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A major political shakeup is underway in Degel HaTorah, with longtime MKs Moshe Gafni and Uri Maklev officially being informed that they will not serve in the next Knesset as the party moves to bring in a new generation of representatives.

Rav Dov Landau conveyed the decision to the two veteran lawmakers on Motzoei Shabbos in personal letters, informing them that they would not be included on Degel HaTorah’s next Knesset slate as part of a broader effort to refresh the party’s parliamentary representation.

Despite Gafni’s departure from the Knesset, Rav Landau asked him to remain in his position as chairman of the national Degel HaTorah organization.

Sources in Rav Landau’s home emphasized the considerable appreciation for the work carried out by Gafni and Maklev over the years, noting that the two operated in accordance with the directives of the Gedolei Yisroel throughout their lengthy tenures in public office.

Particular recognition was given to their efforts on behalf of bnei yeshivos, an issue that has become especially critical amid the ongoing battle over the status of bnei Torah and military conscription. The two veteran lawmakers were credited with conducting that struggle with dedication and loyalty while following the guidance of the Gedolei Torah.

Nevertheless, after years of service in the Knesset, the decision was reached that Degel HaTorah’s parliamentary ranks require significant renewal and that new representatives should be brought into the party leadership.

As a result, Gafni and Maklev, the two most senior figures on Degel HaTorah’s current Knesset list, will not return to the Knesset following the next election.

The dramatic decision followed hours of intensive behind-the-scenes consultations and exchanges tonight among the homes of the Gedolei Torah.

According to the sources, a special emissary traveled between the home of Rav Dov Landau and that of Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch, carrying messages between the two as discussions and deliberations over the future composition of Degel HaTorah’s Knesset delegation continued for several hours.

Ultimately, the decision was finalized: Gafni and Maklev will leave the Knesset, marking a significant changing of the guard for Degel HaTorah and clearing the way for a substantially revamped slate in the next election.

The identities of the new representatives who will replace Gafni and Maklev have not yet been announced.

Those selections are expected to be made at a later stage in accordance with the decisions of the Gedolei Torah, setting the stage for one of the most consequential changes in Degel HaTorah’s political leadership in years.

{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.

Millions of Americans receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits will see higher maximum allotments beginning Oct. 1, with the maximum monthly benefit for a family of four in most of the country increasing by $29, from $994 to $1,023.

The changes are part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s fiscal year 2027 cost-of-living adjustments, which take effect Oct. 1 and remain in place through Sept. 30, 2027. The maximum allotment for a single-person household will increase from $298 to $306.

USDA recalculates SNAP maximum allotments, income eligibility standards and allowable deductions at the beginning of each federal fiscal year to account for changes in the cost of living. The maximum allotments are based on the cost of USDA’s Thrifty Food Plan, which estimates the expense of providing nutritious, low-cost meals.

Across the 48 contiguous states and Washington, D.C., maximum monthly benefits will increase to $562 for a two-person household and $808 for a household of three. Five-person households will be eligible for as much as $1,217, while the maximums will rise to $1,463 for six people, $1,616 for seven and $1,841 for eight.

For households containing between nine and 17 people, the maximum allotment will rise by $225 for each additional household member. Households of 18 or more people will face a maximum benefit ceiling of $3,887.

The higher maximums do not mean that every SNAP recipient will receive those amounts or see an identical increase in monthly assistance.

Actual benefits are calculated using several factors, including the number of people in a household, its net income and qualifying expenses. Under the federal benefit formula, roughly 30% of a household’s net income is generally subtracted from the maximum allotment established for a household of that size.

SNAP income eligibility thresholds are also scheduled to increase on Oct. 1. Under the standard federal eligibility test, a four-person household will have a gross monthly income limit of $3,575 and a net monthly income limit of $2,750. USDA sets the standard gross-income threshold at 130% of the federal poverty level and the net-income threshold at 100%.

Eligibility rules can nevertheless differ depending on circumstances. Some states operate expanded eligibility policies, while households that include an elderly person or an individual with a disability can be subject to different federal requirements.

Several deductions used when calculating a household’s SNAP benefit will rise as well. In the 48 contiguous states and Washington, D.C., the standard monthly deduction for households containing up to three people will increase to $217, while the maximum excess shelter deduction will climb to $769.

Different benefit schedules apply in Alaska, Hawaii, Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Maximum allotments are set to increase in Alaska, Guam and the Virgin Islands, while Hawaii will see a reduction. The maximum for a four-person household in Hawaii will fall by $34, from $1,689 to $1,655.

SNAP remains the nation’s largest federal nutrition-assistance program. During fiscal year 2025, it served an average of 42.1 million people each month, with monthly benefits averaging $187.94 per participant. Federal SNAP spending totaled $101.7 billion for the year.

USDA data for fiscal year 2024 showed considerable variation in the amount households received. Thirty-seven percent of participating households collected the maximum benefit available for their household size, while 9% received the minimum benefit and the remaining 54% received an amount somewhere between the two.

{Matzav.com}

Sen. Ted Cruz said New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has become the “single most powerful Democrat in the country,” arguing that the growing influence of socialist and progressive activists is making Democratic lawmakers increasingly reluctant to cooperate with Republicans on issues such as energy permitting reform. Cruz made the remarks Thursday at an energy affordability and permitting reform summit in Columbus, Ohio, hosted by the Club for Growth and Arnold Ventures.

“That dynamic is dangerous right now because they are terrified of the extreme left. Finding a middle ground on ideological issues right now is … the prospects for success, particularly between now and election day, are not high,” Cruz said at an energy summit hosted by Club for Growth and Arnold Ventures on Thursday.

“Schumer is truly terrified right now,” he added, referring to Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y.

Cruz argued that the success of progressive candidates during the 2026 election cycle is affecting how establishment Democrats, particularly those already serving in Congress, approach legislation as the November midterm elections draw closer.

“They’re in the middle of a revolution,” Cruz said. “Their problem is that they’re very driven by their interest groups. They’re captured by their activists.”

Cruz delivered his comments during a summit focused largely on energy costs and changes to the federal permitting system. The Club for Growth, which advocates for lower taxes and limited government, co-hosted the gathering with Arnold Ventures, bringing together administration officials, lawmakers and industry figures to discuss ways of accelerating domestic energy projects.

While Republicans and Democrats remain divided over how extensively federal regulations should be changed, permitting reform has attracted some bipartisan interest. Participants at the summit argued that streamlining the approval process could make it easier to develop new American energy infrastructure.

Energy Secretary Chris Wright pointed to nuclear power as one area in which regulatory obstacles have, in his view, sharply limited development despite growing interest in the technology across party lines.

