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EU Parliament split after attempt to hold a moment of silence for Charlie Kirk is blocked.

Investigators revealed Thursday morning that the person who killed Charlie Kirk was a young adult who appeared to fit in with college students before climbing to a rooftop and firing a single round with a bolt-action rifle.

According to Beau Mason of the Utah Department of Public Safety, the shooter reached the Utah Valley University campus at 11:52 a.m. on Wednesday, less than thirty minutes before taking the fatal shot at the Turning Point USA event that ended Kirk’s life.

Officials confirmed they are in possession of surveillance recordings showing the suspect, though they stressed the footage will not be made public at this stage.

Robert Bohls, the FBI’s Special Agent in Charge, stated that the firearm used in the attack was located in a wooded area near the school. He also noted that the Bureau has already received upwards of 130 leads connected to the case.

Mexican investigators were working to determine the cause of a crash in which a tanker truck carrying more than 13,000 gallons (49,500 liters) of gas exploded on a major highway in the capital, killing at least four people and injuring 90. The fiery crash Wednesday that burned more than two-dozen vehicles created a gruesome scene of badly burned survivors staggering in the street in tattered clothing as first responders rushed to the scene. The injured suffered second- and third-degree burns. The tragedy drew renewed attention to the thousands of trucks that rumble through Mexico daily carrying liquid propane, which most homes and businesses rely on for cooking and heating water. Regulators said a preliminary review revealed the truck did not have up-to-date insurance allowing it to transport gas. While Wednesday’s accident involved a large tanker, rather than the smaller ones that make residential deliveries, both have been involved in deadly crashes over the past decade. In 2020, a double tanker carrying liquid propane flipped on a highway in the western state of Nayarit and killed 13 people when the fire spread to other vehicles. In 2015, a leak on a smaller propane truck making a delivery at a Mexico City maternity hospital allowed gas to leak into the building and blow most of it up, killing five and injuring dozens. “This is a horrible accident,” Mexico City Mayor Clara Brugada said at the site of the explosion Wednesday night. Lists of the injured showed that some suffered burns over 100% of their bodies. Among those injured were a baby and a 2-year-old child. As emergency vehicles sped by and medics attended to the injured, groups of neighbors ran helped pull burn victims from the fire and get them to safety. The crash occurred on the highway connecting Mexico City with Puebla and in the capital’s most populous borough Iztapalapa. The gas tanker laying on its side had the logo of the energy business Silza on its side, but in a call with The Associated Press a company official who did not want to be identified denied it was their vehicle. The company did not immediately respond to an email requesting for comment or more details. Later Wednesday, the federal agency charged with regulating industrial safety in the hydrocarbon sector said in a statement that Silza didn’t have updated insurance paperwork required to transport gas. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum expressed her condolences to families of those who died in a post on X and thanked emergency teams for their work. (AP)

By Rabbis Moshe & Yitzchok Fingerer Astoundingly, in the heart of Flatbush, in the vicinity of Avenue I and Bedford Avenue, is a school with hundreds of Jewish teens. It isn’t a Yeshiva or Beis Yaakov. It is a public school called Midwood High School. The shocking reality is that this is not the only such high school that has hundreds of our Jewish children enrolled. Murrow and Madison have just as many of our kids, if not more.  These kids, practically next door to so many of us, are totally deprived of Torah and Yiddishkeit. A crying shame! That’s where BJX steps in. Look at the photo from this week and see students from Midwood, now attending Brooklyn, Baruch and LIU colleges immersed in learning Torah! Our neighborhood. Our kinderlach. Our sacred Achrayus.  If we don’t act to save these Yiddishe Neshamos, they may be lost forever. It’s almost like we are pulling them off the cattle cars as they head to spiritual extinction and assimilation. The analogy may seem severe and jarring but it is true.  There are Jews living in very close proximity to us who may not look or seem Jewish to us. However, they are just as Jewish as you and I. These unaffiliated Jews share the same ancestors as us and have the same entitlement to Torah. They should feel our love and respect. It isn’t their fault that they were deprived of a Jewish upbringing. Many of you, especially those families who immigrated to America prior to or after World War I, can relate to this vividly as you have cousins and relatives who due to assimilation are no longer observant. Can you imagine if there was a BJX that was poised and ready to save them before it was too late?   On a recent Shabbos, a less observant family made BJX into their second home. We welcomed them this past Shabbos and celebrated the Bar Mitzvah of their son. They said that they felt an instant connection with everyone in the BJX Beis HaMedrash and felt right at home. That is precisely what we aim and strive for. They should feel comfortable because they are surrounded by family. They should feel at home because they are home. This is where they belong. It is their birthright just as much as it is ours. Welcome home.  BJX needs your help! Support Hatzalas Neshamos and the life-saving work of BJX. Act today. Save a life. Change generations. EIN 47-2389703. Donate now: HelpBJX.com| 646-397-1544. One more Jew is waiting – help us reach them now. With decades of experience and proven success, Rabbis Fingerer have guided hundreds of families, teens, and young adults from the Frum community back to a meaningful, fulfilled life rooted in Yiddishkeit. Don’t wait for a crisis—address challenges early and see lasting results. Call 646-397-1544 to schedule your confidential appointment.

