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COURTROOM DELAY: Comey’s ‘86 47’ Trump Threat Case Pushed Into 2027 as Defense Seeks Dismissal
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The federal criminal case against James Comey over his controversial “86 47” social media post targeting President Donald Trump will stretch into 2027, after a federal judge agreed to postpone the former FBI director’s arraignment while considering defense efforts to have the charges thrown out.
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Comey had been scheduled to be arraigned on Sept. 30, but U.S. District Judge Louise Flanagan on Friday granted his request to move the proceeding to January. The judge also declined to set a new trial date while motions challenging the prosecution remain pending.
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Federal prosecutors did not object to Comey’s request for additional time, according to the court order, although the government has indicated that it was prepared to move ahead under the previous timetable.
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“The gravity of the charges, pending motions, and the need to provide defense counsel additional time to prepare for trial promote need for continuance,” Flanagan wrote, according to the Carolina Journal.
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Comey’s legal team asked for the postponement earlier this month, telling the court that attorneys had devoted considerable time to preparing extensive motions seeking dismissal of the indictment. Should those motions fail, the defense argued, additional time would be necessary to prepare adequately for trial.
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The defense initially proposed moving the arraignment to January and scheduling the trial for February, according to WITN-TV in North Carolina. Comey’s attorneys said the case requires significant pretrial litigation, a substantial review of discovery material and potentially additional evidentiary hearings.
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The prosecution stems from a May 2025 Instagram post in which Comey displayed a photograph of seashells positioned in the sand to spell out “86 47.” He accompanied the image with the caption, “Cool shell formation on my beach walk.”
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Federal prosecutors contend that the post amounted to a threat against President Trump, who is the 47th president of the United States. The government argues that the number “86” can be interpreted as a reference to eliminating or getting rid of someone.
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A federal grand jury in April returned a two-count indictment against Comey, charging him with threatening the president and transmitting a threat in interstate commerce.
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When announcing the charges, the Justice Department said the image could reasonably be viewed as “a serious expression of an intent to do harm” to Trump. If convicted on both counts, Comey faces a maximum possible sentence of 10 years in federal prison.
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The Justice Department also stressed when announcing the indictment that the charges are allegations and that Comey remains presumed innocent unless and until he is proven guilty.
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Comey’s attorneys have responded with a sweeping attack on the prosecution, maintaining that his Instagram post constituted political speech protected under the First Amendment rather than a legally actionable “true threat.”
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In a motion filed in July, Comey’s lawyers argued that “86” is commonly understood to mean removing, ejecting or getting rid of someone. They also maintained that the expression “86 47” had been widely used as a political slogan by opponents of Trump.
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The defense further contends that even if the post could be viewed as harsh or aggressive political rhetoric, a reasonable person would regard it as political hyperbole rather than an actual declaration that Comey intended to harm the president.
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Comey’s attorneys have separately accused the Justice Department of pursuing a selective and vindictive prosecution, arguing that he was singled out because of his years of public clashes with Trump.
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Federal prosecutors have rejected that allegation.
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Justice Department lawyers argued in August that there was “no serious dispute” that Comey’s post was capable of being understood as a threat against Trump and defended the decision to bring criminal charges.
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Prosecutors have additionally maintained that Comey’s behavior and statements surrounding the social media post can properly be considered when determining whether his message crossed the line into a criminal threat.
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Those sharply different interpretations now leave Flanagan with a series of consequential legal questions to decide before the prosecution can proceed toward trial.
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Comey’s attorneys have filed multiple motions attacking the indictment while also seeking further information about the government’s investigation and the grand jury proceedings that resulted in the charges.
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The defense has additionally raised concerns regarding surveillance carried out following the Instagram post and evidence gathered by investigators, potentially setting the stage for further hearings before a jury trial can begin.
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The delay comes as Comey continues to battle another federal prosecution brought during Trump’s second administration.
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That separate case accused Comey of lying to Congress concerning his handling of information connected to the Russia investigation. A judge dismissed the prosecution after finding that the prosecutor who secured the indictment had not been lawfully appointed.
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The Justice Department appealed that decision, leaving the other case as another unresolved piece of Comey’s continuing legal battles.
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Comey has been one of Trump’s most prominent political adversaries since the president’s first term. Trump fired Comey as FBI director in 2017 while the bureau was investigating Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election, an investigation that Trump and many of his supporters have long denounced as a hoax.

A 33-year-old man from Kitchener, Ontario, has been arrested and charged with a hate-motivated offense after authorities investigated an online livestream that allegedly included antisemitic comments and threats directed at members of the Jewish community.

Waterloo Regional Police said they became aware of the video on Saturday after it was posted online. Following an investigation, officers obtained a warrant, searched a residence in Kitchener and took the suspect into custody.

“As a result of the investigation, officers completed a warrant at a residence in Kitchener and arrested the suspect,” police said in a media release. The man was charged with uttering threats to cause death – hate motivated.

The arrest comes against the backdrop of mounting concern over antisemitic incidents in Canada and just days after a shooting outside the Sons of Jacob synagogue in Belleville, Ontario. Members of the Jewish community had assembled there for Kol Nidrei on the eve of Yom Kippur when the attack occurred.

Belleville Police described that shooting as a “premeditated and targeted” attack against the Jewish community.

Authorities subsequently released video from the incident showing 29-year-old Sean Ward, who previously served in the Canadian Forces, opening fire outside the synagogue. During the confrontation, Ward could be heard asking Const. Jeff Smith, the officer who intervened in what police said might otherwise have become an even greater tragedy, “You are going to die for the Jews?”

Belleville Police Chief Murray Rodd said Ward possessed the weapons and capability to carry out a mass-casualty attack and potentially destroy the synagogue. “The suspect had the means, the motive, and the mechanisms to cause a mass casualty and the destruction of the Jewish synagogue. The loss of life and irreversible damage that could have rippled through our community for generations cannot be overstated,” he said.

Ward, who departed the Canadian military in 2022, was carrying a shotgun when he encountered Smith, who had arrived in a police vehicle and was stationed outside the synagogue. Smith was struck by gunfire while inside his cruiser, suffering multiple wounds to his head and body as well as fractures and injuries from shrapnel. He is expected to require several operations as part of an extended recovery.

Ward was critically wounded during the confrontation and was transported to a hospital, where he later died.

President Donald Trump said Sunday that he expects the United States to win its war against Iran in the near future, saying Washington has already prevailed militarily while stressing that preventing Tehran from obtaining a nuclear weapon remains at the heart of the conflict.

During an interview with Fox News, Trump said the United States has been making significant headway against Iran on both the military and economic fronts.

“I think what’s going to happen is we’re going to win this war very soon,” he said, adding that stopping Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon was “key to the whole thing.”

“We’ve already won it really from a military standpoint,” the President added, though he indicated that the campaign itself was not necessarily finished.

Trump also left open the possibility that the United States could launch additional strikes against Iran before the midterm elections. Asked specifically about that prospect, he responded: “I don’t want to say that. I don’t want to say that. I mean, it’s possible, but I just don’t want to say that.”

