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Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said Wednesday that the conflict with the United States could be brought to an end if Washington abandons its threats against Tehran and accepts a sweeping list of Iranian conditions involving frozen assets, Iran’s nuclear and missile programs, and developments in Lebanon and Yemen.

IRGC spokesman Hossein Mohibi, whose remarks were carried by Iran’s Fars News Agency, said Washington would have to halt the fighting entirely and cease issuing additional threats against Iran if it wants the current confrontation to end.

Among Tehran’s demands, Mohibi said, are an Israeli military withdrawal from Lebanon, the lifting of the blockade on Yemen, the release of $24 billion in frozen Iranian funds, and an end to outside interference with Iran’s nuclear and missile capabilities.

The demands came as the IRGC separately announced Wednesday that Iran was establishing a new restricted maritime area extending beyond the Strait of Hormuz into portions of the Gulf of Oman. Iranian authorities said the precise boundaries of the zone would be disclosed later.

Speaking on Iranian state television, Mohibi said the restricted zone would begin approximately off the coast of Chabahar and stretch across sections of the Gulf of Oman and into the Arabian Sea.

He warned that ships entering the newly designated area without obtaining advance authorization could be subjected to punitive action, including being denied services necessary for maritime navigation.

Iranian and American forces have continued military operations in the vicinity of the Strait of Hormuz, with the strategic shipping route remaining a major focus of the confrontation between the two countries.

Commercial traffic through the strait has been almost completely disrupted since the latest escalation began. Tehran has required ships to receive authorization before transiting the waterway, a requirement rejected by the United States and several regional governments.

Washington, meanwhile, has intensified its own pressure campaign against Tehran, imposing a blockade on Iranian ports while adding new sanctions against Iranian airlines as part of broader efforts to restrict Iran economically.

UK Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband has pushed back against Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis’ warning that Britain’s new sanctions targeting Israeli communities in Judea and Samaria could heighten the threat of antisemitism faced by British Jews.

Mirvis issued a forceful condemnation of the government’s move, calling its announcement a “truly dark day” and arguing that the policy risks emboldening the very extremist forces it is ostensibly intended to confront.

Miliband responded by invoking his own Jewish identity, saying that as a “proud British Jew,” he nevertheless disagreed with the Chief Rabbi’s conclusions.

“We all need to do more to tackle antisemitism,” Miliband said, maintaining that the government could simultaneously fight antisemitism at home and uphold what it regards as British principles in its foreign policy.

During an appearance on BBC Radio 4’s Today program, Miliband emphasized his respect for Mirvis while making clear that the two differed over the ramifications of the sanctions. He also said that blaming Jews in Britain or anywhere else for policies pursued by Israel’s government is itself antisemitic.

Mirvis, however, charged that the British government was resorting to political gestures that intensify anti-Israel sentiment. He warned that punitive action directed at Israel could provide further encouragement to people who channel hostility toward Israel into hatred of Jews.

The clash erupted after the British government unveiled sanctions affecting trade associated with Israeli communities in Judea and Samaria.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham defended the policy during an appearance in Parliament, arguing that Britain has an obligation to stand for “fairness against injustice” and to support people being displaced from their homes.

The Palestinian presidency praised Britain’s decision, characterizing the sanctions as a measure aimed at challenging what it called Israel’s “colonial system” and alleged Israeli violations against Palestinians.

Britain’s Jewish communal organizations have responded differently to the government’s decision.

The Jewish Leadership Council expressed concern that the sanctions could ultimately evolve into an effective boycott of Israel and accused Miliband of yielding to pressure from extremist factions within British society.

The Board of Deputies of British Jews focused in particular on the government’s decision to make the announcement shortly before Rosh Hashanah, saying worries over security were especially acute within the Jewish community at that time. The organization further cautioned that deteriorating ties between London and Jerusalem could contribute to increased tensions inside Britain.

At the same time, the Board of Deputies pointed out that it had previously communicated concerns to the Israeli government about violence perpetrated by settlers.

Figures from the Community Security Trust showed 1,926 antisemitic incidents across Britain during the first six months of 2026, representing a 21% rise from the same period a year earlier.

