President Donald Trump was reported to have voiced frustration over Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu’s choice to hit Hamas operatives in Qatar, labeling the move “not wise,” according to the Wall Street Journal on Wednesday.
The paper described the comments as part of an intense phone call between Trump and Netanyahu on Tuesday, occurring soon after the strike took place.
Sources inside the administration told the Journal that Netanyahu stood by the decision, arguing that a rare opportunity had presented itself and that he felt compelled to act immediately. Netanyahu stressed the urgency of the moment as justification for the operation.
According to the report, later that day the two leaders spoke again, and the second exchange was far calmer. During that follow-up call, Trump asked if the military action had achieved what was intended.
When addressing the press on Tuesday, Trump admitted he was “not thrilled” with the Israeli attack directed at Hamas commanders in Doha, Qatar.
“I’m not thrilled about it. I’m not thrilled about the whole situation. It’s not… not a good situation,” Trump said when questioned about the strike.
“But I will say this: We want the hostages back. But we are not thrilled about the way that went down today,” he added.
Earlier on Tuesday, Trump posted his initial reaction on Truth Social, stressing that the decision had been Netanyahu’s alone.
“This morning, the Trump Administration was notified by the United States Military that Israel was attacking Hamas which, very unfortunately, was located in a section of Doha, the Capital of Qatar. This was a decision made by Prime Minister Netanyahu, it was not a decision made by me,” wrote Trump.
He followed with, “Unilaterally bombing inside Qatar, a Sovereign Nation and close Ally of the United States, that is working very hard and bravely taking risks with us to broker Peace, does not advance Israel or America’s goals. However, eliminating Hamas, who have profited off the misery of those living in Gaza, is a worthy goal.”
“I immediately directed Special Envoy Steve Witkoff to inform the Qataris of the impending attack, which he did, however, unfortunately, too late to stop the attack. I view Qatar as a strong Ally and friend of the U.S., and feel very badly about the location of the attack,” Trump continued.
“I want ALL of the Hostages, and bodies of the dead, released, and this War to END, NOW! I also spoke to Prime Minister Netanyahu after the attack. The Prime Minister told me that he wants to make Peace. I believe this unfortunate incident could serve as an opportunity for PEACE. I also spoke to the Emir and Prime Minister of Qatar, and thanked them for their support and friendship to our Country. I assured them that such a thing will not happen again on their soil. I have directed Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, to finalize the Defense Cooperation Agreement with Qatar. Thank you for your attention to this matter!” concluded the President.
During her regular press conference, White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt insisted that Qatar had been warned prior to Israel’s strike. However, Qatar’s Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammed Al Thani contradicted that, stating that the U.S. only gave notice about ten minutes after the operation had already taken place.
{Matzav.com}
MSNBC has dismissed political analyst Matthew Dowd after he claimed that TPUSA co-founder Charlie Kirk’s “hateful” rhetoric was tied to his own killing, according to two individuals who confirmed the decision to Fox News Digital.
The network had already distanced itself from Dowd’s remarks, criticizing what he said on air.
“During our breaking news coverage of the shooting of Charlie Kirk, Matthew Dowd made comments that were inappropriate, insensitive and unacceptable,” MSNBC president Rebecca Kutler said in a statement. “We apologize for his statements, as has he. There is no place for violence in America, political or otherwise.”
Dowd, who spent years at ABC News, had joined MSNBC in 2022.
Following Wednesday afternoon’s shooting, Dowd suggested that Kirk’s death was linked to “hateful words” directed at different communities. Kirk, a key conservative figure and close supporter of President Donald Trump, was later pronounced dead at 31.
Before the news of Kirk’s passing was confirmed, Dowd appeared with MSNBC host Katy Tur and said, “We don’t know any of the full details of this yet. We don’t know if this was a supporter shooting their gun off in celebration.”
Dowd went on to describe Kirk as “one of the most divisive, especially divisive younger figures in this, who is constantly sort of pushing this sort of hate speech or sort of aimed at certain groups. And I always go back to, hateful thoughts lead to hateful words, which then lead to hateful actions.”
