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Paul Pelosi, the husband of former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, is facing criminal charges stemming from an alleged hit-and-run collision over the Fourth of July weekend in California’s Napa Valley, the latest legal trouble in a driving record that spans decades and includes numerous traffic violations and a previous DUI conviction.

Napa County District Attorney Allison Haley filed charges Friday accusing the 86-year-old of misdemeanor hit-and-run involving property damage and making an illegal turn, according to multiple media reports.

If convicted of leaving the scene of an accident that caused only property damage, Pelosi could face up to six months in county jail and a fine of as much as $1,000.

The latest case follows Pelosi’s well-publicized 2022 arrest for driving under the influence after a crash in Napa County. He later pleaded guilty, served two days behind bars in lieu of a possible five-day sentence, and was placed on probation for three years.

Authorities said alcohol was not a factor in the recent crash. Police administered sobriety testing, which showed Pelosi had no alcohol in his system.

Despite the absence of alcohol, the incident has again drawn attention to Pelosi’s lengthy driving history, which stretches back many years and includes numerous citations as well as a tragic crash during his teenage years.

Court records cited this week by The New York Times indicate that, during the 13 years leading up to the July 3 collision, Pelosi accumulated at least eight traffic citations, including speeding violations, running multiple red lights, and driving the wrong way on a one-way street.

According to law enforcement accounts, Pelosi’s brown Maserati convertible struck a parked Tesla in Yountville. Witnesses told authorities he briefly stopped before driving away from the scene.

A bystander subsequently called 911.

Pelosi’s damaged Maserati was reportedly unable to travel very far. Police later found the vehicle partially blocking a driveway along Yountville Cross Road with significant damage to the front passenger side, according to the California Post.

According to the report, Pelosi told officers he believed he had hit something but did not realize exactly what he had struck.

Police administered alcohol screening tests at the scene, and Pelosi passed without issue.

Shortly after the incident, a spokesperson for Nancy Pelosi and her husband released a statement addressing the crash.

“Mr. Paul Pelosi has personally apologized to the owner of the vehicle and assured them that he would take responsibility for the damage to their vehicle,” a spokesperson told the Post. “Speaker Pelosi will not be commenting further on this private matter.”

Pelosi has long been known as an enthusiast of high-performance sports cars. During his 2022 DUI arrest, he had been driving a black 2021 Porsche 911 after leaving a dinner in Oakville with a longtime political donor. The crash occurred roughly six miles from the Pelosis’ Napa Valley residence.

According to the Post, Pelosi attempted to cross State Route 29 when his vehicle was struck by an oncoming Jeep. His blood alcohol level measured 0.082%, slightly above California’s legal limit, and he ultimately pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor DUI causing injury.

Following his guilty plea in August 2022, Pelosi was sentenced to five days in jail, ordered to pay $6,800 in fines and restitution, complete a court-approved DUI education program, and serve three years of probation.

Pelosi’s earliest serious driving incident occurred nearly seven decades ago.

In 1957, when he was 16 years old, Pelosi was driving the family’s Corvette during an early morning outing with his 19-year-old brother David near San Mateo, according to a San Francisco Examiner article later republished by the Daily Mail.

News reports from the time quoted a California Highway Patrol officer as saying David warned his younger brother moments before the crash.

“This is a bad stretch — better slow down,” David was reported to have said as the car approached a tight curve on the Skyline Highway.

Authorities said Pelosi attempted to downshift but lost control of the Corvette, causing it to overturn. David Pelosi was killed in the crash.

Reports indicated that David, who was wearing a neck brace because of an earlier diving accident, may have died from strangulation resulting from the rollover.

Paul Pelosi was initially cited for misdemeanor manslaughter, but a coroner’s jury later cleared him of criminal responsibility in the fatal accident.

{Matzav.com}

Sen. Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio) is calling for tough action against Canada over the ongoing wildfire smoke blanketing much of the American Midwest, accusing Canadian leaders of allowing a preventable crisis to spiral out of control and saying the United States should respond with sanctions and tariffs.

Speaking Friday on Fox News Channel’s The Ingraham Angle, Moreno argued that Americans are paying the price for what he described as Canada’s failure to properly manage its forests and wildfires.

“[L]ook, it’s very simple — we’re being gassed,” Moreno said. “We are being systematically gassed here in Ohio. We have a very short summer, we’re in peak summer right now, you can’t go outside, it’s absolutely horrifying. You wake up in the morning, you see air quality index that says hazardous, stay indoors. And like you said, this isn’t the first time, it’s not the second time, it’s the third time this has happened, and we’re not going to put up with it. This is totally avoidable. And it’s not due to climate change. It’s due to leadership change in Canada that’s caused this problem.”

Host Laura Ingraham noted that the smoke has spread well beyond the Midwest, describing its impact on the nation’s capital and warning about the broader consequences.

“Well, and we’re in Washington, and I was leaving very early this morning, and you could see the news feeds of the Lincoln Memorial looking toward the Capitol, except you can’t see the Washington Monument,” Ingraham said. “There’s no Washington Monument, it’s just a cloud of smoke, and you’re thinking, who knows what kind of damage this is going to do to vulnerable lungs, and people who have no alternative but to work outside. So, there’s a real health issue, there’s an entertainment, recreation issue, and a business losses, clear business losses.”

Moreno argued that the environmental impact of the fires rivals the pollution produced by America’s entire vehicle fleet over the course of a year.

“Let me put this in perspective, Laura,” Moreno replied. “If you took every automobile in America off the road for one year, we had no cars, no trucks for an entire year, that’s about the amount of pollution that is happening during this two or three-week period of time, and it’s being dumped onto primarily the Midwest. And when I hear politicians like Carney and Ford say that we should help when they could have avoided this problem, it’s disgusting. We’re going to put sanctions on them, that means holding their assets, making sure that they don’t have visas. We’re going to put tariffs, as President Trump talked about it, because we have to make certain that the people who are suffering get compensated. This is an abject, avoidable disaster.”

Moreno concluded by criticizing liberals for frequently warning about climate change while, he argued, remaining silent about the current wildfire smoke crisis.

“And the left, who, by the way, talks about climate change every single day, this is the worst environmental disaster you could ever imagine. Every car in America for a year, pollution in three weeks dumped on the Midwest.”

{Matzav.com}

Yael Shevach, the widow of terror victim Rav Raziel Shevach Hy”d, suffered another heartbreaking tragedy over Shabbos when her home in Chavat Gilad was completely destroyed in a massive wildfire that tore through the Shomron community. Shortly after Shabbos ended, she shared a brief but emotional message revealing the extent of the devastation.

