Weissenstern posing questions from the talmidim to the Rosh Yeshiva, Rav Shlomo Kanievsky, on topics including concerns over the draft, the growing trend of bochurim leaving yeshiva for Shabbos, and whether yeshivos should prepare talmidim to become observant baalei batim.

Question:
A bochur asks: With all the uncertainty surrounding the draft — whether arrests will take place, whether laws will pass or not — is there real reason for a ben Torah to be afraid? Some bochurim view the situation lightly, but others, and their parents, are genuinely worried. How should we relate to this entire issue and to the lack of clarity surrounding it?

Answer – Rav Shlomo Kanievsky:
This is a question that people are already tired of discussing — it has been ground over for months.

The truth is that the situation has not fundamentally changed since galus began, from the time the Torah was given until today. Jews were always hated, and wherever they could, they caused us trouble. From the founding of the state, there were attempts to uproot Torah — we all know the stories of the children brought from Yemen, from Tehran, from other places, and the efforts to secularize them. That has always been the approach, and it has not changed. There may have been quiet understandings at times, but the essence never changed. So there is no new reason to be afraid.

As for prison — of course prison is not pleasant. Anyone who tells you it’s not a big deal is wrong; it can be very difficult. But people don’t live their lives constantly afraid of prison for all sorts of actions. All the more so here. Bochurim should sit and learn calmly, without panic.

There are three things to avoid: not getting a driver’s license, not traveling abroad, and not going to the police. Beyond that, one can sit and learn peacefully, daven properly, and live as a good Jew should.

Question:
Shabbos in yeshiva is challenging for many bochurim. There is a growing phenomenon of bochurim going home or eating by host families on Friday night or Shabbos day. Some miss home; others find Shabbos in yeshiva difficult. Can the Rosh Yeshiva speak about the importance of continuity and remaining in yeshiva for Shabbos?

Answer – Rav Shlomo Kanievsky:
This question really has two parts, and they are not the same.

The first question is about a bochur leaving yeshiva entirely for Shabbos. On this we have spoken so much already that our throats are dry, but it must be repeated. A bochur who goes home for Shabbos loses retzef — continuity. Even missing one week breaks the flow.

We saw something frightening during the corona period. Bochurim were not necessarily in bad environments; they were in good homes. But they were not in a framework. And because they were not in a framework, we lost a tremendous number of bochurim from the yeshiva world. I don’t think anyone even knows how many. The absence of a misgeres alone caused spiritual collapse.

A bochur at this age must be in a greenhouse, a yeshiva environment. Whether he is strong or weak makes no difference. Chazal say, “Lehevei tzavsa lechavrei.” Even if he is not learning much, he is carried along by the environment. Once he leaves the greenhouse — no matter where he goes — he is alone. And once he is alone, it is a different story entirely.

Even if a bochur’s home is the home of great people, it does not change this reality. A person is influenced by his surroundings. That is human nature.

Therefore, until marriage, a bochur should be in yeshiva as much as possible — during the week and on Shabbos. This does not mean he can never go home, but the effort should be to stay in yeshiva as much as possible.

Question:
What about eating Shabbos meals by host families?

Answer – Rav Shlomo Kanievsky:
This is a more complicated question.

In earlier generations, when we learned in Ponovezh, Shabbos meals were very simple. You ate, bentched, and left. No zemiros, no program — nothing. The focus was only on learning. Even Shabbos did not change that, other than slightly longer tefillos.

Today the generations have changed. A bochur needs warmth. He needs some atmosphere — what was once called a tish, today maybe a zitz. The name doesn’t matter; the idea is the same. Because of this, yeshivos today sing zemiros and say divrei Torah at the meals. There is no choice; it is necessary.

As for eating meals outside the yeshiva, I cannot give guidance. In my own home, my father wanted all the children to eat at home every Shabbos, no matter where they learned. I don’t know if that was guidance for everyone or only for his household. Therefore, I refrain from expressing an opinion. But one thing is clear: a bochur must be in yeshiva for Shabbos. The yeshiva protects him from the street.

