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The Mamdani administration has permanently adopted a controversial initiative that pays people cash for turning in used syringes, prompting critics to argue the policy rewards drug users instead of helping them overcome addiction.

The program, which had previously operated as a pilot, is now a permanent part of New York City’s budget. The city’s $126 billion spending plan for the fiscal year that began July 1 earmarks $3 million for the Health Department’s Community Syringe Redemption Program, which pays participants 20 cents for every used syringe they return.

The decision received little public attention. It was disclosed in budget documents submitted by the Health Department to the New York City Council on June 30, just before lawmakers approved Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s first budget.

The program will continue to be managed by Addiction Response Resources, a nonprofit organization that introduced a similar syringe buyback initiative in Boston in 2020. The group is operating New York City’s program under an $11.1 million contract that extends through the end of next year.

Participants are permitted to turn in as many as 50 used syringes each day, allowing them to earn up to $10 daily. Collections are accepted at eight designated locations across the city, including five in The Bronx and one site each in Brooklyn, Manhattan, and Queens.

City officials say there are no plans to expand the initiative beyond its current footprint. The program was first authorized in 2022 through legislation backed by progressive members of the City Council and officially launched in March 2025 with the stated goal of removing hazardous needles from streets, parks, and other public areas.

Funding for the initiative comes from more than $189 million New York City received through legal settlements with opioid manufacturers and distributors.

Councilwoman Joann Ariola, R-Queens, blasted the program, arguing the settlement money is being spent in the wrong place.

“should all be going toward addiction treatment services — not for paying users to turn in their needles for cash.

“All this is doing is putting money in the pockets of addicts, so they can continue to fuel their habits, rather than helping them break free of their disease.”

According to the Health Department, the program has collected more than 2.3 million used syringes since launching nearly 16 months ago. During its first year, officials said more than 1,700 participants received a combined $292,000 in cash payments.

The Department of Sanitation has reported a dramatic decline in the number of discarded syringes its crews are collecting, although officials say staffing and cleanup efforts have remained unchanged despite the reduced volume.

As of Wednesday, sanitation workers had picked up 26,229 needles in 2026, compared to 64,560 during the same period last year—nearly three times as many.

Councilman Oswald Feliz, a Bronx Democrat whose district includes two of the collection sites in Fordham Heights and Tremont, acknowledged the improvements in street cleanliness while expressing concern about the broader message the program sends.

“Too often, used syringes end up in front of schools and children’s parks, and this is an issue that should be treated with the seriousness it deserves,” he said. “We should not recklessly create conditions that can threaten the safety of vulnerable communities.”

Some participants welcomed the continuation of the program and said they wished the city would increase the number of collection sites and eliminate the daily cap on syringe returns.

“It’s definitely a side hustle for me. Yeah, definitely!” crowed Tamia Wright, 43, after returning needles at Walter Gladwin Park in The Bronx on Thursday. “Right now, I’m gonna buy some weed with [the earnings] and cigarettes.”

Health Department spokeswoman Rachel Vick defended the initiative, saying it provides cleaner neighborhoods while connecting participants with services.

“everyone deserves to live in a community free of syringe litter” in public spaces.

“The city’s syringe redemption program allows New Yorkers in neighborhoods where we see the most complaints to help keep their communities clean, while safely disposing of medical waste and connecting people in need to nearby care,” said Vick.

“We look forward to continuing this important work in the years to come.”

{Matzav.com}

The United States launched another wave of airstrikes against Iran overnight, with Iranian officials claiming one of the targets was a nuclear power plant under construction, as the rapidly escalating conflict entered its eighth straight day.

According to Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization, the strikes hit the partially completed Darkhovin nuclear facility in southwestern Iran. The attack came one day after two U.S. service members were reported killed and a third remained missing following an Iranian assault.

Reacting angrily, Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization declared, “An attack on a peaceful nuclear facility under international safeguards is a clear violation of international law.”

Iranian officials did not disclose the extent of any damage at the facility, and the United States has not publicly confirmed that the nuclear site was among the targets.

The latest exchange followed Iran’s attack on American forces in Jordan, in which two U.S. military personnel were killed and another remained unaccounted for.

According to U.S. Central Command, the newest round of American strikes began at approximately 6 p.m. Eastern Time on Shabbos after receiving authorization from President Trump.

In a statement, Central Command said, “The strikes are designed to further degrade Iran’s ability to threaten commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz and swiftly punish Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps forces who launched attacks against American service members in Jordan last night.”

U.S. officials said the operation successfully struck Iranian military coastal surveillance installations and air-defense positions.

Iranian state media acknowledged that American forces carried out attacks near the southern city of Sirik as well as another location near Shadegan.

The latest military action comes amid renewed instability across the region after a Pakistan-brokered peace agreement signed in June collapsed.

Iran quickly responded by launching a drone attack targeting U.S. military equipment and assets in Kuwait, according to reports carried by Iranian state television.

Iranian state TV also claimed that Tehran destroyed at least two American fighter aircraft during Shabbos’s combined missile and drone assault on a U.S. military installation in Jordan.

Kuwait’s military announced Sunday that its air defenses once again intercepted incoming Iranian missiles and drones after facing repeated attacks that began the previous day.

Authorities in Bahrain likewise reported that their air-defense systems intercepted another Iranian aerial attack on Sunday.

Despite the interceptions, there were no reports of casualties or property damage from the latest incidents, and Iran did not officially claim responsibility for those attacks.

The U.S. Embassy in Amman announced Sunday that Jordan’s international airport and the nearby seaport in Aqaba had been evacuated because of what it described as a “specific and credible threat.”

Jordanian officials, however, later said they had detected no immediate danger in recent hours and stated that they had not issued any evacuation order.

Meanwhile, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps announced that it continues to enforce its blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, through which roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil supply passes.

The IRGC claimed four vessels attempted to transit the strategic waterway using what it called an “unsafe route” with U.S. support after disregarding Iranian warnings.

According to the Guard Corps, two of the ships turned back, while the remaining two became involved in an “accident,” though no further details were provided.

