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Fourteen years after the passing of the great rosh yeshiva, Rav Michel Yehuda Lefkowitz zt”l, author of Minchas Yehuda and one of the gedolei Torah of the Torah world, large crowds gathered at his kever in the Ponovezh Cemetery to mark his yahrtzeit with tefillos and cries for rachamei Shamayim.

As the sun began to set, a special tefillah gathering was held at the kever, led by the Rosh Yeshiva’s sons. His son, the mashgiach, Rav Moshe Dovid Lefkowitz—mashgiach of Yeshivos Be’er Yaakov and Mishkenos HaTorah, and rav of the Heichal Moshe community in Bnei Brak—led the gathering. As the day came to a close, and in light of the difficult times, the crowd joined together in an emotional recitation of the Yud Gimmel Middos, weeping as they beseeched Hashem for salvation and compassion for Klal Yisroel.

Rav Moshe Dovid also offered words of chizuk, urging the participants to not only daven, but also to recognize and express gratitude for the many open miracles and chassadim that have been evident in recent days. He quoted timeless teachings from his father, Rav Michel Yehuda, emphasizing their continued relevance for every generation.

Following the stirring Kel Malei Rachamim, kaddish was recited by his son, Rav Avrohom Yitzchok Lefkowitz, Rosh Yeshiva of Beis Medrash Elyon.

Among those who joined the gathering were Rav Aharon Shapira, Rosh Yeshiva of Rabbeinu Moshe Shmuel, and the Rosh Yeshiva’s grandson, Rav Yitzchok Shaul Kanievsky.

יום היארצייט של רבי מיכל יהודה ליפקוביץ זצ”לצילום: ש.פ.ה יום היארצייט של רבי מיכל יהודה ליפקוביץ זצ”לצילום: ש.פ.ה יום היארצייט של רבי מיכל יהודה ליפקוביץ זצ”לצילום: ש.פ.ה יום היארצייט של רבי מיכל יהודה ליפקוביץ זצ”לצילום: ש.פ.ה יום היארצייט של רבי מיכל יהודה ליפקוביץ זצ”לצילום: ש.פ.ה יום היארצייט של רבי מיכל יהודה ליפקוביץ זצ”לצילום: ש.פ.ה יום היארצייט של רבי מיכל יהודה ליפקוביץ זצ”לצילום: ש.פ.ה יום היארצייט של רבי מיכל יהודה ליפקוביץ זצ”לצילום: ש.פ.ה יום היארצייט של רבי מיכל יהודה ליפקוביץ זצ”לצילום: ש.פ.ה יום היארצייט של רבי מיכל יהודה ליפקוביץ זצ”לצילום: ש.פ.ה יום היארצייט של רבי מיכל יהודה ליפקוביץ זצ”לצילום: ש.פ.ה יום היארצייט של רבי מיכל יהודה ליפקוביץ זצ”לצילום: ש.פ.ה יום היארצייט של רבי מיכל יהודה ליפקוביץ זצ”לצילום: ש.פ.ה יום היארצייט של רבי מיכל יהודה ליפקוביץ זצ”לצילום: ש.פ.ה יום היארצייט של רבי מיכל יהודה ליפקוביץ זצ”לצילום: ש.פ.ה יום היארצייט של רבי מיכל יהודה ליפקוביץ זצ”לצילום: ש.פ.ה יום היארצייט של רבי מיכל יהודה ליפקוביץ זצ”לצילום: ש.פ.ה יום היארצייט של רבי מיכל יהודה ליפקוביץ זצ”לצילום: ש.פ.ה יום היארצייט של רבי מיכל יהודה ליפקוביץ זצ”לצילום: ש.פ.ה יום היארצייט של רבי מיכל יהודה ליפקוביץ זצ”לצילום: ש.פ.ה יום היארצייט של רבי מיכל יהודה ליפקוביץ זצ”לצילום: ש.פ.ה יום היארצייט של רבי מיכל יהודה ליפקוביץ זצ”לצילום: ש.פ.ה יום היארצייט של רבי מיכל יהודה ליפקוביץ זצ”לצילום: ש.פ.ה יום היארצייט של רבי מיכל יהודה ליפקוביץ זצ”לצילום: ש.פ.ה יום היארצייט של רבי מיכל יהודה ליפקוביץ זצ”לצילום: ש.פ.ה יום היארצייט של רבי מיכל יהודה ליפקוביץ זצ”לצילום: ש.פ.ה יום היארצייט של רבי מיכל יהודה ליפקוביץ זצ”לצילום: ש.פ.ה יום היארצייט של רבי מיכל יהודה ליפקוביץ זצ”לצילום: ש.פ.ה יום היארצייט של רבי מיכל יהודה ליפקוביץ זצ”לצילום: ש.פ.ה יום היארצייט של רבי מיכל יהודה ליפקוביץ זצ”לצילום: ש.פ.ה

