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The historic Keren Olam HaTorah mission to South America officially began Monday morning with the arrival of a delegation of leading gedolei Yisroel in Sao Paulo, Brazil, ahead of a series of major dinner events and maamadei chizuk on behalf of lomdei Torah in Eretz Yisroel.

Participating in the delegation are Rav Yaakov Hillel, Rav Avrohom Salim, Rav Shimon Galei, Rav Chaim Peretz Berman, Rav Malkiel Kotler, and Rav Yosef Chevroni, rosh yeshiva of Chevron.

On their way from Eretz Yisroel, the rabbonim made a stopover in Paris, where they were hosted at the home of philanthropist Reb Johaquim Cohen. During the visit, the delegation davened Shacharis and was served breakfast before continuing on to Brazil.

Upon arriving in Sao Paulo, the gedolim immediately began a packed schedule of visits and fundraising events within the local Jewish community. The central gathering was held at the home of philanthropist Reb Yaakov Stern and was attended by prominent supporters of Torah, local roshei mosdos, and guests who traveled specially from Deal, New Jersey.

During the dinner, Rav Yaakov Hillel spoke passionately about the urgent need to strengthen support for the olam haTorah during this difficult period. “If we make efforts and push ourselves beyond our natural abilities, Hakadosh Boruch Hu will repay us many times over,” he said.

Rav Shimon Galei followed with emotional remarks describing the amal haTorah and mesirus nefesh displayed by bnei Torah in Eretz Yisroel. He called upon the assembled nedivim to answer the call of “Mi LaHashem Eilai” and partner in sustaining the world of Torah.

Philanthropist Reb Ezra Irani also addressed the gathering and outlined the background and purpose behind the establishment of Keren Olam HaTorah. He emphasized that the gedolei Yisroel view the work of the fund as a matter of literal hatzolas nefashos.

Later, the delegation paid a special visit to the Talmud Torah Hamaor in Sao Paulo, where the gedolim were welcomed enthusiastically by the children with singing and dancing in honor of the rare visit.

Rav Chaim Peretz Berman addressed the students and expressed amazement at the flourishing growth of Torah around the globe. “One can clearly see how Hakadosh Boruch Hu ensures that in every corner of the world, Torah continues to thrive and blossom,” he said.

At the conclusion of the event, the gedolei Yisroel signed special certificates of recognition for students who completed Maseches Kiddushin and successfully passed examinations on the masechta.

The Keren Olam HaTorah mission is expected to continue in the coming days as the delegation travels onward to Argentina for additional dinners and meetings aimed at strengthening support for the olam haTorah in Eretz Yisroel.

Video, Photos: At a Dinner for Keren Olam Hatorah at the Home of Alberto Safra In Brazil https://matzav.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/VIDEO-2026-05-11-23-02-18.mp4

[Videos below.] Heavy police presence and street closures surrounded the area outside the Young Israel of Midwood in Flatbush, Brooklyn, tonight, as demonstrators and police clashed outside a real estate event promoting property purchases in Israel.

Hundreds of people arrived on both sides of the issue, with pro-Palestinian activists protesting the sale of properties they claim are located on land taken from Palestinians, including homes in communities in Yehuda and Shomron.

Organizers of the protest said the gathering was intended to pressure city officials and challenge the legitimacy of such events taking place in New York.

“We’re here today to send a message to the city and to send a message to the organizers that these kinds of events cannot and will not stand in New York City,” Taher Dahleh, the organizer with the Palestinian Youth movement, said.

The event itself featured Israeli real estate listings and agents offering assistance to prospective buyers interested in purchasing homes and navigating the buying process in Israel.

Some protesters waved Hezbollah flags overhead and chanted, “Globalize the intifada.”

The anti-Semites chanted, “Brick by brick, wall by wall, Israel will fall,” “Baby killers,” and, “Death to the IDF.” They held orange banners that read, “Israel is killing children.

Handful of protesters leaving scene of rally in Midwood pic.twitter.com/T41FtelfUp

— Luke Tress (@luketress) May 11, 2026

Those who came to support the event or oppose the protests argued that the pro-Hamas demonstrators were unfairly targeting a Jewish neighborhood and disrupting a community trying to go about daily life.

“There’s a synagogue here. This is clearly a [predominantly] Jewish neighborhood, and they deserve the right to worship in peace,” counterprotester Kasondra Watkins said.

The demonstrations unfolded as the New York City Council continues debating legislation related to protest “buffer zones.” Council members are currently considering whether to override Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s veto of a bill involving educational institutions.

Another measure creating buffer zones around houses of worship, however, was allowed to stand and was not vetoed by the mayor.

Local residents expressed concern that bringing the conflict into the center of Midwood has heightened anxiety and created tension in the neighborhood.

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President Donald Trump is increasingly losing confidence in diplomatic efforts aimed at ending the conflict with Iran and is now weighing a renewed military response, according to officials familiar with internal White House discussions.

