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In a rare encounter in Meah Shearim, the Toldos Aharon Rebbe visited the home of his brother, the Toldos Avrohom Yitzchok Rebbe, where the two held a private conversation lasting an hour and a half ahead of Rosh Hashanah.

The Toldos Aharon Rebbe came to his brother’s home to exchange brachos, with each Rebbe offering his brachos to the other for the approaching new year.

The Toldos Avrohom Yitzchok Rebbe’s regular kabbolas kahal was halted for the visit, allowing the two brothers to speak privately for approximately 90 minutes. No gabbaim or other close attendants were present during their conversation.

At the conclusion of the lengthy meeting, an unusual scene unfolded. In a gesture considered particularly rare in recent years, the Toldos Avrohom Yitzchok Rebbe personally accompanied his brother all the way to the exit.

The two Rebbes then parted after warmly exchanging brachos for the coming year.

U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee has again denounced Israelis who carry out hate crimes in Yehudah and Shomron as “terrorists,” warning that their actions are inflicting serious damage on Israel’s reputation in the United States, including among Republicans and younger Americans.

Speaking in an interview with Kan Reshet Bet’s “This Morning” program, Huckabee said such incidents are harming the way Israel is viewed both as a country and as a people. He described the situation as particularly unfortunate at a time when Israel needs as many friends as possible and can ill afford to create additional enemies.

Huckabee’s comments came after Israelis who allegedly set fire to a mosque in the village of Bazariya in Shomron spray-painted a message on the building reading, “Huckabee, regards from the terrorists.”

The ambassador said he was not personally intimidated by the graffiti but stressed that he regards the broader phenomenon as extremely serious. He warned that the damage being done to Israel’s image in the United States is substantial and extends even into Republican circles.

Huckabee also expressed concern about the effect such incidents could have on younger Americans who hear reports about violence carried out by Israelis against Palestinians.

The ambassador has previously used similarly forceful language to condemn such violence. Last month, he referred to Jewish rioters who surrounded residents in the village of Qusra as “Israeli terrorists.”

Turning to the ongoing confrontation with Iran, Huckabee said the Islamic Republic has been left in an extraordinarily weakened military and economic position as a result of actions taken by President Donald Trump.

Huckabee also rejected suggestions that Trump has pushed the Iranian nuclear threat aside while concentrating primarily on the Strait of Hormuz. He said the president has never indicated that he intends to ignore Iran’s decades-long threats against the United States.

The ambassador noted that Iran has spent 47-and-a-half years threatening “death to America,” arguing that such a threat is something the United States simply cannot afford to disregard.

{Matzav.com}

Dozens of police officers raided several locations in Yavne’el on Thursday morning as part of an ongoing investigation into suspected marriages involving minors in violation of Israeli law. Sixteen minors and adults from their immediate circles were detained for questioning during the operation.

According to police, investigators suspect that some of those involved were married recently despite being under the legal age, while in other cases preparations were already underway for allegedly illegal wedding ceremonies.

Thursday’s raids are the latest stage in an investigation that police have been conducting for several months into the alleged practice, which authorities say is occurring within a small, closed community centered primarily in Yavne’el.

Several weeks ago, Northern District police detained more than 20 additional suspects in the town as part of the investigation into alleged underage marriages.

Police say those involved have developed methods intended to make the ceremonies difficult for authorities to locate or document. According to investigators, some weddings are held during the morning hours with only a small number of participants, while the location of the ceremony is kept secret until shortly beforehand.

Authorities also allege that photography and the use of cellphones or other electronic devices are sometimes prohibited during the ceremonies in an effort to prevent evidence of the marriage from being recorded.

According to police, in some cases a larger gathering is held after the religious marriage ceremony, attended by relatives and numerous guests. That subsequent celebration is publicly presented as an “engagement party,” authorities said.

Police said the investigation is continuing in cooperation with other law-enforcement and welfare agencies. Authorities said the operation is aimed at preventing additional underage marriages and determining the involvement of each of the suspects.

Police added that they will continue taking action against offenses that harm minors and other vulnerable individuals, including cases in which minors are married in violation of the law.

{Matzav.com}

Israel Police spokesman Cmdr. Aryeh Doron is facing an internal disciplinary review over highly critical remarks he made about Democrats chairman Yair Golan, including describing him as one of Israel’s greatest enemies, according to a report by i24NEWS.

The Israel Police disciplinary division opened the review Thursday, several months after Doron made the comments during a radio interview.

The decision follows a petition filed with the High Court of Justice last month seeking to compel the police to initiate disciplinary proceedings against Doron. Police authorities decided to begin their own review before the court issued a ruling on the petition.

The controversy dates back to a June interview Doron gave to Galei Israel Radio. During the appearance, the police spokesman sharply criticized Golan over comments the opposition politician had made concerning the Israel Police commissioner and the head of the Shin Bet.

“His statement sounds like the statement of one of the greatest enemies of Israel, who harms Israel’s heroes,” Doron said during the interview.

Doron continued his criticism by accusing Golan of having “fallen in love with the approach of attacking those who wear the uniform,” while asserting that his objective was to “scrape together votes.”

Referring to other statements Golan had made in the past, Doron also said that the Democrats chairman “should be ashamed and disgraced.”

Doron sought to clarify his comments shortly after the interview and announced that he was retracting them. The remarks, however, resurfaced following the High Court petition and will now be at the center of the disciplinary review being conducted by the Israel Police.

{Matzav.com}

The delegation of Chassidishe Rebbes a rosh yeshiva and communal representatives who met President Donald Trump yesterday personally thanked him for accommodations made for the frum community during the COVID era.

During the Oval Office gathering yesterday, the Satmar Rebbe of Kiryas Yoel expressed appreciation to Trump for his efforts that helped allow batei medrash and Jewish institutions to reopen during the pandemic. The Rebbe stressed the importance that the reopening had for restoring Torah learning, tefillah and communal religious life at a time when religious institutions faced extensive restrictions. Other accounts of the meeting also reported that the Rebbe thanked Trump for his role in helping reopen batei medrash and institutions during COVID.

The delegation brought together prominent rabbinic leaders representing some of the largest Chareidi communities in New York and New Jersey. Participants included the two Satmar Rebbes, the Bobover Rebbe, the Vizhnitzer Rebbe of Monsey, Rav Malkiel Kotler, rosh yeshiva of Beth Medrash Govoha in Lakewood, and Rav Aharon Mendel Twersky, who attended on behalf of his father, the Skverer Rebbe.

Among the communal representatives who participated were Reb Gedalia Segedin and a number of other askanim. The visit included discussions with senior administration officials in the Roosevelt Room before the delegation proceeded to the Oval Office to meet Trump. Vice President J.D. Vance also joined the earlier discussions.

One of the major domestic concerns brought before administration officials involved the kosher food available to Jewish inmates in federal prisons. Members of the delegation described difficulties faced by frum prisoners who rely on the kosher meals supplied by correctional institutions and explained that kosher meat and other products can cost considerably more than the government’s ordinary daily food allowance for each inmate.

To address the problem, the delegation presented a proposal under which prepared kosher meals could be produced in commercial kitchens in Kiryas Yoel. The community has facilities capable of preparing food in large quantities, potentially allowing meals for Jewish inmates to be supplied at a cost near the government’s existing food allocation.

Supporters of the proposal said such an arrangement could provide Jewish prisoners with suitable kosher meals without requiring the federal government to assume dramatically higher food costs. The Kiryas Yoel kosher-meal proposal was among the prison-related matters discussed with Vance and administration officials.

The discussion also turned to vaccination policies affecting children and Jewish schools in New York. The delegation stressed that its concerns should not be interpreted as opposition to vaccination itself. Rather, participants said their objections centered on vaccination schedules and the practical difficulties that existing requirements have created for schools and families.

The representatives thanked Trump for a newly introduced childhood vaccination protocol that reduced the number of shots administered during individual well visits. Some Satmar schools had previously faced fines from New York State over compliance with vaccination requirements, and the delegation said the revised approach would be significantly more workable for schools and the families they serve.

New York politics also came up during the Oval Office conversation. Trump asked the rabbinic leaders about voting patterns in the state and why Democratic candidates continue receiving substantial support in some Chareidi communities.

The response, according to participants, was that the community approaches politics pragmatically. Chareidi voters alone cannot determine the outcome of every state legislative or congressional race, they explained, requiring community leaders to maintain working relationships with the officials who hold power in Albany and Washington. Their political engagement, they said, is therefore often driven by communal needs and practical considerations rather than exclusively by party affiliation.

Trump also reportedly asked the Satmar Rebbes about Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. According to Segedin’s account, Jared Kushner, who was present, signaled that the Satmar leadership generally does not involve itself with Israeli political leaders. Public accounts confirm that Kushner participated in the Oval Office meeting at Trump’s request, although the specific exchange concerning Netanyahu has not been independently confirmed in the reports reviewed.

Another major subject was the continuing controversy over the military draft of Chareidi yeshiva students in Israel. The rabbinic leaders signed an appeal asking Trump to intervene on religious-freedom grounds on behalf of yeshiva students facing conscription. The letter also addressed American-Israeli dual citizens who have faced arrests or travel restrictions in connection with their draft status. Reports of the meeting confirm that the draft issue was raised directly with Trump.

