Feed aggregator

Sen. John Fetterman slammed the New York Times on Tuesday for promoting Hamas propaganda after the newspaper published an interview with Khaled Meshal, a senior official of the terrorist organization. The article, headlined “Hamas is surviving war in Israel. Now it hopes to thrive in Gaza again,” featured insights from a two-hour interview with Meshal in Doha, Qatar. The Times reported Meshal’s claim that Hamas “is winning the war and will play a decisive role in Gaza’s future,” despite Israel’s efforts to eliminate the group responsible for the October 7 attacks that killed 1,200 people. Meshal said that Hamas was not in a rush for a ceasefire and would not relinquish its demands for an end to the war and Israeli withdrawal. Fetterman took to social media to rebuke the Times for giving a platform to one of Hamas’ most senior leaders. “No idea why NYT would platform this propaganda from a terrorist. Undoubtedly, Israel will hold him accountable,” Fetterman wrote on X. “Hamas is no different than WWII Nazis and I fully support Israel’s commitment to neutralize them.” The Times article highlighted that the U.S. has accused Meshal and other Hamas leaders of orchestrating the October 7 attacks. Despite this, the report included Meshal’s assertion that Hamas “has the upper hand” and has brought Israel into “a state of attrition.” Meshal also suggested that President Joe Biden’s shifting stance—from supporting Hamas’ destruction to advocating for a ceasefire—indicated a “practical recognition” of the group. He dismissed alternatives proposed by Israel and the U.S. for administering Gaza without Hamas, claiming that such proposals were unrealistic. The article acknowledged that many in Gaza have criticized Hamas for the October 7 massacre, which ignited a full-scale war. However, Meshal dismissed these critics, calling them a minority, and defended the group’s actions, saying the destruction caused was a necessary “price” for Palestinian freedom. “As a Palestinian, my responsibility is to fight and resist until liberation,” Meshal told the Times. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

The Federal Reserve cut interest rates Wednesday by a half-point, turning the page on an era of dangerously high inflation and marking a major shift at the central bank that could bring relief for households and businesses alike.

The rate cut, announced at the end of the Fed’s two-day policy meeting, marks the first time officials trimmed borrowing costs since the pandemic’s early days. And while officials were practically guaranteed to cut rates this week, it was unclear how aggressively they were going to move.

The Fed’s benchmark rate now sits between 4.75 and 5 percent.

At 2:30 p.m., Fed Chair Jerome H. Powell will appear at what will be a closely watched news conference. He’ll be pressed for a diagnosis of the job market, and on whether he thinks Fed policy is responsible for the recent pullback in hiring. Powell will also probably get questions on how much Fed officials expect to lower rates in the coming years to get to a more “neutral” setting, where policy isn’t stifling the economy or pumping it up.

Officials at the central bank have shifted their attention from high inflation to a slowing job market, mindful that they have fallen behind the curve before. In 2021, Fed leaders thought rising inflation would be a temporary blip of the covid economy – only to be proved wrong, which led them to rush to hoist interest rates at the fastest pace in decades. Now, the fear is that people could quickly lose their jobs and the unemployment rate could climb further if the Fed delays much more.

“We do not seek or welcome further cooling in labor market conditions,” Powell said in his most important speech of the year at the Jackson Hole Economic Symposium last month.

This week’s decision came at an especially consequential time ahead of the presidential election. The Fed closely guards its independence from politics, and officials go to great lengths to stick to their mandate of stable prices and full employment. But a rate cut of any size gives some juice to the economy as Vice President Kamala Harris and former president Donald Trump are pitching their economic visions to voters. The Fed is also widely expected to cut rates again at its next meeting, in November – the week of the election.

The Fed’s deliberate, at-times sluggish approach had economists expecting a quarter-point cut. But in the past few days, financial markets leaned more toward a half-point move, especially after August inflation data showed continued progress toward the Fed’s 2 percent target. (According to the Fed’s preferred inflation gauge, prices were up 2.5 percent in July.)

Momentum on inflation meant that for much of the year, officials have talked about a balance of risks: If they cut rates too soon, they run the risk of inflation creeping back up. Or if they wait for total assurance that inflation is cruising to normal levels, they could unnecessarily hurt the job market.

A recent string of data made those hypothetical scenarios more real. July jobs numbers came in way below expectations, and while August’s figures were more in line with expectations, the unemployment rate remains above 4 percent. Big revisions to government data also showed hiring was much slower than previously understood in 2023 and early 2024. That all has prompted Fed officials to change their tune.

“In light of the considerable and ongoing progress toward the [Fed’s] 2 percent inflation goal, I believe that the balance of risks has shifted toward the employment side of our dual mandate, and that monetary policy needs to adjust accordingly,” Fed governor Christopher Waller said in a speech earlier this month.

Some in Washington called for the Fed to go even further. On Monday, three Democratic senators – Elizabeth Warren (Mass.), Sheldon Whitehouse (R.I.) and John Hickenlooper (Colo.) – called for a three-quarter-point cut, arguing Powell’s “delays have threatened the economy and left the Fed behind the curve.” While Warren and others started urging for cuts long before Fed officials were ready, such a big move is incredibly rare outside emergency situations.

