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A potential 45-day ceasefire between the United States and Iran is being weighed by the White House, according to a senior administration official who spoke Monday, as diplomatic efforts intensify to prevent further escalation.

The official told NBC that the proposed pause in fighting is one of multiple scenarios currently under review by senior members of the administration, signaling that discussions remain ongoing and no final decision has been made.

Separately, Reuters reported that Pakistan has put forward a plan aimed at halting the conflict and creating a pathway toward broader negotiations, in an effort to de-escalate tensions across the region.

According to sources familiar with the initiative, senior Pakistani and American officials were engaged in extensive overnight discussions, with Pakistan Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir in direct contact with top U.S. figures, including Vice President J.D. Vance and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, as well as Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.

The proposal, referred to as the “Islamabad Agreement,” outlines a two-stage process. The first phase would involve an immediate ceasefire and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz to allow uninterrupted maritime traffic. The second phase envisions negotiations lasting 15 to 20 days in Islamabad, aimed at reaching a lasting settlement, including Iran agreeing to dismantle its nuclear weapons program in return for significant sanctions relief.

In Tehran, officials are approaching the proposal cautiously. A senior Iranian official confirmed that the government is examining the plan but made clear that Iran is unwilling to proceed under pressure or rigid timelines, emphasizing resistance to externally imposed “deadlines.”

A burst of winter weather is returning to the Northeast just as spring conditions had begun to take hold, with a fast-moving system bringing snow and cooler temperatures back to the region.

A clipper system is moving quickly across the Northeast, delivering light snowfall to several major cities, while areas of upstate New York had already begun seeing snow early Monday.

Syracuse, New York, reported accumulating snow, and forecasters say locations including Boston and Burlington, Vermont, could receive a light coating through Tuesday.

The late-season system is a reminder that the severe 2025–2026 winter has not fully loosened its grip.

This past winter has been marked by extreme conditions, including repeated heavy storms that blanketed parts of the Northeast with multiple feet of snow, disrupted daily life, and broke longstanding records.

Across the region, powerful blizzards and coast-to-coast storm systems contributed to what many are calling one of the most intense winters in recent memory.

Looking ahead, forecasters expect scattered snow showers and cooler-than-average temperatures to persist from the Great Lakes through New England between Monday and Wednesday.

According to the FOX Forecast Center, the passage of a cold front is ushering in a return of colder air across both the Northeast and parts of the mid-Atlantic.

“While not unusually cold for this time of year, Monday’s temperatures will fall closer to seasonal averages with highs in the 40s and 50s,” they noted.

At the same time, a developing low-pressure system over the Great Lakes is drawing in enough moisture to support light snowfall across the region.

Snow totals are expected to remain modest, generally ranging between 1 and 3 inches, with slightly higher accumulations possible near the Great Lakes and in elevated areas such as the Adirondacks.

Cities expected to see snow include Buffalo; Syracuse, with 1 to 3 inches forecast; Burlington, around 1 inch; Albany; and even light flurries in Boston and New York City.

Meteorologists note that most of these locations typically experience their final measurable snowfall by early to mid-April.

Beyond the snowfall, a broader drop in temperatures is expected to impact a large portion of the region.

After experiencing near-record warmth in recent days, temperatures are forecast to plunge 10 to 20 degrees below average from Monday through Wednesday.

Wednesday is expected to bring the coldest conditions, with wind chills dipping into the 20s across inland areas of the Northeast.

Conditions are expected to moderate by Thursday, with temperatures climbing back toward more typical seasonal levels.

Astronauts aboard NASA’s Artemis II mission reached a historic milestone Monday, venturing farther from Earth than any humans before them and surpassing a record that had stood since the Apollo era.

The four-member crew exceeded the previous distance benchmark of 248,655 miles — set by Apollo 13 — at approximately 1:56 p.m. Eastern Time, pushing slightly beyond it to 248,656 miles as their spacecraft sped past the moon at nearly 2,000 miles per hour.

The moment came almost exactly 56 years after Apollo 13 established the original record on April 14, 1970. That mission achieved the milestone under emergency conditions, as astronauts used the moon’s gravitational pull to swing their damaged spacecraft back toward Earth following an onboard explosion.

The Artemis II crew, however, continues to extend that distance, moving progressively farther from Earth until the spacecraft begins its return trajectory later in the evening.

Mission projections indicate the astronauts will ultimately reach a peak distance of approximately 252,757 miles before turning back toward Earth.

Following that point, the Orion capsule will begin its journey home, with splashdown expected in the Pacific Ocean around Friday evening at approximately 8 p.m. Eastern Time.

The record-setting distance will be achieved shortly after the spacecraft makes its closest pass to the moon, coming within roughly 4,000 miles of the lunar surface.

