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Israel’s High Court of Justice heard arguments Sunday in a petition demanding that Gaza residents be permitted to enter Israel for medical care, but the hearing quickly shifted focus when the justices sharply criticized materials submitted by the petitioners and ordered inflammatory allegations against the IDF removed from the case file. National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir attended the proceedings.

The petition, filed by Physicians for Human Rights-Israel, seeks to compel the government to allow patients from the Gaza Strip to receive treatment inside Israel.

During the hearing, Justice Alex Stein objected to one of the petitioners’ supporting documents, warning that it contained serious allegations directed at the IDF and the State of Israel.

“Withdraw the appendix, because it contains accusations and statements against the IDF and the State of Israel. If you do not remove it from the case file, there will be costs.”

Justice Yael Vilner likewise condemned the document, stating, “There is an accusation here against IDF soldiers that is without precedent,” before adding, “There is absolutely no justification for submitting a document that accuses IDF forces.” Following the court’s criticism, the petitioners agreed to withdraw the appendix.

Representing the state, government attorneys argued that Israel’s policy regarding Gaza patients fundamentally changed after the October 7 massacre. They explained that the Defense Minister now permits patients from Gaza to leave only for medical treatment in third countries rather than inside Israel.

The state told the court that 800 patients and accompanying family members exited Gaza through the Rafah Crossing in February, followed by 1,462 the next month and 1,820 in May, emphasizing that the current policy reflects ongoing security concerns.

Government lawyers also requested that the justices examine classified evidence in a closed, ex parte session. During the discussion, Justice Yechiel Kasher observed that the number of Gazans leaving for medical treatment today represents only about 10 percent of the volume seen before October 7.

Before entering the courtroom, Ben Gvir blasted both the legal challenge and the High Court itself.

Speaking to Arutz Sheva, he said, “It is simply outrageous that these people repeatedly exploit what is essentially their home field in the High Court. They know it’s home-field advantage-it’s like playing in the World Cup with the referee on only one side.”

Ben Gvir reiterated his call for sweeping judicial reform, declaring, “We’ve accomplished a great deal, but in the next elections I will demand full judicial reform.”

Attorney Yehuda Puah, chairman of the B’Tsalmo organization, also criticized the petition, arguing that organizations he believes support terrorism are attempting to force Israel to provide medical treatment to Gaza residents inside the country.

Puah said the state’s position remains that Gaza patients may travel through Israeli territory if another nation agrees to treat them, but that the petitioners are insisting specifically on treatment within Israel.

According to Puah, the justices indicated that exceptional humanitarian circumstances should have some form of review process. He quoted the court as saying, “There cannot be no mechanism; there cannot be no opening,” arguing that such a requirement would effectively create a pathway for Gaza residents to enter Israel.

Puah said he appeared at the hearing on behalf of 39 bereaved parents but was informed by Justice Vilner that he would not be allowed to address the court orally because the judges had already reviewed his written submission. He criticized the decision, saying the petitioners were permitted to argue their case in person while the bereaved families were denied the same opportunity.

According to Puah, the materials he submitted included publications that he says demonstrate the petitioners’ support for a terrorist organization, along with arguments that insufficient efforts had been made to locate third countries willing to accept Gaza patients. He also maintained that in previous cases, individuals who entered Israel for medical treatment later assisted Hamas by transferring information and materials, and argued that Israel should therefore avoid establishing any permanent framework allowing patients and their escorts to enter the country.

Puah concluded by emphasizing that Israel continues to permit patients to transit through its territory when another country is prepared to receive them, but opposes allowing Gaza residents to enter Israel itself for medical treatment.

{Matzav.com}

The following shiur, titled “Year Round Daylight Saving Time – The Ramifications for Orthodox Jews,” was delivered by Rav Dovid Heber, a native of St. Louis who learned in Telshe Yeshiva Chicago and Yeshivas Ner Yisroel, where he received semicha. Rav Heber is the rov of KAYTT in Baltimore and a Kashrus Administrator at Star-K. He is a Torah columnist for the Yated and the author of The Intriguing World of Jewish Time: Fascinating Zmanim and Calendar Calculations.

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{Matzav.com}

New York City parents will soon have an opportunity to enjoy a few child-free hours at no cost under a new pilot initiative unveiled by Mayor Zohran Mamdani. The city will provide free babysitting services for hundreds of families during a special four-hour event next month.

