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Secretary LCD on the jobs report: “[President Trump] mentioned to the American people over and over again that the Golden Age was coming. I will tell you the Golden Age is here… This is another great jobs report… Better than expected.”

Canadian Prime Minister Carney is scheduled to hold talks with President Trump at the White House on Tuesday.

Tsunami warnings ringing in southern Chile after 7.4-magnitude earthquake. Coastal areas are being evacuated.

Cybersecurity professionals are urgently advising Apple users to update their devices without delay following the discovery of a major security loophole in the company’s AirPlay technology, according to the New York Post. Researchers say the flaw could open the door for hackers to steal sensitive information, install malicious software, and even listen in on private conversations.

The vulnerability, dubbed “AirBorne,” exposes millions of Apple devices to potential threats. Experts explain that the issue allows cyber attackers to penetrate devices sharing the same Wi-Fi network — making places like coffee shops, office spaces, and airports particularly vulnerable.

AirPlay, which allows wireless media sharing across Apple products, relies on a software development kit (SDK) used in a wide array of electronics. Analysts warn that this exploit could provide intruders with access to various devices, such as iPhones, smart TVs, and infotainment systems in vehicles.

“Because AirPlay is supported in such a wide variety of devices, there are a lot that will take years to patch — or they will never be patched,” said Gal Elbaz, chief technology officer and co-founder of Israeli cybersecurity company Oligo, during an interview with Wired. “And it’s all because of vulnerabilities in one piece of software that affects everything.”

Security investigators identified 23 distinct flaws within the AirPlay system. Worryingly, the affected hardware could include older or idle devices that are still connected to a network — such as obsolete streaming boxes or Bluetooth speakers — which could serve as entry points for attackers.

“If a hacker can get on the same network as one of these devices, they can gain control and use it as a stepping stone to reach everything else,” Elbaz warned.

In response to the findings, Apple has released software updates to patch the vulnerabilities, and users are strongly urged to download the latest versions. However, products made by outside companies that rely on AirPlay integration have yet to be uniformly updated — a gap in protection that cybersecurity experts say could put users at continued risk.

“When third-party manufacturers integrate Apple technologies like AirPlay via an SDK, obviously Apple no longer has direct control over the hardware or the patching process,” said Patrick Wardle, CEO of Apple-centric security company DoubleYou. “If third-party vendors drag their feet — or skip updates entirely — it could leave users exposed and might chip away at consumer trust in the entire ‘Apple ecosystem.'”

To mitigate potential breaches, security specialists recommend Apple users update their iPhones and other Apple hardware as soon as possible and turn off AirPlay if it is not currently needed. Doing so could block a major vector for cyberattacks.

While Apple has worked swiftly to correct these issues within its own devices, analysts stress that the wider concern is the sheer number of non-Apple products that depend on AirPlay and may remain unprotected.

{Matzav.com}

Nearly four months after wildfires reduced thousands of Los Angeles-area homes to rubble and ash, some residents are starting to rebuild. In the Pacific Palisades neighborhood, construction workers recently began placing wooden beams to frame a house on a lot where only a charred fireplace remains standing. In the seaside city of Malibu and foothills neighborhood of Altadena, many land parcels where homes once stood are being cleared of debris. Hundreds of homeowners have sought city or county approval for new home designs and other permits to eventually rebuild or repair damaged homes, though few have gotten the green light to break ground. Some 17,000 homes, businesses and other structures burned to the ground in the Jan. 7 fires. It’s uncertain how much will be rebuilt. Many homeowners will not be able to afford it, even those with insurance. Some are still trying to figure out whether it’s safe to return to their properties, given limited data on the degree to which toxins from the fires, including lead and asbestos, may have permeated their land. Roughly 400 land parcels are already for sale in the fire-ravaged areas. Facing overwhelming loss and the chaos that comes with sudden displacement, those looking to rebuild must navigate an often confusing and time-consuming process. In most cases, it will take years for them to rebuild. LA issued its first building permit nearly two months after the fires started. It took more than seven months before the first building permit was issued following the Woolsey Fire in 2018. “Putting this in context of other disasters, the speed is actually probably faster than expected,” said Sara McTarnaghan, a researcher at the Urban Institute who studied the aftermath of urban wildfires in recent years in Colorado, Hawaii and California. Resolving to rebuild in Altadena Kathryn Frazier, a music publicist and life coach, had lived in her four-bedroom, three-bath house in Altadena for 10 years and raised her two children there. After her home burned to the ground, she was in shock and questioned whether it made sense to come back. But after conversations with neighbors, she became determined to rebuild. “I’m not leaving,” Frazier said. “That’s what kept coming up for everybody, and the more we all talked to each other the more we were all like ‘hell yes.’” She is making progress. Frazier hired a crew to clear the property of debris and she is nearly through the first phase of permitting, which involves getting county review and approval for her new home’s design. The next phase before receiving approval to begin construction includes reviews of electrical, plumbing and other aspects of the design. Frazier, 55, is rebuilding her home without major changes to its size or location in order to qualify for an expedited building permit approval process. “We are hoping to be building by June or July, latest,” she said. “I’ve been told that maybe by February or March of 2026 we could be back in our home.” For now, Frazier is getting quotes on windows, skylights and other home fixtures in hopes of locking in prices before they go up as more construction projects ramp up, or in response to the Trump administration’s ongoing trade war. “I’m doing things like scouring Home Depot, finding slate tiles that look modern and beautiful, but they’re actually really cheap,” she said. Recreating […]

The White House has rolled out a new online hub highlighting a surge of announced investments pouring into the U.S. economy since President Donald Trump began his second term in office.

The website showcases 49 significant investment commitments from a broad spectrum of industries—ranging from technology and pharmaceuticals to energy and real estate.