This milestone will also occur during a temporary communications blackout, expected to last about 40 minutes, when the moon blocks direct signals between the spacecraft and Earth.

Contact with mission control is anticipated to resume around 7:25 p.m. once the spacecraft emerges from behind the moon.

During this period, the crew will focus on documenting and studying the lunar surface, including regions of the moon’s far side that have never been fully observed by humans.

Although astronauts on earlier missions — beginning with Apollo 8 — did glimpse parts of the far side, large portions remained obscured due to mission timing and lighting conditions.

Apollo crews typically orbited the moon while sunlight illuminated landing areas on the near side, leaving much of the far side in shadow as they passed over it.

In contrast, Artemis II’s trajectory allows for full illumination of the far side, enabling the crew to view it in its entirety, with the moon appearing roughly the size of a basketball held at arm’s length through the spacecraft windows.

The lunar flyby began at approximately 2:45 p.m. and is expected to continue until around 9:20 p.m., provided operations proceed as planned.

To illustrate the scale of the journey, mission officials noted that if Earth were the size of a soccer ball, the moon would resemble a tennis ball positioned about 30 feet away.

Like Apollo 13 before it, Artemis II is relying on gravitational forces to return home. After circling the moon, the spacecraft will use the momentum gained from its trajectory to head back toward Earth, requiring only minor adjustments rather than major engine burns.

President Donald Trump said Monday evening that his deadline for Iran to reach an agreement remains unchanged, warning that failure to comply could lead to a devastating military response against Tehran.

In remarks delivered publicly, Trump issued a stark warning about the potential consequences. “The entire country [of Iran] can be taken out in one night, and that night might be tomorrow night” Trump said. His comments followed Iran’s rejection of a temporary ceasefire proposal and its counter-demands, which included ending regional conflicts, ensuring safe navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, rebuilding damaged infrastructure, and lifting all sanctions.

Trump reiterated that time is running out while noting some movement in talks. “Tuesday is the deadline. The Iranians have made an offer, a significant offer, a significant step. It’s not enough, but a very significant step. They are negotiating now and they have made a very significant step.”

He added that the current Iranian interlocutors appear different from previous representatives. “The group we are talking to is not as extreme as the previous one – and it is also smarter,” the president claimed.

Despite pointing to possible progress, Trump coupled his remarks with renewed threats of force. “We are crushing this country. I hate to do that. If they don’t make a deal, they won’t have bridges, power plants or anything else. If I had a choice – I would take their oil. But the American people want to see the soldiers come home. The American people want to see us win,” Trump clarified.

Iran’s refusal came after Pakistan proposed a phased plan to both sides, calling for an immediate ceasefire and reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, followed by negotiations aimed at a comprehensive agreement within 15 to 20 days.

Trump also referenced the recent rescue of a downed American airman inside Iran, describing it as a major military achievement. “We’re here today to celebrate the success of one of the largest, most complex, most harrowing, combat searches, I guess you would call it a search-and-rescue mission, ever attempted by the military.”

He claimed the Iranians became aware of the missing crew member due to an internal leak. “We have to get that leaker” he said, adding that the individual responsible would face imprisonment once identified.

Following Trump’s remarks, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth warned that military operations are intensifying. “the amount of bombing today in Iran will be the highest since the beginning of the war – tomorrow, even more than today. And Iran has a choice. Choose wisely because this president does not play around.”

CIA Director John Ratcliffe said intelligence efforts played a critical role in the successful rescue mission. “a deception campaign to confuse the Iranians who were desperately hunting for our airmen.”

Ratcliffe added that the operation achieved its central objective. “We achieved our primary objective by finding and providing confirmation that one of America’s best and bravest was alive and concealed in a mountain crevice, still invisible to the enemy, but not to the CIA,” Ratcliffe said.

The Artemis II mission reached a defining milestone Monday as its crew began a sweeping flyby of the moon, offering both the astronauts and observers on Earth unprecedented views of previously unseen portions of the lunar far side.

The Orion capsule initiated its maneuver at approximately 2:45 p.m. Eastern Time, embarking on a trajectory that will carry it around the moon for more than six hours, with its windows facing the far side of the lunar surface.

During this phase, all four astronauts are expected to become the first humans ever to directly observe certain regions of the moon’s far side, areas that remained hidden during the Apollo missions more than five decades ago.

Unlike the Apollo flights, which orbited much closer to the lunar surface and therefore had a limited field of vision, the Artemis II spacecraft is maintaining a significantly higher altitude.

By traveling between roughly 4,000 and 6,000 miles above the moon, the crew is able to view the entire far side illuminated by sunlight, providing a broader and clearer perspective than was previously possible.

