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Speaking during a moving bein hametzarim shiur, member of the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah Rav Yitzchok Zilberstein urged listeners to reflect on the tzaar haShechinah and shared remarkable personal memories from his youth in Yerushalayim during Israel’s War of Independence, describing open miracles that he says continue to strengthen his emunah to this day.

Addressing the challenge of mourning the destruction of the Bais HaMikdash nearly 2,000 years later, Rav Zilberstein asked, “People ask me, how is it possible to mourn something that happened 2,000 years ago? How can a person mourn today? Certainly one must cry, but how can a young bochur today cry over events that took place so long ago?”

He then recalled the well-known story of Napoleon passing a shul on Tishah B’Av and finding Jews sitting on the floor in mourning.

“As is well known, it is told that Emperor Napoleon passed by a shul on Tishah B’Av and saw people sitting on the floor crying. He asked what was happening, and they told him they were mourning the destruction of the Bais HaMikdash. He was amazed and said, ‘A nation that remembers for so long what it has lost is guaranteed to receive it back.'”

Rav Zilberstein explained that the tears shed during bein hametzarim are not only for the destruction itself, but for the pain of the Divine Presence.

“Everywhere you look during bein hametzarim, and on Tishah B’Av, you see talmidei chachamim sitting and crying with all their hearts. Why are they crying? They are crying over the tzaar haShechinah.”

He continued by describing the anguish caused when Jews act contrary to the will of Hashem despite the countless miracles bestowed upon them.

“Look, the Ribono Shel Olam has so much pain. He performs miracles for us that are completely beyond nature, and there are Jews who anger Him מאוד. What does that mean? They do exactly the opposite of what He wants—the opposite.”

“They imprison bnei Torah, and they do things that are the opposite of Hashem’s will. The Kadosh Baruch Hu cries very much. He says, ‘I perform such miracles for them, beyond the natural order, and this is how they behave’… It is truly terrible.”

Rav Zilberstein then reflected on his own childhood during the War of Independence, describing the extraordinary miracles he witnessed firsthand.

“I was a young boy when the State was declared. We lived in Yerushalayim. It was impossible to travel. Seven nations wanted to destroy us, and they were throwing bombs and shells. I was staying with my uncle—my parents were overseas because my mother was ill—and simply walking from my home to my uncle’s house was life-threatening. There was constant gunfire, yet all the children walked. Everyone went to daven.”

“We all stood there crying, ‘B’zochreinu es Tzion.’ We were young. How could we possibly travel back and forth? All of my friends from Yeshivas Etz Chaim went to yeshivah. How did they get there? They told us, ‘Nothing will happen.’ I don’t know whether it was permitted, but nobody asked questions.”

The senior posek also recalled asking his grandfather, the famed tzaddik Rav Aryeh Levin, about his regular visits to patients suffering from leprosy, and later discussing the matter with his father-in-law, Rav Yosef Shalom Elyashiv.

“Our grandfather, the great tzaddik Rav Aryeh Levin, as is well known, regularly visited people suffering from leprosy. I asked my father-in-law, the great posek hador, Rav Yosef Shalom Elyashiv, how that could have been permitted. Rav Elyashiv answered that generally the public is forbidden from doing so, but Rav Aryeh Levin was permitted… because everything he did was solely for Hashem, without any personal interest whatsoever, with only the honor of Heaven before his eyes.”

Returning to the war years, Rav Zilberstein marveled at the open miracles that protected the city’s residents.

“I don’t understand how we had the strength to walk to yeshivah and back. Seven nations were against us, all armed with tremendous military power. I don’t know how it happened, but one thing I do know—Baruch Hashem, nobody was killed. Everyone kept going. The bullets flew over our heads. Seven nations were against us, seven great and wealthy nations. It instilled tremendous emunah. The children kept walking without hesitation.”

“No one dreamed we would remain alive after everything that happened here. Seven nations were against us, and the Gedolei Yisroel greatly strengthened the people. Today, Baruch Hashem, we are here. These were miraculous miracles. I have never seen miracles like these.”

Concluding his remarks, Rav Zilberstein urged his listeners to recognize that the Jewish people continue to live under extraordinary Divine protection.

“So we must know, my dear friends, that we are living in a reality that is beyond the laws of nature by every measure. If someone had told us back then that one day we would all be sitting here together learning Torah, we would not have believed him… We would have felt like dreamers. We constantly witness the wonders of the Creator. It is beyond belief. Our responsibility now is to serve the Creator, blessed be His Name, with love, unity, and emunah.”

Despite mounting pressure on the Torah world and the ongoing challenges facing bnei Torah, this year’s enrollment season for Israel’s leading yeshivos is breaking records, with unprecedented demand driving historic growth. Ponovezh Yeshiva is expected to welcome approximately 450 new talmidim—the largest incoming class in its history—while Chevron Yeshiva is preparing to admit around 320. At the same time, Sephardic yeshivos continue to expand, even as roshei yeshiva struggle with severe shortages of dormitory space and classroom capacity.

Speaking on Kol Chai’s News of the Torah World program with Nati Kalish, journalist Efi Lerner said the remarkable growth comes at a time when many outsiders assume the Torah world is under strain.

“At a time like this, when people from the outside might think the Torah world is weakening, the exact opposite is happening,” Lerner said. “The Torah world is growing stronger than ever before.”

According to Lerner, one of the most difficult decisions facing roshei yeshiva each year is determining how many talmidim to accept. While a large applicant pool reflects a yeshiva’s reputation and prestige, physical limitations—including dormitory space, dining facilities, and the ability to provide personal attention to each bochur—force administrators to set limits.

Ponovezh, for example, is expected to accept roughly 450 new talmidim this year, a historic record. However, the yeshiva is simultaneously grappling with a severe housing shortage and is moving forward with plans to construct an additional dormitory. Other institutions have chosen a different approach. Yad Aharon, for instance, plans to admit only about 40 talmidim, allowing the roshei yeshiva to devote greater individual attention to each bochur.

Lerner noted that many yeshivos also consider the social makeup of their talmidim in addition to academic excellence. This year, Nesiv HaDaas (Kaplan) is seeking applicants with more energetic and outgoing personalities, while Mir Brachfeld is looking for talmidim with a more conservative temperament.

