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A powerful and emotionally charged gathering took place in Yerushalayim on the eve of Shavuos, as hundreds of avreichim from the prestigious Teshuvos V’Hanhagos network of kollelim gathered for their annual pre-Shavuos assembly led by the senior posek Rav Moshe Sternbuch.

The gathering reflected the tremendous growth of the network, which was founded by Rav Sternbuch and now includes six branches across Eretz Yisroel. Organizers noted that during the past year alone, two new branches were opened, one in Ramat Beit Shemesh Daled 3 and another in Modiin Illit.

At the same time, the number of lomdim expanded significantly, with 30 new avreichim joining the Har Nof kollel and an additional 18 joining branches throughout the network, which organizers described as centers of extraordinary Torah diligence and growth.

The dais was graced by leading Torah and Chassidic figures. The first speaker was Rav Sholom Ber Sorotzkin, rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Ateres Shlomo, who passionately addressed the hundreds of avreichim about the greatness of their mission.

Rav Sorotzkin stressed that the concept of “Toraso umnaso,” which exempts bnei yeshivos from military service, is not merely a slogan but a clear and authentic halachic definition established by the Torah itself.

“Ashreichem,” Rav Sorotzkin declared emotionally. “Fortunate are you, whose Torah is your occupation, and who merit to live under the leadership of the posek hador, our guide in this orphaned generation.”

Following him, Rav Nachman Biderman stirred the crowd with emotionally charged remarks. Opening with visible reverence, he proclaimed: “We have merited to stand before the Divine Presence itself — the posek hador, the master of the Holy Land of Eretz Yisroel.”

Turning to the assembled avreichim, Rav Biderman cried out passionately: “You are the ones who uphold the world! Through your Torah and your toil, the entire world continues to exist.”

He concluded by describing Rav Sternbuch as “the Moshe Rabbeinu of this generation,” leading lomdei Torah toward Kabolas HaTorah on Shavuos.

At a later stage of the gathering, renowned Chassidic speaker Rav Yehuda Deitsch addressed the audience with fiery words and emotionally uplifting melodies that inspired the crowd in preparation for Matan Torah.

In his remarks, Rav Deitsch elaborated at length, citing proofs from the Gemara regarding the greatness of receiving one’s rebbe, emphasizing how fortunate the avreichim were to bask in the presence of the posek hador.

He electrified the hall when he declared that the chain of “Moshe received the Torah from Sinai and transmitted it onward” continues even today.

“Now, in the year 5786, we still merit to receive Torah from the Moshe Rabbeinu of our generation,” he proclaimed. “We are witnessing with our own eyes that the very same Torah from Har Sinai still burns like fire within those who learn and toil in Torah.”

A hush descended upon the packed hall when Rav Moshe Sternbuch rose to deliver the evening’s central address, focusing on the essence of the joy of Shavuos and the responsibility facing the Torah world amid growing governmental pressures and attempts to draft bnei yeshivos.

At the beginning of his speech, Rav Sternbuch stated: “The secularists imagine that we are miserable because for us this is forbidden and that is forbidden, and at every moment there is something else prohibited,” he said painfully.

“But the truth is exactly the opposite! We are joyful, fulfilled, and overwhelmed with happiness because we have a direct connection to our Creator and merit true eternal life. The secular world, by contrast, lives like animals — eating merely in order to live and living merely in order to eat, until they die like animals. Blessed is Hashem, Who did not make our portion like theirs and separated us from those who stray. Therefore, on Shavuos we must rejoice tremendously and show the entire world how precious the yoke of Torah and mitzvos is to us, and that the Torah of Hashem is better to us than thousands of gold and silver pieces.”

Rav Sternbuch also shared personal memories from his youth in London during the final year before the outbreak of World War II, when he spent time in the presence of Rav Elchonon Wasserman Hy”d.

“I remember how Rav Elchonon, despite no longer being young, danced on Shavuos with incredible strength for more than an hour straight,” Rav Sternbuch recalled. “That unforgettable display of joy in Torah left an impression on us for the rest of our lives.”

He also spoke about the yeshiva of Rav Moshe Schneider in London, where learning on Shavuos night would periodically pause so the students could break into dancing and singing over the greatness of Torah, demonstrating that Torah Jews are not unfortunate people but the happiest of all.

Later in the speech, Rav Sternbuch addressed the current struggle surrounding the future of the Torah world in Eretz Yisroel, delivering sharp and forceful remarks regarding efforts to draft bnei yeshivos into the military.

“The secularists know very well in their hearts that we are the truly happy ones, and therefore they are intensely jealous of us,” Rav Sternbuch declared. “They fear that we will continue multiplying here in the Land and that they will no longer be able to live lives of abandonment as they wish. Therefore, their entire intention is to defile the people of Hashem and bring us into their army. Militarily, they do not need us there at all! Their only goal is to make us become like them, chas v’shalom. Our obligation is to distance ourselves entirely from them and from any contact with them, because impurity is absorbed even through contact. Only in this way can we preserve our holiness.”

