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Dozens of rabbonim, roshei yeshiva, and community leaders from the Sephardic Torah world gathered Thursday night in Bnei Brak for an emergency conference protesting the ongoing draft crisis and the arrests of yeshiva bochurim. The gathering concluded with a dramatic decision to hold a massive public demonstration in the city on Motzoei Shabbos Parshas Balak.

The emergency meeting took place at the Halichos Moshe shul in the Ramat Aharon neighborhood and was hosted by the area’s rov, Rav Shabtai Levi. The event was led by Rav Nissim Ben Shimon and Rav Shlomo Machpud, a member of the Shas Moetzet Chachmei HaTorah.

Organizers said the purpose of the conference was to present a firm and united response from the Sephardic Torah community to what participants described as severe government measures against the Torah world, including the arrests of yeshiva bochurim and avreichim.

Throughout the evening, rabbonim, heads of institutions, and roshei yeshiva addressed the audience, emphasizing the supreme importance of preserving the status and honor of Torah learning. Speakers expressed deep pain over what they described as a sustained and deliberate disrespect toward lomdei Torah and called for unity and a strong public outcry.

The keynote address was delivered by Chacham Nissim Ben Shimon. During his remarks, he quoted the Talmudic teaching, “כל המבזה תלמידי חכמים אין רפואה למכתו” (“Whoever degrades Torah scholars has no cure for his affliction”). He then referred directly to Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara and said that as early as next week she would feel unwell and come to regret her actions. He concluded by urging the public to strengthen itself spiritually and awaken to the gravity of the moment, declaring: “על כולנו להתחזק וכולנו ביחד להתעורר” (“We must all strengthen ourselves, and all of us together must awaken”).

At the conclusion of the gathering, participants adopted a joint resolution calling for a large public rally in the streets of Bnei Brak on Motzoei Shabbos Parshas Balak. According to organizers, the event is expected to draw rabbonim, roshei yeshiva, roshei kollel, and many of the city’s leading Torah figures.

Organizers said the rally will feature significant public statements and announcements, and may include what they described as “far-reaching steps” that could shape the future public response of the Sephardic Torah community. The stated goal is to bring attention to what participants view as the ongoing “dishonor of Torah.”

Sources involved in the planning said logistical preparations are already underway and that widespread participation is expected from Torah institutions and communities throughout Bnei Brak.

{Matzav.com}

Senior Israeli police officers are reportedly expressing outrage at National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir after he announced an urgent review of police use of stun grenades during demonstrations, following the violent clashes between police and chareidi protesters on Route 4 earlier this week.

According to a report by i24News, police officials sharply criticized Ben Gvir’s decision, arguing that officers are being blamed for actions carried out in the field.

“They’re throwing us under the train because Ben Gvir got angry,” one officer was quoted as saying. “I don’t remember him being this angry when stun grenades were thrown at Kaplan. Suddenly it’s convenient to place all the responsibility on the officers on the ground? We’re taking a step back. Whoever wants to carry out forcible evacuations can do it himself.”

The officers indicated that the move could affect future enforcement efforts, expressing frustration over what they see as a double standard.

“As far as we’re concerned, let them shut down the country,” they said. They added, “When it comes to chareidim, you’re not allowed to use batons, mounted police, or stun grenades.”

The controversy erupted after police used force against demonstrators during the protest on Route 4, prompting criticism and renewed scrutiny of crowd-control tactics.

Shortly after the disturbances began, Ben Gvir issued a public statement expressing concern over the increasing use of stun grenades against civilian demonstrators.

“Recently there has been an increase in incidents in which stun grenades were used against a civilian population not in accordance with procedures. Therefore, I will hold an urgent discussion on the matter in order to ensure that the use of stun grenades is carried out only in exceptional cases and in accordance with police regulations. If their use is not limited to those cases, there will be no stun grenades in the police force.”

The minister’s comments have now triggered a growing backlash within police ranks, with officers warning that restrictions on crowd-control tools could hamper their ability to respond to future protests.

{Matzav.com}

Thousands of current and former bochurim of Yeshivas Be’er HaTalmud from across Israel gathered Thursday evening outside Prison 10 at the Beit Lid military base to protest the imprisonment of yeshiva alumnus and yungerman Rabbi Ariel Cohen.

The yeshiva’s rosh yeshiva, Rav Yehuda Cohen, a member of the Shas Moetzet Chachmei HaTorah, traveled to the protest and was accompanied by his son, Rav Chanoch Cohen, who serves as the yeshiva’s rosh yeshiva. The demonstration was organized by the Chayei Olam organization, which has been assisting Rabbi Cohen since his arrest.

Also participating in the rally were Knesset members Michael Malkieli, a graduate of the yeshiva, and Yoni Mashriki.

