Feed aggregator

After several weeks of steady losses against the shekel, the U.S. dollar has begun to regain ground in recent days, fueled by growing expectations that the Bank of Israel may move more quickly to cut interest rates.

The Bank of Israel’s latest representative exchange rate was set at 2.8950 shekels per dollar, reflecting a daily increase of 0.801%. The euro also posted gains against the Israeli currency.

The primary driver behind the shift appears to be changing market expectations regarding Israeli monetary policy. Bank of Israel Governor Prof. Amir Yaron recently indicated that if inflation expectations continue to decline, it could justify a more accommodative monetary policy and potentially a faster pace of interest-rate reductions.

Investors interpreted those comments as a signal that interest rates in Israel could be lowered sooner than previously anticipated.

When markets expect interest rates to decline, the shekel often weakens because holding shekel-denominated assets becomes less attractive. That dynamic has helped the dollar recover after trading at unusually low levels in recent weeks.

Concerns among exporters and high-tech companies have also played a role. A strong shekel reduces the value of revenues earned in dollars when those earnings are converted into local currency, making fluctuations in the exchange rate especially significant for major sectors of the Israeli economy.

Despite the dollar’s recent gains, financial analysts caution that it is still too early to declare a lasting reversal in the currency trend.

A few days of strengthening do not necessarily outweigh the factors that have supported the shekel in recent months, including robust high-tech exports, strong performance in U.S. financial markets, and continued investment flows into Israel’s stock market.

The Bank of Israel is expected to continue monitoring inflation data, currency movements, and the security situation before making any further policy decisions.

For now, many market observers view the dollar’s recent rise primarily as a sharp correction following a significant decline, rather than definitive evidence of a new long-term trend in the foreign exchange market.

Ireland has become the latest country to prohibit National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich from entering its territory, with Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin announcing the decision on Friday.

Speaking during a European Union gathering in Montenegro, Martin sharply criticized the two Israeli ministers, asserting that their conduct and rhetoric “amount to a desire to see the elimination of the Palestinians.”

Martin also called on the European Union to take additional action against Ben Gvir and Smotrich, urging member states to consider imposing further sanctions on the pair.

With Ireland’s move, the two ministers have now been barred from entering nine countries. Ireland joins the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Norway, Slovenia, the Netherlands, and Spain, all of which have already enacted similar restrictions.

{Matzav.com}

A heated debate erupted Thursday night during a meeting of Israel’s security cabinet as several ministers voiced opposition to a proposed ceasefire arrangement with Lebanon, while Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu clarified that no agreement currently exists because Hezbollah has not accepted the terms.

The discussion came after the United States announced details of a proposed framework following talks between Israeli and Lebanese representatives in Washington.

Under the reported proposal, the sides would establish a series of “pilot zones” in southern Lebanon under the exclusive control of the Lebanese Army. Implementation would be contingent upon a complete cessation of hostilities and the removal of all Hezbollah operatives from areas south of the Litani River.

Despite the framework, no vote on approving a ceasefire took place after Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem publicly rejected the proposal, including its requirement that Hezbollah halt its attacks.

According to a Ynet report, IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir attended only the opening portion of the meeting and spoke little during the discussion. During the session, ministers received news of the death of armored corps officer Capt. Eitan Shmuel Lamberg, Hy”d, in southern Lebanon, a development that further hardened opposition among several cabinet members.

At the start of the meeting, Netanyahu updated ministers on the status of negotiations and emphasized that no agreement was currently on the table.

“If Hezbollah agrees, I will bring the ceasefire agreement to you for approval. At the moment there is no agreement. Hezbollah opposes it, and therefore I am not bringing it for a decision,” Netanyahu said.

The prime minister’s remarks sparked a sharp exchange among ministers. Energy Minister Eli Cohen argued that Israel’s response to Hezbollah attacks has been insufficient.

“We need to tell ourselves the truth. For attacks like these, any normal country would have smashed them,” Cohen said.

Minister Ze’ev Elkin pointed to what he described as Lebanon’s unwillingness to move forward with a ceasefire.

“The other side does not want a ceasefire. We can wait a little longer, but we must respond,” Elkin said.

Settlement Minister Orit Strock called for territorial changes along the northern border, saying Israel should “change the border” and move in that direction.

Minister Yitzchak Wasserlauf recounted a conversation with his son regarding the proposed ceasefire.

“My son asked me what this ceasefire is. I told him, during a food break you eat, during a ceasefire they shoot. We cannot keep trying to satisfy the Americans. Time is not on our side,” Wasserlauf said.

National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir urged Netanyahu to present the human cost of the conflict directly to President Donald Trump.