Rav Malkiel Kotler personally presented the president with a letter during the Oval Office meeting.

Participants also described the preparation Trump and his staff had undertaken before receiving the delegation. According to their account, the president had briefing cards containing photographs and background information about the individual Rebbes and roshei yeshiva and the communities they represented. Those present said the preparation demonstrated that the White House had familiarized itself with the delegation before the meeting.

Trump was also told about the strong electoral support he had received in some of the communities represented at the meeting. Participants told him that he had received approximately 98% of the vote in Kiryas Yoel and 100% in New Square. The same figures were reported in an independent account of the gathering.

Before the full delegation entered the Oval Office, Rav Aharon Teitelbaum met privately with Trump for approximately 10 minutes, accompanied by Segedin. Their conversation focused on pidyon shvuyim, the Chareidi draft crisis in Israel and other pressing communal matters.

The rest of the rabbinic delegation then joined them. During the meeting, Rav Aharon recited Hanosein Teshuah, the traditional prayer for the welfare of the government, while Segedin translated its meaning into English for Trump. Trump requested that Jared Kushner join the gathering, saying that he “has to be here” with such distinguished guests.

The preservation of Jewish cemeteries and kevarim in Europe was another issue presented during the White House visit. Members of the delegation described historic Jewish burial grounds that have suffered from neglect, vandalism or deterioration and sought American assistance in protecting them.

The delegation noted the importance of preserving cemeteries containing the graves of generations of European Jews, including prominent rabbonim and ancestors of today’s Jewish communities. Rav Kotler specifically raised concerns involving the historic Jewish cemetery in Vilna, while other participants discussed threatened cemeteries in Poland.

The representatives also pointed to efforts undertaken by previous U.S. administrations to protect Jewish burial sites and asked the Trump administration to continue supporting such initiatives.

For the delegation, the matter was presented as more than historical preservation. Protecting the burial grounds was described as an obligation of kavod hameis and an effort to safeguard Jewish cemeteries that remain vulnerable throughout parts of Europe.

Participants said the atmosphere inside the White House was markedly different from the political debate that had surrounded the visit beforehand. The planned gathering had generated criticism from some political activists, particularly over the participation of Satmar leaders.

Inside the meetings, however, participants described the atmosphere as cordial and respectful. The discussions centered on specific concerns affecting Jewish communities, with Trump, Vance and other officials engaging with the delegation on the issues presented. Other published accounts similarly described the Oval Office meeting as warm and cordial.

Those involved expressed hope afterward that the unusual access to the president and senior administration officials would ultimately translate into practical results, particularly on matters affecting frum prisoners, religious institutions, yeshivos and Jewish families.

The delegation viewed the gathering as an opportunity extending beyond the symbolism of prominent Rebbes and roshei yeshiva sitting in the Oval Office. Its members sought to use the meeting to present specific communal concerns directly to the highest levels of the federal government.

Participants said the rabbinic leaders represented communities comprising more than 250,000 Jews.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump plans to travel to Ireland next week aboard the $400 million Boeing 747 donated by Qatar, even as questions persist about whether the aircraft has received all of the security and defensive upgrades normally associated with a presidential plane, according to a senior White House official.

The Sept. 12-13 visit will be Trump’s first international trip aboard the Qatar-donated aircraft since an unusual security episode following July’s NATO summit in Turkey. U.S. officials secretly transferred Trump to a different aircraft for his departure after intelligence officials identified a potential threat from Iran.

“We don’t comment on specific upgrades or modifications to Air Force One,” a senior administration official told The Independent. “We maintain a consistent posture that ensures a safe, secure, and reliable capability for the President of the United States and routinely evolve the capability as required to maintain that posture.”

Trump said in July that the $400 million aircraft would eventually be temporarily removed from service and “maxed out” with additional security enhancements.

The White House previously indicated that the next round of work on the aircraft would begin this fall and require approximately one month. Officials have yet to disclose when those modifications will begin, however, and The Washington Post reported that the work could be postponed until after the November midterm elections.

The Ireland visit will therefore represent Trump’s first overseas journey on the aircraft since the security concerns that arose during his July trip to Turkey and resulted in his discreet transfer to another plane.

The Qatar-donated Boeing 747-8 was rapidly prepared for presidential use earlier this summer as an interim replacement for the aging aircraft that have traditionally served as Air Force One. Qatar transferred the jet to the Defense Department as Boeing continues work on two long-delayed new presidential aircraft.

Hundreds of millions of dollars have already been spent modifying the plane, including improvements to its communications and security systems. Security specialists have nevertheless questioned whether the aircraft possesses the full range of sophisticated defensive capabilities found aboard the existing presidential planes, which include systems designed to protect against threats such as missile attacks. Reports indicated that some of those countermeasures were absent from the Qatari aircraft when Trump began flying aboard it.

The two permanent replacement Air Force One aircraft being developed by Boeing have been plagued by years of delays and escalating expenses. The Government Accountability Office has estimated that the program will ultimately cost more than $5.6 billion. The Air Force maintains that the Qatar-donated aircraft satisfies the requirements for presidential transportation, and the White House has repeatedly defended its security.

Trump’s upcoming visit will take him to Ireland on Sept. 12 and 13, where he is expected to attend the Irish Open at his Doonbeg golf resort and hold meetings with government officials in Dublin.

White House Communications Director Steven Cheung defended the aircraft in July, telling The Independent: “The new Air Force One is a state-of-the-art aircraft that has been fitted with high-level security protocols that ensure the safety of the president and his staff.”

He added: “As the president has said recently, there are many enemies of America who have their sights on him, and we use every tool at our disposal – including distraction and misdirection – to address those threats.”

Controversy has continued to surround the aircraft in part because it was originally configured as an opulent jet for Qatar’s royal family rather than built from the outset as a highly fortified plane intended to transport an American president.

The aircraft was nevertheless placed into presidential service this summer as a stopgap while the United States awaits the completion of the next generation of Air Force One planes.

The Trump administration has said that once the aircraft is no longer needed for presidential transportation, it will ultimately be transferred to Trump’s presidential library after he leaves the White House in January 2029.

During the Ireland trip, Trump is expected to meet in Dublin with Irish President Catherine Connolly and Prime Minister Micheál Martin. His itinerary is also expected to include a stop at his Doonbeg golf resort for the Irish Open.

If the additional modifications continue to be delayed, Trump could make greater use of the Qatar-donated aircraft as his travel schedule intensifies ahead of the Nov. 3 midterm elections. He is scheduled to headline the Republican Party’s convention in Dallas on Sept. 9 and 10 and has said he intends to travel to Alaska and other states featuring closely contested races.

{Matzav.com}

Serious concern has erupted in Kozhnitz, Poland, after human bones were discovered on the ground beside the town’s historic Jewish cemetery, where the Kozhnitzer Maggid, generations of Kozhnitzer Rebbes and thousands of other Jews are buried.

The remains were discovered after a local developer began excavation work just 40 centimeters — approximately 16 inches — from the cemetery fence, raising fears that graves extending beyond the currently marked boundaries of the beis hachaim may have been disturbed.

The discovery was made by Jewish heritage researcher Meir Bulka, chairman of J-nerations, an organization dedicated to preserving Jewish heritage sites throughout Europe. Bulka had traveled to Kozhnitz at the request of the Kozhnitz Poland Hachnosas Orchim Committee, headed by Asael Shahaf, to examine the cemetery’s boundaries.

The construction project is being undertaken by a local developer along a roughly 100-meter stretch immediately adjacent to the cemetery fence, near a local restaurant.

The existing fence surrounding the beis hachaim was erected in 1984, but previous examinations conducted by the committee had already found indications that Jewish graves exist beyond the present entrance and boundaries.

The cemetery is of particular significance to the Chassidic world. The Kozhnitzer Maggid is buried there, along with Rebbes of the Kozhnitz dynasty spanning generations. Thousands of other Jews were also buried at the site, although their matzeivos were destroyed during World War II.

Following the discovery, Shahaf began working with Poland’s Chief Rabbi and chairman of the country’s cemetery oversight committee, Rav Michael Schudrich, as well as municipal authorities, police and Poland’s antiquities authorities, to halt the excavation work.

At the direction of the Kozhnitzer Rebbe, an emergency delegation of askanim is now preparing to travel to Poland for meetings with representatives of the antiquities authorities in an effort to ensure that no further damage is done to the cemetery or any graves that may lie outside its existing fence.

Shahaf described the timing of the discovery as a remarkable neis that enabled those involved to intervene before additional graves could be disturbed. He said the committee intends to employ every available legal avenue to safeguard the cemetery and preserve kavod hameis.

Sen. Ted Cruz is taking increasingly concrete steps toward another presidential campaign, privately asking potential supporters whether they would join a 2028 bid while making moves that could eventually put him in direct competition with Vice President JD Vance for the Republican nomination, according to a new report.

The Texas Republican has made three trips to Iowa this year, increased his appearances on podcasts and promoted a new book as he weighs his political future, the Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday. A spokeswoman for Cruz declined to address the report.

Cruz also suggested this week that an endorsement from President Donald Trump, while valuable in a Republican primary, would not necessarily determine the outcome of the 2028 contest.

“It carries weight, but I think the voters are going to make their own determination,” Cruz said.

