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Speculation over the condition of Sen. Mitch McConnell erupted across social media Monday after conservative commentator Laura Loomer and journalist Desiree Townsend each claimed, citing unnamed sources, that the Kentucky Republican had been declared brain dead. McConnell’s office, however, firmly rejected the reports, saying the senator remains hospitalized and continues to recover.

Responding to the claims, a spokesperson for McConnell said the senator’s health is improving and that he remains actively involved with his staff despite being away from Washington.

“Senator McConnell appreciates the outpouring of support he’s receiving while he continues his recovery in the hospital. The Senator continues to improve, and is working closely with his staff on Kentucky and Senate matters while the Senate is out of session,” the spokesperson told Breitbart News.

Before the statement from McConnell’s office, Loomer posted on X that a senior source she described as being close to the White House had informed her the senator had been declared brain dead and would not recover.

“High level source close to the White House tells me Mitch McConnell is officially brain dead. He’s not coming back,” Loomer posted.

Townsend later echoed the allegation, saying her own sources had conveyed the same information. She also asserted that McConnell’s Capitol Police protective detail remained stationed at the hospital.

“I have heard the same thing from my sources for days,” Townsend wrote. “At this point, I am at the hospital for when they eventually decide to move cut him off of life support and move his body. His Capitol police detail is still here as of 3:39pm ET.”

McConnell was admitted to a hospital on June 14, although his office has not revealed why he was hospitalized or provided specific information about his medical condition. At 84 years old, McConnell is the longest-serving Senate leader in American history and is currently serving the final term of his Senate career, which concludes in January.

Three days after McConnell entered the hospital, his wife, former Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao, traveled to Beijing for meetings with Chinese officials. During her visit, she met with Chinese Vice President Han Zheng, who urged the United States and China to deepen cooperation and continue efforts to build what he described as a more stable relationship between the two nations.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump on Monday pointed to new price reductions at Walmart as evidence that his administration is making headway in lowering the cost of everyday essentials, a central economic priority as critics continue to fault the White House over the high cost of living.

According to Business Insider, Trump said Walmart agreed to cut prices on a variety of products, including ground beef, after his administration encouraged major retailers to help make household necessities more affordable as part of events commemorating America’s 250th anniversary.

Trump called on other large retailers to adopt similar measures, saying lower prices at the nation’s biggest retailer would provide meaningful relief to millions of Americans.

The White House said Walmart’s decision followed a request from the administration and was part of a broader initiative tied to the country’s 250th anniversary celebration aimed at reducing costs for consumers.

Reuters later reported that Walmart confirmed it would be lowering prices on a number of products sold in its stores, including meat, fresh produce, beverages, and other consumer staples. Ground beef was among the items that will see a price reduction.

The announcement comes as Trump continues to face attacks from Democrats and other political opponents, who argue that Americans are still struggling with elevated prices and contend that some administration policies have made affordability more difficult.

Critics have cited inflation, tariffs, and the administration’s handling of the conflict with Iran as factors they believe have contributed to higher costs for consumers.

They have also argued that the fighting involving Iran has injected uncertainty into global energy markets, raising concerns that disruptions to oil production and shipping lanes could drive up the price of gasoline, transportation, and a wide range of consumer goods.

Energy experts have noted that instability in key oil-producing regions has the potential to push crude oil prices higher while increasing broader economic risks through rising fuel and shipping costs.

The White House has rejected those claims, maintaining that Trump’s agenda is centered on lowering prices, increasing domestic energy production, strengthening the U.S. economy, and safeguarding America’s national security by preventing Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon.

Trump has repeatedly maintained that he inherited an economy burdened by inflation and says his economic agenda is designed to restore the purchasing power of working Americans.

The debate over affordability has emerged as one of the defining political issues confronting the administration, with grocery prices serving as one of the clearest indicators voters use to judge the health of the economy.

Food prices remain particularly important because grocery shopping is one of the most frequent and visible expenses faced by American households.

Newsweek reported that Trump has personally urged Walmart and other major retailers to lower prices as the administration seeks to demonstrate measurable progress in reducing everyday costs.

The Wall Street Journal has reported that many retailers have cautioned that tariffs could place additional pressure on prices by increasing costs associated with imported products and global supply chains.

Trump’s latest effort involving Walmart underscores the growing role major retailers are playing in the national debate over the economy, with the president insisting his policies are bringing prices down while critics argue that tariffs, international conflicts, and other administration decisions could continue to strain household budgets.

Two minors from Bnei Brak have been indicted in connection with a series of break-ins across the city, including the theft of approximately 100,000 shekels (about $30,000) worth of silver items from the private room of the Chernobyler Rebbe at the Chernobyler beis medrash on Rechov Aharonovitch.