“I think that’s the environment we’re in, that the people just — you can’t stop with these sort of awful thoughts you have, and then saying these awful words, and not expect awful actions to take place. And that’s the unfortunate environment we’re in,” he added.
The backlash was immediate, with many public voices condemning Dowd and demanding he be removed from the network.
In an attempt to soften his comments, Dowd posted a clarification on Bluesky.
“On an earlier appearance on MSNBC I was asked a question on the environment we are in. I apologize for my tone and words. Let me be clear, I in no way intended for my comments to blame Kirk for this horrendous attack. Let us all come together and condemn violence of any kind,” Dowd wrote.
Dowd, who has shifted from Republican strategist to Democrat and later independent, has long been one of the sharpest anti-GOP commentators on television. He previously ran unsuccessfully for the Democratic nomination for Texas lieutenant governor in 2021.
Critics, however, demanded accountability long before MSNBC acted.
“Dowd should be fired immediately; I expect him to be terminated within 24 hours. You can’t say Charlie deserved to die. You just can’t say that, and I hope he loses his job,” Fox News’ Jesse Watters said on “The Five.”
Inside the White House, staffers expressed outrage over the episode.
“They are scumbags. They need to look inward and realize they are hurting this nation with their awful rhetoric,” a senior Trump administration official told Fox News Digital in reaction to the MSNBC segment.
Kirk, who founded one of the most powerful political movements in the country, was shot during an appearance at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah. He later succumbed to his injury, sending shockwaves nationwide as yet another act of deadly political violence.
{Matzav.com}
By Rabbi Pinchos Lipschutz
This week’s parsha of Ki Savo opens with the mitzvah of bikkurim, the offering of the first fruits. Through this mitzvah and the rich symbolism of the words and rituals surrounding it, we are taught how to find real, enduring happiness.
After months of backbreaking labor in his field or orchard, a man sets out on a journey. He selects the very first fruits of his harvest, the choicest of the Shivas Haminim, places them in a basket, and heads for Yerushalayim. There, standing in the holiest place on earth, he meets a kohein and begins to recite a strange passage. Rather than talking about the sweetness of the fruit or the joy of his success, he begins with history.
He starts by reciting “Arami oveid avi,” recalling the golus of Yaakov Avinu under the evil Lovon, the slavery of Mitzrayim, and the harshness of life under Paroh. Only then does he speak of the miraculous redemption, the land flowing with milk and honey, and the gift of the fruit that he brings to the mizbei’ach to present to the kohein.
Only after this entire process does the Torah instruct, “Vesomachta bechol hatov asher nosan lecha Hashem Elokecha– – And you shall rejoice in all the good that Hashem has given you.”
The message is profound. Happiness doesn’t come from having. It comes from remembering. The simcha that the Torah commands is not shallow joy. It is a deep, reflective rejoicing. Real simcha begins only when someone reflects on where he has been and what he has endured – the pain, the waiting, the uncertainty – and recognizes how far he came. For that is the joy that the Torah seeks for us, borne of perspective, context, and gratitude.
The path to fulfillment is rarely smooth. It is often lined with struggle, setbacks, and self-doubt. The farmer, who represents so many of us, works under a scorching sun, fends off insects, waits through droughts, davens through storms, and finally sees fruit. His instinct might be to enjoy the success and to finally relax, but the Torah tells him to pause, remember, and give.
That giving, that hakorashatov, is the gateway to the simcha the Torah seeks for us.
Too often, we become lost in the negative. We focus on the struggles and become saddened. We become overwhelmed by the difficulties we face. We are not earning enough. Too much is demanded of us.
Yes, making a living is hard, but too often we become trapped in the problems that are part of life and lose sight of the good we have, beginning with life itself. We forget to thank Hashem that we have a job and are able to work. That we are healthy enough to stand, walk, and think. We focus on the negatives of our responsibilities and forget that they are signs of blessing.
