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It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of the Spinka Rebbe of Bais Shmiel Tzvi, Rav Yosef Meir Horowitz zt”l, of Williamsburg, following an illness. He was 58 years old.

The Rebbe was a devoted manhig who led his kehillah with warmth and dedication, guiding his Chassidim in Torah and avodas Hashem and forging a close personal connection with those who looked to him for guidance.

Rav Yosef Meir was a son of Rav Berish Horowitz zt”l, who was the eldest son of Rav Hershele Spinka zt”l, and he continued the distinguished Spinka mesorah that he received from his illustrious forebears.

Throughout his years of leadership, the Rebbe became known for his deep ahavas Yisroel and his devotion to his Chassidim. Those who came through his doors found a Rebbe who listened to their struggles, shared in their difficulties and simchos, and sought to strengthen and encourage them. His kehillah looked to him not only as their Rebbe and moreh derech, but as a source of warmth, guidance and chizuk.

The Rebbe’s avodas Hashem and the sincerity with which he approached his avodah left a profound impression upon those around him. He sought to elevate his Chassidim while remaining deeply involved in their individual needs, providing guidance and encouragement to those who turned to him.

The Rebbe had been battling an illness and, in recent days, was hospitalized at Mount Sinai Hospital, where his condition became critical. Despite efforts on his behalf, he was niftar tonight at the age of 58, plunging his family, Chassidim and kehillah into mourning.

Levayah information will be published as soon as details become available.

Yehi zichro boruch.

{Matzav.com}

U.S. intelligence analysts initially questioned the credibility of Israeli intelligence warning that Iran was plotting to assassinate President Donald Trump, even as the threat ultimately prompted an extraordinary security operation in which Trump was secretly transferred to a different military aircraft while leaving Turkey, according to current and former U.S. officials cited by The Washington Post.

The Israeli intelligence ultimately led American security officials to take exceptional precautions during Trump’s departure from a NATO conference in Ankara, including concealing his movements and quietly moving him from the presidential Boeing 747 to a smaller U.S. Air Force aircraft.

According to the report, Israeli authorities first provided information about the alleged Iranian assassination plot to the CIA. Analysts at the agency examined the intelligence but reportedly found it less than persuasive, conveying their doubts to officials in the Trump administration.

One official characterized the intelligence underlying the threat as “Israeli-derived, not US-generated, and viewed as low confidence.”

Those reservations provide new insight into the extraordinary precautions taken by the White House and Secret Service on July 8, when Trump departed the NATO gathering in Turkey.

Security officials initially considered whether the Boeing 747-8 recently provided by Qatar had sufficient defensive capabilities to safely transport the president amid the potential threat. Trump ultimately boarded the regular Air Force One Boeing 747 in Ankara.

But the security operation did not end there.

In a highly secretive maneuver, Trump subsequently left the presidential aircraft and was moved across the airport in a catering vehicle. He then boarded a U.S. Air Force C-32A, which transported the president and a small contingent of aides to the United Kingdom.

The unusual operation was apparently designed to make Trump’s actual travel arrangements considerably more difficult to track.

Asked Wednesday about the reported intelligence and the skepticism with which American agencies initially viewed it, the White House declined to discuss the underlying intelligence assessment.

“As the President has said, he has faced numerous threats on his life, including ones from Iran, and every measure is taken to ensure his safety,” a US official said in a statement provided to The Washington Post on the condition of anonymity due to the sensitive subject matter.

“The United States Secret Service’s core mission is protecting the President, which they achieved.”

The CIA declined to comment on the report. The Israeli Embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to requests for additional information.

Despite doubts within the U.S. intelligence community about the reliability or immediacy of the Israeli warning, White House and Secret Service officials ultimately determined that the potential danger warranted extraordinary precautions.

One American official said the elaborate aircraft switch in Ankara reflected the security detail’s unwillingness to take unnecessary risks involving the president.

“The Secret Service has had three near misses with this president, so they’re not taking any chances,” the official noted, adding, “They did what they had to do.”

The existence of Israeli intelligence concerning a possible Iranian threat against Trump was first reported last month by The Wall Street Journal.

Trump addressed the secretive aircraft switch publicly for the first time Tuesday night, saying that the decision was made by the Secret Service and that he simply followed the directions of his security detail.

“It’s really just up to Secret Service. I just follow what they like to do,” Trump remarked to reporters, stating, “They wanted me to go on a different flight, a different plane, equal safety. … I do what they say.”

{Matzav.com}

Florida business leaders are taking a public swipe at New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, erecting a Times Square billboard that sarcastically credits him with helping drive jobs, businesses and wealthy residents from New York to the Sunshine State.

The Florida Chamber of Commerce unveiled the digital billboard Monday at Broadway and West 43rd Street, naming Mamdani Florida’s “Economic Developer of the Year” and offering him a pointed message: “Thanks for the jobs!”

“We wanted to thank him for the jobs, the companies, the people that they’re pushing out of New York — and a lot of them are coming to Florida,” Florida Chamber CEO Mark Wilson told Fox News Digital.

The billboard campaign comes after years of migration from New York to Florida, a movement that accelerated during the COVID pandemic as remote work gave people greater flexibility and many families sought more space and lower costs. Working-age and higher-income New Yorkers have been particularly prominent among those leaving the state.

Wilson said the Times Square campaign is intended not simply to mock New York but to contrast the economic policies pursued by the two states and promote Florida’s approach.

“Even though Florida is winning right now, we’re not looking for New York to lose. We’re hoping that these other states will say ‘no’ to this move towards socialism and say ‘yes’ to the very policies that our country was founded on,” he said.

“This isn’t about spiking a football or looking at the scoreboard about Florida versus New York. This is really about trying to save our country from crazy.”

The Florida Chamber is already considering taking similar campaigns to other Democratic-led cities and states.

“We had to start in New York City because the mayor of New York City, obviously, is pushing that community into a direction that it’s not good for the people who live there,” Wilson said.

“But there’s several runner-ups for this,” he added. “When you look at Chicago, when you look at California, Minneapolis, there’s places all over the country that come in a close second to the movement in New York City. So we’re gonna continue to highlight what works.”

The campaign comes as Florida continues to draw former New York residents, with critics of Mamdani predicting that the migration could accelerate under his administration.

Mamdani’s controversial pied-à-terre tax has added to concerns among some wealthy New Yorkers and business leaders. Billionaire hedge fund executive Ken Griffin, among those who have clashed with Mamdani, has doubled down on plans for major development projects in Miami rather than New York.

Following Mamdani’s election last fall, Miami-area real estate brokers also reported a sharp increase in inquiries from wealthy New Yorkers interested in multimillion-dollar properties in South Beach.

Migration figures have provided ammunition for Florida officials and business groups seeking to portray the Sunshine State as the beneficiary of New York’s population losses.

Florida has emerged as the largest single destination for New York’s net loss of taxpayers, according to IRS migration figures.

During 2022-2023, the latest period for which figures were available, New York recorded a net loss of 21,176 tax returns to Florida.