{Matzav.com}

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas sent a letter to President Donald Trump praising his successful efforts in brokering a ceasefire between Israel and Iran and expressing renewed commitment to pursuing a full peace agreement with Israel.

In his message, Abbas emphasized that the truce between Iran and Israel marks a key moment in efforts to ease broader tensions in the region.

The Palestinian leader also extended his appreciation to Trump for what he described as the president’s “courageous” recent appeals to bring an end to the fighting in Gaza.

“This constitutes an additional step in [your] important efforts to achieve a just and comprehensive peace between us, the Israelis, and the entire world,” Abbas writes.

According to the letter, Abbas confirmed his administration’s eagerness to resume serious negotiations with Trump and regional partners to reach a peace accord under a defined schedule aimed at resolving the conflict and creating long-term security for both sides.

The letter states Abbas “reiterated our full readiness to work closely with [Trump] and relevant Arab and international parties to immediately negotiate and implement a comprehensive peace agreement within a clear and binding timeframe that ends the occupation and achieves security and stability for all, a just and lasting peace.”

He went on to convey optimism that with Trump’s involvement, long-standing obstacles could be overcome.

“With you, we can achieve what seemed impossible: a recognized, free, sovereign and secure Palestine, a recognized and secure Israel, and a region that enjoys peace, prosperity and integration,” Abbas tells Trump.

In recent months, Abbas has made a concerted effort to build rapport with the Trump administration. He issued a decree ending a deeply criticized policy that had provided payments to the families of Palestinian prisoners and those killed in attacks, with benefits tied to the length of their sentences.

Abbas has also denounced Hamas repeatedly and has been calling for the hostages to be freed. Earlier this month, he issued his first public condemnation of Hamas’s October 7 assault.

Despite these gestures, U.S. engagement with the Palestinian leadership has been minimal. Contacts between Washington and Ramallah have remained limited, with U.S. hostage envoy Adam Boehler instead focusing on direct talks with Hamas earlier this year to help free American captives. Trump has not spoken with Abbas since their phone call in November, when the PA leader congratulated him on winning the election.

{Matzav.com}

Legislation introduced Wednesday in Congress would block Chinese artificial intelligence systems from federal agencies as a bipartisan group of lawmakers pledged to ensure that the United States would prevail against China in the global competition over AI. “We are in a new Cold War, and AI is the strategic technology at the center,” said Republican Rep. John Moolenaar of Michigan, chairman of the House Select Committee on China, as he opened a hearing on the matter. “The future balance of power may very well be determined by who leads in AI.” About five months ago, a Chinese technology startup called DeepSeek introduced an AI model that rivaled platforms from OpenAI and Google in performance, but cost only a fraction to build. This raised concerns that China was catching up to U.S. despite restrictions on chips and other key technologies used to develop AI. That race is now a central part of the U.S.-China rivalry, and so much is at stake that the U.S. must win, witnesses told the committee. The two countries are “in a long-term techno-security competition that will determine the shape of the global political order for the coming years,” said Thomas Mahnken, president and CEO of the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments. Jack Clark, co-founder and head of policy at Anthropic, said AI has built-in values. “I know that AI systems are a reflection of the societies that are built from. AI built in democracies will lead to better technology for all of humanity. AI built in authoritarian nations will … be inescapably intertwined and imbued with authoritarianism,” Clark said. “We must take decisive action to ensure America prevails.” Earlier this year, Chris Lehane, OpenAI’s head of global affairs, told reporters that the U.S. and China were the only two countries in the world that could build AI at scale. The competition, which he described as one between democratic AI and autocratic AI, is “very real and very serious,” and the stakes are “enormous,” he said, for “the global rails of AI will be built by one of those two countries.” The 2025 AI Index Report by Stanford University’s Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence center has the U.S. in the lead in producing top AI models. But the report noted China is rapidly closing the performance gap, reaching near parity in 2024 on several major benchmarks. It also showed that China leads in AI publications and patents. At the hearing, Clark urged the lawmakers to maintain and strengthen export controls of advanced chips to China. “This competition fundamentally runs on compute,” he said. The U.S. must control the flow of powerful chips to China, Clark said, “or else you’re giving them the tools they will need to build powerful AI to harm American interests.” Mark Beall, Jr., president of government affairs at The AI Policy Network, said there are “a number of very glaring gaps” in the U.S. export controls that have allowed China to obtain controlled chips. Lawmakers earlier this year introduced a bill to track such chips to ensure they would not be diverted to the wrong hands. The bill announced Wednesday would ban Chinese AI systems in the federal government. Sponsors are Reps. Ritchie Torres, D-N.Y., and Darin LaHood, R-Ill., and Sens. Rick Scott, R-Fla., and Gary Peters, D-Mich. “The U.S. must draw a hard […]

