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Only a few days after family, friends, and admirers packed a celebration honoring his 100th birthday, Reb Duvid Einhorn z”l has passed away, leaving Boro Park in mourning. A Holocaust survivor who lost everything yet spent the rest of his life rebuilding with unwavering emunah and joy, Reb Duvid became a living symbol of Jewish survival and spiritual triumph.

To those who encountered him, it was impossible not to be inspired. Although he endured Auschwitz and emerged as the only surviving member of his immediate family, he never allowed his identity to be defined by the horrors he had witnessed. Instead, people remember a man whose warm smile, kind demeanor, and contagious optimism illuminated every room he entered.

His life became a powerful answer to Nazi brutality. Rather than surrendering to grief, he chose to build a future filled with Torah, family, and hope, proving through his actions that the Jewish people could never be destroyed.

For decades, people from every walk of life sought out Reb Duvid to hear him speak. Students, bochurim, educators, public officials, and visitors from around the globe listened in silence as he described the vanished Jewish communities of Europe and the nightmare that consumed them. Yet those who came expecting only heartbreaking testimony invariably left strengthened. His recollections always pointed beyond tragedy, emphasizing emunah, appreciation for Hashem’s kindness, and every Jew’s obligation to preserve the legacy of those who were lost.

Among the stories that remained etched in his memory was Yom Kippur of 1944. Even in his later years, he could vividly recount surviving that sacred day under unimaginable conditions and finally breaking his fast with a small portion of cabbage. After last year’s Yom Kippur, he reflected that just as Hashem had answered his desperate prayers during the Holocaust, sincere tefillah still possesses the power to bring open miracles into the lives of every Jew. That message of faith never wavered throughout his lifetime.

While many would have been consumed by unbearable loss, Reb Duvid chose another path entirely.

He dedicated himself to creating what the Nazis had tried to erase.

He often spoke emotionally about what it meant to walk through the streets of Boro Park and witness vibrant Jewish life everywhere he looked. Bustling yeshivos, overflowing batei medrash, and children joyfully learning Torah were, in his eyes, living proof that evil had failed. Every child immersed in Torah represented another victory, and every simchah testified that the Jewish nation had risen from the ashes stronger than ever.

Conversations with Reb Duvid rarely ended where they began. Visitors frequently arrived hoping to offer him honor or hear his remarkable story, but they departed carrying invaluable lessons of perspective, gratitude, and resilience. His encouragement carried unusual weight because it came from someone who had experienced humanity at its absolute worst yet never lost his faith in Hashem or his love for life.

Earlier this week, the community gathered in large numbers to celebrate the rare milestone of Reb Duvid reaching his 100th birthday. The evening was far more than a birthday party; it was a tribute to a century that encompassed devastation, survival, rebuilding, and extraordinary spiritual strength. It honored a man whose greatest achievements were measured not by what he endured, but by everything he built afterward.

Now, in a heartbreaking turn, that same community is preparing to bid farewell.

Reb Duvid’s legacy extends far beyond his remarkable personal story. He leaves behind generations of descendants, inspired thousands through his words, strengthened the emunah of countless Jews, and viewed every flourishing Torah institution and every Jewish child as a declaration that the Jewish people live on despite every attempt to destroy them.

Yehi zichro boruch.

A new national survey from the Emerson College Polling Center suggests the race for the 2028 Republican presidential nomination is rapidly tightening, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio drawing even with Vice President JD Vance among GOP primary voters. At the same time, the poll indicates Democrats have built a sizable lead on the generic congressional ballot ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.

The July 19-20 survey, conducted among 1,100 likely voters nationwide, found Democrats holding an 11-point advantage over Republicans in the generic congressional race, leading 53% to 42%.

That margin marks a sharp increase from January, when Democrats held a six-point edge.

According to Emerson Executive Director Spencer Kimball, much of the Democratic advantage stems from strong support among female voters. Women back the Democratic candidate by a 56% to 39% margin, while male voters remain much more evenly split between the two parties.

The poll also measured public attitudes toward President Donald Trump, finding that 39% of respondents approve of his job performance while 57% disapprove.

Among Republican voters looking ahead to the next presidential primary, the survey points to an increasingly competitive contest.

Vance led the field with 39% support, but Rubio was virtually tied at 38%. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and Donald Trump Jr. each received 5%, while 9% of Republican primary voters said they remain undecided.

The results suggest that, at least for now, no candidate has established a commanding lead in the race to become the Republican Party’s 2028 nominee.

The survey also highlights a significant shift since earlier this year. Vance’s support has fallen from 52% in February to 39%, while Rubio’s backing has surged from 20% to 38%, erasing what had once been a substantial gap between the two.

Political analysts have also suggested that additional Republican figures, including Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas, could decide to enter the race if the contest remains wide open.

Vance has drawn criticism from some conservatives over remarks they viewed as hostile toward U.S. policy supporting Israel, as well as for declining to publicly rebuke allies such as political commentator Tucker Carlson over allegations of antisemitic rhetoric.

The Emerson survey also examined Republican attitudes toward U.S. aid to Israel, finding that 55% of Republican voters believe the United States is providing the appropriate level of assistance. In contrast, most Democrats and independent voters said they believe Washington is spending too much on aid to the Jewish state.

Beyond the political horse race, the poll found that voters now rank “threats to democracy” as the nation’s leading concern, cited by 28% of respondents. The economy followed closely at 27%, with immigration at 16% and healthcare at 13%.