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Sod Ha’adam extends its best wishes to our participants and all of Klal Yisroel for a year filled with clarity and renewal.

Join an Elul Teleconference: The Secret of Renewal, The Secret of Teshuva

An exclusive teleconference with Rebbetzin T. Tukachinsky will be held on Monday, September 15th (22nd of Elul) at 10:00 AM EST.

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At the MEAD conference in Washington on Wednesday, Opposition Leader Yair Lapid said the prospect of a two-state arrangement is off the table for at least the next decade in the aftermath of the October 7 massacre. He stressed that the responsibility now lies with the Palestinians to show that their aim is not Israel’s destruction.

During a live conversation with New York Times columnist Bret Stephens, Lapid cautioned that Israel’s diplomatic influence takes a hit whenever it is perceived as being out of step with Washington. “Some of Israel’s strength comes from the fact that we are fully coordinated with the president, the administration, and the United States,” he said. “When they see that we are not, it harms our power and influence in the region.”

Turning to global criticism directed at Israel, Lapid said that genuine allies may at times raise objections, but charged that much of the world has embraced “a terror organization’s narrative.” He pointed out that Jews make up only a fraction of the global population, yet Israel is disproportionately singled out. “There were half a million people killed in Syria, in Sudan, in Myanmar,” he said. “Why? There is only one possible answer: it is because of the Jews.”

Lapid called on detractors to focus on facts, acknowledging the humanitarian problems in Gaza but putting blame squarely on Hamas. He mentioned the “700–800 trucks” lined up at Kerem Shalom waiting to deliver aid and asked why international outrage consistently overlooks other humanitarian disasters. “When you talk about this, it is worth talking about who is responsible,” he said.

Discussing long-term outcomes, Lapid argued that the October 7 attacks deeply altered the way Israelis view the conflict. “There will not be a two-state solution in the next decade because of what happened after October 7, including celebrations in Ramallah on the morning of the massacre,” he said. “The burden of proof moved from us to the Palestinians. Right now, what we learned on October 7 is that we must defend ourselves from people who want to kill us, and they must prove to us they do not, before we start talking about more optimistic versions of the future.”

Now in its third year, the MEAD Summit convened this week in Washington with high-level participants from the U.S., Israel, and moderate Arab nations. Discussions centered on issues such as security, intelligence, finance, energy, technology, and governance, all aimed at reinforcing America’s role in the region and encouraging greater regional cooperation.

{Matzav.com}

Inflation rose last month as the price of gas, groceries, hotel rooms and airfares rose, along with the cost of clothes and used cars. Consumer prices increased 2.9% in August from a year earlier, the Labor Department said Tuesday, up from 2.7% the previous month and the biggest increase since January. Excluding the volatile food and energy categories, core prices rose 3.1%, the same as in July. Both figures are above the Federal Reserve’s 2% target. The reading is the last the Fed will receive before its key meeting next week, when policymakers are widely expected to cut their short-term rate to about 4.1% from 4.3%. Still, the new inflation data underscores the challenges the Fed is facing as it experiences relentless pressure from President Donald Trump to cut rates. Inflation remains stubborn while the job market is weakening, diverging trends that would require polar reactions from Federal Reserve policymakers to address. Hiring has slowed sharply in recent months and was lower than previously estimated last year. The unemployment rate ticked up in August to a still-low 4.3%. And weekly unemployment claims rose sharply last week, the government also reported Thursday, a sign layoffs may be picking up. Typically the Fed would cut its key rate when unemployment rose to spur more spending and growth. Yet it would do the opposite and raise rates — or at least keep them unchanged — in the face of rising inflation. Last month, Chair Jerome Powell signaled that Fed officials are increasingly concerned about jobs. Yet stubbornly high inflation could keep the Fed from cutting very quickly. On a monthly basis, overall inflation accelerated, as prices rose 0.4% from July to August, faster than the 0.2% pace the previous month. Core prices rose 0.3% for the second straight month. Gas prices jumped 1.9% just from July to August, the biggest monthly increase since a 4% rise in December. Grocery prices climbed 0.6%, pushed higher by more expensive tomatoes, apples, and beef. The cost of travel soared, with air fares rising 5.9% just from July to August and hotel room prices rising 2.3%. Rental costs also increased, rising 0.4%, faster than the previous month. The impact of tariffs appeared to be mixed, with many imported goods rising in price but modestly. Clothing costs rose 0.5% just last month, though they are still just slightly more expensive than a year ago. Furniture costs rose 0.3% and are 4.7% higher than a year earlier. Appliance costs also rose from July to August, after falling the previous month. The inflation data arrives at the same time that Trump has sought to fire Fed governor Lisa Cook as part of an effort to assert more control over the Fed. Yet late Tuesday, a court said the firing was illegal and ruled that Cook could keep her job while the dispute played out in the courts. (AP)

Watch live as FBI Special Agent in Charge and DPS Commissioner hold a press conference to provide update on Charlie Kirk, conservative activist and close ally of President Donald Trump who was shot and killed at a Utah college event.

