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[Photos below.] The Lithuanian ambassador to Israel paid an official visit on Sunday to Bnei Brak and Ponevezh Yeshiva, marking a symbolic encounter with the living continuation of Lithuania’s prewar Torah heritage in Eretz Yisroel.

The visit was arranged and accompanied by Uri Maklev, chairman of the United Torah Judaism faction and a long-time interlocutor with Lithuanian officials on issues related to Jewish heritage and the preservation of Jewish cemeteries in Lithuania.

The ambassador’s tour began with a meeting with the yeshiva’s nosi, Rav Eliezer Kahaneman, who outlined the storied history of Ponevezh, from its founding in a Lithuanian town to its rebirth in Bnei Brak by his grandfather, the Ponovezher Rav, following the devastation of the Holocaust.

During the meeting, the ambassador expressed particular interest in historical documentation of the original yeshiva buildings in Lithuania and in efforts to preserve Jewish memory there. Rav Kahaneman also reviewed the dramatic growth of the yeshiva in recent years, along with the extensive construction of new dormitories and study halls.

The ambassador then toured the yeshiva’s batei medrash, where he observed thousands of bochurim and avreichim immersed in learning. Accompanied by MK Maklev, he stood visibly moved by the intensity and scale of the kol Torah filling the botei medrash.

MK Maklev explained the Litvishe method of learning and described Ponevezh as a central hub of the global Torah world, attracting elite talmidim from around the world. The ambassador voiced admiration for the discipline of the learning and the vitality of the Torah discourse he witnessed.

The highlight of the visit was a meeting at the home of the rosh yeshiva, Rav Berel Povarsky. In his home, an extended and reflective conversation took place, during which Rav Povarsky shared personal memories and described the vibrant Jewish life that once flourished in Lithuania before the war.

At the height of the discussion, MK Maklev raised the dire condition of Jewish cemeteries across Lithuania. Rav Povarsky personally asked the ambassador to convey a message to the Lithuanian government urging concrete action to restore and preserve these sacred sites.

{Matzav.com}

Slabodka Rosh Yeshiva Rav Dov Landau offered words of tefillah and chizuk to the family of fallen IDF soldier Ran Gvili, as Israeli forces continue efforts to recover his body from the Gaza Strip.

Family members of Gvili, the last fallen hostage whose remains are still held in Gaza, approached Rav Landau on Sunday evening seeking his brocha that their loved one be found quickly.

Gvili was killed during the Hamas-led onslaught and his body has not yet been returned for kevurah.

In a handwritten response addressed to the family, Rav Landau wrote simply: “May Hashem help that they find him quickly.”

According to the letter submitted to the rosh yeshiva, intensive searches are currently underway to locate the remains of the fallen soldier still in Gaza, and the family requested that the rosh yeshiva daven for his swift recovery. The name given for tefillah was Ran ben Yitzchak.

The appeal and Rav Landau’s response come amid renewed military activity by the IDF in Gaza focused on locating Gvili’s body. Following a meeting of the political-security cabinet on Sunday, the Prime Minister’s Office announced that, as part of President Donald Trump’s 20-point Gaza plan, Israel has agreed in principle to reopen the Rafah Crossing in a limited capacity for pedestrian passage only, under full Israeli supervision.

In its statement, the Prime Minister’s Office said that reopening the crossing is conditional on the return of all living hostages and on Hamas making a “100% effort” to locate and return all slain hostages.

The statement further noted that the IDF is currently conducting “a focused operation to fully utilize all intelligence information obtained as part of the effort to locate and return the fallen hostage Ran Gvili.” Once that operation is completed, and in line with understandings reached with the United States, Israel will proceed with reopening the Rafah Crossing.

The Prime Minister’s Office stressed that the State of Israel remains fully committed to the return of Master Sgt. Ran Gvili and will spare no effort to bring him to burial in Israel.

{Matzav.com}

Bill Clinton issued a sharp public statement Sunday reacting to the fatal shooting in Minneapolis and criticizing President Donald Trump’s actions to roll back immigration policies put in place during the Biden administration.

Posting late Sunday night on X, Clinton shared an image of a lengthy written statement and warned of what he described as a pivotal moment for the country. “Over the course of a lifetime, we face only a few moments where the decisions we make and the actions we take will shape our history for years to come,” Clinton wrote. “This is one of them.”

