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Refueling planes from the US military have arrived at Israel’s Ben Gurion Airport.

Hatzolah seen in action, operating nonstop throughout the ongoing blizzard

New York City awoke today to a standstill after a powerful bomb cyclone blanketed the region with heavy snowfall, leaving roads buried and more accumulation forecast before the storm moves out later in the day.

Snow continued to fall before sunrise, with Staten Island reporting more than 13 inches, Mott Haven in the Bronx measuring a foot, and both Flatbush and Washington Heights recording over 11 inches, according to the latest figures released by the National Weather Service.

In neighboring New Jersey, Freehold in Monmouth County — situated squarely in the storm’s path — saw totals reach 19 inches, Fox Weather reported.

The snowfall intensified early Monday, pounding areas from New York through Massachusetts at rates of 2 to 3 inches per hour.

The National Weather Service described travel as “nearly impossible.”

“The combination of heavy snowfall and strong winds will continue to produce blizzard conditions along the Northeastern Seaboard,” the weather service said Monday. “Sharply reduced visibility will make travel extremely treacherous across these areas.”

The system, officially designated Winter Storm Hernando, is forecast to keep dropping snow through much of Monday, with some parts of the tri-state region potentially reaching 20 inches before the storm tapers off later in the evening.

Powerful wind gusts reaching up to 60 miles per hour accompanied the blizzard, cutting electricity to more than 250,000 residents along the East Coast, including upwards of 100,000 customers in New Jersey alone.

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul declared a state of emergency covering all five boroughs, Long Island, and multiple additional counties across the state.

Officials in New Jersey implemented a statewide emergency declaration as well.

New York City streets were largely deserted except for sanitation trucks and plows after a travel ban — issued through an emergency cellphone alert Sunday night — took effect at 9 p.m. and is set to remain in place until noon Monday.

Public transportation throughout the region has been heavily disrupted. All NJ Transit operations were halted, while the Long Island Rail Road and New York City subway system reported cancellations, delays, and altered service, agency officials said.

Air travel was also severely impacted nationwide. According to flight tracking service FlightAware, more than 5,500 flights were scrapped on Monday, and an additional 9,000 experienced delays. Airports serving New York City and Boston were among the hardest hit.

The storm prompted the closure of New York City public schools, marking what Mayor Zohran Mamdani described as the “first old-school snow day since 2019” following criticism over a remote-learning decision during the previous storm.

With the city still dealing with fallout from its last major winter weather crisis, officials mobilized additional workers to assist with snow removal. Some crews began shoveling late Sunday to get ahead of the initial wave of accumulation, Mamdani said.

A blizzard warning remains in effect until 6 p.m. Monday.

{Matzav.com}

A major development has shaken the Sephardic Torah world: the historic Yeshivas Reishis Chochmah in Yerushalayim, founded nearly six decades ago, will close its bochurim division at the end of the current zman. The decision was made following consultations with rabbanim, and the yeshiva’s building is expected to operate exclusively as a kollel for married avreichim going forward.

In an official statement released Sunday, the yeshiva’s administration announced: “After careful consideration and consultation with rabbanim, it was decided that the yeshiva will continue in its current format only for kollel avreichim, and the bochurim division will conclude at the end of the present term.”

The dramatic move marks the end of a significant chapter in the history of the Sephardic Torah world, after decades of harbotzas haTorah.

Yeshivas Reishis Chochmah is among the most veteran institutions in the yeshiva landscape and has long been regarded as a cornerstone in the building of the Sephardic Torah world in Eretz Yisroel. It was founded approximately 60 years ago by Rav Shabtai Aton zt”l, a member of the Moetzes Chachmei HaTorah, and is remembered as one of the first Sephardic yeshivos established aside from Porat Yosef. Over the decades, it produced thousands of talmidim who today serve with distinction as rabbanim, dayanim, and marbitzei Torah throughout the country.

Despite its distinguished reputation, recent years have presented serious challenges. Considerable efforts were made to preserve the honor of the Yerushalayim institution and to breathe new life into it. In recent years, the rabbanim, together with the rosh yeshiva, attempted to restore the yeshiva to its earlier stature, but the complex reality ultimately proved decisive.

In the end, Rosh Yeshiva Rav Ben Zion Aton decided that the yeshiva would close its bochurim division at the end of the current zman, with the intention of continuing its Torah legacy on the premises through a kollel for avreichim alone.