“Go to the United States and take children from Kiryat Shmona and Metula with you. Tell Trump: We love you, but we must strike Hezbollah’s weak points in Dahieh, and even if there is an escalation, there must be a military maneuver. He’ll get over it. Our soldiers are more important,” Ben Gvir said.

In contrast, Finance Minister Betzalel Smotrich offered a more supportive assessment of the proposed arrangement.

“A ceasefire under these circumstances would be a tremendous achievement,” Smotrich argued.

Earlier Thursday, Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem formally rejected the understandings reached between Israel and Lebanon, which would have required Hezbollah to stop firing and withdraw from territory south of the Litani River.

“The result of the direct, humiliating and disgraceful negotiations is rejected by broad segments of the Lebanese people,” Qassem said.

He further declared that Hezbollah would not agree to any ceasefire while Israeli troops remain in Lebanon.

“The Washington declaration conditions the basic principles that America and Israel want — toward subjugating Lebanon to the Greater Israel project.”

Shortly after Qassem’s speech, sirens warning of a hostile aircraft intrusion sounded in several communities in the western Galilee. A Hezbollah drone later exploded near Shlomi, roughly twenty minutes after Prime Minister Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yisroel Katz had departed the area following a meeting with local municipal leaders.

{Matzav.com}

California’s appellate court granted Kars4Kids a win yesterday, allowing it to continue running its iconic jingle on radio and TV in the state. Kars4Kids is a national nonprofit that uses proceeds from car donations for youth, educational, and mentoring programs, largely through its sister charity Oorah. The Court agreed to Kars4Kids’ request for a stay of the lower court’s injunction barring it from airing its current ads in California while the organization pursues an appeal of that ruling.

“Kars4Kids applauds today’s court ruling,” a Kars4Kids spokesperson said. “Kars4Kids’ programs benefit children and teenagers in California and throughout the country. The uninterrupted airing of its ads will enable the charity to continue funding those programs.”

The May 8th court opinion based its decision on what Kars4Kids calls a misrepresentation of the charity and its work, as detailed on the Kars4Kids website.

“We believe the lower court’s findings on the facts and the law were deeply flawed, and we are pursuing a broad appeal of that decision,” the spokesperson said.

{Matzav.com}

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said that communication with Iran’s supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, remains ongoing and that government officials are carefully following his directives, underscoring his continued role in guiding Tehran’s policies, including negotiations with the United States.

Araghchi’s remarks came after he confirmed that indirect talks with the United States have continued through intermediaries despite the absence of a final agreement.

He stressed that communication channels with Khamenei remain active and functioning, adding that “Khamenei’s instructions reach the government on time.” The statement appeared to push back against comments from U.S. officials who have suggested that difficulties communicating with Iran’s leadership have slowed the negotiation process and delayed responses from Tehran.

Araghchi further emphasized that Iran’s political leadership is acting in full accordance with Khamenei’s directives. His comments indicate that the decision to continue negotiations with Washington has been made with Khamenei’s approval, despite the Iranian leader’s criticism of the United States and Israel.

Just one day earlier, Khamenei accused the two countries of attempting to divide the Iranian people, saying that “the United States and Israel are trying to sow division among Iranians.”

Addressing maritime security, Araghchi also stated that Iran and the Sultanate of Oman would coordinate the management of the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz in accordance with international law.

Mojtaba Khamenei has not appeared publicly since being selected in March to succeed his father, Ali Khamenei, who was killed on the first day of the war with Iran on February 28. His health and status have remained the subject of speculation, raising questions about the extent of his control over the country. Nevertheless, reports continue to point to his growing involvement in government affairs and major policy decisions.

President Donald Trump said last Wednesday that Khamenei’s son is “definitely involved” in the ongoing negotiations.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio echoed that assessment earlier in the week, saying Tuesday that “there are signs that he is becoming increasingly involved at some level.”

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Ali Abdollahi, commander of Khatam al-Anbiya, the central operational headquarters of Iran’s armed forces, have both previously confirmed meeting with Mojtaba Khamenei. However, no photographs from those meetings have been released publicly.

To date, Khamenei’s public communications have been limited to written statements. His latest message was issued Thursday and read during a ceremony marking the 37th anniversary of Ayatollah Khomeini’s death. In the statement, he called on Iranians “to confront the malicious intentions of the enemies,” a reference to the United States and Israel.