Sources within the administration told CNN on Monday that frustration has mounted sharply in recent days as Iranian negotiators continue rejecting key American demands and offering what Trump views as unserious counteroffers. As a result, military planning has reportedly once again become a major focus inside the administration.

The latest escalation comes amid continued instability surrounding the Strait of Hormuz, which remains effectively closed despite a fragile ceasefire that has held for more than a month. The ongoing disruption to global shipping lanes, combined with divisions inside Iran’s leadership, has contributed to growing skepticism in Washington that a diplomatic breakthrough is possible.

Officials quoted in the report said Trump sees Tehran’s current posture not as strength, but as hesitation and internal confusion.

“They think I’ll get tired, or get bored, or I’ll have some pressure,” Trump told reporters on Monday. “There’s no pressure at all. We’re going to have a complete victory.”

According to the report, senior advisers remain divided over how aggressively to proceed. Some administration officials are pushing for a renewed wave of airstrikes under “Operation Epic Fury,” arguing that hitting the remaining strategic Iranian targets could force Tehran into accepting American terms.

Others inside the administration continue urging restraint and want additional time given to diplomacy. Still, doubts are reportedly growing over the effectiveness of Pakistani intermediaries involved in the negotiations. Some Trump advisers believe the Pakistanis may not be fully communicating the President’s anger and dissatisfaction to Iranian officials, instead softening the American position in discussions with the State Department.

CNN reported that Trump convened a high-level national security meeting on Monday to examine possible next steps if diplomacy collapses entirely. Among the options reportedly discussed were restarting “Project Freedom,” the naval operation designed to escort commercial vessels through the Persian Gulf, as well as potential special operations missions targeting Iran’s enriched uranium reserves.

Despite the increasingly hawkish tone, administration officials indicated that no final decision is expected before Trump departs Tuesday afternoon for his trip to China.

The CNN report followed an earlier report by Israel’s Channel 12 News stating that Trump is leaning toward authorizing some form of renewed military action because of mounting dissatisfaction with Iran’s conduct during negotiations.

Trump further escalated his rhetoric Monday after reviewing Tehran’s latest response to the American proposal aimed at ending the war.

“Iran’s proposal is stupid. I didn’t even finish reading it. I had an amazing plan after Iran was defeated. They must understand that they will not have nuclear weapons. They are dangerous,” Trump declared during an event at the White House.

He added that “the ceasefire is very weak after the piece of garbage they sent us.”

Iranian officials responded forcefully. Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf warned Monday that Tehran stands prepared for any escalation.

“Mistaken strategy and mistaken decisions will always lead to mistaken results. The whole world has already figured this out,” he wrote in a post on social media.

“We are prepared for all options; they will be surprised,” added Ghalibaf.

In a subsequent statement, Ghalibaf insisted that Tehran’s proposal remains the only realistic framework for ending the conflict.

“There is no alternative but to accept the rights of the Iranian people as laid out in the 14-point proposal. Any other approach will be completely inconclusive; nothing but one failure after another,” he wrote.

“The longer they drag their feet, the more American taxpayers will pay for it,” stated Ghalibaf.

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Rav Avrohom Yosef, son of Rav Ovadia Yosef, delivered sharp words regarding the growing trend of haircuts that remove the peyos entirely, warning that such practices are a serious breach of halacha.

Speaking on Kol Chai radio, Rav Yosef described the pain he feels witnessing what has become common practice in many barber shops. “I look to the right and to the left at all the barbers of various kinds and my heart aches,” Rav Yosef said.

At the same time, he made clear that the blame cannot be placed solely on the barbers themselves, stressing that those getting the haircuts bear responsibility as well. “They put everything on the barber, and that’s not correct,” he said.

Rav Yosef went on to stress the severity of the matter, comparing it to eating maachalos assuros, forbidden foods. “A person who goes this way transgressed two prohibitions, as if he ate two portions of pork.” He explained that failing to leave kedei achiza—enough hair to grasp—in the peyos constitutes a serious violation of a lav in Vayikra 19:27: “Do not cut the hair at the sides of your head or clip off the edges of your beard.”

He further clarified the distinction between the prohibition of removing the beard and that of cutting the peyos. In the case of the beard, the issur is dependent on an act of “hashchasa,” destruction, which is why “misparayim k’ein taar – scissors like a razor” may be permitted. By contrast, the prohibition regarding the hair on the head relates to “hakafah,” rounding the corners. “If there is not hair left to grasp, he has transgressed ‘do not round off the corners of your heads.’”

Concluding his remarks, Rav Yosef called on parents and the broader tzibbur to take a more active role in addressing the issue and ensuring that standards are upheld. “Parents should insist that their children present a Jewish appearance. Every God-fearing person should try to admonish, not to be silent, not to tolerate. Wake up, pay attention and urge people to walk in the way of the Torah.”