Greater Manchester Police, meanwhile, announced that it would deploy additional personnel during the Jewish High Holy Days in an effort to provide increased security and a greater police presence around Jewish communities.

Not all British Jewish organizations opposed the sanctions. Na’amod backed the government’s action, arguing that British Jews do not hold a single unified position on Israel and rejecting the contention that the new policy would fuel antisemitism.

The Movement for Progressive Judaism took a similar position, saying concerns about the safety and vulnerability of British Jews deserved serious attention but arguing that policies targeting Israeli communities should not automatically be characterized as measures directed against Jewish people.

The British action has also led to a widening diplomatic confrontation with Israel. Israel responded by shutting Britain’s consulate in eastern Jerusalem and prohibiting 11 members of Parliament and a campaigner from entering the country.

Israeli Diaspora Minister Amichai Chikli later called for further British-affiliated individuals and organizations to be barred from entering Israel.

Addressing Parliament, Miliband said the government’s change in policy was driven by proposed development in the E1 area. He additionally accused what he called “settler terrorists” of driving Palestinians from their land and charged that Israel’s government had repeatedly failed to take sufficient action against them.

Under the planned sanctions, businesses and individuals involved in providing services connected to Israeli communities in Judea and Samaria—including construction and financing—will be targeted. The measures will also prohibit the advertising in Britain of properties located in those communities. Miliband said putting the new restrictions fully into effect could require as much as nine months.

Canada and France have announced similar prohibitions on products originating from Israeli communities in Judea and Samaria as part of coordinated international measures.

The International Atomic Energy Agency’s Board of Governors voted Wednesday to refer Iran to the United Nations Security Council over Tehran’s failure to cooperate fully with an investigation into uranium particles found at locations Iran had not declared as nuclear sites.

The decision represents the first time in two decades that the IAEA’s governing board has sent the Iranian nuclear matter to the Security Council over such concerns.

Western governments have raised questions about whether the unexplained uranium traces are connected to a covert Iranian nuclear weapons effort believed to have operated until 2003. Tehran has consistently rejected allegations that it has pursued an atomic bomb, insisting that its nuclear activities are exclusively peaceful.

The resolution was approved by 23 members of the IAEA’s 35-nation Board of Governors during a meeting at the agency’s Vienna headquarters. Russia, China and Niger opposed the measure, eight countries abstained, and another country was unable to participate in the vote because of outstanding financial obligations.

The United States, Britain, France and Germany jointly introduced the resolution.

The latest action follows a June 2025 determination by the IAEA board that Iran was failing to comply with its nuclear nonproliferation responsibilities, with the agency pointing at the time to Tehran’s insufficient cooperation with its investigation.

Iran’s ambassador to the United Nations in Vienna, Reza Najafi, condemned Wednesday’s decision, describing the resolution as a “political tool.” He charged that the move damages confidence in the IAEA’s “independence, impartiality and credibility.”

Najafi further maintained that the continuing military conflict involving Iran, the United States and Israel has prevented Tehran from providing inspectors with the access they require at Iranian nuclear installations.

His comments came amid continued fighting in the more than six-month-old war. The United States destroyed five Iranian oil tankers this week, after which Iran attacked American targets in Jordan as the two sides continued exchanging strikes.

Under the resolution, IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi is asked to formally convey the agency’s concerns to both the UN Security Council and the UN General Assembly, as provided for under the IAEA Statute.

The measure additionally demands that Tehran remedy its noncompliance and carry out steps sought by the nuclear watchdog so the agency can verify that Iranian nuclear material has not been diverted for prohibited purposes.

IAEA inspectors have been unable to access Iranian nuclear installations damaged by Israeli and American strikes since the 12-day war in June 2025. As a result, the agency has also been unable to establish the current condition and location of Iran’s inventory of uranium enriched to levels approaching weapons grade.

Najafi maintained that damage caused by the Israeli and U.S. attacks has rendered safe entry into the affected installations “materially impossible.” He said Iran has “neither stopped nor suspended its safeguards obligations,” while arguing that the continuing fighting and military threats have made it impossible for Tehran to fulfill those requirements at present.

Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal and International Affairs Kazem Gharibabadi also denounced the resolution in a statement posted on X.

“They attack Iran’s safeguarded nuclear facilities, disrupt the normal verification process, and then use that very disruption as a pretext for passing a resolution at the IAEA Board of Governors,” Gharibabadi wrote.

“With these attempts to create an atmosphere, you can neither compensate for the failure of your policies and actions, nor will you be able to achieve anything at the Security Council.”

IAEA figures put Iran’s stockpile of uranium enriched to 60% purity at 440.9 kilograms, or approximately 972 pounds. That enrichment level remains below the roughly 90% generally regarded as weapons grade.

Grossi has previously said that the quantity of highly enriched uranium in Iran’s possession could theoretically provide enough material for as many as 10 nuclear weapons if Tehran chose to pursue weaponization. He has also emphasized that having sufficient nuclear material for such a scenario does not establish that Iran currently possesses nuclear weapons.

President Donald Trump said Wednesday that he expects the war with Iran to end immediately following the November midterm elections, arguing that Tehran is deliberately trying to prolong the conflict in hopes of influencing the U.S. vote. Trump made the remarks as the seven-month conflict entered another period of escalating attacks.

“I think the war will end immediately after the election,” the President said, explaining that Iran “can’t hold out any longer.”

Trump contended that Tehran’s strategy is tied directly to the American elections, accusing Iranian leaders of hoping that political changes in Washington will ease the pressure they are facing. “They’re desperate to try and affect the election so that we could get a nice, weak group of people in there and leave them alone and let them have their nuclear weapon.”

The President’s comments came amid another escalation in hostilities between Washington and Tehran. Iran said Wednesday that it had targeted ships near the Strait of Hormuz following U.S. attacks on Iranian oil tankers, while oil prices climbed sharply amid fears of further disruptions to global energy supplies.

Trump also addressed the latest round of American military action against Iranian vessels and indicated that additional strikes could follow. “You’re going to see a lot more.”

The renewed fighting has added to economic pressures stemming from the conflict, with Brent crude climbing above $100 a barrel Wednesday for the first time since July. Trump said he believes oil prices will decline once the conflict comes to an end after the elections.

At the same time, Trump made clear that any future arrangement with Tehran would extend well beyond restrictions on Iran’s nuclear program. “I’m doing much more than a nuclear deal. There’s a lot more than nuclear… That’s 99.9, but there’s going to be a lot of other things on the table that wouldn’t have been on the table three months ago.”

Trump also left open the possibility that negotiations could eventually resume, although he indicated Wednesday that reaching a new agreement with Tehran is not currently a priority for his administration.

Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu announced Wednesday that he has directed his attorneys to take legal action against Haaretz and journalist Shlomi Eldar over a report alleging that the United Arab Emirates warned him about an impending Hamas attack shortly before the Oct. 7, 2023, massacre.

Netanyahu categorically rejected the allegation, which surfaced less than two months before Israel’s Oct. 27 election and has fueled fresh attacks against him from his political rivals.

According to Haaretz, UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed contacted Netanyahu roughly 10 days before Oct. 7 and cautioned him that then-Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar was preparing a significant assault on Israel.

The newspaper further alleged that Netanyahu reacted without alarm, telling the Emirati leader that Israel was ready to deal with any potential attack.

The Prime Minister’s Office flatly denied that such an exchange ever occurred, saying Netanyahu had no communication with the UAE president between the beginning of September 2023 and the Hamas invasion on Oct. 7.

“This is a sinister libel with clear political timing, as part of the left’s election campaign, and there will be more such false libels,” Netanyahu said.

The Prime Minister’s Office said officials examined both Netanyahu’s telephone records and logs documenting visitors to his office and found nothing indicating that the alleged Emirati contact took place.

“A thorough examination not only of the Prime Minister’s call log, but also of the records of entries into the Prime Minister’s Office during this period, does not show any entry of the Emirati representative into the Prime Minister’s Office,” the PMO said.

Haaretz, for its part, said it was standing behind the report.

The newspaper’s political orientation has added another dimension to the increasingly heated controversy.

Haaretz is generally associated with Israel’s political left and has for years been one of the country’s most outspoken media critics of Netanyahu and the governments he has led.