Trump administration moves to count crypto as a federal mortgage asset The Federal Housing Finance Agency is working to let borrowers use crypto as part of their federal mortgage applications without converting it to cash. Only digital assets held on U.S.-regulated, centralized exchanges will qualify under the new guidance. Fannie and Freddie must design safeguards to account for crypto’s volatility and submit their plans to the FHFA.

Border Czar Tom Homan issues a warning to Zohran Mamdani for vowing to block ICE from deporting criminal aliens if he becomes mayor of NYC: “Good luck. Federal law trumps him every day, hour, and minute. We’re going to be tripling down in NYC.”

Leftists STORM THE CAPITOL to protest Trump’s ‘Big, Beautiful Bill’ Several people were detained.

Following footage from today showing Hamas militants seizing food trucks that entered the Gaza Strip, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and Defense Minister Katz instructed the IDF to present plans to prevent Hamas from taking control of the aid, PMO says.

NEW: Sen Chuck Schumer was taken to the hospital Wednesday, his office says. “Leader Schumer was at the Senate gym this morning and got lightheaded. Out of an abundance of caution, he went to the hospital to be treated for dehydration & is now back at work in the Capitol.” His name for Tehillim was not available.

The United States and Qatar announced Wednesday that the fragile ceasefire between Iran and Israel has opened a potential window to reignite stalled negotiations between Israel and Hamas over a possible truce and hostage exchange deal in Gaza.

Majed Al Ansari, spokesman for Qatar’s Foreign Ministry, told CNN that Doha has maintained active communication with “all sides” involved in the hostage discussions. He said they hoped to use the momentum generated by the Iran-Israel ceasefire to advance the talks—remarks that closely mirrored those made by President Trump.

“This is the time now for President Trump to push for it and we believe he is sincere about it,” said Ansari. “We are willing to help on that.”

Ansari acknowledged that the truce had given the talks a boost, but warned against premature optimism.

“There was momentum created by the ceasefire in Iran and Israel,” he continued, “but we’re not out of the woods yet. There are a lot of details that I can’t discuss right now about the deal in place, but I can tell you it’s the same parameters that keep going in and out of the talks.”

He also addressed the tensions following Iran’s retaliatory strike on a U.S. base in Qatar, calling it a serious blow to Doha’s ties with Tehran.

Ansari’s remarks came on the heels of Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani’s statement a day earlier that “discussions are ongoing” with both Israel and Hamas, referring to a proposal reportedly put forward by the United States.

Speaking from the NATO summit in The Hague, President Trump said that Sunday’s U.S. military strike on Iranian nuclear facilities had produced “great progress” in the efforts to reach a Gaza ceasefire.

“I think that because of this attack that we made… we’re going to have some very good news,” he said. “Gaza is very close.”

Meanwhile, Hamas spokesman Taher al-Nunu confirmed to AFP on Wednesday that efforts to reach a deal had intensified.

“Our communications with the brother mediators in Egypt and Qatar have not stopped and have intensified in recent hours,” said al-Nunu.

Still, he warned that Hamas had “not yet received any new proposals” aimed at ending the conflict.

The Israeli government did not comment on the state of negotiations, offering only a general statement that it was continuing to pursue the release of hostages “on the battlefield and via negotiations.”

Since late May, the talks have been largely frozen. That was when Hamas reportedly rejected a U.S.-backed plan submitted by White House envoy Steve Witkoff, a response that Washington deemed “unacceptable.”

