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Israel’s Chief Rabbi, Rav Kalman Meir Ber, welcomed the Knesset’s approval of the arbitration law on Monday night, calling it a long-overdue correction of an ongoing historical injustice affecting both the public and rabbinical judges.

He explained: “One must understand the absurdity: for years, anyone who wished to conduct arbitration in monetary matters could do so in any forum—except before rabbinical judges in rabbinical courts.”

He continued: “This is an absurd and outrageous situation, both for the public that wishes to adjudicate according to Torah law and for the judges who studied for years and developed expertise in these areas. The authorities seemingly recognize the judgment of everyone—except the judgment of Torah scholars who have spent many years mastering monetary law. This is an unacceptable situation, especially in a Jewish state.”

The Chief Rabbi noted that the need to correct this issue has long been clear to anyone familiar with it and has drawn agreement across different sectors. He said: “At the ceremony for appointing judges at the President’s Residence, I spoke about this issue, and there was broad consensus across the board.”

He also expressed gratitude to those who advanced the legislation, particularly MK Moshe Gafni, stating: “who for many years worked behind the scenes with determination to formulate the legal and political framework that would allow for its approval—as indeed occurred last night in the Knesset plenum.”

Iran has informed member states of the International Maritime Organization that it will allow “non-hostile vessels” to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, according to a report by the Financial Times, in what could mark a notable shift in regional maritime conditions.

The development carries significant global implications, as roughly 20 million barrels of oil move through the strategic waterway each day, making it one of the most critical chokepoints for international energy supplies.

Iran told countries that belong to the International Maritime Organization that “non-hostile vessels” can transmit the Strait of Hormuz.

It remains uncertain whether this step is connected to comments made by President Donald Trump, who said Iran had delivered a gesture that was “worth a tremendous amount of money.” Trump did not specify what the gesture was, only noting that it arrived Tuesday and related to the strait.

Officials at the White House did not immediately provide clarification when asked about the matter.

{Matzav.com}

Uriyah Sarousi z”l, a 48-year-old resident of Har Bracha and father of eight, drowned in the Jordan River on Tuesday after jumping into the water to rescue his son, who had been swept away. Members of his community mourned his passing, describing him as a man of gentility and chesed.

Sarousi had been on a trip in the north when his son entered the water and got into distress. He immediately jumped in after him and successfully brought his son to safety, but did not have the strength to make it out himself. Rescue teams at the scene later pronounced him dead.

He had volunteered for reserve duty, where he worked on technological solutions aimed at saving the lives of soldiers.

Following the tragedy, professional teams from the Shomron Regional Council and the community of Har Bracha have been assisting the family and supporting residents of the community.

Yossi Dagan, head of the Shomron Regional Council, paid tribute, saying: “We embrace the Sarousi family and the Har Bracha community during this difficult time. Uriyah was a fighter in his soul, both in reserve duty and in his civilian life, a man of kindness, and his final act of heroism—when he jumped without hesitation into the river to save his son—is a pure reflection of who he was: a man of self-sacrifice, love, and responsibility.”

He added: “The Shomron lost a precious individual today, a pillar of strength for his family and a fighter who always stepped forward when called. We embrace the family. The council team is supporting the community and will continue to assist the family in whatever is needed. May his memory be blessed.”

The Har Bracha emergency response team also issued a statement: “With deep sorrow and shock, we announce the passing of a resident of the community, Uriyah Sarousi z”l. During a trip in the north, his son entered the water and encountered distress. Uriyah entered the water to assist and succeeded in rescuing his son safely, but his strength gave out, and rescue forces at the scene determined his death.”

The community added: “The community’s emergency teams are in contact with the family and are supporting them at this time. Details regarding the funeral will be announced later. We embrace Tehila, the children, and his sister Orit Kayam. ‘Death will be swallowed forever, and Hashem will wipe away tears from every face.'”

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump said that Iran has accepted his central demand for ending the war, stating that Tehran has agreed it will not pursue nuclear weapons.

“They’ve agreed,” he said. “They will never have a nuclear weapon. They’ve agreed to that.”

Iran has not publicly confirmed such an agreement and has denied engaging in any talks with the United States.

Trump has repeatedly made clear that a commitment by Iran to forgo nuclear weapons is a key condition for halting the ongoing US military campaign.

{Matzav.com}

Seven people were injured Tuesday afternoon when missiles fired from Iran struck multiple locations in central Israel, causing damage in Bnei Brak, Petach Tikvah, Rosh HaAyin, and Givat Shmuel.

Air raid sirens sounded across central Israel and Yerushalayim as the barrage was launched. At least one of the missiles, reportedly equipped with a cluster warhead, was not intercepted. Several impact sites sustained damage, including a vehicle that overturned in Rosh HaAyin and a balcony that collapsed in Bnei Brak.

In Bnei Brak, seven people were wounded in one of the strike sites. A 23-year-old man sustained moderate injuries from shrapnel, while six others were lightly hurt, including an infant. An 80-year-old woman and a boy around 10 years old were also among those receiving initial medical treatment.

