A longtime Israeli pastry chef was killed early Friday morning in a workplace accident at a South Florida kosher bakery, authorities said.
Mordechai Grunberger, 71, died after falling into an industrial dough-kneading machine at the bakery. Police said the circumstances are still under review, but investigators have found no evidence suggesting foul play.
Grunberger had made his home in Miami for more than two decades, where he was known for his work in the kosher baking industry.
His wife, Inna Gastman Moar, shared a heartfelt tribute on Facebook, mourning the sudden loss. “Today, my beloved husband Miki, my closest person in my life my best friend, and father of my two beautiful sons, tragically passed away!” she wrote. “I lost myself. I love him so much. He’s the love of my life!”
In an official statement, police said: “Police are investigating the death of a man at the South Florida Kosher Market. At this time, there are no indications of criminal activity, and the incident has been classified as an accident involving an industrial dough-mixing machine.”
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Kol haHofesh- Voice of Freedom, booklet of stories encountered by the group in battle or British prisons. Possession of these leaflets was cause for imprisonment by the British Mandate. No place of printing or press is given.Telegrams, in English, by the Chief Rabbis of Israel, R. Isaac Herzog and R. Meir Chai Uziel, to world dignitaries and Mizrahi leaders in several countries seeking funds to facilitate the saving of the children from secular camps to religious institutions.
Yaldei Teheran became a world wide cry for the abuses of secular Zionist officials in charge of the religious Orthodox Polish children who were smuggled to Israel through Teheran and placed in secular co-ed camps.
Marriage medical document signed by R. Meir Abuhatzira, popularly called “Baba Meir” (10 Tevet 1917 – 17 Nissan 1983), was the oldest son and designated spiritual successor of the Baba Sali.
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MK Oded Forer of Yisrael Beiteinu spoke out sharply in an interview, declaring that there should be no exemptions from military service, including for elite talmidim of leading yeshivos such as Ponevezh Yeshiva and Chevron Yeshiva.
Speaking with Yossi Sergovski on the Davar Rishon program, Forer made clear that his party will not join a coalition with the chareidi parties, accusing them of promoting what he described as an anti-Zionist agenda. He also launched a harsh attack on Shas, branding it a “racist party,” and reiterated his demand that talmidim of Chevron and Ponevezh be drafted without quotas or caps.
“Medinas Yisrael is in a war over its very existence,” Forer said. “Every citizen holding a blue ID card must take part. It makes no difference whether he is chareidi or secular, Jewish or Muslim. Anyone fit for military service must serve.”
Forer rejected claims that the enlistment drive constitutes an attack on the Olam HaTorah. He acknowledged that Torah learning is a core value, but insisted it cannot replace participation in the national burden. “Anyone who thinks there are people who are more important than others is mistaken,” he said. “Talmidim in the Hesder yeshivos paid with their lives while learning Torah. That is a real kiddush Hashem.”
Responding to arguments that limited enlistment quotas would suffice, Forer dismissed the entire concept. “The whole discussion of quotas is wrong,” he said. “If anything, we should be talking about quotas for exemptions. Tzahal needs 15,000 soldiers right now. People are doing hundreds of days of miluim. This cannot go on.”
Addressing recent enlistment figures in the chareidi sector — including a single draft day in which more than 500 young men were inducted — Forer said the increase was the direct result of sanctions. “The rise in numbers comes from pressure,” he said. “But these are still very mild sanctions, and the government is avoiding full enforcement.”
Forer also sharply criticized the leadership of the chareidi parties, accusing them of failing to condemn extremist incidents. “When chareidi soldiers are attacked in Bnei Brak and there is no condemnation, it’s unacceptable,” he said. “They send them to fight, but don’t defend them at home.”
On the issue of canceling daycare subsidies for avreichim, Forer said economic policy based on incentives and sanctions has proven effective. “People respond to benefits and to limitations,” he said. “That was true in 2003, and it’s true today. This isn’t against the chareidim — it’s in favor of partnership.”
According to Forer, many younger chareidim already understand that change is needed. “After October 7, I saw young chareidim who wanted to take part,” he said. “The ones who aren’t there are the leaders, who prefer to preserve weakness.”
Later in the interview, Forer described United Torah Judaism and Shas as non-Zionist parties. “Parties that promote an anti-Zionist agenda cannot be partners in government. I do not sit with non-Zionist parties,” he said.
In closing, Forer emphasized that Yisrael Beiteinu will not join a government led by Bibi Netanyahu or by the chareidi factions. “There is a large Zionist majority in this country,” he said. “I hope the next government will be formed on the basis of a clear Zionist agenda.”
