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President Donald Trump on Sunday blamed Tylenol for what he described as an “autism epidemic” in the United States, urging pregnant women to avoid the common pain reliever despite a lack of scientific evidence supporting such claims. Standing alongside Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz, Trump said women should “fight” against using acetaminophen, the generic name for Tylenol. “Don’t take Tylenol. Don’t take it,” Trump said repeatedly, claiming communities without access to the drug have “no autism” and citing the current U.S. diagnosis rate of about 1 in 31 children. The administration also announced plans for the Food and Drug Administration to add warning labels to acetaminophen products and to promote leucovorin, a folate derivative used in cancer treatment, as a potential intervention for autism. The move reflects Kennedy’s long-standing skepticism of vaccines and environmental exposures in neurodevelopmental disorders, though Trump’s remarks leaned heavily on acetaminophen as a cause. However, concerns that Tylenol, one of the most widely used medications for pain and fever during pregnancy, may increase the risk of autism in children are not supported by strong scientific evidence, according to recent studies and expert reviews. Over the past decade, several observational studies reported slight associations between prenatal acetaminophen exposure and autism spectrum disorder in children. Those studies suggested a marginal increase in risk, but the differences were extremely small — typically less than one-tenth of one percent. Researchers now say those findings are likely explained by other factors, including family genetics, parental health conditions, or the underlying reasons the drug was taken in the first place, such as infection or fever. When scientists applied more rigorous methods, such as sibling-comparison studies that control for shared family background, the link between acetaminophen and autism disappeared. A large population-based study published in 2024 found no evidence of increased risk once family factors were accounted for. Public health authorities have taken note. The Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration have both said that current data do not justify changes to clinical guidance. Both organizations emphasize that the existing evidence is observational, limited by potential bias, and does not establish a cause-and-effect relationship between Tylenol and autism. Experts stress that while ongoing research is important, the weight of current evidence indicates that acetaminophen use during pregnancy is not a causal factor in autism. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

It is with great sadness that Matzav.comreports the petirah of Rebbetzin Miriam Karelenstein a”h, who passed away this evening at the age of 83, seven years after the passing of her husband, the renowned gaon Rav Gershon Karelenstein zt”l, rosh kollel of Zichron Yerucham.

Born in London on 14 Adar 5703 (1943), she was the daughter of Rav Meir Raphael Springer zt”l, a pillar of the London kehillah and a leading member of Agudas Yisroel in Europe, and her mother Mrs. Esther a”h. In this home, she absorbed a profound love for Torah and mesorah.

In her youth she studied in Gateshead, where she became known as one of the outstanding personalities of the seminary. Later, she moved to Eretz Yisroel and became like family in the home of Rebbetzin Greineman a”h, sister of the Chazon Ish.

She married Rav Gershon Karelenstein, a dynamic builder of Torah institutions who established Yeshivas Tiferes Tzion and Kollel Zichron Yerucham. With great dedication she stood by his side, supporting his far-reaching efforts for Torah and chesed with both body and resources.

Together, they built a home of Torah and dignity, meriting children and sons-in-law who are all accomplished talmidei chachomim. She was known for her compassion toward the needy, her closeness with gedolei Yisroel, and her devotion as a loyal emissary on behalf of pure Torah chinuch.

Drawing on her familiarity with English, Rebbetzin Karelenstein was the first to publish English-learning materials for Chinuch Atzmai schools, crafted in the spirit of mesorah. Her work sparked a revolution in teaching English while safeguarding Torah values. In time, she was appointed supervisor of English studies in Chinuch Atzmai, a position she held for decades with unwavering commitment to ensuring that secular studies would never compromise religious principles.

She leaves behind generations devoted to Torah. Her eldest son, Rav Chaim Zev Karelenstein, is rosh kollel of Ateres Shlomo in Elad and Achisamach and author of many seforim. Her son Rav Yosef Karelenstein serves as a maggid shiur at Yeshivas Beis Shmaya. Her sons-in-law include Rav Mordechai Drebkin, maggid shiur at Yeshivas Rabbeinu Chaim Ozer and a R”M at Yeshivas Givat Rokach in Bnei Brak, and Rav Zalman Strenger, rov and dayan of the Rav Kahaneman neighborhood, serving under Kehillas Mishkenos Yaakov in Bnei Brak. Her daughters, too, are distinguished educators, among them a leading mechaneches at the Rav Wolf Seminary.