According to Magen David Adom, medics and paramedics treated the injured at the scene and evacuated them to hospitals. “In the Bnei Brak area, MDA teams are providing medical treatment and evacuating seven injured individuals, including a 23-year-old man in moderate condition with shrapnel wounds and six others in light condition, including a baby. Further updates will be provided as necessary.”

A separate impact involving a cluster-type munition was reported in Petach Tikvah as part of the same barrage targeting central Israel and Yerushalayim. Security and rescue forces are operating at the scene and conducting searches, though no injuries had been reported there at the time.

Fire and rescue officials reported multiple incident sites. In Bnei Brak, firefighting teams responded to three separate locations. The primary site involved extensive destruction after a munition struck a four-story residential building, causing significant surrounding damage. One person in moderate condition was evacuated, and crews continued searching the structure to ensure no one remained trapped.

At a second site in Bnei Brak, another munition struck a four-story building, prompting additional searches by emergency crews. A third site involved shrapnel hitting a balcony in a building in Givat Shmuel.

In the central district, responders handled three sites in Petach Tikvah and another in Rosh HaAyin. In Rosh HaAyin, shrapnel fell in an open area. In Petach Tikvah, one site involved debris from an interception landing between residential buildings, while another sustained a direct hit on a structure without reported injuries.

Earlier in the evening, a separate attack from Lebanon resulted in the death of a woman in her 30s. Emergency responders treated two additional individuals who were lightly injured.

According to a preliminary investigation, the woman had pulled over to the side of the road during the siren. She and another man lay down in a roadside ditch when the rocket struck just a few meters away. She was killed at the scene, while the man sustained minor injuries.

Meanwhile, Hezbollah launched approximately 30 rockets toward northern communities, along with drone incursions. Sirens were activated across multiple towns in the Upper and Western Galilee.

Magen David Adom reported that crews found the woman with no signs of life and severe multi-system injuries, and her death was pronounced at the scene. Additional teams treated two others for light shrapnel injuries.

Mr. Tibor Kupferstein, a Holocaust survivor who rebuilt his life with extraordinary strength, dignity, and simchas hachayim, has passed away, leaving behind a legacy of resilience, creativity, and deep devotion to preserving Jewish history.

His levayah is taking place at Beis Tefilah of Inwood, located at 259 Doughty Boulevard in Inwood, NY.

Born in Budapest, Hungary, Mr. Kupferstein endured the horrors of the Holocaust, surviving the brutality of Mauthausen, including death marches and imprisonment under unimaginable conditions. Yet those who knew him often marveled that despite all he endured, he carried himself with a spirit of life, warmth, and joy that could not be extinguished.

In 1948, he arrived in the United States determined to rebuild. He pursued higher education and began a professional journey marked by both talent and versatility. He first established himself as a fashion designer, then moved into the retail business of fur coats. Later, demonstrating his remarkable adaptability and drive, he transitioned once more, ultimately building a successful career in metalwork contracting.

These varied and successful ventures were not only a testament to his abilities but also enabled him to pursue what became a defining passion of his life: the collection and preservation of Judaica.

For more than three decades, Mr. Kupferstein devoted himself to assembling an extraordinary collection of Jewish art and artifacts. His vision was bold and deeply personal—to establish the first Jewish Art Museum in Brooklyn, a place where Jewish history, creativity, and identity could be preserved and shared with the public.

To house this growing collection, he purchased a two-story home on a quiet street in Flatbush, dedicating it entirely to his life’s work. Every inch of the home became filled with items of Jewish significance. Each room carried its own theme, though the sheer volume of pieces often overflowed from space to space. Visitors entering the home were greeted by a painting salon, its walls covered edge to edge with approximately 150 paintings, with additional works carefully stacked in rows across the floor—an immersive testament to his passion and vision.

In his later years, Mr. Kupferstein devoted himself to sharing not only his collection but also his life story. He spoke to students and communities, offering a powerful message of perseverance, gratitude, and appreciation for life.

Yehi zichro boruch.

Two brothers from Bnei Brak set out on a trip earlier today and have since gone missing after contact with them was lost in the early afternoon hours.

The two left their home this morning at 11:30 a.m. to travel to the area of Churvat Shiloh in the Shomron. Since the afternoon, there has been no communication with them.

Israel Police are asking for the public’s assistance in locating the missing boys, Yehuda Schreiber, 20, and Yisroel Schreiber, 19.

Anyone with information regarding their whereabouts is urged to contact the Israel Police hotline at 100.

{Matzav.com}

Questions have emerged over a reported vandalism incident at a boys’ high school in Huwara after unusual Hebrew phrasing and spelling errors in graffiti cast doubt on who may have been responsible.

Earlier this week, the Palestinian Authority’s official news agency, WAFA, reported that “settlers broke into a boys’ high school in the town of Huwara and sprayed hateful inscriptions on the walls.”

The account, later cited by Israel’s Haaretz newspaper, said that a Palestinian flag at the school had been taken down and replaced with an Israeli flag. The incident was described as part of a pattern of vandalism allegedly carried out by Jewish residents in the area.

