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A sweeping new initiative is transforming financial support for Skverer avreichim, with hundreds of the community’s philanthropists joining together to directly double the monthly stipends of approximately 1,000 bnei Torah who devote themselves to full-time learning.

The program is structured around a large-scale Yissachar-Zevulun partnership. Under the arrangement, each participating supporter personally partners with a ben Torah and provides funding that effectively doubles the avreich’s regular monthly kollel stipend.

The makeup of the Skverer community has helped make the ambitious program possible. Approximately one-third of the residents are described as bnei Torah, while another third are financially capable of supporting the initiative, creating a structure through which organizers believe every participating avreich can ultimately be matched with a sponsor.

The initiative has received strong backing from the Skverer Rebbe. After returning from a period of rest in Malibu, California, the Rebbe delivered a rare “holy proclamation” on Friday night before thousands of Chassidim, strongly encouraging participation in the program.

During his remarks, the Rebbe invoked the legacy of his father, the previous Skverer Rebbe, who frequently emphasized the tremendous significance of a Yissachar-Zevulun partnership. The Rebbe also cited the ruling of the Shulchan Aruch that the merit received by the supporter is considered “as if he himself is learning.”

The initiative has gained considerable momentum in recent weeks. At the “Amudei Olam” dinners held throughout Skver, wealthy supporters responded enthusiastically, with numerous negidim seeking to participate personally in the partnerships.

In recognition of those who have already joined, a massive sign was hung this past Shabbos inside the main bais medrash in Skver listing the names of approximately 1,000 supporters who have committed themselves to the initiative.

Alongside each donor’s name, the sign identifies the particular kollel in which he is effectively “learning” through his partnership with an avreich.

One particularly notable participant is philanthropist Reb Nochum Zalman Rokeach of Lakewood, who established partnerships with 19 avreichim. Through those partnerships, he has effectively become a “learner” across all of the Skverer kollel branches and numerous areas of Torah study, ranging from iyun and bekius to hora’ah and Choshen Mishpat.

The unprecedented initiative is already attracting attention beyond Skver. Other Chassidishe communities in the United States and Europe are reportedly following its progress closely, with the possibility that the model could eventually be replicated throughout the Chassidish world and later introduced in Eretz Yisroel as well.

Meanwhile, a significant new development has emerged in Skver’s massive construction project. At the direction of the Skverer Rebbe, a large new building will be erected on the site of the old bais medrash, containing both a “Heichal HaShulchanos” and a “Heichal HaTorah.” The expansion will push back completion of the new main bais medrash complex by approximately one year.

The decision followed an engineering assessment conducted last week after part of the roof over the ezras noshim in the old bais medrash collapsed. Engineers determined that the existing structure could no longer safely remain standing and would have to be demolished in its entirety.

Following that determination, members of the committee overseeing construction considered several possibilities for the newly available property. After the plans were presented and received the Rebbe’s bracha, the decision was made to use the site for another major building serving the Chassidus, featuring the two primary spaces — the “Heichal HaShulchanos” and the “Heichal HaTorah.”

{Matzav.com}

Thousands of Breslover Chassidim could spend Rosh Hashanah in Meron this year instead of traveling to Uman, as the ongoing crackdown on Chareidi draft-status violations threatens to prevent large numbers of men from leaving Eretz Yisroel for the annual kibbutz at the kever of Rav Nachman of Breslov.

Organizers are therefore making extensive preparations for a significantly expanded Rosh Hashanah gathering at the kever of Rav Shimon Bar Yochai in Meron, providing an alternative for those who are unable to make the trip to Uman.

The preparations come amid the continuing controversy surrounding the IDF draft and the arrests of Chareidim classified by the military as draft evaders. Hundreds of Breslover Chassidim could face difficulties leaving Eretz Yisroel because of their draft status, potentially preventing them from traveling to Ukraine for Rosh Hashanah.

In previous years, groups of Breslover Chassidim who were unable to reach Uman spent Rosh Hashanah in Meron instead. This year, however, Breslov officials believe the number could increase dramatically because of restrictions on leaving the country and concerns among Chassidim about encountering difficulties at the airport or border.

A special committee has been established in recent days to oversee preparations for the central Rosh Hashanah gathering in Meron. Organizers have also opened an orderly registration system for accommodations so that the necessary infrastructure can be prepared according to the expected turnout.

Plans include setting up large lodging areas for the Chassidim as well as an expansive tent where the Rosh Hashanah seudah will be served. Organizers are also preparing large areas for tefillos capable of accommodating the potentially substantial number of mispallelim expected in Meron.

Those overseeing the operation are preparing for the possibility that thousands of Breslover Chassidim will ultimately spend Rosh Hashanah in Meron. Early registration is intended to allow organizers to properly arrange food, accommodations, tefillos and other necessities for those who cannot travel to Uman and instead choose Meron for Yom Tov.

Despite the preparations in Meron, organizers stressed that the longstanding aspiration of Breslover Chassidim remains to spend Rosh Hashanah at the kever of Rav Nachman in Uman.

According to organizers, there is “a constant expectation and prayer among the public to be able to physically arrive in Uman,” and they “hope for all obstacles to be removed.”

Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman is calling on New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani to skip the upcoming 25th anniversary commemoration of the Sept. 11 terror attacks at Ground Zero, arguing that their presence would cause additional pain for members of the 9/11 community.

Blakeman, the Republican candidate running against Hochul in November, told Newsmax’s “National Report” that he sympathizes with current and retired Port Authority police officers and other first responders who have asked the two Democratic officials not to attend the ceremony. Should Hochul and Mamdani appear despite those objections, Blakeman said attendees should respond with a peaceful demonstration.

“Hopefully they won’t go, but if they do, turn your back on them,” Blakeman said.

The Port Authority Retired Police Association, which represents approximately 600 members, sent letters dated Aug. 14 urging both Hochul and Mamdani to stay away from the Ground Zero commemoration. The organization pointed to Mamdani’s history of statements and positions regarding law enforcement, as well as Hochul’s decision to illuminate One World Trade Center in recognition of Muslim American Heritage Month. The group suggested that Mamdani commemorate the anniversary through a written statement, public message or separate event instead.