Question:
There are bochurim who will not remain full-time learners after marriage. Why doesn’t the yeshiva provide tools for becoming a Torah-true baal habayis — how to conduct business properly, give maaser, and set aside fixed times for learning?

Answer – Rav Shlomo Kanievsky:
The yeshiva educates everyone how a Jew must live according to the Torah. That is our chinuch.

The yeshiva does not dictate what a bochur must do after marriage. But a bochur who already plans, while still in yeshiva, to leave learning — his place is not here. That is not why the yeshiva was established.

We educate every talmid to aspire to be like Moshe Rabbeinu — to be great in Torah and yirah. Even if circumstances later require a person to work, his foundation must be that of a ben Torah. And if he is fortunate, at some point he will always be thinking: when can I return to learning?

We have seen many such people — they worked for decades, and when they retired, they returned to kollel and learned with young avreichim as if nothing had changed. That was because the yeshiva implanted in them that the main thing in life is to sit and learn.

A Jew must always aspire to be a ben Torah. Even a baal habayis must aspire to be a ben Torah. That is the kind of baal habayis we educate.

{Matzav.com}

Thousands of residents poured into an Ashkelon venue for a major Chanukah gathering led by the Yenuka, Rav Shlomo Yehuda Be’eri, prompting organizers to close the gates and erect an outdoor projection screen to accommodate the overflow crowd.

The Yenuka arrived in the southern city for a large public event that included the lighting of Chanukah candles and a special shiur focused on matters of the day. The gathering drew rabbonim, public figures, and a massive turnout from the local community.

As the evening progressed and thousands streamed toward the hall, organizers were forced to shut the doors once capacity was reached. A large screen was set up outside, allowing those who could not enter to follow the program.

For more than an hour, the Yenuka delivered a wide-ranging shiur on the greatness of the miracle of Chanukah and the revelation of the Ribbono Shel Olam in the world. He then led the crowd in niggunim.

הינוקא באשקלוןצילום: יוסי רוזנבוים הינוקא באשקלוןצילום: יוסי רוזנבוים הינוקא באשקלוןצילום: יוסי רוזנבוים הינוקא באשקלוןצילום: יוסי רוזנבוים הינוקא באשקלוןצילום: יוסי רוזנבוים הינוקא באשקלוןצילום: יוסי רוזנבוים הינוקא באשקלוןצילום: יוסי רוזנבוים הינוקא באשקלוןצילום: יוסי רוזנבוים הינוקא באשקלוןצילום: יוסי רוזנבוים הינוקא באשקלוןצילום: יוסי רוזנבוים הינוקא באשקלוןצילום: יוסי רוזנבוים

Israeli intelligence officials believe Tehran is accelerating efforts to restore its missile capabilities, pushing harder than at any point since the 12-day conflict in June. According to Israeli assessments, Iran’s arsenal was significantly reduced during that war, with missile stockpiles dropping from roughly 3,000 to about 1,500 and the number of launchers cut in half, from around 400 to 200.

Against that backdrop, Western intelligence agencies have detected activity that has raised fresh concern. Iran International reported on Shabbos that intelligence services observed “unusual aerial activity” involving the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ Aerospace Force. The report said the movements and coordination were “beyond normal patterns” among drone, missile, and air-defense units, prompting increased scrutiny.

Israeli and American officials cited by Axios said one working assessment is that the activity could still be part of a military exercise. However, they stressed that the scale of the maneuvers and the level of synchronization among different forces have attracted particular attention and fueled anxiety.

Israeli officials have conveyed those worries directly to Washington. According to Axios reporter Barak Ravid, Israeli representatives warned the Trump administration that recent IRGC missile exercises might be more than routine training and could serve as preparation for an attack on Israel. The report cited three Israeli and US officials with direct knowledge of the discussions.