“I have nothing to say, and I have no home,” Shevach wrote in a deeply personal social media post. “Thank you, everyone, for your concern.”

The blaze broke out during Shabbos as part of a massive wildfire that swept through Chavat Gilad, leaving widespread destruction in its wake. The flames engulfed 13 homes, as well as a garage and a lumber storage facility, after spreading deep into the residential area. Security and emergency personnel evacuated all residents as the fire rapidly approached the homes. Shevach and her children escaped safely before the flames reached their house, but the family lost virtually all of their belongings.

Shevach is the widow of Rav Raziel Shevach Hy”d, a beloved resident of Chavat Gilad who was murdered in a terrorist shooting near the entrance to the community in January 2018. Since his death, she has become a prominent voice in Israeli media and public life, choosing to remain in Chavat Gilad with her children as an expression of resilience and continuity.

Following Shabbos, Shevach described the tragedy in a short post that captured the magnitude of her loss.

“Good week to those who can afford one. There was a fire, a fire. The house is gone. We’re okay. Thank you, everyone, for your concern. I have nothing to say, and I have no home,” she wrote.

The fire began Shabbos afternoon near Mitzpe Yishai in the community of Kedumim. Firefighters from the Shomron Fire Station initially succeeded in stopping the flames before they reached the first row of homes in Kedumim, preventing injuries and major property damage there. However, powerful winds quickly drove the fire toward nearby Chavat Gilad, where it spread with tremendous speed.

During the lengthy firefighting operation, two firefighters were injured—one moderately and one lightly—and were transported to a hospital for medical treatment. A resident who had been evacuated also suffered minor injuries after collapsing during the incident. In addition to the homes that were destroyed, one fire engine was completely consumed by the flames, while another armored firefighting vehicle sustained extensive damage from the intense heat.

In recent years, Shevach has become one of the Religious Zionist community’s most recognizable public figures, known for her outspoken views and remarkable strength. Earlier this year, after learning that her husband’s murderer would be released as part of a hostage agreement, she drew widespread attention when she said, “If he is the price for bringing the hostages home—then with love.”

Shevach has also experienced moments of extraordinary kindness amid personal hardship. On one occasion, her wedding ring—which she had continued wearing after her husband’s murder—was lost at Ein Prat and was eventually recovered following an extensive search by Israel Nature and Parks Authority inspectors.

Now, after the fire reduced her family’s home and possessions to ashes, Shevach and her children face yet another painful chapter as they begin the difficult task of rebuilding their lives once again.

{Matzav.com}

Shas chairman Aryeh Deri has accused left-wing activists and organizations of financing a coordinated campaign to weaken Chareidi political leadership, claiming they recruited members of the Chareidi community to sow division, secretly record rabbanim, and erode public trust in daas Torah.

Speaking in an interview in Hebrew with Kikar HaShabbat, Deri said what he described as a sophisticated effort has been underway for an extended period with the goal of damaging both the Chareidi community’s leadership and its political influence.

“They’ve been doing this for a long time,” Deri said. “It has to be said in the clearest possible way: Kaplanists, money from the left, from global or Israeli foundations, from high-tech—left-liberal money that wants to completely secularize the country and dismantle the right-wing and the faith-based bloc—has unfortunately succeeded in buying a number of collaborators from within our own community.”

Deri insisted that his claims are based on concrete information rather than speculation.

“I’m talking to you now about facts, okay? I also know the names,” he said.

According to Deri, those individuals were recruited from within the Chareidi community and worked to undermine its rabbinic leadership.

“They succeeded in taking activists from within our community, and taking activists from our community who went and recorded our rabbis and went and did things to destroy, first and foremost, emunas chachamim.”

Deri said the campaign was designed to create internal conflict and weaken the bond between the Chareidi public and its elected representatives.

“To create division among the sages, to create disputes and divide the public… they turned the public against its representatives.”

According to Deri, the broader objective extends beyond attacks on individual politicians.

“The ultimate goal,” he argued, “is one thing—that the Chareidi public stays home.”

He maintained that the criticism directed toward him should not be viewed as an isolated political dispute, but rather as part of a broader strategy aimed at reducing the Chareidi community’s political influence.

Describing what he believes are the forces behind the campaign, Deri again pointed to “left-liberal money that wants to completely secularize the country and dismantle the right-wing and the faith-based bloc.”

{Matzav.com}

A tense and violent confrontation broke out in Elad over Shabbos after yeshiva bochurim staged a protest against vehicles entering the predominantly Chareidi city on Shabbos. Several bochurim were struck by a vehicle during the unrest, and clashes resumed after Shabbos. Police have since begun taking formal complaints from the injured students.

According to residents, the checkpoint at Elad’s entrance has, in recent weeks, failed to prevent vehicles from entering the city on Shabbos, resulting in a growing number of cars driving through the city during the holy day. In response, dozens of bochurim from Yeshivas Torah B’Tifartah and Yeshivas Knesses Yechezkel, headed by Rav Baruch Mordechai Ettinger, gathered at the entrance to demonstrate against the ongoing Shabbos desecration.

The most serious incident occurred Friday night at approximately 11 p.m., when a vehicle attempting to leave the city encountered the protest. Witnesses said the barriers erected by the bochurim were knocked aside, and the situation quickly escalated into violent confrontations that included stone-throwing.

During the disturbance, several bochurim were struck by a vehicle. One student was reportedly thrown over the car and sustained injuries, while at least five others were hurt to varying degrees. One of the injured was treated at the scene by emergency personnel before being transported to Schneider Children’s Medical Center in Petach Tikvah for additional treatment.

Eyewitnesses alleged that a police officer present at the scene did not detain those involved, despite witnessing the incident firsthand. They further claimed that after striking the bochurim, the vehicle continued driving toward the crowd. According to the witnesses, when Magen David Adom teams arrived, the officer told them that no vehicle-ramming had occurred.

At approximately 4 a.m. Shabbos morning, some of those involved returned to the area, leading to another round of confrontations with the bochurim.

The tensions continued after Shabbos, when dozens of bochurim gathered near the home of one of the individuals allegedly involved in the earlier incidents. Police deployed large forces to the area in an effort to prevent additional violence. During the disturbances, stones were thrown, and police arrested a female driver who, according to information obtained by Matzav.com, is suspected of participating in the stone-throwing.