Netanyahu has similarly maintained for years that his opponents on the political left and in the media have engaged in sustained efforts to drive him from office.

That bitter relationship has taken on added significance as Israel approaches an election in which Netanyahu’s leadership and his government’s actions surrounding the Oct. 7 attack have become major subjects of criticism from his opponents.

Netanyahu’s Likud party is attempting to remain in power amid difficult polling numbers, while rival politicians have pointed to the Haaretz report as further ammunition in their criticism of the prime minister.

Gadi Eisenkot, the former Israeli military chief whose centrist Yashar party has been challenging Likud in polling, cited the report in criticizing Netanyahu. Former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and Democrats leader Yair Golan also used the allegations to assail the prime minister.

Approximately 1,200 people were killed in Israel during the Hamas-led Oct. 7 terrorist attack, while 251 people were abducted and taken hostage into Gaza.

Netanyahu’s office has maintained that senior Israeli security officials detected warning indications only in the hours immediately preceding the attack but did not alert the prime minister soon enough. His office has argued that an earlier warning to Netanyahu could have enabled action that might have prevented the massacre.

Netanyahu’s supporters have also pointed out that much of Hamas’ preparation and development of the infrastructure used for the assault likely occurred during the relatively brief period when Netanyahu was not prime minister and Bennett headed the government.

The allegation involving the UAE carries particular significance because the Emirates established diplomatic relations with Israel under the Abraham Accords. The UAE Foreign Ministry has not confirmed the account published by Haaretz.

Republicans are gathering in Dallas on Wednesday for the party’s first-ever national convention devoted to a midterm election, with President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance, senior administration officials and congressional candidates converging on the city for a two-day push to rally GOP voters ahead of the Nov. 3 elections.

The unprecedented gathering at the American Airlines Center comes less than two months before Election Day, as Republicans fight to retain control of both the House and Senate. More than 100 speakers are expected to participate in a program highlighting the economy, immigration, taxes, healthcare and other major elements of the Republican agenda.

The event differs significantly from the party’s traditional presidential conventions. There will be no nominee to select, platform to approve or other official party business to conduct. Instead, the two-day gathering is designed primarily as a campaign showcase intended to energize Republican voters and sharpen the party’s message for November.

Trump will dominate much of the convention, appearing on both days of the gathering. The President is scheduled to deliver a major address Wednesday and return Thursday for the convention’s finale, while Vance will also have a prominent speaking role during the event.

A number of high-ranking members of the Trump administration are also appearing before convention attendees.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is among the administration officials on the program, alongside other Cabinet members and senior figures in the administration.

The participation of Attorney General Todd Blanche is particularly notable because attorneys general, as the nation’s chief federal law enforcement officials, have traditionally maintained greater distance from overt campaign activity.

The convention lineup also features many of the Republican Party’s most recognizable elected officials and political leaders, including House Speaker Mike Johnson, House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, Sen. Tim Scott, Sen. Ted Cruz, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, National Republican Congressional Committee Chairman Richard Hudson and Republican National Committee Chairman Joe Gruters.

Throughout the gathering, Republicans intend to highlight the Trump administration’s record while presenting voters with a contrast between the two parties on immigration, taxes, public safety and economic policy. Convention programming also includes discussions of healthcare, government spending and tax policy, along with broader presentations outlining the GOP’s vision for the country.

Democrats, meanwhile, are staging a competing political presence in Dallas during the Republican gathering. Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker is among the Democrats seeking to counter the GOP’s message, with Democrats emphasizing inflation, the cost of living and other issues as Republicans hold their convention.

The political stakes in Texas itself are also expected to receive considerable attention during the convention.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, the Republican nominee for the U.S. Senate, is scheduled to speak as he campaigns against Democratic state Rep. James Talarico for the seat being vacated by Sen. John Cornyn. Paxton secured Trump’s endorsement before defeating Cornyn in the Republican primary runoff.

The Paxton-Talarico contest has emerged as one of the closely watched Senate races of the 2026 campaign, particularly because Republicans are seeking to preserve their Senate majority. Texas has not elected a Democrat to the U.S. Senate since 1988, but this year’s contest has attracted unusual national attention.