{Matzav.com}

[COMMUNICATED]

Three kedoshei elyon had one common concept when it came to learning Torah – they were the Ohr Hachaim Hakadosh (Rabbi Chaim ibn Attar 1696-1743) when he came to Eretz Yisroel; the Ramchal (Rabbi Moshe Chaim Luzzatto 1707-1746) when he lived in Padua, Italy;  and Hagaon, Harav Chaim Volozhiner, (1749-1821) the famous talmid of the Gaon of Vilna.

They each had a yeshiva with ‘around-the-clock’ Torah learning, 24-hours a day, so that there would be no minute when the sound of Torah learning would not be heard in this world. The 24-hour period would be divided into shifts, and as one ended the next would begin.

Torah-24

A “Torah-24” Center has been opened in Yerushalayim and the Nasi is Maran Sar Hatorah, Harav Chaim Kanievsky, zt”l.

Under ONE ROOF, from 6:00 am – 6:00 am, 10 kollelim fill successive learning shifts. Each kollel focuses on a specific area of in-depth Torah study. The “Torah-24” Kollelim include: Boker (Gemora), Yerushalmi, Bavli, Zeraim-Taharot, Dalet Chelkei Shulchan Aruch, Erev (Gemora), Chatzos- Zohar/Kabbolah, Erev Shabbos (Chumash / Medrash b’iyun). 

Already there are 52 avreichim metzuyonim, and a large number of candidates are vying for the remaining slots in the kollelim. All the avreichim are required to take rigorous monthly tests.

Endorsements & Letters

Endorsements include Maranan Hagaonim shlit”a: Harav Gershon Edelstein, Harav Berel Povarsky, Harav Shimon Badani, Harav Dovid Cohen, Harav Boruch Mordechai Ezrachi, Harav Chaim Feinstein, Harav Shimon Galai, Harav Shraga Shteinman.

Letters of support-encouragement have been received from Maranan Hagaonim, shlit”a: Hamekubal Harav David Bazri, Hamashpia Hagadol Reb Elimelech Biderman, Hamekubal Harav Yaakov Meir Schechter, Harav Moishe Sternbuch, Harav Yitzchak Tuvia Weiss.

For more “Torah-24” information click on: www.torah-24.com or call 718-766-5022

Dozens of chareidi protesters blocked Highway 1 near Sha’ar Hagai overnight into Friday, protesting the arrest of a yeshiva bochur who had been classified as a draft evader. The demonstration caused significant traffic congestion before police dispersed the protesters using stun grenades and reopened the roadway.

The protest was sparked by the arrest of Nesanel Amsili, a talmid at Yeshivas Derech Hashem, who was detained by military police. The highway remained clogged with traffic for an extended period as demonstrators blocked the road.

Clashes broke out at the scene between motorists and protesters. Some drivers confronted the demonstrators and attempted to clear a path through the massive traffic backup that had formed.

After approximately an hour of roadblocks and disturbances, large police forces arrived and moved to break up the protest. Officers used stun grenades to disperse the crowd, after which traffic resumed on the highway.

The demonstration comes amid ongoing tensions surrounding the arrest of yeshiva students over military draft issues. Protest organizers argue that yeshiva bochurim have been subjected to increasing enforcement efforts by legal authorities, the military, and police.

Earlier this week, extremist protesters demonstrated outside the home of Supreme Court Justice Noam Sohlberg in the community of Alon Shvut, protesting the enlistment of yeshiva students. Police detained approximately 60 suspects during that demonstration.

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu condemned the protest outside Justice Sohlberg’s home, calling for strict enforcement against those involved.

“Law enforcement authorities must exhaust the full severity of the law against the rioters,” Netanyahu wrote.

After weeks of Republican infighting over a controversial settlement fund tied to President Trump, the Senate approved a $70 billion spending package for Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Border Patrol in the early hours of Friday morning.

The legislation cleared the chamber on a 52-47 vote shortly before 5 a.m. following an overnight series of amendment votes known as a “vote-a-rama.” Among the defeated proposals was an amendment from Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) that sought to divert money from the settlement fund to law enforcement officers injured during the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot.

The bill now heads to the House, where lawmakers are expected to consider it next week.

What Republican leaders hoped would be a straightforward vote centered on border enforcement instead turned into a prolonged internal battle over a $1.776 billion settlement fund established to compensate alleged victims of government weaponization.

For much of Thursday, GOP senators sparred over efforts to eliminate the fund, despite assurances from acting Attorney General Todd Blanche earlier in the week that the program would not move forward.

“This would have been done several hours ago if we weren’t having to deal with some of the issues around the fund,” Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) told reporters shortly before midnight Thursday.

The settlement fund emerged from an agreement resolving Trump’s lawsuit against the IRS over the disclosure of his tax returns to the New York Times. The newspaper published details from those returns in a September 2020 report examining Trump’s finances.