The President’s comments came as diplomatic efforts continued behind the scenes to bring Washington and Tehran back to the negotiating table despite major differences between the two sides.

Earlier Sunday, Trump told Axios that he anticipates another round of discussions with Iran this week, even after rejecting Tehran’s latest proposal for bringing the conflict to an end.

“I expect more talks with Iran [this week]. They want to make a deal, but it is not the deal that I want to make. It is what we would have maybe agreed to a year ago. They overplayed their hand,” Trump said.

Asked whether he was considering further U.S. military action against Iran, Trump replied: “I am always thinking about it.”

Qatar and other regional mediators are working to arrange another round of indirect negotiations between Washington and Tehran, potentially as soon as Monday. The two sides, however, remain far apart on several key issues.

Iran is seeking an agreement that addresses maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz as well as the U.S. naval blockade. Washington, meanwhile, is demanding Iranian concessions concerning Tehran’s nuclear program.

The latest effort to restart negotiations follows discussions held last Tuesday on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner communicated with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi through Qatari intermediaries.

During those talks, Iran presented a proposal under which it would reopen the Strait of Hormuz and resume nuclear negotiations within one week. In exchange, Tehran sought an end to the American naval blockade, the lifting of restrictions on Iranian oil exports and the restoration of a regional ceasefire.

Trump rejected the Iranian proposal on Saturday, but efforts to arrange further negotiations have continued as mediators seek to bridge the substantial differences separating Washington and Tehran.

Egyptian intelligence chief Abbas Kamel personally contacted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu just days before the October 7, 2023 Hamas massacre to warn of signs that an attack from Gaza could be imminent, according to a new report by The Wall Street Journal. The reported phone call was said to have come after Egypt had already delivered two other warnings to Israel about troubling developments in Gaza.

The Journal, citing officials from an Arab government, reported that Kamel’s call represented a third Egyptian warning ahead of the Hamas assault. The existence of that specific phone conversation had not previously been publicly reported.

According to the report, Egyptian officials had twice previously alerted Israel to indications that an attack could be approaching, but those warnings did not result in action that prevented the October 7 assault. Kamel then reportedly took the extraordinary step of personally calling Netanyahu in the final days before the attack.

The Journal also reported that Netanyahu received a warning from United Arab Emirates President Mohamed bin Zayed during September 2023. That message reportedly concerned indications that Hamas was preparing an attack. Neither the Egyptian nor Emirati warnings, however, was said to have included a specific date for an assault or information establishing the enormous scope of what Hamas was planning.

Netanyahu’s office did not respond to questions from the Journal regarding the latest report. The Prime Minister’s Office has previously strongly disputed claims that Netanyahu had communicated with Kamel during the months preceding October 7. Egyptian and Emirati officials also did not respond to the Journal’s requests for comment.

The new report comes just days after The New York Times reported that bin Zayed had privately warned Netanyahu shortly before October 7 that Hamas might be preparing a major attack. According to that account, five former senior Israeli officials said the Emirati warning never reached Israel’s security leadership. Netanyahu’s office and the UAE Foreign Ministry did not respond to the Times regarding that report.

The claims surrounding Egypt have also taken on added significance following a separate investigation by The Atlantic, which reported that Kamel himself made a brief and highly unusual trip to Israel on September 26, 2023 — just 11 days before the massacre.

According to Israeli Airports Authority records and independent flight-tracking information cited in the investigation, a private aircraft connected to Egyptian intelligence landed at Ben Gurion Airport that day and remained in Israel for only 67 minutes before departing.

The Atlantic reported, based on interviews with Israeli, Egyptian, Arab, American and European officials, that Kamel’s purpose in making the trip was to convey an urgent warning about developments in Gaza and indications that Hamas appeared to be preparing for a significant attack.

Officials cited in the report said Kamel conveyed that the situation in Gaza was becoming increasingly dangerous and that Israel had little time left to take steps that might prevent a major escalation. One former Israeli official summarized the Egyptian message as: “If you don’t change course, Gaza is going to explode in your face.”

The warning, however, reportedly did not provide a date for an attack, identify potential targets or lay out details of Hamas’ operational plans. Rather, Kamel reportedly urged Israel to pursue economic measures involving Hamas and Gaza in an effort to lower tensions and prevent the situation from deteriorating further.

Netanyahu’s office has rejected The Atlantic’s account, saying the allegation “was denied at the time and is being recycled to manipulate the Israeli public.” The Prime Minister’s Office has also said that Netanyahu neither met nor spoke with Kamel during the months before October 7 and that no Israeli intelligence official conveyed such an Egyptian warning to him.

Matzav.com regrets to inform you of the petirah of Rav Raphael Yitzchak Isaac Shain zt”l, a longtime and beloved rebbe at Adelphia Yeshiva and a member of a distinguished Torah family whose roots are intertwined with the development of Torah life in America.

Rav Shain was a son of Rav Moshe Shain zt”l and the renowned Rebbetzin Ruchoma Shain a”h, celebrated author of the classic All for the Boss and other widely read works. Rebbetzin Shain was a daughter of Rav Yaakov Yosef Herman zt”l, the legendary Torah pioneer whose extraordinary efforts to preserve and strengthen Yiddishkeit in America became known to generations through his daughter’s writings.

Rav Raphael Yitzchak was thus a grandson of Rav Yaakov Yosef Herman, growing up in a family in which dedication to Torah and chinuch was a defining feature.

His parents themselves represented an important link to the great Torah world of prewar Europe. Shortly after their marriage, Rav Moshe and Rebbetzin Ruchoma Shain traveled to Mir, where Rav Moshe learned for nearly six years in the Mirrer Yeshiva under Rav Eliezer Yehuda Finkel, Rav Yeruchom Levovitz and Rav Yechezkel Levenstein. The couple later returned to the United States, and after their children were grown, they moved to Yerushalayim.

Rav Moshe Shain was a gifted Torah educator whose influence on his talmidim remained with them for decades. Rebbetzin Shain, in her writings, described her husband as a “Torah educator par excellence,” and quoted a friend who said that he “commanded respect without demanding respect.”

That legacy of chinuch was continued by their son, Rav Raphael Yitzchak, who devoted himself to teaching and guiding talmidim. For many years, he served as a rebbe at Adelphia Yeshiva, where he became a beloved figure to generations of students.

Rav Shain carried with him the values of a home steeped in Torah and built upon an extraordinary family history. His maternal grandfather, Rav Yaakov Yosef Herman, became famous for his fierce commitment to Shabbos, kashrus, Torah learning and every aspect of Yiddishkeit at a time when religious observance in America often came at an enormous personal cost.

Rebbetzin Ruchoma Shain brought that world to life for generations of readers through All for the Boss, first published in 1984. The book chronicled her father’s remarkable life and his determination to build Torah in America without compromise. It went on to become a classic of Jewish literature and introduced countless readers to the Herman family and the sacrifices made by an earlier generation of American Yidden.

She later authored additional books, including Reaching the Stars, Dearest Children, All for the Best and Shining Lights, continuing to transmit the lessons and personalities that had shaped her life.

