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Rep. Tom Kean Jr. secured the Republican nomination in New Jersey’s 7th Congressional District on Tuesday, advancing to the general election without opposition even as his prolonged absence from public life continues to draw scrutiny.

The 57-year-old congressman has remained largely out of sight for nearly three months while dealing with an undisclosed medical condition. Although he has acknowledged the health issue, Kean has not yet revealed the nature of his illness and has continued conducting what he describes as “virtual work” rather than returning to public appearances.

Hours before polls closed, Kean released a statement indicating that his return to normal duties is approaching but that doctors have advised him to continue recovering before resuming in-person activities.

“Right now I am focused on my recovery and under the advice of healthcare professionals, I will transition from virtual work to in person work within a matter of weeks,” the congresswoman said in a statement, hours before polls closed in the Garden State.

“At that time I will be completely transparent as to the nature of my medical condition,” he teased.

Kean also sought to reassure constituents that he intends to fully explain the circumstances surrounding his absence once he is able to do so.

Kean said he understands “the need for transparency on this matter and I look forward to sharing my experience with the public.”

His extended absence has fueled concerns about his ability to perform the duties of office. The Republican lawmaker has not cast a vote in Congress since March 5, a fact that has intensified questions from political observers and constituents alike.

Speaking to the New Jersey Globe last month in what was reportedly his first public interview since stepping away from public view, Kean expressed confidence that his recovery is progressing well.

“My doctors are confident that I’m on the road to a full recovery,” Kean told the New Jersey Globe late last month, in his first known interview since his disappearance. “I understand the need for public transparency, and I appreciate the support of my constituents.

“I anticipate that in the next couple of weeks, I’ll return to voting and to the campaign trail,” he added.

Kean, the son of former New Jersey Gov. Tom Kean, is seeking a third term in one of the nation’s most closely watched congressional battlegrounds. Political analysts continue to classify the district as highly competitive heading into the fall campaign.

The district, home to President Trump’s golf club in Bedminster, narrowly backed Trump over former Vice President Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election by roughly two percentage points. In contrast, voters there supported Democratic Gov. Mikie Sherrill over Republican Jack Ciattarelli by a similar margin in the state’s gubernatorial race.

Kean first won the seat in 2022 when he unseated Democratic incumbent Tom Malinowski. Two years later, he successfully defended the district, defeating Democrat Susan Altman by a wider margin.

President Trump has remained a strong supporter of Kean. During last year’s campaign, Trump praised the congressman for his work on key Republican priorities and highlighted his record on issues ranging from border security to economic policy.

Trump endorsed Kean as a “tremendous advocate of our America First Agenda” who is “working tirelessly to Secure the Border, Stop Crime, Grow our Economy, Cut Taxes, Champion Small Business, Unleash American Energy DOMINANCE, Support our Brave Military and Veterans, and Protect and Defend our always under siege Second Amendment.”

The president reaffirmed that endorsement Monday night in a Truth Social post, once again backing Kean’s reelection bid.

Behind the scenes, however, some Republicans have expressed frustration with how Kean’s team has managed public communication regarding his condition and absence.

“Everybody I’m talking to is just shocked at how poorly this is being handled by the Kean operation,” a New Jersey-based GOP consultant vented to The Post last month. “It’s created an air of mystery that’s fueled the story, or frankly, created the story.”

The consultant argued that a simple public appearance or video message could have gone a long way toward addressing concerns and reassuring voters.

“The general consensus from the people I’m talking to is that something is prohibiting him from looking at an iPhone and doing a proof of life video … saying, ‘I’m here, I’m going through something, but I’ll be back.’”

{Matzav.com}

Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir is expected to travel to New York next month to attend the United Nations Chiefs of Police Summit (UNCOPS), one of the world’s largest international gatherings focused on law enforcement and security cooperation.

The conference, held periodically at UN headquarters, brings together police commissioners, law enforcement leaders, and senior security officials from more than 100 countries to discuss policing, public safety, and international security challenges.

While the event traditionally draws police chiefs and professional law enforcement personnel, participation by government ministers is relatively uncommon. For that reason, Ben Gvir’s planned attendance is already attracting attention.