Although Thune publicly criticized the settlement fund, he spent weeks urging fellow Republicans to keep the border security bill narrowly tailored and avoid attaching provisions that might jeopardize its chances in the House.

Nevertheless, several Republican senators continued pressing for legislative action to prevent the settlement payouts, extending the fight well into the night.

Their push intensified after Trump cast uncertainty on the matter Wednesday afternoon, saying the settlement remained significant while declining to say whether it had been abandoned.

“That settlement is “very important” and “I don’t know” whether it is dead or on hold.

“I’d have to ask the lawyers,” he said.

The Senate’s first vote Thursday morning focused on an amendment offered by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) to prohibit the settlement fund. The measure remained open for hours before ultimately failing by a 50-49 margin. Republican Sens. Susan Collins of Maine, Jon Husted of Ohio, and Dan Sullivan of Alaska joined Democrats in support.

Lawmakers later overwhelmingly defeated a second proposal from Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) that would have eliminated the settlement fund and redirected the money to a Justice Department anti-fraud initiative.

“If Blanche says this is largely inoperative, why not use this moment to codify that?” said Tillis, who is retiring rather than seeking another term this fall. “Otherwise, you’re exposing every one of our members who are in cycle to having to deal with this between today and Election Day, and that makes no sense for something that the DOJ says they’re not moving forward with.”

Cassidy’s amendment, which would have provided compensation to police officers injured during the Capitol riot, also failed on a 52-47 vote. The proposal highlighted concerns that individuals involved in the Jan. 6 attack could potentially qualify for payments under the settlement arrangement.

Cassidy argued that despite Blanche’s assurances, the settlement remained legally active and “absolutely can be used.”

Another unsuccessful amendment would have barred any payments to Jan. 6 defendants who assaulted law enforcement personnel during the riot.

Schumer sharply criticized Republicans for defeating the proposals, warning that Senate action left taxpayers with little more than assurances from Trump’s legal team.

“leaving taxpayers to rely on nothing more than a promise from Donald Trump’s personal fixer. That is not accountability. That is a permission slip.”

Passage of the legislation would bring an end to a funding standoff that began after two anti-ICE protesters were fatally shot by federal agents in Minnesota earlier this year.

Democrats had insisted that any new funding for the Department of Homeland Security be paired with policy changes governing immigration enforcement. Their demands included clearer identification requirements for federal officers, expanded use of judicial warrants, and additional oversight measures.

Following the Minnesota incident, Trump agreed to separate Homeland Security funding from a broader spending package that was eventually enacted. However, negotiations between the parties failed to produce an agreement on immigration enforcement reforms.

As a result, funding for portions of the department expired in mid-February, with no compromise in place.

Congress later approved funding for the remainder of the Department of Homeland Security at the end of April with Democratic support, but ICE and Border Patrol operations have continued without regular appropriations ever since.

{Matzav.com}

As concern continues over the condition of renowned mekubal Rav Dov HaKohen Kook, who has been hospitalized for several weeks at Poriya Medical Center in Tiveriah, a new name has been added to his name as a zechus for his recovery.

After consultations with Rav Kook’s family and close disciples, the question of adding a name was presented to Rav Don Segal. Rav Segal instructed that the name “Chizkiyahu” be added and offered a brocha for a complete and speedy recovery.

Rav Yitzchok Zilberstein, Rav Kook’s father-in-law, also reportedly endorsed the decision and added his brocha.

About a week and a half ago, in a rare move, Rav Segal called for a special gathering of tefillah in his bais medrash in Yerushalayim on behalf of Rav Kook’s recovery. The two Torah leaders have shared a close relationship and deep mutual respect for many years.

At the gathering, Rav Segal asked Rav Bentzion HaKohen Kook, a cousin of Rav Dov Kook and a prominent posek, to address those assembled.

Speaking at the event, Rav Bentzion Kook described Rav Dov Kook’s extraordinary devotion to davening on behalf of others. He recalled that when he once asked Rav Kook to daven for a particular matter, Rav Kook responded that he would do so the following day because he first needed to fully immerse himself in and internalize the request. Rav Bentzion explained that Rav Kook’s tefillos are lengthy because he pours his entire being into davening for every individual, especially for the Jewish people as a whole. He urged the public to repay some of that devotion by praying for Rav Kook’s recovery.

Rav Don later led the tefillos himself and made a striking remark, saying that the tefillos were not truly for Rav Kook, but for the benefit of those offering them.

The public is continuing to be urged to daven for the complete recovery of Rav Chizkiyahu Dov HaKohen ben Shoshana.

