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Concern spread among the Torah world following reports of a slight weakness experienced by the senior posek, Rav Moshe Sternbuch. The situation prompted tefillos at the conclusion of the winter zeman in his yeshiva, even as those close to the Rav emphasized that his daily סדרי הלימוד and קבלת קהל are continuing as usual, and that there is no unusual cause for alarm.

According to those in his inner circle, the concern was fueled by circulating rumors, which led many talmidim and admirers to worry about his condition. However, clear messages have been issued from his home seeking to calm the tzibbur and clarify that his routine has largely remained unchanged.

When someone reached out overnight to inquire about the Rav’s well-being in light of the ציבור’s concern, during the call, the gabbai noted that the Rav had already retired for the night, but at that very moment, the Rav awoke and overheard the conversation.

When the gabbai informed him that a young man was asking about his health out of concern, the Rav responded briefly in Yiddish: “We need rachamim.”

The ציבור is urged to daven for the refuah sheleimah of Rav Moshe ben Devorah.

In an official message, it was clarified that a tefillah gathering scheduled for Thursday evening in the Sanhedria neighborhood was not an emergency assembly, but rather a regular weekly tefillah attended by family members.

The Vizhnitzer Rebbe of Bnei Brak, Rav Yisroel Hager, will remain in Munich for Shabbos following a successful medical procedure earlier this week, despite initial plans for him to return to Eretz Yisroel before the weekend.

The Rebbe underwent treatment on Tuesday at a hospital in Munich, Germany, and had been expected to travel back home ahead of Shabbos. However, after further consultation with his doctors on Thursday, it was decided that he would remain in Germany for several additional days to rest and recover.

Arrangements have been made for the Rebbe to spend Shabbos in a private apartment that was secured for him in Munich. He is expected to return to Eretz Yisroel sometime next week, in time for the yahrtzeit of his grandfather, the Vizhnitzer Rebbe, the Imrei Chaim.

Due to the ongoing war and widespread flight cancellations, it has not been possible for chassidim from Eretz Yisroel to travel to Munich. As a result, local bochurim affiliated with the nearby Chabad House are expected to join the Rebbe for tefillos in order to ensure a minyan.

At present, the only family member accompanying the Rebbe is his grandson, Rav Lipa Hager, son of the Av Beis Din of Kiryat Vizhnitz, who is overseeing the Rebbe’s medical care.

As previously reported, doctors have expressed strong satisfaction with the success of the procedure. Within Vizhnitzer circles, preparations are already underway to mark the Rebbe’s full recovery, alongside continued tefillos for his complete and speedy return to health.

New polling released Thursday night indicates shifting dynamics within Israel’s political landscape, with Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu widening his lead, Naftali Bennett losing ground, and Gadi Eisenkot gaining traction. At the same time, a separate survey presents a sharply different picture of the political map. Despite the shifting numbers, most of the public reports satisfaction with the progress of the war, particularly among those with immediate access to protected spaces.

A Channel 12 News poll published Thursday points to movement within the various political blocs, though the overall balance between them remains unchanged. The data shows Likud gaining two seats, Bennett’s party dropping by one, and Eisenkot picking up an additional mandate.

According to the survey, Likud stands at 28 seats, while Bennett’s party holds 20. The Democrats, led by Yair Golan, receive 12 seats, and Yisrael Beiteinu, under Avigdor Lieberman, comes in with 9. Shas and United Torah Judaism register 9 and 7 seats respectively, while Otzma Yehudit, led by Itamar Ben Gvir, holds 7. Yesh Atid, under Yair Lapid, is at 6, and both Hadash-Ta’al and Ra’am receive 5 seats each.

Several parties fall below the electoral threshold, including Religious Zionism led by Bezalel Smotrich with 2.3%, Blue and White under Benny Gantz with 1.7%, the Reservists party led by Yoaz Hendel with 1.7%, and Balad under Sami Abu Shehadeh with 0.7%.

While the bloc breakdown remains stable, the personal leadership question shows a notable shift. Netanyahu has opened his widest lead in two years over Bennett in terms of suitability for prime minister. In addition, Bennett is no longer the leading opposition candidate for the role, with Eisenkot now taking that position.