With the deaths of the two Americans in Jordan, the number of U.S. service members killed since the joint U.S.-Israeli military campaign began in February has risen to 16, while more than 420 have been wounded, according to Central Command.

Responding to the losses, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth wrote on X, “Their sacrifice only stiffens our resolve.”

Iran’s Health Ministry said that American airstrikes have killed 50 people and wounded more than 500 others during the past three weeks alone.

The current conflict began on February 28, when the United States and Israel launched military operations aimed at dismantling Iran’s nuclear program.

{Matzav.com}

The approximately 10,000 Jews still living in Iran have been forced to demonstrate unwavering loyalty to the Iranian regime, sever contact with relatives in Israel, and avoid any online activity that could arouse suspicion, according to an Israeli expert on Iran. During the recent war, he said, Jewish communities were even compelled to hold ceremonies praising the regime and offer prayers for the success of Iranian missile attacks.

The assessment was shared by Beni Sabti, an Iran researcher at Israel’s Institute for National Security Studies (INSS), during an interview with Yaron Schneider on the institute’s “Extra Security Broadcast” podcast. Sabti described how the direct military confrontation between Israel and Iran placed the country’s remaining Jewish community under unprecedented pressure.

According to Sabti, while previous conflicts involving Hamas or Hezbollah occasionally led to harassment of Jewish business owners and professionals, the direct war with Israel dramatically intensified the danger. He said Iran’s Jews now feel compelled to constantly prove their loyalty to the regime.

“They had to hold many ceremonies praising the Iranian regime and even, unbelievably, prayers for the Iranian missiles,” Sabti said. “There were also many curses and insults directed at the State of Israel and the Americans, all in order to survive.”

Sabti said shuls have become not only places of worship and refuge, but also venues where members of the Jewish community publicly demonstrate allegiance to the Islamic Republic. He explained that Iranian Jews have spent generations learning how to conceal their true feelings in order to protect themselves.

“They are very accustomed to living a life of deception in order to save themselves,” he said.

That caution extends to communication with family members in Israel. Sabti said many Iranian Jews stop following relatives on social media, sharply reduce WhatsApp conversations, and even ask family members in Israel not to contact them at all.

“Not being in contact is actually a sign of safety,” Sabti explained. “Leave me alone, I’ll manage. It’s better that we not appear connected so no one sees our relationship.”

Although the Iranian government publicly insists it distinguishes between Judaism and Zionism—and even reserves a seat in parliament for a representative of the Jewish community—Sabti argued that the regime effectively treats Iran’s Jews as political hostages. Any contact with relatives in Israel, he warned, can quickly become grounds for accusations of espionage and interrogation by Iran’s intelligence services.

He pointed to one of the darkest chapters in the community’s modern history: the 1999 arrest of 13 Iranian Jews who were accused of spying for Israel. Several faced severe punishments before eventually being released following prolonged international pressure. The episode, Sabti said, served as a lasting reminder that no Jew in Iran is immune from sudden persecution.

Ironically, Sabti said the Jewish community often fares better when the Iranian regime feels confident and secure. When the government believes its grip on power is weakening or that it faces external threats, suspicion toward the Jewish population increases, forcing community members to make even more visible displays of loyalty to avoid being viewed as a “fifth column.”

Most of Iran’s remaining Jews live in Tehran, Isfahan, and Shiraz. Many work as merchants, physicians, engineers, and other professionals. According to Sabti, they generally maintain peaceful relationships with their Muslim neighbors and avoid drawing attention to themselves, provided they adhere to the unwritten rules and display no public connection to Israel.

Despite the mounting risks, many members of the community remain reluctant to leave. Some are elderly, while others own businesses, stores, clinics, or valuable property that cannot easily be transferred abroad. For many families, emigrating would mean abandoning everything they have built over a lifetime and starting over in Israel or the United States without their assets or social standing.

Sabti also noted the community’s profound historical and cultural attachment to Iran. Jews have lived there continuously for approximately 2,500 years, and many regard themselves as native Iranians deeply connected to the Persian language, local traditions, cuisine, and the cities where their families have lived for generations. They do not see themselves as outsiders but as members of one of the world’s oldest Jewish communities living under an increasingly hostile regime.

According to Sabti, Iran’s Jewish population numbered roughly 120,000 before the 1979 Islamic Revolution. Tens of thousands fled following Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini’s rise to power, while many others left during the 1980s as the Revolutionary Guard strengthened its grip and government repression intensified.

Sabti also argued that years of isolation from Jewish communities in Israel and the United States have allowed groups associated with Neturei Karta to expand their influence in some Iranian shuls and educational institutions. He said the regime has welcomed those voices as useful propaganda, presenting anti-Zionist Jews as evidence of Jewish opposition to the State of Israel.

Today, one of the world’s oldest Jewish communities remains caught between its ancient roots and a regime that views it as a political tool. While Iranian Jews continue to maintain shuls and preserve communal life, Sabti warned that during times of war, even a simple phone call to Israel or the slightest expression of identification with the Jewish state can place their freedom—and even their lives—in jeopardy.

Israel’s High Court of Justice heard arguments Sunday in a petition demanding that Gaza residents be permitted to enter Israel for medical care, but the hearing quickly shifted focus when the justices sharply criticized materials submitted by the petitioners and ordered inflammatory allegations against the IDF removed from the case file. National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir attended the proceedings.

The petition, filed by Physicians for Human Rights-Israel, seeks to compel the government to allow patients from the Gaza Strip to receive treatment inside Israel.

During the hearing, Justice Alex Stein objected to one of the petitioners’ supporting documents, warning that it contained serious allegations directed at the IDF and the State of Israel.

“Withdraw the appendix, because it contains accusations and statements against the IDF and the State of Israel. If you do not remove it from the case file, there will be costs.”

Justice Yael Vilner likewise condemned the document, stating, “There is an accusation here against IDF soldiers that is without precedent,” before adding, “There is absolutely no justification for submitting a document that accuses IDF forces.” Following the court’s criticism, the petitioners agreed to withdraw the appendix.

Representing the state, government attorneys argued that Israel’s policy regarding Gaza patients fundamentally changed after the October 7 massacre. They explained that the Defense Minister now permits patients from Gaza to leave only for medical treatment in third countries rather than inside Israel.

