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Israeli and Lebanese representatives are moving closer to launching direct negotiations, with diplomatic sources pointing to meaningful progress and a possible extension of the current ceasefire as discussions intensify.

A second preparatory meeting between Israeli and Lebanese officials is expected to take place as early as Tuesday or Wednesday, according to a report by MTV Lebanon. The session is part of ongoing efforts to pave the way for formal, face-to-face negotiations between the two countries.

The upcoming meeting follows an earlier round of talks held in Washington, which included the participation of both nations’ ambassadors and was viewed as an unusual and notable step in relations between Israel and Lebanon. The next round is expected to focus on finalizing preliminary understandings, including setting a specific date and location for the start of direct negotiations.

At the same time, one of the key issues on the agenda will be whether to extend the current ceasefire between the two sides.

Officials involved in the process say the United States is pushing for a continuation of the temporary truce, with proposals ranging from an additional 10 days to as long as a month. The goal is to allow diplomatic efforts to proceed without a renewed escalation in hostilities.

In parallel, discussions are also taking place behind the scenes regarding a possible diplomatic development: a visit by Lebanon’s president to Washington as part of coordinated political talks. However, sources caution that the prospect of a direct meeting between him and Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu remains distant and is currently viewed as highly sensitive from both a political and security standpoint.

{Matzav.com}

[Video below.] New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said Sunday that he would use every available tool to prevent Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents from appearing at polling locations in the city during the upcoming November midterm elections.

Speaking in an interview on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” Mamdani was asked how he would respond if federal immigration agents were stationed at voting sites. He replied, “I will do everything in my power to ensure that is not the case. I think it speaks to a vision of this country where democracy is something to be suppressed, as opposed to something to be protected.”

Mamdani argued that the broader use of ICE reflects misplaced priorities at the federal level. “I think that what we are seeing time and time again is an attempt to utilize ICE for all of the other functions of government that Republicans are unable to fund because they don’t want to ensure that these kinds of quality of services continue across the country,” he said.

Asked whether he had directly addressed the matter with President Donald Trump, Mamdani said he had raised his concerns repeatedly. “I’ve said to the president, ICE has nothing to do with elections. I’ve said to him time and time again that ICE is a cruel and inhumane agency, and that here in New York City, we are focused on delivering public safety. I talk about affordability every single day.”

The mayor also pushed back on suggestions that he has developed a uniquely effective approach in dealing with the president, attributing their communication to a shared connection to the city. “To be honest with you, I’m lucky in that I have something that no one else does, which is that I’m from New York City. And New York City holds a very special place for him, as well as for me,” Mamdani said.

He emphasized that their discussions often extend beyond national issues to more localized matters. “We’re both from this same city. And it means that our conversations are not just of the scale that is typical with the president, but also granular about even the things as specific as zoning law changes in Midtown Manhattan.”

Mamdani added that the president’s longstanding ties to New York influence his interest in the city’s future. “I think that speaks to the fact that Donald Trump is not just the president of this country. He’s also someone who’s been a New Yorker for his entire life, and there is an investment in this city doing well.”

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{Matzav.com}

British authorities are investigating a wave of arson attacks targeting Jewish locations in London, examining whether the incidents may be tied to Iranian-backed operatives, police said Sunday.

The Metropolitan Police confirmed that counterterrorism units are leading the inquiry into fires set at synagogues and other Jewish-affiliated sites, as well as an incident involving a Persian-language media outlet. No injuries have been reported in any of the attacks, including the most recent fire late Saturday, which caused limited damage to a synagogue in north London.

Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis warned of escalating danger, writing on X that “a sustained campaign of violence and intimidation against the Jewish community of the UK is gathering momentum.

“Thank God, no lives have been lost, but we cannot, and must not, wait for that to change before we understand just how dangerous this moment is for all of our society,” he added.

Deputy Assistant Commissioner Vicki Evans said investigators are reviewing online claims of responsibility by a group calling itself Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamia.

“We are aware of public reporting that suggests this group may have links to Iran. As you would expect, we will continue to explore that question as our investigation evolves,” she said.

“I’ve spoken previously about the Iranian regime’s use of criminal proxies, and we’re considering whether this tactic is being used here in London,” she added.

Israeli officials have identified Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamia as a newly emerged organization believed to be connected to “an Iranian proxy,” noting that it has also claimed responsibility for similar attacks on synagogues in Belgium and the Netherlands.

In response to the incidents, police have increased their presence in northwest London, deploying both uniformed and undercover officers. The heightened security follows multiple attacks over the past month targeting synagogues, Jewish emergency medical services, and a Persian-language media company critical of Iran.

The latest fire at Kenton United Synagogue on Saturday night is part of a broader pattern under investigation. In one of the most serious cases, four ambulances belonging to a Jewish charity were set ablaze on March 23 in the Golders Green area.

Although the attacks have been concentrated within a relatively small geographic area, authorities have reported no casualties. Several suspects, ranging from teenagers to individuals in their 40s, have been taken into custody and charged in connection with the incidents.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer condemned the attacks, saying he was “appalled” and vowing that “those responsible will be found and brought to justice.”

The group Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamia also circulated a video online claiming that Israel’s embassy in London would be targeted with drones carrying hazardous materials. While no such attack occurred, police temporarily closed nearby Kensington Gardens on Friday while investigating suspicious items, including two jars filled with powder. Officials later confirmed that no dangerous substances were found.

British authorities have previously accused Iran of orchestrating attacks across Europe through intermediaries, often targeting opposition media and Jewish communities. The MI5 domestic intelligence agency has stated that more than 20 “potentially lethal” plots linked to Iran were thwarted in the year leading up to October.

Some analysts have suggested that Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamia may not be a fully organized group but rather a cover name used for operations, urging caution in assessing its claims.

Metropolitan Police Deputy Commissioner Matt Jukes issued a warning to those involved in such attacks, saying that any “thugs for hire” would be held accountable.

“Let’s be really clear — it’s a mug’s game,” he said. “That’s what people who are now serving long prison sentences have found out, and the same fate awaits those responsible for these recent crimes.”

The summer zeman of תשפ״ו officially began on Sunday, the second of Iyar, with yeshivos and kollelim across the Torah world reopening their doors. Some yeshivos, including Mir and Tifrach, had already resumed learning at the end of last week, as bochurim returned refreshed after a month of bein hazmanim and the Pesach Yom Tov, observed this year in the shadow of the war with Iran.