The poll also found that a large majority of Israelis are satisfied with the country’s performance in the war. Another finding highlights a connection between personal security and satisfaction levels. Political analyst Amit Segal summarized this relationship, saying, “As the shelter gets closer to the bedroom, the level of satisfaction with the war increases.” The implication, he noted, is not particularly surprising.

A separate Channel 14 News poll, conducted by Shlomo Filber among 754 respondents, presents a dramatically different political outlook. According to that survey, the right-wing bloc commands 66 seats, compared to 42 for the left and 12 for Arab parties.

In that poll’s seat distribution, Likud receives 36 mandates, the Joint List 12, Eisenkot’s “Yashar” party 11, Shas and Bennett’s party 10 each, the Democrats and United Torah Judaism 9 each, Yisrael Beiteinu 8, and Otzma Yehudit 7. Yesh Atid and Religious Zionism each receive 4 seats, while Blue and White fails to cross the electoral threshold.

On the question of suitability for prime minister in the Channel 14 survey, Netanyahu leads by a wide margin with 58%, followed by Eisenkot at 17% and Bennett at 16%. Lieberman and Lapid each receive 4%, while Benny Gantz registers 1%.

{Matzav.com}

Amid ongoing security tensions and major disruptions to international air travel, a dramatic logistical operation was launched to bring dozens of kosher slaughter teams back to Israel from South America in time for Pesach, following a directive from a leading rabbinic authority.

The decision was made by Rav Shlomo Machpud, a member of the Moetzet Chachmei HaTorah and head of the Badatz Yoreh De’ah kashrus organization, who ordered the creation of a special airlift to ensure that no member of the shechitah teams would be left stranded abroad for the Yom Tov.

Under normal circumstances, the weeks leading up to Nissan represent the busiest period in the kosher meat industry, with large quantities of meat prepared for distribution to hundreds of thousands of families in Israel. Shechitah operations typically run around the clock in South America to meet the demand.

This year, however, the war and widespread flight disruptions turned routine operations into a complex logistical challenge. Dozens of kashrus personnel working across Uruguay, Paraguay, Argentina, Brazil, and Chile faced growing uncertainty about how they would return home as Pesach approached, with flights being canceled and air travel systems under heavy strain.

Faced with this dilemma, Badatz leadership considered two difficult options: either halt shechitah operations early and attempt to return the teams via indirect routes—risking shortages in meat supply—or continue working and risk leaving dozens of staff members overseas for Pesach, separated from their families.

The matter was brought before Rav Machpud, who, after reviewing the situation, rejected both options and instead charted a third course. He instructed that a dedicated aircraft be chartered to collect all team members and transport them safely back to Israel.

The initiative, which carries a cost estimated in the hundreds of thousands of dollars, was accompanied by a clear directive that the expense should not be passed on to the public and that the Yom Tov of the workers must not be compromised. “The responsibility is to bring each person home,” the rav emphasized.

Once the decision was made, the Badatz headquarters effectively became a command center coordinating the operation. A plane was secured and positioned in Madrid, chosen as a central hub for connecting flights from South America. Teams began making their way there via complex travel routes, with careful coordination to ensure timing and logistics aligned. Accommodations were arranged in nearby hotels to allow the workers to rest while awaiting departure.

In a further step reflecting responsibility toward the broader kashrus world, instructions were given that if space remained on the flight, priority would be extended to kashrus personnel from other organizations who were also stranded abroad. In addition, contingency plans were put in place for those unable to reach Madrid in time, arranging for them to spend Pesach within the Jewish community of Gibraltar under proper conditions.

Overseeing the operation on the ground is Dayan Rav Binayahu Machpud, son of the Gaavad and head of overseas shechitah operations, who is personally managing the coordination to ensure that each team member’s needs are addressed swiftly and efficiently.

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) filed three joint resolutions of disapproval on Thursday targeting U.S. arms sales to Israel.

The resolutions set up another test of Democratic support for Israel, after a record 27 senators tied to the Democratic caucus voted in favor of a similar Sanders resolution last summer to halt the sale of tens of thousands of automatic assault rifles to Israel amid the Jewish state’s war against the Hamas terror organization.

The Thursday filings address the $658 million in munitions sales the Trump administration approved for Israel during the countries’ joint war against Iran.

