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The IDF revealed Sunday evening that it is currently dealing with a manpower deficit of roughly 12,000 troops, including an estimated shortage of between 6,000 and 7,500 combat soldiers, as the military continues operating on multiple fronts simultaneously.

Military officials warned that the shortage could become even more severe if plans to shorten mandatory military service to 30 months move forward. According to security officials, the proposed reduction would create an even larger gap in combat forces, combat support roles and technical positions needed by the army.

The IDF said the demands created by fighting across seven separate arenas have forced regular soldiers to remain in near-continuous operational activity throughout the year. At the same time, reservists have repeatedly been called back for dozens of additional reserve duty days beyond what had originally been planned.

Despite the heavy burden, the military said enthusiasm among young Israelis for significant combat service remains strong among both male and female recruits.

In an effort to confront the worsening manpower shortage, the IDF’s Manpower Directorate has spent the last two and a half years advancing a wide-ranging strategic initiative focused on maximizing available personnel and broadening recruitment pathways.

As part of those efforts, the army established nine new standing armored companies over the past two years. Additional formations created during that period include an engineering battalion, a Home Front Command battalion, an air defense and combat intelligence unit, and a new charedi battalion intended to reduce pressure on reserve forces.

Alongside the expansion of regular forces, the military also built a broad reserve framework that has been incorporated into the 2026 operational plan. The framework includes 25 battalions from the “David” brigades, four battalions from the “Hashomer” brigade, the 500th Armored Brigade, Division 38 and 49 additional armored crews.

According to the IDF, these units were formed through the return of volunteers, the reactivation of individuals who had previously received exemptions under command authority, and the use of manpower reserves that had not previously been utilized.

The military also emphasized the increasing role women are playing in combat positions. Over the last decade, annual female combat enlistment numbers have climbed from roughly 500 recruits each year to approximately 5,000, substantially increasing women’s presence within combat units.

Among the new programs introduced to combat attrition is a nationwide initiative funded with 70 million shekels that is designed to prepare teenagers for military service while strengthening resilience before enlistment.

The IDF said that non-clinical mental health difficulties are responsible for approximately 80% of military attrition cases, with nearly one-third occurring at the very beginning of service.

The initiative operates in two phases. One stage targets 11th-grade graduates and focuses on building resilience and shaping attitudes toward military service, while the second is geared toward 12th-grade students approaching enlistment and seeks to close readiness gaps before induction. Approximately 450 students participated in the pilot program, and an expanded version launching in June is expected to include around 8,000 candidates.

Additional reforms include a system allowing recruits to receive their final assignments earlier in the enlistment process based on recruitment data, while selection procedures continue simultaneously.

The military also runs programs aimed at helping soldiers maximize their service potential, offering second opportunities for officer training and assisting populations considered at higher risk of dropping out during service.

At the same time, other initiatives are focused on retaining soldiers expected to continue into career military service. One such program reportedly increased acceptance rates into technological tracks for candidates from Israel’s geographic and social periphery by 22% between 2023 and 2025 through intervention efforts beginning already in middle school.

The IDF said major efforts are also underway to increase charedi enlistment, though current recruitment figures remain far below operational requirements.

According to army data, approximately 80,000 individuals are presently listed within draft evasion proceedings. Military officials estimate that roughly half are definitively charedi, while another quarter are believed to come from the charedi sector.

As part of attempts to formalize charedi recruitment, the Chief of Staff signed a dedicated General Staff directive outlining service conditions for charedi recruits. In July 2025, the IDF also ordered draft notices to be issued to all eligible charedi men while modifying the enlistment process to better accommodate the sector’s needs.

{Matzav.com}

Hundreds of mourners gathered Sunday at the military cemetery on Har Herzl in Yerushalayim for the funeral of Captain Maoz Yisroel Recanati, a 24-year-old Golani Brigade officer who was killed during combat activity in southern Lebanon.

Representing the IDF, Golani Brigade Deputy Commander Naor Amichai spoke about Recanati’s impact on those who served alongside him, describing him as a person whose strength and character uplifted everyone around him.

“Your very name carried meaning,” Amichai said. “You were a source of support for everyone around you. The values that guided you throughout your military service and your life were always clear.”

Amichai described Recanati as someone who relentlessly pursued meaningful military service from the outset, working hard to earn a place in elite combat units. He eventually joined the Egoz commando unit, where, according to his commanders, he immediately stood out for his leadership qualities, devotion and work ethic. “He was always first,” Amichai said. “In runs, in marches, in carrying equipment and in every mission.”

Friends and fellow soldiers said Recanati became known as “King David,” a nickname they said reflected his humility, honesty and the quiet manner in which he led others. Following completion of officers’ training, he was appointed platoon commander in Golani’s 12th Battalion. Commanders said he built an exceptionally cohesive platoon through personal example, sensitivity and trust.

His fiancée, Roni, delivered an emotional eulogy at the funeral. The couple had planned to marry next month. “The first thing I noticed about you was your eyes,” she said. “Everyone always said your eyes looked kind.”

Roni spoke about Recanati’s gentle nature, courage and compassion, and about the future they had hoped to build together. “I waited so long for us to get married,” she said. “I wanted to see you as the father of our children. You were so good with children. You had the biggest heart of anyone I ever knew.”

Rabbi Daniel Lonczer, who had met with the couple only a week earlier to arrange their marriage registration, also addressed the mourners. During the hesped, he read aloud from the kesubah that Recanati and Roni had signed together.

Recanati’s grandfather, Rabbi Avraham Recanati, reflected on his grandson’s devotion to his mission as a soldier, while also speaking about the warmth and affection he displayed within the family.