Hochul and Mamdani have both indicated that they intend to attend. Hochul’s office said the governor respects the 9/11 families and noted that Muslim New Yorkers were among the first responders on Sept. 11, maintaining that combating anti-Muslim bigotry does not conflict with honoring those murdered in the attacks. Mamdani has said he intends to pay tribute to the victims, survivors and first responders during the ceremony.

For Blakeman, the controversy carries a deeply personal dimension. He was serving as a Port Authority commissioner when the attacks occurred and lost his nephew, New York state court officer Thomas Jurgens, in the collapse of the South Tower.

“On that day, we lost 37 police officers. We’ve lost more since then with 9/11-related illnesses,” Blakeman said. “And I lost my nephew on 9/11. He was one of the court officers evacuating the South Tower, giving first aid to a woman who was severely burned. When my nephew was killed, he was murdered by the perpetrators of the attack on 9/11. So this is personal to me. I lost a lot of friends and colleagues from the Port Authority.”

Blakeman also attacked Mamdani’s record on law enforcement, accusing the mayor of failing to stand behind police officers and criticizing his handling of controversy surrounding the phrase “global intifada.”

“He doesn’t respond to the issues that are important to law enforcement. He doesn’t back the blue. He’s someone who wants to defund our police,” Blakeman said.

A total of 2,977 people were killed in the Sept. 11 attacks, including 441 first responders, according to the National September 11 Memorial & Museum. Among those killed were 37 Port Authority police officers, representing the greatest single-day loss ever suffered by an American police department.

Blakeman argued that the wishes of relatives of those killed in the attacks should be given priority when determining who attends the annual Ground Zero ceremony.

“If the families of those who were murdered on that day don’t want you to attend, it’s like a wake,” he said. “If you’re asked not to attend a wake, you shouldn’t attend a wake. If the family doesn’t want you there, you shouldn’t go.”

Hochul is campaigning for a second full term as governor in the Nov. 3 election. Blakeman, who has led Nassau County as county executive since 2022, has made crime, public safety and his opposition to Mamdani’s policies major issues in his campaign to unseat her.

President Trump scored a victory at the Supreme Court on Monday as the justices ruled that construction of his planned White House ballroom may continue, rejecting an effort to halt the massive project.

In a 5-4 decision, the court turned aside a challenge brought by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, which had sought to stop work on the ballroom, a project expected to cost at least $400 million.

The court’s unsigned majority opinion concluded that the National Trust likely lacks the legal standing necessary to pursue its challenge in federal court.

The ruling allows construction on the ballroom to proceed after work on the project had already been underway at the White House.

The justices, however, did not decide the broader question at the heart of the dispute: whether President Trump has the legal authority to undertake the construction project without first obtaining approval from Congress. The National Trust had argued that the absence of congressional authorization made the project unlawful and warranted stopping construction.

“Today, we do not pass upon the legality of the government’s East Wing project. We conclude only that, based on the submissions before us, the government is likely to prevail in showing that the Trust lacks … standing to challenge the project in federal court,” the court said.

Chief Justice John Roberts broke with the court’s other conservatives and joined the three liberal justices in dissent, going further than the majority by asserting that the ongoing construction is likely illegal.

“Construction of the ballroom has proceeded apace for the better part of a year. That construction is likely unlawful,” Roberts wrote.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump was sending a pointed warning to Tehran when he posted on social media about Iran’s vital Kharg Island energy hub being destroyed, Vice President JD Vance said Monday, even as U.S. officials confirmed that American forces had not attacked the island.

“The president likes to switch it up on social ⁠media a little bit. He would be the first to say he doesn’t make announcements about ⁠military actions on social media, but I think that he’s sending a message to the Iranians,” Vance said when questioned about Trump’s post.

Trump published the brief message Sunday along with an AI-generated video depicting the destruction of Kharg Island. A U.S. official said Monday that the island had not been targeted during American military strikes overnight, while an Iranian official characterized Trump’s post as “laughable.”

Kharg Island is a critical component of Iran’s oil infrastructure and handled roughly 90% of the country’s oil exports before the war began with U.S. and Israeli strikes on Feb. 28. An attack on the facility could severely cripple Iran’s ability to export oil and place enormous additional strain on the country’s economy.

The U.S. did, however, carry out military strikes against Iranian targets in what an American official described as the first known U.S. attacks since late July. According to the official, American forces struck two Iranian launchers located on Larak Island.

{Matzav.com}

Israel’s Health Ministry announced Monday evening that it is investigating a new suspected case of Ebola involving an individual who recently returned to the country from the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

The person arrived back in Israel several days ago and subsequently developed a fever along with other symptoms, prompting the individual to seek medical attention. Health officials stressed that Ebola has not been confirmed and that laboratory testing is now underway.

“The individual, who returned to Israel several days ago, sought medical treatment after developing a fever and additional symptoms. At this stage, this is only a suspected case, and the necessary tests are currently being conducted. The test results are expected to be received in the coming days. The individual will be treated under isolation conditions in accordance with the professional protocols established for dealing with high-risk infectious diseases and will be transferred to Ichilov Medical Center, which has been designated as one of the centers equipped to receive suspected cases of this kind,” the Ministry said.

While awaiting the test results, the patient will remain under strict isolation protocols intended for suspected cases involving highly dangerous infectious diseases.

The Health Ministry is also conducting an epidemiological investigation in accordance with its established procedures to determine who may have come into relevant contact with the individual and identify any additional measures that may be necessary.

Israeli authorities carried out a large-scale enforcement campaign across Judea and Samaria over the past two days, demolishing illegal structures in Area C that officials said posed security and environmental concerns, including construction near the security fence and an important archaeological site.

The first operation took place Sunday in the village of Shuweika, north of Tulkarm, where forces from the Efraim District Coordination and Liaison office entered the area together with the Civil Administration’s Supervision Unit. IDF soldiers from the regional brigade provided security for the operation.

Authorities targeted unauthorized structures that had been erected immediately adjacent to the security fence near the Israeli communities of Bahan and Bat Hefer.

