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By Rabbi Berach Steinfeld In Shemos, Perek Yud Bais the Torah tells us that we have a mitzvah to bring a Korban Pesach on Erev Pesach. Was the bracha of shehecheyanu recited when they brought the Korban Pesach since it is a mitzvah that occurs infrequently? The Nesiv Chaim in siman taf lamed bais says that they did not say the bracha of shehecheyanu while shechting the Korban Pesach. They relied on the shehecheyanu that would be said on the night of Pesach during Kiddush. This is similar to the fact that we don’t make a bracha of shehechyanu while building the sukka, but rather we say the bracha of shehecheyanu during Kiddush when we also have the building of the sukka in mind. The Shailos Utshuvos Shevet Halevi in chelek gimmel, siman samech heh questions the above comparison. We don’t make a bracha of shehecheyanu on the building of the sukkah because that act is actually a hechshermitzvah, a preparation for the mitzvah of eating in the sukka. We therefore rely on the shehecheyanu on the mitzvah of eating in the sukka itself, which includes the preparation for the building of the sukka as well. A similar scenario would be concerning saying shehechayanu while searching for chametz. We do not say shehecheyanu while we check for chametz since it is only a hechsher mitzvah; the actual mitzvah is not having chametz in your domain on Pesach, so we are yotze with the shehecheyanu we say as we usher in the Yom Tov during Kiddush. In contrast, when it comes to shechitas Pesach where the Rishonim count the shechita and the achilas Pesach as two separate mitzvos, we should be required to say shehecheyanu on the shechita and then at night when we eat the Pesach we could either rely on the original shehecheyanu on the shechita or rely on the shehecheyanu we say for the Yom Tovitself. The bottom line is that since the shechitas Pesach is a mitzvah on its own and comes infrequently; we need to say a shehecheyanu. The Shevet Halevi was asked a question in Chelek Tes, siman kuf yud yud gimmel based on what we pasken in Yoreh Deah, siman chof ches, seif koton gimel concerning a shochet who shechts for the first time. The shochetmakes a bracha of shehecheyanu on the kisui hadam, (the covering of the blood) but not on the shechita because when one shechts, the animal is hurting so we don’t say shehecheyanu during the shechita. The question then is, how could we say a shehecheyanu when we shecht the Korban Pesach when we are causing pain to the animal? The Shevet Halevi answers that there is a difference between these two scenarios. When one shechts an animal because he wants to eat meat, then there is no place for him to say shehecheyanu since he is causing the animal pain in order to have his own pleasures fulfilled. On the other hand, when one brings the Korban Pesach, he is shechting the korban because Hashem told him to and not for his own personal pleasure. In such a case one could say shehecheyanu despite the fact that the animal is in pain since that is what Hashem commanded us to do. May we be zocheh soon to bring korbanos and be required to say shehecheyanu for shechita in our lifetime. Do you have a topic or discussion you want to read about? Please send comments or questions to hymanbsdhevens@gmail.com or berachsteinfeldscorner@gmail.com

An Israeli military commander urged citizens to strictly follow emergency shelter instructions after Iranian cluster munitions struck several locations in central Israel, killing one person and seriously injuring two others. Speaking from the site of one of the impacts, Maj. Gen. Shai Klapper, head of the IDF Home Front Command, said the attacks demonstrated both […]

CENTCOM: The Iranian regime can try to hide their missile launchers, but U.S. forces won’t stop looking. When we find them, we’re taking them out.

Lebanon’s president issued one of his strongest warnings yet against Hezbollah, accusing the Iran-backed terrorist group of endangering the country and risking a devastating new war with Israel that could transform Lebanon into “a second Gaza.” Speaking during a meeting with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President António Costa, Lebanese […]

Lindsey Graham: To our friends in Saudi Arabia: I am willing to do a treaty to go to war for you, but you got to step up and let America know you’re a reliable ally…

Lindsey Graham: I’m with Israel. I will be with Israel to our dying day. They’re the best ally we could hope for.

The Knesset on Monday approved in its first reading a government bill designed to regulate the annual Lag BaOmer gathering at the kever of Rabi Shimon Bar Yochai on Har Meron for the year 2026, marking the fourth consecutive year that special legislation has been advanced to organize the event.

The proposal, prepared by the Ministry of Yerushalayim and Jewish Tradition, aims to ensure that the gathering will take place in safety, while incorporating lessons learned from previous years and the recommendations of the state commission of inquiry established after the Meron disaster.

Communications Minister Dr. Shlomo Karhi presented the legislation to the Knesset plenum after the government assigned him responsibility for overseeing this year’s event.