In the tech world, Apple and Nvidia each unveiled plans to pour $500 billion into U.S. operations. A separate $500 billion commitment is being made through Stargate, a collaborative initiative between OpenAI, SoftBank, and Oracle. Meanwhile, IBM has pledged a $150 billion investment of its own.

The pharmaceutical industry also figures prominently in the list, with several major players committing tens of billions of dollars in investment. Among them:

• Johnson & Johnson: $55 billion
• Genentech (Roche): $50 billion
• Eli Lilly & Company: $27 billion
• Novartis: $23 billion
• AbbVie: $10 billion
• Merck: $9 billion

Major investments from other sectors include $21 billion from automotive powerhouse Hyundai, $20 billion from DAMAC Properties in real estate, and $25 billion jointly announced by ADQ and Energy Capital Partners.

While addressing a gathering of business leaders on Wednesday, Trump said he expects total investments during his second term to cross the $8 trillion mark within a matter of weeks.
“We have a total of close to $8 trillion all told,” he continued. “And there’s never been anything like that in this country; we’ve never had anything close. I would say, if you looked at the last administration, probably for four years, they did maybe less than $1 [trillion], and we’ve done almost $8 [trillion].”

Trump’s signature economic policies—tariff enforcement, sweeping deregulation, and major tax cuts—are widely seen as key drivers behind the tidal wave of new capital since January.

During remarks at the White House on Wednesday, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang directly credited Trump’s role in bringing advanced manufacturing back to U.S. soil, as the company prepares to roll out a next-generation 70-pound processor.

“We’re going to build NVIDIA’s technology, the next generation of that, all here in the United States,” he said.

“Without the president’s leadership, his policies, his support, and, very importantly, his strong encouragement… frankly, manufacturing in the United States wouldn’t have accelerated to this pace,” Jensen added.

{Matzav.com}

The U.S. Army has developed detailed proposals for a large-scale military parade on June 14, President Donald Trump’s birthday, featuring a display of military power that includes more than 6,600 troops, over 150 military vehicles, 50 helicopters, seven Army bands, and potentially thousands of civilians, according to documents reviewed by The Associated Press.

These internal planning files, dated April 29 and 30, have not yet been made public. They provide the Army’s latest draft for celebrating its 250th anniversary on the National Mall—an event that now may include a military parade, a vision long championed by Trump but still under discussion.

Coincidentally, the Army’s milestone falls on the same day as Trump’s 79th birthday, June 14.

Although the slides don’t specify a budget, a parade of this scale would require tens of millions of dollars to coordinate. Those expenses would cover transporting equipment, vehicles, personnel, and aircraft to Washington, as well as providing meals and lodging for thousands of service members.

Trump had pushed for a military parade during his presidency, but those efforts were shelved due to high costs. Officials are again raising concerns that heavy military hardware could damage the capital’s streets.

Army spokesman Steve Warren addressed the potential event on Thursday, saying no final decisions have been made.

Col. Dave Butler, another spokesperson for the Army, emphasized enthusiasm for the anniversary plans.

“We want to make it into an event that the entire nation can celebrate with us,” said Butler. “We want Americans to know their Army and their soldiers. A parade might become part of that, and we think that will be an excellent addition to what we already have planned.”

Sources familiar with the plans, speaking anonymously since no final approval has been granted, confirmed the documents reflect preparations in the event the White House gives the green light. A request for comment sent to the White House received no immediate response.

So far, there has been no official authorization for the parade. The plans remain fluid and have already undergone revisions in recent weeks.

Without specifically referencing the June 14 event, Trump posted on Truth Social Thursday night, “We are going to start celebrating our victories again!” He announced his intent to rename May 8, currently recognized as Victory in Europe Day, to “Victory Day for World War II,” and to change Veterans Day on November 11 to “Victory Day for World War I.”

Transporting the equipment would require logistical operations involving rail and air transport to bring military assets to the capital.

Some of the personnel and machinery were already slated to appear as part of the Army’s planned birthday festivities, which have been under development for over a year. The scheduled events on the National Mall include demonstrations, physical challenges, climbing walls, Humvees, helicopters, and other military displays.

Adding a parade would significantly boost the number of participating troops and the amount of equipment. According to the outline, approximately 6,300 service members would march, while others would handle logistics and support.

The Army initially didn’t plan for a parade, but officials confirmed last month that discussions about adding one had begun.

The draft plan envisions a showcase of the Army’s 250-year legacy, with soldiers from at least 11 corps and divisions expected to take part. This could include a Stryker battalion with two companies of Stryker vehicles, a tank battalion with two companies of tanks, and an infantry battalion featuring Bradley vehicles, Paladin artillery, Howitzers, and other mechanized units.

Seven official Army bands would perform, and the Golden Knights parachute team is expected to participate. Civilian contributors could include historic military vehicles and planes, additional bands, reenactors, and representatives of veterans organizations and military academies.

The draft indicates the parade would be designated a national special security event, pending approval—a request already submitted by the National Park Service and currently under review.

Plans also include a concert and fireworks following the evening parade.

One planning document highlights logistical hurdles, such as identifying housing for incoming troops and resolving “significant concerns regarding security requirements” associated with moving large volumes of equipment into the city. The biggest outstanding question, the documents note, is finalizing which specific units will be assigned to participate.

Trump first expressed interest in hosting a U.S. military parade after attending the Bastille Day celebrations in France in 2017. Impressed by the parade down the Champs-Élysées, Trump declared he wanted an even larger display along Pennsylvania Avenue.

That initial plan was ultimately dropped due to the projected $92 million cost and logistical headaches, including pushback from city leaders who feared damage to local streets from tanks and heavy armor.

In 2018, Trump wrote on social media that he canceled the parade due to the excessive costs and blamed local officials for inflating the price.