However, scrutiny of the graffiti itself has led to growing skepticism. Photographs from the scene show Hebrew phrases reading: “Aravi tov mavet” (a good Arab is death) and “Lamikdash banenu” (our sons are to the temple).

Observers have noted that these phrases do not match the standard slogans typically used by extremist elements. The commonly known expression is “Aravi tov hu Aravi met” (a good Arab is a dead Arab). In addition, the second phrase appears to be a mistaken version of “Lamikdash panenu” (we turn toward the Temple). Analysts suggest that the error may stem from the absence of a “P” sound in Arabic, which could explain the substitution.

Ayelet Mitsch, who previously worked as a copy editor at Haaretz, questioned the report directly in a message to the paper’s editor, writing: “What’s ‘Aravi tov mavet’? What’s ‘Lamikdash banenu’? Does it sound to you like a fact that settlers sprayed this, or does it look like a fabrication and obvious incrimination that was written by an Arabic speaker and not a native Hebrew speaker?”

Additional doubts were voiced online, where users pointed to the way certain letters were formed in the graffiti. One commenter highlighted that the Hebrew letter nun in the word “banenu” was written in a style resembling the Arabic letter lam, suggesting an error that would be unlikely for a native Hebrew writer to make.

{Matzav.com}

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Hundreds of families who travel abroad and go door-to-door each year… can’t go this time.

They are stuck!

In past years, many of the needy in the Zichron Moshe neighborhood in Yerushalayim travel abroad and raise the necessary funds to be able to make Yom Tov in addition to many that visit Yerushalayim for Purim and Pesach.

This year, everything has changed.

Due to the war, travel is extremely difficult. Many families are unable to leave, and those who can are unsure if they will be able to return in time for Yom Tov.

Kupas Zichron Moshe was established by Rav Aaron Nimersovsky to assist the needy families in Shchunas Zichron Moshe in Yerushalaym, including almanos, yesomim, and those that are in crisis.

Unfortunately, the numbers have been growing over the last few years, with over 800 families on the list for this year.

Click Here To Donate

Started twelve years ago, Kupas Zichron Moshe has become a respected organization that has grown past natural bounds. Run under the auspices of Rav Gamliel Rabinovich, Rav Moshe Elyashiv and Rav Yitzchok Soloveitchik, Kupas Zichron Moshe has continued to provide for the Yom tov needs for over 700 choshuve families in Zichron Moshe/Geula Yerushalayim who cannot live on their own means.

These are not families that are looking to buy luxuries. These are families that would literally not have fish and chicken on Shabbos and Yom Tov without y(our) help.

This year we are having a much harder time than usual. 700 families are relying on us and we cannot do it without your help!

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has privately urged President Donald Trump to press ahead with military action against Iran, portraying the conflict as a strategic opening to alter the balance of power in the Middle East, according to a report published by The New York Times.

Citing sources familiar with high-level discussions, the report said the Saudi leader recently communicated to American officials that the campaign should continue until Iran’s hard-line regime is brought down. He reportedly maintained that Iran represents an enduring danger to Gulf nations that cannot be neutralized without removing its current leadership.

The report indicated that Saudi Arabia’s stance does not fully align with Israel’s outlook. While Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also sees Iran as a major threat, some observers believe Israel may consider a significantly weakened Iran—mired in internal turmoil—as an acceptable outcome. Saudi officials, however, are said to view such instability as a direct and ongoing security risk.

Saudi Arabia has publicly rejected claims that it is pushing for an extended conflict. In an official statement, the kingdom said it favors a diplomatic solution and is maintaining close coordination with Washington. It stressed that its immediate priority is protecting civilians and infrastructure from continued attacks.

At the same time, officials in both Washington and Riyadh are increasingly concerned that a drawn-out war could lead to further Iranian strikes on critical energy facilities and pull the United States into a prolonged military engagement. Iranian retaliation has already shaken oil markets and contributed to regional instability.

President Trump’s public messaging has varied, at times pointing to possible de-escalation while also leaving the door open for expanded military action. He recently said there had been “productive conversations” aimed at ending the conflict, although Iranian officials denied that any such talks were underway.

According to The New York Times report, the crown prince has also discussed the option of striking Iran’s energy infrastructure and has voiced support for broader military steps. These conversations reportedly included potential operations targeting major oil installations.

The stakes for Saudi Arabia are considerable, both economically and from a security standpoint. Iranian actions have affected key maritime corridors, including the Strait of Hormuz, a vital route for global oil shipments. Even alternative export paths have come under threat.

Officials and analysts cited in the report said Saudi leaders fear that ending the war without substantially weakening Iran would leave the region exposed to further attacks. At the same time, they recognize that a prolonged conflict could damage the kingdom’s economy and hinder its long-term development plans.

In a separate report last week, Reuters said Gulf Arab countries have cautioned against any outcome that would allow Iran to retain the ability to threaten energy infrastructure. Sources told Reuters that Iran’s recent actions have underscored its capacity to strike critical facilities and disrupt shipping lanes.

