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No matter where you live, the word “cancer” is a frightening reality for all too many of your neighbors, r”l. This dreadful disease and its treatment regimens afflict men, women, teenagers, even young children, of all ages and backgrounds – as well as their family and friends. 

In our communities, virtually every one of these suffering souls relies on RCCS as a lifeline – the one-stop resource that guides them from diagnosis through recovery and makes sure that everyone has access to the absolute best medical care available anywhere in the world. 

One recent case illustrates just how life-changing RCCS’s work can be. 

A young patient with a specific strain of colorectal cancer was referred by RCCS to an experimental study of a new drug that seemed hopeful. To be eligible for this study, patients needed to have a specific biomarker that is only found in 5% of patients with this strain of cancer. He was one of only 12 patients accepted into the study, where patients received three doses of the experimental treatment over the course of 12 weeks. 

The results were astounding and the treatment so effective that the pharmaceutical company decided to commission a second study that would be open to patients with colorectal cancer, even without the indicated biomarker, with the hopes that the same efficacy could still be achieved. Although there was concern that the results would not be as good as the previous results of the first experimental treatment, it was a hopeful development nonetheless for patients stricken with this cancer. 

A while later, when 35-year-old Shloimy was diagnosed with stage 3 colorectal cancer, the RCCS Patient Department was hopeful that he could be referred to this study and receive this potentially lifesaving treatment. 

Unfortunately, the study was not going to be open and available for some time. Being a stage 3 diagnosis, on the verge of metastasizing, the cancer needed to be treated immediately, before it risked spreading to other areas of the body. 

RCCS refers many colorectal cancer patients to a top specialist at Cornell Medical Center to undergo surgical removal of the tumorous tissue before undergoing chemotherapy. After meeting with the doctor, Shloimy’s prognosis was bleak. He was told that surgery must be performed immediately. There were numerous roadblocks in the way, but RCCS managed to get all the necessary testing, imaging and paperwork done and schedule the surgery for the next Monday. 

Having lost his father at a young age, the prognosis was devastating for Shloimy. On the day of his father’s Yahrzeit, which happened to fall out a few days before his surgery and treatment was scheduled to commence, he went to the kever and cried and davened. On that very day, RCCS unexpectedly received the amazingly good news that the second phase of the experimental trial treatment was now open. 

It was determined that the patient was a candidate and could join, but only before undergoing the surgery. On this experimental drug, he would receive three infusions over eight weeks. The subsequent surgery would then have a good chance for a vastly better outcome, while also negating the need for chemotherapy. 

10 weeks later, Shloimy came out of surgery. The specialist reported that it appeared to be a great success, as only the cancerous tissue had to be removed, preserving the healthy surrounding tissue. It was clear that the experimental drug was helping. 

Baruch Hashem, Shloimy is now in remission! 

The work of RCCS is extremely broad. They provide medical referral and support, getting each patient into the best doctor for their diagnosis; this includes handling their medical records and expediting appointments. To this end, they conduct extensive medical research to provide patients with the most cutting-edge medical treatment. They provide crucial financial support to cover insurance premiums and other out-of-pocket expenses. In essence, they serve as the patient’s virtual “back office” from beginning to end. 

They arrange insurance guidance and advocacy, helping a patient navigate the complex world of insurance and advocating for them when an insurer rejects a claim. They ensure that finances never stand between a patient and world-class treatment.  

RCCS is having their annual online campaign this week, and everyone is urged to please support it generously. All funds raised go to support their incredible work – giving Jewish cancer patients the best possible chance of recovery and survival.  Please visit dryveup.com/rccs to participate. 

A large-scale Immigration and Customs Enforcement operation officially got underway in New York City on Monday, marking the launch of the enforcement surge that President Donald Trump’s border czar, Tom Homan, vowed would target the city’s sanctuary policies.

Homan first announced plans for the expanded ICE presence last month but did not specify when the operation would begin.

During a June 8 appearance on Fox & Friends, Homan issued a direct warning to New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, saying, “You’re going to see more ICE agents than you’ve ever seen in New York City, and it’s coming.”

His comments followed the passage of additional sanctuary-state legislation by New York’s Democrat-controlled Legislature. The new measures further limit cooperation between state and local law enforcement agencies and federal immigration authorities.

At the time, Homan said the increased ICE presence was a direct response to those policies.

“I’m keeping my promise: We’re going to send more ICE agents to New York because you took away the efficiencies of safer arrests at county jails,” Homan added in June.

According to NewsNation, that promise began taking shape Monday as ICE formally launched its expanded enforcement effort across New York City.

The first wave of the operation was concentrated in Queens, with plans to broaden the effort into additional boroughs in the coming days.

For now, the operation is being carried out by ICE personnel already assigned to New York. Officials have not announced any plans to supplement the mission with agents from other regions.

Homan indicated that the immigration enforcement surge could remain in effect for more than a month, though he did not disclose additional details regarding the scope or duration of the operation.

{Matzav.com}

Newly released diary entries from Dr. Anthony Fauci suggest that, behind closed doors, many leading scientists considered a laboratory origin for COVID-19 to be a real possibility, even as Fauci publicly dismissed the theory as a conspiracy. The diary excerpts were made public by Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), chairman of the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.

One of the key entries, dated January 2020, recounts a conference call Fauci held with a group of prominent scientists and public health officials from the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, Australia, and the Netherlands. Participants included then-NIH Director Francis Collins, Wellcome Trust Director Jeremy Farrar, U.K. Chief Scientific Adviser Patrick Vallance, Scripps Research scientist Kristian Andersen, German virologist Christian Drosten, University of Sydney professor Edward Holmes, University of Edinburgh professor Andrew Rambaut, Dutch virologist Ron Fouchier, Tulane University virologist Robert Garry, University of Dundee professor Mike Ferguson, and Erasmus Medical Center virologist M.P.G. Koopmans.

