Feed aggregator

Yarden Bibas, whose wife and two young sons were murdered while in Hamas captivity, published a deeply emotional message on Wednesday night addressed to his family, expressing grief and longing following his return from captivity without them.

In the post, Bibas turned directly to his wife Shiri and their children Ariel and Kfir, who were killed during their time in captivity. The message, shared on social media, reflects the anguish of a father and husband grappling with devastating loss after months of isolation under harsh conditions.

“We moved to the Golan like we wanted… but you are missing every second. I feel so alone without you,” Bibas wrote, describing the painful reality of returning to a life without his family.

He continued with a line that captured the depth of his sorrow: “I also died that day, but only you stopped breathing. The fact that I am here and you are not – that is what hurts me the most.”

Bibas went on to describe how, in his darkest moments, he looks upward in search of connection to his loved ones. “I look to the sky and search for my three stars – Shiri, Ariel and Kfir,” he concluded.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Wednesday that Iran’s seizure of two vessels does not constitute a violation of the ceasefire, emphasizing that the ships were neither American nor Israeli.

Speaking during an appearance on The Story on Fox News, Leavitt addressed questions raised by host Martha MacCallum regarding the incident.

MacCallum asked, “I want to ask you about these ships that Iran seized. We’re continuing to get reporting on this. Does the seizure of two ships — as we said, they were Greek and Mediterranean-owned ships with cargo on them, and the reports are that Iran basically seized them and then moved them into Iranian waters. We don’t know what’s going to happen to these crews. We’re not sure where all of this is going. Does the president view that as a violation of the ceasefire?”

Leavitt responded by rejecting that characterization, stating, “No, because these were not U.S. ships. These were not Israeli ships. These were two international vessels. And for the American media, who [are] sort of blowing this out of proportion to discredit the president’s facts that he has completely obliterated Iran’s conventional Navy, these two ships were taken by speedy gunboats. Iran has gone from having the most lethal Navy in the Middle East to now acting like a bunch of pirates. They don’t have control over the strait. This is piracy that we are seeing on display. And the naval blockade that the United States has imposed continues to be incredibly effective. And, to be clear, the blockade is on ships going to and from Iranian ports. And the point of this is the economic leverage that we maintain over Iran now. While there’s a ceasefire with respect to the military and kinetic strikes, Operation Economic Fury continues, and the crux of that is this naval blockade.”

A report showing the efficacy of the covid-19 vaccine that was previously delayed by the head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has been blocked from being published in the agency’s flagship scientific journal, according to three people familiar with the decision who spoke on the condition of anonymity for fear of retaliation. The report showed that the vaccine reduced emergency department visits and hospitalizations among healthy adults by about half this past winter.

The move, which has not been previously reported, has raised concerns among current and former officials that information about the vaccine’s benefits is being downplayed because it conflicts with the views of Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has been an outspoken critic of the shots. Kennedy’s vaccine agenda has received pointed questioning from lawmakers during budget hearings that began last week and conclude Wednesday.

The Washington Post reported two weeks ago that Jay Bhattacharya, who is temporarily overseeing the CDC, delayed publication of the report over concerns about methodology. The report had been scheduled for publication March 19 in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

In recent days, a decision was made that the report would not be published, according to two of the people who spoke to The Post.

Andrew Nixon, a spokesman for the Department of Health and Human Services, which oversees the CDC, confirmed the delay two weeks ago. At that time, he said it was “routine for CDC leadership to review and flag concerns about MMWR papers, especially relating to their methodology, leading up to planned publication.” Nixon said that Bhattacharya had raised concerns about “the observational method used in the study to calculate vaccine effectiveness” and that the scientific team was working to address them.

Bhattacharya, director of the National Institutes of Health, is leading the CDC while Erica Schwartz, a top health official during President Donald Trump’s first term, awaits Senate confirmation.

On Tuesday, Nixon described the decision differently: “The MMWR’s editorial assessment identified concerns regarding the methodological approach to estimating vaccine effectiveness and the manuscript was not accepted for publication,” a characterization that differs from accounts by people familiar with the report’s review.

The report is gaining attention at a delicate political moment: The Trump administration has sought to soften its public posture on controversial vaccine actions ahead of the midterm elections. GOP pollsters have warned of the political risks of vaccine skepticism, and many voters oppose Kennedy’s efforts to roll back vaccine policies. Publishing findings showing the vaccine’s effectiveness would be at odds with the administration’s moves to restrict its use, particularly for children, former CDC officials say.

The report had cleared the agency’s scientific-review process, which includes dozens of scientists, according to two of the three people who spoke to The Post. Stopping an MMWR report at that stage is highly unusual, former CDC officials say.

“I cannot recall CDC stopping an MMWR report in the publication phase after scientific clearance and editorial review. On rare occasions we shifted the timing slightly to better align communications plans with competing or reinforcing pieces,” said Michael Iademarco, who was the director of the CDC center with oversight of the MMWR from 2014 to 2022.

Bhattacharya had concerns about a methodology that has long been used by the CDC to evaluate vaccine effectiveness for respiratory viruses, including influenza. A report about flu vaccine effectiveness this past winter – using the same methodology – was published in the MMWR a week earlier. An HHS official had previously said Bhattacharya was not in a position to review the earlier study and would have raised the same concerns.

A report using this methodology to gauge covid vaccine effectiveness in children was published in MMWR in December.

The methodology was also used in a 2021 study on covid vaccine effectiveness in clinics and hospitals published in the New England Journal of Medicine. Vaccine effectiveness estimates using the same methodology have also been published in other peer-reviewed journals, including JAMA Network Open, the Lancet and Pediatrics.

An HHS official said that Bhattacharya met with scientific staff and that the report’s authors did not want to adjust their methodology.