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[Video below.] Rabbi Liraz Zeira, a Chabad shliach working with college students in Yerushalayim, celebrated the birth of his sixth child on Monday, less than a year after he was critically injured by a landmine explosion during reserve duty in southern Syria.

As a result of those injuries, Rabbi Zeira lost both of his legs. On Monday morning, however, he stood upright on prosthetic limbs and held his newborn son, his arms trembling with emotion as he embraced the child.

In a video he shared on Instagram, Rabbi Zeira is seen cradling the baby while reciting a brachah of thanks.

“In good time, we had a son, a little brother for our five sweet sons,” he wrote.

“There is no better rehabilitation and no better healing than this. May we merit to raise him to Torah, chupah, and maasim tovim with happiness and good-heartedness. May he bring healing to all people of Israel and our heroic soldiers.”

Shaare Zedek Medical Center also marked the occasion with a message posted on Facebook: “Great excitement in our delivery room: Mazel tov to Rabbi Liraz and Anat Zeira on the birth of their sixth son at Shaare Zedek. Rabbi Maj. Liraz Zeira, a reservist fighter and military rabbi, was seriously wounded and lost both his legs in a grenade explosion in October 2025. Rabbi Liraz underwent a long rehabilitation process and continues to encourage students and spread joy. Yesterday, Rabbi Liraz had the privilege of embracing a wonderful baby boy born weighing 3.600 kilograms. The sweet baby joins four other children whom Rabbi Liraz and his wife, Anat, chose to deliver with us.”

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Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) sharply criticized members of his own party on Monday after polling data showed that a significant share of Democrats believe the shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner was staged.

“Assassinations + political violence are real. My party can’t be the tin foil hat brigade,” Fetterman wrote in a post on X.

“I was there a table away and I promise you, this was not staged,” he added.

The comments followed the release of a survey conducted by NewsGuard, which found that 34 percent of Democrats and 13 percent of Republicans said they believe the WHCA dinner shooting was staged.

The same poll indicated that 56 percent of respondents overall believe the Washington Hilton shooting was staged, while 45 percent said they do not.

In total, 30 percent of those surveyed said they believe at least one of the assassination attempts targeting President Trump was staged.

NewsGuard commissioned the poll in partnership with YouGov, surveying 1,000 Americans aged 18 and older between April 28 and May 4.

According to NewsGuard, the findings were so unexpected that the firm asked YouGov to review the data again, after which the results were reaffirmed.

The WHCA dinner shooting last month came amid a string of politically motivated violent incidents, including the public killing of Charlie Kirk, the fatal shooting of Minnesota state Rep. Melissa Hortmann (D), and an attempted arson attack at the Pennsylvania governor’s residence where Gov. Josh Shapiro (D) lives.

In response to the rise in such incidents, lawmakers have urged a reduction in heated political rhetoric, even as both parties have continued to fault one another for the escalation in violence.

President Trump has said that repeated attempts on his life are tied to the major policy decisions being carried out during his time in office.

Meanwhile, Cole Allen, who is accused of carrying out the WHCA dinner shooting, entered a not guilty plea on Tuesday to four federal charges, including attempting to assassinate Trump.

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The price tag for renovations to the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool has risen sharply, increasing by $11.3 million since President Donald Trump first introduced the project, which is being carried out ahead of the nation’s upcoming 250th anniversary celebrations.

When the work was initially announced, Trump estimated the effort would cost about $1.8 million to repaint the pool, seal its base, and fix leaking joints.

New filings released Friday show the projected cost has now reached $13.1 million, according to a report by the New York Times.

The Interior Department last week added $6.2 million to the contract, bringing the total from its earlier value of $6.9 million.

The project is being handled by Atlantic Industrial Coatings, a Virginia-based company that received the contract in April without a competitive bidding process.

The firm has previously worked on swimming pools at Trump National Golf Club Washington DC in Sterling, Virginia, and was selected for the reflecting pool project after the government cited an urgent need to proceed. Officials said that delaying the work would result in “serious injury,” according to the Times.

No further details were provided about the nature of that potential harm, though the project’s target completion date has been set for July 4.

“The contract price reflects the effort necessary to expedite the timeline of completing the leak prevention coating project—more people, more materials, more equipment and longer hours ahead of our 250th,” an Interior Department spokesperson told The Hill.

The spokesperson also said that the National Park Service is investing in an ozone nanobubbler filtration system and will assign a dedicated crew to maintain the site moving forward.

The renovation effort has drawn criticism from preservation advocates and a local nonprofit group concerned about changes to the historic landmark.

The Cultural Landscape Foundation and its founder, Charles Birnbaum, filed a lawsuit last week arguing that the application of a blue coating to the pool is “altering the historic character” without proper authorization.