Sens. Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Jeff Merkley (Ore.) co-sponsored the resolutions.

“Given the horrific destruction that Israel’s extremist government has wrought on Gaza, Iran and Lebanon, the last thing in the world that American taxpayers need to do right now is to provide 22,000 new bombs to the Netanyahu government,” Sanders stated. “No more weapons to support an illegal war.”

The Senate Foreign Relations Committee has five calendar days to consider the resolutions. Following that period, the cosponsors can force a full floor vote to discharge the resolutions from committee and bring them to a final up-or-down vote.

Republicans are expected to oppose the resolutions, with the possibility of Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) as an exception.

Earlier this month, the Trump administration notified Congress of an emergency sale of large bombs to Israel, bypassing congressional review and authorization. JNS

{Matzav.com}

Gasoline prices across the United States continued climbing this month, even as the Trump administration introduced a series of measures aimed at easing the burden on consumers. Analysts caution, however, that these steps are unlikely to bring immediate relief.

By Wednesday, the national average price for a gallon of regular gas had climbed past $3.84, marking the highest level since September 2023. AAA data showed that overnight prices rose another four cents, reaching $3.884. Diesel prices have remained elevated as well, holding above the $5 mark per gallon.

According to Patrick De Haan, GasBuddy’s head of petroleum analysis, the country has just experienced the sharpest four-week increase in gasoline prices ever recorded, with costs jumping by approximately 97 cents.

State-by-state data from AAA indicates that since Sunday alone, average prices for regular gasoline have risen by as much as 38 cents in some areas. Since the beginning of the month, several states have seen increases exceeding $1 per gallon.

As of Thursday, eight states reported average gas prices above $4 per gallon, an increase from six states just one week earlier.

Another group of states — Idaho, Florida, and Michigan — along with Washington, D.C., are now within ten cents of crossing the $4 threshold.

California, Washington, and Hawaii remain the only states where average gas prices have already surpassed $5 per gallon. Oregon is approaching that level, sitting roughly 30 cents below it.

Oklahoma continues to have the lowest average price in the country, with a gallon of regular gas costing $3.243 as of Thursday. Even there, prices have risen by nearly 20 cents compared to last week.

While current prices are high, they have not yet reached the historic peaks seen in 2022. During that summer, every state recorded averages above $4.49 per gallon, with California topping out at $6.438, according to AAA.

Washington state is currently closest to matching its 2022 record of $5.555 per gallon. As of Thursday, its statewide average stands at $5.145. In the remaining 44 states, prices would need to climb by at least another dollar to approach their previous highs.

{Matzav.com}

A senior official with the Transportation Security Administration cautioned on Thursday that the growing congestion at airport security lines across the country is expected to intensify, as the ongoing Department of Homeland Security shutdown continues to strain staffing levels.

Speaking with NewsNation’s Blake Burman, Acting Deputy TSA Administrator Adam Stahl said smaller airports in particular may soon face temporary shutdowns of security operations due to increasing employee absences.

“As this goes on without any sort of resolution from Congress, particularly from Senate Democrats, our folks will continue to call out,” Stahl said during an appearance on “The Hill.”

He explained that limited staffing at smaller airports leaves little margin for disruption, raising the likelihood of partial closures.

“And so again, small airports may be particularly impacted because they have fewer lanes and they have fewer people, and so, if a certain three or four out of 10 employees call out, we may, to ensure we’re not degrading security, we may have to temporarily suspend operations at those airports,” he continued.

Stahl declined to specify how widespread such disruptions could become, noting that conditions differ from one airport to another.

“It will vary very much airport to airport,” he said. “Callout rates are one of many factors that help to inform our security footprint at every single airport, but again I can tell you, this is going to get worse before it gets better, particularly if we don’t have a resolution within the coming days and weeks.”

Travelers nationwide are already encountering extended wait times at checkpoints, as a growing number of TSA agents either call out or leave their positions amid the prolonged shutdown.

Since the shutdown began in mid-February, more than 360 TSA employees have resigned, according to DHS figures. Absentee rates have also surged, surpassing 50 percent in Houston and reaching 30 percent in both New Orleans and Atlanta earlier this week.

The staffing crunch has already forced the closure of several security checkpoints, including at major hubs such as Philadelphia International Airport.