Kennedy, founder of a prominent anti-vaccine group, once referred to covid-19 shots as the “deadliest vaccine ever made.” Last year, he posted a video on X directing the CDC to stop recommending the vaccine for healthy pregnant women and children – an unprecedented move that bypassed the agency’s long-standing process of relying on its federal vaccine advisory panel. The decision drew widespread criticism from medical and public health experts.

Kennedy has said he is not anti-vaccine but is seeking to give Americans transparency and medical choice.

(c) 2026, The Washington Post · Lena H. Sun 

Just two days after chassidim were informed that the Vizhnitzer Rebbe of Bnei Brak Rav Yisroel Hager, had returned to his home, a new update from his household reports that he is suffering from an infection and weakness, leading to the cancellation of scheduled kabbolas kahal for the evening marking his 81st birthday.

Earlier this week, the Vizhnitzer chassidus had shared uplifting news that the Rebbe had returned to his residence in Bnei Brak after an extended period away for rest and medical recovery in Netanya and Moshav Ora.

The announcement at the time noted that in recent days the Rebbe had been spending much of his time at the home of his father, the Yeshuos Moshe, and receiving people at the residence of his grandfather, the Imrei Chaim.

It was also reported that the previous evening, the Rebbe participated in a simcha marking the engagement of his great-granddaughter, a granddaughter of his son-in-law Rav Yitzchok Twersky, son of the Skverer Rebbe. The Rebbe sat at a tish for an extended period, encouraging singing with visible strength.

However, on Wednesday, chassidim received a more troubling update stating that the Rebbe is currently experiencing inflammation and weakness, and that all public receptions planned for the day have been called off.

“Since our master is feeling weak due to an infection, the public reception schedule this evening, as well as Maariv in the main beis medrash, will not take place. An update regarding the coming days will, with Hashem’s help, be issued separately.”

The message also called on anshei shlomeinu and all of Klal Yisroel to use the occasion of the Rebbe’s birthday on the 6th of Iyar to strengthen themselves and offer tefillos on his behalf for renewed strength and complete recovery.

{Matzav.com}

The New York Times has published an extensive feature on Rabbi Shalom Landau, portraying the Williamsburg-based speaker as an unlikely online figure whose Torah-based messages have reached far beyond the walls of his beis medrash, even as he himself remains detached from the digital world.

The article opens by contrasting the rabbi’s modest surroundings with the reach of his influence, describing his headquarters as “a humble wood and brick structure in the shadow of Woodhull Medical Center,” where “the facade is cracked and peeling, and the blinds are drawn.” Inside, it notes, “young men spend their days hunched over dense texts,” while “a tiny pool is hidden away in the basement.”

Despite being characterized as a kind of influencer, the piece stresses that Rabbi Landau himself has little connection to technology, writing that he “doesn’t use social media and favors a flip phone — and no phone at all from sundown Friday to sundown Saturday.” The explanation is simple: “On Shabbos, it’s strictly forbidden.”

The Times identifies Rabbi Landau as “a 48-year-old Hasidic rabbi in the Williamsburg section of Brooklyn,” explaining that “the young men are his yeshiva students; the pool a ritual bath called a mikvah.” It adds that “he’s the spiritual leader of Rivnitz,” a group following the teachings of the Ribnitzer Rebbe, who emphasized spreading divine light even in hostile environments.

At the same time, the article highlights the unusual nature of his recent visibility, stating that he is “of late, an unlikely star on Instagram and TikTok for videos offering pearls of Torah-based wisdom.” These clips, it explains, “marry self-help and ‘seichel,’ Yiddish for ‘common sense,’” often beginning with bold statements like “Wealth is in your wiring, not in your wallet” and “A child is not a second chance at your past,” before linking them to traditional sources.

According to the report, “his 250,000 followers on Instagram may not put him in the social media big leagues,” but they “greatly outnumber the several hundred men who come to study and pray at his shul.” The article underscores the contrast, noting that this is “an awful lot for a guy who speaks in Yiddish-inflected English and appears on video in front of bookshelves of Hasidic philosophy.”

The piece describes the rabbi’s online reach as spanning widely different audiences, stating that “from his digital pulpit, Rabbi Landau wields a particular kind of influence,” reaching “a mosaic of overlapping audiences, each of whom interprets him differently.” These include “practicing Jews who share his content earnestly over WhatsApp,” “secular internet addicts who take his videos with a heavy dose of irony,” “curious non-Jews seeking a pure form of religious authenticity,” and “young conservatives attracted to the traditional gender roles he preaches.”

It also notes that some responses are less positive, pointing out that certain commenters “make antisemitic jokes about Jews holding the secret to attaining material wealth,” reflecting the complexities of exposure to a broad online audience.

Tracing how the videos began, the article recounts that a talmid once asked Rabbi Landau, “Why are we keeping your light just closed into this small building?” That suggestion led to the recording and distribution of his talks. Rabbi Landau acknowledged his unfamiliarity with the medium, saying, “I was not so much understanding what social media is.”

The effort has largely been managed by his assistant, Shragi Kalmanowitz, who began uploading clips and later expanded production. Rabbi Landau, however, does not watch the videos, explaining, “I think when you see yourself, you can see too much.”

He also expressed concern that his message is being reduced in the editing process. “When you take all of this, you have to be a Torah-learning Jew to understand,” he said. “A lot of statements they take out, they cut it. So I’m questioning, Why do you take out my point?”

Kalmanowitz responded by explaining the reasoning: “We cut it out. Why do we cut it? Because we have to make applicable to everyone.”

The article reports that the videos have generated unexpected interest from people seeking conversion, with Kalmanowitz stating, “The answer is, Judaism doesn’t encourage conversion,” and adding, “No, Hashem likes it the way you are.”