In his notes, Fauci acknowledged that there was considerable concern among those on the call about whether the virus could have been engineered. He wrote, “There was not total agreement about the likelihood of deliberate insertion,” referring to the possibility that the virus had been created in a laboratory. According to the diary, only two participants argued strongly that the virus almost certainly arose naturally, while the remaining scientists believed a laboratory origin was a plausible explanation.

The discussion took place in January 2020, before governments imposed COVID lockdowns and before the World Health Organization officially declared the outbreak a global pandemic.

Fauci elaborated on the differing views among the scientists, writing:

“Ron Fouchier said he was sure that this could occur naturally and we should not waste our time and divert effort to pursue this. This is expected of him since he was the original GOF person with Yoshi Kawaoka. Also, Christian Drosten was with Ron; the rest felt that deliberate insertion was possible and given the fact that Dr. Zheng-Li Shi at the University of Wuhan has been working for years in GOF in coronaviruses to allow adaptation of the spike protein to bind to the human ACE2 receptor, we could not let this go. We decided to have Jeremy with Francis to contact Tedros with Stewart Simonson’s help (I arranged this) to see if Tedros would convene experts.”

Despite those private discussions, Fauci would go on to spend years publicly rejecting the lab leak theory as a conspiracy, even while his own diary reflected a more cautious view. In later entries, he repeatedly acknowledged that the origin of the virus remained uncertain.

Writing in May 2021, Fauci addressed criticism that he had changed his position on the issue:

“The situation continues to get “out of control” with regard to the press reports concerning my ‘flip flopping’ concerning the theory of the origin of the virus. I had always said that the very highly likelihood is that the virus originated naturally from an animal reservoir jumping to a human. However, over the past couple of days given the amount of speculation about the possibility of a lab leak I have been saying that no one is 100% certain of the origin including me and so I am calling for a thorough investigation.”

Another diary entry, dated June 7, 2021, appeared to revisit the January 2020 conference call. In it, Fauci claimed that the participants had been evenly divided over whether COVID originated naturally or may have been engineered. That account appears to conflict with his earlier notes, which indicated that only two scientists favored a natural-origin explanation while the rest viewed a laboratory origin as a realistic possibility.

He wrote:

“Scott Gottlieb had appeared on Face the Nation and mentioned in an attempt to help me then I had actually gone to Europe in Jan/Feb. 2020 to brief health ministers about the possibility that the virus could have been constructed an escape from the laboratory. He did this to indicate that I was not hiding anything because I already knew that this was a possibility and so I didn’t change my mind currently by saying that a lab leak is a possibility since I was talking about it openly back then. As it turns out, he was a little bit mixed up because on January 31st, 2020 I received a call from Jeremy Farrar who conferenced in Christian Andersen to tell me that Ed Holmes and Christian had seen a copy of the sequence of the virus and felt that there was a possibility that because of the unusual furin cleavage site that this could possibly have been a constructed virus. as indicated in my notes of January 31st and February 1st , 2020, since I am not an evolutionary biologist I called together by phone a group knowledgeable scientist together with Francis Collins and a few other people to discuss this. After a considerable amount of discussion about half of the people felt that this was possibly a constructed virus and the other half were convinced that this was a natural occurrence. A few weeks later Christian Andersen got together with Bob Garry and Andrew Rambaut to examine this more carefully and they came to the conclusion that they were convinced that this was a natural occurrence and a jump from the animal reservoir. They published their data in a preprint server in February followed by a nature paper in March of 2020 . That is the reason why it appears that a I briefed people which I did not. I was briefed by them. Scott had said that I had briefed a group of international health people he seemed to have gotten some of the story wrong , but overall he was correct.”

As the pandemic continued, Fauci’s diary entries took a far more dismissive tone toward the lab leak theory. He praised media reports criticizing the hypothesis, writing, “Great Article in Politico that describes the lies of the Trump people about the ‘lab leak’ theory,” and also commended similar reporting by The Guardian.

In another entry, Fauci accused conservatives of promoting politically motivated conspiracy theories surrounding the virus’s origin. He wrote, “The conspiracy of the far right and the trump loyalists continues. Recently representative Mike McCall the minority On the House Foreign Affairs Committee released a report by the panel’s republican staff essentially saying that the lab leak was the cause of COVID-19 and hinting the NIH’s role in creating the virus.”

He continued:

“This is based on no new information or no new data. It is very clear what is going on and it needs to be called out. It is all part of “The Big Lie”. First, trump actually won the election; next, January 6th was a friendly visit to the capital book shop; next trump was right and China caused the virus; next Fauci and the NIH helped the Chinese create the virus; next, discredit Fauci and it looks like trump is telling the truth. It is plain and simple a concerted effort aimed at getting trump re-elected and exonerating him from any blame in the complete mess up of his response to COVID-19.”

Since leaving government service, Fauci has continued to reject allegations that he misled the public regarding gain-of-function research or the origins of COVID-19. At the same time, the Trump White House has updated its official coronavirus webpage to state that a laboratory leak is the most likely explanation for the pandemic’s origin.

The updated White House page argues that “‘The Proximal Origin of SARS-CoV-2’ publication — which was used repeatedly by public health officials and the media to discredit the lab leak theory — was prompted by Dr. Fauci to push the preferred narrative that COVID-19 originated naturally,” adding that the virus “possesses a biological characteristic that is not found in nature” and that “Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV) researchers were sick with COVID-like symptoms in the fall of 2019, months before COVID-19 was discovered at the wet market.”

Fauci is scheduled to appear before the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs on Wednesday, where he is expected to face questions about the newly released diary entries and his handling of the pandemic’s origins.

{Matzav.com}

Former FBI Director James Comey is asking a federal judge to dismiss the criminal case accusing him of threatening President Donald Trump, arguing that his now-deleted social media post featuring seashells arranged to read “86 47” was political expression protected by the First Amendment rather than a genuine threat of violence.