The new program, called “Parents’ Night Out,” is scheduled for Aug. 16 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. and will offer complimentary child care for as many as 500 children at recreation centers throughout the five boroughs.

Enrollment begins at 8 a.m. Monday and will be handled on a first-come, first-served basis until all available spots are filled.

Announcing the initiative, Mamdani said, “Every parent knows that a few hours to yourself can feel like a luxury. It shouldn’t be. That’s why we’re launching New York City’s first-ever Parents’ Night Out, so that parents can get a little time on their own to catch a movie, run errands or go on a date without worrying about who will take care of the kids – or how much it will cost.”

The program is available to families with children between the ages of 6 and 13. Participants will be supervised by staff at designated city recreation centers while parents take advantage of several hours on their own.

City officials said the initiative is intended to provide parents and caregivers with a much-needed break while offering children a safe environment with organized activities.

The Aug. 16 event will serve as a test run for the new program, with capacity capped at 500 children spread among participating recreation centers across New York City.

Officials are encouraging families to sign up promptly once registration opens, noting that the limited number of openings is expected to be claimed quickly.

The participating recreation centers are:

Brooklyn:
Shirley Chisholm Recreation Center
3105 Farragut Place, Brooklyn, NY 11210

Manhattan:
Highbridge Recreation Center
2301 Amsterdam Avenue, New York, NY 10033

Queens:
Al Oerter Recreation Center
131-40 Fowler Avenue, Flushing, NY 11355

Bronx:
Kwame Ture Recreation Center
1527 Jesup Avenue, Bronx, NY 10452

Staten Island:
Greenbelt Recreation Center
501 Brielle Avenue (across from Sea View Hospital)

Iran’s new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, is reportedly no longer inside Iran, according to an Israeli security source quoted by the Saudi news outlet al-Hadath, adding another layer of uncertainty surrounding the Islamic Republic’s leadership.

Khamenei assumed the role of supreme leader after his father was killed in the joint U.S.-Israeli strikes on February 28. Since taking power, he has not appeared in public and has communicated only through written statements.

According to the Israeli security source, those statements are not being written by Khamenei himself but instead are being prepared by Ahmad Vahidi, the newly appointed commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, along with other senior IRGC officials.

The source also described growing turmoil within Iran’s leadership, warning that “Iran’s internal divisions are deep and threaten the existence of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.”

The same Israeli source further claimed that Washington has made clear it does not want Israel to participate in military strikes against Iran, even if Tehran launches attacks against Israel.

President Donald Trump is expected to present the World Cup trophy to the champion following Sunday’s final between Argentina and Spain, but the White House is already celebrating what it sees as an even bigger triumph: the successful hosting of the largest World Cup ever staged.

Speaking Friday during a FIFA reception at Trump Tower in New York City, Trump said the tournament had transformed perceptions of the United States as a soccer nation.

“It turned out we were a soccer country, and I think it’s going to remain,” Trump said Friday at a FIFA reception at Trump Tower in New York City. “This has really brought the world together.”

For the administration, Sunday’s championship marks the conclusion of more than a year of intensive planning with co-hosts Canada and Mexico to stage the historic tournament. Throughout that process, White House officials worked through major logistical challenges while also navigating the administration’s strict immigration policies, which prevented fans from certain World Cup qualifying nations from entering the United States.

Before the tournament began, organizers also faced criticism from human rights organizations and complaints over expensive ticket prices. At various points, Trump floated the possibility of relocating matches away from cities that refused to cooperate with federal immigration enforcement, while disputes between FIFA and local governments over transportation costs added to the tensions surrounding the event.

Even as opening matches approached, the administration remained under international scrutiny because of several visa decisions, including denying entry to a Somali referee who had earned widespread praise for his officiating. Those concerns intensified after Trump launched military action against Iran, creating additional complications involving Iran’s national team, whose supporters and some staff members were barred from entering the United States and instead operated from neighboring Tijuana.

As the tournament unfolded, however, much of the controversy faded into the background. Online, countless visitors shared videos and stories celebrating American food, culture, and hospitality—from beer to ranch dressing—while many of the fears voiced before the event, including predictions of immigration enforcement activity around stadiums, never came to pass.