This year’s opening comes under the weight of ongoing gezeiros affecting the עולם התורה, most notably cuts to kollelim funding. Compounding the strain is the historically low dollar exchange rate, which directly impacts American donations—the financial backbone of many Torah institutions.

Despite these pressures, the קול התורה continues to expand. Across the yeshiva world, the standard masechtos being learned follow the established סדרי הלימוד of Chevron—Bava Kamma—and Ponovezh—Bava Basra. Notably, bulletin boards in Modiin Illit are filled with announcements from dozens of kollelim accepting new avreichim for the upcoming zeman, reflecting continued growth—kein yirbu.

At Kollel “Siach Yitzchak,” under the leadership of Rav Yeshaya Levinstein, a new chaburas halacha has opened in its main Bnei Brak branch on Donolo Street, headed by Rav Vakshtok, formerly a rosh chaburah in Kollel Gertler. Meanwhile, Kollel “Ohel Yiska” in Petach Tikvah, led by Rav Moshe Pinkus and Rav Daniel Freiman, will temporarily relocate to the Chevra Chevron shul in Ganei Hadar due to renovations, where they will focus on the inyanim of gezeilah.

Tragedy in Netanya Casts Shadow Over Zeman Opening

In Yeshivas Tushia–Tifrach, the zeman began as early as Wednesday under a heavy cloud, following the devastating loss of two bochurim. Yissachar Dov Spiegel ז״ל drowned at the Netanya beach on Erev Shabbos, and his brother, Avraham Yeshaya Spiegel ז״ל, a bochur in shiur alef, was missing for ten days before being found just as the zeman began.

Even amid the tragedy, the yeshiva continues to grow. A major expansion of the beis medrash is underway, including the addition of a new gallery level to accommodate the increasing number of talmidim. The current classrooms are slated to be integrated into the beis medrash, with a new floor to be constructed above them. Construction is being carefully scheduled during bein hazmanim so as not to disrupt the sederim.

At Yeshivas Grodna in Be’er Yaakov, the zeman also opened in mourning following the passing of bochur Yehoshua Raam ז״ל, who drowned during bein hazmanim. The yeshiva is simultaneously preparing for the anticipated return of its rosh yeshiva, Rav Yitzchok ben Nechama Hacker, a member of the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah, who had been seriously ill over the winter. A new vehicle has been arranged to assist him in traveling to the yeshiva, and he is expected to deliver a shiur klali in the coming week.

At Yeshivas Rina Shel Torah in Karmiel, headed by Rav Avraham Stewart, the yeshiva has finally returned home after an extended displacement to Bnei Brak during the war, following the closure of its building by Home Front Command. With the easing of restrictions, the yeshiva has now resumed operations at its original location with appropriate protected spaces.

Bochurim from Gur in Ashdod, who had temporarily relocated during the war and were learning in Grodna’s dormitory and local בתי חסידים, have now returned to Chatzor following the ceasefire.

Bava Basra Continues at Ponovezh and Across the Yeshiva World

At Yeshivas Ponovezh, the summer zeman continues the annual cycle of Bava Basra, a uniquely long masechta that spans an entire year of learning. After completing the first half during the winter, the yeshiva will now focus on the second half, dealing with hilchos yerushah and nachalos, learning perek Yesh Nochalin in seder alef and perek Mi Shemeis in seder beis.

Many other yeshivos that follow Ponovezh’s structured learning cycle will also continue with Bava Basra. The widely circulated weekly publication “Oholei HaYeshivos,” which compiles insights and questions from roshei yeshiva, will likewise continue this summer, now focusing on perek Yesh Nochalin.

Demand for admission into Ponovezh’s kibbutz and shiur gimmel has been exceptionally high. Out of more than sixty bochurim tested during the month of Nissan by Rav Yosef Kahaneman, about twenty were accepted.

Due to overcrowding in the yeshiva’s batei medrash, the arrangement introduced during Chanukah will remain in place: bochurim in kibbutz and avreichim will learn in Heichal HaGra”Ch, while the main heichal will be reserved for shiur gimmel and part of shiur alef.

On the physical side, extensive preparations were made during bein hazmanim, including deep cleaning, maintenance, and landscaping throughout the campus. In addition, Ponovezh is continuing its transition to advanced and energy-efficient systems, with solar panels currently being installed to provide sustainable electricity.

Appointments and Changes Across the Torah World

A l’chaim gathering was held marking the appointment of Rav Yisroel Klein as mashgiach in the yeshiva of Rav Moshe Sternbuch in Beit Shemesh. The event was attended by rabbanim and roshei yeshiva. Rav Klein will continue serving in his role at Yeshivas Tiferes HaTalmud. Construction has also begun on a permanent building for the expanding yeshiva in Ramat Beit Shemesh Dalet.

At Yeshivas Knesses Yitzchok in Hadera, a major expansion of the heichal is nearing completion to accommodate the growing number of talmidim, including a newly constructed grand entrance.

Yeshivas Migdal Oz in Givat Ze’ev announced the appointment of Rav Nosson Tzvi Finkel, son of Rav Elya Boruch Finkel זצ״ל, as a new ram in the yeshiva.

In Yeshiva Ketana Divrei Mordechai in Bnei Brak, it was noted that the rosh yeshiva, Rav Yosef Berman, has begun wearing a new rounded hat in place of his longtime kneitsch.

Sephardic Yeshivos Begin Early with Strengthened Commitment

Following longstanding tradition, Yeshivas Porat Yosef began the summer zeman immediately after Pesach, as instituted by Rav Ezra Attiya זצ״ל. The opening featured a powerful shmuess by Rav Binyamin Finkel of Yeshivas Mir, emphasizing the unique schus of those who continue learning while others are still on break.

Rosh Yeshiva Chacham Moshe Tzadkah also delivered a shmuess, encouraging bochurim to remain steadfast in their commitment. “יכול מראש חודש? ת״ל ביום ההוא… מלמד שלא שינו”—urging them not to deviate from the mesorah of the yeshiva.

Similarly, Yeshivas Kisei Rachamim resumed learning early, following the directive of its late rosh yeshiva Rav Meir Mazuz זצ״ל. The zeman opened with a special gathering marking the first yahrtzeit, where rabbanim spoke about his legacy. The current rosh yeshiva, Rav Tzemach Mazuz, urged talmidim to continue in his brother’s path.

Learning at Kisei Rachamim has now begun perek Hazorek in Maseches Shabbos for bekius, along with hilchos shehiyah and hatmanah, following the successful completion of a comprehensive test on amirah l’akum at the end of the winter zeman.