Participants recited Selichos with intense emotion, and Rav Chanoch Cohen addressed the crowd, lamenting what he described as the persecution of yeshiva bochurim and the imprisonment of bnei Torah in military detention facilities.

On the sidelines of the gathering, Rabbi Aviel Cohen, the imprisoned avreich’s father, received a brocha from Rav Yehuda Cohen.

During the event, organizers from Chayei Olam informed attendees that Rabbi Ariel Cohen was expected to be released before Shabbos. The announcement sparked spontaneous dancing and celebrations among the crowd.

The Shas movement later stated that, through the efforts of Shas chairman Rabbi Aryeh Deri, Rabbi Cohen would be freed before Shabbos. The party added that MK Yoav Ben Tzur had spoken with the family and informed them that, through Deri’s intervention, his sentence had been eased and he would be released from prison before the onset of Shabbos. Family members expressed gratitude to Shas and Rabbi Deri for their persistent efforts on his behalf.

Shas subsequently clarified that the work leading to Rabbi Cohen’s release had in fact been carried out by the Chayei Olam organization, which has been operating with dedication to assist and defend yeshiva bochurim who are arrested, and that the earlier statement attributing the effort solely to Shas had been issued in error.

{Matzav.com}

A federal judge ruled Thursday that legal challenges to President Trump’s executive order on election procedures can proceed as they relate to the 2026 midterm elections, while declining to consider broader objections tied to future elections that have yet to take shape.

The lawsuits, filed separately in April by Democratic-led states and voter advocacy organizations, seek to block Trump’s executive order, which includes new requirements for verifying voter citizenship and places additional restrictions on mail-in voting.

U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani rejected the administration’s request to throw out the lawsuits entirely, concluding that concerns surrounding the upcoming midterms are ripe for judicial review.

“In light of the EO’s specific deadlines over the next three months, and the reality that elections will be occurring throughout this period with the November 3, 2026 midterm occurring in just five months, postponing judicial review is impracticable and may inflict significant hardship on Plaintiffs,” Talwani wrote in a 17-page consolidated order.

The judge, however, drew a line when it came to challenges involving elections beyond 2026, noting that significant questions remain about how federal agencies will ultimately carry out the order.

Talwani wrote that there were “many uncertainties” surrounding implementation and said it would be premature to evaluate claims involving future election cycles.

The judge was appointed to the federal bench by President Barack Obama.

California Attorney General Rob Bonta’s office, which is leading the multistate lawsuit, welcomed the decision.

“We are pleased that the Trump Administration’s attempt to dismiss our lawsuit as premature was rejected with respect to the upcoming November midterm elections,” a spokesperson for California Attorney General Rob Bonta (D) told The Hill in a statement.

“The case will now move forward to a decision on the remaining disputed issues, and we remain confident that the law is on our side,” the spokesperson added.

Since returning to office, Trump has pushed for significant changes to federal election procedures, arguing that mail-in voting and instances of noncitizens casting ballots have undermined election integrity, though evidence supporting widespread fraud remains limited.

Trump himself has voted by mail in several elections, including a recent special election in Florida.

Signed in March, the executive order directs Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin to coordinate with the Social Security Administration to create a database of verified U.S. citizens eligible to vote. Under the order, the U.S. Postal Service would be prohibited from sending ballots to individuals not included on that list.

The directive also instructs the attorney general to prioritize investigations and prosecutions involving allegations that ballots were distributed to individuals deemed ineligible to vote.

“The Trump Administration will continue to fight for the agenda the President was elected on – which includes the safety and security of our nation’s elections,” White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson said on Thursday. “This very campaign pledge from the President is why millions of Americans sent him back to the White House. Election security is common sense, and Democrats owe it to the American people to support the President’s mission to secure our elections.”

The executive order quickly triggered a wave of legal challenges from nearly two dozen states, the District of Columbia, and several voting-rights organizations, all of which contend that the measure exceeds presidential authority and could prevent eligible citizens from voting.

The plaintiffs argue that states—not the federal government—hold primary authority over election administration. They also maintain that complying with the order would require substantial expenditures of time and resources while creating confusion among voters and election officials.

“We are grateful the court recognized the urgency and stakes of this case and allowed our lawsuit to proceed with respect to this year’s elections,” the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and other plaintiffs said in a joint statement on Thursday.

“The court will now move to consider our preliminary injunction and other pending motions. And we will continue to fight to protect the millions of people who rely on mail-in voting and to ensure that every eligible voter is able to fairly cast their ballot.”

The ruling comes just weeks after another federal judge in Washington declined to block the same executive order in a separate lawsuit brought by Senate Democrats’ campaign committee, the NAACP, and the League of United Latin American Citizens.

That decision is currently being appealed.

{Matzav.com}

The Interior Department drew attention Thursday after using a comparison to the Iranian navy while celebrating progress in cleaning the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool following a costly renovation project.