Trump and other prominent Republicans have increasingly focused attention on Paxton’s campaign as Election Day draws nearer. Paxton also unveiled a new advertisement targeting Talarico that is set to run during the convention.

The program includes Republican candidates competing in closely contested House districts as well, including races in South Texas that could factor into the battle for control of the House.

With both chambers of Congress at stake, Republicans are using the Dallas gathering to make the case for keeping their congressional majorities during the remaining two years of Trump’s presidency. The convention gives the party a national stage to promote its candidates, highlight the administration’s record and attempt to consolidate Republican support heading into November.

The RNC has billed the gathering as a historic opportunity to celebrate the Trump administration’s accomplishments, showcase Republican candidates and bring the party together around its midterm message. The party’s official convention site describes it as the first Republican midterm convention of its kind.

Trump is set to be the central figure through the convention’s conclusion Thursday, capping a two-day event built largely around the President and the Republican Party’s effort to translate enthusiasm among its voters into success at the polls in November.

After days of uncertainty and frustration for numerous Breslover chassidim traveling to Uman for Rosh Hashanah, an extensive effort to locate missing luggage has largely been completed, with dozens of suitcases already arriving in Uman and dozens more being transported there from airports in Romania and Moldova.

The development follows reports of widespread baggage problems affecting travelers making their way to Uman. Askanim who stepped in to coordinate the recovery effort said that all luggage located during their search is either already in Uman or currently being transported there in specially arranged vehicles.

The first group, consisting of 36 suitcases, has already reached Uman and is being held at the local lost-and-found center, where travelers can retrieve their belongings.

A second batch of 29 suitcases is currently being transported from Iași, Romania, to Uman.

Another 17 suitcases have departed from Chișinău International Airport in Moldova and are likewise on their way to Uman.

A fourth and final group of 20 suitcases has arrived in Iași. Those bags are expected to be loaded onto a designated vehicle and transported immediately to Uman.

In total, the operation involves 102 pieces of luggage that have been located and are either already in Uman or being brought there.

Those coordinating the operation said that, as far as their on-the-ground search is concerned, the effort has been successfully completed. Updates will continue to be provided until the final shipment of luggage reaches Uman.

The askanim said considerable resources were devoted to tracking down the bags and getting them to their owners as quickly as possible.

“We provided dedicated workers and vehicles out of a desire to assist the passengers and bring the luggage to Uman as quickly as possible.”

At the same time, organizers stressed that their volunteer effort does not replace the legal responsibility of the airlines for passengers’ missing baggage.

“At the same time, it is clarified that the official and legal responsibility for locating and handling the luggage remains with the airlines. Therefore, any passenger who, after all the groups arrive, does not find his suitcase is asked to continue tracking and handling the matter directly with the relevant airline.”

The successful recovery operation comes as tens of thousands of chassidim continue making their way to Uman ahead of Rosh Hashanah, bringing welcome relief to travelers who had arrived without their belongings and faced the prospect of spending Yom Tov without clothing and other essentials packed in their luggage.

{Matzav.com}

[COMMUNICATED]

As Lakewood prepares for Yom Tov, dozens of local Kollel families are facing a very different kind of Tishrei — wondering how they will cover even the basic expenses for their families.

For Keren Zichron Tzipora (KZT), the calls have been coming nonstop. The organization exists with one mission: to financially support and uplift Lakewood’s devoted Yungeleit and their families, with a simple message: “We are honored to support your Torah.”

For some families, the clothing gift cards provided by KZT will mean the only new clothing their children receive all year. Baruch Hashem, 20 families were assisted this past week alone — but dozens more are still waiting.

With Erev Yom Kippur quickly approaching, KZT is turning to the Lakewood community to help close the gap.

$500 can sponsor a Kollel family’s Yom Tov, but every amount can make a meaningful difference.

As the Yom HaDin approaches, it is an opportunity to bring tremendous relief to a local family — and enter the new year with the zechus of supporting Torah right here at home.

Who will tip the scales this Tishrei? 