(c) Washington Post

The U.N. General Assembly strongly supported a nonbinding Palestinian resolution Wednesday demanding that Israel end its “unlawful presence” in Gaza and the West Bank within a year. The vote in the 193-member world body was 124-14, with 43 abstentions. Among those in opposition was the United States, Israel’s closest ally. The resolution was adopted as Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza approaches its first anniversary and as violence in the West Bank reaches new highs. Troubled efforts to broker a cease-fire deal in Gaza and are pressing ahead, with Secretary of State Antony Blinken meeting fellow mediators Wednesday in Egypt, even as attacks elsewhere in the region raise fears of escalating conflict in the Middle East. Riyad Mansour, the Palestinian U.N. ambassador, called the vote a turning point “in our struggle for freedom and justice.” “It sends a clear message that Israel’s occupation must end as soon as possible and that the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination must be realized,” he said. Israel’s U.N. Ambassador, Danny Danon, slammed the vote as “a shameful decision that backs the Palestinian Authority’s diplomatic terrorism.” “Instead of marking the anniversary of the Oct. 7 massacre by condemning Hamas and calling for the release of all 101 of the remaining hostages, the General Assembly continues to dance to the music of the Palestinian Authority, which backs the Hamas murderers,” Danon said. While the resolution is not legally binding, the extent of its support reflects world opinion. There are no vetoes in the General Assembly, unlike in the 15-member Security Council. The resolution also demands the withdrawal of all Israeli forces and the evacuation of settlers from Palestinian territories “without delay.” And it urges countries to impose sanctions on those responsible for maintaining Israel’s presence in the territories and halt arms exports to Israel if they’re suspected of being used there. In addition, the resolution calls for Israel to pay reparations to Palestinians for the damage caused by its presence and urges countries to take steps to prevent trade or investments that maintain Israel’s presence in the territories. It comes in response to a ruling by the top United Nations court in July that said Israel’s presence in the Palestinian territories is unlawful and must end. In the sweeping condemnation of Israel’s rule over the lands it captured during the 1967 war, the International Court of Justice said Israel had no right to sovereignty over the Palestinian territories and was violating international laws against acquiring the lands by force. The court’s opinion also is not legally binding. Nonetheless, the Palestinians drafted the resolution to try to implement the ruling. The General Assembly’s consideration of the resolution began Tuesday with Mansour stressing that any country that thinks the Palestinian people “will accept a life of servitude” — or that claims peace is possible without a just solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict — is “not being realistic.” The solution remains an independent Palestinian state based on the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital, living side by side in peace and security with Israel, he said – which Israel has previously offered, and was rejected by the Palestinians. U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Linda Thomas Greenfield told reporters Tuesday that the resolution has “a significant number of flaws.” She said it goes beyond the ICJ ruling and […]

Determined to thwart the automating of their jobs, about 45,000 dockworkers along the U.S. East and Gulf Coasts are threatening to strike on Oct. 1, a move that would shut down ports that handle about half the nation’s cargo from ships. The International Longshoremen’s Union is demanding significantly higher wages and a total ban on the automation of cranes, gates and container movements that are used in the loading or loading of freight at 36 U.S. ports. Whenever and however the dispute is resolved, it’s likely to affect how freight moves in and out of the United States for years to come. If a strike were resolved within a few weeks, consumers probably wouldn’t notice any major shortages of retail goods. But a strike that persists for more than a month would likely cause a shortage of some consumer products, although most holiday retail goods have already arrived from overseas. A prolonged strike would almost certainly hurt the U.S. economy. Even a brief strike would cause disruptions. Heavier vehicular traffic would be likely at key points around the country as cargo was diverted to West Coast ports, where workers belong to a different union not involved in the strike. And once the longshoremen’s union eventually returned to work, a ship backlog would likely result. For every day of a port strike, experts say it takes four to six days to clear it up. “I think everyone’s a bit nervous about it,” said Mia Ginter, director of North America ocean shipping for C.H. Robinson, a logistics firm. “The rhetoric this time with the ILA is at a level we haven’t seen before.” The longshoremen’s union and the United States Maritime Alliance, which represents the ports, haven’t met to negotiate since June, when the union said it suspended national talks to first complete local port agreements. No further national contract talks have been scheduled. Harold Daggett, the union president, warned earlier this month that the longshoremen stood ready to strike once their contract expires on Sept. 30. “We are very far apart,” Daggett said. “Mark my words, we’ll shut them down Oct. 1 if we don’t get the kind of wages we deserve.” Top-scale port workers now earn a base pay of $39 an hour, or just over $81,000 a year. But with overtime and other benefits, some can make in excess of $200,000 annually. Neither the union nor the ports would discuss pay levels. But a 2019-2020 report by the Waterfront Commission, which oversees New York Harbor, said about a third of the longshoremen based there made $200,000 or more. Daggett contends, though, that higher-paid longshoremen work up to 100 hours a week, most of it overtime, and sacrifice much of their family time in doing so. The Maritime Alliance has said it’s committed to resuming talks and avoiding the first national longshoremen’s strike since 1977. It has accused the union of having already decided in advance to walk off the job. “We need to sit down and negotiate a new agreement that avoids an unnecessary and costly strike that will be detrimental to both sides,” the alliance said in a statement. In the case of a short-lived strike, industry experts say consumers wouldn’t likely notice shortages of store goods during the holiday shopping season. Most retailers had goods transported ahead […]

According to Lebanon’s health ministry, nine individuals have lost their lives and over 300 others have sustained injuries following a series of walkie-talkie explosions that occurred throughout the country this afternoon.