Toward the conclusion of the gathering, Rav Sternbuch praised the tireless efforts of his son, Rav Chaim Ozer Sternbuch, who dedicates himself day and night to establishing and maintaining the kollelim. Rav Sternbuch blessed him that he should continue expanding Torah and witness further miracles in strengthening the boundaries of holiness.

After the address, hundreds of avreichim burst into spirited singing and joyous melodies celebrating the acceptance of the Torah.

The evening concluded with a surprise arranged personally at Rav Sternbuch’s request. Out of concern for the welfare of the lomdei Torah and their families ahead of Shavuos, each avreich received a personal envelope together with a generous package of premium dairy products for Yom Tov, distributed with substantial assistance and sponsorship from the Tara dairy company.

Filled with spiritual inspiration, renewed strength, and profound joy in Torah, the hundreds of avreichim returned home prepared for the holiness of Shavuos night and ready to continue serving as what organizers described as the true protective wall of Klal Yisroel.

Rebbetzin Esther Liba Zaks a”h, widow of Rav Hillel Zaks zt”l, longtime rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Knesses Hagedolah, passed away on Monday at the age of 91.

The levayah is scheduled to leave this evening at 7:30 p.m. from Yeshivas Knesses Hagedolah on Meshech Chochmah Street in Modiin Illit. The procession will continue to the Shamgar Funeral Home in Yerushalayim and then to Har Hazeisim, where she will be laid to rest.

Rebbetzin Zaks was born in Yerushalayim on the 17th of Iyar, 5695, to her father, Rav Avrohom Moshe Chevroni zt”l, rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Chevron and author of Masaas Moshe, and her mother, Rebbetzin Rochel a”h, daughter of the famed rosh yeshiva Rav Moshe Mordechai Epstein zt”l.

In the 1950s, she married Rav Hillel Zaks zt”l, who would later serve as rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Chevron and eventually found Yeshivas Knesses Hagedolah. Rav Hillel was niftar on the 22nd of Teves 5775. The shidduch was reportedly suggested to Rav Avrohom Moshe Chevroni by Rav Aharon Kotler zt”l during one of his visits to Eretz Yisroel. Following their marriage, the couple lived for a period in the United States.

They later returned to Eretz Yisroel, where Rav Hillel joined the staff of Yeshivas Chevron as a maggid shiur. A year after the passing of his father-in-law, Rav Avrohom Moshe Chevroni, he was appointed rosh yeshiva.

When the community of Maale Amos was established, Rav Hillel became its first rov. Several of the founders of the yishuv were talmidim of Yeshivas Chevron. The family later settled on Rechov Tzefania in Yerushalayim’s Geulah neighborhood, near the yeshiva.

In 1996, Rav Hillel founded Yeshivas Knesses Hagedolah in Modiin Illit, and the rebbetzin stood steadfastly at his side throughout the years, supporting the yeshiva’s growth and his tireless dedication to Torah and delivering shiurim without interruption.

Talmidim described her as a true “mother of the yeshiva,” devoted to the wellbeing of the bochurim and always available with a listening ear and practical assistance. She was deeply involved in the yeshiva and would often personally help with kitchen duties and food preparation for the students.

Students also recalled the extraordinary respect and admiration that existed between Rav Hillel and the rebbetzin, describing their relationship as a living example for others to emulate. One talmid recounted that Rav Hillel would often say regarding his wife, “What is mine and what is yours is all hers.”

She is survived by a distinguished family, including her son, Rav Yitzchok Zev Zaks, rosh yeshiva of Knesses Hagedolah, as well as her sons Rav Yisroel Meir, Rav Aharon, Rav Tzvi Hirsch, Rav Dovid, and Rav Menachem Mendel Yosef. Her sons-in-law include Rav Chaim Mann and Rav Tzvi Wilensky.

Tehei nishmasah tzerurah bitzror hachaim.

{Matzav.com}

The Monsey Torah community was plunged into mourning over Shavuos with the passing of Rav Yisroel Sinai Wagshal zt”l of Lanzhut-Monsey, a revered gaon, tzaddik, and longtime mashgiach who devoted his life to Torah, avodah, and chesed. He was 66 years old.

Rav Yisroel Sinai passed away during Shavuos after enduring years of severe suffering following a devastating stroke approximately eight years ago that left him bedridden and paralyzed.

A descendant of an illustrious line of Chassidic leaders and tzaddikim, Rav Yisroel Sinai was widely respected for his warmth, humility, and deep devotion to helping others. Throughout his life, he was known for receiving every person with unusual kindness and a radiant countenance.

He was the son of Rav Yehoshua Mordechai Elazar Wagshal zt”l, Av Beis Din of Lanzhut and one of Williamsburg’s prominent rabbinic figures, who himself was the son of Rav Alter Yaakov Yitzchok Wagshal zt”l, Av Beis Din of Lanzhut.