According to police, the suspects—ages 14 and 16—are accused of carrying out three separate burglaries in recent months, targeting the Chernobyler beis medrash, a residential facility, and a supermarket in Bnei Brak. Following the investigation, prosecutors filed indictments against both youths and requested that they remain under house arrest until the conclusion of legal proceedings.

Police launched the investigation after receiving three burglary complaints from locations throughout the city.

Investigators say that in June, the two suspects entered the Chernobyler beis medrash, made their way into the Rebbe’s private room, forced open a safe, and stole silver items valued at approximately 100,000 shekels.

The stolen silver was ultimately recovered and returned to the beis medrash. According to local reports, however, the items were not located by police. Instead, they were discovered in the yard of a home on Rechov Harav Rozovsky in Bnei Brak by a civilian, who turned them over to police. Investigators then processed the silver for fingerprints before returning it to the gabbai of the beis medrash.

Police also allege that in May, the suspects broke into a residential facility on HaYarden Street by smashing a window and stealing cash and a checkbook from the administration office.

In April, the pair allegedly broke into a supermarket on Rechov Aharonovitch, making off with snacks and soft drinks.

Following the collection of evidence, investigators identified and arrested the two Bnei Brak teenagers.

The Tel Aviv District Police Juvenile Prosecution Unit has charged them with burglary of a house of worship and residence, theft committed jointly, breaking into a non-residential building with intent to steal, malicious property damage, and criminal trespassing committed jointly. Prosecutors have also requested that both minors remain under house arrest pending the completion of the court proceedings.

President Donald Trump issued a stark warning to Iran on Monday, declaring that the United States will either secure a diplomatic agreement with Tehran or “finish the job,” prompting a swift and defiant response from senior Iranian officials as negotiations over a permanent agreement continue.

“We’re either going to make a deal or we’re going to finish the job. OK. And it won’t be tough to finish the job. I’d rather make a deal, because I don’t want to affect 91 million people,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office.

He highlighted the military capabilities of the United States while emphasizing that Washington has not provided financial assistance to Tehran. “We can knock down their bridges in one hour, we can knock out their energy supply…they don’t have any money now. We haven’t given them any money,” he added.

Trump on Iran:

We're either going to make a deal, or we're going to finish the job, okay? And it won't be tough to finish the job.

I'd rather make a deal because I don't want to affect 91 million people. We can knock down their bridges in one hour.

We can knock out their… pic.twitter.com/FkyQ8piifO

— Clash Report (@clashreport) July 6, 2026

Iran quickly pushed back against Trump’s remarks. Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, warned that Tehran would answer forcefully if the American president continued using what he described as disrespectful rhetoric toward the Iranian people.

“I say to the delusional president of the United States, who today threatened 91 million Iranians: Speak to the Iranian people with respect, or we will respond to you in another language,” Zolghadr said.

He also argued that similar threats by Trump in the past had failed to intimidate Iran’s “several-thousand-year-old civilization,” asserting that the outcome for the United States had instead been “defeat, desperation and requests for negotiations and a ceasefire.”

The sharp exchange comes as Washington and Tehran remain engaged in diplomatic efforts aimed at reaching a lasting agreement following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the two countries.

Those negotiations have unfolded against the backdrop of renewed military friction. In recent weeks, the United States carried out two strikes on Iranian targets in the Strait of Hormuz after accusing Tehran of violating the ceasefire agreement.

Following those operations, Trump cautioned that if Iran continued breaching the ceasefire, the United States could be compelled to “militarily complete the job.”

Meanwhile, Al Arabiya reported on Sunday that negotiators from both sides are expected to reconvene in Pakistan on July 11 to continue discussions on a permanent ceasefire.

According to the report, the upcoming talks are also expected to address Iran’s nuclear program, U.S. sanctions imposed on the Islamic Republic, and the status of frozen assets belonging to the IRGC.

MK Yaakov Asher of United Torah Judaism delivered a forceful speech in the Knesset plenum, arguing that Israel’s continued existence depends on its commitment to Torah and Jewish tradition and warning that the growing embrace of secularism poses a greater long-term danger than external enemies.

During his remarks, Asher questioned why the Jewish people chose to settle in a region marked by such complex geopolitical challenges, answering that the nation’s presence in the Land of Israel is rooted in Hashem’s promise to the Jewish people.

“Our deed to this land is the Torah,” Asher declared, adding that the Jewish people’s right to the land is accompanied by an obligation to observe the Torah’s commandments and laws.

Asher also criticized what he described as increasing hostility toward Israel’s religious and chareidi communities, arguing that there is widespread incitement and disrespect directed at those who observe Torah and mitzvos. He pointed to expressions that have been used against chareidim, including references to “mezuzah kissers and grave worshippers,” saying such rhetoric reflects contempt for matters of holiness.

He went on to compare the public discourse in Israel with that of leaders in other countries, asserting that many world leaders openly speak about faith in G-d, while some Israeli public officials have avoided doing so for years.