This year, as the Army’s celebration took shape in Washington, conversations about incorporating a parade resurfaced.

D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser confirmed in April that the federal government had reached out about organizing a parade on June 14, with a proposed route stretching from Arlington, Virginia—home to the Pentagon and Arlington National Cemetery—across the Potomac River into downtown Washington.

{Matzav.com}

More U.S. children have died this flu season than at any time since the swine flu pandemic 15 years ago, according to a federal report released Friday. The 216 pediatric deaths reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention eclipse the 207 reported last year. It’s the most since the 2009-2010 H1N1 global flu pandemic. It’s a startlingly high number, given that the flu season is still going on. The final pediatric death tally for the 2023-2024 flu season wasn’t counted until autumn. “This number that we have now is almost certainly an undercount, and one that — when the season is declared over, and they compile all the data — it’s almost certain to go up,” said Dr. Sean O’Leary, of the American Academy of Pediatrics. There are likely several contributors to this season’s severity, but a big one is that fewer children are getting flu shots, added O’Leary, a University of Colorado pediatric infectious diseases specialist. The flu vaccination rate for U.S. children has plummeted from about 64% five years ago to 49% this season. Flu vaccinations may not prevent people from coming down with symptoms, but research shows they are highly effective at preventing hospitalizations and deaths, O’Leary said. The season has not only been hard on children. CDC officials have described it as “ highly severe,” and estimate that so far there have been at least 47 million illnesses, 610,000 hospitalizations and 26,000 deaths this season. CDC officials have information about underlying conditions on nearly 5,200 adults who were hospitalized with flu this season, and 95% had at least one existing health problem. But among 2,000 hospitalized children with more detailed health information, only about 53% had an underlying condition — including asthma and obesity. The CDC report did not say how many of the children who died were vaccinated. The agency did not make an expert available to talk about the flu season. The good news is that flu indicators have been waning since February, and last week all 50 states were reporting low or minimal flu activity. The season has seen more of a mix of flu strain circulating than in many other years, with two different Type A strains — H1N1 and H3N2 — causing a lot of infections. But CDC data released earlier this year suggested flu shots were doing a pretty good job at preventing deaths and hospitalizations. The CDC continues to recommend that everyone ages 6 months and older get an annual flu vaccine. Childhood vaccinations in general have been declining, driven by online misinformation and the political schism that emerged around COVID-19 vaccines. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has also echoed some of the rhetoric of antivaccine activists since taking over as the nation’s health secretary. But there may be other reasons fewer children got flu shots this year, O’Leary said. Many pediatricians offices are understaffed and are not holding as many after-hours vaccination clinics as in the past. Also, more Americans are getting their vaccinations at pharmacies, but some drugstores don’t vaccinate children, he said. ”My hope is that this season will be a bit of wake up call for folks that we actually do need to vaccinate our kids against influenza,” O’Leary said. (AP)

The Israel Defense Forces emphasized that their foremost mission in the ongoing Gaza conflict is the safe recovery of the 59 hostages still in Hamas captivity.

This assertion stands in stark contrast to Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu’s remarks yesterday in which he stated that achieving “victory” over Hamas is the war’s overriding objective, rather than securing the hostages’ return.

“The supreme mission that the IDF is dealing with is our moral duty to return the hostages. The second mission is defeating Hamas. We are working to advance both goals, with the return of the hostages being at the top [of the list of priorities],” the military says.

{Matzav.com Israel}

Republican lawmakers representing blue states are engaged in intense private negotiations over potential changes to the state and local tax (SALT) deduction, with proposals ranging from $30,000 to as high as $100,000. Their aim is to secure inclusion of the provision in President Trump’s sweeping new tax legislation, sources told The Post.

On Wednesday, GOP representatives from states like New York, New Jersey, and California met with House Speaker Mike Johnson of Louisiana and House Ways and Means Committee Chair Jason Smith of Missouri. The group discussed potential figures to propose as a new cap on SALT deductions as part of a massive tax reform bill expected to total several trillion dollars.

According to three individuals briefed on the meeting, lawmakers floated multiple figures — $30,000, $40,000, and $60,000 were discussed — while some pushed aggressively for a $100,000 threshold, insisting on “$100,000 or bust.”

Representative Jeff Van Drew of New Jersey has previously voiced support for a $30,000 limit per filer, calling it “a good number” and “still reasonable.”

One Republican from California, who was not named, is said to have proposed a $60,000 cap, which mirrors a past proposal by Long Island Representative Nick LaLota. LaLota’s bill would have allowed single filers to deduct up to $60,000 and joint filers up to $120,000.

Congressman Mike Lawler of Rockland County is backing an even more generous proposal — $100,000 for individual filers and $200,000 for married couples. His plan would also eliminate what’s been referred to as the “marriage penalty,” where the cap was previously the same for both single and joint filers.

The SALT deduction is currently capped at $10,000 for both individuals and couples, a limit put in place by the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act signed by President Trump. That cap is due to expire at the end of this year unless Congress acts.

Representative Nicole Malliotakis of Staten Island and other colleagues have criticized the current cap as being insufficient, saying even a $20,000 limit wouldn’t adequately support the middle class.

“We’re working on identifying a number that will cover the middle-class families we represent,” Malliotakis said.

“It’s going to come down to what provides relief for the middle-class, what can we get consensus on in the committee and what is palatable for the entire conference,” she added.

“The president, the speaker, Chairman Jason Smith and my colleagues on the [Ways and Means] committee — they understand the dilemma facing New York members.”

The committee is aiming to finalize the details of the tax overhaul next week, with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent targeting July 4 as the deadline for passage.

Bessent warned reporters on Tuesday that failure to pass what he called the “big, beautiful” legislation — which also allocates funds for defense and border protection — could have dire consequences: “If it doesn’t pass, we’ll have the largest tax hike in history.”