President Donald Trump offered a strong endorsement of Sen. Lindsey Graham’s reelection campaign on Thursday, praising the South Carolina Republican’s leadership on the Save America Act and calling on GOP voters to support him in the upcoming primary election.

In a Truth Social post, Trump thanked Graham for bringing the legislation to a vote and highlighted several of its key provisions while making clear that he wants Republican voters to rally behind the longtime senator.

“I’d like to thank our GREAT Senator, Lindsey Graham, for putting up THE SAVE AMERICA ACT for a Vote today,” Trump wrote, highlighting five key provisions.

Trump specifically applauded the bill’s election-related requirements, emphasizing that under the proposal, “ALL VOTERS MUST SHOW PHOTO I.D. (IDENTIFICATION!)” and that “ALL VOTERS MUST SHOW PROOF OF CITIZENSHIP.”

The legislation would also tighten restrictions on mail-in voting by limiting absentee ballots to circumstances involving “ILLNESS, DISABILITY, MILITARY, OR TRAVEL.”

In addition to election reforms, Trump noted that the measure would bar biological males from competing in women’s sports and would prohibit “TRANSGENDER MUTILIZATION SURGERY FOR OUR CHILDREN.”

The endorsement serves as the latest sign of the close political partnership between Trump and Graham, who has emerged as one of the president’s most reliable allies on Capitol Hill.

Over the years, Graham has consistently aligned himself with Trump on a wide range of issues, including judicial appointments, foreign policy matters, and election-related legislation.

Trump left no doubt about where he stands in South Carolina’s Republican primary, issuing a direct appeal to voters ahead of Tuesday’s contest.

“This Tuesday, June 9th, all Republicans in South Carolina should vote for Lindsey Graham,” Trump declared.

He further praised the senator, stating that Graham “HAS MY COMPLETE AND TOTAL ENDORSEMENT, AND WILL NOT LET YOU DOWN!”

Trump’s backing continues to be viewed as one of the most influential forces in Republican politics. His endorsements have enjoyed an exceptionally high success rate in recent election cycles, and his recent opposition to Rep. Thomas Massie’s reelection bid contributed to the Kentucky congressman’s defeat.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump announced Thursday that his administration is considering the creation of a new pedestrian promenade connecting the Lincoln Memorial to the Potomac River, a project that could ultimately bear his name and become one of the most visible additions to Washington’s landscape.

Speaking with reporters in the Oval Office, Trump revealed the proposal for the first time, explaining that the new walkway would extend from the iconic memorial honoring President Abraham Lincoln down to the riverfront.

“They want to call it the Trump Promenade,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office as he unveiled the project for the first time. “I don’t know if I want to do that, but it’s going to be beautiful.”

The announcement came as workers completed another major project championed by Trump: the refurbishment of the Reflecting Pool on the National Mall near the Lincoln Memorial. Water was being pumped back into the pool on Thursday as the renovation neared completion.

For the second consecutive day, Trump also highlighted a chart titled “Our Pool is Bigger than Skyscrapers,” which compares the dimensions of the Reflecting Pool to several well-known skyscrapers.

Since returning to office last year, Trump has launched an extensive effort to reshape and renovate prominent landmarks across the nation’s capital. The initiatives include upgrades to monuments, plans to replace the White House East Wing with a new ballroom, and the proposed construction of a massive triumphal arch.

The president has also sought to leave a more personal imprint on Washington, including efforts to associate his name with several cultural and civic institutions, among them the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.

Among his various projects, however, the proposal involving the Lincoln Memorial may prove the most consequential. The idea would not only alter access to one of America’s most revered monuments but could also attach Trump’s name to a section of the site.

Trump said the plan would restore an element of the memorial’s original design. According to him, the 1911 vision for the monument envisioned a direct connection between the memorial and the Potomac River, but the area was later divided by major roadways.

“It’s going to take the Lincoln Memorial right down to the Potomac, which it was always scheduled to do,” Trump said.

“We have a way of beautifully going over those two roads, the highways.”

Despite the administration’s ambitions, several of Trump’s high-profile projects have encountered resistance, and time is becoming an increasingly significant factor as his second and final term enters its latter half.

The Reflecting Pool renovation, which temporarily closed one of Washington’s most visited attractions, has drawn criticism over both its price tag and the manner in which the contract was awarded.

In another setback, a federal judge ruled last month that Trump’s name must be removed from the Kennedy Center.

Following that ruling, the Kennedy Center’s legal team reportedly instructed employees to eliminate references to Trump’s name from signage, printed materials, the organization’s website, and other official communications.

