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Ben Cohen, co-founder of the iconic Ben & Jerry’s ice cream brand, revealed that Unilever, the company’s corporate parent, blocked his request to release a flavor meant to express “solidarity with Palestine.” According to the BBC, Cohen is now planning to produce the controversial flavor independently, as part of a personal line highlighting causes that he says the company has forbidden him from supporting publicly.

Cohen announced the initiative in an Instagram video, describing a watermelon sorbet inspired by the red and green hues of the Palestinian flag — a color scheme often used as a symbol of solidarity with Palestinians. He invited viewers to help shape the project, encouraging them to contribute “names, recipes, and packaging designs for the flavor.”

“Unilever refused to make it,” Cohen said. “So I’m doing what they wouldn’t — I’m making a watermelon-flavored ice cream calling for permanent in Palestine and repairing all the damage done there.” He added that this is only the beginning of a larger effort to create additional flavors centered on issues Ben & Jerry’s has been “silenced” from addressing by Unilever.

The decision highlights years of tension between Ben & Jerry’s founders and their corporate owner. Since Unilever acquired the Vermont-based company in 2000, Cohen and co-founder Jerry Greenfield have repeatedly accused the conglomerate of limiting their political independence — which they say was guaranteed under the original acquisition deal.

In recent months, those disputes have boiled over. Greenfield announced his departure last month, lamenting, “They’re silencing me.” Cohen’s new flavor appears to be a direct challenge to the boundaries Unilever has imposed.

Israel has long been a focal point of the conflict between the founders and Unilever. In 2022, the multinational giant settled a legal battle that allowed Israeli businessman Avi Zinger to take over local rights to the Ben & Jerry’s brand in Israel, after the global company sought to halt sales in the West Bank.

The company’s internal divisions grew sharper after the October 7 Hamas terror attack and the subsequent war in Gaza. The global Ben & Jerry’s board — which operates independently from the Israeli franchise — issued a public statement denouncing Israel’s actions, declaring, “Ben & Jerry’s stands for human rights and peace. We join those around the world condemning the genocide in Gaza.”

Meanwhile, Ben & Jerry’s Israel continues to function separately under Zinger’s ownership, serving customers throughout Israel and distancing itself from the brand’s international political controversies.

{Matzav.com}

Please forgive me if I sound like I am preaching. I do not write this as someone entitled to lecture on the weighty decisions that are the realm of the gedolim who guide us. I write simply as one who wishes to share an example where we can see the truth of what our gedolim have taught us. The […]

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A remarkable initiative unfolded today at Bais Medrash Govoah in Lakewood, NJ, where a simple sign sparked an extraordinary outpouring of Torah and achdus.

The notice, displayed prominently in the yeshiva, shared an urgent appeal on behalf of a yeshiva chaver whose acquaintance was scheduled for serious surgery this morning. With the roshei yeshiva’s permission, the message invited yungeleit to dedicate an hour of learning b’retzifus (uninterrupted) as a zechus for a refuah sheleimah.

The donor, in an act of generosity and ahavas Torah, pledged to give $100 to any talmid who would learn for at least one full hour totally uninterrupted during first seder today.

The response was nothing short of breathtaking. We are told that close to 10,000 yungeleit participated, filling every corner of the yeshiva with the sound of pure, uninterrupted limud haTorah.

The collective value of that learning approached one million dollars, transforming an act of private concern into a public Kiddush Hashem of immense proportions.

As cards were filled and sedarim began, the atmosphere was electric, a tangible reminder of the power of Torah and achdus.

The initiative exemplified the essence of the yeshiva: where every challenge becomes an opportunity for spiritual elevation and chizuk, and where Torah itself stands as the ultimate merit in times of need.

In a world often driven by headlines of discord and distraction, today’s scene in Lakewood was a living testament to the unshakable heartbeat of Klal Yisroel — thousands of voices rising in unison, one daf, one seder, one nation.