The Florida Chamber says the movement of residents has also resulted in a substantial transfer of taxable income between the states. Citing IRS migration statistics, the organization claims Florida gains approximately $2.4 million in net taxable income every hour, while New York loses approximately $1.1 million per hour.

“What do people like Mayor Mamdani do? They want to … increase taxes on the people who are left, which just further accelerates people leaving places like New York,” Wilson said.

The Chamber contends that Florida’s combination of lower taxes and fewer regulations has made the state increasingly attractive to businesses, entrepreneurs and residents leaving higher-tax jurisdictions.

“Florida’s lowered taxes over 50 times in the last 15 years. And we have record revenues coming in because people want to be here. And when the economy grows, tax revenues grow. That’s how free enterprise works,” Wilson said.

Mamdani’s administration strongly rejected the Chamber’s portrayal of the city’s economic condition, pointing instead to employment growth, investment activity and improvement in Manhattan’s commercial office market.

“By any metric, New York City’s economy under Mayor Mamdani is as strong as it’s ever been. We look forward to continuing to grow the economy while ensuring that working-class New Yorkers are benefiting from that growth,” a spokesperson for the mayor told The Post.

City Hall said New York City has added more than 21,700 jobs during the past six months, a pace it said was more than twice the national growth rate. Employment in the relatively high-paying finance and insurance industries has increased by 1.9%, according to the administration.

Officials also pointed to the recovery of Manhattan’s office sector, which City Hall says is on track for its strongest year since 2000.

Meanwhile, New York City-based companies have raised more than $21 billion in venture capital so far this year, according to the administration, representing a 102% increase compared with the same period last year.

For the Florida Chamber, however, the Times Square billboard is designed to send its message in perhaps the most conspicuous location possible — directly in the center of Mamdani’s city — as Florida seeks to persuade more businesses and residents that its economic model offers a better alternative.

{Matzav.com}

Jewish New Yorkers disapprove of Zohran Mamdani, mayor of New York City, 66% to 26%, and 75% of them don’t agree with the Democratic Socialists of America, compared to 17% who approve of it, according to a new Siena University Poll of 811 likely gubernatorial voters in New York.

The poll, which was conducted between Aug. 3 and 6, found that 43% of likely N.Y. gubernatorial voters, including 67% of Democrats, think that the state is on the right track, compared to 47%, including 86% of Republicans, who think it’s going in the wrong direction. More than half (55%) of independents think the state is on the wrong track.

More than half of Jewish voters (51%) said the state is headed in the wrong direction, with 39% saying it is on the right track.

Jews made up 8% of those polled, or 64 or 65 respondents.

While 53% of Jewish New Yorkers said that the country’s best years are ahead of it, and 39% said behind it, they felt differently about New York. Just 42% of Jewish New Yorkers said it’s best years were ahead, and 36% said behind it.

In the race for the governor’s mansion, Jews preferred Gov. Kathy Hochul, a Democrat, to Bruce Blakeman, the Republican, by 49% to 42%. Jews preferred state attorney general Letitia James, a Democrat, to Republican Saritha Komatireddy 61% to 28%, per the poll.

But Jewish New Yorkers thought that Blakeman was more likely to keep New Yorkers safe than Hochul would by a margin of 48% to 44%.

If elections for Congress were held today, 52% of Jewish New Yorkers said they would vote for a Democrat and 41% said a Republican.

Weighted portions of the poll had a margin-of-error of plus-or-minus 4.6 percentage points, and other parts had a margin-of-error of plus-or-minus 4.2 percentage points. JNS

President Donald Trump renewed his push Wednesday for the United States to make daylight saving time permanent, calling on Republican senators to quickly approve legislation that would end the twice-yearly changing of the clocks.

In a lengthy Truth Social post, Trump celebrated the House passage of the Sunshine Protection Act and urged the Senate to give the measure final congressional approval. The House passed the legislation last month in a bipartisan 308-117 vote.

“For many years, the vast Majority of Americans have asked to make Daylight Saving Time permanent, but no Administration has been able to get it properly done, until now,” Trump wrote. “I am proud to announce that the House of Representatives has passed the Bill, and it has now gone to the Senate for final approval.”

Trump argued that Americans have grown frustrated with the longstanding practice of adjusting their clocks twice each year and said the change creates unnecessary inconvenience and expense.

“People are sick and tired of having to change their clocks twice a year. It is foolish, inconvenient and, in some cases, very costly,” Trump wrote.

The Sunshine Protection Act would effectively establish year-round daylight saving time in states that observe it, eliminating the annual “spring forward” and “fall back” clock changes. States would have an opportunity to opt out and remain on standard time year-round. Hawaii and most of Arizona already do not observe daylight saving time.

Trump devoted much of his post to arguing that permanent daylight saving time would provide benefits far beyond eliminating the inconvenience of changing clocks.

“For Cities and States with Watchtowers, and hard to reach places, it costs Millions of Dollars,” Trump wrote. “A recent case was made that it is also bad for your health in the anxiety it creates.”

The president said studies have suggested that ending the time change and preserving an additional hour of evening daylight could have benefits involving crime, traffic safety, health and economic activity.

“Leading Medical, Crime, and Economic Studies have shown that ceasing the biannual time change, giving us one extra hour of natural sunlight in the evenings, will help Decrease Robbery and Murder Rates, Reduce Car Accidents (especially those involving Pedestrians!), Lower Risk for Cardiac Issues, Stroke, and Seasonal Depression, Make It Safer for Children to Walk Home from School, Increase Time with your Family, Strongly Support Extracurricular Activities, Be a Big Boost to Sports, Fitness, Tourism, Retail, and the Restaurant Industries (and more!), and Save Money on Energy Bills, because everyone will be enjoying an EXTRA HOUR OF DAYLIGHT,” Trump wrote.

Research has found health and safety problems associated with the twice-yearly clock transition, particularly the loss of an hour of sleep during the spring change. However, major medical and sleep organizations that support eliminating the clock changes have generally favored permanent standard time rather than permanent daylight saving time, arguing that standard time more closely aligns with the body’s natural circadian rhythms.

Permanent daylight saving time would also come with a significant tradeoff: later winter sunrises. In New York, for example, the latest sunrise under permanent daylight saving time would occur at approximately 8:20 a.m. rather than 7:20 a.m., while the earliest winter sunset would move from approximately 4:28 p.m. to 5:28 p.m.

That issue has fueled opposition to the proposal among some senators. Critics have pointed to the United States’ previous experiment with year-round daylight saving time during the 1970s. Congress instituted year-round daylight saving time during the energy crisis beginning in January 1974, but the experiment was cut short amid widespread concerns about dark winter mornings.

The current legislation has nevertheless made considerably more progress than most recent attempts to permanently end the seasonal clock changes.

The House approved the Sunshine Protection Act on July 14 by a vote of 308-117, sending the proposal to the Senate. The legislation had previously advanced through the House Energy and Commerce Committee as part of a broader motor vehicle measure by a 48-1 vote.

Congress has grappled with the issue before. In 2022, the Senate passed an earlier version of the Sunshine Protection Act by unanimous consent, but the measure stalled in the House and never became law.