That plan had included a 60-day pause in fighting, a partial pullback of Israeli troops, and expanded humanitarian access, all in return for the release of 10 live hostages and 18 bodies of deceased hostages.

Hamas’s reply reportedly sought to restrict Israel’s ability to resume military action if no permanent truce was finalized by the end of the 60-day period.

In addition, Hamas opposed the U.S. proposal to release the 10 living captives in two waves—one on the first day of the truce and the second on the seventh—preferring instead to stagger the releases throughout the ceasefire window.

An earlier deal to exchange hostages for a ceasefire collapsed on March 2 after its initial 42-day phase concluded. Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu had refused to negotiate the second stage, which would have entailed a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza—something his far-right coalition partners adamantly oppose.

Israel resumed military operations in Gaza on March 18, and Netanyahu has since pledged to continue the campaign until Hamas is destroyed.

Although Netanyahu claimed just days before the June 13 Israeli strike on Iran that hostage talks were making “significant progress,” an Arab source familiar with the negotiations told The Times of Israel that no such progress had actually been made.

As it stands, Gaza-based terror groups are holding 50 hostages, 49 of whom were seized on October 7, 2023, when Hamas-led terrorists slaughtered around 1,200 Israelis and kidnapped 251 more, igniting the current war. Hamas also possesses the body of an Israeli soldier killed in the 2014 Gaza conflict.

According to the IDF, 28 of the hostages still in captivity have been confirmed dead. Twenty are believed to be alive, while Israeli officials have expressed deep concern for the condition of two others.

{Matzav.com Israel}

CIA Director John Ratcliffe: “CIA can confirm that a body of credible intelligence indicates Iran’s Nuclear Program has been severely damaged by the recent, targeted strikes.”    

CIA Director John Ratcliffe confirmed Wednesday that recent U.S. and Israeli strikes caused severe damage to Iran’s nuclear program. In a statement posted to X, Ratcliffe said the CIA has credible intelligence—including from a trusted source—that key Iranian nuclear facilities were destroyed and will take years to rebuild. “CIA can confirm that a body of credible intelligence indicates Iran’s Nuclear Program has been severely damaged by the recent, targeted strikes,” he wrote. Ratcliffe added that the agency is still gathering intelligence and will keep officials and, when possible, the public informed. The statement directly contradicts leaked reports that suggested the strikes had limited impact. Ratcliffe said those reports were based on illegally sourced information and do not reflect the CIA’s current assessment. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

JACKSON, NJ – A frum entrepreneur from Jackson has launched a groundbreaking new invention that’s already transforming lives: a system that allows people with low vision—including elderly Gedolim—to read and learn again with clarity and ease. The device, called OrahVision, lets users simply place down any sefer, paper, or document. The system instantly adjusts lighting, corrects curvature, sharpens the text, and displays a large, clear, high-contrast image on screen. Users can turn pages, zoom in and out, and even ask questions about the text—all with a single tap. “It’s so intuitive that people in their 90s who’ve never used technology are now using it daily to learn,” says Yisroel Wahl, the creator of OrahVision. Wahl explains that the project began as a personal mission. “A close family member’s vision was deteriorating. He spends his life learning, and the existing magnifiers made it nearly impossible to get through more than a few words. I put my life on hold to build a real solution,” he says. “With tremendous Siyata Dishmaya, here we are.” Once Wahl posted a video of the system in action, the response was immediate. “Calls came in from all over the world. People are desperate for something like this—and until now, it didn’t exist.” The stories have been deeply moving. “There are people who had basically given up,” he says. “One man immediately got emotional. He said he’d be able to learn the Parsha for the first time in four years. An elderly woman who had all but given up on life found her spirit again. The stories don’t stop.” OrahVision is now available to the public in early adopter release. To order or learn more, email yisroel@orahvision.com, call or WhatsApp 732‑637‑9674, or visit OrahVision.com.

President Trump unleashed a fiery response on Wednesday following Zohran Mamdani’s unexpected win in New York’s Democratic mayoral primary, slamming both his ideology and personal presentation.

“Democrats have crossed the line” by elevating “100% Communist Lunatic,” Trump railed in a Truth Social post.

He remarked that while radical figures have emerged in the party before, this instance went beyond what he viewed as acceptable boundaries. “We’ve had Radical Lefties before, but this is getting a little ridiculous,” he added.