Through his mother’s side, Rav Yisroel Sinai descended from Rav Yaakov Halberstam of Tshakava zt”l, son of Rav Sinai of Zmigrod zy”a. His lineage traced back to many of the great Chassidic dynasties and luminaries of past generations, including Lizhensk, Zlotchov, Premishlan, Belz, Ropshitz, Dzikov, Melitz, Ohel, Sighet, Sanz, Dinov, Kozhnitz, Kosov, Sassov, Apta, and many others.

After his marriage to the daughter of Rav Moshe Chaim Rubin zt”l of Dinov, son of Rav Menachem Mendel Zeida Rubin zt”l of Glogov and son-in-law of Rav Yekusiel Yehuda Rosenberger zt”l of Dieresh, the couple established a distinguished home built upon Torah and Chassidus.

For many years, Rav Yisroel Sinai served as a dedicated mashgiach in several yeshivos, including Yeshivas Nitra and Yeshivas Noam Elimelech. He profoundly influenced countless bochurim through his teachings, encouragement, and exceptional love for every student.

Those who knew him described a man who lived entirely for Torah and for the welfare of fellow Jews, constantly involved in acts of gemilus chassadim and helping others quietly and selflessly.

He is survived by a distinguished family of children and sons-in-law who continue his legacy of Torah and yiras Shomayim.

Among his sons are Rav Alter Yaakov Yitzchok Wagshal, rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Toras Moshe in Montreal and son-in-law of the Karlsburger Rebbe of Montreal; Rav Zalman Leib Wagshal, son-in-law of the Av Beis Din of Vodkert; and Rav Menachem Mendel Wagshal, son-in-law of Rav Avrohom Rokeach, Av Beis Din of Kozlov.

His sons-in-law include Rav Yoel Labin, son of the Balchov Rebbe; Rav Chaim Yechiel Alter Segal Lowy, Av Beis Din of Tosh Monsey and son of the Tosh Rebbe; Rav Berel Rotenberg, son of the Av Beis Din of Voidislev; Rav Itamar Meislish, son of the Av Beis Din of Vitzen; Rav Berel Leifer, son of Rav Shmuel Binyomin Leifer of Voidislev; and Rav Shlomo Meislish, son of Rav Mordechai Aharon Meislish, rav of Bais Medrash Ichud Avreichim Satmar and son of the Satmar Gaavad of Boro Park.

He is also survived by prominent rabbinic siblings, including Rav Shalom Wagshal, Av Beis Din of Lanzhut-Williamsburg; Rav Naftali Elimelech Wagshal, Av Beis Din of Apta-Williamsburg; and Rav Boruch Yehuda Wagshal of Lanzhut-Beit Shemesh, son-in-law of the Mishkenos Haroim Rebbe.

Among his sisters are the Peshvorsker Rebbetzin, the Ziditchov-Chareidim Rebbetzin, the Rebbetzin of the Netzach Menachem Spinka Rebbe, the wife of Rav Yehuda Elisha Horowitz, Av Beis Din of Ohr Hachaim, and the wife of Rav Naftali Kahn of Divrei Emunah Monsey.

The levayah was held at Bais Medrash Dinov on Albert Drive in Monsey and proceeded to New Jersey, where Rav Yisroel Sinai was laid to rest near his ancestors.

Tehei nishmaso tzerurah bitzror hachaim.

{Matzav.com}

Dear Mothers-in-Law,

First, we want to say something important: We truly love having you for Yom Tov.

Your presence brings warmth to the house, excitement for the children, family stories, traditions, and that special feeling that makes Yom Tov feel like Yom Tov. There is something beautiful about having another generation around the table and creating memories together.

We also know that you come because you want to help, spend time with your children and grandchildren, and simply be part of the family experience. We appreciate that more than you know.

With that said, we would like to gently offer one small request on behalf of daughters-in-law everywhere.

After the meal, if possible, please consider going to your room for a few hours to rest, relax, read, nap, or simply enjoy some quiet time — even if you don’t actually need the rest.

It may not seem like a major thing, but those afternoon hours can be incredibly helpful. They give us a chance to clean up the kitchen, reset the house, organize the next meal, and handle the million little things happening behind the scenes.

There is something much easier about moving around freely and getting things done without feeling like someone is watching us work, or feeling like we need to remain socially “on” while simultaneously trying to manage the house.

And if we are being fully honest, those few hours can also give everyone a little breathing room. Not because we do not love you, but because even people who love each other very much sometimes benefit from a little space during a long Yom Tov together.

Ironically, when everyone gets that break, the next seudah is usually even nicer. We return refreshed, calmer, happier, and more able to genuinely enjoy being together.

So please know: Disappearing for a little while in the afternoon is not abandoning the family. It may actually be one of the greatest acts of kindness you can give the family.

With love and appreciation,

The Daughters-in-Law

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A rare public clarification was issued Monday by the family of the Amshinover Rebbe after sources claimed that the rebbe had permitted ascending Har Habayis, sparking sharp reaction across the Torah world.