{Matzav.com}

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani says his latest housing proposal is designed to make renting more affordable, but one of Manhattan’s top real estate brokers argues the plan would ultimately make it more difficult—and potentially more expensive—for many tenants to secure an apartment, the New York Post reports.

The proposal is part of Mamdani’s newly unveiled 23-point “Rental Ripoff Report,” released Thursday. Among its provisions is a measure that would prohibit landlords from requiring both a credit check and proof of income from prospective tenants, forcing them to rely on only one of those screening methods. The plan would also require landlords, rather than renters, to pay the cost of credit checks.

Cea Weaver, who serves as director of the Mayor’s Office to Protect Tenants, compared the proposal to the 2024 FARE Act, which shifted responsibility for broker fees from tenants to landlords. Like that legislation, the new proposal would require approval from the City Council before taking effect. Weaver has argued that current rental standards—which often require applicants to earn at least 40 times the monthly rent while also paying for a credit check—place the greatest burden on renters who move frequently.

Keyan Sanai, the highest-ranked rental broker at Douglas Elliman, said the proposal focuses on an expense that has already been largely eliminated.

“The only permitted charge is the actual cost of a credit and background check, capped at $20, and that must be waived when an applicant supplies a qualifying report completed within the previous 30 days,” Sanai said. “Eliminating that remaining $20 charge may produce a headline, but it will not meaningfully improve housing affordability.”

Sanai argued that the real impact of the proposal lies not in eliminating the modest credit check fee, but in preventing landlords from reviewing both an applicant’s credit history and income simultaneously.

“That is not merely a change in who pays a nominal screening cost,” Sanai said. “It is a restriction on basic financial underwriting.”

He compared the proposal to a 2019 law that limited security deposits to one month’s rent and prohibited landlords from collecting the final month’s rent in advance. According to Sanai, that change made it more difficult for applicants with unconventional financial situations to strengthen their rental applications.

“That restriction made it more difficult for applicants with substantial assets but irregular income, limited credit or nontraditional financial circumstances to strengthen their applications voluntarily,” Sanai said. “In practice, many of those applicants are pushed toward third party guarantor companies.”

According to Sanai, those guarantor companies often charge fees amounting to a substantial portion of one month’s rent, and unlike a traditional security deposit, those payments are never refunded.

He contends that landlords will continue evaluating applicants’ financial strength regardless of the city’s restrictions, instead relying more heavily on guarantors when their screening options become more limited.

“Owners will not simply abandon financial underwriting and hope for the best,” Sanai said. “They will respond by requiring more applicants to provide personal or institutional guarantors.”

Sanai said renters with financially qualified family members may be able to satisfy guarantor requirements—often requiring income equal to roughly 80 times the monthly rent—but many others will have little choice but to pay commercial guarantor companies.

“Applicants fortunate enough to have wealthy relatives who can satisfy an 80 times rent guarantor requirement may be fine,” Sanai said. “Everyone else may be forced to purchase an institutional guaranty that can cost approximately one month’s rent and is never returned.”

He also criticized Mamdani personally, arguing that the mayor’s background leaves him disconnected from the financial realities facing many renters.

“For those of us who did not grow up with wealthy parents who owned multiple residences, including a two million dollar condo in Chelsea, an institutional guarantor would be required, which is a one month nonrefundable charge,” Sanai said. “Perhaps the rest of us can ask Mayor Mamdani whether his parents can guaranty our apartments as well.”

Sanai said he believes the proposal follows the same pattern as the FARE Act, which he argues promised financial relief for tenants but coincided with rising rents.

“We have already seen what happens when lawmakers pretend that mandated costs simply disappear,” Sanai said. “The FARE Act prohibited brokers representing landlords from collecting their commissions from tenants.”

By June 2026, the median monthly rent in Manhattan had climbed to a record $5,295, according to Corcoran, representing an increase of approximately 8% from the previous year. During the same period, active rental listings fell to 5,260, a 16% decline from June 2025 and the fewest available June listings in three years.

Sanai acknowledged that StreetEasy’s own analysis concluded the FARE Act directly accounted for only about a 1.1% increase in rents, with most of the price growth driven by the city’s ongoing housing shortage.

“That does not prove the FARE Act caused the entire increase,” Sanai said. “But it does demonstrate that owners do not simply absorb new costs indefinitely. At least some portion is ultimately reflected in rents, reduced services, stricter underwriting or lower housing supply.”

He predicted that Mamdani’s latest proposal would produce similar unintended consequences if enacted.

“This newest proposal would raise the barrier to entry even further, especially for applicants without wealthy family members available to guarantee their leases,” Sanai said. “As usual, the policy will be announced as tenant protection. When the predictable consequences arrive, renters will bear the cost and the politicians responsible will accept none of the accountability.”

Asked whether he believed the proposal would ultimately harm tenants, Sanai offered a blunt assessment.

“This will screw people just as bad as the FARE Act, to be honest,” Sanai said.

{Matzav.com}

Taylor Farms has announced a sweeping voluntary recall of numerous iceberg lettuce products after a cyclospora outbreak linked to the produce sickened hundreds of people across five states. The company has released a complete list of affected items and is urging consumers to immediately dispose of any recalled products.

According to the California-based produce company, all iceberg lettuce sourced from central Mexico has been pulled from the U.S. market “because it has the potential to be contaminated with Cyclospora.”

The recalled shredded iceberg lettuce was distributed between June 29 and July 16 to customers in 27 states: Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and Wisconsin.

Taylor Farms has published a complete list of the affected products, including lot codes and use-by dates, to help consumers determine whether they purchased recalled items.

Anyone who has the recalled lettuce is being advised not to consume it and to throw it away immediately.

The company also said customers may return the affected products to the place of purchase for a full refund.

“We are actively removing the implicated products,” the recall notice on the Taylor Farms website stated. “The company has stopped receiving product from the implicated lot, suspended distribution of the iceberg lettuce from Central Mexico, notified our customers, and we are continuing to work with the FDA, CDC, and state authorities.”

Federal health officials said Thursday that the outbreak has been traced to shredded iceberg lettuce served at Taco Bell restaurants in Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, and West Virginia.

According to the Food and Drug Administration, investigators conducting a traceback inquiry found that “identified convergence on a single supplier, Taylor Farms de Mexico, that provided shredded iceberg lettuce used by Taco Bell locations where sick people ate before becoming ill.”

Taco Bell said Thursday that it has already “completed removal of affected Taylor Farms lettuce from our restaurants.”

Cyclospora is a parasite that causes cyclosporiasis, an intestinal infection most commonly associated with prolonged diarrhea.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says the illness can also produce stomach cramps, nausea, fatigue, bloating, weight loss, and a low-grade fever.