“We have built three new nuclear reactors in like the last 40 years. It went quickly from: we didn’t even know about the technology, to 20% of US electric generation from nuclear reactors,” Wright said.

“We created the Nuclear Regulatory Commission … in the name of safety, no malintent. But since that creation, we’ve built almost no reactors in the United States since. If it’s so uncertain and so long to permit something, it’s just not worth investing in. That’s awful! Nuclear is just an awesome energy technology.”

Sen. Bernie Moreno of Ohio, another Republican who participated in the event, said much of the debate over permitting reform has moved beyond broader political disagreements and into questions about how legislation could actually be implemented.

“There’s a lot of conversations going on not about who’s going to fight with whom or who is going to take credit for it, but rather what is the mechanics of getting it done,” Moreno said at the Club for Growth event.

“When it comes to permitting reform, if we can actually pull this off, Scott, what does it mean? It means lower energy prices for all Americans, us taking better care of our environment, being good stewards for the next generation. Those are worthy goals that should unite all of us, and I’m hopeful that we can get that done,” Moreno said, speaking to conservative political commentator Scott Jennings, a moderator at the event.

Despite the optimism expressed by Moreno and several other participants, Cruz said he believes the political influence of the Democratic Party’s progressive wing could make bipartisan agreements considerably more difficult.

“It is not the case that every Senate Democrat is a Marxist or Islamist. What is the case is that every Senate Democrat is terrified of the Marxists and Islamists. Because that’s where the energy is in their party, that’s where the power is, that’s where the money is; it’s where the young people are. I think Mamdani is the single most powerful Democrat in the country,” Cruz said, referring to the socialist mayor of New York City, Zohran Mamdani.

Mamdani, who describes himself as a democratic socialist, won the New York City mayoral election in 2025. Since then, several candidates associated with or supported by the Democratic Socialists of America have scored victories in Democratic primaries, including challengers who defeated longtime incumbents.

Among those candidates is Darializa Avila Chevalier, who defeated longtime New York Rep. Adriano Espaillat, the chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, in the Democratic primary for New York’s 13th Congressional District. In Colorado, Melat Kiros defeated Rep. Diana DeGette, who had served in Congress for nearly three decades. Cruz pointed to such races as evidence for his contention that progressive challengers are exerting increasing pressure on Democratic incumbents.

Against that backdrop, Cruz argued that Democratic lawmakers have fewer political incentives to break with the party’s progressive activists, even in policy areas where bipartisan compromise might otherwise be possible.

Cruz said he also sees little willingness among Democratic leaders to challenge that trend.

“Look, Schumer is known for a lot of things but acts of principle and courage are not among them,” Cruz said.

{Matzav.com}

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani drew criticism Friday after the ceremonial pen he used to sign an executive order commemorating the Sept. 11 attacks was handed to his chief counsel, Ramzi Kassem, an attorney who previously represented an al-Qaeda operative. The episode came one week before the 25th anniversary of 9/11.

City officials had assembled at City Hall as Mamdani signed two executive orders related to Sept. 11. One formally designates the date each year as a citywide Day of Remembrance and Service, while the other updates New York City’s policies for maintaining essential government operations during emergencies and other major disruptions.

After completing the signing, Mamdani handed the ceremonial pen to NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch and quietly asked, “Can you pass this?”

Tisch then passed the pen to Kassem, Mamdani’s chief counsel, who had entered the press conference shortly before its conclusion. Video of the event showed Kassem smiling as he received the pen. Tisch was the first official to leave the press conference, with Kassem departing shortly afterward.

“It was calculated,” retired detective and adjunct professor at John Jay College of Criminal Justice Michael Alazar told The Post.

“It happened during a ceremony meant to be about the victims, and no one else. 9/11 families didn’t come to City Hall to watch Mamdani spotlight someone whose work intersects with the very ideology that took their loved ones. Commissioner Jessica Tisch was reduced to a prop rather than acknowledging her role as the leader of the NYPD.”

Kassem previously represented Ahmed al-Darbi, an al-Qaeda operative who was held at Guantánamo Bay, a fact that prompted critics to question the decision to give him the pen used during the 9/11 ceremony.

“It’s bulls–t,” slammed Dennis Warchola, whose brother Michael, a firefighter with Ladder 5, was killed in the North Tower.

“How can you defend a guy like that who wants to do Americans or any innocent person harm?”

City Council Member Joann Ariola, a Queens Republican, also condemned the episode, calling it “breathtakingly tone-deaf and disrespectful.”

“The families who lost loved ones on 9/11 have every right to be outraged. On the 25th anniversary, City Hall should be honoring their sacrifice with dignity, not forcing those families to endure yet another insult.”

Al-Darbi was imprisoned at Guantánamo Bay after admitting involvement in the 2002 bombing of the French oil tanker MV Limburg off Yemen, an attack carried out as part of an al-Qaeda effort targeting maritime commerce. Al-Darbi’s sister was married to Khalid al-Mihdhar, one of the hijackers aboard American Airlines Flight 77, which crashed into the Pentagon on Sept. 11, 2001.

Kassem, 48, founded a legal clinic at the City University of New York that provides free legal representation. He also represented Mahmoud Khalil, a prominent figure in the pro-Palestinian protests at Columbia University who was detained by federal immigration authorities.

Kassem had not been present for most of Friday’s press conference, entering roughly 15 minutes after it began. After receiving the pen, he left shortly after Tisch.

The ceremony itself was centered on two measures Mamdani said were intended to preserve the memory of Sept. 11 and strengthen New York’s preparedness for future emergencies. The first order establishes Sept. 11 as an annual citywide Day of Remembrance and Service honoring victims, first responders, survivors and their families. The second creates an updated framework for ensuring essential city services can continue during emergencies.

“Ramzi Kassem said he was inspired by 9/11 — not to join the fight against terrorism, but to defend the terrorists themselves. He doesn’t even belong in this country, much less in our government,” seethed Council Member Vicki Paladino (R-Queens).

“His participation in anything related to 9/11 is an insult to every New Yorker who survived that day, and indeed all Americans. But I suspect that’s the point.”

Former Democratic political consultant David Sivella also criticized the episode publicly.

“Was it deliberate on your part to give your Muslim base a hint that this is all BS to pacify other New Yorkers?” former Democratic political consultant David Sivella blasted on X.

Justice Department antitrust officials were instructed this week to suspend cooperation with Canadian authorities amid escalating U.S.-Canada trade tensions, although the DOJ later said the sweeping directive resulted from a misunderstanding and was not intended to halt work with Canada.