The mitzvah of bikkurim is not just agricultural. It’s psychological. It asks us to reframe our lives. The farmer is told to think back to the beginning of the season when he planted and was uncertain if anything would grow. He had no guarantees. And yet, now, he holds a basket of abundance. The Torah compels him to see that and to recognize Hashem’s Hand through the entire process, from root to fruit.
We study this parsha now, just before Rosh Hashanah, because it speaks directly to what is asked of us at this time of year.
During Elul, we look back over the past year. Some parts of the year were hard, perhaps painfully so. Some parts were uncertain. But before we step into the YomimNoraimdays of judgment, we are told to do what the farmer does: reflect, remember and give thanks. To see what Yaakov went through in the house of Lovon and what the Jews endured in Mitzrayim, and then to appreciate the geulah. As we bring and study about bikkurim, we think about the toil and the fruit.
There are times when we feel overwhelmed. We feel stuck and trapped, with no way forward. People can feel crushed under the weight of financial pressure, business difficulties, family struggles, health crises, or inner turmoil. Some give up, thinking that their situation is beyond repair.
But that mindset is not one of Torah.
I have previously recounted this lesson from my rebbi, but it’s worth repeating and remembering. I was speaking with my rebbi, Rav Avrohom Yehoshua Soloveitchik, and he asked me how one of his talmidim is doing.
I answered, “Es geitemshver. He’s having a hard time.”
Rav Avrohom Yehoshua looked at me and said, “Bei dem Ribono Shel Olam, izgornitshver.For the Master of the World, nothing is hard.”
That short response carries a lifetime of hashkofah.
We think in human terms. We see walls, but Hashem sees doors. We see difficulties, but Hashem sees opportunities. To us, it may seem hopeless. But for Him, nothing is impossible.
We become trapped by the moment and cannot look past it. Although the challenge may seem insurmountable, we must remember that “Bei der Ribono Shel Olam, izgornitshver.”
Great people, those who live their lives by the sefer Chovos Halevavos and other sifreimussar,are able to view life not as a string of isolated incidents, but as an evolving story written by the Creator. They don’t see world events as random or personal suffering as meaningless. They see Hashem behind every scene, even the darkest ones.
When the world – or their personal world – turns upside down and the people closest to them abandon them, or their friends mock them, or their chavrusa dumps them in middle of the zeman, they don’t panic during the storm, because they know that Hashem is steering the ship. By living with proper faith, emunah and bitachon in all situations, things will subside and they will see brocha and hatzlocha.
Rav Mordechai Pogromansky, one of the great Torah personalities of pre-war Lithuania, embodied this view. Even as he sat locked in the Kovno Ghetto, surrounded by death and destruction, he radiated calm. People gathered around him not just for Torah, but for emunah.
With the Jews walled into a small area that was constantly patrolled by vicious Nazis, he would tell those who would gather around him that he didn’t see the German beasts who were everywhere. He would say: “Ich zeynisht di Deitchen. Ich zey pesukim-I don’t see Germans. I see pesukim.”
He looked at the chaos and saw Tochacha. He saw the pesukim that we read in this week’s parsha playing out around him. The suffering was not the product of cruel men, but of a Divine system with meaning and purpose.
He wasn’t in denial. He was in tune.
Rav Pogromansky would repeat a teaching that he heard from the Kovno Rov, Rav Avrohom Duber Kahana-Shapiro, who died of illness in the ghetto. Prior to his passing, the Rov said that he was jealous of the kohein who hid the small jug of pure oil during the time of the Chashmonaim. That flask, which would one day ignite the miracle of Chanukah, was set aside during a time of despair, when the Bais Hamikdosh was defiled, churbanwas everywhere, most of the Jews had become Misyavnim, and the future looked hopeless.
The Kovno Rov referred to him as “der umbakantersuldat” – the unknown soldier. No one knows his name. But his small act of quiet faith changed everything. He knew that a time would come when the powerful Yevonim would be usurped of their power, when churban would yield to rejuvenation and shementahor would be needed to ignite the menorah.