In a post on X, the department highlighted the success of a new algae-fighting system installed at the historic Washington landmark.

“The advanced nanobubbler technology very effectively killed the algae that has plagued every Lincoln Reflecting Pool reopening—most infamously [former President] Obama’s reopening—since 1922,” the department’s press team wrote on social platform X.

Officials then took the comparison a step further, likening the dead algae at the bottom of the pool to Iranian naval vessels destroyed during recent military operations.

“The Reflecting Pool water is crystal clear, and our National Park Service team is now vacuuming up the dead algae resting on the bottom of some parts of the Reflecting Pool—just like the destroyed Iranian Navy resting on the bottom of the Persian Gulf,” the department added.

The remark comes after extensive U.S. and Israeli military strikes against Iran. Earlier this year, U.S. Central Command chief Adm. Brad Cooper stated that more than 60 Iranian vessels had been struck during the opening stages of the conflict.

The Reflecting Pool’s latest problems emerged only days after completion of a renovation project that cost more than $13 million. Shortly after the work concluded, the water turned green because of an algae bloom.

In Thursday’s update, the Interior Department said the vacuuming process represents “is the final maintenance step” after the pool was refilled and noted that the work “will be complete in a few days.”

The agency also released a photograph showing noticeably clearer water and pointed to the appearance of the pool’s bottom surface.

“Already, the section of the Reflecting Pool closest to the Lincoln Memorial has been vacuumed up, and the beautiful American Flag Blue coating on the bottom of the pool can be seen clearly.”

A department spokesperson told The Hill that crews are using hydrogen peroxide treatments to eliminate the algae and said the process carries “no harmful side effects” for aquatic life or the surrounding environment.

“The nanobubble technology has been tested and validated by the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), The Ohio State University and The University of Florida,” the spokesperson added.

According to a federal contract worth more than $1.7 million between the Interior Department and Green Water Solutions, the nanobubble system is designed to reduce algae growth by depriving it of the nutrients it needs to thrive.

The technology works by injecting ozone-filled nanobubbles into the water. Those bubbles react chemically to generate oxidizing agents that attach to contaminants, toxins, and organic material, breaking them down.

Algae have long been a recurring challenge at the Reflecting Pool. The problem has persisted since the memorial opened in 1922 and has resurfaced after previous restoration efforts, including renovations completed during the Obama administration.

{Matzav.com}

Authorities across the country are sounding the alarm about a growing scam that exploits one of Americans’ most basic civic responsibilities—jury duty—to trick victims into handing over money.

“Did you get a call claiming you missed jury duty and need to pay? Followed by a text or email with official-looking documents saying there’s a warrant out for your arrest? As alarming as these things sound, they’re a scam designed to steal your money,” the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) said in a recent news release.

According to federal officials, scammers often impersonate law enforcement officers, claiming to be U.S. Marshals, sheriff’s deputies, or local police officers. They attempt to create a sense of urgency and legitimacy, sometimes citing a victim’s name, address, or other personal details to make the story more believable.

The fraudsters frequently claim that the victim failed to appear for jury duty and warn that an arrest warrant will be issued unless an immediate payment is made.

“That moment of fear that something terrible had happened was enough to blank my brain,” said one Reddit user, who said his heart “caught in his throat” when he received a phone call from a scammer claiming to be a Harris County sheriff’s deputy. “I’d bet pretending to be police officers makes the scam very effective.”

The FTC is not the only agency raising concerns. On Thursday, a sheriff’s office in Ohio issued its own public warning about what it described as “ongoing jury duty scams.”

According to a report by Nexstar’s WJW, officials in Geauga County have received multiple complaints involving the scheme. In one case, a woman nearly lost $9,000 before her bank intervened and stopped the transaction.

The scam has been spreading for some time. Last year, the FBI’s Atlanta field office warned residents throughout Georgia about similar fraud attempts and offered guidance on how to avoid becoming a victim.

Among the FBI’s recommendations:

• Always be suspicious of unsolicited phone calls.

• Never give money or personal information to someone with whom you don’t have ties and did not initiate contact.

• Trust your instincts: if an unknown caller pressures you, or says things that don’t sound right, hang up.

• If concerns remain about the caller’s claims, verify the information with the appropriate law enforcement agency or court officials.

Federal regulators stress that genuine law enforcement agencies do not operate the way these scammers claim.

For example, real police officers and court officials will not send arrest warrants through text messages or email. They also do not call people and threaten immediate arrest over the phone. Officials warn that even caller ID cannot be trusted because scammers can manipulate the number that appears on a recipient’s screen.

The FTC also notes that demands for payment through cryptocurrency, gift cards, wire transfers, or payment apps are among the clearest signs of fraud. Government agencies do not collect fines or fees over the phone using those methods.

According to the FBI, people who genuinely miss jury duty are typically notified by mail through official court correspondence—not by a surprise phone call or text message.