Trump’s planned White House ballroom has also faced obstacles. While the president has repeatedly stated that the project’s estimated $400 million cost will be covered by private donors and his own contributions, Republicans recently abandoned a separate proposal that would have allocated up to $1 billion for Secret Service security enhancements tied to the ballroom project, including a planned rooftop “drone pad.”

President Donald Trump joked Thursday that Hunter Biden could potentially make a run for the White House in 2028, arguing that if other politically embattled candidates are managing to remain viable, the former first son might have a chance as well.

The comments came after Fox News correspondent Peter Doocy asked Trump about speculation surrounding Hunter Biden’s political future.

“[Hunter Biden’s] on social media now, and he has suggested – maybe joking, I don’t know – that he could run for president in 2028. How would he do, Hunter Biden, in a 2028 Democratic primary?” Fox News’ Peter Doocy asked Trump on Thursday.

The question followed Hunter Biden’s recent activity on X, where he launched an account in May, prompting discussion about whether he may be considering a future role in politics.

“I would say his past is not the greatest,” Trump responded.

The president then compared Hunter Biden’s prospects to those of a Democratic Senate candidate in Maine who has faced a series of controversies during his campaign.

“Hey, if the guy from Maine can do well,” the president continued. “Well, I guess Hunter could do well, too, because the guy from Maine is a basket case.”

Trump was referring to Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner, whose campaign has been dogged by reports involving a deleted Reddit account, a tattoo linked to Nazi imagery, allegations of hard-drug use, and more. Hunter Biden, meanwhile, has long faced scrutiny over his struggles with addiction and legal issues, culminating in a broad pardon issued by his father shortly before Trump returned to the White House.

Despite the controversies surrounding his campaign, Platner has remained competitive in polling as he seeks to defeat Republican Sen. Susan Collins.

Trump also drew a comparison between a hypothetical Hunter Biden presidential campaign and Texas Democratic Senate nominee James Talarico.

“And I would say worse than him is the one from Texas that looks like Alfred E. Neuman,” he said “I would say that if he can do well, maybe Hunter can do well. I’m not sure, it’ll be pretty close as far as I’m concerned.”

The president made the remarks while speaking with reporters during an event highlighting the administration’s investments in the coal industry. During the exchange, he was also asked about former President Joe Biden’s condition during a private Oval Office meeting held shortly after the 2024 election.

“President Biden is out promoting a new book this week. When you met with Joe Biden, President Joe Biden, right here in the Oval Office on November the 13th of 2024, could you detect any cognitive decline in President Biden at that time?” a reporter asked.

Trump said he did not notice any significant difference in Biden during that meeting.

“No, not really. I mean, he was the same guy I’ve been watching for a long time,” the president answered.

“He was fine as far as I was concerned,” Trump said, adding that “I don’t know, something happened to him during the debate. It could have been me.”

At the same time, Trump suggested that Biden had never been known as a particularly sharp political figure, remarking that the former president was “never the sharpest guy.”

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump said Thursday that Iran’s underground nuclear facilities were devastated by recent strikes and argued that only the United States and China possess the specialized equipment necessary to reach any enriched uranium that may remain buried beneath the damaged sites.

Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office, Trump insisted the attacks had completely destroyed the targeted facilities.

“We attacked their nuclear sites and they were obliterated,” he told reporters in the Oval Office.

Trump also took aim at media reports that questioned the extent of the damage, specifically referencing coverage by CNN.

“It turned out that, you know, CNN was wrong. They said, ‘Well, maybe they weren’t hit that hard.’ They were hit so hard, nobody knows if you could even get it out,” he added.

The president maintained that even if enriched uranium remains beneath the sites, recovering it would be an enormous challenge and could only be attempted by a handful of countries.

“But the only ones that have the capability of getting it out are us and China,” Trump said.

According to Trump, the depth of the facilities and the scale of the destruction would require highly specialized machinery capable of penetrating deep into mountainous terrain.

“We’re the only ones with that kind of equipment that’s powerful enough to go down that deep into a mountain, but that mountain crushed it.”

He further emphasized the extent of the damage, saying the strikes caused a collapse that buried the facilities beneath the mountain itself.

“That mountain literally collapsed on top of it.”

Trump also cited assessments from the International Atomic Energy Agency, saying the organization’s findings support his view that access to the sites would be extremely difficult.

“And now the atomic energy, as you know, has backed us up on that. They think it’s a very, very hard thing to get to, but we’ll get it anyway. But we’re the only ones — and China, I believe, does, too — that have the capability,” he said.

{Matzav.com}

WATCH:

LISTEN:

​​For more info, email bitachon4life@gmail.com.