While others surrendered to the darkness, he lit a spark for the future. He knew that he wasn’t seeing Yevonim, or Misyavnim, or churban. He was seeing pesukim.
He lived the words of the Orchos Chaim L’Rosh, “Al tevahelma’asecha.” Don’t panic. Don’t act rashly. Stay steady.
This is classic Kelmermussar. Clarity and calm, even amidst confusion. But you need not be from Kelm to live it. We can all become that unknown soldier, making small but holy choices even when everything feels bleak.
That’s why in many yeshivos, particularly during Elul, Orchos Chaim L’Rosh is read each morning after Shacharis. In Kelm, they sang it with a haunting niggun. Rav Nosson Wachtfogel would chant it in Lakewood with fiery intensity.
Each day, this reminder: Stay calm. Think long-term. See the pesukim.
Every Shabbos morning, in Nishmas, we thank Hashem for saving us from “cholo’imro’imv’ne’emanim, evil and faithful illnesses.” What does it mean for an illness to be faithful?
The Tochachain this week’s parsha (28:59) speaks also of “makkosgedolosvene’emanos, great and faithful blows,” and “cholo’imgedolimvene’emanim, great and faithful illnesses.”
The Gemara in Avodah Zarah (55a) states that before an illness descends upon a person, it must take an oath. It is instructed how long to stay, how much pain to inflict, and when to leave. The sickness agrees and is then dispatched.
That is ne’emanus. Even suffering follows orders. Even pain has a purpose and a limit.
When we’re in the middle of it, it’s easy to believe that things will never change. But nothing is forever – except Hashem’s love and plan.
Monday was a day of heartbreak—in Yerushalayim, in Gaza, and in every Jewish heart.
In Ramot, six holy innocent Jews were torn from this world by cruel, senseless violence. Twelve more were seriously wounded, their lives and families forever altered. The blood of the innocent cries out, and the chain of tragedy grows heavier with each link. Young and old alike, snuffed out in an instant. And for those left behind: darkness and grief. Parents. Siblings. Friends. All thrown into the fire of mourning.
The day had begun like any other in Yerushalayim. The sun rose over the golden city, casting light on people going about their morning routines. And then gunfire.
Panic. Screams. Chaos. People running for their lives.
When will it end?
That same day, far away in Gaza, four young Jewish soldiers—boys, really—were killed in their tank by Hamas terrorists. They never had a chance. Four more families shattered. Four more names added to the growing list of holy souls lost. Hy’d.
When Hashem decrees it, no border fence can stand in the way. No tank, no technology, can offer protection. When Heaven speaks, the illusion of control disappears. Pesukim are seen in the streets.
We see virtually the entire world lining up against us, preparing for a grand ceremony at that bastion of justice, the United Nations, where once-great nations of the West will join forces with Israel’s traditional enemies and recognize a non-existent state for a fictional nation. Anti-Semitism increases and no place is considered safe from the vile hate. Israel’s war with the forces of terror continues into its third year, as its hostages hover near death, and legions of marchers, propagandists, politicians and media mainstays accuse and convict Israel of genocide.
When we hear what is happening inside Eretz Yisroel, it can feel demoralizing. We see the rightist government on shaky legs, with the left flexing its might, putting together new coalitions comprised of old enemies, determined to squash us.
None of what is happening is new. None of it is unprecedented. The ongoing battles over yeshivos, over halacha, and over the soul of our people have been waged since the beginning.
The battles that are being waged now have been fought before. Ever since the founding of the state, the status of bachurei yeshiva and the role of halacha have been points of contention. Just as our spiritual fathers triumphed, just as yeshivos rose from the ashes and continued to grow, and just as the Torah community defied the predictions and prognoses of its demise and thrived, so will the good times return.