“One of the things that we talked about beforehand was, if we’re talking about what happened on the pitch, then we’ve done our job,” Andrew Giuliani, the executive director of the White House FIFA Task Force, said in an interview with The Associated Press. “But I think it’s even better than that. We’re not just talking about only the incredible, athletic feats on the pitch, but we’re talking about all these incredible, incredible cultural moments.”

Trump nevertheless became part of one of the tournament’s biggest controversies after personally contacting FIFA President Gianni Infantino earlier this month to discuss a disputed officiating decision involving Team USA’s match against Bosnia and Herzegovina. The referee had issued a red card to American forward Folarin Balogun, forcing him to miss the following game against Belgium.

According to Trump, he merely encouraged Infantino to review the decision. FIFA ultimately overturned the red card, and during Friday’s reception Trump praised the move, telling Infantino that “you made another great decision, if you think about it,” because it allowed the U.S. to keep a key player on the field even though the team lost the match to Belgium 4-1.

Giuliani defended the administration’s involvement, saying officials had a “duty” to seek answers about the officiating process, particularly because video review and slow-motion replay had been used in issuing the red card. He added that the federal government committed billions of dollars to help ensure the tournament was “not just a safe and secure event, not just where we welcomed the world, but an event that was filled with integrity.”

Successfully hosting the World Cup carries added significance for the United States because it will soon welcome two more major international sporting events: the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles and the 2034 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City.

The administration is also optimistic that the United States will receive hosting rights for the 2031 Women’s World Cup. Giuliani said one factor in pursuing that tournament is “ensuring that, in fact, women and only women will play in that 2031 Women’s World Cup,” reflecting the administration’s opposition to transgender women competing in women’s sports.

Sen. Andy Kim, D-N.J., who describes himself as a devoted World Cup fan and represents the state hosting Sunday’s championship match, acknowledged that while there were occasional transportation problems, the overall event has been overwhelmingly successful.

But “overall, just the joy that people have, the excitement that they have, has dramatically outweighed” any downsides, Kim said, who has been eagerly watching the games with his two young sons over the last several weeks.

The tournament also unfolded against a backdrop of strained relations among the three host nations. Since returning to office, Trump has imposed steep tariffs on both Canada and Mexico and has declined to renew the existing trilateral trade agreement, setting the stage for new negotiations.

On Friday, Trump even threatened tariffs against Canada over smoke from Canadian wildfires that has affected air quality in portions of the United States, including northern New Jersey, where the World Cup final will be played. He also joked that FIFA should award another World Cup to the United States and “this time, we’ll leave Mexico and Canada out.”

Despite those disagreements, both Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney are expected to attend Sunday’s championship at Trump’s invitation, underscoring the tournament’s ability to bridge political differences.

“I received an invitation from President Trump to attend the World Cup final on Sunday, and I decided to go because it’s a direct invitation from the President of the United States,” Sheinbaum said. “Prime Minister Carney will also be there.”

Following longstanding tradition, Trump will present the World Cup trophy to the winning team after the final. Although he has not publicly endorsed either side, the matchup carries political intrigue.

Spain has frequently clashed with the Trump administration over NATO defense spending and Madrid’s refusal to allow American forces to launch strikes against Iran from Spanish bases. By contrast, Argentine President Javier Milei is one of Trump’s closest international allies, with Trump previously threatening to cut U.S. assistance if Milei’s political coalition failed to win key legislative elections.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez is expected to attend the championship match, while Milei has opted to remain in Argentina, citing superstition.

{Matzav.com}

What began as a simple at-home DNA test has turned into a life-altering legal battle after two North Dakota men discovered they were accidentally switched at birth 38 years ago. Their families are now suing the hospital where they were born, claiming they were deprived of the lives—and families—they were meant to have.

The astonishing discovery began when Kyle Bylin received a home DNA test during a Christmas gift exchange and decided to take it on a whim. The results led him to a woman identified as his biological aunt through a genealogy website. That connection prompted her nephew, Jeremy Morrison, to submit his own DNA sample, and the findings left no room for doubt.

“That’s when my mind was just completely blown,” Bylin said. “We could have never imagined that it was an actual birth switch that occurred.”

Morrison said he immediately suspected the truth after seeing a photograph of Bylin’s brother, whose appearance closely resembled his own.