According to defense officials, the construction was carried out in Area C despite an existing order prohibiting building at the location. Officials said the unauthorized structures created an immediate security and safety concern because of their proximity to the fence and nearby Israeli communities.

Enforcement operations shifted to the Binyamin region the following day, with personnel from the Binyamin District Coordination and Liaison office joining the Supervision Unit and regional brigade forces for an operation near Birzeit.

During that operation, authorities demolished illegally constructed infrastructure in the Wadi Zeytun, also known as Ein Obeid, archaeological area in Area C.

The construction had been erected near the ancient road leading to Jerusalem and beneath the historic Khirbit Tarfon site, an archaeological location dating back to the First and Second Bais Hamikdash periods.

The IDF, Civil Administration and other security agencies said enforcement actions against unauthorized construction would continue throughout the region as part of an ongoing effort to uphold law and order.

Officials said authorities would particularly focus on illegal construction deemed to pose threats to security, public safety or stability in Judea and Samaria.

Election officials are raising concerns about the growing number of mail-in ballots reaching election offices after state deadlines, with recent primary results showing a sharp increase in late-ballot rejections as the November midterm elections approach.

Data obtained by The New York Times from 12 states found that ballots arriving too late to be counted represented an increasing portion of rejected mail votes during recent primary elections.

Several of the states included in the data are home to closely contested congressional and statewide races that could play a role in determining which party controls Congress following the November elections.

In Wisconsin, approximately 5,000 mail ballots arrived too late to be counted during the state’s spring primary. Those ballots represented 78% of all rejected mail-in votes.

The numbers marked a significant increase from the comparable 2023 election, when approximately 2,300 late-arriving ballots were rejected, accounting for 47% of discarded mail votes.

Michigan experienced a similar increase during its August primary. More than 10,000 mail ballots arrived after the state’s 8 p.m. Election Day cutoff and were rejected, nearly double the number discarded for arriving late in 2024.

Washington state, meanwhile, recorded more than 20,000 ballots that arrived after the applicable deadline, compared with approximately 16,000 during the comparable previous period.

The U.S. Postal Service says it generally delivers more than 95% of mail ballots on time. Nevertheless, concerns about ballot delivery have increased amid financial pressures, operational changes and reports of slower service in certain parts of the country. The issue is particularly significant in states requiring election officials to receive ballots by Election Day.

“There are any number of factors that may impact the timeliness of a returned ballot,” the Postal Service said in a statement. “As such, our consistent message to voters who choose to vote by mail is to mail early.”

Adding to the concerns is a USPS policy that went into effect in December clarifying how postmarks are assigned. Under the policy, a postmark may indicate the date a piece of mail reaches a processing facility rather than the date a voter actually deposited it in a mailbox.

Election specialists have warned that the difference could become important for ballots sent shortly before Election Day, particularly for voters in rural areas located far from regional postal processing facilities.

Fourteen states currently permit ballots postmarked by Election Day to be received and counted after Election Day. In June, the Supreme Court ruled 5-4 that federal law does not bar states from providing those post-election grace periods, leaving the policies in place ahead of the Nov. 3 midterms.

Another legal battle centers on an executive order issued by President Donald Trump and a Postal Service regulation requiring states to turn over certain voter information and comply with federal standards governing ballot envelopes.

U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani temporarily halted the rule Thursday, concluding that states were likely to suffer irreparable harm from requirements that would be practically impossible to put into effect before the midterm elections. A hearing on the dispute is scheduled for Sept. 3, while the administration is appealing the ruling.

Election officials in several states are taking additional steps aimed at reducing the likelihood that mail ballots will arrive too late. Colorado, for example, has expanded the number of ballot drop boxes in the state by 78% since 2018.

Wisconsin officials are similarly advising voters who are concerned about postal delivery times to use ballot drop boxes where available, cast their ballots early or place mail ballots into the postal system well ahead of Election Day.

Washington elections director Stuart Holmes said the concerns are not directed at individual postal workers, but at the reliability of the broader delivery system.

“The Postal Service, these are great people, hard-working people,” Holmes said. “But their operation has become unreliable.

{Matzav.com}

Dear Matzav Inbox,

It was a beautiful summer afternoon several weeks ago when I took a walk with my children through southern Crown Heights. The birds were chirping, the sun was shining, and the neighborhood was peaceful.

Then, as we approached the intersection of Clarkson Avenue and Albany Avenue, that tranquility was suddenly shattered by the deafening sounds of heavy construction. The noise was impossible to ignore. I looked toward the construction site and was stunned by the sheer scale of what was being built.

I later began researching the project at 681 Clarkson Avenue and was deeply troubled by what I learned. The massive development is slated to contain 1,081 units, including supportive housing intended to serve people struggling with mental illness, substance abuse and homelessness.

Whatever one’s views on the need to provide services and housing for vulnerable New Yorkers, a project of this extraordinary size raises serious questions for the surrounding community. What will be the impact of concentrating such a large supportive-housing population in one location? What safeguards will be put in place? What additional policing, sanitation, medical services and other resources will be provided? And what has been done to ensure that the surrounding families and residents will not bear the consequences of decisions made without adequate community input?

As a parent raising children here, these questions concern me deeply.

Crown Heights is our home. Families have invested their lives in this neighborhood. Children walk these streets to school and shul. Residents deserve to know what such an enormous project will mean for public safety, quality of life and the future character of the community.

And 681 Clarkson Avenue does not exist in a vacuum. Residents are already watching additional homeless and supportive-housing facilities expand in and around the neighborhood. At the same time, new bike lanes and other street changes are eliminating badly needed parking, while the anticipated Albany Avenue MTA bus route threatens to place still more pressure on streets already struggling to accommodate residents, businesses and traffic.

At some point, residents have a right to ask: How much can one neighborhood reasonably be expected to absorb?

Perhaps most disturbing has been the relative silence surrounding these changes. Where is the public discussion? Where are the community meetings? Where are our elected officials and local leaders demanding answers about the cumulative effect these projects will have on Crown Heights?