WATCH:

Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani delivered sharp criticism of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday after Israel carried out an airstrike in Doha that targeted Hamas figures.

In an interview with CNN, Al Thani blasted the move as “barbaric” and accused Israel of committing “state terror,” arguing that the attack destroyed any hope of securing the release of hostages still being held in Gaza.

“We were thinking that we are dealing with civilized people,” Al Thani said. “And the action that (Netanyahu) took – I cannot describe it, but it’s a barbaric action.”

The Qatari leader said the strike disrupted Qatar’s ongoing mediation efforts and destabilized the situation across the region. He disclosed that a 22-year-old Qatari security officer had been killed and warned that other citizens remain at risk. As for Hamas negotiator Khalil Al-Hayya, Al Thani said his condition is unclear, noting there has been “no official declaration.”

He also vented his dissatisfaction with Netanyahu’s behavior in the ceasefire process, remarking, “He wasn’t serious about anything,” while dismissing recent talks as “meaningless.” According to Al Thani, Doha is now “reassessing everything” about its role in negotiations and has entered “very detailed conversation” with Washington.

Even so, Al Thani maintained that Qatar would not abandon its role as a mediator, though he cautioned that both Israel and Hamas are “going to run out of chances” to reach an agreement.

Following Tuesday’s strike, Al Thani denounced it as an act of “state terrorism” and declared that Qatar “reserves the right” to take action against Israel.

Speaking the same day, US President Donald Trump acknowledged to reporters that he was “not thrilled” with Israel’s decision to strike Hamas officials in Doha.

“I’m not thrilled about it. I’m not thrilled about the whole situation. It’s not… not a good situation,” Trump said when pressed on the issue.

“But I will say this: We want the hostages back. But we are not thrilled about the way that went down today,” he added.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt insisted during her briefing that Washington had provided advance notice of the strike to Qatar. Al Thani, however, contradicted that account, saying the US only alerted Doha ten minutes after the operation had already begun.

{Matzav.com}

The IDF says its 36th Division has pulled out of Khan Younis in southern Gaza after months of operations against Hamas and is now preparing for the next offensive in Gaza City.

The battle among billionaires for bragging rights as the world’s richest person got heated Wednesday with the surprising surge of an old contender: Larry Ellison. In a stunning few minutes after markets opened, stock in Ellison’s Oracle Corp. rocketed more than a third, enough for him to temporarily wrest the title from its longtime holder Elon Musk and hand it to the software giant’s co-founder. But the stock market is fickle, and Musk was back on top by the end of the day, at least according to Bloomberg, as Oracle gave up a bit of its earlier gains. For those keeping score, the difference now is a billion, which isn’t much given the size of the figures: Musk’s $384.2 billion versus $383.2 billion for Ellison. The dueling fortunes are so big each could fund the lifestyles of 5 million typical American families for a year, about the entire population of Florida, allowing them to all quit their jobs. Or they could just tell all of South Africa to take a vacation for year and produce nothing, based on its gross domestic product. The brief switch in the ranking came after a blockbuster earnings report from Oracle powered by multibillion dollar orders from customers as the artificial-intelligence race heats up. Musk became the world’s richest person for the first time four years ago. A big reason is his stake in a hot, but now cooling, electric car maker, Tesla. Stock in the company has been moving in the opposite direction of Oracle’s, dropping 14% so far this year. Musk also controls several private companies, including rocket maker SpaceX, his artificial intelligence company xAI and the former Twitter, now called X. Ellison owns about 40% of Oracle, which means its surging stock added $100 billion to his net worth in little over a half-hour after the stock market opened. The night before, after trading had closed, the company announced in an earnings report that it had struck more than $300 billion worth of new deals, including contracts with the OpenAI, Meta, Nvidia and Musk’s xAI. It said that it now expects revenue from its cloud infrastructure business to jump 77% to $18 billion this fiscal year. then rise to $144 billion in four years after that. Ellison said in an earnings call that Oracle would not just be making money from its computing centers that help build the next chatbots, but from the day-to-day running of those AI systems to run robots in factories, design drugs in laboratories, place bets in financial markets and automate legal and sales work at companies. In other words, Ellison’s surge in wealth Wednesday morning reflected investor expectations that computers will take over many jobs now done by humans — and Oracle will benefit. Or as the 81-year-old said on the call, “AI Changes Everything.” Musk is hoping the same for Tesla and his own net worth, but he’s been struggling to convince investors. The company had been promising a big turnaround in electric car sales after they fell sharply earlier this year, but the bounce back hasn’t happened. Musk has been downplaying the bad numbers by trying to shift investors’ focus to Tesla’s other business of making robots and advances in the artificial intelligence behind its cars and robotaxis. While he keeps talking up the Tesla […]

The IDF says its 36th Division has pulled out of Khan Younis in southern Gaza after months of operations against Hamas and is now preparing for the next offensive in Gaza City.

The IDF says its 36th Division has pulled out of Khan Younis in southern Gaza after months of operations against Hamas and is now preparing for the next offensive in Gaza City.