The image attached to the post carried a headline condemning what it called the “horrific scenes playing out in Minneapolis and across America.”

In the statement itself, Clinton described recent events in stark terms, writing:
“In recent weeks, we’ve watched horrible scenes play out in Minneapolis and other communities that I never thought would take place in America.”

He went on to accuse federal authorities of violent and heavy-handed tactics, stating:
“People, including children, have been seized from their homes, workplaces, and the street by masked federal agents. Peaceful protesters and citizens exercising their constitutional right to observe and document law enforcement have been arrested, beaten, teargassed, and most scarily, in the cases of Renee Good and Alex Pretti, shot and killed.”

Clinton said such actions should never have occurred, adding: “All of this is unacceptable, and should have been avoided.”

He further alleged deception by government officials and obstruction of accountability efforts, writing: “To make matters even worse, at every turn, the people in charge have lied to us, told us not to believe what we’ve seen with our own eyes, and pushed increasingly aggressive and antagonistic tactics, including impeding investigations by local authorities.”

Returning to the theme of long-term consequences, Clinton repeated his warning about the stakes involved: “Over the course of a lifetime, we face only a few moments where the decisions we make and the actions we take will shape our history for years to come. This is one of them. If we give our freedoms away after 250 years, we might never get them back.”

He concluded by urging civic engagement and resistance, writing: “It is up to all of us who believe in the promise of American democracy to stand up, speak out, and show that our nation still belongs to We the People.”

The remarks quickly drew backlash from conservative commentators, prompting the Clinton account on X to disable replies after a surge of critical responses.

{Matzav.com}

The IDF carried out an airstrike a short time ago targeting a terrorist operative affiliated with the Hezbollah terror organization in the Tyre area of southern Lebanon.

Sunday’s monster storm was one for the history books, the biggest the New York City area has seen in years. Central Park recorded more than 10 inches of snow and sleet, while parts of the Hudson Valley had more than 18 inches. Some in New Jersey saw more accumulation than expected. The storm performed exceptionally […]

TERROR: An Israeli resident of the Shomron was miraculously unharmed after a frightening encounter with three terrorists near Shechem on Monday morning. The incident occurred when the driver got lost and accidentally entered the outskirts of Shechem on his way to Har Ebal. While trying to return to the main road near the city’s entrance […]

TRAGEDY IN ARGENTINA: A tragedy occurred in the Chareidi kehilla of Buenos Aires, Argentina, after a tree fell on Michoel Mordechai Habuba, 12, z’l. He was evacuated to the hospital with a severe head injury. The kehilla held tefillos and davened for his refuah for many hours, but he R”L succumbed to his injuries several […]

A serious security incident unfolded Sunday night in the chareidi city of Modi’in Illit, after dozens of illegal entrants infiltrated the city area, triggering a large-scale response by the army and civilian security volunteers.

According to reports received by the Shomrim emergency hotline, approximately 25 illegal entrants breached the area near the Yellow Gate at the edge of the Green Park neighborhood. After crossing into the city’s vicinity, the suspects fled toward the direction of Kfar Ruth, with several apprehended by IDF forces during the pursuit.

Due to concerns that additional suspects may still be at large, dozens of Shomrim volunteers rushed to the eastern neighborhoods and surrounding open areas to conduct intensive searches, both on foot and by vehicle. The operation was reinforced by Israel’s drone unit, which deployed operators using a thermal drone to scan the wadi and adjacent terrain for possible escapees.

Shomrim officials said that while some of the infiltrators were detained, there is a strong likelihood that others managed to evade capture, prompting the ongoing sweeps late into the night.

The incident has raised significant security concerns, particularly in light of previous threats directed at the city. Several months ago, the Hamas terror organization released a propaganda video containing explicit threats against Israel, in which Hamas prominently marked Modi’in Illit as a central target for potential attacks. The video, intended to intimidate the Israeli public, was viewed as an escalation in the group’s threats.

In that footage, the chareidi city was clearly identified as one of the locations the organization seeks to strike, with messaging aimed specifically at the chareidi population. Security officials have warned that such threats reflect an effort to undermine the personal safety of Israeli civilians throughout the country.