{Matzav.com}

A devastating accident claimed the life of Rafael Ari Noach Koteiner, a 25-year-old member of the Gerer community in Ashdod, who was killed Sunday afternoon in a serious collision between his private vehicle and a truck on Route 57 near the Nitzanei Oz interchange.

According to emergency services, the crash occurred at approximately 3:15 p.m. Rescue teams worked to extricate the victim from the wreckage. Paramedics reported that the young man had sustained severe multi-system injuries and showed no signs of life, and he was pronounced dead at the scene.

Ronen Karasik, a volunteer medic who responded to the incident, said, “This was an accident involving a truck and a private vehicle. Sadly, the driver of the car was pronounced dead due to the severity of his injuries.”

Emergency response volunteers were dispatched to the scene and worked to ensure proper respect for the deceased while collecting remains. Police have opened an investigation into the circumstances of the crash.

The victim’s body was transferred to the national forensic institute in Abu Kabir. Details regarding the funeral, which is expected to take place Monday, will be announced.

Rafael Ari Noach was born in Ashdod on April 12, 2001, to his father, Rabbi Avraham Chanuch Koteiner, a member of the Gur community and manager of the local Gur cooperative store, and to his mother, Rivka Koteiner, daughter of Rabbi Chaim Brodzek, a longtime communal figure who previously served as chairman of the religious council in Ashdod and Arad.

He was educated in Gur institutions, including Yeshivas Beis Yisroel in Ashdod, and later continued his studies in Gur yeshivos in Chatzor and in the general Chassidic kibbutz yeshiva Chayei Torah in Beitar Illit.

For his livelihood, he initially worked at Mishkan Hatecheiles and in recent years held a senior position at the Osher Ad supermarket branch in Afula. He was on his way to work at the time of the fatal accident.

Friends and acquaintances described him as a warm and gentle individual, devoted to his family and known for his kindness and respect toward his parents.

Umacha Hashem dimah me’al kol ponim.

{Matzav.com}

Thousands gathered late Sunday night to accompany Avraham Yeshaya Spiegel, a 17-year-old talmid of Yeshivas Tifrach, to his final resting place after his body was located following ten days of searches in the wake of a tragic drowning at sea on Erev Shabbos.

The levayah, like that of his brother Yissachar Dov z”l days earlier, began outside the family home on Rechov Rav Kahaneman in the Ramat Shlomo neighborhood of Yerushalayim. Despite the short notice following the confirmation of identification, large crowds assembled. The procession opened with the recitation of Tehillim led by his uncle, Rav Reuven Miletzky.

The first to eulogize was the grieving father, Rav Shlomo Spiegel, who accepted the Divine decree and spoke through tears. “Hashem gave and Hashem took; blessed be the Name of Hashem. It is written that Hakadosh Baruch Hu rejoices when a pure and righteous soul comes to Him—but ‘My handiwork is drowning in the sea and you say song’? How can one rejoice? Yet with Hashem there is also joy, and at the same time ‘in hidden places My soul weeps’—and with Hashem, this is not a contradiction.”

He described his son as exceptionally pure and meticulous in halachah, devoted to his learning and careful in his conduct. “Everyone tells me he is a communal sacrifice. I say he is like the Parah Adumah—he purifies everyone. He was good to everyone.”

Speaking of the double tragedy that struck the family, he said, “We have been struck doubly. One plus one is far more than two. When someone who loves you strikes you, it hurts much more. Hakadosh Baruch Hu gave us a beautiful family; everything flowed like honey, with tranquility—and to receive such a blow, and in double measure—it is ‘woe to us, for we have been struck doubly,’ and may Hakadosh Baruch Hu give us ‘Nachamu, nachamu ami’ in double measure.”

He then asked that his son serve as an advocate on behalf of the family. “Be a melitz yosher for me and for your mother, that we should be able to raise the family with glory and sustain the yeshiva. Be a melitz yosher for all the devoted volunteers who worked so hard to find you—people invested great effort to bring you home.”

Rav Aviezer Piltz, rosh yeshiva of Tifrach, followed with words of hesped, opening with a pasuk. “Kol Hashem bakoach, kol Hashem behadar, kol Hashem shover arazim. The ‘cedars’ are these bochurim, Yissachar Dov and Avraham Yeshaya, who were planted in the house of Hashem, flourishing in the courtyards of our God—and Hakadosh Baruch Hu broke these cedars in a way that is beyond nature.”

He described the profound grief within the yeshiva. “All the talmidim are broken and one can see the mourning upon them. Avraham Yeshaya was unique in his joy for life—a life of Torah, of tefillah, and of ahavas chaveirim.” He added a reference to the pasuk, “Tashiv enosh ad daka vatomar shuvu bnei adam”—Hashem has brought such crushing blows that the soul is in deep anguish.

At the conclusion of his remarks, Rav Piltz spoke about the broader matzav facing the olam haTorah. “We must all awaken regarding the decree of the draft. The tears of Rav Isser Zalman, Rav Tzvi Pesach Frank, and the Rav of Tchebin, who went to the authorities to secure exemptions for bnei yeshiva and succeeded—apparently we now require more zechuyos for that to continue.”

Rav Yisroel Gans then delivered a hesped, noting that he had learned with the niftar as a chavrusa until his final day, describing him as a ben aliyah of the highest caliber.

The mashgiach, Rav Binyamin Finkel, drew a parallel to the current yamim of mourning over the talmidim of Rabbi Akiva, when 24,000 students perished. He noted that Rabbi Akiva did not despair, but immediately continued teaching five new talmidim, from whom Torah was rebuilt. “I say to you, Rav Shlomo—continue your avodas hakodesh in the yeshiva despite the pain and difficulty.”

He recounted a striking incident: a bochur who was in the midst of shidduch meetings declared he would not become engaged during the mourning period for his friend Yissachar Dov z”l. The rebbetzin heard and called him during the shivah, telling him, “All the brachos should come upon your head, and I want you to get engaged.” Rav Finkel noted how the family transforms its pain into simchah for others, adding that the young man indeed became engaged.

The final hesped was delivered by Rav Yehoshua Mishkovsky, rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Imrei Moshe, where Avraham Yeshaya had studied in his earlier years. He quoted the pasuk, “Bayam darkecha u’shvilcha b’mayim rabim v’ikvosecha lo noda’u.” He recalled asking the bochur the previous year where he wished to continue learning. “You told me you wanted to go to Tifrach. I asked you why, what is special about Tifrach? And you answered: ‘Harotzeh lehachkim yadrim’—I want a place detached from this world, I want to grow.”