Rabbi Landau himself appeared uncertain how to frame this level of exposure historically, recalling a recent question posed to him: “Has this ever been in the Jewish history that a Jewish rabbi can speak to so much non-Jewish people?” He responded, “I don’t know, we got to look it up.”

The Times places him within a broader landscape of religious figures gaining traction online, noting that “he seems to be the only rabbinical social media star from the patriarchal ultra-Orthodox world.” It also observes that much of his advice is directed toward men and has found an audience in spaces that emphasize “male authority and initiative.”

Addressing the presence of antisemitic followers, Kalmanowitz described one such idea, saying, “It means, basically, that you created the game, like us Jews rule the world, like you create the system and you’re leaking information about how to cheat the system,” and added, “A lot of our fans are actually big antisemites.”

Despite this, the approach remains unchanged. “Some of them end up turning into big fans of the rabbi,” Kalmanowitz said. “You just shine your light, and eventually they will learn to enjoy it.”

In closing, the profile presents Rabbi Landau as aware of the limitations of the medium he has entered. “The way the world is heading to is, basically, punchlines are taking it over,” he said. “And from the punchline becomes the next punchline.”

Senate Republicans on Wednesday voted to shut down a Democratic proposal aimed at limiting President Donald Trump’s ability to continue military action against Iran, marking the latest failed attempt to force a congressional check on the ongoing conflict.

The measure, introduced under the War Powers framework, sought to prevent further U.S. military involvement, but it was defeated as Republicans again stood together to oppose it. According to The Hill, this is the fifth time GOP lawmakers have rejected similar efforts to halt or restrict the administration’s actions in the weeks-long confrontation.

The chamber voted 46-51 against advancing the resolution from the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Rand Paul was the only Republican to break with his party and support moving the measure forward, while John Fetterman stood alone among Democrats in opposing it.

Leading the push for the resolution, Tammy Baldwin reiterated Democratic concerns during debate, arguing that Trump had campaigned on avoiding new overseas conflicts. Drawing parallels to past wars, she said, “In both wars, we had zero plans for the days to come and failed to outline our specific goals. In both wars, we had zero strategy to get out. And in both wars, we had servicemembers dying overseas for a cause that Americans did not support,” Baldwin said, comparing the current conflict to the Iraq war.

Lawmakers also pointed to public opinion data discussed during the debate. A Reuters/Ipsos poll cited in the proceedings indicated that just 36 percent of Americans support the strikes on Iran, according to The Hill.

Opposition to the resolution was led by Roger Wicker, chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, who argued that repeated votes on the issue have already settled the matter. He told colleagues, “We’ve been through these votes before. We’ve been through these votes recently and nothing has occurred in the makeup of this body or in the situation in Iran or the Middle East to materially change since the last time we voted on this matter,” Wicker said.

He further warned that approving the proposal would be “unwise,” according to The Hill.

The outcome highlights the sharp divide in Washington over the president’s authority to carry out military operations in Iran, with Republicans largely supporting the administration’s approach and Democrats cautioning against a prolonged engagement without explicit approval from Congress.

{Matzav.com}

U.S. defense officials have told lawmakers that removing Iranian naval mines from the Strait of Hormuz could require up to six months, raising concerns that disruptions to global energy markets may persist well into the year, according to a report published Wednesday.

The update was delivered during a classified briefing to Congress, as reported by The Washington Post, which cited individuals familiar with the session. The projected timeline suggests that the financial consequences of the conflict could stretch on through the end of the year or beyond.

According to three officials, members of the House Armed Services Committee received the briefing on Tuesday. Lawmakers from both parties were said to be dissatisfied with the assessment.

Military officials indicated that Iran may have deployed at least 20 naval mines in and around the critical shipping corridor, a key route for a significant portion of the world’s oil supply. Some of the devices were reportedly positioned using GPS-guided methods, making them harder for U.S. forces to locate, while others were believed to have been placed by small Iranian vessels.

The Pentagon declined to elaborate on the details publicly. Spokesman Sean Parnell confirmed that the topic had been addressed in a classified setting but dismissed the reported conclusions as “inaccurate.”

The Strait of Hormuz has emerged as a focal point in the ongoing confrontation. Iran has asserted that the waterway is closed and has carried out attacks on certain vessels, while both Washington and Tehran continue to press their respective conditions for ending the conflict.

Prior to the outbreak of hostilities, approximately 20 percent of the world’s oil shipments passed through the strait, with major Asian economies such as Japan, South Korea, and China relying heavily on that route.

President Donald Trump has insisted that Iran dismantle its nuclear program, relinquish its stockpile of highly enriched uranium, and fully reopen the waterway, warning that failure to comply could lead to additional military action. Iranian officials, for their part, have said they will not return to negotiations unless the United States first removes the naval blockade imposed in recent weeks.

On Tuesday, Trump said he was extending a two-week ceasefire indefinitely, adding Iran’s leadership is “seriously fractured” and must “come up with a unified proposal.”

He later stated if the US lifts its naval blockade of Iran, a deal between the two countries would be possible if the US renews its strikes on the Islamic Republic.

“Iran doesn’t want the Strait of Hormuz closed, they want it open so they can make $500 Million Dollars a day (which is, therefore, what they are losing if it is closed!). They only say they want it closed because I have it totally BLOCKADED (CLOSED!), so they merely want to ‘save face,’” Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social.

“People approached me four days ago, saying, ‘Sir, Iran wants to open up the Strait, immediately.’ But if we do that, there can never be a Deal with Iran, unless we blow up the rest of their Country, their leaders included!” he added.

Iran carried out the execution of a man accused of working with Israel’s Mossad intelligence agency, the country’s judiciary announced Wednesday, as watchdog groups reported that the individual had been employed in Iran’s nuclear sector.

The man, identified as Mehdi Farid, was put to death in what marks the latest in a growing series of executions involving individuals accused of espionage, a pattern that has drawn increasing concern from international rights organizations.

