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At a levaya, everyone feels the sadness, but the real, raw crying is usually held by a small circle, the immediate family sitting up front. At your levaya, it was different. The crying wasn’t coming from one section; it was coming from every corner of the room, from the front, the back, and everywhere in between. And these weren’t quiet tears. They were loud, heartbreaking screams and cries of pure pain. You could feel that everyone there had lost something personal. It wasn’t just a family mourning; it was an entire community broken.

And the reason for all that crying wasn’t only because the situation was so heartbreaking, though it truly was. You were so young, taken so suddenly, and the pain of that alone could break anyone. But the tears that filled the room were something deeper. People were crying because they missed you. Because you weren’t just another friend, you were a part of everyone’s life. You had a piece in every circle, every group, every person there. The cries were the sound of people realizing that a piece of their own world had just been ripped away.

Your smile, your warmth, your genuine care for every person, it was hitting all of us that we would never get that again. Never again that quick grin you’d flash when you saw someone, never again the way you made people feel noticed and valued without even trying. That realization is what crushed everyone. It wasn’t just losing someone we loved; it was losing a light that brightened every room you walked into.

Your chesed was something rare, the kind that didn’t just help people, it lifted them. You had this way of making someone feel like they were doing you a favor by letting you help. Whether it was a ride, a small favor, a listening ear, or just showing up when someone needed you, you did everything with such sincerity and warmth. There was never a sense of burden, never hesitation. You gave with a full heart, and somehow you made people walk away feeling better about themselves, as if you were the lucky one in the exchange. That was your greatness, quiet, constant, and so real.

You were genuine in every way, and your greatness came from the simplest of things. You didn’t need grand gestures or recognition; your kindness, your care, your thoughtfulness, all came naturally, effortlessly. It was in the small smiles, the quiet acts of help, the sincere words you offered without expecting anything in return. That simplicity, that unassuming nature, is what made your greatness so real and so unforgettable.

Your acts of kindness were so natural that they flowed with simplicity and ease. One moment, you could make someone feel completely seen, lifting their spirits and making them feel better about their life; the next moment, you were right back to learning or moving through your day as if nothing had changed. It was effortless for you to give so much warmth without ever slowing down the energy you carried in everything you did.

In a way, your life ended just as suddenly as it was lived, one moment you were here, full of warmth and kindness, and the next you were gone. Yet even in that suddenness, your light continues to shine in everyone you touched. Every act of kindness you showed, every smile you shared, every moment you made someone feel valued, those things didn’t end with you. They live on in the way we carry ourselves, in the way we treat others, in the way we remember you. Your presence may be gone from this world, but the love and goodness you planted in the hearts of those around you will continue to grow, reminding us to live with the same care, simplicity, and joy that you did.

One friend shared this memory of you: even on rough days, you were someone they looked forward to waking up for, just to see your good morning smile. That smile was always paired with a kind word or a reassuring pat on the back, and in those moments, people could truly feel your genuine care and understanding for a friend going through a hard time. You weren’t someone who got married a few years before others and stirred up hard feelings; instead, you radiated warmth, positivity, and healthy, caring energy. You weren’t a thorn in anyone’s side; you were a comforting friend, someone to lean on, whose presence made even the hardest days feel a little lighter.

Another reason you made such an impact was simply because you were always there. You showed up consistently, quietly, without fanfare. You were around at the moments that mattered, the small in-between times when people crossed paths. And because you were always present, you greeted everyone. No one slipped past you unnoticed. Whether it was a quick hello, a warm smile, or a heartfelt “how are you really doing,” you made every person feel seen. Your presence wasn’t loud, but it was constant, and that consistency left a mark on every single person who knew you.

Your consistency in your sedarim and your learning was something incredible to witness. Day after day, no matter what was going on around you, you showed up to learn with a quiet strength and a steady dedication that inspired everyone who knew you. The same was true with your davening; it wasn’t loud or showy, but it was real, focused, and sincere. You approached tefillah and Torah with a calm, dependable rhythm, the way someone does when it’s not an obligation but a part of who they are. Your steadiness in these areas grounded you, and in many ways, it grounded the people around you too.