The FTC encourages anyone targeted by a jury-duty scam to report the incident to the agency. Additional resources are also available for individuals who have already sent money to scammers.

{Matzav.com}

A groundbreaking flu vaccine developed by Moderna moved significantly closer to reaching the public on Thursday after an FDA advisory committee unanimously endorsed the company’s mRNA-based shot, marking a potentially major advancement in seasonal influenza prevention.

Members of the FDA’s independent vaccine advisory panel voted 9-0 in favor of the vaccine, concluding that its benefits outweigh its risks for adults ages 50 to 64 as well as those 65 and older.

Moderna is pursuing full approval for individuals between 50 and 64 years old, while seeking accelerated approval for those 65 and above. As part of that pathway, the company will be required to conduct an additional study after the vaccine becomes available to older adults.

Despite the panel’s endorsement, the vaccine’s future remains uncertain.

The recommendation is advisory rather than binding, and the FDA must still make a final determination by Aug. 5. Complicating matters, the agency currently lacks both a permanent vaccine chief and a confirmed commissioner, leaving questions about who will ultimately sign off on the decision.

Even if the FDA grants approval, the vaccine must still receive a recommendation from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s advisory committee. However, that panel is currently unable to meet after a federal judge blocked it from convening under its present membership.

Once the committee eventually issues a recommendation, the CDC director will decide whether to adopt, modify, or reject it. The CDC also lacks a permanent leader, with National Institutes of Health Director Jay Bhattacharya currently serving as acting CDC director.

Influenza claims tens of thousands of lives annually, with older adults facing the greatest risk of severe illness and death. Existing vaccines designed specifically for seniors are available, but they generally require longer production timelines and lack the adaptability offered by mRNA technology.

“Having this technology available puts us in a better position to be prepared for emerging strains or pandemic strains in the future,” said panelist Flor Munoz-Rivas, an infectious disease specialist at Texas Children’s Hospital.

Under the current system, vaccine manufacturers must select target strains many months before flu season begins. That delay allows viruses to mutate, which can reduce the effectiveness of the final vaccine.

By contrast, mRNA vaccines can be produced far more quickly and updated later in the season if necessary to better match circulating strains.

“I think that this particular platform adds exciting ways that we can actually move our vaccines to the future,” said panel member Hayley Gans, a professor of pediatrics at Stanford University Medical Center.

According to Moderna’s data, the vaccine lowered flu infections by approximately 27 percent compared with a standard-dose flu shot among adults aged 50 and older.

In a separate, smaller study involving adults 65 and above, the mRNA vaccine produced a robust immune response when compared with an existing high-dose flu vaccine already recommended for seniors.

“We appreciate the thoughtful review by the members of VRBPAC and their recognition of the clinical evidence supporting mRNA-1010,” Moderna CEO Stéphane Bancel said in a statement. “We believe mRNA-1010 has the potential to provide an important new option for seasonal flu prevention and further demonstrate the versatility of our mRNA platform. We look forward to continuing to work with the FDA as it completes its review.”

The vaccine’s journey to Thursday’s vote was far from smooth. Earlier this year, a senior FDA official initially declined to review the application.

Vinay Prasad, who previously led vaccine efforts at the agency, said the application was turned down because Moderna compared its vaccine to a standard flu shot in adults 65 and older rather than to the high-dose vaccine commonly used for that age group.

Such refusals are uncommon, and critics argued that the decision reflected increasing skepticism toward mRNA technology under Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

Kennedy has repeatedly criticized mRNA vaccines, previously describing Moderna’s COVID-19 shot as “the deadliest vaccine ever made,” while HHS last year canceled nearly $500 million earmarked for mRNA vaccine research.

Moderna challenged the FDA’s refusal, and the agency unexpectedly reversed its position just one week later, allowing the application process to move forward.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump announced Thursday that Apple has agreed to partner with Intel to design and manufacture computer chips in the United States, a move that could mark a significant shift in the tech giant’s supply chain strategy.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump stated that Apple would work with Intel on developing and producing chips domestically, highlighting the arrangement as a boost for American manufacturing.

The announcement follows a report by The Wall Street Journal in May indicating that Intel and Apple had reached a preliminary agreement under which Intel would produce certain chips for Apple. According to the report, negotiations between the two companies had stretched on for more than a year before a tentative deal was reached.

Neither Apple nor Intel immediately responded to requests for comment from Reuters after normal business hours.

For Apple, a partnership with Intel could provide greater flexibility and reduce its dependence on a single supplier as demand for advanced semiconductors continues to surge.

The company currently relies heavily on Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), whose cutting-edge fabrication facilities are also being used extensively by artificial intelligence chip leaders such as Nvidia and AMD. By adding Intel as a manufacturing partner, Apple would gain additional production capacity while broadening its supply chain footprint.