Reuters also reported that the United States has been urging regional allies to publicly back the joint US-Israeli campaign, as President Trump seeks wider support for the operation. Gulf officials expressed growing concern about Iran’s missile and drone capabilities and the potential consequences for oil exports and broader economic stability.

According to those sources, Gulf leaders are balancing the risks of escalation against the dangers of leaving Iran with significant military strength. While coordination among regional countries remains limited, there is increasing focus on strengthening defensive cooperation.

{Matzav.com}

A large-scale rocket attack from Lebanon struck northern Israel on Tuesday evening, leaving one woman dead and several others wounded, as emergency and security teams responded across multiple impact sites.

A total of 38 rockets were fired toward northern communities, with several landing near the Machaneyim Junction area. A woman at the scene sustained critical injuries from the blasts and flying shrapnel, while two others were hurt lightly.

Emergency responders from Magen David Adom rushed to the location and began administering urgent medical care to the critically wounded woman. Despite their efforts, she was later pronounced dead at the scene.

Security personnel and rescue teams continued to comb through the affected areas, checking for additional victims and assessing potential damage caused by the heavy barrage.

In a separate earlier incident, a missile launched from Iran struck in the south, seriously injuring a doctor from the Bedouin community and causing lighter injuries to his wife and two young children.

The injured man, who works at Soroka Hospital, had just returned home after an extended shift and had gone to rest when the missile struck.

Magen David Adom teams treated the injured family members at the scene before transporting them to Soroka Hospital in Be’er Sheva. Warning sirens sounded across the Negev region and areas surrounding Gaza during the attack.

{Matzav.com}

Andrew Kolvet, a host associated with The Charlie Kirk Show, said Monday that he provided private text messages from the late Charlie Kirk to then–National Counterterrorism Center director Joe Kent, but denied any involvement in their eventual public release, which later fueled conspiracy theories.

Kolvet explained that he shared the messages with Kent shortly after Kirk’s death as part of efforts to gather information, but said he declined a subsequent request to make them public. The texts later surfaced through Candace Owens, a conspiracy theorist who has used them to advance claims about Kirk’s death.

Kent, who stepped down from his role in the Trump administration last week after issuing a letter critical of Israel and its “influence,” is reportedly under FBI investigation over allegations that he leaked classified material.

Addressing the controversy on his show, Kolvet first aired remarks from Rabbi Pesach Wolicki, who accused Kent of being the source of the leak:

WOLICKI: “The way that those screenshots got to Candace is via Joe Kent. Andrew Kolvet, Andrew was in the chat group as well. He was one of the nine people in the group and he admitted — at first, be perfectly honest, at first he was denying it, we didn’t know how Candace got them — but then he admitted on the air on his show that he had given these text messages, and he gave them to-, he said that on the show that he gave them to someone in the government.

“He told us that, that he gave them to someone in government. Joe Kent was someone that we knew that there was a relationship there between Charlie, and Andrew, and Joe. We knew that when Charlie would visit Washington, D.C., he would talk to Joe. We kind of verified that the messages had been given by Andrew to Joe Kent, and that Joe Kent had been the one to pass them on to Candace.”

Kolvet responded by confirming part of the account while pushing back on the conclusions being drawn.

“All right, so ‘verified’ is doing a lot of heavy lifting there. I do want to confirm what I can confirm, and that is that, yes, in the immediate aftermath, I did provide the group chat to Joe Kent,” said Kolvet. “We don’t throw around accusations recklessly here, we don’t. There’s a lot people who do that online, we don’t do that. We think that’s keeping in the spirit of Charlie’s spirit, and the way we choose to do things is we try and be responsible. So, yes, in a spirit of looking at every lead, turning over every stone, we wanted everybody that needed to know, to know anything that we knew. Not just-, I mean, and by the way, we’ve been accused of not being interested in the truth-”

Kolvet’s co-host Blake Neff then clarified the broader context of the controversy for listeners:

“And just to remind people what this is referring to, this is after Charlie’s murder, there were text messages that, from a private group chat, that were made public and were used to, frankly, kick off the big conspiracy theory that we’ve run into over and over again, which is that Israel or the Jews had Charlie murdered. Which we do not believe,” interjected co-host Blake Neff to set the stage.

“Which we do not believe,” agreed Kolvet, before continuing with his account:

“But we have been accused of trying to-, or we’re not interested in the truth. The actual fact of the matter is that behind the scenes, we have given everything we know to give, every single piece of information. This was one of them. I was told I could trust Joe Kent, I provided the screengrabs to Joe Kent, and that I don’t know what happened to them at that point, okay? I just want to make that very clear.

“Eventually, Joe did message me and suggest that I make those screengrabs public. I declined because those were shared privately, I didn’t want to be reckless with them in the public, there could be innocent people on that group chat that would then be harmed. So I declined. But then, fast forward another week or two, and they were made public. So that’s what I know, is that Joe suggested that they be made public, I declined, then they were made public. Can I 100% categorically say that he leaked them? No. But those are the facts. Maybe somebody on his team, maybe they got passed around, maybe somebody else leaked them. But that’s-, those are the facts of the matter. And that’s what I know.”