The IDF says its 36th Division has pulled out of Khan Younis in southern Gaza after months of operations against Hamas and is now preparing for the next offensive in Gaza City.

President Donald Trump was reported to have voiced frustration over Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu’s choice to hit Hamas operatives in Qatar, labeling the move “not wise,” according to the Wall Street Journal on Wednesday.

The paper described the comments as part of an intense phone call between Trump and Netanyahu on Tuesday, occurring soon after the strike took place.

Sources inside the administration told the Journal that Netanyahu stood by the decision, arguing that a rare opportunity had presented itself and that he felt compelled to act immediately. Netanyahu stressed the urgency of the moment as justification for the operation.

According to the report, later that day the two leaders spoke again, and the second exchange was far calmer. During that follow-up call, Trump asked if the military action had achieved what was intended.

When addressing the press on Tuesday, Trump admitted he was “not thrilled” with the Israeli attack directed at Hamas commanders in Doha, Qatar.

“I’m not thrilled about it. I’m not thrilled about the whole situation. It’s not… not a good situation,” Trump said when questioned about the strike.

“But I will say this: We want the hostages back. But we are not thrilled about the way that went down today,” he added.

Earlier on Tuesday, Trump posted his initial reaction on Truth Social, stressing that the decision had been Netanyahu’s alone.

“This morning, the Trump Administration was notified by the United States Military that Israel was attacking Hamas which, very unfortunately, was located in a section of Doha, the Capital of Qatar. This was a decision made by Prime Minister Netanyahu, it was not a decision made by me,” wrote Trump.

He followed with, “Unilaterally bombing inside Qatar, a Sovereign Nation and close Ally of the United States, that is working very hard and bravely taking risks with us to broker Peace, does not advance Israel or America’s goals. However, eliminating Hamas, who have profited off the misery of those living in Gaza, is a worthy goal.”

“I immediately directed Special Envoy Steve Witkoff to inform the Qataris of the impending attack, which he did, however, unfortunately, too late to stop the attack. I view Qatar as a strong Ally and friend of the U.S., and feel very badly about the location of the attack,” Trump continued.

“I want ALL of the Hostages, and bodies of the dead, released, and this War to END, NOW! I also spoke to Prime Minister Netanyahu after the attack. The Prime Minister told me that he wants to make Peace. I believe this unfortunate incident could serve as an opportunity for PEACE. I also spoke to the Emir and Prime Minister of Qatar, and thanked them for their support and friendship to our Country. I assured them that such a thing will not happen again on their soil. I have directed Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, to finalize the Defense Cooperation Agreement with Qatar. Thank you for your attention to this matter!” concluded the President.

During her regular press conference, White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt insisted that Qatar had been warned prior to Israel’s strike. However, Qatar’s Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammed Al Thani contradicted that, stating that the U.S. only gave notice about ten minutes after the operation had already taken place.

{Matzav.com}

Americans are marking 24 years since the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks with solemn ceremonies, volunteer work and other tributes honoring the victims. Many loved ones of the nearly 3,000 people killed will join dignitaries and politicians at commemorations Thursday in New York, at the Pentagon and in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. Others choose to mark the day at more intimate gatherings. James Lynch, who lost his father, Robert Lynch, during the World Trade Center attack, said he and his family will attend a ceremony near their hometown in New Jersey before spending the day at the beach. “It’s one of those things where any kind of grief, I don’t think it ever goes away,” Lynch said as he, his partner and his mother joined thousands of volunteers preparing meals for the needy at a 9/11 charity event in Manhattan the day before the anniversary. “Finding the joy in that grief, I think, has been a huge part of my growth with this,” he said. The remembrances are being held during a time of increased political tensions. The 9/11 anniversary, often promoted as a day of national unity, comes a day after conservative activist Charlie Kirk was shot and killed while speaking at a college in Utah. The reading of names and moments of silence Kirk’s killing is expected to prompt additional security measures around the 9/11 anniversary ceremony at the World Trade Center site in New York, authorities said. At ground zero in lower Manhattan, the names of the attack victims will be read aloud by family and loved ones in a ceremony attended by Vice President JD Vance and his wife, second lady Usha Vance. Moments of silence will mark the exact times when hijacked planes struck the World Trade Center’s iconic twin towers, as well as when the skyscrapers fell. At the Pentagon in Virginia, the 184 service members and civilians killed when hijackers steered a jetliner into the headquarters of the U.S. military will be honored. President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump will attend the service before heading to the Bronx for a baseball game between the New York Yankees and Detroit Tigers Thursday evening. And in a rural field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania, a similar ceremony marked by moments of silence, the reading of names and the laying of wreaths, will honor the victims of Flight 93, the hijacked plane that crashed after crew members and passengers tried to storm the cockpit. That service will be attended by Veterans Affairs Secretary Doug Collins. Like Lynch, people across the country are also marking the 9/11 anniversary with service projects and charity works as part of a national day of service. Volunteers will be taking part in food and clothing drives, park and neighborhood cleanups, blood banks and other community events. Reverberations from attacks persist In all, the attacks by al-Qaida militants killed 2,977 people, including many financial workers at the World Trade Center and firefighters and police officers who had rushed to the burning buildings trying to save lives. The attacks reverberated globally and altered the course of U.S. policy, both domestically and overseas. It led to the “ Global War on Terrorism ” and the U.S.-led invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq and related conflicts that killed hundreds of thousands of troops and civilians. While the hijackers died […]

MSNBC has dismissed political analyst Matthew Dowd after he claimed that TPUSA co-founder Charlie Kirk’s “hateful” rhetoric was tied to his own killing, according to two individuals who confirmed the decision to Fox News Digital.