In this country, as well, we face multiple challenges in our communities, schools, shuls, neighborhoods, housing, and children. Costs are rising everywhere. As some wring their hands in despair and despondency, others see it all as birth pangs.
We have always survived. More than that, we have flourished.
The Torah world rose from the ashes of Churban Europe. It was rebuilt by people who saw the pesukim and did not panic. We must continue their legacy. The good times will return – for those who don’t give up.
Yaakov Avinu, as he descended to Mitzrayim, brought along cedar trees – arozim – that would later be used to build the Mishkon. Why? Because he knew. He knew that golus would come. He knew that slavery would follow. But he also knew that redemption would follow that – and that those very trees, planted in a period of darkness, would be used to build a house for Hashem that would be a source of light and holiness.
Yaakov wasn’t just bringing wood. He was bringing a message: The darkness won’t last. Prepare for the light.
That is why we read the parsha of bikkurim now.
Elul is not just about fear. It’s about faith. It’s about saying: I will plant. I will strive. I will plan my walk toward Yerushalayim with my fruit, even if I don’t yet see them. And Hashem, in His love, will grant me what I need and welcome me to the mikdosh through his emissary, the kohein.
The Ribono ShelOlam says, “Pischu li pesachkefischoshelmachat, open for Me a door the size of a needle’s eye, v’Anieftachlochemkepischoshelulam, and I will open for you the entrance to a grand hall.”
Elul is about taking the step. That first step is hard, just like the first steps of a child. It’s hard to get off the floor, to forsake our sins, large and small, those that bring us joy and those that lead to depression. It takes faith and strength to take that first step. But when we do take it, Hashem will do the rest.
We live in turbulent times. Spiritually, socially, and politically, we feel the shaking beneath our feet. But we must respond the way Jews always have: with faith, with effort, and with gratitude.
We must examine our deeds, remember our history back to Yaakov and the times he suffered, recognize our geulah, and move forward.
Hashem saved Yaakov from Lovon and saved us from Mitzrayim. He will save us again – if we don’t give up. If we walk, He will carry. If we cry, He will listen.
The struggles we face are real, but so is the love of the Father who placed them in our path.
May we merit to be among those who bring our bikkurim with joy, even after a year of toil. May we learn from the unknown soldier. May we see our struggles not as dead ends, but as pesukim in progress.
May we all be inscribed for a year of light, clarity, peace, and revealed goodness.
Kesivah vachasimah tovah. Shnas geulah v’yeshuah.
{Matzav.com}
Jerry Seinfeld sparked controversy this week by equating the “Free Palestine” movement with the Ku Klux Klan, suggesting that its underlying message carries the same antisemitic hostility associated with the hate group.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, which characterized the remarks as “inflammatory,” Seinfeld made the comparison during an unannounced visit to Duke University in Durham, North Carolina.
“Free Palestine is, to me, just — you’re free to say you don’t like Jews. Just say you don’t like Jews,” The Duke Chronicle, the campus newspaper, quoted him as saying.
“By saying Free Palestine, you’re not admitting what you really think,” he continued. “So it’s actually — compared to the Ku Klux Klan, I’m actually thinking the Klan is actually a little better here because they can come right out and say, ‘We don’t like Blacks, we don’t like Jews.’ Okay, that’s honest.”
In a message sent to the newspaper, a Duke University spokesperson emphasized that the school does not review or approve remarks from invited speakers, nor does it endorse them. The spokesperson clarified that Seinfeld’s appearance was arranged by the university’s Chabad chapter together with other student groups and the institution itself.
Mason Herman, who leads the student Chabad organization, told NBC News that “the event was highlighting the fact that there are more than 40 hostages still in Gaza. To one, raise awareness of that fact, and two, to share their plight while in captivity. And to share Omer’s story.”
Seinfeld’s comments came just before he introduced Omer Shem Tov, a former hostage who was imprisoned in Gaza for 505 days. The gathering, restricted to Duke students and faculty, provided Shem Tov the chance to recount his religious and personal experiences while in Hamas captivity, the spokesperson added. Seinfeld specifically requested that his participation not be publicized in advance.