If the $10,000 SALT cap remains permanent, the nonpartisan Tax Foundation estimates that more than $1 trillion could be added to the federal deficit over the next decade.

Meanwhile, the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget projected that Lawler’s proposal of $100,000 for single filers and $200,000 for couples could cut an additional $1 trillion in revenue by 2035.

Several elements of the tax bill still need review by the Joint Committee on Taxation and the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) to ensure that it can be approved through reconciliation, a process that allows it to pass the Senate with a simple majority of 51 votes.

“Our final bill will not only extend the 2017 tax relief for hardworking Americans, it will make it permanent,” said Senate Majority Leader John Thune of South Dakota during remarks on the Senate floor Tuesday.

Speaker Johnson remains hopeful that the full legislation can be sent to the president before Memorial Day.

{Matzav.com}

The Zionist Organization elections have entered their final phase, with the “Eretz Hakodesh” faction expressing significant concern about a possible defeat. Campaign officials report a substantial increase in voting among Reform and Conservative supporters in recent days, threatening to shift the balance of power. While the Eretz Hakodesh faction enjoyed strong initial support across diverse constituencies, the situation has changed dramatically in the final stretch. The AID faction, which maintains close ties with the Israeli left and the “Brothers in Arms” movement, has launched an extensive online campaign successfully mobilizing voters for parties within the liberal-reform bloc. This coordinated effort appears to be backed by several left-leaning organizations and associations worldwide that view Conservative and Reform representation in Zionist Organization institutions as strategically important in their opposition to traditional Jewish Zionism in Israel. “If the current voting trends continue and Eretz Hakodesh fails to activate additional support bases, our representation risks becoming a minority position against the left-wing bloc,” a faction spokesperson stated. Campaign officials are now intensifying their outreach efforts in the final days before polls close, urging supporters of the religious bloc to participate and ensure their voices are represented in the organization’s future decision-making. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

The German domestic intelligence service said Friday it has classified the Alternative for Germany party, which placed second in national elections in February, as a “right-wing extremist effort” — making it subject to greater and broader surveillance of its activities. The Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution cited the “extremist character” of the party, known as AfD, and said it “disregards human dignity” — in particular by taking aim at those who moved to Germany from mostly Muslim countries. The party criticized the move, with deputy chairman Stephan Brandner saying that it “is complete nonsense, has absolutely nothing to do with law and order, and is purely political in the fight of the cartel parties against the AfD.” The AfD has already been under enhanced surveillance by authorities in some regions, but the announcement by the domestic spy agency means the agency’s officials can use informants and other tools such as audio and video recordings to monitor the party’s activities nationwide. The office, which has warned of growing extremism in Germany, cited court decisions in two German regions in recent years that detailed party efforts to undermine a free and democratic order. The party “aims to exclude certain population groups from equal participation in society, to subject them to unconstitutional unequal treatment and thus to assign them a legally devalued status,” the agency, known as BfV, said. The party had already come under scrutiny from the BfV for its links to extremists and its ties to Russia. Of the 38,800 far-right extremists counted by the agency last year, more than 10,000 are members of the party. “The ethnic and descent-based understanding of the people prevailing within the party is incompatible with the free democratic basic order,” the intelligence service said, adding that the party’s political positions have underpinned “continuous agitation” against minorities and stirred fear and hostility toward them. “This is evident in the numerous xenophobic, anti-minority, anti-Islamic, and anti-Muslim statements continually made by leading party officials,” it said. Nancy Faeser, the interior minister, said in a statement that the classification was “clear and unambiguous” and had resulted from a 1,100-page “comprehensive and neutral audit” that had no political influence. Under the move, any surveillance of AfD activities must abide by a “principle of proportionality” under German law. The measure does not amount to a ban of the party, which can only take place through a request by either of parliament’s two chambers or the federal government through the Federal Constitutional Court. Asked whether the party would appeal the decision, Brandner said the executive board is holding a scheduled meeting next Monday and is expected to discuss it then. (AP)

[COMMUNICATED]

The Reform Movement’s Legal Campaign Against Religious Life in Eretz Yisroel

By: Dovid Gold

Over the past decade or so, a wave of lawsuits targeting the lifestyle of the religious communities in Eretz Yisroel has been brought before the powerful and left-leaning Israeli Supreme Court. While not all of these cases have succeeded, they’ve complicated life for hundreds of thousands of religious people. Moreover, these petitions have deepened the divisions among Israeli society. But who is spending time and money to bring these cases? And why do they care how the frum community chooses to live? 

A close look into each of these cases reveals a fascinating pattern. The fingerprints of the Jewish American woke left, organized into the Reform movement, are present each time. Desperate for relevance, Reform leaders in America have merged their anti-our Torah ideology with the woke left agenda, launching a systematic campaign against the Torah communities of Eretz Yisroel. In doing so, they have created a cause célèbre to rally their dwindling membership. 

While the Israeli court system leans strongly to the left and is widely viewed as unkind to religion, by law, courts do not initiate actions against Israeli citizens. Courts intervene only when a petition is filed before them. Successfully bringing a case before the Supreme Court requires expert legal representation and significant financial resources. Litigation is expensive, and many cases drag on for years, racking up large legal fees. Without the backing of a well-funded institution, these petitions or lawsuits hardly stand a chance of gaining any traction. For these reasons, the status quo understanding between the state and the religious communities in Israel has mostly held. Only in more recent years have so many rulings been handed down by the courts targeting religious practices. 

This new reality is due to the emergence of a new force on the Israeli scene: The Reform Center for Religion and State. This legal arm of the Reform movement in Israel has taken the lead in each of these petitions and the lawyers they retain have fought these battles. 