In his address, Karhi said he views the task as far more than a logistical responsibility. “This is about safeguarding one of the greatest spiritual moments of the Jewish people. We approach this sacred work with the memory of the 45 victims of the terrible disaster engraved in our hearts. That wound obligates us to maintain the highest level of vigilance so that every person who ascends the mountain will return home safely.”

The legislation largely mirrors similar laws passed in previous years and formally anchors the framework that has been implemented at the gathering in recent years under the leadership of the Ministry of Yerushalayim and Jewish Tradition.

Karhi also praised former minister MK Meir Porush for the foundations he established while overseeing the event in earlier years, noting that the goal is to continue creating an atmosphere in which all segments of the Jewish people feel welcome at the site of Rabi Shimon Bar Yochai.

The bill also advances continued development of permanent infrastructure at the Meron complex, including improvements to the grounds and the construction of large hospitality tents, as well as expanded areas for food service and davening to better accommodate the thousands of pilgrims who travel to the site.

Under the proposed framework, dozens of traditional bonfire lightings are expected to take place throughout the Meron complex during the celebration. This will include the central lighting conducted by the Boyaner Rebbe, following longstanding tradition, along with additional lighting areas prepared within the expanded Meron complex and at the Bnei Akiva compound, allowing communities from across the Jewish world to participate.

Despite the complicated security situation and ongoing tensions in northern Israel, officials at the Ministry of Yerushalayim and Jewish Tradition said preparations for the gathering are continuing at full speed. Planning efforts are moving forward with flexibility to adjust to different possible security developments.

Officials stressed that the extensive investment in improving infrastructure and safety measures is accompanied by hope and prayer that the security situation will calm before Lag BaOmer arrives.

The intention, they said, is to enable tens of thousands of Jews to travel safely to Meron and observe the long-standing tradition in an atmosphere of calm and spiritual elevation.

The bill has now been transferred to the Knesset’s National Security Committee, chaired by MK Tzvika Fogel, where it will be prepared for its second and third readings. Lawmakers hope to complete the legislative process before the Knesset recess begins. Karhi concluded his remarks with a message to the public: “Meron is waiting for you. Come with joy, pray with devotion, and return home safely.”

{Matzav.com}

Russian President Vladimir Putin has sent a message of support to Iran’s newly appointed supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, signaling Moscow’s continued alignment with Tehran even as the region faces escalating military conflict.

The message was delivered as Iran grapples with ongoing airstrikes targeting key facilities in Tehran and elsewhere, underscoring the growing tensions across the Middle East.

Putin was among the first world leaders to congratulate Khamenei after Iran’s Assembly of Experts selected him to assume the role of supreme leader following the death of his father, Ali Khamenei.

The timing of the letter drew attention as it came while Iran was attempting to recover from recent Israeli airstrikes that reportedly targeted oil depots and refining infrastructure in Tehran.

In his message, Putin expressed strong solidarity with Iran and reaffirmed Russia’s support for the country during what he described as a challenging period.

“At a time when Iran is facing armed aggression, your tenure in this high office will undoubtedly require great courage and dedication. I am confident that you will honorably continue the work of your father and unite the Iranian people in the face of severe trials. For my part, I would like to reaffirm our unwavering support for Tehran and our solidarity with our Iranian friends. Russia was and will remain a reliable partner of the Islamic Republic.”

Putin also wrote that he believes Mojtaba Khamenei will continue his father’s legacy and successfully lead Iran during a period of regional instability and war.

China has also signaled support for the leadership transition in Tehran, noting that the process was carried out in accordance with Iran’s constitution and effectively granting international recognition to the change in leadership.

Putin’s message, which described Russia as a “reliable partner” and pledged “unwavering support,” was widely viewed as a signal to Western governments that the alliance between Moscow and Tehran remains strong despite the ongoing conflict.

{Matzav.com}

New York City officials are weighing whether to convert many of the city’s free street parking spaces into metered spots as the administration of Mayor Zohran Mamdani confronts a $5.4 billion budget shortfall.

The proposal surfaced as City Hall explores potential sources of revenue while grappling with the growing fiscal gap, which critics say has been driven by the mayor’s expansive social spending agenda.

First Deputy Mayor Dean Fuleihan indicated last week that the idea of charging for parking in areas that are currently free — or introducing “dynamic pricing” that adjusts based on demand — is under consideration as officials look for ways to narrow the deficit.

“Yes, we should be looking at all those things,’ Fuleihan said at Thursday’s CityLaw breakfast event.

Despite that acknowledgment, Fuleihan cautioned that such measures alone would not solve the city’s massive budget problem.

“But it’s not going to address the $5.4 billion problem,” he acknowledged.

He later reiterated that the proposal remains only a topic for discussion at this stage.

“I said it’s a very good policy question, and one that needs to be discussed,” he later clarified of the meter issue.

