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Former Shin Bet director Yoram Cohen, the No. 2 candidate in Gadi Eisenkot’s Yashar party, said that chareidi parties will have no place in a future coalition led by his party unless they accept a requirement for military or civilian service for all Israeli citizens, declaring that Yashar would maintain that position even at the cost of another election.

Cohen made the comments in his first interview with chareidi media, speaking with Yishai Cohen of Kikar HaShabbat. The former Shin Bet chief also addressed responsibility for the October 7 massacre, rejected claims that security officials deliberately withheld information from Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu that night, discussed his decision to enter politics alongside Eisenkot, and expressed confidence that Eisenkot will form the next government.

Explaining why he agreed to appear before a chareidi audience, Cohen said, “I think there is room for the chareidi public as well to hear what we have to say and what our plans are. Sometimes there is also criticism of us, but in my opinion, they should know what the facts are. And I also believe that a certain segment, which we cannot currently estimate, might even vote for us.”

Cohen was asked about a recent Haaretz report claiming that UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed had warned Netanyahu before October 7 about a possible major development involving Gaza.

“I don’t know any intimate details about this incident,” Cohen said. “Such a report could be true, but I think it would be preferable — let’s say, for everyone’s sake — for there to be confirmation from an international source that would verify it.”

Cohen then criticized Netanyahu’s credibility and said the prime minister had received other warnings before the war, although he stressed that they were not specific warnings about an attack from Gaza.

“The problem we have, I think, is Mr. Netanyahu, the prime minister, who has already been caught several times in lies and in not telling the truth about events that definitely occurred,” Cohen said. “And the second thing is that he did receive warnings both from the head of the Shin Bet and the head of Military Intelligence before the war — not warnings about Gaza, but warnings about war. And these things, either he dismissed them, as we saw on Channel 14, or he did not attribute importance to them.”

Asked how he apportions responsibility for the failures that culminated in the October 7 massacre, Cohen said the greatest immediate responsibility rested with the professional security establishment, particularly the IDF and Shin Bet.

“I think the weight of the responsibility first of all falls on the professional echelon — mainly the IDF and Shin Bet — because they failed to produce a sufficiently strong, good warning about Hamas’ intention to invade the State of Israel, and that is a very major failure,” Cohen said.

He said the Mossad also bore responsibility regarding intelligence connected to meetings in Qatar, Beirut and Damascus and the possibility of a coordinated regional attack that ultimately did not materialize.

“But the central failure is, of course, the failure to provide a warning,” Cohen continued. “The second thing: our defenses collapsed, and after that our fighting was not sufficiently effective.”

At the same time, Cohen said significant responsibility also belonged to Israel’s political leadership, particularly Netanyahu.

“But there is also significant weight on the political echelon, headed by the prime minister, because the prime minister intensively, over the course of years, shaped Israel’s security concept — both the concept of containment vis-à-vis Hamas and other things that were much worse, such as giving approval to the Qataris to fund Hamas for years on a very large scale,” Cohen said.

Cohen was also asked whether he agreed with Naftali Bennett’s call for a future government to designate Qatar an enemy state on its first day in office.

“I think they should have been defined long ago as a state hostile to Israel,” Cohen responded. He added that the precise designation should be determined through a formal discussion involving the Mossad, Foreign Ministry, National Security Council, Shin Bet and other relevant agencies rather than through a declaration made solely for the media.

The interview then turned to Netanyahu’s contention that had he been awakened during the early morning hours of October 7, the outcome could have been different.

“I think there was reason to wake him,” Cohen said.

But Cohen strongly rejected the contention that senior security officials recognized that a major Hamas invasion was imminent and deliberately decided not to inform Netanyahu.

“The problem was this: both the Shin Bet, or the Shin Bet leadership, and the IDF leadership, generally speaking, did not think we were facing an event like this,” Cohen said. “It’s not that they thought we were facing an attack and decided not to wake the prime minister. That is not true!”

Cohen said the available intelligence from Military Intelligence and the Shin Bet was transmitted to the National Security Council and the prime minister’s military secretariat at approximately 3 or 4 a.m.

“All the information that Military Intelligence had and the Shin Bet had was passed to the National Security Council and to the military secretariat of the prime minister at around three-four in the morning — all the information they had,” he said.

“The second thing: their assessments were also passed along, and those assessments were wrong. They were not correct assessments; they were wrong assessments. So they did not hide it from the prime minister.”

Cohen said he had personally seen the written summary prepared by then-Shin Bet director Ronen Bar after Bar unusually summoned his senior staff to Tel Aviv during the night.

“I saw the memorandum, meaning the summary Ronen Bar made after he brought his entire staff, unusually, to Tel Aviv,” Cohen said. “They discussed the matter, and at five in the morning he summarized all the alternatives they saw, and he instructed his chief of staff to send that summary to the prime minister.”

Cohen then discussed his decision to enter politics and explained why he chose to join Eisenkot’s Yashar party.

“I had meetings and offers from almost all the heads of the Zionist parties,” Cohen said. “I rejected them for various reasons. I think we are in a time of crisis following the war, with challenges both within Israeli society and in security.”

“I chose Gadi because I have known him for 30 years,” Cohen continued. “I know his personal capabilities, his character, his functional independence, the depth of his thinking, and especially two important qualities that today are almost no longer common currency: the first thing — he is a reliable person. I’m not saying others are unreliable, but his reliability is at a very high level. And the second thing — he sets a personal example that I very much appreciate.”

Asked whether he was seeking a particular senior ministry, such as defense or national security, Cohen said no position had been promised to him.

“It’s clear that I came into politics in order to have an influence, and in order to have an influence, you need to fill central positions,” he said. “I did not set any condition with Gadi, and I did not sign any contract or memorandum of understanding with him regarding a position or a number.”

“Our job, and we are working hard for it, is to win the election, lead the bloc, for Gadi to be prime minister — and he will be an excellent prime minister — and afterward we will see the results and the coalition.”

Cohen then laid out what he described as three fundamental conditions for parties seeking to join a Yashar-led coalition.

“We want to get above 61 so that we will have stability,” Cohen said. “But we want to do that and create or shape a coalition with parties that will stand with us on three important principles, which are also important to chareidi society: that they recognize that the state is a Jewish and democratic state; the values of the Declaration of Independence; universal service.”

“Universal service means universal service: men will serve three years, either in military service or civilian service,” Cohen continued. “And from our perspective right now, unfortunately — and I say unfortunately, I regret it very much — neither the chareidi parties nor, by contrast, the Arab parties accept these three principles, and therefore they are not relevant.”

Cohen sharply criticized the chareidi political and rabbinic leadership over its position on the draft, saying he believes it has failed to recognize the military’s manpower needs.

“I think this is a very serious mistake by the chareidi political leadership and even the rabbinic leadership, that they do not grasp the gravity of the hour and the need, and they do not come and say, ‘Something has changed. We need to enter negotiations and see how we can help a public that needs combat manpower.’ Combat! We don’t need kosher supervisors, and we don’t even need Army Radio.”

At the same time, Cohen said Yashar does not expect the transition to universal service to happen instantaneously.

“We did not come with a framework — I don’t want to use the word populist — but we know that going from zero to 100 is something that will take… it is a process; it will take a very long time.”

Cohen said Eisenkot’s proposal would allow exemptions for up to 3% of the overall annual cohort, including exceptional Torah scholars as well as outstanding individuals in other fields.

“That means that out of 150,000 people who enlist in a year, 3% of them will receive an exemption — these are the exceptional individuals,” Cohen said. “These exceptional individuals will probably mostly be chareidim, but there will be musicians, there will be athletes, and there will be other people whom a committee will determine are exceptional, and they will receive a deferment.”

“We, out of respect for Torah, see a need for this and see importance in it, not to cut down the entire tree from below,” Cohen said. “But we believe we have a need. We are not coming from a place of revenge.”

The interviewer then noted that while Shas has declared its loyalty to Netanyahu, United Torah Judaism figures have indicated that they could potentially negotiate with Eisenkot following the election. Cohen was asked directly whether Yashar’s door would be open to UTJ if the party refused to accept universal service.

“There is nowhere to go!” Cohen responded.

“Universal service for all citizens of the State of Israel, Jews and Arabs, is our central banner because it is an existential need,” he said.

Cohen described the issue as an essential condition for joining the coalition.

“On the security issue, which you asked about — this is the cornerstone of joining the coalition,” he said. “Whoever does not reconsider and engage in soul-searching, and excuse me for saying this — changes his ways on this matter, and combines the sword and the book rather than only the book, I don’t think he is part of the coalition.”