Stahl urged passengers to plan accordingly, advising them to “show up early” and stay informed through updates from their airlines and local airports.

The DHS shutdown has now entered its fifth week, with no apparent breakthrough between Democrats and Republicans on restoring funding to the agency.

{Matzav.com}

In the days leading up to the war with Iran, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was reportedly briefed on an assessment indicating that the Iranian regime might be vulnerable to collapse, according to a report aired Thursday night on Keshet 12’s “Uvda.”

The report stated that during confidential discussions before the launch of the military campaign, Mossad director David 20 presented senior officials with the view that successfully carrying out Israel’s operational plans could ultimately pave the way for regime change in Iran.

According to sources familiar with the discussions, Barnea argued that striking key pillars of the regime—including its leadership, governing structures, and enforcement apparatus—could significantly weaken its grip on power and open the door to a broader internal shift.

He further maintained that once the regime is shaken militarily, intelligence coordination between Israel and the United States could help bring about a decisive outcome. This, he suggested, would involve encouraging widespread public demonstrations inside Iran and supporting the emergence of an alternative leadership to take control.

Speaking publicly Thursday evening, Netanyahu laid out the central aims of the ongoing campaign against Iran. “Our goals are three. One, removing the nuclear threat. Second, removing the ballistic missile threat and removing both of these threats before they’re buried deep underground and become immune from aerial attack. And third, this means creating the conditions for the Iranian people to grasp their freedom, to control their destiny.”

He also described what he characterized as significant progress on the battlefield. “Iran today has no capability to enrich uranium, and it has no ability to produce ballistic missiles. We continue to dismantle these capabilities. We will crush them completely, to dust.”

At the same time, Netanyahu cautioned that the internal outcome within Iran remains uncertain and depends on the actions of its citizens. “It is too early to say whether the Iranian people will seize the conditions we are creating for them to take to the streets… It will depend entirely on them.”

{Matzav.com}

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At a special tefillah gathering held Thursday night in Bnei Brak in response to the ongoing situation, Maran Rav Dov Landau delivered a message of chizuk, calling on the public to strengthen their commitment to Torah learning and prayer, while also emphasizing the importance of maintaining a calm, supportive, and even uplifting atmosphere at home.

Opening his remarks, Rav Landau described the current moment as one of danger, while also pointing to the clear Divine protection being witnessed. He said, “It is a time of distress for Yaakov, but from it we will be saved. The Jewish people are in a מצב of war, and the dangers are great—Hashem should protect us. Baruch Hashem, we are seeing great miracles, and the Ribbono Shel Olam is saving us from their hands.”

He explained that the gathering, held in a community known for its strong dedication to learning and prayer—especially during bein hazmanim—was meant to serve as a moment of collective tefillah and reflection. He added, “According to the natural order, there is no logic to being saved from so many cruel and dangerous enemies. There is no doubt that Torah protects and saves, along with prayer to the Creator, and faith that everything Hashem does is for the good.”

Turning to the challenges of this time of year, Rav Landau spoke about the pressures of bein hazmanim and the busy days leading up to Pesach, noting that this period can lead to a weakening in consistent learning, particularly for avreichim with young children at home. He said, “These are the days of bein hazmanim, and a time of pre-Pesach pressures, and it can bring a certain weakening in Torah learning—especially when young children are home, making it difficult for many to find uninterrupted time to learn.”

Despite these challenges, he stressed that each individual must take responsibility to ensure that learning continues. “Every avreich must reflect and find a time when he can sit and learn, and according to the effort is the reward. It is extremely important that not even a single day passes without Torah learning.”

He emphasized that the need for Torah is even greater during such times, while also reminding listeners to remain attentive to their families. “The Jewish people need our Torah now more than ever. But at the same time, one must be attentive to the needs of the home and the difficulties family members are experiencing, helping as needed and caring for the children, who are also going through an unusual and stressful time and may have fears.”

Rav Landau placed particular focus on the home environment, encouraging warmth and positivity. “Each person must create a pleasant and positive atmosphere at home. One can share light, sharp thoughts—even a bit of humor—and even sing at home. The main thing is to act with patience and create a calm environment.”