In court filings submitted Monday, Comey’s legal team contended that prosecutors cannot establish that the Instagram photo amounted to a “true threat” against the President. The filing argues that the post represented political speech, not an intent to encourage or commit violence against Trump, who dismissed Comey as FBI director in 2017 and has repeatedly called for him to face prosecution.

Comey’s attorneys noted that the phrase “86” has long been used to mean removing, rejecting, or getting rid of someone or something, adding that “86 47” has appeared on countless products sold online and has frequently been displayed during political demonstrations.

“But the government now singles out Mr. Comey to prosecute one of the President’s most prominent critics for publishing another person’s statement of political opposition,” his attorneys wrote. “That attempt to suppress core political speech contravenes both the statutes at issue and the First Amendment.”

The prosecution marks the second criminal case brought against Comey within a matter of months. He has remained a frequent target of President Trump, who has repeatedly denounced the former FBI director, once calling him a “corrupt piece of garbage.”

A separate prosecution in Virginia alleging that Comey lied to Congress was thrown out last November after a federal judge ruled that the prosecutor who brought charges against both Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James had not been lawfully appointed.

The longstanding conflict between Trump and Comey dates back to the early stages of the FBI’s investigation into whether Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign coordinated with Russia to influence that year’s election.

Federal prosecutors have charged Comey in a two-count indictment, alleging that he “knowingly and willfully” threatened “to take the life of, and to inflict bodily harm upon” President Trump and that he transmitted a threat across state lines.

According to Comey’s lawyers, however, the indictment contains no evidence demonstrating that he intended to threaten the President. Instead, they argue, prosecutors rely only on the theory that “a reasonable recipient who is familiar with the circumstances would interpret” the post as threatening.

The controversy began after Comey posted the seashell image on Instagram, prompting an interview with the Secret Service after Trump administration officials asserted that the message advocated the assassination of Trump, the nation’s 47th president. Comey later removed the post and explained his decision, writing: “I didn’t realize some folks associate those numbers with violence” and “I oppose violence of any kind so I took the post down.”

“Even if ’86 47′ could implausibly be read to suggest violence, a reasonable observer would still understand Mr. Comey’s post as mere political hyperbole, not a true threat,” Comey’s attorneys wrote. “The Supreme Court has rejected threats prosecutions based on speech far more directly threatening than Mr. Comey’s seashells post here.”

The Justice Department has not publicly detailed the evidence it intends to use to establish Comey’s intent. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, however, said earlier this year that intent would be demonstrated through testimony, documents, and other admissible evidence.

“And that’s how we’ll prove intent in this case,” Blanche said in April after assuming leadership of the Justice Department following Pam Bondi’s dismissal.

President Trump has maintained that the meaning of the message was unmistakable. Speaking in a Fox News interview last year, he insisted Comey fully understood the significance of the numbers.

“A child knows what that meant,” Trump said. “If you’re the FBI director and you don’t know what that meant, that meant assassination. And it says it loud and clear.”

{Matzav.com}

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has taken an early lead in the race for the 2028 Democrat presidential nomination in New Hampshire, according to a new poll, though one political analyst believes her ultimate goal may be a high-profile challenge to Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer rather than a campaign for the White House.

Patrick Allocco, founder of the Zoose Political Index, told Newsmax on Monday that Ocasio-Cortez’s strong showing in the latest University of New Hampshire Granite State Poll highlights the growing influence of the Democratic Party’s progressive wing.

“If there’s one thing that you can be certain of, anything can happen in today’s Democratic Party,” he said. “That poll shows exactly where the progressive base is headed.”

The survey placed Ocasio-Cortez at the top of the prospective Democrat field with 22% support among likely New Hampshire Democratic primary voters for 2028. Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg followed closely with 21%, while Sen. Mark Kelly of Arizona finished a distant third at 9%. California Gov. Gavin Newsom received 8%.

Allocco said his firm has been watching Ocasio-Cortez’s rise for quite some time and believes her current standing is no surprise.

“We’ve been saying since last year that AOC was the one to watch when she showed up around 10% in a poll back in May,” he said. “We said that was her floor, not her ceiling.”

According to Allocco, the absence of a deep roster of nationally recognized Democratic contenders has helped elevate Ocasio-Cortez’s position within the party.

“Since the Democrats have a spectacular bench problem, that puts her in real play,” Allocco said.

Even so, Allocco expressed skepticism about whether Ocasio-Cortez is prepared to serve as president, citing her performance at this year’s Munich Security Conference.

“She proved in Munich, however, she lacks experience to be president,” he said.

Rather than pursuing the Oval Office, Allocco believes Ocasio-Cortez may ultimately set her sights on unseating Schumer in New York, using a presidential campaign as leverage within the party.

“We believe she’ll choose to take on Schumer instead,” he said. “But the presidency could be her 2028 bargaining chip in the party.”

The University of New Hampshire Granite State Poll was conducted between July 15 and July 20 and surveyed 1,458 New Hampshire residents. Among the 648 likely Democratic presidential primary voters included in the poll, the margin of error was plus or minus 3.8 percentage points, while the overall survey carried a margin of error of plus or minus 2.6 percentage points.

{Matzav.com}

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has denounced the shootings at two Jewish-owned bakeries in Toronto, calling the attacks deeply disturbing and reaffirming his government’s commitment to confronting antisemitism as police continue to investigate the incidents as possible hate crimes.

In a statement shared on social media, Carney expressed outrage over the attacks on two locations of Kiva’s Bagel Bar, a longtime gathering place within Toronto’s Jewish community.

“I am appalled by the targeting of two Kiva’s Bagel Bar locations – fixtures of Toronto’s Jewish community that have long served as places for people to gather and connect,” Carney said.

The Prime Minister emphasized that Jewish Canadians must be able to live without fear of being targeted because of their faith.

