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POTUS: “I’d say Iran is not winning this war. They should talk — and they should talk immediately before it’s too late.”

Additional footage of the fire at the Iranian State Broadcasting building in Tehran after it was struck by the IDF.

In a powerful display of achdus and achrayus for the olam hatorah in Eretz Yisroel, Harav Dovid Cohen shlit”a, Rosh Yeshivas Chevron, visited Baltimore on Sunday as part of a major fundraising campaign for Keren Olam Hatorah. Keren Olam Hatorah has taken upon itself the tremendous burden of filling the gap left by devastating cuts in Israeli government funding to yeshivos and kollelim, with the visit aiming at galvanizing the Baltimore kehilla to join this historic effort. The day began with Shacharis in Lakewood, followed by a short flight to Baltimore where Rav Dovid shlit”a was greeted by local askanim. The first stop was a private breakfast meeting hosted by R’ Avi Bernstein, where Rav Dovid shared sobering updates about the situation in Eretz Yisroel and the critical role that American Jewry must play. From there, the Chevron rosh yeshiva visited the home of a noted baal tzedaka, followed by a well-attended event at the home of Gil Horwitz, co-hosted by Avi Bernstein and Jacob Slone. Rav Dovid delivered divrei chizuk, urging attendees to become Yissachar-Zevulun partners in the Torah of Eretz Yisroel. The visit to Baltimore continued with stops at local yeshivos and kollelim – including Ner Yisroel, the Yeshiva and Mesivta of Baltimore, and Kehillas Derech Chaim (Rabbi Gross’ shul) – where Rav Dovid was mechazek kehilla members and provided unparalleled insight into the olam hatorah of Eretz Yisroel. As Rav Dovid returned to the airport, one could sense that his visit, albeit brief, had left an indelible impact, with a tremendous amount of money raised and pledged to Keren Olam Hatorah and the entire kehilla reinvigorated in their support for lomdei torah in Eretz Yisroel. The next stop for Keren Olam Hatorah is in Chicago on Monday, with the participation of Harav Dovid Cohen shlit”a, Harav Yosef Harari-Raful shlit”a, Harav Malkiel Kotler shlita, and Harav Yisroel Neuman shlit”a. Following meetings with local philanthropists in Chicago on Monday morning, the delegation of gedolim will attend a community-wide kabbolas panim at K’hal Ohr Yissachar (Chodorov), 6336 N. Lincoln Avenue, at 7 PM. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Iranian naval commander Gen. Reza Abbasi delivered a harsh assessment of Israel’s military prowess during an interview aired on Iran’s Channel 1, asserting that Israel cannot compete with Iran on the battlefield. His remarks, translated by Memri TV, painted a picture of a vastly superior Iranian force.

Abbasi took direct aim at Israeli leadership, referring to Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu as a “lunatic,” and claimed that he is “in no position to withstand Iran’s armed forces.” He boasted that only a small portion of Iran’s true military strength has been disclosed so far.

Highlighting Iran’s long-term military planning, Abbasi said the Islamic Republic possesses “very high capabilities” and is carefully monitoring the readiness of its adversaries. “We have been training for this for 26–27 years,” he declared, suggesting the country has been preparing for a confrontation over decades.

Abbasi also emphasized Iran’s ability to fight across various arenas. “We can confront the enemy on different fronts,” he stated, adding that both the air force and ground units maintain “very high capabilities, and we are waiting to see the situation of the enemy.”

{Matzav.com}

The Israeli Air Force carried out a targeted airstrike on the offices of Iran’s state broadcaster, IRIB, in Tehran earlier today. Video captured the precise moment of the strike, with footage showing the anchor fleeing the studio in panic. Prior to the attack, the IDF issued an evacuation warning for the area surrounding IRIB’s headquarters in Tehran. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz stated a short while ago, “The Iranian propaganda and incitement mouthpiece is on its way to disappear.” (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

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EMERGENCY CAMPAIGN: HELP ISRAELI FAMILIES NOW. Led by Harav Zev Leff Shlit”a

As Iran launches attacks and war rages in Israel, families are suffering — both from the frontlines and the financial fallout.​ The Giving A Hand / נותן יד Fund, under Harav Zev Leff Shlit”a, is delivering urgent aid to families of soldiers and others in crisis. 

