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A significant and uplifting development for the kehilla in Ramat Hasharon unfolded Thursday, as the city’s election committee officially selected Rav Yitzchak Edelstein to serve as Rav Ha’ir, continuing the mesorah of his illustrious father, HaGaon Rav Yaakov Edelstein zt”l.

The decision was announced following the conclusion of the vote count by the official selection committee, where Rav Edelstein received a clear majority of 25 votes from the voting body, securing his appointment to the rabbanus of the city.

This appointment is part of a broader effort by the Ministry of Religious Services to establish permanent rabbinic leadership in cities across Eretz Yisroel, recognizing the critical importance of steady and rooted hanhaga ruchanis. For the residents of Ramat Hasharon, this marks a meaningful continuation after the petirah of Rav Yaakov Edelstein zt”l, who led the city with distinction for decades.

The election committee was chaired by the former Av Beis Din of Rechovos, HaGaon HaDayan Rav Nachum Gortler, with participation from Rav Mordechai Abramovsky, mara d’asra of Zichron Yaakov, along with additional committee members and representatives of the Ministry of Religious Services. The committee’s proceedings were coordinated by secretary Tzuriel Porat.

With the official tally completed, the committee confirmed that Rav Yitzchak Edelstein had been chosen to assume the role, and is expected to carry forward the legacy of Torah leadership established by his father.

Rav Yitzchak Edelstein, a resident of Ramat Hasharon, is the son of the city’s longtime rav, who served for over fifty years. A talmid of Yeshivas Ponovezh, he continued learning in the yeshiva’s kollel and later served as a maggid shiur in several yeshivos. He also led a kollel for hora’ah and halacha and is among the rabbanim of Yeshivas Torah B’Tifartah in Elad. He holds semichah from the Rabbanut HaRashit and has been meshamesh gedolei hador, from whom he acquired clarity in psak and hanhaga.

Former Minister of Religious Services MK Michael Malkieli commented on the appointment, praising the efforts that led to the outcome: “Thanks to the efforts of Shas chairman Aryeh Deri, the revolution in religious services continues in the Sharon region with the selection of Rav Edelstein, who was chosen to fill the place of his great father zt”l. The Shas movement will continue to lead in preserving the Jewish character of the state.”

Director-General of the Ministry of Religious Services Yehuda Avidan also expressed appreciation to the committee leadership and the mayor, Yitzchak Rochberger, and extended his bracha to the new rav: “Through an orderly process initiated by the outgoing Minister of Religious Services, MK Michael Malkieli, and coordinated with all relevant parties, we have merited to reach this moment. I believe that the Rav shlit”a will continue the tradition of his father, the great gaon Rav Yaakov Edelstein zt”l, in leading the city, strengthening its connection to the עולם התורה, and bringing accessible and welcoming Yiddishkeit to its residents. The appointment of a rav for Ramat Hasharon provides spiritual and communal stability and enables residents to benefit from clear and dedicated Torah leadership.”

Rudy Giuliani said he underwent a profound spiritual moment while seriously ill with pneumonia earlier this month, describing a vivid experience that occurred while he was unconscious and fighting for his life.

Speaking Wednesday during his return broadcast of “America’s Mayor Live!” following his hospitalization, the 81-year-old former New York City mayor recounted what he described as a deeply personal encounter involving his late friend and longtime associate, Peter J. Powers.

“I also had a very, very significant spiritual experience at a time in which I was in a state of like … out of it. I would equate it to a dream of my being on line headed for, I can’t say headed for heaven, headed for a trial by St. Peter,” Giuliani described.

He went on to explain that in this vision, Powers appeared to him in what he characterized as a meaningful and impactful moment.

“There was a very significant intervention by my Peter, I have my own Peter … Peter J. Powers, my friend of my lifetime,” he said.

According to Giuliani, the exchange left a lasting impression, prompting him to document it shortly after regaining consciousness. He said his son Andrew recorded part of his account while he was still recovering in a hospital bed in Florida.

“Peter said some very significant words, and I made sure, as soon as I woke up, I started telling people and recorded it in part,” he added, noting his son, Andrew, recorded his retelling of the dream by his bedside in Florida.

Giuliani indicated that he intends to share further details of the experience at a later time. He also said he consulted with a priest while still in the hospital, seeking guidance after what he described as the apparition.

“I don’t want to embellish it, and I don’t want to deny what was there,” he told viewers.

Powers, who had known Giuliani since their youth, played a central role throughout his career, serving as a trusted advisor, campaign manager, and deputy mayor. He passed away in 2016 at the age of 72 following complications from lung cancer.

The health emergency that led to Giuliani’s hospitalization began on May 3, when he was admitted in critical condition with viral pneumonia. The illness was believed to be connected to lingering respiratory issues stemming from exposure during the September 11, 2001 attacks.

Sources close to Giuliani later said he briefly fell into a coma during the ordeal, though his condition steadily improved afterward.

In a separate appearance Wednesday on “The Rudy Giuliani Show” on Lindell TV, Giuliani said he is now feeling significantly better and continuing to recover.

“It is very nice to be back … I’ve been away about a week and a few days. I had pneumonia, I was in the hospital. I’m going to tell you all about it, not all right away,” Giuliani said.

He described his recovery as ongoing but encouraging, noting that he has resumed physical activity.

“I’m in the middle of making a very, very full and complete recovery. Today, I did physical exercise, walked up and down stairs, and walked all around. I feel 100 percent, but I’m probably not,” he added.

Giuliani also spoke about the support he received during his hospitalization, singling out President Trump for staying in close contact throughout the episode.

“Of course, I have to thank the president, of whom I had a very good conversation after I got into the hospital,” Giuliani recalled.

His spokesman, Ted Goodman, said that Trump’s team remained in regular communication, checking frequently on Giuliani’s condition.

“He was just terrific,” the former mayor said of Trump. “He’s just a godsend to this country.”

{Matzav.com}

Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu announced Thursday that Israel plans to take legal action against The New York Times over what he described as a deeply offensive and misleading article accusing Israeli soldiers and military dogs of sexually abusing Palestinian detainees.

The decision follows the publication of a column by Nicholas Kristof in the newspaper, which alleged widespread sexual abuse of Palestinian prisoners by Israeli guards and soldiers.