“Jewish Canadians should be able to live, work, and worship free from fear, intimidation, and hate. Canada’s government is absolute in our commitment to combatting the scourge of antisemitism,” he added.

Carney also voiced full confidence in law enforcement officials handling the case, stating, “Law enforcement has my full support as they conduct a thorough investigation and hold those responsible to account.”

Toronto Police were alerted Sunday morning after gunfire struck two separate Kiva’s Bagel Bar locations. Investigators believe the incidents are connected.

The first shooting took place shortly after 11:15 p.m. Saturday at the bakery’s North York location near Bathurst Street and Steeles Avenue West. The business was closed at the time, and no one was injured.

About an hour later, at approximately 12:15 a.m. Sunday, shots were fired at the chain’s second location in midtown Toronto near Yonge Street and St. Clair Avenue West.

On Monday, investigators released a photograph of an SUV believed to have been used in both attacks as they seek help identifying those responsible.

The case is being led by the Toronto Police Integrated Gun and Gang Task Force, with assistance from the department’s Hate Crime Unit.

Following the shootings, B’nai Brith Canada urged authorities to respond forcefully, arguing that such attacks should be viewed not merely as acts of vandalism or violence, but as direct threats to Canada’s national security.

The latest shootings come amid an alarming surge in antisemitic attacks across Toronto and the surrounding region since the October 7, 2023 Hamas massacre in Israel.

Earlier this year, in early March, gunfire struck two synagogues in the Toronto area within the span of several hours. Police later arrested multiple suspects in connection with those attacks.

That same month, Temple Emanu-El in North York was hit by gunfire while congregants were celebrating Purim. Although no one was hurt, the synagogue sustained property damage.

In late April, a man attempted to force his way into an Orthodox synagogue in Thornhill, just north of Toronto, assaulting one individual before fleeing.

Just one day later, a rock was thrown through the window of a Toronto Judaica store, marking the third attack on that same Jewish-owned business.

{Matzav.com}

Senior officials from Israel, Lebanon, and the United States are set to gather in Rome next week for a new round of high-level negotiations aimed at advancing security arrangements in southern Lebanon, resolving disputed border issues, and expanding a U.S.-backed pilot security initiative, according to a State Department official.

The three-day meeting, scheduled for August 4 through August 6 in the Italian capital, will bring together diplomats and technical experts from the three countries as part of ongoing American-led mediation efforts. The talks are expected to center on widening the Israeli military’s withdrawal from southern Lebanon while tackling unresolved territorial disputes along the shared border.

A State Department official told Axios that the negotiations have gained “significant momentum” in recent weeks, pointing to the launch of the first pilot security zone in southern Lebanon as well as Lebanese President Joseph Aoun’s meeting with President Donald Trump at the White House last week.

According to the official, “In Rome, technical groups will focus on advancing the full implementation of the framework agreement. That includes expanding the pilot zone process, resolving all outstanding border issues, and working on a comprehensive peace and security agreement,” Axios reported.

The official also described the pilot security zone as an important opportunity to restore the Lebanese government’s authority in the country’s south, explaining that it “is an opportunity to deliver real progress on the ground, restoring Lebanese state authority through the verifiable disarmament of terrorist organizations and building the confidence needed for next steps.”

Officials believe that experience gained from the first phase of the initiative will help shape future stages of the broader security plan. As the State Department official explained, “The experience of the initial zones will help us perfect pilot-zone implementation so it can expand in a phased manner.”

The Biden administration’s successor has made clear that the trilateral framework remains Washington’s preferred path toward long-term stability between Israel and Lebanon. Emphasizing that commitment, the official stated, “Fully implementing it is in the clear interest of both countries, and the Trump Administration is committed to its success,” according to Axios.

The diplomatic effort stems from a framework agreement unveiled in Washington on June 26 by the United States, Israel, and Lebanon. Under the plan, Israeli forces would gradually withdraw from designated areas in southern Lebanon while the Lebanese army moves in, beginning with two initial pilot zones.

Despite the progress, the agreement faces a significant obstacle. Its implementation depends entirely on the complete disarmament of Hezbollah, a condition the Iran-backed terrorist organization has categorically rejected, along with the broader peace negotiations between Israel and Lebanon.

{Matzav.com}

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Israel’s High Court of Justice is set to hear arguments Tuesday morning in a closely watched legal challenge to the controversial “Arrest Law,” while the government has taken the extraordinary step of refusing to participate in the proceedings, arguing that the outcome has already been predetermined.

An expanded panel of Supreme Court justices will hear petitions seeking to overturn the temporary law, which was championed by Shas chairman Aryeh Deri and is designed to prevent the arrest of bnei yeshiva who have been designated as military draft evaders for a period of approximately six months.

Supporters of the legislation say the measure was intended to provide temporary protection for Torah students while lawmakers work toward a broader resolution of Israel’s long-running dispute over military conscription for the Chareidi community. The law is meant to remain in effect until a new government is formed and addresses the draft issue through permanent legislation.

In an unusual move, however, the Israeli government will not be represented during Tuesday’s hearing. The decision followed a position advanced by Deri, who argued that there is no point defending the law because the High Court has already made up its mind to strike it down. Last week, the Supreme Court issued an interim order freezing the law before it had even been officially published in Israel’s legal registry or allowed to take effect.

Speaking in an interview with Kikar HaShabbat, Deri defended the government’s boycott of the proceedings.

“We have no trust in the Supreme Court. We already know the outcome in advance. We must not be part of this game, to create the impression that justice is being done. ‘Here, you have a defense, now present your arguments.’ We must not be partners in this show.”

Deri went on to argue that the hearing would amount to little more than a public exercise whose conclusion had already been decided.

“It will be a public discussion, except that the result is already known in advance,” he said. “We need to tell them: ‘We do not recognize your authority. We already know the outcome of this matter.'”

