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A remarkable and deeply moving incident took place in Bnei Brak, offering a powerful glimpse into the refined character of Rav Yitzchok Zilberstein. What began as a routine trip home from his weekly shiur turned into a quiet but unforgettable lesson in gratitude.

On Monday evening, Rav Zilberstein was returning from his well-known shiur at the central shul in Ramat Elchanan when, at exactly 9:00 p.m., a siren sounded warning of incoming missiles from Iran. Traveling along Rechov Rav Kahaneman on his way home to Ramat Gan, he immediately began looking for the nearest protected area.

According to his driver, Reb Dovid Tzivyon, one of his close talmidim, the closest safe space was inside the well-known “HaTzvi” bakery across from the entrance to Ramat Elchanan. The car stopped right away, and Rav Zilberstein entered the bakery together with everyone else, acting like any ordinary person seeking safety.

As the siren continued, everyone moved into the reinforced shelter. Rav Zilberstein stood there for several long minutes, repeatedly reciting Tehillim in his familiar, moving tune.

Those who were present described the experience as deeply calming. Being in a shelter during a missile alert is naturally frightening, but standing together with such a towering figure brought a sense of calm and reassurance to everyone around.

Witnesses also noted that when someone offered him a chair, he firmly refused, pointing instead to women standing nearby with their children and indicating that they should sit first. He remained standing the entire time.

Once the all-clear was given, Rav Zilberstein stepped outside, quickly surrounded by people eager to receive a brachah or a few words—something that usually requires scheduling and waiting.

Then, unexpectedly, he paused, turned around, and went back into the bakery. He asked his driver to take a few baked goods so he could pay for them. When asked if he needed anything specific, he replied simply that he didn’t actually need anything, but wanted to buy something out of gratitude for the bakery allowing them to take shelter there during the siren.

And so, Rav Zilberstein stood in line like any other customer, took out his own wallet, and paid for a few items. No attention, no ceremony, just a sincere act of appreciation.

Those who witnessed it were deeply moved, capturing the moment and reflecting on the purity and sincerity they had just seen.

Reb Tzivyon later described the moment: Even with a crowd pressing around him for brachos and questions, Rav Zilberstein still noticed the smallest details and acted on them, despite not needing anything he purchased.

{Matzav.com}

The Boyaner Rebbe paid a special visit to the Belzer Rebbe to express appreciation after the wedding of his granddaughter was relocated to Belzer facilities following a security incident earlier in the week.

After a projectile fragment struck the Boyaner kloiz, the chasunah was moved to the underground complex of Belz, in the heichal of the “Groisseh Shtib” in Kiryas Belz in Yerushalayim. Ahead of the mitzvah tanz, the Boyaner Rebbe came to personally thank the Belzer Rebbe during a private meeting.

At the outset of their conversation, the Boyaner Rebbe warmly expressed his gratitude for the hospitality and gracious hosting extended by the Belzer Rebbe and his community. The Belzer Rebbe inquired about the beis medrash where the fragment had fallen, asking whether it was a temporary or permanent structure. In response, the Boyaner Rebbe spoke about the many nissim being witnessed during this period across Eretz Yisroel, while noting that there is still a need for rachamim, chassadim, and the coming of the geulah sheleimah.

The Belzer Rebbe responded that the galus has already lasted long enough, to which the Boyaner Rebbe replied, “בניסן נגאלו ובניסן עתידין להיגאל.”

The Boyaner Rebbe then requested that a Belzer niggun be sung, and together they sang “Meherah Hashem Elokeinu.” During the singing, the Boyaner Rebbe held the Belzer Rebbe’s hand, creating a moving moment of connection. Afterwards, they recited a bracha over wine, and the Belzer Rebbe offered his brachos for the simchah, while the Boyaner Rebbe in turn blessed the Belzer Rebbe with arichus yamim v’shanim tovos and extended wishes ahead of the upcoming Yom Tov of Pesach.

Later, before the mitzvah tanz, the Boyaner Rebbe publicly expressed words of praise and heartfelt thanks to the Belzer Rebbe and the Belz community for their assistance and support in ensuring the simchah could proceed despite the circumstances.

Israel’s education system is set to expand its reopening next week to additional regions outside the central Dan area, with a phased return focused primarily on younger children and subject to strict safety conditions.

The Home Front Command announced that beginning Sunday, a broad range of areas will shift from a limited activity status to a partial activity framework, allowing for a cautious and gradual return to routine under defined restrictions.

The areas included in the updated guidelines span parts of the southern Golan Heights (excluding Katzrin and Kedmat Tzvi), the Lower Galilee, the Carmel region (excluding Daliyat al-Karmel and Isfiya), Wadi Ara, and the Menashe region, with certain exceptions such as Or Akiva, Hadera, and Jisr az-Zarqa. In the south and the Shfela, the eased measures will apply to the Judean Lowlands except for Beit Shemesh, the Lachish region excluding major population centers like Ashdod, Yavne, Gedera, and Gan Yavne, as well as parts of the central Negev, excluding Be’er Sheva and Omer. Areas not listed will remain under existing restrictions.

Under the partial activity classification, educational institutions will be permitted to operate provided that students and staff can reach a properly protected shelter within the required response time. Similar conditions will apply to workplaces, which will be allowed to function only if they meet the same safety requirements.

The updated policy also introduces eased limits on gatherings and services, allowing up to 50 people in open areas and up to 100 people indoors, as long as all participants have quick access to an approved protected space.

A serious aviation incident was narrowly avoided Tuesday evening at Newark Liberty International Airport when an Alaska Airlines passenger jet came dangerously close to a FedEx cargo aircraft during a last-second aborted landing, according to radar tracking data.