Concluding his address, Asher recounted what he described as a lengthy conversation with an Iranian intellectual, who claimed that Israel’s enemies view the country as lacking sufficient faith.

“That is the real danger facing the State of Israel,” Asher said. “When people stand at this podium and belittle the Torah, halachah, and the mitzvos, that is the true existential threat to the State of Israel.”

{Matzav.com}

A dramatic new escalation unfolded overnight in the Strait of Hormuz after Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) reportedly launched missiles at commercial vessels, damaging two ships and fueling fresh concerns that the fragile calm between Washington and Tehran may be unraveling.

According to Axios, citing a U.S. official, the IRGC fired at least two missiles at commercial ships traveling through the strategic waterway late Monday night. The official said both vessels sustained substantial damage, though no injuries or fatalities were reported.

Earlier in the day, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) announced that an “unknown projectile” struck an oil tanker off the coast of Oman near the Strait of Hormuz, igniting a fire aboard the vessel.

The latest attack comes as tensions remain elevated across the region, despite ongoing diplomatic contacts between the United States and Iran aimed at securing a lasting agreement after the two sides signed a Memorandum of Understanding.

The uneasy ceasefire has already been tested. In recent days, the United States carried out two separate strikes against Iranian targets in the Strait of Hormuz, saying the operations were in response to Iranian violations of the ceasefire agreement.

Following those incidents, President Donald Trump cautioned that the United States could be compelled to “militarily complete the job” if Iran continued to breach the ceasefire.

The Strait of Hormuz is among the world’s most strategically vital maritime corridors, serving as the passageway for approximately one-fifth of global crude oil and liquefied natural gas shipments. During the wider Middle East conflict, Iran’s blockade of the waterway brought commercial traffic to an almost complete standstill, sending global energy prices soaring.

After reaching an initial framework agreement with the United States to suspend hostilities, Tehran reopened the Strait of Hormuz, allowing commercial shipping to resume through one of the world’s most critical energy chokepoints.

MK Uri Maklev, chairman of the United Torah Judaism faction and a senior member of the chareidi negotiating team on the draft law, says the combination of the proposed Basic Law on Torah study and legislation freezing the arrests of yeshivah students could bring an end to the current wave of arrests. In a wide-ranging interview, he also accused former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and former Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee chairman Yuli Edelstein of repeatedly misleading the chareidi parties during negotiations, addressed Justice Minister Yariv Levin’s version of events, and discussed the political implications of Rav Dov Lando’s recent letter.

Speaking in an interview with Kikar Hashabbat, Maklev reflected on the collapse of efforts to pass a draft law and the growing legal and financial sanctions being imposed on Torah students.

Maklev placed much of the blame on Gallant and Edelstein, claiming they repeatedly backed away from understandings that had already been reached with the chareidi parties.

He also rejected reports that the chareidi factions had agreed to draft quotas amounting to 50 percent of an annual draft-age cohort or to a framework under which anyone not actively learning would immediately be inducted into the military.

Maklev likewise disputed Justice Minister Yariv Levin’s account of the order in which the coalition prioritized judicial reform and draft legislation.

Referring to Rav Dov Lando’s recent letter, Maklev indicated that the political relationship between Degel HaTorah and the broader right-wing bloc has changed significantly.

“We will do what is best for us,” he said. “I don’t think there will be a signature from all the faction leaders supporting it. We have no obligation to it,” referring to the right-wing bloc.

Asked how the situation had deteriorated to the point where yeshivah students are being arrested and financial penalties imposed on Torah students, Maklev responded, “It’s an obvious question. This is the result. There is Divine concealment. We went through many upheavals before reaching this point. At first we wanted to bring a government bill. Then the attorney general said the Defense Ministry had to provide an opinion. We sat with Gallant, and then he asked that Gantz also agree. My second home became the Kirya in Tel Aviv.”

Maklev sharply criticized both Edelstein and Gallant, accusing them of repeatedly deceiving the chareidi representatives.

“Without question, among the political figures, both of them misled us. The test is the outcome: Gallant and Edelstein misled us. Edelstein lied to us, and I never imagined he would do that. On the eve of the strike on Iran, we came much further than we ever thought we could agree to, and then he presented a different document. He backed away from the understandings reached before the strike on Iran. That was just another one of his lies.”

Addressing criticism directed at the chareidi parties over the failure to pass the draft law, Maklev insisted that party leaders fully appreciate the pain being experienced by the public.

“We are not disconnected from the issue. I personally feel it. We feel what the public is going through—the campaign of persecution and the hardships. We are living through this together. Of course people judge by the final result, but they also need to understand everything that happened along the way.”

Maklev also rejected Levin’s claim that the chareidi parties never requested delaying the draft law in favor of judicial reform.

“That’s not accurate,” he said. “I’m telling you differently. They explained to us why it would be better to first pass the judicial reform and only afterward the draft law.”