The Shas leader also sharply criticized the interim injunction issued by the court last week, questioning why the justices intervened before the legislation had even become law.

“Someone goes and issues interim orders before the law has even been published in the official registry, before it has even taken effect… What would have happened, for Heaven’s sake, if for one week they didn’t make arrests? Would that have been irreversible? Is that what interim orders are for? On a law that the Knesset passed and worked on for many months and many weeks? It’s obvious—you can already see the outcome in advance. That’s why we must not play this game.”

Meanwhile, legal advisers to both the Knesset and the government have urged the High Court to invalidate the legislation, arguing that it was enacted through a flawed legislative process and violates Israel’s Basic Laws.

The Knesset’s legal counsel joined Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara in contending that the coalition improperly relied on the parliamentary doctrine of “continuity,” a procedural mechanism that allows pending legislation from a previous Knesset to be revived instead of beginning the legislative process from scratch.

According to the Knesset’s legal advisers, lawmakers improperly applied the continuity procedure to a bill that originally addressed an entirely different subject.

“The ‘pipeline’ of continuity that was supposed to connect the original bill with the final law was severed,” the Knesset’s legal opinion stated in its submission to the High Court, adding that the flaw “goes to the root of the legislative process.”

The Knesset’s attorneys further concluded that the temporary measure legally constituted a “new subject,” meaning its passage failed to comply with Knesset rules and, consequently, with Section 19 of Israel’s Basic Law: The Knesset. The opinion was considered especially unusual because the Knesset’s legal advisers generally defend legislation passed by lawmakers rather than argue against its validity.

Attorney General Baharav-Miara also urged the High Court to strike down the law, arguing that it violates the principle of equality and conflicts with Israel’s national security needs.

{Matzav.com}

A rare and emotional visit took place this week at Shawangunk Correctional Facility, a maximum-security prison in Wallkill, New York, when the Satmar Rebbe, Rav Zalman Leib Teitelbaum, traveled to the prison to offer words of chizuk to several Jewish inmates incarcerated there.

The visit was organized and coordinated by the Tzedek Association, an organization that advocates on behalf of incarcerated Jews. Senior officials from Albany also attended the event, creating a unique opportunity for advocates to present the religious needs and concerns of Jewish prisoners directly to state officials.

The program opened with remarks from Reb Anshel Schwartz, a leading activist with the Tzedek Association, who outlined the unique challenges faced by Jewish inmates in the prison system. Addressing the senior government representatives, he emphasized that the accommodations being requested are not luxuries but rather the basic necessities required to enable Jewish prisoners to observe Torah and mitzvos to the greatest extent possible while incarcerated.

Reb Shmuel Binyomin Kramer, also representing the Tzedek Association, addressed the gathering as well. He conveyed special greetings on behalf of the organization’s founder, Mr. Moshe Margaretten, who was unable to attend because he had been called to an urgent meeting in Washington with the director of the Federal Bureau of Prisons.

The emotional highlight of the visit came when the Jewish inmates were individually admitted to meet with the Satmar Rebbe. The Rebbe delivered heartfelt words of chizuk, encouraging them to remain steadfast in their faith and never lose hope despite the difficult circumstances they face. Following his address, each inmate was granted a private audience with the Rebbe, giving them the opportunity to speak openly about their personal struggles and receive his individual brocha.

During the gathering, the Rebbe also joined the inmates in making a l’chaim.

Following the prison visit, representatives of the Tzedek Association and other community activists held a meeting with senior prison administrators and government officials. They discussed a wide range of issues affecting Jewish inmates throughout the New York State correctional system, with the goal of improving religious accommodations and conditions for incarcerated Jews.

A new batch of internal Slack messages obtained as part of Sen. Rand Paul’s investigation is renewing debate over the origins of COVID-19, revealing that several authors of the highly influential 2020 paper rejecting the laboratory-leak theory privately continued discussing evidence they believed pointed toward a possible lab accident. The disclosures have intensified scrutiny of the scientific study that shaped public opinion and government messaging during the pandemic.

The newly released communications, highlighted in a report by The Federalist, show that multiple contributors to the landmark “Proximal Origin” paper were privately expressing concerns about a potential laboratory origin even after publishing research that concluded such a scenario was not plausible.

The latest revelations build on messages previously released by the House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic in 2023. Those earlier communications showed lead author Kristian Andersen privately describing a laboratory origin as “friggin’ likely.”

In another internal conversation, Andersen wrote, “The main issue is that accidental escape is in fact highly likely — it’s not some fringe theory,” while another co-author acknowledged that COVID-19 “easily could have” leaked from a laboratory.

Despite those private discussions, the paper published in Nature Medicine on March 17, 2020, concluded that a laboratory origin was not plausible. The study quickly became one of the most frequently cited scientific papers during the COVID-19 pandemic and played a major role in shaping public understanding of the virus’s origins.

After the earlier messages became public, Andersen maintained that the comments reflected the normal scientific process, explaining that his initial concerns had been resolved before the paper was ultimately published.

According to The Federalist, however, the newly disclosed Slack conversations call that explanation into question.

One message sent by Andersen in June 2020—months after the paper appeared in print—suggested he still harbored significant doubts.

“Gotta say — some smoking(ish) guns starting to appear that I’m not comfortable with.”

Rather than publicly revising their conclusions, the researchers instead discussed privately how to continue defending the natural-origin theory despite lingering questions, according to The Federalist’s report.

The report also revisits the origins of the “Proximal Origin” paper itself, noting that it was drafted after a February 1, 2020 conference call organized by Dr. Anthony Fauci, then director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, as questions mounted over whether the virus could have originated from a laboratory.

According to The Federalist, Fauci’s role in helping initiate the effort was not disclosed when the paper was published. The report further notes that Fauci later cited the study after President Donald Trump publicly argued that COVID-19 may have escaped from a laboratory.

The newly released communications also indicate that Fauci remained in contact with Andersen after publication.