Asked whether that meant United Torah Judaism should understand that it has no alternative coalition option to Netanyahu under the current circumstances, Cohen answered, “Certainly.”

He then criticized what he described as political pressure over jobs and funding and raised concerns about the image of the chareidi community among secular Israelis.

“What, doesn’t it bother people?” Cohen asked. “What a bad image there is! We need to go back and do our homework on everything: on the image of the chareidim, on the partnership of the chareidim.”

The interviewer then cited MK Moshe Gafni’s contention that declarations excluding chareidi parties are campaign rhetoric and that after the election, a bloc without 61 seats would ultimately offer the chareidi parties at least as much as Netanyahu in order to form a government.

“I am prepared to commit that it will not happen,” Cohen responded. “I am prepared to commit that it will not happen!”

Asked explicitly whether he would maintain that position even if the alternative were another election, Cohen replied: “Even at the price of repeat elections!”

Cohen predicted that Yashar and its prospective partners would nevertheless secure enough support to form a government, while saying the party was also in contact with individuals currently aligned with the governing coalition.

“And there is an option… We will reach more than 61 and 63, and we will form a government,” Cohen said. “And I’m already telling you here that in the conversations we have, in the contacts we have — we also have contacts with people from within the current coalition. And I believe that under the circumstances today, some of them will also find a door to us the day after the election.”

{Matzav.com}

As in past years, Agudath Israel of America’s Washington Office has worked closely with agencies of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to help avoid potential problems for travelers carrying arba minim.

Both the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) have notified their respective field personnel about the upcoming Sukkos holiday and the increased level of travel by persons of the Jewish faith, many of whom will be carrying arba minim. The agencies have also made this information available to the public – the TSA notice here and the CBP notice here.

The notifications, which have been sent out to federal officials at airports and border crossings, emphasize the religious significance of these items and outline the rules and procedures that would help allay possible security and health issues that are of concern to the federal government. Prior to these agency steps, lack of familiarity regarding Sukkos and the arba minim had led to numerous incidents each year of inadvertent mishandling and mistreatment — including denial of entry — of these ritual objects.

The TSA Notice makes clear that the arba minim carried in airports, through security checkpoints or on aircraft, are not on the “prohibited items list” and provides instructions for travelers needing “special accommodations” in regard to checkpoint screening. The CBP Guidance sets forth detailed information regarding the inspection process for personal sets of arba minim brought into the United States from foreign countries at select ports of entry and points out that the agency is “committed to treating all travelers, including travelers who may be observing Sukkot, with respect and dignity at all U.S. ports of entry.”

“We are gratified by the ongoing sensitivity of these agencies to the religious concerns of our community,” said Rabbi A. D. Motzen, Agudath Israel’s National Director for Government Affairs. “They are taking meaningful and appropriate steps to accommodate our religious needs.”

He also thanked his colleague Rabbi Ariel Sadwin of Agudah’s Office of Federal Constituent Affairs for serving as the main Agudah point of contact with those federal agencies related to the annual guidance.

Agudath Israel of America once again produced a one-page handout that travelers can print out – or save to their phones – to familiarize themselves with the rules before traveling.

For travelers entering Israel: You will be allowed to bring in one esrog for personal use. The other 3 minim are not allowed and will be confiscated and replaced with Israeli grown produce. See guidelines from Agriculture Ministry here.

The Associated Press said Wednesday that it will continue referring to Lake Ontario by its centuries-old name, declining to adopt President Donald Trump’s new “Lake America” designation as its standard terminology despite an executive order directing the U.S. government to make the change.

Under new guidance issued by the international news organization, AP journalists will continue using Lake Ontario in news coverage while mentioning Trump’s chosen name when it is relevant to the story.

“The Associated Press will refer to Lake Ontario by its original name, including the name Trump has chosen when relevant,” the AP said. “As a global news agency that disseminates news around the world, the AP must ensure that place names and geography are recognizable to broad audiences.”

The decision sets up another dispute between the Trump administration and the AP over geographic terminology, following a similar confrontation last year over the president’s decision to rename the Gulf of Mexico the “Gulf of America.”

Trump signed an executive order on August 27 directing the Interior Department, working with the U.S. Board on Geographic Names, to change the federal designation of Lake Ontario to “Lake America.” The order calls for the Geographic Names Information System to be updated and directs federal agencies to use the new designation in government maps, documents and communications.

The order applies to U.S. federal government usage. Because Lake Ontario is shared by the United States and Canada, Trump’s directive does not compel Canada to recognize the new name.

This is not the first time the AP has declined to fully adopt a geographic name change ordered by Trump.

In 2025, the news organization continued using “Gulf of Mexico” as its standard international reference after Trump directed the federal government to rename it the “Gulf of America.” That disagreement ultimately led the White House to restrict AP journalists’ access to certain presidential events.

Lake Ontario straddles the border between New York and the Canadian province of Ontario and is one of the five Great Lakes. Its traditional name long predates the founding of both the United States and modern Canada.

The name is derived from an Indigenous word, commonly traced to the Huron language. The province of Ontario, established at Canadian Confederation in 1867, itself took its name from the lake.

Trump said when signing the order that the change was intended to recognize the United States’ role in protecting and supporting commerce on the Great Lakes. The executive order specifically cited the U.S. Coast Guard’s icebreaking operations and the importance of the waterway to the American economy.

“And this is official, effective immediately,” Trump said at the signing.

Canadian officials immediately rejected the new designation, maintaining that the lake will remain Lake Ontario in Canada.

Prime Minister Mark Carney emphasized that the name is more than four centuries old and predates both Canadian Confederation and the U.S. Declaration of Independence.

“We know that America is changing. Their trading relationships, their foreign policies, their national monuments, their hydronyms,” Carney wrote. “Canadians also know that naming reality means calling it Lake Ontario — then, now and always.”

Ontario Premier Doug Ford similarly rejected the change.

“It’s Lake Ontario to Canadians and the rest of the world. Now and forever,” Ford said.

Major technology companies, however, have begun reflecting the new U.S. government designation on their mapping services.

Apple Maps changed the lake’s label to Lake America for users in the United States, while users in Canada continued seeing Lake Ontario. Google Maps similarly implemented the U.S. designation for American users while retaining the traditional name for Canadian users.

MapQuest has taken a different approach, opting to retain familiar geographic terminology for its users.

“We took the same approach we did with the Gulf of Mexico: be part of the conversation, and give people an app that keeps the names they’re familiar with,” MapQuest general manager Doug Berger said.

The AP’s handling of Lake Ontario also differs from its approach to another Trump-directed geographic name change: Mount McKinley.

Trump ordered the Alaska mountain’s federal name changed from Denali back to Mount McKinley shortly after returning to the White House in January 2025. The AP adopted Mount McKinley because the mountain lies entirely within the United States, where the federal government has authority over the official federal geographic designation.

The Lake Ontario dispute is more complicated because the body of water forms part of the international boundary between the United States and Canada, with each country free to use its own terminology.

Trump’s Lake America order came amid a sharp deterioration in relations between Washington and Ottawa, particularly over trade. The United States and Canada have imposed new trade restrictions against one another following the collapse of negotiations in August.

The president has said the renaming is intended to honor American contributions to the Great Lakes rather than convey a particular geopolitical message. At the signing, however, he also criticized Canada’s trade and defense policies.

“Canada’s been ripping us off for a long time,” Trump said.

“We love the people of Canada,” he added. “I don’t think their representatives do, an appropriate job. Maybe they’ll change. I really don’t know. It doesn’t make much difference.”

For the AP, however, the traditional name will remain the default. Its reporters will continue writing “Lake Ontario,” while noting “Lake America” when Trump’s federal designation is pertinent to the story.

{Matzav.com}

WASHINGTON — The White House has removed a Tetris-style immigration-themed video game from its official online arcade just days after The Tetris Company publicly objected to the game and warned that it takes copyright infringement “very seriously.”

The game, titled “Build the Wall” and subtitled “Zombie Border Siege,” was part of a collection of retro-style browser games recently launched by the White House to promote various elements of President Donald Trump’s policy agenda. Players stacked brightly colored falling blocks to construct a barrier along the southern border.

The game disappeared from the White House website this week, with its former page returning an error. The White House has not publicly explained why it was removed, and officials did not immediately respond to media requests for comment. The timing, however, came shortly after The Tetris Company said it had neither participated in nor authorized the game.