Rav Raphael Yitzchak grew up surrounded by those values and devoted his own life to their transmission through chinuch. His passing is a loss particularly to the many talmidim who knew him as their rebbe and to the Adelphia Yeshiva community in which he served.

Rav Shain was one of three children of Rav Moshe and Rebbetzin Ruchoma Shain. His siblings are Rav Yisrael Meir Shain and Mrs. Mashi Wilner.

The levayah will take place today, the first day of Chol Hamoed Sukkos, at 2:15 p.m. at the Yoshon (Bendheim) Bais Medrash of Bais Medrash Govoha, located at 617 Seventh Street in Lakewood.

Yehi zichro boruch.

{Matzav.com}

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Chol Hamoed Sukkos

At the Ritz Theater

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British counterterrorism authorities are investigating an apparent plot near RAF Fairford, a British air base used by the United States, after five men were arrested early Sunday and three suspicious trucks were found near the facility.

London’s Metropolitan Police, which leads investigations involving suspected terrorism, said authorities were alerted at approximately 12:45 a.m. to three vehicles that appeared to be heading toward RAF Fairford. The British-owned installation has been operated by the United States under an arrangement dating back to the Cold War.

The arrests come amid heightened concern in Britain over operations conducted by hostile foreign states and their proxies. British authorities have repeatedly identified Russia and Iran among the countries accused of using proxies to carry out criminal activity inside the United Kingdom.

Officials said in March that national security investigations involving hostile-state activity, including cases connected to Iran, had risen by 50% during the six-month period ending in December 2025.

RAF Fairford has been used by American bombers conducting narrowly defined strikes against Iranian missile sites. Those operations were carried out under an agreement reached with then-British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who subsequently expressed opposition to the war launched by the United States and Israel on February 28.

Investigators are reportedly examining a possible Iranian connection to the incident, although no determination has been announced. Tehran has previously maintained that military installations used to launch attacks against Iranian territory can be considered legitimate targets.

President Trump praised the law enforcement and security personnel involved in intercepting the suspects, saying they had been under surveillance before their arrests.

“It was an amazing job. We had them under investigation. They were looking to do big damage to our fort. And working with the British worked out great,” he told reporters in Chicago on Sunday. “We had them under view for a long time and we got them.”

The five suspects were first taken into custody on suspicion of violations of Britain’s Explosives Act in the Whelford area, which borders RAF Fairford. The installation houses the headquarters of the U.S. Air Force’s 501st Combat Support Wing as well as the 420th Air Base Squadron.

Aerial video broadcast by Sky News showed what appeared to be a bomb-disposal robot operating among three white trucks. The rear doors of two vehicles were open, with large black objects visible nearby, while the robot appeared to be attempting to gain access to the third vehicle.

Authorities have not released the nationalities of the five suspects. Under Britain’s Terrorism Act 2000, individuals arrested on terrorism suspicions may be held for as long as 14 days without being charged, significantly longer than the ordinary 24-hour detention period unless authorities obtain an extension.

“We are in the early stages of an investigation, and five men remain in custody,” said Vicki Evans, the Met’s counterterrorism policing senior national coordinator.

Evans said authorities established a 400-yard security perimeter around the three suspicious vehicles while British military personnel carried out examinations. Approximately 85 households were evacuated as a precaution, with some displaced residents being brought to a nearby recreation center.

The U.S. Embassy in London also issued a warning to Americans, urging them to exercise caution and remain attentive to their personal security.

British Prime Minister Andy Burnham acknowledged that news of the incident would be “deeply concerning” to many people. In a social media post, Burnham expressed appreciation to police and military personnel responding to the scene and thanked residents forced to leave their homes “while precautionary checks are carried out.”

Burnham also appealed to the public “not to speculate while the authorities establish the full facts.”

War Secretary Pete Hegseth and British defense chief Wes Streeting have also discussed the developing situation.

British security authorities have previously accused proxies connected to Iran of involvement in attempted arson and sabotage operations in Britain and elsewhere, including incidents directed against Jewish targets. Officials have warned that Tehran could broaden the range of potential targets inside Britain if Middle East hostilities continue.

Gloucestershire Police said the immediate situation appeared to be “contained” while urging residents in the area to continue following instructions from authorities as the investigation proceeds.

Julian Tudsbery, a Whelford resident for three decades, said another person in the community had spotted three “suspicious vans” in the village during the early hours of Sunday. Tudsbery said police subsequently arrived and ordered residents to leave.

“There were several police, three police cars in the drive, and they said you need to evacuate, there’s been a major incident, said he couldn’t elaborate,” he said.

Hezbollah is shifting its deployment across southern Lebanon and moving missiles, ammunition and other weapons to new locations, as the IDF closely monitors the terror group for signs that it may be preparing to escalate the confrontation in the coming days.

Lebanese military sources told the Eram News website that Hezbollah has recently transferred precision missiles, defensive systems, weapons and ammunition to villages west of the Yellow Line and south of the Litani River.

According to the sources, some of the weapons were removed from tunnels and strategic positions that Hezbollah has lost, including sites in the vicinity of the Ali Taher Ridge. The weapons have reportedly been dispersed among new locations inside towns and villages, including areas near residential homes and destroyed buildings. Hezbollah terrorists have also been stationed at the sites to guard the newly established weapons caches.

The redeployment follows IDF operations that seized tunnels and other positions used by Hezbollah to store weapons and ammunition. The underground infrastructure had also allowed Hezbollah terrorists to move between locations while avoiding Israeli aerial surveillance.

A senior Lebanese military source told Eram News that Hezbollah is now facing a “strategic problem” after mountain roads and passages previously used to move terrorists between positions were exposed. At the same time, tunnels that enabled Hezbollah members to travel underground and reach forward positions without being detected above ground have been destroyed.

Israel, meanwhile, has continued carrying out strikes against Hezbollah. A series of operations over recent days has eliminated a number of terrorists belonging to the organization.

The IDF Northern Command is simultaneously preparing to complete the deployment of Israeli forces along the Yellow Line. According to the IDF, Hezbollah infrastructure throughout the area has been destroyed, and Israel is now constructing an extensive new line of military positions across the sector, inside Lebanese territory.

The IDF chief of staff recently visited Northern Command and approved plans for establishing and strengthening the new defensive line. Those plans also include preparations for offensive operations should Hezbollah attempt to escalate the situation.

Israeli defense officials are continuing to closely follow Hezbollah’s movements and assess what the terror group may be planning in the coming days. At the same time, the IDF is preparing to preserve its freedom of action against Hezbollah while contending with growing international scrutiny of Israeli military operations in Lebanon.

Bnei Brak municipal officials have launched an internal investigation amid suspicions that listening devices were secretly placed inside the office of Mayor Chanoch Zeibert and then removed before experts arrived to conduct a professional security sweep.