In a Slack message dated May 23, 2021, and cited by The Federalist, Andersen wrote: “Just had a meeting with Fauci and his team this morning. They get it and deeply appreciate what we’re doing, so we’ll keep dancing.”

The messages further reveal that the researchers revisited several of the paper’s key scientific arguments as new information emerged.

In one exchange, Andersen acknowledged: “In our paper we argue against (a) manipulation and (b) tissue culture. Our main arguments were that manipulation is hard. But the Germans came out and created a reverse genetics system of SARS2 in less than two weeks, so clearly it’s not that hard.”

Another discussion reportedly included Andersen acknowledging that the paper overstated how widespread certain coronavirus research actually was.

“We describe this in the paper and say that this work is performed ‘all [over] the world,’ but that isn’t true — it has exclusively been going on at WIV [Wuhan Institute of Virology].”

The latest disclosures are expected to intensify the ongoing debate surrounding the origins of COVID-19 as congressional investigators continue examining the pandemic, the federal government’s response, and the scientific research that heavily influenced public policy during one of the most consequential public health crises in modern history.

MK Uri Maklev of Degel HaTorah launched a sharp attack Monday on the Religious Zionist philosophy of combining full-time Torah study with military service, calling it the greatest ideological threat facing the chareidi community. His remarks quickly drew a pointed response from Rabbi Chaim Navon, who accused Maklev of ignoring an explicit Gemara.

Speaking before a group of yeshivah bochurim, Maklev argued that the primary challenge confronting the chareidi world is not external pressure but the message promoted by leaders within the Religious Zionist camp.

According to Maklev, public figures advocating the integration of Torah learning with military service have caused profound spiritual harm by presenting the two pursuits as compatible.

“Some political figures said that it is possible to have Torah study while also pursuing other endeavors – this is the approach of Religious Zionism, and for this they will not be forgiven,” Maklev said. “People introduced this idea and said, ‘We study Torah, but it is also possible to do so alongside service.’ This concept, this great damage – this is what we are dealing with.”

Rabbi Chaim Navon responded forcefully, rejecting Maklev’s characterization and arguing that the underlying idea predates Religious Zionism by centuries, citing a well-known teaching from Chazal.

“A thousand apologies, Maklev, but we did not say this; rather, Rabi Yossi said it in Maseches Yevamos: ‘Anyone who says, “I have only Torah,” does not even have Torah.’ What we did was open the Gemara and expose your bluff – and for that, we apologize.”

President Donald Trump said Monday that the United States is engaged in what he described as “very friendly negotiations” with Iran, while making clear that his administration remains prepared to use military force to prevent Tehran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.

Speaking at a campaign rally in Michigan, Trump said Iran had spent decades threatening both its neighbors and the United States, but indicated that relations have recently shifted toward renewed diplomatic engagement between Washington and Tehran.

Trump on Iran:

You can't bribe them. You gotta beat them.

And we are beating the hell out of them. pic.twitter.com/Bbf8QHjd6L

— Clash Report (@clashreport) July 27, 2026

Trump also revisited his criticism of the Obama administration, accusing it of rewarding Iran by sending the regime $1.7 billion in cash under the 2015 nuclear agreement.

“You can’t bribe them. You gotta beat them. And we are beating the hell out of them. We’ll see how it turns out,” Trump added.

Referring to recent developments in the conflict, Trump suggested Iran’s behavior had fluctuated in response to American actions.

“The fuel came down for a little while. Then [Iran] didn’t behave, and I had to go back. Now they are behaving again,” he continued.

Trump reiterated that preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons remains the central objective of his administration’s policy.

“When somebody comes up and says, ‘Why are we doing this?’ just say, ‘Because we cannot let Iran have a nuclear weapon.’ It’s very simple. It’s all you have to say. There is nothing else you have to say,” Trump stated.

Earlier Monday, while speaking with reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump said Iran had sought renewed negotiations after suffering significant damage from recent U.S. military operations.

“They want to meet, and we’re meeting. We’ll see what happens. There’s a chance we can make a deal,” said the President, adding that Tehran’s willingness to negotiate was the direct result of American pressure.

“Without what we did, they wouldn’t even be talking to us,” he said. “They requested a meeting through their surrogates and directly and we’re meeting.”

Asked how long he was willing to continue negotiations, Trump indicated he was in no rush to make a decision.

“I have plenty of time. The whole shoreline is wiped out. The Strait is in very good shape. And we’re talking right now.”

Trump expressed optimism that diplomacy could still produce an agreement but warned that military operations could quickly resume if talks fail.

“We’re having good talks, so we’ll see what happens. I think there’s a good chance something could happen. And if it doesn’t, we go back to doing what we were doing two days ago.”

Over the weekend, reports indicated that Trump delayed a significant expansion of the military campaign against Iran while diplomatic efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz continued and administration officials assessed the impact such an operation could have on U.S. weapons stockpiles.

Trump dismissed reports that concerns over dwindling munitions influenced his decision, telling The Wall Street Journal that “we have far more munitions than anyone in the world, and far more than we need.”

An Orthodox Jew, without prior political experience, has thrown his yarmulka into the race for Denver’s 1st Congressional District, running as an independent against Melat Kiros, an anti-Israel democratic socialist.

Dr. Shimon Blau told JNS on Monday that he wouldn’t go into details about what inspired him to run or about his positions on Israel. His campaign launched officially on Sunday, and he and his team are “refining my talking points,” he told JNS.

Blau, 50, who is known as Shimi, is a lifelong Denver resident and a medical doctor, who specializes in interventional spine treatments and pain management.

He left Denver as a young man to study at yeshivas, including Ner Israel Rabbinical College in Baltimore, and returned to his home city for a fellowship after graduating from medical school at the University of Maryland and practicing in Florida for a year.

An observant Jew, Blau was raised in a religious family on Denver’s west side and belongs to an Orthodox shul which, for security reasons, he declined to name.