The Reform Center was established approximately 35 years ago. Officially, it was founded to advocate for the rights of Reform communities and promote the recognition of pluralistic and Reform values. However, in practice, the Center has led campaigns against virtually every area in which the Torah communities of Israel operate.

Key Legal Battles 

Since the advent of cell phones, the Charedi public in Eretz Yisroel has embraced the use of kosher-filtered cell phones, which safeguard the purity and wholesomeness of their chosen way of life. But in 2016, a lawsuit claimed these phones don’t allow access to hotlines for people with alternative lifestyles. This sparked a years-long legal saga to protect what the Charedi community views as a basic right. While this case continues to work through the legal system, the courts have already ordered the Knesset to pass laws that satisfy these pluralistic goals. 

A review of the official court documents shows that the petition was jointly brought by organizations advocating for those who practice alternative lifestyles along with the Reform Center and the Movement for Progressive Judaism, another Reform arm. And that all the petitioners were represented by lawyers who are members of the Center’s legal staff. It is obvious that the Reform movement has no direct stake in the type of cell phones used by the frum community, nevertheless, they exploited this issue to advance their broader agenda of gaining relevance by generating coverage in Israel’s media outlets sympathetic to their cause. 

Thousands of working parents in Eretz Yisroel rely on government-subsidized childcare during work hours. For decades, based on the understanding that an avreich has the legal status of a “studying spouse,” families where the husband learns in kollel and the wife works have also benefited from these subsidies. To strip kollel families of this badly needed assistance, a petition was filed arguing that full-time Torah study does not meet legitimate standards of “studying”.

Court documents again reveal that the Reform Center for Religion and State led this petition, along with five other leftist organizations, and that the Center’s legal team represented all petitioners. Ultimately, this baseless petition was dismissed because the subsidies are intended to encourage female participation in the workforce, regardless of their spouse’s employment status. 

It’s hard to believe the petitioners truly opposed subsidies for working women, a cause they often champion. Instead, it appears that it was all about delegitimizing the kollel system by painting them as unfairly benefiting from government funds. 

Another staple of organized life in Eretz Yisroel targeted by legal petition is the Mehadrin bus lines, which maintain separation between men and women per the community’s societal norms. In yet another case arguing that this longstanding practice violates laws of equality, the Reform Center and its lawyers are listed as petitioners. This time, the courts ruled in favor of the petitioners, forcing an end to Mehadrin seating arrangements. The result? A massive disruption for thousands of frum commuters, whose cultural norms were ironically disregarded under the guise of “equality.”

Also targeted by the Reform Center and its lawyers is the curriculum being taught in the vast network of chadorim serving the Torah communities. Since Tanach is part of the core curriculum taught in every school in Israel, a case has been brought to block the legitimacy of chadorim who refuse to teach Tanach in the politically correct manner acceptable to the woke left in Israel. While this is an obvious non-starter for frum schools, this litigation resulted in a disparity in funding for the religious sector in Israel and became yet another talking point with which to disparage communities committed to following authentic Jewish traditions.  

The Effect on Israeli Society

Besides these high-profile cases, many other petitions were brought in at all levels of the Israeli court system but were thwarted along the legal maze. Nevertheless, the mere threat of judicial intervention is enough to make the politicians sympathetic to traditional Jewish values think twice before crafting any new legislation. This dynamic is true at every level of government, from the Knesset, where laws are passed that apply to every citizen of the country, to local municipalities, which are responsible for scores of regulations that affect everyday life. Moreover, these petitions worsen the longstanding tension between the government and the courts. This rift recently boiled over in the well-known judicial reform drama that caused upheaval across Israel. 

Media coverage of these lawsuits confuses the question of who truly represents Judaism. Since the founding of the State, only Orthodox Judaism has been recognized as authentic Judaism. This aligns with the perspective of the overwhelming majority of Israelis who identify with religious traditions. In fact, until a relatively short time ago, there was no official Reform presence in Israel. 

However, the Reform movement has recently fought to change this perception and be recognized as representatives of the Jewish faith. A notable example of this push is evident from yet another petition filed by both the Reform and Conservative movements against the popular religious media outlet, Channel 14. The petitioners argued that Reform and Conservative clergypeople should be given equal time to present their views whenever a religion-related issue is discussed on air. 

As a result, Reform has made significant inroads in establishing itself in many parts of Israel’s national character. Given that the non-orthodox streams of Judaism have become largely irrelevant in the United States, establishing a foothold in Israel has become a priority for them. This affects every aspect of religious life in Israel, including marriage and conversion, and even the management of holy sites such as the Kosel. These changes threaten to reshape the very identity of the Jewish people as these pluralistic versions of Judaism gain legal and cultural influence.  

Countering Them

The Reform movement’s decades-long involvement in the World Zionist Congress directly funds these legal petitions. Through its advocacy efforts in the Congress, the Reform movement has successfully managed to advocate for the direct funding of diverse streams of Judaism. Tens of millions of Shekels are allocated each year to fund the growth of the Reform movement in Israel, with official Reform organizations in Israel proudly listing the National Institutions as sponsors on their respective websites. 

A noteworthy portion of this money is funneled to the Reform Center for Religion and State under the guise of furthering Reform interests. However, as demonstrated by its legal history, the Center is largely used to fight legal battles against established religious communities and to arouse animosity toward the religious sector.

 In the 2020 Congress elections, the Reform and Conservative parties collectively received approximately 45,000 votes out of the 120,000 votes cast by American Jews. The Reform movement has intensified its efforts to gain even more votes in the upcoming elections in March 2025. To counter their influence, American Jews who support traditional Torah values must participate in these elections and vote for delegates who will oppose the Reform movement’s attempts to reshape Israeli society.