Authorities continue to monitor the situation closely as searches remain underway.

{Matzav.com}

Israel plans to reopen the Rafah Crossing with Egypt once a military effort now underway concludes with the recovery of the body of Master Sgt. Ran Gvili, according to an announcement released Sunday by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office.

The decision followed deliberations by the security cabinet and comes amid mounting international calls for Israel to resume operations at the key Gaza–Egypt border crossing.

Although the Prime Minister’s Office did not specify how long the current IDF mission is expected to last, a US official told The Times of Israel that American officials anticipate the operation will take several days, potentially clearing the way for the crossing to reopen before the end of the week.

Earlier Sunday night, the IDF confirmed that troops are conducting a search for Gvili’s remains at a cemetery in northern Gaza. The military said intelligence indicating the body is buried at the site is credible, while noting that other intelligence avenues are also being pursued.

Separately, the head of the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza and the Gaza envoy to the NCAG-supervising Board of Peace announced on Thursday that Rafah would resume operations this week, marking its first reopening in nearly a year.

In its statement, Netanyahu’s office said reopening the sole pedestrian crossing between Gaza and Egypt is contingent “on the return of all living hostages and on Hamas making a 100% effort to locate and return all slain hostages.”

Under the October 9 Israel-Hamas agreement tied to the first phase of US President Donald Trump’s broader Gaza peace initiative, all hostages were to be returned within 72 hours of the October 10 ceasefire. The deal acknowledged, however, that retrieving bodies from beneath Gaza’s rubble could take longer and did not explicitly link reopening Rafah to the return of all captives.

Israel has declined to advance to the second phase of Trump’s plan — including reopening Rafah — until Gvili’s body is recovered. Hamas has said it does not know the precise location of his remains but claims it has attempted to search for them.

The Prime Minister’s Office said the IDF is currently carrying out “a focused operation to fully utilize all intelligence obtained in the effort to locate and return” Gvili.

Once the mission concludes, “and in accordance with what was agreed on with the United States,” Israel will move ahead with reopening the crossing, the statement said.

Netanyahu’s office emphasized Israel’s commitment to returning Gvili and vowed to exhaust all efforts to bring his body home.

The operation began over the weekend following intelligence assessments that Gvili was buried in a Muslim cemetery in eastern Gaza City, near the neighborhoods of Shejaiya, Daraj, and Tuffah.

Gvili, 24, served as a policeman and was killed while defending Kibbutz Alumim in southern Israel during the Hamas-led assault on October 7, 2023, which ignited the Gaza war. He joined the fighting despite awaiting surgery for a shoulder injury.

On Friday, IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir attended the family’s weekly rally in Tel Aviv and reportedly told Gvili’s parents there was “room for optimism” regarding their son’s return.

During a security cabinet meeting Sunday night, far-right ministers reportedly voiced strong opposition to the plan to reopen Rafah.

“We did great things like kill tens of thousands of terrorists, but we still haven’t completely eliminated Hamas,” National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir said, according to quotes reported by the Walla news site.

“We have to dismantle and disarm it. Enough with [Jared] Kushner and [Steve] Witkoff’s naivety — if Rafah Crossing opens, it will be a big mistake and a very bad message,” he reportedly said.

The US envoys, who met with Netanyahu and other senior officials during their visit to Israel, have been urging the government to proceed with the next stages of Trump’s Gaza framework.

Settlements and National Projects Minister Orit Strock also criticized the move, reportedly arguing that Israel was effectively transferring control of Gaza to the Palestinian Authority, which the government accuses of supporting terrorism and says should have no governing role in the enclave.

“This cabinet will eventually make a decision to send our soldiers to fight Hamas because no one else will do it, and then what will we tell them?” she said, according to Walla.

While Rafah has been used to transfer goods at various points during the war, its primary designation is for pedestrian crossings.

{Matzav.com}

Sunday’s monster storm was one for the history books, the biggest the New York City area has seen in years. Central Park recorded more than 10 inches of snow and sleet, while parts of the Hudson Valley had more than 18 inches. Some in New Jersey saw more accumulation than expected. The storm performed exceptionally […]

[Video below.] An American climber stunned onlookers by scaling one of the world’s tallest skyscrapers without ropes, completing a rare free-solo ascent in front of a global audience.