Lynda Marshall, who heads the Antitrust Division’s international section, sent an email Wednesday directing personnel to stop collaborating with Canadian officials on cases and policy matters, according to emails reviewed by The Wall Street Journal. No explanation for the instruction was included in the message.

A second email sent Friday instructed section chiefs within the Antitrust Division to compile lists detailing the areas in which they were working with Canadian counterparts and submit them by the end of the day.

The Justice Department, however, pushed back on the suggestion that it had ordered a broad suspension of cooperation, saying the “alleged direction was never given to anyone.”

According to the DOJ, officials had merely been told to “temporarily hold off on a scheduled meeting on a specific investigation until the DOJ’s antitrust team had more time to prepare.”

The Wall Street Journal subsequently reported that Marshall had misunderstood the original instruction and that cooperation with Canadian authorities was permitted to continue.

The episode comes as relations between Washington and Ottawa have deteriorated amid a widening trade battle between President Donald Trump’s administration and the government of Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney. The latest friction has included new tariffs as well as Trump’s executive order directing the U.S. federal government to refer to Lake Ontario as “Lake America.”

The Lake Ontario directive applies at the federal level in the United States and does not require Canada, international organizations or individual U.S. states to adopt the new name. The move nevertheless became another flashpoint in relations between the neighboring countries, whose trade relationship has grown increasingly contentious since Trump returned to the White House in January 2025.

The trade dispute has now resulted in tariffs affecting tens of billions of dollars in commerce moving across the U.S.-Canada border.

Ottawa has announced that retaliatory tariffs against American products will take effect Sept. 8 following the Trump administration’s imposition of 50% tariffs on approximately $20 billion in Canadian goods last month. The measures followed the collapse of negotiations over a broader trade agreement.

Carney said Canada “will match Washington’s new tariffs dollar for dollar in order to protect Canadian workers, farmers, families, and businesses.”

{Matzav.com}

U.S. forces destroyed three Iranian crude-oil tankers Saturday in the Persian Gulf region, retaliating after Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps fired ballistic missiles at two U.S. Navy warships, according to U.S. Central Command.

Video of the attacks showed large tankers engulfed in flames, with towering columns of thick black smoke rising over the water.

In one dramatic exchange, the crew of a U.S. military aircraft warned those aboard a tanker near Kharg Island to evacuate before American forces opened fire and set the vessel ablaze.

“I’m preparing to fire. …You have three minutes to clear the crew,” the US is heard in a video filmed aboard a nearby vessel, obtained by Iran International.

Voices speaking Persian and Urdu could be heard aboard the tanker as crew members tried to determine whether the ship’s captain was at his station, only to discover that he was apparently still sleeping.

“This was your final warning,” the US crew says before firing at the tanker, which was first sanctioned by Washington in 2018. “Get into your lifeboats and abandon the ship immediately.”

CENTCOM said the operation was carried out in response to ballistic missile attacks by the IRGC against two U.S. Navy warships operating in regional waters. The confrontation comes amid escalating hostilities following the failure of an Aug. 17 cease-fire deadline to yield a peace agreement.

“The three Iranian crude oil tankers are part of a multibillion-dollar shadow network that funds the IRGC and its regional proxies,” according to CENTCOM.

Two of the vessels targeted by American forces were located in the Gulf of Oman, while a third was anchored near Kharg Island, Iran’s crucial oil-export center. Before the war, approximately 90% of the country’s crude exports passed through the island.

“Let the message to the IRGC be clear: If you shoot at two of our ships, we will impose an even higher economic cost —taking out three of yours,” added Adm. Brad Cooper, the CENTCOM commander.

The IRGC Navy subsequently claimed that it had attacked three U.S.-linked vessels in retaliation, along with three oil tankers moving through the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian officials also warned that further military action could be more “severe.”

“If the hostility, insecurity and harassment of Iranian ships and the naval blockade of Iran continue, the strikes by the armed forces of the Islamic Republic against US military vessels in the region will be more severe than before,” said military spokesperson Ebrahim Zolfaghari, according to state media.

“And there is also the possibility of their expansion.”

Iran’s Revolutionary Guard also threatened continued attacks on vessels traveling through the Strait of Hormuz unless Washington ends its naval blockade.

“Do not fall for the deception of the terrorist American army and avoid any suspicious movements to cross unauthorized waterways — otherwise, you will be targeted,” the IRGC vowed.

Earlier Saturday, Iranian media reported that four missiles had struck one of the country’s oil tankers while it was anchored about six miles from Kharg Island, according to the state-affiliated Tasnim news agency.

“It’s simple: if Iran shoots at US ships, we will destroy (and sink) their oil tankers,” Secretary of War Pete Hegseth wrote on X. “All they have to do is not shoot at US Navy.”

The latest strikes mark another sharp escalation in a conflict that has intensified over the past week. The attacks near Kharg Island carry particular significance because of the island’s central role in Iran’s oil industry and repeated warnings that its energy infrastructure could become a target.

President Trump posted on Truth Social last week that Kharg Island was being “blown to smithereens,” accompanying the statement with an AI-generated image depicting oil-storage facilities and refineries consumed by flames. Iran has warned that an attack on the island’s critical infrastructure would draw a forceful response.

The United States previously struck Kharg Island in March, hitting roughly 90 Iranian military targets while intentionally avoiding its oil infrastructure. That operation represented a major escalation in the joint U.S.-Israeli military campaign against the Iranian regime.

{Matzav.com}

A planned Shabbos protest in Bnei Brak was canceled Friday after senior police officials intervened and committed to ensuring that a business whose operation on Shabbos had sparked an uproar would be closed.

Rav Chaim Yitzchok Isaac Landau, the rov of Bnei Brak, announced that the demonstration scheduled for this Shabbos would no longer take place following the police commitment concerning the business on Lechi Street.

According to an announcement issued Friday, senior Israel Police officials became involved after word spread about the planned protest and pledged to take steps to ensure that the establishment would remain closed on Shabbos. Rav Landau nevertheless urged residents to remain vigilant and make certain that the commitment is honored in the coming weeks as well.

The cancellation came one day after Bnei Brak’s rabbonim called on residents to participate in a mass demonstration during Shabbos against the business’s continued operation. The rabbonim described the development as a “serious breach in the walls of the city, the likes of which has not occurred in decades.”

Organizers said Thursday that efforts had previously been made to resolve the matter through all available legal channels and with the relevant authorities, but those attempts had failed to bring about the business’s closure.

As a result, plans were made for residents to gather near the establishment shortly before the conclusion of Shabbos. Members of the community were asked to attend earlier minyanim for Mincha and then proceed to the demonstration at approximately 7 p.m.

An audio message circulated among Bnei Brak residents described the planned protest and the concerns that had prompted the call to demonstrate.