The state told the court that 800 patients and accompanying family members exited Gaza through the Rafah Crossing in February, followed by 1,462 the next month and 1,820 in May, emphasizing that the current policy reflects ongoing security concerns.

Government lawyers also requested that the justices examine classified evidence in a closed, ex parte session. During the discussion, Justice Yechiel Kasher observed that the number of Gazans leaving for medical treatment today represents only about 10 percent of the volume seen before October 7.

Before entering the courtroom, Ben Gvir blasted both the legal challenge and the High Court itself.

Speaking to Arutz Sheva, he said, “It is simply outrageous that these people repeatedly exploit what is essentially their home field in the High Court. They know it’s home-field advantage-it’s like playing in the World Cup with the referee on only one side.”

Ben Gvir reiterated his call for sweeping judicial reform, declaring, “We’ve accomplished a great deal, but in the next elections I will demand full judicial reform.”

Attorney Yehuda Puah, chairman of the B’Tsalmo organization, also criticized the petition, arguing that organizations he believes support terrorism are attempting to force Israel to provide medical treatment to Gaza residents inside the country.

Puah said the state’s position remains that Gaza patients may travel through Israeli territory if another nation agrees to treat them, but that the petitioners are insisting specifically on treatment within Israel.

According to Puah, the justices indicated that exceptional humanitarian circumstances should have some form of review process. He quoted the court as saying, “There cannot be no mechanism; there cannot be no opening,” arguing that such a requirement would effectively create a pathway for Gaza residents to enter Israel.

Puah said he appeared at the hearing on behalf of 39 bereaved parents but was informed by Justice Vilner that he would not be allowed to address the court orally because the judges had already reviewed his written submission. He criticized the decision, saying the petitioners were permitted to argue their case in person while the bereaved families were denied the same opportunity.

According to Puah, the materials he submitted included publications that he says demonstrate the petitioners’ support for a terrorist organization, along with arguments that insufficient efforts had been made to locate third countries willing to accept Gaza patients. He also maintained that in previous cases, individuals who entered Israel for medical treatment later assisted Hamas by transferring information and materials, and argued that Israel should therefore avoid establishing any permanent framework allowing patients and their escorts to enter the country.

Puah concluded by emphasizing that Israel continues to permit patients to transit through its territory when another country is prepared to receive them, but opposes allowing Gaza residents to enter Israel itself for medical treatment.

{Matzav.com}

The following shiur, titled “Year Round Daylight Saving Time – The Ramifications for Orthodox Jews,” was delivered by Rav Dovid Heber, a native of St. Louis who learned in Telshe Yeshiva Chicago and Yeshivas Ner Yisroel, where he received semicha. Rav Heber is the rov of KAYTT in Baltimore and a Kashrus Administrator at Star-K. He is a Torah columnist for the Yated and the author of The Intriguing World of Jewish Time: Fascinating Zmanim and Calendar Calculations.

WATCH:



{Matzav.com}

New York City parents will soon have an opportunity to enjoy a few child-free hours at no cost under a new pilot initiative unveiled by Mayor Zohran Mamdani. The city will provide free babysitting services for hundreds of families during a special four-hour event next month.

The new program, called “Parents’ Night Out,” is scheduled for Aug. 16 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. and will offer complimentary child care for as many as 500 children at recreation centers throughout the five boroughs.

Enrollment begins at 8 a.m. Monday and will be handled on a first-come, first-served basis until all available spots are filled.

Announcing the initiative, Mamdani said, “Every parent knows that a few hours to yourself can feel like a luxury. It shouldn’t be. That’s why we’re launching New York City’s first-ever Parents’ Night Out, so that parents can get a little time on their own to catch a movie, run errands or go on a date without worrying about who will take care of the kids – or how much it will cost.”

The program is available to families with children between the ages of 6 and 13. Participants will be supervised by staff at designated city recreation centers while parents take advantage of several hours on their own.

City officials said the initiative is intended to provide parents and caregivers with a much-needed break while offering children a safe environment with organized activities.

The Aug. 16 event will serve as a test run for the new program, with capacity capped at 500 children spread among participating recreation centers across New York City.

Officials are encouraging families to sign up promptly once registration opens, noting that the limited number of openings is expected to be claimed quickly.

The participating recreation centers are:

Brooklyn:
Shirley Chisholm Recreation Center
3105 Farragut Place, Brooklyn, NY 11210

Manhattan:
Highbridge Recreation Center
2301 Amsterdam Avenue, New York, NY 10033

Queens:
Al Oerter Recreation Center
131-40 Fowler Avenue, Flushing, NY 11355

Bronx:
Kwame Ture Recreation Center
1527 Jesup Avenue, Bronx, NY 10452

Staten Island:
Greenbelt Recreation Center
501 Brielle Avenue (across from Sea View Hospital)

Iran’s new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, is reportedly no longer inside Iran, according to an Israeli security source quoted by the Saudi news outlet al-Hadath, adding another layer of uncertainty surrounding the Islamic Republic’s leadership.

Khamenei assumed the role of supreme leader after his father was killed in the joint U.S.-Israeli strikes on February 28. Since taking power, he has not appeared in public and has communicated only through written statements.

According to the Israeli security source, those statements are not being written by Khamenei himself but instead are being prepared by Ahmad Vahidi, the newly appointed commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, along with other senior IRGC officials.

The source also described growing turmoil within Iran’s leadership, warning that “Iran’s internal divisions are deep and threaten the existence of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.”

The same Israeli source further claimed that Washington has made clear it does not want Israel to participate in military strikes against Iran, even if Tehran launches attacks against Israel.

President Donald Trump is expected to present the World Cup trophy to the champion following Sunday’s final between Argentina and Spain, but the White House is already celebrating what it sees as an even bigger triumph: the successful hosting of the largest World Cup ever staged.

Speaking Friday during a FIFA reception at Trump Tower in New York City, Trump said the tournament had transformed perceptions of the United States as a soccer nation.

“It turned out we were a soccer country, and I think it’s going to remain,” Trump said Friday at a FIFA reception at Trump Tower in New York City. “This has really brought the world together.”