“He was elevated in the sense of ‘Vayigbah libo b’darchei Hashem.’ He was not just another bochur—he stood above, in his knowledge, his aspirations, and his entire outlook,” Rav Mishkovsky said.

Following an additional keriah and the recitation of Kaddish by the father, the levayah proceeded to Har Hamenuchos, where Avraham Yeshaya was laid to rest beside his brother.

[Video below.] Rep. Elise Stefanik forcefully defended President Donald Trump on Sunday, rejecting accusations that his recent statements about Iran amounted to advocating genocide during a contentious exchange on CNN.

Appearing on “State of the Union” with Jake Tapper, the New York Republican dismissed the allegation outright. “President Trump didn’t call for genocide, Jake. You are putting those words in his mouth.”

The exchange came amid criticism of Trump’s recent rhetoric about confronting threats from Iran, with some detractors arguing that his language could be interpreted as targeting civilians. Administration officials have countered that the president’s comments are aimed specifically at Iran’s leadership, which the U.S. State Department classifies as a state sponsor of terrorism.

Stefanik echoed that position during the interview, emphasizing, “He’s targeting the terrorist regime.”

Tapper pressed further, asking whether references to eliminating threats might cross a line, reflecting concerns raised by critics. Stefanik rejected that framing and accused the media of distorting Trump’s message.

“You’re adding genocide. That’s not what he’s stating,” Stefanik said.

She went on to draw a comparison to prior congressional hearings involving university presidents, suggesting a contrast in clarity.

“The difference with those university presidents is they couldn’t answer the simple, direct question,” Stefanik said. “President Trump didn’t call for genocide.”

Stefanik also shifted focus to Iran’s actions, highlighting the regime’s record.

“The Iranians have killed tens of thousands of their own people,” she said. “President Trump effectively brought the Iranians to the table. He effectively delivered a ceasefire.”

She criticized those who have raised concerns about Trump’s rhetoric, adding, “If you want to prop up the Iranian terrorist regime, that’s on you.”

The Trump administration has maintained that its policy is centered on curbing Iran’s nuclear ambitions and limiting its regional influence, stressing that its actions are directed at the regime rather than the Iranian population while applying pressure to bring Tehran to negotiations.

Reiterating that stance, Stefanik concluded, “The president has been very effective in calling out the Iranian terrorist regime.”

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{Matzav.com}

A false rumor circulating about Bais Medrash Govoha in Lakewood delaying its “freezer” period for new bochurim this week has been confirmed as just that – false – according to those familiar with the situation.

The viral rumor, which stated that “an accommodation was given to all new bochurim of BMG” and that “the BMG freezer will only start this week Tuesday,” attributed the change to the yahrtzeit of Rav Yeshaye ben Rav Moshe of Kerestir, claiming that the decision had been arranged by a longtime donor as a zechus for unmarried girls.

Sources indicated that no such official announcement was made and that the message does not reflect any verified policy or decision by the yeshiva’s hanhalah.

The message spread quickly across frum communication channels.

In general, Bais Medrash Govoha has maintained an unwavering stance on its “freezer” policy, with the hanhalah consistently enforcing the restriction on bochurim dating during their initial months in the yeshiva. The policy has long been regarded as a cornerstone of the yeshiva’s approach, designed to allow new talmidim to fully immerse themselves in learning. Despite periodic rumors or external pressure due to the growing shidduch crisis, Bais Medrash Govoha has shown no inclination to bend or reinterpret its guidelines.

{Matzav.com}

By Rabbi Efrem Goldberg

The stories emerging today are nothing short of startling. In a recent report, individuals described as “screenmaxxers” openly admit to spending virtually every waking hour on their phones: watching, scrolling, messaging, and consuming without pause. One person shared that they are doing at least three things at once on their device at all times, while another acknowledged having no plans to cut back despite recognizing the toll.

What once sounded extreme is quietly becoming normal. A life mediated almost entirely through a screen is no longer an outlier. It is a direction in which many find themselves and to which many are drifting.

Have you ever found yourself on your phone, endlessly watching, adding things to your cart, or scrolling without really thinking, knowing you should stop, but feeling like you simply cannot? It is that pull, that urgent need, that compulsion that keeps your fingers moving even when your mind is saying enough. You put your phone down for a moment, but somehow it is back in your hand before you know it. You tell yourself you will turn off the screen, step away, or stop, and yet the cycle keeps going. Are you making choices, or are things just happening to you? Is time passing in a way that leaves you feeling bad, ashamed, guilty, not proud of how you lived those hours? You want to stop. It is not who you want to be. And yet somehow, you cannot break out.

This is not laziness or a simple lack of willpower. It is something deeper, an impulse, a kind of invisible tether that grabs hold of our attention and refuses to let go, and chances are most of us feel it every single day of the week (except for one).

For a long time, we comforted ourselves with the belief that this was a problem of the young. Teenagers and college students were the ones we worried about. But recent reporting has made clear that this is not true. Baby boomers are among the biggest culprits, spending hours upon hours glued to their devices, caught in the same loops of scrolling, clicking, and consuming. This is not a generational issue. It is a human one.

Why is our generation especially vulnerable? In previous generations, addictions required effort. A person had to go somewhere to get their need, to obtain something, make a conscious decision. Today, our addictions live in our pocket. They are always with us, always accessible, always calling. Technology companies deliberately design products to be addictive, with endless scrolling, constant notifications, and variable rewards that function—and literally have chemical effects on our brains—like slot machines. They are competing for one thing, your attention, because attention is the most valuable resource in the world today.

In the beginning of our Parsha, the Torah says: “This is the law of the Metzorah on the day of his purification and he shall be brought to the Kohen.” Interestingly, when describing the purification of the Nazir, the Torah uses very similar language, but with an important difference.  “This is the law of the Nazir: On the day his abstinence is completed, he shall bring himself to the entrance of the Tent of Meeting.” Rav Yeruchem Levovitz, the great Mashgiach of the Mir, asks, why the difference? Why with the Metzorah does it say “He is brought to the Kohen” and yet with the Nazir it says he brings himself?

Says Rav Yeruchem there is a fundamental difference between the Nazir and the Metzorah. A Nazir is in charge of himself and a Metzorah is subject to other forces that are in charge of him. The Nazir willingly took a vow and willingly subject himself to the process. The Metzorah is in front of the Kohen because he was brought there, compelled by powers and powerful temptations he could not withstand.