“They defamed the soldiers of Israel and perpetuated a blood libel about rape, trying to create a false symmetry between the genocidal terrorists of Hamas and Israel’s valiant soldiers,” Netanyahu said as he vowed harsh legal action against the paper.

“Under my leadership, Israel will not be silent. We will fight these lies in the court of public opinion and in the court of law. Truth will prevail.”

Israel’s Foreign Ministry confirmed it is preparing a defamation lawsuit, calling the report “one of the most hideous and distorted lies ever published against the State of Israel in the modern press.”

The controversial piece, based on testimony from 14 former Palestinian detainees, claimed that sexual abuse was systematically embedded within Israeli military practices.

It also alleged that Israeli forces trained dogs to assault prisoners.

The article quickly spread online and triggered strong reactions, with critics — including some analysts and Jewish organizations — condemning it as anti-Jewish propaganda and labeling it a “blood libel.”

The timing of the report also drew attention, as it appeared one day before the release of findings from a two-year investigation into widespread sexual violence committed against Israeli civilians during Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack.

The New York Times stood by its reporter as criticism intensified.

“Nicholas Kristof is a two-time Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist who has reported on sexual violence for decades and is widely regarded as one of the world’s best on-the-ground reporters documenting and bearing witness to sexual abuse experienced by women and men in war and conflict zones,” a Times spokesperson said.

“He traveled to the region to report firsthand on the stories of the Palestinians who suffered abuse, and his article collects accounts in the victims’ own words, backed by independent studies.”

{Matzav.com}

In an effort to make the consequences of government shutdowns more tangible for elected officials, the Senate has unanimously approved a resolution that would suspend senators’ pay during any future funding lapses.

The measure, passed by the upper chamber without opposition, is designed to discourage shutdowns by ensuring lawmakers personally feel the financial impact that federal employees have endured multiple times in recent months.

Sen. John Kennedy of Louisiana, who championed the proposal, said the move represents a “shared sacrifice” following periods in which tens of thousands of government workers were left without pay during two shutdowns since last year.

“Last October, we shut down the government for 43 days. That is the longest shutdown in history. And we had FBI agents, national park rangers, CDC scientists, our staff here in Congress — nobody was getting paid,” Kennedy said on the Senate floor.

“And then, three months later, after we finally got out of that 43-day shutdown, we shut down the Department of Homeland Security. It was shut down for 76 days. This is all in one year,” he continued. “We ought to hide our heads in a bag. It’s got to stop.”

Those shutdowns had widespread effects, particularly for travelers, as Transportation Security Administration workers continued reporting to airports without pay during both extended funding gaps.

Under Kennedy’s plan, which applies solely to senators, the secretary of the Senate would be required to hold back lawmakers’ salaries while a shutdown is in effect. Instead of receiving their paychecks, the funds would be placed in escrow until an agreement is reached to reopen the government.

Once federal operations resume, those withheld wages would be released.

Currently, rank-and-file senators earn an annual salary of $174,000, while party leaders receive more than $193,000.

The resolution is one of several steps lawmakers have pursued in response to the recent shutdowns, either to make such standoffs politically painful or to prevent them altogether.

Sen. Ron Johnson of Wisconsin has introduced legislation, supported by federal labor unions, that would guarantee pay for government employees during shutdowns. Meanwhile, Sen. James Lankford of Oklahoma has proposed a bill that would avoid shutdowns entirely by automatically extending government funding in two-week increments.

For decades, shutting down the government was viewed as a last-resort option. However, recent events have suggested a shift, with Senate Democrats increasingly willing to use the tactic as a political weapon.

Even with the backing of Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York, Republicans remain skeptical that Democrats will refrain from triggering another shutdown ahead of the upcoming midterm elections.

Notably, the new resolution would not take effect until after the November election cycle, meaning lawmakers will not face the loss of pay during any shutdowns that occur before then.

{Matzav.com}

Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the United States is holding firmly to its established Taiwan policy, even as Washington works to maintain a delicate balance with China after recent discussions between President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Speaking in an interview with NBC News, Rubio noted that Xi once again made clear that Taiwan remains “the most important issue” in relations between the two nations, reflecting Beijing’s longstanding position on the matter.

Rubio pushed back by reiterating that the United States rejects any “forced change in the status quo,” cautioning that such an action would create serious instability not only between the two countries but across the global economy.

He emphasized that American policy toward Taiwan “has not changed,” pointing out that it has remained steady through multiple administrations.

Rubio also confirmed that Taiwan was part of the conversation during the meeting between the two leaders, though he indicated that China’s opposition to U.S. weapons sales to Taiwan “did not feature prominently” in those discussions.

“The issue of Taiwan is unchanged as of today and as of the meeting we had here today,” Rubio said, adding that Washington continues to support strategic stability and open communication with Beijing to avoid miscalculation and broader conflict.

According to Rubio, China continues to favor a peaceful political reunification with Taiwan, but he warned that any effort to achieve that goal through military force “would be a terrible mistake” with far-reaching consequences around the world.

He also drew attention to the rapid pace of China’s military development, describing the expansion of its armed forces over the past decade as “without precedent.”

Rubio said Beijing’s intentions appear to extend beyond Taiwan, with a broader effort underway to expand its influence globally in direct competition with the United States.

His remarks highlight the ongoing challenge facing U.S. policymakers as they attempt to manage a complex and sensitive relationship with China.

The United States continues to follow the “One China” policy, formally recognizing Beijing as the government of China while maintaining unofficial ties with Taiwan.

At the same time, under the Taiwan Relations Act, Washington remains committed to supporting Taiwan’s ability to defend itself.

This approach, commonly known as “strategic ambiguity,” is intended to discourage both a Chinese military move against Taiwan and any formal declaration of independence by Taipei, while also preventing a direct military clash between the two global powers.

As China increases its military activity in the Indo-Pacific region and steps up pressure on Taiwan through drills and naval operations, U.S. officials are working to reassure allies, strengthen Taiwan’s defenses, and maintain economic engagement with Beijing without escalating tensions further.

{Matzav.com}

Israeli security forces thwarted a suspected terror plot targeting Yom Yerushalayim events on Thursday, arresting a wanted individual in the Abu Tor neighborhood of eastern Yerushalayim following precise intelligence provided by the Shin Bet.