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The Wall Street Journal has reported that Israel recently dealt a major blow to Iran’s nuclear infrastructure, causing significant destruction at key nuclear development sites. Among the targeted locations were the Natanz and Isfahan facilities, and the extent of the impact seems to be more severe than earlier assessments suggested.

At Natanz, satellite images and reports from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) reveal that around 14,000 centrifuges located beneath the surface were lost due to a disruption in the facility’s power supply.

The attack at Natanz caused the collapse of a large enrichment facility above ground, along with extensive damage to associated power systems and support operations. The IAEA noted that the loss of electrical infrastructure had a devastating effect on the subterranean centrifuges.

In Isfahan, key components of Iran’s uranium conversion process sustained heavy damage. The site’s conversion plant and the facility responsible for manufacturing fuel plates were hit hard, with no fewer than four major buildings reportedly reduced to rubble. Despite the destruction, radiation levels are said to remain within acceptable safety thresholds.

Meanwhile, the Fordow site experienced relatively light damage, primarily affecting buildings located on the surface. The critical centrifuge arrays buried deep underground, protected by layers of rock, remained untouched. The IAEA verified that the fortified subterranean enrichment halls showed no signs of impairment.

Fordow continues to serve as Iran’s most protected enrichment center. Although some surface-level assets were struck, the underground infrastructure—which includes operational centrifuges and enrichment systems—was not affected. This means that Iran retains the ability to resume the production of weapons-grade uranium at that facility if it makes that decision.

{Matzav.com}

Due to the ongoing conflict with Iran, Israeli airspace remains closed to all passenger aircraft. It is now confirmed that this closure will remain in place at least through the end of this week, with no clear timeline for reopening.

This prolonged closure has left many Israeli travelers stranded abroad, while numerous visitors currently in Israel are unable to depart the country.

For those seeking to leave Israel, various alternative travel routes have been discussed, including:

• Travel by sea to Cyprus
• Land travel via Jordan or Egypt

However, each option presents significant logistical, legal, and safety hurdles. None have yet emerged as a practical, proven solution. In addition, a wave of misinformation and fraudulent schemes – including offers of fake boat tickets to Cyprus – has added to the public’s confusion and concern.

In recent days, the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem has reached out to collect information about U.S. citizens currently in Israel who are seeking to leave. This is a preliminary effort to assess the scale of the situation, and no concrete evacuation plans have been announced at this time.

Separately, our colleagues at Amudim are actively exploring the possibility of charter flights out of nearby countries. As part of this effort, Amudim is collecting information from U.S. citizens who are in Israel and hoping to depart. Click here to access the Amudim form.

In coordination with this initiative, Chaim V’Chessed has arranged for the information submitted via Amudim’s form to also be shared with the U.S. Embassy, in order to support the Embassy’s data collection on American citizens currently in Israel.

Therefore, filling out this form may be beneficial, even if no concrete travel option is yet available.

Please note:

• This form is only for U.S. citizens holding valid U.S. passports.
• Submitting your information does not constitute registration for a flight or evacuation, and does not guarantee assistance.

We understand the anxiety this situation continues to cause. Chaim V’Chessed remains in close contact with relevant parties and is committed to sharing accurate updates as new developments emerge.

For the latest updates, follow www.chaimvchessed.com or click here to subscribe to updates.

{Matzav.com}

U.S. officials have now confirmed to Fox News that the Nimitz and her Carrier Strike Group are being redeployed from the Indo-Pacific to the Middle East, due to the escalating war between Israel and Iran.