“The Tetris Company was not involved in the creation of ‘Build the Wall’ and did not authorize or license the Tetris brand or intellectual property for the game,” the company said after the White House arcade debuted. The company added that it was “currently reviewing the matter.”

In a separate social media statement, Tetris made its concerns even clearer.

“P.S. The Tetris Company was not involved in the creation of ‘Build the Wall’,” the company wrote. “P.P.S. We take copyright infringement very seriously.”

The company also sought to distance itself from the political message incorporated into the game, saying, “At Tetris we believe in the power of connection and bringing people together, not dividing them.”

The White House unveiled its online Arcade on September 3, introducing a series of games modeled on familiar video game concepts but redesigned around Trump administration initiatives. The launch represented an unusual effort by the White House to use video games as a means of communicating the administration’s political and policy messages.

“Build the Wall” was among the most conspicuous of the games. Its opening screen featured the words “Stack Bricks. Hold the Line,” while players were instructed to “Protect the border from the coming horde.” The game used falling geometric pieces closely resembling those associated with Tetris, with players attempting to assemble them into a wall.

The Tetris Company has a history of aggressively protecting its intellectual property. In 2012, it settled a copyright lawsuit involving the mobile game Mino, whose developer was accused of copying protected visual elements of Tetris. The settlement followed a federal court ruling that allowed copyright claims concerning the game’s particular visual expression to proceed, despite broader limits on copyright protection for basic game mechanics.

The disappearance of “Build the Wall” has not meant the end of the White House’s online arcade. Four other games remained available following its removal.

Among them is “Rio Run,” a game based on mechanics reminiscent of the classic Snake game. Players patrol an area along the Rio Grande and collect figures representing migrants. At the end of a round, the game displays a “Deported” count showing how many characters the player collected.

Another game, “Flappy Bill,” takes inspiration from the viral mobile game Flappy Bird. Instead of controlling the original game’s bird, players guide a bald eagle carrying a piece of legislation through obstacles around Washington’s National Mall.

“Supply Line” focuses on the Trump administration’s “Make America Healthy Again” initiative, challenging players to sort foods moving along an assembly line and reject items that do not meet the game’s standards for healthy school meals.

“Trump Savings Tycoon,” meanwhile, has players collect money to fill children’s “Trump Accounts,” referring to the savings accounts established under Trump-backed legislation.

The arcade’s launch also borrowed imagery and design elements associated with several well-known video game companies. Promotional animations mimicked startup sequences associated with major gaming systems, while one animation transformed the familiar Sega-style presentation into the word “MAGA,” an abbreviation of Trump’s “Make America Great Again” slogan.

Thus far, The Tetris Company has been the most prominent gaming rights holder to publicly object. Other companies whose products or branding appeared to inspire portions of the arcade had not announced copyright challenges as of the days following the launch.

The arcade has also drawn political criticism unrelated to intellectual property.

Connecticut Democratic state Sen. Matt Lesser criticized the administration’s priorities in a social media post, writing: “Heating oil is near an all-time high but hey you can play Border Tsar Tom Homan in a video game.”

The games are part of a broader pattern by the Trump White House of incorporating video game and entertainment imagery into its social media messaging.

In October 2025, for example, the White House posted an AI-generated image depicting President Trump in armor associated with the Halo video game franchise. More recently, administration social media content related to U.S. military action against Iran incorporated imagery and references from video games and entertainment.

The use of gaming imagery has occasionally generated objections from people associated with the original works. Steve Downes, the voice actor known for portraying Halo protagonist Master Chief, criticized the use of his voice in a White House video, according to published reports.

The Pokémon Company International has also previously objected to the White House’s use of its imagery in political social media content.

The removal of “Build the Wall,” however, represents a particularly notable instance because it came only days after the arcade’s launch and after an explicit warning from the company controlling the intellectual property on which the game appeared to be modeled.

Neither the White House nor The Tetris Company has announced a lawsuit, and the White House has not confirmed that copyright concerns were the reason the game was removed. For now, the precise reason for the takedown remains officially unexplained.

{Matzav.com}

New details have emerged about how senior Hamas officials were evacuated following the Israeli strike in Doha, with a Qatari report claiming that a security team activated a prearranged escape plan, helped the Hamas leaders change their clothing, and transported them separately to different hiding places.

According to a report aired by the Qatari Al-Araby channel, the evacuation plan had been prepared in advance and was put into action immediately following the first explosion.

The report also revealed that when the initial strike took place at 3:46 p.m., the senior Hamas officials were not actually inside the building that was targeted. Instead, they were reportedly in another structure located only several meters away.

The Qatari official responsible for protecting the Hamas leadership told the channel that emergency procedures had already been established before the attack, including a plan for moving the delegation to a secure location. Once the first strike occurred, the security team rushed into action and began carrying out those procedures.

According to the report, security personnel helped the Hamas officials change their clothes in an effort to conceal their identities and movements as they made their way toward waiting vehicles.

The officials were then evacuated individually rather than as a group. Each was placed in a different vehicle, with the cars traveling separately toward different safe locations away from the site of the strike.

The Qatari security official said he did not know the emotional state of the Hamas officials during the evacuation, but said they cooperated with the security personnel. He noted that the Hamas leaders had previously been briefed about what they should do in the event of an emergency.

Senior Hamas official Bassem Naim said that shortly before the strike, the organization’s leadership had received a five-point American proposal for a hostage agreement and ceasefire in Gaza. According to Naim, Qatari officials told Hamas that the proposal constituted an official message from President Donald Trump and that the terrorist organization had 48 hours to respond.

“We understood from the Qataris that this was an official message from the American president, and we treated it as an initiative for an agreement to end the war. We had 48 hours to respond to the proposal,” Naim said.

Naim said Hamas had already suspected that Israel might carry out a military operation targeting the terrorist group’s senior leadership.

“We had an assessment that Israel was not interested in reaching any agreement, and might take military action that would target Hamas leaders, first and foremost, of course, the head of the negotiating team, Khalil al-Hayya. However, it was not clear to us when or how.”

Security-camera footage broadcast as part of the report showed stairwells and nearby streets in the aftermath of the strike. A Qatari eyewitness interviewed by the channel said he heard at least ten explosions in the area.

Naim also described the moment when he realized that his life could be in danger. He said his first request was that members of the Hamas delegation recite the Shahada, the Islamic declaration of faith, believing that those could be their final words.

The evacuation plan, however, was quickly activated.

“Immediately, the delegation began to be evacuated from the location one by one,” Naim recalled. “Each person went in a different direction.”

{Matzav.com}

Nearly a year after emerging from the darkness of Hamas captivity, freed hostage Matan Angrest stood at the tziyun of Rav Yeshayale of Kerestir, fulfilling an emotional promise made by his family when his freedom appeared far beyond reach.

Angrest joined survivors of the Nova massacre and others on a moving Elul journey through Poland and Hungary organized by Kesher Yehudi. Many of the young men and women participating have undergone a remarkable spiritual transformation over the past year, taking upon themselves shemiras Shabbos, regular chavrusa learning, and participation in the shiurim of Rav Yaron Ashkenazi.

Participants described the trip as a “journey of victory, faith and gratitude,” combining remembrance of the horrors of the Holocaust with a renewed connection to Jewish roots and the tzaddikim of previous generations. The journey culminated in emotional tefillos of gratitude and supplication ahead of the new year.

The group began its trip in Poland, visiting Warsaw and the city’s Jewish cemetery, where participants learned about the vibrant Jewish life that existed there before the Holocaust. Rav Yisrael Goldwasser related the harrowing stories of Jewish children who survived the Nazi inferno by hiding for two years inside pits in the cemetery.

It was there that one of the journey’s most poignant moments unfolded.

Angrest, who was abducted from his military post and held in Hamas tunnels in Gaza, stood above one of those pits almost exactly a year after he himself had emerged from the darkness of underground captivity.

The symbolism was overwhelming for those present: a survivor of Hamas captivity standing beside the hiding pits used by Jews fleeing the Nazis, alive and free, strengthening his emunah and standing as a symbol of survival. Participants were visibly moved to tears.

From Warsaw, the group traveled to the Majdanek extermination camp. On the grounds where thousands of Jewish kedoshim were murdered al kiddush Hashem, the participants joined together for an emotional Kabbalas Ol Malchus Shomayim.

Throughout the journey, Rav Yisrael Goldwasser accompanied the group with songs and niggunim of inspiration and deveikus, along with words of reflection designed to prepare the participants for the Yomim Noraim.