This time, however, the legislation has the strong backing of Trump, who has repeatedly pressed lawmakers to end the clock-changing ritual.

In his latest appeal, Trump portrayed the issue as one capable of attracting support across the political spectrum.

“In other words, leave it as it is now, and never change again,” Trump wrote. “This is an issue that Republicans, Democrats, and Independents can unite behind.”

He concluded with a direct appeal to members of his own party in the Senate.

“I am asking Republican Senators to PASS THE SUNSHINE PROTECTION ACT, ASAP,” Trump wrote. “Thank you for your attention to this matter! President DONALD J. TRUMP”

The measure now faces its crucial test in the Senate. If senators approve the House-passed legislation, it could move to Trump’s desk, putting the United States closer than it has been in years to ending the familiar ritual of changing clocks every spring and fall.

The investigation into the disappearance of Israeli mother and daughter Meli and Liel Yahalomi in Vienna has taken a dramatic turn, with investigators reportedly uncovering indications that the two may not have been abducted but instead may have deliberately disappeared after making preparations in advance.

According to a report by Ynet journalist Liran Tamari, investigative and law enforcement officials in Israel and abroad have found preliminary indications suggesting that location information and digital history were intentionally deleted from the women’s mobile devices.

Investigators reportedly believe that the deletion of the data began several days before Meli and Liel disappeared, raising the possibility that their disappearance had been planned in advance.

Authorities are also examining information indicating that the mother and daughter may have obtained a significant amount of cash before they vanished. Investigators reportedly view that detail, together with the deletion of their digital information, as potentially supporting the theory that they prepared to leave voluntarily rather than being taken against their will.

The findings remain preliminary, and authorities have not announced a definitive conclusion regarding what happened to the two women.

The new developments appear to correspond with an official statement from Vienna police saying that, at this stage, investigators have found no indication of criminal activity in connection with the disappearance.

A Vienna police spokesman said investigators currently have no evidence pointing to an abduction or other criminal incident, according to Austria’s Kronen Zeitung newspaper.

Authorities have conducted extensive inquiries as part of the search, including repeated checks with hospitals in the area. The investigation is being coordinated with Israel’s diplomatic mission and consulate.

Intelligence gathered during the investigation reportedly indicated that the two women, who are Shabbos observant, were last seen on Shabbos in the vicinity of a Vienna train station, a busy area that also includes a nearby public park.

Despite the new indications, Israeli police are continuing intensive efforts to locate the mother and daughter, with special command centers operating around the clock both in Israel and abroad.

Israel Police Commissioner Danny Levy convened a special situation assessment devoted to the search for Meli and Liel.

Senior police officials participated in the meeting, including the head of the Investigations and Intelligence Division, the head of the Intelligence Department, Israel Police representatives operating overseas, and members of the intelligence command center operating in the country where the women disappeared.

At the conclusion of the assessment, Levy instructed police officials to allocate all resources and capabilities necessary, without limitation, to advance the investigation and locate the two women.

Additional Israeli law enforcement representatives are also traveling to Vienna to reinforce personnel already on the ground, assist with the investigation and help determine what happened.

Meli and Liel last spoke with relatives on Friday before the onset of Shabbos and told them that everything was fine. Their family has had no contact with them since.

The apartment in Vienna where they had been staying was subsequently found completely empty, and the two failed to appear for their scheduled flight back to Israel.

{Matzav.com}

Thousands gathered in mourning for the levayah of Mrs. Rivka (Ricky) Feivelson a”h, whose sudden petirah left her family, friends, students and many others shocked and heartbroken.

Mrs. Feivelson was the daughter of Rav Eliyahu Meir Feivelson, rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Pischei Olam and a prominent talmid of Rav Moshe Shapiro zt”l.

In an emotional hesped, her father described a woman who combined unusual wisdom and intellectual depth with simplicity and purity in her service of Hashem. Although she devoted considerable thought to questions of faith and Jewish philosophy, he said, when the time came to pray, she was able to put everything else aside and stand simply before Hashem.

During the final weeks of her life, Mrs. Feivelson had arranged with her mother to daven at the Kosel every day for 40 days. Each day, they would spend 20 minutes or more in tefillah. When it was time to leave, she would often ask her mother, “Mommy, I want to daven a little longer.”

Her desire to understand things deeply was already evident during her childhood. Her father recalled how, at the age of nine or ten, she would ask him penetrating questions at the Pesach Seder, seeking to fully understand the ideas being discussed. One of those questions became so deeply embedded in the family’s memory that, over the years, it developed into a family tradition of studying and discussing the subject late into the night.

“Her entire life was devoted to this great pursuit of building her faith more correctly,” her father said in his hesped.

Her wisdom, he explained, was never merely an intellectual pursuit. Rather, it was an integral part of her service of Hashem and her relationship with Him.

Another defining aspect of Mrs. Feivelson’s personality was her extraordinary sensitivity toward others. Her father spoke of her exceptional loyalty to family and friends and her acute awareness of the pain of another person. If she realized that she could have made someone happy, given someone attention or shown someone respect and had failed to do so, she viewed it as a serious missed opportunity.

Her relationship with her parents was especially close.

“Ricky was the mother of her father and mother,” her father said, describing how she assumed responsibility for looking after their well-being and happiness. Even the slightest indication that one of them was upset or hurting affected her deeply.

She also shared an exceptionally close relationship with her grandparents. Every week, she would visit her elderly grandfather to study Mesillas Yesharim with him. Despite his difficulty hearing, she managed to engage him in deep conversations.

“My eyes ask him the questions,” she would say.

Her grandfather would come alive during their learning sessions and once told her, “Riki, you have the power of bringing the dead back to life.”

In one of the talks she delivered, Mrs. Feivelson discussed the mitzvah of honoring one’s parents and offered her own explanation of the Torah’s promise of long life for those who fulfill the commandment.

A person who lives only his own life, she explained, begins his story on the day he is born. But someone who lives with a deep connection to his parents, grandparents and the generations that preceded him has a life that begins much earlier, becoming part of a long continuum stretching across generations.

That sensitivity extended far beyond her immediate family.

Her father recalled an occasion when she encountered a young girl at a bus stop whose grandmother had called her a “bad girl” because she did not enjoy studying. Riki sat beside the girl for approximately 20 minutes and explained to her that a child who struggles academically is not a bad child.

The grandmother listened to the conversation and later told Ricky’s mother that she needed to learn from her how to speak to children.

Mrs. Feivelson’s influence eventually extended to a much broader audience through podcasts and lectures she delivered about faith and serving Hashem. Her father noted that although she did not merit having children of her own, she had the privilege of influencing students and many others who listened to her teachings and drew inspiration from them in their faith, their prayers and their relationship with Hashem.

Toward the conclusion of his hesped, Rav Feivelson’s voice broke as he addressed the enormous void his daughter’s passing had created.

“You were the pillar of all of us,” he said.

He described her tremendous love for the children in the family and her unique ability to make each one feel important and special.

“How can we manage without you? How will we get through this devastation without Riki?” he cried.