The Food and Drug Administration cautioned that infections can be particularly serious for young children, older adults, and people with weakened immune systems.

Taylor Farms products are sold through many of the nation’s largest grocery retailers, including Target, Walmart, Whole Foods Market, and Amazon Fresh.

The company emphasized Friday that none of its branded salad kits or packaged salads are connected to the outbreak and noted that its salad kits do not contain iceberg lettuce.

Consumers seeking additional information may contact Taylor Farms’ customer care team at 855-455-0098, Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Pacific Time.

“As a family-owned company, we are deeply concerned for those who became ill, their families, and the Americans whose trust in the safety of fresh produce has been shaken,” the company said in a statement on Friday.

{Matzav.com}

Orthodox Jewish organizations are warning that legislation passed by the U.S. House of Representatives to make daylight saving time permanent would complicate daily religious observance, particularly Shacharis.

The House approved the Sunshine Protection Act on Tuesday by a bipartisan 308-117 vote. The measure, backed by U.S. President Donald Trump, would end the twice-yearly clock changes while allowing states that already qualify for exemptions, such as Arizona and Hawaii, to remain on permanent standard time. The bill now heads to the Senate, where its prospects remain uncertain.

Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-Fla.), who has introduced the legislation since 2018, called it a “commonsense” reform.

“Permanent daylight saving time will improve public safety, promote healthier and more active lifestyles and give families more daylight to enjoy after work and school,” Buchanan wrote, urging the Senate to send the measure to Trump’s desk.

Rabbi Yaakov Menken, executive vice president of the Coalition for Jewish Values, told JNS that the House vote is “definitely worrisome.”

“Our main objection remains that permanent daylight saving time would disrupt the morning prayer schedule for many Orthodox Jews, making it difficult to pray at the appropriate times and still meet work and school obligations,” he said. “This isn’t just an inconvenience. It would affect daily life and halachic practice for a large segment of the population.”

Menken acknowledged that “many of our allies” support the legislation because they oppose changing clocks twice a year.

“No one is doing this to hurt the Jewish community, but they believe that the switch to daylight saving time every year is itself harmful,” he told JNS. “That’s by no means settled. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine advocates for year-round use of standard time, which would be much less problematic.”

While the coalition is hopeful that the legislation will stall in the Senate, Menken said that “the occasional passage in one house or the other certainly remains a cause for concern.”

Rabbi A.D. Motzen, national director of government affairs at Agudath Israel of America, told JNS that the organization is concerned that the bill would “put children at risk and affect our religious practices.”

“For the Orthodox Jewish community, an unintended, yet compelling, consequence of such legislation is the effect it will have on our fundamental religious practices,” he said. “In Jewish law, morning prayers and the rituals associated with them must be recited no earlier than at specified times. The later sunrise occurs, the later synagogue services must begin.”

“The extension of daylight saving time will create an extreme hardship on observant Jews,” Motzen said. “It would be extraordinarily difficult, if not impossible, to arrive on time for a job and will affect the start time of our schools.”

Motzen noted that the United States briefly adopted year-round daylight saving time in the 1970s, but Congress repealed the policy following public backlash.

“The popularity of the measure dropped dramatically once Americans experienced one dark winter and Congress had to reverse itself within a year,” he told JNS.

“We are hopeful that the Senate will consider all of the effects of daylight saving time and compare them to the effects of permanent standard time or maintaining the status quo before rushing into this major change,” Motzen said.

Nathan Diament, executive director of the Orthodox Union Advocacy Center, told JNS that the organization shares those concerns. He pointed to a 2022 letter from the group warning that permanent daylight saving time would interfere with congregational prayer schedules while raising “safety issues for children who would be going to school in the pitch dark for many weeks of the year.”

He also cited a 2022 Washington Post article quoting health experts who have warned that year-round daylight saving time would leave people’s sleep cycles more out of sync with natural daylight.

Diament told JNS that “we have allies in the Senate who are firmly opposed to this legislation,” including Sens. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Tom Cotton (R-Ark.).

“We still have work to do, of course,” he said. JNS

{Matzav.com}

Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei sharply escalated tensions with Washington today, accusing the United States of repeatedly violating its commitments under a memorandum of understanding and declaring that President Donald Trump’s signature is “worthless and invalid.”

In a written statement, Khamenei also issued a warning to the United States, saying both the Iranian people and Tehran’s regional allies have ”unforgettable lessons” prepared for America.

The so-called “resistance front” refers to Iran’s network of allied governments and terrorist organizations throughout the Middle East, including Hezbollah in Lebanon, Hamas in Gaza, and the Houthi rebels in Yemen.

Khamenei’s remarks came as Tehran announced it was suspending its obligations under the preliminary agreement reached with the United States. Both Washington and Tehran have accused each other of violating the terms of the accord.

The memorandum had been negotiated in an effort to ease tensions between the two countries and ensure the continued movement of commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. However, the agreement has effectively collapsed following renewed U.S. airstrikes inside Iran and continued Iranian missile and drone attacks targeting American forces and U.S. allies across the region.

At the center of the dispute is the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most strategically important waterways for global energy supplies. The United States has insisted that international shipping must be allowed to pass freely through the strait, while Iran has sought to assert greater control over maritime traffic in the area.

Mojtaba Khamenei assumed Iran’s highest leadership position following the death of his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed earlier this year during the joint U.S.-Israeli military campaign against Iran.

{Matzav.com}

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani says his administration is examining whether there is any legal authority to have Israeli Prime Minister Binyomin Netanyahu arrested if he visits New York in September for the United Nations General Assembly, saying the issue is currently under review by the city’s legal team.

In an interview published today by The New York Times, Mamdani said it remains uncertain whether he has the power to direct the NYPD to detain Netanyahu during the anticipated visit, but revealed that the matter is the subject of ongoing discussions with the city’s Law Department.

“I believe that Prime Minister Netanyahu belongs in The Hague,” Mamdani bluntly told The New York Times, referring to the United Nations’ International Court of Justice.

“He’s a war criminal who has been charged by the International Criminal Court. And what you will find is that it is an opinion that is held by many purely because of what his actions have wrought over these last many years.”

Mamdani, who has made allegations of Israeli genocide in Gaza a central theme of his political platform, reiterated a pledge he first made during last year’s mayoral campaign, when he vowed that Netanyahu would be arrested if he came to New York. His position is based on the International Criminal Court’s 2024 arrest warrant for the Israeli leader, a warrant the United States does not recognize.