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A leadership development took place Thursday night within the Satmar Chassidus, as the Satmar Rebbe, Rav Zalman Leib Teitelbaum, formally appointed his son, Rav Aharon Teitelbaum, to serve as rov of Kiryas Yetev Lev–Bloomingburg.
The appointment was announced during a special gathering held at the Rebbe’s residence in Williamsburg.
Bloomingburg, located in Sullivan County, New York, is home to a growing Satmar community.
With this designation, Rav Aharon Teitelbaum will assume responsibility for the community’s rabbinic leadership, including halachic guidance and oversight of communal affairs.
Rav Aharon is a son-in-law of Rav Eliezer Menachem Mendel Meisels, Av Beis Din of Neimark.
Following the announcement, participants gathered for a l’chaim attended by family members and prominent figures from the Satmar community.
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Texas hospitals incurred more than $1 billion in medical expenses for treating illegal immigrants during fiscal year 2025, marking the first year the state formally collected and compiled such data.
Records assembled by the Texas Health and Human Services Commission and obtained by Texas Scorecard show that hospitals reported 313,742 patient visits connected to individuals not legally present in the country, with total costs reaching $1.05 billion by the close of the fiscal year.
Although Texas’ fiscal year spans from September 1 through August 31, hospitals were not required to begin submitting reports until November. Using the available figures, the costs average roughly $105 million per month, suggesting that the full-year financial burden may be substantially higher than what was officially recorded.
When viewed in the context of the state budget, the hospital expenses alone amount to nearly 1% of Texas’ tax-supported funds.
The data collection stems from an executive order signed by Gov. Greg Abbott in August 2024, which required the state to monitor hospital usage by “individuals not lawfully present” in the United States. Under the directive, Texas hospitals were instructed to provide quarterly reports to the health agency detailing inpatient discharges, emergency room visits, and associated costs tied to patients without legal status.
Texas, which shares a long border with Mexico, experienced some of the highest illegal border crossing levels ever seen during the Biden administration, placing enormous strain on the state’s healthcare infrastructure, Abbott press secretary Andrew Mahaleris previously told Fox News Digital.
According to the report, the single largest category of spending involved inpatient discharges for patients who were not covered by Medicaid or CHIP, totaling $565.4 million across 40,947 discharges. CHIP, or the Children’s Health Insurance Program, is a joint federal and state initiative that offers affordable health coverage to children whose families earn too much to qualify for Medicaid.
Emergency room visits by non-Medicaid and non-CHIP patients generated an additional $205.5 million in costs, the data shows.
Patients who were enrolled in Medicaid or CHIP also accounted for major expenditures, including $255.3 million related to inpatient discharges and another $24.3 million tied to emergency department visits.
For fiscal year 2025, hospitals initially submitted data only for November 2024, reporting 30,743 visits with costs exceeding $102 million, according to state figures.
Later submissions showed that the financial toll remained consistently high. From December 2024 through February 2025, hospitals logged 149,619 visits costing $330.8 million.
Between March and May 2025, reported expenses totaled $319.3 million, followed by another $298.3 million in costs from June through August 2025.
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Talik and Itzik Gvili, the parents of Ran Gvili, responded overnight to the White House announcement regarding the establishment of a “Peace Council” for Gaza, expressing anguish and disbelief as they continue to wait for their son’s return.
In a statement released following the announcement, the parents wrote: “While we are standing here waiting for Ran to be brought back, a Peace Council for phase two is being formed. How can anyone think about phase two? What kind of peace is this? Peace for whom? Peace for those who refuse to return our son, despite being obligated by the agreement, despite promises from Israel, from the mediators, and from the President of the United States?”
Ran Gvili is the last remaining hostage casualty still being held in the Gaza Strip.
At the conclusion of their statement, the parents issued a direct plea to decision-makers, writing: “To everyone who has a hand in this — as a father and mother, we beg you: do not allow this to happen. Do not leave our Rani behind and bury us together with him.”
Earlier, President Donald Trump announced on his social media platform, Truth Social, the creation of a “Peace Council” that would operate under the framework of an international peace conference. Trump said the full composition of the council would be revealed soon, but described it as “the most prestigious council ever formed,” including kings, presidents, and prime ministers.
The announcement triggered unusual tension between Israel and the United States. The Prime Minister’s Office sharply criticized Trump’s declaration regarding the Peace Council, which is intended to oversee governance in the Gaza Strip, saying the move was made without prior coordination with Jerusalem.
In an official statement, Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu instructed the foreign minister to urgently contact the U.S. secretary of state to convey Israel’s opposition to the initiative. According to the statement, the American announcement “does not align with Israel’s policy” and could have implications for Israel’s security and strategic considerations.
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U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Mike Waltz joins ‘Fox News Live’ to weigh in on President Donald Trump’s push to secure Greenland and potential military action in Iran.
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