Responding to reports that the chareidi parties had accepted a target of drafting half of eligible recruits, Maklev said those claims were simply false.

“They said we agreed to targets of 50%. That’s not true! We did not agree to 50%! We spoke about 5,000 recruits out of the entire pool of approximately 80,000 eligible draftees. That’s less than 10%.”

He further insisted that the chareidi negotiating team never agreed that anyone not actively learning Torah would automatically be drafted.

“There was never such a thing. We didn’t agree to anything like that. First they must regulate the status of those who are learning, and only afterward can we discuss anything else.”

Turning again to Rav Landau’s letter stating that Degel HaTorah no longer feels bound to the right-wing bloc, Maklev said the letter marked a turning point.

“Something changed following the letter written by Maran Rav Dov Landau. I don’t think there will be a signature from all the faction leaders supporting it. We have no obligation to that bloc.”

At the same time, Maklev stressed that it is still too early to discuss coalition scenarios following the next election.

“We’ve said one thing: we’ll do what is best for us. I represent a public, and that public wants to hear that our first choice is a right-wing government. Even though we’ve taken blows from right-wing parties, it should not be assumed that we are automatically part of that bloc.”

Maklev concluded by explaining why United Torah Judaism continues to push for both the Basic Law on Torah study and the legislation freezing the arrests of yeshivah students.

“With the Basic Law on Torah study together with the law freezing the arrests, there is a possibility that the arrests will stop,” he said. “I assume these laws will have a majority in the Knesset.”

{Matzav.com}

Five former presidents of Israel’s Supreme Court issued a sharply worded public statement on Monday condemning the government’s decision regarding the Second Authority Council, warning that refusing to comply with High Court rulings would deal a severe blow to Israeli democracy.

The statement was signed by former Supreme Court Presidents Aharon Barak, Dorit Beinisch, Asher Grunis, Esther Hayut, and Uzi Vogelman.

Referring to the government’s decision, they wrote, “In light of the decision adopted yesterday by the Government of Israel regarding the Second Authority Council, we warn of the unprecedented gravity of this decision, whose clear meaning is a call by the government to disregard and disobey court orders.”

The retired justices continued, “Failure to comply with court orders and rulings is the final nail in the coffin of democracy. It is a step that completely disrupts the system of government and the rule of law in the state, leading to anarchy and concentrating all governmental authority in the hands of a single body. Such a reality would make the proper functioning of society impossible.”

They added that, “In order to prevent this destructive outcome, it is appropriate for the government to state the obvious—that court rulings and judicial decisions must be obeyed.”

Meanwhile, Bank of Israel Governor Prof. Amir Yaron also addressed the controversy during an interview with Channel 13 News.

“High Court judicial decisions are binding on all institutions,” Yaron said. “A government announcement that it will not comply with a High Court ruling undermines business certainty in the economy.”

A significant decline has been recorded in the number of chareidi recruits joining the IDF’s Chashmonean Brigade, with a new report attributing the drop to the recent wave of arrests targeting yeshivah students.

According to a report published by Walla, dozens of chareidi candidates who had already begun the screening and enlistment process for the Chashmonean Brigade have withdrawn or halted their applications in recent months.

The report states that during the most recent enlistment cycle in May, only about 97 new soldiers joined the brigade, despite an estimated annual pool of approximately 14,000 potential chareidi recruits.

Conversations with candidates cited in the report indicate that the recent increase in arrests has been the primary reason many chose to abandon the enlistment process. The broader public debate over drafting chareidim, together with pressure from within the chareidi community, has also affected their willingness to continue.

The findings echo comments made by Sgt. Maj. (Res.) Elchanan Wasserman, the former head of recruitment for the IDF’s Chareidi Chashmonean Brigade and current director of the Derech Yoav preparatory academies, in a recent interview.

During the interview, Wasserman issued a stark warning to policymakers and law enforcement officials regarding the arrest of yeshivah students who do not enlist.

“These arrests are taking us on a 100-meter sprint—but in reverse,” he said. “They are not helping increase chareidi enlistment; they are preventing it.”

{Matzav.com}

In a departure from the traditional vacation destinations favored by many admorim, the Vizhnitzer Beit Shemesh Rebbe has chosen to spend his summer retreat in the Shomron city of Emanuel, where he is expected to remain for an entire week. The unprecedented visit has generated tremendous excitement among the city’s chassidic residents, who are preparing to welcome the Rebbe for what is being described as a historic Shabbos.

Residents of Emanuel, home to a growing chassidic population, have warmly welcomed the announcement. It will mark the first time a Rebbe of such stature will spend an extended Shabbos and several days among the city’s residents.