At the same time, Mamdani acknowledged that the city cannot exceed the limits of its legal authority.

“Whatever the law allows me to do in New York City, that’s what we will do,” he said.

The interview also touched on criticism directed at Mamdani’s wife, Rama Duwaji, whose past social media activity has drawn scrutiny. Among the posts that resurfaced were messages praising Palestinian terrorist organizations, criticizing American service members for supporting Israel, and a post she “liked” asserting that Hamas’ sexual assaults during the October 7, 2023, massacre were a “mass hoax.” Some of the posts have since been deleted.

Defending his wife, Mamdani said she should be viewed independently rather than through the lens of his political career.

“She is her own person,” Mamdani said. “She is an incredible artist, and yet so much of how she engages with the world is framed through her being my wife.”

Netanyahu has dismissed Mamdani’s threats, accusing the New York mayor of siding with Hamas while unfairly condemning Israel.

“I think he should look at who he’s condemning, who he’s praising. He’s condemning Israel, the one democracy that stands shoulder to shoulder with American values,” the prime minister said during an interview this week with Sid Rosenberg on 77 WABC.

“Who does he champion? Hamas, that calls openly to massacre every Jew on earth, that conducted that horrible massacre [on Oct. 7, 2023], the worst massacre on Jews since the Holocaust.”

Netanyahu also questioned Mamdani’s attitude toward both Israel and the United States.

“He also said Mamdani “doesn’t care” that “those who hate the Jews and Israel ultimately hate America.”

“And in fact, I think secretly, he hates America,” the prime minister said.

Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Danon, also sharply criticized Mamdani, accusing him of focusing on Israel instead of governing New York City.

“And if anyone should be arrested, it is @NYCMayor Zohran Mamdani,” he said in a post on X.

Netanyahu is also expected to travel to Washington later this month for talks with President Donald Trump. The trip had originally been scheduled for this weekend but was postponed after the funeral of Sen. Lindsey Graham was delayed to accommodate the large number of American and international dignitaries planning to attend.

The visit would be Netanyahu’s first trip to the nation’s capital since the outbreak of the Iran war in February.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump defended the U.S. military campaign against Iran today following the deaths of two American service members, saying they gave their lives to prevent Tehran from acquiring a nuclear weapon. Speaking with The New York Post as the United States launched a new round of retaliatory strikes, Trump warned that failing to stop Iran could plunge the Middle East into a much broader conflict.

About an hour after the latest bombing campaign began, Trump called the deaths of the two troops “a shame” but insisted the military operation remains essential.

“They did it because they don’t want to see Iran have a nuclear weapon,” Trump said of the troops. “… And it just shows you how bad [the Iranians] are.”

The two service members were killed Friday during an Iranian missile and drone assault on Muwawffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan. One additional American remains missing, while at least four others were injured in the attack.

Asked whether he intended to personally contact the families of the fallen troops, Trump answered immediately.

“Of course I will. I always do. Yeah.”

At approximately 6 p.m. Saturday, U.S. forces launched another wave of airstrikes targeting Tehran, while additional American warplanes were reportedly being rushed to the Middle East.

According to U.S. Central Command, the strikes were intended to further weaken Iran’s ability to “threaten commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.”

CENTCOM also said the latest attacks were aimed at delivering a swift response against Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

Earlier in the day, Trump told NewsNation that he “couldn’t care less” about Iran’s announcement that it was withdrawing from the Memorandum of Understanding between the two countries, adding that the fallen Americans died “in service to their country.”

Following those remarks, the Pentagon dispatched additional combat aircraft to the Gulf region, according to The Wall Street Journal.

The newspaper reported that F-16 fighter jets are being deployed from Spangdahlem Air Base in Germany, while F-35 stealth fighters are heading to the region from an American air base in Britain. Additional aerial refueling aircraft had already been sent to the area in recent days.

Trump also pushed back against Democratic lawmakers who blamed his administration for the deaths of the two service members.

“Have you ever asked how many people died in Vietnam? Have you ever asked how many people died in Afghanistan in one day? In one day — run by Sleepy Joe Biden,” Trump said.

“This is two wars we’re talking about: Venezuela and this. And it’s a shame, but in this case, they died because they don’t want to see Iran have a nuclear weapon and they don’t want to see the Middle East blown up.”

While Republican lawmakers urged Americans to pray for the fallen troops, several Democrats argued that the deaths demonstrated the need to end U.S. military involvement in the region, contending that the casualties could have been avoided.

“This is the cost of President Trump’s needless war,” wrote Rep. Nikki Budzinski (D-Ill.).

“This country owes a debt that can never be repaid, but we can prevent more tragic loss of life,” Rep. Herb Conaway (D-N.J.) posted to X.

“I demand that Trump end this war that he started and Republicans in Congress do the same. Enough is enough.”

Trump has repeatedly maintained that preventing Iran from becoming a nuclear power is a vital American national security objective, arguing that a nuclear-armed Iranian regime would destabilize the region and pose a grave threat to U.S. allies.

The two Americans killed in Friday’s attack are the first U.S. military fatalities since President Trump declared the ceasefire with Iran to be over last week after Tehran targeted three commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz.

Under the U.S.-Iran memorandum of understanding that established the ceasefire, Iran had agreed to reopen the Strait of Hormuz to international shipping. U.S. officials contend that Tehran failed to fulfill that commitment, prompting the resumption of military operations.

{Matzav.com}

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Two American service members were killed and another remains missing after Iranian ballistic missiles and attack drones targeted U.S. and allied forces in Jordan on Friday, marking the first U.S. military fatalities since President Donald Trump ended the ceasefire with Iran last week, U.S. Central Command announced.

“On July 17, two U.S. service members in Jordan were killed in action as U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) and partner forces defended against Iranian ballistic missile and drone attacks,” CENTCOM said in a statement.

“Additionally, one service member is currently missing in action.”

As of approximately 3 p.m., nearly two hours after CENTCOM released its statement, the White House had not publicly commented on the deaths.

The attack represents the first loss of American military personnel since President Trump declared the ceasefire with Iran to be over and resumed military operations against the Islamic Republic.

Four additional U.S. troops were evacuated to hospitals in Jordan following the assault but have since been released, according to the military. Several other service members sustained minor injuries and have already returned to duty.

Military officials said the attack involved a coordinated barrage of ballistic missiles and armed drones directed at American and partner forces stationed in Jordan. An investigation into the incident is underway.

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth vowed that the attack would not weaken America’s resolve.