Officials said Alaska Airlines Flight 294 was instructed to pull up and circle rather than land after FedEx Flight 721 had already been cleared to descend onto a runway that intersects with the one the passenger plane was approaching. The Federal Aviation Administration confirmed the sequence of events.

Flight tracking information indicated that the two aircraft passed within roughly 300 feet of each other—about the length of a football field—highlighting how close the situation came to becoming a catastrophe.

Audio recordings from air traffic control captured the tense moments, revealing that controllers redirected the Alaska Airlines jet just moments before it was scheduled to touch down.

Michael McCormick, a former FAA deputy administrator, explained that the complexity of intersecting runways can create difficult timing challenges for controllers.

“”It is a challenge for a tower controller to try to get that timing perfect, it doesn’t always work and that’s what happened in this case, so the tower controller waited and unfortunately, in my opinion, too long and they had to send the aircraft on a go-around,” McCormick said.

Both the FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board have launched investigations into the near collision to determine exactly what went wrong.

The incident comes as airports across the country continue to grapple with staffing shortages tied to the ongoing partial government shutdown, with Transportation Security Administration workers still reporting to duty without pay.

Economic analysts at the White House have estimated that the shutdown has already resulted in losses exceeding $2.5 billion.

Efforts to resolve the funding impasse have stalled in Washington. Senate Democrats last week blocked legislation that would have restored funding to the Department of Homeland Security for the fourth time in recent weeks.

Airline industry leaders have voiced growing frustration. Delta Air Lines CEO Ed Bastian sharply criticized lawmakers over the situation, calling their failure to reach a resolution “inexcusable.”

“We’re outraged,” Bastian seethed.

As of Thursday, the partial government shutdown had stretched into its 33rd day, with no immediate resolution in sight.

Hundreds of bochurim from abroad learning in Eretz Yisroel gathered in Yerushalayim for a special asifah of chizuk focused on strengthening themselves against the growing nisyonos of modern technology, with a particular emphasis this year on the dangers of artificial intelligence and the widespread breaches found in phones used in chutz la’aretz.

The asifah, held at the call of gedolei Yisroel, is an annual gathering aimed at reinforcing awareness and responsibility among bochurim regarding the sakanos of technology. This year, special attention was given to the increasing accessibility of AI and the serious peritzos that exist in devices commonly used outside Eretz Yisroel, challenges that are becoming more difficult to guard against.

Addressing the gathering were leading roshei yeshiva, including Rav Dovid Cohen, Rav Yehoshua Eichenstein, Rav Yisroel Binyomin Schreiber, and Rav Chaim Peretz Berman, who spoke about the importance of maintaining kedusha and yiras Shamayim in a world filled with constant distraction and exposure.

A particularly moving moment came with the arrival of the mashgiach, Rav Don Segal, whose presence brought a powerful sense of hisorerus to the tzibbur. He delivered heartfelt words about the chovah to guard oneself from the influences of technology, and at the conclusion of his remarks, the bochurim burst into a stirring rendition of “V’taher Libeinu,” filling the room with emotion.

Closing words of inspiration were delivered by Rav Tzvi Meir Zilberberg, while the asifah was guided with clarity and warmth by Rav Shlomo Miller, who served as the emcee for the event.

At the conclusion of the gathering, the bochurim accepted upon themselves a formal kabbalah to use only machshirim kesheirim approved by the Vaad HaRabbonim L’Inyanei Tikshores. They also committed to refraining from engaging with AI and to maintaining taharah and kedusha within their dormitory and yeshiva living environments.

{Matzav.com}

Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu on Thursday strongly denied accusations that he steered President Trump into a confrontation with Iran, insisting that the president acted independently and solely in the interest of the United States.

Addressing reporters, Netanyahu rejected the premise outright. “Does anyone really think that someone can tell President Trump what to do? Come on,” Netanyahu said during a press conference. “President Trump always makes his decisions on what he thinks is good for America.”

He firmly pushed back against suggestions that Israel had pulled the United States into the ongoing conflict with Tehran, stressing instead the close working relationship between the two countries while making clear that Trump charted his own course.

“I didn’t have to convince him,” Netanyahu said, referring to prior discussions the two leaders had regarding Iran’s nuclear program.

Netanyahu described the cooperation between Washington and Israel as tightly coordinated, noting collaboration at both the military and intelligence levels. He added that their joint efforts are producing rapid results, saying they are “achieving goals at lightning speed.”

Pointing to Trump’s earlier actions on Iran, Netanyahu noted that the president’s withdrawal from the nuclear agreement during his first term came without any outside pressure.

“In his first term in office, he didn’t need any convincing,” Netanyahu said. “He said the Iranian nuclear deal was the worst deal that he’d ever seen, and he walked out of it.”

Recalling a meeting at Mar-a-Lago ahead of Trump’s return to office, Netanyahu said the president himself initiated the discussion about Iran.

“The first thing he said to me was, ‘Bibi, we’ve got to make sure that Iran doesn’t have nuclear weapons,’” Netanyahu said.

“He said that to me — I didn’t say it to him.”

Netanyahu also issued a stark warning about Iran’s leadership, characterizing them as driven by extreme ideology and cautioning about the potential consequences if they were to acquire nuclear capabilities.

“Just imagine what they would do … if these lunatics had nuclear weapons and the means to deliver them to every American city and every European city,” he said.

“This is a danger for the entire world.”

He further highlighted Iran’s past involvement in attacks against Americans, referencing incidents such as the 1983 bombing of U.S. Marine barracks in Beirut and assaults on U.S. forces in Iraq and Afghanistan.

“They tried to assassinate the American president, Donald Trump, not once, but twice,” he said.

Netanyahu added that support for confronting Iran extends beyond the United States and Israel, saying that numerous world leaders privately share the same position, even if they do not express it publicly.