The visit is expected to take place just months before Israelis head to the polls, adding a political dimension to the trip. Observers have noted that the timing is particularly noteworthy, with the conference scheduled to occur roughly two months before the national elections.

Ben Gvir’s participation will place him alongside senior police and security officials from around the world at a forum that serves as a major venue for discussing international law enforcement cooperation and emerging security threats.

No further details about Ben Gvir’s expected meetings or schedule during the visit have yet been released.

{Matzav.com}

It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of Rav Hershel Lieberman zt”l, a talmid chochom whose life spanned nearly a century and whose formative years were spent in the shadow of some of the greatest Torah leaders of the previous generation.

Rav Lieberman, who was privileged to forge close relationships with the Brisker Rov, the Chazon Ish, Rav Yitzchok Hutner, Rav Aharon Kotler, Rav Chatzkel Levenstein, and other luminaries of the Torah world, was niftar at the age of 95.

His passing comes just weeks after the petirah of his brother, Rav Yosef Lieberman zt”l.

Born in prewar Europe, Rav Hershel’s childhood was shattered by the horrors of World War II. Together with his brother Rav Yosef and their sister, he survived the war years in Vichy France, escaping the murderous machinery that claimed the lives of millions of European Jews. Like so many members of that generation, the experiences of his youth left an indelible mark upon him. Yet, rather than allowing tragedy to define him, he emerged with an unquenchable thirst for Torah and a determination to rebuild what had been destroyed.

After arriving in the United States, the young Hershel gravitated toward the great centers of Torah learning that were beginning to flourish on American soil. His extraordinary diligence and refinement earned him a special place in the home of Rav Yitzchok Hutner zt”l, the legendary rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Rabbeinu Chaim Berlin. He became a ben bayis, spending countless hours in close proximity to one of the most profound Torah thinkers of the generation.

Those who knew him would later recall that Rav Lieberman often spoke with deep appreciation about the privilege of witnessing Rav Hutner’s greatness firsthand, not only during public shmuessen, but in the private moments that revealed the depth of the rosh yeshiva’s character, wisdom, and devotion to Torah.

From there, Rav Lieberman continued his growth in the hallowed halls of Bais Medrash Govoha in Lakewood, where he became a talmid of Rav Aharon Kotler zt”l. In those formative years, he absorbed the fiery devotion to Torah and relentless pursuit of truth that characterized Rav Aharon and the pioneering generation that built the American Torah world.

It was in Eretz Yisroel that Rav Lieberman would forge some of the relationships that would define the rest of his life.

He learned in Yeshivas Mir during a period when the yeshiva was emerging as one of the foremost citadels of Torah learning in the world. There, surrounded by giants of Torah and fellow seekers of greatness, he immersed himself in learning with extraordinary dedication.

He later entered Yeshivas Brisk, where he became one of the cherished talmidim of the Brisker Rov, Rav Yitzchok Zev Soloveitchik zt”l. Rav Lieberman maintained a uniquely close relationship with the Rov and often spoke of the awe he felt in the presence of the gaon whose every word and action reflected uncompromising fidelity to Torah.

Those who heard Rav Lieberman recount memories of the Brisker Rov described the stories as windows into another world, a world of unyielding dedication to Torah, exacting precision in learning, and complete devotion to emes. The lessons he absorbed during those years remained with him for the rest of his life.

At the same time, Rav Lieberman developed a close bond with the Chazon Ish. He was among those privileged to converse regularly with the Chazon Ish in learning, discussing complex Torah concepts and benefiting from the sage guidance of the gadol hador. The relationship was one that Rav Lieberman treasured deeply. Those interactions became a source of inspiration that sustained him for decades.

Rav Lieberman also enjoyed close ties with other gedolei hador, including Rav Chatzkel Levenstein zt”l, the famed mashgiach of Mir, whose penetrating mussar teachings left a lasting impression. Through these relationships, Rav Lieberman became a living link to a generation of Torah giants whose influence continues to shape the Torah world today.

Although he carried within him memories of some of the greatest figures of the previous century, those who knew Rav Lieberman describe him not as someone who lived in the past, but as someone who carried its lessons into the present. He was known for his humility, warmth, and unwavering devotion to Torah.