“Godspeed, heroes,” he wrote. “Their sacrifice only stiffens our resolve.”

Several congressional Democrats, however, used the incident to renew calls for an end to the conflict with Iran.

“We owe our servicemembers and their families a debt that can never be fully repaid, but we must begin by preventing future loss of life and bringing this war to an end,” Rep. Sarah Elfreth (D-Md.) posted to X.

“This is the cost of President Trump’s needless war,” wrote Rep. Nikki Budzinski (D-Ill.)

“This country owes a debt that can never be repaid, but we can prevent more tragic loss of life,” Rep. Herb Conaway (D-N.J.) posted to X.

“I demand that Trump end this war that he started and Republicans in Congress do the same. Enough is enough.”

Republican lawmakers responded by honoring the fallen troops while warning Iran that it would be held accountable.

“We honor their sacrifice, stand with our troops, and remain committed to holding those responsible accountable,” Rep. Cory Mills (R-Fla.) wrote.

American forces have come under repeated attack from Iran and its proxy groups throughout the Middle East in recent days as the conflict continues to intensify.

Friday’s deadly strike was the deadliest single attack on U.S. forces in the region since March, highlighting the growing dangers facing American personnel as hostilities with Tehran continue to escalate. The latest casualties bring the total number of U.S. troops killed during the Iran conflict to 16.

CENTCOM declined to disclose the precise location of the attack within Jordan or provide additional details regarding how the service members were killed, saying further information was being withheld out of respect for their families.

Jordan’s military announced that it intercepted multiple missiles and drones that entered the country’s airspace, stating that its forces acted to defend the kingdom’s sovereignty and protect its citizens.

The identities of the two fallen service members have not yet been released. Military officials said their names will remain confidential until at least 24 hours after their next of kin have been notified.

{Matzav.com}

Yisrael Beiteinu chairman MK Avigdor Lieberman has publicly addressed for the first time his long-running falling out with Shas chairman Aryeh Deri, revealing that the breakdown in their decades-long friendship stemmed from a deeply personal matter rather than political disagreements.

In an interview with Kikar HaShabbat, Lieberman reflected on what he described as the end of a close friendship that had lasted for many years.

“We were excellent friends,” Lieberman said. “When you’re a friend, you expect a friend to be a friend and not sell you out for a ‘mess of pottage,’ and not look for personal interests. Friendship comes before everything else. It has nothing to do with politics. It’s on a personal level. Friendship is above everything.”

Lieberman stressed that the split between the two veteran politicians was not caused by ideological disputes or coalition politics, but by what he characterized as a profound personal betrayal.

“When I don’t have expectations of someone, I don’t have a problem with them,” he explained. “Here, he was a close friend—you know, for decades. Something happened that has nothing to do with politics. These are personal matters, period. The moment the value of friendship is damaged, it’s very difficult to move forward.”

Although Lieberman declined to reveal the specific incident that led to the rupture, his comments mark the first time he has publicly characterized the dispute as a personal conflict rather than a political one, underscoring the depth of the divide between the two longtime political allies turned rivals.

{Matzav.com}

Israeli security forces arrested more than 60 wanted suspects and seized a large cache of weapons, explosives, drones, and incitement materials during an extensive weeklong counterterrorism campaign across Judea and Samaria, the IDF announced. The operation included more than 250 offensive missions aimed at disrupting terrorist activity and preventing attacks against Israeli civilians.

According to the IDF, those taken into custody included suspected weapons traffickers and illegal firearms dealers, individuals believed to have been involved in terrorist planning and bomb-making, a suspect who intelligence indicated was preparing to carry out an imminent attack, stone-throwers, Molotov cocktail assailants, and suspects connected to a shooting in Chevron that occurred during a dispute between local clans. Military officials said the arrests were made possible through targeted intelligence that enabled security forces to locate and apprehend high-value suspects.

Throughout the operation, troops confiscated a wide range of weapons and military equipment. The seizures included two improvised Carlo-style submachine guns, three hunting rifles, a handgun, grenades, ammunition, and various firearm components. Forces also recovered bomb-making materials, military gear, three drones, and materials promoting terrorist incitement. The IDF said the discovery of the drones reflects ongoing efforts by terrorist organizations to incorporate advanced technology into intelligence-gathering and attack operations.

Military officials noted that the confiscation of the improvised Carlo weapons represents a significant blow to potential terrorist activity, as the homemade firearms have frequently been used in attacks. The explosives components recovered during the raids could have been used to manufacture bombs capable of causing mass casualties. The operations also included targeted raids on homes and other buildings where the weapons and equipment were being stored, with the missions carried out jointly by the IDF, the Shin Bet, and Israel Police.

The campaign spanned the entire Judea and Samaria Division, with forces conducting simultaneous operations in multiple locations. Among the areas where arrests were made were Chevron, Beit Lechem, Shechem, and Jenin, all of which have been major centers of terrorist activity in recent years. The operations relied on precise intelligence and close coordination among military units, special forces, and police, enabling security personnel to disrupt several alleged terrorist plots before they could be carried out.

The IDF noted that the intensified operations in Judea and Samaria are taking place alongside ongoing military campaigns on other fronts. In recent weeks, Israeli forces have eliminated dozens of terrorists in Gaza, conducted targeted strikes in southern Lebanon, and destroyed extensive underground tunnel infrastructure as part of Israel’s broader effort to neutralize security threats across multiple theaters.

The military emphasized that it will continue carrying out proactive counterterrorism operations wherever necessary, saying security forces remain committed to preventing attacks and safeguarding the residents of Judea and Samaria as well as all citizens of Israel.

{Matzav.com}

The United States has notified Israel that it intends to send dozens of additional aerial refueling aircraft to the country as President Donald Trump considers significantly expanding military operations against Iran, Axios reported Friday. The move signals that Washington is preparing for the possibility of a much wider campaign targeting key Iranian assets.

According to the report by Barak Ravid, the decision follows a high-level strategy session in the White House Situation Room, where senior officials examined military options that would extend well beyond the recent focus on the Strait of Hormuz. Among the potential targets reportedly being evaluated are Iran’s civilian electrical infrastructure, additional attacks on nuclear facilities designed to further bury enriched uranium stockpiles, and a suspected underground installation at Pickaxe Mountain.

Although President Trump has not yet approved a final course of action, officials from both the United States and Israel told Axios that a broader offensive could receive authorization within days. The strategy is aimed at increasing pressure on the Iranian regime to reopen shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and agree to Washington’s proposed nuclear conditions.