In a statement published by the judiciary’s Mizan Online outlet, officials said, “Mehdi Farid… was hanged this morning for extensive cooperation with the terrorist spy service Mossad after the case was examined and the final verdict was approved,” the judiciary’s Mizan Online website said, adding that he had been convicted of the capital offense of “corruption on earth.”

The Norway-based group Iran Human Rights reported that Farid had been employed by Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization at the time of his arrest on May 31, 2023.

According to the organization, Farid was originally handed a 10-year prison sentence. However, following a retrial in July 2025, the charges were elevated and he was sentenced to death on allegations of spying for Israel.

A separate U.S.-based group, Human Rights Activists News Agency, also stated that Farid, 55, had worked for the atomic energy body and that the retrial was initiated after the prosecutor challenged the initial sentence.

Mizan Online, for its part, described Farid as a manager within Iran’s Passive Defense Organization, a civil defense entity. That organization later issued a denial, stating he held no affiliation, declaring he had “any membership, responsibility or position” there.

The execution comes amid a broader escalation, with Iran carrying out multiple hangings since the outbreak of its conflict with the United States and Israel on February 28. A tenuous ceasefire has been in effect since April 8.

Just days earlier, Mizan reported that two additional individuals accused of collaborating with Mossad were executed. The men, named Mohammad Masoum Shahi and Hamed Validi, were alleged to be part of an espionage network connected to the Israeli agency and were said to have received training abroad, including in Iraq’s Kurdistan region.

Human rights groups have long identified Iran as one of the world’s leading executioners, second only to China, and Iranian officials have signaled that those accused of working with Israel should not expect any leniency.

By Rabbi Pinchos Lipschutz

Following the news these days can leave a person feeling whipsawed.

One day, the United States and Israel are striking Iran, determined to dismantle its nuclear ambitions. The next day, talk of a ceasefire emerges, and Iran signals a willingness, at least outwardly, to step back. One day, Israel is engaged in a full-scale confrontation with Hezbollah, declaring that this time it will not rest until the threat to its northern residents is eliminated. The next day, a ceasefire is imposed.

One day, President Trump announces that a sweeping peace agreement with Iran is within reach. The next day, Iran declares that it will not even attend the talks.

The same events are described in completely different terms depending on who is speaking. Some portray a necessary and even heroic campaign against a dangerous regime that threatens not only Israel, but the stability of the Western world. Others condemn the very same actions as reckless and unjustified, accusing leaders of overreach and irresponsibility.

It is not only the events themselves that are dizzying. It is also the constant shift in how they are understood.

The world feels unsteady, lurching from one crisis to the next. Wars, threats, disasters, rising hatred, senseless violence—each day seems to bring a new upheaval. It can feel as though no one is truly in control, as if there is no steady hand guiding events, no clear path toward stability.

But we know that beneath the surface turbulence, beyond what appears to be happening, nothing is haphazard. Rather, everything is being carefully guided by the Ribbono Shel Olam. There is a plan, even when we cannot see it. There is order, even when everything appears chaotic.

A person who doesn’t appreciate that cannot remove the feeling of instability. Those who live without Torah and are tethered to their phones can feel as if life pulls them in different directions, emotionally and mentally. The constant barrage of information, the shifting realities, and the conflicting voices can leave a person unanchored.

But we live differently. We exist for a higher purpose.

As Hakadosh Boruch Hu prepared to give us the Torah at Har Sinai, He defined who we are meant to be. He told Moshe Rabbeinu to convey to us our mission: “V’atem tihiyu li mamleches kohanim v’goy kadosh, You shall be to Me a kingdom of kohanim and a holy nation” (Shemos 19:6).

What sets us apart, what defines us, is not only what we do, but who we are meant to become—namely, a goy kadosh, a nation of holiness. Kedusha is not an added dimension of Yiddishkeit. It is its very core. Every one of us, no matter who we are and what we do, is charged to live a life of kedusha. That obligation is not just for the few, for the best, for the roshei yeshiva, rebbes, kollel yungeleit, rabbonim, and others who dedicate their lives to Torah study. It is the mandate of us all.

This week’s parsha of Kedoshim opens with that same all-encompassing charge: “Kedoshim tihiyu—You shall be holy.” Moshe Rabbeinu gathered together kol adas Bnei Yisroel, the entire nation, and delivered this message to everyone equally—not only to a spiritual elite, not only to those removed from the mundane world, but also to ordinary people living ordinary lives.

Because for us, holiness is not the domain of the exceptional. It is the responsibility of every Jew.

We are not meant merely to get by, performing mitzvos, learning Torah, and checking the boxes of observance. That is not the entirety of who we are. We are meant to be kedoshim, living differently, thinking differently, and being driven by a higher standard that shapes how we act, how we speak, and how we live.

But what does it mean to be holy?

It means to always be aware that Hashem created the world and created us for a purpose. When we know that He controls the world and everything in it, we live differently and conduct ourselves accordingly.

Many imagine holiness as something distant, reserved for those who withdraw completely from the material world, detaching themselves from its distractions and temptations. Yet, the Torah immediately dismantles that notion. The same parsha that commands kedusha goes on to speak about honesty in business, proper weights and measures, respect for parents, care for the poor, sensitivity in speech, and fairness in judgment.

These are not side topics. They are the definition of kedusha.

The Torah’s vision of holiness is not an escape from life, but an elevation of it.

Rashi famously explains “kedoshim tihiyu” as a call for perishus, restraint. Not merely abstaining from what is forbidden, but exercising discipline within what is permitted. A person can live entirely within the framework of halacha and still be driven by indulgence and a lack of refinement. Kedusha begins where mere permissibility ends. It is the awareness that just because “I can” does not always mean “I should.”