Leaving the sites of destruction behind, the group continued to Lizhensk, where they visited the tziyun of Rav Elimelech of Lizhensk. Emotional tefillos were recited there on behalf of Klal Yisroel, for personal and communal yeshuos, and for a year of blessing and growth both beruchniyus and begashmiyus.

Following the visit to Lizhensk, the group embarked on a lengthy overnight journey to Kerestir, Hungary, arriving early Friday morning.

One of the most emotional moments of the entire trip took place at the tziyun of Rav Yeshayale of Kerestir.

Exactly one year earlier, Angrest’s father and his brother Ofir had stood at that very spot while Matan remained in Hamas captivity, with no apparent prospect of his release. Brokenhearted, they made a promise: If Matan returned home, they would come back to Kerestir to give thanks.

Now, one year later, Matan himself stood at the tziyun, alive and well.

Having taken upon himself shemiras Shabbos and strengthened his belief in Hashem and His Torah, Angrest stood together with his friends and offered thanks to Hashem for the extraordinary nissim that had brought him from captivity to freedom.

Kesher Yehudi chairwoman Rebbetzin Tzili Schneider, who initiated the journey, reflected on the powerful scene.

“Without a doubt, if the tzaddik of Kerestir, who possessed such an extraordinary love for every Jew, were here with us, he would derive tremendous nachas from this breathtaking sight: young people who witnessed all the horrors with their own eyes, yet whose mouths are filled with song and gratitude to Hashem, with spiritual strengthening and growing closer to Him, and with the observance of Torah and mitzvos.”

The group spent their final Shabbos near the tziyun of Rav Yeshayale of Kerestir. Participants described an uplifting Shabbos that provided an intense period of spiritual preparation for Rosh Hashanah. Rav Yaron Ashkenazi, the rov of Gedera, traveled especially from Israel to accompany the group and provide spiritual guidance throughout this portion of the journey.

At midnight on Motzoei Shabbos, another emotional highlight took place as the group gathered at the tziyun for Selichos.

Freed hostages, Nova survivors and the rabbinic leaders accompanying them joined together in tearful tefillah for the coming year. Amid the emotional Selichos, participants also accepted new personal commitments to continue strengthening their observance of Shabbos and Torah.

{Matzav.com}

[COMMUNICATED]

Erev Rosh Hashanah 5787

As we stand on the cusp of a new year, we look back with profound gratitude to Hakadosh Baruch Hu—and to His emissaries, our partners and supporters— for another year of extraordinary growth, accomplishment, and kavod haTorah in the Kollelim Shas Yidden. 

134 Gaonim. One Shas.

This past year once again brought the remarkable sight that has become synonymous with Shas Yidden: 134 avreichim geonim gathering together for a public farher on Kol HaShas Kulo—the entire Shas.

The farher, held at Yeshiva Ohr Hachaim in Yerushalayim, took place alongside a siyum on Shas by each of the participating avreichim. Gedolei Torah “strolled” through Shas with question after question, and the answers came with astonishing speed, clarity, and precision.

Questions ranged across the entire Shas, touching on the Chachmei Yisrael and the Tzedokim, darkei shalom, dreams mentioned throughout Shas, forgotten Torah that Abaye reminded Rav Yosef of, and countless other topics. The rapid-fire responses demonstrated not merely knowledge, but a remarkable bekius, depth, and command of the vast expanses of Torah.

“I Have Never Seen Talmidei Chachomim Such as These”

Hagaon Rav Reuven Elbaz, Rosh Yeshivas Ohr Hachaim, was visibly moved by the scene. Seeing 132 true gaonim together, he remarked that he was nearly convinced that the berachah of “Baruch Shecholak Meichachmaso Lirei’av” should be recited.

Hagaon Rav Menachem Cohen, Rosh Yeshivas Nesiv Hada’as, testified that despite having spent years among the greatest batei midrash and alongside outstanding talmidei chachomim, he had “never seen Talmidei Chachomim such as these.”

A Torah Revolution Across the World

Today, seven Kollelim Shas Yidden—in Yerushalayim, Bnei Brak, Beit Shemesh, Beitar, Kiryat Sefer, London, and Flatbush—are cultivating a generation of lomdei Shas whose accomplishments are inspiring the entire Torah world.

In Flatbush alone, the Kollel continues its demanding daily regimen of nine blatt of Gemara, studied five times each together with Rashi and Tosfos, in addition to Yerushalmi, monthly written examinations, and rigorous farheren.

The impact reaches far beyond the Kollelim. Those who witness these farheren are inspired to take on new shiurim, deepen their own limud haTorah, and raise their aspirations for what can be accomplished through unwavering dedication to Torah.

As we enter the new year, we extend our deepest hakaras hatov to each and every supporter who makes this Torah empire possible.

May the zechus of supporting such unparalleled yegias haTorah and Torah mastery stand by you and your families for a year of brachah, hatzlachah, yeshuos, and kol tuv—a year in which all your tefillos are accepted b’rachamim u’v’ratzon, and you are blessed with birkas Hashem b’ruchniyus u’v’gashmiyus.

                                                 Kesivah v’chasimah tovah,

A Gut Gebentsht Yor,
and with heartfelt gratitude,
Kollel Shas Yidden

ShasYiden.com

A major controversy erupted at Yeshivas Chevron ahead of Rosh Hashanah after special “kosher” cellphones distributed to the yeshiva’s bochurim — and designated as the only devices they are permitted to use — were discovered to contain a loophole that reportedly allows users to bypass the phone’s restrictions and install virtually any application.

The devices, known as “Fig” phones, operate on Android 11 and were designed to provide several functions not ordinarily available on standard kosher phones approved by the Vaad Harabanim L’Inyanei Tikshoret. Among the permitted features are an app providing bus information, an app containing seforim, and music.

It has now emerged, however, that the restrictions built into the devices can apparently be circumvented, potentially giving bochurim access to unrestricted content and allowing them to install apps of their choosing.

One Chevron talmid told Matzav.com that the loophole involves creating an additional user profile on the device.

“The bochurim discovered that if you open a new user on the device, it is possible to access unwanted content,” he said.

Ironically, the vulnerability was reportedly discovered because bochurim were trying to download shiurim from Kol Halashon.

“The big story is that bochurim wanted to download shiurim from Kol Halashon, but they could not copy the shiurim with a cable to the station that is in the yeshiva,” the talmid explained. “So the yeshiva put up notices saying that it is possible to open a new user in the device’s settings, and then it would be possible to copy the shiurim. What became clear is that the new user has no filtering at all and no blocking.”

The discovery has reportedly caused considerable confusion inside the yeshiva, particularly because there are concerns that the loophole may not be easily resolved.

“This created tremendous confusion and a mess in the yeshiva, and apparently there is no way to overcome it,” the talmid said. “Even if they do a software update, the bochurim will find an option to bypass it. The yeshiva itself has still not issued a response on the matter, and the bochurim are waiting for a decision.”

According to information obtained by Matzav.com, yeshiva officials are expected to collect all of the devices from the bochurim, although no official announcement has yet been issued.

The special phone had originally been introduced as a solution to the problem of the so-called “kosher Xiaomi” — devices that outwardly resemble kosher phones but are actually smartphones that can be completely unrestricted.

The Chevron phone initiative itself had already generated controversy before the latest discovery.

When the phones were first distributed approximately a year ago, they were given only to the younger bochurim in Vaad Alef. The devices were provided at no charge, but each recipient was required to submit two deposit checks.

One check, for 600 shekels, was to be cashed if the device was damaged. A second check, for 1,500 shekels, was intended as a deterrent against deliberately breaking through the phone’s restrictions and would be cashed if a bochur was found to have done so.

The introduction of the device prompted opposition from several Gedolei Yisroel and roshei yeshiva, who spoke out against its use. Ultimately, however, the phone received the approval of the yeshiva’s leadership.

At the beginning of the current Elul zman, the program was expanded and the phones were distributed to all of the yeshiva’s bochurim, with recipients required to provide the two deposit checks.

Now, just weeks after the expanded rollout, the discovery that the supposedly restricted devices can apparently be opened to unrestricted applications has thrown the program into turmoil, with bochurim awaiting a decision from the yeshiva regarding what will happen to the phones.

{Matzav.com}

A bitter dispute over the right to use the name “Stutchin” has taken a dramatic new turn following the leak of an internal recording that purportedly discusses a strategy to shift an ongoing din Torah from the United States to Israel, replace appointed borerim, and potentially drag out the proceedings for years while continuing to build institutions under the disputed name.