The unusual statement came from the rebbe’s son, Rav Moshe Milikovsky, who said that reports had badly distorted his father’s remarks and falsely portrayed him as endorsing visits to Har Habayis.

The controversy began after excerpts from an internal Amshinover publication titled Yirah V’Simchah. The excerpts were taken from what was described as a private halachic discussion held in the rebbe’s home roughly a year ago.

In response, Rav Moshe Milikovsky released an official statement — an exceptionally uncommon move for the typically quiet and private Amshinover court in the Bayit Vegan neighborhood of Yerushalayim.

“We were shocked by the removal of the Rebbe shlit”a’s remarks regarding Har Habayis from their proper context. The Rebbe did not, chalilah, permit ascending the mountain in opposition to the view of all the poskim. They took an internal halachic discussion that took place in the Rebbe’s home a year ago, which was published in an internal chassidic publication intended for those who understand the nature of the Rebbe’s responses, and dishonestly presented it as though the Rebbe permits or instructs people to ascend Har Habayis halachah l’maaseh, something that never entered his mind.”

The statement further stressed that the discussion was never intended as practical guidance or a public ruling.

“Certainly this was not a practical or ideological heter to ascend Har Habayis, but rather an internal halachic clarification, in which the Rebbe also expressed his opposition to acts such as waving the Shtei Halechem on Har Habayis in a manner not consistent with halachah. The Rebbe’s position is the same as that of all the poskim — that in our times one should not permit ascending Har Habayis in practice, something that could easily lead to an issur kareis chas v’shalom.”

A British military aircraft transporting UK Defense Secretary John Healey reportedly suffered GPS interference while flying near Russian territory earlier this week, forcing the crew to rely on backup navigation systems during the flight back to Britain.

The disruption occurred Thursday as the RAF jet returned from Estonia, where Healey had been visiting British troops participating in NATO exercises close to the Russian frontier. According to reports, the aircraft’s signal was jammed for roughly three hours after its GPS capabilities were knocked offline.

British officials believe Russia was likely responsible for the electronic interference, though it remains unclear whether Healey himself was specifically targeted. Reports noted that the aircraft’s route could be tracked publicly through online flight-monitoring services.

The UK Ministry of Defense has not yet issued an official response regarding the incident.

The episode came just one day after revelations that Russian military aircraft had aggressively confronted an RAF surveillance plane over the Black Sea last month in what British officials described as a highly dangerous encounter.

During that earlier confrontation, a Russian Su-35 fighter jet reportedly flew close enough to an RAF Rivet Joint reconnaissance aircraft to trigger onboard emergency systems and disable the plane’s autopilot functions.

A second Russian aircraft, identified as a Su-27, allegedly made six separate passes directly in front of the British plane, at one point coming within just six meters of the aircraft’s nose.

Following that incident, Healey commended the RAF crew for what he called their “outstanding professionalism” during the “unacceptable” Russian maneuvers. Britain’s Ministry of Defense later characterized the encounter as the most serious Russian provocation involving RAF aircraft since 2022, when a Russian pilot described as “rogue” fired a missile near another Rivet Joint aircraft over the Black Sea.

This is not the first time British officials have dealt with suspected Russian GPS interference. In 2024, an RAF aircraft carrying then-Defense Secretary Grant Shapps also experienced GPS jamming while operating near Russian-controlled airspace.

{Matzav.com}

A rare and highly controversial halachic discussion attributed to the Amshinover Rebbe has sent shockwaves through the Torah and Chassidic worlds after the official Amshinov publication released a conversation suggesting that certain areas of Har Habayis may be permissible to enter after proper immersion.

The unusual exchange appeared this past Shabbos in the internal Amshinov publication Yirah V’Simchah under the title “Shtei Halechem in Our Times,” and centered around questions posed to the Rebbe by his son regarding recent attempts by Temple activists to perform Shavuos-related rituals on the Har Habayis.

The conversation, which was obtained by Matzav.com through researcher and tour guide Yisroel Shapiro, has generated intense discussion.

During the discussion, the Rebbe’s son asked directly whether it is currently forbidden to ascend Har Habayis.

The Amshinover Rebbe responded: “A person who is tamei meis is permitted to enter Har Habayis itself. Only the cheil, which is farther inward beyond Har Habayis, is forbidden.”

When asked whether someone who immerses in a regular mikveh may enter Har Habayis, the Rebbe answered: “Yes, but again, only the beginning section of Har Habayis.”

Asked where that “beginning” area would be located today, the Rebbe replied: “Not deep inside. Farther in is already considered the cheil.”

Later in the conversation, the Rebbe explained that the Kosel Hama’aravi is connected to the wall of Har Habayis, citing the sefer Kaftor VaFerach, and acknowledged that the area beyond the Kosel wall is likely already considered part of Har Habayis itself.

At the same time, the Rebbe emphasized that “Har Habayis is not the Azarah. Har Habayis is Machaneh Leviyah,” and therefore, from a strictly halachic standpoint, entering the outer sections of Har Habayis after proper immersion would be permissible.