From inside the Orion capsule, the moon appears relatively small—comparable to a basketball held at arm’s length—though at the beginning of the maneuver, astronauts reported that it appeared three to four times larger than Earth.

Throughout the flyby, the astronauts are conducting research by photographing the lunar terrain and making direct visual observations of the far side.

Midway through the maneuver, at around 6:44 p.m. Eastern Time, communication with Earth is expected to temporarily cease as the moon blocks the signal between the spacecraft and ground control.

Contact is anticipated to resume at approximately 7:25 p.m., shortly after the capsule reaches its closest point to the moon at an altitude of about 4,000 miles.

Earlier in the day, at around 2 p.m., the crew surpassed a long-standing record by traveling farther from Earth than the Apollo 13 mission, which reached 248,655 miles in 1970.

That distance record is expected to be extended further, with Artemis II projected to reach approximately 252,757 miles from Earth during the mission.

The flyby is scheduled to conclude around 9:20 p.m., after which the spacecraft will begin its return journey to Earth.

Rather than relying on propulsion, the capsule will utilize the moon’s gravitational pull to slingshot back toward Earth.

The return trip is expected to take four days, with a planned splashdown in the Pacific Ocean at approximately 8:07 p.m. Eastern Time on Friday.

Looking ahead, if the mission proceeds successfully, NASA plans to follow up with another crewed mission in 2027 that will orbit Earth, followed by a lunar landing mission in 2028 as part of the Artemis program.

Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu said Monday that Israel’s ongoing campaign against Iran is continuing to escalate, highlighting what he described as a major strike on Iran’s economic infrastructure and emphasizing close coordination with the United States.

Speaking about recent developments, Netanyahu revealed that Israel had targeted a key Iranian petrochemical site, describing it as a significant blow to the financial backbone supporting terror activity across the region.

He also detailed his latest conversation with President Donald Trump, noting the cooperation between the two countries. “Yesterday, I spoke again with my friend, President Trump. I expressed our immense appreciation for the heroic rescue operation of that American aircrew member, and President Trump, for his part, thanked me for the assistance Israel provided in this mission,” Netanyahu said.

Netanyahu added that Trump spoke highly of Israel’s role in the joint effort. “In general, he spoke of us in superlatives. He said: ‘You guys are great.’ He views Israel as a steadfast, determined, and firm ally that fights shoulder-to-shoulder alongside the United States, and together, we are continuing to crush Iran’s regime of terror,” he added.

Turning to the military campaign itself, Netanyahu said Israel is systematically targeting Iran’s sources of funding and leadership. He stated: “Today, we destroyed the largest petrochemical plant in Iran. This means we are systematically dismantling the IRGC’s money machine. We are destroying factories, eliminating operatives, and yes, we are continuing to eliminate senior officials.”

He concluded by contrasting Israel’s current strength with Iran’s weakening position, attributing Israel’s success to both spiritual and military factors. “Iran is no longer the same Iran, and Israel is no longer the same Israel. Israel is stronger than ever, and the terrorist regime in Iran is weaker than ever. And what is the key? What is the secret? Faith and power. We have both in abundance,” Netanyahu concluded.

IDF Spokesperson Brigadier General Effie Defrin said Monday evening that Israeli forces are continuing operations in Lebanon with the clear objective of weakening Hezbollah and halting its attacks against Israel.

Speaking about the ongoing campaign, Defrin stated that IDF forces are targeting Hezbollah across multiple fronts, including both frontline positions and deeper locations inside Lebanon. “In Northern Command, we are striking Hezbollah both at the front lines and deep inside. More than 1,000 Hezbollah operatives have been eliminated since the latest campaign began. The operatives are retreating, and there is a serious morale problem within the terrorist organization. We will continue to strike them,” Defrin said.

He stressed that neutralizing Hezbollah’s capabilities remains a central goal. “disarming Hezbollah is a top priority, both military and political. We will not give up on this, and we are acting precisely according to the directives of the political leadership.”

During the briefing, Defrin was asked whether the army is anticipating an escalation in attacks during the second days of Yom Tov, coinciding with the deadline of an American ultimatum to Iran.

Responding to the question, he said there is currently no indication of such a development and no adjustments to civilian safety instructions. “There is no concrete information, and there is no change in Home Front Command guidelines.”

A tragic accident during Chol Hamoed Pesach claimed the life of 34-year-old Leah Yocheved Zinger a”h, who was killed in a car crash while returning from visiting the kever of the Pele Yoetz in Bulgaria.

Four other passengers traveling with her were injured, some seriously, and were taken to local hospitals for treatment.

Leah Yocheved had been part of a group of Israeli travelers who journeyed to Bulgaria for Pesach. Earlier in the day, the group departed from a resort area near Varna and made their way to the city of Silistra in order to daven at the kever of the Pele Yoetz, a well-known makom tefillah that draws visitors seeking yeshuos.