Chevron Yeshiva is expected to enroll approximately 320 new talmidim this year, representing a substantial increase over recent years. To accommodate the expansion, the yeshiva has added dormitory space, classrooms, and modifications to its bais medrash. Yeshivas Wolfson is projected to admit about 200 talmidim, while Shaarei Shmuos will welcome 112 new bochurim, bringing its total enrollment to roughly 650.

Lerner emphasized that the rapid growth is not limited to the Lithuanian yeshiva world. Sephardic yeshivos are also experiencing significant expansion and attracting increasing numbers of applicants each year.

Yeshivas Rechasim, which currently has approximately 800 talmidim, is expected to admit around 180 new talmidim. Other growing institutions include Me’or HaTorah, Yesodos, Be’er Yehudah, Beis Shmaya, and several additional yeshivos that continue to expand their enrollment.

“The bochurim who choose Sephardic yeshivos feel they are attending outstanding yeshivos,” Lerner said. “They do not feel like they are second-class.” He added that the growing variety of yeshivos and educational styles enables each talmid to find the environment best suited to his needs.

Addressing the admissions process itself, Lerner explained that entrance exams and acceptance notifications vary from one yeshiva to another. However, once the admissions decisions from Ponovezh and Chevron are finalized, “the entire market opens up again,” as talmidim who were not accepted into their first-choice yeshivos find places at other highly respected institutions.

He encouraged applicants not to become discouraged by a rejection.

“Even a bochur who happened to struggle on an entrance exam is not a less capable bochur,” Lerner said. “Many outstanding talmidim go on to other excellent yeshivos, where they continue to thrive and grow.”

According to Lerner, this year’s enrollment figures underscore a clear trend: despite the many challenges confronting the Torah world, the yeshiva system continues to expand at an extraordinary pace.

Israel’s coalition is facing renewed political turmoil as senior chareidi leaders are warning that any attempt to water down the proposed Basic Law recognizing the value of Torah study could shatter the coalition’s united right-wing bloc. The warning comes amid reports that some coalition members are pushing to reduce the legislation to a purely declarative measure, a move the chareidi parties say would violate agreements reached with Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu.

A senior chareidi official issued a blunt warning Tuesday evening, saying that if the understandings reached with Netanyahu are not fully honored, the political partnership cannot continue.

“What was agreed upon with Prime Minister Netanyahu will be carried out. If not, there is no bloc,” the official said.

The unusually sharp statement follows growing opposition within the coalition to advancing the Basic Law in its originally agreed-upon form. Chareidi leaders view efforts to make the legislation merely symbolic as a direct breach of the commitments made by the prime minister.

Two weeks ago, Shas chairman Aryeh Deri and United Torah Judaism chairman Moshe Gafni met with Netanyahu in his office to resolve tensions that had threatened the government’s stability. According to reports, the meeting produced an agreement intended to preserve the coalition and prevent the Knesset from dissolving. As part of those understandings, the sides agreed that the Basic Law on Torah study would advance in its full form rather than as a watered-down declaration.

Ames previously reported that the meeting concluded on a positive note, with Netanyahu, Deri, and Gafni reaching broad understandings on the future of the legislation. Those agreements reportedly included a commitment to promote the Basic Law as one of the foundational understandings between Likud and the chareidi parties.

Now, however, reports that coalition figures are attempting to soften the legislation have reignited tensions. Chareidi parties say such a move would violate the agreement and are warning of serious political consequences.

A political source familiar with the negotiations told Ames on Tuesday evening that the issue is non-negotiable for the chareidi parties.

“The chareidim will not give in on this. This is a matter of principle for them. They remained in the coalition based on these agreements,” the source said.

The dispute comes at a particularly delicate moment for the coalition, where even a single political crisis could have major consequences for upcoming Knesset votes.

For its part, the Prime Minister’s Office offered a very different assessment, telling Ames: “If the wording does not become declarative only—the law will not pass.”

That position would effectively mean the legislation could fail to secure enough support for passage, resulting in an embarrassing defeat for the coalition in the Knesset and potentially marking a bitter conclusion to what has already been a turbulent and politically challenging term.

Officials in both United Torah Judaism and Shas reiterated that they expect the government to uphold every aspect of the agreement reached with Netanyahu.

“We expect what was agreed upon to be honored,” party officials said.

{Matzav.com}

Rahm Emanuel, who is widely viewed as a potential Democratic presidential contender and has long been regarded as a strong supporter of Israel, is set to deliver a forceful speech in Tel Aviv this week criticizing Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and warning that the U.S.-Israel relationship is facing a critical turning point.

Speaking Wednesday at Tel Aviv University, Emanuel will argue that the longstanding alliance between the two countries cannot continue on its current trajectory.

“It cannot stand or survive as it has been,” Emanuel is expected to say. “To maintain the strength of our ties, we need significant changes and a new direction.”

In an interview before the address, Emanuel sharply criticized Israel’s conduct during the war that followed Hamas’ October 7, 2023, massacre. He accused Israel of being “reckless and careless in the treatment of Palestinian life — not only the military campaign but using food and medicine as an instrument of your military goals.”

When asked whether he believed Israel had committed genocide—an accusation rejected by both the Israeli and U.S. governments despite being advanced by some human rights groups—Emanuel declined to give a direct answer, arguing that such discussions should also encompass other major conflicts around the world.

“I’m ready to have that discussion,” he said, “but I don’t think it should be politicized, and then dilute the power of what genocide means.”

Emanuel’s speech and accompanying interview underscore the growing shift within the Democratic Party regarding Israel, nearly three years after the Gaza war began. While centrists like Emanuel have historically been among Israel’s strongest Democratic supporters, the party’s base has increasingly adopted a more critical posture.

A recent Associated Press-NORC survey found that 58% of Democrats now believe the United States is “too supportive” of Israel, compared with 45% in January 2024. Approximately half of Democratic respondents also said they believe Israel has committed genocide against Palestinians during the conflict with Hamas.