The climber, 40-year-old Alex Honnold, made his way up Taipei 101, a 1,667-foot tower in Taiwan, during a Netflix livestream that was pushed to Sunday after rain forced a delay, according to CBS News.

The ascent took roughly an hour and a half, and recorded footage captures the final moments as Honnold reached the summit.

Standing atop the building, he briefly took in the view and reacted with a single word: “Sick!” before peering down at the city far below.

WATCH:

Additional video shows him pausing to recover, then pulling out his phone to snap a selfie. “This is so cool… I’m so psyched and you know what, pretty tired, actually,” he said.

CBS News noted the prominence of the structure itself, writing: “Taipei 101 is one of the tallest skyscrapers in the world. The building was designed by C.Y. Lee & Partners and opened in 2004. It’s home to observatories, restaurants, a shopping mall and offices, as well as the Taiwan Stock Exchange.”

Honnold’s website highlights his previous achievements, stating that he is the only person to have free-solo climbed Yosemite National Park’s 3,000-foot El Capitan.

The site adds high praise for his accomplishments, saying, “More people will walk on the moon than will do what Alex Honnold has done. His extremely rare skill and unmatched mental focus have helped make him climbing’s transcendent, breakout star, inspiring millions around the world.”

Footage from earlier in the event shows the married father of two beginning his climb as spectators looked on, applauding and cheering while he periodically turned back to grin at the crowd.

Before starting the ascent, Honnold explained that his focus was on precision and avoiding errors, according to People magazine.

“I’m sure I’ll feel a little nervous at the bottom, just because it’s something totally new. I’ve spent 30 years climbing rock faces; this is going to be my first big handmade structure, so I’m sure it’ll feel a little different,” he said, adding, “My life is on the line — I don’t really care who’s watching. I care about doing what I’m doing and doing it well.”

{Matzav.com}

Amid recent reports about a new and explosive “security affair” in Israel currently under heavy censorship, Rabbi Yosef Zini, the father of Shin Bet chief David Zini, published a cryptic message on Monday. “We have no doubt whatsoever that it’s all a blatant lie,” wrote Rabbi Zini. “Even if they produce a video or images […]

Spanish police have opened an investigation after vandals desecrated a number of Jewish graves in a Barcelona cemetery over the weekend.  Catalan police confirmed the incident at the Jewish section of Les Corts cemetery, though authorities did not specify how many graves were damaged. “We are aware of the incident and have opened an investigation,” […]

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An Israeli resident of the Shomron was miraculously unharmed after a frightening encounter with three terrorists near Shechem on Monday morning. The incident occurred when the driver got lost and accidentally entered the outskirts of Shechem on his way to Har Ebal. While trying to return to the main road near the city’s entrance checkpoint, […]

A stormy debate erupted during Sunday night’s security cabinet meeting over the Trump administration’s ultimatum to Israel to reopen the Rafah Crossing.  No vote was held on the issue, as the ministers were informed that Israel had already accepted the plan. Despite the strong opposition of the ministers, the Prime Minister’s Office announced Israel’s compliance […]

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A tragedy occurred in the Chareidi kehilla of Buenos Aires, Argentina, on Sunday after a tree fell on Michoel Mordechai Habuba, 12, z’l, critically injuring him. He was evacuated to the hospital with a severe head injury. The kehilla held tefillos and davened for his refuah for many hours, but he ultimately succumbed to his […]

A senior Israeli military commander said Sunday that Israel is preparing for the possibility that a U.S. military strike on Iran could prompt Iranian retaliation against Israeli targets, as Washington continues to build up forces across the Middle East. Maj. Gen. Rafi Milo, head of the IDF’s Northern Command, told Israel’s Channel 12 that the […]

Tremendous excitement and anticipation are sweeping through thousands of Vizhnitz Chassidim in Eretz Yisroel ahead of the major Chasunah set to take place this coming Wednesday. The upcoming simcha carries special significance within the Vizhnitz Chassidus, as it marks the first Chasunah in Eretz Yisroel of a great-grandchild of the Vizhnitz Rebbe. This follows several […]