The Ramban sharpens this idea with his powerful description of the “novol birshus haTorah,” a person who follows the mitzvos, yet whose life lacks dignity and inner boundaries. The Torah’s command of holiness comes to close that gap. It calls upon a person to cultivate an inner nobility and live with restraint, proportion, and purpose.

As we count down toward Shavuos and Kabbolas HaTorah, we also have to take stock of our lives as Jews. We are all, no doubt, proud bnei Avrohom, Yitzchok, v’Yaakov, but sometimes we forget what it is all about.

We live in a world of plenty, where so much is available, and much of it has a hechsher or other indications that it is kosher. It becomes difficult to draw the line of where to stop and where to go; what is appropriate for us to bring into our homes and what is not. We forget to think about what will affect us in a good way and what will affect us in a negative way.

When we go shopping in the large, beautiful, fully stocked supermarkets that we are now blessed with, as we try to decide whether to purchase an item, we check the label and examine its ingredients and caloric content. How much sugar does it have? How much sodium? What about trans fats and other elements that can affect our physical health?

Being a member of the am kadosh means that we should also consider how any product we buy will affect our spiritual health. Will the product help us become better Yidden? Will it help us learn Torah? Will it give us an added geshmak in performing mitzvos? Or will it turn us off and cause us to become cynical of people who strive for holiness? Just because something has a glitzy cover and appears appealing does not mean that we should buy it.

I had a dear relative who was not privileged to grow up in a religious home. She lived out of town and did her best to keep kosher. One of the ways she determined whether food was kosher was by looking for Hebrew letters on the packaging. She assumed that any product with Hebrew letters on it was kosher, and where she lived, that assumption usually worked.

I met her shortly after she returned from her first visit to Israel and asked her how the trip had gone. She could not stop speaking about how wonderful it was to be surrounded by Jews wherever she went and how different it felt from her small hometown. Decades later, I distinctly remember one of her comments. She said, “And one of the best parts of being there was that it was so easy to find kosher products, because everything had Hebrew letters on it!”

We can laugh at her naivete, or we can feel compassion for this sincere and well-meaning woman. But in truth, we often do something quite similar. We assume that because something has a Hebrew name, it is proper and kosher enough for us.

Our world has become dumbed down and we often act without giving things sufficient thought. We form opinions based on snippets of information we have picked up, or more often merely skimmed, from dubious people driven by agendas or irresponsibility. In doing so, we lose sight of the truth and of our obligation to be better and holier than those around us.

We become involved in pursuits that take over our lives and fail to remain dedicated to Torah study and behavior.

So many of the mitzvos in Parshas Kedoshim relate to how we treat others, because without them, we can become overly focused on ourselves, our families, and our immediate circles, and grow indifferent to the needs and feelings of others.

There is much more to being a Yid, but being thoughtful, caring, and treating others the way we ourselves would like to be treated is where it begins, and it should become second nature to us.

The Alter of Kelm would say that included in this week’s mitzvah of ve’ohavta lerei’acha kamocha is that we care about another person not merely because we are commanded to do so, but because we genuinely love him. He explained that the mitzvah is to love another as you love yourself, and just as you love yourself naturally—not because anyone instructed you to—we are meant to love others as part of our very nature.

And just as there is no limit to how much people love themselves, it is not as if a person loves himself to a certain degree and then fulfills his obligation, so too, when it comes to loving others, there is no limit. We must be proactive in anticipating the needs of others, caring about them, rejoicing with them, grieving with them, assisting them, and helping them achieve a sense of satisfaction and happiness.

It is something we are all capable of doing or it would not be a mitzvah in the Torah. No one should say, “This is not for me. I am not that type of person. I do not have patience. I am too busy. I cannot be bothered attending other people’s simchos or, lo aleinu, shivahs. I cannot be kind to everyone.”

This is who we are meant to be and what our essence is meant to reflect.

We are all familiar with the story of the prospective ger who asked Hillel to summarize the entire Torah in one sentence. Hillel responded, “Mah de’aloch sonei lechavroch lo sa’avid—What you do not want done to you, do not do to your fellow.”

Apparently, Hillel was explaining the words ve’ohavta lerei’acha kamocha, teaching that this mitzvah is the very foundation of the Torah. Treating others the way we wish to be treated is not just a nice idea. It is not just another one of the 613 mitzvos.

This week, we will be learning the third perek in Pirkei Avos, where the Mishnah (3:17) states, “Im ein derech eretz, ein Torah” – without proper conduct, there can be no Torah. Someone who cannot conduct himself properly cannot properly learn Torah.

Chazal further teach in the third perek of Pirkei Avos that one who finds favor in the eyes of people finds favor in the eyes of Hashem. As members of an am kadosh, what we say and do in our interactions with others must always be aligned with the principles of derech eretz and middos tovos.

The Meshech Chochmah asks a striking question at the end of Parshas Yisro: What did Moshe Rabbeinu personally gain from Kabbolas HaTorah? Moshe had already reached the highest possible levels of spirituality. He was able to ascend to Shomayim even before the Torah was given, which is a clear indication that he had already achieved perfection. So what changed at Mattan Torah?

The Meshech Chochmah’s answer is profound and deeply relevant to us. Until Mattan Torah, he explains, even Moshe Rabbeinu’s avodah, and more broadly man’s avodah, was primarily in the realm of ruchniyus. Holiness was expressed through detachment from the physical, through elevating oneself beyond the material world.

At Mattan Torah, something fundamental changed. From that point on, gashmiyus became a vehicle for kedusha. The physical world was no longer something to escape from, but something to elevate.

In this light, the Meshech Chochmah explains the meaning of Hashem’s words to Moshe at the burning bush: “Shal ne’alecha mei’al raglecha—Remove your shoes from your feet.” On a simple level, Moshe was being told to remove the physical coverings that connected him to the earth. Symbolically, he was being told: “Set aside your physicality as you stand before Me.” At that moment in history, before the Torah was given, holiness meant stepping away from the material and entering a space of pure spirituality, like a malach.