According to a lawsuit filed in North Dakota state court last week, Bylin and Morrison were the only two babies born on Jan. 26, 1988, at Unity Medical Center in Grafton. Yet, despite being born just hours apart, each infant was allegedly sent home with the other’s family.

Unity Medical Center has denied that there is evidence its employees were responsible for the mix-up.

However, Bylin—who says he was actually born as Jeremy Morrison—still possesses the hospital identification bracelet that incorrectly identified him as Kyle Bylin.

The search for answers has been complicated by the passage of time. Hospital officials say the relevant medical records have long since been destroyed, making it impossible to determine exactly how the switch occurred.

It has now been two years since the DNA results overturned everything both families believed about their identities. Since then, they have faced emotional reunions, difficult conversations, and painful questions about what their lives might have been.

“Kyle is still my son – that is never going to change,” Evelyn Newton, who raised him as her own, told The Associated Press in a phone interview Friday. “But I feel robbed of the life I should have had with my biological son. You can’t go back and replace 35 years. First steps, driving a car, getting married – how do you make up for that?”

While the hospital acknowledges that the babies were switched at some point, it maintains that no evidence has been found showing that hospital administrators or staff caused the mistake.

“We recognize the profound impact this discovery has had on them and their families,” Unity Medical’s statement says. “Unfortunately, because of the passage of nearly four decades, the medical and staffing records that might have provided additional clarity no longer exist, and no members of the delivery team from that time are still employed by the hospital.”

For Morrison, learning the truth has not changed how he views the parents who raised him, Elizabeth O’Toole and Terry Morrison. He continues to consider them his parents and says he looks back fondly on his upbringing despite the challenges, including his parents’ divorce when he was seven.

“I was loved. I played sports. I did well in school,” Morrison said. “A DNA test is not going to take away 38 years of memories.”

Today, Morrison lives in Colorado City, Colorado, where he works as a welding inspector for a wind energy company. He often wonders how different his life might have been had the switch never happened. He believes he likely would have remained in North Dakota, working alongside his biological father and brother on the family grain farm where Bylin grew up.

Evelyn Newton said she never suspected that Kyle was not her biological son. Although he had dark hair while the rest of the immediate family was fair-haired, there seemed to be a reasonable explanation. Her late husband had relatives with dark hair, and because Newton herself had been adopted, she had little knowledge of her own biological family’s traits.

For Bylin, the revelation has reshaped the way he thinks about the long-running debate over nature versus nurture. After leaving North Dakota to pursue an academic career, he often wondered why he seemed so different from the family with whom he had grown up.

“You’re just kind of shaking your fist, like, how can this be my family? How am I so different from them?” Bylin said. “It turns out that we’re just totally different people, period.”

Both men have since met their biological parents. They described the reunions as heartfelt but understandably awkward. Although they have not yet met one another in person, they have spoken by phone.

“We’ve tried to unite as a group and just recognize that no matter what, there’s different ways that this can be socially messy,” Bylin said. “Everyone’s getting to know people that they didn’t know before.”

Although such cases remain uncommon, the growing popularity of consumer DNA testing has led to a number of similar discoveries around the world. In 2024, two women sued the Norwegian government after learning they had been switched at birth. Two West Virginia men filed suit in 2020 after concluding they had been switched as infants in 1942. DNA testing in Pennsylvania revealed in 2018 that two girls had been switched approximately 75 years earlier, and in 2016 Canadian authorities launched an investigation after evidence showed two Indigenous men in northern Manitoba had been switched at birth in 1975.

Medical experts say mistakes of this kind are now extraordinarily unlikely because of modern technology.

Dr. Jonathan Marron, a pediatric oncologist who also teaches at Harvard Medical School’s Center for Bioethics, said such errors should happen “pretty close to never” today.

“As often as all clinicians, doctors, nurses, social workers, everybody else, gripe about the electronic health records,” the digital backstop is a clear benefit, Marron said.

Attorney Tim O’Keefe said he spent roughly a year attempting to negotiate a financial settlement with the hospital before filing a lawsuit alleging negligence, medical malpractice, and emotional distress. Meanwhile, both families continue trying to adjust to a reality they never expected.

“I know the truth now, but we’re still working to build relationships,” Morrison said. “I mean, it’s not like I can go back in time and rebuild what’s already lost. It’s a work in progress, just like me.”

{Matzav.com}