LISTEN:

Israeli Heritage Minister Amichai Eliyahu quietly traveled to Russia on Thursday for an official visit, marking the first trip by a member of Israel’s government to the country in three years. Arutz Sheva–Israel National News reports exclusively that Eliyahu is expected to remain in Russia through the weekend before returning to Israel on Sunday.

The visit comes against the backdrop of the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war and a sensitive diplomatic climate between Moscow and Israel, making the trip particularly notable.

While in Russia, Eliyahu conducted a series of working meetings with businessman Lev Leviev, as well as officials from the Israeli Embassy and leaders of the local Jewish community.

The discussions centered on plans for a new heritage center dedicated to immigrants from the former Soviet Union. The project, which is being developed in partnership with the Rishon LeZion Municipality, is expected to cost more than 100 million shekels and aims to preserve the legacy and experiences of Soviet Jewry for future generations.

“Since the 1990s, no one has been telling this story, and in another moment, it will be forgotten,” Minister Eliyahu told Arutz Sheva-Israel National News, explaining the necessity of the project.

Eliyahu said his commitment to the initiative stems from a formative experience during his youth. At age 12, he accompanied his father, Rabbi Shmuel Eliyahu, to witness the large-scale immigration of Jews from the former Soviet Union to Israel. Seeing his father moved to tears left a lasting impression on him, and over time he became increasingly aware of the cultural and historical challenges facing many Russian-speaking immigrants, inspiring him to champion the heritage center.

The trip is especially significant given the strained history between Eliyahu and Russian officials. Roughly a month after the outbreak of the Swords of Iron War, Russia’s Foreign Ministry publicly condemned remarks he made suggesting that the use of an atomic bomb in Gaza was an option.

At the time, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova responded sharply, saying, “This appears to be an admission by Israel that it possesses nuclear weapons. If we are hearing official statements on this matter, then where are the inspectors of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)?”

{Matzav.com}

A group of six Republican senators broke with their party and sided with Democrats in support of an amendment aimed at preventing construction of President Donald Trump’s planned 90,000-square-foot White House ballroom without explicit approval from Congress.

The proposal, introduced by Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), sought to place authority for the ballroom project solely in the hands of Congress. It also would have prohibited the use of federal funds or private donations for the project unless lawmakers first signed off on it.

The six Republicans who voted with Democrats to overcome a procedural hurdle were Sens. Susan Collins of Maine, Jon Husted of Ohio, Jerry Moran of Kansas, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Dan Sullivan of Alaska, and Thom Tillis of North Carolina.

The amendment was offered during the Senate’s vote-a-rama on the Republican reconciliation package focused on immigration enforcement funding. To move forward, it needed 60 votes to defeat a point-of-order challenge.

The measure ultimately fell short, failing by a vote of 52-47.

Several of the Republicans who supported the amendment are facing difficult political battles ahead of the November elections.

A recent Fox News survey of 1,015 registered Ohio voters, conducted between May 28 and June 1, found Husted trailing former Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown in Ohio’s Senate contest.

In Maine, a UMASS Lowell/YouGov poll of 650 likely voters conducted between May 13 and May 26 showed Democratic challenger Graham Platner ahead of Collins by a margin of 48 percent to 43 percent.

Meanwhile, an Alaska Survey Research poll conducted in March among 1,283 registered voters found Democratic candidate Mary Peltola leading Sullivan in a potential Senate matchup.

Earlier this week, Senate Republicans removed language from the revised reconciliation bill that would have provided up to $1 billion in federal funding for the ballroom project. The revised legislation was released by the Senate Judiciary Committee.

The original version of the budget package had included as much as $1 billion for security improvements at the White House and the proposed ballroom. That funding provision sparked significant resistance from Republican senators, prompting its removal from the final Senate draft.

{Matzav.com}

Renewed debate over the kashrus status of conventional broiler chickens has once again stirred discussion in the Torah world, prompting a direct inquiry to one of the generation’s foremost halachic authorities. During a recent visit to Rav Moshe Sternbuch, Rav Shlomo Yedidya Zafrani, Av Beis Din of Kesser Torah, sought clarification on the issue amid a fresh campaign challenging the permissibility of commonly consumed poultry.

The question arose during Rav Zafrani’s visit to Rav Sternbuch’s home, where the dayan raised concerns about the renewed efforts by certain groups to discourage consumption of standard broiler chickens and revive support for the Brakel breed as the preferred alternative.

Rav Zaafrani reviewed the background of the controversy, reminding Rav Sternbuch of the heated debate that erupted several years ago when advocates of the Brakel chicken sought to promote its use while casting doubt on the status of conventional poultry commonly found in Jewish homes.