For the administration, Sunday’s championship marks the conclusion of more than a year of intensive planning with co-hosts Canada and Mexico to stage the historic tournament. Throughout that process, White House officials worked through major logistical challenges while also navigating the administration’s strict immigration policies, which prevented fans from certain World Cup qualifying nations from entering the United States.

Before the tournament began, organizers also faced criticism from human rights organizations and complaints over expensive ticket prices. At various points, Trump floated the possibility of relocating matches away from cities that refused to cooperate with federal immigration enforcement, while disputes between FIFA and local governments over transportation costs added to the tensions surrounding the event.

Even as opening matches approached, the administration remained under international scrutiny because of several visa decisions, including denying entry to a Somali referee who had earned widespread praise for his officiating. Those concerns intensified after Trump launched military action against Iran, creating additional complications involving Iran’s national team, whose supporters and some staff members were barred from entering the United States and instead operated from neighboring Tijuana.

As the tournament unfolded, however, much of the controversy faded into the background. Online, countless visitors shared videos and stories celebrating American food, culture, and hospitality—from beer to ranch dressing—while many of the fears voiced before the event, including predictions of immigration enforcement activity around stadiums, never came to pass.

“One of the things that we talked about beforehand was, if we’re talking about what happened on the pitch, then we’ve done our job,” Andrew Giuliani, the executive director of the White House FIFA Task Force, said in an interview with The Associated Press. “But I think it’s even better than that. We’re not just talking about only the incredible, athletic feats on the pitch, but we’re talking about all these incredible, incredible cultural moments.”

Trump nevertheless became part of one of the tournament’s biggest controversies after personally contacting FIFA President Gianni Infantino earlier this month to discuss a disputed officiating decision involving Team USA’s match against Bosnia and Herzegovina. The referee had issued a red card to American forward Folarin Balogun, forcing him to miss the following game against Belgium.

According to Trump, he merely encouraged Infantino to review the decision. FIFA ultimately overturned the red card, and during Friday’s reception Trump praised the move, telling Infantino that “you made another great decision, if you think about it,” because it allowed the U.S. to keep a key player on the field even though the team lost the match to Belgium 4-1.

Giuliani defended the administration’s involvement, saying officials had a “duty” to seek answers about the officiating process, particularly because video review and slow-motion replay had been used in issuing the red card. He added that the federal government committed billions of dollars to help ensure the tournament was “not just a safe and secure event, not just where we welcomed the world, but an event that was filled with integrity.”

Successfully hosting the World Cup carries added significance for the United States because it will soon welcome two more major international sporting events: the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles and the 2034 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City.

The administration is also optimistic that the United States will receive hosting rights for the 2031 Women’s World Cup. Giuliani said one factor in pursuing that tournament is “ensuring that, in fact, women and only women will play in that 2031 Women’s World Cup,” reflecting the administration’s opposition to transgender women competing in women’s sports.

Sen. Andy Kim, D-N.J., who describes himself as a devoted World Cup fan and represents the state hosting Sunday’s championship match, acknowledged that while there were occasional transportation problems, the overall event has been overwhelmingly successful.

But “overall, just the joy that people have, the excitement that they have, has dramatically outweighed” any downsides, Kim said, who has been eagerly watching the games with his two young sons over the last several weeks.

The tournament also unfolded against a backdrop of strained relations among the three host nations. Since returning to office, Trump has imposed steep tariffs on both Canada and Mexico and has declined to renew the existing trilateral trade agreement, setting the stage for new negotiations.

On Friday, Trump even threatened tariffs against Canada over smoke from Canadian wildfires that has affected air quality in portions of the United States, including northern New Jersey, where the World Cup final will be played. He also joked that FIFA should award another World Cup to the United States and “this time, we’ll leave Mexico and Canada out.”

Despite those disagreements, both Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney are expected to attend Sunday’s championship at Trump’s invitation, underscoring the tournament’s ability to bridge political differences.

“I received an invitation from President Trump to attend the World Cup final on Sunday, and I decided to go because it’s a direct invitation from the President of the United States,” Sheinbaum said. “Prime Minister Carney will also be there.”

Following longstanding tradition, Trump will present the World Cup trophy to the winning team after the final. Although he has not publicly endorsed either side, the matchup carries political intrigue.

Spain has frequently clashed with the Trump administration over NATO defense spending and Madrid’s refusal to allow American forces to launch strikes against Iran from Spanish bases. By contrast, Argentine President Javier Milei is one of Trump’s closest international allies, with Trump previously threatening to cut U.S. assistance if Milei’s political coalition failed to win key legislative elections.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez is expected to attend the championship match, while Milei has opted to remain in Argentina, citing superstition.

{Matzav.com}

What began as a simple at-home DNA test has turned into a life-altering legal battle after two North Dakota men discovered they were accidentally switched at birth 38 years ago. Their families are now suing the hospital where they were born, claiming they were deprived of the lives—and families—they were meant to have.

The astonishing discovery began when Kyle Bylin received a home DNA test during a Christmas gift exchange and decided to take it on a whim. The results led him to a woman identified as his biological aunt through a genealogy website. That connection prompted her nephew, Jeremy Morrison, to submit his own DNA sample, and the findings left no room for doubt.

“That’s when my mind was just completely blown,” Bylin said. “We could have never imagined that it was an actual birth switch that occurred.”

Morrison said he immediately suspected the truth after seeing a photograph of Bylin’s brother, whose appearance closely resembled his own.

According to a lawsuit filed in North Dakota state court last week, Bylin and Morrison were the only two babies born on Jan. 26, 1988, at Unity Medical Center in Grafton. Yet, despite being born just hours apart, each infant was allegedly sent home with the other’s family.

Unity Medical Center has denied that there is evidence its employees were responsible for the mix-up.

However, Bylin—who says he was actually born as Jeremy Morrison—still possesses the hospital identification bracelet that incorrectly identified him as Kyle Bylin.

The search for answers has been complicated by the passage of time. Hospital officials say the relevant medical records have long since been destroyed, making it impossible to determine exactly how the switch occurred.