But after Mattan Torah, everything shifted. The “shoes” are no longer removed. They are part of the avodah. The physical life of a Jew is not something to be discarded in order to serve Hashem. It is something to be refined and elevated in the process of serving Him.

Thus, after Mattan Torah, Hashem told Klal Yisroel, “Ve’anshei kodesh tihiyun li—You shall be holy people unto Me” (Shemos 22:30).

Holiness is not achieved by escaping life, but by elevating life as it is lived, and doing so with kedusha.

We are not meant to become malochim. We are meant to remain human beings who bring kedusha into human life.

We do not need to withdraw from the world to be good. We do not need to retreat into isolation to become kedoshim. The Torah wants us to live among people, amidst the complexity of daily life, and to make that life holy.

In a turbulent world, where up can feel like down and down like up, where truth becomes blurred and depth is too often replaced with emptiness, being anchored to Torah gives us stability. It allows us to find clarity and purpose amid the confusion, and to build lives of kedusha through Torah, mitzvos, and avodas Hashem.

May we all merit to fulfill our missions in this world, to live full and meaningful lives, and to bring the world ever closer to the coming of Moshiach, bemeheirah beyomeinu.

A Chilean national living in the United States illegally has been sentenced to three years behind bars for stealing a purse belonging to former Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem during an incident last April.

U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro announced Wednesday that 50-year-old Mario Bustamante Leiva received the sentence after previously admitting guilt in November to three counts of wire fraud and one count of first-degree theft.

Authorities said that once his prison term is completed, Leiva will be removed from the United States and sent back to Chile.

In a statement, Pirro said, “Bustamante Leiva came to Washington illegally to prey on citizens of the District,” Pirro said in a statement. “He methodically targeted women at restaurants, stealing their purses, and monetizing the stolen cards within minutes. His pattern of theft ends here. He will serve his prison term and be deported.”

Leiva’s alleged accomplice, 52-year-old Cristian Rodrigo Montecino-Sanzana, also a Chilean national in the country illegally, had already been sentenced last month to 13 months in prison.

According to prosecutors, the two men carried out a planned theft on April 20 at Capital Burger, focusing on Noem, whom they were unaware was serving as DHS secretary at the time. Video footage showed Leiva taking Noem’s Gucci purse, which held credit cards and roughly $3,000 in cash.

After the incident, Leiva was later spotted at another restaurant with the same purse, where he used the stolen credit cards to make purchases without authorization.

Investigators said Leiva initially entered the United States through Orlando International Airport in August 2021 under the Visa Waiver Program, which permits nationals from certain countries to travel to the U.S. without obtaining a visa in advance.

He was required to leave the country by November 13, 2021, but remained beyond that date, placing him in the country illegally. At the time of the purse theft, officials said he also had outstanding arrest warrants in Utah and New York tied to allegations including retail theft, credit card fraud, and possession of stolen property.

{Matzav.com}

WATCH:

LISTEN:

​​For more info, email bitachon4life@gmail.com.

LISTEN:

President Donald Trump indicated Wednesday that there is no set schedule for ending the ongoing standoff with Iran, making clear that his administration is not operating under any deadline as it maintains a ceasefire and continues economic pressure through a naval blockade.

In an interview with Martha MacCallum on Fox News, Trump emphasized that both the conflict and diplomatic efforts are proceeding without urgency. He said there is “no time frame” for the war and reiterated that there is likewise “no time pressure” tied to the ceasefire he extended Tuesday or to any potential negotiations.

Responding to questions about when hostilities might conclude, Trump repeated that there is “no time frame” and stressed that the administration is not rushing toward a resolution. He pushed back against political speculation, stating, “People say I want to get it over because of the midterms, not true,” Trump said, adding that the administration wanted to “get a good deal for the American people.”

Even as the ceasefire remains in place, Trump confirmed that the United States will continue enforcing its maritime blockade targeting Iranian ports. He did not outline any timeline for when those restrictions might be lifted.

A day earlier, Trump announced that the temporary ceasefire would be extended without a defined endpoint. At the time, he described Iran’s leadership as “seriously fractured” and said the country must “come up with a unified proposal” before meaningful progress can be made.

Trump later suggested that a diplomatic breakthrough would depend on continued pressure, including the possibility of renewed military action if the blockade were lifted prematurely. In a post on Truth Social, he wrote: “Iran doesn’t want the Strait of Hormuz closed, they want it open so they can make $500 Million Dollars a day (which is, therefore, what they are losing if it is closed!). They only say they want it closed because I have it totally BLOCKADED (CLOSED!), so they merely want to ‘save face,’”

He continued in the same post: “People approached me four days ago, saying, ‘Sir, Iran wants to open up the Strait, immediately.’ But if we do that, there can never be a Deal with Iran, unless we blow up the rest of their Country, their leaders included!”

Statements from the White House echoed the president’s position. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters Wednesday that no deadline has been imposed on Iran to present terms for ending the conflict.

She explained that divisions within Iran are complicating the situation, saying, “There’s obviously a lot of internal division [in Iran]. This is a battle between the pragmatists and the hardliners in Iran right now, and the President wants a unified response. And so as we await that response, there’s a ceasefire with the military and kinetic strikes, but Operation Economic Fury continues,” she stressed, “and the effective and successful naval blockade continues as well of ships and vessels that are moving to and from Iranian ports. We are completely strangling their economy through this blockade. They’re losing $500 million a day.”

Leavitt underscored that the timeline remains entirely in the president’s hands, adding, “The President has not set a firm deadline to receive an Iranian proposal, unlike some of the reporting I’ve seen today. Ultimately, the timeline will be dictated by the commander-in-chief and the president of the United States.”