The comedian had spoken at Duke previously when he was awarded an honorary degree last year. That event was marked by dozens of students walking out in protest over his support for Israel, with some chanting “Free Palestine.”
{Matzav.com}
President Donald Trump declared Wednesday evening that he was “filled with grief and anger” after the assassination of Turning Point USA co-founder and CEO Charlie Kirk at an event in Utah.
“To my great fellow Americans, I am filled with grief and anger at the heinous assassination of Charlie Kirk on a college campus in Utah,” Trump said in a video lasting more than four minutes and posted to Truth Social. “Charlie inspired millions, and tonight all who knew him and loved him are united in shock and horror.
“Charlie was a patriot who devoted his life to the cause of open debate and the country that he loved so much, the United States of America.
“He fought for liberty, democracy, justice, and the American people. He’s a martyr for truth and freedom, and there’s never been anyone so respected by youth.”
Kirk, 31, was struck in the neck by gunfire during a student forum at Utah Valley University in Orem. Video footage captured him bleeding profusely after the shot.
He leaves behind his wife of four years, Erika, along with their two children: three-year-old Mia Grace and one-year-old James Charles.
“Charlie also was a man of deep, deep faith, and we take comfort in the knowledge that he is now at peace with God in heaven,” Trump said.
“Our prayers are with his wife Erika, his two young, beloved children, and his entire family who he loved more than anything in the world. We ask God to watch over them in this terrible hour of heartache and pain. This is a dark moment for America.”
Kirk had been opening the first stop of a 15-event “American Comeback Tour.”
Over the past several years, he made university visits a key part of his outreach, allowing both students and the public to challenge him directly in open forums. At the moment of the attack, he was seated at his familiar “Prove Me Wrong” table, fielding questions from attendees.
“Charlie Kirk traveled the nation, joyfully engaging in everyone interested in good-faith debate,” Trump said.
“His mission was to bring young people into the political process, which he did better than anybody, to hear his love of country and to spread the simple words of common sense. On campuses nationwide, he championed his ideas with courage, logic, humor, and grace.”
Trump then condemned the climate of hostility in American politics, blaming years of inflammatory rhetoric for the bloodshed. He said it is long past time that the public and the media “confront the fact that violence and murder are the tragic consequence of demonizing those with whom you disagree day after day, year after year, in the most hateful and despicable ways possible.”
“For years, those on the radical left have compared wonderful Americans like Charlie to Nazis and the world’s worst mass murderers and criminals,” Trump said. “This kind of rhetoric is directly responsible for the terrorism that we’re seeing in our country today, and it must stop right now.
“My administration will find each and every one of those who contributed to this atrocity and to other political violence, including the organizations that funded and supported, as well as those who go after our judges, law enforcement officials, and everyone else who brings order to the country.
“From the attack on my life in Butler, Pennsylvania, last year, which killed a husband and father, to the attacks on ICE agents, to the vicious murder of a healthcare executive in the streets of New York, to the shooting of House Majority Leader Steve Scalise and three others, radical left political violence has hurt too many innocent people and taken too many lives.”
Trump closed his address by calling on Americans to uphold the ideals Kirk stood for.
“The values of free speech, citizenship, the rule of law, and the patriotic devotion and love of God,” Trump said. “Charlie was the best of America, and the monster who attacked him was attacking our whole country.
“An assassin tried to silence him with a bullet, but he failed because together, we will ensure that his voice, his message, and his legacy will live on for countless generations to come.
“Today, because of this heinous act, Charlie’s voice has become bigger and grander than ever before, and it’s not even close. May God bless his memory, may God watch over his family, and may God bless the United States of America.”
WATCH:
{Matzav.com}
WATCH:
WATCH:
LISTEN:
https://matzav.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Bitachon4Life-Shiur-1592-Tocheles-Part-112-Rachmanus.mp3For more info, email bitachon4life@gmail.com.