Senator Bernie Sanders is working on a series of resolutions that aim to block over $20 billion in U.S. arms sales to Israel, a bold move that, while unlikely to succeed, marks the strongest opposition from Congress regarding the destruction in Gaza. This comes ahead of the first anniversary of the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas.

In a letter addressed to fellow senators on Wednesday, Sanders emphasized that the U.S. cannot be “complicit in this humanitarian disaster.” His actions would prompt a vote to halt arms sales to Israel, though it is improbable that a majority would support it. “Much of this carnage in Gaza has been carried out with U.S.-provided military equipment,” Sanders, an independent from Vermont, stated.

As the conflict approaches its second year and with President Joe Biden’s attempts to negotiate a cease-fire and secure the release of hostages still uncertain, Sanders’ resolutions aim to curb Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s offensive on Gaza. The war has claimed around 41,000 lives in Gaza following Hamas’s surprise attack on October 7, which killed approximately 1,200 Israelis and led to the abduction of 250 people, with militants still holding around 100 hostages.

Though the divided Senate is unlikely to pass the measures, Sanders’ effort seeks to signal to Netanyahu’s government that its military actions are undermining the historically strong bipartisan support for Israel in the U.S. Sanders mentioned that he is coordinating with other colleagues on these initiatives.

Several prominent Senate Democrats have urged the Biden administration to take steps to end the conflict between Israel and Hamas, with particular concern for the humanitarian catastrophe unfolding in Gaza, where countless homes, hospitals, schools, and entire Palestinian families have been devastated.

The resolutions proposed by Sanders would stop sales of missile systems, tank ammunition, and other weapons, some of which have been identified as responsible for some of the most extreme devastation in Gaza. New fighter jets are also included in the halt. Earlier this year, Congress had already temporarily delayed certain arms sales to Israel, as legislators expressed concern over the escalating death toll.

Earlier this year, Netanyahu addressed the U.S. Congress after being invited by House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Republican. His confrontational speech highlighted the growing rift in the U.S. over his military campaign. Several Democrats chose to boycott the address, and many leading Democratic figures openly criticized the tone and message of Netanyahu’s speech.

According to Senate rules, once Sanders presents his resolutions next week, he can quickly trigger a vote to consider the measures. These proposals take the form of a joint resolution of disapproval regarding the arms sales, a tool that grants Congress the ability to oversee international dealings.

Although Sanders believes he will gather some support for his resolutions, they are unlikely to achieve the 51 votes required to pass in the Senate. In the House, where Republicans hold a majority and generally support Netanyahu’s strategy against Hamas, the chances of stopping the arms sales are even slimmer.

{Matzav.com}

[COMMUNICATED]

Three kedoshei elyon had one common concept when it came to learning Torah – they were the Ohr Hachaim Hakadosh (Rabbi Chaim ibn Attar 1696-1743) when he came to Eretz Yisroel; the Ramchal (Rabbi Moshe Chaim Luzzatto 1707-1746) when he lived in Padua, Italy;  and Hagaon, Harav Chaim Volozhiner, (1749-1821) the famous talmid of the Gaon of Vilna.

They each had a yeshiva with ‘around-the-clock’ Torah learning, 24-hours a day, so that there would be no minute when the sound of Torah learning would not be heard in this world. The 24-hour period would be divided into shifts, and as one ended the next would begin.

Torah-24

A “Torah-24” Center has been opened in Yerushalayim and the Nasi is Maran Sar Hatorah, Harav Chaim Kanievsky, zt”l.

Under ONE ROOF, from 6:00 am – 6:00 am, 10 kollelim fill successive learning shifts. Each kollel focuses on a specific area of in-depth Torah study. The “Torah-24” Kollelim include: Boker (Gemora), Yerushalmi, Bavli, Zeraim-Taharot, Dalet Chelkei Shulchan Aruch, Erev (Gemora), Chatzos- Zohar/Kabbolah, Erev Shabbos (Chumash / Medrash b’iyun). 

Already there are 52 avreichim metzuyonim, and a large number of candidates are vying for the remaining slots in the kollelim. All the avreichim are required to take rigorous monthly tests.

Endorsements & Letters

Endorsements include Maranan Hagaonim shlit”a: Harav Gershon Edelstein, Harav Berel Povarsky, Harav Shimon Badani, Harav Dovid Cohen, Harav Boruch Mordechai Ezrachi, Harav Chaim Feinstein, Harav Shimon Galai, Harav Shraga Shteinman.

Letters of support-encouragement have been received from Maranan Hagaonim, shlit”a: Hamekubal Harav David Bazri, Hamashpia Hagadol Reb Elimelech Biderman, Hamekubal Harav Yaakov Meir Schechter, Harav Moishe Sternbuch, Harav Yitzchak Tuvia Weiss.