It has now been two years since the DNA results overturned everything both families believed about their identities. Since then, they have faced emotional reunions, difficult conversations, and painful questions about what their lives might have been.

“Kyle is still my son – that is never going to change,” Evelyn Newton, who raised him as her own, told The Associated Press in a phone interview Friday. “But I feel robbed of the life I should have had with my biological son. You can’t go back and replace 35 years. First steps, driving a car, getting married – how do you make up for that?”

While the hospital acknowledges that the babies were switched at some point, it maintains that no evidence has been found showing that hospital administrators or staff caused the mistake.

“We recognize the profound impact this discovery has had on them and their families,” Unity Medical’s statement says. “Unfortunately, because of the passage of nearly four decades, the medical and staffing records that might have provided additional clarity no longer exist, and no members of the delivery team from that time are still employed by the hospital.”

For Morrison, learning the truth has not changed how he views the parents who raised him, Elizabeth O’Toole and Terry Morrison. He continues to consider them his parents and says he looks back fondly on his upbringing despite the challenges, including his parents’ divorce when he was seven.

“I was loved. I played sports. I did well in school,” Morrison said. “A DNA test is not going to take away 38 years of memories.”

Today, Morrison lives in Colorado City, Colorado, where he works as a welding inspector for a wind energy company. He often wonders how different his life might have been had the switch never happened. He believes he likely would have remained in North Dakota, working alongside his biological father and brother on the family grain farm where Bylin grew up.

Evelyn Newton said she never suspected that Kyle was not her biological son. Although he had dark hair while the rest of the immediate family was fair-haired, there seemed to be a reasonable explanation. Her late husband had relatives with dark hair, and because Newton herself had been adopted, she had little knowledge of her own biological family’s traits.

For Bylin, the revelation has reshaped the way he thinks about the long-running debate over nature versus nurture. After leaving North Dakota to pursue an academic career, he often wondered why he seemed so different from the family with whom he had grown up.

“You’re just kind of shaking your fist, like, how can this be my family? How am I so different from them?” Bylin said. “It turns out that we’re just totally different people, period.”

Both men have since met their biological parents. They described the reunions as heartfelt but understandably awkward. Although they have not yet met one another in person, they have spoken by phone.

“We’ve tried to unite as a group and just recognize that no matter what, there’s different ways that this can be socially messy,” Bylin said. “Everyone’s getting to know people that they didn’t know before.”

Although such cases remain uncommon, the growing popularity of consumer DNA testing has led to a number of similar discoveries around the world. In 2024, two women sued the Norwegian government after learning they had been switched at birth. Two West Virginia men filed suit in 2020 after concluding they had been switched as infants in 1942. DNA testing in Pennsylvania revealed in 2018 that two girls had been switched approximately 75 years earlier, and in 2016 Canadian authorities launched an investigation after evidence showed two Indigenous men in northern Manitoba had been switched at birth in 1975.

Medical experts say mistakes of this kind are now extraordinarily unlikely because of modern technology.

Dr. Jonathan Marron, a pediatric oncologist who also teaches at Harvard Medical School’s Center for Bioethics, said such errors should happen “pretty close to never” today.

“As often as all clinicians, doctors, nurses, social workers, everybody else, gripe about the electronic health records,” the digital backstop is a clear benefit, Marron said.

Attorney Tim O’Keefe said he spent roughly a year attempting to negotiate a financial settlement with the hospital before filing a lawsuit alleging negligence, medical malpractice, and emotional distress. Meanwhile, both families continue trying to adjust to a reality they never expected.

“I know the truth now, but we’re still working to build relationships,” Morrison said. “I mean, it’s not like I can go back in time and rebuild what’s already lost. It’s a work in progress, just like me.”

{Matzav.com}

A new Channel 12 poll paints a bleak picture of public confidence in Israel’s political leadership, with overwhelming majorities expressing dissatisfaction with the outgoing Knesset, opposing key legislation passed this week, and believing that most members of Knesset are motivated by personal interests rather than the public good.

The survey, conducted ahead of the upcoming election campaign, examined not only voting intentions but also public trust in elected officials and state institutions. Its findings suggest widespread frustration with the performance of the outgoing Knesset.

When asked about their voting preferences, 49% of respondents said they currently support parties aligned with the anti-Netanyahu bloc, compared with 36% who back parties in the pro-Netanyahu coalition. Another 12% said they remain undecided, while 3% indicated they plan to vote for parties outside either of the two main political camps.

Public dissatisfaction with the Knesset was especially pronounced. Overall, 64% rated the outgoing legislature’s performance as poor, while just 33% described it as good. Three percent said they were unsure.

The partisan breakdown reflected predictable political divisions. Among opposition voters, 92% said the Knesset performed poorly, as did 62% of voters from Arab parties. Coalition voters, however, viewed the legislature far more favorably, with 73% saying it had performed well.

The poll also found a striking lack of trust in lawmakers’ motivations. Fully 74% of respondents said they believe most MKs primarily look out for their own interests, while only 17% said lawmakers are working for the benefit of the public. Nine percent said they were uncertain.

Among opposition supporters, skepticism reached 94%, while 70% of Arab-party voters shared that view. Coalition voters were more divided: 49% said MKs mainly serve themselves, while 38% believe they are working on behalf of the public.

The findings also reflected strong opposition to the Knesset’s recent legislative blitz. Respondents were asked about two major measures approved this week—the Basic Law: Torah Study and the law freezing the arrests of bnei yeshiva draft evaders. A total of 67% said they oppose the legislation.

Only 21% voiced support for the two laws, while 12% said they had no opinion. Opposition voters overwhelmingly rejected the legislation, with 93% opposed, while 73% of Arab-party voters also objected. Even within the coalition camp, opinion was sharply divided, with 45% supporting the measures and 41% opposing them.

The survey also examined public views of Shin Bet Director David Zini, whose name returned to the headlines this week after recommending lifetime security protection for Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and his wife, Sara—a recommendation later approved by the ministerial committee.

Israelis were nearly evenly split in their assessment of Zini’s performance. Thirty-nine percent rated his work negatively, while 37% gave him positive marks. A significant 24% said they were unable to express an opinion.