The visit also represents a notable shift in the Rebbe’s customary summer plans. Until two years ago, the Vizhnitzer Beit Shemesh Rebbe would spend several weeks in the British resort town of Llandudno, Wales, together with his father-in-law, the Vizhnitzer Rebbe. Last year, after the Vizhnitzer Rebbe remained in Israel due to health concerns, the Beit Shemesh Rebbe traveled to Leżajsk, Poland, for a two-week retreat. This year, however, he has chosen to spend his vacation in Emanuel, a city known for its thriving Torah and chassidic communities.

The decision is closely tied to the steady growth of the Rebbe’s own chassidic community in Emanuel over recent years. The local congregation has expanded alongside dozens of Vizhnitzer chassidim affiliated with his father-in-law’s court. The Rebbe has consistently encouraged young chassidim to settle in the city and regularly visits to monitor the community’s development, though he has never before remained for such an extended stay.

According to the current schedule, the Rebbe is expected to arrive this Thursday, on the eve of Parshas Mattos-Masei, the 24th of Tammuz, and remain in Emanuel until the following Thursday, Parshas Devarim, the 2nd of Av.

Throughout the week, residents and chassidim will have opportunities to seek the Rebbe’s guidance and receive his brachos. The highlight of the visit will be Shabbos Parshas Mattos-Masei, when the Rebbe will lead the tefillos and conduct his tishen for the entire community. Large crowds are expected to attend the uplifting gatherings.

Members of the local organizing committee are completing final preparations for the Rebbe’s arrival, as Emanuel readies itself for what many residents expect to be one of the most significant events in the city’s history.

{Matzav.com}

Thousands gathered in Netanya as the Yenuka, Rav Shlomo Yehuda Be’eri, delivered a moving hesped and words of chizuk following the tragic murder of the mekubal Rav Amos Guetta zt”l. During his emotional address, the Yenuka shared a remarkable personal story about his first encounter with Rav Guetta nearly twenty years ago, offering a rare glimpse into the slain tzaddik’s extraordinary spiritual stature.

A profound sense of grief filled the gathering as the Yenuka came to comfort Rav Guetta’s family and the countless talmidim and admirers left devastated by his brutal murder.

Addressing the family, bnei yeshivah, and the assembled crowd, the Yenuka opened with visible emotion.

“I am in tremendous, tremendous pain,” he said.

He cited the Gemara in Maseches Rosh Hashanah, which compares the passing of tzaddikim to the destruction of the Bais Hamikdash, and quoted the words of the novi Yeshayah: “הצדיק אבד ואין איש שם לב” — “The righteous man has perished, and no one takes it to heart.”

The Yenuka emphasized that Rav Amos had devoted every ounce of his life, strength, and soul to Klal Yisroel, tirelessly bringing distant Jews closer to Torah, offering heartfelt tefillos, and caring deeply for every Jew who crossed his path.

He went on to compare the horrific murder to the killing of Zechariah Hanavi, whose blood was spilled unjustly. Crying out in anguish, he lamented that the generation had descended to such a painful low that “there is no consolation for such a loss.”

To highlight the severity of bloodshed, he referenced the Gemara in Maseches Yoma describing the Kohanim ascending the kevesh of the mizbei’ach, declaring, “There is no bloodshed more terrible or more horrifying than this. The heart cries out to the heavens.”

The most riveting moment of the address came when the Yenuka recounted his very first meeting with Rav Amos nearly two decades ago.

He explained that shortly after his eighteenth birthday, following a celebration held in Netanya, he traveled in the middle of the night—at approximately two o’clock in the morning—to Rav Guetta’s bais medrash to receive a brachah.

“I entered the bais medrash alone and saw an angel of Hashem,” the Yenuka recalled.

He described finding Rav Guetta seated alone in the empty shul, his head bowed, appearing either asleep or immersed in lofty spiritual realms.

The Yenuka stood beside him silently for approximately twenty minutes, davening quietly without disturbing him. When he finished, he kissed Rav Guetta’s head and garment before quietly leaving.

The following day, he related, Rav Guetta astonished those around him.

“Tell the Yenuka that I know he stood beside me for twenty minutes and davened,” Rav Guetta said. “I know he was with me.”

The Yenuka said the incident revealed the extraordinary spiritual level attained by Rav Guetta.

He added that from that first encounter onward, the two maintained a close relationship spanning many years, exchanging correspondence and messages through talmidim and trusted intermediaries.

As he concluded his remarks, the Yenuka called upon the thousands in attendance, the bnei yeshivah, and the broader community to preserve their revered rebbe’s legacy—a life defined by compassion, ahavas Yisroel, and an unparalleled commitment to bringing Jews closer to Torah.

He also offered heartfelt blessings to Rav Guetta’s son, Rav Moshe, while strengthening the widow and the rest of the family during their difficult time.

At the conclusion of the gathering, large crowds pressed forward hoping to receive the Yenuka’s blessing.

“Remember that he is alive and exists with us,” the Yenuka concluded. “He has not left us, and he will not leave us. His light remains with us forever,” he said, invoking the teaching of Chazal that tzaddikim are considered alive even after their passing.