Trump then turned his criticism toward Mamdani’s physical appearance and demeanor, pulling no punches.

“He looks TERRIBLE, his voice is grating, he’s not very smart, he’s got AOC+3, Dummies ALL, backing him, and even our Great Palestinian Senator, Cryin’ Chuck Schumer, is groveling over him.”

{Matzav.com}

Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said Wednesday that President Donald Trump’s sweeping tariffs will likely push up inflation in the coming months, even as some Republican senators suggested the chair was biased against the duties. On the second day of his twice-yearly testimony before the House and Senate, Powell said that consumers will likely have to shoulder some of the cost of the import taxes. Most Fed officials support cutting rates this year, Powell added, but the central bank wants to take time to see how inflation changes in the months ahead. “There will be some inflation from tariffs coming,” Powell said under questioning from members of the Senate Banking Committee. “Not yet, but over the course of the coming months.” Powell noted that the duties would likely cost hundreds of billions of dollars annually, and “some of that is going to fall on the consumer. We’re just kind of waiting to see more data on that.” Some GOP senators criticized Powell, however, for characterizing tariffs as a potential driver of inflation. Sen. Pete Ricketts, a Republican from Nebraska, argued that the duties could simply act as a one-time increase in prices that wouldn’t fuel inflation. And Sen. Bernie Moreno, a Republican from Ohio, echoed some of Trump’s complaints about Powell’s reluctance to cut rates and accused Powell of political bias. “You should consider whether you are looking at this through a fiscal lens or a political lens because you just don’t like tariffs,” Moreno said. Powell didn’t respond. But the Fed chair reiterated that most central bank officials do support cutting the Fed’s key rate this year. And Powell added that it is possible that tariffs won’t increase inflation by very much. Trump has sharply criticized Powell for not reducing borrowing costs, calling him a “numbskull” and a “fool.” Trump has pushed for rate cuts in order to reduce the interest costs the federal government pays on its debt. Yet some Fed officials have pushed back against that view, saying that it’s not their job to lower the government’s borrowing costs. Also Wednesday, at a post-NATO summit press conference, Trump said he had candidates in mind to replace Powell, presumably for when Powell’s term as chair ends in May 2026. Trump has previously threatened to fire Powell, but the Supreme Court has signaled that a president probably doesn’t have the legal authority to remove the Fed chair. “I know, within three or four people, who I’m going to pick,” Trump said, calling Powell a “very stupid person.” So far, inflation has steadily cooled this year despite widespread concerns among economists about the impact of tariffs. The consumer price index ticked up just 0.1% from April to May, the government said last week, a sign that price pressures are muted. Compared with a year ago, consumer prices rose 2.4% in May, up from a yearly increase of 2.3% in April. Yet most economists on Wall Street expect that Trump’s tariffs will lift inflation this year, to about 3% to 3.5% by the end of this year. Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren, the senior Democrat on the banking committee, told reporters before the hearing that the Fed would likely be cutting rates if it wasn’t for the threat of higher prices posed by tariffs. When the Fed reduces its key rate, it […]

Mossad Director David Barnea released a highly unusual public video on Wednesday, offering a glimpse into his address to agents who took part in the dramatic series of operations against Iran beginning on June 13—operations that, by all accounts, deeply destabilized the Iranian regime.

Addressing his operatives with a pointed message to Iran, Barnea declared, “We will [continue to] be there, like we have been there.”

Barnea described the scope of Mossad’s accomplishments as “unimaginable,” alluding to their reported involvement in eliminating senior Iranian military officials and nuclear scientists, and in demolishing facilities related to Iran’s nuclear program, drone manufacturing, and ballistic missile capabilities.

In a revelation that underscored the breadth of the operation, Barnea confirmed that at its peak, Mossad had embedded hundreds of agents inside Iran. Their success, he explained, was the result of extensive planning: “We worked for months and years to do all of the right actions to get to the right moment…We understood the fatefulness of the hour.”

Barnea expressed gratitude to other security and intelligence partners, thanking IDF Intelligence, IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir, and the CIA for their close collaboration during the mission.

Turning to the conflict with Hamas, Barnea reaffirmed Mossad’s commitment to rescuing every one of the remaining hostages held in Gaza. He noted that 50 people are still captive, with 20 known to be alive. Until recently, the status of two of the hostages had been unclear.