{Matzav.com}

Shas chairman Aryeh Deri is estimating that elections for the 26th Knesset will take place around mid-Elul, close to their originally scheduled date, despite the escalating political crisis surrounding the draft law and the status of yeshiva students.

During a conversation with rabbanim in Tiveriah, where Deri spent this past Shabbos, the Shas leader said he believes the elections will be held in the middle of the month of Elul, meaning they would be advanced by only about one month.

In the Knesset, coalition officials are reportedly inclined to set the elections at least a week before Rosh Hashanah, in order to allow the tens of thousands of people who travel to the kever of Rav Nachman in Uman to vote before departing.

The date currently being discussed within the coalition — and the one Deri himself is said to favor — is Tuesday, September 1, approximately a week and a half before Rosh Hashanah.

It was also noted that Deri returned to Yerushalayim together with the Rishon Letzion, Rav Yitzchak Yosef, who traveled back by helicopter in order to arrive in time at the Yazdim shul to deliver his weekly shiur.

During Shabbos, in remarks before dozens of leading halachic authorities, Deri said: “In this generation we have merited the leadership of the Rishon Letzion. May it be the will of Heaven that we continue to merit his leadership, along with the important Torah works that have been accepted throughout the Jewish world.”

{Matzav.com}

Thousands of bnei Torah packed the Armonot Chen halls in Bnei Brak last night for the major “Romamtnu L’Dorot” gathering,  an event marked by a powerful display of kavod haTorah. Yet the most moving moment of the evening did not take place on the main stage, but rather behind the scenes — in the kitchen.

A photograph obtained this morning captured Rav Dovid Cohen, rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Chevron and a member of the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah, seated quietly in a corner of the Armonot Chen kitchen. There was no seat of honor and no prepared table, just a simple plastic chair positioned near beverage carts and stacks of dishes. Amid the bustle of preparations, the rosh yeshiva was seen deeply immersed in learning, completely detached from the surrounding commotion.

Sources told Matzav that his presence in the kitchen was not due to a lack of space, but rather reflected a deliberate act of humility and sensitivity. When Rav Cohen arrived at the entrance to the hall, he was informed that three prominent rabbanim were in the midst of delivering a central Torah panel.

In his characteristic modesty, the rosh yeshiva was concerned that his entrance into the main hall would prompt the audience to rise in his honor and applaud, thereby interrupting the speakers and diverting attention from the rabbanim currently addressing the crowd. To avoid diminishing their kavod, he asked to enter through a side kitchen door instead.

For nearly half an hour, Rav Cohen remained in the kitchen, waiting until the panel concluded. Sitting on a simple chair, he utilized the moments to learn with the diligence for which he is well known.

{Matzav.com}

Rav Ben Zion Mutzafi was asked about the issue of vaccinations and about those who claim that it is forbidden to vaccinate. He responded firmly: “Vaccinate — do not play with the lives of infants.”

Rav Mutzafi, one of the leading Sephardic halachic authorities, called on the public not to pay attention to rumor-mongers and to make sure their children are vaccinated. He made these remarks in response to questions sent to him about vaccinations, against the backdrop of the deaths of several unvaccinated children from the chareidi community due to measles.

The Question: “Hello, honorable rabbi, may he live long. There are many opinions regarding vaccinations for children. Some Torah scholars and some doctors say to vaccinate and bring sources, and some say not to vaccinate and also bring sources. What does the rabbi say?”

The Response: “Many idle words have been written. The danger is great and one must vaccinate. Do not play with the lives of infants.”

The Question: “Hello to the honorable rabbi. I stopped taking my one-year-old son to the well-baby clinic to receive vaccinations because I am concerned. I have heard that there are negative effects from vaccines.”

The Response: “When you withhold vaccinations from him, you are endangering his life. Everyone does this, and that is how epidemics are prevented.”

As previously reported, a six-year-old child who had not been vaccinated against measles passed away last night at a hospital, the Health Ministry announced.

According to the ministry, the child was brought to the hospital in critical condition, and doctors were forced to declare his death after prolonged resuscitation efforts. The Health Ministry stated in this context that “Vaccination and arriving in time to receive medical treatment can save lives.”

This case joins reports of 15 additional deaths from the disease, the overwhelming majority of them children and infants who had been healthy and had no prior underlying medical conditions but had not been vaccinated against the virus.

The Health Ministry reiterated that “Measles can be prevented through an effective and safe vaccine — one that saves lives.”