Among the policy proposals Emanuel plans to outline are sanctions targeting Israelis who attack Palestinian civilians or damage Palestinian property, as well as financial penalties against companies and banks that support Israeli communities in areas regarded by much of the international community as illegal settlements.

He will also call for ending direct U.S. subsidies to Israel’s defense budget, arguing that Israel “should be able to buy American arms under the same financial terms, the same restrictions, and the same requirements as every other trusted ally that abides by our laws.”

Emanuel also intends to place much of the blame for Israel’s current diplomatic position on Netanyahu, accusing the prime minister of steering the country toward what he describes as a political “dead end.”

“For too long, American policy toward Israel operated under the assumption that the best thing Washington could do for Jerusalem was to blindly and silently stand behind your government, without conditions, without demands, and without consequences when we disagreed,” Emanuel will say. “That has been our mistake. Unconditional support has produced a prime minister who has presumed that his strategic interests would incur no cost if he ignored America’s concerns.”

It is highly unusual for an American politician with apparent presidential ambitions to travel abroad and publicly criticize the leadership of a close U.S. ally so directly. Emanuel’s planned address reflects the growing willingness among Democratic leaders—even those from the party’s centrist wing—to publicly challenge longstanding U.S. policy toward Israel.

His remarks could draw a sharp response from Netanyahu, who has clashed with Emanuel in the past and once referred to him as a “self-hating Jew.” With Israeli elections approaching in October, Netanyahu could also seek to use the criticism to rally political support by portraying himself as standing firm against foreign pressure.

Emanuel, who arrived in Tel Aviv on Sunday ahead of the speech, said he deliberately avoided scheduling meetings with Israeli elected officials to prevent influencing Israel’s election campaign. Instead, he plans to visit a hospital that treats both Israelis and Palestinians and meet with the family of a hostage abducted during the October 7 Hamas attack.

The speech is also expected to serve as a signal to Democrats weighing presidential bids in 2028 as they navigate the political fallout from the Gaza war and Netanyahu’s increasingly close relationship with President Donald Trump. The conflict has reshaped political debate in both major parties, particularly among younger voters who have demanded a tougher American stance toward Israel, making the issue a likely point of contention in the next Democratic presidential primary.

Emanuel will argue that Netanyahu’s government has failed to pursue meaningful diplomatic efforts to end the war and warn that Israel’s international standing has deteriorated dramatically.

“Support for Israel is plummeting around the world,” he will aver.

“You’ve lost Europe,” he will say. “Your scientists face exclusion from international research networks. Your artists and academics are shut out of exhibits and conferences.”

Although Netanyahu has maintained strong ties with President Trump and Republican leaders, Democratic support for Israel has continued to decline. Emanuel’s portrayal of Israel’s growing diplomatic isolation echoes comments recently made by Vice President JD Vance, who argued that President Trump was “the only head of state in the entire world who is sympathetic to the nation of Israel at this moment in time.”

Despite his criticism, Emanuel’s address will also acknowledge Israel’s trauma following the October 7 Hamas attack, in which approximately 1,200 people were murdered and more than 250 others were taken hostage. He will also recognize the repeated failures of previous peace negotiations with Palestinian leaders.

“But even while acknowledging that history, the path forward cannot be held hostage to a past defined exclusively by recriminations,” he will say.

Rather than advocating the traditional two-state solution, Emanuel plans to promote what he calls a “23-state solution,” envisioning a regional agreement involving Israel, the Palestinians, and the 21 member states of the Arab League.

“The 21 Arab nations that have exploited Palestinian rights as a slogan for decades now need to roll up their sleeves and stand up a governing authority capable of accepting the historic Jewish connection to this land,” he will say.

Although no major Democrat has formally entered the 2028 presidential race, Emanuel is widely considered a possible candidate. The former White House chief of staff, congressman, Chicago mayor, and U.S. ambassador has spent much of the past three decades in public office and has recently increased his national profile through policy proposals, visits to early-voting states such as New Hampshire, podcast appearances, and an expanded presence on social media.

{Matzav.com}

A young Chassidic real estate developer from Brooklyn is reportedly in advanced negotiations to acquire Israeli airline Arkia, in what could become one of the most significant business deals involving an American chareidi investor in recent years. Sources close to the negotiations say the driving force behind the proposed acquisition is a desire to end the airline’s commercial operations on Shabbos.

The prospective buyer is Mr. Ezra Unger, a 36-year-old real estate entrepreneur from Brooklyn’s Borough Park neighborhood. News of the negotiations first circulated in American chareidi business circles before becoming a major topic of discussion throughout the chassidic community due to Unger’s prominent family background and remarkable personal story.

A member of the Vizhnitz-Kasheimish and Bobov-45 communities, Unger was raised in Monsey, where he studied in Vizhnitz yeshivos. After his marriage to the daughter of Rabbi Chaim Yaakov Frenkel of Rimanov, son-in-law of the Komarna Rebbe of Yerushalayim, the young couple initially settled in Yerushalayim.

Those who know Unger describe his rise in business as extraordinary. While learning in kollel as a young avreich, he struggled financially and sought ways to support his family. He began by selling baked goods to fellow avreichim in kollel, a modest venture that eventually revealed his natural talent for business.

He later entered the real estate brokerage field, where he attracted the confidence of early investors who backed his vision. From there, he expanded into New York’s highly competitive real estate market, rapidly building a successful business empire that now reportedly generates millions of dollars in transactions each month.

Now, Unger’s name has surfaced in connection with the potential acquisition of Arkia, one of Israel’s largest airlines. According to a relative who spoke with Kikar HaShabbos, the motivation behind the multimillion-dollar investment extends far beyond business considerations.

“R’ Ezra simply could not continue watching the current situation,” the relative said. “He was deeply pained by the widespread חילול שבת taking place in Israel’s airline industry, especially in full view of the pure children of Israel. His desire to create a completely kosher alternative is what pushed him to undertake this massive project.”

If the purchase is completed, Arkia would become what supporters describe as the world’s second-largest chareidi-owned airline, behind Challenge Airlines, which is owned by Belgian businessman Reb Yitzchok Ploch.