Rav Shalom Ber Sorotzkin, rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Ateres Shlomo, also delivered a hesped, opening with the words, “A Sefer Torah is in mourning.”

Rav Sorotzkin spoke about the magnitude of the tragedy in a home built entirely around Torah and faith, and the painful questions that arise in the face of such a sudden petirah.

During his remarks, Rav Sorotzkin offered extraordinary praise for Ricky’s father, Rav Eliyahu Meir Feivelson, referring to him as “my teacher and rebbi in Jewish thought, my teacher and rebbi regarding the Yomim Tovim and tefillah.”

He described Rav Feivelson’s approach to establishing the foundations of faith and teaching people to contemplate the world around them and recognize the hand of Hashem in everything they encounter.

Rav Eliyahu Zilberman also delivered a hesped, as did members of the family.

Following the hespedim, the levayah proceeded with thousands accompanying Mrs. Feivelson to her final resting place amid tears and profound grief.

She leaves behind her grieving family, students and friends, as well as many others who came to know her through her lectures and recordings.

Yehi zichrah boruch.

{Matzav.com}

Three children suffered serious burns Wednesday after coming into contact with fallen high-voltage power lines at Machaneh Shopron in Fallsburg, New York, prompting a major emergency response and their evacuation by helicopter to a trauma center.

The frightening incident occurred at the camp, located along Route 42 in Fallsburg, Sullivan County.

All three children remained conscious following the incident and were airlifted to a trauma center for medical treatment.

The incident occurred at approximately 1 p.m. as the children, ranging in age from 9 to 13, were playing near a wooded area of the camp.

According to preliminary information, the children came into contact with high-voltage electrical lines carrying approximately 35,000 volts. The lines had apparently fallen during the previous night and had gone unnoticed.

Given the enormous voltage involved, the fact that the children survived the incident was described as nothing short of a miracle.

Dozens of Catskills Hatzalah EMTs and paramedics rushed to the scene, along with other emergency personnel, to treat the injured children and coordinate their evacuation to the hospital.

{Matzav.com}

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer is demanding an immediate classified briefing from the Trump administration after reports revealed that the Secret Service secretly transferred President Trump to a different military aircraft during his return from last month’s NATO summit in Turkey because of an alleged Iranian assassination threat.

In a post on X, the New York Democrat said lawmakers deserve a full explanation of the security concerns that prompted the extraordinary operation and any broader risks facing the United States.

“The Senate should be immediately briefed on the Iranian threats against the president, the extraordinary measures taken to get him out of Turkey, any risks posed to U.S. personnel, and any threat to the homeland,” Schumer, a New York Democrat, wrote on X.

According to a report by The Washington Post, President Trump initially boarded the older Air Force One for his flight from Turkey to the United Kingdom before being quietly moved to a smaller Air Force C-32A after intelligence raised concerns about a possible Iranian plot to assassinate him.

The report said the transfer was carried out without the knowledge of the traveling press corps. After boarding Air Force One, Trump reportedly exited the aircraft undetected by using a catering truck before boarding the smaller military jet, while reporters believed he had remained aboard the original aircraft.

Schumer sharply criticized the administration over the secrecy surrounding the operation, calling the lack of communication with Congress unacceptable and accusing the White House of withholding critical information about threats against the president and the wider conflict with Iran.

“Trump has put America’s sons and daughters in harm’s way by getting into an unnecessary and reckless war, and this administration has repeatedly refused to provide Congress and the public with the transparency they deserve,” Schumer said.

Schumer’s demand comes as the military confrontation between the United States and Iran enters its sixth month, with both sides continuing to exchange threats while diplomatic negotiations remain difficult, according to The Hill.

“Congress must reassert its constitutional authority and bring this war to an end,” Schumer said.

Both chambers of Congress have approved bipartisan War Powers resolutions urging the administration to scale back the conflict. President Trump and senior administration officials have rejected those measures, arguing that the War Powers Act is unconstitutional.

The reported aircraft switch has intensified scrutiny of how the administration is responding to Iranian threats against the president, while prompting lawmakers to seek more information about the intelligence that led to such extraordinary security measures and whether Congress should have been informed sooner.

Schumer’s call for an immediate briefing is also expected to deepen the ongoing dispute between the administration and Congress over presidential war powers, access to classified intelligence, and how much information lawmakers should receive regarding threats against the president and U.S. military personnel.

{Matzav.com}

[COMMUNICATED]

by Rabbi Eliezer Sandler

The concept of the Yissachar-Zevulun Torah Learning Pact goes back well over 3,500 years, to the time of Yaakov Avinu and his sons. It is named for the Torah pact between two of his sons – Yissachar the scholar and Zevulun the merchant. Not only was it an equal pact but, Chazal explained, the deed of Zevulun/the Sponsor is considered even greater than that of Yissachar, because without the support of Zevulun, Yissachar would not have had the wherewithal to study Torah undisturbed.”

It is well-known that when it comes to learning Torah, people who sponsor the learning, often do so, not just as a donation. By financially supporting specific Torah scholars, they enter into a binding, written, signed and sealed learning partnership pact whereby the Sponsor (the Zevulun) is deemed by Halacha as if he personally studied the Torah completed by the Scholar (the Yissachar). (See below.) 

Thus, those who support the Talmidei Chachomim at Shas Yiden via a Yissachar-Zevulun Pact merit a portion in every daf of the entire Talmud Bavli and associated texts that they study, and complete the entire cycle in the space of ONE year. Some of the Sponsors opt to continue sponsoring repeat cycles of Shas which accrue to them.

Sar Hatorah, Maran Hagaon Harav Chaim Kanievsky, zt”l, Nasi Shas Yiden, emphasized: The most mehudar Yissachar-Zevulun pact to support in our times is that offered by Shas Yiden – it comprises the entire Shas, Rashi and Tosfos – all in just one year!

Rav Chaim explained why this pact with Shas Yiden is the most mehudar. Chazal say that the highest level of learning is when one understands what he is learning b’iyun u’ve’amkus. However, even higher than that is when one remembers b’al peh all what he has learned. I have farhered the Shas Yiden avreichim geonim many times and can attest ZEI KENNEN SHAS (they know Shas)!

YES! YOU CAN MAKE
your OWN SIYUM on the ENTIRE
Shas, Rashi & Tosfos
IN JUST ONE YEAR!

The Yissachar-Zevulun Pact in Halacha

The Shulchan Aruch in Yoreh De’ah Chapter 246 regarding the efficacy of the Yissachar-Zevulun Sponsorship Pact for the Zevulun (the Sponsor) states clearly:  It is deemed as if he (the one sponsoring the learning) himself learned all the Torah studied under the pact. 

All the learning under the Shas Yiden Yissachar-Zevulun Pact is yours בעוה”ז ובעוה”ב (in both This World and the World to Come)! Concerning this, the Netziv of Volozhin comments that in Olam Habah, the Zevulun sponsor will sit together with the Gedolei Torah of the past and merit to participate in their discussions and pilpulim on all the Torah learned.