He concluded by commending Trump’s stance on Iran, saying the global community is indebted to the president for taking on the regime.

“We see eye to eye on that — President Trump and I, Israel and America,” Netanyahu said.

{Matzav.com}

[Video below.] President Donald Trump referenced Japan’s 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor on Thursday as he defended the decision to keep recent U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran secret, speaking during a White House meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi.

Responding to a question about why allies, including Japan, were not informed in advance of the strikes, Trump emphasized the importance of maintaining secrecy in military operations. “We went in very hard and we didn’t tell anybody about it because we wanted surprise. Who knows better about surprise than Japan? OK, why didn’t you tell me about Pearl Harbor?”

“You believe in surprise, I think, much more than us,” Trump added, referencing the 1941 attack on the U.S. naval base in Hawaii that led to America’s entry into World War II.

WATCH:

The United States and Japan, once adversaries during the war, later formalized their alliance with a peace treaty signed in 1951, and have remained close allies since.

Trump’s remarks drew laughter from those present in the Oval Office, including Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and other senior officials. Members of the Japanese delegation and reporters from both countries were also in attendance.

The president went on to explain that the element of surprise played a decisive role in the early stages of the Iran campaign, which began late last month with coordinated U.S. and Israeli strikes.

“We had to surprise them and we did and because of that surprise, the first two days we probably knocked out 50% of what we — much more than we anticipated doing. And if I go and tell everybody about it, it’s no longer a surprise,” Trump said.

In separate remarks last week, Trump spoke about earlier strikes on Kharg Island, a key Iranian oil hub, saying the U.S. military had “totally demolished” much of the site, while joking that “we may hit it a few more times just for fun.”

Kharg Island, located off Iran’s coast, is a major center for the country’s oil infrastructure.

During the meeting, Trump also addressed broader questions about the war effort, including the anticipated financial cost and the impact on global energy markets.

A report by The Washington Post indicated that the Pentagon is preparing to request $200 billion from Congress to support ongoing operations. Trump acknowledged the figure, noting that the funding would cover more than just the Iran campaign.

The president confirmed that the request includes broader considerations, saying it is “for a lot of reasons, beyond even what we’re talking about in Iran.”

“This is a very volatile world, and the military equipment, the power of some of this weaponry is unthinkable. You don’t even want to know about it. Oh, you could end this thing in two seconds if you wanted to,” Trump added.

Trump also commented on oil prices, which have risen in recent weeks as Iran has disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a key global energy route.

“Everything was going great, the economy was great, oil prices were very low, gasoline was dropping too,” Trump told reporters. “And I saw what was happening in Iran and I said, ‘I hate to make this excursion, but we have to do it,’ and I actually thought the numbers would be worse.”

Reflecting on his decision to launch the strikes, Trump said he had expected a sharper economic impact.

While making the decision, he recalled thinking, “Oil prices will go up, the economy will go down a little bit.”

He added, “I thought it would be worse, much worse actually,” before concluding, “It’s not bad and it’s going to be over with pretty soon.”

{Matzav.com}

[COMMUNICATED]

By C.B. Weinfeld

The embrace lasted only seconds, but it captured everything Project Inspire stands for.

At the Motzei Shabbos Gala, Oren had just finished sharing his experience from October 7, when he drove back into the line of fire near the Gaza border to rescue young people fleeing the Nova Festival massacre. Among them was a young boy who had been bleeding for hours while hiding in a ditch. Oren jumped in, shielded him with his body, and applied direct pressure to the wound, keeping him alive until they reached a field hospital.

The crowd sat in awe. Then came a moment no one expected.

In a carefully planned surprise, that same boy, Maayan, suddenly walked onto the stage.

The audience froze as rescuer and survivor embraced. When Shulem Lemmer began singing “One More Dance,” the room rose with him in a powerful expression of unity, resilience, and shared responsibility.

But the roots of that moment began much earlier.

Months before, during a Project Inspire leadership trip to Israel, Shalom Brickman, already deeply involved in learning and supporting less affiliated Jews, realized there was one step in kiruv he had never taken: personally offering someone the opportunity to put on tefillin. Standing beside Oren at the Nova site, he asked. Oren said yes, and he has been putting them on ever since.

That moment, Shalom, Oren, and Maayan’s embrace on stage, was the pinnacle of the Project Inspire Motzei Shabbos Gala and reflects the heart of Project Inspire: meaningful change begins when ordinary people take one courageous step toward another Jew.

This spirit defined every part of Project Inspire 2.0. From the moment participants arrived, the atmosphere was charged with purpose. This was not a passive conference, but an immersive experience designed to engage and activate.

Through dynamic workshops and open discussions, participants explored how to initiate conversations naturally, extend invitations, and build authentic relationships that endure.

One of the most powerful moments came on Shabbos afternoon with the launch of the first-ever “Teach It Forward” program at a Project Inspire convention. It marked a first step toward becoming comfortable sharing Torah with less affiliated Jews. Attendees were divided into three learning tracks and then regrouped across tracks with one mission: to teach one another what they had learned.

The Teach It Forward program reflected this idea in action. By helping participants become comfortable teaching what they know, even small pieces of Torah, it transformed hesitation into confidence and demonstrated that the first step in kiruv often begins with simply sharing one idea with another Jew.

For many, this was their first experience actively transmitting ideas rather than simply absorbing them. The room buzzed with energy as participants leaned in to ensure their message was clearly understood. When their words were fully received, the sense of accomplishment was palpable. It captured a central Project Inspire message: whether one knows the alef or the beis, the responsibility is to teach what we know.