He told JNS in a brief conversation that he and his wife of 18 months, Ricki, have no children “yet.”

JNS asked about his views on arms embargos of the Jewish state. “I’m running as a pro-Denver candidate on what I can do to make life better for people in Denver on a day-to-day basis,” he said.

He told JNS that there are about 90,000 Jews in the metro Denver area.

Blau’s campaign website states that he is liberal on social issues and conservative on fiscal policies and isn’t accepting money from PACs or special interest groups.

Rabbi Yossi Serebryanski, of Chabad of South Denver, told JNS that if Blau didn’t decline PAC money, “the first thing Kiros’s campaign would have done would have been to label him ‘the AIPAC candidate.’”

Blau told JNS that it is “tragic” that some have turned “AIPAC” into a slur in primary campaigns. He declined to elaborate beyond adding, of Kiros, that “we are facing a rabid antisemite.”

Kiros, a 29-year-old lawyer who unseated 15-term incumbent Rep. Diana DeGette (D-Colo.) by almost 13.5 points in the Democratic primary election in Colorado, made accusations of Israeli “genocide” and “ethnic cleansing” in Lebanon a central part of her candidacy.

She has also said that Hamas’s Oct. 7 massacre was the “inevitable consequence of apartheid.” She said something similar about the Sept. 11 attacks. “We destabilized a lot of the Middle East,” she said. “That forced people to believe that another act of violence was the only response.”

Kiros also refused in an interview to say if she thought the 2025 firebombing of marchers in Boulder, Colo., who were calling for the release of hostages held by Hamas, was antisemitic. The attacker killed an 82-year-old woman and injured others.

Blau writes on his campaign site that “my father was a Holocaust survivor from Poland who served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War before earning an engineering degree from Columbia University. He helped build bridges, contributed to the Apollo space shuttle program and later transitioned into the real estate business.”

“He loved Denver deeply, especially the mountains that surround our city. He skied well into his 80s, and the outdoors remained one of his greatest joys throughout his life,” Blau writes. “My mother was from France and worked alongside him while creating a home defined by generosity, hospitality and the belief that there was always room for one more at the table.”

That “love for Denver was expressed in countless ways, from supporting the arts and cultural institutions that make this city special to donating benches throughout the community, quiet reminders of their belief that public spaces belong to everyone and should bring people together,” he stated. “They also taught me to value civic engagement, philanthropy and service to others.”

If elected, Blau writes that he would caucus with the Democrats.

“I am neither a socialist nor MAGA,” he writes. “I reject the ideological extremes on both the left and the right, because I believe most people are looking for practical solutions, respectful dialogue and leaders willing to put the country ahead of partisan politics.”

“Caucusing with a party does not mean surrendering my independence,” he added. “I will support ideas that are good for Colorado and oppose policies that are not, regardless of which party proposes them.”

Colorado’s attorney general certified late last week that Blau collected enough signatures to get on the ballot. JNS

{Matzav.com}

Beginning August 1, restaurants and other food establishments across New Jersey will no longer be permitted to automatically include plastic utensils with takeout and delivery orders under the state’s new “Skip the Stuff” law, a measure aimed at reducing plastic waste and litter.

The law applies to restaurants, food trucks, cafeterias, cafés, and other establishments serving prepared food. Instead of automatically providing plastic forks, knives, spoons, or similar disposable utensils, businesses will be required to distribute them only when specifically requested by customers.

State officials say the initiative is intended to reduce the amount of single-use plastic entering landfills, waterways, and the environment, building on New Jersey’s previous efforts to curb plastic waste, including the statewide ban on single-use plastic shopping bags.

Customers who want plastic utensils will still be able to receive them. The new law does not prohibit their use or distribution altogether; it simply requires consumers to ask for them rather than having them included automatically with every order.

Businesses that fail to comply will initially receive a warning. A second violation can result in fines of $100 per day until the business comes into compliance, while a third or subsequent violation may carry penalties of $250 per day until the violation is corrected.

Supporters of the law argue that reducing unnecessary plastic waste will benefit the environment by cutting down on litter and pollution throughout the state.

At the same time, some business owners and industry advocates have expressed concern that the new requirements may create additional burdens for restaurants and other small businesses, which are already navigating rising operating costs and increased regulatory requirements. While many acknowledge the environmental goals behind the legislation, some worry it will add another operational challenge for food service establishments across New Jersey.

Newly released audio recordings from Joe Biden’s conversations with the ghostwriter of his 2017 memoir capture him discussing classified materials, warning that some documents may contain sensitive information, and at times appearing to lose his train of thought. The recordings, which surfaced Monday after a lengthy legal battle, were previously reviewed during Special Counsel Robert Hur’s investigation into Biden’s handling of classified documents.

The heavily redacted recordings, totaling roughly 70 hours, were released to the House Judiciary Committee and the conservative Oversight Project after two years of litigation. The conversations were recorded while Biden worked with ghostwriter Mark Zwonitzer on his memoir, Promise Me, Dad: A Year of Hope, Hardship, and Purpose.

The recordings had already been examined by former Special Counsel Robert Hur during his 2023-2024 investigation into Biden’s retention of classified records following the end of his tenure as vice president in 2017.

In one portion of the recordings, Biden appears to discuss discovering classified materials among his personal papers, saying, “So this was, I early on, um, in ’09 I just found all the classified stuff downstairs.”

At another point, Biden cautions Zwonitzer about documents they were reviewing together, saying, “Some of this may be classified so be careful with it. I’m not sure … It’s not marked classified but —”

According to Hur’s final report, Biden read “nearly verbatim” from notebooks containing sensitive national security and foreign policy information while working with Zwonitzer on the memoir.