The devastating crash occurred as the group was on its way back from the kever. Emergency responders who arrived at the scene were forced to pronounce one of the passengers dead, while providing urgent medical care to the four others who were injured in the collision.

Members of the local Jewish community are working closely with Bulgarian authorities, along with representatives of Israel’s Foreign Ministry, to address all aspects of the situation, including arrangements to bring the nifteres to kevurah in Eretz Yisroel.

Yehi zichrah boruch.

President Donald Trump on Monday disclosed new details about the dramatic rescue of a U.S. Air Force colonel, known by the code name “Dude Bravo 44,” who survived for roughly 36 hours in hostile Iranian territory while severely wounded before being brought to safety.

According to Trump, the downed weapons systems officer, who had been “injured quite seriously,” managed to climb more than a mile up a mountainside and tend to his own injuries while hiding in a crevice in an area “teeming with terrorists.” Despite the dangerous conditions and complications during extraction, U.S. forces ultimately succeeded in evacuating him, even as their aircraft nearly became immobilized in soft ground.

“In the United States military, we leave no American behind. We don’t do it,” Trump told reporters during a White House briefing.

Military officials described the officer’s endurance as extraordinary. Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said the airman’s determination and “absolute commitment to surviving” played a decisive role in the mission’s success.

Trump praised the rescue effort as “a breath-taking show of skill,” highlighting the complexity of extracting the officer from “treacherous mountain terrain.”

While the pilot of the F-15E jet was quickly located and rescued near Isfahan after the aircraft was brought down late Thursday into Friday, the colonel landed far from that location, making it significantly more difficult to locate him, Trump said.

The injured officer had to remain alive long enough for the U.S. military to organize what Trump described as “one of the largest, most complex, most harrowing combat searches … ever attempted by the military.”

“The heroic F-15 weapons system officer had evaded capture on the ground in Iran for almost 48 hours. That’s a long time when you’re in tough shape and when you’re bleeding,” Trump said.

The rescue operation involved a massive deployment of resources, including 155 aircraft made up of bombers, fighter jets, refueling tankers, and dedicated rescue planes, according to Trump.

“A lot of it was subterfuge,” the president explained. “We wanted [Iranian forces] to think he was in another location.”

As part of the mission, many aircraft were forced to fly at low altitudes, exposing them to potential enemy fire. Trump noted that “We got a helicopter with a lot of bullets in it,’’ underscoring the risks involved.

At one stage, military planes landed in a field to assemble smaller helicopters for the extraction, and Trump described how the rescue nearly failed due to environmental challenges.

He explained that wet ground conditions and the heavy weight of the aircraft created serious difficulties during takeoff. “We … had all the men jumping back onto the planes, and they got pretty well bogged down. And we had a continued contingency plan which was unbelievable,” he said.

Reflecting on the operation, Trump added, “Before the rescue was successful, ‘I would have said that was impossible,’’ emphasizing the extraordinary nature of the mission.

Gen. Caine further stressed the critical role played by the airman’s own willpower. “The single most important contributor to a successful rescue operation is the spirit of attack inside the heart of that downed aviator.

“Their will to survive, their will to evade, their will to recover, is everything. In this case, the back seater’s absolute commitment to surviving made much of our efforts possible,” he said.

“Lastly, and most importantly, to Dude Bravo 4-4, welcome home. Job well done,’’ Gen. Caine concluded.

Trump reiterated that the rescuers demonstrated “a breath-taking show of skill,” noting that the colonel, described as “highly respected,” had landed far from the pilot and was “injured quite badly and stranded in an area teeming with terrorists from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.”

According to U.S. officials, Iranian forces used tracking dogs in an effort to locate the downed officer, but were unsuccessful.

“They were given a tremendous incentive to find this pilot,” Trump said. “Despite the peril, the officer followed his training and climbed into the treacherous mountain terrain and started climbing toward a higher altitude, something they were trained to do in order to evade capture.”

“You want to go as far away because they all head right to that site. You want to be as far away as you can,” he added, explaining that the officer, who was “bleeding rather profusely,” had to stabilize himself before contacting “American forces to transmit his location.”

CIA Director John Ratcliffe said the agency played a key role in the operation by carrying out a deception effort to mislead Iranian forces.

He said the CIA helped “confuse the Iranians who were desperately hunting for our airman’’ and also “deployed both human assets and exquisite technologies” to locate him, comparing the task “to hunting for a single same grain of sand in the middle of a desert.”

“Our intelligence reflects that the Iranians were embarrassed and ultimately humiliated by the success of this audacious rescue mission,” Ratcliffe added.