Sources familiar with the intelligence said that, so far, the information collected points mainly to force movements within Iran rather than clear attack preparations. Even so, Israeli officials remain on edge, noting that Israel’s willingness to assume risk has sharply diminished since the Hamas invasion on October 7, 2023.

One Israeli source told Axios that similar alerts were issued about six weeks earlier, after Iranian missile movements were detected but ultimately did not lead to action. “The chances for an Iranian attack are less than 50%, but nobody is willing to take the risk and just say it is only an exercise,” the source said.

American intelligence officials, meanwhile, told Axios that the United States currently does not see signs that Iran is preparing an imminent strike.

Behind the scenes, coordination between the two militaries has intensified. According to the report, IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir spoke on Saturday with US Central Command commander Adm. Brad Cooper to outline Israel’s concerns about the IRGC missile maneuvers that began several days earlier. Zamir warned that the missile activity, together with other operational movements, could be used to mask a surprise attack and pressed for close US-Israel cooperation on defensive steps.

Cooper then traveled to Tel Aviv on Sunday, where he met with Zamir and other senior IDF officials to review the situation. The IDF declined to comment publicly on the meetings, and CENTCOM did not respond to a request for comment.

Diplomatic discussions are also looming. Israeli sources said Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu is expected to meet US President Donald Trump in Miami on December 29. NBC News reported on Saturday that Netanyahu plans to raise concerns about Iran’s expanding ballistic missile program and the possibility of another Israeli strike against Iran in 2026 during that meeting.

{Matzav.com}

The next presidential election is three years away, but Turning Point USA already knows it wants Vice President JD Vance as the Republican nominee. Erika Kirk, leader of the powerful conservative youth organization, endorsed him on opening night of its annual AmericaFest convention, drawing cheers from the crowd. But the four-day gathering revealed more peril than promise for Vance or any […]

In a speech last week marking the Day for Strengthening Ties with Diaspora Jewry, UTJ MK Meir Porush addressed the serious damage that the arrests of bnei yeshivos have caused to ties with the frum community in the US. “The largest Jewish community in the world outside Israel is in New York and New Jersey,” […]

Colorado Gov. Jared Polis accused President Donald Trump of playing “political games” Sunday after the Trump administration denied disaster declaration requests following wildfires and flooding in the state earlier this year. Polis’ office said he received late Saturday two denial letters from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The letters follow requests for major disaster declarations […]

Following overwhelming demand and a sell-out of a venue seating over 5,000, the Chanukah Festival has announced a global livestream, allowing audiences around the world to experience the event live. With tickets selling out rapidly and requests pouring in from across the U.S., Israel, Europe, and beyond, organizers opened live access to ensure that no […]

Monday night’s Powerball drawing is set to feature a massive estimated jackpot of $1.6 billion, placing it among the biggest lottery prizes ever offered in the United States, according to Powerball officials.

Players chasing the top prize face extremely long odds. Powerball puts the chance of winning the jackpot at 1 in 292.2 million, a reflection of the game’s six-number format and the difficulty of matching every required ball.

The jackpot grew after no one claimed the top prize in Saturday’s drawing. The winning numbers that went unmatched were white balls 4, 5, 28, 52, and 69, along with the red Powerball 20. As a result, Monday’s drawing now represents the fifth-largest jackpot in U.S. lottery history and the fourth-largest ever offered by Powerball, the lottery said in a news release.

Whoever eventually wins will have a choice in how the money is paid out. The cash option is currently estimated at $735.3 million, while the annuity option totals about $1.6 billion, both figures calculated before taxes. The annuity plan includes an initial payment followed by 29 yearly payments that rise by 5% each year, Powerball explained.

Only one U.S. lottery jackpot has ever topped the current prize. That record-setting $2.04 billion jackpot was won in 2022, when a ticket purchased in California matched all the numbers. The winner chose a lump-sum payout of $997.6 million.