Many details surrounding the negotiations—including the purchase price, the company’s valuation, and the conditions under which the airline would operate with full Shabbos observance—remain confidential as discussions continue.

Arkia declined to comment on reports of the potential sale.

{Matzav.com}

Clashes broke out Tuesday night at the Yerushalayim light rail construction site in the Bar-Ilan area, where police and Border Police officers moved in to disperse a violent disturbance after rioters allegedly set fires, damaged infrastructure, and hurled rocks at security personnel. Two security guards were injured, and one suspect was arrested.

According to Israel Police, officers from the Yerushalayim District, together with Border Police forces, responded after demonstrators ignited fires along nearby roadways, vandalized infrastructure at the construction site, and refused repeated police orders to disperse.

To restore order and push the rioters away from the work zone, police deployed a water cannon, allowing security forces to regain control of the area and continue operations.

During the confrontation, rocks were thrown at security personnel, injuring two security guards. Police said a suspect believed to have participated in the rock throwing was taken into custody and transferred to the Lev HaBira police station for questioning.

Police said security forces remain deployed in the area to maintain public order. As of the latest update, all roads that had been temporarily closed during the unrest have been reopened to traffic.

{Matzav.com}

A dramatic new report claims Israel’s Mossad secretly carried out a covert medical operation that saved the life of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan several years ago, despite the Turkish leader’s increasingly hostile rhetoric toward Israel in recent years.

The extraordinary allegation was revealed during a Channel 14 broadcast by Avi Shushan, the former spokesperson for Tel Aviv’s Ichilov Hospital. According to Shushan, Israel’s intelligence service quietly arranged a highly sensitive medical mission after Erdogan became critically ill roughly seven years ago.

Shushan said the Turkish president was suffering from a serious but undisclosed medical condition that rapidly became life-threatening. He claimed Mossad dispatched a leading Israeli physician directly to Erdogan, where emergency treatment was administered that ultimately saved the Turkish leader’s life.

If accurate, the revelation would cast a remarkable light on relations between Israel and Ankara. Although Erdogan has repeatedly launched harsh public attacks against Israel and its government over the years, the report suggests that Israeli intelligence once played a decisive role in preserving his life.

The report surfaced as President Donald Trump arrived in Ankara for a high-profile security summit and held talks with Erdogan on a range of regional issues. The timing of the disclosure has fueled speculation over whether senior U.S. officials were ever informed of the alleged covert operation that, according to the report, kept the Turkish president alive.

Shushan’s account also echoes earlier media reports suggesting discreet medical cooperation between Israel and Turkey. In January 2022, media analyst Adir Yanko reported that Erdogan had received specialized medical consultation from Professor Yitzchok Shapiro, vice chief executive of Ichilov Hospital and a renowned cardiologist.

At the time, neither Ichilov Hospital nor Professor Shapiro commented on the report, and no details were released regarding the nature of the consultation or the medical condition involved. The latest claims have likewise not been independently verified, and no official confirmation has been issued by Israeli or Turkish authorities.

{Matzav.com}

In an unprecedented joint declaration, rabbanim from across the spectrum of Tzefas have issued a forceful public appeal demanding an end to the operation of public buses on Shabbos, warning that the new service constitutes a serious breach in the city’s longstanding commitment to kedushas Shabbos.

The statement, signed by a broad coalition of rabbanim and community leaders representing the city’s various kehillos and eidos, was released in response to the recent introduction of public transportation operating openly throughout Tzefas on Shabbos.

Expressing deep anguish over the development, the rabbanim opened their letter with the words, “We have heard the report, and the land trembled,” declaring, “For here in the holy city of Tzefas, public Shabbos desecration has taken place through the operation of public buses throughout the city on the holy day.”

The rabbanim stressed that such a development cannot be ignored and said every Jew with Torah values and yiras Shamayim has an obligation to protest.

“And it is clear that anyone who possesses even a trace of Torah and yiras Shamayim is obligated to stand up and cry out that such a thing cannot happen in our city, for how great is the public desecration of Shabbos.”

The letter goes on to call for complete unity among all segments of Tzefas’ religious community in confronting what the rabbanim describe as a threat to the city’s spiritual identity.

“And we, together with all the residents of the city, from all communities and backgrounds, are obligated at this time to stand together as one man with one heart and confront this breach in the walls protecting Shabbos, for the sake of the sanctity of our city and the sanctity of Shabbos, so that strangers not breach it. It is within our power to restore the das to its proper place.”

The rabbanim concluded with a direct appeal to government officials and those responsible for operating the transportation system, urging them to reverse the decision immediately.

“Therefore, we come with a plea and supplication to all those who have the ability to prevent these actions and stand in the breach to preserve Shabbos and restore the crown to its former glory, ensuring that Shabbos is fully observed as was the custom from ancient times in our city of Tzefas, all the more so in a city where kedoshei elyon and tzaddikei olam lived and dwelled.”

The proclamation ends with a blessing for those who join the effort to preserve the honor of Shabbos.

“And all those who assist and exert themselves in this matter should merit abundant blessings, both materially and spiritually, and every good thing, as the paytan says, ‘And to those who warn and those who heed, grant peace like a flowing river.’ Through the merit of guarding Shabbos, may we soon merit the eternal Geulah, amen.”

A lengthy Knesset committee debate over the proposed Basic Law: Torah Study ended Tuesday without a vote, as government legal advisers warned that the legislation’s current wording could have sweeping implications for government benefits, budgets, and the legal status of limud haTorah.

One of the most significant issues raised during the discussion was the possibility that the law could pave the way for the restoration of reduced National Insurance payments for bnei yeshivah—a benefit that was canceled in January following a High Court ruling. Roy Karet, a legal adviser to Israel’s National Insurance Institute, said passage of the Basic Law could lead to legal arguments that the benefit should be reinstated, at an estimated annual cost of approximately 100 million shekels.

Karet also pointed to possible ramifications involving income support. Under current regulations, students enrolled in institutions of higher education and bnei yeshivah are excluded from eligibility. He suggested that if limud haTorah receives constitutional status through a Basic Law, litigants could argue that its elevated legal standing supersedes the existing regulations.