According to the lawsuit, the National Historic Preservation Act requires government agencies to consult before making changes to historic properties, and the complaint also alleges the project fails to meet obligations under the National Environmental Policy Act.

The Trump administration has defended the initiative, saying the upgrades will enhance the experience for visitors to the National Mall while reducing long-term maintenance costs tied to significant water loss, with the pool currently leaking an estimated 16 million gallons each year.

“You’re going to end up with a beautiful, beautiful Reflecting Pool, the way it’s supposed to be,” Trump said during remarks in the Oval last month.

“Much better than it ever was, actually,” he continued.

The reflecting pool, first completed in 1922, has undergone multiple restoration efforts over the years.

{Matzav.com}

A senior White House official said the prolonged conflict with Iran is the result of U.S. effectiveness on the battlefield, pushing back on questions about why the war has lasted far longer than President Donald Trump initially projected.

Sebastian Gorka, the National Security Council’s senior counterterrorism director, addressed the issue during a Sunday appearance on News Nation, responding to concerns about the gap between the administration’s early estimate of a four-to-five-week campaign and the current reality of an eleven-week war.

“There’s a very simple answer to your question — we’ve just been too effective,” Gorka said on News Nation on Sunday.

Gorka attributed the extended timeline to complications arising from the weakening of Iran’s leadership, arguing that the collapse at the top has made it more difficult to finalize a surrender agreement.

“This is a regime in ultimate collapse at the top. As a result, it makes communicating and getting that final deal, that acquiesces, that surrender a little bit more complicated. But rest assured, it is coming imminently,” he said.

The United States and Iran are currently observing a ceasefire as the administration seeks a negotiated end to the conflict, which began Feb. 28 and led to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global shipping route.

Despite the temporary halt in hostilities, Trump said Monday that the ceasefire is fragile, describing it as being on “life support” after rejecting Iran’s latest proposal in nuclear negotiations.

“It’s unbelievably weak,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office when asked if the ceasefire remains in place for the time being.

Negotiators on both sides are continuing efforts to reach a comprehensive agreement, though Trump on Sunday dismissed Tehran’s demands, which reportedly include financial compensation, recognition of Iranian control over the Strait of Hormuz, the lifting of U.S. sanctions, and the release of frozen assets.

Trump on Monday called the counteroffer a “piece of garbage” and that he did not even finish reading.

Iran has so far resisted committing to dismantle its nuclear program as part of the talks, creating a significant obstacle to any potential agreement.

As the conflict drags on, the administration has faced mounting criticism over rising fuel costs and broader economic fallout. Critics have also questioned the shifting justifications for entering the war, arguing that the extended timeline reflects a failure to anticipate the Strait of Hormuz shutdown and overestimates about how quickly the U.S. could neutralize Iran’s nuclear capabilities or bring about a regime collapse.

Gorka dismissed those claims, reiterating his defense of the administration’s strategy.

“This action has been planned for decades by the president. Now he is in the chair,” he said. “Everything you see has been planned out to the last scintilla. . . . Everything is happening exactly to plan.”

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The United Arab Emirates carried out undisclosed military operations inside Iran during the recent conflict, including a strike on a refinery located on Lavan Island in early April, according to a report by The Wall Street Journal.

The airstrike, which has not been publicly confirmed by Abu Dhabi, is said to have occurred around the same time President Donald Trump announced a ceasefire. The attack reportedly ignited a major fire at the site and significantly disrupted the refinery’s output.

Iranian officials said at the time that the facility had been struck by hostile forces. In response, Tehran launched a wave of missiles and drones targeting the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait.

A source cited by the Journal said U.S. officials were not concerned by the Emirati action, noting that the ceasefire had not yet formally gone into effect. The same source said the White House privately viewed the UAE’s involvement favorably, along with any other Gulf nation willing to take part in the conflict.

The UAE Foreign Ministry did not directly address the reported operation, instead referring to earlier statements asserting the country’s right to respond to threats, including through military means, according to the Journal.

If confirmed, the reported strike would represent a notable broadening of the regional conflict. The UAE has historically attempted to maintain a balance between its security partnerships with the United States and Israel and its economic and diplomatic ties with Iran. Direct action on Iranian territory would mark a significant escalation, even if not officially acknowledged.

The development follows reports that Israel, facing repeated attacks from Iran, has deployed defensive systems within the UAE, including an Iron Dome battery and the Iron Beam laser system.

Since the conflict began, the UAE has reportedly tracked more than 550 ballistic missiles, dozens of cruise missiles, and over 2,260 drones launched from Iran.

The strike on the Lavan Island refinery also underscores the increasing focus on energy infrastructure in the war. Attacks on refineries, ports, and shipping lanes have intensified pressure on global energy supplies and heightened concerns that the conflict could spread further throughout the Gulf, a region where oil production and transportation are deeply interconnected.