The investigation began after officials at the municipality received information and discovered indications that raised concerns that someone may have been conducting surveillance inside the municipal building. A professional firm specializing in detecting hidden listening equipment was subsequently called in to inspect the offices, including Mayor Zeibert’s office. According to Kikar HaShabbat, evidence uncovered during the examination suggested that surveillance devices may previously have been installed in the mayor’s office but were apparently removed before the experts conducted their search.

In the wake of those findings, municipal officials began examining footage from security cameras throughout the building. Investigators are attempting to establish who entered Mayor Zeibert’s office during the period in question and identify individuals who could have gained access to the room.

The municipality’s internal probe has also focused on an electronic access chip that had previously been connected to a senior municipal official. Investigators suspect that the chip may have been used to gain entry to the mayor’s office in order to install the alleged surveillance equipment. At this stage, however, officials have not established who actually used the chip, who may have ordered or carried out the suspected surveillance, or what information they were allegedly seeking to obtain.

The matter has not yet been formally reported to police. Municipal sources said the city intends to complete its own investigation and collect the relevant evidence before filing a police complaint following Yom Tov.

Israeli Prime Minister Binyomin Netanyahu has ordered Israeli officials to begin assembling a legal case against Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, focusing on allegations concerning Ankara’s treatment of the Kurdish population and its financial links to Hamas, according to a report by i24NEWS legal analyst Avishai Grinzaig.

Netanyahu reportedly instructed an interministerial team, together with the director of the Justice Ministry’s International Law Department, to compile the material for a possible international legal proceeding against the Turkish leader.

The move follows a continuing deterioration in relations between Israel and Turkey and comes after Erdogan announced last month that Ankara had turned to Interpol in an effort to pursue Netanyahu’s arrest. According to the report, that step was among a series of Turkish actions that prompted Netanyahu to order preparation of the legal case.

The Israeli effort is expected to concentrate heavily on allegations involving Erdogan’s actions against Turkey’s Kurdish population. Officials are also reportedly gathering material concerning Turkey’s connections to Hamas and allegations that Erdogan’s government has helped finance the terrorist organization.

One possibility under consideration would involve bringing the material before the International Criminal Court in The Hague. Israel could potentially pursue the matter itself, though officials reportedly view submitting it through a third party as the more likely course. Neither Israel nor Turkey is a party to the Rome Statute establishing the ICC.

Israeli officials, however, reportedly do not necessarily expect — or even want — the case to reach the filing stage. According to i24NEWS, the preparation of a detailed legal dossier, combined with the possibility that it could ultimately be submitted, is intended in part to give Israel leverage against Erdogan and deter additional steps by Ankara.

The development comes just days after Netanyahu launched a blistering attack on Erdogan during his address to the United Nations General Assembly, accusing the Turkish leader and his government of spreading antisemitism and directing a series of accusations at Erdogan’s record.

“The latest country to become a super-spreader of antisemitic lies is Turkey,” Netanyahu declared.

“Erdogan is a tyrant who also hosts the Hamas terror chiefs,” he continued, accusing the Turkish President of murdering thousands of Kurdish civilians, denying the Armenian genocide, and imprisoning journalists and opposition figures.

Netanyahu also used the UN address to accuse Erdogan of illegally occupying Northern Cyprus, violating Greek sovereignty, attempting to extend Turkish control over Syria and repeatedly calling for Israel’s destruction.

Turning directly to Erdogan’s statements regarding Yerushalayim, Netanyahu delivered an unequivocal response from the UN podium.

“No, Sir. You won’t. This is our country, our city, our eternal capital.”

National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir came face-to-face in prison with senior Hamas terrorist Hassan Salameh, the mastermind convicted of directing a string of devastating suicide bombings that murdered dozens of Israelis during the 1990s, and told him that he intends to work toward having him executed.

The encounter carried particular significance for Ben-Gvir, who recalled that in the aftermath of Salameh’s attacks decades ago, he took part in protests demanding that authorities deal harshly with the Hamas terrorist. Ben-Gvir told Salameh that returning to confront him years later as Israel’s national security minister brought matters full circle, and he pledged to pursue his execution.

Salameh played a central role in Hamas’ murderous suicide-bombing campaign during the mid-1990s. A senior operative in the terror group’s military wing, he helped plan the two bombings of Jerusalem’s Route 18 buses that were carried out just one week apart in February and March 1996. Dozens of Israelis were murdered and scores more were wounded in the attacks.

A court ruling in the case of Mahmoud Abu-Warda, who recruited the suicide bombers used in the attacks, found that the recruitment was conducted as part of preparations made in advance by Salameh together with Hamas military commander Mohammed Deif.

On February 25, 1996, a suicide terrorist blew himself up aboard a Route 18 bus in Yerushalayim, murdering 24 people. Later that same day, another terrorist struck at the Ashkelon Junction, killing IDF soldier Hofit Ayesh. One week later, on March 3, a second Route 18 bus in Yerushalayim was targeted by a suicide bomber, leaving another 20 people dead.

Salameh was serving as an operative in Hamas’ military wing during that period. After Hamas bombmaker Yahya Ayyash was assassinated in January 1996, Deif assigned Salameh to help carry out a campaign of revenge attacks against Israel. Salameh had earlier been expelled to Lebanon, where he received military instruction that included training in the preparation and construction of explosive devices.

Israeli forces eventually tracked Salameh down in May 1996. An IDF unit located him in the Chevron area, where he was shot and wounded before being taken into custody. He was subsequently prosecuted in Israel for his role in the deadly terror attacks.

Salameh was convicted by a military court and handed 46 consecutive life sentences, as well as an additional 20-year prison term. A United Nations document detailing the sentence records his conviction for responsibility in three suicide bombings that murdered 46 people and wounded approximately 90 others. One of the judges who heard the case maintained at the time that Salameh deserved the death penalty.

Salameh has continued to hold a significant position within Hamas despite spending decades in an Israeli prison. In 2023, a book he authored behind bars, titled “Buses Catch Fire,” was published in the Gaza Strip. The book dealt with the terror attacks carried out following Ayyash’s assassination and was unveiled at an event organized by Hamas’ military wing that was attended by senior members of the terrorist organization.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi declared Sunday that Tehran is prepared to wage a “doomsday war” against the United States if necessary, even as he insisted that Iran remains interested in diplomacy and continues to seek a cease-fire agreement rejected by President Trump.

“We stand firm in the face of any aggression against us, even when it comes to a doomsday war,” Araghchi told NBC’s “Meet the Press” on Sunday. “At the same time, we are ready for diplomacy.”

Araghchi defended Tehran’s proposed seven-day cease-fire, describing it as a “very reasonable plan on the table,” despite Trump’s rejection of the proposal.

Under the reported terms of the Iranian offer, Washington would unfreeze approximately $12 billion in Iranian assets, ease sanctions and bring an end to the blockade. In return, Iran would agree to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

Trump rejected those terms, while senior administration officials maintained that Tehran’s proposal required the United States to provide too many concessions at the outset.

“They want to make a deal to open the Hormuz Strait immediately because they’re losing so badly,” Trump told reporters on Saturday.

Other administration officials, including U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz, have questioned whether Tehran could be trusted to honor another cease-fire. They have pointed to Iranian attacks on vessels traveling through the Strait of Hormuz while an earlier Memorandum of Understanding was still in effect.