Knesset Legal Adviser Sagit Afik cautioned that it remains unclear how the legislation would affect government policy in practice. She said that if lawmakers intend the bill to serve only as a declarative statement, its language should be revised to make clear that its purpose is simply to establish limud haTorah as a foundational national value.

Afik also warned that the legislation could eventually affect a range of existing government benefits. She said that once limud haTorah is granted constitutional status, there could be demands to extend additional benefits to Torah learners comparable to those provided to other groups, despite the fact that “the budgetary pie is limited.”

Legal representatives from the Defense, Labor, and Education ministries likewise expressed concern that the proposal’s wording is too vague. Officials from the Defense Ministry said it is impossible at this stage to determine whether the law could affect benefits for miluim soldiers. Meanwhile, the Education Ministry warned that if the legislation is interpreted as creating enforceable rights, it could trigger demands to allocate additional funding for Torah study at the expense of other educational programs.

Deputy Attorney General Avital Sompolinsky argued that granting constitutional status to limud haTorah could undermine the principle of equal sharing of national responsibilities. She added that the explanatory notes accompanying the legislation indicate that one of its purposes is to address court rulings related to the military draft.

MK Yossi Taieb of Shas rejected claims that the proposal would automatically lead to broad new government expenditures. He said the legislation is intended to provide the Torah world with a constitutional “umbrella” and to give the courts a framework for balancing competing legal principles.

“The wording is completely disconnected from any mechanism of equalizing rights,” Taieb said.

During the hearing, combat veterans and soldiers suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder renewed their demand to receive comparable recognition under the proposed law. Nadav Hirsch of the Combat Trauma Forum argued that the legislation discriminates against combat soldiers. MK Naor Shiri countered that including combat veterans in the Basic Law could ultimately backfire by reducing, rather than increasing, the resources allocated to them.

The committee concluded Tuesday’s session without reaching a final decision. Deliberations on the Basic Law: Torah Study, ahead of its second and third Knesset readings, are scheduled to resume Wednesday.

{Matzav.com}

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Israeli Prime Minister Binyomin Netanyahu reflected on his first meeting with the Lubavitcher Rebbe more than four decades ago, recounting how a longtime friend unexpectedly brought him to 770 on Erev Simchas Torah and encouraged him to approach the Rebbe.

Speaking on the podcast The Mojo of Ben Ben Baruch, Netanyahu said the memorable encounter took place approximately 42 years ago while he was serving as Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations.

“It was on Simchas Torah, I believe in 1984,” Netanyahu recalled. “I was serving as Israel’s ambassador to the U.N., and one day someone came to visit me claiming he knew me. He was dressed in black, like a chossid, you know, with a beard. I looked at him, and he said, ‘Bibi, don’t you recognize me? It’s Shmarya.'”

The visitor was Shmarya Harel, a friend from Netanyahu’s military service who had become baal teshuvah and a devoted Chabad chossid.

“He tells me,” Netanyahu continued, “‘Listen, tonight is Erev Simchas Torah. Come… let’s go to the Rebbe.'”

The two waited until the Rebbe entered the shul, when Harel urged Netanyahu to seize the opportunity.

“Then Shmarya says to me, ‘Bibi, now, now.’ I said to him, ‘Now what?’ He says, ‘Now, go to the Rebbe.’ I said, ‘But he’s… he’s busy.’ He says to me, ‘Go now!'”

Netanyahu described approaching the Rebbe with great awe and reverence.

“So, okay, I quietly went up onto the platform. I approached him b’dechilu u’rechimu. I gently tapped him on the… you know, on the shoulder—his right shoulder. I remember it to this day. He looked at me, and I said, ‘Rebbe, I came to see you.’ Then he looked at me and said, ‘Just to see? Not to talk?'”

The prime minister’s recollections were shared as part of a wide-ranging interview, portions of which have drawn attention online.

Later in the interview, Netanyahu was asked whether he has been following the soccer matches that have captivated fans around the world in recent weeks. Smiling, he replied, “That actually solved problems for me with Sara.”

{Matzav.com}

A Swiss court has convicted a Muslim teenager of attempted murder for carrying out a brutal antisemitic stabbing attack on a chareidi Jew in Zurich, but despite the conviction, the attacker may never spend time behind bars.

The judge sentenced the now-17-year-old to one year in prison after finding him guilty of attempted murder. However, the prison sentence was suspended so the teen can instead be placed in a rehabilitation and treatment facility, according to Swiss media reports. The judge also acquitted him of a separate charge alleging that he repeatedly made threats.

In his ruling, the judge declared, “Murdering Jews simply because they are Jews is an act devoid of conscience.”

The defendant’s attorney had urged the court to convict his client of attempted manslaughter rather than attempted murder and argued that he should also be acquitted of allegations that he intended to kill additional victims.

According to the evidence presented at trial, the teenager became radicalized following the October 7, 2023 Hamas massacre. By January 2024, investigators said he had begun searching online for information about ISIS, bomb-making techniques, and methods for carrying out terrorist attacks.

The attacker, who was 15 years old at the time of the assault, was charged in connection with the March 2, 2024 stabbing of a chareidi Jew in Zurich. Prosecutors also accused him of planning additional attacks on Jews. Because of Switzerland’s juvenile justice laws, the youth prosecutor’s office sought only a one-year prison sentence despite charging him with multiple counts of attempted murder.

During the proceedings, the judge sought to understand why the teenager had identified with the Islamic State terrorist organization (ISIS), how he planned the attack, and what he now thought about his victim. The defendant refused to answer any of those questions, responding only, “No comment.”

Because the teenager remained silent throughout the hearing, the court relied on statements he had made earlier in the investigation. According to those statements, he hoped police would kill him after the attack so he could die as a “martyr” and “go to paradise.”

The indictment states that after becoming radicalized, the teenager researched ISIS propaganda and instructions for building explosives online. He later purchased a knife, traveled to a synagogue in Zurich, and began livestreaming shortly before launching the attack. The livestream recorded audio but not video.

Prosecutors alleged that the attacker spent weeks planning “to kill as many Jews as possible.” They said he communicated online with another individual who shared his extremist views, exchanging information about manufacturing explosives and discussing methods of carrying out a mass-casualty attack.