This message echoed throughout the weekend. Rabbi Chaim Sampson, Founding Director of Project Inspire, emphasized that meaningful change begins with taking personal responsibility. Just as Rav Noach once urged him to find ten men to stand up and make a difference, Rabbi Sampson explained that the same mindset drives Project Inspire’s growing initiatives, many of which are already seeing strong participation and expanding interest.

Participants were also joined by Rabbi Moshe Weinberger, the Rov of Aish Kodesh, whose farbrengen and unforgettable Shalosh Seudos created an atmosphere of warmth and spiritual elevation that lingered long after the final zemirah.

On Friday night, the women gathered for a meaningful discussion circle in an intimate setting that fostered openness and connection. The conversation continued late into the evening, strengthening bonds and deepening the shared sense of mission.

Zevy Samet, an aspiring basketball star, attended the convention together with several of his YU teammates and quickly became an integral source of inspiration and energy throughout the weekend. The process he began several years ago, quietly taking responsibility within his own circle and strengthening his teammates’ connection, has steadily grown over time. Most recently, that growth led to two transformative Shabbos weekends in Lakewood and Inwood. These experiences were created from the ground up by Project Inspire. What began as one young man stepping forward years earlier ultimately led many of his teammates to take their first steps toward keeping Shabbos and beginning their own journeys of connection.

Between sessions, hallways buzzed with networking, idea-sharing, and spontaneous conversations. Participants exchanged experiences, formed new partnerships, and began envisioning how to bring what they had learned back into their own communities.

That sense of momentum reached another peak at the Motzei Shabbos Gala, where the crowd felt they were witnessing not just an inspiring event, but a movement gaining strength and clarity before their eyes.

By the weekend’s close, the energy was unmistakable. Conversations had shifted from inspiration to commitment. Partnerships were forming. Concrete next steps were already underway.

The true measure of Project Inspire is not what happens during a convention, but what happens afterward: in the concrete initiatives already underway, from mentorship networks to Shabbos experiences and community partnerships that are actively drawing more Jews into connection every day. The response has been tremendous, with participants stepping forward in growing numbers and the movement continuing to gain momentum long after the weekend ended.

This is not a moment for inspiration alone. It is a moment for action.

Project Inspire is already mobilizing mentorship networks, Shabbos experiences, leadership initiatives, and community partnerships that are reconnecting Jews across the country, and the momentum is only growing.

Step in. Take responsibility. Join the movement today at www.projectinspire.com or call (646)-291-6191 and be the one who says: I’m in.

Officials in Israel and the United States believe the war with Iran is expected to continue for an extended period, with current assessments indicating that the fighting will last through Pesach and may continue even longer.

The evaluation, reported by i24, is based on internal discussions held in Jerusalem and Washington and reflects a shared understanding among senior officials in both capitals. According to the report, military operations are continuing at full intensity, with no signs of a slowdown.

Israeli defense officials say the U.S. military remains deeply engaged, maintaining what they describe as a “full throttle” pace in terms of operational activity and involvement in the conflict.

Senior Israeli officials also assess that President Donald Trump remains committed to continuing the campaign at this stage and is not exerting pressure to curb or limit operations. At the same time, defense officials note that in previous situations—such as the decision to halt strikes against the Houthis—policy changes were announced suddenly through the media without prior coordination.

There is currently no defined end date for the war, and U.S. officials have not set one. On the contrary, expectations are that the campaign will continue.

During a security cabinet meeting held last night that extended past midnight, Israeli ministers were told that the war is likely to continue for several more weeks. According to professional assessments cited by Channel 12, the military plan is progressing quickly and in line with its original objectives, but there is no expectation of an imminent end.

Officials involved in the discussions said, “There is no expiration date for the war, and the Americans have not set one either—on the contrary.” Israeli sources emphasized that additional operations inside Iranian territory are still planned, aimed at further undermining the regime.

At the same time, updated intelligence assessments do not indicate an immediate collapse of the Iranian government. In recent briefings, political leaders were told that there are no visible signs of surrender in Tehran, and the regime does not appear close to falling.

According to officials familiar with the matter, “Surrender to the United States and Israel is simply not part of the Iranian regime’s vocabulary.” This understanding has reinforced expectations that the conflict will be prolonged and that additional steps will be necessary before the strategic objectives defined at the outset of the campaign are achieved.

The Trump administration announced Thursday that it has opened investigations into 13 states that mandate abortion coverage in state-regulated health insurance plans, escalating a legal and political dispute over federal conscience protections.

At the center of the issue is the Weldon Amendment, a provision included annually in federal spending bills that prohibits governments from penalizing healthcare entities that decline to provide, cover, or refer for abortion services.

During the Biden administration, the Department of Health and Human Services’ Office for Civil Rights took the position that the amendment did not apply to employers or plan sponsors. The current administration has reversed that interpretation, arguing that the protections do extend to those groups.

Officials now contend that states requiring abortion coverage could be violating federal law if they do not allow insurers or employers to opt out. The administration said it has sent formal inquiries to the states in question to gather further details.

The investigations were initiated by the HHS Office for Civil Rights. “to address certain states’ alleged disregard of, or confusion about, compliance with the Weldon Amendment,” office Director Paula M. Stannard said in a statement.

“Under the Weldon Amendment, health care entities, such as health insurance issuers and health plans, are protected from state discrimination for not paying for, or providing coverage of, abortion contrary to conscience. Period,” Stannard said.

The states under review include California, Colorado, Delaware, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Vermont, and Washington. All but Vermont are led by Democrat governors.

The Weldon Amendment is part of a broader set of so-called conscience protections, which shield individuals and healthcare organizations that decline to participate in abortion services or certain medical procedures based on religious or ethical beliefs.

Legal experts say the interpretation of the amendment has shifted depending on which party controls the White House. Mary Ziegler, a law professor at the University of California, Davis, noted that there has been a “partisan swing” in how broadly or narrowly the provision is applied.