A study by the Center for an Urban Future estimated that dramatically expanding the number of parking meters throughout the city could bring in as much as $1.3 billion in annual revenue.

According to the report, roughly 800,000 of New York City’s more than 3 million street parking spaces — about 25 percent — currently require payment at meters.

The analysis suggested that an additional 750,000 parking spots would need to be converted to metered spaces to generate that level of income while also easing traffic congestion.

The possibility of expanding paid parking drew immediate criticism from elected officials representing neighborhoods outside Manhattan.

“Like the Mayor’s proposal to hike our property taxes, this is just another way to shakedown outerborough working and middle class households, who need cars to get around because they don’t have adequate transportation options. ” said Staten Island GOP City Councilman David Carr.

Carr’s criticism comes as Mamdani has warned that property taxes could rise by nearly 10 percent if Governor Kathy Hochul does not approve higher taxes on wealthy residents to help fund the administration’s agenda.

“How exactly would this make New York City more affordable?” Carr continued.

Queens Republican Councilwoman Joann Ariola also blasted the proposal, arguing that expanding parking meters would unfairly burden residents who depend on their cars.

“another tax on the middle and working classes.

“Not every New Yorker has the luxury of living in places like Astoria or Manhattan where there are plenty of transit options available,” she said.

“Some of us rely on our cars to get around, and I encourage the Mayor to come out to South and Southeastern Queens and take a look around before he decides to levy this burden on working families who just want to park near their homes.”

In a statement to The Post, Mamdani emphasized that his preferred solution for addressing the deficit remains raising taxes on high-income residents.

“Our administration is committed to filling the budget gap by ending the drain on New York City and taxing the rich,” the mayor said.

“As my First Deputy Mayor said yesterday, you do not fill a $5.4 billion budget gap through parking meters, we need structural change at the scale necessary to put our city back on firm financial footing.”

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump warned that the United States would respond with overwhelming force if Iran attempts to shut down the Strait of Hormuz, a vital maritime corridor for global oil shipments. His warning comes as the ongoing conflict with Iran has sharply disrupted vessel traffic through the narrow passage, driving oil prices upward.

In a message posted on Truth Social, Trump issued a direct threat to Tehran over any effort to interfere with the oil route, which is one of the most important shipping lanes in the world.

“If Iran does anything that stops the flow of Oil within the Strait of Hormuz, they will be hit by the United States of America TWENTY TIMES HARDER than they have been hit thus far,” he said on Truth Social. “Additionally, we will take out easily destroyable targets that will make it virtually impossible for Iran to ever be built back, as a Nation, again — Death, Fire, and Fury will reign upon them — But I hope, and pray, that it does not happen!”

Trump has repeatedly cautioned Iran that interfering with traffic through the strait would lead to an escalation of U.S. military action. The narrow waterway sits between Iran and the Arabian Peninsula and is responsible for transporting about one-fifth of the world’s oil supply.

Earlier Monday, Trump told CBS News that he was weighing the possibility of placing the strategic shipping route under U.S. control.

{Matzav.com}

Alexander Butterfield, the White House aide who inadvertently hastened Richard Nixon’s resignation over the Watergate scandal when he revealed that the president had bugged the Oval Office and Cabinet Room and routinely recorded his conversations, has died. He was 99. His death was confirmed to The Associated Press by his wife, Kim, and John Dean, […]

The Israeli Justice Ministry has completed its legal review regarding the pardon request submitted on behalf of Prime Minister Binyomin Netanyahu, according to a statement released by the office of the justice minister.

Officials said Justice Minister Yariv Levin decided not to handle the matter personally because of his longstanding personal and political relationship with Netanyahu, as well as the fact that he served as a witness in the prime minister’s trial. Levin is also widely viewed as the second-most senior figure in the Likud party, a circumstance that, according to sources within the legal system, could have prompted allegations of a conflict of interest and potentially delayed the process for months.

To avoid such claims and ensure the review proceeds without interruption, Levin instructed the pardons department to transfer the completed legal opinion to Heritage Minister Amichai Eliyahu. Eliyahu regularly oversees cases in which the justice minister is unable to participate and is a member of the Otzma Yehudit party.

Officials in the legal system said the move was intended to eliminate any possible future arguments that a recommendation might be invalid due to a conflict of interest, while allowing the process to continue in an orderly and timely manner.

The request will now proceed through the standard review process. Once that stage is completed, a recommendation will be submitted to the president of Israel, who holds the authority to make the final decision on the pardon application.

{Matzav.com}

A teenage boy has been taken into custody and charged with a bias-related offense and assault after allegedly confronting a young man walking near a shul in Teaneck, NJ and demanding that he declare whether he supports Israel or Palestine, police said.