Even when you felt it was time to get back to learning and stop schmoozing, you said it in a way that never made anyone feel bad about themselves, the opposite, actually. You had this gentle way of redirecting the moment, reminding people of what mattered, but doing it with such warmth that they walked away feeling uplifted, not corrected. Your sincerity and respect for others were so real that even your boundaries came across as kindness.

How you managed to have so much time, for all the people you helped, for all the chesed you did, and at the same time for all your shteiging, is truly unreal. It’s hard to understand how someone with such a full schedule, such a full heart, and such a full life could fit so much into every day. But that was you. You used every minute you had, every ounce of energy, every opportunity to grow and to give. In your short life, you lived more fully, more purposefully, and more beautifully than many do in twice the years. You didn’t waste time; you elevated it. You lived life to its fullest, not through big moments, but through constant, steady goodness.

And in the way that truly counts, in years measured by doing for Hashem, you lived a long life. When you look at the mitzvos you did, the chesed you gave, the people you lifted, the Torah you learned, and the sincerity you carried in everything, your life wasn’t short at all. It was rich, full, and overflowing with purpose. If a person’s “years” are counted by how much they accomplish for Hashem, then you lived many lifetimes’ worth.

We will miss you. We can’t replace you, no one ever will, but we have to move forward carrying what you taught us. We have to take the warmth you gave, the sincerity you lived with, the kindness you showed, and let it shape the way we live. Moving on doesn’t mean forgetting; it means letting your light continue through us, allowing your goodness to guide the steps we take from here.

In a powerful way, you’re the one comforting us in this tragedy. Even now, in the deepest pain, the memories of your warmth, your smile, and your goodness are what hold us together and give us strength.

WATCH:

Rabbi Saul J. Kassin, a prominent Rov in the Syrian community, released a forceful letter on Wednesday to the U.S. Helsinki Commission, stating unequivocally that Rabbi Yosef Hamra has no authority to speak for — or represent — the American Syrian Jewish community in any capacity. The letter comes amid elevated attention surrounding Rabbi Hamra, […]

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Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu made it unmistakably clear in a new interview that Israel will not consent to the creation of a Palestinian state under any circumstances. Speaking to the Abu Ali Express Telegram channel, he stated flatly, “There will not be a Palestinian state. It’s very simple: it will not be established.” He stressed that the position is not negotiable and is not tied to any diplomatic incentives.

Pressed on whether this stance applies even if it costs Israel a long-sought normalization deal with Saudi Arabia, Netanyahu did not hesitate. “The answer is: a Palestinian state will not be established. It is an existential threat to Israel,” he said, underscoring that no geopolitical benefit would justify what he views as a mortal danger to the country’s future.

Netanyahu acknowledged that the ongoing war in Gaza had frozen movement toward a Saudi-Israeli agreement, but he insisted that momentum could still return as fighting tapers off. “But the conditions must be acceptable to both sides – terms that are good for both sides,” he said. He explained that he has no intention of yielding on Israel’s “essential conditions” and that any future progress must safeguard national security. “And if this process ripens later on, excellent. And if not, we will safeguard our vital interests.”

The Prime Minister also discussed the Rafah crossing, linking its reopening directly to Hamas returning the remains of three Israelis who were killed and abducted: Dror Or, Ran Gvili, and Sudthisak Rinthalak. “We agreed that we will open the crossing after we receive all our hostages. We are very close to completing this process – it’s set to happen – and once that is completed, we will open the crossing,” he said.

Netanyahu went on to say he would support Egypt allowing Gazans who wish to emigrate to do so. “Any Gazan who wants to leave should be able to, and that right has been denied to them. Washington’s 20-point plan for Gaza included that right… If Egypt accepts that – I think that’s very positive.”