The Independent interpreted Cruz’s comments as an effort to prepare for the possibility that Trump will endorse another candidate. Trump has yet to formally back a successor and, when questioned in late August about Cruz potentially running, described the Texas senator as “very talented” without offering an endorsement.

Cruz, meanwhile, has made little effort to conceal the fact that he continues to harbor presidential aspirations.

“It’s no secret that I want to be president. I ran for president,” he said during an appearance last month on a podcast hosted by Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick. When Patrick asked whether another campaign was coming, Cruz replied, “Time will tell.”

Cruz has also begun publicly criticizing Vance, who currently sits atop early surveys of potential Republican candidates for 2028.

“JD negotiated the MOU with Iran. That was a terrible deal,” Cruz said of the agreement that ultimately collapsed.

People close to Vance reportedly do not view Cruz as a significant threat to the vice president should both men enter the race, according to the Journal. Steve Bannon, who served as chief strategist for Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign, offered an even more dismissive assessment of Cruz’s prospects.

“He’s going to have plenty of money, but unfortunately he’s not a populist, he’s a throwback to the neocon and neoliberal policies of the old Republican party that’s essentially been destroyed,” Bannon said.

Trump himself has offered indications that he would like to see Vance succeed him. Speaking to donors this summer about the Republican Party’s future, Trump said that “at the end of the day, we need to elect JD.”

Cruz also appears to have work to do in Iowa, whose Republican voters traditionally play an influential role in presidential nominating contests. Cruz was the featured guest at GOP Senate nominee Ashley Hinson’s BBQ Bash last weekend, but Republicans interviewed there by the Journal mentioned Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio before naming Cruz among their preferred possibilities.

During his appearance, the three-term Texas senator emphasized his role in developing several policies that could become important components of a future Vance campaign.

“No tax on tips, I wrote that,” Cruz told the crowd. He also pointed to his efforts to have the child investment accounts known as Trump Accounts included in last year’s tax legislation.

Rubio, another prominent Republican who had been viewed as a possible 2028 contender, took himself out of consideration in May and publicly threw his support behind Vance.

“I’ve said publicly, and I’ll say it again, I’ll be the first person to sign up and support him,” the secretary of state said of Vance.

{Matzav.com}

WhatsApp users in Israel and across the globe are increasingly reporting that their accounts have been abruptly disabled, sometimes with no advance notice, specific explanation, or apparent way to speak with a human representative about getting access restored.

For some affected users, the disruption has lasted several hours or even days. Others say the unexpected bans have immediately cut them off from business customers, professional contacts, and years of conversations, prompting growing numbers to establish accounts on competing messaging services such as Telegram and Signal.

With billions of people relying on WhatsApp, losing access can disrupt considerably more than casual conversations. The platform has become a central communications hub for families, businesses, schools, synagogues, workplaces, and community groups. Users who suddenly find themselves locked out say the experience can leave them feeling effectively cut off from much of their daily lives.

Complaints about Meta, which owns WhatsApp, have grown significantly in recent months as users report being banned despite claiming they did nothing to violate the platform’s rules. Thousands of complaints have surfaced on social media platforms and Reddit, including accounts from people who say their WhatsApp profiles were unexpectedly placed “under review” even though they had been using the service normally.

Similar complaints have emerged in Israel, where numerous users have reported suddenly being unable to access WhatsApp. Amid the mounting concerns, the Israel Internet Association has advised users to maintain backups of important information in case their accounts are unexpectedly restricted.

Many of those affected say their frustration extends beyond simply being locked out. Users attempting to challenge a ban are typically routed through an automated appeals system rather than being given access to a customer service representative. The process can conclude with a short, standardized response, while users may receive little or no information about what activity prompted the restriction or what they should do differently to prevent another ban.

WhatsApp acknowledged in August that a technical malfunction had mistakenly resulted in numerous accounts being banned. The company said it moved to reinstate accounts affected by the problem and conceded that automated systems used to enforce its policies can occasionally make incorrect decisions.

“We’re always working to take action against people who try to abuse the service, but sometimes we get it wrong, and when that happens we work to fix it as quickly as possible,” the company said.

Meta has also faced criticism from its independent Oversight Board, which took aim at aspects of the company’s account-enforcement procedures. The board identified problems involving transparency, the appeals system, and the assistance available to people whose accounts have been disabled, while urging Meta to offer users more detailed explanations and strengthen its review procedures.

Meta says strict enforcement is necessary to protect users from spam, fraud, impersonation, and other abusive behavior. Millions of accounts are banned each month over suspected violations of the company’s terms, including large-scale messaging, activity involving unauthorized applications, and behavior flagged by automated detection systems as potentially suspicious.

But users caught up in unexpected bans say that justification does little to address the consequences they experience. Business owners have reported suddenly losing their primary connection to customers, families have found themselves without a communications service they depend upon throughout the day, and some affected users say the experience has undermined their confidence in WhatsApp altogether.

The growing unease appears to be pushing at least some users toward alternatives. Telegram, Signal, and other messaging platforms are attracting people who want a backup communications channel and are increasingly uncomfortable relying exclusively on a service that they fear could suddenly sever access to their contacts.

WhatsApp nevertheless remains the world’s dominant messaging platform. As complaints over allegedly erroneous bans and limited access to human customer support continue to mount, however, the controversy is raising broader concerns about whether billions of people should rely so heavily on a communications system in which an automated enforcement decision can abruptly shut down an account.

A Meta spokesperson said: “We are constantly working to stay ahead of people who try to abuse our platform, and we take action to block their accounts to help keep users safe. Sometimes a mistake occurs in the process, and when that happens we work to correct the situation as quickly as possible so people can get back to using WhatsApp.”

{Matzav.com}

Rep. Randy Fine defended his controversial practice of labeling American political figures such as New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani “terrorists,” arguing that individuals who rhetorically support terrorist organizations or refuse to condemn them can merit the designation even if they do not personally engage in violence.

Fine, a Florida Republican and one of four Jewish Republicans serving in the House, explained his position Sunday during an interview with Breitbart Editor-in-Chief Alex Marlow at the 2026 Republican Jewish Coalition National Leadership Summit.

Marlow challenged Fine on whether applying the word “terrorist” to nonviolent political figures risks engaging in the same kind of inflammatory labeling that conservatives have long faced from political opponents.

“Do you find when you call people who are not necessarily violent people terrorists and things like that, as you’ve done, do you feel like that is similar to the way people like me — like my whole life I was called a Nazi even though we’re a pro-Israel website, just because I have conservative viewpoints? Where does that differ?” Marlow asked.

Fine responded by pointing to Hamas leaders who direct the organization while living outside Gaza, arguing that personally carrying out an attack is not a prerequisite for being considered a terrorist.

“Fantastic question. The people who run Hamas, they sit in Qatar or Turkey. They’re not blowing themselves up. They’re not killing anyone. Are they terrorists? Absolutely, they are. So you don’t have to be with the gun in your hand to be the terrorist. The people who support, rhetorically, the person sitting in Qatar and Turkey who runs Hamas — they’re just as bad. And so I think if you support, verbally, terrorism, it makes you a terrorist,” Fine explained.

Fine said the same principle applies to Hamas officials who live comfortably abroad while others carry out violence on behalf of the organization.

“I don’t think anyone would disagree that the people who run Hamas sitting in gilded buildings, eating five-star meals, swimming in swimming pools, sleeping in silk-covered beds — no one has an issue calling them terrorists, but that’s exactly what they are,” he continued.

Marlow then pressed Fine on how broadly he applies that standard, asking whether it encompasses American elected officials who are “not sufficiently anti-Hamas, but are not necessarily pro-violence against other Americans.” He specifically raised Mamdani and Rep. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota as examples.

Fine responded by directing his sharpest accusations at Mamdani, citing the mayor’s positions regarding Hamas, Hezbollah and the phrase “globalize the intifada,” as well as allegations concerning antisemitic violence in New York City and social-media activity by Mamdani’s wife.

“Mamdani supports Hamas. Mamdani supports Hezbollah. Mamdani won’t condemn ‘globalize the intifada.’ Mamdani is clearly a terrorist,” Fine alleged. “There’s no question of that. Mamdani allows his city to be overrun with people who stab Jews walking down the street. Mamdani’s wife openly supported October 7th. I mean, what do you have to do to be a terrorist? He is one.”

{Matzav.com}

Rebbes and a rosh yeshiva held an extraordinary meeting with President Donald Trump at the White House on Thursday, raising a series of urgent issues affecting Orthodox Jews in the United States and Israel, including the Israeli military draft crisis, Jewish prisoners, kosher food in federal prisons, religious liberty, and other communal concerns.

The historic visit included extensive discussions in the Roosevelt Room with senior administration officials, a meeting with Vice President J.D. Vance, and an approximately half-hour session with President Trump in the Oval Office. During their meeting with the president, the rabbinic leaders recited the traditional prayer for the welfare of the government, thanked Trump for his longstanding support of the Jewish community, and appealed for his assistance on several pressing matters.

The visit began Thursday morning as private planes carrying the invited Rebbes and rabbis began arriving in Washington. The first to arrive was Rav Malkiel Kotler, rosh yeshiva of Beth Medrash Govoha in Lakewood, accompanied by several close associates.