Please Donate Here

Other ways to partner:
Call 24/7: 732-702-8100

Zelle / Venmo / Paypal: kerenzichrontzipora@gmail.com

Mail a check to:
Keren Zichron Tzipora
1511 Newport Drive
Lakewood, NJ 08701

All donations are tax-deductible. Tax ID 87-3452793

Thank you for standing with our Yungeleit. Wishing you a Kesiva V’chasima Tova.

Iris Chaim, the mother of Yotam Chaim Hy”d, has filed a NIS 169,000 defamation lawsuit against chareidi attorney and commentator Dov Halbertal over a blistering social media post in which he accused her of exploiting her son’s death for fame and suggested that Hamas had effectively done her a favor.

The lawsuit was filed Monday in the Yerushalayim Magistrate’s Court following a Facebook post Halbertal published after Chaim’s name surfaced in reports and rumors about individuals who could potentially be given a reserved spot on the Likud electoral slate.

In the May 10 post, Halbertal attacked Chaim in exceptionally harsh terms, referring to her, among other things, as “this despicable woman” and as someone “obsessed with honor and publicity who has only been glowing since her son was murdered.”

Halbertal went on to write: “It can be assumed that she planned her entire path into politics in advance and is trampling on the blood of her son, who bequeathed her worldwide celebrity status.”

He concluded the post with an even more incendiary remark: “On her son’s grave she will write: ‘How good it is that you were murdered.’ What a kindness Hamas did for her.”

Chaim subsequently responded in a post of her own, denying that she had received any offer to enter politics through Likud or any other party.

“No one approached me, not from Likud and not from any other list or political party, and even if they do approach me, the answer will be no,” she wrote.

A letter warning Halbertal of impending legal action was sent on May 26. In his response, Halbertal did not deny writing the comments but said that a day or two after publishing them, he reconsidered their severity and voluntarily removed the entire post.

“I didn’t change it; I simply deleted it,” he wrote.

Halbertal maintained that the original post had received only several hundred views before its deletion and argued that it was only after Chaim responded and a screenshot began circulating online that the remarks spread widely and reached the media.

He also maintained that he had not invented the report about Chaim potentially receiving a reserved spot on the Likud slate, saying he had read about the possibility in an article by journalist Anna Barsky in Maariv.

Halbertal said he himself faced fierce criticism over the post, including attacks from within his own community.

“I received a severe punishment for publishing the post,” he wrote.

He also offered to issue another apology, meet with Chaim and even host the family at his home for Shabbos.

Chaim’s attorneys, Assaf Sharaf and Nili Schatz, rejected Halbertal’s explanations, describing his response as “the height of outrageous cynicism.”

According to the lawsuit, Halbertal’s comments were not written impulsively in a moment of anger but were published knowingly and with the intention of harming Chaim. The complaint also alleges that the photograph accompanying the post — showing Chaim with a portrait of her son Yotam behind her — was deliberately selected to intensify the harm and increase the “shock effect.”

No date has yet been scheduled for the first court hearing.

Responding to the lawsuit, Halbertal defended the principle of his right to express a harsh opinion while acknowledging that his language had been extreme.

“It is time to stop with these lawsuits. Today, terrible things are written about me on Twitter and I have never sued anyone; it is time to give more room to freedom of opinion. I wrote in a harsh manner and I am aware of that, but is it forbidden to write that a woman is dancing on her son’s blood? It is time to eradicate the phenomenon in which people are sued for hundreds of thousands of shekels. Lawsuits can be filed over facts, but not interpretations — even though they are harsh and biting. There is a fundamental issue here involving freedom of expression, and this is a bad law that creates silencing lawsuits.

“As for Iris Chaim, as far as I’m concerned, enough is enough: An article came out saying that she was running with Likud and she didn’t deny it, and then I wrote what I wrote. A day or two later, I realized that it was too harsh, deleted the post and thought the story was over.

“But then someone took a screenshot, it reached Iris and she posted it on her social media — which gave it tremendous momentum and led to harsh reactions against me. Had she not responded to it, no one would have heard about it. To sue for 100,000 shekels over something like this? She is responsible for that. Incidentally, I sent her a response in which I apologized, explained that I had deleted the post, noted that I understand the grieving father and invited her to spend Shabbos together — and suddenly I find myself facing a lawsuit.”