Turning to Ankara, Netanyahu described Israel’s relationship with Turkey as complicated but manageable. While hoping for stability between the countries, he did not minimize the concerns posed by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s alignment with Hamas and his accusations of Israeli genocide. “I hope that threat doesn’t materialize, but we can’t rule it out,” he said.

Netanyahu explained that Israel has already acted to halt Turkish expansion into areas of Syria. “We prefer a modus vivendi with Turkey,” he said. “They’re very stubborn and speak in an extreme way, and we push back on it. But in practice, we prevented their entry into southern Syria… We also didn’t want them entering central Syria at the T-4 base – and we even struck that airfield.”

Despite the charged rhetoric, the Prime Minister said Israel continues maintaining quiet channels with Turkey in an effort to prevent unnecessary escalation. Yet he stressed that Israeli defense planning is already calibrated to Turkey’s military potential. “We do not intend to relinquish our military superiority,” he said. “We’re not seeking enemies, but we won’t let any country in the region threaten us.”

{Matzav.com}

TRUMP ADMIN MOVES TO EXPAND OFFSHORE DRILLING: The Trump administration has unveiled a sweeping plan to open new offshore oil-drilling areas off the coasts of California and Florida, reversing decades-long restrictions. The proposal includes six lease sales off California and would allow drilling at least 100 miles off Florida’s coast in the Gulf of Mexico. […]

New data shows Hurricane Melissa, which ravaged Jamaica last month, unleashed a 252 mph wind gust — the strongest ever recorded. NOAA scientists captured the measurement using parachute-equipped instruments dropped from a Hurricane Hunter plane before the device fell into the ocean. The previous record was 248 mph during Typhoon Megi in 2010.

Manhattan’s new 15 mph speed limit for e-bikes went into effect late last month, with e-bike speed limit signs now being put up. An investigation found that the average rider zips along at 23 mph.

State officials are still finding recalled ByHeart infant formula (which contain an OU hechsher) on store shelves as cases continue to rise. More than 30 babies have been sickened, and new tests confirm the formula was contaminated with Clostridium botulinum, the dangerous bacteria that can cause life-threatening illness in infants under 1.

New York City’s mayor-elect, Zohran Mamdani, spent Thursday attempting to strike a careful balance as questions mounted over his reaction to a raucous anti-Israel protest outside Manhattan’s Park East Synagogue the previous night — a demonstration where participants chanted “Death to the IDF” and “Globalize the intifada” as an immigration-to-Israel event was taking place inside.

In comments released through his spokesperson, Dora Pekec, Mamdani created distance between himself and the protesters’ rhetoric while simultaneously criticizing the synagogue event itself. “The mayor-elect has discouraged the language used at last night’s protest and will continue to do so,” Pekec said in a statement to Jewish Insider. “He believes every New Yorker should be free to enter a house of worship without intimidation, and that these sacred spaces should not be used to promote activities in violation of international law.”

The protest had been organized by an anti-Zionist organization targeting a gathering hosted by Nefesh B’Nefesh, the group known for helping Jews relocate to Israel. The synagogue, a landmark Modern Orthodox institution on the Upper East Side, became the backdrop for shouting, drumming, and inflammatory chants that swiftly drew condemnation across the political spectrum.

When pressed about the statement’s claim that the synagogue program violated international law, Mamdani’s office clarified that the criticism referred specifically to “the organization’s promotion of settlement activity beyond the Green Line,” which they argued “violates international law.”

Mamdani’s election has left many Jewish New Yorkers uneasy, particularly amid a sharp rise in antisemitic incidents citywide. Though he has publicly pushed for more city funding to counter hate crimes and pledged stronger police presence at Jewish sites, skeptics questioned his willingness to confront anti-Israel radicals during moments of escalation.

The mayor-elect has said he does not support the phrase “globalize the intifada,” a slogan viewed by many Jews as an incitement to violence. Yet he has typically avoided condemning it outright, a hesitation that has fueled concerns about how he will approach such rhetoric once in office.