Political affiliation again played a major role. Among opposition voters, 61% viewed Zini’s performance negatively, as did 62% of Arab-party voters. By contrast, 67% of coalition supporters said he has performed well.

The poll also explored whether another Netanyahu election victory would prompt Israelis to consider leaving the country. Overall, 68% said they would not contemplate emigrating, while 23% acknowledged they would consider such a move. Nine percent were undecided.

Among coalition voters, 90% rejected the idea of leaving Israel. Opposition supporters were more divided: although 49% said they would remain in the country, 39% said they would consider emigrating if Netanyahu wins another term. Among Arab-party voters, only 19% said they would consider leaving.

Participants were also asked to place Israel’s leading political figures on an ideological scale ranging from 1 (far right) to 7 (far left). The results closely mirrored public perceptions of each leader’s political orientation.

Democrats Party leader Yair Golan was viewed as the furthest to the left, receiving a score of 6.0. He was followed by Yesh Atid chairman Yair Lapid at 5.2. Benny Gantz (4.4) and Yisr! party chairman Gadi Eisenkot (4.2) were both seen as occupying the political center with a slight lean to the left.

Former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett marked the beginning of the right side of the spectrum with a score of 3.8, followed by Yisrael Beytenu chairman Avigdor Lieberman at 3.3. Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu was placed firmly on the right with a score of 2.5, while Finance Minister Betzalel Smotrich received a 1.7. National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir was viewed as the most right-wing political leader in the survey, earning a score of 1.3.

{Matzav.com}

It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of Rebbetzin Shulamis Schiff a”h, who was niftar at the age of 98.

Rebbetzin Schiff was the devoted wife of Rav Sheya Schiff zt”l, longtime rosh yeshiva of Mesivta Bais Shraga in Monsey, New York.

She was born into one of the most illustrious families of American Torah Jewry as the daughter of Rav Shraga Feivel Mendlowitz zt”l, the legendary menahel of Yeshiva Torah Vodaas and the foremost architect of postwar Torah life in the United States. Rav Shraga Feivel dedicated every ounce of his strength to rebuilding Yiddishkeit and establishing institutions that would shape generations to come. Through his visionary leadership, mesirus nefesh, and boundless ahavas haTorah, he helped lay the foundation for the flourishing Olam HaTorah in America.

Her husband, Rav Sheya, was himself an outsanding talmid chochom and marbitz Torah. He was a son of the noted baal habayis, R’ Tzvi Shalom (Harry) Schiff zt”l, who merited to establish a remarkable family whose members became among the leading gedolei Torah and marbitzei Torah of their generation. Rav Sheya was a talmid muvhak of Rav Shlomo Heiman zt”l and Rav Reuven Grozovsky zt”l, absorbing the greatness of the Torah Vodaas tradition before founding and leading Mesivta Bais Shraga for decades. Rav Sheya’s brother is Rav Yankel Schiff, son-in-law of the Brisker Rov, Rav Yitzchok Zev Soloveitchik zt”l. His sisters married Rav Shmuel Faivelson zt”l, rosh yeshiva of Bais Medrash L’Torah in Monsey, and Rav Meir Hershkowitz zt”l, rosh yeshiva of Yeshiva Bais Binyomin in Stamford, Connecticut.

Those who knew Rebbetzin Schiff remember a woman of exceptional refinement, dignity, and strength. With warmth, grace, and genuine concern for others, she stood steadfastly at her husband’s side throughout decades of harbotzas haTorah, opening her home to talmidim and supporting the yeshiva with total devotion. Her humility, kindness, and deep commitment to avodas Hashem left a lasting impression on all who merited to know her.

She is survived by her sons, Rav Emanuel Schiff and Rav Shraga Schiff; her daughters, Mrs. Yehudis Berlin, wife of Rav Meir Berlin zt”l, and Mrs. Toby Berlin, wife of Rav Avrohom Yehoshua Berlin; as well as numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren who continue her family’s legacy of Torah, yiras Shomayim, and avodas Hashem.

The levayah will take place today at 11:00 a.m. at Mesivta Bais Shraga, located at 28 Saddle River Road in Monsey, New York.

Yehi zichrah boruch.

Two Orthodox shuls in Queens, Young Israel of Holliswood and Young Israel of Jamaica Estates, were vandalized overnight Thursday into Friday after an individual allegedly hurled bags containing motor oil and feces at the buildings in what authorities are investigating as a possible hate crime.

New York State Assemblymember Nily Rozic, who represents part of eastern Queens and is American-Israeli, condemned the attacks, describing them as “another outrageous example of the sustained hate faced by our community.”

The NYPD confirmed that a suspect “threw a bag of motor oil” at the exterior of a building housing an Orthodox shul in Queens.

According to police, officers were notified of the incident Thursday afternoon. The NYPD said its Hate Crimes Task Force has launched an investigation into the vandalism.

An NYPD spokesperson said no additional information is currently available as the investigation continues.

Police officials noted that reports from individual precincts sometimes take time to be transmitted to NYPD headquarters, which can delay the release of additional details.

{Matzav.com}

Israeli authorities are increasingly alarmed by what they describe as a growing Iranian effort to recruit members of the chareidi community for espionage and sabotage missions, prompting an unusual response: enlisting prominent rabbanim and influential chareidi public figures to warn their communities about the threat, according to a report published by The New York Times.

The report says Israel’s police, prosecutors, and security agencies—including the Shin Bet—have launched a targeted public awareness campaign aimed at preventing additional recruitment attempts. Rather than relying solely on law enforcement, officials have turned to respected rabbanim and community leaders to deliver direct warnings to their followers about the dangers of contact with Iranian operatives.

According to the report, Israeli authorities have filed more than 60 indictments against Israeli citizens accused of spying for Iran or assisting the Islamic Republic. Those charged come from across Israeli society, including active-duty soldiers, civilians, Jews and Arabs, secular and religious Israelis, chareidim, and even recent immigrants. The assignments allegedly ranged from photographing military installations and spray-painting graffiti to carrying out far more serious operations, including planning assassinations of senior officials.