Shomron Regional Council head Yossi Dagan described Recanati as someone deeply devoted to Torah, Am Yisroel and Eretz Yisroel. “You built yourself through hard work, humility, strength and humor,” Dagan said. “Thousands of young people will continue in your path.”

His sister, Tehila, remembered him as a quiet and caring individual who earned admiration everywhere he went. She said the source of his success in the military was not merely his abilities, but the values and humanity that guided him.

His brother, Shachar, described Recanati as a dedicated warrior involved in what he called “the battle of light against darkness.” He recalled that during his final Shabbos at home, Recanati repeatedly emphasized the need for professionalism and dedication, even in difficult circumstances.

Recanati served as a platoon commander in Golani’s 12th Battalion. He was killed Friday in an explosive drone strike targeting IDF troops operating in southern Lebanon.

He was the 20th Israeli soldier killed since fighting resumed along the Lebanon front. Recanati is survived by his parents, six siblings and his fiancée, Roni. A member of one of the founding families of Itamar in the Shomron, he was the son of Rabbi Eliyahu and Ayelet Recanati and the grandson of Rabbi Avraham and Rabbanit Devora Recanati.

President Donald Trump issued a sharp warning to Iran on Sunday in a Truth Social post published shortly after a phone call with Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu, as discussions continue over the possibility of renewed military action against the Iranian regime.

Trump wrote, “For Iran, the Clock is Ticking, and they better get moving, FAST, or there won’t be anything left of them. TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE! President DJT.”

The message came soon after Trump and Netanyahu held a phone conversation lasting more than 30 minutes, during which the two leaders reportedly discussed the prospect of resuming operations against Iran.

According to a diplomatic source, Israel is ready to reenter the conflict with Iran, though any next steps are expected to hinge on Washington’s decision.

The source said, “Trump needs to make a decision. Once he decides to resume fighting we must be prepared, because it is highly likely he will ask Israel to join him in continuing the campaign.”

Meanwhile, Axios reported, citing two American officials, that Trump is expected to convene a meeting Tuesday with senior members of his national security team in the White House Situation Room to review possible military options involving Iran.

{Matzav.com}

Democrats Party chairman Yair Golan responded Sunday to a viral AI-generated image portraying him dressed in traditional chareidi attire, using the opportunity to issue a sharp political pledge regarding the role of chareidi parties in Israel’s next government.

The image, which circulated widely on social media, showed Golan wearing a streimel and long peyos. In response, Golan posted a message drawing a firm political line ahead of the coming election campaign and any future coalition negotiations.

“I saw that a picture of me with a streimel is being circulated,” Golan wrote, before adding a direct promise to his supporters: “The Democrats will be your insurance policy that the chareidi parties will sit in the opposition in the coming years.”

Golan’s statement appeared aimed at energizing the secular base of his party, which unites representatives from the Labor and Meretz camps. However, political analysts quickly pointed to what they described as serious political and mathematical obstacles facing such a strategy.

According to current polling data, excluding the chareidi parties from any coalition would make it nearly impossible for the existing opposition bloc to reach a majority of 61 Knesset seats without relying on Arab parties.

Numerically, surveys indicate that once the chareidi parties are ruled out, the center-left bloc is effectively left with only one theoretical path toward forming a coalition: direct dependence on Arab factions such as Ra’am and Hadash-Ta’al.

That possibility, however, faces strong resistance from other opposition figures.

Leaders of center-right opposition parties — including Yisrael Beiteinu chairman Avigdor Lieberman and Beyachad party leader Naftali Bennett — have repeatedly stated during both previous and current election campaigns that they would refuse to join any government dependent on Arab party support.

The result, according to political observers, is a clear arithmetic deadlock.

Without the chareidi parties on one side, and with Bennett and Lieberman maintaining an absolute veto against Arab parties on the other, the center-left bloc currently has no realistic mathematical path to forming a governing coalition after elections.

Analysts noted that Golan’s declaration effectively leaves the balance of power in the hands of the right-wing bloc while placing left-wing parties at a significant numerical disadvantage that may be impossible to overcome.

Israel’s National Cyber Directorate issued a public warning Sunday after fake videos circulated online appearing to show Rishon LeTzion and Chief Rabbi of Israel Rav Dovid Yosef endorsing a medical product.

According to the cyber authorities, the videos are fraudulent and were created using deepfake technology. Officials stressed that Rav Yosef has absolutely no connection to either the video or the product being promoted through it.

The fabricated clips have reportedly been spreading widely across social media platforms in recent hours and direct viewers to a fraudulent website designed to steal personal information and payment details from unsuspecting users.

The National Cyber Directorate warned the public to exercise caution when encountering videos featuring well-known public figures and urged users to verify the authenticity of such content before responding to it.

Officials also cautioned the public not to click on links appearing in the videos themselves, in comment sections, or in accompanying messages connected to the posts.

In addition, the directorate advised consumers to confirm that any medical product they are considering purchasing appears on an official and recognized website before providing any information.

Authorities further warned people not to submit personal information or credit card details on unfamiliar websites.

The cyber agency urged the public that in cases of uncertainty, individuals should stop and verify the information through official sources before taking any action.

{Matzav.com}

The Israel Land Authority Council has approved new rules barring individuals classified as draft evaders from participating in the government’s discounted housing programs unless they regularize their military status with the IDF.

The decision, approved during a meeting convened by Housing Minister Chaim Katz, also significantly expands housing preferences for reserve soldiers. Under the new framework, 50 percent of apartments in the upcoming “Dira B’Hanachah” lottery will be reserved exclusively for reservists, with priority given to combat soldiers.

The remaining apartments will remain available to the general public, but eligibility will now depend on applicants having resolved their military status with the army, according to a report by Channel 13 News.