“Important announcement in light of the call of the city’s rabbis,” the recording stated. “Since recently there has been a serious breach in the walls of Shabbos observance in our city of Bnei Brak, the likes of which has not occurred in decades, with the opening of a business in the city, and after attempts were made to act through every legal avenue and all relevant possibilities, to no avail, and the business continues in its defiance, there is great concern that additional businesses throughout the area will open.”

The recording continued: “Therefore, with Hashem’s help, the city’s residents who are chareidim lidvar Hashem will go out this holy Shabbos, Parshas Nitzavim-Vayeilech, toward sunset, shortly before the conclusion of Shabbos, to the aforementioned location, to protest in the way of the Torah for the honor of the holy Shabbos, which is being trampled openly in the streets. We ask members of our community who are able, particularly the younger avreichim, to come and participate.”

At the same time, representatives of the Israel Police met with Bnei Brak municipal officials in an effort to address and clarify arrangements involving road closures in the area of the Sofrim complex.

The meeting followed tensions that had developed in the area, with both sides seeking an agreed-upon arrangement. According to information released afterward, the solution is expected to follow the existing procedures governing the closure of the Lechi Bridge on Shabbos.

Israel Police said it would work to maintain public order while allowing any arrangements that are established to be implemented in accordance with the law and existing procedures.

Police officials also stressed during the meeting that acts of violence, threats, property damage or any other criminal conduct would be dealt with firmly.

With the police commitment now in place, the protest was called off. Residents, however, were asked to continue monitoring the situation to ensure that the business remains closed on future Shabbosos as promised.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump says the massive new White House ballroom is being constructed with extraordinarily strong steel and concrete designed to withstand a nuclear attack, predicting that a future Democratic administration would have an exceedingly difficult time demolishing the structure.

Trump made the comments during an Oval Office interview and tour of the construction project with New York magazine reporter Ben Terris. The ballroom is being built on the site where the East Wing previously stood and is part of a larger complex that the administration has also described as serving national security purposes.

Asked about the possibility that a future Democratic administration might seek to remove the ballroom, Trump expressed doubt that doing so would even be physically feasible.

“I don’t think they could, physically,” Trump said of any Democratic effort to undo the project.

The president said the structure is being built with exceptionally heavy-duty materials, describing its steel and concrete as “used in nuclear power plants,” and asserting that even prolonged use of a jackhammer against the columns would fail to make a visible impact.

“It’s meant for if there’s a nuclear attack,” the president added. “I’m not sure you could take it down.”

Trump’s remarks came just days after the Supreme Court allowed construction of the ballroom to continue while litigation over the project proceeds. In an Aug. 31 order, the court stayed a lower-court injunction that had halted the work.

Chief Justice John Roberts joined Justices Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan and Ketanji Brown Jackson in dissenting from the court’s order. The dispute includes questions over whether the project could legally proceed without congressional authorization.

The Supreme Court’s order did not issue a final ruling on the underlying legality of the ballroom project. Instead, it allowed construction to move forward while the government pursues further review of the case.

The ballroom has been planned as an enormous addition to the White House complex, with the project encompassing approximately 90,000 square feet—nearly twice the size of the main White House residence.

Trump has said private donors are paying for the project, although questions surrounding its financing and the identities and interests of donors have become part of the broader controversy over the construction.

The president has additionally portrayed the ballroom complex as serving a security function, with plans reportedly including hardened security features and an underground bunker. In its Supreme Court filing, the administration described the project as an “integrated military complex” that includes a secure ballroom space and argued that it is important for national security.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump warned Friday that the United States could soon launch an attack on Iran’s heavily fortified Pickaxe Mountain facility, reiterating that Washington will prevent Tehran from acquiring a nuclear weapon as U.S. military operations against Iran continue. Reuters describes Pickaxe Mountain, near the damaged Natanz enrichment facility, as a fortified site containing two deeply buried tunnel complexes.

Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office, Trump again made clear that preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons remains a central U.S. objective.

“Iran will not have a nuclear weapon,” he said, before adding, “We may hit Pickaxe very soon…if there was anything going on with Pickaxe.”

Trump was also questioned about remarks made a day earlier by Vice President JD Vance, who said he would not describe the continuing confrontation between the United States and Iran as a “war.”

Trump on Iran:

We may hit Pickaxe Mountain very soon because if there is anything going on with Pickaxe. pic.twitter.com/kwlHZuV6M7

— Clash Report (@clashreport) September 4, 2026

With American forces having resumed strikes on Iranian targets in recent weeks, Trump was asked how he would characterize the ongoing hostilities. The president said he viewed the operation as a comparatively limited military engagement rather than a full-scale war, a characterization he has made publicly.

“A lot of people don’t call it a war. I call it a military conflict because it’s small potatoes for us. It’s not a big thing. We did Venezuela and we did this. In Venezuela we lost nobody, and in this we lost 18 people. And Vietnam – you lost a hundred thousand people,” he replied.

Vance’s comments came one day after Trump indicated that he did not believe the latest round of fighting with Iran would continue for an extended period.

When asked how long he expected the renewed escalation to last, Trump responded, “Not too long”. He then suggested that Tehran may be approaching the limits of how much additional American military pressure it can absorb.

“I don’t think it will be very much longer. I don’t know how much more they can take,” Trump said of Iran.

Trump also emphasized that Washington remains prepared to carry out additional military action against Iran if circumstances warrant it.

“It was a very heavy attack last night, and we are prepared to do another one anytime we want,” he stressed.

{Matzav.com}

Fox News Media abruptly parted ways with longtime anchor Maria Bartiromo after more than 12 years at the network, a move that came amid reports that she had shared confidential internal editorial guidance with White House officials. Fox itself has publicly described the departure only as a business decision and has not disclosed a specific reason.

The network announced Thursday that Bartiromo was leaving effective immediately, bringing an unexpected end to the veteran financial journalist’s lengthy tenure at Fox News and Fox Business.

“We thank Maria for her work over the last 12 ½ years and wish her all the best on her next chapter,” Fox said.

Fox separately described Bartiromo’s departure as a “business decision.” She had been absent from the air since Aug. 9, according to reports.

Reports about what precipitated her exit have focused on allegations that Bartiromo provided senior White House officials with confidential instructions concerning Fox Business’s editorial coverage. Mediaite reported that the alleged sharing of an internal communication was a factor surrounding her departure.

According to those reports, Fox Business executives instructed producers following President Donald Trump’s July 16 prime-time address not to give credence to certain claims he made concerning China and the 2020 presidential election.

Bartiromo reportedly photographed or captured a screenshot of that internal guidance and forwarded it to officials in the White House.