{Matzav.com}

Yerushalayim Mayor Moshe Lion rejected claims that the capital is becoming increasingly chareidi under his leadership, saying he has not closed a single road on Shabbos since becoming mayor and intends to preserve the longstanding status quo among the city’s diverse populations.

In a wide-ranging interview with Yishai Cohen of Kikar HaShabbat, Lion addressed religious tensions in Yerushalayim, the removal of his close friend MK Moshe Gafni from Degel HaTorah’s Knesset slate, violent protests against the light rail project on Bar Ilan Street, the city’s school system and the enormous crowds gathering for Selichos at the Kosel.

Lion also spoke personally about the recent passing of his father, Shalom, approximately two weeks ago.

“Look, on the one hand, people speak to me and say: Listen, it was misas neshikah. On the other hand, I miss him; there’s nothing you can do, that’s a fact. He was very, very close to me. It’s not for nothing that people say, ‘My father, the crown of my head.’ He was definitely close to me. We were also together constantly in recent years since my mother passed away. We were together all the time; he was with me every Shabbos, and he is very much missed, very much missed.”

Turning to the nightly Selichos gatherings at the Kosel, which have drawn tens of thousands of participants — particularly on Thursday nights — Lion described the scenes as extraordinary.

“First of all, it’s something beautiful, so something good is happening in Yerushalayim. As someone who stands on the balcony above and looks out at the crowd, it’s simply something amazing and moving.

“And really, it’s day after day. Meaning, it’s not just on weekends; it’s all the time, every day. And I have to tell you that we always sit down during the two months before Selichos to plan it together with Rav Rabinowitz, to plan it — even this year, we didn’t think it would be to this extent.”

Lion said he believes the crowds reflect a broader spiritual awakening among Israelis, including many who are neither religious nor chareidi.

“There is no doubt that something is happening among the people. There is no doubt that I feel there is a growing closeness. I also feel it, I also see the people who are now coming to Yerushalayim and touring Yerushalayim, and they are not necessarily religious or chareidi. They really love Yerushalayim. I think we have to remember that everyone came of their own free will. They didn’t come through coercion. They simply came out of their own personal desire to do it, a connection. Don’t interfere, let it work; it’s working wonderfully. Ultimately, everyone is drawing closer to HaKadosh Baruch Hu.”

Asked whether recent disputes surrounding businesses operating on Shabbos — including the controversy over Café BaSimta, which announced last week that it would close on Shabbos — signal a return to the religious battles that have periodically roiled Yerushalayim, Lion dismissed that possibility.

“I really don’t think so. I really don’t think this leads to religious battles. I think today the issue of a clear status quo is understood by all sides, and naturally there are always extremists here and extremists there. Simply don’t pay attention to them.

“The second you don’t pay attention to them, life continues normally. I need to make sure that we carry out the agreements between us, between all the different sectors in the city, the status quo. Once you maintain the status quo, don’t interfere. And if there are extremists, then there are police.”

Lion then directly rejected assertions that Yerushalayim has been undergoing a process of becoming more chareidi during his tenure.

“During my time as mayor, I haven’t closed a single road on Shabbos. It’s true that there isn’t much traffic on those roads on Shabbos anyway, but I haven’t closed a single road. And I don’t intend to do so.

“Yerushalayim is not becoming chareidi. I don’t want to say the opposite, but definitely not. On the contrary, Yerushalayim is continuing to be built, improving from one end to the other, and becoming a city that definitely competes with other cities in the country as a place to live. And when I say to live there — that means all residents: chareidim, secular Jews, Religious Zionists. Everyone wants to live in Yerushalayim. For that purpose, we are building housing units.”

The mayor also discussed the opening of the new school year, noting the enormous size of Yerushalayim’s student population.

“More than 300,000. You know, think about the fact that Tel Aviv has around 450,000 residents, meaning you’re talking about the equivalent of a city made up of students. And baruch Hashem, baruch Hashem, we got through the opening of the school year without problems.”

Lion acknowledged that Yerushalayim continues to suffer from a shortage of classrooms, but said considerable progress has been made since he entered office.