The recording, which surfaced Wednesday from an internal group associated with the Toldos Yehuda community led by the well-known mashpia, Rav Mordechai Menashe Zilber, the Toldos Yehuda Rebbe, known as Reb Mottel, has reportedly caused an uproar among leading batei din involved in the case.

At the center of the controversy is a longstanding dispute between the Stutchin chassidus and Rav Zilber’s community over the latter’s use of the “Stutchin” name.

Rav Zilber has longstanding ties to Stutchin. He grew up and studied in English-speaking, modern-oriented institutions in the United States before being drawn close to chassidus by the previous Stutchiner Rebbe, zt”l. Following the Rebbe’s petirah, however, Rav Zilber established a separate community, with a group of Stutchin chassidim joining him.

In recent years, Rav Zilber’s group began once again operating under the name “Stutchin,” while establishing a community and institutions associated with that name. The move prompted strong opposition from the existing Stutchin chassidus and ultimately led to proceedings before prominent batei din over who has the right to use the name.

The din Torah process began approximately nine months ago, initially before the Hisachdus Harabanim in the United States and later before the bais din of the Eidah Hachareidis in Yerushalayim.

Over the ensuing months, numerous summonses and letters were reportedly sent to Rav Zilber’s representatives directing them to appear for a din Torah. According to those involved in the proceedings, they did not appear, leaving the process at a standstill.

Both Hisachdus Harabanim and the Eidah Hachareidis subsequently issued kisvei siruv and restrictions concerning Rav Zilber’s continued use of the Stutchin name. Those directives, too, were reportedly not acted upon.

Only ahead of Reb Mottel’s visit to Eretz Yisroel did representatives of his community announce that they were prepared to reenter the din Torah process.

The Eidah Hachareidis then directed the two sides to proceed through zabla arbitration, with each side selecting its own borer and a mutually acceptable third dayan. When the parties were unable to agree on the third member, the bais din appointed Rav Shimon Yitzchok Schlesinger to serve in that role.

Stutchin selected Rav Yekusiel Zalman Gross as its borer, while Rav Zilber’s side chose Rav Eliyahu Wydyslawski.

Once the arbitration panel had been assembled, however, the process again stalled. Rav Zilber’s representatives allegedly stopped appearing for proceedings, prompting the Eidah Hachareidis to recently issue another ksav siruv concerning the Stutchin name and impose a deadline for their return to the process.

On the final day of that deadline, representatives of Toldos Yehuda appeared before the bais din. Upon returning to the proceedings, however, they presented a new request: They sought to replace the borer they themselves had previously appointed.

Instead of Rav Eliyahu Wydyslawski, they asked to appoint Rav Chaim Aharon Munderer, the Kossover Rebbe of Beit Shemesh, as their representative on the arbitration panel.

The bais din had determined that the arbitration proceedings would take place in the United States. It is against that backdrop that the newly leaked recording has generated particular controversy.

In the recording, a member of the Toldos Yehuda community is purportedly heard discussing a plan through which the arbitration could ultimately be moved from the United States to Israel.

The speaker reportedly argues that a borer based in Eretz Yisroel might be less familiar with the history of the dispute and with the standing of the Stutchin name in America.

In the United States, he says, the established Stutchin chassidus is widely recognized, the Stutchiner Rebbe enjoys significant support, and there is a general understanding that Rav Zilber does not represent the Stutchin name. In Yerushalayim, by contrast, Rav Zilber enjoys support within certain circles, potentially creating a more favorable environment for his side.

The most explosive portion of the recording reportedly comes later, when the speaker discusses the possibility of replacing the newly appointed borer yet again at a later stage, potentially allowing the proceedings to continue for an extended period.

According to the apparent strategy described in the recording, the Kossover Rebbe could initially be used as the community’s borer while the proceedings are prolonged, after which he, too, could eventually be replaced. Meanwhile, the speaker reportedly suggests, Rav Zilber’s community could continue developing its institutions and conducting its activities under the Stutchin name while the arbitration remained unresolved.

The recording has reportedly generated anger among senior figures in the batei din overseeing the dispute.

A senior rabbinic figure affiliated with the Eidah Hachareidis who heard the recording Wednesday sharply condemned what he described as a deliberate scheme, saying it followed nine months of brazen disregard for and harm to the authority of the batei din.

“לא נעבור על כך בשתיקה” — “We will not allow this to pass in silence,” he warned.

Rav Zilber’s community rejected the allegations, maintaining that the individual heard on the recording is not an authoritative representative of the community and that no such strategy or plan exists.

Stutchin representatives, for their part, said they do not believe the opposing side will go so far as to implement the alleged plan. They added that should any such steps be attempted, they are confident that the batei din overseeing the dispute will intervene and prevent them.

{Matzav.com}

Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned Wednesday that Iran will continue to face military and economic consequences if Tehran persists in attacking American naval vessels, saying the United States intends to keep up its pressure campaign against the Iranian regime.

Speaking to reporters in Ecuador, Rubio said Iranian attempts to strike U.S. Navy ships have repeatedly failed to hit their targets while prompting American retaliation against Iranian tankers.

“They continue to fire on naval ships, and when they fire at our naval ships, they pay a price in tankers. They don’t hit our ships, but they lose five tankers.”

Addressing the latest U.S. strikes carried out Tuesday night, Rubio said another group of Iranian vessels had been hit and warned that additional consequences would follow if Tehran continued its attacks.

“They lost five more last night. Four were damaged, and one was sunk. They’ll continue to pay a price for that. In the meantime, we’re going to continue to strangle them economically.”

President Donald Trump also addressed the ongoing conflict with Iran while speaking to reporters Wednesday, saying he expects the fighting to conclude shortly after the U.S. midterm elections in November.

“I think the war will end immediately after the election,” Trump said, arguing that Iran “can’t hold out any longer.”

Trump accused the Iranian regime of trying to keep the conflict going in an effort to influence the upcoming American elections.

“They’re desperate to try and affect the election so that we could get a nice, weak group of people in there and leave them alone and let them have their nuclear weapon.”

The President also warned that the latest round of American strikes would not mark the end of the U.S. response, signaling that further military action could be forthcoming.

“You’re going to see a lot more.”

{Matzav.com}

[COMMUNICATED]

Her treatment costs approximately 30,000 NIS every month. After crushing medical expenses, this family of 11 is struggling to put even basic food on the table.

As Klal Yisrael prepares for Rosh Hashanah, one family is facing a reality no family should have to experience.

A mother of nine children is battling Stage 4 cancer.

Her condition is extremely serious, requiring ongoing treatment that costs approximately 30,000 NIS ($9,000) every month.

Month after month, the family has somehow found a way to keep going. But the enormous medical expenses have depleted their resources and pushed them to the breaking point.

Now, just before Rosh Hashanah, there isn’t even enough money for basic necessities and food at home.

DONATE NOW — HELP A MOTHER OF 9 FIGHT FOR HER LIFE

Nine Children Are Watching Their Mother Fight

Behind the medical bills are nine children living with the fear and uncertainty of their mother’s illness.

While children everywhere look forward to the simanim, Yom Tov meals and the sound of the shofar, these children are hoping for something far more basic:

They want their mother to be there for them.

Their mother is fighting with everything she has. But this is a battle the family can no longer carry alone.

An emergency campaign has been opened to help cover her lifesaving treatment and provide basic support for her children during this devastating period.

The case comes with the recommendation of Rabbi Yaakov Zilberman.

DONATE NOW — HELP A MOTHER OF 9 FIGHT FOR HER LIFE

Before We Ask for Life

In just days, we will stand before the Ribono Shel Olam and say:

“Zochreinu L’Chaim.”

Remember us for life.

Before we ask Hashem for another year of life, we have an opportunity to help a Jewish mother who is fighting for hers.

$36 can help put food on the table.
$180 can help ease the family’s immediate burden.
$360, $500, $1,000 or more can help shoulder the enormous cost of her care.

Nine children need their mother. And right now, their family needs Klal Yisrael.

Please open your heart before Rosh Hashanah and give as generously as you can.

DONATE NOW — HELP A MOTHER OF 9 FIGHT FOR HER LIFE

May the zechus of supporting this mother and her children stand for every donor and their family in the Yemei HaDin.

May we all be inscribed and sealed for a year of life, health, bracha and yeshuos.

Kesivah V’Chasimah Tovah.

Former U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has categorically denied a Haaretz report claiming that Hamas offered in the immediate aftermath of the October 7 massacre to release all civilian hostages without receiving anything in return, but that Israel refused to discuss the proposal.