Upon reaching the White House, Rav Kotler was accompanied by Reb Moshe Margareten, chairman of the Tzedek Association, who had already been at the White House for meetings involving various communal advocacy matters.

Margareten escorted Rav Kotler to the Roosevelt Room, where the first extended meeting between the delegation and senior administration officials was scheduled to take place.

The other Rebbes arrived shortly afterward. The Satmar Rebbe, Rav Zalman Leib Teitelbaum, and the Bobover Rebbe arrived first, followed by the Satmar Rebbe, Rav Aharon Teitelbaum; Rav Aharon Mendel Twersky, who attended on behalf of his father, the Skverer Rebbe; and the Vizhnitzer Rebbe of Monsey, whose flight had been unexpectedly delayed.

The Rebbes were accompanied by their sons, including the Satmar Williamsburg rabbi, the Sigeter rabbi, and Rav Chaim Sholom Halberstam, the eldest son of the Bobover Rebbe.

A number of prominent community leaders and activists also joined the delegation, including Reb Moshe Dovid Niederman, chairman of the UJO; Reb Gedalya Segedin, administrator of Kiryas Joel; Reb Yisroel Moshe Spitzer, mayor of New Square; Reb Yoel Rosenfeld, executive director of Bobov institutions; Airmont Trustee Reb Yehuda Leib Zorger; Reb Yossi Gestetner; and others.

The Rebbes were additionally accompanied by their attendants and close associates, including Reb Moshe Friedman, Reb Chaim Shlomo Fischer, and Reb Chaim Goldfinger.

After completing security screening at the White House, the delegation was escorted to the Roosevelt Room for an extended discussion with government and administration officials. Among those present were Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, Rep. Jerry Nadler, and a deputy director of the White House Domestic Policy Council.

Kushner warmly greeted each of the Rebbes and told the Bobover Rebbe that he clearly remembered attending an event previously held at the Rebbe’s home.

The delegation raised a series of critical communal issues during the discussion. Vice President J.D. Vance subsequently entered the room, shook hands with the Rebbes, and greeted them as Gestetner introduced the members of the delegation.

One major subject was the welfare of Jewish prisoners, particularly the quality and availability of kosher food in prisons. The delegation made an emotional appeal for conditions to be improved, stressing that food unfit for human consumption cannot meaningfully be considered food.

Segedin explained that the problem is partly financial, as ordinary government prison budgets do not cover the significantly higher cost of kosher meals. He said that during a recent visit by a federal prison official to Kiryas Joel, a proposal was made to prepare meals for Jewish prisoners in Kiryas Joel’s commercial kitchens, which could substantially reduce the cost to the government.

The proposal is currently awaiting approval from the Federal Bureau of Prisons, and Segedin asked Vance to assist in moving the approval process forward.

The Satmar Rebbe, Rav Zalman Leib Teitelbaum, raised another prison-related issue involving restrictive policies governing short furloughs for prisoners to visit their families. Current rules allow an absence of only 15 hours, he said, leaving inmates with little meaningful time at home after travel is taken into account, particularly around Rosh Hashanah, which lasts two days.

Vance expressed strong admiration for the American Jewish community and particularly praised its tradition of raising large families. He noted that he also has a growing family and recently welcomed his fourth child, emphasizing that he has supported and intends to continue supporting policies that assist larger families.

Niederman addressed discrimination involving housing and Section 8 assistance for large families. Rosenfeld discussed an initiative he has promoted for some time to expand an assistance program currently limited to families with no more than three children. Smiling, he pointed to Vance’s recent arrival of a fourth child and suggested that it was an appropriate opportunity to broaden the program.

Several additional issues were raised during the meeting. The Sigeter rabbi discussed the plight of Jewish prisoners, Rosenfeld addressed concerns involving Maimonides Medical Center in Boro Park, Spitzer raised matters involving the redemption and release of Jewish prisoners, and Segedin discussed Kiryas Joel’s water needs.

During a lighter exchange, Vance asked why the Rebbes wore different styles of traditional clothing. Segedin explained that the distinctions reflected the countries and regions from which their communities originated, including Poland, Hungary, Galicia, and Lithuania, and that the Rebbes carefully preserve the traditions inherited from their ancestors.

The conversation later turned to the preservation of Jewish cemeteries and ancestral burial sites throughout Europe. Niederman identified several cities where intervention by the U.S. government could help protect endangered Jewish cemeteries.

Rav Kotler cited a similar problem involving the Jewish cemetery in Vilna, while Rosenfeld discussed cemeteries in Poland requiring restoration and protection.

Vance listened closely to the delegation’s requests, pledged to do whatever he could to assist, and then departed the meeting.

While waiting for their scheduled meeting with Trump, the Rebbes remained together in the Roosevelt Room, where they shared Torah thoughts, stories about righteous Jewish leaders, and discussions relating to the approaching High Holidays, creating an unusual scene of religious conversation within the White House.

Shortly before 3 p.m., the delegation left the Roosevelt Room and proceeded toward the Oval Office for its meeting with the president.

Before entering, the two Satmar Rebbes warmly greeted one another. Rav Aharon Teitelbaum congratulated his brother, Rav Zalman Leib Teitelbaum, on the recent wedding of his grandson and the engagement of his granddaughter, which had taken place that night.

Rav Aharon Teitelbaum was initially brought into the Oval Office for a private meeting with Trump, accompanied by Segedin. During the approximately 10-minute discussion, the Rebbe presented several personal requests involving efforts to secure the release of Jewish prisoners and other urgent concerns. Among the leading issues was the Israeli government’s effort to draft yeshiva students, a subject Rav Zalman Leib Teitelbaum would raise again later in the meeting.

After the private discussion concluded, the remaining members of the main delegation were invited into the Oval Office.

Only the Rebbes, Rav Kotler, and three leading community activists — Niederman, Segedin, and Spitzer — initially entered. The Rebbes’ sons, attendants, and remaining activists stayed in the Roosevelt Room. The Oval Office door remained open, however, allowing those outside to observe the proceedings.

The Rebbes entered and took their places in a row of chairs positioned across from the president’s desk.

Seated from right to left were Rav Aharon Mendel Twersky, the Bobover Rebbe, the Satmar Rebbe Rav Aharon Teitelbaum, the Satmar Rebbe Rav Zalman Leib Teitelbaum, the Vizhnitzer Rebbe of Monsey, and Rav Malkiel Kotler.

Upon seeing the delegation, Trump immediately asked that his son-in-law Jared Kushner be summoned, saying, “He has to be here when such distinguished guests arrive.”

The reception formally began with Rav Aharon Teitelbaum reciting the traditional Jewish prayer for the welfare and success of the government. Segedin translated the prayer into English as all of the Rebbes stood respectfully.

Trump then jokingly asked Kushner whether he had understood the Hebrew wording. Kushner smiled and replied that he had understood half of what was said.

After everyone took their seats, Trump welcomed his distinguished guests, and Rep. Mike Lawler, whose district includes Rockland County, also greeted the delegation.

Rav Aharon Teitelbaum then addressed the president, thanking him for his directive to reopen houses of worship and religious institutions during the COVID pandemic. He continued by discussing several additional issues affecting the Orthodox Jewish community.

Rav Aharon Mendel Twersky, son of the Skverer Rebbe, spoke next and apologized that his father had been unable to participate personally. He then presented Trump with an envelope containing a detailed personal letter from his father.

The Rebbes continued discussing a range of matters affecting Orthodox Jewish communities in the United States and Israel.

Rav Kotler was then asked to speak, but the rosh yeshiva chose instead to present Trump with a personal letter. The Satmar Rebbe continued the discussion by once again raising the Israeli military draft crisis.

The letter was prepared and edited by activists from the Center for Assistance and Guidance in the United States, headed by Rav Shimon Shisha, who has devoted extensive efforts to assisting Jewish prisoners.

The letter to Trump began: “To the Honorable Donald J. Trump, President of the United States, The White House, 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, D.C. 20500. Dear Mr. President, on behalf of tens of thousands of Jews currently living in Israel, we write to you seeking your assistance in a matter of the utmost importance to us.”

It continued: “Long before you first ran for public office, you demonstrated tremendous kindness toward the Jews you encountered. After assuming the presidency, you extended that kindness to the Jewish people throughout the world. We will forever be grateful. In light of this longstanding relationship, we plead for your intervention on behalf of 100,000 students studying in yeshivas and rabbinical seminaries in Israel. We do not need to explain to you the unique lifestyle of Orthodox Judaism, commonly known here in the United States as the ultra-Orthodox community.

“For nearly two hundred years, students attending recognized religious schools and training to become ordained clergy have been exempt from conscription into the United States military. For more than seventy-five years, a similar exemption existed in Israel. Recently, it was abolished, a step that has had a devastating impact on the Orthodox community.”

The letter continued: “For many reasons, it is not practical for the IDF to accommodate the religious and cultural needs of the Orthodox community. It would be nearly impossible for Orthodox Jews to serve in a secular Israeli military without sacrificing their unique identity and surrendering essential religious freedoms. Here in the United States, we enjoy the protections provided by the First Amendment to the Constitution, protections that do not exist in Israel.”

The letter added: “It seems inconceivable that Jews in the Land of Israel should be deprived of their religious liberties. Tragically, however, that is the situation. Tens of thousands of God-fearing students, whose only desire is to continue living according to the tradition of their ancestors, extending all the way back to the patriarchs, are living in genuine fear.”