“When I came in, 3,000 classrooms were missing. We have reduced that number. Unfortunately, there was also a difficult period with COVID and the wars, which slowed public construction, the construction of classrooms, but I have no doubt that we will solve this problem. We are opposed to temporary structures.”

Lion also said the longstanding problem of girls struggling to secure places in seminars has been largely resolved this year.

“Almost all the girls are taken care of, unequivocally. By the way, that didn’t happen by accident. First of all, we have to remember that we opened at least two new seminars at a very high level, what we call A-A. Slowly, these seminars are filling up.

“We are doing everything possible so that there won’t be a single girl who doesn’t find the place she wants. Of course, once again, there are always cases at the margins here or there who weren’t accepted, but ultimately I can tell you that 99% of the problems have been resolved.”

The mayor also addressed the recent decision to remove Gafni, his longtime friend and the chairman of Degel HaTorah, from the party’s Knesset slate.

“The truth is that it hurts me, because I think he did wonderful public work. He was also a good friend; we worked together. But this is a decision of Maranan V’Rabbanan, and I cannot say a single word about it. But personally, when I look at him, it is definitely an unpleasant story.

“I spoke with him on Motzoei Shabbos. I spoke with him by phone. He sounded completely fine. He sounded like he accepted the decree as it is and accepted it.”

Lion was considerably sharper when discussing the continuing protests and vandalism targeting construction of the light rail along Bar Ilan Street, saying the disruptions have already inflicted hundreds of millions in damages.

“There is no doubt that there is damage there amounting to hundreds of millions. And the train will operate there, and I’m telling you that it will operate in another year. In another year it will operate; you’ll already see the cables. Who pays for the damage? You and I.”

Lion said the project could have been completed much earlier were it not for the repeated damage and disruptions at the construction sites.

“The fact is that we could have finished this line a long time ago, and we didn’t finish it because of the damage that was caused. I hope that now there is definitely a more serious response. Even now, as the line is being laid, there are still various centers of violence. By the way, it should be emphasized: These are generally not Yerushalayim residents. These are people who come from different places around the country on missions from donors abroad and just — it’s genuine craziness.”

Lion said he has personally met with leaders of the groups opposing the light rail but has struggled to understand the basis for their opposition.

“You don’t understand what they want. I’ll explain why: because the fact is that ultimately the primary users of the light rail are the chareidi population, because they use private vehicles less.”

{Matzav.com}

Uman is preparing for the arrival of approximately 40,000 Breslover chassidim and other Jews for Rosh Hashanah, with new figures highlighting the enormous short-term economic impact the annual pilgrimage has on the Ukrainian city.

The anticipated turnout is roughly in line with last year’s attendance. The influx of tens of thousands of visitors creates an intense surge in demand for rental apartments, hotels, restaurants, stores, transportation and a wide range of other local services.

Figures from Ukraine’s State Agency for Tourism Development and the local government show that one of the most significant sources of direct municipal revenue is the tourism tax. In 2025, Rosh Hashanah visitors paid a record approximately 20 million hryvnias into the city’s coffers, up from roughly 17 million hryvnias in 2024.

For 2026, the daily tourism tax has been set at 432.35 hryvnias per person for those staying in private accommodations and 216.18 hryvnias for guests staying in hotels and hostels. A system allowing visitors to confirm payment through scanning has also been introduced.

The money collected directly by the municipality is used for local needs, including infrastructure, education and healthcare. But the tourism tax represents only a portion of the financial activity generated by the annual Rosh Hashanah gathering.

Much of the economic benefit flows directly into Uman’s private sector. Apartment owners, restaurants, retailers and local entrepreneurs see sharply increased business as tens of thousands of visitors spend money throughout the city. Because those expenditures are spread among numerous businesses and individuals, there is no single figure representing the total amount injected into the local economy.

The massive influx also creates significant expenses for Uman. The municipality must devote additional resources to sanitation, garbage collection and cleaning during and after the pilgrimage. Last year alone, approximately 1.5 million hryvnias was reportedly spent cleaning the area surrounding the tziyun.

{Matzav.com}