According to authorities, the suspect had allegedly been planning to carry out an attack during the celebrations. Acting on the intelligence, undercover Border Police units from the Yerushalayim district were deployed to locate and apprehend him.

After receiving the tip, the specialized undercover force was sent to Abu Tor, where they conducted focused operational activity that led them to the suspect’s location inside a car wash complex.

The officers, operating covertly, entered the area, identified the individual, and carried out the arrest without any injuries. The suspect was then transferred to the Shin Bet for further interrogation.

Police emphasized the importance of coordination between security agencies in preventing such threats.

“Joint operations between the Border Police undercover units and the Shin Bet continue to be a significant factor in thwarting terrorism and safeguarding the citizens of the State of Israel, and security forces will continue to act decisively against any threat.”

NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani is facing criticism after details of his proposed city budget revealed plans to reduce funding for veterans services and eliminate support for certain events, including a planned ticker-tape parade honoring former service members.

Under the proposal unveiled Tuesday, the Department of Veterans Services would see its budget decrease from approximately $7.6 million in the fiscal 2026 adopted budget to about $6.6 million for 2027, representing a drop of more than 13%, according to city data.

Osbert Orduna, a service-disabled Marine Corps veteran, strongly condemned the proposed reductions, describing them as dismissive of those who have served.

“It’s a slap in the face to veterans, to New Yorkers and more specifically to service-disabled veterans — people who have sacrificed their minds and their bodies in service to our nation and live in the city,” Orduna said.

City Council Member Frank Morano, who heads the council’s Committee on Veterans, said he intends to press for answers about the specifics of the cuts and how the funds would be reallocated.

The mayor’s proposal also includes reducing funding for veterans-related events by $60,000 annually from fiscal 2026 through 2030. City officials indicated they plan to turn to private donations to cover the cost of such ceremonies going forward.

Orduna emphasized the importance of these gatherings, saying they serve as a critical support system for veterans across generations.

“Veterans from across every generation — from World War II to the present — the one time that we can all come together, build our community and support one another is at these functions,” Orduna said.

“Many lives have been saved by veterans just coming together and finding comfort in one another, and connecting so that we don’t lose another veteran life — so another veteran does not add the word ‘homeless’ to the title of veteran,” he added.

Among the proposed changes is the cancellation of a “Homecoming of Heroes” ticker-tape parade that had been planned around the anniversary of Sept. 11. In its place, the administration is considering a lower-cost “Remembrance Ruck” march developed in coordination with veterans’ organizations, according to a spokesperson.

Ryan Graham, a former U.S. Air Force serviceman who now chairs the New York City Veterans Advisory Board and is aligned with Mamdani, downplayed the importance of such events, calling them unnecessary.

“Events are fluff. That’s it, plain and simple,” Graham said, adding that he would rather see city money be put towards the Department of Veterans Services to help veterans with housing, mental health and food insecurity needs.

“I don’t want to see another Kyle or any other veterans take their lives because those services were not there,” Graham said referring to his high school buddy who served in the military and later committed suicide.

Within the department’s budget itself, the administration is proposing to eliminate a $585,000 line for “Other Expenses – General,” sharply reduce funding for “Temporary Services” from $441,000 to $15,000, and cut roughly $57,000 allocated for supplies and materials.

Former Queens Council Member Bob Holden, who previously chaired the council’s veterans committee, blasted the proposal, accusing the city of shortchanging those who served.

“Replacing a ticker-tape parade with a cheaper event and then planning these so-called ‘savings’ for years ahead is insulting to the men and women who served this country and sacrificed for New York City,” Holden said. “The city has no problem wasting billions of dollars, but suddenly when it comes to honoring our veterans and 9/11 heroes, they want to pinch pennies.”

A spokesperson for the mayor defended the plan, arguing that the proposed changes would not impact core services provided to veterans.

The City Council will ultimately decide whether to approve Mamdani’s budget proposal.

Morano said that even before the proposed reductions, funding for veterans services remained insufficient.

“I’d love to see veterans become a much bigger priority for lawmakers at every level of government, not just during commemorative moments, but year round,” he said.

{Matzav.com}

Secretary of State Marco Rubio traveled to Beijing this week alongside President Donald Trump, even though he had previously been sanctioned by China — a development made possible after Chinese officials quietly modified how his name is written in official records.

According to a report published Thursday by The Washington Post, the change involved only a slight adjustment in the Chinese characters used to represent Rubio’s name, but carried meaningful diplomatic implications.

Experts said the revised version of Rubio’s name began appearing in Chinese government usage soon after Trump selected him as secretary of state in 2025.

Rubio, who also holds the role of national security adviser, has spent years as a sharp critic of China’s communist leadership.

He frequently spoke out against Beijing’s actions in Hong Kong, its policies toward Uyghurs in Xinjiang, and other human rights concerns, positions that prompted Chinese authorities to impose sanctions on him.

During his confirmation hearing in the Senate, Rubio described China as the “most potent and dangerous” challenge facing the United States.

Since stepping into his current position, Rubio has backed Trump’s push to manage tensions and maintain stability in relations with Chinese President Xi Jinping, even as disagreements persist over trade, military posture, and economic rivalry.

On Thursday, Rubio stood with Trump at an official reception ceremony hosted by Xi at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.

Positioned at the front of the U.S. delegation, Rubio greeted Xi with a handshake, while Chinese state outlets displayed the updated Chinese spelling of his name on formal signage and documents.

Observers in China told The Washington Post that Beijing now sees Rubio as taking a more measured and cooperative tone compared to his earlier years in the Senate.

Speaking this week, Rubio described China as both “our top political challenge geopolitically” and “the most important relationship for us to manage.”

Still, analysts noted that the shift in how his name is rendered may reflect lingering friction beneath the surface.

Chinese versions of foreign names are based on phonetic approximations, and different characters can sound alike while conveying very different meanings.

Specialists pointed out that the earlier version of Rubio’s name used a more neutral character commonly found in surnames, whereas the new version may carry connotations suggesting impulsiveness or rough behavior.

Under the previous spelling, Rubio remained directly linked to the sanctions imposed on him by China in 2020 during his time in the Senate. The altered spelling, however, appears to have given Chinese officials a way to sidestep formally removing those sanctions while still allowing him entry into the country for high-level meetings.