Fox executives reportedly learned that the confidential information had been shared outside the company after the White House contacted the network.

Variety reported, as cited in the original account, that providing confidential corporate information to an outside party could amount to a breach of an employee’s obligations. Bartiromo’s executive producer, Patrick Ignozzi, also left Fox amid the shakeup; Mediaite confirmed his departure.

Trump’s July speech centered substantially on election security and China.

During the address, Trump alleged that China had obtained information involving approximately 220 million American voters and accused Beijing of attempting to interfere against him during the 2020 presidential election.

Trump described the situation as an “unprecedented election security nightmare,” though some election experts challenged the assertion.

The reported internal instructions at Fox came as the network continues to deal with the repercussions of litigation stemming from its coverage of allegations surrounding the 2020 election.

In 2023, Fox agreed to a $787.5 million settlement with Dominion Voting Systems to resolve the voting technology company’s defamation lawsuit. Bartiromo was among the Fox personalities whose broadcasts were scrutinized during the case.

Fox’s relationship with Trump has shifted considerably over the past decade, including periods of sharp tension surrounding the 2016 and 2020 presidential campaigns and after Trump left office in 2021.

Following Trump’s defeat in the 2020 election, Rupert Murdoch, then chairman of Fox Corp., wrote in an email to a senior executive: “We want to make Trump a non-person.”

When questioned during a 2023 deposition about whether he continued to stand by that remark, Murdoch replied, “I’d still like to.” He also characterized Trump as “mad, maybe clinically.”

For some of Bartiromo’s pro-Trump audience, her abrupt exit has brought renewed attention to other high-profile personalities who have departed Fox over the years.

Fox suddenly parted ways with Tucker Carlson in April 2023, less than a week after reaching its settlement with Dominion Voting Systems.

The network did not provide a detailed public explanation for Carlson’s departure at the time. Subsequent reports pointed to a combination of issues, including internal communications and litigation involving a previous producer.

Media journalist Yashar Ali said Thursday that he did not find Bartiromo’s departure particularly surprising.

Ali wrote: “Maria Bartiromo has learned a lesson that others at Fox News have learned over the years: the patience of the Murdochs is not unlimited, and while they may be conservative and align with Trump in many areas, their ultimate loyalty is only to themselves and their own interests. It’s a lesson Kimberly Guilfoyle, Lou Dobbs, Bill O’Reilly, Tucker Carlson, Roger Ailes, Bill Shine and others have learned the hard way.”

Fox canceled Lou Dobbs’ highly rated Fox Business program in February 2021, shortly after Smartmatic filed a $2.7 billion defamation lawsuit naming Fox as well as Dobbs, Bartiromo and Jeanine Pirro.

Bill O’Reilly, who for years was one of cable television’s highest-rated personalities, departed Fox in 2017 following sexual harassment allegations and reports concerning settlements. O’Reilly denied the allegations.

While the circumstances surrounding those departures varied significantly, the exits of several major personalities have fueled a perception among some conservative viewers that even the network’s most prominent hosts can lose their positions following disputes or tensions with Fox leadership.

Bartiromo’s departure is particularly significant because of the length and prominence of her career at the network.

Before joining Fox in 2014, Bartiromo spent roughly two decades at CNBC, where she rose to national prominence as a business journalist and became known for reporting from the floor of the New York Stock Exchange.

At Fox, she eventually became a prominent interviewer of Trump and senior members of his administration.

Trump publicly came to Bartiromo’s defense Thursday after news of her departure emerged, describing her as a “true warrior” and a “total professional.” In a longer Truth Social post, the president said he could not believe her programs would no longer be airing and predicted that her viewers would be unhappy with the development.

Fox, meanwhile, moved immediately to restructure and rename the programs previously associated with Bartiromo.

“Mornings With Maria” is being changed to “Mornings With Fox Business,” while “Maria Bartiromo’s Wall Street” is being renamed “FBN’s Wall Street.”

Former Utah Rep. Jason Chaffetz is set to temporarily take over hosting duties on “Sunday Morning Futures,” with Fox saying that a permanent host will be announced at a later date.

{Matzav.com}

Preparations for the massive annual Rosh Hashanah gathering in Uman are accelerating, with approximately 2,000 visitors already in the Ukrainian city and tens of thousands more expected in the coming days despite the continuing war. This year’s travelers face a series of additional complications, including problems at a major Polish-Ukrainian border crossing, new European biometric requirements and strict security restrictions in Uman.

According to figures released by the United Jewish Community of Ukraine, approximately 2,000 people have already arrived in Uman and begun preparing for Yom Tov. Organizers expect the total number of visitors to reach approximately 40,000, with participants planning to spend Rosh Hashanah near the kever of Rav Nachman of Breslov despite the ongoing fighting in Ukraine.

Polish authorities, meanwhile, have issued an urgent advisory urging travelers heading to Uman to avoid the Medyka-Shehyni border crossing whenever possible. Extensive infrastructure work currently underway at the crossing has sharply reduced its capacity to accommodate buses, raising concerns about delays lasting many hours and potentially severe congestion. Organizers and travelers are being advised to use alternative crossings, including Korczowa and Budomierz.

Romania is also undertaking extensive preparations for the influx of travelers expected to pass through the country on their way to Ukraine. A large coordination meeting was held Wednesday involving senior Romanian government officials, local police and security agencies, border police, representatives of Israel’s Foreign Ministry and representatives of the Breslov Union in Uman, led by Rav Nosson Ben Nun.

The meeting focused heavily on security arrangements for the journey. Romanian officials reviewed a special operational protocol prepared by representatives of the Breslov Union at the government’s request. Plans include advanced measures to monitor and secure the movement of travelers to and from Uman, along with interpreters, assistance personnel at border crossings and designated rest areas for those making the lengthy trip.

Romania’s Border Police announced that it will substantially increase staffing at multiple crossings in addition to the resources being provided by the Breslov Union along the country’s land border with Ukraine. The additional personnel are intended to speed up processing and reduce the lengthy waits that can develop between Romania and Ukraine. Representatives of the Breslov Union thanked the Romanian government for its cooperation and extensive preparations and agreed to publicize official government instructions to travelers as they are issued.

Another potential source of delays this year is the European Union’s new Entry/Exit System, known as EES, which travelers entering or leaving through EU countries will have to take into account. The computerized system replaces traditional manual passport stamping with an automated digital record of border crossings.

For travelers who do not hold European passports, the new system means additional processing at airports and land crossings. They will be required to scan their biometric passports, provide fingerprints and have facial images taken. Registration takes place at the border itself and does not require advance online enrollment. However, because the biometric procedure can take several minutes for each person, officials are warning that it could produce substantial congestion and further delays during an already exceptionally busy travel period.