The discussion also addressed recent efforts by activists to perform the mitzvah of waving the Shtei Halechem offerings on Har Habayis during Shavuos, attempts that reportedly ended this year with the arrest of 13 activists by police.

“On the surface, there would seem to be a mitzvah involved,” the Rebbe remarked regarding the idea itself, but he immediately raised major halachic obstacles that would prevent such an act from being valid.

“You would have to bake them inside, and I do not understand how they would then be removed,” the Rebbe said, noting the serious issue of “nifsal b’yotzei.”

He also questioned whether there could be certainty today regarding valid kehuna lineage, proper identification of techeiles and argaman, and the exact location of the mizbei’ach.

When his son asked whether the laws of Shtei Halechem might parallel those of the Korban Pesach, the Rebbe responded: “Every individual is obligated in the Korban Pesach; Shtei Halechem is a communal offering.”

The Rebbe then reportedly added humorously regarding activists attempting to carry out sacrificial rituals on Har Habayis: “The Korban Pesach requires a mizbei’ach… Are they carrying a mizbei’ach with them as well?”

The publication of the conversation has reportedly caused astonishment among many Amshinov Chassidim, particularly because of the Rebbe’s well-known personal stringencies regarding mekomos hakedoshim.

One prominent Amshinover chossid said that the comments were viewed as extraordinary given the Rebbe’s famously elevated standards of reverence toward holy places.

According to longtime followers, the Amshinover Rebbe is known to avoid even placing his fingers into the crevices of the Kosel stones out of awe for the site’s holiness.

For that reason, many are stunned that the same Rebbe who conducts himself with such extreme caution at the Kosel would publicly articulate a detailed halachic explanation permitting entry into portions of Machaneh Leviyah on Har Habayis after immersion.

President Trump opened Memorial Day with a fiery series of Truth Social posts blasting Democrats, establishment Republicans, and critics of his administration’s ongoing negotiations with Iran, while insisting that any agreement reached would be far stronger than the Obama-era nuclear deal.

“Happy Memorial Day to all, including the Dumocrats, who disrespect our Military and all of the tremendous success that it has had over the last year. God Bless those that have made the ultimate sacrifice. I love you all!” Trump posted on Truth Social at 6:18 a.m. ET.

The president once again used a national holiday to target political opponents, continuing a pattern that has become familiar throughout both of his terms in office.

Earlier Monday morning, Trump lashed out at those attacking the administration’s diplomacy with Tehran, declaring that opponents of the talks “should go home and rest, they do nothing but create division and loss. In other words, they are losers!”

The Iran negotiations consumed much of the president’s weekend as White House officials worked to determine whether a formal agreement could soon be finalized. According to administration officials, a preliminary framework could be completed within days, although Trump later emphasized that he had directed aides not to move too quickly.

“I laugh at all of the Dumocrats, RINOS, and Fools who know nothing about the potential deal I am making with Iran, things that haven’t even been negotiated yet,” Trump seethed on Truth Social before gloating over recent primary defeats of Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) and Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.).

“The deal with Iran will either be a great and meaningful one, or there will be no deal,” he continued. “It will be the exact opposite of the JCPOA disaster negotiated by the failed Obama Administration.”

Speculation surrounding the emerging proposal has already triggered concern among Republican foreign policy hawks, many of whom fear the administration could offer Tehran excessive concessions. At the same time, some Democrats have mocked Trump by arguing that the developing framework resembles the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action negotiated during the Obama years — the same nuclear accord Trump withdrew the United States from during his first administration.

A senior administration official said Sunday that the White House believes Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei has approved the general outline of a possible agreement. According to the official, Iran has agreed “in principle” to eliminate its stockpile of enriched uranium as part of the broader framework for a peace arrangement.

Hundreds of protesters gathered overnight in Yerushalayim in an attempt to prevent the arrest of a yeshiva bochur by military police, leading to violent confrontations and the deployment of Border Police forces.

The incident began overnight, when military police arrested Yosef Levy, a talmid of Yeshiva Pe’er Yosef, in the Armon Hanatziv neighborhood of Yerushalayim, for allegedly not identifying himself to military police officers. He was taken to a police station for further questioning.

Following the arrest, a large protest erupted at the scene. Demonstrators claimed that police used heavy force to disperse the crowd, including stun grenades.

At the same time, dozens of additional protesters gathered at Kikar HaShabbos in Yerushalayim to protest the arrest. During efforts to disperse the demonstration, Border Police officers were filmed striking protesters with batons.

The developments come after Police Commissioner Danny Levy recently instructed police officers to detain any draft deserter encountered and transfer him to military police custody for further handling.

Until now, Israeli police had generally refrained from arresting draft deserters directly. Critics of the new directive have described it as a major policy shift driven by pressure from the attorney general, whom many in the Olam HaTorah accuse of aggressively targeting bnei yeshivos.

Just before Shavuos, an avreich from Ofakim was stopped on a highway and transferred to military police custody, marking one of the first known implementations of the commissioner’s new policy.