Araghchi, however, indicated that Tehran does not consider the matter completely settled and is awaiting a formal response through diplomatic channels.

“I have to say that although we heard from President Trump that he is rejecting this deal, but we are still waiting for an official response through the mediators,” Araghchi noted.

Iran has targeted vessels traveling through portions of the Strait of Hormuz near the Iranian coastline. The Trump administration, meanwhile, says ships have continued moving through the strategically critical waterway by traveling along routes closer to Oman.

Energy Secretary Chris Wright has said that oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz have climbed to nearly the levels seen before the war. The waterway historically handled nearly one-fifth of the world’s seaborne oil supplies. According to Wright, elevated petroleum prices are now being driven largely by refining problems rather than an inability to move crude through the strait.

Diplomatic efforts continued on the sidelines of last week’s United Nations General Assembly, where special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner met with Iranian negotiators for roughly three hours. The talks, however, produced little public evidence of a significant breakthrough.

Trump has also left open the prospect of dramatically intensifying military action against Iran. The Wall Street Journal reported that the president is weighing a major escalation following the midterm elections. For now, the administration has continued applying economic pressure through the blockade and the Treasury Department’s Operation Economic Outcast.

Araghchi warned that if the United States launches another round of strikes, Tehran believes it is now better positioned to respond than it was during previous fighting.

“We are fully prepared for that,” the foreing minister said. “We have learned our lesson from the two previous wars, and we have corrected our tactics. We have changed our tactics, and we are fully prepared to do that.”

Despite his threats of a massive confrontation, Araghchi maintained that Iran has not closed the door on negotiations. At the same time, he accused Washington of undermining Tehran’s confidence in the diplomatic process, citing U.S. military operations that took place while negotiations were underway.

“There is always hope for diplomacy,” Araghchi said. “But to be honest with you, we have no reason to come back to diplomacy and engage with this administration once again, because of how they’ve behaved in the past two years.”

Araghchi was also questioned about the condition and whereabouts of Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, who has remained out of public view since Israeli strikes killed his father and reportedly left him seriously wounded.

“Well, there are security concerns, and you’re well aware of that. You know, our Supreme Leader was illegally assassinated during the last war. And I think it is very logical that we protect our leader in any way,” Araghchi said.

“We are all in one front, facing all challenges imposed on us by the US, by the sanctions or military operations.”

Araghchi insisted that Khamenei continues to exercise authority over Iran and said security considerations explain why Tehran has not released even a video showing the supreme leader publicly.

Israeli Prime Minister Binyomin Netanyahu made a secret trip to Abu Dhabi on Sunday, flying aboard a private aircraft for an unannounced meeting with United Arab Emirates President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, according to Israeli media reports.

The trip was first reported by Channel 12, which cited two sources familiar with the visit. The Jerusalem Post subsequently reported that a diplomatic source independently confirmed that Netanyahu traveled to the UAE and met with the Emirati leader.

According to additional details reported Sunday night, Netanyahu departed Israel shortly after noon and arrived in Abu Dhabi at approximately 3:10 p.m. He reportedly remained in the UAE for about four hours before departing for Israel.

The purpose and substance of Netanyahu’s talks with bin Zayed were not immediately disclosed. The Prime Minister’s Office did not provide details about the meeting or publicly comment on what the two leaders discussed.

The highly unusual, closely guarded visit comes at a sensitive moment, amid renewed controversy in Israel over reports concerning communications between the UAE and Netanyahu ahead of the Hamas-led October 7, 2023, attack.

Recent reports have alleged that bin Zayed contacted Netanyahu in September 2023 and raised concerns about the possibility of a major Hamas attack. Netanyahu’s office has disputed claims that the Emirati president provided him with an advance warning of the October 7 assault.

Sunday’s meeting therefore drew particular attention because of its timing, although there was no confirmation that the controversy over the alleged pre-October 7 communications was discussed during Netanyahu’s talks with bin Zayed.

Neither the Israeli government nor the UAE initially released an official account of the meeting, leaving the agenda of the secret Abu Dhabi talks undisclosed.

The IDF has reportedly stopped conducting proactive arrest raids targeting yeshiva bochurim classified as draft evaders in major chareidi population centers, even as enforcement continues at Israel’s airports and border crossings, where more than 200 alleged draft evaders have reportedly been arrested since the beginning of the Yom Tov season.

According to a report in Haaretz, the proactive arrest operations inside chareidi neighborhoods have been suspended since last month. The decision was initiated by the Military Police, while Israel Police serves primarily as the operational force assisting in carrying out such arrests.

Police sources cited in the report said they do not expect the raids to resume in the immediate future. The suspension has also coincided with an end to the large demonstrations staged by chareidi groups in response to military arrest operations.

The IDF has attributed the reduction in proactive operations to operational considerations, including the need to deploy personnel to other missions amid heightened security requirements surrounding the Yomim Tovim.

Some law-enforcement officials, however, offered a different explanation, alleging that IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir and Personnel Directorate chief Maj. Gen. Dado Bar Kalifa are concerned that aggressive arrest operations in chareidi neighborhoods could trigger widespread unrest during the election period. That assertion is disputed by the IDF.

“In the army, they place the responsibility on the police, but in practice this is an issue that comes from the top of the IDF, which is deliberately abandoning the matter,” a senior law-enforcement official was quoted as saying.

While proactive raids inside chareidi communities have been curtailed, enforcement against draft evaders has continued through other channels, particularly at Israel’s points of entry and exit.

According to the IDF, more than 200 draft evaders have been arrested since the beginning of the Yom Tov period. Most were apprehended at border crossings, including some who were caught while returning to Israel. Others were transferred to Military Police custody after being encountered incidentally by civilian police.

The increased emphasis on border enforcement was already evident in the weeks before Rosh Hashanah. Military Police personnel were deployed at Ben Gurion Airport and other crossings as large numbers of travelers headed abroad, including those traveling to Uman. Earlier this month, more than 60 draft evaders were reported arrested at border crossings over a period of several days.

The reported suspension of neighborhood raids comes at a particularly sensitive legal moment. In approximately three weeks, the state is expected to submit an updated response to the High Court of Justice detailing the enforcement measures being taken against those who have failed to report for military service.

Earlier this month, a nine-justice High Court panel unanimously struck down legislation that had sought to suspend arrests, investigations and other enforcement measures against chareidi yeshiva bochurim who failed to report for military service. Eight of the nine justices also concluded that the legislation was unconstitutional because of its serious infringement on the principle of equality.

Questions about the scale of enforcement have already reached the political arena. Opposition lawmakers recently demanded updated figures from the IDF amid reports that proactive arrests of chareidi draft evaders had fallen sharply despite the High Court ruling.

The IDF, for its part, denied that any directive had been issued to stop proactive arrests in chareidi population centers because of the upcoming elections.

In its response to the report, the military said the Military Police continues to carry out enforcement operations with assistance from Israel Police. The IDF added that forces at border crossings have been reinforced in accordance with ongoing security assessments and said enforcement would continue equally against those violating the law.