He also urged parents to set aside time to learn with their children. “It is very important to establish a set time to learn with the children, so that they remain connected to Torah, and the Torah of young children has great value.”

Addressing yeshiva bochurim, he noted that their responsibility is even greater, while also reminding them of their obligation to honor their parents. “Yeshiva students are not burdened in the same way, and therefore their obligation to be immersed in Torah is even greater—each one according to what his heart desires to learn. At the same time, they have the mitzvah of honoring their parents, and these days provide an opportunity to fulfill that mitzvah properly, with respect and with a good spirit.”

He concluded by calling for serious and heartfelt prayer, stressing that it must be said with focus and sincerity. “We need a great deal of prayer from the depths of the heart, that the Ribbono Shel Olam should have mercy on us and save us from all decrees and enemies. One must pray seriously, with proper intent, and not treat it as a burden. Even the additional Tehillim being said now must be recited with sincerity and heartfelt pleading for mercy.”

He also warned against treating the situation lightly. “There is an obligation to be careful and to protect oneself from danger, and not to treat the situation with dismissal or lightheadedness.”

Rav Landau concluded with a heartfelt tefillah that Klal Yisroel should soon see salvation, return to calm, and merit celebrating the upcoming Yom Tov with peace and joy.

[Video below.] Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth delivered a deeply personal message during a press briefing on Thursday, recounting a conversation with his teenage son that underscored the human cost of the ongoing war and the stakes involved for future generations.

Speaking to reporters, Hegseth described how his 13-year-old son entered his office the night before as he was preparing his remarks and asked about the conflict and the families he had recently met at Dover Air Force Base.

“My 13-year-old son popped into my office last night while I was editing these remarks,” he shared. “He asked about the war and the families I met at Dover.”

Hegseth said he responded candidly, explaining the sacrifices made by fallen service members and what he believes those sacrifices are meant to protect.

“And I looked at him and I said, ‘They died for you, son, so that your generation doesn’t have to deal with a nuclear Iran.'”

Reflecting on that exchange, he emphasized that he believes those words capture a difficult but real truth.

“It’s the truth, and they did,” he added.

Hegseth went on to address the families of fallen soldiers, saying their calls to see the mission through would be honored, and he extended that message to Americans who support a strong national defense.

“So, to the families who said ‘finish this’ – we will. And I say the same to every American who wants peace through strength. May Almighty G-d continue to bless our troops in this fight, and again, to the American people: Please pray for them.”

In a moving and uplifting gathering during the days leading up to Pesach, Rav Moshe Sternbuch personally handed out kimcha d’Pischa envelopes to 180 yungeleit of his Teshuvos V’Hanhagos kollel, as part of a broad effort he leads each year to support thousands of families ahead of Yom Tov.

This distribution was only the opening stage of a much larger system of assistance that Rav Sternbuch oversees annually. The initiative includes support for hundreds of kollel yungeleit, additional aid for rabbanim and dayanim affiliated with the Eidah Hachareidis, assistance for rabbanim connected to his yeshiva in Beit Shemesh, and extensive support for many tzedakah funds both in Eretz Yisroel and abroad.

Despite the massive scope of this operation, Rav Sternbuch made a point of personally distributing the envelopes to the yungeleit, whom he regards with the closeness of children, following a halachic shiur he delivered at the end of the zman.

Those present wondered why, given the heavy burden on his time—including ongoing correspondence with major supporters of the olam haTorah—he chose not to delegate the task. In response, Rav Sternbuch shared a powerful and deeply stirring story he had heard decades earlier from Rav Yechezkel Abramsky, a story that sheds light on the depth of every act of tzedakah.

He recounted that Rav Abramsky once described an incident recorded in the ledger of the chevra kadisha in Vilna. It told of the wife of the Vilna Gaon, who would go together with a friend to collect funds for the poor of the city. At one point, they made an agreement that whichever of them would pass away first would appear to the other in a dream and reveal what takes place in the Olam HaEmes.

Years later, the friend passed away first. After some time, she appeared in a dream to the wife of the Vilna Gaon and said that it is impossible to describe how every small action is calculated in Shamayim. She explained that she had no permission to reveal what occurs there, except for one detail due to their agreement.