{Matzav.com}

Emergency responders and MDA medics were called overnight to Rechov HaRav Kahaneman in Bnei Brak following a traffic accident involving two vehicles, one of which was carrying a chosson and kallah.

Hatzalah volunteers provided initial medical treatment at the scene to eight injured individuals of various ages, including the chosson and kallah. All of the injuries were classified as minor.

The injured were later transported by MDA ambulances and a Hatzalah ambulance to Mayanei Hayeshua Medical Center in Bnei Brak for further treatment.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump pushed back on Monday against critics of the potential agreement being negotiated with Iran, writing on his Truth Social account that any such accord “will either be a great and meaningful one, or there will be no deal.”

Trump continued, “It will be the exact opposite of the [2015] JCPOA disaster negotiated by the failed Obama Administration, which was a direct and open path to a Nuclear Weapon for Iran. No, I don’t do deals like that!”

The White House said in a social media post on Sunday that negotiations with Tehran are progressing smoothly. The statement followed an announcement on Friday by Trump that Iran and “various other countries” had “largely negotiated” an agreement to end hostilities.

“The negotiations are proceeding in an orderly and constructive manner, and I have informed my representatives not to rush into a deal in that time is on our side. … Both sides must take their time and get it right. There can be no mistakes!” the White House posted, quoting Trump.

The post included an attached statement from the president saying that the relationship between the United States and the Iranians was becoming much more “professional” and “productive.

“They must understand, however, that they cannot develop or procure a nuclear weapon or bomb,” Trump said.

Reportedly, the proposed deal with Iran includes reopening the Strait of Hormuz and easing sanctions to allow Tehran to resume oil exports. In return, Iran reportedly committed not to advance its nuclear program.

Trump defended the potential deal in a Truth Social post on Sunday, saying that if an agreement is reached, “it will be a good and proper one, not like the one made by Obama, which gave Iran massive amounts of CASH, and a clear and open path to a Nuclear Weapon.”

The president continued: “Our deal is the exact opposite, but nobody has seen it, or knows what it is. It isn’t even fully negotiated yet. So don’t listen to the losers, who are critical about something they know nothing about. Unlike those before me who should have solved this problem many years ago, I don’t make bad deals! President DJT.”

A U.S. official told Axios on Sunday that the White House believes that “it could take several days” for an agreement to end the war with Iran to be approved by Iran’s leadership, including Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu posted to X on Sunday that he had spoken with Trump about the negotiations.

“President Trump and I agreed that any final agreement with Iran must eliminate the nuclear danger. That means dismantling Iran’s nuclear enrichment sites and removing its enriched nuclear material from its territory,” Netanyahu wrote. “My policy, like President Trump’s, remains unchanged: Iran will not have nuclear weapons.”

Trump also reaffirmed Israel’s right to take action against threats “on every front, including Lebanon,” the prime minister added. JNS

Israeli Juvenile Court Judge Noam Shilo has issued a public apology after sparking outrage by comparing Palestinian minors who entered Israel illegally to Jews during the Holocaust.

The remarks were made in response to a complaint filed against him with the Judicial Ombudsman, retired judge Asher Kula, following controversial comments Shilo made during a court proceeding involving two Palestinian teenagers.

“I deeply regret what was said. I had absolutely no intention of harming the sacred memory of the Holocaust and the terrible tragedy that befell the Jewish people during World War II,” Judge Shilo wrote in his response.

He added, “I should not have shared my feelings, even in an off-the-record conversation.”

Shilo also noted that many members of both his father’s and mother’s families were murdered during the Holocaust in mass shootings and extermination camps in Poland, Latvia, and Ukraine.

According to Shilo’s explanation, the hearing involved two approximately 14-year-old minors who, he said, appeared “malnourished, thin, weakened, and younger than their age.”

After deciding to release the minors without issuing an order against them, prosecutors requested a delay in implementation of the ruling in order to file an appeal.

Shilo stated that during an off-the-record discussion with prosecutors and defense attorneys, he expressed sympathy for the teenagers, who had allegedly entered Israel to sell inexpensive products to drivers near the Tira-Taybeh junction. He said their appearance reminded him of children during World War II who attempted to bring food home to their families.

The judge emphasized that he ultimately agreed to delay his ruling for 24 hours, during which the minors remained in custody. The following day, the Central-Lod District Court accepted the state’s appeal, convicted the minors, and sentenced them to prison terms equivalent to the time they had already spent in detention while waiving financial penalties.

“I apologize from the depths of my heart to anyone who was hurt or may have been hurt by my statement,” Shilo wrote, adding that he would continue judging minors “with dedication,” as he has throughout nearly 17 years serving as a juvenile court judge.

Judicial Ombudsman Asher Kula accepted the apology and wrote in his ruling: “One who admits and abandons his wrongdoing will be shown mercy. A judge who courageously acknowledges his mistake and retracts it actually strengthens public trust in both himself and the judicial system.”