On Friday, Mossad released rare footage showing its joint role with the Israeli Air Force in carrying out a preemptive attack on Iran’s ballistic missile stockpiles and air defense systems. The three clips include strikes on missile infrastructure, anti-air installations, and preparations leading up to the mission—though all agents’ faces remain concealed.

The videos suggest that Mossad may have used drones launched from within Iran itself to hit selected targets.

Tehran has previously blamed Mossad for drone strikes, including a notable 2021 attack on the Karaj nuclear facility and other sensitive operations.

While the IDF’s actions in the war have received broader public coverage, these new videos offer an unprecedented window into the secretive world of Israeli intelligence—a domain where Mossad’s operations are usually hidden from view and rarely acknowledged at all.

{Matzav.com}

U.S. Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff revealed on Wednesday that additional countries are expected to join the Abraham Accords in the near future. Speaking in an interview with CNBC, Witkoff said, “We think we have big announcements on countries coming into the Abraham Accords,” though he did not name which nations may be involved. Witkoff also addressed ongoing talks with Iranian officials regarding their nuclear program. “There’s a strong sense that Iran is ready,” he said, expressing optimism about reaching a broader peace agreement. According to Witkoff, the current negotiations are centered on establishing a civilian nuclear program in Iran—but with one major condition: “It cannot have enrichment.” He made clear that any return to uranium enrichment by Tehran would be a dealbreaker. “It is a red line if Iran tries nuclear enrichment again,” he stated. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Three Palestinians were killed and seven others wounded in what Palestinian officials are calling a violent settler assault in the West Bank village of Kafr Malik, near Ramallah, according to a statement from the Palestinian Authority’s health ministry.

The rights organization Yesh Din reported that over 100 Israeli settlers were involved in the attack, which they said occurred in the presence of Israeli soldiers.

Video footage taken from the village showed several homes and cars engulfed in flames. Eyewitnesses speaking to Palestinian news outlets said settlers also threw rocks at villagers and their property during the assault.

In a separate video, Israeli soldiers can be seen firing at Palestinians near the entrance to Kafr Malik.

“Under the auspices of government and military backing, settler violence in the West Bank continues and becomes more deadly by the day. This is what ethnic cleansing looks like,” the Yesh Din rights group says in a statement.

The IDF has not yet issued a public statement in response to inquiries about the events in Kafr Malik.

Although the IDF has remained silent so far, Israeli news outlets quoted a security official who confirmed that many settlers participated in the attack. The official said they set fire to homes and vehicles, fought with local residents, and defaced property with graffiti bearing hateful slogans.

The same security source stated that Israeli forces arrived at the scene and opened fire, though the exact circumstances of the shooting are still being examined.

The Palestinian Authority’s health ministry confirmed that three people were fatally shot during the attack.

According to the Israeli security official, the situation remains fluid and the military has not yet brought the area fully under control.

{Matzav.com}

 