All of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren follow in her and her husband’s path.

The levayah took place tonight at her home on Rechov Avraham Ben David 22 in Bnei Brak, proceeding to the Ponovezh cemetery, where she was laid to rest alongside her husband, near the kever of Maran Rav Shach zt”l.

Yehi zichrah boruch.

{Matzav.com Israel}

Kol Nidrei is one of the most moving and iconic prayers of the Jewish calendar. Sung at the opening of Yom Kippur, it carries centuries of emotion, history, and longing. Its haunting melody has touched countless souls, setting the tone for the holiest day of the year. This arrangement was originally crafted by the renowned Raymond Goldstein in the 1980s, and now newly arranged for me by the gifted Shimmy Miller, whose artistry brought new depth to its timeless beauty. My personal connection to Kol Nidrei began in Glasgow, Scotland, in 1990, when at the young age of 13-year-old I first heard Chazan Naftali Hershtik, his son Netanel, together with Raymond Goldstein, and choir conducted by Eli Jaffe perform during their European concert tour. That night sparked my love for cantorial music. Just a few years later, during my yeshiva years in Israel (1994–1997), both Cantor Hershtik and Maestro Jaffe became my teachers, profoundly shaping my path, shaping my path for the love of chazanut and Jewish music is something I am honored to do weekly to this day. It is in honor of my teacher and mentor, Chazan Naftali Hershtik, that I bring this piece to life once more. After many years standing before the amud (cantor’s podium), I cannot think of a more meaningful way to prepare for Yom Kippur than to share Kol Nidrei. It is more than a melody—it is a tefillah that unites the Jewish people in awe, honesty, and connection. My hope is that this rendition brings you into Yom Kippur with reflection, sincerity, and inspiration. The song is available on 24/6, Spotify, Apple Music, and Youtube  

In an interview with Fox News on Sunday, Vice President JD Vance spoke about the ongoing efforts to negotiate an end to the Gaza conflict, addressing both the question of governance in the region and the future of Judea and Samaria.

Vance explained, “There is a very complicated negotiation happening between Arab leaders, the Israelis, and the Trump administration, led by Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Secretary of State Marco Rubio. These conversations are happening as we speak.”

The Vice President expressed his confidence in the direction of the talks, saying, “thinks the President’s optimism is warranted here. I feel more optimistic about where we are now than where we had been at any point in the last eight months.”

At the same time, he urged caution about the fragile nature of such agreements. “These things can be derailed at the very last minute. So while I remain very hopeful, I’m cautious,” he noted.

Describing the essential framework of the plan, Vance stated: “We want all the hostages to come home, we want Hamas to no longer be a terror threat to Israel, and we want to bring the humanitarian aid in to the people who are caught up in the conflict.”

When asked about long-term control of the territories, Vance explained that the President has already made his view clear: “he wants Gaza to be controlled by the people who live there, he wants the West Bank to be controlled by the people who live there, and he wants the terrorist networks that are around the Israelis to be dismantled so that they could no longer pose a threat to Israel, especially the innocent civilians who live in Israel.”

{Matzav.com}

At Bobbie’s Place, what seems like gashmiyus is really ruchniyos. Clothing become mitzvos. Shopping becomes tzedakah and chesed. Bobbie’s Place is the unique store without a cash register where thousands of families get their clothing before Yom Tov. More than 12,000 children and teens will be in Shul over Yom Tov wearing clothing they received from Bobbie’s Place. Please donate today at: https://api.jewishadgroup.com/eBfHYo

Tucker Carlson released a video in which he sharply criticized what he views as Prime Minister Binyomin Netanyahu’s outsized role in shaping President Donald Trump’s decisions.

In his remarks, Carlson claimed, “Bibi’s running around — this is a fact, I’m not guessing about this because I talked to people he said it to — is running around the Middle East, his region in his own country and telling people point blank, just stating it, “I control the United States. I control Donald Trump.” He’s saying that — and again I’m not guessing at all, that’s a fact. I dare them to say that’s not true because it is true. They know it’s true.”