The move follows legal instructions issued by the attorney general’s office directing immediate implementation of the policy. As a result, individuals defined as draft-eligible who have not arranged their status with IDF authorities will no longer be able to participate in subsidized housing programs.

The decision comes after the most recent housing lottery was postponed twice. Initially, the delay was ordered by ministers Betzalel Smotrich and Chaim Katz, and later by the courts following petitions filed against the program.

Deputy Attorney General Gil Limon had previously instructed the Israel Land Authority Council to take immediate operational steps to enforce the policy. Under those instructions, the authority was required to establish a mechanism allowing for the immediate disqualification of draft evaders from participation in discounted housing initiatives.

According to the approved plan, all applicants entering future lotteries will be required to sign declarations stating whether they have arranged their military status with the IDF. Any applicant found to have submitted false information could lose their eligibility or forfeit an apartment if their true military status later becomes known.

Approximately 8,000 apartments are expected to be included in the upcoming lottery, though the distribution model will change dramatically under the new rules.

More than half of the apartments will now be allocated to reservists, who will also receive all units designated specifically for rental programs.

{Matzav.com}

Israeli Prime Minister Binyomin Netanyahu is reportedly shifting strategy in the growing coalition crisis over the draft law and is no longer actively trying to block the preliminary vote on dissolving the Knesset this week.

Instead, Netanyahu is now focusing on advancing key coalition legislation — including the draft law — before the Knesset reaches the later and more decisive stages of the dissolution process.

According to the new plan, Netanyahu intends to move forward simultaneously with the draft law, legislation to split the attorney general’s position, and additional coalition-backed bills while the Knesset dissolution measure advances toward its second and third readings.

Politically, the move signals that Netanyahu is prepared to allow the dissolution proposal to pass its preliminary stage while preserving a limited window for the coalition to continue legislating before the Knesset is formally dissolved.

During that period, Likud lawmakers are expected to push ahead with several sensitive legislative initiatives, chief among them the draft law, which has become the central source of tension between the coalition and the chareidi parties.

According to reports, Likud officials claim the maneuver received approval from the Knesset’s legal adviser.

Party sources said, “Until the second and third readings, any legislation can still be passed.”

The new strategy appears aimed at lowering the intensity of the immediate political confrontation surrounding the dissolution vote, while at the same time signaling to coalition partners that there is still a realistic path to advancing the legislation most important to them before new elections are triggered.

{Matzav.com}

Large crowds gathered at the Kosel this morning for Rosh Chodesh tefillos as tensions flared once again over the activities of the Women of the Wall group, whose members reportedly smuggled a Sefer Torah into the plaza in violation of existing regulations.

According to witnesses, members of the Reform-affiliated activist group raised the Sefer Torah in celebration after successfully bringing it into the women’s section of the Kosel plaza.

At the same time, hundreds of seminary students arrived at the site following longstanding guidance issued years ago by Rav Aharon Leib Shteinman zt”l encouraging participation in counter-demonstrations opposing the activities of the group commonly referred to as “Women of the Wall.”

Large police, Border Police, and riot-control forces were deployed throughout the Kosel area in anticipation of confrontations between the sides.

Police officers reportedly clashed with demonstrators during the morning, and one chareidi girl was arrested and taken to a police station located at the site.

Meanwhile, hundreds of people participated Friday in a large Shacharis minyan held specifically in the southern section of the Kosel plaza, the area at the center of ongoing legal and political disputes regarding efforts to establish a permanent Reform prayer space there.

Participants brought a mechitzah and conducted a traditional tefillah as part of what organizers described as an effort to strengthen the Jewish and traditional character of the site.

Those who attended said the decision to hold the tefillah specifically in the southern plaza symbolized the broader struggle over the future character and sanctity of the Kosel.

Participants also explained that the choice of location was intended “to declare in a clear voice — the Kosel belongs to all the Jewish people, but its holiness is not ownerless.”

President Donald Trump sharply criticized Democratic climate policies after scientists reportedly backed away from one of the most severe global warming projections long used in United Nations-backed climate models.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump celebrated reports that researchers are no longer treating one of the most extreme emissions scenarios as the most likely future outcome.

“GOOD RIDDANCE! After 15 years of Dumocrats promising that ‘Climate Change’ is going to destroy the Planet, the United Nations TOP Climate Committee just admitted that its own projections (RCP8.5) were WRONG! WRONG! WRONG!” Trump wrote on Truth Social.

Trump accused Democrats of using climate concerns to advance costly energy initiatives and increase government spending.

“For far too long Climate Activism has been used by Dumocrats to scare Americans, push horrible Energy Polices, and fund BILLIONS into their bogus research programs,” he continued. “Unlike the Dumocrats, who use Climate Alarmism nonsense to push their GREEN NEW SCAM, my Administration will always be based on TRUTH, SCIENCE, and FACT!”

Trump’s remarks came after climate researchers moved away from relying on the most severe emissions scenario developed through the United Nations-backed Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.

That scenario — first known as RCP8.5 and later SSP5-8.5 — projected dramatic rises in global temperatures and sea levels under assumptions of extremely high emissions. The forecasts also included warnings of widespread crop failures and catastrophic environmental outcomes.

According to reports, scientists are now phasing out the scenario after concluding it no longer reflects the most realistic trajectory given the expansion of renewable energy, shifts in emissions patterns, and climate-related policies already in place.

Researchers writing in the journal Geoscientific Model Development said future climate modeling should still account for a broad range of possibilities, while acknowledging that the most extreme projections are becoming increasingly unlikely.

“For the 21st century, this range will be smaller than assessed before: on the high-end of the range, the high emission levels (quantified by SSP5-8.5) have become implausible, based on trends in the costs of renewables, the emergence of climate policy and recent emission trends.”