The second to last stop of Keren Olam Hatorah’s monumental campaign took place in Toronto on Monday. Departing from Lakewood to Toronto at daybreak following Shacharis, the delegation included Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch, Rav Dovid Cohen, Rav Malkiel Kotler, and Rav Yosef Chevroni. They were joined by senior organizers of the campaign, including R’ Reuven Wolf, R’ Shimon Glick, R’ Baruch Jeremias, and R’ Yitzchok Rokowsky—each of whom have crisscrossed North America on behalf of the Keren. Their first stop in Toronto was at the home of R’ Ariel Mashiyev, who warmly welcomed the delegation. Mr. Tzvi Belsky, the CEO of Keren Olam Hatorah, shared a remarkable detail: R’ Mashiyev had never been solicited for support. Instead, he approached the Keren on his own the previous year, giving a substantial donation unprompted. “This year, he increased his support even further,” Mr. Belsky noted, “and such generosity, the Midrash says, brings Hashem’s rachmanus upon all of Klal Yisroel.” The delegation continued to the home of R’ Shimshi Gross, where Rav Dovid Cohen spoke. Quoting Chazal, he said, “In the generation when Mashiach will come, there will be increasing opposition to talmidei chachamim and decrees upon decrees. This is chevlei Mashiach. In galus, we have no refuge but the Torah.” The gathering was further uplifted by the presence of Harav Don Segal shlit”a, who addressed the group via video. “Supporting Keren Olam HaTorah is the call of the hour,” Rav Don declared. “Those who take part in this effort will be zocheh to immense siyata d’Shmaya, in both gashmiyus and ruchniyus.” Further visits followed at the homes of R’ Ben Zion Heitner, R’ Dennis Cohen, and R’ Yaakov Kaplan. At each stop, the Gedolim engaged in conversations with their hosts, offering brachos and expressing appreciation for their communal involvement. At the Kaplan residence, Rav Moshe Hillel note that “Limud haTorah strengthens emunah, and that elevates kevod Shamayim in the world.” Rav Dovid Cohen added, “This entire journey is for kevod haTorah. And when hosts open their homes in honor of Torah, they become its partners.” At the home of R’ Barry Reichmann, Rav Moshe Hillel invoked the Midrash that “no one was zocheh Torah unless they were moser nefesh for it.” He explained, “Yissachar sacrifices to learn. Zevulun sacrifices to give beyond what seems possible. That, too, is mesirus nefesh l’kavod Shamayim.” The final private meeting was held at the home of R’ Bentzi Friedman. The campaign concluded with a community-wide asifah attended by thousands. After an electrifying address by Rav Ephraim Wachsman, speaking at the maamad, Rav Moshe Hillel delivered a stirring message: “Our goal in life is to ascend—to rise in madreigah, not remain static. A decline in Torah in Eretz Yisroel would be a tragedy not only for us, but for the Ribbono Shel Olam. Our mission now is to rise higher.” Rav Dovid Cohen added: “Chazal tell us that to be spared from chevlei Mashiach, one must engage in Torah and chessed. Torah is the light that upholds Klal Yisroel. Those who support Torah in Eretz Yisroel will merit to greet Mashiach bimheirah b’yameinu, Amen.”

A large explosion causes a commercial warehouse to collapse in Upper Deerfield, New Jersey due to a possible ammonia leak. No word on casualties yet.

U.S. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard announced on Wednesday that the damage inflicted by American B2 bombers on Iran’s nuclear infrastructure was so extensive that any attempt to rebuild the sites would take years.

“New intelligence confirms what POTUS has stated numerous times: Iran’s nuclear facilities have been destroyed. If the Iranians chose to rebuild, they would have to rebuild all three facilities (Natanz, Fordow, Esfahan) entirely, which would likely take years to do,” Gabbard posted on X.

She also denounced media coverage from outlets like CNN and The New York Times, accusing them of misrepresenting classified intelligence through unauthorized leaks in order to minimize the accomplishments of the U.S.-Israeli operation.

“The propaganda media has deployed their usual tactic: selectively release portions of illegally leaked classified intelligence assessments (intentionally leaving out the fact that the assessment was written with ‘low confidence’) to try to undermine President Trump’s decisive leadership and the brave servicemen and women who flawlessly executed a truly historic mission to keep the American people safe and secure,” she wrote.

On Tuesday night, President Trump dismissed the reports from CNN and The New York Times, which cited anonymous sources suggesting the recent airstrikes had limited effect.

“Fake news CNN, together with the failing New York Times, have teamed up in an attempt to demean one of the most successful military strikes in history. The nuclear sites in Iran are completely destroyed! Both the Times and CNN are getting slammed by the public!” Trump wrote on Truth Social.

Trump also highlighted remarks from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who disputed the negative reporting and stood by the outcome of the strike campaign.

“Based on everything we have seen — and I’ve seen it all — our bombing campaign obliterated Iran’s ability to create nuclear weapons,” said Hegseth.

He continued, “Our massive bombs hit exactly the right spot at each target—and worked perfectly. The impact of those bombs is buried under a mountain of rubble in Iran; so anyone who says the bombs were not devastating is just trying to undermine the President and the successful mission.”

Earlier in the day, the White House released a series of confirmations from various sources, attesting to the destruction of the three targeted nuclear sites. Among them was the Israel Atomic Energy Commission, which issued a firm statement: “The devastating US strike on Fordo destroyed the site’s critical infrastructure and rendered the enrichment facility inoperable. We assess that the American strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities, combined with Israeli strikes on other elements of Iran’s military nuclear program, has set back Iran’s ability to develop nuclear weapons by many years. The achievement can continue indefinitely if Iran does not get access to nuclear material.”

{Matzav.com}