{Matzav.com}

Political commentator Amit Segal launched a sharp attack on the IDF Thursday, accusing the military of selectively enforcing its rules after a reservist was dismissed for posting a video expressing support for Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich.

Segal argued that other reservists and officers have publicly expressed political views while wearing military uniforms without facing disciplinary action, raising questions about what he described as inconsistent enforcement.

In one example, Segal shared a photograph of Maj. (res.) Shachar Veron of the organization Katef el Katef appearing in uniform during a media interview while running on Naftali Bennett’s political slate.

“Why can a reservist run on Bennett’s list and give interviews in uniform, but an ordinary soldier who supports Smotrich is dismissed?” Segal wrote.

He also posted a video of a reserve armored brigade deputy commander, claiming the officer had appeared in political videos while wearing his uniform on behalf of a political party.

“The deputy brigade commander of that same soldier publishes political videos in uniform on behalf of a party, yet only the low-ranking soldier is punished. Why?” he asked.

Segal added that, in his view, there was little point in even discussing what he described as the political campaign conducted by the “Reservists” party while involving serving military personnel.

At the same time, Segal stressed that he opposes mixing politics with the military and said the IDF was right to discipline the soldier.

“In my personal opinion, the Israel Defense Forces are sacred and politics must not be mixed into them. I think the army did the right thing when it dismissed the soldier, so that others will see and be deterred. But the double standard is outrageous.”

He also argued that the military still owes the public an explanation regarding reservists who promoted refusal to serve but remained in uniform.

“The army still owes us explanations about the continued service of those who led the refusal movement,” Segal wrote. “Don’t start with a simple soldier. There is a former battalion commander who ran for politics and is constantly photographed in uniform, along with countless other examples. Be tough on the powerful, not the weak.”

Segal also shared a video of former Communications Minister Yoaz Hendel speaking in uniform, describing it as overt political advocacy.

“What are we going to do with him? Absolutely nothing. There are some people who are allowed to do anything,” he wrote.

Former CIA Director John Brennan accused President Donald Trump and congressional Republicans of working together to target individuals who have opposed or investigated the president, alleging a coordinated effort to damage their reputations and finances.

Speaking Thursday on MSNBC’s Deadline, Brennan sharply criticized House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan, claiming the Ohio Republican has used his position to advance Trump’s interests.

“Jim Jordan is not just a craven politician who has abused the authorities of his chairmanship of the committee. He also is a complete shill for Donald Trump. And so what is happening to Jack Smith is exactly what happened to me. Both Jack and I appeared separately, voluntarily, in front of his committee. And then as a result of those appearances and our testimony, he makes referrals to the Department of Justice. He made a criminal referral on me, which is why I’m a target of several investigations out of the Southern District of Florida.”

Brennan went on to argue that the actions taken by Jordan and the Trump administration amount to a deliberate effort to intimidate critics and former government officials.

“The intention that Jim Jordan and Donald Trump are engaged in is to try to harass and harangue and to ruin, try to ruin people reputationally and financially and so on. And so it just shows that there is this collusion and conspiracy among the Republican members of Congress and the White House to go after individuals who try to uphold their responsibilities and obligations when they were government employees, but who have, you know, run afoul of Donald Trump. And so, again, this is just so ludicrous. But it’s so hard to believe that this would have ever happened previously. But again, it’s not surprising or shocking at all that this is going on right now with this administration and this Department of Justice.”

{Matzav.com}

A subcontractor that performed work on the Obama Presidential Center in Chicago has shut down its business after claiming the project left it with nearly $4 million in losses, forcing the company to lay off workers and walk away from several other construction jobs.

Mike Owen, owner of Adamson Plumbing Contractors, told Fox News that his company has ceased operations after suffering financial losses tied to its work on the presidential center. The closure resulted in the layoff of 25 union employees and the abandonment of multiple construction projects.

According to Fox News, “Before the center opened, Owen said the project had left his company with $3.9 million in losses tied to delays, rework, labor overruns, and changing project demands. He said he spent months negotiating with Lakeside Alliance, the project’s construction manager, before going public after failing to reach a resolution.”

The project has also drawn scrutiny over its finances. Previous reports noted that, despite rising costs ultimately borne by taxpayers, the Obama Presidential Center sought unpaid volunteers while planning to pay its chief executive an annual salary of $740,000.

As part of his effort to recover some of the money he says is owed, Owen’s company, operating under the name Marsh-Adamson, has filed a $1.72 million mechanic’s lien against the presidential center property.

“Laying off close to 30 people is something that no owner in our industry wants to do. It’s a hard thing to do, especially when you know you can finish them and the company can still make money. But we were put in a pretty bad corner,” he said.

The development has also faced questions over its ambitious design. According to a previous Breitbart News report, President Barack Obama repeatedly encouraged the architectural team to pursue a larger and more expansive vision for the $850 million Obama Presidential Center, a massive granite-clad complex in Chicago’s Jackson Park.

Tod Williams, one of the project’s lead architects, told The New Yorker that Obama urged the designers to “up our ante” beyond the center’s original plans. Williams said the continued push to increase the project’s scale created tension during the design process and ultimately left him feeling “uneasy.”

The center officially opened in June with President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama hosting numerous celebrities and other prominent guests. The celebration, however, came as the project continued to face allegations that several Black-owned subcontractors had not been fully paid for work they performed during construction, according to Breitbart News.