Trump’s latest comments echoed criticism he voiced last September during remarks at the United Nations General Assembly in New York, where he dismissed climate change fears as exaggerated.

“It’s the greatest con job ever perpetrated on the world, in my opinion,” Trump said at the time. “All of these predictions made by the United Nations and many others, often for bad reasons, were wrong.”

“They were made by stupid people that have cost their country’s fortunes and given those same countries no chance for success,” he continued.

Trump’s statements drew sharp criticism from Democrats and climate activists, including Hillary Clinton, who accused him of spreading false information.

“You know yesterday at the U.N., President Trump said, ‘Climate change is a hoax,’ because it’s just total disinformation,” Clinton said during the Clinton Global Initiative in New York. “It’s a statement that is just not true, and yet being propagated.”

EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin later defended Trump’s position during an appearance on Fox News, arguing that aggressive climate policies have harmed working Americans economically.

“The president is absolutely right and we’ve seen it in the name of climate change, these left wing policies willing to cause extreme economic pain for people who can at least afford it,” he said.

{Matzav.com}

Louisiana Republican voters denied Sen. Bill Cassidy a third term Saturday, delivering a major political defeat to one of the few GOP senators who voted to convict President Donald Trump after the January 6 Capitol riot.

With most ballots counted, Trump-endorsed Rep. Julia Letlow finished in first place in the Republican primary, while Louisiana State Treasurer John Fleming secured second place, pushing Cassidy into third and ending his re-election bid.

According to vote totals with 92 percent reporting, Letlow received 44.8 percent of the vote, Fleming captured 28.4 percent, and Cassidy trailed with 24.7 percent. The Associated Press projected Letlow and Fleming as the two candidates advancing to the June 27 runoff election.

Letlow is considered the early favorite heading into the runoff, largely due to Trump’s endorsement, which the president reaffirmed Friday on Truth Social while returning from his summit in China with President Xi Jinping.

After Cassidy’s defeat became clear, Trump celebrated the outcome online and renewed his attacks on the Louisiana senator over the impeachment vote.

“Bill Cassidy . . . voted to impeach me on preposterous charges that were fake then, and now, are criminally insane!” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “His disloyalty to the man who got him elected is now a part of legend, and it’s nice to see that his political career is OVER!”

Cassidy, 68, was among seven Republican senators who voted to convict Trump on charges of incitement following the January 6, 2021 Capitol unrest. Political observers note that number could shrink even further in the next Congress if Sen. Susan Collins faces defeat in her own re-election race, potentially leaving Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski as the lone remaining Republican impeachment supporter still in office.

In addition to his impeachment vote, Cassidy had publicly urged Trump to withdraw from the 2024 presidential race following the classified documents indictment tied to Mar-a-Lago and had criticized the administration as insufficiently pro-life.

Trump moved early to weaken Cassidy politically by endorsing Letlow back in January — even before she officially entered the race — forcing the incumbent senator into a difficult renomination battle.

The president continued attacking Cassidy throughout Election Day itself.

“Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana is a disloyal disaster. His entire past campaign for the Senate was about ‘TRUMP,’ how he’s with me all the way, and then, after winning, he turned around and voted to IMPEACH me for something that has now proven to be total “bulls—!” Trump posted on Truth Social Saturday while the vote was going on.

House Speaker Mike Johnson, who also hails from Louisiana, acknowledged earlier in the week that the race had placed him in a politically uncomfortable position because of his relationships with all three candidates.

Johnson described Letlow as “like a sister to me” while also noting that Fleming had previously represented Louisiana’s 4th Congressional District before him.

Over recent months, Cassidy had attempted to repair relations with Trump and the MAGA base, including reluctantly voting to confirm Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as Health and Human Services secretary despite disagreements over vaccine policy.

Meanwhile, both Cassidy and Fleming criticized Letlow over her past role as a senior administrator at the University of Louisiana-Monroe, where she once described herself as a “strong and progressive leader” and supported diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives.

Cassidy’s loss marks another victory for Trump-backed candidates following a series of successful primary challenges against Republicans who had opposed the president on issues including redistricting in Indiana.

Attention now shifts to Kentucky, where another Trump-backed challenger will face off Tuesday against Rep. Thomas Massie. Former Navy SEAL and farmer Ed Gallrein is challenging the libertarian-leaning congressman with Trump’s endorsement behind him.

{Matzav.com}

Efforts to prevent the collapse of Israel’s government intensified over the weekend as Israeli Prime Minister Binyomin Netanyahu reportedly warned chareidi party leaders that dissolving the Knesset this week could harm Israel’s military preparedness and its ability to resume fighting against Iran if necessary.

At the same time, Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee chairman MK Boaz Bismuth scheduled new discussions on the draft law for this coming Wednesday in an attempt to demonstrate progress and ease the escalating political crisis with the chareidi factions.

According to information obtained by Matzav.com, Netanyahu delivered an unusual message in recent days to senior chareidi political leaders, cautioning that moving forward immediately with dissolving the Knesset could interfere with sensitive security planning tied to Iran and future military operations.

Despite the warning, senior figures in the chareidi parties reportedly remain unconvinced that the coalition can still survive.

The three leaders of the chareidi factions reportedly believe there is “no way to prevent the preliminary vote on dissolving the Knesset this week,” and continue to argue that there is still no real majority to pass the draft law.

A senior United Torah Judaism official sharply criticized Netanyahu’s handling of the crisis, accusing the prime minister of once again attempting to delay matters rather than resolve them.

According to the official, Netanyahu’s office is trying to create the appearance of a political “breakthrough” in order to temporarily freeze efforts to dissolve the Knesset and buy several additional weeks.