The outcome of these elections will determine who controls billions of dollars and who shapes the future of religious life in Israel. By voting for delegates with our true Torah values, American Jews can help ensure that Eretz Yisroel remains a place where authentic Judaism thrives.

VOTE HERE!

Voting ends this Sunday night.

Make your voice heard and count!
EretzHaKodesh.org

The IDF announced that approximately 400 chareidim have been drafted into the military this week. The new recruits include 196 combat soldiers and 167 soldiers assigned to combat support roles. Another 23 are still awaiting placement. Among the combat troops, 105 have joined the Netzach Yehuda Battalion of the Kfir Brigade—an IDF unit composed of religious soldiers. Others have been assigned to the Chashmonean Brigade (48), the Tomer Company in Givati’s Rotem Battalion (19), the Hetz Company in the Paratroopers’ 202nd Battalion (20), and four to the ground defense unit at Nevatim Airbase. In addition to the newly drafted soldiers, 26 older charedi men joined the reserves after completing the Shlav Bet (“Stage B”) track—an expedited training process for older recruits. These men, together with 100 others, are set to begin six months of intensive combat training next week before being deployed to the Chashmonean Brigade’s reserve unit. The IDF said that it “will continue to work to expand the recruitment of the charedi community, while maintaining their religious lifestyle throughout their service and adjusting the conditions of the service to their needs.” As part of its broader integration campaign, the military has been issuing a total of 24,000 draft orders to eligible charedi men—an initiative that began last summer. According to military data, some 70,000 charedi males are currently eligible for service. In a departure from past policy, the IDF has also begun sending initial draft notices to all Israeli citizens upon turning 16.5, including charedim, who were previously excluded from early-stage conscription procedures. Actual enlistment begins at age 18. Despite growing recruitment efforts, the IDF says it can only absorb an additional 3,000 charedi soldiers this year, due to the need for tailored accommodations. This figure would supplement the roughly 1,800 charedi soldiers who already enlist annually. Military officials say that the IDF currently faces a shortage of 10,000 new soldiers—70 percent of whom are required for combat positions. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

President Trump has enacted a long-anticipated initiative that ties future American military support for Ukraine to a new bilateral investment arrangement based on Ukraine’s natural resources — effectively shifting the financial burden away from U.S. taxpayers.

After prolonged discussions, Washington and Kyiv finalized the agreement on Wednesday. The deal sets up a jointly managed investment fund backed in part by revenue from Ukraine’s sale of oil, gas, and mineral rights licenses. Both nations will share the profits equally.

Instead of contributing cash, the United States can apply the dollar value of any military hardware, advanced systems, or tactical training it provides to Ukraine as a credit toward its share of the investment, as laid out in the agreement.

“If, after the effective date, the Government of the United States of America delivers new military assistance to the Government of Ukraine in any form — including the donation of weapons systems, ammunition, technology or training — the capital contribution of the U.S. Partner will be deemed to be increased by the assessed value of such military assistance,” the mineral deal said.

The new structure does not interfere with the remaining military aid previously approved by Congress under Joe Biden, which is expected to run out in the coming weeks. It also does not compel the United States to sell any specific defense systems to Ukraine.

At this stage, the exact financial commitments from both sides remain unresolved. Ukrainian Economy Minister Yulia Svyrydenko explained that logistical negotiations are still underway.

When those negotiations conclude, a secondary agreement — outlining the detailed framework for how the initiative will be executed — will be submitted to Ukraine’s parliament, the Verkhovna Rada, for official approval. Hanna Shelest, a senior fellow at the Center for European Policy Analysis, said that this ratification could take about a month.

“What I heard from a few diplomats in Ukraine is that the US wanted us to sign it immediately,” Shelest said, “so I understand that a draft is available, but [the] Ukrainian side said that we cannot sign it without ratification.”

There is cautious optimism among Ukrainian leaders that this agreement could change President Trump’s current policy of denying sales of key missile defense systems, even as Ukraine continues to face intense attacks from Russian drones and missile barrages.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky revealed last month that he requested permission to purchase up to 10 Patriot missile batteries — a U.S.-exclusive defense system — for $15 billion, but that President Trump declined the proposal.

Some Ukrainian insiders believe the deal reflects a growing realization that Trump views international aid as a business transaction.

“The Ukrainians’ mistake was thinking that Trump wanted this so badly that they could leverage it,” one source familiar with Kyiv’s internal negotiations told The Post, adding that the deal was temporarily stalled after a heated Oval Office exchange on February 28 involving Trump, Zelensky, and Vice President JD Vance.

Lieutenant Denis Yaroslavsky, who leads a Ukrainian special reconnaissance unit, told The Post that Ukraine must align with Trump’s worldview, which he described as largely unaffected by moral appeals.

“Only pragmatic economic proposals matter,” Yaroslavsky said. “… Today, Ukraine has a small but real chance to leverage this approach to achieve a swift cease-fire.

“This is the first step, hopefully it will entail a merger in the great alliance of our countries.”

Observers note that although the agreement does not obligate the U.S. to supply more weapons, the clause permitting further contributions sends a strategic message to Moscow that American support remains an option.

Russia appeared to take note. On Thursday, Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council Dmitry Medvedev lashed out at Trump, ridiculing the arrangement and mocking Ukraine’s future viability.

“Trump has finally pressured the Kyiv regime to pay for US aid with mineral resources,” he posted to Telegram. “Now, the country that is about to disappear will have to use its national wealth to pay for military supplies.”