Trump acknowledged that not all military officials initially supported the rescue plan due to the high risks involved.

“Not everybody was on board,” Trump said, noting that Gen. Dan Caine and Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, who stood beside him, “were totally on-board.

“There were military people that said, ‘You just don’t do this, you don’t go into the heart of a very powerful military,’” the president said. “There were people within the military that said it’s unwise.”

When asked about the number of personnel involved, Gen. Caine declined to provide specifics, saying, “I would love to keep that a secret.”

Trump, however, indicated the scale of the operation. “It was hundreds,” he said, adding, “Hundreds of people could have been killed, so we had people within the military that said this was not a wise [idea].”

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth also characterized the outcome as a major setback for Iran.

“Ultimately, it was an impotent Iranian threat,” he said. “And today, as the CIA director mentioned, Iran’s military, and we know this, is embarrassed and humiliated, and they should be.”

Hegseth noted that the rescue took place over the weekend and highlighted the significance of a message sent by the officer after activating his emergency signal.

“When he was finally able to activate his emergency transponder, his first message was simple and it was powerful. He sent a message, ‘God is good,’ ” Hegseth recounted.

“In that moment of isolation and danger, his faith and fighting spirit shone through,” he said. “Shot down on a Friday — Good Friday — hidden in a cave, a crevice all of Saturday, and rescued on Sunday. Flown out of Iran as the sun was rising … a pilot reborn.”

A large kabbalas pnei rabo gathering held Sunday evening in Bnei Brak in honor of Pesach, attended by thousands, was ordered dispersed by police after public criticism and claims that the event violated Pikud HaOref regulations.

The event took place in a protected beis medrash, where participants gathered and listened to remarks from Hagaon Rav Dov Landau that were broadcast to the crowd. Organizers emphasized that the venue included a designated protected space for attendees.

After media outlets began criticizing the gathering and asserting that it contradicted Home Front Command guidelines, police announced that the event would be shut down, stating that it had not received prior authorization.

“Not long ago, police became aware of a large gathering taking place in an underground structure on the second level in Bnei Brak where there is no apparent danger,” the police said in a statement.

According to the statement, officers immediately engaged with event organizers, seeking either to reduce attendance in line with Pikud HaOref directives or to bring the event to an immediate halt. At that point, the dispersal process had begun.

The police announcement came against the backdrop of a recent High Court ruling that required the state to permit demonstrations in Habima Square involving hundreds of participants, despite opposition from Pikud HaOref.

The judges stated that enforcement of gathering restrictions appeared inconsistent, noting that such rules were being applied to some groups but not others. “It is difficult to reconcile such a situation,” the court ruled, instructing authorities to allow the protest to proceed.

A wave of joy has filled the Roteloy family of Arad, as twins—a boy and a girl—were born just two weeks after their young son, Yedidya, miraculously survived being thrown from a fourth-floor apartment during a missile strike.

The birth took place on Chol Hamoed Pesach, bringing a powerful sense of yeshuah and comfort to a family that recently endured a frightening and traumatic ordeal. Family members and local residents described the moment as a deeply emotional turning point after weeks of anxiety.

Roughly two and a half weeks ago, on Motzoei Shabbos, the family’s residential building—home to members of the Gur community in Arad—was struck by an Iranian ballistic missile. The force of the explosion sent three-year-old Yedidya, who had recently celebrated his upsherin, flying out of his bedroom window along with collapsing debris.

He was later found beneath the rubble and rushed to Soroka Medical Center in Be’er Sheva. In extraordinary Hashgachah, he was released after just four days. When reunited with his parents that night, he said, “I didn’t get hurt at all, and suddenly people came and took me in an ambulance.”

In the immediate aftermath of the strike, Yedidya’s father, Reb Tzvi Meir Roteloy, described racing toward the children’s room and discovering that two of his children had survived—but Yedidya’s bed was empty. Trapped inside the shattered apartment, he said he drew strength from a deep sense of emunah even in those terrifying moments.

The direct hit on the fourth floor caused massive structural collapse, yet despite the devastation, the child emerged with barely any injury. The story spread widely and was described by many as a clear neis golui, strengthening the emunah of many who heard how, from such a destructive scene, no lives were lost.

Now, with the birth of the twins, relatives say the family has begun to heal, even as their home is still far from being rebuilt. The new arrivals have brought renewed light and hope to a household that recently witnessed both danger and open nissim.

[COMMUNICATED]

In a record-setting undertaking, tens of thousands of families all across Israel will enter Pesach with full tables and full hearts, thanks to a massive distribution by Oneg Shabbos V’Yom Tov, the organization led by R’ Ephraim Stern.