“They know there is no majority for the draft law,” the official said. “The goal is to delay the crisis so that even if they eventually move toward dissolving the Knesset, the Elections Committee will already struggle to meet the timetable for September elections, pushing the elections off until October. Once again there is no majority for the law, and once again they are selling stories to the chareidim.”

{Matzav.com}

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Shefa Living: From Ideal Life to Real Life

In the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina, the air feels different.

The pace slows. The quiet stretches. And for many families discovering Shefa Living, something else becomes possible too: space to live, to grow, and to build a community with intention.

What began as a bold idea is now steadily taking shape. Homes are under construction, infrastructure is complete, and the first families are preparing to move in.

When Yehuda (Yudi) Gross first began thinking about what eventually became Shefa Living, it wasn’t about building a new community. It was about understanding why so many frum families were struggling.

As a wealth manager who also volunteered as a financial coach with Mesila, Gross worked with families across the financial spectrum. What he saw surprised him.

“People making $10,000 a month and people making $30,000 a month were both under enormous pressure,” he explains. “Not because they were irresponsible. Because the structure of frum life has become extremely expensive.”

Housing, tuition, food, and communal costs are often discussed as separate challenges. But Gross came to see them as parts of a single system.

“We don’t really have five different crises,” he says. “We have one; the cost of living.”

That realization became the starting point for what would eventually become Shefa Living.
But as the idea developed, the vision quickly expanded beyond simply lowering costs.

The goal became something larger: rethinking how a frum community could be built from the ground up, in a way that gives families more space, stronger connection, and a healthier structure for Jewish life.

Today, the project has moved far beyond the conceptual stage. Infrastructure is in place, homes are under construction, leadership has been hired, and the first families are preparing to move in.

Turning Vision Into Reality

One of the first questions people ask when they hear about Shefa Living is simple: Is this actually happening?

According to Gross, the answer is an emphatic yes.

All major infrastructure has already been installed, including roads, electricity, wells, septic systems, and fiber-optic internet. Engineering work and soil testing across the property have been completed, allowing construction to begin.

The first phase of homes is currently underway. Foundations have been poured, and framing is nearing completion keeping the project on schedule to have the first 30 families to move in around Elul, with additional homes following in the months after.

“These aren’t theoretical plans anymore,” Gross says. “Homes are being built, and families are getting ready to move.”

One family is already living on the property in an existing house that came with the land purchase while their permanent home is being constructed.

Space to Live

From the outset, the homes were designed specifically with frum life in mind.

Instead of adapting houses built for different lifestyles, Shefa Living designed beautiful, modern homes around how Jewish families actually live, with large dining rooms that can host Shabbos meals and guests, spacious bedrooms for children, and layouts that support the rhythms of Yom Tov and family life.

“These homes are designed for the way frum families actually use their space,” Gross says.

The homes are being sold at prices below typical frum community markets, something Gross attributes to the structure of the project itself.

“Because we’re building the infrastructure ourselves, we’re able to avoid the ‘Jewish premium’ that often comes with housing in established communities,” he explains.

The Community’s Yeshiva

For many families considering a move, the most important question is education.

Shefa Living’s yeshiva, the Yeshiva of Glade Valley,  will open together with the first group of families moving into the community.

The school will be led by Rabbi Dovid Kossowsky and his wife, who are relocating to lead the program.

Gross says many of the families exploring Shefa Living share a similar motivation. “A lot of parents feel that one of their children isn’t thriving in the environment they’re in,” he explains. “They’re looking for a place where their kids can grow at their own pace and feel successful.”

The educational vision reflects the broader philosophy of Shefa Living. Rather than focusing only on academics, the yeshiva aims to nurture each child’s unique strengths and sense of purpose. Small, multi-age classrooms, close relationships with rebbeim and moros, and hands-on learning experiences will allow students to grow intellectually, emotionally, and spiritually.

In its first year, the school will operate in temporary classroom structures while permanent facilities are built. Plans for the campus include classrooms, playgrounds, outdoor learning spaces, and sports areas.

Recognizing that relocating to a new community is a major transition, the first weeks will focus on helping children and families acclimate.

Instead of beginning immediately with full academics, the early weeks will include activities, trips, and opportunities for families to get to know the area and each other. Formal classes are expected to begin after Sukkos.

Building a Community from the Ground Up

Beyond housing and education, Shefa Living is building the communal infrastructure necessary for a fully functioning frum community.

A central shul will serve as the heart of the neighborhood, bringing families together for davening, learning, and community gatherings.

A men’s and women’s mikvah is expected to open together with the first wave of residents. Plans are also underway for a unique  mikvah tahara that will be integrated into Nesheema a one of its kind community’s women’s center.

Nesheema will include a spa, gym, daycare, a cafe, and shared workspaces and spaces where women can gather and connect. Architectural plans for the center have already been completed, with construction expected to begin later this year.

Kosher food is also already available locally. After Gross approached a nearby supermarket, the store added multiple aisles of kosher products, including dairy, frozen foods, and pantry staples, even before the first families arrived.

A Community Built Around Shared Values

Shefa Living is guided by a broad Torah hashkafa under the leadership of Rabbi Twersky, emphasizing pnimiyus, avodas Hashem, and shared values over external uniformity.

Families relocating to Shefa come from a wide range of mainstream frum backgrounds. What unites them is not dress or labels, but a desire for a more intentional, grounded way of life.

“This isn’t for people running away from their communities,” Gross notes. “It’s for people running toward something they believe in. It is for mevakshim”

Life in the Mountains

The surrounding town has also played a role in shaping the project.

Small and welcoming, the area has responded warmly to the new Jewish community. Local businesses have already begun accommodating kosher needs, and many residents have expressed enthusiasm about the project.