The question for us is simple and uncomfortable. Are we bringing ourselves to our choices, or are we being brought by our devices? When we feel, “I wish I could stop but I cannot,” that is the language of being carried. That is not freedom.

Every person must ask themselves honestly, what controls me? Is it my phone, my habits, my cravings? Breaking addiction requires more than willpower. It requires rebuilding a life of meaning. Real freedom begins with awareness, with recognizing what controls us clearly and honestly. It continues with removing triggers, with being willing to change our environment and create boundaries that protect us. And it hinges on replacing the dopamine, because we cannot simply remove without replacing. The urge to escape, to numb, to distract is real, but instead of feeding it with endless scrolling, we must redirect it toward reading, learning, connecting, and helping. We are not meant to simply avoid distraction. We are meant to lean into meaning.

That is why I want to invite you to something powerful.

Beginning Monday, April 20th, we will be hosting a 30-day technology WhatsApp challenge designed to help you reset your relationship with your phone and reclaim your attention. Each day you will receive a small, simple, actionable challenge that builds self-control, sharpens awareness of your habits, and gradually loosens the grip of technology on your life. This is a joint project of Guard Your Eyes and Semichas Chaver Program, built on the idea that small daily steps, taken consistently and together, can create real and lasting change, with weekly incentives and grand prizes to keep you motivated along the way.

By the end of 30 days, you will develop a healthier and more intentional relationship with technology. You will experience greater focus, greater confidence, and a stronger sense of kedusha that carries into your everyday life.

Join the challenge at KedushaChallenge.com/Shavuos and take the first step toward becoming truly free.

Are you a Rav, Rebbe, Rebbetzin, or community leader?

Sign up at kedushachallenge.com/ to run this game-changing program in your community.

Sen. Chuck Schumer is calling on FIFA to pay the full cost of rail transportation for fans attending World Cup matches in the New York–New Jersey area, as NJ Transit prepares to sharply increase ticket prices to reach MetLife Stadium.

In a statement issued Sunday, the New York Democrat criticized the steep fare hikes, noting that travel costs for fans are set to skyrocket despite FIFA’s massive expected profits. He said he supports NJ Transit’s financial concerns but argued that the burden should not fall on local riders, pointing out that “FIFA is set to rake in approximately $11 billion in revenue off the tournament while New York fans are being hit with $150 NJ Transit round-trip tickets to get to the game.”

MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford will serve as a major venue during the tournament, hosting eight matches, including the championship game on July 19. While the typical train fare from Penn Station to the Meadowlands is $12.90, prices will jump to $150 between June 13 and July 19. Shuttle services will also be available at a cost of $80.

NJ Transit CEO Kirs Kolluri defended the increase, saying the agency should not pass the cost of hosting the global event onto everyday commuters. “It is an exciting moment for New Jersey to showcase New Jersey’s diversity as well as its economic standing in the country and in the world. Equally important, (Gov. Mikie Sherrill) has said that New Jersey commuters cannot and will not subsidize the movement of fans going to the game, because that would not be fair,” Kolluri said, adding that the tournament will cost NJ Transit approximately $48 million.

Travel disruptions are also expected, with Penn Station scheduled to partially shut down for several hours before each of the eight matches, affecting regular commuters and travelers.

Schumer argued that the situation leaves fans with little choice but to use public transportation, especially since parking options are being eliminated. Nearby parking at the American Dream mall is expected to cost about $225, and pedestrian access to the stadium will not be permitted. As a result, mass transit is “effectively the only way in or out of the stadium on match days,” according to his statement.

Despite his criticism of the situation, Schumer emphasized that NJ Transit itself is not to blame, instead directing his concerns toward FIFA.

“The total NJ Transit operation to move fans to and from MetLife is projected to cost $62 million, with approximately $11 million dedicated to security alone. The federal government is contributing $10.6 million and the NY/NJ Host Committee is contributing just over $3 million, leaving NJ Transit to foot a $48 million bill with zero financial contribution from FIFA.

“Meanwhile, FIFA has told other host cities they can offer fans mass rail for as little as $2.50 round trip, a fraction of what New York fans are being charged.”

Schumer also criticized the magnitude of the fare increase itself. “Charging more than eleven times the normal fare for a train ride is a ripoff, plain and simple.”

FIFA is projected to generate roughly $11 billion in revenue during its 2023–2026 cycle, representing a 71% increase compared to the previous period and making it the most lucrative World Cup to date.

Schumer noted that ticket prices for matches are already high, with group-stage games costing around $700 and final tickets at MetLife reaching as much as $10,000 under FIFA’s dynamic pricing system.

“We are carrying more fans, more riders, and more disruption than any other region in this tournament,” Schumer added. “FIFA needs to step up accordingly. Past practice does not cut it when you are eliminating parking, shutting down Penn Station, and forcing every fan onto one transit system. FIFA should cover the ride, not stick New York fans with the bill.”

While FIFA has not traditionally contributed to transportation costs in host cities, Schumer argued that the New York–New Jersey region presents unique challenges due to its population density and the scale of the event.

Kolluri also pointed out that maintaining the standard $12.90 fare would result in the majority of NJ Transit’s costs being absorbed by regular commuters. “No one that I have spoken to thinks that’s fair or reasonable. Commuters in New Jersey should not carry the cost years into the future for a wonderful event, no doubt. But the fans going to the games should burden the cost. That’s all we’re trying to say,” he said.

With the transportation plan now finalized, FIFA World Cup COO Heimo Schirgi addressed the issue in a statement, defending the organization’s broader approach.

“Ever since the host city agreements were signed in 2018, FIFA has worked in collaboration with the Host Committees and their partners to develop a transportation plan that provides efficient and accessible mass transit options for ticketed fans attending the eight matches at NY NJ Stadium. The goal is to minimize congestion, reduce reliance on private vehicles, and ensure the fan experience is positive and memorable, defined by the action on pitch, not delays on the roads.

“The NJ Transit current pricing model will have a chilling effect. Elevated fares inevitably push fans toward alternative transportation options. This increases concerns of congestion, late arrivals, and creates broader ripple effects that ultimately diminish the economic benefit and lasting legacy the entire region stands to gain from hosting the World Cup.”

Buckley Carlson, the son of conservative commentator Tucker Carlson, has stepped down from his role in Vice President JD Vance’s communications team to start his own political consulting firm, a move that comes as tensions between his father and President Donald Trump continue to intensify.