{Matzav.com}

President Trump announced Wednesday that he has instructed the U.S. military to resume nuclear weapons testing “immediately,” citing concerns over the expanding nuclear programs of Russia and China.

“Because of other countries testing programs, I have instructed the Department of War to start testing our Nuclear Weapons on an equal basis,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “That process will begin immediately,” he added.

The decision marks a historic shift in U.S. policy, ending more than three decades of self-imposed restraint. America last conducted a live nuclear detonation in 1992 and has since maintained a voluntary moratorium on explosive tests.

Though both Russia and China have claimed to abide by similar bans, Western intelligence sources have long suspected Beijing of conducting undeclared, low-yield tests in remote regions. Moscow, meanwhile, has flaunted its nuclear capabilities in recent years. Russian President Vladimir Putin has hinted at the possibility of renewed weapons testing and has publicly boasted about the development of nuclear-capable missiles and underwater drones.

“The United States has more Nuclear Weapons than any other country,” Trump declared. “This was accomplished, including a complete update and renovation of existing weapons, during my First Term in office.”

The announcement, made in a late-night Truth Social post, signaled Trump’s intent to project strength ahead of a tense diplomatic meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in South Korea on Wednesday. The president framed the move as reluctant but necessary. “Because of the tremendous destructive power, I HATED to do it, but had no choice! Russia is second, and China is a distant third, but will be even within 5 years,” he warned.

Throughout his political career, Trump has often spoken about the unparalleled destructive capacity of nuclear arms, referring to them as “the N-word” during the 2024 campaign. He has frequently cited his uncle, the late MIT professor John Trump, as the one who impressed upon him early on that “nuclear is so powerful.”

{Matzav.com}

The Torah world is mourning the untimely passing of Harav Ezra Dovid Halevi Neuberger zt”l, Rosh Kollel and senior Maggid Shiur at Yeshivas Ner Yisroel of Baltimore, who was niftar at the age of 68.

His loss leaves a profound void in the halls of the yeshiva he served with steadfast devotion for decades.

Appointed Rosh Kollel in Elul 1994 by Rav Shmuel Yaakov Weinberg zt”l, Rav Ezra Dovid became a pillar of the Ner Yisroel beis medrash. In 2002, he joined the yeshiva’s faculty as a Maggid Shiur, illuminating sugyos in Shas and halachah with extraordinary depth and clarity. His shiurim combined rigorous intellectual analysis with an abiding passion for avodas Hashem, inspiring generations of talmidim to approach Torah study with integrity, precision, and yiras Shomayim.

For more than three decades, Rav Ezra Dovid was a marbitz Torah of rare caliber. His anovah and refined middos were matched only by his brilliant mind. Those who learned under him or sought his counsel found a rebbi who listened with patience, guided with humility, and taught with a heart that radiated warmth and sincerity. His presence in the beis medrash—his calm demeanor, penetrating insights, and unwavering commitment to mesorah—became a cornerstone of the yeshiva’s fabric.

Rav Ezra was a cherished link in the illustrious Neuberger family, a dynasty synonymous with Torah leadership, communal vision, and global Jewish rescue efforts over the past century. He was the youngest son of the legendary Rav Naftoli Neuberger zt”l, the famed menahel of Yeshivas Ner Yisroel, whose leadership helped shape the American Torah landscape.

He was a son-in-law of Rav Meir Hershkowitz zt”l, rosh yeshiva of Yeshiva Bais Binyomin of Stamford.

His sudden passing has left the beis medrash of Ner Yisroel bereft of a guiding light, a rebbi, mentor, and role model whose entire being was steeped in Torah and avodas Hashem.

The levayah will take place Thursday at 1:30 p.m. in Yeshivas Ner Yisroel’s Bais Medrash. The Ezras Noshim will be open to women, and there will be overflow seating for men and women in the Wolfe Dining Room. Mincha will follow the levayah. The kevurah will take place at United Hebrew Cemetery, 3901 Washington Blvd., Halethorpe, MD 21227.