After deciding that constructing a bomb would be too complicated, the teenager allegedly opted to carry out the attack with a knife instead. The day before the assault, he purchased a butcher knife at a Zurich shopping center. Investigators also discovered that he had searched social media asking, “What time do the Jews gather?” intending to target Jews while they were davening in a shul.

According to prosecutors, the victim was attacked from behind. The assailant repeatedly stabbed him, initially aiming for his head and neck before attempting to slit his throat. In all, the victim suffered 17 stab wounds.

Under Swiss law, an adult who seriously injures another person can face up to 10 years in prison, while a murder conviction can carry a life sentence. Because the attacker was only 15 at the time of the attack, however, prosecutors were legally barred from seeking a harsher punishment. The court does retain the authority to revoke the terrorist’s Swiss citizenship, which could lead to his deportation to his country of origin, Tunisia.

{Matzav.com}

[Video belows.] President Trump sharply criticized several of America’s NATO allies on Tuesday as he arrived in Turkey for the alliance’s annual summit, using the occasion to praise Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan while accusing key European nations of failing to stand with the United States when it mattered.

Trump received an elaborate state welcome upon landing in Ankara, where Erdoğan personally greeted him on the runway before a mounted horseback escort accompanied the presidential motorcade through the capital.

Speaking to reporters after arriving at Erdoğan’s presidential complex, Trump made clear that his respect for the Turkish leader was a major reason he chose to attend the summit.

“I was very disappointed with NATO, and frankly if [the summit] weren’t held in Turkey, where my friend happens to be a very strong leader… it’s possible that I wouldn’t have attended,” Trump said.

The president showered Erdoğan with praise while directing criticism at several of NATO’s most influential European members. After Air Force One touched down in Ankara, horsemen carrying both American and Turkish flags rode alongside the presidential limousine as it traveled toward the palace.

During the welcoming ceremony, Trump even greeted the Turkish honor guard in their own language, offering a phrase meaning “hello, soldiers,” before walking past historical reenactors dressed in period military uniforms and displaying weapons from different eras of Turkish history.

Erdoğan, visibly emphasizing his warm relationship with the American president, held onto Trump’s arm while escorting him across a bright blue ceremonial carpet. The Turkish leader has been seeking to strengthen ties with Washington, including efforts to revive sales of F-35 fighter jets and reinforce Turkey’s standing as one of America’s closest regional partners.

Trump credited Turkey for its role during the recent confrontation with Iran, but sharply criticized Britain, Germany, France, and Italy, accusing them of refusing to allow their bases to be used in strikes against Iran and of failing to assist efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. He complained that “we weren’t treated well.”

“We didn’t need any help at all and in a way I was testing people. I was testing to see whether or not they’d be there,” the president added, referencing the issue just months after warning that the United States could reconsider its commitment to NATO.

“Italy turned us down, and Germany turned us down, and France turned us down. And that’s OK. But why are we spending hundreds of billions of dollars and they’re not there for us? We’ve always been there for them.”

Despite Trump’s harsh rhetoric, it remains uncertain how his frustrations will influence discussions at the NATO summit. According to U.S. officials, one of his primary objectives is to push alliance members to significantly increase defense spending by making last year’s proposed target of 5% of GDP a binding commitment.

While taking questions from reporters, Trump also revived his longstanding call for the United States to take control of Greenland, suggesting that Washington could even reconsider its military presence across Europe if its concerns continue to be ignored.

“Well, that’s what hurt my relationship with NATO,” the president said of the controversy.

Trump argued that Greenland holds enormous strategic value for the United States while questioning Denmark’s stewardship of the territory.

“Greenland doesn’t help Denmark, Denmark doesn’t really spend money to help Greenland, but it’s an important part for the United States. And it’s surrounded by Chinese ships and Russian ships,” he said. “That should be controlled by the United States, not by Denmark.

“And when they wouldn’t go along with it, and with all the money we spend to help them with Russia — and we don’t have to spend any money, we could remove all of our soldiers out of Europe, because as you probably noticed, Europe is a very different place than it was 20 years ago,” Trump added.

The president concluded with another warning to European governments, arguing that their policies on immigration and energy threaten the continent’s future.

“And they better be careful with immigration and energy — if they aren’t careful with those two things, you’re not going to have a Europe anymore.”

{Matzav.com}

Shin Bet Director David Zini acknowledged Tuesday that he accepted the position because he has a clear vision he hopes to advance, saying he believes one of his greatest qualifications is his ability to remain loyal to Israel’s elected leadership. His remarks, delivered at an event earlier in the day and later released by the Shin Bet after recordings aired on i24News, sparked fierce political backlash from both supporters and critics.

“I have worldviews that I want to advance. That is my responsibility, and that is my job,” Zini said, explaining why he agreed to become head of Israel’s domestic security agency.

Zini insisted he is not “a puppet that moves with the wind,” saying he considered himself particularly suited for the role because of his willingness to faithfully serve whichever government is elected.

For the first time, Zini also described how Prime Minister Binyomin Netanyahu approached him about taking over the Shin Bet, despite his long-held opposition to appointing leaders from outside the organization.

“When the Prime Minister asked me if I was willing to become head of the Shin Bet, anyone here who knows me knows that for many years I opposed people who came without going through the trenches,” he said, referring to his transition from the IDF to the Shin Bet.

“On the face of it, I should have told him—I am not qualified. But I told him yes. I immediately told him he has people inside the service who are better than I am, so why not choose one of them? But I told him I could take on the mission. And the reason I agreed was because the area in which I felt I was highly qualified, perhaps more than many others, was the ability to be loyal to the elected leadership, regardless of its views. Tomorrow it could be someone else.”

In another video recorded at Tuesday’s event, Zini elaborated on his philosophy of leadership.

“I have an internal engine, I have worldviews, I am not a puppet that moves with the wind. I have an agenda, I want to advance it, that is my responsibility. That is my role. I need to be the locomotive. But at the same time, I must be humble before the elected officials, and I can become the last car on the train in a second—just tell me where we’re going.”