As Republican senators consider President Donald Trump’s big bill that could slash federal spending and extend tax cuts, a new survey shows most U.S. adults don’t think the government is overspending on the programs the GOP has focused on cutting, like Medicaid and food stamps. Americans broadly support increasing or maintaining existing levels of funding for popular safety net programs, including Social Security and Medicare, according to the poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. They’re more divided on spending around the military and border security, and most think the government is spending too much on foreign aid. The poll points to a disconnect between Republicans’ policy agenda and public sentiment around the domestic programs that are up for debate in the coming weeks. Here’s the latest polling data on how Americans view federal funding: Most want Medicaid and SNAP funding increased or kept as is Many Americans see Medicaid and food assistance programs as underfunded — even as Congress proposes significant cuts to Medicaid and food and nutrition assistance programs — and few say “too much” money is going to these programs. About half of U.S. adults say “too little” funding goes to Medicaid, which is a government health care coverage program for low-income people and people with certain disabilities. Nearly half, 45%, say food and nutrition assistance programs like food stamps, SNAP or EBT cards are underfunded, according to the poll. About 3 in 10 U.S. adults in each case say those programs are receiving “about the right amount” of funding, indicating that most Americans likely do not want to see significant cuts to the two programs. About 2 in 10 say Medicaid is overfunded, while about one-quarter say that about food assistance programs. Republicans are especially likely to say “too much” is spent on food and nutrition assistance programs when compared with Democrats and independents — 46% of Republicans say this, compared with about 1 in 10 Democrats and independents. When it comes to Medicaid, fewer Republicans, about one-third, say the government is spending “too much.” Many believe Medicare, Social Security and education are underfunded About 6 in 10 Americans say there is not enough government money going toward Social Security, Medicare or education broadly. But Democrats overwhelmingly think “too little” money is allocated to these areas, while Republicans are happier with the status quo. Very few think Medicare, Social Security and education are getting “too much” funding. Only about 1 in 10 Republicans say this about either Medicare or Social Security. Roughly one-quarter of Republicans say too much is spent on education. When it comes to Social Security, about half of Republicans say “too little” is spent, compared with about 7 in 10 Democrats. Americans are divided on money for border security and the military Americans are more divided on whether the government is devoting too much money to the military or border security. About 3 in 10 say the government is spending “too much” on the military, while a similar share say the government is spending “too little.” Close to 4 in 10 say the government is spending “about the right amount.” Republicans are much less likely to say “too little” is being spent on border security than they were before Trump took office again in January. Now, 45% of Republicans say “too little” is being spent, down […]

New satellite imagery shows damage from IDF strikes against the Natanz and Isfahan nuclear facilities, and a missile production site in Shiraz.

National Unity party leader Benny Gantz put on Tefillin this morning at the scene of the attack in Haifa.

After three days of closed airspace left tens of thousands of Israelis stranded abroad, Israel’s Transportation Ministry has announced a temporary solution: two emergency rescue cruises will depart from Cyprus to bring citizens back home.

As part of the emergency plan, Transportation Minister and cabinet member Miri Regev reached an agreement Sunday evening with businessman Moshe Mano, head of Mano Maritime, to launch two rescue sailings from Cyprus. According to a Channel 12 News report, the agreement was reached following discussions about utilizing maritime routes to repatriate Israelis amid the ongoing airspace closure prompted by attacks on Iran. So far, only the two initial voyages have been confirmed, and no registration details or official forms have been released yet.

Earlier in the day, Arkia CEO Oz Berlovitz issued a direct plea to the prime minister, security officials, and the transportation minister, urging immediate government intervention. He warned of a rapidly escalating aviation crisis caused by the closure of Israeli airspace.

“There are about 200,000 Israelis stuck abroad — including hundreds of doctors, medical personnel, soldiers on emergency reserve call-up orders, patients, and small children without their parents — with no way to return home,” Berlovitz said.

Despite the situation, Berlovitz emphasized that Israeli airlines, including Arkia, are fully prepared, with aircraft and crews waiting in nearby countries, ready to take off as soon as clearance is granted.

“Since the airspace was closed due to the security escalation, tens of thousands of Israelis remain stranded without a practical solution or a clear path home,” Berlovitz stated. “The current framework, which permits only two landings per hour during daylight hours, is far from a real solution. At that pace, bringing everyone home could take weeks — or even longer.”

He concluded by calling on decision-makers to treat the situation as a national emergency. “The current outline doesn’t reflect the reality on the ground. I urge leaders to revise it immediately and establish a wide-scale air bridge to bring Israeli citizens home without delay.”

{Matzav.com Israel}

When missile alerts sound across Israel in the still hours before dawn, it’s no accident. Iran has consistently chosen nighttime for its missile attacks, a decision that goes far beyond mere darkness. This timing is rooted in calculated military logic, technical limitations, and a desire to disorient the enemy.