The Pesach distribution, unmatched in size and scope, consists of boxes handed out to needy households, each filled with meat, grape juice, matzohs, eggs, fruit, vegetables and pantry essentials. It was made possible through the support of the renowned Rechnitz Family, along with other ba’alei chesed around the globe.

The packages are valued at over $500 per family and include everything a family needs for Yom Tov, bringing the total cost of this pivotal operation to an astonishing $10 million.

This year, the need was bigger than ever. With the ongoing war and a tighter economy, many families who were getting by until now suddenly found themselves lacking. Rabbi Stern and his team responded to the growing need by expanding the program and adding thousands of new families to their rolls so that every home can welcome Pesach with dignity and simchas Yom Tov. 

Lots of work and effort was poured in to set up the distribution in a way that makes receiving help easier for those in need. Instead of a few crowded distribution centers, 150+ pickup points were spread across the country, including dozens in Yerushalayim alone. In many neighborhoods, families were able to pick up their packages just a short walk from home. This cut down on the waiting, made the process more convenient and ensured that it was much more dignified for those on the receiving end.

With a shortage of kosher-for-Pesach meat this year and prices climbing, the organization took extra steps to secure supply, importing livestock and arranging for shechita in Israel to make sure families still received meat as part of their package. The costs ran into the millions but the results were well worth it for the Oneg Shabbos V’Yom Tov team, and the Rechnitz family and other major donors behind them. 

This famed distribution has been part of life in Eretz Yisroel for 47 years. What started as a small chesed mission has over the decades grown into one of the largest relief operations anywhere, with ongoing weekly support for families throughout the year and expanded efforts before every Yom Tov.

But on Pesach, when costs rise and we are obligated to share Simchas Yom Tov with the less fortunate, the organization shines brightest, ensuring that every family and every child participates in a festive Zman Cheiruseinu.

כל דכפין ייתי וייכול!

The Torah world is mourning the petirah of Rav Yosef Sholom Halevi Weinfeld zt”l, a distinguished mechaber seforim whose lifelong work opened the door for countless Yidden to access and understand foundational sifrei kodesh. He was niftar Thursday night at the age of 82.

Rav Weinfeld zt”l was widely recognized for his acclaimed “Yesod Malchus” commentary, as well as for his leadership of the historic “Eshkol” publishing house, which for generations has played a central role in the dissemination of Torah literature.

He was born on ט”ו אייר תש”ד (1944) to his father, Rav Yaakov Shaul Weinfeld zt”l, author of Mishnas Yaakov and founder of the Eshkol publishing house, and his mother, Mrs. Rachel Goldberg a”h, daughter of Rav Tzvi Hirsch Goldberg zt”l.

In his younger years, he learned under the Vizhnitzer Rebbe, the Yeshuos Moshe zt”l, from whom he later received warm haskamos on his seforim.

After the petirah of his father in תשמ”ט (1989), the publishing enterprise was divided among the brothers. His brother, Rav Shmuel Yehuda Halevi Weinfeld, went on to establish the Shai L’Mora publishing house, while Rav Yosef Sholom zt”l continued at the helm of Eshkol, where he significantly broadened its scope and impact.

Under his guidance, Eshkol produced a vast array of seforim, many featuring clear and structured explanations that greatly assisted lomdim in their limud and tefillah.

His most well-known contribution, the Yesod Malchus system, offered a unique word-by-word explanation printed alongside the original text, allowing readers to immediately grasp the meaning without needing to search through multiple mekoros. This approach provided both clarity in understanding and ease of use, making it especially valuable for a wide range of learners.

Over time, this commentary was published on many central sifrei kodesh, including Tehillim, siddurim, machzorim, Chumash, Nach, and zemiros of Shabbos, and was widely regarded as an innovative and practical format that enhanced accessibility to Torah.

Among the many seforim distributed by Eshkol are the well-known siddur Tefillas Kol Peh, and menukad editions of the Shishah Sidrei Mishnah, all of which found their way into kehillos around the world.

The levaya took place on Friday in Yerushalayim, and he was brought to kevurah on Har HaZeisim.

Yehi zichro boruch.

The Chabad community is in mourning following the petirah of Rav Yechiel Yerachmiel Nafrestek zt”l, one of the elder chassidim and longtime residents of Kfar Chabad, who passed away Monday morning at the age of 93.

A beloved and respected figure, Rav Nafrestek zt”l was among the earliest settlers of Kfar Chabad and played a central role in building the community from its earliest days. He was widely known for his decades of devoted service as the secretary of the famed Beis Rivkah seminary.

He was born on the 12th of Tammuz 1933 in the town of Siedlce, Poland, to his father, Rav Reuven Dovber Nafrestek zt”l, a talmid of Yeshivas Tomchei Temimim in Warsaw, and his mother, Rebbetzin Chaya Gittel a”h.