When audience members applauded, Zini stopped them.

“We don’t need to applaud trivial things. Look at our situation. To say that it’s nighttime now and start applauding—that’s not it.”

Reflecting on his participation in Israel’s security cabinet during the war, Zini praised the country’s resilience while criticizing what he described as dysfunction within the government bureaucracy.

“I look at the war, I sit in the cabinet, I look at how ministries contribute to the war effort, and I tell you—it is a miracle. The elected leadership doesn’t really have the ability to manage the systems for which it is responsible because people have become confused about what their role is. Ministers can issue directives, and it can take eight months before they are implemented. A servant who becomes king. It is a serious illness that must be treated.”

Zini also took aim at Israel’s legal system and what he characterized as an excessive focus on procedure at the expense of common sense.

“Look how many lawyers we have. They create monsters that harm human rights, individual rights, growth, the economy, prosperity, national security—every direction you want. They often use human rights, individual rights—’nonsense dressed up.’ They harm and trample people in the name of procedures and regulations. Often they are not bad people. Please sign on to common sense before anything else.”

He later clarified that his criticism was not directed at the judicial system itself.

“With all due respect and appreciation for lawyers and legal experts, they are a tool,” he said. As applause broke out again, he responded, “Friends, don’t take it there. A country without a strong legal system is a destroyed country. It’s not that I don’t have criticism, but that’s not the issue.”

Zini added that some of the failures leading up to the October 7 massacre stemmed from this same mindset.

“We confused the essence with technical details. Someone who understands the essence and believes in it cares even more about the small details. And someone who doesn’t care about the small details probably doesn’t really care about the big things either.”

The comments immediately triggered a political firestorm.

National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir defended Zini, saying, “Finally, the head of a senior security organization has said the most basic thing in a democratic state,” adding that the Shin Bet chief is subordinate to Israel’s elected leadership. Ben Gvir also rebuked Zini’s critics, telling him, “Do not fear, David, do not fear!”

Opposition leader Yair Golan, chairman of The Democrats party, sharply condemned the remarks, calling Zini’s comments “one of the most dangerous statements ever heard.” Golan argued that the head of the Shin Bet must be loyal only to the State of Israel and the law, warning that loyalty to political leaders—especially during an election period—could transform the agency into a tool for preserving those in power. He concluded with a warning: “Anyone who confuses loyalty to the state with loyalty to politicians will not remain in office for even one day.”

MK Naama Lazimi also blasted Zini, asserting that “the judicial coup is already deep inside the Shin Bet.” She described his comments as an existential threat to Israeli democracy and national security, warning of potential harm to the integrity of future elections if the head of the country’s domestic intelligence agency advances the government’s agenda. She concluded, “Anyone who is prepared to sell the country’s security in order to please the ruler should be sent home.”

{Matzav.com}

A stormy Knesset committee session discussing the proposed Basic Law: Torah Study erupted into a tense confrontation Tuesday after a former school principal criticized the chareidi community’s role during the war, prompting a sharp response from a Shas lawmaker.

Rabbi Yirmi Stavisky, the former principal of Yerushalayim’s Himmelfarb High School, delivered an emotional address during the hearing, speaking about the devastating personal losses he has suffered since the war began. Rabbi Stavisky said he lost his son-in-law as well as 11 former students and urged greater integration of the chareidi community into broader Israeli society.

Reflecting on the many levayos he has attended since the outbreak of the war, Stavisky questioned why bnei yeshivah from the chareidi community had not come to console grieving families.

“I ask why the public across from us did not at least come to the funerals of our graduates,” he said, explaining that he had hoped members of the chareidi community would come to show solidarity with families who had lost loved ones.

Stavisky also argued that too many young men are steered toward lifelong limud haTorah even when that path may not be appropriate for them.

“There are people who want to acquire a profession and become part of society but are unable to do so within the existing framework,” he said, stressing that they are “good and worthy people.”

He continued by saying, “The State of Israel can survive only if haredi society is part of it. It is a strong community, and there are worthy people there.”

His remarks drew an immediate interruption from MK Yosef Taieb of Shas, who objected strongly to the criticism directed at the chareidi community.

“When you want to integrate them, not when you want to make them less worthy. I have four brothers in the army-don’t tell me stories,” Taieb shouted toward lawmakers who challenged his response.

As tensions mounted, Taieb maintained that any effort to integrate the chareidi public must not come at the expense of its Torah way of life. During the exchange, he accused Stavisky of being “arrogant and insolent.”

Other members of the committee attempted to restore order and urged Taieb to allow Stavisky to complete his remarks, but the Shas MK stood by his criticism, declaring, “An arrogant and insolent man. I heard very well what he said.”

After the contentious hearing, Taieb released a statement defending both his comments and his record.

“I respect and appreciate IDF soldiers,” he said. “As I stated today in the committee, I and four of my brothers served in combat units. One of my brothers suffers from PTSD. I participated in dozens of military funerals and condolence visits, some for soldiers whom I knew personally. No one can preach to me about military service or appreciation for our soldiers and fallen heroes. When he spoke about his son-in-law, I explicitly said that I appreciate and respect him.”

Taieb concluded by saying, “With all due respect, there is a limit. I could not sit quietly and listen to him speaking on and on in an arrogant and patronizing way toward the haredi sector and lecturing us about changing our way of life and our faith.”

The U.S. military carried out a new round of strikes against Iran early Wednesday, escalating tensions just hours after three commercial vessels were struck by projectiles in the Strait of Hormuz off the coast of Oman.

The latest exchange of military action threatens to unravel the fragile interim agreement reached between Washington and Tehran last month, with both sides accusing the other of violating the ceasefire. The renewed hostilities also complicate ongoing negotiations aimed at reopening the strategic waterway, rolling back Iran’s controversial nuclear program, and securing a permanent end to the conflict that began on February 28.

In a statement released on social media, U.S. Central Command said the operation was intended to respond directly to Iran’s attacks on civilian maritime traffic.

American forces launched the strikes, the statement said, “to impose heavy costs for targeting and attacking commercial shipping crewed by innocent civilians in an international waterway.”