{Matzav.com}

Israeli military police arrested a chareidi yungerman in the early hours of Monday morning at his home in Be’er Sheva after he failed to respond to multiple draft notices and did not report to the induction office.

According to reports, military police officers arrived at the residence before dawn. After identifying the avreich, they immediately placed him under arrest and transferred him to a military prison. An arrest warrant had been issued against him due to his failure to comply with enlistment orders that had been sent to his home.

Following the arrest, the yungerman’s family contacted the Tzeva Shachor system. However, by the time activists were alerted, there was no way to prevent the arrest, as he had already been taken from the house.

Attorney Shlomo Haddad, who represents yeshiva students detained in similar cases, was dispatched to assist the arrested yungerman.

In a statement, the Notnim Gav organization said in part: “The military police arrested a kollel avreich for the crime of learning Torah at his home in the city of Be’er Sheva. The family contacted the Tzeva Shachor system after the arrest.”

“The attorney Shlomo Haddad on behalf of the organization is handling the case. The family is also receiving response and support from the organization,” the statement added.

{Matzav.com}

Israeli police arrested six Arab minors in Ramla suspected of hurling stones at a yeshiva and nearby residential buildings while shouting “עם ישראל מת”.

U.S. Secretary of State Rubio’s visit to Israel has been rescheduled for next Monday, after initially being planned for this weekend.

U.S. Embassy in Lebanon Evacuates Dozens of Staff Amid Rising Regional Tensions

A fresh round of negotiations between the United States and Iran is scheduled for Thursday in Geneva, Oman’s foreign minister announced Sunday, shortly after Iran’s chief diplomat indicated he anticipated meeting U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff at that time.

Omani Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi confirmed the development in a social media post, saying he was pleased to announce it was moving ahead “with a positive push to go the extra mile towards finalizing the deal.” Oman has played a mediating role in the indirect discussions over Iran’s nuclear program and helped facilitate the most recent session held in Geneva last week.

The White House did not immediately respond to the announcement.

In an interview broadcast Sunday on CBS, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said there was still a “good chance” of reaching a diplomatic resolution to the nuclear dispute and emphasized that the talks are focused solely on that issue.

The Trump administration has sought significant concessions from Tehran and has expanded the American military footprint in the Middle East to levels not seen in decades.

President Donald Trump cautioned Friday that limited military action against Iran remains an option, even as Araghchi said at the time that Tehran expected to present a draft agreement within days.

Speaking to CBS, Araghchi stated that Iran was continuing to prepare its proposal and reiterated that the country maintains a right to enrich uranium. He also noted that during the latest talks on Friday, U.S. representatives had not demanded zero enrichment, a position that differs from statements American officials have made publicly.

Both sides have indicated they are ready for military confrontation should diplomacy collapse over Tehran’s nuclear ambitions.

Shortly after Oman confirmed the upcoming talks, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian wrote on social media that “recent negotiations involved the exchange of practical proposals and yielded encouraging signals. However, we continue to closely monitor U.S. actions and have made all necessary preparations for any potential scenario.”

Washington has maintained that Iran must not obtain nuclear weapons or even retain the capacity to produce them, and has insisted that uranium enrichment cannot continue. Iranian officials have consistently argued that negotiations should address only the nuclear file and have claimed that enrichment activities ceased following U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities in June.

Although Tehran asserts that its nuclear efforts are for civilian purposes, the United States and other governments believe the program could ultimately be directed toward weapons development.

Diplomatic efforts have remained stalled for years after Trump withdrew the United States in 2018 from the 2015 nuclear agreement between Iran and world powers. Since that withdrawal, Tehran has declined to engage on broader American and Israeli demands that it curb its missile program and end support for armed proxy groups.

News of the renewed talks comes amid fresh unrest inside Iran. Witnesses reported new anti-government demonstrations as university students in Tehran and another city gathered near memorials honoring thousands killed during a crackdown on nationwide protests roughly six weeks ago.

{Matzav.com}

Iran has quietly finalized a €500 million weapons agreement with Russia to obtain thousands of advanced shoulder-fired missiles, part of a broader push to restore its air-defense network after it was badly damaged during last June’s war with Israel, The Financial Times reported Sunday.

According to the report, the deal was concluded in Moscow in December and calls for Russia to supply 500 Verba launchers along with 2,500 9M336 missiles over a three-year period. The Verba platform is considered one of Russia’s more sophisticated short-range air-defense systems and is designed to intercept cruise missiles, low-altitude aircraft, and drones.