Achieve Almost 7 million Mitzvos in One Year

The Vilna Gaon in Shnos Eliyahu Pe’ah 41 states that one should hold precious every word of Torah that he learns because each word is considered a mitzvah of its own. 

Thus, since in Talmud Bavli, Rashi and Tosfos there are 6,608,891 words, that translates into almost 7 million mitzvos accruing through Yissachar-Zevulun at Shas Yiden. 

Official Shtar from Shas Yiden

Each Yissachar-Zevulun pact is confirmed by an official contract (shtar) from Shas Yiden specifying the learning of the entire Shas, and is witnessed by talmidei chachomim.

All who wish to enter into a Yissachar-Zevulun Pact for the entire Shas during ONE year should contact Shas Yiden to make arrangements: 718-702-1528.

The opportunity to complete the entire Shas has been a cherished way to honor family members and others as a prized achievement. It has also proven to be a source of comfort for mourners to obtain such a zechus for their dear ones during the year of mourning – a siyum of the entire Shas can be completed on the yahrzeit!

Yissachar-Zevulun Pact – Beyond the Grave

The legendary visionary and “Father of Yeshivos”, Reb Chaim of Volozhin, was the founder of the famous yeshiva in the town of Volozhin and the beloved talmid of the Vilna Gaon. 

Reb Chaim had an ongoing Yissachar-Zevulun pact with a local shoemaker – a man who was not learned but who dearly valued Torah learning. They had a ‘deal’ whereby the shoemaker would pay the monthly financial support needed for Reb Chaim and his family. For this financial support, the shoemaker would have an equal share in all Reb Chaim’s daily Torah study – both in the mitzvah of Torah study בעוה”ז and that the knowledge of the Torah learned would continue to be his בעוה”ב (in the World to Come).

One day the shoemaker passed away suddenly. During the shiva period, Reb Chaim was facing a perplexing halachic question and researched high and low for a solution. That night the shoemaker appeared to him in a dream and gave him the full solution that he sought. Reb Chaim was amazed and commented, “Azoi gich, Azoi Gich – So quickly, so quickly has he acquired the zchus and knowledge of the Torah that I have studied!”

In the words of Gedolei Torah:

Maran Hagaon Harav Chaim Kanievsky, zt”l, Nasi Shas Yiden:

“In just ONE year, through Yissachar-Zevulun at Shas Yiden, you can be zoche to the entire Shas forever – בעוה”ז ובעוה”ב (in olam hazeh and olam habah).

“Moreover, whoever supports Shas Yiden is zocheh to fulfill both Yissachar-Zevulun and support of aniyei (the poor of) Eretz Yisroel in the fullest sense of the word.

“Those who support Shas Yiden will be saved from chevlei (the travails of) Moshiach – spiritually and materially, and will be zoche to have ehrlicher bonim u’vanos yir’eishomayim ”

Maran Hagaon Harav Dov Lando, shlit”a, Rosh Yeshiva, Slabodka:

“Who compares to the Shas Yiden? Incredible talmidei chachomim geonim who raised the bar in limud Hashas b’iyun u’v’amkus. Blessed are those who enter a Yissachar-Zevulun pact with them.”

Hamashpia Hagadol Reb Meilech Biederman, shlit”a:

 “Yissachar-Zevulun at Shas Yiden – best possible deal, and in just 1 year! 100% partnership! 100% Shas x 5 times! 100% Shisha Sidrei Mishna – בעוה”ז ובעוה”ב”

Sanzer Rebbe, shlit”a:

“A first in 2000 years of Jewish history! Until Shas Yiden, never a Torah institution where ALL the avreichim metzuyonim v’geonim know the entire Shas by heart”

Maran Hagaon Harav Yaakov Hillel, shlit”a:

“Therefore, the great mitzvah to support the efforts [of the Talmidei Chachomim] with generous donations in order that they should continue diligently with their studies to enhance the greatness of the Torah and its glory. 

ShasYiden.com

The Board of Peace on Wednesday forcefully denied reports that it had struck a financial arrangement with Hamas, rejecting claims that a proposed $400 million fund would be used to pay off the terror group’s debts as part of a disarmament agreement.

In a Hebrew-language statement posted on X, Board of Peace envoy Nickolay Mladenov said the money described in the organization’s 15-point Gaza roadmap is intended solely for approved contractors and severance payments for Gaza civil servants—not for Hamas.

Calling the reports inaccurate, Mladenov said allegations of a financial agreement with Hamas are “false,” emphasizing that no such proposal had ever been discussed, negotiated, or considered. He also stressed that Hamas “will have no role” in governing Gaza and no access to Board of Peace funds.

The controversy focuses on Clause 5 of the proposed roadmap, which directs the future Palestinian technocratic governing body, known as the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG), to evaluate legitimate financial obligations owed to suppliers, contractors, and other entities, with payments capped at $400 million.

Kan interpreted that provision as effectively providing debt relief for Hamas. Board of Peace officials, however, insist that interpretation is completely incorrect.

According to an Arab diplomat from one of the mediating countries who spoke with The Times of Israel, the NCAG would conduct a comprehensive audit of Hamas’ financial records after assuming responsibility for governing Gaza.

The diplomat said money from the proposed fund would be paid only to contractors whose claims are verified as legitimate, with extensive background checks ensuring that no payments are made to anyone connected to terrorist activity.

Another portion of the fund would be designated for severance packages for Hamas-employed civil servants who are not retained by the incoming administration. The diplomat described those payments as both a legal obligation and a means of preventing even greater poverty in the war-ravaged Gaza Strip.

Mladenov added that every proposed payment would undergo a review and approval process before funds are distributed, with all financial records remaining subject to audits by donor nations.

The disagreement comes at a critical moment for the 15-point roadmap, which is designed to implement the Gaza peace framework approved under U.N. Security Council Resolution 2803 and is facing significant political resistance.

Prime Minister Binyomin Netanyahu rejected the proposal on Sunday, declaring that Israeli forces would remain in Gaza until Hamas is “genuinely disarmed.”

A Board of Peace official told Reuters the following day that discussions with Israel were still ongoing despite Netanyahu’s public objections.

Mladenov appealed to Israel to back the initiative, arguing that the alternatives—allowing Hamas to rebuild its military capabilities or requiring Israel to reoccupy Gaza—would impose “an enormous human, military and economic cost.”

He said the proposal calls for Hamas’ complete disarmament, the establishment of civilian rule, and deployment of an international security force operating under American leadership.

According to officials familiar with the planning who spoke with The Times of Israel, the International Stabilization Force is expected to receive its first troops from Morocco, while Albania, Kazakhstan, and Kosovo have also pledged personnel. The plan envisions creating an initial humanitarian zone in Rafah, where Israeli forces would withdraw and ISF troops would take over, allowing screened Gazan civilians to relocate from areas controlled by Hamas.

Mladenov also announced that a monitoring system to oversee ceasefire violations is already operational.

The current ceasefire began last October under President Donald Trump’s broader Gaza initiative, which outlined a phased Israeli withdrawal, the surrender of weapons, and the transfer of governing authority to the technocratic committee.