She reminded her of a specific incident: they had once seen a poor man across the street, and instead of going over to him, she motioned for him to come. Although he came and gladly received the money, she was later held accountable for not making the effort to go to him herself. That small lack of effort was viewed as a diminishment in the value of the mitzvah, and the level of judgment was described as profound.

The next morning, shaken, the wife of the Vilna Gaon told the Gaon about the dream. He instructed that the members of the chevra kadisha be gathered to hear it and record it for future generations, so that people would understand the depth of judgment in matters of mitzvos.

Rav Abramsky added that from then on, whenever he would send money to a poor person or institution by mail, he would not send a messenger, as was common at the time. Instead, he would personally go and place it in the mailbox, so as not to lose the merit of physically exerting himself for the mitzvah of tzedakah.

The message Rav Sternbuch conveyed was clear: when it comes to tzedakah, there is no substitute for personal effort. Every small act is counted. For him, personally distributing the funds was not just a practical step—it was an opportunity to fulfill the mitzvah fully, with personal involvement, dignity, and care.

A remarkable and deeply moving incident took place in Bnei Brak, offering a powerful glimpse into the refined character of Rav Yitzchok Zilberstein. What began as a routine trip home from his weekly shiur turned into a quiet but unforgettable lesson in gratitude.

On Monday evening, Rav Zilberstein was returning from his well-known shiur at the central shul in Ramat Elchanan when, at exactly 9:00 p.m., a siren sounded warning of incoming missiles from Iran. Traveling along Rechov Rav Kahaneman on his way home to Ramat Gan, he immediately began looking for the nearest protected area.

According to his driver, Reb Dovid Tzivyon, one of his close talmidim, the closest safe space was inside the well-known “HaTzvi” bakery across from the entrance to Ramat Elchanan. The car stopped right away, and Rav Zilberstein entered the bakery together with everyone else, acting like any ordinary person seeking safety.

As the siren continued, everyone moved into the reinforced shelter. Rav Zilberstein stood there for several long minutes, repeatedly reciting Tehillim in his familiar, moving tune.

Those who were present described the experience as deeply calming. Being in a shelter during a missile alert is naturally frightening, but standing together with such a towering figure brought a sense of calm and reassurance to everyone around.

Witnesses also noted that when someone offered him a chair, he firmly refused, pointing instead to women standing nearby with their children and indicating that they should sit first. He remained standing the entire time.

Once the all-clear was given, Rav Zilberstein stepped outside, quickly surrounded by people eager to receive a brachah or a few words—something that usually requires scheduling and waiting.

Then, unexpectedly, he paused, turned around, and went back into the bakery. He asked his driver to take a few baked goods so he could pay for them. When asked if he needed anything specific, he replied simply that he didn’t actually need anything, but wanted to buy something out of gratitude for the bakery allowing them to take shelter there during the siren.

And so, Rav Zilberstein stood in line like any other customer, took out his own wallet, and paid for a few items. No attention, no ceremony, just a sincere act of appreciation.

Those who witnessed it were deeply moved, capturing the moment and reflecting on the purity and sincerity they had just seen.

Reb Tzivyon later described the moment: Even with a crowd pressing around him for brachos and questions, Rav Zilberstein still noticed the smallest details and acted on them, despite not needing anything he purchased.

{Matzav.com}

The Boyaner Rebbe paid a special visit to the Belzer Rebbe to express appreciation after the wedding of his granddaughter was relocated to Belzer facilities following a security incident earlier in the week.

After a projectile fragment struck the Boyaner kloiz, the chasunah was moved to the underground complex of Belz, in the heichal of the “Groisseh Shtib” in Kiryas Belz in Yerushalayim. Ahead of the mitzvah tanz, the Boyaner Rebbe came to personally thank the Belzer Rebbe during a private meeting.

At the outset of their conversation, the Boyaner Rebbe warmly expressed his gratitude for the hospitality and gracious hosting extended by the Belzer Rebbe and his community. The Belzer Rebbe inquired about the beis medrash where the fragment had fallen, asking whether it was a temporary or permanent structure. In response, the Boyaner Rebbe spoke about the many nissim being witnessed during this period across Eretz Yisroel, while noting that there is still a need for rachamim, chassadim, and the coming of the geulah sheleimah.