Renovation work at the tziyun of Rav Nachman of Breslov in Uman came to an unexpected halt after workers uncovered a long-sealed underground shaft near the main entrance to the complex. The discovery, made as preparations intensify for the annual Rosh Hashanah kibbutz, has temporarily suspended construction in the area.

The shaft was exposed during flooring and renovation work being carried out to prepare the tziyun for the arrival of the tens of thousands of mispallelim expected to flock to Uman for Rosh Hashanah.

According to Ichud Breslov, the shaft descends into an underground chamber measuring approximately two meters deep and two meters wide. Although its existence had been documented in the past, its original purpose and the circumstances surrounding its excavation remain a mystery. The entrance to the chamber had been sealed ever since major expansion work at the tziyun complex was completed in 1998.

Following the discovery, Ichud Breslov chairman Rav Nosson Ben Nun immediately ordered all work in the surrounding area to cease. He also directed that the underground shaft be permanently sealed by filling it with concrete.

Ichud Breslov announced that once the Tishrei season concludes, it intends to launch an extensive reconstruction project encompassing the entire tziyun complex.

In the meantime, preparations for the annual Rosh Hashanah pilgrimage continue at full pace. Volunteers from Ichud Breslov, together with Breslover chassidim who have already arrived in Uman, are assisting in readying the holy site to accommodate the massive crowds expected to gather for the Yom Tov.

[COMMUNICATED]

Dear Fellow Yidden,

Four years ago, I took achrayus of the Kesher organization because I could not turn away from the heartbreaking tzaar of so many precious young women still waiting, hoping, and davening for their shidduch. Behind every name is a bas Yisroel, a family, and tears that Klal Yisroel must not ignore.

Hagaon HaRav Dovid Schustal gave voice to this pain at this year’s Adirei HaTorah, speaking of the הצנועות באחותינו צרות מאות ואלפים הרבה, who are בצער שרויות, still waiting to find their zivugim hagunim.

When I assumed leadership of Kesher four years ago, I restructured the organization to answer that cry: supporting dedicated shadchanim, guiding volunteers, and creating the structure needed to bring more shidduchim to life. Baruch Hashem, in just the last two years, Kesher has helped make over 275 shidduchim—275 moments of joy, relief, and new beginnings.

This is a responsibility that rests upon all of us. I ask you to stand with me in this avodas hakodesh, so that together we can continue helping bnos Yisroel find their zivugim and build beautiful homes in Klal Yisroel, b’ezras Hashem.

Rabbi Moshe Bender
Nasi, Kesher

Click HERE to donate!

The Knesset on Monday night approved in its first reading legislation to establish a national state commission of inquiry into the October 7 massacre, the ensuing Iron Swords war, and the events leading up to the attack. The measure passed with the backing of the coalition and the chareidi parties, while the opposition boycotted the vote and Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu was absent.

The bill, sponsored by MK Ariel Kallner, was approved by a vote of 59-0, with no votes against and no abstentions after opposition factions declined to participate. The legislation will now return to the Constitution, Law and Justice Committee for preparation ahead of its second and third readings.

Under the proposal, the commission would consist of six members selected with the support of at least 80 members of Knesset. If such broad agreement cannot be reached, an alternate mechanism would take effect, allowing the coalition and opposition to each appoint three members.

The legislation also calls for released hostages and members of bereaved families to participate as observers on the commission. In addition, its hearings would generally be open to the public and broadcast to ensure transparency.

Opposition leader Yair Lapid sharply criticized both the bill and the coalition’s approach, announcing that opposition parties would boycott the vote.

“The opposition will not be part of a sham whose entire purpose is to whitewash and prevent an investigation into the greatest disaster to befall the Jewish people since the Holocaust,” Lapid declared.

He added that, “In the first month of the next government, we will establish a state commission of inquiry into the October 7 massacre.”

{Matzav.com}

A newly released poll suggests New York Gov. Kathy Hochul’s re-election race against Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman is becoming increasingly competitive, as the two traded pointed attacks Monday during Hochul’s visit to Long Island.

Hochul made appearances in both Nassau and Suffolk counties, where she dismissed a Blakeman campaign mailer that linked her and New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani to high taxes, soaring utility costs, and crime.

“That’s interesting — because it’s not based on fact,” she claimed while announcing a new $100 million grant program in Freeport to fund law enforcement technology.

Rather than accepting blame for rising costs, Hochul pointed the finger at Republicans in Washington, arguing that support for President Donald Trump’s military campaign against Iran and his tariff policies had increased financial pressures on New Yorkers.

She also accused the Trump administration of playing politics by withholding federal disaster assistance for New York following the severe February blizzards.

“They think it’s hurting me, but it’s backfiring,” Hochul insisted.

The governor’s comments came as a new survey showed Blakeman closing the gap in the gubernatorial contest.