The planning comes after five straight days of American military operations. During that time, U.S. aircraft struck seven bridges in the Bandar Abbas area, disrupting transportation routes used by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). At the same time, Iranian forces have stepped up attacks on American positions in Kuwait, Iraq, Bahrain, Qatar, and Jordan, while the IRGC also claimed responsibility for striking an abandoned U.S. military site in Syria.

American forces currently operate roughly 30 refueling aircraft from Ben Gurion International Airport and another 30 from Ramon Air Base in southern Israel. The arrival of additional tankers would restore U.S. aerial refueling capabilities in Israel to the strength maintained during the early stages of the conflict. Axios reported that U.S. Central Command prefers using Ben Gurion because it offers stronger infrastructure and greater security than other regional bases, which are considered more exposed to potential Iranian attacks.

The growing American military presence at Ben Gurion has sparked debate within the Israeli government. While the large number of refueling aircraft caused little disruption when Israeli airspace was largely closed, the return of normal summer air travel has changed the equation. Transportation Minister Miri Regev has urged that the number of U.S. aircraft be limited or moved elsewhere to avoid widespread commercial flight cancellations, which could become a political liability ahead of the upcoming elections.

Defense officials, however, have resisted any effort to relocate the aircraft, arguing that operational requirements take precedence. With the United States now formally requesting that Israel accommodate the expanded fleet, Prime Minister Binyomin Netanyahu is expected to make the final decision.

{Matzav.com}

Visitors who entered the bais medrash of Yeshivas Mir in Yerushalayim this week witnessed a remarkable sight. Although the seat of the legendary maggid shiur, Rav Asher Arieli, stood empty as he sat shivah in Bnei Brak following the passing of his sister, Mrs. Miriam Stern a”h, wife of Rav Dovid Asher Stern, hundreds of talmidim continued learning with the same intensity and diligence as if their revered rebbi were present.

Before leaving for Bnei Brak, Rav Arieli suspended his daily shiurim because of the aveilus, but not before leaving detailed instructions to ensure that the uninterrupted rhythm of Torah learning in the Mir would continue.

Following Rav Arieli’s explicit directives, and in full coordination with Rosh Yeshiva Rav Eliezer Yehuda Finkel, the talmidim continued learning from the exact point they had reached in Maseches Pesachim. Rav Arieli has remained closely involved throughout the week, receiving daily updates and guiding the precise pace of the learning schedule.

In addition, at the conclusion of each seder—the very time when Rav Arieli’s voice would ordinarily fill the bais medrash—hundreds of bochurim gathered throughout the hall to hear special chaburos. These presentations were delivered by the roshei chaburah and the sho’alim u’meishivim of the yeshiva, who developed the sugyos according to the distinctive methodology and profound foundations that Rav Arieli has instilled in his talmidim over many years.

True to his well-known practice of hatzneia leches and his determination to prevent any unnecessary bittul Torah, Rav Arieli specifically instructed his talmidim not to travel to Bnei Brak during the week to be menachem avel, sparing them from interrupting their learning in the middle of the zeman.

Instead, an unusual arrangement was made to allow the many talmidim to fulfill the mitzvah of nichum aveilim without disrupting the yeshiva’s schedule. On Friday, Rav Arieli was scheduled to travel to Yerushalayim for several hours to receive the talmidim, after which he would return to Bnei Brak in time for Shabbos.

Rav Arieli is expected to resume delivering his regular shiurim on Sunday, immediately after concluding the shivah, picking up from the exact place the talmidim have reached in their learning.

The report also indicates that, in order to make up for the missed material from the past week, Rav Arieli is expected to add extra shiurim during the upcoming Bein Hazemanim. Since he already customarily delivers shiurim for one week during Bein Hazemanim each year, this year’s schedule will likely be extended so that the talmidim can complete the planned material without falling behind.

{Matzav.com}

A group of House Republicans is urging the Department of Justice to investigate New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s administration for possible violations of the Logan Act after reports surfaced that a senior city official arranged a meeting with Iran’s ambassador to the United Nations without federal authorization, Breitbart reports.

Rep. Addison McDowell (R-N.C.) led the effort, sending a letter Thursday morning to Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche after reports revealed that a top Mamdani administration official had attempted to organize a meeting with a senior representative of the Iranian government while the United States remains engaged in hostilities with Iran.

Joining McDowell in signing the letter were Reps. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.), Earl Carter (R-Ga.), Pat Fallon (R-Texas), Randy Fine (R-Fla.), Clay Fuller (R-Ga.), Pat Harrigan (R-N.C.), Wesley Hunt (R-Texas), Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.), Richard McCormick (R-Ga.), Max Miller (R-Ohio), Riley Moore (R-W.Va.), Pete Sessions (R-Texas), and Claudia Tenney (R-N.Y.).

“We write with concern about the recent actions of Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s Administration,” McDowell wrote. “Last week, media outlets began to report Commissioner Ana María Archila, the head of the New York City Mayor’s Office for International Affairs, had scheduled a July 7 meeting with the Islamic Republic of Iran’s ambassador to the United Nations, Amir-Saeid Iravani.”

According to screenshots of a calendar invitation obtained by City Journal, Archila and two other senior members of the Mayor’s Office for International Affairs planned to meet with Iravani on July 7 at 11:00 a.m. The publication reported that sources familiar with both New York City’s international affairs office and the diplomatic community confirmed the meeting had been scheduled.

A State Department official also confirmed that Archila arranged the meeting, which was ultimately canceled after federal officials learned of it and confronted the Mamdani administration. The intended purpose of the meeting has not been publicly disclosed.

According to reports, State Department officials were forced to “clarify acceptable conduct” with members of the mayor’s administration. City Journal further reported that Archila allegedly failed to notify Mayor Mamdani about the planned meeting and was subsequently reprimanded by the mayor’s office.

“As you know, negotiations with Iran are in a critical stage,” the lawmakers wrote. “Given its timing, we believe this proposed meeting may have presented significant national security risks.”

The letter asks the Justice Department to determine whether officials in the mayor’s office violated the Logan Act, a federal law that prohibits unauthorized negotiations between private American citizens and foreign governments involved in disputes with the United States.

“Mayor Mamdani’s and Commissioner Archila’s actions create a clear conflict of interest with the United States’ strategic military actions in Iran and across the Middle East, warranting further examination by the Department,” the letter argued, before the lawmakers stated their support for President Donald Trump’s “effort to shore up American economic and national security interests in the Middle East.”