Powerball tickets are sold in 45 states, as well as Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The game is administered by the Multi-State Lottery Association, a nonprofit organization representing state lotteries. States use proceeds from ticket sales to fund public education programs and other government services.

{Matzav.com}

IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir said Sunday that Israel was prepared to take military action wherever necessary, signaling that future strikes could extend well beyond Israel’s immediate borders.

“The IDF will act against Israel’s enemies wherever required, on near and distant fronts alike,” Zamir said, speaking at a ceremony marking the transition of leadership at the IDF Planning Directorate.

Zamir placed Iran at the center of Israel’s current war effort, describing it as the primary force driving the multifront conflict that erupted following Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack on southern Israel. “At the heart of the longest and most complex war in Israel’s history stands the campaign against Iran,” he said.

He accused Tehran of orchestrating and sustaining the network of hostile forces surrounding Israel. “Iran financed and armed the ring of strangulation around Israel and stood behind the plans for its destruction,” Zamir said, referring to Hamas, Hezbollah, the Houthis in Yemen, Iraqi militias, and Iran itself.

His remarks came a day after NBC News reported that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was expected to present President Donald Trump with plans for a possible renewed strike on Iran during an upcoming visit to Washington.

According to the report, Israeli officials had grown increasingly alarmed that Iran was rebuilding — and potentially expanding — its ballistic missile production following the 12-day conflict between the two countries in June. Officials cited in the report said Jerusalem viewed the missile program as a more urgent threat than Iran’s nuclear efforts.

“The nuclear weapons program is very concerning. There’s an attempt to reconstitute. [But] it’s not that immediate,” one source familiar with Israel’s thinking told NBC News.

Another source emphasized the danger posed by Iran’s missile capabilities, saying, “The threat of the missiles is very real, and we weren’t able to prevent them all last time.”

Sources with knowledge of the assessments, along with former US officials, told NBC that Israel believed Iran could increase ballistic missile production to as many as 3,000 missiles annually if no action was taken.

From Tehran, Iran’s foreign minister responded defiantly. Abbas Araghchi said Sunday that Iran had already repaired facilities damaged in Israeli strikes earlier this year and was ready for another confrontation if necessary.

“We have reconstructed everything that was damaged in the previous aggression,” Araghchi said in an interview with Russia Today, as cited by Iran’s ISNA news agency. “If they want to repeat the same failed experience, they will not achieve a better result.”

He acknowledged the extent of the damage but insisted Iran’s capabilities remained intact. “The reality is that our facilities have been damaged, and seriously so,” Araghchi said. “But there is another reality, and that is that our technology remains intact, and technology cannot be bombed.”

Araghchi added that Iran’s resolve had not weakened. “Our determination and will still exist,” he said, asserting that Iran had “a completely legitimate right to the peaceful use of nuclear technology, including enrichment.”

The foreign minister said Iran remained open to diplomacy under certain conditions. Tehran, he said, was willing to reach “a fair and balanced agreement” through negotiations, but would not accept outside pressure.

“We are prepared to provide full assurance that our program is peaceful and will remain peaceful forever,” Araghchi said. “This is exactly what we did in 2015.”

{Matzav.com}

The Powerball jackpot now stands at an estimated $1.6 billion, making it one of the largest lottery prizes in U.S. history, Powerball officials said Sunday. No ticket matched all six winning numbers on Saturday — white balls 4, 5, 28, 52, 69 and red Powerball 20. That sets up the fifth-largest U.S. jackpot ever for […]

Former Chicago mayor Rahm Emanuel sharply criticized Israeli Prime Minister Binyomin Netanyahu, arguing that Israel stood at an unprecedented point of regional strength but was losing that advantage due to its current leadership.

Speaking on the Pod Saves America, Emanuel said Israel’s strategic position was stronger than at any time since the state’s founding, even as its political standing had deteriorated. “Israel has never been more strategically secure since Ben Gurion was dancing the hora in 1948 in Tel Aviv, but more politically vulnerable,” Emanuel said.