The Belzer Rebbe responded that the galus has already lasted long enough, to which the Boyaner Rebbe replied, “בניסן נגאלו ובניסן עתידין להיגאל.”

The Boyaner Rebbe then requested that a Belzer niggun be sung, and together they sang “Meherah Hashem Elokeinu.” During the singing, the Boyaner Rebbe held the Belzer Rebbe’s hand, creating a moving moment of connection. Afterwards, they recited a bracha over wine, and the Belzer Rebbe offered his brachos for the simchah, while the Boyaner Rebbe in turn blessed the Belzer Rebbe with arichus yamim v’shanim tovos and extended wishes ahead of the upcoming Yom Tov of Pesach.

Later, before the mitzvah tanz, the Boyaner Rebbe publicly expressed words of praise and heartfelt thanks to the Belzer Rebbe and the Belz community for their assistance and support in ensuring the simchah could proceed despite the circumstances.

Israel’s education system is set to expand its reopening next week to additional regions outside the central Dan area, with a phased return focused primarily on younger children and subject to strict safety conditions.

The Home Front Command announced that beginning Sunday, a broad range of areas will shift from a limited activity status to a partial activity framework, allowing for a cautious and gradual return to routine under defined restrictions.

The areas included in the updated guidelines span parts of the southern Golan Heights (excluding Katzrin and Kedmat Tzvi), the Lower Galilee, the Carmel region (excluding Daliyat al-Karmel and Isfiya), Wadi Ara, and the Menashe region, with certain exceptions such as Or Akiva, Hadera, and Jisr az-Zarqa. In the south and the Shfela, the eased measures will apply to the Judean Lowlands except for Beit Shemesh, the Lachish region excluding major population centers like Ashdod, Yavne, Gedera, and Gan Yavne, as well as parts of the central Negev, excluding Be’er Sheva and Omer. Areas not listed will remain under existing restrictions.

Under the partial activity classification, educational institutions will be permitted to operate provided that students and staff can reach a properly protected shelter within the required response time. Similar conditions will apply to workplaces, which will be allowed to function only if they meet the same safety requirements.

The updated policy also introduces eased limits on gatherings and services, allowing up to 50 people in open areas and up to 100 people indoors, as long as all participants have quick access to an approved protected space.

A serious aviation incident was narrowly avoided Tuesday evening at Newark Liberty International Airport when an Alaska Airlines passenger jet came dangerously close to a FedEx cargo aircraft during a last-second aborted landing, according to radar tracking data.

Officials said Alaska Airlines Flight 294 was instructed to pull up and circle rather than land after FedEx Flight 721 had already been cleared to descend onto a runway that intersects with the one the passenger plane was approaching. The Federal Aviation Administration confirmed the sequence of events.

Flight tracking information indicated that the two aircraft passed within roughly 300 feet of each other—about the length of a football field—highlighting how close the situation came to becoming a catastrophe.

Audio recordings from air traffic control captured the tense moments, revealing that controllers redirected the Alaska Airlines jet just moments before it was scheduled to touch down.

Michael McCormick, a former FAA deputy administrator, explained that the complexity of intersecting runways can create difficult timing challenges for controllers.

“”It is a challenge for a tower controller to try to get that timing perfect, it doesn’t always work and that’s what happened in this case, so the tower controller waited and unfortunately, in my opinion, too long and they had to send the aircraft on a go-around,” McCormick said.

Both the FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board have launched investigations into the near collision to determine exactly what went wrong.

The incident comes as airports across the country continue to grapple with staffing shortages tied to the ongoing partial government shutdown, with Transportation Security Administration workers still reporting to duty without pay.

Economic analysts at the White House have estimated that the shutdown has already resulted in losses exceeding $2.5 billion.

Efforts to resolve the funding impasse have stalled in Washington. Senate Democrats last week blocked legislation that would have restored funding to the Department of Homeland Security for the fourth time in recent weeks.

Airline industry leaders have voiced growing frustration. Delta Air Lines CEO Ed Bastian sharply criticized lawmakers over the situation, calling their failure to reach a resolution “inexcusable.”

“We’re outraged,” Bastian seethed.

As of Thursday, the partial government shutdown had stretched into its 33rd day, with no immediate resolution in sight.