From Washington’s perspective, the reported Emirati action may have served both strategic and political purposes, demonstrating that regional allies were willing to engage Iran while allowing the UAE to avoid publicly claiming responsibility for a move that could trigger a stronger retaliation.

For Iran, the implications were significant. The conflict appeared to be expanding beyond direct involvement by the United States, Israel, and Iran, suggesting that at least one key Gulf neighbor may have quietly entered the fight.

{Matzav.com}

[Video below.] Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said Monday that U.S. authorities have the hantavirus situation “under control” following the outbreak linked to a cruise ship carrying American passengers.

The remarks came during an Oval Office press conference focused on mental health, where a reporter asked President Donald Trump whether he regretted withdrawing from the World Health Organization in light of the incident involving a hantavirus-stricken vessel with more than a dozen Americans on board.

Trump responded that he was “glad” the United States had exited the WHO and reiterated his position that the country had been contributing excessive funding to the organization.

When pressed on whether U.S. health agencies are equipped to respond to a potential hantavirus outbreak despite staffing and budget reductions during Trump’s second term, Kennedy pointed to an immediate federal response.

“We’ve had CDC teams on it from day one.”

“I was speaking with the University of Nebraska since the second day of the outbreak. I was speaking with Gov. Pillen of Nebraska. We had a CDC team at Tenerife. We had airplanes ready to take the patients, the 17 patients off the vessel and transport,” Kennedy continued. “Two of them went to Atlanta. One of those was symptomatic. They’re in a biocontainment lab in Atlanta. The other 16 are now in Nebraska. One of them is symptomatic.”

“We have this under control, and we’re not worried about it,” he added.

Kennedy’s comments align with assessments from other public health officials regarding the hantavirus cases connected to the MV Hondius, a deadly outbreak that has so far been contained. Both the World Health Organization and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have indicated that the broader public remains at low risk.

During a separate briefing Monday, WHO officials said all remaining passengers and crew from the MV Hondius are expected to disembark by the end of the day.

“They are departing Canary Islands by specially arranged flights,” WHO Manager of Health Emergencies Communication Nyka Alexander said in the briefing. “Nobody is traveling on commercial flights.”

Oliver le Polain, who leads the WHO’s Epidemiology and Analytics for Response unit, said there have been nine confirmed hantavirus cases tied to the cruise ship, including three fatalities. The latest case involves a French passenger who left the vessel Sunday and is currently in isolation, while one additional case remains inconclusive.

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President Donald Trump on Monday introduced a new nickname for congressional Democrats, referring to them as “Dumbocrats” as he criticized their opposition to his administration’s policies.

The remarks came during an Oval Office event where Trump outlined a new initiative aimed at reducing the cost of in vitro fertilization. Over the course of the nearly hour-long appearance, the president repeatedly faulted Democrats for what he described as their refusal to back proposals coming from the White House.

“You can say that we’re going to reduce drug prices by 80% and we won’t get one Democrat vote,” Trump said. “I don’t know how they get away with it. That’s why we call them the Dumbocrats. We have the new name, the Dumbocrats, because they’re dumb.”

“They’re dumb people, and they just can’t do it,” Trump said. “I’ve been waiting so long for them to change, but they just keep losing, and they’ve got to keep losing with their policies.”

Earlier in the event, Trump also made light of what he called “Trump Derangement Syndrome,” describing it as “actually a disease” while discussing Democratic opposition to a major healthcare funding measure included in last year’s One Big Beautiful Bill.

“Every Democrat in Congress voted against this historic funding,” Trump said. “Well, they suffer from Trump Derangement Syndrome. They don’t even know what they’re looking at. They can’t even see straight.”

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump is expected to be accompanied by several leading American business figures, including Elon Musk and Tim Cook, during his upcoming visit to China, according to a Monday report by Bloomberg News citing a White House official.

Also slated to be part of the delegation are David Solomon, Stephen Schwarzman, Larry Fink, Jane Fraser, and Dina Powell McCormick, among more than a dozen high-ranking corporate leaders expected to participate in meetings alongside Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping.

The trip is being framed as an effort to secure a range of commercial agreements and investment deals between the United States and China, with the presence of top executives intended to facilitate negotiations and strengthen economic ties, the report said.

The companies involved did not immediately respond to requests for comment from Reuters.

Chinese officials have confirmed that Trump’s state visit is scheduled to take place from May 13 through May 15, according to the state-run Xinhua News Agency.

{Matzav.com}

Khal Adath Jeshurun (KAJ) in Washington Heights, NY has elected Rav Liron Rogovsky as the new rov of the kehillah following the announced departure of Rav Yisroel Mantel after two decades of leadership.

Rav Rogovsky, a resident of Chestnut Ridge, New York, currently serves as rosh kollel of Kollel Tiferes Avrohom and as dean of Bais Yaakov Meoros Rav Hirsch, both located in Monsey. He is a talmid of Yeshivas Ner Yisroel of Baltimore and Yeshivas Mir Yerushalayim.