According to the poll, conducted by co/efficient on behalf of the Coalition to Protect Nassau Taxpayers, Hochul leads Blakeman by just six percentage points among likely general election voters, receiving 47% support compared with Blakeman’s 41%, while 12% remain undecided.

The polling firm earned credibility during the 2022 governor’s race by accurately projecting that Hochul’s contest against then-Rep. Lee Zeldin would be far closer than most public polls suggested. Hochul ultimately won by six percentage points, matching co/efficient’s September 2022 forecast.

The latest results differ significantly from several other public polls that have shown Hochul holding a double-digit lead, with some placing her advantage as high as 20 points.

The survey also suggested that concerns about socialism could become a significant issue in the race. Fifty-five percent of respondents said they were either concerned or very concerned about socialism, while 45% said they were not.

Despite those findings, Hochul rejected the notion that New York is moving toward socialism and portrayed herself as a pragmatic leader willing to work with officials across the political spectrum, including both President Trump and Mamdani.

“We are not becoming a socialist state because of an election of a number of individuals in New York City,” Hochul insisted during an interview on 103.9 Long Island News Radio before her visit.

“My job is continue to work with whomever the voters want me to work with,” she told host Jay Oliver, referring to Mamdani and the slate of Democratic Socialists of America candidates who won several contests in last month’s Democratic primaries.

Hochul concluded her Long Island trip in Suffolk County, where she signed legislation authorizing the Metropolitan Transportation Authority to acquire the former Lawrence Aviation property, a move intended to help preserve the Setauket–Port Jefferson Station Greenway Trail.

Blakeman quickly fired back after Hochul’s visit.

“You can stage all the photo ops you want, Kathy. New Yorkers know you created this mess — and I actually made our neighborhoods safer,” Blakeman snipped in a statement.

His campaign also defended the mailer that prompted Hochul’s criticism.

“Every New Yorker needs to know that the Hochul-Mamdani team is the reason their taxes and utility bills are soaring, while Bruce Blakeman has the plan to slash income taxes and cut utility bills in half,” campaign spokeswoman Madison Spanodemos said.

The poll also underscored Hochul’s political challenges beyond the head-to-head matchup, finding that only 32% of likely voters hold a favorable opinion of the governor.

“Hochul is deeply disliked across the state,” said co/efficient pollster Ryan Munce.

{Matzav.com}

A potentially deadly incident unfolded Monday evening when Border Police officers, backed by IDF troops, rescued ten Israeli civilians who became trapped inside the Palestinian city of Qalqilya after entering the area in an effort to recover a stolen motorcycle.

According to police, the group entered Area A—where Israeli citizens are prohibited from entering—after receiving information that a motorcycle stolen from the city of Elad had been taken into Qalqilya.

Authorities said the situation quickly deteriorated once local residents realized the group was Israeli. Dozens of Arabs reportedly converged on the scene, attempting to isolate the four vehicles carrying the civilians and surround them. Security forces were immediately dispatched after receiving reports of the unfolding confrontation.

Border Police officers and IDF soldiers arrived and used riot-control measures to push back the crowd while creating a protective corridor around the stranded Israelis. The forces successfully evacuated all ten civilians from the city without injury and transferred them to security officials for questioning as part of the ongoing investigation.

During the operation, Border Police officers also succeeded in locating the stolen motorcycle and returned it to its owner.

Following the rescue, Israel’s defense establishment once again stressed that Israeli citizens are strictly forbidden by law from entering Area A, warning that doing so places their lives in immediate danger.

{Matzav.com}

[Video below.] A gang of masked burglars carried out a meticulously planned early-morning break-in at the Lalique Museum in northeastern France on Sunday, escaping with jewelry valued at an estimated €4 million (more than $4.5 million). The stunning theft is the latest in a string of high-profile museum robberies that have rattled France in recent months.

Investigators said the thieves struck at approximately 5:30 a.m. in Wingen-sur-Moder, where they forced their way into the museum before heading directly to the jewelry gallery. Once inside, they smashed six display cases and quickly fled with roughly 20 pieces of jewelry, according to sources familiar with the investigation.

“Around twenty pieces of jewelry were stolen. The loss is currently being assessed but could amount to several million euros, likely close to four million (over $4.5 million),” one investigative source said.

Authorities noted that although the stolen items were crafted from Lalique crystal rather than precious gemstones, they remain highly valuable works of art and cannot simply be melted down and resold like conventional jewelry.

Following the burglary, museum officials announced that the facility will remain closed for several days while investigators examine the crime scene and assess the damage.

Officials said the museum’s alarm system activated during the break-in, but a breakdown in the security response allowed the thieves to escape before authorities arrived.

“An alarm went off, but by the time the security company had completed its checks, it was a cleaning lady who arrived first on the scene and called the police,” the investigative source explained.

Police are now reviewing surveillance footage in hopes of identifying those responsible.