One particularly striking statistic highlighted in the report is that nine of those espionage cases involved members of the chareidi community. According to investigators, Iranian intelligence casts a wide net through social media, searching for individuals in financial distress regardless of their religious background. Operatives allegedly pose as businesspeople, journalists, or other seemingly innocent contacts before attempting to recruit targets.

The newspaper reports that to combat the trend, Israel’s police, prosecution, and security agencies “decided to take the unusual step of recruiting rabbis and influential Haredi public figures to directly warn their followers and audiences.”

Rav Yigal Cohen, a member of Israel’s Chief Rabbinate Council and head of the Yabia Omer institutions, was described by the newspaper as having “enormous influence on social media.” In a video message cited by the report, Rav Cohen pleaded emotionally with his followers, saying, “I beg you, there is no greater chilul Hashem than to see a Torah-observant Jew betray his people.” He warned that any involvement with Iranian agents would destroy their lives.

The report also quotes Kol Barama radio commentator Yisrael Cohen, whom the newspaper described as a leading chareidi analyst and influencer. He told the Times that the chareidi public “was initially in complete shock when it learned that members of its own community had cooperated with Iran, but very quickly understood the necessity of the warnings and is working to stop the spread of the phenomenon.” According to the report, Cohen also helped connect security officials with rabbanim and other influential figures within the chareidi community.

The awareness campaign has even extended to specific languages spoken within the community. The report notes that Yiddish-language warning videos have been produced by chareidi journalists and influencers, including Mendel Ungar, in an effort to reach more conservative and insulated audiences.

Police and Shin Bet investigators quoted in the report said that ideology is rarely the driving force behind these cases. Instead, Iranian operatives typically exploit financial hardship, debt, or a desire for quick money, offering payment for assignments that initially appear harmless but gradually evolve into increasingly sensitive security-related missions.

According to The New York Times, Israeli officials now view the campaign as a coordinated effort to halt what they describe as an epidemic of Iranian recruitment attempts by leveraging the moral authority and influence of trusted rabbanim within the chareidi community.

{Matzav.com}

Belgian soldiers stationed in Antwerp’s Jewish neighborhood intervened on Friday night to prevent what appeared to be an attack on Chassidim leaving Kabbalas Shabbos, arresting a 28-year-old man who allegedly threatened pedestrians with an emergency hammer and behaved violently in the area.

According to sources, the incident occurred at approximately 8:20 p.m. on Lamorinièrestraat, one of the city’s main thoroughfares. The suspect allegedly confronted several Chassidim as they exited shul, threatening one man with an emergency hammer. He also knocked another person’s hat to the ground, shoved a passerby, and threw traffic signs onto the street.

Belgian soldiers deployed in the neighborhood quickly intervened and detained the suspect before anyone was injured.

Local police spokesman Wouter Bruyns confirmed that the man was arrested at the scene and will be questioned by investigators. “The suspect is known to police, among other things for public nuisance offenses and drug-related crimes,” the spokesman said.

Boruch Hashem, no injuries were reported.

The incident is the latest in a series of troubling episodes targeting Jewish communities across Europe in recent months, as many communities continue to contend with increasing harassment and antisemitic intimidation.

Antwerp is home to one of Europe’s largest and most vibrant chareidi communities, with thousands of Chassidim and bnei Torah.

{Matzav.com}

U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz forcefully rejected New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s suggestion that Israeli Prime Minister Binyomin Netanyahu could be arrested during an expected visit to New York for the United Nations General Assembly, calling the proposal nothing more than “pure political theater.”

Responding to Mamdani’s comments in a post on social media, Waltz wrote, “Mayor Mamdani: here’s why your threat to arrest PM Netanyahu in NYC during UNGA is not going to happen.”

Waltz then laid out what he said were four legal reasons the mayor’s plan could not be carried out, writing: “1. The US is not a party to the Rome Statute that underlies the ICC, 2. The UN Headquarters Agreement grants diplomatic protections to visiting heads of government, 3. head-of-state immunity applies, & 4. federal authority trumps any local mayor’s wishes.”

He ended his response by declaring, “This is pure political theater.”

Earlier Saturday, Mamdani referred to Netanyahu as a “war criminal” and said his administration was exploring whether the Israeli leader could be arrested if he travels to New York.

Speaking with The New York Times, Mamdani said, “I believe that Prime Minister Netanyahu belongs in The Hague. He’s a war criminal who has been charged by the International Criminal Court.”

The mayor added that he is engaged in “active conversation” with New York City’s legal officials regarding the extent of his authority over the matter. “Whatever the law allows me to do in New York City, that’s what we will do, but we won’t be writing our own laws to that end,” he said.

Israel’s Ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Danon, sharply condemned Mamdani’s remarks, accusing the mayor of neglecting his responsibilities at home.

“Mamdani is failing to govern New York. Instead of focusing on his responsibilities as mayor and confronting the rising wave of antisemitism in his city, he has chosen to incite hostility and generate headlines by attacking the State of Israel,” Danon said.

He added, “It will not change a thing. Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu will come to New York, address the United Nations General Assembly with pride, and stand before the world to state Israel’s truth and its unwavering right to defend its citizens.”

Danon concluded with a jab at the mayor, saying, “And if anyone should be arrested, it is NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani.”

Israeli Consul General in New York Ofir Akunis also dismissed Mamdani’s comments, arguing that the mayor has no legal authority to detain a foreign head of government.

“The mayor of New York City has no authority to order the arrest of the Prime Minister of Israel. Instead of dealing with matters over which he has no authority, he should start running New York City and only New York City,” Akunis said.

{Matzav.com}

Pesident Donald Trump brushed aside Iran’s declaration that it no longer considers itself bound by its memorandum of understanding with the United States, responding bluntly when asked about the move by NewsNation: “I couldn’t care less.”

Speaking during the interview, Trump also addressed the deaths of two American service members in Jordan, calling the loss “a very sad thing.”

He honored the fallen troops, saying they died “in service of our country,” while emphasizing that the United States remains committed to one overriding goal: “never allowing Iran to have a nuclear weapon.”