Ziegler added that because the text of the amendment does not explicitly reference employers or plan sponsors, Democrats may have a stronger argument, though the issue has not yet been definitively settled in court.

Elizabeth Sepper, a law professor at the University of Texas at Austin, pointed to policy proposals from the Heritage Foundation, including Project 2025, which suggested that a Trump administration could cut off Medicaid funding to states found to be in violation of the amendment.

“What we’re seeing here is the fulfillment of a promise to the religious right,” she said.

During Trump’s first term, his administration sought in 2020 to withhold federal healthcare funding from California over what it viewed as a violation of the Weldon Amendment. That decision was reversed the following year when a new administration took office.

{Matzav.com}

Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard said Thursday that the United States and Israel have been operating with distinct objectives in the war against Iran, even as both countries have coordinated closely on military actions.

Speaking before the House Intelligence Committee during its annual global threats hearing, Gabbard explained that Israel has concentrated on targeting Iran’s leadership, while President Trump has directed U.S. efforts toward dismantling Iran’s missile capabilities and naval forces.

“The objectives that have been laid out by the president are different from the objectives that have been laid out by the Israeli government,” Gabbard told the House intelligence committee’s annual hearing on worldwide threats to the United States.

“We can see through the operations that the Israeli government has been focused on disabling the Iranian leadership. The president has stated that his objectives are to destroy Iran’s ballistic missiles launching capability, their ballistic missile production capability, and their navy,” she said.

Although officials in Washington and Jerusalem have repeatedly emphasized strong coordination in their joint air campaign, both sides have acknowledged that their strategic goals are not identical.

As the war approached its third week, Israeli operations have focused on eliminating senior Iranian clerics and military commanders, while U.S. strikes have primarily targeted infrastructure tied to Iran’s missile program.

The divergence became more apparent Wednesday night, when Trump wrote on social media that Washington “knew nothing” about Israel’s strike on the South Pars gas field in Iran. The attack prompted Iran to retaliate by targeting energy infrastructure in Qatar. Trump added that Israel would refrain from striking the gas field again unless Iran carried out further attacks against Qatar.

During the hearing, Gabbard said she could not explain Israel’s decision to target infrastructure that Trump had indicated should remain off-limits, after being pressed on the issue by Rep. Joaquin Castro, a Democrat from Texas.

Her testimony before the House followed a similar appearance the previous day before the Senate Intelligence Committee, where she joined CIA Director John Ratcliffe and other senior intelligence officials.

At both hearings, lawmakers repeatedly asked whether Iran posed an “imminent” threat to the United States at the time the joint U.S.-Israel air campaign began on Feb. 28.

The question gained added attention after Joe Kent, who had been leading the National Counterterrorism Center, resigned earlier in the week, becoming the first senior official in Trump’s administration to step down over the conflict. Kent said Iran did not present an imminent threat to the United States.

Gabbard maintained in both appearances that the determination of whether such a threat exists rests solely with the president, indicating that the final judgment lies with Trump.

{Matzav.com}

The U.S. War Department is preparing to request more than $200 billion in additional funding to support ongoing military operations in Iran, signaling a sharp escalation in the financial scope of the conflict.

According to a report published Wednesday by The Washington Post, the Pentagon has asked the White House to approve a supplemental budget request that would be submitted to Congress, significantly increasing the cost of the joint U.S.-Israel campaign.

The proposed funding would extend well beyond the initial phase of airstrikes, with a major focus on replenishing depleted munitions and ramping up weapons production after weeks of intensive strikes against Iranian targets.

Officials familiar with the planning said U.S. and allied forces have already carried out thousands of strikes in just three weeks, rapidly draining key weapons reserves.

War Secretary Pete Hegseth addressed the proposed figure during a Thursday morning briefing, indicating that the total could still change.

“I think that number could move,” Hegseth said. “Obviously, it takes money to kill bad guys. So we’re going back to Congress and folks there to ensure that we’re properly funded for what’s been done, for what we may have to do in the future, ensure that our ammunition is, everything’s refilled, and not just refilled, but above and beyond.”

Inside the administration, multiple approaches to funding are reportedly under consideration, and some officials have expressed doubt about whether Congress would agree to such a large request.

If formally submitted, the proposal is expected to ignite a significant political battle in Washington.

Democratic lawmakers have already voiced opposition to the war, while Republicans have generally backed maintaining U.S. military strength, though they have yet to unite around a clear legislative strategy to secure approval for the funding.

The projected cost of more than $200 billion would place the Iran conflict on par with—or even above—U.S. expenditures on the war in Ukraine, which reached roughly $188 billion by the end of last year.

The rising price tag highlights the rapid pace at which the conflict has intensified.

Early briefings to Congress estimated that the first week alone cost more than $11 billion. Analysts now suggest the war could be costing as much as $1 billion per day, depending on operational tempo.

Defense officials argue that the funding is critical not only to continue current missions but also to maintain long-term military readiness.

They have warned that precision-guided munitions are being used at a rate that could strain the U.S. defense industrial base, which has faced ongoing challenges in quickly increasing production capacity.

Deputy Defense Secretary Steve Feinberg has been leading efforts within the department to speed up manufacturing and address supply chain constraints, though officials acknowledge that additional funding alone may not immediately resolve shortages in workforce, materials, and production infrastructure.

The debate over the funding request also reflects broader concerns about government spending.

With federal deficits growing and interest payments taking up a larger portion of the budget, some lawmakers are hesitant to approve another large supplemental package without a comprehensive long-term plan.

Supporters of the request, however, maintain that national security considerations must come first, particularly as instability in the Middle East poses risks to global markets and key energy corridors.