The Verba is a portable, infrared-guided missile system that can be operated by small, mobile units, enabling forces to deploy scattered defensive positions without depending on fixed radar sites that could be targeted. Leaked documents cited in the report indicate that deliveries are expected to begin in 2027, though some units may arrive earlier.

Tehran reportedly sought the systems in July, shortly after the 12-day confrontation with Israel, during which Iran’s integrated air-defense array was significantly weakened. The damage allowed Israel’s air force to achieve air superiority across wide areas of Iranian territory. Efforts to restore that infrastructure have faced difficulties, leading Iran to turn to Moscow for support.

Analysts view the agreement as an attempt by Russia to reinforce its relationship with Iran following criticism that Moscow did little to assist Tehran during the conflict. A former senior US official suggested that Russia could be looking to repair ties in order to preserve Iran as an important regional partner, despite its inaction during the fighting.

Military cooperation between Moscow and Tehran has deepened in recent years as both governments contend with mounting Western pressure tied to their regional policies and broader geopolitical positions.

In April, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi traveled to Moscow for talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

During the visit, Araghchi delivered a message from Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei emphasizing the importance of closer ties between the two countries.

Shortly afterward, Putin signed legislation passed by Russia’s parliament aimed at expanding cooperation between Moscow and Tehran in multiple areas, including security and defense.

Iran has also been pursuing the purchase of advanced Sukhoi Su-35 fighter jets from Russia, though Iranian officials have expressed dissatisfaction with delays in completing that transaction.

{Matzav.com}

Lee Goldberg with the latest on the blizzard still raging across the Tri-State Area.

The forecasts called for major snow — and they were right on target. More than a foot of snow has already fallen in parts of New York City, with even higher totals on Long Island and along the Jersey Shore. Snowfall rates peaked at up to 3–4 inches per hour, with wind gusts topping 50 […]

In an escalation in the struggle against Israel’s corrupt judicial system, Prof. Moshe Cohen-Eliya, one of Israel’s leading critics of what he calls the “judicial system’s tyranny,” has launched an initiative to ask U.S. President Donald Trump to impose personal sanctions on Supreme Court Justice Yitzchak Amit and the dismissed Attorney General, Gali Baharav-Miara. Cohen-Eliya […]

North Korea’s ruling Workers’ Party has reaffirmed Kim Jong Un as its general secretary during a party congress session on Sunday, according to state media, reinforcing his unchallenged authority and signaling what observers describe as heightened confidence in the country’s internal stability.

The Korean Central News Agency reported Monday that Kim was credited with elevating the nation’s standing and strengthening its global position in pursuit of what it described as a revolutionary mission. The state outlet also praised his efforts to transform the armed forces “into an elite and powerful army.”

State media further emphasized advances in Pyongyang’s military capabilities, declaring that under Kim’s leadership, “the war deterrence of the country with the nuclear forces as its pivot has been radically improved,” KCNA said in the laudatory report of the fourth day of the congress’ proceedings.

Outside analysts interpreted the move as a signal that Kim views his grip on power as secure. “The reaffirmation of his authority amounts to a declaration that Kim Jong Un has ended the regime’s ‘crisis management mode’ and entered a phase of confident, stable long term rule,” Lim Eul-chul, an expert on North Korea at Kyungnam University, said.

In addition to confirming Kim’s position, delegates selected members of the party’s Central Committee and approved amendments to party regulations, KCNA reported. While the agency did not outline the substance of the rule changes, it noted shifts in committee membership that appeared to sideline several veteran figures.

Among those reportedly removed from key roles were former Foreign Minister Ri Su Yong, Supreme People’s Assembly Standing Committee Chairman Choe Ryong Hae, and senior military official Ri Pyong Chol, a development analysts described as a possible reshuffling of longstanding leadership figures.

Kim’s teenage daughter, Ju Ae, who has appeared alongside him at public events in recent years and has been the subject of succession speculation, has not been seen at the congress thus far.

The ninth party congress, which typically convenes every five years and runs for several days, began Thursday with approximately 5,000 delegates in attendance. South Korean officials are closely monitoring the gathering for signs of shifts in domestic or foreign policy.

So far, however, the sessions have centered largely on claims of economic recovery and achievements attributed to party leadership, with no major new policy initiatives publicly unveiled.

{Matzav.com}

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