“China is giving itself a way out of the awkward situation,” former Chinese diplomat Zhang Jiadong said. “We can’t cancel the sanctions because they were announced for a reason, but banning a secretary of state from entry could further damage bilateral ties.”

In response to earlier questions about the name adjustment, a spokeswoman for China’s foreign ministry said Rubio’s English name remained “more important.”

Chinese officials have previously maintained that the sanctions applied to Rubio’s conduct and statements during his time as a senator, drawing a distinction between that role and his current position as secretary of state.

Zhao Minghao, deputy director of the Center for American Studies at Fudan University in Shanghai, said granting Rubio a visa effectively indicated that the sanctions are no longer being actively enforced.

Zhao said Beijing now views Rubio as a “new and friendlier” figure compared to his earlier image in Washington.

Chinese President Xi Jinping opened his meeting with President Donald Trump in Beijing by invoking concerns about a potential future conflict between the United States and China, framing the moment as a critical test for relations between the two global powers.

During his opening remarks inside the Great Hall of the People, Xi pointed to the concept known as the Thucydides trap, which describes the dangers that arise when a rising power challenges an established one.

“The whole world is watching our meeting,” Xi began inside Beijing’s Great Hall of the People, with Trump seated across the table.

He went on to describe a rapidly shifting global landscape and warned of instability shaping international affairs.

“Currently, transformation not seen in a century is accelerating across the globe, and the international situation is fluid and turbulent,” he continued, according to one translation of his remarks. “The world has come to a new crossroads.

“Can China and the United States overcome the Thucydides trap and create a new paradigm of major country relations? Can we meet global challenges together and provide more stability for the world? Can we, in the interest of the well-being of our two peoples and the future of humanity, build a brighter future together for our bilateral relations?”

Xi has referenced the Thucydides trap for years, a theory popularized by Harvard professor Graham Allison and rooted in the writings of the ancient Greek historian Thucydides, who described how Athens’ rise led Sparta to view war as unavoidable.

He characterized the issues facing Washington and Beijing as “questions vital to history” and to “the world and to the people.”

President Trump, speaking after Xi, did not directly engage with those warnings but struck an optimistic tone about future ties between the two nations.

“The relationship between China and the USA is going to be better than ever before.”

“It’s an honor to be with you. It’s an honor to be your friend,” Trump said.

“I really look very much forward to our discussion,” he added. “It’s a big discussion. There are those that say, this is maybe the biggest summit ever.”

The meeting between the two delegations lasted roughly two hours inside the Great Hall.

Despite Xi’s pointed framing, some analysts suggested his message was less about confrontation and more about reassurance.

“What Xi Jinping said in that speech is that we can transcend the Thucydides trap,” Sky News Asia correspondent Helen-Ann Smith said. “So what he’s saying is that, you know, ‘We are an upcoming power and you should not be threatened by us.’

“That’s his key message.”

Ahead of the summit, Secretary of State Marco Rubio addressed China’s long-term ambitions, making clear that Washington would not accept a scenario in which Beijing’s rise comes at America’s expense.

“They believe they will be the world’s most powerful country, they’ll surpass the United States, and they have a plan to do it, and they’re executing on that plan, and I don’t blame them,” Rubio said in an interview with Fox News’ “Hannity.”

Rubio emphasized that while the administration is not seeking to limit China’s growth, it will resist any effort that undermines U.S. strength.

“Their rise cannot come at our fall. So there’s an area where we’re just going to have a difference of opinion,” Rubio said.

“That’ll come up on this trip,” the top US diplomat added, “but more importantly, that’ll be a feature of this relationship for a long time.”

As political tensions rise and the possibility of early elections grows, members of the Israeli coalition are advancing a new bill aimed at tightening enforcement against mosque loudspeaker noise, including steep financial penalties and the confiscation of sound equipment.

The proposal, being led by National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir together with Knesset National Security Committee Chairman MK Tzvika Fogel, is expected to come before the Ministerial Committee for Legislation as early as next week.

Under the proposed legislation, mosques would be prohibited from installing or operating loudspeaker systems without obtaining explicit authorization. Approval would only be granted after authorities examine several factors, including noise levels, the mosque’s location, proximity to residential neighborhoods, the impact on nearby residents, and efforts to reduce disturbances.

The bill would also grant police expanded enforcement powers. According to the proposal, officers would be authorized to order the immediate shutdown of loudspeaker systems found to be operating in violation of the law. If the violation continues, police could confiscate the equipment on the spot.

The legislation includes substantial financial penalties as well. A fine of 50,000 shekels would be imposed for operating or installing a loudspeaker system without a permit, while an additional 10,000-shekel fine could be levied for violating permit conditions. Funds collected through the fines would reportedly be transferred to a designated public forfeiture fund.

The explanatory notes attached to the bill describe excessive noise as a public health hazard and argue that previous enforcement campaigns lacked sufficient legal tools to deal effectively with the issue.

Unlike earlier versions of the so-called “muezzin law,” which focused primarily on limiting hours of operation, the current proposal establishes a full licensing and regulatory framework, expands police authority, and places direct legal responsibility on operators.

National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir said, “In many places, the noise of the muezzin is unreasonable noise that harms residents’ quality of life and health. This is a phenomenon that cannot be accepted.”

MK Tzvika Fogel added, “The muezzin at excessive volumes is not a religious issue — it is harm to public health and quality of life.”

Despite the renewed push, coalition officials acknowledged that the bill’s future remains uncertain following Wednesday’s move by Coalition Chairman Ofir Katz and coalition faction leaders to submit legislation seeking to dissolve the 25th Knesset.

If the political crisis leads to elections, many pending bills — including this proposal — may never reach a final vote because of the coalition’s fragile parliamentary position.

The legislation also faces another obstacle: potential opposition from the chareidi parties.

Previous efforts to advance similar legislation were blocked after the chareidi factions imposed a veto as part of longstanding understandings with Arab parties not to interfere in religious matters.

However, following the refusal of Arab lawmakers to assist the chareidi parties by abstaining on the draft law in order to secure its passage, some political observers believe chareidi MKs could retaliate by backing Ben Gvir’s proposal.