Blinken issued the denial in response to American journalist Ryan Grim, who cited the Haaretz report by journalist Shlomi Eldar. Blinken responded briefly and unequivocally: “For the record, this is false. Complete fiction.”

According to the Haaretz report, Hamas conveyed a message through Qatar as early as October 7 indicating that it was prepared to return all civilian hostages without demanding anything in exchange. The terror group’s only request, according to the report, was that a mediator arrange the transfer and establish a channel for subsequent negotiations over the release of captured soldiers.

The report further alleged that Israel refused to discuss the proposal or even hear its details, prompting Qatar to approach Blinken and inform him of Hamas’ purported willingness to release the civilian hostages.

According to the account now flatly denied by Blinken, when Qatari officials sought to advance the proposal, the then-secretary of state told them that he planned to travel to Israel within three days and would personally discuss the matter with Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu.

When the Qataris reportedly pressed for immediate action, Blinken was quoted as responding: “Right now, the situation is complicated. Israel is still under attack, and there is no one to talk to. We’ll wait three days.”

Citing the Haaretz account, Grim leveled a sharp accusation against Blinken, arguing that the secretary of state had been presented with an opportunity to secure the release of all civilian hostages and help de-escalate the situation, but instead chose war.

Blinken has now rejected not merely a specific detail of that account, but the story in its entirety.

“For the record, this is false. Complete fiction,” Blinken wrote in his direct response to the report.

{Matzav.com}

Conflicting accounts have emerged over whether UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed warned Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu before the October 7 massacre of the possibility of a major escalation involving the Palestinians, with a new report claiming that bin Zayed later described such a conversation to then-CIA Director Bill Burns while former Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer insists the conversation never took place.

The controversy follows a report in Haaretz alleging that bin Zayed warned Netanyahu before October 7 that Hamas was planning a significant move.

According to information reported by Kan News, several months after the October 7 attack, bin Zayed told Burns that he had spoken with Netanyahu before the massacre and conveyed a general warning about the possibility of a “violent explosion” involving the Palestinians.

Bin Zayed reportedly also told senior figures in both Israel and the United States about the conversation.

It remains unclear precisely when the alleged conversation between Netanyahu and bin Zayed took place. According to the details attributed to the UAE president, the message was not a specific warning of an impending Hamas attack. Rather, it reflected broader concern over the deteriorating situation involving the Palestinians in both Yehudah and Shomron and Gaza.

That account, however, has now been directly contradicted by Dermer, who says no such conversation between Netanyahu and bin Zayed ever occurred.

Speaking at the MEAD Conference in Washington, Dermer was asked about the alleged exchange and categorically denied it.

“Was there a conversation? No. Had there been a conversation, I would have been in it, because one of the tasks assigned to me was expanding the Abraham Accords and strengthening the partnership with the United Arab Emirates,” Dermer said.

“So I don’t know where they got this story from. I think the Emiratis were clear that it didn’t happen. We are clear that it didn’t happen. So it’s basically fiction. Just a made-up story,” he added.

Meanwhile, Channel 13 reported another potentially significant development, claiming that former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett has said in private conversations that bin Zayed personally informed him about the alleged warning he gave Netanyahu before October 7.

According to the report, Bennett said, “Bin Zayed asked not to talk about it.”

Bennett’s office rejected the report, calling it “false” and adding that Bennett “does not comment on his conversations with leaders.”

An Emirati source, however, offered a sharply different account to Channel 13 and dismissed the Israeli denials.

“Netanyahu’s denial is ridiculous. Many messages were conveyed indicating that Sinwar was going to do ‘something different,’” the source said.

Apple on Wednesday unveiled the iPhone Duo, the company’s first-ever foldable iPhone, marking one of the most dramatic changes to the iconic smartphone since its introduction nearly two decades ago.

The new device combines a conventional 5.4-inch outer screen with a large 7.6-inch flexible display that appears when the phone is unfolded. Apple says the iPhone Duo is the thinnest iPhone it has ever produced when fully open and features the largest display ever offered on an iPhone.

The iPhone Duo will not come cheap. Prices begin at $1,999 in the United States for 256GB of storage, with 512GB, 1TB and 2TB configurations also available. The top-of-the-line 2TB version will cost $3,199. Preorders are scheduled to open October 16, with the phone going on sale October 23 in the United States and more than 70 other countries and regions.

The phone will initially be offered in two colors, Star White and Night Sky.

Apple designed the two halves of the Duo so that they form a continuous frame, with the inner and outer displays sharing the same aspect ratio. The idea is to allow content to transition naturally from the smaller exterior screen to the much larger interior display when the device is opened.

The 5.4-inch outer Super Retina XDR display provides roughly 90% of the screen area of the iPhone 18 Pro. Opening the Duo reveals a 7.6-inch Super Retina XDR display that Apple says is 50% larger than the screen on the iPhone 18 Pro Max.

Both screens feature ProMotion, Always-On display technology and peak outdoor brightness of 3,000 nits. Apple also announced that Apple Pencil support will be added to both displays later this year.

One of the biggest engineering challenges with foldable phones has been the visible crease where the screen bends. Apple says it developed a special nano-textured surface for the Duo that reduces reflections while helping minimize the appearance of the crease.

Underneath the flexible screen is an elaborate multilayer structure. Apple says custom adhesives allow the layers to move against one another as the device folds, while a titanium plate and other support structures provide stiffness and durability.

The folding mechanism itself contains more than 100 precision components. The hinge is designed both to support the center of the display when the Duo is completely open and to provide a controlled opening and closing motion. Magnets help keep the phone securely shut when folded.

The exterior frame is made from polished Grade 5 titanium. Ceramic Shield protects the rear, while Ceramic Shield 2 covers the outer display. Despite the moving hinge and foldable screen, Apple says the Duo carries an IP68 rating for water and dust resistance.

Unlike Apple’s other flagship iPhones, the Duo uses Touch ID integrated into its side button. Users can also unlock the phone through a paired Apple Watch.

Apple has extensively modified iOS 27 to take advantage of the unusual form factor. Controls have been moved toward the sides of the screen so they remain within reach, while the Home Screen dock and Dynamic Island have been redesigned for the larger display.

The software automatically responds as the phone is folded, opened, rotated or propped up. Content can move away from the crease when the phone is partially folded, while apps can transition between the outside and inside displays without forcing users to start over.

Perhaps the biggest change is multitasking. For the first time on an iPhone, users can run two applications side by side using Split View. They can also open two windows of the same app — such as two Safari windows — and save frequently used pairs of applications so they can be reopened together.

Several third-party developers have already optimized their apps for the new design. Apple says Netflix, Zoom and Slack are among the apps taking advantage of the folding screen.

The Duo also introduces an expanded StandBy mode. When placed on a surface, the foldable phone can function as a bedside clock, photo frame or information display, with calendar, weather, music and other widgets available.

Under the hood, the iPhone Duo is powered by Apple’s new A20 Pro chip, the same processor used in the iPhone 18 Pro models. Apple says the chip is manufactured using 2-nanometer technology and provides up to 35% better sustained performance than the iPhone 17 Pro when paired with the Duo’s new thermal-management system.

The company has also fitted the phone with its new C2 cellular modem, which supports 5G mmWave in the United States, along with an Apple-designed N1 networking chip supporting Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6 and Thread. The iPhone Duo will be eSIM-only worldwide.

The phone includes two batteries, one housed in each half of the device, but software manages them as a single power source.

Apple rates the Duo for up to 31 hours of video playback using the inner display and up to 44 hours using the exterior screen. When both screens are used equally, Apple says the phone can provide up to 24 hours of use on a charge. Fast charging can bring the battery to approximately 50% in about 20 minutes.

The Duo also incorporates a redesigned camera system built around a 48-megapixel Fusion main camera and a 48-megapixel Fusion Ultra Wide camera, the latter shared with the iPhone 18 Pro lineup.

Because the phone can remain standing while partially folded, users can position it on a surface without a tripod for photos, FaceTime calls and time-lapse videos. The main camera supports 4K video at up to 120 frames per second in Dolby Vision, while time-lapse video can be recorded in 4K Dolby Vision HDR.

The outer screen contains a 12-megapixel Center Stage front camera. A separate FaceTime camera is concealed beneath the inner display, leaving the large screen uninterrupted when the camera is not being used.

The unusual two-screen configuration also gives Apple several new photography options. Users can take high-quality selfies with the rear cameras while previewing themselves on the outer display. Another feature, Duo Preview, allows the person being photographed to see the live image on the outside screen.