The messages at the center of the controversy were shared by Owens, who has pointed to them as supposed evidence of a broader geopolitical plot behind Kirk’s killing, rather than the actions of Tyler Robinson, the defendant in the case, who claimed responsibility and said he targeted Kirk over his views on transgender issues.

Among the messages circulated publicly were statements attributed to Kirk, including: “Just lost another huge Jewish donor. $2 million a year because we won’t cancel Tucker. I’m thinking of inviting Candace,” and “Jewish donors play into all the stereotypes. I cannot and will not be bullied like this. Leaving me no choice but to leave the pro Israel cause.”

Owens has continued to promote the theory that Israel may have been involved in Kirk’s death, a claim that has been widely disputed by those close to him.

{Matzav.com}

An Israeli man was detained at Egypt’s Taba International Airport after putting on a tallis and tefillin, preventing him from boarding his scheduled flight. He was ultimately released and allowed to depart only after intervention by Israeli officials.

The incident comes as growing numbers of Israelis have been using Taba Airport as an alternative travel hub due to ongoing restrictions at Ben Gurion Airport. The Egyptian facility, located about a 40-minute drive from the Taba border crossing, has become a key point of entry and exit. However, Egyptian authorities have shown heightened sensitivity toward visible Jewish religious practices.

Aviel, an Israeli passenger on the same flight, described the tense atmosphere in an interview with Ynet. “I arrived at the airport early. It’s a very small terminal with no internet and almost nothing there. We were flying to Athens on a plane carrying 180 Israelis. Sitting next to me in the terminal was a chareidi man studying Gemara and gently swaying. Suddenly, an Egyptian security officer rushed over and said that praying in the terminal was forbidden. He demanded his passport immediately.”

Aviel said he stepped in to assist, explaining to the officer that the man was studying rather than praying. The explanation appeared to satisfy the officer, who then left the man alone.

Later, while passengers were waiting to board, another Israeli traveler took out a tallis and tefillin. At that point, a military officer confronted him, stating that prayer was not allowed and demanding his passport. The young man was detained and removed from the area, missing his flight.

Following intervention by Israeli authorities, the traveler was eventually released and permitted to board a later flight.

Reflecting on the incident, Aviel said, “In Egypt, you have to be extremely careful. It was genuinely frightening. They are not willing to allow anyone to pray there. People were afraid to speak up or get involved.”

{Matzav.com}

Long security lines at airports caused significant delays not only for travelers but also for federal investigators responding to the deadly runway accident at LaGuardia Airport, slowing the early stages of the probe until intervention from transportation officials.

The incident occurred Sunday night when an Air Canada aircraft struck a Port Authority fire truck that was crossing the runway shortly after the plane landed. The fire truck had been dispatched in response to a report from a United flight about a possible odor inside the cabin. The collision killed both pilots aboard the Air Canada plane and left dozens injured, requiring hospitalization. In the aftermath, LaGuardia Airport was shut down and is expected to remain closed through at least Tuesday afternoon.

At a press briefing Monday, National Transportation Safety Board Chair Jennifer Homendy outlined the initial steps taken in the investigation and acknowledged the challenges her team faced in getting to the scene.

According to Homendy, investigators started arriving at approximately 3:10 a.m., though several members of the team were still traveling at the time of her remarks, meaning a full day of investigative work had not yet taken place. She noted that many questions remain unanswered and said she wanted to “set expectations,” particularly given the ongoing Department of Homeland Security shutdown.

“We have DHS that is shut down, and we have long TSA lines,” she said. “Our air traffic control specialist, who was in line with TSA for three hours, until we called — in Houston — to beg, to see if we can get her through, so we can get her here. So it’s been a really big challenge to get the entire team here, and they’re still arriving as we speak.”

Later Monday, CNN aviation correspondent Pete Muntean discussed the situation on AC360, telling Anderson Cooper that the crash reflects broader strain within the aviation system.

Muntean explained that while issues surrounding TSA funding and staffing were not directly responsible for the crash itself, they are contributing to wider disruptions across the aviation sector, including passengers missing flights and delays affecting investigative work.

“They can’t even get their people here,” said Cooper.

Muntean also reacted to Homendy’s account of the delays, highlighting that officials had to “beg” to get a crucial investigator, an air traffic control specialist, through security after she had already been waiting for hours.

He further referenced new reports indicating that pilots had previously raised concerns about congestion at LaGuardia, warning that the airport’s heavy traffic levels could pose serious risks. Some of those warnings compared conditions at LaGuardia to those preceding a deadly midair collision near Reagan National Airport in January 2025 involving an American Airlines flight and a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter, which resulted in no survivors.

“There’s some really, really key telltales here,” Muntean concluded. “And I have to tell you, I’ve been covering near collisions for years here at CNN. And it was very interesting that we were reporting on collisions that did not happen. Now we’re reporting on collisions that are happening. It’s a very bad dream.”

{Matzav.com}

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Thursday night. March 19, 2026

Odessa is once again under attack. But this time, it’s deeply personal.