In an era when firsthand witnesses to the prewar European Torah world and the rebuilding generation have become increasingly rare, Rav Hershel represented a precious bridge to that world. He embodied the resilience of Holocaust survivors who rebuilt their lives through Torah, the dedication of the pioneering bnei Torah who helped establish great yeshivos in America and Eretz Yisroel, and the profound reverence for Torah that characterized the giants among whom he grew.

With his passing, another treasured link to a remarkable generation has been lost.

The levayah will take place on Wednesday at 11:00 a.m. at Shomrei Hadas Chapels, located at 3803 14th Avenue in Boro Park, Brooklyn.

Yehi zichro boruch.

{Matzav.com}

It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the heartbreaking ietirah of 8-year-old Shaindy Herzberg a”h, daughter of Yudi and Chumie Herzberg.

Shaindy was riding her bicycle on Tiffin Lane in Pomona, NY, when she was struck by a vehicle, leaving her critically injured.

Rockland Hatzolah volunteers, paramedics, and other emergency responders rushed to the scene and employed extensive lifesaving measures in an effort to stabilize her condition. She was transported to Nyack Hospital in critical condition for emergency treatment.

Despite the determined efforts of medical personnel, Shaindy succumbed to her injuries.

The levayah is scheduled to take place Wednesday morning. Additional details regarding the exact time and location are being finalized. The kevurah will take place at the Monsey Bais Hachaim.

Umacha Hashem dimah me’al kol ponim.

{Matzav.com}

Israel’s exporters are feeling the impact of the weakening U.S. dollar, with new figures showing that despite growth in export sales measured in dollars, the sharp rise of the shekel has erased those gains and translated them into significant losses across major sectors of the economy.

An analysis by the Manufacturers Association of Israel, based on data from the Central Bureau of Statistics and reported by Channel 12 News, found that export growth recorded during the first four months of 2026 turned into a substantial decline when revenues were converted into shekels. Since the start of the year, the dollar has lost roughly 12% of its value against the shekel, and about 20% over the past year.

According to the report, industrial exports excluding diamonds increased by 5% in dollar terms between January and April, rising from $17.5 billion to $18.3 billion. However, when those earnings were calculated in shekels, export revenues fell sharply. Total exports dropped from NIS 63.4 billion during the same period last year to NIS 56.7 billion this year—a decline of approximately 10%.

The Manufacturers Association said the downturn was evident across much of the industrial sector. High-tech industries, which account for about 42% of Israel’s exports, posted a 4.6% increase in dollar-denominated sales. Yet after currency conversion, those gains became an 11% decline, representing an estimated loss of roughly NIS 3 billion.

Traditional manufacturing suffered even more severe damage. A 4.3% decline in exports measured in dollars translated into an 18.3% drop in shekel terms, amounting to losses of approximately NIS 904 million.

The data showed that 21 of Israel’s 27 industrial sectors experienced declines when export earnings were measured in local currency.

In the high-tech and electronics industries, a 5% increase in exports in dollar terms became an 11% decline after conversion to shekels, wiping out about NIS 2.4 billion in revenue. The chemicals sector saw a 2% rise in dollar-based exports turn into a 13% decline in shekel terms, resulting in losses estimated at NIS 1.7 billion.

The pharmaceutical industry was also hit hard. A 6% drop in exports measured in dollars deepened to nearly 20% when calculated in shekels, reducing revenues by roughly NIS 477 million. The rubber and plastics sector experienced a similar trend, with a 4% decline in dollar exports becoming an 18% decline in local currency, equal to losses of about NIS 490 million.

Netanel Hyman, head of the Economics Division at the Manufacturers Association, warned that the continued strengthening of the shekel is inflicting serious damage on key sectors of the Israeli economy. He said the erosion of Israeli competitiveness in global markets can no longer be ignored and cautioned that failure to address the issue could result in lost investment, factory closures, and job cuts.

Hyman called on the Bank of Israel, government officials, and regulators to take coordinated and immediate action to address the growing problem before the economic consequences become even more severe.

{Matzav.com}