President Donald Trump, who has consistently emphasized the importance of a strong military while criticizing previous foreign spending, has indicated that the conflict could be resolved relatively quickly, though officials caution that the duration of the war remains uncertain.

{Matzav.com}

A senior Israeli Air Force official disclosed extensive details about Operation Roaring Lion, outlining a rapid tempo of aerial activity, large-scale coordinated strikes, and major damage inflicted on Iran’s military capabilities, including the destruction of most of its key defense systems.

The official said that within just 18 days, the Air Force carried out a volume of operations equivalent to a full year of routine activity. “We flew in 18 days what we normally fly in a full year,” he said.

Figures released indicate that over 12,000 munitions were deployed and roughly 8,500 attacks were executed throughout Iran. In less than three weeks, the total number of operational flights matched what is typically seen over an entire year. Additionally, more than 90% of incoming threats directed at Israel have been successfully intercepted.

In the Iranian arena, approximately 5,700 combat sorties were flown, alongside more than 540 coordinated strike waves across central and western regions, as well as around 50 long-range operations. In Tehran alone, about 3,600 munitions were used.

Along the Lebanese front, the Air Force dropped over 2,200 munitions, striking close to 2,000 targets. This included more than 220 so-called “hunt” targets and approximately 100 “power” targets, with over 1,000 additional combat sorties carried out in that sector.

The official explained that the campaign was launched following extensive preparation, built on continuous intelligence gathering, training, and close coordination with the United States. He added that many of the targets struck were newly identified following Operation “Am KeLavi.”

According to the briefing, the military developed the plan as a prolonged campaign, carefully balancing offensive and defensive measures, managing operational risks, and constantly adjusting targets across multiple fronts.

Describing the opening phase, the official said: “The IDF timed 40 munitions that neutralized 40 individuals within 40 seconds.” This was followed by “the largest sortie in the history of the Air Force,” involving about 200 aircraft that struck launch sites and infrastructure.

The Air Force also employed a method known as “metro trains,” allowing for continuous, synchronized attacks across different areas. It was noted that roughly 20% of sorties shift to new targets while already in progress.

Assessments indicate that the strikes caused serious damage to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, disrupting its command and control systems. As a result, some operations have reportedly been carried out without full coordination, at times relying on local decision-making. Iran’s military production capabilities were also hit, with more than 1,200 munitions dropped on manufacturing sites.

On the northern front, the official said forces are being allocated carefully between different sectors while maintaining a high level of readiness. All drones launched toward Israel were successfully intercepted, and interception rates for other threats remained high.

He added that the Air Force has maintained a high degree of operational flexibility, continuously adapting to changing battlefield conditions while providing full support to ground forces and real-time assistance during operations.

Summing up the campaign so far, the official said the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has suffered both operational and morale setbacks, with around 85% of Iran’s critical air defense and detection systems destroyed.

{Matzav.com}

48American media personality Tucker Carlson is facing criticism after defending Oswald Mosley, the British fascist leader who maintained ties to Nazi Germany and hosted his wedding in Berlin with top Nazi officials in attendance.

The remarks were highlighted by Australian blogger Nathan Livingstone, who said Carlson described Mosley as someone whose “only crime” was “being the opposition” to Winston Churchill, suggesting that this was the reason for his imprisonment during World War II.

Livingstone pushed back on that characterization, pointing out that Mosley was a committed fascist who had financial backing from Benito Mussolini, cultivated close relationships with the Nazi regime, and led the British Union of Fascists along with its paramilitary wing, the “Blackshirts,” a group modeled after Mussolini’s movement and known for violent actions, including targeting Jewish communities.

Mosley’s political career began in Parliament, where he served between 1918 and 1931, initially as a Conservative and later as a member of the Labour Party. However, after establishing the British Union of Fascists in 1932 and embracing fascist ideology, he faded from mainstream politics and never again approached a position of electoral influence.

He was detained in 1940 after British authorities determined that he posed a national security threat due to his sympathies with enemy powers, rather than because he was a significant political challenger.

Livingstone sharply criticized Carlson’s framing of Mosley, writing, “For Carlson to portray Mosley – an outspoken, Hitler-admiring fascist – as a war hero (which Tucker exaggerates), and to claim he was persecuted purely for political reasons, is deeply disturbing.”

He went on to question Carlson’s stance, stating, “The question has to be asked,” Livingstone wrote, “does Tucker Carlson despise Churchill so much that he’s willing to defend a Nazi-aligned fascist like Mosley – or does he genuinely believe a Nazi-aligned fascist like Mosley was a patriot?”

Carlson has also drawn attention recently for comments about Adolf Hitler, claiming that Hitler did not intend to exterminate all Jews. In the same vein, he accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of pursuing what he characterized as a genocidal policy toward Palestinians, asserting that it was rooted in the biblical commandment concerning Amalek.

{Matzav.com}

[COMMUNICATED]

A Jewish family is struggling to rebuild their lives after a sudden and devastating fire tore through their home, leaving their young son severely injured and their father unable to work. As Pesach approaches, the family remains displaced, traumatized, and in urgent need of assistance.

The tragedy began with a violent explosion from an electric scooter battery an incident that turned an ordinary evening into a nightmare. Within moments, flames engulfed the Shachar family’s apartment, consuming everything in their path. Furniture, clothing, family photographs, sefarim all reduced to ash.

But the physical destruction was only the beginning…

The family’s young son suffered severe, life‑altering burns, requiring ongoing treatments and long-term rehabilitation. According to his father, Avraham Shachar, the child endures procedures so painful that “no parent should ever have to witness them.”

Shachar, a sofer Sta”m by profession, has been forced to abandon his work entirely. His days are now spent in hospital corridors, burn units, and therapy rooms, while his other children struggle with trauma, fear, and sleepless nights.