Alan Ettlinger, president of KAJ, welcomed the appointment, saying, “The kehillah looks forward to Rav Rogovsky leading us in this new chapter in our notable history. As the successor to a line of great rabbonim, beginning with Rav Shamshon Raphael Hirsch many decades ago, we feel that Rav Rogovsky is a worthy choice to follow in their footsteps.”

The transition follows Rav Mantel’s announcement shortly after Sukkos that he would be leaving to assume the position of rov in Gateshead, England. In response, KAJ established a Rabbinical Search Committee tasked with identifying a suitable candidate to lead one of the most prominent kehillos.

“It has been an honor and a kavod to have led this kehillah kedosha for the last 20 years. Under the leadership of Rav Rogovsky, the kehillah should continue meichayil el choyil,” Rav Mantel said.

After a search process spanning more than six months, the committee presented Rav Rogovsky’s candidacy to the Board of Trustees, which subsequently brought the nomination before the membership. At a special meeting held last Sunday evening, members overwhelmingly voted to approve his appointment.

Rav Rogovsky is expected to relocate to Washington Heights and assume leadership of the kehillah prior to the Yomim Noraim, marking the beginning of a new chapter for KAJ.

{Matzav.com}

Gasoline prices across the United States may climb to $5 per gallon as the conflict with Iran continues to disrupt global energy markets, according to new projections from JPMorgan analysts.

The bank said the fallout from the Middle East war is no longer limited to crude oil, with the effects now spreading into refined fuel markets, particularly gasoline and jet fuel.

In a report led by analyst Natasha Kaneva, JPMorgan said refiners are increasingly shifting production toward jet fuel, driven by surging worldwide demand and supply issues stemming from tensions around the Strait of Hormuz and damage to energy infrastructure in the region, the New York Post reported.

That reallocation, however, is putting additional pressure on gasoline availability in the United States.

“This likely helps explain why U.S. gasoline prices are at $4.56/gal and why the risk of $5 gasoline can no longer be dismissed,” the analysts wrote, the Financial Times reported.

The report explained that increasing jet fuel output typically comes at the expense of other fuels, noting that diesel production declines “almost proportionally” and gasoline supplies tighten as heavier crude inputs are diverted away from gasoline refining.

As a result, U.S. gasoline output has dropped significantly compared to last year, even as demand rises heading into the peak summer driving season.

According to AAA data released Monday, the national average for regular gasoline stood at $4.52 per gallon, while premium fuel was already averaging above $5.37. Diesel prices were higher still, reaching $5.64 per gallon.

In several Western states, average gas prices have already exceeded the $5 mark, and analysts warned that even small additional increases could push much of the country to that level.

A nationwide jump to $5 gasoline would carry major economic and political consequences.

The last time Americans saw prices at that level was briefly during the inflation surge of summer 2022 under President Joe Biden.

JPMorgan’s outlook comes as the ongoing war with Iran continues to place upward pressure on global oil prices.

Brent crude has remained near $100 per barrel since hostilities intensified earlier this year, according to the Post.

The rise in jet fuel costs is already rippling through other sectors of the economy.

Airlines have cautioned travelers to expect higher ticket prices and additional fees, while Spirit Airlines reportedly ceased operations amid rising fuel expenses and tightening margins.

At the same time, Americans are growing more concerned about the overall cost of living.

The University of Michigan’s Consumer Sentiment Index recently dropped to a record low, with respondents pointing to gasoline prices and inflation as leading financial concerns.

Analysts said meaningful relief is unlikely in the near term unless supply disruptions in the Middle East ease and fuel markets begin to stabilize.

{Matzav.com}

The Trump administration is taking steps to bring down soaring beef prices by halting tariffs on all imported beef and planning to expand financial support for American ranchers, according to a report by The Wall Street Journal.

Figures from the Bureau of Labor Statistics show that the average price of ground beef in U.S. cities reached about $6.70 per pound in March, marking an increase of nearly one dollar compared to the same time last year.

Looking ahead, the U.S. Department of Agriculture projects beef prices will rise by 10.1% in 2026, though the actual increase could fall anywhere between 2.8% and 18.3%. Over the past five years, the cost of ground beef has climbed roughly 40%.

Under the administration’s proposal, the government would suspend the existing tariff-rate quota system, which imposes steeper tariffs once beef imports surpass a certain threshold, and apply the change to all countries that export beef to the United States.

The report comes shortly after federal officials reached a proposed settlement in an antitrust case involving a company that tracks and distributes industry data for meatpackers, which regulators had accused of contributing to rising grocery prices.

The case focused on Agri Stats, a firm based in Indiana that gathers confidential data from meat processors and compiles detailed reports that are then shared within the industry.