This is not an argument that people struggling with homelessness, addiction or mental illness should be abandoned. They need help, treatment and appropriate housing. But compassion does not require concentrating enormous numbers of vulnerable individuals in one neighborhood without addressing the legitimate concerns of the families already living there.

The construction is moving forward. The changes to our streets are moving forward. Once these decisions are implemented, reversing them may be exceedingly difficult.

Crown Heights residents therefore need to start asking questions now — loudly, respectfully and persistently. Our elected officials and community leaders should tell us exactly what is planned, what protections are being put into place, and why so much is being concentrated in this particular area.

Silence is not a plan for the future of Crown Heights.

A Concerned Resident

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With Tishrei approaching, thousands of travelers will be making their way to and from Israel for Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur and Sukkos. Chaim V’Chessed offers the following important reminders to help ensure a smooth journey.

Travelers Insurance

Every holiday season,  Chaim V’Chessed  is contacted by travelers to or from Israel, who encounter a medical crisis and discover that they do not have sufficient medical insurance.

It cannot be emphasized enough that both Israelis traveling abroad and visitors to Israel must obtain appropriate travelers insurance before traveling.

Customs

Travelers entering Israel should be aware of customs regulations. The duty-free allowance for gifts is $200 per person. Items exceeding the allowance should be declared.

Jewelry and other valuables should never be brought into Israel in their original store packaging. New jewelry in boxes, especially multiple pieces, may appear to Customs officials to be newly purchased merchandise intended for resale, potentially resulting in customs charges and even suspicion of smuggling. Jewelry intended for personal use should be removed from its packaging and brought as a personal item.

Travelers leaving Israel with expensive jewelry, watches, electronics or other valuables that they intend to bring back should consider declaring these items to Customs before departure.

Bringing Food into Israel

Food imports are subject to restrictions. As a general rule, travelers may bring up to 3 kg of food, with no more than 1 kg of any one type. Raw meat may not be brought into Israel.

Arba Minim

Those traveling to Israel for Sukkos with Arba Minim should be aware of Israel’s agricultural import regulations.

As in previous years, one esrog may be brought into Israel for personal use. Lulavim, hadassim and aravos may not be brought into Israel and may be confiscated at the airport.

Travelers whose lulav, hadassim or aravos are confiscated will be provided with replacement Arba Minim through arrangements made by the Ministry of Agriculture.

ETA-IL

Passengers en route to Israel must obtain an ETA-IL before traveling. Travelers should apply only through the official government website, at this link. Beware of unofficial sites which charge additional fees.

Israeli citizens traveling on an Israeli passport do not require an ETA-IL. Additionally, Israeli citizens are currently permitted to enter Israel using a foreign passport, if they hold one. While technically they are exempt from the ETA-IL requirement, Chaim V’Chessed that they obtain one regardless. The same applies to student visa holders.

Check Your Passport

Before heading to the airport, check the validity of every passport in the family and make sure all travelers meet the entry requirements for their destination.

Foreigners traveling to Israel must have at least three months of validity on their passports to enter the country.

Safe Travels!

Whether you are traveling for Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur or Sukkos, a few minutes of preparation can prevent significant problems during your trip. Ksiva v’Chasima Tova!

{Matzav.com}

A collection of suitcases still bearing flight tags, barcodes and Israeli security-screening markings from Ben Gurion Airport has mysteriously surfaced for sale at a flea market in Paphos, Cyprus, raising questions about how the luggage made its way from Israel to the market.

The unusual discovery was made by Liri Bork-Shavit, an Israeli who frequently travels between Israel and Cyprus. She spotted the apparently well-preserved suitcases at Paphos’ weekly flea market and immediately recalled piles of unclaimed luggage she had documented at Ben Gurion Airport several months earlier.

Bork-Shavit, who is known as a social activist, told Walla that the sight brought her back to photographs she took during July and August, when disruptions and heavy congestion plagued Ben Gurion Airport. At the time, she saw large quantities of luggage sitting without apparent owners both inside the airport and outside the terminal.

According to Bork-Shavit, the suitcases being offered for sale in Paphos still displayed tags and markings associated with Israeli security screening, making them stand out from the other merchandise.

“It doesn’t look like regular flea market inventory,” she said.

Bork-Shavit initially believed the luggage might have belonged to El Al, but she later determined that the markings primarily indicated that the bags had passed through security screening at Ben Gurion Airport rather than establishing that they had belonged to passengers on a particular airline.

Despite the photographs and the unusual circumstances surrounding the discovery, there is currently no official evidence establishing that the suitcases are among those that went missing at Ben Gurion Airport during the period of travel disruptions.

It also remains unclear who originally owned the bags or how luggage carrying Israeli airport markings ultimately ended up for sale at a flea market in Cyprus.

“Someone might still recognize their suitcase there,” Bork-Shavit told Walla, while stressing that she does not yet have a complete explanation for how the luggage reached Paphos.

A veteran prosecutor in New York Attorney General Letitia James’ office has accused his superiors of directing him to investigate President Trump and his political allies without legitimate grounds, alleging that the state’s top law enforcement office was being used to pursue James’ political opponents.

Daniel Wiesenfeld, who previously worked as a Brooklyn prosecutor and is now assigned to James’ Investor Protection Bureau, made the explosive allegations in an email sent to thousands of employees in the attorney general’s office. According to the Times Union, Wiesenfeld said his supervisor ordered him “to find and pursue crimes” involving people and organizations connected to Trump. The email was subsequently deleted.

In the message, Wiesenfeld alleged that Investor Protection Bureau Chief Shamiso Maswoswe specifically told him to investigate “Trump himself, Truth Social, Hewlett Packard (DOJ approved merger)… without having a credible reason for targeting the organizations and individuals,” according to the report.

Federal regulators recently gave approval to Hewlett-Packard’s $14 billion merger with Juniper Networks.

Wiesenfeld argued that prosecutors should be equally concerned about political interference in law enforcement regardless of which side is accused of engaging in it.

“If you believe Trump is using the [Department of Justice] attorneys to prosecute his enemies and further his political interests, you should find it equally troubling that Tish [James] is doing exactly the same thing,” Wiesenfeld allegedly wrote in the message, which was reportedly distributed to approximately 2,000 employees before being removed.