With the outbreak of World War II, the family fled to Russia, where under the harsh conditions of Soviet rule, he learned Torah in secret together with his brother, with true mesirus nefesh. During those difficult years of war and starvation, his mother passed away from hunger, leaving the family bereaved.

After the war, as Polish nationals, the family received permission to leave and joined the famed “Great Escape” of Chabad chassidim. They made their way to the displaced persons camp in Pocking, Germany, then to Paris, before ultimately coming to Eretz Yisroel, where they were among the founding residents who established Kfar Chabad in 1949.

In his youth, he learned in the yeshivos of Tomchei Temimim in Pocking, Paris, Tel Aviv, and Lod. After his marriage, he settled in Kfar Chabad and began his lifelong role as secretary of the Beis Rivkah seminary, a position he fulfilled with dedication for many decades.

Rav Nafrestek zt”l was known as a deeply connected chossid to the Lubavitcher Rebbe. He was actively involved in the Rebbe’s mivtzoim, especially tefillin, which he carried out with enthusiasm and devotion well into his later years.

Just six months ago, his older brother, Rav Yisroel Aharon Nafrestek zt”l, one of the elder residents of the village, was niftar. The two brothers, who endured the hardships of the war together and later helped build Chabad institutions in Eretz Yisroel, stood as a living symbol of a remarkable generation.

He leaves behind a distinguished family following the path of Torah and chassidus.

His sons: Rav Shmuel Yaakov, Rav Shlomo Dovid, Rav Yisroel, and Rav Yosef Yitzchok.

His daughters: Mrs. Bloy, Mrs. Halperin, Mrs. Nafrestek, and Mrs. Weinberg.

The levaya was held at his home at 19 Toras Shmuel Street in Kfar Chabad, and at the Shamgar Funeral Home en route to Har HaZeisim in Yerushalayim.

Tehei nishmaso tzerurah b’tzror hachaim.

Three chareidi teenagers who became stranded overnight on the cliffs of Nachal Darga were safely rescued Monday morning in a coordinated aerial operation involving emergency and rescue forces.

The rescue was carried out by an airborne team from the Lehava unit, working together with a police helicopter from the aerial division, after the teens were stuck for hours on a steep and dangerous slope at a location known as Point 12 in the Darga cliffs.

The boys had set out on a Chol Hamoed hike despite the ongoing war and found themselves unable to continue along the route, leaving them stranded in difficult terrain throughout the night.

Rescuers executed a complex extraction under challenging conditions, with the helicopter hovering low to the ground in a maneuver known as “hovering,” allowing the team to lift the teens into the aircraft.

Once the rescue was completed, the helicopter transported them to a designated evacuation point, where medical personnel were waiting. The teens were found to be in good condition and did not require hospitalization, leaving the scene on their own.

Police said the incident was first reported at 1:30 a.m., when it was learned that three youths were stuck along the southern slope of Nachal Darga with no ability to proceed. A small team of volunteers from the Megillos Dead Sea Rescue Unit established contact with the teens and pinpointed their location. It was then decided that the rescue would be carried out at first light.

At daybreak, a police helicopter was dispatched to locate and extract the teens, while an additional support team from the unit’s technical rescue division was positioned at the Nachal Darga landing zone as backup.

The operation was conducted in coordination with multiple agencies, including the IDF’s height rescue division, the Israel Police air unit, the Lehava unit, regional fire and rescue services from the Binyamin station, United Hatzalah, and volunteers from the regional rescue unit.

IDF forces from the Nachal Brigade have eliminated the three terrorists responsible for the deaths of four elite reconnaissance soldiers in southern Lebanon, in close-range combat operations, the IDF confirmed.

Troops from the Nachal Reconnaissance Unit have been continuing operations in the southern Lebanon sector, where they are engaged in targeting terrorists, locating weapons, and dismantling terror infrastructure as part of ongoing military activity.

During these operations, the unit successfully tracked down and killed the three terrorists responsible for the deaths of Capt. Noam Madmoni, Sgt. First Class Ben Cohen, Sgt. First Class Maxim Antis, and Sgt. First Class Gilad Harel z”l.

The terrorists were eliminated in direct, face-to-face combat, and subsequent intelligence verification confirmed that they were indeed the individuals behind the deadly attack on the four soldiers.

The IDF emphasized that its forces will continue operating in southern Lebanon with the goal of protecting Israeli civilians, particularly residents of the northern communities.

Commenting on the developments, Nachal Brigade Commander Col. Erik Moyal said, “Our mission is clear — to defend the residents of the north. We paid a heavy price in recent days with the loss of four reconnaissance soldiers, but we succeeded in eliminating those terrorists and will continue moving forward.”