She also cautioned against relying on public messaging from Tehran, noting, “We all see a lot of different messaging and rhetoric coming out of Iran – and I would caution you against taking anything they say at face value. What they say publicly is much different than what they concede to the US and our negotiating team privately.”

According to Leavitt, the decision to prolong the ceasefire reflects Washington’s expectation that Iran must take the next step. “chose to extend the ceasefire because it’s Iran who needs to get their act together. The United States and President Trump have been very clear in our demands, and our red lines, and what we need to see…from the very beginning.”

Earlier in the day, a spokesperson for Iran’s Foreign Ministry said Tehran had agreed to the U.S. request for a ceasefire but has not yet determined whether it will enter formal negotiations.

At the same time, tensions remain high in the region, with Iran reportedly launching three separate attacks on vessels traveling south through the Strait of Hormuz.

{Matzav.com}

A planned Shabbos gathering with the Belzer Rebbe for major donors has been postponed due to his current medical condition, according to an update delivered to the chassidus.

Rabbi Pinchas Lerner, a Belzer askan, informed chassidim in a recorded message that the upcoming “Heichala D’Malka” Shabbos, which was scheduled for this weekend, has been delayed. The event was set to take place at the D-City complex in Maale Adumim and was expected to host approximately 200 donors, each of whom had contributed $100,000 to the Belzer institutions.

Explaining the decision-making process, Rabbi Lerner said: “When I arrived in Eretz Yisroel on Sunday, I became aware of the Rebbe’s health condition. At that stage, it was not possible to make decisions, especially since on Monday encouraging reports began to arrive about a significant improvement in his condition. We waited until Tuesday, and with Hashem’s help, the situation indeed improved greatly.”

Leadership of the Belzer institutions convened to deliberate whether to proceed with the event as planned, weighing the Rebbe’s health and need for rest against the extensive preparations already made for the gathering.

The discussion was thorough, with strong considerations on both sides. On the one hand, there was a desire to move forward with the elevated Shabbos experience for the hundreds of chassidim who had already registered and prepared. On the other, the overriding concern was that the Rebbe had not yet fully regained his strength.

To reach a final decision, the matter was brought before the Rebbe himself, together with his son, Rav Aharon Mordechai Rokeach.

During the conversation, the option of canceling the Shabbos was presented. It was understood that if the Rebbe insisted on proceeding, the event would go ahead. However, if he agreed to postpone, it would indicate that he still required additional time to recover.

When the matter was presented, the Rebbe accepted the proposal and asked: “Do you agree to postpone the Shabbos?” The response was affirmative. Those present noted that the decision appeared to bring the Rebbe a sense of relief and that, at this time, it was not appropriate for him to undertake the effort required for such an event.

Rabbi Lerner also addressed the donors who had registered, saying: “We ask for the forgiveness of the public who registered and invested their resources and funds. However, there is no doubt that the Rebbe’s full health stands at the forefront of every chossid’s mind, and it takes precedence over any event.”

He added that an updated announcement regarding a new date for the gathering will be issued in the coming days, concluding: “We thank everyone for their understanding.”

An Israeli airstrike in southern Lebanon has killed Maha Abu Khalil, an 80-year-old operative who was part of a terror cell that attempted to hijack an El Al flight in Athens in 1969, marking what officials describe as the closing of a decades-old account.

According to reports on Wednesday, Abu Khalil was killed in a strike carried out by the Israeli Air Force in the Tyre district in the western sector of southern Lebanon, just minutes before a cease-fire between Israel and Lebanon took effect.

Abu Khalil was a known member of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine and had long been associated with attacks targeting Israeli interests. Her death is being viewed as a significant moment in Israel’s long-standing conflict with figures linked to early-era Palestinian terrorism.

The incident that first brought Abu Khalil to prominence occurred in 1969 at Athens International Airport in Greece. She was part of a three-person cell from the Popular Front that sought to seize control of an El Al aircraft bound for Israel.

The objective of the hijacking attempt was to trigger an international crisis and pressure Israel into releasing Palestinian and Arab prisoners held at the time. The operation was foiled, and Greek authorities arrested the members of the cell and brought them to trial.

Despite her conviction, Abu Khalil did not serve her full prison sentence. In 1970, about a year after the failed hijacking attempt, another aircraft was hijacked by the same terror organization, which issued an ultimatum demanding the release of imprisoned operatives. As part of a prisoner exchange forced on the Greek government with international mediation, Abu Khalil and her associates were released.

Reports indicate that the Israeli strike that killed her targeted several buildings in Tyre believed to be used for terrorist infrastructure, and was carried out in the final moments before the cease-fire went into effect.

Her killing, despite her advanced age, is being described as symbolic, representing a reckoning with members of the earlier generation of Palestinian militants in Lebanon who were involved in hijackings and high-profile attacks against Israel in previous decades.

Separately, the IDF released details of another operation conducted earlier Wednesday deep inside Lebanese territory, shortly before the cease-fire began. Forces from the 769th Brigade under the 91st Division, working in coordination with the Israeli Air Force, carried out a raid on a Hezbollah compound in the village of Debin, approximately 12 kilometers from the border.

According to the military, the operation followed intelligence indicating militant activity at the site and plans to carry out attacks against Israeli forces and civilians. Troops from the Sabra Battalion raided the compound and destroyed extensive terrorist infrastructure.

During the operation, Israeli forces struck more than 70 separate targets, including engaging in close-quarters combat with Hezbollah operatives alongside precision airstrikes. More than 20 militants were reported killed in the assault.

{Matzav.com}

An Israeli court has ordered Sheba Medical Center to pay approximately 3.5 million shekels in compensation to a woman who was left permanently disabled following childbirth, ruling that medical negligence during a prolonged labor directly caused severe and irreversible harm.