“We lost our home in minutes,” Shachar said. “But what haunts me most is my son’s suffering. His pain is constant. His treatments will continue for years. And I cannot leave his side.”

The family has since been relocated to a small temporary apartment, far from the stability they once knew. With Pesach only days away, the contrast between the preparations taking place in Jewish homes across Israel and the Shachar family’s reality is stark.

“There is no home to clean, no kitchen to prepare, no table to set,” Shachar explained. “We are simply trying to survive.”

Community leaders familiar with the case describe the situation as “heartbreaking” and “urgent,” noting that the family faces overwhelming medical expenses, psychological trauma, and the daunting task of rebuilding a home from nothing.

A dedicated fund has been established to help the Shachar family cover medical treatments, rehabilitation, and the reconstruction of their destroyed home. Donations are tax‑deductible through a registered 501(c)(3) By Netzah Israel.

“This is not about luxuries,” Shachar emphasized. “This is about giving my children back a sense of safety and giving my son a chance to heal.”

Travel options out of Israel continue to deteriorate, leaving thousands of American citizens with increasingly limited options.

As reported by Chaim V’Chessed, more than a week ago, the United States Department of State began operating evacuation flights from Israel. The initiative had the potential to significantly ease the growing backlog of U.S. citizens seeking to return home.

After just a few days, however, the State Department announced an arrangement with El Al, under which the airline would transport American citizens – including both El Al ticket holders and those without El Al tickets – on specially cleared flights to the United States. These flights were reportedly authorized to operate with expanded passenger capacity.

In practice, the arrangement did not produce the expected relief. Seats were largely allocated to existing El Al passengers, and even for them, availability fell far short of demand. Thousands of registered Americans remained without confirmed travel.

Yesterday, the situation worsened. The Israeli government again reduced the number of passengers permitted on North America-bound flights, limiting aircraft to just 130 passengers. At the same time, El Al ended its cooperation with the State Department.

The combined impact is significant – fewer seats, no coordinated evacuation framework, and mounting uncertainty. According to sources, more than 13,000 Americans are still seeking to depart Israel. With capacity now reduced, the likelihood of securing a direct seat to the United States has become extremely slim.

At present, the only consistently functioning option appears to be overland travel via Egypt.

Contact the State Department

In light of the current situation, U.S. citizens who are registered to depart are strongly encouraged to contact the State Department directly.

1 – Locate Your Case Number

Search your email inbox for a message from cacms@state.gov. This confirmation email, sent upon registration, includes your case number near the bottom. Most case numbers begin with 058.

Those who have not yet registered should do so immediately at this link.

2 – Email cacms@state.gov

In the subject line, include your case number followed by:

“I need evacuation help”

Example: 058-XXXXX – I need evacuation help

3 – Provide Relevant Details

In the body of the email, briefly state that you are a U.S. citizen registered to leave Israel and outline:

– Steps already taken, such as contacting El Al, experiencing a cancellation, or attempting to rebook

– Any special circumstances, including medical conditions, health emergencies, elderly travelers, infants, minors, or other urgent needs

If a substantial number of registered citizens contact the State Department directly, it may prompt reconsideration of the suspended charter framework. At present, there is no other realistic large-scale mechanism for facilitating departures of U.S. citizens from Israel.

Contact Your Elected Officials

Besides contacting the State Department, Chaim V’Chessed urges all affected and concerned parties to contact their U.S. Senators and Representatives immediately to push the State Department to authorize emergency charter flights. Every call and email creates a paper trail that could make a real difference.

How to Take Action

1. Contact Your Representative

Find your House Representative and contact details at: house.gov/representatives/find-your-representative

2. Contact Your Senators

Find your two U.S. Senators and contact details at: senate.gov/senators/senators-contact.htm

3. What to Say

Keep your message simple and direct:

• American citizens are stranded in Israel with no way home.
• Commercial flights are cancelled, and El Al cannot accommodate everyone.
• Urge them to contact the State Department immediately to authorize emergency charter flights.
• Passover begins April 1 – time is running out.

Every call and email to an elected official creates a impression, and moves things forward.

{Matzav.com}

Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu said today that Iran had lost its ability to enrich uranium and manufacture ballistic missiles, as he opened a press conference highlighting what he described as major successes in the ongoing war.

Speaking in Hebrew at the start of his remarks, Netanyahu stated that Iran could “no longer enrich uranium” and was no longer capable of producing ballistic missiles.

He said the Iranian regime was now “weaker than ever,” while Israel had emerged as a dominant force in the region, adding that it was “a regional power and some would say a world power.”

Netanyahu also made clear that military operations would not be ending soon, saying the campaign against Iran would continue “as long as is necessary.”

His initial remarks were delivered in Hebrew, with additional comments and a question-and-answer session in English.

A growing number of injuries—and now fatalities—during rocket attacks have intensified scrutiny of Israel’s Home Front Command alert system, with critics asking whether earlier warnings could give civilians more time to reach safety.

In recent years, hundreds of Israelis have been harmed after failing to make it to shelters in time during incoming rocket fire. The incidents have led to renewed debate over whether the current warning system provides sufficient notice, or if it could be adjusted to allow for a longer response window.

Israel’s detection systems are capable of identifying launches from Lebanon anywhere from about 15 seconds to 90 seconds before sirens are triggered, depending on the region. Despite that capability, alerts are not issued immediately upon detection, meaning civilians do not receive the earliest possible warning—unlike the faster alerts typically issued during missile launches from Iran.

A Channel 12 report indicated that extending warning times may be feasible. Communities near the Lebanese border could potentially gain an additional 15 seconds to respond, while residents in central Israel might see their warning window increased from roughly a minute and a half to as much as two and a half minutes.