Trump’s remarks came after Iranian state television aired comments attributed to Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, who announced that Tehran would no longer comply with the U.S.-Iran memorandum of understanding. Khamenei also dismissed the agreement by declaring that Trump’s signature is “worthless and invalid.”

Iran’s announcement followed a seventh consecutive night of U.S. military strikes against Iranian targets. The attacks come as Iran continues violating the ceasefire agreement with the United States while carrying out assaults on commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.

Despite the ongoing military campaign, Trump has continued to express confidence that Iran ultimately wants to negotiate with his administration. At the same time, he has warned that American strikes will intensify and expand to additional critical infrastructure if Tehran refuses to enter meaningful negotiations.

Meanwhile, Mohsen Rezaei, a military adviser to Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, issued a fresh warning on Friday, threatening a dramatic escalation if U.S. operations continue.

In an interview with Iran’s state-run IRIB television, Rezaei said that if American attacks persist for another two or three days, Iran will move into an “offensive and destructive” phase.

Rezaei also declared that Iran has abandoned its previous strategy of “both war and negotiation.”

He further warned that continued U.S. military action would prompt Iran to expand its response beyond limited retaliation, threatening that American military bases and personnel would no longer be secure anywhere within established political borders.

{Matzav.com}

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun left Beirut yesterday for Washington, where he is expected to hold key meetings with President Donald Trump and other senior U.S. officials in an effort to bolster the ceasefire with Israel and advance negotiations over Israel’s military presence in southern Lebanon.

The visit follows a fresh round of diplomatic discussions involving Israeli and Lebanese representatives in Italy and marks the first trip by a Lebanese president to the White House since Michel Sleiman met with then-President Barack Obama in 2009.

Officials from Lebanon’s presidency said Aoun’s meetings in Washington will focus on talks “with several American officials on the situation in Lebanon and ways to strengthen the ceasefire,” while also seeking “the withdrawal of Israel from the Lebanese regions it occupies”.

After arriving in the United States, the Lebanese presidency announced that Aoun is scheduled to meet with Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Sunday before sitting down with Trump on Tuesday.

The diplomatic effort comes as the United States continues to broker indirect negotiations between Israel and Lebanon, which do not maintain formal diplomatic relations. The talks, launched in April, are aimed at reaching a lasting resolution to the conflict between Israel and the Iran-backed Hezbollah terrorist organization.

On June 26, negotiators meeting in Washington reached a preliminary framework that calls for Israeli forces to withdraw from southern Lebanon, after which the Lebanese military would deploy in the area, beginning with two designated pilot zones.

Implementation of the agreement, however, remains dependent on the disarmament of Hezbollah. The terrorist group has flatly rejected both the proposed framework and the negotiations surrounding it.

A U.S. official said that during follow-up meetings held this week in Rome, Israeli and Lebanese negotiators “agreed on the structure and guidelines” needed to move forward with establishing the pilot zones.

Meanwhile, a Lebanese military official told AFP that the Lebanese army has already begun increasing troop deployments and patrols in villages near areas where Israeli forces are still operating, including the village of Froun in the Bint Jbeil district, in preparation for a possible transition.

At the same time, Hezbollah organized a public rally yesterday in the coastal city of Tyre to demonstrate its continued opposition to the diplomatic process.

Although Aoun has agreed to pursue indirect negotiations with Israel, he has repeatedly rejected the possibility of a face-to-face meeting with Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, an idea that has been floated by Trump.

The Lebanese president has insisted that ending the fighting must take precedence over any direct political engagement between the two countries.

Earlier this month, Aoun again dismissed the possibility of meeting Netanyahu, declaring, “If we were to find ourselves in the same room, I would immediately leave.”

{Matzav.com}

It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the sudden petirah of Rav Eliyahu Yisroel Abba Shaul zt”l, a 59-year-old resident of Bnei Brak, who suffered a fatal cardiac arrest while on a family outing in Ramat Gan.

Rav Abba Shaul was spending time with members of his family at a park late last night when he suddenly became separated from the group shortly before midnight. After relatives were unable to locate him, a missing-person report was filed, prompting an extensive search.

Volunteers from the ZAKA Tel Aviv Missing Persons Unit were immediately dispatched and established a command center after receiving indications that he had last been seen in the Ramat Gan area.

A short time later, search teams located Rav Abba Shaul unconscious in Wadi Kofar Park (Gan Yedidya) on Hatfutzot Street in Ramat Gan. ZAKA volunteers, many of whom also serve as emergency medical responders, examined him together with arriving medical personnel. Sadly, they were forced to pronounce him dead at the scene. Authorities said he had apparently suffered a sudden cardiac arrest and collapsed.

Following the declaration of death, members of ZAKA Tel Aviv’s Chesed Shel Emes unit responded to care for the deceased with dignity while assisting Israel Police and forensic investigators. His body was transferred to the National Institute of Forensic Medicine for further examination, in accordance with standard procedure.

Nati Czyszynski and Shmuel Ra’ani, overnight coordinators and volunteers with the ZAKA Tel Aviv Missing Persons Unit, described the search effort.

“Immediately upon receiving the report, we headed to the scene together with additional volunteers,” they said. “We understood that this was a sensitive situation in which every minute could be be critical. Sadly, during the search we located the avreich without signs of life.”

ZAKA volunteers Yossi Teitelbaum and Yossi Karkukli, who handled the scene, added, “As soon as death was confirmed, we worked with the utmost sensitivity and respect for the deceased. Together with the police and forensic teams, we carefully attended to every detail to ensure that the niftar would be brought to burial with dignity.”

Rav Abba Shaul was a son of Rav Mordechai Abba Shaul of Yerushalauyim, who served for many years as the librarian of the Porat Yosef Yeshiva in the Geulah neighborhood of Yerushalayim. He was a nephew of Chacham Ben Zion Abba Shaul zt”l, the renowned Rosh Yeshiva of Porat Yosef and author of Or L’Tzion.

Rav Abba Shaul learned in the Beis Shlomo kollel headed by Rav Shemesh in Tel Aviv.

He is survived by nine children.

Tehei nishmaso tzerurah b’tzror hachaim.

{Matzav.com}

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