Although Prime Minister Netanyahu has publicly opposed the roadmap, IDF soldiers told Channel 12 this week that their rules of engagement inside Gaza have become considerably more restrictive since the disarmament plan was unveiled, raising the possibility that some level of coordination with the Board of Peace is already taking place even as political disagreements continue.

{Matzav.com}

[COMMUNICATED]

Today the Jewish community of Moldova celebrated the inauguration of its newly elected Chief Rabbi, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Axelrod, chosen in an election of the country’s Jewish community representing all its institutions.

The inauguration was led by the Chief Rabbi of Israel, Rabbi Kalman Ber, who came to Chișinău for it — joined by chief rabbis and community leaders from across the Jewish world.

The chain:

Rabbi Yehuda Leib Tsirelson, Chief Rabbi of Bessarabia from 1908, killed in Chișinău in 1941.

Rabbi Zalman Abelsky, sent by the Lubavitcher Rebbe in 1989 under Soviet rule, who rebuilt Jewish life in Moldova.

Rabbi Menachem Mendel Axelrod, his grandson, inaugurated today.

Rabbi Ber told the hall: “From today, Chișinău will be remembered not for the Kishinev pogroms, but for Rabbi Axelrod.”

President Trump’s administration returned to the U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday, asking the justices to clear the way for full enforcement of his executive order tightening mail-in voting rules ahead of November’s midterm elections, which will determine control of Congress.

The Justice Department filed an emergency request seeking to halt a ruling issued Tuesday by U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani in Boston. That decision prevents the U.S. Postal Service from enforcing nationwide provisions of the executive order that impose stricter requirements on voting by mail.

President Trump signed the executive order in March after repeatedly advocating for tighter limits on mail-in voting. He has maintained for years that widespread voter fraud influenced the outcome of the 2020 presidential election.

Judge Talwani’s latest ruling broadened an earlier injunction she issued in June, which had blocked enforcement of the executive order in 23 mostly Democrat-led states and Washington, D.C. Those states had challenged the order, arguing that it violates the Constitution.

The administration has already asked the Supreme Court to overturn the June injunction. In Wednesday’s filing, the Justice Department requested that the justices also clarify that any ruling in the administration’s favor would apply to Talwani’s more recent nationwide order.

Government attorneys argued that the lawsuits should not have been allowed to proceed because federal agencies have not yet taken any final actions directly affecting the plaintiffs. As a result, they contend that the alleged injuries are hypothetical rather than actual.

Among other provisions, President Trump’s executive order instructs the Department of Homeland Security to compile and provide states with lists of U.S. citizens who are eligible to vote. It also directs the Justice Department to prioritize investigations and prosecutions of state and local election officials who issue ballots to individuals considered “not eligible” to vote in federal elections.

The order further requires the U.S. Postal Service to deliver mail-in ballots only to voters who appear on each state’s approved absentee ballot list. The Postal Service recently began taking steps to implement those directives.

In explaining her decision to block enforcement, Judge Talwani wrote Tuesday that the executive branch lacks the constitutional authority to regulate elections, emphasizing that responsibility rests with the individual states under the U.S. Constitution.

Israeli Defense Minister Yisroel Katz has instructed the IDF to prepare for an extended deployment in southern Lebanon, making clear that Israel has no intention of abandoning its security zones in Lebanon, Syria, or Gaza as it continues operations against Hezbollah.

On Wednesday, Katz toured IDF positions in Lebanese villages along Israel’s northern border, where he met with commanders overseeing both overt and covert military operations. During the visit, he received briefings on ongoing activities, reviewed plans for the next phase of the campaign against Hezbollah, and thanked troops for their efforts and battlefield successes.

Katz directed the military to begin both operational and logistical preparations for a prolonged presence in the area while continuing efforts to eliminate terrorist infrastructure, including underground tunnel networks.

“We see here the Beaufort Ridge after the tunnels there were destroyed. The IDF conducted a maneuver here through the Litani in a heroic operation and, with great skill, defeated Hezbollah and took the Beaufort, which defends Metula and the communities of the north and on IDF soldiers and threatens all Hezbollah areas on the horizon,” Katz stated.

Reaffirming Israel’s policy, Katz stressed that the country will not relinquish control of the security buffer. “As the Prime Minister and I clarified unequivocally, we are not withdrawing from this security zone. I am standing here in the heart of the security zone, from the sea in the west until the Beaufort area and the slopes of Mount Hermon in the east. The IDF is here to defend the northern communities and its forces; we will clear out this entire area, and we will ensure security for the residents of the north. Under no circumstances will we withdraw from the security zones: not in Lebanon, not in Syria, and not in Gaza. The lesson learned from October 7th is that we are protecting the residents by the IDF being here, in these places, and protecting them from invasions, shooting, and everything else. This is our chance; this is our policy; this is our approach.”

Katz said the strategic importance of the Beaufort fortress reflects Israel’s broader security doctrine, emphasizing the military’s control of high ground and its campaign to dismantle Hezbollah’s military capabilities. “The Beaufort fortress illustrates more than anything else the significance of this policy: we are up here, they are down there; the residents are protected, the IDF is inside, and 200,000 residents are outside. We are destroying the underground infrastructure and all the terrorist infrastructure they built with Iranian backing to invade the Galilee, and we are destroying all the homes in the area. This is our policy. We will continue it and will in no way allow jihadist enemies of this kind to threaten our residents or our borders. We are up here, they are down there, the residents are outside, the soldiers are inside, and the homes are destroyed.”

Joining Katz on the visit were Deputy Chief of Staff Maj. Gen. Tamir Yadai, Northern Command chief Maj. Gen. Rafi Milo, 36th Division commander Brig. Gen. Yiftah Norkin, Defense Minister’s Military Secretary Brig. Gen. Hisham Ibrahim, along with other senior military commanders.

{Matzav.com}

Yisrael Beytenu chairman MK Avigdor Lieberman alleged on Wednesday that dozens of Hamas Nukhba terrorists recently conducted a simulated assault on an Israeli community in Gaza, claiming military commanders sought authorization to eliminate the operatives but were blocked by Israel’s political leadership.

According to Lieberman, roughly 50 members of Hamas’ elite Nukhba force participated in a training drill inside the Gaza Strip earlier this week, rehearsing the invasion and capture of a Jewish town.

He said commanders on the ground requested immediate approval to attack the terrorists during the exercise, but were instructed not to take any action.

Lieberman’s remarks followed a Channel 12 News report Tuesday night stating that the IDF detected unusual terrorist activity near the Gaza border that sparked concerns militants were preparing to cross the Yellow Line. The report said the military increased its level of readiness and deployed additional forces to the border area but refrained from striking after receiving instructions from the political echelon.

“The night before last, IDF forces identified a training exercise by approximately 50 Nukhba Force terrorists who were practicing a raid and takeover of a Jewish community,” he revealed. “IDF commanders in the field requested immediate action to carry out a targeted elimination of all the terrorists, but the political echelon’s instruction was: ‘You don’t touch a single one of them. You don’t even fire a single blank.'”