Carlson, who is in his twenties, had been serving as Vance’s deputy press secretary since the beginning of the second Trump administration. His departure is part of a broader wave of exits by former White House staffers transitioning into private-sector roles.

Although such career shifts are not unusual during a presidential administration, Carlson’s decision arrives amid a widening and increasingly public divide between Trump, 79, and Tucker Carlson, 56, who had previously been one of the president’s most vocal supporters.

Earlier this month, Trump sharply criticized Tucker Carlson in a public post, writing, “Flailing Fools like Tucker Carlson, who couldn’t even finish College, he was a broken man when he got fired from Fox, and he’s never been the same — Perhaps he should see a good psychiatrist!”

The president followed up with another jab on Truth Social on Friday, sharing a report citing CNN analyst Harry Enten and adding, “Tucker is a Low IQ person – Always easy to beat, and highly overrated.”

For his part, Tucker Carlson has spent months criticizing the current administration, though he has generally avoided mentioning Trump by name.

Instead, he has directed much of his criticism toward figures within Trump’s orbit, including Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, particularly in relation to the war in Iran. He had also privately urged Trump against pursuing military action.

Trump, meanwhile, has occasionally responded to Tucker’s remarks, at one point referring to him as “kooky” after Carlson criticized Operation Midnight Hammer strikes targeting Iran.

More recently, the president has aligned himself in ongoing disputes within conservative media circles, backing radio host Mark Levin in disagreements involving Tucker Carlson, Megyn Kelly, and Candace Owens.

Tucker Carlson, in an interview with the BBC earlier this month, said he was “horrified” by Trump’s warning that “a whole civilization will die tonight” if Iran failed to reach an agreement.

He also told Newsmax, “I’ve always liked Trump and still feel sorry for him, as I do for all slaves,” adding that Trump “can’t make his own decisions” and is “hemmed in by other forces.”

Reports of Buckley Carlson’s departure were first published by Politico, which noted that he had initially planned to leave Vance’s office last year but remained for several additional months to assist with the transition.

Before joining the Trump administration, Carlson previously worked in 2019 for then-Rep. Jim Banks of Indiana, serving as deputy chief of staff.

{Matzav.com}

Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu met Sunday with widows and orphans from the IDF Widows and Orphans Organization just hours before the start of Israel’s Memorial Day for fallen soldiers and victims of terror.

During the meeting, Netanyahu spent time speaking with the families and offering comfort. At one point, in a quiet and personal moment, he sat with one of the orphaned children and drew him a picture of a giraffe and an elephant, an act that reflected the tone of the visit as he sought to connect with the children on a human level.

Netanyahu also shared his own experience with loss, speaking openly about the pain of losing his brother and trying to relate to the families gathered before him.

“How do you live with the grief? It’s very difficult, and I can tell you that we all feel it. I lost my older brother, and it was as if someone took an axe and cut off my arm and cut off my leg,” he said.

He recalled a moment from his own shivah, when someone approached him with a message that stayed with him.

“And then someone came to me during the shivah, and he told me that he had also lost a brother—he was a bereaved brother. He said to me: ‘I know you won’t believe me, but the suffering you feel now will not remain at this intensity and with the same pain that you are feeling now, and there is life after this.’”

Netanyahu acknowledged how difficult that message can be to accept in the moment, but emphasized that life can eventually rebuild.

“There are also new horizons, and you will have new lives and there will be new joys. There will be joy. I know it’s hard to believe right now, but there will be.”

He added that the sacrifice of their loved ones carries enduring meaning.

“But the greatest thing I can tell you is—it was not in vain. It was not in vain, because without them we have no existence. And we are here because of the heroes, our chain of heroes.”

Turning to the children, Netanyahu stressed the legacy left by their parents.

“Therefore, your parents are heroes, and you, with the pain and the memory and the loss, have one thing that you know: your fathers are the ones who ensure the eternity of Israel.”

{Matzav.com}

Iran announced that it will not take part in a second round of negotiations with the United States scheduled to take place in Pakistan this week, citing disagreements over American demands and the continued naval blockade in the Gulf.

In a statement carried by the state-run IRNA news agency, Tehran outlined its reasons for declining participation. “Iran stated that its absence from the second round of talks stems from what it called Washington’s excessive demands, unrealistic expectations, constant shifts in stance, repeated contradictions, and the ongoing naval blockade, which it considers a breach of the ceasefire,” the report said.

The announcement came just hours after President Donald Trump told The New York Post that diplomatic discussions were set to resume in Pakistan in the coming days.

According to Trump, a U.S. delegation that includes Special Envoy Steve Witkoff is expected to travel to Islamabad on Monday. However, officials in Pakistan have not publicly confirmed that such a meeting will take place.

Iran’s decision to stay away from the talks underscores the continued strain between Washington and Tehran as the current ceasefire approaches its expiration later this week.

Trump has been pressing Iran to agree to a deal that would include relinquishing its nuclear materials and reopening the Strait of Hormuz. He has also renewed warnings of potential military action targeting key infrastructure if Tehran does not comply.

“We’re offering a very fair and reasonable DEAL, and I hope they take it because, if they don’t, the United States is going to knock out every single Power Plant, and every single Bridge, in Iran,” Trump wrote on Truth Social on Sunday.

“NO MORE MR. NICE GUY!” he added.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian responded by condemning the remarks and rejecting accusations that Iran is pursuing nuclear weapons.

He insisted that Iran’s nuclear activities are limited to energy production and portrayed the country’s actions as defensive in nature, despite its involvement in conflicts across the region.

“We are pacifists and what we are doing is legitimate self-defense,” he asserted, according to Press TV.

{Matzav.com}

Widespread concern has spread among Belzer chassidim following a noticeable decline in the health of the Belzer Rebbe, with an urgent appeal issued Sunday evening for increased tefillos on his behalf.

In a message delivered over the Kol Belz hotline by the gabbai of the main belzer beis medrash, Reb Aharon Kalman Fried, it was announced that the Rebbe would not appear for Maariv or for Sefiras HaOmer in the main beis medrash in Kiryas Belz in Yerushalayim.

The announcement was conveyed in the name of the Rebbe’s son, Rav Aharon Mordechai Rokeach, who issued an emotional and personal plea to chassidim worldwide. “As my father, the Rebbe, is experiencing great weakness, we ask each person to say several chapters of Tehillim, give tzedakah, and arouse Heavenly mercy, that the Rebbe shlit”a should lead us toward Moshiach Tzidkeinu speedily in our days in complete health,” he said.