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump’s nuclear negotiations with Iran bear striking resemblance to the very deal he famously tore up in 2018, Reuters reports. The rapid commencement of talks last month has stunned regional allies, most notably Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who had arrived in Washington expecting a green light for military action against Iran — only to learn hours before a joint appearance that the U.S. was heading back to the negotiating table. Since then, three rounds of high-level U.S.–Iranian talks have taken place with a fourth expected soon in Rome. According to eight sources familiar with the discussions who spoke with Reuters, the framework being developed largely preserves the architecture of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), which Trump repeatedly branded “the worst deal ever made” during his first term. But this time, the agreement is being tweaked for political palatability. Officials say it would extend the timeline of constraints to 25 years, tighten verification mechanisms, and stretch the so-called sunset clauses. Still, the core remains unmistakably similar: Iran agrees to limit uranium enrichment, reduce centrifuge counts, and allow increased international inspections in exchange for sweeping sanctions relief. For Netanyahu, this represents a stunning reversal and a strategic setback. His government has demanded “zero enrichment,” aiming for a Libya-style dismantlement of Iran’s nuclear infrastructure. But Iranian officials insist their right to enrich uranium is non-negotiable — though they are reportedly willing to cap enrichment at 3.67%, as under the JCPOA, and ship portions of their uranium abroad or dilute their stockpiles under IAEA scrutiny. “This is essentially JCPOA 2.0,” said one senior official, “with just enough window dressing for Trump to call it a win, and just enough flexibility for Tehran to maintain core capabilities.” Underscoring the strange symmetry of these developments, Trump is now seeking concessions that go further than what his first-term deal exit demanded, yet is also prepared to accept many of the same limitations the original accord imposed. Former U.S. negotiator Dennis Ross warned that without dismantling Iran’s infrastructure — including cutting centrifuges to a mere 1,000 and shipping out all enriched uranium — “the threshold threat remains.” The irony, he noted, is that Trump’s 2018 withdrawal has left the U.S. facing a much more advanced Iranian program, with the Islamic Republic enriching uranium at 60% and operating banned advanced centrifuges. Some U.S. officials are pressing to incorporate Iran’s ballistic missile production into the deal — a demand consistently rejected by Tehran. Iranian sources said they are only willing to forgo missile designs capable of carrying nuclear warheads as a “gesture of goodwill,” echoing the constraints of the original JCPOA. Adding complexity to the talks are Iranian demands for ironclad guarantees: that no future U.S. president — including Trump himself — could abandon the deal unilaterally again. Whether such guarantees are legally or politically feasible remains in question. Meanwhile, Israeli calculations are shifting rapidly. With Hezbollah’s capabilities reportedly degraded and Iran’s air defenses weakened by recent conflicts, Netanyahu sees what one Middle East official called “a historic window” for a preemptive strike. Still, Washington is discouraging such action, wary of backlash from Gulf allies and regional destabilization — though U.S. military positioning suggests quiet preparation for contingencies. The Pentagon has recently deployed B-2 bombers to Diego Garcia and bolstered its naval presence in the […]

China’s Commerce Ministry said Friday that Beijing is evaluating multiple approaches by the Trump administration for trade talks, but steep tariffs imposed by Washington must go. A ministry statement reiterated China’s stance that is open to talks, but also that Beijing is determined to fight if it must. It said one-sided tariffs of up to 145% remain an obstacle, undermining trust. “The tariff and trade wars were unilaterally initiated by the U.S., if the U.S. side wants to talk, it should show its sincerity, and be ready to take action on issues such as correcting wrong practices and canceling the unilateral imposition of tariffs,” it said. An unnamed ministry spokesperson was cited as saying that Beijing had taken note of various statements by senior U.S. officials indicating a willingness to negotiate over tariffs. “At the same time, the U.S. has recently taken the initiative to convey information to the Chinese side on a number of occasions through relevant parties, hoping to talk with the Chinese side. In this regard, the Chinese side is making an assessment,” it said. But it emphasized that China would regard overtures without a change in President Donald Trump’s sharp tariff hikes as insincere. “Saying one thing but doing another, or even attempting to engage in coercion and blackmail under the guise of talks, will not work on the Chinese side,” it said. China is in the midst of a public holiday, with government offices and markets closed. But share prices in Hong Kong jumped 1.7% early Friday, while Taiwan’s benchmark index was up 2.2%. U.S. futures also advanced. As of Friday, the Trump administration is ending a duty-free exemption on low-value imports from China. That will mean higher prices and delivery delays when the government starts collecting tariffs on every single shipment. Beijing has responded to Trump’s tariff hikes by raising its own duties on imports of U.S. products to as high as 125%. It has also tightened restrictions on exports to the U.S. of certain strategically important minerals and stopped importing a wide range of U.S. farm products. At the same time, China has sought to join with other countries to build a united front against Trump, while ramping up its own countermeasures to the impact of Trump’s tariffs. Trump has slapped a global 10% import tax, or tariff, to try to compel manufacturers to shift factories back to the U.S. He ordered double-digit “reciprocal” tariffs for many countries but then postponed their implementation for 90 days to allow time for negotiations. He has also hit foreign steel, aluminum and autos. The toughest measures were reserved for China, the world’s biggest exporter and second largest economy. His announcements of higher tariffs, suspensions, and then more tariffs have left companies, investors and consumers stymied over what comes next, hitting consumer confidence. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who is leading the administration’s approach to China, has said he expects Beijing to call because the tariffs are not sustainable. In an interview Thursday with Fox Business, Bessent said the main issue with Beijing was not high tariffs but other barriers. “There’s a whole range of bad behavior by the Chinese,” Bessent said, mentioning theft of intellectual property like trademarks and cyberhacking.” “So, everything is on the table for the economic relationship,” he said, adding “I am confident that […]

President Trump issued an executive order late Thursday evening that cuts off all federal financial support to National Public Radio (NPR) and the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS).

Both NPR and PBS, which have often come under criticism from conservatives for perceived political bias, receive part of their funding through the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB). Trump argued that this support is no longer justified in today’s expansive media landscape.