He noted that at the time, Rav Sternbuch issued a clear and unequivocal ruling permitting the continued consumption of standard broiler chickens without concern. Rav Zafrani further recalled that Rav Sternbuch had taken the unusual step of dispatching a knowledgeable representative to personally investigate the relevant shechitah and kashrus procedures, ultimately confirming that there was no basis for concern.

The dayan also informed Rav Sternbuch that he had relied on that ruling when authoring his own halachic works and had published the permissive ruling in his seforim based on Rav Sternbuch’s guidance.

In light of recent advertisements and public campaigns once again calling for the prohibition of conventional poultry and generating concern among consumers, Rav Zafrani asked whether there had been any change in the halachic assessment and whether Rav Sternbuch continued to stand by his original position.

Rav Sternbuch responded immediately and emphatically, declaring: “מה שהיה – היה.”

With those words, Rav Sternbuch made clear that his original ruling remains fully in force. According to the account of the meeting, he reaffirmed that the accepted broiler chickens consumed throughout the Torah-observant community remain permissible, and that the longstanding ruling relied upon by many leading rabbanim continues to stand without modification.

His response was widely interpreted as a decisive rejection of renewed attempts to cast doubt on the kashrus of conventional poultry and as reassurance to the public that there is no need to be alarmed by the latest wave of claims surrounding the issue.

{Matzav.com}

Following months of discussions with leading roshei yeshivah, poskim, and Torah leaders, a significant decision has been reached in the world of shidduchim: broad support has been granted to “Hashadchan,” a supervised shidduch platform that operates through a monitored telephone system and digital network.

Earlier this week, shortly before departing for the Keren Olam HaTorah fundraising mission in the United States, Slabodka Rosh Yeshivah Rav Dov Landau met with the organization’s leadership and members of its spiritual oversight committee. During the meeting, he received a detailed presentation outlining the platform’s operations, supervision procedures, and security safeguards, and subsequently offered his blessing for the initiative.

Sources familiar with the process told Matzav.com that the decision followed an extended period during which leading Torah authorities carefully evaluated the changes that have taken place in the shidduch world in recent years, particularly the growing use of digital platforms. One of the primary issues under discussion was the widespread circulation of photographs during the shidduch process and concerns over the lack of control families often have over how those images are shared.

According to individuals involved in the discussions, the transmission of photographs among shadchanim, acquaintances, and other parties became a major focus. To address those concerns, the platform developed a specialized security feature known as the “Vault,” which prevents users from downloading, saving, or forwarding images. Photographs become viewable only after approval from both sides and may be accessed only a limited number of times and for a restricted period.

Another distinctive aspect of the initiative is its emphasis on parental involvement. Access to the database is limited exclusively to parents through a controlled supervision system. Once an initial match is identified, the process is transferred to a certified shadchan affiliated with the program. Yeshivah bochurim and seminary students are not directly involved in the search process itself.

Following the approval of the initiative, a spiritual oversight committee was established to guide and monitor its development. The committee operates under the direction of the project’s presidents, Rav Yehoshua Eichenstein, Rosh Yeshivah of Yad Aharon, and Rav Amram Fried. Other members include Rav Dovid Eisenstein, one of the roshei yeshivah of Lehavas HaTorah in Beitar Illit, and veteran shadchan and educator Rabbi Hillel Mann.

A substantial number of prominent rabbinic figures from both the Litvishe and Sephardic communities have already expressed support for the project. Among them are Rav Berel Povarsky, Rav Yitzchok Zilberstein, Rav Asher Weiss, Rav Shlomo Yehudah Zafrani, Rav Mordechai Shmuel Edelstein, Rav Shimon Galei, Rav Chaim Peretz Berman, Rav Yehudah Silman, and others.

The initiative was first presented approximately a year ago to Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch, who voiced his support for the concept. More recently, Rav Dovid Cohen also endorsed the project.

At the same time, representatives of the initiative have spent recent weeks presenting the model to rabbanim and educators in a number of chassidic communities, particularly within Belz and Vizhnitz. Leaders in those circles have reportedly expressed interest in the platform, and discussions are underway regarding the possibility of integrating it into the shidduch systems used by their educational institutions, under the guidance of the respective rabbinic leadership and in cooperation with the organization’s administration.

According to the organizers, the platform has already helped facilitate the establishment of more than 320 Jewish homes throughout Israel.

Next week, the leadership of the initiative is scheduled to meet with Rav Meir Tzvi Bergman, the senior member of the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah, to seek his blessing for the continued growth of the project and its planned expansion both in Israel and abroad.