Once travelers reach Uman, they will encounter stringent security regulations imposed because of the continuing war. Ukrainian authorities have made clear that the restrictions will be strictly enforced. A complete nighttime curfew will be in effect from midnight until 4 a.m., and vehicles will be permitted to travel during those hours only when directly escorted by Ukrainian police.

Local police have also imposed a series of additional restrictions for the Rosh Hashanah period. Firecrackers, pyrotechnics and lasers are completely prohibited, while motorized transportation devices including electric scooters, scooters, ATVs and three-wheeled vehicles may not be used throughout the area surrounding the kever. Visitors must carry their passports at all times and immediately comply with instructions from Ukrainian security personnel. Anyone who hears an air-raid siren is required to enter a shelter without delay.

Authorities are also imposing a complete prohibition on possessing, selling or consuming alcoholic beverages in the vicinity of the kever. Knives, sharp objects, weapons and even toys or replicas resembling firearms or explosives are forbidden. Law-enforcement officials have warned that violations of the security regulations will be met with zero tolerance.

Ukrainian authorities are additionally warning travelers to be alert for scams involving the local tourism tax. The country’s State Agency for Tourism Development said fraudulent operators have been attempting to obtain payments from visitors under the guise of collecting the required tax.

Officials stressed that the tourism tax should be paid exclusively through bank accounts officially authorized by the Uman City Council, including the official payment website established by the Ichud Breslov in Uman. Travelers are being urged not to transfer money to unauthorized individuals or organizations seeking to exploit the large influx of Rosh Hashanah visitors.

{Matzav.com}

A routine evening at Washington Dulles International Airport turned into an unexpected family reunion when a father and daughter — both professional airline pilots — recognized each other over the air traffic control frequency while preparing to fly separate aircraft.

The Sept. 1 encounter involved the father aboard United Airlines Flight 108 and his daughter aboard CommuteAir Flight 4977, according to additional reports about the exchange. United 108 was a Boeing 787 preparing to fly to Munich, while the daughter’s United Express flight, operated by CommuteAir with an Embraer E145, was bound for Syracuse.

The encounter apparently began when the daughter recognized her father’s voice as he communicated with controllers at Dulles.

“Pops?,” the daughter said. She was flying a CommuteAir flight.

Her father immediately recognized her, asking where she was. She told him she was preparing to depart from Runway 1R and wished him safe travels. The entire exchange lasted only about 45 seconds, but others on the frequency quickly realized that they were listening to a father and daughter who had unexpectedly crossed paths at work.

“So you daughter is a pilot, aren’t you a proud papa?” another person chimes in on audio.

“Sort of,” the father responds.

LISTEN:

https://matzav.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/VIDEO-2026-09-04-11-01-03.mp4

The teasing did not end there. The father confirmed that his daughter no longer lives at home, but acknowledged that one important financial connection to her parents remains: She is still on the family’s cellphone plan.

Another person on the frequency joked that the daughter should not be removed from her father’s phone plan until she gets married, saying that he himself had remained on his mother’s plan until his wedding. The daughter, who was still listening from her cockpit, then jumped back into the conversation to announce that she was single.

The brief family banter ended soon afterward, and both pilots returned to the business of operating their respective flights.

The recording subsequently spread online, where the unusual father-daughter encounter drew attention for bringing a distinctly personal moment to the normally technical and tightly controlled world of air traffic communications.

Dulles International Airport later shared the exchange with the caption, “POV: You run into your dad at work.” The airport characterized the encounter as a “family reunion on the runway,” while United Airlines joined the fun with its own response: “Now boarding: A forever family phone plan.”

The additional details made the coincidence even more remarkable. The father and daughter were not merely working at the same airport. They were piloting different aircraft for separate flights to different destinations — one headed across the Atlantic to Munich and the other to Syracuse — and happened to be monitoring the same radio frequency at precisely the right moment.

For two pilots accustomed to spending their working lives traveling between cities and airports, the unexpected meeting lasted less than a minute. But one familiar voice over the radio was enough to turn ordinary air traffic chatter into a memorable family moment — and to remind a father that even a daughter old enough to fly a commercial airliner can apparently still remain on Dad’s phone plan.

{Matzav.com}

Rabbonim in Bnei Brak are calling on residents to participate in a large demonstration this coming Shabbos against a business operating in the city on Shabbos, warning that the situation represents a serious threat to the longstanding character of the overwhelmingly religious city.

The city’s rabbonim and community rabbonim described the opening of the business as “a serious breach in the walls of the city, the likes of which has not occurred in decades.”

According to a notice distributed to residents, efforts were initially made to resolve the matter through legal channels and by approaching the relevant authorities. After those attempts failed to bring about the closure of the business on Shabbos, organizers decided to proceed with a public demonstration.

The protest is scheduled to take place late Shabbos afternoon, shortly before Shabbos ends. Residents have been encouraged to daven at earlier minyanim and then make their way to the demonstration at approximately 7 p.m.

At the same time, Gerrer Chassidim are making arrangements for organized transportation from Bnei Brak to Yerushalayim following the demonstration. The buses will bring participants to the Gerrer beis medrash for the first Selichos.

The rabbonim are urging residents to join the demonstration in an effort to prevent the business from continuing to operate on Shabbos, describing the campaign as a battle to preserve both the religious character of Bnei Brak and the sanctity of Shabbos.

An audio announcement circulated throughout the city stated: “Important announcement in light of the call of the city’s rabbonim. Since recently there has been a serious breach in the walls of Shemiras Shabbos in our city of Bnei Brak, the likes of which has not occurred in decades, with the opening of a business in the city, and after attempts were made through all legal avenues and all relevant possibilities, to no avail, and the business continues in its defiance, there is great concern that additional businesses will open throughout the area. This must not happen.

“Therefore, with Hashem’s help, the city’s residents who are chareidim lidvar Hashem will go out this holy Shabbos, Parshas Nitzavim-Vayeilech, toward sunset, shortly before the conclusion of Shabbos, to the location in question, to protest in the way of the Torah for the honor of the holy Shabbos that is being trampled publicly. We ask members of our community who are able, particularly the younger avreichim, to come and participate.”

{Matzav.com}

An emotional scene unfolded in London when the Vizhnitz-London Rebbe paid a special visit to Ahuvim, an institution serving special-needs bochurim, spending considerable time encouraging its students ahead of the Yomim Noraim.

While Rebbes are especially busy during this period receiving their Chassidim and preparing their communities for the approaching Yomim Noraim, the Vizhnitz-London Rebbe set aside time for a lengthy visit to the institution, where he offered warmth and encouragement to its students.