Still, coalition insiders said the chances of that remain relatively low, as the chareidi parties are believed to prefer keeping channels open with Arab lawmakers for future political cooperation.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump used a formal dinner in Beijing on Thursday to invite Chinese President Xi Jinping to visit Washington later this year, underscoring ongoing diplomatic engagement between the two nations.

“Thank you again, President Xi, for this beautiful welcome, and tonight, it is my honor to extend an invitation to you, Madam Peng, to visit us at the White House this Sept. 24, and we look forward to it,” Trump said, speaking at a state banquet.

Xi, in his remarks at the event, highlighted the central role of relations between the United States and China, stressing the need to preserve stability between the two global powers.

“We both believe that the U.S.-China relationship is the most important bilateral relationship in the world. We must make it work and not mess it up,” the Chinese leader said.

The trip marked Trump’s first time in China in nearly a decade. His most recent meeting with Xi took place in October 2025 during a visit to South Korea.

The invitation followed an extended bilateral session in Beijing, where the two leaders met for over two hours earlier in the day.

According to a White House summary, the discussions covered economic cooperation and trade, as well as geopolitical issues including the Iran conflict and developments in the Strait of Hormuz.

Chinese officials, for their part, indicated that Xi raised concerns with Trump regarding U.S. policy toward Taiwan, the self-governing island that remains a point of tension between the two countries.

Shas chairman Aryeh Deri declared publicly for the first time that his party will not enter a coalition government unless the status of Torah learners is fully secured, according to remarks featured Thursday on the front page of the Shas-affiliated newspaper Haderech.

The statement appeared alongside a sharply worded column warning of what the paper described as the potential consequences of a future left-wing government in Israel.

In the report published Thursday morning, Deri was quoted as saying that Shas would not join a coalition or government “without a full arrangement regarding the status of Torah learners.” At the same time, messages emerging from the newspaper and from figures close to the party indicated that Shas continues to align itself with the right-wing bloc, even if it is not formally declaring that position at this stage.

Despite the cautious political messaging, Shas officials have avoided explicitly defining the party on paper as belonging to any specific bloc. Nevertheless, individuals close to Deri — including columnist Ushi Medina — warned against the possibility of a left-wing coalition taking power. According to those figures, such a political shift could lead to sweeping changes in Israel’s policies on legal, religious, and social matters.

A column published in the newspaper offered a stark assessment, arguing that a future left-wing government could move aggressively on judicial reforms and senior government appointments while also pursuing major changes in matters of religion and state.

The article specifically pointed to potential changes involving Shabbos observance in the public sphere, conversion policy, religious services, and the standing of rabbinic institutions. It warned that such developments could weaken the position of the chareidi public and the institutions of the Torah world, while fundamentally reshaping the character of public life in Israel.

[COMMUNICATED]

by Rabbi Eliezer Sandler

The concept of the Yissachar-Zevulun Torah Learning Pact goes back well over 3,500 years, to the time of Yaakov Avinu and his sons. It is named for the Torah pact between two of his sons – Yissachar the scholar and Zevulun the merchant. Not only was it an equal pact but, Chazal explained, the deed of Zevulun/the Sponsor is considered even greater than that of Yissachar, because without the support of Zevulun, Yissachar would not have had the wherewithal to study Torah undisturbed.”

It is well-known that when it comes to learning Torah, people who sponsor the learning, often do so, not just as a donation. By financially supporting specific Torah scholars, they enter into a binding, written, signed and sealed learning partnership pact whereby the Sponsor (the Zevulun) is deemed by Halacha as if he personally studied the Torah completed by the Scholar (the Yissachar). (See below.) 

Thus, those who support the Talmidei Chachomim at Shas Yiden via a Yissachar-Zevulun Pact merit a portion in every daf of the entire Talmud Bavli and associated texts that they study, and complete the entire cycle in the space of ONE year. Some of the Sponsors opt to continue sponsoring repeat cycles of Shas which accrue to them.

Sar Hatorah, Maran Hagaon Harav Chaim Kanievsky, zt”l, Nasi Shas Yiden, emphasized: The most mehudar Yissachar-Zevulun pact to support in our times is that offered by Shas Yiden – it comprises the entire Shas, Rashi and Tosfos – all in just one year!

Rav Chaim explained why this pact with Shas Yiden is the most mehudar. Chazal say that the highest level of learning is when one understands what he is learning b’iyun u’ve’amkus. However, even higher than that is when one remembers b’al peh all what he has learned. I have farhered the Shas Yiden avreichim geonim many times and can attest ZEI KENNEN SHAS (they know Shas)!

YES! YOU CAN MAKE

The Yissachar-Zevulun Pact in Halacha

The Shulchan Aruch in Yoreh De’ah Chapter 246 regarding the efficacy of the Yissachar-Zevulun Sponsorship Pact for the Zevulun (the Sponsor) states clearly:  It is deemed as if he (the one sponsoring the learning) himself learned all the Torah studied under the pact. 

All the learning under the Shas Yiden Yissachar-Zevulun Pact is yours בעוה”ז ובעוה”ב (in both This World and the World to Come)! Concerning this, the Netziv of Volozhin comments that in Olam Habah, the Zevulun sponsor will sit together with the Gedolei Torah of the past and merit to participate in their discussions and pilpulim on all the Torah learned.

Achieve Almost 7 million Mitzvos in One Year

The Vilna Gaon in Shnos Eliyahu Pe’ah 41 states that one should hold precious every word of Torah that he learns because each word is considered a mitzvah of its own. 

Thus, since in Talmud Bavli, Rashi and Tosfos there are 6,608,891 words, that translates into almost 7 million mitzvos accruing through Yissachar-Zevulun at Shas Yiden. 

Official Shtar from Shas Yiden

Each Yissachar-Zevulun pact is confirmed by an official contract (shtar) from Shas Yiden specifying the learning of the entire Shas, and is witnessed by talmidei chachomim.

All who wish to enter into a Yissachar-Zevulun Pact for the entire Shas during ONE year should contact Shas Yiden to make arrangements: 718-702-1528.

The opportunity to complete the entire Shas has been a cherished way to honor family members and others as a prized achievement. It has also proven to be a source of comfort for mourners to obtain such a zechus for their dear ones during the year of mourning – a siyum of the entire Shas can be completed on the yahrzeit!