The decision concludes an eight-year legal battle stemming from a 2018 delivery that began as a routine hospital admission but ended with lasting neurological damage. The court found that failures by the medical team during critical hours in the delivery room led to the woman’s condition.

According to the ruling, one of the central failures was the staff’s lack of appropriate response to a stalled labor that continued for many hours. The court described this as a clear breach of the duty of care. The patient testified that she remained in the delivery room for an extended period without being examined by a doctor, despite the complexity of her situation.

In her testimony, the woman described a sudden shift in the atmosphere after hours of relative calm. “From a calm room it became a full room and everyone was stressed, and I don’t understand what’s happening,” she said, recounting the moment when multiple doctors rushed in as the situation deteriorated.

The judge determined that the medical team’s failure to intervene in a timely manner left the patient in a dangerous condition for too long, directly resulting in permanent nerve damage. The compensation awarded is intended to cover lost earning capacity, ongoing medical treatment, and the profound impact on the woman’s life.

While cases of medical malpractice are not uncommon, the severity of this ruling and the size of the compensation stand out, underscoring the critical importance of close monitoring and timely intervention during childbirth, particularly when warning signs emerge.

Legal experts have noted that successful malpractice claims require clear proof of a direct causal link between negligence and injury, which the court found to be established in this case.

Sheba Medical Center has not issued a formal response to the ruling. The hospital, widely regarded as one of Israel’s leading medical institutions and recently ranked among the top hospitals globally, now faces renewed scrutiny over patient safety standards.

In a statement, the hospital said: “The Sheba Medical Center is known for a significantly lower-than-average rate of perineal tears worldwide. This is due to a professional approach practiced at Sheba, of exhausting all possible actions to avoid the use of instruments and unnatural means during childbirth, and with the goal of allowing the mother an optimal birth experience — while maintaining uncompromising attention to the safety and well-being of both the mother and the newborn. We will continue to provide the most professional, safe, and optimal care to all our patients.”

A moving image released on Memorial Day morning shows Israeli Prime Minister Binyomin Netanyahu donning the tefillin of Staff Sgt. Nissim Sean Carmeli, a lone soldier who was killed during Operation Protective Edge.

The photograph captures a powerful moment as Netanyahu puts on the tefillin of the Golani fighter, whose story deeply moved the nation. Carmeli, originally from Texas, immigrated to Israel and enlisted in the IDF as a lone soldier. He was killed in combat in Gaza at the age of 21.

Carmeli’s story became a symbol of dedication and love for Israel. After news of his death spread, his friends feared that few would attend his funeral, as most of his family remained in the United States. However, calls spread across social media urging the public to come honor the fallen soldier.

The response was overwhelming. According to police estimates, more than 20,000 people attended his funeral at the military cemetery in Haifa. “Listen, this is really not what we thought,” said Dori, a friend of the fallen soldier. “Despite the call on Facebook, I thought maybe a few dozen would come. When I suddenly saw more and more people arriving, it surprised me.”

During this year’s Memorial Day ceremonies, Netanyahu also addressed the ongoing war, saying: “In the past two and a half years, we have been engaged in a multi-front war unlike anything since the War of Independence.” He added that “25,648 fallen soldiers of Israel’s wars are now joined by Barak Kalfon and Lidor Porat — the most recent casualties from the fighting in Lebanon.”

{Matzav.com}

Hodaya Cohen, who was crowned this year’s International Tanach Quiz champion for youth, said she nearly gave the wrong answer to the final, decisive question before securing first place in the competition.

Speaking after her victory, Cohen described the tense moment that determined the outcome, revealing how close she came to an error. The question asked where Yaakov Avinu was born, and after several long seconds that felt like an eternity, she answered “Be’er Lachai Roi,” clinching the title.

In an interview on the program “Yatza Chag” with Liat Regev on Kan News Radio, she reflected on the moment, saying: “At that moment I didn’t process it, it took me time. I almost said a wrong answer, I almost answered Be’er Sheva.”

She went on to describe her thought process under pressure: “I simply ran through the places that were a few chapters earlier, and moved forward to that chapter, and suddenly the posuk about Be’er Lachai Roi popped into my mind, and right after that passage it speaks about the birth of Yaakov.”

Cohen is an 11th-grade student at Ulpanat Rabbi Beharan in Gedera and a resident of Moshav Nir Akiva in southern Israel. This year’s competition featured 16 participants from seven different countries and was held at the Yerushalayim Theater under the theme “To Build and to Plant.”

Akiva (Jack) Schreier, a 10th-grade student from the United States, finished as runner-up, while Yehoshua Applebaum of Israel, a student at the Berman Hebrew Academy, placed third.

{Matzav.com}

Israel’s Supreme Court has ordered limits on public access to a key hearing set for Thursday on petitions demanding the establishment of a state commission of inquiry into the failures surrounding the October 7 attacks, citing concerns over possible disruptions.

The hearing follows a conditional order issued by the High Court of Justice in November, requiring the government to explain why it has not acted to establish a commission under the Commissions of Inquiry Law, which would examine “independently, professionally, and impartially the full scope of events related to the attack.”

In their decision, the justices said there is a substantial risk that the proceedings could be disrupted, justifying restrictions on entry to the courtroom. “There is a well-founded concern that the hearing scheduled in these proceedings may be accompanied by disturbances, unrest, or outbursts of a degree that is expected to significantly hinder its proper conduct,” the ruling stated.

Accordingly, attendance will be limited to attorneys, members of the press, and individuals granted special authorization. At the same time, the court stressed that in order to preserve the principle of open proceedings, the hearing will be broadcast live to the public.

The case will be heard before an expanded panel of seven justices, led by Deputy Supreme Court President Noam Sohlberg.