Wiesenfeld went on to urge his fellow prosecutors to resist any effort to use their positions to go after individuals based on their political affiliations.

“I ask you that you not serve as Tish’s personal attorneys by targeting her political enemies,” he allegedly wrote. “Instead, I hope you choose to prosecute crimes and find the individuals accountable, rather than targeting individuals and then finding crimes.”

Wiesenfeld said prosecutors should instead devote their resources to problems including “rampant nonprofit homeless shelter fraud and antisemitic crimes in and around synagogues,” while accusing James of spending “significant public taxpayer dollars to target convenient public enemies,” according to the Times Union.

The allegations come against the backdrop of years of bitter political and legal conflict between Trump and James.

While campaigning for attorney general in 2018, James pledged to “prosecute the president for crimes committed in New York state” if voters put her in office. She subsequently launched legal action against Trump after becoming attorney general.

James’ office secured a judgment against Trump, his sons and his company in 2024 in a civil fraud case involving allegations that property values and Trump’s wealth had been overstated. An appeals court later upheld the finding against Trump while eliminating the massive financial penalty that had been imposed.

Trump has repeatedly pointed to James’ case against him as evidence that the attorney general has pursued him for political reasons.

Wiesenfeld, meanwhile, was placed on paid administrative leave following the controversy. A spokesperson for James described the situation to the Times Union as “a personnel matter.”

“The office of the attorney general is committed to upholding New York’s laws and protecting the rights and freedoms of all New Yorkers, regardless of political beliefs,” the statement said. “We strongly reject any assertion to the contrary.”

Republican officials in New York seized on Wiesenfeld’s accusations, arguing that the email supported their longstanding claims that James has politicized her office.

“Letitia James weaponized the attorney general’s office into a political hit squad and then tried to cover up her tracks,” state Republican Chairman Ed Cox told The Post on Sunday. “She is utterly unfit to serve.

“New Yorkers deserve an attorney general who prosecutes criminals, preserves public records and enforces the law without fear or favor,” Cox added.

The controversy also drew a response from the campaign of Republican attorney general candidate Saritha Komatireddy, whose spokesperson, Nicole Kiprilov, said Komatireddy would pursue a different set of priorities if elected.

“When Saritha is attorney general, she will instruct her attorneys to lock up repeat offenders, build residential treatment for the homeless, and root out fraud — not target people because of their politics,” Kiprilov said.

“It’s good to see that even the rank-and-file in the AG’s office agree that this is the right way forward. Let’s work together — across partisan lines — and create a safer, more affordable New York.”

Komatireddy previously served in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York in Brooklyn, where she held several senior positions, including chief of International Narcotics and Money Laundering, deputy chief of Appeals and deputy chief of General Crimes.

She also previously clerked for Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh when he served on the U.S. Court of Appeals.

Melissa DeRosa, a former top aide to ex-New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, also weighed in on the allegations Sunday, criticizing James in a post on X.

“@TishJames has been abusing her office for political gain for years.

“Don’t criticize Trump’s use of DOJ if you’re not going to call out hers -/ it’s wrong when either side does it.”

{Matzav.com}

Nearly 25 years after the Sept. 11 terror attacks, the health catastrophe linked to the toxic aftermath of the World Trade Center’s destruction continues to grow, with the number of certified 9/11-related cancer cases surging nearly 1,700% over the past decade and civilians now accounting for more cases than first responders.

Figures compiled by the World Trade Center Health Program show that cancer certifications among first responders, survivors, downtown Manhattan residents, workers and others exposed to conditions around Ground Zero have climbed from 3,204 in 2015 to 57,044 this year — an increase of approximately 1,680%.

“Sadly, we lose roughly two clients a day and see a new cancer certification every 50 minutes,” said lawyer Michael Barasch, whose firm represents thousands of people enrolled in the World Trade Center Health Program.

The latest numbers also mark a significant and sobering shift in the long-term impact of the attacks. For the first time, cancer cases among civilians who lived, worked or went to school in the vicinity of Ground Zero have exceeded those recorded among firefighters, police officers and other emergency personnel who spent extended periods at the site.

Survivors now account for 28,913 cancer cases, compared with just 694 in 2015 — an increase of 4,066%. Responders account for another 28,131 cases.

Health officials are also seeing growing numbers of uncommon forms of cancer among both survivors and responders exposed to the toxic dust and debris unleashed when the Twin Towers collapsed.

Among those diagnoses are 82 cases of thymus cancer, which affects the thymus gland located behind the breastbone in the upper chest. Tumors of the thymus are extremely rare and make up less than 1% of cancer cases overall.

Another 591 people have been diagnosed with neuroendocrine cancers, rare tumors that can develop in areas including the pancreas, bowels, lungs and adrenal glands. Among 9/11 survivors, the number of neuroendocrine cancer cases rose 6% between March and June alone.

Male breast cancer has also emerged among those exposed to Ground Zero contaminants. There are currently 188 certified cases involving men, an unusually high figure for a disease that is rare among males.

Brain cancer has affected another 163 people in the 9/11 population. That figure increased by 14 cases, or 9%, during the most recent quarter.

Part of the continuing rise in cancer diagnoses is believed to be connected to the aging of those who were exposed following the attacks. Many Ground Zero survivors and responders are now in their late 50s, 60s and early 70s, when the likelihood of developing cancer generally increases.

But the statistics among World Trade Center Health Program members remain striking. CDC data through June show that 67% of the program’s 145,275 current members have been certified with at least one of 69 cancers associated with 9/11 toxic exposure. By comparison, the lifetime risk of developing cancer among Americans overall is approximately 40%, according to the National Cancer Institute.

The mounting death toll from illnesses associated with the aftermath of 9/11 has also far surpassed the number killed on the day of the attacks. At least 9,425 people have now died from post-9/11-related illnesses — more than three times the 2,977 victims killed on Sept. 11, 2001.

“9/11 did not end on 9/11. The cancer clock is ticking 24/7,” Barasch said.