{Matzav.com}

A political firestorm erupted in Israel on Friday after MK Ram Ben-Barak, a member of the Bennett-Lapid “Beyachad” faction, declared during a radio interview that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is “Israel’s biggest enemy,” prompting an immediate denunciation from Likud Minister Miki Zohar.

Ben-Barak made the remark during an appearance on Kan Reshet Bet’s “Haboker Hazeh” program with Yair Ettinger. Asked about Netanyahu’s leadership and policies, Ben-Barak responded with an unusually sharp characterization of the prime minister.

“Israel’s biggest enemy is Netanyahu,” Ben-Barak said.

When pressed on whether that was indeed his position, Ben-Barak did not retreat from the statement, responding: “Unequivocally.”

The comments quickly generated controversy in Israel’s political arena, coming amid the escalating campaign rhetoric surrounding the upcoming elections and a day after Netanyahu addressed the United Nations General Assembly.

Zohar, a Likud minister, responded sharply to Ben-Barak, arguing that the comment reflected the opposition’s hostility toward Netanyahu rather than a substantive political critique.

“Ram Ben-Barak said this this morning because he could not bear the prime minister’s amazing speech yesterday at the UN. The hatred simply blinds them. Sad. Netanyahu will not surrender. With Hashem’s help, we will win the elections,” Zohar wrote.

Thousands of avreichim streamed to Rechov Strauss in Yerushalayim on Friday morning, Erev Sukkos, for a massive Yom Tov distribution by philanthropist Mr. Yoeli Landau, who handed out envelopes containing 1,220 shekels apiece to approximately 6,000 people.

The enormous turnout outside the Ohr Hachaim Torah center became so large that Strauss Street was ultimately closed to traffic as crowds gathered at the entrance to the room where Landau was personally distributing the envelopes.

An announcement publicized Thursday night had informed the public that a “Sanzer chalukah” would be held in memory of the Divrei Chaim of Sanz zy”a. The distribution was scheduled for Friday morning between 7 and 9 a.m. and was intended for married avreichim. By the early morning hours, large numbers had already begun arriving at the location.

Each recipient was given an envelope containing 1,220 shekels as a Yom Tov grant and financial assistance. Approximately 6,000 people reportedly received the envelopes directly, bringing the total amount distributed to approximately 7.32 million shekels.

The envelopes bore the words “Shefa Yoel Chalukah.”

Images and videos of the scene quickly circulated on social media, where some criticized the manner in which the distribution was conducted and the heavy crowding that developed outside the building.

Those close to Landau, however, defended the arrangement, saying that such distributions are a regular and respected practice in the United States and that the Yerushalayim event was modeled on the manner in which Landau regularly distributes tzedakah in Williamsburg.

According to his associates, every Friday Landau sits for approximately two hours in his bais medrash in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, where he provides substantial financial assistance to anyone in need who comes to him.

With Landau visiting Eretz Yisroel ahead of Sukkos, he decided to conduct a similar distribution for kollel avreichim in Israel, enabling them to cover their Yom Tov expenses with greater dignity and peace of mind.

People close to the philanthropist said Landau distributes tens of millions of shekels each month, much of it discreetly and through direct deposits into the bank accounts of families in need.

This time, however, Landau wanted the money to be available to everyone who qualified without relying on predetermined lists. His associates said the decision to conduct the mass distribution was made only at the beginning of the week, leaving insufficient time to organize an alternative system.

{Matzav.com}

Thousands participated in the levayah on Erev Sukkos of the renowned mekubal, Rav Dovid Shalom Batzri zt”l, Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshivat Hashalom in Yerushalayim, who passed away suddenly Friday morning at the age of 85.

Despite the rapidly approaching onset of Yom Tov, large crowds gathered to accompany the revered mekubal on his final journey.

Among those who delivered hespedim during the levayah were Rav Reuven Elbaz, Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshivas Ohr Hachaim; Rishon Letzion Rav Dovid Yosef; Rav Benayahu Shmueli, Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshivas Nahar Shalom; the mekubal Rav Yaakov Ades; and others.

Following the hespedim, the levayah proceeded to the Sanhedria cemetery in Yerushalayim, where Rav Batzri was laid to rest alongside his wife, Rebbetzin Tziporah Batzri a”h.

In a striking similarity, Rebbetzin Batzri also passed away immediately before a Yom Tov, on Erev Pesach. At the time, the onset of the Yom Tov prevented the family from observing the usual shivah period.

The same circumstance repeated itself with Rav Batzri’s petirah. Because his levayah took place on Erev Sukkos, the family was able to sit shivah for less than two hours before the arrival of Yom Tov brought the aveilus period to an end.

Rav Batzri, widely regarded as one of the senior mekubalim of the generation, headed Yeshivat Hashalom in Yerushalayim for decades and was a prominent figure in the world of Torah and kabbalah.

The extraordinary timing added another poignant element to an already emotional levayah: husband and wife were both niftar on the eve of a major Yom Tov, leaving their family in each instance with only a brief period to sit shivah before the chag began.

Yehi zichro boruch.

הלווית המקובל רבי דוד בצרי זצ”לצילום: יונתן זינדל – פלאש 90 הלווית המקובל רבי דוד בצרי זצ”לצילום: יונתן זינדל – פלאש 90 הלווית המקובל רבי דוד בצרי זצ”לצילום: יונתן זינדל – פלאש 90

הלווית המקובל רבי דוד בצרי זצ”לצילום: יונתן זינדל – פלאש 90 הלווית המקובל רבי דוד בצרי זצ”לצילום: יונתן זינדל – פלאש 90 הלווית המקובל רבי דוד בצרי זצ”לצילום: יונתן זינדל – פלאש 90

ביום המסוגל ביותר, פוסק הדור בשטר חתום: “עשירות מופלגה בתשפ”ז”