A feature called Smart Take uses on-device artificial intelligence to monitor a group and automatically snap a picture when the subjects are ready, eliminating the need for someone to race into position before a timer expires. Kid Cue can display animations on the outer screen to encourage children to look toward the camera.

The Duo can also capture the front and rear views simultaneously. A new Duo FaceTime mode even allows someone standing with the phone’s owner to participate in the same FaceTime conversation using the exterior screen.

The iPhone Duo will also be one of Apple’s showcase devices for its expanding artificial-intelligence features. It supports Apple Intelligence and the new Siri AI experience, with the larger screen designed to allow users to interact with Siri while simultaneously viewing other content.

Apple is introducing two dedicated accessories alongside the phone: a two-piece protective iPhone Duo Case and a Duo Folio featuring a built-in kickstand. The case will cost $79, while the Folio will sell for $129.

The iPhone Duo will ship with iOS 27.1. Customers in the first wave of more than 70 countries and regions will be able to preorder the phone beginning at 5 a.m. Pacific Time on Friday, October 16, before its official release one week later, on October 23. Another 28 countries and regions will receive the device on October 30.

With the Duo, Apple is entering a foldable smartphone market years after several of its major competitors, but it is doing so with an unmistakably Apple approach: a premium titanium design, extensive hardware-software integration, and an equally premium price tag.

At $1,999 for the least expensive version and as much as $3,199 for maximum storage, the iPhone Duo is positioned not simply as another iPhone model but as a new ultra-high-end category within Apple’s smartphone lineup.

A long-awaited project to install a permanent roof over a central courtyard at Meoras Hamachpeilah in Chevron has finally been completed, providing protection from the elements for the many mispallelim who come throughout the year to daven at the resting place of the Avos and Imahos.

The new roof covers approximately 300 square meters over the inner courtyard known as Chatzer Yaakov. The project was completed and inaugurated on Wednesday, ahead of Rosh Hashanah, when large numbers of mispallelim traditionally visit the holy site.

Efforts to advance the project date back more than two decades. In 2007, plans for the roof were promoted together with the elevator and accessibility pathway intended to make Meoras Hamachpeilah more accessible to all visitors.

The roofing project, however, remained stalled for years amid opposition from Muslim officials.

Authorities subsequently went through a lengthy process to transfer the necessary jurisdiction away from the Chevron Municipality so that the work could proceed. A building permit was ultimately issued approximately one year ago, clearing the way for construction to begin.

Until now, Chatzer Yaakov remained exposed to the elements, leaving mispallelim vulnerable to heavy rain during the winter and intense heat during the warmer months. The permanent covering will now allow tefillos to take place in the courtyard throughout the year with considerably greater comfort.

The improvements went beyond the installation of the roof. The drainage infrastructure at Meoras Hamachpeilah was upgraded as part of the work, and air-conditioning systems were installed to improve conditions for the many visitors and mispallelim who frequent the site.

The Civil Administration oversaw and financed the project at a cost of approximately NIS 11 million. The actual construction was performed by the Defense Ministry’s Engineering and Construction Department, with preservation and archaeology professionals participating in the work to ensure that the improvements were carried out appropriately at the ancient and revered site.

{Matzav.com}

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said Wednesday that the conflict with the United States could be brought to an end if Washington abandons its threats against Tehran and accepts a sweeping list of Iranian conditions involving frozen assets, Iran’s nuclear and missile programs, and developments in Lebanon and Yemen.

IRGC spokesman Hossein Mohibi, whose remarks were carried by Iran’s Fars News Agency, said Washington would have to halt the fighting entirely and cease issuing additional threats against Iran if it wants the current confrontation to end.

Among Tehran’s demands, Mohibi said, are an Israeli military withdrawal from Lebanon, the lifting of the blockade on Yemen, the release of $24 billion in frozen Iranian funds, and an end to outside interference with Iran’s nuclear and missile capabilities.

The demands came as the IRGC separately announced Wednesday that Iran was establishing a new restricted maritime area extending beyond the Strait of Hormuz into portions of the Gulf of Oman. Iranian authorities said the precise boundaries of the zone would be disclosed later.

Speaking on Iranian state television, Mohibi said the restricted zone would begin approximately off the coast of Chabahar and stretch across sections of the Gulf of Oman and into the Arabian Sea.

He warned that ships entering the newly designated area without obtaining advance authorization could be subjected to punitive action, including being denied services necessary for maritime navigation.

Iranian and American forces have continued military operations in the vicinity of the Strait of Hormuz, with the strategic shipping route remaining a major focus of the confrontation between the two countries.

Commercial traffic through the strait has been almost completely disrupted since the latest escalation began. Tehran has required ships to receive authorization before transiting the waterway, a requirement rejected by the United States and several regional governments.

Washington, meanwhile, has intensified its own pressure campaign against Tehran, imposing a blockade on Iranian ports while adding new sanctions against Iranian airlines as part of broader efforts to restrict Iran economically.

UK Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband has pushed back against Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis’ warning that Britain’s new sanctions targeting Israeli communities in Judea and Samaria could heighten the threat of antisemitism faced by British Jews.

Mirvis issued a forceful condemnation of the government’s move, calling its announcement a “truly dark day” and arguing that the policy risks emboldening the very extremist forces it is ostensibly intended to confront.

Miliband responded by invoking his own Jewish identity, saying that as a “proud British Jew,” he nevertheless disagreed with the Chief Rabbi’s conclusions.

“We all need to do more to tackle antisemitism,” Miliband said, maintaining that the government could simultaneously fight antisemitism at home and uphold what it regards as British principles in its foreign policy.

During an appearance on BBC Radio 4’s Today program, Miliband emphasized his respect for Mirvis while making clear that the two differed over the ramifications of the sanctions. He also said that blaming Jews in Britain or anywhere else for policies pursued by Israel’s government is itself antisemitic.

Mirvis, however, charged that the British government was resorting to political gestures that intensify anti-Israel sentiment. He warned that punitive action directed at Israel could provide further encouragement to people who channel hostility toward Israel into hatred of Jews.

The clash erupted after the British government unveiled sanctions affecting trade associated with Israeli communities in Judea and Samaria.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham defended the policy during an appearance in Parliament, arguing that Britain has an obligation to stand for “fairness against injustice” and to support people being displaced from their homes.

The Palestinian presidency praised Britain’s decision, characterizing the sanctions as a measure aimed at challenging what it called Israel’s “colonial system” and alleged Israeli violations against Palestinians.

Britain’s Jewish communal organizations have responded differently to the government’s decision.

The Jewish Leadership Council expressed concern that the sanctions could ultimately evolve into an effective boycott of Israel and accused Miliband of yielding to pressure from extremist factions within British society.

The Board of Deputies of British Jews focused in particular on the government’s decision to make the announcement shortly before Rosh Hashanah, saying worries over security were especially acute within the Jewish community at that time. The organization further cautioned that deteriorating ties between London and Jerusalem could contribute to increased tensions inside Britain.

At the same time, the Board of Deputies pointed out that it had previously communicated concerns to the Israeli government about violence perpetrated by settlers.

Figures from the Community Security Trust showed 1,926 antisemitic incidents across Britain during the first six months of 2026, representing a 21% rise from the same period a year earlier.

Greater Manchester Police, meanwhile, announced that it would deploy additional personnel during the Jewish High Holy Days in an effort to provide increased security and a greater police presence around Jewish communities.

Not all British Jewish organizations opposed the sanctions. Na’amod backed the government’s action, arguing that British Jews do not hold a single unified position on Israel and rejecting the contention that the new policy would fuel antisemitism.

The Movement for Progressive Judaism took a similar position, saying concerns about the safety and vulnerability of British Jews deserved serious attention but arguing that policies targeting Israeli communities should not automatically be characterized as measures directed against Jewish people.

The British action has also led to a widening diplomatic confrontation with Israel. Israel responded by shutting Britain’s consulate in eastern Jerusalem and prohibiting 11 members of Parliament and a campaigner from entering the country.

Israeli Diaspora Minister Amichai Chikli later called for further British-affiliated individuals and organizations to be barred from entering Israel.

Addressing Parliament, Miliband said the government’s change in policy was driven by proposed development in the E1 area. He additionally accused what he called “settler terrorists” of driving Palestinians from their land and charged that Israel’s government had repeatedly failed to take sufficient action against them.