Dr. Itay Gal explored this issue in a fascinating analysis published in the Jerusalem Post, shedding light on the rationale behind these nocturnal offensives.

Though it may seem obvious that night provides cover, the reasons for striking after sunset extend beyond simple concealment. There are multiple overlapping factors at play—some mechanical, others strategic, and all serving a broader goal of intimidation and surprise.

One of the most important technical considerations is that missiles, unlike airplanes, cannot draw oxygen from the air to ignite their engines. Instead, they must carry both the fuel and a separate oxidizing agent onboard, enabling combustion even at high altitudes where oxygen is virtually nonexistent.

This necessity creates two distinct missile types: those fueled with liquid propellants and those using solid fuel—each with unique capabilities and vulnerabilities.

Iran’s arsenal of long-distance missiles—like the Shahab models—typically depends on liquid fuel. Preparing these weapons for launch involves a complicated and time-consuming process. Two separate storage tanks, one for fuel and another for the oxidizer, must be filled precisely. The procedure is dangerous and demands a fixed launch location and support personnel, leaving the missile exposed for long stretches.

This fueling stage is also the most opportune moment for enemies to detect and strike. Surveillance satellites and high-altitude reconnaissance aircraft pose a significant threat. To mitigate this, Iran generally carries out fueling and related preparations at night, when reduced visibility hampers aerial tracking.

Shorter-range systems, such as the Fateh-110 or Zolfaghar, utilize solid fuel. These missiles are factory-loaded with a blend of fuel and oxidizer, allowing for rapid deployment. They can be launched from mobile units without requiring on-site fueling, making them far more agile and harder to target in advance.

However, solid-fuel rockets lack flexibility once launched. Their engines cannot be throttled down or shut off after ignition—what’s lit must fly. The benefit is speed and readiness, while the drawback is inflexibility.

People often wonder why missile engines need built-in oxidizers. The answer lies in the altitudes at which these weapons travel. Whereas jet engines pull oxygen from the air, ballistic missiles rise so high into the atmosphere—sometimes hundreds of kilometers—that oxygen is either insufficient or entirely absent. These rockets must therefore be entirely self-contained in their propulsion systems.

Ultimately, Iran’s preference for nighttime strikes is a calculated tactic. It accounts for the mechanics of its missile technology, the strategic advantage of stealth, and the psychological toll on civilians suddenly awakened by sirens and explosions.

By combining different missile types, varying launch platforms, and the cloak of night, Iran seeks to amplify its operational resilience and sow fear—even if the missiles themselves don’t always hit their targets.

In modern warfare, when a missile is fired can be just as impactful as where it lands.

{Matzav.com Israel}

A 2024 study, commissioned by Yoto Mini, found 55% of parents feel overwhelmed at the thought of keeping their kids entertained for six straight weeks. While summer break has long been seen as a childhood rite of passage, not everyone is convinced it’s still serving kids, or parents, well. Could switching to a year-round school schedule actually help children do better, feel happier and stay healthier? As more schools explore year-round class options, many ask: Is it time to rethink summer break? What are experts saying about it, and its pros and cons? Keeps learning fresh all year long One big benefit of canceling summer break is reducing the dreaded summer slide, where students may experience learning loss during the extended vacation. A recent study announced summer learning loss equaled about one month of classroom learning, and students tended to regress more in math skills compared to reading skills. It also found that students from middle- and upper-class families improved their reading skills over the summer, while students from lower-income families regressed. This loss tends to hit harder for kids from families with fewer resources, making it even tougher to catch up once school starts again. Year-round schooling, with shorter breaks spaced throughout the year, helps keep knowledge fresh and learning continuous, which means less stress for kids and parents alike. That said, as Heidi Bruaw from Real Life of Lulu points out, “Shifting to year-round school might help with the summer slide, but it still depends on the student. Some need longer breaks to decompress due to social challenges or stress, who might not get the time they need to recover before school starts again.” And academic gains aren’t always guaranteed. The Cleveland Metropolitan School District recently ended its 15-year experiment with year-round schooling, citing no meaningful improvements in student outcomes despite the extended calendar. Their experience underscores that while keeping learning fresh is a worthy goal, how it’s implemented and whether it works can vary widely. This all serves as a reminder that the conversation about year-round schooling is as much about emotional and logistical fit as it is about academic benefit. Provides support when it matters most Kids who struggle in school often need steady support, and long breaks can interrupt that. With year-round schooling, students get shorter breaks, which means that interventions and support services can be provided more regularly, preventing them from slipping through the cracks. This continuous engagement helps maintain academic momentum, keeps students motivated and reduces dropout rates among vulnerable student populations. As Louise Sattler, a Certified School Psychologist from California, points out, an extended school year “can be a support factor for a child with intense special needs who would experience much regression if they do not have a consistent program.” Year-round schooling creates more consistent touchpoints for academic and emotional development, especially for students who need extra help to thrive. Plus, it also minimizes the back-to-school frenzy for parents and caregivers. Improves student engagement Long stretches away from school can sometimes make kids lose their spark for learning and lead to disengagement. Year-round schooling helps by breaking up the year into manageable chunks with built-in breaks. Kids stay more excited and engaged, which means less boredom, better behavior and no burnout; and when they enjoy school, everyone wins. Rob Carlson, a […]