The lawmakers further wrote, “… [W]e understand the vulnerable nature of continued peace negotiations,” adding, “For that reason, we believe that a formal investigation is necessary to determine whether Commissioner Archila, acting on behalf of Mayor Mamdani, engaged in any unlawful activity or communication with the Islamic Republic of Iran.”

Responding to the reports, a spokesperson for the Mayor’s Office for International Affairs told City Journal, “This meeting did not and will not take place.”

Mayor Mamdani also addressed the matter during an unrelated press conference, saying the proposed meeting resulted from a “request that came in” to the Mayor’s Office for International Affairs, “not one that originated from the office.”

He added that his administration is developing revised procedures for handling requests for meetings with foreign officials, according to The New York Times.

In a statement issued Friday, the State Department described it as “unconscionable” that a New York City official would consider meeting with Iran’s ambassador under the current circumstances and expressed appreciation that the meeting was ultimately canceled.

In an exclusive statement to Breitbart News, McDowell said, “undermining national security has serious risks, and the Mayor of New York should know better than to meddle in our foreign affairs during the height of negotiations between the White House and Iran.”

“The Department of Justice needs to look into Mamdani’s office and ensure they are not acting as rogue agents to the detriment of America’s national security,” the congressman continued. “Mamdani does not speak for America. President Trump earned the public’s trust to ensure the safety and security of the United States.”

Archila is a longtime progressive activist who previously drew national attention after confronting then-Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) in an elevator over his support for Brett Kavanaugh’s nomination to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez later invited Archila to attend President Trump’s 2019 State of the Union address as her guest following that confrontation.

Before joining the Mamdani administration in February, Archila had little background in international diplomacy. She previously served as co-executive director of the Soros-funded Center for Popular Democracy, was co-director of the Working Families Party, and helped found and lead progressive advocacy groups including Make the Road New York.

{Matzav.com}

A 22-year-old Yerushalayim resident has been indicted for allegedly setting fire to equipment at the Yerushalayim light rail construction site on Rechov Bar-Ilan, causing an estimated 700,000 shekels (approximately $200,000) in damage. According to reports, investigators identified the suspect in part because of the distinctive suspenders he was wearing.

Prosecutors allege that the incident occurred late at night about a month ago, when the suspect allegedly set fire to large pipes stored at the construction site. The blaze caused extensive damage to the project, with losses estimated at roughly 700,000 shekels.

According to i24NEWS reporter Shlomi Heller, investigators were able to identify the suspect based on several unique articles of clothing, including the suspenders he was wearing. Police also reportedly relied on the testimony of a passerby who said the suspect had asked him for a lighter just minutes before the fire was ignited.

In a separate but related development, Yerushalayim police and firefighters were called Tuesday to the Banks Junction area of the city after reports of explosions and a fire near another light rail construction site.

Emergency crews discovered that electrical cables at the construction site had been set ablaze, causing a widespread power outage that affected nearby homes and businesses.

Firefighters succeeded in extinguishing the blaze, while police launched an investigation and began searching for those responsible.

{Matzav.com}

Leading Gedolei Yisroel gathered Thursday in Bnei Brak for an unprecedented emergency conference with dozens of Talmud Torah administrators from across Eretz Yisroel, issuing a powerful call to strengthen chinuch and warning melamdim not to leave traditional Torah institutions for the higher salaries being offered by state-funded Chareidi schools.

The gathering, held at Yeshivas Slabodka, was led by Rav Dov Landau, Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch, Rav Don Segal, Rav Shraga Shteinman, Rav Chaim Feinstein, Rav Binyamin Finkel, and Rav Shimon Galei, together with prominent rabbanim from communities throughout the country. The conference focused on the growing shortage of qualified melamdim and ways to reinforce the sacred mission of Torah education.

At the center of the event were passionate addresses highlighting the irreplaceable role of mechanchim in shaping the next generation. The Gedolim spoke about what they described as increasing financial incentives drawing melamdim to transfer to state-funded Chareidi schools (Mamlachti Chareidi, or MMa”Ch) and other educational frameworks that, they said, do not have the approval of the Torah leadership.

The Gedolim stressed that no amount of money can compare to the privilege and responsibility of educating Jewish children, urging melamdim not to abandon such a vital mission for financial gain.

Participants received a special document prepared by the conference organizers outlining the key messages and resolutions adopted at the gathering.

The statement emphasized the foundational teaching of Chazal that the world exists because of the Torah learning of young children and described melamdim as those who illuminate the Jewish future. Quoting the principle, “If there are no young goats, there will be no mature goats,” the document stressed that the next generation depends upon educators who possess outstanding character, profound yiras Shamayim, and whose fear of Heaven precedes their scholarship.

Beyond teaching Torah Shebichsav and Torah Shebaal Peh, the statement said, melamdim must serve as living examples for their talmidim, instilling a love of Torah, yiras Shamayim, exemplary middos, and genuine warmth and affection toward every child.

The Gedolim also appealed to community rabbanim to encourage talented individuals to embrace the calling of becoming melamdim from the outset, emphasizing that anyone capable of succeeding in this sacred work should be regarded as a distinguished teacher of Torah whose contribution is beyond measure.

A separate appeal was directed to parents and the broader public, urging them to recognize and appreciate the dedication and sacrifice of the melamdim who devote themselves to educating the future of Klal Yisroel.

Addressing the attraction of state-funded Chareidi schools directly, the Gedolim warned educators not to be enticed by higher salaries or material benefits. Although the financial compensation may appear greater, they said, those who leave Torah institutions approved by Daas Torah ultimately forfeit a far greater reward. They cited the explicit guidance of Maran Rav Gershon Edelstein zt”l on the matter and expressed confidence that those who resist financial temptation and continue teaching in institutions guided solely by Daas Torah will ultimately be blessed by the Ribbono Shel Olam with both abundant livelihood and lasting satisfaction.

Recognizing the financial challenges facing melamdim, the conference also called on school administrators and parents to make every effort to improve teachers’ salaries. A special appeal was issued to philanthropists and supporters of Torah to increase their assistance to Talmudei Torah, enabling them to provide better compensation. The statement further suggested that families with greater financial means consider paying higher tuition, noting that Chazal teach that the expense of Torah education is ultimately repaid by Hashem.

Before the conference concluded, school administrators raised another pressing concern with the Gedolim: the severe shortage of qualified female teachers and preschool educators in the Bais Yaakov school system. They warned that the crisis has become just as acute as the shortage of melamdim and requires an urgent, comprehensive solution.

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{Matzav.com}