For more “Torah-24” information click on: www.torah-24.com or call 718-766-5022

Defense Minister Yoav Gallant says Israel’s focus has moved to the northern front as a “new phase” of the war is beginning. Gallant made the comments while visiting the Ramat David airbase. Excerpts from the Minister’s remarks: “The ‘center of gravity’ is moving north, meaning that we are allocating forces, resources and energy for the northern arena. We have not forgotten the hostages and we have not forgotten our missions in the south – we are committed to our duties, and we are carrying them out simultaneously.” “Operations are carried out by all the security organizations and our task is clear – ensuring the safe return of Israel’s northern residents to their homes.” “If we look at the current picture – the IDF has made excellent achievements, together with the ISA and the Mossad – the results of their work are impressive. We know how important it is at this time to carry out our activities in close cooperation. We are fully coordinated and united in our determination to achieve our goals: the Prime Minister, the IDF Chief of the General Staff, ISA Director, Mossad Director and Minister of Defense. Everything they represent, everything is dedicated to a single goal – the return of the residents [of the north to their homes].” “I believe that we are at the start of a new phase in the war and we must adapt. This is true for everyone, certainly for those who are in the air or controlling what happens in the air – because the position here is stronger – it’s not Hamas. This is something else and we need to prepare for this accordingly and take it into account.” “We must remain consistent over time – this war requires great courage, determination and perseverance. Thank you for everything you do. We are going to complete our missions on all fronts. You have the duty, but also the privilege to take a part in this effort.” (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Yesterday, Israeli Intelligence cleared for publication that former Defense Minister and Chief of Staff Moshe (Bogie) Ya’alon
was targeted by Hezbollah in an assassination attempt last year.

On Rosh Hashanah last year, a bomb exploded in Yarkon Park in Tel Aviv. Investigations into the explosion led to the arrest of 8 suspects, who placed a claymore bomb in the part in an attempt to assassinate the former Israeli Defense leader.

Reacting to the news, Ya’alon said: “It’s not the first time someone has tried to kill me.”

The news of the attempted assassination of Ya’alon comes as the ISA cleared for publication that it had prevented an assassination attempt by Hezbollah, targeting a former Defense official. This second assassination attempt also used a claymore bomb, this time attached to a remotely operated device with a cellphone camera, so it could be remotely detonated by Hezbollah from within Lebanon.

{Matzav.com}

The Federal Reserve has cut its benchmark interest rate from its 23-year high, with consequences for debt, savings, auto loans, mortgages and other forms of borrowing by consumers and businesses. On Wednesday, the Fed announced that it reduced its key rate by an unusually large half-percentage point, to between 4.75 and 5 percent, the first rate cut in more than four years. The central bank is acting because, after imposing 11 rate hikes dating back to March 2022, it feels confident that inflation is finally mild enough that it can begin to ease the cost of borrowing. At the same time, the Fed has grown more concerned about the health of the job market. Lower rates would help support the pace of hiring and keep unemployment down. “Recent indicators suggest that economic activity has continued to expand at a solid pace,” the Fed said in a statement. “Job gains have slowed, and the unemployment rate has moved up but remains low. Inflation has made further progress.” More Fed rate cuts are expected in the coming months, with the steepness of the reductions dependent on the direction of inflation and job growth. What do the Fed’s rate cuts mean for savers? Although taking action now to try to capitalize on lower rates, like shifting money out of a certificate of deposit or refinancing a mortgage, “might be warranted for some, you shouldn’t feel obligated to completely change up your financial strategy just because rates move lower,” said Jacob Channel, a senior economist at LendingTree. “Act cautiously and responsibly,” Channel said, “and don’t make any rash decisions based on a single Fed meeting or economic report.” Eventually, yields for savers will decline as the Fed lowers its benchmark rate. “As attractive as yields on savings instruments have recently been, it’s wise not to hold too much in cash because these are short-term instruments and their yields are ephemeral,” said Christine Benz, director of personal finance at Morningstar. “The really great yields that we’ve had recently may go lower.” If you don’t have a need for cash right away, you can continue to lock in what are “still pretty decent yields on offer,” she said. In that case, “longer-term certificates of deposit might make sense.” “Lower interest rates make it harder to maximize savings and preserve the capital built while interest rates have been higher,” said Matt Brannon, a personal finance expert at MarketWatch guides. “An easy short-term move to protect your savings is to shift your funds into a high-yield savings account, which offers higher interest rates than traditional savings accounts… These types of savings accounts will still help you to preserve capital due to comparatively higher interest rates.” How will the rate cuts affect credit card debt and other borrowing? “While lower rates are certainly a good thing for those struggling with debt, the truth is that this one rate cut isn’t really going to make much of a difference for most people,” said Matt Schulz, a credit analyst at LendingTree. That said, the Fed’s declining benchmark rate will eventually mean better rates for borrowers, many of whom are facing some of the highest credit card interest rates in decades. The average interest rate is 23.18% for new offers and 21.51% for existing accounts, according to WalletHub’s August Credit Card Landscape Report. Still, […]