EMERGENCY CAMPAIGN: HELP ISRAELI FAMILIES NOW. Led by Harav Zev Leff Shlit”a As Iran launches attacks and war rages in Israel, families are suffering — both from the frontlines and the financial fallout.​ The Giving A Hand / נותן יד Fund, under Harav Zev Leff Shlit”a, is delivering urgent aid to families of soldiers and others in crisis.  We must act now. Families are desperate​.​  Donate now and bring relief during this critical time. CLICK HERE TO DONATE.

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Security camera footage made public on Monday captured the devastating scene as an Iranian missile struck a residential complex in Petach Tikva in the early hours, erupting into a massive fireball upon contact.

The tragic attack claimed the lives of four people. According to an initial assessment from the Home Front Command, two of those who died had taken shelter in a reinforced room (mamad), but the missile hit the area between two such protected spaces in the structure.

WATCH:

Another casualty appears to have been in an apartment located directly above the point of impact, while a fourth individual lost their life in a neighboring building, likely due to the immense force of the explosion.

The Home Front Command emphasized that although mamad rooms are effective at shielding residents from shrapnel and secondary blast effects, they are not built to endure a direct missile strike. Despite the direct hit, other residents who were inside their mamad rooms survived.

Overnight, Iran launched approximately 40 surface-to-surface missiles at Israel, leading to the deaths of eight civilians and injuries to over 100 people. Magen David Adom and other emergency responders rushed to five separate sites hit across the country.

In Haifa, the bodies of three people who had been missing were discovered in a factory that had caught fire. In Bnei Brak, an elderly man, aged 80, was killed when a missile landed nearby. In Petach Tikva, the missile attack on the residential building took four lives.

Tel Aviv also experienced two strikes, one of which caused damage to the US Embassy grounds. Since hostilities with Iran began, 24 civilians have lost their lives.

{Matzav.com Israel}

Avraham Cohen, age 75, lost his life in Bnei Brak overnight when an Iranian missile strike struck the area. Rescue teams later recovered his body from the wreckage.

The missile barrage that took Avraham’s life also resulted in seven more civilian deaths, with casualties reported in both Petach Tikva and Haifa.

In Petach Tikva, two people were inside a mamad—a reinforced security room—when the missile hit. Despite being in what is typically a protected area, they were fatally injured. Another person in the same structure and a fourth in a neighboring building died from the force of the explosion.

In Haifa, emergency personnel searching through a heavily damaged factory located three individuals who had gone missing. All were found deceased amid the aftermath of a large blaze that had engulfed the site.

Tel Aviv also came under fire, with two missile strikes confirmed. One of the impacts hit within the vicinity of the US Embassy complex, causing structural damage.

This deadly attack brought the total number of civilian deaths since the war with Iran began to 24.

Roughly 40 surface-to-surface missiles were fired toward Israel during the night, escalating the already intense conflict.

{Matzav.com Israel}