The appeal continued: “As we write these words, dozens of students are imprisoned in military prisons because of their refusal to enlist. Every Orthodox Jew of draft age walks the streets in fear and goes to sleep at night knowing that he could be arrested at any moment, solely because of his religious beliefs.”

The letter further stated: “They are unable to leave the country for any reason, including to seek refuge elsewhere. To our understanding, thousands of American citizens who hold dual citizenship are unable to return home. Mr. President, since the days of the Founding Fathers, the world has not seen a leader so determined to defend religious freedom. You will be recorded in history alongside Thomas Jefferson and George Washington for your courageous efforts to help Jews throughout the world practice their faith in peace.”

It concluded: “We respectfully ask you to direct your administration to raise this matter at the highest levels of the Israeli government and urge its leaders to follow your example by protecting the religious liberties of ultra-Orthodox Jews rather than persecuting them. With profound gratitude and our warmest blessings.”

In an unusual moment during the meeting, Trump asked Rav Aharon Teitelbaum to give him the paper containing the points they had discussed during their earlier private conversation. The Rebbe handed over the document, and Trump placed it in his personal desk drawer.

Rav Zalman Leib Teitelbaum then described the difficulties facing Jewish prisoners and thanked Trump for assistance he has provided to couples struggling to have children. He also raised the plight of yeshiva students in Israel, with the president listening closely and expressing interest in the details.

Rav Zalman Leib delivered his remarks to Trump in English and expressed the appreciation of the Jewish people for the president’s steadfast support of Jews.

The Bobover Rebbe had also prepared remarks concerning the preservation of Jewish cemeteries in Poland and the situation at Maimonides Medical Center, but time constraints prevented him from presenting them.

Trump then spoke about his decision several years ago to commute the sentence of Sholom Mordechai Rubashkin. He remarked with amusement that even after dramatic military operations, he had never received the kind of enthusiastic response and expressions of gratitude from the Jewish community that followed Rubashkin’s release.

Rosenfeld told Trump that thousands of people had poured into the streets and danced when news of Rubashkin’s release became known. Trump added that he had spoken at the time with the judge who imposed Rubashkin’s 28-year sentence and concluded that antisemitism had influenced the punishment, leading him to grant clemency.

Rosenfeld used the opportunity to discuss what he described as injustices in the criminal justice system involving Orthodox Jews and the disproportionately severe sentences sometimes imposed upon them. Trump nodded in agreement.

During the meeting, Lawler asked Trump whether several additional community activists waiting outside could be brought into the Oval Office. The president agreed, and Margareten, Zorger, Gestetner, and Reb Rafi Silberberg joined the gathering.

Margareten thanked Trump and his administration for their continued support and specifically praised Lawler for his efforts to preserve an assistance program benefiting yeshivas through a legislative amendment.

Trump asked the Rebbes whether their communities supported Lawler. Those whose communities are located within Lawler’s district confirmed that he enjoys enthusiastic support and thanked him for his assistance.

The community representatives told Trump that he had received 98% of the vote in Kiryas Joel in the most recent election and 100% in New Square, adding that similarly strong numbers had been recorded for Lawler.

The Oval Office meeting lasted approximately half an hour. As it concluded, Trump pledged to continue helping wherever possible, while the Rebbes offered warm blessings for his continued success as president.

Before leaving, Rav Kotler presented Trump with a special clemency request on behalf of a Jewish man facing serious legal difficulties. All of the Rebbes had signed the letter beforehand at Rav Kotler’s request.

As the delegation departed, Trump presented the Rebbes and community leaders with presidential challenge coins as souvenirs of their White House visit.

The Rebbes wished one another that they be inscribed and sealed for a good year and then departed the White House for the airports to return to their respective communities.

{Matzav.com}

Rescuers in Nepal pulled two hydropower workers alive from a tunnel on Friday, nine days after catastrophic flash floods buried the facility in mud and water, raising hopes that additional survivors could still be found as emergency crews reported hearing voices from deeper inside the complex.

The extraordinary discoveries have given rescue teams new urgency more than a week after the flooding devastated large areas of Nepal and killed more than 1,200 people. CBS News correspondent Ramy Inocencio reported that rescuers believe more people — potentially dozens — could still emerge alive after voices were detected within the partially submerged and mud-covered tunnel system.

The two men were rescued from the Trishuli 3A hydropower tunnel nine days after the disaster. The massive flooding, believed to have possibly been triggered by the collapse of a glacier, destroyed towns and swept away entire villages across parts of Nepal.

Nepalese lawmaker Shri Ram Neupane announced the second rescue on Facebook shortly after army spokesperson Brig. Gen. Raja Ram Basnet confirmed that the first worker had been brought out alive.

Nepalese Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal told Inocencio in a text message that he was “thrilled” about the two rescues and “hoping to see more survivors.” Khanal said officials still did not know how many people might remain alive within the tunnel, but the sound of voices has intensified the race to reach anyone still trapped.

According to Neupane, rescue personnel first detected voices coming from within the tunnel Friday morning. Those sounds helped search teams determine where the two surviving workers were located.

Television footage from the scene showed the first survivor emerging covered in mud and being carried on the shoulder of a member of the rescue team. Authorities said both rescued men were in stable condition and were transported by air to a hospital in Kathmandu for treatment.

Sanjay Shah, a mechanical foreman at the hydropower project, said “thank you” after rescuers brought him out of the tunnel. Because of his weakened physical condition after nine days trapped underground, however, he was advised not to continue speaking, Inocencio reported.

Amir Maharjan, whose brother, mechanical supervisor Kabir Maharjan, was the other worker rescued, described the family’s overwhelming reaction to learning that he was alive. He told The Associated Press he “can’t explain what we are feeling at the moment. We are just grateful to God.” Maharjan said relatives were traveling to the hospital to reunite with him.

Kabir Maharjan’s wife, Hirashova, described the ordeal the family had endured while waiting for news of her husband.

“We couldn’t properly eat or drink for 10 days,” she told CBS News partner BBC News. “We were very scared. Now we are all happy. We are even crying.”

Despite Friday’s remarkable rescues, hundreds of employees from the Trishuli 3A hydropower project remain unaccounted for. At least 557 workers are still missing, and approximately 115 are believed to be trapped inside the project’s main tunnel, according to the Independent Power Producers Association of Nepal.

An energy adviser in Nepal told Inocencio that the structure where the workers are believed to be trapped is far more complicated than a single tunnel extending underground beside the Trishuli River. Instead, it consists of an interconnected network of chambers and rooms extending in different directions and at varying levels, making the rescue operation considerably more difficult.

The adviser said many of the people trapped inside are among Nepal’s most highly skilled engineers and suggested they have likely spent the past nine days attempting to devise ways to escape and maintain access to oxygen. A lack of breathable air remains the greatest danger for those who may still be alive inside.

The nationwide toll from the disaster remains staggering. Nepal’s disaster management agency said at least 1,287 people have been killed and more than 5,000 others remain missing. Across the border in Tibet, Chinese authorities said as of late Wednesday that 21 people had died and another 541 remained unaccounted for.

The flooding has also devastated Nepal’s hydropower industry. Local authorities said approximately 900 workers remain missing from 12 hydropower projects across the country, with an estimated 500 of them believed to be trapped inside tunnels.

{Matzav.com}

Mortgage rates continued their upward march this week, with the average rate on the most widely used U.S. home loan reaching its highest point in 13 months and adding further pressure to an already sluggish housing market.

Freddie Mac reported Thursday that the average rate for a 30-year fixed mortgage increased to 6.71%, up from 6.66% a week earlier. At the same point last year, the average stood at 6.50%.

The increase translates into potentially hundreds of dollars in additional monthly expenses for some borrowers, reducing how much prospective buyers can afford to spend on a home. Rising financing costs can also convince would-be buyers to remain on the sidelines, contributing to the persistent weakness in home sales this year.

At 6.71%, the average 30-year rate is now at its highest level since July 31, 2025, when it reached 6.72%.

Rates also moved higher for 15-year fixed mortgages, which are frequently used by homeowners seeking to refinance. The average increased from 5.98% last week to 6.04% this week, compared with 5.60% one year ago.

A variety of economic forces influence mortgage rates, including inflation, Federal Reserve interest-rate policy and investors’ expectations about the economy. Home-loan rates tend to move in the same general direction as the yield on the 10-year Treasury, a key benchmark used by lenders when determining mortgage pricing.

The war between the United States and Iran has been a major factor pushing both mortgage rates and bond yields upward this year. Surging crude oil prices have heightened fears of additional inflation, while long-term Treasury yields have remained significantly above the levels seen before the conflict erupted in late February.

Those concerns intensified over the past week as renewed fighting between American and Iranian forces put additional pressure on global oil markets and sent crude prices higher. Rising energy prices can contribute to broader inflation, which in turn tends to push bond yields upward.

The yield on the 10-year Treasury stood at 4.74% around midday Thursday, compared with 4.67% the previous Thursday. In late February, before the Iran war began, the yield was just 3.97%.

Another source of upward pressure on long-term Treasury yields has been mounting concern over the size and growth of the federal government’s debt. Those worries became significant enough to prompt intervention by the U.S. Treasury Department last month.