Among those living with the consequences is Leslie Lane, now 76, who worked for Merrill Lynch in the World Financial Center across from the World Trade Center. She was inside her office when hijacked planes struck the towers.

As Lane made her way out of the area that morning, she remembered encountering the massive cloud of debris that engulfed lower Manhattan.

“You could taste the dust. You could taste the fuel, greasy gas,” she told The Post.

Two days after the attacks, Lane reported to another Merrill Lynch office at 222 Broadway to help arrange the relocation of the company’s lawyers. By November, she had returned to working downtown.

Nearly two decades later, during a routine medical examination in 2020, doctors discovered that Lane had thymus cancer.

“I was lucky. The cancer was caught early,” she said.

Doctors at Memorial Sloan Kettering subsequently removed the tumor surgically, and Lane has remained free of a recurrence.

Lane believes the cancer resulted from the contaminants she breathed in following the destruction of the World Trade Center.

“Thymus cancer is a very rare form of cancer. I don’t drink. I don’t smoke,” she said.

She also recalled how the air continued to carry the unmistakable residue of the disaster long after officials assured people that conditions were safe.

“For months afterward, you could taste the fuel in the air in the back of your throat and mouth. They kept telling us the air was safe. I don’t think it was,” she said.

Electrician James Ryan, 65, also spent extensive time at Ground Zero following the attacks. His work included providing lighting at locations throughout the disaster site, including areas in and around the Pile, as well as rewiring portions of the World Trade Center PATH train facilities.

Years later, Ryan went for a routine medical checkup and doctors detected blood in his urine. An MRI followed, leading physicians to discover pancreatic cancer while it was still at an early stage.

Ryan underwent surgery in 2019 in which doctors removed part of his pancreas.

“I got very lucky,” Ryan said.

Despite the enormous number of people already being treated or monitored, Barasch said thousands more who were exposed to the toxic environment surrounding Ground Zero may still be outside the system.

He estimates that only about 15% of civilians exposed to 9/11-related toxins have enrolled in the World Trade Center Health Program.

Among the people represented by his law firm are individuals who were students at schools and colleges near the World Trade Center at the time of the attacks and who later developed serious illnesses at relatively young ages. Students at Stuyvesant High School, Borough of Manhattan Community College, Pace University and nearby elementary and middle schools were among those potentially exposed.

Barasch is urging anyone who was in the affected area and may have been exposed to enroll in the World Trade Center Health Program and undergo appropriate medical screening.

“Early detection is the difference between life and death,” Barasch said.

{Matzav.com}

A preliminary investigation into the massive disruptions at Ben Gurion Airport on August 20 has found that workers leaving their shifts before completing scheduled overtime hours created a critical staffing shortage in the baggage-handling system, ultimately leading airport management to halt baggage intake and close check-in counters.

The investigative committee presented its initial findings Sunday to the Israel Airports Authority Council. According to the findings, the sudden shortage of employees in the baggage sorting operation caused a major backlog and raised concerns that continuing to accept luggage would overwhelm the system and lead to even more severe disruptions.

According to information first reported by Channel 12, employees who had been scheduled to work shifts that included overtime left after completing nine hours. The resulting reduction in manpower placed significant pressure on the baggage sorting operation.

Ben Gurion Airport Director Zohar Gefen subsequently ordered the baggage system halted. The preliminary investigation found that, given the circumstances at the time, his decision was justified.

The incident has become the focus of a dispute between Israel Airports Authority management and workers’ committee chairman Pinchas Idan.

Following the incident, Idan acknowledged that he had instructed employees not to work the additional three hours beyond their nine-hour shifts. He argued, however, that the departure of several baggage handlers did not justify shutting down the airport’s check-in operation.

Airport management has countered that the employees had been scheduled in advance to work 12-hour shifts and that their departure left the baggage-handling operation without sufficient personnel to function properly.

The disruption caused lengthy lines, delays and flight interruptions throughout the airport that day, with some planes departing without passengers’ luggage.

Although operations resumed approximately two hours later, it took several additional hours before the airport gradually returned to normal operations.

An estimate released at the time by Israel’s Finance Ministry placed the economic damage caused by the disruptions at approximately 25 million to 30 million shekels.

The investigative committee emphasized that its work is not yet complete and that the findings presented Sunday do not constitute its final report. At this stage, investigators have provided only a preliminary reconstruction of the events and have not issued conclusions regarding individual responsibility or ultimate accountability for the breakdown.

The committee’s complete findings and conclusions are expected to be released once the investigation is completed.

Meanwhile, officials at Ben Gurion Airport are already preparing for their next major operational challenge: the busy Tishrei holiday travel season.

The airport director warned employees that unusually large numbers of passengers are expected to pass through Ben Gurion during the upcoming holidays. He called on both Israel Airports Authority employees and managers to assist with airport operations in an effort to handle the anticipated crowds and prevent a repeat of the August 20 disruptions.

{Matzav.com}

A Skverer avreich from Yerushalayim was arrested in the Eilat area and sentenced to 10 days in Military Prison 10 on charges of draft evasion, just days before the bris of his newborn son, which is scheduled to take place this Thursday.

The arrest has caused an uproar within the Skverer community, with the avreich’s family and friends urgently appealing to the relevant authorities to allow him to leave prison and participate in his son’s bris.

B’Chadrei Chareidim has learned that the avreich had made several attempts in recent weeks to regularize his status with the IDF at the recruitment office. However, for various reasons, he was reportedly unable to enter the office and complete the necessary procedures.

After being told that he was not expected to encounter any difficulties or face arrest in the Eilat area, the avreich traveled there. Upon arriving at Camp Yotam, however, he was unexpectedly taken into custody by military authorities on allegations of draft evasion and was subsequently sentenced to 10 days in military prison.

The arrest stunned his family and friends, particularly because his newborn son’s bris is scheduled for Thursday, just two days away. Relatives and friends are pleading with officials to show compassion and permit him to leave prison so that he can attend the family simcha.

Those close to the family say that the avreich is fully prepared to cooperate in resolving his military status as soon as he is given the opportunity to do so.

The avreich is also seeking to settle his status so that he will be able to travel to the United States for the upcoming Sukkos and Simchas Torah period and spend the Yom Tov in the presence of his rebbe, the Skverer Rebbe.