Just a few days ago, the city’s main synagogue was struck by a Russian drone, causing significant damage to one of the most prominent symbols of Jewish life in the area.

The TiKvah Shul isn’t just a museum or historical monument. It’s a living part of Odessa’s Jewish community.

Built in the 19th century, the historic shul has survived decades of upheaval, closed under Soviet rule and later restored to become a thriving center for Jewish life. It stands not only as a building, but as a testament to our resilience and continuity.

In Thursday’s attack, it wasn’t just windows that shattered. It was our presence that was targeted. Because when a synagogue is attacked, it sends a message far beyond its walls. It strikes at the heart of an entire community. And we cannot allow that message to stand.

Children at Tikva, many of whom were orphaned at a young age, have already experienced unimaginable loss, displacement, and uncertainty. This attack shakes the very sense of safety we work so hard to build for them.

Tikva has always been on the ground, providing stability, care, and strength where it’s needed most. And now, we must stand with our own community in Odessa.

Together, we can rebuild what was damaged. We can restore not only the structure, but the heritage and enduring spirit it carries for our children.

Because we are still here.

Alive. Present. Unbreakable.

Stand with Odessa. Help us rebuild our shul.

Click Here to Help

Israel’s top cyber official said Tuesday that Iran is stepping up its efforts to harm the country through cyber warfare, even as Israeli defenses continue to block major threats to critical systems and the broader economy.

Yossi Karadi, who leads Israel’s National Cyber Authority, said during a public appearance that the country’s cyber operations are not only protecting infrastructure but also helping secure the nation’s future. “I truly believe we are managing to change our children’s future. I see a better future and I think we deserve it.” He noted that Israeli cyber units have successfully prevented serious damage to essential infrastructure and have thwarted attempts aimed at disrupting economic stability.

He stressed that the digital battle is constant and far from over. “This is a war that is ongoing all the time. It is not over,” he emphasized.

During Operation Roaring Lion, Israel’s Cyber Directorate documented more than 50 cyberattacks targeting the country. According to Karadi, roughly 20 separate hostile groups were behind these operations, involving hundreds of individual hackers.

He disclosed that approximately 50 Israeli companies and organizations were entirely erased in recent cyberattacks carried out by adversaries. Those affected are now working to recover their systems using backup data.

Karadi explained that beyond immediate disruption, attackers are deeply focused on gathering intelligence. He said engineering firms and civilian infrastructure are among the primary targets. “The question is not whether they are collecting information,” he said, “but when that information will mature into an operational purpose and actual use.”

He added that cyber campaigns are also aimed at individuals connected to Israel’s security establishment, defense sector, and academic institutions. In a troubling development, attackers are not limiting their focus to the primary targets but are also going after their family members.

Since the war began, the National Cyber Directorate’s emergency center, accessible via 119, has handled 4,019 reports. About half of those cases involved social engineering attempts. “These are only the reported incidents,” Karadi clarified. “If you want to reach the real numbers, you would need multiples of these statistics. Not everyone reports.”

Among the incidents he cited was an Iranian cyber operation that hijacked digital display boards at Israel Railways stations, broadcasting alarming messages such as “The subway is not safe right now.”

Authorities have also uncovered about 50 attempts by Iran to gain control of surveillance cameras nationwide. Karadi said Iran is working in coordination with Hezbollah in a broader campaign targeting cameras at sensitive sites. “There are even some active incidents that we are dealing with right now,” he said. “To be honest, the enemy has had successes in taking over cameras, but not ones that have strategic impact. Everything happens because of low protection levels and weak passwords.”

Karadi concluded by warning that Iran is investing heavily in shaping a perception of cyber dominance.

“I don’t sleep at night,” he admitted. “We see them trying again and again to attack energy, water facilities, and the financial sector.”

He cautioned that even if fighting on the ground between Israel, Iran, and Hezbollah subsides, cyberattacks will persist. “We have seen this before – on the day after the ceasefire of Operation ‘Rising Lion’ took effect, the number of cyberattacks on Israel doubled. We must be prepared for that this time as well.”

{Matzav.com}

Steve Bannon said that the recent deployment of Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers to assist at airports could serve as a trial run for a broader role in the 2026 midterm elections.

Speaking on his “War Room” program with conservative attorney Mike Davis, Bannon raised the idea of using ICE’s current involvement in airport operations as preparation for election-related activities.

“We can use what’s happening with these ICE [officers] helping out at the airports, we can use this as a test run, as a test case to really perfect ICE’s involvement in the 2026 midterm elections, sir?” Bannon asked.

Davis responded by expressing support for the presence of immigration officers at polling locations.

“Yeah, I think we should have ICE agents at the polling places, because if you’re an illegal alien you can’t vote, right? It’s against the law, it’s a federal crime for you to vote in federal elections.”

“And so, if you’re an American citizen, you should be happy that ICE is there, because you’re not going to have illegal aliens canceling out your vote,” he added.

“Exactly,” Bannon replied. “Pick ‘em out of line starting today, and maybe the lines will get shorter.”