Emanuel, who previously served as chief of staff to Barack Obama and later as mayor of Chicago, went further, accusing Netanyahu of pushing Jews into isolation. “Never in my life [did I think] the prime minister of the State of Israel would lead Jews back into the ghetto, and that’s what’s happening in Israel, and that’s what’s happening in the world,” he claimed. “Jews can’t go to Europe and participate in Eurovision, while the UAE is hosting the world financially and in the F1 [Formula One racing].”

Emanuel argued that Israel’s diplomatic environment was unusually favorable, citing peace with neighboring countries and the absence of an immediate regional military threat. “This is the best strategic terrain Israel’s had since the founding. You have peace in Jordan with Israel; you have peace with Egypt; Syria and Lebanon — basically call it non-belligerence… Iran is on their back foot… You don’t really have in the near geography a strategic threat,” he said.

He maintained that Netanyahu’s conduct over time had deepened Israel’s isolation rather than capitalizing on these advantages. “He has literally — in the way he has executed pieces of the last — not just the last two years, but over his time — isolated Jews in Israel,” Emanuel said.

Turning to broader regional shifts, Emanuel said the Gulf states had evolved dramatically and now sought integration into the global economy, something he argued should have played directly to Israel’s strengths. “When we were starting in politics, the Gulf was all about just oil. Today, they want to be part of the world economy, which is what Israel’s ace is,” he said. “That is an invitation for Israel, and they’re pissing it away with this prime minister.”

{Matzav.com}

A senior State Department bureau pushed back against claims that the United States planned to bankroll a massive reconstruction effort in Gaza, flatly denying a report that Washington intended to commit $60 billion to the project, while stopping short of disputing other details of the proposal described in the report.

The response followed a report published Friday by The Wall Street Journal, which said the United States had circulated a long-term vision to prospective donor nations outlining a dramatic transformation of Gaza into a high-tech, upscale Mediterranean hub over a 20-year period, with an estimated total cost of $112 billion.

According to the Journal, the proposal envisioned the United States serving as an initial financial “anchor” by contributing $60 billion, with additional funding coming later from international donors and from Gaza itself as development progressed.

Soon after the report appeared, the X account of the State Department Near Eastern Affairs Bureau shared a link to a New York Post summary of the Journal’s reporting and issued a brief denial, writing, “This is fake news. Nowhere in the plan does it say the US will pay $60 billion.”

The post notably did not address other aspects of the Journal’s reporting, leaving open the possibility that the broader outline of the plan was accurate, even if the specific funding claim was not.

The Journal reported that it had reviewed a 32-page slideshow marked “sensitive but unclassified” that laid out a four-phase approach to clearing debris, rebuilding Gaza’s infrastructure, and lifting residents out of poverty. The presentation, the paper said, had been shared with wealthy Gulf states, as well as Turkey and Egypt.

{Matzav.com}

In the wake of growing antisemitic attacks across the globe, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar called on Jews everywhere to relocate to Eretz Yisroel, warning that the situation facing Jewish communities had become increasingly dangerous.

Speaking at a Chanukah candlelighting ceremony in Rishon Lezion, Sa’ar reflected on the reality confronting Jews worldwide and the lessons of Jewish history. “Jews have the right to live in safety everywhere. But we see and fully understand what is happening, and we have a certain historical experience,” he said. “Today, Jews are being hunted across the world. Today I call on Jews in England, Jews in France, Jews in Australia, Jews in Canada, Jews in Belgium: come to the Land of Israel! Come home!”

Sa’ar emphasized that the State of Israel stood ready to receive them, stressing both the emotional and historical bond of the Jewish people to their homeland. He said Israelis “are waiting for you here with open arms. With love. In the true home of the Jewish people. Why raise your children in this atmosphere? Come with your families to the land of our forefathers, to the State of Israel, where the Jews taught the entire world what Jewish self-defense means. The time has come.”

{Matzav.com}