Carlson then spoke directly to Netanyahu, stressing that his comments were not directed toward the Jewish people or the citizens of Israel. He clarified, “and certainly not Jews, whatever that means.”

He went on to argue, “The secular Prime Minister of a country is doing immense harm to Donald Trump’s presidency, to the United States, and to the world. This is an unbalanced person who is meddling in an extensive way in American politics; he is loathed by the entire world, he needs the United States, and at the same time, has this patronizing attitude towards Donald Trump, demeaning Trump to people Trump knows.”

Carlson cautioned that, “Objectively, seperating from Bibi is an essential next mkove, and very soon – he is hurting his own country, our country, and the world.”

Appearing later on the System Update podcast, he noted that responsibility also rests with American officials. “I’m attacking my leaders who are allowing my nation of 350 million people to be forced into doing things that are bad for me and my children because of some other country,” he said.

Responding to the accusations in a Fox News interview, Netanyahu rejected the charges. “President Trump does what he does because he decides what’s in America’s best interest. I’ve said this often, I don’t decide a thing for President Trump. He is the most independent and amazing leader I’ve seen in all my years.”

{Matzav.com}

In a powerful drashah delivered in the Dushinsky beis medrash in Yerushalayim, Rav Moshe Sternbuch, gaavad of the Badatz of the Eidah HaChareidis, drew a stark comparison between the Israeli government’s gezeiros regarding drafting bnei Torah and the Spanish Inquisition.

During his address, Rav Sternbuch was overcome with emotion, weeping openly as he described the government’s pressure against lomdei Torah as “a decree of annihilation.”

The massive beis medrash was packed wall to wall, with thousands in attendance. Among those present were the dayanim and rabbonim of the Eidah HaChareidis, the Dushinsky Rebbe, and others.

Rav Sternbuch opened by speaking about the bachurim who are currently being held under arrest for standing firm in their refusal to enter the army. “Many young men are now sitting in detention because they risked their lives by refusing to serve in their army. And we strengthen them – ‘blessed are you who were apprehended for the words of Torah’,” he said.

The rov then decried the authorities in the harshest terms. “The rulers behave like the worst of nations, like the Inquisition in its time that persecuted Jews for observing Torah and commandments. Woe to us that in our days it has come to this, that they want to harass us from observing the Torah and the commandments of the Lord,” he said.

At that point, Rav Sternbuch once again broke down in tears, crying out: “In these days we say ‘Avinu Malkeinu: cessation of speech and sword and destruction from the children of Your covenant’. We must direct our prayers that the Holy One, blessed be He, will annul this decree of annihilation from upon us! Their entire purpose in conscripting the chareidim is to remove from us the observance of the Torah,” he said.

Concluding his drashah, Rav Sternbuch issued a clear psak. “I have already said several times that according to halacha it is absolutely forbidden to go to their army. Young men who receive draft orders from the army should immediately discard the letters, and not enter into debates with them,” he said.

{Matzav.com Israel}

President Donald Trump is aiming to complete his 21-point framework for ending the Gaza conflict during his sit-down with Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu on Monday.

In a Sunday phone conversation with Reuters, Trump remarked that “everybody wants to make the deal.” He added that he has received a “very good response” from both Arab and Israeli leaders to the initiative, expressing confidence it could lay the groundwork for a broader Middle East peace beyond Gaza.

Speaking separately, the US president explained that discussions over the proposal to halt the Gaza war are “at their final stages.” He suggested the deal could serve as a gateway to wider regional peace, according to Axios on Sunday evening.

Earlier the same day, after recently saying a breakthrough on Gaza was within reach, Trump used his Truth Social platform to write that there was “a real chance for greatness in the Middle East,” though he did not expand on what that meant.

“We have a real chance for Greatness in the Middle East. All are on board for something special, first time ever. We will get it done,” he said in the post.

The remarks came soon after the Washington Post reported details of the American administration’s 21-point proposal to resolve the fighting in Gaza.

According to the paper, the plan would begin with a ceasefire, the release of 20 living hostages and the return of 28 bodies within 48 hours, as well as the dismantling of Hamas’s offensive weapons. It also envisions measures such as amnesty and safe passage abroad for disarmed Hamas members, alongside a possible track toward Palestinian statehood after reforms are enacted.