The network had already distanced itself from Dowd’s remarks, criticizing what he said on air.

“During our breaking news coverage of the shooting of Charlie Kirk, Matthew Dowd made comments that were inappropriate, insensitive and unacceptable,” MSNBC president Rebecca Kutler said in a statement. “We apologize for his statements, as has he. There is no place for violence in America, political or otherwise.”

Dowd, who spent years at ABC News, had joined MSNBC in 2022.

Following Wednesday afternoon’s shooting, Dowd suggested that Kirk’s death was linked to “hateful words” directed at different communities. Kirk, a key conservative figure and close supporter of President Donald Trump, was later pronounced dead at 31.

Before the news of Kirk’s passing was confirmed, Dowd appeared with MSNBC host Katy Tur and said, “We don’t know any of the full details of this yet. We don’t know if this was a supporter shooting their gun off in celebration.”

Dowd went on to describe Kirk as “one of the most divisive, especially divisive younger figures in this, who is constantly sort of pushing this sort of hate speech or sort of aimed at certain groups. And I always go back to, hateful thoughts lead to hateful words, which then lead to hateful actions.”

“I think that’s the environment we’re in, that the people just — you can’t stop with these sort of awful thoughts you have, and then saying these awful words, and not expect awful actions to take place. And that’s the unfortunate environment we’re in,” he added.

The backlash was immediate, with many public voices condemning Dowd and demanding he be removed from the network.

In an attempt to soften his comments, Dowd posted a clarification on Bluesky.

“On an earlier appearance on MSNBC I was asked a question on the environment we are in. I apologize for my tone and words. Let me be clear, I in no way intended for my comments to blame Kirk for this horrendous attack. Let us all come together and condemn violence of any kind,” Dowd wrote.

Dowd, who has shifted from Republican strategist to Democrat and later independent, has long been one of the sharpest anti-GOP commentators on television. He previously ran unsuccessfully for the Democratic nomination for Texas lieutenant governor in 2021.

Critics, however, demanded accountability long before MSNBC acted.

“Dowd should be fired immediately; I expect him to be terminated within 24 hours. You can’t say Charlie deserved to die. You just can’t say that, and I hope he loses his job,” Fox News’ Jesse Watters said on “The Five.”

Inside the White House, staffers expressed outrage over the episode.

“They are scumbags. They need to look inward and realize they are hurting this nation with their awful rhetoric,” a senior Trump administration official told Fox News Digital in reaction to the MSNBC segment.

Kirk, who founded one of the most powerful political movements in the country, was shot during an appearance at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah. He later succumbed to his injury, sending shockwaves nationwide as yet another act of deadly political violence.

{Matzav.com}

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk pledged Thursday to push ahead with a “great modernization program” for his country’s military, a day after Russian drones crossed into Poland and amplified international tensions around Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, including what the Kremlin’s future territorial ambitions might be. European officials described Wednesday’s incursion, which occurred during a wave of recent unrelenting Russian strikes on Ukraine, as a deliberate provocation, forcing the NATO alliance to confront a potential threat in its airspace for the first time. It deepened longstanding fears that the three-year war between Poland’s neighbors could precipitate a wider conflict. U.S.-led efforts to steer Moscow and Kyiv toward a peace settlement have so far failed to get traction. The Polish Air Navigation Agency announced Thursday morning that Poland was introducing air traffic restrictions in the eastern part of the country. It said the step was taken at the request of the Polish army for national security reasons but did not elaborate. Poland said some of the drones that entered its airspace Wednesday came from Belarus, where Russian and local troops have begun gathering for war games scheduled to start Friday. Poland is closing its border with Belarus at midnight Thursday, a planned move also associated with the military exercises. Underscoring the global repercussions of the war, China on Thursday urged Poland to keep open a section of the Belarus border for a China-EU freight track that crosses it. The rail line is part of China’s Belt and Road Initiative to boost trade with other countries. Tusk addressed Polish troops at an air base in the central city of Lask, praising their quick action and that of NATO allied forces from the Netherlands that responded to the multiple Russian drone incursions. The response also brought questions, however, about the wisdom of using advanced fighter jets to shoot down relatively cheap drones. Poland expects to receive its first F-35 fighter jets from the United States next year, he said. It will be the first delivery of some of the 32 aircraft expected by 2030 as part of a support package finalized five years ago, Tusk said. Polish President Karol Nawrocki also visited a military air base Thursday, striking a defiant tone in a statement that said Poland “doesn’t get scared by Russian drones.” Nawrocki described the incursion as “an attempt to test our abilities, the ability to react.” He was visiting a base in Poznan-Krzesiny, in western Poland. The Kremlin said it had nothing to add to a Wednesday statement by Russia’s Defense Ministry, which insisted that Russian forces had not targeted Poland and that it was open to discuss the incident with Polish officials. It also dismissed talk of the incursion being a provocation. “The statements we hear from Warsaw: well, they’re nothing new. This rhetoric is typical of almost all European capitals,” Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said. The European Council on Foreign Relations, a think tank, concluded that Putin is testing Europe’s resolve as it endeavors to address the threat from Moscow while the United States demands it shoulder more of the financial burden. “Inconsistency between words and deeds seem to have eroded Europe’s credibility in Russia’s eyes,” it said in an analysis published Friday. U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday offered an ambiguous initial response to Russia’s drone incursion. “What’s with […]