The Federal Reserve on Wednesday cut its benchmark interest rate by an unusually large half-point, a dramatic shift after more than two years of high rates helped tame inflation but that also made borrowing painfully expensive for American consumers. The rate cut, the Fed’s first in more than four years, reflects its new focus on bolstering the job market, which has shown clear signs of slowing. Coming just weeks before the presidential election, the Fed’s move also has the potential to scramble the economic landscape just as Americans prepare to vote. The central bank’s action lowered its key rate to roughly 4.8%, down from a two-decade high of 5.3%, where it had stood for 14 months as it struggled to curb the worst inflation streak in four decades. Inflation has tumbled from a peak of 9.1% in mid-2022 to a three-year low of 2.5% in August, not far above the Fed’s 2% target. The Fed’s policymakers also signaled that they expect to cut their key rate by an additional half-point in their final two meetings this year, in November and December. And they envision four more rate cuts in 2025 and two in 2026. In a statement, the Fed came closer than it has before to declaring victory over inflation: It said it “has gained greater confidence that inflation is moving sustainably toward 2%.” Though the central bank now believes inflation is largely defeated, many Americans remain upset with still-high prices for groceries, gas, rent and other necessities. Former President Donald Trump blames the Biden-Harris administration for sparking an inflationary surge. Vice President Kamala Harris, in turn, has charged that Trump’s promise to slap tariffs on all imports would raise prices for consumers even further. Rate cuts by the Fed should, over time, lower borrowing costs for mortgages, auto loans and credit cards, boosting Americans’ finances and supporting more spending and growth. Homeowners will be able to refinance mortgages at lower rates, saving on monthly payments, and even shift credit card debt to lower-cost personal loans or home equity lines. Businesses may also borrow and invest more. Average mortgage rates have already dropped to an 18-month low of 6.2%, according to Freddie Mac, spurring a jump in demand for refinancings. The Fed’s next policy meeting is Nov. 6-7 — immediately after the presidential election. By cutting rates this week, soon before the election, the Fed is risking attacks from Trump, who has argued that lowering rates now amounts to political interference. Yet Politico has reported that even some key Senate Republicans who were interviewed have expressed support for a Fed rate cut this week. The central bank’s officials fought against high inflation by raising their key rate 11 times in 2022 and 2023. Wage growth has since slowed, removing a potential source of inflationary pressure. And oil and gas prices are falling, a sign that inflation should continue to cool in the months ahead. Consumers are also pushing back against high prices, forcing such companies as Target and McDonald’s to dangle deals and discounts. Yet after several years of strong job growth, employers have slowed hiring, and the unemployment rate has risen nearly a full percentage point from its half-century low in April 2023 to a still-low 4.2%. Once unemployment rises that much, it tends to keep climbing. Fed officials […]

More than 100 wildfires stretched thousands of firefighters to the limit in northern Portugal on Wednesday, with seven deaths since the worst spate of fires in recent years spread out of control over the weekend. Portuguese Prime Minister Luís Montenegro declared a state of calamity for the hardest-hit areas late on Tuesday, invoking powers to mobilize more firefighters and civil servants. He also called on police investigators to redouble their efforts to find those who started the fires and pledged help for those who have lost their homes or have been evacuated. “We are well aware that these difficult hours are not over yet,” Montenegro told the nation in a televised address. “We have to continue to give everything we have and ask for help from our partners and friends so that we can reinforce the protection of our people and property.” The European Copernicus satellite service said that over 15,000 hectares (37,000 acres) had been scorched and a combined 13 kilometers (8 miles) of fire fronts had been detected as on Tuesday night. It added that an area home to 210,000 people was exposed to the fire risk. The hot, dry conditions behind the outbreaks in Portugal coincided this week with flooding in central Europe. The European Union said Wednesday that the juxtaposed extreme weather phenomena are proof of a “climate breakdown. ” Fellow European Union members Spain, France, Italy and Greece have committed two water-dropping aircraft each to help Portuguese firefighters. Spain’s military is also sending 240 soldiers and vehicles from its emergency response battalions specialized in combating fires to its neighbor. Thick grey smoke and the smell of burnt wood reached some 85 kilometers across the border into northwest Spain. Montenegro made a special call for security forces to pursue both arsonists and any individuals who started a fire out of negligence. Portuguese national police said that they have arrested seven men suspected of having started wildfires in recent days. Authorities have prohibited the use of heavy farming equipment to reduce the risk of inadvertently starting a blaze. Among the hardest hit areas is the district of Aveiro, south of the northern city of Porto, but several major blazes were also raging out of control in other wooded areas. Authorities have yet to release figures for property damage or the number of evacuees, but Portuguese state broadcaster RTP has shown charred houses in rural villages and local residents trying to battle flames with buckets of water, hoses, and even large tree branches. Other televised images showed visibility reduced to a few meters as orange smoke enveloped the terrain. Three firefighters died in their vehicle on Tuesday, while another had succumbed to what authorities called a “sudden illness” while on duty over the weekend. Three civilians have also perished, according to civil protection authorities. Portugal was devasted by massive fires in 2017 that killed over 120 people. Experts link the fires to both climate change and the abandonment of traditional farming and forestry professions that helped keep rural areas clear of underbrush that is now fuel for fires. (AP)

Former President Donald Trump has declared that anyone involved in voter fraud during this year’s election will face “the fullest extent of the Law” once he returns to the White House.