Yissachar-Zevulun Pact –

The legendary visionary and “Father of Yeshivos”, Reb Chaim of Volozhin, was the founder of the famous yeshiva in the town of Volozhin and the beloved talmid of the Vilna Gaon. 

Reb Chaim had an ongoing Yissachar-Zevulun pact with a local shoemaker – a man who was not learned but who dearly valued Torah learning. They had a ‘deal’ whereby the shoemaker would pay the monthly financial support needed for Reb Chaim and his family. For this financial support, the shoemaker would have an equal share in all Reb Chaim’s daily Torah study – both in the mitzvah of Torah study בעוה”ז and that the knowledge of the Torah learned would continue to be his בעוה”ב (in the World to Come).

One day the shoemaker passed away suddenly. During the shiva period, Reb Chaim was facing a perplexing halachic question and researched high and low for a solution. That night the shoemaker appeared to him in a dream and gave him the full solution that he sought. Reb Chaim was amazed and commented, “Azoi gich, Azoi Gich – So quickly, so quickly has he acquired the zchus and knowledge of the Torah that I have studied!”

In the words of Gedolei Torah:

Maran Hagaon Harav Chaim Kanievsky, zt”l, Nasi Shas Yiden:

“In just ONE year, through Yissachar-Zevulun at Shas Yiden, you can be zoche to the entire Shas forever – בעוה”ז ובעוה”ב (in olam hazeh and olam habah).

“Moreover, whoever supports Shas Yiden is zocheh to fulfill both Yissachar-Zevulun and support of aniyei (the poor of) Eretz Yisroel in the fullest sense of the word.

“Those who support Shas Yiden will be saved from chevlei (the travails of) Moshiach – spiritually and materially, and will be zoche to have ehrlicher bonim u’vanos yir’eishomayim ”

Maran Hagaon Harav Dov Lando, shlit”a, Rosh Yeshiva, Slabodka:

“Who compares to the Shas Yiden? Incredible talmidei chachomim geonim who raised the bar in limud Hashas b’iyun u’v’amkus. Blessed are those who enter a Yissachar-Zevulun pact with them.”

Hamashpia Hagadol Reb Meilech Biederman, shlit”a:

 “Yissachar-Zevulun at Shas Yiden – best possible deal, and in just 1 year! 100% partnership! 100% Shas x 5 times! 100% Shisha Sidrei Mishna – בעוה”ז ובעוה”ב”

Sanzer Rebbe, shlit”a:

“A first in 2000 years of Jewish history! Until Shas Yiden, never a Torah institution where ALL the avreichim metzuyonim v’geonim know the entire Shas by heart”

Harav Yaakov Hillel, shlit”a:

“Therefore, the great mitzvah to support the efforts [of the Talmidei Chachomim] with generous donations in order that they should continue diligently with their studies to enhance the greatness of the Torah and its glory. 

ShasYiden.com

The respiratory virus that caused a deadly outbreak on a cruise ship is showing no sign of mutating to become more contagious, even though more cases among former passengers may arise in coming weeks, said experts from the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control.

The hantavirus’s genome has been sequenced and it’s similar to the one that caused outbreaks in South America in the past, said Andreas Hoefer, the center’s expert on microbiology and molecular epidemiology. That’s likely where the first passenger was infected before getting on the Hondius expedition vessel and spreading the pathogen, according to the EU’s public health agency.

“At the moment there is no data to suggest this virus is behaving any differently in transmissibility or severity,” Hoefer said Wednesday at a briefing. “All sequences to date are virtually identical.”

Passengers were repatriated to their home countries earlier this week under a patchwork of measures that reflect uncertainty over how the Andes strain of hantavirus spreads. Health officials stress that the risk to the broader public remains low, but exactly how contagious the virus is and whether people are infectious before developing symptoms remains unclear.

An ECDC expert who joined the ship in Cape Verde found that distancing and other precautions were already in place on board but that passengers had had the kind of “close, prolonged contact” that could lead to infection, said Gianfranco Spiteri, who heads the agency’s global epidemic intelligence and health security operations.

Asked whether patients might be contagious before they develop symptoms, Spiteri said the virus could be found in the blood of patients two days earlier. That means “there might be some risk” of an earlier transmission, he said, leading the agency to recommend that contact tracing include people who were exposed to an infected person two days before their symptoms began.

The ECDC, along with the World Health Organization, is working to trace contacts and monitor passengers across many countries as they assess how the virus spread on board and whether additional infections occur.

Italy on Wednesday said that a 25-year-old man who was placed in isolation had tested negative for hantavirus, easing concerns about transmission on a flight that briefly hosted an infected Dutch woman.

A former Hondius passenger in France is still in intensive care. She has been receiving life support using an artificial lung, a procedure known as extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, according to Xavier Lescure, an infectious-disease doctor at Bichat hospital, where she is being treated.

(c) 2026, Bloomberg · Marthe Fourcade 

The July 4 celebration on the National Mall has been given the highest-level security designation, an unusual step for Independence Day that will unlock the full weight of local and federal law enforcement resources.

The move, disclosed at a news briefing Wednesday by D.C. Deputy Mayor for Public Safety and Justice Lindsey Appiah, will flood Washington with law enforcement personnel and equipment around the series of events planned by the Trump administration and affiliated groups to mark America’s 250th birthday.

The National Special Security Event (NSSE) designation, made by the Department of Homeland Security, is typically given to events deemed potential targets for terrorism or other criminal activity, such as the State of the Union address, presidential inaugurations or visits by world leaders.

Appiah announced the designation at a briefing with local and federal law enforcement officials on the security and safety planning for a wide range of events in the District over the coming months.

“This summer, our collective goal is to make sure people in our city stay informed, have fun and stay safe,” Appiah said. “Through strong coordination with our local and federal partners, we are making sure the District is ready for America’s 250th anniversary and the many events that will bring residents and visitors together in the months ahead.”

The NSSE designation typically puts the Secret Service in charge of coordinating all security.

“The decision is based, in part, on the event’s significance, size and attendees,” a Secret Service spokesperson said in an email. “Designating an event an NSSE allows for considerable resources from the federal government, as well as vital assistance from state and local partners, to be used to force multiply all available security resources.”