With inflation remaining stubbornly elevated, attention is increasingly turning toward the Federal Reserve and whether policymakers will take additional steps to bring price increases under control.

Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh signaled last week that policymakers remain concerned about the inflation outlook. Speaking at the central bank’s annual economic symposium in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, Warsh said inflation had not improved sufficiently and suggested the Fed could have “more work to do,” raising the possibility of an interest-rate increase when policymakers meet Sept. 15-16.

Investors on Wall Street generally expect the Fed to increase interest rates before the end of the year in an attempt to restrain inflation, which continues to run well above 3%. The central bank’s stated inflation target is 2%.

While the Federal Reserve does not directly determine mortgage rates, its decisions on short-term interest rates can influence expectations in the bond market and ultimately affect 10-year Treasury yields, which in turn help determine borrowing costs for homebuyers.

“We don’t expect any real mortgage rate relief this fall, but if inflation isn’t tamed, the pain will be real,” said Jiayi Xu, senior economist at Realtor.com. “Higher inflation would simultaneously erode paychecks and real income growth while keeping mortgage rates elevated for longer. That’s a squeeze on housing from both sides: what people can afford, and what they’re willing to buy into.”

The latest increase adds another obstacle for a U.S. housing market that has struggled since mortgage rates began climbing from their pandemic-era lows in 2022. Sales of previously owned homes were essentially unchanged last year and remained near a 30-year low, while sales weakened again in July.

{Matzav.com}

Diesel prices in the United States surged to an all-time high Friday, reaching a national average of $5.85 per gallon as the six-month war with Iran continues to squeeze global fuel supplies and send energy costs sharply higher.

The record is likely to be felt far beyond truck stops and filling stations. Diesel powers much of the nation’s freight and delivery system, meaning rising fuel costs are increasing the expense of moving everything from groceries to furniture. Businesses across numerous industries are facing larger transportation bills, with some already imposing additional charges on deliveries and online purchases. Consumers could increasingly see those costs reflected in prices on store shelves.

The growing burden could also become a political issue ahead of November’s midterm elections, when inflation, energy costs, and the broader economy are expected to weigh heavily on voters.

Among the areas most vulnerable to higher diesel prices is the food industry. Produce, meat, and other perishable products require frequent transportation and restocking, while farms themselves rely heavily on diesel-powered machinery for harvesting and other operations. Although those added expenses do not necessarily reach consumers immediately, they can gradually work their way through the supply chain.

Economists and industry specialists say the longer diesel remains at elevated levels, the greater the likelihood that businesses will have to pass along more of their costs. Diesel is also essential for transporting clothing, cosmetics, furniture, and countless other products by truck, rail, and ship.

Regular gasoline has climbed as well, though its increase has been less dramatic. AAA reported that the national average for regular gasoline stood at $4.15 per gallon Friday, compared with $3.20 at the same point last year.

Diesel was averaging roughly $3.76 per gallon before the United States and Israel began their war against Iran in late February, according to AAA. Prices surged soon afterward as crude oil — the primary raw material used to produce both diesel and gasoline — jumped amid production cuts and disruptions throughout the Middle East. The situation has been compounded by severe restrictions on tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important energy shipping routes.

Fuel markets eased somewhat earlier in the summer amid hopes that the conflict could move toward a resolution. Those gains have since been reversed as fighting between the United States and Iran intensified again. Brent crude, the international oil benchmark, was trading above $95 per barrel Friday, compared with approximately $70 before the war began. Changes in crude prices typically make their way to retail fuel prices soon afterward.

The previous period of extraordinarily high fuel prices came in June 2022, when average diesel prices approached $5.82 per gallon. That spike occurred several months after the war in Ukraine began and governments around the world imposed sanctions on Russia, one of the world’s largest oil-producing countries.

In inflation-adjusted terms, however, today’s diesel price is still below some previous peaks. Diesel reached approximately $4.74 per gallon before the 2008 financial crisis, which would equal about $7.20 in 2026 dollars, according to government figures. Similarly, the nearly $5.82 average recorded in 2022 would amount to roughly $6.56 today after adjusting for inflation.

That historical comparison offers little relief to consumers and businesses currently paying record nominal prices, particularly as the impact spreads through the broader economy. Motorists who use gasoline are also facing substantially higher expenses each time they visit the pump.

The current $4.15 national average for regular unleaded gasoline is sharply higher than the $2.98 average recorded before the Iran war began, though it remains below the nationwide record of nearly $5.02 reached in 2022.

Diesel has generally cost more than gasoline for decades and has tended to experience sharper increases during recent energy crises. Analysts attribute the difference to factors including tighter supplies, less flexibility in demand, and diesel’s critical role in international trade and transportation.

Consumers can respond to expensive gasoline by cutting unnecessary trips or driving fewer miles. Businesses that depend on diesel-powered trucks, trains, ships, and machinery have far fewer short-term alternatives when they need to produce and transport goods.

That dependence is particularly pronounced in the food industry. Diesel powers tractors and other agricultural machinery, fishing vessels, freight trains, cargo ships, and the trucks responsible for delivering food to supermarkets.

Fuel expenses represent approximately 15% to 30% of the overall cost of food, according to the Independent Grocers Alliance, which represents 7,500 supermarkets around the world. As a result, higher diesel prices frequently contribute to rising grocery bills, although the effects of an energy shock can take time to move through production and distribution networks.

Refrigerated foods are often among the products that experience increases earliest because of the additional energy needed during transportation, according to David Ortega, a professor of food economics and policy at Michigan State University. Overall U.S. grocery prices in July were 2.7% higher than a year earlier, while seafood prices climbed 7% and fresh fruit increased 4.9%.

Ortega noted that transportation expenses are only one of many forces affecting food prices. Lettuce growers and distributors, for example, faced higher shipping expenses in July, but reduced consumer demand connected to the cyclospora outbreak pushed prices lower.

The longer diesel remains expensive, however, the greater the likelihood that households will ultimately bear more of those additional transportation costs.

“Early on, much of the cost increase gets absorbed along the supply chain through existing freight contracts and retailer margins,” Ortega said. “But as contracts reprice and fuel surcharges take hold, more of that cost makes its way to the grocery store.”

Major shipping and e-commerce companies have already responded to the energy crunch. Amazon introduced a temporary 3.5% fuel and logistics surcharge in April affecting some third-party sellers. United Parcel Service, FedEx, and the United States Postal Service also added charges to certain shipments earlier in the conflict, pointing to rising fuel-related operating expenses.

Ajesh Kapoor, founder and CEO of trucking technology company SemiCab, said transportation companies have some ability to adjust their operations as diesel becomes more expensive, but there are limits to how much of the increase they can absorb.

“Diesel price has a very, very direct impact on everything that moves on pretty much any mode,” Kapoor said.

The impact is not confined to consumer merchandise and commercial shipping. Some buses and trains in public transportation systems rely on diesel, while diesel-powered generators remain an important source of emergency and backup electricity. In some remote regions around the world, those generators are also a primary source of power.

The economic consequences could become particularly severe in parts of Africa and Asia. Many countries in those regions depend heavily on Middle Eastern energy imports and have already suffered some of the most significant effects of the supply disruptions caused by the war.

Neil Atkinson, an energy analyst and senior fellow at the National Center for Energy Analytics, warned that the problem now extends beyond high prices. Supplies of refined petroleum products such as diesel are also becoming increasingly strained.

“This is gradually becoming a major crisis because A) the prices themselves are very high — but the physical stocks of these products are dwindling,” he said during a weekly briefing with maritime data firm Lloyd’s List Intelligence, citing growing pressure on the global refining system. “This cannot go on forever.”

{Matzav.com}

Shas chairman Aryeh Deri pushed back against demands that political leaders urge young Chareidi men to join the IDF, arguing that it is the military’s responsibility to create an acceptable path for enlistment and claiming that the army has little genuine interest in accommodating soldiers who remain committed to the authority of rabbonim.

In an interview with Kol Barama Radio, Deri said the IDF has demonstrated that it is capable of handling extraordinarily complex challenges and should therefore be able to address the enlistment issue without politicians calling on Chareidim to serve.

“I don’t need to call for enlistment,” he told Kol Barama Radio in an interview. “An army that knows how to bomb Iran can deal with this as well. The army doesn’t really want haredim. It’s a major headache for them. They want a secular army, not soldiers who listen to rabbis.”

Deri argued that the current uproar surrounding Chareidi enlistment emerged only after the IDF’s longstanding reliance on a smaller, technologically advanced military came under scrutiny.

According to Deri, the demand for Chareidi enlistment “was a deception all these years, and there was no problem. Now, after the failure of the concept of ‘a small, technological army was exposed,’ a storm has erupted.”

Turning to the question of which Chareidi men should be permitted to remain in yeshiva, Deri rejected the premise that authorities can determine which individuals are sufficiently accomplished in Torah learning to qualify for an exemption. He maintained that the right to devote oneself to Torah cannot be restricted to those deemed exceptionally gifted.

Regarding whether Chareidim should be allowed to remain in yeshiva, he asked, “Who is the Sanhedrin that will decide which young man should study and which should go to the army? Do we know how to determine who is a prodigy and who isn’t? The Torah was given to anyone who wishes to sit and learn it. Our struggle is for anyone who wishes to study Torah to be able to do so.”