The US presented this blueprint to partners and regional states during the recent UN General Assembly session. Neither Israel nor Hamas has accepted the offer so far.

Hamas claimed afterward that it had not seen any fresh proposals since Israel carried out airstrikes on Qatar.

Sources told KAN News on Sunday night that Hamas is expected to be formally presented with Trump’s 21-point outline within the next day.

“Hamas is ready to positively and responsibly consider any proposal that arrives from the mediators, provided that such a proposal protects the national rights of the Palestinians,” the group said in a statement.

On Sunday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer held talks with Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff and presidential adviser Jared Kushner to review the peace proposal.

“Much of the discussion revolves around wording the plan,” a source close to the process told The Jerusalem Post. “One of the challenges is how to state, on the one hand, that the Palestinian Authority will not be involved in governing Gaza – as Israel demands – while on the other hand, saying that it will be involved – as the Arab states are demanding.”

An Israeli official explained that the objective is to narrow disagreements as much as possible before Netanyahu’s Monday meeting with Trump at the White House.

At the same time, an Egyptian team is scheduled to head to Qatar on Monday to hold talks with senior Hamas representatives. “After the Netanyahu–Trump meeting, the focus is expected to shift back to Hamas leaders in Doha,” another source noted. “Hamas has been shown several drafts of the president’s 21-point plan but has not yet seen the final document.”

One Israeli source told the Post on Sunday that it is hard to imagine Hamas agreeing to release every hostage within the first week or completely disarm.

In an interview with Fox News, Netanyahu confirmed that officials from both Washington and Jerusalem are still negotiating the 21-point proposal. “We hope to move the deal forward. Nothing is finalized yet,” he said.

Netanyahu also stated that should Hamas leaders agree to leave Gaza, free the hostages, and stop the war, “Israel would allow them safe passage.”

Optimism remains high in Washington, with administration officials confident about the chances for success. Vice President JD Vance echoed that sentiment, saying he “feels hopeful.”

On Sunday, Jordan’s King Abdullah said that large portions of Trump’s peace plan for Gaza were “in line with what has been agreed upon,” according to the Jordanian state news agency.

{Matzav.com}

The IDF released on Sunday that Staff Sergeant Inbar Avraham Kav, 20 years old, from Lotem, was killed in a car-ramming assault earlier that day at the Jit Junction in Samaria.

Kav served in the Paratroopers Brigade’s 890th Battalion. His death brings the number of IDF personnel killed since the Hamas onslaught of October 7, 2023, to 913.

Military officials are reviewing whether Kav, after being struck by the terrorist’s car, may also have been hit by gunfire fired at the attacker.

The assault unfolded at the intersection near Kedumim. Soldiers stationed nearby shot at the vehicle, killing the assailant on the spot.

Troops from the Samaria Regional Brigade were then deployed to sweep the area, setting up checkpoints at the entrances to Shechem and surrounding villages.

The attacker was identified as 24-year-old Mahmoud al-A’qad from Shechem (Nablus). After crashing the vehicle, al-A’qad reportedly walked toward the soldier, at which point he was shot dead by Paratroopers Brigade soldiers together with an armed civilian at the hitchhiking post.

During a search of the terrorist’s car, soldiers discovered a knife inside.

{Matzav.com}

Right-wing activist Laura Loomer stirred anger last week when she attacked Jewish politicians and media figures for observing Rosh Hashanah instead of being present online during the UN General Assembly (UNGA) general debate, which unfolded amid heightened tensions over Palestinian statehood.

While Jews worldwide were marking the start of the Jewish new year, Loomer—who refers to herself as a “Feisty Jewess”—used X/Twitter to chastise politically engaged Jews who disconnected from social media for the two-day Yom Tov.

The outspoken activist, who is herself Jewish, declared that she would dedicate the holiday to covering what she described as a “hostile Palestinian takeover” at the UN. She called on Jews to “push [their] time off aside” and fight back against anti-Israel narratives. In the same post she wrote, “If you really care about something, you have to push your time off aside and you need to work. Even on the holidays.”