Iran has shifted to a decentralized, guerrilla-style method of warfare similar to Hezbollah, increasing attempts to target aircraft with dispersed missile launches, according to an Israeli Air Force official, as aerial operations continue under heightened risk.

The development comes in the wake of last Friday’s downing of an American fighter jet over Iran and the subsequent rescue of its crew, underscoring the dangers facing air forces operating in the region.

A senior source in the Israeli Air Force told Walla that from the very beginning of Operation “Shaagas HaAri,” and continuing through the present, the missions have involved significant and ongoing danger. He noted that new threats are constantly emerging, requiring continuous effort to detect and neutralize them.

“There is relentless, difficult, and deep work in the Air Force, 24/7, to identify and locate threats (surface-to-air missiles). Every day, new threats appear like mushrooms after the rain, with new capabilities that the Iranians are bringing into the arena during the war. We experience this constantly. We are in a learning race with a smart enemy.”

He added that Israeli aircraft continue to operate under persistent threat conditions. “We are flying under threat. We flew throughout March and April, and we continue to fly under threat. This is a daily war. We must be able to reflect the threats and not fly into them — not to send our pilots and aircraft into danger — all while understanding that there are missions that must be carried out.”

According to the official, Iran has increasingly adopted a guerrilla-style approach, launching missiles from multiple dispersed locations rather than relying on centralized systems. “In the end, such a missile can hit an aircraft. Its efficiency as a system is lower, but in the end, one missile hitting a plane is enough to bring it down.” He noted that Israeli aircraft are indeed facing numerous surface-to-air missile launches from the ground.

Addressing the effort to neutralize these threats, the source said that the campaign against Iran’s surface-to-air missile systems is ongoing and far from complete. “It was not decided in the opening strike. The opening strike gave us an excellent starting point, but there are risks, and just as an American aircraft was downed, we too could lose an aircraft.”

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A tense and stormy discussion unfolded overnight in Israel’s security cabinet over the High Court’s involvement in decisions regarding large-scale protests and access for mispallelim at the Kosel against the backdrop of ongoing security threats and Home Front Command restrictions.

Several ministers sharply criticized the court’s intervention, insisting that such decisions must remain solely in the hands of security authorities. Justice Minister Yariv Levin said, “A decision must be made that it is not the court that determines, but only the Home Front Command.” He added that the police must follow the directives of security officials alone, stating, “It is inconceivable that a court ignores the security authority.”

National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir echoed that position but stressed the importance of equal treatment. “Where the Home Front Command permits, there cannot be discrimination between Habima protesters and those ascending to the Mount or coming to the Kosel,” he said. He added that once demonstrations were permitted in Tel Aviv, authorities should explore ways to allow tefillah at the Kosel and Har Habayis in a secure and responsible manner.

Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar supported Levin’s remarks but emphasized that the ultimate authority lies with the government. “It is the government that decides, not the Home Front Command. Our considerations are broader,” he said.

Prime Minister Binyomin Netanyahu also criticized the High Court’s conduct, saying, “They have created a situation where everything is now open.” He added that he intends to convey a clear message that the Home Front Command must be the deciding authority on security matters, questioning, “How can a court intervene in this?”

Levin reinforced Netanyahu’s concerns, warning of the potential consequences. “They bear no responsibility — if civilians are harmed by a missile strike, that responsibility falls on us,” he said.

Ben Gvir expanded his criticism to include the state prosecution, arguing that it is not faithfully representing the government’s position. “The prosecution is also rebelling and is not presenting our position to the court,” he said, noting that he felt compelled to appear personally in order to present his stance. “This is not normal — the prosecution is supposed to represent us.”

Deputy Attorney General Sharon Afek responded by clarifying that no final ruling has yet been issued by the High Court and that an additional hearing is scheduled for Thursday.

Iran is preparing for a sustained conflict and does not intend to accept the conditions being set by the United States and Israel, according to a report citing regional diplomatic sources.

An Arab diplomat involved in ongoing contacts between Tehran and Washington said Iranian leadership believes it can continue fighting for an extended period and ultimately end the war on terms more favorable to itself. The report was presented Monday morning on a news program on Israel’s Kan public broadcaster.

According to the diplomat, this assessment is not only being conveyed publicly but is also firmly held behind closed doors within Iran’s leadership. Officials in Tehran view the demands coming from Washington and Jerusalem as tantamount to surrender, and for that reason have not even responded to President Donald Trump’s reported 15-point proposal.

The same source said Iranian officials believe they have the capacity to withstand a prolonged military campaign while inflicting even greater damage on Israel, the United States, and other countries in the region.

As a result, diplomatic circles in the Middle East are increasingly pessimistic about the chances of de-escalation, with officials warning that only an extraordinary development is likely to prevent further escalation of the conflict.