A live stream of the levayah will be available at nirc.edu/stream.

Shivah will be observed at 437 Yeshiva Lane, Apt. 1-A, Baltimore, MD 21208, through Wednesday morning. Davening will take place at the shivah house, with Shacharis at 7:15 a.m., Mincha at 2:30 p.m., and Maariv at 10:10 p.m.

Rav Ezra is survived by his wife, Rebbetzin Miriam Neuberger, and their distinguished children: R’ Shlomo Zalman Neuberger, R’ Yaakov Yitzchok Neuberger, R’ Tzvi Yehuda Neuberger, R’ Avi Neuberger, R’ Menachem Neuberger, Mrs. Ahuva Goldberger, Mrs. Chaya Yehudis Gruenebaum, Mrs. Shira Gruenebaum, Mrs. Adina Schulman, Mrs. Rochel Deutsch, and Malka Neuberger.

Yehi zichro boruch.

{Matzav.com}

At a moving gathering in Hostages’ Square on Tuesday night, Hamas captivity survivor Bar Kuperstein addressed the crowd publicly for the first time since his release, urging people across Israel to unite this Friday in a powerful act of faith.

Kuperstein, who endured months of imprisonment in Gaza, took the stage during the emotional event titled “Singing Together for Their Return,” where families of captives, supporters, and well-wishers came together to pray and sing for the remaining hostages.

“I want to say a huge thank you to everyone for your prayers, your support, and everything you’ve done for me and for all the other hostages – I have no words to describe all the love and what you’re doing for us,” Kuperstein told the crowd, visibly moved.

He went on to extend a heartfelt invitation to the nation: “I want to invite everyone this Friday at 10:00 a.m. to a mass tefillin-laying at the square. I want you all to put on tefillin together with me. My dream while in captivity was to put on tefillin – and we’ll do it for the release of all our brothers who are still there,” he said, concluding with emotion.

{Matzav.com}

In a powerful message of chizuk, Rav Yitzchok Zilberstein, rov of Ramat Elchanan and a member of the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah, sent heartfelt words of chizuk to Ariel Shamai, a yeshiva bochur from Yeshivas Ateres Shlomo who is currently imprisoned for refusing to abandon his Torah learning to join the Israeli army.

The young man has been receiving visits and letters of chizuk from rabbonim across the Torah world. Among those who reached out was Rav Zilberstein, who sent a stirring message comparing Shamai to Yosef HaTzaddik.

“To the sweet Ariel Shamai,” Rav Zilberstein wrote, “know that you are now sitting in prison just like Yosef HaTzaddik. As the Gemara in Gittin (58a) tells us, one of the amoraim [Rabbi Yehoshua ben Chananya] once saw a beautiful, wise child imprisoned and said, ‘I am certain that this child will one day be a moreh hora’ah b’Yisroel—a halachic authority in Klal Yisroel.’”

Rav Zilberstein continued, “So too with you. If you maintain a good spirit and continue learning where you are, then that amora will say the same about you—that you are destined to be a moreh hora’ah b’Yisroel. If, even in prison and under these difficult circumstances, you strengthen yourself in Torah, then b’ezras Hashem, you will indeed become a great moreh hora’ah. May Hashem grant you all the best, my dear one.”

{Matzav.com}

A panel of judges overseeing Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu’s criminal trial ruled on Wednesday that he no longer needs to appear in the courtroom before their arrival — a decision made after security officials warned that it had become “difficult to maintain order.” The move spares Netanyahu from the pre-hearing media frenzy, where he would normally face shouted questions and flashing cameras.

In Israel, defendants are generally photographed before proceedings begin, but the Tel Aviv District Court has faced mounting chaos in recent sessions. Haaretz reported that several journalists tried to question Netanyahu ahead of Tuesday’s hearing despite a prior warning from the bench that such interactions were off-limits.