The recordings also capture Biden apparently realizing in real time that some of the documents in front of him contained classified information. In one exchange, he says, “The next thing I have here is, um, this is classified …”

According to CBS News, which first reviewed the tapes, Biden also discussed White House meetings that may have involved classified information, including what he described as “a big meeting with the CIA and everyone,” “a big meeting down in the Situation Room,” and “a long meeting where DOD brief … POTUS.”

One recording dated October 10, 2016, includes Biden speaking about notes he had retained without others realizing it.

“I have extensive notes over this period of time … They didn’t know I have this,” he said.

The newly released audio also includes several moments in which Biden appears to struggle to recall information or loses his train of thought during conversations with his ghostwriter.

At one point, Biden says, “Alright — what was I going to ask you? Something else … Uh… um. Oh gosh. I can’t think of anything else.”

In another exchange, Biden pauses to review his papers, telling Zwonitzer, “Hang on a second,” before later adding, “Um … it’s confusing me.”

Hur ultimately concluded that Biden “willfully retained and disclosed classified materials” after leaving office as vice president. However, he declined to pursue criminal charges, writing that Biden would “likely present himself to a jury, as he did during our interview of him, as a sympathetic, well-meaning, elderly man with a poor memory.”

After enduring two years of captivity in Hamas terror tunnels, former hostage Rom Breslavski marked a deeply emotional milestone by completing the final letter of a Sefer Torah that had been left unfinished until the day of his release.

The Sefer Torah had been commissioned specifically as a zechus for Breslavski’s safe return from Gaza. Its completion, with Breslavski himself writing the final letter, became a powerful symbol of emunah, hope, and survival, drawing an emotional response from those in attendance.

Breslavski shared footage of the ceremony on social media, revealing that the Sefer Torah had been commissioned while he was still being held captive by Hamas. Throughout his imprisonment, those behind the project refused to complete it, believing and praying that he would one day return to finish it himself.

The initiative was led by Tzachi Amoyal, who dedicated the Sefer Torah to Breslavski’s safe return. Demonstrating extraordinary faith and patience, Amoyal intentionally left the final letter unwritten, insisting that no one else would complete the Sefer Torah until Breslavski was freed.

Despite moments when he considered finishing the Sefer Torah himself, Amoyal remained steadfast in his commitment, waiting two full years for Breslavski to return and complete the sacred task. His decision ultimately became a remarkable expression of unwavering faith.

During the ceremony, Breslavski explained that Amoyal had refused to finish the Sefer Torah until he emerged from what he described as “the house of slavery.” Video from the event shows Breslavski writing the final letter before emotionally announcing that a Sefer Torah now bears his name.

“Father, thank You so much for the privilege of being the owner of a Sefer Torah,” Breslavski said, directing his words to Hashem. His brief but heartfelt expression of gratitude reflected his appreciation not only for surviving captivity, but also for returning to his family, his people, and a life centered on Torah.

Since his release, Breslavski has undertaken a highly public spiritual journey that has resonated with many across Israel.

Several weeks ago, he removed a tattoo from his arm that had identified him as Jewish in the eyes of his Hamas captors. According to Breslavski, the tattoo led the terrorists to force him to wear a jacket in the sweltering Gaza heat in order to conceal it.

He has also begun wearing a large yarmulka covering most of his head, describing the decision as another meaningful step in his renewed spiritual commitment.

“Call me a crazy Jew. I decided to take this upon myself,” he wrote at the time.

{Matzav.com}

Israeli Prime Minister Binyomin Netanyahu is expected to present President Donald Trump with new Israeli intelligence indicating that Iran is expanding activity at its deeply buried Pickaxe Mountain nuclear facility and is using ongoing negotiations with the United States to conceal continued advances in its nuclear program, according to a source in Yerushalayim.

Netanyahu is scheduled to meet with President Trump on Monday, with Iran’s nuclear ambitions and the recent conflict with the Islamic Republic expected to dominate the discussions.

According to the source, the Israeli delegation intends to share intelligence showing that Tehran has continued advancing its nuclear program while falsely portraying itself as committed to diplomatic negotiations. Israeli officials are expected to argue that Iran is not negotiating in good faith.

Israel has reportedly obtained evidence showing that nuclear centrifuges have recently been transported to the highly secretive Pickaxe Mountain complex—the first known transfer of such equipment to the site since construction began in 2020, according to a report in The Wall Street Journal.

The underground installation is located more than 300 feet beneath Kolang Mountain near Iran’s Natanz nuclear facility and has long been suspected of serving as a key component of the regime’s nuclear infrastructure.

Until recently, there had been no publicly known evidence of active nuclear operations at the facility. President Trump previously cited the lack of such evidence as one reason the site had not been targeted during earlier military operations against Iran.

Last week, Trump also sought to dismiss reports of activity at the facility, telling reporters that the United States had no information confirming such developments.

More recently, however, the president has indicated that he would be willing to authorize military action against the mountain complex. Reports have also suggested that American forces have prepared contingency plans for a possible ground operation aimed at securing hundreds of pounds of enriched uranium believed to be stored deep inside the underground facility.

The source added that Israel also plans to present intelligence indicating that Iran has already begun rebuilding portions of its missile and drone programs, which suffered extensive damage during repeated American airstrikes.

Israeli officials believe the intelligence demonstrates that Iran has no intention of abandoning either its nuclear ambitions or its missile program despite participating in ceasefire negotiations with the United States.

President Trump recently decided to suspend what had been planned as a nearly two-week bombing campaign against Iran after new diplomatic efforts emerged in an attempt to halt Tehran’s attacks in the Strait of Hormuz.

In addition to discussing Iran’s latest military and nuclear activity, Netanyahu is also expected to update President Trump on efforts to preserve the ceasefires in Lebanon and Gaza, where Iranian-backed terrorist organizations continue to operate.

Netanyahu is expected to remain in Washington through Tuesday, when he will join President Trump and other world leaders in paying their respects at memorial events honoring the late Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina.

{Matzav.com}