Trump, who is the Republican candidate for president, is competing against Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic candidate, in the November 5 election that will determine who will assume the presidency in January.

The ex-president, who has claimed that President Joe Biden’s win in the 2020 election was tainted by fraud in key battleground states, stated that he and many others will be closely monitoring this year’s election.

“CEASE & DESIST: I, together with many Attorneys and Legal Scholars, am watching the Sanctity of the 2024 Presidential Election very closely because I know, better than most, the rampant Cheating and Skullduggery that has taken place by the Democrats in the 2020 Presidential Election,” Trump wrote on Truth Social on Tuesday.

“It was a Disgrace to our Nation! Therefore, the 2024 Election, where Votes have just started being cast, will be under the closest professional scrutiny and, WHEN I WIN, those people that CHEATED will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the Law, which will include long term prison sentences so that this Depravity of Justice does not happen again.”

Trump further stated: “We cannot let our Country further devolve into a Third World Nation, AND WE WON’T! Please beware that this legal exposure extends to Lawyers, Political Operatives, Donors, Illegal Voters, & Corrupt Election Officials. Those involved in unscrupulous behavior will be sought out, caught, and prosecuted at levels, unfortunately, never seen before in our Country.”

The initial mail ballots for the general election were distributed on Wednesday, following a debate between Trump and Harris. Early in-person voting is scheduled to begin as early as Friday in certain states.

Typically, the first set of mail ballots is sent to military and overseas voters. Federal regulations require this to be completed at least 45 days before the election, which falls on September 21 this year.

State and local election officials have raised concerns about potential issues with the country’s mail delivery system, warning that it might disenfranchise voters in the upcoming presidential election and informing the U.S. Postal Service that longstanding problems remain unresolved.

{Matzav.com}

Some 3,000 Hezbollah terrorists in Lebanon were seriously injured after pagers used for communication exploded. A Hezbollah spokesperson said it was the “biggest security breach yet.” Hezbollah claimed that the pagers were blown up by Israel. Here is analysis from Andrew Marr.

WATCH:

A Chinese aircraft carrier entered an area near Japan’s shores for the first time on Wednesday, leading Tokyo to convey its “serious concerns” to Beijing over China’s increasingly assertive military actions around Japan, officials said. The Chinese carrier Liaoning, accompanied by two destroyers, sailed between Japan’s westernmost island of Yonaguni and nearby Iriomote, entering the country’s co-called “contiguous zone,” the Defense Ministry said. That’s an area of sea beyond a country’s territorial waters in which it can still exercise some control over maritime traffic, reaching up to 24 nautical miles offshore. The Liaoning’s transit was part of a fleet movement Tuesday and Wednesday, during which Chinese warships also passed off the western coast of the disputed Japanese-controlled islets it calls the Senkakus, the ministry said. China claims the same islets, calling them the Diaoyus. Japan’s Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Hiroshi Moriya told reporters that “the latest incident is absolutely unacceptable from the perspective of the national and regional security.” Last month, Japan said that a Chinese Y-9 reconnaissance airplane violated Japanese airspace. Days later, a Chinese survey ship breached the Japanese territorial water just off the southern prefecture of Kagoshima. Moriya said the Japanese government expressed “our serious concerns” to China through diplomatic channels on Wednesday. “China has increasingly expanded and intensified military activities around Japan in recent years,” Moriya said. “We will continue to closely watch Chinese warships’ activity around Japan and the regional waters while ensuring information gathering and vigilance.” In Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian defended the activity of his country’s warships, saying it “complies with China’s domestic laws and international laws.” Tokyo had reinforced defenses in southwestern Japan, including remote islands that are considered key to Japan’s defense strategy in the region. The Soviet-built Liaoning underwent extensive refurbishing before being commissioned in 2012 as China’s first aircraft carrier. The country now has two more aircraft carriers, including one fully designed and built in China. (AP)

[COMMUNICATED]

Standing at the precipice of despair, your world crumbles beneath your feet. The whispers of darkness grow louder, drowning out any flicker of hope. This is the reality for countless individuals in our community—people grappling with the suffocating weight of mental health crises, addiction, trauma, and abuse. In these moments of utter darkness, when all seems lost, there’s one beacon that refuses to let the light go out: Amudim.Amudim: Not a Helpline, A Lifeline

Amudim isn’t just an organization; it’s a constant presence, a lifeline that reaches into the abyss, grasping firmly to pull you back from the brink. When someone reaches out—voice trembling, spirit broken—they’re not met with cold statistics or impersonal advice. They’re embraced by a dedicated clinical case manager who becomes their unwavering ally in the fight for their life and hope for their future.

Saving Lives, Every Case, Every day.

For Amudim’s case managers, each ring of the phone is a new challenge, a new opportunity to make a difference. These dedicated professionals are more than just trained experts; they’re companions, confidants, and guides. They’re there every step of the way, providing support, important resources, and a listening ear.

Meet Sarah, an Amudim case manager. Last month, she received a call from a young mother contemplating suicide. Sarah didn’t just talk her off the ledge; she became the ledge—a solid foundation of support that lasted well beyond that harrowing night. For weeks, Sarah was there, guiding not just the mother but her entire family through the turbulent waters of recovery, one day at a time.