“This is surrender to terrorism and a return to the policy of containment and the conception that led to October 7,” he warned.

Lieberman said he toured communities surrounding Gaza on Wednesday, including Kerem Shalom, the site of what he described as a newly established American base near the crossing, as well as Kibbutz Be’eri, where he met with local security officials.

“What I saw and heard is extremely concerning, and I want to inform members of the Diplomatic-Security Cabinet of several details that the Prime Minister is hiding from them and from the public,” he wrote.

Lieberman also alleged that Prime Minister Binyomin Netanyahu approved an arrangement negotiated between Board of Peace Director-General Nikolay Mladenov and Hamas under which the Board of Peace would distribute $400 million to suppliers and service providers using lists supplied by Hamas.

He further claimed that the agreement calls for approximately 40 percent of those funds—about $160 million—to be funneled back in cash to Hamas’ military wing.

Lieberman additionally asserted that the IDF has effectively completed its withdrawal from forward positions in Gaza, with troops now stationed only along a line of military outposts. “In the entire area between the line of posts – the Purple Line – and the yellow concrete barriers – the Yellow Line – not a single soldier remains.”

He also argued that the government’s decision to leave the yellow concrete barriers in place is merely a political distraction, claiming that despite their presence, Israeli forces no longer maintain any operational presence between the military outposts and the Yellow Line.

Turning to the role of the United States, Lieberman contended that the recent visit by the commander of CENTCOM to the American base in southern Israel illustrates how Israeli military decision-making has become dependent on Washington. “To move even a pin, American approval is required,” he blasted.

{Matzav.com}

A mysterious report suggesting that one Arab leader urged another to sign an agreement that would “lull Israel to sleep” is likely part of a sophisticated Mossad psychological warfare campaign that has left Arab leaders deeply unsettled, according to Dr. Ron Schleifer, an expert in psychological warfare.

In an interview with Arutz Sheva-Israel National News, Schleifer said the leaked account should be viewed as a calculated intelligence operation rather than an ordinary media report. Although the identities of the two leaders remain undisclosed, he argued that revealing their names is not the primary objective. “Israel is probably eavesdropping on Arab leaders and decided to spread this report. Amit Segal is the one who received the report; he’s the ideal choice since he has right-wing views and works for Channel 12, which is still the most popular channel in Israel; that way, you get maximum exposure.”

Schleifer explained that the operation serves several strategic purposes. He believes the two unidentified leaders are now under tremendous personal strain, fearing that their identities could eventually be exposed. According to him, the uncertainty itself weakens them. The two “aren’t eating, not drinking, out of worry, pressure, and fear of the huge embarrassment they’ll have when their identities are revealed; and they will be revealed at some point to the Western audience. They have an enormous amount of worry that prevents them from directing energy towards advancing their goals.”

Beyond the impact on the two individuals, Schleifer said the leak sends a chilling message to governments throughout the Arab world. Leaders are now forced to wonder whether Israeli intelligence services are intercepting even their most confidential conversations and other closely guarded secrets, creating widespread unease and suspicion.

He added that the incident also reinforces Israel’s technological and intelligence superiority without requiring any public demonstrations of its capabilities. “You don’t need military and technology fairs to hint at this. One line to a journalist does the job. Another gain is the increase in the level of anxiety in the Arab world, where everyone is asking who these two leaders are.” Schleifer said the resulting atmosphere of paranoia ultimately benefits Israel.

Schleifer also argued that many Israelis recognize that attempts to deceive Israel are a legitimate tactic employed by Arab governments, pointing to Egypt as an example. “We have a peace treaty with Egypt, but it violated it in the first week after it was signed, and now the entire Sinai Peninsula has become a platform for military equipment rather than a means of fighting ISIS. This is clear to us, but it is still not clear to the Western world.”

Concluding his analysis, Schleifer praised what he sees as a growing emphasis on psychological warfare within Israel’s security establishment. “It is very encouraging to see that the Israeli security establishment is moving toward psychological warfare. I understand that the technical aspect is carried out by Unit 8200, and from there it moves throughout the security establishment. The Shin Bet deals with matters within Israel, the IDF operates in Gaza, Lebanon, and Judea and Samaria, and that leaves the Mossad.” He believes the Mossad, under the leadership of Roman Gofman, decided to launch the operation because of the strategic advantages it offers.

“The entire Arab world is boiling because of two lines leaked to a journalist. All of this followed a phone call to a journalist who can be trusted. This is a good sign. We are in a region where military activity is different, and we are finally adapting ourselves to these challenges. It is a very positive sign.”

{Matzav.com}

A senior adviser to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has declared that Tehran is prepared to keep its conflict with the United States going for years, even suggesting the fighting could continue until President Trump completes his current term in office in 2029.

Speaking in an interview with PBS, Mohammad Reza Naqdi, a senior adviser to the commander of the IRGC, said Iran could deliberately prolong the war as part of its broader military strategy. According to Naqdi, extending the conflict would help discourage future attacks by demonstrating the high cost of confronting Iran.

“We must achieve deterrence so that the enemy will never dare attack us, so that we can live in security. One way is to prolong this war until we reach the next presidential term and cause attrition, so that if someone else wants to attack Iran, they will know that there is a price to pay,” Naqdi said.

Naqdi previously served as the IRGC’s deputy coordinator from 2019 through 2025, one of the organization’s senior leadership positions overseeing coordination across the force. He now serves as a senior adviser to the commander of the Revolutionary Guards.

During the interview, Naqdi also insisted that Iran had emerged victorious in the conflict, ridiculed President Trump, and asserted that “the American military is weaker than we thought.”

“Definitely, victory is on our side,” Naqdi said. “Washington is waging a war without a strategy. Every two or three days, they announced a new objective, including invading Kharg Island and reopening the Strait of Hormuz. The longer this war continues, the more experience we will gain. We had never experienced a real war in which we could gain real experience and learn how to fight against America. In these five months, we have learned how. We have also seen how the American military is weaker than we thought.”

Naqdi further claimed that Iran’s missile production is exceeding the number of missiles it launches each day, suggesting the country continues to replenish its arsenal despite the ongoing war.

“If the day comes when Iran has no missiles left, that is when we will become even more dangerous to the United States. Because the United States has thousands of economic interests around the world, and all of them can easily be destroyed,” the senior Iranian adviser said.

{Matzav.com}

Tehran Mayor Alireza Zakani has disclosed new details about the missile attack that reportedly struck the residence of Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei at the outset of the joint U.S.-Israeli campaign against the Iranian regime, claiming the blast left Khamenei wounded and killed his wife.

In an interview with the Iranian Student News Network (SNN), Zakani said the attack took place at about 9:30 a.m., just as Khamenei and his wife were preparing to leave their home. According to him, the missile “directly hit the upper floor of the building,” where the couple was located at the time.

Zakani identified Khamenei’s wife as Zahra Haddad-Adel and said she had remained at the residence after typically seeing the couple’s children off to school around 7:30 each morning. He stated that she was killed in the strike, while Mojtaba Khamenei sustained injuries.