בשיתוף קופת העיר

20:10

יוקרה מול הכנרת. פשוט

תוכן מקודם

19:20

המתנה המפתיעה שהעניק מנשה צרפתי לבנו החתן רגע לפני החופה

מקודם

00:25

הלווית המקובל רבי דוד בצרי זצ”לצילום: יונתן זינדל – פלאש 90 הלווית המקובל רבי דוד בצרי זצ”לצילום: יונתן זינדל – פלאש 90 הלווית המקובל רבי דוד בצרי זצ”לצילום: יונתן זינדל – פלאש 90 הלווית המקובל רבי דוד בצרי זצ”לצילום: יונתן זינדל – פלאש 90 הלווית המקובל רבי דוד בצרי זצ”לצילום: יונתן זינדל – פלאש 90 הלווית המקובל רבי דוד בצרי זצ”לצילום: יונתן זינדל – פלאש 90 הלווית המקובל רבי דוד בצרי זצ”לצילום: יונתן זינדל – פלאש 90 הלווית המקובל רבי דוד בצרי זצ”לצילום: יונתן זינדל – פלאש 90 הלווית המקובל רבי דוד בצרי זצ”לצילום: יונתן זינדל – פלאש 90 הלווית המקובל רבי דוד בצרי זצ”לצילום: יונתן זינדל – פלאש 90 הלווית המקובל רבי דוד בצרי זצ”לצילום: יונתן זינדל – פלאש 90 הלווית המקובל רבי דוד בצרי זצ”לצילום: יונתן זינדל – פלאש 90 הלווית המקובל רבי דוד בצרי זצ”לצילום: יונתן זינדל – פלאש 90 הלווית המקובל רבי דוד בצרי זצ”לצילום: יונתן זינדל – פלאש 90 הלווית המקובל רבי דוד בצרי זצ”לצילום: יונתן זינדל – פלאש 90 הלווית המקובל רבי דוד בצרי זצ”לצילום: יונתן זינדל – פלאש 90 הלווית המקובל רבי דוד בצרי זצ”לצילום: יונתן זינדל – פלאש 90 הלווית המקובל רבי דוד בצרי זצ”לצילום: יונתן זינדל – פלאש 90 הלווית המקובל רבי דוד בצרי זצ”לצילום: יונתן זינדל – פלאש 90 הלווית המקובל רבי דוד בצרי זצ”לצילום: יונתן זינדל – פלאש 90 הלווית המקובל רבי דוד בצרי זצ”לצילום: יונתן זינדל – פלאש 90 הלווית המקובל רבי דוד בצרי זצ”לצילום: יונתן זינדל – פלאש 90 הלווית המקובל רבי דוד בצרי זצ”לצילום: יונתן זינדל – פלאש 90 הלווית המקובל רבי דוד בצרי זצ”לצילום: יונתן זינדל – פלאש 90 הלווית המקובל רבי דוד בצרי זצ”לצילום: יונתן זינדל – פלאש 90 הלווית המקובל רבי דוד בצרי זצ”לצילום: יונתן זינדל – פלאש 90 הלווית המקובל רבי דוד בצרי זצ”לצילום: יונתן זינדל – פלאש 90 הלווית המקובל רבי דוד בצרי זצ”לצילום: יונתן זינדל – פלאש 90

A man approximately 50 years old was injured Friday after falling from a ladder while building a sukkah on Rav Tzirlson Street in Bnei Brak, prompting emergency organizations to issue renewed warnings about the dangers involved in sukkah construction.

First responders from Hatzalah, together with Magen David Adom personnel, provided initial medical treatment at the scene before the injured man was transported to Sheba Medical Center in Tel Hashomer.

United Hatzalah ambulance driver Aharon Lerer and EMTs Yaakov Yisrael Malka and Leizer Margalit described the circumstances of the accident and the treatment provided.

“His family members told us that he fell from a ladder that he had climbed while building the sukkah. We provided him with medical treatment at the scene that included stopping the bleeding, bandaging and immobilization, after which he was quickly transported in a United Hatzalah ambulance to the trauma room at Sheba Medical Center in Tel Hashomer, suffering from injuries to his head and limbs, and his condition is defined as moderate,” they said.

Hatzalah EMT Yedidya Friedman, who also responded to the scene, said: “When I arrived at the scene, I found a man approximately 50 years old suffering from a head injury after falling from a ladder while building a sukkah. Together with Hatzalah and MDA EMTs, we provided him with initial medical treatment including immobilization and bandaging, and he was transported for further treatment at Sheba Medical Center in Tel Hashomer.”

The incident comes amid a number of injuries connected to sukkah construction during the days leading up to Sukkos. Hatzalah reminded the public to be particularly cautious while assembling sukkahs and urged people to use proper, safe and approved equipment.

Such accidents recur each year during the hectic pre-Sukkos period, when families are busy completing their final preparations for Yom Tov. Along with observing the many halachos involved in constructing a sukkah, emergency personnel stressed the importance of basic safety precautions, particularly when using ladders, working at elevated heights or handling construction equipment.

{Matzav.com}

The Torah and kabbalah worlds were plunged into mourning on Erev Sukkos with the sudden petirah of the gaon and tzaddik Rav Dovid Shalom Batzri zt”l, Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshivas Hashalom in Yerushalayim and one of the foremost mekubalim of the generation. He was 85.

Rav Batzri collapsed suddenly Friday morning at his home on Rav Landau Street in Bnei Brak, where he had been living in recent years. Emergency medical personnel rushed to the scene and performed prolonged resuscitation efforts before transporting him in critical condition to Sheba Medical Center in Tel Hashomer. Despite their efforts, he was niftar, leaving thousands of talmidim, admirers and those who had sought his guidance and brachos over the decades deeply bereaved.

During his final years, Rav Batzri had experienced periods of declining health and was hospitalized on several occasions. Nevertheless, he continued his lifelong avodas hakodesh, teaching the hidden dimensions of Torah, receiving people seeking advice and brachos, and conducting tikkunim and tefillos on behalf of individuals and the wider community.

The levayah was scheduled to depart at 2 p.m. Friday from Yeshivas Hashalom on Tachkemoni Street in Yerushalayim and proceed to the Sanhedria cemetery. Thousands were expected to participate, including roshei yeshiva, mekubalim, rabbonim and admorim, accompanying one of the senior figures of the world of kabbalah on his final journey.

Rav Dovid Shalom Batzri was born in Yerushalayim on 14 Av 5701 to his father, Rav Yosef Batzri zt”l, and his mother, Mrs. Victoria Batzri a”h.

He descended from a distinguished family of the great Torah scholars of Iraqi Jewry. His mother was a great-granddaughter of the Ben Ish Chai, Rav Yosef Chaim of Baghdad zt”l, as well as a great-granddaughter of the famed mekubal Rav Yehuda Fatiyah zt”l, author of Minchas Yehudah. That illustrious lineage provided the roots for what would become Rav Batzri’s lifelong immersion in Toras hanistar and kabbalah.

His family included numerous distinguished marbitzei Torah and dayanim. His brothers included Rav Ezra Batzri, who served as a member of Israel’s Great Rabbinical Court; Rav Sasson Batzri, a dayan on the Ahavas Shalom bais din; and Rav Menachem Batzri, director of Mosdos Sukkas Dovid. His brothers-in-law included Rav Ben Tzion Mutzafi and Rav Yehuda Mutzafi zt”l, Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshivas Mishkan Shiloach.

As a bochur, Rav Batzri studied at the famed Yeshivas Porat Yosef in Yerushalayim’s Old City, where he became a close talmid of the legendary Rosh Yeshiva Rav Ezra Attiya zt”l. Already in his youth, he distinguished himself through extraordinary diligence, depth of learning and personal tzidkus. He also absorbed Torah from the great sages of Yerushalayim, including Rav Ovadia Yosef zt”l and Rav Mordechai Eliyahu zt”l.

Upon reaching marriageable age, Rav Batzri married Rebbetzin Tziporah Batzri a”h, daughter of the mekubal Rav Salman Mutzafi zt”l, Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshivas Bnei Tzion. Rebbetzin Batzri passed away on Erev Pesach 5780.