The spokesperson said increased security measures will be in place in the days leading up to, during and immediately following the event. The planning process is ongoing and specific steps will be released closer to the event.

While security and a broad law enforcement presence are normal for July 4 events in Washington, an NSSE designation for the celebration is highly unusual according to two law enforcement officials familiar with public safety protocols, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly. The Secret Service spokesperson confirmed that this is the first time the July 4 celebration on the Mall has been designated an NSSE.

In the aftermath of last month’s shooting at the White House correspondent’s dinner, DHS is facing scrutiny for not designating that gathering as an NSSE. President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance and House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) were all in attendance at the dinner.

The alleged gunman, 31-year-old Cole Tomas Allen, wrote a statement saying he wanted to target members of the Trump administration and ridiculed what he called lax security at the hotel.

Trump and other administration officials are expected to attend this year’s July 4 events in Washington.

Appiah said that the District has ongoing communication and coordination with federal partners, including DHS, that monitor intelligence to determine security procedures.

“We recognize there’s been a lot that’s gone on in the past year in the District. We recognize that these events are occurring within a specific, context of national and global events,” she said. “And so that has certainly informed our communications, our intelligence monitoring, our cooperation with task force and otherwise.”

(c) 2026, The Washington Post · Joe Heim, Emily Davies

A dispute involving the CIA, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, and congressional lawmakers intensified Wednesday after reports surfaced claiming intelligence files connected to the assassination of President John F. Kennedy and the MKUltra program had been removed before they could be declassified, Breitbart reports.

The controversy erupted after Fox News host Jesse Watters said a whistleblower alleged that Gabbard’s office had effectively been “raided” while she was giving a deposition earlier in the day. Watters also claimed that Rep. Anna Paulina Luna had verified the account.

Gabbard’s office quickly pushed back on those reports.

“This is false,” said Olivia Coleman, a spokeswoman for Gabbard, responding to social media claims that the CIA “JUST RAIDED TULSI GABBARD’S OFFICE.”

“This is false – the CIA did not raid the DNI’s office,” Coleman wrote in a post.

Despite denying that any raid occurred, Luna later demanded that the documents be returned and warned of possible congressional action if they were not handed back promptly.

“The CIA has 24 hours to return the documents to Tulsi Gabbard’s office or else I will make a motion to issue a subpoena,” Luna wrote. “These documents have been requested by Congress.”

Rep. Lauren Boebert publicly backed Luna’s demand.

“Cosign!” Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-CO) wrote in a post on X in response to Luna’s post. “I also want the names of who ordered this action and who signed off on this crap!!”

According to the Daily Caller, two intelligence officials confirmed that the CIA had taken possession of the files in question.

NewsNation correspondent Katie Pavlich later reported that the incident did not occur Wednesday and that it was not an actual raid on Gabbard’s office.

“an intelligence official” told her that the “documents were not taken today and it was not a raid on DNI Gabbard’s office.”

Pavlich added further details in a social media post, stating that the documents had allegedly been removed much earlier during the federal government shutdown.

“People from the CIA took documents (related to the JFK assassination/MKUltra) from the National Reconnaissance Office last year in the middle of the night during the government shutdown,” Pavlich continued, adding that the files had reportedly still not been returned.

Luna later issued her own clarification, acknowledging that the incident did not happen recently and should not be described as a raid, while maintaining that the documents were improperly removed.

“Clarification,” Luna wrote in another post on X. “Took documents that ODNI has jurisdiction over. Also, this did not happen today & was not a ‘raid’ however it did take place and we are just being made aware of it based on reporting etc.”

{Matzav.com}

[Video below.] Rudy Giuliani returned to the airwaves Wednesday night for the first time since being hospitalized earlier this month with viral pneumonia that reportedly left him in critical condition.

The 81-year-old former New York City mayor resumed hosting “The Rudy Giuliani Show,” opening the broadcast by telling listeners that his health had improved, although he acknowledged he is still recovering from the illness.

Giuliani had been hospitalized in Palm Beach, Florida, in early May, where reports indicated he was placed on a ventilator while doctors treated him for severe complications related to pneumonia.

News of his condition prompted widespread messages of support from political figures across the country and from both sides of the political aisle.

“I have to thank everyone who sent me prayers and good will,” he said. He specifically mentioned his gratitude to his family, the medical staff that tended to him and U.S. President Donald Trump, who Giuliani said called him after he became sick.

“It feels good to be back,” Giuliani said before cutting to his first break.

The longtime Republican politician has faced other serious health setbacks in recent years. Last September, Giuliani was hospitalized after a car accident in New Hampshire left him with a fractured vertebra and additional injuries.

Giuliani served two terms as mayor of New York City, with his leadership during the September 11 terrorist attacks in 2001 bringing him national prominence. After leaving City Hall, he launched an unsuccessful bid for the presidency in 2008 and later became a close adviser and personal attorney to President Trump.

WATCH:

{Matzav.com}

U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright warned senators Wednesday that Iran is rapidly approaching the ability to produce weapons-grade nuclear material, telling lawmakers the regime is now alarmingly close to a nuclear breakout.

Appearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee, Wright testified that Tehran is only weeks away from being able to enrich enough uranium for a nuclear weapon, according to CNN.

Wright said Iran is nearing the point where it could refine one ton of its uranium reserves to weapons-grade purity. Although additional steps would still be needed to build a functioning warhead, he stressed that Iran has already made extraordinary progress in the enrichment process.

During questioning from Senator Richard Blumenthal, Wright outlined the current status of Iran’s uranium stockpile. He explained that weapons-grade uranium generally requires enrichment levels of roughly 90%, while Iran already possesses approximately 11 tons of uranium enriched at levels of 20% and 60%.

“Frighteningly close. They are weeks, a small number of weeks away to enrich that to weapons-grade uranium,” Wright told the committee, according to CNN. “There’s still a weaponization process that happens after that, but they’re quite close to constructing nuclear weapons.”

Wright described Iran’s large supply of uranium enriched to 20% as especially alarming because it means Iranian scientists have already overcome one of the major technical barriers involved in building a bomb.

The hearing also focused on broader U.S. policy goals as fighting in the region continues. Senator Blumenthal asked whether fully eliminating Iran’s uranium reserves would be necessary to neutralize the nuclear threat.