Concern for the Rebbe’s condition had already begun ahead of this past Shabbos. As previously reported, Rav Aharon Mordechai canceled a planned Shabbos visit to a kehillah in Nof HaGalil, where hundreds of families had been expecting him, in order to remain at his father’s side.

During Shabbos, the Rebbe did not attend the regular tefillos or conduct the customary tishen in the main beis medrash, instead davening in a limited minyan at his home. However, on Friday, the Rebbe did attend the bris of his great-grandson, where he served as sandek and remained for the seudas mitzvah.

Across Belzer communities around the world, chassidim began organizing gatherings Sunday evening for joint recitation of Tehillim.

Rav Aharon Mordechai is expected to lead Maariv at 10:00 p.m. in the main beis medrash, after which the tzibbur will recite Tehillim together for the Rebbe’s recovery.

All are asked to daven for Rav Yissachar Dov ben Miriam.

{Matzav.com}

After ten days of uncertainty following a tragic drowning incident, the body of Avraham Yeshaya Spiegel z”l, a 17-year-old yeshiva bochur, was located and positively identified on Sunday during the shivah for his brother, who perished in the same tragedy.

The heartbreaking development brings a measure of closure to a painful episode that began on Erev Shabbos Parshas Shemini, when Avraham Yeshaya and his brother, Yissachar Dov Spiegel, entered the waters off the coast of Netanya during bein hazmanim in order to immerse in honor of Shabbos. Both were caught in the water, and while Yissachar Dov was rescued in critical condition, he was niftar the following Monday night. Avraham Yeshaya remained missing, prompting days of intensive searches and tefillos.

On Sunday, in the midst of the family’s shivah for Yissachar Dov, the body of Avraham Yeshaya was discovered, bringing renewed grief. The family had been scheduled to conclude shivah on Tuesday morning but will now continue mourning following this latest tragedy.

The identification was confirmed at the Abu Kabir forensic institute. Authorities were able to establish his identity through dental records obtained from a Meuhedet clinic in the Ramat Shlomo neighborhood. It was learned that community askan R’ Rafael Ehrentreau facilitated access to the clinic so the necessary records could be forwarded. He also arranged transportation for the father, Rav Shlomo Spiegel, to provide a DNA sample, which ultimately confirmed the identification.

The levayah is scheduled for Sunday night at 10:30 p.m. from the family home at 8 Rechov Rav Kahaneman in the Ramat Shlomo neighborhood of Yerushalayim. Avraham Yeshaya will be laid to rest next to his brother in the Perushim section of Har Hamenuchos.

Avraham Yeshaya, known affectionately as Avi, was born in Yerushalayim 17 and a half years ago. His father, Rav Shlomo Spiegel, leads a chaburah in the Beis Yisroel neighborhood and is the son of the late noted writer Rav Yisroel Spiegel. His mother, Mrs. Shoshana Spiegel, is a respected mechaneches who teaches at Seminar Rav Meir in Modiin Illit and at Bais Yaakov Bnos Elisheva. She is the daughter of the late Rav Moshe Yosef Miletzky, one of the senior dayanim of Yerushalayim, and the sister of Rav Chaimkel Miletzky, rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Rashi.

As a child, Avi learned in Talmud Torah Chavas Daas in Yerushalayim and later in yeshiva ketanah Imrei Moshe, where he formed a close bond with Rav Yisroel Gans of Mattersdorf. He later continued, like his brother, to Yeshivas Tushia in Tifrach, where he studied under Rav Mattisyahu Schweimer and Rav Avraham Landau, and developed a strong connection to the rosh yeshiva, Rav Aviezer Piltz.

Friends described him as a warm, cheerful, and deeply dedicated bochur who applied himself diligently to his learning. He was known for his simchas hachaim and for davening with care and precision. Despite his young age, he was admired by older bochurim and beloved by his rebbeim, who saw in him great promise.

Having only entered Tifrach at the beginning of Elul for shiur alef, Avi quickly made an impression. One friend recalled that “every seder with him was a real seder,” noting how he energized the beis medrash with his sharp thinking and enthusiasm for learning.

He is survived by his parents, siblings, and many friends, all devastated by the loss.

Tehei nishmaso tzerurah b’tzror hachaim.

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said guidance he received from former Mayor Michael Bloomberg has influenced how he runs City Hall, pointing to early results such as pothole repairs and financial settlements with landlords as evidence of his approach.

Mamdani, a democratic socialist who took office on Jan. 1 as the city’s 112th mayor, made the remarks in an interview aired Sunday on NBC’s “Meet the Press” with moderator Kristen Welker. The conversation was recorded at City Hall, at the historic desk once used by former Mayor Fiorello La Guardia.

During the interview, Mamdani described La Guardia as the greatest mayor in New York City’s history and said working at his desk serves as “a reminder of all that’s possible.”

He told Welker that he has met with several former mayors, including Bloomberg and Bill de Blasio, and said, “there’s a hubris in our politics that you have to create everything yourself.”

When asked which piece of advice had stayed with him most, Mamdani singled out Bloomberg.

“Michael Bloomberg spoke to me about the importance of the team that you build around you and that you let that team do the work that you hired them to do,” he said.

He added that he has tried to avoid “the micro-managerial aspect in so much of this work.”

Mamdani connected that philosophy to what his administration is describing as early accomplishments, citing $32 million in settlements from what he characterized as problematic landlords, as well as the filling of 102,000 potholes.

He attributed those achievements to his staff, saying, “That’s a team that’s doing that, and I’m so lucky to have the one that I have around me.”

Welker asked whether Mamdani agreed with former Mayor John Lindsay’s characterization of the job as the toughest in the country after the presidency.

Mamdani acknowledged the challenge, calling it “a tough job,” but added that it is “also an incredibly” fulfilling one.

The interview comes as Mamdani reaches the 100-day mark of his administration while facing pressure to translate broad campaign promises into concrete policy.

Key proposals—including a rent freeze, free bus service, and universal child care—have yet to be fully implemented.

A citywide rent freeze remains pending a summer decision by the Rent Guidelines Board, while the plan for free buses has been scaled back to a limited pilot program combined with expanded bus lanes.

At the same time, the city is grappling with a projected budget shortfall of approximately $5 billion.