By Rabbi Pinchos Lipschutz

This week’s parsha of Ki Savo opens with the mitzvah of bikkurim, the offering of the first fruits. Through this mitzvah and the rich symbolism of the words and rituals surrounding it, we are taught how to find real, enduring happiness.

After months of backbreaking labor in his field or orchard, a man sets out on a journey. He selects the very first fruits of his harvest, the choicest of the Shivas Haminim, places them in a basket, and heads for Yerushalayim. There, standing in the holiest place on earth, he meets a kohein and begins to recite a strange passage. Rather than talking about the sweetness of the fruit or the joy of his success, he begins with history.

He starts by reciting “Arami oveid avi,” recalling the golus of Yaakov Avinu under the evil Lovon, the slavery of Mitzrayim, and the harshness of life under Paroh. Only then does he speak of the miraculous redemption, the land flowing with milk and honey, and the gift of the fruit that he brings to the mizbei’ach to present to the kohein.

Only after this entire process does the Torah instruct, “Vesomachta bechol hatov asher nosan lecha Hashem Elokecha– – And you shall rejoice in all the good that Hashem has given you.”

The message is profound. Happiness doesn’t come from having. It comes from remembering. The simcha that the Torah commands is not shallow joy. It is a deep, reflective rejoicing. Real simcha begins only when someone reflects on where he has been and what he has endured – the pain, the waiting, the uncertainty – and recognizes how far he came. For that is the joy that the Torah seeks for us, borne of perspective, context, and gratitude.

The path to fulfillment is rarely smooth. It is often lined with struggle, setbacks, and self-doubt. The farmer, who represents so many of us, works under a scorching sun, fends off insects, waits through droughts, davens through storms, and finally sees fruit. His instinct might be to enjoy the success and to finally relax, but the Torah tells him to pause, remember, and give.

That giving, that hakorashatov, is the gateway to the simcha the Torah seeks for us.

Too often, we become lost in the negative. We focus on the struggles and become saddened. We become overwhelmed by the difficulties we face. We are not earning enough. Too much is demanded of us.

Yes, making a living is hard, but too often we become trapped in the problems that are part of life and lose sight of the good we have, beginning with life itself. We forget to thank Hashem that we have a job and are able to work. That we are healthy enough to stand, walk, and think. We focus on the negatives of our responsibilities and forget that they are signs of blessing.

The mitzvah of bikkurim is not just agricultural. It’s psychological. It asks us to reframe our lives. The farmer is told to think back to the beginning of the season when he planted and was uncertain if anything would grow. He had no guarantees. And yet, now, he holds a basket of abundance. The Torah compels him to see that and to recognize Hashem’s Hand through the entire process, from root to fruit.

We study this parsha now, just before Rosh Hashanah, because it speaks directly to what is asked of us at this time of year.

During Elul, we look back over the past year. Some parts of the year were hard, perhaps painfully so. Some parts were uncertain. But before we step into the YomimNoraimdays of judgment, we are told to do what the farmer does: reflect, remember and give thanks. To see what Yaakov went through in the house of Lovon and what the Jews endured in Mitzrayim, and then to appreciate the geulah. As we bring and study about bikkurim, we think about the toil and the fruit.

There are times when we feel overwhelmed. We feel stuck and trapped, with no way forward. People can feel crushed under the weight of financial pressure, business difficulties, family struggles, health crises, or inner turmoil. Some give up, thinking that their situation is beyond repair.

But that mindset is not one of Torah.

I have previously recounted this lesson from my rebbi, but it’s worth repeating and remembering. I was speaking with my rebbi, Rav Avrohom Yehoshua Soloveitchik, and he asked me how one of his talmidim is doing.

I answered, “Es geitemshver. He’s having a hard time.”

Rav Avrohom Yehoshua looked at me and said, “Bei dem Ribono Shel Olam, izgornitshver.For the Master of the World, nothing is hard.”

That short response carries a lifetime of hashkofah.

We think in human terms. We see walls, but Hashem sees doors. We see difficulties, but Hashem sees opportunities. To us, it may seem hopeless. But for Him, nothing is impossible.

We become trapped by the moment and cannot look past it. Although the challenge may seem insurmountable, we must remember that “Bei der Ribono Shel Olam, izgornitshver.”