Deri acknowledged that a separate question exists regarding young men who are not actually learning, but said that issue cannot properly be addressed until the IDF establishes frameworks approved by leading gedolei Torah and the legal status of those learning Torah is resolved.

“[What about] someone who doesn’t want to learn? As long as the army does not have genuine frameworks approved by the leading Torah sages and the status of Torah scholars has not been regulated, there is a problem.

Deri said only after those fundamental issues are settled and rabbinic leaders determine that appropriate conditions are in place should discussion turn to the status of those who are not learning.

“When the rabbis decide, after the status of those who study Torah has been regulated, then it will be possible to discuss what happens with those who are not studying,” Deri concluded.

{Matzav.com}

Excavation is expected to begin within the next two weeks for the Trump administration’s planned 250-foot triumphal arch in Washington, D.C., moving the ambitious monument toward construction even as opponents challenge the project in federal court.

The arch is among several high-profile projects being advanced by President Donald Trump. Other initiatives include renovations and a new name for the Kennedy Center, construction of a new White House ballroom, improvements to the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool and the reconstruction of a golf course at East Potomac Park.

Interior Secretary Doug Burgum celebrated the planned monument Thursday, predicting that it will become a major architectural landmark in the nation’s capital.

“This will be one of the Great Pieces of American Architecture,” Burgum wrote on X, “befitting the most powerful Capital in the World.”

Burgum accompanied his announcement with artistic renderings depicting the enormous arch, which is planned for a location between the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery.

The images portray a massive white structure accented with gold and bearing the inscription “ONE NATION UNDER GOD.” At the top is a gold, winged figure resembling Lady Liberty and holding a torch, flanked by gold eagles with outstretched wings.

The National Park Service endorsed the proposal in a report released Friday, while also acknowledging that construction of the arch would negatively affect some of the carefully established sightlines connecting several of Washington’s best-known landmarks.

The visual relationships between Washington’s monuments, historic sites and government buildings have been deliberately developed over many decades. Their locations and sightlines were designed both to commemorate important chapters in American history and to create symbolic connections among the capital’s landmarks.

The project is nevertheless facing a legal challenge from three military veterans and an architectural historian. Their lawsuit contends that the administration cannot proceed with construction without approval from Congress.

“congressional authorization is necessary and lacking for this project,” said Nicolas Sansone, an attorney with Public Citizen Litigation Group representing the plaintiffs.

Sansone indicated that the plaintiffs are prepared to seek further court intervention as the administration moves closer to beginning work at the site.

“We believe that construction cannot and should not proceed apace, and we are prepared to inform the court that it needs to, at this juncture, needs to step in,” he said. Sansone did not reveal what specific filing the plaintiffs intend to make next, but said he is “very confident” that they’ll find success.

Burgum defended the project in several posts on X, pointing to historical proposals for a monument at the location and saying the concept stretches back more than a century. He cited previous congressional discussions and attempts to place a monument in the traffic circle.

“Despite Congress’ intent, the site became and remains today a barren traffic circle lacking any monumental treatment and significant historic value,” he wrote.

Burgum also noted that more than 70 cities around the world have “beautiful arches” and predicted that the United States will soon possess the “most spectacular and beautiful arch of them all!”

The legal battle remains unresolved. The Justice Department filed a new court document Thursday seeking dismissal of the lawsuit as the administration prepares to begin excavation work.

{Matzav.com}

The owner of 1800-Eichler’s in Boro Park is distancing his store from several aspects of New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s controversial visit this week, saying the Judaica retailer neither invited the mayor nor participated in distributing gifts to him.

Hirsch Meir Traube released a video Thursday night seeking to clarify what occurred during Mamdani’s Wednesday appearance at the 13th Avenue store, after footage of the visit generated widespread discussion and criticism on social media.

“We did not invite Mayor Mamdani,” Traube said. “None of our staff were involved in any of the gift giving. It was all from independent influencers.”

Traube also rejected suggestions that Eichler’s personnel were responsible for removing individuals from the premises during Mamdani’s appearance.

“We weren’t involved in kicking anyone out of the store,” he said.

The clarification followed the widespread circulation of videos showing Mamdani visiting the store as part of his outreach to the Jewish community ahead of Rosh Hashanah. During the stop, the mayor spoke with community figures and was introduced to various aspects of the upcoming Yom Tov.

Among those at the store during Mamdani’s visit were Boro Park Jewish Community Council CEO Avi Greenstein, Rav Yaakov Landau and Traube. Other members of the local community also greeted the mayor during his appearance.

Uri Fraenkel, the mayor’s director of special projects, blew the shofar during the event. Mamdani was also presented with honey in connection with the traditional Rosh Hashanah wish for a sweet new year.

Mamdani greeted those gathered at the store with a “Shana Tovah.”

The otherwise cordial appearance became contentious when Stephanie Benshimol, who identified herself as a Jewish advocate, confronted Mamdani inside the store over antisemitism.

“Stop the antisemitism! You have all the power to stop the antisemitism. I’m begging you to do it,” Benshimol shouted.

Benshimol also challenged Mamdani over his repeated focus on Israel, arguing that the mayor’s positions were helping fuel an atmosphere of hostility toward Jews.

Menachem Gindi, an employee of Eichler’s who witnessed the encounter, subsequently told CBS New York that the confrontation created an uncomfortable situation, although he said he believed Benshimol’s concerns had merit.

The controversy comes amid continued concern over antisemitism in New York City. According to NYPD figures, anti-Jewish hate crimes have risen 8% year-to-date compared with the same period last year, with incidents targeting Jews accounting for more than half of all reported hate crimes in the city.

Mamdani’s relationship with segments of the Jewish community has been strained by his positions and rhetoric concerning Israel. Among the remarks that have drawn criticism was his description of Israeli Prime Minister Binyomin Netanyahu as a “war criminal” in a video released in July.

The mayor has maintained that his criticism of Israel and its government should be distinguished from hostility toward Jews or Judaism.

“When we make criticisms of a nation-state or policies, we have to remember that those are criticisms of exactly that — never of a people, never of a faith,” Mamdani told CBS New York following an earlier discussion concerning antisemitism.

Wednesday’s stop in Boro Park was one element of Mamdani’s outreach to Jewish New Yorkers in advance of the Yomim Noraim. In August, he also participated in a private meeting with rabbonim focused on antisemitism and the growing number of anti-Jewish incidents.

The Mamdani administration has said it wants Jewish residents of New York City to be able to “live openly, proudly and safely.” City Hall has also pledged additional funding for efforts to prevent hate crimes and an expansion of the mayoral office devoted to combating antisemitism.

Meanwhile, the NYPD is increasing its preparations ahead of the Yomim Noraim. A citywide security briefing with Jewish communal leaders is scheduled for next week, while Brooklyn South police officials met with Jewish leaders on Monday to discuss security measures for the coming weeks.

Traube concluded his video by emphasizing his own and the store’s support for Israel.

“We do support Israel,” he said. “Am Yisroel Chai.”

The controversy has also created some confusion because two separate Judaica stores in Brooklyn operate under the Eichler’s name.

Mamdani visited 1800 Eichler’s, also known as 1-800 Eichler’s and previously known as The New Eichler’s, located at 5004 13th Avenue in Boro Park. The store is independently owned by Traube, who acquired the business around 2024.

Eichler’s of Flatbush, located at 1401 Coney Island Avenue, is a separate business. That store remains owned by the Eichler family and has been operating since 1977.

The two retailers are independently owned and operated, and Eichler’s of Flatbush was not involved in Mamdani’s Boro Park visit.

{Matzav.com}

[Photos below.] As reported on extensively here on Matzav.com, a delegation of leading Chassidic Rebbes, rabbonim and roshei yeshiva met with President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance at the White House in Washington, D.C., for extensive discussions on issues facing the Chareidi community in the United States and Eretz Yisroel. The extraordinary gathering included a private 15-minute meeting between the Satmar Rebbe, Rav Aharon Teitelbaum, and Trump, a prayer for the president recited in the Oval Office, and discussions concerning pidyon shvuyim and the drafting of yeshiva students in Israel.

Among those participating were the two Satmar Rebbes, the Bobover Rebbe, Rav Malkiel Kotler, rosh yeshiva of Beth Medrash Govoha in Lakewood, and Rav Aharon Menachem Mendel Twersky, son of the Skverer Rebbe. Rep. Mike Lawler, who was instrumental in arranging the historic White House visit, was also present.

The gathering opened with remarks from Reb Yoel Rosenfeld, a prominent Bobover community activist, who introduced several of the subjects that the delegation hoped to raise with administration officials.

Others who spoke during the discussions included the Satmar Rebbe, Rav Aharon Teitelbaum; the Satmar dayan of Williamsburg; Reb Gedaliah Segedin; New Square Mayor Yisroel Moshe Spitzer; Reb Moshe Dovid Niederman; Reb Yehuda Leib Zorger; and Reb Moshe Margareten. The participants raised a range of concerns affecting the broader Chareidi community, with particular attention devoted to matters involving Jewish residents of New York and New Jersey where assistance from the federal government could prove significant.

Segedin specifically presented the needs of the more than 50,000 residents of Kiryas Joel, outlining several areas in which the federal government could assist the rapidly growing community.