Netanyahu briefly exited the room and returned only once the judges entered, effectively avoiding the media scrum. He later called the entire situation “absurd.”

The latest hearing opened with a plea from Netanyahu’s lead attorney, Amit Hadad, who argued that the current schedule of four weekly hearings was unsustainable for the defense team. “We will not be able to provide Netanyahu the legal service that we think he deserves,” Hadad told the court. “I don’t want to resign, I really like the prime minister on a personal level; he is family to me. But I will not fail in my duty and arrive halfheartedly and unprepared.”

Netanyahu himself addressed the judges, emphasizing the immense strain of balancing his position with the courtroom demands. “With all due respect, you cannot have any idea of the extent of the workload,” he said, adding, “I am in the most difficult position in the world.”

He went on to argue that, “If we say equality before the law, then no one receives preferential treatment. And there are no cases where there are three hearings a week.”

Despite those objections, the court reaffirmed its plan for four sessions per week — with Netanyahu required to testify in three — and dismissed his attorneys’ appeal for fewer appearances. The judges cited extensive delays since the case began in 2020 and warned that, at the current pace, Netanyahu’s testimony might stretch into April 2026, with the full trial possibly extending into 2027.

Earlier this week, Netanyahu’s defense team said they could not continue under the current schedule, threatening to withdraw entirely if their request was rejected. They also told the judges that the prime minister’s national responsibilities made it impossible for him to attend three hearings per week as required.

The defense has frequently sought to slow the proceedings, citing Netanyahu’s health and duties as reasons to postpone. The court, however, recently opted to accelerate the pace in response to years of delays.

Netanyahu stands trial in three separate corruption cases — known as Cases 1000, 2000, and 4000 — involving allegations of fraud, breach of trust, and bribery. The prime minister has consistently maintained his innocence, declaring that all the accusations were “fabricated in a political coup led by the police and state prosecution.”

{Matzav.com}

Reports in Israel indicate that Yair Netanyahu, the eldest son of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, has been selected for a prominent position within the World Zionist Organization — a move already generating fierce backlash.

According to Hebrew media coverage, Culture Minister Miki Zohar, representing Likud, advanced Yair’s name as part of a broader political arrangement with Yesh Atid over the allocation of senior roles in major Zionist institutions.

The Ynet news site reported that the position comes with full benefits — including a private office, an official vehicle, and a salary on par with that of a government minister.

Outraged members of Yesh Atid quickly denounced the nomination, describing it as a “despicable decision” and declaring that their party “will not sign any such deal.”

Party leader Yair Lapid drove the message home with a blunt statement: “Won’t happen. Period.”

Yair Netanyahu, who has spent much of the past two years residing in Miami, Florida, has gained notoriety for his fiery social media posts and close ties with figures from the far-right in both Europe and the United States.

{Matzav.com}

The Times of London fell victim to a bizarre hoax this week, publishing an interview with someone impersonating Bill de Blasio — a fabricated piece filled with quotes attacking New York City mayoral frontrunner Zohran Mamdani, a candidate whom de Blasio has publicly backed.

The story was swiftly removed from the paper’s website on Tuesday after de Blasio learned of it and condemned the piece as “entirely false and fabricated.”

“It was just brought to my attention and I’m appalled,” de Blasio wrote on X. “I never spoke to that reporter and never said those things. Those quotes aren’t mine, don’t reflect my views.”

The bogus article featured critical remarks attributed to “de Blasio,” including a supposed jab at Mamdani’s campaign platform: “In my view, the math doesn’t hold up under scrutiny, and the political hurdles are substantial.”

Within hours of the fake interview’s publication, the real de Blasio publicly reaffirmed his endorsement of Mamdani, stating online, “I fully support [him] and believe his vision is both necessary and achievable.”

Editors at the Times of London, which has been publishing for more than two centuries, admitted to the New York Times that the piece remained live for about two hours before being taken down. The outlet explained it had been “misled by an individual falsely claiming to be the former New York mayor.”