Great people, those who live their lives by the sefer Chovos Halevavos and other sifreimussar,are able to view life not as a string of isolated incidents, but as an evolving story written by the Creator. They don’t see world events as random or personal suffering as meaningless. They see Hashem behind every scene, even the darkest ones.

When the world – or their personal world – turns upside down and the people closest to them abandon them, or their friends mock them, or their chavrusa dumps them in middle of the zeman, they don’t panic during the storm, because they know that Hashem is steering the ship. By living with proper faith, emunah and bitachon in all situations, things will subside and they will see brocha and hatzlocha.

Rav Mordechai Pogromansky, one of the great Torah personalities of pre-war Lithuania, embodied this view. Even as he sat locked in the Kovno Ghetto, surrounded by death and destruction, he radiated calm. People gathered around him not just for Torah, but for emunah.

With the Jews walled into a small area that was constantly patrolled by vicious Nazis, he would tell those who would gather around him that he didn’t see the German beasts who were everywhere. He would say: “Ich zeynisht di Deitchen. Ich zey pesukim-I don’t see Germans. I see pesukim.”

He looked at the chaos and saw Tochacha. He saw the pesukim that we read in this week’s parsha playing out around him. The suffering was not the product of cruel men, but of a Divine system with meaning and purpose.

He wasn’t in denial. He was in tune.

Rav Pogromansky would repeat a teaching that he heard from the Kovno Rov, Rav Avrohom Duber Kahana-Shapiro, who died of illness in the ghetto. Prior to his passing, the Rov said that he was jealous of the kohein who hid the small jug of pure oil during the time of the Chashmonaim. That flask, which would one day ignite the miracle of Chanukah, was set aside during a time of despair, when the Bais Hamikdosh was defiled, churbanwas everywhere, most of the Jews had become Misyavnim, and the future looked hopeless.

The Kovno Rov referred to him as “der umbakantersuldat” – the unknown soldier. No one knows his name. But his small act of quiet faith changed everything. He knew that a time would come when the powerful Yevonim would be usurped of their power, when churban would yield to rejuvenation and shementahor would be needed to ignite the menorah.

While others surrendered to the darkness, he lit a spark for the future. He knew that he wasn’t seeing Yevonim, or Misyavnim, or churban. He was seeing pesukim.

He lived the words of the Orchos Chaim L’Rosh, “Al tevahelma’asecha.” Don’t panic. Don’t act rashly. Stay steady.

This is classic Kelmermussar. Clarity and calm, even amidst confusion. But you need not be from Kelm to live it. We can all become that unknown soldier, making small but holy choices even when everything feels bleak.

That’s why in many yeshivos, particularly during Elul, Orchos Chaim L’Rosh is read each morning after Shacharis. In Kelm, they sang it with a haunting niggun. Rav Nosson Wachtfogel would chant it in Lakewood with fiery intensity.

Each day, this reminder: Stay calm. Think long-term. See the pesukim.

Every Shabbos morning, in Nishmas, we thank Hashem for saving us from “cholo’imro’imv’ne’emanim, evil and faithful illnesses.” What does it mean for an illness to be faithful?

The Tochachain this week’s parsha (28:59) speaks also of “makkosgedolosvene’emanos, great and faithful blows,” and “cholo’imgedolimvene’emanim, great and faithful illnesses.”

The Gemara in Avodah Zarah (55a) states that before an illness descends upon a person, it must take an oath. It is instructed how long to stay, how much pain to inflict, and when to leave. The sickness agrees and is then dispatched.

That is ne’emanus. Even suffering follows orders. Even pain has a purpose and a limit.

When we’re in the middle of it, it’s easy to believe that things will never change. But nothing is forever – except Hashem’s love and plan.

Monday was a day of heartbreak—in Yerushalayim, in Gaza, and in every Jewish heart.

In Ramot, six holy innocent Jews were torn from this world by cruel, senseless violence. Twelve more were seriously wounded, their lives and families forever altered. The blood of the innocent cries out, and the chain of tragedy grows heavier with each link. Young and old alike, snuffed out in an instant. And for those left behind: darkness and grief. Parents. Siblings. Friends. All thrown into the fire of mourning.

The day had begun like any other in Yerushalayim. The sun rose over the golden city, casting light on people going about their morning routines. And then gunfire.

Panic. Screams. Chaos. People running for their lives.

When will it end?

That same day, far away in Gaza, four young Jewish soldiers—boys, really—were killed in their tank by Hamas terrorists. They never had a chance. Four more families shattered. Four more names added to the growing list of holy souls lost. Hy’d.

When Hashem decrees it, no border fence can stand in the way. No tank, no technology, can offer protection. When Heaven speaks, the illusion of control disappears. Pesukim are seen in the streets.

We see virtually the entire world lining up against us, preparing for a grand ceremony at that bastion of justice, the United Nations, where once-great nations of the West will join forces with Israel’s traditional enemies and recognize a non-existent state for a fictional nation. Anti-Semitism increases and no place is considered safe from the vile hate. Israel’s war with the forces of terror continues into its third year, as its hostages hover near death, and legions of marchers, propagandists, politicians and media mainstays accuse and convict Israel of genocide.