“I think that’s the wise strategy,” Wright responded. “Ultimately, the goal is to prevent future enrichment of uranium as well. Yes, to have a safe world, we need to end their nuclear program.”

President Donald Trump has repeatedly vowed that Iran will never be permitted to acquire nuclear weapons, and reiterated that position Tuesday before departing for China.

Speaking with reporters, Trump warned Tehran that it must accept American conditions for ending the conflict and resolving concerns surrounding its nuclear activities.

“They’ll either do the right thing, or we’ll finish the job,” Trump said, rejecting the idea that rising prices in the US pushed him to seek an end to the war.

“I don’t think about Americans’ financial situations. I don’t think about anybody. I think about one thing: we cannot let Iran have a nuclear weapon. That’s all,” the President clarified.

“The most important thing by far is Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon. Every American understands it. If the stock market goes up or down a little bit, the American people understand it.”

Trump added that the United States would ultimately prevail regardless of how the standoff is resolved.

Trump stressed that the US will “win it one way or the other. We’ll win it peacefully or otherwise. No matter how you cut it, we win.”

Referring to Iran’s response to a U.S. proposal that he dismissed Sunday as unacceptable, Trump accused Tehran of backtracking on previous understandings.

Commenting on the Iranian response to the US proposal, which he rejected as unacceptable on Sunday, Trump said that Iran agreed that they will never have nuclear weapons “and then that’s not what they sent to me. We don’t play games.”

“We have Iran very much under control. We are either gonna make a deal or they will be decimated,” he stressed.

{Matzav.com}

United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk called on Israel Wednesday to cancel newly approved legislation creating a special legal framework to prosecute terrorists involved in the Hamas-led October 7 massacre.

The measure, which passed the Knesset with support from 93 lawmakers, establishes a dedicated military tribunal system for trying those accused of participating in the October 7 attacks. Under the legislation, the harshest possible punishment is the death penalty.

Lawmakers also approved an additional provision introduced by MKs Simcha Rothman of the Religious Zionist Party and Yulia Malinovsky of Yisrael Beytenu that bars terrorists convicted under the new system from ever being released, including in future prisoner exchange agreements.

Turk argued that although those responsible for the October 7 atrocities must face justice, the structure created by the legislation does not satisfy international legal norms.

“There must be full accountability for these horrific attacks, but this cannot be achieved through trials that fall short of international standards,” Turk stated, as quoted by the AFP news agency. “This law must be overturned. This law will inevitably institutionalize one-sided justice and discrimination against Palestinians, which cannot be in anyone’s interest and runs counter to international human rights law.”

Israel’s delegation in Geneva strongly rejected Turk’s criticism.

In comments provided to AFP, Israel’s mission said the UN human rights office should devote its attention to formally classifying Hamas as a terrorist organization rather than attacking Israel’s efforts to prosecute those responsible for the massacre.

The mission urged the UN to “cease blaming Israel for seeking justice for victims.”

Israeli representatives explained that the decision to create a military court structure stemmed from the extraordinary scale of the October 7 crimes and the enormous amount of evidence connected to the attacks. Officials also stressed that the legislation does not break with existing legal principles.

“The law does not alter substantive criminal law, create new offences or penalties, establish retroactive criminal liability, or impose a mandatory death sentence”, the mission noted.

King Charles III declared Wednesday that the British government would move quickly to confront antisemitism, as Jewish communities across the United Kingdom continue to face a surge in attacks, threats, and acts of violence.

Speaking during the ceremonial opening of Parliament, the King announced, “My government will take urgent action to tackle antisemitism and ensure all communities feel safe.”

Jewish leaders in Britain welcomed the statement, calling it an acknowledgment of the worsening security situation facing the country’s Jewish population.

Adrian Cohen, Acting President of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, said in a statement, “We welcome the government’s expression of commitment to take steps to tackle antisemitism included in the King’s speech, which reflects the ongoing seriousness and urgency of the situation.”

Cohen also praised the government’s plans to strengthen legislation targeting hostile foreign actors and organizations linked to terrorism.

“We also welcome the confirmation that the government will introduce legislation to tackle the growing threat from foreign state entities and their proxies, in line with recommendations made by the Independent Reviewer of State Threats Legislation Jonathan Hall KC. We call on the government to enact these powers without further delay and use them as quickly as possible to proscribe Iranian-backed threats including the IRGC,” added Cohen.

He further stated, “We outlined other key priorities to tackle threats to our community in our recent joint document Protect, Prosecute, and Partner, and will continue to push for swift and decisive government action on all these priorities, including through legislation where needed.”

The King’s remarks came as antisemitic incidents continue climbing sharply throughout Britain, especially in London. Among the recent attacks was the stabbing of two Jewish men in the heavily Jewish neighborhood of Golders Green two weeks ago.

Following that assault, British authorities elevated the national terrorism threat level from “substantial” to “severe” for the first time in more than four years.

Police last week announced the arrest of a ninth suspect connected to a major arson attack targeting Jewish community ambulances in northwest London.

The investigation focuses on a March 23 incident in Golders Green in which four emergency vehicles operated by the Hatzolah volunteer medical organization were deliberately torched.

Counterterrorism investigators are also probing attempted arson attacks directed at two synagogues in North London, along with a Jewish-owned business.

In a separate case, authorities recently arrested a 19-year-old man in Portsmouth in connection with an attempted firebombing at Finchley Reform Synagogue. He was later released on bail pending further proceedings in July.

Last Thursday, police in London arrested another suspect accused of shouting antisemitic abuse and violent threats at Jewish passengers aboard a city bus, according to the Shomrim security organization.

Earlier this week, a 34-year-old man admitted in court to carrying out multiple violent attacks motivated by hatred against Jews in North London. The defendant, who lives in Hornchurch in East London, pleaded guilty Monday before Highbury Corner Magistrates’ Court to three separate religiously aggravated offenses.

A report issued last month by Israel’s Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism Ministry found that the United Kingdom recorded the highest per-capita rate of physical antisemitic assaults among countries with major Jewish populations in 2025, documenting 121 violent incidents.

Separate figures published this year by the Community Security Trust watchdog group showed that antisemitic incidents across Britain reached 3,700 cases in 2025, marking a slight increase from the previous year and the second-highest annual total ever recorded by the organization.

{Matzav.com}