The museum, which opened in 2011 adjacent to the historic Lalique factory, celebrates the work of famed Art Nouveau and Art Deco master René Lalique. Its collection includes more than 650 rare creations, ranging from intricate Art Nouveau jewelry to Art Deco glassworks and modern crystal masterpieces.

Wingen-sur-Moder Mayor Christian Dorschner sharply criticized the handling of the incident, arguing that while the museum’s alarm systems functioned properly, the private security response fell far short.

“All the alarms went off, just as they should. And then with the security company, apparently, there was a major failure on their part: they didn’t intervene right away, they didn’t inform the gendarmes,” Dorschner said.

He also suggested the perpetrators were highly organized and had likely studied the museum beforehand.

“They were surely well informed to carry out this job in that way; they must be … specialists,” the mayor said.

The Lalique Museum had already been considered a high-risk site after last October’s breathtaking eight-minute robbery at Paris’ Louvre Museum, where thieves escaped with jewelry valued at approximately $102 million, including several historic French crown jewels.

Although authorities eventually arrested suspects in the Louvre case, nearly all of the stolen treasures remain missing. Only one crown was recovered after it was dropped during the suspects’ escape.

That robbery prompted a security review, which reportedly found that 35 percent of the galleries in the Louvre’s Denon Wing were not covered by surveillance cameras. The stolen jewels also lacked private insurance, in accordance with French law.

The Lalique burglary is only the latest in a growing wave of museum thefts across France.

Last October, authorities arrested a woman accused of stealing gold artifacts from the Natural History Museum in Paris.

Just a month earlier, thieves stole three priceless porcelain pieces classified as national treasures from the Adrien Dubouché National Museum in Limoges.

In November 2024, four men armed with axes and baseball bats stormed Paris’ Cognacq-Jay Museum in broad daylight, smashing display cases and escaping with several 18th-century works of art. That robbery ultimately resulted in an insurance payout exceeding $4 million to the Royal Collection Trust.

Only one day later, another museum in the Saône-et-Loire region was targeted in an armed robbery, with thieves making off with jewelry worth several million dollars. The latest heist has renewed concerns over the security of France’s museums and cultural institutions as authorities race to stop an increasingly bold pattern of organized thefts.

{Matzav.com}

[Video below.] Severe weather continued to wreak havoc across New Jersey on Monday, as part of the roof at a BJ’s Wholesale Club in Ocean Township collapsed during intense flooding, while communities in Paramus remained busy clearing widespread storm damage left behind over the holiday weekend.

The partial roof collapse occurred at approximately 11:30 a.m. at the BJ’s Wholesale Club on Route 35 in the Oakhurst section of Ocean Township, according to the Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office.

Authorities said 27 people were inside the store when the collapse occurred. Miraculously, no injuries were reported.

Officials said two individuals were briefly trapped beneath the damaged structure but were able to free themselves without assistance before safely evacuating the building along with everyone else. Ocean Township Police Chief Michael Sorrentino and Monmouth County Sheriff Shaun Golden confirmed that all occupants exited the store safely.

“This incident is another reminder of how quickly severe weather can create dangerous and unpredictable conditions,” Golden said.

The National Weather Service issued a Flash Flood Warning for Ocean Township that remained in effect until 3:15 p.m. Monday as torrential rain inundated roads and businesses.

The Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office released images showing several vehicles submerged in deep floodwaters along Route 35.

“Please stay clear of the area and allow emergency personnel to safely respond,” the sheriff’s office urged in a social media post.

Elsewhere in New Jersey, cleanup operations continued Monday in Paramus, where crews spent the day removing fallen trees from homes, roadways, vehicles, and power lines following powerful storms that struck on Saturday.

Residents said the continuing threat of severe weather has left many families anxious as recovery efforts continue.

Neighborhood after neighborhood, work crews used heavy equipment to clear piles of storm debris left scattered across the community.

“From first look, it doesn’t look too bad. But I am curious to see what we are supposed to do next,” homeowner Kevin Kim said.

Kim, who purchased his home just one month ago, said he is still waiting to learn the full extent of the damage to his roof.

“All of the wind started to just pick up, and we saw this first tree fall, and then it landed right in front of our doorstep. And while we were looking at that, we saw this one start to slowly fall and then it – when it hit the roof – the whole house shook,” Kim recalled.

Throughout Paramus, trees crashed onto homes, vehicles, fences, roadways, and utility lines, leaving many neighborhoods without electricity. Numerous residents are relying on generators while waiting for service to be restored.

“The timeline, earliest, would be sometime today. The latest estimate would be Friday this week,” Mary Ferrazzano said.

Paramus Mayor Chris DiPiazza said municipal offices have fielded roughly 250 calls from residents since the storms struck Motzoei Shabbos, with emergency crews continuing to respond around the clock.

“We are asking our residents to just be patient. Our departments are all hard at work,” DiPiazza said.

{Matzav.com}