When we hear what is happening inside Eretz Yisroel, it can feel demoralizing. We see the rightist government on shaky legs, with the left flexing its might, putting together new coalitions comprised of old enemies, determined to squash us.

None of what is happening is new. None of it is unprecedented. The ongoing battles over yeshivos, over halacha, and over the soul of our people have been waged since the beginning.

The battles that are being waged now have been fought before. Ever since the founding of the state, the status of bachurei yeshiva and the role of halacha have been points of contention. Just as our spiritual fathers triumphed, just as yeshivos rose from the ashes and continued to grow, and just as the Torah community defied the predictions and prognoses of its demise and thrived, so will the good times return.

In this country, as well, we face multiple challenges in our communities, schools, shuls, neighborhoods, housing, and children. Costs are rising everywhere. As some wring their hands in despair and despondency, others see it all as birth pangs.

We have always survived. More than that, we have flourished.

The Torah world rose from the ashes of Churban Europe. It was rebuilt by people who saw the pesukim and did not panic. We must continue their legacy. The good times will return – for those who don’t give up.

Yaakov Avinu, as he descended to Mitzrayim, brought along cedar trees – arozim – that would later be used to build the Mishkon. Why? Because he knew. He knew that golus would come. He knew that slavery would follow. But he also knew that redemption would follow that – and that those very trees, planted in a period of darkness, would be used to build a house for Hashem that would be a source of light and holiness.

Yaakov wasn’t just bringing wood. He was bringing a message: The darkness won’t last. Prepare for the light.

That is why we read the parsha of bikkurim now.

Elul is not just about fear. It’s about faith. It’s about saying: I will plant. I will strive. I will plan my walk toward Yerushalayim with my fruit, even if I don’t yet see them. And Hashem, in His love, will grant me what I need and welcome me to the mikdosh through his emissary, the kohein.

The Ribono ShelOlam says, “Pischu li pesachkefischoshelmachat, open for Me a door the size of a needle’s eye, v’Anieftachlochemkepischoshelulam, and I will open for you the entrance to a grand hall.”

Elul is about taking the step. That first step is hard, just like the first steps of a child. It’s hard to get off the floor, to forsake our sins, large and small, those that bring us joy and those that lead to depression. It takes faith and strength to take that first step. But when we do take it, Hashem will do the rest.

We live in turbulent times. Spiritually, socially, and politically, we feel the shaking beneath our feet. But we must respond the way Jews always have: with faith, with effort, and with gratitude.

We must examine our deeds, remember our history back to Yaakov and the times he suffered, recognize our geulah, and move forward.

Hashem saved Yaakov from Lovon and saved us from Mitzrayim. He will save us again – if we don’t give up. If we walk, He will carry. If we cry, He will listen.

The struggles we face are real, but so is the love of the Father who placed them in our path.

May we merit to be among those who bring our bikkurim with joy, even after a year of toil. May we learn from the unknown soldier. May we see our struggles not as dead ends, but as pesukim in progress.

May we all be inscribed for a year of light, clarity, peace, and revealed goodness.

Kesivah vachasimah tovah. Shnas geulah v’yeshuah.

{Matzav.com}

24 years have now passed since the trajectory of history was forever altered by the 9/11 attacks. Of course, when it happened, many of us knew we’d never forget that day. Yet time dulls even the most painful memories. Among the heroes of 9/11, which included the FDNY, NYPD, PAPD, EMS and other agencies, were the volunteers of Hatzolah. Chevra Hatzalah played a pivotal role in the World Trade Center rescue operations. The very first ambulance to arrive at the World Trade Center following the first plane crash on September 11, 2001 was a Hatzalah ambulance. By the time the second airplane crashed into the second tower, there were two dozen Hatzalah ambulances at the scene, including Hatzalah’s Communications and Command Center trailer, and more than 100 Hatzalah EMTs, paramedics, and doctors on scene. Before the buildings came down, ambulances had arrived from Hatzalah of Rockland County, 40 miles to the North, with additional medics and EMTs. During the first hour, over 125 patients were transported to area hospitals by Hatzalah ambulances. At the south end of the Twin Towers, Hatzalah was the predominant ambulance service covering the disaster scene. Hatzalah ambulances transported numerous victims, including firefighters and police officers. The following footage was released in 2015 for the first time to the public by YWN. In addition, Hatzalah assisted in the rescue of thousands of men, women and children who escaped to the docks near the Holocaust Museum in Battery Park, and helped evacuate them onto boats headed for New Jersey. Some Hatzalah volunteers went missing for periods of time throughout the day, but, b’chasdei hashem, there were few casualties amongst the Hatzalah team, and miraculously, all Hatzalah members survived. Tragically, there have been multiple Hatzalah members who were since Niftar from 9/11-related diseases. Listen below to the frightening radio transmissions of frantic Hatzalah members screaming for help as the World Trade Center collapsed on top of them. Fast forward to 8:00 to hear the collapse of the first tower. Perhaps the most frightening moment is at 12:20 – when a member tells the dispatcher “tell my wife at least I said Shema.” (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)