Under the planned sanctions, businesses and individuals involved in providing services connected to Israeli communities in Judea and Samaria—including construction and financing—will be targeted. The measures will also prohibit the advertising in Britain of properties located in those communities. Miliband said putting the new restrictions fully into effect could require as much as nine months.

Canada and France have announced similar prohibitions on products originating from Israeli communities in Judea and Samaria as part of coordinated international measures.

The International Atomic Energy Agency’s Board of Governors voted Wednesday to refer Iran to the United Nations Security Council over Tehran’s failure to cooperate fully with an investigation into uranium particles found at locations Iran had not declared as nuclear sites.

The decision represents the first time in two decades that the IAEA’s governing board has sent the Iranian nuclear matter to the Security Council over such concerns.

Western governments have raised questions about whether the unexplained uranium traces are connected to a covert Iranian nuclear weapons effort believed to have operated until 2003. Tehran has consistently rejected allegations that it has pursued an atomic bomb, insisting that its nuclear activities are exclusively peaceful.

The resolution was approved by 23 members of the IAEA’s 35-nation Board of Governors during a meeting at the agency’s Vienna headquarters. Russia, China and Niger opposed the measure, eight countries abstained, and another country was unable to participate in the vote because of outstanding financial obligations.

The United States, Britain, France and Germany jointly introduced the resolution.

The latest action follows a June 2025 determination by the IAEA board that Iran was failing to comply with its nuclear nonproliferation responsibilities, with the agency pointing at the time to Tehran’s insufficient cooperation with its investigation.

Iran’s ambassador to the United Nations in Vienna, Reza Najafi, condemned Wednesday’s decision, describing the resolution as a “political tool.” He charged that the move damages confidence in the IAEA’s “independence, impartiality and credibility.”

Najafi further maintained that the continuing military conflict involving Iran, the United States and Israel has prevented Tehran from providing inspectors with the access they require at Iranian nuclear installations.

His comments came amid continued fighting in the more than six-month-old war. The United States destroyed five Iranian oil tankers this week, after which Iran attacked American targets in Jordan as the two sides continued exchanging strikes.

Under the resolution, IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi is asked to formally convey the agency’s concerns to both the UN Security Council and the UN General Assembly, as provided for under the IAEA Statute.

The measure additionally demands that Tehran remedy its noncompliance and carry out steps sought by the nuclear watchdog so the agency can verify that Iranian nuclear material has not been diverted for prohibited purposes.

IAEA inspectors have been unable to access Iranian nuclear installations damaged by Israeli and American strikes since the 12-day war in June 2025. As a result, the agency has also been unable to establish the current condition and location of Iran’s inventory of uranium enriched to levels approaching weapons grade.

Najafi maintained that damage caused by the Israeli and U.S. attacks has rendered safe entry into the affected installations “materially impossible.” He said Iran has “neither stopped nor suspended its safeguards obligations,” while arguing that the continuing fighting and military threats have made it impossible for Tehran to fulfill those requirements at present.

Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal and International Affairs Kazem Gharibabadi also denounced the resolution in a statement posted on X.

“They attack Iran’s safeguarded nuclear facilities, disrupt the normal verification process, and then use that very disruption as a pretext for passing a resolution at the IAEA Board of Governors,” Gharibabadi wrote.

“With these attempts to create an atmosphere, you can neither compensate for the failure of your policies and actions, nor will you be able to achieve anything at the Security Council.”

IAEA figures put Iran’s stockpile of uranium enriched to 60% purity at 440.9 kilograms, or approximately 972 pounds. That enrichment level remains below the roughly 90% generally regarded as weapons grade.

Grossi has previously said that the quantity of highly enriched uranium in Iran’s possession could theoretically provide enough material for as many as 10 nuclear weapons if Tehran chose to pursue weaponization. He has also emphasized that having sufficient nuclear material for such a scenario does not establish that Iran currently possesses nuclear weapons.

President Donald Trump said Wednesday that he expects the war with Iran to end immediately following the November midterm elections, arguing that Tehran is deliberately trying to prolong the conflict in hopes of influencing the U.S. vote. Trump made the remarks as the seven-month conflict entered another period of escalating attacks.

“I think the war will end immediately after the election,” the President said, explaining that Iran “can’t hold out any longer.”

Trump contended that Tehran’s strategy is tied directly to the American elections, accusing Iranian leaders of hoping that political changes in Washington will ease the pressure they are facing. “They’re desperate to try and affect the election so that we could get a nice, weak group of people in there and leave them alone and let them have their nuclear weapon.”

The President’s comments came amid another escalation in hostilities between Washington and Tehran. Iran said Wednesday that it had targeted ships near the Strait of Hormuz following U.S. attacks on Iranian oil tankers, while oil prices climbed sharply amid fears of further disruptions to global energy supplies.

Trump also addressed the latest round of American military action against Iranian vessels and indicated that additional strikes could follow. “You’re going to see a lot more.”

The renewed fighting has added to economic pressures stemming from the conflict, with Brent crude climbing above $100 a barrel Wednesday for the first time since July. Trump said he believes oil prices will decline once the conflict comes to an end after the elections.

At the same time, Trump made clear that any future arrangement with Tehran would extend well beyond restrictions on Iran’s nuclear program. “I’m doing much more than a nuclear deal. There’s a lot more than nuclear… That’s 99.9, but there’s going to be a lot of other things on the table that wouldn’t have been on the table three months ago.”

Trump also left open the possibility that negotiations could eventually resume, although he indicated Wednesday that reaching a new agreement with Tehran is not currently a priority for his administration.

Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu announced Wednesday that he has directed his attorneys to take legal action against Haaretz and journalist Shlomi Eldar over a report alleging that the United Arab Emirates warned him about an impending Hamas attack shortly before the Oct. 7, 2023, massacre.

Netanyahu categorically rejected the allegation, which surfaced less than two months before Israel’s Oct. 27 election and has fueled fresh attacks against him from his political rivals.

According to Haaretz, UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed contacted Netanyahu roughly 10 days before Oct. 7 and cautioned him that then-Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar was preparing a significant assault on Israel.

The newspaper further alleged that Netanyahu reacted without alarm, telling the Emirati leader that Israel was ready to deal with any potential attack.

The Prime Minister’s Office flatly denied that such an exchange ever occurred, saying Netanyahu had no communication with the UAE president between the beginning of September 2023 and the Hamas invasion on Oct. 7.

“This is a sinister libel with clear political timing, as part of the left’s election campaign, and there will be more such false libels,” Netanyahu said.

The Prime Minister’s Office said officials examined both Netanyahu’s telephone records and logs documenting visitors to his office and found nothing indicating that the alleged Emirati contact took place.

“A thorough examination not only of the Prime Minister’s call log, but also of the records of entries into the Prime Minister’s Office during this period, does not show any entry of the Emirati representative into the Prime Minister’s Office,” the PMO said.

Haaretz, for its part, said it was standing behind the report.

The newspaper’s political orientation has added another dimension to the increasingly heated controversy.

Haaretz is generally associated with Israel’s political left and has for years been one of the country’s most outspoken media critics of Netanyahu and the governments he has led.

Netanyahu has similarly maintained for years that his opponents on the political left and in the media have engaged in sustained efforts to drive him from office.

That bitter relationship has taken on added significance as Israel approaches an election in which Netanyahu’s leadership and his government’s actions surrounding the Oct. 7 attack have become major subjects of criticism from his opponents.

Netanyahu’s Likud party is attempting to remain in power amid difficult polling numbers, while rival politicians have pointed to the Haaretz report as further ammunition in their criticism of the prime minister.

Gadi Eisenkot, the former Israeli military chief whose centrist Yashar party has been challenging Likud in polling, cited the report in criticizing Netanyahu. Former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and Democrats leader Yair Golan also used the allegations to assail the prime minister.

Approximately 1,200 people were killed in Israel during the Hamas-led Oct. 7 terrorist attack, while 251 people were abducted and taken hostage into Gaza.

Netanyahu’s office has maintained that senior Israeli security officials detected warning indications only in the hours immediately preceding the attack but did not alert the prime minister soon enough. His office has argued that an earlier warning to Netanyahu could have enabled action that might have prevented the massacre.

Netanyahu’s supporters have also pointed out that much of Hamas’ preparation and development of the infrastructure used for the assault likely occurred during the relatively brief period when Netanyahu was not prime minister and Bennett headed the government.

The allegation involving the UAE carries particular significance because the Emirates established diplomatic relations with Israel under the Abraham Accords. The UAE Foreign Ministry has not confirmed the account published by Haaretz.