During his visit, the Rebbe spoke to the bochurim about the extraordinary value of their pure neshamos and the power of their heartfelt tefillos. He then joined the children and bochurim in singing traditional niggunim of the Yomim Noraim, creating an atmosphere of joy and spiritual elevation.

The students subsequently passed before the Rebbe individually to receive his brocha for a shana tovah. The Rebbe presented each of them with honey as he wished them blessing and success for the coming year.

The most emotional moment, however, came as the Rebbe prepared to leave. Rather than departing surrounded by his gabbaim in the customary manner, the Rebbe chose to walk out accompanied by one of the institution’s special-needs students, taking the young man by the hand as they walked together.

Rav Yosef Koren, one of the administrators of Ahuvim, described the unforgettable scene and the reaction of the student’s mother.

“This young man is his parents’ oldest son. His mother, who was standing at the time in the women’s section and saw the Rebbe walking hand in hand with her oldest son while openly showering him with affection, burst into tears from emotion,” Koren recalled.

{Matzav.com}

In a rare encounter in Meah Shearim, the Toldos Aharon Rebbe visited the home of his brother, the Toldos Avrohom Yitzchok Rebbe, where the two held a private conversation lasting an hour and a half ahead of Rosh Hashanah.

The Toldos Aharon Rebbe came to his brother’s home to exchange brachos, with each Rebbe offering his brachos to the other for the approaching new year.

The Toldos Avrohom Yitzchok Rebbe’s regular kabbolas kahal was halted for the visit, allowing the two brothers to speak privately for approximately 90 minutes. No gabbaim or other close attendants were present during their conversation.

At the conclusion of the lengthy meeting, an unusual scene unfolded. In a gesture considered particularly rare in recent years, the Toldos Avrohom Yitzchok Rebbe personally accompanied his brother all the way to the exit.

The two Rebbes then parted after warmly exchanging brachos for the coming year.

{Matzav.com}

U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee has again denounced Israelis who carry out hate crimes in Yehudah and Shomron as “terrorists,” warning that their actions are inflicting serious damage on Israel’s reputation in the United States, including among Republicans and younger Americans.

Speaking in an interview with Kan Reshet Bet’s “This Morning” program, Huckabee said such incidents are harming the way Israel is viewed both as a country and as a people. He described the situation as particularly unfortunate at a time when Israel needs as many friends as possible and can ill afford to create additional enemies.

Huckabee’s comments came after Israelis who allegedly set fire to a mosque in the village of Bazariya in Shomron spray-painted a message on the building reading, “Huckabee, regards from the terrorists.”

The ambassador said he was not personally intimidated by the graffiti but stressed that he regards the broader phenomenon as extremely serious. He warned that the damage being done to Israel’s image in the United States is substantial and extends even into Republican circles.

Huckabee also expressed concern about the effect such incidents could have on younger Americans who hear reports about violence carried out by Israelis against Palestinians.

The ambassador has previously used similarly forceful language to condemn such violence. Last month, he referred to Jewish rioters who surrounded residents in the village of Qusra as “Israeli terrorists.”

Turning to the ongoing confrontation with Iran, Huckabee said the Islamic Republic has been left in an extraordinarily weakened military and economic position as a result of actions taken by President Donald Trump.

Huckabee also rejected suggestions that Trump has pushed the Iranian nuclear threat aside while concentrating primarily on the Strait of Hormuz. He said the president has never indicated that he intends to ignore Iran’s decades-long threats against the United States.

The ambassador noted that Iran has spent 47-and-a-half years threatening “death to America,” arguing that such a threat is something the United States simply cannot afford to disregard.

{Matzav.com}

Dozens of police officers raided several locations in Yavne’el on Thursday morning as part of an ongoing investigation into suspected marriages involving minors in violation of Israeli law. Sixteen minors and adults from their immediate circles were detained for questioning during the operation.

According to police, investigators suspect that some of those involved were married recently despite being under the legal age, while in other cases preparations were already underway for allegedly illegal wedding ceremonies.

Thursday’s raids are the latest stage in an investigation that police have been conducting for several months into the alleged practice, which authorities say is occurring within a small, closed community centered primarily in Yavne’el.

Several weeks ago, Northern District police detained more than 20 additional suspects in the town as part of the investigation into alleged underage marriages.

Police say those involved have developed methods intended to make the ceremonies difficult for authorities to locate or document. According to investigators, some weddings are held during the morning hours with only a small number of participants, while the location of the ceremony is kept secret until shortly beforehand.

Authorities also allege that photography and the use of cellphones or other electronic devices are sometimes prohibited during the ceremonies in an effort to prevent evidence of the marriage from being recorded.

According to police, in some cases a larger gathering is held after the religious marriage ceremony, attended by relatives and numerous guests. That subsequent celebration is publicly presented as an “engagement party,” authorities said.

Police said the investigation is continuing in cooperation with other law-enforcement and welfare agencies. Authorities said the operation is aimed at preventing additional underage marriages and determining the involvement of each of the suspects.

Police added that they will continue taking action against offenses that harm minors and other vulnerable individuals, including cases in which minors are married in violation of the law.

{Matzav.com}

Israel Police spokesman Cmdr. Aryeh Doron is facing an internal disciplinary review over highly critical remarks he made about Democrats chairman Yair Golan, including describing him as one of Israel’s greatest enemies, according to a report by i24NEWS.

The Israel Police disciplinary division opened the review Thursday, several months after Doron made the comments during a radio interview.

The decision follows a petition filed with the High Court of Justice last month seeking to compel the police to initiate disciplinary proceedings against Doron. Police authorities decided to begin their own review before the court issued a ruling on the petition.

The controversy dates back to a June interview Doron gave to Galei Israel Radio. During the appearance, the police spokesman sharply criticized Golan over comments the opposition politician had made concerning the Israel Police commissioner and the head of the Shin Bet.

“His statement sounds like the statement of one of the greatest enemies of Israel, who harms Israel’s heroes,” Doron said during the interview.

Doron continued his criticism by accusing Golan of having “fallen in love with the approach of attacking those who wear the uniform,” while asserting that his objective was to “scrape together votes.”

Referring to other statements Golan had made in the past, Doron also said that the Democrats chairman “should be ashamed and disgraced.”

Doron sought to clarify his comments shortly after the interview and announced that he was retracting them. The remarks, however, resurfaced following the High Court petition and will now be at the center of the disciplinary review being conducted by the Israel Police.

{Matzav.com}

The delegation of Chassidishe Rebbes a rosh yeshiva and communal representatives who met President Donald Trump yesterday personally thanked him for accommodations made for the frum community during the COVID era.