The controversy first emerged last month in a report by i24NEWS, which revealed that Shilo had presided over the case of two 15-year-old Palestinian minors who infiltrated Israel after climbing over the security fence and were later apprehended by police.

At the time, the judge declined to convict or punish them, citing their age and physical condition. During the hearing, he remarked: “They remind me of Jews who stole potatoes during the Holocaust.”

The comparison triggered widespread public backlash, prompting prosecutors to appeal the ruling. The District Court later overturned the decision, convicted the two minors, and imposed prison sentences.

In an earlier statement, the judicial system’s spokesperson’s office said the judge’s comments “stemmed from the human association that arose in light of the minors’ young and emaciated appearance, which reflected their distress and nothing more.”

{Matzav.com}

Japanese researchers are moving forward with plans for a revolutionary hypersonic passenger aircraft capable of flying at speeds more than twice as fast as the retired Concorde jet, potentially shrinking flights from Tokyo to the United States to just two hours.

The project is being developed with the involvement of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, known as JAXA, which recently completed a major test of an experimental aircraft at its Kakuda Space Center in Miyagi Prefecture, according to Interesting Engineering.

During the test, engineers placed the prototype aircraft inside a specialized ramjet engine testing facility designed to recreate the extreme conditions associated with hypersonic flight.

Researchers simulated speeds of Mach 5 — approximately five times the speed of sound.

According to reports, the experiment successfully validated key systems required for hypersonic travel, including the aircraft’s thermal protection technology, flight control systems, and ramjet engine combustion performance under extreme temperatures and pressure.

Such testing is considered essential because aircraft traveling at those speeds can encounter external temperatures approaching 1,000 degrees Celsius.

The next stage of development could involve attaching the experimental aircraft to a sounding rocket or similar launch platform in order to conduct a real-world Mach 5 flight demonstration.

Japan’s efforts are part of an intensifying international race to develop ultra-fast next-generation transportation systems. If successful, the aircraft could dramatically transform long-distance travel by cutting a trip from Tokyo to the United States from roughly half a day to approximately two hours.

Part of the aircraft’s speed advantage would come from operating at altitudes reaching nearly 17 miles above Earth — more than twice the cruising altitude of standard commercial jets.

At Mach 5, the aircraft would travel at roughly 3,300 miles per hour, making it about six times faster than conventional passenger planes.

The famed Concorde, which remained in service until 2003, reached speeds of approximately Mach 2 and had a maximum recorded speed of about 1,400 miles per hour.

Despite the excitement surrounding the project, researchers caution that commercial hypersonic travel remains many years away.

Hideyuki Taguchi, a professor at the Tokyo University of Science, told Mainichi: “Developing a conventional aircraft typically takes about 10 years. Since the development of hypersonic passenger aircraft requires two stages of demonstration — an experimental aircraft followed by a passenger aircraft — we hope development can be completed in about 20 years.”

Tetsuya Sato, a professor at Waseda University, added: “This result is still only a first step. Our dream is to connect it to a flight demonstration.”

Japan is not alone in pursuing ultra-fast commercial aviation technology.

Among the most closely watched projects in recent years are NASA’s X-59 experimental aircraft and Boom Supersonic’s XB-1, both of which have recently completed important test flights aimed at solving longstanding challenges involving speed, noise, and fuel efficiency.

{Matzav.com}

Americans across the political spectrum are expressing growing frustration over rising living costs as families gather for Memorial Day weekend, with new polling showing widespread concern about inflation, grocery bills, gas prices, and overall financial stability.

A CNN survey found that majorities of Democrats, Republicans, and independents said they have changed the way they shop for groceries in recent months in an effort to stay within their budgets.

The same poll found that 59 percent of Americans have also reduced spending on entertainment and nonessential purchases as household expenses continue climbing.

More than three-quarters of respondents said policies implemented by President Trump have contributed to higher living costs in their communities. Even among Republicans, 55 percent said Trump’s policies have played a role in increasing expenses.

Poll after poll has pointed to deepening economic unease among voters nationwide. In the latest New York Times/Siena survey, nearly half of all voters rated the economy as “poor,” representing an 11-point increase since January.

Meanwhile, Gallup reported that Americans’ confidence in the economy has fallen to its lowest level in four years.

Fuel prices have become another major source of frustration, with average gas prices nationwide climbing above $4.50 per gallon, according to AAA.

Polling conducted by Fox News found that nearly 80 percent of voters — including a majority of Republicans — believe the Trump administration bears responsibility for the spike in fuel costs. Large numbers of respondents also blamed oil companies, the war in Iran, and government regulations for the increase.

Overall, the Fox survey found that 57 percent of voters now believe Trump’s policies have harmed the country, an increase from the 51 percent who expressed the same view one year earlier.

{Matzav.com}

The NYPD’s Internal Affairs Bureau has launched an investigation after a viral social media photo appeared to show two uniformed Bronx police officers making hand gestures associated with the Mac Baller Brims, a violent Bronx-based faction of the Bloods gang tied to murders, shootings, and armed robberies.