Thursday’s statement marked the first time Mamdani’s team responded to unrest connected to an anti-Israel demonstration. Before launching his campaign last year, Mamdani attended numerous protests of that nature, which further contributed to nervousness within the Jewish community. The day after winning the election, he did, however, denounce swastika graffiti found at a Jewish day school.

Outgoing Mayor Eric Adams, currently overseas on a multi-nation trip that included a visit to Israel, reacted harshly to Wednesday’s protest. In a social media post, he blasted what occurred outside Park East, calling the chants “vile” and the participants “sick and warped.” He promised, “stopping at Park East to show” his “support” once back in the city.

“Pray for our city,” Adams added. “Today it’s a synagogue. Tomorrow it’s a church or a mosque. They come for me today and you tomorrow. We cannot hand this city over to radicals.”

Governor Kathy Hochul, who endorsed Mamdani during the mayoral race, also weighed in. She wrote, “No New Yorker should be intimidated or harassed at their house of worship. What happened last night at Park East Synagogue was shameful and a blatant attack on the Jewish community. Hate has no place in New York.”

{Matzav.com}

A wide-ranging American framework outlining how the war between Russia and Ukraine could be halted was quietly circulated in Washington, describing everything from new borders to economic incentives, and even a future Peace Council overseen by President Donald Trump, senior U.S. officials told The Post.

The document represented the most elaborate version yet of what the U.S. envisioned as a potential off-ramp, crafted after weeks of conversations held by Special Envoy Steve Witkoff with senior Russian and Ukrainian figures.

Officials said they had recently spoken with Rustem Umerov, Secretary of Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council, during meetings in Miami. According to them, he responded encouragingly to significant portions of the proposal, though no one claimed it was a formal Ukrainian endorsement.

“The plan was drawn up immediately following discussions with one of the most senior members of Zelensky’s administration, Umerov,” one official explained. “So Umerov agreed to the majority of this plan, and he made several modifications to it, which we included and presented it to President Zelensky.”

They emphasized that these conversations did not amount to full alignment from Kyiv. “I don’t want to say that [Kyiv] full-heartedly … agreed to it and they’re ready to sign off. They agreed to the majority of the plan,” the official said.

President Zelensky acknowledged the broad American outline when he commented publicly on Thursday. “We agreed that our teams will work on the points to ensure it’s all genuine,” Zelensky said. “We’re geared up for clear and honest work—Ukraine, the U.S., our European and global partners.”

The proposal made clear that Ukraine would remain an independent state, but it also embedded extensive concessions that would permanently reshape the battlefield map.

Under the blueprint, Washington would recognize the entire Donbas region as belonging to Russia, including sectors that Moscow had failed to conquer even after more than a decade of fighting. Areas of Kherson and Zaporizhzhia would remain locked in place along current front lines, effectively turning active trenches into acknowledged borders.

Ukrainian forces would withdraw from the remaining pockets they held in Donetsk, leaving behind a neutral demilitarized zone barred to Russian entry.

In return, the U.S. would assemble a detailed system of security assurances intended to discourage any renewed Russian invasion. Those protections, however, depended on Ukraine refraining from attacks deep inside Russia; they would dissolve if Ukraine launched missiles at Moscow or St. Petersburg “without cause” or struck Russian territory.

Ukraine would also be required to restrict its military to 600,000 troops and formally commit to permanent neutrality by pledging never to join NATO, embedding that promise into its national charter. NATO countries, for their part, would agree not to station forces inside Ukraine, though allied aircraft would operate from Poland.

Beyond military matters, the plan called for the U.S. to open a structured Russia-NATO dialogue, fund major rebuilding operations across Ukraine, and gradually welcome Moscow back into global economic life. Provisions even envisioned Russia’s return to the G8 and long-term cooperation with the U.S. in sectors like energy, rare-earth extraction, data centers, and artificial intelligence.

Frozen Russian assets also featured heavily. The proposal directed that $100 billion in seized Russian funds be invested into U.S.-led reconstruction projects in Ukraine, with the U.S. receiving half of all profits. Europe would contribute an additional $100 billion of its own, while the rest of Russia’s frozen assets would be released for joint American-Russian ventures focused on “strengthening relations.”