Gross says the warmth of the local community has been striking. “People stop me on the street just to say they’re happy we’re coming,” he notes.

Set in the rolling hills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, the area offers open skies, quiet roads, and sweeping views of forests and farmland. For families seeking space, natural beauty, and a slower pace of life, the setting is part of the attraction.

Looking Ahead

With infrastructure complete, homes under construction, educational leadership in place, and families preparing to move in, Shefa Living is entering its next stage.

For families watching the project unfold, the question is no longer simply what is Shefa Living?

It’s whether this might be where their next chapter begins.

Israel reportedly maintained at least two covert military facilities in Iraq’s western desert for more than a year, using them as operational hubs for missions connected to Iran, according to a detailed report published by The New York Times.

The report, which cited Iraqi and regional security officials, said planning for the makeshift bases began in late 2024 as part of preparations for future Israeli Air Force and commando activity targeting Iran.

According to the report, Israeli planners sought remote desert locations that could function as staging grounds and logistical support centers for long-range operations.

One of the alleged bases was reportedly located near al-Nukhaib in western Iraq. The site is said to have been discovered in early March after a local shepherd, 29-year-old Awad al-Shammari, unexpectedly came across the compound while traveling through the area.

Relatives of al-Shammari and regional military officials told the newspaper that the shepherd managed to alert Iraqi military commanders after observing soldiers, helicopters, tents, and an improvised landing strip in the desert.

Shortly after reporting what he had seen, al-Shammari was allegedly pursued by a helicopter, shot, and killed. His vehicle was later set on fire, according to the report.

The incident reportedly caused major political and security upheaval inside Iraq, particularly amid allegations that Iraqi radar systems had been temporarily disabled under American direction during periods of regional fighting in order to avoid interference with U.S. aircraft.

The day after the shepherd’s report, Iraqi military officials reportedly sent a reconnaissance force to investigate the site. According to the report, the force came under intense fire, resulting in one Iraqi soldier being killed, two others wounded, and two vehicles destroyed in airstrikes, forcing the team to retreat.

During subsequent closed-door meetings between Iraqi Chief of Staff Gen. Abdul Amir Yarallah and senior American military officials, U.S. representatives reportedly confirmed that the forces operating in the area were not American troops, strengthening suspicions within Baghdad that the installations were operated by Israel.

Following the confrontation, Iraqi military commanders were summoned to a confidential parliamentary hearing on March 8. During the session, Iraqi lawmaker Hassan Fadham reportedly claimed that Israel had established an additional secret outpost elsewhere in Iraq’s western desert.

According to the report, a second Iraqi security official later confirmed the existence of another covert site.

Regional security sources told The New York Times that the desert facilities played an important logistical role by allowing Israeli aircraft to refuel closer to Iran, dramatically shortening operational flight distances.

The report added that the al-Nukhaib base is no longer believed to be active, while the current status of the second alleged outpost remains unclear.

{Matzav.com}

Israel’s chareidi parties are expected to support a preliminary vote this week to dissolve the Knesset, as the political crisis surrounding the draft law deepens and tensions within the coalition continue to intensify.

Unless dramatic last-minute developments emerge, the Knesset is expected to approve the bill to dissolve parliament in its initial reading, potentially paving the way for elections in 2026.

Over the weekend, representatives of the chareidi factions made clear that they are unwilling to delay the push for new elections, saying that they no longer trust Israeli Prime Minister Binyomin Netanyahu’s promises that a draft law can still be passed during the current summer session.

Shas chairman Aryeh Deri sharply criticized coalition partners during conversations with party lawmakers, accusing senior figures in Likud and the Religious Zionist Party of violating agreements and failing to honor commitments made to the chareidi parties.

“We invested enormous efforts to pass the law. Shas demonstrated loyal partnership to the coalition, but figures among the coalition leadership and members of Knesset from Likud and the Religious Zionist Party did not act in the same manner and blatantly violated the promises and agreements they signed.”

Deri continued his criticism, saying the coalition failed to deliver what he described as the most basic and essential piece of legislation for the chareidi public.

“In the end, the coalition did not provide the most basic and important law for us. This is disgraceful and irresponsible conduct that cannot be accepted.”

According to Deri, once it became clear that the draft law would not pass in the current Knesset, the only remaining course of action was to move toward elections in accordance with the directive of the Moetzet Chachmei HaTorah of Shas.

“Once it became clear that the law would not pass in the current Knesset,” Deri told party lawmakers, “in accordance with the decision of the Council of Torah Sages, we have no choice but to bring about the dissolution of the Knesset and new elections as quickly as possible.”

Unlike Degel HaTorah, which publicly declared this past week that it no longer considers itself aligned with Netanyahu’s political bloc, Shas has so far refrained from making such a formal announcement.

Still, Shas spokesman Asher Medina appeared to indirectly criticize Degel HaTorah’s approach, warning against believing that a left-wing government would offer more favorable treatment to the chareidi community.

“Anyone who thinks a left-wing government will give us everything is living in fantasies. The only common denominator among that collection of figures is hatred of chareidim.”

The differing approaches between the two chareidi factions became especially noticeable following the dramatic handwritten letter released by Slabdoka Rosh Yeshiva Rav Dov Lando instructing Degel HaTorah lawmakers to actively work toward dissolving the Knesset as soon as possible.

In the letter, Rav Landau stated that from this point forward, the only consideration guiding Degel HaTorah would be “what is good for chareidi Judaism,” without obligation to previous political alliances.

In particularly sharp language, Rav Lando declared that “the concept of a bloc no longer exists.”

{Matzav.com}

The Seret-Vizhnitzer chassidus is preparing for a major supporters’ conference later this month that will include a historic tefillah journey led by the Rebbe to Kever Rochel and Me’aras Hamachpeilah, his first such visit since assuming the leadership of the chassidus.