The image, which surfaced on Instagram on May 4 before spreading widely on X, shows two masked officers posing with a young man inside what appears to be a McDonald’s restaurant. In the photograph, one officer is seen crossing his middle finger over his ring finger, while the second displays three fingers with his index finger bent backward.

According to the New York Post, both gestures are recognized as signs connected to the Mac Baller Brims.

“This incident is under internal review,” an NYPD spokesperson told the Post, confirming that the matter is being investigated by the Internal Affairs Bureau.

Sources cited by the newspaper identified one of the officers as Shane Cruz, who joined the department in 2024 and was reassigned earlier this year from the 43rd Precinct in Soundview to the 73rd Precinct in Brownsville.

The second officer is also assigned to the 43rd Precinct, though he has not yet been publicly identified because his badge number cannot be seen in the image.

A law enforcement source told the Post that Cruz’s reassignment had nothing to do with the circulating photo and claimed the officers had merely been “messing around” with a young man they knew personally.

Eric Sanders, an attorney and former NYPD officer, told the newspaper that the gestures shown in the photograph were legitimate Mac Baller Brims hand signs and argued that both officers should immediately be placed on modified duty pending the outcome of the investigation.

Retired NYPD Assistant Commissioner Kevin O’Connor said the officers appeared to be attempting Bloods-related signs, though he suggested they may have done so incorrectly. He also questioned whether the blue clothing worn by the civilian in the photo — a color commonly associated with the rival Crips gang — indicated the exchange may have been intended as a joke.

Michael Alcazar, a former NYPD detective who now teaches at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, told the Post that investigators would likely review the officers’ backgrounds and determine whether the conduct violated department standards.

He added that if either officer failed to disclose prior gang affiliations during the hiring process, it could potentially result in termination from the department.

The Mac Baller Brims have long been a focus of both federal and state prosecutors in New York.

In 2019, federal prosecutors in Manhattan charged 13 alleged members and associates of the gang with racketeering, drug trafficking, and firearms crimes linked to violence in the Mount Hope section of the Bronx between 2017 and 2019. A superseding indictment filed the following year added murder charges.

In another major case, the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office indicted three alleged gang members in May 2023 in connection with a series of armed robberies targeting smoke shops in Chelsea, Union Square, and the West Village.

The controversy comes as the NYPD continues grappling with recruiting and staffing challenges.

In February 2025, Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch reduced the department’s college credit requirement for recruits from 60 credits to 24, citing a growing hiring crisis and the fact that 29 percent of applicants — roughly 2,275 people — had been disqualified under the previous standards during 2023.

Tisch, who remained police commissioner after Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s election victory, has repeatedly emphasized internal discipline and accountability since taking over the department in November 2024 under Mayor Eric Adams.

Iran executed a man accused of spying during the ongoing war with Israel and the United States, marking the first time the Islamic Republic has imposed a death sentence for wartime espionage tied directly to the current conflict, AFP reported.

Iranian state judiciary outlet Mizan Online identified the executed man as Mojtaba Kian. According to the report, Kian, “who sent information related to the country’s defense industry units to the enemy, was hanged early this morning.”

The regime claimed that Kian secretly transferred classified information concerning Iran’s military production infrastructure during the approximately 40-day war.

Since the outbreak of fighting, Iranian authorities have sharply escalated arrests and executions involving alleged cooperation with what Tehran calls the “Zionist-American enemy.” However, until now, those executed had allegedly committed their offenses before the war began.

Sunday’s execution marked the first known case involving accusations connected specifically to intelligence activity carried out during the conflict itself.

According to court documents cited by Iranian media, Kian “sent multiple messages to hostile networks affiliated with “the Zionist-American enemy”, including coordinates and information on facilities producing parts related to the country’s defense industries.”

Iranian authorities further alleged that the information was transmitted through foreign satellite television channels. While the judiciary did not identify the specific broadcasters involved, Tehran has repeatedly accused Persian-language media outlets operating abroad of serving as intelligence arms for Israel.

Iran has long accused Israel of conducting sabotage operations inside the country and has routinely arrested, prosecuted, and executed individuals accused of cooperating with Israeli intelligence services.

Human rights organizations say Iran remains one of the world’s leading executioners, second only to China, and accuse the regime of using executions to intimidate the population and suppress dissent.

Amnesty International reported last week that more than 2,150 people were executed in Iran during the past year.

According to the organization’s findings, at least 2,707 executions were carried out worldwide in 2025, with Tehran alone responsible for 2,159 of them — more than double the number attributed to the Iranian regime in 2024.

{Matzav.com}

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The IDF announced Monday morning that Sergeant Nehoray Leizer Hy”d, 19, of Eilat, was killed during combat operations in southern Lebanon.

According to the IDF Spokesperson’s Unit, Sergeant Leizer was killed Sunday at approximately 3:00 p.m. when an explosive drone launched by the Hezbollah terror organization detonated near a group of Israeli soldiers operating in the area.

The attack also left another IDF soldier seriously wounded.