{Matzav.com}

US will share sensitive nuclear submarine technology with South Korea, Trump says The United States will share closely held technology to allow South Korea to build a nuclear-powered submarine, President Donald Trump said on social media after meeting with the country’s president during Trump’s ongoing trip to Asia. President Lee Jae Myung stressed to Trump in their Wednesday meeting that the goal […]

Dozens of Israeli trekkers trapped in a brutal Himalayan snowstorm were rescued Wednesday from the remote village of Samdu, Nepal, after whiteout conditions and cyclone-driven winds cut off the Everest region from both the Nepali and Chinese sides. The dramatic rescue came amid worsening weather that has claimed aircraft, stranded hundreds of hikers, and forced […]

In a rare show of unity, representatives from both Satmar factions — Rabbi Moshe Indig and Rabbi Moshe Dovid Niederman — met moments ago with NYC mayoral candidate Andrew Cuomo, alongside Mayor Eric Adams. The meeting, described by participants as a “family reunion,” took place at a private rooftop venue in Williamsburg. YWN notes that […]

Vice President JD Vance is brushing aside any suggestion of tension between himself and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, calling him “my best friend in the administration” and crediting their partnership for much of the Trump team’s success.

During an appearance on the New York Post’s “Pod Force One” podcast, Vance spoke warmly about Rubio and their working relationship. “Marco is my best friend in the administration,” Vance said. “He and I work a lot together, and I think a lot of the good work we do comes from that cooperation.”

The vice president emphasized that he’s not distracted by 2028 speculation or thoughts of political maneuvering. “Worrying too much about the politics makes you worse at the job you have,” he said. “I never wake up thinking, ‘How do I make myself president of the United States?’” Instead, he said, his focus each day is simple: “How do I do a good job as vice president?” He added that he believes Rubio takes the same approach.

Talk of a potential Vance-Rubio ticket, he said, is “premature.” The two men share a history in the Senate — Rubio joined in 2010, while Vance was elected in 2022 — before both entered the Trump administration, where they’ve often appeared as a united front.

Their alliance came under renewed attention after President Donald Trump recently spoke with reporters aboard Air Force One, suggesting that both Vance and Rubio could lead the Republican Party when his second term concludes. “We have JD, the vice president, who’s great. Marco’s great,” Trump said. “If they ever formed a group, it would be unstoppable.”

Trump’s remarks once again sparked conversations about 2028 — and questions about whether he intended to rule out a third term. When asked directly, he replied, “Am I not ruling it out? You’ll have to tell me.”

The chatter intensified after Steve Bannon, Trump’s former White House adviser, told The Economist there was a “plan” to secure a third term, though he offered no details. Both Trump and House Speaker Mike Johnson later stressed that such a move would be unconstitutional.

Johnson said the two had discussed the issue and made clear where Trump stands. “The president knows the constrictions of the Constitution,” he said. “As much as people lament that, those limits are clear.” The 22nd Amendment, adopted in 1951, bars any president from serving more than two elected terms.

Rubio has also praised Vance publicly. In a Fox interview earlier this year, he called the vice president a “great nominee” for 2028 and “a close friend,” noting that Vance has been doing “a great job” in his current role — comments that mirror the camaraderie Vance expressed this week.

{Matzav.com}

The National Transportation Safety Board wants the owners of nearly 2,000 Learjets — which have long been associated with the rich and famous — to urgently inspect their landing gear to make sure they won’t collapse as happened in a fatal crash in February involving a private jet owned by Mötley Crüe singer Vince Neil. […]

About 10 talmidim of Israeli Chabad yeshivos who returned on Friday afternoon from their year of study in Crown Heights as part of the “kevutza” program were arrested by the Military Police immediately after landing at Ben Gurion Airport on a flight from New York. Every year, talmidim of Chabad yeshivos spend a year studying […]