During the Oval Office gathering yesterday, the Satmar Rebbe of Kiryas Yoel expressed appreciation to Trump for his efforts that helped allow batei medrash and Jewish institutions to reopen during the pandemic. The Rebbe stressed the importance that the reopening had for restoring Torah learning, tefillah and communal religious life at a time when religious institutions faced extensive restrictions. Other accounts of the meeting also reported that the Rebbe thanked Trump for his role in helping reopen batei medrash and institutions during COVID.

The delegation brought together prominent rabbinic leaders representing some of the largest Chareidi communities in New York and New Jersey. Participants included the two Satmar Rebbes, the Bobover Rebbe, the Vizhnitzer Rebbe of Monsey, Rav Malkiel Kotler, rosh yeshiva of Beth Medrash Govoha in Lakewood, and Rav Aharon Mendel Twersky, who attended on behalf of his father, the Skverer Rebbe.

Among the communal representatives who participated were Reb Gedalia Segedin and a number of other askanim. The visit included discussions with senior administration officials in the Roosevelt Room before the delegation proceeded to the Oval Office to meet Trump. Vice President J.D. Vance also joined the earlier discussions.

One of the major domestic concerns brought before administration officials involved the kosher food available to Jewish inmates in federal prisons. Members of the delegation described difficulties faced by frum prisoners who rely on the kosher meals supplied by correctional institutions and explained that kosher meat and other products can cost considerably more than the government’s ordinary daily food allowance for each inmate.

To address the problem, the delegation presented a proposal under which prepared kosher meals could be produced in commercial kitchens in Kiryas Yoel. The community has facilities capable of preparing food in large quantities, potentially allowing meals for Jewish inmates to be supplied at a cost near the government’s existing food allocation.

Supporters of the proposal said such an arrangement could provide Jewish prisoners with suitable kosher meals without requiring the federal government to assume dramatically higher food costs. The Kiryas Yoel kosher-meal proposal was among the prison-related matters discussed with Vance and administration officials.

The discussion also turned to vaccination policies affecting children and Jewish schools in New York. The delegation stressed that its concerns should not be interpreted as opposition to vaccination itself. Rather, participants said their objections centered on vaccination schedules and the practical difficulties that existing requirements have created for schools and families.

The representatives thanked Trump for a newly introduced childhood vaccination protocol that reduced the number of shots administered during individual well visits. Some Satmar schools had previously faced fines from New York State over compliance with vaccination requirements, and the delegation said the revised approach would be significantly more workable for schools and the families they serve.

New York politics also came up during the Oval Office conversation. Trump asked the rabbinic leaders about voting patterns in the state and why Democratic candidates continue receiving substantial support in some Chareidi communities.

The response, according to participants, was that the community approaches politics pragmatically. Chareidi voters alone cannot determine the outcome of every state legislative or congressional race, they explained, requiring community leaders to maintain working relationships with the officials who hold power in Albany and Washington. Their political engagement, they said, is therefore often driven by communal needs and practical considerations rather than exclusively by party affiliation.

Trump also reportedly asked the Satmar Rebbes about Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. According to Segedin’s account, Jared Kushner, who was present, signaled that the Satmar leadership generally does not involve itself with Israeli political leaders. Public accounts confirm that Kushner participated in the Oval Office meeting at Trump’s request, although the specific exchange concerning Netanyahu has not been independently confirmed in the reports reviewed.

Another major subject was the continuing controversy over the military draft of Chareidi yeshiva students in Israel. The rabbinic leaders signed an appeal asking Trump to intervene on religious-freedom grounds on behalf of yeshiva students facing conscription. The letter also addressed American-Israeli dual citizens who have faced arrests or travel restrictions in connection with their draft status. Reports of the meeting confirm that the draft issue was raised directly with Trump.

Rav Malkiel Kotler personally presented the president with a letter during the Oval Office meeting.

Participants also described the preparation Trump and his staff had undertaken before receiving the delegation. According to their account, the president had briefing cards containing photographs and background information about the individual Rebbes and roshei yeshiva and the communities they represented. Those present said the preparation demonstrated that the White House had familiarized itself with the delegation before the meeting.

Trump was also told about the strong electoral support he had received in some of the communities represented at the meeting. Participants told him that he had received approximately 98% of the vote in Kiryas Yoel and 100% in New Square. The same figures were reported in an independent account of the gathering.

Before the full delegation entered the Oval Office, Rav Aharon Teitelbaum met privately with Trump for approximately 10 minutes, accompanied by Segedin. Their conversation focused on pidyon shvuyim, the Chareidi draft crisis in Israel and other pressing communal matters.

The rest of the rabbinic delegation then joined them. During the meeting, Rav Aharon recited Hanosein Teshuah, the traditional prayer for the welfare of the government, while Segedin translated its meaning into English for Trump. Trump requested that Jared Kushner join the gathering, saying that he “has to be here” with such distinguished guests.

The preservation of Jewish cemeteries and kevarim in Europe was another issue presented during the White House visit. Members of the delegation described historic Jewish burial grounds that have suffered from neglect, vandalism or deterioration and sought American assistance in protecting them.

The delegation noted the importance of preserving cemeteries containing the graves of generations of European Jews, including prominent rabbonim and ancestors of today’s Jewish communities. Rav Kotler specifically raised concerns involving the historic Jewish cemetery in Vilna, while other participants discussed threatened cemeteries in Poland.

The representatives also pointed to efforts undertaken by previous U.S. administrations to protect Jewish burial sites and asked the Trump administration to continue supporting such initiatives.

For the delegation, the matter was presented as more than historical preservation. Protecting the burial grounds was described as an obligation of kavod hameis and an effort to safeguard Jewish cemeteries that remain vulnerable throughout parts of Europe.

Participants said the atmosphere inside the White House was markedly different from the political debate that had surrounded the visit beforehand. The planned gathering had generated criticism from some political activists, particularly over the participation of Satmar leaders.

Inside the meetings, however, participants described the atmosphere as cordial and respectful. The discussions centered on specific concerns affecting Jewish communities, with Trump, Vance and other officials engaging with the delegation on the issues presented. Other published accounts similarly described the Oval Office meeting as warm and cordial.

Those involved expressed hope afterward that the unusual access to the president and senior administration officials would ultimately translate into practical results, particularly on matters affecting frum prisoners, religious institutions, yeshivos and Jewish families.

The delegation viewed the gathering as an opportunity extending beyond the symbolism of prominent Rebbes and roshei yeshiva sitting in the Oval Office. Its members sought to use the meeting to present specific communal concerns directly to the highest levels of the federal government.

Participants said the rabbinic leaders represented communities comprising more than 250,000 Jews.

{Matzav.com}