The two-day gathering is scheduled to take place Wednesday and Thursday, the 11th and 12th of Sivan, under the leadership of the Seret-Vizhnitz Rebbe. The event will combine fundraising efforts for the chassidus’ institutions in Haifa together with special tefillah gatherings at significant holy sites.

The conference will open at the Beis HaEla events center, where participants will stay throughout the program. Eligibility to participate requires a commitment to donate 786 shekels per month — corresponding to the numerical value of the word “shutaf” — for a three-year period. The funds will be directed toward strengthening and expanding the chassidus’ mosdos located in Ramat Vizhnitz in Haifa.

The second day of the gathering will feature a special tefillah mission headed by the Rebbe. Participants will accompany him to Kever Rochel and Me’aras Hamachpeilah in Chevron in what organizers described as a historic occasion.

The visit carries particular significance because it will mark the first time the Rebbe has traveled to those sites since he was crowned rebbe of the chassidus in 5775.

The last time the Rebbe visited the locations was in 5771, when he traveled there to daven before the wedding of his youngest son, Rav Shalom Ozer Hager, son-in-law of the Tchorkov-London rov.

{Matzav.com}

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has reportedly told close associates that he is preparing to step down as the United Kingdom’s leader as political pressure and turmoil surrounding his government continue to intensify.

According to a report published by the Daily Mail UK, Starmer has privately acknowledged that the current situation facing his government cannot continue indefinitely and is considering how to leave office on his own timetable.

Citing a cabinet member, the report said Starmer is prepared to resign but intends to manage the process carefully and maintain control over the timing of his departure.

“He realises the current chaos is unsustainable. He simply wants to be able to do it in a dignified way and in a manner of his own choosing. He will set out a timetable,” the source told the UK-based outlet.

The Labour government has been facing growing instability amid increasing public dissatisfaction with Starmer’s leadership and the party’s overall direction.

A series of political setbacks has intensified the pressure on the prime minister, including criticism surrounding the appointment of Peter Mandelson and disappointing results for Labour in recent local elections.

Calls for Starmer’s resignation grew even louder following the resignation of Wes Streeting, who previously served as health secretary in Starmer’s cabinet.

Streeting announced Thursday that he plans to challenge for Labour Party leadership in any future contest, formally positioning himself as a possible successor for the premiership.

During remarks addressing the growing political uncertainty, Streeting publicly urged Starmer to begin planning his departure from office.

During his speech, the former health secretary also urged Starmer to “set a schedule” for his departure.

At the same time, Starmer’s standing with the British public has continued to decline sharply.

According to recent polling conducted by YouGov UK, approximately 69 percent of Britons now hold an “unfavourable” opinion of the Labour prime minister.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump is reportedly preparing to withdraw his massive lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service as part of a proposed agreement that would establish a $1.7 billion compensation fund for individuals who claim they were harmed by what supporters describe as the Biden administration’s “weaponization” of government agencies.

According to sources familiar with the discussions, the proposed fund would be overseen by a commission with broad authority to distribute approximately $1.7 billion in taxpayer money to claimants alleging they were unfairly targeted by the federal government. Potential recipients could include many of the nearly 1,600 individuals charged in connection with the January 6 Capitol riot, along with organizations and entities tied to President Trump.

Sources cautioned that while the settlement is expected to be finalized within days, negotiations remain ongoing and the exact terms have not yet been officially completed.

In addition to receiving a public apology from the IRS, Trump is reportedly demanding creation of the compensation fund in exchange for dropping multiple legal actions he filed against the federal government. Those cases include his $10 billion lawsuit over the 2019 leak of his tax returns, as well as roughly $230 million in claims connected to the 2022 FBI search of Mar-a-Lago and the Russia collusion investigation conducted during his first term.

Under the proposed arrangement, Trump himself would reportedly be barred from personally receiving money tied directly to those legal disputes. However, sources said entities affiliated with him would not necessarily be prohibited from pursuing separate compensation claims.

Responding to questions from ABC News, a spokesman for Trump’s legal team defended the lawsuits and blasted the release of the president’s financial records.

“The IRS wrongly allowed a rogue, politically-motivated employee to leak private and confidential information about President Trump, his family, and the Trump Organization to the New York Times, ProPublica and other left-wing news outlets, which was then illegally released to millions of people. President Trump continues to hold those who wrong America and Americans accountable.”

A Justice Department spokesperson declined to comment on the matter. Officials from both the IRS and Treasury Department also did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

According to sources, the proposed compensation fund would likely be financed through the Treasury Department’s Judgment Fund, a permanent federal account used to pay legal settlements and court judgments.

The arrangement would mark an unusual use of taxpayer money and could face legal challenges due to the structure of the proposed commission. Sources said Trump would reportedly have the power to remove commission members at will, while the panel itself would not be required to publicly disclose how decisions were made regarding distribution of more than $1 billion in awards.

The proposal has reportedly generated ethical concerns within parts of the administration, particularly because Trump is simultaneously suing federal agencies while potentially maintaining influence over an entity empowered to distribute large sums of government money to political allies.

Last year, Trump acknowledged the unusual optics surrounding the lawsuits while insisting any personal financial recovery would be donated.

“It’s interesting because I’m the one that makes a decision, right, and, you know, that decision would have to go across my desk,” Trump said in the Oval Office in October. “It’s awfully strange to make a decision where I’m paying myself.”

The proposed agreement would also address concerns raised by the federal judge overseeing Trump’s IRS lawsuit. U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams recently ordered Trump and the Justice Department to explain why the case should continue, questioning whether the president and the federal agencies he oversees are truly adverse parties in the litigation.