Federal authorities alleged that this system enabled producers of chicken, pork, and turkey to raise prices charged to restaurants, supermarkets, and other buyers who did not have access to the same data.

Separately, the Justice Department is continuing to examine potential antitrust concerns within the beef processing sector, following a directive from President Donald Trump to investigate whether foreign-owned meatpacking companies may be playing a role in driving up prices in the U.S.

Multiple factors have contributed to the surge in beef prices, including prolonged drought conditions and a declining cattle population.

A drought that began in 2020 has reduced available grazing land across much of the country and significantly increased feed costs. Dry conditions have continued, and this spring approximately 63% of the nation’s cattle herd remains in drought-affected regions, according to USDA data.

The overall size of the U.S. cattle herd, which has been shrinking for decades, is now at its lowest level since 1951, according to the USDA.

At the same time, advances in breeding and feeding methods have allowed ranchers to produce more beef per animal than in previous years.

Still, many ranchers have been hesitant to expand their herds due to the high cost of feed and labor, as well as ongoing dry weather.

Another factor contributing to tight supply and higher prices is the closure of the U.S.-Mexico border to livestock imports, a measure intended to prevent the spread of the New World screwworm, a flesh-eating parasite. Since late 2024, those restrictions have kept roughly one million cattle from being transported from Mexico into the United States.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump said Monday he is considering a temporary halt to the federal gasoline tax as Americans contend with sharply rising fuel costs linked to the war with Iran.

Speaking in a phone interview with CBS News, Trump said the suspension would stay in effect until prices begin to decline, after which the tax would gradually be reinstated.

“And yep, we’re going to take off the gas tax for a period of time, and when gas goes down, we’ll let it phase back in,” Trump said. “We’ll be doing something on that.”

The current federal excise tax adds 18.4 cents per gallon to gasoline and 24.4 cents per gallon to diesel. Any move to suspend it would require congressional approval, something lawmakers have been reluctant to grant in the past.

Gas prices have surged more than 50% since fighting with Iran began on February 28, with the nationwide average reaching $4.52 per gallon as of Sunday, according to AAA.

Experts caution that prices may stay high as Iran continues to threaten shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical passageway for global oil supplies.

Trump also criticized Iran’s latest reply to a U.S. peace proposal, saying that while Tehran offered limited nuclear concessions, they fell short of what was needed. He described the proposal as “very stupid.”

The president’s comments followed remarks from Energy Secretary Chris Wright, who indicated the administration would support suspending the gas tax if it helps bring relief to consumers.

“All measures that can be taken to lower the price at the pump and lower the prices for Americans, this administration is in support of,” Wright said Sunday on NBC’s “Meet the Press.”

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Three residents of New York are among the 17 Americans affected by a hantavirus outbreak linked to a cruise ship, with one from New York City and two others from Orange and Westchester counties, Gov. Kathy Hochul said Monday.

The governor did not disclose the names of the individuals but confirmed their home regions within the state.

All American passengers from the vessel were transported back to the United States on Sunday aboard a government medical evacuation flight and taken to the National Quarantine Unit at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha for further testing and isolation.

Two of the American passengers have already tested positive for the virus, including one who is currently experiencing symptoms.

Health officials said the individuals will be permitted to leave the facility once they complete their initial evaluations, though they must continue to undergo monitoring for six weeks due to the virus’s high mortality rate, estimated at about 38%.

“I believe that there’s a 42-day monitoring period, and they can decide whether they want to do that in Nebraska or come back and make other accommodations,” Hochul said.

Hochul noted she was unsure whether the affected New Yorkers would remain out of state or return home while completing the monitoring period.

Although she minimized concerns about a widespread outbreak on the scale of COVID-19, the governor emphasized that state officials are taking the situation seriously and preparing accordingly.

“This is New York, it’s a large, densely populated state and city, and I just need to do the responsible thing and prepare,” she said.

The development comes shortly after reports that two residents of New Jersey may have been exposed to hantavirus while traveling overseas and coming into contact with passengers from the same Dutch cruise ship.

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The War Department has launched a legal review into whether Sen. Mark Kelly of Arizona improperly revealed classified material during a television appearance, with War Secretary Pete Hegseth raising concerns that the lawmaker may have violated his oath of service.

Hegseth accused Kelly, a retired Navy captain and former astronaut, of sharing sensitive details from a Pentagon briefing while speaking on CBS’ “Face the Nation,” where the senator addressed U.S. weapons reserves during the ongoing conflict with Iran.

“’Captain’ Mark Kelly strikes again,” Hegseth posted Sunday night on X. “Now he’s blabbing on TV (falsely & dumbly) about a CLASSIFIED Pentagon briefing he received. Did he violate his oath … again? @DeptofWar legal counsel will review.”

During the interview, Kelly told CBS anchor Margaret Brennan that recent Pentagon updates on Tomahawk missiles, ATACMS, THAAD interceptors, Patriot systems, and other weapons revealed alarming shortages after extended operations tied to the Iran war.