The timing of this year’s UNGA debate overlapped with Rosh Hashanah, a central observance on the Jewish calendar. As Jewish communities observed the holiday offline, world leaders convened in New York for days of speeches by presidents, prime ministers, and foreign ministers. Although the agenda included global issues such as climate change, gender equity, and economic matters, much of the attention centered on the Israel-Hamas conflict.

The session opened during a particularly strained moment in Israel’s international standing. Just days earlier, countries including the UK, France, Canada, and Australia formally recognized a Palestinian state, drawing sharp opposition from both Israel and Jewish leaders.

President Donald Trump expressed support for Israel in his own address, condemning nations that recognized Palestinian statehood as surrendering to “Hamas’s ransom demands.” Yet despite that backing, the overall tone in the chamber was widely seen as unfavorable toward Israel. Numerous speakers condemned Israel’s conduct during the war, and more than a hundred delegates staged a walkout during Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu’s remarks.

Loomer’s message, which had been seen more than 140,000 times by September 28, drew polarized responses. Some agreed with her, with one commenter likening the week’s developments to “harvest times,” while another suggested she should instead be questioning why the UNGA scheduled such a key debate during Rosh Hashanah. Others insisted the holiday must be observed regardless of international events, with one user writing that “if we give up being Jewish we have lost.” Loomer gave no indication of addressing the pushback.

Her post fits into a long track record of incendiary commentary. Loomer has previously cast doubt on school shootings and circulated false claims about migrants in Ohio eating pets. She has also attacked Jews on the political left, once declaring that those who vote Democrat “might as well just go put [themselves] in a gas chamber.”

She has further made remarks about lawmakers that have been labeled racist and Islamophobic, and in recent months public figures have raised alarms about the sway she may hold within President Trump’s administration.

{Matzav.com}

Reports from France on Sunday revealed that a 67-year-old Jewish man was violently attacked in the town of Yerres.

The incident took place as the victim was walking home from the mikvah. He was suddenly set upon from behind and physically assaulted.

During the beating, the assailant shouted, “Dirty Jew, we will kill you!” and then rifled through the man’s belongings, attempting to “find money and the keys to the synagogue.”

{Matzav.com}

On August 1, the U.S. Embassy in Israel switched vendors for the delivery of passports and other official documents. From the very first moment, the new arrangement proved unsuccessful. Deliveries failed to arrive, applicants received no timely updates, and, most troubling, the sole Jerusalem pick-up location  was situated in the eastern Jerusalem neighborhood of Beit Hanina – an impractical option for much of the community.

Since the transition, Chaim V’Chessed has been in ongoing discussions with embassy officials to rectify the situation. In fact, Chaim V’Chessed even offered a short-term solution; a courier service to collect passports directly from Beit Hanina for the convenience of applicants.

Just prior to Rosh Hashanah, Chaim V’Chessed CEO, Paysach Freedman, received a welcome phone call from senior embassy officials. They informed him that the U.S. State Department had terminated the contract of the current vendor and would be returning to Israel Post, which successfully held the contract in earlier years.

Israel Post will resume deliveries as of October 1. Applicants will be required to complete an Israel Post packing slip, available here, when submitting applications. Unlike the recent failed arrangement, there will be no pick-up locations under the new system. As opposed to the previous arrangement, which required applicants to pay for each passport in a family, the new delivery price will be fixed at 60 NIS, regardless of the number of passports in the delivery.

Persons who have already submitted passport applications are now being contacted directly by the embassy with instructions. If you have submitted an application and have not yet heard, you should expect to be contacted shortly. Not all details are finalized, but Chaim V’Chessed will continue to update as further information becomes available.

{Matzav.com}

New York City Mayor Eric Adams announced Sunday that he is dropping out of the mayoral race, a decision that many of Democratic nominee Zohran Mamdani’s critics had long been hoping for, in order to consolidate opposition against him.

Adams revealed his choice in a video posted on X, saying, “despite all we’ve achieved, I cannot continue my reelection campaign, the constant media speculation about my future and the campaign finance board’s decision to withhold millions of dollars have undermined my ability to raise the funds needed for a serious campaign.”

“This campaign was for the underserved, the marginalized, the abandoned and betrayed by government,” Adams said. “Since then, it has been my honor to be your mayor, and I’m proud to say that we took that victory four years ago and turned it into action, making this city better for those who have been failed by government.”