The comments come as ICE and Homeland Security Investigations personnel began assisting Transportation Security Administration officers at airports across the country on Monday. The move follows staffing shortages tied to the Department of Homeland Security shutdown, which has led to an increase in resignations among TSA personnel and longer security lines nationwide.

Tom Homan, who is overseeing the effort as the White House border czar, said during an appearance on SiriusXM’s “Cuomo Mornings” that ICE officers are not conducting security screenings themselves, but are instead helping with other responsibilities, such as managing entry and exit points at checkpoints.

President Trump told reporters Monday that the deployment was “my idea.” He also said in an interview with NewsNation’s Hannah Brandt on Sunday that ICE agents would assist TSA officers “for as long as it takes.”

Following his discussion with Davis, Bannon reiterated his support for expanding ICE’s role, suggesting their responsibilities could extend beyond airports.

“They’re trained to, wait for it, check IDs,” he said, referring to ICE officers. “That’s why it’s perfect training for the fall of 2026. This is why it’s such a brilliant [move], this is another 5D chess move from President Trump.

“Let’s get ICE into the airports to help out [with] the lines and they can’t work the [X-ray] machines. You know what they’ll do, they’ll just walk on down [and say], ‘Hey, we’re going to speed things through, can we check your IDs?’ That’s what’s going to happen in the fall of ‘26 because folks, we’re tired of having elections stolen. So, ICE is going to be there in the fall of ‘26, just like they’re in the airports today.”

{Matzav.com}

The Supreme Court on Monday wrestled with deep divisions over a Mississippi law permitting the counting of mail-in ballots that arrive after Election Day, a case that could shape how votes are handled nationwide and potentially affect control of Congress in upcoming midterm elections.

The justices spent about two hours hearing arguments in Watson v. Republican National Committee, a dispute stemming from a 2024 challenge to Mississippi’s policy allowing ballots to be counted if they arrive within five days after Election Day, provided they were postmarked on or before that date.

Mississippi is among 14 states, along with the District of Columbia and three U.S. territories, that permit ballots to be tallied even if they arrive after Election Day, as long as they were mailed on time.

The case is unfolding as President Donald Trump has made mail-in voting a central issue during his second term, contending that such practices weaken trust in election outcomes.

During the hearing, the justices examined whether federal laws setting an Election Day override state rules that allow ballots to arrive later, and debated the meaning of “the election” in terms of when votes must be cast and received.

Several members of the court appeared receptive to arguments from the Trump administration’s attorney, U.S. Solicitor General D. John Sauer, who warned that laws permitting late-arriving ballots could damage public confidence in election results.

Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Amy Coney Barrett, both seen as potential swing votes, pressed attorneys on both sides with pointed questions.

“If Election Day is the voting and taking, then it has to be that day,” Roberts noted. He also questioned whether the interpretation of “Election Day” could impact early voting, asking lawyers whether their logic “requires a different consideration” for early ballots.

“Is there any limit to that? Fill out a ballot… and drop it off two weeks before?”

Justice Samuel Alito raised concerns about delays in finalizing election results, warning that “confidence in election outcomes can be seriously undermined,” a sentiment later echoed by Justice Brett Kavanaugh.

Supreme Court justices signaled concern over the potential fallout from counting ballots that arrive after Election Day, as they weighed a challenge to Mississippi’s mail-in voting law — a case that could shape how elections are conducted nationwide.

The Supreme Court’s review of Mississippi’s mail-in ballot law is unfolding against the backdrop of President Donald Trump’s push to curb mail-in voting during his second term, underscoring a wider national debate over how elections should be conducted.

Trump has taken steps to restrict the use of mail-in ballots, including signing an executive order aimed at eliminating them in federal elections. Several Republican-led states have already moved in that direction.

The dispute now before the justices, however, stems from a separate legal battle. The case centers on a challenge brought by the Republican National Committee against Mississippi’s voting law, which was adopted after the COVID-19 pandemic and permits ballots to be counted if they arrive up to five days after Election Day.

During oral arguments, Mississippi officials faced pointed questioning from conservative members of the court, who raised concerns about potential long-term consequences. The justices posed a series of hypotheticals about where such policies could lead, including scenarios involving early voting and ballots cast by American troops stationed overseas.

“If history teaches anything,” Justice Neil Gorsuch noted, “[it is that] as soon as anything is allowed, it will happen.”

Gorsuch continued to press attorneys on how far states could extend their deadlines for accepting ballots if the court were to uphold Mississippi’s law.

“If we were to rule against you, is there anything that would limit a state from allowing a receipt by election officials up until the day of the next Congress?” Gorsuch asked at one point during arguments.

Paul Clement, representing the Republican Party and Libertarian voters, argued that siding with Mississippi could create virtually unlimited flexibility for states in setting their own rules.

“Maybe the next state can figure out a way to have an election without anybody even receiving anything, I don’t know,” Clement said. “That seems to me to be a large reason why Election Day should mean ‘Election Day.’”

Justice Samuel Alito also appeared sympathetic to the argument that Election Day should be understood as a fixed point in time, rather than a window that stretches beyond a single day.