Describing what followed the attack, Zakani said those who were with Khamenei recounted that he remained intent on completing his prayers even as doctors worked to treat him and close his wounds with stitches. “At the height of his pain and injuries, he continuously remained concerned with performing the prayer,” Zakani said. He added that Khamenei displayed compassion, unwavering faith in God, and remarkable composure despite the severity of the situation.

Zakani also addressed the appointment of Major General Mohsen Rezaei, saying the move was intended to send a clear signal to the United States. He argued that Iran had entered a new era in which earlier political phases had concluded and the Islamic Republic, together with the “axis of resistance,” had emerged with greater regional and international influence. Speaking about Mojtaba Khamenei’s leadership, Zakani predicted that the Islamic Revolution would become “more mature, more distinctive and broader” during this new period.

The Tehran mayor also reflected on a previous conversation with Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani, who was killed in an Israeli airstrike during the conflict. Zakani said he had praised Larijani’s contribution to the Secretariat of the Islamic Cooperation Organization, recalling, “I told the late Larijani that the Secretariat gained value because of you,” Zakani said. He credited Larijani’s leadership, determination, and steadfast approach to confronting challenges with strengthening the organization’s stature.

{Matzav.com}

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt will leave her position at the end of August to focus on raising her young family, President Trump announced Tuesday, while revealing that she will continue serving as one of his closest outside advisers ahead of the midterm elections.

Leavitt, 28, became the youngest person ever to serve as White House press secretary. A mother of two, she welcomed her daughter, Viviana, in May and returned to work from maternity leave only last month.

President Trump praised Leavitt as “one of my most trusted aides.”

Announcing her transition on Truth Social, Trump wrote, “Karoline will now be one of my top outside advisors, and an influential voice within the Republican Party, as we work to defy History, and conclusively win the Midterm Elections.”

He also commended her years of service, writing, “Karoline has been a real leader in the White House, and has done a phenomenal job fighting for Justice, Liberty, and Freedom, since 2018, including our Historic Re-Election Campaign of 2024.”

Trump concluded his tribute by declaring, “Karoline has been one of the best White House Press Secretaries in the History of the Office.”

Leavitt first joined the Trump administration as a White House intern before launching an unsuccessful campaign for Congress in New Hampshire during the 2022 midterm elections. She later became a key spokeswoman during President Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign.

During that campaign, Leavitt gave birth to her first child, Niko. Just three days later, President Trump survived an assassination attempt after being shot during a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.

She also made history as the first White House press secretary to have a child while serving in the role. The demanding position has traditionally been associated with rapid turnover, with most recent press secretaries serving between roughly 18 months and nearly three years. During President Trump’s first administration, four different individuals held the post.

Reflecting on her tenure, Leavitt described serving as press secretary as “the honor and adventure of a lifetime” and thanked President Trump for the opportunity.

“I have spoken with great pride about the many historic accomplishments of this Administration, and I have relished holding the liberal media accountable and ensuring the American people hear the truth about President Trump’s successes,” she said in a statement.

She explained that her decision was driven by family priorities, saying, “The truth is since returning to the White House after the birth of my daughter, I have felt in my heart that I cannot be the best mom my two young children deserve while devoting the constant time, energy, and attention required of the White House Press Secretary — and that is why I have ultimately made the bittersweet decision to depart.”

Leavitt emphasized that she plans to remain active in conservative politics, pledging to “always remain a vocal advocate for MAGA and the Republican Party” while warning that the “country is facing an existential threat from an increasingly extremist Democrat Party.”

Throughout her tenure, Leavitt adopted a more confrontational approach toward the media than many of her predecessors, frequently challenging news organizations over their reporting on President Trump and his administration.

She also introduced a new rotating seat in the White House briefing room reserved for independent reporters, podcasters, and online content creators, expanding opportunities for nontraditional media outlets to participate in daily press briefings.

President Trump has repeatedly praised Leavitt throughout her time in office, previously calling her a “star” and remarking, “I don’t think anybody has ever had a better press secretary than Karoline.”

Federal prosecutors have charged 11 New Yorkers in what Attorney General Todd Blanche described as one of the largest marriage fraud cases ever brought in the United States, accusing the group of orchestrating more than 1,000 fake marriages over the past decade to fraudulently secure green cards for foreign nationals.

According to Blanche, the defendants allegedly created a lucrative operation that paired foreign nationals—primarily from China—with American citizens in sham marriages designed solely to bypass U.S. immigration laws. He said the enterprise generated millions of dollars while helping applicants unlawfully obtain lawful permanent resident status.

Although the indictment was filed in the Southern District of New York, prosecutors contend the operation reached far beyond the state, arranging fraudulent marriages in Connecticut, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia, and Florida.

Authorities allege that several of the defendants served as organizers who coordinated the overall operation, while others recruited Americans willing to enter fake marriages or acted as officiants to solemnize the fraudulent unions.

Investigators say the organizers promoted illegal immigration services through social media platforms and other advertising channels, targeting foreign nationals seeking a path to permanent residency.

Blanche said Chinese nationals allegedly paid as much as $100,000 to secure a fraudulent marriage that would allow them to apply for a green card.

The Americans who agreed to participate in the sham marriages were reportedly paid up to $30,000 for their involvement.

To make the marriages appear authentic, prosecutors allege the defendants staged photographs and established shared bank accounts, mobile phone plans, and other joint financial arrangements intended to convince immigration authorities the relationships were genuine.

The indictment further claims participants were coached on how to mislead immigration officials and conceal the fact that their marriages existed only on paper.

Blanche said many of the couples also signed prenuptial agreements that stripped away the normal legal rights associated with marriage, including inheritance rights, child support obligations, and claims to marital property. Prosecutors said one agreement explicitly acknowledged that although the individuals would be husband and wife in name, they would continue living separate lives and avoid interfering with one another.

The Justice Department estimates the alleged scheme brought in tens of millions of dollars from foreign nationals seeking permanent legal status in the United States.

“These charges, and the indictments now unsealed, they show how far people will go to cheat our immigration system,” Blanche said at a news conference Wednesday. “Gaining American citizenship and legal status to reside in this great nation is a sacred privilege, and we will ensure it is always done in accordance with the law protecting our communities and national security.”

The announcement comes shortly after President Donald Trump signed two executive orders aimed at curbing birth tourism, another practice his administration says exploits weaknesses in the nation’s immigration system.

“Our efforts to protect our immigration system and our country’s borders are aggressive and exhaustive,” Blanche said. “No matter how complicated the scam, we will do everything in our power to stop it.”

The newly unsealed indictment contains two conspiracy charges: conspiracy to commit marriage fraud and immigration fraud, and conspiracy to encourage the unlawful residence of aliens in the United States.

Those charged are Amy Cheng, 72; Xiao Mei Chan, 64; Christine Lu, 52; Jing Yan Ye, 43; Xiao Yan Chen, 48; Gang Zheng, 61; Anthony Cheng, 47; Michelle Duenas, 35; Angela Duenas, 26; Sigrid Cetino, 32; and Erika Johnson, 43.