“Government funding of news media in this environment is not only outdated and unnecessary but corrosive to the appearance of journalistic independence,” Trump wrote in the order.

He further instructed, “The CPB Board shall cease direct funding to NPR and PBS, consistent with my Administration’s policy to ensure that Federal funding does not support biased and partisan news coverage.” Trump also directed the CPB to cancel any current direct funding agreements as far as the law permits and to withhold any future allocations.

{Matzav.com}

Home ownership is receding further out of reach for most Americans as elevated mortgage rates and rising prices stretch the limits of what buyers can afford. A homebuyer now needs to earn at least $114,000 a year to afford a $431,250 home — the national median listing price in April, according to data released Thursday by Realtor.com The analysis assumes that a homebuyer will make a 20% down payment, finance the rest of the purchase with a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage, and that the buyer’s housing costs won’t exceed 30% of their gross monthly income — an often-used barometer of housing affordability. Based off the latest U.S. median home listing price, homebuyers need to earn $47,000 more a year to afford a home than they would have just six years ago. Back then, the median U.S. home listing price was $314,950, and the average rate on a 30-year mortgage hovered around 4.1%. This week, the rate averaged 6.76%. The annual income required to afford a median-priced U.S. home first crossed into the six figures in May 2022 and hasn’t dropped below that level since. Median household income was about $80,600 annually in 2023, according to the U.S. Census bureau. In several metro areas, including San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York and Boston, the annual income needed to afford a median-priced home tops $200,000. In San Jose, it’s more than $370,000. Rock-bottom mortgage rates turbocharged the housing market during the pandemic, fueling bidding wars for homes that pushed up sale prices sometimes hundreds of thousands of dollars above a seller initial asking price. U.S. home prices soared more than 50% between 2019 and 2024. The U.S. housing market has been in a sales slump since 2022, when mortgage rates began to climb from their pandemic-era lows. Sales of previously occupied U.S. homes fell last year to their lowest level in nearly 30 years. In March, they posted their largest monthly drop since November 2022. It’s not all bad news for prospective homebuyers. Home prices are rising much more slowly than during the pandemic housing market frenzy. The national median sales price of a previously occupied U.S. home rose 2.7% in March from a year earlier to $403,700, an all-time high for March, but the smallest annual increase since August. In April, the median price of a home listed for sale rose only 0.3% from a year earlier, according to Realtor.com. Buyers who can afford current mortgage rates have a wider selection of properties now than a year ago. Active listings — a tally that encompasses all homes on the market except those pending a finalized sale — surged 30.6% last month from a year earlier, according to Realtor.com. Home listings jumped between 67.6% and 70.1% in San Diego, San Jose and Washington D.C. As properties take longer to sell, more sellers are reducing their asking price. Some 18% of listings had their price reduced last month, according to Realtor.com. “Sellers are becoming more flexible on pricing, underscored by the price reductions we’re seeing, and while higher mortgage rates are certainly weighing on demand, the silver lining is that the market is starting to rebalance,” said Danielle Hale, chief economist at Realtor.com. “This could create opportunities for buyers who are prepared.” (AP)

The Reform Movement’s Legal Campaign Against Religious Life in Eretz Yisroel By: Dovid Gold Over the past decade or so, a wave of lawsuits targeting the lifestyle of the religious communities in Eretz Yisroel has been brought before the powerful and left-leaning Israeli Supreme Court. While not all of these cases have succeeded, they’ve complicated life for hundreds of thousands of religious people. Moreover, these petitions have deepened the divisions among Israeli society. But who is spending time and money to bring these cases? And why do they care how the frum community chooses to live?  A close look into each of these cases reveals a fascinating pattern. The fingerprints of the Jewish American woke left, organized into the Reform movement, are present each time. Desperate for relevance, Reform leaders in America have merged their anti-our Torah ideology with the woke left agenda, launching a systematic campaign against the Torah communities of Eretz Yisroel. In doing so, they have created a cause célèbre to rally their dwindling membership.  While the Israeli court system leans strongly to the left and is widely viewed as unkind to religion, by law, courts do not initiate actions against Israeli citizens. Courts intervene only when a petition is filed before them. Successfully bringing a case before the Supreme Court requires expert legal representation and significant financial resources. Litigation is expensive, and many cases drag on for years, racking up large legal fees. Without the backing of a well-funded institution, these petitions or lawsuits hardly stand a chance of gaining any traction. For these reasons, the status quo understanding between the state and the religious communities in Israel has mostly held. Only in more recent years have so many rulings been handed down by the courts targeting religious practices.  This new reality is due to the emergence of a new force on the Israeli scene: The Reform Center for Religion and State. This legal arm of the Reform movement in Israel has taken the lead in each of these petitions and the lawyers they retain have fought these battles.  The Reform Center was established approximately 35 years ago. Officially, it was founded to advocate for the rights of Reform communities and promote the recognition of pluralistic and Reform values. However, in practice, the Center has led campaigns against virtually every area in which the Torah communities of Israel operate. Key Legal Battles  Since the advent of cell phones, the Charedi public in Eretz Yisroel has embraced the use of kosher-filtered cell phones, which safeguard the purity and wholesomeness of their chosen way of life. But in 2016, a lawsuit claimed these phones don’t allow access to hotlines for people with alternative lifestyles. This sparked a years-long legal saga to protect what the Charedi community views as a basic right. While this case continues to work through the legal system, the courts have already ordered the Knesset to pass laws that satisfy these pluralistic goals.  A review of the official court documents shows that the petition was jointly brought by organizations advocating for those who practice alternative lifestyles along with the Reform Center and the Movement for Progressive Judaism, another Reform arm. And that all the petitioners were represented by lawyers who are members of the Center’s legal staff. It is obvious that the Reform movement has […]