The exit of Adams from the contest marks yet another unexpected development in an already unusual mayoral race. Mamdani, a democratic socialist, shocked many by defeating former Governor Andrew Cuomo in the June Democratic primary, though Cuomo has since launched an independent campaign.

Cuomo supporters have been urging Adams to stand aside to give Cuomo a better chance against Mamdani in November. President Donald Trump, who grew up in New York, also suggested that the field be narrowed, and one of his top aides, Steve Witkoff, sat down with Adams to discuss potential roles in a Trump administration.

Because of Adams’ declining popularity, it remains uncertain how his departure will impact the numbers. In recent surveys, Adams had been trailing behind Mamdani, Cuomo, and Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa. Trump’s open involvement in New York’s mayoral race has had mixed results, boosting Mamdani’s standing in the heavily Democratic city, while he has also suggested that Sliwa withdraw, an idea Sliwa has firmly rejected.

According to one adviser to Cuomo, Adams stepping aside could allow Cuomo to pick up some of the Black vote, which they believe might be enough to alter the dynamics of the election.

Meanwhile, national and state Democrats have been increasingly closing ranks behind Mamdani in light of Trump’s attempts to tilt the race toward Cuomo. Among those who have thrown their support behind Mamdani are Governor Kathy Hochul and former Vice President Kamala Harris.

In recent weeks, Adams has lashed out at the press, accusing the media of “undermining his campaign,” claiming that negative coverage of his administration complicated his fundraising efforts.

The city’s Campaign Finance Board repeatedly refused to release matching public funds to Adams’ campaign, citing failures to submit necessary details about his donors. The denials began shortly after Adams was indicted on federal corruption charges last year.

Adams’ departure from the campaign trail comes not even four years after he was sworn in as New York’s second Black mayor, when he presented himself as a rising star in the Democratic Party.

A former Brooklyn borough president and retired NYPD captain, Adams secured the mayoralty in 2021 after running on a message centered around restoring public safety and reviving the economy after the COVID-19 crisis.

He styled himself as a blue-collar leader who could connect with working-class residents and their daily struggles, while also leaning heavily on tough-on-crime themes that attracted voters across all five boroughs.

But his administration has been plagued by continuous allegations of corruption, many tied to close associates within his inner circle.

Last spring, Adams himself was charged with corruption and bribery after prosecutors accused him of receiving money from Turkish nationals and providing favors in return to benefit wealthy supporters.

Those charges were later dropped at the direction of Trump’s Department of Justice, which argued that cooperation with the mayor was necessary to help enforce Trump’s immigration policies. Adams has denied that the dismissal left him indebted to Trump’s team, though the episode combined with ongoing scandals cast a shadow over his campaign.

For months, Adams brushed aside speculation about quitting, repeatedly asserting that he was committed to staying in the race and asking voters to give him another chance to deliver on his agenda.

He had already chosen to bypass the Democratic primary and run as an independent in the general election, setting the stage for what many thought would be a showdown with Cuomo, who was attempting a comeback after resigning as governor due to sexual harassment allegations.

Adams also met with Witkoff, the New York real estate developer turned Trump administration adviser, during a Florida trip that his office initially described as personal. Among the potential opportunities reportedly raised for Adams was the possibility of serving as ambassador to Saudi Arabia.

{Matzav.com}

In an interview with Fox News on Sunday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was asked if he would back the American 21-point initiative aimed at halting the Gaza conflict. Netanyahu responded that Israel is actively coordinating with Washington to complete the agreement.

“We are working on it. It has not been finalized yet, but we are working with President Trump’s team as we speak, and I hope we can make it a go. Because we want to free our hostages, and we want to get rid of Hamas rule and have them disarmed, Gaza demilitarized, and a new future set up for Gazans and Israelis, and for the whole region,” Netanyahu affirmed.

Netanyahu went on to laud President Trump, describing him as an “incredible ally of Israel. He’s an incredible friend; we had nobody like him.” He highlighted Trump’s decision to officially recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, his approval of Israel’s sovereignty over the Golan Heights, and the American strikes against Iranian nuclear facilities this past June.