Last week, Democrat Gov. Kathy Hochul expressed support for a proposed “pied-a-terre” tax on second homes valued at $5 million or more, which is intended to help address part of the deficit.

President Donald Trump criticized the proposal in a post online, accusing the mayor of “destroying” the city.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump announced Sunday evening that American forces intercepted and took control of an Iranian-flagged cargo ship after it attempted to break through the U.S.-imposed naval blockade.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump described the incident, writing, “Today, an Iranian-flagged cargo ship named TOUSKA, nearly 900 feet long and weighing almost as much as an aircraft carrier, tried to get past our Naval Blockade, and it did not go well for them.”

According to the president, the U.S. Navy destroyer USS Spruance confronted the vessel in the Gulf of Oman and issued warnings for it to halt.

He said the crew did not comply, adding, “The Iranian crew refused to listen, so our Navy ship stopped them right in their tracks by blowing a hole in the engine room. Right now, US Marines have custody of the vessel.”

Trump further stated that the TOUSKA is subject to U.S. Treasury sanctions due to its past involvement in unlawful activities.

“We have full custody of the ship, and are seeing what’s on board!” he concluded.

{Matzav.com}

Twenty-one years after the evacuation of northern Shomron communities, families began returning Sunday morning to Sa-Nur, moving into caravans in the first phase of efforts to reestablish the community.

At this stage, 16 families have settled in the area, including members of the Dagan, Goldmintz, and Zuckerman families. Additional families are expected to join in the coming months as part of a broader plan to rebuild the town.

Trucks carrying furniture and supplies were seen making their way up the mountain, a powerful image for many, symbolizing a reversal of the evacuation—this time returning home.

Shomron Regional Council head Yossi Dagan, who arrived with his wife Oriah and their children, described the moment as historic. “This is a great moment for every Zionist who loves this land, and certainly for us, who dreamed of this moment and fought hour by hour against the terrible and immoral folly of the expulsion,” he said.

He added, “This correction is a moral one not only for us but for the State of Israel. When a mistake is made, it must be corrected—and today we are privileged to see that happen. This is both a national and personal closing of a circle. It fills the heart to see the trucks making the journey in the opposite direction from the evacuation, to see children once again running along the paths, and life returning. We did not come here as guests—we have returned home to stay forever. We are building a thriving community that will illuminate the entire region. This is a significant first step toward restoring life to all parts of northern Shomron and rebuilding with pride and strength. The Jewish people live, and Sa-Nur lives again thanks to the unwavering determination of these remarkable families.”

Residents themselves expressed deep emotion over the return. Chana and Meir Goldmintz, who moved in Sunday, said, “Our hearts are burning with joy. After 21 years of anticipation, a dream is being realized. We are rebuilding Sa-Nur and returning to the expanses of northern Shomron. For 21 years we dreamed, hoped, and worked for this moment—and now it has arrived. We are now at the beginning of the next stage: to continue forward, to carry these historic moments on our shoulders, and, with G-d’s help, another region will become Jewish. We can hardly contain the excitement.”

Yitzchak Zuckerman, a member of the returning group, added, “There are no words to describe the emotion and the dedication of these dear families. The story here is the tremendous embrace we have received from the Jewish people over the past month, the incredible strength it gives us, and the understanding that it is the Jewish people as a whole returning—not just a small group of individuals choosing to settle in a place with a certain history.”

{Matzav.com}

Energy Secretary Chris Wright said Sunday that gasoline prices appear to have reached their high point about a week ago and are expected to gradually fall in the coming weeks as the conflict with Iran winds down.

Speaking on CNN’s “State of the Union,” Wright pointed to the broader geopolitical developments, saying, “Putting this 47-year conflict to an end and preventing Iran from getting nuclear weapons, of course, has come with short-term disruption. I think we’ve managed it fantastically, though.”

He emphasized the scale of the disruption while noting the relative stability of prices, adding, “Here we are in the middle of the largest interruption in [the] flow of energy ever, and gasoline prices peaked a week ago, about a dollar below the peak during the Biden administration.”

Wright cautioned, however, that it may take time before prices return to lower levels seen earlier this year, suggesting that a drop below $3 per gallon may not occur until next year. He noted that such pricing, especially when adjusted for inflation, would represent a significant benchmark.

According to the latest figures from the American Automobile Association, the national average for gasoline currently stands at $4.04 per gallon.

When asked about the timeline for further declines, Wright said, “That might not happen until next year, but prices have likely peaked, and they’ll start going down,” adding, “Certainly, with a resolution of this conflict, you’ll see prices go down.”

{Matzav.com}

On the eve of its 78th Yom Ha’atzmaut, Israel is reporting strong demographic and economic growth, with new figures showing the population has reached more than 10.2 million people.

According to data released by the Central Bureau of Statistics ahead of the national celebration, Israel’s population now stands at approximately 10.244 million, reflecting an increase of about 146,000 residents since last year. The growth is driven by a combination of high birth rates, with roughly 177,000 babies born over the past year, along with approximately 21,000 new olim who have chosen to settle in the country.

From a historical perspective, the figures highlight extraordinary growth since the founding of the state in 1948, with the population expanding more than twelvefold. Today, about 45 percent of the world’s Jewish population lives in Eretz Yisroel, reinforcing its role as the national and spiritual center of the Jewish people.

Demographically, around 76 percent of residents are classified as Jews and others, 21.1 percent are Arabs, and approximately 2.9 percent are foreign nationals. Israel continues to stand out as a relatively young country compared to other developed nations, with about 27 percent of its population made up of children and teenagers, and only around 13 percent aged 65 and older—figures that point to continued growth and vitality.

Despite ongoing security challenges, surveys show high levels of satisfaction among residents. Israel ranks eighth in the United Nations’ 2026 World Happiness Report, with about 91 percent of citizens reporting overall satisfaction with their lives. Even higher, 96 percent say they are satisfied with their family relationships.

Health indicators have also improved steadily over the years. Life expectancy has risen by nearly two decades since the state’s founding and now stands at 81.1 years for men and 85.5 years for women.

Economically, the country has undergone significant transformation. Average salaries have climbed from roughly 2,000 shekels in the 1990s to more than 13,900 shekels in 2025. Car ownership has similarly increased, with about 72 percent of households now owning at least one vehicle, compared to just 3 percent in the late 1950s.

Looking ahead, projections from the Central Bureau of Statistics indicate continued growth, with Israel expected to surpass 15 million residents by its centennial in 2048 and exceed 20 million by 2065.

{Matzav.com}