Following his marriage, already steeped in both Toras hanigleh and Toras hanistar, Rav Batzri established Yeshivas Hashalom on Tachkemoni Street in Yerushalayim’s Mekor Baruch neighborhood. The yeshiva was named for the famed mekubal Rav Shalom Sharabi, the Rashash.

Under Rav Batzri’s leadership, Yeshivas Hashalom developed into one of Yerushalayim’s best-known centers for the study of kabbalah. He led the study of the kavanos hatefillah according to the siddur of the Rashash and conducted various traditional tikkunim, including tikkunei teshuvah, tikkun kareis and pidyon nefesh, as well as tefillos for shidduchim, refuah, parnassah and shalom bayis.

Over the decades, thousands of Jews from across Eretz Yisroel and throughout the world came through his doors. Some sought a bracha, others advice, while many participated in the special tikkunim and tefillos that Rav Batzri conducted with intense emotion. Numerous people attributed remarkable yeshuos in their personal lives to his tefillos and brachos.

Rav Batzri also became widely known because of his involvement in several highly unusual and publicized episodes involving alleged dibukim. He was regarded by his followers as possessing deep knowledge of the traditional teachings concerning names and spirits, a field associated particularly with his ancestor, Rav Yehuda Fatiyah.

One of the most famous episodes occurred in the spring of 5759, when a woman said to be suffering from a dibuk was brought to his bais medrash. Rav Batzri conducted a lengthy ceremony that included tekios shofar, kabbalas ol Malchus Shomayim and practices drawn from kabbalah. Recordings of the event, including what participants described as the voice of the dibuk and its eventual departure from the woman, were subsequently distributed widely and generated enormous interest throughout the Jewish world.

Another widely discussed episode took place in Teves 5770, when an avreich from Brazil who was said to be suffering from a severe dibuk was brought to Yeshivas Hashalom. Rav Batzri, together with his son Rav Yitzchak Batzri and Rav Yaakov Ades, conducted an intense gathering of tefillah. Those present reported that the purported dibuk spoke in different languages and in an unfamiliar voice before being adjured to leave through the toenail. The event was publicized extensively and became another of the episodes for which Rav Batzri was known far beyond the circles of mekubalim.

Alongside his leadership of the yeshiva and his work in Torah hanistar, Rav Batzri was a powerful maggid and traveled throughout Eretz Yisroel delivering drashos intended to strengthen observance of Shabbos, taharah, tznius and yiras Shomayim.

He was also known for speaking forcefully on matters concerning the kedushah of Yerushalayim and the preservation of traditional Jewish observance. On communal and spiritual issues, he did not hesitate to publicly express what he regarded as daas Torah, repeatedly calling upon Jews to strengthen themselves in teshuvah and emunah and to yearn for the ultimate yeshuah.

With his petirah, the Torah and kabbalah worlds lost one of the remaining links to an earlier generation of Yerushalmi mekubalim — a talmid chacham and tzaddik whose life was devoted to both the revealed and hidden dimensions of Torah and to helping Jews who turned to him in times of difficulty.

Rav Batzri leaves behind a large and distinguished family of sons, daughters, sons-in-law and descendants who continue his legacy. Among his sons are Rav Yitzchak Batzri and Rav Shlomo Batzri.

His levayah later proceeded to the Sanhedria cemetery, where he was laid to rest alongside his wife, Rebbetzin Tziporah a”h. In a poignant parallel, she had been niftar on Erev Pesach, leaving the family only a brief opportunity for shivah before Yom Tov. Rav Batzri’s petirah on Erev Sukkos likewise left his family with less than two hours to sit shivah before the onset of the Yom Tov.

Yehi zichro boruch. 

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump personally warned Chinese President Xi Jinping that the United States will not accept any Chinese assistance to Iran, whether through intelligence, military equipment, components or indirect support, U.S. Ambassador to China David Perdue said Friday, offering new details about the two leaders’ high-stakes White House talks.

The Iran issue was among the major geopolitical matters discussed during Xi’s state visit to Washington, which included extensive talks with Trump on Thursday. The meeting came as Washington has been seeking to determine the extent of Beijing’s assistance to Tehran amid the ongoing war with Iran.

“We ⁠made it very clear to them weeks ago that, you know, any help ⁠that they would give Iran, whether it be direct or indirect, whether it ‌be intelligence or parts or military equipment, was ‌totally unacceptable. President Trump made that very ‌clear again yesterday. This is an ongoing drumbeat,” Perdue said in an interview ⁠with CNBC.

Trump himself confirmed Friday that Iran came up during his discussions with Xi.

“We did,” Trump told reporters when asked whether the two leaders had discussed the Iran war. “I think we’re going to do great.”

Perdue indicated that Washington has been delivering the same warning to Beijing for weeks, making clear that the administration’s objections extend beyond direct Chinese military aid. According to the ambassador, the U.S. position also encompasses intelligence assistance, components and other forms of indirect support that could aid Tehran.

The ambassador separately told Fox News that the United States received assurances from Beijing on Thursday concerning Chinese assistance to Iran. Perdue said Washington had already observed some movement by China following those assurances, though he did not provide details about what Beijing had agreed to stop doing or what changes the United States had detected.

The warning comes amid scrutiny in Washington over reports of Chinese assistance to Tehran. In the days leading up to Xi’s visit, lawmakers from both parties pressed the administration to confront Beijing over its relationship with Iran. Democratic Sen. Richard Blumenthal said Wednesday that Chinese activity involving Iran was significant enough that Trump should raise it directly with Xi.

Trump last week dismissed a Wall Street Journal report alleging that Chinese entities had provided Iran with satellite imagery of a U.S. military base before an Iranian strike that killed three American service members in Jordan. At the time, Trump offered a more measured assessment of Xi’s behavior regarding the conflict.

“I think he’s behaved reasonably well, and we behave reasonably well,” Trump said.

Perdue’s comments Friday, however, indicate that behind closed doors the administration delivered a direct warning that Chinese assistance to Tehran crosses a line for Washington.

At the same time, Perdue described the Trump-Xi discussions as unusually frank and suggested that the relationship between the two leaders has continued to develop despite the deep disputes separating Washington and Beijing.

“These ‌two leaders ⁠are beginning to develop a relationship of somewhat ⁠trust ⁠and also working on the issues. I ‌mean, this was a very candid and open conversation, and every time they talk, ‌I think we ‌see a different level of intimacy about these difficult issues that we’re dealing with.”

Xi’s visit was his first to Washington in more than a decade and included an elaborate White House welcome, bilateral meetings and a state dinner. Beyond Iran, the two leaders confronted a broad range of contentious issues, including trade, artificial intelligence and Taiwan.

Despite those disputes, both governments have sought to prevent the broader U.S.-China relationship from spiraling into uncontrolled confrontation. Xi said during his White House visit that the two countries should “coexist in peace,” while acknowledging that competition between them would continue.

The Iran question presents a particularly sensitive test of that relationship. China has maintained extensive economic ties with Tehran and has resisted U.S. pressure to sever those connections, even as Washington has sought to isolate Iran economically and restrict its ability to obtain foreign assistance.