Family members and friends are expressing hope that authorities will take the unusual and sensitive circumstances into consideration and allow the father to be present for his son’s bris.

More than 350,000 people have already participated in Selichos gatherings at the Kosel during the first half of Elul, as exceptionally large crowds continue to stream to the  site ahead of the Yomim Noraim.

More than 50,000 mispallelim packed the Kosel plaza in Yerushalayim on Thursday night for the fourth major Selichos gathering of Elul. The enormous crowd gathered near the remnant of the Bais Hamikdash for an emotional night of Selichos and tefillah.

Figures from the first half of Elul indicate a particularly significant increase in attendance this year. More than 350,000 people have visited the Kosel to participate in Selichos gatherings since the beginning of the month.

In addition to the major organized gatherings, which attract tens of thousands at a time, thousands of additional mispallelim have been arriving at the Kosel each night to recite Selichos.

The Western Wall Heritage Foundation said there has been a noticeable increase in the number of people participating this year compared to previous years.

“This year, there has been a significant increase in the number of participants in the Selichos gatherings, and not only at the central gatherings, with thousands of worshippers gathering every night at the Western Wall plaza to recite Selichos, and tens of thousands flocking to the gatherings held throughout the month of Elul,” the foundation said.

Along with reciting Selichos, those gathered offered heartfelt tefillos for the welfare of IDF soldiers and members of Israel’s security forces, for unity among the Jewish people, and for peace and security in Israel.

Preparations are already underway at the Kosel for the next major Selichos gathering, which is expected to once again draw tens of thousands of people to Yerushalayim.

Crowds at the Kosel are anticipated to continue growing as Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur draw closer.

{Matzav.com}

A man was killed Sunday night after a fire erupted in an underground parking garage of a residential building in Rishon Lezion, with initial reports indicating that a Tesla may have crashed into a wall before catching fire.

Fire and rescue crews were dispatched to the building on Ahi Lahav Street and worked for an extended period to extinguish the blaze and search the smoke-filled garage.

Once firefighters brought the fire under control, they discovered a person inside one of the vehicles with no signs of life.

Magen David Adom paramedics and EMTs examined the victim but were forced to pronounce him dead at the scene.

“When we arrived at the scene, we saw a vehicle on fire. After prolonged operations by the firefighting forces, a person was located inside a vehicle, unconscious. We performed medical examinations, but unfortunately, there were no signs of life,” paramedics Benny Joseph and Shaked Ron Tal Cohen said.

According to Israel Fire and Rescue Services, preliminary findings indicate that the blaze began in an electric vehicle and subsequently spread to several other vehicles parked nearby.

A separate report from the scene indicated that the electric vehicle was a Tesla that apparently struck a wall for reasons that remain unclear and then burst into flames.

Authorities stressed that the circumstances surrounding the reported collision are still under investigation, and no official determination has yet been released regarding the cause of the fire.

Even after the flames were extinguished, firefighters remained at the scene and continued ventilation operations to clear the heavy smoke from the underground garage.

Volunteers from ZAKA’s Central District were also dispatched to the scene and assisted police in preserving the dignity of the deceased and collecting findings from the area.

A fire investigator from Israel Fire and Rescue Services, together with police investigators, is investigating the circumstances surrounding the deadly incident.

{Matzav.com}

Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu issued a sharp message on the Chareidi draft controversy Sunday night, declaring that those who are not learning Torah should enlist in the IDF and that anyone who proclaims, “We will die rather than enlist,” should be sent immediately to jail.

In a wide-ranging interview with Yinon Magal on Channel 14’s “The Patriots,” Netanyahu laid out his security and political priorities ahead of the elections for the 26th Knesset. He placed defeating the Iranian regime at the top of his agenda, pledged to complete the disarmament of Hamas and Hezbollah, addressed divisions within the political right, criticized Itamar Ben Gvir and Ofer Winter, and discussed further changes to Israel’s judicial system.

“Anyone who does not learn Torah should enlist. And anyone who says, ‘We will die rather than enlist,’ should go straight to jail,” Netanyahu said.

Iran was at the center of Netanyahu’s discussion of Israel’s security challenges. The prime minister said that despite the severe blows Tehran has suffered, the Iranian regime has not abandoned its nuclear ambitions.

“Iran will not have a nuclear weapon as long as I am prime minister,” Netanyahu declared.

He went further, saying that Israel must ultimately bring about the defeat of the Iranian regime.

“This regime must be defeated. I am committed to that, and it is possible. They are weaker than they were,” Netanyahu said.

According to Netanyahu, defeating the Iranian regime would also bring Israel closer to completing its campaigns against Hamas and Hezbollah.

Turning to Gaza, Netanyahu vowed that Hamas would be stripped of its weapons, whether voluntarily or through military force.

“The plan for Gaza is the elimination of Hamas. We will disarm it the easy way or the hard way. We will disarm them. I am committed to it, and I will do it,” Netanyahu said.

The prime minister said his government had withstood enormous pressure during the war and promised that Israel would also finish the job of disarming Hezbollah.

Summarizing his priorities, Netanyahu said, “First and foremost—to defeat Iran. It is in our hands.”

Netanyahu also devoted a significant portion of the interview to the upcoming election and the danger that competing parties could split the right-wing vote.

He welcomed talks between Bezalel Smotrich and Moshe Feiglin over a possible political alliance and said he would assist efforts to bring them together “in every way.”

Netanyahu was more critical of Ben Gvir, taking issue with his refusal to join forces with Smotrich.

“Today Ben Gvir needs to do it. He is categorical: ‘I am not uniting,’” Netanyahu said.

The prime minister said examinations conducted by his camp indicate that mergers among right-wing parties would strengthen the bloc. He warned that little time remains to prevent right-wing votes from being wasted.

“We have very little time, a week and two days, to enable this merger so that we do not lose a single vote,” he said.

Netanyahu also spoke at length about Ofer Winter, revealing that he met with the former senior IDF officer several weeks ago and offered him a place in Likud.