Vice President JD Vance joined the gathering after it was underway, warmly greeting the rabbonim and community representatives and speaking with them about several issues currently facing their communities.

A particularly significant portion of the visit occurred when the Satmar Rebbe, Rav Aharon Teitelbaum, accompanied by Segedin, was invited to meet privately with President Trump. The approximately 15-minute discussion centered primarily on matters of pidyon shvuyim. The Rebbe warmly blessed Trump and personally raised several pressing concerns, while the president listened and discussed the matters with him at length.

Following the private conversation, the remainder of the rabbinic delegation and community representatives, including New Square Mayor Yisroel Moshe Spitzer and Reb Moshe Dovid Niederman, were brought into the Oval Office to meet with Trump.

Rav Aharon, who was already in the room following his private meeting, waited as each of the other rabbonim personally greeted and blessed the president.

A remarkable scene then unfolded as Rav Aharon, seated at the center of the table directly opposite Trump, rose from his chair. The other rabbonim surrounding the table stood with him, and the Rebbe emotionally recited the traditional prayer for the welfare of the government, Hanosein Teshuah LaMelachim. He then asked Segedin to translate the prayer into English for the president.

Trump was visibly moved by the moment and immediately asked that his son-in-law, Jared Kushner, be summoned to the room, saying, “He must be here when such distinguished guests are present.”

After the prayer, Rav Aharon addressed Trump briefly and expressed his gratitude for what he described as the president’s historic directive allowing batei medrash and Jewish institutions to reopen during the COVID-era restrictions. The conversation then continued with additional issues of importance to the Chareidi community.

The Satmar Rebbe, Rav Zalman Leib Teitelbaum, expressed his appreciation to Trump for his strong support of the Jewish people and for standing alongside “our Jewish brethren.” Rav Zalman Leib also raised the contentious issue of the drafting of yeshiva students in Eretz Yisroel.

Rav Aharon Menachem Mendel Twersky, son of the Skverer Rebbe, then spoke for several minutes and presented Trump with a personal letter from his father. The president inquired about the Skverer Rebbe and asked that his regards be conveyed to him.

The discussion continued as the Rebbes and other members of the delegation spoke with Trump about a broad range of matters affecting Chareidi Jews both in the United States and Eretz Yisroel.

At one point, Rav Aharon asked Rav Malkiel Kotler, rosh yeshiva of Beth Medrash Govoha in Lakewood, to address the president. Rav Malkiel instead chose to give Trump a private letter dealing with several matters.

Another unusual moment came during the meeting when Trump asked Rav Aharon for the handwritten note on which the Rebbe had recorded the points discussed during their earlier private conversation. Rav Aharon handed it to the president, who placed the note inside his personal desk drawer.

After approximately half an hour with Trump, the delegation concluded the Oval Office meeting. The rabbonim thanked the president for the exceptionally warm reception before taking their leave on friendly terms.

As the Rebbes departed the White House gathering, they exchanged warm wishes for the approaching Rosh Hashanah, offering one another blessings for a good year and for a kesivah vachasimah tovah.

{Matzav.com}

The growing movement to begin the first night of Selichos with Torah learning continues to spread, with the Five Towns and Kew Gardens Hills becoming the latest communities to organize coordinated pre-Selichos sedarim this Motzoei Shabbos.

The new initiatives follow the community-wide programs announced in Flatbush and Passaic-Clifton, as the idea of entering the first Selichos directly from a seder of Torah learning gains momentum across the region.

Under the banner “Join the Hisorerus,” participating shuls in the Five Towns and Kew Gardens Hills are encouraging mispallelim to arrive well before Selichos and devote that time to learning. The message accompanying the initiative is: “Elevate Your Selichos! Stand before Hashem with the z’chus of Torah.”

In the Greater Five Towns, 26 shuls have joined the initiative, representing a broad cross-section of the community. Participating shuls include Agudath Israel of Long Island, led by Rabbi Meir Braunstein; Bais Medrash Ateres Yisroel, led by Rabbi Yisroel Meir Blumenkrantz; Beis Medrash Heichal Dovid, led by Rabbi Mordechai Stern; Cong. Anshei Chesed, led by Rabbi Isaac Rice; Cong. Shaary Tefila, led by Rabbi Uri Orlian; Kahal Beis Imrei Gavriel, led by Rabbi Yoni Levin; Kehilas Beis Yisroel, led by Rabbi Elysha Sandler; Kehillas Tiferes Mordechai, led by Rabbi Daniel Glatstein; and K’Hal Nesiv Hatorah, led by Rabbi Binyamin Forst.

Also participating are Agudath Israel of the Five Towns, led by Rabbi Yitzchok Frankel; Bais Tefila of Inwood, led by Rabbi Pinchos Weinberger; Beis Medrash of Harborview, led by Rabbi Yisroel Ephrati; Cong. Beis Ephraim Yitzchok, led by Rabbi Zvi Ralbag; Congregation Eitz Chaim, led by Rabbi Gedaliah Oppen; Kahal Zichron Moshe Dov, led by Rabbi Aaron Stein; Kehillas Nishmas Hatorah, led by Rabbi Yissachar Blinder; Khal Bnei Hayeshivos, led by Rabbi Shmuel Witkin; and Mishkan Yisroel of Woodmere, led by Rabbi Daniel Rosen.

Rounding out the Five Towns participants are Agudath Israel of West Lawrence, led by Rabbi Moshe Brown; Beis Knesses North Woodmere, led by Rabbi Aryeh Lebowitz; Beis Medrash of Woodmere, led by Rabbi Akiva Willig; Cong. Kneseth Israel, led by Rabbi Eytan Feiner; Ishei Yisroel Woodmere, led by Rav Naftoli Weitz; Kehilas Bais Avraham Zev, led by Rabbi Asher Stern; Kehilas Yagdil Torah, led by Rabbi Ariel Edelstein; and Khal Chassidim, led by Rabbi Teddy Newman.

The Five Towns program calls for a seder limud b’chavrusa beginning at 12:00 a.m., followed by Selichos at 12:55 a.m., although individual shul schedules may vary. Those without a chavrusa will be assisted in finding one.

Kew Gardens Hills has now joined the movement as well, with six shuls taking part. They are Beis Medrash Zichron Shalom, led by Rabbi Eitan Tanenbaum; Beis Yosef D’Ulem, led by Rabbi Yaakov Friedman; Chevrah Bais Dovid D’Lantzut, led by Rabbi Naftoli Rubin; Kehillas KGH, led by Rabbi Ilan Feder and Rabbi Yisroel Kramer; Kehillas Torah Temima, led by Rabbi Yehudah Davis; and Beis Medrash of KGH, led by Rabbi Yaakov Bergman.

The Kew Gardens Hills program is scheduled to begin with a seder limud b’chavrusa at 12:10 a.m., with individual shul schedules varying. Organizers will also arrange chavrusas for those who need them.

The expansion into the Five Towns and Kew Gardens Hills follows the earlier announcements from Flatbush and Passaic-Clifton, turning the concept into an increasingly widespread pre-Selichos initiative.

Across all four communities, the idea is the same: to utilize the time before the first Selichos for Torah learning and to approach the opening Selichos of the year carrying the zechus haTorah and with a heightened sense of hisorerus ahead of the Yemei Hadin.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump delivered a stark assessment of Britain’s direction Thursday, warning that the country is approaching a crisis because of mass immigration and soaring energy costs tied to its environmental policies.

During an interview with GB News, Trump said Britain faces major domestic challenges despite reiterating his personal affection for the country and his admiration for King Charles.

Relations between Washington and London have become increasingly strained in recent years. The warm atmosphere surrounding Trump’s elaborate 2025 state visit has given way to increasingly sharp disagreements over several British domestic and foreign policies.

Trump nevertheless emphasized his longstanding fondness for Britain before turning his attention to the government of Prime Minister Andy Burnham, which he said must confront serious problems.

“Your country’s in trouble. You’re on ⁠the edge of disaster,” he said.

Trump singled out immigration and energy prices as two of the most pressing threats facing the country, arguing that British consumers are paying far more for energy than they should.

“You have a tremendous immigration problem, and you have a tremendous energy problem. Your energy is three, four times higher than it should be.”

Trump, a longtime critic of climate-change policies, has repeatedly urged Britain to reverse its move away from fossil fuels and make greater use of the oil and natural gas resources available in the North Sea.

Burnham’s government is currently considering whether to approve two major North Sea energy projects. While the prime minister has pledged to take a pragmatic approach to the transition, his government continues to support moving Britain toward cleaner sources of electricity.

Immigration was another major focus of Trump’s criticism, with the president warning that continued large-scale migration risks fundamentally transforming the country.

“If you don’t stop people pouring into ⁠your country ⁠from all over the world, you’re not going to have a country left,” he said.

The immigration debate has become one of Britain’s most politically potent issues, particularly over migrants crossing the English Channel in small boats from continental Europe. Public frustration over the issue has contributed to growing support for Nigel Farage’s right-leaning Reform party.

Burnham has continued the commitment made by his predecessor, Keir Starmer, to curb the illegal Channel crossings. His government said earlier this week that the number of crossings had fallen significantly, attributing the decline in part to efforts aimed at stopping boat launches and disrupting the criminal organizations responsible for smuggling migrants into Britain.

{Matzav.com}