Even so, the Home Front Command continues to rely on a system that divides the country into fixed protection zones, each with a predetermined warning time that does not change based on when a launch is detected.

Israeli journalist Almog Boker, who lives in the south, voiced frustration shared by many, asking: “Why wait until it costs human lives?”

Officials explain that the delay in sounding sirens is deliberate. One reason is to allow time to more accurately determine the rocket’s trajectory, reducing the likelihood of unnecessary alerts in areas not actually under threat.

Another factor, according to the military, is the importance of consistency. If residents know they have a set amount of time—such as 90 seconds—they can react accordingly. Constantly shifting warning times could lead to confusion and panic.

However, these strategic considerations stand in contrast to the realities faced by civilians, particularly the elderly, individuals with physical limitations, and families with small children, for whom even a few extra seconds can make a life-or-death difference.

That reality was underscored this week when Yaron Moshe and his wife Ilana were killed after an Iranian missile struck their apartment in Ramat Gan. The couple, both in their seventies, were unable to reach their safe room before impact. Initial assessments suggest that the husband’s disability slowed their ability to get to shelter in time.

The missile struck the living room directly, causing extensive destruction throughout the apartment. The protected room, however, remained intact despite the severe damage elsewhere in the home.

{Matzav.com}

A newly surfaced report claims that Rama Duwaji, the wife of New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, previously shared social media content expressing support for Palestinian terrorists, drawing renewed attention to her past online activity.

According to material reviewed by the Washington Free Beacon, Duwaji — who serves as New York City’s first lady — used a Tumblr account years ago to post favorable content about figures associated with the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, including well-known hijacker Leila Khaled.

The report states that Duwaji, now 28, operated the since-deleted account while living in the Middle East. The outlet said it linked the account to her in part through facial recognition analysis.

In one post dated September 2017, she uploaded an image of Khaled, who participated in airplane hijackings in 1969 and 1970, alongside a quote attributed to her: “If it does good for my cause, I’d be happy to accept death.”

In another post, she shared a photograph of a Bangladeshi stamp bearing the message, “We salute the valiant freedom fighters of Palestine,” according to the report.

The Beacon also reported that in 2015, Duwaji reposted a strongly worded message criticizing American military personnel, stating that U.S. troops “fightin in imperialist wars are not brave nor are they fighting for anyone’s freedom.”

That same post accused the military of “mercilessly slaughtering 3rd world civilians” in order to uphold “American hegemony.”

Another repost from December 2015 attributed responsibility for the creation of al Qaeda to white individuals.

“You can’t blame muslims for terrorism because they didn’t construct, fund nor train Al-Qaeda,” the post said. “White People did that too.”

Additional posts from that period included statements about Israel, including one in which she wrote that Tel Aviv “shouldn’t exist in the first place,” referring to its residents as “occupiers.” The report also noted that she used a racial slur in a 2013 tweet when she was reportedly 15.

The resurfaced material follows earlier reports indicating that Duwaji had interacted with controversial content more recently, including liking an Instagram post on October 7, 2023, that marked Hamas’ attack on Israel with celebratory imagery.

She was also reported to have liked another post that described claims of Hamas committing immoral violence during the attack as a “mass hoax.”

In response to the scrutiny, Mamdani — who has been outspoken in his criticism of Israel — said that his wife has not played any official role in his political activities. He stated that she “has held no formal position on my campaign or in my City Hall” and argued that her past social media activity should not be a focus of public attention.

{Matzav.com}

President Trump is considering whether to deploy additional American forces to the Middle East, including the possibility of sending troops into Iran for operations on the ground, according to a new report.

Officials have examined scenarios that would involve U.S. forces landing on Iranian territory, including efforts to secure strategic locations such as the Strait of Hormuz and Kharg Island, Reuters reported Wednesday.

Another option under discussion includes using American troops to take control of Iran’s reserves of highly enriched uranium, the report said.

Despite those deliberations, sources emphasized that no immediate move to insert ground forces into Iran is expected at this time.

Officials acknowledged that any such operation would carry significant danger, as American troops would be exposed to Iran’s missile systems and drone capabilities.

“There has been no decision to send ground troops at this time, but President Trump wisely keeps all options at his disposal,” a White House official told Reuters.

“The president is focused on achieving all of the defined objectives of Operation Epic Fury: destroy Iran’s ballistic missile capacity, annihilate their navy, ensure their terrorist proxies cannot destabilize the region, and guarantee that Iran can never possess a nuclear weapon,” the official added.

The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Meanwhile, the Pentagon has already taken steps to bolster U.S. military presence in the region. According to a Wall Street Journal report last week, additional Marines and naval assets have been approved for deployment as Iran continues targeting commercial vessels near the Strait of Hormuz.

War Secretary Pete Hegseth is said to have approved the movement of “an element of an amphibious ready group and attached Marine expeditionary unit, typically consisting of several warships and 5,000 Marines and sailors,” according to the report, which cited U.S. officials.

The USS Tripoli, an amphibious assault ship similar in appearance to an aircraft carrier but designed for operations closer to shore, is reportedly making its way from Japan toward the Middle East.

Iran’s continued assaults on ships in the vicinity of the Strait of Hormuz have effectively choked off much of the traffic through the vital oil route, driving up global energy prices.

Last week, Trump authorized airstrikes on Kharg Island, located roughly 16 miles off Iran’s coastline and responsible for handling about 90% of the country’s crude oil exports.

Trump said military targets were “totally obliterated” in the strikes, which spared the island’s oil infrastructure.

U.S. and Israeli officials are also believed to be exploring the possibility of eventually taking control of Kharg Island as part of the broader campaign, according to prior reporting.