“I told him, look, there are two possibilities—you can come to us and be welcomed, or you can go your own separate way,” Netanyahu recounted.

Netanyahu warned that Winter’s decision to run independently could ultimately damage the right-wing bloc.

“I am concerned that this party could do one of two things—either waste votes or cause one of the parties to fall,” he said.

He also expressed skepticism about Winter’s declaration that he would support Netanyahu following the election.

“Winter said that he would support me. That’s fine and that’s true, but he added a ‘but,’ and a ‘but’ is an escape hatch,” Netanyahu said.

Turning to the judicial system, Netanyahu acknowledged that his government’s previous effort to enact changes had failed to accomplish its objective.

“We need to learn the lessons. The fact is that we did not succeed,” he said.

At the same time, Netanyahu made clear that he has not abandoned plans to make further changes to the judiciary. He said that if voters give the right another mandate, his government would seek to restore what he described as the proper balance between the branches of government.

“There is an understanding that the balance must be restored, and with that understanding we will succeed in doing it, and I am committed to doing it,” Netanyahu said.

Netanyahu was also questioned about the night before the October 7 massacre and whether events might have unfolded differently had he been awakened and informed of the warning signs that were emerging.

His answer was unequivocal.

“It would have looked completely different. That is the truth,” Netanyahu said.

He then went further, saying, “If they had woken me up, this would not have happened. I’m not saying that nothing would have happened, but it would not have happened like this.”

The prime minister called for the release of official protocols from the period surrounding the attack and said materials he presented to the state comptroller had surprised the comptroller. Netanyahu also reiterated his opposition to establishing a state commission of inquiry, instead proposing what he described as a “balanced commission of inquiry.”

Toward the end of the interview, Netanyahu returned to the Chareidi draft crisis and acknowledged that mistakes had been made in efforts to pass legislation regulating the status of yeshiva students.

“The draft law did not pass because mistakes were made. It can and must be handled differently,” Netanyahu said.

According to Netanyahu, the number of Chareidim entering the IDF is approaching 5,000. He said that on the day of the interview alone, 500 Chareidim enlisted, including 300 who entered combat tracks.

Netanyahu stressed that he has “enormous respect for the Torah world,” while drawing a firm distinction between those genuinely engaged in Torah learning and those who are not.

“Anyone who does not learn Torah should enlist,” Netanyahu said.

Dozens of Chareidi protesters gathered outside the Tel Hashomer recruitment office in Ramat Gan early Monday morning, attempting to block access roads as the IDF prepared to induct hundreds of Chareidi recruits into specially designated military programs.

The demonstration followed a similar protest Sunday outside the Tel Hashomer recruitment office, as opposition continues to grow over efforts to increase the enlistment of Chareidim into the IDF.

Seeking to disrupt Monday’s scheduled induction, dozens of protesters arrived at the entrance to the Tel Hashomer military base during the night, bringing mattresses and sleeping equipment and remaining there until morning.

The protesters deliberately arrived hours in advance in an effort to establish a presence at the site before the recruitment process began and interfere with operations at the induction center.

At daybreak, the situation at the entrance to the base became increasingly chaotic as protesters moved onto nearby access roads and attempted to block traffic leading toward the military compound and recruitment office.

The demonstrators sought to prevent or delay prospective recruits from reaching the base, resulting in traffic disruptions and confrontations with police officers attempting to maintain access to the area.

Protesters continued gathering around the Tel Hashomer complex throughout the morning, repeatedly attempting to interfere with vehicle traffic and the arrival of recruits.

The demonstrations came as the IDF prepared Monday to receive hundreds of Chareidi recruits who are slated to serve in combat-support positions through the military’s “Maalot Tzur” and “Project Yoav” programs within the Technology and Logistics Directorate.

President Trump on Monday called for Iran’s leaders to be prosecuted for “war crimes against humanity,” delivering a blistering assessment of the Islamic Republic as a “failed nation” amid continued fighting between Tehran and Washington and renewed tensions in the Strait of Hormuz.

“Iran is officially a Failed Nation. IT IS DEAD!” the president proclaimed on Truth Social. “They have no Navy, they have no Air Force, they have no currency, they are not paying their soldiers or police, Inflation is at 300%, and their leadership is in total disarray and incapable of properly representing the country.”

Trump then pointed to the Iranian regime’s violent suppression of anti-government demonstrations, while accusing Tehran of relying on propaganda and empty rhetoric.

“The only thing they have is FAKE NEWS from the USA, a willingness to kill their protesters (now over 100,000 people dead. They must be tried for war crimes against humanity!), and a good line of ‘[garbage].’”

Iran has faced accusations of massacring demonstrators who took to the streets against the regime late last year. Some estimates have placed the number of people killed at 30,000 or more.

Trump’s comments came on the heels of a new US military operation targeting rocket launchers on Iran’s Larak Island. The launchers were used by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps to deploy mines in the Strait of Hormuz, the strategically vital waterway that handled nearly one-fifth of the world’s oil supply during peacetime.

“U.S. forces took limited, precise action against IRGC minelaying forces posing an imminent threat in the Strait of Hormuz,” US Central Command (CENTCOM) posted on X Sunday evening. “In essence, Iran created the threat and the U.S. military eliminated it to protect civilian mariners, commercial shipping, and the free flow of global commerce.”

Following the US strikes on Larak Island, Jordan said its forces intercepted eight Iranian missiles that had been fired toward American military sites inside the country. Officials said the Iranian attacks caused no significant damage.

Trump nevertheless promised a forceful response to the Iranian missile launches, telling Fox News chief foreign correspondent Trey Yingst, “We’re going to hit them hard.”

CENTCOM announced last week that US forces had successfully removed mines from portions of the Strait of Hormuz and had been escorting and directing oil tankers through the critical shipping route.

Iran’s ability to disrupt shipping through the Strait has emerged as one of Tehran’s primary sources of leverage against the United States since the conflict began on Feb. 28.

Energy Secretary Chris Wright has said that approximately 9 million barrels of oil are currently moving through the Strait of Hormuz each day, a steep decline from the more than 20 million barrels that passed through the waterway daily before the war.

{Matzav.com}