Ukraine, meanwhile, would gain accelerated access to European markets as Brussels evaluated its membership aspirations.

Humanitarian issues were incorporated as well. The plan required a sweeping “all-for-all” exchange of captives and detainees — a category that included the transfer of kidnapped Ukrainian children — paired with family reunifications and long-term support for victims.

One of the most contentious elements involved wiping away all wartime legal claims through a universal amnesty. According to one U.S. official, Kyiv had requested that plank. The official noted that an earlier version had said, “Ukraine will conduct a full audit of all aid received and create a legal mechanism to recover any errors found and punish those who illegally profiteered from the war,” but Kyiv later pushed for broader immunity.

Ukraine would also have to hold national elections within 100 days of the agreement’s activation, restoring a process that had been suspended under wartime martial-law rules.

Oversight of the entire arrangement would fall to a new peace council chaired by Trump, who would be tasked with ensuring compliance, enforcing sanctions for violations, and verifying that both militaries withdrew to the agreed positions before a ceasefire formally began.

As part of the settlement, Russia would adopt legally binding promises of non-aggression toward Ukraine and Europe and reaffirm its nuclear non-proliferation commitments. Ukraine would restate its non-nuclear status. Europe’s largest nuclear facility — the Zaporizhzhia plant — would restart under IAEA supervision, with Russia and Ukraine sharing its output equally.

The blueprint also called for government-sponsored programs promoting cultural tolerance, minority protections, media freedoms, and bans on Nazi ideology in an attempt to lessen ethnic conflict. According to the authors, once all parties endorsed the agreement, the ceasefire would take hold immediately.

Neither Kyiv nor Moscow publicly embraced the proposal, but within the U.S. government it was seen as the most expansive attempt yet to chart a political end to a conflict that had redrawn borders and created Europe’s largest land war since World War II.

On Wednesday evening, Secretary of State Marco Rubio seemed to tamp down speculation that the U.S. had formally decided to advance such a plan. He wrote that “Ending a complex and deadly war such as the one in Ukraine requires an extensive exchange of serious and realistic ideas. And achieving a durable peace will require both sides to agree to difficult but necessary concessions,” adding, “That is why we are and will continue to develop a list of potential ideas for ending this war based on input from both sides of this conflict.”

His comments followed an Axios report claiming that an agreement had already been reached. That story relied on Kirill Dmitriev, a close Putin associate, who asserted he had helped develop the framework alongside Witkoff.

U.S. officials said they believed Dmitriev deliberately leaked details to position Russia as the driving force behind the plan. “Their POV out there first [because] it seemed like they were winning,” one of them said. “This is just a tit for tat. Always has been.”

Witkoff appeared to draw the same conclusion when he responded to the Axios article on X in a post he quickly deleted. “He must have got this from K,” he wrote about the reporter, Barak Ravid — seemingly intending to send the message privately, identifying Dmitriev only by his initial.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump welcomed a group of Israelis who had endured captivity, bringing them to the White House on Thursday for a private gathering that was both emotional and deeply symbolic.

Throughout the meeting, Trump emphasized their transformation from victims to national role models. “You’re not a hostage anymore, today you’re heroes,” he told them, praising the strength they displayed under unimaginable conditions. He added that their resolve “united all Israelis” and inspired countless supporters internationally.

The president highlighted the ordeal of Matan Angrest, whose story was raised as an example of grit and unbroken morale. Trump described what Angrest had suffered: “Because of service in the IDF, Matan was subjected to severe beatings, even at times losing consciousness. And alone and under a special guard, he went through hell. I guess you really were. I’ve heard stories that were not good. Look at you, how good you look. It just made you tougher, right? It did, made you tougher. But Matan never broke, and today he’s a living testimony to the toughness, heart, and faith of the Jewish people. Great knowing you, you’re great inspiration to everybody, whether you’re Jewish or not.”

With that message of resilience, Trump concluded the gathering by personally presenting each freed hostage with a presidential challenge coin — a gesture often reserved for those who have displayed exceptional courage or service.

Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu intensified his messaging Thursday night regarding the emerging draft-law proposal, using a new interview to sharpen his appeal to the chareidi public and to launch a fierce critique at the opposition.

Speaking to the Telegram channel “Abu Ali Express,” Netanyahu described the legislation as a historic breakthrough that would fundamentally reshape the integration of chareidim into military service.

“I hope to be the first prime minister in the history of Israel who actually passes a draft law,” Netanyahu said. “This law will bring 17,000 chareidim into the Israel Defense Forces within three years.”

He accused the opposition of working to sabotage the effort. “They defame the law, they’re trying to stop it. What have they done? They haven’t done anything. Seventeen thousand people — that’s a division and more.”

Netanyahu also directed part of his message inward, toward the chareidi community and its rabbinic leadership. “I expect the chareidi public to join this. I want the rabbanim to allow supporting it. This will be a major test.”

He dismissed claims circulating in some circles that the proposal is intended to preserve exemptions or prevent chareidim from serving.

“This is not a law to block service. This is a law that will bring thousands into the army in a very short time. How can anyone oppose that?”

{Matzav.com}

The Movement for Quality Government has called on Israeli Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara to open disciplinary proceedings against Chaya Mashan, the senior official overseeing post-primary chareidi girls’ education in the Yerushalayim municipality, following the exposure of documents containing racist and degrading classifications of students.

In a letter sent today to the attorney general, the organization demanded an immediate investigation into Mashan’s reinstatement as coordinator of upper-secondary education for Yerushalayim’s Education Department, a role that includes responsibility for placement in the city’s chareidi seminaries.

“The subject of this request is the recent publication announcing the return of Ms. Chaya Mashan to her position as coordinator of upper-secondary education in the Yerushalayim municipality,” the group wrote.

The watchdog noted that in July 2024, Haaretz revealed Excel documents from the municipality that included detailed—and unauthorized—notations about students: parents’ marital status, the girl’s physical appearance, disabilities, health conditions of both the student and her family, and even the family’s connections to influential figures within the chareidi community.

Last Thursday, journalist Yoeli Brim exposed additional documents stored on municipal servers that used racial and humiliating labels such as: “kushim,” “large and fat,” “short mother and father,” “heavy Sephardi,” and “complex home, baalei teshuva, unmarried sisters.”

The municipality issued a response at the time, saying: “A clarifying conversation was held with the employee by the head of the department. During the meeting, procedures were reviewed in depth, and the employee was made aware of her mistake. Significant changes were also made in the department’s workflow. The spreadsheet in question, which was prepared in the past, was created privately and without the knowledge of her supervisors.”

In its letter, the Movement for Quality Government stressed that “given the severity of the findings and the sensitive position held by Ms. Chaya Mashan—who is responsible for the placement of thousands of girls into post-primary institutions—there is a heightened obligation to immediately open disciplinary proceedings under the Civil Service Disciplinary Law and fully investigate all circumstances of the affair, including the extent of her personal responsibility for the failures uncovered.”

The group also noted that “although the affair was exposed already in July 2024, the municipality’s stance—according to which Ms. Mashan should be returned to her position—raises questions about the authority’s willingness to conduct a thorough review of the failures, learn lessons, and act accordingly.”

The organization requested that the attorney general act under Section 11 of the Civil Service Disciplinary Law and file a formal complaint with the disciplinary court.

{Matzav.com}

Treasury Sec. Scott Bessent disagrees with Elon Musk’s prediction that AI and tech advancements will mean work will become optional.

Eric Trump says if Zohran Mamdani tries to showboat, then Donald Trump wil showboat right back.

WATCH: NASA has launched a sounding rocket from Norway for a mission called GHOST.

The U.S. Coast Guard announced that the cutter USCGC Stone seized over 49,000 pounds of narcotics worth more than $362 million during operations in the Eastern Pacific. This offload marks the most amount of cocaine seized by a single Coast Guard vessel in one patrol.