Take David’s story. Trapped in the merciless grip of addiction, he had lost his job, his family, and nearly his will to live. His Amudim case manager, Michael, didn’t just point him towards rehab—he walked every step of the journey with him. From late-night crisis calls to accompanying him to court dates, Michael was the constant presence that reminded David that he was worth fighting for.

A Network of Support

Amudim’s impact extends far beyond individual cases. With case managers stationed in communities across 66 countries, they’re a network of support that’s always within reach. 

Amudim is on the case to prevent crises and build stronger communities. Through education and awareness, they aim for prevention and to create our world as a place where lifesaving support for those struggling with mental health, abuse, addiction and trauma is easily obtainable. With thousands of new cases a year,  our annual campaign is the lifeblood of our organization, fueling our ability to assign case workers to each person in need and to serve our people.

The Power of You

Now, imagine yourself standing not at the edge of that abyss, but at the precipice of change. The work Amudim does is monumental, but they can’t do it alone. It takes Amudim. It takes their tireless case managers. And it takes you—yes, you—to make miracles happen.

Your support isn’t just a donation; it’s a lifeline thrown to someone drowning in despair. It’s the difference between a child lost to addiction and a family reunited. It’s the whisper of hope in the darkest hour that says, “You are not alone.”

Get on The Case

The time to act is now. Will you answer the call? Will you stand with Amudim and declare that in our community, no one fights alone?

Your support can help save lives, every case, every day. It can be the hand that pulls someone back from the brink, the voice that breaks through the silence of suffering, the light that pierces the darkest night.

Amudim is On the Case- By their side, every day; Our case managers are giving them the strength to stand again.

With thousands of new cases a year, our annual campaign is the lifeblood of our organization, fueling our ability to assign case workers to each person in need and to serve our people.

It’s a case of life and death.  Of helplessness or hope.

And you can be part of the deciding factor.

Get on the Case Today.

Showcasing the Best of Amudim

September 22- 23

Join us for 

36 HOURS OF ENTERTAINMENT AS WE RAISE ESSENTIAL FUNDS!

UNITETOHEAL.COM

Senior gedolei Torah in Eretz Yisroel—Rav Meir Tzvi Bergman, Rosh Yeshivas Rashbi; Rav Dov Landau, Rosh Yeshivas Slabodka; Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch, Rosh Yeshivas Slabodka; Rav Aviezer Piltz, Rosh Yeshivas Tifrach; Rav Chaim Feinstein, Rosh Yeshivas Ateres Shlomo; and Rav Dovid Cohen, Rosh Yeshivas Chevron—have written special letters to kehillos in the United States, calling on them to join an upcoming tefillah gathering against the draft decree in Eretz Yisroel.

Earlier today, Matzav.com shared a poster containing the names of American rebbes and roshei yeshivas calling for an atzeres tefillah. As mentioned, both Satmar factions will unite, with both brothers, the two Satmar Rebbes, Rav Aharon Teitelbaum and Rav Zalman Leib Teitelbaum, participating together in the rally, whose date and location have not yet been announced.

Now, the gedolei Torah of Eretz Yisroel have joined in calling for participation in the rally.

In his letter, Rav Meir Tzvi Bergman writes, “To my dear brothers and friends, the Torah community and yeshiva students in the Diaspora of America, God-fearing and God-honoring individuals, and every Jew. The terrifying warning of my father-in-law, Rabbeinu HaGadol, the Avi Ezri zt”l, is already well known, that the decree of drafting yeshiva students is a decree of spiritual annihilation and religious coercion. This is a matter of ‘Yeihareg v’al ya’avor’ (one must be killed rather than transgress), as explicitly stated in the laws of Kiddush Hashem in Shulchan Aruch Yoreh De’ah. He asked that this be publicized in his name. Every Jew is obligated to do everything in their power to save the nation, lest they be among those who did not come to the aid of God among the mighty.”

In his letter, the Rosh HaYeshiva addresses the yeshiva students who refuse to appear at the draft offices: “All of Klal Yisroel should honor and elevate the yeshiva students in the Holy Land, the mighty warriors standing on the front lines of the battle, who do not report and do not cooperate at all with the military authorities.”

Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch wrote: “From the mountains of Tzion comes the call that to our deep sorrow, in recent times, the hand of those who fight against our holy Torah and the preservation of Judaism in the Holy Land has intensified. They do not recognize that our nation is a nation only by virtue of its Torah, as Rav Saadia Gaon said. They pursue and impose harsh decrees on yeshiva students and kollel scholars, uprooting them from the study halls and severing them from the source of life, burdening their families and threatening the survival of the yeshivas, which are the foundation of the Jewish home, so that they may falter, and the honor of the Torah and its scholars is brought to the dust.

“Therefore, it is of great importance and benefit to raise a loud and unified cry of protest from all the communities in their places of residence across the globe, to raise the banner of our faith in the Torah and its scholars, to frighten and protest against their evil schemes, and to call a rally in the public square to pour out prayers and supplications, so that the decree is removed from the sanctuaries of our lives—the Torah institutions and their students.”