Addressing accusations that he influences Trump’s decision-making, Netanyahu firmly rejected the suggestion. “President Trump does what he does because he decides what’s in America’s best interest. I’ve said this often, I don’t decide a thing for President Trump. He is the most independent and amazing leader I’ve seen in all my years.”

According to Axios journalist Barak Ravid, a source close to the discussions revealed that White House Special Envoy for Peace Missions Steve Witkoff, together with Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, were scheduled to meet Netanyahu in New York on Sunday to help close the remaining gaps in the negotiations.

Ravid also reported that President Donald Trump told him the talks to conclude the plan are now in the “final stages.”

Trump added that this prospective deal could pave the way toward a broader peace framework across the Middle East.

{Matzav.com}

An Israeli man was shot this afternoon while traveling near Kedumim after attackers opened fire from a passing vehicle. Magen David Adom medics treated him at the scene. According to MDA Director General Eli Bin, the man, in his twenties, suffered a head wound and is in critical condition.

Security personnel quickly neutralized the terrorist responsible for the assault.

The IDF issued a statement saying: “A report was received of a terror attack in the area of the Jit Junction in the Samaria Brigade, the details are being checked.” Large forces were deployed to secure the junction and surrounding roads.

Officials identified the assailant as 24-year-old Mahmoud al-A’qad from Shechem (Nablus).

Some initial reports indicated that the incident might have been a car-ramming attempt rather than a shooting. One security source clarified that early assessments pointed in that direction.

Authorities are also investigating whether the injured Israeli may have been struck accidentally by IDF fire directed at the terrorist. Following the incident, security forces shut down traffic on the Huwara road.

A preliminary probe suggested that soldiers spotted a Palestinian vehicle speeding toward them and realized it was an attempted ramming. Troops responded by firing on the car, killing the driver. It is being considered that during the exchange, the Israeli civilian was also hit.

The IDF later announced: “Following the initial report of a stabbing attack at Jit Junction, security forces killed a terrorist who carried out a vehicular attack at the scene. The Samaria Brigade forces rushed to the area to conduct searches.”

The attacker, who was from Shechem, prompted the military to impose checkpoints and conduct sweeps in Shechem and the nearby villages to prevent additional threats.

{Matzav.com Israel}

In a forceful speech delivered yesterday, Rav Chaim Meir Hager, Av Beis Din of Vizhnitz and eldest son of the Vizhnitzer Rebbe of Bnei Brak, strongly denounced the government’s draft decree against yeshiva students. Speaking on behalf of his father, he warned that the true objective behind the push for mandatory enlistment is to change the spiritual character of the chareidi community.

During his Shabbos Shuva drasha at the central Vizhnitz beis medrash in Bnei Brak, Rav Chaim Meir Hager lamented: “How painful it is that in these very days, when we are pleading for the revelation of Hashem’s Kingship upon the entire world, we are forced to endure such harsh persecutions against the Torah world here in Eretz Yisroel, at the hands of people from among our own who have yet to merit the light of Hashem.”

He noted the tragic irony that when reciting the Rosh Hashanah tefillah asking that Hashem turn the hearts of rulers and advisors “for the good upon us,” Jews in Eretz Yisroel must direct these words toward fellow Jews in positions of power.

The Vizhnitzer av bais din recounted a past conversation that former MK Menachem Eliezer Moses told him about with a senior government minister. When asked why he was so insistent on drafting chareidim, the minister bluntly replied: “I want the chareidim to come out of the army different than when they went in.” Rav Hager said this answer revealed the real aim of the decree—an effort to spiritually reshape the Torah community.

He described the fear and anguish of parents worried for their sons, of kollel families living under pressure, and emphasized that the Torah world’s mission is to continue davening for Hashem’s honor to be revealed and for these decrees to be annulled swiftly.

In his remarks, Rav Hager related a story about the Ahavas Yisroel of Vizhnitz. When one of his chassidim, Rav Mordechai Fuchs, accompanied him on a visit, a young man sought a yeshuah from the Rebbe after receiving a draft order. Rav Fuchs entered with him and told the Rebbe: “This bochur already enlisted—he served me faithfully so I would not miss a moment with the Rebbe. It cannot be that he should now be conscripted into another army.” The Rebbe smiled, agreed, and miraculously the draft order was canceled.