“Moreover, although President Trump avers that he is bringing this lawsuit in his personal capacity, he is the sitting president and his named adversaries are entities whose decisions are subject to his direction. Indeed, President Trump’s own remarks about this matter acknowledge the unique dynamic of this litigation,” she wrote.

The New York Times previously reported that Justice Department officials were evaluating ways to resolve the IRS lawsuit ahead of the court’s upcoming deadline.

Since Trump issued sweeping pardons to defendants charged in connection with the January 6 Capitol riot, many of those individuals have begun seeking compensation from the federal government.

Speaking to Newsmax last year about the possibility of creating a compensation fund for January 6 defendants, Trump indicated there was support for the idea within the government.

“a lot of the people that are in government now talk about it” because they “really like that group of people.”

“They were patriots as far as I was concerned,” Trump said last year. “I talk about them a lot. They were treated very unfairly.”

Earlier this year, House Democrats introduced legislation that would prohibit January 6 defendants from receiving government compensation.

Sources familiar with the discussions described the proposed fund as a hybrid between a victim compensation program and a truth-and-reconciliation-style commission. Comparisons have reportedly been made to compensation systems established after the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, as well as international truth and reconciliation efforts tied to apartheid-era South Africa and Canada’s residential school system.

Over the past year, the Justice Department has also operated a “Weaponization Working Group” tasked with reviewing what officials describe as abuses carried out by the Biden administration, including allegations of anti-conservative and anti-Christian bias — accusations disputed by former government officials.

According to sources, Trump’s proposed commission would consist of five members who would approve financial awards through majority vote. The identities of recipients, as well as the details of the award process itself, could remain confidential.

Any unused money remaining in the fund would reportedly revert back to the federal government shortly before Trump leaves office, sources said.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump sharply criticized New York Gov. Kathy Hochul after she blamed the federal government for the Long Island Rail Road strike that crippled travel for hundreds of thousands of commuters across the region.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump rejected any connection to the labor dispute and accused Hochul of trying to shift blame for the transit shutdown.

“Failed New York State Governor Kathy Hochul, a Dumacrat, just blamed ME for her Long Island Railroad STRIKE, when she knows, full well, that I have NOTHING TO DO WITH IT — never even heard about it until this morning. She just blurted out, ‘it’s President Trump’s fault.’ No, Kathy, it’s your fault, and now looking over the facts, you should not have allowed this to happen,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.

Trump went on to praise Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman and suggested he would better handle the state’s problems.

“If you can’t solve it, let me know, and I’ll show you how to properly get things done. This would be an easy one for BRUCE BLAKEMAN. He should be your next Governor and New York State would turn around fast, including far less Crime, and much lower taxes!!! Kathy, call me if you can’t do it, I will get it done – I know all the players, great people!!!” Trump added.

The Long Island Rail Road, the largest commuter rail system in North America, suspended service Saturday after labor negotiations between the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and multiple unions collapsed following months of talks.

The strike began shortly after midnight and marked the railroad’s first major shutdown caused by labor action in more than three decades.

Five separate unions representing approximately 3,500 workers — including engineers, machinists, signal workers and electricians — walked off the job after contract talks failed to produce a new agreement.

The work stoppage immediately disrupted transportation for an estimated 250,000 to 300,000 daily commuters who depend on the railroad to travel between Long Island and New York City.

Union officials argued that workers have gone years without updated contracts and said employees are seeking raises that reflect inflation and the high cost of living in the region. The MTA, however, warned that agreeing to the unions’ demands could trigger major fare increases or force cuts elsewhere in the transit system.

“The disruption that Long Islanders face … is the direct result of reckless actions by the Trump administration to cut mediation shot and push these negotiations toward a strike,” Hochul wrote on X.

“For weeks, the MTA has attempted to negotiate in good faith and put multiple fair offers on the table that included meaningful wage increases, but you cannot make a deal if one side refuses to engage in good faith,” she added.

MTA Chairman Janno Lieber defended the agency’s handling of negotiations, insisting management had already met the unions’ salary demands and suggesting union leaders intended to strike from the outset.

Kevin Sexton, national vice president of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen, said no additional bargaining sessions have been scheduled.

“We’re far apart at this point,” Sexton said. “We are truly sorry that we are in this situation.”

Hochul urged affected commuters to work remotely if possible as officials continue searching for a resolution to the growing transit crisis.

{Matzav.com}

A heartbreaking tragedy struck an Israeli family on Erev Shabbos when one-month-old Avinoam Meir Davidson of Bnei Brak passed away from injuries sustained in a devastating car accident on Highway 1.

The infant had been critically injured in the crash and was taken to Shaare Zedek Medical Center in Yerushalayim, where doctors fought to save his life. He was later pronounced dead at the hospital.

His father, Shlomo Zalman ben Galia Iga, remains hospitalized in stable condition. His mother, Ayala bas Shulamis Rosa, is listed in very serious and unstable condition.

The family had been traveling to Yerushalayim for Shabbos, planning to stay at the Bikkurim recovery center together with their infant son, Avinoam Meir z”l. Their other children had remained behind in Bnei Brak with their grandparents.

The tragic accident claimed the life of the infant while leaving both parents seriously injured.

Avinoam Meir was the grandson of Reb Aharon Seller of Bnei Brak and Reb Aryeh Davidson of the Kiryat Herzog neighborhood in Bnei Brak.

The driver transporting the family was also injured in the crash and remains hospitalized. His name for tefillah is Avrohom ben Zehava.

The infant’s body was transferred to the Abu Kabir forensic institute. The levayah is expected to take place today in Elad.

Tehei nishmaso tzerurah bitzror hachaim.

{Matzav.com}