“We have lots of phrases that involve two words, the second of which is ‘day,’” Alito interjected, before listing “Labor Day, Memorial Day, George Washington’s birthday,” and Independence Day, he said, adding that “they are all particular ‘days.'”

“So if we start with that, if I have nothing more to look at than the phrase ‘Election Day,'” he said. “I think this is the day in which everything is going to take place, or almost everything.”

At its core, the case reflects an ongoing legal struggle over how much authority states should have in setting election procedures, particularly when federal contests are involved.

The issue arrives as the justices are also considering other major election-related disputes this term, including cases involving redistricting based on race and limits on coordinated spending between political parties and candidates.

Attorneys representing Mississippi argued that federal law requires only that ballots be cast by Election Day, not necessarily received by that date.

Lawyers for Mississippi told the court that an “‘election’ is the conclusive choice of an officer… So the federal Election-Day statutes require only that the voters cast their ballots by Election Day.”

“The election has then occurred, even if election officials do not receive all ballots by that day.”

Republican officials say the case is critical to maintaining trust in the electoral system and preventing prolonged vote-counting periods.

“Watson v. RNC is about a simple principle: ballots must be received by Election Day,” Ally Triolo, the communications director for the RNC’s Election Integrity efforts, said Monday. “This prevents elections from dragging on for days and weeks after voters have cast their ballots, causing confusion and undermining our elections.”

A decision from the Supreme Court on the issue of when mail-in ballots must be counted is expected by June.

A senior Iranian official signaled that Tehran is not backing down, declaring that the war will continue until its demands are met, underscoring the wide gap between Iran and the United States despite recent talk of progress.

Mohsen Rezaei, a top military adviser to Iran’s new supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei, issued the warning in response to statements by President Donald Trump, who has suggested there may be movement toward a potential agreement.

Rezaei reacted sharply to earlier U.S. threats targeting Iran’s energy infrastructure—threats that Trump has since pulled back—making clear that Iran is maintaining a hardline stance even as negotiations continue.

“The war will continue until we are compensated for all our losses, all economic sanctions are lifted, and we receive international legal guarantees that Washington will not interfere in our affairs,” Rezaei said, outlining Tehran’s position.

He also issued a direct warning, escalating the rhetoric as tensions remain high.

“This time it will not be an eye for an eye, but a head for an eye, and you will leave the Gulf,” he said.

Rezaei’s demands stand in stark contrast to the conditions set by the United States and Israel. In recent discussions between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Vice President J.D. Vance, Washington made clear it would insist on the removal of enriched uranium from Iran, a complete halt to its nuclear program, and the return of strict inspections by the International Atomic Energy Agency.

Rezaei, who rose to prominence following the killing of Iran’s previous supreme leader Ali Khamenei, is considered one of the most influential figures in the current Iranian leadership. His appointment as a military adviser to Mojtaba Khamenei highlights his growing role in shaping policy.

Security officials assess that the divide between the two sides remains extremely wide. While Trump has projected optimism in public statements, Iran’s insistence on compensation, sanctions relief, and binding guarantees appears far from acceptable to Washington and Jerusalem.

Israeli officials have expressed concern that any agreement reached could fall short of fully addressing the threat, raising fears of a “partial victory” that satisfies political goals without ensuring long-term security. Rezaei’s remarks reinforce concerns that Iran may be using the negotiations to buy time and strengthen its position rather than move toward dismantling its nuclear program.

Harvard Law School professor Alan Dershowitz said that the confrontation with Iran represents the most serious international danger since World War II, cautioning that inaction could lead to catastrophic consequences.

Speaking on Newsmax, Dershowitz described the stakes in stark terms, drawing a direct historical comparison to the period leading up to the Second World War.

“This is the most important war since 1939, since Nazi Germany,” Dershowitz said. “If Iran is allowed to develop nuclear bombs, [it] will do what Hitler did, and there will be millions and millions of deaths.”

He also emphasized the expanding reach of Iran’s missile capabilities, warning that the threat extends beyond the Middle East.

“We now know that its rockets can reach Europe, and ultimately, the United States,” he said. “So this is the most important war we have fought since the Second World War, and every decent person ought to join it.”

Dershowitz further argued that the United States should respond with unity across political lines, expressing concern that partisan divisions are undermining a coordinated response.

“The Democrats ought to join it in the United States. But they’re not, because they’re putting partisanship before national security,” Dershowitz said.

Referencing historical events, Dershowitz suggested that different leadership in the 1930s might have changed the course of history, invoking President Donald Trump in that context.

“Had President Trump been in charge in 1935, 1936, I think the Holocaust would have been prevented,” he said. “We’re preventing another Holocaust, a nuclear holocaust that Iran would clearly inflict not only on Israel, but on Europe.”

He also dismissed claims that Israel has dictated U.S. military decisions in the region, and raised concerns about ideological trends within domestic politics, particularly within the Republican Party.

“The Republican Party has to disassociate itself from its fascist neo-Nazi wing, which is growing within the Republican Party, particularly among young people,” he said. “It’s a real threat to America, to democracy, to American Jews, to Israel, and to American values.”

{Matzav.com}