The suspect, a 17-year-old male, was arrested Sunday night in Teaneck and is currently being held at the Bergen County Juvenile Detention Center.

According to Teaneck police, the victim was a 19-year-old local resident who was clearly identifiable as a frum Jew based on the religious garments he was wearing. The incident occurred at approximately 6 p.m. Sunday as he was walking along Ogden Avenue near Congregation Bnai Yeshurun.

The victim told police that while he was walking, a black sedan pulled up beside him with three males inside. One of the individuals in the vehicle asked him whether he supported Israel or Palestine, authorities said. The young man chose not to respond and continued walking.

At that point, one of the individuals in the car fired an Orbeez-style gel pellet gun at him before the vehicle sped away.

Later that evening, the victim was again walking in the same neighborhood when he spotted what appeared to be the same car.

Someone inside the vehicle motioned for him to approach. Instead, he took out his phone and began recording. As the car drove eastbound on Ogden Avenue, a passenger leaned out of the window and again fired the gel pellet gun. The victim reported that he was struck at least ten times, although he was not injured.

Responding officers later located numerous orange gel pellets scattered on the ground in the vicinity of the shul. Police noted that law enforcement agencies across New Jersey have recently been addressing incidents involving teenagers using these spring-loaded or battery-operated pellet guns to create disturbances.

“While often marketed as toys, these devices are capable of causing injury, particularly when fired at the face or exposed skin,” said Teaneck police Deputy Chief Seth Kriegel.

Investigators were able to identify the vehicle with the assistance of automated license plate readers installed in the area. Police later stopped the sedan that same night and placed the 17-year-old driver under arrest. Officers recovered a gel pellet gun, a container filled with pellets, and a water gun from inside the vehicle.

Authorities charged the teen with second-degree and fourth-degree bias intimidation, third-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, fourth-degree conspiracy, and simple assault, which is classified as a disorderly persons offense.

{Matzav.com}

I am writing this as a Lakewood mother whose daughter is currently stuck in Israel. And I know I am far from the only one. Like many heimishe families, we sent our daughters to seminary in Eretz Yisroel this year. It is not easy to send a child across the world, but we do it […]

Car thefts in Israel have increased significantly since the start of Operation Lion’s Roar, with new data indicating a sharp rise in incidents while much of the public remains indoors due to security alerts.

According to figures released by the vehicle tracking company Pointer, car thefts have climbed by approximately 20 percent since the war began.

The company attributes the increase to several factors that have created favorable conditions for thieves. With police forces focused on security-related duties, there is reduced police presence in some areas. At the same time, streets often become empty during air raid sirens as residents take shelter in protected rooms, leaving vehicles unattended.

Lighter traffic on the roads has also contributed to the problem. With fewer cars on the streets, thieves are able to move more quickly and reach major escape routes outside urban areas with less risk of being stopped.

In some cases, there have even been reports of repeated attempts to steal the same vehicle within a short period of time, highlighting how the current situation has created opportunities for organized theft rings.

However, it is important to note that the figures come from a private vehicle tracking company and do not yet represent official police statistics. It remains unclear whether the increase reflects a longer-term trend or a temporary spike connected to the early days of the fighting.

Even so, the situation serves as a reminder of the importance of maintaining basic security measures for vehicles during this period.

{Matzav.com}

CBS News chief Washington correspondent Major Garrett sat down with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in Washington, D.C. They spoke about the state of the war with Iran, potential American casualties, what an Iranian surrender could look like, and more. The video below is an extended version of the interview that was broadcast on 60 Minutes on Sunday.

WATCH:

President Trump holds a news conference at the Doral Ballroom in Miami on Monday.

WATCH:

Family members, talmidim, and many who knew and respected Rav Yisroel Meir Feuchtwanger zt”l escorted him on his final journey today after he passed away at the age of 87 following a lifetime devoted to Torah, chesed, and ahavas Yisroel.

Rav Feuchtwanger was widely known as a yerei Shomayim and a man of refined middos who dedicated his time and energy to helping others.

He maintained a deep connection to Yerushalayim and the Old City’s Jewish Quarter, where he lived and remained active for many years. Family members recalled that he possessed the rare ability to see the good in every individual and radiated warmth, faith, and love to those around him.

Rav Feuchtwanger is survived by a large family of children amd grandchildren. Among his sons are Rav Alon Feuchtwanger, one of the prominent dayanim in Yerushalayim, and Rav Amitai Feuchtwanger, rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Tel Tzion.

The levayah took place Monday at Kikar HaChurvah in the Jewish Quarter of Yerushalayim, with kevurah on Har Hamenuchos.

Yehi zichro boruch.

{Matzav.com}