Hundreds of bochurim from abroad learning in Eretz Yisroel gathered in Yerushalayim for a special asifah of chizuk focused on strengthening themselves against the growing nisyonos of modern technology, with a particular emphasis this year on the dangers of artificial intelligence and the widespread breaches found in phones used in chutz la’aretz.

The asifah, held at the call of gedolei Yisroel, is an annual gathering aimed at reinforcing awareness and responsibility among bochurim regarding the sakanos of technology. This year, special attention was given to the increasing accessibility of AI and the serious peritzos that exist in devices commonly used outside Eretz Yisroel, challenges that are becoming more difficult to guard against.

Addressing the gathering were leading roshei yeshiva, including Rav Dovid Cohen, Rav Yehoshua Eichenstein, Rav Yisroel Binyomin Schreiber, and Rav Chaim Peretz Berman, who spoke about the importance of maintaining kedusha and yiras Shamayim in a world filled with constant distraction and exposure.

A particularly moving moment came with the arrival of the mashgiach, Rav Don Segal, whose presence brought a powerful sense of hisorerus to the tzibbur. He delivered heartfelt words about the chovah to guard oneself from the influences of technology, and at the conclusion of his remarks, the bochurim burst into a stirring rendition of “V’taher Libeinu,” filling the room with emotion.

Closing words of inspiration were delivered by Rav Tzvi Meir Zilberberg, while the asifah was guided with clarity and warmth by Rav Shlomo Miller, who served as the emcee for the event.

At the conclusion of the gathering, the bochurim accepted upon themselves a formal kabbalah to use only machshirim kesheirim approved by the Vaad HaRabbonim L’Inyanei Tikshores. They also committed to refraining from engaging with AI and to maintaining taharah and kedusha within their dormitory and yeshiva living environments.

{Matzav.com}

Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu on Thursday strongly denied accusations that he steered President Trump into a confrontation with Iran, insisting that the president acted independently and solely in the interest of the United States.

Addressing reporters, Netanyahu rejected the premise outright. “Does anyone really think that someone can tell President Trump what to do? Come on,” Netanyahu said during a press conference. “President Trump always makes his decisions on what he thinks is good for America.”

He firmly pushed back against suggestions that Israel had pulled the United States into the ongoing conflict with Tehran, stressing instead the close working relationship between the two countries while making clear that Trump charted his own course.

“I didn’t have to convince him,” Netanyahu said, referring to prior discussions the two leaders had regarding Iran’s nuclear program.

Netanyahu described the cooperation between Washington and Israel as tightly coordinated, noting collaboration at both the military and intelligence levels. He added that their joint efforts are producing rapid results, saying they are “achieving goals at lightning speed.”

Pointing to Trump’s earlier actions on Iran, Netanyahu noted that the president’s withdrawal from the nuclear agreement during his first term came without any outside pressure.

“In his first term in office, he didn’t need any convincing,” Netanyahu said. “He said the Iranian nuclear deal was the worst deal that he’d ever seen, and he walked out of it.”

Recalling a meeting at Mar-a-Lago ahead of Trump’s return to office, Netanyahu said the president himself initiated the discussion about Iran.

“The first thing he said to me was, ‘Bibi, we’ve got to make sure that Iran doesn’t have nuclear weapons,’” Netanyahu said.

“He said that to me — I didn’t say it to him.”

Netanyahu also issued a stark warning about Iran’s leadership, characterizing them as driven by extreme ideology and cautioning about the potential consequences if they were to acquire nuclear capabilities.

“Just imagine what they would do … if these lunatics had nuclear weapons and the means to deliver them to every American city and every European city,” he said.

“This is a danger for the entire world.”

He further highlighted Iran’s past involvement in attacks against Americans, referencing incidents such as the 1983 bombing of U.S. Marine barracks in Beirut and assaults on U.S. forces in Iraq and Afghanistan.

“They tried to assassinate the American president, Donald Trump, not once, but twice,” he said.

Netanyahu added that support for confronting Iran extends beyond the United States and Israel, saying that numerous world leaders privately share the same position, even if they do not express it publicly.

He concluded by commending Trump’s stance on Iran, saying the global community is indebted to the president for taking on the regime.

“We see eye to eye on that — President Trump and I, Israel and America,” Netanyahu said.

{Matzav.com}