“We are all in that same situation,” Rav Hager declared. “From the moment we enter this world, we are already enlisted—in the service of Hashem, in Torah, in a life of holiness and yiras Shomayim. No force on earth can compel us to enter a place that stands for the opposite of kedushah and avodas Hashem.”

Rav Hager continued with stirring words, referencing the piyut of Rosh Hashanah: “Atumim lehachayos b’tallelei sheina.” He explained that the commentaries say that in the future Hashem will revive the dead with dew created by Torah toil. Even those who never studied will be sustained by the moisture that fell from the lips of Torah learners who nodded off from exhaustion while immersed in their learning.

“Understand this,” Rav Hager urged. “The day will come when those who now persecute the Torah world will beg for just one drop of that moisture from a yeshiva bochur or a kollel yungerman who fell asleep on his Gemara after hours of learning. They will crowd together to grasp even a trace of the precious sweat and effort of those who labored in Torah. And then they will realize the immeasurable worth of a single moment of Torah study.”

He concluded with a heartfelt tefillah that the words of the novi be fulfilled: “They shall not harm nor destroy in all My holy mountain,” and that very soon we should merit the continuation of that verse: “For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of Hashem as the waters cover the sea.”

{Matzav.com Israel}

‘NO ONE LIKE HIM’: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praises President Trump as an “incredible friend” and ally of Israel, pushing back against critics. “I don’t decide a thing for President Trump.” “He is the most independent leader and amazing leader that I’ve seen in all my years.”

MyPillow founder Mike Lindell defamed the election technology company Smartmatic with false statements that its voting machines helped rig the 2020 presidential election, a federal judge in Minnesota ruled Friday. But U.S. District Judge Jeffrey Bryan deferred until future proceedings the question of whether Lindell — one of the country’s most prominent propagators of false claims that the 2020 election was a fraud — acted with the “actual malice” that Smartmatic still needs to prove to collect any damages. The judge said there are “genuine fact disputes” as to whether Lindell’s statements were made “with knowledge that they were false or made with reckless disregard to their falsity.” He noted that the defense says Lindell has an “unwavering belief” that his statements were truthful. The statements cited by the judge arose from Lindell’s criticism of the results of the 2020 election in California’s Los Angeles County, which Democratic candidate Joe Biden carried with 71% of the vote over President Donald Trump and helped Biden secure the state’s 55 electoral votes. The county used Smartmatic’s computerized touchscreen ballot-marking devices and was the company’s only customer for the 2020 election. Lindell alleged the machines were rigged to change Trump votes to Biden votes. The judge ruled there were 51 specific times when Lindell falsely claimed — in documentaries he produced and through various media and personal appearances — that Smartmatic interfered with the results. “The Court concludes that, based on the record presented, no reasonable trier of fact could find that any of the statements at issue are true,” Bryan wrote. Smartmatic attorney Erik Connolly said they will be seeking “nine-figure damages” from Lindell and MyPillow for “spreading lies” about the company. “Smartmatic did not and could not have rigged the 2020 election,” Connolly said in a statement. “It was impossible, and everything that Mr. Lindell said about Smartmatic was false.” Smartmatic has been on a winning streak, having reached settlements last year with two conservative news outlets, including Newsmax and One America News Network. The Florida-based company also still has an active case against Fox News. Lindell also has made similar claims against Dominion Voting Systems. He lost a case involving the Denver-based company in June when a jury ruled that he defamed a former Dominion employee by accusing him of treason. The jury awarded $2.3 million in damages. Lindell told The Associated Press shortly after the Smartmatic ruling was filed Friday that he hadn’t seen it, but that it was “the most bizarre thing I’ve ever heard.” Lindell went on to call Smartmatic “one of the most corrupt companies in the world,” and he vowed to keep fighting until its voting machines are “melted down and turned into prison bars.” He said he’ll take his crusade to eliminate voting machines in favor of paper ballots all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court if he has to. Lindell, known as the “MyPillow” guy for his bedding company, also said he recently reestablished residence in Minnesota as a step toward a likely run for governor against incumbent Democratic Gov. Tim Walz. While MyPillow is based in the Minneapolis suburbs, Lindell had been living until recently in Texas. Lindell and MyPillow have faced a number of legal and financial setbacks in recent years, but he won a victory in July when a […]