In their letter, Rav Aviezer Pilz, Rav Chaim Feinstein, and Rav Dovid Cohen write: “We are raising a cry from the sanctuary of Hashem in Tzion to those who fear Hashem and tremble at His word regarding the hand of the wicked that has been raised against the Torah scholars, the precious yeshiva students and kollel scholars. With force and coercion, they work to uproot them from the tents of Torah, sever them from the source of life, and throw them into the abyss. They also burden the families of the Torah scholars and the survival of the yeshivas and kollelim, so that they may falter, and the honor of the Torah is brought low.

“Our brethren in the Diaspora, wherever they dwell, come to the aid of Hashem among the mighty in their fight for the foundations of the Jewish home. Raise the banner and proclaim that our nation is a nation only by virtue of its Torah. Torah scholars are the purpose of creation, its crown, and its splendor, and all their evil schemes will not succeed. Raise your voices, cry out, and rally in the public square, stand by your brothers, for this will greatly benefit the success of this existential struggle for the soul of the Jewish home. We pray before the Giver of the Torah that the path of the wicked will not succeed, and their schemes will not come to fruition, and we will merit to see the return of Hashem to Tzion, like precious stones shining with splendor, speedily in our days.”

{Matzav.com Israel}

Rav Yehoshua Abba Busel will deliver his first shiur klali today at Bais Medrash Govoah in Lakewood, NJ.

This shiur klali marks the second instance of the next generation of yeshiva leadership, specifically the sons or sons-in-law of the current roshei yeshiva, delivering such a shiur. The first was when Rav Aharon Olshin delivered a shiur klali last zeman.

The shiur klali is scheduled to take place at 12:45 p.m.

This shiur klali serves as a form of hachtarah for Rav Busel, as he has assumed the title of “R”M” at the yeshiva.

Rav Busel’s wife, Miriam Golda, is a daughter of Rav Yisroel Neuman , rosh yeshiva of Bais Medrash Govoah in Lakewood, NJ,

He is a son of Rav Yaakov Busel zt”l, the late rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Rabbeinu Yaakov Yosef of Edison, NJ. He is a grandson of Rav Boruch Sorotzkin zt”l, rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Telshe Cleveland.

Rav Busel also serves as rov of the High Street Shul in Lakewood.

Bais Medrash Govoah is famously led by four roshei yeshiva: Rav Aryeh Malkiel Kotler, Rav Yeruchem Olshin, Rav Dovid Schustal, and Rav Yisroel Neuman. Rav Kotler is a son of the rosh yeshiva Rav Shneur Kotler and a grandson of the yeshiva’s founder, Rav Aharon Kotler. Rav Schustal is a son-in-law of Rav Shneur Kotler. Rav Olshin and Rav Neuman are both sons-in-law of Rav Dov Schwartzman, who, in turn, was a son-in-law of Rav Aharon Kotler.

{Matzav.com}

Presidential candidates typically focus much of their travel on battleground states, but Donald Trump on Wednesday is taking his message to a somewhat unlikely place: suburban New York. The Republican presidential nominee and former president is heading to Uniondale, on Long Island, an area that could be key to his party maintaining control of the House. His party is trying to protect 18 Republicans in Democratic-heavy congressional districts that Joe Biden carried in 2020, particularly in coastal New York and California, and going on offense to challenge Democrats elsewhere. Long Island in particular features one of the most closely watched races, between first-term Republican Rep. Anthony D’Esposito and Democrat Laura Gillen. D’Esposito is a former New York Police detective who won in 2022 in a district that Biden won by about 15 percentage points in 2020. Trump posted Tuesday on his Truth Social platform that the GOP has “a real chance of winning” New York “for the first time in many decades.” In that same post, Trump also pledged that he would “get SALT back,” suggesting he would eliminate a cap on state and local tax deductions that were part of tax cut legislation he signed into law in 2017. The so-called SALT cap has led to bigger tax bills for many residents of New York, New Jersey, California and other high-cost, high-tax states, and is an important campaign issue in those states, particularly among those New York Republicans serving in districts Biden won. On the Democratic side of the campaign, Vice President Kamala Harris is expected to speak at the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute’s 47th Annual Leadership Conference in Washington on Wednesday, and has trips planned later in the week to Michigan and Wisconsin. Latino voters form a critical bloc in swing states such as Arizona, Nevada and Pennsylvania. Speaking on the Nueva Network this week with the personality known as “Chiquibaby,” Harris promoted her proposed tax deductions for new small businesses, her experience prosecuting border cases as California attorney general and her support for offering a “pathway to citizenship for those who have earned it.” On Tuesday, the vice president sat for an interview in Philadelphia with members of the National Association of Black Journalists. She decried Trump’s rhetoric and said voters should make sure he “can’t have that microphone again.” Trump is attempting to return to his campaign cadence after Sunday’s apparent assassination attempt as he golfed in Florida. On Tuesday, he traveled to Flint, Michigan, and has not appeared to alter plans for upcoming trips to the nation’s capital and North Carolina later in the week. His running mate, Ohio Sen. JD Vance, is scheduled to hold an event in Raleigh, North Carolina, on Wednesday. (AP)