“We’ve expended a lot of munitions,” Kelly said. “And that means the American people are less safe.”

Kelly added that rebuilding certain weapons inventories could take a prolonged period, warning it may leave the United States exposed in the event of a confrontation with communist China over Taiwan.

Hegseth countered that the senator’s remarks appeared to draw from classified congressional briefings, suggesting the information should not have been discussed publicly.

The dispute is the latest chapter in an ongoing and contentious conflict between Hegseth and Kelly. The senator previously filed suit after the War Department sought to downgrade his retired Navy rank and issue a formal reprimand related to a video in which he encouraged service members to resist directives from the Trump administration.

Courts have so far prevented the Pentagon from carrying out those disciplinary measures, although the legal fight has not yet been resolved.

Last week, a three-judge panel at the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals heard arguments tied to Hegseth’s efforts to penalize Kelly for urging military personnel to refuse certain orders, according to CNN.

Kelly responded swiftly Sunday night, posting footage from a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing in which Hegseth himself acknowledged that restoring U.S. weapons supplies could take significant time.

“We had this conversation in a public hearing a week ago and you said it would take ‘years’ to replenish some of these stockpiles,” Kelly wrote on X. “That’s not classified.”

In his CBS appearance, Kelly also took aim at President Donald Trump’s handling of the Iran conflict, arguing that the administration entered the confrontation “without a strategic goal, without a plan, without a timeline.”

Republicans, however, have warned that publicly discussing military preparedness and stockpile levels—particularly after receiving classified briefings—could provide adversaries with useful intelligence during a period of heightened international tensions.

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President Donald Trump said Monday that the fragile cease-fire between the United States and Iran is barely holding on, warning that Tehran’s most recent proposal failed to include any meaningful nuclear concessions and instead introduced demands he described as provocative.

“It’s on life support,” Trump told reporters during a maternal health event in the Oval Office.

“Dr [Mehmet] Oz, life support is not a good thing,” he said, turning to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services boss.

“I would say the cease-fire is on massive life support, where the doctor walks in and says, ‘Sir, your loved one has approximately a 1% chance of living,’” the president added.

The truce, which took effect April 8, has remained tenuous, with both sides carrying out limited strikes despite the agreement.

Trump also asserted Monday that Iranian officials had, just days earlier, signaled willingness to surrender roughly 1,000 pounds of highly enriched uranium, only to later exclude that commitment from a formal proposal that instead portrayed Iran as emerging victorious from the conflict.

“They did two days ago. They said, ‘You’re going to have to take it.’ We were going to go with them, but they changed their mind because they didn’t put it in the paper,” Trump said.

“They told me, ‘Number one, you’re getting it, but you’re going to have to take it out,’ because the site was so obliterated that there’s only one or two countries in the world that could get it. It’s so deep and got hit so hard that there’s no way they have the equipment to move it. ‘You and China are the only two countries in the world that could take it out.’

“So we talked about it. They said, ‘You’ll have to take it out, because we don’t have the capability of doing it.’”

Trump has previously maintained that Iran accepted key US conditions during negotiations, claims that were later rejected by Iranian officials.

According to Iranian state media, Tehran’s latest proposal called for financial compensation from Washington, formal acknowledgment of Iran’s control over the Strait of Hormuz, and the lifting of American sanctions.

“How stupid. Are they stupid people?” Trump said of the offer.

“They think that, well, I’ll get tired of this, or I’ll get bored, or I’ll have some pressure. But there’s no pressure. There’s no pressure at all.”

“We’re going to have a complete victory,” Trump went on. “We’ve already, in theory, had a complete victory from the military standpoint.”

Trump added that internal divisions within Iran are complicating negotiations, pointing to what he described as a clash between “moderates” and “lunatics.”

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A New York Times contributor who took a picture of a skeletally thin Palestinian child in Gaza who suffered from cerebral palsy that was published with a front page article about civilians starving to death has been awarded the 2026 Pulitzer Prize for Breaking News Photography.

The child was born with cerebral palsy. The photo’s original caption said, “He was born healthy.”

The newspaper had to issue a correction for the story last year following a public outcry, but Palestinian photographer Saher Alghorra won the prestigious award anyway.

The prize committee said last week that it was honoring the photojournalist “for his haunting, sensitive series showing the devastation and starvation in Gaza resulting from the war with Israel.”

The picture of the boy, which went viral, became a symbol of the specious allegations of widespread starvation in the territory.

“One of the oldest lies in human history, that Jews deliberately harm children, is award-winning journalism,” Israeli Consul General to Toronto Idit Shamir tweeted on Friday.

“When so-called journalism receives an award for spreading fake news about Israel, it tells you everything you need to know about where the mainstream media currently is,” Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) posted on X. JNS

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