The command added, “Iran’s demonstrated aggression was unwarranted, dangerous, and a clear violation of the ceasefire.”

The latest confrontation follows a similar cycle of Iranian attacks on commercial shipping and subsequent U.S. retaliatory strikes that took place late last month.

The military action also came only hours after three merchant tankers were struck by projectiles in the Strait of Hormuz and after Washington announced it was revoking a license that had permitted Iranian oil sales under the interim agreement designed to halt the fighting between the United States and Iran.

Fresh reports from colleagues and associates indicate that Sen. Mitch McConnell is alert, engaged, and actively discussing national issues by phone, directly contradicting recent claims circulating online that he had been declared “brain dead.”

CNN commentator Scott Jennings revealed Tuesday that he spoke with McConnell, whom he described as an “old friend,” for nearly 20 minutes while the Kentucky senator continues recovering in the hospital.

Jennings wrote, “I spoke to my old friend Mitch McConnell this morning, the senior Senator from Kentucky. He’s still recovering in the hospital. We talked for just shy of 20 minutes … about IRAN, UKRAINE, the unfolding situation in MAINE, my visit to the TR Presidential Library, and even a little bit of Senate history.”

He added, “I told him we want to see him back at work as soon as possible.”

A spokesperson for Senate Majority Leader John Thune also confirmed that Thune held an extensive phone conversation with McConnell on Monday. According to the spokesperson, the two had a lengthy and “substantive conversation” covering several issues, including national security.

Those accounts stand in sharp contrast to allegations made Monday by conservative activist Laura Loomer and journalist Desiree Townsend, who both asserted that McConnell had been declared “brain dead,” though neither cited specific sources. McConnell’s office quickly rejected the claims, insisting they were false and emphasizing that the senator’s condition continues to improve.

“Senator McConnell appreciates the outpouring of support he’s receiving while he continues his recovery in the hospital,” a spokesperson told Breitbart News. “The Senator continues to improve and is working closely with his staff on Kentucky and Senate matters while the Senate is out of session.”

McConnell has remained hospitalized since June 14, although officials have not disclosed the exact nature of his medical condition. In recent years, the 84-year-old senator has experienced several falls, suffered a concussion, and twice drew national attention after freezing unexpectedly while speaking at a podium.

Meanwhile, McConnell’s hospitalization has drawn additional scrutiny because his wife, former U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao, traveled to Beijing just three days after he was admitted to the hospital. During the visit, Chao, who has longstanding ties to China, met with Chinese Vice President Han Zheng, a trip that raised questions in some political circles.

A 37-story high-rise in Midtown Manhattan remained structurally unstable Tuesday after key support columns began buckling, prompting a massive emergency response and the evacuation of the building along with several neighboring properties as engineers raced to prevent a possible collapse.

The building, located near Grand Central Terminal, was cleared shortly after 8 a.m. when two structural support columns on the 21st floor began to fail, raising immediate concerns about the tower’s stability.

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and other city officials briefed reporters at the scene Tuesday afternoon, warning that the danger had not yet passed.

“The building remains unstable,” Mamdani said, adding that “since we have been on site in the early morning, we have seen continued shift of the structure.”

Calling the situation extremely dangerous, the mayor praised first responders and members of the public for their swift response.

“This is an extremely serious situation, and I am thankful to our first responders for quickly arriving at the site, and to New Yorkers for reacting calmly and with urgency,” the mayor said.

Fire Commissioner officials explained that because the tower’s structural frame is made of steel, engineers currently believe any failure would likely result in a localized collapse rather than the entire building coming down.

Mamdani said city engineers are working to stabilize the compromised portion of the structure before more extensive repairs can begin.

“They are working to develop plans to shore up the impacted floor. He said that if the floor is deemed to be secure, engineers will enter and begin shoring up the building as we await the arrival of materials that will stabilize the building.”

The mayor cautioned that conditions remain fluid and emphasized that officials are monitoring the situation continuously.

“I want to be honest with New Yorkers that this is a fast-developing situation,” Mamdani said. “We are taking it minute by minute, and I appreciate our city workers who have been on the forefront of that.”

According to two sources familiar with the investigation who spoke to NBC New York, the structure had shown no additional movement since approximately noon Tuesday.

A six-member team consisting of personnel from the New York City Fire Department, the Department of Buildings, and the building’s contractor later entered the tower to determine whether stabilization efforts could safely begin.

Authorities have also established a large security perimeter around the site. The mayor announced that police have closed East 40th through East 45th Streets between First and Third Avenues, an area located just blocks from landmarks including the New York Public Library, Bryant Park, and Times Square.

As the response expanded throughout the day, officials ordered the evacuation of seven neighboring buildings in addition to the compromised tower.

Among those forced to evacuate was Helder Pereira, whose office building was cleared late Tuesday morning. He said he and his coworkers had to descend 32 flights of stairs to reach safety.

“‘I need to get out of here really quick because I don’t know if the neighboring buildings are collapsing or not,'” Pereira recalled thinking. “It was a bit scary.”

Mamdani said city officials will continue communicating with residents and businesses affected by the evacuation as new information becomes available, while urging the public to avoid the area. Pereira said he had not yet received any direct communication from city officials.

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul also addressed the emergency, writing on X that the state “stands ready to provide any assistance needed” and encouraging people to stay away from the affected neighborhood.

The building at the center of the emergency formerly served as Pfizer’s global headquarters and is currently undergoing conversion into a 1,500-unit luxury apartment complex. The city’s Department of Buildings confirmed that construction work was being performed under a valid active permit.

The New York City Fire Department said the first emergency call came shortly after 8 a.m. reporting bricks falling from the building at 235 East 42nd Street, between Second and Third Avenues. Less than 15 minutes later, the NYPD received a 911 call regarding the same incident.

When officers arrived, construction workers reported that they had witnessed support columns on the 21st floor beginning to buckle. Video recorded by one of the workers from inside the building showed severely deformed steel columns at the affected level.

Officials said no injuries were reported, and all construction workers were safely accounted for. Authorities have not disclosed how many workers were inside the building when the structural problems first emerged.

{Matzav.com}